Category: Celebs

“Lockout” (2012) directed by Stephen Saint Leger, James Mather; starring Guy Pearce & Maggie Grace / Z-View

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Lockout (2012)

Director:  Stephen Saint Leger, James Mather

Screenplay: Stephen Saint Leger, James Mather, Luc Besson; story by Luc Besson; based on Escape from New York by John Carpenter, Nick Castle and Escape from L.A. by John Carpenter, Debra Hill, Kurt Russell

Stars: Guy Pearce, Maggie Grace, Peter Stormare, Vincent Regan, Joe Gilgun, Tim Plester, Peter Hudson, Nick Hardin and Lennie James.

Tagline:  Take no prisoners.

The Plot…

2079.  When Agent Snow discovers an unknown operative within the CIA is selling government secrets, he is framed for murder.  Sentenced to 30 years, Snow will be sent to the United States first space prison.  The worst killers, deviants and psychos are sent to MS One, where they spend their sentences in suspended animation.

Critics of this form of punishment claim the prolonged periods of stasis leads to mental psychosis and derangement.  The President’s daughter Emilie has come to MS One to check out conditions at the prison.

As Snow is prepped for transport to MS One, word comes that a riot at the penitentiary has left the convicts in charge.  The leader of the prisoners has warned that if an armed response is mounted, all the hostages will be killed.  The inmates don’t yet know that the President’s daughter is one of their captives.

Soon they will.

It is determined that the best chance to rescue Emilie is to sneak in one well-trained soldier. Chance fits the bill.  If Snow is successful in getting Emilie safely out, he’ll receive a full pardon.

What chance does one man have against a prison full of the worst of the worst?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

If you think the plot of Lockout sounds like John Carpenter’s Escape from New York and Escape from LA, you’re not alone.  John Carpenter thought so as well.  He sued for  plagiarism  and won.

The prisoners who lead the takeover are brothers named Alex and Hydell.  Lee Harvey Oswald,  the assassin who killed John F. Kennedy, used the alias Alex Hydell.

At the end of the film, Snow’s first name is revealed to be Marion.  In Sylvester Stallone’s Cobra, we learn Cobretti’s first name is also Marion.  No wonder they go by their last names (or a variation).

Lookout is so underrated.  A bulked-up Guy Pearce has the look and attitude of a great anti-hero.  I would have loved to have seen more films with this character.

Peter Stormare and Lennie James are always welcome additions to any project.  Lockout is no exception.

When I first saw Lockout I rated it as a solid 4.  Over the years it has grown on me.  Every time I revisit the film, I enjoy the ride.  Therefore I am upping my rating to a 5.  Your mileage may vary.

Lockout (2012) rates 5 of 5 stars

“Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning” (2025) directed by Christopher McQuarrie; starring Tom Cruise, Hayley Atwell, Ving Rhames, Simon Pegg, Esai Morales and Pom Klementieff / Z-View

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Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning (2025)

Director:  Christopher McQuarrie

Screenplay: Christopher McQuarrie, Erik Jendresen; based on Mission Impossible by Bruce Geller.

Stars: Tom Cruise, Hayley Atwell, Ving Rhames, Simon Pegg, Esai Morales, Pom Klementieff, Henry Czerny, Holt McCallany, Janet McTeer, Nick Offerman, Hannah Waddingham, Tramell Tillman, Angela Bassett, Greg Tarzan Davis, Charles Parnell, Rolf Saxon, Katy O’Brian, Sydney Cole Alexander and Shea Whigham.

Tagline:  None.

The Plot…

Ethan Hunt is contacted by the President of the United States.  The Entity (a powerful artificial intelligence) has  started taking control of each country’s nuclear arsenal.  In just a short period of time, the Entity will command every nuclear weapon in the world.  Including all those held by the United States.

The Entity, once secure in a bunker safe from nuclear and electromagnetic fallout will launch every country’s nuclear bomb.  This will wipe out almost all of humanity.  The few who survive will restart the world under the direction of the Entity.

Ethan Hunt has a key to the Entity’s source code.  But that is just part of the potential solution.  The President wants the source code key.

Ethan has another plan.  A plan that, if it works, would render the Entity powerless.  But, and this is a HUGE (pardon the pun) but, the odds of Ethan’s plan working are minute.  The lives of every person on the planet hang in the balance.

Light the fuse…

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

With Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning, Tom Cruise earned his second Guinness World Record.  The first was for being the actor with the most consecutive $100-million grossing movies.  The second was for the most burning parachute jumps by an individual (16).

The action is all-out and way over the top.  It matches the plot.  The expectation for every Mission Impossible movie is it ups the ante on both.  Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning succeeds.  Unless Ethan Hunt was to save the entire universe, it is appropriate that the series ends here.

Esai Morales makes a great villain.  He’s one cocky scoundrel.

Shea Whigham is always good.

Congratulations to Tom Cruise and Christopher McQuarrie the driving forces behind the success of the Mission Impossible franchise.  It was a great run.

Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning features breathtaking stunts, repeated last minute “saves”, a lot of running, ever mounting problems and death-defying solution after death-defying solution.  Too much of a good thing?  Maybe for some.  But just what I expected for the franchise finale.  They stuck the landing.

Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning (2025) rates 5 of 5 stars

RIP: Michael Madsen

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It was announced that Michael Madsen died today from cardiac arrest. Mr. Madsen was 67.

Michael Madsen’s mother Elaine Madsen was an author and Emmy-winning filmmaker. Michael and one of his sisters, Virginia went into showbusiness.  Virginia Madsen became an award-winning actress.  Mr. Madsen’s other sister, Cheryl became a business woman.

Michael began his career at the Steppenwolf Theatre Company in Chicago.  There he appeared in a a production of Of Mice and Men.  In 1982, Mr. Madsen began to get roles in television and feature films.  The roles kept coming for the rest of his career which was still going strong at the time of his death.  Michael Madsen had over 325 roles on his acting resume.

Some of the television projects that feature Michael Madsen include: St. Elsewhere (2 episodes); Special Bulletin; Diner; Cagney & Lacey; Miami Vice; The Hitchhiker; Our Family Honor (13 episodes); Crime Story (2 episodes); War and Remembrance; Almost Grown; Tour of Duty; Jake and the Fatman; Quantum Leap; The Outsiders; Gabriel’s Fire; Vengeance Unlimited (16 episodes); 44 Minutes: The North Hollywood Shootout; Tilt (9 episodes); Big Bug Man; CSI: Miami; 24 (4 episodes); Bob’s Burgers; Blue Bloods; The Mob Doctor (3 episodes); Golden Boy (2 episodes); Axe Cop; Hawaii Five-O;  Telltale’s the Walking Dead (3 episodes); Big Time in Hollywood, FL. (5 episodes); Real Detective; Those Who Can’t; Powers (10 episodes) and Explosion Jones.

Some of Michael Madsen’s feature film appearances include: Against All Hope; War Games; Racing with the Moon; The Natural; Kill Me Again; The Doors; Thelma & Louise; Reservoir Dogs; Free Willy; The Getaway; Wyatt Earp; Species; Free Willy 2; Mulholland Falls; Donnie Brasco; Species 2; Die Another Day; Kill Bill Vol. 1; Kill Bill Vol. 2; Sin City; Scary Movie 4; Hell Ride; Desperate Endeavors; The Hateful Eight; Papa; Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood; Outlaw Johnny Black and A Christmas Gamble.

I probably first saw Michael Madsen when he appeared on St.  Elsewhere.  If not there, then it would have been Miami Vice.  My favorite Michael Madsen roles were in Reservoir Dogs; The Getaway and both Sin City movies.  I loved seeing Mr. Madsen’s name in the credits of any movie or television show.  With well over 300 acting credits on Michael Madsen’s resume, I wasn’t the only one who felt that way.

Out thoughts and prayers go out to Michael Madsen’s family, friends and fans.

“Trouble Man” directed & starring Michael Jai White; co-starring Cliff Method Man Smith, La La Anthony and Orlando Jones – Two Posters & a Trailer are Here!

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How about two posters and a trailer for Trouble Man directed and starring Michael Jai White; co-starring Cliff Method Man Smith, La La Anthony and Orlando Jones?

I like the first poster best.  Looks like a fun ride.

Deal me in.

TROUBLE MAN is in theaters and on digital platforms August 1.

Directed by Michael Jai White
Starring: Michael Jai White, Cliff Method Man Smith, La La Anthony and Orlando Jones

Jaxen, a former cop turned Atlanta PI, is hired to find missing R&B star Jahari. His investigation uncovers her disappearance is connected to a larger conspiracy, forcing him to question those around him and his own past.

“Afterburn” starring Dave Bautista, Samuel L. Jackson and Olga Kurylenko – The Poster and Trailer are Here!

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Afterburn starring Dave Bautista, Samuel L. Jackson and Olga Kurylenko – The Poster and Trailer are Here!

After a massive solar flare destroys the Earth’s eastern hemisphere, an emboldened treasure hunter for hire adventures to Europe to uncover the coveted Mona Lisa, only to learn the world needs a hero more than it needs a painting.

#Afterburn Coming Soon, Only in Theaters.

“The Good, the Bad and the Ugly” (1966) directed by Sergio Leone; starring Clint Eastwood, Eli Wallach & Lee Van Cleef / Z-View

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The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966)

Director:  Sergio Leone

Screenplay: Age & Scarpelli, Luciano Vincenzoni, Sergio Leone; story by Luciano Vincenzoni, Sergio Leone.

Stars: Clint Eastwood, Eli Wallach, Lee Van Cleef.

Tagline:  The Man with No Name Returns!

The Plot…

1862.  The Civil War continues to tear the country apart.  $200,000 in gold is buried in a secret grave in an unknown cemetery by a Confederate soldier named Bill Carson.

“Angel Eyes”, a sadistic mercenary has heard the rumor of buried gold.  He knows the name of the soldier who buried the loot, but not gold’s hiding place.

Tuco, a Mexican bandit, knows the name of the cemetery, but not the grave.

“Blondie”, a bounty hunter, knows the name on the grave, but not the name of the cemetery.

Blondie and Tuco form an uneasy alliance to get the buried gold.  They believe their biggest problem is neither trusts the other.  They will come to realize their gravest threat is Angel Eyes.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Most think that The Good, the Bad and the Ugly was made as part of The Man with No Name Trilogy.  The truth is that Eastwood originally played different characters in each film.  It was Clint Eastwood’s idea to release the three films (A Fistful of Dollars; For A Few Dollars More and The Good, the Bad and the Ugly) in the US during the same year as a trilogy.  Changes to dialogue were made to never tell Eastwood’s character’s real name.

Sergio Leone originally wanted Charles Bronson to play Angel Eyes.  Bronson was committed to The Dirty Dozen, so Lee Van Cleef got the role.

Clint Eastwood came up with the name Angel Eyes for Van Cleef’s character.

Due to a miscommunication, the big scene where the bridge is blown up first happened when no cameras were rolling.  The bridge had to be rebuilt so it could be blown up on camera.

Eli Wallach improvised the line, “When you have to shoot, shoot, don’t talk!”

Ennio Morricone’s soundtrack album peaked at #4, but stayed on Billboards Album chart for over a year.

Although The Good, the Bad and the Ugly was released after A Fistful of Dollars and For A Few Dollars More, it is actually a prequel to the two films.

Eastwood’s character, labeled the Good actually kills more people than the Bad and the Ugly combined.  Angel Eyes, the bad, kills the fewest people in the film.

Angel Eyes is shown to be missing the tip of one of his fingers.  This is not a special effect.  Lee Van Cleef lost the tip of a finger in a carpentry accident.

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly made Clint Eastwood a movie star.

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966) rates 5 of 5 stars

“Get Carter” (2000) directed by Stephen Kay; starring Sylvester Stallone, Rachael Leigh Cook, Miranda Richardson, Alan Cumming, Mickey Rourke & Michael Caine / Z-View

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Get Carter (2000)

Director:  Stephen Kay

Screenplay: David McKenna; based on JACK’S RETURN HOME by Ted Lewis.

Stars: Sylvester Stallone, Rachael Leigh Cook, Miranda Richardson, Rhona Mitra, Johnny Strong, John C. McGinley, Alan Cumming, Gretchen Mol, Tom Sizemore, John Cassini, Mickey Rourke, Mark Boone Junior, Darryl Scheelar, Yan-Kay Crystal Lowe, Tyler Labine, Stephen Kay, Frank Stallone and Michael Caine.

Tagline:  The Truth Hurts

The Plot…

Jack Carter, a Vegas mob enforcer, returns to Seattle for his estranged brother, Ritchie’s funeral.  Ritchie was killed in a car crash after drinking.  Problem is Ritchie never drank.  As Jack digs deeper, he starts to believe Ritchie was murdered.

But why?

Clues point in several directions.  Ritchie’s death could have something to do with the club he managed.  Cliff Bumbry, the owner of the club has his fingers in other pies.  Did Ritchie have dirt on Cliff?

Rumor is Ritchie was having an affair.  Could that have led to Ritchie’s murder?

Some leads point to tech millionaire Jeremy Kinnear.  How were he and Ritchie linked?

Worse still, Cyrus Paice may be involved.  Paice was a rival of Jack’s when Jack was coming up.  There’s still bad blood.

As Jack digs deeper he will discover the truth.

The truth hurts.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Get Carter (2000) is a remake of Get Carter (1971) which starred Michael Caine. Caine co-stars in the remake.  Stallone and Caine also appeared together in Victory (1981).  Caine was originally only supposed to appear in a one scene cameo.  The scene scored so high with test audiences, the film was adjusted to give Caine a bigger role.

When producers were hesitant to hire Mickey Rourke (because of his past behaviors), Stallone guaranteed a portion of his salary, to cover any delays caused by Rourke.  Rourke was on-time and ready every day.

Gretchen Mol plays an important role but is not listed in the film’s credits.

Tom Sizemore’s voice (also uncredited) is heard when Carter talks to his Vegas boss.

Director Stephen Kay appears uncredited as a party guest.  Get Carter features Stephen Kay’s second outing as a feature film director.  Kay would go on to direct multiple highly rated episodes of The Shield; Sons of Anarchy; Yellowstone; Mayor of Kingstown; Lioness and Landman.

Frank Stallone appears uncredited in the funeral scene.

Get Carter (2000) is one of my all-time favorite films.  The movie and especially Stallone’s character resonates with me.  In it you’ll see some of Stallone’s best acting (especially the roof top scene with Rachael Leigh Cook).  The film isn’t perfect or a classic, but it remains one of my go-to movies.  Your mileage may vary (a lot on this one).

Get Carter (2000) rates 5 of 5 stars

Sly Stallone as Deke DaSilva from “Nighthawks” by Pat Broderick!

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I first met Pat Broderick at OrlandoCon 1977.  Pat was a young artist and I was an even younger fan.  I was impressed at how easy-going and friendly Pat was (and that’s not taking into consideration what a talented artist he is).  Over the years we became friends.  It’s always cool to see Pat at a show.  He’s still killing it with new art and comic series!

Back in 2005, at a Tampa Show, I got Pat’s take on Sly Stallone as Deke DaSilva from Nighthawks.

“Saving Private Ryan” (1998) directed by Steven Spielberg; starring Tom Hanks, Edward Burns, Matt Damon and Tom Sizemore / Z-View

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Saving Private Ryan (1998)

Director:  Steven Spielberg

Screenplay: Robert Rodat

Stars: Tom Hanks, Matt Damon, Tom Sizemore, Edward Burns, Barry Pepper, Adam Goldberg, Giovanni Ribisi, Jeremy Davies, Ted Danson, Paul Giamatti, Dennis Farina, Max Martini, Nathan Fillion, Ryan Hurst, Dale Dye, Bryan Cranston, David Wohl and Vin Diesel.

Tagline:  The mission is a man.

The Plot…

June 6, 1944.  D Day.  Operation Overlord is underway.  American forces storm the German fortified beaches of Normandy.  The coastline has been divided into five sections.  At Omaha Beach the American forces face the most resistance.

Omaha Beach is heavily fortified with German machine gun nests, artillery, as well as mines and barbed wire.  The US soldiers coming ashore have a wide-open beach with no cover making them easy targets.  The Germans hold the high ground.  Yet the US soldiers, despite heavy losses ultimately prevail.

Immediately following the Battle of Omaha Beach, Captain Miller is given an assignment.  The US Department of War has learned that the Ryan family has four sons in the service.  Against all odds, three of the four Ryan men have been killed in action.  The fourth, Private James Ryan is behind enemy lines with the 101st Airborne.  Captain Miller’s mission is to put together a team, penetrate into enemy territory, find Private Ryan and get him safely out.  Ryan will be given a ticket home.

Captain Miller enlists six battle-tested soldiers and an interpreter with no combat experience to accompany him.  No all will survive.  Private Ryan may already be dead.

The man is the mission.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Saving Private Ryan was nominated for eleven 1999 Academy Awards.  It won five…

  • Nominee for Best Music, Original Dramatic Score – John Williams 
  • Nominee for Best Makeup – Lois Burwell, Conor O’Sullivan, Daniel C. Striepeke
  • Nominee for Best Art Direction-Set Decoration – Thomas E. Sanders, Lisa Dean
  • Nominee for Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen – Robert Rodat
  • Nominee for Best Actor in a Leading Role – Tom Hanks
  • Nominee for Best Picture – Steven Spielberg, Ian Bryce, Mark Gordon, Gary Levinsohn
  • Winner for Best Effects, Sound Effects Editing – Gary Rydstrom, Richard Hymns
  • Winner for Best Film Editing – Michael Kahn
  • Winner for Best Sound – Gary Rydstrom, Gary Summers, Andy Nelson, Ron Judkins
  • Winner for Best Cinematography – Janusz Kaminski
  • Winner for Best Director – Steven Spielberg

 Frank Darabont and Scott Frank did uncredited rewrites on Robert Rodat’s screenplay.  John Milius also made suggestions.

Saving Private Ryan opens with the storming of Omaha Beach.  It runs over 20 minutes and sets the tone for all to follow.  It is one of the most amazing and realistic depictions of battle put on film.  There were up to 1,000 extras and cost $11 million to film.

During his research Steven Spielberg spoke with many World War II veterans.  They asked that Spielberg not make a typical Hollywood war movie.  They wanted the audience to understand the brutality and terror of war.  Spielberg was surprised that Saving Private Ryan became a hit, despite the realism of the opening scene.  Spielberg further said that he would have refused to cut the film even if it had to be released with an NC-17 rating.

The Department of Veterans Affairs set up a special 800 number for past and current soldiers traumatized from the film.  There were reportedly 100s of calls to the line.

Steven Spielberg cast Matt Damon as Private Ryan because he wanted an unknown actor with All-American good looks.  Before Saving Private Ryan was released, Damon was nominated for a Best Actor Oscar and won an Academy Award for Best Screenplay, both for Good Will Hunting.  By the time Saving Private Ryan was released Damon was a star.

Vin Diesel wasn’t a star when hired for Saving Private Ryan. Steven Spielberg saw Diesel’s self-directed short films, Multi-Facial (1995) and Strays (1997).  He recognized Diesel’s talent.

Nathan Fillion, Ryan Hurst and Bryon Cranston appear in small roles.

Saving Private Ryan is a classic.

Saving Private Ryan (1998) rates 5 of 5 stars

Rocky Balboa by Joe Bluhm!

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I discovered Joe Bluhm‘s art back in 2007 while surfing the internet.  I absolutely loved his style.  You can imagine my surprise when I saw that Joe would be a guest at an Orlando Comic convention.  What made that even better was that I was already planning to attend the show.

I was able to meet Joe (what a cool guy) and get two sketches from him.  The first, Sly Stallone as Rocky Balboa appears above.  I’ll post the second Bluhm sketch in the near future.  Hope you dig ’em both.  I do.

“My Mom Jayne” directed by & starring Maariska Hargitay / Z-View

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My Mom Jayne (2025)

Director:  Mariska Hargitay

Tagline:  Reclaming her mother’s story, and her own.

The Plot…

Mariska Hargitay was three years old when he mother, Jayne Mansfield was killed in a tragic auto accident.  Mariska and her siblings were injured in the wreck.

Mariska grew up in a world where her mother was known everywhere because of her international celebrity.  Yet because Mariska was only three when her mother was killed,  she has no memories of her mom.  This documentary is an effort to remedy that.  Along the way Mariska will learn a secret buried for over six decades that will change everything.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Jayne Mansfield is often thought of as a knockoff of Marilyn Monroe.  At first that was true.  Mansfield leaned into the beautiful dumb blonde role.  The truth is she could speak several languages and play multiple instruments.  She was far from dumb.  When she tried to change the public perception of her, it didn’t work.

Jayne Mansfield wanted fame and it led to poor choices in the men in her life.  The one exception Mickey Hargitay.

Mariska’s discovery changes her world.

The bars on the back of semi-trucks that prevent cars from driving under them are called “Mansfield-bars”.  Legislation was started due to Mansfield’s tragic death when he car went under a semi.  Although the accident took place in 1967, the safety bars weren’t made mandatory until years later.

My Mom Jayne (2025) rates 3 of 5 stars

RIP Lalo Schifrin

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Lalo Schifrin died yesterday from from complications of pneumonia. Mr. Schifrin was 93.

Lalo Schifrin was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina.  His birth name was Boris Claudio Schifrin.  He legally changed his name to Lalo when he came to the United States.

Lalo Schifrin was trained as a classical musician before falling in love with jazz.  Mr. Schifrin received a scholarship to the Conservatoire de Paris.   He studied during the day and played jazz in clubs at night.  While still in his twenties, Mr. Schifrin returned to Argentina.  He began radio, television, and film work.  Mr. Schifrin wrote for Xavier Cugat’s dance orchestra, Dizzy Gillespie and Duke Ellington.  He was also recording his own music.

  • Lalo Schifrin began to get work for American television and films.  He became one of the most prolific and productive composers.  He was nominated for six Academy Awards, and in 2019 was given an Honorary Oscar.  Mr. Schifrin was nominated for four Primetime Emmy Awards as well as three Golden Globes.  He was nominated for 19 Grammy Awards and won four.

Mr. Schifrin has 226 composer credits and 207 soundtrack credits on his IMDb resume.  Some of his best known works include the themes to THE Cat; Mission Impossible, Mannix and Starsky and Hutch.   Some of his best known film scores include Enter the Dragon, Cool Hand Luke, Bullitt, Dirty Harry, Rush Hour, The Amityville Horror, The Eagle Has Landed and so many others.

Mr. Schifrin’s best known composition is probably the Mission Impossible theme song.  It’s a classic.  My sentimental favorite is for Enter the Dragon.  Truth is, I loved all of his music.  Mr. Schifrin is a legend for good reason.  His music which will live on forever.

Out thoughts and prayers go out to Lalo Schifrin’s family, friends and fans.