Hellboy by Abigail J. Harding!
What do ya think of Hellboy by Abigail J. Harding? I like it!
“Armored Car Robbery” (1950) directed by Richard Fleischer, starring Charles McGraw / Z-View
Armored Car Robbery (1950)
Director: Richard Fleischer
Screenplay: Gerald Drayson Adams, Earl Felton; story by Robert Leeds, Robert Angus
Stars: Charles McGraw, Adele Jergens, William Talman, Douglas Fowley, Steve Brodie, Don McGuire, James Flavin and Paul Bryar.
Tagline: THE STICK-UP THAT STUNNED THE NATION!
The Plot…
A daring daylight robbery of a baseball stadium nets the crooks $500,000. The thieves didn’t get away clean though. A passing police car was alerted to the crime. A shootout ensued. A cop was killed and one of the crooks gutshot. Now the killed cop’s partner, Lt. Jim Cordell (McGraw) is teamed with a rookie. Their partnership gets off to a rocky start.
Meanwhile, the thieves are having trouble deciding their next move. It’s clear their wounded partner needs quick medical attention. The police are closing in. A surprising decision by their leader changes everything.
$500,000 is a lot of money… if they live to spend it.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Armored Car Robbery is a low budget crime drama that benefits from location shooting, film noir visuals as well as competent acting and direction. The final death is pretty wild for a movie made in 1950.
Armored Car Robbery (1950) rates 2 of 5 stars.
“First Blood Part II” Alt Poster by Forsaken Folklore!
This iconic First Blood Part II alt poster was created by Forsaken Folklore. You can see more Forsaken Folklore art here.
“Child 44” (2015) starring Tom Hardy, Gary Oldman, Noomi Rapace & Joel Kinnaman / Z-View
Child 44 (2015)
Director: Daniel Espinosa
Screenplay: Richard Price, based on CHILD 44 by Tom Rob Smith
Stars: Tom Hardy, Gary Oldman, Noomi Rapace, Joel Kinnaman, Mark Lewis Jones, Karel Dobrý and Jason Clarke.
Tagline: How do you find a killer who doesn’t exist?
The Plot…
Leo Demidov (Hardy) was a Russian hero in World War II. After the war Leo became an Agent for Russia’s Ministry of State Security. When a child is found dead by railroad tracks, Leo’s investigation points to murder. But in Stalin’s Russia, murder only occurs in capitalistic societies. Leo is told to list the cause of death as accidental and move on.
Leo digs deeper and discovers many children have been murdered along the train line. All of the killings have been listed as accidents. A serial killer is actively preying on children. Leo is warned to drop his investigation. Failure to follow orders will make Leo an enemy of the government. But if he complies more children will be slaughtered.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Child 44 is based on Tom Rob Smith’s awesome novel of the same name.
The film was banned in Russia.
The first cut of Child 44 was reportedly five and a half hours long. I think the material might have been better served as a limited series. The movie is still good, but I think that there might have been an even better one with the additional footage.
Child 44 (2015) rates 3 of 5 stars.
“In Search of the Last Action Heroes” (2019) / Z-View
In Search of the Last Action Heroes (2019)
Director: Oliver Harper
Screenplay: Oliver Harper, Timon Singh
Stars: Scott Adkins, Shane Black, James Bruner, Ronny Cox, Boaz Davidson, Steven E. de Souza, Bill Duke, Mark Goldblatt, Jenette Goldstein, Jeffrey Greenstein, Mario Kassar, Al Leong, Mark L. Lester, Sheldon Lettich, Peter MacDonald, Eric Roberts, Cynthia Rothrock, Paul Verhoeven, Vernon Wells, Michael Jai White and Graham Yost.
Tagline: None.
The Plot…
A look at the action films of the 80s and 90s featuring interviews with some of the folks who made them.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
If you’re a fan of action movies, especially those made in the 80s and 90s, this one is for you. The filmmakers cover the whole action movie range from big budget franchise flicks to low budget direct to video movies. Interviews with writers, directors and some of the best known “B” movie stars.
In Search of the Last Action Heroes (2019) rates 3 of 5 stars.
Marv by Donal DeLay!
Marv from Frank Miller’s Sin City is one of my all-time favorite characters. I love seeing artists do their “take” on the big lug. Today we have Marv by Donal DeLay.
“Planes, Trains and Automobiles” (1987) written & directed by John Hughes, starring Steve Martin & John Candy / Z-View
Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987)
Director: John Hughes
Screenplay: John Hughes
Stars: Steve Martin, John Candy, Laila Robins, Michael McKean, Carol Bruce, Olivia Burnette, Martin Ferrero, Larry Hankin, Richard Herd, Susan Kellermann, Matthew Lawrence, Edie McClurg, George Petrie, Gary Riley, Charles Tyner, Diana Castle, Ben Stein, Troy Evans, Richard Fike, William Windom and Kevin Bacon.
Tagline: What he really wanted was to spend Thanksgiving with his family. What he got was three days with the turkey.
The Plot…
Advertising executive, Neal Page (Martin) is beat. A boring business trip to New York City has left Neal ready for family time. Thanksgiving is in a couple of days and Neal is flying home tonight.
Or so he thinks.
An accidental encounter with shower curtain salesman, Dell Griffith (Candy) costs Neal his cab. Which is par for the course for Neal going forward. Once on the plane he finds himself squeezed in next to Dell. When their plane is diverted because of weather, Neal discovers no other flights are scheduled. To make matters worse all hotels are sold out. So when Dell offers to share the room he was able to book, Neal agrees.
The next morning, they discover weather has grounded all flights. Neal just wants to get home. Dell suggests that they forget the plane and take a train. Neal agrees.
Neal and Dell are just two guys who want to get home in time for Thanksgiving. What else could go wrong?
Everything.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Planes, Trains and Automobiles’ leads are perfectly cast and features my favorite John Candy role.
“Those aren’t pillows!” is the first thing I think of when someone mentions this film.
The first cut of the film was reportedly over three hours long. John Hughes then edited it down to two hours. Some of the scenes from that cut (that didn’t make the final film) appear in trailers. The released cut of Planes, Trains and Automobiles was one hour and 33 minutes.
Michael McKean and Kevin Bacon are the fourth and fifth credited stars. Both appear in just one scene.
Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987) rates 4 of 5 stars.
“Interview with the Vampire” Season 3 Teaser – Meet the Vampire Lestat!
Interview with the Vampire is one of the best series going. I cannot wait for season 3 to start.
We had our people call his people and, well, he’s here.
The Vampire Lestat returns in the new season of Interview with the Vampire, premiering on AMC and AMC+.
“Fast X” (2023) starring Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez & Jason Mamoa / Z-View
Fast X (2023)
Director: Louis Leterrier
Screenplay: Dan Mazeau, Justin Lin; story by Dan Mazeau, Justin Lin, Zach Dean based on characters by Gary Scott Thompson
Stars: Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez, Jason Statham, Jordana Brewster, Tyrese Gibson, Ludacris, Nathalie Emmanuel, Charlize Theron, John Cena, Sung Kang, Helen Mirren, Brie Larson, Scott Eastwood, Alan Ritchson, Daniela Melchior, Joaquim de Almeida, Rita Moreno, Pete Davidson, Gal Gadot, Dwayne Johnson, Michael Rooker and Jason Momoa.
Tagline: The end of the road begins
The Plot…
Years ago, Dom (Diesel) and his crew took down drug lord Hernan Reyes (de Almeida). Reyes lost his life and the family fortune. Once that happened, Reyes’ son, Dante (Mamoa) began planing the ultimate revenge.
Now the time is right. Dante is ready to wipe out Dom, his family and his crew.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
I was a fan of the Fast & Furious franchise when it first started. Each film got bigger and more outrageous. Now they’re to the point, that physics and logic are out the window. Put your mind in neutral and you’ll enjoy the ride… if there’s nothing better to watch.
The word family is said 56 times. That’s about once every two and a half minutes. C’mon, man. We get it. Family is everything.
Fast X was originally supposed to be the first of a two part finale. Now it has expanded to a three part ending.
Jason Mamoa plays against character as a flamboyant, androgynous nut. He’s a hoot and brings a needed freshness to the franchise.
Fast X (2023) rates 2 of 5 stars.
“Like a Dragon – Yakuza” – The Teaser is Here!
I never played the game, but I’ll give Like a Dragon – Yakuza a shot when it premieres on Prime.
Released in 2005 by SEGA, the ‘Yakuza’ game series was positioned as an entertaining game for adults, which found massive fanfare amongst its target audience. The series depicts the lives of fierce yet passionate gangsters and people living in a huge entertainment district, Kamurochō, a fictional district modeled after the violent Shinjuku ward’s Kabukichō, that acts as the backdrop of the gameplay.
Like a Dragon: Yakuza showcases modern Japan and the dramatic stories of these intense characters, such as the legendary Kazuma Kiryu, that games in the past have not been able to explore.
Coming October 24 to Prime.
ROBERT B. PARKER’S BURIED SECRETS: A JESSE STONE NOVEL by Christopher Farnsworth!
I’m a fan of Robert B. Parker. I’m also a Christopher Farnsworth fan. So when I learned that Farnsworth was selected by Robert B. Parker’s estate to continue the Jesse Stone series, I took notice. Here’s the lowdown…
Police Chief Jesse Stone investigates the mystery behind a dead body found strewn with photos of murder victims and placed on top of $2 million in cash, before a mob of hit men converge on Paradise.
Just another day in Paradise . . .
Chief of Police Jesse Stone is on his way home from a long shift when a call comes in for a welfare check on an elderly resident of the wealthy seaside town of Paradise, Massachusetts. Inside a house packed with junk and trash is a man’s dead body. It’s a sad, lonely end, but nothing criminal . . . until Jesse finds the photos of murder victims strewn around the corpse, on top of a treasure trove of $2 million in cash.
Jesse takes on the case and finds a trail leading to an aging mobster who will do whatever it takes to keep the past from coming to light. Before long, Jesse has a price on his head as hit men converge on Paradise to take back the cash and destroy any remaining evidence. But the real danger might be coming from inside his own department. Jesse Stone must unearth the truth buried under the wreckage of a dead man’s life . . . before he winds up in the ground himself.
BURIED SECRETS drops on February 4, 2025.
“Fast Charlie” (2023) starring Pierce Brosnan / Z-View
8Pierce Brosnan, Morena Baccarin, James Caan, Gbenga Akinnagbe, Christopher Matthew Cook, Toby Huss, Fredric Lehne, David Kallaway, Anissa Matlock and Sharon Gless.
Tagline: None.
The Plot…
For years Charlie Swift (Brosnan) has been a fixer and friend of mob boss Stan Mullen (Caan). When a young gangster sees an opportunity to move up, he has Mullen and his crew wiped out.
Only one problem.
Charlie Swift survived. Now Charlie’s out for vengeance.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Fast Charlie is based on Victor Gishler’s crime novel GUN MONKEYS. (Highly recommended!)
This is James Caan’s last role. Mr. Caan had late-stage COPD and was confined to a wheelchair for his performance.
Pierce Brosnan played James Bond in four films. In Fast Charlie, one of Charlie’s guns is a a Walther PPK, which was James Bond’s weapon of choice. When Charlie is about to kill Benny, he is in front of a cabinet labeled number 7. Bond, of course was 007.
Fast Charlie (2023) rates 3 of 5 stars.
Alfred Hitchcock: His Ten Best Films!
Alfred Hitchcock was the first director that I knew by name. He remains one of my favorite film makers. He made a number of great movies over his career. Here are my top ten…
01. “North by Northwest” (1959) – A mild mannered advertising executive goes on the run after being mistaken for a government agent by foreign spies. Now he’s targeted for death by the enemy agents and wanted for (a framed) murder by US officials. Nominated for three Academy Awards: Best Writing, Story and Screenplay – Written Directly for the Screen; Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, Color and Best Film Editing.
02. “Psycho” (1960) – A crime movie that morphs into a horror film. Groundbreaking. Nominated for four Academy Awards: Best Actress in a Supporting Role; Best Director; Best Cinematography, Black-and-White and Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, Black-and-White.
03. “The Birds” (1963) – One of the movies that I could “stay up late” to watch when I was a kid. Birds begin attacking and killing humans. The concept in a lesser director’s hands would be ridiculous. Not in Hitchcock’s. Nominated for one Academy Award: Best Effects, Special Visual Effects.
04. “Rope” (1948) – Two intellectuals think that they’ve committed the perfect murder. Through creative planning and editing, Hitchcock creates a film that appears to be done in one continuous shot.
05. “Lifeboat” (1944) – During World War II nine survivors end up in the same lifeboat. Eight are American or British. One is German from the U-Boat that sank their ship. Nominated for three Academy Awards: Best Director; Best Writing, Original Story and Best Cinematography, Black-and-White.
06. “Rear Window” (1954) – A man confined to a wheelchair believes that he witnessed a murder in the apartment across the way. Nominated for four Academy Awards: Best Director; Best Writing, Screenplay; Best Cinematography, Color and Best Sound, Recording.
07. “Notorious” (1946) – The daughter of a Nazi spy is recruited by the U.S. government to go undercover. How far will she go to get the needed info? And what will the Nazis do to her if she is discovered? Nominated for two Academy Awards: Best Actor in a Supporting Role and Best Writing, Original Screenplay.
08. “Foreign Correspondent” (1940) – A bored New York reporter is sent to London. There he discovers a group of foreign agents working to prepare Germany for war. Nominated for six Academy Awards: Best Picture; Best Actor in a Supporting Role; Best Writing, Original Screenplay; Best Cinematography, Black-and-White; Best Art Direction, Black-and-White and Best Effects, Special Effects.
09. “The 39 Steps” (1935) – This one has it all. Mistaken identity, spies, a man on the run, suspense, comedy and romance.
10. “Saboteur” (1942) – During World War II, when a U.S. aircraft factory is blown up, the wrong man is accused. Now on the run, the man must find a way to prove his innocence.
“Hudson Hawk” (1991) starring Bruce Willis / Z-View
Hudson Hawk (1991)
Director: Michael Lehmann
Screenplay: Steven E. de Souza, Daniel Waters story by Bruce Willis, Robert Kraft
Stars: Bruce Willis, Danny Aiello, Andie MacDowell, James Coburn, Richard E. Grant, Sandra Bernhard, Don Harvey, David Caruso, Andrew Bryniarski, Lorraine Toussaint, William Conrad (voice) and Frank Stallone.
Tagline: Catch the excitement. Catch the laughter. Catch the Hawk.
The Plot…
Eddie “Hudson Hawk” Hawkins, the semi-famous cat burglar, was just released from prison. One his first day out, Hawk’s parole officer and others want to blackmail Hawk into stealing a few famous pieces of art. The final thefts will involve creations made by Leonardo da Vinci.
Hawk doesn’t want to go back to prison or be killed so he reluctantly agrees. Little does he know the motives behind the blackmailers are nothing short of world domination!
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Hudson Hawk performed poorly at the box office and with critics. Part of the problem was the marketing. It was advertised as an action film. Audiences expected something along the lines of Die Hard. What they got was more of a live action Looney Toons.
This marks William Conrad’s last outing as a narrator.
Hudson Hawk isn’t a great film. It’s a screwball action comedy. Yeah, it’s over-the-top. It’s unrealistic. But if you go in with the understanding that what you’re watching takes place in a cartoon-like world, you should have a fun ride.
Of course your mileage may differ.
Hudson Hawk (1991) rates 3 of 5 stars.
The Shadow by Dan McDaid!
I’m not a huge fan of The Shadow, but I sure do dig this piece by Dan McDaid.
