A New “Burnt Orange Heresy” Poster is Here!
When I posted The Burnt Orange Heresy poster and trailer here, the poster wasn’t liked near as much as the trailer. Well, above is a new poster which is much better. Right?
Category: Crime
“The French Connection” Trivia!
Matthew Jackson at Mental Floss posted 14 Fascinating Facts About The French Connection. Reading some of these facts it becomes clear that The French Connection was a longshot to be made let alone win five Academy Awards including Best Picture. Here are three of my favorite facts and my thoughts. Check ’em out and then click over for all the facts and details!
THE FRENCH CONNECTION WAS TURNED DOWN BY ALMOST EVERY STUDIO. (Dick Zanuck at 20th Century Fox said he’d bankroll the film if it could be done for 1.5 million. Luckily for film fans, it could be. – Craig)
GENE HACKMAN WAS NOT THE FIRST CHOICE FOR POPEYE DOYLE. (The film’s director, William Friedkin, wanted Jackie Gleason (?) or Jimmy Breslin (??) for the lead. Another star considered was Rod Taylor. Ultimately it came down to take Hackman as the lead or risk losing the movie. Friedkin agreed to Hackman. – Craig)
FERNANDO REY WAS CAST BECAUSE OF A MIXUP. (Friedkin told the casting director “let’s get that French guy that was in Belle de Jour…” The casting director thought Friedkin was talking about Fernando Rey — but he wasn’t! Friedkin signed Rey, sight unseen and it wasn’t until they met on the set that Friedkin realized the mistake and it was too late to make a change! – Craig)
The Best of the All-Time “Worst” Movies
Megan Summers at ScreenRant posted The 10 Best Razzie Winning Movies (According To IMDb). I thought this was an interesting idea especially after I found three movies on the list that I really like.
Rocky IV won five Razzies for Worst Actor, Worst Director, Worst Supporting Actress, Worst New Star, and Worst Musical Score. When R4 was released it was my least favorite of the Rocky films. Over the years my affection for it has grown, especially since R4 played such an important part in making it possible for Creed.
Con Air won won a special Razzie for Worst Reckless Disregard for Human Life and Public Property. I loved Con Air. It was over the top fun and yeah, the ending did involve a plane crash landing in Vegas but did that deserve a special Razzie? Oh, why not?
Interview with a Vampire tied for a Razzie in the category for Worst Screen Couple. The IwaV couple was Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt. Who did they tie with? Sly Stallone and Sharon Stone from The Specialist. Interview with a Vampire is a movie that I have liked more with each viewing. I’m not alone in that opinion – the movie was a box-office success and earned Oscar and Golden Globe nominations.
The Poster and Trailer for “F9” are Here
Here’s the poster and trailer for F9. Both the poster and the trailer has exactly what you’d expect — the poster features the characters lookin’ cool with their vehicles and the trailer showcases over the top action, returning cast members, a new “big” star plus a plot twist you (I) didn’t see coming.
It’s crazy to think how the Fast and Furious franchise has morphed over the years. The action has been amped up so much it almost looks like a super-hero movie. No, scratch that. It looks like a super-hero movie. That’s not necessarily a bad thing.
No matter how fast you are, no one outruns their past.
Summer 2020 is the time for F9, the ninth chapter in the saga that has endured for almost two decades and has earned more than $5 billion around the world.
Vin Diesel’s Dom Toretto is leading a quiet life off the grid with Letty and his son, little Brian, but they know that danger always lurks just over their peaceful horizon. This time, that threat will force Dom to confront the sins of his past if he’s going to save those he loves most. His crew joins together to stop a world-shattering plot led by the most skilled assassin and high-performance driver they’ve ever encountered: a man who also happens to be Dom’s forsaken brother, Jakob (John Cena, next year’s The Suicide Squad).
F9 sees the return of Justin Lin as director, who helmed the third, fourth, fifth and sixth chapters of the series when it transformed into a global blockbuster. The action hurtles around the globe—from London to Tokyo, from Central America to Edinburgh, and from a secret bunker in Azerbaijan to the teeming streets of Tblisi. Along the way, old friends will be resurrected, old foes will return, history will be rewritten, and the true meaning of family will be tested like never before.
The film stars returning cast members Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson, Chris “Ludacris” Bridges, Jordana Brewster, Nathalie Emmanuel and Sung Kang, with Oscar® winner Helen Mirren and Oscar® winner Charlize Theron. F9 also features Grammy-winning superstar Cardi B as new franchise character Leysa, a woman with a connection to Dom’s past, and a cameo by Reggaeton sensation Ozuna.
F9 is produced by Neal H. Moritz, Vin Diesel, Jeff Kirschenbaum, Joe Roth, Justin Lin, Clayton Townsend and Samantha Vincent. www.thefastsaga.com
“The Wild Goose Lake” Poster and Trailer are Here!
Another great looking crime film!
In Theaters March 2020! From acclaimed director Diao Yinan, THE WILD GOOSE LAKE is the eagerly anticipated follow-up to his 2014 Berlinale winning neo-noir BLACK COAL, THIN ICE. Toppling box office records in Diao’s native China, THE WILD GOOSE LAKE “cements his status as a master filmmaker with another ingenious crime epic” (Little White Lies).
When small-time mob leader Zhou Zenong (Chinese superstar Hu Ge) accidentally kills a cop, a dead-or-alive bounty is placed on his head, forcing him on the lam from both the police as well as dangerous gangsters out for the reward. Hiding out in China’s densely populated (and deeply divided) Wuhan province, Zhou becomes entangled with a beautiful, enigmatic woman, who has mysterious intentions of her own. Featuring gorgeous, neon-drenched cinematography and bursts of shocking, expertly choreographed action, THE WILD GOOSE LAKE is “spellbinding” (Rolling Stone), “brilliant” (Indiewire) and “downright Hitchcockian” (AV Club).
The “Calm with Horses” Trailer is Here!
I really like the look of Calm with Horses!
Ex-boxer Douglas ‘Arm’ Armstrong (Cosmo Jarvis, LADY MACBETH, PEAKY BLINDERS) is the faithful and violent right-hand man to the drug-dealing Devers clan, ready to dole out beatings at the whim of his best friend, and the family’s unpredictable protégé, Dympna (Barry Keoghan, DUNKIRK, AMERICAN ANIMALS).
Arm’s struggle to find his place in the world has consequences on his relationship with his ex-girlfriend Ursula (Niamh Algar, THE VIRTUES, THE LAST RIGHT) as she strives to find a better life for herself and their young son Jack. Torn between these two families, Arm’s loyalties are tested when he is asked to kill for the first time.Directed by BAFTA nominee Nick Rowland, CALM WITH HORSES is based on the gripping novella by Colin Barrett, and executive produced by Michael Fassbender and his production company DMC Film.
The Latest Poster and Trailer for “Better Call Saul” Season 5 is Here!
The latest poster and trailer for Season 5 of Better Call Saul.
Welcome to Saul Goodman’s world. Better Call Saul Season 5 premieres Sunday, February 23 at 10/9c.
The “Better Call Saul” Season 5 Trailer is Here!
Check out the trailer for Season 5 of Better Call Saul which premieres Sunday, February 23rd, at 10/9c.
“Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood” A Love Letter to Making Movies – Documentary is Here!
Quentin Tarantino, Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt, Margot Robbie and the filmmakers showcase the artistry that went into creating this story of an enduring friendship in a time of change. A special look at Quentin Tarantino’s acclaimed 9th movie, #OnceUponATimeInHollywood.
Quentin Tarantino’s ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD visits 1969 Los Angeles, where everything is changing, as TV star Rick Dalton (Leonardo DiCaprio) and his longtime stunt double Cliff Booth (Brad Pitt) make their way around an industry they hardly recognize anymore. The ninth film from the writer-director features a large ensemble cast and multiple storylines in a tribute to the final moments of Hollywood’s golden age.
Who was the All-Time Most Evil Dracula?
Yesterday we looked at the best movie Dracula. Today we’ll answer who is the most evil Dracula. The answer is, of course, the real person Dracula was based on: Vlad III aka Vlad the Impaler, the Prince of Wallachia (now known as Romania).
Most folks know that the real-life Vlad III was infamous for killing his enemies by impaling them, but that’s just one of the many evil things he did. Eli Nixon at Listverse details much more in 10 Fascinating Facts About The Real Dracula. Normally, with posts like this, I list my three favorite facts, but here there were no favorites. Vladd III was truly a horrible human being and much worse than any movie Dracula.
“The Burnt Orange Heresy” Poster and Trailer are Here!
The Burnt Orange Heresy poster and trailer starring Claes (Dracula) Bang, Elizabeth Debicki, Donald Sutherland and Mick Jagger are here!
The “Spenser Confidential” Poster and Trailer are Here… with Z’s Thoughts
Ok. Above is the poster for Spenser Confidential. Directed by Peter Berg, Spenser Confidential stars Mark Wahlberg, Winston Duke and Alan Arkin. Below is the synopsis and trailer. I’ll be back below the trailer with some thoughts.
When two Boston Police officers are murdered, ex-cop Spenser (Mark Wahlberg) teams up with his no-nonsense roommate, Hawk (Winston Duke), to take down criminals in this action-comedy.
Spenser (Mark Wahlberg) — an ex-cop better known for making trouble than solving it — just got out of prison and is leaving Boston for good. But first he gets roped into helping his old boxing coach and mentor, Henry (Alan Arkin), with a promising amateur. That’s Hawk (Winston Duke), a brash, no-nonsense MMA fighter convinced he’ll be a tougher opponent than Spenser ever was. When two of Spenser’s former colleagues turn up murdered, he recruits Hawk and his foul-mouthed ex-girlfriend, Cissy (Iliza Shlesinger), to help him investigate and bring the culprits to justice. From director Peter Berg, SPENSER CONFIDENTIAL is an action-comedy co-starring Bokeem Woodbine, Marc Maron, and Post Malone. Inspired by Robert B. Parker’s Wonderland, a best-selling novel by Ace Atkins.
As a long-time fan of Spenser (the Robert B. Parker novels, the Ace Atkins novels and the Robert Urich tv show), let me say, this is NOT Spenser… at least the Spenser created by Robert B. Parker and carried on by Atkins and Urich. If you’re going to make Spenser (or ANY known character) stay true to the source material or create a new one.
Marv by Frank Miller (Rarely Seen Art!)
Today we have a rarely seen Frank Miller drawing of Marv from Sin City. This art was used in the Sin City Collector card series. Man, I wish we had more Sin City yarns. Click on the photo above to see a Sin City-sized version.
“Tread: Desperate Men Do Desperate Things”
Desperate men do desperate things. What a great tag line!
On June 4th, 2004, a sixty-three-ton bulldozer, fortified with steel and concrete, systematically destroyed numerous businesses and homes in the small mountain town of Granby, Colorado. The rampage lasted over two hours and resulted in more than eight million dollars in damage. State and local police were incapable of even slowing the machine. Though it was armed with three high-powered firearms, no one but the driver was killed. His name was Marvin Heemeyer. TREAD explores the polarizing perspectives on this man, his motives, and what drove him to the breaking point.
I remember the event but didn’t realize that Heemeyer had fortified the bulldozer.
Ranking John Carpenter’s Movies
The folks at Film School Rejects decided to Rank The Movies Directed By John Carpenter. This sounded like fun, so I decided to play along. Below are my rankings and thoughts…
The Ward (2010)
Village of the Damned (1995)
Memoirs of an Invisible Man (1992)
Prince of Darkness (1987)
In the Mouth of Madness (1994)
The films above I haven’t seen.
15. Dark Star (1974) I don’t know if I have ever seen the whole thing. It just didn’t resonate with me. Most folks really like it.
14. The Fog (1980) I saw this on its theatrical release and it left me flat. Which surprised me because I was expecting a lot.
13. Someone’s Watching Me! (1978) Watched this before I knew who John Carpenter was. It was good.
12. Vampires (1998) I thought James Woods was miscast.
11. Elvis (1979) Who knew Kurt Russell could impersonate Elvis (and later Clint Eastwood)?
10. Christine (1983) Saw this at the theater and thought it was well done.
9. Ghosts of Mars (2001) Sci-fi action directed by Carpenter. What’s not to like?
8. Escape from L.A. (1996) I was so excited about the return of Snake Plissken under the creative team of Carpenter and Russell. Sadly the film played up the camp more than I would have liked.
7. Big Trouble in Little China (1986) My wife and I along with another couple saw BTiLC on its opening weekend. I really liked it. No one else in the group did. Kurt Russell steals the show.
6. They Live (1988) Surprisingly good. Roddy Piper was the perfect lead. I felt the ending was a bit off but not enough to really matter.
5. Starman (1984) Big budget and big stars. Perhaps my wife’s favorite Carpenter flick because it’s a good one.
4. Halloween (1978) Another Carpenter classic. I first saw it in a drive-in and had sound problems through part of the film. The movie still worked. That is a sign of great direction!
3. The Thing (1982) I saw it on it’s initial theatrical release in a nearly empty theater. Reaction from fans and critics wasn’t good. Over the years that has all changed. I thought it was a mistake remaking a classic but Carpenter pulled it off.
2. Assault on Precinct 13 (1976) This is the movie that made me a John Carpenter fan. Thank God for VHS. Low budget but man, does Carpenter make it work. Darwin Joston was perfect casting. I always thought we’d see more from him.
1. Escape from New York (1981) I saw EfNY several times on it’s first theatrical release and loved it. I still do.
