CASSIDY’S GIRL by David Goodis / Z-View

Posted on by

CASSIDY’S GIRL by David Goodis

First sentence…

It was raining in Philadelphia as Cassidy worked the bus through heavy traffic on Market Street.

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

A few years ago Jim Cassidy was flying high.  Literally.  Cassidy was a well paid airline pilot.  Life was good.  Really good.

But that was then.

Cassidy was piloting a plane that crashed.  78 people were on board.  Eleven survived.  Cassidy was one of them.  The airline needed a scapegoat.  Cassidy was made to order.  They said Cassidy had been to a party the night before.  He had.  They said when he was flying the plane that crashed, he was drunk.  He wasn’t.

That didn’t matter.  Cassidy was fired.  He lost his pilot’s license and was lucky not to be put on trial.

Since then Cassidy’s life spiraled.  He lost everything.  He drank too much.  Way too much.  After a night of of boozing it up, he and Mildred, another drunk, got married.  It was a match made in hell.

Cassidy drives a bus by day while Mildred spends the time at a nearby bar drinking.  Cassidy comes home to find her drunk or still at the bar.  Then he starts drinking.  They fight.  Have sex.  Rinse and repeat.

Then Cassidy finds Mildred and Haney Kenrick getting friendly at the bar. Cassidy decides he’s had enough.  He tells Mildred he’s leaving her.  She asks for another chance.  Even though Cassidy is done, Kenrick wants Cassidy out of the way…

… and Kenrick has a plan.

+++

David Goodis takes us into a world of drunks, schemers and losers beaten down by the world and their own frailties.  CASSIDY’S GIRL is noir at it’s darkest.  I like the duality of the title. If I have any nit to pick, it is the ending is a bit too pat and upbeat for all that has come before.

This is my third Goodis novel and he’s yet to disappoint.

Rating:

“Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man!” by J. Beers!

Posted on by

When I was a kid Frankenstein Meets the Wolfman was one of our favorite Sammy Terry’s Nightmare Theater movies.  Even though they didn’t fight until the end of the film, having both Frankenstein and the Wolfman in the same film was a treat!

J. Beers created this alt poster.  He used Karloff’s Frankenstein head instead of Lugosi’s.  Beers also made the creative decision to make the piece a battle between cold and warm colors.  How cool is that?

“You think I’m insane. You think I don’t know what I’m talking about. Well you just look in that grave where Lawrence Talbot is supposed to be buried and see if you find a body in it!” – Lawrence Talbot

Source: J. Beers Instagram.

“The Long Walk” (2025) / Z-View

Posted on by

The Long Walk (2025)

Director: Francis Lawrence

Screenplay:  JT Mollner; based on THE LONG WALK by Stephen King.

Stars:  Cooper Hoffman, David Jonsson, Garrett Wareing, Tut Nyuot, Charlie Plummer, Ben Wang, Jordan Gonzalez, Roman Griffin Davis, Josh Hamilton, Judy Greer and Mark Hamill.

Tagline: The task is simple: Walk or Die

The Plot…

Following a civil war, the US has become a military dictatorship.  Each year and event known as The Long Walk is held.  Fifty boys, one from each state, is randomly selected to particpate in the televised event.

The boys are given food and water.  Once The Long Walk starts it goes until there is one winner.  Participants must walk at a sustained speed of atleast 3 miles per hour.   Fall below that speed and a warning is issued.  After the third warning, the walker is executed.

The Long Walk ends when only one person left.  The winner gets a big cash prize and one wish answered.  The event is held to inspire patriotism and work ethic in a country working to recover from a great economic depression.

Friendships are formed as the boys begin their trek… but there can be only one survivor.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

In Stephen King’s novel the participants must maintain a walking speed of 4mph.  King asked that the speed be changed to 3mph for the movie.  He felt that 4mph was unrealistic for the distance they had to cover.

Way back in 1988, George “Night of the Living Dead” was attached to direct an adaptation of The Long Walk.

In a cast of exceptional actors, David Jonsson and Mark Hamill are standouts.

Kudos also to JT Mollner for his excellent screenplay.

I thought the ending was the weakest part of an exceptional movie.  I have since learned that there was an alternate ending.  I would have preferred the alternate ending much more. ***SPOILER ALERT***  In  the alterate ending, Pete spares the Major’s life. A postscript reveals Pete mails three envelopes filled with cash are mailed each month to Hank’s widow, Ray’s mother, and Art’s grandmother.

The Long Walk (2025) rates 4 of 5 stars.

THE FINE ART OF ROCKY: AN ARTISTIC TRIBUTE FROM THE SCREEN TO CANVAS by John Rivoli with a foreward by Sylvester Stallone is coming soon!  

Posted on by

Rocky and Sly Stallone fans are in for a treat.  THE FINE ART OF ROCKY: AN ARTISTIC TRIBUTE FROM THE SCREEN TO CANVAS by John Rivoli with a foreward by Sylvester Stallone is coming soon!

THE FINE ART OF ROCKY is an immersive exploration and celebration of an iconic character — in time for his 50th anniversary.

Part art book and part retrospective of the first six Rocky films, this one-of-a-kind book invites fans to revisit the iconic franchise through artist John Rivoli’s collection of large-scale original paintings and iconic posters, showing this beloved character in a whole new light.

THE FINE ART OF ROCKY, readers follow Rivoli on his journey to portray Rocky through the lens of fine art and seeks to prove, once and for all, that Rocky is an art film worthy of being called a masterpiece. Rocky takes center stage in more than 70 paintings, posters, and other unique artworks, highlighting unforgettable moments from the Rocky franchise presented in original and unique perspectives as well as art collaborations with Sylvester Stallone.

UNIQUE GIFT FOR FANS & COLLECTORS: A fitting tribute to a landmark franchise and a great way to return to the ring, this art book offers a detailed account of the importance and meaning of each piece as well as an exploration into the techniques used, historical influences, and sources of inspiration that shaped each work.

SIDE-BY-SIDE ART: Experience an iconic scene from each of the six Stallone Rocky films that inspired each painting, including four exclusive paintings to this book.

OWN A PIECE OF ROCKY HISTORY: A celebration of a one-of-a-kind cinematic icon on his 50th anniversary milestone, this art book showcases Rocky in all his glory in multiple mediums and art forms.

PERFECT GIFT: Officially licensed by MGM/Amazon and with foreword from Sylvester Stallone, this is a special gift for Rocky fans, cinephiles, museum lovers, pop culture fans, and art educators.

THE FINE ART OF ROCKY: AN ARTISTIC TRIBUTE FROM THE SCREEN TO CANVAS will be released October 6, 2026.

Pre-orders are available now!

Deal me in!

“Wild Angels” (1966) directed by Roger Corman, starring Peter Fonda, Nancy Sinatra, Bruce Dern & Diane Ladd / Z-View

Posted on by

The Wild Angels (1966)

Director: Roger Corman

Screenplay:  Charles B. Griffith, Peter Bogdanovich (uncredited)

Stars: Peter Fonda, Nancy Sinatra, Bruce Dern, Diane Ladd, Buck Taylor, Norman Alden, Gayle Hunnicutt, Dick Miller and Michael J. Pollard.

Tagline: Their credo is violence…Their God is hate…and they call themselves ‘The Wild Angels’

The Plot…

When “Loser’s” motorcyle is stolen, his Wild Angels’ brothers head down to Mexico to get it back.  A run-in with another gang and the cops leaves Loser in bad shape.  When Loser dies, the Wild Angels decide to give him a grand send-off.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Roger Corman used real Hell’s Angels as extras.

The Wild Angels features Diane Ladd’s feature film debut.

The Wild Angels (1966) rates 2 of 5 stars.

“I.S.S.” (2023) / Z-View

Posted on by

I.S.S. (2023)

Director: Gabriela Cowperthwaite

Screenplay:  Nick Shafir

Stars:  Ariana DeBose, Chris Messina, John Gallagher Jr., Masha Mashkova, Costa Ronin and Pilou Asbæk.

Tagline: The war on Earth will be decided in space.

The Plot…

Kira Foster and Christian Campbell are American asatronauts who just arrived to the I.S.S. (International Space Station).  There they meet American Commander Gordon Barrett and Russian cosmonauts Weronika Vetrov, Nicholai Pulov and his brother Alexey Pulov.

Kira and Christian are happy to discover the comradery among the group.  Everyone works as a team with no political rifts.  The astronauts and cosmonauts are truly friends.

Kira is in awe of Earth seen from the ISS.  Awe changes to terror as Kira witnesses nuclear explosions appear across the planet.  The rest of the ISS crew stares in disbelief as the explosions light up the Earth.   Attempts to contact ground support fail.

Commander Gordon recieves a secret coded message from US ground control.  Russia initiated an attack on the US and nuclear war commenced.  Gordon is told take control of the ISS “by any means necessary”.  Gordon secretly informs the US astronauts of their orders.  He is sure that the cosmonauts have received the same message from their government.

The war on Earth will be decided in space.  

Blast off.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

 I love the concept of American astronauts and Russian cosmonauts aboard the ISS when a nuclear war breaks out.  While the movie is good, it fell short of my expectations.

I.S.S. (2023) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“Little Big Man” (1970) starring Dustin Hoffman / Z-View

Posted on by

Little Big Man (1970)

Director: Arthur Penn

Screenplay:  Calder Willingham; based on LITTLE BIG MAN by Thomas Berger

Stars: Dustin Hoffman, Martin Balsam, Jeff Corey, Chief Dan George, Faye Dunaway, Aimee Eccles, William Hickey, James Anderson, Alan Oppenheimer, Thayer David, Annette O’Toole and Richard Mulligan.

Tagline: Little Big Man Was Either The Most Neglected Hero In History Or A Liar Of Insane Proportion!

The Plot…

Jack Crabb is 121 years old.  A historian records Jack as he recounts his life story.  According to Jack, his parents were killed by Indians.  Jack and his sister were taken captive.  His sister escaped, and Jack was raised for a few years by the Indians.  Jack was given the name Little Big Man.

While still in his teens, Jack is “rescued” and sent to live with Reverend Silas Pendrake and his young sexually unfulfilled wife.  From there Jack’s life took unexpected twists and turns including…

  • Jack’s time with a traveling snakeoil salesman
  • Jack’s adventures as a feared gunslinger known as the Soda Pop Kid
  • Jack’s time as Wild Bill Hickok’s close friend
  • Jack’s married life as a partner in a general store
  • Jack’s travels west, attacked by Indians (again) and reunited with his Indian family
  • Jack’s troubles with a Contrary brave
  • Jack’s run-ins with General George Armstrong Custer
  • Jack’s claim to be the only white man who survived the Battle at the Little Big Horn
  • and even more

Jack aka Little Big Man is Either The Most Neglected Hero In History Or A Liar Of Insane Proportion!

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Chief Dan George was a 1971 Academy Award Nominee for the Best Actor in a Supporting Role.  This was the first time a Native American received an Academy Award nomination.

There was an actual historical figure named Little Big Man.  He was an Oglala Lakota warrior who did fight at the Battle of Little Big Horn.

When Dustin Hoffman’s character is adopted, Faye Dunaway plays his new mother.  Hoffman is four years older than Dunaway in real life.

Little Big Man features Annette O’Toole’s film debut.

Little Big Man (1970) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“Pitch Black” (2000) directed by David Twohy, starring Vin Diesel, Radha Mitchell, Keith David & Cole Hauser / Z-View

Posted on by

Pitch Black (2000)

Director: David Twohy

Screenplay:  Ken Wheat, Jim Wheat, David Twohy; story by Ken Wheat, Jim Wheat

Stars:  Vin Diesel, Radha Mitchell, Cole Hauser, Lewis Fitz-Gerald, Claudia Black and Keith David.

Tagline: Don’t be afraid of the dark. Be afraid of what’s in the dark.

The Plot…

A transport spaceship crashlands on a remote planet.  Only a handful survive:

  • Carolyn Fry – ship’s pilot
  •  Imam Abu al-Walid – an Islamic holy man, escorting three students to a New Mecca
  • Ali, Hassan and Suleiman – students traveling with Imam Abu al-Walid
  • Jack – a young person traveling alone
  • Shazza and Zeke – a couple
  • Paris – a wealthy man
  • William J. Johns – a bounty hunter/cop traveling with his prisoner
  • Riddick – a dangerous killer in the custody of Johns

The survivors come together in an attempt to assess their situation and chances of survival.  Their ship is beyond help.  When they discover a deserted outpost, their hopes rise…

But they soon discover that the planet is about to enter a prolonged eclipse.  The planet will be in complete darkness the entire time.  On this planet when the sunlight fades, dangerous creatures return to the surface.

Don’t be afraid of the dark. Be afraid of what’s in the dark.  It’s about to get very dark.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

The ship’s crash landing is amazing — especially seen on a theater screen.

Pitch Black is the film that made Vin Diesel a star.

In the original Pitch Black screenplay Riddick dies at the end.  Diesel and Twohy liked the character and thought they could make more films about him.  So far we’ve gotten The Chronicles of Riddick: Dark Fury (an animated video) which bridges Pitch Black and The Chronicles of Riddick film. Another feature film, Riddick, was released in 2013.

Pitch Black (2000) rates 5 of 5 stars.