“UNReal” – The Poster & Trailer are Here!

The poster and trailer for UNReal is here!  I love behind-the-scenes look and this one takes us behind the curtain of the WWE.

Deal me in.

When I was a kid, I loved pro wrestling.  I grew up in Terre Haute, Indiana.  The Bruiser and Wilbur Snyder were my favorites. They were the good guys.  Going to pro matches with my dad and grandpa was awesome.  When I was in 5th grade, I wanted to be a pro wrestler.  I thought my cousin and I would become a tag team.

Then a little later, Bobby “The Brain” came along.  He managed The Blackjacks (Mulligan and Lanza) and even though they were bad guys, my allegiance changed.

When we moved to Florida, I didn’t care for pro-wrestling as much.  These guys had a different style.  And I now knew pro-wrestling wasn’t real. But pro wrestlers and those promoting pro wrestling swore it was real – nothing was predetermined.  I stopped watching.  Interestingly enough, I wrestled all through high school.

When my kids were growing up, they took an interest in pro wrestling, so I started watching again with them.  I even took them to live matches. The wrestlers were more spectacular and the sport had never been more popular.  Then it become known and accepted that the matches were pre-determined.  THAT didn’t hurt the sport one bit.  The wrestlers were athletes.  They put on a great show and often suffered injuries to entertain their fans.

And now we get to go behind the curtain.  As I said…

Deal me in.

In an unprecedented turn, WWE takes us behind the scenes – into the writer’s room and the homes of their greatest Superstars – to show the year-round work it takes to execute one of the most secretive shows in the world week over week. And when the curtain falls down, the business of getting a show to air is just as compelling as the Main Event.

“Alien Earth” – Trailer 2 – Greener Earth is Here!

Alien Earth – Trailer 2 – Greener Earth is Here!

FX’s Alien: Earth.  OFFICIAL TRAILER 2: GREENER WORLD.

Prepare. Before it’s too late.

Premieres August 12 on ‪@FXNetworks‬ | ‪@hulu‬ and with #HuluOnDisneyPlus.

When the mysterious deep space research vessel USCSS Maginot crash-lands on Earth, “Wendy” (Sydney Chandler) and a ragtag group of tactical soldiers make a fateful discovery that puts them face-to-face with the planet’s greatest threat.

FX’s Alien: Earth is created for television and executive produced by Noah Hawley.

“The Woman in the Yard” (2025) starring Danielle Deadwyler / Z-View

The Woman in the Yard (2025)

Director:  Jaume Collet-Serra

Screenplay: Sam Stefanak

Stars: Danielle Deadwyler, Okwui Okpokwasili, Peyton Jackson, Estella Kahiha, Russell Hornsby  and Chad Pitter.

Tagline:  Don’t Let Her In

The Plot…

Ramona is still recovering from an auto accident that killed her husband.  Ramona is barely holding it together. If not for her teenage son Taylor, Ramona would be in a much worse situation.  Taylor is making sure that mom and Annie are fed and the house is in order.  Still, life on a remote farm is difficult in the best of times.  Then the power goes out.

How could things be worse?

Then one morning a woman veiled in black from head to toe shows up.  The woman is seated in a chair in the front yard.  When Ramona approaches, the woman will only say, “Today’s the day.”

Unable to call for help, the car unusable because of the wreck that killed her husband, and Ramona still on crutches, the family is worried about the woman in the yard.

Then the woman begins to move closer.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

The Woman in the Yard has an interesting set-up and a creepy factor.  At the start.  Sadly, as the movie progresses it loses both momentum and creepiness.

The Woman in the Yard (2025) rates 2 of 5 stars

“Dead Zone” (2022) starring Michael Jai White / Z-View

Dead Zone (2022)

Director:  Hank Braxtan

Screenplay: Michael Klug, Tim Ogletree; story by Michael Lurie, Jeffrey Giles

Stars: Michael Jai White, Antuone Torbert and Jeff Fahey.

Tagline:  None.

The Plot…

A squad of soldiers are sent into a zombie-infested town.  Their fate of humanity depends on their success.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

I was hoping for a much better film.  I barely made it through so I will barely rate it 2 stars.

Dead Zone (2022) rates 2 of 5 stars

“Hollywood Grit” starring Max Martini, Tyrese Gibson, Linda Purl and Patrick Duffy – The Poster & Trailer are Here!

Here’s the poster and trailer for Hollywood Grit starring Max Martini, Tyrese Gibson, Linda Purl and Patrick Duffy.  It’ll hit selected theaters on August 22nd.

Deal me in.

When his daughter vanishes from a scandalous Hollywood jazz club, a disgraced detective must battle mobsters, starlets, and his own demons to unearth the sinister truth lurking behind LA’s neon lights.

Starring Max Martini, Tyrese Gibson, Linda Purl, Patrick Duffy, Nikki Howard, Linc Hand, David B. Meadows, Caylee Cowan, and Benito Martinez.

“Red Eye” – One Poster & Two Trailers are Here!

One poster and two trailers for Red Eye have me interested in watching the new series.  They’re already working on season 2.

Deal me in.

A red eye flight from London to Beijing becomes a thrilling journey after Dr. Matthew Nolan (Richard Armitage) is arrested and accused of murdering a woman. Despite protesting his innocence, London Police Officer, DC Hana Li (Jing Lusi), is tasked with escorting Dr. Nolan back to Beijing to face charges — but after an incident occurs on-board, she finds herself embroiled in an escalating conspiracy.

All episodes are streaming July 22 on Hulu.

There’s no escape at 35,000ft.

“A Savage Art: The Life and Cartoons of Pat Oliphant” – The Poster and Trailer are Here!

A Savage Art: The Life and Cartoons of Pat Oliphant – the poster and trailer are here!

Deal me in.

In theaters September 5.
https://asavageart.com/

Patrick Oliphant was a giant slayer. In addition to being a fearless stunt pilot, executing dangerous maneuvers just to blow off a little steam, he bravely took on presidents, popes and the American corporate class with his mighty pen.

An Australian transplant, Oliphant was America’s most renowned and feared political cartoonist for five decades. With his biting wit and masterful drawing skills he attacked individual and institutional corruption, collusion, greed, hypocrisy and arrogance, no matter the size or status of his enemies.

A Savage Art is the story of Oliphant’s life and celebrated career, told in interviews with Pat, his family, friends and colleagues, in archival footage, and featuring hundreds of his cartoons.

A Savage Art also outlines the history of political cartoons, showing how important and impactful political cartoonists have been throughout the ages, and how, in our current climate of political partisanship and corporate control of the media, political cartoonists like Oliphant are critical to checking the powers that be.

Directed by Bill Banowsky

“Heads of State” (2025) starring Idris Elba, John Cena and Priyanka Chopra Jonas / Z-View

Heads of State (2025)

Director:  Ilya Naishuller

Screenplay: Josh Appelbaum, André Nemec, Harrison Query; story by Harrison Query

Stars: Idris Elba, John Cena, Carla Gugino, Jack Quaid, Sarah Niles, Katrina Durden, Ingeborga Dapkunaite, Sharlto Copley,  Steven Cree and Stephen Root.

Tagline:  None.

The Plot…

British Prime Minister Sam Clarke and Will Derringer, the newly elected US President, don’t like each other.  Unfortunately their disdain becomes obvious during a joint press conference.  In order to present solidarity, the two decide to fly together to the NATO summit on Air Force One.

When terrorists attempt to kill Clarke and Derringer, they found themselves forced to trust each other in order to survive.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Heads of State was a better film than I was expecting.  I attribute much of that to the chemistry between Elba and Cena.

Heads of State (2025) rates 4 of 5 stars

“Superman” (1978) by Tony Stella!

I have no interest in seeing the new Superman movie.  Not to worry, I think it will do just fine without my few dollars spent on a ticket.  Also, I am not in the targeted audience demographic for the new film.

Now the Richard Donner directed outing with Christopher Reeve… well, that was a different story.

Targeted demographic or not, I think that Tony Stella‘s Superman poster is just… super.

THE CONCRETE SMILE: A GRIFTER’S SONG 1 by Frank Zafiro / Z-View

THE CONCRETE SMILE: A GRIFTER’S SONG 1 by Frank Zafiro

First sentences…

“Jack-a-reno!”

Sam hated that.  Even if Jack had been his real name, he would have hated it…”

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

Sam and Rachel are lovers.  On the run.  That’s because they’re also grifters who conned the wrong folks.  Mafia folks.  Now Sam and Rachel have to keep moving.  And they have to keep scamming to pay the cost of a life on the run.

Their latest mark is Jacobson.  He owns a concrete company.  Jacobson thinks some folks want to buy his business. Jacobson has done his due diligence.  The folks buying have an opportunity to make millions, but their timeline is running thin. And they need Jacobson’s company to make it happen.

So Jacobson thinks he has the upper hand.  He’ll buy THEIR BUSINESS and he’ll make the millions.  One of the first rule of a con — make the mark want to give you their money.  Sam and Rachel have the hook in.  They just need a few more days.

Then the pair discover that they’ve been discovered.  They need to blow town before the mob’s hitman zeroes in on them.  Sadly, they need the score more.

The clock is ticking… tick… tick… tick…

+++

THE CONCRETE SMILE: A GRIFTER’S SONG 1 is a fast, fun read.  Clocking in at just 71 pages, Zafiro has laid the foundation for a fun crime series.  I look forward to more Grifter Songs.

Rating:

“The Fool Killer” (1965) starring Anthony Perkins and Edward Albert / Z-View

The Fool Killer (1965)

Director:  Servando González

Screenplay: Morton S. Fine, David Friedkin; based on THE FOOL KILLER by Helen Eustis

Stars: Anthony Perkins, Edward Albert, Henry Hull, Salome Jens, Dana Elcar, Arnold Moss and Lana Wood.

Tagline:  All the secret joys, the sudden terrors of being young and free and far from home

The Plot…

Life after the civil war could be tough.  For George Mellish who is twelve years old and an orphan, it is unbearable.  George’s foster parents took him so he could help with chores.  When George accidentally knocks over the butter churn, his step-father beats him.

That’s the final straw for George.  He gathers his few possessions and runs away.  When George hears a train approaching, he attempts to board it.  He throws his few goods onto a car and attempts to follow them.  The train is just too fast.  George trips and falls down as the train speeds away.

Now with just the clothes on his back, George continues walking.  What lies ahead is an incredible journey that may not end well. George will meet strange characters and possibly the legendary serial murderer known as The Fool Killer.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Edward Albert stars and it is his first credited role.  Edward Albert is the son of Eddie Albert. (Funny, but it would seem their names should be switched.)

The Fool Killer feels like a childhood fable.  It has a dreamlike quality with strange characters and a unique pace.  It’s part boyhood adventure, part mystery and part horror.

The Fool Killer (1965) rates 3 of 5 stars