Category: Z-View

BLOOD GROVE: AN EASY RAWLINS MYSTERY by Walter Mosley / Z-View

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BLOOD GROVE by Walter Mosley

First sentence…

I looked down from the third-floor office window onto the hastily built greenhouse in our back-fence neighbor’s yard.

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

Easy Rawlins is at his desk when a man enters the small office.  Easy has seen the look of a shell-shocked soldier before.  He’s seeing it again.  The man’s name is Craig Kilian.  Kilian’s a white man who wants to hire Easy.  Even in 1969, that’s not an everyday occurrence.

Kilian wants Easy to find out if Kilian murdered a man.  He thinks he did.  Kilian and a beautiful woman were alone in a citrus grove when a stranger attacked.  Kilian thinks in the struggle he stabbed the man.  Killed him dead.  Yet when Kilian came to the woman was gone.  So was the man he stabbed.

Easy feels sorry for the battle fatigued vet so he takes the case.

As Easy follows the clues, it becomes a tangled mess involving missing money, a sociopathic killer, cops and grifters.

+++++

I’m a Walter Mosley fan.  His Easy Rawlins tales are the best.  BLOOD GROVE is no exception.  If you’ve followed Mr. Mosley’s career, you’ll enjoy appearances in this one by Mouse Alexander, Fearless Jones, Jackson Blue and Christmas Black.

Rating:

“Hurricane Heist” (2018) directed by Rob Cohen / Z-View

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Hurricane Heist (2018)

Director:  Rob Cohen

Screenplay: Scott Windhauser, Jeff Dixon; story by Anthony Fingleton, Carlos Davis

Stars: Toby Kebbell, Maggie Grace, Ryan Kwanten, Ralph Ineson, Jamie Andrew Cutler, Ed Birch, James Barriscale, Erik Rondell, Mark Rhino Smith, Brooke Johnston  and Ben Cross

Tagline: The storm of the century… the heist of a lifetime.

The Plot…

A well organized group of thieves plan to rob a Federal Reserve money shredding facility in the small town of Gulfport, Alabama.  The crooks are going to do so under the cover of a Category 5 Hurricane heading for the evacuated city.

Standing in their way are two individuals: Treasury agent Casey Corbyn (Grace) and a National Weather Service meteorologist named Will (Kebbell).  If the thieves don’t kill them, the hurricane might.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Hurricane Heist isn’t as bad as reviews might lead you to believe.  It has excellent effects/scenes/stunts, but they get crazier as the movie goes on.  Still, I enjoyed it.  As always, your mileage may vary.

Hurricane Heist (2018) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“Legend of the Lost” (1957) starring John Wayne & Sophia Loren / Z-View

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Legend of the Lost (1957)

Director:  Henry Hathaway

Screenplay: Ben Hecht, Robert Presnell

Stars: John Wayne, Sophia Loren, Rossano Brazzi and Kurt Kasznar.

Tagline: Wayne Tangles with Loren…In the Adventure that’s Hotter than 1000 Suns!

The Plot…

Paul Bonnard comes to Timbuktu looking for a guide.  Bonnard’s father left him a map to a lost city full of gold and jewels.  Bonnard hires Joe January, an experienced guide.  The day before they are to leave, Bonnard meets Dita.  She’s beautiful, but is willing to steal or use her looks to make money from men.  Bonnard and Dita talk through the night.  The next day she asks to go with Bonnard and Joe.  Both men refuse to take her. The trip is much too dangerous.

Dita finds a way to join Bonnard and Joe.  Once she is discovered they are too far into the desert to take her back.  There’s no denying the attraction between Joe and Dita.  This coupled with low rations and even less water will lead to dangers no one saw coming.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

When director Henry Hathaway was asked why John Wayne’s character dresses like a cowboy, Hathaway replied John Wayne’s characters always dress like cowboys.

Legend of the Lost (1957) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenet Ramsey” (2024) / Z-View

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Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenet Ramsey (2024)

Director:  Joe Berlinger (Eps. 1-3)

Tagline:  None.

The Plot…

In a crime that rocked the nation, six year old JonBenet Ramsey was reported as kidnapped.  The kidnappers left a long ransom note (reported as looking like mom’s writing; written on mom’s writing pad) asking for $188,000 in exchange for the safe return of JonBenet.  ($118,000 is the amount that dad received as a Christmas bonus and is an odd amount to request at any rate.)

The police came.  So did family friends who received word of the kidnapping.  The police allowed everyone in the house.  An officer suggested that dad check the house again.  Dad found JonBenet bound with her mouth tapped on the floor in a downstairs play room.  Dad took the tape off her mouth and brought her upstairs.

The case made national news.  Speculation ran wild.  The parents and JonBenet’s nine year old brother became the main suspects.  The parents reported behaviors seemed suspicious.  A grand jury was paneled.  No one was ever charged.

This documentary explores the mistakes the police made, the evidence that was withheld and the push to make JonBenet’s parents the main suspects.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

It’s a shame how the reporters were not given the full facts of the case.  The only reason that occurred was to put pressure on JonBenet’s parents.  Much was made of the ransom note (and it still needs to be explained) but handwriting experts said it was NOT her mother’s writing.  That was never to my knowledge reported.  Much was also made about there being no footprints in the snow near the broken window that the killer supposedly used.  While there was some snow in the front of the house, there was no snow on the ground near the window side.  So of course there were no footprints in the snow.  There were many things like this that is pointed out in the documentary.

We also learn of several child molesters that were considered suspects.  One even had repeated phone calls admitting to killing JonBenet.

This documentary is an eye-opener.  Not into who actually did the killing, but how the public’s perception of the killing was manipulated.

I hope someday we do learn the truth and the killer is brought to justice.

Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenet Ramsey (2024) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“The Testament of Dr. Mabuse” (1933) directed by Fritz Lang / Z-View

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The Testament of Dr. Mabuse (1933)

Director:  Fritz Lang

Screenplay: Thea von Harbou, Fritz Lang

Stars: Rudolf Klein-Rogge, Otto Wernicke, Oscar Beregi Sr., Gustav Diessl

Tagline: Fritz Lang’s masterpiece. The most tremendous film of the present.

The Plot…

Hofmeister, a disgraced ex-police detective, uncovers an underworld criminal organization.  Barely escaping with his life, Hofmeister calls police Inspector Karl Lohmann.  As Hofmesiter lays out what he’s discovered, the connection is cut.  When Hofmeister is found, he’s gone insane.

Inspector Lohmann finds clues indicating that Dr. Mabuse is the mastermind behind the underworld criminals discovered by Hofmeister.  Lohmann is puzzled to learn that Dr. Mabuse went mad ten years prior.  He’s been housed at Professor Baum’s asylum.  Dr. Mabuse, locked in his cell with no outside contact, spends his days writing comprehensive plans for heists.  Mabuse’s cell is full of them.  Making things even stranger, since no one has access to these plans, is that they’re being used to commit crimes.

How can that be?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

The Nazis banned showing of The Testament of Dr. Mabuse because it might “incite people to anti-social behavior and terrorism against the State”.

Director Fritz Lang said that he was called to a meeting with Joseph Goebbels, Minister of Propaganda for the Nazi Party.  Goebbels said that he and Adolph Hitler were fans of Fritz’s earlier movies but his latest films (M and The Testament of Dr. Mabuse) could be interpreted as against the Nazi Party.  Goebbels then offered Lang the opportunity to direct films for the Nazis.  Lang said he would consider the offer.  He left Germany not long after this meeting.

Fritz is a master a direction, use of sound (talkies were still relatively new) and tension building scenes.

The Testament of Dr. Mabuse (1933) rates 5 of 5 stars.

“The Phantom Carriage” (1921) screenplay, directed by and starring Victor Sjöström / Z-View

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The Phantom Carriage (1921)

Director:  Victor Sjöström

Screenplay: Victor Sjöström; based on Körkarlen by Selma Lagerlöf

Stars: Victor Sjöström, Hilda Borgström, Tore Svennberg

Tagline: Do the Dead Come Back? Can Your Soul Leave Your Body – And Return Again? Is Spiritualism a Reality?

The Plot…

Three drunkards are in a graveyard on New Year’s Eve.  One of the boozers, David, explains the legend that the last sinner to die each year is doomed.  This unfortunate must spend the next year driving Death’s carriage to collect the souls of the dead.  As the clock nears midnight David gets hit on the head with a bottle.  He falls to the ground.  It appears that David’s soul is seen leaving his body.

A carriage approaches…

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Charlie Chaplin said The Phantom Carriage was the best film ever made.

The special effects for this 1921 film were done mainly through double (or more) film exposures.  Filming took place from May to July 1920.  Post-production work took five months!

The Phantom Carriage (1921) rates 5 of 5 stars.

“Red 11” (2019) / Z-View

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Red 11 (2019)

Director:  Robert Rodriguez

Screenplay: Robert Rodriguez, Racer Rodriguez; inspired by REBEL WITHOUT A CREW by Robert Rodriguez

Stars: Roby Attal, Lauren Hatfield

Tagline:  THE NEW $7,000.00 FILM FROM ROBERT RODRIGUEZ.

The Plot…

John owes bad people $7,000.00.  If they don’t get paid, John will get killed.  In order to get the money quickly John joins a clinical study that uses experimental drugs and treatments.  Once locked in the treatment center, John discovers he may be in more danger there.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Robert Rodriguez made his first film El Mariachi for $7,000.00.  He raised the money, in part, by taking part in medical studies.  Rodriguez was inspired by his experiences to come up with this film.  He also wanted to see if it was possible to make the film for $7,000.00.  It was.  Sadly, we didn’t get anything close to a movie as good as El Mariachi.

I’m a Robert Rodriguez fan.  Red 11 just didn’t resonate with me.  The movie is less than 90 minutes long.  I stuck it out for a bit over 50 minutes before tapping out.  Your mileage may vary.

Red 11 (2019) rates 1 of 5 stars.

“5 Steps to Danger” (1957) starring Ruth Roman & Sterling Hayden / Z-View

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5 Steps to Danger (1957)

Director:  Henry S. Kesler

Screenplay: Henry S. Kesler; story by Donald Hamilton, Turnley Walker; based on The Steel Mirror by Donald Hamilton

Stars: Ruth Roman, Sterling Hayden, Werner Klemperer, Richard Gaines, Peter Hansen, John Mitchum, Leonard Bremen, Sidney Clute and Ken Curtis.

Tagline:  First she lured him into her car … then she let him taste her lips … and then … THE TERROR BEGAN !

The Plot…

John Emmett has just learned that his car is beyond repair.  John sells it to the mechanic and asks about the nearest bus station.  Ann Nicholson overheard John’s problem and offers him a ride.  She’s driving to Santa Fe.  Ann suggests John ride with her.  They can split the drive time and motor straight through the night.  John agrees.

When they stop for gas, a woman, claiming to be a nurse approaches John.  The woman says that Ann has mental issues. The woman claims Ann is a patient of Dr. Frederick Simmons.  John isn’t sure what to believe and says nothing to Ann.

Later, Ann and John are pulled over by two cops.  They begin to question Ann about a murder in Los Angeles.  She argues with a cop and in the struggle the policeman is knocked down the embankment.  The other cop handcuffs Ann to John.  The cop and John struggle and John knocks him down the hill.  Ann and John take off.

On the run from the police, Ann tells John that she accidentally discovered a foreign government’s plot against the US.  Ann says that she has important scientific information that she must get to trusted authorities.  John is unsure if Ann is mentally unstable, a murderess or a patriot on the run.

One thing John does know, is that he’s now a wanted man.  His life may depend on unraveling the mystery that is Ann Nicholson.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Wilder’s Garage in the opening scene was named that as a nod to Billy Wilder who opened Ace in the Hole with a similar scene.

Werner Klemperer went on to fame as Colonel Klink on Hogan’s Heroes.  FBI Agent Jim Anderson is played (uncredited) by Ken Curtis who became famous as Festus on Gunsmoke.

5 Steps to Danger (1957) rates 2 of 5 stars.

REVELATION by Robert Knott / Z-View

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REVELATION by Robert Knott

First sentence…

Augustus Noble Driggs was lying inside the small stone room on a bunk, thinking about Jesus and whatnot.

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

US Marshall Virgil Cole and Deputy Everette Hitch receive word that several convicts have escaped prison. Worse still, they have taken the warden’s wife with them.  One of the escapees is none other than Augustus Noble Driggs.  Driggs is “square-jawed, handsome, and built like a muscled thoroughbred stallion.”  He’s well educated, resourceful and a West Point graduate.  Driggs is accurate with both pistol and long rifle.  Smart, physically fit and capable.  Driggs is a stone cold killer and dangerous adversary.

Virgil and Everette ride out to track down Driggs and the convicts.  Little do they know that an equal danger is brewing in Appaloosa.

+++++

Robert Knott does Robert B. Parker proud with another Virgil and Everett yarn.

Rating:

“Brothers” (2024) starring Josh Brolin, Peter Dinklage, Glenn Close, Marisa Tomei & Brendan Fraser / Z-View

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Brothers (2024)

Director:  Max Barbakow

Screenplay: Macon Blair; story by Etan Cohen

Stars: Josh Brolin, Peter Dinklage, Taylour Paige, Jen Landon, Brendan Fraser, Glenn Close, M. Emmet Walsh, Margo Moorer, Joshua Mikel, Nathan Hesse, Taylor St. Clair and Marisa Tomei.

Tagline:  Family is a life sentence.

The Plot…

Thirty years ago, Mike and Jady’s mother took off with the cops in hot pursuit.  Mom and her boyfriend had stolen emeralds worth millions.  Mom was not caught or heard from again.  After mom split, Mike and Jady began a life of small time crime.    Jady was eventually caught and sent to prison.  Mike married and hoped to turn his life around.

When Jady is released from prison, he visits Mike.  Jady has a plan for a road trip and one last score.  Desperate since he just lost his job, Mike agrees.  Had Mike known that it would involve an overly-friendly orangutan, a cop with a vendetta and their long lost mother, he might have reconsidered.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Brothers has a great cast with a story that has potential.  Sadly the film falls short.  I didn’t care for any of the characters.  The go-to for laughs was seeing people fall off roofs, get punched, run over or knocked down.  I made it to the end.  Barely.

Brothers is M. Emmet Walsh’s last feature film appearance.  He deserved better.  So did the other talents in this movie.  Brendan Fraser and Marisa Tomei are Academy Award winners.  Josh Brolin and Glenn Close are Academy Award nominees.  Peter Dinklage is a 4 time Emmy Award winner.

Although Marisa Tomei is listed on the movie poster, her name doesn’t appear in the film credits.

Brothers (2024) rates 2 of 5 stars.

“Late Night with the Devil” (2023) written & directed by Colin Cairnes & Cameron Cairnes / Z-View

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Late Night with the Devil (2023)

Director:  Colin Cairnes, Cameron Cairnes

Screenplay: Colin Cairnes, Cameron Cairnes

Stars: David Dastmalchian, Laura Gordon, Ian Bliss, Fayssal Bazzi, Ingrid Torelli, Steve Mouzakis, Christopher Kirby and Rhys Auteri.

Tagline:  The live television event that shocked a nation!

The Plot…

In October 1977, Night Owls late night talk show host Jack Delroy’s contract was coming up for renewal.  The show has had it’s ups and downs, but lately has been dropping in the ratings.  Because Halloween falls during sweeps week, Delroy has a special episode planned.

On Halloween night, on Night Owls Jack Delroy will present live…

  • Christou, a medium who claims he will communicate with the dead.
  • June Ross-Mitchell and Lilly.  Ross-Mitchell, a parapsychologist who wrote a best-seller about her work with Lilly who is reportedly possessed by a demon.
  • Carmichael Haig, a former magician and professional debunker.  Haig has offered $100,000 to anyone who can prove paranormal powers exist.

No one was prepared for what happened.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Late Night with the Devil feels like a real talk show from 1977.  They’ve absolutely captured the dress, the sound, and sets.  This one is excellent all the way around — writing, direction and casting.  Kudos to all involved.

Late Night with the Devil (2023) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“Black Dynamite” (2009) starring Michael Jai White / Z-View

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Black Dynamite (2009)

Director:  Scott Sanders

Screenplay: Michael Jai White, Scott Sanders, Byron Minns, story by Michael Jai White, Byron Minns

Stars: Michael Jai White, Arsenio Hall, Tommy Davidson, Phyllis Applegate, Obba Babatundé, William Bassett and Mykelti Williamson.

Tagline:  He’s super bad, he’s outta sight. He’s Black Dynamite.

The Plot…

Black Dynamite (White) is a Viet Nam vet, fung fu expert, ex-CIA, love machine.  He’s a mean muther —  I’m just talking about Black Dynamite.  When Black Dynamite’s brother is killed, evidence leads to an organization that is providing heroin to black orphanages, and poisoning malt liquor headed for the ghetto.  The CIA reinstate Black Dynamite so he can make those muthers pay.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Black Dynamite is a love letter to the low-budget blaxploitation movies of the early 1970s.  It definitely captured the look, sound and feel of those films.  We get split screen, slow-motion, boom mic errors, jump cuts, bad dialogue and music that take us back to those wonderful days of one cool cat willing and able to take down the man in between loving the ladies.

Kudos to Michael Jai White for not only playing the lead, but coming up with the idea and hitting the right mix of homage and parody.

Black Dynamite (2009) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“Cross”: Season 1 starring Aldis Hodge, Isaiah Mustafa, Ryan Eggold and Johnny Ray Gill / Z-View

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Cross: Season 1 (2024)

Created by: Ben Watkins; based on the ALEX CROSS novels by James Patterson

Director: Nzingha Stewart (Eps. 1-2); Craig Siebels (Eps. 3-4); Stacey Muhammad  (Eps. 5-6); Director X (Ep. 7); Carl Seaton (Ep. 8)

Teleplay: Ben Watkins (Ep. 1); Aiyana White (Ep. 2); Ron McCants & Sam Ernst  (Ep. 3); Blaize Ali-Watkins & Jim Dunn  (Ep. 4); Gary Lundy (Ep. 5); Ali Salerno; story by Ali Salerno & Sonja Perryman (Ep. 6); Sam Ernst & Jim Dunn (Ep. 7);Ben Watkins & Aiyana White (Ep. 8)

Stars: Aldis Hodge, Isaiah Mustafa, Juanita Jennings, Alona Tal, Samantha Walkes, Caleb Elijah, Melody Hurd, Jennifer Wigmore, Eloise Mumford, Ryan Eggold, Stacie Greenwell, Sharon Taylor, Karen Robinson, Mercedes de la Zerda, Siobhan Murphy and Johnny Ray Gill.

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

D.C. Detective Alex Cross (Hodge) and (his best friend since childhood) Detective John Sampson (Mustafa) are assigned the case of a well known Black Lives Matter activist, Emir Goodspeed, found dead in his car.  Initial reports indicate an accidental drug overdose.  Cross examines the evidence and believes it was murder.  The powers that be want the case quickly wrapped up.

Chief Anderson orders Cross to quit making waves.  Cross digs deeper. He finds evidence that Goodspeed was the victim of a serial killer. Chief Anderson, not convinced, orders Cross to stand down.  Only Cross’ partner, John Sampson and one other person believe Cross is right.  The other person is the serial killer.

Cross doesn’t know how connected and powerful the serial killer is.  He’s about to find out.

Cross also doesn’t realize the killer who murdered Cross’ wife (and was never caught) is coming back for more revenge.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

I absolutely loved this season.  Alex Cross isn’t a perfect hero by any stretch.  He’s suffering from the unresolved murder of his wife.  Often deaths in movies/television shows have little ramifications for the heroes.  That isn’t the case here.

Cross is populated with  characters and a great cast.  Standouts are Aldis Hodge, Isaiah Mustafa (who plays my favorite character), Ryan Eggold and Johnny Ray Gill.

The story feels grounded in reality which makes us more willing to accept the connections of the serial killer.  I loved the twists and the secondary story that doesn’t immediately become clear that it’s not part of the main crime.

I am looking forward to season 2.

Cross: Season 1 (2024) rates 5 of 5 stars.

“High Wall” (1947) starring Robert Taylor, Audrey Trotter and Herbert Marshall / Z-View

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High Wall (1947)

Director:  Curtis Bernhardt

Screenplay: Sydney Boehm, Lester Cole, story by Alan R. Clark, Bradbury Foote based on HIGH WALL by Alan R. Clark and the play adapted by Bradbury Foote

Stars: Robert Taylor, Audrey Totter, Herbert Marshall, H.B. Warner, Warner Anderson, Moroni Olsen, John Ridgely, Morris Ankrum, Elisabeth Risdon and Vince Barnett.

Tagline:  So tense! So taut! It closes in on you like a high wall!

The Plot…

Steven Kenet (Taylor) needs an operation for a brain injury he suffered in the war.  Kenet is currently being held in the county psychiatric hospital.  Police believe Kenet murdered his wife.  Kenet needs psychiatric testing to see if he’s sane enough to stand trial.

Kenet initially doesn’t know if he killed his wife or not. As he regains bits of his memory, Kenet begins to believe he’s innocent.  But how can he prove his innocence if he’s locked up in the looney bin?  If he could only get Dr. Ann Lorrison (Trotter) to believe he’s not a killer…

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

The High Wall takes some daring angles for a film made in the 40s.  The hero starting to strangle his wife.  A war hero’s wife cheating on him and caring nothing for her child. The killer admitting it to Kenet to incite him. Kudos for being daring.

Contrast this with the easy way Kenet gets in and out of custody plus the killer’s “confession” and we end up with a mixed bag.  Still I liked High Wall.

High Wall (1947) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“Gun Crazy” (1950) directed by Joseph H. Lewis, starring Peggy Cummins & John Dall / Z-View

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Gun Crazy (1950)

Director:  Joseph H. Lewis

Screenplay: Dalton Trumbo, MacKinlay Kantor based on Gun Crazy a 1940 story in The Saturday Evening Post by MacKinlay Kantor

Stars: John Dall, Peggy Cummins, Berry Kroeger, Morris Carnovsky, Harry Lewis, Nedrick Young, Trevor Bardette, Virginia Farmer, Robert Osterloh, Shimen Ruskin, Ray Teal and Russ Tamblyn.

Tagline:  SHE BELIEVES IN TWO THINGS… – love and violence!

The Plot…

Bart Tare (Dall) has always had a fascination with guns.  Bart is a crack shot and even taught marksmanship in the service.  One night at a traveling carnival with friends, Bart is encouraged to accept a challenge from sharpshooter Annie Laurie Starr (Cummins).  Even though she’s really good, Bart wins the contest.  But Laurie wins Bart’s heart.

Laurie gets Bart a job with the carnival.  They fall in love and marry.  Laurie wants more than the sideshow life can provide.  She convinces Bart they should use their gun skills to rob enough places to live the good life.  When Laurie threatens to leave Bart, he agrees as long as no one gets hurt.

That’s a promise she can’t keep.  She’s gun crazy.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

The bank robbery scene was shot in one take.  Dall, Cummins, the actor playing the police officer and the people inside the bank knew the scene was being filmed.  At no time during the scene do we see the inside of the bank.  That was a bold move for the director to make.  It works!

Dalton Trumbo was listed in the credits since he was a blacklisted writer at the time.

Bart and Laurie are loosely based on Bonnie and Clyde.

I appreciate Gun Crazy more with each viewing.

Gun Crazy (1950) rates 4 of 5 stars.