Category Archives: Film

The Eric Roberts Collection: Night Night (dir by Niki Koss)

Posted on by Lisa Marie Bowman

April Davis (Brenna D’Amico) has just inherited a small fortune and she’s got a wonderful boyfriend named Robert.  Plus, she lives in Texas!  Her life is going wonderfully!  But then, a terrible car accident leaves her in a five-month coma.  When she finally awakens, she discovers that the people in the other car — a mother and her children — were killed in the accident.  Because she had a few drinks before she got behind the wheel and she was texting with her boyfriend while driving, she is now being investigated for vehicular manslaughter.

April is taken home by Robert (Nick Marini) but it turns out that things have changed.  As Robert explains it, April was in a coma for five months so he had to handle things until she woke up.  As a result, he now has a key to the house.  He bought her a new phone to replace the one that was taken by the police.  He bought her a new monitor for her computer.  Robert’s been on top of everything!  What a great guy …. except, there seems to be something different about Robert as well.  He’s angrier than April remembered and he’s controlling.  He says it’s for April’s own good but who knows for sure?  April starts to have strange dreams and nightmares and soon, she’s wondering what’s real and what isn’t.

Released in 2021 and filmed in the lovely town of Corsicana, Texas, Night Night is an effectively dream-like thriller, one that features a good lead performance from Brenna D’Amico and a plot that’s full of twists and turns.  Despite the low budget, director Niki Koss does a good job of creating a properly ominous atmosphere.  This film really took me by surprise.  I was mostly watching because Eric Roberts was in it but the film’s story drew me in pretty quickly.

As for Eric Roberts, this is one of his one-scene wonders.  He plays Dr. Nelson and gives April an update on her condition after she awakens.  The late Tony Todd also makes an appearance in this film, playing April’s attorney.  Neither role is big but the film itself works so well that it doesn’t matter that neither Roberts nor Todd play particularly prominent roles.  This was a good, independent thriller.  Give it a chance.

Previous Eric Roberts Films That We Have Reviewed:

  1. Star 80 (1983)
  2. Runaway Train (1985)
  3. Blood Red (1989)
  4. The Ambulance (1990)
  5. The Lost Capone (1990)
  6. Love, Cheat, & Steal (1993)
  7. Voyage (1993)
  8. Love Is A Gun (1994)
  9. Sensation (1994)
  10. Dark Angel (1996)
  11. Doctor Who (1996)
  12. Most Wanted (1997)
  13. Mercy Streets (2000)
  14. Wolves of Wall Street (2002)
  15. Mr. Brightside (2004)
  16. Six: The Mark Unleased (2004)
  17. Hey You (2006)
  18. Amazing Racer (2009)
  19. In The Blink of an Eye (2009)
  20. Bed & Breakfast (2010)
  21. Enemies Among Us (2010)
  22. The Expendables (2010) 
  23. Sharktopus (2010)
  24. Beyond The Trophy (2012)
  25. The Dead Want Women (2012)
  26. Deadline (2012)
  27. The Mark (2012)
  28. Miss Atomic Bomb (2012)
  29. Bonnie And Clyde: Justified (2013)
  30. Lovelace (2013)
  31. The Mark: Redemption (2013)
  32. Self-Storage (2013)
  33. A Talking Cat!?! (2013)
  34. This Is Our Time (2013)
  35. Inherent Vice (2014)
  36. Road to the Open (2014)
  37. Rumors of War (2014)
  38. Amityville Death House (2015)
  39. A Fatal Obsession (2015)
  40. Stalked By My Doctor (2015)
  41. Enemy Within (2016)
  42. Joker’s Poltergeist (2016)
  43. Prayer Never Fails (2016)
  44. Stalked By My Doctor: The Return (2016)
  45. The Wrong Roommate (2016)
  46. Dark Image (2017)
  47. Black Wake (2018)
  48. Frank and Ava (2018)
  49. Stalked By My Doctor: Patient’s Revenge (2018)
  50. Clinton Island (2019)
  51. Monster Island (2019)
  52. The Reliant (2019)
  53. The Savant (2019)
  54. Seven Deadly Sins (2019)
  55. Stalked By My Doctor: A Sleepwalker’s Nightmare (2019)
  56. The Wrong Mommy (2019)
  57. Exodus of a Prodigal Son (2020)
  58. Free Lunch Express (2020)
  59. Her Deadly Groom (2020)
  60. Top Gunner (2020)
  61. Deadly Nightshade (2021)
  62. The Elevator (2021)
  63. Just What The Doctor Ordered (2021)
  64. Killer Advice (2021)
  65. The Poltergeist Diaries (2021)
  66. The Rebels of PT-218 (2021)
  67. A Town Called Parable (2021)
  68. Bleach (2022)
  69. My Dinner With Eric (2022)
  70. Aftermath (2024)
  71. Devil’s Knight (2024)
  72. The Wrong Life Coach (2024)
  73. When It Rains In L.A. (2025)

Trailer: Havoc

Posted on by Arleigh

Chad Stahelski has gotten a large share of kudos for reinvigorating the action genre the last ten years (deservedly so). Yet, one director seems to have been forgotten despite having directed two of the most action-packed and brutal action film of the last 15 years.

I am talking about Welsh-filmmaker Gareth Evans of The Raid and The Raid 2 fame. His work on these Indonesian martial arts action films have been celebrated for years, yet Evans hasn’t really been given a chance by the major studios with any major projects.

Since leaving Indonesia and going back the UK, Evans has made one film (The Apostle) and an action series (Gangs of London). The former was distributed by Netflix and its through them that Evans returns to the scene with another film that looks to be as brutal and action-packed as any he has made in the past.

Havoc stars Tom Hardy who may be competing with Gerard Butler for anti-hero of the 2020’s as he sports such a grizzled and beaten down look as a detective who must navigate his through the corrupt underworld and politics of the city in order to save a politician’s son.

The official and final trailer for Havoc is now out just weeks before it premieres on Netflix on April 25, 2025.

4 Shots From 4 Films: Special Francis Ford Coppola Edition

Posted on by Lisa Marie Bowman

4 (or more) Shots From 4 (or more) Films is just what it says it is, 4 (or more) shots from 4 (or more) of our favorite films. As opposed to the reviews and recaps that we usually post, 4 (or more) Shots From 4 (or more) Films lets the visuals do the talking.

Today is Francis Ford Coppola’s birthday! Coppola is a bit of a controversial figure among some film scholars. While everyone agrees that, with the first two Godfathers, he directed two of the greatest films of all time (and some people would include Apocalypse Now on that list as well) and that he was one of the most important directors of the 70s, his post-Apocalypse Now career is often held up as a cautionary tale. Some say that Coppola’s career suffered because of his own excessive behavior and spending. Others argue that he was treated unfairly by a film industry that resented his refusal to compromise his vision and ambitions. Personally, my natural instinct is to always side with the artist over the executives and that’s certainly the case with Coppola. Coppola has only completed five films since the start of this current century and three of them were not widely released. Say what you will about the films themselves, that still doesn’t seem right. For the record, I like Megalopolis.

Regardless of how one views his latter career, Coppola is responsible for some of the best and most important films ever made. And today, on his birthday, it’s time for….

4 Shots From 4 Francis Ford Coppola Films

The Godfather (1972, dir by Francis Ford Coppola, DP: Gordon Willis)
The Conversation (1974, dir by Francis Ford Coppola, DP: Bill Butler)
The Godfather Part II (dir by Francis Ford Coppola, DP: Gordon Willis)
Apocalypse Now (1979, dir by Francis Ford Coppola, DP: Vittorio Storaro)

Billy Dee Williams in NIGHTHAWKS (1982)!

Posted on by Bradley Crain

I love Billy Dee Williams. When I was a kid, I remember Florence from THE JEFFERSONS loving him. I also loved him as Lando Calrissian in the STAR WARS movies. I’m sure I had his action figure. As I got a little bit older, I started to appreciate his larger body of work in movies like NIGHTHAWKS with Sylvester Stallone and Rutger Hauer, and NUMBER ONE WITH A BULLET with Robert Carradine. On his 88th birthday, I wanted to take a moment to celebrate Billy Dee Williams, and one of my favorite action movie scenes. This scene from NIGHTHAWKS features three unbelievably cool actors in their prime!

Enjoy, my friends, and Happy Birthday Billy Dee!!

4 Shots From 4 Films: Special Barry Levinson Edition

Posted on by Jedadiah Leland

4 (or more) Shots From 4 (or more) Films is just what it says it is, 4 (or more) shots from 4 (or more) of our favorite films. As opposed to the reviews and recaps that we usually post, 4 (or more) Shots From 4 (or more) Films lets the visuals do the talking.

Happy birthday to Baltimore’s own Barry Levinson!

4 Shots From 4 Barry Levison Films

Diner (1982, directed by Barry Levison, DP: Peter Sova)

The Natural (1984, directed by Barry Levinson, DP: Caleb Deschanel)

 

 

 

 

Tin Men (1987, directed by Barry Levinson, DP: Peter Sova)

Avalon (1990, directed by Barry Levinson, DP: Allen Daviau)

 

Arizona (1931, directed by George B. Seitz)

Posted on by Jedadiah Leland

In one of his earliest starring roles, John Wayne plays Lt. Bob Denton, a West Point football star who gets assigned to a post in Arizona where he’ll be under the command of his mentor, Colonel Frank Bonham (Forrest Stanley).  Bonham is married to Evelyn (Laura La Plante), who is Bob’s former girlfriend and who only married Bonham after Denton told her that he didn’t even intend to marry anyone.  In Arizona, Denton meets Bonnie (June Clyde), who is the younger sister of Evelyn.  Bonnie and Denton fall for each other so the jealous Evelyn rips her dress and accuses Denton of trying to force himself on her.  Bonham is ready to drum Denton out of the service but then Evelyn learns that Denton and Bonnie are secretly married and destroying Denton’s life will also mean destroying Bonnie’s happiness.

Arizona is a simplistic melodrama and probably one that wouldn’t be made today.  Denton is undeniably a cad, telling Evelyn that he didn’t want to make a commitment to her after dating her for two years and then turning right around and deciding to pursue Evelyn’s sister.  But Evelyn’s reaction goes overboard.  She marries an older man just to get back at Denton (even though Denton didn’t want to marry her so why would he care?) and then she accuses Denton of trying to force himself on her.  Evelyn needs to move on and Bonham needs to get a divorce.  Instead, Evelyn tries to destroy one man’s life and Col. Bonham is very understanding.  What’s a false accusation of rape between friends?

This was one of John Wayne’s first starring roles in a major studio production.  The film was produced by Columbia, where Harry Cohn did seven films with Wayne before exiling him back to Poverty Row, where Wayne did B-pictures before John Ford finally cast him in Stagecoach.  Wayne seems awkward and uncomfortable in much of Arizona.  Top-billed Laura La Plante does a better job as Evelyn but the way the film ultimately shrugs off her false accusations just doesn’t feel right.

Arizona is a misfire in the Duke’s early filmography.

The Eric Roberts Collection: Bed & Breakfast (dir by Marcio Garcia)

Posted on by Lisa Marie Bowman

 

2010’s Bed & Breakfast is one of those Hallmark-y films that takes place at a B&B in a quaint little town.

Having recently been left by his actress wife, Jake (Dean Cain) is trying to open up a bed and breakfast, using a house that was left to him by a former employer.  Helping Jake out is his brother, Peter (Jake Engvall), a member of law enforcement who not only enjoys drinking beer but also enjoys talking about beer as well.  Juliana Paes plays Ana, the niece of the original owner of the house.  Ana is from Brazil and she wants to sell the house because her brother is in debt to some local mobsters.  But then Ana meets the handsome and single Jake and …. well, you already know what’s going to happen.  This is one of those films where the familiarity is the point.  You watch it because you know that Jake and Ana are going to fall in love and you know exactly how long it’s going to take for that to happen.  Dean Cain is rugged.  Juliana Paes is pretty.  The town is lovely.  It’s a sweet little film that you’ll forget about a few minutes after it ends.

Of course, these films always require a cameo or two.  John Savage and Julia Duffy show up as a couple who stay at the B&B and who share a dance at the end of the film.  Ted Lange is the judge who settles the issue of who actually owns the house.  Eric Roberts shows up as a reviewer who stays at the B&B and decides that it’s a wonderful place that more than deserves a good review.  Yay!  I will say that it’s always interesting to see Roberts playing someone who is just a nice, polite guy.  He doesn’t get to do it all that often.  Eric Roberts doesn’t have much screentime in this film but he gets to be pleasant the entire time.  It’s a nice change of pace.

Previous Eric Roberts Films That We Have Reviewed:

  1. Star 80 (1983)
  2. Runaway Train (1985)
  3. Blood Red (1989)
  4. The Ambulance (1990)
  5. The Lost Capone (1990)
  6. Love, Cheat, & Steal (1993)
  7. Voyage (1993)
  8. Love Is A Gun (1994)
  9. Sensation (1994)
  10. Dark Angel (1996)
  11. Doctor Who (1996)
  12. Most Wanted (1997)
  13. Mercy Streets (2000)
  14. Wolves of Wall Street (2002)
  15. Mr. Brightside (2004)
  16. Six: The Mark Unleased (2004)
  17. Hey You (2006)
  18. Amazing Racer (2009)
  19. In The Blink of an Eye (2009)
  20. Enemies Among Us (2010)
  21. The Expendables (2010) 
  22. Sharktopus (2010)
  23. Beyond The Trophy (2012)
  24. The Dead Want Women (2012)
  25. Deadline (2012)
  26. The Mark (2012)
  27. Miss Atomic Bomb (2012)
  28. Bonnie And Clyde: Justified (2013)
  29. Lovelace (2013)
  30. The Mark: Redemption (2013)
  31. Self-Storage (2013)
  32. A Talking Cat!?! (2013)
  33. This Is Our Time (2013)
  34. Inherent Vice (2014)
  35. Road to the Open (2014)
  36. Rumors of War (2014)
  37. Amityville Death House (2015)
  38. A Fatal Obsession (2015)
  39. Stalked By My Doctor (2015)
  40. Enemy Within (2016)
  41. Joker’s Poltergeist (2016)
  42. Prayer Never Fails (2016)
  43. Stalked By My Doctor: The Return (2016)
  44. The Wrong Roommate (2016)
  45. Dark Image (2017)
  46. Black Wake (2018)
  47. Frank and Ava (2018)
  48. Stalked By My Doctor: Patient’s Revenge (2018)
  49. Clinton Island (2019)
  50. Monster Island (2019)
  51. The Reliant (2019)
  52. The Savant (2019)
  53. Seven Deadly Sins (2019)
  54. Stalked By My Doctor: A Sleepwalker’s Nightmare (2019)
  55. The Wrong Mommy (2019)
  56. Exodus of a Prodigal Son (2020)
  57. Free Lunch Express (2020)
  58. Her Deadly Groom (2020)
  59. Top Gunner (2020)
  60. Deadly Nightshade (2021)
  61. The Elevator (2021)
  62. Just What The Doctor Ordered (2021)
  63. Killer Advice (2021)
  64. The Poltergeist Diaries (2021)
  65. The Rebels of PT-218 (2021)
  66. A Town Called Parable (2021)
  67. Bleach (2022)
  68. My Dinner With Eric (2022)
  69. Aftermath (2024)
  70. Devil’s Knight (2024)
  71. The Wrong Life Coach (2024)
  72. When It Rains In L.A. (2025)

Scenes That I Love: The Wheelchair Race From Days Of Thunder

Posted on by Lisa Marie Bowman

Today, the Shattered Lens wishes a happy birthday to the great character actor, Michael Rooker.

For today’s scene that I love, we’ve got a fairly silly scene from a fairly silly movie.  Micahael Rooker and Tom Cruise play racing rivals in 1990’s Days Of Thunder.  In this scene, we see just how dedicated they are to always trying to be the first to make it to the finish line.

Roger Corman directed MACHINE GUN KELLY (1958), Charles Bronson’s first starring role!

Posted on by Bradley Crain

I’ve always appreciated the legendary Roger Corman, who was born on this day in 1926, because he gave Charles Bronson his first starring role in MACHINE GUN KELLY. I’ve heard Quentin Tarantino himself say that It’s the best movie that Corman ever directed. It was such an important movie for Bronson because it directly led to a HUGE break 10 years later when Alain Delon wanted him for his co-star in FAREWELL, FRIEND (1968). Delon wanted Bronson because he admired his performance as George Kelly.

Happy Birthday in heaven, Mr. Corman! Thanks for giving Charles Bronson, and so many greats, the break of a lifetime!