Category: Celebs

“Hijack” starring Idris Elba – The Trailer is Here!

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Hijack starring Idris Elba looks like an interesting riff on an airplane takeover.  Deal me in.

Let them think they’re in control. Hijack premieres June 28 on Apple TV+ https://apple.co/_Hijack

Told in real time, Hijack is a tense thriller that follows the journey of a hijacked plane as it makes its way to London over a seven-hour flight, and as authorities on the ground scramble for answers.

Starring and executive produced by SAG Award winner and Emmy Award nominee Idris Elba, Hijack was created by George Kay (“Lupin,” “Criminal”) and Jim Field Smith (“Criminal,” “Truth Seekers”), who also wrote and lead directed the series respectively. The series also stars Emmy Award and NAACP Image Award winner Archie Panjabi (“The Good Wife,” “Snowpiercer,” “Blindspot”).

“Gents in a Jam” (1952) starring The Three Stooges / Z-View

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Gents in a Jam (1952)

Director:  Edward Bernds

Writer: Edward Bernds

Stars: Moe Howard, Larry Fine, Shemp Howard, Kitty McHugh, Emil Sitka, Danni Sue Nolan, Mickey Simpson  and ‘Snub’ Pollard.

Tagline: Head Over Heels and Up To Their Ears in Laughs! 

The Plot…

The boys are about to be evicted when they (and their landlord, Mrs. MacGruder) learn that Shemp’s rich uncle is coming for a visit.  Mrs. McGruder decides to let them stay since she has eyes on marrying Shemp’s uncle for his money.  To complicate matters, the boys’ pretty neighbor, Gertie, comes by to borrow a cup of sugar. Her husband is world-famous for his incredible strength (and his insane jealously of any man around his wife).  When Gertie trips, Shemp goes to help her and accidentally rips her dress off!  Cue the husband coming down the hall… and let the hijinks begin!

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Gents in a Jam was the final Stooges’ short for both…

  • director Edward Bernds.  Many consider Bernds to be the best of all the Stooges’ directors.  All of the remaining Stooges’ shorts are directed by Jules White and make use of footage from previous Stooges outings.
  • and character actor Snub Pollard.  Mr. Pollard has over 600 acting credits on his resume dating back to 1913!

Larry to Moe: “How come you give all the orders?”  Moe: Because I have all the brains.  Any objections?”  Larry: “Yeah!” Moe slaps Larry and says, “Objection overruled.”

Gents in a Jam (1952) rates 4 of 5 stars.

RIP: Ray Stevenson

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Ray Stevenson died today.  He was 58.  No cause of death has been released.

Ray Stevenson was an Irish actor known for his roles in theater, television and feature films.  He is best known for his starring roles as The Punisher in Punisher: War Zone and Volstagg in Thor franchise films,

Some of Ray Stevenson’s television appearances include: The Dwelling Place (3 episodes); The Tide of Life (3 episodes); Band of Gold (9 episodes); City Central (21 episodes); Walking the Dead (2 episodes); Rome (22 episodes); Dexter (9 episodes); Black Sails (11 episodes); Rellik (6 episodes); Reef Break (13 episodes); Vikings (11 episodes) and Das Boot (9 episodes).

Some of Ray Stevenson’s feature films include:  The Theory of Flight; King Arthur; Punisher: War Zone; Cirque du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant; The Book of Eli; The Other Guys; Kill the Irishman; Thor; G.I. Joe: Retaliation; Thor: The Dark World; Cold Skin; Thor: Ragnarak; Accident Man; RRR and Accident Man: Hitman’s Holiday.

My favorite Ray Stevenson role was in Punisher: War Zone. He was excellent in the role and I’m surprised that they didn’t do sequels with him.  It was also a pleasant surprise to see him in RRR.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Ray Stevenson’s family, friends and fans.

RIP: Jim Brown

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Jim Brown died on Thursday, May 18, 2023.  He was 87 years old.  Jim Brown was an athlete, civil rights activist and actor.

Jim Brown attended Syracuse University where he excelled at basketball, track and field, lacrosse, and football. Many consider Jim Brown to be one of the best lacrosse players of all time.  While at Syracuse, Jim Brown was a unanimous selection for the All-America team and they retired his number 44.  In 1995, he was inducted in the College Football Hall of Fame.

Jim Brown was a running back for the Cleveland Browns from 1957 – 1965.  He led the league in rushing 8 of the 9 seasons he played.  When he retired (while at the height of his career) he was the all-time leading rusher.  Jim Brown was a named a Pro Bowl player each season that he played.  Three times in the 9 seasons he was named the NFL Most Valuable Player.  He led the Browns to a Championship in 1964.  Jim Brown is the only professional football player to average over 100 yards per game.  He is considered by many to be the greatest player to every take the field.  Mr. Brown retired from football to pursue a career as an actor.

Some of Jim Brown’s television appearances include: I, Spy; Police Story; CHiPs (3 episodes); Knight Rider; TJ Hooker (2 episodes); The A-Team and Soul Food (4 episodes).

Some of Jim Brown’s feature films include: Rio Concho; The Dirty Dozen; Dark of the Sun; Ice Station Zebra; The Split; 100 Rifles; Slaughter; Slaughter’s Big Rip-Off; Three The Hard Way; The Running Man; I’m Gonna Git You Sucka; Mars Attacks and Any Given Sunday.

Jimi Brown was one of the few athletes to speak out about civil rights in the 1950s and he continued to do so throughout his life.  Mr. Brown was the founder of the Negro Industrial Economic Union, later renamed as the Black Economic Union which helped find opportunities and promote minority owned business.

I was a fan of Jim Brown’s football prowess.  My favorite Jim Brown films are The Dirty Dozen and Dark of the Sun.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Jim Brown’s family, friends and fans.

Lee Marvin’s All-Time Best Movies!

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Ben Sherlock at ScreenRant came up with his list (and rationale) for the 12 Best Lee Marvin Movies Ranked.  Sherlock’s list is a good one, but leaves out some of Marvin’s films that I’d have included.  So before you click over, here’s how Sherlock and I compare and the movies that would have made my list that didn’t make his.

Sherlock

Zablo

12. Paint Your Wagon (1969)

*** Monte Walsh (1970) (Haven’t seen yet.)

11. Monte Walsh (1970)

*** The Iceman Cometh (1973) (Haven’t seen yet)

10. The Killers (1964)

10. Paint Your Wagon (1969)

09. The Comancheros (1961)

09. The Big Red One (1980)

08. The Iceman Cometh (1973)

08. Cat Ballou (1965

07. The Professionals (1966)

07. The Professionals (1966)

06. The Big Red One (1980)

06. The Comancheros (1961)

05. Bad Day At Black Rock (1955)

05. Bad Day At Black Rock (1955)

04. Cat Ballou (1965)

04. The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962)

03. The Dirty Dozen (1967)

03. Point Blank (1967)

02. The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962)

02. The Killers (1964)

01. Point Blank (1967)

01. The Dirty Dozen (1967)

I would have included The Big Heat (one of my all-time favorite films), The Emperor of the North (Marvin and Borgnine in one of the most violet fights ever filmed) and Death Hunt. (Marvin vs Charles Bronson and Carl Weathers with Angie Dickinson for good measure). 

“Killers of the Flower Moon” directed by Martin Scorsese, starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert DeNiro – The Trailer is here!

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The trailer for Killers of the Flower Moon co-written and directed by Martin Scorsese, starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert DeNiro is here!

Killers of the Flower Moon. In theaters October 6.

Based on David Grann’s broadly lauded best-selling book, Killers of the Flower Moon is set in 1920s Oklahoma and depicts the serial murder of members of the oil-wealthy Osage Nation, a string of brutal crimes that came to be known as the Reign of Terror.

Directed by Martin Scorsese and Screenplay by Eric Roth and Scorsese, the film stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro, Lily Gladstone, Jesse Plemons, Tantoo Cardinal, Cara Jade Myers, JaNae Collins, and Jillian Dion.

Hailing from Apple Studios, Killers of the Flower Moon was produced alongside Imperative Entertainment, Sikelia Productions and Appian Way. Producers are Scorsese, Dan Friedkin, Bradley Thomas and Daniel Lupi, with DiCaprio, Rick Yorn, Adam Somner, Marianne Bower, Lisa Frechette, John Atwood, Shea Kammer and Niels Juul serving as executive producers.

RIP: Superstar Billy Graham

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Superstar Billy Graham, the Hall of Fame Professional wrestler died yesterday at the age of 79.  He had been on life-support and ill for some time.

Superstar Billy Graham was born Eldridge Wayne Coleman.  He became interested in weightlifting while in fifth grade.  In high school he threw the shot put and participated in the Golden Gloves.  In 1961, Mr. Coleman won the Teenage Body Building Contest West Coast Division. (Frank Zane was the winner of the East Coast Division!).  By 1968, Eldridge Coleman was working out at Gold’s Gym where he became friends with Arnold Schwarzenegger, Franco Columbu and other famous body builders of the era.

In 1970, Mr. Coleman began his career in professional wrestling working for various territories around the country.  In 1972, he took on the moniker Superstar Billy Graham and he became world famous.  Over the course of his career he was a three-time World Champion and inducted in the the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame.  He retired in 1988 and became an author and ringside announcer.

Superstar Billy Graham was the inspiration for the next wave of pro wrestlers that included Ric Flair, Austin Idol, Hulk Hogan and Jesse The Body Ventura.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Superstar Billy Graham’s family, friends and fans.

“Self Made Maids” (1950) starring The Three Stooges / Z-View

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Self Made Maids (1950)

Director:  Jules White

Writer: Felix Adler

Stars: Moe Howard, Larry Fine, Shemp Howard

Tagline: Oh Baby… It’s the Stooges’ Screwiest Comedy!

The Plot…

The boys are artists in love with models named Larraine, Moella and Shempetta.  The girls accept our guys’ marriage proposals.  The problem will be getting the ladies’ father to agree.  Let the fun begin!

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Self Made Maids is unique in that the Stooges play all the characters!  Larry, Moe and Shemp play the artists, their girlfriends and their children.  In addition, Moe plays the girls’ father,  Larry and Shemp appear as a couple in a painting.

While playing one of the girls, Moe actually tripped, twisted an ankle, hit his head and needed crutches to get around the next day.  Filming continued.

Self Made Maids (1950) rates 2 of 5 stars.

“Justified: City Primeval” starring Timothy Olyphant – The Teaser is Here!

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Looking forward to this one!

You don’t mess with the hat. FX’s Justified: City Primeval premieres July 18 on FX. Stream on Hulu.

Starring Timothy Olyphant, Aunjanue Ellis and Boyd Holbrook. Raylan Givens left the hollers of Kentucky and is balancing life as a U.S. Marshal with being a part-time father. A chance encounter sends him to Detroit and on a collision course with a violent sociopath and a formidable defense attorney.

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RIP: Doyle Brunson

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Doyle Brunson, known as the Godfather of Poker died yesterday at the age of 89.

Mr. Brunson played professional poker for over 50 years.  He is in the Poker Hall of Fame after a career that included him being the first person to win $1 million in poker tournaments, back-to-back World Series of Poker tournament championships (1976 & 1977) and ten World Series of Poker tournament lifetime wins.  Doyle Brunson wrote two books on how to win at poker, Super/System and SuperSystem2.  These books are considered required reading for anyone who plays poker for money.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Doyle Brunson’s family, friends and fans.

“Punchy Cowpunchers” (1950) starring The Three Stooges / Z-View

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Punchy Cowpunchers (1950)

Director:  Edward Bernds

Writer: Edward Bernds

Stars: Moe Howard, Larry Fine, Shemp Howard, Jock Mahoney, Christine McIntyre, Kenneth MacDonald, Dick Wessel, Vernon Dent, Emil Sitka, Heinie Conklin and Blackie Whiteford. 

Tagline: You’ll salute the Stooges for their screwiest comedy ever.

The Plot…

A small town in the old west has been taken over by the Dillon Gang.  Led by, uh, Dillon (MacDonald), the crooks are making life miserable for everyone.  Elmer (Mahoney), is a heroic cowboy, but realizes he’ll need help running the Dillon Gang out of town.  So Elmer rides to the nearest US Cavalry fort to get assistance.

Meanwhile at the fort, the Sergeant is trying to turn our boys into soldiers.  You can imagine the success he’s had.  When the fort commander says that soldiers are needed for a potential suicide mission to run the Dillon Gang out of town, the Sarge volunteers Larry, Moe and Shemp.  What could go wrong?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Punchy Cowpunchers is not our usual Three Stooges short.  It features a soundtrack and gives supporting cast members ample opportunities for comedy.  This is especially true for Jock Mahoney who looks the part of a handsome cowboy star of the era, but is played dimwitted and clumsy.  Mahoney was a stuntman before becoming a star and he gets multiple gags showing his talents.

This is writer/director Edward Bernds favorite short that he did with The Three Stooges.

Punchy Cowpunchers (1950) rates 5 of 5 stars.

“Boobs in Arms” (1940) starring The Tree Stooges / Z-View

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Boobs in Arms (1940)

Director:  Jules White 

Writer: Felix Adler

Stars: Moe Howard, Larry Fine, Shemp Howard, Richard Fiske, Bobby Barber, Lynton Brent, Charles Dorety and Philip Van Zandt. 

Tagline:  Mad buffoons in a barrage of laughs!

The Plot…

The boys are door to door salesmen.  When a woman invites them inside, her crazy, jealous husband returns home.  He attacks the boys who fight back.  In fear for their lives, Larry, Moe and Curly run away with the husband in pursuit.  Our guys find sanctuary in an Army recruiting office.  Before they know it, the Stooges are “in the army now.”  Imagine their shock when they learn that the drill sergeant is the jealous husband!  Let the hijinks continue!

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Richard Fiske who played the jealous husband/army drill sergeant was drafted to fight in World War II.  He was killed in France in 1944.

The extended scene where the boys try to rescue their drill sergeant while high on laughing gas is a hoot.

Boobs in Arms (1940) rates 5 of 5 stars.