Category: Z-View

“Being There” (1979) starring Peter Sellers, Shirley MacLaine & Melvyn Douglas / Z-View

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Being There (1979)

Director: Hal Ashby

Screenplay: Jerzy Kosiński based on Being There by Jerzy Kosiński

Stars: Peter Sellers, Shirley MacLaine, Melvyn Douglas, Jack Warden, Richard Dysart, Richard Basehart and David Clennon.

Tagline: A story of chance

The Plot…

Chance (Sellers) is a simpleminded man who never learned to read or write.  Chance has lived his whole life without ever leaving the property of the old man who raised him.  Although Chance is an excellent gardener, he has learned most of what he knows from watching television (which he dearly loves).  When the old man dies, Chance is forced to leave the old man’s property.

For the first time he ventures out into the world.  When Ben Rand’s limousine accidentally strikes Chance, Rand’s wife, Eve (MacLaine) demands that Chance is brought back to their mansion.  On the ride back, Eve mishears “Chance the gardener” and thinks that Chance’s name is Chauncey Gardiner.”  Eve introduces Chauncey to her much older and sickly husband, Ben.  Ben takes a liking to Chauncey.  Ben misunderstands Chauncey and thinks that he’s a businessman who has fallen on hard times.  As they discuss business, Ben is impressed with Chauncey’s straight talk and comparisons of the economy to taking care of a garden.

Ben is a close advisor to the President of the United States. He plans to introduce Chauncey to the leader of the free world.  What could go wrong.  (And here’s a hint, nothing!)

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)

Being There is Hal Ashby’s highest rated film according to the IMDb.  It’s also my favorite Hal Ashby film.  Ashby is supported by a great cast.  Peter Sellers is wonderful as Chance.  He received a nomination for a Best Actor Oscar for his role.  Melvyn Douglas also received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor (and he won)!  Shirley MacLaine, Jack Warden, Richard Dysart and Richard Basehart (in his last feature film role) are all excellent.

Being There is a comedy with heart that also comments on modern life.  There’s an underlying message that may be different for each viewer, but the film leaves the audience with something to think about.  I first saw Being There in 1980 and wondered how it would hold up.  I’m happy to report it’s as wonderful as I remembered.

Being There (1979) rates 5 of 5 stars.

“Last Call: When a Serial Killer Stalked Queer New York” (2023) / Z-View

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Last Call: When a Serial Killer Stalked Queer New York (2023)

Director: Anthony Caronna

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

In the 1990s, dismembered bodies began turning up in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.  The victims were gay men.  It took a while before the police in the different jurisdictions realized they had a serial killer on their hands.  The press dubbed the murderer The Last Call Killer.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Last Call: When a Serial Killer Stalked Queer New York is a four part documentary that focuses on the victims, the increased homophobia due to AIDS during this time period, the efforts the gay community took to raise awareness of the murders and the shortcomings of a system where different jurisdictions didn’t smoothly interact.  While we do learn who the killer was, how he was caught and the outcome of his trial, he is never the main focus.

Last Call: When a Serial Killer Stalked Queer New York (2023) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“Body Heat” (1981) written & directed by Lawrence Kasdan, starring William Hurt & Kathleen Turner / Z-View

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Body Heat (1981)

Director: Lawrence Kasdan

Screenplay: Lawrence Kasdan

Stars: William Hurt, Kathleen Turner, Richard Crenna, Ted Danson, J.A. Preston, Kim Zimmer and Mickey Rourke.

Tagline:  The called it love. The DA called it murder.

The Plot…

One night in the middle of a brutal Florida heat wave, Ned Racine (Hurt) meets a beautiful woman on the boardwalk.  The woman is Matty Walker (Turner).  She’s married, but Racine, a notorious womanizer, isn’t fazed.  There’s a definite sexual attraction and soon the two are involved in a torrid affair.  Matty’s husband is rich, but has an airtight prenup.  As Ned and Matty’s affair heats up their thoughts turn to cold blooded murder.

All is not as it seems…

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)

Body Heat is a classic noir.  If you’re a fan of Double Indemnity and The Postman Always Rings Twice, this should light your fire.  It made stars of Kathleen Turner and Mickey Rourke.  It’s my favorite film written by Lawrence Kasdan.  It’s also my favorite film directed by Kasdan.  It’s my favorite William Hurt movie.

Body Heat features a twist ending that plays out slowly and adds a whole new layer to everything we’ve seen.

Body Heat (1981) rates 5 of 5 stars.

“The Haunted Strangler” (1958) starring Boris Karloff / Z-View

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The Haunted Strangler (1958)

Director: Robert Day

Screenplay: John Croydon (as “John C. Cooper“), Jan Read based on an original story by Jan Read

Stars: Boris Karloff, Anthony Dawson

Tagline: Their wild beauty marked them for death by . . . The Haunted Strangler

The Plot…

James Rankin (Karloff) believes that when the serial killer known as The Haymarket Strangler was executed, they hung the wrong guy. In his efforts to clear the man, Rankin comes into possession of the murder weapon.  As he holds the knife Rankin is compelled to kill…

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

To give you an idea of the quality of this one, in order to show Karloff’s transformation from kind old man to sadistic killer, he simply took out his lower dentures and sucked his bottom lip up to show his upper teeth.

For Karloff completists only.

The Haunted Strangler (1994) rates 2 of 5 stars.

“Pulp Fiction” (1994) / Z-View

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Pulp Fiction (1994)

Director: Quentin Tarantino

Screenplay: Quentin Tarantino, Roger Avery

Stars: John Travolta, Uma Thurman, Samuel L. Jackson, Bruce Willis, Tim Roth, Amanda Plummer, Phil LaMarr, Frank Whaley, Ving Rhames, Paul Calderon, Rosanna Arquette, Eric Stoltz, Steve Buscemi, Christopher Walken, Harvey Keitel, Julia Sweeney, Peter Greene, Kathy Griffin and Quentin Tarantino.

Tagline: You won’t know the facts until you’ve seen the fiction.

The Plot…

Pulp Fiction is the tale of…

  • Vincent Vega (Travolta) an enforcer for Marcellus Wallace
  • Jules Winnfield (Jackson) an enforcer for Marcellus Wallace
  • Marcellus Wallace (Rhames) a mobster
  • Mia Wallace (Thurman) Marcellus Wallace’s wife
  • Butch Coolidge (Willis) a boxer paid to take a dive for Marcellus Wallace
  • Pumpkin (Roth) a small time crook
  • Honey Bunny (Plummer) Pumpkin’s partner and lover
  • Mr. Wolf (Keitel) a cleaner

Pulp Fiction unfolds jumping back and forth in time as the characters interact.  There are seven sequences.  Each section focuses on a different main character(s) with the others either not appearing or taking a secondary role.  While this sounds confusing, it’s not.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Pulp Fiction was nominated for Academy Awards for Best Picture, Director, Actor (Travolta), Supporting Actor (Jackson), Supporting Actress (Thurman), Film Editing and won for Best Original Screenplay (Tarantino & Avery).

Pulp Fiction was the film that made Quentin Tarantino a household name and reinvigorated John Travolta’s career.

A lot of credit for Pulp Fiction‘s popularity is given to its unique structure.  While that does have a lot to do with the movie’s success, we shouldn’t short the story or cast.  Tarantino and Avery came up with great characters. They then beautifully cast each role. The stories at first glance seemed to be traditional tropes for crime/gangster films, but each veered into strange new territory.  Pulp Fiction  became and remains a touchstone for crime films.

Pulp Fiction (1994) rates 5 of 5 stars.

“The Passage” (2019) starring Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Saniyya Sidney & Jamie McShane / Z-View

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The Passage (2019)

Written by: Liz Heldens (eps. 1 & 2); Peter Elkoff (ep. 3); Daniel Thomsen (ep. 4); Joy Blake (ep. 5); Mike Flanagan Dennis Saldua (ep. 6); Kate Erickson (ep. 7); Peter Elkoff & C.A. Johnson (ep. 8); Daniel Thomsen & Vanessa Gomez (ep. 9); Liz Heldens & Joy Blake (ep. 10)

Directed by: Jason Ensler & Marcos Siega (ep. 1); Jason Ensler (eps. 2, 3 & 9); Allison Liddi-Brown (ep. 4); Jeffrey Nachmanoff (ep. 5); Jessica Lowrey (ep. 6); Eduardo Sanchez (ep. 7); Ti West (ep. 8); Mark Tonderai (ep. 10)

Stars: Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Saniyya Sidney, Jamie McShane, Caroline Chikezie, Emmanuelle Chriqui, Brianne Howey, McKinley Belcher III, Henry Ian Cusick, Vincent Piazza, Kecia Lewis, Jason Fuchs and James Le Gros.

Tagline:  Can one girl save humanity?

The Plot…

Tim Fanning (McShane), a scientist working on a cure for alzheimer’s disease, accidentally became infected with a virus that gave him strange powers and a thirst for human blood.  Now Fanning is held in a secret medical facility behind thick glass walls as the US government experiments on ways to create a race of super soldiers. Although progress has been made, each subject has gained the same powers as Fanning and a desire for human blood.

Now the scientists want to experiment using a younger subject.  Agent Brad Wolgast (Gosselaar) is sent to bring a young, newly orphaned girl named Amy Bellafonte (Sidney) to the facility.  When Wolgast learns what is planned for Amy, he decides to help her escape.

But it may be too late for everyone… Fanning and the other experiment subjects have a secret power that the scientists don’t know about.  Fanning can psychically communicate with each of them. They are planning an uprising!

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

The Passage is one of my all-time favorite series.   It is well written and well directed.  The production values are top notch.  It features one of the best casts possible.  Every role from the leads to the smallest parts are perfect.  I plan to revisit The Passage every few years just to relive the great viewing experience.

The Passage (2019) eearns 5 of 5 stars.

“The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari” (1920) / Z-View

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The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920)

Director: Robert Wiene

Screenplay:  Carl Mayer, Hans Janowitz

Stars: Werner Krauss, Conrad Veidt and Lil Dagover.

Tagline: Dr. Caligari and his mysterious slave – the black and white phantom who lives in a cabinet and goes forth in his sleep to do his master’s bidding. the weirdest characters ever seen on the screen and the most daringly different picture ever seen.

The Plot…

Dr. Caligari has brought his strange sideshow to the town carnival.  Caligari places a coffin on stage which he then opens.  Inside is a sleeping man named Cesare.  Dr. Caligari speaks a command and Cesare awakens to take questions from the audience.  A man asks, “How long shall I live?”  To everyone’s surprise Cesare says the man will be dead before dawn.

The next morning the man is found murdered in his bed.  This is the second murder since Caligari came to the small town.  Is Cesare the murderer?  Caligari?  Or is something more sinister at play?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari is considered by many to be the first horror film.  

The sets and cinematography are amazing especially considering the film was made in 1920.  All of the sets are given odd angles and perspectives which contributes to a feeling of unease.  Buildings are interconnected with tilting walls, strange shadows and alleys that create odd intersections.  Plus The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari features a great twist ending.

The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920) rates 5 of 5 stars.

IT DIES WITH YOU by Scott Blackburn / Z-View

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IT DIES WITH YOU by Scott Blackburn

Hardback: ‎ 304 pages
Publisher: ‎ Crooked Lane Books (June 7, 2022)

First sentence…

I was bouncing at the Red Door Taproom on a Friday night in January, which all but guaranteed I’d be earning every last cent of my paycheck.

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

Hudson Miller’s promising career as a boxer is on hold.  Suspended for a fight outside the ring, Miller now works as a bouncer as he waits for the commission to decide his future.  Late one night, Miller ignores a phone a call from his estranged father.  The next morning Miller learns that his dad was murdered in a robbery gone bad.  At least that’s what the cops are saying.

After the funeral, Miller is surprised to learn he is the new owner of his dad’s salvage yard.  Figuring it will pay more than bouncing, Miller decides to give it a try… at least until he can fight again.  Things go sideways when Miller learns that the salvage yard was the hub of illegal activities that may have played a part in his dad’s murder.  As Miller digs deeper, he finds himself alone and unsure of who he can trust.  His father’s only employee, Charlie Shoaf, a Viet Nam vet who doesn’t rattle easily warns Miller to leave it alone.  The cops are no help.  Miller is going to get answers even if it kills him.

IT DIES WITH YOU is Scott Blackburn’s debut novel.  He had me hooked from the first sentence.  He creates characters that feel real and you care about.  The mystery of who killed Miller’s dad propels them through a world that you can see outside your window if you live in the rural south.  I look forward to whatever Blackburn writes next.

Rating:

Midnight Mass (2021) directed by Mike Flanagan / Z-View

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Midnight Mass (2021)

Written by: Mike Flanagan (eps. 1 & 7); Mike Flanagan and James Flanagan and Elan Gale (ep. 2); Mike Flanagan and James Flanagan (eps. 3 & 5); Mike Flanagan and Dani Parker (ep. 4); Mike Flanagan and James Flanagan and Jeff Howard (ep. 6)

Directed by: Mike Flanagan

Stars: Kate Siegel, Zach Gilford, Kristin Lehman, Samantha Sloyan, Annarah Cymone, Annabeth Gish, Alex Essoe, Michael Trucco, Henry Thomas and Hamish Linklater

Tagline: Be Not Afraid

The Plot…

Riley Flynn (Gilford) has returned to his hometown of Crockett Island after four years in prison for killing a woman in a drunk driving accident.  Flynn is at rock bottom.  Being home hasn’t helped much.  Father Paul Hill (Linklater) a charismatic new priest has also just arrived on the island.

When strange and miraculous things begin to happen on the island, the small town is divided.  Some see the miracles as messages from God, while others aren’t so sure…

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

I loved every episode of Midnight Mass.  Don’t sleep on this one!

Midnight Mass (2021) earns 5 of 5 stars.

“The Descent” (2005) written & directed by Neil Marshall / Z-View

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The Descent (2005)

Director: Neil Marshall

Screenplay:  Neil Marshall

Stars: Shauna Macdonald, Natalie Mendoza and Saskia Mulder.

Tagline: Face Your Deepest Fear

The Plot…

A group of six women get together for an annual adventure.  This year they’ve decided to explore unmapped caves in the Appalachian Mountains.  The women quickly find they are, pardon the expression, in over their heads. A narrow passage collapses, one of the women is badly injured… and the group is targeted by creatures living deep within the caves.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Kudos to Neil Marshall for writing and directing this gem.  The film is filled with action, characterization, and scares.  Marshall knows when to give us a brief second to catch our breath before the next danger.  If you’re not claustrophobic or afraid of the dark, you may be after viewing this film.  The creatures are realistic and frightening.

The Descent (2005) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“Razorback” (1984) / Z-View

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Razorback (1984)

Director: Russell Mulcahy

Screenplay:  Everett De Roche based on Razorback by Peter Brennan

Stars: Gregory Harrison, Arkie Whiteley

Tagline: No nightmare will prepare you for it…

The Plot…

When his wife is killed covering a story, Carl Winters (Harrison) travels to the Australian outback to find the cause.  Soon Winters is caught up in the hunt for a giant Razorback that has been terrorizing the area for years.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

I had wanted to see Razorback for years because it was directed by Russell Mulcahy.  I’m a huge fan of Mulcahy’s direction of Highlander.  Sadly, Razorback fell waaaay short of my expectations.

Razorback just didn’t resonate with me at all.  I didn’t care much for the characters. The story had several dead spots.  The way the Razorback was killed came off as just plain silly.  Of course your mileage may vary.

Razorback (1984) rates 1 of 5 stars.

“Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow” (2004) starring Gwyneth Paltrow, Jude Law & Angelina Jolie / Z-View

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Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow (2004)

Director: Kerry Conran

Screenplay:  Kerry Conran

Stars: Gwyneth Paltrow, Jude Law,  Angelina Jolie and Giovanni Ribisi.

Tagline: The world will tremble.

The Plot…

The year is 1939.  Ace reporter Polly Perkins (Paltrow) is investigating the disappearance of five prominent scientists.  During a secret meeting with one of her sources the city comes under attack by giant flying robots! Soon Sky Captain arrives to assist with the defense of the city.  Reports come in from around the world of similar attacks.

Polly meets with Sky Captain and convinces him to allow her to assist with his investigation into the source of the robots.  Soon they will be involved in an adventure to save the world!

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Kerry Conran, the writer/director created Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow as a love letter to the comics, films and serials that he grew up loving.  He perfectly captured the feel of these adventures from his youth.  Most of the sets were computer generated using blue screens.

I saw Sky Captain during its initial release and rated it 4 of 5 stars.  I recently rewatched the film and have revised my rating to 3 of 5.  My feeling this time was the film was a little long, but it could be that I knew the story.

Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow (2004) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“Alien: Resurrection” (1997) starring Sigourney Weaver & Winona Ryder / Z-View

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Alien: Resurrection (1997)

Director: Jean-Pierre Jeunet

Screenplay:  Joss Whedon based on characters created by Dan O’Bannon, Ronald Shusett

Stars: Sigourney Weaver, Winona Ryder, Dominique Pinon, Ron Perlman, Gary Dourdan, Michael Wincott, Kim Flowers, Dan Hedaya, J.E. Freeman, Brad Dourif, Raymond Cruz and Leland Orser.

Tagline: Witness the resurrection.

The Plot…

Over two hundred years have passed since the events of Alien 3.  On a remote space station military scientists are using DNA from Ellen Ripley (Weaver) to create clone hosts for Xenomorphs.  The current clone, Ripley 8 (Weaver), due to the melding with the alien embryos has increased strength, reflexes and acidic blood.

A group of mercenaries arrives at the space station with cargo for the military.  Soon after two adult Xenomorphs escape.  It then becomes a battle for survival as more adult aliens are released throughout the ship!

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

I am a huge fan of Alien Resurrection mainly due to the unique characters and actors playing them.  The mercenary crew could be stars of their own movie(s)!  I would love to see some of their adventures.  The mercenary crew consists of…

  • Annalee Call (Ryder) – the newest member of the team.  She’s hiding a secret that will be revealed.
  • Dom Vriess (Pinion) – the mechanic. He’s a paraplegic with a motorized wheelchair (that also has secrets)!
  • Ron Johner (Perlman) – a battle scarred warrior with a bad attitude and short temper.
  • Gary Christie (Dourdan) – the second-in-command who exudes cool.
  • Frank Elgyn (Wincott) – the leader.  He’s cynical and willing to do questionable things to make a buck, but is committed to his team.
  • Sabra Hillard (Flowers) – the co-pilot of the mercenary ship and Elgyn’s woman.

In addition, we have…

  • General Martin Perez (Hedaya) – the commanding officer of the space station.
  • Dr. Jonathan Gediman (Dourif) – one of the scientists experimenting with the adult aliens.  He should know  better than to poke the bear.
  • Vincent DiStephano (Cruz) – one of the space station soldiers who joins the mercenaries in an effort to survive.
  • Larry Purvis (Orser) – a civilian who joins the mercenaries.  Purvis carries a deadly secret.

There is also a subplot which involves Weaver and Ryder.  For me that takes a backseat to the  the characters — the military, mercenaries and civilians in a battle against the aliens on a spaceship heading towards Earth! There are so many fun scenes –

  • The mercenaries entering the ship under military guard.
  • Johner (Perlman) flirting with Ripley 8 (Weaver) and being put in his place.
  • Johner’s (Perlman) interactions with Dom Vriess (Pinion).
  • Dr. Jonathan Gediman (Dourif) as he realizes the adult aliens have outsmarted him.
  • The long shot of a grenade bouncing down a walkway to drop into an escape pod just as an alien does the same.
  • The underwater escape and the discovery that the aliens are following! Plus Gary Christie (Dourdan) and  Dom Vriess’ (Pinion) solution to Dom being unable to swim!

Many people have complained about Ripley 8’s relationship to the aliens as well as the look of the Xenomorph Queen.  I understand the complaints and would agree that these are the weakest parts of the movie.  Still, the things I love about the film far outweigh these concerns.  Alien Resurrection is one that I have watched and enjoyed multiple times.

Alien: Resurrection (1997) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“Along Came a Spider” starring Morgan Freeman / Z-View

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Along Came a Spider (2001)

Director: Lee Tamahori

Screenplay:  Marc Moss based on  Along Came a Spider by James Patterson

Stars: Morgan Freeman, Michael Wincott, Monica Potter, Anton Yelchin, Jay O. Sanders, Michael Moriarty,
Penelope Ann Miller and Christopher Shyer.

Tagline: A tangled web of danger and deceit…

The Plot…

When a senator’s daughter is kidnapped, the kidnapper contacts retired Detective and author, Alex Cross (Freeman).  The abductor wants to become famous by taunting the police with the hope that Cross will write a book about the case. Not all is as it seems…

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Morgan Freeman and a twist ending are the highlights of this one.

Along Came a Spider (2001) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“The Silence of the Lambs” (1991) starring Jodie Foster and Anthony Hopkins / Z-View

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The Silence of the Lambs (1991)

Director: Jonathan Demme

Screenplay: Ted Tally based on The Silence of the Lambs by Thomas Harris

Stars: Jodie Foster, Anthony Hopkins, Scott Glenn, Anthony Heald, Frankie Faison, Don Brockett, Stuart Rudin, Ted Levine, Roger Corman, Charles Napier and Chris Isaac.

Tagline: Dr. Hannibal Lecter. Brilliant. Cunning. Psychotic. In his mind lies the clue to a ruthless killer. – Clarice Starling, FBI. Brilliant. Vulnerable. Alone. She must trust him to stop the killer.

The Plot…

A serial killer the press calls Buffalo Bill is murdering women.  He then skins them and leaves their bodies in water without any clues. The FBI investigation is at a standstill.

Clarice Starling (Foster), an FBI agent still in training, is personally selected to interview Dr. Hannibal Lector (Hopkins).  Lector, known as Hannibal the Cannibal, is a serial killer with a genius IQ. He murdered and ate his victims.  Now held in a maximum security prison for the criminally insane, Lector may be the only one with insight on catching Buffalo Bill.

But can Lector be trusted?  The clock is ticking…

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

The Silence of the Lambs is an excellent adaptation of Thomas Harris’ best-selling novel.  It is rightully considered one of the finest movies ever made.

The Silence of the Lambs collected Academy Awards for Best Picture, Best Director (Jonathan Demme), Best Actor (Anthony Hopkins), Best Actress (Jodie Foster) and Best Adapted Screenplay (Ted Tally).

The Silence of the Lambs (1991) rates 5 of 5 stars.