Marv by Chris Moneyham!
My all-time favorite comic character is Marv from Frank Miller’s Sin City. We never get to see enough of Marv. Here’s Chris Moneyham’s take on the big lug. You can see more of Chris Moneyham’s art here.
“The Devil Conspiracy” (2022) / Z-View
The Devil Conspiracy (2022)
Director: Nathan Frankowski
Screenplay: Ed Alan
Stars: Peter Mensah, Joe Anderson.
Tagline: The War of Angels Has Come to Earth
The Plot…
A satanic cult steals DNA from the Shroud of Turin in order to bring Lucifer back to rule the earth.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
I liked the idea of advances in technology to make it possible to use DNA from the Shroud of Turin to create a clone. Using the clone made from Jesus’ blood for evil purposes is an interesting twist. The Devil Conspiracy has great visuals and starts off well enough, but ultimately doesn’t finish as strong.
The Devil Conspiracy (2022) rates 3 of 5 stars.
“Napoleon” directed by Ridley Scott, starring Joaquin Phoenix – The Trailer is Here!
Deal me in!
Ridley. Joaquin. Napoleon. In theaters November 22
Directed by Ridley Scott from a screenplay by David Scarpa, “Napoleon” stars Joaquin Phoenix as the French emperor and military leader. The film is an original and personal look at Napoleon’s origins and his swift, ruthless climb to emperor, viewed through the prism of his addictive and often volatile relationship with his wife and one true love, Josephine, played by Vanessa Kirby. The film captures Napoleon’s famous battles, relentless ambition and astounding strategic mind as an extraordinary military leader and war visionary. An Apple Studios production in conjunction with Scott Free Productions, “Napoleon” is produced by Scott, Kevin Walsh, Mark Huffam and Phoenix, with Michael Pruss and Aidan Elliott serving as executive producers.
Two “Rocky Balboa” Newspaper Strip Samples by JOE KUBERT!
Back in January of 2005, I posted about meeting the legendary comic artist, Joe Kubert. Here is part of what I wrote then:
I had the good fortune to meet Joe Kubert in the early 80’s. He was Guest of Honor at one of Jim Ivey’s OrlandoCons. Joe Kubert was there to pick up his Ignatz award. At the time Mr. Kubert was also promoting a series that he was to write and draw for DC called The Redeemer. Sad to say it never appeared.
Another thing that Joe Kubert worked on that never appeared is, interestingly enough, a proposal for a Rocky Balboa newspaper strip. Mr. Kubert told me that he was approached to work on a daily newspaper strip and that he had in fact worked up character sheets, some daily samples, etc. Sadly the strip was never picked up.
You can imagine how excited I was to hear that JOE KUBERT had drawn Rocky Balboa. I asked Mr. Kubert if the art was available for sale, but it wasn’t. I then asked if I could buy Xeroxes but again, Mr. Kubert politely declined. Man, you just know that those pieces look great… maybe someday we’ll get the chance to see them in a treasury of his work.
The two strips you see above (click on the art to see them biggie-sized) are samples that Joe Kubert created for the proposed Rocky Balboa newspaper strip. These are the only two I’ve ever seen. I’m not sure how many others he may have drawn. One thing I am sure of: Any strip Joe Kubert drew would contain great art.
“Code of Silence” (1985) starring Chuck Norris / Z-View
Code of Silence (1985)
Director: Andrew Davis
Screenplay: Michael Butler, Dennis Shryack, Mike Gray story by Michael Butler, Dennis Shryack
Stars: Chuck Norris, Henry Silva, Bert Remsen, Mike Genovese, Nathan Davis, Molly Hagan and Dennis Farina.
Tagline: Eddie Cusack’s a good cop having a very bad day.
The Plot…
Sergeant Eddie Cusack (Norris) is in charge of a stakeout to take down some big time drug dealers. The stakeout goes sideways when the drug dealers are ripped off and killed. The thieves get away and Cragie, an alcoholic cop on Cusack’s team. accidentally kills a kid. Cragie then plants a gun on the kid to make the killing look legit. Cusak finds himself alone as he looks to bring Cragie to justice and find the killers.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Code of Silence was originally offered to Clint Eastwood as a potential Dirty Harry film but Eastwood passed.
This was director Andrew Davis’ first action movie. He would go on to direct action classics like Above the Law; Under Siege and The Fugitive.
I saw Code of Silence when it was initially released and liked it much better then than on a recent re-watch.
Code of Silence (1985) rates 2 of 5 stars.
The 10 Best Sly Stallone Films Ranked by Reddit and Craig Zablo
Vidhi Narula at Collider posted The 10 Best Sylvester Stallone Movies, According to Reddit. How the list doesn’t contain a single Rocky or Rambo film is beyond me. Before you click over to get Narula’s thoughts on each film, here is how I’d rank the Reddit choices.
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10. Cop Land (1997) |
Zablo 10. Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over (2003) |
“Renfield” (2023) starring Nicholas Hoult, Awkwafina & Nicholas Cage / Z-View
Renfield (2023)
Director: Chris McKay
Screenplay: Ryan Ridley from a story by Robert Kirkman based on Dracula by Bram Stoker
Stars: Nicholas Hoult, Nicolas Cage, Awkwafina, Brandon Scott Jones and Adrian Martinez.
Tagline: Stop serving. Start living.
The Plot…
Renfield (Hoult), Dracula’s (Cage) servant for the last 90 years, has come to realize he’s in a toxic relationship. He wants out. Unfortunately, Dracula is not ready to let him go.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Nicholas Cage would be one of the last actors I would consider to play Dracula, but since Renfield is a comedy, it all works out.
I thought it was cool that Chris McKay took a couple of scenes from the original Dracula film and superimposed Cage’s face for Dracula and Hoult’s for Renfield.
The idea that Renfield realizes he’s in a toxic relationship and attends meetings with others looking to get out of bad relationships creates for some funny business.
Renfield (2023) rates 3 of 5 stars.
“Galveston” (2018) starring Ben Foster & Elle Fanning / Z-View
Galveston (2018)
Director: Mélanie Laurent
Screenplay: Jim Hammett (aka Nic Pizzolatto) based on his novel Galveston
Stars: Ben Foster, Elle Fanning, Beau Bridges
Tagline: No past. No future. Nothing to lose.
The Plot…
Roy (Foster) is having a bad day. He just learned he has terminal lung cancer. Plus the local crime boss, Stan (Bridges), that he used to work for stole his woman. That’s bad enough, but then Stan tried to have Roy whacked. Now Roy is on the run with a young female escort that he just met. Roy wants revenge, before his time runs out.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Galveston has an interesting set up and an excellent cast. I was on board for the first two thirds of the movie. Unfortunately, it lost me in the final act. Your mileage may differ.
Galveston (2018) rates 2 of 5 stars.
“Justified: City Primeval” – The Character Posters Are Here!
Check out these cool character posters for Justified: City Primeval. I am so psyched for this!
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“Black and Blue” (2019) starring Naomie Harris, Tyrese Gibson, Frank Grillo & Mike Colter / Z-View
Black and Blue (2019)
Director: Deon Taylor
Screenplay: Peter A. Dowling
Stars: Naomie Harris, Tyrese Gibson, Frank Grillo, Mike Colter and James Moses Black
Tagline: The truth made her a target.
The Plot…
After a stint in the Army, Alicia West (Harris) has returned to her tough New Orleans neighborhood as a police officer. Alicia quickly learns that although she grew up there and is black, everyone now sees her as “blue”. This is driven home from her interactions with people she grew up with — they distrust the police and she’s now one of them.
When Alicia agrees to pick up an extra shift, she paired with a veteran cop. They take a couple of calls and then he tells her to wait in the car while he enters a building. When Alicia hears a gunshot, she leaves the car and heads to help her partner. She’s surprised to see him with some undercover cops as they murder a drug dealer. When Alicia is seen, one of the cops shoots her. Wounded and on the run, Alicia becomes the target of cops and the gangbangers when word is put out that she executed the drug dealers!
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Naomie Harris is excellent as the rookie cop, wounded and alone with no one to trust and everyone wanting her dead. Tyrese Gibson and Frank Grillo are always welcome additions to any cast. The real surprise for me is Mike Colter. Colter plays a huge, scary drug lord determined to avenge the murder of his nephew. He owns every scene he’s in.
Black and Blue (2019) rates 5 of 5 stars.
“Lost Bullet” (2020) starring Alban Lenoir / Z-View
Lost Bullet (2020)
Director: Guillaume Pierret
Screenplay: Guillaume Pierret, Alban Lenoir, Kamel Guemra
Stars: Alban Lenoir
Tagline: None.
The Plot…
Lino (Lenoir) is a top notch mechanic and getaway driver. When he’s caught on a heist gone wrong, he’s recruited to join a police task force out to capture drug runners using hopped up cars. When crooked cops frame Lino for a murder of a police officer, he finds himself on the run and marked for death.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
I sought out Lost Bullet after seeing Alban Lenoir in AKA. While AKA is a better film, Lost Bullet will satisfy action movie fans looking for a fun ride.
Lost Bullet (2020) rates 3 of 5 stars.
“Killers of the Flower Moon” — Official Trailer
“Killers of the Flower Moon” — The Official Trailer is Here!
Based on a true American Story. Killers of the Flower Moon, in theaters October.
At the turn of the 20th century, oil brought a fortune to the Osage Nation, who became some of the richest people in the world overnight. The wealth of these Native Americans immediately attracted white interlopers, who manipulated, extorted, and stole as much Osage money as they could before resorting to murder. Based on a true story and told through the improbable romance of Ernest Burkhart (Leonardo DiCaprio) and Mollie Kyle (Lily Gladstone), “Killers of the Flower Moon” is an epic western crime saga, where real love crosses paths with unspeakable betrayal. Also starring Robert De Niro, Jesse Plemons, John Lithgow, Brendan Fraser, Tantoo Cardinal, Cara Jade Myers, JaNae Collins, and Jillian Dion, Killers of the Flower Moon is directed by Academy Award winner Martin Scorsese from a screenplay by Eric Roth and Scorsese, based on David Grann’s best-selling book.
Hailing from Apple Studios, Killers of the Flower Moon was produced alongside Imperative Entertainment, Sikelia Productions and Appian Way. Producers are Scorsese, Dan Friedkin, Bradley Thomas and Daniel Lupi, with DiCaprio, Rick Yorn, Adam Somner, Marianne Bower, Lisa Frechette, John Atwood, Shea Kammer and Niels Juul serving as executive producers.
Song: “Stadium Pow Wow (feat. Black Bear)” by The Halluci Nation https://apple.co/StadiumPowWow
“Malone” (1987) starring Burt Reynolds / Z-View
Malone (1987)
Director: Harley Cokeliss
Screenplay: Christopher Frank, William P. Wingate
Stars: Burt Reynolds, Cliff Robertson, Kenneth McMillan, Cynthia Gibb, Scott Wilson, Lauren Hutton, Tracey Walter and Dennis Burkley.
Tagline: He didn’t start the fight… but he’ll sure as hell finish it.
The Plot…
Malone (Reynolds) is a retired C.I.A. assassin. While driving across country, Malone’s car breaks down outside a small town. He pushes the car to the only gas station for miles and meets the owner, Paul Barlow (Wilson) and his teenage daughter Jo (Gibb). Barlow allows Malone to stay at his house while they wait for the car part to arrive. Malone learns that a rich man named Delaney (Robertson) is buying up all the property in the area and is putting a squeeze on Barlow. When thugs are sent to convince Barlow to sell, Malone steps in. Soon Malone finds himself going against Delaney and his former allies at the C.I.A..
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Does it get any more mid-80s than Burt Reynolds, Cliff Robertson, Kenneth McMillan, Cynthia Gibb, Scott Wilson and Lauren Hutton?
Burt Reynolds described Malone as a retelling of Shane and he’s not far off… except the young boy is now a teenage girl with the hots for Malone.
If you’re a Burt Reynolds fan you’ll enjoy Malone more than a non-fan so keep that in mind as you consider my rating. I’m a Reynolds fan.
Malone (1987) rates 3 of 5 stars.
“Overlord” Alt Poster by Joel Herrera!
Joel Herrera created this cool alt poster for Overlord. Overlord is one of my favorite movies of recent years. It’s a cool mash-up of the horror / war genres. What’s not to love about Nazi monsters that are in fact monsters?
If you want to see more of Joel’s awesome art, you can at his Instagram page or his Etsy page.
“Wheelman” (2017) starring Frank Grillo / Z-View
Wheelman (2017)
Director: Jeremy Rush
Screenplay: Jeremy Rush
Stars: Frank Grillo, Garret Dillahunt, Shea Whigham, John Cenatiempo, George Carroll and Seth Ayott.
Tagline: Think Fast. Drive Faster.
The Plot…
In the middle of a bank robbery, the getaway driver learns that he’s been set-up and the thieves plan to kill him after they escape. Once the cash is in the trunk, the driver races off leaving the crooks behind. Now he must figure out how he can save his daughter and ex-wife from the thugs who betrayed him. The clock is ticking…
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Wheelman is a great example of how to do crime fiction right. Kudos to Jeremy Rush the writer/director for creating a sleek action film that starts off quick and only slows down enough for viewers to catch their breath.
Rush is supported by a wonderful cast. Frank Grillo was the perfect choice for the wheelman. The always great Garret Dillahunt and Shea Whigham have small but important roles.
If like me, you’re a sucker for a good crime film, than you can’t go wrong with Wheelman.
Wheelman (2017) rates 5 of 5 stars.
