“The Amateur” (2025) starring Rami Malek and Laurence Fishburne / Z-View

Posted on by

The Amateur (2025)

Director:  James Hawes

Screenplay: Ken Nolan, Gary Spinelli; based on THE AMATEUR by Robert Littell

Stars: Rami Malek, Laurence Fishburne, Rachel Brosnahan, Evan Milton, Nick Mills, Adrian Martinez, David Mills, Holt McCallany, Julianne Nicholson, Joseph Millson, Marc Rissmann, Danny Sapani and Jon Bernthal.

Tagline: Don’t underestimate him.

The Plot…

Charlie Heller is a small, mild-mannered C.I.A. analyst.  Charlie’s wife is killed by terrorists. Her murder was totally random and in no way related to Charlie’s job.  Charlie is devastated.

Then he comes up with a plan.

Charlie wants to be trained as a C.I.A. operative.  Specifically a hit man. Once Charlie is trained he plans to kill every terrorist involved in his wife’s execution.  Charlie’s bosses at the company don’t think that Charlie could ever be prepared enough.  He lacks the killer instinct.

They’re are severely underestimating him.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Robert Littell is a journalist and novelist.  He wrote the screenplay for The Amateur which was made into the 1981 film starring John Savage.  Littell then adapted his screenplay into a novel. The 2025 is based on both.

In most films where the star’s wife/girlfriend is killed, the main emotion is anger.  Here we get a true feeling of sadness and despair.

Rami Malek is excellent.  He is supported by very talented co-stars that include Laurence Fishburne, Rachel Brosnahan, Holt McCallany, Danny Sapani and Jon Bernthal.  Kudos also to director James Hawes.

The Amateur is one of my favorite movies of the year.

The Amateur (2025) rates 5 of 5 stars

Sly Stallone as Johnny Kovak from “F.I.S.T.” by Tony Harris!

Posted on by

Getting on Tony Harris‘ commission list wasn’t easy.  It filled up fast and actually took more than a couple of conventions to make it.  But when I did, Tony came through with a winner.  As you can see above, Tony opted to draw Sly Stallone as Johnny Kovak from the very underrated film, F.I.S.T..  What a knockout!  I love this piece as much today as the day I got it.

 

“Hard Boiled” (1992) directed by John Woo; starring Chow Yun-Fat / Z-View

Posted on by

Hard Boiled (1992)

Director:  John Woo

Screenplay: Gordon Chan, Barry Wong; story John Woo

Stars: Chow Yun-Fat, Tony Leung Chiu-wai.

Tagline: As a cop, he has brains, brawn, and an instinct to kill.

The Plot…

Hong Kong Police Inspectors “Tequila” Yuen and his partner Inspector Benny Mak are watching gun smugglers during an exchange.  When a rival gang shows up a shootout takes place.  Several gangsters, civilians and Benny Mak are killed in the battle.

Tequila vows revenge.  Tequila learns that Alan, one of the gang leader’s most trusted killers,  is an undercover agent.  Tequila reaches out to Alan and proposes that they work together to bring the gangsters down.

They’re going to need a lot of bullets.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

The famous scene where Chow Yun-Fat does the “staircase slide” while firing was improvised on the set.

The hospital gun battle runs a good thirty minutes including one three minute single take scene.

When first released and for many years after, Hard Boiled was considered the apex action film.

Hard Boiled (1992) rates 4 of 5 stars

Jack Carter – “You’re the bad brother, remember?” by Craig Hamilton!

Posted on by

I can’t tell you how excited I was to get this piece from Craig Hamilton. Craig is a true “artist’s artist.” I had the pleasure of spending most of a Heroes Con 2004 seated next to Craig (I was hanging out with my best bud, John Beatty).  All weekend Craig was sketching and interacting with fans. It’s always cool when someone whose art you admire turns out to be as nice as the work they produce.

I love that Craig came up with a reflective shot of Jack Carter.  In the movie there is this exchange between Cyrus Paice and Carter…

Cyrus Paice: Wait a minute, Jack. All of a sudden you care? All of a sudden, what are you, some fuckin’ goodguy? Hmm? Hey, you’re the bad brother, remember?

Jack Carter: I know who I am.

Carter is a Vegas enforcer… a thug.  He knows the choices he made have brought him to this point.

“Devil’s Advocate” starring Keanu Reeves, Al Pacino and Charlize Theron / Z-View

Posted on by

Devil’s Advocate (1997)

Director:  Taylor Hackford

Screenplay: Jonathan Lemkin, Tony Gilroy; based on THE DEVIL’S ADVOCATE by Andrew Neiderman

Stars: Keanu Reeves, Al Pacino, Charlize Theron, Jeffrey Jones, Judith Ivey, Connie Nielsen, Tamara Tunie, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Debra Monk, Vyto Ruginis, Laura Harrington, Pamela Gray, George Wyner, Chris Bauer, Heather Matarazzo, Leo Burmester and Craig T. Nelson.

Tagline: The newest attorney at the world’s most powerful law firm has never lost a case. But he’s about to lose his soul.

The Plot…

Kevin Lomax is a young, newly married hotshot lawyer.  Kevin has never lost a case.  That could change when Kevin comes to realize his client, a teacher, accused of molesting a student, is a guilty pervert.  Kevin considers his options.  He could excuse himself from the case.  He could not do his best and allow his client to be found guilty.  Kevin makes a decision.  He brings the young girl to the witness stand and destroys her credibility.  His client gets off and Kevin’s undefeated streak is intact.

When John Milton’s big time New York City law firm offers Kevin a job, he is surprised… and interested.  Taking the position would mean uprooting his wife and moving from a small suburban home to the big city.  He’d get a lot more money and prestige, but have less time for his wife.  There’d be temptations that would be hard to resist.

But it’s not like he’d be selling his soul.  Right?

Court is in session!

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Keanu Reeves accepted a lower salary in order that there was enough money in the budget to get Al Pacino.  When Pacino learned of this, he donated to charity the same amount that Reeves lowered his pay.

The boxing match that takes place in the film was an actual title fight between Roy Jones Jr. and Bryant Bannon.  Jones won by a second round TKO.

Keanu Reeves turned down Speed 2: Cruise Control but chose to make Devil’s Advocate instead.

In the last scene of the film Al Pacino looks into the camera breaking the fourth wall and speaks his last line.  I love it.

Devil’s Advocate (1997) rates 4 of 5 stars

Sly Stallone is Rocky by Paul Gulacy!

Posted on by

Sly Stallone is Rocky by Paul Gulacy!

Back in the late 70s to 1983, I bought and sold original comic art and sketches.  My favorite series at the time was Master of Kung Fu by Doug Moench and Paul Gulacy.   I loved Gulacy’s art.

It was so cool to discover Paul was as nice a person as he was great as an artist.  We’d talk on the phone from time to time.  I commissioned Paul to draw Sly Stallone as Rocky Balboa and this is the end result.  It was a dream come true for this Gulacy / Stallone fan.

When I graduated college, I sold my original art collection except for one piece.  You guessed it, this one.  When I started collecting sketches again a few decades later, I opted for a Stallone character theme.  So, it is true to say, this was the piece that started it all for me.

“Conversations with a Killer: The Son of Sam Tapes” (2025) / Z-View

Posted on by

Conversations with a Killer: The Son of Sam Tapes (2025)

Directed by: Joe Berlinger

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

Conversations with a Killer: The Son of Sam Tapes is a three episode limited series that features vintage unheard recordings as well as modern day interviews with David Berkowitz, some survivors of his attacks and those involved in capturing him.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

If you’re at all familiar with the Son of Sam killings, there is nothing earth shattering presented.  The recordings didn’t provide insight.  Although Berkowitz confessed to all of the murders, he’s changed his story over the years.

The Last of Us: Season 2 (2025) earns 2 of 5 stars.

“Stuber” (2019) starring Dave Bautista & Kumail Namjiani / Z-View

Posted on by

Stuber (2019)

Director:  Michael Dowse

Screenplay: Tripper Clancy

Stars: Dave Bautista, Kumail Nanjiani, Mira Sorvino, Natalie Morales, Iko Uwais, Betty Gilpin, Karen Gillan, Steve Howey, Rene Moran, Amin Joseph and Christine Horn.

Tagline: Saving the day takes a pair

The Plot…

Six months ago L.A. Detective Vic Manning’s partner was killed by Oka Tedjo, a notorious drug kingpin.  Vic blames himself.  He lost his glasses in pursuit and was seconds late to his partner being gunned down.

Vic decides to get eye surgery so he won’t need glasses.  The operation was a success, but it will be a few days before Vic’s vision returns to normal.  The time off will do him good.  But when one of his informants gives Vic info on the location of Oka Tedjo, Vic knows he can’t wait.

Vic’s nearly blind,  so he calls an Uber to take him to killer’s location.  Stu, a timid man, shows up.  One thing leads to another a Stu finds himself partner to a nearly blind cop on a mission to catch a killer.

The meter is running!

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Dave Bautista and Kumail Nanjiani had fun chemistry.  It was nice seeing Mira Sorvino.  Bautista gives a funny performance as a nearly blind cop.  Stuber is a much better film than expected.

Stuber (2019) rates 3 of 5 stars

Sly Stallone as Deke DaSilva from “Nighthawks” by Andrew Charipar!

Posted on by

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 Deke DaSilva from Nighthawks!

“Tulsa King” starring Sly Stallone – The Third Season Teaser is Here!

Posted on by

Tulsa King starring Sly Stallone – The Third Season Teaser is Here!

I. Can. Not. Wait.

Sylvester Stallone is back as Dwight Manfredi in Tulsa King. In Season Three, as Dwight’s empire expands, so do his enemies – and the risks to his crew. Now, he faces his most dangerous adversaries in Tulsa yet: the Dunmires, a powerful old-money family that doesn’t play by old-world rules, forcing Dwight to fight for everything he’s built and protect his family.

New Season of Tulsa King Streaming September 21, exclusively on Paramount+.