ma-cortes

This is an interesting, action filled, suspenseful, and violent thriller adequately narrated. Concerns L. A. Detective/bestselling author with writer's block Meechum (Brian Dennehy) is a burnt-out wreck whose sideline as a crime novelist has dried up since his wife's death; he, nowadays, lives only with his daughter Holly (Allison Balson). Sleazy, amoral hit-man Cleve (James Woods) steps out of Meechum's past and offers him the dirt on his ex-boss Madlock (Paul Shenar), major league criminal turned legitimate corporation chief. Along the way, Cleve is a cold murderer who carries out grisly killings without mercy and in cold blood, but he now wants his own story written. The deal is that Meechum gets to write again and Cleve gets to be the hero of a hard-hitting exposé of Madlock's bloodstained past. Both of whom move towards a grudging respect for their manic alter ego. A hired assassin, a cop turned author, together they're rewriting the rulebook on the Mob !. Writing A Book Is Easy. Writing A Best Seller Is Murder. If words could kill...

This Larry Cohen-scripted thriller reworks the old idea of the symbiotic relationship between a killer and a policeman, adding a new twist. A superbly gritty thriller in which Dennehy is pretty good as the jaded cop and he is paired well with the psychotic Woods. It's a tense and engagingly movie, some ignored in the Eighties, but now better regarded than the past. Furthermore, an explosive finale, violently proceeded with bloody images and a lot of crossfire. Tough action, hardboiled dialogue and tightly constructed storyline keep the action bloody and crisp, while the jaundiced swipes at American capitalism are laced with cynism. Unfortunately, the potentially breathtaking confrontation between two-fisted James Woods and convincing Brian Dennehy never quite lives up to expectations. A solid main cast, and the veteran supporting actors help, including several known secondaries, such as: Victoria Tennat, Paul Shenar, George Coe and brief appearances from Seymour Cassel, Kathleen Lloyd and Charles Tyner.

Flynn's lean shooting achieves a gritty B film edge as sparks fly, adding an exciting musical score in 80s style by Jay Ferguson. Craftsman director John Flynn made nice films, though some of them sunk in obscurity, and he gave notable performances to Rod Steiger (The sergeant), Jan-Michael Vincent(Defiance), Silvester Stallone (Lock-up) and even Steven Seagal (Out of justice); here he gave immense credibility to Brian Dennehy and James Woods. Flynn began to work as a second unit director and film assistant on such features as "Kid Galahad," "Two for the Seesaw," and "The Great Escape." Soon after, Flynn made his debut with the unknown "The Sergeant" with Rod Steiger. He went on with the equally little seen "The Jerusalem File." John scored his first substantial commercial hit: "The Outfit" with a star-studded cast and providing an awesome acting from Robert Duval. Flynn achieved his greatest enduring cult popularity with the really strong and potent vendetta thriller winner "Rolling Thunder" with William Devane. His subsequent movies are likewise solid and worthwhile; they include the thrilling urban vigilante opus "Defiance," the sturdy Sylvester Stallone prison drama "Lock Up," a Steven Seagal action vehicle "Out for Justice," and the nifty virtual reality horror outing "Brainscan." John did two made-for-cable-TV pictures in the early 90s: "Nails" and the acceptable crime drama "Scam." His last film was the passable direct-to-video mobster item "Protection". ¨Best Seller¨ rating : 6.5/10. Good, the result is an enjoyable outing of action thriller genre.

The first, and better , of the two colour western Lewis made with Scott, this may lack the offbeat originality of ¨7th cavalry¨ , but certainly makes up for it in vivid characterisation and adequate 'mise en scene'. Scott is a marshal about to retire, who'd like to rid the town of its rowdy, guntoting villains before throwing in the towel, the job is complicated, however, by his involvement with faithless music-hall chanteuse Angela Lansbury, whose fickle ways weaken his resolve. Badly shot up by hired killers, the marshal can't throw away his principles even if it means his death. They were all running out at the same time ... his luck ... his bullets ... his woman !. Only the brave or crazy cross the lawless street ... or the Marshall of Medicine Bend !

Interesting Western with shootouts, intrigue, romance, thrills, solid craftsmanship and resulting to be pretty entertaining. Strikingly filmed, tersely plotted and appropiately staged. This Randolph Scott Western is another powerful drama from the hands of Joseph H. Lewis, who directed a few B-masterpieces. It fits in well with Scott's Fifties gallery of heroes with things they must prove and things they must do. Randolph Scott gives agreable and sober acting, as always, as a town marshal whose wife leaves him because he refuses to quit the job when an influx of nasty outlaws makes his town a grim place to live in. Better value than many bigger movies, with biting interpretations from a great support cast. In fact, ¨A lawless street¨ stands out a splendid plethora of secondaries at the time, such as: Warner Anderson, Jean Parker, Wallace Ford, John Emery, James Bell, Ruth Donnelly, Michael Pate, Don Megowan, Jeanette Nolan, and brief uncredited appearance of Richard Farnsworth as a townsman.

Professionally directed by Joseph H. Lewis, it's no masterwork, but once again reveals Lewis as a superior filmmaker of low-budget material. As Joseph was a B craftsman who directed a lot of films of all kinds of genres. He never really rose above the second feature, but turned in some fine work within the genre western. During two decades, Lewis spent time at Columbia (1939-40, 1946-49), Universal again (1942), PRC (1944), MGM (1950, 1952-53) and United Artists (1957-58), reliably turning out a couple of pictures per year. While he helmed more than his fair share of horse operas, it was invariably his films noir which attracted the most attention. Lewis had a penchant for Noir movies, as he made Drama, Thriller, Action, Western such as Terror in a Texas town, 7th cavalry, The Halliday brand, A lawless street, Cry of the hunted, Retreat hell, Desperate search , A lady without passport, The undercover man, So dark the night, My name is Julia Ross, The mad doctor of Market Street, The gang of mine. And his greatest hits were The Big Combo and Gun Crazy in which Joseph H Lewis chooses all the right angles for a real impact and never puts a wrong foot. He spent a few more years directing episodic TV westerns (including several of the better episodes of The Rifleman (1958) and finally retired in 1966. Rating 6.5/10. Better than average Western. Essential and indispensable watching for Western movies aficionados and Randolph Scott/Angela Lansbury fans.

Chicago, Illinois, 1960s. In an interview, Kathy tells how her life changed forever when she married Benny, a biker and member of a gang called the Vandals. The film is paced by means of flashbacks: after a chance encounter, headstrong Kathy (Jodie Comer) is drawn to Benny (Austin Butler) , member of Midwestern motorcycle club the Vandals. As the club transforms into a dangerous underworld of violence, Benny must choose between the strong-willed Kathy and his loyalty to the club that's commanded by rebel Johnny (Tom Hardy).

Johnny must confront the harsh truth: rival gangs are harassing them and new young leaders as The Kid (Toby Wallace) are contesting his throne. Freedom belongs to the fearless !.

In 1967, Danny Lyon published a photo book titled "The Vandals," which portrayed the biker gang of the American Midwest. Inspired by those photographs and the writing, director Nichols wrote this fictional story, ¨The Bikeriders¨starring Benny, in which Lyon himself interviewed one of the female members of one of the biker gangs known as the "Vandals." The film deals with the adventures of a biker gang led by Johnny, these adventures and misadventures become increasingly dangerous and violent as the gang grows. Much like the country around it, the club begins to evolve, transforming from a gathering place for local outsiders into a dangerous underworld of violence. That's why the movie depicts the brutal violence creeping up on his once-beloved club, while law enforcement and rival gangs are surrounding them. Starring Austin Butler (Elvis) gives a good acting as Benny, along with the always notable Tom Hardy (Venom saga) as enigmatic Johnny and although the real protagonist is almost Jodie Comer (Killing Eve) as Kathy, as the film develops through flashback interviews that Mike Faist (Challengers) - as Danny Lyon - does with Kathy/Comer.

The motion picture was professionally directed by Jeff Nichols, although it lacks a bit more drive and momentum to be a notable flick. Nichols films often set in Arkansas his home state and frequently casts Michael Shannon. His movies are frequently set in the Southern United States and usually containing great actors such as: Jessica Chastain , Matthew McConaughey, Reese Witherspoon, Joel Edgerton, Kirsten Dunst, Adam Driver ; in fact he directed one actor to an Oscar nominated performance: Ruth Negga, who was nominated for Loving (2016). Jeff is a good craftsman, a writer and director, especially known for ¨Shotgun Stories¨ (2007) with Michael Shannon, Travis Smith , ¨Take Shelter¨ (2011) with Jessica Chastain, Michael Shannon, ¨Mud¨ (2012) with Matthew McConaughey, ¨Midnight Special¨ (2016) with Joel Edgerton, Kirsten Dunst, Adam Driver, Loving (2016) with Ruth Negga, Joel Edgerton and ¨Long Way Back Home¨ (2018) with Michael Shannon and Garrett Hedlund. The Bikeriders: 6/10. A decent and acceptable film but nothing special.