Category: Z-View

“36 Hours” (1964) starring James Garner, Eva Marie Saint and Rod Taylor” / Z-View

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36 Hours (1964)

Director: George Seaton

Screenplay: George Seaton; story by Carl K. Hittleman, Luis Vance; based on “Beware of the Dog” by Roald Dahl

Stars: James Garner, Eva Marie Saint, Rod Taylor, Werner Peters, Russell Thorson, Alan Napier, Oscar Beregi Jr., Ed Gilbert, Sig Ruman, Celia Lovsky, Karl Held,  Martin Kosleck, Marjorie Bennett, Henry Rowland, Otto Reichow, James Doohan  and John Banner.

Tagline: “Give Me Any American for 36 Hours And I’ll Give You Back a Traitor”

The Plot…

The Nazis know that the Allies are preparing a massive attack.

But where?

German Major Walter Gerber has devised an elaborate plan to get the needed info.  U.S. Army Major Jeff Pike is drugged and kidnapped.   The Nazis know Pike has been in meeting about the planned invasion.

When Pike awakens he appears to be in a U.S. Army hospital.  Major Gerber, posing as a US Army Doctor tells Pike that the year is 1950, and that the U.S. won the war back in 1944.  Pike is tricked into believing that since the war he has suffered from bouts of amnesia.

Gerber tells Pike that they need Pike to remember back as far as he can and they will slowly work to bring his memory back.  Pike’s last memory is leaving a meeting.

“Excellent.  And what was the meeting about?…”

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

36 Hours is an under-rated classic.  I’m surprised more folks don’t know about this one.

Three actors who gained fame in television series shortly after their appearances in 36 Hours include:

  • James Doohan who gained fame as Scotty on Star Trek appears uncredited as a British orderly.
  • John Banner who gained fame as Sgt. Schultz on Hogan’s Heroes and who “knew nothing, NOTHING” definitely knows something in his role here. 
  • Alan Napier who gained fame as Alfred the butler on Batman.

36 Hours (1964) rates 5 of 5 stars.

“Vincent N Roxxy” (2016) written & directed by Gary Michael Schultz, starring Emile Hirsch & Zoë Kravitz / Z-View

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Vincent N Roxxy (2016)

Director: Gary Michael Schultz

Screenplay: Gary Michael Schultz

Stars: Emile Hirsch, Zoë Kravitz, Emory Cohen, Kid Cudi, Jason Mitchell, Jeff Gum, Jared Bankens, Lance Tafelski, Hunter Burke  and Beau Knapp.

Tagline: Love is a Crime

The Plot…

Vincent is driving through a small town when he sees a man beating a woman.  Vincent rams the man with his car.  Then the woman jumps in Vincent’s car and they speed away.

Vincent learns the young woman’s name is Roxxy.  He says that he is returning home for the first time in a while and offers her a place to stay until she gets on her feet.  Vincent’s brother is happily surprised at Vincent’s return.  He is getting ready to open a garage and offers Vincent a partnership.  Vincent agrees.

Things are going well with the garage, and Roxxy’s job as a bartender.  Vincent and Roxxy are falling in love.

And then a secret from Vincent’s past surfaces… and the man who beat Roxxy learns where she’s at.

Things are about to take a turn for the very worst.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

I’m a Zoë Kravitz fan.

Beau Knapp is very good as the jealous ex-boyfriend of Roxxy’s friend.

Vincent N Roxxy (2016) rates 2 of 5 stars.

“Who Killed Teddy Bear? (1965) starring Sal Mineo, Juliet Prowse, Jan Murray and Elaine Stritch / Z-View

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Who Killed Teddy Bear? (1965)

Director: Joseph Cates

Screenplay: Arnold Drake, Leon Tokatyan; story by Arnold Drake

Stars: Sal Mineo, Juliet Prowse, Jan Murray, Elaine Stritch, Frank Campanella, Bruce Glover, Tom Aldredge, Rex Everhart  and Daniel J. Travanti.

Tagline: Recommended for Mature Audiences

The Plot…

Norah Dain dreams of being an actress.  In the meantime she works as a nightclub dj.  Norah’s life is turned upside down, when she begins receiving obscene phone calls.  The caller knows what she is doing daily.  It’s frightening to think that he’s stalking her.  Norah gets the police involved when a decapitated teddy bear is left in her apartment.

Detective Dave Madden is assigned to the case.  When Madden suggests that anyone, including himself could be the caller, Norah becomes concerned.  She learns that Madden is still dealing with the loss of his wife who was raped and murdered.

Could Detective Madden be Norah’s stalker?  Or someone even worse?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Arnold Drake who came up with the story and co-wrote the screenplay for Who Killed Teddy Bear had a career writing comic book stories.  Drake was the co-creator of many characters including The Guardians of the Galaxy, Deadman, The Doom Patrol, Havok, Polaris and others.

 The camera loves Juliet Prowse. Sadly Who Killed Teddy Bear? would be the last time she would appear in a feature film.  For the remainer of her career she performed on television and stage.

The film straddles the line between noir and exploitation.  And features some suprising scenes for its time.

Watch for a young Daniel J. Travanti, who would in 16 years gain fame for his role as Captain Frank Furillo on Hill Street Blues.

Who Killed Teddy Bear? (1965) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“Black Tuesday” (1954) written by Sydney Boehm, starring Edward G. Robinson, Peter Graves & Jean Parker / Z-View

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Black Tuesday (1954)

Director: Hugo Fregonese

Screenplay: Sydney Boehm

Stars: Edward G. Robinson, Peter Graves, Jean Parker, Warren Stevens, Jack Kelly, Hal Baylor, James Bell, Vic Perrin, Russell Johnson, Lee Aaker, James Bacon, Harry Bartell, Arthur Batanides, David Bond  and Milburn Stone.

Tagline: Rough… ruthless… real!

The Plot…

Vincent Canelli sits on death row.  In just a few minutes he will walk his last mile.

At least that was what was supposed to happen.

It didn’t.  Canelli with the help of his crime partners, pulled off an exciting, clever and deadly escape.  From death row!

Now Canelli is on the lam with five hostages, the prison priest, the prison doctor, one of the guards who made Canelli’s time in prison miserable and a young reporter covering the execution.  Caneilli has also brought along Peter Manning, another con on death row.

With the entire police force on alert, Canelli and his crew’s odds of escape are low.  Therefore they are willing to kill anyone who tries to stop them.  The police are also ready to shoot to kill.

What chance do the hostages have?

Sound the alarm, there’s been a prison break!

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Black Tuesday is surprisingly dark even for noir movies of the era.  It was banned by the Memphis Censor Board because of its brutality.

Black Tuesday, along with Key Largo and Double Indemnity, are my three favorite films starring Edward G. Robinson.

Lee Aaker of Hondo and Rin Tin Tin fame appears uncredited.  Also look for Russell Johnson (best know as The Professor on Gilligan’s Island) as one of the convicts.

Milburn Stone co-stars along with Peter Graves in Black Tuesday.  Graves would go on to fame in the television series Mission Impossible.  Milburn Stone would get his most famous role as Doc on Gunsmoke which starred James Arness.  Arness is brother to Peter Graves.

Hats off to Sydney Boehm for writing such a bold, brutal noir.  Boehm also wrote The Big Heat (one of my all-time favorite films).

Black Tuesday (1954) rates 5 of 5 stars.

“Time Warp: The Greatest Cult Films of All-Time”Parts 1-3” (2020): Part 1 – “Midnight Madness”; Part 2 – “Horror & Sci-Fi”; Part 3 – “Comedy & Camp” / Z-View

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Time Warp: The Greatest Cult Films of All-Time, Parts 1 – 3 (2020)

Director: Danny Wolf

Writers: Paul Fishbein, Irv Slifkin, Danny Wolf

Stars: Kevin Pollak, John Waters, Illeana Douglas, Joe Dante, Jeff Goldblum, Michael McKean, Bruce Campbell, Jeff Bridges, Rob Reiner, Gina Gershon, Fran Drescher, John Turturro, Pam Grier, Amy Heckerling, Roger Corman, Joe Morton, Ed Neil, John Sayles, Rob Zombie, John Cleese, Kevin Smith and Sean Young.

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

Joe Dante, Illeana Douglas, John Waters and Kevin Pollack talk about the all-time best cult movies in a three part series.  Clips from interviews with those who starred in the films are included.

  • Episode 1: Midnight Madness.
    Films covered include: The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Pink Flamingos, The Big Lebowski, Eraserhead, The Warriors, Point Break, and Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill!.

 

  • Episode 2: Horror and Sci-Fi
    Films covered include: Horror – Night of the Living Dead and Dawn of the Dead , The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, The Evil Dead, The Devil’s Rejects, Re-Animator, The Human Centipede, Blade Runner, A Clockwork Orange, Death Race 2000, The Brother from Another Planet, Liquid Sky and The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension.

 

  • Episode 3: Comedy and Camp
    Films covered include: Comedy – Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Office Space, Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Napoleon Dynamite, Clerks, Kingpin and Super Troopers. Camp – The Room, Showgirls, Plan 9 From Outer Space, Glen or Glenda, Female Trouble, and Beyond the Valley of the Dolls, Hedwig and the Angry Inch and Phantom of the Paradise.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Episode 1 brought back great memories of midnight showings that were popular in the 70s and 80s.  Films that never found an audience, got a second chance with these late night showings.  Fans of the films made them hits.

Episode 2 looks at films that often didn’t do great on their initial release due to bad or little marketing, but found a hard core audience over time.  This was my favorite episode — although I’ll never understand how (and hope to never see) The Human Centipede was greenlit.

Episode 3 explores cult comedies and camp films — movies so bad that they are “good”.  While I don’t think a movie can be so bad it becomes good, Ed Wood’s films are hard to not keep watching once you start.  It’s hard to believe that they’re not comedies and even better to watch with the right crowd.

Time Warp: The Best Cult Films of All-Time, Parts 1 – 3  (2020) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“The Breed” (2001) starring Adrian Paul, Bokeem Woodbine and Bai Ling / Z-View

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The Breed (2001)

Director: Michael Oblowitz

Screenplay: Christos N. Gage, Ruth Fletcher

Stars: Adrian Paul, Bokeem Woodbine, Bai Ling, James Booth, Ming Lo, Paul Collins, Reed Diamond, John Durbin, Zen Gesner and William Hootkins.

Tagline: Vampires Live Amongst Us

The Plot…

Another time.  Another place.

Detective Stephen Grant’s partner is killed when the two are following leads on a recent series of bizarre murders.  The murderer, a tale pale man, is shot several times to no effect.  The killer escapes by climbing up a sheer building wall.

After Detective Grant files his report, he is brought in for a secret meeting.  Grant learns that the killer is a vampire.  Although reluctant to believe, Grant is introduced to his new partner, Detective Aaron Gray.  Detective Gray is also a vampire.

Grant learns that vampires live among us.  Most want to live among humans in peace.  To that end, they have made themselves known  to government leaders.  However a minority of vampires don’t trust humans.  The murderer is one of them.

Grant and Gray are assigned to track down the serial killing vampire and put an end to him.  What Grant and Gray don’t know is that a conspiracy to wipe-out all vampires is being put in place by humans distrustful of the vampires’ intent.

Neither the humans plotting to kill all vampires nor the vampires distrustful of humans want Detectives Grant and Gray to succeed.

That makes them expendable.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

I like the premise and setting of the film.  Vampires living among us and wanting a peaceful integration while some vampires and humans are fearful of that seems logical.  Having the film take place in a recognizable but slightly different future worked for me.

The Breed is an interesting mash-up of a buddy movies, conspiracy films, horror, a touch of romance, sci-fi, and alternate reality that just misses the mark for being better than good.  But good isn’t bad.  I enjoyed The Breed, but hoped it would be better.

The Breed (2001) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“Tear the Roof Off-the Untold Story of Parliament Funkadelic” (2016) / Z-View

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Tear the Roof Off-the Untold Story of Parliament Funkadelic (2016)

Director: Bobby J. Brown

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

In the late 1950s, George Clinton formed and led a doo-wop group he called The Parliaments.  In 1968, while leading The Parliaments, Clinton formed another group using the backup singers for The Parliaments.  This second band was named Funkadelic.

Seeing the popularity of the two bands, and using his experience as a producer-writer-frontman, Clinton moved to Detroit and talked the band members into coming along.  The Parliaments morphed from doo-wop to become a funk band with members creating sci-fi inspired personas.  Meanwhile Funkadelic developed a sound that blended funk with psychedelic rock.

As both bands popularity grew, so did Clinton’s influence over the band members.  Clinton ultimately combined both bands who performed under the named name Parliament-Funkadelic.  This new band, led by Clinton, had a rotating roster of musicians.  Clinton furthered his producing power by creating two female bands, Brides of Fukenstein and Parlet.

Clinton was on top of the world.  His bands were popular, they were creating hits and the money was rolling in.

But all was not good.  Allegations came that Clinton was using his power and influence to pay band members in drugs, partially or not at all.  Further allegations of female band members being sexually abused.

This is that story.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

When I was in high school Clinton’s funk bands were popular.  I liked some of their songs, but didn’t know much about them.  When I saw the trailer for the documentary I was intrigued.

Even the musicians claiming that Clinton did them wrong, also called him a great showman and a musical genius.  But as one band member said, “…a genius can be a liar and a thief.”  Another claimed his signature was forged on a contract.  A female singer said she was beaten and raped.

By the late 1970s, although these stories weren’t known by the general public, many (most?) of the band members left the group.  Casablanca Records, Clinton’s label folded due to financial problems.  In the early 80s,  Clinton had financial problems of his own as well as a drug problem.

Sadly, stories like George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic’s rise and fall happens all too often in showbiz.

Tear the Roof Off-the Untold Story of Parliament Funkadelic (2016) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“Hondo”(1953) starring John Wayne, Geraldine Page, Ward Bond, Michael Pate and James Arness / Z-View

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Hondo (1953)

Director: John Farrow, John Ford (uncredited, final scenes only)

Screenplay: James Edward Grant; based on The Gift of Cochise by Louis L’Amour

Stars: John Wayne, Geraldine Page, Ward Bond, Michael Pate, Leo Gordon, Tom Irish, Lee Aaker, Paul Fix, Rayford Barnes,Frank McGrath, Chuck Roberson and James Arness.

Tagline: First she was afraid he’d stay—then she was afraid he wouldn’t.

The Plot…

Hondo Lane, a US Calvary dispatch rider, discovers a woman named Angie and her young son living alone on the frontier at the edge of Indian territory.  The woman says her husband is due back any day.  The truth is her husband has been gone for far too long.  He may be dead or perhaps he just took off.

Because the Apache Vittorio is threatening war, Hondo offers to take Angie and her son to the nearest Calvary fort.  Angie refuses.  She doesn’t believe the Apache will go to war.

She is wrong.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Hondo was nominated for two 1954 Academy Awards.

  • Nominee for Best Actress in a Supporting Role – Geraldine Page
  • Nominee Best Writing, Motion Picture Story – Louis L’Amour

Louis L’Amour won a nomination for Best Writing, Motion Picture Story.  Both L’Amour and the producer of Hondo questioned the honor.  They pointed out that the Hondo screenplay was based on L’Amour’s short story.  Therefore the nomination was withdrawn and only four films were list in this category on the final Oscar voting ballot.

Pal, the dog that played Sam, was the original screen Lassie.

John Wayne produced Hondo.  Wayne wanted Glenn Ford to star.  Ford didn’t care for director, John Farrow and turned down the opportunity.  So Wayne decided to take on the role.

John Ford directed the battle scenes at the end of the movie. John Farrow had to leave due to another film commitment. Ford, uncredited, took over as a favor to John Wayne.

Hondo was originally released in 3D.

Hondo gets better with every viewing.

Hondo (1953) rates 5 of 5 stars.

“The Boys from Brazil” (1978) starring Gregory Peck, Laurence Olivier and James Mason / Z-View

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The Boys from Brazil (1978)

Director: Franklin J. Schaffner

Screenplay: Heywood Gould; based on THE BOYS FROM BRAZIL by Ira Levin

Stars: Gregory Peck, Laurence Olivier, James Mason, Denholm Elliott, Rosemary Harris, John Dehner, John Rubinstein, Anne Meara, Walter Gotell, David Hurst, Wolfgang Preiss, Michael Gough, Joachim Hansen and Steve Guttenberg.

Tagline: If they survive…will we?

The Plot…

Barry Kohler, a young Nazi hunter discovers that Josef Mengele is still alive.  Worse still, Mengele is part of a secret organization to bring back the Third Reich.  Kohler reaches out to Ezra Lieberman, an elderly but famous Nazi hunter.  Lierberman doesn’t believe Kohler.

But when Kohler is murdered, Lierberman discovers that Kohler was right.

And Mengele’s plan is even more sinister.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

The Boys from Brazil was nominated for three 1979 Academy Awards.

  • Nominee for Best Actor in a Leading Role – Laurence Olivier
  • Nominee Best Film Editing – Robert Swink
  • Nominee for Best Music, Original Score – Jerry Goldsmith

George C. Scott was originally cast as Mengele.  He dropped out before filming began.

Because of Laurence Olivier’s declining health the fight scene between he and Gregory Peck took several days to film.  Both Olivier and Peck that it humorous that at their age they were rolling around on the floor.

Jeremy Black, who played the young Hitler clones, received an “introducing” credit.  Ironically, The Boys from Brazil features his first and last acting role.

The Boys from Brazil (1978) rates 3 of 5 stars.

Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein (1994), directed by Kenneth Branagh, starring Robert De Niro, Kenneth Branagh and Helena Bonham Carter / Z-View

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Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein (1994)

Director: Kenneth Branagh

Screenplay: Steph Lady, Frank Darabont; based on FRANKENSTEIN: or THE MODERN PROMETHEUS by Mary Shelley

Stars: Robert De Niro, Kenneth Branagh, Tom Hulce, Helena Bonham Carter, Aidan Quinn, Ian Holm, Robert Hardy, Cherie Lunghi and John Cleese.

Tagline: Be warned. It’s alive.

The Plot…

1794. Captain Walton, leading an expedition to the North Pole, is in a bad way.  His ship has become trapped in ice. While attempting to free the vessel, the crew hears a frightening scream somewhere in the mist that surrounds them.  Suddenly a man appears and calls for the men to grab their weapons and come with him.

The crew grab their guns and begin to move forward.  Their dogs run ahead, disappearing into the mist.  Within seconds they hear the cries of their dogs being killed.

The men retreat to the ship.  As his crew stands guard Captain Walton and the man talk.  The stranger says that he created the creature in the mist, and that his name is Victor Frankenstein.

This is his (and the creature’s) story…

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein earned a 1995 Academy Award nomination for Best Makeup – Daniel Parker, Paul Engelen, Carol Hemming

Francis Ford Coppola bought Steph Lady’s screenplay with the intent to direct the film as a follow-up to his Dracula film.  When Coppola decided to just serve as the film’s producer, he insisted that Robert DeNiro play the creature.

DeNiro chose Kenneth Branagh to direct.  Branagh brought in Frank Darabont to create a second draft of the screenplay.  Branagh wanted the film to include a “recreated bride” which doesn’t happen in Shelley’s novel.

Coppola didn’t like many of the choices Branagh made and their were multiple disagreements during filming.  Coppola wanted to recut the film, but Branagh refused.  Coppola went on record denouncing the film.

Coppola wasn’t the only creative who worked on the film that didn’t care for the finished movie.  Frank Darabont said in interviews that he didn’t care for the movie and that Kenneth Branagh mishandled the material, and made changes to the screenplay.

Kenneth Branagh was married to actress Emma Thompson, but during filming of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, began an affair with his co-star Helena Bonham Carter.  Thompson divorced Branagh in 1997 and he continued his affair with Carter until their breakup in 1999.

A four-issue comic book adaptation was published by Topps.  It was written by Roy Thomas and drawn by Rafael Kayanan.

DeNiro as the creature didn’t work for me.  I could only see DeNiro in make-up and not a creature reanimated from dead bodies.

The screen loves Helena Bonham Carter, so her rebirth as “the Bride” is shocking — especially since she doesn’t (and legally couldn’t) look like the classic Universal Bride.

Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein (1994) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“Wind River” (2017) written & directed by Taylor Sheridan, starring Jeremy Renner & Elizabeth Olsen / Z-View

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Wind River (2017)

Director: Taylor Sheridan

Screenplay: Taylor Sheridan

Stars: Jeremy Renner, Elizabeth Olsen, Jon Bernthal, James Jordan, Kelsey Asbille, Julia Jones, Teo Briones, Apesanahkwat, Tantoo Cardinal, Eric Lange, Gil Birmingham, Tokala Black Elk, Gil Birmingham, Martin Sensmeier, Austin R. Grant, Ian Bohen and Graham Greene.

Tagline: Nothing is harder to track than the truth.

The Plot…

When Natalie Hanson’s frozen dead body is found on the Wind River Indian Reservation after a brutal snow, rookie FBI Agent Jane Banner is sent in to investigate.

The autopsy reveals signs of rape and blunt trauma, but because Natalie died from a pulmonary hemorrhage caused by breathing subzero air, the coroner can not list the cause of death as murder.  That means that Agent Banner is unable to get additional support to investigate Natalie’s death.

Agent Banner knows she’s in over her head.  She is new to the area.  The customs and ways of life of the Northern Arapaho tribe who live on the reservation are alien to her.  So Agent Banner turns to Cory Lambert for assistance.  Lambert is the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Agent who found Natalie’s body.  Lambert is an expert tracker and knows the people having been married to a Northern Arapaho woman.

Banner and Lambert begin to backtrack Natalie’s last hours.  The will uncover another murder and conspiracy that leaves them outnumbered and on their own.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Wind River was filmed on location with some scenes filmed in real blizzard conditions.

Wind River is the first screenplay that he didn’t write on spec.  Both Sicario and Hell or High Water were written on spec.

Wind River is a bit of a slow burn.  But the amazing cast, the ultimate reveal of Natalie’s murder and the explosive gun battle after the sudden standoff are <chef’s kiss>.

Wind River (2017) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“Glengarry Glen Ross” (1992) written by David Mamet, directed by James Foley, starring Al Pacino, Jack Lemmon, Alan Arkin, Ed Harris, Kevin Spacey, Jonathan Pryce and Alec Baldwin / Z-View

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Glengarry Glen Ross (1992)

Director: James Foley

Screenplay: David Mamet; based on his play Glengarry Glen Ross

Stars: Al Pacino, Jack Lemmon, Alan Arkin, Ed Harris, Kevin Spacey, Jonathan Pryce, Bruce Altman, Jude Ciccolella and Alec Baldwin.

Tagline: Lie. Cheat. Steal. All in a day’s work.

The Plot…

Richard “Ricky” Roma, George Aaronow, Shelley “The Machine” Levene, and Dave Moss are real estate salesmen in a small office for a company that makes big promises. Despite lies and questionable tactics by all the men, sales are down.   Of late only Ricky Roma has been able to close deals.

With one week in the month left, the office manager John Williamson, says that the company is sending in Blake, their top salesman to inspire them.  Blake arrives and immediately begins talking.  Blake insults and attacks each worker’s salemenship and manhood.  Blake says that in one week, the top saleman for the office will win a car.  Second place gets a set of steak knives.  Third and fourth place winners will be fired.

And he’s serious.

Blake then leaves.  Ricky, George, Shelley, and Dave Moss are shocked.  Then angry.  Each man complains that the leads Williamson gives them are crap.  The leads have been repeatedly used.  The people on the leads have no money or no interest and have been called on several times.  Williamson doesn’t disagree.  You get what you get.  BUT, the two men show survive the month will next month get new leads.  These leads will be for the new  Glengarry development.

The Glengarry development is sweet.  It almost sells itself.  Those leads are worth their weight in gold.

Ricky is in a great position to win the car.  George, Shelley and Dave are all in danger of losing their jobs.  Each man has reason to do whatever it takes to survive.

And one will.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Al Pacino was nominated for a 1993 Best Supporting Actor Oscar.

Jack Lemmon gives the performance of a lifetime.  Same could be said for Alec Baldwin.  Kudos also to Alan Arkin, Ed Harris, Kevin Spacey and Jonathan Pryce who more than hold their own.

Glengarry Glen Ross is a showcase for great acting.  Jack Lemmon said Glengarry Glen Ross featured the greatest acting ensemble he had ever been part of.  High praise indeed.

Glengarry Glen Ross gets my highest recommendation.

Glengarry Glen Ross (1992) rates 5 of 5 stars.

“Honey Don’t” (2025) directed by Ethan Coen, starring Margaret Qualley, Aubrey Plaza, Charlie Day and Chris Evans / Z-View

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Honey Don’t (2025)

Director: Ethan Coen

Screenplay: Ethan Coen, Tricia Cooke

Stars: Margaret Qualley, Aubrey Plaza, Chris Evans, Charlie Day, Kristen Connolly, Don Swayze, Christian Antidormi, Billy Eichner, Kinna McInroe and Gabby Beans.

Tagline: She only has two desires, and one of them is justice.

The Plot…

Honey O’Donahue learns that Mia Novotny was found stabbed to death.  Honey is a private investigator who Mia had planned to meet the following day.  When Mia called Honey she said she couldn’t go to the police and was afraid.

Obviously for good reason.

Honey is determined to find Mia’s killer.  The clues will lead to the Four-Way Temple led by Reverend Drew Devlin.  Devlin is interested in a lot more than saving souls.  Devlin also has another money-making enterprise that could have something to do with Mia’s murder.

Honey won’t rest until she finds Mia’s assassin… even if it kills her.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

I loved the film’s creative use of opening credits.

Margaret Qualley, the star of Honey Don’t, is the daughter of actress Andie MacDowell.  They look so much alike they could be twins.

The film earns an “R” rating because it doesn’t shy away during the lesbian sex scenes.

Honey Don’t (2025) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“Dead of Winter” (2025) starring Emma Thompson / Z-View

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Dead of Winter (2025)

Director: Brian Kirk

Screenplay: Nicholas Jacobson-Larson, Dalton Leeb

Stars: Emma Thompson, Judy Greer, Marc Menchaca, Laurel Marsden and Brían F. O’Byrne.

Tagline: Wrong place. Wrong crime.

The Plot…

Barb and Karl had their first date ice fishing on Lake Hilda in Northern Minnesota decades ago when they were young.  They fell in love, were married and had a great life.  Now that Karl has passed, Barb has returned to the remote lake to spread his ashes.

It’s the dead of winter.  Lake Hilda is still a wilderness location.  No cell service.  No people.

Barb is shocked when she sees in the distance a woman with her hands bound trying to run from a man.  The man catches the woman and takes her away.  Barb follows them to a cabin.

If the woman is to survive, it will be up to Barb.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Emma Thompson’s daughter, Gaia Wise, plays young Barb.

Dead of Winter (2025) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“The Guilty” (2021) directed by Antione Fuqua, starring Jake Gyllenhaal / Z-View

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The Guilty (2021)

Director: Antoine Fuqua

Screenplay: Nic Pizzolatto; based on Den skyldige by Gustav Möller, Emil Nygaard Albertsen

Stars: Jake Gyllenhaal, Riley Keough (voice), Peter Sarsgaard (voice), Eli Goree, David Castañeda, Adrian Martinez, Beau Knapp (voice), Edi Patterson (voice), Paul Dano (voice), Gillian Zinser (voice) and Ethan Hawke (voice).

Tagline: Listen Carefully.

The Plot…

Joe Baylor is a LA police officer regulated to the night shift at a 911 Call Center pending the outcome of a complaint filed against him.  It is the night before a court decision deciding his fate.  It’s been eight months of hell.  It took a toll on Baylor and his family.  He and his wife (and their child) are estranged.

Baylor’s shift is almost over.  He cannot wait to get home and put this night behind him.  Then he takes a call.  A six year old girl is home alone with her baby brother.  She’s afraid.  The child says her father took her mother out of the house.  As Baylor tries to find her location to send a unit for a welfare check, he discovers the father has a record — for assault.  Now worried for the children and the mother, Baylor begins to try to locate the girl’s parents.

Joe Baylor is about to go down a path that he’s not expecting and will change his life.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

The Guilty is a remake of a 2018 Danish film of the same name.

The Guilty (2021) rates3 of 5 stars.