Category: Z-View

“The Vampire Lestat” Season 1 (2026) starring Sam Reid, Jacob Anderson, Eric Bogosian, Assad Zaman and Delainey Hayles / Z-View

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The Vampire Lestat: Season 1 (2026)

Created by: Rolin Jones; based on THE VAMPIRE CHRONICLES by Ann Rice

Director:

  • Craig Zisk (eps. 1-2)
  • Claudia Llosa (eps. 3-4)
  • Levan Akin (ep. 5)
  • Jane Wu (ep. 6)
  • Alan Taylor (ep. 7)

Teleplay:

  • Rolin Jones & Hannah Moscovitch (ep. 1)
  • Jonathan Ceniceroz & Kevin Hanna (ep. 2)
  • Anusree Roy (ep. 3)
  • Jonathan Ceniceroz (ep. 4)
  • Daniel Hart & Hannah Moscovitch  (ep. 5)
  • Ryan Kattner & Kevin Hanna (ep. 6)
  • Hannah Moscovitch (ep. 7)

Stars:  Sam Reid, Jacob Anderson, Eric Bogosian, Assad Zaman, Delainey Hayles, Joseph Potter, Jennifer Ehle.

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

Lestat is a vampire.  A. Real. Vampire.  Lestat is also the lead singer for a rock band.  His public persona is a rock singer playing a vampire.  The band has achieved cult status.  His followers don’t believe Lestat is a real vampire, but they enjoy dressing up and coming to his concerts.

Lestat’s growing fame is a concern for other vampires throughout the world.  If it is discovered that Lestat is a real vampire, it would create problems for them.  Deadly problems.

They’re going to have to deal with Lestat.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

I loved the first two seasons of Interview with the Vampire.  For the third season the name of the series was changed to The Vampire Lestat.  The fourth season will be titled Anne Rice’s Queen of the Damned.

The Vampire Lestat: Season 1 (2026) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“Cape Fear” Season 1 (2026) starring Javier Bardem, Amy Adams, Patrick Wilson, Joe Anders, Lily Collias, CCH Pounder, Malia Pyles, Jamie Hector, Ron Perlman and Juliette Lewis / Z-View

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Cape Fear: Season 1 (2026)

Created by: Nick Antosca; based on THE EXECUTIONERS by John D. MacDonald; Cape Fear by Wesley Strick and Cape Fear by James R. Webb

Director:

  • Morten Tyldum (ep. 1)
  • SJ Clarkson (ep. 2)
  • Amanda Marsalis (ep. 3)
  • Reed Morano (ep. 4)
  • Steven Piet (ep. 5)
  • Trey Edward Shults (ep. 6)
  • Jon S. Baird (ep. 7)
  • Stephen Williams (ep. 8)
  • Amanda Marsalis (ep. 9)
  • Jonathan Van Tulleken (ep. 10)

Teleplay:

  • Nick Antosca (ep. 1)
  • André Jacquemetton & Maria Jacquemetton (ep. 2; 7)
  • Alan Page Arriaga (ep. 3; 8)
  • Tara Shivkumar (ep. 4)
  • Peter Blake (ep. 5)
  • Brian Evenson (ep. 6)
  • Diana Pawell & Peter Blake (ep. 9)
  • Nick Antosca & Peter Blake & Tara Shivkumar (ep. 10)

Stars:  Javier Bardem, Amy Adams, Patrick Wilson, Joe Anders, Lily Collias, CCH Pounder, Malia Pyles, Jamie Hector, Ron Perlman and Juliette Lewis.

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

From the outside Anna and Tom Bowden look like they have it all.  They’re both successful attorneys.  The have two children, a boy and a girl… a big house… nice salaries.  Yeah, from the outside it looks like all is good.

It’s not.

The marriage isn’t smooth sailing.  Their son is going through mental issues.  Their daughter feels isolated due to their parents’ and brother’s issues.

Then Max Cady shows up.  Max was just released from prison after seventeen years.  Cady has been convicted of killing his pregnant wife.  Cady was released due to someone else confessing to the murder.

Cady blames  Anna and Tom Bowden for his seventeen years in prison.  Anna was his defense attorney.  Tom was the prosecutor.  Cady believes they were having a relationship at the time of his trial.  Worse still they did something to make sure Cady was convicted.

But Cady is out now.  And he will have his revenge.  On Anna.  On Tom.  And their children.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Cape Fear is based on John D. MacDonald’s novel THE EXECUTIONERS, as well as the two movie adaptations of it.

There’s a definite attempt to give this adaptation a Hitchcock-feel from the way some of the scenes are shot to the soundtrack.

I am a huge fan of the Cape Fear movies.  I believe the series suffers because it’s hard to root for the Bowden family, because they are so unlikeable.

Bardem had big shoes to fill, following Robert Mitchum and Robert DeNiro.  He does an admirable job.

Ron Perlman has a small but important role.  He’s a welcome addition to the cast.  Same could be said for CCH Pounder, Jamie Hector and Juliette Lewis.

Cape Fear: Season 1 (2026) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“The 24th” (2020) starring Trai Byers, Bashir Salahuddin, Aja Naomi King, Mo McRae, Tosin Morohunfola, Mykelti Williamson and Thomas Haden Church / Z-View

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The 24th (2020)

Director: Kevin Willmott

Screenplay:  Kevin Willmott, Trai Byers

Stars: Trai Byers, Bashir Salahuddin, Aja Naomi King, Mo McRae, Tosin Morohunfola, Mykelti Williamson and Thomas Haden Church.

Tagline: Courage isn’t just fighting the enemy — it’s standing up for justice.

The Plot…

1917.  An all black US army unit is stationed just outside the city limits.  Although the soldiers are trained and want to help in the war effort, because of segregation they’re not allowed.  Worse still, the men face racial discrimination every time they go into the city.  Not only are the local police of no assistance, they often participate in the mistreatment of the soldiers.

Tension and frustration continues to ratchet up.  Soldiers have been beaten and worse.  When word reaches the camp that an armed white mob was headed for the base, the soldiers arm themselves.  The soldiers decide to not wait and take the fight to the mob.  They head into the city and begin shooting locals on site.

It isn’t until after 11 civilians and 5 policemen are gunned down that the soldiers learn that there never was an armed mob coming to the base.

There will be repercussions.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

The 24th is the true story of the 1917 Huston riot.  Although I had heard of the riot, I had no idea of the specifics.

The riot lasted two hours.  Nineteen people were killed.  Fifteen were white (including five police officers).  Four were black soldiers killed by friendly fire or suicide.  118 black soldiers were charged and went to trial.  One soldier was found mentally unfit to stand trial.  Eight were acquitted of all charges.  Sixty-three soldiers were sentenced to life in prison.  28 received shorter prison terms or other sentences.  19 were sentenced to death and executed.

The 24th does a good job of dramatizing a terrible time in our history.

The 24th (2020) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“King Kong” (1933) directed by Merian C. Cooper & Ernest B. Schoedsack, starring Faye Wray, Robert Armstrong & Bruce Cabot / Z-View

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King Kong (1933)

Director: Merian C. Cooper, Ernest B. Schoedsack

Screenplay:  James Creelman, Ruth Rose; story by Edgar Wallace, Merian C. Cooper

Stars: Fay Wray, Robert Armstrong, Bruce Cabot, Frank Reicher and Noble Johnson.

Tagline: A Monster of Creation’s Dawn Breaks Loose in Our World Today!

The Plot…

Carl Denham, known for his wildlife films, has plans to create his greatest movie yet!  With his small film crew and Ann Darrow, a struggling actress he just discovered, they set sail for a mysterious uncharted island.

On this strange land dangers abound.  There are natives, prehistoric beasts and KONG!  Kong is a giant ape that the natives worship.

Denham gets a brainstorm.  They will capture Kong, bring him to New York City and make a fortune.  People will pay good money to see… KING KONG.

Of course Denham doesn’t consider what would happen should Kong escape in New York City.

He should have.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Kong’s fur appears to move.  This was caused when animators held the figure in order to change its position.

King Kong co-stars Fay Wray and Robert Armstrong also co-starred in The Most Dangerous Game released the previous year. King Kong re-used some of the jungle sets of The Most Dangerous Game.

King Kong is an undisputed classic.

King Kong (1933) rates 5 of 5 stars.

“The Manchurian Candidate” (1962) directed by John Frankenheimer, starring Frank Sinatra, Laurence Harvey, Janet Leigh & Angela Lansbury / Z-View

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The Manchurian Candidate (1962)

Director: John Frankenheimer

Screenplay:  George Axelrod; based on THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE by Richard Condon.

Stars:  Frank Sinatra, Laurence Harvey, Janet Leigh, Angela Lansbury, Henry Silva, Leslie Parrish, John McGiver, Khigh Dhiegh, James Edwards, Barry Kelley, Lloyd Corrigan  and James Gregory.

Tagline: If you come in five minutes after this picture begins, you won’t know what it’s all about! When you’ve seen it all, you’ll swear there’s never been anything like it!

The Plot…

Captain Ben Marco and Sergeant Raymond Shaw are returned to the US, along with other surviving members of their platoon.  The soldiers had been captured by Soviet and Chinese forces during the Korean War.

Once home Marco repeatedly has nightmares where he and fellow US soldiers are on a stage.  They sit calmly as enemy soldiers see a presentation about new mind control techniques.  In the dream  Sergeant Shaw is ordered to kill one of the US soldiers on stage.  Shaw takes the weapon walks over to the identified soldier who calmly sits as Shaw blows his brains out.

Since their arrival back to the States, Shaw has been awarded the Medal of Honor for saving fellow soldiers in Korean Combat.  Shaw’s father is a US Senator, his mother guides his father’s career.  A Presidential run is in his father’s future.  The family is through and through “red, white and blue”.  Yet, Marco can’t shake the feeling something is not right with Raymond Shaw.

And he’s right…

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

The Manchurian Candidate was nominated for two Academy Awards…

  • Nominee for Best Film Editing – Ferris Webster
  • Nominess for Best Actress in a Supporting Role – Angela Lansbury

The Manchurian Candidate is famous for a blurred scene with Marco.  It is out of focus and shows Shaw’s confused perspective.  Director John Frankenheimer was greatly praised for his creativity.  Years later Frankenheimer admitted it was accidentally shot out of focus.  When he called Frank Sinatra for a re-shoot, Sinatra refused.  The out of focus scene had to be used… and became a happy accident.

Angela Lansbury (who is excellent) plays Laurence Harvey’s mother.  She was only three years than Harvey in real life.

Truth is stranger than fiction.  Robert Kennedy, who was running for President, was assassinated by Sirhan Sirhan.  Sirhan later claimed that he had been brainwashed to commit the murder.  The Manchurian Candidate‘s director, John Frankenheimer drove Robert Kennedy to the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles where the assassination took place.

The Manchurian Candidate (1962) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“I, The Jury” (1982) starring Armand Assante, Barbara Carrera, Laurene Landon, Alan King, Paul Sorvino and Geoffrey Lewis / Z-View

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I, the Jury (1982)

Director: Richard T. Heffron

Screenplay:  Larry Cohen; based on I, THE JURY by Mickey Spillane.

Stars:  Armand Assante, Barbara Carrera, Laurene Landon, Alan King, Paul Sorvino, Judson Scott, Jessica James and Geoffrey Lewis.

Tagline: He’s charming, he’s sexy, he’s tough, and he’s too hot to cool down! He’s “The Hammer”.

The Plot…

PI, Mike Hammer gets word that Jack Williams, an old army buddy, was murdered.  Jack lost his arm saving Mike during the war.  Despite being warned off by the cops, Hammer decides to look into Mike’s murder.  Hammer hopes to find the killer before the cops.  That way he can make sure justice is served.

The leads point to a sex clinic, the C.I.A., mobsters and a psycho killer.

The movie is I, the Jury and court is in session.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

I, the Jury features Armand Assante in his first feature film starring role.  Assante makes a great Mike Hammer.

Larry Cohen, the screenwriter also started as the film’s director.  He was replaced after six days of shooting since he was already $100,000 and a day over budget.

I, the Jury is based on Mickey Spillane’s classic novel.  Changes to the film include setting it in the 1980s, adding the CIA/Mafia subplot and more.  Thankfully Hammer’s final line in the novel was kept for the movie.

Larry Cohen planned to do a trilogy of Mike Hammer films since he had the rights to two other Hammer novels by Spillane.  Sadly, this never happened.

Laurene Landon is excellent as Hammer’s secretary Velda.

I, the Jury features one of my all-time favorite movie posters.  It was created by Drew Struzan.

I, the Jury (1982) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“Dog Day Afternoon” (1975) directed by Sidney Lumet, starring Al Pacino, John Cazale & Charles Durning / Z-View

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Dog Day Afternoon (1975)

Director: Sidney Lumet

Screenplay:  Frank Pierson, story by Thomas Moore, based on The Boys in the Bank article in Life magazine by P. F. Kluge, Thomas Moore

Stars:  Al Pacino, John Cazale, James Broderick, Penelope Allen, Sully Boyar, Carol Kane, Lance Henrikson, Floyd Levine, Dick Anthony Williams, Chris Sarandon and Charles Durning.

Tagline: The robbery should have taken 10 minutes. 4 hours later, the bank was like a circus sideshow. 8 hours later, it was the hottest thing on live T.V. 12 hours later, it was all history. And it’s all true

The Plot…

On the morning of August 22, 1972, three buddies, Sonny, Sal and Stevie, first time crooks, went in to a New York bank.  They intended to rob it.  As soon as Sonny and Sal pulled their guns, Stevie lost his nerve.  As Sonny and Sal held the clerks at bay, Stevie apologized and ran away.

Things went downhill from there.

The bank’s daily cash pick-up had already occurred.  There was barely $1,000.00 in the bank.  Worse still, a silent alarm had been triggered during the commotion.  In no time the bank was surrounded by cops and onlookers.

It was a stand-off.

Because Sonny and Sal were new at this, their actions confused the police.  The cops thought they were dealing with hardcases who would kill their hostages without a second thought.  Their demands though were confusing.  They wanted pizzas for the hostages and themselves, transportation to the airport and a jet to take everyone (hostages included) to an undisclosed location.  When asked why they were robbing the bank, their answer: Sonny wanted to get his lover a sex change operation.

As crazy as this sounds, it is all true.  And would get even crazier before it was over.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Dog Day Afternoon received six Academy Award nominations and won one…

  • Nominee for Best Film Editing – Dede Allen
  • Nominee for Best Director – Sidney Lumet
  • Nominee for Best Actor in a Supporting Role – Chris Sarandon
  • Nominee for Best Actor in a Leading Role – Al Pacino
  • Nominee for Best Picture – Martin Bregman, Martin Elfand
  • Winner for Best Writing, Original Screenplay – Frank Pierson

Director Sidney Lumet was against the casting of John Cazale as Sal.  In real life, Sal was just 18 when the robbery took place. John Cazale was nearly 40, clearly too old for the role.  Al Pacino kept pushing for Cazale, so Lumet brought him in to audition and was won over.

This real life robbery became a model for police to learn how (and how not) to deal with hostage situations and unruly mobs of onlookers.

Sidney Lumet allowed his cast to improvise much of the dialogue.  When Al Pacino incites the crowd by yelling “Attica! Attica!”, Charles During looks confused.  He was.  Pacino improvised the line.  When Pacino asks Cazale, “What country he’d like to fly to” and Cazale responds, “Wyoming” it was another improvisation.  Pacino’s look of surprise was genuine.

Dog Day Afternoon features Chris Sarandon’s feature film debut.  Sarandon won an Oscar for his performance.

Dog Day Afternoon is classic.

Dog Day Afternoon (1975) rates 5 of 5 stars.

“Deep Blue Sea” (1999) directed by Renny Harlin / Z-View

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Deep Blue Sea (1999)

Director: Renny Harlin

Screenplay:  Duncan Kennedy, Donna Powers, Wayne Powers

Stars:  Saffron Burrows, Thomas Jane, LL Cool J, Jacqueline McKenzie, Michael Rapaport, Stellan Skarsgård, Aida Turturro, Samuel L. Jackson and Ronny Cox, Renny Harlin.

Tagline: Bigger. Smarter. Faster. Meaner.

The Plot…

At a remote research facility located on the deep sea, Dr. Susan McAlester leads a small group of scientists working to find a cure to Alzheimer’s disease.   McAlester’s research involves using proteins from the brains of three captured sharks.

When one of the sharks uses an object as a battering ram to bust through an observation window, McAlester admits that she genetically altered the sharks’ brains to make them bigger.  Now the small research team is stranded in a sinking research facilty surrounded by sharks that are…

Bigger. Smarter. Faster. Meaner.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Ronny Cox appears uncredited as an Executive.  Renny Harlin appears uncredited as a worker.

*** SPOILERS – MAJOR SPOILERS FOLLOW***

In the original cut at the end of the film Saffron Burrows was the hero.  Audiences in test screenings hated it because she was the reason the sharks were changed.  Some of her scenes (that made her more sympathetic) were cut.  Reshot footage had a shark kill her and made LL Cool J’s character the hero.

Suddenly killing off Russell Franklin (Samuel L. Jackson) well before the end of the movie was inspired by Tom Skerritt’s character’s demise in Alien.  Killing the best known actor and lead character put the survivors in more jeopardy.  When I first saw Deep Blue Sea, I was totally shocked when Samuel L. Jackson was killed.  Well played, Renny Harlin.

Deep Blue Sea (1999) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“The Outlaw Josey Wales” (1976) starring Clint Eastwood / Z-View

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The Outlaw Josey Wales (1976)

Director: Clint Eastwood

Screenplay:  Phil Kaufman, Sonia Chernus; based on GONE TO TEXAS by Forrest Carter.

Stars:  Clint Eastwood, Chief Dan George, Sondra Locke, Bill McKinney, Paula Trueman, Sam Bottoms, Woodrow Parfrey, Joyce Jameson, Sheb Wooley, Royal Dano, Matt Clark, Will Samson and John Vernon.

Tagline:  …an army of one.

The Plot…

As the Civil War rages, Josey Wales tries to make a go of it as a peaceful farmer.  That changes when Union Soldiers burn down his farm and kill his wife and young son.  With nothing left to live for, Josey joins a group of Confederate renegades.

When the Civil War ends, the Confederate renegades are given a chance to surrender with their lives.  They’re told if they come in, swear alliegence to the Union, they will be pardoned.  All of the renegades except for Josey Wales goes in.

Josey watches from a distance.  As he suspected it is a death trap.  Josey rides in, killing several soldiers as he takes over a gattling gun.  Josey continues to mow down Union soldiers using their weapon.

Josey makes his escape.  Now he has a price on his head.  Every bounty hunter as well as a squad of Union soldiers wants Josey Wales dead.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

The Outlaw Josey Wales received one 1977 Academy Award Nominaton for Best Music, Original Score – Jerry Fielding

The Director’s Guild of America instituted a new rule after Clint Eastwood replaced director Philip Kaufman after filming had started.  It bans any crew of cast member from replacing a director.  It was dubbed the “Eastwood Rule”.

The Outlaw Josey Wales is the first of six times Eastwood and Sondra Locke co-starred.

David Geffen says he was a young executive at Warner Bros. asked to provide notes after an early screening of The Outlaw Josey Wales.  None of the other execs had any.  Geffen suggested to Eastwood that the film be shortened by a half hour.  Eastwood’s response was that he could cut it, if that’s what was needed.  Geffen asked, “Where will you be?”  “Across the street at Paramount cutting a new deal.”  Needless to say, the movie was not cut.

I prefer The Outlaw Josey Wales to Unforgiven… or any of Eastwood’s other westerns.  It is a classic.

Chief Dan George is a treasure.

The Outlaw Josey Wales (1976) rates 5 of 5 stars.

“Fallen” (1998) starring Denzel Washington, John Goodman, Donald Sutherland & James Gandolfini / Z-View

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Fallen (1998)

Director: Gregory Hoblit

Screenplay:  Nicholas Kazan

Stars:  Denzel Washington, John Goodman, Donald Sutherland, Embeth Davidtz, James Gandolfini, Elias Koteas, Robert Joy.

Tagline: Don’t trust a soul.

The Plot…

Detective John Hobbes is surprised to find serial killer Edgar Reese is so cheerful when he is about to be executed.  Reese shows no remorse as he taunts the witnesses and sings “Time is On My Side” as justice is served.

Following Reese’s execution, a new series of murders occur.  The killer uses the same methods as Reese.  Detective Hobbes and his partner Jonesy believe a copycat is at play.  As they investigate the new murders, friends and strangers begin to say and do strange things around Hobbes.  It is almost as if they are taunting him.  It is especially disconcerting to hear them sing “Time is on my side”.

Then Hobbes discovers an occult connection to Reese.  Could it be possible that a demon took possession of the humans behind the murders?  If true, this demon can transfer from one body to another simply by touch.  Hobbes cannot believe that a supernatural force, a demon, could be involved.

Then the demon makes it’s presence known.

Hobbes is at a loss.  How do you defeat a demon that can possess anyone around you?  One thing is for sure… he can’t trust a soul.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Fallen is better than I thought it would be.  Much of that credit goes to the cast — especially Denzel Washington, John Goodman and James Gandolfini.

Other taglines for the film include:

  • I ALMOST died… – this  is a good one, but only makes real sense after seeing the movie.
  • Detective John Hobbes is searching for a criminal he’s already met… already caught… and already killed – is a bit too spot on and long
  • Time is on my side…. – is perhaps my favorite (along with the one on the poster I used).

Fallen (1998) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“Escape From New York” (1981) directed by John Carpenter, starring Kurt Russell, Lee Van Cleef, Ernest Borgnine, Donald Pleasence, Isaac Hayes, Harry Dean Stanton & Adrienne Barbeau / Z-View

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Escape from New York (1981)

Director: John Carpenter

Screenplay:  John Carpenter, Nick Castle

Stars:  Kurt Russell, Lee Van Cleef, Ernest Borgnine, Donald Pleasence, Isaac Hayes, Harry Dean Stanton, Adrienne Barbeau, Season Hubley, Tom Atkins, Charles Cyphers, Douglas “Ox” Baker, Jamie Lee Curtis (voice) and Frank Doubleday.

Tagline: 1997. New York City is now a maximum security prison. Breaking out is impossible. Breaking in is insane.

The Plot…

In the future New York City has been turned into a maximum security prison.  Forty-foot walls with armed sentries make sure anyone imprisoned there never gets out.  Inside there are no guards.  Gangs created by the worst of the worst rule.  Marauding cannibals live in the tunnels underground.  New York is hell on earth.

The United States, Russia and China are on the verge of war.  US President John Harker is scheduled to speak at a peace conference in a little over 24 hours.  Harker has in his posession a tape that explains a secret process for nuclear fusion.  This would create an endless energy source for all nations — if peace can be achieved.

When an attack on the President’s life brings down Air Force One, the President survives in an escape pod… that lands behind the New York City prison walls.

A rescue squad is sent in only to be met with the news the President is alive but the prisoner of The Duke of New York, leader of the prison’s biggest gang.  The squad is given 30 seconds to leave or the President will be killed.

They leave.

Deterrmined to save the President, and retrieve the cassette he carries, a plan is developed.  Snake Plissken, a former Special Forces soldier, recently arrested will be offered immunity for his crimes, if he successfully rescues the President in time for the Peace conference.  Plissken reluctantly agrees.

Worried that Plissken won’t follow through, he is injected with an explosive micro-capsule that will explode in 23 hours.  If he returns with the President before time has expired, the capsule will be neutralized.

Plissken is on his way in.  The clock is ticking.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Jamie Lee Curtis provides the opening narration as well as the computer’s voice in the first prison scene.

Kurt Russell has said that Escape from New York is his favorite of all his film and that Snake Plissken is the favorite of the characters he’s played.  It was also Russell’s idea to give Snake an eyepatch. Also once Lee Van Cleef was signed, it was Russell’s idea to imitate Clint Eastwood’s delivery.

Although most consider Snake Plissken to be Kurt Russell’s signature role, studio execs were not sold on him.  At the time Russell was still best known as a Disney star.  Execs wanted someone like Charles Bronson, Chuck Norris, Nick Nolte or Tommy Lee Jones.

Snake was written with Kurt Russell in mind. Same for Adrienne Barbeau as Maggie and Ernest Borgnine as Cabbie.

James Cameron created the matte-painted buildings.

Season Hubley and Kurt Russell share a scene and were also married at the time.  John Carpenter and Adrienne Barbeau were also married when the film was made.

Warren Oates was originally signed to play Brain.  Oates became ill and suggested Harry Dean Stanton for the role.  Stanton was perfect.  Sadly Oates died later that year.

Frank Doubleday, who plays Romero, is only in a couple of scenes, but is so memorable.

I saw Escape from New York the weekend it was released (and many, many times over the years).  It remains a favorite.

Escape from New York (1981) rates 5 of 5 stars.

CASSIDY’S GIRL by David Goodis / Z-View

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CASSIDY’S GIRL by David Goodis

First sentence…

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

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

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

But that was then.

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

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

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

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

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

… and Kenrick has a plan.

+++

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

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

Rating:

“The Long Walk” (2025) / Z-View

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The Long Walk (2025)

Director: Francis Lawrence

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

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

Tagline: The task is simple: Walk or Die

The Plot…

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

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

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

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

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

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

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

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

Kudos also to JT Mollner for his excellent screenplay.

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

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

“Wild Angels” (1966) directed by Roger Corman, starring Peter Fonda, Nancy Sinatra, Bruce Dern & Diane Ladd / Z-View

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The Wild Angels (1966)

Director: Roger Corman

Screenplay:  Charles B. Griffith, Peter Bogdanovich (uncredited)

Stars: Peter Fonda, Nancy Sinatra, Bruce Dern, Diane Ladd, Buck Taylor, Norman Alden, Gayle Hunnicutt, Dick Miller and Michael J. Pollard.

Tagline: Their credo is violence…Their God is hate…and they call themselves ‘The Wild Angels’

The Plot…

When “Loser’s” motorcyle is stolen, his Wild Angels’ brothers head down to Mexico to get it back.  A run-in with another gang and the cops leaves Loser in bad shape.  When Loser dies, the Wild Angels decide to give him a grand send-off.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Roger Corman used real Hell’s Angels as extras.

The Wild Angels features Diane Ladd’s feature film debut.

The Wild Angels (1966) rates 2 of 5 stars.

“I.S.S.” (2023) / Z-View

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I.S.S. (2023)

Director: Gabriela Cowperthwaite

Screenplay:  Nick Shafir

Stars:  Ariana DeBose, Chris Messina, John Gallagher Jr., Masha Mashkova, Costa Ronin and Pilou Asbæk.

Tagline: The war on Earth will be decided in space.

The Plot…

Kira Foster and Christian Campbell are American asatronauts who just arrived to the I.S.S. (International Space Station).  There they meet American Commander Gordon Barrett and Russian cosmonauts Weronika Vetrov, Nicholai Pulov and his brother Alexey Pulov.

Kira and Christian are happy to discover the comradery among the group.  Everyone works as a team with no political rifts.  The astronauts and cosmonauts are truly friends.

Kira is in awe of Earth seen from the ISS.  Awe changes to terror as Kira witnesses nuclear explosions appear across the planet.  The rest of the ISS crew stares in disbelief as the explosions light up the Earth.   Attempts to contact ground support fail.

Commander Gordon recieves a secret coded message from US ground control.  Russia initiated an attack on the US and nuclear war commenced.  Gordon is told take control of the ISS “by any means necessary”.  Gordon secretly informs the US astronauts of their orders.  He is sure that the cosmonauts have received the same message from their government.

The war on Earth will be decided in space.  

Blast off.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

 I love the concept of American astronauts and Russian cosmonauts aboard the ISS when a nuclear war breaks out.  While the movie is good, it fell short of my expectations.

I.S.S. (2023) rates 3 of 5 stars.