I had somewhat different expectations for this movie. I thought it would take place roughly five or six years following the events of "Breaking Bad", but instead it picks up right where the series left off in 2013. In that respect, it could have easily been presented as two additional episodes of that program. Be that as it may, if you were invested in BB, you'll enjoy this look at Jesse Pinkman (Aaron Paul), on the run from authorities while seeking the money left behind by former associate and later jail keeper Todd (Jesse Plemons). Occasional flashbacks occur that reveal footage that wasn't seen in the original series but just as well could have been, taking place during the earlier five year run. Jesse's confrontation with the Kandy Mechanical crew is just as visceral as any from BB, and is probably the most noteworthy portion of the story. Though I did enjoy Jesse's search for the money Todd had stashed in his apartment. When he finally found it, it seemed like a no-brainer, since it was always known that Todd and his Uncle Jack always had a preference for cold, hard cash.
Reviews
5,701 Reviews
Breaking Bad
(2008–2013)
"The chemistry must be respected." - Episode #3.5, Walter White to Gustavo Fring
14 July 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Well, I don't know what I can add to the dialog here, watching the show as I have some seven years after it ended. This is quite simply one of the best shows ever to hit the cable TV scene. I see it's currently rated #4 on IMDb's list of top rated television programs, and though one could argue that point, there's no denying it was a well written and incredibly involved program with a myriad of characters and situations spanning five seasons. I happened to binge watch it over the last couple of weeks, and to my thinking, I don't know how I would have had the patience to catch it during it's regular run waiting for each chapter to unfold. Thinking back on the series now, I don't know if I'd consider any of the characters as likable, though all of them are portrayed by an amazing cast of capable actors and actresses. RJ Mitte in particular, as Walter White Jr., is particularly impressive as a young man with cerebral palsy, a condition which he has in real life on a much milder scale. As the show's central character, Bryan Cranston arcs his personality from a mild mannered high school chemistry teacher into one of TV's most amoral and vicious characters ever. Without trying to dissect every single principal player, I can only recommend you sample the series for yourself. And what the final episode of the series does, which I thought I'd never see again in a movie, is memorialize the character of Lydia Rodart-Quayle (Laura Fraser), with the song 'Lydia, Oh Lydia', a tune I first encountered in the Marx Brothers movie "At The Circus", and once again in 1991's "The Fisher King" with Jeff Bridges and Robin Williams! However the one that best personifies the series for reasons you'll understand if you watch it, is the song by Tommy James and the Shondells titled 'Crystal Blue Persuasion'.
"Still need a good signature line."
14 July 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Well, it's got the word 'assassin' in the title, and since I've got an ongoing IMDb list that focuses on assassins, I thought I'd give this a try. The funny thing is, I don't think the main character in the movie ever killed anybody now that I think of it. That's because Samuel J. Larson (Kevin James) is an insurance actuary and would-be adventure novelist who's invented the fictional character Mason Carver. He's drawn into a Venezuelan coup attempt by virtue of a literary agent reinventing his persona from a fiction writer to a real life, globe spanning killer for hire.
As insane as the whole idea sounds, this is generally a fun movie that keeps pace with it's action and humor. What's impressive are the fight scenes and martial art encounters involving actors Kevin James and Zulay Henao portraying DEA agent Rosa Bolivar. Those sequences seamlessly place their stunt doubles into the middle of the action without compromising someone like James, who's size and weight precludes an ability to fly through the air with the greatest of ease. I liked Bolivar in her role, fortunately the story line didn't try to make the most of a romantic entanglement between her character and partner Sam Larson.
The story itself introduces a host of characters conspiring to do away with each other in the hotbed of Venezuelan drug trafficking, mercenaries for hire, and political corruption. The one liners come rapidly and take some of the edge off an entirely implausible story, so if you're up for something just a little bit different, this one might fill the bill for you. Kevin James fans should be particularly pleased.
As insane as the whole idea sounds, this is generally a fun movie that keeps pace with it's action and humor. What's impressive are the fight scenes and martial art encounters involving actors Kevin James and Zulay Henao portraying DEA agent Rosa Bolivar. Those sequences seamlessly place their stunt doubles into the middle of the action without compromising someone like James, who's size and weight precludes an ability to fly through the air with the greatest of ease. I liked Bolivar in her role, fortunately the story line didn't try to make the most of a romantic entanglement between her character and partner Sam Larson.
The story itself introduces a host of characters conspiring to do away with each other in the hotbed of Venezuelan drug trafficking, mercenaries for hire, and political corruption. The one liners come rapidly and take some of the edge off an entirely implausible story, so if you're up for something just a little bit different, this one might fill the bill for you. Kevin James fans should be particularly pleased.
Elf
(2003)
"It's just nice to meet anyone human who shares my affinity for elf culture."
7 July 2020
Warning: Spoilers
In a concession to my eleven year old granddaughter, I watched "Elf" yesterday with her. Quite honestly, I thought she was suggesting "Alf" to me, so when she pulled it up on Netflix I managed an inward groan to myself. The end result though, was that I came away pleasantly entertained by the naive innocence of the Elf character Buddy, disarmingly portrayed by Will Ferrell. I don't usually go for pictures starring former SNL comedians because they're usually mindless fluff, but this one had a way of holding your attention to see what silliness comes next. I got a kick out of the sight gags and Buddy's one-sided view of a world he had no knowledge of once he hit New York City on a mission to find his real father. The script writers apparently weren't too concerned about him finding his real mother, a thought that occurred to me throughout, especially with each time that photo of a young Walter Hobbs (James Caan) was shown with his one time girlfriend. But that quickly gets lost in the shuffle of Buddy's precarious encounters with the staff at Gimbel's and Santa's (Ed Asner) arrival fueled by the Christmas Spirit provided by all of Buddy's new found friends and family. I can't really claim that this will wind up a holiday staple with me, but for a one time experience, "Elf" will bring a smile. Because in the words of Buddy himself - "I like to smile. Smiling's my favorite"!
"It was a dream-making kind of place." - Carren Woods
4 July 2020
Warning: Spoilers
This is a Cinderella story about a baseball team that stopped just short of grabbing the brass ring. From 1973 to 1978, the Portland Mavericks, under the ownership of former actor Bing Russell, defied the establishment of professional baseball to become one of the most successful franchises in Class A history. Russell, for those who might not have heard of him, was a character actor who portrayed Deputy Clem Foster on the television series 'Bonanza'. And if you're not familiar with him, you'll be shocked to check his stats here on IMDb, with a hundred seventy six credits spanning 1951 to 1990. Interestingly, right after watching this documentary, I caught a Russell appearance in the TV Western 'Bronco', titled 'Destinies West', one of those serendipitous moments that I experience while pursuing this hobby of mine.
Bing Russell was also the father of actor Kurt Russell, and a neat point of trivia you'll come away with here is that Kurt actually played for the Portland Mavericks in it's first year of existence. Kurt is on screen any number of times talking about his Dad and the history of the team. Interviewed as well are a number of former players and sports writers of the era, all attesting to the remarkable success of the Portland team, which made history with it's pitcher Gene Lathorn throwing a no-hitter in the Mav's very first game, and Bing being named Sporting News Class A Executive of the Year in 1974. On a somewhat bizarre note, at least for this viewer, film clips of the team's premier player, Reggie Thomas, show him wearing the numbers #5 and #27 in different games. That's one I couldn't figure out!
The biggest name of course to be hired by the Mavericks was seven year retired former New York Yankee pitcher Jim Bouton, who's 1970 book 'Ball Four' stunned the sports world with it's behind the scenes look at teams and players in a most uncharacteristic fashion. Controversial to say the least, Bouton fit right in with the outwardly seeming misfits who made up the Mavericks roster. The former World Series winning pitcher with the Yankees couldn't be happier with his four hundred dollars per month salary with the Mavs!
To give you just another flavor of what the Portland Mavericks were all about, I'll offer up this quote from one of their pitchers, among the many hundreds of players who showed up in 1973 to try and make the team. Larry Colton probably summarizes it best when he says - "It was clearly the only team in America that would have even let me try out". For both fans of the game and those who don't care much about baseball, this is an entertaining documentary about achieving the American dream by following one's passion. The name of Bing Russell will stay with you after watching this picture.
Bing Russell was also the father of actor Kurt Russell, and a neat point of trivia you'll come away with here is that Kurt actually played for the Portland Mavericks in it's first year of existence. Kurt is on screen any number of times talking about his Dad and the history of the team. Interviewed as well are a number of former players and sports writers of the era, all attesting to the remarkable success of the Portland team, which made history with it's pitcher Gene Lathorn throwing a no-hitter in the Mav's very first game, and Bing being named Sporting News Class A Executive of the Year in 1974. On a somewhat bizarre note, at least for this viewer, film clips of the team's premier player, Reggie Thomas, show him wearing the numbers #5 and #27 in different games. That's one I couldn't figure out!
The biggest name of course to be hired by the Mavericks was seven year retired former New York Yankee pitcher Jim Bouton, who's 1970 book 'Ball Four' stunned the sports world with it's behind the scenes look at teams and players in a most uncharacteristic fashion. Controversial to say the least, Bouton fit right in with the outwardly seeming misfits who made up the Mavericks roster. The former World Series winning pitcher with the Yankees couldn't be happier with his four hundred dollars per month salary with the Mavs!
To give you just another flavor of what the Portland Mavericks were all about, I'll offer up this quote from one of their pitchers, among the many hundreds of players who showed up in 1973 to try and make the team. Larry Colton probably summarizes it best when he says - "It was clearly the only team in America that would have even let me try out". For both fans of the game and those who don't care much about baseball, this is an entertaining documentary about achieving the American dream by following one's passion. The name of Bing Russell will stay with you after watching this picture.
Lawman
(1958–1962)
"You have a reputation too Marshal, as a man who can take care of himself." - Episode #2.82 - 'Yawkey'
3 July 2020
Warning: Spoilers
"Lawman" had a pretty good four season run on the ABC television network, notching one hundred fifty six episodes between October 1958 and June 1962. There was something about actor John Russell as Marshal Dan Troop that always got to me, those spooky white eyes of his and the streak of white in his otherwise dark hair. They served him well in the premier episode of the series titled 'The Deputy', when he first arrived in Laramie, Wyoming as the new town marshal. There was an arrogant air about him back then, hiring on Peter Brown as deputy Johnny McKay and going after the Hawk Brothers, portrayed by Jack Elam and Lee Van Cleef. It was established in that first episode that a marshal's salary in the 1870's was fifty dollars a month and the life expectancy of a sheriff was less than forty years! That's one time when the good old days weren't.
Actress Peggie Castle came aboard the series in the episode that kicked off the second season. She ran the Birdcage Saloon which afterwards became a somewhat regular hangout for the Laramie crowd, but prior to that, the first season had competitors like the Blue Bonnet and the Nugget Saloon. The Birdcage was billed as having the most beautiful girls west of Kansas City, and subsequent shows would do well to prove it. Castle's character was Lilly Merrill, and to add some resonance to her name, she sang Lily of the Valley in her first appearance. She didn't get off on the right foot with the Marshal, as Troop thought she was aiding an outlaw, the estranged father of a son she had. Over time though, their relationship picked up when Lilly started coming on to the Marshal, eventually dropping a wedding ring hint in Episode #2.52, 'Last Stop'. Nothing ever came of that suggestion.
Along with character actors like Elam and Van Cleef, there were a host of guest stars who appeared in 'Lawman' more than once over the course of the series, guys like John Anderson, John Doucette, Robert Wilke and Edgar Buchanan. What's kind of interesting is that some of the actors portraying villains were killed multiple times. Jack Elam for example, was shot and killed by Marshal Troop in that first episode, and again in episode #1.33, 'The Senator'. Deputy McKay had the unique distinction of killing Lee Van Cleef a couple of times, in the opening show and also in episode #1.37, 'Conclave'.
In a series with as many shows as this one had, it would be hard for most to pick a favorite, but the first time I saw the third season episode 'Yawkey', I knew it would be mine. In that one, Ray Danton portrays a noted gunslinger who arrives in Laramie and takes a seat at The Birdcage, summoning bartender Jake (Dan Sheridan) to deliver a message to Marshal Troop to meet him in the street in a half hour. Yawkey tells both Lilly and Deputy McKay that he intends to kill Troop at 3:30 in the afternoon. Both unsuccessfully try to talk him out of it, and with the gunslinger's reputation having killed twenty seven men in gunfights, there's a feeling that Troop might not come out of this encounter alive. Using a countdown clock reminiscent of the technique used in "High Noon", three thirty arrives and Marshal Troop ventures into the street. During the inevitable showdown Yawkey draws first, but Marshal Troop's slower draw finds it's mark. The dying man had no bullets in his firearm, telling Troop that he 'couldn't take it any more', referring to the countless challenges that came his way as the fastest gun in the territory. Though the citizens of Laramie clamored around Troop for taking out his opponent, the marshal would have none of it, instead respectfully carrying the dead gunslinger to his office. I guess the reason the episode grabbed me the way it did was because of it's psychological angle in the way Yawkey planned the manner of his own death. And to top it all off, this was the second time Ray Danton was shot and killed by Dan Troop; it happened the first time in episode #2.40, Lilly Merrill's first appearance!
Actress Peggie Castle came aboard the series in the episode that kicked off the second season. She ran the Birdcage Saloon which afterwards became a somewhat regular hangout for the Laramie crowd, but prior to that, the first season had competitors like the Blue Bonnet and the Nugget Saloon. The Birdcage was billed as having the most beautiful girls west of Kansas City, and subsequent shows would do well to prove it. Castle's character was Lilly Merrill, and to add some resonance to her name, she sang Lily of the Valley in her first appearance. She didn't get off on the right foot with the Marshal, as Troop thought she was aiding an outlaw, the estranged father of a son she had. Over time though, their relationship picked up when Lilly started coming on to the Marshal, eventually dropping a wedding ring hint in Episode #2.52, 'Last Stop'. Nothing ever came of that suggestion.
Along with character actors like Elam and Van Cleef, there were a host of guest stars who appeared in 'Lawman' more than once over the course of the series, guys like John Anderson, John Doucette, Robert Wilke and Edgar Buchanan. What's kind of interesting is that some of the actors portraying villains were killed multiple times. Jack Elam for example, was shot and killed by Marshal Troop in that first episode, and again in episode #1.33, 'The Senator'. Deputy McKay had the unique distinction of killing Lee Van Cleef a couple of times, in the opening show and also in episode #1.37, 'Conclave'.
In a series with as many shows as this one had, it would be hard for most to pick a favorite, but the first time I saw the third season episode 'Yawkey', I knew it would be mine. In that one, Ray Danton portrays a noted gunslinger who arrives in Laramie and takes a seat at The Birdcage, summoning bartender Jake (Dan Sheridan) to deliver a message to Marshal Troop to meet him in the street in a half hour. Yawkey tells both Lilly and Deputy McKay that he intends to kill Troop at 3:30 in the afternoon. Both unsuccessfully try to talk him out of it, and with the gunslinger's reputation having killed twenty seven men in gunfights, there's a feeling that Troop might not come out of this encounter alive. Using a countdown clock reminiscent of the technique used in "High Noon", three thirty arrives and Marshal Troop ventures into the street. During the inevitable showdown Yawkey draws first, but Marshal Troop's slower draw finds it's mark. The dying man had no bullets in his firearm, telling Troop that he 'couldn't take it any more', referring to the countless challenges that came his way as the fastest gun in the territory. Though the citizens of Laramie clamored around Troop for taking out his opponent, the marshal would have none of it, instead respectfully carrying the dead gunslinger to his office. I guess the reason the episode grabbed me the way it did was because of it's psychological angle in the way Yawkey planned the manner of his own death. And to top it all off, this was the second time Ray Danton was shot and killed by Dan Troop; it happened the first time in episode #2.40, Lilly Merrill's first appearance!
Bat Masterson
(1958–1961)
"Now in the legend of the West, one name stands out of all the rest..." - From the Bat Masterson theme song
2 July 2020
Warning: Spoilers
There were so many great TV Westerns during the late Fifties/early Sixties that you couldn't possibly watch all of them. As a kid, I would never miss 'Trackdown', 'Wanted: Dead or Alive', and 'Johnny Ringo'. Of course, it was my Dad who made the choice of what shows to watch, and not knowing any better, I had a blast with all of them. So as it was, 'Bat Masterson' wasn't on my radar back then, but it's a treat getting caught up with these old time shows as an adult with the ability to compare them with the ones I used to watch.
'Bat Masterson' aired for three seasons on the NBC television network from October, 1958 to September, 1961. Gene Barry was the star, portraying the suave and debonair frontier lawman who rarely used a gun, preferring instead his trusty cane to get the drop on cheating gamblers and otherwise nasty bad guys. During the show's first season, almost every episode reminded us that Bat was a 'legend in his own time' via voice over narration. Like it's contemporary on ABC, 'Tombstone Territory' (ahh, there's another one I couldn't miss!), this show's chronology jumped around, with events taking place generally between the years 1875 to 1886. In the very first episode titled 'Double Showdown', Gene Barry offered a little monologue on the historical Bat Masterson, and the show itself offered an alternate ending. I was surprised as all get out when in the second show of the series, Bat gets shot by a villain portrayed by Broderick Crawford. It usually took a few more episodes of a TV Western for the hero to get winged by an outlaw!
Many of the usual suspects would show up in the series, with character actors of the era like William Conrad, James Best, Alan Hale Jr., Warren Oates and Myron Healey showing up, sometimes more than once as different characters. Almost every episode would feature some lovely gal to provide a romantic interest for our hero, but no one could pin him down as he traveled from town to town in the Old West. Sometimes Bat would run into another historical figure like Wyatt Earp, who posed as a lawyer in episode #2.61, 'The Reluctant Witness', to help his friend and a woman accused of murder. I got the biggest kick out of a third season show titled 'Bat Trap', with Lon Chaney Jr. showing up for a turkey shoot competition. In that one, Bat's cane was rigged to fire a bullet!
Well, like most TV Westerns based on legendary characters of the Old West, historical accuracy was left in the dust to come up with entertaining stories, and 'Bat Masterson' was no exception. It was a fun show as far as that goes, and a neat complement if you're a Bat fan to the many movie Westerns based on Masterson's legendary career. If so, you might want to take a look at 1943's 'The Woman of the Town' with Claire Trevor as Bat's girl trying to persuade him into a journalism career, 1947's "Trail Street" with Bat portrayed by Randolph Scott, and the 1956 film 'Masterson of Kansas', where Bat teams up with Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday. Not that historical accuracy matters, all are recommended for fans of the frontier lawman and professional gambler.
'Bat Masterson' aired for three seasons on the NBC television network from October, 1958 to September, 1961. Gene Barry was the star, portraying the suave and debonair frontier lawman who rarely used a gun, preferring instead his trusty cane to get the drop on cheating gamblers and otherwise nasty bad guys. During the show's first season, almost every episode reminded us that Bat was a 'legend in his own time' via voice over narration. Like it's contemporary on ABC, 'Tombstone Territory' (ahh, there's another one I couldn't miss!), this show's chronology jumped around, with events taking place generally between the years 1875 to 1886. In the very first episode titled 'Double Showdown', Gene Barry offered a little monologue on the historical Bat Masterson, and the show itself offered an alternate ending. I was surprised as all get out when in the second show of the series, Bat gets shot by a villain portrayed by Broderick Crawford. It usually took a few more episodes of a TV Western for the hero to get winged by an outlaw!
Many of the usual suspects would show up in the series, with character actors of the era like William Conrad, James Best, Alan Hale Jr., Warren Oates and Myron Healey showing up, sometimes more than once as different characters. Almost every episode would feature some lovely gal to provide a romantic interest for our hero, but no one could pin him down as he traveled from town to town in the Old West. Sometimes Bat would run into another historical figure like Wyatt Earp, who posed as a lawyer in episode #2.61, 'The Reluctant Witness', to help his friend and a woman accused of murder. I got the biggest kick out of a third season show titled 'Bat Trap', with Lon Chaney Jr. showing up for a turkey shoot competition. In that one, Bat's cane was rigged to fire a bullet!
Well, like most TV Westerns based on legendary characters of the Old West, historical accuracy was left in the dust to come up with entertaining stories, and 'Bat Masterson' was no exception. It was a fun show as far as that goes, and a neat complement if you're a Bat fan to the many movie Westerns based on Masterson's legendary career. If so, you might want to take a look at 1943's 'The Woman of the Town' with Claire Trevor as Bat's girl trying to persuade him into a journalism career, 1947's "Trail Street" with Bat portrayed by Randolph Scott, and the 1956 film 'Masterson of Kansas', where Bat teams up with Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday. Not that historical accuracy matters, all are recommended for fans of the frontier lawman and professional gambler.
Bronco
(1958–1962)
"There ain't a horse that he can't handle, that's how he got his name." - From the Bronco theme song
30 June 2020
Warning: Spoilers
The classic TV Western series 'Bronco' had an interesting broadcast history. It debuted on the ABC television network on September 23, 1958 during what would have been the fourth season of 'Cheyenne', except for a contract dispute Clint Walker had with Warner Brothers. 'Bronco' alternated weekly episodes with 'Sugarfoot' starring Will Hutchins during the 1958/1959 season, and during the next two years it shared time with both 'Cheyenne'
and 'Sugarfoot'. In it's fourth and final season, the show alternated with 'Cheyenne', which went on to last one more year. The Bronco theme song is prominent in the early episodes, but in it's final seasons, the show appeared under the Cheyenne banner with a musical opening without lyrics from all three programs.
Actor Ty Hardin portrayed the character of Bronco Layne (no, not a misspelling, check the credits). It was revealed in the very first episode titled 'The Besieged' how Bronco came about his name. As a youth, he had Indian friends who taught him how to tame and ride wild horses. That first show had Claude Akins and Jack Elam appearing as guest stars. It didn't take very long for Hardin to show off his muscular physique, his first beefcake scene occurred in the second episode, 'Quest of the Thirty Dead'. From there on, he made any number of appearances without his shirt on, presumably to the delight of the show's female fans.
It was in the second season episode 'The Burning Springs' that Bronco's background was revealed as a captain in the Confederate Army during the Civil War with Company B, the Moccasin Rangers. In the story, he impersonates a Union officer to learn the enemy's position. Future TV Batman, Adam West appeared in the episode, interesting in itself because the part of the costumed hero was first offered to Hardin, who had to decline because of another filming project. If things had gone slightly different, Hardin might be better known today.
One of the things that intrigues me with these early TV programs is seeing who shows up before they became major stars. Among the character actors who appeared in the series were Myron Healey, John Dehner, Leo Gordon, Alan Hale Jr. and Harry Lauter. Bigger names in later years included James Coburn, Robert Vaughn, Lorne Greene, Pernell Roberts, and Buddy Ebsen. But the biggest surprise appearance to my mind had to be that of actress Mary Tyler Moore who showed up in #2.27, 'Flight From an Empire'. The following year, Moore appeared as a saloon gal in a 'Wanted: Dead or Alive' episode with Steve McQueen. But for sheer star power, it was episode #4.54, 'The Equalizer' that had the most recognizable celebrity names in it, with Marie Windsor, Harry Lauter, Jack Elam, Steve Brodie, and get this - Jack Nicholson!, as a member of the Bill Doolin gang feuding with the Butch Cassidy bunch! It was a minor part for Nicholson, but what the heck, he was in it!
Following the weekly shows, you really couldn't pin down Bronco with any particular job. He cold be a trail driver, a sheriff in a small town, a wagon master, or simply a cowboy riding from town to town in the Old West. Most of the shows took place in the years following the Civil War, with Layne meeting up with legendary characters like Wild Bill Hickok, Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid, Jesse James and Butch Cassidy. Quick on the draw and handy with his fists, Bronco Layne cut an imposing figure, as suggested by a Wanted Poster in #2.35, 'Montana Passage'. Falsely accused of a crime, Bronco is described as six feet four inches and twenty six years old.
With some regret, I never caught the show when it originally aired on television, but just recently finished watching all sixty eight episodes of the series. Putting things in perspective, I'd consider 'Bronco' a mid-tier TV Western, adequate for it's time during the Golden Age of television, but not quite as good as some of the premier shows like 'The Rifleman', 'Wanted: Dead or Alive', or it's counterpart in the ABC lineup, 'Cheyenne'. Still, when I say that I never ran across a Western I didn't like, I'd have to include 'Bronco' in the mix.
Actor Ty Hardin portrayed the character of Bronco Layne (no, not a misspelling, check the credits). It was revealed in the very first episode titled 'The Besieged' how Bronco came about his name. As a youth, he had Indian friends who taught him how to tame and ride wild horses. That first show had Claude Akins and Jack Elam appearing as guest stars. It didn't take very long for Hardin to show off his muscular physique, his first beefcake scene occurred in the second episode, 'Quest of the Thirty Dead'. From there on, he made any number of appearances without his shirt on, presumably to the delight of the show's female fans.
It was in the second season episode 'The Burning Springs' that Bronco's background was revealed as a captain in the Confederate Army during the Civil War with Company B, the Moccasin Rangers. In the story, he impersonates a Union officer to learn the enemy's position. Future TV Batman, Adam West appeared in the episode, interesting in itself because the part of the costumed hero was first offered to Hardin, who had to decline because of another filming project. If things had gone slightly different, Hardin might be better known today.
One of the things that intrigues me with these early TV programs is seeing who shows up before they became major stars. Among the character actors who appeared in the series were Myron Healey, John Dehner, Leo Gordon, Alan Hale Jr. and Harry Lauter. Bigger names in later years included James Coburn, Robert Vaughn, Lorne Greene, Pernell Roberts, and Buddy Ebsen. But the biggest surprise appearance to my mind had to be that of actress Mary Tyler Moore who showed up in #2.27, 'Flight From an Empire'. The following year, Moore appeared as a saloon gal in a 'Wanted: Dead or Alive' episode with Steve McQueen. But for sheer star power, it was episode #4.54, 'The Equalizer' that had the most recognizable celebrity names in it, with Marie Windsor, Harry Lauter, Jack Elam, Steve Brodie, and get this - Jack Nicholson!, as a member of the Bill Doolin gang feuding with the Butch Cassidy bunch! It was a minor part for Nicholson, but what the heck, he was in it!
Following the weekly shows, you really couldn't pin down Bronco with any particular job. He cold be a trail driver, a sheriff in a small town, a wagon master, or simply a cowboy riding from town to town in the Old West. Most of the shows took place in the years following the Civil War, with Layne meeting up with legendary characters like Wild Bill Hickok, Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid, Jesse James and Butch Cassidy. Quick on the draw and handy with his fists, Bronco Layne cut an imposing figure, as suggested by a Wanted Poster in #2.35, 'Montana Passage'. Falsely accused of a crime, Bronco is described as six feet four inches and twenty six years old.
With some regret, I never caught the show when it originally aired on television, but just recently finished watching all sixty eight episodes of the series. Putting things in perspective, I'd consider 'Bronco' a mid-tier TV Western, adequate for it's time during the Golden Age of television, but not quite as good as some of the premier shows like 'The Rifleman', 'Wanted: Dead or Alive', or it's counterpart in the ABC lineup, 'Cheyenne'. Still, when I say that I never ran across a Western I didn't like, I'd have to include 'Bronco' in the mix.
ReMastered: The Two Killings of Sam Cooke
(2019 TV Movie)
"I will do what I wanna do." - Sam Cooke
27 June 2020
Warning: Spoilers
I can't help contrasting this documentary with the brilliant book written by Peter Guralnik - "Dream Boogie: The Triumph of Sam Cooke". For the first forty five minutes or so, the film deftly handles the inspirational rise of Sam Cooke from his early days with The Soul Stirrers, his agonizing decision to venture into the world of pop music, and the accolades accorded him as he eventually rose to the top of the music charts along side Elvis Presley. We hear from contemporaries who knew and loved Cooke, including figures like Smokey Robinson, Dionne Warwick, Quincy Jones, Lloyd Price, Billy Davis and pro football great Jim Brown. They all acknowledge Sam's contribution to pop music while advocating for civil rights during an era that was still predominantly racist in certain parts of the country. His association with such disparate personalities as Cassius Clay (later Muhammad Ali), Malcolm X, and Jim Brown helped pave the way for tolerance among the races, while forging an immensely popular body of work that appealed to both black and white audiences.
Where the documentary goes off the rails for me is in it's conspiratorial tone regarding the death, some would say murder, of Sam Cooke. In that regard, the extremely well researched Guralnik book delves into Cooke's death with a dispassionate approach that explores both sides. Yes, Sam had his enemies in the music and political world, and the figure of Allen Klein taking advantage of Cooke offers an intriguing hook into what might be considered a motive for murder. However the events on the night of December 11th, 1964 would have required an impossible confluence of coincidences to occur for his killing to have been planned and staged. For one, Cooke had picked up a woman named Elisa Boyer, unknown to him to be a prostitute, and took her to the seedy Hacienda Hotel in Los Angeles. When Boyer fled his hotel room with his clothes, the naked Cooke wearing only a sport jacket and one shoe, ran to the manager's office and demanded to know her whereabouts. Following an argumentative confrontation with Cooke, hotel clerk Bertha Franklin shot him with a gun kept in the office. Just prior to the shooting, Ms. Franklin was on the phone with the hotel's manager, Evelyn Carr, who heard the intrusion and the following gunshot on the phone. Both Franklin and Carr passed a polygraph test on their version of events.
It's only natural that Sam Cooke's wife and family would question the police investigation of the murder, refusing to acknowledge his aberrant behavior on the night he was killed. Yet to this day, no concrete evidence has ever been presented to support a criminal conspiracy. I don't fault Cooke's contemporaries for questioning the circumstances of his death, but it appears to come from a sense of loyalty than to an acceptance of the facts. And if I'm wrong, I'd be glad to admit it in the face of new evidence. With all that mentioned, I'll go on record as a big fan of Sam Cooke the singer, who paved the way for many of the pop, blues, and soul musicians popular today. He died much too early, and it's not inconceivable that if he were still alive, he'd be considered a grand patriarch of the present music scene.
Where the documentary goes off the rails for me is in it's conspiratorial tone regarding the death, some would say murder, of Sam Cooke. In that regard, the extremely well researched Guralnik book delves into Cooke's death with a dispassionate approach that explores both sides. Yes, Sam had his enemies in the music and political world, and the figure of Allen Klein taking advantage of Cooke offers an intriguing hook into what might be considered a motive for murder. However the events on the night of December 11th, 1964 would have required an impossible confluence of coincidences to occur for his killing to have been planned and staged. For one, Cooke had picked up a woman named Elisa Boyer, unknown to him to be a prostitute, and took her to the seedy Hacienda Hotel in Los Angeles. When Boyer fled his hotel room with his clothes, the naked Cooke wearing only a sport jacket and one shoe, ran to the manager's office and demanded to know her whereabouts. Following an argumentative confrontation with Cooke, hotel clerk Bertha Franklin shot him with a gun kept in the office. Just prior to the shooting, Ms. Franklin was on the phone with the hotel's manager, Evelyn Carr, who heard the intrusion and the following gunshot on the phone. Both Franklin and Carr passed a polygraph test on their version of events.
It's only natural that Sam Cooke's wife and family would question the police investigation of the murder, refusing to acknowledge his aberrant behavior on the night he was killed. Yet to this day, no concrete evidence has ever been presented to support a criminal conspiracy. I don't fault Cooke's contemporaries for questioning the circumstances of his death, but it appears to come from a sense of loyalty than to an acceptance of the facts. And if I'm wrong, I'd be glad to admit it in the face of new evidence. With all that mentioned, I'll go on record as a big fan of Sam Cooke the singer, who paved the way for many of the pop, blues, and soul musicians popular today. He died much too early, and it's not inconceivable that if he were still alive, he'd be considered a grand patriarch of the present music scene.
The Night Clerk
(2020)
"I think this person might be dead."
22 June 2020
Warning: Spoilers
I've seen Tye Sheridan in 2012's "Mud" and "The Mountain" from a couple years ago, but his presence never registered with me the way it did here. In the film, I couldn't tell whether he was an actor who actually had Asperger's Syndrome or if he was successfully portraying such a person. There's nothing in his bio information here on IMDb to suggest as much, so his performance is exceptionally well done; he must have really done his homework.
As for the movie itself, I felt there was something just a little bit off about the screenplay. It would seem to me that regarding the circumstances of Karen's (Jacque Gray) murder in the hotel room, Bart Bromley (Sheridan) would have come under more suspicion as a suspect. His grilling by Detective Espada (John Leguizamo) was cursory at best given his proximity to the event and his questionable behavior on the night of the crime. Nor was it ever explained how Bart might have had the wherewithal to set up cameras in the hotel rooms to provide for his voyeuristic tendencies. Then there's the character of Andrea Rivera (Ana de Armas), was she simulating a reaction to Bart as a potential love interest, or was she exploiting him from the get go? There was no reason for her to express an interest in him, especially after he revealed his disorder, which even under the best circumstances did not mask his annoying behavior and manner of speech. That was just baffling to me.
What was cleverly done was the way in which Nick (Johnathon Schaech) was revealed to be Karen's murderer, because if you were attentive enough, the same tattoo on his body appeared in the recordings of Nick with both Karen and Andrea. I also found it interesting that Bart did make a backup of the Karen murder tape even after he told Espada that he hadn't done so. It all led to the story's predictable conclusion, while leaving wide open Bart's fate following Nicks inevitable arrest. A little more thought put into the screenplay would have made this a much more compelling psychological thriller.
As for the movie itself, I felt there was something just a little bit off about the screenplay. It would seem to me that regarding the circumstances of Karen's (Jacque Gray) murder in the hotel room, Bart Bromley (Sheridan) would have come under more suspicion as a suspect. His grilling by Detective Espada (John Leguizamo) was cursory at best given his proximity to the event and his questionable behavior on the night of the crime. Nor was it ever explained how Bart might have had the wherewithal to set up cameras in the hotel rooms to provide for his voyeuristic tendencies. Then there's the character of Andrea Rivera (Ana de Armas), was she simulating a reaction to Bart as a potential love interest, or was she exploiting him from the get go? There was no reason for her to express an interest in him, especially after he revealed his disorder, which even under the best circumstances did not mask his annoying behavior and manner of speech. That was just baffling to me.
What was cleverly done was the way in which Nick (Johnathon Schaech) was revealed to be Karen's murderer, because if you were attentive enough, the same tattoo on his body appeared in the recordings of Nick with both Karen and Andrea. I also found it interesting that Bart did make a backup of the Karen murder tape even after he told Espada that he hadn't done so. It all led to the story's predictable conclusion, while leaving wide open Bart's fate following Nicks inevitable arrest. A little more thought put into the screenplay would have made this a much more compelling psychological thriller.
Uncut Gems
(2019)
"I just hit big, very big!"
20 June 2020
Warning: Spoilers
I'm sure this film had a script and a screenplay, but it plays out more like the stream of consciousness ravings of an inveterate and compulsive gambler in the guise of jewel merchant Howard Ratner (Adam Sandler). I mean really, you have to ratchet up your concentration to a whole new level to follow the musings of Howard as he traverses the city streets of New York to ply his trade and make the one big score that will get him out of hock with an array of dangerous debt holders. Add to the mix the presence of NBA star Kevin Garnett, whose obsession with a hunk of unrefined black opal leads the principals on a frantic chase across the Big Apple. It almost sounds like a comedy, though it's anything but, as Howard and his cohorts play for high stakes in a game in which the highest one might be a matter of life and death. This is an uncharacteristic role for Sandler, allowing for a range of acting ability not in evidence in the types of lightweight comedies he generally appears in. Here he's living on the edge every minute of the day, in a high stakes world that threatens to blow up any minute. Eventually it does, but probably in a way you won't expect. Contrast this film with 2014's "The Gambler" with Mark Wahlberg, and they'll both convince you that there's no such thing as a safe bet.
The Invisible Man
(I) (2020)
"I just can't see him."
19 June 2020
Warning: Spoilers
I thought this was a fairly good movie but it appears that a host of negative reviewers are intent on talking me out of it. Updated for a modern day audience, Adrian Griffin (Oliver Jackson-Cohen) is an expert in the field of optics research, having developed a suit that makes the wearer invisible. In the original 1933 film, Claude Rains' character is Dr. Jack Griffin, a scientist who accidentally conducts an experiment that renders him invisible, while at the same time affecting his mind, making him aggressive and dangerous. It appears that our modern day Griffin was already aggressive and dangerous to begin with before coming up with his invention, and it becomes Cecilia Kass's (Elisabeth Moss) goal to prove to those around her that she's not going insane when people around her become the victim of Griffin's acts of retribution and revenge.
Now I do admit that there were some clumsy scenes that were used to demonstrate irrational behavior on Cecilia's part. The attack on Sydney (Storm Reid) was a huge question mark for me when it occurred because it didn't look like she was anywhere within arm's length distance of the young girl, and who can move that fast without being seen? Even the slashing of Emily's (Harriet Dyer) throat in the restaurant scene didn't present an aura of credibility about it, but in a crowded restaurant, how could Cecilia deny her involvement? However I was impressed throughout with actress Moss's descent into near madness regarding the events surrounding her.
Probably more than anything, the film encourages me to go back to the original movie, because even though I remember it fairly well, when I pull it up here on IMDb, I find I rated it without having reviewed it, and for me that's a no-no. So just as soon as this corona induced isolation becomes history, I'll be looking it up at my local library.
Now I do admit that there were some clumsy scenes that were used to demonstrate irrational behavior on Cecilia's part. The attack on Sydney (Storm Reid) was a huge question mark for me when it occurred because it didn't look like she was anywhere within arm's length distance of the young girl, and who can move that fast without being seen? Even the slashing of Emily's (Harriet Dyer) throat in the restaurant scene didn't present an aura of credibility about it, but in a crowded restaurant, how could Cecilia deny her involvement? However I was impressed throughout with actress Moss's descent into near madness regarding the events surrounding her.
Probably more than anything, the film encourages me to go back to the original movie, because even though I remember it fairly well, when I pull it up here on IMDb, I find I rated it without having reviewed it, and for me that's a no-no. So just as soon as this corona induced isolation becomes history, I'll be looking it up at my local library.
The Highwaymen
(2019)
"People don't always know who they are..., until it's too late."
16 June 2020
Warning: Spoilers
This film probably won't achieve the iconic status of the 1967 feature "Bonnie and Clyde", but it's still a pretty good picture, taking an approach that almost leaves the infamous criminals out of the story, except to make them the object of a Western manhunt. What's striking in the story is how Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow were afforded the same notoriety and hero worship as outlaw Jesse James, all of whom took on a Robin Hood like persona by robbing from institutions that took advantage of their era's poverty. Kevin Costner and Woody Harrelson are effective as the newly reunited, and formerly retired Texas Rangers, recruited by the Texas governor's office to track down the murderous duo. Criss-crossing a handful of states, Frank Hamer (Costner) and Maney Gault (Harrelson) use their experience and knowledge of criminal behavior to eventually track their quarry to a country road in Louisiana. I did a quick sit up and take notice when the former Rangers drove their way over a bridge crossing from Texas into Oklahoma, with Maney remarking to his partner, "It's open range now", offering a nod to Costner's well regarded Western of the same name from 2003. Though the story is set in the 1930's, I couldn't help making a comparison to a couple of modern day pictures that deal with good guys and bad guys at a time that deals with the passing of an old guard and the ushering of the new. Similar themes are prevalent in the 2007 movie "No Country for Old Men", and the more recent "Hell or High Water" from 2016.
Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy Rich
(2020)
Filthy in more ways than one
14 June 2020
Warning: Spoilers
The most frustrating thing about this story is the length of time it took to bring Jeffrey Epstein to the attention of the proper authorities that would take his offenses seriously enough to proceed with prosecution. In a prime case of money talks, Epstein was able to get away with his despicable behavior for decades with potentially hundreds of victims before being cornered into an inescapable situation. As for the victims, I have mixed feelings about their involvement in Epstein's crimes, as many of the on-screen women were almost willing participants due to personal circumstances of poverty or personal family trauma. But it's probably not fair to judge, as their own judgment was most likely compromised upon entering Epstein's orbit. I don't know that this series required the four episodes it took to expose Epstein's crimes, but the repetition and frequent time jumps were effective to expose this sociopath with not a shred of empathy for his victims.
"No one will ever believe you!"
14 June 2020
Warning: Spoilers
The world would probably be a better place if everyone was a bit more like Bill Murray. This somewhat biographical account of the actor and comedian chronicles the spontaneity with which he shows up unexpectedly in various places and lends an aura of disbelief and mystique to the proceedings. Quite honestly, I had never heard of this side of the Murray persona, so for this viewer, the semi-documentary was quite revealing. Not one to flaunt his celebrity, the picture shows Murray showing up at bars, home parties and baseball games with an unplanned agenda of having fun with an assemblage of complete strangers, causing the onlookers to gape in astonishment and awe. Never self conscious, Murray would just as soon start washing the kitchen dishes as dancing the night away in some out of the way night club. The picture itself is comprised of a lot of what looks like compiled cell phone video footage, and as such, doesn't have the polished look of a professionally made documentary, but it feels right in keeping with Murray's off the cuff personality and demeanor. It's pointed out in the picture that one of the regular themes occurring in many of his movies is the idea that no matter what might happen, 'it just doesn't matter'. You probably couldn't say that about all the folks affected by his unplanned appearances, as having Bill Murray show up in person at your place is bound to create a long and lasting impression.
Peaky Blinders
(2013– )
"I think what it is, you're bad men, but you're our bad men." - Ep. #1.6 - Former Garrison owner Harry to Tommy Shelby
10 June 2020
Warning: Spoilers
I'm late to the party here as I have been for anything appearing on network or cable TV since 'Seinfeld' went off the air. But it's gratifying in one way, as I've been able to watch the (so far) complete five seasons of "Peaky Blinders" over the course of a few weeks without losing a sense of continuity. I have to say, this is one of the best series I've seen, on a par with shows like HBO's "Deadwood" and "Carnivale", though this one comes courtesy of Netflix and the BBC. The acting is impeccable, with a strong cast led by Cillian Murphy as the notorious Tommy Shelby, leader of the Peaky 'effing' Blinders, as the characters manage to remind us in just about every episode. Without knowing what the title refers to, it becomes clear in a fourth season episode I think, when Finn Shelby (Harry Kirton) earns his brotherly status in the organization by using the razor blade in the peak of his cap to register his initiation murder for the gang. The machinations of the Shelby's are sometimes difficult to follow if you're not attentive, as their alliances and enemies have a way of criss-crossing from one side to another, but suffice it to say, the gypsy blood in the Shelby's generally manage a way to insure their triumph over perceived adversaries. The series is set in 1920's Birmingham, England, with the period detail strikingly imaginative and real. With not a weak actor in the ensemble, it's hard to pick a favorite among the killers and assassins who populate the story lines, but for whatever reason, I happen to take a shine to Harry Kirton as Shelby sidekick Johnny Dogs, who has just the right blend of malice and humor to appear as a well regarded henchman. It will be interesting to see where the story goes next with the start up of Season Six whenever it comes to pass. You can just about bet that there will be more than one instance that result in 'the bleak midwinter'.
ReMastered: Devil at the Crossroads
(2019 TV Movie)
"...he wanted to make his living with the blues."
9 June 2020
Warning: Spoilers
The name of Robert Johnson will always come up in any serious discussion of blues music. His name has become more legendary with the passage of time, and this short documentary helps put Johnson's life and times in perspective relative to his music. What virtually everyone knows about Johnson, if you know about him at all, is that his guitar prowess is often attributed to making a deal with the devil at a crossroads in his home town of Hazlehurst, Mississippi. What strikes me as extraordinary is how many people interviewed in this documentary are willing to give the myth an element of credibility, like yeah, maybe Johnson did make a pact with Satan in order to elevate his music from mediocre to rising head and shoulders above the blues musicians of his day, the era of the 1920's and 30's. Johnson certainly contributed to that aura of mystery by practicing his guitar at midnight in a cemetery with mentor Ike Zimmerman, and penning songs with titles like 'Hellhound on My Trail', 'Me and the Devil Blues', and 'Cross Road Blues'.
Musicians offering their testimonials to Johnson in this doc include Keb' Mo', Taj Mahal, Keith Richards and Eric Clapton. I've heard Richards offer tribute to Johnson in other documentaries, so I almost expected him to show up here. A fine companion piece to this one I would recommend is "Eric Clapton: Sessions for Robert J", a tribute recorded over a period of six months in four separate sessions in Checkendon, England, Irving and Dallas, Texas, and Santa Monica, California back in 2004.
Personally, I recognize the influence of Robert Johnson in the development of the Mississippi Delta Blues style, and his impact on noted guitarists like Clapton, Richards and Jimi Hendrix, but I have a hard time listening to his own recordings. His songs are sparse, with just his guitar and voice with no accompaniment. His recordings, collected on a two disc set from Sony/Columbia Legacy, represent all of his recorded work, containing all 29 songs and 12 alternate takes. But me, I'm just a simple music lover who can't relate to the nuance that these great musicians hear when they listen to a legendary player like Johnson. Eric Clapton has called him "the most important blues singer that ever lived", so who am I to contradict Clapton?
Musicians offering their testimonials to Johnson in this doc include Keb' Mo', Taj Mahal, Keith Richards and Eric Clapton. I've heard Richards offer tribute to Johnson in other documentaries, so I almost expected him to show up here. A fine companion piece to this one I would recommend is "Eric Clapton: Sessions for Robert J", a tribute recorded over a period of six months in four separate sessions in Checkendon, England, Irving and Dallas, Texas, and Santa Monica, California back in 2004.
Personally, I recognize the influence of Robert Johnson in the development of the Mississippi Delta Blues style, and his impact on noted guitarists like Clapton, Richards and Jimi Hendrix, but I have a hard time listening to his own recordings. His songs are sparse, with just his guitar and voice with no accompaniment. His recordings, collected on a two disc set from Sony/Columbia Legacy, represent all of his recorded work, containing all 29 songs and 12 alternate takes. But me, I'm just a simple music lover who can't relate to the nuance that these great musicians hear when they listen to a legendary player like Johnson. Eric Clapton has called him "the most important blues singer that ever lived", so who am I to contradict Clapton?
Hold the Dark
(2018)
"I can see you need to let the wolf out a little."
1 June 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Ahh, if only I'd read the book first! A number of reviewers for the movie here on IMDb explain details that aren't made readily apparent in the movie, which on reflection make perfect sense, but are mentioned only briefly and casually in the picture so it's almost impossible to make the connection. I think the film could have been scripted to add a little more understanding of the relationship between Medora (Riley Keough) and Vernon (Alexander Skarsgård) Slone, because knowing their actual relationship would have added a lot of clarity to the story, if not a creepiness factor added to the proceedings. I did get engaged in the picture, but when it came to the very ending, I had the same kind of reaction as I did with "No Country For Old Men", which leaves the viewer with a huge question mark hanging over one's head. What I can tell you about movies cast with Native American individuals, I get the biggest kick out of the names of the players. This one had Julian Black Antelope as the renegade Yup'ik Cheeon, and a supporting cast that included Joseph Whitebird, Tantoo Cardinal and Karen Powderface. You can't get more authentic that that.
"We came, we appeared, lending our hand to the underdog." - Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top
28 May 2020
Warning: Spoilers
I always come away from these music documentaries with a greater appreciation of the bands or singer being featured. I can't say I'm a big fan of ZZ Top but I do like their music, and this documentary gives one an intimate look into how the trio came together and progressed through fifty plus years of rocking out and turning the blues into party music. A number of terms were offered in the story as to how their music can best be described, and I kind of liked 'Texas blues with an edge' myself, and the boys make no bones about putting their home state of Texas front and center when it comes to touring, providing their fans with a concert experience that combines elements of a rodeo, circus and rock show combined. Music fans who grew up with MTV can credit that venue for making popular such classic rockers as 'Gimme Some Lovin', and my own personal favorite, 'Legs'. What you might not realize though, is that the classic ZZ Top look came pretty much later in their careers after many years of changing fashion and hair styles. Actor Billy Bob Thornton appears to offer his personal insights into the band, and he had a pretty apt analogy in describing ZZ Top as something akin to actually seeing Bugs Bunny in person.
Buffalo Boys
(2018)
"...when legends are born, they never die."
26 May 2020
Warning: Spoilers
The story begins in 1860 California and transitions to Java in the Indonesian Islands some six months later, just long enough to establish that a pair of brothers learned enough cowboy skills in the American West to take on villains in their home country. Traditional shoot 'em ups are interspersed with exciting martial arts choreography, some of which is quite stunning and brutal. A couple of knife throws finding their mark are also well staged and delivered, but for the life of me, I have to wonder why film makers can't get their players to learn the proper technique of shooting a bow and arrow. This is the second film in recent months I've seen in which a character, Kiona (Pevita Pearce), grips the arrow with her fingertips instead of placing the nock of the arrow between index and middle finger. With a very taut bow, one wouldn't be able to pull back on the string with fingertips. A minor nit-pick I know, but it just seems a silly thing to get wrong. That other film by the way, was 1974's "Devil's Possessed".
The villain of the story is a maniacal Dutch landowner (Reinout Bussemaker), with the usual assortment of thugs employed as henchmen. Younger brother Suwo (Yoshi Sudarso) dispatches a couple of those handily in a fierce saloon fight. I have to say, that crazed looking wild woman was my favorite, too bad she had to leave the picture so soon, but she had it coming. That battle resulted in Suwo returning the skull of a dead son back to his grieving elderly mother, a feel good moment for the oppressed citizens of the village.
A minor twist in the story occurs when Uncle Arana (Tio Pakusadewo) reunites with his wife, presumed dead, but forced into servitude by villain Van Trach. Arana finds her beaten and raped by the master, portending an ominous outcome for both sides. I guess one isn't supposed to question how older brother Jamar (Ario Bayu) made a comeback from getting shot three times by Van Trach at the finale, but it just wouldn't do for the pair of heroes to both wind up dead. In keeping with time honored movie Western tradition, the brothers say their final good byes and ride off into the proverbial sunset, but I wonder in this case if it was into the East.
The villain of the story is a maniacal Dutch landowner (Reinout Bussemaker), with the usual assortment of thugs employed as henchmen. Younger brother Suwo (Yoshi Sudarso) dispatches a couple of those handily in a fierce saloon fight. I have to say, that crazed looking wild woman was my favorite, too bad she had to leave the picture so soon, but she had it coming. That battle resulted in Suwo returning the skull of a dead son back to his grieving elderly mother, a feel good moment for the oppressed citizens of the village.
A minor twist in the story occurs when Uncle Arana (Tio Pakusadewo) reunites with his wife, presumed dead, but forced into servitude by villain Van Trach. Arana finds her beaten and raped by the master, portending an ominous outcome for both sides. I guess one isn't supposed to question how older brother Jamar (Ario Bayu) made a comeback from getting shot three times by Van Trach at the finale, but it just wouldn't do for the pair of heroes to both wind up dead. In keeping with time honored movie Western tradition, the brothers say their final good byes and ride off into the proverbial sunset, but I wonder in this case if it was into the East.
Big Kill
(2019)
"We're gonna get shot at."
25 May 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Westerns appearing on Netflix seem to catch a bad rap and by reading some of the reviews here, this was no exception. I'm in the camp of those that feel 'there's never been a Western I didn't like', so for me this one was entertaining enough, even though there are elements that defy credibility. Like the signpost at the entrance to Big Kill stating Population 8700 - really? Where would they have put them all? And how about when the bad guys hung the Mayor (K.C. Clyde) in the middle of the day, but no one knew about it until darkness settled on the town. Both of those examples just mystified me.
But even so, I got a kick out of this sagebrush yarn with it's Butch and Sundance camaraderie between Jake Logan (Scott Martin) and Travis Parker (Clint Hummel). Their dialog injected a good amount of humor into the story, while taking a greenhorn tenderfoot under their wing who was eager to reunite with a brother after a long absence. Which by the way, that brother, the Mayor, didn't seem to be known by his own name in the town of Big Kill, another strange anomaly that wasn't accounted for.
Perhaps the oddest part of the story was who was actually running the town of Big Kill. By all outward appearances that would have been the Preacher (Jason Patric) and his principal henchman, Johnny Kane (Lou Diamond Phillips). So when Mayor Grant Andrews had the temerity to fire the Preacher, it didn't require a genius to figure out he was going to epitomize the next big kill. What follows is the inevitable showdown between the Preacher's bunch and the questionable good guys, with Jim Andrews (Christoph Sanders) providing the needed grit to face down the thugs. That quick draw by Jake to take down the Preacher was so fast you couldn't even see it, so forget about a replay, you're just wasting your time. Which by my reckoning was another one of those anomalies that kept popping up in the picture. Those things just had a way of piling up.
But even so, I got a kick out of this sagebrush yarn with it's Butch and Sundance camaraderie between Jake Logan (Scott Martin) and Travis Parker (Clint Hummel). Their dialog injected a good amount of humor into the story, while taking a greenhorn tenderfoot under their wing who was eager to reunite with a brother after a long absence. Which by the way, that brother, the Mayor, didn't seem to be known by his own name in the town of Big Kill, another strange anomaly that wasn't accounted for.
Perhaps the oddest part of the story was who was actually running the town of Big Kill. By all outward appearances that would have been the Preacher (Jason Patric) and his principal henchman, Johnny Kane (Lou Diamond Phillips). So when Mayor Grant Andrews had the temerity to fire the Preacher, it didn't require a genius to figure out he was going to epitomize the next big kill. What follows is the inevitable showdown between the Preacher's bunch and the questionable good guys, with Jim Andrews (Christoph Sanders) providing the needed grit to face down the thugs. That quick draw by Jake to take down the Preacher was so fast you couldn't even see it, so forget about a replay, you're just wasting your time. Which by my reckoning was another one of those anomalies that kept popping up in the picture. Those things just had a way of piling up.
Locke & Key
(2020– )
"What I'm saying, the magic is real." - Episode #4: Kinsey Locke to Scot Cavendish
19 May 2020
Warning: Spoilers
The movie seems to borrow elements from a couple of Stephen King novels and the movies based on them. One of them being "It", in which a group of young kids come together to battle an evil in their home town. Also, the size and appearance of Key House calls to mind the mansion in "The Shining" where a lot of horrible things happened. And if I'm not mistaken, it looked like King himself made an uncredited cameo appearance in the final episode as an ambulance attendant. If so, that was pretty cool on the part of the film makers.
Over all, I enjoyed this series, though I usually don't go for stories that have teenagers as the principal players. As such, the series seems to be geared toward a teen and young adult audience, although there is enough interaction among the older adults in the episodes to balance out the story lines. As can be expected, some of the popular players introduced wind up exiting the picture via the murder route, with a twist at the finale that makes a second season pretty much a sure thing. In fact, if you're expecting closure with certain characters by the last episode, you'll probably be left frustrated with plot lines left dangling out there. One such example is Sam Lesser (Thomas Mitchell Barnet), who's ghostly sojourn into an ethereal world wasn't resolved, even though it happened in an earlier episode.
Over all, I enjoyed this series, though I usually don't go for stories that have teenagers as the principal players. As such, the series seems to be geared toward a teen and young adult audience, although there is enough interaction among the older adults in the episodes to balance out the story lines. As can be expected, some of the popular players introduced wind up exiting the picture via the murder route, with a twist at the finale that makes a second season pretty much a sure thing. In fact, if you're expecting closure with certain characters by the last episode, you'll probably be left frustrated with plot lines left dangling out there. One such example is Sam Lesser (Thomas Mitchell Barnet), who's ghostly sojourn into an ethereal world wasn't resolved, even though it happened in an earlier episode.
"The Stones are religion here!"
18 May 2020
Warning: Spoilers
My summary line quotes an Argentine fan dubbed a 'rolinga', a person dedicated to the Rolling Stones via culture and fashion. That could just as well describe any fan from the host of Latin American countries that the Stones included on their 2016 tour. Their opener in Chile was 'Start Me Up' which I think they should use to begin all of their concerts in order to set the tone for the evening. What amazed me most about this documentary was the size of the outdoor venues, but even more so, how rabid the fans were in each country visited - Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, Peru, Colombia, Mexico and Cuba. These weren't your screaming teeny-boppers of the Beatles era, but adults who never believed their countries would ever be as open and free to celebrate the world's best rock n' roll band after having lived through dictatorships that endured in some cases into the Eighties. For example, a Cuban fan relates how he was arrested for listening to rock music in a park at a time when it was banned. One of the big surprises for this viewer was how fluently Mick Jagger addressed the immense crowds in Spanish, eliciting a roar of approval each time he did it. In a handful of behind the scenes moments, tour organizers described the difficulties in putting the shows together, particularly in Cuba, where the initial date proposed came in direct conflict with a visit from President Barack Obama. Instead the Stones moved their concert by five days, prompting Keith Richards to remark - "They're gonna see something they've never seen before". Heck, speaking from experience, I only saw the Stones for the very first time just last year, and I can tell you unequivocally, it was something like I'd never seen before either. Check this one out if you're a fan, and you'll catch Keith using his rain stick for good luck, and grown men crying at the sight and sound of the Rolling Stones.
Jerry Seinfeld: 23 Hours to Kill
(2020 TV Special)
"Nobody wants to be anywhere!"
13 May 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Come on haters - give the guy a break - it's Jerry Seinfeld! Okay, this wasn't his best stand-up routine, but his observations on every day life are what made him popular, and there's much to be gleaned from this stand-up special filmed at the Beacon Theater in New York City. Jerry makes his appearance via a helicopter jump into the Hudson River right nearby, hustling to the venue because there was no place for the pilot to park. Jerry tweaks annoying friends, people addicted to texting, the postal service, and utilizes the second half of his show to expound on marital life. His bit on the invention of pop-tarts reminded me a little of the Hot Pockets guy, Jim Gaffigan, who's own routine is funnier than Jerry's, which I conclude might be a personal preference. Jerry has a unique take on the derivation of the word 'golf'. For him, it translates as 'Get Out, Leave Family', which isn't very far removed from another colloquial but misinformed observation that states 'Gentlemen Only, Ladies Forbidden'. It works both ways.
Murder Mystery
(2019)
"We are literally right in the middle of a TMZ story!"
13 May 2020
Warning: Spoilers
You kind of know that the corona virus has taken it's toll when one is reduced to watching an Adam Sandler/Jennifer Aniston flick, having run out of more reasonable choices and picking this one out on Netflix so as not to waste too much time searching. It's not really all that bad if one is amused by this kind of stuff and like the principals, who by the way, are showing their age a bit. Which is not a criticism because I'm a lot older than both of them, so I get it. Basically it's a fluff piece built around a murder mystery with a varied cast of suspects who wind up getting knocked off themselves in due time. As a frustrated police officer who failed the detective test three times, Nick Spitz (Sandler) and wife Audrey (Aniston), find themselves on a yacht in the Mediterranean via an invitation from wealthy playboy Charles Cavendish (Luke Evans). The setting becomes the scene of the elderly Malcolm Quince's (Terence Stamp) changing of his will, with all the attendant relatives being dropped in favor of his new girlfriend (Shioli Kutsuna). You've seen this set-up before, and with all the usual suspects falling victim themselves, Nick and Audrey become the prime targets of French inspector de la Croix (Dany Boon). The expected hi-jinx and chases follow in due order, with a script that manages to affirm that the Butler did it, but for that, you'll have to watch the picture. As I said, it's a fun puff piece, not even to be compared to the same year's "Knives Out" as far as murder stories go. If you're a mystery fan, you'll probably realize that the final scene almost begs the late 'honeymoon' couple to embark on an extended vacation aboard the Orient Express. Who wouldn't have seen that coming?
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