Previews and Reviews that are Z's Views
The trailer for Apollo 13: Survival is here. True American heroes.
Deal me in.
Using original footage and interviews, this documentary tells the nail-biting story of Apollo 13 and the struggle to bring its astronauts safely home.
Twisters (2024)
Director: Lee Isaac Chung
Screenplay: Mark L. Smith; story by Joseph Kosinski; based on characters created by Michael Crichton, Anne-Marie Martin
Stars: Daisy Edgar-Jones, Glen Powell, Anthony Ramos, Brandon Perea, Maura Tierney, Kiernan Shipka, David Corenswet, Katy O’Brian, David Born and James Paxton.
Tagline: Chase. Ride. Survive.
The Plot…
Kate Carter (Edgar-Jones) was a young scientist/storm-chaser on the verge of a way to quickly reduce the intensity of a tornado. But that was five years ago. Kate quit her research when a tornado chase went sideways. Three of her friends were killed. Only Kate and Javi (Ramos) survived.
Now Kate works at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in New York City. She monitors conditions from the safety of a control center. Kate is surprised one day when Javi shows up unannounced. He is part owner of a new company, Storm Par, that uses cutting edge technology to predict the paths/strengths of tornadoes. Although hesitant at first, Kate agrees to work with Javi for one week since the new technology could save lives.
Back in Oklahoma, in tornado alley, Kate experiences a panic attack. She’s worried how she’ll respond when the team closes in on a tornado. Another problem is a competing group of tornado chasers. Tyler Owens (Powell) aka The Tornado Wrangler along with his team are an internet sensation. They’re all about the “views” and their hotdogging is liable to get people killed.
This is a bad mixture as the worst tornado weather in years is predicted.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Twisters isn’t a direct sequel to Twister, but Bill Paxton’s son, James Paxton has a cameo as the upset hotel guest.
Twisters works because of the direction of Lee Isaac Chung, the charm of Daisy Edgar-Jones, Glen Powell and Anthony Ramos, the chemistry between Edgar-Jones and Powell and the special effects.
Twisters (2024) rates 4 of 5 stars.
Drago from ROCKY IV is coming from McFarlane Toys! Here’s the lowdown…
Click here for more details or to pre-order!
Rocky is also available the same day as Drago!
Rocky Balboa from ROCKY IV is coming from McFarlane Toys! Here’s the lowdown…
Click here for more details or to pre-order!
Drago is also available the same day as Rocky!
Schlock! The Secret History of American Movies (2001)
Director: Ray Greene
Screenplay: Ray Greene
Stars: Ray Greene, Roger Corman, Maila Nurmi, Dick Miller, Samuel Z. Arkoff, Forrest J. Ackerman and Peter Bogdanovich.
Tagline: None.
The Plot…
Movies that qualify as “schlock” are low-budget, genre films that usually focus on horror, sex and/or violence. These films were made quickly and usually the second feature on a double bill or drive-in fare. Schlock! The Secret History of American Movies explores (as the title suggests) the history of these types of movies. It’s an interesting topic to see how these movies changed over time and influenced popular culture.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
If you have any interest in schlock cinema, this one is for you.
Schlock! The Secret History of American Movies (2001) rates 5 of 5 stars.
Docks of New Orleans (1948)
Director: Derwin Abrahams
Screenplay: William Scott Darling based on Charlie Chan by Earl Derr Biggers
Stars: Roland Winters, Virginia Dale, Mantan Moreland, John Gallaudet, Victor Sen Yung, Douglas Fowley, Stanley Andrews, Emmett Vogan and Rory Mallinson.
Tagline: None.
The Plot…
The owners of the LaFontaine Chemical Company are shipping out a boatload of a secret cargo. This is going to make them a, pardon the expression, a “boatload” of money. They decide to sign an agreement that if one (or more) of them were to die, the money would be spent by the survivors.
No sooner done, then one of them is murdered. How this was done is a mystery. No signs of death and the victim was alone in a room that no one entered.
Thankfully Charlie Chan has been called in.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Mantan Mooreland gets more to do in this one. This includes Mooreland’s famous “Indefinite Talk” routine.
Docks of New Orleans (1948) rates 3 of 5 stars.
Hitchcock (2012)
Director: Sacha Gervasi
Screenplay: John J. McLaughlin; based on ALFRED HITCHCOCK AND THE MAKING OF PSYCHO by Stephen Rebello
Stars: Anthony Hopkins, Helen Mirren, Scarlett Johansson, Danny Huston, Toni Collette, Michael Stuhlbarg, Michael Wincott, Jessica Biel, James D’Arcy, Richard Portnow, Kurtwood Smith, Kai Lennox, Tara Summers, Wallace Langham, Paul Schackman, Currie Graham, Spencer Garrett and Ralph Macchio.
Tagline: Behind every Psycho is a great woman.
The Plot…
Alfred Hitchcock coming off the success of North by Northwest is looking for a new project. The studios have offered high profile projects, but Hitch has his sights on adapting Robert Bloch’s novel PSYCHO. The studio is against the idea. Hitch is determined to make the film even if he has to finance it himself.
He does. The studio is offering little support. So Hitchcock risks everything to see the project through.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Hitchcock was nominated for one Academy Award…
The scenes of Hitchcock’s office on the Paramount lot were shot in Alfred Hitchcock’s actual office!
Michael Wincott is excellent in the role of Ed Gein, the real life murderer that inspired Robert Bloch to write PSYCHO.
Hitchcock (2012) rates 4 of 5 stars.
Red Light (1949)
Director: Roy Del Ruth
Screenplay: George Callahan, Charles Grayson (additional dialogue); based on the story “This Guy Gideon” by Don “Red” Barry
Stars: George Raft, Virginia Mayo, Gene Lockhart, Raymond Burr, Harry Morgan, Barton MacLane, Arthur Franz, Ken Murray, Stanley Clements, Arthur Shields, Frank Orth, Phillip Pine, Leonard Bremen and William Frawley.
Tagline: The raw, ruthless story of a strong-arm guy…and the blonde he used to bait his deadly trap!
The Plot…
John Torno (Raft) is a successful business man. John’s younger brother, Jess (Franz) is a Catholic Chaplin just brought home from a World War II prisoner of war camp. John idolizes Jess who he raised. He’s a war hero who has dedicated his life to helping others.
So when Jess is murdered, John makes it his life’s mission to find the killer. And get revenge.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Raymond Burr made an excellent heavy in this and other films early in his career.
Red Light (1949) rates 3 of 5 stars.
Trigger Point (2021)
Director: Brad Turner
Screenplay: Michael Vickerman
Stars: Barry Pepper, Colm Feore, Eve Harlow, Carlo Rota, Jayne Eastwood, Nazneen Contractor, Laura Vandervoort, Karen Robinson, Greg Bryk and Rainbow Sun Francks.
Tagline: Everyone breaks.
The Plot…
Nicolas Shaw (Pepper) used to be a US special agent. He was part of a special team that targeted the worst and took them out by any means. Then Shaw was captured and tortured. During his abuse, Shaw finally gave up the names of others on his squad. He was then framed for their murders.
So Shaw went into hiding. He lived a quiet in a remote location. Shaw thought he was safe until, Elias Kane (Feore), his former boss, showed up. Kane’s daughter was kidnapped and Kane needs Shaw’s help.
Shaw has no choice…but can Kane be trusted?
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
After seeing (and loving) Barry Pepper in Bring Him to Me, I had high hopes for Trigger Point. What a letdown. To make things even worse, it ends setting up a sequel. Bah!
Trigger Point (2021) rates 2 of 5 stars.
Marv from Frank Miller’s Sin City is one of my all-time favorite characters. I love seeing artists do their “take” on the big lug. Today we have Marv by the legendary Walt Simonson!
Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992)
Director: Francis Ford Coppola
Screenplay: James V. Hart, based on DRACULA by Bram Stoker
Stars: Gary Oldman, Winona Ryder, Anthony Hopkins, Keanu Reeves, Richard E. Grant, Billy Campbell, Sadie Frost, Tom Waits, Monica Bellucci, Jay Robinson, Laurie Franks and Cary Elwes.
Tagline: Love Never Dies
The Plot…
1462. When Vlad Dracula (Oldman) returns from a victorious war campaign, he learns that his defeated enemies sent messages that they had killed Dracula in battle. His wife Elisabeta became so distraught that she committed suicide.
Vlad Dracula is beside himself. How could God let this happen? A Priest tells Dracula that Elisabeta committed a cardinal sin by killing herself. Her soul will be damned to hell. Dracula loses it. He renounces his Christian God and vows to use the powers of darkness to avenge her! Dracula drives his sword into the chapel’s huge crucifix. When blood begins flowing from the cross, Dracula drinks it.
Four hundred years pass. Feeling the need to leave his homeland, Dracula has settled on London as his new home. When Dracula sees a photograph of Mina Harker, he is convinced she is the reincarnation of Elisabeta.
Dracula will have her at all costs.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Bram Stoker’s Dracula was nominated for four Academy Awards and won three…
Francis Ford Coppola was determined to use only effects available when movies first started (since this was the time period of most of this movie). He used no CGI. Coppola made use of forced perspective, rear projection, miniatures, matte paintings and more. For instance, to create a sense of increasing claustrophobia, he gradually had the walls move in during a scene. For some vampire scenes the film was run in reverse to make their movements seem off. One of my favorite of Coppola’s effects is how Dracula’s shadow moves independently of him!
Liam Neeson wanted the role of Van Helsing, but Anthony Hopkins was riding a popularity wave after Silence of the Lambs, so it went to him. Steve Buscemi turned down the role of Renfield. Tom Waits was a perfect choice.
Actors who auditioned for the part of Dracula include: Armand Assante, Gabriel Byrne, Antonio Banderas, Viggo Mortensen and Andy Garcia. Of that group I’d have given the nod to Assante or Banderas.
Coppola wanted Johnny Depp to play Jonathan Harker. Charlie Sheen auditioned for the role. The studio wanted an actor more popular with young girls. Keanu Reeves was awarded the part.
I’m a fan of Bram Stoker’s Dracula. I love that Coppola swung for the fences.
Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992) rates 4 of 5 stars.
The Driver (1978)
Director: Walter Hill
Screenplay: Walter Hill
Stars: Ryan O’Neal, Bruce Dern, Isabelle Adjani, Ronee Blakley, Matt Clark, Felice Orlandi, Joseph Walsh, Rudy Ramos, Sandy Brown Wyeth, Bob Minor and Nick Dimitri.
Tagline: To break the driver, the cop was willing to break the law.
The Plot…
A getaway driver (O’Neal) has a reputation as THE one to use if you’re planning any kind of heist. Although the driver’s identity isn’t known, a detective (Dern) has become obsessed with catching this wheelman. The detective is willing to break the law to make the arrest. The driver is willing to risk his life to prove he’s the best.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
The Driver is the second film written and directed by Walter Hill. Hill’s intent was to create a “pure genre” film. The main characters aren’t given names other than their archetype.
Steve McQueen turned down the lead. He didn’t want to do another “car picture” after Bullitt and The Getaway.
Charles Bronson, who had starred in Hill’s last film, Hard Times, was then offered the lead. Bronson didn’t want to work with Hill again. He felt that Hill’s editing of Hard Times put Jill Ireland (Bronson’s wife) in a bad light.
While Sylvester Stallone was filming F.I.S.T., he was approached about starring. Stallone ultimately turned down the role.
Ryan O’Neal reached out to Walter Hill. He wanted to play the Driver. Hill and O’Neal were on the same page with how the role should be played. The rest is history.
Walter Hill approached Robert Mitchum about playing the Detective. Mitchum turned down the offer.
When The Driver was released it didn’t do well at the U.S. box office. Isabelle Adjani said she felt the film hurt her career. Walter Hill said the studio gave him a six inch stack containing reviews of The Driver. Only one was positive. Hill later said in an interview, ” “Had I not been shooting The Warriors at the time, I don’t think my career would have survived.
Over the years, The Driver‘s reputation has improved. Quentin Tarantino is a fan. The Driver also served as an influence of other films including Driver and Baby Driver.
Although I’m a Walter Hill fan, The Driver isn’t one of my favorites of his films. I get what he was going for. It just doesn’t work as well for me as many of his other films.
The Driver (1978) rates 2 of 5 stars.
The Paradox Effect poster and trailer are here. It doesn’t look bad (or great). Anyone seen this one?
Estranged from her daughter because of a past life of drug-abuse, Karina is taking all the steps she can towards being the mother she needs to be. One night Karina hears the discharge of a muted weapon and a body breaking through heavy glass.
Looking up, she locks eyes with the man who pulled the trigger and she is captured.
The mastermind of it all is crime lord Silvio and his vicious gangsters who forces Karina and Covek, a deadly killer threatened by him, to go on a journey against time.
Death Proof by John Cordero. Now THAT is a great alt poster.
Devil’s Peak (2023)
Director: Ben Young
Screenplay: Robert Knott, based on WHERE ALL LIGHT TENDS TO GO by David Joy
Stars: Billy Bob Thornton, Robin Wright, Hopper Penn, Katelyn Nacon, David Kallaway, Mark Ashworth, Mark Ashworth, Elena Sanchez, Sean Freeland and Jackie Earle Haley.
Tagline: None.
The Plot…
Jacob McNeely (Penn) is 18 years old and in love with Maggie (Nacon). But there are problems. Jacob is from the wrong side of the tracks. His dad, Charlie (Thorton) is the area’s meth/drug dealer. Maggie’s middle class, smart and headed for college.
Charlie tells Jacob to drop her. Jacob refuses and wants the money that Charlie has always said he was holding for Jacob. People who don’t do as Charlie asks have a habit of disappearing.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
With this cast, I was expecting a better film.
Devil’s Peak (2023) rates 2 of 5 stars.
