Category: Celebs

“aka Charlie Sheen” (2025) / Z-View

Posted on by

aka Charlie Sheen (2025)

Director:  Andrew Renzi

Stars: Charlie Sheen, Sean Penn, Jon Cryer, Denise Richards, Chris Tucker and Heidi Fleiss.

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

Charlie Sheen bares all in a two-part documentary that covers his life from a small child to now.  Sheen discusses his childhood, movie career, being the highest paid actor on television ($2 million per episode) as well as repeatedly bottoming out several times along the way due to drug and alcohol abuse.

Sheen along with Sean Penn (childhood friend), Jon Cryer (Two and a Half Men co-star), Chris Tucker (movie co-star), Denise Richards (ex-wife), Heidi Fleiss (famous Hollywood Madam to the Stars) and others tell of Sheen’s highs and lows.  Nothing is off limits and Charlie discusses many topics for the first time.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Charlie Sheen had it all.  And lost it several times due to his self-destructive and addictive personality.  It is amazing that Sheen was able to come back so many times.  He seems to be in a good place now and perhaps it is due to his willingness to open up about his life.  Sheen has been clean for seven years at this point.  Hopefully he won’t relapse.

aka Charlie Sheen (2025) rates 5 of 5 stars.

Rambo from “First Blood” by Charlie Griak!

Posted on by

Charlie Griak watched First Blood for the first time.  Here’s part of what he said about the film…

Just watched “First Blood” for the first time and was really surprised by how much deeper and emotionally complex it was than I expected—a great movie and a great performance by Sylvester Stallone!

Click on the link and see Charlie’s complete statement and more of his amazing art.

“The Rip” starring Matt Damon, Ben Affleck & Directed by Joe Carnahan – The Teaser is Here!

Posted on by

Whoa!  Check out the teaser for The Rip starring Matt Damon and Ben Affleck & Directed by Joe Carnahan.

Deal me in!

Upon discovering millions in cash in a derelict stash house, trust among a team of Miami cops begins to fray. As outside forces learn about the size of the seizure, everything is called into question — including who they can rely on.

Starring Matt Damon and Ben Affleck & Directed by Joe Carnahan.

The Rip is only on Netflix, January 16.

 

“Charlie Chan on Broadway” (1937) starring Warner Oland / Z-View

Posted on by

Charlie Chan on Broadway (1937)

Director:  Eugene Forde

Screenplay:  Charles Belden. Jerome Cady story by Art Arthur Robert Ellis, Helen Logan

Stars: Warner Oland, Keye Luke, J. Edward Bromberg, Leon Ames, Marc Lawrence, Douglas Fowley and Lon Chaney Jr..

Tagline: DEATH STRIKES TWICE IN MANHATTAN’S GAYEST SPOTS!

The Plot…

Charlie Chan (Oland) and his son Lee (Luke) are in pulled into the murder investigation of a woman who knew political secrets and had threatened to tell all.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Lon Chaney Jr, appears uncredited in one of his first roles.

This was Warner Oland’s 15th and second-t0-last outing as Charlie Chan.

Charlie Chan on Broadway (1937) rates 2 of 5 stars.

Sly Stallone as The Toymaker from “Spy Kids 3D” by Andrew Charipar!

Posted on by

Andrew Charipar is a Florida artist that I met going to conventions throughout the state.  Andrew was always friendly.  Getting a sketch at any show Andrew attended was mandatory.

In addition to his work as an artist, Andrew owns and manages Misfit Corner Comics in Jacksonville, Florida.

Here we have Andrew’s take on Sly Stallone as the Toymaker from Spy Kids 3D!

“Landman” Season 2 starring Billy Bob Thornton, Ali Larter, Michael Peña, Jon Hamm & Demi Moore – The Trailer is Here!

Posted on by

Landman: Season 2 – The Trailer is Here.

I cannot wait!

Landman Season 2 Returns Nov. 16 on Paramount+

Set in the boomtowns of Texas, Landman (starring Billy Bob Thornton) is a modern tale of fortune seeking amongst roughnecks and billionaires in the world of oil.

Starring: Billy Bob Thornton, Ali Larter, Michael Peña, Jon Hamm, Demi Moore

“City on Fire” (1987) directed by Ringo Lam, starring Chow Yun-Fat and Danny Lee / Z-View

Posted on by

City on Fire (1987)

Director:  Ringo Lam

Screenplay: Tommy Sham; story by Ringo Lam

Stars: Chow Yun-Fat, Yueh Sun, Danny Lee. 

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

Ko Chow is an undercover cop who has infiltrated a group of jewel thieves.  When a robbery goes sideways, people are killed.  The crooks barely get away.  The cops aren’t far behind.  The thieves think someone ratted them out.  The cops want them all dead or alive.

Ko Chow is in a tight spot… and it’s getting tighter.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

City on Fire provided the inspiration for Quentin Tarantino’s Reservoir Dogs.

Chow Yun-Fat and Danny Lee would re-team two years later in John Woo’s The Killer.

City on Fire (1987) rates 3 of 5 stars

Rating:

RIP: Graham Greene

Posted on by

It was announced that Graham Greene died today after a long illness. Mr. Greene was 73.

Graham Greene was born in in Ohsweken, Ontario on the Six Nations Reserve.  Before he began his career as an actor Mr. Greene worked as a draftsman, steelworker, welder and audio technician for rock bands.

In the 1970s, Graham Greene began appearing professionally in plays in both Canada and England.  In 1979, Mr. Greene made his television debut appearing in the Canadian series The Great Detective.  In 1983, Graham Greene appeared in the feature film Running Brave starring Robby Benson.

Graham Greene’s career included multiple awards for his work.  Examples include awards for his work in…

  • … theater (1989 Dora Mavor Moore Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male in a Leading Role – Dry Lips Oughta Move to Kapuskasing)

 

  • … television (1994 Gemini Award for Best Performance in a Children’s or Youth Program or Series – The Adventures of Dudley the Dragon and 2004 Gemini Lifetime Achievement Award)

 

  • …film (1991 nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor – Dances with Wolves)

Some of the television projects that feature Graham Greene include: The Great Detective; Read All About It!; Adderly; Street Legal; Captain Power and the Soldiers of Fortune; Spirit Bay (2 episodes); The Campbells (3 episodes); 9B (5 episodes); L.A. Law; Cooperstown; North of 60; The Wild West; Northern Exposure (5 episodes); Spirit Rider; Murder, She Wrote (2 episodes); Lonesome Dove: The Series (3 episodes); 500 Nations (3 episodes); Happily Ever After; Liberty Street; Jake and the Kid; Heritage Minutes; The Outer Limits; Poltergeist the Legacy; Dead Man’s Gun; The Adventures of Dudley the Dragon (17 episodes); PSI Factor: Chronicles of the Paranormal; Safe Harbor; First Wave; Trial by Fire; Big Wolf on Campus; Christmas in the Clouds; Cover Me: Based on the True Life of a F.B.I. Family (4 episodes); Canada: A People’s History (3 episodes); Wolf Lake (10 episodes); The New Beachcombers; Skinwalkers: The Navajo Mysteries (2 episodes); Mister Sterling; A Thief of Time; Coyote Waits; Freedom: A History of the U.S. (3 episodes); Shattered City: The Halifax Explosion (2 episodes); A Beachcombers Christmas; The Collector; Into the West; Numbers; The Red Green Show (27 episodes); The War that Made America; This is Wonderland; Tales of an Urban Indian; Living in Your Car; Being Erica (5 episodes); Caution: May Contain Nuts; Family Tree; Defiance (28 episodes); Longmire (12 episodes); Riverdale; Detour (3 episodes); Project Blue Book; Goliath (8 episodes); American Gods (2 episodes); 1883; The Last of Us; Reservation Dogs (3 episodes); Bones of the Crows: The Series; Echo (5 episodes) and Tulsa King.

Some of Graham Greene’s feature film appearances include: Running Brave; Powwow Highway; Where the Spirit Lives; Dances with Wolves; Clearcut; The Last of His Tribe; Thunderheart; Maverick; Die Hard with a Vengeance; The Education of Little Tree; Grey Owl; The Green Mile; Lost and Delirious; Skins; Punch and Judy; Transamerica; Breakfast with Scott; Seattle’s Loch Ness: The Lake Washington Sea Monster; Corner Gas: The Movie; Te Ata; Wind River; Molly’s Game; The Performance; The Great Salish Heist; The Birds Who Fear Death; Sweet Summer Powwow; The Protector; Protectors of the Land and Paige Darcy: Reluctant Detective.

I first saw Graham Greene is his Academy Award-nominated performance in Dances with Wolves.  What an impact he made.  From that point on whenever Mr. Greene appeared on screen, there was added gravitas.  I loved Graham Greene in everything.  Some of my favorite performances besides Dances with Wolves include those on Longmire; Die Hard with a Vengeance; Thunderheart; The Last of Us and of course Tulsa King.

Out thoughts and prayers go out to Graham Greene’s family, friends and fans.

“Support Your Local Sheriff!” (1969) starring James Garner, Joan Hackett and Walter Brennan / Z-View

Posted on by

Support Your Local Sheriff! (1969)

Director:  Burt Kennedy

Screenplay: William Bowers

Stars: James Garner, Joan Hackett, Walter Brennan, Harry Morgan, Jack Elam, Henry Jones, Willis Bouchey, Gene Evans, Walter Burke, Kathleen Freeman, Dick Haynes and Bruce Dern. 

Tagline: Our trouble-shooting sheriff always put his finger on it (or in it). No wonder they call him The Fastest Finger in the West.

The Plot…

When gold is discovered in the small settlement of Calendar, it becomes a lawless boom town overnight.  Every sheriff the city council hires is either killed or leaves in a hurry. The townsfolk find themselves at the mercy of the Danby family who own the property surrounding Calendar.

When Joe Danby kills a man over a card game, only Jason McCullough is willing to testify that it was murder.  McCullough is just passing through, but in need of money.  So when he’s offered the sheriff’s job, he accepts.

McCullough is as quick with his wits as he is with a gun.  He’ll need to use both since he’s sheriff of a town full of drunken miners, a jail with no bars, a cold blooded murder for a prisoner and the Danby family out for revenge.  McCullough’s biggest problem may be the mayor’s daughter Purdy.

Giddy up!

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

I saw Support Your Local Sheriff when it was first released.  I was ten.  Seeing it again brings back great memories.  Support Your Local Sheriff has the right mix of action and humor.  James Garner was perfect as the gunslinger who’d rather use his wits than his gun.

Support Your Local Sheriff! (1969) rates 5 of 5 stars

Dwight Manfredi is the “Tulsa King” by Wilfredo Torres!

Posted on by

In 2012, I went to MegaCon and my main purpose was to get a sketch from Wilfredo Torres.  I was lucky enough to be first on his sketch list.  Wilfredo opted to draw Stallone as Cobra.

Finally, in 2025, the stars aligned and I was able to get on Wilfredo’s advance sketch list for HeroesCon.  I asked for Stallone from Tulsa King and Wilfredo came through royally.

“The Wire”: Season 3 (2004) created by David Simon / Z-View

Posted on by

The Wire: Season 3 (2004)

Created by: David Simon

Teleplay by:

  • (eps. 1, 12) David Simon from a story by David Simon, Ed Burns;
  • (ep.2, 8) Richard Price from a story by David Simon, Richard Price
  • (ep. 3) Dennis Lehane from a story by David Simon, Dennis Lehane
  • (ep. 4, 11) George Pelecanos from a story by David Simon, George Pelecanos
  • (ep. 5, 10) Ed Burns from a story by David Simon, Ed Burns
  • (ep. 6) Rafael Alvarez  from a story by David Simon, Rafael Alvarez
  • (ep. 7) Joy Lusco from a story by David Simon, Joy Lusco
  • (ep. 9) David Simon from a story by David Simon, George Pelecanos

Directed by: Ed Bianchi (ep. 1); Steve Shill (ep. 2); Rob Bailey (ep. 3); Ernest Dickerson (eps. 4, 12); Dan Attias (ep. 5); Leslie Libman (ep.6); Tim Van Patten (ep. 7); Agnieszka Holland (ep. 8); Alex Zakrzewski (ep. 9); Christine Moore (ep. 10); Joe Chappelle (ep. 11)

Stars: Dominic West, Idris Elba, Lance Reddick, Sonja Sohn, Robert Wisdom, Wood Harris, Clarke Peters, Seth Gilliam, Domenick Lombardozzi, J. D. Williams, John Doman, Frankie Faison, Deirdre Lovejoy, Andre Royo, Jim True-Frost, Wendell Pierce, Corey Parker Robinson, Robert F. Chew, Method Man, Michael Potts, Hassan Johnson, Isiah Whitlock, Jr., Jamie Hector, Gbenga Akinnagbe, Felicia Pearson, Glynn Turman, Callie Thorne, Chad Coleman, Maria Broom  and Michael K. Williams.

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

The towers are razed for new development.  This leaves the Barksdale drug organization without territory.  Councilman Tommy Carcetti begins a run for Mayor of Baltimore.  Since it is an election year, crime becomes a campaign issue.  Pressure is put on the Baltimore PD to get crime statistics down… even if they have to massage them.

Police Major Covin comes up with an unauthorized and controversial plan to actually lower the crime stats by forcing drug dealer to move to low population areas of the city where they can freely sell drugs. Covin knows that higher ups and the mayor would never approve of his idea, but he moves forward anyway.

A new and ruthless drug dealer begins to encroach on Stansfield territory.  Omar continues to steal cash and drugs from dealers.  Omar is becoming a legend. Brother Mouzone, a ruthless killer, is brought in to find and eliminate Omar.

Meanwhile the major crimes unit deals with political demands and personal issues as they work to bring down the city’s drug traffickers.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Each season of The Wire builds upon the last. The series continues to be well written, well directed and well acted.

The series spends as much time with the criminals as the cops. This season we get political intrigue and the impact politics has on police work. Kudos to the writers for making each character and storyline important.

New recurring characters introduced in The Wire Season 3 that are amazing include Jamie Hector (Marlo Stanfield), Gbenga Akinnagbe (Chris Partlow), and Felicia Pearson (Snoop).

I cannot wait to start season 4.

The Wire: Season 3 (2004) earns 5 of 5 stars.

“Charley Varrick” (1973) directed by Don Siegel; starring Walter Matthau and Joe Don Baker / Z-View

Posted on by

Charley Varrick (1973)

Director:  Don Siegel

Screenplay: Dean Riesner, Howard Rodman; based on THE LOOTERS by John H. Reese

Stars: Walter Matthau, Joe Don Baker, Felicia Farr, Andrew Robinson, Sheree North, Norman Fell, Benson Fong, Woodrow Parfrey, William Schallert, Jacqueline Scott, Marjorie Bennett, Rudy Diaz, Colby Chester, Hope Summers, Craig R. Baxley, Don Siegel, John Vernon, Bob Steele and Charles Matthau. 

Tagline: It’s not easy to rob the Mob and stay alive.

The Plot…

Charley Varrick wasn’t always a criminal.  At one time he was a stunt pilot.  Then a crop duster.  When his crop business went south, Charley became a bank robber.  He was always careful to pick small banks in remote locations.

When Charlie and his three man crew knock off a bank in a no name town, things go sideways.  Two of his crew are killed along with the bank’s security guard.  Charlie and Harmon get away with the loot.  They’re shocked to discover they have $750,000.00.  There is no way that tiny bank should have that kind of cash.  Radio reports are that the thieves made off with $2,000.00.

Charlie realizes that the bank was being used by the mob to launder money.  He knows that if you steal from the mob, they will find and kill you no matter how long it takes.  Charlie tells Harmon they’ll need to sit on the money for a few years.  If they’re lucky, they’ll live to slowly spend it.  Harmon just wants his cut now — he plans to live it up.

As if that isn’t bad enough, the cops are working the case.  Worse still, the mob has hired a stone cold killer to track down the cash and kill the thieves.

It’s not easy to rob the Mob and stay alive.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Walter Matthau’s son, Charlie plays the role of the little boy in front of the bank that gets robbed.

Director Don Siegel plays a character named Murphy.

Surprisingly Walter Matthau wasn’t a fan of the finished film.

Joe Don Baker is perfect as the sadistic killer who dominates every scene he’s in.

Charley Varrick (1973) rates 5 of 5 stars