Wolverine Sketch Card by John Beatty!
I’ve always been a fan of John Beatty’s take on Wolverine.
KING OF THE HUSTLERS by Eugene Izzi / Z-View
KING OF THE HUSTLERS by Eugene Izzi
First sentence…
With a release date only three days away Edgew Plumber was on his best behavior.
The Overview: Beware of Spoilers…
Things are looking up for Tone Nello. After a lifetime of small scores, Nello’s life as a hustler could be over. Nello’s met a woman who just might be the one. He’s got a chance at a job that’s high risk but would set him up for life. Nello’s best friend and crime partner, Bobby Bebbo is on-board with the robbery.
What could go wrong?
Psycho Pete “Panther” Payne is still looking to get payback for the beating Nello handed him a few days ago. Edgew Plumber, fresh out of prison needs to make it known that he’s back. Turning Pather Payne loose could be the ticket. Plus, Nello’s new woman — there’s more to her than he knows. And if that isn’t enough, the closer to the job, the stranger Bebbo is acting.
Tone Nello is the “King of the Hustlers” but this time out, he may be the one getting hustled.
+++++
Eugene Izzi is back with another winner. Izzi was on his way to being a big name crime writer, when he died under strange circumstances.
Rating:
“Chuka” starring Rod Taylor, Ernest Borgnine & John Mills / Z-View
Chuka (1967)
Director: Gordon Douglas
Screenplay: Richard Jessup, Rod Tayor (uncredited); based on CHUKA by Richard Jessup
Stars: Rod Taylor, Ernest Borgnine, John Mills, Luciana Paluzzi, James Whitmore, Victoria Vetri, Louis Hayward, Joseph Sirola and Michael Cole.
Tagline: They called him saddle-bum…desert rat…pistolero…but where would they have been without Chuka on that bloody summer’s day.
The Plot…
A stagecoach makes it to Fort Clandennon, a remote US calvary outpost located on the frontier. Accompanying the stage is a gunfighter named Chuka (Taylor). Chuka rode with the stagecoach after finding it broken down in Arapaho country. On the stage is Senora Veronica Kleitz (Paluzzi) and her niece Senorita Helena Chavez (Vetri).
Fort Clandennon is under the command of Colonel Valois (Mills). The soldiers at the outpost, except for Sergeant Hansbach (Borgnine), have been sent there as punishment for past crimes. Sergeant Hansbach is an excellent soldier dedicated to Colonel Valois. Hansbach takes an instant dislike to Chuka. The feeling is mutual.
Colonel Valois is concerned with talk of an Arapaho uprising. His last patrol never returned. Chuka sees that Valois soldiers aren’t up to an attack and tells Valois they need to leave. Colonel Valois is insulted and refuses.
But it’s too late. The Arapaho are on the move. It looks to be a massacre.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Chuka was one of my favorite westerns when I saw it a child. It still is.
Rod Taylor, Ernest Borgnine and James Whitmore shine.
The fight between Chuka and Sergeant Hansbach is a perfect cap to their escalating dislike for each other.
The reveal of why Hansbach is so dedicated to Colonel Valois was shocking to me as a kid. (And no, it’s not because of what you’re thinking.) It was a bold choice for 1967.
Chuka deserves to be better known.
Chuka (1967) rates 4 of 5 stars.
“Prophecy” starring Talia Shire & Armand Assante – Christopher Shy’s Alt Movie Poster!
Christopher Shy‘s excellent alt movie poster for Prophecy reminded me of the horror film that doesn’t get enough love.
Prophecy was written by David (The Omen) Seltzer, directed by John (Ronin) Frankenheimer and starred Talia (Rocky) Shire, Robert (Damien: Omen II) and Armand (I, the Jury) Assante.
I saw Prophecy when it was first released. I liked it much better than expected. I’ve seen Prophecy at least once since then (years ago) and thought it held up well. Thanks to Christopher Shy, Prophecy is now on my list for another watch.
“Outlaw Johnny Black” starring Michael Jai White / Z-View
Outlaw Johnny Black (2023)
Director: Michael Jai White
Screenplay: Michael Jai White, Byron Keith Minns
Stars: Michael Jai White, Anika Noni Rose, Erica Ash, Byron Minns, Chris Browning, Barry Bostwick, Randy Couture, Tommy Davidson, Gary Anthony Williams, Eme Ikwuakor, Jalyn Hall, Roger Yuan, Michael Madsen, Josh Barnett, Glynn Turman, Paul Sloan and Donald Cerrone.
Tagline: From the Brothers Who Brought You Black Dynamite
The Plot…
Johnny Black (White) is a wanted man. Quick with a gun or his fists (or his feet – a martial artist in the old west!), Black is going to find and kill Brett Clayton (Browning). Clayton killed Johnny Black’s father. An eye for an eye and all that.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
The Outlaw Johnny Black wants to be for westerns what Black Dynamite was for blaxploitation films. Sadly, at least for met the jokes weren’t landing and it felt like a poor tv version of Blazing Saddles (which I loved) crossed with Mario Van Peebles’ Posse (which I liked a lot).
I tapped out at 37 minutes. Of course your mileage may vary.
Outlaw Johnny Black (2023) rates 1 of 5 stars.
“The Last of Us” Season 2 – The Poster & Trailer are Here!
The Last of Us: Season One was awesome. Here’s the poster and trailer for Season 2.
Deal me in!
You can’t stop this.
#TheLastOfUs returns April 13 on Max.
“Blackboard Jungle” (1955) starring Glenn Ford, Anne Francis, Vic Morrow and Sidney Poitier / Z-View
Blackboard Jungle (1955)
Director: Richard Brooks
Screenplay: Richard Brooks; based on THE BLACKBOARD JUNGLE by Evan Hunter
Stars: Glenn Ford, Anne Francis, Louis Calhern, Margaret Hayes, John Hoyt, Richard Kiley, Emile Meyer, Warner Anderson, Sidney Poitier, Vic Morrow, Dan Terranova, Paul Mazursky, Horace McMahon, Richard Deacon, James Drury, Emil Sitka and Jamie Farr.
Tagline: Is The Most Startling Picture Of The Year!
The Plot…
Richard Dadier (Ford) is a war vet and recent college graduate (thanks to the GI Bill). His wife is pregnant and Dadier needs a job. So Dadier accepts a position at North Manual Trades High School. North Manual is an inner city school for boys.
From day one, the students attempt to run Dadier off. But Dadier is not a quitter. Although most other faculty members allow the students to run wild, Dadier is determined to reach and teach his students. Dadier’s attempts to win over Greg Miller (Poitier) and Artie West (Morrow) are unsuccessful. As time goes on West’s leadership turns the students from mild defiance to insubordination and worse.
Dadier is determined to teach his students, no matter the cost…
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Blackboard Jungle was nominated for four 1956 Academy Awards…
- Nominee for Best Film Editing – Ferris Webster
- Nominee for Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, Black-and-White – Cedric Gibbons, Randall Duell, Edwin B. Willis, Henry Grace
- Nominee for Best Cinematography, Black-and-White – Russell Harlan
- Nominee for Best Writing, Screenplay – Richard Brooks
Blackboard Jungle features the film debuts of Vic Morrow, James Drury and Jamie Farr.
Morrow was 26 and Poitier was 28 playing high school students.
I liked Blackboard Jungle, but it didn’t resonate with me like the audiences in 1955 (and maybe most today). I thought it was good. Glenn Ford was an excellent choice to play Dadier. Anne Francis doesn’t have much to do other than look pretty and she fulfills that role. Vic Morrow and Sidney Poitier look right despite being a decade too old in real life.
The characters and story have all the expected arcs and plot points. The students don’t seem that scary of course in 1955, they could have seemed shocking. I liked the film but most folks seem to love it. Your mileage, as always, could vary.
Blackboard Jungle (1955) rates 3 of 5 stars.
Wanted! Ralph Meyer’s Undertaker!
The more I see of Undertaker by Ralph Meyer, the more I want to check out English versions of his graphic novels.
“Annie Hall” starring Woody Allen & Diane Keaton / Z-View
Annie Hall (1977)
Director: Woody Allen
Screenplay: Woody Allen, Marshall Brickman
Stars: Woody Allen, Diane Keaton, Tony Roberts, Carol Kane, Paul Simon, Shelley Duvall, Janet Margolin, Colleen Dewhurst, Hy Anzell, Russell Horton, Dick Cavett, Mark Lenard, John Glover, Bernie Styles, Jeff Goldblum, Shelley Hack, Beverly D’Angelo, Sigourney Weaver, Walter Bernstein and Christopher Walken.
Tagline: A nervous romance.
The Plot…
Alvy Singer (Allen) looks back on his romance with Annie Hall (Keaton) trying to figure out where it went wrong. There are many possibilities. Alvy is a twice divorced, middle-aged, Jewish stand-up comedian from New York who over-intellectualizes. Annie is younger, never married, insecure, WASP from the Midwest who dreams of being a singer.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Annie Hall was nominated for five 1978 Academy Awards and won four…
- Nominee for Best Actor in a Leading Role – Woody Allen
- Winner for Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen – Woody Allen, Marshall Brickman
- Winner for Best Director – Woody Allen
- Winner for Best Actress in a Leading Role – Diane Keaton
- Winner for Best Picture – Charles H. Joffe
Sigourney Weaver’s feature film debut in a non-speaking role as Alvy’s date near the end of the movie. Shelley Hack also made her film debut in Annie Hall in as a “street stranger”.
Alvy’s (Woody Allen’s) sneezing into the cocaine was reportedly an unscripted accident.
With Annie Hall Woody Allen became the first person to give an Oscar nominated performance in a film for which he won Best Director. Interestingly enough, Annie Hall features Woody Allen’s only Oscar nominated performance and the only film directed by him to win a Best Picture Academy Award.
I liked Annie Hall, but it didn’t resonate with me like the majority of folks who love it. Your mileage, as always, could vary.
Annie Hall (1977) rates 4 of 5 stars.
Nick Fury’s Side-Eye by Steranko!
The last thing you want to get is Nick Fury giving you the side-eye. The first thing you want is Nick Fury drawn by Steranko.
“Wages of Fear” aka “Le salaire de la peur” (2024) / Z-View
Wages of Fear aka Le salaire de la peur (2024)
Director: Julien Leclercq
Screenplay: Henri-Georges Clouzot (based on the motion picture “Le salaire de la peur”); Jérôme Géronimi (based on the motion picture “Le salaire de la peur” co-written by) (as Jean Clouzot); Georges Arnaud (novel); Hamid Hlioua (scenario); Hamid Hlioua (adaptation) & Julien Leclercq
Stars: Franck Gastambide, Alban Lenoir, Sofiane Zermani, Ana Girardot.
Tagline: None.
The Plot…
When a remote desert oil well catches fire, the only way to extinguish the blaze is to set off a small explosion that will put it out. In less than 24 hours the oil well will explode. If it blows the explosion will be gigantic and kill the local population.
A pair of brothers and a few other mercenaries are paid handsomely to drive two truckloads of highly explosive nitroglycerin to the site. They’re sending two truckloads, because it is unlikely even one truck will make it. With two there might be a chance. Odds against making the journey safely include the speed needed to cover the distance, the rough terrain, bandits and more.
It’s a suicide mission to save a village. Not all will survive.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Wages of Fear (2024) is a remake of 1953’s Le Salaire de la Peur (The Wages of Fear). In 1977, William Friedkin brought his version, Sorcerer, to the big screen. Both the original and Friedkin’s versions are vastly superior to the latest.
Wages of Fear aka Le salaire de la peur (2024) rates 2 of 5 stars.
“The Accountant 2” – The Poster is Here!
I was surprised by how much I liked The Accountant. So yeah, I’m looking forward to The Accountant 2. With that said, here’s the poster.
“All Souls” starring Academy Award® winner Mikey Madison – The Poster and Trailer are Here!
The poster and trailer for All Souls starring Academy Award® winner Mikey Madison are here!
I like the looks of this. The movie was released in 2023, so I’m going to have to look it up.
All Souls – Watch the trailer now!
Starring Academy Award® winner* Mikey Madison, Gerald Gillum, Samuel Roukin, Mia Love Disnard, and Zach Villa.
Academy Award® winner* Mikey Madison (Anora) and influential rapper Gerald “G-Eazy” Gillum (The Fate of The Furious) star in this exhilarating thriller about a young woman pressured by police to go undercover and infiltrate a local drug cartel. Joining the ranks of young criminal recruits doing dangerous work as confidential informants, River (Madison) vows to save her family and clear her name in this adrenaline-fueled, emotionally charged movie experience.
“Aftermath” (2024) / Z-View
Aftermath (2024)
Director: Patrick Lussier
Screenplay: Noah Graham Davis
Stars: Dylan Sprouse, Mason Gooding, Megan Stott, Dichen Lachman, Ashley Pynn, Mark Pettograsso, Shahjehan Khan, Joshua Wolf Coleman and Will Lyman.
Tagline: None.
The Plot…
Eric Daniels (Sprouse), an ex-army ranger and his 16-year old sister Maddie(Stott) are on the Tobin Memorial Bridge in Boston when terrorists take it over. Now packed with civilian hostages, the well-armed revolutionaries have complete control. The kill the driver’s of a police armored truck and take the prisoner hostage.
When SWAT tries to move in, a sniper goes to work. The terrorist use rocket launcher to take out a helicopter. SWAT moves back to wait for the terrorists demands.
Realizing that they terrorists could be planning to blow the rest of the bridge to make their escape, Daniels begins to take action. What chance has one man got against a motivated, well-armed military unit?
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Aftermath depends on the extensive use of cgi. Unfortunately the cgi isn’t very good. The story and acting is just a step above the computer graphics.
Aftermath (2024) rates 2 of 5 stars.
CREEPY Archives Volume 11!
CREEPY Archives Volume 11 will be released on November 4, 2025. It will contain 256 pages of horrific fun! Here’s what we get…
GRAVE CONSEQUENCES!
IT’S BOUND TO BE A SCREAM!
Collects issues #51–#54, plus color covers and stories in an affordable paperback format!
Our latest foray into fear reprints some of Warren Publishing‘s first full-color story offerings from the early ’70s and features more of the unique talents that made Creepy so tantalizing and timeless. With a gorgeous cover by Frank Frazetta and stories by comic-book talents Richard Corben, Doug Moench, Budd Lewis, Tom Sutton, and Reed Crandall, this volume is not to be missed!
Deal me in. Pre-Orders are available now.
