Category: Celebs

RIP: William Smith

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William Smith died on Monday, July 5th at the age of 88.  No cause of death was reported.

William Smith had an amazing life, and a career that spanned 78 years!  His first role was an uncredited part in The Ghost of Frankenstein in 1942.  William Smith was eight years old at the time.  Mr. Smith continued to get small parts in films until he went into the US Air Force.

William Smith served as a pilot where he flew secret missions over Russia.  His work earned him CIA and NSA clearance.  While in the service, William Smith’s love of fitness and sports continued.  He won arm wrestling and weight lifting championships.  He compiled a 31-1 record as an amateur boxer.  Around this same time, William Smith attracted the attention of MGM and was offered a contract. 

In 1961, William Smith landed a starring role on the tv series, The Asphalt Jungle.  When the series ended William Smith never hurt for roles.  He would go on to work in both television and film throughout the rest of his career, amassing an astounding 274 acting credits. 

William Smith starred in the following television series: Zero One; Laredo; Rich Man, Poor Man (Books I and II); Hawaii 5-0 (the last season) and Wildside. 

When he wasn’t appearing on his own series, William Smith kept busy guest starring on others.  This is just a taste of some apearances: Combat; Perry Mason; Alfred Hitchcock Hour; Batman; I Dream of Jeannie; The Guns of Will Sonnett; Lassie; Here Come the Brides;  Daniel Boone; Dan August; The Mod Squad; Columbo; Mission Impossible; The Six Million Dollar Man; The Rockford Files and Gunsmoke.

William Smith was no stranger to feature films.  He might be best known for Every Which Way But Loose with Clint Eastwood.  Some of my favorite William Smith film appearances include: CC & Company; The Ultimate Warrior; Scorchy; Conan the Barbarian; Rumble Fish and Red Dawn.

When I was a kid I loved when William Smith showed up in a tv show or movie.  I knew that the hero was in for a rough time or else he was lucky to meet the character Smith was playing.  As I moved into my teen years I continued to enjoy William Smith’s appearances, but also started to wonder why he wasn’t get the big push as an action star.  Perhaps he just stayed too busy and liked the variety of parts he was offered.  If he enjoyed them half as much as we did, he was a very happy man.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to William Smith’s family, friends and fans.   

“Terminator 2” – Surprising Facts!

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Terminator 2 is consider by many to be not only the best film in the Terminator series, but also the best movie that Arnold Schwarzenegger ever made.  It’s interesting to note that initially James Cameron had no interest in a sequel, Arnold didn’t like the idea of playing a good terminator and Linda Hamilton just wanted to be crazy.  You’ll learn the reasons behind these facts and a whole lot more if you click over to Todd Gilchrist’s 20 Facts About Terminator 2: Judgment Day at Mental Floss.  Before you do, here are three of my favorites and my thoughts on each…

JAMES CAMERON WANTED BILLY IDOL TO PLAY THE T-1000.  (Cameron wanted a different body type for the T-1000 and Billy Idol was his first choice.  Idol was in a motorcycle wreck that led to Robert Patrick getting the part.  I believe that Idol’s celebrity would have taken from the impact of the T-1000 and it would have looked like stunt casting.  I also believe that Patrick was a better choice for the role – he’s an excellent actor! – Craig)


TERMINATOR 2 ESSENTIALLY MADE ITS MONEY BACK BEFORE IT EVEN PREMIERED. (This is an amazing fact when you consider that Cameron was paid $6 million dollars, Arnold was paid $15 million, Linda Hamilton got $1 million and the total budget was $102 million dollars. – Craig)

SEVERAL VERSIONS OF T2 HAVE BEEN RELEASED, BUT JAMES CAMERON HAS A FAVORITE. (It’s the theatrical release and I agree. – Craig)

 

“Val” – The Poster and Trailer are Here!

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Here we have the poster and trailer for Val.  The poster is interesting and the documentary should be as well.  I hope that it is insightful as well.  Val Kilmer is one of the most under-rated actors still alive.  His performance in Tombstone should have won the Oscar and he made everything he was in better.  Sadly, Val Kilmer got throat cancer which impacted his life and career.  I look forward to seeing Val when it premieres on August 6th.

Who is Val Kilmer? He’s Batman. He’s Iceman. He’s Jim Morrison. And he’s a lifelong filmmaker. Get re-acquainted with the legend on August 6.

J. Edgar Hoover – Some Surprising Facts You May Not Know!

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J. Edgar Hoover is an interesting character.  The fact that he was the head of the FBI and able to stay in office for decades, that even President’s feared him, and that he had “the goods” on anyone who was anyone has always intrigued me.  He wasn’t a good guy and there are many rumors that surround his personal life. 

Scott Beggs touches on many of these things and more in 20 Surprising Facts About J. Edgar Hoover.  Before you click over, here are three of my favorites and my thoughts on each…

.J. EDGAR HOOVER DIDN’T HAVE A BIRTH CERTIFICATE UNTIL HE WAS 43.  (This was the same year his mother died and there is speculation “that Hoover, who persecuted Black civil rights leaders, had a secret African-American heritage.” Wouldn’t that be something?  I wonder if the rumors are true. – Craig)

RICHARD NIXON WAS AFRAID OF J. EDGAR HOOVER.  (Hoover apparently had “dirt” on every President and they were afraid to fire him.  It is especially telling that “Richard Nixon, thought Hoover might ‘bring down the temple’ if he were sacked.”  We have learned over the years the indiscretions of many of our Presidents but Hoover had the goods at the time. – Craig)

J. EDGAR HOOVER HAD WHAT WAS POSSIBLY THE WORLD’S LARGEST COLLECTION OF PORNOGRAPHY. (Reportedly it contained photos of celebrities and politicians. The craziest rumor about it: That it contained nude pictures of Eleanor Roosevelt given to him by W.C. Fields!?  Really??  Also, why would he keep the collection — perhaps for his own enjoyment or more likely to have something on these folks should he ever need to it. – Craig)

RIP: Richard Donner

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Richard Donner died today at the age of 91.  This one hurts worse than most.

Richard Donner wanted a career as an actor.  It was director Martin Ritt who encouraged Donner to consider directing instead.  Ritt gave Donner a job as his assistant.  Later Donner graduated to a staff position at Desilu Productions where he directed commercials. 

In 1960, Mr. Donner began directing television episodes with the occasional feature film.  For the next 15 years Richard Donner directed well over 100 episodes of the best television had to offer.   Shows that I regularly watched that Mr. Donner directed episodes of include: The Rifleman; Combat; The Twilight Zone; The Man from UNCLE; Gilligan’s Island; Get Smart; The FBI; The Fugitive; It’s About Time; Jericho; The Wild, Wild West; The Banana Splits Adventure Hour / Danger Island; the Bearcats; Ironside and Cannon.

Richard Donner directed his first feature film in 1961.  Titled  X-15, it starred Charles Bronson and Mary Tyler Moore.  In 1976, Mr. Donner directed one of the biggest box office hits of the year with The Omen.  His next film was also a hit with fans and the box office: Superman.  The success of Superman allowed Richard Donner to add producer to his resume.  He would go on to produce 37 projects as he continued to direct feature films.  Following Superman, some of my favorite Richard Donner directed features include: Inside Moves; Ladyhawke; Lethal Weapon 1 -4; Maverick and Assassins.

Had Richard Donner only directed the Twilight Zone episode: Nightmare at 20,000 Feet, he would have warranted a post about his passing.  Same could be said for Superman, the Lethal Weapon films and a personal favorite of mine, Assassins staring Sly Stallone.  I didn’t realize until I was a young adult how many television shows I loved as a child were directed by Richard Donner.  Any time you see Richard Donner in the credits, now you are in for a good time. 

My thoughts and prayers go out to Richard Donner’s family, friends and fans.         

Have You Read Anything by Howard Chaykin?

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Howard Chaykin is one of my all-time favorite comic creators.  Chaykin started as an assistant to Gil Kane, worked his way up to being an artist on lesser known titles, then some of the more popular characters including the first issues of Star Wars.  Along the way he began writing and drawing his own stories and he never looked back.

Chaykin’s comic stories are intelligent and assume the reader is as well.  He has a sense of humor and irony in every tale.  His work usually contains adult language and adult situations for which he does not apologize.  Comics aren’t just for kids.

If you’ve never read anything by Howard Chaykin, you really should consider changing that.

“The Tomorrow War” / Z-View

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The Tomorrow War (2021) Director: Chris McKay Screenplay: Zach Dean

Stars:  Chris Pratt, Yvonne Strahovski, J.K. Simmons, Sam Richardson, Edwin Hodge  and Mary Lynn Rajskub.

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

Dan Forester (Pratt) is an ex-military high school science teacher who believes he is destined for something bigger.  Forester will get his opportunity when he is drafted to fight in a war being held nearly 3 decades in the future.

Still with me?

Okay.  In the future earth has been invaded by aliens who have killed almost everyone on the planet.  In an effort to turn the tide and save humanity, future soldiers have come back into the past to recruit people to fight in the future.  A worldwide draft is instated and draftees are sent to the future to fight aliens for seven days.  If they survive they are returned to their proper time.  Forester is drafted.

Forester and the others in his group learn there is no training.  They are given weapons and transported to the future to kill aliens.  Less than 30% will survive the seven days.  In Forester’s group we have a nervous college professor, a tough as nails vet who has done three tours and a bunch of others who we learn nothing about (yep, they’re alien fodder).  As soon as they are in the future Forester’s team is given a mission and off we go.  Alien battles come fast and furious and we learn about the plan to save the world.

What I liked:  Chris Pratt was good.  This may be his best performance yet.  Edwin Hodge is a standout as the soldier with 3 tours.  Sam Richardson provides comic relief (although maybe too much in some spots).  I loved seeing Mary Lynn Rajskub and wish she was given more to do.  The action is non-stop once.  I really liked how they explained who could participate in the time travel (coming and going).  I liked the explanation of how the aliens got to earth.  All through the movie I was thinking these creatures don’t have the brains for space travel.

What bothered me:
  • Too many daddy issues.  Forester has them with his dad and Forester’s daughter has them with him.
  • The coincidences to save the day.  We need a solution that will kill the monsters.  Forester’s daughter (now grown) comes up with it.  We need to figure out where the aliens arrive when they come to earth so we can be there to kill them. Forester’s wife brainstorms with him to figure it out.  We need someone to figure out what the alien claw can tell us.  Remember the nervous college professor?  He can do it.  We need a volcano expert.  Hey, Forester has one in his high school class!  We need a way to get into Soviet air space undetected.  Uh, Forester’s dad can do it.
  • Sometimes the aliens are lethal killing machines and sometimes you can go mano y alien and kick their butt (if they have a butt that is).
  • (Most) Everything gets wrapped up too nicely: Forester was indeed destined for something bigger, daddy issues are resolved all the way around.  Everyone (Forester, his wife, his daughter, his dad, nervous college professor, hardcore vet, nerdy high school volcano lover) has a role in saving the world.
  • What I’d like to know: How does what Forester pulled off change the future (other than the obvious, there will be no aliens wiping out the earth)?

Despite the things I didn’t care for, The Tomorrow War has a core cast that is likeable, a script that keeps things moving and a conflict that involves saving the world.  If you’re looking for a fun ride (and don’t give it too much thought) you’ll enjoy The Tomorrow War.

“No Sudden Move” / Z-View

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No Sudden Move (2021) Director: Steven Soderbergh Screenplay: Ed Solomon.

Stars:  Don Cheadle, Brendan Fraser, Benicio Del Toro, Kieran Culkin, David Harbour, Jon Hamm, Ray Liotta, Bill Duke, Craig muMs Grant, Julia Fox, Amy Seimetz and Matt Damon.

Tagline: Trust is a set-up. The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

Three low level crooks who don’t know each other are hired for a mysterious, high-paying job.  Curt Goynes (Cheadle) and Ronald Russo (Del Torro) each need the money from the score to get out of town.  Goynes has stolen important papers from one of the major crime players in the area and Russo is sleeping with his crime boss’ wife.  The job seems easy enough.  Goynes and Russo will hold Matt Wertz’s (Harbour) family hostage while the third man (Culkin) takes Wertz to collect something from his boss’ safe.

When things go sideways, Goynes and Russo realize that they’ve been set-up to be murdered with the Wertz family.  Both men are already on the run from their former alliances and now learn that there is a price on their heads.  Having just met, Goynes and Russo form an uneasy alliance and try to figure out their next move.  What follows is an intelligent story full of double-crosses, twists and an ending that is surprising and satisfying.

I have nothing but praise for No Sudden Move.  It has an intelligent screenplay by Ed Solomon which is extremely well directed by Steven Soderbergh.  It is rare to see a film with so many stars that is perfectly cast.  Cheadle, Del Toro, and Liotta are at the top of their game as to be expected.  David Harbor is spot on as the man in over his head with his wife, his job, and his mistress.  It was great seeing Brendan Fraser in a role that will surprise many.  The same is true for Bill Duke!  And don’t forget there is an uncredited role that is pivotal to the entire film!

It isn’t often that we get a film so perfectly written, cast and directed.  No Sudden Move is that rare film made for adults — it assumes the audience isn’t dumb and it doesn’t rely on special effects.  I absolutely loved No Sudden Move.

“Crime Story” Starring Richard Dreyfuss and Mia Sorvino – The Poster and Trailer are Here!

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I like the poster for Crime Story starring Richard Drefuss and Mia Sorvino.  I’m not sold on the trailer.  My biggest problem is Dreyfuss as a tough guy getting revenge, especially at his age.  It could work, but I’m not fully on board yet.  It is good to see Mia Sorvino on screen again.

ComingSoon is excited to premiere the Crime Story trailer and key art for Saban Films and Paramount’s upcoming crime thriller. The film stars Academy Award winners Richard Dreyfuss (The Goodbye Girl, Jaws) and Mira Sorvino (Mighty Aphrodite, Mimic). Crime Story will arrive in theaters, on demand, and digital on August 13. Dreyfuss plays a retired mob boss that goes back to his old ways after being the victim of a home robbery.

“Jolt” Starring Kate Beckinsale, Bobby Cannvale, Jai Courtney, Susan Sarandon and Stanley Tucci – The Poster and Trailer are Here!

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Here we have the poster and trailer for Jolt.  I’m not a fan of the poster.   I’m surprised that Kate Beckinsale is the only actor/actress credited since it has a decent cast including Beckinsale, Bobby Cannvale, Jai Courtney, Susan Sarandon and Stanley Tucci.

The trailer looks better than I expected.  Jolt reminds me of a female version of Jason Statham’s Crank.  Jolt looks like it will be better.  I certainly hope so.

“Blood Red Sky” – The Second Trailer is Here!

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Today we have the second trailer for Blood Red Sky which is a crime/horror mash-up starring Dominic Purcell as the main villain.  Deal me in.

Nadja and her ten-year-old son are on an overnight flight from Germany to New York when a group of terrorists violently take control of the plane and threaten the lives of the passengers. Suddenly Nadja faces an impossible choice – should she reveal her dark side and the inner monster she has kept hidden from her son for years in order to save him? The hunters become the hunted in this action-horror from director Peter Thorwarth, starring Peri Baumeister and Dominic Purcell.

“The One and Only Dick Gregory” – The Poster and Trailer are Here!

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I like both the poster and trailer to The One and Only Dick Gregory.  I don’t have Showtime, but am interested in seeing this documentary at some point.  I know very little about Dick Gregory, other than he was an activist.  The clips of his standup comedy were funny and he appears to have been for the betterment of all.  We need more of that..

In writer-director Andre Gaines’ THE ONE AND ONLY DICK GREGORY, extraordinary archival footage and new interviews put a spotlight on this icon’s journey from influential comedian to on-the-ground activist — which is discussed by modern legends including Dave Chappelle, Chris Rock, Kevin Hart, and Wanda Sykes, along with commentary from Harry Belafonte, W. Kamau Bell, Lawrence O’Donnell, Gregory’s wife Lillian Gregory, Medgar Evers’ wife Dr. Myrlie Evers-Williams, and others. Most essential is Dick Gregory himself, whose insights before he died in 2017 provide a crucial through line to what Gregory gave voice to during the Civil Rights era — and which continue to be vital today. Watch the premiere on Sunday, July 4 at 9/8c on SHOWTIME.

The History of the Hollywood Movie Poster & Six Legends Who Made Them Video!

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If you’re interested in the history of movie posters, movie poster design and some of the legends in the field, then this video is for you.  If you’re not interested in history of posters but want to jump in to learn about Hollywood movie posters, then skip ahead to the 4 minute mark.  If you’re here for the movie poster legends (Bill Gold, Saul Bass, Bob Peak, Richard Amsel, Drew Struzan and John Alvin) then fast-forward to 11:23.

The Movie Poster has been around since the beginning of the Movies – in this course we will explore the earliest history of poster making and Lithography, the monopoly of Hollywood movie poster production by the National Screen Service and look at the artwork of influential artists working the field of poster design.

Thanks to Papa Stas for the heads-up.