007 Seeks Revenge in "Licence To Kill"

The on-screen character of James Bond was going through some significant changes in the late 1980s. Roger Moore had retired from the role in 1985 after A View To a Kill, a so-so film in which Moore was clearly showing his age. Timothy Dalton took over the part for The Living Daylights (1987), and his portrayal brought a darker tone back to the character, more akin to the version of Bond featured in Ian Fleming’s original novels, several of which Dalton had read to help him prepare for his portrayal of Bond. The Living Daylights was a success with fans and critics, and Dalton returned to the role in Licence To Kill (1989), a film in which Bond goes on a very personal quest for vengeance. The adversary that 007 faces in this entry in the series (courtesy of writers Richard Maibaum and Michael Wilson) is a more volatile and unpredictable enemy than he’s ever battled in the past; a man who, like Bond himself, has no reservations about killing whenever it becomes necessary. He's the type of villain who was being featured in other films being released around the same time, like Lethal Weapon and Beverly Hills Cop II.

The film opens with Bond in Florida, where he's going to serve as best man at the wedding of his friend, CIA agent Felix Leiter. The DEA intercept Felix and Bond on their way to the ceremony. They have a line on the location of Franz Sanchez, a powerful drug lord who Felix and the DEA have been tracking. Bond ends up assisting Leiter and the DEA agents; they manage to capture Sanchez, and the friends head off to Felix’s wedding. But their victory, and Felix’s wedded bliss, turns out to be short-lived. The drug lord bribes an agent to facilitate his escape while he’s being transported to prison. Once Sanchez is freed, he and his men go after Felix and his wife Della. Felix is seriously injured after being thrown in a shark tank (in a tip of the hat to a scene featured in Fleming’s novel Live and Let Die) and Della is killed. Bond discovers the badly wounded Felix as well as Della’s body, and plans to avenge his friends.

Bond starts looking into Sanchez’s drug smuggling operation, which leads him to Ed Killifer, the agent who betrayed Felix. When Bond kills the traitor, M (Bond’s superior in the Secret Service) shows up and forbids 007 from taking further action against Sanchez, and orders him to stop interfering with the DEA’s investigation. Bond, angry at being denied his opportunity for vengeance, resigns and goes rogue, pursuing his own personal brand of justice. Sanchez prizes the loyalty of his associates above everything else. He even says at one point during the film,  “Loyalty is more important than money.” Bond exploits Sanchez’s obsession with loyalty, using his status as a rogue agent to infiltrate the organization, and sowing the seeds of doubt with Sanchez regarding some members of his crew. It's sort of a 007 variation on Yojimbo or A Fistful of Dollars.

Timothy Dalton (center) and Robert Davi (right) 

Sanchez sees himself as something like a king, deserving of deep loyalty and respect. He rewards those who serve him well, and deals severely with those he believes have betrayed him, like Milton Krest (played by Anthony Zerbe of The Omega Man), whose marine research company is a front for Sanchez’s drug smuggling. Bond frames Krest as a thief, and Sanchez kills him in memorable fashion, using a decompression chamber aboard his boat. Bond is welcomed into the drug lord’s inner circle by the grateful Sanchez. The drug lord has taken a liking to our hero, seeing a bit of his own violent nature reflected in 007. Meanwhile, Pam Bouvier, an ex-CIA agent who has her own reasons for wanting to stop Sanchez, and Bond's secret service colleague (and gadgets master) Q work behind the scenes to assist 007 with his mission. Will Bond be able to defeat Sanchez before his true agenda is revealed? Watch out for that fiery climax!

Licence to Kill is a tough, action-filled Bond adventure, very much in line with Timothy Dalton’s harder-edged version of Bond. Dalton often gets short shrift for his tenure as Bond, but he sowed the seeds for Daniel Craig’s interpretation of 007. Maybe the general audience at the time wasn’t ready for this type of Bond, after years of Roger Moore’s (mostly) lighter take on the character. Dalton’s more deadly and introspective hero is matched by Robert Davi’s excellent performance as Sanchez. Davi uses his voice, and the way he moves, to effectively convey the intensity and brutality of the evil drug lord. Davi is a familiar face thanks to his many roles on both side of the law in films such as The Goonies, Die Hard, Predator 2 and the TV series Profiler. He’s also an accomplished (and classically trained) singer who has recorded a Sinatra tribute album, Davi Sings Sinatra. The actor is a long-time fan of Ol’ Blue Eyes. He made his acting debut in the television movie Contract on Cherry Street, which starred Sinatra.

Bond veteran John Glen was behind the camera for Licence To Kill; he started out as an editor on the series and graduated to the director’s chair with For Your Eyes Only. The supporting cast includes David Hedison (of Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea fame) as Felix Leiter. Hedison had previously played the role opposite Roger Moore in Live & Let Die. He was the only actor to portray the character more than once until Jeffrey Wright in the Daniel Craig films. The wonderful Desmond Llewelyn makes the most of his expanded screen time as Q, and Carey Lowell (later known for her role on the television series Law & Order) does a nice job as a Bond girl who’s more than window dressing; she even takes part in a fight scene where she more than holds her own alongside 007. Talisa Soto plays Lupe, Sanchez’s girlfriend, who (of course) takes a shine to Bond. Wayne Newton has a small role as an evangelist who works for Sanchez, and future Oscar winner Benicio del Toro gets to chew the scenery as Dario, the drug lord’s chief lieutenant.

Licence To Kill works so well because Bond is given an adversary who’s something of a mirror to him; a violent, brutal man who operates under his own code of honor. Davi was a perfect choice for the role, and he has great chemistry with Dalton. Sadly, the movie would be the Dalton's final turn as 007; legal wrangling between MGM/United Artists and EON Productions, the producers of the Bond films, kept 007 off the screen until 1995. By that time, Dalton (who had originally been contracted for three films) either left the role, or wasn't asked to return; accounts on this vary, depending on what source you believe. If you’re a fan of the Fleming novels, or are partial to Sean Connery or Daniel Craig’s take on 007, you’ll enjoy Licence To Kill. The film is available on Blu-ray, DVD and on various streaming platforms. Here’s a link to the trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=quHQAuO0lkg. This post is part of the Great Villain Blogathon, hosted by my fellow bloggers at Shadows & Satin, Speakeasy and Silver Screenings. I’m grateful to them for having allowed me to join this tribute to on-screen villainy. You can get more info and view the entries by following this link: https://silverscreenings.org/2019/05/25/the-great-villain-blogathon-2019-day-2-recap/.

Action, Humor and Pathos in "Endgame"

Avengers: Endgame is breaking box-office records around the world. At this point, the release of a Marvel superhero film has become an event. Unlike many other movies these days, when viewers are content to wait for a home video, on demand or streaming release, audiences flock to see these films on the big screen. In the eleven years since the original Iron Man opened in 2008, the studio has built a “Cinematic Universe” across twenty-two movies, culminating with release of this magnum opus. Last year’s Avengers: Infinity War told the first half of this epic story. Super-villain Thanos collected a group of “Infinity Stones” which gave him absolute power over time and space. His goal was to use the stones to eliminate half of all life in the universe, thereby assuring the remaining beings would have unlimited resources and enough space in which to live. Despite the opposition of our heroes, Thanos succeeds, and wipes out millions of beings with the snap of a finger.

Robert Downey, Jr. and Chris Evans

Endgame is a worthy follow-up to Avengers: Infinity War. We get to see the effect Thanos’ actions have on the world. Half of the population has disappeared, including some of the Avengers and their allies. The emotional toll suffered by everyone remaining on Earth has not left our heroes untouched. Some have stepped up to help people in the wake of the catastrophe, while others have retreated from the world, or descended into anger or depression. Then, someone who was missing in action during the events of the previous film brings a ray of hope to the team. This hero may just have a way to save the universe, but undoing the damage done by Thanos won’t come without a cost.

The movie has action, humor, and real emotional depth. Directors Joe and Anthony Russo (who also helmed Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Captain America: Civil War and Avengers: Infinity War) manage to provide fans with some powerful moments during the three-hour running time. Endgame is a visually rich and stunning film. This is an epic tale with a sweeping scope, writ upon a large canvas. There are scenes throughout the movie that will make you smile, laugh, and cry; and during an epic battle towards the end of the film, you might just want to stand up and cheer. But the true heart and soul of these stories are the characters. Robert Downey, Jr. as Iron Man, Chris Evans as Captain America and Chris Hemsworth as Thor all have emotional and compelling scenes, and they’re just part of this excellent group of actors. At this point in the series, everyone knows their characters intimately. They're able to provide well-rounded, fully fleshed-out performances, even with a less screen time among such a large ensemble.

Avengers: Endgame brings this cycle of the Marvel Cinematic Universe to an end, but there are more movies to come, including a new Spider Man adventure, Far From Home, that's being released in July. Endgame is a true valentine to Marvel Comics (and film) fans everywhere. If you’re a long-time Marvel devotee who’s been watching these movies since the beginning, you’ll be delighted to catch a host of cameos and Easter eggs throughout the movie. Avengers: Endgame really is a must see for fans. I will admit to feeling that the hype machine went into overdrive on this one, but that's a consequence of the modern entertainment world we live in. The movie is a fantastic superhero adventure with a heart and a soul. Finally, a note on spoilers: the film has been out for a few weeks now, but I chose to stay largely spoiler free in this review for those who still haven't seen the movie.  Here’s a link to the trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TcMBFSGVi1c.

The Man Who Killed Hitler and Then the Bigfoot: An Adventure with Character

Sam Elliott as Calvin Barr

When you see that a movie's title is The Man Who Killed Hitler and Then the Bigfoot, you might think you know what to expect, but writer-director Robert D. Kryzkowski’s genre-twisting tale subverts our expectations at every turn. The movie is a World War II adventure and a monster flick, but it’s also a powerful study of an older man reflecting on his past, and the difficult choices that he made in life. The script is a well-written rumination on the nature of heroism, and how the meaning of being a hero has changed over the years. Heady stuff for what on the surface seems to be a simple B-movie, but the film transcends its catchy title to provide us with an entertaining mix of action adventure story and character study.

The movie centers on Calvin Barr, a man quietly living out his older days in a small town during the 1980s. Barr is haunted by memories of his former career as a special agent in World War II, during which he was tasked with a mission vital to the Allied war effort. In a top-secret operation in the final days of the war, Barr was sent to assassinate Hitler. Barr succeeds in killing the Nazi leader, but his mission is covered up. His dedication to his career as a special ops agent had a devastating affect on his personal life. In the present, Barr’s only meaningful relationship is with his brother Ed, who’s the town barber, and his loyal dog.

Barr’s past meets up with his present when a pair of government agents visit him and ask him to complete one last mission: they want him to track down and kill Bigfoot. It appears that Bigfoot is the carrier of a lethal virus that will wipe out mankind, unless the monster is destroyed. Barr is reluctant at first, but ultimately agrees to find and kill the legendary creature. As he prepares to hunt down Bigfoot, we’re treated to further flashbacks of his life before and during the war, which illustrate just what he had to give up to serve his country. When Barr is faced with the choice of killing Bigfoot, or letting him go, what will he do? Will the final confrontation with the monster cost him his life?

Sam Elliott is enjoying a career renaissance recently, with high profile roles in several films, including the recent remake of A Star Is Born. He’s wonderful as Barr, quietly communicating the regret and emotional turmoil the man is suffering, while simultaneously showing us he can still be a badass. Elliott is perfectly matched by Aidan Turner, who plays the WWII version of the character. Turner doesn’t simply copy Elliott’s mannerisms; he truly inhabits Barr’s younger self. Comedian Larry Miller offers a subtle, low-key performance performance as Barr’s brother, and Caitlin Fitzgerald, Ron Livingston and Rizwan Mani are very good in supporting roles. This is a movie that’s rich in small moments, which will surprise and delight you.

Writer-director Kryzkowski and his crew do a masterful job with the film; it’s remarkably old school in its look and feel. There are some striking images, courtesy of cinematographer Alex Vender. The talented director had some high-profile help while working on the movie. Writer-director John Sayles and special effects maestro Douglas Trumbull are executive producers on the film. Both men have mentored Kryzkowski, and are big fans of his work. Trumbull even assisted with some of the effects sequences for the film. The Man Who Killed Hitler and Then the Bigfoot is a remarkable film that has its own quirky charm. It’s clear that everyone involved was passionate about this project. Give it a try if you’re looking for something unique on movie night. The movie is now available on Blu-ray, DVD and various on demand platforms. You can take a look at the trailer by following this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=doE2ZjceDRU.

Celebrating the "Summer of Love" Era

Cover Image Courtesy of JEM Records

The music and artists of the 1960s continue to dazzle, enrapture and entertain fans of all ages. One of the most memorable moments of the era was the Woodstock Music Festival, which celebrates its 50^th anniversary this year. To honor that momentous occasion, veteran musician Glen Burtnik is hitting the road with his Summer of Love tour, which pays tribute to the memorable music of that classic era. He’s a talented rocker and songwriter who is a founding member of the excellent Beatles-inspired group The Weeklings. Burtnik has also played with Styx, The Orchestra (featuring members of ELO) and many other notable artists. Burtnik conceived the concept for the Summer of Love experience along with music industry veteran Tony Pallagrosi.

The Summer of Love show focuses on songs from the year 1967 through the iconic Woodstock concert. The timeless music of artists like Joe Cocker, Janis Joplin, Otis Redding and Sly and The Family Stone is performed by a terrific band featuring top notch vocalists and musicians who have sung and played with bands such as Southside Johnny and The Asbury Jukes, Bon Jovi, Moby and 10,000 Maniacs. It’s clear that these talented artists are as passionate about this wonderful music as we are, and their incredible performances will thrill and astonish you. Not only will you find yourself singing along for the whole show, you'll get to relive some wonderful musical memories. There's also a psychedelic light show by Marc Rubenstein that adds an eye-catching backdrop and a vintage aura to the performances.

In addition to checking out the current incarnation of the Summer of Love show on tour this summer, there's also a live album being released from a fantastic 2018 show by the band. On May 31st, you’ll be able to get yourself a copy of Glen Burtnik’s Summer of Love Concert, “Live Love.” The two CD set from JEM Records captures a stellar performance at the Count Basie Center for the Arts in New Jersey. Songs on the release include “Happy Together,” originally done by The Turtles, “Touch Me” from The Doors, Otis Redding's "Try A Little Tenderness" and the iconic Joe Cocker version of  “With A Little Help From My Friends” impeccably performed by band member Remember Jones, aka Anthony D'Amato. Every member of the Summer of Love group truly puts their heart and soul into performing this enduring music, and their talent and commitment adds immeasurably to the thrill and enjoyment of seeing these songs performed live.

The 17 tracks on this amazing disc will instantly take you back to the era when the songs of Procul Harum, The Mamas and the Papas, and Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young floated out over the airwaves and forever became a part of the fabric of our lives. From the magnificent recreations of tunes such as Janis Joplin’s “Piece of My Heart” to a stunning take on Ike & Tina Turner’s version of the Creedence Clearwater Revival classic “Proud Mary” this live release perfectly captures the energy and essence of the incredible live show. The two CD set will also be available digitally from outlets like iTunes. The Summer of Love band provides an unforgettable experience for audiences, as they experience the music of the 60s, authentically and masterfully recreated by a fantastic group of musicians. Head out to see a show during the tour this summer, and make sure to pick up a copy of "Live Love." For more info on the Summer of Love tour: https://www.summerofloveconcert.com. The JEM records website can be found here: http://www.jemrecordings.com. For a look at a video sampler of the live show, follow this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-gAtruQ0ro.