Marv by Howie Noel!
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 Howie Noel.
A SINGLE SHOT by Matthew F. Jones / Z-View
A SINGLE SHOT by Matthew F. Jones
First sentence…
Before the sun is up, John Moon has showered, drunk two cups of coffee, and changed into his blue jeans, sweatshirt and Timberland hiking boots.
The Overview: Beware of Spoilers…
John Moon has lost a lot. First it was the family farm. Then his wife and child. His work at the factory doesn’t pay enough. Times are tough.
It’s not hunting season, but John decides to risk another poaching fine. John hikes deep into the woods. He spots a big stag and takes a shot. The wounded beast runs off. John doesn’t want the buck to suffer and tracks it. Deeper in the woods, John bends down to check the trail. He hears movement and looks up to see a flash of brown and white. John fires and hears the animal fall.
As John is walking to where the buck fell, he’s suddenly surprised by the wounded animal charging him. He’s gored in the shoulder as he strikes the stag with his rifle. The buck goes down and is soon out of its misery. John is confused. He thought he killed the buck with his second shot.
John pushed through the brush to where he heard the animal fall. It was a young woman. She’s dead. Killed by John. John’s sick. He broke the hunter’s code. Be sure of what you’re shooting before you pull the trigger. John considers his options. Turning himself in won’t change anything for the girl. It’ll destroy his family. And put him in prison. Why was she out here anyway?
John decides to bury her. He looks around. Nearby is a small cave opening. John decides that will be the girl’s final resting place. As he checks it out, John discovers a metal box full of money.
John makes another decision. It’s an easier one. He takes the money. Places the body in the cave. Says a prayer. Then does his best to remove any evidence he was there. Finished, John hikes out.
John is paranoid as the days pass. Bad men have a way of finding what’s theirs. And soon they will.
Rating:
“Backfire” (1950) starring Edmond O’Brien, Virginia Mayo and Gordon MacRae / Z-View
Backfire (1950)
Director: Vincent Sherman
Screenplay: Ivan Goff, Larry Marcus, Ben Roberts; story by Larry Marcus
Stars: Edmond O’Brien, Virginia Mayo, Gordon MacRae, Dane Clark, Viveca Lindfors, Sheila MacRae, David Hoffman, Monte Blue, Russ Conway, John Daheim, John Dehner and Ed Begley.
Tagline: A double-cross that doubled back…with a blonde on the end of it!
The Plot…
1948. Although the war is over, Bob Corey (MacRae) is still in a military hospital recovering from injuries. One surgery to go and Bob will just need some rehab to be good as new. Then he plans to marry his nurse, Julie Benson (Mayo) and open a ranch with his best friend Steve Connelly (O’Brien). Bob and Steve have been best friends since serving together in the war. Steve regularly visits Bob… until he doesn’t show up one day.
Late one night as Bob recovers from his final surgery a strange woman appears in his room. She wakes Bob and tells him that Steve was crippled in a terrible accident. She says that Steve wants to die but she refuses to help him commit suicide. As Bob falls back to sleep, the woman disappears.
Bob leaves the hospital determined to find his friend. As he follows clues, Bob doesn’t get much help. The police are looking for Steve for other reasons. A gambler named Lou Walsh (whose very name scares people) seems involved some how. But who is Lou Walsh?
As Bob gets closer to the truth, people begin to get murdered. The killer now has his sights on Bob and his fiancé Julie.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
The movie was filmed in 1948, but not released until 1950. In those two years Mayo and MacRae had become bigger stars and so their names were moved up to the top in advertising materials.
Backfire (1950) rates 3 of 5 stars.
“Special Ops: Lioness” aka “Lioness”: Season 1(2023); created by Taylor Sheridan; starring Zoe Saldaña, Laysla De Oliveira, Michael Kelly with Morgan Freeman and Nicole Kidman / Z-View
Special Ops: Lioness aka Lioness: Season 1 (2023)
Created by: Taylor Sheridan
Director: John Hillcoat (Eps. 1-2; 7-8); Anthony Byrne (Eps. 3-4); Paul Cameron (Eps. 5-6)
Teleplay: Taylor Sheridan (Eps. 1-2; 4-8); Taylor Sheridan; story by Taylor Sheridan and Thomas Brady (Ep. 3);
Stars: Zoe Saldaña, Laysla De Oliveira, Dave Annable, Jill Wagner, LaMonica Garrett, James Jordan, Austin Hébert, Jonah Wharton, Hannah Love Lanier, Nicole Kidman, Michael Kelly, Thad Luckinbill, Celestina Harris, Stephanie Nur, Martin Donovan, Max Martini and Morgan Freeman.
Tagline: None.
The Plot…
Joe McNamara (Saldaña) is a CIA squad leader in charge of the Lioness program. Their mission is to take out Asmar Ali Amrohi. Amrohi finances terrorism throughout the world. The plan is to give Sergeant First Class Cruz Manuelos (De Oliveira) a false identity and get her close to Amrohi’s daughter, Aaliyah (Nur). Then given the opportunity, Cruz will kill Amrohi or call in an air strike to take out everyone in Amrohi’s vicinity.
Problems arise when Cruz begins to feel a true friendship for Aaliyah. Meanwhile Joe deals issues at home and the Senate Oversite Committee.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
One of my favorite parts of the show are the characters that make up the Lioness squad. The show features a great mix of side missions, Joe’s home problems as well as dealings with politicians.
Taylor Sheridan has another winner.
Special Ops: Lioness aka Lioness: Season 1 rates 4 of 5 stars.
Mike McKone “Gets Carter”
I’ve been a Mike McKone fan since I first saw his art. So when McKone offered a sketch option with the purchase of his sketchbook, it was a no-brainer. I asked for Sly Stallone as Jack Carter or Dwight Manfredi. Mike McKone decided to “Get Carter” and I couldn’t be happier.
Even without the original sketch option, Mike McKone’s sketchbook should be on every art lovers “to be purchased” list. If you can get the sketch, don’t sleep on the deal.
“Prince of Darkness” (1987) written & directed by John Carpenter; starring Donald Pleasence / Z-View
Prince of Darkness (1987)
Director: John Carpenter
Screenplay: John Carpenter as Martin Quatermass
Stars: Donald Pleasence, Lisa Blount, Jameson Parker, Victor Wong, Dennis Dun, Susan Blanchard, Anne Marie Howard, Dirk Blocker, Jessie Lawrence Ferguson, Peter Jason, Thom Bray, Joanna Merlin and Alice Cooper.
Tagline: Before man walked the earth… it slept for centuries. It is evil. It is real. It is awakening.
The Plot…
A priest (Pleasence) discovers a large cylinder of green bubbling liquid hidden in a church. The priest can sense that the container holds something evil. In an effort to discover exactly what the substance is, the priest brings in Professor Howard Birack (Wong) and several of his best students. The team begins running tests to determine the age, make-up and other properties of the green liquid. At the same time others work to decipher the ancient manuscripts found with the cylinder.
The unknown substance is at least 7 million years old, made of pre-biotic material and is quickly evolving. The priest feels the increasing power of the substance and fears that it may be Satan or some other ancient god. Soon homeless people begin showing up outside the church. They stand a stare as if waiting for something. Then the team members begin to experience the same dream – a menacing dark figure coming towards them.
Soon the team will know the truth…
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
I’m a John Carpenter fan, but I feel that Prince of Darkness falls far short of Carpenter’s best work. As always, your mileage may vary.
Prince of Darkness (1987) rates 2 of 5 stars.
Wolverine by John Byrne & George Perez!
Here’s something you don’t see everyday. Wolverine in one of his most famous scenes penciled by John Byrne and inked by George Perez!
The piece was originally published in 1993 as a pencil drawing for the John Byrne X-Men Portfolio as Plate 7 (Editions Deesse, 1993). Then in 2003, the owner of the original art commissioned George Perez to ink it!
Click over to the George Perez Website on X to see a larger version.
“Background to Danger” (1943) directed by Raul Walsh; starring George Raft, Sydney Greenstreet & Peter Lorre / Z-View
Background to Danger (1943)
Director: Raoul Walsh
Screenplay: W.R. Burnett; based on UNCOMMON DANGER by Eric Ambler
Stars: George Raft, Brenda Marshall, Sydney Greenstreet, Peter Lorre, Osa Massen, Willard Robertson,
Kurt Katch and Turhan Bey.
Tagline: GEORGE RAFT Rougher and tougher than ever! FIGHTS THE FAT MAN SYDNEY GREENSTREET You can trust him as far as you can throw him!
The Plot…
1942. World War II rages. Because Turkey is neutral, the United States, Russia and Germany have embassies trying to sway the country. Spies are everywhere.
Joe Barton (Raft) is traveling by train in Turkey when he meets a pretty woman. Barton sees a man staring at the woman. He asks if she needs help. She asks Barton to hold some papers for her. They will meet at her hotel once they arrive at their destination. Barton agrees.
Barton is followed to his hotel. In his room he is searched but the papers aren’t found. Later, after he’s made sure he wasn’t tailed, Barton heads to the hotel where the woman is staying. When he goes to her room, he discovers she’s been murdered. Barton hides when another man enters the room. As the man goes through the woman’s things, Barton escapes. He’s followed by the man who entered behind him.
Barton realizes the papers are valuable. But to which country? Barton has been set-up as the woman’s murderer. The authorities, Russian and German spies want the information in Barton’s possession.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
In the source novel, the character George Raft plays was a salesman. Raft demanded that his character be changed to an undercover FBI agent using the salesman job as a cover.
The last scene in this film shows an airplane taking off. The scene was taken from Casablanca. Interestingly enough, George Raft was offered the starring role in Casablanca, but turned it down. It became one of Humphrey Bogart’s most popular roles and the film is considered a classic.
Background to Danger (1943) rates 3 of 5 stars.
“Rounding” – The Poster and Trailer are Here!
The poster is so-so, but the trailer for Rounding has me on board.
Deal me in.
ROUNDING opens in select theaters and on digital February 14.
After a traumatic incident, a driven young medical resident transfers to a rural hospital for a fresh start, but the demons of his past start to catch up to him when he becomes consumed by the case of a patient with mysterious symptoms.
Cast: Namir Smallwood, Sidney Flanigan, Michael Potts, Rebecca Spence
Director: Alex Thompson
“A Working Man” screenplay by Sylvester Stallone; directed by David Ayer; starring Jason Statham, David Harbour & Michael Peña – The Poster and Trailer are Here!
Today we have the poster and trailer for A Working Man written by Sylvester Stallone, based on a character created by Chuck Dixon. The film stars Jason Statham, David Harbour and Michael Peña. The working title for the film was Levon Cade.
Deal me in.
Human Traffickers Beware.
Watch the trailer for #AWorkingMan, starring Jason Statham and from ‘The Beekeeper’ director David Ayer.
See the movie only in theaters March 28.
“Nightmare” (1956) written & directed by Maxwell Shane; starring Edward G. Robinson & Kevin McCarthy / Z-View
Nightmare (1956)
Director: Maxwell Shane
Screenplay: Maxwell Shane; based on And So to Death by Cornell Woolrich
Stars: Edward G. Robinson, Kevin McCarthy, Connie Russell, Virginia Christine, Gage Clarke, Marian Carr,
Barry Atwater, John Mitchum, Cosmo Sardo and Rhys Williams.
Tagline: None.
The Plot…
Stan Grayson (McCarthy) wakes from a restless night. Stan dreamed he had a fought and killed a man. When Stan notices strangle marks on his neck, blood on his wrist and a key that he’s never seen before, he begins to believe it wasn’t a dream.
Wracked with guilt and confusion, Stan tells his brother-in-law, New Orleans Detective Rene Bressard (Robinson) about the situation. Bressard assures Stan it was just a dream. Stan probably scratched himself as he was tossing and turning. Stan isn’t so sure.
Things take a turn for the worse when it is discovered that a man was killed where Stan’s “dream” took place. Only the man wasn’t the only one murdered! Is Stan a killer? Has he been set up?
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Nightmare features a creative opening and a great mystery set-up. Along the way we get a couple of unexpected turns.
If you’re a fan of mystery movies of this era, you should enjoy Nightmare.
Nightmare (1956) rates 3 of 5 stars.
“In the Lost Lands” starring Dave Bautista & Milla Jovovich – The Poster and Trailer are Here!
The poster and trailer for In the Lost Lands starring Dave Bautista and Milla Jovovich are here. It looks to be more fantasy than I usually like, but so far I do like what I see.
A Queen sends the powerful and feared sorceress Gray Alys to the ghostly wilderness of the Lost Lands in search of a magical power, where the sorceress and her guide, the drifter Boyce, must outwit and outfight man and demon.
Starring: Dave Bautista, Milla Jovovich
Directed by: Paul W.S. Anderson
Release Date: March 7, 2025
“Reacher”: Season 3 – The Official Trailer is Here!
Reacher: Season 3 – The Official Trailer is Here!
Deal me in.
The bigger they are, the harder they fall.
The new season of #REACHER hits February 20.
“Broken Darkness” (2017) written & directed by Christopher-Lee dos Santos / Z-View
Broken Darkness (2017)
Director: Christopher-Lee dos Santos
Screenplay: Christopher-Lee dos Santos
Stars: Sean Cameron Michael, Suraya Rose Santos, Brandon Auret, Ryan Kruger and Jonathan Pienaar.
Tagline: None.
The Plot…
Years ago massive world-wide meteor showers forced survivors into an underground existence. Tunnels now connect “stations” where groups survive. Although each station is self-sufficient, there is little power for lights, heat, or any modern convenience. Survivors have been reduced to living in the dark and existing on little.
When the Kentucky station’s water supply is cut due to a leak, Sam, Troy and Rose are sent to find and repair the problem. This will take them far from the station and into dangerous areas where mutants and cannibals roam.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Broken Darkness has an interesting set-up and the plot sounds exciting. Sadly the end result doesn’t live up to expectations. I found Broken Darkness to be slow and when the action did start, not exciting enough to keep me interested. I tapped out at 59 minutes.
Broken Darkness (2017) rates 1 of 5 stars.
“Nosferatu the Vampyre” (1979) written & directed by Werner Herzog; starring Klaus Kinski & Isabelle Adjani / Z-View
Nosferatu the Vampyre (1979)
Director: Werner Herzog
Screenplay: Werner Herzog; based on Nosferatu by F. W. Murnau; and DRACULA by Bram Stoker
Stars: Klaus Kinski, Isabelle Adjani, Bruno Ganz.
Tagline: Nosferatu…he who is doomed to wander alone in darkness. Nosferatu…he who is condemned to destroy even those whom he loves. Nosferatu…a tale of seduction in the dark night of the soul.
The Plot…
Jonathan Harker (Ganz) is sent to Transylvania to finalize an estate purchase with Count Dracula (Kinski). Harker is unaware that Dracula is a vampire that will soon become infatuated with his wife, Lucy (Adjani).
Dracula intends to leave Transylvania for his new manor in Wismar, Germany. In this new metropolis Dracula will be able to feed without fear of discovery. Dracula will also take possession of Lucy.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Nosferatu the Vampyre is a melding of Dracula (1931) and the 1922 film Nosferatu. For my money, Dracula (1931) is by far the better of the three. (And of the four if we include 2024’s Nosferatu.)
Much of Nosferatu the Vampyre is filmed during the day which isn’t the best time for a vampire movie. The character design of Nosferatu and his portrayal wasn’t frightening or intimidating. The still photos from the film were creepy, but lost something on screen.
I did like the idea that much of what happens to Harker and what he sees in Dracula’s castle might just be in his mind. Is the castle a ruin or fully intact? Is the boy who plays the violin real? I also liked the ending’s twist. Still, the movie overall fell short for me. I was expecting much more.
Nosferatu the Vampyre (1979) rates 2 of 5 stars.
