“Midnight Mass” – The Trailer is Here!

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The trailer for Midnight Mass has me interested in seeing more, but what really sold me was this exchange:

“Who are you?”
“You know who I am.”

But we don’t know!  I want to find out so I’ll tune in to Netflix starting September 24th!

From the producers of The Haunting of Hill House, MIDNIGHT MASS introduces Crockett Island, an isolated island community that experiences miraculous events – and frightening omens – following the arrival of a charismatic, mysterious young priest.

“Way of the Gun” Trivia from Director Christopher McQuarrie!

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I recently posted about my love for Way of the Gun.  It’s got a great cast and was written/directed by Christopher McQuarrie.  If you haven’t seen it you might want to give it a try.

Rob Hunter, at Film School Rejects, posted 28 Things We Learned from Christopher McQuarrie’s ‘The Way of the Gun’ Commentary.  As usual, before you click over, here are three of my favorites and thoughts to go with each…

McQuarrie was “very resistant” to casting Phillippe, but the actor wouldn’t take no without the opportunity for a meeting. (When McQuarrie asked Phillippe why he wanted to be in his small film instead of a higher profile project, Phillippe’s response that he wanted to be an actor, not a movie star was classic!  I love Phillippe’s persistence and attitude towards his craft. – Craig)

The kidnapping scene sees lots of collateral in the form of dead or wounded people in both the foreground and background. McQuarrie points out the couple in the car at 17:43 — “a guy crying over his dead wife with three bullets in the windshield” — and says it’s all meant to leave viewers questioning who their loyalty is aimed towards. (One of the things I really like about Way of the Gun is that the two leads aren’t movie star bad guys.  You know, bad guys that are really good at heart or misunderstood.  These guys aren’t heroes. – Craig)

“The character is a survivor,” said James Caan about his character Joe Sarno, “I want to show what he survived.” The result was a highlighting of the scars on his face and neck. (There are a lot of great lines in Way of the Gun and James Caan’s character gets his fair share.  One of my favorites: “The only thing you can guess about a broken down old man is that he is a survivor.” – Craig)

Val Kilmer – Little Known & Surprising Trivia!

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Jake Rossen, at Mental Floss, has come up with 10 Surprising Facts About Val Kilmer.  Rossen’s list is a good one, with some truly surprising trivia.  Before you click over, here are three of my favorites with my thoughts…

VAL KILMER WAS THE YOUNGEST PERSON TO EVER BE ACCEPTED INTO THE JUILLIARD SCHOOL’S DRAMA DIVISION.  (That is a testament to Kilmer’s talent that isn’t subjective. – Craig)

VAL KILMER TURNED DOWN THE OUTSIDERS TO DO BROADWAY. (I’m sure that was a tough decision — work with a group of up and coming young stars directed by Francis Ford Coppola or appear on Broadway with Kevin Bacon and Sean Penn.  I’m a bit surprised that he didn’t go with Coppola and the movie. – Craig)

VAL KILMER DIDN’T WANT TO MAKE TOP GUN. (Kilmer felt Top Gun had a pro-war message and almost didn’t accept the role that is arguably his second most famous! – Craig)

I still believe that Val Kilmer not getting nominated, let alone win an Oscar for his role as Doc Holiday in Tombstone is one of the biggest oversights in Academy Award history.

“Copshop” starring Gerard Butler & Frank Grillo – The Poster and Trailer are Here!

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Normally I like crime movies to be serious, but every once in a while it is fun to watch one that leans deeply into comedy.  Copshop looks to be one that fits in that category.  With a cast that includes Frank Grillo and Gerard Butler, how can I resist?  Deal me in.

Screaming through the Nevada desert in a bullet-ridden Crown Vic, wily con artist Teddy Murretto (Frank Grillo) hatches a desperate plan to hide out from lethal hitman Bob Viddick (Gerard Butler): He sucker-punches rookie officer Valerie Young (Alexis Louder) to get himself arrested and locked up in a small-town police station. But jail can’t protect Murretto for long. Viddick schemes his own way into detention, biding his time in a nearby cell until he can complete his mission. When the arrival of a competing assassin (Toby Huss) ignites all-out mayhem, mounting threats force Viddick to get creative if he wants to finish the job and escape the explosive situation.

“Kate” – The Poster and Trailer are Here!

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Kate reminds me of a mash-up of D.O.A., Atomic Blonde, The Long Kiss Goodnight and John Wick.  I like the poster and the trailer rocks.  Deal me in.

After she’s poisoned, a ruthless criminal operative has less than 24 hours to exact revenge on her enemies and in the process forms an unexpected bond with the daughter of one of her past victims.

There’s no time for mercy.

“2 Bullet Solution is Here” – Three Test Subjects, Two Bullets, 1 Solution – Check Out this Cool Short!

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2 Bullet Solution (I love that title) is three minutes and 32 seconds that works as a short movie or the opening of a feature film.  It is full of well done action that isn’t mindless.  I wouldn’t mind seeing 2 Bullet Solution adapted into a full length movie. Matt Mullins and Chris Naylor are filmmakers to watch.

3 Test Subjects, 2 Bullets, 1 Solution.

“2 Bullet Solution” by Matt Mullins and Chris Naylor

Crime Comics: What are the All-Time Most Influential?

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Following up on yesterday’s list of 10 Essential Films from the American Neo-Noir Movement, it isn’t much of a stretch to turn our spotlight on crime comics.  Richard Keller at CBR compiled his list of The Most Influential Crime Comics Of All Time.  Keller’s list is a good one.  Before you click over, here are my thoughts on his selections and a few not on his list that are favorites of mine…

Dick Tracy:  As a kid I read Dick Tracy comic strips off and on.  As an adult I’ve read some Dick Tracy comics (notably those by Kyle Baker and Michael Avon Oeming), but Dick Tracy has never been a character I’ve held dear.  I wouldn’t mind someday reading some of the old Dick Tracy comic strips.

The Spirit:  Will Eisner’s The Spirit is considered one of the classic comics by nearly everyone.  Eisner’s work on The Spirit is cited as an influence by many, many great artists.  I’ve read and enjoyed a cross-section of The Spirit comics, but not nearly enough.  I need to remedy that. (Oh, and if all you know about Will Eisner’s The Spirit is the movie… you don’t know The Spirit.)

Crime Does Not Pay:  I’ve never read any of these comics as they were well before my time.  Perhaps I should try to find reprints.

True Crime Comics: Like Crime Does Not Pay, these comics were before my time and I’ve never read any.

Crime SuspenStories: Although also well before my time, I would like to read these EC comics.  I’ve toyed with getting the reprints but have never, uh, pulled the trigger.  I should.

Sin City: As most of you probably know, Frank Miller’s Sin City comics are my favorite series of all-time.  If you like film noir, Mickey Spillane, tough mugs and sexy dames, then these are the comic yarns for you!

Sam & Twitch:  I’ve never read any Sam & Twitch comics.  Reading Keller’s write-up, I need to change that. 

100 Bullets:  A classic crime comic where the story was a great as the art.  I loved that it was always scheduled for 100 issues and when the story was told, the comic ended… at 100 issues.

Powers:  Where the focus is on the cops in a world of super-heroes.  I’m a fan.

Stumptown:  I haven’t read the comics.  That needs to change.

Keller’s list provided me with some crime comics I need to track down.  Here are a few I’d recommend that didn’t make his list…

The Black Terror, Seduction of Deceit written by Charles Smith, Beau Dixon, with art by Daniel Brereton.  If you liked The Godfather and the tv series Wiseguy then this is for you!

Scalped written by Jason Aaron and illustrated by R. M. Guéra,  Scalped is a modern day western where organized crime has moved onto a fictional Indian Reservation.  

Gravedigger written by Christopher Mills with art by Rick Burchett.  Sadly there are only two Gravedigger tales, but they should be in every crime comic fan’s collection.  The stories are collected in the trade Gravedigger: Hot Women and Cold Cash.  

The Best American Neo-Noir Films!

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Swapnil Dhruv Bose put together a list of 10 Essential Films from the American Neo-Noir Movement.  The list is a good one.  Here are my thoughts on each of the films and a few others that would have made my list…

Point Blank (John Boorman – 1967):  I’m a Lee Marvin fan and I’ve liked Point Blank more with each viewing.  

The Long Goodbye (Robert Altman – 1973): While I’m a Raymond Chandler fan, I didn’t like this adaption of his novel. Part of the problem was that I didn’t think Elliot Gould was a good choice to play Chandler.  

Chinatown (Roman Polanski – 1974): Chinatown is a classic.

The Conversation (Francis Ford Coppola – I’ve never watched The Conversation which is a surprise even to me because it is held in such high regard and I’m a Coppola fan. Perhaps this will be the year I watch it.

Taxi Driver (Martin Scorsese – 1976): I like Scorsese. I like Deniro. I didn’t like Taxi Driver. I thought it was slow and excessively violent. Perhaps another viewing is in order.

Blade Runner (Ridley Scott – 1982): I’ve enjoyed every version of Blade Runner. (Although I wasn’t a huge fan of the sequel.)

Blue Velvet (David Lynch – 1986): I didn’t care for Blue Velvet.

Pulp Fiction (Quentin Tarantino – 1994): I loved Pulp Fiction. It remains one of Tarantino’s best films.

L.A. Confidential (Curtis Hanson – 1997): L.A. Confidential is perhaps the best film on this list. I love it.

The Big Lebowski (Coen Brothers – 1998): I’ve never seen it. I know, I know. I need to fix that.

Films that would have made my neo-noir list:

The Killers (1964 – Don Siegel)

Sin City (2005 – Robert Rodriguez & Frank Miller)

Blood Simple (1984 – Cohen Brothers)

Seven (1995 – David Fincher)

John Wick (2014 – Chad Stahelski, David Leitch)

Heat (1995 – Michael Mann)

Thief (1981 – Michael Mann)

“Indemnity” – The Poster and Trailer are Here!

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I like both the poster and trailer for Indemnity which looks like a fun movie to catch on streaming.

First Trailer for Travis Taute’s (Netflix’s BLOOD & WATER) feature debut INDEMNITY. South African action thriller to World Premiere as part of the Fantasia International Film Festival on August 11, 2021.

Starring SAFTA-award winner Jarrid Geduld (ELLEN: DIE STORIE VAN ELLEN PAKKIES), Nicole Fortuin (FLATLAND), Andre Jacobs (BLACK VENUS), Gail Mabalane (BLOOD & WATER), and Tshamano Sebe (THE SOUL COLLECTOR). The film is produced by Bradley Joshua and Benjamin Overmeyer for Gambit Films.

“Echoes of Violence” – The Poster and Trailer are Here!

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I like the trailer for Echoes of Violence more than the poster which is more interesting without the photos of the stars at the top.  I’m not 100% sold, but will be on the lookout for more info about the film.

“Echoes of Violence” tells the story of Marakya, found bloody in the Sedona deserts by real-estate agent Alex, and their journey to Los Angeles to find those who have recently wronged her. Alex agrees to help Marakya leave Sedona quickly as they are pursued by the man hired to kill her, Kellin. Kellin, an ex-marine turned driver for a dangerous sex trafficker masked as an immigration lawyer, Anthony, needs money to save his ailing father. To get the money needed for his father Kellin agrees to take a young girl who has been causing Anthony trouble to the desert and kill her. Marakya escapes, and travels back to Los Angeles to kill Anthony so she can be free, once and for all.

DIRECTED BY Nicholas Woods
STARRING Michaella Russell, Sam Anderson, Frank Oz, Heston Horwin, Chase Cargill

RIP: Ron Popeil

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Ron Popeil an American inventor, business man and marketing genius.  He died yesterday at the age of 86.  No cause of death was given.

Popeil became famous not only for his inventions but more so in the way he marketed them.  He began with television ads promoting his Chop-O-Matic vegetable slicer calling it “the greatest kitchen appliance ever made.”  Popeil’s claims were over the top but he made them with enthusiasm and likability.  He followed the Chop-O-Matic with the Veg-A-Matic which could “slice a tomato so thin it only has one side.”

His company Ronco continued to put out ads marketing their products: The Pocket Fisherman, Mr. Microphone, The Bedazzler, Hair in a Can Spray, The Kitchen Magician, Mr. Dentist, and The Smokeless Ashtray were just some of the products you could find Mr. Popeil hawking in television ads.  Ronco also branched out to Ronco Records to release compilation albums featuring popular songs from a few years ago now at popular prices.

In addition to his grandiose  product claims, Ron Popeil was the first to use the catch phrase used in most late night television commercials hawking products, “Wait… There’s more!”   Ron Popeil’s enthusiasm for his products and his unabashed hucksterism made him a popular culture celebrity.  He was parodied on everything from Saturday Night Live to the Simpsons.  Even Gallagher’s most popular bit, The Sledge-O-Matic could be traced back to Ron Popeil.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Ron Popeil’s family, friends and fans.