Category: Celebs

“Special Ops: Lioness” aka “Lioness”: Season 1(2023); created by Taylor Sheridan; starring Zoe Saldaña, Laysla De Oliveira, Michael Kelly with Morgan Freeman and Nicole Kidman / Z-View

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Special Ops: Lioness aka Lioness: Season 1 (2023)

Created by: Taylor Sheridan

Director: John Hillcoat (Eps. 1-2; 7-8); Anthony Byrne (Eps. 3-4); Paul Cameron  (Eps. 5-6)

Teleplay: Taylor Sheridan (Eps. 1-2; 4-8); Taylor Sheridan; story by Taylor Sheridan and Thomas Brady (Ep. 3);

Stars: Zoe Saldaña, Laysla De Oliveira, Dave Annable, Jill Wagner, LaMonica Garrett, James Jordan, Austin Hébert, Jonah Wharton, Hannah Love Lanier, Nicole Kidman, Michael Kelly, Thad Luckinbill, Celestina Harris, Stephanie Nur, Martin Donovan, Max Martini and Morgan Freeman.

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

Joe McNamara (Saldaña) is a CIA squad leader in charge of the Lioness program.  Their mission is to take out Asmar Ali Amrohi.  Amrohi finances terrorism throughout the world.  The plan is to give Sergeant First Class Cruz Manuelos (De Oliveira) a false identity and get her close to Amrohi’s daughter, Aaliyah (Nur).  Then given the opportunity, Cruz will kill Amrohi or call in an air strike to take out everyone in Amrohi’s vicinity.

Problems arise when Cruz begins to feel a true friendship for Aaliyah.  Meanwhile Joe deals issues at home and the Senate Oversite Committee.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

One of my favorite parts of the show are the characters that make up the Lioness squad.  The show features a great mix of side missions, Joe’s home problems as well as dealings with politicians.

Taylor Sheridan has another winner.

Special Ops: Lioness aka Lioness: Season 1 rates 4 of 5 stars.

Mike McKone “Gets Carter”

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I’ve been a Mike McKone fan since I first saw his art.  So when McKone offered a sketch option with the purchase of his sketchbook, it was a no-brainer.  I asked for Sly Stallone as Jack Carter or Dwight Manfredi.  Mike McKone decided to “Get Carter” and I couldn’t be happier.

Even without the original sketch option, Mike McKone’s sketchbook should be on every art lovers “to be purchased” list.  If you can get the sketch, don’t sleep on the deal.

“Prince of Darkness” (1987) written & directed by John Carpenter; starring Donald Pleasence / Z-View

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Prince of Darkness (1987)

Director:  John Carpenter

Screenplay: John Carpenter as Martin Quatermass

Stars: Donald Pleasence, Lisa Blount, Jameson Parker, Victor Wong, Dennis Dun, Susan Blanchard, Anne Marie Howard, Dirk Blocker, Jessie Lawrence Ferguson, Peter Jason, Thom Bray, Joanna Merlin and Alice Cooper.

Tagline: Before man walked the earth… it slept for centuries. It is evil. It is real. It is awakening.

The Plot…

A priest (Pleasence) discovers a large cylinder of green bubbling liquid hidden in a church.  The priest can sense that the container holds something evil.  In an effort to discover exactly what the substance is, the priest brings in Professor Howard Birack (Wong) and several of his best students.  The team begins running tests to determine the age, make-up and other properties of the green liquid.  At the same time others work to decipher the ancient manuscripts found with the cylinder.

The unknown substance is at least 7 million years old, made of pre-biotic material and is quickly evolving.  The priest feels the increasing power of the substance and fears that it may be Satan or some other ancient god.  Soon homeless people begin showing up outside the church.  They stand a stare as if waiting for something.  Then the team members begin to experience the same dream – a menacing dark figure coming towards them.

Soon the team will know the truth…

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

I’m a John Carpenter fan, but I feel that Prince of Darkness falls far short of Carpenter’s best work.  As always, your mileage may vary.

Prince of Darkness (1987) rates 2 of 5 stars.

“Background to Danger” (1943) directed by Raul Walsh; starring George Raft, Sydney Greenstreet & Peter Lorre / Z-View

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Background to Danger (1943)

Director:  Raoul Walsh

Screenplay: W.R. Burnett; based on UNCOMMON DANGER by Eric Ambler

Stars: George Raft, Brenda Marshall, Sydney Greenstreet, Peter Lorre, Osa Massen, Willard Robertson,
Kurt Katch and Turhan Bey.

Tagline: GEORGE RAFT Rougher and tougher than ever! FIGHTS THE FAT MAN SYDNEY GREENSTREET You can trust him as far as you can throw him!

The Plot…

1942.  World War II rages.  Because Turkey is neutral, the United States, Russia and Germany have embassies trying to sway the country.  Spies are everywhere.

Joe Barton (Raft) is traveling by train in Turkey when he meets a pretty woman.  Barton sees a man staring at the woman.  He asks if she needs help.  She asks Barton to hold some papers for her.  They will meet at her hotel once they arrive at their destination.  Barton agrees.

Barton is followed to his hotel.  In his room he is searched but the papers aren’t found.  Later, after he’s made sure he wasn’t tailed, Barton heads to the hotel where the woman is staying.  When he goes to her room, he discovers she’s been murdered.  Barton hides when another man enters the room.  As the man goes through the woman’s things, Barton escapes.  He’s followed by the man who entered behind him.

Barton realizes the papers are valuable.  But to which country?  Barton has been set-up as the woman’s murderer.  The authorities, Russian and German spies want the information in Barton’s possession.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

In the source novel, the character George Raft plays was a salesman.  Raft demanded that his character be changed to an undercover FBI agent using the salesman job as a cover.

The last scene in this film shows an airplane taking off.  The scene was taken from Casablanca.  Interestingly enough, George Raft was offered the starring role in Casablanca, but turned it down.  It became one of Humphrey Bogart’s most popular roles and the film is considered a classic.

Background to Danger (1943) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“A Working Man” screenplay by Sylvester Stallone; directed by David Ayer; starring Jason Statham, David Harbour & Michael Peña – The Poster and Trailer are Here!

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Today we have the poster and trailer for A Working Man written by Sylvester Stallone, based on a character created by Chuck Dixon.  The film stars Jason Statham, David Harbour and Michael Peña.  The working title for the film was Levon Cade.

Deal me in.

Human Traffickers Beware.

Watch the trailer for #AWorkingMan, starring Jason Statham and from ‘The Beekeeper’ director David Ayer.

See the movie only in theaters March 28.

“In the Lost Lands” starring Dave Bautista & Milla Jovovich – The Poster and Trailer are Here!

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The poster and trailer for In the Lost Lands starring Dave Bautista and Milla Jovovich are here.  It looks to be more fantasy than I usually like, but so far I do like what I see.

A Queen sends the powerful and feared sorceress Gray Alys to the ghostly wilderness of the Lost Lands in search of a magical power, where the sorceress and her guide, the drifter Boyce, must outwit and outfight man and demon.

Starring: Dave Bautista, Milla Jovovich
Directed by: Paul W.S. Anderson
Release Date: March 7, 2025

“Nosferatu the Vampyre” (1979) written & directed by Werner Herzog; starring Klaus Kinski & Isabelle Adjani / Z-View

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Nosferatu the Vampyre (1979)

Director:  Werner Herzog

Screenplay: Werner Herzog; based on Nosferatu by F. W. Murnau; and DRACULA by Bram Stoker

Stars: Klaus Kinski, Isabelle Adjani, Bruno Ganz.

Tagline: Nosferatu…he who is doomed to wander alone in darkness. Nosferatu…he who is condemned to destroy even those whom he loves. Nosferatu…a tale of seduction in the dark night of the soul.

The Plot…

Jonathan Harker (Ganz) is sent to Transylvania to finalize an estate purchase with Count Dracula (Kinski).  Harker is unaware that Dracula is a vampire that will soon become infatuated with his wife, Lucy (Adjani).

Dracula intends to leave Transylvania for his new manor in Wismar, Germany. In this new metropolis Dracula will be able to feed without fear of discovery.  Dracula will also take possession of Lucy.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Nosferatu the Vampyre is a melding of Dracula (1931) and the 1922 film Nosferatu.   For my money, Dracula (1931) is by far the better of the three.  (And of the four if we include 2024’s Nosferatu.)

Much of Nosferatu the Vampyre is filmed during the day which isn’t the best time for a vampire movie.  The character design of Nosferatu and his portrayal wasn’t frightening or intimidating.  The still photos from the film were creepy, but lost something on screen.

I did like the idea that much of what happens to Harker and what he sees in Dracula’s castle might just be in his mind.  Is the castle a ruin or fully intact?  Is the boy who plays the violin real?  I also liked the ending’s twist.  Still, the movie overall fell short for me.  I was expecting much more.

Nosferatu the Vampyre (1979) rates 2 of 5 stars.

“No One Lives” starring Luke Evans / Z-View

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No One Lives (2012)

Director:  Ryuhei Kitamura

Screenplay: David Cohen

Stars: Luke Evans, Gary Grubbs, Lee Tergesen, America Olivo, Beau Knapp, Rob Steinberg, Laura Ramsey, Michael ‘Mick’ Harrity and Tyrus.

Tagline: Everyone Runs. Everyone Hides. No One Lives.

The Plot…

While driving in a remote area on a cross-country moving trip, a couple is kidnapped by a gang of thieves.  The thugs plan to rob the couple and steal their trailer.  Everything changes when they discover something unexpected in the couple’s car trunk.

The thieves learn the meaning of “sometimes you get the bear and sometimes the bear gets you.”

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

The discovery in the trunk is a great plot twist.  Unfortunately the movie then becomes very predictable.

No One Lives (2012) rates 2 of 5 stars.

“Nosferatu” (2024) written & directed by Robert Eggers; starring Lily-Rose Depp, Nicholas Hoult and Bill Skarsgård / Z-View

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Nosferatu (2024)

Director:  Robert Eggers

Screenplay: Robert Eggers; based on Nosferatu by Henrik Galeen; inspired by DRACULA by Bram Stoker

Stars: Lily-Rose Depp, Nicholas Hoult, Bill Skarsgård, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Emma Corrin, Ralph Ineson, Ralph Ineson and Willem Dafoe.

Tagline: Succumb to the darkness.

The Plot…

Thomas Hutter (Hoult) is sent to Transylvania to finalize an estate purchase with Count Orlok (Skarsgård).  Hutter is unaware that his employer is involved in the occult and that Orlok is a vampire infatuated with Hutter’s wife, Ellen (Depp).

Orlok intends to leave Transylvania for his new manor in Wisborg, Germany. In this new metropolis Orlok will be able to feed without fear of discovery.  Orlok will also take possession of Ellen.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

The exteriors of Orlok’s castle are an actual Transylvanian castle.  Vlad Dracula was once imprisoned behind the castle’s walls.

Count Orlok is often surrounded by rats.  Professor Albin Eberhart Von Franz (Dafoe) and Ellen (Depp) are often seen with cats.  Cats kill rats.

This is Willem Dafoe’s second movie in regard to Nosferatu.  In Shadow of the Vampire (2000) he played Max Schreck, the actor who played Nosferatu in the original film.

Eggers’ Nosferatu has the feel of a creepy old black and white film thanks to use of a computer to remove the red and yellow color spectrums.

I like the idea of keeping Orlok/Nosferatu’s appearance a mystery in ads and much of the movie.  Sadly, I was disappointed in the look of Orlok/Nosferatu when we finally see him.  The big bushy mustache makes no sense if the rest of his body is decaying.

The solution to killing Orlok is found in an ancient text.  If the method to his demise is so well known, how come Orlok isn’t aware?

Eggers’ Nosferatu is a scary character study that slowly builds tension.  Settle back and enjoy the ride.

Nosferatu (2024) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“Judge Dredd”: The Movie – The 30th Anniversary Edition!

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Just in time for the 30th anniversary of Sly Stallone as Judge Dredd comes the, you guessed it, 30th Anniversary Edition of Judge Dredd: The Movie by writer Andrew Helfer and artist, Carlos Ezquerra.  Here’s the synopsis…

In the Third Millenium, the world changed. Climate. Nations. All were in upheaval. Humanity itself turned as violent as the planet. Civilisation threatened to collapse. And then… a solution was found. The crumbling legal system was merged with the overburdened police, creating a powerful and efficient hybrid. These new guardians of society had the power to dispense both justice and punishment. They were police, jury, and executioner all in one. They were the Judges!

When Mega-City One erupts in violent block wars, there’s only one man Justice Department can rely on to suffocate the flames of rebellion. His name is Judge Dredd.

But when the city’s brightest beacon of justice is convicted of breaking the very law he’s been entrusted to uphold, he’s sentenced to spend the rest of his life rotting in the Aspen Penal Colony.

In order to clear his name, Dredd must escape captivity, make his way across the toxic Cursed Earth, break back into the city, and find the familiar foe that framed him. All in a day’s work for Judge Dredd.

Featuring art by legendary Judge Dredd co-creator Carlos Ezquerra (Preacher) and a script by Andrew Helfer (The Shadow), this is the official adaptation of Judge Dredd, the 1995 movie written by William Wisher, Jr. (Terminator 2: Judgement Day) and Steven E. de Souza (Die Hard).”

30th Anniversary Edition Judge Dredd: The Movie drops Wednesday 12th March 2025

“Smile 2” (2024) written & directed by Parker Finn; starring Naomi Scott / Z-View

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Smile 2 (2024)

Director: Parker Finn

Screenplay: Parker Finn

Stars: Naomi Scott, Rosemarie DeWitt, Lukas Gage, Miles Gutierrez-Riley, Peter Jacobson, Raúl Castillo, Roberts Jekabsons, Sean Stolzen, Jon Rua, Christopher Bailey and Drew Barrymore.

Tagline: It’s the last thing you’ll see.

The Plot…

Skye Riley (Scott) is just days away from her comeback concert.  A year ago Skye was in a car crash that killed her boyfriend and left her badly injured.  The crash led to public knowledge that Skye was suffering from substance abuse.  The path back was long and hard.  Now Skye is clean.  Everything rides on the upcoming concert.

When Skye re-injures her back during rehearsal, she reaches out to an old friend for some painkillers.  She sneaks away to her friend’s apartment.  When Skye arrives, her friend appears to be on something.  He’s having terrible hallucinations.  Suddenly he stands and smiles at Skye.  He picks up a weight and beats himself to death.  Skye quickly leaves.  She tells no one what she witnessed.

Over the next few days Skye begins to have memory loss and horrible visions.  People around Skye worry that she’s using again.  A stranger contacts Skye and describes the episodes she’s having.  He tells her she’s been cursed…

But he has a plan that could save her.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

As Skye thumbs through her cell phone contacts the names include: Adele, Beyoncé and Lady Gaga.

Naomi Scott is excellent as the famous pop star on the comeback trail.  Naomi Scott co-wrote several of Skye Riley’s songs with producer Alexis Idarose Kesselman.  A “Skye Riley” mini-album was released in conjunction with the film.

Writer/director Parker Finn comes up with an ending that I have to applaud.

Smile 2 (2024) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“Fight Or Flight” starring Josh Hartnett, Katee Sackhoff and Charithra Chandran – The Poster and Trailer are Here!

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Not a fan of the poster but the trailer to Fight Or Flight starring Josh Hartnett, Katee Sackhoff and Charithra Chandran has won me over.

Deal me in.

A mercenary takes on the job of tracking down a target on a plane but must protect her when they’re surrounded by people trying to kill both of them.

Starring: Josh Hartnett, Katee Sackhoff, Charithra Chandran, Julian Kostov, Marko Zaror

Directed by: James Madigan

“Killing Them Softly” (2008) written & directed by Andrew Dominik; starring Brad Pitt, Ray Liotta, Richard Jenkins, Scoot McNairy, Ben Mendelsohn & James Gandolfini / Z-View

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Killing Them Softly (2008)

Director: Andrew Dominik

Screenplay: Andrew Dominik based on COOGAN’S TRADE by George V. Higgins

Stars: Brad Pitt, Ray Liotta, Richard Jenkins, Scoot McNairy, Ben Mendelsohn, James Gandolfini, Vincent Curatola, Trevor Long, Max Casella, George Carroll, Linara Washington, Ross Brodar, Wade Allen, Christopher Berry, Dared Wright, Garret Dillahunt and Sam Shepard.

Tagline: In America you’re on your own.

The Plot…

Markie Trattman (Liotta) runs illegal poker nights for mobsters.  Trattman got the smart idea to rob his own game.  He hired two thugs to come in with guns and take down the cash only casino.  Although it worked, Trattman was suspected.  Since it was never confirmed that Tratman was behind the heist, he skated.  It took a while, but Trattman brought the poker nights back.

Johnny “Squirrel” Amato (Curatola) has the bright idea to follow Trattman’s lead.  Amato figures if the poker game is robbed, the mobsters will think Trattman decided to do it again.  They’ll bump off Trattman without looking too deeply.  Amato hires to low-life criminals to execute the robbery.  Against all odds they succeed.

Just like Amato thought, Trattman is the main suspect.  What Amato didn’t count on is the mobsters to bring in hitman and problem solver, Jackie Coogan (Pitt).  Coogan is ordered to find out who pulled off the heist and do what he does best.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Killing Them Softly is perfectly cast.  Even the smaller parts have memorable actors.  Garret Dillahunt appears uncredited.

I enjoy this movie more with every re-watch.

Killing Them Softly (2008) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“American Primeval” The Official Mature-Rated Trailer is Here!

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American Primeval.  Peter Berg directed this six episode limited series that premieres on January 9, 2025.  Starring Taylor Kitsch and Betty Gilpin.

Deal me in.

Civilization and civilized are two different words entirely.

Taylor Kitsch and Betty Gilpin star in American Primeval, a gripping new limited series from director Peter Berg.

Coming Jan. 9, only on Netflix.

“Taken” (2008) starring Liam Neeson / Z-View

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Taken (2008)

Director: Pierre Morel

Screenplay:  Luc Besson, Robert Mark Kamen

Stars: Liam Neeson, Maggie Grace, Famke Janssen, Jon Gries, David Warshofsky, Holly Valance, Katie Cassidy, Xander Berkeley, Olivier Rabourdin, Arben Bajraktaraj, Radivoje Bukvic and Leland Orser.

Tagline: They took his daughter. He’ll take their lives.

The Plot…

Bryan Mills (Neeson) is a retired Green Beret, CIA operative who provides security for celebrities.  Mills is on the phone talking to his teenage daughter when she is kidnapped by sex traffickers.  One of the kidnappers takes the phone.

Mills tells him:  “I don’t know who you are. I don’t know what you want. If you are looking for ransom, I can tell you I don’t have money. But what I do have are a very particular set of skills, skills I have acquired over a very long career. Skills that make me a nightmare for people like you. If you let my daughter go now, that’ll be the end of it. I will not look for you, I will not pursue you. But if you don’t, I will look for you, I will find you, and I will kill you.”

The kidnapper responds by saying: “Good luck.”

Big mistake.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Director Pierre Morel was on a roll.  He directed District B13, followed that with Taken and then helmed From Paris With Love.

Jeff Bridges was originally set to play Bryan Mills.  When he dropped out, Liam Neeson got the role.  Neeson thought the film might go direct to video, instead it became a huge hit.  Taken spawned two sequels.  Following the success of Taken, Neeson’s career leaned into action roles.

Taken (2008) rates 5 of 5 stars.