Previews and Reviews that are Z's Views
Looking good!
He is coming. NOSFERATU.
A Robert Eggers picture. Only in theaters this Christmas.Robert Eggers’ NOSFERATU is a gothic tale of obsession between a haunted young woman and the terrifying vampire infatuated with her, causing untold horror in its wake.
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 Paolo Minopoli.
The Patriot (2000)
Director: Roland Emmerich
Screenplay: Robert Rodat
Stars: Mel Gibson, Heath Ledger Joely Richardson, Jason Isaacs, Chris Cooper, Tchéky Karyo, Rene Auberjonois, Tom Wilkinson, Donal Logue, Leon Rippy, Jay Arlen Jones, Joey D. Vieira and Trevor Morgan.
Tagline: Some things are worth fighting for.
The Plot…
Benjamin Martin (Gibson) is a veteran of the French and Indian War. He was a hero and his exploits were legendary. But that was years ago. Benjamin is older and a widower with seven children. As many colonists enlist in the Continental Army, Benjamin refuses. He fears for his children if he were to be killed.
Despite his father’s wishes, Gabriel Martin (Ledger) enlists. Gabriel becomes a dispatcher for the Continental Army. When a battle spills over onto the Martin farm, Benjamin Martin tends to wounded soldiers of both armies. Gabriel is one of them.
Colonel William Tavington (Isaacs) and his British Dragoons arrive. Tavington thanks Benajamin Martin for tending to the British soldiers. He orders all of the wounded rebel soldiers to be killed. Tavington then orders Benjamin Martin’s house burned and his son, Gabriel to be hung as a spy. Benjamin pleads for his son’s life, arguing that Gabriel was wearing a uniform and carrying dispatches in an official bag. Rules of War specify that properly uniformed dispatchers are not spies. Tavington doesn’t care. When Gabriel’s younger brother attempts to free Gabe, Tavington shoots and kills the child.
As Tavington, his Dragoons ride off, a separate contingent of British soldiers take Gabriel to be hung. Benjamin races into his burning house and from a chest grabs weapons he used in the French and Indian War. Benjamin Martin hoped to keep his family safe. But his young son has been killed and the war brought to him…
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
The Patriot was nominated for three Academy Awards…
For the first time ever, the the Smithsonian Institution worked with producers to ensure the accuracy of the films costumes and settings.
Benjamin Martin is based on two real people: Francis Marion, a.k.a. The Swamp Fox and militia leader General Andrew Pickens who lost a son and had his estate burned before he returned to war.
The Patriot (2000) rates 5 of 5 stars.
Get Shorty (1995)
Director: Barry Sonnenfeld
Screenplay: Scott Frank based on GET SHORTY by Elmore Leonard
Stars: John Travolta, Gene Hackman, Rene Russo, Danny DeVito, Dennis Farina, Delroy Lindo, James Gandolfini, Jon Gries, Renee Props, Martin Ferrero, Miguel Sandoval, Jacob Vargas, Linda Hart, Bobby Slayton, Ron Karabatsos, Barry Sonnenfeld, Bette Midler, Harvey Keitel, Penny Marshall and David Paymer.
Tagline: Drug smuggling. Racketeering. Loan sharking. Welcome to Hollywood!
The Plot…
Ernesto “Chili” Palmer (Travolta) is a Miami loan shark who loves movies. When a collection sends Chili to L.A., Chili meets some low level folks in the film world. Chili has an idea for a movie and decides to work his way up in the industry.
How hard could it be?
What Chili doesn’t know is that his Brooklyn boss has died. Now Ray “Bones” Baroni (Farina) has the greenlight to kill Chili. And Bones is headed for LA.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Although John Travolta is perfect as Chili Palmer (he won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy for the role), he initially turned down the role. Quentin Tarantino convinced him to take the part.
Bette Midler, Harvey Keitel and Penny Marshall have uncredited appearances.
James Gandolfini is four years away from starring in The Sopranos. He’s younger, thinner and sports a full beard, but once you hear his voice, you know it’s him.
Get Shorty (1995) rates 4 of 5 stars.
John Wayne has 184 credits on his resume. Although he made movies in many genres, he was best known for his westerns. So I decided to come up with my list of his ten best…
01. The Searchers (1956): John Wayne plays Ethan Edwards, a Civil War veteran with a hatred of Indians. John Ford directs. Co-starring Jeffrey Hunter, Vera Miles, Ward Bond and Natalie Wood.
When his niece is kidnapped by Comanches, Ethan Edwards vows to find her no matter how many years it takes.
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02. Stagecoach (1939): John Wayne plays The Ringo Kid. John Ford directs. Co-starring Claire Trevor, Andy Devine, John Carradine and Thomas Mitchell.
When strangers on a stagecoach traveling across the frontier are attacked by Indians secrets are revealed. It’s not often there’s a specific scene where an actor becomes a star. Stagecoach has one and John Wayne is in it.
Stagecoach was nominated for seven Academy Awards and won two…
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03. Hondo (1953): John Wayne plays Hondo Lane. John Farrow directs. (Final scenes directed by John Ford who was not credited.) Co-starring Geraldine Page, Ward Bond, Michael Pate and James Arness.
Hondo Lane, a US Army Scout, comes across a woman and her six year old son living on a homestead in the middle of Indian Territory. Due to a broken treaty, hostilities between Indians and settlers are high. A war is brewing. Hondo encourages the woman to take her son and travel to a safer location. The woman refuses thinking they’re safe. They’re not.
Hondo was nominated for two Academy Awards...
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04. True Grit (1969). John Wayne plays Rooster Cogburn. Henry Hathaway directs. Co-starring Kim Darby, Glen Campbell, Robert Duvall and Dennis Hopper.
Wayne plays hard-drinking U.S. Marshall Rooster Cogburn who is hired by teenager Mattie Ross to capture the man who killed her father. Cogburn, along with Mattie and Texas Ranger ‘La Boeuf’ head into the badlands in search of Lucky Ned Pepper and his gang of outlaws.
True Grit was nominated for two Academy Awards and one won…
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05. The Cowboys (1970). John Wayne plays Wil Anderson. Mark Rydell directs. Co-starring Roscoe Lee Browne and Bruce Dern.
Wil Anderson is left without cattle hands, when they all leave to join a gold rush. With no other options, Anderson hires teenagers and a few children to make the cattle drive. Along the way, they will deal with hostile territory, bad weather and cattle rustlers. Not everyone will make it.
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06. Red River (1948). John Wayne plays Thomas Dunson. Howard Hawks and Arthur Rosson direct. Co-starring Montgomery Clift, Joanne Dru and Walter Brennan.
Thomas Dunson spent fourteen years building his cattle ranch. He will lose it all if his cattle drive to market fails. The drive will be long and arduous. As things continue to go wrong, Dunson becomes more tyrannical and his men lean towards a mutiny.
Red River was nominated for two Academy Awards…
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07. Three Godfathers (1948). John Wayne plays Robert Marmaduke Sangster Hightower. Directed by John Ford. Co-starring Pedro Armendáriz, Harry Carrey, Jr. and Ward Bond.
Three outlaws on the run come across a dying woman and her baby. The woman asks the men to save her child. Risking their freedom and lives, the men vow to get the baby to safety.
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08. The Shootist (1976). John Wayne plays aging gunfighter J.B. Books. Directed by Don Siegel. Co-starring Lauren Bacall, Ron Howard, James Stewart, Richard Boone and Hugh O’Brien.
J.B. Brooks is dying from terminal cancer. With only a couple of months to live, J.B. takes a room at a quiet boarding house owned by widow Bond Rogers. Word spreads that a gunfighter is in town. Soon folks looking to profit off J.B.’s reputation show up.
The Shootist was nominated for one Academy Award…
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09. The War Wagon (1967). John Wayne plays Taw Jackson. Directed by Burt Kennedy. Co-starring Kirk Douglas, Bruce Cabot and Howard Keel.
Three years ago Taw Jackson was set up, imprisoned and his ranch stolen by Frank Pierce. Now a free man, Jackson plans to get back what was his. He’ll start by taking down Pierce’s war wagon – an armored stagecoach that travels with gunfighters on horseback. The war wagon is used to transport gold found on Jackson’s land.
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10. El Dorado (1966). John Wayne plays Cole Thorton. Directed by Howard Hawks. Co-starring Robert Mitchum, James Caan, Ed Asner and Christopher George.
Bart Jason is a corrupt landowner forcing honest folks off their land around the town of El Dorado. When gunfighter, Cole Thorton refuses to work for him, Bart searches for another gunslinger. Cole knows that his old buddy, J.P. Harrah, the sheriff of El Dorado is over-matched. Harrah drinks too much and isn’t as young as he used to be. Cole decides to take a stand with Harrah and a young hotshot called Mississippi.
Paul Mann has another winner with his Jurassic Park alt poster!
Fargo (1996)
Director: Joel Coen, Ethan Coen
Screenplay: Joel Coen, Ethan Coen
Stars: William H. Macy, Frances McDormand, Steve Buscemi, Peter Stormare, Kristin Rudrüd, Harve Presnell, Steve Reevis, Larry Brandenburg, Bruce Campbell and Melissa Peterman.
Tagline: Small town. Big crime. Dead cold.
The Plot…
Jerry Lundegaard (Macy) has screwed up badly. Jerry embezzled money from the car dealership that he works for and his father-in-law owns. In an effort to raise the money quickly, Jerry decides to have his wife kidnapped. His rich father-in-law will pay to get her back. Jerry will use the ransom money to return the embezzled cash. Problem solved.
Unfortunately, the lunkheads that Jerry hires to do the job are well, lunkheads. The kidnapping goes sideways in more ways than three. People are killed. Jerry’s dad has some stipulations before he’ll cough up the cash to get his daughter back.
Police Chief Marge Gunderson (McDormand) is on the case. Most folks underestimate Marge’s abilities. They look at her and see a small, quiet, pregnant woman… not the intelligent, determined investigator that can see connections in crimes that appear random.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Fargo was nominated for seven Academy Awards, winning one…
When Steve Buscemi’s character says, “In thirty minutes, we will wrap this up” if you time until the end of the movie, it will show thirty minutes have passed.
Although the film is titled, Fargo, most of the movie takes place in Brainerd, Minnesota. The Cohens thought Fargo made a better title than Brainerd.
Frances McDormand and Joel Cohen are married.
Bruce Campbell appears (uncredited) in the background of a scene on a television screen.
Fargo was selected for inclusion in the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress in 2006.
Although the title card at the start of the film indicates it is based on a true case, it’s not.
Fargo has everything you’d expect in a Cohen film: great writing, directing and acting with memorable characters.
Fargo (1996) rates 4 of 5 stars.
Judge Dredd (1995)
Director: Danny Cannon
Screenplay: William Wisher, Jr., Steven E. de Souza, story by Michael De Luca, William Wisher, Jr., based on Judge Dredd by John Wagner & Carlos Ezquerra
Stars: Sylvester Stallone, Armand Assante, Rob Schneider, Jürgen Prochnow, Max von Sydow, Diane Lane, Joanna Miles, Joan Chen, Balthazar Getty, Maurice Roëves, Ian Dury, Christopher Adamson, Ewen Bremner, Peter Marinker, Angus MacInnes, Adrienne Barbeau (voice), Mitchell Ryan, James Remar, Scott Wilson and James Earl Jones (voice).
Tagline: In the future, one man is the law.
The Plot…
In the future the world has become a wasteland. Most of humanity survives in megacities. The rich live well and far above the riffraff below. The justice system changed to meet the challenges of an overtaxed judicial system. Now there are Judges who serve as police officers, judges and executioners.
Judge Dredd (Stallone) is legendary. Although Dredd trains new recruits, and is respected by the Chief Justice, Dredd prefers to be a street Judge.
Judge Dredd is framed when a reporter is killed and Dredd’s DNA is found on the murder weapon. He’s arrested and sentenced to life in prison. Unaware of the depths of the conspiracy (by those close to him) Dredd must prove his innocence. The clock is ticking…
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Sly and the director had different visions for the film. Sly wanted an action/comedy while the director wanted a darker, more serious approach. This didn’t make for a smooth running set.
In the comics, Dredd was never seen without his helmet on. There was no way that the producers were going to pay Stallone’s salary and not have audiences see his face. This upset many comic “purists”.
The scene where Fergie (Schneider) imitates Dredd (Stallone) was improvised.
John Wagner, the co-creator of Judge Dredd, said, “the story (movie) had nothing to do with Judge Dredd, and Judge Dredd wasn’t really Judge Dredd even though Stallone was perfect for the part.”
This was the second time Sly Stallone and Armand Assante played brothers. The first time was in Paradise Alley.
Both Adrienne Barbeau and James Earl Jones voices are heard in the film. James Remar and Scott Wilson appear in the film. None of these four actors are listed in the film’s credits.
It’s unfortunate that Sly, the director and the screenwriters weren’t on the same page in regard to the tone of the film. There wasn’t enough comedy for it to be seen as an action/comedy. The comedy that was there made sure it wasn’t seen as a serious/dark action film.
I’ve enjoyed each new viewing of Judge Dredd a little better as the years go by.
Judge Dredd (1995) rates 3 of 5 stars.
Donald Sutherland died today after a long illness. Mr. Sutherland was 88.
Mr. Sutherland was born in Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada. He wasn’t a healthy child and suffered from rheumatic fever, hepatitis, and polio. After graduating from high school, Donald Sutherland attended Victoria University, where he graduated with a double major in engineering and drama. Mr. Sutherland then decided to pursue a career as an actor so he attended the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art.
Donald Sutherland began to get small roles on British television shows and films. After the success of The Dirty Dozen, and the positive reviews he received, Mr. Sutherland left England for Hollywood. He never looked back. For the rest of his career Donald Sutherland appeared in feature films and television roles.
Over the course of his career Donald Sutherland was nominated for…
Donald Sutherland also won an Honorary Academy Award in 2017.
Television appearances of Donald Sutherland include: Studio 4; Suspense; The Odd Man; The Sentimental Agent; Hamlet at Elsinore; ITV Play of the Week (3 episodes); A Farewell to Arms; Court Martial; Theater 625; Gideon C.I.D.; The Saint (2 episodes); The Avengers; Man in a Suitcase (2 episodes); The Champions; The Name of the Game; Bethune; The Winter of Our Discontent; Buffy the Vampire Slayer; Oldest Living Confederate Widow Tells All; Citizen X; The Simpsons; Uprising; Path to War; Salem’s Lot (2 episodes); Frankenstein (2 episodes); Human Trafficking ( 4 episodes); Commander in Chief (19 episodes); Dirty Sexy Money (23 episodes); The Pillars of Earth (8 episodes); Moby Dick (2 episodes); Treasure Island (2 episodes); Crossing Lines (34 episodes); Ice (6 episodes); Trust (9 episodes); The Undoing (6 episodes); Swimming with Sharks (6 episodes) and Lawman Bass Reeves (8 episodes).
Feature film appearances of Donald Sutherland include: The World Ten Times Over; The Castle of the Living Dead; Dr. Terror’s House of Horror; Die! Die! My Darling!; The Bedford Incident; The Dirty Dozen; The Split; M*A*S*H; Start the Revolution Without Me; Kelly’s Heroes; Johnny Got His Gun; Klute; Don’t Look Now; Alien Thunder; S*P*Y*S; The Day of the Locust; Casanova; The Eagle Has Landed; The Kentucky Fried Movie; National Lampoon’s Animal House; The Great Train Robbery; Invasion of the Body Snatchers; Murder by Decree; Ordinary People; Eye of the Needle; Max Dugan Returns; Heaven Help Us; Lock Up; A Dry White Season; Backdraft; JFK; Six Degrees of Separation; Disclosure; Outbreak; A Time to Kill; Fallen; Without Limits; Virus; Instinct; Space Cowboys; The Art of War; The Italian Job; Cold Mountain; Pride & Prejudice; The Mechanic; The Hunger Games; The Hunger Games: Catching Fire; The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part I; Forsaken; The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2 and Mr. Harrigan’s Phone.
I first saw Donald Sutherland in The Dirty Dozen. After that, I remember Mr. Sutherland showing up as an off-kilter character in M*A*S*H, Kelly’s Heroes and Animal House. When I think of Mr. Sutherland, the first image that comes to mind is the final shot in Invasion of the Body Snatchers. My favorite Donald Sutherland roles are in JFK and Lock Up (he brought gravitas to the film). My favorite movie that Donald Sutherland starred in is Eye of the Needle. Of course he was awesome in so many movies and television series that I wouldn’t argue if you suggested other Donald Sutherland roles. What a career. What a talent.
Out thoughts and prayers go out to Donald Sutherland’s family, friends and fans.
Chisum (1970)
Director: Andrew V. McLaglen
Screenplay: Andrew J. Fenady, based on the short story Chisum and the Lincoln County War by Andrew J. Fenady
Stars: John Wayne, Forrest Tucker, Christopher George, Ben Johnson, Glenn Corbett, Bruce Cabot, Patric Knowles, Richard Jaeckel, Geoffrey Deuel, Pamela McMyler, John Agar, Robert Donner, Ray Teal, Edward Faulkner, Ron Soble, William Conrad (voice), Lee Meriwether and Lynda Day (George).
Tagline: THE LEGEND – John Wayne is “Chisum”
The Plot…
John Chisum (Wayne) and Lawrence Murphy (Tucker) are the biggest land owners in Lincoln County, New Mexico. Murphy has been buying up land and businesses by exerting behind-the-scenes pressure. Murphy goes too far when he pays off the sheriff and hires outlaws to rustle cattle.
Chisum, aided by his trail boss Pepper, along with Billy the Kid and Pat Garrett take a stand against Murphy and his gang.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
John Wayne was 44 years into his career when he made Chisum. Wayne was the #2 Money-Making Box Office Star for 1970. Paul Newman was #1.
Christopher George and Lynda Day had met before, but during filming of Chisum they fell in love and were later married.
The ranch house John Chisum lives in will be reused the following year for Wayne’s ranch house in Big Jake.
This was Geoffrey Deuel’s feature film debut. Geoffrey is Pete Duel’s younger brother. They look enough alike to be twins. Pete changed his last name for professional reasons. Pete would become famous for his role on Alias Smith and Jones. Sadly Pete Jones died from a self-inflicted gunshot on December 31, 1971.
Lee Meriwether’s only appearance in the film is in a photograph in Chisum’s pocket watch.
John Wayne was reportedly disappointed that his stuntman was so obvious in the big fight scene with Forrest Tucker. Tucker’s stunt man was Jim Burk who performed stunts on over 50 movies including Tango & Cash, Conan the Barbarian and Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan.
Chisum is based on the Lincoln County War of 1878. Although fictionalized, several of the characters in the film were based on real people and events.
Chisum (1970) rates 3 of 5 stars.
The Flood (2023)
Director: Brandon Slagle
Screenplay: Chad Law, Josh Ridgway
Stars: Casper Van Dien, Nicky Whelan, Louis Mandylor.
Tagline: Danger is rising.
The Plot…
Sheriff Jo Newman (Whelan) has her hands full. A hurricane is about to hit and the water is rising. A prison transport bus just pulled in. They need to house the prisoners until the storm passes. Little does anyone know, armed outlaws are about to attempt a breakout.
What could make this worse?
The rising waters have brought a nest of alligators into the jail. If the crooks don’t kill ya, the gators will.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
The Flood is a drive-in movie at best. A low-budget genre film with poor CGI, headlined by a star who never quite made the A-List.
The Flood (2023) rates 2 of 5 stars.
Kongo (1932)
Director: William J. Cowen
Screenplay: Leon Gordon based on the play Kongo by Chester De Vonde, Kilbourn Gordon
Stars: Walter Huston, Lupe Velez, Conrad Nagel, Virginia Bruce, C. Henry Gordon, Everett Brown and Forrester Harvey.
Tagline: A MADMAN WREAKS HIS VENGEANCE on a woman’s soul!
The Plot…
Deep in the Kongo jungle, a crippled white man called “Deadlegs” Flint (Huston) rules. Using stage magic to frighten the masses and a few natives (paying them in sugar cubes and booze) to keep the rest in line, Flint is seen as a god.
Flint wasn’t always in a wheelchair. That happened because the man his wife was cheating with crushed his spine in a fight. Now Flint hates the world and lives for the day when he will have the ultimate revenge.
Soon, Flint’s vengeance, years in the making, will come to pass. Only a twist that no one sees coming will change everything.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Kongo is a remake of West of Zanzibar (1928) directed by Tod (Dracula) Browning and starring Lon (The Phantom of the Opera) Chaney. Some exterior footage from West of Zanzibar was re-used in Kongo.
The film’s revenge storyline and the twist are made thanks to Kongo being a pre-code film.
Kongo (1932) rates 3 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 and Nancy by RM Guera. This piece is exceptional. Truly a thing of beauty.
Source: Adam Tomlin.
Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (2024)
Director: George Miller
Screenplay: George Miller, Nico Lathouris, based on characters created by George Miller, Byron Kennedy, Nico Lathouris
Stars: Anya Taylor-Joy, Chris Hemsworth, Tom Burke, Alyla Browne, Lachy Hulme, John Howard, Angus Sampson, Elsa Pataky, Nathan Jones, Josh Helman, Goran D. Kleut and David Field.
Tagline: Fury Is Born.
The Plot…
In an apocalyptic future, we learn the backstory of the warrior woman, Furiosa. Kidnapped as a child by Dementus’ biker gang who murdered her mother, Furiosa was then traded to Citadel Warlord Immortan Joe. Furiosia was doomed. Using her wits and tenacity, Furiosa escapes and plans for the opportunity to get her vengeance.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
George Miller had everything (screenplay, concept art, etc.) in place in regard to Furiosa’s backstory prior to the filming of Mad Max: Fury Road. Fury Road actors were given access so they knew each character’s complete arc.
Chris Hemsworth (Dementus) and Elsa Pataky ( plays two roles: Vuvalini General and Mr Norton) are married in real life.
Where Furiosa takes place in regard to Mad Max and The Road Warrior is hard to pin down since George Miller doesn’t have a strict timeline laid out. Miller views each tale as a legend.
Mad Max: Fury Road was highly anticipated and still exceeded expectations. The belief that Furiosa would raise the bar even higher was prevalent among many fans. While Fury Road is an extended chase, Furiosa is a character study disguised as an action film.
Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (2024) rates 3 of 5 stars.
