Rory Cochrane of ARGO! Autograph! Photos!

The other day I was at an event and a surprise happened when Rory showed up. Didn't know he was going to be there but I had my Argo photo with me and later on when he was leaving I was able to get him to sign it and get a picture with him. He seemed thrilled that I kept going on and on about how much I loved that movie!

Virgil AKA James Gandolfini of True Romance! Autographs! Photos! RIP To a Legend

I originally posted this a couple months ago but wanted to repost it honor of a great actor and great guy who was always nice everytime I met him. I was always a big fan of this guy ever since True Romance and will forever miss seeing him on screen and in person. RIP Mr Gandolfini.

I admit I am obsessed with Quentin Tarantino movies and when anyone is out who was in one of his films I go and try to get them! James was out the other day and I went with my stack of True Romance photos and I was able to get 7 of them signed! Not a bad day at all!

Wolverines! C. Thomas Howell of Red Dawn! Autograph! Photos!

I grew up watching C. Thomas in Red Dawn, The Outsiders and have always been a big fan of him and the other day I met him again and got him to sign my Red Dawn and best of all he wrote, "wolverines" on it! Not going to lie, made my day!

Officer John Cooper AKA Michael Cudlitz of Southland! Autograph! Photos!

I love me some Southland. It is one of the best and most under appreciated shows on TV. If you haven't seen it yet do yourself a favor and get caught up in it. You won't be disappointed. Anyways, Michael was out the other day and I went to the event and was able to get him on my cast shot and get a picture with him.

This movie would scare even Satan - The Lords of Salem - My Review

The Lords of Salem  -  2013  -  Directed by Rob Zombie

This movie would scare even Satan. For the record that is not my line. I went to see this with my step son and his wife and that is how she described it. I agree. I think Satan would love the movie though as it plays like a recruiting video for him.

Sheri Moon Zombie stars as Heidi, a local radio DJ who lives a rather nondescript life. She works and then comes home and feeds her dog and then hits repeat. One day she notices someone standing in the doorway of an apartment and asks her landlady who the new tenant is. She finds out the apartment is vacant still. This scene bothered me but I will get back to it.

Heidi heads to work and while interviewing a local writer, Bruce Davison, about the witches of Salem, she receives a gift in the mail. It is a vinyl record by The Lords. Since they live in Salem, they dub them The Lords of Salem. When they play the record, Heidi and the other women residents of Salem begin to act like they are in a trance. It all traces back to 6 witches burned at the stake who unleashed a curse on the bloodline of Salem.

Heidi's life begins to spiral out of control as she begins hallucinating and a couple of friends believe she is back on drugs. Heidi would love if this was just drugs. Instead, she is having some of the most disturbing dreams imaginable. At one point she walks into the abandoned apartment and leave it to Zombie to make a neon cross so sinister that I felt the need to look away.

Is Heidi imagining all this or did The Lords of Salem return? She sees someone in the apartment before she receives the record. How is this possible or was the record just to send her over the edge? I don't know but this film is a descent into hell that was unsettling at best to watch.

I greatly enjoyed two previous films of Rob Zombie, House of 1000 Corpses and The Devil's Rejects. They were well made and in fact so is this one and ironically that is a major problem I have with this film. It is too well made. It just seems to damn real and this subject matter is not something I enjoy watching.

When I was walking out of the theater with my step son and his wife she said the only thing that could of made the movie worse was if Heidi had woke up and we realized it was all just a dream. I wish I had woke up from a dream and realized I hadn't actually seen this.

Rating: 3 out of 10

Rebecca Hall of Iron Man 3 and Vicky Christina Barcelona! Autographs! Photos!

I am a big fan of Rebecca's. I loved The Town and Vicky Christina and when she was at the Iron Man 3 premiere I was happy to get her. She signed at multiple times and was really nice to all the fans. She didn't sign on arrivals but left right after the movie and signed then and one of my buddies (thank you ant e!) gave me the photo of her smoking so I was able to get that done as well! Real not Sham!

Tony Stark AKA Robert Downey Jr. of Iron Man 3! Autograph! Photo!

I loved the first Iron Man, didn't care for the second and think the trailer for the new installment looks amazing and can't wait to see it! Robert was at the Iron Man 3 premiere and signed and signed quite a bit and I was quite happy to get him and got him on the new Iron Man 3 Poster shot!

William Sadler of The Shawshank Redemption! Autograph! Photo!

Like alot of people, The Shawshank Redemption is one of my all-time favorite movies and I was lucky enough to see William Sadler the other day and get him to sign my Shawshank photo. He only signed maybe 5-6 autographs on way into event and signed maybe 10 on way out so I do consider myself lucky!

Supermodel Extraordinaire Heidi Klum! Autographs! Photos!

I have met alot of models and supermodels and many of the younger one's are not that nice but Heidi on the other hand is really nice and better looking than them all. I have met her before but every time I see her she still looks the same... meaning she looks great! She signed a bunch of photos for me and I got a photo with her!

Miss Universe Olivia Culpo! Autographs! Photos!

Miss USA and Miss Universe winner, Olivia was out the other day and I was able to meet her and get a picture with and a couple autographs. She was super nice and signed everything and took photos with anyone who asked. On one of my photos she wrote "Miss Universe 2012"

Monica Potter: Not That One! Photos! No Autographs!

So the other day I saw Monica Potter and this is what happened. I asked her to sign and she rather begrudgingly said yes. So I hold out my photo and she looks at it and says, "Not that one." She then walked away and I didn't get a autograph. I decided to tear the photo up and a friend took pics of me doing it and here they are! Needless to say I won't be asking her to sign this ever again!

Oblivion - My Review

Oblivion  -  2013  -  Directed by Joseph Kosinski

It is the year 2077. An alien invasion has left Earth uninhabitable and the remaining survivors live on Titan. A lone drone repairman, Jack (Tom Cruise), stays on Earth with his assistant and lover Victoria (Andrea Riseborough), in order to extract the remaining resources. A radio beacon leads them to a downed spacecraft. When Jack searches the rubble it causes him to begin asking questions about his mission.

That is the setup for the new film from Tron Legacy director Joseph Kosinski. I didn't think much of Kosinski after his first film but upon seeing this visually stunning film I am intrigued to see his next.

The plot, which isn't much and at times is befuddling, is really just an excuse to showcase the visual mastery of Kosinski. He creates a Earth populated by barren landscapes filled with drones and spaceships and towering houses with glass bottomed pools that would scare me into never going in the water.

Cruise is exactly what the picture calls for. A true movie star who understands what that is and how to play to the camera and audience and keeps the proceedings from becoming to dull. His Jack is a soldier who does as told but begins to ask himself questions when he keeps having the same recurring dream but can't remember anything else about his life. There are costars (Olga Kurylenko, Morgan Freeman, Riseborough, Melissa Leo) but this is all Cruise and Kosinski.

When Jack discovers the secrets to his life and that of the invasion it is true that it is a letdown as it wasn't rocket science to figure it out before the film revealed it. However, it doesn't matter. This is not a movie about plot: its about style.  (I'm actually a little surprised when I hear critics and audience members say the plot is too confusing as it is minimalist at best.) Kosinki presents a film with a distinct look and feel and Cruise gives us a worthy protagonist to root for. I am not usually a fan of Sci-Fi but Oblivion entertained me for its full two hours. In today's world of film, that in and of itself is an accomplishment.

Rating: 8 out of 10

42 - My Review

42  -  2013  -  Directed by Brian Helgeland

In my opinion the one predominant theme in American History is race. When I hear people comment that race and racism are no longer factors in every day life I laugh as it always has been and like it or not, always will be. Jackie Robinson was one of the most important historical figures in our nations history and it is great to see a film about him. I just wish it was better than this imitation Made for TV movie.

Branch Rickey (played exceptionally by Harrison Ford) was the President of the Brooklyn Dodgers who brought Jackie up and knew the obstacles involved with breaking the color barrier. While there was no law against it there was an unwritten rule and there would be hell to pay. Jackie and Branch entered into this milestone together and together their lives would be best remembered for it.

Chadwick Boseman stars as Jackie and does a great job of showing what he can though he isn't asked to do much. We don't find out much about the "man" Jackie Robinson. What we get is the stuff we knew. He broke the color barrier. He endured insults and threats from all corners including teammates. What was he really like as a man? What kind of toll did this take on him and his wife and family? 

These are question never answered much less asked by this film. Helgeland's script doesn't aspire to greatness and that is unacceptable when dealing with a great man and his legacy. "42" is a ground rule double. I just wish it had been a home run.

Rating: 6 out of 10

Tom Cruise and Morgan Freeman of Oblivion! Autographs! Photos!

A funny thing (and a little heartbreaking) happened at the Oblivion premiere.

Before arrivals started I looked at a friend and said when Morgan Freeman comes over and signs I am going to put him on my Oblivion cast shot. Right after I said it, my friend, and another friend who heard me say it laughed, cause Morgan signing autographs never happens anymore. In fact, he has said on different occasions that he can't and won't sign anymore. However, since no one expected him to sign and hardly anyone brought anything for him to sign I figured that would be when he did sign! Well, guess what?! He signed, and instead of getting him on Seven or Shawshank Redemption or Gone Baby Gone (3 movies I love) I got him on Oblivion!

Well, the next day Tom was going to be out and now I figured I have to get him on this as well as it already had Morgan on it and it would be a great piece to get done. Well, Tom came over and signed and I got him on it as well.

I went and saw the movie and while I am not usually into Sci-Fi I must admit I liked the movie and even though Morgan is barely in it this is quite a unique piece to add to my own collection! Here it is and considering how rare (and I mean RARE a signer Morgan is) I may never get him again so I will cherish this.

Joanie Stubbs AKA Kim Dickens of Deadwood! Autograph! Photos!

I was a big fan of Deadwood and really thought it hit its stride after the 3rd season so when HBO cancelled it then I knew right away HBO was past its glory days. I really miss seeing Seth Bullock and Al Swearengen verbally spar so my only consolation prize is when I get to see members of the cast and Kim was out recently and I was able to add her to a cast shot I just started for the show!