Category: Movies

“Uncharted” – Tom Holland, Mark Wahlberg and Antonio Banderas – The Poster and Trailer are Here!

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I may be a little late to the party, but Uncharted starring Tom Holland, Mark Wahlberg and Antonio Banderas looks like a fun ride.  Deal me in.

Street-smart thief Nathan Drake (Tom Holland) is recruited by seasoned treasure hunter Victor “Sully” Sullivan (Mark Wahlberg) to recover a fortune lost by Ferdinand Magellan 500 years ago. What starts as a heist job for the duo becomes a globe-trotting, white-knuckle race to reach the prize before the ruthless Moncada (Antonio Banderas), who believes he and his family are the rightful heirs. If Nate and Sully can decipher the clues and solve one of the world’s oldest mysteries, they stand to find $5 billion in treasure and perhaps even Nate’s long-lost brother…but only if they can learn to work together.

Directed by:  Ruben Fleischer

Screenplay by:  Rafe Judkins and Art Marcum & Matt Holloway

Screen Story by:  Rafe Judkins

Ranking the “Alien” Franchise Films from Best to Worst!

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Joshua Meyer at /Film decided he would come up with his list of Every Alien Movie Ranked From Worst To Best.  Using just his list (he considers Aliens vs Predator a “side-series”), here are my rankings and thoughts on each…

1.  Aliens: is my choice for the best of the series.  I won’t argue against Alien being #1 though.  Either of these two films are heads and shoulders above all that followed.

2.  Alien: will be the #1 choice of many and there is a strong case for it to be first.  Without Alien we’d have no Aliens (or all that followed), even if no sequel(s) were ever made, Alien would still be considered a great film.

3. Alien Resurrection: as my third choice will probably surprise a lot of folks.  I’m  a fan.  I like the supporting cast (Winona Ryder, Ron Perlman, Gary Dourdan, Dominique Pinon, Michael Wincott and Dan Hedaya).  There’s a comic book feel to the film (I say that in a good way).  Alien Resurrection is a fun ride (that I’ve taken many times and look forward to again in the future).

4.  Alien3: was a let-down.  While it wasn’t an Alien or Aliens, it did have Sigourney Weaver back and David Fincher as the new director.  I need to rewatch Alien3 to see if it has improved with age.

5. and 6.  Alien: Covenant and Prometheus:  Neither of these films resonated with me.  They didn’t feel like Alien films to me (if that make any sense).  I definitely need to give them another viewing.    

 

Night of the Cooters – Directed & Starring Vincent D’onofrio – The Teaser is Here!

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I’ve never read the short story but this teaser for Vincent D’onofrio’s adaptation makes me want to see Night of the Cooters.

George RR Martin Presents – Howard Waldrop’s Night of the Cooters.  Lumenscapes and Trioscope Studios have teamed up to present Vincent D’onofrio’s film adaptation of the classic short story in glorious “Trioscope”.

NIGHT OF THE COOTERS tells the tale of townsfolk in Pachuco Texas in the 1800’s rallying around one cause, survival against the unwelcome visitors from “up there”.

Join the townsfolk on their journey to figure out what the hell is going on in the big hole at the edge of town.

With a screenplay by the one and only Joe Lansdale, and music by the prolific Ramin Djwadi get ready for a ride like no other through the mind of the great Howard Waldrop.

Starring – Vincent D’Onofrio,
Supporting cast – Hopper Penn, Harrison Page, Martin Sensmeier, Luce Rains, Cristin McCleary, Elias Gallegos, Jazzy Kim O’Brien, and Darius Eteeyan.

“Confession” – The Poster and Trailer are Here!

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I like the poster and trailer to Confession.  Deal me in.

David Beton’s action-thriller, CONFESSION… starring Stephen Moyer (“True Blood”, “Fortunate Son”) and Colm Meany (Seberg, “Star Trek : Deep Space Nine”)… in theaters January 21, 2022 followed by a VOD release Jan 25.

An intense-thriller played in real time during one fateful night, CONFESSION fixes on a wounded man (Moyer) who takes a priest (Meany) hostage, determined to confess to a past misdemeanor before it’s too late. Written and directed by David Beton (One Last Heist), CONFESSION also stars Clare-Hope Ashitey (Children of Men).

“Borrego” Staring Lucy Hale – The Trailer is Here!

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I like the looks of Borrego staring Lucy Hale and will keep an eye out for it.

Lucy Hale stars as Elly, a young botanist on a research mission gone awry. After witnessing a drug mule’s plane crash in the Borrego desert, she is kidnapped and forced on a dangerous journey to a remote drop off point. With limited essentials and alone in the desert with her captor, desperation for survival takes hold as Elly risks her life to escape from his clutches before the trip turns deadly.

Featuring: Lucy Hale, Leynar Gómez, Olivia Trujillo, Jorge A. Jimenez, Nicholas Gonzalez

“Clean” Starring Adrien Brody – The Poster and Trailer are Here!

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While I’m not a fan of the Clean poster, I do like Adrien Brody, crime movies and the trailer.  Deal me in.

US Release Date: January 28, 2022
Starring: Adrien Brody, Glenn Fleshler, Richie Merritt
Directed By: Paul Solet
Synopsis: Tormented by his past, a garbage man named Clean attempts a quiet life of redemption. But, soon finds himself forced to reconcile with the violence of his past.

Marlon Brando’s Greatest Roles!

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Molly Turner at /Film came up with her list of The 15 Best Marlon Brando Movies Ranked.  Considering that Brando has nearly 50 performances on his resume, ranking them is a tough job.  Turner’s list is a good one and I am in total agreement with her top two choices.  We differ on the third spot and my fourth and fifth Brando performances didn’t even make her list!  So before you click over, here are my top five and thoughts on each…

1.  The Godfather: is not only Brando’s greatest performance of all-time, but is also the role that put him back on top.

2.  On the Waterfront: isn’t Brando’s flashiest role, but is undeniably one of his best. 

3.  Guys and Dolls:  I’m usually not a big fan of musicals, but I do like Guys and Dolls and much of the credit is due to Brando as Sky Masterson.

4.  One-Eyed Jacks:  is the only film Marlon Brando directed, he also stars in it and it’s a western!

5.  Mutiny on the Bounty:  I prefer Brando over Clark Gable as Fletcher Christian!

15 Favorite Underrated Film Noirs

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Nick Bartlett came up with his list of Our 15 Favorite Underrated Film Noirs.  I’m a huge film noir fan and Bartlett’s list is a good one.  Before you click over, using just his list, here are my top three and thoughts on each.

1.  The Set-Up.  While I wouldn’t classify this film as underrated, since it is on Bartlett’s list and is my favorite of the bunch. I place it in the top spot.  If you haven’t seen The Set-Up, you should.  It is a classic.

2.  The Breaking Point.  I didn’t see this film until the last year or so and wonder why I waited so long.  Definitely underrated and definitely worth a watch!

3.  Elevator to the Gallows is another film I just came to see in the last few years.  What a cool concept.  After killing his lover’s husband the killer becomes trapped in an elevator.  His lover begins to have doubts when he doesn’t show up for their getaway… add in a cool Miles Davis score and you’ve got an underrated noir!

“The Silent Sea” – New Poster and Trailer #2 are Here!

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On November 26th we took a look at the first poster and trailer for The Silent Sea.  I didn’t care for the poster but the trailer had me interested.  Today’s poster is a bit of an improvement and I like the trailer even better!

During a perilous 24-hour mission on the moon, space explorers try to retrieve samples from an abandoned research facility steeped in classified secrets.

A deadly mission will uncover the darkest secrets of the moon

With a 10% survival rate, will the crew survive?

Let the mystery behind the abandoned lunar base unfold

Winter 2021, an intense sci-fi mystery thriller

The Silent Sea | December 24, only on Netflix

RIP: Michael Nesmith

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Michael Nesmith died today from heart failure at the age of 78. Nesmith was a singer, song writer, actor, producer and novelist!  He was best known for his role as a member of The Monkees.

The Monkees [Mike, as he was called then, along with Davy Jones, Mickey Dolenz, and Peter Tork] took the world by storm in 1966.  The group was hand-picked by Screen Gems in an effort to create a tv show about a group of young musicians.  Lightning struck and the group not only had a hit tv series but became one of the biggest selling bands of the 60’s.  In 1967, The Monkees sold more albums than The Beatles and The Rolling Stones combined.  The Monkees even appeared in a feature film called Head that was co-written by Jack Nicholson!

I was a huge Monkees fan like many kids my age [7].  I collected their albums, trading cards, comic books and magazines.  I had a model of The Monkeemobile.  I even followed The Monkees after Peter, then later Mike, quit the band.  Sadly, I never got to see them perform live when they reunited for several reunion tours.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Michael Nesmith’s family, friends and fans.

“War Hunt” Starring Robert Knepper & Mickey Rourke – The Poster and Trailer are Here!

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Today we have the poster and trailer for War Hunt starring Robert Knepper, Jackson Rathbone with Mickey Rourke.  Man, oh man, War Hunt would definitely be a second feature at our local drive-in back in the day.

The poster would have been better if they used the title and everything below for the entire image.  The trailer looks okay for what it is.  What does it say about the movie when Rourke’s eyepatch switches eyes in the trailer!

With all that said, I’d probably give it a try on streaming.

The Crazy (and Sad) Lives of Silent Movie Stars!

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Adrian Sharp at Listverse came up with 10 Crazy Stories about Silent Film Stars.  It’s a good read that includes video to back up the chosen tales.  Before you click over…

I’m a silent movie fan.  When I watch a silent film, I look up information about the people who created it.  I’ve often been surprised at the lives they lead and how many ended with tragic or even mysterious deaths.  Sharp brings us the stories of ten silent film stars.  Here are my three favorite from his picks and my thoughts on each…

Stunt Pilot Ormer Locklear.  This is the one star I wasn’t aware of.  When you click over check out the video of Locklear’s stunts – wing walking, hanging by a knee, doing flips, climbing above and below the wings of a plane flying hundreds, if not thousands, of feet in the air… and WITHOUT A PARACHUTE.  Fearless or crazy – you decide.  Sadly, Locklear died performing an airplane stunt for a film.

Jean Harlow in “Kill and Be Killed”.  Jean Harlow was discovered by Howard Hughes who cast her in Hell’s Angels, Harlow would go on to work with Chaplin, Gable, Cagney to name just of a few of her leading men.  Fay Wray said that Harlow was the original choice for King Kong.  She was a close friend of gangster Benjamin “Bugsy” Siegel.  She married MGM executive Paul Bern, who two months into their marriage was found dead from a gunshot wound to the head.  His death was ruled a suicide, but some believe Bern was murdered due to some unusual circumstances and the fact that the police were called AFTER Louis B, Mayer had a chance to get to the crime scene.  Harlow died at the young age of 26 under what some consider mysterious circumstances as well.

Thelma Todd’s Impossible Suicide.  Todd ruled the silver screen making over 100 shorts and feature films, appearing with Buster Keaton, The Marx Brothers and Laurel & Hardy.  Todd was found dead inside her car that was in the garage of her lover’s ex-wife.  There were conflicting reports of injuries to her body, she left no suicide note and had appeared to be in good spirits in the time preceding her death.  Although her death was considered a murder by many, it was ruled a suicide by a grand jury.

Although not on Sharp’s list, the story of Louise Brooks is another sad tale of a silent era star.  Brooks quickly rose from being an uncredited extra to getting contract offers from both MGM and Paramount.  At the start of her career she worked with top directors and stars and by the end she left Hollywood and worked as a high priced call girl.  

“Ocean’s Eleven” Trivia!

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Jon O’Brien at Mental Floss came up with 20 Fun Facts About Ocean’s Eleven.  Before you click over, here are three of my favorites and my thoughts on each…

OCEAN’S ELEVEN NEARLY STARRED THE WILSON BROTHERS. (I don’t think Ocean’s Eleven starring the Wilson brothers would have had the same impact. – Craig)

THERE ARE CAMEOS FROM TWO OF THE ORIGINAL MOVIE’S CAST MEMBERS.  (Henry Silva and Angie Dickinson were in the original and had cameos in the remake.  It’s always a good idea to find cameos for stars from the original film as a sign of respect for the film that came first. – Craig)

EVERY ACTOR TOOK A SIGNIFICANT PAY CUT TO APPEAR IN THE MOVIE.  (Interesting that a Vegas movie involved actors who took “significant” pay cuts and gambled on back-end profits — which paid off! – Craig)

The Commando Starring Michael Jai White & Mickey Rourke – The Poster and Trailer are Here!

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The poster is pretty boring but the trailer for The Commando shows promise.  If you’re looking for a drive-in movie, then The Commando will fit the bill.  I’d watch.

ComingSoon is debuting the exclusive trailer, key art, and new photos for the upcoming action crime thriller The Commando. Starring Michael Jai White (Spawn, The Dark Knight, Black Dynamite) and Oscar nominee Mickey Rourke (The Wrestler, Sin City, Iron Man 2) Saban Films will release the film in theaters, on Digital, and On Demand on January 7, 2022.

“In this edge-of-your-seat crime thriller, an elite DEA agent (White) returns home after a failed mission when his family makes an unexpected discovery in their house – a stash of money worth $3 million,” reads the official synopsis. “They soon face the danger and threat of a newly released criminal (Rourke) and his crew who will do whatever it takes to retrieve the money – including kidnap the agent’s daughters. Stakes are high and lives are at risk in this head-to-head battle as the agent stops at nothing to protect his family against the money-hungry criminals.”