“The Last Voyage of the Demeter” Alt Poster by Mike Posters aka Mickaël Journou!
Mike Posters aka Mickaël Journou created this nice alt poster for The Last Voyage of the Demeter. You can see more of Mike Posters’ art here.
Category: Movies
“Fences” (2016) written by August Wilson, directed by Denzel Washington, starring Denzel Washington & Viola Davis / Z-View
Fences (2016)
Director: Denzel Washington
Screenplay: August Wilson based on his play Fences
Stars: Denzel Washington, Viola Davis, Stephen McKinley Henderson, Jovan Adepo, Russell Hornsby,
Mykelti Williamson, Saniyya Sidney, Christopher Mele, Lesley Boone and Rachelle Beinart.
Tagline: Some people build fences to keep people out – and other people build fences to keep people in.
The Plot…
Troy Maxson (Washington) is a bitter, angry, 56 year old black man. Once a talented baseball player, Troy was never given a chance to play in the big leagues due to his race. Then World War II came. Now that Troy is older, the color-barrier in baseball has broken. But Troy is too old to play. So he makes his living as a garbage collector. Even there Troy see discrimination. All the drivers are white. All the workers doing the heavy lifting are black.
Troy’s wife, Rose (Davis) sees times are starting to change. Cory (Adepo), Troy and Rose’s son, is a bright student and talented football player. A college is interested in giving Cory a scholarship, but Troy won’t sign the paperwork. He wants Cory to get educated in a job that will always provide an income.
Troy sees barriers everywhere and is bitter about how life has treated him, never realizing that he is building barriers for himself and his family as well. Despite Troy’s flaws, Rose loves him. Sadly Troy’s choices are going to have terrible consequences for his family and friends.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)
Fences (2016) was honored at the Academy Awards:
Academy Award Wins:
- Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role: Viola Davis
Academy Award Nominations:
- Best Motion Picture of the Year: Todd Black, Scott Rudin, Denzel Washington
- Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role: Denzel Washington
- Best Adapted Screenplay: August Wilson
“Fences” was first a Broadway play. It opened in 1987 and went on to win Tony Awards for Best Play, Best Actor (James Earl Jones), and Best Featured Actress (Mary Alice). “Fences” was revived in 2010. It won Tony Awards for Best Revival of a Play, Best Actor (Denzel Washington), and Best Actress (Viola Davis). All five adult actors from the revival reprise their roles in the film.
Although August Wilson is the only credited screenwriter for the film, Denzel Washington, Spike Lee and Tony Kushner did uncredited work. They didn’t want their names on the credits to insure that Wilson alone received any writing honors or awards.
Denzel Washing and Viola Davis were rightfully nominated for Academy Awards. Their roles in Fences may be their best performances ever. Everyone in the supporting cast is wonderful.
It was fun to see Saniyya Sidney as a very young girl. Sidney would go on to co-star in The Passage a few years later.
Fences (2016) rates 5 of 5 stars.
“Vindicta” – The Poster and Trailer are Here!
The poster doesn’t do much for me, but the trailer has my attention!
DIRECTED BY: Sean McNamara
STORY BY: Steven Paul
SCREENPLAY BY: Ian Neligh
STARRING: Elena Kampouris, Sean Astin and Jeremy Piven
EXECUTIVE PRODUCED BY: Scott Karol and Charles Cooper
PRODUCED BY: Steven PaulAbout Vindicta: When a city is terrorized by a sadistic serial killer, a seasoned detective and a newly recruited paramedic are forced into a deadly game of vengeance, only to discover the key to stopping the bloodshed lies in unlocking the truth of their own haunted pasts. Elena Kampouris (Children of the Corn), Sean Astin (The Lord of the Rings franchise), and Jeremy Piven (Entourage) star in this edge-of-your-seat thriller from the director of On a Wing and a Prayer.
“The Burial” starring Jamie Foxx & Tommy Lee Jones – The Trailer is Here!
Deal me in.
Check out the official trailer for The Burial, in theaters October 6 and coming to Prime Video on October 13.
Inspired by true events, when a handshake deal goes sour, funeral home owner Jeremiah O’Keefe (Academy Award winner Tommy Lee Jones) enlists charismatic, smooth-talking attorney Willie E. Gary (Academy Award winner Jamie Foxx) to save his family business. Tempers flare and laughter ensues as the unlikely pair bond while exposing corporate corruption and racial injustice in this inspirational, triumphant story.
Song: GOLDEN by Aloe Blacc & Tim Myers
“Blood & Gold” (2023) / Z-View
Blood & Gold (2023)
Director: Peter Thorwarth
Screenplay: Stefan Barth, Peter Thorwarth
Stars: Robert Maaser, Jördis Triebel, Alexander Scheer, Marie Hacke, Connor Long and Roy McCrerey.
Tagline: None.
The Plot…
The end of the war is close at hand. Von Starnfeld, a disfigured SS Commandant, leads his unit into a small German village. Von Starnfeld knows there’s gold hidden somewhere in the town. He just doesn’t know where. Von Starnfeld is willing to torture or kill anyone and everyone if it will get him the gold. Only a German deserter and young woman are willing to take a stand against Von Starnfeld and his Nazis. Let the fun begin.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)
Blood & Gold contains all of the things you’d want in a World War II movie:
- It starts off with a bang.
- A handsome hero
- A woman willing to risk her life to help our hero
- A disfigured, evil SS Leader
- An evil, sadistic Second-in-Command to the SS Leader
- Nazis who enjoy their power and use it to do bad things
- Plenty of hand-to-hand fights
- Plenty of shootouts
- A couple of twists and a surprise or two
Blood & Gold isn’t a great movie, but it is a good one. If it sounds like something you’d like, give it a shot.
Blood & Gold (1972) rates 3 of 5 stars.
“The Bikeriders” – The Trailer is Here!
From writer-director Jeff Nichols (“Loving,” “Midnight Special,” “Mud”), 20th Century Studios and New Regency, “The Bikeriders” is a furious drama following the rise of a fictional 1960s Midwestern motorcycle club through the lives of its members, starring Jodie Comer (“Killing Eve,” “The Last Duel”), Austin Butler (“Elvis”) and Tom Hardy (“Mad Max: Fury Road,” “The Revenant”). “The Bikeriders” opens in U.S. theaters on December 1.
“In the Land of Saints and Sinners” – The Poster and Trailer are Here!
Love the poster and the trailer looks good. Deal me in.
First movie trailer for In the Land of Saints and Sinners starring Liam Neeson.
“NO ONE WILL SAVE YOU” – The Poster and Trailer are Here!
I like the looks of No One Will Save You. Deal me in.
From 20th Century Studios, “No One Will Save You” is an action-packed face-off between Brynn and a host of extraterrestrial beings who threaten her future while forcing her to deal with her past.
CAST: Kaitlyn Dever
DIRECTOR: Brian Duffield
Things Have Been Coming Up “Kolchak” Lately!
Things have been coming up Kolchak around here lately. I recently saw the above Kolchak art on Facebook. It brought back memories of the two Kolchak tv movies, The Night Stalker and The Night Strangler from when I was a kid in junior high. Great memories.
I decided to find out more about the art. Turns out it was the cover for KOLCHAK: The Night Strangler Files. The tv movie was written by Richard Matheson. Chris Mills (writer) and Amin Amat (artist) adapted it into the graphic novel. I’m not sure who the cover artist is, but I sure do like that art.
Then Svengoolie announced that he would be getting the two Kolchak movies in the near future. THAT is awesome news.
And that’s your Kolchak update for the day.
RIP: Gary Wright
Gary Wright, the singer/songwriter best known for his hits Dreamweaver and Love is Alive, died yesterday at the age of 80. Mr. Wright had dealt with Parkinson’s and Lewy body dementia for several years.
Gary Wright was a child actor. He was just seven when appeared on the tv show Captain Video and His Video Rangers. As a child he appeared in radio and television commercials. He appeared in the Broadway production of the musical Fanny with Florence Henderson. The two also appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show to promote the play.
Gary Wright also had a love of music and began playing with local rock bands while in high school. He continued to play in bands while working on a medical degree in college. Mr. Wright decided to quite college and focus on music. He joined a band called Spooky Tooth which put out three albums.
In 1970, Gary Wright decided to quit the band and focus on a solo career. When he was invited to play piano on former Beatle, George Harrison’s first album, Mr. Wright accepted. Gary Wright would go on to play on all of George Harrison’s albums in the 1970s. Mr. Wright also played on Ringo Starr’s hits “It Don’t Come Easy” and “Back Off Boogaloo”. As Gary Wright worked on his solo career he was often requested to play with other recording stars such as Harry Nilsson, BB King and Jerry Lee Lewis.
Gary Wright hit it big in 1978 with the one-two punch of Dream Weaver and Love is Alive. Dream Weaver sold over 1 million copies, peaked at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was certified gold. Love is Alive from the same album also hit #2 helping to drive the album to double platinum status.
In the early 1980s, Gary Wright also began making music for feature films. Some of the films featuring Gary Wright’s music include: Endangered Species; Staying Alive; Cobra; Wayne’s World; The People vs Larry Flynt; Coyote Ugly; Daddy Day Care; Toy Story 3; Safehouse and The Great Gatsby.
Gary Wright would continue to write, play, record and tour for the rest of his career.
I was surprised that Dream Weaver wasn’t a number one hit. It played all the time and everyone loved it. Dream Weaver was the song that made Gary Wright a world wide celebrity even though professional musicians knew who he was and often requested his services.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to Gary Wright’s family, friends and fans.
“The Poseidon Adventure” (1972) starring Gene Hackman, Ernest Borgnine & Shelley Winters / Z-View
The Poseidon Adventure (1972)
Director: Ronald Neame
Screenplay: Stirling Silliphant, Wendell Mayes based on The Poseidon Adventure by Paul Gallico
Stars: Gene Hackman, Ernest Borgnine, Shelley Winters, Red Buttons, Carol Lynley, Roddy McDowall, Stella Stevens, Jack Albertson, Pamela Sue Martin, Eric Shea, Arthur O’Connell, Sheila Allen, Byron Webster, John Crawford, Bob Hastings and Leslie Nielsen.
Tagline: Who will survive-in one of the greatest escape adventures ever!
The Plot…
On New Year’s Eve with a full ship, the S.S. Poseidon is hit by a 90-foot tidal wave and capsizes. Now the ship is floating upside down. Dozens of survivors are in the dinning room. There is confusion on the best course of action. Some believe that everyone should make their way up to the hull. They reason rescuers will be able to cut them out where the ship’s metal is the thinnest. Another group, argues that a distress call was sent. Everyone should just stay in the dinning room. Attempting to move through the upside down damaged ship would be dangerous. Most agree that staying put is the best course of action.
Reverend Scott (Hackman), who is not your typical Reverend, leads a group up to the next level. Joining Scott are:
- Rogo (Borgnine): a tough NY City cop
- Rogo’s wife, Linda (Stevens): a former prostitute Rogo met (and arrested several times) while working the streets
- Susan (Martin) and her younger brother Robin (Shea)
- Grandparents Manny (Albertson) and his wife, Belle (Winters)
- Acres (McDowell): one of the dinning room waiters
- Nonnie (Lynley): one of the ship’s singers
- Martin (Buttons): a retired business man
Just as they make it up to the next level a series of underwater explosions occur. The ship begins taking on more water and sinking. It’s too late for those below. As Scott leads his group up, the dangers mount. Not everyone will survive!
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)
The Poseidon Adventure (1972) did well at the Academy Awards:
Academy Award Wins:
- Best Music, Original Song: Al Kasha, Joel Hirschhorn – for the song “The Morning After”
- Best Music, Original Dramatic Score: John Williams
- Special Achievement Award: L.B. Abbott, A.D. Flowers – for visual effects.
Academy Award Nominations:
- Best Actress in a Supporting Role: Shelly Winters
- Best Cinematography: Harold E. Stine
- Best Art Direction-Set Decoration: William J. Creber, Raphael Bretton
- Best Costume Design: Paul Zastupnevich
- Best Sound: Theodore Soderberg, Herman Lewis
- Best Film Editing: Harold F. Kress
The Poseidon Adventure features five Academy Award winning actors – Gene Hackman, Ernest Borgnine, Shelley Winters, Jack Albertson and Red Buttons; and one Oscar nominee: Arthur O’Connell.
Shelly Winters was 51 when she played Belle, a much older character. Ms. Winters gained 35 pounds for the role. I was 14 at the time. I remembered a younger Shelly Winters in older movies playing a “hottie”. It was hard to wrap my head around seeing Ms. Winters older and heavier. Stars do age.
Reverend Scott is my favorite Gene Hackman role.
Ernest Borgnine is always great. His wife in the movie Stella Stevens made quite an impact on this 14 year old ; )
I have many great memories of seeing The Poseidon Adventure. A few of my friends and I took the city bus down town to see it. We felt like big shots.
It’s funny (ironic?) now seeing Leslie Nielsen playing it straight.
The Poseidon Adventure (1972) rates 5 of 5 stars.
“Godzilla: Minus One” – The Trailer is Here! (And this is how you make a GODZILLA trailer!)
THIS is how you make a GODZILLA trailer!
In postwar Japan, a new terror rises; Godzilla. Will the devastated people be able to survive… let alone fight back? Written and Directed by: Takashi Yamazaki In theatres nationwide December 1, 2023.
“D.O.A.” starring Edmund O’Brien / Z-View
D.O.A. (1949)
Director: Rudolph Maté
Screenplay: Russell Rouse, Clarence Greene
Stars: Edmond O’Brien, Pamela Britton, Luther Adler, Beverly Garland, William Ching, Neville Brand, Frank Cady, Hugh O’Brian, Jerry Paris and Bill Baldwin.
Tagline: A picture as excitingly different as its title!
The Plot…
Frank Bigelow (O’Brien) learns that he was poisoned with a a “luminous toxin” that will kill him in a few days. The toxin has no antidote. Bigelow is determined to discover who and why he was marked for death, The clock is ticking.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)
What starts out as a fun weekend in San Francisco turns into one of the noirest noirs.
Sadly the copyright on D.O.A. wasn’t renewed so there are many poor copies out there. Beware!
This is Neville Brand’s first credited role. Look for future tv stars in small roles: Beverly (My Three Sons) Garland, Frank (Petticoat Junction / Green Acres) Grady and Jerry (Dick Van Dyke) Paris. Hugh O’Brien, who would go on to star in feature films and more than one tv series, has an uncredited role. Bill Baldwin, perhaps best known for his role as a fight commentator in Rocky, Rocky II and Rocky III, also has an uncredited role!
There’s a scene where Edmund O’Brien is running down a crowded city street. O’Brien bumps into pedestrians as others look around confused by the man running past them at full speed. That scene is an example of Gorilla Filming. The filmmakers made the shot without any permits or permission.
I’m a D.O.A. fan and like to revisit it every so often.
D.O.A. (1949) rates 4 of 5 stars.
“65” (2023) starring Adam Driver & Ariana Greenblatt / Z-View
65 (2023)
Directors: Scott Beck, Bryan Woods
Screenplay: Scott Beck, Bryan Woods
Stars: Adam Driver, Ariana Greenblatt, Chloe Coleman and Nika King.
Tagline: 65 million years ago prehistoric earth had a visitor.
The Plot…
Mills (Driver) accepts a job to pilot a deep space ship for three times his normal pay. He needs the money to pay for treatment for a potentially fatal illness his daughter has. When Mills’ ship is knocked off course by meteors, it crash lands on Earth 65 million years ago.
Mills and a nine year old girl, Kona (Greenblatt) are the sole survivors. The have a small shot at getting home. One of the ship’s escape pods is located 15 kilometers away. To get to it they will have to cross an unforgiving environment full of carnivorous dinosaurs, poisonous plants and bugs, quicksand, landslides and more. The Earth 65 million years ago is a dangerous place. Oh, and Mills just learned that the main meteor in the ring his ship went through is due to hit earth in 12 hours… and that meteor is a planet-killer. The clock is ticking.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)
Reviewers haven’t been kind to 65. I was pleasantly surprised that it resonated with me much more than most. It caused me to jump more than a couple of times.
Unlike many films of this nature, when the lead character is injured, he just shakes it off. In 65, Mills’ injuries appear painful and take their toll.
While 65 features a happy ending, it’s as Rocky Balboa might say, “Not all sunshine and roses.” If it had been, maybe reviewers would have enjoyed it more.
65 (2023) rates 3 of 5 stars.
