RIP: Betty White

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Betty White, the beloved comedian, actress and author died today from natural causes at the age of 99.  Betty White’s career began in radio in the 1940s.  She transitioned to television working on local stations in 1949.  From 1952 to 1955, Betty White starred in (and also co-created and co-produced) Life with Elizabeth which was syndicated nationally.  Following Life with Elizabeth, Ms. White would go on to appear in television series, game and talk shows and the occasional feature film.

Betty White’s breakout role came in 1973 when she joined The Mary Tyler Moore Show playing Sue Ann Nivens, a woman in her 50s who was always on the prowl for a man.  She was a hit with critics and fans. Betty White won two (of her 5) Emmys for her efforts as Sue Ann Nivens.  When The Mary Tyler Moore Show ended Ms. White continued to stay busy with her own show (The Betty White Show, 1977-78) as well as guest appearances on television programs and tv movies.  She was so popular she ended up with recurring roles on The Love Boat, Mama’s Family and Empty Nest.

At the age of 63 (when many folks are considering retirement), Betty White landed the role of Rose Nyland on The Golden Girls.  The series ran for seven seasons and Ms. White returned as Rose for the sequel series The Golden Palace (which ran for one season).  Betty White’s portrayal of Rose Nyland won her another Emmy and she was nominated every year of The Golden Girls run!  

Betty White continued to make guest appearances (often in recurring roles) for the remainder of her career.  Her popularity continued to grow with each passing year.  Betty White’s 100 birthday was less than three weeks from today.  A big celebration that was to be filmed to mark the occasion will go on as planned and is tentatively titled “Betty White: 100 Years Young — A Birthday Celebration.“

Although she was 99 years old, Betty White’s passing came as a surprise. I loved how her popularity grew as she got older.  It was always a pleasure to see her guest appearances and who didn’t love her as Sue Ann Nivens or Rose Nyland?  From all accounts Betty White was as wonderful a human being as she appeared to be. The world is a little less fun now that she is gone.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Betty White’s family, friends and fans.

 

Crime Scene: The Times Square Killer (2021) / Z-View

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Crime Scene: The Times Square Killer (2021) Director: Joe Berlinger The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

Crime Scene: The Times Square Killer has at it’s core the story of a serial murderer who tortured, sexually abused and butchered school-age girls and prostitutes.  How the police came to understand that they were dealing with a serial killer (he reportedly killed between 80-100 women) in a time when police departments from different cities didn’t coordinate information, didn’t have access to the internet or DNA makes for an interesting documentary.

Sadly that is not the focus of Crime Scene: The Times Square Killer.

Unfortunately more time is given to the pornography in Times Square aspect.  The pornography tie-in to the case is that several of the serial killer’s victims were prostitutes who worked Times Square.  So we learn how Times Square in the 70s and 80s morphed from movie houses to porn shops and peep shows.  We hear from folks in the porn industry who have no direct ties to the murders.  Short shrift is given to how police captured the killer, the trial or events that led to learning there were many other unsolved murders that he committed.

As I said, Crime Scene: The Times Square Killer has at it’s core an interesting story of the capture of a serial killer, there’s just too much filler you have to go through to get there.

“Don’t Look Up” / Z-View

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Don’t Look Up (2021) Director: Adam McKay Screenplay: Adam McKay

Stars: Leonardo DiCaprio, Ryan Reynolds, Jennifer Lawrence, Meryl Streep, Cate Blanchette, Rob Morgan, Jonah Hill, Tyler Perry,  Timothée Chalamet, Ron Perlman, Ariana Grande, Michael Chiklis  and Paul Guilfoyle.

Tagline: Based on truly possible events. The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

When a grad student (Lawrence) and her professor (DiCaprio) discover a huge comet on a collision course with Earth they bring the information up the chain of command to the President (Streep).  Unfortunately the information about the possible end of the world comes at a bad time — the mid-term elections are just around the corner.  Although sworn to secrecy, Lawrence and DiCaprio take the information to the media.  Now that the world knows action will be taken… or not.

A satire about an apocalyptic disaster with this all-star cast had so much potential.  Sadly, Don’t Look Up is a bit heavy-handed and long.  Lawrence and DiCaprio come off as neurotic worriers needing medication to get through the day (even before the discovery of a planet-killer comet on collision course with us).  Streep and her followers are in denial (Hence, the Don’t Look Up title) and more interested in ratings, money and being re-elected.  This set-up could have worked if we had some likeable characters and tighter editing.

There are funny scenes and set-ups.  Lawrence and DiCaprio are forced to wait for hours and hours to see the President with perhaps the most important information ever. Then when they finally do get in, the President and her staff downplay the danger because of ratings.  There’s potential laughs in how both conservatives and liberals react to the knowledge that the comet is coming.  It’s interesting that both groups find ways to make money off the comet – a concert for the libs and a rally for the President’s followers.  The way the media delivers the message to the masses and makes stars of some and ignoring others is ripe for laughs.  And we do get a few, but not enough to get better than a 2 star rating.

Concept Art for “Rebel Moon” from Zack Snyder!

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Zack Snyder posted this concept art for Rebel Moon, the next feature that is on the fast-track for Snyder to direct.  Sofia (Hotel Artemis, Atomic Blonde) Boutella is set to star in the feature co-written by Snyder, Shay (Army of the Dead) Hatten and Kurt (300) Johnstad.  In Rebel Moon, which some have dubbed “Seven Samurai in Outer Space” Boutella plays a woman…

…who seeks out warriors from nearby planets to protect her peaceful home colony from an army of vicious invaders…

Deal me in.

For more information check out Rebel Moon Concept Art Revealed By Director Zack Snyder by Sandy Schaefer at /Film.

RIP: John Madden

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John Madden, the Super Bowl winning NFL coach (who never had a losing season), the 12-time Emmy Award winner for sports broadcasting, and the namesake for one of the all-time best-selling video games died unexpectedly yesterday at the age of 85.  No cause of death was given.

John Madden was an all-conference college football (offensive tackle) and baseball (catcher) player.  Although he suffered a knee injury during his senior year, John Madden was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in 1958.  A second knee injury during training camp ended his pro career before he ever played a game.  From 1960 – 1966, Madden excelled as a college football coach which brought him to the attention of Al Davis, the owner of the Oakland Raiders.  Davis hired Madden as a Linebacker Coach in 1967.  In 1969, John Madden was named the Head Coach of the Raiders (making him the youngest Head Coach in the NFL).  Mr. Madden served as the Raiders Head Coach for ten years, winning one Super Bowl, never finishing below 2nd place in their division and never having a losing season.

After retiring as Head Coach of the Raiders, John Madden turned to television where he quickly became one of the most popular and respected sports broadcasters of all time.  John Madden’s popularity was so great he was sought after for commercials as well as television & movie appearances and the ever-popular Madden video game from EA Sports.

Watching John Madden’s Raiders was always fun, but watching a John Madden sports broadcast was even better.  John Madden knew the game and made his analysis fun.  Mr. Madden came off like the guy you’d like to hang out with at the family bar-b-que.  You knew he’d have great stories to share, and would enjoy the food, talk and fellowship. 

Our thoughts and prayers go out to John Madden’s family, friends and fans. 

RIP: Andrew Vachss

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Andrew Vachss died yesterday at the age of 79.  No cause of death was given.

Andrew Vachss led an interesting life.  He was at different times a social-services case worker, an attorney who only represented children and adolescents, and an author.  Mr. Vachss wrote 33 novels, 3 short story collections, many graphic novels/comic books, as well as essays on child protection (which was an underlying theme in much of his work).   Andrew Vachss loved dogs and under-dogs.  His passion was to bring abusers to justice and this theme ran throughout his work without ever coming off as preachy.

Andrew Vachss jumped to my favorite authors list with his 1988 novel Blue Belle, his third Burke novel.  Vachss had a unique voice and Burke (and his crew) were unlike any other crime fiction characters I’d read.  I quickly sought out the first two Burke books and anxiously awaited the publication of each new tale.  Along the way I followed Andrew Vachss to comics/graphic novels and other tales which always entertained.

Rest in Peace, Mr. Vachss.  Our thoughts and prayers go out to Andrew Vachss’ family, friends and fans.

The 100 Best TV Series of the 21st Century!

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Recently BBC.com came up with the 100 Best TV Series of the 21st Century.  To get their rankings they polled…

206 TV experts – critics, journalists, academics and industry figures – who came from 43 countries, from Albania to Uruguay. Of these voters, 100 were women, 104 were men, and two were non-binary. Each voter listed their 10 favourite TV series of the 21st Century, which we scored and ranked to produce the top 100…

Before you click over, here are my top ten (in alphabetical order) using just their list…

  • 24 (2001-2010)
  • Better Call Saul (2015-2022)
  • Big Bang Theory (2007-2019)
  • Breaking Bad (2008-2013)
  • Deadwood (2004-2006)
  • Fargo (2014-)
  • Game of Thrones (2011-2019)
  • Mindhunter (2017-2019)
  • Office, The (US) (2005-2013)
  • Shield, The (2002-2008)

And I have to ask… how did Justified not make the top 100???  It would have been in my top ten for sure.

THE FLOCK by J. Todd Scott is Coming!

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J. Todd Scott’s next novel, The Flock, has been announced for a September 20, 2022 drop date.  Here’s the synopsis…

Ten years after a fiery raid kills her family, former cult member Sybilla “Billie” Laure has a completely new identity. She’s settled in rural Colorado with her daughter, hoping for a quieter life. But the world has other plans.

With wildfires raging and birds dropping from the sky, Billie wonders if her cult leader father’s apocalyptic predictions are finally coming true. When an intruder murders her husband and kidnaps her daughter, Billie has no choice but to confront the secrets of her past. But Billie’s journey has other perils, too―namely, a police chief hot on her trail, determined to expose the dangers of the defunct doomsday cult.

To save her daughter, Billie will have to go back to where it all began―to the ruined compound in New Mexico where the real threat is the truth.

Preorders are available now!

“Uncharted” – Tom Holland, Mark Wahlberg and Antonio Banderas – The Poster and Trailer are Here!

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I may be a little late to the party, but Uncharted starring Tom Holland, Mark Wahlberg and Antonio Banderas looks like a fun ride.  Deal me in.

Street-smart thief Nathan Drake (Tom Holland) is recruited by seasoned treasure hunter Victor “Sully” Sullivan (Mark Wahlberg) to recover a fortune lost by Ferdinand Magellan 500 years ago. What starts as a heist job for the duo becomes a globe-trotting, white-knuckle race to reach the prize before the ruthless Moncada (Antonio Banderas), who believes he and his family are the rightful heirs. If Nate and Sully can decipher the clues and solve one of the world’s oldest mysteries, they stand to find $5 billion in treasure and perhaps even Nate’s long-lost brother…but only if they can learn to work together.

Directed by:  Ruben Fleischer

Screenplay by:  Rafe Judkins and Art Marcum & Matt Holloway

Screen Story by:  Rafe Judkins

Ranking the “Alien” Franchise Films from Best to Worst!

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Joshua Meyer at /Film decided he would come up with his list of Every Alien Movie Ranked From Worst To Best.  Using just his list (he considers Aliens vs Predator a “side-series”), here are my rankings and thoughts on each…

1.  Aliens: is my choice for the best of the series.  I won’t argue against Alien being #1 though.  Either of these two films are heads and shoulders above all that followed.

2.  Alien: will be the #1 choice of many and there is a strong case for it to be first.  Without Alien we’d have no Aliens (or all that followed), even if no sequel(s) were ever made, Alien would still be considered a great film.

3. Alien Resurrection: as my third choice will probably surprise a lot of folks.  I’m  a fan.  I like the supporting cast (Winona Ryder, Ron Perlman, Gary Dourdan, Dominique Pinon, Michael Wincott and Dan Hedaya).  There’s a comic book feel to the film (I say that in a good way).  Alien Resurrection is a fun ride (that I’ve taken many times and look forward to again in the future).

4.  Alien3: was a let-down.  While it wasn’t an Alien or Aliens, it did have Sigourney Weaver back and David Fincher as the new director.  I need to rewatch Alien3 to see if it has improved with age.

5. and 6.  Alien: Covenant and Prometheus:  Neither of these films resonated with me.  They didn’t feel like Alien films to me (if that make any sense).  I definitely need to give them another viewing.    

 

Night of the Cooters – Directed & Starring Vincent D’onofrio – The Teaser is Here!

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I’ve never read the short story but this teaser for Vincent D’onofrio’s adaptation makes me want to see Night of the Cooters.

George RR Martin Presents – Howard Waldrop’s Night of the Cooters.  Lumenscapes and Trioscope Studios have teamed up to present Vincent D’onofrio’s film adaptation of the classic short story in glorious “Trioscope”.

NIGHT OF THE COOTERS tells the tale of townsfolk in Pachuco Texas in the 1800’s rallying around one cause, survival against the unwelcome visitors from “up there”.

Join the townsfolk on their journey to figure out what the hell is going on in the big hole at the edge of town.

With a screenplay by the one and only Joe Lansdale, and music by the prolific Ramin Djwadi get ready for a ride like no other through the mind of the great Howard Waldrop.

Starring – Vincent D’Onofrio,
Supporting cast – Hopper Penn, Harrison Page, Martin Sensmeier, Luce Rains, Cristin McCleary, Elias Gallegos, Jazzy Kim O’Brien, and Darius Eteeyan.

“Confession” – The Poster and Trailer are Here!

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I like the poster and trailer to Confession.  Deal me in.

David Beton’s action-thriller, CONFESSION… starring Stephen Moyer (“True Blood”, “Fortunate Son”) and Colm Meany (Seberg, “Star Trek : Deep Space Nine”)… in theaters January 21, 2022 followed by a VOD release Jan 25.

An intense-thriller played in real time during one fateful night, CONFESSION fixes on a wounded man (Moyer) who takes a priest (Meany) hostage, determined to confess to a past misdemeanor before it’s too late. Written and directed by David Beton (One Last Heist), CONFESSION also stars Clare-Hope Ashitey (Children of Men).