Category: Z-View

“Street Smart” (1987) starring Christopher Reeve, Kathy Baker, Mimi Rogers and Morgan Freeman / Z-View

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Street Smart (1987)

Director: Jerry Schatzberg

Screenplay: David Freeman

Stars: Christopher Reeve, Kathy Baker, Mimi Rogers, Jay Patterson, Andre Gregory, Anna Maria Horsford, Erik King, Michael J. Reynolds, Rick Aviles, Leslie Carlson and Morgan Freeman.

Tagline: A reporter is using the streets to get ahead. A killer is using the reporter to get even.

The Plot…

Jonathan Fisher, is a writer for a New York magazine.  Fisher has been on a dry spell, unable to get any of his story pitches approved.  Then Fisher comes up with the idea to profile a NY City pimp’s life on the street.  The editor approves the story, but needs it in just a few days.

Fisher, under pressure and unable to meet a real pimp, fabricates the story.  He creates a pimp persona he calls Tyrone.  Surprisingly, the story goes viral.  Fisher becomes a media sensation.

Leo “Fast Black” Smalls, Jr. is an actual New York City pimp.  Many who know Smalls think the article was written about him.  Fischer’s article accidentally got many things right about Smalls. Despite Fischer’s denials, everyone thinks Smalls was the pimp the article portrayed.

Then Smalls is arrested for killing a man.  Smalls’ lawyer gets the bright idea to us Jonathan Fisher as his albi.  If he was meeting with Fischer about the article, he couldn’t have been where the murder took place.  Suddenly, Fisher is being pressured by his editor, the police and Smalls.

The police want Fisher’s notes created for the article from interviews with the pimp.  Of course there are none.  If Fisher is proved to be a fraud, his career is over.  Smalls wants Fisher to lie for his aliby.  If Fisher refuses, Smalls will make sure Fisher’s life is over.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

If you only know Christopher Reeve as Superman, check out Street Smart.  Reeves got financing for the film by agreeing to star in Superman IV: The Quest for Peace.

Morgan Freeman earned well deserved nominations for an Oscar®, a Golden Globe and won the Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Male for his role as  Leo “Fast Black” Smalls, Jr.

Reeve and Kathy Baker also deserve kudos for the performances.

Miles Davis performs the movie’s score.

Street Smart (1987) rates 4 of 5 stars.

Brick (2025) starring Matthias Schweighöfer and Ruby O. Fee / Z-View

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Brick (2025)

Director: Philip Koch

Screenplay: Caroline Bruckner, Philip Koch, Chris Ryden

Stars: Matthias Schweighöfer, Ruby O. Fee, Sira-Anna Faal.

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

Tim and Olivia wake up to find their entire apartment building covered by strange blocks.  Every window.  Every wall.  Every door.  Unable to break through, they decide to go through the floor and down.  Each new level provides more danger as their neighbors are in the same situation.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Brick is okay… but if you start to feel trapped at least you can escape to another movie.

Brick (2025) rates 2 of 5 stars.

“Red Eye”: Season 2 (2026) starring Jing Lusi, Lesley Sharp, Jemma Moore, Cash Holland and Steph Lacey / Z-View

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Red Eye: Season 2 (2026)

Created by: Peter A Dowling

Directed by:

  • Kieron Hawkes (eps. 1-3)
  • Camilla Strøm Henriksen (eps. 4-6)

Teleplay by:

  • Peter A Dowling (eps. 1-2; 4-6)
  • Jingan Young (ep. 3)

Stars: Jing Lusi, Lesley Sharp, Jemma Moore, Cash Holland, Steph Lacey and Richard Armitage.

Tagline:  None.

The Plot…

An assassin has made his way into the US Embassy in London where a huge party filled with diplomats, rich donors, corporate leaders and politicans.  After killing a US Department of Security Agent, the assassin makes a call ordering the Embassy be placed on lockdown.  If anyone leaves, a plane carrying high ranking officials will be blown out of the sky.

Detective Hanna Li is assigned to work with US Security Officer Clay Brody to find and bring down the assassin.  Li and Brody have a history which ended badly.  As Li and Brody search for the assassin and try to discover his endgame, the body count increases.  They come to realize, the assassin wants more than revenge.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)… 

Red Eye continues to provide the right mix of action and mystery.  Bring on season 3.

Red Eye: Season 2 (2026) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“The Night Eats the World” (2018) / Z-View

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The Night Eats the World (2018)

Director: Dominique Rocher

Screenplay: Jérémie Guez, Guillaume Lemans, Dominique Rocher; based on La nuit a dévoré le monde by Pit Agarmen

Stars: Anders Danielsen Lie, Golshifteh Farahani, Denis Lavant, Sigrid Bouaziz.

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

When Sam goes to his ex-girlfriend’s apartment to pick up his belongings, a huge party is going on.  Sam is finally able to catch up to his ex and she tells him his things are in a back room.  Sam goes in and closes the door to get away from the crowd.  He sits down and falls asleep.

When Sam wakes the apartment is empty.  But there are signs of a massacre.  Blood on the walls… the floors.  Thankfully Sam is alone.  He locks the door.

As he looks out the window he see more bloodshed and destruction.  Then he spots a family running to a parked car.  Before they can escape the family is swarmed and killed.

The zombie apocalypse is well underway… and Sam is trapped in the apartment.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

The Night Eats the World (2018) is a SLOW burn.  If you’re into that, you’ll like it more than me.  I prefer more action in zombie movies.

The Night Eats the World (2018) rates 2 of 5 stars.

“Safe House” (2025) starring Lucien Laviscount, Hannah John-Kamen, Ethan Embry, Lewis Tan and Holt McCallany / Z-View

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Safe House (2025)

Director: Jamie Marshall

Screenplay: Leon Langford

Stars: Lucien Laviscount, Hannah John-Kamen, Ethan Embry, Lewis Tan, Adam Levy, Markina Brown, Brett Cullen, Lorenzo Orozco, Brian Van Holt and Holt McCallany.

Tagline: Betrayal is the ultimate weapon.

The Plot…

When a well planned terrorist attack takes out the Vice President’s motorcade, killing several government officials, secret service agents and civilians, a “shelter in place” order is initiated.  All government politicans and operatives are to get to the nearest secure location.  Choi, one of the secret service agents from the VP’s motorcade makes it to a nearby safe house.  Choi is in possession of the Vice President’s “football” which can access the US nuclear arsenal.

Choi isn’t the only one to make it to this safe house.  Agents Owens and Reeves from the Department of Defense, Agent Sorello from Homeland Security, Agent Halton from the CIA as well as the Safe House operator, Anderson are there.  That’s six people in lockdown.

Only problem is, before communications are blown, they learn that only five people should be there.  Tensions mount as more attacks take place.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

I’m a sucker for stories where a small group of strangers are thrown together in life or death situations and no one is sure of the right move.

Holt McCallany is always a great addition to any cast.

While Safe House suffers from a low budget, I enjoyed it. Safe House would have been a great second feature at a drive-in… if we still had drive-ins.

Safe House (2025) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“Albino Alligator” (1996) directed by Kevin Spacey; starring Matt Dillon, Faye Dunaway, Gary Sinise, William Fichtner, Viggo Mortensen, John Spencer, Skeet Ulrich, M. Emmet Walsh and Joe Mantegna / Z-View

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Albino Alligator (1996)

Director: Kevin Spacey

Screenplay: Christian Forte

Stars: Matt Dillon, Faye Dunaway, Gary Sinise, William Fichtner, Viggo Mortensen, John Spencer, Skeet Ulrich, M. Emmet Walsh, Joe Mantegna, Melinda McGraw, Doug Spinuzza, Spencer Garrett, Enrico Colantoni and Frankie Faison

Tagline: They Planned The Perfect Crime… Until It All Went Perfectly Wrong!

The Plot…

When their robbery goes sideways, brothers Dova and Milo and their sociopathic partner Law find themselves on the run from the cops.  They’ve already killed three people.  One of them a cop. Plus Milo is badly wounded.

It’s well past midnight and the streets are empty.  If they keep running, they know they’ll get caught.  So the three take refuge in a bar that’s closing.  Inside they find five people: Janet, her boss Dino, an older man at the bar, a young man at the pool table and business man alone at one of the tables.

Dova and Law pull their guns and order everyone to stay seated.  Law is ready to blast away.  It won’t take much to send him over the edge.  Dova just wants to patch his brother up and hide out until they can slip away in the morning.

What nobody inside knows is the FBI has the bar staked out.  It is surrounded by agents ready to close in.

Why was the FBI already there?  What will happen if they charge in?

It’s late.  Last call before the action starts…

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Albino Alligator showcases Kevin Spacey’s debut as a director.  It also features my favorite Faye Dunaway performance.

Albino Alligator (1996) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“The In-Laws” (1979) starring Peter Falk & Alan Arkin / Z-View

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The In-Laws (1979)

Director: Arthur Hiller

Screenplay: Andrew Bergman

Stars: Peter Falk, Alan Arkin, Richard Libertini, Nancy Dussault, Penny Peyser, Arlene Golonka, Paul L. Smith, Carmine Caridi, James Hong, David Paymer and Ed Begley Jr.

Tagline: While the Father of the Bride was extracting a molar from Mrs. Cohen, the Father of the Groom was extracting $20 Million from the U.S. Mint. And this was only the beginning.

The Plot…

Dr. Sheldon “Shelley” Kornpett’s daughter is about to marry the son of Vince Ricardo.  Shelley likes his future daughter-in-law and her mother.  He has concerns about Vince though.  Shelley thinks Vince tells tall tales (to put it politely) and might even be crazy.

So when Vince comes to Shelley’s office and asks a favor, he’s hesitant.  Vince promises it will just take five minutes.  Not wanting to create waves Shelley agrees.  Soon he’s involved with money stolen from the US Mint, and chased by crooks and the CIA.  Oh, and the wedding is tomorrow.

Serpentine!  Serpentine!

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

The In-Laws showcases David Paymer’s feature film debut.

Fran Drescher, who gained fame in The Nanny, was originally cast as the daughter but was fired shortly after filming began.  The part was recast with Penny Peyser.

I saw The In-Laws during it’s original theatrical run and loved it.  I re-watched it recently and am happy to say it holds up.

The In-Laws (1979) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“Eichmann” (2007) / Z-View

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Eichmann (2007)

Director: Robert Young

Screenplay: Snoo Wilson

Stars: Thomas Kretschmann, Troy Garity, Stephen Fry.

Tagline: Husband. Father. Soldier. Monster.

The Plot…

Fifteen years after the end of World War II, Adolf Eichmann was captured.  Although a high  official in the Nazi Party, an officer of the SS and one of the major organisers of Hitler’s Final Solution, Eichmann claimed to have no knowledge of the holocaust and was just as a small, insignificant bureaucrat—a “little cog in the machinery” who followed orders.

Captain Avner Less, an Israeli police officer, was assigned to interview Eichmann in an effort to get him to self-incriminate.  It will be a battle of wills to get justice served.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Prior to his capture Adolf Eichmann was the most wanted Nazi war criminal in the world. CIA documents released in 2006, showed that U.S. and West German intelligence knew that Eichmann was alive in Argentina, but fearing he might expose former comrades who had been useful to the CIA and the German government, did nothing.

Eichmann (2007) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“Battling Butler” (1926) directed by and starring Buster Keaton / Z-View

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Battling Butler (1926)

Director: Buster Keaton

Screenplay: Al Boasberg, Lex Neal, Charles Smith, Paul Gerard Smith; based on Battling Butler
(a 1922 play) by Stanley Brightman, Austin Melford

Stars: Buster Keaton, Sally O’Neil, Walter James.

Tagline: KEATON wins the laugh championship of the world in this greatest of all screen comedies! A love story. A prize-fight story! A knockout – and how! You can’t stop laughing!

The Plot…

Alfred Butler has grown up with all the luxuries a wealthy family can provide.  Alfred, although a young man, even has a personal assistant.  Alfred is a small, gentle young man who his father believes needs to toughen up.  So Alfred and his valet decide to go roughing it in the woods.

While camping Alfred meets a poor young woman who lives with her family in a mountain shack.  It’s love at first sight.  The woman’s brothers are tough mountain men.  In order to impress them, Alfred’s valet says that Alfred is a famous fighter called ‘Battling Butler”.  Alfred reluctantly goes along when it becomes clear that the family is impressed.

Alfred never dreamed he’d really have to enter the ring against the real “Battling Butler”.

Let’s get ready to rumble!

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Battling Butler was released the same year as Keaton’s classic The General.  Ironically, The General, during it’s initial release, was considered a huge flop, while Battling Butler became Keaton’s second biggest hit.

Battling Butler (1926) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“His & Hers” (2026) starring Tessa Thompson & Jon Bernthal / Z-View

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His & Hers (2026)

Developed by: William Oldroyd; based on HIS & HERS by Alice Feeney

Directors:

  • William Oldroyd (Eps. 1-2; 6)
  • Anja Marquardt (Eps. 3-5)

Teleplay:

  • William Oldroyd (Eps. 1; 3)
  • Tori Sampson (Ep. 2)
  • Erika Sheffer (Ep. 3)
  • Dee Johnson (Ep. 4)
  • William Oldroyd and Tori Sampson  (Ep. 5)
  • Bill Dubuque (Ep. 6)

Stars: Tessa Thompson, Jon Bernthal, Pablo Schreiber, Marin Ireland, Sunita Mani, Rebecca Rittenhouse, Crystal Fox, Kristen Maxwell, Leah Merritt, Tiffany Ho, Isabelle Kusman, Dave Maldonado and Chris Bauer.

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

A murder brings television news reporter Anna Andrews back to her small hometown.  Her estranged husband, Jack is a Detective working the case.  Things take a turn when Anna finds evidence that Jack may have been the killer.  At the same time Jack is finding clues pointing to Anna as the murderer.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

I’m a Tessa Thompson and Jon Bernthal fan.

Pablo Schreiber and Chris Bauer co-starred together in Season 2 of The Wire.

As we were watching I told my wife who the real murderer was.  She laughed and said that would be too crazy.  I then said, “No, it’s really _____.”  My wife replied, “That would be even more out there.”  Guess what?  I wasn’t wrong.

His & Hers (2026) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“Perdita Durango” aka “Dance with the Devil” (1997) starring Rosie Perez, Javier Bardem and James Gandolfini / Z-View

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Perdita Durango aka Dance with the Devil (1997)

Director: Álex de la Iglesia

Screenplay: Barry Gifford, David Trueba, Jorge Guerricaechevarría, Álex de la Iglesia; based on 59° And RAINING: THE STORY OF PERDITA DURANGO by Barry Gifford

Stars: Rosie Perez, Javier Bardem, Aimee Graham, Demián Bichir, Santiago Segura, Don Stroud, Roger Cudney and James Gandolfini.

Tagline: Get On The Road

The Plot…

Perdita Durango, in Mexico to scatter the ashes of her dead sister, meets Romeo Dolorosa who is on the run.  Dolorosa is a drug dealing, bank robbing satanist.  The two hook-up and devise a plan to kidnap a couple of college students and use them in a cannibalistic ceremony.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Álex de la Iglesia has a very visual style.  He was joined by terrific leads in Rosie Perez, Javier Bardem and James Gandolfini.  But the subject matter was too over the top gross for me.  I tapped out at about the 20 minute mark when a coked-up Dolorosa was hacking up a dead body in front of tourists.  He then threw the limbs in a boiling pot of blood and drank from it.

The character of Perdita Durango first appeared as a minor character in WILD AT HEART another novel by Barry Gifford.  On film she first was played by Isabella Rossellini in the adaptation of the novel.

Javier Bardem’s hairstyle in Perdita Durango is worse than his in No Country for Old Men.

Perdita Durango was released in the United States as Dance with the Devil.

Perdita Durango aka Dance with the Devil (1997) rates 1 of 5 stars.

“The Beast in Me” (2025) starring Claire Danes, Matthew Rhys and Jonathan Banks / Z-View

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The Beast in Me (2025)

Created by: Gabe Rotter

Directors:

  • Antonio Campos (Eps. 1-2; 7-8)
  • Tyne Rafaeli (Eps. 3-4)
  • Lila Neugebauer (Eps. 5-6)

Teleplay:

  • Gabe Rotter and Daniel Pearle; story by Gabe Rotter (Ep. 1)
  • Gabe Rotter (Ep. 2)
  • Erika Sheffer (Ep. 3)
  • C.A. Johnson (Ep. 4)
  • Daniel Pearle (Ep. 5)
  • Ali Liebegott (Ep. 6)
  • Mike Skerrett (Ep. 7)
  • Howard Gordon & Daniel Pearle (Ep. 8)

Stars: Claire Danes, Matthew Rhys, Brittany Snow, Natalie Morales, Tim Guinee, Hettienne Park, Deirdre O’Connell, Julie Ann Emery, Amir Arison, Peter Grosz, Bill Irwin, Kate Burton and Jonathan Banks.

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

Aggie Wiggs was on top of the world.  She was an award-winning author with a beautiful wife and child. They lived in a big old house in a wooded remote area.  It was a beautiful life.

Then it all fell apart when a driver crashed into her car killing her son.  Aggie suspected the man was drunk, but he was not charged.  After that Aggie’s marriage fell apart.  It’s been several years now.  Things haven’t gotten better for Aggie.  Her next book is way overdue and the publisher wants it.

Aggie is surprised when Nile Jarvis moves in next door.  Jarvis is the the super rich real estate magnate suspected of killing his first wife.  Although Jarvis was never charged, his wife disappeared under mysterious circumstances.  Jarvis is a ruthless business man used to getting his way in every aspect of his life.  He’s also a narcissist and perhaps a sociopath.

When Aggie decides to write a book about Jarvis, it brings her into his orbit.  Which is a dangerous place to be.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

The Beast in Me was executive produced by Claire Danes, Jodie Foster and Conan O’Brien.

Claire Danes and Matthew Rhys had no idea how the series would end when they signed on to star.

Claire Danes, Matthew Rhys, Natalie Morales and Jonathan Banks are excellent.  The series is well written and well directed.  It gets my highest recommendation.

The Beast in Me (2025) rates 5 of 5 stars.

“Sympathy for the Devil” (2023) starring Nicholas Cage & Joel Kinnaman / Z-View

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Sympathy for the Devil (2023)

Director: Yuval Adler

Screenplay: Luke Paradise

Stars: Nicolas Cage, Joel Kinnaman.

Tagline: Revenge is a hell of a ride.

The Plot…

David Chamberlain is worried he won’t make it in time for his child’s birth.  As David pulls into the hospital parking lot, a man with a gun jumps into the backseat and orders David to drive.  The gunman appears crazy and David’s car was picked at random.

Things aren’t always as they appear.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Sympathy for the Devil is a fun ride.

Sympathy for the Devil (2023) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“The Smashing Machine” (2025) written & directed by Benny Safdie, starring Dwayne Johnson & Emily Blunt / Z-View

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The Smashing Machine (2025)

Director: Benny Safdie

Screenplay: Benny Safdie

Stars: Dwayne Johnson, Emily Blunt, Ryan Bader and Bas Rutten.

Tagline: The unforgettable true story of a UFC legend.

The Plot…

Mark Kerr was a high school state wrestling champion.  He was a NCAA Division I collegiate wrestling champion, a World Cup freestyle wrestling gold and silver medalist, and silver medalist in the Pan American Games.  Kerr was one of the first UFC fighters and a two-time UFC Heavyweight tournament champion.

This is his story.  Warts and all.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Bas Rutten, Kerr’s former coach and friend plays himself.

Dwayne Johnson is transformed into Mark Kerr.  The make-up is amazing.  Also Johnson gets to show real acting chops in his most “real” performance.

The Smashing Machine (2025) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“Diabolique” (1955) directed by Henri-Georges Clouzot, starring Simone Signoret, Véra Clouzot, Paul Meurisse, and Charles Vanel / Z-View

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Diabolique (1955)

Director: Henri-Georges Clouzot

Screenplay: Henri-Georges Clouzot, Jérôme Géronimi, René Masson, Frédéric Grendel, based on  CELLE QUI N’éTAIT PLUS by Boileau-Narcejac

Stars: Simone Signoret, Véra Clouzot, Paul Meurisse, Charles Vanel

Tagline: Don’t Reveal the Ending!

The Plot…

Michel Delassalle is a cruel man.  Michel is the Principal of a boys’ boarding school owned by his wife, Christina.  Christina also works as a teacher at the school.  Michel enjoys flaunting his authority over his teachers including his wife.  He gets off on humiliating them at every opportunity.  To make matters worse, Michel has an on-going affair with Nicole Horner, another teacher at the school, who he also mistreats.

Surprisingly, Christina and Nicole have developed a friendship… and a plan.  They’ve devised the perfect albi so when they kill Michel, they will be above suspicion.

Or so they thought.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Alfred Hitchcock reportedly wanted the rights to the original novel but was beaten by just a few hours by Henri-Georges Clouzot who went on to direct Diabolique.

Véra Clouzot died suddenly of a heart attack five years after the release of Diabolique.  She was only 46. Her character in the film suffered from a weak heart.

Diabolique was ahead of it’s time.  It inspired filmmakers from William Castle to Alfred Hitchcock.  And what a twist ending!

Diabolique (1955) rates 4 of 5 stars.