Marv by Donal DeLay!
Marv from Frank Miller’s Sin City is one of my all-time favorite characters. I love seeing artists do their “take” on the big lug. Today we have Marv by Donal DeLay.
“Planes, Trains and Automobiles” (1987) written & directed by John Hughes, starring Steve Martin & John Candy / Z-View
Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987)
Director: John Hughes
Screenplay: John Hughes
Stars: Steve Martin, John Candy, Laila Robins, Michael McKean, Carol Bruce, Olivia Burnette, Martin Ferrero, Larry Hankin, Richard Herd, Susan Kellermann, Matthew Lawrence, Edie McClurg, George Petrie, Gary Riley, Charles Tyner, Diana Castle, Ben Stein, Troy Evans, Richard Fike, William Windom and Kevin Bacon.
Tagline: What he really wanted was to spend Thanksgiving with his family. What he got was three days with the turkey.
The Plot…
Advertising executive, Neal Page (Martin) is beat. A boring business trip to New York City has left Neal ready for family time. Thanksgiving is in a couple of days and Neal is flying home tonight.
Or so he thinks.
An accidental encounter with shower curtain salesman, Dell Griffith (Candy) costs Neal his cab. Which is par for the course for Neal going forward. Once on the plane he finds himself squeezed in next to Dell. When their plane is diverted because of weather, Neal discovers no other flights are scheduled. To make matters worse all hotels are sold out. So when Dell offers to share the room he was able to book, Neal agrees.
The next morning, they discover weather has grounded all flights. Neal just wants to get home. Dell suggests that they forget the plane and take a train. Neal agrees.
Neal and Dell are just two guys who want to get home in time for Thanksgiving. What else could go wrong?
Everything.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Planes, Trains and Automobiles’ leads are perfectly cast and features my favorite John Candy role.
“Those aren’t pillows!” is the first thing I think of when someone mentions this film.
The first cut of the film was reportedly over three hours long. John Hughes then edited it down to two hours. Some of the scenes from that cut (that didn’t make the final film) appear in trailers. The released cut of Planes, Trains and Automobiles was one hour and 33 minutes.
Michael McKean and Kevin Bacon are the fourth and fifth credited stars. Both appear in just one scene.
Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987) rates 4 of 5 stars.
“Interview with the Vampire” Season 3 Teaser – Meet the Vampire Lestat!
Interview with the Vampire is one of the best series going. I cannot wait for season 3 to start.
We had our people call his people and, well, he’s here.
The Vampire Lestat returns in the new season of Interview with the Vampire, premiering on AMC and AMC+.
“Fast X” (2023) starring Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez & Jason Mamoa / Z-View
Fast X (2023)
Director: Louis Leterrier
Screenplay: Dan Mazeau, Justin Lin; story by Dan Mazeau, Justin Lin, Zach Dean based on characters by Gary Scott Thompson
Stars: Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez, Jason Statham, Jordana Brewster, Tyrese Gibson, Ludacris, Nathalie Emmanuel, Charlize Theron, John Cena, Sung Kang, Helen Mirren, Brie Larson, Scott Eastwood, Alan Ritchson, Daniela Melchior, Joaquim de Almeida, Rita Moreno, Pete Davidson, Gal Gadot, Dwayne Johnson, Michael Rooker and Jason Momoa.
Tagline: The end of the road begins
The Plot…
Years ago, Dom (Diesel) and his crew took down drug lord Hernan Reyes (de Almeida). Reyes lost his life and the family fortune. Once that happened, Reyes’ son, Dante (Mamoa) began planing the ultimate revenge.
Now the time is right. Dante is ready to wipe out Dom, his family and his crew.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
I was a fan of the Fast & Furious franchise when it first started. Each film got bigger and more outrageous. Now they’re to the point, that physics and logic are out the window. Put your mind in neutral and you’ll enjoy the ride… if there’s nothing better to watch.
The word family is said 56 times. That’s about once every two and a half minutes. C’mon, man. We get it. Family is everything.
Fast X was originally supposed to be the first of a two part finale. Now it has expanded to a three part ending.
Jason Mamoa plays against character as a flamboyant, androgynous nut. He’s a hoot and brings a needed freshness to the franchise.
Fast X (2023) rates 2 of 5 stars.
“Like a Dragon – Yakuza” – The Teaser is Here!
I never played the game, but I’ll give Like a Dragon – Yakuza a shot when it premieres on Prime.
Released in 2005 by SEGA, the ‘Yakuza’ game series was positioned as an entertaining game for adults, which found massive fanfare amongst its target audience. The series depicts the lives of fierce yet passionate gangsters and people living in a huge entertainment district, Kamurochō, a fictional district modeled after the violent Shinjuku ward’s Kabukichō, that acts as the backdrop of the gameplay.
Like a Dragon: Yakuza showcases modern Japan and the dramatic stories of these intense characters, such as the legendary Kazuma Kiryu, that games in the past have not been able to explore.
Coming October 24 to Prime.
ROBERT B. PARKER’S BURIED SECRETS: A JESSE STONE NOVEL by Christopher Farnsworth!
I’m a fan of Robert B. Parker. I’m also a Christopher Farnsworth fan. So when I learned that Farnsworth was selected by Robert B. Parker’s estate to continue the Jesse Stone series, I took notice. Here’s the lowdown…
Police Chief Jesse Stone investigates the mystery behind a dead body found strewn with photos of murder victims and placed on top of $2 million in cash, before a mob of hit men converge on Paradise.
Just another day in Paradise . . .
Chief of Police Jesse Stone is on his way home from a long shift when a call comes in for a welfare check on an elderly resident of the wealthy seaside town of Paradise, Massachusetts. Inside a house packed with junk and trash is a man’s dead body. It’s a sad, lonely end, but nothing criminal . . . until Jesse finds the photos of murder victims strewn around the corpse, on top of a treasure trove of $2 million in cash.
Jesse takes on the case and finds a trail leading to an aging mobster who will do whatever it takes to keep the past from coming to light. Before long, Jesse has a price on his head as hit men converge on Paradise to take back the cash and destroy any remaining evidence. But the real danger might be coming from inside his own department. Jesse Stone must unearth the truth buried under the wreckage of a dead man’s life . . . before he winds up in the ground himself.
BURIED SECRETS drops on February 4, 2025.
“Fast Charlie” (2023) starring Pierce Brosnan / Z-View
8Pierce Brosnan, Morena Baccarin, James Caan, Gbenga Akinnagbe, Christopher Matthew Cook, Toby Huss, Fredric Lehne, David Kallaway, Anissa Matlock and Sharon Gless.
Tagline: None.
The Plot…
For years Charlie Swift (Brosnan) has been a fixer and friend of mob boss Stan Mullen (Caan). When a young gangster sees an opportunity to move up, he has Mullen and his crew wiped out.
Only one problem.
Charlie Swift survived. Now Charlie’s out for vengeance.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Fast Charlie is based on Victor Gishler’s crime novel GUN MONKEYS. (Highly recommended!)
This is James Caan’s last role. Mr. Caan had late-stage COPD and was confined to a wheelchair for his performance.
Pierce Brosnan played James Bond in four films. In Fast Charlie, one of Charlie’s guns is a a Walther PPK, which was James Bond’s weapon of choice. When Charlie is about to kill Benny, he is in front of a cabinet labeled number 7. Bond, of course was 007.
Fast Charlie (2023) rates 3 of 5 stars.
Alfred Hitchcock: His Ten Best Films!
Alfred Hitchcock was the first director that I knew by name. He remains one of my favorite film makers. He made a number of great movies over his career. Here are my top ten…
01. “North by Northwest” (1959) – A mild mannered advertising executive goes on the run after being mistaken for a government agent by foreign spies. Now he’s targeted for death by the enemy agents and wanted for (a framed) murder by US officials. Nominated for three Academy Awards: Best Writing, Story and Screenplay – Written Directly for the Screen; Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, Color and Best Film Editing.
02. “Psycho” (1960) – A crime movie that morphs into a horror film. Groundbreaking. Nominated for four Academy Awards: Best Actress in a Supporting Role; Best Director; Best Cinematography, Black-and-White and Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, Black-and-White.
03. “The Birds” (1963) – One of the movies that I could “stay up late” to watch when I was a kid. Birds begin attacking and killing humans. The concept in a lesser director’s hands would be ridiculous. Not in Hitchcock’s. Nominated for one Academy Award: Best Effects, Special Visual Effects.
04. “Rope” (1948) – Two intellectuals think that they’ve committed the perfect murder. Through creative planning and editing, Hitchcock creates a film that appears to be done in one continuous shot.
05. “Lifeboat” (1944) – During World War II nine survivors end up in the same lifeboat. Eight are American or British. One is German from the U-Boat that sank their ship. Nominated for three Academy Awards: Best Director; Best Writing, Original Story and Best Cinematography, Black-and-White.
06. “Rear Window” (1954) – A man confined to a wheelchair believes that he witnessed a murder in the apartment across the way. Nominated for four Academy Awards: Best Director; Best Writing, Screenplay; Best Cinematography, Color and Best Sound, Recording.
07. “Notorious” (1946) – The daughter of a Nazi spy is recruited by the U.S. government to go undercover. How far will she go to get the needed info? And what will the Nazis do to her if she is discovered? Nominated for two Academy Awards: Best Actor in a Supporting Role and Best Writing, Original Screenplay.
08. “Foreign Correspondent” (1940) – A bored New York reporter is sent to London. There he discovers a group of foreign agents working to prepare Germany for war. Nominated for six Academy Awards: Best Picture; Best Actor in a Supporting Role; Best Writing, Original Screenplay; Best Cinematography, Black-and-White; Best Art Direction, Black-and-White and Best Effects, Special Effects.
09. “The 39 Steps” (1935) – This one has it all. Mistaken identity, spies, a man on the run, suspense, comedy and romance.
10. “Saboteur” (1942) – During World War II, when a U.S. aircraft factory is blown up, the wrong man is accused. Now on the run, the man must find a way to prove his innocence.
“Hudson Hawk” (1991) starring Bruce Willis / Z-View
Hudson Hawk (1991)
Director: Michael Lehmann
Screenplay: Steven E. de Souza, Daniel Waters story by Bruce Willis, Robert Kraft
Stars: Bruce Willis, Danny Aiello, Andie MacDowell, James Coburn, Richard E. Grant, Sandra Bernhard, Don Harvey, David Caruso, Andrew Bryniarski, Lorraine Toussaint, William Conrad (voice) and Frank Stallone.
Tagline: Catch the excitement. Catch the laughter. Catch the Hawk.
The Plot…
Eddie “Hudson Hawk” Hawkins, the semi-famous cat burglar, was just released from prison. One his first day out, Hawk’s parole officer and others want to blackmail Hawk into stealing a few famous pieces of art. The final thefts will involve creations made by Leonardo da Vinci.
Hawk doesn’t want to go back to prison or be killed so he reluctantly agrees. Little does he know the motives behind the blackmailers are nothing short of world domination!
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Hudson Hawk performed poorly at the box office and with critics. Part of the problem was the marketing. It was advertised as an action film. Audiences expected something along the lines of Die Hard. What they got was more of a live action Looney Toons.
This marks William Conrad’s last outing as a narrator.
Hudson Hawk isn’t a great film. It’s a screwball action comedy. Yeah, it’s over-the-top. It’s unrealistic. But if you go in with the understanding that what you’re watching takes place in a cartoon-like world, you should have a fun ride.
Of course your mileage may differ.
Hudson Hawk (1991) rates 3 of 5 stars.
The Shadow by Dan McDaid!
I’m not a huge fan of The Shadow, but I sure do dig this piece by Dan McDaid.
“House of Usher” aka “The Fall of the House of Usher” (1960) directed by Roger Corman, written by Richard Matheson, starring Vincent Price / Z-View
House of Usher aka The Fall of the House of Usher (1960)
Director: Roger Corman
Screenplay: Richard Matheson based on “The Fall of the House of Usher” by Edgar Allan Poe
Stars: Vincent Price, Mark Damon, Myrna Fahey and Harry Ellerbe.
Tagline: He buried her alive… to save his soul!
The Plot…
Philip Winthrop (Damon) travels to the remote Usher estate. Philip intends to leave with his fiancée Madeline Usher (Fahey) so they can be married. Madeline’s brother Roderick (Price) warns Philip that the Usher bloodline is cursed. All of the Usher ancestors went mad and committed evil deeds. Roderick wants the Usher bloodline to end. If Philip and Madeline marry, Roderick feels that the curse will continue.
Both Philip and Roderick are determined to have their way… only one will.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Prior to House of Usher, American International Pictures (AIP) focused on low budget black and white films destined to be second (or third) features at drive-ins. The demand for these type of films was in decline so AIP rolled the dice. House of Usher was given a higher budget and made in color. The gamble paid off.
House of Usher was the first of eight films based on Edgar Allan Poe short stories directed by Roger Corman.
House of Usher aka The Fall of the House of Usher (1960) rates 2 of 5 stars.
“Bad Monkey” starring Vince Vaughn – The Trailer is Here!
Here’s the trailer for Bad Monkey starring Vince Vaughn. I like the looks of this one.
Welcome to the shady side of paradise where Vince Vaughn has a long list of unusual suspects. Bad Monkey premieres August 12 on Apple TV+ https://apple.co/_BadMonkey
Based on Carl Hiaasen’s New York Times bestselling novel and enduring cult favorite, BAD MONKEY tells the story of Andrew Yancy (Vaughn), who has been bounced from the Miami Police Department and is now a health inspector in the Keys. But after stumbling upon a case that begins with a human arm fished up by tourists, he realizes that if he can prove murder, he’ll be back in. He just needs to get past a trove of Floridian oddballs and one bad monkey.
The ensemble cast also includes L. Scott Caldwell (“The Fugitive”), Rob Delaney (“Catastrophe”), Meredith Hagner (“Search Party”), Natalie Martinez (“La Promesa del Retorno”), Alex Moffat (“Saturday Night Live,” “Holidate”), Michelle Monaghan (“Gone Baby Gone”), Ronald Peet (“First Reformed”), Jodie Turner-Smith (“Queen & Slim”), with special guest star John Ortiz (“American Fiction”) and guest stars Zach Braff (“Scrubs”), Ashley Nicole Black (“Ted Lasso”), Scott Glenn (“The Leftovers”) and Charlotte Lawrence in her television debut.
Hailing from Warner Bros. Television, “Bad Monkey” is developed by executive producer and showrunner Bill Lawrence through his Doozer Productions. Jeff Ingold, Matt Tarses (“Scrubs”), Marcos Siega, Vaughn and Liza Katzer are also executive producers.
Song: “Baby Did A Bad Thing” by Chris Isaak https://apple.co/BabyDidABadThing
“1917” (2019) directed by Sam Mendes / Z-View
1917 (2019)
Director: Sam Mendes
Screenplay: Sam Mendes, Krysty Wilson-Cairns
Stars: Dean-Charles Chapman, George MacKay, Daniel Mays, Colin Firth, Andy Apollo, Billy Postlethwaite, Gabriel Akuwudike, Andrew Scott, Robert Maaser, Benedict Cumberbatch and Mark Strong.
Tagline: Time is the enemy.
The Plot…
The year is 1917. World War I rages. Officers on the British front lines are surprised to see German troops withdrawing. The British mistakenly believe that the Huns are retreating. They’re not. What the Germans are actually doing is a systematic extraction. They want the British to believe that they’re on the run. They know the British will believe the time to attack is now. What the British on the front don’t realize is they’re being tricked into running headlong into a trap.
British officers away from the front get aerial evidence of the trap. Unfortunately communication to the front is down. Two young British corporals are selected to slip behind enemy lines with orders to the British officers stand down. Time is of the essence. The errand is a suicide mission, but if the message isn’t delivered, thousands of British soldiers will be massacred.
Time is ticking…
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
1917 was nominated for ten Academy Awards, winning three
- winner Best Achievement in Cinematography – Roger Deakins
- winner Best Achievement in Visual Effects – Guillaume Rocheron, Greg Butler, Dominic Tuohy
- winner Best Achievement in Sound Mixing – Mark Taylor, Stuart Wilson
- nominee Best Motion Picture of the Year
- nominee Best Achievement in Directing – Sam Mendes
- nominee Best Original Screenplay – Sam Mendes, Krysty Wilson-Cairns
- nominee Best Achievement in Makeup and Hairstyling – Naomi Donne, Tristan Versluis, Rebecca Cole
- nominee Best Achievement in Production Design – Dennis Gassner, Lee Sandales
- nominee Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures (Original Score) – Thomas Newman
- nominee Best Achievement in Sound Editing – Oliver Tarney, Rachael Tate
Sam Mendes and his editor, Lee Smith worked together to make the film appear as if it was shot in one continuous take. It works.
1917 is based on director Sam Mendes’ grandfather’s experiences in World War I. The film is dedicated to Mendes’ grandfather.
1917 (2019) rates 4 of 5 stars.
Sly Stallone by Lucas Bernard!
Lucas Bernard created this wicked Sly Stallone art. You can see more of Bernard’s art here.
“Highlander” starring Henry Cavill – The Teaser Poster!
I saw the original Highlander film when it was first released. I became an immediate fan.
The sequel, Highlander II: The Quickening was on my must-see list. What a let down.
I avoided the other Highlander sequels and television series. I had decided “there can be only one”.
That might change with the Highlander reboot. I’m a fan of director Chad Stahelski. Henry Cavill is an excellent choice to take on the Christopher Lambert role. Ryan J. (House of the Dragon) Condal and Michael (Predators; John Wick: Chapter 4) are working on the screenplay. And the advance teaser poster ain’t bad either.
Source: Ash.
