Category: Celebs

“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.

“Woman on the Run” (1950) starring Ann Sheridan & Dennis O’Keefe / Z-View

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Woman on the Run (1950)

Director:  Norman Foster

Screenplay:  Alan Campbell, Norman Foster, Ross Hunter (dialogue); based on Man on the Run by Sylvia Tate

Stars: Ann Sheridan, Dennis O’Keefe, John Qualen, Ross Elliott, Joan Shawlee, J. Farrell MacDonald, Steven Geray and Victor Sen Yung.

Tagline: As Startling as Your OWN Scream in the Night!

The Plot…

Frank Johnson (Elliott) is the sole witness to a murder.  Just as Johnson sees the murderer, the murderer sees Johnson.  In order to save himself, Johnson goes on the run with his wife, the police and the murderer close behind!

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Woman on the Run fell into the public domain.  Beware of low-grade copies.

Woman on the Run (1950) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“Al Capone” (1959) starring Rod Steiger / Z-View

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Al Capone (1959)

Director:  Richard Wilson

Screenplay:  Malvin Wald, Henry F. Greenberg

Stars: Rod Steiger, Martin Balsam, Fay Spain, Nehemiah Persoff, Robert Gist, Lewis Charles, Joe De Santis, Sandy Kenyon, Raymond Bailey, Al Ruscio, Louis Quinn, Ron Soble, Steve Gravers, Fred Aldrich and James Gregory.

Tagline: It was the age of speakeasies and jazz… when everybody sinned, ginned and broke the laws… while a vicious crime lord almost took over the nation!

The Plot…

The fictionalized account of Al Capone (Steiger).

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Rod Steiger and Martin Balsam would go on to become Academy Award winners but not for this one.

Al Capone (1959) rates 2 of 5 stars.

“Young Dillinger” (1965) starring Nick Adams & Robert Conrad / Z-View

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Young Dillinger (1965)

Director:  Terry O. Morse

Screenplay:  Arthur Hoehl, Donald Zimbalist

Stars: Nick Adams, Robert Conrad, John Ashley, Dan Terranova, Mary Ann Mobley, John Hoyt, Anthony Caruso, Emile Meyer, Frank Gerstle, Wally Rose, Walter Sande, Joy Harmon and Victor Buono.

Tagline: The Big Thrill-Story of the Killer Who Became Public Enemy No. 1!

The Plot…

The fictionalized account of John Dillinger (Adams), Pretty Boy Floyd (Conrad) and Baby Face Nelson (Ashley) joining forces to rob banks throughout the midwest.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Robert Conrad won the role of Jim West for The Wild, Wild West during production of Young Dillinger. Although Conrad plays Pretty Boy Floyd in this one, in 1979 Conrad would play Dillinger in The Lady in Red.

Young Dillinger (1965) rates 2 of 5 stars.

“The Devil Rides Out” (1968) starring Christopher Lee / Z-View

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The Devil Rides Out (1968)

Director:  Terence Fisher

Screenplay:  Richard Matheson; based on THE DEVIL RIDES OUT by Dennis Wheatley

Stars: Christopher Lee, Charles Gray, Leon Greene.

Tagline: The beauty of woman… the demon of darkness… the unholy union of “The Devil’s Bride”!

The Plot…

Duc de Richleau (Lee) discovers that his friend’s grown son is mixed up with aa devil-worshipping coven.  It may be too late to save him, but De Richleau is going to try.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

It was Christopher Lee’s idea to adapt the Wheatley novel.  Lee has said it is one of his favorite of the Hammer films.

The Devil Rides Out (1968) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“Ragtime” (1981) directed by Milos Foreman; starring James Cagney, Elizabeth McGovern & Howard E. Rollins Jr. / Z-View

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Ragtime (1981)

Director:  Miloš Forman

Screenplay: Michael Weller, Bo Goldman (uncredited); based on RAGTIME by  E.L. Doctorow

Stars: James Cagney, Elizabeth McGovern, Howard E. Rollins Jr., Brad Dourif, Moses Gunn, Kenneth McMillan, Pat O’Brien, Donald O’Connor, James Olson, Mandy Patinkin, Mary Steenburgen, Debbie Allen, Jeffrey DeMunn, Robert Joy, Bruce Boa, Jeff Daniels, Fran Drescher, Samuel L. Jackson, Michael Jeter, Ted Ross, John Ratzenberger and Norman Mailer.

Tagline: It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was Ragtime

The Plot…

An African-American baby is left in the yard of a wealthy family.  When the police discover the young unwed mother nearby, they are ready to put the child in an orphanage and the mother in jail.  The family decides to take in the mother and child until the mother can get on her feet.

The baby’s father shows up.  His name is Coalhouse Walker Jr.  He wants to marry the mother and support the child now that he has a job.  The wedding is planned and all is looking up until a group of racist firemen put horse manure in Coalhouse’s new car.  When the police and the courts refuse to make things right, Coalhouse decides to get his own revenge… against the city.

The famous architect Stanford White has placed a nude statue at the top of Madison Square Garden.  Evelyn Nesbit, a former chorus girl reportedly posed for the figure.  Now Evelyn is married to millionaire Harry Kendall Thaw.  Thaw is outraged and demands that White remove the statue.  White refuses.  Thaw murders White at a huge social event.  The court case will be considered the trial of the century.

These events will converge to become a part of American lore.  Like the tagline says, “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was Ragtime.”

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Ragtime was nominated for eight 1982 Academy Awards…

  • Nominee – Best Music, Original Score: Randy Newman
  • Nominee – Best Music, Original Song: Randy Newman for the song “One More Hour”
  • Nominee – Best Costume Design: Anna Hill Johnstone
  • Nominee – Best Art Direction-Set Decoration: John Graysmark, Patrizia von Brandenstein, Tony Reading, George DeTitta Sr., George DeTitta Jr., Peter Howitt
  • Nominee – Best Cinematography: Miroslav Ondrícek
  • Nominee – Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium: Michael Weller
  • Nominee – Best Actress in a Supporting Role: Elizabeth McGovern
  • Nominee – Best Actor in a Supporting Role: Howard E. Rollins Jr.

Ragtime would be James Cagney’s final film.  He hadn’t appeared in a movie in 20 years.  Cagney was in poor health during filming and so in most of his scenes he is seated.

This was also Pat O’Brien’s final film.  O’Brien and Cagney co-starred together in several films during the 30s and the 40s.

Jeff Daniels made his film debut in Ragtime.

Ragtime (1981) rates 4 of 5 stars.

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

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The trailer for Riff Raff starring Jennifer Coolidge, Ed Harris, Gabrielle Union, Lewis Pullman, Pete Davidson and Bill Murray has won me over.

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.

“Gladiator II” (2024) directed by Ridley Scott; starring Paul Mescal, Denzel Washington and Pedro Pascal / Z-View

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Gladiator II (2024)

Director:  Ridley Scott

Screenplay:  David Scarpa; story by Peter Craig, David Scarpa based on characters created by David Franzoni

Stars: Paul Mescal, Denzel Washington, Pedro Pascal, Connie Nielsen, Joseph Quinn, Fred Hechinger, Lior Raz, Derek Jacobi, Peter Mensah, Matt Lucas, Alexander Karim, Tim McInnerny, Alec Utgoff, Riana Duce and Rory McCann.

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

It’s been sixteen years since the death of Emperor Marcus Aurelius, known as the last of the Five Good Emperors.  Rome is now ruled by the twin brothers Geta (Quinn) and Caracalla (Hechinger). The twin Emperors care nothing for their subjects.  Geta and Caracalla crave power and look to control the world. To that end they sent the great General Acacius (Pascal) to conquer lands in their honor.  When Acacius returns victorious, the twin Emperors host on-going gladiatorial games to celebrate.

General Acacius has seen too many soldiers die for no reason other than the demands of the Emperor twins.  The Roman people suffer and Acacius plans to return Rome to the people.  In ten days his soldiers will march into the city and Acacius will lead the revolt.  What Acacius doesn’t see coming is a betrayal.

Macrinus (Washington) also sees the time of the twins rule is coming to an end.  Macrinus believes that he can make moves behind the scenes to put himself in power.  He buys a young gladiator named Hanno (Mescal).  Macrinus plans to use Hanno’s abilities in the arena to make him a for the people.  Meanwhile Macrinus will become close friends with the twins.  When the time is right, Macrinus will have the twins killed and assume control.

As each faction moves to take control of the throne, the twins learn of the deception.  Many will die and Rome may never recover.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Gladiator 2 was nominated for one Academy Award…

  • 2025 Nominee – Best Achievement in Costume Design: Janty Yates, David Crossman

If you’ve seen Gladiator, you’ve seen Gladiator II is a snarky kind of take.  But truthfully, it’s not too far off.  Both movies hit the same beats.  The good news it that the story, cast, direction and special effects are entertaining.

Denzel Washington and Pedro Pascal own their scenes. I’m surprised that Denzel wasn’t nominated for a Best Supporting Actor Academy Award.  (This is the first time he hasn’t been the leading man in a film since Antwone Fisher.)

Some folks were upset that this film makes it appear that Maximus (Crowe) from Gladiator, (supposedly) cheated on his wife since he is the father of Hanno.  Granted, if that’s the case, it does tarnish the character.  My bigger nit to pick is that Lucilla, who was unlikable in the first film, has done a 180.

Ah, but why complain when we have gladiators fighting: gladiators, baboons, rhinos, sea battles, sharks and more.  “Are we not entertained?”

Why, yes, yes we are.

Gladiator II (2024) rates 4 of 5 stars.