Category: Z-View

“Galveston” (2018) starring Ben Foster & Elle Fanning / Z-View

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Galveston (2018)

Director: Mélanie Laurent

Screenplay: Jim Hammett (aka Nic Pizzolatto) based on his novel Galveston

Stars: Ben Foster, Elle Fanning, Beau Bridges

Tagline: No past. No future. Nothing to lose.

The Plot…

Roy (Foster) is having a bad day.  He just learned he has terminal lung cancer.  Plus the local crime boss, Stan (Bridges), that he used to work for stole his woman.  That’s bad enough, but then Stan tried to have Roy whacked.  Now Roy is on the run with a young female escort that he just met.  Roy wants revenge, before his time runs out.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Galveston has an interesting set up and an excellent cast.  I was on board for the first two thirds of the movie.  Unfortunately, it lost me in the final act.  Your mileage may differ.

Galveston (2018) rates 2 of 5 stars.

“Black and Blue” (2019) starring Naomie Harris, Tyrese Gibson, Frank Grillo & Mike Colter / Z-View

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Black and Blue (2019)

Director: Deon Taylor

Screenplay: Peter A. Dowling

Stars: Naomie Harris, Tyrese Gibson, Frank Grillo, Mike Colter and James Moses Black

Tagline: The truth made her a target.

The Plot…

After a stint in the Army, Alicia West (Harris) has returned to her tough New Orleans neighborhood as a police officer.  Alicia quickly learns that although she grew up there and is black, everyone now sees her as “blue”.  This is driven home from her interactions with people she grew up with — they distrust the police and she’s now one of them.

When Alicia agrees to pick up an extra shift, she paired with a veteran cop.  They take a couple of calls and then he tells her to wait in the car while he enters a building.  When Alicia hears a gunshot, she leaves the car and heads to help her partner.  She’s surprised to see him with some undercover cops as they murder a drug dealer.  When Alicia is seen, one of the cops shoots her.  Wounded and on the run, Alicia becomes the target of cops and the gangbangers when word is put out that she executed the drug dealers!

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Naomie Harris is excellent as the rookie cop, wounded and alone with no one to trust and everyone wanting her dead.  Tyrese Gibson and Frank Grillo are always welcome additions to any cast.  The real surprise for me is Mike Colter. Colter plays a huge, scary drug lord determined to avenge the murder of his nephew.  He owns every scene he’s in.

Black and Blue (2019) rates 5 of 5 stars.

“Lost Bullet” (2020) starring Alban Lenoir / Z-View

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Lost Bullet (2020)

Director: Guillaume Pierret

Screenplay: Guillaume Pierret, Alban Lenoir, Kamel Guemra

Stars: Alban Lenoir

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

Lino (Lenoir) is a top notch mechanic and getaway driver.  When he’s caught on a heist gone wrong, he’s recruited to join a police task force out to capture drug runners using hopped up cars.  When crooked cops frame Lino for a murder of a police officer, he finds himself on the run and marked for death.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

I sought out Lost Bullet after seeing Alban Lenoir in AKA. While AKA is a better film, Lost Bullet will satisfy action movie fans looking for a fun ride.

Lost Bullet (2020) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“Malone” (1987) starring Burt Reynolds / Z-View

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Malone (1987)

Director: Harley Cokeliss

Screenplay: Christopher Frank, William P. Wingate

Stars: Burt Reynolds, Cliff Robertson, Kenneth McMillan, Cynthia Gibb, Scott Wilson, Lauren Hutton, Tracey Walter and Dennis Burkley.

Tagline: He didn’t start the fight… but he’ll sure as hell finish it.

The Plot…

Malone (Reynolds) is a retired C.I.A. assassin.  While driving across country, Malone’s car breaks down outside a small town.  He pushes the car to the only gas station for miles and meets the owner, Paul Barlow (Wilson) and his teenage daughter Jo (Gibb).  Barlow allows Malone to stay at his house while they wait for the car part to arrive.  Malone learns that a rich man named Delaney (Robertson) 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..

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

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

Burt Reynolds described Malone as a retelling of Shane and he’s not far off… except the young boy is now a teenage girl with the hots for Malone.

If you’re a Burt Reynolds fan you’ll enjoy Malone more than a non-fan so keep that in mind as you consider my rating.  I’m a Reynolds fan.

Malone (1987) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“Wheelman” (2017) starring Frank Grillo / Z-View

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Wheelman (2017)

Director: Jeremy Rush

Screenplay: Jeremy Rush

Stars: Frank Grillo, Garret Dillahunt, Shea Whigham, John Cenatiempo, George Carroll and Seth Ayott.

Tagline: Think Fast. Drive Faster.

The Plot…

In the middle of a bank robbery, the getaway driver learns that he’s been set-up and the thieves plan to kill him after they escape.  Once the cash is in the trunk, the driver races off leaving the crooks behind.  Now he must figure out how he can save his daughter and ex-wife from the thugs who betrayed him.  The clock is ticking…

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Wheelman is a great example of how to do crime fiction right.  Kudos to Jeremy Rush the writer/director for creating a sleek action film that starts off quick and only slows down enough for viewers to catch their breath.

Rush is supported by a wonderful cast.  Frank Grillo was the perfect choice for the wheelman.  The always great Garret Dillahunt and Shea Whigham have small but important roles.

If like me, you’re a sucker for a good crime film, than you can’t go wrong with Wheelman.

Wheelman (2017) rates 5 of 5 stars.

“Heat” (1987) starring Burt Reynolds / Z-View

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Heat (1987)

Director: Dick Richards, Jerry Jameson

Screenplay: William Goldman based on his novel Heat

Stars: Burt Reynolds, Karen Young, Peter MacNicol, Howard Hesseman, Diana Scarwid, Joseph Mascolo, Alfie Wise and Joe Klecko.

Tagline: Nick Escalante isn’t a violent man by nature. He’s just good at it. Protection is his business. Especially when it comes to his friends

The Plot…

Nick Escalante (Reynolds) 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.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

There’s a fun subplot with Peter MacNicol playing a rich, timid man who wants Escalante to teach him to be tough.

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.

If you’re a Burt Reynolds fan, you’ll like Heat better than nonfans since the movie gets a lot of mileage from Reynolds likeability.

Heat (1987) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“Gallery of Horror” (1967) starring Lon Chaney Jr. & John Carradine / Z-View

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Gallery of Horror (1967)

Director: David L. Hewitt

Screenplay: Gary R. Heacock, Russ Jones, David Prentiss

Stars: Lon Chaney Jr., John Carradine.

Tagline: So shocking it will sliver your liver!

The Plot…

John Carradine introduces and stars in one of five shorts in this horror/comedy anthology.  The segments, each with a “twist” ending include…

  • The Witches Clock: a couple in Salem Massachusetts buy a spooky old mansion that may have once been owned by a witch.
  • King of the Vampires: Scotland yard detectives are after a serial killer that may be a vampire
  • Monster Raid: a man returns from the dead to take revenge on those who killed him
  • Spark of Life: A doctor tries to follow the experiments of Dr. Frankenstein by bringing a dead man back to life.
  • Count Alucard: (Alucard is Dracula spelled backwards). is in for the surprise of his life…

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

John Carradine and Lon Chaney Jr. must have been hurting for cash to appear in this low-low budget movie. Crowd scenes consist of a just a few folks on screen with sounds of a mob.  The sets look like something out of a micro budget production.  The stories are on the same level.  Each features a twist that can be seen coming from a mile away.  I could see Gallery of Horror shown as a double feature with Plan 9 from Outer Space.

Gallery of Horror (1967) rates 2 of 5 stars.

“AKA” (2023) starring Alban Lenoir / Z-View

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AKA (2023)

Director: Morgan S. Dalibert

Screenplay: Morgan S. Dalibert, Alban Lenoir

Stars: Alban Lenoir, Eric Cantona and Kevin Layne.

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

Adam Franco (Lenoir) is a French government agent assigned to infiltrate the Pastore crime family.  To do so Franco will need to gain the trust of the cartel’s leader, Victor Pastore (Cantona).  Once done, Franco will be able to take down the entire Pastore mob.  When Pastore’s son is kidnapped by a rival gang, Franco puts his mission at risk to save the kid…

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Alban Lenoir isn’t a traditionally handsome movie star.  He gives off a Charles Bronson vibe.  Lenoir shows a greater range in AKA than in some of his previous outings and he’s more than effective in his action scenes.  I’d love to see him return for another outing as Adam Franco.

If you’re a fan of action movies with heart you should enjoy AKA.

AKA (2023) rates 5 of 5 stars.

“The Virtuoso” (2021) starring Anson Mount, Abbie Cornish & Anthony Hopkins / Z-View

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The Virtuoso (2021)

Director: Nick Stagliano

Screenplay: James C. Wolf, Nick Stagliano

Stars: Anson Mount, Abbie Cornish, Anthony Hopkins, David Morse and Richard Brake. 

Tagline: Every betrayal begins with trust.

The Plot…

To repay a debt, an assassin known as The Virtuoso (Mount) is given the time (5pm) and location (a small town diner) where he will find his target (who is also a hitman), but no other information.  When he arrives at the diner, there are several possible targets: a couple eating dinner, a lone man having a meal, the waitress and a Deputy Sheriff.

Not everyone is who they seem to be.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

I thought the plot was interesting.  But truth be told, would a “virtuoso” assassin take an assignment knowing only the time and location of his target?  There are other things that his character does that brings into question his talent as a master assassin.

The Virtuoso features a first person narration that just doesn’t work.  A little of that goes a long way and there’s a lot of that.

The Virtuoso (2021) rates 2 of 5 stars.

“Blacklight” starring Liam Neeson / Z-View

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Blacklight (2022)

Director: Mark Williams

Screenplay: Nick May, Mark Williams from a story by Nick May, Brandon Reavis

Stars: Liam Neeson, Aidan Quinn

Tagline: They’re gonna need more men

The Plot…

Travis Block (Neeson) is a government agent who has done a lot of shady things in his past.  Now, he wants to retire to spend time with his granddaughter.  When Travis finds out that his boss is authorizing hits on citizens, Travis finds himself in the fight of his life.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

I can usually make it through a Liam Neeson action film.  I tapped out of Blacklight after 44 minutes.  I’m not alone.  Blacklight currently has a 4.8 rating on IMDb.  On Rotten Tomatoes Blacklight has an 11% favorable rating.  Your mileage may vary.

“Elysium” (2013) written/directed by Neill Blomkamp, starring Matt Damon & Jodie Foster / Z-View

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Elysium (2013)

Director: Neill Blomkamp

Screenplay: Neill Blomkamp

Stars: Matt Damon, Jodie Foster, Sharlto Copley, Alice Braga, Diego Luna, William Fichtner, Faran Tahir and Adrian Holmes.

Tagline: Rebel Against.

The Plot…

The year is 2154.  The Earth’s rich have moved to a giant orbiting space station named Elysium.  There things are great.  The air is fresh, they have the best food, even parks with trees and grass.  The advances in medical technology make it possible to cure most disease on Elysium.  On Earth it is a different story.  The population lives in poverty.  The air is tainted, the food bad.  A job, if you’re lucky to get one, pays poorly.

When Max Da Costa (Damon) is exposed to a lethal dose of radiation while at work, he is told he has five days to live and then fired.  Da Costa, with nothing to lose, joins a rebel group planning a coup on the Elysium government,

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

I liked Elysium.  It is filled with a cast of great actors.  Matt Damon, the always-amazing Jodie Foster and William Fichtner are standouts.  The story isn’t bad, but perhaps writer/director Neill Blomkamp hit the nail on the head when he said,

“I feel like I executed all of the stuff that could be executed, like costume and set design and special effects very well. But, ultimately, it was all resting on a somewhat not totally formed skeletal system, so the script just wasn’t there; the story wasn’t fully there.”

If Elysium sounds like something you’d like, you probably will.  It’s not a bad way to spend a little less than two hours.

The Price We Pay (2022) starring Emile Hirsch, Stephen Dorff & Gigi Zumbado / Z-View

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The Price We Pay (2022)

Director: Ryuhei Kitamura

Screenplay: Christopher Jolley

Stars: Emile Hirsch, Stephen Dorff, Gigi Zumbado, Vernon Wells, Tyler Sanders and Erika Ervin.

Tagline: Reap what you sow.

The Plot…

A pawn shop robbery goes sideways when Alex (Hirsch) gets gun crazy and kills the owner.  Grace (Zumbado), an innocent bystander, is forced to drive the crooks away in her car.  Although Cody (Dorff) assures Grace she’ll be released unharmed, she isn’t sure Alex feels the same.  Hours later when Grace’s car breaks down on a country road, Grace, Cody and Alex walk to the only house around.  They convince a teenager to allow them to stay in his grandfather’s barn.  Grandpa should be home soon.  What Cody and Alex don’t realize is they are no longer are the ones to be feared…

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

I’m a fan of the crime/horror genre. The Price We Pay has a nice set-up with an interesting cast.  Stephen Dorff is always good. The more I see of Emile Hirsch, the more I like his crazy characters. Gigi Zumbado is new to me, but I expect we’ll be seeing more feature roles in her future.  Vernon Wells is scary as the crazy Grandpa.  Erika Ervin as Jodi is even more frightening.

With all this praise so far, you may be wondering why did I only give  The Price We Pay a “2” rating.  It’s because the director goes way over the top with gore.  Of that I’m not a fan.  Some gore is okay, but I prefer the worst of it be left to the imagination.  So, if you’re a gore-hound adjust your expectations accordingly!

Samuel Fuller’s “The Big Red One” (1980) starring Lee Marvin / Z-View

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The Big Red One (1980)

Director: Samuel Fuller

Screenplay: Samuel Fuller

Stars: Lee Marvin, Mark Hamill, Robert Carradine, Bobby Di Cicco and Kelly Ward.

Tagline: The real glory of war is surviving.

The Plot…

A battle-tested Sergeant (Marvin) leads a squad into battle after battle throughout World War II.  Although new recruits are added to the team, the four soldiers with the Sarge from day one are the focus of the story.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Samuel Fuller, who wrote and directed The Big Red One, actually served in World War II in the 1st Infantry Division known as The Big Red 1.  Fuller received the Silver Star, Bronze Star, and Purple Heart over the course of his military career.  Many of the events that happen in the film, are from Fuller’s experiences.

Samuel Fuller’s initial cut for The Big Red One was four hours.  It and a two hour cut were both rejected.  I’d be interested in seeing a longer version.  It felt like we moved from battle to battle with little over-all meaning to the outcome of the war.  Also, the new recruits added to the unit as the film progressed were basically Star Trek red shirts.

The Big Red One (1980) rates 2 of 5 stars.

“Notorious” (1946) directed by Alfred Hitchcock, starring Cary Grant & Ingrid Bergman / Z-View

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Notorious (1946)

Director: Alfred Hitchcock

Screenplay: Ben Hecht

Stars: Cary Grant, Ingrid Bergman, Claude Rains and Louis Calhern.

Tagline: “The screen’s top romantic stars in a melodramatic masterpiece!

The Plot…

Alicia Huberman (Bergman) is the daughter of a convicted Nazi spy.  Although she didn’t agree with her father’s politics, she has been painted with the same brush.  Upset with her life, Alicia has taken to drinking and partying.  When she is recruited to become a spy by US Government agent, T. R. Devlin (Grant), Alicia accepts.  Her assignment is to infiltrate a group of Nazis in Rio de Janeiro with Devlin as her contact.  She must attempt to seduce Alex Sebastian (Rains), one of the top ranking Nazis.

As time passes, Devlin and Alicia fall in love.  As the demands of her seduction of Sebastian increase, so does the strain on Devlin and Alicia’s relationship.  When Sebastian asks her to marry him, Alicia must make a decision that will put her relationship with Devlin as well as her life in danger.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Grant and Bergman have great chemistry.  In the original script Bergman’s character was a call girl.  In the filmed version it is obvious that she’s a loose spirit with a liberal attitude.  Quite risqué for the time.  Grant and Bergman have an extended scene where they kiss.  At the time the Hayes Code required kisses to last no more than three seconds.  Hitchock got around this by having them barely separate to talk as they kissed.

Hitchcock knows how to work a movie.  Grant wants to stop Bergman from doing what needs to be done, but he wants her to stop of her own accord so he says/does nothing.  Bergman wants Grant to tell her not to do what needs to be done, but when he says, nothing, she thinks he doesn’t care.  They both fail to do what both want to be done…

I love the ending.

Notorious (1946) rates 5 of 5 stars.

“The End” (1978) starring Burt Reynolds & Dom DeLuise / Z-View

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The End (1978)

Director: Burt Reynolds

Screenplay: Jerry Belson

Stars: Burt Reynolds, Sally Field, Dom DeLuise, Strother Martin, David Steinberg, Joanne Woodward, Norman Fell, Myrna Loy, Kristy McNichol, Pat O’Brien, Robby Benson and Carl Reiner.

Tagline: “After all, what are friends for?”

The Plot…

Sonny Lawson (Reynods) learns that he’s got a fatal blood disease.  There is no cure. He will die a slow painful death.  So Sonny decides to end his life.  But first he visits his girlfriend, family members and a priest.  When Sonny fails at his suicide attempt, he ends up in a mental institution. There Sonny befriends a fellow patient named Marlon Borunki (DeLuise).  Borunki is happy to help his new friend die… even after Sonny changes his mind and wants to live!

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

The End doesn’t really come alive (see what I did there?) until Dom DeLuise shows up.  There are some truly funny scenes from there on.  Most are with DeLuise and Reynolds, but Burt has a funny extended solo scene where he bargains with God to stay alive.

Reynolds plays a very unlikeable character.  If he were more likeable, the audience would want him to live.  The End features a great cast, but there are so many characters that they aren’t given much to do.  Robbie Benson as a young priest gets the most laughs (outside of Reynolds and DeLuise).  Sally Field is always a welcome addition.  I wish The End started in the mental institution with DeLuise wanting to help Reynolds by killing him. Then Reynolds learns that he’s not really dying, but DeLuise doesn’t know or care… he’s on a mission.  Give me an hour and a half of that!  But that would be another movie.

The End (1978) rates 2 of 5 stars.