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The Amateur is a vigilante action spy thriller film directed by James Hawes from a screenplay co-written by Ken Nolan and Gary Spinelli. Based on the 1981 novel of the same name by Robert Littell, the 2025 film follows Charlie Heller, a brilliant CIA cryptographer whose wife was killed during a terrorist attack in London. After discovering that, he blackmails his superiors into giving him training to kill the people who killed his wife and use his expertise in doing so. The Amateur stars Rami Malek, Rachel Brosnahan, Caitriona Balfe, Michael Stuhlbarg, and Laurence Fishburne. So, if you loved the thrilling drama, intense revenge story, and compelling characters in The Amateur, here are some similar movies you should check out next.

Law Abiding Citizen (Starz & Prime Video Add-On) Credit – Overture Films

Law Abiding Citizen is a vigilante action thriller film...

Art isn’t just a reflection of life; sometimes, it’s the mirror that reflects the darkest corners of our souls. They say that some things are best left unspoken, but in the case of The Hands Resist Him, a painting that has stirred up more paranormal chatter than a ghost on Halloween night, it seems there’s no escaping the mystery.

If you’ve ever felt that spine-chilling unease from a portrait whose eyes seem to follow you, then you’ll understand why this particular piece of art—made by Bill Stoneham in 1972—has become the stuff of legend. The painting of a young boy and a doll with hollow eyes has inspired more unease than a hundred haunted houses, but rumors swirl that this very artwork has a dark, destructive history.

John Marley in The Godfather (1972) | Credit: Paramount Pictures

John Marley, the actor best known for his haunting role in The Godfather,...

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Paramount+ might be one of the biggest losers in the streaming wars, but when it comes to content, it has some of the most brilliant movies and TV shows ever made. Which is the advantage of being one of the oldest Hollywood studios. That’s why we decided to compile a list of the absolute best movies you can find on Paramount+ right now.

Attack the Block Credit – Optimum Releasing

Attack the Block is a British sci-fi comedy horror film written and directed by Joe Cornish. The 2011 film is set in London as an alien species invades Earth. It follows a group of brave teenagers who must fight against predatory aliens to survive the night. Attack the Block stars John Boyega, Jodie Whittaker, Alex Esmail, Franz Drameh, Leeon Jones, Simon Howard, Luke Treadaway, Jumayn Hunter, and Nick Frost.

The 1970s have certainly been a golden decade in terms of movies. From ingenious comedies to extravagant musicals, the 10-year period boasts a long list of cults. Among these, romances shine particularly brightly, offering narratives filled with passion and drama through unique stories that capture the nuances and complexities of human relationships.

However, not all these movies have happy endings. Many of the most romantic tales of the era embraced a different path from the traditional rom-com's cheerful conclusion, and they opted for more dramatic, often realistic resolutions, that would emphasize not just the beauty of love but also its complications and, sometimes, its fleeting nature. By focusing on the fragile beauty of relationships and the pain of separation or loss, these films portray love's impact on the human soul, even in its impermanence, making these stories profoundly memorable.

Love Story (1970) Directed By Arthur Hiller

Love Story

Love Story, directed by Arthur Hiller,...

Over the past century, movie characters have captivated audiences in countless ways, whether through love, hate, admiration, fear, or a mix of emotions. Movie characters are what audiences can identify with, whether they relate to their own life or the lives of the people around them.

These character journeys are the heart of a story, allowing audiences to witness growth, struggle, and triumph. Through the seamless weaving of plot and development, these movies create a masterful experience where characters not only explore their own worlds but also leave a lasting impact on the viewers.

Michael Corleone Takes the Godfather Name by Any Means Necessary Michael Corleone from The Godfather (1972)

The Godfather (1972) Reviews

Rotten Tomatoes Score

IMDb Rating

Letterboxd Average Score

92%

9.7/10

4.5/5

Michael Corleone’s arc in The Godfather is one of the most compelling and tragic transformations in cinematic history. As an outsider to the family business, Michael is initially portrayed as a war hero,...

Gladiator II Box Office (Worldwide): Beats The Godfather ( Photo Credit – Instagram )

Gladiator II by Ridley Scott might not earn as much as its contemporary movies – Wicked and Moana 2, but it is also achieving remarkable feats at the box office. Recently, it has surpassed 1972’s The Godfather’s global haul to accomplish an interesting title. It has also beaten the worldwide collections of Tom Hanks starrer The Green Mile. Scroll below for more deets.

The 1972 epic gangster movie, based on Puzo’s best-selling 1969 novel, was directed by veteran filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola. It has an ensemble cast comprising Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan, Richard Castellano, Robert Duvall, Sterling Hayden, John Marley, Richard Conte, and Diane Keaton. It was the first film in the Godfather trilogy, and the series has received multiple awards, including several Oscar nominations.

Trade analyst Luiz Fernando’s report reveals Ridley Scott’s film recorded...

From Al Pacino to Marlon Brando, the cast of The Godfather is full of bona fide screen legends who went on to appear in some of the greatest movies ever made. The Godfather was a massive box office success, becoming the highest-grossing film of all time, and it had universal acclaim from critics to match. It didnt just make its director Francis Ford Coppola a household name; it made household names of everyone in its sprawling ensemble.

Some of the actors in The Godfather were already big names. Robert Duvall had already appeared in To Kill a Mockingbird and James Caan had already starred in Brians Song. But most of the films cast members, like Talia Shire and Diane Keaton, got their big break from The Godfather itself. Today, The Godfather is remembered for having one of the most star-studded casts in film history but at the time, a lot of them were unknowns.

The same year that he laid the groundwork for a horror revolution with Black Christmas, Bob Clark released Deathdream (also known as Dead of Night). The 1974 horror film is understandably overshadowed by his influential proto-slasher, but it was on Deathdream that the filmmaker honed his skills that would fuel his masterpiece of the genre: a brooding atmosphere, a calculated pace, a subtle score by Carl Zittrer that’s inseparable from the organic sound design, and even the use of a rocking chair to achieve unease.

Deathdream found Clark re-teaming with writer Alan Ormsby and several other cast and crew members from his 1972 film, Children Shouldn’t Play with Dead Things. While it suffers from minor pacing issues, Deathdream is significantly more well rounded. Jack McGowan’s cinematography is often flat (albeit an improvement over his work on Dead Things), but the budget – still limited but some five times larger than the...

In this shattering variation on “The Monkey’s Paw,” grief-stricken suburban parents (Academy Award nominees John Marley of The Godfather and Lynn Carlin of Faces) refuse to accept the news that their son Andy (Richard Backus) has been killed in Vietnam. But when Andy returns home soon after, something may be horribly wrong: Andy is alive and well…or is he? Produced and directed by Bob Clark (Black Christmas) and written by Alan Ormsby (Deranged), Deathdream was one of the very first films to confront the domestic ravages of the Vietnam War and remains one of the most chilling horror films of all time.

Deathdream is available on 4K Uhd Blu-ray on May 21.

Enter for your chance to win a 4K Uhd Blu-ray of Deathdream, courtesy of Blue Underground. Two (2) winners will be selected at random.

Here’s how to enter:

Step 1: Follow us on Facebook, X, Instagram, or Bluesky.

Midway through Bob Clark’s Deathdream (originally titled Dead of Night), Andy Brooks (Richard Backus) dons a pair of black leather gloves and sunglasses for an upcoming date. Andy displays a suave and calm demeanor that should be familiar to fans of Jean-Pierre Melville’s 1967 film Le Samouraï, which features Alain Delon as the ne plus ultra of psychotic cool; his haircut even recalls that of Steve McQueen in 1968’s Bullitt. However, Andy’s garb has a tactile purpose, concealing as it does his deteriorating skin, which will turn to dust without a replenishing supply of blood. Because of this, Clark’s genre film goes in the opposite direction of peddling cool, as Deathdream shows how a pair of designer shades can only momentarily shield the irreparable physical and psychological scars of war.

That Deathdream is a vehement anti-war statement can only be ascertained gradually, as Andy’s parents, Charles...

Quick Links The Greatest Plot and Cast What Was It Like for Muhammad Ali To Play Himself Should I Watch The Greatest, and Where Can I Stream It?

The highest-rated and most acclaimed movie about legendary boxer Muhammad Ali is Michael Mann's 2001 film Ali, starring Will Smith. It is currently sitting at 65% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes. While the film was met with mixed reviews, the praise for Will Smith's portrayal of the icon was almost unanimously positive. However, Will Smith was not the first to play Muhammad Ali; that honor goes to Ali, who appeared in the 1977 movie The Greatest.

We will look at the movie, which too many exist as a curiosity, and see what it was like to see Ali step into the role of playing himself. We will also discuss whether The Greatest is worth watching and where to find it.

The Greatest Plot and Cast...

Killer Collectibles highlights five of the most exciting new horror products announced each and every week, from toys and apparel to artwork, records, and much more.

Here are the coolest horror collectibles unveiled this week!

Crimson Peak 4K Uhd from Arrow Video

Crimson Peak will haunt 4K Ultra HD on May 21 via Arrow Video. The 2015 Gothic horror/romance is presented in 4K with Dolby Vision, approved by director Guillermo del Toro, and original DTS:X Master Audio sound.

Del Toro co-wrote the script with frequent collaborator Matthew Robbins. Mia Wasikowska, Jessica Chastain, Tom Hiddleston, Charlie Hunnam, and Jim Beaver star with Doug Jones and Javier Botet appearing as ghosts.

The limited edition set comes with a double-sided poster, four double-sided postcards, and an 80-page book featuring writings by David Jenkins and Simon Abrams, an interview with del Toro, and conceptual illustrations by Guy Davis and Oscar Chichoni, all housed in...

When people think of open-air ice skating in New York City, well, they probably conjure up the festive Christmas-y confines of 30 Rockefeller Plaza. Unless they're old. Baby Boomer old. For members of the generation that protested the Vietnam War before turning into conservative zombies who treat Fox News as an informational IV drip, there is first and foremost the image of the late Ryan O'Neal's Oliver Barrett IV gazing forlornly at the Wollman Skating Rink in Central Park as Francis Lai's brilliantly overwrought main theme jerks tears from our ducts with a vicious intensity worthy of Pinhead.

Most Boomers won't get that reference. And for those born as early as the Reagan era who are generally incurious about movies, you probably haven't watched Arthur Hiller's "Love Story." It is a film of its time, but, oh, what a film it was, at least commercially. Based on Erich Segal...

Western comedies provide a refreshing and hilarious take on the traditional Western genre, subverting expectations and adding comedic elements. The best Western comedies make fun of the genre and its stereotypical storylines, offering parody and self-reflexive humor. Films like Three Amigos!, Shanghai Noon, and Blazing Saddles rank among the best Western comedies, with dynamic casting and iconic performances.

While uncommon, Western comedies are among some of the most hilarious and enjoyable subgenres of film. The most successful Western comedies, ranked here from worst to best, all possess classic tropes of the Western genre while maintaining their focus on comedic elements such as slapstick humor and witty one-liners. The Western genre typically offers a canvas for thrilling action and intense violence with mostly dramatic themes and dark undertones. Western comedies subvert these expectations by introducing humor in the most unlikely of environments.

The best Western comedies make fun of the genre...

It's hard to believe it's been 70 years since Fred Zinneman's "From Here to Eternity" came out. Not that we were all there of course, but time has been really kind to the all-star, Best Picture-winning drama. Unlike many of the rah-rah war films emerging from America during and post-World War II, "From Here to Eternity" argues not that war is hell — since most of the movie takes place during peace time — but that men, even in the army, are subconsciously determined to make life hell whether there's a war on or not.

Montgomery Clift, Burt Lancaster, and Frank Sinatra star as soldiers stationed in Hawaii immediately prior to World War II, whose stubborn pride and barely contained insecurities lead directly to many avoidable tragedies. Clift plays Private Prewitt, a formerly promising boxer who refuses to box again after accidentally blinding a fellow soldier, and endures criminal abuse just because...

Hello, everyone! August 23rd is a quiet day for horror and sci-fi home media releases, but that doesn’t mean that this week’s offerings aren’t pretty darn great all the same. Scream Factory has put together a killer Collector’s Edition 4K release for Neil Marshall’s Dog Soldiers and Kino Lorber has put together reissues of their Blu-ray box sets for seasons one and two of The Outer Limits, which genre fans will definitely want to pick up.

Cheers!

Dog Soldiers: 4K Collector’s Edition

A group of soldiers dispatched to the Scottish Highlands on special training maneuvers face their biggest fears after they run into Captain Ryan – the only survivor of a Special Ops team that was literally torn to pieces. Ryan refuses to disclose his mission even though whoever attacked his men might be hungry for seconds. Help arrives in the form of a...

This week at the Paramount Theater in Hollywood, California titans of the film industry gathered to celebrate the 50th anniversary of The Godfather. Franics Ford Coppola’s mob epic has, as it put it to our interviewer DaniElle DeLaite, had ‘the best review of all – that it has stood the test of time.’

We spoke to Coppola, Jon Voight and American Zoetrope Film Archivist James Mockoski and Paramount SVP of Archives Andrea Kalas about the filming of the movie, and asked why they think the film continues to endure and inspire new generations of filmmakers and audiences.

The film stars Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan, Richard Castellano, Robert Duvall, Sterling Hayden, John Marley, Richard Conte, and Diane Keaton. It is one of the cornerstones of modern cinema, and should be enjoyed on as big a screen as possible. DaniElle DeLaite and Bobby Jones were our team on the red carpet,...

Paramount Pictures announced that Francis Ford Coppola’s “The Godfather” will be returning to theaters for its 50th anniversary at the Dolby Cinema and AMC theaters on Feb. 24, with 4K Ultra HD and digital on March 22.

Paramount has released a new trailer for the restored version. The restoration included 1,000 hours of color correction and restoration of the original mono tracks, in addition to 4,000 hours of repairing stains and tears.

All three films in the trilogy have been restored under the direction of Coppola.

Originally released in 1972, the Academy Award-winning film adaptation of Mario Puzo’s novel is a trilogy that chronicles the rise and fall of the Corleone family under the patriarch Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando) and the transformation of his youngest son, Michael (Al Pacino), from reluctant family outsider to ruthless mafia boss.

James Caan, Richard Castellano, Robert Duvall, Sterling Hayden, John Marley, Richard Conte and Diane Keaton also star.

Some gangster movies/shows never tend to leave your mind. After all, they leave behind a lasting impressing by weaving an intricate and violent tale of power and vengeance through iconic dialogues or a particular shot from that film/show. At times, these movies/shows portray real-life mafia stories in a romantic, yet realistic, manner. If you’re in the mood for the same, here are 5 gangster dramas that are so good to be true and will surely keep your adrenaline pumping.

Dom (Amazon Prime Video)

Dom is a Brazilian crime-mafia series which is inspired by a true story. Directed by Vincente Kubrusly and Breno Silveira and starring Gabriel Leone, Flavio Tolezani, Filipe Braganca, this series is about a police officer who is has been fighting the war against drugs his entire life only to finds his own son become the most drug lord in Rio de Janeiro. Dom, that...

“What can you say about a 25-year-old girl who died? That she was beautiful and brilliant? That she loved Mozart and Bach, the Beatles, and me?”- Oliver Barrett IV, “Love Story.”

It’s hard to explain to non-boomers just what a phenomenon the 1970 four-hankie weepie “Love Story” was. It was huge. And yes dear reader, at 15 I was caught up in the tsunami of “Love Story.” I devoured Erich Segal’s novel. And I remember a friend I was visiting spent the entire time reading her favorite passages from the book.

When I saw the movie at the Cooper Theatre in Denver, the day after it was released, there wasn’t a dry eye in the house as this sentimental romance between the poor, feisty, salty-mouthed Radcliffe student Jennifer Cavelleri (Ali McGraw) and handsome rich hockey star college student Oliver Barrett IV (Ryan O’Neal) unspooled. Of course, like any...

The 2020 Best Supporting Actor lineup, which included performances that ranged from 43 to 56 minutes long, proved that high screen times are fairly common in the category. Six actors have won the award with over one hour of screen time, while an additional 18 nominees have passed that mark. Here is a look at the 10 performances that rank as the longest of them all (and here are the 10 longest winners):

10. Jeff Bridges (“Thunderbolt and Lightfoot”)

1 hour, 6 minutes, 23 seconds (57.74% of the film)

After Mickey Rooney and Sal Mineo, Bridges became the third man to receive two acting Oscar nominations by age 25, and there has not been another in the 45 years since. His second bid for playing the titular Lightfoot also earned him a spot on this list and was the 11th nominated supporting male performance to have over one hour of screen time. Bridges finally scored his first win at age 60, as a lead in “Crazy Heart,...

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By Todd Garbarini

The films of John Cassavetes are an acquired taste. Long considered to be the father of the modern independent film movement, his unorthodox style to acting and filmmaking notoriously drove some of his performers crazy while also receiving kudos and accolades from others. Like most filmmakers of his ilk, his work was best seen in independently owned movie theaters in New York City where films generally played for weeks or even months on end to a combination of both rave reviews and decent box office, two ingredients necessary to ensure securing funding for future projects. His directorial debut, Shadows (1958), depicted a romantic relationship between a white man and an African-American woman and the tumult that their relationship brought to their families. The film was unorthodox not only in its subject matter but in its approach to filmmaking. The film possesses...

“Goddamn it Chief, you’re about as big as a damn mountain! “

Get ready to laugh, cry, scream, sigh, and sing along with some of the greatest movies ever made, because throughout 2020, Fathom Events and Turner Classic Movies are teaming up for the fourth year in a row to present the hugely popular TCM Big Screen Classics Series in movie theaters nationwide.

In addition to pristine digital projection and movie-quality sound, each presentation will also feature all-new pre- and post-film commentary from popular TCM hosts, showcasing what makes each of these unique cinematic achievements such an important – and lasting – part of movie history. We hope you can share this exciting news with fellow movie lovers!

Now in its fourth year, the TCM Big Screen Classicsseries continues to grow in popularity. In 2019, many events in the series experienced sold-out audiences and ranked near or at the top of box-office results – showcasing...

Francis Ford Coppola, Brett Morgen, actress Ali MacGraw and many more are mourning the Monday death of Robert Evans, the legendary film producer and Paramount Pictures chief in the ’60s and ’70s.

Coppola honored Evans for his contributions to “The Godfather” films when he was at Paramount and for his help as an independent producer on Coppola’s “The Cotton Club” from 1984.

“I remember Bob Evans’ charm, good looks, enthusiasm, style, and sense of humor. He had strong instincts as evidenced by the long list of great films in his career,” Coppola said in a statement to TheWrap. “When I worked with Bob, some of his helpful ideas included suggesting John Marley as Woltz and Sterling Hayden as the Police Captain, and his ultimate realization that ‘The Godfather’ could be 2 hours and 45 minutes in length; also, making a movie out of ‘The Cotton Club’ — casting Richard Gere and Gregory Hines,...

Robert Evans, the producer behind such classics as Chinatown and Urban Cowboy, has died at the age of 89. No details regarding Evans' passing have been revealed at this time. The news of the Hollywood icon's death was confirmed by his ex-wife Ali MacGraw in a statement. Here's what she had to say.

"Our son, Joshua, and I will miss Bob tremendously and we are so very proud of his enormous contribution to the film Industry. He will be remembered as a giant."

Born in June 1930 in New York as Robert J. Shapera, Robert Evans started life in the fashion buisness, partnering with his older brother to open the Evan-Picone. While on a trip to Los Angeles to open a new location, Evans was spotted by actress Norma Shearer, which led to him starring alongside James Cagney and Lon Chaney in 1957's Man of a Thousand Faces. Evans then began acting...

Francis Ford Coppola remembered his sometime-patron, collaborator and frenemy Robert Evans as a producer with “strong instincts” in an emotional tribute. Evans, the legendary producer and former head of Paramount Pictures, died on Saturday night at the age of 89. He played a crucial role in the creation of such film classics as “Rosemary’s Baby,” “Chinatown” and “Marathon Man.”

At Paramount, he plucked Coppola, then a rising young filmmaker, from semi-obscurity and tasked him with bringing Mario Puzo’s bestseller “The Godfather” to the screen. The two clashed frequently, but they created a beloved film that was also a box office success and Oscar winner. When they collaborated again on 1984’s “The Cotton Club,” it was not as star-crossed. That film was mired in lawsuits, budget over-runs, and competing creative visions. It became an infamous bomb that hurt both men’s careers. On Monday, however, Coppola chose to accentuate the positive aspects of their alliances.

The month of March is closing out with a busy week of home entertainment releases, with two of the highlights this week being Scream Factory's stunning Steelbook editions for Assault on Precinct 13 and Prince of Darkness. Scream Factory is also keeping busy with their Collector’s Edition release of Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon and their Blu-ray release of IFC Midnight's I Remember You.

David Cronenberg’s Scanners is also making its way into the Criterion Collection this week, and The City of the Dead is the recipient of another limited edition release as well. Other notable titles coming home on March 27th include The Robot Chicken Walking Dead Special, The Outer Limits Season 1, Hell’s Kitty, Star Time, The Executioners, Mercy Christmas, and Star Wars: The Last Jedi.

Assault on Precinct 13 Limited Edition Steelbook (Scream Factory, Blu-ray)

Isolated inside a soon-to-be-closed L.A. police station,...

Wow — somebody took their sweet time about it, but we finally have a quality Blu-ray set of an entire generation’s favorite Sci-fi / monster TV show, an attraction that lit up our humdrum lives with anticipation in the Fall of ’63. Respected stars and good writers contributed to a weird-oh winner that can boast at least fifteen classic hours of Sci-fi delight, in velvety black and white. With informative new audio commentaries.

The Outer Limits Season One

Blu-ray

Kl Studio Classics

1963-64 / B&W / 1:33 flat full frame / 1632 min. (32 episodes) / Street Date March 27, 2018 / available through Kino Lorber / 99.95

Created and produced by Leslie Stevens & Joseph Stefano

Talk about a release that should need no introduction: when MGM Home Video released its first DVD sets of Outer Limits sixteen years ago, we saw the pale transfers and the feeble encoding (eight hours per disc!) and immediately wished for a reissue. Syndicated TV broadcasts looked better.

Average fans of A Christmas Story likely don’t know that director Bob Clark had once made creepy horror pictures with Alan Ormsby, but this independent shock effort of the early ’70s still casts a spell of dread. Although Vietnam is never mentioned, the war’s shadow strikes deep into the heart of a small-town family. John Marley and Lynn Carlin lead a fine cast.

Deathdream

Blu-ray + DVD

Blue Underground

1974 / Color / 1:85 widescreen / 88 min. / Dead of Night, The

Night Andy Came Home, Night Walk, The Veteran, Whispers / Street Date November 28, 2017 /

Starring: John Marley, Lynn Carlin, Richard Backus, Henderson Forsythe,

Anya Ormsby, Jane Daly, Michael Mazes.

Cinematography: Jack McGowan

Film Editor: Ronald Sinclair

Original Music: Carl Zittrer

Written by Alan Ormsby

Produced by Bob Clark, Peter James, John Trent

Directed by Bob Clark

This gem comes back every ten years in an improved transfer. Bob Clark and Alan Ormsby’s Canadian-financed...

We may only have several home entertainment releases for this Tuesday, but as the saying goes, “quality over quantity,” because this bunch of Blu-rays and DVDs are a stellar lot of films. One of my favorite horror films of 2017, Mark Duplass’ Creep 2, makes its way home on November 28th courtesy of The Orchard, and Scream Factory has given Rob Reiner’s adaptation of Stephen King’s Misery the Collector’s Edition treatment (and deservedly so).

For you cult film fans, both Death Laid an Egg and Deathdream (aka Dead of Night) get the HD treatment this week, and other notable releases this Tuesday include M.F.A., Rememory, Super Dark Times, Woodshock, and Trailer Trauma 4: Television Trauma.

Creep 2 (The Orchard, DVD)

Sara, a video artist primarily focused on creating intimacy with lonely men, thinks she may have found the subject of her dreams after coming across a stranger’s online post.

The late, great Bob Clark will forever be synonymous with the holiday season thanks to his films Black Christmas and A Christmas Story, but before he brought those stories to life on screen, he gave horror fans the gift of Deathdream, aka Dead of Night (read our own Scott Drebit's Drive-In Dust Offs article on the film here). Over 40 years after its initial release, Deathdream is being revitalized in a 2K restoration Blu-ray from Blue Underground, and we have a look at a new video showing off the film's enhanced visuals.

Blue Underground will release their new Blu-ray/DVD of Deathdream on November 28th, and you can get an idea of what to expect in the full list of special features and videos below:

Deathdream Blu-ray: "Something Unspeakable Has Come Home

In this shattering variation on “The Monkey’s Paw,” grief-stricken suburban parents (Academy Award® nominees John Marley...

The 45th Anniversary of The Godfather: 10 Facts You Can’t RefuseThe 45th Anniversary of The Godfather: 10 Facts You Can’t RefuseKurt Anthony6/2/2017 11:20:00 Am

Buongiorno!

2017 marks The Godfather’s 45th anniversary, and we’re going to make you an offer you can’t refuse.

The Godfather made its theatrical debut in New York City on March 15, 1972 and…bada bing! Francis Ford Coppola’s mob masterpiece was an instant success. The highest grossing film of 1972, The Godfather went on to earn over $245M worldwide, spawned two sequels (The Godfather Part II and The Godfather Part III) and is often referred to as one of the greatest films of all time.

Now, you just scroll down the page and enjoy yourself, and, uh, forget about all this nonsense. We want you to leave it all to us.

Leave the gun, and take these ten killer facts about The Godfather.

The 45th Anniversary of The Godfather: 10 Facts You Can’t RefuseThe 45th Anniversary of The Godfather: 10 Facts You Can’t RefuseKurt Anthony3/15/2017 10:58:00 Am

Buongiorno!

You’ve come here, on the day of The Godfather’s 45th anniversary, and we’re going to make you an offer you can’t refuse.

The Godfather made its theatrical debut in New York City on March 15, 1972 and…bada bing! Francis Ford Coppola’s mob masterpiece was an instant success. The highest grossing film of 1972, The Godfather went on to earn over $245M worldwide, spawned two sequels (The Godfather Part II and The Godfather Part III) and is often referred to as one of the greatest films of all time.

Now, you just scroll down the page and enjoy yourself, and, uh, forget about all this nonsense. We want you to leave it all to us.

Leave the gun, and take...

In the 1970s crime films morphed into sadistic vigilante fantasies about tough-guy heroes avenging terrible crimes against their families. Veteran noir director Phil Karlson directed the bruiser’s bruiser Joe Don Baker in a standard tale of violent vengeance, with the violence factor given an extra bloody boost.

Framed

Blu-ray

Kl Studio Classics

1975 / Color / 1:85 widescreen / 106 min. / Street Date February 28, 2017 / available through Kino Lorber / 29.95

Starring: Joe Don Baker, Conny Van Dyke, John Marley, Gabriel Dell,, Brock Peters, John Larch, Warren J. Kemmerling, Walter Brooke, Paul Mantee, H.B. Haggerty, Roy Jenson.

Cinematography: Jack A. Marta

Film Editor: Harry W. Gerstad

Stunts: Carey Loftin, Gil Perkins, Buddy Joe Hooker

Original Music: Pat Williams

Written by Mort Briskin from a book by Art Powers & Mike Misenheimer

Produced by Joel Briskin, Mort Briskin

Directed by Phil Karlson

Time for another curiosity review, of a grindhouse gut-basher from the 1970s — a subgenre I avoided when new.

It’s a powerful plea against the death penalty, but also an Oscar bid for a fiery actress. And don’t forget the cool jazz music score. On top of this Robert Wise adds a formerly- taboo sequence, a realistic depiction of an execution in the gas chamber. Of such things were gritty, hard-hitting reputations made.

I Want to Live!

Blu-ray

Twilight Time

1958 / B&W / 1:85 widescreen / 121 min. / Street Date November 15, 2016 / Available from the Twilight Time Movies Store 29.95

Starring Susan Hayward, Simon Oakland, Theodore Bikel, Virginia Vincent, Wesley Lau, Philip Coolidge.

Cinematography Lionel Lindon

Original Music Johnny Mandel

Written by Nelson Gidding, Don M. Mankiewicz

Produced by Walter Wanger (for Joseph Mankiewicz)

Directed by Robert Wise

Reviewed by Glenn Erickson

Robert Wise’s I Want to Live! from 1958 is a Can of Worms movie… start discussing its subject matter, and opinions immediately become a stumbling block. So I’ll...

Germany's Explosive Media company has a serious itch for American westerns, and they have a trio of new releases. One is a minor Hollywood classic with major graces, from the late 1950s. A second sees an American producer based in England filming in Italy with a rising international star, and for the third an established American star goes European  to stay in the game. The best thing for Yankee buyers? The discs are Region-free.

Gunman's Walk, Land Raiders, A Man Called Sledge Three Westerns from Explosive Media Blu-ray Separate Releases 1958-1970 / Color Starring Van Heflin, Tab Hunter; George Maharis, Telly Savalas; James Garner

Reviewed by Glenn Erickson

The majority of American studios now choose not to market their libraries for digital disc, and license them out instead. Collectors unwilling to settle for whatever's on Netflix or concerned about the permanence of Cloud Cinema, find themselves increasingly tempted by discs from Europe,...

A Lincoln Continental Lhe with quite a temper is getting a high-definition upgrade on Tuesday from Scream Factory, and we've been provided with three Blu-ray copies of The Car to give away to lucky Daily Dead readers.

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Prize Details: (3) Winners will receive (1) Blu-ray copy of The Car.

How to Enter: For a chance to win, email contest@dailydead.com with the subject “The Car Contest”. Be sure to include your name and mailing address.

Entry Details: The contest will end at 12:01am Est on December 18th. This contest is only open to those who are eighteen years of age or older that live in the United States. Only one entry per household will be accepted.

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From the previous press release: Fasten your seatbelts for the terrifying thrill ride that has become a cult classic! On December 15, 2015, Scream Factory™ is proud to present The Car, arriving for the...

Following the unveiling of Sony Pictures Home Entertainment's Christine Blu-ray earlier this year, Scream Factory's giving another malevolent vehicle a high-definition upgrade with their Blu-ray release of The Car next Tuesday, and we have clips and a trailer teasing the highway horrors to come.

From the previous press release: Fasten your seatbelts for the terrifying thrill ride that has become a cult classic! On December 15, 2015, Scream Factory™ is proud to present The Car, arriving for the first time on Blu-ray™. Directed by Elliot Silverstein, the action-packed thriller stars James Brolin (The Amityville Horror), Kathleen Lloyd (It Lives Again), John Marley (Deathdream), Elizabeth Thompson (A Shadow in the Street) and Ronny Cox (RoboCop). R.G. Armstrong (Race with the Devil, Evilspeak), Roy Jenson (Soylent Green), Melody Thomas Scott (Piranha, The Fury), Kim Richards (Assault on Precinct 13) and Kyle Richards (Halloween) also star in this high-octane thriller.

A must-have for loyal fans,...

Years before viewers witnessed a ’58 Plymouth Fury scorned, they were introduced to a Lincoln Continental Lhe with quite a temper. Scream Factory's giving the latter an HD upgrade with their December 15th Blu-ray release of 1977's The Car, and we have the official release details and cover art.

Press Release: Fasten your seatbelts for the terrifying thrill ride that has become a cult classic! On December 15, 2015, Scream Factory™ is proud to present The Car, arriving for the first time onBlu-ray™. Directed by Elliot Silverstein, the action-packed thriller stars James Brolin (The Amityville Horror), Kathleen Lloyd (It Lives Again), John Marley (Deathdream), Elizabeth Thompson (A Shadow in the Street) and Ronny Cox (RoboCop). R.G. Armstrong (Race with the Devil, Evilspeak), Roy Jenson (Soylent Green), Melody Thomas Scott (Piranha, The Fury), Kim Richards (Assault on Precinct 13) and Kyle Richards (Halloween) also star in this high-octane thriller.

A must-have for loyal fans,...

Special Mention: The Bird with the Crystal Plumage

Directed by Dario Argento

Screenplay by Dario Argento

1970, Italy

Genre: Giallo

One of the most self-assured directorial debuts of the 70’s was Dario Argento’s The Bird with the Crystal Plumage. Not only was it a breakthrough film for the master of Giallo, but it was also a box office hit and had critics buzzing, regardless if they liked it or not. Although Argento would go on to perfect his craft in later films, The Bird With The Crystal Plumage went a long way in popularizing the Giallo genre and laid the groundwork for later classics like Deep Red. A difficult film to discuss without spoiling many of its most impressive and famous scenes, The Bird with the Crystal Plumage is a fairly straightforward murder mystery, albeit with many twists, turns and one of the best surprise endings of all time. But...

Perhaps best remembered for the huge success of teen comedy Porky’s (1981) and perennial yuletide fave A Christmas Story (1983), Bob Clark will forever be known to horror fans as the director of Black Christmas (1974) , the taut, flat out scary as hell blueprint for John Carpenter’s Halloween (1978) . However, the same year he made BC, came the potent anti Vietnam parable Deathdream, aka Dead of Night, a chilling indictment on the ravages of war mixed with a spooky EC Comics vibe. Rarely talked about, it still packs a wallop today.

Made right after Clark’s rather boring zombie debut Children Shouldn’t Play with Dead Things (1972), but not released until August of ’74, Deathdream didn’t make much of a ripple at the box office but did see some solid notices. At the time, there weren’t a lot of films tackling the Vietnam War (most notable was 1968’s execrable John Wayne...

In the wake of the massive hit that was Jaws (1975), studios were foaming at the mouth to replicate its success. Of course, their idea was to take everything that they thought made Jaws a winner and put it in a different setting. Here’s a few that were cranked out by the dream machine: Jaws on Land (Grizzly), Micro-Jaws (Piranha), Jaws, Back to the Water (Orca), Jaws, Back to the Water Again, with Feeling (Jaws II) , and our flick du jour, the little engine that could, Jaws on Wheels – The Car (1977) .

In actuality, Steven Spielberg made Jaws on Wheels before he made Jaws, with the relentless cat and mousecapades of Duel (1971). However, this was 1977 and it was time for an upgrade. Released by Universal in May, The Car was (naturally) laughed off the screen by the critics, and why wouldn’t it be? A demonic vehicle terrorizing a...

By Alex Simon

For the one person on the planet who's never see the Godfather films--spoilers Ahead.

Few characters in film history have displayed the cunning, charm and utter moral ambiguity as that of Tom Hagen, the Corleone family lawyer in Francis Coppola’s first two Godfather films. In Mario Puzo’s novel, as well as the film adaptation, it’s revealed that Hagen (played by Robert Duvall) was found living on the street as an 11 year-old by pre-teen Sonny Corleone (played in the film as an adult by James Caan) and unofficially adopted by Don Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando) as one of their own. Puzo’s novel reveals that Don Vito never formally adopted Tom, as he felt it would have been disrespectful to the boy’s real family, who were torn apart by their father’s alcoholism.

Throughout both films, Hagen remains the voice of reason and rational thinking,...

Before I met my wife, my longest relationship lasted a span of only three months. I wasn’t afraid of commitment; I was too committed too early. I fell fast and hard. Every time. But that doesn’t mean I never went through the typical relationship bumps in the road. I fought with plenty of exes about normal things – jealousy, dishonesty, etc. And now my wife and I fight about plenty of the same things, but we handle it, just like every other successful couple. In the spirit of tumultuous relationships, this list looks at the definitive relationship dramas. These are films that focus on one or more romantic relationships. These aren’t just “falling in love” movies. These are movies that dissect some side of a relationship that helps to drive the plot. So, without further ado, let’s join hands on this journey together.

50. Wild at Heart (1990)

Directed...

Deathdeam

Directed by Bob Clark

Writen by Alan Ormsby

Starring John Marley, Lynn Carlin, and Richard Backus

USA 1972

On August 30th, 1972, Deathdream was released to American theaters. Not the standard Halloween release month, but close enough to it. This second Tombstone Tuesday pick is unlike any other zombie flick in terms of its storyline and technicalities. This movie features one zombie, in one town, with only one purpose to kill.

Andy Brooks, a Vietnam soldier killed in combat, is willed back to life by his grieving mother. From his coffin to his hometown, Andy manages to hitchhike to his family, but not without murdering a man and draining his blood along the way. How else is he supposed to maintain a human-like quality? But what differentiates this zombie flick in comparison to so many others is that it has an overarching message, or theme, that it’s trying to convey.

Jane Fonda: From ‘Vietnam Traitor’ to AFI Award and Screen Legend status (photo: Jason Bateman and Jane Fonda in ‘This Is Where I Leave You’) (See previous post: “Jane Fonda Movies: Anti-Establishment Heroine.”) Turner Classic Movies will also be showing the 2014 AFI Life Achievement Award ceremony honoring Jane Fonda, the former “Vietnam Traitor” and Barbarella-style sex kitten who has become a living American screen legend (and healthy-living guru). Believe it or not, Fonda, who still looks disarmingly great, will be turning 77 years old next December 21; she’s actually older than her father Henry Fonda was while playing Katharine Hepburn’s ailing husband in Mark Rydell’s On Golden Pond. (Henry Fonda died at age 77 in August 1982.) Jane Fonda movies in 2014 and 2015 Following a 15-year absence (mostly during the time she was married to media mogul Ted Turner), Jane Fonda resumed her film acting career in 2005, playing Jennifer Lopez...

Jane Fonda movies on TCM: ‘The China Syndrome,’ ‘Klute,’ and Jean-Luc Godard drama ‘Tout Va Bien’ among highlights (photo: Jane Fonda in ‘Klute’) Turner Classic Movies’ 2014 "Summer Under the Stars" kicked off earlier today, August 1, with a day-long series of Jane Fonda movies. Still reviled by American right-wingers because of her 1972 trip to North Vietnam while the United States was at war with that country — she was photographed seated on an anti-aircraft battery — but admired by others for her liberal views, anti-war activism, and human rights advocacy, the two-time Best Actress Academy Award winner has enjoyed a highly eclectic film career, eventually becoming a rarity among rarities: Jane Fonda is the child of a film star (Henry Fonda) who not only became a film star in her own right, but who went on to become an even bigger screen legend than her famous parent. (See also: Jane Fonda “Summer Under...

Oscar Sunday is three months from today, March 2, 2014 and this year, it’s anyone’s game. The Academy has a history of playing up all the glamour and suspense, and this year should be no different.

As of today, Gold Derby‘s Top 5 Best Picture predictions for the 86th Academy Awards are: 12 Years A Slave, Gravity, Saving Mr. Banks, Captain Phillips and American Hustle.

Hit Fix’s Top 5 are: Gravity, 12 Years A Slave, Saving Mr. Banks, Captain Phillips and Inside Llewyn Davis.

In what’s classic TV, take a look at the opening of the 43rd Academy Awards in 1971, featuring an introduction by Academy President Daniel Taradash.

The big A-listers of the day all appeared at the Oscars – Goldie Hawn, Jeanne Moreau, Melvyn Douglas, Ryan O’Neal, Leigh Taylor-Young, George Segal, Jennifer Jones, Lee Grant, Maximilian Schell, Ginger Rogers, Jack Nicholson, Ali McGraw, Robert Evans, Quincy Jones, Sally Kellerman, Jim Brown,...

Blu-ray Release Date: Oct. 22, 2013

Price: Blu-ray $124.95

Studio: Criterion

John Cassavetes—genius, visionary, and the progenitor of American independent film—receives some high-definition respect from Criterion in the John Cassavetes: Five Films collection.

A former theater actor fascinated by the power of improvisation, Cassavetes brought his search for truth in performance to the screen. The five films in this anthology of dramas—all of which the director maintained total control over by financing them himself and making them outside the studio system—are electrifying and compassionate creations, populated by all manner of humanity: beatniks, hippies, businessmen, actors, housewives, strippers, club owners, gangsters, children.

Cassavetes has often been called an actor’s director, but this body of work—even greater than the sum of its extraordinary parts—shows him to be an audience’s director.

Here’s a breakdown of the movies:

Lelia Goldoni and Anthony Ray star in John Cassavetes' 1959 directorial debut Shadows.

A souped-up car with demonic issues indiscriminately mows down the folk of a small Utah town in this daft horror from 1977. James Brolin and his gloomy set of coppers (including John Marley) are charged with taking the driverless vehicle down. After a strong first half-hour, which attempts to imitate Steven Spielberg's light touch, the plot spins out of control and women get a very raw deal in this muddled film.