Category: Z-View

“Lockout” (2012) 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, (influenced by 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 and Lennie James.

Tagline: Take no prisoners.

The Plot…

The year is 2079.  When a riot results in convicts taking over the Earth’s orbiting prison, it’s only a matter of time before they learn that the President’s daughter, Emilie (Grace) is there.  Emilie has disguised herself as part of the prison medical staff.

The President and his advisors know the prisoners will execute all captured staff if an assault team is sent up.  They decide that one capable man, working alone could infiltrate the prison and rescue the President’s daughter.

The man for the job is a former government agent named Snow (Pearce).  Snow was recently framed for the murder of Colonel Frank Armstrong.  Armstrong had discovered a double-agent was working at the upper levels of our government.  Snow reluctantly agrees to the suicide mission.

The clock is ticking…

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

There’s no denying the parallels to John Carpenter’s Escape from New York.  So much so that John Carpenter sued the film’s makers for plagiarism and won.

I’m a huge fan of Lockout.  Pearce was the right choice to play Snow the buff, wise cracking bad ass.  (When Pearce auditioned for the role, the directors told him he was too skinny.  He promised to bulk up.  Obviously he kept his word.)

Joe Gilgun plays a psycho convict to perfection.

Lockout (2012)  rates 4 of 5 stars.

“Brian’s Song” (1971) starring James Caan & Billy Dee Williams / Z-View

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Brian’s Song (1971) 

Director: Buzz Kulik

Screenplay: William Blinn, based on I AM THIRD by Gale Sayers, Al Silverman

Stars: James Caan, Billy Dee Williams, Jack Warden, Bernie Casey, Shelley Fabares, David Huddleston, Judy Pace, Harold ‘Happy’ Hairston, Stephen Coit, Stu Nahan, Dick Butkus and Doreen Lang

Tagline: An inspiring true story of friendship and courage.

The Plot…

Brian Piccolo and Gayle Sayers are rookie running backs drafted to the Chicago Bears. Piccolo is white, outgoing and a jokester while Sayers is black and shy.  Despite their differences and competing for the same position, they become friends. When both make the team they become the NFL’s  first interracial roommates and best friends.

Their friendship deepens when Piccolo assists Sayers through a long arduous knee rehabilitation. Later Piccolo becomes sick and Sayers is ready to return the favor.  That’s when they learn Piccolo has an aggressive terminal cancer.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Brian’s Song was nominated for eleven Primetime Emmy Awards and won five…

  • winner Outstanding Single Program – Drama or Comedy – Paul Junger Witt (producer)
  • nominee Outstanding Single Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role – James Caan
  • nominee Outstanding Single Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role – Billy Dee Williams
  • winner Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in Drama – Jack Warden
  • nominee Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Drama – A Single Program – Buzz Kulik
  • winner Outstanding Writing Achievement in Drama – Adaptation – William Blinn
  • nominee Outstanding Achievement in Music Composition – For a Special Program – Michel Legrand
  • winner Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography for Entertainment Programming – For a Special or Feature Length Program Made for Television – Joseph F. Biroc (cinematographer)
  • nominee Outstanding Achievement in Film Sound Editing – Marvin I. Kosberg (sound editor), Harold E. Wooley (sound editor), Wayne Fury (sound editor), Ralph Hickey (sound editor), Paul Laune (sound editor), George C. Emick (sound editor), Monty Pearce (sound editor)
  • nominee Outstanding Achievement in Film Sound Mixing – William J. Montague (sound mixer), Alfred E. Overton (sound mixer)
  • winner Outstanding Achievement in Film Editing for Entertainment Programming – For a Special or Feature Length Program Made for Television – Bud S. Isaacs (editor)

Louis Gossett Jr. was cast as Gayle Sayers.  Gossett tore his Achilles’ tendon before filming started and was replaced by Billy Dee Williams.

Brian’s Song was so popular in the US that it received a theatrical run in Europe.

Stu Nahan who plays a sportcaster in some of the Rocky movies plays a speaker at one of the awards ceremonies.

One of the best made-for-television movies ever.  It’s better than most feature films.

Brian’s Song (1971) rates 5 of 5 stars.

“Lifeboat” (1944) directed by Alfred Hitchcock, starring Tallulah Bankhead, John Hodiak, Walter Slezak & William Bendix / Z-View

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Lifeboat (1944) 

Director: Alfred Hitchcock

Screenplay: Jo Swerling, story by John Steinbeck

Stars: Tallulah Bankhead, John Hodiak, Walter Slezak, William Bendix, Mary Anderson, Henry Hull, Heather Angel, Hume Cronyn, Canada Lee and William Yetter Jr.

Tagline: What happens when six men and three women are alone in an open boat ?

The Plot…

During a World War II a submarine sinks a passenger ship, but is also sunk.  There are only eight survivors. They end up in the same lifeboat.  Introductions show they’re from diverse backgrounds.  There are three ship workers, a famous columnist, a rich man, and three ship passengers (one a mother whose baby was killed in the attack).

When they see another man attempting to get in the lifeboat, they assist him.  The last survivor turns out to be a German soldier from the submarine.  The initial thought is to kill him.  Luckily for him, the vote is to spare his life.

Lost at sea, with little food or water, the odds of survival are slim.  What none know is one of them has secrets that could get them all killed.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Lifeboat was nominated for three Academy Awards…

  • nominee Best Director – Alfred Hitchcock
  • nominee Best Writing, Original Story – John Steinbeck
  • nominee Best Cinematography, Black-and-White – Glen MacWilliams

It was a rough shoot completed in a gigantic water tank.  The actors were in a free-floating boat constantly sprayed with water and a mist concoction of water/oil/dry ice.  Twice production had to be stopped due to actors’ illnesses and injury.

Lifeboat has no musical score which was unusual for the time.

Alfred Hitchcock originally wanted his cameo to be a dead body floating in the water.  It was changed and Hitch’s image appears in a newspaper ad.

William Bendix steals every scene he’s in.

Lifeboat (1944)  rates 5 of 5 stars.

FULL TILT by Jason Copland / Z-View

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FULL TILT by Jason Copland (letters by Troy Peteri)

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

Two hundred years in the future five crime families control New Manhattan.  With trouble in paradise a sitdown was arranged for the boss of each family and his/her adviser.  It did not end well.

An assassin appeared. It was a massacre. Massimo Miller, the consigliere of the Chessa family was the only survivor.  Massimo was wounded, but barely survived.  The cops and new crime bosses (even for the Chessa family) believe that Miller was the executioner.

Now badly inured and alone, Massimo has one thing on his mind: vengeance.  To get it, Massimo will have to travel across the city with the soldiers of the five families and cops on his trail.  How can one man, even one as formidable as Massimo have a chance?  There’s only one way… go full tilt.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Jason Copland’s FULL TILT is a masterpiece. The mobster storyline in a sci-fi setting is perfect for Copland’s world building. He’s developed interesting, original characters built using genre troupes. Copland’s story and art raise the bar.  I’m sad for the folks who missed out.

Rating:

Below are examples of unfinished/unlettered pages used to promote FULL TILT.

“Life” (2017) starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Rebecca Ferguson & Ryan Reynolds / Z-View

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Life (2017) 

Director: Daniel Espinosa

Screenplay: Rhett Reese, Paul Wernick

Stars: Jake Gyllenhaal, Rebecca Ferguson, Ryan Reynolds, Hiroyuki Sanada, Ariyon Bakare

Tagline: Fear life. Not death.

The Plot…

An unmanned probe returns to the International Space Station with soil samples from Mars.  The six astronauts aboard the station are surprised to find a single cell organism in the soil.  As they experiment with the sample it begins to grow exponentially.  It escapes it’s container and devours a lab rat. Then the creature turns its sights on the astronauts.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Director Daniel Espinosa said the twist ending is in the spirit of The Twilight Zone and Night of the Living Dead.

I hate it when movie characters repeatedly make stupid decisions.  Especially when they’re supposed to be intelligent.

Life (2017)  rates 3 of 5 stars.

“Interview with the Vampire”: Season 2 (2024) starring Jacob Anderson, Sam Reid, Eric Bogosian, Delainey Hayles & Assad Zaman / Z-View

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Interview with the Vampire: Season 2 (2024)

Directors:  Craig Zisk (eps. 1, 5); Levan Akin (eps. 2-4, 8); Emma Freeman (eps. 6-7)

Teleplay: Hannah Moscovitch (ep. 1); Jonathan Ceniceroz & Shane Munson (ep. 2); Heather Bellson (ep. 3); Coline Abert & A. Zell Williams (ep. 4); Jonathan Ceniceroz & Hannah Moscovitch (ep. 5); Hannah Moscovitch & Shane Munson (ep. 6); Kevin Hanna & Rolin Jones (ep. 7); Rolin Jones (ep. 8)

Stars: Jacob Anderson, Sam Reid, Eric Bogosian, Assad Zaman, Delainey Hayles, Ben Daniels, Esme Appleton, Christopher Geary, Khetphet Phagnasay, Andrew Van Wilpe, Jan Hofman, Ben Bradshaw, Roxane Duran, Luke Brandon Field, Elander Moore, Justin Kirk, Blake Ritson, Stanislav Callas, Ed Birch, Roxane Duran and Bally Gill

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

Interview with a Vampire is an adaptation of Anne Rice’s novel, Interview with a Vampire.

Through a series of interview flashbacks we learn that in World War II’s final years Louis (Anderson) and Claudia’s (Hayles) search for other vampires lead to Romania and Paris.  They are discovered by a vampire coven in Paris.  All is not what it seems.  Jealously, lies and betrayals abound.  Most will not survive.

Daniel Malloy (Bogosian) discovers government agents are aware of the vampires.  Malloy also determines that he’s not being told the truth throughout the interview.  Malloy realizes with increasing certainty that his life is in danger.

When the interview concludes lies will be uncovered, truths revealed.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Interview with the Vampire Season 1 was a tour de force.  Season 2 meets and exceeds the bar that it set.  The series continues to be well written with wonderful actors joined by top notch directors.

Delainey Hayles who replaced Bailey Bass as Claudia does an excellent job.

There are more twists and surprises in season two.

I love the idea of a coven of vampires hiding in plain sight.  The vampire pretend to be human actors playing vampires on stage nightly.  The audience has no idea that the victims killed on stage are not actors.

Ben Daniels as Santiago provides a riveting performance as Santiago.

I have no idea how season 3 can live up to, let alone surpass season 2… but I’ll be ready to find out.

Interview with the Vampire: Season 2 (2024) earns 5 of 5 stars.

“The Killing” (1956) directed by Stanley Kubrick, starring Sterling Hayden / Z-View

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The Killing (1956) 

Director: Stanley Kubrick

Screenplay: Stanley Kubrick; dialogue by Jim Thompson; based on CLEAN BREAK by Lionel White

Stars: Sterling Hayden, Coleen Gray, Jay C. Flippen, Ted de Corsia, Marie Windsor, Elisha Cook Jr., Joe Sawyer, James Edwards, Timothy Carey, Kola Kwariani, Dorothy Adams, James Griffith, Joe Turkel, William ‘Billy’ Benedict, Charles Cane, Robert B. Williams and Vince Edwards

Tagline: These 5 Men Had a $2,000,000 Secret Until One of them told this Woman!

The Plot…

Johnny Clay (Hayden) has been a crook his whole life.  Now he’s ready to settle down and marry Fay (Gray). Johnny has planned one last score.  It will be big.  Two million dollars big. He’s going to knock over a race track.

Johnny has put together his team: two race track workers in need of cash, a cop on the take, a sniper and a pro wrestler.  Johnny has planned for every contingency… except one.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

The Killing is arguably Stanley Kubrick’s best film.  Kirk Douglas loved it so much, he got Kubrick to direct Douglas’ next film, Paths of Glory.  Two years later, when Douglas fired Anthony Mann early in the filming of Spartacus, Douglas turned to Kubrick to finish the film.

The studio didn’t like the non-linear structure of The Killing.  Re-editing only made things more confusing. So it was released in the non-linear form Kubrick wanted.  Quentin Tarantino claims The Killing is a huge influence on the format of  Reservoir Dogs and Pulp Fiction.

Kola Kwariani (the chess playing pro wrestler) and Stanley Kubrick would often play chess in a chess/checker lounge as shown in the film.

In a film full of memorable co-star performances, Timothy Carey stands out for his uniquely strange acting.

The Killing (1956)  rates 5 of 5 stars.

“Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F” (2024) starring Eddie Murphy / Z-View

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Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F (2024) 

Director: Mark Molloy

Screenplay: Will Beall, Tom Gormican, Kevin Etten; story by Will Beal; based on characters created by Danilo Bach and Daniel Petrie Jr.

Stars: Eddie Murphy, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Taylour Paige, Judge Reinhold, John Ashton, Paul Reiser, Bronson Pinchot, Kevin Bacon, Luis Guzmán, Christopher McDonald and Steven Berkoff

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

When Detroit police detective Axel Foley (Murphy) receives a call from his old pal P.I. Billy Rosewood (Reinhold), Foley learns that his grown estranged daughter’s life is in danger.  Foley arrives in Beverly Hills. He discovers that an attempt on his daughter’s life was made and Billy is missing.

As Axel digs into the case, he uncovers a conspiracy going to the highest levels.  Now both Axel and his daughter are targets.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Will Beal, who came up with the story and co-wrote the screenplay, is a former L.A. cop turned writer.  Beal’s L.A. REX is excellent.

Steven Berkoff, who played the villain in the original film, has a brief uncredited cameo as a motorist.

This is director Mark Molloy’s first feature film.

Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F hits all the right beats for fans of the series.  It has a plausible reason for Foley to return to Beverly Hills.  It brings back characters in a way that works.  It gives Foley a daughter (that wasn’t mentioned in Beverly Hills Cop III, although she would have been born).  It references the past films, even going so far as to say that Foley’s third case in Beverly Hills wasn’t his “finest hour”.  Beverly Hills III was easily the least favorite of the series.  It uses the famous Axel F theme from the original Beverly Hills Cop by composer Harold Faltermeyer.

For some reason Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F works when it shouldn’t.  When we see Axel driving a snow plow through the city, destroying dozens of vehicles, we ignore the fact that this would probably injure or kill pedestrians as well.  We accept the fact that he is able to keep his job.

When he gets his “partner” to steal a helicopter and fly down Beverly Hills Streets the only damage is to vehicles.  People are never hurt. That’s why Axel and Bobby walk away from a helicopter crash without even a limp or bruise.

The same is true when there is a shoot-out on a crowded Beverly Hills Street.  Only the bad guys die.  I guess it is because in a Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F shootout, the bad guys fire dozens of shots and always miss.  Later when Axel is hit, the bad guy was shooting at his daughter and Axel jumps in front of her.

The fact that we are able to ignore these things is evidence that Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F works.

Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F (2024)  rates 4 of 5 stars.

“Daylight” (1998) starring Sylvester Stallone and Amy Brenneman / Z-View

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Daylight (1998) 

Director: Rob Cohen

Screenplay: Leslie Bohem

Stars: Sylvester Stallone, Amy Brenneman, Viggo Mortensen, Dan Hedaya, Jay O. Sanders, Karen Young, Claire Bloom, Barry Newman, Stan Shaw, Vanessa Bell Calloway, Renoly Santiago, Renoly Santiago, Danielle Harris, Trina McGee, Marcello Thedford, Jo Anderson, Mark Rolston, Rosemary Forsyth, Luoyong Wang, Tony Munafo, Nestor Serrano, Rob Cohen  and Sage Stallone

Tagline: HOLD YOUR BREATH

The Plot…

When an explosion seals a tunnel beneath the Hudson River, time is running out for the few survivors.  Despite it being a suicide mission, ex-NYC Medical Services Chief Kit Latura (Stallone) goes in.  As the air dwindles, the water levels rise and tempers flare, Latura and the survivors search for a way out.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Daylight was nominated for one Academy Award

  • nominee Best Effects, Sound Effects Editing – Richard L. Anderson, David A. Whittaker

Daylight is the second time that Sly and his son Sage appeared together in a movie.

Cameos include: director Rob Cohen as a businessman and Associate Producer Tony Munafo as a waste truck driver.

Stan Shaw, who plays a Transit cop trapped in the tunnel also played the boxer named Dipper who gets Rocky’s locker in Rocky.

Daylight is a throwback to the disaster movies like The Poseidon Adventure, Earthquake and The Towering Inferno.

Daylight (1998)  rates 4 of 5 stars.

“Dead Heist” (2007) / Z-View

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Dead Heist (2007) 

Director: Bo Webb

Screenplay: Anghus Houvouras, Eric Tomosunas, Bo Webb

Stars: Big Daddy Kane

Tagline: The perfect heist…the wrong night.

The Plot…

When a small town bank robbery goes sideways due to the start of a zombie apocalypse, the thieves and cops find themselves fighting for their lives.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Made on a micro-budget and it shows.

Loved the idea, not so much the execution.

Dead Heist (2007)  rates 2 of 5 stars.

“Last Man Standing” (1996) written & directed by Walter Hill, starring Bruce Willis / Z-View

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Last Man Standing (1996) 

Director: Walter Hill

Screenplay: Walter Hill based on Yojimbo by Akira Kurosawa

Stars: Bruce Willis, Bruce Dern, William Sanderson, Christopher Walken, David Patrick Kelly, Ned Eisenberg, Alexandra Powers, Ken Jenkins, Ted Markland, Leslie Mann, Patrick Kilpatrick, Luis Contreras, Raynor Scheine, Tiny Ron, John Paxton, Michael Cavalieri, Matt O’Toole and Michael Imperioli

Tagline: There are two sides to every war. And John Smith is on both of them.

The Plot…

John Smith (Willis), a prohibition gun thug, is on the lam.  Smith is headed for Mexico when he stops in a small nearly deserted border town.  Two rival gangs, one Italian, the other Irish, have run most of the townsfolk off.  The two crews have an uneasy truce.  But both gangs are looking for a way to wipe out the other.

John Smith sees easy money in his future.  It’s risky, but Smith plans to work both sides with neither realizing it.  The best laid plans…

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Last Man Standing, like A Fistful of Dollars, is based on the Japanese film Yojimbo directed and co-written by Akira Kurosawa.  Many think that Kurosawa based his story on Dashiell Hammett’s RED HARVEST.  Kurosawa says that his film was actually based on Hammett’s THE GLASS KEY.

Last Man Standing has a John Woo feel to it.

Last Man Standing (1996)  rates 3 of 5 stars.

Syfy’s Twilight Zone 4th of July Marathon – 10 Episodes Not to Miss!

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Tomorrow Syfy channel’s 4th of July Twilight Zone Marathon starts at 6am!  It will run for 24 hours.  Here are a few episodes not to miss!

Thursday, July 4th

“Atlas” (2024) starring Jennifer Lopez / Z-View

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Atlas (2024) 

Director: Brad Peyton

Screenplay:  Leo Sardarian, Aron Eli Coleite

Stars: Jennifer Lopez, Simu Liu, Sterling K. Brown, Paul Ganus, Zoe Boyle, Gloria Cole and Mark Strong

Tagline: The future of humanity is in her hands

The Plot…

In the future, Harlan (Liu), an AI soldier begins a war against humanity.  Millions of people are killed before nations of the world join forces.  The tide turns, but Harlan escapes.  Years later Harlan is discovered on a planet in deep space.

A military expedition is sent to capture Harlan.  Atlas Shepherd (Lopez), the daughter of Harlan’s creator demands to accompany the soldiers.  Atlas is given clearance.

As the military team begins descent to the planet, they are attacked.  Atlas is the sole survivor thanks to her battle suit’s AI technology.  Realizing that her AI powered armor could turn on her, Atlas’ first instinct is to shut it down.  But if she wants to survive…

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Much of Atlas felt like I was watching a video game not a movie.

Why not just leave Harlan alone?  He’s millions of miles away.

Sterling K. Brown is always a welcome addition to any movie.

Atlas (2024)  rates 2 of 5 stars.

“Bad Boys: Ride or Die’ (2024) starring Will Smith & Martin Lawrence / Z-View

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Bad Boys: Ride or Die (2024) 

Director: Adil & Bilall

Screenplay:  Chris Bremner, Will Beall, based on characters by George Gallo

Stars: Will Smith, Martin Lawrence, Eric Dane, Vanessa Hudgens, Alexander Ludwig, Paola Núñez, Ioan Gruffudd, Jacob Scipio, Melanie Liburd, Tasha Smith, Rhea Seehorn, Dennis McDonald, Tiffany Haddish, Joe Pantoliano, DJ Khaled, John Salley, Bianca Bethune and Michael Bay

Tagline: Miami’s finest are now its most wanted.

The Plot…

Reports come out posthumously that Captain Howard (Pantoliano) was a corrupt cop working with a drug cartel. Detectives Mike Lowrey (Smith) and Marcus Burnett (Lawrence) know that isn’t true.  They decide to clear Captain Howard’s name.

Mike and Marcus learn that Captain Howard left behind information listing the corrupt state and federal cops.  As they follow the evidence, Mike and Marcus are targeted for execution. Our Bad Boys are framed for murder.  Now there is a manhunt for them.  Both police and crooked cops are ready to shoot to kill.

The question now is… Bad Boys, Bad Boys, what ‘cha gonna do when they come for you?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

There’s a fun subplot where Marcus, after waking up from a coma, believes he cannot die.

Eric Dane makes a great villain.  Wish he had more scenes.  Rhea Seehorn also needed more screen time.

Jacob Scipio has the makings of an action star.

Michael Bay, who directed Bad Boys 1 and 2 has a cameo as an upset motorist.

Bad Boys: Ride of Die is a fun run.  If you’re fans of the previous films, you should enjoy this one.  The comedy got to be a bit over the top for me and the plot was pretty by-the-numbers.  Still, I ain’t complaining – when the Bad Boys mount up, I ride.

Bad Boys: Ride or Die (2024)  rates 3 of 5 stars.

“A Quiet Place: Day One” (2024) written and directed by Michael Sarnoski, starring Lupita Nyong’o & Joseph Quinn / Z-View

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A Quiet Place: Day One (2024) 

Director: Michael Sarnoski

Screenplay:  Michael Sarnoski, story by John Krasinski, Michael Sarnoski, based on characters by Bryan Woods, Scott Beck

Stars: Lupita Nyong’o, Joseph Quinn, Alex Wolff and Djimon Hounsou

Tagline: Stay quiet. Stay alive.

The Plot…

Samira (Nyong’o) has terminal cancer.  She reluctantly joins her hospice group for a trip into New York City.  While there an alien invasion begins.  Separated from her group, Samira struggles to survive.  The creatures are deadly, but blind with hearing sensitive to the smallest sound.

What chance does anyone have of surviving?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

The first day of any “apocalypse” should be the most interesting.  People from different backgrounds are thrown together.  Everyone is trying to figure out what is going on.  No one is sure of the right things to do.  It was a smart move to take us back to Day One of the alien invasion.

It was even smarter to have Djimon Hounsou reprise his role from A Quiet Place Part II.

Lupita Nyong’o reaffirms what an excellent actress she is.

A Quiet Place: Day One (2024) rates 4 of 5 stars.