BUT ENOUGH ABOUT ME by Burt Reynolds and Jon Winokur / Z-View

BUT ENOUGH ABOUT ME by Burt Reynolds and Jon Winokur

First sentence…

Growing up in Palm Beach, County, Florida, I went by the name Buddy.

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

Burt Reynolds always seemed like a star you could sit and talk with.  Perhaps that’s why he was always such a great guest on talk shows.  His sense of humor always came through, often at his own expense.  I’m pleased to report that BUT ENOUGH ABOUT ME has the same feel.

Burt Reynolds’ goal with the book was to pay homage to the people who shaped him for better or worse. And he does just that.  Burt isn’t ashamed to get sentimental or afraid to name names. We learn who he considers the good folks, as well a few who wouldn’t make his Christmas card list.  He talks about success as well as mistakes he made both professionally and personally.  Burt Reynolds had a career few could dream of and he’s written a memoir worthy of it.

Rating:

“I.S.S.” starring Ariana DeBose, Chris Messina, Pilou Asbaek, John Gallagher Jr., Costa Ronin, and Masha Mashkova – The Poster & Trailer are Here!

I.S.S. looks like a suspenseful ride.  Deal me in.

Watch the official trailer for I.S.S.
Only In Theaters January 19

Tensions flare in the near future aboard the International Space Station as a worldwide conflict breaks out on Earth. Reeling from this, the astronauts receive orders from the ground: take control of the station by any means necessary. Director Gabriela Cowperthwaite, working with Nick Shafir’s Blacklist script, brings together a stellar cast that includes Academy Award winner Ariana DeBose, Chris Messina, Pilou Asbaek, John Gallagher Jr., Costa Ronin, and Masha Mashkova, in a high-stakes thriller set entirely in the confines of the I.S.S. as astronauts are called to duty in fateful and terrifying ways.

“Dave Stevens: Drawn to Perfection” (2022) / Z-View

Dave Stevens: Drawn to Perfection (2022)

Director: Kelvin Mao

Stars: Dave Stevens, Thomas Jane, Billy Campbell, Joe Johnston, Brinke Stevens, Bruce Timm, David Mandel, Danny Bilson, William Stout, James R. Silke, Bill Wray, Scott Shaw and Mark Evanier.

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

Dave Stevens was a professional artist best known for creating The Rocketeer.  The Rocketeer quickly became a fan favorite comic book series.  It was later adapted as a feature film.  The Rocketeer is what most people think of when Dave Stevens’ name comes up.

What many don’t know is that Dave Stevens worked inking comic strips before creating The Rocketeer.  He also drew storyboards for Hanna-Barbera’s animated shows.  Later Dave Stevens provided storyboards for Raiders of the Lost Ark and Michael Jackson’s Thriller!  He was married to actress Brink Stevens.  He helped popularize Bettie Paige with a new generation.  When he discovered that Ms. Paige was still alive, he befriended her.  Dave Stevens made sure that Bettie Paige received money from people profiting off the use of her likeness.

Dave Stevens was an artist obsessed with perfection.  He wanted every drawing, every page, every panel, every line to be as he pictured it in his mind.  Despite being an award-winning artist, and considered the reigning king of pinup artists, Dave Stevens was hampered by his quest for perfection.  It caused his output to be slow.  Mr. Stevens had high standards for his art, himself and those few he considered friends.

Drawn to Perfection explores all aspects of Dave Stevens life and career.  We hear from his family, friends and even Dave himself through vintage interviews.  If you’re at all interested in learning more about Dave Stevens, then Drawn to Perfection is the place to start.

“Storm Fear” (1955) starring Cornel Wilde, Jean Wallace & Dan Duryea / Z-View

Storm Fear (1955)

Director: Cornel Wilde

Writer: Horton Foote based on STORM FEAR by Clinton Seeley

Stars: Cornel Wilde, Jean Wallace, Dan Duryea, Lee Grant, David Stollery, Dennis Weaver, Steven Hill and Chet Huntley.

Tagline:  IT HITS LIKE A THUNDERBOLT!

The Plot…

A bad winter storm is coming.  Fred Blake (Duryea), his wife Elizabeth (Wallace) and their son, David (Stollery) live in a remote mountainside farm house.  Fred is a sickly and unhappy man.  Just before the storm hits, Fred’s estranged brother, Charlie (Wilde) and two others show up.  Charlie has been shot in the leg.  The bullet is still lodged there.  His companions are Benji (Hill), a nervous, bully and Edna (Grant).  Obviously the three are on the run from the law.

As the storm hits, Fred learns that the three robbed a bank.  A police officer was killed in the process.  Charlie promises they will take off when the weather clears.  But as the night progresses, we learn secrets that had been long buried.  Worried that the family will become witnesses against them, Benji plans to kill them all, including Charlie.

It won’t be long until sunup…

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Storm Fear marked Cornell Wilde’s feature film directorial debut.

Lee Grant had been nominated for a Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her role in 1951’s The Detective.  It was her first feature film.  Because of Joseph McCarthy’s red scare, Grant was blacklisted and didn’t get another feature film role until Cornell Wilde cast her in Storm Fear.  Grant would then go on to a long career as an actress, director and producer.  She was nominated three more times for a Best Supporting Actress Academy Award, winning in 1976 for her role in Shampoo.

I was surprised to learn that Eddie Muller is not a fan of Storm Fear.  I’m not one to argue with the Czar of Noir, but Storm Fear resonated with me.

“Flagpole Jitters” (1956) starring The Three Stooges / Z-View

Flagpole Jitters (1956)

Director: Jules White

Writer: Felix Adler, Jack White

Stars: Moe Howard, Larry Fine, Shemp Howard, David Bond, Vernon Dent, Richard Alexander, Ned Glass and Frank Sully.

Tagline:  The Three Stooges hit a new high in low-down laughs

The Plot…

The boys are working as janitors to raise money for their invalid neighbor, Mary.  Their goal is to get enough dough that Mary can have an operation to allow her to walk again.  A criminal known as The Great Svengarlic hypnotizes Larry, Shemp and Moe to dance on a flagpole high above the street.  While the crowd watches Svengarlic’s act, his accomplices rob a jewelry store.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Flagpole Jitters (1956) is a reworking of the Stooges’ 1949 short Hokus Pokus.  It makes use of quite a bit of footage from the original.  In the original Mary was faking her disability, in this one she’s not.  Changing this aspect of the short weakens the ending.

Flagpole Jitters is the last Stooges’ short that features new footage of Shemp.  He died less than five months after the filming of this one.

The funniest scene is when Shemp gets physical with the insurance adjuster! (And that came from the original short.)

Hot Stuff (1956) rates 2 of 5 stars.

“Fallout” starring Ella Purnell, Aaron Moten, Walton Goggins – The Trailer is Here!

I don’t know the game, but I am a Walter Goggins fan and the Fallout trailer looks interesting.  Since it’s on PRIME, deal me in.

Based on one of the greatest video game series of all time, Fallout is the story of haves and have-nots in a world in which there’s almost nothing left to have. 200 years after the apocalypse, the gentle denizens of luxury fallout shelters are forced to return to the irradiated hellscape their ancestors left behind — and are shocked to discover an incredibly complex, gleefully weird and highly violent universe waiting for them. From executive producers Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy, the creators of Westworld, starring Ella Purnell, Aaron Moten, Walton Goggins and more. Arriving April 12 on Prime Video.

“Mr. Harrigan’s Phone” (2022) starring Donald Sutherland & Jaeden Martell / Z-View

Mr. Harrigan’s Phone (2022)

Director: John Lee Hancock

Screenplay by: John Lee Hancock based on Mr. Harrigan’s Phone  by Stephen King

Starring: Donald Sutherland, Jaeden Martell, Joe Tippett, Thomas Francis Murphy, Randy Kovitz and Cyrus Arnold.

Tagline: Some connections never die.

The Story:

Craig’s mother dies when he is still very young.  John Harrigan (Sutherland), an older, reclusive, billionaire is impressed when he hears Craig (Martell) speak at their small town church.  Mr. Harrigan hires Craig to read to him three times a week.  Over the years they develop a friendship.

When Mr. Harrigan dies, Craig slips Harrigan’s cell phone in his coffin.  The phone was a gift that Craig gave Mr. Harrigan.  That night after the funeral Craig’s phone receives a text that appears to be from Mr. Harrigan.

“All ghosts aren’t holy.”

Thoughts (beware of spoilers) 

If you’re looking for a Stephen King horror movie, this isn’t it.  Mr. Harrigan’s Phone is more of a character student or psychological drama.  Mr. Harrigan’s Phone could have been an extended episode from The Twilight Zone.  It is well done, but if you go in expecting straight out horror, you’ll be disappointed.