“Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit” (2014) / Z-View

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Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit (2014)

Director:  Kenneth Branagh

Screenplay: Adam Cozad and David Koepp based on characters created by Tom Clancy

Stars: Chris Pine, Kierra Knightley, Kevin Coster and Kenneth Branagh.

The Pitch: “Maybe Chris Pine is the right guy to bring back Tom Clancey’s Jack Ryan!”

Tagline: Trust No One.

 

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

Let’s call this Jack Ryan: Year One.

Jack Ryan (Pine) is an economic major in college when 9-11 hits.  Ryan enlists in the service and is severely injured when his chopper is shut down in Afghanistan.  Ryan earns the attention and (affection of his female doctor – Knightley) as well as the attention (but no so much affection) from CIA agent Thomas Harper (Costner) for Ryan’s strong will in rehab.  Costner secretly recruits Ryan to become a CIA analyst.

Several years pass with Ryan secretly working for the CIA (not even his longtime girlfriend and former nurse know).  Ryan uncovers a Russian’s (Branagh) plot to destroy the US economy.  Harper sends Ryan to Russia strictly as a behind-the-scenes agent to dig into financial reports — things go south and Ryan finds himself in 007-land.  Before it’s over Ryan has to save his wife and the good ole USA.

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Maggie (2015) / Z-View

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Maggie (2015)

Director:  Henry Hobson

Screenplay: John Scott 3

Stars: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Abigail Breslin and Joely Richardson.

The Pitch: “Let’s make a zombie movie with Arnold!”

No Tagline.

 

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

A viral outbreak is causing people to turn into zombies.  Wade Vogel’s [Schwarzenegger] daughter, Maggie [Breslin] has been bit.  She will slowly turn into a zombie.  There is no cure.

Rather than take her to quarantine, Vogel brings her back to his farm much to the dismay of Maggie’s stepmother.  Vogel elects to stay by her side to protect her until she turns.  Schwarzenegger and Breslin turn in heart-wrenching performances as the father helpless to save his daughter, and the young daughter who has had her future stolen.

If a zombie character study is your cup of java, then you’ll love Maggie.

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“The Terror” is Coming to AMC & Ridley Scott is Involved!

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Way back in 2007, December 31st to be exact, I wrote about my five favorite novels of the year. The Terror by Dan Simmons made the list.  Here’s what I said then:

The Terror by Dan Simmons is a novelization of the true doomed 1840s Franklin expedition to find a Northwest passage. History tells us there were no survivors and the men died from exposure, starvation and worse. Simmons’ story combines all of the interesting historical details and adds a new menace, a creature which feeds on men. The Terror was a national best seller. Stephen King listed it as one of his favorite books of the year. Who am I to argue with Stephen King?

AMC has greenlit 10 hour long episodes to air in 2017 with Ridley Scott and David W. Zucker serving as Executive Producers and David Kajganich on board to write and take the reins as showrunner.  This is a project worth keeping an eye on.

Source: Variety.

Murders in the Rue Morgue (1932) / Z-View

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Murders in the Rue Morgue (1932)

Director:  Robert Florey

Screenplay: Robert Florey from a story by Edgar Allan Poe

Stars: Sidney Fox, Bela Lugosi, Leon Ames (aka Leon Waycoff) and Arlene Francis.

The Pitch: “Horror movies sell.  Let’s combine Edgar Allan Poe and Bela Lugosi.”

The Tagline: “Innocent Beauty – this was her wedding eve. On the wall a shadow . . the beast was at large grinning horribly-cruelly. What was Her Fate?”

 

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

Bela Lugosi is the insane scientist, Dr. Mirakle who secretly experiments with blood transfusions from his circus ape to women he kidnaps.  Despite the fact that each woman dies, Mirakle continues his experiments. (Hey!  Isn’t that the definition of insanity – doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result?)

When the ape takes a liking to a woman in the audience, she becomes his next victim… Camille L’Espanaye [Fox] is up for the next Apefusion unless her fiance can convince the police what the madman is doing.

If you’re a Bela Lugosi fan, then you’ll enjoy this more than those who aren’t.

 

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Abbott & Costello Buy a Computer

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I’m a huge Abbott & Costello fan.  (Who isn’t?)

I’ve seen / listened to Abbott & Costello’s classic Who’s on First routine hundreds of times and it always gets a chuckle.

Did you ever wonder how Abbott & Costello might deal with buying a new computer…

ABBOTT: Super Duper Computer Store. Can I help you?

COSTELLO: Thanks I’m setting up an office in my den and I’m thinking about buying a computer.

ABBOTT: Mac?

COSTELLO: No, the name’s Lou.

ABBOTT: Your computer?

COSTELLO: I don’t own a computer. I want to buy one.

ABBOTT: Mac?

COSTELLO: I told you, my name’s Lou.

ABBOTT: What about Windows?

COSTELLO: Why? Will it get stuffy in here?

ABBOTT: Do you want a computer with Windows?

COSTELLO: I don’t know. What will I see when I look at the windows?

ABBOTT: Wallpaper.

COSTELLO: Never mind the windows. I need a computer and software.

ABBOTT: Software for Windows?

COSTELLO: No. On the computer! I need something I can use to write proposals, track expenses and run my business. What do you have?

ABBOTT: Office.

COSTELLO: Yeah, for my office. Can you recommend anything?

ABBOTT: I just did.

COSTELLO: You just did what?

ABBOTT: Recommend something.

COSTELLO: You recommended something?

ABBOTT: Yes.

COSTELLO: For my office?

ABBOTT: Yes.

COSTELLO: OK, what did you recommend for my office?

ABBOTT: Office.

COSTELLO: Yes, for my office!

ABBOTT: I recommend Office with Windows.

COSTELLO: I already have an office with windows! OK, let’s just say I’m sitting at my computer and I want to type a proposal. What do I need?

ABBOTT: Word.

COSTELLO: What word?

ABBOTT: Word in Office.

COSTELLO: The only word in office is office.

ABBOTT: The Word in Office for Windows.

COSTELLO: Which word in office for windows?

ABBOTT: The Word you get when you click the blue ‘W’.

COSTELLO: I’m going to click your blue ‘W’ if you don’t start with some straight answers. What about financial bookkeeping? Do you have anything I can track my money with?

ABBOTT: Money.

COSTELLO: That’s right. What do you have?

ABBOTT: Money.

COSTELLO: I need money to track my money?

ABBOTT: It comes bundled with your computer.

COSTELLO: What’s bundled with my computer?

ABBOTT: Money.

COSTELLO: Money comes with my computer?

ABBOTT: Yes. At no extra charge.

COSTELLO: I get a bundle of money with my computer? How much?

ABBOTT: One copy.

COSTELLO: Isn’t it illegal to copy money?

ABBOTT: Microsoft gave us a license to copy Money.

COSTELLO: They can give you a license to copy money?

ABBOTT: Why not? THEY OWN IT !

(A few days later)

ABBOTT: Super Duper Computer Store. Can I help you?

COSTELLO: How do I turn my computer off?

ABBOTT: Click on ‘START.’

 

Source: Bits & Pieces.

San Andreas (2015) / Z-View

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San Andreas (2015)

Director: Brad Peyton

Screenplay: Carlton Cuse from a story by Andre Fabrizio & Jeremy Passmore

Stars: Dwayne Johnson, Carla Gugino, Alexandra Daddario and Paul Giamatti.

The Pitch: “Let’s make a movie with the Rock.”

The Tagline: “ A rescue pilot survived an earthquake, this is what happens next…”

 

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

The San Andreas fault has triggered a series of major earthquakes causing buildings to fall, tsunami waves and an ever-increasing series of dangerous situations.  Think collapsing super-structures, electrical fires, panicked crowds and more.  Ray Gaines is a rescue pilot trying to get to his estranged wife and teenage daughter and nothing is going to stop him.

San Andreas takes us back to a time when disaster movies were the rage – think The Poseidon Adventure, Earthquake, The Towering Inferno, well, you get the idea.  Now add in modern special effects and The Rock and I think you smell what I’m cooking.

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Triple 9 (2016) / Z-View

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Triple 9 (2016)

Director: John Hillcoat

Screenplay: Matt Cook

Stars: Casey Affleck, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Anthony Mackie, Woody Harrelson, Aaron Paul, Kate Winslet, Gal Godot and Norman Reedus.

The Pitch: “Let’s make a gritty crime movie — look at the cast we have lined up!”

The Tagline: “A deadly heist needs a killer distraction”

 

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

A crew of dirty cops are being blackmailed.  In order to get out from under, the cops plan a huge heist during a Triple 9 (that they will manufacture).  A triple 9 is code for “cop down” and the cop going down is the rookie not in their crew.

I was hoping for more [look at that cast!], but I did like Triple 9.

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The Revenant (2015) / Z-View

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The Revenant (2015)

Director: Alejandro G. Iñárritu

Screenplay: Mark L. Smith & Alejandro G. Iñárritu (based in part on Michael Punke‘s novel)

Stars: Leonardi DiCaprio and Tom Hardy.

The Pitch: “Alejandro G. Iñárritu and Leonardo DiCaprio want to make a movie together.’”

The Tagline: “Revenant: (n. One who has returned, as if from the dead.)”

 

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

An 1820 expedition into the frontier for beaver finds itself under attack by Indians.  While making their escape, scout Hugh Glass is savagely mauled by a bear.  Fearful that they will be found by the marauding Indians, the Captain of the expedition leaves Glass and his young son in the care of John Fitzgerald [Hardy] who promises to stay with Glass until Glass dies.  Fitzgerald will then catch back up to the expedition.

When Glass doesn’t die, Fitzgerald decides to help things along.  He is caught by Glass’ son burying Glass alive.  Fitzgerald kills Glass’ son and leaves Glass for dead.  Glass slowly recovers and must make his way across the frontier fighting Indians, and the elements with his goal of revenge giving him a reason to live.

I liked The Revenant quite a bit, but probably not as much as most.  The action scenes were amazing.  The cinematography was beautiful.  No complaints with the acting or direction.  I did feel that a bit too much time was spent looking up a trees and with Glass’ visions.  The ending was unexpected and didn’t quite ring right with me.  Still, I really liked The Revenant and all the awards it won may be an indication that I’m picking nits.

Awards Won:

  • Academy Award: Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role – Leonardo DiCaprio
  • Academy Award: Best Achievement in Directing – Alejandro G. Iñárritu
  • Academy Award: Best Achievement in Cinematography – Emmanuel Lubezki
  • Golden Globe: Best Picture [Drama]
  • Golden Globe: Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama – Leonardo DiCaprio
  • Golden Globe: Best Director – Motion Picture – Alejandro G. Iñárritu

Another 70 wins & 156 nominations.

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