Action movie culture experienced a boom in the 1980s. Hollywood heavyweights Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone competed to see who could land the best roles, have the largest muscles, and score the most hits in their respective blockbusters. However, as the new decade began, the next wave of action stars began to emerge, led by the likes of Jean-Claude Van Damme (Jcvd) and Steven Seagal, who gained widespread recognition.
Well, it seems like even Hollywood’s mightiest have weighed in on this titanic tussle! Indeed, a long-running debate was reignited by none other than the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s god of thunder, Chris Hemsworth. No, it’s not Seagal, but according to the Australian powerhouse, Van Damme is the undisputed champ of adrenaline-pumping thrills.
Jean-Claude Van Damm in Street Fighter | Columbia Pictures
No, it’s not Seagal, but according to the Australian powerhouse, Van Damme is the undisputed champ of adrenaline-pumping thrills.
Well, it seems like even Hollywood’s mightiest have weighed in on this titanic tussle! Indeed, a long-running debate was reignited by none other than the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s god of thunder, Chris Hemsworth. No, it’s not Seagal, but according to the Australian powerhouse, Van Damme is the undisputed champ of adrenaline-pumping thrills.
Jean-Claude Van Damm in Street Fighter | Columbia Pictures
No, it’s not Seagal, but according to the Australian powerhouse, Van Damme is the undisputed champ of adrenaline-pumping thrills.
- 5/24/2024
- by Siddhika Prajapati
- FandomWire
While Stallone and Schwarzenegger took the 80s by storm with their famous brand of one-man-army spectacles, the latter part of the decade would also see a new breed of tough guys branch out into a different trend of action. It wasn’t only about the ripped muscles and the gunplay and explosions. After martial arts had gone mainstream, stars such as Chuck Norris, Jean-Claude Van Damme and Steven Seagal would carve out their own little place at the box office as they brought their expertise of hand-to-hand combat to the masses.
Naturally, other studios would want to get in on the action and the best thing about jumping on this trend is the fact that there is still an aspect of originality since each star would be spotlighting a specific sect of martial arts. For example, Michael Dudikoff would showcase Ninjitsu, Seagal showcased Aikido, Phillip Rhee showcased Tae Kwan Do,...
Naturally, other studios would want to get in on the action and the best thing about jumping on this trend is the fact that there is still an aspect of originality since each star would be spotlighting a specific sect of martial arts. For example, Michael Dudikoff would showcase Ninjitsu, Seagal showcased Aikido, Phillip Rhee showcased Tae Kwan Do,...
- 5/21/2024
- by EJ Tangonan
- JoBlo.com
Many people may not know this, but before Steven Seagal’s action movie heyday, he worked as a martial arts instructor and choreographer. Most famously, he was super agent Michael Ovitz’s martial arts teacher. Ovitz, notoriously, thought he could make anyone a movie star, and proved it by securing Steven Seagal a movie deal at Warner Bros, where he made Above the Law… and the rest was history.
Another guy Steven Seagal trained was Sean Connery, who was one of Ovitz’s first major clients. The agent paired Connery up with Seagal to get him into shape for the unofficial James Bond movie, Never Say Never Again. Connery was fifty-two at the time and had a couple of fight sequences in the film, so Seagal was brought in to whip him into shape. One day, while sparring, Seagal broke Connery’s wrist. The urban legend is that Connery did something that made him angry,...
Another guy Steven Seagal trained was Sean Connery, who was one of Ovitz’s first major clients. The agent paired Connery up with Seagal to get him into shape for the unofficial James Bond movie, Never Say Never Again. Connery was fifty-two at the time and had a couple of fight sequences in the film, so Seagal was brought in to whip him into shape. One day, while sparring, Seagal broke Connery’s wrist. The urban legend is that Connery did something that made him angry,...
- 5/13/2024
- by Chris Bumbray
- JoBlo.com
Daniel Zirilli, a prolific director, producer and writer of action films and more than 200 music videos including the Rolling Stones’ “Voodoo Lounge,” died April 28. He was 58.
His death was announced by his family. No cause was disclosed, but an Instagram message posted by his daughter Talise Zirilli last weekend indicated that he had been missing since April 24.
Born November 13, 1965, Zirilli founded Popart Film Factory at age 24 after graduating from Pepperdine University in Malibu. In the subsequent years, he would direct and writer more than 30 feature films, most in the action and thriller genres. He was a producer on more than 85 films.
Among his most recent, Zirilli directed, produced and co-wrote Invincible, released by Lionsgate in 2022. Shot on location in Thailand, Invincible starred Johnny Strong, Marko Zaror and Michael Pare, who also appeared in Zirilli’s Hollow Point (2019) along with Luke Goss and Jay Mohr.
Other films credits include Acceleration (2019) starring Dolph Lundgren,...
His death was announced by his family. No cause was disclosed, but an Instagram message posted by his daughter Talise Zirilli last weekend indicated that he had been missing since April 24.
Born November 13, 1965, Zirilli founded Popart Film Factory at age 24 after graduating from Pepperdine University in Malibu. In the subsequent years, he would direct and writer more than 30 feature films, most in the action and thriller genres. He was a producer on more than 85 films.
Among his most recent, Zirilli directed, produced and co-wrote Invincible, released by Lionsgate in 2022. Shot on location in Thailand, Invincible starred Johnny Strong, Marko Zaror and Michael Pare, who also appeared in Zirilli’s Hollow Point (2019) along with Luke Goss and Jay Mohr.
Other films credits include Acceleration (2019) starring Dolph Lundgren,...
- 5/2/2024
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
The 1990s represented a golden epoch for action cinema. This was the time which saw VHS and its digitized successor DVD introduce a whole new generation of fans to the magic of stars like Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone. And those titans from the ‘80s still claimed big wins, too, at the box office and home media via the likes of Terminator 2: Judgement Day, Demolition Man, and Cliffhanger.
It was also the decade that saw audiences turn out in droves to theaters and rental stores to catch a glimpse of Steven Seagal’s flying fists in movies like Under Siege or Jean-Claude Van Damme and his trademark splits in Timecop; Jackie Chan finally got the larger American fanbase he so richly deserved thanks to the Rush Hour movies while Bruce Willis gave us Die Hard With A Vengeance, the best of all the Die Hard sequels, before pivoting...
It was also the decade that saw audiences turn out in droves to theaters and rental stores to catch a glimpse of Steven Seagal’s flying fists in movies like Under Siege or Jean-Claude Van Damme and his trademark splits in Timecop; Jackie Chan finally got the larger American fanbase he so richly deserved thanks to the Rush Hour movies while Bruce Willis gave us Die Hard With A Vengeance, the best of all the Die Hard sequels, before pivoting...
- 4/11/2024
- by David Crow
- Den of Geek
The episode of Wtf Happened to This Horror Movie? covering Manhunter was Written and Narrated by Mike Holtz, Edited by Joseph Wilson, Produced by Andrew Hatfield and John Fallon, and Executive Produced by Berge Garabedian.
How cool would it be to wake up in an alternate universe where bizarre versions of your favorite movies existed and you could experience them all over again for the first time? That’s exactly what I can offer to The Silence of the Lambs and Red Dragon fans who have never experienced Manhunter (watch it Here). The forgotten and abandoned stepchild of the Hannibal Lecter film series. How in the fava bean f*$& does a movie that has the twisted murder weirdness and fascinating serial killer storytelling of a Silence of the Lambs or Mindhunter paired with the coolness of a movie like Heat and flair of a Nicolas Winding Refn film go this unnoticed?...
How cool would it be to wake up in an alternate universe where bizarre versions of your favorite movies existed and you could experience them all over again for the first time? That’s exactly what I can offer to The Silence of the Lambs and Red Dragon fans who have never experienced Manhunter (watch it Here). The forgotten and abandoned stepchild of the Hannibal Lecter film series. How in the fava bean f*$& does a movie that has the twisted murder weirdness and fascinating serial killer storytelling of a Silence of the Lambs or Mindhunter paired with the coolness of a movie like Heat and flair of a Nicolas Winding Refn film go this unnoticed?...
- 4/1/2024
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
Let’s be real. If you had to name the most badass action movie of the past few years, what’s the first flick that comes to mind? Yeah yeah, John Wick might be all the rage for teenagers, Liam Neeson continues to do his geriatric Charlie Bronson, and you can never discount Jason Statham and his brand of brutal butt-kicking. But come on, as far as violently visceral and scintillatingly satisfying underdog tales loaded with realistic fisticuffs and gore-sodden gunfights – nobody does it better than Nobody! Indeed, the 2021 cinematic blitzkrieg starring Bob Odenkirk as an unassuming everyman by day and certified ass-kicker by night hit all the right notes to deliver a vicious and delicious revenge dish for the ages.
With that being said, did you know that a Nobody 2 is currently back in the works? Did you know there were discussions about making a Nobody and John Wick crossover movie?...
With that being said, did you know that a Nobody 2 is currently back in the works? Did you know there were discussions about making a Nobody and John Wick crossover movie?...
- 3/27/2024
- by Jake Dee
- JoBlo.com
March 17, 1951 was a great day in history, because that the day Kurt Russell entered the world. And while he would go on to become one of the biggest icons of the eighties and nineties, many folks don’t know that Russell started as a child star for Disney, even acting opposite his future life partner Goldie Hawn in The One and Only, Genuine, Original Family Band (1968). From the sixties into the seventies, he starred in Disney flicks like The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes (1969), but as the studio’s movies started to flop and Russell got older, a change of pace was needed. Arguably, Russell’s career took off when he began working with director John Carpenter, with the first movie being 1979’s TV movie Elvis, but what are Kurt Russell’s best movies? To celebrate his 73rd birthday, let’s dig into them here.
Honorable Mention: Captain Ron (1992)
A few weeks ago,...
Honorable Mention: Captain Ron (1992)
A few weeks ago,...
- 3/17/2024
- by Chris Bumbray
- JoBlo.com
“Enter the Dragon,” starring Bruce Lee, is one of the four or five greatest action films ever made. Yet it has a thin, awkward, lurching story. The movie gets away with it, of course; the plot is merely a frame on which to hang Lee’s singular hypnotic balletic fighting bravura. In that spirit, there are countless action films that have functional, bare-bones plots, from the revenge sagas of Steven Seagal, Jean-Claude van Damme, Chuck Norris, or Jason Statham to the “John Wick” films to the action dramas of South Korea and Indonesia (“The Raid” and its sequel). So when you watch “Monkey Man,” a film that has blistering fight scenes and was directed and co-written by its star, Dev Patel, you’d think that the movie, like those others, would be able to transcend whatever limitations it might have as a drama.
Yet “Monkey Man,” while it qualifies as a volatile,...
Yet “Monkey Man,” while it qualifies as a volatile,...
- 3/12/2024
- by Owen Gleiberman
- Variety Film + TV
One of the most iconic science fiction action franchises is "Predator," which began with the eponymous movie starring Arnold Schwarzenegger in 1987. While "Predator" is regarded as an action classic, attempts to follow-up on its success have since had considerably more mixed results. The series has seen a number of sequels, revivals, and crossovers with the "Alien" franchise, with varying levels of critical and commercial reception. However, for every "Predator" movie that has seen the light of day, there are plenty of projects that were canceled or altered significantly.
From failed attempts to bring Schwarzenegger back in the fold to star in additional installments or sequel plans shelved by disappointing box office, there are lots of discarded "Predator" movies. This includes the studio shuffling pitches and filmmakers in their hopes to keep the franchise relevant and recapture the 1987 movie's magic. Here's a roster of "Predator" movies that were once in development but ultimately never made,...
From failed attempts to bring Schwarzenegger back in the fold to star in additional installments or sequel plans shelved by disappointing box office, there are lots of discarded "Predator" movies. This includes the studio shuffling pitches and filmmakers in their hopes to keep the franchise relevant and recapture the 1987 movie's magic. Here's a roster of "Predator" movies that were once in development but ultimately never made,...
- 3/11/2024
- by Samuel Stone
- Slash Film
Marco Brambilla's 1993 film "Demolition Man" has a pretty wild premise. In the near-future of 1996, a wildly destructive criminal named Simon Phoenix (Wesley Snipes) is at large and taking hostages in Los Angeles. The cop sent in to apprehend Pheonix is John Spartan (Sylvester Stallone), an officer so reckless that he's earned the nickname of Demolition Man. When Spartan finds and confronts Pheonix, he explodes the building they're in. They both escape, but an investigation reveals the bodies of the hostages in the rubble. Oops. Spartan didn't handle that operation very well.
As punishment, Spartan and Pheonix are both subjected to a new prison experiment. Instead of living in cells, prisoners are cryogenically frozen for decades and fed subliminal rehabilitation messages. Spartan is thawed in the year 2032, where the world is now overseen by a benevolent (seeming) right-wing cult leader who has whipped Los Angeles -- now San Angeles -- into shape.
As punishment, Spartan and Pheonix are both subjected to a new prison experiment. Instead of living in cells, prisoners are cryogenically frozen for decades and fed subliminal rehabilitation messages. Spartan is thawed in the year 2032, where the world is now overseen by a benevolent (seeming) right-wing cult leader who has whipped Los Angeles -- now San Angeles -- into shape.
- 3/9/2024
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
The Story: A college kid (Brandon Lee) witnesses a gangland hit. Betrayed by witness protection, he’s recruited by a task force headed by a no-nonsense cop (Powers Boothe) as a pawn, but little do they know he’s more than able to handle himself against any of his foes.
The Players: Starring: Brandon Lee, Powers Boothe, Tzi Ma & Nick Mancuso. Directed by Dwight H. Little.
The History: The early nineties were the heyday of the martial arts movie star. Steven Seagal and Jean-Claude Van Damme were consistently churning out hits, so if they could become icons, why not a guy like Brandon Lee? He was movie star handsome, could move, was charismatic and could act. Oh yeah – he also happened to be the son of the greatest Kung-Fu movie star of all time, Bruce Lee.
“I wouldn’t want to refer to them as stepping stones. That seems to demean them.
The Players: Starring: Brandon Lee, Powers Boothe, Tzi Ma & Nick Mancuso. Directed by Dwight H. Little.
The History: The early nineties were the heyday of the martial arts movie star. Steven Seagal and Jean-Claude Van Damme were consistently churning out hits, so if they could become icons, why not a guy like Brandon Lee? He was movie star handsome, could move, was charismatic and could act. Oh yeah – he also happened to be the son of the greatest Kung-Fu movie star of all time, Bruce Lee.
“I wouldn’t want to refer to them as stepping stones. That seems to demean them.
- 3/9/2024
- by Chris Bumbray
- JoBlo.com
When Mike Tyson, the former heavyweight boxing champion, 57, saw Brad Pitt having an alleged affair with his now ex-wife, he was prepared to administer the final rites to Pitt.
Well, apart from his combat skills, Iron Mike has demonstrated his acting abilities. Numerous beloved classic films have featured cameos from him. Meanwhile, Pitt is an acclaimed name in the entertainment industry, who rose to fame due to his charisma and acting prowess and quickly gained widespread recognition. It would not be shocking to see him as one of the biggest actors in the business, given his legendary acting career.
Mike Tyson (Image via Vault)
Ironically, because of an incident that left the former boxer scarred, Tyson and Pitt were almost prepared to face off. Not even he was sure what to do at that moment, being confused by the whole situation. Whatever happened, it would always be ingrained in Tyson’s memory.
Well, apart from his combat skills, Iron Mike has demonstrated his acting abilities. Numerous beloved classic films have featured cameos from him. Meanwhile, Pitt is an acclaimed name in the entertainment industry, who rose to fame due to his charisma and acting prowess and quickly gained widespread recognition. It would not be shocking to see him as one of the biggest actors in the business, given his legendary acting career.
Mike Tyson (Image via Vault)
Ironically, because of an incident that left the former boxer scarred, Tyson and Pitt were almost prepared to face off. Not even he was sure what to do at that moment, being confused by the whole situation. Whatever happened, it would always be ingrained in Tyson’s memory.
- 3/8/2024
- by Siddhika Prajapati
- FandomWire
A few months ago, director Dwight H. Little – the director of such films as Rapid Fire (starring Brandon Lee), The Phantom of the Opera (starring Robert Englund), the Steven Seagal vehicle Marked for Death, Free Willy 2, the Wesley Snipes mystery Murder at 1600, Anacondas: The Hunt for the Blood Orchid, Tekken, and my favorite of the Halloween sequels, Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers – released a memoir called Still Rolling: Inside the Hollywood Dream Factory (copies can be purchased at This Link). In one passage of the book, Little discusses the series of mistakes and oversights that led to Brandon Lee’s tragic shooting death on the set of The Crow. With a remake of The Crow set to reach theatres in June and Rust armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed having just been found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in the case of the shooting death on the set of that film,...
- 3/7/2024
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
A few months ago, a terrific book about the golden age of action stars called “The Last Action Heroes” came out (buy it here). Written by Nick De Semlyen, the book takes a very affectionate look at all of the icons we grew up with in the 80s and 90s, with one notable exception. Steven Seagal does not come off well in the book – at all. One of the wildest stories from the book recounts a time when Seagal grew outraged over the fact that a meeting room he wanted was being occupied by the legendary Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau.
The two actors, who would have been in their late sixties then, were participating in a read-through for their hit comedy Grumpy Old Men. According to the book, the vibe in the room was light, with the two old pros cracking up their director, Daniel Petrie and assembled guests.
The two actors, who would have been in their late sixties then, were participating in a read-through for their hit comedy Grumpy Old Men. According to the book, the vibe in the room was light, with the two old pros cracking up their director, Daniel Petrie and assembled guests.
- 2/26/2024
- by Chris Bumbray
- JoBlo.com
Up on Variety a few months ago, there was an interesting interview with the German distributor of the Expendables and John Wick movies. Fred Kogel, who runs Leonine Studios, noted that all the top action heroes now, Keanu Reeves, Sylvester Stallone, Tom Cruise, and Harrison Ford, are the same ones we had in the eighties and nineties. But with Stallone and Ford in their late seventies, who will be the new action stars when the icons are done with the genre? For his part, Kogel doesn’t believe distributors and studios have done enough to build up a new crop of action heroes, noting that for the older stars, there was “a great deal of identification with the type of the actor, with the physicality of the actor so that you could relate to that.” With CGI-laden superhero movies, Kogel believes that kind of identification is gone. “I think it...
- 2/24/2024
- by Chris Bumbray
- JoBlo.com
When you think of Ashlee Simpson, there’s probably only one image that comes to mind: her lip-syncing snafu on SNL, in which she went to perform her second song of the night, only for the playback to trigger her first song, “Pieces of Me”. She had been caught going full Milli Vanilli. And to get herself out of the situation, Simpson basically la-la’d her way off stage while doing a jig, leaving her band behind to “play”. Twenty years after the incident, Simpson is remembering the moment as a life lesson. But this may not be the case for others who also made some serious bonehead moves on SNL…
It’s extremely rare for musical guests on SNL to go through gaffes of Ashlee Simpson’s magnitude: musicians like Elvis Costello would instead raise intentional hell by playing whatever song he wanted, while Sinead O’Connor used her moment to send a message.
It’s extremely rare for musical guests on SNL to go through gaffes of Ashlee Simpson’s magnitude: musicians like Elvis Costello would instead raise intentional hell by playing whatever song he wanted, while Sinead O’Connor used her moment to send a message.
- 2/21/2024
- by Mathew Plale
- JoBlo.com
Davis Simanis’s period drama Marijas Klusums (Maria’s Silence) centers on a real-life silent movie star in Soviet-era Russia, Maria Leiko, who thought she was untouchable when tricked into moving to Moscow in 1937, only to be murdered a year later by Stalin’s secret police.
And the Latvian film director — who is no stranger to actors — sees parallels between Leiko in Stalin’s Russia and Hollywood and foreign celebrities who became high-profile friends in more recent times with Vladimir Putin, until some of them broke with the Russian leader after he invaded Ukraine two years ago.
“They know how to pretend, they know how to play characters. So if a regime gives you a role, that role sometimes becomes you in a way,” Simanis says of buddies of Putin, Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and other autocrats around the world for whom make-believe comes easy as entertainers.
And the Latvian film director — who is no stranger to actors — sees parallels between Leiko in Stalin’s Russia and Hollywood and foreign celebrities who became high-profile friends in more recent times with Vladimir Putin, until some of them broke with the Russian leader after he invaded Ukraine two years ago.
“They know how to pretend, they know how to play characters. So if a regime gives you a role, that role sometimes becomes you in a way,” Simanis says of buddies of Putin, Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and other autocrats around the world for whom make-believe comes easy as entertainers.
- 2/16/2024
- by Etan Vlessing
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The episode of Wtf Happened to This Horror Movie? covering Hannibal was Written by Mike Holtz, Narrated by Travis Hopson, Edited by Joseph Wilson, Produced by Andrew Hatfield and John Fallon, and Executive Produced by Berge Garabedian.
When The Silence of the Lambs was released upon the world in 1991 and not only became a financial and critical success but also the third film in history to win all five of the big awards at the Oscars, you knew it meant one thing… Tostito’s Pizza Rolls! Because that’s the best way to celebrate any achievement. No, it meant a sequel. Thank God it released in the 90s and not today! Forget a sequel, Disney would have purchased the rights and farmed out an entire cinematic universe. I can see it now… (trailer voice) “You’ve seen Hannibal Lecter behind bars. But have you ever seen him… in the classroom?...
When The Silence of the Lambs was released upon the world in 1991 and not only became a financial and critical success but also the third film in history to win all five of the big awards at the Oscars, you knew it meant one thing… Tostito’s Pizza Rolls! Because that’s the best way to celebrate any achievement. No, it meant a sequel. Thank God it released in the 90s and not today! Forget a sequel, Disney would have purchased the rights and farmed out an entire cinematic universe. I can see it now… (trailer voice) “You’ve seen Hannibal Lecter behind bars. But have you ever seen him… in the classroom?...
- 2/12/2024
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
Katherine McNamara as Secret Service Agent Miles in Air Force One Down. Courtesy of Paramount Movies/Republic Pictures
How many times have you seen this plot: terrorists take over a big (fill in the blank); they easily overcome the personnel there to protect it, yet one brave soul manages to kill or overcome them all and foil their plans. Fill the blank with a battleship or train and you get Under Siege 1 & 2, from when Steven Seagal was still watchable. Make it a high rise or airport? You get Die Hard 1 & 2. A hockey rink during the NHL finals? Sudden Death, with a young Jean Claude Van Damme. Commercial airliner? Wesley Snipes in Passenger 57. Air Force One? “President” Harrison Ford.
These films have two things in common: among even more similarly themed movies, these are just the titles that came to mind while I was watching. Secondly, they’re all better than this new rehash,...
How many times have you seen this plot: terrorists take over a big (fill in the blank); they easily overcome the personnel there to protect it, yet one brave soul manages to kill or overcome them all and foil their plans. Fill the blank with a battleship or train and you get Under Siege 1 & 2, from when Steven Seagal was still watchable. Make it a high rise or airport? You get Die Hard 1 & 2. A hockey rink during the NHL finals? Sudden Death, with a young Jean Claude Van Damme. Commercial airliner? Wesley Snipes in Passenger 57. Air Force One? “President” Harrison Ford.
These films have two things in common: among even more similarly themed movies, these are just the titles that came to mind while I was watching. Secondly, they’re all better than this new rehash,...
- 2/8/2024
- by Mark Glass
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
It can’t be denied that as far as martial arts movies go, the best ones come from Asia, particularly Hong Kong during their action heyday, which was arguably the 70s, 80s and first half of the ’90s. That said, martial arts movies were also making a foothold in the States at the time, thanks mainly to Bruce Lee-mania following the release of Enter the Dragon. Before that movie, very few actors in Hollywood seemed like they were credible martial artists, except maybe James Coburn, a student of Lee’s, who pulled off some pretty good-looking moves in the otherwise silly Our Man Flint movies. Steve McQueen also had training but didn’t use martial arts on screen.
Up to then, though, the most notable uses of martial arts in movies usually revolved around Judo, with James Cagney showing off some good moves in the film Blood on the Sun,...
Up to then, though, the most notable uses of martial arts in movies usually revolved around Judo, with James Cagney showing off some good moves in the film Blood on the Sun,...
- 2/4/2024
- by Chris Bumbray
- JoBlo.com
Sam Hargrave is to direct 'Kill Them All'.The 'Extraction' filmmaker is set to helm an adaptation of the graphic novel by Kyle M. Starks for Paramount Pictures.'Kill Them All' tells the story of an elite female assassin who discovers that she is going to be "terminated" by the criminal syndicate she has been loyal to and decides that she will take them out first.She joins forces with a hard-drinking former cop and sets off on a relentless assault through the 15 floors of the syndicate's headquarters to find her ultimate target: the Boss – whom she has a complex relationship with.The movie is being produced by Josh Appelbaum and Andre Nemec for Saw Mill with James Coyne set to adapt the script.Hargrave has been a sought-after director since making his debut behind the camera with 'Extraction' – a flick that premiered on Netflix at the...
- 1/31/2024
- by Joe Graber
- Bang Showbiz
10. Shadowmarsh
“When Jacob and his niece Piper are forced to move back to their old home, they slowly uncover the truth that the town has an ancient evil lurking in its Forest.”
9. The Last American Horror Show Vol 2
Double the tales and double the fright as Horror Show returns with tales to keep you up at night; “Killer” Callahan sits on death row wishing to escape when a trustee offers him some escapism through a book filled with disturbing stories
8. Silencer
Disgraced alcoholic veteran must reawaken all his deadly skills, and track down his former employer when he fails to complete his last hit.
7. Beyond The Law
A mobster trying to go straight and a dogged police detective must contend with a dirty ex-cop looking to bring the killer of his son to justice.
6. Stay Out
Donovan Jones, a businessman who lives in California with his beautiful wife Simone, receives...
“When Jacob and his niece Piper are forced to move back to their old home, they slowly uncover the truth that the town has an ancient evil lurking in its Forest.”
9. The Last American Horror Show Vol 2
Double the tales and double the fright as Horror Show returns with tales to keep you up at night; “Killer” Callahan sits on death row wishing to escape when a trustee offers him some escapism through a book filled with disturbing stories
8. Silencer
Disgraced alcoholic veteran must reawaken all his deadly skills, and track down his former employer when he fails to complete his last hit.
7. Beyond The Law
A mobster trying to go straight and a dogged police detective must contend with a dirty ex-cop looking to bring the killer of his son to justice.
6. Stay Out
Donovan Jones, a businessman who lives in California with his beautiful wife Simone, receives...
- 1/24/2024
- by Michael Joy
- Horror Asylum
I think we can all agree that James Marshall was one of our greatest presidents. I mean, he single-handedly stopped a terrorist attack and saved his entire family in the process!
What's that? You don't remember that happening? And you don't remember President James Marshall ever holding office? Well, that's because none of this happened ... in the real world. But in the wonderful world of movies, James Marshall was indeed a president who kicked some ass, and was played by none other than Harrison Ford in the Wolfgang Petersen blockbuster "Air Force One."
In that very silly, very enjoyable film, the official airplane of the President of the United States is seized by terrorists (lead by Gary Oldman!). The President and his family are taken hostage. But this is not your average Potus! No, James Marshall is a Vietnam veteran and a war hero, so he knows how to handle himself.
What's that? You don't remember that happening? And you don't remember President James Marshall ever holding office? Well, that's because none of this happened ... in the real world. But in the wonderful world of movies, James Marshall was indeed a president who kicked some ass, and was played by none other than Harrison Ford in the Wolfgang Petersen blockbuster "Air Force One."
In that very silly, very enjoyable film, the official airplane of the President of the United States is seized by terrorists (lead by Gary Oldman!). The President and his family are taken hostage. But this is not your average Potus! No, James Marshall is a Vietnam veteran and a war hero, so he knows how to handle himself.
- 1/22/2024
- by Chris Evangelista
- Slash Film
In a world where superheroes, sequels, horror (thankfully) and anything IP related are king, it seems as though the risqué original thriller has gone by the wayside. Over the past ten years or so you’d be hard pressed to find anything other than The Invisible Man, You Should Have Left, Gerald’s Game, Gone Girl, or Knock, Knock that really fit the mold (albeit with some finagling) and each of those is either tied to popular literature or skews closer to the horror genre.
But the original thriller thrived in the 1990s. Also thriving during this beautiful time in Hollywood were action movies featuring two adversaries face to face on the poster and/or movie cover. Movies like Face/Off, Point Break, Demolition Man, Universal Soldier, and Broken Arrow. 1992’s Unlawful Entry combines both of these elements with two heaping sides of the stalker and slasher horror subgenres. Which is why...
But the original thriller thrived in the 1990s. Also thriving during this beautiful time in Hollywood were action movies featuring two adversaries face to face on the poster and/or movie cover. Movies like Face/Off, Point Break, Demolition Man, Universal Soldier, and Broken Arrow. 1992’s Unlawful Entry combines both of these elements with two heaping sides of the stalker and slasher horror subgenres. Which is why...
- 1/5/2024
- by Mike Holtz
- bloody-disgusting.com
The episode of Wtf Happened to This Horror Movie? covering Eye See You was Written by Mike Holtz, Narrated by Travis Hopson, Edited by Juan Jimenez, Produced by Andrew Hatfield and John Fallon, and Executive Produced by Berge Garabedian.
If you’re like me and so many other nineties kids, you may remember Eye See You (watch it Here) as that Sylvester Stallone film you saw late in his career sitting on the shelves at your local Blockbuster or Hollywood Video featuring Sly pointing a gun in a snowy landscape looking just as surprised as you to be there with such little fanfare. Stallone belongs on the “Guaranteed to have in-stock or you get a free rental” Holy shit package wall of the video store or at the very least in an interesting role among an all-star cast like he’d been in with Cop Land a few years previous.
If you’re like me and so many other nineties kids, you may remember Eye See You (watch it Here) as that Sylvester Stallone film you saw late in his career sitting on the shelves at your local Blockbuster or Hollywood Video featuring Sly pointing a gun in a snowy landscape looking just as surprised as you to be there with such little fanfare. Stallone belongs on the “Guaranteed to have in-stock or you get a free rental” Holy shit package wall of the video store or at the very least in an interesting role among an all-star cast like he’d been in with Cop Land a few years previous.
- 1/1/2024
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
The passing of Patrick Swayze was enough to break your heart. Has there ever really been anyone quite like him? At his best, Swayze was the type of guy who was equally at home playing romantic leads as he was dropping bad guys in action fare. Swayze’s career peaked in 1987, the year he danced his way to the top of the box office in Dirty Dancing. It made him a giant star, with him not only having one of the top-grossing movies of the year but also a huge hit song in a track off the soundtrack album, “She’s Like the Wind”.
While traditional thinking would have led to Swayze acting in a whole slew of romantic movies, he had something a little different in mind. Swayze wanted to become an action hero. The fact is, he was a natural for the genre. His dance training and general...
While traditional thinking would have led to Swayze acting in a whole slew of romantic movies, he had something a little different in mind. Swayze wanted to become an action hero. The fact is, he was a natural for the genre. His dance training and general...
- 12/31/2023
- by Chris Bumbray
- JoBlo.com
When Paul Thomas Anderson went against the industry grain and cast Adam Sandler as the lead in his fourth feature, "Punch Drunk Love," many people in Hollywood felt the brashly talented filmmaker's ego had inflated to Welles-ian proportions. After the dazzling excess of "Magnolia" (which was more divisive at the time than it is now), there was a sense that he was provoking for provocation's sake. Outside of Steven Seagal, it's possible there wasn't a more critically loathed star in America — and it wasn't just the movies they hated. They detested him. They considered him a charisma vacuum who needed someone as irresistibly lovable as Drew Barrymore to render his presence in a film tolerable.
Anderson shattered these misconceptions. Though Sandler didn't dive headlong into dramas after "Punch Drunk Love," he'd take on a non-comedic part every few years and remind us of his untapped potential — which he fully realized...
Anderson shattered these misconceptions. Though Sandler didn't dive headlong into dramas after "Punch Drunk Love," he'd take on a non-comedic part every few years and remind us of his untapped potential — which he fully realized...
- 12/21/2023
- by Jeremy Smith
- Slash Film
It’s been 30 years since Andrew Davis‘ The Fugitive landed in theaters, bringing theatergoers on a nail-biting mission to uncover the truth about Dr. Richard Kimble, a man wrongfully accused of murder. To celebrate the film’s thirty trips around the sun, Davis joins us for a brief and insightful interview regarding his time on The Fugitive, the differences between working alongside Harrison Ford and Steven Seagal, and his expert opinion about the secret to making an excellent TV-to-film adaptation.
Harrison Ford, Tommy Lee Jones, Julianne Moore, Joe Pantoliano, Andreas Katsulas, and Sela Ward star in The Fugitive, a crime thriller involving a nationwide manhunt led by a seasoned U.S. Marshall (Jones) to discover a woman’s killer. With Dr. Richard Kimble (Ford) in the Marshall’s crosshairs, the chase takes the duo from one action-packed setpiece to the next as a case of mistaken identity spirals out of control.
Harrison Ford, Tommy Lee Jones, Julianne Moore, Joe Pantoliano, Andreas Katsulas, and Sela Ward star in The Fugitive, a crime thriller involving a nationwide manhunt led by a seasoned U.S. Marshall (Jones) to discover a woman’s killer. With Dr. Richard Kimble (Ford) in the Marshall’s crosshairs, the chase takes the duo from one action-packed setpiece to the next as a case of mistaken identity spirals out of control.
- 12/6/2023
- by Steve Seigh
- JoBlo.com
In a new uInterview, Joel Kinnaman spoke about his new film Silent Night and what it was like fighting in its violent scenes.
Kinnaman shared with uInterview founder Erik Meers how he was able to get into the mindset to play the character of Godluck, whose child is killed by a gang member, and the dark emotions he experiences.
“It doesn’t take that much imagination to sort of imagine what that would feel like,” Kinnaman said. “It’s like having everything that you care about in life ripped away. And I think that anyone that that happens to think you’re always going to be teetering on the brink of insanity for a period of that time.”
The actor continued to explain how his character went through this dark period and how this is shown throughout the film.
“Godluck just didn’t have that in him, he just could not begin the healing process,...
Kinnaman shared with uInterview founder Erik Meers how he was able to get into the mindset to play the character of Godluck, whose child is killed by a gang member, and the dark emotions he experiences.
“It doesn’t take that much imagination to sort of imagine what that would feel like,” Kinnaman said. “It’s like having everything that you care about in life ripped away. And I think that anyone that that happens to think you’re always going to be teetering on the brink of insanity for a period of that time.”
The actor continued to explain how his character went through this dark period and how this is shown throughout the film.
“Godluck just didn’t have that in him, he just could not begin the healing process,...
- 12/4/2023
- by Nina Hauswirth
- Uinterview
There's no doubt that Netflix is the biggest name in streaming. Though it lost some subscribers in 2022, the company has come out the other side and now boasts around 247 million paid subscribers — almost 50 million more than its closest rival, Prime Video. But the rise of Netflix has come at a cost to us all. That is to say we've been fed a seemingly never ending stream of middling "content," most of which seems to come and go without making any significant impact.
While this cultural nightmare continues unabated, Netflix has been gleefully raising prices, mainly because they signed up everyone they possibly could and now need to squeeze 'em for everything they've got. All of which would be fine — or at least, par for the course in our free market reality — except the streamer insists on taking our subscription fees and funding stuff like "Obliterated."
What's "Obliterated?" It's an action...
While this cultural nightmare continues unabated, Netflix has been gleefully raising prices, mainly because they signed up everyone they possibly could and now need to squeeze 'em for everything they've got. All of which would be fine — or at least, par for the course in our free market reality — except the streamer insists on taking our subscription fees and funding stuff like "Obliterated."
What's "Obliterated?" It's an action...
- 11/30/2023
- by Joe Roberts
- Slash Film
Usually, when people think of the greatest decade for action movies, the 80s are what they think of. After all, this is the era that gave us Lethal Weapon, Die Hard, the Rambo movies, and so many more. But, the nineties was just as important a decade, giving birth to just as many legends of the genre, and it was the last significant era for R-rated action flicks. But what are the best action movies of the 90s? It’s tough to say, but here are 10, plus an honourable mention, that we think we deserve a place in the pantheon.
Honourable Mention: Demolition Man:
When this came out in the fall of 1993, it wasn’t considered all that special. It apparently lost money at the box office, but within a few years, this Sylvester Stallone/ Wesley Snipes mashup became a major cult classic, and now it’s one of the...
Honourable Mention: Demolition Man:
When this came out in the fall of 1993, it wasn’t considered all that special. It apparently lost money at the box office, but within a few years, this Sylvester Stallone/ Wesley Snipes mashup became a major cult classic, and now it’s one of the...
- 11/23/2023
- by Chris Bumbray
- JoBlo.com
Chicago – It was another city in another time when Andrew Davis directed his first film “Stony Island” in 1970s Chicago. The film was released in 1978 to acclaim, but faded into the mist of cinema. Andrew Davis is back in his hometown to introduce “Stony Island” at the Gene Siskel Film Center on Friday, November 17th, 2023. For tickets and info, click Stony Island.
Rating: 4.5/5.0
Lovingly filmed on the gritty 1970s streets in the Chicago of Andy Davis, the film features his brother Richard Davis as Ritchie, a white boy guitarist trying to break into a Southside rhythm and blues band that cooks with its own brand of Windy City soul. Based a bit on his brother’s actual circumstances, the film features actual singers and players of the era, including a magnificent performance by Gene Barge as Percy Price, the centerpiece cat in the story who ends up in a fate of celebration.
Rating: 4.5/5.0
Lovingly filmed on the gritty 1970s streets in the Chicago of Andy Davis, the film features his brother Richard Davis as Ritchie, a white boy guitarist trying to break into a Southside rhythm and blues band that cooks with its own brand of Windy City soul. Based a bit on his brother’s actual circumstances, the film features actual singers and players of the era, including a magnificent performance by Gene Barge as Percy Price, the centerpiece cat in the story who ends up in a fate of celebration.
- 11/16/2023
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
Welcome to the jungle, folks! While some action stars like Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger delight in supporting one another along their respective journies throughout life and the entertainment industry, some discover there’s nowhere to run regarding the judgment of their peers. Unlike Sly and Arnie, Jean-Claude Van Damme and Steven Seagal have a long-running feud. Arguments can support that either star is the perfect weapon, but only one turned down $20M to fight the other, Van Damme says.
Speaking with The Telegraph, Van Damme told the outlet that film producer and executive Peter Guber once wanted to promote a fight between Van Damme and Seagal with a $20M payday.
“They were having an idea to have a fight between me and Steven at The Mirage [in Las Vegas],” Van Damme told the U.K.-based publication. “Twenty million each. He didn’t take the fight.”
How did the flight of fury...
Speaking with The Telegraph, Van Damme told the outlet that film producer and executive Peter Guber once wanted to promote a fight between Van Damme and Seagal with a $20M payday.
“They were having an idea to have a fight between me and Steven at The Mirage [in Las Vegas],” Van Damme told the U.K.-based publication. “Twenty million each. He didn’t take the fight.”
How did the flight of fury...
- 10/24/2023
- by Steve Seigh
- JoBlo.com
Endeavor CEO Ari Emanuel said on Wednesday that rival CAA agency bosses Bryan Lourd and Kevin Huvane should step aside in light of Julia Ormond’s lawsuit against disgraced mogul Harvey Weinstein, Disney and their own agency.
Speaking at the Bloomberg Screentime conference Wednesday in Los Angeles, Emanuel said that “they should take a leave of absence. And investigators should come in and they should look at what they did. They didn’t apologize. They didn’t deny it.”
Emanuel is bitter rivals with CAA, and is long known for disrespecting his industry competitors, though usually in private. But even so, his broadside against two respected industry veterans was shocking in its directness.
The Tko Group head went so far as to say that Lourd and Huvane’s role in Weinstein’s abuses of vulnerable actresses mirrored Ghislaine Maxwell’s for Jeffrey Epstein — that “they were leading them in to...
Speaking at the Bloomberg Screentime conference Wednesday in Los Angeles, Emanuel said that “they should take a leave of absence. And investigators should come in and they should look at what they did. They didn’t apologize. They didn’t deny it.”
Emanuel is bitter rivals with CAA, and is long known for disrespecting his industry competitors, though usually in private. But even so, his broadside against two respected industry veterans was shocking in its directness.
The Tko Group head went so far as to say that Lourd and Huvane’s role in Weinstein’s abuses of vulnerable actresses mirrored Ghislaine Maxwell’s for Jeffrey Epstein — that “they were leading them in to...
- 10/12/2023
- by Stephanie Kaloi
- The Wrap
Anthony Hickox, the British director known for horrors such as Waxwork and Hellraiser III: Hell on Earth, has died aged 64.
Hickox had spent his recent years in Romania, where police found him dead last week at his house in Bucharest after friends had reported not seeing him for some time, according to close friend and InterTalent Rights Group CEO Jonathan Shalit.
Best known for his work in the comedy-horror genre, Hickox’s best known work was 1988’s Waxwork, which starred the likes of Zach Gilligan, Deborah Foreman and Michelle Johnson and was inspired by a 1920s German silent film. It is claimed Hickox wrote the script for Waxwork after driving into the back of Staffan Ahrenberg’s car and persuading the producer to let him pay for the damage by writing the script for just $3,000.
Hickox also directed a sequel and films such as Sundown: The Vampire in Retreat and Warlock: The Armageddon.
Hickox had spent his recent years in Romania, where police found him dead last week at his house in Bucharest after friends had reported not seeing him for some time, according to close friend and InterTalent Rights Group CEO Jonathan Shalit.
Best known for his work in the comedy-horror genre, Hickox’s best known work was 1988’s Waxwork, which starred the likes of Zach Gilligan, Deborah Foreman and Michelle Johnson and was inspired by a 1920s German silent film. It is claimed Hickox wrote the script for Waxwork after driving into the back of Staffan Ahrenberg’s car and persuading the producer to let him pay for the damage by writing the script for just $3,000.
Hickox also directed a sequel and films such as Sundown: The Vampire in Retreat and Warlock: The Armageddon.
- 10/10/2023
- by Jesse Whittock
- Deadline Film + TV
Sad news today as it’s been reported that genre director Anthony Hickox recently died at the age of 64. The under-appreciated director is best known for helming Waxwork, Hellraiser III: Hell on Earth, Warlock: The Armageddon, and more.
Filmmaking was in Anthony Hickox’s blood from day one. He was born to Douglas Hickox, who directed Theatre of Blood and Zulu Dawn, and Anne V. Coates, the Oscar-winning editor of Lawrence of Arabia. After initially working as a club promoter in London, Hickox moved to Los Angeles to become a writer and director. His first feature film was Waxwork, quickly followed by Sundown: The Vampire in Retreat. He went on to helm Waxwork II: Lost in Time, Hellraiser III: Hell on Earth, Full Eclipse, Warlock: The Armageddon, and more.
Related Silent Kill: Jean-Claude Van Damme to lead a treasure-hunting action movie set in the Congo
Anthony Hickox later shifted towards the action genre,...
Filmmaking was in Anthony Hickox’s blood from day one. He was born to Douglas Hickox, who directed Theatre of Blood and Zulu Dawn, and Anne V. Coates, the Oscar-winning editor of Lawrence of Arabia. After initially working as a club promoter in London, Hickox moved to Los Angeles to become a writer and director. His first feature film was Waxwork, quickly followed by Sundown: The Vampire in Retreat. He went on to helm Waxwork II: Lost in Time, Hellraiser III: Hell on Earth, Full Eclipse, Warlock: The Armageddon, and more.
Related Silent Kill: Jean-Claude Van Damme to lead a treasure-hunting action movie set in the Congo
Anthony Hickox later shifted towards the action genre,...
- 10/10/2023
- by Kevin Fraser
- JoBlo.com
Exclusive: Steelyard Pictures, the production company behind 2022 horror thriller The Inhabitant, has attached Andrzej Bartkowiak (Romeo Must Die) to direct The Dire Wolf, a supernatural thriller to shoot in New Mexico, for release next year.
No word yet on the casting front. But the film tells the story of Hank Whitmore, a sharp and stubborn New Mexican sheriff who aligns with the Navajo Nation when a series of supernatural events threatens his family, his town, and his way of life.
Ry Cook penned the script and Leone Marucci will produce alongside Tetrad Studios’ Roy Scott Macfarland, Legacy Media Ventures’ Jeffrey Katz (Buffaloed), and Randy Mendelsohn. Matthew Coates and Kenneth Heilfron will serve as EPs.
“American cinema has long wrestled with our native culture’s spiritual connection to the natural world,” observed Marucci, explaining that “the extinct Dire Wolf was [once] indigenous to North America.
No word yet on the casting front. But the film tells the story of Hank Whitmore, a sharp and stubborn New Mexican sheriff who aligns with the Navajo Nation when a series of supernatural events threatens his family, his town, and his way of life.
Ry Cook penned the script and Leone Marucci will produce alongside Tetrad Studios’ Roy Scott Macfarland, Legacy Media Ventures’ Jeffrey Katz (Buffaloed), and Randy Mendelsohn. Matthew Coates and Kenneth Heilfron will serve as EPs.
“American cinema has long wrestled with our native culture’s spiritual connection to the natural world,” observed Marucci, explaining that “the extinct Dire Wolf was [once] indigenous to North America.
- 10/6/2023
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Years ago, Indian director Nikhil Nagesh Bhat fell asleep on a cross-country train ride, only to discover upon reaching his destination that the cars on either side of his had been robbed by armed bandits, known as “dacoits.” The heist couldn’t have been too intense, or it would have awakened him, but it got the helmer’s gears turning about what a truly terrifying train raid might look like. The answer: “Kill,” in which a crew of 40-odd thieves board a train, intending to steal passengers’ watches and phones, then turn bloodthirsty after running into a pair of hardheaded commandos.
As brutal a film as the country has ever produced, “Kill” is a shockingly graphic action showcase from an industry that typically plays violence in a more cartoony register. All told, “Overkill” probably would have been a better title, considering how far Bhat takes each and every altercation, milking it for maximum vengeance.
As brutal a film as the country has ever produced, “Kill” is a shockingly graphic action showcase from an industry that typically plays violence in a more cartoony register. All told, “Overkill” probably would have been a better title, considering how far Bhat takes each and every altercation, milking it for maximum vengeance.
- 10/6/2023
- by Peter Debruge
- Variety Film + TV
Over the course of a directing career that has lasted almost forty years so far, Dwight H. Little has brought us some very cool movies, with his credits including The Phantom of the Opera (starring Robert Englund), the Steven Seagal vehicle Marked for Death, Rapid Fire (starring Brandon Lee), Free Willy 2, the Wesley Snipes mystery Murder at 1600, Anacondas: The Hunt for the Blood Orchid, Tekken, and my favorite of the Halloween sequels, Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers. He has also directed a whole lot of television, taking the helm of episodes of shows like Freddy’s Nightmares, Millennium, The X-Files, The Practice, 24, Prison Break, Castle, Nikita, Arrow, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Sleepy Hollow, From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series, Bones, Scorpion, and 9-1-1. Now he has written a memoir called Still Rolling: Inside the Hollywood Dream Factory – and copies can be purchased at This Link!
Still Rolling has a...
Still Rolling has a...
- 9/25/2023
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
1996 was a dark year for The Italian Stallion. Sylvester Stallone had two pricey flops in 1995, with Judge Dredd and Assassins. His Christmas of 1996 disaster movie release, Daylight, was another box office bomb. Just a few years before, Stallone had made a significant comeback with Cliffhanger and Demolition Man, but now the whole industry was changing. Carolco, the company that financed some of the era’s biggest hits, had gone bankrupt, and action movies were getting smaller and smaller. Arnold Schwarzenegger was on the decline, with Eraser a smaller hit than usual. Jean Claude Van Damme and Steven Seagal were only a few years away from making direct-to-video movies. What was Sly to do? The result is one of his very best movies –Cop Land – as we explore in the episode of Sylvester Stallone Revisited.
In the 1990s, one of the biggest stars on the planet was Sylvester Stallone’s former protege,...
In the 1990s, one of the biggest stars on the planet was Sylvester Stallone’s former protege,...
- 9/24/2023
- by Chris Bumbray
- JoBlo.com
Warner Bros – circa 1986. A bunch of powerful, suit-wearing studio execs are summoned to a studio lunch like no other. They’re set to observe an Aikido demonstration by a superstar trainer named Steven Seagal, previously known as the fight choreographer who broke Sean Connery’s wrist while training him for Never Say Never Again. By the end of the demonstration, mangled stunt men lie on the floor while a blood-stained Steven Seagal walks away with a movie deal that – unbeknownst to all – will establish him as perhaps the hottest action star of the early nineties, only for his career to collapse under the weight of his own ego eventually. But, in the early days, the sky was the limit for Seagal, and his first movie, Above the Law, is an impressive big-screen introduction to one of the most enigmatic movie stars of his time.
Above the Law stars Steven Seagal as Nico Toscani,...
Above the Law stars Steven Seagal as Nico Toscani,...
- 9/3/2023
- by Chris Bumbray
- JoBlo.com
Movie lovers know Steven Seagal for his rise to fame through the ’80s and ’90s as a B-movie action star. With hits like Under Siege, Above the Law, and Marked for Death, fans know him well. Unfortunately, Seagal has a history of behavior issues on set. Here’s what one director said about Seagal being a “pain in the neck” to work with.
Director Andrew Davis said Steven Seagal was a ‘pain in the neck’
Director Andrew Davis worked with Steven Seagal for Seagal’s 1988 debut, Above the Law. The director and actor worked together four years later in 1992’s Under Siege. Before Seagal was cast in Above the Law, he worked as a martial arts instructor in Hollywood. Michael Ovitz, an agent who was also Seagal’s student then, thought Seagal would be ideally suited for the leading role.
“I had a meeting with Warner Bros., and they said:...
Director Andrew Davis said Steven Seagal was a ‘pain in the neck’
Director Andrew Davis worked with Steven Seagal for Seagal’s 1988 debut, Above the Law. The director and actor worked together four years later in 1992’s Under Siege. Before Seagal was cast in Above the Law, he worked as a martial arts instructor in Hollywood. Michael Ovitz, an agent who was also Seagal’s student then, thought Seagal would be ideally suited for the leading role.
“I had a meeting with Warner Bros., and they said:...
- 8/26/2023
- by Lauren Weiler
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Yes, you still have time to get some reading done before the (ugh) end of summer. To help you get started, our latest roundup of noteworthy new books connected to the world of cinema features a packed lineup of gems. And there are even more recent books (including an epic list of new novels) that we will highlight in our next column this fall.
Before we dive in, though, a note regarding the late William Friedkin, who is referenced in two entries below: I would encourage readers to check out his 2013 memoir, The Friedkin Connection. He was, as you would expect, remarkably candid about his ups and downs, making for one of the more forthright filmmaker memoirs ever written.
The Exorcist Legacy: 50 Years of Fear by Nat Segaloff (Citadel)
The world lost the aforementioned William Friedkin on August 7, and with his passing came a renewed appreciation for greats like The French Connection,...
Before we dive in, though, a note regarding the late William Friedkin, who is referenced in two entries below: I would encourage readers to check out his 2013 memoir, The Friedkin Connection. He was, as you would expect, remarkably candid about his ups and downs, making for one of the more forthright filmmaker memoirs ever written.
The Exorcist Legacy: 50 Years of Fear by Nat Segaloff (Citadel)
The world lost the aforementioned William Friedkin on August 7, and with his passing came a renewed appreciation for greats like The French Connection,...
- 8/17/2023
- by Christopher Schobert
- The Film Stage
The early nineties were arguably the heyday of brawny action. Arnold Schwarzenegger was the world’s biggest star, thanks to Total Recall and Terminator 2. Sylvester Stallone was just a little behind him with Cliffhanger and Demolition Man, but the lower-tier action stars were starting to catch up. Steven Seagal had a string of hits and was briefly about to hit the big time with Under Siege. At the same time, the Muscles from Brussels was finding his way into bigger studio fare and teamed up with arguably the greatest action director of all time for one of his best movies – Hard Target, which is celebrating the 30th anniversary of its release.
Jump back to 1991, when Jean-Claude Van Damme had two movies that broke through at the North American box office. First up, in January of that year, was Lionheart, which carried a low budget but made $22 million for Universal.
Jump back to 1991, when Jean-Claude Van Damme had two movies that broke through at the North American box office. First up, in January of that year, was Lionheart, which carried a low budget but made $22 million for Universal.
- 8/13/2023
- by Chris Bumbray
- JoBlo.com
In a world where feature film adaptations of hit TV shows are extremely common, a film like Andrew Davis' "The Fugitive" might not look all that unusual, at least at a glance. The 30-year-old film, based on one of the highest-rated television series in history, was a "wrong man" thriller in the classic Hitchcockian mold, starring one of the industry's most successful action heroes, Harrison Ford. It's got a series of thrilling set pieces with epic stunts and derring-do. The director also wasn't a festival darling — he was a genre guy whose biggest claim to fame before "The Fugitive" was two Steven Seagal movies.
"The Fugitive" was financially successful, and even the contemporary reviews were good. But if you haven't seen it — or if you haven't seen it lately — you could be forgiven for wondering why "The Fugitive" wasn't just a hit, but was also nominated for the Academy Award...
"The Fugitive" was financially successful, and even the contemporary reviews were good. But if you haven't seen it — or if you haven't seen it lately — you could be forgiven for wondering why "The Fugitive" wasn't just a hit, but was also nominated for the Academy Award...
- 8/8/2023
- by William Bibbiani
- Slash Film
Apple TV+’s hit limited series “Hijack” starring Idris Elba is a nail-biting thrill ride set in real-time. Over the years, there have been many types of hijack films. Besides planes, there have been suspenseful takeovers of ships, trains, subways and even trucks.
“The Taking of the Pelham One Two Three,” from 1974 — avoid the two remakes — is a superb thriller about four men who take over a New York subway car and hold the passengers, conductor and an undercover policeman hostage unless they get $1 million (remember that was a lot of money 49 years ago). If their demands aren’t met, they will start killing hostages. Directed by Joseph Sargent and adapted by Peter Stone from the best-selling novel by John Godey, “Taking” boasts a stellar cast at the top of their game including Walter Matthau, Robert Shaw, Hector Elizondo and Martin Balsam. David Shire penned the influential score.
A year...
“The Taking of the Pelham One Two Three,” from 1974 — avoid the two remakes — is a superb thriller about four men who take over a New York subway car and hold the passengers, conductor and an undercover policeman hostage unless they get $1 million (remember that was a lot of money 49 years ago). If their demands aren’t met, they will start killing hostages. Directed by Joseph Sargent and adapted by Peter Stone from the best-selling novel by John Godey, “Taking” boasts a stellar cast at the top of their game including Walter Matthau, Robert Shaw, Hector Elizondo and Martin Balsam. David Shire penned the influential score.
A year...
- 8/8/2023
- by Susan King
- Gold Derby
As it is still new and something studios, actors and fans are figuring out how to adjust to, the SAG-AFTRA strike has left a lot of questions – and it’s not just ones like, What are studios thinking when saying they want to own an actor’s likeness for eternity?! Most are also wondering, When will I get to see my favorite stars again? As it turns out, it could be sooner than you think although not for the reasons you might hope.
Although the SAG-AFTRA strike, via the union contract, prohibits performers from starring in television or movies, they really do have a lot of other avenues by which to create – or, rather, shill – a product, as actors can appear in commercials. So, yes, Steven Seagal can pump out as many overtly suggestive wine ads as he wants. They can also turn up on programs such as soap operas,...
Although the SAG-AFTRA strike, via the union contract, prohibits performers from starring in television or movies, they really do have a lot of other avenues by which to create – or, rather, shill – a product, as actors can appear in commercials. So, yes, Steven Seagal can pump out as many overtly suggestive wine ads as he wants. They can also turn up on programs such as soap operas,...
- 7/20/2023
- by Mathew Plale
- JoBlo.com
Inna Korobkina played the pregnant woman Luda in director Zack Snyder’s 2004 remake of the George A. Romero classic Dawn of the Dead (watch the Snyder version Here) – the character who gave birth to a zombie baby in one of the most popular and disturbing scenes in the film. Nineteen years later, Korobkina has launched a podcast called Rise Up & Fix It, which she hosts with her producing partner Ingrid J. Monday.
Korobkina is described as being “a granola eating, tree hugging mom of two”, while Rise Up & Fix It is said to center on “spirituality, creativity, and female empowerment.” Listeners are invited to join Korobkina and Monday as they “delve into the power of female creativity and modern feminism.”
The first episode of the weekly podcast was released on June 30th. Season 1 of the show is now available on all platforms and features the hosts “sharing stories and lessons from their own creative journeys,...
Korobkina is described as being “a granola eating, tree hugging mom of two”, while Rise Up & Fix It is said to center on “spirituality, creativity, and female empowerment.” Listeners are invited to join Korobkina and Monday as they “delve into the power of female creativity and modern feminism.”
The first episode of the weekly podcast was released on June 30th. Season 1 of the show is now available on all platforms and features the hosts “sharing stories and lessons from their own creative journeys,...
- 7/14/2023
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
After a string of “Steven Seagal is…” movies — Above the Law, Marked for Death, etc. — it was time for him to direct his first: 1994’s On Deadly Ground. It, expectedly, was an absolute dud, something that co-star Michael Caine knew and acknowledged at the premiere.
In one of the many incredible stories from Nick de Semylen’s book “Last Action Heroes: The Triumphs, Flops, and Feuds of Hollywood’s Kings of Carnage” – which chronicles the best and worst action flicks of the ‘80s and ‘90s – it’s revealed that Michael Caine had a rather coy way of expressing his views on On Deadly Ground to Steven Seagal, who he was seated next to. Once the lights came up, Caine delivered his verdict to his co-star/director: “I really didn’t think it would be anywhere near this good.”
Seagal, for his part, held no grudge against Michael Caine for his...
In one of the many incredible stories from Nick de Semylen’s book “Last Action Heroes: The Triumphs, Flops, and Feuds of Hollywood’s Kings of Carnage” – which chronicles the best and worst action flicks of the ‘80s and ‘90s – it’s revealed that Michael Caine had a rather coy way of expressing his views on On Deadly Ground to Steven Seagal, who he was seated next to. Once the lights came up, Caine delivered his verdict to his co-star/director: “I really didn’t think it would be anywhere near this good.”
Seagal, for his part, held no grudge against Michael Caine for his...
- 7/8/2023
- by Mathew Plale
- JoBlo.com
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