Previews and Reviews that are Z's Views
I’m a big fan of alternative movie posters. Often they are as good or better than the official posters. The Dracula poster above is an example of what I’m talking about. If I find out the name of the artist who created it, I’ll update this post.
Source: Vic De Leon
I love movies. Because of my love of film I search out older movies. Thanks to TCM that’s not as hard to do as it once was. So whenever there’s an older film that I think I might like I check it out.
I’ve watched a lot of silent films. I started with the horror films and then worked my way to comedies. Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton and Harold Lloyd are considered the comedy kings of the silent film era. As I began to watch and learn more about this time period, I was surprised to find that funny man Fatty Arbuckle wasn’t better known. The films I saw with him were as good as any other comedian of the time.
When I came to learn that Arbuckle was the first comedian to be paid one million dollars from a studio, that Arbuckle had mentored both Chaplin and Keaton, that he started his own studio, that he wrote and directed films… well, I needed to know more about this man. What I discovered was pretty sad.
Joe Ramoni has created an excellent overview of Roscoe “Fatty” Arbuckle’s career. It is worth a watch.
He mentored Charlie Chaplin, discovered Buster Keaton, and changed film comedy forever – before a scandal destroyed his career. His name was Roscoe “Fatty” Arbuckle. Though you may recognize his name or face, few know the heartbreaking story of his life. This documentary short takes a look back at his controversial life & career to highlight what an instrumental figure he was in the evolution of cinema and why he should be more remembered today.
Written, Compiled and Presented by Joe Ramoni
https://twitter.com/joeramoni
Wow!
Check out the trailer for The Little Things starring Denzel Washington, Rami Malek and Jared Leto. Then watch it again and pay attention to the little things. The Little Things looks to be a winner and I cannot wait to see it.
Watch the trailer for The Little Things, bringing Denzel Washington back to screen alongside fellow Academy Award® winners Rami Malek and Jared Leto. Coming to theaters and streaming exclusively on HBO Max on January 29. #TheLittleThingsMovie
Academy Award winners Denzel Washington (“Training Day,” “Glory”), Rami Malek (“Bohemian Rhapsody”) and Jared Leto (“Dallas Buyers Club”) star in the psychological thriller “The Little Things.” John Lee Hancock (“The Blind Side,” “Saving Mr. Banks,” “The Founder”) directed the film from his own original screenplay.
Kern County Deputy Sheriff Joe “Deke” Deacon (Washington) is sent to Los Angeles for what should have been a quick evidence-gathering assignment. Instead, he becomes embroiled in the search for a killer who is terrorizing the city. Leading the hunt, L.A. Sheriff Department Sergeant Jim Baxter (Malek), impressed with Deke’s cop instincts, unofficially engages his help. But as they track the killer, Baxter is unaware that the investigation is dredging up echoes of Deke’s past, uncovering disturbing secrets that could threaten more than his case.
The main cast also includes Natalie Morales (“Battle of the Sexes”), Terry Kinney (“Mile 22,” TV’s “Billions”), Chris Bauer (“Sully,” TV’s “The Deuce”), Joris Jarsky (TV’s “Bad Blood”), Isabel Arraiza (TV’s “Pearson”) and Michael Hyatt (“Crazy Ex-Girlfriend”).
“The Little Things” is produced by Oscar- and Emmy-winning producer Mark Johnson (“Breaking Bad,” “Rain Man”) and Hancock, with Mike Drake and Kevin McCormick serving as executive producers.
Behind the scenes, Hancock reunited with several longtime collaborators, including Oscar-nominated director of photography John Schwartzman (“Seabiscuit,” “The Founder,” “Saving Mr. Banks”), Oscar-nominated production designer Michael Corenblith (“Apollo 13,” “The Founder,” “The Blind Side”) editor Robert Frazen (“The Founder”), and costume designer Daniel Orlandi (“The Founder,” “The Blind Side”). The music is by multiple Oscar-nominated composer Thomas Newman (“1917,” “Bridge of Spies,” “Saving Mr. Banks”).
Warner Bros. Pictures presents A Gran Via Production, “The Little Things” will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures. The film has slated for release on January 29, 2021 in theaters and on HBO Max and has been rated R for violent/disturbing images, language and full nudity.
Beatles fans will love this sneak peak…
PETER JACKSON REVEALS SNEAK PEEK OF HIS UPCOMING MUSIC DOCUMENTARY
“THE BEATLES: GET BACK” ONLINE AND STREAMING ON DISNEY+Feature-Length Film Opens in Theatres August 27, 2021
Acclaimed filmmaker Peter Jackson has released an exclusive sneak peek of his upcoming documentary “The Beatles: Get Back” for fans everywhere to enjoy. The 5-minute special look is available to fans worldwide on TheBeatles.com and streaming on Disney+.
Jackson said, “We wanted to give the fans of The Beatles all over the world a holiday treat, so we put together this five-minute sneak peek at our upcoming theatrical film ‘The Beatles: Get Back.’ We hope it will bring a smile to everyone’s faces and some much-needed joy at this difficult time.”
Acclaimed filmmaker Peter Jackson’s “The Beatles: Get Back” is a unique cinematic experience that takes audiences back in time to The Beatles’ intimate recording sessions during a pivotal moment in music history…
The poster and trailer to M.C. Escher: Journey to Infinity is here.
M.C. Escher: “I’m not an artist. I’m a mathematician.”
This is going to be interesting!
The story of world famous Dutch graphic artist M.C Escher (1898-1972). Equal parts history, psychology, and psychedelia, Robin Lutz’s entertaining, eye-opening portrait gives us the man through his own words and images: diary musings, excerpts from lectures, correspondence and more are voiced by British actor Stephen Fry, while Escher’s woodcuts, lithographs, and other print works appear in both original and playfully altered form.
After seeing the trailer for Brothers by Blood, you can count me in.
A tale of family, friendships and betrayal in the violent world of the Philadelphia mob.
Directed by: Jérémie Guez
Starring: Matthias Schoenaerts, Joel Kinnaman, Maika Monroe, Paul Schneider and Ryan Phillipe
Ok, stay with me now. Above we have the poster for Pharaoh’s War starring, wait for it… Mike Tyson and Hafpor Julius Bjornson. Below we have the same two stars in the same movie but the trailer now calls the movie Desert Strike.
Neither the poster nor the trailer (or either name for the movie) make me want to rush out and see it… but there is a curiosity factor that might make me watch on tv.
Here we have the poster and trailer for Palmer. Something must have gotten into my eye as I watched the trailer.
Family is who you make it.
After 12 years in prison, former high school football star Eddie Palmer returns home to put his life back together—and forms an unlikely bond with Sam, an outcast boy from a troubled home. But Eddie’s past threatens to ruin his new life and family. Coming exclusively to Apple TV+ on January 29. https://apple.co/_Palmer
We have the poster and trailer for No Man’s Land. I like the idea, but hope the finished product doesn’t turn into a film with a made-for-tv feel.
Director: Conor Allyn
Stars: Frank Grillo, Andie MacDowell, George Lopez, Jorge A. Jimenez & Esmeralda PimentelA modern Western inspired by the real-life “no man’s land” areas along the Texas-Mexico border. While out on a father-son border patrol, Jackson accidentally kills a Mexican immigrant boy. When his father tries taking the blame, Jackson flees south on horseback, becoming a gringo “illegal alien” in Mexico. Pursued from either side by Texas Rangers and Mexican federales, he journeys across Mexico to seek forgiveness from the dead boy’s father only to fall in love with the land he was taught to hate.
Bravo to whoever cut the trailer for Paul McCartney x Rick Rubin. It has made me want to see this documentary series now!
Paul McCartney x Rick Rubin – A forthcoming documentary event
Coming Soon
Below is the trailer for Outside the Wire starring Anthony Mackie. Deal me in.
Set in the future, Harp (Damson Idris), a drone pilot, is sent into a deadly militarized zone where he finds himself working for Leo (Anthony Mackie), an android officer, tasked to locate a doomsday device before the insurgents do. Outside the Wire is directed by Mikael Håfström.
Rob Hunter at Film School Rejects presents 32 Things We Learned from the ‘Blade‘ Commentary. As always, before you click over, here are my three favorites and thoughts on each…
“I’ve found that American action films rely more on spectacle,” says Snipes, “but action films from other countries don’t do it that way.” He adds that international action is often embedded into “the emotional state and intent of the character.” (Snipes is right. Too many of our movies these days rely on big special effects. I prefer a movie that focuses on, as Snipes said, “the emotional state and intent of the character.” – Craig)
A deleted conversation from the script explained how Blade’s sword originally belonged to Whistler (Kris Kristofferson) who himself was part of a long line of vampire hunters. (It was smart to drop that. The “long line of vampire hunters” bit is just too cliche. – Craig)
Norrington wanted Kristofferson for the role as he was “the cool grandfather, grungy type of fighting, jolly type of a guy.” Goyer actually wrote the character, though, with Samuel Fuller in mind. (I’m not a big fan of Blade but loved Blade II. With that said, Kristofferson was a great addition to the movie and one of the things I liked best about it. – Craig)
I don’t care for the Haymaker poster above, but the trailer below was interesting. I wouldn’t run out to see it, but wouldn’t (at least right away) turn the channel if it was on tv.
Pulp Fiction is arguably Quentin Tarantino’s best film. I’ve been thinking it’s about time for another viewing of it. Paul Schrodt’s 12 Things to Look for While Watching Pulp Fiction makes me want to watch it even more. Before you click over to Schrodt’s piece, here are three of my favorites and my thoughts on each.
SAMUEL L. JACKSON’S FAVORITE BIBLE VERSE DOESN’T EXIST. (I was surprised when I first learned that Tarantino basically made up Jackson’s biblical quote. Jackson really sold it for that scene and I wonder how many people believe the quote is right from the bible. – Craig)
JACK RABBIT SLIM’S IS NOT WHAT IT SEEMS. (I remember when there was talk of Jack Rabbit Slim’s being turned into a real chain of joints. I was excited about the idea and thought it would work. I know I would have patronized them. Sadly the venture never became reality. – Craig)
NO ONE FULLY UNDERSTANDS PULP FICTION’S “GIMP” SEQUENCE. (I vividly remember seeing this scene for the first time and just being blown away. What the – ? Did we cross over into another film? Another dimension? I’ve come to like the unexpected, unexplainable aspect of it. Sometimes things happen that don’t make sense, that we couldn’t have predicted and that can have terrible consequences. – Craig)
Source: Mental Floss.
Ok, this is more like it. Here’s a new poster and the full trailer for Shadow in the Cloud starring Chloe Grace Moretz. I like this poster and the trailer is much better than the previous. I now am sure I’d like to see this movie. It’s going to be pure drive-in fun.
In the throes of World War II, Captain Maude Garrett (CHLOË GRACE MORETZ) joins the all-male crew of a B-17 bomber with a top-secret package. Caught off guard by the presence of a woman on a military flight, the crew tests Maude’s every move. Just as her quick wit is winning them over, strange happenings and holes in her backstory incite paranoia surrounding her true mission. But this crew has more to fear…lurking in the shadows, something sinister is tearing at the heart of the plane. Trapped between an oncoming air ambush and an evil lurking within, Maude must push beyond her limits to save the hapless crew and protect her mysterious cargo.
Starring: Chloë Grace Moretz, Nick Robinson, Beulah Koale, Taylor John Smith
Directed by: Roseanne Liang
