“Mulholland Falls” (1996) starring Nick Nolte, Melanie Griffith, Chazz Palminteri, John Malkovich & Treat Williams / Z-View

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Mulholland Falls (1996)

Director: Lee Tamahori

Screenplay: Pete Dexter from a story by Pete Dexter, Floyd Mutrux

Stars: Nick Nolte, Melanie Griffith, Jennifer Connelly, Chazz Palminteri, Michael Madsen, Chris Penn, Treat Williams, Daniel Baldwin, Andrew McCarthy, John Malkovich, Kyle Chandler  and Ed Lauter.

Tagline:  This isn’t America, this is Los Angeles

The Plot…

A special four-man team of LA Detectives consisting of Lieutenant Maxwell Hoover (Nolte), Ellery Coolidge (Palminteri), Eddie Hall (Madsen), and Arthur Relyea (Penn) have been granted authorization to take aggressive actions when dealing with criminals.  Gangsters have taken to calling them The Hat Squad.

When a prostitute named Allison Pond (Connelly) is found dead in the desert with every bone in her body broken, the case is assigned to The Hat Squad.  A piece of radioactive glass is found embedded in Pond’s foot.  Soon the detectives receive a film of Pond having sex with various men… including Detective Hoover and  retired General Thomas Timms (Malkovich).  Following leads puts the team at odds with each other and the US Military.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

The Hat Squad was based on a team of detectives that was truly empowered to take more drastic measures to fight crime.

Mulholland Falls features an amazing cast.  Standouts include Nolte, Palminteri, Malkovich and Williams.

I liked the reveal and subsequent action scene after the murderer is known.  Also the final scene between Nolte and Griffith is handled in a non-Hollywood way.

Mulholland Falls (1996) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“Justified: City Primeval” | Teaser – Specially Requested

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Starring Timothy Olyphant, Aunjanue Ellis and Boyd Holbrook. Raylan Givens left the hollers of Kentucky and is balancing life as a U.S. Marshal with being a part-time father. A chance encounter sends him to Detroit and on a collision course with a violent sociopath and a formidable defense attorney.

The hat is back. FX’s Justified: City Primeval premieres 7.18 on FX. Stream on Hulu.

“300” (2006) /Z-View

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300 (2006)

Director: Zack Snyder

Screenplay: Zack Snyder, Kurt Johnstad, Michael B. Gordon based on 300 by Frank Miller, Lynn Varley

Stars: Gerard Butler, Lena Headey, David Wenham, Dominic West, Vincent Regan, Michael Fassbender, Andrew Pleavin, Rodrigo Santoro  and Eli Snyder.

Tagline:  Spartans, tonight, we dine in hell!

The Plot…

Based on Frank Miller’s classic graphic novel, 300 tells the story of King Leonidas (Butler) who led an army of 300 Spartans against a Persian force of over 100,000.  Persian King Xerxes (Santoro) planned to rule the world. His army was decimating every country in his path.  King Leonidas and his 300 Spartans would meet the Persians in the mountain pass of Thermopylae known as “the Gates of Hell”.  There they would make their stand.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

There has never been a movie adaptation that follows the source material as well as 300.  Zack Snyder’s respect for Frank Miller’s graphic novel is evident in every scene.  That’s not to say that Snyder didn’t have an impact on what we see.  Using Miller’s panels as storyboards, Snyder has created a stylized film that is  a thing of beauty.

300 (2006) rates 5 of 5 stars.

“The Locksmith” (2023) starring Kate Bosworth & Ryan Phillippe / Z-View

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The Locksmith (2023)

Director: Nicolas Harvard

Screenplay: John Glosser, Joe Russo, Chris LaMont

Stars: Kate Bosworth, Ryan Phillippe, Ving Rhames and Noel Gugliemi.

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

Miller Graham (Phillippe) was just released from prison.  Graham is determined to go straight and get back with his wife, Beth (Bosworth) and daughter.  The crooked cops who set Graham up have other ideas and when a friend needs help, Graham finds himself on the wrong side of the law.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

I hoped The Locksmith would be better.  I like Bosworth, Phillippe and Rhames.  Unfortunately, the decisions that Phillippe’s character makes are so stupid that I couldn’t muster much sympathy for him.  Just a few of his bad decisions: He agrees to rob a mansion that has armed security. He never cases the joint or makes a plan.  He parks his truck right outside the fence of the property.

The best character in the movie is played by Ving Rhames.  He doesn’t get much to do except tell Phillippe to get his act together, play with Phillipppe’s daughter and then be murdered.  Don’t worry though, there’ s a little scene to wrap up the film to show he’s gone but not forgotten.  (Unlike the movie which will soon be.)

The Locksmith (2023) rates 2 of 5 stars.

“Rebel Moon” Behind the Scenes Video & Poster!!

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How about some behind the scenes footage from Zack Snyder’s Rebel Moon?  I’ll be honest, initially I wanted more Army of the Dead.  I still do, but the more I hear and see of Rebel Moon, the more excited I am for it.  I love the cast which includes Sofia Boutella, Charlie Hunnam, Anthony Hopkins, Cary Elwes and Djimon Hounsou.  I’m fully on board for Rebel Moon.  Deal me in!

Only on Netflix December 22.

From Zack Snyder, the filmmaker behind 300, Man of Steel, and Army of the Dead, comes REBEL MOON, an epic science-fantasy event decades in the making.

When a peaceful colony on the edge of a galaxy finds itself threatened by the armies of a tyrannical ruling force, Kora (Sofia Boutella), a mysterious stranger living among the villagers, becomes their best hope for survival. Tasked with finding trained fighters who will unite with her in making an impossible stand against the Mother World, Kora assembles a small band of warriors — outsiders, insurgents, peasants and orphans of war from different worlds who share a common need for redemption and revenge. As the shadow of an entire Realm bears down on the unlikeliest of moons, a battle over the fate of a galaxy is waged, and in the process, a new army of heroes is formed.

“Inmate #1: The Rise of Danny Trejo” (2019) / Z-View

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Inmate #1: The Rise of Danny Trejo (2019)

Director: Brett Harvey

Writers:  Scott Dodds, Brett Harvey

Stars: Danny Trejo, Cheech Marin, Michelle Rodriguez and Robert Rodriguez.

Tagline: I owe a debt. A debt to society

The Plot…

The life and times of Danny Trejo.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Danny Trejo is one of the most easily recognized stars in Hollywood.  Trejo has over 445 acting credits on his resume.  With that said, it was an amazing journey to get to his current status since Trejo spent much of his childhood addicted to drugs and in juvenile detention.  As a young adult Danny Trejo served time at San Quentin for drug and robbery convictions.

Yet despite all that, Danny Trejo turned his life around.  Now when he’s not on location filming for his latest project, Danny Trejo spends his time speaking at prisons, youth centers and giving back to the community that used to fear him.

Inmate #1: The Rise of Danny Trejo (2019) rates 3 of 5 stars.

Charlie Chan in “Black Magic” (1944) starring Sidney Toler / Z-View

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Black Magic (1944)

Director: Phil Rosen

Screenplay:  George Callahan based on characters created by Earl Derr Biggers

Stars: Sidney Toler, Mantan Moreland, Frances Chan and Frank Jaquet.

Tagline: Weirdest case of the screen’s top sleuth!

The Plot…

Charlie Chan (Toler) is ready to head home to Honolulu when he gets called to investigate a murder that occurred during a seance attended by his daughter. The occultist was killed by a gun that cannot be found and a bullet that didn’t go through his body but also cannot be found!

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

This is the only Charlie Chan film where he is assisted by his daughter instead of one of his sons.  Also his daughter, Frances Chan is played by an actress named Frances Chan!

Mantan Moreland is back to provide comedy relief.

When Charlie is asked a question about his investigation, Chan asks the man, “Can you keep a secret?”  The man responds, “Of course.”  Charlie says, “So can I” as he walks away.

Black Magic (1944) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“Cold Pursuit” (2019) starring Liam Neeson / Z-View

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Cold Pursuit (2019)

Director: Hans Petter Moland

Screenplay:  Frank Baldwin based on In Order of Disappearance by Kim Fupz Aakeson

Stars: Liam Neeson, Laura Dern, Micheál Neeson, Tom Bateman, Domenick Lombardozzi, Jim Shield, Aleks Paunovic, Glenn Ennis  and Emmy Rossum.

Tagline: Revenge is best served cold.

The Plot…

Citizen of the Year, Nels Coxman (Neeson), is a mild-mannered Colorado snowplow driver.  When Coxman learns that his son was murdered by members of a drug cartel, he decides to take out as many members of the cartel as he can.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Cold Pursuit is one of those movies that gets better as it goes along.  That’s because it doesn’t take itself too seriously, provides interesting characters and more plot twists that expected in a “revenge flick”.

Liam Neeson is always good.  Standouts in the supporting cast include…

  • Tom Bateman as Trevor “Viking” Calcote, the unhinged drug lord
  • Emmy Rossum as Kim Dash, a young, eager police officer
  • Domenick Lombardozzi as Mustang, one of Calcote’s enforcers
  • William Forsythe as Brock “Wingman” Coxman, a retired hitman

Stick around for the end credits — there’s not another scene but the credit design adds to the fun.

Cold Pursuit (2019) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“Blacula” (1972) / Z-View

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Blacula (1972)

Director: William Crain

Screenplay:  Joan Torres, Raymond Koenig, Richard Glouner

Stars: William Marshall, Vonetta McGee, Denise Nicholas, Thalmus Rasulala, Elisha Cook Jr. and The Hues Corporation.

Tagline: Blacula! – Dracula’s Soul Brother!

The Plot…

In 1780, Dracula turned Prince Mamuwalde (Marshall) into a vampire and mockingly gave him the name Blackula.  Dracula then sealed Prince Mamuwalde in a coffin where he remained a prisoner for nearly 200 years.  When the coffin is opened in 1972, Blackula is released to terrorize modern day LA.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

I had avoided watching Blackula for decades because I thought it was going to be all-out comedy.  I was wrong.  Blackula, despite the funny title, is a straight up horror film.  Before William Marshall accepted the title role, he demanded that the character be treated with dignity.  Changes were made to the character’s background and the movie is played straight.  Blackula is the first black vampire to appear on film!

It was cool to see Elisha Cook, Jr. in a small role as well as the singing group, The Hues Corporation, best known for the hit Rock the Boat.

Blackula (1972) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“Dark Winds” – The Season 2 Trailer is Here!

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I was a fan of the first season of Dark Winds.  From the looks of the trailer, season 2 will be even better.  Deal me in.

For Lieutenant Leaphorn, this is about more than just uncovering the truth. This is personal.

Follows Leephorn and Chee, two Navajo police officers in the 1970s Southwest that are forced to challenge their own spiritual beliefs when they search for clues in a double murder case.

Starring: Zahn McClarnon, Kiowa Gordon, Jessica Matten, Noah Emmerich

Dark Winds Season 2 Premieres July 30 | AMC+