Category: Movies

“Sergeant Rutledge” (1960) starring Jeffrey Hunter, Woody Strode & Constance Towers / Z-View

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Sergeant Rutledge (1960)

Director: John Ford

Screenplay: James Warner Bellah, Willis Goldbeck, novelization SERGEANT RUTLEDGE by James Warner Bellah

Stars: Jeffrey Hunter, Woody Strode, Constance Towers, Billie Burke, Juano Hernandez, Willis Bouchey, Carleton Young, Judson Pratt, Phil Adams, Rafer Johnson and Toby Michaels.

Tagline: “I want the truth about that night.”

The Plot…

First Sergeant Braxton Rutledge (Strode) stands accused of the rape and murder of Lucy Dabney (Michaels) and the murder of her father, Major Custis Dabney.  Despite being a respected and decorated soldier, the evidence points to Sergeant Rutledge’s guilt.  He was wounded and seen leaving the scene of the crime before going AWOL.

Now on trial, with an mob ready to hang him, Sergeant Braxton knows he has little hope, despite his claims of innocence.  Who is going to believe a black man when he says he didn’t rape and kill a young white girl and her father?  Lt. Tom Cantrell (Hunter), Rutledge’s commanding officer has everything stacked against him as he works to prove Rutledge is innocent.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

This was Billie (best known as Glinda the Good Witch in The Wizard of Oz) Burke’s last film role.

Rafer Johnson, who plays Corporal Klump, won a Gold Medal in the 1960 Olympics in the decathlon.

Toby Michaels plays Lucy Dabney, the young girl who was raped and murdered.  Michaels is not listed in the credits.

The reveal of who committed the murder is worthy of Perry Mason.

Sergeant Rutledge (1960) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die” (2023) / Z-View

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The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die (2023)

Director: Edward Bazalgette

Screenplay: Martha Hillier based on THE SAXON STORIES by Bernard Cornwell

Stars: Alexander Dreymon, Harry Gilby, Mark Rowley.

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

When Edward, King of the Anglo-Saxons, dies without designating an heir to the throne, it sets off a chain reaction of lessor kings battling to become the one true king.  Expect brother versus brother, double-crosses and deceit.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die (2023) is a spin-off of the The Last Kingdom series which ran for five seasons.  You don’t have to watch the series to enjoy the movie, but it probably would enhance the film if you did. (I had not seen the series prior to watching the film.)

The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die (2023) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“Under Paris” (2024) / Z-View

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Under Paris (2024)

Director: Xavier Gens

Screenplay: Yannick Dahan, Xavier Gens, Maud Heywang, Yaël Langmann

Stars: Bérénice Bejo, Nassim Lyes.

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

Three years ago Sophia, a marine researcher, barely survived a shark attack that killed everyone else in her group. Now Sophia, still not fully recovered from the attack, works at an aquarium in Paris. She keeps up with the location of the killer shark thanks to a tracking beacon on it.

When the beacon shows the shark has traveled into the Seine River, Sophia can’t get anyone to believe her.  When mutilated bodies begin to appear, it becomes clear that sharks have mutated and are indeed in the river.  Despite this, the mayor refuses to cancel a huge event that includes a triathlon in the, you guessed, Seine River.

Didn’t anyone learn anything from Jaws, Jaws II, Jaws 3-D and Jaws: The Revenge?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Under Paris suffers from bad cgi, cliched characters and supposedly smart characters who die because of simply stupid choices.  The mayor knows there are mutated sharks in the river and still allows hundreds of swimmers to compete there.  A “smart” woman who has survived several shark attacks and has had her boat destroyed decides to swim towards the shark feeding frenzy.  Bombs from World War II are inadvertently detonated by sharks destroying bridge after bridge.  And so on…

I made it through the whole thing so it barely earns a 2 star rating.

After writing this, I saw a Tweet (er, X) from Stephen King which read…

I thought UNDER PARIS would be a jokey movie, like SHARKNADO, but Twitter convinced me to give it a watch, and it’s really quite good. The last 25 minutes were amazing.

Now, I’m not one to argue with Stephen King.  My opinion stands, as does King’s.  So, I’ll just say, “Your mileage may vary.”

Under Paris (2024), (for me) rates 2 of 5 stars.

RIP: Tony Lo Bianco

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Tony Lo Bianco, award-winning actor of stage and screen, died June 11, 2024. Mr. Lo Bianco was 87.

Tony Lo Bianco graduated from William E. Grady CTE High School.  He then attended the Dramatic Workshop, where he studied acting and theater production.  In 1963, Tony Lo Bianco founded the Triangle Theater where he served as the artistic director for six years.

In 1963, Mr. Lo Bianco made his first television appearance in an episode of The Doctors.  In 1964, he performed as an understudy on the Broadway play Incident at Vichy.  In 1965, Tony Lo Bianco appeared in the Broadway production of Tartuffe.  Mr. Lo Bianco followed that with a starring role in The Royal Hunt of the Sun on Broadway.  Tony Lo Bianco’s film debut came in 1965 in The Sex Perils of Paulette.

For the rest of his career Tony Lo Bianco would appear on stage, television and in feature films. In 1975, Mr. Lo Bianco won an OBIE (Off Broadway Theater) Award in the category Distinguished Performance by an Actor for Yanks-3, Detroit-0, Top of the Seventh.  In 1983, he was nominated for a Tony Award and won the Outstanding Actor in a Play Award for the Outer Critics Circle for his performance in A View from a Bridge.  In 1985, he won a New York Emmy for Outstanding Individual Crafts for his performance in Hizzoner!

Television appearances of Tony Lo Bianco include: The Doctors; Get Smart; Hawk; NYPD (2 episodes); Hidden Faces; Love of Life; Madigan; The Story of Jacob and Joseph; The Streets of San Francisco; Jesus of Nazareth (4 episodes); Police Story (6 episodes); Magee and the Lady; Champions: A Love Story; A Last Cry for Help; Marciano; Marco Polo (2 episodes); Another Woman’s Child; The Paper Chase; Hizzoner!; The Twilight Zone (1985); Welcome Home Bobby; Blood Ties; Police Story: The Freeway Killings; Night Heat; The Ann Jillian Story; CBS Summer Playhouse; Perry Mason: The Case of the Poisoned Pen; Fredrick Forsythe Presents; Palace Guard (8 episodes); Murder, She Wrote (2 episodes); The Maharaja’s Daughter (4 episodes); Homicide: Life on the Street (3 episodes); Tyson; F/X: The Series; Rocky Marciano; Walker, Texas Ranger; Law & Order (3 episodes); Law & Order: Criminal Intent and Somewhere in Queens.

Feature film appearances of Tony Lo Bianco include: The Sex Perils of Paulette; The Honeymoon Killers; The French Connection; Serpico; The Seven Ups; FIST; Bloodbrothers; City Heat; City of Hope; Boiling Point; Nixon; The Juror; Mafia!; The Day the Ponies Came Back; Friends and Family and Kill the Irishman.

I don’t remember the first time I saw Tony Lo Bianco.  I do remember it seemed he came from nowhere and was holding his own with big name stars: Hackman in The French Connection, Pacino in Serpico, Roy Schneider in The Seven Ups, Sly Stallone in FIST, Eastwood and Reynold in City Heat.  My favorite role is probably his performance as Babe Milano in FIST.  I need to revisit Bloodbrothers.  I remember really liking that film (that had Richard Gere, Paul Sorvino and Tony Lo Bianco as its stars).  It’s evidence of Mr. Lo Bianco’s  talent that he could move from stage to television to feature films with ease.

Out thoughts and prayers go out to Tony LoBianco’s family, friends and fans.

“Tomorrow is Another Day” (1951) starring Ruth Roman & Steve Cochran / Z-View

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Tomorrow is Another Day (1951)

Director: Felix E. Feist

Screenplay: Art Cohn, Guy Endore, story by Guy Endore

Stars: Ruth Roman, Steve Cochran, Lurene Tuttle, Hugh Sanders, Ray Teal, Morris Ankrum, John Kellogg, Walter Sande, Philip Carey and Lee Patrick.

Tagline: They take their lives in their hands… when they take each other in their arms!

The Plot…

Bill Clark (Cochran) was thirteen when he murdered his abusive father.  That was 18 years ago.  Clark is now 31 and just released from prison.  Although a man, Clark still has the naivety of a child.  Clark quickly learns that life as an ex-con won’t be easy.

When Clark meets a dance hall girl named Cathy (Roman), straight away he’s attracted to her.  Cathy rejects his offers of dinner, saying that she prefers gifts.  When Cathy gets off work, Clark is waiting.  He gives her a beautiful watch.  After a night on the town, Cathy invites Clark up to her apartment.

Almost immediately after they enter, George Conover (Sanders), Cathy’s “boyfriend” busts in.  Conover pulls a gun and orders Clark to leave.  Clark goes for the gun and in the struggle the gun is dropped and Clark is knocked  unconscious.  Cathy grabs the gun and instinctively shoots George when he lunges for her.  George staggers out and into a taxi headed for the hospital.

Clark comes to.  Cathy asks him what he remembers, which is everything leading up to the struggle for the gun.  Cathy leads Clark to believe that he was the one who shot New York Detective George Conover.  When they learn that Conover has died from his wounds and the police have launched an investigation, Cathy and Clark decide to take off.

If they’re caught Cathy will let Clark take the rap.  And if they make a clean getaway, she can always dump him.  Funny how the best made plans…

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Both John Garfield and Burt Lancaster were considered for the role of Bill Clark.

Tomorrow is Another Day has the set-up to be a classic noir film.  Bill Clark was an abused kid who did time in prison but wants to now lead a good life.  He meets up with a beautiful woman that he’s drawn to, but she takes advantage of the relationship.  When she murders another lover, she lets Bill think that he did the crime.  They go on the run.  Everything lining up to be an excellent noir.  Then in the last couple of scenes we get an ending that makes everything “sunshine and roses” (as Rocky Balboa would say).  Still, Tomorrow is Another Day isn’t a bad film, just one that falls short of being really good.

Tomorrow is Another Day (1951) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“Godzilla Minus One” (2023) / Z-View

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Godzilla Minus One (2023)

Director: Takashi Yamazaki

Screenplay: Takashi Yamazaki

Stars: Ryunosuke Kamiki, Minami Hamabe.

Tagline: Postwar Japan. From zero to minus.

The Plot…

1945.  World War II is nearing the end.  Kōichi Shikishima, a Japanese kamikazi pilot lands his plane on Odo island for repairs.  There is nothing wrong with his plane.  The truth is that Kōichi was afraid to finish his mission.  That night a giant prehistoric-looking creature comes ashore.  It attacks the Japanese stronghold.  Try as they might, the creature is impervious to anything the soldiers can do.  Kōichi is too afraid to help.  The next morning he is one of the only two to survive Godzilla’s attack.

The war ends.  Kōichi returns home to Tokyo.  He discovers his parents were both killed in a bombing. Kōichi meets a homeless woman with an orphaned child. He brings them to his home. As time goes by they become more of a family, but Kōichi still feels like a coward.

Reports of Godzilla attacking ships becomes more frequent.  The government fears Godzilla will come on land and wipeout entire cities.  Nothing has been able to stop the giant creature.  Then the worst is reported, Godzilla is heading inland.

Will Kōichi get a chance to redeem himself and save his country?  What do you think?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

The title, Godzilla Minus One, refers to Japan being taken “down to zero” after World War II.  Godzilla’s attacks on the country take it even lower.  This minus one.

After seeing the trailer and the great reviews for Godzilla Minus One I was excited to see the film.  The scenes of Godzilla’s attacks and the destruction caused by the monster are the best in any Godzilla film ever.  This is where Godzilla Minus One shines.  I wanted more of that.  It almost felt like I was watching a more adult film during Godzilla’s attacks and a movie aimed at kids with the Kōichi subplot.

Godzilla Minus One (2023) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” (2024) / Z-View

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Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes (2024)

Director: Wes Ball

Screenplay: Josh Friedman, based on characters by Rick Jaffa, Amanda Silver premise from PLANET OF THE APES by Pierre Boulle

Stars: Owen Teague, Freya Allan, Kevin Durand, Peter Macon, Travis Jeffery, Neil Sandilands, Karin Konoval and William H. Macy.

Tagline: No One Can Stop the Reign

The Plot…

The planet has been ruled by apes for generations.  Most apes live in small peaceful communities. Humans have lost the ability to speak. They survive in nomadic groups… not even organized enough to be called tribes.

One ape, Proximus Caesar has proclaimed himself king.  Proximus sends his warrior apes out to capture both apes and humans to be used as his slaves.  When Noa, a young ape, returns home one afternoon, he finds his village destroyed.  Proximus’ apes have killed or captured everyone.

Noa sets out to find and free his family.  Along the way he is joined by a wise orangutan named Raka and a human they name Nova.  What they don’t know is Nova hides a secret.

Their journey takes them to Proximus Caesar’s kingdom.  They learn that Proximus is close to breaking into an ancient human facility.  If he’s not stopped, Proximus will gain power to make him unbeatable.  But what chance do Noa, Raka and Nova have against a kingdom of apes?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

I’ve been a fan of The Planet of the Apes franchise since the original was released in 1968.  There have been highs and lows, but I’m always along for the ride.

Quite a bit of time is used to set up Noa’s community life.  I wish we could have gotten to Proximus Caesar’s kingdom sooner and spent more time there.  I didn’t particularly care for Nova’s secret.  It was kind of obvious and then when the reveal came there wasn’t much time to explore the ramifications.  I guess THAT sets up the next sequel.

Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes (2024) rates 3 of 5 stars.

When Death Came for Frank Miller by Anthony Breznican for Vanity Fair!

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Anthony Breznican at Vanity Fair recently sat down with Frank Miller for an no-holds-barred interview.  Miller, the comics genius behind Sin City, Dark Knight Returns, Batman Year One, 300, Ronin, and so much more openly discussed his addiction, recovery as well as upcoming projects.  This interview, When Death Came for Frank Miller is not to be missed.

Congratulations to Frank Miller for his health comeback.  The Sin City western is music to my ears.

“Assassins” (1995) directed by Richard Donner, starring Sylvester Stallone, Antonio Banderas & Julianne Moore / Z-View

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Assassins (1995)

Director: Richard Donner

Screenplay: Lilly Wachowski (as Andy Wachowski) & Lana Wachowski (as Larry Wachowski) and Brian Helgeland from a story by Lilly & Lana Wachoswski

Stars: Sylvester Stallone, Antonio Banderas, Julianne Moore, Anatoli Davydov, Muse Watson, Steve Kahan, Kelly Rowan, Reed Diamond, Kai Wulff and Stephen Liska.

Tagline: In the shadows of life, In the business of death, One man found a reason to live…

The Plot…

Robert Rath (Stallone) is a hitman ready to retire.  Working as an assassin has taken a toll even though Rath has a moral code. He refuses to murder women, children and men undeserving to die.

Miguel Bain (Banderas) is an assassin who loves his job… he wants to be the best hitman in the world.  Bain considers Rath number one… for now.

As Rath prepares to take out a mark, he is shocked when Bain assassinates his target.  The two exchange gunfire until the police arrive.  Rath realizes that Bain is determined to kill him.  He also learns that Bain’s other target is a woman known as Electra (Moore).   Rath plans to save Electra and eliminate Bain.

Of course Bain has other plans…

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

The Wachowski’s sold their Assassins screenplay to Joel Silver at the same time he bought their screenplay for The Matrix (for one million dollars each).  Silver wanted Richard Donner to direct and offered him ten million dollars.  Donner refused unless the screenplay’s violence was toned down and Rath was made more sympathetic.  Silver brought in Brian (L.A. Confidential) Helgeland to adjust the script.

The Wachowski’s didn’t like the changes and asked for their names to be removed from the credits.  The request was denied by the Writers Guild Association.

Donner praised Stallone and Banderas for their performances: “I thought Stallone did one of the best jobs he’s ever done. He totally underplayed, he was quiet, he found the character and he went with it. I thought Antonio Banderas was wonderful.”

Electra’s cat is the same feline that appeared with Stallone in The Specialist.

I am a huge fan of the opening scene when Rath is walking an assassin deep into a swamp to execute him. Their dialogue tells us all we need to know about Rath and his business.

Kudos to Banderas for his manic performance as the hitman who wants to be the best.

I’d always hoped that Richard Donner and Sly Stallone would work together.

Assassins (1995) rates 4 of 5 stars.