Category: Authors

PUSH THE WALL by Frank Miller / Z-View

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PUSH THE WALL by Frank Miller Hardcover: 224 pages Publisher: S&S/Saga Press First sentences…
How to start a story? At the ending. Know your ending. I repeat: Know your ending.
The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

If you know of Frank Miller, it could be for any number of reasons.  Perhaps it was because of the comics he took to new heights (Daredevil; The Dark Knight Returns; Batman: Year One) or those groundbreaking comics that he created (Ronin; Sin City; 300) to name just a few.  Maybe you know Miller from his work as a writer and/or director on feature films (Sin City; 300; Robocop 2 and Robocop 3; The Spirit).  Miller revolutionized comics.  Then he went to Hollywood.  He’s considered a living legend.

PUSH THE WALL is Miller’s memoir.  Through stories and remembrances he takes us back to his childhood in Vermont.  Wanting to be a comic artist from an early age.  Coming to New York City and discovering he’s not ready.  Getting work.  Getting lucky.  Honing his craft.  Getting better and wanting to be better still.  Success that took him to the stratosphere.  Expectations that rose as well.  Falling short.  Going to Hollywood.  Again success… and failure.  Getting back to what he loves… comics.  With more stories to tell.

Miller set the book up as a series of lessons.  These are lessons that he learned and can be used by other writers/artists to improve their craft.  Miller’s anecdotes are both entertaining and enlighting.  We get a glimpse behind the curtain of Miller’s thought processes, as well as the artists, comics, books and movies that influenced him.  All told in a writing style that makes you feel as he’s talking to you.

The more of a Frank Miller fan you are, the more you will like the book.

Rating:

RIP: Dolly Parton

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Dolly Parton, the singer, songwriter, actress, business woman and philanthropist died today.  Ms. Parton was 80.  No cause of death was given.

Dolly Parton was born in a one-room cabin in Pittman Center, Tennesse.  She was the fourth of twelve children.  Dolly’s father worked as a sharecropper, and tended to his own small tobacco farm.  Her mother stayed at home to take care of the family.

Dolly’s singing talent was recognized at an early age.  By the time she was ten Dolly sang regularly on local radio programs.  When Dolly was thirteen she sang at the Grand Ole Opry and released a single through a small recording label.  The day after she graduated high school, Dolly moved to Nashville.

Dolly was first recognized as a successful songwriter, often teaming with her Uncle, Bill Owens.  Several of her (and their) songs became top hits for recording stars such as Bill Phillips, Hank Williams Jr. and Skeeter Davis.   In 1967, Dolly became a regular on The Porter Wagner Show.  Dolly and Wagner released a top ten single the same year.  It became the first of their six consecutive top ten hits.

Dolly’s first solo number one hit came in 1970 when “Joshua” topped the country music charts.  As her hits continued, her fan base expanded beyond country music devotees.  In 1976, Dolly hosted a variety television series.  After one season, despite good ratings, Dolly asked to be released from her contract due to stress on her vocal cords.

In 1980, Dolly appeared in her first feature film, 9 to 5.  Dolly also wrote and sang the film’s title song.  For her efforts, Dolly received nominations for a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Musical or Comedy and a Golden Globe Award for New Star of the Year – Actress. Her song received nominations for an Academy Award for Best Song and a Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song.  The song, which hit #1 won the Grammy Award for Best Female Country Vocal Performance and the Grammy Award for Best Country Song.

Dolly would continue to record songs, tour, headline on television and in feature films.  Her themepark, Dollywood, opened in 1986.  Dolly wrote three memoirs/autobiographies, co-authored a mystery with James Patterson, a cookbook with her sister, and five children’s books.  In 1995, Dolly started the Imagination Station, which sends books free of charge monthly to children from birth to the age of five.  Currently over 3 million books are mailed out each month.

Dolly Parton was known for her generous philanthropy.  In addition to her Imagination Station, Dolly donated to and helped raise money for many clinics and hospitals, PETA, the American Eagle foundation, victims of the 2016 Great Smokey Mountain fires, Pediatric cancer programs, hurricane relief, COVID research and many, many more programs.

Dolly Parton was one of a kind.  Her rise to international fame and success in every area she ventured is remarkable.  As talented as she was, it is her humanitarianism that impresed me the most.  Dolly was kind, humble and loved by all.  We will not soon see her like again.

Out thoughts and prayers go out to Dolly Parton’s family, friends and fans.

CASSIDY’S GIRL by David Goodis / Z-View

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CASSIDY’S GIRL by David Goodis

First sentence…

It was raining in Philadelphia as Cassidy worked the bus through heavy traffic on Market Street.

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

A few years ago Jim Cassidy was flying high.  Literally.  Cassidy was a well paid airline pilot.  Life was good.  Really good.

But that was then.

Cassidy was piloting a plane that crashed.  78 people were on board.  Eleven survived.  Cassidy was one of them.  The airline needed a scapegoat.  Cassidy was made to order.  They said Cassidy had been to a party the night before.  He had.  They said when he was flying the plane that crashed, he was drunk.  He wasn’t.

That didn’t matter.  Cassidy was fired.  He lost his pilot’s license and was lucky not to be put on trial.

Since then Cassidy’s life spiraled.  He lost everything.  He drank too much.  Way too much.  After a night of of boozing it up, he and Mildred, another drunk, got married.  It was a match made in hell.

Cassidy drives a bus by day while Mildred spends the time at a nearby bar drinking.  Cassidy comes home to find her drunk or still at the bar.  Then he starts drinking.  They fight.  Have sex.  Rinse and repeat.

Then Cassidy finds Mildred and Haney Kenrick getting friendly at the bar. Cassidy decides he’s had enough.  He tells Mildred he’s leaving her.  She asks for another chance.  Even though Cassidy is done, Kenrick wants Cassidy out of the way…

… and Kenrick has a plan.

+++

David Goodis takes us into a world of drunks, schemers and losers beaten down by the world and their own frailties.  CASSIDY’S GIRL is noir at it’s darkest.  I like the duality of the title. If I have any nit to pick, it is the ending is a bit too pat and upbeat for all that has come before.

This is my third Goodis novel and he’s yet to disappoint.

Rating:

“The Long Walk” (2025) / Z-View

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The Long Walk (2025)

Director: Francis Lawrence

Screenplay:  JT Mollner; based on THE LONG WALK by Stephen King.

Stars:  Cooper Hoffman, David Jonsson, Garrett Wareing, Tut Nyuot, Charlie Plummer, Ben Wang, Jordan Gonzalez, Roman Griffin Davis, Josh Hamilton, Judy Greer and Mark Hamill.

Tagline: The task is simple: Walk or Die

The Plot…

Following a civil war, the US has become a military dictatorship.  Each year and event known as The Long Walk is held.  Fifty boys, one from each state, is randomly selected to particpate in the televised event.

The boys are given food and water.  Once The Long Walk starts it goes until there is one winner.  Participants must walk at a sustained speed of atleast 3 miles per hour.   Fall below that speed and a warning is issued.  After the third warning, the walker is executed.

The Long Walk ends when only one person left.  The winner gets a big cash prize and one wish answered.  The event is held to inspire patriotism and work ethic in a country working to recover from a great economic depression.

Friendships are formed as the boys begin their trek… but there can be only one survivor.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

In Stephen King’s novel the participants must maintain a walking speed of 4mph.  King asked that the speed be changed to 3mph for the movie.  He felt that 4mph was unrealistic for the distance they had to cover.

Way back in 1988, George “Night of the Living Dead” was attached to direct an adaptation of The Long Walk.

In a cast of exceptional actors, David Jonsson and Mark Hamill are standouts.

Kudos also to JT Mollner for his excellent screenplay.

I thought the ending was the weakest part of an exceptional movie.  I have since learned that there was an alternate ending.  I would have preferred the alternate ending much more. ***SPOILER ALERT***  In  the alterate ending, Pete spares the Major’s life. A postscript reveals Pete mails three envelopes filled with cash are mailed each month to Hank’s widow, Ray’s mother, and Art’s grandmother.

The Long Walk (2025) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“The Deputy” starring Duke Nicholson​, William H. Macy, Tiffany Haddish, Stephen Dorff, Devon Ross, Julia Fox, and Billie Lourd – The Poster & Trailer are Here!

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Here are the poster and trailer for The Deputy.  

The film is based on THE DEPUTY by Victor Gischler.  I read the book when it first came out and loved it.  If Gischler’s name sounds familiar, you may remember that Fast Charlie, the film starring Pierce Brosnan, was based on Gischler’s novel GUN MONKEYS (which I thought was better than the film).

Here’s to hoping the movie is as good as the novel.

THE DEPUTY | Official Trailer | Starring Duke Nicholson

In Theaters & On Digital September 25
Film Page: https://wellgousa.com/films/deputy

Chief Kreuger (William H. Macy) assigns rookie Deputy Toby Sawyer (Duke Nicholson) to guard a dead body. But when the corpse vanishes, Toby launches a frantic search that unearths decades of small-town rot. Pressured to look the other way, Toby finds a lone ally in Deputy Amanda Jackson (Tiffany Haddish) and sets his sights to unravel a lethal web of corruption to clear his name in a town where secrets stay buried.

Directed by Matt Sukkar
Starring Duke Nicholson​, William H. Macy, Tiffany Haddish, Stephen Dorff, Devon Ross, Julia Fox, and Billie Lourd

“Slayground” (1983) starring Peter Coyote / Z-View

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Slayground  (1983)

Director:  Terry Bedford

Screenplay: Trevor Preston; based on SLAYGROUND by Richard Stark

Stars:  Peter Coyote, Mel Smith, Billie Whitelaw.

Tagline: Welcome to Your Funeral

The Plot…

Stone is a career criminal.  He’s ready to walk away from his next planned armed robbery because his regular getaway driver is unavailable.  Stone’s partner has another wheelman for the job and convinces Stone to go through it.

Big mistake.

The new driver is inexperienced.  During the getaway, he causes a crash that kills a nine-year-old girl.  The girl’s father is a millionaire.  He hires a hitman to find and murder the men responsible for his daughter’s death.

The killer is relentless and the girl’s father has money to pay whatever the cost.  When Stone learns there is a price on his head, he goes on the run.

But there is no where he can hide.  The killer is closing in.

Stone… welcome to your funeral.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Slayground is based on the novel of the same name by Richard Stark (Donald Westlake).  Except for the title, little else from Stark’s novel makes it onscreen.

When the film was released I thought it was another killer at a carnival movie.  Years later I learned it was based on the Parker novels by Richard Stark.  So I gave it a go only to find out it had little to do with the Stark’s novel.  Meh.

Slayground  (1983) rates 2 of 5 stars.

“Project Hail Mary” starring Ryan Gosling / Z-View

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Project Hail Mary (2026)

Director:  Phil Lord, Christopher Miller

Screenplay: Drew Goddard; based on PROJECT HAIL MARY by Andy Weir

Stars:  Ryan Gosling, Sandra Hüller, James Ortiz, Lionel Boyce and Milana Vayntrub .

Tagline: Believe in the Hail Mary

The Plot…

2032.  Scientists discover that every star in our solar system, except one is dimming.  In approximately thirty years our planet will cool to an apocalyptic level. Plants will die.  Nations will face food shortages.  Countries will go to war over dwindling resources.  In no time the majority of the human population will perish.

Unless.

A crew of three scientists have been sent to the orbit of the one star that is not dimming.  The trio will awaken from suspended animation and hopefully determine why this star is uneffected.  They will then send a message to Earth with the answer to save our planet.  This mission is Earth’s only chance. It’s a longshot.  That’s why the mission is named Hail Mary.

That was the plan.

The biggest problem is only one of the scientists, Ryland Grace, survives suspended animation.  The other two died in transit. Four years ago Grace was a middle school teacher.  Before that he was a molecular biologist.  When Grace wrote a paper that went against traditional scientific thought, he was ridiculed. Grace left science behind for a career in teaching.

Ironically, it was the Grace’s paper that brought him to the attention of the “multi-national” task force brought together for the “save the world” project. Grace’s out of the box thinking solved initial problems.  That and some unexpected challenges got Grace the job as the third to make the trip.

The plan was the other two scientists would do the bulk of the “heavy lifting” since Grace had zero experience on a space craft.  With the other two dead, Grace thinks his chances of success can’t get much worse.

Then he sees an alien spacecraft slowly approaching…

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Project Hail Mary is based on Andy Weir’s award-winning New York Times best-seller.  It is the second film based on a Weir novel.  The first was THE MARTIAN.   Weir is famous for a number of reasons — one of my favorite is Weir makes sure the science he uses is on point.

I was surprised at how good Project Hail Mary turned out.  Kudos to all invovled.

Very little CGI was used for “Rocky” — he and his movements were all done through practical effects and puppetry.

Project Hail Mary rightfully has earned box office and critical success.

Project Hail Mary (2026) rates 5 of 5 stars.

EVERYBODY KNOWS by Jordan Harper / Z-View

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EVERYBODY KNOWS by Jordan Harper

First sentence…

Los Angeles burns.

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

Mae Pruett is a “black-bag” publicist working for Mitnick & Associates, the most powerful PR firm in LA.  Her job is not to spread positive news about clients. It’s to make sure that harmful, incriminating items about clients don’t get out.  Hollywood insiders call her PR firm “The Beast”.  Everyone working there is good.  Mae is one of the best.

Mae learned early on that it’s not that the truth is unimportant — it’s that the truth doesn’t matter.

Dan Hennigan, Mae’s mentor, gives Mae a cryptic message.  Dan wants to meet with Mae away from the firm.  Before they can meet Dan is gunned down in a failed car jacking.

Or so it seems.

Mae believes that Dan’s murder was anything but random.  If Dan was killed for what he knew, those behind Dan’s murder might believe Dan passed the information on to Mae.  Mae needs to know, so she begins an off-the-books investigation.

Chris Tamburro used to be Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department deputy.  Chris lost his badge after a controversial shooting.  Truth is, Chris and many on his squad could have been fired over other brutal and unethical activities.  Chris now works for Black Guard, a security firm that has ties to “The Beast”.  Chris is the perfect hire.  He’s an ex-cop, unafraid to use his tactical training, knowledge of the law, and willingness to bust heads as needed.

When Black Guard sends Chris to investiage Dan Hennigan’s murder, he crosses paths with Mae.  Chris and Mae had history, but it’s been a few years.  As Mae and Chris follow leads, they discover they still have chemistry… and Dan’s murder wasn’t random.

Now Mae and Chris have a choice. Walk away and go back to their lives protecting wealthy executives, celebs, politicians and influencers who feel they are above the law.  Or follow their leads and try to take down a powerful cabal behind human trrafficking,  blackmail, murder and more.

Mae and Chris aren’t going to walk away.

+++

Jordan Harper has another winner.  EVERYBODY KNOWS is fast paced and well written.  Harper spins a tale that takes us behind the curtain and could have come from today’s headlines.  EVERYBODY KNOWS gets my highest recommendation.

Rating:

THE GUN MAN JACKSON SWAGGER: A WESTERN by Stephen Hunter

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THE GUN MAN JACKSON SWAGGER: A WESTERN by Stephen Hunter

First sentences…

The sun was a blowtorch, scorching the Arizona Territory crisp.  Sagebrush, some living, some dead, bounced indifferently about the raw landscape.  While most of America prospered in the wonderful year of 1897, here vegetation turned brittle while the once abundant and variegated cacti had retreated within themselves, their spindly arms forming structures more appropriate to crucifixion than blossom.

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

1897.  The Arizona Territory.  Due to a prolonged draught survival is tough.  Homes and even towns are left abandoned when residents left for a better climate.  Only rare rough railroad construction towns called railheads and Colonel Callahan’s massive ranch thrive.

Railheads are not towns really.  More like flophouses, whorehouses and taverns clustered together.  They’re inhabited by the lawless, rough railroad construction workers who come in to spend their week’s pay.

Colonel Callahan’s ranch prospers.  It’s the largest spread in the Arizona territory.  Callahan makes a good living raising and marketing his cattle. But cattle isn’t all Callahan deals in.  He’s also has secret (and illegal) dealings across the border in Mexico.  Callahan employs ranch hands, cowboys, but most importantly gunmen.  The only job these gunfighters have is to protect all that Callahan owns.  Callahan’s top man and best with a gun is Tom Voth.

When a cowboy rides in looking for work, Voth is ready to send him on his way.  The stranger says his name is Jack.  Jack looks like a drifter.  Hardened, yes.  Tough looking yes.  But old.  Jack must be pushing sixty.  Voth says, unless Jack is good with a gun, they can’t use him.    Jack says he’s good with a gun and calm when bullets fly.  Voth is doubtful.  Jack doesn’t wear a gun.  Turns out Jack pawned his guns to survive.

Voth calls for a rife.  Jack takes the carbine and proceeds to amaze Voth with his shooting accuracy.  Voth takes Jack to Mr. Callahan for a final interview.  Callahan is impressed and hires Jack.

What they don’t know is the drifter Jack is actually Jack Swagger a feared gunfighter and he’s come to Callahan’s ranch on a personal mission.

Saddle up!

+++

I’m a fan of Stephen Hunter’s Swagger novels.  It is such a cool idea to follow the Swagger family tree.  It allows Hunter to write novels in different eras that are anchored by the Swagger family.

So far we have…

  • Jackson Swagger: a cowboy in the 1890s
  • Charles Swagger: a World War II sniper
  • Earl Swagger: a famous Arkansas State Trooper and Charles’ son
  • Bob Lee Swagger: a legendary sniper in Viet Nam pulled in to several adventures after the war.  He is Earl’s son.
  • Ray Cruz: a FBI agent and Bob Lee’s son.

Stephen Hunter’s Swagger novel are instant purchases for me.  I’ve loved every one.  THE GUN MAN JACKSON SWAGGER: A WESTERN is another winner.

Rating:

“The Dead Zone” directed by David Cronenberg; starring Christopher Walken, Brooke Adams, Tom Skerritt, Herbert Lom, Anthony Zerbe, Colleen Dewhurst and Martin Sheen / Z-View

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The Dead Zone (1983)

Director: David Cronenberg

Screenplay:  Jeffrey Boam; based on THE DEAD ZONE by Stephen King

Stars:  Christopher Walken, Brooke Adams, Tom Skerritt, Herbert Lom, Anthony Zerbe, Colleen Dewhurst and Martin Sheen.

Tagline: In his mind, he has the power to see the future. In his hands, he has the power to change it.

The Plot…

Everything is going great for Johnny.  He’s got a job teaching at a local school.  He’s in love with Sarah, a teacher at the same school and she’s in love with him.  Soon they will be married.

After a date with Sarah, as Johnny is driving home, a freak auto accident occurs.  Johnny survives, but is left in a coma.  When Johnny wakes up…

… FIVE YEARS HAVE PASSED.

Johnny has lost more than time.  He learns Sarah is married and has a child.  The wreck left him with a limp.  His full physical recovery will take time.  Yes, Johnny lost a lot.  But he also gained a power.  When Johnny makes physical contact with a person, he sometimes sees glimpses of their future.

Rumors spread about the man who cheated death who can now see the future.  Some people are doubtful.  Others think Johnny has been granted evil powers.  Still others want Johnny to see their future so they can gain from the insight.

Sheriff Bannerman is skeptical, but has nothing to lose.   A serial killer continues to kill and leaves no clues.  Johnny reluctantly agrees to assist Bannerman.  Along the way, Johnny discovers something even more deadly than a sadistic killer.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

When Johnny first discovers his new power, he sees a child trapped in a burning room.  As Johnny witnesses this vision, sweat breaks out all over his face.  The “sweat” is actually a flame retardant put on Christopher Walken to protect him from the flames.  It turned out to be a happy accident since it created a cool effect that wasn’t intentional.

THE DEAD ZONE  was the first Stephen King novel to reach #1 on the best selling hardcover list.

Christopher Walken was an excellent choice to play Johnny.

Martin Sheen plays Greg Stillson, a shyster politician running for President. Sixteen years later, Sheen began playing President Josiah Bartlet on the West Wing.

The Dead Zone is my favorite film directed by David Cronenberg.

The Dead Zone (1983) rates 5 of 5 stars.

DOWN THERE aka SHOOT THE PIANO PLAYER by David Goodis / Z-View

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SHOOT THE PIANO PLAYER by David Goodis

First sentences…

There were no street lamps, no lights at all.  It was a narrow street in the Port Richmond section of Philadelphia.  From the nearby Delaware a cold wind came lancing in, telling all the alley cats they’d better find a heated cellar.  The late November gusts rattled against the midnight-darkened windows, and stabbed at the eyes of the fallen man in the street.

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

Eddie Lynn is a piano player in a small jazz club. Eddie comes in each night, plays the piano and keeps to himself. Eddie is an enigma. Always quiet.  Never talks about his past.  But boy, can he make the piano sing.

One night when Eddie is playing, a man rushes in. He’s Eddie’s estranged brother on the run from two thugs who aren’t far behind. Eddie wants no part of his brother’s problem, yet he can’t stand by and do nothing. The choice to get involved will expose Eddie’s past, drag him into a world of crime and result in several murders.

Will Eddie survive?

+++

DOWN THERE, David Goodis’ classic crime novel was written in 1956.  It was adapted into a 1960 French film by François Truffaut.  The film was titled Shoot the Piano Player. Some reprints of Goodis’ novel use the SHOOT THE PIANO PLAYER title.

Although based on David Goodis’ classic noir novel, DOWN THERE, the screenplay makes significant changes to the protagonist.  In the movie his name is Charlie, in the novel it is Eddie. In the movie Charlie is small, shy and passive.  In the novel, Eddie is physically imposing and he projects confidence.  Eddie chooses to be private for an unknown reason.  Charlie is naturally introverted.

I like the film adaptation, but the novel is better.  Much better.

DOWN THERE is one of my all-time favorite novels.  It’s hardboiled noir at its best.

Rating:

“Jack Ryan: Ghost War” (2026) starring John Krasinski / Z-View

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Jack Ryan: Ghost War (2026)

Director: Andrew Bernstein

Screenplay:  Aaron Rabin, John Krasinski story by Noah Oppenheim, John Krasinski; based on characters created by Tom Clancy

Stars:  John Krasinski, Wendell Pierce, Michael Kelly, Max Beesley, JJ Feild, Douglas Hodge, Betty Gabriel and Sienna Miller

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

Jack Ryan successfully left the CIA and found success working on Wall Street.

Or so he thought.

James Greer, his friend and former teammate, is now the CIA’s Deputy Director.  So when Greer asks Ryan to facilitate a package pick-up from Nigel Cooke in Dubai, Ryan doesn’t refuse.

All seems well at the pick-up.   Cooke passes Ryan what looks like a package of cigarettes.  Suddenly Cooke is killed by an assassin.  Liam Crown, a former off-the-books CIA operative, is behind the murder.  Although Crown’s ultimate goal is unknown, it quickly becomes clear that he has put together a network of killers.

It becomes a race against time.  Will Ryan and Greer untangle the mystery behind Crown’s plan before it is too late?

The clock is ticking.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

John Krazinski played Jack Ryan in four seasons (30 episodes) of the Jack Ryan television series before starring in this feature film.  While I enjoyed the film, the tv series is better.

Although author Tom Clancy, who created Jack Ryan, died in 2013, he was given an Executive Producer credit on Jack Ryan: Ghost War.

Jack Ryan: Ghost War (2026) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“Man on Fire”: Season 1, starring Yahya Abdul-Mateen II / Z-View

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Man on Fire: Season 1 (2025)

Created by: Kyle Killen; based on MAN ON FIRE by A.J. Quinnell

Director:

  • Steven Caple Jr. (Eps. 1-2)
  • Vicente Amorim (Eps. 3-4)
  • Clare Kilner (Eps. 5-6)
  • Michael Cuesta  (Ep. 7)

Teleplay by:

  • Kyle Killen (Eps. 1-7)

Starring:  Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Billie Boullet, Scoot McNairy, Alice Braga, Paul Ben-Victor and Bobby Cannavale.

Tagline: None.

The Plot… (beware of spoilers)

John Creasy was a Captain in the United States Special Forces.  If a team was needed to go in a high risk-high reward situation, Creasey was the man you wanted in charge.  Creasey was formidable in all aspects of military training and second to none as a strategist.  When Creasey left the military, the CIA scooped him up.  Creasey continued to be the go-to leader who would get the mission accomplished, no matter the odds.

That was then.

A mission led by Creasey resulted in his entire squad wiped out. Creasey became a shell of his former self.  He left the CIA.  Now he drinks too much and suffers from PTSD.

Paul Rayburn, a friend of Creasey’s, owns a security company.  Rayburn flies Creasey to Brazil to offer him a job.  While Creasey considers the opportunity, he re-bonds with Rayburn, his wife and their two children.

Tragedy strikes when a terrorist group blows up the building where Rayburn and his family live.  Rayburn, his wife and son are three of the approximately six hundred killed in the explosion.  Rayburn’s daughter Poe, wasn’t in the building when it detonated. She saw one of the terrorists.  Worse still, he saw her.

Poe becomes a target of the terrorists.  Creasey now has something to live for – to protect Poe and get revenge for the murder of his friends and 600 others.

Thoughts…

I like that Man on Fire didn’t play out the exact same plot as the excellent Man on Fire movie directed by Tony Scott, starring Denzel Washington and Dakota Fanning.

This is the third adaptation of AJ Quinnell’s MAN ON FIRE novel.  The first was the 1987 film Man on Fire starring Scott Glenn as John Creasey.  The second was the 2004 Man on Fire movie starring Denzel Washington.

A.J. Quinell is the pen name of Philip Nicholson.  He wrote five novels about John Creasey.

Kudos to Yahya Abdul-Mateen II.  Playing a character Denzel Washington made famous is a BIG ask.  Abdul-Mateen II did a fine job.

Man on Fire: Season 1 (2025) rates 4 of 5 stars.