Category: Trivia

“A Quiet Place: Day One” (2024) written and directed by Michael Sarnoski, starring Lupita Nyong’o & Joseph Quinn / Z-View

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A Quiet Place: Day One (2024) 

Director: Michael Sarnoski

Screenplay:  Michael Sarnoski, story by John Krasinski, Michael Sarnoski, based on characters by Bryan Woods, Scott Beck

Stars: Lupita Nyong’o, Joseph Quinn, Alex Wolff and Djimon Hounsou

Tagline: Stay quiet. Stay alive.

The Plot…

Samira (Nyong’o) has terminal cancer.  She reluctantly joins her hospice group for a trip into New York City.  While there an alien invasion begins.  Separated from her group, Samira struggles to survive.  The creatures are deadly, but blind with hearing sensitive to the smallest sound.

What chance does anyone have of surviving?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

The first day of any “apocalypse” should be the most interesting.  People from different backgrounds are thrown together.  Everyone is trying to figure out what is going on.  No one is sure of the right things to do.  It was a smart move to take us back to Day One of the alien invasion.

It was even smarter to have Djimon Hounsou reprise his role from A Quiet Place Part II.

Lupita Nyong’o reaffirms what an excellent actress she is.

A Quiet Place: Day One (2024) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“Way of the Gun” (2000) written & directed by Christopher McQuarrie, starring Ryan Phillippe, Benicio Del Toro, Juliette Lewis, Taye Diggs & James Caan / Z-View

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Way of the Gun (2000) 

Director: Christopher McQuarrie

Screenplay: Christopher McQuarrie

Stars: Ryan Phillippe, Benicio Del Toro, Juliette Lewis, Taye Diggs, Nicky Katt, Geoffrey Lewis, Dylan Kussman, Scott Wilson, Kristin Lehman, Armando Guerrero, Sarah Silverman and James Caan

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

Parker (Phillippe) and Longbaugh (Del Toro) are two  low-life criminals just barely getting by.  When they learn about a rich couple paying a surrogate mother one million bucks for carrying their child, they see a big payday.  They’ll kidnap the mother and hold her for hostage.  What Parker and Longbaugh don’t know is that the baby’s father is a powerful criminal.

The best laid plans…

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Way of the Gun is well written, well directed, well cast and well acted.  With that said, it is also vulgar and violent.  The two main characters are not good people.  Yet, Way of the Gun is a movie that I truly love.  If you can get past the opening scenes, the story and acting will draw you in.  Way of the Gun isn’t your typical Hollywood movie.

Way of the Gun has an unusual car chase that goes from high speed to a walking pace.  The idea was Del Toro’s who said he saw the same thing on an episode of Cops.

The gun handling and gun fight scenes were supervised by a Navy SEAL and are accurate to every bullet fired and where it went… except for one part of the final shootout.  In that instance the director wanted to wink at how most movie gunfights never reload.

Parker and Longbaugh were the real names of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.  The final shootout in Way of the Gun was filmed in the same location as the final gun battle in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.

James Caan is awesome in this film.  It is one of my favorite Caan performances.  It’s interesting to note that Caan plays Juliette Lewis’ father in this film.  Her real father, Geoffrey Lewis also appears in the movie.

Way of the Gun (2000)  rates 5 of 5 stars.

RIP: Bud Smith

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Bud Smith died Thursday, June 23, 2024.  Mr. Smith died of respiratory failure after a prolonged illness.  Mr. Smith was 88.

Mr. Smith was an editor, director and producer.  He was nominated for two Academy Awards:

  • nominee 1974 Best Film Editing – The Exorcist
  • nominee 1984 Best Film Editing – Flashdance

Television projects that feature Bud Smith’s editing include: The Bold Men; The Incredible World of James Bond; Time-Life Specials: The March of Time (3 episodes); National Geographic Specials (2 episodes); The Big Land; Petula; Tribute to Bogart; Sticks and Bones; A Death in Canaan and C.A.T. Squad.

Feature film projects that feature Bud Smith’s editing include: Putney Swope; Sorcerer; The Brinks Job; Cruising; Personal Best; Flashdance; Deal of the Century; The Karate Kid; Poltergeist II: The Other Side; Some Kind of Wonderful; Gross Anatomy; Darkman; The Replacements; Ladder 49 and The Game of Their Lives.

Television projects that feature Bud Smith’s directing include: C.A.T. Squad (2nd unit);

Feature films that feature Bud Smith’s directing include: Johnny Be Good; Sorcerer (2nd unit); Cat People (2nd unit); To Live and Die in LA (2nd unit); Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot! (2nd unit); Virus (2nd unit) and Driftwood (2nd unit).

My favorite film edited by Bud Smith is The Exorcist.  If the only films he edited were The Exorcist and Flashdance, his reputation as a great editor would be cemented.  It’s a testament to Mr. Smith’s talent that he branched out into directing and producing.  Bud Smith was so good that director William Friedkin collaborated with him on six films.

Out thoughts and prayers go out to Bud Smith’s family, friends and fans.

“Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1” (2024) directed & starring Kevin Costner / Z-View

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Director: Kevin Costner

Screenplay: Jon Baird, Kevin Costner, story by Jon Baird, Kevin Costner, Mark Kasdan

Stars: Kevin Costner, Sienna Miller, Sam Worthington, Jena Malone, Owen Crow Shoe, Tatanka Means, Tim Guinee, Giovanni Ribisi, Danny Huston, Colin Cunningham, Scott Haze, Tom Payne, Abbey Lee, Michael Rooker, Will Patton, Jim Lau, Georgia MacPhail, Hayes Costner, Luke Wilson, James Russo, Jon Beavers, Dale Dickey, Charles Halford, Jamie Campbell Bower, Austin R. Grant, Ariel Llinas, David O’Hara and Jeff Fahey

Tagline: The story of a nation unsettled.

The Plot…

Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1 looks at the lives of those attempting to move west and settle on land already held by native Americans.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1 is, as the title indicates, part one of a four part story.  The movie doesn’t have traditional pacing or character arcs.  If you know this going in, you shouldn’t be disappointed when the film ends, since the story will continue.  However, if you go in expecting a complete story, you’ll be let down.

My expectation was we would get a big story with Kevin Costner playing the main character who interacts with a large cast.  This isn’t the case.  Costner doesn’t even make an appearance until 66 minutes into the movie.  There are multiple storylines in Horizon, Chapter 1 and Costner’s is just one.

The writing, acting and direction are all superb.  Many familiar faces appear throughout the film.  Jamie Campbell Bower and Jon Beavers are standouts in the roles as the antagonists of Kevin Costner’s character.

Kevin Costner took a risk by investing his own money to make the film(s).  Costner also had faith that audiences would accept a four part story where each chapter doesn’t follow traditional Hollywood pacing or structure.  I’m willing to go along for the ride.  Chapter One left me looking forward to the rest of the tale. My rating for Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1 is based on what we’ve seen so far.  I imagine once the full tale is told and we can view/rate the entire story, Horizon (the complete saga) will receive a higher rating.

Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1 (2024) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“Oppenheimer” (2023) written and directed by Christopher Nolan, starring Cilian Murphy, Emily Blunt, Robert Downey, Jr. and Florence Pugh / Z-View

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Oppenheimer (2023)

Director: Christopher Nolan

Screenplay: Christopher Nolan based on AMERICAN PROMETHEUS by Kai Bird, Martin J. Sherman

Stars: Cillian Murphy, Emily Blunt, Matt Damon, Robert Downey Jr., Alden Ehrenreich, Scott Grimes, Jason Clarke, Kurt Koehler, Tony Goldwyn, John Gowans, James D’Arcy, Kenneth Branagh, Harry Groener, Gregory Jbara, Ted King, Steven Houska, Matthew Modine, Casey Affleck, James Remar, Gary Oldman and Josh Hartnett

Tagline: The World Forever Changes

The Plot…

As World War II rages, the United States and Germany are racing to create an atomic bomb.  J. Robert Oppenheimer is recruited by the US army to co-ordinate scientists chosen for the project.  After Germany surrenders, Oppenheimer and others question the use of the bomb on Japan.  After the war, Oppenheimer’s loyalty to the US is questioned and his reputation put at risk.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Oppenheimer was nominated for 13 Academy Awards and won seven…

  • nominee Best Sound – Willie D. Burton, Richard King, Gary A. Rizzo, Kevin O’Connell
  • nominee Best Achievement in Makeup and Hairstyling – Luisa Abel
  • nominee Best Achievement in Production Design – Ruth De Jong (production designer), Claire Kaufman (set decorator)
  • nominee Best Achievement in Costume Design – Ellen Mirojnick
  • nominee Best Adapted Screenplay – Christopher Nolan
  • nominee Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role – Emily Blunt
  • winner Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures (Original Score) – Ludwig Göransson
  • winner Best Achievement in Film Editing – Jennifer Lame
  • winner Best Achievement in Cinematography – Hoyte Van Hoytema
  • winner Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role – Robert Downey Jr.
  • winner Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role – Cillian Murphy
  • winner Best Achievement in Directing – Christopher Nolan
  • winner Best Motion Picture of the Year – Emma Thomas, Charles Roven, Christopher Nolan

Oppenheimer is a dramatization of J. Robert Oppenheimer’s life from 1926 to 1959.

Robert Downey, Jr. considers Oppenheimer to be his best film.

Many of the famous actors/actresses appearing in Oppenheimer took small roles and pay cuts to work with Sir Christopher Nolan.

Oppenheimer is an exceptional film from top to bottom.  The film and everyone who was nominated/won an award for it is deserving.  Because it’s not a movie that I will not often revisit, I’m giving it 4 of 5 stars.  Don’t let that fool you though, it is an excellent movie.

Oppenheimer (2023) rates 4 of 5 stars.

QT8: The First Eight (2019) / Z-View

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QT8: The First Eight (2019)

Director: Tara Wood

Screenplay: Tara Wood

Stars: Quentin Tarantino, Zoë Bell, Louis Black, Bruce Dern, Robert Forster, Jamie Foxx, Samuel L. Jackson, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Diane Kruger, Lucy Liu, Michael Madsen, Eli Roth, Tim Roth, Kurt Russell, Stacey Sher, Scott Spiegel, Christoph Waltz and Steve Buscemi

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

QT8: The First 8 features behind-the-scenes stories from those that were there about the making of Quentin Tarantino’s first eight films.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

If you’re a Tarantino or movie fan, you should enjoy this.  I did.

QT8: The First Eight (2019) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“Demolition Man” (1993) starring Sylvester Stallone and Wesley Snipes / Z-View

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Demolition Man (1993)

Director: Marco Brambilla

Screenplay: Daniel Waters, Robert Reneau, Peter M. Lenkov, story by Peter M. Lenkov, Robert Reneau

Stars: Sylvester Stallone, Wesley Snipes, Sandra Bullock, Nigel Hawthorne, Benjamin Bratt, Bob Gunton, Glenn Shadix, Grand L. Bush, Pat Skipper, Steve Kahan, Mark Colson, Andre Gregory, Troy Evans, Don Charles McGovern, Bill Cobbs, Dan Cortese, Jack Black, Adrienne Barbeau (voice), Rob Schneider, Jesse Ventura and Denis Leary

Tagline: The world’s most dangerous cop. The world’s most ruthless criminal. The 21st Century isn’t big enough for both of them.

The Plot…

In the near future, a maniac named Simon Phoenix (Snipes) kidnaps a busload of people.  Phoenix then fortifies himself in an abandoned warehouse protected by his gang.  A thermal reading shows no signs of the hostages.  The clock is ticking to keep the captives alive.  As the police prepare an assault, LAPD Detective John Spartan (Stallone) goes in alone.  Spartan works his way to Phoenix and they battle.  When Spartan gains the upper hand, Phoenix ignites an accelerate to blow up the building.

Spartan makes it out with Phoenix under arrest.  He then learns that the hostages were in the building.  All killed by the blast.  Because Spartan didn’t wait for authorization to go in, he is made a scapegoat.  Both Phoenix and Spartan are sentenced to the California Cryo-Penitentiary.  They will be placed in suspended animation for the length of their sentences.

Thirty-six years pass.

Simon Phoenix is revived from cryofreeze for his parole hearing.  Phoenix escapes his cuffs.  He kills the warden and guards.  Phoenix makes his escape into a world where violence is a thing of the past.  Phoenix is easily tracked. Officers are sent to arrest him. Phoenix kills them all.  It is then decided, they will revive John Spartan.  Spartan arrested Phoenix before.  He can do it again… they hope.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

In the original script the entire movie takes place in the future.  Fred Dekker, who did uncredited rewrites, suggested the movie open in the past to show Spartan and Phoenix’s clash.  Dekker’s rationale, “If you don’t show Kansas, Oz isn’t all that special.”

When Demolition Man was released overseas, references to Taco Bell (dubbing and digitally) where changed to Pizza Hut.  Taco Bell wasn’t known in many overseas countries.

Lori Petty was originally cast as Lenina Huxley.  After a few days of filming, Petty left and Sandra Bullock got the role. Creative differences and/or lack of chemistry with Sly Stallone have been given as reasons for the change.

Jack Black appears as one of the Wasteland Scraps.  Adrienne Barbeau is heard (uncredited) as the mainframe computer’s voice.  Rob Schneider appears uncredited.

A scene where Sly Stallone fights Jesse Ventura was cut before the film’s release.

The Demolition Man song was written by Sting for Grace Jones and appeared on her album Nightclubbing, released in 1981.  It was re-recorded by Sting for use in Demolition Man‘s end credits.  Sting then released Demolition Man featuring the song and other live tracks.

The opening sequence of Demolition Man (with the helicopter under attack, bungee jump to the roof, gunfights with gang and fight with Simon Phoenix) is one of Sly’s best.  It has a John Woo feel to it.

When I first saw Demolition Man I thought it had too much comedy/satire.  The film has grown on me over the years.

Demolition Man (1993) rates 4 of 5 stars.

Burt Reynolds’ Best Movies!

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Recently I posted my choices for John Wayne’s Ten Westerns.  Next I turned my sights to Burt Reynolds’ Test Best Movies…

01.  Sharky’s Machine (1981): Burt Reynolds plays Tom Sharky, an Atlanta Narcotics Sargeant.  Burt Reynolds directs.  Co-starring Rachael Ward, Vittorio Gassman, Brian Keith, Charles Durning, Earl Holliman, Bernie Casey, Richard Libertini and Henry Silva.

When an undercover narcotics sting led by Sharky goes sideways, civilians on a crowded bus are wounded and a drug dealer killed.  Sharky is demoted to the vice squad. There Sharky discovers a prostitution ring that involves a powerful politician and a crime cartel.  What Sharky doesn’t realize is that they are on to him and he’s marked for death.

Sharky’s Machine is a great showcase for Reynolds’ acting and directing.  This movie deserved a sequel.  Sadly, it never happened.  Great cast, great soundtrack and it’s the film that launched Rachael Ward to stardom.

_____

02. Smokey and the Bandit (1977): Burt Reynolds plays Bo “Bandit” Darville. Hal Needham directs.  Co-starring Sally Field, Jerry Reed, Mike Henry, Paul Williams, Pat McCormick and Jackie Gleason.

The Bandit is hired to drive a truckload of bootleg beer from Texarkana to Atlanta in just 28 hours.  Along the way the Bandit picks up a runaway bride and the ire of Sheriff Bufford T. Justice.  Sheriff Justice is determined to catch and arrest the Bandit even if he has to chase him all the way to Atlanta!

Smokey and the Bandit was nominated for one Academy Award…

  • nominee Best Film Editing – Walter Hannemann, Angelo Ross

Smokey and the Bandit is a fun movie.  The actors have as much fun as the audience.  Bufford T. Justice as played by Jackie Gleason is an icon.  Burt Reynolds and Sally Field met and fell in love making this movie.  Had Reynolds not enjoyed the role and working with his co-stars/director so much and had the movie not been so successful, Reynolds’ choices for films that followed may have been very different.

_____

03.  The Longest Yard (1974): Burt Reynolds plays Paul Crewe.  Robert Aldrich directs.  Co-starring Eddie Albert, Ed Lauter, Michael Conrad, James Hampton, Mike Henry, Richard Kiel and Bernadette Peters.

Former pro football star, Paul Crewe, led police on a high speed chase in a former girlfriend’s car and then resisted arrest.  Now Crewe has an 18 month sentence at Citrus State Prison.  It’s going to be tough going for the former NFL star since the warden wants Crewe to put together a team of convicts to play his semi-pro team made up of prison guards.  The thing is… the warden is demanding that if it comes to it, Crewe must throw the game.

The Longest Yard was nominated for one Academy Award...

  • Best Film Editing – Michael Luciano

The Longest Yard came out when I was in tenth grade playing JV football.  Our coach made arrangements for us to see the film as a team.  We even called ourselves the Mean Machine after seeing The Longest Yard. (We became county champs that year.  Ah, great memories.)

_____

04.  The Last Movie Star (2017).  Burt Reynolds plays Vic Edwards.  Adam Rifkin directs.  Co-starring Ariel Winter, Clark Duke and Chevy Chase.

Vic Edwards is an aging movie star.  His glory days are well behind him.  When Edwards gets notification that he is the recipient of a lifetime achievement award from a film festival in Nashville, he reluctantly decides to go.  Once there Edwards realizes that the festival is just a local film fan get-together.  What he doesn’t know is how positively impactful this weekend will become.

Every Burt Reynolds fan should see this film.

_____

05. Hooper (1948).  Burt Reynolds plays Sonny Hooper.  Hal Needham directs.  Co-starring Jan-Michael Vincent, Sally Field, Brian Keith, John Marley, Robert Klein, James Best, Adam West and Robert Tessier.

Sonny Hooper is an aging stunt man.  Years of hard falls, too much booze and pain killers have taken a toll.  When a hot shot young stuntman shows up, Hooper feels he still has something to prove.

Hooper was nominated for one Academy Award...

  • nominee for Best Sound – Robert Knudson, Robert Glass, Don MacDougall, Jack Solomon

I loved Hooper when it first came out.  Great idea for a Burt Reynolds movie.  Wonderful supporting cast.  I saw it more than once at a theater.  It’s funny to think my buddy and I both bought jackets because they looked like one worn by Reynolds in Hooper.

_____

06.  Driven (2001).  Burt Reynolds plays Carl Henry.  Renny Harlin directs.  Co-starring Sylvester Stallone, Kip Pardue and Til Schweiger.

Carl Henry is the owner of a Formula One racing team.  His star driver, Jimmy Bly, has won five races.  Lately Bly’s driving has suffered.  Henry convinces his former driver and Formula One champion, Joe Tanto to come out of retirement, join the team and mentor Bly.  

This is the first film on the list to not star Burt Reynolds.  Being a fan of both Burt and Sly Stallone, I had always hoped that they’d work together.  Driven made that happen.

_____

07.  The Man Who Loved Cat Dancing (1973).  Burt Reynolds plays Jay Grobart.  Directed by Richard C. Sarafian.  Co-starring Sarah Miles, Lee J. Cobb, Jack Warden and George Hamilton.

Jay Grobart and his outlaw partners are on the run.  They robbed a train and a posse is after them. Grobart allows Catherine, a woman who is fleeing her rich, abusive husband to join them.  What Grobart doesn’t know is that Catherine’s husband has hired a posse of his own.  Now he has two posses that would like to see him dead.

This is Reynold’s best western.  I wish he had made more.

_____

08.  Deliverance (1972). Burt Reynolds Lewis.  Directed by John Boorman.  Co-starring Jon Voight, Ronny Cox, Ned Beatty and Bill McKinney.

Four friends, Lewis Medlock, Ed Gentry, Bobby Trippe, and Drew Ballinger, decide to take a canoe trip down a dangerous, remote river.  The trip is Lewis’ idea.  Lewis sees himself as an outdoorsman and survivalist.  His friends a middle-aged business men.  None of them, including Lewis are prepared for the misadventure that follows. 

Deliverance was nominated for three Academy Awards…

  • nominee Best Picture – John Boorman
  • nominee Best Director – John Boorman
  • nominee Best Film Editing – Tom Priestley

Burt Reynolds was getting great buzz for his acting in Deliverance.  Then the issue of Cosmopolitan came out that featured Reynolds in a semi-nude centerfold.  Suddenly he was no longer seen as a serious actor.  

_____

09.  Heat (1986).  Burt Reynolds plays Nick Escalante.  Directed by Dick Richards, Jerry Jameson.  Co-starring Karen Young, Peter MacNicol, Howard Hesseman and Diana Scarwid.

Nick Escalante is a Vegas bodyguard.  When a female escort is brutalized by a mobster’s son named Danny DeMarco, Escalante agrees to help her get revenge.  Things go sideways when the DeMarco calls in hitters to take out Escalante.

Heat was a troubled production.  Burt Reynolds and director, Dick Richards didn’t get along.  At one point Reynolds punched Richards, who then left the production.  Jerry Jamison was brought in to direct until Richards eventually returned.  Richards sued and won $500,000 from Reynold for the assault.

_____

10.  Malone (1987).  Burt Reynolds plays Richard Malone.  Directed by Harley Cokeliss.  Co-starring Cliff Robertson, Kenneth McMillan, Cynthia Gibb, Scott Wilson and Lauren Hutton.

Malone, a retired C.I.A. assassin, while driving across country, becomes stranded in a small town. Paul Barlow, the owner of the only gas station for miles allows Malone to stay at his house while they wait for the car part to arrive.  Malone learns that a rich man named Delaney is buying up all the property in the area and is putting a squeeze on Barlow.  When thugs are sent to convince Barlow to sell, Malone steps in.  Soon Malone finds himself going against Delaney and his former allies at the C.I.A..

Does it get any more mid-80s than Burt Reynolds, Cliff Robertson, Kenneth McMillan, Cynthia Gibb, Scott Wilson and Lauren Hutton?

“The Patriot” (2000) directed by Roland Emmerich, starring Mel Gibson & Heath Ledger / Z-View

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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…

  • nominee Best Cinematography – Caleb Deschanel
  • nominee Best Music, Original Score – John Williams
  • nominee Best Sound – Kevin O’Connell, Greg P. Russell, Lee Orloff

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) starring John Travolta, Gene Hackman, Rene Russo & Danny DeVito / Z-View

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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’s Ten Best Westerns!

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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…

  • nominee Best Picture,
  • nominee Best Director – John Ford
  • nominee Best Cinematography, Black-and-White – Bert Glennon
  • nominee Best Art Direction – Alexander Toluboff
  • nominee Best Film Editing – Otho Lovering, Dorothy Spencer
  • winner Best Actor in a Supporting Role – Thomas Mitchell
  • winner Best Music, Scoring – Richard Hageman, W. Franke Harling, John Leipold, Leo Shuken

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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...

  • Best Actress in a Supporting Role – Geraldine Page
  • Best Writing, Motion Picture Story – Louis L’Amour

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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…

  • nominee for Best Music, Original Song – Elmer Bernstein (music), Don Black (lyrics)
  • winner for Best Actor in a Leading Role – John Wayne

_____

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.

_____

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…

  • nominee for Best Writing, Motion Picture Story – Borden Chase
  • nominee for  Best Film Editing – Christian Nyby

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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…

  • nominee Best Art Direction-Set Decoration – Robert F. Boyle Arthur, Jeph Parker

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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.

“Fargo” (1996) written & directed by The Cohen Brothers, starring William H. Macy, Frances McDormand, Steve Buscemi & Peter Stormare / Z-View

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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…

  • Best Picture (Nominee)
  • Best Actress in a Leading Role (Winner – Frances McDormand)
  • Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Nominee – William H. Macy)
  • Best Director (Nominees – Joel Coen, Ethan Cohen)
  • Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen (Nominee – Ethan Coen, Joel Coen)
  • Best Cinematography (Nominee – Roger Deakins)
  • Best Film Editing (Nominees – Ethan Coen <as Roderick Jaynes>, Joel Coen <as Roderick Jaynes>)

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) starring Sylvester Stallone, Armand Assante & Diane Lane / Z-View

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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.

“Chisum” (1970) starring John Wayne / Z-View

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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.

“Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga” (2024) directed by George Miller, starring Anya Taylor-Joy & Chris Hemsworth / Z-View

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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.