Category: Movies

“BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE” The Official Teaser Trailer is Here!

BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE | Official Teaser Trailer

The juice is loose! #Beetlejuice #Beetlejuice – Only in theaters September 6.

Beetlejuice is back! Oscar-nominated, singular creative visionary Tim Burton and Oscar nominee and star Michael Keaton reunite for Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, the long-awaited sequel to Burton’s award-winning Beetlejuice.

Keaton returns to his iconic role alongside Oscar nominee Winona Ryder (Stranger Things, Little Women) as Lydia Deetz and two-time Emmy winner Catherine O’Hara (Schitt$ Creek, The Nightmare Before Christmas) as Delia Deetz, with new cast members Justin Theroux (Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi, The Leftovers), Monica Bellucci (Spectre, The Matrix films), Arthur Conti (House of the Dragon) in his feature film debut, with Emmy nominee Jenna Ortega (Wednesday, Scream VI) as Lydia’s daughter, Astrid, and Oscar nominee Willem Dafoe (Poor Things, At Eternity’s Gate).

Beetlejuice is back! After an unexpected family tragedy, three generations of the Deetz family return home to Winter River. Still haunted by Beetlejuice, Lydia’s life is turned upside down when her rebellious teenage daughter, Astrid, discovers the mysterious model of the town in the attic and the portal to the Afterlife is accidentally opened. With trouble brewing in both realms, it’s only a matter of time until someone says Beetlejuice’s name three times and the mischievous demon returns to unleash his very own brand of mayhem.

Burton, a genre unto himself, directs from a screenplay by Alfred Gough & Miles Millar (Wednesday), story by Gough & Millar and Seth Grahame-Smith (The LEGO® Batman Movie), based on characters created by Michael McDowell & Larry Wilson. The film’s producers are Marc Toberoff, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, Tommy Harper and Burton, with Sara Desmond, Katterli Frauenfelder, Gough, Millar, Brad Pitt, Larry Wilson, Laurence Senelick, Pete Chiappetta, Andrew Lary, Anthony Tittanegro, Grahame-Smith and David Katzenberg executive producing.

Burton’s creatives behind the scenes includes director of photography Haris Zambarloukos (Meg 2: The Trench, Murder on the Orient Express); such previous and frequent collaborators as production designer Mark Scruton (Wednesday), editor Jay Prychidny (Wednesday), Oscar-winning costume designer Colleen Atwood (Alice in Wonderland, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, Sleepy Hollow), Oscar-winning creature effects and special makeup FX creative supervisor Neal Scanlan (Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory) and Oscar-nominated composer Danny Elfman (Big Fish, The Nightmare Before Christmas, Batman); and Oscar-winning hair and makeup designer Christine Blundell (Topsy-Turvy).

A Warner Bros. Pictures presentation, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice will be released only in theaters and IMAX on September 6, 2024 nationwide, and internationally beginning 4 September 2024. It will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures.

“Devil in a Blue Dress” (1995) directed by Carl Franklin, starring Denzel Washington, Don Cheadle & Tom Sizemore / Z-View

Devil in a Blue Dress (1995)

Director:  Carl Franklin

Screenplay:  Carl Franklin based on DEVIL IN A BLUE DRESS by Walter Mosley

Stars: Denzel Washington, Tom Sizemore, Jennifer Beals, Don Cheadle, Maury Chaykin, Terry Kinney, Albert Hall, Lisa Nicole Carson, Jernard Burks, John Roselius, Beau Starr, L. Scott Caldwell and Barry Shabaka Henley.

Tagline: In a world divided by black and white, Easy Rawlins is about to cross the line.

The Plot…

The year is 1948. Ezekiel “Easy” Rawlins (Washington) has just been laid off and has a house payment coming due.  He needs a job, so when a white PI named DeWitt Albright (Sizemore) offers him a job, Easy accepts.  All he has to do is find a missing white woman involved with some political heavyweights.

When another woman ends up murdered,  Albright turns on Easy.  To make matters worse crooked cops give Easy 24 hours to find the real killer or they’ll frame him.  Easy brings in his friend Raymond “Mouse” Alexander (Cheadle) to help him.  Mouse is a stone-cold killer, but sometimes it take one to catch one.  The clock is ticking…

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Devil in a Blue Dress, the novel and the movie get my highest recommendation.

Carl Franklin’s adaption and direction are first rate.  Denzel Washington and Don Cheadle were perfect as Easy and Mouse. Tom Sizemore was excellent as DeWitt Albright.  It’s a shame that Franklin, Washington and Cheadle didn’t reteam to film more of Mosley’s stories.  At least one got this one.

Devil in a Blue Dress (1995) rates 5 of 5 stars.

RIP: M. Emmet Walsh

M. Emmet Walsh, born Michael Emmet Walsh,  the great character actor, died yesterday from cardiac arrest.  He was 88.

Although Mr. Walsh graduated from Clarkson University with a B.A. in Business Administration, his career path led him to acting.  With well over 200 roles on his resume, E. Emmet Walsh alternated between television and feature films throughout his over 55 year career.

Television appearances of M. Emmet Walsh include: The Doctors; Arnie; Julia (2 episodes); All in the Family; The Jimmy Stewart Show; Ironside; Bonanza; The Don Rickles Show; Nichols (5 episodes); The Bob Newhart Show; The Sandy Duncan Show (11 episodes); McMillian & Wife; The Rockford Files; Sarah T. – Portrait of a Teenage Alcoholic; The Waltons; Baretta (2 episodes); Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman (2 episodes); Starsky and Hutch (2 episodes); James at 16; East of Eden; Little House on the Prairie; AfterMASH; The Twilight Zone; The Deliberate Stranger; The Magical World of Disney; Amazing Stories; The Abduction of Kari Swanson; Brotherhood of the Rose; Unsub (8 episodes); Tales from the Crypt; The Civil War (9 episodes); The Flash (2 episodes); Home Improvement (2 episodes); The Outer Limits; The X-Files; NYPD Blue; Ed; Big Guy & Rusty the Boy Robot (26 episodes); Frasier; What’s New Scooby Doo?; Til Death; Damages (3 episodes); Pound Puppies (46 episodes); Empire; Adventure Time (4 episodes); Sneaky Pete (7 episodes) and The Righteous Gemstones (2 episodes).

Feature film appearances of M. Emmet Walsh include: Midnight Cowboy; Alice’s Restaurant; Little Big Man; Cold Turkey; Escape from the Planet of the Apes; What’s Up Doc?; Kid Blue; Serpico; The Gambler; At Long Last Love; The Prisoner of Second Avenue; Bound for Glory; Nickelodeon; Slap Shot; Airport ’77; Straight Time; The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh; The Jerk; Brubaker; Raise the Titanic; Ordinary People;  Back Roads; Reds; Canary Row; Blade Runner; Silkwood; Blood Simple; The Pope of Greenwich Village; Missing in Action; Fletch; The Best of Times; Wildcats; Critters; Back to School; Raising Arizona; Harry and the Hendersons; The Milagro Beanfield War; Sunset; Clean and Sober; Red Scorpion; The Mighty Quinn; Narrow Margin; White Sands; Free Willy 2; Albino Alligator; Romeo + Juliet; My Best Friend’s Wedding; Twilight; Wild, Wild West; The Iron Giant; Random Hearts; Snow Dogs; Christmas with the Kranks and Knives Out.

Just look at the career M. Emmet Walsh had.  And I didn’t list everything he did. It would be hard to find any actor who worked on more great television shows and feature films.  Or one who worked with so many of the best actors/actresses and directors.

I don’t know when I first saw M. Emmet Walsh act.  It may have been in All in the Family or Nichols or.. well, you get the idea.  My favorite M. Emmet Walsh role is also hard to nail down… because he had so many.  If I had to pick just one, it would be the sleazy Private Eye, Loren Visser in Blood Simple. But truth be told, any role that Mr. Walsh took on became something special.

Out thoughts and prayers go out to M. Emmet Walsh’s family, friends and fans.

“Alien: Romulus” The Teaser Trailer & Poster are Here!

Deal me in.

The sci-fi/horror-thriller takes the phenomenally successful “Alien” franchise back to its roots: While scavenging the deep ends of a derelict space station, a group of young space colonizers come face to face with the most terrifying life form in the universe.

The film stars Cailee Spaeny (“Priscilla”), David Jonsson (“Agatha Christie’s Murder is Easy”), Archie Renaux (“Shadow and Bone”), Isabela Merced (“The Last of Us”), Spike Fearn (“Aftersun”), Aileen Wu. Fede Alvarez (“Evil Dead,” “Don’t Breathe”) directs from a screenplay he wrote with frequent collaborator Rodo Sayagues (“Don’t Breathe 2”) based on characters created by Dan O’Bannon and Ronald Shusett.

“Alien: Romulus” is produced by Ridley Scott (“Napoleon”), who directed the original “Alien” and produced and directed the series’ entries “Prometheus” and “Alien: Covenant,” Michael Pruss (“Boston Strangler”), and Walter Hill (“Alien”), with Fede Alvarez, Elizabeth Cantillon (“Charlie’s Angels”), Brent O’Connor (“Bullet Train”), and Tom Moran (“Unstoppable”) serving as executive producers.

“FURIOSA : A MAD MAX SAGA” The OFFICIAL TRAILER #2 is Here!

Deal me in!

She will return with a vengeance. Furiosa : A Mad Max Saga – Only in theaters May 24.

Anya Taylor-Joy and Chris Hemsworth star in Academy Award-winning mastermind George Miller’s “Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga,” the much-anticipated return to the iconic dystopian world he created more than 30 years ago with the seminal “Mad Max” films. Miller now turns the page again with an all-new original, standalone action adventure that will reveal the origins of the powerhouse character from the multiple Oscar-winning global smash “Mad Max: Fury Road.”

The new feature from Warner Bros. Pictures and Village Roadshow Pictures is produced by Miller and his longtime partner, Oscar-nominated producer Doug Mitchell (“Mad Max: Fury Road,” “Babe”), under their Australian-based Kennedy Miller Mitchell banner.

As the world fell, young Furiosa is snatched from the Green Place of Many Mothers and falls into the hands of a great Biker Horde led by the Warlord Dementus. Sweeping through the Wasteland, they come across the Citadel presided over by The Immortan Joe. While the two Tyrants war for dominance, Furiosa must survive many trials as she puts together the means to find her way home.

Taylor-Joy stars in the title role, and along with Hemsworth, the film also stars Alyla Browne and Tom Burke. Miller penned the script with “Mad Max: Fury Road” co-writer Nico Lathouris. Miller’s behind-the-scenes creative team includes first assistant director PJ Voeten and second unit director and stunt coordinator Guy Norris, director of photography Simon Duggan (“Hacksaw Ridge,” “The Great Gatsby”), composer Tom Holkenborg, sound designer Robert Mackenzie, editor Eliot Knapman, visual effects supervisor Andrew Jackson and colorist Eric Whipp. The team also includes other longtime collaborators: production designer Colin Gibson, editor Margaret Sixel, sound mixer Ben Osmo, costume designer Jenny Beavan and makeup designer Lesley Vanderwalt, each of whom won an Oscar for their work on “Mad Max: Fury Road.”

Warner Bros. Pictures Presents, in Association with Village Roadshow Pictures, A Kennedy Miller Mitchell Production, A George Miller Film, “Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga.” The film will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, in theaters only nationwide on May 24, 2024 and internationally beginning on 22 May, 2024.

“The Abyss” (1989) written & directed by James Cameron, starring Ed Harris, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio & Michael Biehn / Z-View

The Abyss (1989)

Director:  James Cameron

Screenplay: James Cameron

Stars: Ed Harris, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, Michael Biehn, Leo Burmester, Todd Graff, John Bedford Lloyd, J.C. Quinn, Kimberly Scott, Adam Nelson, Dick Warlock, Jimmie Ray Weeks, J. Kenneth Campbell, Ken Jenkins and Chris Elliott.

Tagline: Deep below the blue surface, there lies a place no one has ever dreamed of…..

The Plot

A United States military nuclear submarine has an encounter with something deep in the ocean and sinks.  The sub comes to rest near the Cayman Trough, the deepest point in the Caribbean Sea.  Soviet Ships are heading to the location to try to salvage whatever they can.  In an effort to beat the Russians, the US sends in a Navy SEAL team to work with Deep Core crew members.  Deep Core is a civilian company developing deep water vehicles for drilling.  To complicate matters a hurricane will hit the area in hours.

The civilian crew and the Navy Seals form an uneasy alliance that begins to fray when they reach the ocean floor.  The Seals have a hidden agenda… and there is something down there that no one was expecting.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

By all account The Abyss was a difficult shoot.  Tensions were high.  The actors did most of the stunts.  Both Ed Harris and James Cameron were in danger of drowning in different situations.  Both Ed Harris and Elizabeth Mastrantonio have not spoken highly about their experience making the film.

Fluid breathing is a real thing.  The rats used in the movie’s scenes actually breathed the specially treated fluid and were not harmed in the process.

The Abyss features an excellent cast from the stars to the supporting actors.  I was surprised by the turn of Michael Biehn’s character.

The Abyss was nominated for four Academy Awards (Best Cinematography: Mikael Salomon; Best Art Direction-Set Decoration: Leslie Dilley, Anne Kuljian; Best Sound: Don J. Bassman, Kevin F. Cleary, Richard Overton, Lee Orloff and won one for Best Effects, Visual Effects: Hoyt Yeatman, Dennis Muren, John Bruno, Dennis Skotak.)

The Abyss (1989) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“Rebel Moon Part Two: The Scargiver” – The Poster and Trailer are Here!

I enjoyed part one and think that part two will be even better.

REBEL MOON — PART TWO: THE SCARGIVER premieres on Netflix April 19, 2024.

REBEL MOON — PART TWO: THE SCARGIVER continues the epic saga of Kora and the surviving warriors as they prepare to sacrifice everything, fighting alongside the brave people of Veldt, to defend a once peaceful village, a newfound homeland for those who have lost their own in the fight against the Motherworld. On the eve of their battle the warriors must face the truths of their own pasts, each revealing why they fight. As the full force of the Realm bears down on the burgeoning rebellion, unbreakable bonds are forged, heroes emerge, and legends are made.

From Zack Snyder, the filmmaker behind 300, Man of Steel, and Army of the Dead, REBEL MOON is a 2-part movie event decades in the making.

REBEL MOON — PART ONE: A CHILD OF FIRE is now playing on Netflix.
REBEL MOON — PART TWO: THE SCARGIVER premieres on Netflix April 19, 2024.

“Road House” (1989) Trivia

Rob Hunter at Film School Rejects posted 29 Things We Learned from the ‘Road House’ Commentary.  Before you click over, here are three of my favorites…

The script called for a blind guitarist who played the instrument in his lap, and it was a direct reference to Jeff Healey who writer David Lee Henry had seen perform in Canada. The film’s music supervisor actually brought in Healey to audition, and he obviously got the job. (It was a plus and added to the film that they were able to get Healey for the film. – Craig)

Elliott initially declined the role of Wade as he felt it was too similar to the one he played in Mask (1985), but Herrington brought him in for a meeting to talk more about the character, and he changed his mind. “I can’t imagine this picture without Sam Elliott.” (Sam Elliott was definitely a plus.  He added gravitas to the film and it wouldn’t have worked as well without him. – Craig)

Keith David plays the new bartender, Ernie, and his original introductory scene — he comes to the bar with his girlfriend, gets into a fight with some rednecks, and is helped by Dalton — was cut from the film as it was already running too long. (Other scenes that were cut include Swayze fighting and Wade explaining his rose tattoo.  An extended cut would be interesting. – Craig)

“Secret Agent” (1936) directed by Alfred Hitchcock, starring John Gielgud, Madeline Carroll, Robert Young, & Peter Lorre / Z-View

Secret Agent (1936)

Director:  Alfred Hitchcock

Screenplay: Charles Bennett, Alma Reville, Ian Hay, Jesse Lasky Jr. based on the story by W. Somerset Maugham and the play by Campbell Dixon

Stars: John Gielgud, Madeline Carroll, Robert Young, Peter Lorre, Sebastian Cabot, Michael Redgrave, Michael Rennie.

Tagline: Dead Women Tell No Tales Was The Motto of This Charming Lady Killer!

The Plot…

British Captain Edgar Brodie (Gielgud) is recruited for a secret mission to to identify and eliminate a German agent.  Brodie is given a fake identity as Richard Ashenden.  He is also given a “wife” named Elsa to assist with the mission.  Ashenden and Elsa are teamed with a foreign agent (Lorre) called “The General” (also known as “the hairless Mexican – although he isn’t a general, hairless or a Mexican).

As Ashenden and Elsa move forward with the mission, they will encounter double agents, secret messages, and lines that they are unwilling to cross that The General will without hesitation.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Seeing John Gielgud and Robert Young looking so, uh, young is a hoot.  Especially since I knew them from Arthur and Marcus Welby, MD.

Sebastian Cabot, Michael Redgrave and Michael Rennie appear in uncredited roles.

Another Alfred Hitchcock winner.

Be aware that the copyright lapsed and there are many bootleg and low quality versions on the market.

Secret Agent (1936) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“Black Dragons” starring Bela Lugosi & Clayton Moore / Z-View

Black Dragons (1942)

Director:  William Nigh

Screenplay: Robert Kehoe, Harvey Gates

Stars: Bela Lugosi, Clayton Moore and Keye Luke

Tagline: See him pit his terror against Japan’s treacherous agents in the U.S.A.!

The Plot…

Prior to World War II Japan and Germany secretly killed and replaced six top US business leaders.  They did this by murdering the men and replacing them with Japanese agents who had facelifts performed by a Nazi doctor.  The Japanese agents could destroy the USA’s war efforts and provide information to assist the Axis.  When one of the spies is killed, Detective Dick Martin (Moore) is assigned to the case and discovers the evil plan.  It is up to Detective Martin and an unknown ally to bring down the foreign agents.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Filming on Black Dragons began about one and one half months after Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor making it one of the first movie responses.

If you buy the fact that the plastic surgery made the Japanese spies look exactly like the men they replaced, you still have to believe that they had perfect voice matches and knew each man’s personal history (including secrets) so they could fool friends and family.

It’s cool to see The Lone Ranger (Clayton Moore) paired with Dracula (Bela Lugosi).

Keye Luke who played Charlie Chan’s son in several films (and went on to a long Hollywood career) has a small role as one of the agents that Bela Lugosi operates on.

Black Dragons (1942) rates 2 of 5 stars.

“Bad City” (2022) / Z-View

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.