Gretel & Hansel (2020)

It's Friday which can only mean one thing and that is that it's new movie Friday and we have an interesting one for you. There has been this trend in Hollywood that started as far back as 2015 with Robert Eggers The Witch that takes an old story and tries to make this slow burn, tense, uncomfortable, creepfest films that the atmosphere itself is supposed to scare you. We've seen it done as well with Hereditary, The Lighthouse, and even Midsommar. Hollywood always follows trends and now we have another Brothers Grimm fairy tale that we are going to tackle and creep the hell out of you with in Gretel & Hansel. Sophia Lillis (IT & It: Chapter 2) stars as Gretel, a young girl who is having trouble finding work to help provide for her family. After her mother went nuts, she deems no longer safe and she travels with Hansel (Samuel Leakey) through a dark forest and they stumble upon a house where some sort of weird evil dwells. The film also stars Alice Krige (Star Trek: First Contact) as Holda, Charles Babalola (The Legend Of Tarzan) as The Hunter, Beatrix Perkins (I Am the Pretty Thing That Lives in the House) as Clicky, Jessica De Gouw (The Mystery of a Hansom Cab ) as Young Holda, and the film was directed by Oz Perkins (The Blackcoat's Daughter).

Really cool fact that I didn't know is that Oz Perkins is the son of the world famous Anthony Perkins a.k.a. Norman Bates. The Blackcoat's Daughter is one of my favorite films from this director because it had the creepiness to it and it delivered. Now as far as this film is concerned, they certainly nailed down that slow burn, creepiness factor that I spoke about and amped it up a little with some of the imagery, but the question is was it any good? I have to say that I loved the story, the overall tone of the film, but I just didn't think it was scary enough for me. I think the saving grace of the film for me was definitely Alice Krige who just knocks her performance out of the park. She is so creepy as the old woman that you can't help but watch how amazing she did in front of the camera. She was so believable that she was creeping me out, but it definitely could have been scarier in my opinion. What the film ultimately did do is that even though it was a fairy tale gone dark, it did a ton to promote how powerful women really are. Holda kept telling Gretel throughout the whole entire film that she was basically stronger than men because men are weak in the sense that women hold the true power over them with sexuality, maturity, etc. I definitely believe that it's a film that is worth checking out which is why I am going to give the film an B- for a final grade.

Booksmart (2019)

Trailers for films can be deceiving especially when it's a film that looks hilarious from what you see in the short two minutes and it contains a who's who of young Hollywood. It's always a 50/50 crapshoot when you enter that theater or you hit play on your app when it comes to a film and that is what I did with todays film as I took a chance on Booksmart which was actress Olivia Wilde (Tron: Legacy) directorial debut. Kaitlyn Dever (Last Man Standing) and Beanie Feldstein (Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising) play long time best friends and nerds Amy and Molly who have been so detached from the world of high school around them that they realize that they have not done anything truly daring and fun ever. They hear about a student who is throwing a party and their goal is to make it to the party to let it all out and not be so booksmart for a night. The film also stars Jason Sudeikis (Horrible Bosses) as Principal Brown, Lisa Kudrow (Friends) as Charmaine, Will Forte (Nebraska) as Doug, Victoria Ruesga as Ryan, Skyler Gisondo (The Amazing Spider-Man) as Jared, Diana Silvers (Glass) as Hope, Molly Gordon (Good Boys) as Triple A, Billie Lourd (American Horror Story: 1984) as Gigi, Eduardo Franco (American Vandal) as Theo, Noah Galvin (Assassination Nation) as George, and Jessica Williams (Hot Tub Time Machine 2) as Ms. Fine.

Now as far as my opening statement is concerned, this actually was a really enjoyable film, but it wasn't as funny as I thought it was going to be. There are a lot of great moments in the film, but those are spread out over the course of the film. I thought direction wise, Olivia did a really great job, but my issue was just that it didn't live up to past legendary young Hollywood films like American Pie, Can't Hardly Wait, or even Superbad. The weird thing is that I loved the story, I was invested in what was going on, but it just wasn't non stop funny which is OK because this was more of a coming of age story. Our main character Molly has always had this notion that hard work and no play equals success, but when she finds out that in reality that both can coincide with each other, it throws her world for a loop. For Amy, she has always just been the trusty mate that always goes with what her best friend says and she figures out that you have to crack a few eggs to get some respect. They both change at the end of the film for the better and they realize there is more to life than just being booksmart. There is this one character in the film that starts off just looking obnoxious, but he sort of redeems himself int he film and he becomes lovable and that was Skyler Gisondo's character Jared. He represents the kid who will do or say anything just to be loved and you can feel for him in this film. So, I am definitely going to be fair with my final judgement on this one because as I said, I liked the story, the cinematography, and there were some funny moments. I am going to give the film an B+ for a final grade.

Terminator: Dark Fate (2019)

In 2018, the Halloween franchise did something no other franchise has been able to successfully do and that was to forget every single sequel film or reboot ever made and just start over. They basically said that only the first film was cannon, brought back the original director in a producing capacity, brought back some actors, and knocked it out of the park. So, Hollywood natural follows in those footsteps because they look at numbers, So, here comes Terminator: Dark Fate which tells you to ignore everything that has happened after Terminator 2: Judgement Day and they did what I said in bringing back James Cameron as a producer and originally lead actress Linda Hamilton. It seems that the future has been changed thanks to Sarah Connor and skynet is no more, but there is just one question. Why is a terminator being brought back to the past and what does he want with Dani Ramos (Natalia Reyes)? That is for Grace (Mackenzie Davis), an enhanced human from the future to answer as she tries to protect Dani from this fierce Terminator. The film also stars Gabriel Luna (Bernie) as Gabriel/Rev-9, Diego Boneta (Rock Of Ages) as Diego, Arnold Schwarzenegger (T2: Judgement Day) as Carl/T-800, Edward Furlong (T2: Judgement Day) as John Connor Reference, and the film was directed by Tim Miller (Deadpool).

Spoiler Alert: Do not read on if you do not want to know any details about the film because some information will be spoiled. One thing is for certain and that is I didn't really like the film, but there are elements that I did like about it. So, they had to explain why there was a new Terminator coming to the past if Skynet was no more and that was because if it didn't happen then how can we learn from it? They basically tell you that society was doomed to create the problem anyways because we are obsessed with AI and technology. So while Skynet is no more, there is just another company waiting in the wings to become the leaders in technology and the earth is doomed. Now, what I didn't like about the film is that for a while it felt too nostalgic and it felt like a pissing contest that hey I am way cooler because I am the original savior. The other problem is that Grace's story which in turn is also Dani's story is just so uninteresting to begin with. Why are we supposed to care about someone who becomes a super soldier? It was one of those moments when I was like OK let's move on. The other thing was Arnold Schwarzenegger appearance in this film because if we are ignoring all the sequels then he shouldn't exist. Well what made sense is that Skynet had dispatched multiple Terminators and this one caught up to Sarah Connor in the past, but what he becomes is a little lame. You're meaning to tell me that after almost 30 years, you wife can't tell that you are a robot? There was just too much wrong with the story to care about the action making up for it. I know the film did well in the box office (it at least made it's money back and then a little some), but hopefully this is the last of the franchise. I am going to give the film an C- for a final grade.

A Ghost Story (2017)

There are films that completely fly under the radar that when I read about them I have to check them out. A Ghost Story is one of those films that I once saw in the coming soon section of my Redbox app that just never came to my area which in turn also means I never got to watch the film. Now that has all changed thanks to the fact that Netflix has to step up their game in a big way and I checked it out for today. The film stars Academy Award Winner Casey Affleck (Manchester By The Sea) as C, a musician who has a hard time letting go of things like the house he lives in even though his wife wants to leave. One day C is in a car accident and he dies leaving him a spectre that follows his newly estranged wife back to the house that he will not spend all of eternity in as he learns to let go. The film also stars Rooney Mara (The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo) as M,  Kenneisha Thompson (The Old Man & The Gun) as Doctor, Liz Cardenas (Never Goin' Back) as Linda, Barlow Jacobs (The Old Man & The Gun) as Gentlemen Caller, Sonia Acevedo (Queen Of The South) as Maria, Will Oldham (This Must Be The Place) as Prognosticator, Ke$ha (Jem And The Holograms) as Spirit Girl, Brea Grant (Halloween 2) as Clara, and the film was directed by David Lowery (Pete's Dragon).

One thing that I found super interesting about the film was the fact that time does not really exist for ghosts as seen in this film. One minute he is looking at a family living in his house in the summer, he turns one cheek, and the next it's Christmas time. I thought that was amazing because here is not willing to let go of the house until he can get that note out of the wall and it's so far into the future and the house is being knocked down. Now what does he do with his time? Does he let go? It's super interesting to see what happens in the film because he is still tied to the land and he has to start all over again. There is an article on IMDB.com that lists the ten films that influenced this one and the director breaks it down for you with each film. If you want to check that out you can do so here. There are times when there is not a lot of dialogue because he's a ghost after all and he has a sheet over him so it wouldn't make much sense, but this was a film that didn't need it. The film conveys it's thoughts through actions and through those actions you can definitely see how he is feeling. If you have a chance and you want to check out some great story telling, then head over to Netflix and watch it. I am going to give the film an A- for a final grade.

Only God Forgives (2013)

One of my favorite actors to come into play into my radar in the 21ST Century is none other than Ryan Gosling (The Place Beyond The Pines). I have been catching up on a lot of his films and he has not disappointed me yet. So after cruising through Netflix to see what they had available, I noticed a title that caught my interest in 2013's Only God Forgives which stars Ryan as Julian, a drug smuggler that has been thriving in the Bangkok criminal underworld. The only problem is that his brother Billy (Tom Burke) complicates things greatly for him. One night on the town, Billy decides to rape and murder a prostitute which in return brings in a retired detective that does things a little differently. Through a little street justice, Billy is murdered and their mother comes to visit and she complicates things even more and it's all out mayhem in Bangkok. The film also stars Vithaya Pansringarm (A Prayer Before Dawn) as Chang, Kristin Scott Thomas (Four Weddings and a Funeral) as Crystal, Yayaying Rhatha Phongam (Mechanic: Resurrection) as Mai, Gordon Brown (Bronson) as Gordon, Sahajak Boonthanakit (No Escape) as Kim, Charlie Ruedpokanon (The Man With The Iron Fists 2) as Daeng, and the film was written and directed by Nicolas Winding Refn (Drive).

So this was the second time Refn and Gosling worked together with the first being 2011's Drive, but as far as the two films are concerned Drive is a step above. Gosling's character in this film is very similar to the one in Drive where they do not say a lot and just the way they carry themselves, but that is where the similarities end. The film is very violent in nature and very graphic which may attract some to it, but some of it was hard to watch. There is this one scene where this retired officer Chang (nicknamed the Angel of Vengeance) just starts torturing a guy by stabbing him in every body part, cuts his eyes out, and then deafens him with a knife. I'm glad the camera cut away after that because I didn't know how much I could take. The weird thing is that this retired cop does what he wants and the others stand by him which is street justice. You have to give props to the special effects make up guys because when they show Billy after he's been beaten to death is pretty graphic. It looks as if his whole head had been caved in and flattened. The tone of the film is very vibrant and bright with colors during the night scenes indicating the sinfulness of Bangkok at night which I thought was cool and the overall cinematography was great too. One thing I want to discuss is the weird nature of Julian and Billy's relationship with their mother. It just seems like they are a little too close especially since she knows how well hung her kids are. It was just so weird and incestuous which just made it so random. The film is currently available on Netflix to watch, but be warned of the graphic nature of the film. I am going to give the film an B for a final grade.

The Stranger (1946)

Back on a different blog and the last challenge I did, we used to dedicate Sundays to the classic films of Hollywood as we called it Sunday At The Classics. We checked out films like Breakfast At Tiffany's, To Catch A Thief, etc. and you can read all of those here. We missed out on doing this during the first three Sundays of the month, but better late than never as we present to you 1946's The Stranger which was directed by the great Orson Wells (Citzen Kane) who also stars in the film. The film stars Edward G. Robinson (Little Caesar) as Mr. Wilson, a detective from the War Crimes Commission who is tasked with chasing down Nazi war criminals. Although, one man has been so elusive that Wilson is desperate to try anything to catch the mysterious Franz Kindler who was the true mastermind of the Nazi party. What does Wilson do? He lets another former Nazi go because he believes it will lead him to Kindler and he ends up tracking him all the way to a small town in Connecticut where a Nazi is indeed living among them.  The film also stars Loretta Young (The Farmer's Daughter) as Mary Longstreet, Wells as Professor Charles Rankin, Philip Merivale (Mr. & Mrs. Smith) as Judge Adam Longstreet, Richard Long (House On Haunted Hill) as Noah Longstreet, Konstantin Shayne (Vertigo) as Konrad Meinike, and Billy House (Bedlam) as Mr. Potter.

I didn't know quite what to expect from the film, but it was actually a very good film. I loved the fact that right from the start we identify who Kindler is, but now it's up to the rest of the actors to figure it out. Kindler right away kills the one man who could positively ID him and unfortunately for Mr. Wilson, he was knocked out before he could see the two men meet. So, now he has to do some real investigating and one conversation during a dinner meeting gives it all away and he has found his man. The only problem is that he just cant go and accuse the man, he has to smoke him out and be clever about it. That is where the real meat and potatoes of the film is and where the film gets really good. The film features a whose who of old Hollywood and they are just absolutely fantastic so it's safe to say that the acting in the film was great. If you noticed this far into my review that I have not identified Kindler because that is for you to do on your own. I was never really sure about how I felt when it came to Orson Wells as an actor, but the man is legit and he deserves a lot of credit for this film. One scene that is exciting is the town clock scene where one of the deaths occurs and it's a fitting death. The film is listed as being a film noir, but I didn't really see it cause it only contains so much of it within it. Check out the film for yourselves, I am going to give the film an B+ for a final grade.

Liquid Sky (1982)

Every year when I attend the Rock and Shock Convention in Worcester, MA., Vinegar Syndrome would be set up with a table full of movies. Every year, I buy some DVD's and I usually watch them for a different blog. Unfortunately Rock and Shock is no more and I have one film left over from last year that I decided to check out for today and that is 1982's Liquid Sky which was written and directed by Slava Tsukerman (Stalin's Wife) and co-written by Anne Carlisle (Desperately Seeking Susan) who also stars in the film as the androgynous nymphomaniac Margaret. You see tiny invisible aliens have landed on Margaret's rooftop in New York City looking for drugs, but what they found is even better than that. They discover that orgasms cause the same reaction in the brain as opiates so every time Margaret sleeps with someone they take them when they orgasm. The only person that knows this is a German scientist named Johann (Otto von Wernherr), but can he warn her in time? The film also stars Paula E. Sheppard (Alice Sweet Alice) as Adrian, Susan Doukas (Slow Dancing In The Big City) as Sylvia, Bob Brady (A Nightmare On Elm Street 2: Freddy's Revenge) as Owen, Elaine C. Grove (The Riverbed) as Katherine, Stanley Knapp (Mother's Day) as Paul, and Jack Adalist (The Last Patrol) as Vincent. 

The film is very interesting to say the least, but it's really an avant garde sci-fi film that took a chance and did something different. The idea of the film is a little insane where we have tiny aliens that land on a roof and some how this German guy knows exactly where it landed in New York. Then there are just characters that are a little over the top for me in where they are just spitting out mumbo jumbo the whole time thinking they are revolutionaries of their time which is Paula Sheppard's character. While there were moments of brilliance at times with here, I thought there were times where she was a little too much, but that could have been the intention all along. The acting in the film is not terrible by any means and in fact most everyone in the film was impressive. It was the writing that was a little off and I didn't understand if Jimmy was a different character from Margaret. You see Anne Carlisle played two different sides of the spectrum when it came to the model. She played Margaret, the girl concerned with where her career is going while playing Jimmy who just wants to get messed up. The ying and the yang, but at first I was led to believe from the back cover of the DVD that it seemed like she had split personalities, but the film treats them as two separate characters. They definitely pushed the boundaries especially seeing as for most of the movie she is getting raped by men until she uses it to her advantage to make them disappear. It was a film that definitely reflected the times in New York City and it was a job well done which is why I am giving the film an B- for a final grade. 

The Gentlemen (2020)

Before Guy Ritchie had a project bomb at the box office (King Arthur: Legend Of The Sword) and before he dived into a Disney classic (Aladdin), he exploded on to the scene with a couple of amazing British crime comedy films in Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels and Snatch. Those films were absolutely classic and now in 2020 he is back with another crime comedy in The Gentlemen. Hugh Grant (About A Boy) plays Fletcher, the best undercover reporter in the UK who happens to break in to the house of the Consigliere to the biggest weed dealer in all of the UK in Ray (Charlie Hunnam) to spin the tale of how he knows what his boss has been up to for ransom money. Ray will though listen to the tale that Fletcher spews because it's one hell of an interesting tale of betrayal, greed, and how they are still some Gentlemen out there. The film stars Matthew McConaughey (Dazed And Confused) as Mickey Pearson, Michelle Dockery (Non-Stop) as Rosalind Pearson, Colin Farrell (In Bruges) as Coach, Jeremy Strong (The Judge) as Matthew, Henry Golding (Last Christmas) as Dry Eye, Eddie Marsan (Sherlock Holmes) as Big Dave, Chidi Ajufo (The Widow) as Bunny, Tom Wu (Hobbs & Shaw) as Lord George, Jason Wong (Solo: A Star Wars Story) as Phuc, Franz Drameh (Edge Of Tomorrow) as Benny, and Eliot Sumner (No Time To Die) as Laura Pressfield.

First you cannot talk about the film without talking about the performances first because there is such an amazing cast here and that is worth talking about. First thing I will say is that this may not be the most over the top performance from Matthew McConaughey that we are used to in my most roles, but this is A Time To A Kill, Lincoln Commercials, We Are Marshall, etc. kind of a role where he lets his natural charisma just take over. After watching this, I could believe that he was the biggest drug dealer in the UK, but right up there with him was the brilliant Charlie Hunnam who as I said plays his calm cool, and collective consigliere. Then to top it all off, you throw in the brilliant Colin Farrell who was tailor made for that role of the coach as he brought some of the best comedic moments in the film like he did for In Bruges and so much more. That is just the tip of the iceberg because there were so many working parts and so many people did a fantastic job so the acting was top notch. I definitely loved the story that was being told and the way it was told was very different. Fletcher is telling Ray this story as if he were pitching a movie idea and we watch the events unfold before our very eyes which was great. The cinematography was great and the tone of the film matched that of England, always gloomy, grey skies for them. This may not be an Oscar contender, but this film was the definition of fun. Nothing more and nothing less, but just a fun film to watch which is why I am going to give the film an A- for a final grade.

The Sisters Brothers (2018)

I look at genres of film and sometimes I like to think of them like genres of music. For example, I think of comedy as pop music, horror as heavy metal, action films as rock music, and Westerns is country music. It takes a unique kind of taste to be into Western, but sometimes Western stars are held in the same regard as Country legends, but there are westerns being made today that are interesting enough like The Sisters Brothers which was written and directed by Jacques Audiard (Rust and Bone). The film stars Joaquin Phoenix (Joker) and John C. Reilly (Step Brothers) as The Sisters Brothers, a couple of Oregon hitmen for hire that are tasked with bringing back someone who has a key to finding Gold, but what happens when a familiar face to the brothers is on the side of their hunt. The film also stars Jake Gyllenhaal (Bubble Boy) as John Morris, Riz Ahmed (Venom) as Hermann Warm, Rebecca Root (Last Christmas) as Mayfield, Carol Kane (Addams Family Values) as Mom, Richard Brake (3 From Hell) as Rex, the late Rutger Hauer (Hobo With A Shotgun) as Commodore, Patrice Cossonneau (The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc) as Blount, and Ian Reddington (Highlander) as The Father.

One thing is definitely for sure and that is the film definitely had an amazing cast behind it and they all did a wonderful job from Gyllenhaal all the way to Riz Ahmed. It was this story of two brothers who have to cope with the fact that there time as hitmen should end before they ultimately do. They may seem like they have it all together, but that couldn't be further from the truth in this film as you will see when you watch it. It's kind of a coming of age story for one man and that is John C. Reilly's character of Eli Sisters. He starts off just like his brother Charlie being all gung ho about the job, but as the film progresses so doesn't his character. I would have included Gyllenhaal's character in this category, but what happens to him in the film is just awful. If you are into westerns, I definitely think that this is one worth checking out because the acting is great as you'll see, but the cinematography is where it's at with the natural scenary and the sets. The funny thing is that the movie was filmed in Spain and Romania, but it worked for what they needed it to be. Phoenix and Reilly made a great onscreen duo that I wouldn't mind seeing again in the future. Check out the film yourself right now on Hulu, but for now I am going to give the film an A- for a final grade. 

Zombieland: Double Tap (2019)

Last week, we talked about waiting a while to do a sequel to a film(s) that are considered sacred to fans of the film and how it can be risky. In 2009, zombie films were pretty standard and we saw countless people try to reinvent the genre because it was getting sort of stagnate. Ruben Fleischer (Venom) decided that he would reinvent the zombie genre by steering it more into the comedy realm with his mega blockbuster Zombieland and the film introduced us to the fab four Tallahassee (Woody Harrelson), Columbus (Jesse Eisenberg), Wichita (Emma Stone), and Little Rock (Abigail Breslin). Ten years later and the gang is back for Zombieland: Double Tap which sees Fleischer back behind the helm. This time around, the gang has been surviving in the White House, but Little Rock is a little bit older now and she wants to find someone for herself so she takes off. The gang has no choice, but to chase her down, but a new threat of zombies has arisen and are deadlier than ever. The film also stars Zoey Deutch (Everybody Wants Some!) as Madison, Avan Jogia (Shaft) as Berkeley, Rosario Dawson (Kids) as Nevada, Luke Wilson (Old School) as Albuquerque, and Thomas Middleditch (Godzilla: King Of The Monsters) as Flagstaff. 

As I said before, it is such a huge risk to take a beloved first film and give it a sequel ten years later especially when fans had been asking for it before. One thing I will say is that I don' think the wait hurt at all because this was actually a really good film. I definitely do not think that it is better than the original, but it had me laughing at a bunch of different moments especially with the scene stealing Zoey Deutch who plays the brainless Madison. The interactions that she has with Woody and Emma are just absolute gold and I could not stop laughing which is the best sign that someone enjoys the film. I definitely liked the fact that they evolved the zombies as well because it only makes sense that they would learn to different things and adapt since it has been ten years since this whole mess started. The introduction of the T-800 zombies, the Hawkings, and the ninja zombie were great and I loved the fact that they would include the zombie kill of the year in the film cause some of those were great. The other great thing was the inevitable which was introducing an alternate universe Tallahassee and Columbus which was Luke Wilson and Thomas Middleditch. That just made for great screen time and I definitely enjoyed it. The whole adventure is awesome and the pay off at the end is amazing and to be honest I wouldn't mind a third film or even a TV series. They could do so much with a television series, but we'll save that for another discussion. Like I said before the first film is the best one, but this one does it's job and does it well. That is why I am going to give the film an A- for a final grade. 

Ronin (1998)

You would think with a movie blog, I would have a list of movies to watch (which I do), but I'm just going with what interests me right now. What is a Ronin? A Ronin is basically a samurai who is shamed because he did not do his best to protect his master from death. So, now this solider roams the countryside looking for work as freelancers. The same could be said about the film that I chose to watch for today called Ronin that was released in 1998 and directed by the late John Frankenheimer (The Island Of Dr. Moreau). The film stars Robert De Niro (The Irishman) as former CIA agent Sam, who is hired by Deirdre (Natascha McElhone) along with a rogue group of guys in Vincent (Jean Reno), Gregor (Stellan Skarsgård), Spence (Sean Bean), and Larry (Skipp Sudduth) to steal a briefcase that contains something unknown before the Russians can get their hands on it, but what happens when one betrays them all? The film also stars Jonathan Pryce (Tomorrow Never Dies) as Seamus O'Rourke, Michael Lonsdale (Moonraker) as Jean-Pierre, Féodor Atkine (Love And Death) as Mikhi, Bernard Bloch (French Spies) as Sergi, Katarina Witt (Jerry Maguire) as Natacha Kirilova, and the late Amidou (Rules Of Engagement) as the Man at exchange.

So to start the convo, it's quite the cast they gathered for the film with names like De Niro, Reno etc., but was the film any good? I loved the idea of the film in where there is mission that they are going on and there is a lot of money on the line, but then it just goes a little overboard with the twists and the turns. So, we start with one of the team members stealing the briefcase and it becomes a hunt for him, but then it just changes way too many times in my opinion, but I also understand what they were doing and why. It was to show you that there was a lot more than just money on the line when it came to that briefcase because there was also national pride going on. It shouldn't come as a surprise with the conflict in Ireland and Northern Ireland being a hot topic in the 90's. Reno and De Niro were masterful in the film and it really shouldn't come as a surprise because they are two of the best in the business. The best thing about this film comes towards the last half of the film when Reno and De Niro go on the car chase through Paris. It's one of the more exhilarating and well shot car chase scenes I have seen in a film. Other than that, I thought it was a pretty decent film, an OK follow up to Heat for De Niro, but if you love these types of films then check it out for yourself for free right now on Youtube. I am going to give the film an B- for a final grade.

Steve Jobs (2015)

Some of my favorite types of films to watch are films that are based on true stories or as they are called in the industry as Biopics. While it is phrased as "Based" on a true story, they can offer you insight into the lives of important figures or events that took place. Earlier in the last decade, a film about the late famous Apple Computer CEO Steve Jobs was released with Ashton Kutcher in the lead role and I had no desire to see it and was confused that years later another film was released in 2015 called Steve Jobs with Michael Fassbender (X-Men: First Class) as the lead role. Instead of taking us through every moment of his life, this film takes us behind the scenes of three very important product launches and shows us an inside glimpse of just who was the man known as Steve Jobs. The film also stars Kate Winslet (Titanic) as Joanna Hoffman, Seth Rogen (Pineapple Express) as Steve Wozniak,  Jeff Daniels (Dumb And Dumber) as John Sculley, Michael Stuhlbarg (Boardwalk Empire) as Andy Hertzfeld, Katherine Waterston (Alien: Covenant) as Chrisann, Makenzie Moss, Ripley Sobo, and Perla Haney-Jardine as Lisa, John Ortiz (The Drop) as Joel Pforzheimer, Adam Shapiro (Now You See Me) as Avie Tevanian, and the film was directed by Danny Boyle (28 Days Later).

I found this to be an interesting take on such an iconic figure in the world of computers because it almost seemed like a character assassination attempt for a while. They definitely made Steve Jobs look like a condescending d-bag for most of the film like he was unable to really form relationships with people because he was incapable of it because he was never willing to admit that he was wrong. The film takes it like that attitude is what brings him to the show every single time and that was what made him successful in the long run, but the ending is what gets you because that is where the truth slaps him in the face and he sort of has an epiphany where he has to make things right with everyone. He definitely wasn't the perfect human being and essentially no one is at all, but that film wants to show you that even these iconic men have huge flaws. That is where you have to than his long time assistant Joanna played by Kate Winslet who has finally had enough and sets him straight. It's crazy to see the journey of where Apple had been at one time to where they went which is where they are today because who knew that they failed so badly. There is a lot of cool information in this film that is given out and it settles some arguments. Fassbender shows his brilliance as an actor in the film, but Kate Winslet is right up there with him as she flexes her acting muscles. The film is on Netlfix and you should definitely check it out which is why I am going to give the film an B+ for a final grade.

Tammy And The T-Rex (1994)

I chose this one for today because it's my birthday and I have been wanting to see this. When you think of Paul Walker, the first film that comes to mind for most moviegoers was his role as Brian O'Connor in The Fast and The Furious series. It should come as no surprise to anyone because it was iconic, but he didn't always star in iconic films right from the start. In the early 90's, he ventured around TV before getting back into films with 1994's Tammy And The T-Rex which is today's film. Walker stars in the film as Michael, the jock football player who just wants to hang out with the love of his life in Tammy (Denise Richards), but she has a jealous ex-boyfriend (George Pilgrim) who just won't leave her alone. Things between the two gets so heated that Michael ends up in a coma after being attacked by a lion. Unfortunately for Michael, a mad scientist/surgeon (Terry Kiser) has created a T-Rex, but he needs a brain for his dinosaur so he steals Michael's brain. Now it is up to Tammy to try and save Michael from not only the scientist and cops, but from that awful T-Rex body. The film also stars  Theo Forsett (Street Knight) as Byron, Ellen Dubin (Napoleon Dynamite) as Helga,  George 'Buck' Flower (They Live) as Norville, Sean Whalen (The People Under The Stairs) as Weasel, John Franklin (Children Of The Corn) as Bobby, and the film was written and directed by Stewart Raffill (Passenger 57).

Alright so I know what you are thinking, but this was actually a fun film to watch even though it was complete absurd. This film had the feel of a Troma movie without actually being released by Troma. It's so weird to think that Denise Richards starred in this and then shortly thereafter she starred in films like Starship Troopers and Wild Things. The same could be said for Paul Walker who would eventually go on to star in Varsity Blues before doing The Fast and Furious franchise so this film sort of featured a who's who in terms of Hollywood stars to horror veterans like John Franklin, George 'Buck' Flower, and Sean Whalen. Not to mention we also see Efren Ramirez who would go on to play Pedro in Napoleon Dynamite which was funny to see him play a pizza boy. The reason I also mentioned Troma is because some of the kill scenes and other sequences were worthy and cheesy to be made by Troma (who I love). When it focuses on just his arms, you can tells it's someone in the suit and the scenes of the T-Rex walking looked at times like something out of the old Land Of The Lost series. You know that really bad, cheesy, claymation/stop-motion animation styled shots. Some of the kill scenes are well done while others are just cheesy goodness, but I had a lot of fun and I went in with not a lot of high expectations. You know what you are getting yourself into when you watch a title like this. There's a lot of bad acting mixed with over acting and just some zany fun like the striptease scene at the end and that is Tammy and The T-Rex which I am giving a C- for a final grade because it knows what it is and it stays in it's lane.

Phantom Of The Megaplex (2000)

Disney is a company that has been entertaining us for countless generations with their cartoons, films, and TV shows. When the Disney Channel started in 1983, they had to give us programming which meant original TV and films and it all started with Tiger Town. Unfortunately, there are a heck of a lot of Disney Channel original movies that I have missed over the years and Disney + is my ticket and I chose 2000's Phantom Of The Megaplex for today. The film stars Taylor Handley (Battle Los Angeles) as Pete Riley, the youngest assistant manager in the Megaplex theater's history. Well, Pete's skills are put to the test on the night of a huge Hollywood premiere when the Phantom of the Megaplex shows up and starts trying to sabotage the event. The film also stars Mickey Rooney (Breakfast At Tiffany's) as Movie Mason, Corinne Bohrer (Police Academy 4: Citizens On Patrol) as Julie Riley, Caitlin Wachs (Divine Secrets Of The Ya-Ya Sisterhood) as Karen Riley, Jacob Smith (Small Soldiers) as Brian Riley, Rich Hutchman (Transformers: Dark Of The Moon) as Shawn, Colin Fox (Tommy Boy) as Nedermeyer, Ricky Mabe (Preacher) as Ricky, Julia Chantrey (Mean Girls) as Terri, Joanne Boland (Saw IV) as Hilary, Larissa Gomes (Saw VI) as Madison, and the film was directed by Blair Treu (Power Rangers: Lost Galaxy).

This was definitely an interesting movie to say the least, but there is a reason that it was a made for TV movie. These were films that were made to be enjoyed by kids and certainly were not going to be nominated for Oscars for best picture or anything. Although isn't that the beauty about watching these kinds of films in that you're just supposed to go in and enjoy the cheesiness of a film like this that structurally was well written. They have all of the subplots laid out right in front of the main plot as we are also trying to answer the question of just who is the Phantom of the Megaplex? You are probably going to be a lot like me and you'll suspect one man throughout the film that it has to be him, but when it is revealed as to who it really is, you're like I should have seen that coming. The acting for the most part is pretty made for TV-esque in where some are a little over the top when it comes to their acting which includes Rooney if you ask me. The character he portrays is your typical old guy and I understand that, but he'll go from bast shit crazy old man to charming old man all in one film. Some of the scenes in the film are a little cheesy as well, but what you can expect from a Disney Channel film other than family oriented entertainment cause they're not going to push the envelope. It was definitely a fun film to watch considering I work in the theater business myself, but this is a one and done for me. So, I am going to give the film an C- for a final grade.

Bad Boys For Life (2020)

There have been so many iconic duos in Hollywood since it's inception from Laurel and Hardy, Batman & Robin, Starsky & Hutch, but the most iconic duo of the 1990's besides Dr. Dre & Snoop Dogg was Will Smith and Martin Lawrence who in 1995 starred together in Bad Boys as Mike Lowery and Marcus Bennett. In 2003, they made a comeback as the duo once again in Bad Boys II, but 25 years after the first film they are back in Bad Boys For Life. This time around, Mike is shot by a mysterious thug on a motorcycle who is carrying a vendetta from a former cartel boss. Six months later, Mike is back at it again as he vows to find the people that did this to him, but he won't be alone in this fight even though things have drastically changed for them in the 21st century. The film also stars Kate del Castillo (The Book Of Life) as Isabel Aretas, Alexander Ludwig (Lone Survivor) as Dorn, Joe Pantoliano (The Fugitive) as Captain Howard, Vanessa Hudgens (Spring Breakers) as Kelly, Paola Nuñez (The Purge) as Rita, Charles Melton (Riverdale) as Rafe, Nicky Jam (xXx: The REturn Of Xander Cage) as Zway Lo, and the film was directed by Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah (Black).

SPOILER ALERT: This paragraph will contain spoilers so proceed with caution. I was so pleasantly surprised by how much I actually enjoyed watching this film. I have seen several directors take franchises that didn’t have a proper sequel or a sequel at all and they just can’t hit the nail on the head (e.g. Dumb and Dumber & Zoolander). Some directors and studios will just take way too much time and the jokes are just not that funny as they were, but there is something about Will Smith and Martin Lawrence that make them the exception to the rule. These are actually two of the funniest individuals when they are paired together on the silver screen. If I could compare it to something, it would be like trying on those old pair of jeans and you are pleasantly surprised to see them fit again, but they didn’t do this alone. It was the whole collection of the cast and the writing that made it work for the duo as everyone did they jobs and supported the main characters. I love how they sort of hopped on the fact that maybe they are too old for this game, but one is too stubborn to let go and so he clashes with the new gen along the way before he admits that he needs them too. I loved some of the nostalgia that was put in like we see Reggie (Dennis Greene) and Meghan (Bianca Bethune) back in the film. It definitely helps provide some great laughs for the film, but the action in this film is worth talking about because it’s definitely worthy of being in the same company with the previous films. The only thing I didn’t like was the whole tried and true hey I’m your dad Angle that we’ve seen way too many times in the past between Will Smith and Jacob Scipio (he plays Armando Armas) who is trying to kill him. They definitely left the film open to a sequel, but if they can’t do that one right then why bother at all. At least with this one, they did it right which is why I am giving it an A- for a final grade.

Internal Affairs (1990)

Every once in a while, we are going to introduce a segment on the blog that is called Sheldon's Choice which is basically a list of films that my fell film connoisseur friend of mine has recommended to me to watch. Today's film is one of those choices as I chose to watch the 1990 film Internal Affairs which I viewed with my VCR for throwback Thursday. Richard Gere (An Officer and A Gentlemen) stars as Los Angeles cop Dennis Peck, a guy who is a veteran and certainly knows his ins and outs of what he can and can't do or I should say get away with when it comes to the law. Andy Garcia (The Godfather: Part III) as new Internal Affairs officer Raymond Avilla, who while investigating a fellow cop in Van Stretch (William Baldwin) who happens to be Peck's partner leads Avilla on Peck's trail as he tries to take him down for good. The film also stars Nancy Travis (So I Married An Axe Murderer) as Kathleen Avilla, Laurie Metclaf (Roseanne) as Amy Wallace, Faye Grant (V) as Penny, Michael Beach (Aquaman) as Dorian Fletcher, John Kapelos (The Breakfast Club) as Steven Arrocas, Katherine Borowitz (Baby Boom) as Toya Arrocas, Richard Bradford (The Legend Of Billie Jean) as Grieb, and the film was directed by Mike Figgis (Leaving Las Vegas).

One thing is for absolute certain and that is after watching a film like this you can't help by tip your hat to Richard Gere who just absolutely stole the show. Every time he steps on the screen, he just absolutely takes over and shows you why he was picked to play a dirty cop who believes 100% that what he is doing is right. Then you have Andy Garcia playing opposite of him and it's a showdown to see who acted the best and quite frankly both men did well in what they were doing. The writing in the film was done very well especially all of the subplots that we see unfold in front of our very eyes and the mind games that Gere’s character plays is tremendous as well and that’s all due to the writing. Well, you can also credit his acting as well as he pulled off playing an arrogant prick with everything to lose like the best of them. It was funny watching this on VHS because it felt the same as if I was listening to a record on a Vinyl record player, it brings back those nostalgic feelings that get you all warm inside as you think of happier and simpler times. This was definitely a film that is worth watching especially if you want to see some brilliant acting from Garcia, Gere, and co. The cinematpgraphy is great, the acting was great, and this had some great writing which means that I am going to give the film an A- for a final grade. 

Action Point (2018)

Do you know what happens when you mix Jackass, Bad Grandpa, and Adventureland all in one? Well, one thing is for certain, you get less drama, but you get the 2018 comedy Action Point which was directed by Tim Kirkby and has Johnny Knoxville (Jackass/Bad Grandpa) as it's main star. Knoxville plays D.C. an old man who is just trying to connect with his granddaughter while babysitting her one day. He tells her the story of how he used to own a rogue, DIY amusement park back in the day called Action Point and how he spent one summer trying to connect with his daughter Boogie (Eleanor Worthington-Cox) who comes to visit him with a motive in mind. The film also stars Chris Pontius (Wild Boys) as Benny, Dan Bakkedahl (The Heat) as Knoblach, Johnny Pemberton (22 Jump Street) as Ziffel, Brigette Lundy-Paine (The Glass Castle) as Four Finger Annie, Eric Manaka as Rodney, Joshua Hoover (The Diary Of A Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul) as Hot Headed Pete, Conner McVicker (My Blind Brother) as Stiv, Camilla Wolfson (Order Of The Dragon) as Mia, Susan Yeagley (Almost Famous) as Adult Boogie, Matt Schulze (The Fast And The Furious) as Killer, and Kevin Otto (Chappie) as Mayor.

There are not a lot of laughs in this film as most of the jokes in the film have been played out for too long, but when there is something funny; you cherish that moment. They do a pretty decent job of storytelling in the film, but what I wish they had done a better job with was the whole scenario when Boogie runs away. She just sort of sits there and excepts him back into his life when he makes a lame comparison to her and the park. One of the funniest characters in the film award definitely goes to Chris Pontius who at moments can be creepy, but he steals a lot of scenes in the film from Johnny Knoxville. For example, check out the scene when Chris has to break into the news station, that was great and had me laughing for sure. I do have to admit, I think it's his awkwardness that I find charm in besides the fact that he just looks charming. As I said above, you can describe this film as Jackass, Bad Grandpa, and Adventureland without the great subplots and that would be the best way to describe how this film felt to me anyways. I didn't do a lot of soul searching when it came time to pick a film for today, I just sort of said well this should be funny. I avoided it in theaters for a reason, but it was on Hulu and I said oh what the hell, I'll check it out. Well, I am going to give the film an D+ for a final grade.

O Grande Elias (1950)

I was looking for a film to watch today and an odd choice sort of fell in my lap as I thought long and hard. I was cruising the tube when I came across the Portuguese channel and saw that an old film was about to air. I decided that since I am Portuguese that I would be put my language skills to the test as I checked out O Grande Elias which is considered part of the golden age of Portuguese cinema as the film was directed by the legendary Arthur Duarte (A Garça e a Serpente) in this Chaplin styled comedy. Mr. Elias (Estevão Amarante) is not a very rich man, but he lives a modest life in Portugal. One day, he finds out some very unfortunate news that now has him worried to death. His Aunt Adriana (Cremilda de Oliveira) is coming to visit him in Portugal, but he doesn't know what to do because she thinks that he is a wealthy man. So, Elias with the help of some friends decides that he is going to occupy his wealthy neighbors house while he is away, but the more lies he tells the deeper he gets especially when said neighbor comes back unexpectedly. The film also stars Milú (Os Três da Vida Airada) as Ana Maria, Maria Olguim (El huésped del cuarto número 13) as Francisca, Francisco Ribeiro (The Courtyard Of The Ballads) as Frail Wrestler, and Antonio Silva (O Costa do Castelo) as Elias.

This film really put my language skills to the test because there were no subtitles and I had to really pay attention to what they were saying to get what was going on. One thing I will say is that I absolutely loved this film because it was well directed and the jokes in the film were executed flawlessly and excellently. It was almost like they had gone to the school of Charlie Chaplin before making this film because it had that kind of a feel to it. One of my favorite scenes in the film happens in the wrestling match because at this point they've told so many lies; they get into situations like this. It is at this point that the goofy slapstick comedy shines the best and as I said is done so well. As far as the acting is concerned, Antonio Silva was absolutely brilliant as he commanded the screen with his screen stealing performance as the "Butler". He is the savior of everything they do and he is almost the reason why the lie works for so long which is great because as I said he just commanded the screen every time he appeared. I definitely think that it's good to check out foreign films because they sometimes help explain where that country was at during the time it was made. I need you to think about this for a second, Portugal was under the rule of a dictator at the time of the filming and release of the film. I am going to give the film an A- for a final grade.

Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (2006)

There are a lot of franchises out there that made a ton of money, had a lot of fans, but yours truly never bothered to check out or finish watching. Thanks to the brand new streaming service from Disney, I am finally able to catch up on all of the films I missed in the Pirates Of The Caribbean series and for today we are checking out the second film in the series Dead Man's Chest. Will Turner (Orlando Bloom) and Elizabeth Swann (Keira Knightley) are about to get married, but all of that is put aside when the two are arrested for treason because they helped Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) escape with the Black Pearl. To save them both, Will is tasked with having to bring back a compass that Sparrow possess. Meanwhile, Jack is in search of a chest that contains the key to finding freedom from the feared Davey Jones (Bill Nighy) or he will be enslaved for eternity. The film also stars Jack Davenport (Kingsman: The Secret Service) as Norrington, Jonathan Pryce (Tomorrow Never Dies) as Gov. Swann, Stellan Skarsgård (Thor) as Bootstrap Bill, Kevin McNally (Curse Of The Black Pearl) as Gibbs, Mackenzie Crook (The Office) as Ragetti, Lee Arenberg (Waterworld) as Pintel, Naomie Harris (Skyfall) as Tia Dalma, and the film was directed by Gore Verbinski (Rango).

I remember thinking that the first film in the series was incredible, but I have no idea why I never continued and then they kept releasing more films and I kept procrastinating. Once again the film featured incredible performances from Depp, Knightley, and Bloom with nice additions like the incredible Nighy who made an amazing Davey Jones. The acting is only one part of it because the special efffects were absolutely amazing in my opinion, but I wish we had a better view of the Kraken if I am being 100% honest because he is an epic beast. Nonetheless, they did great with the looks of Dave Jones and his men who were becoming part of the sea like the hammerhead guy or the crab guy which was cool too. The choreography in the film was great as well especially the sword fight scene which involved a giant wheel and a triple threat match for the key to the dead man's chest. I definitely like how the film ended because I think they knew that they had something so they left the ending the way they did to get you excited for the return of Barbosa and the quest to save Jack Sparrow as they will travel to World's End hence the title of the next film. If you only intend to make one film then you leave it with an ending that is satisfying, but if there is a sequel in mind then you leave us on a cliffhanger of sorts where we want more and this one did just that. So, I am going to go ahead and give this one an A- for a final grade.

A Star Is Born (2018)

One of the biggest hits of 2018 was a film that I didn't bother check out when it was in the theaters. The film I am talking about was nominated for eight Oscars, but only took home the award for Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures in A Star Is Born. The film stars Bradley Cooper (Guardians Of The Galaxy) as country singer Jackson Mane who is a little rough around the edges, but one day he discovers a young and upcoming singer in Ally (Lady Gaga). Despite all of the faults that she believes she has, he sees the true talent and beauty in her, but the only problem is that when her fame begins to rise he falls into a deep downward spiral that he can't seem to get out of. The film also stars Andrew Dice Clay (The Adventures Of Ford Fairlane) as Lorenzo, Sam Elliot (The Big Lebowski) as Bobby, Rafi Gavron (Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist) as Rez Gavron, Anthony Ramos (Godzilla: King Of The Monsters) as Ramon, Dave Chappelle (Half Baked) as Noodles, Ron Rifkin (L.A. Confidential) as Carl, with appearances by Halsey, Alec Bladwin, Marlon Wayans, and the film was written and directed as well by Bradley Cooper.

Some of the incredible things about this films is that Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper wrote (some of the tracks) and sang the songs. This is a masterpiece and Bradley Cooper nailed it to the point that I was frustrated I waited this long to see it. The thing I will admit is that while this is a remake of a remake of a remake so I wanted to watch the original three films, but it would take too long to search so I went a hunch and watched this one. I will also say that both Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper did a phenomenal job in the film as Cooper surprised you with the singing and Gaga with her acting. I have always maintained that Lady Gaga was very pretty and this film was one example of how beautiful and talented of a singer that she is. The cinematography was absolutely amazing and it had to be with all of the concert footage that they shot for the film. The ending of the film I am a little harsh on because no matter what that twerp had said to me, I would have never listened to him, but then again do ever really know who is on our side or what exactly was he going through at the time. I'd love to sit back and check out the previous three versions of the film to see how they all compare to each other. Nonetheless, the film featured great writing as far as script, great songwriting, and great acting all around. You have to give them credit for adapting the music to what was popular in this day and age which is pop and country music. I am sure in another 20 or 30 years they'll be a fifth version of the film because it is a classic story of fame and how it eats you alive. That is why I am going to give the film an A for a final grade.

Deep Cover (1992)

It's funny to me that 28 years ago, the only reason that I knew that a film called Deep Cover existed was because of a Gangsta Rap track of the same name by Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg. The other funny thing is that I waited till now to check the film out, but better late than never is what I always say. The film stars Laurence Fishburne (Boyz n the Hood) as Russell Stevens Jr., a cop with a bit of a past. You see when he was a kid, he saw his father rob a liquor store only to be shot in the back and killed before he could get away. Russell swore that he would never lead the same life that his father did and he became a cop. Well one day, he is tasked with going deep undercover as a drug dealer to try and take down a drug dealing ring that is looking to expand it's horizons. The film also stars Jeff Goldblum (Jurassic Park) as David, Gregory Sierra (The Towering Inferno) as Barbosa, Roger Guenveur Smith (Dope) as Eddie, Clarence Williams III (Tales From The Hood) as Taft, René Assa (Baywatch) as Guzman, Victoria Dillard (Coming To America) as Betty, Charles Martin Smith (The Untouchables) as Carver, Julio Oscar Mechoso (Planet Terror) as Hernandez, and the film was directed by Bill Duke (Commando).

For the most part, it was a decent film in the fact that it kept my attention for the whole film and why not it has Jeff Goldblum as a gangster wannabe drug dealer in it. For the most part, I was just not impressed with the writing in this film because some of it felt rushed and to be honest I could have done without the child angle. We already know that Fishburne's character is a good guy, but I suppose that the kid represents the innocence that he once had before he went deep undercover. I thought Clarence Williams III was his usual brilliant self playing some sort of intense, whacked out character, but the question is did he know that Fishburne was a cop? He would always preach the religion stuff and tell them that they were the same, but in the end I think that Fishburne sort of looked at him like he represented a father figure in some weird way. Other than the writing, I thought that everyone did a fantastic job as far as the acting was concerned, but Fishburne had this moment where it was supposed to be a loss of his moral code. It's that moment when a character in a film has lived to a certain code for a while, but then something happens that he goes against it and that happened to Fishburne's character, but I wish they had expanded on it better. If you love old 90's gangster/undercover cop films then this is one to give a shot to for at least Goldblum's performance which was fantastic. I am going to give the film an C+/B- (somewhere in there) for a final grade.

1917 (2020)

One of the most anticipated films this year for me besides the next phase in Marvel and the various DC projects is none other than World War I epic 1917. There are tons of films that take place during every war after and including World War II, but not a lot is out there that I have seen regarding the first World War which was a very nasty war itself, but that is where famed director Sam Mendes (Skyfall) comes in with his latest offering in 1917 which he also wrote. The film follows two British soldiers, Lance Corporal Blake (Dean-Charles Chapman) and Lance Corporal Schofield (George MacKay) as they are tasked with having to deliver a message across enemy lines that is to stop a battalion made up of 1600 soldiers (which includes Blake's brother) from getting slaughtered in a trap that the Germans have setup.  The film also stars Colin Firth (Kingsman: The Secret Service) as General Erinmore, Billy Postlethwaite (Chernobyl) as NCO Harvey, Andrew Scott (Spectre) as Lt. Leslie, Mark Strong (Kingsman: The Golden Circle) as Captain Smith, Benedict Cumberbatch (Black Mass) as Col. MacKenzie, Richard McCabe (Eye In The Sky) as Col. Collins, Daniel Mays (Rogue One: A Star Wars Story) as Sgt. Sanders, Pip Carter (Robin Hood) as Lt. Gordon, and Claire Duburcq as Lauri.

One of the things I loved about this film is that the style of shooting seems like it is one continuous shot throughout the whole entire film. Sam Mendes decided to shoot the film that way so that it looked like you never missed anything. The actors had to spend six months rehearsing the choreography so that when it came time to shoot they would be prepared. I also loved it because it made the camera sort of a character in the film because it was always there. The two actors in the film (Chapman & MacKay) did an absolute amazing job in the film that it made me believe that they were there and to be able to work the way they did with the continuous shot deserves a lot of merit. The director was also able to paint an ugly picture of war with all of the rotting corpses and all of the destruction to remind us that war is not pretty at all and it definitely wasn't during the First World War. The set designer, costume designer , and the cinematographer all deserve a lot of credit as well because we were literally transported to this hell that was war with the destroyed towns, dead corpses, their uniforms/weapons, and we followed along as they did on their journey. Everyone involved in this film should be proud because they created a great film that you definitely need to check out and try and see it on the big screen if you can. That is why I am going to give the film an A- for a final grade because I enjoyed the journey, but Saving Private Ryan is still the best war film of all time.

The Voices (2014)

Screenwriters and directors have been crossing over genres for years with RomComs (Romance Comedy), Action & Comedy, and one genre that I think is the hardest to pull off in Horror Comedies. You are taking one genre that is dark in nature and you are mixing it with one that is generally light in nature and trying to make it work. That is what writer Michael R. Perry (Into The Badlands) and director Marjane Satrapi (Radioactive) did with today's film The Voices which stars Ryan Reynolds (Deadpool) as Jerry. Jerry is a very likable guy who just about gets along with everyone at work, but there is just one problem with Jerry. You see Jerry has a little bit of a problem in that he hears voices like he thinks that his cat Mr. Whiskers and his dog Bosco talk to him. One night Jerry makes the mistake of killing one of his co-workers and in a panic he chops her up and he keeps her head in his fridge. Will Jerry make things right or will he kill again? The film also stars Gemma Arterton (Clash Of The Titans) as Fiona, Anna Kendrick (Pitch Perfect) as Lisa, Ella Smith (Ray & Liz) as Alison,  Jacki Weaver (Silver Linings Playbook) as Dr. Warren, and Valerie Koch (The Calling Game) as Jerry's Mother.

Spoiler Alert: This paragraph may contain some spoilers so reader beware! One of the things I liked about this film was all about production choices because they made the whole film. There are moments in the film where they give you the glimpses of reality like showing you Jerry and the fact that he makes all of the voices himself, but most importantly it's the contrast in the apartment. When Jerry is in the apartment by himself, it looks all nice, clean, and organized while the heads look absolutely fresh. When someone else enters the apartment, it looks like the house of horrors with all of the filthy Tupperware and chopped body parts. He is so far down the rabbit hole of his own delusions that he can't tell what is real and he is able to mask it with his mind. While it may not seem like a big deal to you, but it matters a lot in showing you how fragile his psyche really is and how can't come back from it. Other than that, they do a really good job layering in the elements of horror with the comedy and Ryan Reynolds is just absolutely amazing in the film whether it's as Jerry or all of the characters he covers for the film. Anna Kendrick is also a very nice surprise for the film as the naive Lisa who has no idea that Jerry is bat shit crazy. Stick around for the credits as they sing a song with Jesus! If you get a chance to run over to the VUDU app, it's showing for free as we speak. I really liked the film and loved Reynolds so I am going to give the film an B+ for a final grade.