Arnold Schwarzenegger as Conan by Richard Bonk!
Crom! Arnold Schwarzenegger as Conan by Richard Bonk. You can see more of Bonk’s art here.
Category: Celebs
“Bad for Each Other” (1953) starring Charlton Heston & Lizabeth Scott / Z-View
Bad for Each Other (1953)
Director: Irving Rapper
Screenplay: Irving Wallace, Horace McCoy based on SCALPEL by Horace McCoy
Stars: Charlton Heston, Lizabeth Scott, Dianne Foster, Mildred Dunnock, Arthur Franz, Ray Collins, Lester Matthews, Chris Alcaide, Frank Sully, Ann Robinson, Dorothy Green and Blackie Whiteford.
Tagline: Ghost Surgeon! Forced into the medical shadow world by the love of a money-hungry woman!
The Plot…
Colonel Tom Owen M.D. (Heston) returns to Coalville, Pennsylvania to attend his brother’s funeral. His brother, the mining company’s safety engineer was killed with several others in a mining explosion. Although Tom is a straight arrow military leader and doctor, he discovers that his brother was taking kickbacks to allow the purchase of substandard mining equipment.
When Tom investigates further he becomes enchanted with Helen Curtis (Scott), the wealthy daughter of the mine owner. Tom decides to retire from the military. He takes up residence at a medical facility run by Dr. Homer Gleeson (Matthews). Dr. Matthews caters to the rich. Soon the easy money and Helen begin to change Tom’s point of view.
Tom is blind to the fact that he, Helen (and the easy money) are bad for each other.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Made several years before Heston became a big star.
“Howl” (2015) / Z-View
Howl (2015)
Director: Paul Hyett
Screenplay: Mark Huckerby, Nick Ostler
Stars: Elliot Cowan, Rosie Day, Sam Gittins, Ross Mullan, Robert Strange, Sean Pertwee, Ed Speleers and Shauna Macdonald.
Tagline: Last train. Full moon. All change.
The Plot…
A late night train traveling through a remote wilderness comes to an unexpected stop. When the conductor get off to check on things, he is killed by a werewolf. Soon the few passengers on the train realize that they must work together to survive. The creature that killed the conductor isn’t alone.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Director Paul Hyett is known for his special effects in Neil Marshall’s Dog Soldiers, The Descent, Doomsday and The Centurion. Shauna (The Descent) Macdonald and Sean (Dog Soldiers) Pertwee worked with Hyett previously.
The acting is better than expected for a low budget horror film.
“Wolfs” starring George Clooney & Brad Pitt – The Trailer is Here!
This could be fun!
Global superstars George Clooney and Brad Pitt team up for the action comedy Wolfs. Clooney plays a professional fixer hired to cover up a high profile crime. But when a second fixer (Pitt) shows up and the two “lone wolves” are forced to work together, they find their night spiraling out of control in ways that neither one of them expected.
Written and Directed by: Jon Watts
Sly Stallone as Dwight Manfredi in “Tulsa King” by Julio Carvalho!
Julio Carvalho nailed the look and attitude of Sly Stallone as Dwight Manfredi in Tulsa King. Bravo! You can see more of Carvalho’s art here.
“Jade” starring Mickey Rourke, Katherine McNamara & Mark Dacascos, introducing Shaina West – The Poster & Trailer are Here!
I like the retro feel to Jade‘s poster and trailer. It definitely would qualify as a “drive-in” movie that I would look forward to seeing.
Follows a woman who comes between a powerful businessman and a gang leader in their search for a hard drive that could damage the operations of Interpol. The woman is required to use her unique set of skills to retrieve the drive.
“Fallout”: Season 1 (2024) starring Ella Purnell, Aaron Moten & Walter Goggins / Z-View
Fallout: Season 1 (2024)
Created by: Graham Wagner, Geneva Robertson-Dworet
Based on Fallout by Bethesda Softworks
Director: Jonathan Nolan (Eps. 1-3); Daniel Gray Longino (Ep. 4); Clare Kilner (Ep. 5); Frederick E.O. Toye (Ep. 6); Frederick E.O. Toye, Clare Kilner (Ep. 7); Wayne Yip (Ep. 8)
Teleplay: Geneva Robertson-Dworet & Graham Wagner (Eps. 1-3); Kieran Fitzgerald (Ep. 4); Carson Mell (Ep. 5); Karey Dornetto (Ep. 6); Chaz Hawkins (Ep. 7); Gursimran Sandhu (Ep. 8)
Stars: Ella Purnell, Aaron Moten, Kyle MacLachlan, Walton Goggins, Sarita Choudhury, Leslie Uggams, Michael Cristofer, Mykelti Williamson, Matt Berry, Zach Cherry, Rodrigo Luzzi, Cameron Cowperthwaite, Michael Emerson, Michael Rapaport, Dale Dickey, Jake Garber, Frances Turner, Glenn Fleshler, Angel Desai, Harry Sutton Jr., Fred Armisen.
Tagline: None.
The Plot…
As World War III began, wealthy people who had connections made their way to underground “vaults”. These fallout shelters were prepped so that the inhabitants could stay underground until it was safe to return to the surface.
200 years have passed. The vault people have led a sheltered life. Everyone is polite and kind. When members of another vault are invited over, it turns out that they are surface dwellers who brutally attack the vault folks. One of the vault leaders, Overseer Hank MacLean (MacLachlan) is kidnapped.
Lucy MacLean (Purnell), Hank’s young adult daughter ventures to the surface to rescue her dad. Totally unprepared for the savages, monsters and ghouls living on the surface, Lucy is determined to find her father or die trying.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
I went into season one of Fallout having never played the game or knowing much about it. My main reasons for watching were Walter (Justified) Goggins and Ella (Army of the Dead) Purnell. They did not disappoint.
Fallout is an odd mix of futuristic retro, Mad Max-type characters, gore and silliness. It all comes together pretty well.
I enjoyed Fallout season 1 enough that I’ll tune in if there is a follow-up.
Fallout: Season 1 (2024) rates 3 of 5 stars.
“Cahill U.S. Marshal” (1973) starring John Wayne and George Kennedy / Z-View
Cahill U.S. Marshal (1973)
Director: Andrew V. McLaglen
Screenplay: Harry Julian Fink, Rita M. Fink, story by Barney Slater, Jr.
Stars: John Wayne, George Kennedy, Gary Grimes, Neville Brand, Clay O’Brien, Marie Windsor, Morgan Paull, Dan Vadis, Royal Dano, Denver Pyle, Jackie Coogan, Rayford Barnes, Harry Carey Jr., Walter Barnes, Paul Fix, Vance Davis, Hank Worden and Pepper Martin.
Tagline: Break the law and he’s the last man you want to see. And the last you ever will.
The Plot…
United State Marshal and widower, J.D. Cahill (Wayne) is often away from home tracking down robbers and killers. While Cahill is gone, his two sons are left in the care of an old man. Abe Fraser (Kennedy) sees an opportunity to con the boys into helping him and his gang rob the bank. He promises no one will get hurt.
Sadly, during the robbery the town’s sheriff and another man are killed. Cahill’s youngest son hides the loot and refuses to tell where. Fraser tells the brothers that he will return in a short time and will get the cash or kill them. When Marshal Cahill returns the boys are afraid to tell their father what happened.
As Marshal Cahill tracks the robbers, he begins to suspect there’s more to the story. If he doesn’t figure it out, more will die… including his sons.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Director Andrew McLaglen directed John Wayne in five films. Cahill U.S. Marshal (1973) was the last.
John Wayne wasn’t a fan of the way the film turned out. He was quoted as saying, “It just wasn’t a well done picture. It needed better writing, it needed a little better care in making.”
Part of the problem may have been the fact that Wayne’s mentor, director John Ford died from cancer during filming. Wayne, himself had to have a cancerous lung removed 9 years earlier. Wayne also suffered from emphysema. Ford’s death and Wayne’s declining health made for a rough shooting schedule.
John Wayne’s co-stars in Cahill U.S. Marshal often appeared with Wayne in other films: George Kennedy (3), Clay O’Brien (2); Marie Windsor (3); Royal Dano (2); Denver Pyle (5); Rayford Barnes (3); Harry Carey Jr. (15); Walter Barnes (2); Hank Worden (17) and Paul Fix (26).
Harry Julian Fink and Rita M. Fink also were screenwriters for Big Jake (John Wayne); Dirty Harry, Magnum Force, The Enforcer, Sudden Impact, and The Dead Pool (all starring Clint Eastwood).
Cahill U.S. Marshal (1973) rates 3 of 5 stars.
Sugar: Season 1 (2024) created by Mark Protosevich, starring Colin Farrell / Z-View
Sugar: Season 1 (2024)
Created by: Mark Protosevich
Director: Fernando Meirelles (Eps. 1-2, 5-6, 8); Adam Arkin (Eps. 3-4, 7)
Teleplay: Mark Protosevich (Eps. 1-2, 5); Mark Protosevich and David Rosen (Ep. 3); Mark Protosevich and Donald Joh (Ep. 4); Donald Joh and Sam Catlin (Eps. 6-8)
Stars: Colin Farrell, Kirby, Amy Ryan, Dennis Boutsikaris, Nate Corddry, James Cromwell, Miguel Sandoval, Jon Beavers, Darwin Shaw, Julia Belanova, Jordan Bielsky, Jason Butler Harner, Scott Lawrence, Adrian Martinez, Ben Mankiewicz, Paul Schulze, Julie Dretzin, Jaime Alvarez, Emil Beheshti, Massi Furlan, Cameron Cowperthwaite, Matthew Arkin, Christopher Carrington, Zachary Cowan and Anna Gunn.
Tagline: The wrong way is the only way out.
The Plot…
John Sugar (Farrell) is a private eye. He loves old noir movies and his ’66 Corvette Stingray convertible. Sugar’s specialty is finding missing people. He’s very good at it. Perhaps Sugar’s drive comes from the fact that his sister went missing. She was never found.
Sugar has been hired by legendary movie producer Jonathan Siegel (Cromwell). Siegel’s granddaughter, Olivia has disappeared. Olivia’s father Bernie (Boutsikaris), a famous director, thinks that she’s runaway again with her druggie friends. He reasons she’ll turn up safe and sound because she always does.
As Sugar digs into the case, he discovers secrets that the wealthy Siegel family wouldn’t want revealed. Of course Sugar has secrets of his own. Despite several sources telling Sugar to drop the case, he refuses.
As Sugar gets closer to the truth, others are getting closer to his secrets…
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Sugar is modern noir with a twist. It’s stylish and smart. The audience’s intelligence is respected. Other shows would take a totally different approach to the material and it wouldn’t be near as good.
Every thing about Sugar is top notch. It’s well written, well directed and the actors are at the top of their game. Colin Farrell is perfectly cast as John Sugar.
Mark Protosevich is Sugar‘s creator and he also wrote most of the episodes. Protosevich is known for his screenplays for The Cell (very underrated), Poseidon, I am Legend and Oldboy (2013).
There is a major twist that comes over halfway through the season. Mark Protosevich allowed hints throughout the previous episodes, but didn’t provide the reveal until the end of episode six. I loved it! (And I’m proud to say that I guessed what it would be. When I told my wife my thought, she brushed it off saying, “There’s no way they’d do that.” I’m glad she was wrong since it was so well done.)
Sugar is set-up so that it could end with one season, or return for more. I hope it comes back with each season being one case.
Sugar: Season 1 (2024) rates 5 of 5 stars.
“Reinventing Elvis: The ’68 Comeback” (2023) / Z-View
Reinventing Elvis: The ’68 Comeback (2023)
Director: John Scheinfeld
Screenplay: John Scheinfeld
Stars: Elvis Presley, Leslie Uggams, The Beatles, Harry Belafonte, Petula Clark, Darius Rucker.
Tagline: None.
The Plot…
In the mid 1950s, Elvis Presley burst on the scene. He was an instant star and no one was bigger. Elvis was seen as a rebel by many and dangerous by some. By the mid 1960s, Elvis’ star had faded. His music wasn’t hip and a string of bad movies had Elvis doubting himself. Then Elvis was signed for a television special. Steve Binder was set to direct. Binder had ideas for the production, but they were vetoed by Elvis’ manager, Colonel Parker. Elvis faced a tough decision. Follow his manager’s directives or give the new guy a chance.
Elvis knew his career depended on the success of the special…
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Reinventing Elvis: The ’68 Comeback takes us behind the scenes with footage and stories from those who were there.
It’s interesting to note that the parts of the special that were best received were those that Colonel Parker tried to veto. I had a pretty poor opinion of Parker before this documentary and after viewing it, my opinion dropped even further.
I was ten years old when the special aired. I can remember adults talking about how “cool” Elvis was in it. Yeah, Elvis was back, baby.
Reinventing Elvis: The ’68 Comeback (2023) rates 4 of 5 stars.
“Frank Miller: American Genius” – The Poster & Trailer are Here!
This is a must-see for me. I am a HUGE Frank Miller fan.
FRANK MILLER: AMERICAN GENIUS documents the unique journey of an unparalleled American artist. The film explores the half-century career of the legendary comic book artist and writer. Made for his fans following a near death experience, the documentary delves into Miller’s radical and defining influence on art, storytelling and culture. Following his small town beginnings in Vermont, to New York City, Hollywood, and beyond; this intimate documentary delves into his failures, successes, self-destruction and re-discovery.
June 6th – Sneak preview at New York’s, the Angelika. With guest moderator Neil Gaiman. @neilhimself
https://angelikafilmcenter.com/nyc/mo…
June 10th – Premiere at Cinemark Theaters. Moderated by Rosario Dawson. @rosariodawson
https://www.cinemark.com/movies/frank…
www.frankmillermovie.com
“Countdown” (1967) starring James Caan & Robert Duvall / Z-View
Countdown (1967)
Director: Robert Altman
Screenplay: Loring Mandel based on THE PILGRIM PROJECT by Hank Searles
Stars: James Caan, Robert Duvall, Joanna Moore, Barbara Baxley, Charles Aidman, Steve Ihnat, Steve Ihnat, Bobby Riha, Robert Buckingham, William Conrad (voice), Mike Farrell and Ted Knight.
Tagline: The motion picture that puts a man on the moon … and you will follow him every terrifying second of the way …
The Plot…
The time is the late 1960s. Russia and the United States are in a race to be the first to land a man on the moon.
At NASA astronauts training to be on the first team to land on the moon have their session cut short. The mission commander, Chiz (Duvall) is called to a meeting. The Russians have moved up their timeline. They are launching in just four weeks. There is no way the US squad will be ready, but there was a contingency plan in case something like this happened.
The US will send up one astronaut to land on the moon. Supplies and a pod will be sent up first. The astronaut will then live there for several months until a properly trained team will be launched to retrieve him.
Chiz is excited. He will be the first man on the moon!
Then Chiz learns that Russia, in a political move is sending up civilians to prove that theirs is a nonmilitary operation. The President has decided that NASA must do the same. Because Chiz is an Air Force colonel, he is eliminated from the mission. Lee (Caan), a civilian being trained as part of Chiz’s team, will be the one to go.
Chiz argues that Lee isn’t ready, he doesn’t have the training and will die if he’s sent. When it becomes clear that Lee is the chosen one, Chiz demands to lead the completion of Lee’s training.
The race is on…
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
NASA gave complete cooperation for filming and it shows! Cape Canaveral was a location.
Countdown was Robert Altman’s return to feature films after directing television projects for ten years. Things did not end well. When Altman had completed shooting, he was fired. Further, he was not welcome on the studio lot. The studio head, Jack Warner, hated that in some scenes Altman had two actors speaking at the same time.
Altman would go on to use overlapping dialogue in his future feature films. Robert Altman was an Academy Award nominee as Best Director five times (M*A*S*H; Nashville; The Player; Short Cuts and Gosford Park).
Because of Altman’s firing, new footage including a more upbeat ending was filmed by William Conrad. Conrad was an Executive Producer on the film as well as the voice of the television announcer. Altman’s ending had James Caan’s character, as his air supply ran out, walking in the wrong direction from the lunar pod.
Countdown was released a year and a half before the Apollo 11 moon landing.
Countdown (1967) rates 3 of 5 stars.
“Follow Me Quietly” (1949) / Z-View
Follow Me Quietly (1949)
Director: Richard Fleischer
Screenplay: Lillie Hayward story by Anthony Mann, Francis Rosenwald
Stars: William Lundigan, Dorothy Patrick, Jeff Corey, Nestor Paiva, Paul Guilfoyle, Frank Ferguson, Douglas Spencer, Paul Bryar and Fred Aldrich.
Tagline: Police baffled by the FACELESS KILLER!
The Plot…
Police Lieutenant Harry Grant (Lundigan) is frustrated. A serial killer known as The Judge has struck again. At the crime scene a note from the killer taunting the police was found. How many more people have to die before The Judge is brought to justice?
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Lawrence Tierney was scheduled to star, but off-screen antics (arrests for public intoxication and fighting) led to a change.
Follow Me Quietly (1949) rates 2 of 5 stars.
“The Crazies” (1973) written & directed by George A. Romero / Z-View
The Crazies (1973)
Director: George A. Romero
Screenplay: George A. Romero based on The Mad People by Paul McCollough
Stars: Lane Carroll, Will MacMillan, Harold Wayne Jones, Lloyd Hollar, Richard France, Ned Schmidtke, George A. Romero and A.C. McDonald.
Tagline: Why are the good people dying?
The Plot…
When a military plane crashes near a small town, the water supply is contaminated with a powerful bio-weapon. Soon townspeople are starting to act violent towards themselves and each other. When the military shows up the town is put on lockdown. As more citizens and soldiers become infected, the decision to nuke the town becomes more likely.
Will anyone survive?
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Romero was given a micro-budget for filming. Most of the actors had little to no training and were locals. Even some high school students played soldiers in hazmat suits.
The burning house was actually being used by local firefighters for a training exercise. Romero got permission to film it.
Remade in 2010 starring Timothy (Justified) Olyphant and Radha (Pitch Black) Mitchell
The Crazies (1973) rates 3 of 5 stars.
