“Tall in the Saddle” (1944) starring John Wayne, Ella Raines & Ward Bond / Z-View

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Tall in the Saddle (1944)

Director: Edwin L. Marin

Screenplay: Michael Hogan, Paul Fix; based on TALL IN THE SADDLE by Gordon Ray Young

Stars: John Wayne, Ella Raines, Ward Bond, George ‘Gabby’ Hayes, Audrey Long, Elisabeth Risdon, Donald Douglas, Paul Fix, Russell Wade, Emory Parnell, Harry Woods,  and Clem Bevans.

Tagline: A Man Looking For TROUBLE…could always find it in Santa Inez!

The Plot…

Rocklin (Wayne) a big stoic cowboy arrives in Santa Inez.  Rocklin has come to town to take the foreman job at Red Cardell’s ranch.  Only problem is Red was recently murdered.

Despite some run-ins and encouragement to move on, Rocklin is determined to find out who killed Red.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Ward Bond was a friend and regular co-star of John Wayne.  They appeared in 23 films together.

If you’re a fan of old school westerns, you should enjoy Tall in the Saddle.

Tall in the Saddle (1944) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“Mr. McMahon” – The Trailer is Here!

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The trailer for Mr. McMahon is here.

I haven’t watched wrestling regularly since my boys were young, but I plan to watch this.

Deal me in.

Mr. McMahon chronicles the rise and fall of Vince McMahon, controversial businessman and co-founder of WWE. From his transformation of the WWE from a small, regional business into a global entertainment powerhouse to the explosive sexual misconduct allegations that led to his eventual resignation, this six-episode series offers a deep dive into McMahon’s life and his enduring franchise.

Culled from over 200 hours of interviews with McMahon himself (prior to his resignation), his family members, business associates and some of the most iconic names in wrestling history, as well as the journalists who uncovered McMahon’s allegations — filmmaker Chris Smith (Tiger King) and executive producer Bill Simmons (30 for 30) present an unflinching, no-holds-barred look at one of the most enigmatic figures in sports entertainment.

“Megalopolis” – The IMAX Poster and new trailer is here!

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The IMAX Poster and new trailer for Megalopolis is here!

I’m not sold on the movie yet, but it does seem to demand being seen in a theater.

Deal me in.

MEGALOPOLIS is a Roman Epic set in an imagined Modern America. The City of New Rome must change, causing conflict between Cesar Catilina (Adam Driver), a genius artist who seeks to leap into a utopian, idealistic future, and his opposition, Mayor Franklyn Cicero (Giancarlo Esposito), who remains committed to a regressive status quo, perpetuating greed, special interests, and partisan warfare. Torn between them is socialite Julia Cicero (Nathalie Emmanuel), the mayor’s daughter, whose love for Cesar has divided her loyalties, forcing her to discover what she truly believes humanity deserves.

MEGALOPOLIS: The Ultimate IMAX Experience on September 23. In theaters & IMAX everywhere September 27. Starring Adam Driver, Giancarlo Esposito, Nathalie Emmanuel, Aubrey Plaza, Shia LaBeouf, Jon Voight, Laurence Fishburne, Kathryn Hunter, and Dustin Hoffman

“Landman” from Taylor Sheridan starring Billy Bob Thorton – The Trailer is Here!

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Landman from Taylor Sheridan starring Billy Bob Thorton – The Trailer is Here!

New Series Streaming November 17 exclusively on Paramount+.

Set in the proverbial boomtowns of West Texas, LANDMAN is a modern-day tale of fortune seeking in the world of oil rigs.

The new original drama series will star Oscar winner Billy Bob Thornton. In addition to Thornton, the series stars Ali Larter (The Last Victim), Michelle Randolph (1923), Jacob Lofland (Joker 2), Kayla Wallace (When Calls the Heart), James Jordan (Yellowstone), Mark Collie (Nashville), Paulina Chávez (The Expanding Universe of Ashley Garcia), and Demi Moore (Feud: Capote Vs. The Swans). Jon Hamm (Mad Men) will star in a recurring guest role with Andy Garcia (Expendables franchise) and Michael Peña (End of Watch) also serving as guest stars.

“To Catch a Killer” (2023) directed by Damián Szifron, starring Shailene Woodley, Ben Mendelsohn, Jovan Adepo and Ralph Ineson / Z-View

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To Catch a Killer (2023)

Director: Damián Szifron

Screenplay: Damián Szifron, Jonathan Wakeham

Stars: Shailene Woodley, Ben Mendelsohn, Jovan Adepo, Ralph Ineson, Richard Zeman, Dusan Dukic, Jason Cavalier, Darcy Laurie, Mark Camacho, Marcello Bezina and Maurizio Terrazzano.

Tagline: A city at the center of chaos. A detective with special skills. A madman testing her limits.

The Plot…

A sniper from a high rise begins shooting New Year’s Eve rooftop partiers.  Dozens of people are killed.  The sniper is fast and efficient.  One shot.  One kill.  Police throughout the area are called to respond.  An explosion rocks the building used by the sniper.  As people begin pouring out of the structure, street cop, Eleanor Falco (Woodley) begins recording faces and tells other officers to do the same.

Special Agent Lammark of the FBI (Mendelsohn) is put in charge of the case.  He learns that Eleanor had the presence of mind to record those exiting the building.  Lammark speaks with her and is quickly impressed with her frankness and intuition.  Lammark invites Eleanor to join him and FBI agent Jack McKenzie (Adepo) on the case. She accepts.

Lammark gets some pushback from higher ups at the FBI.  Eleanor had applied to the Bureau and been rejected.  She had no college and things in her background that made her unacceptable.  Lammark stands his ground and Eleanor is kept on the team.

The sniper killed dozens of people.  Another mass killing is coming soon.  As Lammark, Eleanor and McKenzie work the case, the public outcry intensifies.  Politicians and FBI brass put the pressure on Lammark.

Then they get the break they need…

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

I absolutely loved To Catch a Killer.  Shailene Woodley, Ben Mendelsohn and Ralph Ineson give power house performances.  This is Damián Szifron’s first time directing an English language film and he hit a home run.  Kudos also to Damián Szifron and Jonathan Wakeham for their screenplay.

To Catch a Killer (2023) rates 5 of 5 stars.

NOIR BURLESQUE by Enrico Marini / Z-View

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NOIR BURLESQUE by Enrico Marini (writer/artist)

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

Terry Cole agreed to one job to pay of his brother-in-law’s debt to a gangster named Rex.  It was a jewelry store robbery.  The heist went sideways when the getaway driver panicked and left early.  Terry made it out, but the haul came up short.  There wasn’t enough to cancel the debt.

To make matters worse, Terry discovers that Rex’s fiancée is Terry’s former lover.  Terry knew her as Debbie, but she now goes by Caprice.  Caprice is gaining a reputation as a burlesque entertainer.  Caprice dreams of stardom and Rex has the money and pull to help her get it.  Still, the attraction to Terry is still there.  And Terry feels the same.  Caprice loves the sex with Terry, but loves the idea of stardom more.

Rex learns of their past relationship and believes that they’ve started seeing each other.  (They have.  But is it lust or love?)  Rex orders Terry to do another job to finish paying off his brother-in-law’s debt.  It’s a suicide mission to rip off Rex’s competition — an Italian mobster.  If Terry is successful, Rex will kill him.

Terry is outmaneuvered and outgunned.  Or is he?  Terry has a secret and a plan that just might save his life.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

If you’re a fan of crime fiction and film noir, NOIR BURLESQUE is for you.  It’s obvious that Enrico Marini loves the genre.  Set in the 1950s, Marini checks off all the boxes expected for a fun crime story.  It’s got the stoic tough guy anti-hero, the sexy former lover who is as apt to shoot you as she is to make love to you, the jealous crime boss, the little tough guy and the big dumb lug henchmen.  It’s got sex (more than in older film noir, but nothing too graphic).  And more than a couple of twists.

I’ve been a fan of Marini’s art for a while, but this is the first story I’ve read by him.  I hope it won’t be my last.  (And I’d love to see more NOIR BURLESQUE tales.)

NOIR BURLESQUE by Enrico Marini (writer/artist) rates 5 of 5 stars.

Rating:

“Alien Earth” from creator Noah Hawley – The Teaser Trailer is Here!

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Deal me in!

When a mysterious space vessel crash-lands on Earth, a young woman (Sydney Chandler) and a ragtag group of tactical soldiers make a fateful discovery that puts them face-to-face with the planet’s greatest threat in FX’s highly anticipated TV series Alien: Earth from creator Noah Hawley. FX’s Alien: Earth original series coming in 2025, only on Hulu.

“Smile 2” – The Poster and Full Trailer are Here!

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The poster and full trailer for Smile 2 have arrived.  I enjoyed the original Smile, so I’m looking forward to the sequel.

Would it kill you to smile? Watch the New Trailer for #Smile2 – Only in theatres October 18. #SmileMovie

About to embark on a new world tour, global pop sensation Skye Riley (Naomi Scott) begins experiencing increasingly terrifying and inexplicable events. Overwhelmed by the escalating horrors and the pressures of fame, Skye is forced to face her dark past to regain control of her life before it spirals out of control.

“The Living Ghost” (1942) / Z-View

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The Living Ghost (1942)

Director: William Beaudine

Screenplay: Joseph Hoffman;  Howard Dimsdale (original story)

Stars: James Dunn, Joan Woodbury, Paul McVey, J. Farrell MacDonald.

Tagline: SPOOK CHASER… A reckless sleuth follows the trail of a white ZOMBIE!

The Plot…

When wealthy banker Walter Craig disappears, his best friend, Ed Moline (McVey) hires retired PI, Nick Trayne (Dunn) to find him.  Trayne has his hands full.  Everyone is suspect and that includes Craig’s ex-wife Helen, his daughter Tina and her fiance Arthur, his sister Delia, her husband George, Craig’s friend Tony, Craig’s secretary and even Cedric the butler

When Walter Craig turns up in a zombie-like state, the case changes from a missing person to a who dunnit.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

What could have been a fun old dark house murder mystery/comedy ends up being a lackluster affair.  The title indicates a ghost but we end up with more of a zombie.  Not that a ghost would have livened things up.

The Living Ghost (1942) rates 2 of 5 stars.

RACING THE LIGHT: AN ELVIS COLE AND JOE PIKE NOVEL by Robert Crais / Z-View

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RACING THE LIGHT: AN ELVIS COLE AND JOE PIKE NOVEL by Robert Crais

First sentence…

Josh agreed to meet her at the Coffee Club, which was where they met the first time he interviewed her.

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

Adele Schumacher wants Elvis Cole to find her missing son.  She’s more than willing to pay since she brought a bag of cash (and a very professional security detail).  Her son, Josh, is a podcaster.  Adele believes her son stumbled on to a story big enough to get him killed.  Elvis isn’t so sure, but he takes the case.

At first it appears that Josh may have just run off with his porn star girlfriend.  But as Elvis digs deeper he wonders if the geeky young podcaster really did discover a story that some well placed politicians and a crime cartel are willing to kill to keep secret.

Elvis won’t have to wonder long.  Soon he is marked for execution.  That is nothing new for Elvis and his partner Joe Pike.  But the love of Elvis’ life, Lucy Chenier, and her son, Ben are in town.  And they could become collateral damage.

+++++

I’m a huge fan of Robert Crais’ Elvis Cole and Joe Pike tales. Each new novel is an automatic pick-up.  They’ve never disappointed.  RACING THE LIGHT is no exception.

Rating: