4 Shots From 4 Films: Special Russ Meyer Edition


4 Or More Shots From 4 Or More Films is just what it says it is, 4 shots from 4 of our favorite films. As opposed to the reviews and recaps that we usually post, 4 Shots From 4 Films lets the visuals do the talking!

104 years ago, on the very day, Russ Meyer was born in San Leandro, California.  Meyer would get his start filming newsreels during World War II, with much of his newsreel footage later showing up in films like the 1970 Oscar winner, Patton.  When he returned to the United States, he continued to make films, though the subject matter changed a bit.  Meyer was one of the pioneers of the adult film industry, though his once controversial films now seem rather quaint and innocent when compared to the industry’s later films.  Meyer’s strong visual sense and his intentionally over-the-top plots made him a favorite amongst underground critics.  In the 70s, he was briefly embraced by mainstream Hollywood but, unhappy with having to deal with the studio bosses, Meyer returned to making the type of independent, grindhouse films that made him famous.

Russ Meyer was 82 years old when he died in 2004.  He was acclaimed as one of America’s first and most iconic independent filmmakers.

Here are 4 Safe-For-Work Shots From 4 Russ Meyer Films.

4 Shots From 4 Russ Meyer Films

Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill! (1965, dir by Russ Meyer, DP: Walter Schenk)

Motorpsycho (1965, dir by Russ Meyer, DP: Russ Meyer)

Cherry, Harry, & Raquel! (1970, dir by Russ Meyer, DP: Russ Meyer)

Beyond The Valley Of The Dolls (1970, dir by Russ Meyer, DP: Fred J. Koenekamp)

This one hurts… rest in peace Chuck Norris. 


Chuck Norris was there for me at the very beginning. When I fell in love with action movies, it was primarily because of three men, first Charles Bronson, followed by Clint Eastwood and Chuck Norris. Back in the 80’s when I was too young to drive, I couldn’t just pull a movie up on my phone or TV anytime I wanted. I had to rely on certain TV channels, like Fox 16 out of Little Rock, and the occasional trip to the video store. Chuck Norris was a megastar on Fox 16 and on the shelves of the video store. Fox 16 would have movie weeks filled with movies like SILENT RAGE, LONE WOLF MCQUADE, MISSING IN ACTION, and CODE OF SILENCE. These movies are just a part of who I am, and Chuck Norris always came across as a fundamentally decent and courageous man on screen. 

Chuck may not have been a critical darling, but he had a presence and charisma about him that drew me in from the very beginning. Even today, Norris has his own unique section in my massive collection of physical media. Up to this point, only the loss of my hero Charles Bronson back in 2003 has stirred up these same kinds of feelings that I’m feeling today. I remember when my son discovered the “Chuck Norris Facts” when he was about 10 years old or so. He loved them so much and would tell me his favorites constantly. It made me happy that my own son knew who Chuck Norris was, even if it was through extreme comedic myth making! I was so happy when Norris cameo’d in THE EXPENDABLES 2 and even told one of this Chuck Norris facts. We loved it and it’s definitely my favorite EXPENDABLES movie.

A little part of me is gone tonight knowing that Norris has passed away. From this point forward, anytime I think of Norris or watch his movies, it will be from a perspective that he’s know longer alive. But one of the great things about movies is that whenever I want to see a young, vibrant Norris, I just have to go to my movie shelves and I can be watching THE DELTA FORCE in a matter of moments. I had to learn how to deal with it for Charles Bronson. Now I’ll do the same with Chuck Norris. 

4 Shots From 4 Films: Special Hollywood Edition


4 Or More Shots From 4 Or More Films is just what it says it is, 4 shots from 4 of our favorite films. As opposed to the reviews and recaps that we usually post, 4 Shots From 4 Films lets the visuals do the talking!

Today, we pay tribute to Hollywood with 4 shots from 4 films!

4 Shots From 4 Films About Hollywood

Beyond The Valley Of The Dolls (1970, dir by Russ Meyer, DP: Fred J. Koenekamp)

Hollywood Boulevard (1976, dir by Allan Arkush and Joe Dante, DP: Jamie Anderson)

Mulholland Drive (2001, dir by David Lynch, DP: Peter Deming)

Once Upon A Time In Hollywood (2019, dir by Quentin Tarantino, DP: Robert Richardson)

4 Shots From 4 Films: Special Bruce Willis Edition


4 Shots From 4 Films is just what it says it is, 4 shots from 4 of our favorite films. As opposed to the reviews and recaps that we usually post, 4 Shots From 4 Films lets the visuals do the talking!

Today, Bruce Willis turns 71.  It’s time for….

4 Shots From 4 Bruce Willis Films

Die Hard (1988, dir by John McTiernan, DP: Jan de Bont)

Pulp Fiction (1994, dir by Quentin Tarantino, DP: Andrzej Sekuła)

12 Monkeys (1995, dir by Terry Gilliam, DP: Roger Pratt)

Last Man Standing (1996, dir by Walter Hill, DP: Lloyd Ahern II)

4 Shots From 4 Films: Special Luc Besson Edition


4 Shots From 4 Films is just what it says it is, 4 shots from 4 of our favorite films. As opposed to the reviews and recaps that we usually post, 4 Shots From 4 Films lets the visuals do the talking!

Today, we wish a happy birthday to director Luc Besson.  It’s time for….

4 Shots From 4 Luc Besson Films

Nikita (1990, dir by Luc Besson, DP: Theirry Arbogast)

Leon:  The Professional (1994, dir by Luc Besson, DP: Theirry Arbogast)

The Fifth Element (1997, dir by Luc Besson, DP: Theirry Arbogast)

Angel-A (2005, dir by Luc Besson, DP: Theirry Arbogast)

HARD TIMES ON FILM presents “Soldier,” starring Kurt Russell!


In honor of Kurt Russell’s birthday, I thought I would share one of my favorite podcasts with you. Most of the time Nick and Ray talk about Charles Bronson, but every so often they go outside of Bronson. Their episode on the Kurt Russell film SOLDIER is excellent. It’s a great way to celebrate one of the most popular actors of my lifetime.

Happy Birthday, Kurt, and enjoy my friends!

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hard-times-on-film-the-films-of-charles-bronson-and-beyond/id1593402485?i=1000670947806

4 Shots From 4 Films: Special Kurt Russell Edition


4 Shots From 4 Films is just what it says it is, 4 shots from 4 of our favorite films. As opposed to the reviews and recaps that we usually post, 4 Shots From 4 Films lets the visuals do the talking!

Today, we wish a happy birthday to the great Kurt Russell!  Last year, we pretty much reviewed every Kurt Russell films that we could find.  It was a great day.  This year, we cannot let the day pass without offering up….

4 Shots From 4 Kurt Russell Films

Used Cars (1980, dir by Robert Zemeckis, DP: Donald M. Morgan)

Escape From New York (1981, dir by John Carpenter, DP: Dean Cundey)

The Thing (1982, dir by John Carpenter, DP: Dean Cundey)

Tombstone (1993, dir by George Pan Cosmatos (and Kurt Russell), DP: William Fraker)

 

4 Shots From 4 Films: Special Bernardo Bertolucci Edition


4 Shots From 4 Films is just what it says it is, 4 shots from 4 of our favorite films. As opposed to the reviews and recaps that we usually post, 4 Shots From 4 Films lets the visuals do the talking!

Today, the Shattered Lens celebrates Italian director Bernardo Bertolucci!  It’s time for….

4 Shots From 4 Bernardo Bertolucci Films

The Conformist (1970, dir by Bernardo Bertolucci, DP: Vittorio Storaro)

The Last Emperor (1987, dir by Bernardo Bertolucci, DP: Vittorio Storaro)

The Sheltering Sky (1990, dir by Bernardo Bertolucci, DP: Vittorio Storaro)

Stealing Beauty (1996, dir by Bernardo Bertolucci, DP: Darius Khondji)

Lisa Marie’s Way Too Early Oscar Predictions For March


Now that the awards for the best of 2025 have been handed out, it’s time to think about what might be nominated next year!

Below are my first set of Oscar predictions for 2026!  What am I basing these predictions on?  Nothing but instinct, wild guesses, and hopeful thinking.  Take them with a grain of salt.  If nothing else, we’ll look back on these a year from now and we’ll laugh.  Or, we’ll be amazed at my cognitive abilities.

Best Picture

Digger

Disclosure Day

Dune Part Three

I Play Rocky

The Invite

Mother Mary

The Odyssey

Queen At Sea

The Social Reckoning

Wild Horse Nine

Best Director

Lance Hammer for Queen At Sea

Martin McDonagh for Wild Horse Nine

Christopher Nolan for The Odyssey

Steven Spielberg for Disclosure Day

Denis Villeneuve for Dune Part Three

Best Actor

Nicolas Cage in Madden

Timothee Chalamet in Dune Part Three

Tom Cruise in Digger

Anthony Ippolito in I Play Rocky

John Malkovivh in Wild Hose Nine

Best Actress

Juliette Binoche in Queen At Sea

Emily Blunt in Disclosure Day

Isabelle Huppert in The Blood Countess

Mikey Madison in The Social Reckoning

Anya Taylor-Joy in Joni Mitchell

Best Supporting Actor

Tom Courtenay in Queen At Sea

Willem DaFoe in Werewulf

Stephan James in I Play Rocky

Edward Norton in The Invite

Jeremy Strong in The Social Reckoning

Best Supporting Actress

Anna Calder-Marshall in Queen At Sea

Michaela Coel in Mother Mary

Penelope Cruz in The Invite

AnnaSophia Robb in I Play Rocky

Meryl Streep in Joni Mitchell

Here Are The Oscar Winners


Here’s what won at the Oscars!

Best Picture —  One Battle After Another

Best Directing —  Paul Thomas Anderson, One Battle After Another

Best Actor — Michael B. Jordan, Sinners

Best Actress — Jessie Buckley, Hamnet

Best Supporting Actor — Sean Penn, One Battle After Another

Best Supporting Actress — Amy Madigan, Weapons

Best Original Screenplay — Sinners

Best Adapted Screenplay — One Battle After Another

Best Animated Feature — KPop Demon Hunters

Best Casting — One Battle After Another

Best Production Design — Frankenstein

Best Cinematography — Sinners

Best Costume Design — Frankenstein

Best Film Editing — One Battle After Another

Best Makeup and Hairstyling — Frankenstein

Best Sound — F1

Best Visual Effects — Avatar: Fire and Ash

Best Original Score — Sinners

Best Original Song — “Golden” from KPop Demon Hunters

Best Documentary Feature — Mr. Nobody Against Putin

Best International Feature — Sentimental Value

Best Animated Short — The Girl Who Cried Pearls

Best Documentary Short — All The Empty Rooms

Best Live Action Short (TIE) —  The Singers and Two People Exchanging Saliva