The Legend of Ochi

When it comes to films that are fantastical, they are typically made with quality and audiences usually love them, considering how entertaining they can be. The genre of fantasy has virtually no limits and this is a filmmaker's dream. So, when "The Legend of Ochi" came along, the premise and how the story was treated intrigued me. 

In a fictional remote village on the island of Carpathia within the Black Sea, a shy farm girl named Yuri (Helena Zengel) is raised by her over-bearing father, Maxim (Willem Dafoe) to fear an elusive animal species known as ochi. But when Yuri discovers a wounded baby ochi has been left behind, she escapes from the clutches of her father on a quest to bring him home. Her quest includes others who attempt to help her such as Dasha (Emily Watson) and Petro (Finn Wolfhard). 

Others to round out the cast are Razvan Stoica as Ivan, Carol Bors as Oleg, Andrei Antoniv Anghel as Vlad, David Andrei Baltatu as Gleb, Eduard Oancea as Pavel, Tomas Otto Ghela as Tudor and Paul Manalatos as The Ochi.

This was directed with pathos with the ability of being heartfelt by a virtual newcomer to feature films, Isaiah Saxon (shorts, music videos and videos). This was stunning in how this film delved into the possible connection of animal and human, although through a challenging process. Saxon's ability to pace and stage his actors were amazing and seemed like he's a real pro. Considering this film was a Sundance Film Festival favorite, it's no wonder that it was pushed to be released in theaters. It was also well executed by Isaiah Saxon (TV, shorts and music videos). Surely his experience in the TV and music video realm has worked for this writer and this film proves it in spades. The only problem I had with this movie was with the sound editing such as near the beginning where Yuri is narrating, it was difficult, at times, to understand all that she was saying due to the fact that the music was a bit overly powerful. And also there were a couple of places that were a bit choppy, but otherwise it was a spot on script. The special effects by John Nolan in the design of the ochi were stunning indeed. 

This is a little bit like a dark, gritty "E.T. The Extra Terrestrial" even though this was not an alien. But since the creature is within the fantasy realm, it had that flavor. Certainly in seeing this, it showed us that we can, with patience and a bit of understanding, co=exist, whether it is a fantastical beast or other human beings, all the while presented in an entertaining way. 

Out of 4 Stars: 3.5                                        Rated: PG                                           95mins.

The Accountant 2

Political films have been produced from Hollywood for decades and since there is an incredible fascination with them, they will always be offered. We saw "The Accountant" back in 2016 and it was a gripping, well honed story, so, a mere nine years later, we have "The Accountant 2" to sink our teeth into. 

Christian Wolff (Ben Affleck) has a talent for solving complex problems. When an Old acquaintance, Ray King (J.K. Simmons) is murdered, leaving behind a cryptic message to "find the accountant" written on his leg, Wolff is compelled to solve the case. Realizing more extreme measures are necessary, Wolff recruits his estranged and highly lethal brother Braxton (Jon Bernthal), to help in partnership with U.S.Treasury Deputy Marybeth Medina (Cynthia Addai-Robinson), they uncover a deadly conspiracy, becoming targets of a ruthless network of killers who will stop at nothing to keep their secrets buried. 

Others to round out the cast are Daniella Pineda as Anais, Alison Wright as Justine (voice of), Robert Morgan as Burke, Allison Robertson as Justine, Grant Harvey as Cobb, Andrew Howard as Batu, Yael Ocasio as Alberto, Lombardo Boyar as Tomas and Michael Tourek as Ike Sudio. 

This was directed effortlessly by Gavin O'Connor (" Comfortably Numb" '95, "Tumbleweeds" '99, "Murphy's Dozen" (TV movie) '11, "Miracle" '04, "Pride and Glory" '08, "Warrior" '11, "Cinnamon Girl" (TV movie) '13, "Only Human" (TV movie) '14, "The Prince" (TV movie) '15, "Jane Got a Gun" '15, "The Accountant" '16, "The Way Back" '20) plus TV and a short. It was brilliant to use the same director as with the original so the similar feel of the two films will be evident. O'Connor did such an exemplary job of "The Accountant" that helming the sequel gave an effortless appeal. He was able to pull off these two brothers as though they were like the quintessential 'odd couple'--Affleck being the controlling autistic savant that is amazingly intelligent and Benthal pulling off the role of someone that's a loose cannon, totally over the top, very dramatic that it became humorous and added a light sibling rivalry to this. If you like his brand of directing, his "Fast" is in pre-production. It was equally well written by Bill DuBuque ("The Judge" '14, "A Family Man" '16, "The Accountant" '16) plus TV, based on characters created by Bill DuBuque. Since the original ended up being the surprise hit of the summer of 2016, a sequel by the same writer was an obvious next step. What's surprising is that it took nine years to finally produce the follow up. And with this outing, this new film is every bit as well directed and written and acted as its predecessor. The only issues I felt with this was that I felt that it had a couple of very small places of disjointedness and confusion, but otherwise, the screenplay soared. Again, Affleck's role as the mathematical, practically autistic savant accountant was stunning and he could possibly see a nod come Oscar time. If you appreciate this writing DuBuque's "The Six Billion Dollar Man" is in pre-production. 

This was so entertaining that if the makers of this film decided to make a "The Accountant 3", it would be welcomed. Of course, like with other films, it is dependent of how much money is raked in the box office. I'm usually not into sequels, but with this, I'm willing to make the exception.

Out of 4 Stars: 3.5                                       Rated: R                                         133m.

The Ballad of Wallis Island

As we are about to enter the summer film season, we are typically offered smaller, indie films that often times don't fair well economically because of all the huge, CGI driven films that are bigger than life. So, we are offered a small film called "The Ballad of Wallis Island" that is quirky as it is entertaining.

This film follows Charles Heath (Tim Key), an eccentric lottery winner who lives alone on a remote island and dreams of getting his favorite musicians, Herb McGwyer / Nell Mortimer (Tim Basden and Carey Mulligan) respectively, back together. His fantasy turns into reality when the bandmates, who were former lovers, accept his invitation to play a private show at his home on Wallis Island. Old tensions resurface as Charles tries desperately to salvage his dream gig. 

Others to round out the cast are Sian Clifford as Amanda, Akemnji Ndifornyen as Michael, Steve Marsh as Peter, Luka Downie as Marcus, Kerrie Thomason as Marie and Arron Long as Tour Guide. 

This was directed with dry wit and quirkiness by James Griffiths ("Royal Wedding" (TV movie) '10, "Cuban Fury" '14, "Charity Case" (TV movie) '16, "Delilah" (TV movie) '20) plus TV and a short. Even though this director only has one other feature film to his credit, his list of TV movies and other TV has certainly served him well. His staging and pacing is spot on as is ability to encourage his actors to strive to 'find' their characters with conviction. It was equally written with heart and humor by Tom Basden ("Brave Young Men" (TV movie) '09, "Very Few Fish" (TV movie) '13, "Plebs: Soldiers of Rome" (TV movie) '22) plus TV and a short, and Tim Key (TV and shorts). Neither writer has any feature film work when it comes to writing, however, they have enough TV movies and other TV and shorts between them to make up the difference. Certainly since these writers were the two main stars in this movie, it definitely caused this to be more powerful than otherwise. If this is their first feature film, I would like to see what they could do with writing another feature film, since this was well thought out and was moving and forced these individuals to dig deep in coming to realize their past in order to obtain a happier present. The only issue with this was that there were a couple of areas that were slightly disjointed, but otherwise was amazing. The acting by all three of the lead stars, and even the supporting cast was effective and endearing

If you're into small, independent films, this is the film for you. This was well written, directed and acted with compassion, passion and style all the while bringing humor in the form of dry wit and was amazingly entertaining. 

Out of 4 Stars: 3.5                                           Rated: PG-13                                        99mins.

The King of Kings

At this time of year two things occur: the summer film season is ramping up and it is the time for the Easter season. And with "The King of Kings" being released, it's an animated film which is typically a favorite form of film during the summer, and, it being an Easter film, it falls into theaters during this time as well. For movie companies, it's the best of both worlds. 

A father, in this case is Charles Dickens (Kenneth Branagh), tells his son, Walter (Roman Griffin Davis) the greatest story ever told, and what begins as a bedtime tale becomes a life-changing journey. Through vivid imagination, the boy walks alongside Jesus (Oscar Isaac), witnessing His miracles, facing His trials, and understanding His ultimate sacrifice on the cross. "The King of Kings" invites us to rediscover the enduring power of hope, love and redemption through the eyes of a child. 

Others to round out the cast are Pierce Brosnan as Pontius Pilate, Uma Thurman as Catherine Dickens, wife of Charles, Mark Hamill as King Herod, Forest Whitaker as Peter, Ben Kingsley and High Priest Caiaphas, Jim Cummings as James the Greater/Pharisee Hillel, Dee Bradley Baker as Willa the Cat and Fred Tatasciore as Pharisee Eleazar. 

This film was compassionately directed by Seong-ho Jang (visual effects). Even though this filmmaker has no feature film experience--certainly none in the direction realm, he absolutely pulled this off. With his passion and sensitive handling of the subject matter, he took this story and produced a movie that all could envision and could take something from it. It was also well written by Seong-ho Jang (visual effects) as well. Additional writing was actually commissioned by Rob Edwards ("Treasure Planet" '02, "The Princess and the Frog" '09, "Captain America: Brave New World" '25, "Sneaks" '25) plus TV, a short and a video game and Jamie Thomason. Now, was this writing as talented as it was because of Jang's work or because of the two individuals who provided the additional writing? Not sure, however the resume of that of Edwards would conclude in most peoples' hearts that Edwards had a huge influence. But either way, the culmination of writers certainly brought us a powerful script. It actually followed the sequences in the bible extremely well which tells me that there were Christians involved in this, and it would need to happen, otherwise the story very likely would become convoluted. 

Certainly if you're a Christian, this will be very easy to follow along with the story, but even if you're not, it is a film that will speak volumes to one's heart. It is a film for all to see, but even though it's seen through the eyes of a child, kids will gravitate to this, after all, it is the greatest story ever told. 

Out of 4 Stars: 4                                          Rated: PG                                            104mins.

The Amateur

Hollywood and espionage films have been about as common, for many decades, as John Wayne and westerns. We've seen many through the years, i.e. "All the President's Men", "The Day of the Jackal", "Three Days of the Condor", "Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy", "Body of Lies", the James Bond franchise and others, and now we have yet another one where it centers around someone that's not even a spy.

Charlie Heller (Rami Malek) is a brilliant, but deeply introverted decoder for the CIA working out of a basement office at headquarters in Langley whose life is turned upside down when his wife, Sarah (Rachel Brosnahan) is killed in a London terrorist attack, When his supervisors, Chief Moore (Holt McCallany) and Caleb (Danny Sapani) refuse to take action, he takes matters into his own hands, embarking on a dangerous trek across the globe to track down those responsible.  Along with a trusted decoding source, Inquiline (Caitriona Balfe) and on again, off again Agent Henderson (Laurence Fishburne), and his intelligence, this intelligence serves as the ultimate weapon for eluding his pursuers and achieving his revenge. 

Others to round out the cast are Jon Bernthal as The Bear, Nick Mills as Finn, Jullianne Nicholson as Director O'Brien, Adrian Martinez as Carlos, Evan Milton as Slater, Tiffany Gray as Esther and Kate Sumpter as Anchor. 

This was brilliantly directed with grit and intensity by James Hawes ("The Earth in Balance" (TV movie) '90, "A Line in the Sand"(TV movie) '04, "The Lift" (TV movie) '07,  "The 39 Steps" (TV movie) '08, "Enid" (TV movie) '09, "Pulse" (TV movie) '10, "The Challenger Disaster" (TV movie) '13, "One Life" '23). This filmmaker's staging and pacing of this film was incredibly tight considering the movie was shot in many different countries where keeping the project all together can deem daunting. It was easy to follow along with each scene and Malek's presence is amazingly captivating and this is incredible directing, even though Malek is a consummate actor. It was well executed by writers Ken Nolan ("Black Hawk Down" '01, "Dawn" (TV movie) '16, Transformers: The Last Knight" '17, "Only the Brave" '17) plus TV and a short, and Gary Spinelli ("Stash House" '12, "American Made" '17) plus TV, based on the novel by Robert Littrell. As aforementioned, considering this was shot in many countries, this was held together very well. It was tight, concise and definitely kept one's attention. The only issue with this is that there were a few areas of slowness in the script, and maybe an area of a bit of choppiness in the middle of the story, but otherwise, it simply excelled. 

Certainly if you like espionage films, you'll revel with this, but the captivating aspect of this is clearly that of Malek. He is quite the chameleon when it comes to acting--he will play any role as long as it's challenging and gripping. This is the sign of a true artist. It's a great way to escape into this two hour running time. 

Out of 4 Stars: 3.5                                    Rated: PG-13                                            123mins.

Warfare

When it comes to war films, and more to the point, Middle East war films, we've seen a plethora of them, but not quite to the extreme intensity of "Warfare". This film cuts to the chase with no lead in, character development or message of it except to survive. This gives a one two punch that aims for the juggler. 

November 19, 2006. Iraq. "Warfare" embeds audiences with a platoon of American Navy SEALs on a surveillance mission gone wrong in insurgent territory. A visceral boots-on-the-ground story of modern warfare and brotherhood, told like never before in real time and based on the memory of the people who lived it. This unit of men consisting of Erik (Will Poulter), Ray (D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Rai), Elliott (Cosmo Jarvis), Sam (Joseph Quinn), Lt. MacDonald (Michael Gandolfini), John (Finn Bennett) and others, not only were calibrating men, but also were 'brothers', looking out for one another especially when things went awry. 

Others to round out the cast are Aaron Mackenzie as Kelly, Evan Holtzman as Brock,Jo Macauley as Mo, Laurie Duncan as Pete, Jake Lampert as Ted, Aaron Deakins as Bob. Kit Connor as Tommy, Henrique Zaga as Aaron, Taylor John Smith as Frank and Alex Brockdorff as Mikey.

This was directed with stunning reality by Ray Mendoza (Upcoming TV) and Alex Garland ("Ex Machina" '14, "Annihilation" '18, "Men" '22, "Civil War" '24) plus TV. It certainly shows that this film was produced through the eyes of Middle East war veterans since the story was laced with as much intensity and stunning acts of soberness and camaraderie. The fact that it was shot in real time showed it was almost like a documentary. It was also incredibly well penned by writers Ray Mendoza (Upcoming TV) and Alex Garland ("28 Days Later" '02, "Sunshne" '07, "Never Let Me Go" '10, "Dredd" '12, "Ex Machina" '14, "Annihilation" '18, "Men" '22, "Civil War" '24) plus TV, video games and novels. The writing in this film was obviously from the heart with these writers--them being war vets, and the way this script played out, it was incredibly gut-wrenching that, at times, it was difficult to keep watching it. It was amazingly sobering and simply drained its audience through the key hole many times over. Intensity wise, it reminded me of the film, "United 93", about the doomed airliner that crashed in rural Pennsylvania post 9-11-2001. That film was so painstakingly realistic that it became difficult to watch. I believe these types of films are films people should see ever so often to remind us that our lives, as compared to these lives we're witnessing on the screen, are nearly as fraught with impending doom. The writing, even though the lion's share was that of Garland, was riveting and captivating. 

Although this film was incredibly well written, directed and acted, this film was not made with the mass audience appeal in mind since the story is so shockingly volatile and intense. I was squirming in my seat more than once and afterward, I cried in the car due to what these guys were put through in this wartime hell. "War is hell" is what the selling slogan of this film should be. If you're into this genre, but more to the point, this intensity, you'll be at home. 

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

Drop

There are slasher films and there are whodunnit thriller films, and typically never the twain would meet. However, with "Drop", we have a little of both--mostly it being a thriller. The thriller whodunnit is a winning combination as this film showcases. It's short and definitely cuts to the chase. 

Violet Gates (Meghann Fahy), is a widowed mother on her first date in years, who arrives at an upscale restaurant where she is relieved that her date, Henry Campbell (Brandon Slkenar) is more charming and handsome than she expected. But their chemistry begins to curdle as Violet begins being irritated and then terrorized by a series of anonymous drops to her phone. She is instructed to tell nobody and follow instructions or the hooded figure she sees on her home security cameras will kill Violet's young son, Toby (Jacob Robinson) and babysitting sister Jen (Violett Beane). Violet must do exactly as directed or everyone she loves will die, Her unseen tormentor's final directive? Kill her date, Henry,

Others to round out the cast are Reed Diamond as Richard, Gabrielle Ryan as Cara, Jeffery Self as Matt, Ed Weeks as Phil, Travis Nelson as Connor, Michael Shea as Blake, Sarah McCormack as Hostess and Ben Pelletier as Bearded/Masked man. 

This was rivetingly directed with grit and suspense by Christopher Landon ("Burning Palms" '10, "Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones" '14, "Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse" '15, "Happy Death Day" '17, "Happy Death Day 2U" '19, "Freaky" '20, "We Have a Ghost" '23) plus TV and a short. By his very resume, this filmmaker has certainly kept within his comfort zone, but when a certain genre works for you and you excel well, why not? The way he built the tension in this through Violet seemed realistic and more gripping. His pacing of the plot was amazing and also added to the calamity involved. It was written with grit and intensity by Jillian Jacobs ("Truth or Dare" '18, "Fantasy Island" '20) and Chris Roach ("Non-Stop" '14, "Truth or Dare" '18, "Fantasy Island" '20) plus TV. As aforementioned, this story builds slowly so as to let us see how much peril we see Violet is getting involved in and what makes that even more challenging is that she can't say anything lest her loved ones will die. Her facial expressions are so real as is Henry' s concern for her. Neither writer has a plethora of experience, but with this outing, they undoubtedly will receive more work. Lastly, considering the chemistry between Violet and Henry was strained in certain places of the story, they were still able to display an amazing chemistry throughout the film. If you like Roach's writing, his "Run" is in pre-production. 

If you like whodunnits or thrillers, this is a film you'll be right at home with. It's short, concise, with a tight script and engaging cast. It's tense, thrilling, riveting and definitely keeps you on the edge of your proverbial seat. Grab the popcorn for escapism at its best. 

Out of 4 Stars: 4                                      Rated: PG-13                                           96mins.

The Friend

Hollywood has a fascination with incorporating animals in their films and TV shows, i.e. "Lassie", "Marley and Me", "Old Yeller", "The Red Pony", "My Friend Flicka", "Dog", "Rin Tin Tin", and although there are a plethora of them, they never seem to get old with audiences. They typically profit, so in this day and age of finding profitable films, it's no wonder that "The Friend" has come along to continue that tradition. Hopefully as with the other films, this will also profit as well.

In this story, writer and teacher, Iris (Naomi Watts) finds her comfortable solitary New York life thrown into disarray after her closet friend and mentor, Walter (Bill Murray) commits suicide and bequeaths her his beloved 150 lb Great Dane. The regal yet intractable beast, named Apollo (Bing), immediately creates practical problems for Iris, from furniture destruction to eviction notices, as well as more existential ones, his looming presence constantly reminding her of her friend's choice to take his own life. Yet as Iris finds herself unexpectedly bonding to the animal, she begins to come to terms with her past, her lost friend, and her own creative inner life.

Others to round out the past are Sarah Pidgeon as Val, Carla Gugino as Elaine, Constance Wu as Tuesday, Noma Dumezweni as Barbara, Ann Dowd as Marjorie, Owen Teague as Carter, Carrie Vu as Viv, Annie Fox as Jenna, Sue Jean Kim as Blossom and Gary Littman as Grant.

This was directed with a clear, concise delineation of drama and comedy by Scott McGehee and David Siegel ("Suture" '93, "The Deep End" '01, "Bee Season" '05, "Uncertainty" '08, "What Maisie Knew" '12, "Montana Story" '21) plus a short and a music video. The transformation that Watts had to endure was subtle yet incredibly moving, and this isn't just fine acting, but amazing directing as well. Their staging and pacing were second to none. It was equally well penned by writers Scott McGehee and David Siegel ("Suture" '93, "The Deep End" '01, "Uncertainty" '08, "Montana Story" '21) plus TV and a short, based on a novel by Sigrid Nunez. Obviously these filmmakers are both a directing and writing team which typically creates a unity that other films with different directors and writers don't have as much. The continuity is refreshingly fluid and certainly one can see why they stick together professionally. The only issue I could see with this film is that it took a while for the film to find itself and become the film that it was looking to be. Once it found itself, the story simply took off and was a gripping and captivating film. The more the story unfolds, the more we come to realize that, through taking care of this dog, Iris realizes more about the relationships that she had been confused about, so it became an epiphany in her life. 

This is an interesting film in that it speaks volumes about relationships and the confusion around them using this dog as the centerpiece in which those involved could find their answers to questions they didn't even know they had. The performance by Watts was amazing with the subtleties she brought to this role. If you're into 'dog' films, this is for those people for sure.

Out of 4 Stars: 3                                      Rated: R                                        120mins.

Audrey's Children

Anymore in Hollywood, films based on true stories seems to be the staple of films made in lieu of fictional movies. Even though I can understand considering how many true and intriguing stories there are out there, it would be nice to experience something of pure fiction. Until that time, we are offered an interesting film based on a true story that will pull ones' heartstrings.

Philadelphia. 1969. Based on the incredible true story, British physician, Dr. Audrey Evans (Natalie Dormer), is newly recruited to a world-renowned children's hospital and ends up battling sexism, medical conventions, and the subterfuge of her peers to develop revolutionary treatments, purchase of the first Ronald McDonald House for families of patients and ultimately impact the lives of millions of children around the world.With her help from Dr. Dan D'Angio (Jimmi Simpson), Dr. Brian Faust (Brandon Micheal Hall) and the reluctant help from Dr. C. Everett Koop (Clancy Brown), she was able to convince skeptics in her field of her unorthodox methods. 

Others to round out the cast are Ben Chase as Dr. Jeremy Lewis, Evelyn Giovine as Kate Watson, Julianna Layne as Mia McAlister, Stephen Burgi as Boardroom Doctor, Joe Pistone as Distraught Dad of Mia, Maggie Toomey as Young Audrey and Tony Robine as Tech A. 

This was poignantly and compassionately directed by Ami Canaan Mann ("Morning" '01, "Texas Killing Fields" '11, "Jackie & Ryan" '14) plus TV and a video. The way this director was able to encourage Dormer to truly dig deep so as to bring out the compassion, the passion and the amazing concern for these kids of this doctor was captivating. This is a true ability of fine directing. She doesn't have a plethora of feature film experience, but with her TV work, this has served her well. It was well written by virtual newcomer to feature films, Julia Fisher Farbman (TV). This film was handled well in that the scenes were well thought out and the medical techniques were explained with clarity. There were a couple of scenes that were slightly disjointed, but considering the limited experience, this writer excelled. Her TV experience certainly was pivotal in her screenwriting. More work is what this writer needs to hone her talents. 

Since this is about the different cancers these children are experiencing, there are some scenes that will pull the heartstrings, especially considering some of these kids are babies. Natalie Dormer as Dr Evans was the perfect casting in that her performance was riveting and compelling.This is a must see, not just to see a gripping story, but to experience a little of what the families go through having their children so vulnerable.

Out of 4 Stars: 3,5                                   Rated: PG                                         116mins.

A Working Man

While most action-packed films are typically fraught with a plethora of similarities and can be predictable, they are still entertaining and are constant in righting wrongs, which most people can appreciate. Schwarzenegger, Stallone, Statham and the like have made a fortune in these types of films. Surely, if you saw Jason Statham in "The Beekeeper", you will feel right at home with him in "A Working Man". 

Levon Cade (Jason Statham) left his "profession" behind to live a simple life working construction and spending time with his daughter. But when his boss, Joe Garcia's (Michael Pena) teenager daughter, Jenny (Arianna Rivas) vanishes, he's called upon to re-employ the skills that made him a legendary figure in the shadowy world of black ops, Levon's hunt for the missing college student takes him to the heart of a sinister criminal conspiracy creating a chain reaction that will threaten his new way of life. 

Others to round out the cast are Jason Flemyng as Wolo Kolisnyk, Merae Ninioze  as Yuri, Maximilian Osinski as Dimi Kolisnyk, Cokey Falkow as Dougie, David Harbour as Gunny Lefferty, Noemi Gonzalez as Carla Garcia, wife of Joe, Isle Gie as Merry Cade, Levon's daughter, Emmett J Scanlan as Viper and Eve Mauro as Artemis. 

This was directed by the action king David Ayer ("Harsh Rimes" '05, "Street Kings" '08, "End of Watch" '12, "Sabotage"'14, "Fury" '14, "Suicide Squad" '16, "Bright" '17, "The Tax Collector" '20, "The Beekeeper" '24) plus TV, music videos and a video. By his very resume, one can see that this filmmaker is right in his comfort zone. His heroes/anti-heroes are always cold and austere--almost steely, and truly not into being chatty. But this is why we like them so much--a kind of 'make my day' kind of character just there to beat the bad guys and save the day, and Ayer is simply king at this. It is written with intensity, grit and laced with explosive energy by Sylvester Stallone ("Rocky" '76, "F.I.S.T." '78, "Rocky II" '79, "Rocky III" '82, "First Blood" '82, "Rocky IV" '85, "Cobra" '86, "Rocky V" '90, "Cliffhanger" '93, "Driven" '01, "Rocky Balboa" '06, "Rambo" '08, "The Extendables" '10, "The Expendables 2" '12, "Homefront" '13, "The Expendables 3" '14, "Creed II" '18, "Rambo: Last Blood" '19) plus other films, TV, videos and video games, and David Ayer ("U-571" 2000, "The Fast and the Furious" '01, "Training Day" '01, "Dark Blue" '02, "S.W.A.T." '03, "Harsh Times" '05, "End of Warch" '12, "Sabotage" '14, "Fury" '14, "Suicide Squad" '16, "The Tax Collector" '20) plus TV and a short, based on the book, "Levon's Trade" by Chuck Dixon. Even though Kurt Wimmer wrote "The Beekeeper", this film has some fairly similar traits to the formats involved. As aforementioned, these films can be similar, but they are a great form of escapism at its finest. Considering these two writers are consummate in their being able to write an amazing action yarn is incredible--but it helps considering their plethora of writing experience. 

Certainly if you liked "The Beekeeper", you'll love this. A similar format as 'Beekeeper', but the the script was cohesive, tight, and sure-footed. I'm not sure, but, assuming this film makes a ton of money, there could be a sequel out of this. We'll see. Lots of money--sequel, not enough money--no sequel. This is true escapism replete with explosions, adrenaline and even some humor.

Out of 4 Stars: 4                                        Rated: R                                         117mins.

The Penguin Lessons

As time goes by, we are offered more and more films based on true stories, hence the expression, "truth is stranger than fiction". So, since that seems truthful, why not, since there is much truth to that expression? This time we are offered a very endearing, funny, dramatic and heartfelt story called "The Penguin Lessons".

This poignant dramedy is the inspired true story of a disillusioned Englishman, Tom Michell (Steve Coogan) who went to work as an English teacher in a school in Buenos Aires, Argentina in 1976. Expecting an easy ride, Tom discovers a divided nation on the brink of a coup and a class of unteachable students. However, after Tom rescues a penguin from an oil spill and left on the beach, his life is turned upside down. 

Others to round out the cast are Bjorn Gustafsson as Tapio, David Herrero as Diego, Jonathan Pryce as Timothy, Aimar Miranda as Ernesto, Vivian El Jaber as Maria, Alfonsina Carrocio as Sofia, Hugo Fuertes as Ramiro, Nicanor Fernandez as Igor, Joaquin Lopez as Victor and Miguel Alejandro as Walter. 

This was poignantly directed by Peter Cattaneo ("Loved Up" (TV movie) '95, "The Full Monty" '97, "Lucky Break" '01, "Opal Dream" '06, "The Rooker" '08, "Diana and I" (TV movie) '17, "Military Wives" '19) plus TV, shorts and a video. This filmmaker certainly knows how to transition his actors, specifically Coogan, from this cold, very cautious and calculating individual to this caring and thoughtful man in the most subtle of ways. Even though Coogan is a consummate actor, it still takes fine directing for this transition to occur without the audience catching on. It was effectively written by Jeff Pope ("Fool's Gold: The Story of the Brink's--Mat Robbery" (TV movie) '93, "The Magician" (TV movie) '95, "Christmas Lights" (TV movie) '04, "Pierrepoint: The Last Hangman" '05, "The Security Men" (TV movie) '13, "Philomena" '13, "Stan & Ollie" '18, "The Lost King" '22) plus other TV movies and TV. based on the book by Tom Michell. This was similar to last year's "My Penguin Friend" in that it was also based on a true story, however the stories were different showing how their respective penguins were able to get them through their difficult moments. This story, although heartwarming and captivating of how a penguin's presence can change many people, took about 20 minutes to find the film, but once it did, it simply took off. Once the film took off, it was captivating and engrossing absolutely holding my attention. 

Certainly, if you liked "My Penguin Friend", you'll feel right at home with this. It is humorous, captivating, dramatic, and heartfelt all rolled up in the crowd-pleasing story. It has some really interesting shots and video at the end of the actual people and penguin to cap off the film.

Out of 4 Stars: 3.5                                       Rated: PG-13                                        111mins.

Locked

When a film is produced with a minimal cast, it typically is a well crafted film, i.e. "Alien", "Slingshot", "Arcadian", Brightburn", "Locke", "Flight Risk"  and the like. So, when I saw my first trailer of "Locked", I felt this was yet another film with a minimal cast, which caused me to think that this too could be an interesting film. As I was watching the film, it, like the rest of the aforementioned films was truly well written and directed.  

This is a relentless horror, psychological-thriller where luxury becomes deadly. When Eddie (Bill Skarsgard) breaks into a luxury SUV, he steps into a deadly trap set by William (Anthony Hopkins), a self-proclaimed vigilante delivering his own brand of twisted justice. With no means of escape, Eddie must fight to survive in a ride, where escape is an illusion, survival is a nightmare, and justice shifts into high gear. 

Others to round out the cast are Ashley Cartwright as Sarah Barrish, Eddie's daughter, Navid Charkhi as Butter, Michael Eklund as Karl, Emma Kombe as Little Girl and Sofia Tesema as Lipstick Woman. 

This film was directed with amazing grit, intensity, and adrenaline by David Yarovesky ("The Hive" '14, "Brightburn" '19, "Nightbooks" '21) plus TV, shorts, music videos, a video and a video game. Practically, the fast-paced aspect kicked in early on--talking about cutting to the chase--pun intended. At the beginning,the audience certainly gets a look at how Eddie is the way he is, however, we don't find out about why and how William turns out the way he is, but as the film, unfolds, we ultimately see the issues in which William has right along with Eddie's issues that he brings to this story. The way that this director was able to take us on this roller coaster ride so we see how this verbal cat-and-mouse game plays out is exhausting, but exhilarating. It was equally well penned by writer Michael Arlen Ross ("Turistas" '06, "The Throwaways" '15, "Fallen" '16, "Oracle" '23), based on the film, "4 x 4" by Mariano Cohn and Gaston Duprat. This film was written with about the same velocity of that of the film "Speed", where every frame was utilized to achieve the maximum effect. Will this film be nominated for an Oscar come that time? Probably not, but I believe this wasn't written for that reason as much as it was written for the suspense and the adrenaline aspect of it, and these filmmakers succeeded in spades. 

If you like action-packed, adrenaline-filled films, this is the film for you. It metaphorically drags one through that keyhole. It's only 95 minutes long, but I feel this is all one can handle given the intensity and sheer thrilling factor. Hold on to your seats, this is quite the ride!

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

The Last Supper

Well, it's the season of Easter, and with that, the religious, inspirational and thought-provoking films are to be released. As with the many aspects of Jesus Christ's life and ministry on Earth, "The Last Supper" chronicles the time Jesus spends with His disciples before He is then betrayed by Judas Iscariot. This is part of "The Chosen" TV presentation as with others that have been theatrically released. 

In the days leading to betrayal, a gathering of disciples including Peter (James Oliver Wheatley), John (Charlie MacGechan), Judas (Robert Knepper) and others, unravels into a web of secrets and hidden motives. As tensions simmer beneath the surface, trust is tested, and loyalty is questioned. "The Last Supper" it seems, at every glance, hides a deeper truth. With the politics against that of Jesus Christ (Jamie Ward) and His disciples increases, the more impossible it seems for the disciples to grasp what's really going on, even though Jesus is fully in control and knows exactly what's happening. This becomes a true test of the disciples' faith.

Others to round out the cast are James Faulkner as Caiaphas, Henry Garrett as Nicodemis, Nathalie Rapti Gomez as Mary Magdalene, Daniel Fathers as Joseph of Arimathea, Marie-Batoul Prenant as Rachel, Mayssae El Halla as Mother Mary and Harry Anton as The Zealot. 

This was directed with such pathos, compassion yet passion by Mauro Borrelli ("Goodbye Casanova" 2000, "Branches" '04, "Haunted Forest" '07, "The Ghostmaker" '12, "The Recall" '17, "WarHunt" '22, "Mindcage" '22) plus shorts. This filmmaker was the perfect director for this considering the rapidity of the emotions that were used since this is about the savior of the world. And Borrelli's innate ability to have his actors to 'dig deep' when emitting the different emotions that simply needed to take place was genius. I was captivated! It was also equally well written by Mauro Borrelli ("Goodbye, Casanova" 2000, "Branches" '04, "Haunted Forest" '07, "The Ghostmaker" '12, "The Recall" '17, "WarHunt" '22, "Mindcage" '22) plus shorts, and John Collins ("Under the Stadium Lights" '21). Obviously Borrelli has the lion's share of the experience, but surely Collins' input was pivotal. The timeline chronicling of this script was certainly down to the biblical one, which tells me that these writers definitely did their homework. The characters, especially that of Ward as Jesus and Wheatley as Peter were believable in their performances as well as their ability to convince the audience with the conviction used here. 

If you are into inspirational and religious type films, you'll revel with this. Other than "The Passion of the Christ" back in 2004, this has got to be one of the closet depictions of the last supper historically. This is one all needs to see especially with Easter right around the corner. It depicts Jesus to be the humble, peaceful servant many believers have come to know. Be prepared to be moved emotionally. 

Out of 4 Stars: 4                                        Rated: PG-13                                  114mins.

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.