Stealers Wheel

This is a tricky one to judge. Jordan Peele’s third writing/directorial effort, Nope (2022), is a highly creative and original concept that delves into the science fiction alien field... but is missing something to make it a truly effective effort. With its critics likely pointing to its title as an apt description, the word in fact references character reactions to some sort of alien craft seen in the sky. Though it still might have people pondering whether it means something else – perhaps, ‘Not of Planet Earth’, ‘Newly Ordained People Eaters’, or ‘Never Offer Predators Equines’. Set on a vast horse ranch in rural California, the Haywood family have been providing horses for Hollywood productions since day one (a cool reference back to the original moving picture – a galloping horse ridden by an African American jockey created by Eadweard Muybridge).

Trying to find a playful voice somewhere between a Guy Ritchie gangster flick and Quentin Tarantino (primarily Kill Bill and Pulp Fiction), Bullet Train (2022), written by Zak Olkewicz (based upon Kōtarō Isaka’s novel “Maria Beetle”) and directed by David Leitch (Atomic Blonde; Deadpool 2), does miss from time to time, but it still packs quite the walloping punch. Getting the most out of its fantastic setting, Bullet Train is set on, you guessed it, a bullet train. A journey from Tokyo to the end of the line in Kyoto, there is no better location for a comedic tinged action thriller than on a stunning yet inescapable mode of transportation. Providing a claustrophobic, ultra dangerous environment for our protagonist, Ladybug (Brad Pitt), he is a last minute replacement for infamous hitman Carver – a surprising blink and you’ll miss it cameo I won’t spoil.

Lawyer by day, vigilante martial artist by night. . . I know, maybe not the most expected combination, but when the courts stop working, sometimes you’ve got to take matters into your own hands. This is the general premise for 1986's Righting Wrongs (it is also known as Above the Law in some circles), directed by Corey Yuen. Hsia Ling-Cheng (Biao Yuen) is a by the books prosecutor who is about to have a rough couple of weeks. First, he is on hand to see his beloved mentor and former law school professor gunned down in New Zealand by relentless thugs attempting to keep a certain lawlessness on the streets (quite the opening scene); then, the key witness in his case, along with seven other family members, are assassinated and incinerated by a group of thugs who believe they are above the law.

A movie about blood-sucking parasites... if you’re thinking I’m talking about lawyers, you’d be way off track today; Ticks have become creatures that haunt the backs of our minds as we enjoy our outdoor summer activities (fears of Lyme disease and meat allergies run rampant in articles found in newspapers and online), meaning the 1993 direct-to-video cult classic directed by Tony Randel is more pertinent than ever before. Following a group of lowly teens that are a part of a program run by Holly Lambert (Rosalind Allen) and Charles Danson (Peter Scolari), the shtupping pair bring kids from inner city Los Angeles out into nature as a form of therapy and group bonding (Holly is in charge of the former, while Charles studies the latter).

An honest housewife by day who transforms into a kinkier than Betty Page by night. . .this could only be the main character in an Italian giallo. A very late entry into the mystery/thrillers coming out of the boot, director Stelvio Massi brings some seediness to the big screen with Arabella, the Black Angel (1989). Poor Arabella (Tinì Cansino) is a loving housewife to a very unlovable author, Francesco (Francesco Cesale). Dealt a big blow on their honeymoon (double entendre meant), a punishing car accident has led to him being wheelchair bound for life.

It is hard to believe that the great Christopher Lee, who put his stamp on nearly all things British cinema over his seventy-one year career (featuring a whopping 286 screen credits), only donned the tweed suit, frock-coat, and deerstalker hat once (all whilst smoking a pipe) for the silver screen (though he did also play the titular Sherlock Holmes in two television movies). Released in 1962 under the title Sherlock Holmes and the Deadly Necklace, just to make it all a little more confounding, this film was a West German, French, and Italian co-production shot mostly in Berlin (though some location shooting was done in Ireland and England). . . how in the world was Lee never cast in a British made production? The other head scratcher here, and arguably the biggest flaw of the movie, is that the production team failed to use Christopher Lee’s voice in either the German or English tracks (instead dubbed by someone with a voice that pales in comparison), especially strange when you realize that the actor spoke flawless German as well. It is said that Lee was not pleased upon finding out that he had been dubbed. The only other issue is that Lee wore a fake nose for the character – and it stands out a bit too much.