Previews and Reviews that are Z's Views
The trailer for Countdown is here. The poster is too generic for my taste, but the trailer has me interested enough to check out the series.
Every second counts. Countdown, a new original series, premieres June 25.
Untold: Deal with the Devil (2021)
Director: Laura Brownson
Tagline: None.
The Plot…
Christy Martin was born Christy Salters. She excelled in sports in high school. Christy attended college on a basketball scholarship. She entered a “tough woman” contest on a lark. Christy won. After winning three consecutive “tough woman” contests, Christy was introduced to boxing trainer/coach Jim Martin.
Although reluctant at first, Martin decided to train/manage Christy. After a 2-1-1 start, Christy went on an undefeated streak that made her the face of women’s boxing. She was one of the first female fighters to appear on a Pay-Per-View card. Don King became her promoter. Christy was the on the undercard of a Mike Tyson title defense because Tyson was impressed with her fighting.
Along the way, Christy and Jim Martin became involved. They married. Money and fame followed. All was good.
Until it wasn’t.
Christy had a secret that she’d suppressed. Jim was controlling and older than her father. Drugs came into play. Christy was going to divorce Jim when he repeatedly stabbed and shot her. And that isn’t the final twist to the story.
Thoughts…
I thought I knew the Christy Martin story, but that final twist is stranger than fiction.
Untold: Deal with the Devil (2021) rates 5 of 5 stars
I love Jonathan Maberry’s JOE LEDGER series. Maberry has a new entry coming in March. Titled RED EMPIRE: A JOE LEDGER AND ROGUE TEAM INTERNATIONAL NOVEL (Rogue Team International Series, 5). Here’s what to expect…
In the next novel in the OE LEDGER AND ROGUE TEAM INTERNATIONAL series, the team faces new and old enemies alike as a bioengineered version of The Black Death surfaces.
Hundred of years after the first waves of the bubonic plague swept through Europe, a new, more dangerous version threatens London. Joe Ledger’s old enemy the Red Empire ― reborn as a far more powerful political and military group ― has bioengineered a weaponized version of yersinia pestis ― the bacteria responsible for The Black Death that killed tens of millions in the Middle Ages.
As Joe Ledger and Rogue Team International race against the clock to put a stop to the Red Empire’s plans, they’re sucked into the strange and mysterious past of the man called Mr. Church. Secrets come to light that make even his staunchest allies wonder who – and more precisely what ― Church really is.
With whispers of an elixir vitae ― or elixir of life―circling, Joe Ledger and Rogue Team International are facing the highest possible stakes in their work together yet. As the tension builds and the balance between life and death sways precariously, it seems like tragic losses among them might be inevitable.
Pre-orders are available now!
Untold: Shooting Guards (2025)
Director: Walter Thompson-Hernandez
Tagline: None.
The Plot…
Gilbert Arenas and Javaris Crittenton were players for the NBA’s Washington Wizards. The two got into an argument on the team plane. It escalated to the point that threats were made.
Before the next practice both players brought guns into the locker room. Additional threats were made before made before cooler heads prevailed. When it became known that both players had violated NBA rules, the NBA and police became involved.
Both players were suspended for the remainder of the year. Crittenton was released and never played another game. Arenas was traded and played a few more years.
Unfortunately for Javaris Crittenton, he got involved with the wrong crowd when he went back to his old neighborhood. After being robbed twice, Crittenton decided to take the law into his own hands. He tracked down who he thought had robbed him. Crittenton then did a drive-by. The person he killed was an innocent bystander. A young mother who had nothing to do with the robberies.
This is the story of the events leading up to the Gilbert Arenas /Javaris Crittenton incident and Crittenton’s murder trial. There is much more to each story… and was justice served in either case?
Thoughts…
So many professional athletes, especially those that come straight out of high school don’t have the maturity needed. Especially when big money and guns are involved.
Untold: Shooting Guards (2025) rates 5 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 Neil McClements.
Source: Max Rugers.
Untold: Malice at the Palace (2021)
Director: Floyd Russ
Tagline: None.
The Plot…
The NBA’s Detroit Pistons and Indiana Pacers have always had a bitter rivalry. On November 19, 2004, the two teams met in a game that was never finished. The previous year the Pistons knocked the Pacers out of the playoffs. This was one of the first games of the season. Tensions were high.
The Pacers were on track to an easy win. With less than a minute left Ron Artest of the Pacers fouled Ben Wallace of the Pistons. Both were known for their tempers. Wallace started to go after Artest. The players were separated. Artest went over to the scoring table and laid down. Fans were going crazy and one threw a beer from the stands. It Artest in the chest. Artest went up into the stands after the fan he THOUGHT had thrown it. Other fans went after Artest. More Pacer players went to Artest’s aide.
Then all hell broke loose.
This is that story.
Thoughts…
Ron Artest was a hot-head. Despite being the player who went into the stands, he comes off more sympathetic than you may want to believe. It turns out that Artest suffered from depression and anxiety issues. He was working through those problems at the time. This isn’t to excuse him from going into the stands, but does explain his behavior.
If you were of age at the the time of the incident, even if you weren’t a basketball fan, you couldn’t avoid coverage of the incident. This documentary does an excellent job of setting up the events leading to and the punishments handed down after.
Untold: Malice at the Palace (2021) rates 5 of 5 stars
A DANGEROUS MAN by J. L. Engel
First sentences…
“9-1-1. What’s your…”
The emergency operator’s standard question was cut short by the sporadic sounds of gunfire.
The Overview: Beware of Spoilers…
A DANGEROUS MAN features one of the most compelling openings to any book you’ll ever read. A little girl, hidden in a closet, is one the phone with 9-1-1. In the background gunfire is heard getting closer and closer. The child is panicked, the operator is doing her best to determine the location of the call to send help… then the operator hears this:
“Listen closely… Anna is safe. I’m going to give you an address where to find her and get her home.”
And this…
“When the police arrive, they’ll find Anna locked in a conference room on the second tier. It’s up the stairs and to the left. What they’ll find below is much more disturbing. I advise the police to enter with extreme caution.. As best I can tell I’ve killed everyone else. Except for the other victims.”
THAT is our introduction to a vigilante the FBI has labeled Ghost. Ghost is a former government operative whose family was killed by a Russian crime cartel led by Yuri “The Wolf” Kurikova. Ghost is working his way up the food chain intent on killing “The Wolf” and destroying his organization.
So far, Ghost has been unstoppable. He’s 6’5″ and 260 pounds of muscle. Although grieving for his family, Ghost has turned the misery into an unquenchable rage. Using his skills, Ghost has trail of bodies across the country as he gets closer to taking down The Wolf.
The F.B.I. have been a step behind. They’ve assigned Cameron Slate to lead the investigation to bringing down the Ghost. Slate is closing in.
The Wolf has hired twin assassins, Nikolai and Natasha to find and kill Ghost. The twins’ abilities rival those of Ghost. And they may have the edge given Natasha’s brutality and love of violence.
It will all come to a head in Boston.
If you like all out action, characters like John Wick, Frank Castle and John Creasey, then A DANGEROUS MAN is for you.
Rating:
Untold: Caitlyn Jenner (2022)
Director: Crystal Moselle
Tagline: None.
The Plot…
Every four years an Olympic athlete earns a gold medal in the decathlon. The decathlon consists of ten events over two days. Day One: 100 meter dash; long jump; shot put; high jump and 400 meter run. Day two: 110 meter hurdles; discus throw; pole vault; javelin throw and 1500 meter run. Because of the variety of events and the different strengths and skills needed, the decathlon gold medalist is considered by many to be the world’s greatest athlete.
In 1976, Bruce Jenner was the Olympic Gold medalist.
This documentary explores Bruce Jenner’s life, his desire to become the World’s Greatest Athlete, and the inner turmoil he faced since childhood. Although a Gold Medal winner, a world famous celebrity, Jenner struggled with identity issues for decades. Bruce ultimately transitioned into Caitlyn Jenner. This is his/her story.
Thoughts…
I was a huge fan of Bruce Jenner. His story to become the world’s greatest athlete was inspiring. He was married to his college sweetheart and she supported his efforts to train daily for the Olympics. They seemed destined to have it all.
I was disappointed when they divorced. Later Bruce had some face work done and a nose job. I thought the nose job made him look too feminine. Also I wondered why such a good looking guy would want to mess with his looks. Why fix something that ain’t broken?
I had no idea of Jenner’s identity issues. This is that story.
Untold: Caitlyn Jenner (2022) rates 3 of 5 stars
Howard Chaykin‘s Tomb of Dracula #5 cover art. Love this piece. The Prince of Darkness with his two Brides. He sits on a throne that features his crest as he drinks a goblet of blood. And the wolf at his feet is looking straight at us.
Chaykin rules.
Untold: The Fall of Favre (2025)
Director: Rebecca Gitlitz
Tagline: None.
The Plot…
Brett Favre played 20 seasons as an NFL quarterback. Over the course of his career Favre led his team to a Super Bowl championship, three times was voted the NFL’s Most Valuable Player, once the NFL Offensive Player of the Year, three times voted First-Team All Pro, elven times voted to the Pro Bowl, was twice the NFL’s Passing Leader, and he set the record for most consecutive starts with 297.
Favre was considered a football living legend. On the field he was considered a god. Off the field he was far from it.
Although married, Favre wouldn’t be considered a role-model. It came out later in his career that he was a womanizer. Worse still he repeatedly pursued a woman through intermediaries, and text messages. Each time the woman told him, “No.” But Favre persisted, ultimately sending her pictures of his penis. She rebuffed him at every turn. In fact, she never met him or was in the same room with him, despite both being employed by the New York Jets. At the end of the season, she was fired.
Two years later, the story came out.
Turns out that Favre also was involved in 2022 Mississippi welfare scandal. Money earmarked for the state’s poorest, saw millions diverted to build a volleyball gym at the school where Favre’s daughter attended, and money to other of Favre’s causes. Text messages came to light from Favre asking if the media could find out if he was paid and how much he got. Why would he worry, if everything was on the up-and-up. Making it even worse, Mississippi is the poorest state of our fifty.
This is story of The Fall of Favre.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
If you wondered why we no longer see Brett Favre making product endorsements, now you know. It’s too bad that Favre wasn’t as good a human being as he was a football player.
Untold: The Fall of Favre (2025) rates 3 of 5 stars
Tim Shinn draws Rambo, Two, too.
Untold: The Liver King (2025)
Director: Joe Pearlman
Tagline: None.
The Plot…
This documentary looks at the rise and fall of Brian Johnson aka The Liver King. Johnson became an influencer who promoted what he called an “ancestral lifestyle”. Johnson said that by eating large amounts of raw meat and organs, specifically liver, one would become healthier with much more energy.
Johnson claimed that he was undersized as a kid and often bullied. His research into a healthier lifestyle led him to his understanding of a diet that made our ancestors strong. Johnson repeatedly denied ever using steroids. He claimed that his muscles came from eating raw meat and exercise. Johnson started a supplement company based around based around eating raw meat and his nine “ancestral tenets”. He made millions.
Later it came to light that Brian Johnson was a liar. He not only regularly used multiple steroids and testosterone, but was spending over $10,000.00 a month on pharmaceuticals. Johnson’s reputation was shot. His subscribers base dwindled and he was named in a class action suit for $25 million for his deception.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
I had never heard of The Liver King before this documentary. If anyone ever came off as a snake oil salesman, it is Brian Johnson.
Untold: The Liver King (2025) rates 3 of 5 stars
Den Beauvais created this sweet Highlander tribute painting. Beauvais is making high quality Giclee prints on canvas available.
Lady in the Lake (1946)
Director: Robert Montgomery
Screenplay: Steve Fisher; based THE LADY IN THE LAKE by Raymond Chandler
Stars: Robert Montgomery, Audrey Totter, Lloyd Nolan, Tom Tully, Leon Ames, Dick Simmons, Morris Ankrum, Lila Leeds, Charles Bradstreet and Jayne Meadows.
Tagline: YOU AND ROBERT MONTGOMERY STAR IN AN EXCITING AND UNUSUAL MYSTERY-THRILLER -EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS TO HIM HAPPENS TO YOU!
The Plot…
Private Eye, Phillip Marlowe decides to take a shot at writing. When Marlowe is called into the publisher’s office, he thinks they want to buy his story. Adrienne Fromsett, is the publishing editor. She wants to buy Marlowe’s story. She also wants to hire Marlowe to find Chrystal Kingsby. Chrystal is her boss’ wife. She hasn’t been seen for two months.
After some back and forth, Marlowe accepts the job. What sounds like a missing person’s case turns out to be a multiple murder investigation. And Marlowe is the main suspect.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
The film is shot from the viewpoint of Marlowe. The only time he is seen is by reflections in mirrors and windows or when he speaks directly to the audience. It’s odd seeing this decades before video games made it popular.
Lady in the Lake (1946) rates 3 of 5 stars
This stunning Lone Wolf and Cub piece is just one of two Lone Wolf and Cub paintings with pencils by Frank Miller and everything else by Bill Sienkiewicz on display in a much larger size at The Bristol Board.
