Previews and Reviews that are Z's Views
Tom Chapman and ScreenRant posted their choices for the 15 Best Prison Break Characters, Ranked. It’s a good list and I agree with most of the rankings — even the placement that doesn’t put one of the two main stars in first place!
Prison Break is back, and the brothers are planning their biggest escape yet!
Here’s the Comic-Con Trailer for the return of Prison Break!
I just read that FOX is cancelling “Prison Break.” I can’t say that I’m surprised or even too disappointed. That might sound strange considering that “Prison Break” is one of my favorite tv shows. (Stephen King said the same thing not too long ago in an issue of Entertainment Weekly.) I’ve followed the show without fail from episode one, season one. It’s still one of the first shows I’ll turn to when firing up the ole dvr.
So why am I not too disappointed that the show is coming to an end? Well, I think that it’s pretty much run it’s course. Truth be told, I wasn’t too sure that they’d be able to pull off a second season after breaking out of prison. But they did. The characters were interesting enough and the story moved fast enough that the twists and turns were a blast. The third and fourth seasons have been more of the same… but lately the show seems to be heading to a conclusion. And I have no problem with that. In fact, I’ll be there watching until the very end.
Anyone catch the season premiere of “Prison Break”? Now in it’s third season, “Prison Break” continues to entertain and offer some of the best commercial break cliffhangers on tv. It’s pretty amazing how well the writers are able to weave the storylines of the various characters so that they continue to interact despite being on the run and separated over the course of two seasons. The show is well cast and well acted. The writing and pace are such that I’m willing to suspend disbelief and just enjoy the world in which the Scofield brothers exist.
And special mention has to be given to Robert Knepper as Theodore ‘T-Bag’ Bagwell. Is there a more hated character on television now? He’s so bad, he’s good.
Breakout (1975)
Director: Tom Gries
Screenplay: Howard B. Kreitsek, Marc Norman; based on THE TEN SECOND BREAKOUT by Elliott Baker
Stars: Charles Bronson, Robert Duvall, Jill Ireland, Randy Quaid, Sheree North, Jorge Moreno, Emilio Fernández, Paul Mantee, Alan Vint, Alejandro Rey, Roy Jenson, Sidney Clute, Chalo González and John Huston.
Tagline: Sentenced to 28 years in prison for a crime he never committed. Only two things can get him out – A lot of money and Charles Bronson!
The Plot…
Jay Wagner (Duvall) is framed for murder and sent to a Mexican prison. All hope is lost. Unwilling to give up, Jay’s wife, Ann (Ireland) turns to Nick Colton (Bronson). Colton is a pilot with a crazy plan that just might work.
What Colton doesn’t know is the people that framed Jay will go to any length to see he never leaves prison.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Tom Gries directed two Charles Bronson films in 1975; this one and Breakheart Pass.
Believe it or not, this film was based on a real life Mexican prison escape using a helicopter.
With Charles Bronson and Robert Duvall starring, I was hoping for a better movie.
Breakout (1975) rates 3 of 5 stars.
Breakheart Pass (1975)
Director: Tom Gries
Screenplay: Alistair MacLean; based on BREAKHEART PASS by Alistair MacLean
Stars: Charles Bronson, Ben Johnson, Richard Crenna, Jill Ireland, Charles Durning, Ed Lauter, Bill McKinney, David Huddleston, Roy Jenson, Rayford Barnes, Scott Newman, Robert Tessier, Joe Kapp, Sally Kirkland, Eddie Little Sky, Paul Frees (voice) and Archie Moore.
Tagline: Death rode the express to Breakheart Pass.
The Plot…
A train is heading to Fort Humbold, a remote frontier outpost. The soldiers at the fort have reported a diphtheria outbreak. The train carries medical supplies, replacement soldiers, and civilians including Governor Fairchild (Crenna) and his fiancée Marica (Ireland), the daughter of the fort’s commander. Also on board are U.S. Marshal Pearce (Johnson) and his prisoner, John Deakin (Bronson).
As the train gets further from civilization, people started turning up murdered. There is a killer or killers on board. To complicate matters, outlaw Levi Calhoun (Tessier) has joined with Chief White Hand (Little Sky) to rob the train of the weapons being taken to the fort.
No one knows who can be trusted. As the bodies pile up, secrets are revealed and a conspiracy unfolds.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
The Breakheart Pass is a real location in Nevada’s Rocky Mountains. And yes, trains pass through it.
The railroad cars that go off track and are destroyed weren’t miniatures. They were actual full-sized train cars.
Archie Moore, the longest fighter to hold the light heavyweight title, has a featured role. Moore fought in three weight divisions over his career. He held the light heavyweight title for ten years! His boxing record was 186 – 23.
Breakheart Pass is an under-rated Charles Bronson film.
Breakheart Pass (1975) rates 4 of 5 stars.
Breakwater (2023)
Director: James Rowe
Screenplay: James Rowe
Stars: Dermot Mulroney, Darren Mann, Alyssa Goss, Don Henderson Baker, JD Evermore, Celia Rose Gooding, Mike Stanley, Sonja Sohn, Timothy Douglas Perez, Blaque Fowler, Kenneth Nance Jr. and Mena Suvari.
Tagline: The deepest secrets are the last to rise.
The Plot…
Dovey (Mann) is a young man about to be released from prison. He was sent there on a trumped up charge. While in the joint Dovey was protected by a respected con named Ray Childress (Mulroney).
Right before Dovey is released Childress shares a photo of his daughter. He tells Dovey that they haven’t seen each other in years. She won’t talk to him. Childress asks Dovey to go to her. Make sure she is safe and doing well. Dovey feels he owes Childress and makes the commitment.
What Doey doesn’t know is that the woman isn’t Childress’ daughter. And if Dovey finds her, she’ll be targeted for murder.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Breakwater is an enjoyable low budget crime film. Dermot Mulroney plays a convict the other inmates fear, not because he’s a beast, but because he’s smart. Mulroney is surprisingly menacing. Darren Mann is believable as the naive ex-con who wants to do what’s right.
Breakwater (2023) rates 3 of 5 stars.
Rodolfo at CBR.com did a piece called Top 10 Groundbreaking John Carpenter Characters. You just know I’m going to play along by posting my thoughts on three of my favorite John Carpenter characters and one who didn’t make Rodolfo’s list but should have.
Snake Plissken. I’d be surprised if Snake Plissken wasn’t at the top of anyone’s John Carpenter characters list. Heck, Plissken should be near the top of any cool characters list. He’s the classic anti-hero: ex-military, individualist with an attitude, more than capable in any situation and played perfectly by Kurt Russell channeling Clint Eastwood. I’m surprised that there weren’t more Snake Plissken movies made (besides EFNY and ESFLA) and that Snake has become more popular in other media.
Napoleon Wilson. Perhaps Carpenter’s least known character with the most potential. Wilson appeared in Assault on Precinct 13 and like Snake Plissken was an anti-hero. On his way to prison, Wilson find himself and a small group trapped in an abandoned building under siege by a street gang. Napoleon Wilson was perfectly played by Darwin Joston in his most famous role.
John Nada. Roddy Piper was the perfect choice to play John Nada, an average guy just looking to survive in a world unknowingly under the control of aliens. Nada isn’t a specially trained soldier or cop — he’s just a drifter who discovers a secret that no one would believe and then he takes action to save the world!
Romero. While Romero didn’t make Rodolfo’s list, there was no way I’d leave him out of mine. Romero appeared in a relatively small role in Escape from New York. In a movie full of larger-than-life characters, Romero (as played by Frank Doubleday) was as memorable as any and more frightening than all.
The photo above is purported to be Clarence Anglin and John Anglin, two of the three convicts who escaped from Alcatraz prison in 1962. This picture was reportedly taken in 1975 on a farm where they allegedly lived in Brazil.
The Alcatraz prison break is probably the most famous prison escape ever since it was thought to be impossible and the three convicts were never caught. Of course the Clint Eastwood movie, Escape from Alcatraz, probably helped with public awareness a bit.
At any rate, if you’re interested you can see vintage photos of the convicts, their cells, escape route and more at Could the Alcatraz Escapees Still Be Alive? Here Are Some of Historical Photos of The Great Escape from Alcatraz in 1962 at Vintage Everyday.
Extraction 2 (2023)
Director: Sam Hargrave
Screenplay: Joe Russo based on Ciudad by Ande Parks, Joe Russo, Anthony Russo, Fernando León González
Stars: Chris Hemsworth, Golshifteh Farahani, Adam Bessa, Idris Elba and Daniel Bernhardt.
Tagline: Prepare for the ride of your life.
The Plot…
Tyler Rake barely survived his last mission. For nine months he’s been in physical therapy. When Rake learns that his ex-wife’s sister Ketevan and her two children are being held in foreign prison, he is determined to break them out. Ketevan’s husband, Davit Radiani, is a high ranking member of the Nagazi, one of the most powerful crime syndicates in the country. If Rake can break into the prison and get them out, the Nagazi will go to the ends of the earth to kill Rake and bring them back.
Cue the action!!
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)
Sam Hargrave (director), Joe Russo (writer) and Chris Hemsworth (star) return from the original. There is talk of them reteaming for a third Extraction film. Fingers crossed.
Although Extraction 2 doesn’t start as quickly with action as the original, there is a “one take” action sequence that runs over 20 minutes in the first act. Once the action starts, it doesn’t let up.
The extended prison break scene is getting a lot of positive buzz (and rightly so), but my favorite scene is a fight that takes place on the glass overhang of a skyscraper.
I would love to see a third Extraction film.
Extraction 2 (2023) rates 5 of 5 stars.
Here’s the trailer for Confidential Informant starring Dominic Purcell, Mel Gibson, Nick Stahl and Kate Bosworth. I’d give it a shot.
This gritty crime thriller starring Mel Gibson tells the tale of two narcotics agents hunting for a cop killer during a crack epidemic. Hoping for leads, Moran (Dominic Purcell, “Prison Break”) and Thorton (Nick Stahl, Sin City) pay off a junkie informant. To provide for his wife (Kate Bosworth, Superman Returns) and son, Moran involves the stool pigeon in a deadly scheme. This causes the partners to come under the scrutiny of a suspicious internal affairs agent, leading to an explosive finale…
RELEASE DATE: June 27th, 2023
CAST: Dominic Purcell, Mel Gibson, Nick Stahl
Luther: The Fallen Sun (2023)
Director: Jamie Payne
Writer: Neil Cross (based on characters Cross created for the BBC Television series)
Stars: Idris Elba, Cynthia Erivo, Andy Serkis, Dermot Crowley, Vincent Regan, Ross Waiton and Carl Spencer
Tagline: None.
The Plot…
Detective Chief Inspector John Luther (Elba) is on the case of a serial killer who first kidnaps and blackmails his victims. When the serial killer, David Robey (Serkis) learns that Luther is closing in, Robey uses his use wealth and technology to learn of illegal steps that Luther took in the past to bring criminals to justice. Luther stands trial and is sentenced to prison.
While in prison, Robey taunts Luther with a video showing Robey committing a recent murder. Luther works with friends to set up a prison break so that he can track down Robey. With the police on his trail, Luther closes in on the killer. Robey knows Luther is coming and has a plan to make Luther his next victim.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
It’s great to see Elba return to the character that made him famous. I’d love to see more Luther movies. There was talk that Elba would make a great 007. The ending of Luther: Fallen Sun makes that unnecessary.
Kudos to Jamie Payne for his direction. I look forward to seeing what Payne does next.
Luther: The Fallen Sun (2023) rates 4 of 5 stars.
The teaser for Fubar starring Arnold Schwarzenegger is below. Because it come from Nick Santora, stars Arnold Schwarzenegger and is on Netflix, checking it out will be a no-brainer. I just hope it has the right mix of action and comedy.
ARNOLD. IS. BACK. MAY 25. And starring in his first series ever: FUBAR – Everything else is top secret, except for that ice pack he’s gonna need. To receive classified updates click here: https://netflix.com/FUBAR
Also starring Monica Barbaro, Milan Carter, Fortune Feimster, Travis Van Winkle, Jay Baruchel, Andy Buckley, Aparna Brielle, Barbara Eve Harris, Fabiana Udenio and Gabriel Luna.
From creator Nick Santora (Reacher, Prison Break): A CIA operative on the verge of retirement discovers a family secret. Forced to go back into the field for one last job, FUBAR tackles universal family dynamics set against a global backdrop of spies, action and humor.
