Category: Humor

Syfy’s Twilight Zone 4th of July Marathon – 10 Episodes Not to Miss!

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Tomorrow Syfy channel’s 4th of July Twilight Zone Marathon starts at 6am!  It will run for 24 hours.  Here are a few episodes not to miss!

Thursday, July 4th

“Bad Boys: Ride or Die’ (2024) starring Will Smith & Martin Lawrence / Z-View

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Bad Boys: Ride or Die (2024) 

Director: Adil & Bilall

Screenplay:  Chris Bremner, Will Beall, based on characters by George Gallo

Stars: Will Smith, Martin Lawrence, Eric Dane, Vanessa Hudgens, Alexander Ludwig, Paola Núñez, Ioan Gruffudd, Jacob Scipio, Melanie Liburd, Tasha Smith, Rhea Seehorn, Dennis McDonald, Tiffany Haddish, Joe Pantoliano, DJ Khaled, John Salley, Bianca Bethune and Michael Bay

Tagline: Miami’s finest are now its most wanted.

The Plot…

Reports come out posthumously that Captain Howard (Pantoliano) was a corrupt cop working with a drug cartel. Detectives Mike Lowrey (Smith) and Marcus Burnett (Lawrence) know that isn’t true.  They decide to clear Captain Howard’s name.

Mike and Marcus learn that Captain Howard left behind information listing the corrupt state and federal cops.  As they follow the evidence, Mike and Marcus are targeted for execution. Our Bad Boys are framed for murder.  Now there is a manhunt for them.  Both police and crooked cops are ready to shoot to kill.

The question now is… Bad Boys, Bad Boys, what ‘cha gonna do when they come for you?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

There’s a fun subplot where Marcus, after waking up from a coma, believes he cannot die.

Eric Dane makes a great villain.  Wish he had more scenes.  Rhea Seehorn also needed more screen time.

Jacob Scipio has the makings of an action star.

Michael Bay, who directed Bad Boys 1 and 2 has a cameo as an upset motorist.

Bad Boys: Ride of Die is a fun run.  If you’re fans of the previous films, you should enjoy this one.  The comedy got to be a bit over the top for me and the plot was pretty by-the-numbers.  Still, I ain’t complaining – when the Bad Boys mount up, I ride.

Bad Boys: Ride or Die (2024)  rates 3 of 5 stars.

RIP: Martin Mull

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Martin Mull died Thursday, June 27, 2024.  Mr. Mull was 80.

After high school, Martin Mull attended the Rhode Island School of Design.  He graduated from there with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree and also a Master of Fine Arts in painting degree.  Although most know Martin Mull for his comedic acting, he broke into show business as a musical comedian.  He wrote “A Girl Named Johnny Cash” which peaked at 61 on the Country Charts in 1970.  In 1972, Martin Mull’s first album was released.  Between 1972 and 1979, Martin Mull had eight albums released.  In 1998, his last album premiered.  Martin Mull was cast in Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman in 1976.  This launched Mr. Mull into a new career as an actor in television and feature film roles.

Television appearances of Martin Mull include: Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman (46 episodes); Fernwood Tonight (54 episodes); Wonder Woman; Laugh In (1977 – 78, 3 episodes); America 2-Night (65 episodes); Taxi; The Chevy Chase National Humor Test; Square Pegs; The Jerk, Too; Domestic Life (10 episodes); Lots of Luck; California Girls; The Magical World of Disney; TV 101 (2 episodes); It’s Gary Shandling’s Show (4 episodes); His & Hers (13 episodes); The Golden Girls; Dream On; The Jackie Thomas Show (18 episodes); Family Dog (10 episodes); The Larry Sanders Show (2 episodes); L.A. Law; Burke’s Law; Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman; The Drew Carey Show; Roseanne (46 episodes); The Simpsons; Family Guy; Sabrina the Teenage Witch (73 episodes); The Wild Thornberrys; Twice in a Lifetime; Recess (2 episodes); The Geena Davis Show; Dexter’s Laboratory; Teamo Supremo (10 episodes); The Ellen Show (18 episodes); Reba; Life with Bonnie (3 episodes); The Nick at Night Holiday Special; Reno 911; Danny Phantom (14 episodes); The War at Home (3 episodes); Gary Unmarried (2 episodes); My Boys (2 episodes); ‘Til Death (12 episodes); Mad Love; American Dad! (10 episodes); Two and a Half Men (6 episodes); Psych; Dads (19 episodes); Community (2 episodes); Veep (4 episodes); NICS: Los Angeles; Life in Pieces (4 episodes); I’m Sorry (7 episodes); Arrested Development (6 episodes); The Cool Kids (22 episodes); The Ranch (13 episodes); Brooklyn Nine-Nine; Not Dead Yet (3 episodes) and The Afterparty (2 episodes).

Feature film appearances of Martin Mull include: FM; Serial; My Bodyguard; Take This Job and Shove It; Mr. Mom; Clue; The Player; Mrs. Doubtfire and Jingle All the Way.

I first saw Martin Mull in Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman.  Mr. Mull was either a natural born comedian or he learned to make his comedy seem so natural.  What an amazing career he had making every project he was in better.

Out thoughts and prayers go out to Martin Mull’s family, friends and fans.

“Demolition Man” (1993) starring Sylvester Stallone and Wesley Snipes / Z-View

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Demolition Man (1993)

Director: Marco Brambilla

Screenplay: Daniel Waters, Robert Reneau, Peter M. Lenkov, story by Peter M. Lenkov, Robert Reneau

Stars: Sylvester Stallone, Wesley Snipes, Sandra Bullock, Nigel Hawthorne, Benjamin Bratt, Bob Gunton, Glenn Shadix, Grand L. Bush, Pat Skipper, Steve Kahan, Mark Colson, Andre Gregory, Troy Evans, Don Charles McGovern, Bill Cobbs, Dan Cortese, Jack Black, Adrienne Barbeau (voice), Rob Schneider, Jesse Ventura and Denis Leary

Tagline: The world’s most dangerous cop. The world’s most ruthless criminal. The 21st Century isn’t big enough for both of them.

The Plot…

In the near future, a maniac named Simon Phoenix (Snipes) kidnaps a busload of people.  Phoenix then fortifies himself in an abandoned warehouse protected by his gang.  A thermal reading shows no signs of the hostages.  The clock is ticking to keep the captives alive.  As the police prepare an assault, LAPD Detective John Spartan (Stallone) goes in alone.  Spartan works his way to Phoenix and they battle.  When Spartan gains the upper hand, Phoenix ignites an accelerate to blow up the building.

Spartan makes it out with Phoenix under arrest.  He then learns that the hostages were in the building.  All killed by the blast.  Because Spartan didn’t wait for authorization to go in, he is made a scapegoat.  Both Phoenix and Spartan are sentenced to the California Cryo-Penitentiary.  They will be placed in suspended animation for the length of their sentences.

Thirty-six years pass.

Simon Phoenix is revived from cryofreeze for his parole hearing.  Phoenix escapes his cuffs.  He kills the warden and guards.  Phoenix makes his escape into a world where violence is a thing of the past.  Phoenix is easily tracked. Officers are sent to arrest him. Phoenix kills them all.  It is then decided, they will revive John Spartan.  Spartan arrested Phoenix before.  He can do it again… they hope.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

In the original script the entire movie takes place in the future.  Fred Dekker, who did uncredited rewrites, suggested the movie open in the past to show Spartan and Phoenix’s clash.  Dekker’s rationale, “If you don’t show Kansas, Oz isn’t all that special.”

When Demolition Man was released overseas, references to Taco Bell (dubbing and digitally) where changed to Pizza Hut.  Taco Bell wasn’t known in many overseas countries.

Lori Petty was originally cast as Lenina Huxley.  After a few days of filming, Petty left and Sandra Bullock got the role. Creative differences and/or lack of chemistry with Sly Stallone have been given as reasons for the change.

Jack Black appears as one of the Wasteland Scraps.  Adrienne Barbeau is heard (uncredited) as the mainframe computer’s voice.  Rob Schneider appears uncredited.

A scene where Sly Stallone fights Jesse Ventura was cut before the film’s release.

The Demolition Man song was written by Sting for Grace Jones and appeared on her album Nightclubbing, released in 1981.  It was re-recorded by Sting for use in Demolition Man‘s end credits.  Sting then released Demolition Man featuring the song and other live tracks.

The opening sequence of Demolition Man (with the helicopter under attack, bungee jump to the roof, gunfights with gang and fight with Simon Phoenix) is one of Sly’s best.  It has a John Woo feel to it.

When I first saw Demolition Man I thought it had too much comedy/satire.  The film has grown on me over the years.

Demolition Man (1993) rates 4 of 5 stars.

Burt Reynolds’ Best Movies!

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Recently I posted my choices for John Wayne’s Ten Westerns.  Next I turned my sights to Burt Reynolds’ Test Best Movies…

01.  Sharky’s Machine (1981): Burt Reynolds plays Tom Sharky, an Atlanta Narcotics Sargeant.  Burt Reynolds directs.  Co-starring Rachael Ward, Vittorio Gassman, Brian Keith, Charles Durning, Earl Holliman, Bernie Casey, Richard Libertini and Henry Silva.

When an undercover narcotics sting led by Sharky goes sideways, civilians on a crowded bus are wounded and a drug dealer killed.  Sharky is demoted to the vice squad. There Sharky discovers a prostitution ring that involves a powerful politician and a crime cartel.  What Sharky doesn’t realize is that they are on to him and he’s marked for death.

Sharky’s Machine is a great showcase for Reynolds’ acting and directing.  This movie deserved a sequel.  Sadly, it never happened.  Great cast, great soundtrack and it’s the film that launched Rachael Ward to stardom.

_____

02. Smokey and the Bandit (1977): Burt Reynolds plays Bo “Bandit” Darville. Hal Needham directs.  Co-starring Sally Field, Jerry Reed, Mike Henry, Paul Williams, Pat McCormick and Jackie Gleason.

The Bandit is hired to drive a truckload of bootleg beer from Texarkana to Atlanta in just 28 hours.  Along the way the Bandit picks up a runaway bride and the ire of Sheriff Bufford T. Justice.  Sheriff Justice is determined to catch and arrest the Bandit even if he has to chase him all the way to Atlanta!

Smokey and the Bandit was nominated for one Academy Award…

  • nominee Best Film Editing – Walter Hannemann, Angelo Ross

Smokey and the Bandit is a fun movie.  The actors have as much fun as the audience.  Bufford T. Justice as played by Jackie Gleason is an icon.  Burt Reynolds and Sally Field met and fell in love making this movie.  Had Reynolds not enjoyed the role and working with his co-stars/director so much and had the movie not been so successful, Reynolds’ choices for films that followed may have been very different.

_____

03.  The Longest Yard (1974): Burt Reynolds plays Paul Crewe.  Robert Aldrich directs.  Co-starring Eddie Albert, Ed Lauter, Michael Conrad, James Hampton, Mike Henry, Richard Kiel and Bernadette Peters.

Former pro football star, Paul Crewe, led police on a high speed chase in a former girlfriend’s car and then resisted arrest.  Now Crewe has an 18 month sentence at Citrus State Prison.  It’s going to be tough going for the former NFL star since the warden wants Crewe to put together a team of convicts to play his semi-pro team made up of prison guards.  The thing is… the warden is demanding that if it comes to it, Crewe must throw the game.

The Longest Yard was nominated for one Academy Award...

  • Best Film Editing – Michael Luciano

The Longest Yard came out when I was in tenth grade playing JV football.  Our coach made arrangements for us to see the film as a team.  We even called ourselves the Mean Machine after seeing The Longest Yard. (We became county champs that year.  Ah, great memories.)

_____

04.  The Last Movie Star (2017).  Burt Reynolds plays Vic Edwards.  Adam Rifkin directs.  Co-starring Ariel Winter, Clark Duke and Chevy Chase.

Vic Edwards is an aging movie star.  His glory days are well behind him.  When Edwards gets notification that he is the recipient of a lifetime achievement award from a film festival in Nashville, he reluctantly decides to go.  Once there Edwards realizes that the festival is just a local film fan get-together.  What he doesn’t know is how positively impactful this weekend will become.

Every Burt Reynolds fan should see this film.

_____

05. Hooper (1948).  Burt Reynolds plays Sonny Hooper.  Hal Needham directs.  Co-starring Jan-Michael Vincent, Sally Field, Brian Keith, John Marley, Robert Klein, James Best, Adam West and Robert Tessier.

Sonny Hooper is an aging stunt man.  Years of hard falls, too much booze and pain killers have taken a toll.  When a hot shot young stuntman shows up, Hooper feels he still has something to prove.

Hooper was nominated for one Academy Award...

  • nominee for Best Sound – Robert Knudson, Robert Glass, Don MacDougall, Jack Solomon

I loved Hooper when it first came out.  Great idea for a Burt Reynolds movie.  Wonderful supporting cast.  I saw it more than once at a theater.  It’s funny to think my buddy and I both bought jackets because they looked like one worn by Reynolds in Hooper.

_____

06.  Driven (2001).  Burt Reynolds plays Carl Henry.  Renny Harlin directs.  Co-starring Sylvester Stallone, Kip Pardue and Til Schweiger.

Carl Henry is the owner of a Formula One racing team.  His star driver, Jimmy Bly, has won five races.  Lately Bly’s driving has suffered.  Henry convinces his former driver and Formula One champion, Joe Tanto to come out of retirement, join the team and mentor Bly.  

This is the first film on the list to not star Burt Reynolds.  Being a fan of both Burt and Sly Stallone, I had always hoped that they’d work together.  Driven made that happen.

_____

07.  The Man Who Loved Cat Dancing (1973).  Burt Reynolds plays Jay Grobart.  Directed by Richard C. Sarafian.  Co-starring Sarah Miles, Lee J. Cobb, Jack Warden and George Hamilton.

Jay Grobart and his outlaw partners are on the run.  They robbed a train and a posse is after them. Grobart allows Catherine, a woman who is fleeing her rich, abusive husband to join them.  What Grobart doesn’t know is that Catherine’s husband has hired a posse of his own.  Now he has two posses that would like to see him dead.

This is Reynold’s best western.  I wish he had made more.

_____

08.  Deliverance (1972). Burt Reynolds Lewis.  Directed by John Boorman.  Co-starring Jon Voight, Ronny Cox, Ned Beatty and Bill McKinney.

Four friends, Lewis Medlock, Ed Gentry, Bobby Trippe, and Drew Ballinger, decide to take a canoe trip down a dangerous, remote river.  The trip is Lewis’ idea.  Lewis sees himself as an outdoorsman and survivalist.  His friends a middle-aged business men.  None of them, including Lewis are prepared for the misadventure that follows. 

Deliverance was nominated for three Academy Awards…

  • nominee Best Picture – John Boorman
  • nominee Best Director – John Boorman
  • nominee Best Film Editing – Tom Priestley

Burt Reynolds was getting great buzz for his acting in Deliverance.  Then the issue of Cosmopolitan came out that featured Reynolds in a semi-nude centerfold.  Suddenly he was no longer seen as a serious actor.  

_____

09.  Heat (1986).  Burt Reynolds plays Nick Escalante.  Directed by Dick Richards, Jerry Jameson.  Co-starring Karen Young, Peter MacNicol, Howard Hesseman and Diana Scarwid.

Nick Escalante is a Vegas bodyguard.  When a female escort is brutalized by a mobster’s son named Danny DeMarco, Escalante agrees to help her get revenge.  Things go sideways when the DeMarco calls in hitters to take out Escalante.

Heat was a troubled production.  Burt Reynolds and director, Dick Richards didn’t get along.  At one point Reynolds punched Richards, who then left the production.  Jerry Jamison was brought in to direct until Richards eventually returned.  Richards sued and won $500,000 from Reynold for the assault.

_____

10.  Malone (1987).  Burt Reynolds plays Richard Malone.  Directed by Harley Cokeliss.  Co-starring Cliff Robertson, Kenneth McMillan, Cynthia Gibb, Scott Wilson and Lauren Hutton.

Malone, a retired C.I.A. assassin, while driving across country, becomes stranded in a small town. Paul Barlow, the owner of the only gas station for miles allows Malone to stay at his house while they wait for the car part to arrive.  Malone learns that a rich man named Delaney is buying up all the property in the area and is putting a squeeze on Barlow.  When thugs are sent to convince Barlow to sell, Malone steps in.  Soon Malone finds himself going against Delaney and his former allies at the C.I.A..

Does it get any more mid-80s than Burt Reynolds, Cliff Robertson, Kenneth McMillan, Cynthia Gibb, Scott Wilson and Lauren Hutton?

“Get Shorty” (1995) starring John Travolta, Gene Hackman, Rene Russo & Danny DeVito / Z-View

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Get Shorty (1995)

Director: Barry Sonnenfeld

Screenplay: Scott Frank based on GET SHORTY by Elmore Leonard

Stars: John Travolta, Gene Hackman, Rene Russo, Danny DeVito, Dennis Farina, Delroy Lindo, James Gandolfini, Jon Gries, Renee Props, Martin Ferrero, Miguel Sandoval, Jacob Vargas, Linda Hart, Bobby Slayton, Ron Karabatsos, Barry Sonnenfeld, Bette Midler, Harvey Keitel, Penny Marshall and David Paymer.

Tagline: Drug smuggling. Racketeering. Loan sharking. Welcome to Hollywood!

The Plot…

Ernesto “Chili” Palmer (Travolta) is a Miami loan shark who loves movies.  When a collection sends Chili to L.A., Chili meets some low level folks in the film world.  Chili has an idea for a movie and decides to work his way up in the industry.

How hard could it be?

What Chili doesn’t know is that his Brooklyn boss has died.  Now Ray “Bones” Baroni (Farina) has the greenlight to kill Chili.  And Bones is headed for LA.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Although John Travolta is perfect as Chili Palmer (he won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy for the role), he initially turned down the role.  Quentin Tarantino convinced him to take the part.

Bette Midler, Harvey Keitel and Penny Marshall have uncredited appearances.

James Gandolfini is four years away from starring in The Sopranos.  He’s younger, thinner and sports a full beard, but once you hear his voice, you know it’s him.

Get Shorty (1995) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“Fargo” (1996) written & directed by The Cohen Brothers, starring William H. Macy, Frances McDormand, Steve Buscemi & Peter Stormare / Z-View

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Fargo (1996)

Director: Joel Coen, Ethan Coen

Screenplay: Joel Coen, Ethan Coen

Stars: William H. Macy, Frances McDormand, Steve Buscemi, Peter Stormare, Kristin Rudrüd, Harve Presnell, Steve Reevis, Larry Brandenburg, Bruce Campbell and Melissa Peterman.

Tagline: Small town. Big crime. Dead cold.

The Plot…

Jerry Lundegaard (Macy) has screwed up badly.  Jerry embezzled money from the car dealership that he works for and his father-in-law owns.  In an effort to raise the money quickly, Jerry decides to have his wife kidnapped.  His rich father-in-law will pay to get her back.  Jerry will use the ransom money to return the embezzled cash.  Problem solved.

Unfortunately, the lunkheads that Jerry hires to do the job are well, lunkheads.  The kidnapping goes sideways in more ways than three.  People are killed.  Jerry’s dad has some stipulations before he’ll cough up the cash to get his daughter back.

Police Chief Marge Gunderson (McDormand) is on the case.  Most folks underestimate Marge’s abilities.  They look at her and see a small, quiet, pregnant woman… not the intelligent, determined investigator that can see connections in crimes that appear random.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Fargo was nominated for seven Academy Awards, winning one…

  • Best Picture (Nominee)
  • Best Actress in a Leading Role (Winner – Frances McDormand)
  • Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Nominee – William H. Macy)
  • Best Director (Nominees – Joel Coen, Ethan Cohen)
  • Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen (Nominee – Ethan Coen, Joel Coen)
  • Best Cinematography (Nominee – Roger Deakins)
  • Best Film Editing (Nominees – Ethan Coen <as Roderick Jaynes>, Joel Coen <as Roderick Jaynes>)

When Steve Buscemi’s character says, “In thirty minutes, we will wrap this up” if you time until the end of the movie, it will show thirty minutes have passed.

Although the film is titled, Fargo, most of the movie takes place in Brainerd, Minnesota.  The Cohens thought Fargo made a better title than Brainerd.

Frances McDormand and Joel Cohen are married.

Bruce Campbell appears (uncredited) in the background of a scene on a television screen.

Fargo was selected for inclusion in the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress in 2006.

Although the title card at the start of the film indicates it is based on a true case, it’s not.

Fargo has everything you’d expect in a Cohen film: great writing, directing and acting with memorable characters.

Fargo (1996) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“Judge Dredd” (1995) starring Sylvester Stallone, Armand Assante & Diane Lane / Z-View

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Judge Dredd (1995)

Director: Danny Cannon

Screenplay: William Wisher, Jr., Steven E. de Souza, story by Michael De Luca, William Wisher, Jr., based on  Judge Dredd by John Wagner & Carlos Ezquerra

Stars: Sylvester Stallone, Armand Assante, Rob Schneider, Jürgen Prochnow, Max von Sydow, Diane Lane, Joanna Miles, Joan Chen, Balthazar Getty, Maurice Roëves, Ian Dury, Christopher Adamson, Ewen Bremner, Peter Marinker, Angus MacInnes, Adrienne Barbeau (voice), Mitchell Ryan, James Remar, Scott Wilson and James Earl Jones (voice).

Tagline: In the future, one man is the law.

The Plot…

In the future the world has become a wasteland.  Most of humanity survives in megacities.  The rich live well and far above the riffraff below.  The justice system changed to meet the challenges of an overtaxed judicial system.  Now there are Judges who serve as police officers, judges and executioners.

Judge Dredd (Stallone) is legendary.  Although Dredd trains new recruits, and is respected by the Chief Justice, Dredd prefers to be a street Judge.

Judge Dredd is framed when a reporter is killed and Dredd’s DNA is found on the murder weapon. He’s arrested and sentenced to life in prison.  Unaware of the depths of the conspiracy (by those close to him) Dredd must prove his innocence.  The clock is ticking…

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Sly and the director had different visions for the film.  Sly wanted an action/comedy while the director wanted a darker, more serious approach.  This didn’t make for a smooth running set.

In the comics, Dredd was never seen without his helmet on.  There was no way that the producers were going to pay Stallone’s salary and not have audiences see his face.  This upset many comic “purists”.

The scene where Fergie (Schneider) imitates Dredd (Stallone) was improvised.

John Wagner, the co-creator of Judge Dredd, said, “the story (movie) had nothing to do with Judge Dredd, and Judge Dredd wasn’t really Judge Dredd even though Stallone was perfect for the part.”

This was the second time Sly Stallone and Armand Assante played brothers.  The first time was in Paradise Alley.

Both Adrienne Barbeau and James Earl Jones voices are heard in the film.  James Remar and Scott Wilson appear in the film.  None of these four actors are listed in the film’s credits.

It’s unfortunate that Sly, the director and the screenwriters weren’t on the same page in regard to the tone of the film.  There wasn’t enough comedy for it to be seen as an action/comedy.  The comedy that was there made sure it wasn’t seen as a serious/dark action film.

I’ve enjoyed each new viewing of Judge Dredd a little better as the years go by.

Judge Dredd (1995) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“Killer’s Game” – The Trailer is Here!

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This morning we got the poster.  This afternoon, the trailer.

US Release Date: September 13, 2024
Starring: Dave Bautista, Ben Kingsley, Sofia Boutella, Terry Crews
Director: J. J. Perry
Synopsis: In the new action-comedy THE KILLER’S GAME, when top hitman Joe Flood (Dave Bautista) is diagnosed with a terminal illness, he decides to take matters into his own hands – by taking a hit out on himself. But when the very hitmen he hired also target his ex-girlfriend (Sofia Boutella) , he must fend off an army of assassin colleagues and win back the love of his life before it’s too late.

“Fallout”: Season 1 (2024) starring Ella Purnell, Aaron Moten & Walter Goggins / Z-View

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Fallout: Season 1 (2024)

Created by: Graham Wagner, Geneva Robertson-Dworet

Based on Fallout by Bethesda Softworks

Director: Jonathan Nolan (Eps. 1-3); Daniel Gray Longino (Ep. 4); Clare Kilner (Ep. 5); Frederick E.O. Toye (Ep. 6); Frederick E.O. Toye, Clare Kilner (Ep. 7); Wayne Yip (Ep. 8)

Teleplay: Geneva Robertson-Dworet & Graham Wagner (Eps. 1-3); Kieran Fitzgerald  (Ep. 4); Carson Mell (Ep. 5); Karey Dornetto (Ep. 6); Chaz Hawkins (Ep. 7); Gursimran Sandhu (Ep. 8)

Stars: Ella Purnell, Aaron Moten, Kyle MacLachlan, Walton Goggins, Sarita Choudhury, Leslie Uggams, Michael Cristofer, Mykelti Williamson, Matt Berry, Zach Cherry, Rodrigo Luzzi, Cameron Cowperthwaite, Michael Emerson, Michael Rapaport, Dale Dickey, Jake Garber, Frances Turner, Glenn Fleshler, Angel Desai, Harry Sutton Jr., Fred Armisen.

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

As World War III began, wealthy people who had connections made their way to underground “vaults”.  These fallout shelters were prepped so that the inhabitants could stay underground until it was safe to return to the surface.

200 years have passed.  The vault people have led a sheltered life.  Everyone is polite and kind.  When members of another vault are invited over, it turns out that they are surface dwellers who brutally attack the vault folks.  One of the vault leaders, Overseer Hank MacLean (MacLachlan) is kidnapped.

Lucy MacLean (Purnell), Hank’s young adult daughter ventures to the surface to rescue her dad.  Totally unprepared for the savages, monsters and ghouls living on the surface, Lucy is determined to find her father or die trying.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

I went into season one of Fallout having never played the game or knowing much about it.  My main reasons for watching were Walter (Justified) Goggins and Ella (Army of the Dead) Purnell.  They did not disappoint.

Fallout is an odd mix of futuristic retro, Mad Max-type characters, gore and silliness.  It all comes together pretty well.

I enjoyed Fallout season 1 enough that I’ll tune in if there is a follow-up.

Fallout: Season 1 (2024) rates 3 of 5 stars.

A TROLL WALKS INTO A BAR: A Noir Urban Fantasy Novel by Douglas Lumsden / Z-View

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A TROLL WALKS INTO A BAR: A Noir Urban Fantasy Novel by Douglas Lumsden

Publisher: Independently published (November 17, 2019)

First sentence…

If I had failed to notice that he was packing a quarter of a ton of rock-hard muscle into his seven-and-a-half foot frame, or if I hadn’t observed the loose grayish skin that made his face look as if it were made of wet clay, the large close-set ears that rose to a point next to his hairless skull, his blood-red sunken eyes glowing like half-hidden warning lights beneath a stony brow ridge, his predator teeth behind oversized dark ruddy lips, and his large knobby hands with clawed fingers that extended like eight thorny tendrils, I wouldn’t have known he was a troll.

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

Our story takes place in a world where trolls, gnomes, were-rats, ocean nymphs, adaro, Dragon Lords, elves and other mystical creatures live along side humans.  Alexander Southerland is a human private detective.  He’s getting by (barely), by knowing the players and using his smarts.

One night Southerland is enjoying a quiet drink in a bar.  His peaceful evening is ruined when a seven-and-a-half-foot tall troll pulls up a chair.  The beast is a cop.  Detective Stonehammer provides his credentials and a warning.  He tells Southerland that a sexy dame is going to come to him wanting help.  Southerland is to turn her down.  Southerland asks how much she’s paying.  Stonehammer says it doesn’t matter since Southerland ain’t takin’ the job.  And with that fair warning, the troll leaves.

Against his better judgment, Southerland meets with the woman.  Although he initially turns her down, curiosity gets the best of him.  She may be playing him, but it doesn’t matter once you’re in too deep.  Southerland finds himself in the middle of a gang war, on the run from crooked cops and corrupt politicians… and those are just the humans!  Discovering what is in the locked box will either kill or save him.  The smart money ain’t on him livin’.

+++++

A TROLL WALKS INTO A BAR is my first book by Douglas Lumsden.  Normally, I don’t read fantasy.  If you’re story has elves and mystical creatures, I’m not you’re audience.  Yet something about the opening pages of Lumsden’s story drew me in. (Oh, and let’s not forget the cool cover!)

I love crime, noir and detective stories.  Add the right mix of humor and violence and I’m on board.  I don’t normally read stories with elves, gnomes and fantasy aspects.  Still, I kept thinking about the tale Lumsden set up.  I decided to give A TROLL WALKS INTO A BAR a try.

I’m glad I did.  Alexander Southerland is the type of hero I like in a detective yarn.  Smart, tough and with enough attitude to get him in tight jams as he tries to (mostly) do the right thing.  I even enjoyed the trolls and other creatures.  While I’m not ready for a constant diet of this genre, when I do want another taste, I know Douglas Lumsden is open for business with other tales.

Rating:

RIP: Dabney Coleman

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Dabney Coleman, the award-winning actor of stage and screen, died yesterday. Mr. Coleman was 92.

Dabney Coleman attended both the Virginia Military Institute and the University of Texas at Austin.  Mr. Coleman was drafted and served in the U.S. Army.  After his service, Dabney Coleman attended the Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre.

In 1961, Dabney Coleman made his Broadway debut in A Call on Kupri.  That same year, Mr. Coleman appeared in an episode of Naked City.  For the rest of his career Dabney Coleman would appear on television and in feature films.

In 1987, Dabney Coleman won a Primetime Emmy as Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Special for his role in Sworn to Silence.  Mr. Coleman was nominated for five other Primetime Emmys: 1983 and 1984 – Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series for Buffalo Bill; 1988 – Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Special for Baby M; 1988 – Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series for The Slap Maxwell Story and 1991 – Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series for Columbo.

Television appearances of Dabney Coleman include: Naked City; Armstrong Circle Theater (3 episodes); Alcoa Theater; Ben Casey; Breaking Point; Arrest and Trial; The Movie Maker; Kraft Suspense Theater (2 episodes); Dr. Kildare; The Alfred Hitchcock Hour (2 episodes); The Outer Limits (3 episodes); Bob Hope Presents Chrysler Theater (2 episodes); Hazel; The Donna Reed Show; 12 O’Clock High (2 episodes); The Fugitive (4 episodes); Please Don’t Eat the Daisies; Run for Your Life; That Girl (8 episodes); I Dream of Jeannie (2 episodes); The Flying Nun; The Invaders (2 episodes); Iron Horse; Judd for the Defense; Death Valley Days; Mod Squad; Then Came Bronson; Bonanza (2 episodes); Dan August; Nanny and the Professor; The Bold Ones: The New Doctors; Owen Marshall, Counselor at Law; Banyon; Room 222 (2 episodes); Ironside; Search; Savage; Kojak; The FBI (7 episodes); Mannix (3 episodes); Medical Center; McMillian & Wife (2 episodes); The Mary Tyler Moore Show; Cannon (2 episodes); Switch; The Streets of San Francisco (2 episodes); Police Story (2 episodes); Petrocelli; Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman (148 episodes); Fernwood Tonight (2 episodes); Quincy (2 episodes); Forever Fernwood (130 episodes); The Love Boat; Apple Pie (8 episodes); Diff’rent Strokes (2 episodes); Barnaby Jones (5 episodes); Buffalo Bill (26 episodes); Fresno (6 episodes); Dolly; The Slap Maxwell Story (22 episodes); It’s Gary Shandling’s Show (2 episodes); Columbo (2 episodes); Drexell’s Class (18 episodes); Lincoln; Madman of the People (16 episodes); The Wonderful World of Disney; Recess (14 episodes); The Guardian (67 episodes); Courting Alex (13 episodes); Heartland (6 episodes); Boardwalk Empire (24 episodes); Pound Puppies (4 episodes); Ray Donovan; NCIS and Yellowstone.

Feature film appearances of Dabney Coleman include: The Slender Thread; The Scalphunters; The Trouble with Girls; Downhill Racer; Cinderella Liberty; The Towering Inferno; Black Fist; Bite the Bullet; Midway; Viva Knievel!; Rolling Thunder; Go Tell the Spartans; North Dallas Forty; How to Beat the High Cost of Living; Melvin and Howard; 9 to 5; On Golden Pond; Modern Problems; Tootsie; War Games; Cloak and Dagger; The Muppets Take Manhattan; The Man with One Red Shoe; Dragnet; Amos & Andrew; The Beverly Hillbillies; Clifford; You’ve Got Mail; Inspector Gadget; Where the Red Fern Grows and Domino.

The first time I saw Dabney Coleman on screen was probably in The Fugitive or Invaders.  But man, he sure did appear in many other shows I regularly watched.  My most memorable performance by Dabney Coleman is from 9 to 5.  He was perfect.  Of course that’s not surprising because any time you saw Dabney Coleman, you knew the program/movie would be better because of him.  It’s evidence of his talent that he could move from television to feature films or drama to comedy with ease.

Out thoughts and prayers go out to Dabney Coleman’s family, friends and fans.

“Plan 9 From Outer Space” (1957) written & directed by Ed Wood Jr., featuring Bela Lugosi / Z-View

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Plan 9 From Outer Space (1957)

Director: Edward D. Wood Jr.

Screenplay:  Edward D. Wood Jr.

Stars: Gregory Walcott, Tom Keene, Tor Johnson, Lyle Talbot, Conrad Brooks, Maila Nurmi, Bela Lugosi, Edward D. Wood Jr. and Criswell.

Tagline: Unspeakable Horrors From Outer Space Paralyze The Living And Resurrect The Dead!

The Plot…

Aliens are worried that humans will produce a doomsday bomb that could destroy the universe.  To stop them, the aliens put into motion Plan 9.  They resurrect the recent dead.  Humans will be so horrified that they will follow the aliens’ directives.  If not, the aliens will use the zombies to destroy them!

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Plan 9 From Outer Space is Bela Lugosi’s last film.  Ed Wood and Lugosi were friends.  They had filmed snippets of scenes for an Ed Wood movie in development.  Bela Lugosi died and Ed Wood decided to incorporate these clips into Plan 9.  Wood also used the fact that Plan 9 would be Lugosi’s last film to induce some of the actors to join the project.

It’s funny to note that scenes featuring Lugosi’s character not played by Lugosi were completed by Wood’s wife’s chiropractor.  He was much taller and looked nothing like Bela Lugosi.  So Ed Wood told him to hunch over and always keep the cape in front of his face.  Problem solved.

The film was made on a miniscule budget.  Tor Johnson’s home was used as a location.  Johnson’s son was a San Fernando Police officer.  They got use of the police car and uniforms through him.  The alien’s flying saucer was adapted from a popular UFO model kit.  Bela Lugosi supplied his own cape (from playing Dracula on stage). The gravestones were made of cardboard or styrofoam and can be seen wiggling when actors brushed against them.

Harry Thomas did the make-up for Plan 9.  He become upset and asked his name be removed from the credits.  Thomas wanted the aliens to have elongated chins using appliances he would make, cat’s eye lenses (special contacts) and green hair (wigs). Ed Wood said that those ideas would be too expensive.  Ironically, the year before Henry Thomas worked on Cecil B. DeMille’s The Ten Commandments which was the most expensive movie ever made to that time.

Plan 9 From Outer Space gained popularity after being named The Worst Film Ever Made.  It is a bad film, but far from the worst ever made.  The low budget, bad script, Lugosi stand-in, wooden performances, outlandish idea for a movie and more make for a humorous viewing, especially with friends.

Plan 9 From Outer Space (1957) rates 2 of 5 stars.