Marv by RAFAEL DANTE CIOCI!
Marv from Frank Miller’s Sin City is one of my all-time favorite characters. I love seeing artists do their “take” on the big lug. Today we have Marv by RAFAEL DANTE CIOCI.
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Category: Crime
“Marlowe” (2022) starring Liam Neeson / Z-View
Marlowe (2022)
Director: Neil Jordan
Screenplay: William Monahan, Neil Jordan based on THE BLACK-EYED BLONDE by Benjamin Black
Stars: Liam Neeson, Diane Kruger, Jessica Lange.
Tagline: Los Angeles, 1939. Outside the spotlight lies a city of secrets.
The Plot…
Phillip Marlowe (Neeson), a LA Private Eye, is hired by the heiress Clare Cavendish (Kruger) to find her missing lover. Marlowe quickly learns that the absent Romeo was drunk in the gutter when he was run over by a boozed up driver. While making his report to Cavendish, she informs Marlowe that she’s seen her lover after the date he was supposedly killed.
Marlowe decides to dig deeper and soon uncovers corruption that runs deep into the movers and shakers of the city.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
In Raymond Chandler’s novels, Phillip Marlowe’s age ranges from 33 to 42. Liam Neeson was 70 for this role. That makes him the oldest actor to play Marlowe by nearly ten years. Robert Mitchum was 58 and 61 when he played the part. At one point in this film, Marlowe (Neeson) says to himself, “I’m too old for this shit.” I agree.
Neil Jordan does an excellent job of making the film feel like it is 1939 in LA. One goof that jumped out at me is when Marlowe tips a hatcheck girl $20. That is equivalent to almost $450 today.
I’m a fan of most movie adaptations of Phillip Marlowe, but this one was just okay. The film moved slowly, and Neeson just didn’t work as Marlowe for me.
Marlowe (2022) rates 2 of 5 stars.
“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.
“American Conspiracy: The Octopus Murders” (2024) / Z-View
American Conspiracy: The Octopus Murders (2024)
Director: Zachary Treitz
Stars: Christian Hansen
Tagline: None.
The Plot…
Danny Casolaro was a freelance writer obsessed with a story that he had worked on for years. Casolaro believed he’d uncovered evidence of a powerful international cabal of eight individuals involved in everything from government spyware, manipulating Iran to hold hostages to ensure Ronald Reagan became President, the Iran-Contra scandal and more. Casolaro referred to this cabal as The Octopus.
In 1991, Casolaro was found in the bathtub of a hotel room. His wrists had been cut multiple times and blood covered the bathroom walls and floor. One of the first paramedics on scene didn’t believe it to be a suicide because Casolaro’s tendons were cut in the multiple slices across his wrists and the blood everywhere. Still, his death was ruled a suicide.
Christian Hansen gained access to all of Casolaro’s journals, notes and interviews. Hansen then re-interviewed people Casolaro had identified as having knowledge of the cabal. This documentary explores the results of Hansen’s investigation.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
While we’re given much information, there is no “aha moment” where we get a definitive answer. Casolaro did uncover several shady characters and dealings. But was there enough evidence to make the leap to an international cabal?
One of the people providing evidence said she was shown a film of President Kennedy’s assassination where the driver of his limo turned and shot him. She believes the film she saw was unedited and the word has only seen a cover-up version.
When Casolaro died he was deep in debt and his house was about to be lost in foreclosure. Was this enough to push him over the edge to commit suicide? But how could he cut himself so many times (and still hold the blade) if his tendons were severed?
After viewing American Conspiracy, I was left with more questions than answers. It was an interesting ride, if you value the ride more than the destination.
American Conspiracy: The Octopus Murders (2024) rates 3 of 5 stars.
Marv by Mirko Fascella!
Marv from Frank Miller’s Sin City is one of my all-time favorite characters. I love seeing artists do their “take” on the big lug. Today we have Marv by Mirko Fascella.
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“Death and Other Details” (2024) starring Violett Beane & Mandy Patinkin / Z-View
Death and Other Details (2024)
Created by: Heidi Cole McAdams & Mike Weiss
Director: Marc Webb (ep 1); David Petrarca (ep.2); Alrick Riley (eps. 3 – 4); Yangzom Brauen (eps. 5 – 6); James Griffiths (eps. 7 – 8); Dinh Thai (eps. 9 – 10)
Teleplays: Heidi Cole McAdams & Mike Weiss (ep. 1); Ryan Maldonado & Eduardo Javier Canto (ep.2); Nick Bragg (ep. 3); Mike Weiss (ep. 4); Jess Kimball Leslie (ep.5); Louisa Levy & Paul Alan Cope (ep.6); Myung Joh Wesner (ep. 7); Heidi Cole McAdams & Angela Zhou (ep. 8); Louisa Levy (ep. 9); Heidi Cole McAdams & Mike Weiss (ep.10)
Stars: Violett Beane, Lauren Patten, Angela Zhou, Hugo Diego Garcia, Pardis Saremi, Linda Emond, Mandy Patinkin, Jack Cutmore-Scott, Danny Johnson, Karoline, Jayne Atkinson and Jere Burns.
Tagline: All suspects aboard.
The Plot…
When Imogene (Beane) was a young girl, her mother was killed in a car explosion. Although Rufus Cotesworth (Patinkin), who many consider the world’s greatest detective, investigated, the killer was never found.
Now Imogene finds herself along with Rufus and a luxury cruise liner full of wealthy guests. When a murder at sea takes place, Rufus is tasked with finding the murderer. The problem is that everyone has secrets and possible motives for the killing,
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Death and Other Details starts off well enough. It has a nice cast, an interesting backstory and a mystery or two to be solved. As the series continues it continues to spiral out with more characters, more backstories, and nothing is as it seems. My interest in Death and Other Details continued to dwindle as the storyline became more outlandish.
Death and Other Details (2024) earns 2 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.
“Against All Enemies” – The Poster and Trailer are Here!
With Alex Garland’s Civil War coming, perhaps we should check out Against All Enemies first. Both look to be very good. Frightening, but good.
Available in select theaters and on all major VOD Platforms beginning March 29th
“Hard Target” (1993) directed by John Woo, starring Jean-Claude Van Damme, Lance Henriksen, Yancy Butler, Arnold Vosloo / Z-View
Hard Target (1993)
Director: John Woo
Screenplay: Chuck Pfarrer
Stars: Jean-Claude Van Damme, Lance Henriksen, Yancy Butler, Arnold Vosloo, Willie C. Carpenter, Kasi Lemmons, Robert Pavlovich, Ted Raimi, Chuck Pfarrer and Wilford Brimley
Tagline: Don’t hunt what you can’t kill.
The Plot…
Natasha Binder (Butler) has come to New Orleans to find her estranged father, who is a homeless vet. When several thugs attempt to mug Natasha, Chance Boudreaux (Van Damme) comes to her rescue. Natasha then hires Boudreaux to assist her in her quest.
What neither Natasha nor Boudreaux know is that Natasha’s father was murdered by rich hunters who paid Emil Fouchon (Henriksen) for the opportunity to track and kill a human. When Fouchon learns that Boudreaux and Natasha are getting close to discovering him, he brings in a team to take them out.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
There are some very over the top moments (Van Damme grabs a snake then hits it in the head to knock it out, he stands on a motorcycle as it roars into a truck launching Van Damme over the crash, etc.) and lots of explosions, fire, slow motion that John Woo makes work. (Or maybe I just accept the them because I like the rest of the movie so much).
Universal brought in Sam Raimi to be on set to assist John Woo. Their concern was it was his first Hollywood film and he didn’t speak English. Raimi appears in a cameo.
Kurt Russell was considered at one point for the role that ultimately went to JCVD.
In the scene where Lance Henriksen’s coat catches fire, it wasn’t supposed to, but did. Henriksen never broke character and the accident appears in the final film.
JCVD was the star of the film and played the part off-screen. He had script control and definite ideas of how scenes should be shot. According to Lance Henriksen it started as a JCVD vehicle, but as filming continued it became clear it was a John Woo film.
Arnold Vosloo has never been better.
Hard Target (1993) rates 4 of 5 stars.
“True Detective: Night Country” (2024) starring Jodie Foster & Kali Reis / Z-View
True Detective: Night Country (2024)
Director: Issa López (eps. 1- 6)
Teleplays: Issa López (eps. 1 – 2, 6); Issa López and Alan Page Arriaga (ep.3); Namsi Khan and Chris Mundy and Issa López (ep. 4); Katrina Albright & Wenonah Wilms and Chris Mundy & Issa López (ep. 5)
Stars: Jodie Foster, Kali Reis, John Hawkes, John Albasiny.
Tagline: None.
The Plot…
Ennis, Alaska is about to enter their season of night. Police Chief Liz Danvers (Foster) is called to the Tsalal Research Station. The eight researchers working at the station have disappeared. Alaskan State trooper Evangeline Navarro (Reis) also arrives on scene. Danvers and Navarro have an uneasy alliance due to something from their past. The researchers’ bodies are found, away from the station, naked and frozen together. A woman’s severed tongue is located nearby. Despite their differences, Danvers and Navarro are determined to resolve the mystery. No matter the cost.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
The first episode sets up an interesting mystery with a horror aspect. The great cast and remote location add to the production. Unfortunately, I’ve never seen a series with so many hard to like characters. I would have preferred a tighter focus on the mystery of how/why the researchers were killed. The fifth and sixth episodes (along with the first) were my favorites.
True Detective: Night Country (2024) earns 3 of 5 stars.
“Terror By Night” (1946) starring Basil Rathbone & Nigel Bruce / Z-View
Terror by Night (1946)
Director: Roy William Neill
Screenplay: Frank Gruber based on characters created by Arthur Conan Doyle
Stars: Basil Rathbone, Nigel Bruce, Alan Mowbray, Frederick Worlock, Billy Bevan, Harry Cording and Renee Godfrey
Tagline: MURDER… at 90 Miles an Hour!
The Plot…
Sherlock Holmes (Rathbone) and his assistant, Dr. Watson (Bruce) are hired to travel by train with Lady Margaret Carstairs and her son Roland. Holmes is there to provide security since Lady Carstairs has the the famous Star of Rhodesia diamond in her possession. When her son is murdered and the diamond disappears, it is up to Holmes to find the killer… and the diamond.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Terror by Night‘s copyright wasn’t renewed. This has allowed bootleg and inferior copies to appear on the market. Buyers should beware.
This is the 13th of 14th Sherlock Holmes films starring Basil Rathbone.
Terror by Night (1946) rates 3 of 5 stars.
Eric Beetner Interview with Ron Earl Phillips for Shotgun Honey!
Eric Beetner has a new novel out, THE LAST FEW MILES OF ROAD. While this is a must-buy for me, that’s not the reason for this post. Instead I wanted to give you a heads-up that Eric Beetner was interviewed by Ron Earl Phillips for Shotgun Honey.
Beetner talks about his influences, moving from script writing to novels, cover design, his writing process, authors he reads and THE LAST FEW MILES OF ROAD.
“Blood for Dust” starring Scoot McNairy, Josh Lucas & Kit Harington – The Poster and Trailer are Here!
Deal me in!
If crime pays, then consider it payday. But beware, the currency may just be blood. Watch #ScootMcNairy #KitHarrington and @JoshLucas try to cash in #BloodForDust, full of twists and turns. In select theaters and digital April 19.
Learn More: www.bloodfordustmovie.comTITLE: BLOOD FOR DUST
IN THEATERS AND ON DIGITAL: April 19, 2024
DIRECTOR: Rod Blackhurst
WRITER: David Ebeltoft
CAST: Scoot McNairy, Nora Zehetne, Ethan Suplee, Amber Rose Mason, Stephen Dorff, Josh Lucas and Kit Harington
SYNOPSIS: Cliff (Scoot McNairy), a former salesman with a checkered past, is pulled back into a life of crime after losing his job. Desperate to keep his family afloat, he’s lured by his old colleague, Ricky (Kit Harington), into trafficking drugs and guns for a cartel. As Cliff delves deeper, his once straight-laced life turns into a high-stakes game of survival in this gripping thriller hailed as “Breaking Bad meets Fargo” (Variety). Also starring Josh Lucas and Stephen Dorff.
RUN TIME: 100 Minutes
RATING: Rated R for violence, suicide, language, some sexual material/nudity and drug use.
GENRE: Action, Thriller
DISTRIBUTOR: The Avenue
“The Hound of the Baskervilles” (1939) starring Basil Rathbone & Nigel Bruce / Z-View
The Hound of the Baskervilles (1939)
Director: Sidney Lanfield
Screenplay: Ernest Pascal based on THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES by Arthur Conan Doyle
Stars: Basil Rathbone, Nigel Bruce, Lionel Atwill and John Carradine
Tagline: SPINE-CHILLING! The adventures of Sherlock Holmes on the ghostly moor!
The Plot…
The great detective Sherlock Holmes (Rathbone) and his assistant, Dr. Watson (Bruce) are called to the Baskerville Estate. The Baskervilles seemed to be cursed. Over the years many family members have died under unusual circumstances. The estate is said to be prowled by a huge supernatural hound. When Sir Charles Baskerville’s corpse was found, there was a giant pawprint near the body. Now Sir Henry Baskerville has been warned he will be next to die.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
The Hound of the Baskervilles was Basil Rathbone’s first outing as Sherlock Holmes. 20th Century Fox was so unsure of his star power Richard Greene was given top billing! Rathbone as Holmes with Nigel Bruce as Dr. Watson proved so popular that they not only returned for 13 more Sherlock Holmes films, they also appeared together on the radio in The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes.
The Hound of the Baskervilles (1939) rates 3 of 5 stars.
