Category: Z-View

“Lockout” (2012) directed by Stephen Saint Leger, James Mather; starring Guy Pearce & Maggie Grace / Z-View

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Lockout (2012)

Director:  Stephen Saint Leger, James Mather

Screenplay: Stephen Saint Leger, James Mather, Luc Besson; story by Luc Besson; based on Escape from New York by John Carpenter, Nick Castle and Escape from L.A. by John Carpenter, Debra Hill, Kurt Russell

Stars: Guy Pearce, Maggie Grace, Peter Stormare, Vincent Regan, Joe Gilgun, Tim Plester, Peter Hudson, Nick Hardin and Lennie James.

Tagline:  Take no prisoners.

The Plot…

2079.  When Agent Snow discovers an unknown operative within the CIA is selling government secrets, he is framed for murder.  Sentenced to 30 years, Snow will be sent to the United States first space prison.  The worst killers, deviants and psychos are sent to MS One, where they spend their sentences in suspended animation.

Critics of this form of punishment claim the prolonged periods of stasis leads to mental psychosis and derangement.  The President’s daughter Emilie has come to MS One to check out conditions at the prison.

As Snow is prepped for transport to MS One, word comes that a riot at the penitentiary has left the convicts in charge.  The leader of the prisoners has warned that if an armed response is mounted, all the hostages will be killed.  The inmates don’t yet know that the President’s daughter is one of their captives.

Soon they will.

It is determined that the best chance to rescue Emilie is to sneak in one well-trained soldier. Chance fits the bill.  If Snow is successful in getting Emilie safely out, he’ll receive a full pardon.

What chance does one man have against a prison full of the worst of the worst?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

If you think the plot of Lockout sounds like John Carpenter’s Escape from New York and Escape from LA, you’re not alone.  John Carpenter thought so as well.  He sued for  plagiarism  and won.

The prisoners who lead the takeover are brothers named Alex and Hydell.  Lee Harvey Oswald,  the assassin who killed John F. Kennedy, used the alias Alex Hydell.

At the end of the film, Snow’s first name is revealed to be Marion.  In Sylvester Stallone’s Cobra, we learn Cobretti’s first name is also Marion.  No wonder they go by their last names (or a variation).

Lookout is so underrated.  A bulked-up Guy Pearce has the look and attitude of a great anti-hero.  I would have loved to have seen more films with this character.

Peter Stormare and Lennie James are always welcome additions to any project.  Lockout is no exception.

When I first saw Lockout I rated it as a solid 4.  Over the years it has grown on me.  Every time I revisit the film, I enjoy the ride.  Therefore I am upping my rating to a 5.  Your mileage may vary.

Lockout (2012) rates 5 of 5 stars

“Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning” (2025) directed by Christopher McQuarrie; starring Tom Cruise, Hayley Atwell, Ving Rhames, Simon Pegg, Esai Morales and Pom Klementieff / Z-View

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Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning (2025)

Director:  Christopher McQuarrie

Screenplay: Christopher McQuarrie, Erik Jendresen; based on Mission Impossible by Bruce Geller.

Stars: Tom Cruise, Hayley Atwell, Ving Rhames, Simon Pegg, Esai Morales, Pom Klementieff, Henry Czerny, Holt McCallany, Janet McTeer, Nick Offerman, Hannah Waddingham, Tramell Tillman, Angela Bassett, Greg Tarzan Davis, Charles Parnell, Rolf Saxon, Katy O’Brian, Sydney Cole Alexander and Shea Whigham.

Tagline:  None.

The Plot…

Ethan Hunt is contacted by the President of the United States.  The Entity (a powerful artificial intelligence) has  started taking control of each country’s nuclear arsenal.  In just a short period of time, the Entity will command every nuclear weapon in the world.  Including all those held by the United States.

The Entity, once secure in a bunker safe from nuclear and electromagnetic fallout will launch every country’s nuclear bomb.  This will wipe out almost all of humanity.  The few who survive will restart the world under the direction of the Entity.

Ethan Hunt has a key to the Entity’s source code.  But that is just part of the potential solution.  The President wants the source code key.

Ethan has another plan.  A plan that, if it works, would render the Entity powerless.  But, and this is a HUGE (pardon the pun) but, the odds of Ethan’s plan working are minute.  The lives of every person on the planet hang in the balance.

Light the fuse…

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

With Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning, Tom Cruise earned his second Guinness World Record.  The first was for being the actor with the most consecutive $100-million grossing movies.  The second was for the most burning parachute jumps by an individual (16).

The action is all-out and way over the top.  It matches the plot.  The expectation for every Mission Impossible movie is it ups the ante on both.  Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning succeeds.  Unless Ethan Hunt was to save the entire universe, it is appropriate that the series ends here.

Esai Morales makes a great villain.  He’s one cocky scoundrel.

Shea Whigham is always good.

Congratulations to Tom Cruise and Christopher McQuarrie the driving forces behind the success of the Mission Impossible franchise.  It was a great run.

Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning features breathtaking stunts, repeated last minute “saves”, a lot of running, ever mounting problems and death-defying solution after death-defying solution.  Too much of a good thing?  Maybe for some.  But just what I expected for the franchise finale.  They stuck the landing.

Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning (2025) rates 5 of 5 stars

“The Good, the Bad and the Ugly” (1966) directed by Sergio Leone; starring Clint Eastwood, Eli Wallach & Lee Van Cleef / Z-View

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The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966)

Director:  Sergio Leone

Screenplay: Age & Scarpelli, Luciano Vincenzoni, Sergio Leone; story by Luciano Vincenzoni, Sergio Leone.

Stars: Clint Eastwood, Eli Wallach, Lee Van Cleef.

Tagline:  The Man with No Name Returns!

The Plot…

1862.  The Civil War continues to tear the country apart.  $200,000 in gold is buried in a secret grave in an unknown cemetery by a Confederate soldier named Bill Carson.

“Angel Eyes”, a sadistic mercenary has heard the rumor of buried gold.  He knows the name of the soldier who buried the loot, but not gold’s hiding place.

Tuco, a Mexican bandit, knows the name of the cemetery, but not the grave.

“Blondie”, a bounty hunter, knows the name on the grave, but not the name of the cemetery.

Blondie and Tuco form an uneasy alliance to get the buried gold.  They believe their biggest problem is neither trusts the other.  They will come to realize their gravest threat is Angel Eyes.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Most think that The Good, the Bad and the Ugly was made as part of The Man with No Name Trilogy.  The truth is that Eastwood originally played different characters in each film.  It was Clint Eastwood’s idea to release the three films (A Fistful of Dollars; For A Few Dollars More and The Good, the Bad and the Ugly) in the US during the same year as a trilogy.  Changes to dialogue were made to never tell Eastwood’s character’s real name.

Sergio Leone originally wanted Charles Bronson to play Angel Eyes.  Bronson was committed to The Dirty Dozen, so Lee Van Cleef got the role.

Clint Eastwood came up with the name Angel Eyes for Van Cleef’s character.

Due to a miscommunication, the big scene where the bridge is blown up first happened when no cameras were rolling.  The bridge had to be rebuilt so it could be blown up on camera.

Eli Wallach improvised the line, “When you have to shoot, shoot, don’t talk!”

Ennio Morricone’s soundtrack album peaked at #4, but stayed on Billboards Album chart for over a year.

Although The Good, the Bad and the Ugly was released after A Fistful of Dollars and For A Few Dollars More, it is actually a prequel to the two films.

Eastwood’s character, labeled the Good actually kills more people than the Bad and the Ugly combined.  Angel Eyes, the bad, kills the fewest people in the film.

Angel Eyes is shown to be missing the tip of one of his fingers.  This is not a special effect.  Lee Van Cleef lost the tip of a finger in a carpentry accident.

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly made Clint Eastwood a movie star.

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966) rates 5 of 5 stars

“Get Carter” (2000) directed by Stephen Kay; starring Sylvester Stallone, Rachael Leigh Cook, Miranda Richardson, Alan Cumming, Mickey Rourke & Michael Caine / Z-View

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Get Carter (2000)

Director:  Stephen Kay

Screenplay: David McKenna; based on JACK’S RETURN HOME by Ted Lewis.

Stars: Sylvester Stallone, Rachael Leigh Cook, Miranda Richardson, Rhona Mitra, Johnny Strong, John C. McGinley, Alan Cumming, Gretchen Mol, Tom Sizemore, John Cassini, Mickey Rourke, Mark Boone Junior, Darryl Scheelar, Yan-Kay Crystal Lowe, Tyler Labine, Stephen Kay, Frank Stallone and Michael Caine.

Tagline:  The Truth Hurts

The Plot…

Jack Carter, a Vegas mob enforcer, returns to Seattle for his estranged brother, Ritchie’s funeral.  Ritchie was killed in a car crash after drinking.  Problem is Ritchie never drank.  As Jack digs deeper, he starts to believe Ritchie was murdered.

But why?

Clues point in several directions.  Ritchie’s death could have something to do with the club he managed.  Cliff Bumbry, the owner of the club has his fingers in other pies.  Did Ritchie have dirt on Cliff?

Rumor is Ritchie was having an affair.  Could that have led to Ritchie’s murder?

Some leads point to tech millionaire Jeremy Kinnear.  How were he and Ritchie linked?

Worse still, Cyrus Paice may be involved.  Paice was a rival of Jack’s when Jack was coming up.  There’s still bad blood.

As Jack digs deeper he will discover the truth.

The truth hurts.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Get Carter (2000) is a remake of Get Carter (1971) which starred Michael Caine. Caine co-stars in the remake.  Stallone and Caine also appeared together in Victory (1981).  Caine was originally only supposed to appear in a one scene cameo.  The scene scored so high with test audiences, the film was adjusted to give Caine a bigger role.

When producers were hesitant to hire Mickey Rourke (because of his past behaviors), Stallone guaranteed a portion of his salary, to cover any delays caused by Rourke.  Rourke was on-time and ready every day.

Gretchen Mol plays an important role but is not listed in the film’s credits.

Tom Sizemore’s voice (also uncredited) is heard when Carter talks to his Vegas boss.

Director Stephen Kay appears uncredited as a party guest.  Get Carter features Stephen Kay’s second outing as a feature film director.  Kay would go on to direct multiple highly rated episodes of The Shield; Sons of Anarchy; Yellowstone; Mayor of Kingstown; Lioness and Landman.

Frank Stallone appears uncredited in the funeral scene.

Get Carter (2000) is one of my all-time favorite films.  The movie and especially Stallone’s character resonates with me.  In it you’ll see some of Stallone’s best acting (especially the roof top scene with Rachael Leigh Cook).  The film isn’t perfect or a classic, but it remains one of my go-to movies.  Your mileage may vary (a lot on this one).

Get Carter (2000) rates 5 of 5 stars

“Saving Private Ryan” (1998) directed by Steven Spielberg; starring Tom Hanks, Edward Burns, Matt Damon and Tom Sizemore / Z-View

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Saving Private Ryan (1998)

Director:  Steven Spielberg

Screenplay: Robert Rodat

Stars: Tom Hanks, Matt Damon, Tom Sizemore, Edward Burns, Barry Pepper, Adam Goldberg, Giovanni Ribisi, Jeremy Davies, Ted Danson, Paul Giamatti, Dennis Farina, Max Martini, Nathan Fillion, Ryan Hurst, Dale Dye, Bryan Cranston, David Wohl and Vin Diesel.

Tagline:  The mission is a man.

The Plot…

June 6, 1944.  D Day.  Operation Overlord is underway.  American forces storm the German fortified beaches of Normandy.  The coastline has been divided into five sections.  At Omaha Beach the American forces face the most resistance.

Omaha Beach is heavily fortified with German machine gun nests, artillery, as well as mines and barbed wire.  The US soldiers coming ashore have a wide-open beach with no cover making them easy targets.  The Germans hold the high ground.  Yet the US soldiers, despite heavy losses ultimately prevail.

Immediately following the Battle of Omaha Beach, Captain Miller is given an assignment.  The US Department of War has learned that the Ryan family has four sons in the service.  Against all odds, three of the four Ryan men have been killed in action.  The fourth, Private James Ryan is behind enemy lines with the 101st Airborne.  Captain Miller’s mission is to put together a team, penetrate into enemy territory, find Private Ryan and get him safely out.  Ryan will be given a ticket home.

Captain Miller enlists six battle-tested soldiers and an interpreter with no combat experience to accompany him.  No all will survive.  Private Ryan may already be dead.

The man is the mission.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Saving Private Ryan was nominated for eleven 1999 Academy Awards.  It won five…

  • Nominee for Best Music, Original Dramatic Score – John Williams 
  • Nominee for Best Makeup – Lois Burwell, Conor O’Sullivan, Daniel C. Striepeke
  • Nominee for Best Art Direction-Set Decoration – Thomas E. Sanders, Lisa Dean
  • Nominee for Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen – Robert Rodat
  • Nominee for Best Actor in a Leading Role – Tom Hanks
  • Nominee for Best Picture – Steven Spielberg, Ian Bryce, Mark Gordon, Gary Levinsohn
  • Winner for Best Effects, Sound Effects Editing – Gary Rydstrom, Richard Hymns
  • Winner for Best Film Editing – Michael Kahn
  • Winner for Best Sound – Gary Rydstrom, Gary Summers, Andy Nelson, Ron Judkins
  • Winner for Best Cinematography – Janusz Kaminski
  • Winner for Best Director – Steven Spielberg

 Frank Darabont and Scott Frank did uncredited rewrites on Robert Rodat’s screenplay.  John Milius also made suggestions.

Saving Private Ryan opens with the storming of Omaha Beach.  It runs over 20 minutes and sets the tone for all to follow.  It is one of the most amazing and realistic depictions of battle put on film.  There were up to 1,000 extras and cost $11 million to film.

During his research Steven Spielberg spoke with many World War II veterans.  They asked that Spielberg not make a typical Hollywood war movie.  They wanted the audience to understand the brutality and terror of war.  Spielberg was surprised that Saving Private Ryan became a hit, despite the realism of the opening scene.  Spielberg further said that he would have refused to cut the film even if it had to be released with an NC-17 rating.

The Department of Veterans Affairs set up a special 800 number for past and current soldiers traumatized from the film.  There were reportedly 100s of calls to the line.

Steven Spielberg cast Matt Damon as Private Ryan because he wanted an unknown actor with All-American good looks.  Before Saving Private Ryan was released, Damon was nominated for a Best Actor Oscar and won an Academy Award for Best Screenplay, both for Good Will Hunting.  By the time Saving Private Ryan was released Damon was a star.

Vin Diesel wasn’t a star when hired for Saving Private Ryan. Steven Spielberg saw Diesel’s self-directed short films, Multi-Facial (1995) and Strays (1997).  He recognized Diesel’s talent.

Nathan Fillion, Ryan Hurst and Bryon Cranston appear in small roles.

Saving Private Ryan is a classic.

Saving Private Ryan (1998) rates 5 of 5 stars

“My Mom Jayne” directed by & starring Maariska Hargitay / Z-View

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My Mom Jayne (2025)

Director:  Mariska Hargitay

Tagline:  Reclaming her mother’s story, and her own.

The Plot…

Mariska Hargitay was three years old when he mother, Jayne Mansfield was killed in a tragic auto accident.  Mariska and her siblings were injured in the wreck.

Mariska grew up in a world where her mother was known everywhere because of her international celebrity.  Yet because Mariska was only three when her mother was killed,  she has no memories of her mom.  This documentary is an effort to remedy that.  Along the way Mariska will learn a secret buried for over six decades that will change everything.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Jayne Mansfield is often thought of as a knockoff of Marilyn Monroe.  At first that was true.  Mansfield leaned into the beautiful dumb blonde role.  The truth is she could speak several languages and play multiple instruments.  She was far from dumb.  When she tried to change the public perception of her, it didn’t work.

Jayne Mansfield wanted fame and it led to poor choices in the men in her life.  The one exception Mickey Hargitay.

Mariska’s discovery changes her world.

The bars on the back of semi-trucks that prevent cars from driving under them are called “Mansfield-bars”.  Legislation was started due to Mansfield’s tragic death when he car went under a semi.  Although the accident took place in 1967, the safety bars weren’t made mandatory until years later.

My Mom Jayne (2025) rates 3 of 5 stars

“Con Air” (1997) written by Scott Rosenberg; directed by Simon West, starring Nicholas Cage, John Cusack & John Malkovich / Z-View

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Con Air (1997)

Director:  Simon West

Screenplay: Scott Rosenberg

Stars: Nicolas Cage, John Cusack, John Malkovich, Colm Meaney, Mykelti Williamson, Nick Chinlund, Renoly Santiago, Ving Rhames, Dave Chappelle, Rachel Ticotin, Steve Eastin, Danny Trejo, M.C. Gainey, Landry Allbright, Monica Potter, Brendan Kelly, Jesse Borrego and Steve Buscemi.

Tagline:  Buckle Up!

The Plot…

Eight years ago Cameron Poe, a decorated Army Ranger was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter.  A drunken thug had attacked Poe and his pregnant wife.  Poe accidentally killed the man.  Poe has been a model prisoner and is set to be paroled.

Poe is one of the convicts set to board a prison transport plane.  Most of the other felons are headed to a supermax prison.  They include a serial rapist, an arsonist, a drug lord, a mass murderer, a terrorist, a psycho criminal genius, and a serial killer.

The convicts take over the plane.  They murdered to get control.  They’ll kill anyone who tries to stop them.  It will be up to Poe to see they don’t succeed in their escape.

As the tag line says, “Buckle Up!”

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Con Air was nominated for two 1998 Academy Awards…

  • Nominee for Best Best Music, Original Song – Diane Warren, For the song “How Do I Live”.
  • Nominee for Best Best Sound – Kevin O’Connell,Greg P. Russell, Art Rochester

Con Air is dedicated to Phil Swartz, an effects specialist who was killed when a rigged plane fell and crushed him.

Con Air is a fun, over-the-top action film.  Buckle up and enjoy the ride.

Con Air (1997) rates 5 of 5 stars

“Braveheart” (1995) directed & starring Mel Gibson / Z-View

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Braveheart (1995)

Director:  Mel Gibson

Screenplay: Randall Wallace

Stars: Mel Gibson, Sophie Marceau, Patrick McGoohan, Angus Macfadyen, Sean Lawlor, James Cosmo, Ralph Riach, Ellen Greene, Brendan Gleeson, Tommy Flanagan and Brian Cox.

Tagline:  Every man dies, not every man really lives.

The Plot…

In the year 1280, King Edward 1 of England known as Longshanks conquers Scotland.  Longshanks installs Overlords to rule.  The people of Scotland have lost their freedom and are treated poorly.  William Wallace was just a boy.  His father and older brother were killed in the war to keep Scotland free.  William was sent away to live with his Uncle.

Now a man, William returns to the village of his birth.  He sees firsthand the mistreatment of the Scottish people.  William secretly marries his childhood sweetheart.  They wed in secret because Longshanks has granted his English Overlords jus primae noctis.  This law allows the English rulers the right to have sex with any Scottish female.  The Overlords especially like to take advantage of this on the bride’s wedding night.

When pushed too far, William leads the overthrow of the local English ruler.  The Scottish people rally around William’s charismatic leadership.  Soon he has a small army.  After winning several battles, William allows a survivor to live.  William tells him, “Go back to England and tell them there that Scotland’s daughters and her sons are yours no more. Tell them Scotland is free.”

Longshanks is unwilling to give up Scotland.  He sends his armies to put down the rebellion and kill William Wallace.

All men die, but not all truly live.  This is the story of William Wallace

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Braveheart was nominated for ten 1996 Academy Awards and won five…

  • Nominee for Best Music, Original Dramatic Score – James Horner
  • Nominee for Best Film Editing – Steven Rosenblum
  • Nominee for Best Best Sound – Andy Nelson, Scott Millan, Anna Behlmer, Brian Simmons
  • Nominee for Best Costume Design – Charles Knode
  • Nominee for Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen – Randall Wallace
  • Winner for Best Makeup – Peter Frampton, Paul Pattison, Lois Burwell
  • Winner for Best Effects, Sound Effects Editing – Lon Bender, Per Hallberg
  • Winner for Best Cinematography – John Toll
  • Winner for Best Director – Mel Gibson
  • Winner for Best Picture – Mel Gibson, Alan Ladd Jr., Bruce Davey

Braveheart, while fictionalized, does what Gibson intended.  It entertains and inspires.

Braveheart (1995) rates 5 of 5 stars

“Léon: The Professional” (1994) written & directed by Luc Besson; starring Jean Reno, Gary Oldman & Natalie Portman / Z-View

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Léon: The Professional (1994)

Director:  Luc Besson

Screenplay: Luc Besson

Stars: Jean Reno, Gary Oldman, Natalie Portman, Danny Aiello, Peter Appel, Don Creech, Michael Badalucco, Ellen Greene and Frank Senger.

Tagline:  A professional hitman, an innocent witness, a corrupt detective who went too far

The Plot…

Twelve year old Mathilda is about to walk into her family apartment when she realizes something is wrong.  So she walks past the door and down to her neighbor Leon’s home.  Leon is hesitant but allows Mathilda in.

Leon knew Mathilda came from a dysfunctional household.  She lived with her little brother, stepmother and father.  Leon and Mathilda learn that her dad was working with drug-dealing DEA agents.  When the cooked cops discovered that dad was stealing from them, they decided to make an example of him.  Mathilda almost walked in as the cops were killing her father, step-mother and even her little brother.

Mathilda has no one.  She begs Leon to take her in.  He agrees to let her stay.  Mathilda is surprised to learn that her simple-minded neighbor is a professional killer.  Mathilda asks Leon to train her.  She wants to avenge her little brother.  Leon’s apartment contains many weapons.  He teaches Mathilda basics about some of them.

While Leon is on a job, Mathilda gathers some of Leon’s guns.  She then leaves him a note and heads out to kill the corrupt cops that murdered her little brother.  Leon knows that a little 12 year old girl has no hope of surviving a gun battle with trained cops.

But he might.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Jean Reno came up with the idea to play Leon as mentally slow and emotionally repressed. Reno felt that audiences would then better accept that 12 year old Mathilda was safe living with a grown man.

The International version contains more scenes of  “awkward sexual tension” than the American release.  American test audiences did not like the scenes where Mathilda professes to love Leon.  Natalie Portman has said that she’s asked more about this film than any of her other performances.  She further stated that Mathilda and Leon’s relationship hasn’t aged well.

Leon is Natalie Portman’s feature film debut.

Keith A. Glascoe played Benny.  Glascoe later left acting to become a NY City Fireman. Mr. Glascoe died in the collapse of the World Trade Center towers on Sept. 11, 2001.  RIP.

Léon: The Professional (1994) rates 5 of 5 stars

“In the Line of Fire” (1993) directed by Wolfgang Petersen; starring Clint Eastwood, John Malkovich and Rene Russo / Z-View

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In the Line of Fire (1993)

Director:  Wolfgang Petersen

Screenplay: Jeff Maguire

Stars: Clint Eastwood, John Malkovich, Rene Russo, John Leguizamo, Dylan McDermott, Gary Cole, Fred Thompson, John Mahoney, Sally Hughes, Elsa Raven, Arthur Senzy, Patrika Darbo  and Tobin Bell.

Tagline:  An assassin on the loose. A president in danger. Only one man stands between them…

The Plot…

November 22, 1963.  Frank Horrigan was a young secret service agent hand-picked by President Kennedy to serve on his security detail.  That day President Kennedy was assassinated by Lee Harvey Oswald.  The memory still haunts Horrigan.

Nearly 30 years later, Horrigan, nearing retirement is the only active Secret Service agent who was on President Kennedy’s detail the day he was assassinated. Being a secret service agent is a young man’s job.

During an investigation Horrigan finds a wall filled with articles and photographs of infamous assassinations.  Included is a cover photo of the current President.  A bold red marker has been used to draw a rifle’s crosshairs over the President’s face.  Horrigan gets a search warrant and returns.  He finds only one photo on the wall.  It is of President Kennedy taken on the day he was assassinated.  Behind Kennedy stands Horrigan.  In the photo, Horrigan’s face has been circled with a bold red marker.

Later Horrigan receives a phone call from a man who identifies himself as “Booth”.  Booth says that he is going to kill the President.  Booth taunts Horrigan about failing to save President Kennedy.  This call will be just the first of the killer’s game.  Horrigan knows that this isn’t some crank. The threat to the President is real.  What Horrigan doesn’t know is the caller is an ex-CIA assassin with a grudge.

What chance does an aging Secret Service Agent have against a trained assassin?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

In the Line of Fire was nominated for three 1994 Academy Awards…

  • Nominee for Best Film Editing – Anne V. Coates
  • Nominee for Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen – Jeff Maguire
  • Nominee for Best Actor in a Supporting Role – John Malkovich

Clint Eastwood (at the age of 62) wearing a safety harness actually did hang six stories above  the street for one of the scenes.

Speaking of Eastwood’s age, he initially turned down the role. He felt he time had passed to play someone in their early 50’s.  Thankfully, Eastwood was wrong and convinced to play the part.

John Malkovich improvised the scene where he puts Eastwood’s gun in his mouth.

In the Line of Fire (1993) rates 5 of 5 stars

THE LONG LAVENDER LOOK: A TRAVIS MCGEE NOVEL by John D. MacDonald / Z-View

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THE LONG LAVENDER LOOK by John D. MacDonald

First sentences…

Late April.  Ten o’clock at night.  Hustling south on Florida 112 through the eastern section of Cypress County, about twenty miles from the intersection of 112 and the Tamiami Trail.

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

At night on a deserted Florida back road after a long day, Travis McGee and his buddy Meyer are making good time. Eighty miles an hour good time.  Suddenly a scantily clad woman runs across the road.  McGee is able to avoid hitting her but his car goes off the road.  It hits hard and begins sinking.

McGee and Meyer are bruised and battered but nothing is broken.  They make it out and to the shore.  Then watch as the car sinks in swamp water.

With no options but to walk to the nearest town, they begin their trek.  There’s little hope of a passing car so late at night on a deserted road.  McGee and Meyer are happy to see a truck with a burly driver approaching.  They feel their luck has turned.

Then the driver starts shooting at them.

+++

THE LONG LAVENDER LOOK features Travis McGee at his best.  (John D. MacDonald too.)

Rating:

“Carlito’s Way” (1993) directed by Brian De Palma; starring Al Pacino & Sean Penn / Z-View

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Carlito’s Way (1993)

Director:  Brian De Palma

Screenplay: David Koepp; based on CARLITO’S WAY and AFTER HOURS by Edwin Torres 

Stars: Al Pacino, Sean Penn, Penelope Ann Miller, John Leguizamo, Ingrid Rogers, Luis Guzmán, James Rebhorn, Richard Foronjy, Frank Minucci, Adrian Pasdar, John Ortiz, Al Israel, Rick Aviles, Jaime Sánchez  and Viggo Mortensen.

Tagline:  In his world, you got to shoot your way out. He wanted out. He’d do anything to get there.

The Plot…

The year is 1975.  When Carlito Brigante gets released from prison after serving just five years of a thirty year stretch, he is determined to leave a life of crime behind.  Carlito hopes to get back with his ex-girlfriend Gail.  Once he has the cash, they’ll retire to the Caribbean.

How hard should it be to walk the straight and narrow?

Carlito’s cousin, Guajiro, asks Carlito to accompany him on a drug deal. Guajiro just wants Carlito there for moral support.  It will be an easy exchange.  Of course things go south.  Guajiro is killed.  Carlito shoots his way out with the cash from the drug deal.

Carlito’s buddy Dave Kleinfeld, is the lawyer who used a legal technicality to get Carlito out of prison.  Now Dave wants Carlito’s help with some thing not exactly legal.  How can Carlito turn him down?

Plus Benny Blanco, a young hotshot gangster wanna-be wants to go into “business” with Carlito.  Carlito turns Benny down repeatedly.

Carlito’s dream of a life free of crime in paradise with Gail is put at risk with every move he makes.

Will Carlito’s way become a dream or nightmare?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Carlito’s Way is based on two novels (CARLITO’S WAY and AFTER HOURS) by Edwin Torres.  Torres also wrote the novel Q&A which was the basis for the movie of the same name.  Torres, in addition to being a novelist, was a New York State Supreme Court Judge.

Carlito’s Way is based on two novels.  Most of the film comes from the second book, AFTER HOURS.  The title of the first novel was kept as the title of the movie, mostly to void confusion with Martin Scorsese’s movie After Hours.

When folks think of Al Pacino’s greatest films, they think Godfather I & II, Heat and Dog Day Afternoon.  Carlito’s Way should be on that list.

Carlito’s Way (1993) rates 5 of 5 stars

“Predator” (1987) directed by John McTiernan; starring Arnold Schwarzenegger / Z-View

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Predator (1987)

Director:  John McTiernan

Screenplay: Jim Thomas, John Thomas

Stars: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Carl Weathers, Kevin Peter Hall, Elpidia Carrillo, Jesse Ventura, Sonny Landham, Richard Chaves, R.G. Armstrong, Shane Black,
Franco Columbu and Sven-Ole Thorsen.

Tagline:  If it bleeds, we can kill it…

The Plot…

A helicopter carrying a diplomat is shot down in a Central American jungle.  The CIA sends in Agent Al Dillon to oversee the rescue mission led by Major “Dutch” Schaefer and his team of mercenaries.

Shortly after their drop-off in the jungle, the team finds three skinned corpses strung upside down from a tree.  Dutch learns that his team was sent in under false pretenses.  Even worse, as the team will soon discover, an alien predator with advanced technology is stalking them.

It wants warrior trophies.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Jean-Claude Van Damme (5’9″) was originally cast as the Predator.  It was soon decided that JCVD’s Predator (much shorter than Schwarzenegger and the rest of his squad) was not imposing enough.  Kevin Peter Hall (7’2″) ended up playing the Predator.

John McTiernan was chosen to helm Predator after Ridley Scott, James Cameron, John Milius, John Carpenter, Renny Harlin and others turned it down.  McTiernan proved to be the right choice.

Kevin Peter Hall can be seen as one of the helicopter pilots at the end of the film.  John McTiernan gave him the role as a reward for his performance in the Predator suit.

Shane Black, the actor who plays one of the rescue squad soldiers is better known as the screenwriter for Lethal Weapon and other films.

Both Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jesse Ventura would go on to become state governors in real life.

Predator is a classic.

Predator (1987) rates 5 of 5 stars

“Die Hard 2” directed by Renny Harlin; starring Bruce Willis / Z-View

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Die Hard 2 (1990)

Director:  Renny Harlin

Screenplay: Steven E. de Souza, Doug Richardson; based on 58 MINUTES by Walter Wagner

Stars: Bruce Willis, Bonnie Bedelia, William Atherton, Reginald VelJohnson, Franco Nero, William Sadler, Dennis Franz, Art Evans, Fred Thompson, Tom Bower, Sheila McCarthy, Don Harvey, Tony Ganios, Robert Patrick, John Leguizamo and John Amos.

Tagline: Wrong Place, Wrong Time, Same John McClane

The Plot…

Christmas Eve two years after the events at Nakatomi Tower.  John McClane is now a lieutenant with the LAPD.

While waiting to pick up his wife at the at Dulles International Airport, McClane notices two men sneaking into a restricted area.  McClane pulls his police ID and follows.  When McClane identifies himself, the two men pull guns and begin shooting.  McClane returns fire.  After a short gun battle, McClane kills one. The second man escapes.

McClane meets with Carmine Lorenzo airport police chief, and Ed Trudeau, air traffic control director.  McClane is concerned that the two men were part of a bigger team planning a major terrorist attack.  Neither Lorenzo or Trudeau are willing to accept that.

McClane is right.  What nobody knows is the Ramon Esperanza, a cartel drug lord, is in custody.  He’s on a plane headed for  Dulles International.  A squad of ex-military mercenaries led by disgraced US Colonel William Stuart have plans to liberate Esperanza.  It will be up to McClane to stop them.

What chance does one cop have against a group of heavily armed terrorists?  Anyone remember Nakatomi Tower?

Yippi-Ki-Yay, mother*******.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Die Hard 2 is loosely based on the Walter Wagner novel 58 MINUTES.  A lot was changed for the film.  Don’t read the book expecting Die Hard 2 the movie.

Die Hard was loosely based on Roderick Thorp’s novel NOTHING LASTS FOREVER.  Thorp was given credit in Die Hard 2 for creating  “certain original characters”.  His name was misspelled as Thorpe in the credits.

Because Willis’ ad-libbed many of the most popular lines in Die Hard, he was given free reign to ad-lib all he wanted in Die Hard 2.

Die Hard 2 did almost twice the box office of Die Hard.  This insured that the franchise would continue.

Roman Esperanza, the drug lord, was said to be from Val Verde.  This is the same fictional country used in Commando.  John McClane and John Matrix could have teamed up!

Die Hard 2 is a worthy follow-up to the original.

Die Hard 2 (1990) rates 4 of 5 stars

“Die Hard” (1988) directed by John McTiernan; starring Bruce Willis and Alan Rickman / Z-View

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Die Hard (1988)

Director:  John McTiernan

Screenplay: Jeb Stuart, Steven E. de Souza; based on NOTHING LASTS FOREVER by Roderick Thorp

Stars: Bruce Willis, Alan Rickman, Bonnie Bedelia, Reginald VelJohnson, Paul Gleason, De’voreaux White, William Atherton, Hart Bochner, James Shigeta, Alexander Godunov, Andreas Wisniewski, Clarence Gilyard Jr., Lorenzo Caccialanza  and Al Leong.

Tagline: High above the city of L.A. a team of terrorists has seized a building, taken hostages and declared war. One man has managed to escape. An off-duty cop hiding somewhere inside. He’s alone, tired… and the only chance anyone has got.

The Plot…

New York City detective John McClane has flown to LA on Christmas Eve.  McClane is hoping to get back with with his estranged wife, Holly.  But first they have to attend Holly’s work Christmas party at the Nakatomi Towers.  Holly’s moving up in the Nakatomi corporation and that’s one of the problems in the McClane marriage.

The party is just getting underway when John arrives.  He excuses himself to clean up in one of the company restrooms.  Everyone else is gathered together for the party’s kick-off.  That’s when a group of heavily armed terrorists led by Hans Gruber busts in.  They take everyone at the party hostage.  Except for John McClane.

McClane realizes what is happening. He’s alone and unarmed.  The terrorists have cut off all communications to/from the tower.  When they realize McClane is there, one of the armed terrorists is sent to retrieve him.  McClane manages to kill the terrorist.  He takes the assassins machine gun and radio.

As the terrorists move forward with their plan (and it ain’t getting a ransom for the Nakatomi party-goers), they begin to hunt for John McClane.  Killing him with be a bonus.  What chance does one tired off-duty cop have against a band of armed mercenaries?

Yippi-Ki-Yay, mother*******.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Die Hard was nominated for four 1989 Academy Awards…

  • Nominee for Best Visual Effects – Richard Edlund, Al Di Sarro, Brent Boates, Thaine Morris
  • Nominee for Best Sound Effects Editing – Stephen Hunter Flick, Richard Shorr
  • Nominee for Best Film Editing – Frank J. Urioste, John F. Link
  • Nominee for Best Sound – Don J. Bassman, Kevin F. Cleary, Richard Overton, Al Overton Jr.

Die Hard is loosely based on the Roderick Thorp novel NOTHING LASTS FOREVER.  A lot was changed for the film.  Don’t read the book expecting Die Hard the movie.

Sly Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Robert De Niro, Clint Eastwood, Charles Bronson and many other big name movie stars were offered the role of John McClane.  Even Frank Sinatra was courted to play the lead.  Everyone asked turned it down.  Bruce Willis, a television lead at a time when tv was seen as way below feature films, was paid $5 million to star.  In many of the first posters and ads for Die Hard, Willis’ name was not played up.  The movie went on to be a hit with audiences and shot Bruce Willis into the top tier of movie actors.

Die Hard features Alan Rickman’s first feature film role.  He is perfect as Hans Gruber.

Die Hard was added to the National film registry by the Library of Congress in 2017 for being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.”

Hart Bochner is on point as the smarmy executive that overplays his hand with Hans Gruber.

Die Hard is one of the best action movies ever made.  Scratch the word action and the sentence is still true.

Die Hard (1988) rates 5 of 5 stars