Marv by Toni Fejzula!
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 Toni Fejzula.
“Mayor of Kingstown”: Season 1 (2022) starring Jeremy Renner / Z-View
Mayor of Kingstown: Season 1 (2022)
Created by: Taylor Sheridan, Hugh Dillon
Director: Taylor Sheridan (Eps. 1, 3); Ben Richardson (Eps. 2, 4); Guy Ferland (Ep. 5-6); Clark Johnson (Eps. 7-8); Stephen Kay (Eps. 9-10)
Teleplay: Taylor Sheridan (Eps. 1-10) <Ep. 1 story by Taylor Sheridan, Hugh Dillon>
Stars: Jeremy Renner, Dianne Wiest, Hugh Dillon, Tobi Bamtefa, Taylor Handley, Emma Laird, Derek Webster, Pha’rez Lass, Aidan Gillen, James Jordan, Michael Beach, Nichole Galicia, Michael Reventar, George Tchortov, Scott Gibson, Jose Pablo Cantillo, Necar Zadegan, Derek Basco, Joe Parro, Connor Smith, Mandela Van Peebles, Andrew Howard, Adam Clark and Kyle Chandler.
Tagline: You can’t bury the past.
The Plot…
Kingston, Michigan is a prison town. The McClusky brothers, Mitch (Chandler) and Mike (Renner) have become unofficial powerbrokers at getting things done. Their connections to the prison, the cops and the gangs have helped keep the peace, solve crimes and ease tensions.
But there is always a cost. And sometimes the cost isn’t cash.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Although Kingstown, Michigan is a fictional town, many of the prison scenes were filmed at the Kingston Penitentiary, in Kingston, Ontario. Series co-creator, Hugh Dillon is from Kingston, Ontario.
Mayor of Kingstown is well written, well directed and well acted. The production values rival those of feature films.
Taylor Sheridan wrote all episodes and directed two. The other season one directors include…
- Ben Richardson directed episodes of Yellowstone, 1883, 1923 and Tulsa King.
- Guy Ferland directed episodes of Sons of Anarchy, The Walking Dead, The Strain and Yellowstone.
- Clark Johnson directed episodes of The Shield, The Wire, The Walking Dead and Luke Cage.
- Stephen Kay directed Get Carter and episodes of The Shield, Sons of Anarchy, Yellowstone and 1883.
Jeremy Renner is perfect as the no-nonsense Mike McClusky. Other standouts in the acting department include Dianne Wiest, Hugh Dillon, Emma Laird and Nichole Galicia. Tobi Bamtefa, Hamish Allan-Headley and Pha’rez Lass are new to me, but actors to watch for. Actually, I should probably list every supporting actor/actress because they are all perfectly cast.
The surprises, twists and ever building tension make each episode must-see tv. I look forward to season 2 and beyond.
Mayor of Kingstown: Season 1 (2022) rates 5 of 5 stars.
Arnold Schwarzenegger as Conan by Richard Bonk!
Crom! Arnold Schwarzenegger as Conan by Richard Bonk. You can see more of Bonk’s art here.
“Bad for Each Other” (1953) starring Charlton Heston & Lizabeth Scott / Z-View
Bad for Each Other (1953)
Director: Irving Rapper
Screenplay: Irving Wallace, Horace McCoy based on SCALPEL by Horace McCoy
Stars: Charlton Heston, Lizabeth Scott, Dianne Foster, Mildred Dunnock, Arthur Franz, Ray Collins, Lester Matthews, Chris Alcaide, Frank Sully, Ann Robinson, Dorothy Green and Blackie Whiteford.
Tagline: Ghost Surgeon! Forced into the medical shadow world by the love of a money-hungry woman!
The Plot…
Colonel Tom Owen M.D. (Heston) returns to Coalville, Pennsylvania to attend his brother’s funeral. His brother, the mining company’s safety engineer was killed with several others in a mining explosion. Although Tom is a straight arrow military leader and doctor, he discovers that his brother was taking kickbacks to allow the purchase of substandard mining equipment.
When Tom investigates further he becomes enchanted with Helen Curtis (Scott), the wealthy daughter of the mine owner. Tom decides to retire from the military. He takes up residence at a medical facility run by Dr. Homer Gleeson (Matthews). Dr. Matthews caters to the rich. Soon the easy money and Helen begin to change Tom’s point of view.
Tom is blind to the fact that he, Helen (and the easy money) are bad for each other.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Made several years before Heston became a big star.
“Power” (2024) / Z-View
Power (2024)
Director: Yance Ford
Screenplay: Yance Ford, Ian Olds
Tagline: None.
The Plot…
Power explores the history of police in the United States.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
It’s crazy to think that the idea of a city police force didn’t start in the United States until 1838.
The focus of this documentary reminds me of the saying that when the only tool you have is a hammer, you begin to see everything as a nail.
“Howl” (2015) / Z-View
Howl (2015)
Director: Paul Hyett
Screenplay: Mark Huckerby, Nick Ostler
Stars: Elliot Cowan, Rosie Day, Sam Gittins, Ross Mullan, Robert Strange, Sean Pertwee, Ed Speleers and Shauna Macdonald.
Tagline: Last train. Full moon. All change.
The Plot…
A late night train traveling through a remote wilderness comes to an unexpected stop. When the conductor get off to check on things, he is killed by a werewolf. Soon the few passengers on the train realize that they must work together to survive. The creature that killed the conductor isn’t alone.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Director Paul Hyett is known for his special effects in Neil Marshall’s Dog Soldiers, The Descent, Doomsday and The Centurion. Shauna (The Descent) Macdonald and Sean (Dog Soldiers) Pertwee worked with Hyett previously.
The acting is better than expected for a low budget horror film.
“Wolfs” starring George Clooney & Brad Pitt – The Trailer is Here!
This could be fun!
Global superstars George Clooney and Brad Pitt team up for the action comedy Wolfs. Clooney plays a professional fixer hired to cover up a high profile crime. But when a second fixer (Pitt) shows up and the two “lone wolves” are forced to work together, they find their night spiraling out of control in ways that neither one of them expected.
Written and Directed by: Jon Watts
“Take Aim at the Police Van” (1960) / Z-View
Take Aim at the Police Van (1960)
Director: Seijun Suzuki
Screenplay: Shinichi Sekizawa story by Kazuo Shimada
Stars: Michitarô Mizushima, Misako Watanabe.
Tagline: None.
The Plot…
A van transporting prisoners is ambushed. A sniper kills two prisoners and escapes. The guard in charge of the transport, Daijirô Tamon (Mizushima) is suspended. Tamon decides to use his time off to track down the killer. As he gets closer to the truth, Tamon learns human traffickers may be involved. What chance does one man have against an criminal organization?
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Take Aim at the Police Van‘s subject matter could have been ripped from today’s headlines. Despite being filmed in 1960, the movie has a few scenes that couldn’t get a “G” rating.
Take Aim at the Police Van (1960) rates 3 of 5 stars.
Sly Stallone as Dwight Manfredi in “Tulsa King” by Julio Carvalho!
Julio Carvalho nailed the look and attitude of Sly Stallone as Dwight Manfredi in Tulsa King. Bravo! You can see more of Carvalho’s art here.
Robert Eggers’ “Nosferatu” Alt Poster by Ben McLeod!
Anyone looking forward to Robert Eggers new film Nosferatu? Ben McLeod is and he made an iconic alt poster for it. You can see more of McLeod’s art here.
“Jade” starring Mickey Rourke, Katherine McNamara & Mark Dacascos, introducing Shaina West – The Poster & Trailer are Here!
I like the retro feel to Jade‘s poster and trailer. It definitely would qualify as a “drive-in” movie that I would look forward to seeing.
Follows a woman who comes between a powerful businessman and a gang leader in their search for a hard drive that could damage the operations of Interpol. The woman is required to use her unique set of skills to retrieve the drive.
MYSTIC: THE MONK ADDISON CASE FILES by Jonathan Maberry is Coming!
I’m a big fan of Jonathan Maberry’s novels. My favorite is his JOE LEDGER series, but everything I’ve ever read by Maberry has been worthy.
MYSTIC: THE MONK ADDISON CASE FILES is on my “must-buy” list. (How about that cover by Lynne Hansen!)
MYSTIC: THE MONK ADDISON CASE FILES drops December 3rd, 2024. Below is the synopsis…
Gerald “Monk” Addison used to be a soldier. Sometimes he’s a bounty hunter. Mostly, he’s a killer of killers.
His body is covered with the faces of victims of serial killers, human traffickers, and other monsters. Their blood is mixed with holy water and then inked onto his skin, allowing him to relive their deaths. To feel what they felt, and to see what they saw. The faces of the killers.And then Monk goes hunting.
He is forever haunted by the ghosts who hire him. A madman mystic. A man driven to darkness and acts of shocking violence. Monk is a good man on a dark and dangerous road in search of personal redemption. In search of red justice.
MYSTIC collects the Monk Addison case files, pitting him against the most dangerous kinds of human monsters. These are stories of a complex and driven hunter of men. They are tales of a mystic hunting the nightmare streets and back alleys.
For full details click here.
“Fallout”: Season 1 (2024) starring Ella Purnell, Aaron Moten & Walter Goggins / Z-View
Fallout: Season 1 (2024)
Created by: Graham Wagner, Geneva Robertson-Dworet
Based on Fallout by Bethesda Softworks
Director: Jonathan Nolan (Eps. 1-3); Daniel Gray Longino (Ep. 4); Clare Kilner (Ep. 5); Frederick E.O. Toye (Ep. 6); Frederick E.O. Toye, Clare Kilner (Ep. 7); Wayne Yip (Ep. 8)
Teleplay: Geneva Robertson-Dworet & Graham Wagner (Eps. 1-3); Kieran Fitzgerald (Ep. 4); Carson Mell (Ep. 5); Karey Dornetto (Ep. 6); Chaz Hawkins (Ep. 7); Gursimran Sandhu (Ep. 8)
Stars: Ella Purnell, Aaron Moten, Kyle MacLachlan, Walton Goggins, Sarita Choudhury, Leslie Uggams, Michael Cristofer, Mykelti Williamson, Matt Berry, Zach Cherry, Rodrigo Luzzi, Cameron Cowperthwaite, Michael Emerson, Michael Rapaport, Dale Dickey, Jake Garber, Frances Turner, Glenn Fleshler, Angel Desai, Harry Sutton Jr., Fred Armisen.
Tagline: None.
The Plot…
As World War III began, wealthy people who had connections made their way to underground “vaults”. These fallout shelters were prepped so that the inhabitants could stay underground until it was safe to return to the surface.
200 years have passed. The vault people have led a sheltered life. Everyone is polite and kind. When members of another vault are invited over, it turns out that they are surface dwellers who brutally attack the vault folks. One of the vault leaders, Overseer Hank MacLean (MacLachlan) is kidnapped.
Lucy MacLean (Purnell), Hank’s young adult daughter ventures to the surface to rescue her dad. Totally unprepared for the savages, monsters and ghouls living on the surface, Lucy is determined to find her father or die trying.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
I went into season one of Fallout having never played the game or knowing much about it. My main reasons for watching were Walter (Justified) Goggins and Ella (Army of the Dead) Purnell. They did not disappoint.
Fallout is an odd mix of futuristic retro, Mad Max-type characters, gore and silliness. It all comes together pretty well.
I enjoyed Fallout season 1 enough that I’ll tune in if there is a follow-up.
Fallout: Season 1 (2024) rates 3 of 5 stars.
Marv by Daniel Acuña Perez
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 an amazing Marv by Daniel Acuña Perez.
