Previews and Reviews that are Z's Views
This teaser for Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Unhappiness works.
Deal me in!
Larry David returns. We’re celebrating. Everybody’s kissing.
Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Unhappiness is coming June 26 to HBO Max.
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.
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.
Otis Frampton did his take on Sly from Paradise Alley way back in 2009 when every Sunday [okay, ALMOST, every Sunday], Otis had a live UStream broadcast that he called the 7×7 Sunday.
Lucky fans could get a head sketch of ANY character drawn live by Otis on a 7X7 inch bristol board for 7 bucks postage paid. It was the best deal going. Watching Otis drawing live and interacting with fans kept me up even if I wasn’t a sketch winner. As you can see above, sometimes I was.
Good times!
Going through the Zablo vault I came across this watercolor of Sly Stallone as Cosmo Carboni and Tom Waits as Mumbles from Paradise Alley by Thomas Boatwright. Mumbles was Tom Waits first movie role.
The Running Man (2025)
Director: Edgar Wright
Screenplay: Michael Bacal, Edgar Wright based on THE RUNNING MAN by Stephen King
Stars: Glen Powell, Josh Brolin, Colman Domingo, William H. Macy, Alyssa Benn, David Zayas, Greg Townley, Karl Glusman, Joey Ansah, James Frecheville, Lee Pace, Sean Hayes, Chris Rogers, Debi Mazar and Jayme Lawson.
Tagline: Survive 30 days while the world hunts you down.
The Plot…
In a dystopian future, most of the population lives in poverty. Those lucky enough to have jobs barely get by. The masses spend their days glued to the television watching game shows where contestants can win large sums of money. The most popular is The Running Man hosted by Bobby Thompson. Contestants actually risk their lives to play. They are called runners, and are given $1,000 as well as a 12 hour head start. Then, if they can survive 30 days, they will win one billion dollars. Life changing money. But there is a risk. In addition to the show’s hunters, any one in the country can kill a runner. If a citizen kills the runner, they win a small cash prize.
When Ben Richards is unable to afford needed medicine for his daughter, he decides to try out for a television show. He hopes to win enough cash to pay for his daughter’s meds. Richards is shocked when he is picked to appear on The Running Man. He doesn’t want to die, but if he could somehow win, his family would be set forever.
Let the game begin!
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Arnold Schwarzenegger, who starred in the original The Running Man, appears on money used in the movie.
Stephen King’s novel, written in 1982, is a futuristic tale set in 2025, the same year as the film’s release.
The film starts out well enough, but by it’s very nature is so over the top that Geln Powell’s character, despite finding himself in tough situations, never really feels in danger.
The Running Man (2025) rates 2 of 5 stars.
Police Story (1985)
Director: Jackie Chan
Screenplay: Jackie Chan, Edward Tang
Stars: Jackie Chan, Brigitte Lin, Maggie Cheung.
Tagline: From the master of action comes more screen excitement than you’ve ever seen.
The Plot…
Sergeant Chan Ka-Kui, an undercover officer in the Royal Hong Kong Police Force was part of a task force to bring down crime lord Chu Tao. Things go sideways. Now Tao wants revenge and his target is Sergeant Chan.
Step back, Jackie Chan is ready to roll!
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Police Story is famous for several big stunts and set pieces. In one, Jackie slides several stories down a pole of Christmas lights in a mall. In this stunt, Chan burned his hands, injured two vertebrae and dislocated his pelvis. The pole slide was done in one take, without rehearsals and without the use of wires.
Sly Stallone paid homage to a Jackie Chan action beat in Police Story. In Tango & Cash, Stallone’s character stops a semi, the same way that Chan stops the bus.
Police Story (1985) rates 4 of 5 stars.
London Calling (2025)
Director: Allan Ungar
Screenplay: Levin Menekse, Quinn Wolfe, Allan Ungar
Stars: Josh Duhamel, Jeremy Ray Taylor, Rick Hoffman, Aidan Gillen, Neil Sandilands, Brandon Auret, Milton Schorr, Dumani Siphosethu Mtya, Karl Thaning and Arnold Vosloo.
Tagline: Answer the call
The Plot…
After Tommy Ward accidentally killed a London cartel lord’s son, Tommy escaped to the United States. Now Tommy wants to go back to London since that is where his son lives. Harry, Tommy’s current employer offers Tommy a deal. If Tommy will teach Julian (Harry’s son) to become a man, Harry will get Tommy safe passage back to London. All Tommy has to do is take Julian on a hit.
Taking Julian along is a dangerous proposition. It becomes worse when Tommy becomes a target himself.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Josh Duhamel and Jeremy Ray Taylor had good on-screen chemistry. There were some funny moments, but the film became to over-the-top for me. Your mileage, as always could vary.
London Calling (2025) rates 2 of 5 stars.
RIGHTEOUS TRASH by Nick Kolakowski
First sentence…
It was midnight but I was still wide awake in bed when the security lights in the back yard blazed to life.
The Overview: Beware of Spoilers…
Jake Halligan needs a break. He’s not making much as a bounty hunter. If his finanaces don’t improve, he could lose everything. His land. His wife. His daughter.
When Jake’s crazy sister, Frankie unexpectedly returns from Mexico, Jake doesn’t know what to expect. Frankie has come back to restart her illegal arms business. Jake wants no part of it.
Frankie is the best shot Jake (or nearly anyone) has ever seen. Frankie plans to enter and win Crazy Bill’s world famous shooting contest. Frankie knows the grand prize money will give her the startup cash she needs. There’s just one problem. She has to win.
Jake has faith in Frankie. Although the contest draws crack shots from around the country, Frankie is the best. Even on a bad day, Frankie would be tough to beat. Jake decides to take a leap of faith. He goes to a loan shark and borrows $100,000.00. He’s going to bet it all on Frankie winning. If she does Jake can pay off the loan plus interest and be flush again. But if Frankie doesn’t win, Jake will lose everything including his life. The loan shark told him as much.
Soon Jake and Frankie are the targets of rival gangs, corrupt politicians, and Federal Agents. Oh, and let’s not forget the loan shark who wants his money… or Jake dead.
+++
RIGHTEOUS TRASH is the third outing for Jake and Frankie. If you’re a fan of crime stories featuring non-stop action with a nice mix of humor, then this one is for you!
Rating:
Dobermann (1997)
Director: Jan Kounen
Screenplay: Joël Houssin
Stars: Vincent Cassel, Tchéky Karyo, Monica Bellucci.
Tagline: Are you ready for a Good Time?
The Plot…
Dobermann, a daring and charismatic criminal and his gang of outlandish misfits are hunted by a sadistic cop and his team off oddballs.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Dobermann is styish and over-the-top. Too much so for me. I tapped out after 33 minutes. Your mileage, as always, may vary.
Dobermann (1997) rates 1 of 5 stars.
Ed Wood’s Plan 9 From Outer Space is so bad it’s good to watch for unintentional laughs. I’ll bet Ed Wood would have loved to have had a poster as nice as this one by Sara Deck!
THE BURGLAR IN THE RYE: A Bernie Rhodenbarr Mystery by Lawrence Block
First sentences…
The lobby was a bit worse for the wear. The large oriental carpet had seen better days, lots of them.
The Overview: Beware of Spoilers…
Bernie Rhodenbarr is a witty, mild-mannered book lover. Bernie can usually be found running his used bookstore. Where Bernie is never sledom found is at his second profession. Bernie’s a thief.
Alice Cottrell, the former teenage lover of the world-famous, reclusive author Gulliver “Gully” Fairborn visits Bernie in his bookstore. Gully is the author of NOBODY’S BABY, the novel that influenced a generation. Even Bernie felt the book had a positive impact on his life, changing the way he looked at the world. Instead of a sequel or following up NOBODY’S BABY, Gully became a traveling recluse. He wanted no publicity and his life kept private.
Anthea Landau. Gully’s former agent, kept years of Gully’s private letters. She plans to auction them off in a few days keeping the money for herself. Gully wants the letters destroyed. Anthea wants to pay Bernie to steal them before the auction.
Bernie decides t0 take possession of the letters. Landau lives at The Padington, a once famous, but no rundown hotel. Bernie takes a room. Getting into Landau’s apartment late at night is a breeze. Bernie quietly enters her bedroom and after a brief search finds the letters. As he’s exciting, Bernie sees a huge knife sticking out of Landau’s chest.
She wasn’t sleeping. She was dead. Recently murdered.
And now the cops are about to enter the room.
If Bernie can’t find a way out, and discover who killed Landau, he’ll take the fall.
+++
THE BURGLAR IN THE RYE is the ninth Bernie Rhodenbarr novel. Each story features a murder mystery full of witty dialogue, a healthy does of humor, interesting characters, multiple suspects and a conclusion where Bernie brings everyone together to explain the intricacies of the tale and expose the murderer.
Bernie Rhodenbarr tales are always fun.
Rating:
The Poster and Trailer for The Wrecking Crew starring Jason Mamoa and Dave Bautista have arrived.
Deal me in.
They fight like brothers. They wreck like legends.
Jason Momoa and Dave Bautista star in The Wrecking Crew, coming January 28 to Prime Video.
I love Mat Peg’s art. Peg gives Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (one of my all-time favorite movies) a new poster.
Brilliant.
Here we have three posters and a trailer for They Will Kill You directed by Kirill Sokolov, starring Zazie Beetz, Myha’La, Paterson Joseph, Tom Felton, Heather Graham, and Patricia Arquette. This looks like crazy fun.
Deal me in!
From New Line Cinema and Nocturna comes THEY WILL KILL YOU. The film unleashes a blood-soaked, high-octane horror-action-comedy in which a young woman must survive the night at the Virgil, a demonic cult’s mysterious and twisted death-trap of a lair, before becoming their next offering in a uniquely brazen, big screen battle of epic kills and wickedly dark humor.
THEY WILL KILL YOU stars Zazie Beetz, Myha’La, Paterson Joseph, Tom Felton, Heather Graham, and Patricia Arquette.
Directed by Kirill Sokolov and written by Sokolov & Alex Litvak, the film is produced by Andy Muschietti, Barbara Muschietti and Dan Kagan, and executive produced by Russell Ackerman, John Schoenfelder, Carl Hampe, Litvak and Sokolov.
Behind the camera, Sokolov is joined by director of photography Isaac Bauman, production designer Jeremy Reed, editor Luke Doolan, costume designer Neil McClean and visual effects supervisor Marc Smith. The composer is Carlos Rafael Rivera, the music supervisor is Andrea von Foerster and the casting director is Richard Delia.
New Line Cinema and Nocturna present THEY WILL KILL YOU, distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, only in theaters in North America on March 27, 2026, and internationally beginning on 25 March 2026.