ROBERT B. PARKER’S BUCKSKIN by Robert Knott / Z-View

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ROBERT B. PARKER’S BUCKSKIN by Robert Knott

First sentence…

An all-day celebration had been taking place.

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

The fever has come to Appaloosa.  Gold was discovered just north of town on land owned by two groups.  A group of business men led by Henry Baptiste own one piece.  The other belongs to the McCormick brothers.  The McCormicks bought their land from Baptiste before the gold was found.  Now Baptiste has regrets, but the McCormicks aren’t selling the land back.  Tempers have flared.  Both sides brought in gunmen.

First a miner disappeared.  Then another was found dead.  Now one of the Baptiste’s men has been murdered. So US Marshall Virgil Cole and his Deputy Everette Hitch are called in.  

Meanwhile, miles away, a sociopathic escaped convict hooks up with a mysterious woman with grudge.  The woman plans to use the psycho as an instrument of retribution.  The escaped con and his muse head for Appaloosa.

The citywide Appaloosa Days festival is going to be one to remember.

Rating:

“Special Ops: Lioness” aka “Lioness”: Season 2 (2023); created by Taylor Sheridan; starring Zoe Saldaña, Laysla De Oliveira, Michael Kelly with Morgan Freeman and Nicole Kidman / Z-View

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Special Ops: Lioness aka Lioness: Season 2 (2024)

Created by: Taylor Sheridan

Director: Taylor Sheridan (Eps. 1-2); Michael Friedman (Eps. 3-4); Stephen Kay  (Eps. 5-8)

Teleplay: Taylor Sheridan (Eps. 1-8)

Stars: Zoe Saldaña, Lays la De Oliveira, Dave Annable, Jill Wagner, LaMonica Garrett, James Jordan, Genesis Rodriguez, Michael Kelly, Austin Hébert, Jonah Wharton, Thad Luckinbill, Hannah Love Lanier, Nicole Kidman, Bruce McGill, Jennifer Ehle, Martin Donovan, Taylor Sheridan, Celestina Harris, Martin Donovan, Max Martini, Kirk Acevedo, Robyn Lively,
Jay Huguley, Demián Castro and Morgan Freeman.

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

Joe McNamara (Saldaña) is a CIA squad leader in charge of the Lioness program.  When a cartel sends assassins to the US, a Congresswoman is kidnapped and family massacred.  Joe’s team is sent to Mexico to retrieve the Congresswoman.

After the mission, it is decided that the leadership of the cartel is getting too bold.  A message will be sent on Mexican soil.  It will be Joe and the Lioness program that delivers it.  The new recruit to the program has the connection needed, but can she be trusted… when it’s a family member she will betray?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Season two is even better than season one.  It starts with a bang and never lets up.

Taylor Sheridan writes every episode, directs the first two and even shows up acting in some.

Special Ops: Lioness aka Lioness: Season 2 rates 5 of 5 stars.

“Smuggler’s Cove” (1948) starring Leo Gorcey and the Bowery Boys / Z-View

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Smuggler’s Cove (1948)

Director:  William Beaudine

Screenplay: Tim Ryan, Edmond Seward; based on Smuggler’s Cove 1933 serial in Blue Book Magazine by Talbert Josselyn

Stars: Leo Gorcey, Huntz Hall, Gabriel Dell, Martin Kosleck, Paul Harvey, William ‘Billy’ Benedict, David Gorcey, Benny Bartlett, Eddie Gribbon, Gene Roth, Emmett Vogan and John Bleifer.

Tagline: They’re SLY SPIES…In a Harum-Scarem Adventure!!

The Plot…

Slip mistakenly believes he’s inherited a creepy old remote mansion.  He takes the gang to see his new digs.  What none of them know – but will soon find out — is a gang of criminals are using the deserted house as a base of operations!

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Smuggler’s Cove is one of the best of all the Bowery Boys movies.  The old house is full of hidden passages, paintings used for spying, false panels — everything you’d expect in a film of this era.

Smuggler’s Cove (1948) rates 3 of 5 stars.

Jack Carter & John Wick: Gang War by Meesimo!

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Every year the Cartoon Art Museum does a fundraiser.  Artists take on commissions with the funds raised going to support the Museum.  It’s a great cause by awesome artists who share their talents in an effort to support the Museum.

This year one of the two artists I commissioned was Christian “Meesimo” Meesey.  As you can see, I asked for Stallone from Get Carter and Keanu Reeves as John Wick.  Meesimo said, “Okay…” and took the art to the next level!  My scan doesn’t do the piece justice.  Not only does it cut off a bit of the right side of the art including the girl’s knife, but the tones are so much nicer in person.

I cannot thank Meesimo enough for this sweet addition to my Stallone art collection.

“The Bad Shepherd” (2024) directed by Geo Santini; starring Christos Kalabogias, Scotty Tovar, Justin Taite, Brett Zimmerman and Geo Santini / Z-View

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The Bad Shepherd (2024)

Director:  Geo Santini

Screenplay: Ryan David Jahn

Stars: Christos Kalabogias, Scotty Tovar, Justin Taite, Brett Zimmerman, Annie Gonzalez and Geo Santini.

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

Paul, John, Leonard and Travis — four friends loaded into one truck driving on a remote dirt road for a weekend hunting.  The truck accidentally strikes and kills a woman walking alone. When the friends get out to check on the woman’s condition, they find she’s dead.

Not far from the dead woman is a bag full of cash.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

The Bad Shepherd is a low-budget crime/horror/thriller.  I love the twist.  The acting was fine — especially Scotty Tovar and Geo Santini.  Kudos also to Santini for his direction.  After viewing the movie, the title makes me smile.

The Bad Shepherd (2024) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“TMZ Presents: UFO Revolution”: Season 2 (2024) / Z-View

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TMZ Presents: UFO Revolution: Season 2 (2024)

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

Jeremy Corbell talks (on and on) about the risks and rewards of what he does and why he does it.

Jeremy Corbell meets with politicians (just drops in as he’s proud to say).  He lets them know he has an secret whistleblower that has an “explosive report” that is going to change everything.  Corbell is glad he can trust these politicians.  Once this report is made public the world will know the truth!

Jeremy Corbell is at the November 13, 2024 UAP congressional hearing.  One of the politicians he trusts is running the committee.  The whistleblower’s report that Corbell shared with politicians in his one-on-one meetings is going to be entered into evidence.  The world will know the truth!  Except when the document is shared, it is not credited to Corbell for bringing it forward.  Another man gets the credit.  The information provided is seen as, interesting.  Corbell feels betrayed.

But he will carry on to bring the truth about UFOs forward.

Thoughts…

There is even more filler in the three episodes of season 2.  Tons of slow motion shots of Corbell walking.  Tons of shots of him talking on his cell phone to various people.  Riding in Ubers.  Sitting on a chair in a big empty set (see below) and looking quietly into space or at his hands.  Talking about the dangers to him and his family.  But. He. Must. Get. The. Truth. Out.

The most interesting thing in the six episodes (of seasons 1 and 2) is the “jellyfish” UFO.  We learn nothing more about it in season 2.

Fool me once, shame on you.  Fool me twice, shame on me.  If Jeremy Corbell ever says he has some evidence that is going to change everything, I think I’ll just wait until everything changes.

TMZ Presents: UFO Revolution: Season 2 (2024) rates 2 of 5 stars.

“TMZ Presents: UFO Revolution”: Season 1 (2024) / Z-View

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TMZ Presents: UFO Revolution: Season 1 (2024)

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

Jeremy Corbell is at the forefront of a movement to get the government to admit they know that aliens have and are visiting the earth.  Corbell is in regular contact with government and military whistleblowers who want the truth to come out.

A government hearing concludes there is no evidence of aliens.  Corbell says the committee is lying and the whistleblowers have been put at risk.

Video footage of “new” UFOs, including a “jellyfish” type flying object are discussed as well as theories about what these things could be.

Thoughts…

There is a lot of filler in the three episodes in season 1.  Opinions differ widely about Jeremy Corbell.  Is he a huckster or someone truly passionate about getting the truth out.  There seems to be a lot of “I’ve been told this and when it comes out it will change everything.”  Why not just tell it now?

The most interesting thing in the three episodes is the “jellyfish” UFO.  I would have liked to have heard an in-depth discussion from “experts” on what it could be.

There are three more episodes in season 2.  I hope they’re better.

TMZ Presents: UFO Revolution: Season 1 (2024) rates 3 of 5 stars.

HIT: COMPLETE COLLECTION by Bryce Carlson & Vanesa Del Rey is Coming!

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The HIT: COMPLETE COLLECTION by Bryce Carlson (Author), Vanesa Del Rey (Illustrator) will appeal to crime fiction fans.  Here’s the downlow…

To combat the organized crime rings threatening to overwhelm 1950s Los Angeles, the LAPD sends in Harvey Slater, a detective authorized off-the-books to take care of “untouchable” criminal problems…

Los Angeles in the 1950s is a place of contrast. It’s home to the bright lights and movie stars of Hollywood’s golden age… and a hotbed of organized crime muscling in on Mickey Cohen’s turf. But LAPD has a plan—Harvey Slater, a detective authorized off-the-books to take care of “untouchable” criminal problems.

The criminals aren’t the only untouchable thing Slater’s going after, though. When his captain’s absent daughter returns, Slater quickly finds himself entangled in the trouble she brings with her… and her ties to his other cases!

From writer Bryce Carlson (Zombie Tales) and artist Vanesa Del Rey (The Creeping Below), experience the entire dark, violent, and sensual look into corruption on both sides of the law, inspired by the true history of LA and collected into one volume for the first time!

Collects Hit: 1955 #1-4 and Hit: 1957 #1-4.

HIT: COMPLETE COLLECTION drops May 20, 2025.

“Zero Day” starring Robert DeNiro, Jesse Plemons with Matthew Modine and Angela Bassett – The Second Trailer is Here!

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The second trailer for the limited series, Zero Day starring Robert DeNiro, Jesse Plemons with Matthew Modine and Angela Bassett is here!

Deal me in.

How can you seek the truth when you can’t even trust your own mind? In the wake of a devastating cyber attack, a former President (Robert DeNiro) is tasked with finding the perpetrators and seeking truth amid the chaos.

Premieres February 20th.

“What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?” (1962) directed by Robert Aldrich; starring Bette Davis & Joan Crawford / Z-View

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What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962)

Director:  Robert Aldrich

Screenplay: Lukas Heller; based on WHATEVER HAPPENED TO BABY JANE by Henry Farrell

Stars: Bette Davis, Joan Crawford, Victor Buono, Wesley Addy, Anne Barton, Marjorie Bennett, Bert Freed, Anna Lee, Maidie Norman, Dave Willock, Russ Conway, Maxine Cooper, Robert Cornthwaite, Michael Fox and Barbara Merrill.

Tagline: Things you should know about this motion picture before buying a ticket: 1) If you’re long-standing fans of Miss Davis and Miss Crawford, we warn you this is quite unlike anything they’ve ever done. 2) You are urged to see it from the beginning. 3) Be prepared for the macabre and the terrifying. 4) We ask your pledge to keep the shocking climax a secret. 5) When the tension begins to build, try to remember it’s just a movie.

The Plot…

1917.  Baby Jane Hudson is a national treasure.  The child actress/singer is in such demand that vaudeville stages across the nation are sold out for every performance when she’s in town.  Baby Jane dolls are all the rage.  Unfortunately success has spoiled the little girl.  Little Jane realizes that she’s the family money-maker. She has the power to call the shots.  That means bossing her father/manager around, ignoring her mother and mistreating her slightly older sister Blanche.

When movies become all the rage, Baby Jane learns that the magic is gone.  She’s aged out of being the cute little girl performing on stage. The Jane Hudson that shows up on screen isn’t a very good actress.

But Blanche Hudson is.  Audiences love her and studios want her in their pictures.  If her parents were still alive Blanche would be the breadwinner.  Thankfully Blanche treats Jane better than she was treated when their roles were reversed.

That was decades ago.  A terrible accident crippled Blanche and cut short her movie career.  Now it’s just Blanche and Jane living in the big old mansion bought with Baby Jane‘s money.  Thankfully Blanche’s movie career provided the funds for Blanche and Jane to survive.  But those funds are dwindling.  Jane’s drinking and mistreatment of Blanche is getting worse.

Wheelchair bound and confined to the upstairs floor, Blanche is getting worried.  Baby Jane is planning a comeback… but has a few things she plans to do first.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? was nominated for five Academy Awards winning one…

  • 1963 Nominee Best Sound – Joseph D. Kelly (Seven Arts-Warner Bros. Glen Glenn Sound Department)
  • 1963 Nominee Best Cinematography, Black-and-White – Ernest Haller
  • 1963 Nominee Best Actor in a Supporting Role – Victor Buono
  • 1963 Nominee Best Actress in a Leading Role – Bette Davis
  • 1963 Winner Best Costume Design, Black-and-White – Norma Koch

Betty Davis created her own make-up look for the film.  She say her character as never washing her face and each day adding another layer of make-up.  At first, the director and producers felt it was too over-the-top.  When the author visited the set, he said Davis looked just as he imagined Baby Jane.  The studio and director made the right decision to keep Davis’ look.

This features Victor Buono’s feature film debut.  It was also the only time he was nominated for an Oscar.

If the beach house seen at the end of the movie looks familiar, you may be remembering it from director Robert Aldrich’s 1955 film, Kiss Me Deadly where it was also seen at the end of the movie.

Kudos to Robert Aldrich for another excellent film.  More people should be aware of him.

What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962) rates 4 of 5 stars.