“Bad City” (2022) / Z-View

Posted on by

Bad City (2022)

Director:  Kensuke Sonomura

Screenplay:  Hitoshi Ozawa

Stars: Hitoshi Ozawa, Katsuya

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

Kaiko City is overrun with crooked cops, corrupt politicians and street gangs.  A small task force, led by Torada (Ozawa) a former police captain framed for murder, is put together to take down the crime bosses by any means necessary.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Hitoshi Ozawa has charisma.  This is the first film I’ve seen him in, but he has an older, tough guy aura that made Charles Bronson popular.  Katsuya reminded me a bit of Don Lee.  (That’s a good thing.)  I don’t know the name of the main villain that used knives, but he was excellent.

If you enjoy action/crime flicks, you should enjoy Bad City.

Bad City (2022) rates 3 of 5 stars.

RIP: Eric Carmen

Posted on by

Eric Carmen’s wife announced that he had died over the weekend.  No specific date or cause of death was given.  Eric Carmen was 74.

Eric Carmen taught himself guitar, but was a classically trained pianist.  Mr. Carmen first fame came as lead singer of The Raspberries.  Eric Carmen was also the writer or co-writer of the groups hit songs such as Go All the Way and I Want to Be With You.

Eric Carmen left The Raspberries to pursue a solo career.  His biggest hits were All By Myself and Never Gonna Fall in Love Again from his first solo album.  Mr. Carmen would go on to write, sing, perform and produce for himself and others for the remainder of his career.  Eric Carmen produced the mega hit Hungry Eyes from the Dirty Dancing soundtrack.

Eric Carmen’s hits, both with The Raspberries and solo, were a big part of my childhood.  I still find myself smiling (and singing along) when I hear them.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Eric Carmen’s family, friends and fans.

SONNY BOY by Al Pacino!

Posted on by

SONNY BOY by Al Pacino is going to be released on October 8, 2024.  Here’s the lowdown…

From one of the most iconic actors in the history of film, an astonishingly revelatory account of a creative life in full.

To the wider world, Al Pacino exploded onto the scene like a supernova. He landed his first leading role, in The Panic in Needle Park, in 1971, and by 1975, he had starred in four movies—The Godfather and The Godfather Part II, Serpico, and Dog Day Afternoon—that were not just successes but landmarks in the history of film. Those performances became legendary and changed his life forever. Not since Marlon Brando and James Dean in the late 1950s had an actor landed in the culture with such force.

But Pacino was in his midthirties by then, and had already lived several lives. A fixture of avant-garde theater in New York, he had led a bohemian existence, working odd jobs to support his craft. He was raised by a fiercely loving but mentally unwell mother and her parents after his father left them when he was young, but in a real sense he was raised by the streets of the South Bronx, and by the troop of buccaneering young friends he ran with, whose spirits never left him. After a teacher recognized his acting promise and pushed him toward New York’s fabled High School of Performing Arts, the die was cast. In good times and bad, in poverty and in wealth and in poverty again, through pain and joy, acting was his lifeline, its community his tribe. 

SONNY BOY is the memoir of a man who has nothing left to fear and nothing left to hide. All the great roles, the essential collaborations, and the important relationships are given their full due, as is the vexed marriage between creativity and commerce at the highest levels. The book’s golden thread, however, is the spirit of love and purpose. Love can fail you, and you can be defeated in your ambitions—the same lights that shine bright can also dim. But Al Pacino was lucky enough to fall deeply in love with a craft before he had the foggiest idea of any of its earthly rewards, and he never fell out of love. That has made all the difference.

SONNY BOY by Al Pacino  Hardcover

SONNY BOY by Al Pacino  Paperback

SONNY BOY by Al Pacino  Kindle

SONNY BOY by Al Pacino  Audio CD

“Project Legion” (2022) starring Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone / Z-View

Posted on by

Project Legion (2022)

Director:  Lance Kawas

Screenplay:  Lance Kawas, John Sullivan story by Lance Kawas, Michael Pizzimenti, James Raptoplous

Stars: Donald Cerrone, Brande Roderick, Dino Dos Santos

Tagline: Locking your door won’t keep them out.

The Plot…

A former soldier (Cerrone) locks himself inside his apartment as the world we know appears to be under attack.  Strange creatures attempt to find access to the apartment.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

I tapped out at 24 minutes. Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone has had fights that lasted longer.

Project Legion (2022) rates 1 of 5 stars.

“George Romero’s Dawn of the Dead” Limited Edition Print by Paul Mann!

Posted on by

In honor of its 45th anniversary, artist Paul Mann teamed with Bottleneck Gallery and ISH to create a new poster for George Romero’s Dawn of the Dead.  The 14 color screen print pictured above is 24×26 inches and will be released in a hand-numbered edition of just 300 for $75.00.

There will be an Emerald Variant in a hand-numbered edition of 175 that will cost $85.00.

The final variant will be the Purple Variant in a hand-numbered variant of just 100 that will retail for $95.00.

The Paul Mann George Romero’s Dawn of the Dead limited edition prints will go on sale tomorrow.  For full details click here.

“Einstein and the Bomb” (2024) / Z-View

Posted on by

Einstein and the Bomb (2024)

Director:  Anthony Philipson

Stars: Aidan McArdle

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

Einstein and the Bomb is a docudrama that uses Einstein’s actual words (from his writings and speeches) to explore his life from leaving Germany as Hitler came into power to later in life and his concerns over the atomic bomb.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Einstein and the Bomb isn’t a straight up documentary and it isn’t a drama.  It’s an odd combination.  There were many opportunities had the filmmakers focused on Einstein’s new theories and how he came to discover them, or Einstein’s decision to flee Germany under Nazi power or his life after he became a celebrity.  The decision to emphasize his concerns with atomic weapons doesn’t come into play until late in the film and for me, wasn’t strong enough to warrant the movie’s title.

Still, it was interesting to hear Einstein’s words and his thoughts.

Einstein and the Bomb (2024) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“Hard Target” (1993) directed by John Woo, starring Jean-Claude Van Damme, Lance Henriksen, Yancy Butler, Arnold Vosloo / Z-View

Posted on by

Hard Target (1993)

Director:  John Woo

Screenplay:  Chuck Pfarrer

Stars: Jean-Claude Van Damme, Lance Henriksen, Yancy Butler, Arnold Vosloo, Willie C. Carpenter, Kasi Lemmons, Robert Pavlovich, Ted Raimi, Chuck Pfarrer and Wilford Brimley

Tagline: Don’t hunt what you can’t kill.

The Plot…

Natasha Binder (Butler) has come to New Orleans to find her estranged father, who is a homeless vet.  When several thugs attempt to mug Natasha, Chance Boudreaux (Van Damme) comes to her rescue.  Natasha then hires Boudreaux to assist her in her quest.

What neither Natasha nor Boudreaux know is that Natasha’s father was murdered by rich hunters who paid Emil Fouchon (Henriksen) for the opportunity to track and kill a human.  When Fouchon learns that Boudreaux and Natasha are getting close to discovering him, he brings in a team to take them out.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

There are some very over the top moments (Van Damme grabs a snake then hits it in the head to knock it out, he stands on a motorcycle as it roars into a truck launching Van Damme over the crash, etc.) and lots of explosions, fire, slow motion that John Woo makes work. (Or maybe I just accept the them because I like the rest of the movie so much).

Universal brought in Sam Raimi to be on set to assist John Woo.  Their concern was it was his first Hollywood film and he didn’t speak English.  Raimi appears in a cameo.

Kurt Russell was considered at one point for the role that ultimately went to JCVD.

In the scene where Lance Henriksen’s coat catches fire, it wasn’t supposed to, but did.  Henriksen never broke character and the accident appears in the final film.

JCVD was the star of the film and played the part off-screen.  He had script control and definite ideas of how scenes should be shot. According to Lance Henriksen it started as a JCVD vehicle, but as filming continued it became clear it was a John Woo film.

Arnold Vosloo has never been better.

Hard Target (1993) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“The Family Stallone”: Season 2 (2024) / Z-View

Posted on by

The Family Stallone: Season 2 (2024)

Stars: Sylvester Stallone, Jennifer Flavin-Stallone, Sophia Rose Stallone, Sistine Rose Stallone, Scarlet Rose Stallone, Frank Stallone, Jon Lovitz, Dolph, Henry Winkler, Frank Grillo and Pope Francis

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

The Family Stallone gives us a peek at the life of, you guessed it, the Stallone family: Sly, Jennifer, Sophia, Sistine and Scarlet.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Season 2 features ten episodes…

S2.E1 ∙ Say Goodbye to Hollywood: Now that they are empty-nesters, Sly & Jen decide to move from California to Florida.  Sly puts Sistine and Sophia through a self-defense mini-boot camp.

S2.E2 ∙ My Fair Louis: Scarlet’s boyfriend, Louis, comes for a visit.  Sophia feels Jen is pressuring her to settle down.

S2.E3 ∙ Matchmaker, Matchmaker: Sophia encourages Sistine to start dating.  Jen sets Frank up with a date closer to his age.

S2.E4 ∙ Back Aches and Blind Dates: Sly has to have another surgery to repair an injury caused by a movie stunt. Sistine goes on a blind date podcast.

S2.E5 ∙ Uncle Frank is Coming to Town: Frank heads to New York City to spend some quality time with Sistine and Sophia (in their apartment).

S2.E6 ∙ Keep Punching: The Family Stallone heads to Philadelphia where Sly is honored on Rocky Day. (I can be seen in three crowd scenes if you don’t blink.)

S2.E7 ∙ A Stallone Family Reunion: The Family Stallone journey to the small town in Italy where Sly’s grandfather lived before immigrating to the US.  They meet family members for the first time in a huge gathering.

S2.E8 ∙ Citizen Sly: Sly is honored by the town where his grandfather used to live.

S2,E9 ∙ When in Rome: Love is in the air!

S2,E10 ∙ That’s Amore: The Stallone Family meets the Pope.  Sly and the family honor Jen.

I’m not a fan of most reality shows.  Truth be told if this wasn’t about Sly and his family, my interest level would be zero,  Frank deserves his own reality show.  It would be a hoot.  I’d love a chance to tour Frank’s house — he has some many cool collectibles.

Bring on Season 3!

The Family Stallone: Season 1 (2023) earns 5 of 5 stars.

“Arcadian” starring Nicholas Cage – The Poster and Trailer are Here!

Posted on by

I like the looks of the Arcadian poster and trailer.

In Theaters Only April 12th

Starring Nicolas Cage, Jaeden Martell, Maxwell Jenkins, and Sadie Soverall
Directed by Benjamin Brewer
Written by Mike Nilon

In a near future, normal life on Earth has been decimated. Paul and his two sons, Thomas and Joseph, have been living a half-life – tranquility by day and torment by night. Every night, after the sun sets, they face the unrelenting attacks of a mysterious and violent evil. One day, when Thomas doesn’t return home before sundown, Paul must leave the safety of their fortified farm to find him. A nightmarish battle ensues that forces the family to execute a desperate plan to survive.

“True Detective: Night Country” (2024) starring Jodie Foster & Kali Reis / Z-View

Posted on by

True Detective: Night Country (2024)

Director:  Issa López (eps. 1- 6)

Teleplays: Issa López (eps. 1 – 2, 6); Issa López and Alan Page Arriaga (ep.3); Namsi Khan and Chris Mundy and Issa López (ep. 4); Katrina Albright & Wenonah Wilms and Chris Mundy & Issa López (ep. 5)

Stars: Jodie Foster, Kali Reis, John Hawkes, John Albasiny.

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

Ennis, Alaska is about to enter their season of night.  Police Chief Liz Danvers (Foster) is called to the Tsalal Research Station. The eight researchers working at the station have disappeared. Alaskan State trooper Evangeline Navarro (Reis) also arrives on scene.  Danvers and Navarro have an uneasy alliance due to something from their past.  The researchers’ bodies are found, away from the station, naked and frozen together.  A woman’s severed tongue is located nearby.  Despite their differences, Danvers and Navarro are determined to resolve the mystery.  No matter the cost.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

The first episode sets up an interesting mystery with a horror aspect.  The great cast and remote location add to the production.  Unfortunately, I’ve never seen a series with so many hard to like characters.  I would have preferred a tighter focus on the mystery of how/why the researchers were killed.  The fifth and sixth episodes (along with the first) were my favorites.

True Detective: Night Country (2024) earns 3 of 5 stars.

“Open Range” – Trivia from Kevin Costner

Posted on by

Rob Hunter at Film School Rejects posted 45 Things We Learned from Kevin Costner’s ‘Open Range’ Commentary. (Sadly the piece is no longer available.)  Open Range is one of my favorite westerns.  But here are three of my favorite pieces of trivia from the piece and my comments on each…

He (Costner) likes to keep one or two things from a production as mementos, and here it was the chloroform bottle from the doctor’s house. “I also kept my guns.”  (I think it’s cool Costner keeps momentos from his films. It’d be interesting to see what he kept from each movie on his resume. – Craig)

“I’ve always had a thing about reloading in movies,” he says, and he hates when characters shoot off more shots than the gun actually holds. That said, he admits that the start of the shootout sees Charley unload on a guy by “fanning” his revolver and firing more than six shots. “The fanning is such a mythical part of the western, and I hadn’t seen it in such a long time, that I had no way of justifying other than hell’s bells I wanted to do it.” (I agree that heroes that never reload can be irritating, but I absolutely agree with Costner’s choice in this instance.  I’ll bet most folks didn’t even notice. – Craig)

One of the things he felt was important was to follow the main street shootout with a look at the aftermath. “There are consequences for violence. Horses get killed, people are injured, the little girl with the father talking to her, there are psychological repercussions that come from violence, and while conventional wisdom is ‘come on, let’s get on with it,’ I wanted to touch on it.”  (Movies that have a lot of violence without showing the consequences become cartoon-like.  Costner made an excellent choice to give the movie gravitas. – Craig)