Category: Trivia

“Sling Blade” (1996) written, directed and starring Billy Bob Thornton / Z-View

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Sling Blade (1996)

Director:  Billy Bob Thornton

Screenplay: Billy Bob Thornton; based on Some Folks Call It a Sling Blade by Billy Bob Thornton

Stars: Billy Bob Thornton, Dwight Yoakam, J.T. Walsh, John Ritter, Lucas Black, Natalie Canerday, James Hampton, Brent Briscoe, Mickey Jones and Robert Duvall.

Tagline: A simple man. A difficult choice.

The Plot…

Karl Childers is a mentally challenged man who has been in state custody for decades.  From the time Karl was born he was abused by his mother and father.  When Karl was twelve he accidentally caught his mother and a teenage boy having sex.  Karl believed the boy was raping his mother so Karl killed the kid using a sling blade.  When it became clear that his mom was enjoying the sex, Karl killed her as well.

At the state home Karl never had a problem.  Passive and shy, Karl spent most days just staring out a window.  So the state determined that Karl was no longer a danger to society and scheduled his release.  Karl begged his doctor to stay, but was forced to leave.

Now Karl has returned to his small hometown.  He gets a job repairing small engines.  Karl meets and befriends Frank Wheatley.  Frank is twelve.  His mother is divorced and in an abusive relationship.  Frank’s mom sees Karl is a kind man. Despite her boyfriend Vaughn’s misgivings she invites Karl to live in their garage.  Vaughn says that Karl could end up killing her or Frank.

Karl sees that Vaughn is a bully and cruel to everyone.  Karl especially worries about how Vaughn treats Frank.  Things are about to reach a breaking point.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Sling Blade was nominated for two 1997 Academy Awards and won one…

  • Nominee for Best Actor in a Leading Role – Billy Bob Thornton
  • Winner for Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published – Billy Bob Thornton

Sling Blade is based on a short film written by Billy Bob Thornton and directed by George Hickenlooper.  It starred Billy Bob Thornton, Molly Ringwald and J. T. Walsh.

Billy Bob Thornton made his feature film directorial debut with Sling Blade.  It is also the film that made Thornton a famous actor.

Sling Blade (1996) rates 5 of 5 stars

“Dr. Strangelove or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb” (1964) directed by Stanley Kubrick; starring Peter Sellers and George C. Scott / Z-View

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Dr. Strangelove or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964)

Director:  Stanley Kubrick

Screenplay: Stanley Kubrick, Terry Southern, Peter George; based on RED ALERT by Peter Bryant (pseudonym of Peter George)

Stars: Peter Sellers, George C. Scott, Sterling Hayden, Slim Pickens, Peter Bull, James Earl Jones, Tracy Reed, Jack Creley, Robert O’Neil, Glenn Beck, Shane Rimmer, Hal Galili and Keenan Wynn.

Tagline: “Gentlemen, you can’t fight in here! This is the War Room!”

The Plot…

Brigadier General Jack D. Ripper is mentally unstable.  Nobody realizes this until Ripper has put his plan into motion.  Ripper believes the Soviets are poisoning Americans through the use of fluoride in the water supply.  Ripper’s solution is to put his base on a condition red alert (so no one can get in or out).  Armed guards with shoot to kill orders will ensure this.  Ripper also confiscated all personal radios and shut down outside communication.  Ripper then ordered two Bombers carrying nuclear weapons to drop them on cities in Russia.  Since they can only communicate with him, the pilots believe the US is under attack.  They fly towards Russia intent on dropping their payload.

Once Merkin Muffley, the US President, gets word of what is happening, there is little time before the bombs drop.  President Muffley knows Russia will respond in kind.  That would trigger an all-out war.  Mutually assured destruction.

President Muffley brings General Buck Turgidson, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and other officials into the War Room to formulate a plan.  Included in the group is a former Nazi, now a US scientist named Dr. Strangelove and Soviet Ambassador Alexi de Sadesky.  They get  Soviet Premier Dimitri Kisov on the hotline.  Kisov promises if a single bomb is detonated on Russian soil, they will unleash their doomsday device!

The clock is ticking.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Dr. Strangelove was nominated for four 1965 Academy Awards…

  • Nominee for Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium – Stanley Kubrick, Peter George, Terry Southern
  • Nominee for Best Director – Stanley Kubrick
  • Nominee for Best Actor in a Leading Role – Peter Sellers
  • Nominee for Best Picture – Stanley Kubrick

George C. Scott as General Turgidson trips in the War Room and then quickly gets up and continues talking.  Scott really tripped but didn’t break character.  Kubrick thought he was just acting.  The accident stayed in the film.

Peter Sellers was paid $1 million or 55% of the film’s budget.  In the film Sellers plays three characters so maybe the producers got a bargain.

Peter Sellers improvised most of his lines including the classic he yelled as Dr. Strangelove, “Mein Führer! I can walk!”  Peter Bull as the Soviet Ambassador can be seen breaking character when Sellers says it.

James Earl Jones thought that Slim Pickens stayed in character even off camera.  It wasn’t until later that Jones leaned that Pickens always talked like that.  Speaking of James Earl  Jones, Dr. Strangelove was his feature film debut.

Dr.  Strangelove is a classic.  Everyone should see it at least once.  (And it gets better with each repeated viewing.)

Dr. Strangelove or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964) rates 5 of 5 stars

“Requiem for a Heavyweight” (1962) written by Rod Serling, directed by Ralph Nelson, starring Anthony Quinn, Jackie Gleason, Mickey Rooney & Julie Harris / Z-View

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Requiem for a Heavyweight (1962)

Director:  Ralph Nelson

Screenplay: Rod Serling

Stars: Anthony Quinn, Jackie Gleason, Mickey Rooney, Julie Harris, Stanley Adams, Madame Spivy, Val Avery, Herbie Faye, Jack Dempsey, Barney Ross, Rory “Haystacks” Calhoun, Willie Pep and Muhammad Ali.

Tagline: They beat him… they broke him… they betrayed him… but they could not crush the towering dignity of a real fighter!

The Plot…

Louis “Mountain” Rivera was good at one thing.  Fighting.  In his last bout, a young fighter put a beating on the 37 year old Rivera.  Rivera was pummeled so badly that no doctor is going to clear him for future fights.  Fighting is all Rivera knows.  Now that is gone.

For years Rivera’s fight winnings have supported Rivera, his manager Maish Rennick, and Army, his cutman.  They have no savings.  Even worse Maish is in debt to Ma Greeny.  Ma deals harshly with those who don’t pay their debts.

When Rivera meets a woman named Grace, he begins to have hope.  Maish realizes that he’s about to lose his meal ticket.  That means no money coming in.  When Ma Greeny and her thugs show up, they will expect to be paid.  As Rivera’s manager, Maish is supposed to protect Rivera.  What he’s about to set up will break him.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Ralph Nelson was a 1963 Nominee Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures.

The National Board of Review named Requiem for a Heavyweight one of the top ten films of 1962.

Muhammad Ali (Cassius Clay) made his film debut as the young fighter who defeats Mountain Rivera at the start of the film.

Jackie Gleason, best know for his comedic skills on The Honeymooners, shows he’s just as adept as a dramatic actor.

Requiem for a Heavyweight first appeared as a television movie before becoming a feature film.  The television production featured Jack Palance as Mountain Rivera, Ed Wynn as Maish and his son Keenan Wynn as Army.   Ralph Nelson directed both versions.

Requiem for a Heavyweight is another example of the Rod Serling’s stellar writing talent.

Requiem for a Heavyweight (1962) rates 5 of 5 stars

“Predator: Killer of Killers” (2025) / Z-View

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Predator: Killer of Killers (2025)

Director:  Dan Trachtenberg

Screenplay: Micho Robert Rutare, story by Dan Trachtenberg, Micho Robert Rutare, based on characters created by Jim Thomas, John Thomas

Stars: Voices of Michael Biehn, Doug Cockle, Rick Gonzalez, Lauren Holt, Lindsay LaVanchy, Jeff Leach, Piotr Michael and Andrew Morgado.

Tagline:  Hunt the enemy, before they hunt you!

The Plot…

In the year 841, Vikings, led by warrior woman Ursa, have just defeated the Krivich clan.  The Krivich’s leader, Zoran killed Ursa’s father when she was a child.  Now Ursa and her son Anders will have revenge. A Predator is invisibly watching. Once a victor has been determined, the Predator will attack.  It will be a vicious battle to the death.

In the 1629, Kenji returns to confront his brother.  Twenty years prior, Kenji and his brother Kiyoshi had been boys.  Each child was given a sword. Ordered to battle.  The winner would become the clan’s new Warlord.  Kenji refused to fight, even as Kiyoshi attacked.  Rather than battle his brother, Kenji ran off.

Now Kenji sneaks into his brother’s fortress.  As the brothers battle, a Predator, undetected, silently watches.  The predator will fight the winner to the death.

The year is 1941.  World War II rages.  A small group of US Airmen take off to engage the enemy in aerial battle.   On the ground, mechanic John Torres sees a strange craft destroying both US and enemy planes.  Torres gets a beat-up plane working.  He takes off to warn his squad. When Torres arrives, he and Captain Vandy are the only survivors.  The Predator space ship is ready to engage them.  It will be a fight to the death.

Ursa, Kenji and Torres are awakened from suspended animation.  They are on a foreign planet.  Predators led the three to the center of an arena.  A large Predator incites the crowd.  Ursa, Kenji and Torres will fight to the death.  The winner will face the Predator gladiator/warlord.  To make it even more interesting, a giant dragon-like beast is released.  Who/what will survive?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Michael Biehn now joins Bill Paxton and Lance Henriksen as the only actors to have roles in Alien, Terminator and Predator films.

Predator: Killer of Killers has many Easter eggs that are open to speculation.  Is the Gladiator Predator wearing a cape made of Xenomorph tails? In one of the Predator cryo-tanks we get a glimpse of a muscular make human.  Is he Dutch from Predator? Maybe it is Royce from Predators? Naru from Prey is definitely in one of the cryo-tanks.  The flintlock pistol from Predator 2 and Prey makes an appearance.

I liked Predator: Killer of Killers, but not as much as most folks.  It currently has a 7.6 rating on IMDb and at Rotten Tomatoes in has a 95% rating from reviewers and 90% from viewers. There were too many unanswered questions (including the final resolution) for my taste.  Still, I enjoyed the film, just not as much as most everyone else.  Your mileage may vary.

Predator: Killer of Killers (2025) rates 3 of 5 stars

10 Unsolved Presidential Mysteries!

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Selme Angulo at Listverse posted 10 Presidential Mysteries That Are Still Unsolved.  It’s a really interesting and fun article that looks at…

  • A President who was rumored to not be a  natural-born US citizen.  (And no it wasn’t Barack Obama!)
  • A President who many thought was our first gay President. His niece was our First Lady.  He also “had a longtime male “roommate” for much of his adult life”.
  • A President who many claim died because of his inauguration speech.  It remains the longest in US history.
  • A President who had a stroke so his wife took over the running of the country.
  • A President who took time to go “fishing” but instead had a dangerous surgery at sea.
  • A President who suddenly died in office.  Some believe he was poisoned… by his wife!
  • A President who died because of the treatment he received from his doctors.
  • A President who had almost 4,000 hours of recordings… except for one gap.  What could have been said that was so damaging?
  • A President whose brain went missing after his autopsy.
  • A President who may have ordered the cover-up of UFO evidence.

Click over and find the answers to these mysteries.  Kudos to Selme Angulo and Listverse for a fun read.

“The Vanishing” (1988) directed by George Sluizer, starring Bernard-Pierre Donnadieu, Gene Bervoets  and Johanna ter Steege / Z-View

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The Vanishing (1988)

Director:  George Sluizer

Screenplay: George Sluizer, Tim Krabbé, based on The Golden Egg by Tim Krabbé

Stars: Bernard-Pierre Donnadieu, Gene Bervoets  and Johanna ter Steege.

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

Rex and Saskia are young and in love.  While on vacation in France, they stop at a busy gas station.  They stretch their legs and take a break in a nearby grassy area.  As Rex waits at the car, Saskia heads in to get drinks for the road.

She never returns.

When Rex realizes Saskia should have been back, he searches the gas station and surrounding area.  Nobody saw anything.  Rex goes to the police.  Searches and appeals to the public turn up no clues.

Rex is obsessed with finding Saskia.  He makes sure posters with Saiska’s picture and information about her disappearance are always up.  He follows up on even the smallest possibility.  Rex realizes Saskia is probably not alive.  Still, it torments Rex to not know what happened to her.

Three years after her disappearance, Rex is contacted by Saiska’s kidnapper.  He wants to meet.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Stanley Kubrick reportedly considered The Vanishing the most terrifying film he’d ever seen.  Entertainment Weekly listed The Vanishing  as one of the all-time scariest films ever made.  The Vanishing is a movie that doesn’t have jump scares.  There is no unstoppable killer or traditional monsters.  And that makes it even more frightening.

The Vanishing will stay with you.  You’ll think about the movie long after you finish watching it. THAT ending.  The killer alone practicing his moves.  The fact that Rex gets his wish.

The success of The Vanishing, the Dutch film was optioned to be remade in the United States.  George Sluizer, who co-wrote and directed the original, was brought on to direct the American remake.  Jeff Bridges, Kiefer Sutherland, Nancy Travis and Sandra Bullock were brought on to star.  The budget was set at $20 million dollars (over ten times the budget of the original).  The ending was changed because “American audiences don’t like sad endings.”  Change the ending and you’re making a totally different film.  Why bother?  Audiences and critics overwhelmingly prefer the original.

The Vanishing (1988) rates 4 of 5 stars

“Psycho II” (1983) starring Anthony Perkins and Meg Tilly / Z-View

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Psycho II (1983)

Director:  Richard Franklin

Screenplay: Tom Holland, based on characters created by Robert Bloch

Stars: Anthony Perkins, Vera Miles, Meg Tilly, Robert Loggia, Hugh Gillin, Claudia Bryar, Robert Alan Browne, Lee Garlington, Jill Carroll, Chris Hendrie, Tom Holland, Osgood Perkins  and Dennis Franz.

Tagline: It’s 22 years later, and Norman Bates is coming home.

The Plot…

Twenty-two years have passed since the murders that made Norman Bates infamous have passed.  Norman has spent that time in a mental institution.  His therapist believes that Norman is now sane.  Therefore a judge rules that Norman be set free.

Norman returns home with plans to re-open the Bates Motel.  In the meantime, he takes a job at a local diner.  When Mary, a waitress at the diner, suddenly becomes homeless, Norman offers her a place to stay.  She reluctantly accepts.  Not long after, Norman begins to get messages from his dead mother.

Norman begins to fear for his sanity and Mary’s safety.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Making a sequel to an Alfred Hitchcock classic is a tale, dangerous order.  Psycho II fills the bill better than you might expect.

The actor playing a young Norman Bates is Anthony Perkins’ son Osgood.

The original Bates house was able to be used for this sequel, but the hotel had to be rebuilt.

The scene where Norman plays the piano is actually Anthony Perkins playing.  He was an accomplished pianist.

Robert Bloch’s novel PSYCHO II and the movie sequel tell different stories.

Critics praised Anthony Perkins and Meg Tilly’s on-screen chemistry.  In reality, they didn’t get along.  Perkins actually wanted her fired after filming was underway.  Tilly called making the film the worst experience of her career.  She didn’t attend the movie’s premiere.

Dennis Franz steals every scene he’s in.  Franz could play a sleazy character with the best of them.

Psycho II (1983) rates 4 of 5 stars

“Plane” (2023) starring Gerard Butler & Mike Colter / Z-View

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The Plane (2023)

Director:  Jean-François Richet

Screenplay: Charles Cumming, J. P. Davis; story by Charles Cumming

Stars: Gerard Butler, Mike Colter, Evan Dane Taylor, Paul Ben-Victor, Daniella Pineda, Otis Winston, Joey Slotnick, Jessica Nam and Tony Goldwyn.

Tagline: The crash was only the beginning.

The Plot…

Due to a sudden violent storm a flight bound for Honolulu loses power. Turbulence violently tosses the airliner.  A crew member and police officer are killed during the sudden shake-up.  The cop was bringing in Louis Gaspare, a suspect for murder.

When the plane loses power, the pilot, Brodie Torrance has just minutes to make an emergency landing.  With no other options, Torrance sits down on a small island.

Brodie tells the to passengers grab available food and water.  He gets them off the plane. Brodie then takes the still handcuffed Gaspare with him. The two set out to find if other people live on the island.

The others on the island are a rebel militia that specializes in kidnappings for ransom.  If the ransom isn’t paid, they think nothing of beheading their victims.  The militia have learned of the plane’s arrival.  They’re armed and heading to capture a planeload of hostages.

It will be up to Brodie and Gaspare to protect the passengers until help arrives.  What chance does a pilot and suspected murderer have against a small army?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Plane reminded me of a throwback action film of the 1980s.  That’s a good thing.

A sequel for Mike Colter’s character, Louis Gaspare, is in pre-production.  Tentatively titled Ship, it picks up after Louis disappeared into the jungle.  His participation in the showdown with the militia, leads to an international manhunt. Gaspare sneaks aboard a cargo ship and discovers it’s transport for a human trafficking ring.  Deal me in!

The Plane (2023) rates 4 of 5 stars

“Strange Days” (1995) directed by Kathryn Bigelow, starring Ralph Fiennes, Angela Bassett & Juliette Lewis / Z-View

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Strange Days (1995)

Director:  Kathryn Bigelow

Screenplay: James Cameron, Jay Cocks; story by James Cameron

Stars: Ralph Fiennes, Angela Bassett, Juliette Lewis, Tomas Milian, Tom Sizemore, Michael Wincott, Vincent D’Onofrio, Glenn Plummer, Richard Edson, Josef Sommer, Nicky Katt, Michael Jace, Jim Ishida, Todd Graff and William Fichtner.

Tagline: you know you want it

The Plot…

1999 is almost over.  The New Year is almost here.  Civil unrest rules.  The streets of LA are full of soldiers and cops.

Lenny Nero, an ex-cop, makes his living selling illegal SQUID recordings.  Using a small machine that plays the SQUID recordings and with the proper headset, a user is able to watch and experience whatever was recorded.  Think virtual reality on steroids.  The user sees and feels all of the sensations.

Lenny is still reeling. The love of his life (or so he thought), Faith Justin left him.  Or so he thought. Faith dreams of being a singer.  She’s now hooked up with music promoter, Philo Grant.

It’s been a bad couple of days.  Now Lenny has discovered that cops are looking for him.  He has no idea why.  It can’t be because of the recordings he sells.  He’s too careful.  Maybe Philo Grant is behind his problems.  That would make sense.

What Lenny doesn’t know is he has the key to a murder conspiracy.  And it isn’t just the cops he can’t trust.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Strange Days is a sci-fi murder mystery love story.  And it works on all levels.

When Faith Justin is singing, it’s Juliette Lewis’ voice we hear.

James Cameron did uncredited editing on the film.

Loretta “Mace” Mason, played by Angela Bassett, is an awesome character.  She could have carried her own spin-off.

Strange Days (1995) rates 5 of 5 stars

“Wolfs” (2024) written & directed by Jon Watts, starring George Clooney & Brad Pitt / Z-View

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Wolfs (2024)

Director:  Jon Watts

Screenplay: Jon Watts

Stars: George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Amy Ryan, Austin Abrams, Kymbali Craig, Linda Carola, Vladimir Sizov, Sammy Horowitz and Frank Trigg.

Tagline: They’re not partners. They’re not friends. They’re… Wolfs.

The Plot…

Margaret (Ryan), a Manhattan District Attorney gets a hotel room with a young man she just met.  When the man unexpectedly dies, Margaret uses a number she was given in case of emergencies.

Soon a fixer (Clooney) arrives to clean up the mess.  As the fixer prepares to remove the body, another fixer (Pitt) arrives.  He says the the hotel owner called him.  She was watching via a hidden camera.  The two fixers argue about who will do the job.  They reluctantly agree to team for the clean-up and disposal of the body.

Then a cache of drugs is found on the body.  The hotel owner convinces the fixers to find and return the drugs to their original owner.  Burdened with a dead body and drugs, the fixers learn much to late that nothing is as it seems.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Apple wanted and announced a sequel, but writer/director Jon Watts refused, even returning advance money he’d been given.  Watts was upset because at the last minute, Apple decided to not give Wolfs a theatrical release.

George Clooney’s character’s BMW’s New York license plate is 3ABM582. Winston Wolf, (played by Harvey Keitel), the fixer in Pulp Fiction, drove an Acura NSX with the California license plate is 3ABM582.  It’s also interesting to note we never learn the names of Clooney or Pitt’s characters.  But the title of the movie is Wolfs which sounds like a call back to Winston Wolf.

I liked the movie, but expected more with Clooney and Pitt as the leads.

Wolfs (2024) rates 3 of 5 stars

“Killers of the Flower Moon” (2023) directed by Martin Scorsese, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro and Lily Gladstone / Z-View

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Killers of the Flower Moon (2023)

Director:  Martin Scorsese

Screenplay: Eric Roth, Martin Scorsese; based on KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON: THE OSAGE MURDERS AND THE BIRTH OF THE FBI by David Grann

Stars: Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro, Lily Gladstone, Jesse Plemons, Tantoo Cardinal, John Lithgow, Jason Isbell, William Belleau, Louis Cancelmi, Scott Shepherd, Tatanka Means and Brendan Fraser.

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

Early in the 20th century oil was found on the Oklahoma Osage Nation reservation.  Members of the Osage tribe shared in the mineral rights. This made the Osage the wealthiest people per capita in the United States. Law required court-appointed guardians to oversee the distribution of money since the Osage were seen as incompetent.

At the end of World War I, Ernest Burkhart arrived at his uncle “King” Hale’s large ranch on the reservation.  King was known as a friend of the Osage.  He was anything but.

King tells Ernest if he marries an Osage woman, and she dies, he would inherit her oil rights.  Her death would make Ernest a wealthy man.  Ernest learns that many Osage have died from mysterious illnesses, accidents and suicide.

Ernest meets and woos an Osage named Mollie.  They marry.  Shortly after, Mollie becomes sick.

As more mysterious deaths occur, the Osage council sends a representative to Washington to request help.  Soon FBI agent Tom White arrives on the reservation.  White begins his investigation as King sets in motion a plan of his own.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Killers of the Flower Moon was nominated for ten 2024 Academy Awards…

  • Best Achievement in Costume Design – Jacqueline West
  • Best Achievement in Production Design – Jack Fisk (production designer), Adam Willis (set decorator)
  • Best Achievement in Film Editing – Thelma Schoonmaker
  • Best Achievement in Cinematography – Rodrigo Prieto
  • Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures (Original Score) – Robbie Robertson
  • Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures (Original Song) – Scott George
    For “Wahzhazhe (A Song for My People)”
  • Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role – Robert De Niro
  • Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role – Lily Gladstone
  • Best Achievement in Directing – Martin Scorsese
  • Best Motion Picture of the Year – Dan Friedkin, Bradley Thomas, Martin Scorsese, Daniel Lupi

King Hale, Ernest Burkhart, Mollie and Tom White were real people.  Records implicate King Hale in the deaths of multiple murders to gain oil rights.  While the movie focuses on King/Ernest and Mollie, there were many others like King/Ernest taking advantage of the Osage.  Between 1918 and 1931 estimates of up to 150 deaths have been made.

Martin Scorsese met with Osage leadership prior to starting the film.  Scorsese cast 40 Osage actors as well as hundreds of Osage as extras.

When the script was first brought to Leonardo DiCaprio, it was written from FBI agent, Tom White’s perspective.  DiCaprio suggested that put the focus on an outsider’s perspective.  The film would be better served from another view.  The script was, as Martin Scorsese say, re-constructed.

Martin Scorsese (81) became the oldest person was 81 nominated for a Best Director Academy Award with this movie.

Killers of the Flower Moon (2023) rates 5 of 5 stars

“Lady in the Lake” (1946) directed and starring Robert Montgomery, also starring Audrey Totter and Lloyd Nolan / Z-View

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Lady in the Lake (1946)

Director:  Robert Montgomery

Screenplay: Steve Fisher; based THE LADY IN THE LAKE by Raymond Chandler

Stars: Robert Montgomery, Audrey Totter, Lloyd Nolan, Tom Tully, Leon Ames, Dick Simmons, Morris Ankrum, Lila Leeds, Charles Bradstreet and Jayne Meadows.

Tagline: YOU AND ROBERT MONTGOMERY STAR IN AN EXCITING AND UNUSUAL MYSTERY-THRILLER -EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS TO HIM HAPPENS TO YOU!

The Plot…

Private Eye, Phillip Marlowe decides to take a shot at writing.  When Marlowe is called into the publisher’s office, he thinks they want to buy his story.  Adrienne Fromsett, is the publishing editor.  She wants to buy Marlowe’s story.  She also wants to hire Marlowe to find Chrystal Kingsby.  Chrystal is her boss’ wife.  She hasn’t been seen for two months.

After some back and forth, Marlowe accepts the job.  What sounds like a missing person’s case turns out to be a multiple murder investigation.  And Marlowe is the main suspect.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

The film is shot from the viewpoint of Marlowe.  The only time he is seen is by reflections in mirrors and windows or when he speaks directly to the audience.  It’s odd seeing this decades before video games made it popular.

Lady in the Lake (1946) rates 3 of 5 stars

“Compulsion” (1959) directed by Richard Fleischer, starring Orson Welles, Dean Stockwell, Diane Varsi and Bradford Dillman / Z-View

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Compulsion (1959)

Director:  Richard Fleischer

Screenplay: Richard Murphy; based on COMPULSION by Meyer Levin

Stars: Orson Welles, Dean Stockwell, Diane Varsi, Bradford Dillman, E.G. Marshall, Martin Milner, Richard Anderson, Robert F. Simon, Edward Binns, Robert Burton, Louise Lorimer, John Alban, Don Anderson, Terry Becker, Russ Bender and Gavin MacLeod .

Tagline: You know why we did it? Because we damn well felt like doing it!

The Plot…

Judd Steiner and Artie Straus are best friends.  It’s only natural.  They have much in common.  Both are from wealthy families.  They travel in the most elite social circles.  Both Judd and Artie have superior intellects.  Although still in their late teens, they’re law students.

Judd and Artie see everyone as less than them.  They feel because they are so intellectually superior laws don’t apply to them.  To that end, they have been committing small crimes just to prove they’re are so smart that they would never be caught.

Then they decide to commit the ultimate crime.

Murder.

They pick a young boy at random and kill him.

They’re confident that they left no clues.  And even more sure that if they did, with their superior intellect, no one could trip them up.

The best laid plans…

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Compulsion is based on the real life murder trial of Nathan Leopold and Richard Loeb. Leopold and Loeb kidnapped and murdered a fourteen year old boy.  They did it to prove to themselves their superior intellect would allow them to commit the perfect crime.  Their families hired Clarence Darrow to defend them.  At the time, the case was considered the trial of the century.

When the film came out, Leopold sued for invasion of privacy.  Because he had written a book about the crime himself, he didn’t prevail. (Loeb wasn’t involved in the lawsuit.  He had been killed by another prison years before.)

Orson Welles received top billing but doesn’t appear on screen until 65 minutes into the 99 minute film.

It’s hard for me to believe that Compulsion wasn’t nominated for a single Academy Award.  I could see nominations for Best Screenplay, Best Direction, Best Actor (Dean Stockwell and Bradford Dillman) and Best Supporting Actor (Orson Welles).

Alfred Hitchcock did his own loose adaption of the Leopold-Loeb murder with his film Rope.

Compulsion (1959) rates 5 of 5 stars

“Curse of Frankenstein” (1957) directed by Terence Fisher, starring Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee / Z-View

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Curse of Frankenstein (1957)

Director:  Terence Fisher

Screenplay: Jimmy Sangster; based on FRANKENSTEIN by Mary Shelley

Stars: Peter Cushing, Hazel Court, Christopher Lee.

Tagline: PLEASE TRY NOT TO FAINT. Not recommended for people of nervous disposition.

The Plot…

As he waits for his execution, Victor Frankenstein recounts how he ended up headed to the gallows.  Frankenstein was obsessed with bringing the dead back to life since he was a boy.  Working with Paul Krempe, another scientist,  the two achieved success with reviving a dead dog.

Krempe wanted to share their results with the world.  Frankenstein wanted to keep their success a secret and begin experimenting with reviving dead humans.  Very quickly Krempe sees that Frankenstein is obsessed.  Frankenstein robs graves, pays for body parts and even resorts to murder to get the parts he needs.

When his creature comes to life, Frankenstein is shocked to learn he cannot control it.  And the monster isn’t happy.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Curse of Frankenstein was a huge box office success.  Over the years, the film’s reputation has grown.  I’m in the minority, because the movie just doesn’t resonate with me.  I hate the creature’s design.  It reminds me of a bad attempt to monsterize Cesare the the somnambulist from 1920’s The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari.  Dr. Frankenstein is totally unlikable, so who cares if he hangs?

Christopher Lee (who plays the monster) reportedly complained to Peter Cushing during the start of filming, that he had no lines.  Cushing replied, “You’re lucky. I’ve read the script.”  If this isn’t true, it should be.

As always, your mileage may vary but for me…

Curse of Frankenstein (1957) rates 2 of 5 stars

“Peacemaker”: Season 1 (2022) written by James Gunn, starring Jon Cena / Z-View

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Peacemaker: Season 1 (2022)

Created by: James Gunn;  based on characters from DC Comics

Director:  James Gunn (Eps. 1-3, 6, 8), Jody Hill (Ep. 4), Rosemary Rodriguez (Ep. 5); Brad Anderson (Ep. 7)

Teleplay by:  James Gunn

Starring:  John Cena, Danielle Brooks, Freddie Stroma, Jennifer Holland, Steve Agee, Dee Bradley Baker, Chukwudi Iwuji, Elizabeth Faith Ludlow, Crystal Mudry, Elizabeth McCarthy Meek, Lenny Jacobson, Kevin O’Grady, Natalia Safran, Darryl Scheelar, Christopher Heyerdahl, Ryan Jefferson Booth and Robert Patrick.

Tagline: They Give Peace a Bad Name

The Plot… (beware of spoilers)

Chris Smith aka Peacemaker wants to be a hero for peace.  He doesn’t care how many people he has to kill to achieve it.  Smith is recruited to join Task Force X and is given a support team to assist with his missions.

When things go sideways, it appears there is a mole on the team.  But who?  When Vigilante and Judomaster show up, things get even crazier.  And that’s before Smith’s father who is prison attempts to sell out his son and the team.  Oh, and did I mention that there’s an alien invasion brewing?

Thoughts 

Peacemaker received one 2022 Primetime Emmy nomination for  Outstanding Stunt Coordination for a Comedy Series or a Variety Program – Wayne Dalglish (stunt coordinator), Gaston Morrison (stunt coordinator)

James Gunn wrote all episodes on spec!

Each episodes features a post-credits scene.

The series takes place in Charlton County as an Easter Egg to fans.  Peacemaker was first published by Charlton Comics.

Peacemaker is a fun show… even more so for comic fans.  Bring on season 2.