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The must-watch made-for-tv movies, the cult ’70s series, and the endearing performances by Darren McGavin as he investigated all manner of paranormal predicaments: anything and everything that had to do with Kolchak: The Night Stalker all started with Jeff Rice's unpublished novel, which is being resurrected on February 11th by James Aquilone's Monstrous Books, who have teamed up with Blackstone Audio to release an audiobook version that will be narrated by legendary actor William Katt!

Read on for additional details on the Kolchak: The Night Stalker audiobook (including Katt's excitement to step into the world of Kolchak), and to learn more this new release of Rice's novel, read our previous Q&a with James Aquilone and visit Monstrous Books' official website!

In 1972 Kolchak: The Night Stalker transfixed audiences. The movie became the highest-rated TV movie in U.S. history and spawned the cult TV series starring Darren McGavin.

Kathryn Bigelow’s action-bromance about bank-robbing surfer dudes is an enduring cult gem, thanks to its joining of tropes and tones

Director Kathryn Bigelow’s crazy action romp from 1991 now gets a rerelease. Eric Hobsbawm might have called it the final moment of The Long Eighties Decade of Action Movies, with shootouts, PAEs (pointless action explosions) and a recurring prosthetic cameo for Ronald Reagan. Bigelow’s feminist achievement in showing she could make an action movie as well as any man was perhaps, but probably not, underscored by a brief scene in which leading man Keanu Reeves gets a savage beatdown from a naked young woman.

Point Break is a freaky mix of Dog Day Afternoon and Big Wednesday; bank robbing meets surfing. Straight-arrow rookie federal agent Johnny Utah, played by Reeves – inscrutable and husky-voiced as ever – is posted to LA, where he’s partnered-cute with an older and irascible officer.

This article contains spoilers for the latest episode of "Star Trek: Lower Decks."

"Star Trek: Lower Decks" season 5, episode 3, "The Best Exotic Nanite Hotel," sees Lieutenant Boimler (Jack Quaid) assigned to a covert, potentially dangerous spy mission. He is to join Commander Ransom (Jerry O'Connell) and Lieutenant Commander Billups (Paul Scheer) on a mission to the Cosmic Duchess, an ultra-swanky, high-end resort-like cruise ship, floating gently through deep space. His assignment is to penetrate deep into the hotel to retrieve Admiral Milius (Toby Huss), a Starfleet officer who has gone Awol thanks to "a touch of vacation madness." The writers of "Lower Decks" missed an opportunity in not saying that he had been infected with Paradise Syndrome.

The Cosmic Duchess, however, is such a massive ship that it incorporates artificial recreations of every possible vacation-ready biome. There's a tropical beach biome, a skiing resort biome, and a water park biome.

Big John Milius is a Hollywood writer with a wild range of interests. Guns? Yes. Martial arts? Absolutely. Surfing, painting, history, poetry — but Milius loves nothing more than writing and movies. Early in his career, he embedded himself in that Alpha Male culture, which established the thread between all of Milius' written and directorial efforts thereafter — let's call it "manliness," for lack of a better word.

The gun-toting militant-minded wildman is responsible for some of the most famous lines in all of Hollywood: "I love the smell of napalm in the morning," "Ask yourself one question, 'Do I feel lucky?' Well, do you, punk?" and even some of the famous USS Indianapolis monologue from Jaws.

The inspiration for John Goodman's role as misled militant Walter Sobchak in The Big Lebowski? Yup, that was Milius. But that's only a short chapter in the filmmaker's enormous Hollywood legend. John Milius...

Plot: An alcoholic and drug addict, Richard is taken into the wilderness to detox – but once they’re out in the woods, he and his group of friends are attacked by a madman.

Review: Hutch Dano is the grandson of legendary character actor Royal Dano and the son of actor Rick Dano, so it’s no surprise that he got into acting himself. He has racked up over twenty screen credits in the last thirteen years, including playing Zeke on 77 episodes of the Disney series Zeke and Luther – and now that he has made his feature directing debut, he has brought several of his former co-stars onto the project with him. Dano stars in his film As Certain as Death, which he also scripted, alongside his Zombeavers co-star Cortney Palm, who was also in Disappearance with him and Guy Wilson, his Den Brother co-star David Lambert, and his Zeke and Luther co-star Daniel Curtis Lee,...

Before donning the mask of Freddy Krueger, Robert Englund nearly ventured to a galaxy far, far away, as seen in an exclusive Hollywood Dreams & Nightmares: The Robert Englund Story clip. The documentary, hailing from the team behind Pennywise: The Story of It, explores the horror genre veteran's career both prior to and after his iconic turn as the Nightmare on Elm Street villain, including his venture into other such genres as sci-fi with the V miniseries and ensemble dramedy Stay Hungry.

Ahead of its wide release, Screen Rant is proud to present an exclusive Hollywood Dreams & Nightmares: The Robert Englund Story clip.

The video, as seen above, shows Englund reflecting on nearly auditioning for the original Star Wars at the time of its development, having been aware of both Han Solo and Luke Skywalker's parts in the movie. Though he ultimately only had a polaroid taken of...

Robert Englund as Freddy Krueger Photo: Cinedigm In making a documentary about a beloved actor like Robert Englund—most famous for playing Freddy Krueger in the Nightmare On Elm Street franchise— a major dilemma for the filmmakers has to be how to balance presenting the information people want with making a good movie.

Robert Englund as Freddy KruegerPhoto: Cinedigm

In making a documentary about a beloved actor like Robert Englund—most famous for playing Freddy Krueger in the Nightmare On Elm Street franchise— a major dilemma for the filmmakers has to be how to balance presenting the information people want with making a good movie.

Written by Gary Smart, Neil Morris | Directed by Christopher Griffiths, Gary Smart

Hollywood Dreams & Nightmares: The Robert Englund Story picks up with a 12-year-old Robert being sent to theatre camp getting attention from girls and being complimented by talk show host Steve Allen. That, especially the female attention, pointed him toward his career. And really, what better motivation can a young man have?

Best known for playing Freddy Krueger in the Nightmare on Elm Street franchise, Robert Englund already had a long history in the genre. dating back to Tobe Hooper’s Eaten Alive in 1976. Who could forget his entrance announcing “My name’s Buck, and I’m here to fuck!” and the criminally underrated Dead and Buried in 1981 as well as Galaxy of Terror and a host of others. And it’s continued well past his time as Freddy, most recently doing voice acting in the bizarre puppet film Abruptio.

We’ve previously heard that the documentary Hollywood Dreams & Nightmares: The Robert Englund Story, which – as you may have guessed from the title – chronicles the life and career of iconic actor Robert Englund, will be getting a digital release and will also be available to watch on the Bloody Disgusting streaming service Screambox on June 6th. Now the folks at Collider have revealed that the movie will also be getting a Blu-ray collector’s edition slipcase and steelbook release on July 25th. So if you want to add a physical media copy to your collection, you’ll be able to do so less than two months after the movie starts streaming.

As genre fans know, Englund shot to fame portraying one of Hollywood’s most iconic horror characters: Freddy Krueger. A classically trained actor and feature director, Englund’s early credits included cult surfing movie Big Wednesday. His career...

A year ago, we heard that filming had wrapped on the documentary Hollywood Dreams & Nightmares: The Robert Englund Story, which – as you may have guessed from the title – chronicles the life and career of iconic actor Robert Englund. A few months ago, we learned that Cinedigm has packed up the North American distribution rights to the documentary, and the expectation was that they would be releasing it sometime around Englund’s birthday on June 6th. As it turns out, that is the exact date they’re going to be releasing it. Hollywood Dreams & Nightmares: The Robert Englund Story will be getting a digital release and will also be available to watch on the Bloody Disgusting streaming service Screambox on June 6th. Now that we know the release date, a trailer for the documentary has arrived online and can be seen in the embed above.

As genre fans know,...

Almost a year ago, we heard that filming had wrapped on the documentary Hollywood Dreams & Nightmares: The Robert Englund Story, which – as you may have guessed from the title – chronicles the life and career of iconic actor Robert Englund. Now Variety has learned that Cinedigm has packed up the North American distribution rights to the documentary, with the plan being to give it a theatrical release before sending it to the Bloody Disgusting streaming service Screambox sometime in late spring. The streaming release is expected to come along sometime around Englund’s 75th birthday, which will be on June 6th.

As genre fans know, Englund shot to fame portraying one of Hollywood’s most iconic horror characters: Freddy Krueger. A classically trained actor and feature director, Englund’s early credits included cult surfing movie Big Wednesday. His career was cemented by his portrayal of supernatural serial killer Krueger in...

Exclusive: Filming has wrapped on documentary Hollywood Dreams & Nightmares: The Robert Englund Story about the life and career of Robert Englund who shot to fame portraying one of Hollywood’s most iconic horror characters: Freddy Krueger.

A classically trained actor and feature director, Englund’s early credits included cult surfing movie Big Wednesday. His career was cemented by his portrayal of supernatural serial killer Krueger in Wes Craven’s fertile Nightmare On Elm Street franchise. More recently the veteran actor scored a key role in the upcoming fourth season of Netflix hit Stranger Things.

Hollywood Dreams & Nightmares: The Robert Englund Story features a center piece interview with American actor Englund, as well as interviews with Lance Henriksen, Eli Roth, Tony Todd, Bill Moseley, Lin Shaye, Heather Langenkamp, Nancy Booth (Englund’s wife of many years) and others.

The long-in-the-works doc is a Cult Screenings UK Ltd Production made in association with Unannounced Films.

They’re after you, and your wives and children! This Corman/VeSota/Ed Nelson shocker with the excellent poster is a Robert Heinlein knockoff that can’t quite sustain the paranoid pitch of other ‘parasitic possession’ sci-fi horror epics. One of the cheapest of the drive-in cheapies, it remains a must-see title just for the audacity of its ad campaign, and a random moment or two of spooky serendipity. Don’t get your hopes up if you’re coming to see Leonard Nimoy’s performance — unless his voice is enough to satisfy.

The Brain Eaters

Blu-ray

1958 / B&w / 1:85 widescreen / 61 min. / Street Date January, 2022

Starring: Ed Nelson, Alan Frost, Jack Hill, Joanna Lee, Jody Fair, David Hughes, Robert Ball, Greigh Phillips, Orville Sherman, Leonard Nemoy (Nimoy),, Doug Banks, Saul Bronson, Hampton Fancher.

Cinematography: Larry Raimond

Art Director: Burt Shonberg

Film Editor: Carlo Lodato

Written by Gordon Urquhart

Uncredited Executive Producer:...

Frank McRae, an NFL player-turned-actor who appeared in the James Bond film Licence to Kill and in the Last Action Hero, died April 29 of a heart attack in Santa Monica. He was 80, The news was confirmed by his daughter-in-law, Suzanne McRae.

Born in Memphis, he attended Tennessee State University as a double major in drama and history, then moved on to the NFL as a defensive tackle for the Chicago Bears and Los Angeles Rams.

After his football career, he became a character actor in the entertainment industry, appearing in more than 40 movies. His résumé includes Last Action Hero with Arnold Schwarzenegger, Hard Times, Norma Rae, Red Dawn, Big Wednesday and F.I.S.T. with Sylvester Stallone, with whom he also appeared in Paradise Alley, Lock Up and Rocky II.

McRae also appeared in the 1989 James Bond film Licence to Kill as Sharkey, a close friend of Timothy Dalton’s Agent 007...

Frank McRae, the actor who appeared in films such as “Licence to Kill” and “Last Action Hero,” has died. He was 80.

McRae died in Santa Monica, Calif. on April 29 as a result of a heart attack, his daughter-in-law confirmed to Variety.

The NFL player-turned-actor was born in Memphis, Tenn. A star athlete in high school, he went on to Tennessee State University as a double major in drama and history. McRae had a brief career as a professional football player and was the defensive tackle for the Chicago Bears and Los Angeles Rams.

Making the pivot to a new kind of stage, McRae found his calling in the entertainment industry. In his 30-plus years as a character actor, he appeared in over 40 movies. Standing at approximately six-and-a-half feet tall, McRae took advantage of scooping up tough guy roles in movies like “Hard Times,” “Big Wednesday” and “F.I.S.T.” with Sylvester Stallone.

The Final Fantasy 16 team released a small preview of the game’s world, protagonists, and plot, and it is loaded with many of the clichés that define the Final Fantasy series nearly 33 years after its debut.

It’s understandable if your mind goes to a negative place when you hear the word “cliché.” The word is most frequently used in a derogatory fashion (sometimes rightfully so), but when you’re talking about a series as old and celebrated as Final Fantasy, thoseclichés become more like traditions. They’re these little plot beats we dance to every time they come up because they make us feel like we’re home again.

So, based on what we know about the sequel so far, here are some of the best Final Fantasy clichés you can expect to see in Final Fantasy 16.

Crystals…Crystals Everywhere

It’s hard to find a Final Fantasy game...

You’ve asked questions. Prepare for the answers.

Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode

Sweet Smell Of Success (1957)

The Beguiled (1971)

Tenet (2021? Maybe?)

Smokey Is The Bandit (1983)

Robin Hood (2010)

Hollywood Boulevard (1976)

The Devils (1971)

Song of the South (1946)

Gremlins (1984)

Dillinger (1973)

Marcello I’m So Bored (1966)

Jeremiah Johnson (1972)

Big Wednesday (1978)

Swamp Thing (1982)

Forrest Gump (1994)

Payback (1999)

Bell, Book And Candle (1958)

Blowup (1966)

The Big Lebowski (1998)

Medium Cool (1969)

25th Hour (2002)

Apocalypse Now (1979)

Palm Springs (2020)

Groundhog Day (1993)

Mandy (2018)

The Sadist (1963)

Spider Baby (1968)

Night Tide (1960)

Stark Fear

Carnival of Souls (1962)

The Devil’s Messenger (1961)

Ms. 45 (1981)

Léolo (1992)

The Howling (1981)

Showgirls (1995)

Green Book (2018)

The Last Hurrah (1958)

The Best Man (1964)

Advise and Consent (1962)

The Candidate (1972)

The Manchurian Candidate (1962)

Seven Days In May (1964)

The Seduction of Joe Tynan (1979)

The Man (1972)

Investigation of a Citizen Above Suspicion (1970)

Four Lions (2010)

Pump Up The Volume (1990)

Nightmare In The Sun (1965)

The Wild Angels (1966)

The Omega Man (1971)

The Nanny (1965)

Hush… Hush, Sweet Charlotte (1964)

Live Like A Cop, Die Like A Man...

Chicago – In one of Jan-Michael Vincent’s most recent photos, taken in 2016 by photographer Joe Arce of HollywoodChicago.com, the ex-heart throb actor is revealed as a man who lived his life hard to the end. Vincent died last month in Asheville, North Carolina, on February 10th, 2019. He was 73.

Jan-Michael Vincent was born in Denver, and after high school in Washington state he bounced around with three years of college and a stint in the California National Guard. In 1966, he began to audition, and his rugged good looks landed him in a Robert Conrad film “The Bandits” (1967). After doing several TV and movie bit parts, he scored in the early 1970s with high profile roles in “Going Home” (1970), “The Mechanic” (1972) and in Walt Disney’s “The World’s Greatest Athlete” (1973) as the title character.

Jan-Michael Vincent in 2016

Photo credit: Joe Arce of Starstruck Foto for HollywoodChicago.com

The hits continued...

Joseph Baxter Mar 8, 2019

Former Hollywood heartthrob Jan-Michael Vincent, star the hit TV series, Airwolf, is revealed to have died last month.

Jan-Michael Vincent, former star of the smash 1980s TV series, Airwolf, has died, reportedly at the age of 73. It’s an occurrence that, in actuality, took place nearly a month ago – on February 10 – and we only just now learned.

According to Vincent’s death certificate, as obtained by THR, the actor passed away as a result of cardiac arrest at Mission Hospital's Memorial Campus in Asheville, North Carolina. His death caps off widely-reported struggles with drugs and alcohol, which led to a tumultuous personal life rife with permanent-injury-inducing accidents and shameful legal issues, notably connected to domestic violence. However, his downfall contrasts sharply with an auspicious early career.

Indeed, Vincent was essentially the Brad Pitt of the 1970s, bearing a name and chiseled-jawed countenance that was synonymous with the...

Jan-Michael Vincent, who starred in the TV series “Airwolf” and movies like “The Mechanic,” died on Feb. 10 at the age of 74 in North Carolina, according to a death certificate obtained by Ktla.

According to CBS, the actor died of cardiac arrest.

Vincent’s other credits including 1970’s “Tribes,” 1975’s “White Line Fever,” 1976’s “Baby Blue Marine.” In 2002, he starred in the drama “White Boy.” Other films include “Bite the Bullet” and “Big Wednesday.”

See Photos: Hollywood's Notable Deaths of 2019

Vincent was born on July 15, 1944, in Denver. He made his first appearance on screen in the 1967 TV film “The Hardy Boys: The Mystery of the Chinese Junk.” He was found by a talent scout because of his looks as he was finishing a tour of duty in the California Army National Guard, and then made his movie debut opposite Robert Conrad in “The Bandits.”

His career took off in the late...

Jan-Michael Vincent, best known for playing the lead role in the 1980s CBS series “Airwolf,” died on Feb. 10 after suffering cardiac arrest, according to a death certificate obtained by several outlets. His death, first reported by TMZ, has only now come to light. He was 73.

His image as a baby-faced blonde heartthrob was at odds with his history of violence and substance abuse. The troubled 1970s TV star had a long string of arrests and charges relating to domestic violence, drug possession, and alcohol abuse.

Vincent’s acting career began in 1967, when he was spotted by a talent scout just after finishing a stint in the California Army National Guard. His first film was the Robert Conrad movie “The Bandits.”

Born in Denver, he was signed to Universal Studios in the late ’60s by casting agent Dick Clayton, and in 1969, he appeared in the John Wayne and Rock Hudson Civil War pic “The Undefeated.

Golden Globe-nominated actor Jan-Michael Vincent, who starred in the 1980s series Airwolf, has died at the age of 74. Per TMZ, he passed away on Feb. 10 of cardiac arrest.

Vincent’s early television career included roles on Lassie, Bonanza and the one-season drama The Survivors, among other series. In 1983, he starred as Byron Henry in the ABC miniseries The Winds of War, a role that earned him a Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actor in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television.

On the small screen, though, Vincent was best known as helicopter pilot Stringfellow Hawke on the CBS action-adventure series Airwolf,...

Gary Busey has appeared in more than 150 movies, garnering an Oscar nomination for his starring turn in 1978's The Buddy Holly Story. His films include Lethal Weapon, Under Siege, The Firm, Lost Highway, the cult surf classics Big Wednesday and Point Break, and in recent years, the likes of Bikini Model Academy and Piranha 3Dd.

His television credits are equally extensive; he was the last actor to be killed in an episode of Gunsmoke, and more recently he has become a reality TV fixture thanks to appearances on such shows as Celebrity Apprentice (two seasons, making him a Donald...

Amanda Milius says the sweeping wide-angle shot of the blazing sun in “The Lotus Gun,” her thesis film from USC, is not an homage to “Apocalypse Now,” for which her father, John Milius, penned the script. “The director of photography came up with that shot, it’s his signature,” the filmmaker recently told IndieWire.

Milius’ intimate knowledge of film – classic and cult – can be seen in every gorgeous shot of “The Lotus Gun,” which she directed and co-wrote. (She shares writing credit with Johnathan Eisenman). Set in a post-apocalyptic desert landscape, “The Lotus Gun” follows Nora (Lauren Avery) – a gun-toting, pot-smoking, anti-hero – and her love, Daphine (Dasha Nekrasova) as they survive alone in the wilderness. When a male intruder from a drug-addled commune absconds with Daphine, Nora must save the day and take revenge.

Read More: What Is The Best Short Film Ever Made? — Critics Survey

“I naturally fantasize about...

ABC has just announced it's cast line-up for Dancing with the Stars, and it's a celebrity hootenanny you're not going to believe. Maybe you want to be sitting down before you hear who'll be introduced when Dancing with the Stars Season 21 kicks off with a 2-night live premiere on Monday, September 14 and Tuesday, September 15. There are truly some big surprises. And you'll wonder, 'Can they really dance at all?' It may end up being one of this fall TV season's biggest mysteries.

The celebrity cast of Dancing with the Stars is lacing up their ballroom shoes and getting ready for their first dance in just under two weeks on the ABC Television Network. This 21st season's lineup of celebrity dancers includes three platinum-certified music super stars, an Academy Award nominee, a Triple Crown winner, an American Hero, and our first ever married couple, to name a few. As announced...

Mary Ellen Trainor, best known for her performances as Stephanie Woods in the Lethal Weapon movies and Mrs. Walsh in The Goonies, died on May 20 in her Montecito, California home, The New York Times reported yesterday. She was 62. The case of death was due to complications with pancreatic cancer, as confirmed by Trainor's friend Kathleen Kennedy on Monday. In addition to her roles in the movies mentioned above, the actress is also remembered for her acting turns in Die Hard, The Monster Squad, Scrooged, Ghostbusters II. She also had a recurring role in the TV series "Roswell," which ran from 1999-2002. Before her acting career, Trainor served as a producer's assistant, on films such as Big Wednesday, Hardcore and Steven Spielberg's 1941, where she met her future husband Robert Zemeckis. She would go on to have small roles-to-cameos in a number of her husband's movie, including Romancing the Stone, Back to the Future Part II,...

All week long our writers will debate: Which was the greatest film year of the past half century. Click here for a complete list of our essays. How to decide in the grand scheme of things which film year stands above all others? History gives us no clear methodology to unravel this thorny but extremely important question. Is it the year with the highest average score of movies? So a year that averages out to a B + might be the winner over a field strewn with B’s, despite a few A +’s. Or do a few masterpieces lift up a year so far that whatever else happened beyond those three or four films is of no consequence? Both measures are worthy, and the winner by either of those would certainly be a year not to be sneezed at. But I contend the only true measure of a year’s...

A slightly confused Gary Busey entered the Celebrity Big Brother house last night (August 18), and we couldn't be more excited that he's in there.

Digital Spy celebrates the Hollywood actor's big entrance with 14 pictures of the star's life and colourful career below:

1. Gary Busey began his foray into show business as a drummer in a band called The Rubber Band, and also played guitar for Carp.

2. Gary Busey plays a blonde Californian surfer dude in 1978 comedy drama Big Wednesday along with Jan-Michael Vincent and William Katt.

3. Busey played Buddy Holly in the Oscar-winning The Buddy Holly Story, for which he was nominated for an Academy Award for Lead Actor.

4. Busey attends the 36th Annual Golden Globe Awards with first wife Judy in 1979.

5. If there's anything scarier than a clown, then it's Gary Busey's face painted as a clown. Busey stars in creepy 1980 drama Carny.

6. Gary Busey prepares his hair...

★★★★☆ The outrageous exploits and antics of Hollywood filmmaker John Milius has been the stuff of Hollywood legend for years now, creating an almost mythical-like impression of the Apocalypse Now scribe and Big Wednesday director (The Big Lebowski's mentally-unstable Vietnam vet Walter Sobchak was said to be loosely based on him.) An in-depth portrait of the self-proclaimed "Zen anarchist" now arrives in the form of Milius (2013), Joey Figueroa and Zak Knutson's hugely entertaining and fittingly reverential documentary of this larger-than-life, somewhat contradictory figure - "a teddy bear with an AK47".

Interview Luke Savage 1 Nov 2013 - 06:22

A chat with the directors of a new documentary charting the career of filmmaker John Milius...

"Are you ready for your round-table with Joey and Zak?"

"Yes, I am, lovely PR person", is my instant reply. Yes, I am. Although that second half is me adding poetic license here. I'm too British to go full-out on the compliments this early into a relationship.

That exchange of pleasantries heralds a welcome interview with directors Joey Figueroa and Zak Knutson. They're in town to talk about their documentary Milius, charting the incredible life and career of filmmaker John Milius. It's a very good documentary. So good that I'm not concerned at having to share them with three other interviewers.

And it's so good that I don't mind being a little deflated when I finally get into my first round-table interview. Because there's no table. Nothing. Just...

Directors: Joey Figueroa, Zak Knutson; Starring: John Milius, George Lucas, Harrison Ford, Steven Spielberg, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sylvester Stallone, George Hamilton, Paul Schrader, Sam Elliott, Francis Ford Coppola, Richard Dreyfuss; Running time: 103 mins; Certificate: 15

"You've got to ask yourself one question: 'Do I feel lucky?' Well, do ya, punk?"

"I love the smell of napalm in the morning..."

With a ferocious demeanor as sharp as the iconic movie lines he wrote, John Milius became an 'enfant terrible' amongst studio executives despite his credits including Apocalypse Now, Dirty Harry, Jaws and Conan The Barbarian. The rise and fall of the legendary scribe and script doctor is a narrative worthy of Hollywood itself, laden with potent twists and superbly conveyed in this fascinating documentary.

Milius unfolds chronologically and fuses classic footage from movies alongside archival and newly-recorded interviews with key players, interspersed with candid behind-the-scenes audio and visual recordings. These all combine...

Content Film has snapped up international sales rights (excluding Spain) to a documentary about John Milius, the director of Conan the Barbarian and screenwriter behind Apocalypse Now.

Milius, which tells the life story of the Us film-maker and premiered at SXSW, has also been bought by StudioCanal for the UK.

Zak Knutson and Joey Figueroa make their feature debut, having previously made behind the scenes documentaries for companies such as Miramax and Disney through their company Chop Shop Entertainment.

The film was produced by Matthew Perniciaro and Kevin Mann of Haven Entertainment, Scott Mosier of Ogb, Inc. and Kenneth Plume.

The deal was negotiated by Toby Melling of Content and Wme Global on behalf of the producers.

The documentary follows Milius’s childhood aspirations from joining the military to his formative years at the USC Film School, his scriptwriting on films such as Dirty Harry, Jeremiah Johnson and Apocalypse Now and his work as director on films...

It is a nice coincidence that the trailer for a new documentary about filmmaker John Milius should arrive as the Big Lebowski is celebrating its 15th anniversary, given the writer-director was one of the inspirations for John Goodman’s war-obsessed gun nut Walter Sobchak. But the clip for Milius also serves as a reminder that that piece of trivia is one of the less interesting things about this larger-than-life character who brought us Big Wednesday, Conan the Barbarian, Dillinger, and Red Dawn, and who also cowrote Apocalypse Now and had a hand in penning the U.S.S. Indianapolis monologue in Jaws.

"This is either the start of something cool, or the beginning of the end." Let's kick things off with an Aussie surfing drama to start out the week. Our friends at Twitch have found a trailer for another thrilling surfer movie about two brothers in the 1970s - called Drift. The film stars Myles Pollard and Xavier Samuel as the brothers, along with Sam Worthington along for the ride as "traveling bohemian surf photographer and filmmaker Jb". We've seen a number of surfer films recently, with Soul Surfer and Chasing Mavericks, but none of them can really live up to Point Break or Big Wednesday. The final shot in this is kind of epic. Here's the first trailer for Morgan O'Neill & Ben Nott's Drift, found on Twitch (via The Film Stage): In the 70s, two brothers Andy & Jimmy (Myles Pollard & Xavier Samuel) battle killer waves, conservative society and...

This weekend sees the Gerard Butler-starring, Curtis Hanson/Michael Apted-directed surfing picture "Chasing Mavericks" sneak unheralded into theaters, joining a relatively small but illustrious list of surfing movies. Not many fringe sports have been as lucky to have movies like "Big Wednesday," "Point Break" and "Riding Giants" focused on them, of the relatively few that have been made. While IMDb is littered with football, baseball, basketball and hockey movies, most sports are lucky to get one movie made about them, let alone a decent one. So, with "Chasing Mavericks" in mind, we've picked out five films that center around sports that you don't find on cinema screens all that often. Some are great, some are terrible, but all provide a side of athletics that's rarer than some inspirational football movie or goofy basketball comedy. Read on below, and let us know your own favorite obscure sports movies in the.

These days, after "Lord of the Rings" and "Game Of Thrones," fantasy isn't just big business, but a genre that's spawned critically acclaimed awards favorites, and picked up Oscars and Emmys by the handful. As such, it's easy to forget that prior to the 1980s, the genre barely existed on screen, with animated takes on Tolkein's works the only really significant blip on the radar. But in 1977, "Star Wars," a film that owed as much to high fantasy as to science-fiction, became the biggest hit in history, and that opened the door to all kinds of new fantasy worlds.

The 1980s would see many, many examples of the genre, from "Labyrinth" and "Legend" to "Krull" and "Ladyhawke," but the film that started it all -- and was probably the finest of that decade's wave in the genre, was 1982's "Conan The Barbarian." Written and directed by gonzo, gun-loving genius John Milius...

All those who complain about the liberal domination of Hollywood have never come across John Milius. A film school pal of George Lucas and Steven Spielberg, Milius had tried to join the Marine Corp, but was turned away due to his asthma. Instead, he channeled his frustrations into both a life-long obsession with firearms (he was paid for "Jeremiah Johnson" in antique weaponry, and has served on the NRA Board of Directors) and making some of the most masculine, testosterone-filled movies of all time, both as an acclaimed writer and as a director. The basis for both Paul Le Mat's character in "American Graffiti" and Walter in "The Big Lebowski" -- the Coens are friends of Milius, and offered him the part of Jack Lipnick in "Barton Fink" -- he's one of film history's most singular, colorful characters.

He might not have had the overwhelming success of Lucas or Spielberg,...

Oscar-nominated cinematographer who worked on Lenny, Dirty Harry and The Beguiled

The American cinematographer Bruce Surtees, who has died aged 74, became known as "the prince of darkness" for his muted and often lugubrious style of lighting. However, while Surtees was well-suited to the nocturnal street scenes of Dirty Harry (1971), the Rembrandt-esque arrangements of The Beguiled (1971) and the claustrophobic interiors of Escape from Alcatraz (1979), all directed by Don Siegel, he was also at home with the wide open spaces of the western Joe Kidd (1972) and the surfing movie Big Wednesday (1978).

His deceptively simple black-and-white scheme for Lenny (1974), Bob Fosse's semi-documentary biopic of the comedian Lenny Bruce, earned Surtees an Oscar nomination. The film's compelling stand-up sequences owe almost as much to the expert lighting of the nightclub as they do to Dustin Hoffman's performance. As Hoffman paces the stage, chased by his own shadow, the light captures wisps of...

As part of our writers' favourite film series, Maxton Walker sings the praises of a surfing movie with dudes, poetry and a big heart

Is this review swell? Write your own here – or surf the waves of critique in the comments section below

Point Break has an awful lot to answer for. Kathyrn Bigelow's over the top, homoerotic surfing buddy-fest has become the surfing movie of our era. And that's a monstrous injustice. Any Point Break aficionado who decides to watch Big Wednesday will be instantly struck by the huge debt Bigelow owes to John Milius's freewheeling homage to 1960s Californian hedonism.

Big Wednesday follows three young surfer dudes from 1962 to 1974, as they catch waves, fight, have sex and try – successfully on the whole – to avoid growing up. There's no homoeroticism on these shores. Meet Matt (Jan-Michael Vincent), the greatest surfer of his generation, dealing with the demands of...

"Take a close look at the lineup the Telluride Film Festival," advises Eugene Hernandez at indieWIRE. "These are films you’ll be hearing a lot about over the next few weeks during a fall festival swing that begins in Venice, travels to Telluride and continues through to big-city fests in Toronto and then New York. For many movies on the roster, the journey even dates back to Cannes in May."

The festival opens tomorrow and runs through Labor Day; meantime, here's the Show:

Viviana García Besné's Perdida, a look at the Calderon family, a cinema dynasty in Mexico.

Dr. Biju's The Way Home. See the description from the London Indian Film Festival.

Joseph Cedar's Footnote. See the Cannes roundup.

Mark Cousins's The Story of Film: An Odyssey. Trailer (scroll down about halfway).

David Cronenberg's A Dangerous Method. Premieres tomorrow (Friday) in Venice.

Luc and Jean-Pierre Dardenne's The Kid with a Bike.

Well, it happened. For the first time last night, I prayed for sanity on Celebrity Apprentice. Prayed! Every week I gawk at these contestants with their microwaved faces and poppycock lives, and I always approve of their senselessness. I danced when Dionne Warwick clucked “Hussy!” at Star Jones! I reveled in Richard Hatch’s murderous stare! I still cherish when La Toya Jackson murmurs like a nervous Muppet Baby (a hybrid of Skeeter and Beaker, arguably). But this week, I couldn’t handle Gary Busey’s team leadership and utter nonsense, and I’m guessing you couldn’t either. Clasp...

Celebrity Apprentice 2011! Gary Busey did what to get fired? [Apr. 17] Last week we saw TV show host and singer Mark McGrath lose his spot on Celebrity Apprentice 2011. After a brief conversation with host Donald Trump while in the boardroom, McGrath lost his spot after deciding he wanted to take responsibility for his team’s lost – quite the loss, eh mateys? (You had to be there!) This week we saw project managers, actor Gary Busey from Big Wednesday, on team Backbone for the men and Playmate of the year Hope Dworaczyk on team Asap for the women take on the task of cooking during a live demonstration for Omaha Steaks meat at a Culinary Institute in NYC during episode 7. After all was said and done, Gary Busey was finally fired by Donald Trump. Gary has been quite the controversial contestant with sexual innuendos, physically pushing other contestants out of his way, and...

If you’ve been watching The Celebrity Apprentice this season, then you’ve probably noticed that human trainwreck Gary Busey has become The Donald’s trump card. Busey is clearly inept, as well as inappropriate (hello, Big Wednesday) — in last week’s episode, every member of his team cited the actor as the group’s weakest link. Yet somehow, almost halfway through the season, Busey still hasn’t been kicked out of the boardroom once and for all. The guy just can’t be eliminated; he’s like the Robin Swallows of reality TV.

The reason behind this, as Celebrity Apprentice...

As usual, I found last night’s Celebrity Apprentice terrifying. Mark McGrath howled at Gary Busey since he is this Timberwolf, NeNe Leakes’s anger flared up since she is NeNe Leakes, and worst of all, I feared that Trump would fire 54-year-old preteen Latoya Jackson. How I fretted! How I shivered! Celebrity Apprentice without Latoya Jackson is like American Idol without Steven Tyler’s gnarled smirk: a funless, glamor-free depression.

The Challenge: Nothing titillates the masses like a “corporate presentation” contest! Weeee! The teams must create “interactive exhibits” (read: big embarrassing dioramas) for Australian Gold, a sunscreen and tanning...

Celebrity Apprentice 2011! Why was singer Mark McGrath really fired? [Apr. 10] Fans of the NBC reality television show Celebrity Apprentice, hosted by Donald Trump, witnessed singer Mark McGrath get fired! The two celebrity teams, Backbone for the men and Asap for the ladies, were assigned the task of promoting Australian Gold sunscreen for the week. Project manages for the week were Mark McGrath and Latoya Jackson. Memorable during the episode were Atlanta Housewives star Nene Leakes and actor Gary Busey for their witty remarks to fellow cast members and Australian Gold representatives! In the background of the episode this week were Survivor winner Richard Hatch and the usually very verbal, talk show host, Star Jones. As project manager, the Sugar Ray singer was taxed with the challenges of dealing with singer Meatloaf’s hot temper and Gary Busey’s need for constant attention and direction. At one point, Gary actually said that...

Celebrity Apprentice: Gary Busey Big Wednesday better than Fat Tuesday? [Mar. 29] Actor Garey Busey has been one of the biggest stars on the NBC television show, Celebrity Apprentice 2011 so far! Hosted by buseinss mogul Donald Trump, the audience has witnessed Gary take on roles such as project manager, actor, and comedic relief through mystical rhymes. Busey has more than done his fair share as a player in the show. Notice I didn’t say team player! Team Backbone, the men’s team on which Busey plays, is made up of stars such as pro baseball player Jose Canseco, singer Meatloaf, and rap artist and producer Lil’ John. During the 4th episode of NBC’s Celebrity Apprentice, we met a new member of the cast, Big Wednesday! This new contestant on the show made his appearance during the week 4 task – create a commercial for the new Acn video telephone. Team Backbone...

If you're not watching The Celebrity Apprentice, I feel sorry for you. It just keeps getting better, and next week's fight between Gary Busey and Meat Loaf makes it seem like that trend will continue. This week's episode gave me way too many possibilities for moment of the week, from Gary Busey's penis ("That's what my fiance calls my apparatus. Big Wednesday.") to the strange but awesome alliance of Marlee Matlin, NeNe Leakes, and Star...

Unspeakable things happened on Celebrity Apprentice last night, and I’m not talking about Gary Busey’s sentences. I’m referring to a challenge about stupid commercials, Jose Canseco’s “risque humor,” (which must be Trump code for “homophobia”), and the firing of a first-rate buzzard. Tragedy all around. Plus, Busey told us his johnson is nicknamed “Big Wednesday,” and he meant it. Because this show? Is kind of hell, for sure. But a fresh hell! Let’s relive and re-love it.

The Challenge: Since last week when Trump fired Niki Taylor and presumably fed her to a timberwolf (Mark McGrath), the ladies’ team (A.

Celebrity Apprentice! Who is Gary Busey and why is he famous? [Mar. 13] Green celebrity Gary Busey, famous for Lethal Weapon and The Buddy Holly Story, is also an accomplished musician. With blond hair and a fair complexion, Gary Busey is known for his toothy grin. For a time, Busey was a professional drummer for the likes of Leon Russell, Kris Kristofferson, and Willie Nelson. According to IMDb, Busey first made it big in film for playing the lead role of Buddy Holly in The Buddy Holly Story (1978). His performance in the film earned him a nomination for Best Actor. As a matter of trivia, Gary Busey not only played the guitar himself in the film, but he sang all the vocals as well. The green celebrity was quickly picked up by Hollywood agents and went on to star in the mega-hit Lethal Weapon (1987) with Mel Gibson and Danny Glover. He appeared...