Mickey 17

When Hollywood produces comedies, they don't have a tendency to delve into dark or satirical comedies which I believe are far funnier. Films like "Thank You for Smoking", "State and Main" "Parasite"and others often don't make it to the silver screen. I personally love the darker more satirical comedies since they are more original. So now, we have "Mickey 17" so we can enjoy that dark side of the genre.

Adapted from the novel "Mickey 7" by Edward Ashton, this stars Robert Pattinson as Mickey Barnes who signs up as an 'expendable'--a disposable member on a space mission along side of crew Nasha Barrage (Naomi Ackie), Timo (Steven Yeun), Kai Katz (Anamaria Vartolomei) and others, selected for dangerous tasks because he can be renewed if his body dies, with his memories and personality largely intact. With one regeneration, though, things go very wrong, whereas the new regeneration, called Mickey 18 has a totally different personality which ensues many problems. 

Others to round out the cast are Mark Ruffalo as Kenneth Marshall, Toni Collette as Ylfa, his wife, Patsy Ferran as Dorothy, Stephen Park as Zeke, Ian Hanmore as Darius Blank and Daniel Henshall as Preston. 

This was brilliantly directed with incredible wit and originality by Boon Joon Ho ("Barking Dogs Never Bite" 2000, "Memories of Murder" '03, "The Host" '06, "Tokyo!" (segment--"Shaking Tokyo") '08, "Mother" '09, "Snowpiercer" '13, "Okja" '17, "Parasite" '19) plus shorts. This filmmaker has the innate ability to encourage his actors to 'dig deep' when it comes to convincing the audience of their respective characters, especially in the case of Pattinson. He had to play two entirely different roles looking identical, but with personalities that were as different as night and day, and this is talented directing. Of course, Pattinson gets better with every film he does, this was equally exemplary for him. It was also equally well written by Boon Joon Ho ("Motel Cactus"'97, "Phantom: The Submarine" '99, "Barking Dogs Never Bite" 2000, "Memories of Murder" '03, "Antarctic Journal" '05, "The Host" '07, "Tokyo!" (segment--"Shaking Tokyo") '08, "Mother" '09, "Snowpiercer" '13, "Sea Fog" '14, "Okja" '14, "Parasite" '19) plus shorts, based on the novel "Mickey 7" by Edward Ashton. As with the filmmaker M. Night Shyamalan, this filmmaker is similar in that both are quirky and odd and with that, produce work that is definitely original. Boon Joon Ho doesn't produce mundane, trite, remakes, reboots, franchises, etc. This story definitively puts the 'W' in weird, however was a well crafted film. In fact, if I was pushed to notice any flaws in this, they were that there were a couple of scenes that were slightly disjointed where it became a little blurred when fading from one scene to another, otherwise the script rocked. 

If you are a fan of this director, you will revel with this film, however, I believe that he didn't write the movie for the mass audience appeal. This isn't for everyone in that not all like a dark, satirical, and odd film. But if these adjectives turn your crank, grab the popcorn, because it is a very funny, but dark humored film. 

Out of 4 Stars: 3.5                                           Rated: R                                             137mins.

Rule Breakers

Hollywood has produced many 'underdog' type films--hey, everyone loves the underdog--and we've seen many movies that showcase this, i.e. "Stand and Deliver", "Spare Parts", "Radical", "American Underdog", "Invincible" and many others. These films are always projects that are stand up and cheer films, and it is no different with "Rule Breakers".

In a nation where educating girls is seen as rebellion, as with the case of Afghanistan, a visionary woman, Roya Mahboob (Nikohl Boosheri) dares to teach young teenage minds to dream, when their innovation in computer robotics draws global attention, their success sparks hope and opposition, as threats loom and sacrifices are made, their courage and unity ignite a movement that could forever transform the world. With Roya's support, her brother, Ali (Noorin Gulamgaus), her sponsor, Jesus (Christian Contreras), Samir (Ali Fazal), and her team, how could she fail?

Others to round out the cast are Sara Rowe as Haadiya, Nada El Belkasmi as Sima, Nasser Memarzia as Abdul, Waj Ali as Ahmed, Anita Major as Sabine, Nina Hosseinzadeh as Taara, Mariam Saraj as Arezo and Christopher Goh as David.

This was directed with grit and passion by Bill Guttentag ("Death on the Job" '91, "The Cocaine War: Lost in Bolivia" (TV movie) '92, "5 American Kids--5 American Handguns" (TV movie, documentary) '95, "Memphis PD: War on the Streets" (TV movie) '96, "Life's Greatest Holiday Stories" (TV movie, documentary) '97, "The Last Days of Kennedy and King" (documentary) '98, "Images of Life" (TV movie) '98, "Hate.Com: Extremists on the Internet" (TV movie) 2000, "Nanking" '07, "Live!" '07, "Soundtrack for a Revolution" '09, "Knife Fight" '12, "Only the Dead" '15, "Sublime" '19, "Spyral" '24) plus TV and shorts. Obviously this filmmaker's resume has served him well in that he has learned how to encourage his actors to respond to this script with just the right amount of passion, pathos and compassion where needed. If you like and respect this director's brand, his "Blood Rhino" is in pre=production. It is incredibly penned well by writers, Elaha Mahboob, Jason Brown and Bill Guttentag, which is based on an incredible true story. Even though the vast amount of experience on this script is Guttentag--he took last place in the billing, this story was gripping from frame one to the ending. I suspect that Guttentag allowed Mahboob to take first place since this was based of his family. What these girls had to endure to get where they got to was a miracle in and of itself. Roya Mahboob was amazing in that she was truly willing to pay the cost to make this happen. This is a story that slowly creates a situation where the audience wants to stand up and cheer for these women. It comes from Angel Studios that brought us "Sound of Freedom", "Cabrini", "Sight" and others. 

If you like underdog films, and who doesn't?, this film will make you think, make you grateful, and will make you stand up and cheer for these heroic women. It is a must see for all to learn from in that we all can be taught something in spite of our differences, and this does in spades!

Out of 4 Stars: 4                                       Rated: PG                                            121mins.

Last Breath

We've all seen films based on true stories, but with "Last Breath", its director Alex Parkinson, actually directed a documentary of this story in 2019,and even though this screenplay was based on the book by Metfilm, the documentary was produced by Metfilm as well. Other films based on true stories typically aren't followed by a documentary chronicling the film.

This story is a heart pounding film that follows seasoned deep-sea divers, including Duncan Allock (Woody Harrelson), Dave Yuasa (Simu Liu) and Chris Lemons (Finn Cole), as they battle the raging elements to rescue a crew mate trapped hundreds of feet below the ocean's surface. Between this crew and the captain, Andre Jenson (Cliff Curtis) and Craig (Mark Bonnar), time is everything. Based on a true story, "Last Breath" is an electrifying story about teamwork, resilience and a race against time to do the impossible.

Others to round out the cast are MyAnna Buring as Hanna, 1st officer, Josef Altin as DPO, Bobby Rainsbury as Morag, Chris' fiance, Connor Reed as Andrew, ROV pilot, Nick Biadon as Stuart, B Team, Riz Khan as Kirk, B Team and Aldo Silvio as Brad, B Team.

This was seamlessly and intensely directed by Alex Parkinson ("The Born Free Legacy" (TV movie) '10, "Seven Days That Made the Fuhrer" (TV movie) '13, "Last Breath" (documentary) '19, "Lucy, the Human Chimp" (TV movie) '21,"Living with Leopards" '24) plus TV. Since this filmmaker has experience that relays to productions that are based in reality including a documentary, that experience would definitely allow this director to chronicle a film that is based on a true story and make it more realistic than that of most other directors. He certainly knows how to create an atmosphere of sheer tension and intensity to convey to the audience this horrendous story. It was penned well by writers, Mitchell LaFortune, Alex Parkinson and David Brooks, based on the book, "Last Breath" by Metfilm.  None of these writers have a tremendous amount of experience, however, what they bring to the table is helpful. What experience they do have has served them, and will ground them as better writers when they receive more work. This script, considering the limited experience, is a juggernaut of a script--what with Parkinson's incredible input in the documentary of "Last Breath" back in 2019. 

If you're into a real nail-biter, this is the film for you. I understand now why it's only 90 minutes long. With all these divers went through, this length of a running time probably is all an audience could endure. The large screen is where this needs to be viewed since the ship is is the middle of a horrible storm at night in the North Sea. Grab your seat and hold on tight!

Out of 4 Stars: 4                                       Rated: PG-13                                              92mins.

The Unbreakable Boy

As we approach spring with Easter being in the near future, the inspirational films begin to emerge. As an occurrence that happens yearly, we are offered "The Unbreakable Boy" to kick off this period. Based on a true story, it is a film that will inspire all who sees it, whether one has a soft or a hard heart. 

When Scott and Teresa LeRette (Zachary Levi and Meghann Fahy) respectively, learn that their son Austin, 13 yr. old (Jacob Laval), is autistic and, has Brittle Bone Disease where he has broken, at least, 45 bones, they initially worry about his future, however with Scott's growing faith and Austin's incredible spirit, they become unbreakable as they find joy, gratitude and courage in the most trying times. As Scott says at one of his trying moments, "I wish I could enjoy anything as much as Austin enjoys everything."

Others to round out the cast are Drew Powell as Joe, Patricia Heaton as Marcia, Scott's mom, Todd Terry as Dick, Scott's dad, Peter Facinelli as the preacher, Gavin Warren as Logan, Austin's brother (11yr. old), Pilot Bunch as Tyler, Bruce Davis as Autism doc, Kurt Yue as Brittle Bone doc and Eleanor Threatt as Principal Ilene.

This was directed with compassion while driving to a point by Jon Gunn ("Mercy Streets" 2000, "My Date with Drew" '04, "Like Dandelion Dust" '09, "Do You Believe?" '15, "The Week" '15,  "The Case for Christ" '17, "Ordinary Angels" '24). In the past, inspirational films used to be made with a maudlin and sentimental approach which ended up predictable, however as these films continue to be produced, the fresher, yet more realistic approaches have taken hold. This film isn't about Austin getting cured as much it's about Austin, in spite of his diseases, can meld into the public with a refreshing and captivating way, and this was showcased in spades through this director. He has proven himself many times over--just look at his resume.  It was also effectively written by Jon Gunn ("Mercy Streets" 2000, "The Week" '15, "I Still Believe" '20, "American Underdog" '21, "Jesus Revolution" '23), based on the book by Scott LeRette and Susy Flory. This film, as with many films based on a true story, is written as a flashback with the meeting of Scott and Teresa and subsequent birth of their kids, their marriage and their trials with having a child with Brittle Bone Disease and Autism. And considering it was penned in a flashback format, there were a couple of very small places of continuity issues, but one would have to be quick to pick them up. The emotions from these actors were real, whether they showed pain or excitement. Obviously Scott was one of the writers of the book that the film was based on, but this story had to be journaled. 

This film is for all to see, because if we think we have it tough, put yourself in the parents of Austin or even Austin himself. It screams the adage, "for the grace of God...". The best thing about the story is that how positive, happy and carefree Austin comes across, where it seems to be tougher on the parents than that of Austin himself, and this is a great example of how we need to look at our different issues and think, how would Austin deal with this?

Out of 4 Stars: 3.5                                           Rated: PG                                         108mins.

Captain America: Brave New World

Ever since the 'comic book movie' came into being, we have seen many different franchises. Some franchises are connected with others, but at the end of the day, the number of franchises mostly created by Marvel Studios and DC Comics are everywhere. I'm not even sure which 'Captain America' film this is, but Marvel's "Captain America: Brave New World" is an interesting film even though it comprises a plethora of writers. 

Anthony Mackie returns as the high-flying hero Sam Wilson, who's officially taken up the mantle of Captain America. After meeting with newly elected U.S. President Thaddeus Ross (Harrison Ford), Sam and work buddy, Joaquin Torres (Danny Ramirez) finds themselves in the middle of an international incident. They must discover the reason behind a nefarious global plot before the true mastermind has the entire world seeing red. Will they catch the foe responsible for bringing the world into a global war before time runs out?

Others to round out the cast are Carl Lumbly as Isaiah Bradley, Tim Blake Nelson as Samuel Sterns, Giancarlo Esposito as Sidewinder, Xosha Roquemore as Leila Taylor, Shira Haas as Ruth Bat-Seraph, Takehiro Hira as Prime Minister Ozaki, Harsh Nayyar as Prime Minister Kapur and William Mark McCullough as Comm. Dennis Dunphy.

This was directed with grit and intensity by Julius Onah ("The Girl Is in Trouble" '15, "The Cloverfield Paradox" '18, "Luce" '19) plus shorts and a music video. This filmmaker's approach to staging and pacing was effective as it was cohesive. He doesn't have a ton of experience behind the camera with feature films, but what he has is compelling and keeps us on the edge of our seats. It was effectively written by Malcolm Spellman, Peter Glanz, Julius Onah and Matthew Orton, based on the screen story by Malcolm Spellman, Dalan Musson and Rob Edwards, which is based on "Captain America" created by Jack Kirby and Joe Simon. Even though the direction was cohesive in its delivery, the writing wasn't as connected as it could've been. None of these writers have a plethora of feature film experience which is probably why it was a bit disjointed in some areas. It certainly was better than I suspected it would be, especially bringing in a surprise character that I didn't see coming. Was it a wash? No; it was put together better that one would think considering there were four writers which is typically a no no in the script writing world. The visual effects predominantly designed by Digital Domain were seamless, but that should be no surprise. 

If you're into 'comic book films', and more to the point, the 'Captain America' franchise, wait through all the end credits since Captain America does return. I know, what a shock. If you like the film really big, it is presented in an IMAX format as well. 

Out of 4 Stars: 3                                      Rated: PG-13                                        118mins.

Paddington in Peru

When "Paddington" was released back in 2014, who knew that it would become the beloved classic film that we would enjoy all over again 11 years later? Then there was "Paddington 2" released in 2017 and it was clearly a hit, so now we have "Paddington in Peru" to sink our teeth into and it's as cleverly written and presented as it was back in 2014. 

In this sequel, the world's most beloved bear goes back to his roots in Peru. Paddington (voiced by Ben Whishaw) is still living happily with the Brown family, Henry (Hugh Bonneville), Mary (Emily Mortimer), Judy (Madeleine Harris) and Jonathan (Samuel Joslin), in Windsor Gardens. When he receives a letter from the Reverend Mother (Olivia Colman), the blithe guitar strumming nun who runs the Home for Retired Bears, informing Paddington that Aunt Lucy (voiced by Imelda Staunton) misses him dearly, he knows he simply must visit her as soon as possible. With his shiny new British passport in hand, Paddington is joined by the Browns, including the ever-resourceful Mrs. Bird (Julie Walters), on an epic journey that none of them will ever forget. Along the way the group meet new friends, including the dashing riverboat captain Hunter Cabot (Antonio Banderas) and his daughter Gina (Carla Tous). They join them on their thrilling escapades through the Amazon rainforest and up to the stunning mountain peaks of Peru, together they encounter unexpected challenges, and Paddington begins to uncover surprising secrets about the past. Throughout the ups and downs, his unwavering optimism and kindness shine brightly in this brand new Paddington cinematic adventure that reinforces the importance of family, and the joy of embracing one's heritage. 

Others to round out the cast are Hayley Atwell as Madison, Jim Broadbent as Mr. Gruber, Amit Shah as Zayden, Jessica Hynes as Miss Kitts, Ben Miller as Colonel Lancaster, Robbie Gee as Mr. Barnes and Sanjeev Bhaskar as Dr. Jafri. 

This was whimsically and charmingly directed by newcomer to feature films, Dougal Wilson (shorts, music videos and videos). Considering his limited experience, this filmmaker was able to pull off these characters and give its audience that similar feel how these characters were developed that coincided with its sequels. This is not an easy task. His other work obviously served him well. What really gave this film that direct familiarity was that it being written by Mark Burton, Jon Foster and James Lamont and being based on a screen story by Paul King, Simon Farnaby and Mark Burton, which is based on "Paddington Bear" by Michael Bond, is that several of these writers are directly connected with their predecessors in one way or another. So we, the audience, felt very much at home with this continued story of Paddington's adventures. With the exception of one very small area of slowness which wasn't enough to take away any of the story, this script was spot on and was a joy to watch. Also, the visual effects predominantly designed by Framestore were seamless and the photography, production design, editing, and musical score were elements that simply connected all aspects of the production. The ensemble cast with Ben Whishaw continuing to voice Paddington was believable as it was supportive. Banderas' Captain Hunter was a hoot and the more he hammed it up, the better it was. 

Certainly if you liked the predecessors of this film, you'll revel with this as well. It has it all: adventure, thrills, humor, charm, and completely heartwarming, all rolled up in a story for the whole family. At the end, it looks like there may be yet another sequel in the works, but who knows? It is presented in an IMAX format as well for your liking. Why can't we see more films like these that are so entertaining?

Out of 4 Stars: 4                                       Rated: PG                                         106mins.

Love Hurts

As the 'dead zone' proceeds in this early part of the year, choosing a film to view and critique sometimes is a chore. One trailer that looked doable was that of "Love Hurts", and after seeing it, it was certainly better than I thought it would be. It's your typical 'bad guys double cross each other, so finding a certain person is imperative in order to make things right in the villain world. What could possibly go wrong?

Ke Huy Quan stars as Marvin Gable, a realtor working the Milwaukee suburbs, where 'For Sale' signs bloom. Gable receives a crimson envelope from Rose Carlisle (Ariana DeBose), a former partner-in-crime that he had left for dead. She's not happy. Now, Marvin is thrust back into a world of ruthless hitmen, filled with double-crosses and open houses turned into deadly war zones. With his brother Alvin "Knuckles" Gable (Daniel Wu), a volatile crime lord, hunting him, Marvin must confront the choices that haunt him and the history he never truly burned. 

Others to round out the cast are Cam Gigandet as Renny Merlo, Mustafa Shakir as The Raven, Lio Tipton as Ashley, Andre Eriksen as Otis, Sean Astin as Cliff Cussick, Rhys Darby as Kippy Betts, Drew Scott as Jeff Zaks and Stephanie Sy as Sherry Reeber.

This was directed by newcomer Jonathan Eusebio (stunt coordination). This filmmaker has walked through that door making the transition from stunt coordinator to working behind the camera. Like Chad Stahelski who made that transition (he directed the 'John Wick' films), others have made that transition as well. Vic Armstrong, Terry Leonard, Hal Needham and others have crossed over to the director's chair. And so, with this background experience, this film was chocked full of incredible stunts. This is to be expected since it is these coordinator's  forte. Eusebio's pacing, staging and high energy, where needed, was spot on, and can certainly see him with future work as both director and stunt coordinator. It was written with rapidity by Matthew Murray, Josh Stoddard and Luke Passmore. Even though the emphasis was on the stunts to partially carry this story, it still unfolded as a great high-adrenaline, high-explosive, all with a humorous backdrop that keeps its audience's attention. These writers have approximately the same amount of experience, which isn't a plethora, but certainly enough to write a tense script. Could it be that there were one too many writers? Not sure, but even though it could've been polished a bit more, it was still entertaining, especially with the humor laced throughout the story at just the most effective places. 

Not sure if you want to bring your Valentine's Day sweetie to this considering the language is a bit coarse, since it has a Valentine's backdrop, but it's story keeps you moving. Ke Huy Quan coming off his Oscar for "Everything Everywhere All At Once" was as captivating as his character from Everything... 

Out of 4 Stars: 3                                            Rated: R                                            83mins.

Love Me

We all have seen a plethora of apocalyptic films through the many years they've existed, and one thing that rings true with them all is the fact that, not only are they depressing, but also typically leave you with no hope for any positivity for a future. There has been "The Omega Man", "The Book of Eli", "Fahrenheit 451", "Elysium", "District 9"and others to grace our screens and so to add to that ever growing list, we have "Love Me" to ponder over.

In an apocalyptic story that spans an eternity of years, a buoy, Me/Deja (Kristen Stewart) and a satellite, Iam/Liam (Steven Yeun) meet online long after humanity's extinction, as they survive a post-apocalyptic society, they learn what life was like on Earth, they discover themselves and what it means to be alive and in love. In this groundbreaking first feature from directors Sam and Andy Zuchero, "Love Me" explores contemporary topics surrounding technology and identity, though at its heart is a simple, emotionally resonant tale of transformation. Thrillingly utilizing filmmaking techniques from live action, practical animatronics, classic animation and game engines, and anchored in enthralling performances by Stewart and Yeun, this film culminates in the longest-spanning love story ever told. 

As aforementioned, this film was directed by first time directors Sam Zuchero and Andy Zuchero (shorts). Sure, Andy Zuchero has some shorts under his belt, but he and Sam have never directed a feature film until now. Considering their limited experience, the actors, the two of them, gave a very fluid performance and the transition of them getting to know one another was natural as it was captivating. Sam Zuchero (shorts) and Andy Zuchero (shorts) also wrote the film as well. Again, with the exception of some shorts, this is the first outing of them writing a feature film. For this film to clearly be the most understood, the story needed to be a bit longer as to explain certain elements of the film. Such as, what happened to humanity? How were these two able to transform themselves into a representation of humans? And there were a bit of disjointedness as well. This was a very interesting film, if for no other reason than that of its originality. And with this, given more time and work, these directors will become a powerhouse. They way that the live action, animatronics and classic animation was utilized was unique as it was intriguing. 

If you're into apocalyptic films, this will interest those, even though it dwells more on these two individuals. And even though visuals were used a good deal through this, it wasn't as noticed as many other films that have heavy visuals. This is not for every audience, but it is a film to peak one's curiosity.

Out of 4 Stars: 2.5                                    Rated: R                                    92mins.

Dog Man

As we continue in the 'dead zone' film season, we have an animated film, which is typically offered in the summer film season, in the offing, Dreamworks Animation's "Dog Man". Obviously, the premise is impossible and absurd, but this is clearly why you're not seeing this film. This film hinges on teamwork and the message of unity in the disguise of an animated movie. 

When a faithful police dog and his human police partner, Officer Knight (Peter Hastings) owner are seriously injured together on the job, a harebrained but life-saving surgery fuses the two of them together and Dog Man is born. Dog Man (Peter Hastings) is sworn to protect and serve--and fetch, sit and roll over. As Dog Man embraces his new identity and strives to impress his Chief (Lil Rel Howery), he must stop the pretty evil plots of feline supervillain Petey, the Cat (Pete Davidson). Petey's latest plan is to clone himself, creating the kitten Li'l Petey (Lucas Hopkins Calderon) to double his ability to docrime stuff. Things get complicated, though, when Li'l Petey forges an unexpected bond with Dog Man. When Li'l Petey falls into the clutches of a common enemy, Dog Man and Petey reluctantly joins forces in an action-packed race against time to rescue the young kitten. In the process, they discover the power of family (and kittens!) to bring even the most hostile foes together. 

Others to round out the cast are Ilsa Fisher as Sarah Hatoff, a reporter, Billy Boyd as Seamus, the cameraman, Stephen Root as Grampa, Ricky Gervais as Flippy, Poppy Liu as Butler, Cheri Oteri as Mayor, Luenell as Milly, Rahnuma Panthaky as Doctor and Maggie Wheeler as Nurse. 

This was entertaingly well directed by Peter Hastings ("The Country Bears" '02) plus a short and a video. The encouraging aspect of this film is the fact that not only is this well animated (hey, it's Dreamworks), but it houses an incredible message of unity and teamwork. He truly knows how to delineate his characters to strive to this point--and he only has one feature film otherwise to he credit. It was also cleverly written by Peter Hastings ("Tiny Toons Spring Break" (TV movie) '94, Tiny Toons' Night Ghoulery" (TV movie)'95) plus TV, based on a book series by Dav Pilkey. Again, considering this filmmaker has only two TV movies, as films, to his credit amazes me. This was simple in its presentation, however, it is geared toward kids so simple was integral. There were a couple of small areas of choppiness, otherwise was a bright and exciting script for kids and families as a whole. This isn't Dreamworks Animation's typical style of their work, but I believe it was purposed in that they strived to give the look of the film a childlike presence so as to attract that demographic. What also made this a unique film was that after the fused surgery, Dog Man didn't speak, except typical dog sounds, i.e. barks, howls, whining, etc. Nut in the process, the way this was writte, that dog spoke volumes--more than a lot of people.

Certainly if you like animation films, you'll love this. As aforementioned, its message and it humor will capture kids and families alike, and this definitely is something we need to see more often, since so many films out there are geared mostly to adults, whether younger or older. This is a fun flick for all to enjoy for the 90 minute running time! This running time is actually 94 minutes if you include a 5 minute "Bad Guy" animated cartoon prior to the film.

Out of 4 Stars: 3.5                                      Rated : PG                                       94mins.

                                                                            

The Brutalist

When the U.S. was first beginning while being immigrated from other countries, it was a great feat to say the least. Many were coming over to either escape WWII persecution or to leave what was left of their country to start anew in the new world. Some, it was a hardship while others were simply desperate. Suffice it to say, it was quite transitional for many for a great time span. 

When visionary architect Laszlo Toth (Adrien Brody) and his wife Erzsebet (Felicity Jones) flee Europe to rebuild their legacy and witness the birth of Modern America, their lives are changed forever by a mysterious and wealthy client. The seemingly charming industrialist Harrison Van Buren (Guy Pearce) offers Laszlo and his family the American Dream on a silver platter by commissioning him to design a grand modernist monument and help shape the landscape of the country he now calls home. It will be the most ambitious project of his career, one that will take Laszlo and Erzsebet to both monumental heights and devastating lows. 

Others to round out the cast are Joe Alwyn as Harry Lee, Harrison's son, Raffey Cassidy as Zsofia, Stacy Martin as Maggie Lee, Harrison's daughter, Isaach De Bankole as Gordon, Alessandro Nivola as Attila, Michael Epp as Jim Simpson, Ariane Labed as older Zsofia, Emma Laird as Audrey and Jonathan Hyde as Leslie Woodrow. 

This was intensely directed by Brady Corbet ("The Childhood of a Leader" '15, "Vox Lux" '18, "30/30 Vision: 3 Decades of Strand Releasing" '19) plus TV, a short and a music video. I actually haven't heard of this filmmaker, and as I was watching this movie, I was amazed by the deep rooted pathos and how he was able to delineate these characters to represent the people these actors were playing. Certainly Brody, Jones and Pearce are all consummate actors and with this, made it easier for Corbet to guide these actors through this production. It was effectively well written by Brady Corbet ("Simon Killer" (story) '12, "The Sleepwalker" '14, "The Childhood of a Leader" '15, "Vox Lux" '18) plus TV and a short, and Mona Fastvold ("The Sleepwalker" '14, "The Childhood of a Leader" '15, "Vox Lux" '18, "The Mustang" '19) plus TV. These writers, by their very resumes, obviously comprise of them being a writing team, and although this aspect certainly can help a screenplay, two different issues of this movie come to mind. One, there were a few areas of disjointedness in this which made it a bit confusing in places, and two, there were a couple of places that were a bit slow and needed a pick-me-up. The first part of the film was intriguing and the last hour or so was captivating. but the middle either could've been cut about 15 minutes here and there, or it needed to be restructured. Mind you, the story was intriguing and certainly caught my attention considering the running time, but it needed a bit more polish. The acting and directing were amazing--Brody, Jones and Pearce are all up for Oscars as is Corbet for directing. Time will tell who wins. 

This was written as if it was based on a true story, however it was fiction. And this needs to be seen for the craft it is more than for the story necessarily. It's also well photographed, edited and with amazing production design--again all up for Oscars in their respective categories. The three and a half hour running time isn't too bad considering it does have an intermission, but it does move fairly quickly. Whew!

Out of 4 Stars: 3                                             Rated: R                                          224mins.

Flight Risk

Suspense thrillers have graced the movie screens for decades and some incredibly intense films have unfolded before our very eyes. "Fatal Attraction", "Jagged Edge", "Shutter Island", "Speed" and others have kept us on the edge of our seats. So now we have been offered "Flight Risk", as yet another nail-biter to sink our teeth into. 

In this high-stakes suspense thriller, Mark Wahlberg plays a pilot, Darryl Booth, transporting an Air Marshall Madolyn Harris (Michelle Dockery) accompanying a fugitive soon to be a witness, Winston (Topher Grace) to trial. As they cross the Alaskan wilderness, tensions soar and trust is tested, as not everyone on board is who they seem. As a routine flight, this turns into a nightmare as everyone on board has their reasons why Winston should not make it to trial. 

Others to round out the cast are Leah Remini as Carolyn Van Sant, Monib Abnat as Hasan, Paul Ben-Victor as Coleridge, Maaz Ali as Hasan (voice of), Eilise Guilfoyle as Janine and Senor Pablo as Bush Pilot. 

This was intensely directed with powerful grit by Mel Gibson ("Mel Gibson's Unauthorized Video Diary" (TV movie) '89, "The Man Without a Face" '93, "Braveheart" '95, "The Passion of the Christ" '04, "Apocalypto" '06, "Hacksaw Ridge" '16) plus TV and another TV movie. Gibson, as with other actors sliding into the directing realm, Clint Eastwood, Bradley Cooper, George Clooney, Ron Howard, is a consummate actor as well as a captivating director, and this film is no exception. The way it was shot with a very claustrophobic feel to it simply added to the frenetic, suspenseful feel this film carried. Three people virtually carried the brunt of this and these actors carried their respective role off with a plethora of believability. This isn't the first time Gibson's worked with Wahlberg, with "Daddy's Home 2" and "Father Stu". This is the first time they've worked together as director and actor. It was brutally and intensely written by Jared Rosenberg. The fact that this writer has no other writing experience i.e. films, TV, shorts or videos astounds me since the writing was presented as though a seasoned writer penned it, There were a couple of places where the continuity slipped a bit, but not even to any degree where it affected the premise and how it was handled. It was concise, cohesive and kept its audience on the edge of their respective seats. 

If you're a suspense thriller aficionado, you will love this--it has it all, drama, explosiveness, suspense, excitement and even humor. Like the other films, this is yet another great teaming of Mark Wahlberg and Mel Gibson that works in a truly compelling way. Enjoy this and grab the popcorn!!

Out of 4 Stars: 4                                           Rated: R                                              92mins.

Brave the Dark

There are biopics that chronicle a known singer, actor, politician, sports figure, and then there are those biopics that center around known events, natural disasters, unknown individuals, etc. Well, "Brave the Dark" falls into the latter category about an unknown individual enduring a tragic past where he needs healing emotionally, and this film addresses this with compassion and intensity. 

Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, 1986. Haunted by torturous childhood memories, Nate Williams (Nicholas Hamilton) finds himself in darkness, when his high school drama teacher, Stan Deen (Jared Harris) bails him out of jail and takes him in, Nate must confront his past before it leads to his own destruction. It becomes not enough to simply stop getting into negative confrontations as much as it is to come to realize and face his horrible past so as to begin to heal, and this comes from his teacher who is amazingly patient with him knowing that he is truly hurting. 

Others to round out the cast are Sasha Bhasin as Tina Baxter, Nate's girlfriend, Will Price as Johnny Alecco, Jamie Harris as Barney, Elise Hudson as Linda, Tobias Segal as Nate's father, Banks Quinney as young Nate and Johnath Davis as Officer Smits. 

This was passionately and compassionately directed with pathos by Damian Harris ("The Rachel Papers" '89, "Deceived" '91, "Bad Company" '95, "Mercy" 2000, "Gardens of the Night" '08, "The Wilde Wedding" '17) plus TV, shorts, music videos and a video. This director certainly has the ability to create his scenes, through his actors, as believable as was needed to convince the audience of how troubled this youth was. It was effectively written by Dale G. Bradley ("Lost Valley" '98, "Wild Blue" 2000, "Terror Peak" (TV movie) '03), Lynn Robertson Hay ("The Impact" '22) plus TV, and additional writing by Damian Harris ("The Rachel Papers" '89, "Mercy" 2000, "Gardens of the Night" '08, "The Wilde Wedding" '17) plus TV, based on the original screenplay by Nathaniel Deen and John P. Spencer. The way that these writers used Williams' nightmares of his troubled past to interject in the script allowed the story to be that much more real and intense. We've seen films about troubled teens being helped by teachers, coaches, neighbors and others, however, this was written with that element of compassion this teacher had in order to win this teen over and do it in a way that wasn't condescending or patronizing. This teacher was the real deal. I should've realized this film would have an impact considering it was made by Angel Studios, who gave us "Sound of Freedom", "Sight", Cabrini" and others. Their films typically center on message films--mostly inspirational. 

If you're into inspirational yet 'real' films usually based on something or one of meaning, you will revel with this movie. The writing, directing and especially the acting by both Jared Harris and Nicholas Hamilton was effective as it was compelling. It draws the audience in so as to convey how tragic and troubled this teen was, and to show us that this happens everyday to those that slip through the cracks due to a poor system and society. 

Out of 4 Stars: 4                                     Rated: PG-13                                           113mins.

Wolf Man

The 'Wolfman' franchise is almost as old as films themselves. With the likes of "Scream of the Wolf" 1922, "The Wolf Man" 1923, "The Wolf Man" 1941,"Frankenstein Meets the Wolf" 1943, "House of the Wolf Man" 2009, "The Wolfman" 2010,"Wolf/Man" 2015 and others, another film to follow in that franchise had to happen in the form of "Wolf Man". 

In 1995, in the mid section of Oregon, an animal borne virus was unleashed that was eventually tagged with the name of "Hill's Fever". Now we bring you up to the present where a family at a remote farmhouse in the same area is attacked by an unseen animal, but as the night stretches on, the father, Blake Lovell (Christopher Abbott) begins to transform into something unrecognizable which slowly becomes threatening toward his wife Charlotte (Julia Garner) and their daughter Ginger (Matilda Firth). What would happen if someone you know becomes life threatening where communicating with them becomes impossible?

Others to round out the cast are Sam Jaeger as Grady Lovell, Blake's father, Benedict Hardie as Derek, Zac Chandler as young Blake, Ben Predergast as Grady Wolf, Milo Cawthorne as Man and Leigh Whannell as Dan (voice of). 

This was incredibly well directed by Leigh Whannell ("Insidious: Chapter 3" '15, "Upgrade" '18, "The Invisible Man" '20) plus a short. Obviously this director knows his way around the horror genre--both directing and writing. His timing, staging and pacing, which are important ingredients, are second to none. He has more experience in the writing part of a production, as with this, but it doesn't negate from his ability to keep us on the edge of our seats. It was also written by Leigh Whannell ("Insidious" '10, "Insidious: Chapter 2" '13, "Cooties" '14, "The Mule" '14, "Insidious: Chapter 3" '15, "Insidious: The Last Key" '18, "Upgrade" '18, "The Invisible Man" '20, "Insidious: The Red Door" (story) '23) plus shorts, a video and a video game. And it was also co-written by Corbett Tuck (acting). This certainly had a chilling presentation of how this story unfolded. As with "World War Z" the premise of this was the injury by an individual occurred when an infected person would attack another and soon afterward, the transformation would begin, as opposed to it happening as a supernatural event. The one flaw I could see in this was that when the farmhouse was being attacked, the werewolf couldn't get through the wooden doors, but there were several windows that could've been smashed. But, then the film would've been rather short. And, there were a couple of places that were a bit disjointed, but one would have to look hard to see them. Definitely Whannell has the lion's share of the experience here, but obviously Tuck had pivotal input herself, even though she had no writing experience at all. The real stars here were the sound editors, Will Files and P. K. Hooker who have done fine work as was the special effects makeup by Arjen Tuiten of Arjen Productions. Kudos to them all. 

If you like this franchise which is an incredible 103 years old, this is probably one of the better efforts of the genre. The actors were believable and the writing and especially the directing was crafted deftly. If you want to feel like you're right there next to the werewolf, one can see this in an IMAX format as well. 

Out of 4 Stars: 3                                        Rated: R                                      103mins.

The Last Showgirl

As we have entered the dead zone for films as of Jan. 1st, once in a while during this time, we come across some gems that are written, directed and acted incredibly well. One such film is that of "The Last Showgirl". It being an independent film, there wasn't much press for it considering the cost of advertising is extremely expensive. Suffice it to say, this film has a lot to say about the changing of society whereas the change isn't complimentary for anyone striving to hold on. 

This story is a poignant film of resilience, rhinestones and feathers. It stars Pamela Anderson as Shelly, a glamorous showgirl who must plan for her future when her boss, Eddie (Dave Bautista) announces abruptly indicating a 2-week advance that the show will close after a long 30-year run. So, Shelly and her close friends, Annette (Jamie Lee Curtis), Jodie (Kiernan Shipka) and Mary-Ann (Brenda Song), who also work at the Casino, which is in Las Vegas, also have to scramble to find something all the while having to deal with their own issues in each of their lives. 

Others to round out the cast are Billie Lourd as Hannah, Jason Schwartzman as Director, Linda Montana as Geo and Giovani L. DiCandilo as Anthony. 

This was poignantly well directed by Gia Coppola ("Palo Alto" '18, "Mainstream" '20, "The Seven Faces of Jane" '22) plus TV, shorts and music videos. Like the rest of the Coppola family, i.e. Francis Ford and Sofia, Gia has a plethora of directing talent--it must be in the genes. She truly captures the vulnerability, determination and fear of Shelly, Anderson's character. You can feel her pain, rejoice if her milestones as she reminisces and this is amazing directing--of course, this was certainly a tour-de-force for Anderson playing this showgirl. It was written with deft ability by Kate Gersten (TV and a short). She was able to sequence and stage this incredibly well, and even though there were a couple of small places of disjointedness, it certainly wasn't enough to detract anything away from the story. She will undoubtedly receive more work. Definitely her TV experience has served her well considering this was her first feature film, and with that, she will do well. Everyone in the cast was believable and effective, but truly Anderson and Jamie Lee Curtis really shined in this. Anderson was nominated for a Golden Globe Award, and didn't win, but possibly her turn will be at the Oscars. 

If you like fine acting, directing and writing, this is a film you'll revel over. Its poignancy, resilience and hope that is experienced by these tragic characters is clear and concise, and the vulnerability of Pamela Anderson actually brought a tear to my eyes at times. It's not for everyone, but film aficionados will be studying this film for years to come. 

Out of 4 Stars: 4                                             Rated: R                                            89mins.

The Damned

It's the start of the film 'dead zone' this season and through my research, there's not a lot of great films coming. And, even though "The Damned" has an interesting premise, it does become mired down with some disjointedness as it unfolds in the script, It's a horror film, however there is a fair deal of suspense and keeps one on pins and needles. 

Eva (Odessa Young), a 19th century widow is tasked with making the impossible choice when, in the middle of an especially cruel winter, a ship sinks off the coast of her isolated Icelandic fishing post. Eva and her crew, including Daniel (Joe Cole), Jonas (Lewis Gribben), Helga (Siobhan Finneran), Skuli (Francis Magee) and others, must choose to either rescue the shipwrecked or survive the winter with their last remaining food. Facing the consequences of their choice and tormented by their guilt, the inhabitants wrestle with a mounting sense of dread and begin to believe they are all being punished for their choices. 

Others to round out the cast are Rory McCann as Ragnar, Tullough Convery as Hakon, Micheal Og Lane as Aron, Arnar Gray as Dead Boy and Guillermo Uria as Shipwreck Survivor. 

This was powerfully directed by virtual newcomer to feature films, Thordur Falsson ("TV/shorts). This filmmaker's ability to film in very close quarters to give that certain frenetic feel to the production was amazingly effective as was shooting a fair deal of the film in the dark. All of these actors were able to dig deep into themselves to convince us of their plight, and this is talented direction. It was effectively written by Jamie Hannigan ("Pilgrimage" '17) plus TV and shorts with not a whole lot of experience than that of Palsson, and we see that this film is extremely captivating and clearly tests the audience's ability to figure what is truly happening when it comes to questioning what's really happening to these people. Are these people truly being haunted by the shipwrecked because the others being left without enough food, or are these same people suffering due to their guilt of not rescuing the shipwrecked? Really, other than a couple of places of disjointedness in script, this was a puzzling yet captivating screenplay. Will they survive their fate and be able to figure out what is going on? There is a huge twist with this to watch out for that will leave you totally surprised. 

If you like horror, thrillers or suspense films, this is the film for you since it houses all three aspects. The cinematography by Eli Arenson and sound design by Quentin Collette is intense as it is effective to the story. Being basically 90 minutes in its running time allows it to cut to the chase so not a great deal of character develop here, but this doesn't need it. It's a gripper!

Out of 4 Stars: 3.5                                      Rated: R                                               89mins.