Author: Craig Zablo

“Cross”: Season 1 starring Aldis Hodge, Isaiah Mustafa, Ryan Eggold and Johnny Ray Gill / Z-View

Cross: Season 1 (2024)

Created by: Ben Watkins; based on the ALEX CROSS novels by James Patterson

Director: Nzingha Stewart (Eps. 1-2); Craig Siebels (Eps. 3-4); Stacey Muhammad  (Eps. 5-6); Director X (Ep. 7); Carl Seaton (Ep. 8)

Teleplay: Ben Watkins (Ep. 1); Aiyana White (Ep. 2); Ron McCants & Sam Ernst  (Ep. 3); Blaize Ali-Watkins & Jim Dunn  (Ep. 4); Gary Lundy (Ep. 5); Ali Salerno; story by Ali Salerno & Sonja Perryman (Ep. 6); Sam Ernst & Jim Dunn (Ep. 7);Ben Watkins & Aiyana White (Ep. 8)

Stars: Aldis Hodge, Isaiah Mustafa, Juanita Jennings, Alona Tal, Samantha Walkes, Caleb Elijah, Melody Hurd, Jennifer Wigmore, Eloise Mumford, Ryan Eggold, Stacie Greenwell, Sharon Taylor, Karen Robinson, Mercedes de la Zerda, Siobhan Murphy and Johnny Ray Gill.

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

D.C. Detective Alex Cross (Hodge) and (his best friend since childhood) Detective John Sampson (Mustafa) are assigned the case of a well known Black Lives Matter activist, Emir Goodspeed, found dead in his car.  Initial reports indicate an accidental drug overdose.  Cross examines the evidence and believes it was murder.  The powers that be want the case quickly wrapped up.

Chief Anderson orders Cross to quit making waves.  Cross digs deeper. He finds evidence that Goodspeed was the victim of a serial killer. Chief Anderson, not convinced, orders Cross to stand down.  Only Cross’ partner, John Sampson and one other person believe Cross is right.  The other person is the serial killer.

Cross doesn’t know how connected and powerful the serial killer is.  He’s about to find out.

Cross also doesn’t realize the killer who murdered Cross’ wife (and was never caught) is coming back for more revenge.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

I absolutely loved this season.  Alex Cross isn’t a perfect hero by any stretch.  He’s suffering from the unresolved murder of his wife.  Often deaths in movies/television shows have little ramifications for the heroes.  That isn’t the case here.

Cross is populated with  characters and a great cast.  Standouts are Aldis Hodge, Isaiah Mustafa (who plays my favorite character), Ryan Eggold and Johnny Ray Gill.

The story feels grounded in reality which makes us more willing to accept the connections of the serial killer.  I loved the twists and the secondary story that doesn’t immediately become clear that it’s not part of the main crime.

I am looking forward to season 2.

Cross: Season 1 (2024) rates 5 of 5 stars.

“High Wall” (1947) starring Robert Taylor, Audrey Trotter and Herbert Marshall / Z-View

High Wall (1947)

Director:  Curtis Bernhardt

Screenplay: Sydney Boehm, Lester Cole, story by Alan R. Clark, Bradbury Foote based on HIGH WALL by Alan R. Clark and the play adapted by Bradbury Foote

Stars: Robert Taylor, Audrey Totter, Herbert Marshall, H.B. Warner, Warner Anderson, Moroni Olsen, John Ridgely, Morris Ankrum, Elisabeth Risdon and Vince Barnett.

Tagline:  So tense! So taut! It closes in on you like a high wall!

The Plot…

Steven Kenet (Taylor) needs an operation for a brain injury he suffered in the war.  Kenet is currently being held in the county psychiatric hospital.  Police believe Kenet murdered his wife.  Kenet needs psychiatric testing to see if he’s sane enough to stand trial.

Kenet initially doesn’t know if he killed his wife or not. As he regains bits of his memory, Kenet begins to believe he’s innocent.  But how can he prove his innocence if he’s locked up in the looney bin?  If he could only get Dr. Ann Lorrison (Trotter) to believe he’s not a killer…

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

The High Wall takes some daring angles for a film made in the 40s.  The hero starting to strangle his wife.  A war hero’s wife cheating on him and caring nothing for her child. The killer admitting it to Kenet to incite him. Kudos for being daring.

Contrast this with the easy way Kenet gets in and out of custody plus the killer’s “confession” and we end up with a mixed bag.  Still I liked High Wall.

High Wall (1947) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“Gun Crazy” (1950) directed by Joseph H. Lewis, starring Peggy Cummins & John Dall / Z-View

Gun Crazy (1950)

Director:  Joseph H. Lewis

Screenplay: Dalton Trumbo, MacKinlay Kantor based on Gun Crazy a 1940 story in The Saturday Evening Post by MacKinlay Kantor

Stars: John Dall, Peggy Cummins, Berry Kroeger, Morris Carnovsky, Harry Lewis, Nedrick Young, Trevor Bardette, Virginia Farmer, Robert Osterloh, Shimen Ruskin, Ray Teal and Russ Tamblyn.

Tagline:  SHE BELIEVES IN TWO THINGS… – love and violence!

The Plot…

Bart Tare (Dall) has always had a fascination with guns.  Bart is a crack shot and even taught marksmanship in the service.  One night at a traveling carnival with friends, Bart is encouraged to accept a challenge from sharpshooter Annie Laurie Starr (Cummins).  Even though she’s really good, Bart wins the contest.  But Laurie wins Bart’s heart.

Laurie gets Bart a job with the carnival.  They fall in love and marry.  Laurie wants more than the sideshow life can provide.  She convinces Bart they should use their gun skills to rob enough places to live the good life.  When Laurie threatens to leave Bart, he agrees as long as no one gets hurt.

That’s a promise she can’t keep.  She’s gun crazy.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

The bank robbery scene was shot in one take.  Dall, Cummins, the actor playing the police officer and the people inside the bank knew the scene was being filmed.  At no time during the scene do we see the inside of the bank.  That was a bold move for the director to make.  It works!

Dalton Trumbo was listed in the credits since he was a blacklisted writer at the time.

Bart and Laurie are loosely based on Bonnie and Clyde.

I appreciate Gun Crazy more with each viewing.

Gun Crazy (1950) rates 4 of 5 stars.

KING OF ASHES by S.A. Cosby!

S.A. Cosby’s next novel KING OF ASHES has been announced.  It sounds like another winner…

Award-winning, New York Times bestselling author S. A. Cosby returns with KING OF ASHES, a Godfather-inspired Southern crime epic and dazzling family drama.

When eldest son Roman Carruthers is summoned home after his father’s car accident, he finds his younger brother, Dante, in debt to dangerous criminals and his sister, Neveah, exhausted from holding the family―and the family business―together. Neveah and their father, who run the Carruthers Crematorium in the run-down central Virginia town of Jefferson Run, see death up close every day. But mortality draws even closer when it becomes clear that the crash that landed their father in a coma was no accident and Dante’s recklessness has placed them all in real danger.

Roman, a financial whiz with a head for numbers and a talent for making his clients rich, has some money to help buy his brother out of trouble. But in his work with wannabe tough guys, he’s forgotten that there are real gangsters out there. As his bargaining chips go up in smoke, Roman realizes that he has only one thing left to offer to save his brother: himself, and his own particular set of skills.

Roman begins his work for the criminals while Neveah tries to uncover the long-ago mystery of what happened to their mother, who disappeared when they were teenagers. But Roman is far less of a pushover than the gangsters realize. He is willing to do anything to save his family. Anything.

Because everything burns.

KING OF ASHES drops on June 10, 2025.  This is a must-get for me.  Pre-orders are available now.

“Salem’s Lot” (1979) directed by Tobe Hooper, starring David Soul, James Mason, Lance Kerwin, Bonnie Bedelia and Lew Ayres / Z-View

Salem’s Lot (1979)

Director:  Tobe Hooper

Screenplay: Paul Monash based on ‘SALEM’S LOT by Stephen King

Stars: David Soul, James Mason, Lance Kerwin, Bonnie Bedelia, Lew Ayres, Julie Cobb, Elisha Cook Jr., George Dzundza, Ed Flanders, Kenneth McMillan, Fred Willard, Marie Windsor, Barbara Babcock, Bonnie Bartlett, Joshua Bryant, Reggie Nalder  and Geoffrey Lewis.

Tagline:  Salem’s Lot… where no one rests in peace…

The Plot…

A vampire has come to the small remote town of Salem’s Lot, Maine.

One vampire bites a human and you have two blood suckers. Two turn others and now there are four.  As the number of vampires grow, only a few people realize (believe) what is happening.  Ben Mears (Soul), his new girlfriend Susan (Bedelia), aging school teacher Jason Bruke (Ayers) and young Mark Petrie (Kerwin).

What chance do they have against the living dead?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Salem’s Lot was nominated for three 1980 Primetime Emmy Awards

  • Nominee for Outstanding Achievement in Graphic Design and Title Sequences: Gene Kraft
  • Nominee for Outstanding Achievement in Makeup: Ben Lane, Jack H. Young
  • Nominee for Outstanding Achievement in Music Composition for a Limited Series or a Special (Dramatic Underscore): Harry Sukman

Salem’s Lot was originally developed as a feature film with George “Night of the Living Dead” Romero set to direct.  When Dracula (1979) and Nosferatu the Vampyre (1979) were announced, Warner Bros. decided to make Salem’s Lot as a two episode mini-series.  Romero then dropped out.

Tobe Hooper came on board as a director.  He realized as a tv project, he would be severely limited to the amount of blood/gore.  He therefore focused on creating atmosphere and tension.  Salem’s Lot is better for it. (As it turned out Salem’s Lot was released theatrically in Europe with a slightly different cut.)

On of the eeriest scenes is Ralphie Glick floating outside a second story window.  Ralphie scratches the glass to awaken his sleeping brother.  Part of the scene was filmed in reverse making it even more surreal.

Reggie Nalder played the main vampire Barlow.  It’s hard to believe that he has less than 90 seconds of screen time!  Believe it or not, this works as it makes each appearance more frightening.  Nalder expressed disappointment that additional filmed scenes didn’t make the final cut.  He also said that the contact lenses and heavy make-up he had to wear was very uncomfortable.

Bonnie Bedelia and Julie Cobb really shine.

I remember the anticipation leading up to the original television showing.  It was an event.  This was in the days when you had to be in front of the tv to see the show.  My date (and later my wife) and I made a point to be home both nights.  We weren’t disappointed.

Salem’s Lot (1979) rates 4 of 5 stars.

RIP: Earl Holliman

It was announced that Earl Holliman died today, at the age of 96.

When Earl Holliman was a teenager he saved his money from his jobs as a theater usher, paperboy and magician’s assistant.  He then went to Hollywood.  He lasted a week before his money ran out and he returned to his home in Louisiana.

His adoptive mother had remarried after her first husband died.  Earl didn’t get along with his new stepfather.  World War II was underway.  Earl lied about his age and went into the Navy.  A year into his enlistment, the Navy discovered Earl’s true age and he was sent home.  Earl finished his high school education, graduated with honors and was his senior class president.

Now old enough to enlist, Earl reupped with the Navy.  While in the Navy, Mr. Holliman was cast in the lead of several Norfolk Navy productions.  After leaving the navy, Mr. Holliman moved to California.  He studied acting and graduated from UCLA.

Mr. Holliman bluffed his way onto the Paramount lot.  Over time he made some connections and got his first part. After that Earl Holliman continued to work in feature films, television and stage roles until he retired.

Television projects that feature Earl Holliman include: Matinee Theater; Kraft Theater (2 episodes); Studio One; Playhouse 90 (2 episodes); Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse; The Twilight Zone (1st episode); Hotel de Paree (32 episodes); The Dick Powell Theater; Westinghouse Presents: The Dispossessed; Bus Stop; Alcoa Premiere; General Electric Theater; Checkmate; Wide Country (28 episodes); The Great Adventure; Bonanza; 12 O’Clock High; Dr. Kildare; The Virginian; Slattery’s People; The Fugitive; Custer; Judd for the Defense; Insight; Marcus Welby MD; Smoke; The Tribe; Ironside; Cannon; Alias Smith & Jones (2 episodes); The Rookies; Gunsmoke (3 episodes); Medical Center (2 episodes); The Magical World of Disney (4 episodes); The FBI (4 episodes); The Streets of San Francisco; The Six Million Dollar Man: Wine, Women and War; Doberman Patrol; Cry Panic; Police Story; Police Woman (90 episodes); The Solitary Man; CHiPs (2 episodes); Country Gold; The Thorn Birds (3 episodes); Hotel; American Harvest; Gunsmoke: Return to Dodge; Empty Nest; PSI Luv U (13 episodes); The Larry Sanders Show; In the Heat of the Night; Delta (17 episodes); Murder, She Wrote (2 episodes); Captain Planet and the Planeteers; Caroline in the City (3 episodes); Nightman (24 episodes) and Chicken Soup for the Soul.

Feature films that Earl Holliman appeared in include: Destination Gobi; Scared Stiff; East of Sumatra; Broken Lance; The Bridges at Toko-Ri; The Big Combo; I Died A Thousand Times; Forbidden Planet; Giant; The Rainmaker; The Gunfight at the O.K. Corral; Trooper Hook; Don’t Go Near the Water; Hot Spell; The Trap; The Last Train from Gun Hill; Visit to a Small Planet; Summer and Smoke; The Sons of Katie Elder; Anzio; Sharky’s Machine and The Perfect Tenant.

Earl Holliman starred in the first episode of the first season of The Twilight Zone.  Talk about an impressive first credit.  When I think of Earl Holliman the first role that comes to mind is Sgt. (and later Lt.) Bill Crowley on Police Woman. Then his part in Forbidden Planet.  As an adult I’ve loved seeing Earl Holliman in noirs such as The Big Combo and I Died a Thousand Times.  Whatever he was in, Mr. Holliman made it better.

Out thoughts and prayers go out to Earl Holliman’s family, friends and fans.

THE AMATEURS by Marcus Sakey

THE AMATEURS by Robert Crais

First sentence…

LATER JENN LACIE WOULD SPEND a lot of time trying to pinpoint the exact moment.

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

Every Thursday night for the last decade Alex, Ian, Jenn and Mitch have met for drinks.  A decade ago they were young and had dreams.  Now none are where they thought they’d be.

Ian is day trader stuck in a job going nowhere.  Mitch isn’t doing any better working as a doorman at the Continental Hotel.  Jenn is a travel agent who longs for adventure.  Alex is bartending for a jerk named Johnny Loverin aka Johnny Love.  He dresses fancy and flaunts his money.  Everyone is sure Johnny Love is into some illegal stuff.

So when Alex overhears about one of Johnny Love’s drug deals, he tells his friends.  Alex’s idea is to get to the meet before the thugs with the drugs show up.  They’ll rip off Johnny Love for his cash.  Then a clean getaway and a four way split with no one being the wiser.  If all four work together, they’ll provide each other with an alibi.  Alex says no one will suspect them.  Easy money and no one gets hurt.

The friends reluctantly agree.

Of course the ripoff goes sideways.  People are killed.  It wasn’t drugs that were being dealt.  Something much worse.

Now the cops are closing in.  So are the gangsters.  Friendship only goes so far when survival is at stake.

+++++

Marcus Sakey has created another winner.

Rating:

“Trap” (2024) written & directed by M. Night Shyamalan, starring Josh Hartnett / Z-View

Trap (2024)

Director:  M. Night Shyamalan

Screenplay: M. Night Shyamalan 

Stars: Josh Hartnett, Ariel Donoghue, Saleka Shyamalan, Alison Pill, Marcia Bennett, M. Night Shyamalan, Lochlan Miller and Hayley Mills.

Tagline:  30,000 fans. 300 cops. 1 serial killer. No escape.

The Plot…

From all appearances Cooper (Harnett) is a great guy.  He’s a firefighter, outgoing and friendly.  Cooper is married with two kids.  A real family man.

Because his daughter, Riley (Donoghue) earned great grades on her last report card, Cooper takes her to a Lady Raven (S, Shyamalan) concert.  As they enter the arena, Cooper notices a huge police presence.  When they get inside, there are even more cops.  They seem to be everywhere.  Well, safety should be a priority for events this well attended.

Once the concert starts, Cooper notices men are being escorted out by the police.  Now curious and concerned, Cooper tells his daughter he’s going to the restroom.  Then using his charm, Cooper learns a secret.  The police are there because they got a lead that the serial killer known as The Butcher is in attendance.  Every exit is covered.  Police and FBI are there in force.  They have a description of The Butcher and anyone fitting it, will be questioned before he is allowed out.

Cooper is concerned.  Not because a serial killer is at the concert.  No.  Cooper is concerned because he is The Butcher.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Saleka Shyamalan makes her film debut.  She is M. Night Shyamalan’s daughter and a singer/songwriter.  Saleka wrote and performed all of the songs in the movie.  The official Trap movie soundtrack is titled Lady Raven and features all of the songs from the movie.

The concert feels real.  Kudos to M. Night, Saleka and all involved.

Some aspects come off as very contrived, but M. Night Shyamalan is adept at keeping things moving.  This way viewers go with the flow.  I was expecting Cooper to get caught or escape then fade to credits.  M. Night Shyamalan had a different idea.  There’s no big twist (as in some of his films) but there are some unexpected turns.  I enjoyed the ride.

Trap (2024) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“JFK” (1991) directed by Oliver Stone, starring Kevin Costner / Z-View

JFK (1991)

Director: Oliver Stone

Screenplay: Oliver Stone, Zachary Sklar based on ON THE TRAIL OF ASSASSINS by Jim Garrison and CROSSFIRE: THE PLOT THAT KILLED KENNEDY by Jim Marrs

Stars: Kevin Costner, Gary Oldman, Jack Lemmon, Walter Matthau, Sally Kirkland, Jay O. Sanders, Kevin Bacon, Tommy Lee Jones, Michael Rooker, Sissy Spacek, Joe Pesci, Donald Sutherland, Ed Asner, Brian Doyle-Murray, John Candy, Wayne Knight, Pruitt Taylor Vince, Vincent D’Onofrio, Dale Dye, Lolita Davidovich, John Larroquette, Ron Rifkin  and Martin Sheen (narration).

Tagline:  He’s a District Attorney. He will risk his life, the lives of his family, everything he holds dear for the one thing he holds sacred… the truth.

The Plot…

New Orleans District Attorney Jim Garrison (Costner) has doubts about the Warren Commission’s findings that Lee Harvey Oswald (Oldman) acted alone in the assassination of President Kennedy.  Garrison puts together a team to investigate.  The team discovers new evidence, witnesses that were ignored, and more.

Garrison will ultimately indict a New Orleans business man, Clay Shaw (Jones) for his role in the assassination of President Kennedy.  Was Garrison a hero or a conspiracy nut?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

JFK was nominated for eight 1992 Academy Awards and won two…

  • Nominee for Best Picture: A. Kitman Ho, Oliver Stone
  • Nominee for Best Actor in a Supporting Role: Tommy Lee Jones
  • Nominee Best Director: Oliver Stone
  • Nominee for Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published: Oliver Stone, Zachary Sklar
  • Nominee for Best Sound: Michael Minkler, Gregg Landaker, Tod A. Maitland
  • Nominee for Best Music, Original Score: John Williams
  • Winner for Best Cinematography: Robert Richardson
  • Winner for Best Film Editing: Joe Hutshing, Pietro Scalia

JFK is riveting cinema.  The story is compelling.  The direction, editing, use of various film stocks, vintage real footage mixed with recreations is movie-making at it’s best.  Director Oliver Stone was at the top of his game.  He was supported by an amazing cast.

The scene where Lee Harvey Oswald was arrested in the theater was filmed in the actual theater where the real arrest took place. Money from the film was used to restore the theater.

The scene of Jack Ruby killing Lee Harvey Oswald was shot in the Dallas City Hall basement where the actual murder took place.

The scenes of Lee Harvey Oswald shooting from the sixth floor window of the Texas School Book Depository were filmed in the real building, but from the fifth floor window.  The sixth floor is now a museum.  Views as seen from the sixth floor window were actually taken from that window.  Only the cameraman, Stone and a couple of others were allowed at the window.

Woody Harrelson’s father, Charles Harrelson, was convicted of killing federal judge John H. Wood Jr. (and two others). Charles Harrelson claimed that he took part in the assassination of John F. Kennedy.  Harrelson claimed he was one of the three “tramps” questioned the day of the murder.  Harrelson drew diagrams and claims he can be seen in photos taken that day.  The FBI has discounted his claims.

JFK is Oliver Stone’s favorite of all the films he directed.

In response to criticism that he made up much of the “facts” presented, Oliver Stone published an annotated version of his screenplay, in which he proved attribution for every claim made in the film.

JFK (1991) rates 5 of 5 stars.