Category: Movies

“The French Connection” Trivia!

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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

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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 Expendables Go to Hell by Sly Stallone & Chuck Dixon with Art by Graham Nolan & Others!

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The Expendables Go To Hell is a full color graphic novel with a story by Sly Stallone & Chuck Dixon and art by Graham Nolan, Kelsey Shannon, Jason Johnson, Butch Guice and Daniel Brown.  The idea is that The Expendables are killed in combat and awaken in hell. There they find fallen comrades, famous and infamous folks from history and more than a few surprises.

Graham Nolan will handle the art chores on the 50 page main story with three side stories adding to the graphic novel’s page count.  Here’s how they break down:

  • THE BRIDGE- Barney Ross is stunned to find the soul of his still-living friend Tool, trapped in Hell! Art by Jason Johnson (TEAM 7).

  • CHRISTMAS IN HELL- Lee Christmas is lured away from the team just when they need him most! Art by Kelsey Shannon (NORAH’S SAGA)

  • BARBARIAN’S HOLIDAY- Gunner Jensen makes the most of a bad situation! Art by Butch Guice (DOCTOR STRANGE).

The Main Cover will feature art by Kelsey Shannon. In addition, there will be Variant Covers by…

  • Billy Tucci (SHI)

  • Richard C. Meyer (JAWBREAKERS, IRON SIGHTS)

  • Jason Johnson (TEAM 7)

  • Renzo Rodriguez (DESOLATION WAVE)

  • And possibly MORE!

The Expendables Go To Hell is being crowd-funded on Indiegogo.  As the campaign grows, STRETCH GOALS will be unlocked which will add more value to each perk with no additional cost! Pin-ups, bookmarks, decals and more and projected.

Since the initial goal was $10,000 and The Expendables Go To Hell is now over $36,000.00 we should start seeing quite a few stretch goals soon.  This is going to be a fun project.  I’m on board (for the Kelsey Shannon cover!) and look forward to watching the project grow.  Click over and join in!

The “Queen Sono” Trailer is Here!

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Queen Sono looks interesting.  I’ll check it out for sure.

Fierce. Deadly. Defiant. Get ready for Queen Sono.
An African Netflix Original Series
Coming February 28. Only on Netflix.

After the assassination of her mother, Queen Sono grows up to become a kick- ass yet unconventional spy devoted to protecting the people of Africa. During a dangerous field assignment, Queen unknowingly uncovers shocking details about her mother’s death, sparking her own truth-finding mission.

Two Trailers for “A Quiet Place 2” – “Questions Answered” and “The Super Bowl Spot”

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Here are a couple of trailers for A Quiet Place 2.  I’m looking forward AQP2 even more than the original!

First up is A Quiet Place Part II – “Questions Answered”

Go behind the scenes with filmmaker John Krasinski and star Emily Blunt as they talk about leaving the path of safety and going into the unknown. #AQuietPlace Part II, coming to theatres this March.

Following the deadly events at home, the Abbott family (Emily Blunt, Millicent Simmonds, Noah Jupe) must now face the terrors of the outside world as they continue their fight for survival in silence. Forced to venture into the unknown, they quickly realize that the creatures that hunt by sound are not the only threats that lurk beyond the sand path.

Next we have A Quiet Place Part II (2020) – The Super Bowl Trailer

Following the deadly events at home, the Abbott family (Emily Blunt, Millicent Simmonds, Noah Jupe) must now face the terrors of the outside world as they continue their fight for survival in silence. Forced to venture into the unknown, they quickly realize that the creatures that hunt by sound are not the only threats that lurk beyond the sand path.

The Poster and Trailer for “F9” are Here

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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!

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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!

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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.

“Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood” A Love Letter to Making Movies – Documentary is Here!

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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?

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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.

Who is the All-Time Best Dracula?

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Kayleigh Donaldson created a ranking of her choices for the best movie Dracula in her post BATTLE OF THE DRACULAS: WHO IS KING OF THE VAMPIRES? at Syfy.com.   Her list is a good one although our top three choices are different.  Christopher Lee did make both of our lists (coming in second on her list and third on mine).

Here are our top three with my final thoughts following…

Kayleigh Donaldson

Craig Zablo
1. Gary Oldman – Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992) 1. Claes Bang – Dracula (2020)
2. Christopher Lee – Dracula (1958) 2. Bela Lugosi – Dracula (1931)
3. Zhang Wei-Qiang – Dracula: Pages From a
Virgin’s Diary (2002)		 3. Christopher Lee – Dracula (1958)

1. Claes Bang – Dracula (2020):  Until this year Bela Lugosi was the definitive Dracula for me.  Claes Bang changed all of that with his performance in Dracula (2020).   Bang’s Dracula is truly terrifying, seductive and powerful.  Like Lugosi’s Dracula, it’s a movie that I will enjoy revisiting.

2. Bela Lugosi – Dracula (1931):  Lugosi was perfectly cast as Dracula and until this year his performance had risen above all others in playing the Count.  I still love his performance and find it sad that he was never able to shine so brightly in another movie.

3. Christopher Lee – Dracula (1958):  It’s only been in recent years that I’ve come to appreciate Lee’s Dracula.  The Hammer films didn’t resonate with me when I was younger.  I guess I was spoiled by the Universal Monsters.  Christopher Lee’s Dracula is the favorite of many folks and it’s hard to argue against him because he was great in the role.

Click over and check out how your favorite Draculas faired in BATTLE OF THE DRACULAS: WHO IS KING OF THE VAMPIRES?.