“Laws of Man” starring Jacob Keohane & Jackson Rathbone with Dermot Mulroney and Harvey Keitel – Two Posters and a Trailer are Here!
I like the looks of Laws of Man. Two posters and one trailer. January 10, 2025.
Deal me in.
“On Call” – The Poster and Trailer are Here!
We have the poster and trailer for On Call, the new series which premieres on PRIME VIDEO on January 9th. On Call stars Troian Bellisario, Brandon Larracuente, Lori Loughlin, Eriq La Salle and Rich Ting.
Bellisario and Larracuente play a veteran and rookie teamed to fight crime in Long Beach, California.
On Call looks to be worth a look.
Deal me in.
“The Testament of Dr. Mabuse” (1933) directed by Fritz Lang / Z-View
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.
Frank Miller’s Sin City Hartigan by Freddie Williams II!
Frank Miller’s Sin City character Hartigan by Freddie Williams II. I absolutely love this piece. It’s bold, iconic and makes great use of negative space.
Source: Tom Forbes.
“The Phantom Carriage” (1921) screenplay, directed by and starring Victor Sjöström / Z-View
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
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.
Joker by Rafael Kayanan!
The Joker by Rafael Kayanan. Raf’s take on The Joker is terrifying.
“5 Steps to Danger” (1957) starring Ruth Roman & Sterling Hayden / Z-View
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.
SKULL FULL by Anthony Neil Smith
SKULL FULL by Anthony Neil Smith drops tomorrow. Here’s the lowdown…
A collection of stories by 2024 Horror Showdown Finalist Anthony Neil Smith about f****d-up families, f****d-up relationships, f****d-up crimes, and f****d-up f**kedness, and are adorably twisted around a darkly humorous core.
Anthony Neil Smith is a novelist whose short fiction has appeared in HAD, Bull, Cowboy Jamboree, Maudlin House, Reckon Review, and many more. He’s a professor at Southwest Minnesota State University, and current editor of online lit mag Revolution John. One of his stories appeared in Best American Mystery & Suspense 2023. He’s been nominated for a Pushcart twice, and for Best of the Net twice. Another story collection, THE TICKS WILL EAT YOU WHOLE, is forthcoming in March of 2025.
REVELATION by Robert Knott / Z-View
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
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.
Dizzy by Rev. Dave Johnson
Here’s a vintage Dave Johnson sketch of Dizzy.
“Late Night with the Devil” (2023) written & directed by Colin Cairnes & Cameron Cairnes / Z-View
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.
