“American Me” (1992) directed by Edward James Olmos, starring Edward James Olmos & William Forsythe / Z-View

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American Me (1992)

Director: Edward James Olmos

Screenplay: Floyd Mutrux, Desmond Nakano; story by Floyd Mutrux

Stars: Edward James Olmos, William Forsythe, Pepe Serna, Lopez, Dyana Ortelli, Lance August, Cody Glenn, Don Pugsley and William Smith.

Tagline: In prison they are the law. On the streets they are the power.

The Plot…

American Me follows three friends, Montoya Santana (Olmos), JD (Forsythe) and Mundo (Serna) from their days of youthful crime to their leadership of the powerful La Eme gang.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

American Me is based on real people and events, but was fictionalized.  Some of the choices made were not well received.  Reportedly at least three of the consultants for the film were murdered after the movie’s release.  Danny Trejo talks about the problems and the people who were killed in this interview (start at 24:32).

Several scenes were shot at Folsom State Prison and the California Institution for Men.  Real gang members, prisoners and guards are seen on screen.

Edward James Olmos’ debut as a director.

American Me (1992) rates 4 of 5 stars.

THERE AND BACK by Eric Beetner / Z-View

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THERE AND BACK by Eric Beetner

First sentence…

THE ROCK SLID from the hand and turned twice in the air, the edge serrated in a peak like a mountain range, blood filling the cracks and fissures.

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

Eight junior executives at a tech company are selected to attend a wilderness retreat.  The trip is billed as a team building exercise.  Not everyone believes it.  There are four opportunities for promotion coming up.  There are eight employees attending.  Do the math.

The drive takes them six and a half hours into the wilderness.  We’re talking remote.  No cell reception.  No other people.  No roads once they’re in.  Although there will be guides going along, no one could have foreseen the accident.  And who would have guessed that the guides would be killed?

The eight are lost.  Little water.  Few supplies.  They won’t be missed for days.  They may not survive that long.  As the hours pass, civility is gone.  No one knows the right thing to do.  Move on.  Wait for help?  Tension mounts as tempers rise.

Eight went in.  Five came out.  What happened to the three that didn’t make it?  The survivors have a secret.  And you know what they say about a secret… “Three can keep a secret if two of them are dead.”  Five, not three came back.

+++++

I’m a huge fan of Eric Beetner’s novels. Each new novel is an automatic pick-up.  Most of his stories are crime yarns.  THERE AND BACK involves crime, but at it’s heart is the mystery of what happened and the survivors’ secret.  THERE AND BACK is an ambitious work and Beetner pulls it off.

Rating:

“To Kill a Mockingbird” (1962) directed by Robert Mulligan, starring Gregory Peck, Mary Badham and Phillip Alford / Z-View

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To Kill a Mockingbird (1962)

Director: Robert Mulligan

Screenplay: Horton Foote; based on TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD by Harper Lee

Stars: Gregory Peck, Mary Badham, Phillip Alford, John Megna, Frank Overton, Rosemary Murphy, Ruth White, Brock Peters, Estelle Evans, Paul Fix, Collin Wilcox Paxton, James Anderson, Alice Ghostley, William Windom, Crahan Denton, Richard Hale and Robert Duvall.

Tagline: The most beloved and widely read Pulitzer Prize Winner now comes vividly alive on the screen!

The Plot…

Summer is always the best time for Scout (Badham), her older brother Jem (Alford) and their friend Dill (Megna).  Like most kids, they play games, stay out until dark and share stories.  Often their tales involve Boo Radley who lives in the scary house just down the way.  Since no one has ever seen Boo, imaginations run wild. Scout’s Dad, Atticus (Peck) warns the children to stay away from the Radley house.  This just makes the stories more exciting.

Atticus is a widowed lawyer and well respected in the town.  That is until, he agrees to defend a black man accused of raping a white woman.  Taking on this case in Alabama in the early 1930s sets off a certain segment of the population.  Unfortunately, even Scout and Jem aren’t safe from taunts and threats.

As the case progresses, tension throughout the small town escalates.  Before it is over, the powder keg will blow and the truth about Boo Radley will be known.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

To Kill a Mockingbird is a classic.  It was nominated for eight Academy Awards and won three…

  • nominee Best Music, Score – Substantially Original: Elmer Bernstein
  • nominee Best Cinematography, Black-and-White: Russell Harlan
  • nominee Best Director: Robert Mulligan
  • nominee Best Actress in a Supporting Role: Mary Badham
  • winner Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, Black-and-White: Alexander Golitzen, Henry Bumstead, Oliver Emert
  • winner Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium: Horton Foote
  • winner Best Actor in a Leading Role: Gregory Peck
  • winner Best Picture: Alan J. Pakula

Brock Peters, who played Tom Robinson the man accused of rape in the film, gave Gregory Peck’s eulogy at his funeral.

First credited role of Robert Duvall and film debut of William Windom.

The character Dill was based on Truman Capote, a childhood friend of author Harper Lee.

To Kill a Mockingbird (1962) rates 5 of 5 stars.

Tarzan by Rafael Kayanan!

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I first met Rafael Kayanan when he was about 15 years old.  We were at OrlandoCon and Raf had his portfolio with him.  You could tell even then this kid was destined for great things. 

Raf became not only an exceptional artist (working for Marvel, DC, Dark Horse and many other companies) but also a Master-level edged weapons expert and instructor in Sayoc Kali.  Raf has choreographed and trained actors for feature films and television.  He has served as set illustrator and story board artist on Broadway and major motion pictures.  In other words, Raf can do it all.

“Conan the Barbarian” (1982) directed by John Milius, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger & James Earl Jones / Z-View

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Conan the Barbarian (1982)

Director: John Milius

Screenplay: John Milius, Oliver Stone; based on CONAN THE BARBARIAN by Robert E. Howard

Stars: Arnold Schwarzenegger, James Earl Jones, Max von Sydow, Sandahl Bergman, Ben Davidson, Cassandra Gava, Gerry Lopez, Mako, Valérie Quennessen, Franco Columbu, Nadiuska, Sven-Ole Thorsen, Ron Cobb and William Smith.

Tagline: Slave. Barbarian. Warrior. Thief… Conan.

The Plot…

When Conan (Scwarzenegger) was a boy, his parents and entire village were massacred by a cult led by Thulsa Doom (Jones).  Conan was sold into slavery to work on the Wheel of Pain at a remote mill.  He grows into manhood.  The wheel has made Conan huge and muscular.  A passing traveler, buys Conan to turn him into a gladiator.

Conan is undefeated in the gladiator pits.  After countless wins, Conan earns his freedom.

Over the years, the cult of Thulsa Doom has grown.  Surrounded by warriors and his own mystical powers, Doom continues his heartless rule.  But now Conan has plans to avenge his parents.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Arnold was perfectly cast as Conan.

Sven-Ole Thorsen who appears as the warrior Thorgrim would go on to appear in a total of 15 films with Arnold Schwarzenegger either as an actor or stuntman.

Arnold was signed for three sequels.  Only one was made and it fell far short of the original.

Conan the Barbarian (1982) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“Rebel Ridge” written & directed by Jeremy Saulnier, starring Aaron Pierre, Don Johnson and Annasophia Robb / Z-View

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Rebel Ridge (2024)

Director: Jeremy Saulnier

Screenplay: Jeremy Saulnier

Stars: Aaron Pierre, Don Johnson, AnnaSophia Robb, David Denman, Emory Cohen, Daniel H. Chung, Dana Lee, C.J. LeBlanc, Brannon Cross, Chelsea Bryan, Al Vicente  and James Cromwell.

Tagline: Their laws. His rules.

The Plot…

Terry Richmond (Pierre) gets word that his younger brother has been arrested in the small town of Shelby Springs.  If his brother can’t come up with $10,000 for bail, he’ll be transported to the state prison to wait until trial.  Terry knows if his brother is sent to prison, he’ll be marked for death because of problems with a gang leader serving time there.

So Terry lets his business partner buy him out of the restaurant they co-own.  Terry then takes the $30,000 and heads directly to Shelby Springs.  If the bail isn’t paid by the end of the day, his brother heads to prison and certain death.  Just outside of the city limit, Terry is pulled over.  The cop gives Terry a hard time.  Despite that, Terry stays polite and calm.  This seems to upset the officer more.  Then the cop discovers Terry has $30,000 in cash.

Despite Terry’s explanation, the cop confiscates the cash.  The officer says that until Terry can prove the money is from a legit source, the town will keep it as a civil forfeiture.  The cop leaves with the cash.  Terry heads into town.

Terry meets with Chief Sandy Burnne (Johnson) and explains the situation.  The money is from a legit source and he needs to pay his brother’s bail to keep him from certain death.  Burnne listens, then tells Terry to hit the road.  He can sue to get the money back, but that will cost more than the amount he’s lost.

The clock is ticking on saving his brother.  Chief Sandy Burnne has a small police force backing him up.  What none of them know is Terry Richmond is a close combat expert who used to train marines.  Terry is a patient man.  Even a patient man has his limits.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Aaron Pierre has a career as an action star if he wants it.  Don Johnson is always good, but here he’s at the top of his game.

John Boyega was originally set to star and had filmed some scenes.  Boyega then left the production, opening the door for Pierre.

Rebel Ridge is like an updated First Blood.  Expect several twists and a rousing good time.

Kudos to writer and director Jeremy Saulnier.  He’s a talent to watch.

Rebel Ridge (2024) rates 5 of 5 stars.

“The Killer” (2024) directed by John Woo / Z-View

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The Killer (2024)

Director: John Woo

Screenplay: Brian Helgeland, Josh Campbell, Matt Stuecken; based on The Killer by John Woo

Stars: Nathalie Emmanuel, Omar Sy, Sam Worthington, Diana Silvers, Saïd Taghmaoui, Tchéky Karyo and Aurélia Agel.

Tagline: A classic. Reloaded.

The Plot…

Zee (Emmanuel) is a hit woman known as The Queen of the Dead.  On a job, Zee successfully eliminates all of her targets.  Unfortunately Jenn Clark, a singer is wounded, causing her to losing her sight.  Although Zee had been hired to execute everyone, she takes pity and allows Jenn to live.

This decision turns Zee’s employers against her.  Now Zee has a crime cartel and the police on her trail.  An unlikely alliance with a police inspector may be her saving grace.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

The Killer (1989) is a classic.  I’m a huge fan of it, so I was looking forward to see what Woo would do with the remake.  Sadly, it fell far short of my expectations.

There had been talk of a The Killer remake for years.  In 1992, Walter Hill and David Giler worked up a script.  The hope was Richard Gere and Denzel Washington would star.  Nicholas Cage had expressed interest if a remake was ever created.

The Killer (2024) rates 2 of 5 stars.

“Den of Thieves 2: Pantera” starring Gerard Butler and O’Shea Jackson Jr. – The Poster and Trailer are Here!

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Deal me in!

Gerard Butler (Plane, Has Fallen series) and O’Shea Jackson Jr. (Straight Out of Compton, Godzilla: King of the Monsters) return in the sequel to 2018’s action-heist hit Den of Thieves.

In DEN OF THIEVES: PANTERA, Big Nick (Butler) is back on the hunt in Europe and closing in on Donnie (Jackson), who is embroiled in the treacherous and unpredictable world of diamond thieves and the infamous Panther mafia, as they plot a massive heist of the world’s largest diamond exchange.

Den of Thieves 2: Pantera – in theaters January 10! Starring Gerard Butler and O’Shea Jackson Jr