Disclosure Day

Through the decades, director Steven Spielberg Has had a fascination with aliens or those from other worlds, i.e. "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" 1977, "E.T. The Extra Terrestrial" 1982, even producing "War of the Worlds" 2005, so it should be no surprise that he would tackle this same subject matter with "Disclosure Day"

This science-fiction film about a whistle blower, Dr. Daniel Kellner (Josh O'Connor) and a meteorologist, Margaret Fairchild (Emily Blunt) who become entangled in a conspiracy involving government cover-ups of alien contact headed up by Noah Scanlon (Colin Firth). The film is a return to the UFO genre for Spielberg , blending a chase thriller with themes of government secrecy and societal reaction to extraterrestrial life. If you found out we weren't alone, if someone showed you, proved it to you, would that frighten you? With this film, the truth belongs to eight billion people. Today is...Disclosure Day.

Others to round out the cast are Colman Domingo as Hugo Wakefield, Eve Hewson as Jane Blankenship, Wyatt Russell as Jackson, Henry Lloyd-Hughes as Casper Boyd, Elizabeth Marvel as Sister Maura, Hettienne Park as Serena, Tommy Martinez as Santiago, Gabby Beans as Angela Childs and Jeremy Shamos as Claypool. 

This was brilliantly directed with suspense and grit by the incomparable Steven Spielberg ("Duel" (TV movie) '71, "Jaws" '75, "Raiders of the Lost Ark" '81, "The Color Purple" '85, "Hook" '91, "Jurassic Park" '93, "Schindler's List" '93, "Saving Private Ryan" '98, "Minority Report" '02, "The Terminal" '04, "Munich" '05, "War Horse" '11, "Lincoln" '12, "The BFG" '16, "Ready Player One" '18, "The Fabelmans" '22) plus many other films,  TV movies, TV, shorts,and  videos. This, as with all of Spielberg's past projects, is directed with conciseness and precision one feels as though they are simply watching people live their lives--it's that realistic. His staging and pacing are spot on. It was cleverly written by seasoned writer, David Koepp ("Apartment Zero" '88, "Death Becomes Her"'92, "Jurassic Park" '93, "The Paper" '94, "Mission: Impossible" '96, "The Lost World: Jurassic Park" '97, "Panic Room"'02, "Spider-Man" '02, "War of the Worlds" '05, "Zathura" '05, "Premium Rush" '12, "Inferno" '16, "Presence" '24, "Jurassic World: Rebirth" '25) plus many other films, TV, video games and a short. Obviously Koepp has proved himself as the writer he is, and the fact that he has collaborated with Spielberg several times before, certainly showcases his credibility. The cohesiveness and delineation of one scene to the next was compelling. There were a couple of places of continuity issues (can't mention them lest there be a spoiler alert), but all in all the script was spot on. And the cinematography by Janusz Kaminski, basically Spielberg's cinematographer, was stunning. Incredible that John Williams has created yet another score for a film considering he's 94 years old, and working yet again with Spielberg. 

Interesting that the aliens in this were not aggressive as with other films of the same genre, but it is interesting that the bible does say, "Satan is the ruler and power of this earth", and since Satan is the epitome of evil, then one could conclude that beyond the earth places wouldn't be tainted by evil. Of course, Satan only has the power he does by God's permission--it's called free will in who we will follow., but outside this planet, if aliens exist, they should be docile. Anyway, enough said. If you like that up close and personal feel, it is presented in an IMAX format as well. 

Out of 4 Stars: 3.5                                           Rated: PG-13                                   146mins.

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Masters of the Universe

Well,you know we're now into the summer film season what with "Masters of the Universe" in our midst. Summer is typically fraught with big-budget and animated films to woo those kids and teenagers, fresh out of school, into the multiplex. And what a better way to spend part of the summer than with a comic book film. 

In "Masters of the Universe", this franchise is brought back to the big screen in this epic live-action adventure. After being separated for 15 years, the Sword of Power leads Prince Adam (Nicholas Galitzine) back to Eternia where he discovers his home shattered under the fiendish rule of Skeletor (Jared Leto). To save his family and his world, Adam must join forces with his closest allies, Teela (Camila Mendes) and Duncan/Man-At-Arms (Idris Elba), and embrace his true identity as He-Man--the most powerful man in the universe. 

Others to round out the cast are Johannes Haukur Johannesson as Fisto, Jon Xue Zhang as Ram Man, Alison Brie as Evil-Lyn, Sam C. Wilson as Trap Jaw, Charlotte Riley as Queen Marlena, James Purefoy as King Randor, Morena Baccarin as the Sorceress, Kristen Wiig as voice of Roboto and Christiaan Bettridge as Dian.

This was directed with grit and explosiveness by Travis Knight ("Kubo and the Two Strings" '16, "Bumblebee" '18). This filmmaker doesn't have an extensive resume, however he has proven himself with just the two films. Certainly, helming a multi-faceted big-budget film isn't an easy task, but Knight carries it off with relative ease. His staging and pacing is amazing. He does have three films coming down the road, and if you like his style, his "Six Billion Dollar Man", although has no known production slated, should be awesome, and his "Wildwood" is in post production. This was interestingly written by Chris Butler, Aaron Nee and Adam Nee and Dave Callaham, based on a story by Aaron Nee & Adam Nee and Alex Litvak and Michael Finch, which is based on "Masters of the Universe" by Mattel. It's interesting that David Callaham received the least billing of the writing credits considering he has the lion's share of the screenplay. But, Butler and Aaron Nee and Adam Nee are more connected with the director, Knight, so that must've had something to do with it, and certainly, Callaham might have given these other writers center stage since he already has considerable experience. Over all, this was better than I ever thought it would be--the trailer really didn't sell me, and I thought it was a bit cheesy, but, since I have no experience with knowledge of this franchise, it was made to be a bit cheesy I was told. And it was a bit long-in-the-tooth, and it could've been edited about 10 minutes from the final cut. But otherwise, this script was impactful and kept you moving through a vast amount of this. And the visual effects predominantly designed by ILM (Industrial, Light & Magic) and Double Negative, were incredible and were in your face, but considering this was meant to be a bit cheesy, this would be permissible. 

Certainly, if you like comic book films, or more to the point, the Masters of the Universe franchise, you'll love this. And, as long as it makes a ton of money, wait through the end credits, because there will be a sequel. I know, what a shock! But, it's an entertaining way to spend a couple hours  for a summer afternoon.

Out of 4 Stars: 3                                                Rated: PG-13                                               140mins.

Power Ballad

Usually films about srongwriters are typically based on a true story about real writers or performers, however "Power Ballad" is created out of pure fiction which makes it truly intriguing. Certainly when it comes to songwriters and performers, many aspects of what occurred in this has happened in true life, so it did come across of a film based on real life. 

When Rick Power (Paul Rudd), a past-his-prime wedding singer, meets fading boy-band star Danny Wilson (Nick Jonas) during a gig, the two bond over music and a late-night jam session. But when Danny turns one of Rick's songs into the hit that reignites his career, Rick sets out to reclaim the recognition he believes he deserves--even if it means risking everything he cares about. "Power Ballad" is a feel good story about music, self-respect, friendship, and the price of ambition. 

Others to round out the cast are Peter McDonald as Sandy, Rory Keenan as Binzer, Paul Reid as Bernie, Keith McErlean as Kyle, Emma Rose Creaner as Claire, Rick's wife, Beth Fallon as Aja, Jack Reynor as Mac, Havana Rose Lui as Marcia and Robert Mitchell as George.

This was directed with grit, sequencing and an impressive amount of harmony when it came to the chemistry between Rudd and Jonas by John Carney ("November Afternoon" '96, "Park" '99, "On the Edge" '01, "Once" '06, "Zonad" '09, "The Rafters" '12, "Begin Again" '13, "Sing Street" '16, "Flora and Son" '23) plus TV, a TV movie and a short. Clearly this filmmaker has an impressive resume of work, so obviously he was able to put this film together with quality all the while being able to induce an interesting yet compelling story. Carney is from Ireland, so it's no surprise that this was shot in that country. It was equally well penned by writers John Carney (See above resume). and Peter McDonald ("The Bachelor Weekend" '13) plus TV and shorts. Certainly Carney has the lion's share of the experience here, however McDonald definitely had clever input, especially him playing one of Rick's friends and pulled it off well. These filmmakers, being from Ireland are truly talented in their respective positions and would be interested in seeing more work from them. The only aspect I can see that maybe was touted to high was that this actually ends bitter-sweetly, instead of being a film that will cause all to stand up and cheer. Actually, its ending turned out more poignant than otherwise, but when you're expecting a certain ending and it doesn't happen, it seems, at first, somewhat of a letdown. 

As aforementioned, this film's ending was not only poignant, but it was actually realistic which made it a film that will continue to make you think well after the end credits roll. I'm actually glad it didn't end with a nice bow at the end. And the chemistry between Rudd and Jonas was incredible, and a film performance I've not seen from Rudd that was Oscar worthy.

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

Tuner

When one thinks of a safecracking or heist type film, they often think of "Ocean's Eleven" 2001 or maybe "The Italian Job" 2003. These were high-end heist type films, so when a small gang of robbers decide to break into a safe and can't, who do they contact? Safecrackers are us?

Niki White (Leo Woodall), who is a gifted young piano tuner, who happens to suffer from hyperacusis, a heightened sense of hearing which makes hearing too loud of noises causes a detrimental backlash, draws the attention of criminals, who see his talents as useful for opening safes as well as for tuning Steinways. With his once promising musical career over, he works across New York with his mentor Harry Horowitz (Dustin Hoffman), encountering an array of characters , including composition student Ruthie (Havana Rose Liu), with whom he forges an unexpected connection. Niki's safecracking work threatens his budding romance with Ruthie and pulls him into increasingly dangerous territory.

Others to round out the cast are Lior Raz as Uri, Tovah Feldshuh as Marla Horowitz, Harry's wife, Gil Cohen as Yoni, Nissan Sakira as Benny, Jean Reno as Maestro Marius Maissner, Jean Yoon as Dr. Madeline Richard and David Reale as Travis Conway.

This was brilliantly sequenced, staged and paced incredibly by director Daniel Roher ("Ghosts of Our Forest" '17, "Once Were Brothers" '19, "Navalny" '22, "Blink" '24, "The AI Doc: Or How I Became an Apocaloptimist" '26) plus TV and shorts. The cohesiveness, fluidity and sequencing of this filmmaker is stunning and with every film he directs, he only gets more accomplished. If you like his style, his "Positano" is being filmed as of present. It was equally delineated well by writers Daniel Roher ("Once Were Brothers" '19) plus shorts and Robert Ramsey ("Destiny Turns on the Radio" '95, "Life" '99, "Big Trouble" '02, "Intolerable Cruelty" '03, "Man of the House" '05, "Soul Men" '08) plus TV and a video. Even though Roher has only one other feature film credit, Ramsey certainly made up the difference. These two writers are truly consummate and am curious to see any film by either of them. And, of course, the acting by Leo Woodall was incredible and has quite a future in film. His performance in "Nuremberg" in 2025 was riveting. And supporting actors, Hoffman, Feldshuh and Raz were strong and credible. 

This film has it all, adventure, drama, humor and redemption all rolled up in a slickly done film to please all. The writing, directing, acting and cinematography by Lowell A. Meyer was enthralling as it was captivating.

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

Pressure

We've all seen different strategies in which to plan an attack for a war, but how about a general in WWII hinging his attack prior to D-Day on a meteorologist report? Well, in "Pressure" this is what exactly happened to ensure the US attack toward the Germans at Normandy was successful.

In the seventy-two hours leading up to D-Day, all the pieces are in place except for one key element--the British weather. Britain's chief meteorologist officer Captain James Stagg (Andrew Scott) is called upon to deliver the most consequential forecast in history, locking him into a tense standoff with the entire Allied leadership. The wrong conditions could devastate the largest ever seaborne invasion, while any delay risks German intelligence catching on. With his only trusted aide Lieutenant Kay Summersby (Kerry Condon) to confide in, and haunted by a catastrophic D-Day rehearsal, the final decision rests with Supreme Allied Commander Dwight D. Eisenhower (Brendan Fraser). With only hours to go, the fate of the war and the lives of millions hang in the balance. 

Others to round out the cast are Chris Messina as Captain Irving Krick, Damian Lewis as Bernard 'Monty' Montgomery, Tamsin Topolski as Liz Stagg, James' wife, Con O'Neill as Air Marshal Leigh Mallory, Alexander Hanson as General Omar Bradley, Jojo Macari as Andrew Carter, Robert Portal as Admiral Bertram Ramsay, Joshua Hill as Casey and Toby Williams as Bryant. 

This film was brilliantly sequenced well by director Anthony Maras ("Hotel Mumbai" '18) plus shorts. Even though this filmmaker has limited feature film experience, his shorts has certainly served him well. It was concise, paced and staged well. Undoubtedly this director will assuredly receive more work. It was cleverly written by David Haig ("My Boy Jack" (TV movie) '07) and Anthony Maras ("Hotel Mumbai" '18) plus shorts, based on a play by David Haig. First of all, I had no idea that the attack on the Germans on D-Day hung on weather and if the weather was willing to work with the US or not, and secondly, this certainly made a unique and original premise on the entire war genre. The meteorologists were in a differing position of what kind of weather was to occur on June 6, 1944. It's no wonder that Haig was brought in to assist with the creation of the script since the film was based on his play and the tenseness and gut-wrenching emotions kept the audience on the edge of their seats. Really, other than a couple of small places of choppiness in script, this story was spot on. 

If you like the genre of war, you will love this, especially since the premise of this film is like nothing you've seen. The directing, acting, especially by Fraser and cinematography by Jamie Ramsay bsc/sacg was exquisite. It's like going back in time to a time that was fraught with uncertainty, but in other ways, was a much simpler time compared to our world today.

Out of 4 Stars: 3.5                                       Rated:PG-13                                   100mins.

Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu

When the original "Star Wars" premiered back in 1977, who knew that this massive franchise would've lasted 49 years with no end in sight? Of course, during that time, there have been sequels, prequels, multiple storylines, and many different characters which have stemmed from the original cast or just plain new along the way. Well, now we have "Star Ward: The Mandalorian and Grogu" to add to that continually growing franchise.

The evil Empire has fallen, and Imperial warlords, namely Lord Janu (Jonny Coyne), remain scattered throughout the galaxy. As the fledging New Republic headed up by Colonel Ward (Sigoury Weaver), works to protect everything the Rebellion fought for, they have enlisted the help of legendary Mandalorian bounty hunter Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal) and his young apprentice Grogu to rid of these warlords once and for all. The Mandalorian's initial assignment is to rescue Jabba the Hut's nephew, Rotta the Hut (voice of Jeremy Allen White) from the clutches of Janu, and then things go amazingly awry. 

Others to round out the cast are Steve Blum as Zeb Orrelios, Matthew Willig as Hogsberth, Hemky Madera as Commander Baro, Martin Scorsese as voice of Hugo Durant, Rick Famuyiwa as Jib Dodger and Paul Sun-Hyung Lee as Captain Carson Teva. 

This was sequenced well with grit by director Jon Favreau ("Made" '01, "Elf" '03, "Zathura: A Space Adventure" '05, "Iron Man" '08, "Iron Man 2" '10, "Cowboys & Aliens" '11, "Chef" '14, "The Jungle Book" '16, "The Lion King" '19) plus TV movies, TV, video games and a music video. As with his other big-budget films, he certainly knows his way around working with multiple units to insure proper staging, pacing and continuity which was paramount with this film, He has become a recognizable filmmaker that we've come to trust and be rest assured of a tight, cohesive film. It was effectively written by Jon Favreau, Dave Filoni and Noah Kloor, based on characters created by George Lucas. Although this film does produce interest after a while, it simply is basically predictable and assuming as the film is introduced. After a point, I could seemingly predict how the next scene would be played out. Even though Filoni's experience is within the 'Star Wars' franchise, it was for the TV medium, otherwise Favreau, having the lion's share of the experience, simply kept this script together. Kloor, while certainly having viable input, just needs more work under his belt. Was it a wash? Of course not! It had adventure, drama, humor all with those amazing visual effects predominantly by ILM (Industrial, Light & Magic) who has been producing the visuals since the inception of Star Wars. The characters were well thought out and definitely captured the audience's attention. 

If you're a 'Star Wars' fan, this will undoubtedly put you in that happy place. Being based on Lucas' characters will help and with effective directing, photography by David Klein asc, and visuals, this will please. If you like that up close and personal feel, this is also presented in an IMAX format as well. 

Out of 4 Stars: 3                                      Rated: PG-13                                        132mins.

 

In the Grey

The director, Guy Ritchie has been involved in many films, most that don't have an overly original premise, however, his incredibly distinct style makes these films stand out above so many other similar films. His slick style is why he's become a popular filmmaker--so much so, that it becomes pure joy and great entertainment to see his films, and "In the Grey" is no exception. 

"In the Grey" follows a covert team of elite operatives including Sid (Henry Cavill), Bronco (Jake Gyllenhaal) and Rachel (Eiza Gonzalez), who live in the global shadows, as comfortable wielding power and influence as they are automatic weapons and high explosives. When a ruthless despot Manny Salazar (Carlos Bardem) steals a billion-dollar fortune, the team is sent to steal it back on what would be for anyone else a suicide mission. What begins as an impossible heist gets much worse, spiraling into an all-out war of strategy, deception and survival.

Others to round out the cast are Fisher Stevens as William Horowitz, Rosamund Pike as Bobby Sheen, Michael Vu as Ed Glover, Mohammed Al Turki as Wolfgang Klose, Kojo Attah as Andre Baker, Jason Wong as Gucci Reyes, Emmett J. Scanlan as Mick Dunne, Christian Ochoa Lavernia as Jonathan Moreno and Gonzalo Bouza as Javier.

This was directed with the trademark, grit, intensity laced with slickness by the incomparable Guy Ritchie ("Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels" '98, "Snatch"2000, "Swept Away" '02, "Revolver" '05, "RocknRolla" '08, "Sherlock Holmes" '09, "The Man from U.N.C.L.E." '15, "Aladdin" '19, "The Gentlemen" '19, "The Covenant" '23 "Fountain of Youth" '25) plus other films, a TV movie, TV, shorts and music videos. I can't mention enough about Ritchie's distinct directing style since it is so compelling, and it is so distinct that, after a few minutes of running time, I can be clear that it is a Ritchie film without knowing the title. The photography by Ed Wild bsc, along with the slick editing by Martin Walsh ace, and Jim Weedon clearly had Ritchie's name and style on it. It was also executed well by writer Guy Ritchie ("Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels" '98, "RocknRolla" '08, "King Arthur: Legend of the Sword" '17, The Gentlemen" '19, "Wrath of Man" '21 "The Covenant" '23) plus other films, TV and shorts. While this film carried an interesting premise with lethal operatives working 'in the grey'--hence the name of the film, there were a couple of inconsistencies and choppiness within this script. It, like some other films, start with bringing its audience into a scene where bombs and bullets were flying, and then takes us back as a flashback, so we end up to where we 'came in at, and then continues, and this is a captivating format, but it could've been polished a bit more. But this certainly wasn't enough to detract from the excitement and explosiveness of the film. If you like this writer's style of writing and directing, his "Viva La Madness" is being filmed presently.

If you're a Ritchie fan, like I am, this will hit home with you. This filmmaker has worked his way up the directing ladder, and it hasn't been easy, but he has proven himself time and again. His style and slickness to his films carries an avid fanbase and will continue to do so. This is a rollicking, humorous, thrilling and explosive film for all to enjoy. 

Out of 4 Stars: 3                                           Rated: R                                           96mins.

The Sheep Detectives

We've seen many live films that utilize animals where they are able to speak to each other by using computers and animation, such as "Babe" 1995, "Babe: Pig in the City" 1998 to mention a couple. These types of films are usually films that are from the heart, and "The Sheep Detectives" is no exception. This film is as wonderful as "Babe" was. 

In this witty, new breed of mystery, George (Hugh Jackman) is a shepherd who reads detective novels to his beloved sheep every night assuming they can't possibly understand. But when a mysterious incident disrupts life on the farm, the sheep realize they must become the detectives. As they follow the clues and investigate human suspects, such as Caleb Merrow (Tosin Cole), Ham Gilyard (Conleth Hill), Beth Pennock (Hong Chau) and Reverend Hillcoate (Kobna Holdbrook-Smith), they prove that even sheep can be brilliant crime-solvers. And with Officer Tim Derry (Nicholas Braun), an affable but ill-equipped police officer, the sheep save the day. 

Others to round out the cast are Julia Louis-Dreyfus as voice of Lily, Chris O'Dowd as voice of Mopple, Regina Hall as voice of Cloud, Bryan Cranston as voice of Sebastian, Patrick Stewart as voice of Sir Ritchfield, Brett Goldstein as voice of Ronnie, Bella Ramsey as voice of Zora and Rhys Darby as voice of Wool-Eyes. 

This film was directed with wit, heart and compassion by Kyle Balda ("The Lorax" (co-directed) '12, "Minions" '15, "Despicable Me 3" '17, "Minions: The Rise of Gru" '22) plus videos. Even though this filmmaker has only directed totally animated feature films, this live film with super-imposed speaking of the animals certainly uses animation to achieve this effect. His ability to stage and pace this film was consummate, and he will eventually make the transition from totally animated to totally live films very soon. It was equally written with heart and soul by Craig Mazin ("RocketMan" '97, "Senseless" '98, "Scary Movie 3" '03, "Scary Movie 4" '06, "Superhero Movie" '08, "The Hangover Part II" '11, "Identity Thief" '13, "The Hangover Part III" '13, "The Huntsman: Winter's War" '16) plus TV, based on a screen story by Craig Mazin, which is based on the novel "Three Bags Full" by Leonie Swann. When I saw my first trailer on this film, my first impression was that it was doable, and after viewing it, it was a wonderful, heartwarming and humorous film. It was cohesive, concise and sequenced well. I recommend this movie highly.

This film has it all: wit, heart, humor, redemption and love all rolled up into a great way to spend a couple of hours. The writing was tight and the directing was exquisite. This is a film for the whole family, and in a world that has been turned upside down, this is certainly something that is so needed today. I'd give this a 5 star out of 4 stars if that was possible. Grab the popcorn and enjoy this gem!

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

Desert Warrior

War films are about as common in Hollywood as crime dramas, and just about every war has been addressed, i.e. WWI, WWII, Vietnam, Korean, Civil, Revolutionary, Middle East certainly. But even if a film is not directly based on an actual war, we have "Desert Warrior to ponder over. 

Set in seventh-century Arabia, Princess Hind (Aiysha Hart) defies her fate, refusing to become a concubine to the ruthless Emperor Kisra II (Ben Kingsley). Fleeing into the desert with her father, she is hunted by a merciless army and forced to trust a legendary bandit (Anthony Mackie) with secrets of his own. Rising from fugitive to fearless warrior, Hind unites warring tribes for a final stand--the Battle of Dhi Qar, a clash that will change history. 

Others to round out the cast are Sharlto Copley as Jalabzeen, Sami Bouajila as Hani, Ghassan Massoud as Al-Numan, Lamis Ammar as Medicine Woman, Ramsey Faragallah as Ibn QaBisah, Younes Bouab as Aasif, Said Boumazoughe as Samir, Geza Rohrig as Al Hamerz, Alain Saadeh as Yazid and Omar Al-Atawi as Shepherd Boy.

This was directed with such delineation and dissection of characters by Rupert Wyatt ("Subterrain" '01, "The Escapist" '08, "Rise of the Planet of the Apes" '11, "The Gambler" '14, "Captive State" '19) plus TV and shorts. Considering all the diverse characters, this filmmaker was able to establish, through his actors, a definite distinction between one another. It was captivating, enough that I'm encouraged to see how his "Boxman" is treated which now is in pre-production. It was written interestingly by David Self, Rupert Wyatt and Erica Beeney. Both Wyatt and Beeney have collaborated in other films, but clearly felt they needed someone that obtained a bit more experience, so enters Self, who certainly has the lion's share of feature film experience. The premise was definitely an interesting one, and with the exception of a couple of places of disjointedness and that it was a bit long-in-the-tooth, it was entertaining and for sure a swashbuckler. It probably would've faired better with only two writers--this is a common mistake with other films, where there's just too many hands in the pot. But even with these aspects, it was still a film worthy of viewing, if for no other reason than for its sweeping cinematography by Guillermo Garza. 

If you like war films or even films that deal with conflicts due to property or religious, etc, this will fit the bill. The photography, costumes, acting, especially by Mackie, Hart and Copley were all stunning and definitely kept the audience's attention. 

Out of 4 Stars: 3                                        Rated: R                                   127mins.

The Devil Wears Prada 2

When "The Devil Wears Prada" was released in 2006, because of its amazing profit, it is surprising that it took 20 years to produce a sequel. 20 years! It is difficult to believe it's been that long with the existing cast still in tow. Certainly this is a sequel, which usually aren't as effective, but the director and writer, who filmed its predecessor, produced a worthy film. 

"The Devil Wears Prada 2" reunites Mirada Priestly (Meryl Streep), and Andy Sachs (Anne Hathaway) as they navigate the changing media landscape, with Emily Charlton (Emily Blunt) and Nigel (Stanley Tucci) also returning, alongside new cast members like Stuart (Kenneth Branagh), Lucy Lieu and Benji Barnes (Justin Theroux). This story centers on Miranda facing industry flux and a forced reunion with a more mature Andy, who is now a major player, while confronting Emily, who is a powerful executive at the major brand, Dior. This explores themes of modern journalism and the evolution of the fashion world.

Others to round out the cast are Simone Ashley as Amari, Tracie Thoms as Lily, Caleb Hearon as Johnny, Patrick Brammall as Peter, B.J. Novak, Helen J. Shen as Jin Chao and Lady Gaga as herself. 

This was directed with consistency and wit by David Frankel ("Miami Rhapsody" '95, "The Pennsylvania Miners' Story" (TV movie) '02, "The Devil Wears Prada" '06, "Marley & Me" '08, "The Big Year" '11, "Hope Springs" '12, "One Chance" '13, "The King of 7B" (TV movie) ''15, "Collateral Beauty" '16, "Jerry & Marge Go Large" '22) plus TV, shorts, videos and a music video. Considering this filmmaker directed the original, this came across very similarly, which helped as far as getting reacquainted with the characters. His staging, pacing and cohesiveness, like the original was spot on which made it easy to follow along. Like it predecessor, this was also written by Aline Brosh McKenna ("Three to Tango" '99, "Laws of Attraction" '04, "Drive/II" (TV movie) '06, "The Devil Wears Prada" '06, "27 Dresses" '08, "MorningGlory" '10, "I Don't Know How She Does It" '11, "We Bought a Zoo" '11, "Annie" '14, "Cruella" (story) '21,"Your Place or Mine" '23) plus TV, based on characters created by Lauren Weisberger. This film became a bit frustrating for the reason that it was very similar to its predecessor--this can be a plus or minus depending on how the script is treated. So, as I'm waiting for a 'different' film to come out of this story, the script then turns and slowly becomes the film they and we were hoping for, and this made the film much better. Miranda wasn't as intense as in the original, but then they got to know one another more in the 20 years. I remember that when I went to see the original back in 2006, my sister, who read the book the film was based on mentioned  that the character of Miranda Priestly was actually more 'evil' that in the original film. I was amazed considering the intensity that Streep brought to that role. And, of course, the production values i.e. costumes, photography, production design, were seamless and truly enhanced the production. 

It was certainly nice to see the original cast--Streep, Hathaway, Blunt and Tucci back again for another uproarious banter back and forth. Even the new characters including Branagh, Theroux, Lui and Ashley were effective and supportive. Certainly, if you liked the original, "The Devil Wears Prada", you'll love this. It shows how many changes in 20 years can happen culturally and professionally. 

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

Animal Farm

When George Orwell wrote the novel "Animal Farm" back during the time of November 1943 and February 1944, who knew we, as a country would be even thoughtful about the possibly of communism in this country? He was clearly a visionary and he was warning us, because there are many people today who are concerned about this country going that route. This animated "Animal Farm" addresses that potentiality by Angel Studios which is quite timely. 

From visionary director Andy Serkis, and featuring the voices of Seth Rogen, Gaten Matarazzo, Glenn Close, and Woody Harrelson, comes a satirical allegory of revolution and power. Animal Farm traces how a movement for equality is systematically corrupted. As the pigs, including Napoleon (Seth Rogen), Lucky (Gaten Matarazzo), Puff (Iman Vellani), Squealer (Kieran Culkin), and others consolidate control, truth is erased, dissent is crushed, and the farm descends into a ruthless dictatorship--fulfilling Orwell's warning about the dangers of communism. Through Lucky, Boxer, a horse (Woody Harrelson) and others, the power lust of Napoleon  and human, Freida Pilkington (Glenn Close) is put through the test. 

Others to round out the cast are Jim Parsons as Carl, Steve Buscemi as Mr. Whymper, Kathleen Turner as Benjamin, Laverne Fox as Snowball, and Andy Serkis as Mr, Jones, the farmer. 

This was directed with the ability to increase the intensity in a subtle, but continuous way by Andy Serkis ("Breathe" '17, "The Ruins of Empires" (TV movie) '18, "Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle" '18, "Venom: Let There Be Carnage" '21) plus a video game.  Most of this fimmaker's experience has been as an actor, so going from in front of the camera to behind it was an easier place considering his knowledge of what to expect from his actors, him being one. His resume isn't extensive, however what he's done has been quality. If fact, if you like his style, his "The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum" is in post production for a 2027 release. His staging and pacing is effective and the characters interacted well. It was interestingly penned by Nicholas Stoller ("Fun with Dick and Jane" '05, "Yes Man" '08, "Get Him to the Greek" '10, "Gulliver's Travels" '10, "The Muppets" '11, "The Five-Year Engagement" '12, "Zoolander 2" '16, "Storks" '16, "Night School" '18, "You're Cordially Invited" '25) plus other films, a TV movie, TV, and a video, based on the novel, "Animal Farm" by George Orwell. Obviously this writer is seasoned. The end of this is a bit different than the novel it's based on, probably because of it being geared toward family, and being animated. There were a couple of places of disjointedness and was a bit choppy in some places, but the message and execution of it was strong and much needed in this society. The animation was created by Cinesite was effective and fit the film well. 

'If you've never read Orwell's novel, read it. Being written in the mid '40s, this is basically prophetic. It's like looking at the newspaper today. Interesting it was Orwell who also wrote 'the book "1984" about 'big brother' with the corporate world and huge government back between 1946 and 1948, that was published in June of 1949. This man was a visionary. They probably laughed at him back then, but whose laughing now? 

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

Fuze

We've seen films that center around the threat of a bomb in a city, and also have seen films about war, specifically in around the Middle East, but we haven't seen the combination of the two, which is where "Fuze" was born. This carries a whole new meaning of the term, 'a nail-biter'.

Set in contemporary London, "Fuze" unfolds after an unexpected World War II bomb is unearthed at a busy construction site, forcing a massive citywide evacuation headed up by Major Will Tranker (Aaron Taylor Johnson). Amid the escalating tension and chaos, a daring criminal operation headed up by X (Sam Worthington) and Karalis (Theo James) is set in motion--one that uses the evacuation as cover for a meticulously planned heist. As authorities race against time to contain the crisis, alliances blur and moral boundaries are crossed, the film deftly propels audiences through a series of calculated twists delivering a wildly entertaining ride. 

Others to round out the cast are Elham Ehsas as Rahim, Gugu Mbatha-Raw as Zusana, Saffron Hocking as Dootsie, Laurie Duncan as Wardy, Hannah Collins as PC Marks, Matt Beverage as PC Turner, Shaun Mason as Y and Nabil Elouahabi as Z. 

This was directed with tenacity, grit and incredible intensity 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, "Relay" '24) plus TV and shorts. This became a great character study between Will, Karalis and X which is talented directing. These characters obtained their own distinct personalities and although these actors are talented, this was fine directing. Look at this filmmaker's resume and you'll see that Mackenzie was very much in his zone. It was cleverly written by Ben Hopkins ("Simon Magus" '99, "Janice Beard" '99, "The Nine Lives of Tomas Katz" 2000, "The Market: A Tale of Trade" '08, "Napoli: City of the Damned" (TV movie) '09, "Lost in Karastan" '14, "Hasret: Sehnsucht" '15, "Marionette" '19, "In Search of Monsters" '21, "Inside" '23, "Limonov: The Ballad of Eddie" '24, "The Narrative" (co-writer) '26). The way this writer was able to intertwine the story of the mass evacuation and of the bank heist and still was able to tie them together was amazing. However, was this flawless? No, since there were a couple of places that seemed a bit disjointed, it did have a tendency to meander a little. But otherwise, this story kept its audience on the edge of there seats and the twists and turns will keep anyone riveted. 

The directing and writing were implemented well, but the combination of the three stars, James, Worthington and Taylor-Johnson kept you glued to the screen. The raw intensity between them and the supporting cast was real, convincing and compelling.

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

Michael

As time has gone on through the decades, we've seen a plethora of different biopics about singers in the limelight. We have biopics on singers, such as Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Whitney Houston, Bob Marley, to mention a handful. So, now to add to that ever growing list is "Michael" about the 'king of pop' Michael Jackson.

"Michael" is the cinematic portrayal of the life and legacy of one of the most influential artists the world has ever known. The film tells the story of Michael Jackson's life beyond the music, tracing his journey from the discovery of his extraordinary talent as the lead of the Jackson Five, to the visionary artist whose creative ambition fueled a relentless  pursuit to become the biggest entertainer in the world. Highlighting both his life off-stage and some of the most iconic performances from his early solo career, the film gives audiences a front-row seat to Michael Jackson as never before. This is where his story begins. Through Michael's (Jaafar Jackson) upbringing in Gary, Indiana, by his dad, Joe Jackson (Colman Domingo) and his mom, Katherine (Nia Long), the starting of his career as the lead of the Jackson Five, to his breaking away from them to go solo with his new manager John Branca (Miles Teller), to his Pepsi commercial gone awry, he lead a rather tumultuous life all the while not really experiencing anything of a normal childhood or life in general. 

This was directed with incredible delineation and oreciseness by Antoine Fuqua ("The Replacement Killers" '98, "Bait" 2000, "Training Day" '01, "Tears of the Sun" '03, "Lightning in a Bottle" '04, "King Arthur" '04, "Shooter" '07, "Brooklyn's Finest" '09, "Olympus Has Fallen" '13, "The Equalizer" '14, "Southpaw" '15, "The Magnificent Seven" '16, "The Equalizer 2" '18, "What's My Name: Muhammed Ali" '19,"Infinite" '21, "The Guilty" '21, "Emancipation" '22,"The Equalizer 3" '23, "Troublemaker: The Story Behind the Mandela Tapes" '26) plus TV, TV movies, shorts, videos and a plethora of music videos. This filmmaker simply improves with each and every project he is attached to--his sequencing, staging, pacing, cohesiveness in his films are effortless and this film is no exception. His "Training Day" and "The Magnificent Seven" films are definitely a couple of his best. This film was dissected with amazing clarity and he was able to get his actors to dig deep in the way they conveyed their respective characters. It was equally well written by John Logan ("Bats" '99, "Any Given Sunday" '99, "Gladiator" 2000, "The Time Machine" '02, "Star Trek: Nemesis" '02, "Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas" '03, "The Last Samurai" '03, "The Aviator" '04, "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street" '07, "Rango" '11, "Coriolanus" '11, "Hugo" '11, "Skyfall" '12, "Spectre"'15, "Genius" '16, "Alien: Covenant" '17, "They/Them" '22) plus TV, TV movies, shorts, videos and and a video game. As with Fuqua, this writer is a seasoned pro with work that is a list of artful projects. This was formatted as a flashback as has occurred in many films, especially biopics, but this clearly showed us how Michael became the individual he became through the different incidents in his life letting the audience in on his way of thinking. The only aspect of this film that was perplexing was that after Michael's London tour in 1988, the screen then shows three words which says, his story continues, which I certainly wasn't expecting, but was definitely purposed.So, there's more than likely a continuation. And the cinematography by Dion Beebe acs/asc ("Crush" '92, "Chicago" '02, "Collateral" '04, "Memoirs of a Geisha" '05, "Green Lantern" '11, "Gangster Squad" '13, "Into the Woods" '14, "13 Hours" '16, "Mary Poppins Returns" '18, "The Little Mermaid" '23) plus other films,TV, TV movies, shorts, videos and music videos) was absolutely stunning as are all his productions. He certainly brings out the color, the vividness and clarity in his films. 

Certainly if you love Michael Jackson's music, you'll be in that heaven. I'm not expressly a Jackson fan, however, with all objectivity, this film was amazing--acting, writing, directing, photography. Apparently Michael Jackson's nephew (Jaafar Jackson) played the part of Michael as an adult in this and considering this is his first film, he will go places. If you like that up close and personal feeling, this is presented in an IMAX format as well. 

Out of 4 Stars: 4                                       Rated: PG-13                                       127mins.

Normal

Films about small-town America can be fraught with deep secrets "Normal" being of no exception. Everybody knows everybody and all stick together, so what happened with this small town? Well, it certainly wasn't anything I could've thought of which makes it definitely more fresh and original. 

"Normal" is a neo-Western thriller that stars Bob Odenkirk as Ulysses Richardson, an unassuming substitute sheriff assigned to the quiet Midwestern town of Normal, Minnesota. Seeking a temporary escape from personal and professional turmoil, Ujysses instead finds himself drawn into a crisis when a botched bank robbery exposes a dangerous secret beneath the town's calm exterior. As tensions escalate (and boy, do they escalate), he is forced to confront his troubled past and the true nature of the community namely the mayor, Kibner (Henry Winkler), Deputy Blaine Anderson (Ryan Allen), Deputy Mike Nelson (Billy MacLellan) and others he has been tasked with protecting. 

Others to round out the cast are Lena Headey as Moira, Reena Jolly as Lori, Brendan Fletcher as Keith, Peter Shinkoda as Joe, Jess McLeod as Alex, David Lawrence as Dr. Walter Ville, John C. MacDonald as Kenny, Alex MacMillan as Kent, Dan De Jaeger as Ernie and Derek Barnes as James.

This was slickly directed with grit, intensity and humor by Ben Wheatley ("Down Terrace" '09, "Kill List" '11, "Sightseers" '12, "A Field in England" '13, "High-Rise" '15, "Free Fire" '16, "Happy New Year, Colin Burstead" '18, "Rebecca" '20, "In the Earth" '21, "Meg 2: The Trench" '23, "Bulk" '25) plus TV movies, TV, videos and a music video. This director's staging, pacing and sequencing was incredible in how this film kept its audience on the edge of their seats. Odenkirk's character as sheriff was so staid, but with an underlying intensity to him and this is simply effective directing. It was creatively well written by Derek Kolstad ("One in the Chamber" '12, "The Package" '12, "John Wick" '14, "John Wick: Chapter 2" '17, "John Wick 3--Parabellum" '19, "Nobody" '21, "Die Hart" '23, "John Wick: Chapter 4" '23, "Nobody 2" '25) plus TV, shorts, and videos, based on a story by Derek Kolstad and Bob Odenkirk. Considering that Kolstad wrote this film, it's no wonder why or how it could've been written in any other way but slickly and cohesive. The sequencing in script was spot on, and the cast worked so well off of each other.This definitely had a "Nobody"feel to it which is a plus, but then again, Kolstad wrote that film as well. The premise was unique, fresh with definite twists. Can't wait to his next project, and many more are coming. 

If you liked the 'Nobody' or 'John Wick' franchises, you'll love this. It simply has it all: action, high-adrenaline, explosiveness, passion, humor and redemption all rolled up in this tight, concise and slickly executed thriller. It does have a few more than a few cuss words, so not for the kids, but it is rollicking and thrilling. Enjoy! 

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

Beast

Through the decades we have experienced many boxing films, i.e. "Rocky", "Raging Bull", "The Fighter", "Southpaw", "Creed" and others, however "Beast" is one of the first MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) films that has come along. This film comes across as something that is similar to the format of a boxing film, but clearly is not. And with this, it's about redemption, revenge, soul-searching and fear, elements that typically boxing films deal with.

After years away from the cage, a once-feared MMA champion, Patton James (Daniel McPherson) is pulled back in for the fight of his life when his younger brother, Malon (Mojean Aria) is put in danger. Reuniting with the trainer who once made him a legend, Sammy (Russell Crowe), he commits to one final showdown against the reigning title holder--Xavier Grau (Bren Foster), a brutal fighter determined to dismantle the ex-champ's legacy in front of the world. Along with Sammy, he has his MMA fighter daughter, Rose (Amy Shark) to assist him in the training. Pushed to Patton's  breaking point, the contender's stakes are simple: win, or lose everything he's built. 

Others to round out the cast are Luke Hemsworth as Gabriel, Kelly Gale as Luciana, Patton's wife, George Burgess as Neal, Matt Nable as Barry, Nathan Phillips as Skipper, Saphira Moran as Nadine and Eliza Matengu as Toni. 

This was directed with grit and intensity by Tyler Atkins ("Ocean Boy" '22) plus a short. Even though this filmmaker doesn't have a plethora of experience, he was still able to convince his audience of the peril, the grittiness and pathos of this contender trying to balance his marriage, his family and career all the while having to fight for his life in that cage. This director's sequencing and staging was amazing. He will undoubtedly receive more work. It was penned well by writers David Frigerio ("Wreckage" '10, "The Signal" '14, "Crypto" '19, "Land of Bad" '24) plus a short and Russell Crowe ("Poker Face" '22), based on a story by David Frigerio. Before I viewed this film, I was expecting basically a modern day "Rocky", with the trainer coming back to retrain a contender, Rocky, however after seeing this, it was definitely different in its approach and format in what needed to transpire beyond the re-connection between the two. The script obtained a couple of small places of slowness, however all in all, the story, in a short while, did find its footing, and became a very captivating sports film. This was well cast, especially of that of Daniel McPherson as Patton. I've never heard of him--maybe he's more known in Australia--the locale of the film, but he gave a riveting performance. Between the photography and stunts, this carried the audience throughout. And I've never seen Luke Hemsworth, the older brother of Chris and Liam, in a role before, even though he is an actor in his home country of Australia. 

If you like action sports films, this will be a knockout (pun intended). It has action, fear, challenges, high-adrenaline and redemption all rolled up into a nice way to spend a couple of hours. It has an eclectic, but effective cast that will intrigue.

Out of 4 Stars: 3.5                                        Rated: R                                        115mins.

You, Me & Tuscany

Typically, the genre of romantic comedies, or romcoms as they are often called are unoriginal, banal projects that fall flat because of their predictability, but there have been a handful that are actually executed well depending on all the ingredients, i.e. acting, directing and especially writing. "You, Me & Tuscany" is one that is basically predictable, while still entertaining us.

Sometimes the wrong place is right where you need to be. From the Will Packer productions comes an interesting romcom about one little lie, one large Italian villa, and two people getting lost in the sauce of love. Halle Bailey stars as Anna Montgomery, a young woman who has abandoned her dreams of becoming a chef and is now drifting through her twenties with a series of bad choices. When Anna loses her house-sitting job (and housing) in one fell swoop, a chance encounter with Matteo (Lorenzo De Moor)--a handsome Italian who happens to have a villa sitting empty in Tuscany--will inspire her to jet off for Italy, against the advice of her always honest bestie, Claire (Aziza Scott). But Anna's plan to crash at Matteo's villa, without permission, just for one night, falls apart when Matteo's mother, Gabriella (Isabella Ferrari) shows up at the house unexpectedly. In a panic, Anna allows Gabriella to believe that she is Matteo's fiance. That little lie becomes a big problem, though, when Matteo's cousin, Michael (Rege-Jean Page) shows up, and Anna discovers that the heat between them may ignite a fire that will transform her life. 

Others to round out the cast are Stefania Casini as Nonna Alessia, Desiree Pooper as Isabella, Stella Pecollo as Francesca, Paolo Sassanelli as Vincenzo, Tommaso Cassissa as Enzo, Luca Setaccioli as Leo and Emanuele Pacca as Giuseppe.

This was directed with heart and wit by Kat Coiro ("Life Happens" '11, "And While We Were Here" '12, "A Case of You" '13, "Daddy Issues" (TV movie) '18, "Happy Accident" (TV movie) '19, "Marry Me" '22) plus TV, shorts a video and a music video. As with a seasoned resume which has certainly served her, she definitely knew how to sequence, stage and pace this film. It being shot in New York and Tuscany, the sequencing was effortless in its conveyance. It was also effectively written by Ryan Engle ("Non-Stop" '14, "The Commuter" '18, "Rampage" '18, "Breaking In" '18, "Beast" '22) plus a short, based on a story by Ryan Engle and Kristin Engle.  This film started out a bit rocky whereas the story started as an extremely predictable premise, as with most romcoms. It was simply meandering and was written in a way that one could basically mouth the words. But then, as the film went to Tuscany and other eclectic characters were introduced, the plot then started to pick up and it ultimately became the film they and we were looking for. The Italian cast turned an otherwise fair story into something fresh and quite humorous in how the story was being conveyed. Certainly the chemistry between Michael (Page) and Anna (Bailey) was incredibly well matched. The other aspect that saved the film was also its location in Tuscany--breathtaking!

Certainly, if you like romcoms in general, you'll love this, and with the eclectic characters and beautiful locales, you'll be in romcom heaven. With a seasoned director and writer and a great cast, this was a fun film for all to enjoy.

Out of 4 Stars: 3                                       Rated: PG                                       105mins.

Fantasy Life

Comedy/drama, or dramedies as I like to call them have become more popularized through the years, and usually are very well artistically achieved. I believe this particular genre was started or was prolific in the Woody Allen era, whereas comedy/dramas were something Allen either created or allowed this concept to be known. So, now we have "Fantasy Life" in the offing mixing dry humor with drama amongst several dysfunctional individuals. 

This story centers around an anxious law school dropout, Sam Stein (Matthew Shear) as he stumbles into a job babysitting his psychiatrist, Fred's (Judd Hirsch) three granddaughters and falls for the girls' mother, Dianne Cohen (Amanda Peet), an actress in a rocky marriage to David Finman (Alessandro Nivola), all while attempting to manage his life due to the panic attacks he constantly fights with little success. This is a smart, New York--set romantic comedy with a heaping amount of dysfunction to carry one through the story. 

Others to round out the cast are Bob Balaban as Lenny, Andrea Martin as Helen Finman, David's mother, Zosia Mamet as Jenny, Holland Taylor as Dr. Mary Greene, Jessica Harper as Toby Seltzer, Romy Fay as Zoe Finman, Callie Santoro as Claire Finman and Riley Vinson as Emma Finman, all three as David and Dianne's kids and Alana Raquel Bowers as Lauren Waters.

This was surprisingly well directed by Matthew Shear (acting). This being his first outing behind the camera is better than one would think considering his limited experience. He, like other actors, is obviously attempting to transition from in front of the camera to behind--even though he did star in this, assuming he keeps to this pattern, he could join the club of others, i.e. Clint Eastwood, Ron Howard, Bradley Cooper, George Clooney, John Krasinski, etc. The directing was a bit slow in its pacing, but given more work, he'll only improve. It was executed well by writer  Matthew Shear (acting). Again, with no other writing experience under his belt, this writer was able to capture the pure dysfunction of his character as well as others. Even though the running time was only approximately 90 minutes, it was still a bit long-in-the-tooth. There could have been a good 5 minutes cut from the final and still obtain the impact that Shear was trying to convey. The character development along with the acting was probably the best aspect of this film and kudos to Shear for that. Seriously, if given more work, i.e. writing and directing, this filmmaking could only improve since he has the raw talent. Certainly his acting has served him well in being able to commit himself to such an undertaking'

If the 'Woody Allen' style of comedy/drama works for you. this will hit a home run. The acting and characters in this are well developed and are distinct in their interactions with one another. If this is Shear's first outing in the writing and directing field, I would be interested to see what he creates next.

Out of 4 Stars: 3                                        Rated: R                                     91mins.

A Great Awakening

Many times in ones' life do two remarkable individuals meet and spark , in many cases, an unlikely friendship, and we are made privy to some of those meetings in film. One that comes to mind is the film, "Freud's Last Session" with the meeting of Sigmund Freud (Anthony Hopkins) and writer, C.S. Lewis (Matthew Goode)--an amazing meeting. Now we have another remarkable meeting between the then reverend George Whitfield and Benjamin Franklin.

This tells the true story of an unlikely friendship between the Reverend George Whitfield (Jonathan Blair) and Benjamin Franklin (John Paul Sneed) that resulted in one of the most defining moments in American history. With the colonies on the brink of collapse, the Reverend George Whitfield ignites the first Great Awakening, uniting an entire generation with his thundering and faithful sermons and proclamations of liberty. In a miraculous turn of events, one of Whitfield's closet friends and greatest promoters becomes none other than Benjamin Franklin. With the nation's freedom hanging in the balance, the founders discover true liberty cannot only be written into law--it must be awakened in the hearts of the people. 

Others to round out the cast are JT Schaeffer as Benny Franklin Bache, Benjamin Franklin's grandson, Josh Bates as Alexander Hamilton, Jonathan Bauer as Holy Club member, Jeff Bender as William Johnson, Zachary Amos as Oxford Servitor, Timothy Ryan Bartlett as Oxford Servitor and Robert Bigley as George Mason.

This was incredibly delineated with perfection by director Joshua Enck ("I Heard the Bells" '22). It absolutely astounds me that this filmmaker has only one other directing credit to his name, esspecially since this was directed as though a seasoned director helmed it. A natural? Not sure, but suffice it to say, he definitely has a future as a continued director. The film had cohesiveness, conciseness, was sequenced well and the actors really found their footing with the development of their characters, and this is fine directing. It was equally penned well by writers Jeff Bender (I Heard the Bells" '22, "Sight & Sound Presents: Daniel LIVE" '24) plus a video, Joshua Enck ("I Heard the Bells" '22) and Jonathan Blair ("Found on South Street" '15) plus a short. Again, considering the lack of experience these writers have, this script was well thought out and the fluidity was as seasoned as any other writer in the biz. This writing and directing crew will undoubtedly go places in the very near distant future. Whitfield was definitely one of the great evangelistic, humble yet powerful preachers back in the day along with John Wesley and later with Amy Semple McPherson and C.S. Lewis. 

This is certainly a film for all to see--whether one is a Christian or not since it can and will speak to all hearts if they simply allow that to happen and does it in such a loving way. The writing, directing and acting, especially by John Paul Sneed and Jonathan Blair as Franklin and Whitfield respectively was amazing and captivating. 

Out of 4 Stars: 4                                            Rated: PG-13                                   129mins.

The AI Doc: Or How I Became an Apocaloptimist

When it comes to the genre of film, documentaries are probably one of my favorite simply because of their passion, objectivity (assuming they're really that) and the array of eclectic subject matter which can span many topics, The sky is the limit: sports, politics, entertainment, science religion, etc to mention a handful. Now we have "The AI Doc: Or How I Became an Apocaloptimist" to sink our teeth into.

A father-to-be, Daniel Roher attempts to figure out what is happening with all this AI insanity. "The AI Doc: Or How I Became an Apocaloptimist" is a hand-made, eye-opening documentary about the most powerful technology humanity has ever created..and what's at stake if we get it wrong. This is an exhaustive expose with director Daniel Roher ("Ghosts of Our Forest" '17, "Once Were Brothers" '19, "Navalny" '22, "Blink" '24, "Turner" '25) plus TV and shorts). It was also directed by Charlie Tyrell (TV, shorts and videos). As stated, Roher was involved with in-depth interviews about the pros and potential cons of AI with Sam Altman, CEO, Open AI, Daniela Amodei, President & Co-Founder, Anthropic, Dario Amodei, CEO & Co-Founder, Anthropic, Demis Hassabis, CEO & Co-Founder, Google Deepmind, Peter Lee, President, Microsoft Research, and many many others with final conclusions that if we don't work together as people who want to do the right thing, AI could, if left unchecked, create situations that could harm our society. It's sobering. but on the other hand, if continually checked, AI would help our society immensely. It's our call as a people. Do we want to have children in our near future? Will many people lose their jobs do to AI? These questions and many more were asked and tackled through objective discussions. 

I truly want to encourage all to see this film--if not in the theater, on Netflix once it reaches that, since this doesn't actually need to be seen on the large screen to receive the full impact. AI is here and I really don't believe it's going anywhere. We, as a society, need to realize its full potential and gear AI to a place that will benefit us all, and not be involved for greed and avarice reasons. It looks as though AI can be our best friend or our worst enemy--it's really up to us. 

Out of 4 Stars: 4                                    Rated: PG-13                                      104min.

Project Hail Mary

There is sci-fi, then there's sci-fi with humor and heart all wrapped up in a story of the survival of Earth all in the form of "Project Hail Mary". For an individual that's usually not an avid sci-fi fan, this was one of those true exceptions. This had it all: adventure, intensity, humor and heart rolled up into a modern masterpiece.

Science teacher Dr. Ryland Grace (Ryan Gosling) wakes up on a spaceship light years from home with no recollection of who he is or how he got there.As his memory returns, he begins to uncover his mission: solve the riddle of the mysterious substance causing the sun to die out. He must call on his scientific knowledge and unorthodox ideas to save everything and one on Earth from extinction mostly through his boss of the mission Eva Stratt (Sandra Huller)...but an unexpected friendship means he may not have to do it alone.

Others to round out the cast are James Ortiz as the voice of Rocky, Lionel Boyce as Carl, Ken Leung as Yao, Mia Soteriou as Dr. Browne, Milana Vayntrub as Olesya Ilyukhina, Priya Kansara as the voice of Mary, Annelle Olaleye as Olivia and Maya Eva Hosein as Rekha. 

This was wonderfully directed with suspense and heart by Phil Lord ("Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs" '09, "21 Jump Street" '12, "The Lego Movie" '14, "22 Jump Street" '14) plus TV, and Christopher Miller ("Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs" '09, "21 Jump Street" '12, "The Lego Movie" '14, "22 Jump Street"'14) plus TV and a short. By their very resume, these two filmmakers are clearly a team and work incredibly well with one another, and this film proves that in spades. the camaraderie between Grace and Rocky was simply amazing--about as well structured as any team of characters considering one of them was an alien. And this being an almost solo performance by Gosling was equally amazing that he was, through these talented directors, able to carry this film to the point that captured one's attention in a way that came across effortlessly.  It was equally impeccably written by Drew Goddard ("Cloverfield" '08, "The Cabin in the Woods" '11, "World War Z" '13, "The Martian" '15, "Bad Times at the El Royale'18) plus TV and a short, based on the novel by Andy Weir. Considering this was written by the same screenwriter and based on the novel by the same novelist as "The Martian", it's no wonder that this would be as well structured as any film could be. The chemistry between Grace and his alien friend Rocky was incredible. This movie was sequenced well and was amazingly captivating with its cohesiveness, conciseness and was a very tight and organized script, especially given that it was formatted as a flashback. It's truly why we go to the movies!. The acting by Gosling was stunning as were the production values, i.e.music, cinematography, editing, sound effects and visual effects. 

This is a film that all must see--it's got crowd pleaser written all over it! It has adventure, action, suspense, humor and heart all rolled up in a film that will leave everyone wanting to stand up and cheer. It is wonderful to see a film that is made for all audiences--not just a handful and be artful at the same time time. Enjoy this gem, I know I did!

Out of 4 Stars: 4                                           Rated: PG-13                                         156mins.

  

The Pout-Pout Fish

When it comes to animated films, we have the usual companies such as Disney, Pixar, Dreamworks, even Blue Sky to create many animated flicks, but now we have an Australian film company, Macmillan Publishing to create "The Pout-Pout Fish" to sink our teeth into. 

Living on a rundown shipwreck, Mr. Fish (Nick Offerman) one day discovers a hyperactive young sea dragon Pip (Nina Oyama)--who had mistaken his home for a junkyard pilfering his belongings. The heated argument that ensues leaves both their houses in ruin. But there is hope. Embarking on a seemingly impossible quest in search of a mythical "Shimmer" (Jordin Sparks) to grant them a wish, there's only one problem: someone else is on the hunt. 

Others to round out the cast are Remy Hii as Benji, Miranda Otto as Marin, Nazeem Hussain as Archie, Andrew Buchanan as Red Starfish, Amy Sedaris as Pink Dolphins, Mark Coles Smith as Hector, Bessie Holland as Baz, Mel Buttle as Shaz and Grant Denyer as Beautiful Mike. 

This was directed with heart by Ricard Russo ("The Wishmas Tree" '19, "Combat Wombat" '20, "Daisy Quokka: World's Scariest Animal" '20 "Scarygirl" '23, "Combat Wombat: Back 2 Back" '23, "A Sloth Story" (co-director) '24, "Mission Santa: Yoyo to the Rescue" '25) plus TV and shorts, and it was co-directed by Rio Harrington (visual effects). I could truly appreciate the staging, pacing and the different angle shots this director used to achieve the effects he was looking for. Even though the co-director had no other feature films to his credit, he was still pivotal with the impact he was able to convey. It was cleverly written by Elise Allen, Elie Choufany and Dominic Morris, based on the book by Deborah Diesen and illustrated by Dan Hanna. This film has a somewhat childlike format, but since it is based on a children's book series, the script was aptly written. The message? overcoming bad moods with an element of joy--something we can all learn from. Other than a couple of places of slowness (I know, it's only 90 minutes long), it, after a point moved right along and ultimately conveyed the message it was intending to unfold. Even though these writers have virtually no feature film experience, all of their massive amount of TV, shorts and video experience have certainly served them well. They will undoubtedly receive more work. 

If you like animated films, this will hit home. It was purposely written in a childlike format hence its base being a children's book. This is something for the entire family--if fact since it is about ridding of consistent bad moods and replace them with joyful situations, it's definitely something we all can learn from and take to heart. It has heart and soul and will truly move you. 

Out of 4 Stars: 3.5                                  Rated: PG                                         91mins'

Reminders of Him

Most romance drama type films are fairly typical in their creation, however "Reminders of Him" is a bit different in that it involves the loss of a young woman's boyfriend in a car accident, only unbeknownst to the boyfriend's best buddy that this young woman was his buddy's girlfriend. It's an interesting turn of events that definitely goes against the odds. 

After a perfect outing with her boyfriend, Scotty Landry (Rudy Pankow), Kenna Rowan (Maika Monroe), makes an unbearable mistake that sends her to prison. Seven years later, Kenna returns to her hometown in Wyoming, hoping to rebuild her life and earn the chance to reunite with her young daughter, Diem Landry (Zoe Kosovic), whom she has never known. When Diem's custodial grandparents, Patrick and Grace Landry (Bradley Whitford and Lauren Graham) respectively, adamantly refuse Kenna's attempts to see her daughter, Kenna discovers unexpected compassion, and then something truer and deeper, with former NFL player and local bar owner Ledger Ward (Tyriq Withers), who is Kenna's late boyfried's buddy. As their secret romance develops, so do the dangers for both of them, leading Kenna toward heartbreak and, ultimately, the hope for a second chance. 

Others to round out the cast are Nicholas Duvernay as Roman, Jennifer Robertson as Ruth, Lainey Wilson as Gage, Hilary Jardine as Mary Anne, Monika Myers as Lady Diana, Skye MacDonald as Stacey, Jillian Walchuck as Whitney and Laird Reghenas as Gage's manager. 

This was directed with compassion, heart all with a tenseness about it considering the story line by Vanessa Caswill ("Love at First Sight" '23) plus TV, shorts and a music video. Considering the fact that she has only one feature film to her credit, she's an accomplished director. Certainly all the shorts and TV she has directed has served her well. She had the task to encourage her actors to do a substantial amount of character flip-flopping with the characters, especially the leads, Monroe and Withers, and with that, she will receive more work. It was effectively penned well by writers, Lauren Levine and Colleen Hoover (novels and videos), based on the novel by Colleen Hoover. Because the premise of this was somewhat different than we've seen in other romance dramas, it allowed its audience to be more interested in it. In fact, I felt it was far more interesting than I expected. The different family dynamics were complex, yet it was made clear that one could only imagine what it would be like in to be in either Ledger or Kenna's place--this was implemented quite well. Really, other than a few short moments soon after the film started that were a bit slow and were a bit tough to believe, it was a cohesive and tightly written film. I'm sure that one of the writer's that wrote the novel the film was based on didn't hurt.

If you like romance drama films, this will hit home, especially given that the story was something that one doesn't see in this particular genre. This has effective directing, interesting writing and the chemistry between the two leads, Monroe and Withers are worth the price of admission.

Out of 4 Stars: 3.5                                     Rated: PG-13                                    115mins.

Hoppers

Ever since Pixar Animation Studios produced "Toy Story" back in 1995, we have seen a plethora of films since. "Toy Story 5" will be released this May, to give an interesting perspective on their longevity. The bevy of their films have been genius, however a few lesser than perfect ones did slip through the cracks. Now we have "Hoppers" in the offing to sit back and enjoy.

What if you could talk to animals and understand what they're saying? In Disney and Pixar's all-new feature film "Hoppers", scientists including Dr. Sam (Kathy Najimy), Nisha (Aparna Nancherla) and Conner (Sam Richardson) have discovered how to 'hop' human consciousness into lifelike robotic animals, allowing people to communicate with animals as animals! The adventure introduces Mabel (Piper Curda), an animal lover who seizes an opportunity to use the technology, uncovering mysteries within the animal world that are beyond anything she could have imagined. 

Others to round out the cast are Bobby Moynihan as King George, Jon Hamm as Mayor Jerry Generazzo, Dave Franco as Insect King, Meryl Streep as Insect Queen, Karen Huie as Grandma Tanaka, Isiah Whitlock Jr as Bird King, Eduardo Franco as Loaf and Tom Law as Tom Lizard. 

This was directed wit heart and passion by Daniel Chong ("We Bare Bears: The Movie" (TV movie) '20) plus a video. This filmmaker doesn't have any other feature film under his belt, however the expertise this film provided is exemplary and proves he's a natural and will receive more work. It was cleverly written by Jesse Andrews ("Me and Earl and the Dying Girl" '15, "Every Day" '18, "Luca" '21, "Elio" (additional screenplay) '25) plus TV and a video, based on a story by Daniel Chong and Jesse Andrews. The premise of this film, however bizarre, was different and original. It started out with a bang, but fairly soon became slow and was wandering. Then, all of a sudden, it picked up and became the story they were definitely looking for. This writer does have some experience, but since brilliant former Pixar writers such as Pete Docter and Lee Unkrich, who were involved with the producing certainly had an impact on the writing which had to have helped. These former writers along with Andrew Stanton were gold to Pixar and helped put them on the filmmaking map. 

Please do not use the trailer to encourage you to see the film--the trailer doesn't sell it. I almost didn't go see this by viewing the trailer, but after watching it, I would recommend anyone to see this. Sure, it does scream environmental, but in a healthy way. We all should be good stewards of this planet, however this film doesn't shove it down your throat. So, grab the popcorn and enjoy!

Out of 4 Stars: 3.5                                      Rated: PG                                            104mins.