Previews and Reviews that are Z's Views
Paramount+ released three character posters to celebrate that MobLand had been renewed for season 2. MobLand is one of my favorite on-going series. If you’re not watching, you should.
Not only are the MobLand posters cool, you can see them with motion here.
Saving Private Ryan (1998)
Director: Steven Spielberg
Screenplay: Robert Rodat
Stars: Tom Hanks, Matt Damon, Tom Sizemore, Edward Burns, Barry Pepper, Adam Goldberg, Giovanni Ribisi, Jeremy Davies, Ted Danson, Paul Giamatti, Dennis Farina, Max Martini, Nathan Fillion, Ryan Hurst, Dale Dye, Bryan Cranston, David Wohl and Vin Diesel.
Tagline: The mission is a man.
The Plot…
June 6, 1944. D Day. Operation Overlord is underway. American forces storm the German fortified beaches of Normandy. The coastline has been divided into five sections. At Omaha Beach the American forces face the most resistance.
Omaha Beach is heavily fortified with German machine gun nests, artillery, as well as mines and barbed wire. The US soldiers coming ashore have a wide-open beach with no cover making them easy targets. The Germans hold the high ground. Yet the US soldiers, despite heavy losses ultimately prevail.
Immediately following the Battle of Omaha Beach, Captain Miller is given an assignment. The US Department of War has learned that the Ryan family has four sons in the service. Against all odds, three of the four Ryan men have been killed in action. The fourth, Private James Ryan is behind enemy lines with the 101st Airborne. Captain Miller’s mission is to put together a team, penetrate into enemy territory, find Private Ryan and get him safely out. Ryan will be given a ticket home.
Captain Miller enlists six battle-tested soldiers and an interpreter with no combat experience to accompany him. No all will survive. Private Ryan may already be dead.
The man is the mission.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Saving Private Ryan was nominated for eleven 1999 Academy Awards. It won five…
Frank Darabont and Scott Frank did uncredited rewrites on Robert Rodat’s screenplay. John Milius also made suggestions.
Saving Private Ryan opens with the storming of Omaha Beach. It runs over 20 minutes and sets the tone for all to follow. It is one of the most amazing and realistic depictions of battle put on film. There were up to 1,000 extras and cost $11 million to film.
During his research Steven Spielberg spoke with many World War II veterans. They asked that Spielberg not make a typical Hollywood war movie. They wanted the audience to understand the brutality and terror of war. Spielberg was surprised that Saving Private Ryan became a hit, despite the realism of the opening scene. Spielberg further said that he would have refused to cut the film even if it had to be released with an NC-17 rating.
The Department of Veterans Affairs set up a special 800 number for past and current soldiers traumatized from the film. There were reportedly 100s of calls to the line.
Steven Spielberg cast Matt Damon as Private Ryan because he wanted an unknown actor with All-American good looks. Before Saving Private Ryan was released, Damon was nominated for a Best Actor Oscar and won an Academy Award for Best Screenplay, both for Good Will Hunting. By the time Saving Private Ryan was released Damon was a star.
Vin Diesel wasn’t a star when hired for Saving Private Ryan. Steven Spielberg saw Diesel’s self-directed short films, Multi-Facial (1995) and Strays (1997). He recognized Diesel’s talent.
Nathan Fillion, Ryan Hurst and Bryon Cranston appear in small roles.
Saving Private Ryan is a classic.
Saving Private Ryan (1998) rates 5 of 5 stars
I discovered Joe Bluhm‘s art back in 2007 while surfing the internet. I absolutely loved his style. You can imagine my surprise when I saw that Joe would be a guest at an Orlando Comic convention. What made that even better was that I was already planning to attend the show.
I was able to meet Joe (what a cool guy) and get two sketches from him. The first, Sly Stallone as Rocky Balboa appears above. I’ll post the second Bluhm sketch in the near future. Hope you dig ’em both. I do.
Bret Blevins has worked as a comic artist, animation storyboard artist, and painter. I met Bret at a convention and was lucky enough to get on his commission list. I let him choose the Stallone character he wanted to draw. Bret surprised me by going with Frank Nitti from Capone! What a great choice and wonderful drawing!
My Mom Jayne (2025)
Director: Mariska Hargitay
Tagline: Reclaming her mother’s story, and her own.
The Plot…
Mariska Hargitay was three years old when he mother, Jayne Mansfield was killed in a tragic auto accident. Mariska and her siblings were injured in the wreck.
Mariska grew up in a world where her mother was known everywhere because of her international celebrity. Yet because Mariska was only three when her mother was killed, she has no memories of her mom. This documentary is an effort to remedy that. Along the way Mariska will learn a secret buried for over six decades that will change everything.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Jayne Mansfield is often thought of as a knockoff of Marilyn Monroe. At first that was true. Mansfield leaned into the beautiful dumb blonde role. The truth is she could speak several languages and play multiple instruments. She was far from dumb. When she tried to change the public perception of her, it didn’t work.
Jayne Mansfield wanted fame and it led to poor choices in the men in her life. The one exception Mickey Hargitay.
Mariska’s discovery changes her world.
The bars on the back of semi-trucks that prevent cars from driving under them are called “Mansfield-bars”. Legislation was started due to Mansfield’s tragic death when he car went under a semi. Although the accident took place in 1967, the safety bars weren’t made mandatory until years later.
My Mom Jayne (2025) rates 3 of 5 stars
Lalo Schifrin died yesterday from from complications of pneumonia. Mr. Schifrin was 93.
Lalo Schifrin was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina. His birth name was Boris Claudio Schifrin. He legally changed his name to Lalo when he came to the United States.
Lalo Schifrin was trained as a classical musician before falling in love with jazz. Mr. Schifrin received a scholarship to the Conservatoire de Paris. He studied during the day and played jazz in clubs at night. While still in his twenties, Mr. Schifrin returned to Argentina. He began radio, television, and film work. Mr. Schifrin wrote for Xavier Cugat’s dance orchestra, Dizzy Gillespie and Duke Ellington. He was also recording his own music.
Mr. Schifrin has 226 composer credits and 207 soundtrack credits on his IMDb resume. Some of his best known works include the themes to THE Cat; Mission Impossible, Mannix and Starsky and Hutch. Some of his best known film scores include Enter the Dragon, Cool Hand Luke, Bullitt, Dirty Harry, Rush Hour, The Amityville Horror, The Eagle Has Landed and so many others.
Mr. Schifrin’s best known composition is probably the Mission Impossible theme song. It’s a classic. My sentimental favorite is for Enter the Dragon. Truth is, I loved all of his music. Mr. Schifrin is a legend for good reason. His music which will live on forever.
Out thoughts and prayers go out to Lalo Schifrin’s family, friends and fans.
I was at MegaCon 2003. I’d never met Rodney Blackwell before. I’d never heard of him. But I liked the art he had on display and decided to get a sketch from him. Rodney’s riff on Jack Carter found a welcome place in my collection.
Con Air (1997)
Director: Simon West
Screenplay: Scott Rosenberg
Stars: Nicolas Cage, John Cusack, John Malkovich, Colm Meaney, Mykelti Williamson, Nick Chinlund, Renoly Santiago, Ving Rhames, Dave Chappelle, Rachel Ticotin, Steve Eastin, Danny Trejo, M.C. Gainey, Landry Allbright, Monica Potter, Brendan Kelly, Jesse Borrego and Steve Buscemi.
Tagline: Buckle Up!
The Plot…
Eight years ago Cameron Poe, a decorated Army Ranger was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter. A drunken thug had attacked Poe and his pregnant wife. Poe accidentally killed the man. Poe has been a model prisoner and is set to be paroled.
Poe is one of the convicts set to board a prison transport plane. Most of the other felons are headed to a supermax prison. They include a serial rapist, an arsonist, a drug lord, a mass murderer, a terrorist, a psycho criminal genius, and a serial killer.
The convicts take over the plane. They murdered to get control. They’ll kill anyone who tries to stop them. It will be up to Poe to see they don’t succeed in their escape.
As the tag line says, “Buckle Up!”
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Con Air was nominated for two 1998 Academy Awards…
Con Air is dedicated to Phil Swartz, an effects specialist who was killed when a rigged plane fell and crushed him.
Con Air is a fun, over-the-top action film. Buckle up and enjoy the ride.
Con Air (1997) rates 5 of 5 stars
I like the looks of the poster and trailer for Orang Ikan aka Monster Island.
Deal me in!
After being torpedoed by allied submarines, a Japanese soldier and a British POW are stranded on a deserted island and soon discover that they’re being hunted by a ferocious mythological creature, the Orang Ikan.
MONSTER ISLAND drops July 25 on Shudder.
Director: Mike Wiluan
Starring: Dean Fujioka, Callum Woodhouse, Alexandra Gottardo
Braveheart (1995)
Director: Mel Gibson
Screenplay: Randall Wallace
Stars: Mel Gibson, Sophie Marceau, Patrick McGoohan, Angus Macfadyen, Sean Lawlor, James Cosmo, Ralph Riach, Ellen Greene, Brendan Gleeson, Tommy Flanagan and Brian Cox.
Tagline: Every man dies, not every man really lives.
The Plot…
In the year 1280, King Edward 1 of England known as Longshanks conquers Scotland. Longshanks installs Overlords to rule. The people of Scotland have lost their freedom and are treated poorly. William Wallace was just a boy. His father and older brother were killed in the war to keep Scotland free. William was sent away to live with his Uncle.
Now a man, William returns to the village of his birth. He sees firsthand the mistreatment of the Scottish people. William secretly marries his childhood sweetheart. They wed in secret because Longshanks has granted his English Overlords jus primae noctis. This law allows the English rulers the right to have sex with any Scottish female. The Overlords especially like to take advantage of this on the bride’s wedding night.
When pushed too far, William leads the overthrow of the local English ruler. The Scottish people rally around William’s charismatic leadership. Soon he has a small army. After winning several battles, William allows a survivor to live. William tells him, “Go back to England and tell them there that Scotland’s daughters and her sons are yours no more. Tell them Scotland is free.”
Longshanks is unwilling to give up Scotland. He sends his armies to put down the rebellion and kill William Wallace.
All men die, but not all truly live. This is the story of William Wallace
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Braveheart was nominated for ten 1996 Academy Awards and won five…
Braveheart, while fictionalized, does what Gibson intended. It entertains and inspires.
Braveheart (1995) rates 5 of 5 stars
I’ve known Bill Black for over forty years. Bill began his professional comics career in 1969 illustrating horror stories for Warren Publications’ CREEPY and EERIE magazines. Since then Bill worked in advertising and in film production and illustrated comics for Marvel.
Bill’s real claim to fame came when he started AC Comics, one of the first 5 Independent comic book publishers in America and the only one of that group still in business. Over the years Bill has done it all — writer, penciler, inker, painter, publisher. What an amazing career!
I’ve been fortunate to know Bill as a friend. I say fortunate because Bill is one of the most positive, fun people I’ve ever met. Waaay back in 2006, Bill gifted me his take on Sly Stallone as Stanley from Lords of Flatbush. I love it!
My buddy, John Beatty used to host something he called Sketch Society. Artists would get together at different designated spots (donut shops, book stores, etc.) for drawing sessions. Some artists worked on commissions, others work assignments and some just drew for fun.
John whipped up this quick sketch of Sly as Jack Carter for me at a Sketch Society meeting in September 2006. He drew it without any reference. I love the bold lines and use of negative space.
Léon: The Professional (1994)
Director: Luc Besson
Screenplay: Luc Besson
Stars: Jean Reno, Gary Oldman, Natalie Portman, Danny Aiello, Peter Appel, Don Creech, Michael Badalucco, Ellen Greene and Frank Senger.
Tagline: A professional hitman, an innocent witness, a corrupt detective who went too far
The Plot…
Twelve year old Mathilda is about to walk into her family apartment when she realizes something is wrong. So she walks past the door and down to her neighbor Leon’s home. Leon is hesitant but allows Mathilda in.
Leon knew Mathilda came from a dysfunctional household. She lived with her little brother, stepmother and father. Leon and Mathilda learn that her dad was working with drug-dealing DEA agents. When the cooked cops discovered that dad was stealing from them, they decided to make an example of him. Mathilda almost walked in as the cops were killing her father, step-mother and even her little brother.
Mathilda has no one. She begs Leon to take her in. He agrees to let her stay. Mathilda is surprised to learn that her simple-minded neighbor is a professional killer. Mathilda asks Leon to train her. She wants to avenge her little brother. Leon’s apartment contains many weapons. He teaches Mathilda basics about some of them.
While Leon is on a job, Mathilda gathers some of Leon’s guns. She then leaves him a note and heads out to kill the corrupt cops that murdered her little brother. Leon knows that a little 12 year old girl has no hope of surviving a gun battle with trained cops.
But he might.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Jean Reno came up with the idea to play Leon as mentally slow and emotionally repressed. Reno felt that audiences would then better accept that 12 year old Mathilda was safe living with a grown man.
The International version contains more scenes of “awkward sexual tension” than the American release. American test audiences did not like the scenes where Mathilda professes to love Leon. Natalie Portman has said that she’s asked more about this film than any of her other performances. She further stated that Mathilda and Leon’s relationship hasn’t aged well.
Leon is Natalie Portman’s feature film debut.
Keith A. Glascoe played Benny. Glascoe later left acting to become a NY City Fireman. Mr. Glascoe died in the collapse of the World Trade Center towers on Sept. 11, 2001. RIP.
Léon: The Professional (1994) rates 5 of 5 stars
It was announced today that Bobby Sherman died today from stage 4 kidney cancer. Mr. Sherman was 81.
Bobby Sherman was born Robert Cabot Sherman Jr.. His professional career began as a singer when Sal Mineo arranged for the recording of two songs that Mineo had specifically written for Mr. Sherman. Not long after this, Bobby Sherman landed a featured role on the television series Shindig!. This led to more records as well as appearances in teen magazines.
In 1968, Bobby Sherman landed the co-starring role as Jeremy Bolt on the television series Here Come the Brides. It made Bobby Sherman a star. During the show’s run Bobby Sherman received more fan mail than any other star on ABC. Here Come the Brides. ran from 1968 – 1970.
For the rest of his entertainment career Bobby Sherman made records, appeared on television, in two feature films, and live concerts. Although he still made television guest appearances, Bobby Sherman’s career shifted to public service.
Mr. Sherman became a paramedic. He volunteered with the LA Police Department where he taught first aide classes. In the 1990s, Bobby Sherman became an LA Reserve Police Officer. In 1999, Bobby Sherman earned LAPD’s Reserve Officer of the Year Award. Mr. Sherman became a reserve deputy sheriff in 1999 with the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department where he continued CPR and emergency training of new deputies.
Some of the television projects that feature Bobby Sherman include: Shindig! (28 episodes); Honey West; The Monkees; The F.B.I.; Here Come the Brides (52 episodes); The Partridge Family; Getting Together (14 episodes); Cade’s County; Mod Squad (2 episodes); Emergency; Ellery Queen; Jigsaw John; The Gossip Columnist; Fantasy Island; The Misadventures of Sheriff Lobo; The Love Boat (2 episodes); Murder, She Wrote; Blacke’s Magic; Sanchez of Bel Aire (13 episodes) and Frazier.
Bobby Sherman’s feature film appearances are: Wild in the Streets; He is My Brother and Get Crazy.
As a singer, Bobby Sherman released 107 songs, 23 singles and 10 albums between 1962 and 1976. Mr. Sherman had seven top 40 hits, seven gold singles, one platinum single as well as five gold albums. Bobby Sherman’s biggest top ten hits were Little Woman [#3 in 1969]; La La La (If I Had You) [#9 in 1969]; Julie, Do Ya Love Me [#5 in 1970] and Easy Come, Easy Go [#9 in 1970].
I probably first saw Bobby Sherman when he appeared on The Monkees. Of course I remember him best from his co-starring role on Here Come the Brides. When someone says “teen idol” it is Bobby Sherman that I think of first. He was in all the teen magazines and the girls loved him. He was also one of the few teen idols that the guys didn’t seem to mind.
I always admired that Bobby Sherman gave up the celebrity life for one of public service. He didn’t just talk the talk. Bobby Sherman walked the walk.
Out thoughts and prayers go out to Bobby Sherman’s family, friends and fans.
In the Line of Fire (1993)
Director: Wolfgang Petersen
Screenplay: Jeff Maguire
Stars: Clint Eastwood, John Malkovich, Rene Russo, John Leguizamo, Dylan McDermott, Gary Cole, Fred Thompson, John Mahoney, Sally Hughes, Elsa Raven, Arthur Senzy, Patrika Darbo and Tobin Bell.
Tagline: An assassin on the loose. A president in danger. Only one man stands between them…
The Plot…
November 22, 1963. Frank Horrigan was a young secret service agent hand-picked by President Kennedy to serve on his security detail. That day President Kennedy was assassinated by Lee Harvey Oswald. The memory still haunts Horrigan.
Nearly 30 years later, Horrigan, nearing retirement is the only active Secret Service agent who was on President Kennedy’s detail the day he was assassinated. Being a secret service agent is a young man’s job.
During an investigation Horrigan finds a wall filled with articles and photographs of infamous assassinations. Included is a cover photo of the current President. A bold red marker has been used to draw a rifle’s crosshairs over the President’s face. Horrigan gets a search warrant and returns. He finds only one photo on the wall. It is of President Kennedy taken on the day he was assassinated. Behind Kennedy stands Horrigan. In the photo, Horrigan’s face has been circled with a bold red marker.
Later Horrigan receives a phone call from a man who identifies himself as “Booth”. Booth says that he is going to kill the President. Booth taunts Horrigan about failing to save President Kennedy. This call will be just the first of the killer’s game. Horrigan knows that this isn’t some crank. The threat to the President is real. What Horrigan doesn’t know is the caller is an ex-CIA assassin with a grudge.
What chance does an aging Secret Service Agent have against a trained assassin?
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
In the Line of Fire was nominated for three 1994 Academy Awards…
Clint Eastwood (at the age of 62) wearing a safety harness actually did hang six stories above the street for one of the scenes.
Speaking of Eastwood’s age, he initially turned down the role. He felt he time had passed to play someone in their early 50’s. Thankfully, Eastwood was wrong and convinced to play the part.
John Malkovich improvised the scene where he puts Eastwood’s gun in his mouth.
In the Line of Fire (1993) rates 5 of 5 stars
