RIP: Barbara Bosson

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Barbara Bosson died on February 18, 2023, at the age of 83.

After her high school graduation Barbara Bosson moved to New York and worked a variety of jobs (secretary, production assistant, Playboy bunny) as she pursued an acting career.

Barbara Bosson’s first acting credit is as a nurse in the Steve McQueen classic, Bullet.  Barbara Bosson would go on to act on television and feature films for the rest of her career.  She was nominated for 5 consecutive (1981 – 1985) Prime Time Emmy Awards for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for her work in Hill Street Blues.  In 1996, she was nominated for a sixth Prime Time Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for her work in Murder One.

Some of Barbara Bosson’s television appearances include: The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour (5 episodes); Mannix; Longstreet; Emergency; Alias Smith & Jones; Ironside; McMillan & Wife (2 episodes); Richie Brockelman, Private Eye (5 episodes); Calendar Girl Murders; Hill Street Blues (103 episodes); LA Law (2 episodes); The New Mike Hammer; Hotel; Murder She Wrote; Hooperman (42 episodes); Cop Rock (11 episodes); Star Trek: Deep Space Nine; NYPD Blue; Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (2 episodes); Murder One (41 episodes) and Murder One: Diary of a Serial Killer (6 episodes).

Some of Barbara Bosson’s feature film appearances include: Bullet; Capricorn One and The Last Starfighter.

It’s hard for me to say where I first saw Barbara Bosson.  Early in her career she appeared on several shows that I regularly watched.  I can say for sure that my favorite Barbara Bosson role was on Hill Street Blues.  I wasn’t alone.  She was nominated 5 years in a row for a Prime Time Emmy for her performance in that role.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Barbara Bosson’s family, friends and fans.

RIP: Jansen Panettiere

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Jansen Panettiere died yesterday at the age of 28.  No cause of death was announced.

Jansen Panettiere followed his older sister into an acting career.  In addition to television and feature film roles, Mr. Panettiere also did voice work.

Some of Jansen Panettiere’s television appearances include: Third Watch; Blue’s Clues (voice – 4 episodes); Tiger Cruise; The X’s (voice – 15 episodes); Everybody Hates Chris; Major Crimes and The Walking Dead.

Some of Jansen Panettiere’s feature film appearances include: Racing Stripes (voice); Robots (voice); Ice Age: The Meltdown (voice); The Babysitters and The Forger.

The majority of Jansen Panettiere’s resume includes projects not geared to my demographic.  I did hear his voice work in Blue’s Clues (watched with my grandson) and his acting in The Walking Dead.

It’s sad whenever someone dies at such a young age.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Jansen Panettiere’s family, friends and fans.

THE WIND BEGAN TO HOWL by Laird Barron – The Deal Just Got Even Better!

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The other day I wrote about the deal that Bad Hand Books is running on Laird Barron’s next Isaiah Coleridge tale, THE WIND BEGAN TO HOWL.  For the first 30 days (which started February 15th) 100% of profits from pre-orders will go directly to support Laird Barron’s recovery from a serious illness.  How cool is that?  Get an awesome book from an Independent Publisher and help support the author’s recovery – all at the same time.

And like those late night commercials, I get to say, “But wait!  There’s more!”  Laird Barron has agreed to sign all pre-orders!  Wow!  The deal just got even better.  So if you were on the fence, climb on down and get your order in!  

If you’ve never read an Isaiah Coleridge novel, here’s the downlow…

Coleridge is an ex-mob enforcer-turned-private investigator.  So far there have been three Isaiah Coleridge novels: BLOOD STANDARD; BLACK MOUNTAIN and WORSE ANGELS. (Barron writes them so that new readers can jump in at any point)

Coming in late Spring, a new Isaiah Coleridge yarn will become available.  THE WIND BEGAN TO HOWL novella is set after the events of WORSE ANGELS.  Isaiah Coleridge takes on what seems like a simple case, but soon finds himself dragged into a dark world of mayhem, mysticism, music, and movie magic.

I’m in.  I hope you’ll consider joining me.

 

“Accidental Truth” – The Poster and Trailer are Here!

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Accidental Truth looks interesting.  I’ll check it out when it comes to a streaming channel I get.

The truth can no longer be contained by those duty-bound to hide it. The truth about another intelligence engaging humanity becomes undeniably clear. You will witness revelations from true government insiders that have never been shared with the public. From over 15 years of interviews and investigation, Ron James painstakingly connects the dots. Colonel John Alexander, Lue Elizondo, Christopher Mellon, Nick Pope and others help to “accidentally” weave a story that leaves no doubt that another intelligence is somehow operating around us. Dr. Michio Kaku provides scientific analysis and commentary specific to what we know. Never before has a world-class scientist weighed in so deeply on the topic. Until now. A collection of contributors from across the field all come together to settle the question. The subject is no longer up for debate, you will experience the proof. Now we must address the bigger questions: What’s next? What does this information mean to the whole of humanity? What does it mean to you? The acknowledgement of another advanced intelligence is only the beginning. This irrefutable truth creates more questions than you can possibly imagine.

Directed by Ron James
Narrated by: Matthew Modine

Starring: Dr. Michio Kaku, Dr. Gary Nolan, Ralph Blumenthal, Nick Pope,, Col. John Alexander, Lue Elizondo, Christopher Mellon, Richard Dolan, Mike Bara, Katie Cook, Dave McDonald, Ron James, Melinda Leslie, Danny Sheehan, Stephen Bassett, Jimmy Church, Seth Shostak.

“Rhythm and Weep” (1946) starring The Three Stooges / Z-View

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Rhythm and Weep (1946)

Director:  Jules White

Writer:  Felix Adler

Stars: Moe Howard, Larry Fine, Curly Howard and Jack Norton

Tagline: None

The Plot…

When the boys are unable to find work for their vaudeville act, they decide to end it all.  They go to the roof of a skyscraper prepared to jump.  Once there, our guys are surprised to find three woman dancers with the same idea.  It’s love at first sight.  The boys and the women decide to put together a comedy/dancing act.  And just like that a millionaire offers to sponsor the show.  What could go wrong?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Sadly, due to a series of strokes, Rhythm and Weep would be Curly’s second to last Stooges’ feature. Accommodations had to be made on set for Curly’s scenes due to his inability to remember lines.  That could also be one of the reasons there is an emphasis on dancing in Rhythm and Weep.  Despite his health, Curly still provides laughs, especially when he pulls a Michael Jackson Smooth Criminal move while on the ledge of a skyscraper.

Larry breaks the fourth wall with a funny comment when after hugging a girl, looks directly into the camera and says, “This I like! And I get paid for it, too!”

Rhythm and Weep earns 4 of 5 stars.

RIP: Richard Belzer

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Richard Belzer, the comedian, actor and author, died today.  He was 78.  No cause of death was given.

Richard Belzer began his entertainment career as a stand-up comedian.  He appeared in the low-budget film The Groove Tube in 1974.  He was also a featured comedian on the National Lampoon Radio Hour along with John Belushi, Chevy Chase, Bill Murray, Gilda Radner, and Harold Ramis.  Richard Belzer would go on to be the audience warm-up comedian for Saturday Night Live.  Mr. Belzer would go on to make three guest appearances on the show.  In addition to stand-up, Richard Belzer appeared in television and movies throughout his career.

Some Richard Belzer appearances in feature films include: The Groove Tube; Fame; Author! Author!; Night Shift; Scarface; Fletch Lives; The Bonfire of the Vanities; A Very Brady Sequel; Species II and The Comedian.

Some of Richard Belzer’s television appearances include: Sesame Street (2 episodes); Saturday Night Live (3 episodes); Moonlighting; Miami Vice; The Flash (10 episodes); Hart to Hart: Crimes of the Hart; Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (4 episodes); The Invaders (2 episodes); The X-Files; Mad About You; Homicide: Life on the Street (122 episodes); Homicide: The Movie; Law & Order (4 episodes); South Park; 3rd Rock from the Sun; Law & Order: Trial by Jury; The Wire; 30 Rock (2 episodes); Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (326 episodes) and American Dad.

Richard Belzer also wrote four books on conspiracy theories.

I first saw Richard Belzer in The Groove Tube.  Who could have imagined that the young comedian would go on to have a distinguished acting career, and author several books!

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Richard Belzer’s family, friends and fans.

“Horses’ Collars” (1935) starring The Three Stooges / Z-View

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Horses’ Collars (1935)

Director:  Clyde Bruckman

Writer:  Felix Adler

Stars: Moe Howard, Larry Fine, Curly Howard

Tagline: The 3 lunatics are on the loose again!

The Plot…

Our guys are detectives in the wild west.  They are sent to a frontier town to help a young woman get her farm back from the ruthless killer Double Deal Decker.  What could go wrong?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Curly has a condition where every time he sees a mouse, he goes insane attacking anyone near him.  The only cure is for Larry and Moe to feed him cheese.  What brought about this condition, you ask?  “Because Curly’s father was a rat.”  Curly also has a unique way of getting through a boring meeting.

Horses’ Collars earns 5 of 5 stars.

RIP: Gerald Fried

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Gerald Fried, the composer, conductor and musician died yesterday from pneumonia.  He was 95.

Mr. Fried attended attended The Juilliard School of Music.  He became friends with Stanley Kubrick and scored short, Day of the Fight.  He also Kubrick’s Fear and Desire; Killer’s Kiss; The Killing and Paths of Glory.  Mr. Fried would spend his career alternating between feature films and television.

Some of Gerald Fried’s films include: Day of the Fight; Fear and Desire; Killer’s Kiss; The Killing; Paths of Glory; Machine-Gun Kelly; I Bury the Living; Terror in a Texas Town; Birds Do It, Bees Do It and Star Trek: The Final Darkness.

Some television series that feature music by Gerald Fried include: M Squad (3 episodes); Wagon Train; Riverboat (15 episodes); Shotgun Slade (23 episodes); Ben Casey (3 episodes); Rawhide; Gunsmoke: T.H.E. Cat (3 episodes); My Three Sons (2 episodes); It’s About Time (26 episodes); Gilligan’s Island (51 episodes); Mr. Terrific (17 episodes); The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (45 episodes); Star Trek (4 episodes); Lost in Space (2 episodes); Family Affair (2 episodes);  Mission Impossible (6 episodes); Mannix; Police Story; Roots (4 episodes); Police Woman (4 episodes); Rescue from Gilligan’s Island;  Roots: The Next Generations (7 episodes); The Castaways of Gilligan’s Island; Emergency (2 episodes); Flamingo Road (9 episodes); The Harlem Globetrotters on Gilligan’s Island; The Return of the Man from U.N.C.L.E.: 15 Years Later; Roots: The Gift and Star Trek: Phase II; 

Gerald Fried was nominated for 5 Prime Time Emmy Awards; winning one – Outstanding Achievement in Music Composition for a Series (Dramatic Underscore) for “Roots” (Part I) (1977) (shared with Quincy Jones)

Mr. Fried was nominated for one Academy Award for Best Music, Original Dramatic Score for Birds Do It, Bees Do It.

Mr. Fried worked on many of my favorite shows of my youth and with Kubrick on some of my favorite crime films. What a career he had!

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Mr. Wood’s family, fans and friends.

RIP: Oliver Wood

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It was announced today that Oliver Wood, cinematographer on many Hollywood hits died on February 13, 2023.  The cause of death was cancer.  He was 80.

Mr. Wood’s career began in 1969 on the low budget feature Popdown.  In 1970, he served as Director of Photography on The Honeymoon Killers.  Oliver Wood caught Hollywood’s attention after he served as director of photography for 53 episodes of Miami Vice.  For the rest of his career Mr. Wood worked on major Hollywood films.

Some films featuring Oliver Wood include: Die Hard 2; The Adventures of Ford Fairlane; Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey; Rudy; Mr. Holland’s Opus; 2 Days in the Valley; Face/Off; Mighty Joe Young; The Bourne Identity; The Bourne Supremacy; Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby; The Bourne Ultimatum; Step Brothers; Safe House; Two Guns; Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues; Child 44; Jack Reacher: Never Go Back; The Equalizer 2 and Morbius.

Oliver Wood had an amazing career.  His ability to work in features of all genres is impressive.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Mr. Wood’s family, fans and friends.

RIP: George T. Miller

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George Miller, best known as the director of The Man from Snowy River, died today the result of a heart attack.  He was 79.

Mr. Miller was born in Edinburgh, Scotland but spent most of his career as an Australian film director.  He worked in both television and feature films.  His career began in 1970 director episodes of different Australian television series.  George T. Miller helmed The Man from Snowy River and the success of that film brought him to Hollywood.  There he directed The NeverEnding Story II: The Next Chapter,  In the Nick of Time and Zeus and Roxanne.

George T. Miller often joked that he and George Miller, another Australian film director best known for the Mad Max franchise were often confused.

My favorite George T. Miller film is The Man from Snowy River.  I’ll even admit that at first I thought that he was also the director of Mad Max and The Road Warrior.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Mr. Miller’s family, fans and friends.

PAST TENSE by Jason McNamara and Alberto Massaggia is Coming!

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Past Tense by Jason McNamara (writer) and Alberto Massaggia (artist) looks interesting.  See what you think…

Ashley is a tour guide at PAST TENSE, a company that sends camera drones into the past to view history’s most depraved events.

When Ashley discovers Silas Green, an unknown serial killer working in the past, she begins hosting “exclusive” tours of his murders. The only problem? Silas is still alive in the present. And when he learns of his newfound infamy, he is inspired to come out of retirement to make Ashley his final victim: Now and forever.

There is no time to hide in this neo-noir thriller from indie comic veterans Jason McNamara (The Rattler), Alberto Massaggia (Hotline Miami), and Paul Little (Bomb Queen).

Pre-Orders are available now for a June 20, 2023 release.

“True Lies” starring Arnold Schwarzenegger & Jamie Lee Curtis / Z-View

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True Lies (1994)

Director:  James Cameron 

Writer:  James Cameron based on La Totale! by Claude Zidi, Simon Michaël, Didier Kaminka

Stars: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jamie Lee Curtis, Tom Arnold, Bill Paxton, Tia Carrere, Art Malik, Eliza Dushku, Marshall Manesh and Charles A. Tamburro

Tagline: When he said I do, he never said what he did.

The Plot…

Harry Tasker (Schwarzenegger) is a fairly boring computer salesman.  At least that’s what his wife, Helen (Curtis) thinks.  She’s a straight-laced secretary.  The reality is Harry is a United States secret service agent fighting terrorism.  And Helen, well, she’s a straight-laced secretary.

Things get turned upside down when Helen gets conned by Simon (Paxton) a used car salesmen, passing himself off as a secret agent to Helen.  Simon has Helen convinced he needs her help to save the country. In reality, Simon just wants to score with her.  When Harry learns Helen is going to meet Simon, Harry thinks she’s having an affair!

Things get worse when Harry learns that the Crimson Jihad plan to set off a nuke in the US.  He’s assigned to lead the team to find and take out the terrorists, but first there’s the thing with his wife…

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

True Lies is sometimes referred to as an action/comedy.  A better description is comedy/action.  Fans of each are going to get plenty of both, but the emphasis is on comedy.  That’s not a bad thing.

Arnold is great as the ultra cool, always in control government agent.  Jamie Lee Curtis is perfect as both the straight-laced housewife and the sexy (yet still klutzy) wanna be secret agent.  This is probably Tom Arnold’s best role.  He makes a good sidekick for Arnold.  Bill Paxton has a small but impactful part as the smarmy used car salesmen who hits on the wrong guy’s wife.

True Lies is a fun ride.  Both the action and comedy hold up.  In some ways it’s like The Last Action Hero.  Where it differs is, Arnold plays it straight and those around him provide the comedy. This works really well.  Describe some of the scenes and most folks who haven’t watched the film would give you an eye roll…

“Arnold on horseback chases a terrorist escaping on a motorcycle through a crowded hotel.  Arnold on horseback rides an elevator to the roof of a hotel just as the terrorist rides off the edge of the roof to land in a pool several stories below.”

“Arnold is about to be killed by terrorists.  Jamie Lee Curtis drops an uzzi down steps and with each bounce it kills terrorists surrounding Arnold.”

“As a nuclear bomb goes off in the distance Arnold and Jamie Lee Curtis share a passionate kiss.”

“A terrorist jumps on Arnold’s Harrier Jet.  Arnold tilts the plane and the terrorist becomes tangled on a missile.  Arnold launches the missile (along with the man) into a helicopter full of terrorists.”

Surprisingly all of these scenes (and many more) play well.  True Lies is a fun, over-the-top action/comedy, er… comedy/action film that bears repeated viewings.  (And I didn’t even mention Jamie Lee Curtis’ very sexy, very funny seduction scene.)

True Lies earns 4 of 5 stars.

“1883” (2021 – 2022) created by Taylor Sheridan, starring Sam Elliott, Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Isabel May & LaMonica Garrett / Z-View

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1883 (2021 – 2022)

Teleplay by: Taylor Sheridan

Directed by: Taylor Sheridan (episode 1); Ben Richardson (episodes 2, 6, 8-9, 10); Christina Alexandra Voros (episodes 3 – 5, 7)

Stars: Sam Elliott, Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Isabel May, LaMonica Garrett, Marc Rissmann, Audie Rick, James Landry Hébertrson, Gratiela Brancusi, Anna Fiamora, Malcolm Stephenson, Eric Nelsen, James Jordan, Martin Sensmeier, Neal Kodinsky,  Dawn Olivieri, Taylor Sheridan, Billy Bob Thornton,  Rita Wilson, Graham Greene and Tom Hanks

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

1883.  Fort Worth, Texas.

Captain Shea Brennan (Elliott) and Sergeant Thomas (Garrett) served together in the Civil War.  They have been hired to lead a wagon train of immigrants across the frontier.  They’ll pass through deserts, hostile Indian territory and badlands full of rustlers and killers.

James Dutton (McGraw) is waiting to meet his family coming in on the train from Tennessee.    Dutton plans to take his family (his wife, 17 year old daughter and 5 year old son, his sister and her teenage daughter) across the frontier to find farmland.

After Shea and Thomas see Dutton handle himself in a tough situation, they offer him a job on their wagon train.  Dutton declines, but knows there’s safety in numbers.  A single covered wagon has virtually no chance to make the journey.  Dutton says he’ll join the wagon train, but not as an employee.  Shea reluctantly agrees since they need every gun they can get.

The wagon train leaves.  Most won’t survive the journey and those that do will be forever changed.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

1883 is one of the best westerns I’ve ever seen.  Taylor Sheridan’s attention to detail, and superb writing provide the foundation for an amazing tale.  Sheridan wrote every episode and directed the first.  The other directors for the series include Ben Richardson and Christina Alexandra Voros, who have directed episodes of Sheridan’s other shows.

1883 features a strong cast.

Sam Elliott is at home in any western.  He’s perfect as the former Civil War Captain who mourns the loss of his wife and daughter as he attempts to lead the wagon train.

LaMonica Garrett has nearly 60 credits on his acting resume.  I’ve seen Garrett in other roles, but he was born to play Sgt. Thomas.

Tim McGraw is better known as a singer than actor.  McGraw has three Grammy Awards and has sold over 40 million albums.  I was surprised by his performance. Thanks to McGraw, James Dutton is one of my all-time favorite Cowboys.

Taylor Sheridan handpicked Isabel May for the role of Elsa Dutton.  Elsa is the lynchpin to the entire series.  Ms. May is someone to watch.  She is definitely a star in the making.

Even the smaller 1883 roles feature outstanding actors/actresses.  Special mention to James Landry Hébert, Gratiela Brancusi, Eric Nelsen, Martin Sensmeier, Billy Bob Thornton,  Rita Wilson, Graham Greene and Tom Hanks.

I cannot stress enough how great 1883 is.

1883 (2021 – 2022) earns 5 of 5 stars.