Previews and Reviews that are Z's Views
Doaly created two versions of this First Blood anniversary poster. The one above is my favorite. Perhaps you’d like this version better.
“I could have killed ’em all, I could’ve killed you. In town you’re the law, out here it’s me. Don’t push it! Don’t push it or I’ll give you a war you won’t believe. Let it go. Let it go!” – John Rambo
David Lapham is an Eisner Award-winning comic book creator best known for his independent crime series Stray Bullets. When Lapham offered a headsketch special, I thought he’d be a great choice to draw Sly Stallone as Jack Carter.
Lapham’s response was immediate and positive. So much so that I asked about a second sketch – Sly as Rocky Balboa. Lampham again quickly responded that he was up for it. I immediately sent a paypal for the amount requested and a few bucks more. He emailed a “thank you” and that was the last I heard from him for four years.
Every so often, for the first couple of years, I sent an e-mail to see if he was okay or going to do the sketches. No response ever came back. Then in February of this year, I was surprised to get an e-mail from Mr. Lapham apologizing for his lack of communication. He said that he wanted to get the art to me. This week (six months later) the sketches arrived.
I don’t know what the hold-up was. I’m just happy to have the sketches and hope Mr. Lapham is doing well.
Slayground (1983)
Director: Terry Bedford
Screenplay: Trevor Preston; based on SLAYGROUND by Richard Stark
Stars: Peter Coyote, Mel Smith, Billie Whitelaw.
Tagline: Welcome to Your Funeral
The Plot…
Stone is a career criminal. He’s ready to walk away from his next planned armed robbery because his regular getaway driver is unavailable. Stone’s partner has another wheelman for the job and convinces Stone to go through it.
Big mistake.
The new driver is inexperienced. During the getaway, he causes a crash that kills a nine-year-old girl. The girl’s father is a millionaire. He hires a hitman to find and murder the men responsible for his daughter’s death.
The killer is relentless and the girl’s father has money to pay whatever the cost. When Stone learns there is a price on his head, he goes on the run.
But there is no where he can hide. The killer is closing in.
Stone… welcome to your funeral.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Slayground is based on the novel of the same name by Richard Stark (Donald Westlake). Except for the title, little else from Stark’s novel makes it onscreen.
When the film was released I thought it was another killer at a carnival movie. Years later I learned it was based on the Parker novels by Richard Stark. So I gave it a go only to find out it had little to do with the Stark’s novel. Meh.
Slayground (1983) rates 2 of 5 stars.
Rocky Balboa by Carmine Di Giandomenico!
“It ain’t about how hard you hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward; how much you can take and keep moving forward. That’s how winning is done!” – Rocky Balboa
Gladiator (2000)
Director: Ridley Scott
Screenplay: David Franzoni, John Logan, William Nicholson; story by David Franzoni
Stars: Russell Crowe, Joaquin Phoenix, Connie Nielsen, Oliver Reed, Derek Jacobi, Djimon Hounsou, Richard Harris, Ralf Moeller, David Hemmings, Sven-Ole Thorsen and Tommy Flanagan .
Tagline: Father of a murdered son, husband to a murdered wife and I shall have my vengeance in this life or the next.
The Plot…
Marcus Aurelius, the aging Emperor of Rome, with the leadership of his best General, Maximus Decimus Meridius, has conquered the Germanic tribes. There have been many battles, but finally peace has come to Rome. Maximus now wants to return home to his wife and child.
Emperor Aurelius has other plans for Maximus. Aurelius says that his son Commodus is unfit to rule. Aurelius wants Maximus to replace him as leader of Rome. Not as Emperor, but as a regent as Rome transitions to a republic.
Commodus realizes his father’s plan and secretly murders him. Commodus then names himself Emperor of Rome. When Maximus refuses to pledge loyalty to Commodus, Commodus has him arrested and marked for execution.
Maximus escapes only to discover that Commodus had Maximus wife and son murdered. Maximus is now the father of a murdered son, husband to a murdered wife and he shall have his vengeance in this life or the next.
Prepare to be entertained!
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Gladiator was nominated for twelve 2001 Academy Awards and won five…
Oliver Reed died three weeks short of the end of principal photography. Ridley Scott didn’t want to recast and reshoot the role (which insurance would have covered). The script was tweaked and a body double and CGI was used to finish Reed’s role.
Gladiator deserved all of the awards (and nominations) it received. It is a rare film that continues to entertain over multiple viewings.
Gladiator (2000) rates 5 of 5 stars.
Guys and Dolls (1955)
Director: Joseph L. Mankiewicz
Screenplay: Joseph L. Mankiewicz; based on Guys and Dolls by Abe Burrows, Jo Swerling, Frank Loesser, Damon Runyon
Stars: Marlon Brando, Jean Simmons, Frank Sinatra, Vivian Blaine, Stubby Kaye, Johnny Silver, Robert Keith, B.S. Pullym, Regis Toomey and Sheldon Leonard.
Tagline: SAMUEL GOLDWYN presents America’s Own Musical!
The Plot…
Nathan Detroit is feeling the pressure.
Detroit is supposed to put together a huge crap game. Word went out. The town is gonna be full of high rollers and Nathan needs to deliver. Complicating matters are three things. One: New York City’s finest, Lieutenant Brannigan, is watching Nathan like a hawk. First sign of an illegal game and he plans to bust Nathan and all involved. Two: Nathan still needs a location. Three: Nathan’s fiancée, Miss Adelaide, is pressuring him to marry her — their 14 year engagement is just too long.
Nathan finds the perfect location. Problem is the location’s owner wants $1,000.00 for the property’s use. Nathan doesn’t have the needed dough.
Then he gets an idea. Sky Masterson is in town to gamble. Sky will be on anything. If Nathan can get Sky to bet $1,000 on a bet Sky’s sure to lose, Nathan will have the needed cash.
But what is a sure fire bet?
Nathan comes up with the perfect wager. Sky is a known lady’s man and proud of his reputation. Nathan gets Sky to say he could get any woman to go out on a date with him. Nathan then wagers that if he can pick the woman, Sky would fail to get her to go with him to dinner in Havanna. Sky agrees to the wager.
Nathan picks Sarah Brown. Sarah happens to be very straight laced and a sister in the Save a Soul Mission. Sarah runs the local chapter.
Sky wants to con Sarah. Sarah wants to “save” Sky. Nathan wants towin the bet so the big craps game is a go. Miss Adelaide wants to get married. Lieutenant Brannigan wants to arrest the whole lot of ’em.
There’s no way everyone is going to get what they want. Wanna bet?
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Guys and Dolls was nominated for four 1956 Academy Awards…
Frank Sinatra and Marlon Brando had a strained relationship during filming. Sinatra referred to Brando as “Mumbles”. Sinatra coveted the role of Sky Masterson and was upset that Brando, got it — especially since Brando wasn’t a singer.
Brando’s singing in the film was put together from multiple takes. Brando approached Sinatra early on in filming to ask for help with his singing scenes. Sinatra refused.
Director Joseph L. Mankiewicz made the decision to not shot on location and instead make the sets have the feel of a stage play. This is a big part of the film’s charm and makes it feel special.
I’m not a huge fan of musicals, but I love Guys and Dolls.
Guys and Dolls (1955) rates 5 of 5 stars.
Check out Joshua Budich’s Reservoir Dogs alt poster!
” We were set up. The cops were waiting for us.” – Mr. Pink
Reggy The Marker Artist gives the underrated Hard Target starring Jean-Claude Van Damme some well-deserved love.
“Natasha Binder: “What kind of a name is Chance?” – Natasha Binder
“Well… my momma took one.” – Chance Boudreaux
Sahin Düzgün created this poster after seeing the trailer for I Play Rocky. I wouldn’t complain if this was the official poster for the movie.
Inside Moves (1980)
Director: Richard Donner
Screenplay: Valerie Curtin, Barry Levinson; based on INSIDE MOVES by Todd Walton
Stars: John Savage, David Morse, Diana Scarwid, Amy Wright, Bill Henderson, Steve Kahan, Bert Remsen, Harold Russell, Pepe Serna, Harold Sylvester, Richard Donner and Tony Burton.
Tagline: Come join the gang at Max’s for a heartfelt visit and an unforgettable experience.
The Plot…
Roary’s failed suicide attempt left him partially crippled and living in a low-rent area. One day Roary wanders into Max’s, a bar near his apartment. Max, the owner is a warm-hearted guy who loves his regulars.
And his regulars are quite a crew. There’s Blue Lewis who is paralyzed from the waist down and confined to a wheelchair. Wings is a double-amputee with hooks for hands. Stinky is blind. These three meet at the bar daily for a beer, cards and banter. Oh, and there’s Jerry Maxwell, one of the bartenders. Jerry’s bum knee killed his dreams of a career in the NBA.
Soon enough Roary is one of the regulars. His daily meetings with the gang at Max’s reinvigorates his love of life. Roary and Jerry become best friends. Roary has started to develop feelings for Louise, a waitress at the bar.
While shooting around one day, Jerry runs into Alvin Martin, one of the stars of the Golden State Warriors. Jerry challenges Alvin to a game of one-on-one. Martin at first refuses. He doesn’t want to play a guy with a bum leg. Jerry insults Alvin to the point, that he can’t back down. Alvin wins. Barely. He’s impressed with Jerry’s skills.
Roary, who watched the game, is beyond impressed. He learns that an expensive operation might fix Jerry’s leg. Jerry doesn’t have that kind of money. It would take him years to save it. By then he’d be too old to play. Plus the operation isn’t a sure thing. Roary believes it is worth the shot.
And Roary is willing to risk his life savings on it.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Valerie Curtin, who co-wrote the adaptation of Inside Moves, is a writer, actress, and cousin of Jane Curtin. She co-wrote the film with her then husband, Barry Levinson.
Inside Moves features Harold Russell’s first theatrical film appearance since his Academy Award-winning performance in 1946’s The Best Years of Our Lives.
A pinball machine with Christopher Reeve as Superman appears in Max’s Bar. Inside Moves‘ director, Richard Donner, also directed Superman starring Christopher Reeve. In Jerry’s house a poster for The Omen can be seen. Donner also directed that film.
Inside Moves features David Morse’s theaterical debut and he is excellent.
Diana Scarwid was nominated for an Academy Award as Best Actress in a Supporting Role.
Richard Donner appears, uncredited, as the man who closes the ambulance door. Donner’s cousin, Steve Kahan, has a role as Burt.
Inside Moves features my favorite performance by John Savage, who is excellent as Roary.
Inside Moves (1980) rates 5 of 5 stars.
Sinners is one of my all-time favorite movies. I love the number of really sweet alt posters the film has inspired, like this one from Shawn Mansfield.
“We gonna kill every last one of ya.” – Mary
Denis Medri is a Rocky fan who revisits the film a couple of times a year. Medri (rightfully) calls it a masterpiece. He saw the trailer for I Play Rocky and it inspired him to repost a Rocky drawing he did way back in 2013!
Yvan Quinet has created a Jaws alt poster that is worthy of the classic!
“As you see, it’s a beautiful day, the beaches are open and people are having a wonderful time. Amity, as you know, means ‘friendship’..” – Mayor Vaughn
The Poster and Trailer for (Bill) Sienkiewicz That Polish Guy is here. Bill Sienkiewicz broke into comics while still a teenager. Some (at first) wrote him off as a Neal Adams clone… but even those folks couldn’t deny Sienkiewicz’s talent. Soon enough Bill Sienkiewicz was creating groundbreaking art. Never one to rest on what he had already done, Sienkiewicz’s art was always morphing into something new. That is why Bill Sienkiewicz is many fans’ favorite and an artist’s artist.
Deal me in.
THAT POLISH GUY is the feature documentary on Bill Sienkiewicz, the artist who broke every rule in comics and changed the medium forever.
Directed by Remsy Atassi
Produced by Sal Abbinanti
Presented by Comic Book Pros
A poster and teaser for Mike Flanagan’s series adaption of Stephen King’s Carrie have arrived.
I like King’s novel and am a huge fan of Brian DePalma’s movie adaptation. Since I’m also a Flanagan fan, and the trailer works, I’m looking forward to this. The fact that the entire series drops on October 7th is a plus.
Deal me in.
She just wanted a friend. They gave her a fight.
All episodes of Carrie, a new series from Mike Flanagan, premiere October 7 on Prime Video.
