Back to the Future

Of late, the different film companies have been re-releasing some of their more popular and iconic films of the past so audiences can have fun with them all over again. Of course, the fact that they also have been making good profit certainly doesn't hurt. So I went to see the 40th anniversary of the film "Back to the Future", and it was a hoot all over again, especially on the large screen which it should be shone. 

Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox), a typical American teenager of the 80s, is accidentally sent back to 1955 in a plutonium-powered DeLorean "time machine" invented by a slightly mad scientist, Dr. Emmett "Doc" Brown (Christopher Lloyd. During his often hysterical, always amazing trip back in time, Marty must make sure his teenage parents-to-be, George (Crispin Glover) and Lorraine (Lea Thompson) meet and fall in love because of an incident that Marty erred, so this task will allow him to be able to get back to the future. 

Others to round out the cast are Thomas F. Wilson as Biff Tannen, Claudia Wells as Jennifer Parker, Marc McClure as Dave McFly, Marty's brother, Wendie Jo Sperber as Linda McFly, Marty's sister, George DiCenzo as Sam Baines, Frances Lee McCain as Stella Baines, James Tolkan as Mr. Strickland, Billy Zane as Match, Harry Waters Jr. as Marvin Berry and Donald Fullilove as Goldie Wilson. 

This was brilliantly and effortlessly directed by the consummate Robert Zemeckis (""I Wanna Hold Your Hand" '78, "Used Cars" '80, "Who Framed Roger Rabbit" '88, "Death Becomes Her" '92, "Forrest Gump" '94, "Contact" '97, "Cast Away" 2000, "The Polar Express" '04, "Flight" '12, "The Walk" '15, "Allied" '16, "Pinocchio" '22, "Here" '24) plus many other films, TV movies, TV, shorts, videos and a music video. The connection between these actors playing these characters were effortless in how they depended on each other to covey to their audience that these people have known each other forever, and this is talented direction, and Zemeckis' direction has only improved through the subsequent years. Any film with his name on it, I will make a point in seeing. It was also written amazingly well by Zemeckis ( "1941" '79, "Trespass" '92, "A Christmas Carol" '09, "The Walk" '15, "Welcome to Marwen" '18, "Pinocchio" '22, "Here" '24) plus other films, TV movies, TV, shorts, videos and video games, and also written by Bob Gale ("I Wanna Hold Your Hand" '78, "1941" '79, "Used Cars" '80, "Trespass" '92, "Interstate 60" '02) plus other films, TV movies, TV, shorts, video games and videos. By their very resumes, these two writers are basically a team and that is definitely a plus since the connection is already there which makes for a more cohesive, concise and tight script which this film certainly exemplified. The visual effects by ILM (Industrial, Light & Magic) were seamless and surely added to the story at hand. And the different angle shots by cinematographer Dean Cundey were amazing. 

If you've never seen this film on the big screen, you have to see this before it leaves the theater since seeing it on your TV wouldn't and doesn't do it justice at all. The iconic characters along with Huey Lewis' "The Power of Love" title song is a joy. I loved this film all over again! Grab the popcorn and enjoy this gem!

Out of 4 Stars: 4                                        Rated: PG                                             116mins.

Blue Moon

As films based on true stories become more popularized, the more Hollywood produces them, especially since it's all about profit. We've seen many--a list way too numerous to name, but suffice it to say, one could write a film book on just the movies that are based on true people or events. So, we have yet another film based on a particular time and person of notoriety which is called "Blue Moon". 

...You know how in marriage they say "for better or for worse"? I think in terms of my life, I have entered the "for worse" part, and it happened so quietly I didn't even recognize it. Richard Linklater's "Blue Moon" tells the story of legendary lyricist Lorenz Hart (Ethan Hawke) bravely facing the future as his professional and private life unravel at the opening night party for his former partner's, Richard Rodgers (Andrew Scott) hit show "Oklahoma!" By the time this night is over, Hart will have confronted both a world that no longer values his talent and the seemingly impossibility of love, all through his friends, his bartender Eddie (Bobby Cannavale), his protege, Elizabeth Weiland (Margaret Qualley) and E.B. White (Patrick Kennedy) who love him, but listen with a great deal of restraint. 

Others to round out the cast are Simon Delaney as Oscar Hammerstein II, David Rawle as George Roy Hill, Jonah Lees as Morty Rifkin, Giles Surridge as Sven, Cillian Sullivan as Stevie and Elaine O'Dwyer as Gladys.

It was brilliantly directed with such power and conviction by Richard Linklater ("It's Impossible to Plow by Reading Books" '88, "Slacker" '90, "Dazed and Confused" '93, "Before Sunrise" '95, "SubUrbia" '96, "The Newton Boys" '98, "Waking Life" '01, "Tape" '01, "School of Rock" '03, "Before Sunset" '04, "Bad News Bears" '05, "Fast Food Nation" '06, "A Scanner Darkly" '06, "Bernie" '11, "Boyhood" '14, "Last Flag Flying" '17, "Where'd You Go, Bernadette" '19, "Hit Man" 23) plus other films, TV movies, shorts and a video. This seasoned consummate director has helmed so many influential films to his credit for his creativity, his style and his willingness to go out on that proverbial limb to present to us his artistry is perfection. His ability to get his actors to dig deep in order to show the audience the essence of these different characters in incredible, this film being of no exception. Hawke's portrayal of Lorenz Hart's depressed and alcohol-infused personality was amazing. Hawke and Linklater should be nominated come Oscar time. It was penned incredibly well by writer Robert Kaplow (novel "Two in the City" '79, "Me and Orson Wells" (based on the novel) '08). Considering this writer has no sceenwriting experience, this was an amazing script. Usually scripts that are written by novelist writers typically can't pull off an effective screenplay, however with this, the opposite occurred. Other than a couple of small continuity issues, this script was spot on. He will undoubtedly receive more work. One aspect that is interesting to note ,is that this film was written in a play format since it was shot mostly is a bar--simply giving the appearance of a play at work.

Certainly if you're a Linklater fan, this should hit home. Also, if seeing what goes on behind the limelight of the entertainment arena thrills and intrigues you, this will also fit the bill. And if these people in the film offers us to see how they, on the most part, were troubled individuals, truly makes it tougher to watch. Who said money and fame can bring happiness? 

Out of 4 Stars: 3.5                                           Rated: R                                          100mins.

Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere

Through the years as biopics have only gotten more popular, we've seen a plethora of them, i.e. "Ray", "A Complete Unknown", "Get on Up", "Respect"--and these are just singers, not to mention the other biopics of famous people of all walks of life. But to add to that ever growing list, we are offered "Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere".

This film chronicles the making of Bruce Springsteen's 1982 "Nebraska" album. Recorded on a 4-track recorder in Springsteen's New Jersey bedroom, the album marked a pivotal time in his life and is considered one of his most enduring works--a raw, haunted acoustic record populated by lost souls searching for a reason to believe. This follows Bruce Springsteen (Jeremy Allen White) as he traverses some pitfalls in his life with his manager, Jon Landau (Jeremy Strong) and his producer Chuck Plotkin (Marc Maron) behind him as he goes through a difficult time with creativity and along with that, depression. With his work buddy, Mike Batlan (Paul Walter Hauser) and his semi girlfriend, Faye Romano (Odessa Young), his buddy Matt Delia (Harrison Sloan Gilbertson) and the persistent manager, Bruce seems to be holding fast until the floor bottoms out. 

Others to round out the cast are Stephen Graham as Douglas Springsteen, Bruce's father, Gaby Hoffman as Adele Springsteen, Bruce's mother, David Krumholtz as Al Teller, Matthew Anthony Pellicano Jr, as young Bruce Springsteen and Jayne Houdyshell as Viv. 

This was directed with pathos along with an abundance of reality by Scott Cooper ("Crazy Heart" '09, "Out of the Furnace" '13, "Black Mass" '15, "Hostiles" '17, "Antlers" '21"The Pale Blue Eye" '22) plus TV. Certainly, by this filmmaker's resume, he stays to what he does best, and that's drama, and more to the point, fairly intense dramas. He doesn't branch out, but considering his expertise in the film work he has and is doing, I can definitely understand. His characters simply jump off the screen with his incredible staging and pacing. It was also penned well by Scott Cooper ("For Sale by Owner" '09, "Crazy Heart" '09, "Out of the Furnace" '13, "Hostiles" '17, "Antlers" '21, "The Pale Blue Eye" '22), based on the book by Warren Zanes. As with many other directors where they have a tendency to write and direct their films, this is definitely a film that Cooper has by the reins in that he can choose how this story is to be aligned. His work is traditionally written with a tight, well sequenced format, however, this seemingly had a difficult time 'finding' the film, but once it unfolded further into the film, the story became clearer and more defining. And for this reason, it seemed a little long, but only because of a difficult beginning. As aforementioned, once this story continued, it became more interesting and intriguing whereas the cohesiveness and conciseness improved dramatically. 

Certainly if you like biopics, you'll love this. The format is something you've certainly seen before, but it's direction and acting, especially by Jeremy Allen White and Jeremy Strong is amazing. Both could be up for potential Oscar nods come that time. 

Out of 4 Stars: 3.5                                     Rated: PG-13                                 120mins.

After the Hunt

The genre of thrillers has always been a favorite of mine, and more to the point, psychological thrillers have a tendency to be more intriguing. Quite often they can have an interesting twist in plot along the way or and the end, and when I saw my first trailer of "After the Hunt", I thought it would be a very gripping and well thought out story...but the execution of it lacked.

A gripping psychological drama about a college professor at Yale University, Alma Imhoff (Julia Roberts) who finds herself at a personal and professional crossroads when a star student, Maggie Resnick (Ayo Edebiri) levels an accusation against one of Alma's colleagues, Hank Gibson (Andrew Garfield), and a dark secret from her own past threatens to come to light. Because of personalities and politics, the sexual assault accusation balloons into something as a threat from Maggie...or is it. The more Maggie confides to Alma, the more confused Alma becomes since Hank is a colleague and very good friend.

Others to round out the cast are Michael Stuhlbarg as Frederik Mendelssohn, Alma's husband, Chloe Sevigny as Dr. Kim Sayers, Lio Mehiel as Alex, David Leiber as Dean RJ Thomas, Thaddea Graham as Katie, Will Price as Arthur and Christine Dye as Patricia.

This was effectively directed with intensity and grit by Luca Guadagnino ("The Protagonists"'99, "Melissa P." '05, "I Am Love" '09, "A Bigger Splash" '15, Call Me by Your Name" '17, "Suspiria" '18, "Bones and All" '22, "Challengers" '24, "Queer" '24) plus other films, TV, shorts, music videos and videos. The slow build up with this story was gripping and definitely kept one on the edge of their seat. It was shot in a way where the characters were beginning to spiral as the story continued to unfold which is talented directing. It was written by Nora Garrett (Acting). Where the acting and directing was pivotal in this film, its downfall was within the writing. Certainly considering Garrett has no other writing experience under her belt, this was an amazing attempt at script writing. She's come from an acting world, which can be a help or a hindrance, however with this movie it was possibly the latter. The story's premise was intriguing, hence watching the trailer, but the inconsistencies were too numerous and it had a tendency to meander--possibly because it was a bit long-in-the-tooth. There were several subplots that were to be connected hopefully by films end. And there was a clock ticking sound at the beginning and another couple of times that were never explained--maybe they were self explanatory, not sure. Was this a total wash? No, of course not. The acting, especially by Julia Roberts and even Andrew Garfield were riveting, but not quite enough to save the writing. I believe this writer has promise--maybe she can start writing TV or shorts to hone her talent.

Certainly if you like thrillers and fine acting, you will probably enjoy this, but if tight screenwriting intrigues you more, this might miss. It was a bit disappointing considering how promising the trailer appeared, but with more work, the writer will surely improve.

Out of 4 Stars: 2.5                                      Rated: R                                      139mins.

Truth & Treason

Wars have provided many stories that Hollywood has tapped into, such as "Schindler's List", "Sophie's Choice", "The Pianist", "Fury", "Inglorious Basterds", "1917", "All Quiet on the Western Front", and the like. Because there have been so many films of this subject matter, it's amazing that "Truth & Treason" is an film based on an incredible true story, and is a gripping story.

1941. As World War II rages, a teenage boy, Helmuth Hunener (Ewan Horrocks) in Germany is forced to confront a terrible truth--loyalty to his country now means loyalty to a lie. When his trusted bishop, Arthur Zander (Daniel Betts) urges obedience to the Nazi regime, he begins to question everything. And after his Jewish friend, Solomon Schwarz (Nye Occomore) is taken away, he secretly listens to banned radio broadcasts and launches a resistance including his friends, Karl-Heinz Schnibbe (Ferdinand McKay) and Rudi Wobbe (Daf Thomas), exposing the truth. But a nation ruled by fear, defiance comes at a cost--and as the regime closes in, headed up by Erwin Mussener (Rupert Evans), he must decide what it truly means to be a good German.

This is directed with intensity and soberness by Matt Whitaker ("Truth & Conviction" '02, "Small Fortunes: Microcredit and the Future of Poverty" (TV movie, documentary) '05) plus TV and a short. Even though this filmmaker doesn't have an abundant of experience behind the camera, what he has certainly has served him, The element of fear he was able to surface from his actors was realistic and haunting. He has written more work, however is he a natural? Maybe, but regardless he knows his craft. It was brilliantly written by Matt Whitaker ("Truth & Conviction" '02, "Saints and Soldiers" '03, "The Work and the Glory II: American Zion" '05, "Small Fortunes: Microcredit and the Future of Poverty" (TV movie, documentary) '05, "Stalking Santa" (additional writing) '06, "The Work and the Glory III: A House Divided" '06 , "Instrument of War" '17) plus TV, a short and a video, and Ethan Vincent ("The Romney Code: The Life and Ethics of George W. Romney" (TV movie) '08, "The Soul of Kalaupapa: Voices of Exile" '11) plus shorts. The sequencing, staging, pacing and continuity was truly spot on with the making of this film. Whitaker, the director had a passion about the premise of the film which helped him direct with more confidence and made ir easy to write, which made for an effective and sobering film. 

Certainly if you like war films, you'll revel with this. When seeing this film, I can't help but compare the incredible antisemitism back in the early 40s as compared to now. Antisemitism is on the rise and increasingly more rampant, and this is how this issue started back in the 40s. So, unless we want to have history repeat itself, we could see the 40s happen in this country in the near future. All must see this film lest this does end up happening.

Out of 4 Stars: 4                                         Rated: PG-13                                            121mins.

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Soul on Fire

Ever so often, we are offered an inspirational or religious film to cause us to think and reflect on our lives and those around us. Films such as "Ordinary Angels", "Angels in the Outfield","Soul Surfer", "Miracles from Heaven", "The Unbreakable Boy", "American Underdog", "Invincible", and the like are films to tug on the heart while allowing us to witness a sobering situation. Now, to add to that list, we have "Soul on Fire".

"Soul on Fire" is an emotional and faith-filled portrait of resilience as John O'Leary (Joel Courtney) not only battles to survive an awful fire at the age of nine with years of surgeries and rehab, but ultimately discovers what it means to truly live. From frontline workers including Nurse Roy (DeVon Franklin) and Dr. Ayvazian (Iyad Hajjaj) to family members including his father, Denny O'Leary (John Corbett), his mother, Susan (Stephanie Szostak), his then girlfriend, Beth (Masey McLain) and the support of the wider community including the owner of the St. Louis Cardinals, Jack Buck (William H. Macy), this film is a celebration of heroes. 

Others to round out the cast are James McCracken as Young John, Natalie Buck as Nurse Colleen, Stella Bratcher as Amy O'Leary, Mikey Cestone as Jim O'Leary, Lucy Panozzo as Susie O'Leary, Enya Flack as Mrs. Whittacher and Brandon Davis as Self. 

This was directed with heart and inspiration by Sean McNamara ("Hollywood Chaos" '89, "The Legend of Galgameth" '96. "P.U.N.K.S." '98, "Race to Space" '01, "Bratz" '07, "Soul Surfer" '11, "Space Warriors" '13, "Spare Parts" '15, "Hoovey" '15, "The Miracle Season"'18, "Orphan Horse" '18, "Mighty Oak" '20, "The King's Daughter" '22, "On a Wing and a Prayer" '23, "Vindicta" '23, "Reagan" '24) plus other films, TV movies, Shorts, TV and videos. This seasoned director obviously knows his way around a film set and like with other movies, his staging and pacing seems effortless. The emotions these actors exuded wasn't fraught with sentimentality while still tugging at your heartstrings and this is well delineated and structured direction. He has many films and TV shows in the workings whether they be in development or pre-production. It was penned well by Gregory Poirier (" Danger Zone III: Steel Horse War" '90,  "Death Riders" '94, "Wild Malibu Weekend!" '95, "Rosewood" '97, "Gossip" 2000, "See Spot Run" '01, "Tomcats" '01, "A Sound of Thunder" '05, "The Spy Next Door"'10, "A Warrior's Tail" '15, "Yaga i kniga zaklinaniy" '23, "Knox Goes Away" '23) plus TV and videos, based on the book, "On Fire" by John O'Leary. There were a couple of small areas of continuity issues where the film was formatted in a quasi flashback way, and with that it became a bit confusing as the script was traversing from one scene to another, but certainly not enough to detract from this incredible story of the resiliency of this young man. 

If films based on true stories, or more to the point, inspirational films also are your liking, this film will fit the bill in spades. The cast was very effective where they hinged on one another's characters, and in this type of film, that is crucial. It's a sobering, heartfelt yet entertaining movie that teaches us all what strength in God is about and how grateful we all are and should be. 

Out of 4 Stars: 3.5                                        Rated: PG                                        112mins.

Roofman

There are films based on true stories, then there are films based on unbelievable stories such as "Pain and Gain" with Mark Wahlberg and Dwayne Johnson--an outrageous story, and "Dog Day Afternoon" with Al Pacino. Now we have "Roofman" about a man who robbed fast food places entering through the roof--hence the name which remarkably was based on a true story.

Based on an unbelievable true story, "Roofman" follows Jeffrey Manchester (Channing Tatum), an Army veteran and struggling father who turns to robbing McDonald's restaurants by cutting holes in the roof, earning him the nickname: Roofman. After escaping prison, he secretly lives inside a Toys "R" Us, which was managed by Mitch (Peter Dinklage), for six months in their hidden storage area, surviving undetected while planning his next move. But when he falls for Leigh Wainscott (Kirsten Dunst), a divorced mom drawn to his undeniable charm, his double life begins to unravel, setting off a compelling and suspenseful game of cat-and-mouse as his past closes in. 

Others to round out the cast are LaKeith Stanfied as Steve, Ben Mendelsohn as Pastor Ron, Uzo Aduba as Eileen, Ron's wife, Emory Cohen as Otis, Juno Temple as Michelle, Tony Revolori as Duane, Alissa Marie Pearson as Becky, Jeff's daughter and Charles Cummings as Truck Driver. 

This was humorously yet interestingly directed by Derek Cianfrance ("Brother Tied" '98, "Blue Valentine" '10, "The Place Beyond the Pines" '10, "The Light Between Oceans" '16) plus TV and shorts. This director was absolutely able to get Tatum in that place where he could dig deep to strive to find the persona and character makeup of Manchester, His staging and pacing were also well structured. It was well written by Derek Cianfrance ("Brother Tied" '98, "Blue Valentine" '10, "The Place Beyond the Pines" '12, "The Light Between Oceans" '16, "Sound of Metal" (story) '19) plus TV and Kirt Gunn ("Lovely by Surprise" '07) plus a short. What makes this story so compelling is that, except for a neighboring Circuit City that Manchester also used that wasn't mentioned in the film, the rest of it was actually fact. I do remember hearing about this on the news back in the late 90s and found it unbelievable to think that anyone would rob a business from the roof--quite bizarre!. But he did get away with it for months simply by "hiding in plain sight" where no one looks. He was smart; calculating, but his dpwnfall was that he was so nice to everyone he came into contact with. The script was created in a way that one almost felt sorry for him since he wasn't the regular hardened criminal. He was just desperate. It was cohesive and concise and the casting of Tatum was spot on. 

This is definitely one film that is worthy of the price of admission. It was dramatic, funny an adventurous all rolled into the same movie. The supporting cast, especially that of Kirsten Dunst was equally effective and the roll of Mitch as the Toys "R" Us manager was uproarious. 

Out of 4 Stars: 4                                     Rated: R                                          126mins.

TRON: Ares

When "Tron" was released back in 1982, it was considered a film with amazing cutting edge technology. So with a huge box office draw, Disney, of course, took advantage of those profits, and then produced "Tron: Legacy" in 2010. It obviously wasn't as strong as its predecessor, so another sequel was quelled. But because of public input, Disney finally decided to release "Tron: Ares", and although this installment isn't as well thought as its original, itr was better than 'Legacy'. 

"TRON: Ares" follows a highly sophisticated Program, Ares (Jared Leto), who is sent by his creator, Julian Dillinger (Evan Peters) from the digital world into the real world on a dangerous mission, marking humankind's first encounter with A.I. beings. Encom, Dillinger's rival company has found a way to make the A.I. beings last longer than 90 minutes, Eve Kim (Greta Lee) being the creator of this amazing program. So, her having this information, Dillinger wants it tremendously so he can make an incredible profit. 

Others to round out the cast are Arturo Castro as Seth Flores, Gillian Anderson as Elizabeth Dillinger, Julian's mother, Jeff Bridges as Kevin Flynn, Jodie Turner-Smith as Athena, Hasan Minhaj as Ajay Singh, Cameron Monaghan as Caius and Sarah Desjardins as Erin. 

This was intensely directed with grit by Joachim Ronning ("Bandidas" '06, "Max Manus: Man of War" '08, "Kon-Tiki" '12, "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales" '17, "Doomsday" (TV movie) '17, "Maleficent: Mistress of Evil" '19, "Young Woman and the Sea" '24) plus TV and shorts. What's extremely refreshing about this filmmaker is that he can handle the much size and complexity of a large big-budget film, as with this film, but also he can easily be as comfortable in manning the direction of a smaller production such as "Young Woman and the Sea", which was a very well executed film. It was written with the similarity of its predecessors by Jesse Wigutow ("It Runs in the Family" '03, "The Prince" (TV movie) '15) plus TV and shorts, based on a story by David DiGilio ans Jesse Wigutow, which is based on characters created by Steven Lisberger and Bonnie MacBird. "Tron: Legacy" incorporated two screenwriters for the script, which typically can be effective. However, this installment involved only one screenwriter which can make the story more adhesive and tighter, which made this a better script than that of 'Legacy". It was interesting how this writer was able to incorporate Kevin Flynn (Bridges) into this installment as well as 'Legacy', since the original chronicled Flynn and his issues with the grid. Other than a couple of small inconsistencies in script, this story soared. It did take a little time to get the story going, but once it did, it was much more entertaining. The visual effects, predominantly designed by ILM (Industrial, Light & Magic) were stunning, as was the cinematography by Jeff Cronenweth asc!

If you are an ardent fan of this franchise, you'll revel with this. It definitely does leave the door open for yet another sequel--assuming it makes a truck load of money. If you like the up, close and personal feel, it is presented in an IMAX and a 3D format as well. Assuming you want to see this, you must see it on the big screen to get the full grandiose feeling of it. 

Out of 4 Stars: 3.5                                     Rated: PG-13                             119mins.

The Smashing Machine

Films based on true stories have been a common staple in Hollywood for decades. And with this, sports films based on true stories have grown. And even more to the point, boxing/wrestling films have become more popularized. Films like "Rocky", "Creed", "The Fighter", "Southpaw", "Raging Bull" have captured audiences. So to keep that list growing list,  we have "The Smashing Machine" in the offing. 

This film is based on the unforgettable true story of Dwayne Johnson portraying the former MMA/UFC champion Mark Kerr. This surrounds Kerr's life with his girlfriend, Dawn Staples (Emily Blunt), his coach and friend, Mark Coleman (Ryan Bader) and others, and his rise through the MMA world which unfortunately ended up being derailed by his opioid addiction. This part of his life was set between the years of 1997-2000 where he was to ultimately vie for the coveted top wrestler of the world being telecast in Japan. 

Others to round out the cast are Bas Rutten as himself, Oleksandr Usyk as Igor Vovchanchyn, Andre Tricoteux as Paul Varelans, James McSweeney as Varelans' cornerman, Jerin Valel as Sergio Batarelli. Jill Basey as Peggy, Ilan Rosenberg as Colema's cornerman and Yasuko Mitsuura as Pride Director. 

This was creatively directed by Benny Safdie ("Daddy Longlegs" '09, "Buttons" '11, "Lenny Cooke" '13, "Heaven Knows What" '14, "Good Time" '17, "Uncut Gems" '19) plus shorts and music videos. The amazing quality that this filmmaker has is his innate ability to give a stark and painstakingly vivid approach to his projects. This film was almost approached as though it was a documentary even though it obviously was not--via the photography, editing (which he also edited) and the staging. It definitely made the production much more real than it would've been otherwise. If you like his directing style, his "Lizard Music" is in pre-production. The film was also written with grit and intensity by Benny Safdie ("Daddy Lonhlegs" '09, "Uncut Gems" '19) plus shorts and a music video. Even though he has only two other feature films to his credit, his shorts has certainly served him well. His "Uncut Gems" was remarkable; not only for Safdie, but Adam Sandler as well, who should perform in more dramas. This. like the direction was formatted in a way that the audience was watching the layout of a documentary, or at least a reality show. It was like peering into the lives of Kerr and all he knows. It will be interesting to see how he handles his "Lizard Music" which, as aforementioned, is in pre-production. And being the editor of this film only helped him to convey the feel of the film in order to convince the audience of who this man truly is. It was shot well by Maceo Bishop and the acting by Johnson could possibly garner a nomination for him come Oscar time--it was stunning!

If you like biopics or sports films, or more to the point, boxing/wrestling films, this is one film you must see. The acting, directing and photography are all first rate. Other that a couple of very small areas of inconsistencies in script, this screenplay soared. 

Out of 4 Stars: 3.5                                      Rated: R                                          123mins.

 

Dead of Winter

Hollywood has produced many genres, but the genre of the thriller can be quite exciting yet entertaining depending on how it's crafted. We've seen many: "Pacific Heights", "Shutter Island", "Psycho", "Drop", "Locked", "Prisoners", "Seven""Gone Girl", "Panic Room" "Life"to mention a handful. So, when I saw the first trailer of "Dead of Winter", I felt it would keep me on the edge of my seat, and it did. 

Hit by a blizzard, a grief-stricken loner, Barb (Emma Thompson) gets lost among the backroads near a Minnesotan lake and stops for help at a remote cabin in the woods so she can do some ice fishing. While at the cabin, she discovers a young woman, Leah (Laurel Marsden) kidnapped by a desperate couple, (Judy Greer and Marc Menchaca) who are armed and intent on murder. Isolated and without cell phone service, this unlikely hero realizes she is the woman's only hope of survival. Can she save her?

Others to round out the cast are Gaia Wise as young Barb, Cuan Hosty-Blaney as young Karl, Barb's husband in earlier years, Brian F. O'Byrne as tall hunter, Dalton Leeb as younger hunter, Lloyd Hutchinson as a lawyer and Paul Hamilton as old Karl. 

This was directed with sheer grit and intensity by Brian Kirk ("Middletown" '06, "My Boy Jack" (TV movie) '07, "Gilded Lilys" (TV movie) '13, "21 Bridges" '19) plus TV and shorts. This filmmaker certainly knows how to put his actors in that intense, volatile situation that exudes a frightful and thrilling format. His "21 Bridges" was also truly intense in almost every scene whereas the star, Chadwick Boseman's character  was consistently perplexed in so many scenes. It was interestingly written by Nicholas Jacobson-Larson (Composing) and Dalton Leeb (Acting). This film, considering these writers have no other writing experience (whether feature films or TV), this was executed decently all the while keeping the audience on the edge on their proverbial seats. Where the issues ensued was that there were places where situations either weren't explained in detail enough or not at all. And there were places that physically couldn't be done. I would list the situations, but they would cause spoiler alerts. Suffice it to say that the script needed polish. Was it a wash? No, not at all. The acting by Thompson and Greer were consummate, and, as aforementioned, this yarn definitely kept the audience on the edge of their seats. These writers certainly have potential--they just need more work. The cinematography by Christopher Ross bsc was truly shot with a great deal of cool tones which added that cold temperature feeling which was prevalent throughout the film. 

If you're into thrillers with an underlying mystery feel to it, you'll like this film. It was well acted, directed and shot, but the writers do have promise. They, like I said, simply need more work, and with that, they will be able to hone their talent that much more. It's bone-chilling, so worthy of the price of admission. 

Out of 4 Stars: 2.5                                   Rated: R                                         98mins.

Downtown Abbey: The Grand Finale

As the title of this film indicates, "Downtown Abbey: The Grand Finale" is the third and final installment of this franchise. Of course, if it makes a hefty profit, I'm sure yet another will be in the works. This is based on characters created by Julian Fellows and decided to put the TV series in the format of films starting back in 2019. Six years later, this is a neatly produced ending.

This film is the cinematic return of the global franchise, follows the Crawley family, including Robert Grantham (Hugh Bonneville), Cora Grantham (Elizabeth McGovern), Lady Mary Talbot (Michelle Dockery), Lady Edith Hexham (Laura Carmichael), Lady Petersfield (Joely Richardson), etc,  and their staff including Mr. Carson (Jim Carter), Daisy Parker (Sophie McShera), Andy Parker (Michael Fox), etc, as they enter the 1930s. When Mary finds herself at the center of a public scandal and the family faces financial trouble, the entire household grapples with the threat of social disgrace. The Crawleys must embrace change as the staff prepares for a new chapter with the next generation leading Downtown Abbey into the future.

Others to round out the cast are Joanne Froggatt as Anna Bates, Alessandro Nivola as Gus Sambrook, Dominic West as Guy Dexter, Paul Giamatti as Harold Levinson, Arty Froushan as Noel Coward, Allen Leech as Tom Branson, Robert James-Collier as Thomas Barrow and Phyllis Logan as Mrs. Hughes. 

This was crisply and staged and paced well by Simon Curtis ("My Week with Marilyn" '11, "Woman in Gold" '15, "Goodbye Christopher Robin" '17, "The Art of Racing in the Rain" '19, "Downtown Abbey: A New Era" '22) plus TV movies, TV and a video. Even though this filmmaker has been directing feature films since 2011, his resume is quite impressive to say the least. His ability to allow these actors to dig deep in order to make these characters come alive is consummate and this is the true mark of fine directing. It was solidly written by Julian Fellowes ("Gosford Park" '01, "Vanity Fair" '04, "Piccadilly Jim"'04, "Separate Lies" '05, "The Young Victoria" '09, "The Tourist" '10, "Romeo & Juliet" '13, "Crooked House" '17, "The Chaperone" '18, "School of Rock" '18, "Downtown Abbey" '19, "Downtown Abbey: A new Era"'22) plus TV, TV movies and a book, based on the TV series "Downtown Abbey" created by Julian Fellowes. This script was structured very similarly as the previous films of the same name, but because they were also penned by Fellowes, it would make sense. Other than a couple of areas that had continuity issues, this was what any fan of this series would expect. It, like its predecessors, are written in a sophisticated 'soap opera' approach, , but I feel that is purposed to give it that entertaining feel. 

This is supposed to be the third and last of the franchise, but will it be, especially if it makes a ton of money for Focus Features? Not sure, but there have been other franchises that, after they ended the franchise, still made more films because of the profit factor--'Jurassic World' comes to mind. We'll see, but this ended well with a nicely tied up closing. Why spoil it? Of course, this film didn't include Maggie Smith since she unfortunately passed away. But this was still strong considering her absence. 

Out of 4 Stars: 3                                     Rated: PG                                      124mins.

 

A Big Bold Beautiful Journey

When it comes to the genre of fantasy, they are typically original in their premise which makes them a refreshing change from the typical sequel, franchise, remake, reboot and the like. The originality of them attracts me, and so when I saw my first trailer of "A Big Bold Beautiful Journey", my first thought was that this film was definitely possible, and I was right. 

Some doors bring you to your past. Some doors lead you to your future. And some doors change everything. Sarah (Margot Robbie) and David (Colin Farrell) are single strangers who meet at a mutual friend's wedding and soon, through the guidance of a GPS (Jodie Turner-Smith) and a surprising twist of fate find themselves on A Big Bold Beautiful Journey--a funny, fantastical, sweeping adventure together where they get to re-live important moments from their respective pasts, illuminating how they got to where they are in the present...and possibly getting a chance to alter their futures.

Others to round out the cast are Phoebe Waller-Bridge as Female Cashier, Kevin Kline as The Mechanic, Lily Rabe as Sarah's mother, Jennifer Grant as David's mother, Hamish Linklater as David's father, Lucy Thomas as Amanda, Brandon Perea as Mike, Julian Zane as Eddie Bora and Joyce Guy as Doctor Vernon. 

This was directed with pathos and compassion by Kogonada ("Lunch Line" (co-director) '10, "Late Summer" '12, "Columbus" '17, "After Yang" '21) plus TV, shorts and videos. The way this filmmaker was able to encourage his actors, specifically Farrell and Robbie, to show how they just happen to meet where this was purely a setup was genius. The chemistry between these two actors was amazing and this is talented directing. This was whimsically written by Seth Reiss ("The Menu" '22) plus a plethora of TV and shorts. Even though this writer has only one feature film to his credit, he has a ton of TV and shorts which have served him well. His feature film, "The Menu" was a film that was obscure and quirky which, like this film, was an original piece of work. This film was fresh, concise, cohesive and tight all rolled into a completely entertaining way. As aforementioned, the chemistry was truly effective between Farrell and Robbie which is the mark of creative, effective writing. Being a fantasy, one must put aside a good amount of reality in order to enjoy this story, because it simply doesn't go by the usual norm. The story becomes poignant at different aspects of the film whereas both David and Sarah are pushed to confront their issues and therefore slowly become intertwined with each other. This script is complex in some ways, however definitely simple in others, and this is another compelling intriguing feature of the film. 

If you like fantasies, this is one you will truly love. It's got reality that becomes intertwined with fantasy which, in my book, makes this more captivating and enticing. And with all the films out there that are ripoffs of one another, it is incredibly refreshing to see a film that is original yet entertaining all in the same film.

Out of 4 Stars: 4                                 Rated: R                                      109mins.

The Senior

Hollywood has been producing sports films for decades, and more to the point, football films have been a common staple for filmmaking. Films like "Any Given Sunday", "The Longest Yard", "North Dallas Forty", "Leatherheads", "American Underdog", "Invincible" and others are movies an audience can revel with. And now we have "The Senior" in the offing to revel once again.

2007. At 59 years old, Mike Flynt (Michael Chiklis) may be too old to be on a college football field, but not too old to feel the weight of unfinished business. After nearly four decades, in this film based on a true story, he returns to his alma mater to take the hit that changed everything. Bruised, doubted, and nearly broken, he pushes for one more game, not for glory, but for the teammates he lost, the family he fractured, and the ending he still believes is possible. Through the support of his wife, Eileen (Mary Stuart Masterson), his coach, Sam Weston (Rob Corddry), his teammates, Jeremy Cartwright (Corey Knight), Jamal Johnson (Terayle Hill), Fernie Acosta (Chris Setticase), and even his son, Micah (Brandon Flynn), and others, Mike was able to get to that place of realizing who he was and who was truly on his side. 

Others to round out the cast are James Badge Dale as J.V. Flynt, Mike's father, Shawn Patrick Clifford as 22-year-old Mike, Taylor Fono as 18-year-old Eileen, Gail Cronauer as Pat Flynt, Mike's mother, Steven Van Tiflin as Kyle and Lance Allen Kramer as Randy.

This was directed with pathos and grit by Rod Lurie ("Deterrence" '99, "The Contender" 2000, "The Last Castle" '01, Resurrecting the Champ" '07, "I'm Paige Wilson" (TV movie) '07, "Speechless" (TV movie) '08, "Nothing But the Truth" '08, "Straw Dogs" '11, "The Surgeon General" (TV movie) '13, "Killing Reagan" (TV movie) '16, "Monsters of God" (TV movie) '17, "The Outpost" '19) plus TV and shorts. Certainly a fair amount of the films this director has helmed have had a similar feel to them, but he knows what genre and subject matter works for him and can't be blamed for that. His ability to encourage his actors to dig deep to find those characteristics for their roles is amazing, and this film is no exception. Chiklis gave a riveting performance as this ex-football player wanting and needing to redeem himself by, after all these years, to re-invest himself back on the gridiron. It was equally well penned by writer Robert Eisele ("Breach of Contract" '82, "Last Night" (TV movie) '93, "Vanishing Son" (TV movie) '95, "The Great Debaters" '07, "Hurricane Season" '09) plus other TV movies, TV and a video. By the sheer amount of films this writer has been involved with, he is certainly a seasoned writer and has proven himself with a tight, cohesive script which this film has. It was sequenced well and was able to bring his audience the knowledge of this real person and what he had to endure in his life. 

If you like football and/or films based on true stories, this is the film for you. It has it all: drama, fear, humor, pathos, and redemption all rolled up in an amazing story about this aged athlete ready to make a comback--this is the quintessential underdog film where it creates a want from the audience to stand up and cheer, and isn't this a film we all could use right now?

Out of 4 Stars: 4                                       Rated: PG                                            100mins.

The Long Walk

Usually when a film is based on any work of Stephen King, I have a tendency to skip it, predominantly because his work is typically too gratuitously violent. However his "Misery" and "1408" were the exceptions. They were very suspenseful--kept one on the edge of their seat, but not really violent. Well, "The Long Walk" is basically the same in that, yes there was blood, but not gratuitously so, and that speaks volumes for King. 

In the near future, where America has become a police state, one hundred young men including Raymond Garraty (Cooper Hoffman), Pete McVries (David Jonsson), Stebbins (Garrett Wareing), Art Baker (Tut Nyuot), Gary Barkovitch (Charlie Plummer), Hank Olson (Ben Wang) and others are selected to enter an annual contest where the winner will be awarded whatever he wants for the rest of his life. The game is simple--maintain a steady walking pace of at least three miles per hour without stopping. Three warnings of slowing down or stopping, and you're out--permanently! Many of them struggle--anywhere from a rock in their shoe to having to defecate which became problems since they are warned and if they aren't walking by the third warning, they're done, so consistent movement is vital. This contest is headed up annually by the tyrannical 'The Major' (Mark Hamill) who puts a whole new definition of the term ruthless. 

Others to round out the cast are Jordan Gonzalez as Richard Harkness, Joshua Odjick as Collie Parker, Roman Griffin Davis as Curley, Judy Greer as Ginnie Garraty and Josh Hamilton as William Garraty. 

This was brutally directed with intensity and grit by Francis Lawrence ("Constantine" '05, "I Am Legend" '07, "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire" '13, "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay-Part 2" '15, "Red Sparrow" '18, "Slumberland" '22, "The Hunger Games: The Ballard of Songbirds & Snakes" '23) plus TV, music videos and videos. Obviously this filmmaker could handle this type of production since he was involved with the 'Hunger Games' franchise which, in some ways is a bit similar to "The Long Walk". His ability to involve each of his actors as far as they interacted was consummate. It was interestingly written by JT Mollner ("Outlaws and Angels" '16, "Strange Darling" '23) plus shorts, based on the novel by Stephen King. Even though this writer has limited feature film experience, his experience in producing shorts has served him well where he has had the ability to hone his craft that much more. The writing was sequenced, paced and staged well, and other than a couple of very small places of continuity issues, this script soared. They way this writer showcased these characters different and distinct personalities was amazing. If this writer suits your interest, his "18 Wheels and a Dozen Roses" is in production at this time. It was interesting that even though the premise is held in the near future, the vintage vehicles in this were all circa 60s and 70s, where as certain watches were digitally displayed, and the clothing seemed aged as well. This had to be purposed whereas to allow us to pay attention to the story and not so much the surroundings. 

If you are a King aficionado, you will like this even though it's not his typical fare--this is a plus in my book. This film is similar in what we, as a country, are experiencing today. This film involved a divided nation ending up with a tyrannical government, which is where we are begging to allow to happen here. So, it is high time that we, as a nation, get off our high horse and start listening to one another lest we become this way. Humble ourselves now and allow ourselves to let this film have a sobering effect on us. Nuf said. 

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

Caught Stealing

There are your typical opposing sides of the law who are only after what they want--no more and no less and will do anything to get what they want--even kill without batting an eyelash. Then there's the two opposing sides who think that this one individual is playing them, but he is your quintessential patsy not knowing anything while not being believed. This film, "Caught Stealing" makes for a somewhat humorous and unexpected film which sets it apart for the usual fare of this genre. 

Burned out ex-baseball player Hank Thompson (Austin Butler) unexpectedly finds himself embroiled in a dangerous struggle for survival amidst the criminal underbelly of 1990s New York City only after he promises to take care of his fiend and neighbor's, Russ (Matt Smith) cat, Bud while he's taking care of his sick dad in London. After Russ leaves, two thugs show up at Russ' door wondering where he is and Hank gets practically killed not answering questions he didn't know. So he knows that he must confide to His girlfriend, Yvonne (Zoe Kravitz) and call the cops and ended up speaking to Detective Roman (Regina King) for help. From this point, so many other people get involved and all hell breaks loose. This is simply a treacherous underworld Hank had never imagined. 

Others to round out the cast are Griffin Dunne as Paul, Liev Schreiber as Lipa, Vincent D'Onofrio as Shummy, Action Bronson as Amtrak, Benito Martinez Ocasio as Colorado, Carol Kane as Bubbe, Nikita Kukushkin as Pavel and Yuri Kolokolnikov as Aleksei.

This was directed with grit and conciseness by Darren Aronofsky ("Pi" '98, "Requiem for a Dream" 2000, "The Fountain" '06, "The Wrestler" '08, "Black Swan" '10, "Noah" '14, "Mother!" '17, "The Whale" '22, "Postcard from Earth" '23) plus TV, shorts, a video game, a music video and a video. This is one director you can't pigeon-hole--in fact, he is the quintessential chameleon since he has approached most of all the genres. His ability to get his actors, especially Butler to convince the audience of the realness of the characters they were portraying was carried out with perfection. If you need convincing, watch "The Whale" or "Black Swan" and you'll soon see. If you like his brand of directing, his "Breakthrough" is in pre-production. It was cleverly written by Charlie Houston ("All Signs of Death" (TV movie) '10) plus TV, based on the book by the same name by Charlie Huston. This script was sequenced well and was cohesive. Even though this writer only has a TV movie and some TV to his credit, the fact that he wrote the screenplay from his own book certainly assisted him in his ability to create an interesting premise. But even though he is the novelist, this film was still a tour de force not only for Houston, but for Butler as well. This actor has definitely showed his acting chops is the amount of films he has been involved with, "Elvis" comes to mind which he received an Oscar nomination for. 

Certainly.if you like Aronofsky's work, you'll love this. But if you want to see an actor who gets better with each film he does, Butler is definitely the other reason to see this film. This actor has so much raw talent that is just waiting to be used for more films down the road. It's a bit rough around the edges, but worthy of the price of admission. 

Out of 4 Stars: 4                                  Rated: R                                           107mins.

Toy Story (30th Anniversary)

Back in the mid 90s when there was talk of an all together new form of creating animation was being formed, it was difficult to comprehend that this animated film would be created totally by computer, and this film was Pixar Animation Studios' "Toy Story" with an all star voice cast including Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Annie Potts and Don Rickles to mention a few. After that became a box-office bonanza, they went on to produce three sequels--all of which profited. Now, after a 30-year period, we have the re-release of "Toy Story" (30th Anniversary).

A little toy named Andy (John Morris) loves to be in his room, playing with his toys, especially his doll named Woody (Tom Hanks). But, what do the toys do when Andy is not with them? They come to life. Woody believes that his life (as a toy) is good, however he must worry about Andy's family moving, and what Woody does not know is about Andy's birthday party. Woody doesn't realize  that Andy's mom gave him an action figure known as Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen), who does not believe that he is a toy, and quickly becomes Andy's new favorite toy. Woody, who is now consumed with jealousy, tries to get rid of Buzz. But by attempting this, both Woody and Buzz are now lost. They must find a way to get back to Andy before he moves without them, but they will have to pass through a ruthless toy killer, next door neighbor Sid Phillips (Erik von Detten). 

Others to round out the cast are Annie Potts as Bo Peep, Wallace Shawn as Rex, Don Rickles as Mr. Potato Head, John Ratzenberger as Hamm, Jim Varney as Slinky Dog, Laurie Metcalf as Mrs. Davis, R. Lee Ermey as Sergeant and Sarah Freeman as Hannah.

After watching this film, I can see why three other sequels were made since this was brilliantly created. It was wonderously directed by John Lasseter ("A Bug's Life" '98, "Toy Story 2" '99, "Cars" '06, "Cars 2" '11) plus TV, shorts and videos. His direction was so realistic, it almost gave the feeling that these characters were live--and this was 30 years ago! It was also brilliantly written by Joss Whedon ("Buffy the Vampire Slayer" '92, "Alien: Resurrection" '97, "Titan A.E." 2000, "Serenity" '05, "The Cabin in the Woods" '11, "The Avengers" '12, "Much Ado About Nothing" '12, "Avengers: Age of Ultron" '15, "Justice League" '17) plus TV, shorts, videos and a video game, Andrew Stanton ("Monsters, Inc." '01, "John Carter" '12, "Lightyear" (addl. material) '22) plus TV, shorts and videos, Joel Cohen ("Hot Money" '86, "Sister, Sister" '87, "Pass the Ammo" '87, "Monster Mash: The Movie" '95, "Money Talks" '97, "Goodbye Lover" '98, "Cheaper by the Dozen" '03, "Garfield: The Movie" '04, "Garfield: A Tail of Two Kitties" '06) plus TV, shorts and video games and Alec Sokolow ("Monster Mash: The Movie" '95, "Money Talks" '97, "Goodbye Lover" '98, "Cheaper by the Dozen" '03, "Garfield: The Movie" '04, "Garfield: A Tail of Two Kitties" '06, "Rymdresan" '20, "Magic Arch 3D" '20) plus TV, shorts, videos and a TV movie, based on an original story by John Lasseter, Pete Docter, Andrew Stanton and Joe Ranft. What made this film a true success was that of a very simplistic premise, which was that toys come to life, have feelings and with that are more than mere inanimate objects. It was pure genius! This was a story that, not only can kids can relate to this, but adults as well--what with the adult humor in the story.. And as this mixture made a ton of money, Pixar went on to make the three subsequent sequels which, of course, made even more money. This is true Pixar when they were great along with being amazingly entertaining. 

Certainly if you like the 'Toy Story' franchise, you'll love this. It's original, well written, directed, with an amazing voice cast all of which was the first animated film created totally by computers. Nowadays, this seems ordinary, but then it was quite the feat! 

Out of 4 Stars: 4                                  Rated: G                                            82mins.

Jaws (50th Anniversary)

I am old enough to remember the release of "Jaws" (1975), and I believe no one, especially that of director, Steven Spielberg, thought that this film would become the phenomena it has become. With the over costs, the 100 day late schedule and mechanical problems, Spielberg thought he would never direct another film. That was then...this is now.

It's a hot summer on Amity Island. a small community whose primary business is its beaches. When new Police Chief Martin Brody (Roy Scheider), discovers the remains of a shark attack victim, his first inclination is to close the beaches to swimmers, however it doesn't bode well with Mayor Larry Vaughn (Murray Hamilton) and several local business people. Brody backs down to his regret of that weekend when a predator kills a young boy. The dead boy's mother, Mrs. Kintner (Lee Fiero), puts out a bounty on the shark, and Amity is soon swamped with amateur hunters and fishermen hoping to cash in on the reward. A local, gritty fisherman, Quint (Robert Shaw) with much experience hunting sharks, offers to hunt down the creature for a hefty fee. Soon, Quint, Brody and Matt Hooper (Richard Dreyfuss) from the Oceanographic Institute are hunting the Great White shark at sea. As Brody succinctly surmises after their first encounter with the creature, they will need a bigger boat. 

Others to round out the cast are Lorraine Gary as Ellen Brody, Martin's wife, Carl Gottlieb as Meadows, Jeffrey Kramer as Deputy Hendricks, Susan Backlinie as Chrissie, Jonathan Filley as Cassidy, Chris Rebello as Michael Brody, Jay Mello as Sean Brody, Jeffrey Voorhees as Alex Kintner and Dr. Robert Nevin as Medical Examiner.

This was directed with subtle suspense and grit by Steve Spielberg ("Duel" (TV movie) '71, "The Sugarland Express" '74, "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" '77, "1941" '79, "Raiders of the Lost Ark" '81, "E.T. the Extra Terrestrial" '82, "The Color of Purple" '85, "Jurassic Park" '93, "Schindler's List" '93, "Saving Private Ryan" '98, "War of the Worlds" '05, "War Horse" '12,"The BFG" '16, "Ready Player One" '18, "The Fabelmans" '22) plus many other films, TV movies, TV and shorts. Spielberg is the quintessential American director that knows no boundaries. He has hit essentially every genre with precise delineation and all the while to entertain us with that film in which to escape into. This film, even though it was a very early film of his, was filmed so well, what with cinematographer Bill Butler, film editor, Verna Fields, ace and that iconic soundtrack brilliantly composed by the master, John Williams. It all, along with a gripping cast, was the best ingredients for a top notch film looked upon by many 50 years later as one of the best films of all time. It was penned well by writers Peter Benchley ("Jeremiah of Jacob's Neck" (TV movie) '76, "The Great Houdini" (TV movie) '76, "The Deep" '77, "Hunters of the Reef" (TV movie) '78, "The Island" '80) plus TV, video games, shorts and a video, and Carl Gottlieb ("Which Way Is Up?" '77, "Jaws 2" '78, "The Jerk" '79, "Caveman" '81, "Doctor Detroit" '83, "Jaws 3-D" '83) plus TV movies and TV, based on the novel by Peter Benchley. The story, particularly by today's standards is not expressly original, but since this was 1975, and the direction, photography and music were so incredible, simply made this the iconic film it has become. After the success of "Jaws", there were, not only sequels, but also many other films like this in order to cash in, but this film was one of a kind. The effects, visual and mechanical, were state of the art then and still hold up as effectively today. 

If you liked "Jaws" when released back in 1975, you'll like this, since not only can you see it in standard form, but in IMAX and 4DX format as well. It's a great re-release for sure, but I would love to see a re-release of the uproarious film, "It's Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World" (1963) directed by the incomparable Stanley Kramer with a star-studded cast. Watching "Jaws" might make you reconsider in going into the water all over again.

Out of 4 Stars: 4                                          Rated: PG                                         124mins.

P.S. Just to leave all know out there, the reason why I haven't written a review since 8-27-25, was because I am recovering from an emergent abdominal surgery earlier and this is the first time I've had the strength to even sit through a film. All's good, just at this age, recovery takes a little longer than if I was younger.

 

Relay

Through the decades Hollywood has made quite a number of surveillance or espionage or closer films to get the fill of most audiences out there. Films such as "Wolfs", "Amateur", "Body of Lies", "Three Days of the Condor", "The Day of the Jackal", to mention a handful, are films that can leave the audience either wanting more or have gotten a bit too much, "Relay" carries a nice in between whereas it is quite the cat-and-mouse game.

In this story, Ash (Riz Ahmed) plays a world class "fixer" who specializes in brokering lucrative payoffs between corrupt corporations and the individuals who threaten their ruin, He keeps his identity a secret through meticulous planning through a "relay" service and always follows an exacting set of rules. But when a message arrives one day from a potential client, Sarah Grant (Lilly James), needing his protection just to stay alive, because of her employer, Optima Pharmaceuticals made a supplement that could potentially kill many customers through side effects, headed up by Steve Dawson (Sam Worthington), Ash's rules quickly start to change. 

Others to round out the cast are Willa Fitzgerald as Rosetti, Jared Abrahamson as Ryan, Pun Bandhu as Lee, Eisa Davis as Wash, Matthew Mayer as Hoffman, Seth Barrish as Morel, Victor Garber as McVie and Jamil Haque as Tariq. 

This was intensely directed with a ton of suspense and grit by David Mackenzie ("The Last Great Wilderness" '02, "Young Adam" '03, "Asylum" '05, "Hallam Foe" '07, "Spread" '09, "Perfect Sense" '11, "Tonight You're Mine" '11, "Starred Up" '13, "Hell or High Water" '16, "Outlaw King" '18) plus TV and shorts. This filmmaker certainly knew how to sequence, stage and pace this film with extreme expertise and precision. Every scene led the audience right to where he wanted them to be, in order for them to feel the full impact nearing the end. It was written by a newcomer to feature films, Justin Piasecki ("TV and a short). Even with his limited experience in the TV and short biz, he must've been mentored by others in the field, unless he is a true natural. This story had one gripped to their proverbial seat wondering what was coming next. This fixer, Ash was seemingly always one step ahead of the corporate baddies. This guy mostly spoke to his client via through a relay service where the client spoke, the service would send the fixer a message and visa versa. This way, there would be less leaks released. So, his actual spoken word was minimal. And by the writer doing it this way, not only does it give him a 'moody feel', but keeps the cat-and-mouse game even more suspenseful. This writer will receive more work, especially if this movie profits. Riz Ahmed as Ash.the fixer was riveting as he was captivating. 

If you're into these types of films, this is the movie for you. It has a certain amount of painstaking suspense that will keep its audience biting their nails til the film's end. Could there be a sequel> Probably not, unless it makes a ton of money. In any rate, enjoy this gem, and I'm not sure why it's rated R, since there was next to no bad language or any sex. Anyway, I thoroughly enjoyed this and I believe others will as well. 

Out of 4 Stars: 4                                           Rated: R                                       102mins.

Eden

When it comes to survival films, Hollywood doesn't hold a plethora of them as opposed to other genres, but when these types of films are released, they certainly can pack a wallop. One is the case of "Eden", whereas, it starts as an idyllic situation, but as in most of these films, all hell finally breaks loose.

1929. Fascism was coming into vogue. By 1932, this unravels the shocking true story of a group of disillusioned outsiders, namely Friedrich Ritter (Jude Law), Baroness Eloise-Bosquet (Ana de Armas), Dore Strauch (Vanessa Kirby), Heinz Wittmer (Daniel Bruhl), Margeret Wittmer (Sydney Sweeney) and others who abandon modern society in search of a new beginning. Settling on a remote island--Galapagos, which was then uninhabitable, their utopian dream quickly unravels as they discover that the greatest threat isn't the brutal climate or deadly wildlife, but each other. What follows is a chilling descent into chaos where tensions spiral, desperation takes hold, and a twisted power struggle leads to betrayal, violence, and the deaths of half the colony.

Others to round out the cast are Jonathan Tittel as Harry Wittmer, Friedrich's son, Felix Kammerer as Rudolph Lorenz, Toby Wallace as Robert Phillipson, Ignacio Gasparini as Manuel Borja, Richard Roxburgh as G. Allan Hancock, Paul Gleeson as Stampa and Thiago Moraes as Captain.

This was directed by the comparable, seasoned Ron Howard ("Grand Theft Auto" '77, "Night Shift" '82, "Splash" '84, "Cocoon" '85, "Gung Ho" '86, "Willow" '88, "Parenthood" '89, "Backdraft" '91, "Far and Away" '92, "Apollo 13" '95, "Edtv" '99, "A Beautiful Mind" '01, "Cinderella Man" '05, "Frost/Nixon" '08, "Rush" '13, "In the Heart of the Sea" '15, "Solo: A Star Wars Story" '18, "Hillbilly Elegy" '20, "Thirteen Lives"'22, "Jim Henson: Idea Man" '24) plus other films, TV movies, TV and shorts. Howard has certainly come a long way from "Grand Theft Auto", and with every film he has helmed, he has only become more polished, more concise, and with more delineating expertise. He has that innate ability to learn as he starts another project more than a number of other directors which is smart and we are the victors for it. It was effectively written well by Noah Pink ("The Show" '17, "Tetris" '23) plus TV, shorts and a video, based on a story by Noah Pink and Ron Howard. For the lack of writing experience Pink has, he certainly was able to write quite an effective yarn. Of course, with Howard's assistance, it surely helped. After seeing this, I can't help but think about the 1963 film "Lord of the Flies" which is based on the novel of the same name. That film involved adolescent boys, whereas this film involved grown adults. In both films, we were able to see, once these individuals were taken out of a civilized culture, they become wild and unmanageable no matter how proper and dignified they were. That film as this one was and are societal films to teach us a lesson. There were certainly other aspects to "Eden" that "Lord of the Flies didn't have, but the overall premise seemed similar which possibly could've been a homage--not sure. Really, other than it was a bit long-in-the-tooth--could've been about 5 minutes shorter, it certainly found itself as the movie unfolded. This was based on a true store as aforementioned, but obviously by the individuals that were were left who could tell the tale. 

If survival films are your thing--and they can be exciting and gripping, this is a must see. Ron Howard's direction was spot on down to the last frame as the writing by Noah Pink showed expertise and a ton of promise. It's a bit darker of a film for Howard, but this makes it even more gripping. 

Out of 4 Stars: 3.5                                       Rated: R                                    130mins.

East of Wall

While we've seen many films based on a true story, "East of Wall" not only is based on a true story, but is considered a 'docu-fiction' film, meaning it blends real events and people with fictionalized elements, such as Tabatha Zimiga stars as herself, whereas Scoot Mcnairy and Jennifer Ehle are used as professional actors. 

This film explores Tabatha's life managing her horse ranch after the death of her husband John, her financial struggles, her unresolved grief and her role in providing refuge for a group of wayward teenagers. As she and her daughter Porshia, as herself, are somewhat estranged and the different traits of these teens make it even more difficult to make ends meet, their mom/grandma, Tracey (Jennifer Ehle) and a rich horse manager, Roy Walker (Scoot McNairy) who come into their lives, attempt to help in their different ways to help them financially, emotional--really anyway they can.

Others to round out the cast are Jesse Thorson as Jesse, Chancey Ryder Witt as Ryder, Clay Pateneaude as Clay, Leanna Shumpert as Leanna, Brynn Darling as Brynn and Wyatt Mansfield as Skylar.

This was directed by virtual newcomer Kate Beecroft (shorts and a music video), who spent three years living with Tabatha's family and community, which inspired the script and shaped the film's authentic portrayal of rural life in the Badlands, South Dakota. Certainly this trek helped her shape the direction of the film, but I certainly would like to see what she could do next, which this film was handled which such pathos and poignancy. It was equally well written by Kate Beecroft (shorts). As aforementioned, because of her residing with the Zimiga family for three years, this helped shape the script as well. It carried the personal touch because it was a very personal film.There were a small place of choppiness, but clearly not enough to detract from the overall film, and it was just a bit slow in a couple of places also.  All in all, this filmmaker will receive more work, because she is basically a natural and with that should be rewarded with more work. The performances by both Scoot McNairy as Roy Walker and Jennifer Ehle as Tracey were riveting and definitely were captivating in their respective roles. The cinematography by Austin Shelton showed the expanse of the Badlands with sweeping photography. 

If you're into films based on true stories, or better yet, films that give one the feeling as though you're peeking into their lives since many of the characters are playing themselves, this is certainly the film for you. The acting, writing, directing and sweeping cinematography are simply amazing and this is definitely worthy of the price of admission.

Out of 4 Stars: 3.5                                     Rated: R                                         97mins.

Nobody 2

When "Nobody" was released in 2021, I must've been besieged with several films to review, so I just didn't around to viewing it. But, after seeing the trailer of "Nobody 2", I actually felt it was a definite possibility. And now, viewing this film, I was correct--this film was action-packed, funny and simply slickly done.

Workaholic assassin Hutch Mansell (Bob Odenkirk) takes his family including his wife, Becca (Connie Nielsen) and kids, son, Brady (Gage Munroe) and daughter, Sammy (Paisley Cadorath) on a much needed vacation to the small tourist town of Plummerville, however, he soon finds himself in the cross hairs of a corrupt operator, Wyatt (John Ortiz), a shady sheriff, Abel (Colin Hanks) and a bloodthirsty crime boss, Lendina (Sharon Stone). These events soon unravel secrets about Hutch and Becca's past. 

Others to round out the cast are Christopher Lloyd as David Mansell, Hutch's dad, Michael Ironside as Eddie Williams, RZA as Harry, Colin Salmon as The Barber and David MacInnis as Tobey. 

This was cleverly directed with humor and action by Timo Tjahjanto ("Macabre" '09, "V/H/S/2" (segment: 'Safe Haven') '13, "Killers" '14, "Headshot" '16, "May the Devil Take You" '18, "The Night Comes for Us" '18, "Portals" '19, "The Big 4" '22, "The Shadow Strays" '24) plus others. I'm not sure if the original film carried a similar feel as with this film--hopefully did, but this filmmaker's ability to stage, pace and create his actors in a humorous, yet fluid way was amazing. The pace of this simply kept the audience glued. It was penned, again in a slick way by Derek Kolstad ("One in the Chamber" '12, "The Package" '12, "John Wick" '14, "Nobody" '21, "Die Hart" '23) plus others, TV, shorts and a video game, and Aaron Rabin (TV and a short), based on a story by Derek Kolstad, which is based on characters created by Derek Kolstad. Considering this is the same writer (Kolstad), that brought us the mind of John Wick, this was devised in the same vein. It too, was processed in that slick, action-packed, not holding back any punches kind of a film which makes it that much more entertaining. Really, other than a couple of very small places of continuity issues, this script was captivating as it was funny which added to the entertainment factor. Bob Odenkirk pulls off this assassin who's like this 'nobody' kind of guy, hence the mane, and does so with convincing fervor.

Seemingly, if you liked the predecessor of this, this will please. This film was like, 'can't a guy go on vacation with his family and not feel like he doesn't has to work?' These types of films are made with the sole purpose of escaping into a story that will take you away from ones' own problems even if it's just for an hour and a half.

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

My Mother's Wedding

During the summer film season where we are besieged with big-budget films, once in a while, we are offered an independent film or two. It certainly gives a relief of all the CGI, explosiveness, big stars and sound effects--so it's nice to see an indie film such as "My Mother's Wedding" come along.

Heartfelt and funny, this film follows three sisters who return to their childhood home for a momentous weekend: the third wedding of their twice-widowed mother, Diana Frost (Kristen Scott Thomas). The three daughters are from vastly different walks of life: Katherine (Scarlett Johansson) is a Captain in the Royal Navy; Victoria (Sienna Miller) is a Hollywood star; and Georgina (Emily Beecham) is a hospice nurse. Over the weekend, the family gathers to celebrate the new marriage, but mother and daughters alike are forced to revisit the past and confront the future, all with the help from a colorful group of unexpected wedding guests. 

Others to round out the cast are Freida Pinto as Jack, James Fleet as Geoff Loveglove, Samson Kayo as Steve, Mark Stanley as Charlie, Joshua McGuire as Jeremy, Ziggy Gardner as Skylar, Fflyn Edwards as Marcus, Lydia Jones as Clara, Michael Spicer as Ted Schenlker and Elliot Warren as Second in Command. 

This was poignantly directed by virtual newcomer behind the camera Kristen Scott Thomas. Being a veteran actor (she also starred in this) obviously allowed her to be able to connect with other actors in order to encourage them to dig deep to reach into themselves to convince the audience that they are these characters they are portraying. She will receive more work if she decides to go down that road. It was executed effectively by writers Kristin Scott Thomas and John Micklethwait. Again, these writers have no experience penning a screenplay, and with that, their attempt at producing an effective script was certainly better than I had expected. Not that I believe that the more one does, the better the work, but like the old adage goes, "practice makes perfect".There was a certain amount of continuity issues and at times, the different subplots had a difficult time in connecting with each other, but otherwise, it was a valiant attempt at an interesting story. There are scenes when it comes to Katherine's character where she reflects back to her past which is indicative by being presented in animated form which is interesting. These characters definitely were dysfunctional where it made one wonder what their problem is--Charlie was probably the most grounded character in the flick. These writers simply need more work since potentiality is certainly present. 

Certainly if you are into films surrounding a wedding, like many films are, you'll be comfortable with this.  This did have some issues, however not so much that one couldn't enjoy the story along with the acting. It's worthy of the price of admission, but since this is a 'small' film, it wouldn't lose any impact if seen on your home screen. 

Out of 4 Stars: 2.5                                         Rated: R                                             95mins.