Previews and Reviews that are Z's Views
I’ve been a fan Evan Bryce Cranston aka artgantuan’s art for years. I call this piece Just the Boatman… What a great scene with Stallone playing one of his signature characters in 2008’s Rambo.
Laws of Man (2024)
Director: Phil Blattenberger
Screenplay: Phil Blattenberger
Stars: Jacob Keohane, Jackson Rathbone, Dermot Mulroney, Harvey Keitel, Keith Carradine, Richard Brake, Forrie J. Smith, James Urbaniak, Kelly Lynn Reiter, Johnny Hoeft, Greg Kriek, David DeLao, Ashley Gallegos, Alaina Warren Zachary and Graham Greene.
Tagline: No One Is Innocent
The Plot…
1963. US Marshalls Frank Fenton and Tommy Morton are sent to Nevada to bring in some bad hombres. Frank is straight-laced and uptight. His partner, Tommy is younger and hip. While their outlooks on life are different they make a good team. During the course of an assignment to bring in a murderer they stumble on to a conspiracy.
Outgunned and over-their-heads, the pair refuse to back down.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Laws of Man plays out like a low-budget Tarantino movie. Interesting and outlandish characters in over-the-top conflicts and a twist that takes the danger to the extreme. The plot plays out like a fever dream set in 1963.
Jacob Keohane and Jackson Rathbone are excellent as the mismatched US Marshalls. Dermot Mulroney, Harvey Keitel, Keith Carradine and Graham Greene led a supporting cast with the ability to play unbridled scenes straight.
While Laws of Man isn’t a great film, it is a fun one. I enjoyed the characters and outlandish plot… even the twist at the end. As always, your mileage may vary.
Laws of Man (2024) rates 3 of 5 stars.
Action fans get ready! The poster and trailer for Lone Samurai are here!
A violent, reckless samurai is shipwrecked on a desolate island, stripped of any outlet for his rage. As he embarks on a punishing spiritual journey to quiet his turbulent mind, the line between meditation and madness begins to blur. When external demons — manifesting as flesh-hungry cannibals — abduct him, his grip on reality and mastery of the blade are tested in ways he never imagined.
The cast includes Shogen, Keigo Sunagawa, Yuma Sunagawa, and Sumire Ashina.
The film is written, directed and produced by Josh C. Waller. Well Go USA will release Lone Samurai in select theaters and available via Video On Demand on December 12, 2025.
Andrew Charipar is a Florida artist that I met going to conventions throughout the state. Andrew was always friendly. Getting a sketch at any show Andrew attended was mandatory.
In addition to his work as an artist, Andrew owns and manages Misfit Corner Comics in Jacksonville, Florida.
Here we have Andrew’s take on Sly Stallone as Rocky Balboa from Rocky!
Detective Story (1951)
Director: William Wyler
Screenplay: Robert Wyler, Philip Yordan based on Detective Story (1949 play) by Sidney Kingsley
Stars: Kirk Douglas, Eleanor Parker, William Bendix, Cathy O’Donnell, George Macready, Horace McMahon, Gladys George, Lee Grant, Gerald Mohr, Frank Faylen, Michael Strong, Luis Van Rooten, Bert Freed, Warner Anderson, Grandon Rhodes and Joseph Wiseman.
Tagline: The love story of a man whose wife was more woman than angel!
The Plot…
New York City Detective Jim McLeod has no tolerance for law-breakers. McLeod’s dad was one and it literally drove McLeod’s mother insane. McLeod’s tough on everyone. Everyone except his beautiful wife, Mary.
One night, as other cops work their cases in the station house, McLeod has a breakthrough. The other officers are dealing with shoplifters, burglars and even a potential psycho-rapist. McLeod has been working a case involving Dr. Karl Schneider. Schneider is a black market doctor who is responsible for at least one death.
Dr. Schneider’s lawyer warns McLeod to back off or else. McLeod refuses. He doesn’t know what the lawyer’s threats hold. But he’s going to find out.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Detective Story was nominated for four 1952 Academy Awards…
In the original play, Dr. Schneider’s crimes were explicitly stated. Due to Film Production Codes, in Detective Story they code only be hinted at. Audiences could read between the lines.
Detective Story features Lee Grant’s film debut and she was nominated for an Academy Award for her performance!
Detective Story is one of the best play adaptations I’ve ever seen. Lee Grant is superb. William Bendix is always awesome. Kirk Douglas was the perfect choice to play the hard-nosed Detective McLeod.
Detective Story (1951) rates 5 of 5 stars.
I love Batman stories set in this era. Matt Wagner must as well. Just look at that beautiful art. Bat-Man is just starting out. We have castles, evil scientists and assistant plus The Bat-Man!
Vertigo (1958)
Director: Alfred Hitchcock
Screenplay: Alec Coppel, Samuel Taylor; based on D’entre les morts by Pierre Boileau and Thomas Narcejac
Stars: James Stewart, Kim Novak, Barbara Bel Geddes, Tom Helmore, Henry Jones, Ellen Corby, Konstantin Shayne, Lee Patrick, John Benson, Paul Bryar and Raymond Bailey.
Tagline: Somewhere…Somehow – He’d Loved and Killed That Self-Same Girl Before!
The Plot…
San Francisco Detective John “Scottie” Ferguson and a patrol cop are in a rooftop chase of a wanted man. The chase, high above the city, goes from building to building. When Scottie falls short on a jump, he barely grabs hold of a gutter. As Scottie begins to slip to a sure death, the cop eases down to assist. The cop makes a misstep and plummets to his death.
Scottie survives but is traumatized from his near fall. Scottie’s vertigo and fear of heights is so bad he retires from the force.
Gavin Elster, a college buddy that Scottie hasn’t seen in years, reaches out. Elster is worried about his wife Madeline’s recent strange behavior. He wants Scottie to follow her to see what’s up.
Scottie trails Madeline for days. He discovers she’s obsessed with a woman named Carlotta Valdes who committed suicide in 1857. Elster becomes worried that Madeline may believe she is possessed by Carlotta’s spirit. Worse still, Madeline may commit suicide herself.
The next day Scottie follows Madeline all over town. She ends up at the San Francisco Bay where she jumps in. She is drowning when Scottie pulls her out. Madeline has no memory of the places she’s been or her attempt to kill herself. Scottie has become infatuated with Madeline. They begin spending time together… and she falls in love with him.
One day Madeline tells Scottie about a nightmare she had. The setting was at the Mission San Juan Bautista. It was Carlotta’s childhood home. They decide to drive there. Once there Madeline breaks away from Scottie. She runs to the church’s bell tower and heads up. Scottie attempts to follow, but his vertigo and fear of heights slows him down. He isn’t to the top when he sees and hears Madeline fall to her death.
Scottie is devestated. He was unable to save the woman that he loved.
Time passes. One day Scottie is in the city. Across the way he spots a woman who looks like Madeline. It’s not the first time it has happened. But this time is different. Although there are subtle differences the woman could pass as Madeline. Scottie makes a point to meet her. He’s obsessed with winning her over.
Scottie has no idea what he is in for.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Vertigo was nominated for two 1959 Academy Awards…
San Juan Bautista, the Spanish mission doesn’t have a bell tower; it was added with trick photography.
Alfred Hitchcock is one of my all-time favorite directors and many consider Vertigo to be his masterpiece. While I am a huge fan of the movie, their are other Hitchcock films I prefer. Your mileage may vary.
Vertigo (1958) rates 4 of 5 stars.
Check out this cool alt Pulp Fiction poster by Nino Cammarata.
Often artists who draw women barbarians make them look like modern day models. They’re pretty, but could they really lift, let alone swing a broad sword? Joseba Alexander’s Warrior Woman could and her looks at bad either.
“Loudermilk: Season 1” (2018)
Created by: Peter Farrelly & Bobby Mort
Teleplay by:
Directed by:
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 two Sam deals with…
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 2” (2018) earns 4 of 5 stars.
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 Marv by Keith Browning.
Silent Zone (2025)
Director: Peter Deak
Screenplay: Viktor Csák, Krisztián Illés
Stars: Matt Devere, Luca Papp, Nikolett Barabas, Declan Hannigan, Katia Bokor and Robert Jackson.
Tagline: None.
The Plot…
In a world ravaged by zombies, Cassius and Abigail, the teenage girl he saved as a baby, struggle to survive.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
I knew going in this would be a drive-in movie, but it wasn’t bad.
Silent Zone (2025) rates 3 of 5 stars.
I absolutely love everything about this Batman vs Dracula art by the amazing Bruce Timm.
Source: Cool Comic Art.
The Twilight Zone is one of my all-time favorite shows. It raised the bar for what good television could be.
Al Abbazia is a fan as well. Abbazia created the poster above. I’m sure it would make Rod Serling proud. It’s cool that my two favorite TZ episodes got the top two spots on Abbazia’s print. You can see more of Al Abbazia’s art here.
