Tagarchief: Roger Corman

Death Race 2

Posted on by Jeppe Kleijngeld

Director: Roel Reiné
Written by: Paul W.S. Anderson, Tony Giglio
Cast: Luke Goss, Lauren Cohan, Sean Bean, Ving Rhames

Year / Country: 2010, South Africa
Running Time: 96 mins.

Direct-to-video sequel to Paul W.S. Anderson’s Death Race from 2008, which was in itself a remake of the Roger Corman produced cult movie Death Race 2000 from 1975. Anderson did come up with the story, but the director of this futuristic actioner is Dutchman Roel Reiné.

Storywise, this is a prequel to the first film and tells the origins of legendary driver Frankenstein. In the near future, prisons are run by private corporations, and in order to optimize the profits, they organise bloody spectacles that viewers can watch through paid internet streams. First, inmates fight one on one in bloody battles, but as audiences get bored, a deadly race is organised with fast cars armed with machine guns, napalm and missile launchers. Inmate Luke (Luke Goss), a talented getaway driver, is forced to participate.

In a film like this, it’s inevitable to encounter some implausibilities, which could be forgivable if the usually talented cast weren’t burdened with poorly written roles and clunky dialogue. The high-speed action is executed with skill, though the spectacular opening chase scene sets a standard that the rest of the film struggles to match.

One highlight is the ending – a satisfying homage to the 1975 cult classic that fans will undoubtedly appreciate.

If you’re seeking bloody violence, this film delivers in spades. Just don’t expect much beyond that.

Rating:

Biography: Roel Reiné (1969, Eindhoven, The Netherlands) went to the States after the success of his first film The Delivery. He had breakfast with Dutch director Paul Verhoeven, who told him, ‘you have to live here to make movies.’ Reiné made one more movie in The Netherlands before he moved to the States.

Filmography (a selection): The Delivery (1999), Adrenaline (2003), Pistol Whipped (2008), Drifter (2008), Deadwater (2008), Wolfseinde (2008-2009, TV Series), The Marine 2 (2009), The Lost Tribe (2010), Death Race 2 (2010), Death Race 3: Inferno (2013), Michiel de Ruiter (2015), Hard Target 2 (2016), Redband (2018)

Machine Gun Kelly (1958)

Posted on by Jeppe Kleijngeld


‘Without His Gun He Was Naked Yellow!’

Directed by:
Roger Corman

Written by:
R. Wright Campbell

Cast:
Charles Bronson (George R. ‘Machine Gun’ Kelly), Susan Cabot (Florence ‘Flo’ Becker), Morey Amsterdam (Michael Fandango), Richard Devon (Apple), Jack Lambert (Howard), Frank DeKova (Harry), Connie Cilchrist (‘Ma’ Becker), Wally Campo (Maize), Barboura Morris (Lynn Grayson), Lori Martin (Sherryl Vito)

George ‘Machine Gun’ Kelly was one of the most notorious criminals from the prohibition days, along with Baby Face Nelson, John Dillinger and Pretty Boy Floyd. What sets him apart is that Machine Gun is scared to death of death. Whenever he sees a coffin or another omen of death he starts sweating and shaking like a leaf. Hence the tagline of this film: ‘Without His Gun He Was Naked Yellow!’

The movie starts with a daring robbery. Kelly and his pals rob 41.000 dollars from a local bank. Quite a sum in those days, but Kelly wants more. His hothead behaviour causes friction in the gang, and his relationship with his girlfriend ‘Flo’ is also unstable. When they kidnap the daughter of an oil magnate, things start to go very wrong and Kelly’s downfall draws closer.

This low budget flick is directed by King of the B-movies Roger Corman. Movies about phobic gangsters were popular in the fifties. In 1950 James Cagney played a gangster with a mother complex in White Heat. This film kind of reminds of that one; only it is far from the masterpiece White Heat is. Charles Bronson plays a very cold and unsympathetic character. That makes it hard to care what happens to him. Only worth a look because of the historical aspect. In fact, the story is interesting enough for a remake – by a gifted director. That could definitely work.

Rating:

Quote:
FLORENCE ‘FLO’ BECKER: “You watch it Georgie. Your shadow will scare you to death some time.”

Trivia:
This is Roger Corman’s first gangster movie.

Death Race

Posted on by Jeppe Kleijngeld

Director: Paul W.S. Anderson
Written by: Paul W.S. Anderson
Cast: Jason Statham, Joan Allen, Ian McShane, Tyrese Gibson

Year / Country: 2008, USA, Germany, UK
Running Time: 106 mins.

Death Race is supposed to be a remake of Death Race 2000, a Roger Corman produced cult gem from the seventies. While there is certainly resemblance; it is all about a gladiator-like futuristic car race, there are many differences as well. Death Race 2000 was a cynical, humoristic and over the top look at the future, while Death Race doesn’t seem to be more than a straightforward action flick. Not that there’s anything wrong with that, the target audience just might be a little different.

In 2012, a financial crisis threw the Western world into chaos. Jensen Ames (Statham) is an ex-racer who is framed for murdering his wife. In jail he has to replace legendary driver Frankenstein in the internet hit ‘Death Race’. While Ames makes a great Frankenstein, the real monster is warden Hennessey (Joan Allen) who directs the deadly race to make a killing from the broadcasting. But Ames is not one to simply play ball. He has an escape-plan to execute, a conspiracy to solve and enemies to exterminate.

The plot is very predictable, but the concept works well enough to forgive the film this flaw. It seems that in every movie director Anderson directs, he does one thing extremely well and a lot of other things very wrong. In this movie it is the action that blows off the screen. The internet streaming footage is also fabulous. His writing skills leave a lot to be desired though. This is mainstream Hollywood work.

Statham has become quite the badass action star. I preferred David Carradine in the Frankenstein role in the original, but Statham is nevertheless okay. However, Tyrese Gibson is a lousy replacement for Machine Gun Joe. Watching Sylvester Stallone in that part was a thousand times cooler, though it is not entirely Gibson’s fault. The script doesn’t give him much to work with. In the acting department, there is great support from Joan Allen as queen bitch and Ian McShane as Ames’ biggest supporter.

That leaves one comment to be made; the ending is excruciating. But since the largest part of the film is about racing, this movie can be called a modest success. It is certainly the best thing Anderson has done in years.

Rating:

Biography: Paul W.S Anderson (1965, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK) gained some notoriety in his native England with his ultra-violent feature debut Shopping in 1994. Its relative success allowed him to direct action / sci-fi films in Hollywood, including the financially successful Mortal Kombat. In 2002 he resurfaced another video game adaptation, Resident Evil. He next was given the helm for the long-awaited film adaptation of the popular Dark Horse comic book, AVP: Alien Vs. Predator.

Filmography (a selection): Shopping (1994), Mortal Kombat (1995), Event Horizon (1997), Soldier (1998), The Sight (2000, TV), Resident Evil (2002), AVP: Alien vs. Predator (2004), Death Race (2008), Resident Evil: Afterlife (2010), The Three Musketeers (2011), Resident Evil: Retribution (2012), Pompeii (2014), Resident Evil: The Final Chapter (2016), Monster Hunter (2020)

Capone (1975)

Posted on by Jeppe Kleijngeld


‘The man who made the twenties roar! Now, after 45 years, his true story can be told!

Directed by:
Steve Carver

Written by:
Howard Browne

Cast:
Ben Gazzara (Al Capone), Harry Guardino (Johnny Torrio), Sylvester Stallone (Frank Nitti), Susan Blakely (Iris Crawford), John Cassavetes (Frankie Yale), Frank Campanella (Big Jim Colosimo), John D. Chandler (Earl ‘Hymie’ Weiss), Peter Maloney (Jake Guzik), Royal Dano (Anton J. Cermak), Dick Miller (Deputy Sherrif Joe Pryor)

Alphonse Capone wasn’t Mafia strictly speaking. But his outfit in Chicago was much more powerful and feared than the many mob families in the US. In this biography, we follow him as he rises from the streets of Brooklyn to the top of the Chicago underworld.

His mentor was Johnny Torrio (Harry Guardino) , a business oriented gangster who saw major opportunities in the upcoming prohibition and potential in the thuggish Al Capone. When Torrio moves to Chicago to profit from the opened-up illegal booze market, he brings Capone along as his second man. After ridding themselves of a local big shot, they quickly build a vast empire that generates millions of dollars monthly. The roaring twenties have begun.

But North Side gangsters, such as Hymie Weiss, Dion O’Bannion and George ‘Bugs’ Moran oppose the rising power and a gang war ensues. Torrio, who doesn’t have a stomach for blood, leaves Chicago after a failed assassination attempt and Capone inherits the business. This results in more bloodshed, right until the infamous St. Valentine’s Day Massacre and the demise of Capone along with the end of the prohibition.

This movie contains a lot of Tommy gun action, tit shots and fist fights, making it little more than an exploitation flick. No wonder, since Roger Corman, King of the B’s, is the producer. The cast is pretty B too and the acting no more than okay. Gazzara’s portrayal of Capone relies too much on yelling and tough guy talk, while the then unknown Sylvester Stallone shows little promise here. Only Guardino is excellent as Torrio.

Capone starts promising, but for a biography, it remains way too shallow to really captivate the viewer. We just don’t get to know Capone. All we really see is that he is a hothead with a big mouth and a Tommy gun. Also the historic accuracy of this film should be taken with a big grain of salt.

Rating:

Quote:
JOHNNY TORRIO: “Chicago is a beer drinking town. No law can change that.”

Trivia:
In the film, Capone’s henchman Frank Nitti frames Capone, resulting in his conviction for income tax evasion. He then takes over the outfit. In reality, Nitti was convicted for the same felony and received an 18 months sentence.