“Good Night and Good Luck” (2025) starring George Clooney / Z-View

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Good Night, and Good Luck (2025)

Director: Micah Bickham, David Cromer

Screenplay: George Clooney, Grant Heslov

Stars: George Clooney, Mac Brandt, Will Dagger, Christopher Denham, Glenn Fleshler, Joe Forbrich, Jennifer Morris, Michael Nathanson, Andrew Polk, Aaron Roman Weiner and Fran Kranz.

Tagline: We will not walk in fear, one of another

The Plot…

U.S. Senator Joseph McCarthy leads investigations into individual citizens’ private lives in an effort to route out communists and get them blacklisted.  CBS journalist and broadcaster, Edward R. Murrow, arguably the most popular newsman of his time, takes a stand against McCarthy despite the problems and dangers it could cause him and others around him.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)… 

Good Night, and Good Luck first appeared as feature film directed by George Clooney.  In the film, Clooney played Fred Friendly.  David Strathairn took the role of Edward R. Murrow.  Clooney said the reason he didn’t take the lead in the movie was, “Murrow had a gravitas to him that at 42 years old I wasn’t able to pull off”.

Good Night, and Good Luck was the first ever live televised global broadcast of a Broadway play.

It’s ironic how events in the 1950s echo current events.

Good Night, and Good Luck (2025) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“Spider Baby” (1967) written & directed by Jack Hill, starring Lon Chaney, Jr., Sid Haig and Mantan Moreland / Z-View

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Spider Baby (1967)

Director: Jack Hill

Screenplay: Jack Hill

Stars: Lon Chaney Jr., Carol Ohmart, Quinn K. Redeker, Beverly Washburn, Jill Banner, Sid Haig, Mary Mitchel and Mantan Moreland.

Tagline: Seductive innocence of LOLITA

The Plot…

The Merrye family lives in a house on a hill outside the city.  Since their parents died when they were children, the family butler, Bruno has watched over Ralph, Virginia, and Elizabeth.  Now young adults, the three have the Merrye syndrome, a genetic family curse named after them.

Once members of the Merrye family reach adulthood, they begin to regress mentally and socially.  They become violent, although they act childish.  Although Bruno does his best to watch over them, the three have killed people who wander onto the property.

When Bruno learns that distant relatives are coming to pay a visit, he does his best to prepare Ralph, Virginia and Elizabeth so they will not act out their murderous impulses.  Bruno’s plan is to entertain his guests and then send them on their way.

Ralph, Virginia and Elizabeth have other ideas.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)… 

Spider Baby was filmed over 12 days August/September of 1964.  It wasn’t released until 1967, because the producer (a real estate agent) went bankrupt.  The budget was $65,000.00.  The star of the film, Lon Chaney, Jr. was paid just $2,500.00.

Spider Baby was released under various titles including Spider Baby; The Liver Eaters; Attack of the Liver Eaters; Cannibal Orgy; and The Maddest Story Ever Told.  The latter title was a play on the popular film, The Greatest Story Ever Told.  One of the posters used to promote the film had the tagline, Whatever Happened to Spider Baby which of course, was a play on Whatever Happened to Baby Jane (another popular movie of the era).

Lon Chaney, Jr. sings Spider Baby‘s theme song.

Spider Baby marks director Jack Hill’s feature film debut (although it was released after some of his other movies).  Hill would go on to direct explotation films such as The Big Doll House; The Big Bird Cage; Coffy; Foxy Brown; The Swinging Cheerleaders and The Switchblade Sisters.

Spider Baby is a cult film. I wanted to see Spider Baby mainly for Mantan Moreland.  Best known for his comedy roles, Mantan was chosen for the film since he is brutally murdered in an opening scene.  The director rightly figured this would shock audiences.

Spider Baby (1967) rates 2 of 5 stars.

“Miracle Mile” (1988) written & directed by Steve De Jarnatt; starring Anthony Edwards & Mare Winningham / Z-View

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Miracle Mile (1988)

Director: Steve De Jarnatt

Screenplay: Steve De Jarnatt

Stars: Anthony Edwards, Mare Winningham, John Agar, Lou Hancock, Kelly Jo Minter, Kurt Fuller, Denise Crosby, Robert DoQui, O-Lan Jones, Claude Earl Jones, Alan Rosenberg, Earl Boen, Diane Delano, Alan Berger, Jenette Goldstein, Peter Berg and Mykelti Williamson.

Tagline: There are 70 minutes to the end of the world. Where can you hide?

The Plot…

Harry Washello and Julie Peters have a chance meeting.  They have a definite connection and they spend the afternoon together.  That’s all it takes for them to know they’ve met their soulmate.  They agree to meet at midnight at the diner where Julie works.

Harry oversleeps due to an accident in his building.  His alarm didn’t go off.  Julie calls but the same accident took down the phone lines.

When Harry wakes up he rushes to the diner.  He’s four hours late, but maybe, just maybe Julie is still there.  She’s not.

Harry goes to a payphone outside the diner and calls Julie.  No answer.  So he leaves an apology message.  As he walks away, the payphone rings.  It’s not Julie.  A man named Chip is trying to reach his father.  Chip is speaking quickly with terror in his voice.  Chip claims that nukes have been launched.  In 70 minutes the US and Russia will be in a full on nuclear war.  Missles are now headed for LA.  Suddenly Harry hears gunshots and Chip is gone.

At first Harry thinks the call is a prank.  He speaks to folks in the diner.  Most laugh off the call… but one lady with connections makes a couple of calls.  She learns that politicians are hightailing it out of DC.  She tells the diners they need to get as far from the city as they can as fast as they can.

Harry believes the threat is real.  He’s not willing to leave without Julie.  He has a plan but time is running out.  As Harry makes his way across the city, word of incoming nukes is quickly spreading.  The city becomes a madhouse.

And the clock is ticking.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)… 

In 2001, Anthony Edwards and Mare Winningham were married!  They had been married and divorced to others, but reconnected years later.

Miracle Mile marks Peter Berg’s feature film debut.

Miracle Mile features three actors who appeared in Terminator films…

  • Earl Boen (The Terminator – 1984, Terminator 2: Judgment Day – 1991, Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines – 2003, and Terminator: Dark Fate -2019)
  • Brian Thompson (The Terminator – 1984)
  • Jenette Goldstein (Terminator 2: Judgment Day – 1991)

Miracle Mile plays out like a fever-dream.  Writer/director Steve De Jarnatt had a vision for his film and he stuck to his guns to get it.

Miracle Mile (1988) rates 3 of 5 stars.

Nick Fury 2025 by Steranko!

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One of the reasons I fell in love with comics was Nick Fury by Steranko.  Although Steranko started drawing Fury in Strange Tales begining in 1965, it wasn’t until Nick Fury got his own title in 1968 that I discovered him.  I was floored.  Still am.

Here we are in 2025 and Steranko has released a new limited edition Nick Fury print.  Look at that wonderful art. No wonder Steranko is considered a living legend.

Source: Victor Lim.

“This Side of the Law” (1950) starring Viveca Lindfors, Kent Smith, Janis Paige, Robert Douglas / Z-View

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This Side of the Law (1950)

Director: Richard L. Bare

Screenplay: Russell S. Hughes; story by Richard Sale

Stars: Viveca Lindfors, Kent Smith, Janis Paige, Robert Douglas, John Alvin, Nita Talbot,
Michael Mark, Edward Van Sloan and Monte Blue.

Tagline: He’s coming back – the man they thought they double-crossed to death!

The Plot…

David Cummings is going through hard times.  Homeless and looking for work, Cummings is picked up on a vagrancy charge.  The judge sentences him to “$50 or 30 days.”  Cummings is surprised to learn that Philip Cagle, a lawyer in the courtroom, paid his fine.

Cagle then takes Cummings to dinner and offers him a job.  It turns out that Cummings looks exactly like one of Cagle’s clients.  A rich man who disappeared nearly seven years ago.  In fact, in two weeks it will be seven years exactly that the man has been missing.  At that point the man will be declared dead and the man’s estate will be divided up among the missing man’s wife, brother and sister-in-law.

Cagle offers Cummings $500 to impersonate the missing man.  Cagle hopes that Cummings will then be able to discover the fate of the missing man.  Cummings agrees to the job… for $5,000.00 and is surprised when Cagle agrees to the sum.

Cummings is able to fool everyone.  He quickly discovers that each member of the missing man’s family had reason to kill him.  And now at least one of them has reason to kill him again.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)… 

If you can go along with the conceit that the imposter could fool the missing man’s wife, brother and former lover, then this movie works well.  I went with it and enjoyed the ride.

This Side of the Law marks Nita Talbot’s first credited feature film role.  Ms. Talbot would go on to accumulate over 150 credits on her acting resume.

This Side of the Law (1950) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“Absolution” (2024) starring Liam Neeson / Z-View

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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!

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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.