Category: Celebs

Half-Wits Holiday (1947) starring The Three Stooges / Z-View

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Half-Wits Holiday (1947)

Director:  Jules White

Screenplay: Zion Myers

Stars: Moe Howard, Larry Fine, Curly Howard, Vernon Dent, Barbara Slater, Theodore Lorch, Symona Boniface, Emil Sitka and Al Thompson

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

Half-Wits Holiday is a reboot of the Stooges’ 1935 short Hoi Polloi (which was an adaptation of George Bernard Shaw’s 1913 play Pygmalion).  The Stooges’ would rework the same plot again in their 1958 short Pies and Guys.  Two college professors make a bet: one believes he can turn anybody into a gentleman.  The other professor chooses three bumbling repair men (Larry, Curly and Moe) as the test subjects.  What could go wrong?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Half-Wits Holiday features Curly’s last outing as one of The Three Stooges.  For the previous two years Curly had suffered a series of small strokes. They were taking a toll.  Curly’s endurance was down. His timing was off.  During the final day of filming a giant pie fight was scheduled..  Curly was to play a major part in the mayhem.  As the scene was being prepared, Curly suffered a major stroke and was rushed to the hospital.  The scene had to be shot without him.

In 1947, in the third Stooges short filmed with Shemp, Hold that Lion!  Curly gets a cameo. and is nearly unrecognizable with a full head of hair.  This is the only time all four Stooges appeared together.

Half-Wits Holiday earns 5 of 5 stars.

“Bullet Train” (2022) directed by David Leitch, starring Brad Pitt / Z-View

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Bullet Train (2022)

Director:  David Leitch

Screenplay: Zak Olkewicz based on Bullet Train by Kōtarō Isaka (Sam Malissa – Translator)

Stars: Brad Pitt, Joey King, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Brian Tyree Henry, Andrew Koji, Hiroyuki Sanada, Michael Shannon, Sandra Bullock, Bad Bunny and Zazie Beetz

Tagline: The end of the line is just the beginning.

The Plot…

An operative with the code name Ladybug (Pitt) boards a bullet train with a simple job: Retrieve a briefcase full of cash.  Ladybug has had a string of bad luck. He hopes this easy assignment is just what he needs.  Little does Ladybug know that several assassins are on the train.  Each killer has his/her own agenda, but when paths cross people die…

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

When Bullet Train was first announced, I was stoked.  I loved the idea of several assassins on a bullet train fighting it out.  David Leitch’s track record as a director: John Wick, Atomic Blonde, Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw made him the perfect choice to helm the production.  The novel by Kōtarō Isaka was a best-seller.  Everything was coming together to make a cool movie.

I bought Isaka’s book and could not get into it.  The assassins were high school students.  One of them droned on and on about Thomas the Train.  It’s rare that I don’t finish a book.  I quit this one.  Then the ads started to appear for the movie.  They made it look like a COMEDY with a little action.  Not what I was hoping for.  Still, I was willing to give Bullet Train a chance.

I’m glad I did.  Yes, Bullet Train is full of quirky characters.  Yes, it has comedy.  But there’s more than enough action to balance it out.  I liked the story.  Leitch keeps things moving.  His background in stunts and previous directing gigs serves him well.  The cast plays things straight so as an audience we buy in.  Brad Pitt was the perfect choice to star and he’s got a great supporting cast.  Channing Tatum and Ryan Reynolds have uncredited cameos that are the icing on the cake.

Bullet Train exists in it’s own universe.  It’s crazy, quirky and I’m glad I made a visit.

Bullet Train earns 4 of 5 stars.

Sly Stallone Interview & “Tulsa King” Midseason Trailer!

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There’s a cool profile/mini-interview with Sylvester Stallone at Slate.  It’s well worth a read.  Sly talks about his acting process, Tulsa King, movies vs television and more.  One question and answer stood out…

I know you’ve had an Edgar Allen Poe biopic that you’ve wanted to make for years, but are there any projects like that you’re still really hoping to make one day?

SLY: Yeah, there’s a couple there. There’s one I wanna do, it’s called Hunter, which I’d like to do as a streaming series. There’s another called Levon Cade. A lot of these are harkening back to when men were men [laughs] — when action films were basically men overcoming incredible odds, but terra firma and real, not something that’s CGI-driven. Almost like Rambo, Rocky, early Charles Bronson, Dirty Harry. That’s the kind of film I’m focusing on.

TULSA KING – Season 1 Midseason Trailer (2022) Paramount+ TULSA KING follows New York mafia capo Dwight “The General” Manfredi just after he is released from prison after 25 years and unceremoniously exiled by his boss to set up shop in Tulsa, Okla. Realizing that his mob family may not have his best interests in mind, Dwight slowly builds a “crew” from a group of unlikely characters, to help him establish a new criminal empire in a place that to him might as well be another planet. CAST: Sylvester Stallone, Martin Starr, Andrea Savage

“Knock at the Cabin” (2023) Directed by M. Night Shyamalan – The Second Trailer is Here!

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Here is the second trailer to M. Night Shyamalan’s Knock at the Cabin.  Deal me in.

Knock at the Cabin – Only in Theaters February 3, 2023
https://www.knockatthecabin.com/

While vacationing at a remote cabin, a young girl and her parents are taken hostage by four armed strangers who demand that the family make an unthinkable choice to avert the apocalypse. With limited access to the outside world, the family must decide what they believe before all is lost.

From visionary filmmaker M. Night Shyamalan, Knock at the Cabin stars Dave Bautista (Dune, Guardians of the Galaxy franchise), Tony award and Emmy nominee Jonathan Groff (Hamilton, Mindhunter), Ben Aldridge (Pennyworth, Fleabag), BAFTA nominee Nikki Amuka-Bird (Persuasion, Old), newcomer Kristen Cui, Abby Quinn (Little Women, Landline) and Rupert Grint (Servant, Harry Potter franchise).

Universal Pictures presents a Blinding Edge Pictures production, in association with FilmNation Features and Wishmore Entertainment, an M. Night Shyamalan film. The screenplay is by M. Night Shyamalan and Steve Desmond & Michael Sherman based on the national bestseller The Cabin at the End of the World by Paul Tremblay. The film is directed by M. Night Shyamalan and produced by M. Night Shyamalan, Marc Bienstock (Split, Glass) and Ashwin Rajan (Servant, Glass). The executive producers are Steven Schneider, Christos V. Konstantakopoulos and Ashley Fox.

RIP: Stephan Bonnar

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Stephan Bonnar, the UFC Hall of Fame mixed martial artist, died on December 22, 2022.  He was 45.  No official cause of death was given, but it was believed to be the result of heat complications.

Mr. Bonnar was the first runner-up on Season One of The Ultimate Fighter.  His bout against Forrest Griffin is considered a classic.  As the fight progressed the ratings for the finale continued to climb as viewers called friends to tune in.  The winner of the bout was to get a six-figure contract with the UFC.  Because the fight was so entertaining and competitive, both Griffin and Bonnar received contracts.  Dana White, the President of the UFC said that the Griffin/Bonnar fight saved the promotion (which is now a multi-billion dollar business).

Stephan Bonnar ended his professional MMA career with a 15 -9 record.

I watched the first season of The Ultimate Fighter.  I was also one of the people that called friends during the finale. The Bonnar/Griffin fight truly saved the UFC.  It was because of that fight that the UFC television contract was extended.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Stephan Bonnar’s family, friends and fans.

“The Raven” (1935) starring Boris Karloff & Bela Lugosi / Z-View

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The Raven (1935)

Director:  Lew Landers aka Louis Friedlander

Screenplay: David Boehm based on the poem by Edgar Allan Poe

Stars: Boris Karloff, Bela Lugosi, Lester Matthews, Irene Ware, Samuel S. Hinds, Spencer Charters and Ian Wolfe

Tagline: While this mad surgical genius chanted “The Raven,” horrible screams rose up from his torture chamber below!

The Plot…

Dr. Richard Vollin (Lugosi), who is obsessed with Edgar Allan Poe, is called out of retirement to perform a life-saving operation on Jean Thatcher (Ware).  The operation is a success.  Jean and Dr. Vollin become friends.  As the friendship grows, Vollin becomes obsessed with Jean.

When escaped killer Edmond Bateman (Karloff) shows up at Dr. Vollin’s mansion asking for a facelift, Vollin comes up with a sick plan.  He performs the operation, but turns Bateman into a hideous looking monster.  Vollin says he will fix Bateman’s face if Bateman will help him kill Jean’s fiance and father.  Vollin plans to murder them using methods based on Edgar Allan Poe stories.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Although Bela Lugosi had the leading role in The Raven, Boris Karloff got top billing.  In addition Karloff earned $10,000 to Lugosi’s $5,000.  Lugosi was reportedly unhappy to learn this news.

The idea of disfiguring an escaped murderer to make him do your bidding is an interesting take.  Credit to the writers to wrap that idea around an obsession with Edgar Allan Poe.   I wish the end result was as good as the ideas.

The Raven earns 2 of 5 stars.

“The Guardians of the Galaxy: Holiday Special” (2022) starring Dave Bautista, Pom Klementieff and the Legendary Kevin Bacon / Z-View

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The Guardians of the Galaxy: Holiday Special (2022)

Director:  James Gunn

Screenplay: James Gunn

Stars: Chris Pratt, Dave Bautista, Karen Gillan, Pom Klementieff, Vin Diesel (voice), Bradley Cooper (voice), Sean Gunn, Michael Rooker (voice) and Kevin Bacon

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

Mantis and Drax want to get the perfect gift for Peter “Starlord” Quill.  They decide that Peter’s boyhood hero, Kevin Bacon would fit the ticket.  So Mantis and Drax head to earth to kidnap the legendary Kevin Bacon! What could go wrong?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

I love that Marvel is putting together these one hour specials.  The Guardians of the Galaxy: Holiday Special is a great follow up to the Halloween Werewolf by Night Special.  It’s also cool that Chris Pratt, Dave Bautista, Karen Gillan, Pom Klementieff, Vin Diesel, Bradley Cooper, Sean Gunn, and Michael Rooker reprise their roles. Drax is always a hoot, and Kevin Bacon running for his life from aliens is more fun than it should be.

Of course like all good Holiday Specials, this one will leave you will a smile and warm feelings.

The Guardians of the Galaxy: Holiday Special earns 4 of 5 stars.

Humphrey Bogart’s 16 Noirs Ranked!

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Anthony Crislip, at /Film, recently posted All 16 Humphrey Bogart Noir Films, Ranked.  Here’s how our lists compare.

CRISLIP

ZABLO
16. Sirocco *** Tokyo Joe
15. Tokyo Joe *** The Enforcer
14. Knock On Any Door *** Dead Reckoning
13. Deadline — U.S.A. 13. Sirocco
12. They Drive By Night 12. Deadline — U.S.A.
11. The Enforcer 11. Knock On Any Door
10. Conflict 10. They Drive By Night
9. Dark Passage 9. Conflict
8. The Desperate Hours 8. Dark Passage
7. Dead Reckoning 7. The Desperate Hours
6. High Sierra 6. The Harder They Fall
5. The Harder They Fall 5. High Sierra
4. Key Largo 4. In A Lonely Place
3. The Maltese Falcon 3. The Maltese Falcon
2. The Big Sleep 2. The Big Sleep
1. In A Lonely Place 1. Key Largo

*** Means I haven’t seen the film.

My top three might change depending on my mood.  They’re all great.

I would have included Bogart in To Have and Have Not on my list.  It would have come in at #4.

“Interview with the Vampire” Season 1 (2022) starring Jacob Anderson, Sam Reid, Eric Bogosian, and Bailey Bass / Z-View

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Interview with the Vampire Season 1 (2022)

Directors:  Alan Taylor (episodes 1-2); Keith Powell (episodes 3-4); Levan Akin (episodes 5-6); Alexis Ostrander (episode 7)

Teleplay: Rolin Jones (episode 1); Jonathan Ceniceroz & Dave Harris (episode 2); Rolin Jones & Hannah Moscovitch (episode 3); Eleanor Burgess (episode 4); Hannah Moscovitch (episode 5); Coline Abert (episode 6); Rolin Jones & Ben Philippe (episode 7)

Stars: Jacob Anderson, Sam Reid, Eric Bogosian, Assad Zaman, Bailey Bass, Rae Dawn Chong and Dana Gourrier

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

Interview with a Vampire is an adaptation of Anne Rice’s novel, Interview with a Vampire.

In 1910, Louis de Pointe du Lac (Anderson) is a successful black business man.  He owns several brothels and rubs shoulders with many of the city’s civic leaders.  Louis meets and befriends  Lestat de Lioncourt (Reid).  Lestat is handsome, charismatic and somewhat mysterious.  He’s also a vampire! As Louis and Lestat spend time together, their friendship grows.  Ultimately, Lestat turns Louis into a vampire.

Louis is shocked and sickened by what he’s become.  He vows to never see Lestat again… but that doesn’t last.  Lestat teaches Louis how to hunt, the things that will kill a vampire, and how to blend in among humans.  Louis makes Lestat agree to some concessions.  They will prey only on the worst humans.  Lestat agrees, but he’s a remorseless killer.  The promise is a sham. There is more that Lestat keeps secret.

When a fire breaks out in a poor part of town, Louis pulls Claudia (Bass), a young girl, from a burning building.  Claudia is on the verge of death.  Louis saves Claudia by turning her.  Louis and Lestat become her “uncles” and the three vampires live together.

Over time Claudia sees the differences between Louis and Lestat. Louis is compassionate and caring.  Lestat is self-centered and heartless.  A rift forms.  Louis and Lestat are already having issues with their toxic relationship.  Problems increase with Claudia’s need for independence. Plus rumors are growing about strange goings on in Louis and Lestat’s mansion…

All of this is relayed in flashbacks as Louis is interviewed by Daniel Malloy (Bogosian), a cynical writer planning a book on Louis’ life.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Interview with the Vampire Season 1 is a tour de force.  Well written with extremely well cast actors joined by top notch direction results in a wonderful viewing experience.

Jacob Anderson (Louis) and Sam Reid (Lestat) have chemistry.  I knew Anderson from his impressive role on Game of Thrones.  I had seen Reid a decade ago in the mini-series Hatfields & McCoys, but didn’t remember him until looking up his credits.  Reid makes an impact here! Baily Bass as Claudia is an actress to watch.  I’d never seen her before, but imagine she’ll be a household name soon.  She’s that talented.  Eric Bogosian is great as the cynical writer.  I’ve never been a big fan of Bogosian’s but he’s perfect here.

Interview with a Vampire isn’t your typical vampire tale.  These vampires have more desires than just drinking blood. It’s interesting how different aspects of a vampire’s life are explored.  First there’s the loneliness. A vampire is a rare creature that if discovered by humans would be killed.  All of a vampire’s relationships change.  Family and friends know something is different.  Vampires never age.  They are rarely seen during the day.  How  to get rid of the bodies they feed on?  How long before missing people are linked to the vampire?

Interview with a Vampire Season 1, like Anne Rice’s novel, doesn’t shy away from the homosexual aspects of Louis and Lestat’s relationship.  Nothing graphic is shown.  Louis was a closeted homosexual in 1910.  Lestat was uninhibited and took whatever he desired whether it was a woman or a man.  Who’d think that a toxic vampire relationship would make great television.

I loved every episode of Interview with a Vampire Season 1.  There’s a lot of ground to cover between 1910 and 2022.  While many questions were an answered even more were not.  I look forward to Season 2.

Interview with the Vampire Season 1 earns 5 of 5 stars.

“Who Killed Santa? A Murderville Murder Mystery” (2022) starring Will Arnett, Jason Bateman & Maya Rudolph / Z-View

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Who Killed Santa? A Murderville Murder Mystery (2022)

Director:  Laura Murphy

Screenplay: Krister Johnson

Stars: Will Arnett, Jason Bateman, Pete Davidson, Maya Rudolph, Sean Hayes and Dennice Cisneros

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

Detective Terry Seattle (Arnett) and his new partner in training, Jason Bateman, have an easy shift. They’re providing security for a photo op at city hall with Santa, the mayor and some orphans.  It’s a cakewalk assignment until the lights go out and Santa is killed.  Seattle and Bateman have until sunrise to solve the crime.  Luckily there are two surprise guests coming to help…

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Murderville has a great set-up.  The guests on the show don’t ever see a script.  They don’t even get to see the sets until filming starts.  Then there is a murder. The guest stars try to solve who did it using real clues as they adlib their way through the episode.  At the end, each guest star is given three suspects.  The star then picks the suspect he/she believes is the killer as well as the clues that led to the decision.  It’s fun to play along as a viewer.

Jason Bateman, Maya Rudolph and Pete Davidson are the guest stars.  It’s hilarious that not one of the stars thinks a provided suspect is the killer.  At one point Pete Davidson does something unexpected and Arnett quickly adlibs to keep the bit working.  Oh and Sean Hayes as Santa cannot stop cracking up… even after he’s been murdered!

Who Killed Santa? A Murderville Murder Mystery earns 3 of 5 stars.

RIP: Mike Hodges

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Mike Hodges, the British writer, director and producer died on December 17, 2022.  Mr. Hodges was 90.

Mike Hodges began his career as a teleprompter operator for British television.  In his down time, Mr. Hodges began writing scripts. His writing was good enough to get him noticed. Mike Hodges directing career began with episodes of British television shows.  He continued writing screenplays.

Suspect (1969) and Rumour (1970) were two scripts that he wrote and directed for Thames Television.  The strength of his work on those two films led to him getting to adapt Ted Lewis’ novel Jack’s Return Home.  Mr. Hodges directed his adaptation which was retitled, Get Carter.  If he never made another film, Mike Hodges would be remembered for this crime classic.

Mike Hodges continued directing, but he also branched out to write stage plays, radio plays and novellas.

Some of Mr. Hodges’ feature films include: Get Carter; The Terminal Man; Damien: The Omen II; Flash Gordon; A Prayer for the Dying; Croupier and I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Mike Hodges’ family, friends and fans.

“Q & A” (1990) starring Nick Nolte, Timothy Hutton and Armand Assante / Z-View

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Q & A (1990)

Director:  Sidney Lumet

Screenplay: Sidney Lumet based on the novel Q & A by Edwin Torres

Stars: Nick Nolte, Timothy Hutton, Armand Assante, Patrick O’Neal, Lee Richardson, Luis Guzmán, Charles S. Dutton, Jenny Lumet, Paul Calderon, Dominic Chianese, Leonardo Cimino, Fyvush Finkel and John Capodice

Tagline: When the questions are dangerous, the answers can be deadly.

The Plot…

Late one night Al Reilly (Hutton) is awakened by a call from Kevin Quinn (O’Neal), the head of the District Attorney’s Homicide Bureau.  Quinn wants Reilly to investigate a police shooting.  Mike Brennan (Nolte) a decorated NY city cop with a reputation for being tough killed a small-time Puerto Rican hood.  Brennan claims it was self-defense.  Quinn tells Reilly it’s an open-and-shut case.

Reilly, Detective Luis Valentin (Guzmán) and Detective Sam Chapman (Dutton) conduct a Q & A of all the witnesses.  Brennan claims he was following up on an informant’s tip and shot in self-defense.  Bobby Texador (Assante) a Puerto Rican crime boss was there. He says he didn’t see a thing.  It turns out Texador’s wife, Nancy (Lumet) was once involved with Reilly.  She disappeared from Reilly’s life six years ago without a word.  Texador tells Reilly he knows about the relationship and threatens him.

Quinn wants Reilly to wrap up the investigation and clear Brennan.  Reilly and Valentine don’t believe that things went down the way Brennan says.  Chapman warns them that Brennan has connections upstairs and with some shady folks.  Reilly decides to dig deeper.

When Brennan finds out Reilly is still investigating the shooting he threatens Reilly. Now Reilly is feeling pressure from his boss, plus the threats from Brennan and Texador have him on edge.  Many people will die before the truth is known… but will justice win out?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Sidney Lumet pulled together an all-star cast for Q & A.  Nick Nolte, Timothy Hutton and Armand Assante have never been better.  Luis Guzmán and Charles S. Dutton are always solid.  Jenny Lumet (Sidney Lumet’s daughter) is perfect in her role as Assante and Hutton’s love interest.  A special shout out for Fyvush Finkel’s performance as a slimy lawyer.

Sidney Lumet made several great films during his career.  He was nominated for Academy Awards as Best Director five times.  Although Q & A didn’t get the same recognition, it should have.

Q & A is set up so that the audience knows from the start that Brennan is a cold-blooded killer.  We know the danger that Reilly is in before he does.  The tension builds as Reilly digs deeper.  The mystery for the audience isn’t IF Brennan murdered the guy, but WHY he murdered him.  There’s also the subplot of why Reilly’s girl left him all those years ago.  How did she end up with the crime boss Bobby Texador?  And what will Texador do when he finds out Reilly still loves his wife?

Q & A earns 5 of 5 stars.

“Skin: A History of Nudity in the Movies” (2020) / Z-View

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Skin: A History of Nudity in the Movies (2020)

Director:  Danny Wolf

Screenplay: Paul Fishbein, Danny Wolf

Stars: Pam Grier, Amy Heckerling, Mariel Hemingway, Camille Keaton, Diane Franklin, Malcolm McDowell, Angela Landis, Traci Lords, Martine Beswick, Linda Blair, Peter Bogdanovich, Elizabeth Daily, Sybil Danning, Joe Dante, Bruce Davison, Ken Davitian, Kristine DeBell, Sylvia Miles, Rena Riffel, Eric Roberts, Kevin Smith and Sean Young

Tagline: The definitive documentary on the history of nudity in feature films from the early silent days to the present, studying the changes in morality that led to the use of nudity in films while emphasizing the political, sociological and artistic changes that shaped that history.

The Plot…

Skin: A History of Nudity in the Movies explores, well, you guessed it, nudity in movies.  By the time the motion picture industry got started, there were already peep shows where you could crank a handle and see nudes in motion.  It was only natural that nudity would appear in mainstream films.  It’s interesting to note the changes that came in with the Hays Code and how studio’s attempted to get around it.

Skin does a good job of taking us through the changes of how film nudity was used and perceived by the public.  The producers of Skin were to smart to get the actual actors and actresses for interviews.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

I joked that I watched Skin just for the interviews.  Truthfully, I was interested in the history of nudity in movies, especially the early days.  When I was a kid there wasn’t much nudity in movies, but then in the late 60s through the 80s, there often seemed to be at least one scene (at a minimum) where a woman was topless.  Hearing from the actresses (and actors) as to how they perceived performing in the nude made everything more personal.  Oh, and if you’re just tuning in to see the nude women, be aware the guys aren’t left out.  Well, maybe left “out” wasn’t the right choice of words.

Skin: A History of Nudity in the Movies earns 4 of 5 stars.