Category: Celebs

“Delia’s Gone” (2022) starring Stephan James & Marisa Tomei / Z-View

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Delia’s Gone (2022)

Director:  Robert Budreau

Screenplay: Robert Budreau; based on Caged Bird Sing by Michael Hamblin

Stars: Stephan James, Travis Fimmel, Paul Walter Hauser, Marisa Tomei, Kate Moyer, Billy MacLellan and Genelle Williams.

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

Louis (James) is a mentally challenged young man.  He lives with his sister Delia (Williams).  One night Delia and Louis get into an argument.  Delia goes out to meet friends and Louis goes to bed.  The next morning Delia is found dead on the kitchen floor.

Louis is convicted of killing his sister.  He serves his time and is released to a halfway house.  One day a stranger visits Louis.  Before leaving the stranger says that Louis didn’t kill his sister.

Now Louis is on a mission to find his sister’s killer.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Stephan James is excellent as Louis.  Marisa Tomei shines as the gruff kick-ass Sheriff.

Delia’s Gone (2022) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“Beyond the Borders” starring Zoe Saldaña, Garret Hedlund and Adria Arjona – The Poster & Trailer are Here!

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Here we have the poster and trailer for Beyond the Borders starring Zoe (The Lioness) Saldaña, Garret (Tulsa King) Hedlund and Adria (True Detective) Arjona.

Beyond the Borders premieres March 3rd.

Deal me in.

Along the treacherous U.S.-Mexico border, private dancer Esmee (Zoe Saldaña) kills a cartel member in self-defense. Fearing for her life, she flees Mexico with a group of undocumented immigrants led by a ruthless Coyote. Before crossing, a young mother she befriended is torn from the group, forcing Esmee to safeguard the woman’s daughter—and igniting a harrowing fight for survival.

“The Champion” (1949) starring Kirk Douglas / Z-View

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The Champion (1949)

Director:  Mark Robson

Screenplay:  Carl Foreman; based on Champion by Ring Lardner

Stars: Kirk Douglas, Arthur Kennedy, Marilyn Maxwell, Paul Stewart, Ruth Roman, Ruth Roman, Harry Shannon, John Daheim, Esther Howard, Sam Balter (voice), Polly Bergen (voice), Mushy Callahan and Bill Baldwin.

Tagline:  Fighting or loving, he was the… CHAMPION

The Plot…

Michael “Midge” Kelly (Douglas) and his brother, Connie (Kennedy) are down on their luck.  They hitched-hiked across country after sending their entire savings to become partners in a diner.  Only to find out they had been scammed.

When a local boxing promotor needs a fighter at the last minute, he offers Midge $35 to step in.  Midge does.  Although outclassed, Midge shows heart and that he can take a punch.  Boxing manager, Tommy Hailey (Stewart) offers to become Midge’s manager.  Midge declines.

Later when Midge realizes that professional boxing might provide the kind of life he dreams of, he reconnects with Tommy Hailey.  Midge is a fast learner and tough.  Midge climbs in the rankings beating everyone put in front of him.  Outside the ring, Midge sees every woman as a conquest.  Fame is going to his head.

As Midge gets closer to a title fight, he gets farther away from the people who truly care for him.  What is Midge willing to give up to become the Champion?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Champion was nominated for six 1950 Academy Awards, winning one…

  • Nominee for Best Music, Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture – Dimitri Tiomkin
  • Nominee for Best Cinematography, Black-and-White – Franz Planer
  • Nominee for Best Writing, Screenplay – Carl Foreman
  • Nominee for Best Actor in a Supporting Role – Arthur Kennedy
  • Nominee for Best Actor in a Leading Role – Kirk Douglas
  • Winner – Best Film Editing: Harry Gerstad

Most folks know that Champion made Kirk Douglas a star.  He was nominated for a Best Actor Oscar. The film led to Warner Bros. signing him to a seven year contract.  Director Mark Robson, co-stars Lola Albright and Ruth Roman were also signed to studio contracts.

The Champion (1949) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“Amber Alert” (2024) starring Hayden Panettiere and Tyler James Williams / Z-View

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Amber Alert (2024)

Director:  Kerry Bellessa

Screenplay:  Kerry Bellessa, Joshua Oram

Stars: Hayden Panettiere, Tyler James Williams, Kevin Dunn, Saidah Arrika Ekulona, Dinora Walcott, Kruz Valero and Claire Slemmer.

Tagline: Two Strangers Are Her Only Hope.

The Plot…

Jaq (Panettiere) is running late.  She offers a nice tip to Shane (Williams), an Uber driver who was quitting for the day to get to his son’s birthday.  During the drive an Amber Alert comes across.  At the next stop light, Jaq believes the car ahead is holding the kidnapped little girl.  Shane isn’t so sure.  As they try to get a closer look, the driver runs the light and jumps on the highway.

Jaq and Shane follow the speeding car.  Jaq calls 911 but are put on hold since so many calls about the alert are coming in.  As the driver heads away from the city, the little girl’s only hope are two strangers.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

The writers and director made a film in 2012 titled Amber Alert.  The 2024 film is a bigger budget re-working.

My favorite scene is when the driver confronts Jaq and Shane in a deserted lot on the highway.

Amber Alert (2024) rates 3 of 5 stars.

Jack Carter by Sam Banchard aka Shlepzig!

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Sam Banchard aka Shlepzig had a unique style.  I loved it.  In addition to being an artist, Sam was a teacher, a fencer, a husband and so much more.  I met Sam in 2022 at HeroesCon.  I got the commission above, went back for another and introduced my friends to his art.  They got pieces and all commented on how humble and nice Sam was.

Sadly Sam passed away at the end of 2024.  He was way too young.  Thankfully his art will live on.

“The Third Man” (1949) written by Graham Greene; directed by Carol Reed; starring Orson Welles and Joseph Cotten / Z-View

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The Third Man (1949)

Director:  Carol Reed

Screenplay: Graham Greene

Stars: Orson Welles, Joseph Cotten, Alida Valli, Trevor Howard, Wilfrid Hyde-White, Paul Birch, Martin Boddey and Bernard Lee.

Tagline:  HUNTED…By a thousand men! Haunted…By a lovely girl!

The Plot…

World War 2 is over.  Vienna is divided into five occupation zones—one zone for each of the Allied powers and one international zone.  The black market thrives.

Holly Martins (Cotten) comes to Allied-occupied Vienna.  Martins has been promised a job by his good friend, Harry Lime (Welles).  Martins is shocked to learn that Harry was killed crossing the street when he was hit by a car.  Still reeling from the news, Martins attends Harry’s funeral.

Afterwards, Martins talks to different people and their stories don’t add up.  Martins then goes to the Allied Authority, Major Calloway (Howard) and demands an investigation into Harry’s death.  Major Calloway informs Martins that Harry Lime was involved in the black market.  Lime was behind the theft of penicillin from military hospitals.  Lime diluted the medicine until it had to curative effect.  Lime then sold it on the black market at outrageous prices.  Because of the dilution, dozens of people, many children died.  If Lime had lived he was about to be arrested.

At first Martins doesn’t believe Major Calloway… but the evidence is there.  His childhood friend, Harry Lime had become a despicable person responsible for the death of many including little children.  That night as Martins walks a deserted street across the way he sees Harry Lime.  Martins calls out, but Harry runs away.

Determined to get to the bottom of this Martins makes it his mission to find Harry… even if it kills him.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

The Third Man was nominated for three 1951 Academy Awards and won one…

  • Nominee for Best Film Editing – Oswald Hafenrichter
  • Nominee for Best Director – Carol Reed
  • Winner for Best Cinematography, Black-and-White – Robert Krasker

Orson Welles was concerned that filming in real sewers would make him sick.  His close-ups were done in a studio with long shots in a sewer feature a body double.

Welles was offered a straight salary or a percentage of the profits.  He opted for a straight salary.  Because the film was so successful, Welles would have made much more with a percentage of profits.

The film was popular during it’s initial release, was nominated for three Academy Awards and remains popular to this day.  It currently has an 8.1/10 score on IMDb.  At RottenTomatoes it has a 99% rating from reviewers and 93% from all users.

Although Orson Welles is the film’s star, he finished his part in one week of filming.  He doesn’t show up in the movie until the movie is 2/3 over.

The Third Man is a classic.  Well written, well directed, well cast and well acted.  Well… what do you expect, I said, “It’s a classic.”

I love the final scene when Holly Martins waits for Anna to catch up to him.  He’s hoping they have a chance at romance.  She walks by without even looking his way.

The Third Man (1949) rates 5 of 5 stars.

“Shadow of the Wolf” – The Poster and Trailer are Here!

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“Shadow of the Wolf” – The Poster and Trailer are Here!

Deal me in.

Shadow of the Wolf – Watch the trailer now!

On Demand and On Digital March 25. Starring Raniero Monaco Di Lapio, Marianna Di Martino, Elisabetta De Vito, Fabrizio Vona, Simone Riccioni, Ettore Belmondo, Massimiliano Vado, Maria Grazia Cucinotta, and Christopher Lambert.

Christopher Lambert and Maria Grazia Cucinotta star in a chilling tale of horror. When Nico returns from overseas to say farewell to his ailing mother, he discovers something monstrous is happening in the small town he once called home. As the list of grizzly murder victims begins to grow and the authorities fear the killer is a beast unlike anything they have ever seen, Nico senses a savage transformation within himself and uncovers the terrifying secret his family could never reveal.

“The Accountant 2” starring Ben Affleck & Jon Bernthal – Two Posters and a Trailer are Here!

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The Accountant was surprisingly good.  Today we have two posters and a trailer for The Accountant 2.  It looks even better.

Deal me in/

Do you like puzzles?

Ben Affleck and Jon Bernthal are back in The Accountant 2. Watch the new trailer now and see the movie only in theaters April 25. #Accountant2

Christian Wolff (Ben Affleck) has a talent for solving complex problems. When an old acquaintance is murdered, leaving behind a cryptic message to “find the accountant,” Wolff is compelled to solve the case. Realizing more extreme measures are necessary, Wolff recruits his estranged and highly lethal brother, Brax (Jon Bernthal), to help. In partnership with U.S. Treasury Deputy Director Marybeth Medina (Cynthia Addai-Robinson), they uncover a deadly conspiracy, becoming targets of a ruthless network of killers who will stop at nothing to keep their secrets buried.

“12 Angry Men” (1957) written by Reginald Rose; directed by Sidney Lumet; starring Henry Fonda / Z-View

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12 Angry Men (1957)

Director:  Sidney Lumet

Screenplay:  Reginald Rose based on his 1954 teleplay for Studio One.

Stars: Henry Fonda, Lee J. Cobb, Martin Balsam, John Fiedler, E.G. Marshall, Jack Klugman, Edward Binns, Jack Warden, Joseph Sweeney, Ed Begley, George Voskovec, Robert Webber and Rudy Bond.

Tagline:  Life Is In Their Hands — Death Is On Their Minds!

The Plot…

On the hottest day of the year, twelve jurors enter the jury room to determine the verdict in a capital murder case.  A teenage boy is accused of stabbing his father to death.  A guilty verdict results in a mandatory death penalty.  Eleven jurors see the accused as guilty.  One isn’t sure.

Tempers will flare and motivations bared as deliberations proceed.  A young man’s life hangs in the balance.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

12 Angry Men was nominated for three 1958 Academy Awards…

  • Nominee for Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium – Reginald Rose
  • Nominee for Best Director – Sidney Lumet
  • Nominee for Best Picture – Henry Fonda, Reginald Rose

12 Angry Men is considered a classic.  It currently has a 9 out of 10 rating on IMDb.  It has an 100% reviewers rating and 97% user rating at Rotten Tomatoes.  Surprisingly, 12 Angry Men was a box office disappointment.  Henry Fonda had deferred part of his salary and the film didn’t earn enough to pay off.  Still, Fonda considered 12 Angry Men one of his best films.

12 Angry Men was Sidney Lumet’s feature film directing debut.

An all star cast (although not all were stars at the time), an exceptional screenplay and a director who knew how to film in tight quarters and get the tension on screen from men talking make for a film classic.

12 Angry Men (1957) rates 5 of 5 stars.

“G20” starring Viola Davis – The Poster & Trailer are Here!

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The poster and trailer for G20 starring Viola Davis are here!

The target becomes a weapon.

G20 starring Viola Davis is streaming on Prime Video April 10.

When the G20 summit comes under siege, U.S. President Danielle Sutton (Academy Award® winner Viola Davis) becomes the number one target. After evading capture by the attackers, she must outsmart the enemy to protect her family, defend her country and safeguard world leaders in this action-packed thrill ride.

Starring Viola Davis, Anthony Anderson, Marsai Martin, Ramón Rodríguez, Douglas Hodge, Elizabeth Marvel, Sabrina Impacciatore, Christopher Farrar and Antony Starr

Directed by Patricia Riggen

“Hold That Ghost” (1941) starring Abbott & Costello / Z-View

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Hold That Ghost (1941)

Director:  Arthur Lubin

Screenplay:  Robert Lees, Fred Rinaldo, John Grant

Stars: Bud Abbott, Lou Costello, Richard Carlson, Joan Davis, Evelyn Ankers, Mischa Auer, Marc Lawrence, Russell Hicks, The Andrews Sisters and Shemp Howard.

Tagline:  A-HAUNTING WE WILL GO! Your blues won’t stand a ghost of a chance…as they top “Buck Privates” and “In the Navy.”!

The Plot…

Chuck (Abbott) and Ferdinand (Costello) dream of someday owning their own nightclub.  Recently they were fired from their jobs as waiters in a high class hot spot.  Now the boys are gas station attendants.

While servicing a car, the police recognize the auto’s owner, gangster Moose Mattson.  Moose takes off with Chuck and Ferdinand in the car.  A high speed shootout takes place.  Moose is mortally wounded.

Chuck and Ferdinand are surprised to learn that Moose’s will leaves them all of Moose’s possessions.  The will specified that whoever was with Moose when he dies gets everything.   Chuck and Ferdinand are now the owners of the Forrester’s Club, a big old spooky rundown tavern.  The place was a hotspot during prohibition.  It is full of secret rooms and hidden passages.

Chuck, Ferdinand and three others find themselves alone at the creepy joint on a dark, stormy night.  Things take a turn for the worse when some of Moose’s gangster friends show up looking for Moose’s hidden loot.  These mugs are more than willing to kill to get what they want.

Let the fun times roll!

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Hold That Ghost went into production with the working title Oh, Charlie.   Filming was well underway before the release of Abbott and Costello’s Buck Privates.  When Buck Privates became a huge hit, the pressure was on.  The studio decided to rush into production another service comedy, In The Navy featuring Abbott and Costello.  When that film was a hit, the studio decided to rework Oh, Charlie into Hold That Ghost.  A new opening and closing featuring The Andrews Sisters was added since they appeared in both Buck Privates and In The Navy.  Additional scenes were created and some were reshot.  The changes paid off since Hold That Ghost was a hit.

Hold That Ghost (1941) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“To Be Or Not To Be” (1942) directed by Ernst Lubitsch; starring Carole Lombard & Jack Benny / Z-View

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To Be Or Not To Be (1942)

Director: Ernst Lubitsch

Screenplay:  Edwin Justus Mayer, Ernst Lubitsch (uncredited); story by Melchior Lengyel

Stars: Carole Lombard, Jack Benny, Felix Bressart, Lionel Atwill, Stanley Ridges, Sig Ruman, Charles Halton, George Lynn, Henry Victor, Halliwell Hobbes, Rudolph Anders and Robert Stack.

Tagline:  We announce the presentation of Carole Lombard’s last picture. An exciting romantic comedy keyed to an ever-mounting tempo of suspense. Jack Benny at his best in a surprisingly different comic role.

The Plot…

1942.  World War II rages across Europe.  In Poland, Professor Siletsky, a Nazi spy has a list of fighters in the Polish underground. If Silersky gets the list to Nazis, dozens of fighters will die and the Polish war effort will be crippled.

The only hope is a drama troupe led by Joseph Tura (Benny) and his wife Maria (Lombard).  The troupe plans to impersonate Nazi leadership and take possession of Siletsky’s list.

What could go wrong?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

To Be Or Not To Be was nominated for one 1943 Academy Award…

  • Nominee for Best Music, Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture – Werner R. Heymann

Sadly, this was Carole Lombard’s last film.  Lombard, her mother and all on board died in a plane crash on January 16, 1942.  Carole Lombard was 33.  She was on a war bond tour at the time of the crash.

To Be Or Not To Be was released on March 6, 1942.  Jack Benny was so upset that he didn’t attend a preview showing of the film just one week after Lombard’s death.  Benny had also cancelled his weekly radio show the week that Carole Lombard died.

Carole Lombard said making To Be Or Not To Be was the happiest experience she ever had making a film.  Jack Benny said this movie was the only great film.  Ernst Lubitsch felt that To Be Or Not To Be was one of his best films.

Ernst Lubitsch, the film’s co-writer and director wrote the lead with Jack Benny in mind.

To Be Or Not To Be is a classic!

To Be Or Not To Be (1942) rates 5 of 5 stars.

“Brotherhood of the Wolf” (2001) starring Samuel Le Bihan & Mark Dacascos / Z-View

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Brotherhood of the Wolf (2001)

Director:  Christophe Gans

Screenplay:  Christophe Gans, Stéphane Cabel

Stars: Samuel Le Bihan, Mark Dacascos, Vincent Cassel and Monica Bellucci.

Tagline: The year is 1766… The hunt for a killer has begun

The Plot…

The year is 1764.  A beast, some call it a monster, is killing the people of Gévaudan.  Grégoire de Fronsac (Le Bihan) and his Iroquois friend Mani (Dacascos) are sent to find and kill the creature.

They have no idea what awaits them.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Brotherhood of the Wolf has a toe in history.  There really was a Beast of Gévaudan. It was described as a wolf-like creature.  (It was probably a wolf or wolves.) During the years 1764 to 1767, the beast was blamed for as many as 100 killings.

I saw Brotherhood of the Wolf when it was first released in 2001.  I liked it better then (4 of 5 stars).  I downgraded it now partly due to the creature effects and the fact that everyone knows martial arts in 1764 France. Mark Dacascos as Mani, is still my favorite part of the movie.

Brotherhood of the Wolf (2001) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“Riff Raff” starring Jennifer Coolidge, Ed Harris, Gabrielle Union, Lewis Pullman, Pete Davidson & Bill Murray – The Poster is Here!

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Here we have the poster for Riff Raff starring Jennifer Coolidge, Ed Harris, Gabrielle Union, Lewis Pullman, Pete Davidson and Bill Murray.  I’ve also attached the trailer in case you missed it.

Deal me in.

Riff Raff – Watch the trailer now! In theaters February 28.

Starring Jennifer Coolidge, Ed Harris, Gabrielle Union, Lewis Pullman, Miles J. Harvey, Emanuela Postacchini, Michael Angelo Covino, Pete Davidson, and Bill Murray.

Oscar nominees Bill Murray and Ed Harris star alongside Emmy winner Jennifer Coolidge and Pete Davidson in this darkly comic crime thriller about how far you’ll go to protect the ones you love. Vincent (Harris) and his family plan to share a quiet New Year’s Eve together until his sketchy past catches up with him and the night reveals secrets no one could ever imagine. Gabrielle Union and Emmy nominee Lewis Pullman also star.

“Act of Violence” (1948) starring Van Heflin & Robert Ryan / Z-View

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Act of Violence (1948)

Director:  Fred Zinnemann

Screenplay:  Robert L. Richards; story by Collier Young

Stars: Van Heflin, Robert Ryan, Janet Leigh, Mary Astor, Phyllis Thaxter, Berry Kroeger, Taylor Holmes, Will Wright, Rudolph Anders and Barbara Billingsley (voice).

Tagline: He’s the only one that came out alive … and now he wants my life … to atone for the others’

The Plot…

Frank Enley (Heflin) is living the good life. Frank served proudly in the war. Now he has a job he loves.  Frank is married to a wonderful woman who loves him. They have a beautiful little girl.  Frank is a respected member of the community.  Life is great.

Then Joe Parkson (Ryan) shows up.

Parkson was in a prisoner of war camp with Frank.  Parkson knows that Frank Enley gave the Nazis information about a planned escape.  The Nazis killed all the US soldiers trying to get away except Parkson.  Parkson almost died and was left with a permanent limp.

Now that Parkson has found Frank Enley, he’s going to kill him.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Although Act of Violence bombed at the box office it has gained a positive following over the years.  It currently has a 7.5/10 rating on the IMDb.  At Rotten Tomatoes it scored 94% from critics and 76% from site users.

I’m in the minority on this one.  I found it to be just okay.

Act of Violence (1948) rates 2 of 5 stars.