Previews and Reviews that are Z's Views
The Most Dangerous Game is a classic story. I like the cast. The trailer looks good. Deal me in.
A father and son are shipwrecked on a remote island where they are caught up in a trophy hunt held by its mysterious owner, a merciless man who uses the land as an elite hunting preserve for stalking the most dangerous game of all: human.
Thieves’ Highway (1949)
Director: Jules Dassin
Screenplay by: A. I. Bezzerides based on his novel Thieves’ Market
Starring: Richard Conte, Valentina Cortese, Lee J. Cobb, Barbara Lawrence, Jack Oakie, Millard Mitchell, Joseph Pevney and Jules Dassin
Tagline: Rackets Ride The Roads!
The Overview: Beware of spoilers
Nick Garcos (Conte) returns home from the war with plans to marry his girl and start a business. When Nick learns that his father, a trucker, was crippled due to a crooked produce dealer named Mike Figlia (Cobb), Nick decides to get revenge. Nick underestimates Figlia and realizes he’s in over his head too late…
Thieves’ Highway is another excellent film that I might have missed if not for Eddie Mueller and TCM. Richard Conte is excellent as the honest, headstrong son looking to avenge his father. Lee J. Cobb presents just the right amount of attitude playing the smug, tough (yet truly cowardly) dirty businessman. It was humorous that everyone knew what a creep Figla was, but they had to deal with him. Jackie Oakie provides some comedy relief.
If there was any nit I would pick, it would be the love subplot. Nick seems ready to switch his allegiance pretty quickly. And just as fast we learn that his fiancé loves money/security more than Nick. The subplot does provide a fun scene with Nick talking on the phone to his girl in a crowded bar full of men ready to join in.
Thieves’ Highway was a fun ride and it earns 4 of 5 stars.
Many people can draw Conan, but not many can draw him as well as Andrew Robinson. Of course anything that Andrew draws is amazing. Check out more of Andrew’s art on his Instagram page!
The Protégé (2021)
Director: Martin Campbell
Screenplay by: Richard Wenk
Starring: Maggie Q, Michael Keaton, Samuel L. Jackson and Robert Patrick
Tagline: Made for vengeance
The Overview: Beware of spoilers
Anna (Q) and Moody (Jackson) are assassins. Moody rescued and raised Anna since she was a child. When Moody is killed by a hit team, Anna vows revenge. Soon she finds herself in a cat and mouse game with Rembrandt (Keaton) an assassins with skills that match (surpass?) her own.
Maggie Q is more than capable as the world’s greatest assassin. Michael Keaton steals every scene he’s in. His “Nobody home” line still makes me smile. Samuel L. Jackson is always good. Poor Robert Patrick isn’t given much to do and what he is given isn’t great. No fault to him though, it’s just not a great role.
The Protégé is at it’s best when in action mode. The early scenes with Q and Keaton are fun, but after a while become repetitive. There’s a twist I didn’t see coming and the ending also holds a surprise (if not in what happens, then in the, uh, execution). The Protégé rates 3 of 5 stars.
Scott Christian Sava is an animator, illustrator, director, writer, producer and founder of Blue Dream Studios. Scott has produced work for Disney, Universal Studios and Nickelodeon. Movies using Scott’s art include Star Wars, X-Files, Aliens vs. Predator, Spider-Man, and Animal Crackers (which was Blue Dream Studios’ first feature and was the number 1 animated film in the world in 2020!).
Scott is also the artist of the James Bond sketches above. Scott Christian Sava is a great artist, but also one of the kindest and coolest human beings on social media. You can find him on Twitter, Instagram, TikTok and Facebook.
Shoedog by George Pelecanos
Trade Paperback : 240 pages Publisher: Back Bay Books
First sentence…The first thing Constantine noticed, as the car pulled over and slowed to a stop, was the bumblebee emblem on the grill.
The Overview: Beware of Spoilers…
Constantine left home at 17 and has been drifting around the world for almost as many years. While hitchhiking, Constantine is picked up by an older man named Polk. They make good traveling buddies and plan to head towards Florida, but first Polk asks Constantine to accompany him on a stop. A man named Grimes owes Polk $20,000 and Polk intends to collect it.
Polk and Constantine meet Grimes in an office in Grimes’ mansion. Grimes tells Polk that he can pay him after a score he has planned for the coming week. There’s a spot for Polk if he wants in. Then they’ll just need to find one more driver. Polk suggests that they use Constantine, if after hearing the plan they want in.
Grimes brings everyone together. The crew consists of Gorman (something isn’t right about this guy), Grimes (has history with Polk and it may not be good), Valdez (who takes an instant dislike to Constantine), Jackson and Randolph (the one dude who seems most trustworthy). The plan is to knock over two locations using three man teams. Constantine is deciding if he wants in when Grimes’ young wife, Delia, brings everyone coffee. Delia’s eyes meet Constantine and his decision is made. He’s in. As the days go by leading up to the caper, Constantine and Delia grow closer despite the risk of what Grimes will do if he finds out. And by closer, I mean “closer’.
After the robbery, Polk plans to collect his money and head south with Constantine. Delia and Constantine have other ideas. They will use Constantine’s cut to make their escape. None know that Grimes, Gorman and Valdez have plans of their own.
Pelecanos has another winner with Shoedog, a true crime noir. It earned 4 of 5 stars.
Shoedog Hardcover
Shoedog Trade Paperback
Shoedog Kindle
We Own This City (2022)
Developed by: George Pelecanos, David Simon
Teleplays by: George Pelecanos (Parts 1 & 5), David Simon (Parts 1 & 6), Ed Burns (Parts 2 & 4), William F. Zorzi (Parts 2 & 4), D. Watkins (Part 3),
Directed by: Reinaldo Marcus Green
Starring: Jon Bernthal, Wunmi Mosaku, Jamie Hector, Josh Charles, McKinley Belcher III, Darrell Britt-Gibson, Rob Brown, Don Harvey and Seth Hurwitz.
Tagline: None.
The Overview: Beware of spoilers.
We Own This City is based on the nonfiction book of the same name by Justin Fenton, a reporter for the Baltimore Sun. We Own This City follows a task force created to deal with rising crime. Baltimore PD’s shining star, Sgt. Wayne Jenkins builds a team to take guns and drugs off the streets. Although successful, under Jenkins’ watch, the strike force steals drugs and money from their busts. They also plant evidence and lie under oath. Numerous complaints leads to an investigation which shows widespread corruption throughout the force and gives lengthy jail sentences to those sworn to protect and serve.
We Own This City features excellent writing, direction and an amazing cast lead by Jon Bernthal (who should receive an Emmy nomination). Josh Charles is great as the unlikable Daniel Hersl. McKinley Belcher III from Ozark and The Passage, is always good. Seth Hurwitz is perfect as the slimy bail bondsman who helps Wayne Jenkins move stolen drugs. Kudos also to Kris Bowers for his music. We Own This City easily earns 4 of 5 stars.
Jeremy Urquhart at Collider came up with a list of The 10 Best Silent Films Worth Watching If You’ve Never Seen a Silent Film Before. Urquhart’s list is a good one and it got me thinking about the ten films I’d suggest. So before you click over to his post, here’s a chart comparing our lists…
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ZABLO |
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‘Metropolis’ (1927) |
The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920): Dr. Caligari awakens Cesare from his death-like sleep to go out and murder. Has a great twist ending! nambulist, Cesare, to commit murders. |
‘Häxan’ (1922) |
The Kid (1921): A Chaplin masterpiece featuring a young Jackie Coogan. |
‘Die Nibelungen: Siegfried’ (1924) |
The Phantom Carriage (1921): On New Year’s Eve, three drunks discuss a legend that the last to die each a year, if a great sinner, must become the driver of the Phantom Chariot, which travels the world to retreive the souls of the dead. One of the drunkards dies at the stroke of midnight and the Chariot comes for him! |
‘Die Nibelungen: Kriemhild’s Revenge’ (1924) |
Payday (1922): Charlie Chaplin is a bricklayer who has a rough day and night despite it being payday! |
‘Faust’ (1926) |
Body and Soul (1925): Oscar Micheaux’s classic starring Paul Robeson as an evil Preacher. |
‘The General’ (1926) |
The Unknown (1927): Tod Browning cowrote and directed Lon Chaney and a young Joan Crawford in an underrated classic. A creepy film filled with twists. |
‘Un Chien Andalou’ (1929) |
Steamboat Bill, Jr. (1928): Buster Keaton plays a young man who hasn’t seen his father since he was a child. His dad is a rough riverboat owner while Buster is a soft city-boy. Let the good times roll!
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‘The Adventures of Prince Achmed’ (1926) |
West of Zanzibar (1928): Tod Browning directs Lon Chaney and Lionel Barrymoore in a drama with a shocking twist! |
‘City Lights’ (1931) |
The Phantom of the Opera (1925): The original Lon Chaney classic that still amazes audiences! |
‘Modern Times’ (1936) |
The Unholy Three (1925): Tod Browning directs Lon Chaney. Three sideshow performers (a ventriloquist, a midget and a strongman) leave the circus and team up to for a series of robberies. |
I really like this Sly Stallone art. Click on the piece to see it biggie-size. If you know the name of the artist, please pass it along, so I can give proper credit.
Source: Romu Philippe.
Forsaken (2015)
Director: Jon Cassar
Screenplay by: Brad Mirman
Starring: Kiefer Sutherland, Donald Sutherland, Michael Wincott, Brian Cox and Demi Moore
Tagline: Haunted by his past, searching for peace.
The Overview: Beware of spoilers.
During the Civil War, John Henry Clayton (K. Sutherland) was a fearless fighter. After the war, Clayton’s reputation as deadly gunman grew as he drifted from town to town. After nearly a decade away, Clayton is ready to put down his guns and return home. He wants to make amends with his father, his mother and Mary Alice (Moore), the woman he loved.
Clayton learns that his mother has died. His Preacher father (D. Sutherland) is bitter at what John Henry became, and Mary Alice married and has a son. Clayton buries his guns and begins clearing a plot of land his mother wanted for crops. In town, James McCurdy (Cox) has hired Dave Turner (Wincott) a infamous gunfighter and thugs to force local landowners to sell out to him. If they won’t sell, they end up dead.
Clayton keeps his head down and stays out of the fray even when some of the thugs try to goad him into a gunfight. Turner knows that Clayton is more than a match for any of them and may even be as good with a gun as he is. He warns them that, “you keep kicking a dog and he’ll eventually bite.” Turner is right…
Forsaken is a much better film than I thought it would be. I’m not sure why I under-estimated it. Forsaken features an excellent cast with Kiefer and Donald Sutherland, Brian Cox, Michael Wincott and Demi Moore. Kiefer has an emotional scene with his father that will bring a tear to the driest eye. Brian Cox is perfect as the rich wannabe land baron who feels entitled to things because he can take them. Michael Wincott steals every scene he’s in. I’d love to see more of his character.
Jon Cassar directed several episodes of 24. He and Kiefer planned at some point to do a western together. Kiefer commissioned Brad Mirman to write the screenplay and he came up with a winner. I’d love to see them re-team for a sequel (and bring back Michael Wincott)! Forsaken rates 4 of 5 stars.
The Gone Into the Night trailer has my attention. I like the look of this one. Deal me in.
When Kath and her boyfriend arrive at a remote cabin in the redwoods, they find a mysterious young couple already there. But when her boyfriend disappears with the young woman, Kath becomes obsessed with finding an explanation.
Starring Winona Ryder, Dermot Mulroney, John Gallagher Jr., Owen Teague, and Brianne Tju
Directed by: Eli Horowitz
Release Date: 7/15/22
Dislike the poster, but am diggin’ the trailer for The Lazarus Project!
This amazing Conan art was created by the equally amazing Alex Nino. It appeared in The Savage Sword of Conan #6 (June 1975). To get the full effect, click over to The Bristol Board and see it biggie-sized.
I Think We’re Alone Now (2018)
Director: Reed Morano
Screenplay by: Mike Makowsky
Starring: Peter Dinklage, Elle Fanning, Paul Giamatti and Charlotte Gainsbourg
Tagline: In the End…Chaos Will Find You
The Overview: Beware of spoilers…
Years after an apocalyptic event wiped out humankind, Del (Dinklage) has comes to terms with being the last human alive. He spends his days going house to house to scavenge for supplies (batteries are a must!) and bury the dead. Del lives in the school where he used to work. He fishes in a pond near the school. At night he reads and prepares for the next day. Del has adapted to his life of solitude until…
…the day he discovers Grace (Fanning) unconscious in a wrecked car. Del takes Grace to a home where he bandages her wounds and nurses her back to health. He then gives her a car, supplies and tells her she must leave. Grace begs to stay and follows Del as he goes through his daily routine of scavenging and burying the dead. Soon they form an uneasy trust as Grace assists Del in his daily routine. Grace and Del grow closer until one day when…
Patrick (Giamatti) and Violet (Gainsbourg) show up. They claim to be Grace’s parents and tell Del of a community where thousands of survivors live. They’re there to take Grace back. They invite Del to join them. Patrick tells Del that he would be of use to the community.
Del and Grace argue. He can’t believe that Grace never told him of the community. As Del leaves, Grace tells him that Patrick and Violet aren’t her parents. They community paired them! Del ignores Grace’s pleas for help.
Patrick and Violet leave with Grace. Del returns to his previous routine, but soon begins to miss Grace. Del decides to find the community and Grace. Del has no idea what he’s in for.
I Think We’re Alone Now is a slow burn. I enjoyed the movie, overall it would have fit well as an episode of The Twilight Zone. I think most film makers would have gotten to the community quicker and had more conflict there, but those weren’t the choices made here.
I Think We’re Alone Now rates 3 of 5 stars.
Glen Trotiner, actor, producer and director, died on June 16, 2022, at the age of 65. No details on the cause of death were given.
Mr. Trotiner was best known for his work as a Second Unit or Assistant Director on feature films and television. His resume lists 101 credits under this title on films that include The Untouchables, Awakenings, Independence Day, Deep Impact, Oz, ER, Phone Booth, Perfect Stranger, Captain America: The First Avenger, Braven and Morbius. Glen Trotiner sometimes appeared in small roles in films that include Regarding Henry, Freejack, Jungle to Jungle and Big Daddy to name a few.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to Glen Trotiner’s family, friends and fans.
