“Nope” – The Second Poster is Here!
I really like this second poster for Nope, especially since we’ve seen the trailer.
“Code 8” (2019) / Z-View
Code 8 (2019)
Director: Jeff Chan
Screenplay: Chris Pare (from a story by Jeff Chan)
Starring: Robbie Amell, Stephen Amell and Sung Kang.
Tagline: Fear is the most dangerous power.
The Overview: Beware of Spoilers…
In the future a small percentage of the population have special powers. Conner Reed (Robbie Amell) is one of the few. Because his mother needs an expensive medical procedure, Reed falls in with a group of criminals who have use for Reed’s special abilities. Will Reed’s special abilities be enough when he has cops and criminals after him?
Code 8 features a pretty straight forward story with ambitious special effects for a low budget film. This is especially impressive considering that Code 8 was made thanks to crowdfunding dollars! Watch the credits for an amazing list of backers. Code 8 was a fun ride and earns 3 of 5 stars.
“All of Us Are Dead” Season 1 / Z-View
All of Us Are Dead: Season 1 (2022)
Creator : Chun Sung-il, Lee Jae-kyoo, Kim Nam-su (based on the webtoon Now at Our School by Joo Dong-geun)
Directors: Lee Jae-kyoo, Kim Nam-su
Writers: Chun Sung-il
Stars: Park Ji-hu, Yoon Chan-young, Cho Yi-hyun, Lomon, Yoo In-soo, Lee Yoo-mi, Kim Byung-chul, Lee Kyu-hyung and Jeon Bae-soo.
The Overview: Beware of Spoilers…
With All of Us Are Dead we get the zombie apocalypse from the perspective of high school students trapped in their school surrounded by the walking (and running) dead! There are subplots involving a father trying to get to his daughter, and the political/military aspects of dealing with the crisis, but the main story is how the students work together to survive.
All of Us Are Dead provides plenty of action with a large cast of characters (many who will not live through the season), This adds to the tension and raises the stakes of the series. Another interesting aspect is when a zombie variant appears. Is the virus mutating?
It seems like a real nit to pick when I say a little less high school drama would improve a zombie series set primarily in a high school. I enjoyed All of Us Are Dead and hope we get a season 2. All of Us Are Dead rates 3 of 5 stars.
“Trio” Poster Starring Sly Stallone, Whoopi Goldberg and Jackie Chan!
Today we have a super rare poster for the movie-within-a-movie, Trio from Burn, Hollywood, Burn. The poster features Sly Stallone , Whoopi Goldberg and Jackie Chan. Click on the image to see a larger version. – Craig
Sam Peckinpah’s “The Westerner” Starring Brian Keith / Z-View
The Westerner: Season 1 (1960)
Creator : Sam Peckinpah
Directors: Sam Peckinpah (Eps. 1; 3; 6; 12;13); André De Toth (Ep. 2; 8); Bernard L. Kowalski (Ep. 4); Don McDougall (Ep. 5); Ted Post (Ep. 7); Bruce Geller (Ep. 9); Tom Gries (Ep. 10); Elliot Silverstein (Ep. 11)
Writers: Robert Heverly (Ep. 1-2); Sam Peckinpah (Ep. 1-2; 4; 8); Bruce Geller (Ep.3; 6; 12; 13); John Dunkel (Ep. 4), E. Jack Neuman (Ep. 5); Cyril Hume (Ep. 7); Jack Curtis (Ep. 8); Milton S. Gelman (Ep. 9); Tom Gries (Ep. 10); Jack Curtis (Ep. 11)
Stars: Brian Keith
Guest Stars: Warren Oates; R.G. Armstrong; John Dhener; Arthur Hunnicutt; Sam Jaffe; Slim Pickens; Robert Culp; Michael Ansara
The Overview: Beware of Spoilers…
The Westerner is an under-rated series that ran for just one season. It was created, produced, written (or co-written) and often directed by Sam Peckinpah, Brian Keith starred as Dave Blassingame, a cowboy who drifted from town to town with his dog, Brown.
The Westerner wasn’t your typical cowboy show. Peckinpah demanded authenticity in the look of the sets, wardrobes and stories. When Blassingame rode into town, he looked like he had spent miles in he saddle. The saloons weren’t brightly lit with beautiful showgirls waiting to dance. No, these were frontier towns where tough men and women fought to survive. Peckinpah was offered a second season if he toned down the series to make it more like the other westerns of the time. Peckinpah declined.
Here are my favorite episodes from the series…
Jeff (Episode 1): Blassingame has been searching for his old flame, a sweet girl he called “Jeff”. When he finds her she is working in a frontier town tavern as a prostitute. Her pimp is an ex-prize fighter who doesn’t plan to give her up.
School Days (Episode 2): Blassingame hears screams and rides to the house to find a man who has just killed a school teacher. Blassingame shoots the man in self-defense. In an effort to contact the authorities and get the man first aide, Blassingame takes him to the nearest farmhouse… which happens to be where the man lives with his two brothers!
Hand on the Gun (Episode 12): Dave is working with other men catching wild horses to sell. A young man new to the frontier asks to join them. The kid wears his gun low like a gunfighter. When asked about it, he shows that he is a quick draw artist and teases the men spinning his gun, pointing it at them. Blassingame says he’ll take on the kid to show him the ropes if he keeps his gun holstered. The kid agrees even though we all know that’s a promise he won’t keep…
Brown (Episode 3); The Courting of Libby (Episode 6); The Painting (Episode 13): Reoccurring character Burgundy Smith (John Dhener) shows up in three episodes. Smith is a con man, card cheat who is always looking for a quick buck. At times he’s Blessingame’s partner although just as often his nemesis. These three episodes were humor heavy.
Overall I really liked The Westerner. It is available on dvd and through streaming. I rate it 4 of 5 stars.
EW Presents “An Oral History of THE SHIELD” is a Must Read for Any Fan of the Show!
Derek Lawrence at Entertainment Weekly has put together a must-read piece for any fan of The Shield. An Oral History of The Shield features recollections from Shawn Ryan (series creator), Michael Chiklis, Walton Goggins, Kurt Sutter, Glenn Close as well as other cast regulars, guest stars, writers, directors, and FX executives.
Take a bow Mr. Lawrence!
“Highlander” Alt Poster by The Boys in the Lab!
Click on the HIghlander image above to see a biggie-sized view. Or you can click over to The Boys in the Lab Twitter where you can see an even bigger version. While there, you might want to click the follow button to see more cool art.
“When We Were Kings” (1996) / Z-View
When We Were Kings (1996)
Director: Leon Gast
Starring: Muhammad Ali, George Foreman, Don King, James Brown, B.B. King, Spike Lee, Norman Mailer, George Plimpton, The Spinners and Howard Cosell..
Tagline: The untold story of the Rumble in the Jungle.
The Overview: Beware of Spoilers…
When We Were Kings is the Academy Award-winning documentary of the championship fight between the undefeated (40-0) Heavyweight Champion of the World, George Foreman and his challenger, Muhammad Ali, who was a 4-1 underdog. Promoter, Don King had contracts that paid each fighter $5 million and the backing of Mobutu Sese Seko, President of Zaire, who saw the fight as an opportunity to shine a positive light on his country. To that end, the fight became a culminating event of a festival that included performances by The Spinners, B.B. King and James Brown.
Leon Gast, using archival footage and interviews does an excellent job in presenting the backstories of Ali and Foreman as well as the fight’s historical significance. Ali had refused to enter the draft, became a Muslim and had changed his name from Cassius Clay. While many Americans had developed a dislike for Ali, he was dearly loved by the population of Zaire. George Foreman, was an Olympic Gold Medalist who proudly represented the USA, was the undefeated Champion of the World and the man who many thought would destroy Ali. The stage was set for what many thought would be the fight to end Muhammad Ali’s career… and yet, Ali once again shocks the world!
When We Were Kings is one of the best documentaries I’ve ever seen. It pulls you in, sets the historical context of the events, provides backstories on the key players while at the same time being entertaining. When We Were Kings rates 5 of 5 stars.
“Catching Killers” Season 2 / Z-View
Catching Killers: Season 2 (2022)
Produced by : Simon Dekker and Diana Sole Walko
The Overview: Beware of Spoilers…
Catching Killers is a documentary series focused on the capture of notorious killers as told by the actual investigators who caught them. There are four episodes in season 2.
Season 2, Episode 1: Bind, Torture, Kill: BTK. Although I knew the story of the BTK killer, this episode was exciting and engrossing. Over the course of nearly two decades the BTK killer violently tortured and then murdered ten people including an entire family of 4. After the murders BTK w0uld send taunting letters to the media and police describing his kills and threats of more to come, Despite leaving few clues during his 17 year murder spree, it was a stupid mistake that led to his capture.
Season 2, Episode 2: Thrill Kills: The Phoenix Serial Shooter. In 2005 through 2006, a pair of serial killers were stalking the streets of Phoenix, Arizona. These shotgun killers would find people on deserted sidewalks and blast as they drove by. The final victim count included six fatalities and several dozen people wounded.
Season 2, Episodes 3 & 4: The Toronto Village Killer. Talk about creepy! This case involved men who were missing and thought to be the victim of a cannibal killer! These two episodes produced the most suspense of the series. The police actually saved a man who was about to become the latest victim. Unfortunately, there’s a denouncement at the end of the episode that takes a little luster off the capture.
“20 Million Miles to Earth” Limited Edition Prints by Francesco Francavilla
Francesco Francavilla has teamed with Bottleneck Art Gallery and Justin Ishmael to offer two signed, limited edition prints for the Ray Harryhausen classic 20 Million Miles to Earth. There are two print editions and both go on sale February 23rd at 12pm.
“Oscar Micheaux: The Superhero of Black Filmmaking” (2021) / Z-View
Oscar Micheaux: The Superhero of Black Filmmaking (2021)
Director: Francesco Zippel
Screenplay: Francesco Zippel
Starring: Oscar Micheaux, Chuck D, Jacqueline Stewart, Morgan Freeman and Mario Van Pebbles..
Tagline: None.
The Overview: Beware of Spoilers…
Oscar Micheaux was a writer, director and producer of both silent and sound movies. Micheaux has been called “the most successful African-American filmmaker of the first half of the 20th century.”
Oscar Micheaux has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, was honored by the Director’s Guild of America, the Producers Guild of America has an annual award named after him, he is in the Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame, his image has appeared on a US postage stamp, and there are multiple Film Festivals named after him! Sadly all of these accolades came posthumously. Outside of serious fans of film history, few know about Oscar Micheaux.
I first learned of Oscar Micheaux because he was the writer/director of Body and Soul starring Paul Robeson. Thanks to Oscar Micheaux: The Superhero of Black Filmmaking, I now know the life story of Micheaux. What an amazing story it is.
Micheaux didn’t let any obstacle hinder him. At a time when there weren’t as many opportunities for people of color, Micheaux was able to raise funds to create films that he would write, direct, produce and even personally distribute from town to town! He would then use the funds from his current film to finance his next movie. More importantly Micheaux created films of substance that still resonate today. Micheaux’s films dealt with race relations and featured complex characters in modern day settings. I wish more people knew about Oscar Micheaux. Thanks to Francesco Zippel we can.
Oscar Micheaux: The Superhero of Black Filmmaking rates 4 of 5 stars.
“Murderville” Season 1 (2022) / Z-View
Murderville: Season 1 (2022)
Directors: Brennan Shroff (Eps.1 -2); Iain Morris (Eps. 3 – 6)
Teleplay: Marina Cockenberg (Ep.1, 4); Krister Johnson (Eps. 1 – 2, 4); Kerry O’Neill (Ep. 2); Anna Drezen (Ep. 3); Hannah Levy (Ep. 5); Adriana Robles (Ep. 5); Jack Kukoda (Ep.6)
Starring: Will Arnett, Haneefah Wood, Lilan Bowden, Phillip Smithey, Conan O’Brien, Marshawn Lynch, Kumail Nanjiani, Annie Murphy, Sharon Stone and Ken Jeong.
The Overview: Beware of Spoilers…
Detective Terry Seattle (Arnett) likes to think of himself as rugged, intelligent and capable. Sadly, he’s not. In each episode Detective Seattle is teamed with a new guest star who is tasked with solving a murder. The conceit of the series (and it’s a good one) is that the guest star is never given a script or access to the set until it is time for his/her scene. If you enjoy improv comedy, you’ll probably like Murderville.
Each episode has a basic framework: Detective Seattle meets his new partner, they’re sent to solve a murder that has three suspects. After interviewing each potential murderer, everyone is brought together and the guest star has to say who the killer is and the clues that led to that conclusion. Then the actual killer and clues are disclosed. A cool aspect of the show is that we can play along and see if our suspect is guilty. I was wrong as often as I was right.
There’s also an overarching mystery that runs throughout the six episodes. Fifteen years ago, Detective Seattle’s partner (Jennifer Anniston) was murdered. There were few clues and her murder was never solved,,, (at least until the last episode of the season)!
I enjoyed the mystery aspect as much as the improvisation in each episode. It was as fun guessing the killer as guessing which actors would break character or try to hide a smile/laugh. I enjoyed Murderville and hope it gets a second season. Murderville rates 3 of 5 stars.
“Race with the Devil” (1975) / Z-View
Race with the Devil (1975)
Director: Jack Starrett
Screenplay: Lee Frost, Wes Bishop
Starring: Peter Fonda, Warren Oates, Loretta Swit, Lara Parker, R.G. Armstrong and Jack Starrett.
Tagline: If you’re going to race with the devil, you’ve got to be as fast as Hell!.
The Overview: Beware of Spoilers…
Frank (Oates) and Roger (Fonda) are vacation with their wives (Swit and Parker) driving backroads across the country. They make camp one night far from any town. As the evening winds down, Frank and Roger share a few beers and stories when they see in the distance a huge bonfire. They go closer for a better look and witness a satanic cult performing a human sacrifice! Frank and Roger are seen and the chase is on.
I saw Race with the Devil on its initial release in June of 1975. I was 16 and the perfect audience for a film that was a combination horror, action and car chase mashup. I re-watched RwtD many times over the years and while it’s not quite as good as 16 year old me remembered it to be, it’s still fun. If you like drive-in type movies. and don’t think too hard about the plot, then you’ll have an enjoyable ride if you Race with the Devil.
“The Mummy” (1999) Trivia That May Surprise You!
Todd Gilchrist at Mental Floss came up with some surprising trivia about the 1999 reboot of The Mummy which he calls Unwrapping 16 Facts About The Mummy. Before you click over, here are three of my favs and my thoughts on each…
FILMMAKERS SPENT MANY YEARS TRYING TO REVIVE THE MUMMY. (While I did know this, I wasn’t aware that at one point George (Night of the Living Dead) Romero was recruited to write and direct the reboot. – Craig)
AT ONE POINT, DANIEL DAY-LEWIS WAS BEING EYED TO PLAY THE MUMMY. (While I could see Day-Lewis playing the Brendan Fraser role, would the producers really wanted Daniel Day Lewis as the Mummy? He’d be, uh, under wraps for most of the film! – Craig)
STEPHEN SOMMERS WON UNIVERSAL OVER WITH HIS CONTEMPORARY APPROACH. (Writing Rick O’Connell as an Indiana Jones-type character and adding in the humor was genius! – Craig)
Interestingly enough, I didn’t care for The Mummy (1999) but greatly enjoyed the sequel, The Mummy Returns (2001).
Marv by Matteo Scalera!
Check out the wicked Marv art by Matteo Scalera. You can see more of Matteo’s art on his Instagram page!
