“Sinners” Old School Alt Poster by Shawn Mansfield!
Don’t you just love the old school feel of this alt Sinners poster by Shawn Mansfield. I know I do. I’ll bet you do as well.
“Absolution” (2024) starring Liam Neeson / Z-View
Absolution (2024)
Director: Hans Petter Moland
Screenplay: Tony Gayton
Stars: Liam Neeson, Daniel Diemer, Javier Molina, Jimmy Gonzales, Brian A. White, William Xifaras, John Duddy, Yolonda Ross, Bruce Busta Soscia and Ron Perlman.
Tagline: Everyone pays in the end.
The Plot…
An aging legbreaker learns that he has Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). He’s already forgetting things. His diagnosis is fatal. In just a few months he will lose all memory. The thug hopes to reconnect with his estranged daughter and grandson before he dies.
But time is running out… and his crime boss has other plans.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
I was hoping for better. Absolution is, pun intended, forgettable.
A film that had a similar take and was excellent is Knox Goes Away.
Absolution (2024) rates 2 of 5 stars.
Rocky vs Clubber Lang by Meesimo!
Every year the Cartoon Art Museum does a fundraiser. Artists take on commissions with the funds raised going to support the Museum. It’s a great cause by awesome artists who share their talents in an effort to support the Museum.
This year one of the two artists I commissioned was Christian “Meesimo” Meesey. As you can see, I asked for Stallone and Mr. T from Rocky III.
Meesimo came through with a knockout addition to my collection.
“Reservoir Dogs” Alt Poster by Huan Do!
Got to love this creative alt poster for Reservoir Dogs by Huan Do.
“The Lost World” (1925) / Z-View
The Lost World (1925)
Director: Harry O. Hoyt
Screenplay: Marion Fairfax; based on THE LOST WORLD by Arthur Conan Doyle
Stars: Bessie Love, Lewis Stone, Wallace Beery, Lloyd Hughes and Arthur Conan Doyle.
Tagline: See the mighty prehistoric monsters clash with modern lovers in a most remarkable story of love, romance and amazing adventure.
The Plot…
Explorer Maple White is missing. His journal details an amazing lost land where dinosaurs still roam! A newspaper sponsors a rescue party consisting of Professor Challenger (an ecentric professor), his butler Austin, Paula White (Maple’s adult daughter), Sir John Roxton, the newspaper’s reporter Edward Malone (reluctantly going to impress his fiancée), Professor Summerlee (who is skeptical that they will find living dinosaurs), and Zambo (an Indian servant).
The rescue team finds more than expected… and may themselves need rescuing!
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
The Lost World is the first US (and maybe the world) feature film to feature stop motion animation photography as the primary special effect.
In April 1925, The Lost World became the first in-flight movie shown to passengers on a London to Paris flight by Imperial Airways.
Buyers beware. The Lost World has fallen into public domain so there are many shoddy copies out there.
The Lost World (1925) rates 4 of 5 stars.
Batman Stalked by Killer Croc in a Sewer by Greg Smallwood!
I love this Greg Smallwood painting of Batman being stalked by Killer Croc in a sewer. In some ways it reminds me of the Batman painted cards I collected as a kid, but if they were issued by Vertigo. Now this set-up screams of a Batman movie I’d want to see.
Click on the art to see a Killer-Croc sized version.
“Weapons” (2025) written & directed by Zach Cregger; starring Julia Garner, Josh Brolin and Amy Madigan / Z-View
Weapons (2025)
Director: Zach Cregger
Screenplay: Zach Cregger
Stars: Julia Garner, Josh Brolin, Cary Christopher, Benedict Wong, Anny Jules, Howard St. John, Ali Burch, Alden Ehrenreich, Whitmer Thomas, Melissa Ponzio and Amy Madigan.
Tagline: Last night at 2:17 am every child from Mrs. Gandy’s class woke up, got out of bed, went downstairs, opened the front door, walked into the dark …and they never came back.
The Plot…
At 2:17 am, while nearly everyone in Maybrook, Pennsylvania, was fast asleep, 17 children got out of their beds, quietly left their homes and disappeared. Several security cameras caught the children running from their homes into the night. Police were stymied. The children vanished with no clues as to where or why.
When it became clear that all of the children were in Justine Gandy’s third grade class, she became the main suspect. Police questioned Ms. Gandy but there was nothing linking her to the disappearance. It was a strange case. All but one of the children in Justine Gandy’s class were missing. Only one, Alex Lilly, showed up for school the next day. Neither Alex or his parents had any idea what/who was behind the missing children.
Justine Gandy, frustrated with police efforts decides to investigate. She believes that Alex’s parents know more than they are saying.
She will find out just how wrong she is…
Archer Graff, the parent of a missing student, frustrated with police efforts decides to investigate. He believes Justine Gandy knows more than she is saying.
He’ll find out just how wrong he is…
Ring the bell. School’s in.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Netflix premiered Weapons at 2:17 am, the same time as the disappearance of the children.
Amy Madigan was perfect!
Weapons (2025) rates 4 of 5 stars.
Creepy “Carrie” Alt Poster by Sara Deck!
Check out this creepy Carrie Alt Poster by Sara Deck!
“The Undercover Man” (1949) starring Glenn Ford / Z-View
The Undercover Man (1949)
Director: Joseph H. Lewis
Screenplay: Sydney Boehm, Malvin Wald (additional dialogue) based on Undercover Man: He Trapped Capone by Frank J. Wilson from a story outline by Jack Rubin
Stars: Glenn Ford, Nina Foch, James Whitmore, Barry Kelley, David Bauer (as David Wolfe), Howard St. John, Leo Penn, Esther Minciotti, Angela Clarke, Anthony Caruso, Robert Osterloh, Kay Medford, Patricia Barry (as Patricia White) and Peter Brocco.
Tagline: TOLD WITH THE SNARL OF A MACHINE GUN!
The Plot…
US Treasury Agent Frank Warren has been assigned to bring down the mob boss know as Big Fellow. Every witness or informent is terrified from testifying, paid off or found dead. Then Warren gets a lead from an unexpected source.
Now Big Fellow has targeted Frank Warren and his wife to die.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Big Fellow was of course based on Al Capone.
The Undercover Man marks James Whitmore’s feature film debut.
Leo Penn is the father of actors Sean and Chris Penn.
The Undercover Man (1949) rates 3 of 5 stars.
Wolverine – “The Scars are Not Wounds Anymore. They’re Stories.” by Mike Deodato!
Mike Deodato created this amazing Wolverine piece. I love the drawing and what Mike had to say about it. Here’s part of it, click over for the full statement…
Age didn’t break Wolverine.
It forged him. Tempered the fire, focused the fury.The scars are not wounds anymore. They’re stories.
Proof that he’s been through everything and somehow still stands — steady, deliberate, unstoppable.
“Loudermilk” Season 3 (2020) / Z-View
“Loudermilk”: Season 3 (2020)
Created by: Peter Farrelly & Bobby Mort
Teleplay by:
- (eps. 1; 10) Bobby Mort & Peter Farrelly
- (ep. 2) John Jordan & Thomas Jordan
- (ep. 3) Bobby Mort
- (ep. 4) Jackie Flynn, Jimmy Dunn & Peter Farrelly
- (ep. 5) Laura Streicher & Kate Schriver
- (ep. 6) Dave Connaughton & John Trozak
- (ep. 7) Ricky Blitt
- (ep. 8) Danny Smith
- (ep. 9) Yassir Lester & Peter Farrelly
Directed by:
- Bobby Farrelly (eps. 1-3, 5, 7-8, 10)
- Peter Farrelly (eps. 4, 6, 9)
Stars: Ron Livingston, Will Sasso, Anja Savcic, Brian Regan, Jackie Flynn, Timothy Webber,
Ricky Blitt, Tyler Layton-Olson, Viv Leacock, Sam Bob, Laura Mennell and Eric Keenleyside.
Tagline: None.
The Plot…
Sam Loudermilk was once a popular music critic. Now Sam is a recovering alcoholic and substance-abuse group leader. Sam has a good heart, but an acid tongue. He doesn’t hesitate to give his opinions on the absurd things/people he comes in contact with. Sam’s best friends are his roomate, Ben (also a recovering alcoholic) and the regulars that attend his group sessions.
In season three Sam deals with…
- being forced to “parent” his baby brother
- Ben’s talents as a chef
- Ben starting a food truck
- the legal fallout from golfing with friends from the support group
- the ramifications of an honest review
- Roger getting a courage reward for being himself
- someone using his credit card
- the UNEXPECTED return of…
- making amends for a past wrong
- and more.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
I just discovered Loudermilk this year. The series is funny and has heart. The supporting cast is a hoot. If you enjoy a fun 30 minute sitcom, give Loudermilk a shot.
“Loudermilk’: Season 3 (2020) earns 4 of 5 stars.
Monsters by Barret Chapman!
Monsters by Barret Chapman! This beauty is available as a limited edition fine art Giclee print.
Marv by Alex Ogle!
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 a Marv by Alex Ogle.
“The Big Steal” (1949) directed by Don Siegel; starring Robert Mitchum, Jane Greer and William Bendix / Z-View
The Big Steal (1949)
Director: Don Siegel
Screenplay: Gerald Drayson Adams, Daniel Mainwaring (as Geoffrey Homes) based on “The Road to Carmichael’s” by Richard Wormser
Stars: Robert Mitchum, Jane Greer, William Bendix, Patric Knowles, Ramon Novarro, Don Alvarado and John Qualen.
Tagline: It’s a tough, terrific adventure in grand larceny! But, there’s more than money on his mind…when he mixes with this gal with the million dollar figure!
The Plot…
$300,000 was robbed from a U.S. military payroll. Army lieutenant Duke Halliday wants the money. He knows Jim Fiske has it, but Fiske is on the lam. Duke is in pursuit. Duke’s superior, Captain Blake is after both Duke and Fiske. Blake intends to get the money back.
Fiske makes it across the US/Mexican border with both Duke and Blake not far behind. In Mexico, Duke meets Joan Graham. Fiske scammed her for $2,000.00. Duke and Joan reluctantly agree to work together.
Fiske is desperate. He’s come too far to lose the money. And he’ll kill anyone who gets in his way. Duke and Joan are in his way.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Don Siegel, who would go on to helm classics such as Dirty Harry and Invasion of the Body Snatchers does a fine job in his third outing as a feature film director.
The film’s shooting schedule was disrupted by Robert Mitchum’s 50-day prison sentence for marijuana possession.
Jane Russell was up for the female lead, but Howard Hughes was worried that Mitchum’s marijuana arrest would reflect badly on her. Russell was RKO Studios biggest female star and Hughes nixed her for the role. Lizabeth Scott refused the part, because she was also afraid it would tarnish her career. Jane Greer, who had worked with Mitchum in Out of the Past, got the role.
The Big Steal is the 1940s version of a chase movie.
There’s a couple of unexpected twists at the end. The Big Steal is a fun ride.
The Big Steal (1949) rates 4 of 5 stars.
Sly Stallone as Dwight Manfredi, The Tulsa King by Tony Nasa Gramegna!
Sly Stallone as Dwight Manfredi, The Tulsa King by Tony Nasa Gramegna.
