“The Killing” (1956) directed by Stanley Kubrick, starring Sterling Hayden / Z-View

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The Killing (1956) 

Director: Stanley Kubrick

Screenplay: Stanley Kubrick; dialogue by Jim Thompson; based on CLEAN BREAK by Lionel White

Stars: Sterling Hayden, Coleen Gray, Jay C. Flippen, Ted de Corsia, Marie Windsor, Elisha Cook Jr., Joe Sawyer, James Edwards, Timothy Carey, Kola Kwariani, Dorothy Adams, James Griffith, Joe Turkel, William ‘Billy’ Benedict, Charles Cane, Robert B. Williams and Vince Edwards

Tagline: These 5 Men Had a $2,000,000 Secret Until One of them told this Woman!

The Plot…

Johnny Clay (Hayden) has been a crook his whole life.  Now he’s ready to settle down and marry Fay (Gray). Johnny has planned one last score.  It will be big.  Two million dollars big. He’s going to knock over a race track.

Johnny has put together his team: two race track workers in need of cash, a cop on the take, a sniper and a pro wrestler.  Johnny has planned for every contingency… except one.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

The Killing is arguably Stanley Kubrick’s best film.  Kirk Douglas loved it so much, he got Kubrick to direct Douglas’ next film, Paths of Glory.  Two years later, when Douglas fired Anthony Mann early in the filming of Spartacus, Douglas turned to Kubrick to finish the film.

The studio didn’t like the non-linear structure of The Killing.  Re-editing only made things more confusing. So it was released in the non-linear form Kubrick wanted.  Quentin Tarantino claims The Killing is a huge influence on the format of  Reservoir Dogs and Pulp Fiction.

Kola Kwariani (the chess playing pro wrestler) and Stanley Kubrick would often play chess in a chess/checker lounge as shown in the film.

In a film full of memorable co-star performances, Timothy Carey stands out for his uniquely strange acting.

The Killing (1956)  rates 5 of 5 stars.

“Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F” (2024) starring Eddie Murphy / Z-View

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Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F (2024) 

Director: Mark Molloy

Screenplay: Will Beall, Tom Gormican, Kevin Etten; story by Will Beal; based on characters created by Danilo Bach and Daniel Petrie Jr.

Stars: Eddie Murphy, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Taylour Paige, Judge Reinhold, John Ashton, Paul Reiser, Bronson Pinchot, Kevin Bacon, Luis Guzmán, Christopher McDonald and Steven Berkoff

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

When Detroit police detective Axel Foley (Murphy) receives a call from his old pal P.I. Billy Rosewood (Reinhold), Foley learns that his grown estranged daughter’s life is in danger.  Foley arrives in Beverly Hills. He discovers that an attempt on his daughter’s life was made and Billy is missing.

As Axel digs into the case, he uncovers a conspiracy going to the highest levels.  Now both Axel and his daughter are targets.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Will Beal, who came up with the story and co-wrote the screenplay, is a former L.A. cop turned writer.  Beal’s L.A. REX is excellent.

Steven Berkoff, who played the villain in the original film, has a brief uncredited cameo as a motorist.

This is director Mark Molloy’s first feature film.

Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F hits all the right beats for fans of the series.  It has a plausible reason for Foley to return to Beverly Hills.  It brings back characters in a way that works.  It gives Foley a daughter (that wasn’t mentioned in Beverly Hills Cop III, although she would have been born).  It references the past films, even going so far as to say that Foley’s third case in Beverly Hills wasn’t his “finest hour”.  Beverly Hills III was easily the least favorite of the series.  It uses the famous Axel F theme from the original Beverly Hills Cop by composer Harold Faltermeyer.

For some reason Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F works when it shouldn’t.  When we see Axel driving a snow plow through the city, destroying dozens of vehicles, we ignore the fact that this would probably injure or kill pedestrians as well.  We accept the fact that he is able to keep his job.

When he gets his “partner” to steal a helicopter and fly down Beverly Hills Streets the only damage is to vehicles.  People are never hurt. That’s why Axel and Bobby walk away from a helicopter crash without even a limp or bruise.

The same is true when there is a shoot-out on a crowded Beverly Hills Street.  Only the bad guys die.  I guess it is because in a Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F shootout, the bad guys fire dozens of shots and always miss.  Later when Axel is hit, the bad guy was shooting at his daughter and Axel jumps in front of her.

The fact that we are able to ignore these things is evidence that Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F works.

Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F (2024)  rates 4 of 5 stars.

“Daylight” (1998) starring Sylvester Stallone and Amy Brenneman / Z-View

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Daylight (1998) 

Director: Rob Cohen

Screenplay: Leslie Bohem

Stars: Sylvester Stallone, Amy Brenneman, Viggo Mortensen, Dan Hedaya, Jay O. Sanders, Karen Young, Claire Bloom, Barry Newman, Stan Shaw, Vanessa Bell Calloway, Renoly Santiago, Renoly Santiago, Danielle Harris, Trina McGee, Marcello Thedford, Jo Anderson, Mark Rolston, Rosemary Forsyth, Luoyong Wang, Tony Munafo, Nestor Serrano, Rob Cohen  and Sage Stallone

Tagline: HOLD YOUR BREATH

The Plot…

When an explosion seals a tunnel beneath the Hudson River, time is running out for the few survivors.  Despite it being a suicide mission, ex-NYC Medical Services Chief Kit Latura (Stallone) goes in.  As the air dwindles, the water levels rise and tempers flare, Latura and the survivors search for a way out.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Daylight was nominated for one Academy Award

  • nominee Best Effects, Sound Effects Editing – Richard L. Anderson, David A. Whittaker

Daylight is the second time that Sly and his son Sage appeared together in a movie.

Cameos include: director Rob Cohen as a businessman and Associate Producer Tony Munafo as a waste truck driver.

Stan Shaw, who plays a Transit cop trapped in the tunnel also played the boxer named Dipper who gets Rocky’s locker in Rocky.

Daylight is a throwback to the disaster movies like The Poseidon Adventure, Earthquake and The Towering Inferno.

Daylight (1998)  rates 4 of 5 stars.

“The Last Front” – The Poster and Trailer are Here!

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1992 looks like a winner.  Has Tyrese Gibson ever come across so thuggish?  Plus one of Ray Liotta’s last performances.

From writer/director Julien Hayet-Kerknawi, starring Iain Glen, Sasha Luss, Julian Kostov and James Downie.

THE LAST FRONT – In Theatres August 9

RELEASE DATE: August 9
DIRECTOR: Julien Hayet-Kerknawi
CAST: Iain Glen, Sasha Luss, James Downie, Julian Kostov

“Dead Heist” (2007) / Z-View

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Dead Heist (2007) 

Director: Bo Webb

Screenplay: Anghus Houvouras, Eric Tomosunas, Bo Webb

Stars: Big Daddy Kane

Tagline: The perfect heist…the wrong night.

The Plot…

When a small town bank robbery goes sideways due to the start of a zombie apocalypse, the thieves and cops find themselves fighting for their lives.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Made on a micro-budget and it shows.

Loved the idea, not so much the execution.

Dead Heist (2007)  rates 2 of 5 stars.

“Those About to Die” – The Second Trailer is Here!

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Here is the second trailer for Those About to Die.  Looking good…

Those About to Die is an epic drama set in the corrupt world of the spectacle-driven gladiatorial competition, exploring a side of ancient Rome never before told — the dirty business of entertaining the masses, giving the mob what they want most…blood and sport. The series introduces an ensemble of characters from all corners of the Roman Empire who collide at the explosive intersection of sports, politics, and dynasties.

Those About to Die is streaming July 18 on Peacock

“Last Man Standing” (1996) written & directed by Walter Hill, starring Bruce Willis / Z-View

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Last Man Standing (1996) 

Director: Walter Hill

Screenplay: Walter Hill based on Yojimbo by Akira Kurosawa

Stars: Bruce Willis, Bruce Dern, William Sanderson, Christopher Walken, David Patrick Kelly, Ned Eisenberg, Alexandra Powers, Ken Jenkins, Ted Markland, Leslie Mann, Patrick Kilpatrick, Luis Contreras, Raynor Scheine, Tiny Ron, John Paxton, Michael Cavalieri, Matt O’Toole and Michael Imperioli

Tagline: There are two sides to every war. And John Smith is on both of them.

The Plot…

John Smith (Willis), a prohibition gun thug, is on the lam.  Smith is headed for Mexico when he stops in a small nearly deserted border town.  Two rival gangs, one Italian, the other Irish, have run most of the townsfolk off.  The two crews have an uneasy truce.  But both gangs are looking for a way to wipe out the other.

John Smith sees easy money in his future.  It’s risky, but Smith plans to work both sides with neither realizing it.  The best laid plans…

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Last Man Standing, like A Fistful of Dollars, is based on the Japanese film Yojimbo directed and co-written by Akira Kurosawa.  Many think that Kurosawa based his story on Dashiell Hammett’s RED HARVEST.  Kurosawa says that his film was actually based on Hammett’s THE GLASS KEY.

Last Man Standing has a John Woo feel to it.

Last Man Standing (1996)  rates 3 of 5 stars.

Syfy’s Twilight Zone 4th of July Marathon – 10 Episodes Not to Miss!

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Tomorrow Syfy channel’s 4th of July Twilight Zone Marathon starts at 6am!  It will run for 24 hours.  Here are a few episodes not to miss!

Thursday, July 4th

RIP: Robert Towne

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Robert Towne died peacefully at his home on Monday, July 1, 2024.  Mr. Towne was 89.

Robert Towne was a writer, actor, director and producer.  He was nominated for four Academy Awards and won one:

  • nominee 1974 Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium – The Last Detail
  • winner 1975 Best Writing, Original Screenplay – Chinatown
  • nominee 1976 Best Original Screenplay – Shampoo (shared with: Warren Beatty)
  • nominee 1985 Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium – Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes (shared with Michael Austin)

After graduating from Pomona College in Claremont, California, Robert Towne decided to pursue a career as an actor and writer.  In one of Mr. Towne’s acting classes he met Jack Nicholson (who became his roommate), Roger Corman, Irvin Kershner and Sally Kellerman.

Roger Corman financed and directed Robert Towne’s first feature film, Last Woman on Earth.  Mr. Town also served as one of the film’s stars.  The following year, Robert Towne was one of the stars (but not the writer) of the Corman directed, Creature from the Haunted Sea.  Robert Towne then began to get work writing for television.  As his reputation as a “script doctor” grew, Mr. Towne would often be called in to beef up a script, many times with no credit, but a nice payday.  Mr. Towne moved away from acting and television writing to focus on feature films with occasional directing and producing duties for the rest of his career.

Television projects that feature Robert Towne’s writing include: The Lloyd Bridges Show (4 episodes); Breaking Point; The Outer Limits; The Man from U.N.C.L.E. and Welcome to the Basement (2 episodes).

Feature film projects that feature Robert Towne’s writing include: Last Woman on Earth; The Tomb of Ligeia; Bonnie and Clyde (uncredited); Villa Rides; McCabe & Mrs. Miller (uncredited); Cisco Pike (uncredited); The New Centurions (uncredited); The Last Detail; The Parallax View (uncredited); Chinatown; The Yakuza; Shampoo; The Missouri Breaks (uncredited); Orca (uncredited); Heaven Can Wait (uncredited); Personal Best; Deal of the Century (uncredited); Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes (as P.H. Vazak); 8 Million Ways to Die (uncredited); Tough Guys Don’t Dance (uncredited); Frantic (uncredited); Tequila Sunrise; Days of Thunder; The Two Jakes; The Firm; Love Affair; Mission Impossible II and Ask the Dusk.

Some of Robert Towne’s acting projects include: Last Woman on Earth; Creature from the Haunted Sea; The Zodiac Killer; Drive, He Said; Shampoo; The Pick-up Artist and Suspect Zero.

Projects that feature Robert Towne’s directing include: Personal Best; Tequila Sunrise; Without Limits and Ask the Dust.

My favorite films featuring writing by Robert Towne include Chinatown; The Yakuza; Tequila Sunrise and Mission Impossible II.  I’m also a fan of Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes.  Mr. Towne hoped to direct it, but things didn’t work out and so he had his credit changed to P.H. Vazak (his dog’s name).  Until today, I didn’t realize just how many uncredited projects were on Robert Towne’s resume.  It’s testament to his talent that he was often called in when there was trouble with a script.

Out thoughts and prayers go out to Robert Towne’s family, friends and fans.

“1992” starring Tyrese Gibson, Scott Eastwood & Ray Liotta – The Poster and Trailer are Here!

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1992 looks like a winner.  Has Tyrese Gibson ever come across so thuggish?  Plus one of Ray Liotta’s last performances.

A father (Tyrese Gibson) becomes entangled in a risky heist while trying to save his son from criminals (Ray Liotta and Scott Eastwood) during the 1992 LA uprising.

RELEASE DATE: August 30, 2024

CAST: Tyrese Gibson, Clé Bennett, Dylan Arnold, Christopher A’mmanuel, Michael Beasley, Ori Pfeffer, Tosin Morohunfola, Oleg Taktarov, with Scott Eastwood, and Ray Liotta

“Atlas” (2024) starring Jennifer Lopez / Z-View

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Atlas (2024) 

Director: Brad Peyton

Screenplay:  Leo Sardarian, Aron Eli Coleite

Stars: Jennifer Lopez, Simu Liu, Sterling K. Brown, Paul Ganus, Zoe Boyle, Gloria Cole and Mark Strong

Tagline: The future of humanity is in her hands

The Plot…

In the future, Harlan (Liu), an AI soldier begins a war against humanity.  Millions of people are killed before nations of the world join forces.  The tide turns, but Harlan escapes.  Years later Harlan is discovered on a planet in deep space.

A military expedition is sent to capture Harlan.  Atlas Shepherd (Lopez), the daughter of Harlan’s creator demands to accompany the soldiers.  Atlas is given clearance.

As the military team begins descent to the planet, they are attacked.  Atlas is the sole survivor thanks to her battle suit’s AI technology.  Realizing that her AI powered armor could turn on her, Atlas’ first instinct is to shut it down.  But if she wants to survive…

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Much of Atlas felt like I was watching a video game not a movie.

Why not just leave Harlan alone?  He’s millions of miles away.

Sterling K. Brown is always a welcome addition to any movie.

Atlas (2024)  rates 2 of 5 stars.