Tuesday, December 3, 2024
Podcast 'Dateline' episode two 'Deadly Mirage' with Josh Mankiewicz
Dateline says, "Detectives pursue multiple potential suspects, a key witness comes forward, and stunning secrets are revealed."
Podcast 'Dateline' episode one 'Deadly Mirage' with Josh Mankiewicz
Dateline says, "Rob Limon’s close-knit group of friends is shattered when he is shot to death at work. Did the killing have something to do with his job, or something closer to home?"
Monday, December 2, 2024
20th Anniversary 'National Treasure' with Nicholas Cage from 2004
NATIONAL TREASURE from DISNEY (2004). It opened on Nov. 19, 2004 and would become a worldwide box office hit. A sequel was then made in 2007. A third film had been talked about for 20 years. Even a fan made trailer was created on YouTube. Instead - Disney went with a TV series called, "National Treasure: Edge of History" Streaming online in 2022 & 23. With a younger cast.
The 2004 production budget climbed to a hefty $100 million. It grossed $347 million at the worldwide box office. It was number #1 at the U.S box office for three straight weekends.
I recently watched it on Blu-Ray and had a great time. It's a popcorn movie filled with adventure and U.S history. It leads to a possible buried treasure. Adventure movies are now Animated or Live Action Digital. It isn't as much fun as real adventure inside of real world locations (Example: The Mummy 1999).
The story is simple. A cryptographer Benjamin Franklin Gates (Cage) has been searching for lost treasure of the "free masons" from 1832. That treasure is hidden right here in the U.S. Frank and his partner Riley Poole (Justin Bartha) find a clue which leads to a bigger clue on the back of the "Declaration of Independence." It is a map to where the treasure might be buried. Another map hunter is after the same thing and it's a race against time.
Wow - "National Treasure" is 20 years old. Check it out on Blu-Ray. You won't be disappointed.
Below is the 2004 movie trailer for "National Treasure."
Rave Reviews 'Noseferatu' Dracula Remake 2024
NOSEFERATU from FOCUS FEATURES. It opens in movie theaters on Christmas Day (12-25-2024). This is the remake of the 1922 Silent Film that was directed by F.W. Mernau. It's based on the 1897 book Bram Stoker's "Dracula."
American critics are getting early screenings of this Gothic Horror film. They are loving it. (JoBlo Horror Critic).
Podcast 'Dateline' with Josh Mankiewicz 'Deadly Mirage' beginning Dec. 3, 2024
Dateline says, "Hey Dateline fans! As a bonus for you, we’re sharing the trailer for Deadly Mirage, an all-new original podcast series from Dateline and Josh Mankiewicz."
"The story takes place in the Silver Lakes, a lush manmade oasis in California’s Mojave Desert, where Rob and Sabrina Limon seem to have the perfect life: two young children, a beautiful home, and a tight-knit group of friends. But when Rob is found murdered, investigators uncover deep secrets about sex, friendship and religion that shatter carefully crafted illusions."
First 9 Minute release of 'Kraven The Hunter' in theaters on Dec.13, 2024
KRAVEN THE HUNTER from Sony (2024). This is something new that is geared toward comic book fans. They have released the first 9 minutes of the film before the December 13th drop in movie theaters. I guess the film trailers are not enough to entice movie-goers.
Synopsis, "Kraven the Hunter is the visceral story about how and why one of Marvel’s most iconic villains came to be. Set before his notorious vendetta with Spider-Man, Aaron Taylor-Johnson stars as the titular character in the R-rated film."
Podcast '48 Hours' episode 'The Firefighter's Secret'
48 Hours says, "A young woman is found dead in her burning home. She’d been involved with a firefighter– could he have set a fire to cover her murder? Nikki Battiste reports."
Sunday, December 1, 2024
Classic Movie Flashback 'The Verdict' 1982 with Paul Newman
THE VERDICT distributed by 20TH CENTURY FOX (1982). It was directed by Sidney Lumet and starred Paul Newman. The production budget climbed to $16 million and grossed $54 million at the box office. It was a critical and commercial success.
Paul Newman was an enduring movie star from the 1950's. As he aged. He chose roles that gave him a chance to shine as a leading character actor. It paid off greatly. We just don't have movie stars like him anymore. That era is long gone.
"The Verdict" is based on a novel by Barry Reed (1980). It surrounds an aging alcoholic attorney named Frank Galvin (Newman). He is given a medical malpractice case. A woman was operated on with the wrong diagnosis. She becomes a "vegetable" hooked up to machines to keep her alive. The Catholic church which funds the hospital. They offer Frank $210,000 to settle the case. He makes a brave decision to take on that case when everyone tells him not to. Including the family of the victim.
As the story unfolds. Everyone around Frank is against him. In the courtroom as well as out of it. He stops drinking alcohol and fights for redemption and it is thrilling to watch.
This is one of my favorite courtroom dramas. "The Verdict" was nominated for 5 Oscars including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor (Newman), Best Supporting Actor and Adapted Screenplay. It would later become a huge rental on VHS Home Video.
Check it out on Blu-Ray. You will no be disappointed.
Saturday Night's '48 Hours' episode 'The Firefighter's Secret'
48 HOURS on CBS. Last night's episode was called, "The Firefighter's Secret." (11/30/2024).
Click on the CBS logo below for Online Streaming at 48 Hours.
Top Box Office 'Moana 2' is Number #1 with $135 Million
TOP BOX OFFICE / WEEK-ENDING / DEC. 1, 2024 / 2024
1. Moana 2 Walt Disney $135,500,000
2. Wicked Universal $80,000,000
3. Gladiator II Paramount $30,700,000
4. Red One Amazon MGM $12,896,000
5. Best X-mas Pageant Ever $3,275,000
6. Bonhoeffer: Pastor. Spy. Assassin $2,403,859
7. Venom: The Last Dance Sony $2,200,000
8. Heretic A24 $956,797
9. The Wild Robot Universal $670,000
10. A Real Pain Searchlight $665,000
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