Yojimbo (1961)

So on April 1 (Tomorrow), it will Toshirô Mifune's 100TH birthday and if you do not know who Toshirô Mifune then you are not a fan of samurai films at all. At this point, I had seen Mifune in Seven Samurai which was a highly regarded film and in Rashomon, but there was always one left to see and that was 1961's Yojimbo which literally translates to mean Bodyguard. The film was written and directed by the great Akira Kurosawa (Seven Samurai) and it stars Mifune as Sanjuro Kuwabatake, a smart and crafty ronin who happens to come up on a town that is just full of trouble. You see the town is in the middle of a war between two rival gangs that never seems like it's going to end. So, Sanjuro decides that he is going to get involved in the matter to save the town as each gang fights for his services as a Yojimbo. The film also stars Tatsuya Nakadai (Kagemusha) as Unosuke - Gunfighter, Seizaburô Kawazu (Attack Squadron!) as Seibê - Brothel Operator, Kyû Sazanka (The Bad Sleep Well) as Ushitora, Daisuke Katô (Seven Samurai) as Inokichi - Ushitora's Rotund Brother,  Takashi Shimura (Stray Dog) as Tokuemon - Sake Brewer, Yôko Tsukasa (Moment Of Terror) as Nui, and Eijirô Tôno (Tora! Tora! Tora!) as  Gonji - Tavern Keeper.

I know we are a day early, but I have something planned for Monday Night so we are celebrating his birthday a day early and what a film to celebrate it with. Toshirô Mifune was masterful in this film as he commanded the screen with his toughness and charisma. The writing from Kurosawa definitely helped him a lot as well because Kurosawa made his character savvy and sneaky, but Mifune's acting talent definitely took the role to a whole new level as well. Mifune may very well be the greatest in the world to ever do it and that is why they still celebrate him to this day and rightfully so. One fun fact that I heard from a fellow film connoisseur was that the shoulder ticks and what not was Kurosawa telling him that he wanted Sanjuro to be like a mangy, ferile, stray dog and Mifune just nailed it to perfection giving us the idea of this man being a complete stranger to this people. Some of the characters in the film were a little over the top as far as looks and personality like Inokichi or even the giant, but I think that was the fun of the film was that these guys were meant to look like a joke compared to Mifune's character. The cinematography was amazing in the film and I loved the idea of them introducing the gun to the picture because it added an element of danger to our main hero so well done on that. Overall, I was very pleased with a lot of the characters in the film like the restaurant owner and the coffin maker as they added to the story with their commitments to their characters. There is not enough I can say about this film, but this should definitely be at the top of your list because this may be one of the best of Kurosawas films. I am going to give the film an A+ for a final grade. Celebrate Mifune's birthday tomorrow by watching this or any of his other films.

The Irishman (2019)

If there was ever one film that everyone was talking about then it was definitely 2019's The Irishman which was directed by Martin Scorcese (The Wolf Of Wall Street) as he reunites with Robert De Niro (The Score) and Joe Pesci (Raging Bull) for the first time since 1995's Casino. The film stars De Niro as aging hitman Frank Sheeran who has to try and balance his loyalty towards the mafia and to his friend and boss Jimmy Hoffa (Al Pacino) through the 1950's until Hoffa's disappearance in the 1970's. Sit back and relax as Frank tells you the tale of having both a privileged and dangerous life that came with its consequences. The film also stars Pesci as Russell Bufalino, Harvey Keitel (Pulp Fiction) as Angelo Bruno, Ray Romano (Everybody Loves Raymond) as Bill Bufalino, Bobby Cannavale (Boardwalk Empire) as Skinny Razor, Anna Paquin (X-Men) as Peggy Sheeran, Stephen Graham (Boardwalk Empire) as Anthony 'Tony Pro' Provenzano, Jack Huston (Boardwalk Empire) as Robert Kennedy, Jesse Plemons (Game Night) as Chuckie O'Brien, Paul Herman (Silver Linings Playbook) as Whispers DiTullio, Louis Cancelmi (21 Bridges) as Sally Bugs, Sebastian Maniscalco (The House) as Crazy Joe Gallo, Steven Van Zandt (The Sopranos) as Jerry Vale, and Stephanie Kurtzuba (The Wolf Of Wall Street) as Irene Sheeran.

There are a few things you have to be willing to do in order to watch this film and one of those is that you have to be willing to devote three hours of your life to this film because it goes for that long. It's a really good story and it's well acted if you give those three hours of your life to it. The other thing you have to do is that you have to get used to the fact that they used CGI to make everyone younger, but the fact of the matter is that Robert De Niro had no business trying to beat the crap out of a guy during the film. What I mean by that is that he looked like a guy in maybe his 40's with the CGI who fought like an 80 year old man with bad hips. Once you can get passed that then it's an excellent film and one of the other things I liked is when they introduced a character that was minor or major, there was always stats that told you when they bit the bullet. I thought that was a little different, but the film is very much a 21ST century version of Goodfellas with the narration and so on. I have to say that I think Al Pacino was on top of his game as he played Jimmy Hoffa with conviction. He sort of made Jimmy a loveable and hateable character in the idea that you can see why the mob wanted to get rid of him, but you could also see why people loved him as well. I definitely am taking into consideration that how they explained his death in this film is probably what really happened. How else could he have disappeared for this long? I definitely think it's worth at least one watch which is why I am giving the film an B+ and I just wanted to say that I loved Stephen Graham in this film.

The Hunchback Of Notre Dame (1923)

It's another glorious Sunday during the Covid-19 Era, but we have to make the most out of everything the best we can and that means another Sunday At The Classics. For today's classic film, we are taking the time machine to the roaring 20's and we are checking out the silent classic The Hunchback Of Notre Dame which starred the one and only Man of 1000 faces Lon Chaney (The Phantom Of The Opera). Chaney complete transforms himself in the film to play Quasimodo, a the hunchback who has sanctuary in the cathedral of Notre Dame in France. It's the fifteenth century and things are rocky in Paris for King Louis XI (Tully Marshall) so the brother of the archdeacon Jehan (Brandon Hurst) plots with the gypsy king to create a peasant revolt. Meanwhile, Quasimodo falls in love with the gypsy queen, but he'll have to prove someone sinister was responsible for an attempted murder on a captain of the guards in order to save her. The film also stars Patsy Ruth Miller (Fools In The Dark) as Esmeralda, Norman Kerry (The Phantom Of The Opera) as Phoebus de Chateaupers, Kate Lester (The Gay Lord Quex) as Madame de Condelaurier, Nigel De Brulier (Adventures Of Captain Marvel) as Don Claudio, Raymond Hatton (Below The Border) as Gringoire, and the film was directed by Wallace Worsley (The Ace Of Hearts).

One of the disadvantages of the silent era was the fact that you had to be an "Actor" and not someone who thinks they can because you couldn't use your words. It was all based on your movements and facial expressions that helped tell a story because of course the words would come up on a screen, but the actors needed to convey those feelings. One of the bigger stories of this film is obviously the one and only Lon Chaney and how he did in the film. The one answer I can give you on that is that he was masterful as usual from the makeup which I believe he would do himself or at least part of it all the way to the stunts that he was performing even with the makeup and the costume. Lon Chaney was the real deal in Hollywood in those days and this film is just another prime example of why he was adored by so many today. One thing that kind of bothered me was it seemed like they were trying to have two different stories in the film that would coincide with one another, but in the end they just tied together anyways. Other than that, the film was really good for it's time, but the copy that HULU is suffering a little bit as it's getting a little grainy and hard to focus on. I could imagine that it's probably the best they could do especially seeing that most film stock wasn't meant to stay perfect for so long. If you are a film connoisseur then definitely give this one a watch, but for right now I am going to give the film an A- for a final grade.

Okja (2017)

I am always looking for interesting films to watch and it definitely helps if it contains an interesting story and even some actors that you enjoy watching. One film that I kept coming across on Netflix that I wanted to check out was one called Okja and it was released on Netflix in 2017 and it was written and directed by Bong Joon Ho (Snowpiercer). The film stars Tilda Swinton (Doctor Strange) as Lucy Mirando, the new CEO of Mirando Co. who has to clean up the mistakes of her family's past. Her solution is to genetically create a superpig that she will distribute all over the world for farmers to raise for a competition. The only problem for Lucy is that ten years later when it 's time to reveal them, she will meet her match in a little girl (Seo-hyun Ahn) who will do whatever it takes to make sure that they do not take her friend Okja. The film also stars Jake Gyllenhaal (Brokeback Mountain) as Johnny Wilcox, Giancarlo Esposito (King Of New York) as Frank Dawson, Hee-Bong Byun (The Host) as Hee Bong, Shirley Henderson (Star Wars: Episode IX-The Rise Of Skywalker) as Jennifer,  Steven Yeun (Mayhem) as K, Paul Dano (Prisoners) as Jay, Lily Collins (The Blind Side) as Red,  Devon Bostick (Diary Of A Wimpy Kid) as Silver, and Daniel Henshall (The Babadook) as Blond.

This was an interesting film to say the least and one that is sort of divided into two parts. There's the fun adventure part of the film that shows you how everything is set up as well as the very relationship this girl has with Okja. Then there is the second part of the film that is all espionage and action adventure as the ALF tries to figure out how to rescue all of these superpigs before they get slaughtered and the harsh reality that is corporations especially those that deal with the food that we intake. It also shows what lengths they'll go to make sure the public thinks that their food is safe to eat and what not. One of the more shocking scenes had to be when Okja is first brought to the lab and you see all the deformed or defective diseased superpigs that they couldn't get right and you think is Okja the only real superpig till you get to the slaughterhouse scene. I loved Gyllenhaal in this film because he was just an insane version of himself like Depp in Charlie and The Chocolate Factory and he got weirder as the film progressed, but he was sort of a villain we needed to compliment Swinton and co. I loved the cinematography in the film especially the scenes when we are in Korea and it's back at the farm. There are tons of beautiful shots of the landscape before we go to the ugly city shots. I definitely think that this is a film worth checking out that features both English and Korean with the subtitles. I am going to give the film an A- for a final grade.

Hook (1991)

Every month the app VUDU has free movies that you can watch, but the only catch is that it comes with advertisements. Those are the least of your worries because the selection is usually amazing and I found one that I have been meaning to see for 29 years now. The film I am talking about is the 1991 Steven Spielberg (Jaws) directed Hook which stars the late Robin Williams (Good Morning Vietnam) as Peter Banning, a lawyer known for closing deals between companies that merge. During a trip to England to see Granny Wendy (Maggie Smith), his children are kidnapped by Captain Hook (Dustin Hoffman) and that is when he learns that he was Peter Pan at one time in his life, but he needs help remembering so that he can save his kids before it's too late. The film also stars Julia Roberts (Pretty Woman) as Tinkerbell, Bob Hoskins (Who Framed Roger Rabbit?) as Smee, Caroline Goodall (Schindler's List) as Moira, Charlie Korsmo (Can't Hardly Wait) as Jack, Amber Scott (American Experience) as Maggie, the late Laurel Cronin (A League Of Their Own) as Liza, Phil Collins (Buster) as Inspector Good, the late Arthur Malet (Halloween) as Tootles, Dante Basco (The Perfect Weapon) as Rufio, Raushan Hammond (Tales From The Crypt) as Thud Butt, and Jasen Fisher (The Witches) as Ace.

What can one say about the film that probably hasn't already been said? I mean Dustin Hoffman was masterful as the conceited and disillusioned Captain Hook. Every time he was on screen, he intrigued me to want to keep watching because he is an amazing actor.  One of the things I really enjoyed about the film was the idea they used in explaining how Robin's character was the grown up Peter Pan. He simply stopped believing and he grew up as a result of it and most of the memories of Neverland were erased from his memory because all he knew was his love for Moira. If you think about it, that was a brilliant idea because it was a different take on a classic story and I loved how everyone thinks they are made up stories by Granny Wendy who is really Wendy in the story. The only thing that was predictable was how Robin was a shitty dad who focuses way too much on his work that he ends up neglecting his kids and now he has to prove to them that he still loves them. WE have seen that part of the story so many times in the past, but it helps with this. The scenes with the Lost Boys were really good, the cinematography and sets were amazing and the writing was well done which is all that matters. Oh yeah, the acting was amazing all around, but one thing I was confused about at first was that you see Phil Collins in the beginning of the film as a cop, I thought at first that he was Smee in Neverland, but I was wrong. The film is awesome so go and check it out because I am going to give the film an A for a final grade.

The Love Witch (2016)

I haven't watched a lot of horror this year as of yet and for some reason I felt like checking one out on the Shudder app. Last year during the Halloween season, Kirk Hammett of Metallica was asked to name some of his favorite horror films and one of the films was 2016's The Love Witch which was written and directed by Anna Biller (A Visit From The Incubus). The film stars Samantha Robinson (Once Upon A Time In Hollywood) as Elaine, a witch that is sort of on the run from San Francisco and in search of the one thing every woman wants and that is love. She wants love so much that she begins making potions and going through guys in this new city like they are spells, but their are deadly consequences and it could come back to bite her. The film also stars Gian Keys (Horror House) as Griff, Laura Waddell (Saving Mr. Banks) as Trish, Jeffrey Vincent Parise (The Young and the Restless) as Wayne, Jennifer Ingrum (The Young And The Restless) as Barbara, Jared Sanford (A Visit From The Incubus) as Gahan, Robert Seeley (Perfect Match) as Richard, Randy Evans (The Bold and the Beautiful) as Steve, Elle Evans (Scouts Guide To The Zombie Apocalypse) as Star, and Lily Holleman (The Lady Killers) as Miss Curtis.

The director of the film was definitely a fan of European erotic witch themed horror of the 1960's and 70's because it reminded me a lot of Living Dead Girl, Virgin Witch, and other films just like it. I would be super interested to see what exactly influenced her when she wrote the film, but for now we'll talk about it. One of the the things that confused me at first was when was the film taking place because a lot of the costumes seem like they are out of the 70's and a lot of the dialogue felt that way too, but then you get one of the driving a modern car and a lot of the cars are mixed between classics and moderns. The film also looked like it was shot with a vintage camera and film stock which added a cool element to the film and hence helped my confusion. Other than that, when you figure it out, it's actually a very good film that takes you on that classic journey of a girl who is so desperate for love that she will do anything even if it means that some will be harmed. One of the other huge differences in this compared to the classic films is the fact that she is complete control and she is not the victim which was different from the classic films and that is some powerful stuff. Some will say that is because it's a feminist film, but why shouldn't a woman be in control the whole time? I guess the idea of a strong female role just scares the crap out of men, but I find that attractive. That is why I am going to give the film an A- for a final grade because it's smart, sexy, and different while looking familiar.

King Of New York (1990)

There are so many different ways that you can access movies these days that I am barely touching the surface and many of them I just do not have any longer. One app that I decided to try recently was Tubi and one film that popped out to me was the 1990 film King Of New York. The crime, thriller was directed by Abel Ferrara (The Driller Killer) and stars Christopher Walken (Things to Do in Denver When You're Dead) as recently paroled gangster Frank White who has been out of action for so long that things have changed in New York. With the help of his loyal confidant Jimmy Jump (Laurence Fishburne), they'll try to take over all of New York as he strives to be King of New York. The film also stars Wesley Snipes (Blade) as Thomas Flanigan,  David Caruso (Proof Of Life) as Dennis Gilley, Victor Argo (The Last Temptation Of Christ) as Roy Bishop, Roger Guenveur Smith (Deep Cover) as Tanner, Janet Julian (Humongous) as Jennifer, Giancarlo Esposito (The Jungle Book) as Lance, Steve Buscemi (Boardwalk Empire) as Test Tube, Theresa Randle (Bad Boys For Life) as Raye, Joey Chin (China Girl) as Larry Wong, Paul Calderon (Pulp Fiction) as Joey Dalesio, and  Robert LaSardo (Bubble Boy) as Italian Guard.

I was a little worried about how I would feel about Christopher Walken playing a gangster, but after watching this I remembered why I love the guy. Think of this as the pre-cursor to Suicide Kings which I also loved with Walken. The story is a very simple one that is all about a guy trying to take over the underworld so that he is the king of New York so there's nothing extra-ordinary about it. The one thing the film's writing does is that it appeals to the crime world and portrays police officers as the villains of the film. I mean, I don't think it's just me, but who could love David Caruso as a cop? I mean he is an asshole to criminals and the people close to him in the film so automatically you are rooting against him and his mindless partner played by Wesley Snipes. If you like at this film, it's a story of two families, one being Walken's crew and the other being the police officers. Walken runs his crew while Fishburne and co are loyal soldiers. Victor Argo runs his crew and they usually don't do anything without his permission so Snipes and Caruso are soldiers as well. Only in this film, you are rooting for Team Walken and I get why they did it, but a lot of people have a problem with that angle. There's plenty of action and violence to go with this film's use of women as objects so if you love it then you'll like this one. I really thought Laurence Fishburne was great in this film, much better than he was in Deep Cover. With all of that being said, I am going to give this film an B for a final grade.

Inferno (1999)

When I was growing up, action films were at an all time high as action stars were being created left and right with guys like Sylvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Mel Gibson, and so many more. However, my favorite Martial Arts/action star was none other than the "Muscles From Brussels" Jean-Claude Van Damme (Bloodsport) who starred in a ton of films from the late 80's to the early 90's. Much like other action stars, they starred in so many films that it was easy to lose track of some and I have one for you guys today in Inferno which at one time was known as Desert Heat. The film stars Van Damme as Eddie Lomax, a man drifting through the desert with no purpose in life other than dying. All of that changes for him when he is jumped by a local gang that runs a desert town. After being left for dead, Eddie now has a purpose and that is revenge and getting his motorcycle back while also saving the town. The film also stars Pat Morita (The Karate Kid) as Jubal Early,  Danny Trejo (Bubble Boy) as Johnny Sixtoes, Gabrielle Fitzpatrick (Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie) as Rhonda, Larry Drake (Darkman) as Ramsey Hogan, Vincent Schiavelli (Fast Times At Ridgemont High) as Mr. Singh, Bill Erwin (Things To Do In Denver When You're Dead) as Eli Hamilton, Jaime Pressly (Joe Dirt) as Dottie Matthews, Kevin West (Bio-Dome) as Vern, Priscilla Pointer (Blue Velvet) as Mrs. Henry Howard, David 'Shark' Fralick (The One) as Matt Hogan, and the film was directed by John G. Avildsen (Rocky).

Now this is definitely not the best Van Damme film I have ever seen, but it wasn't all bad or was it? The villains in the film are kind of uninteresting because the acting was kind of terrible and the action was a little terrible too from them. These were guys in my opinion who didn't belong in the same stratosphere as Van Damme, but they were bad enough that you couldn't wait for Van Damme to kick their ass. I am not so sure how I felt about the comedy in this film because it felt a little too over the top and forced. These people have no idea who Van Damme's character is, but one is falling in love with him (naturally!), one is willing to dump bodies off of a cliff for him, and the other one has given him free reign over the weapons in his shop while a bible thumper is OK with him having a threesome with two girls he just saved. The funny thing too is that there are two gangs who are rivals for a desert town in the middle of nowhere which makes no sense to me. This was also not my favorite Danny Trejo film, but I enjoyed the presence he had in the film even though I could figure out at times if he was alive or dead or an illusion which I believe he was all three at one time or another in the film. So as I said, the film has it all from action, explosions, fights, guns, sex scene, and more so what else could you be possibly looking for? Well, better acting for one, but I'd be lying if I said I didn't enjoy it too because I like things that land on the cheesy side of life like Pat Morita as a southern man. That is why I am going to give the film an C+ for a final grade.

Professor Marston & the Wonder Women (2017)

Back in 2017, Wonder Woman was not only the first female led superhero film in the world, but she was also the film that changed the game for the DCEU forever as it saved the comic book company from obscurity. The question going in today is have you ever wondered the true origins of Wonder Woman as in who created her and why did they create her? All of those questions are answered in 2017's Professor Marston & The Wonder Women which was written and directed by Angela Robinson (Herbie Fully Loaded). The film stars Luke Evans (Beauty & The Beast) as William Moulton Marston, a psychology professor for Harvard, who along with his wife Elizabeth Marston (Rebecca Hall) conduct an experiment at the college that leads to them having a polyamorous relationship with one of the students which in turn creates the character of Wonder Woman. The film also stars Bella Heathcote (Pride And Prejudice And Zombies) as Olive Byrne, Connie Britton (Seeking a Friend for the End of the World) as Josette Frank, Monica Giordano (Help Me Dream) as Mary, Oliver Platt (Lake Placid) as M.C. Gaines, Chris Conroy (Mr. Robot) as Brant Gregory, JJ Feild (Captain America: The First Avenger) as Charles Guyette, and Maggie Castle (Todd and the Book of Pure Evil) as Dorothy Roubicek.

It's crazy to think that Wonder Woman was created out of something that was so Taboo back in the 1930's, but what they didn't realize is that Professor Marston was actually way ahead of his time. He believed that while there are noticeable differences between man and woman, he believed in the feminist movement and that women were more than just secretaries and housewives. That is why he created Wonder Woman because he saw so much in those two women that he combined them into one. Olive was sweet and kind and everything that humanity would want while Elizabeth was strong and aggressive as she fought for what was right. Is that starting to sound familiar to you? I however had no idea that Professor Marston was fighting for his life both physically and for the rights of Wonder Woman. That is what the basis of the film was as you saw the battle he went through as he told the story of how Wonder Woman was created. I admired the fact that he wasn't ashamed of what he had done or how Wonder Woman was portrayed in some peoples eyes because a dominant woman was a very scary thing for men in the early to mid 1900's. It's the very reason why I love the Wonder Woman character because I would want someone my daughter could look up to and find strength in. The film is very interesting and it keeps you intrigued despite all of the sexual content which can also keep you intrigued as well. The cinematography was excellent and the costumes were amazing as well. You can see in the film what inspired Wonder Woman's costume as well. I definitely think this is one film to check out, but I do not recommend it for kids under 17. I am going to go ahead and give the film an A- for a final grade.

Forbidden Planet (1956)

We are here with another edition of Sunday At The Classics and we have an interesting one for all of you. For a very long time, Sci-Fi was not a genre that was taken all that serious by most and probably not until Star Wars started changing people's minds. However, there was one film that sort of changed the way people looked at the films and showed that it didn't have to be wild and zany and that is 1956's Forbidden Planet. Leslie Nielsen (Naked Gun) plays Commander Adams, a man in charge of a starship fleet that is sent into space to look for a professor and a crew that has gone missing for 20 years as humans were starting to look for other planets to inhabit. Unfortunately when they get there, the professor and his daughter are the only ones there and they begin to get stalked by an invisible monster. The film also stars Walter Pidgeon (Voyage To The Bottom Of The Sea) as Dr. Morbius,  Anne Francis (Bad Day At Bat Rock) as Altaira Morbius, Warren Stevens (Star Trek: The Original Series) as Lt. 'Doc' Ostrow, Jack Kelly (A Fever In The Blood) as Lt. Farman, Richard Anderson (The Six Million Dollar Man) as Chief Quinn, Earl Holliman (The Sons Of Katie Elder) as Cook,  George Wallace (Radar Men From The Moon) as Bosun, and the film was directed by Fred M. Wilcox (I Passed For White).

One of the cool things about this film was the fact that they built a real robot (Robby The Robot) and used it in the actual film. He is an actual robot and not a man inside of a suit which from what I can gather must have been the influence for C3PO and R2D2 in Star Wars. The one thing I was a hard sell on was the very end of the film when they explain who the creature is that is attacking them because it showcases that the film borrowed heavy from Sigmund Freud as they sprinkled him in with some of Shakespeare's The Tempest. one thing that I will say is that I had no idea that at one time, Leslie Nielsen wasn't always a goofball on camera. Nielsen take son a more serious tone for this film and he does it well as he commanded the screen every time he was on it. I thought when I saw that the film was nominated for an Oscar that it was going to be for Nielsen, but in fact it was for special effects which were done very well. I also loved the sets and how they were designed and you have to remember that in 1956, this was all practical effects compared to today's standards. It also helped that Anne Francis was an absolute fox in this film as she was quite stunning and certainly eye candy as she definitely holds her own as well. If you are a fan of Sci-fi then I am definitely suggesting that you check out this film cause it was really enjoyable to watch. That is why I am giving the film an A- for a final grade.

Vault (2019)

One of the greatest types of films that remind us of wild west stories, but set int he modern world has always been that of films based on La Cosa Nostra a.k.a. organized crime a.k.a. the Italian Mafia. We have seen so many great films that were based on trues stories like Goodfellas, Casino, and other organized crime films like Black Mass. For today's film, I have decided to check one out that took place in the smallest state in the union called Rhode Island and the films is called Vault which was released in 2019 and was written and directed by Tom DeNucci (Saving Christmas). The film stars  Theo Rossi (Sons Of Anarchy) as Deuce, a small time crook from Providence who along with his best friend Chucky Flynn (Clive Standen) decide that they are going to commit the biggest vault heist in the history of the United States of America. The film also stars Samira Wiley (Orange Is The New Black) as Karyn, Chazz Palminteri (A Bronx Tale) as Raymond, Don Johnson (Knives Out) as Gerry, William Forsythe (The Devil's Rejects) as Buddy Providence, Sean Ringgold (Uncut Gems) as Buddy Roxbury, Eric Lutes (Caroline In The City) as Buddy Barrington, Andrew Divoff (Wishmaster) as Buddy Woonsocket, Nick Principe (The Purge: Election Year) as Buddy Cranston,  Dorothy Lyman (Mama's Family) as Ma, and Chuck Zito (Oz) as Joey Bruno.

Considering that this was obviously a straight to VOD, DVD, and whatever else, this actually was a pretty decent film that gave you some incite into how things were in the city of Providence in the 70's. Providence is a completely different city now and in the last 20 years then it was in the 1970's and 80's and that's all thanks to what Buddy Cianci did for that city. Nonetheless, things were pretty reckless and the mob ran that city, but the greatest thing about this film is right at the very end when you figure out a very big twist. I never saw the twist coming and it shocked me because I should have seen that coming. So, the writing for the film was done very well by our director Mr. DeNucci who had the task of directing guys who were not household names and paired them with some legends of the genre like Zito, Palminteri, as well as appearances in the film by Vincent Pastore (The Sopranos) and even one by Burt Young (Rocky). It's a chance you take, but I believed that it was a very good one because you didn't know what to expect from Rossi. The film has about a 70% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes and a 5.4 on IMDB which the first score sounds about right. I loved the mix of real archival footage along with the actors in the film, loved the costumes, hair, and makeup, and the Buddy's were great when they needed to be. That is why I have decided that I am going to give the film an B- fir a final grade.

Vincent N Roxxy (2016)

I have decided that I was going to check out one more Zoey Deutch film before I took a break from reviewing all of her films because I enjoy them so much. So, I turned to Netflix for our next adventure and I came across an interesting one entitled Vincent N Roxxy which was released in 2016 and it was written and directed by Gary Michael Schultz (Devil In My Ride). The film stars Emile Hirsch (The Girl Next Door) as one of our title characters Vincent who while on the run from the city manages to bump into a runaway named Roxxy (Zoë Kravitz) who was trying to evade getting hurt by a drug dealer. Along with Vincent, they move their lives to where Vincent is from, but trouble is about to be at their doorstep like they've never seen before. The film also stars Zoey Deutch (Vampire Academy) as Kate, Emory Cohen (Lords Of Chaos) as JC, Kid Cudi (Need For Speed) as Suga, Beau Knapp (The Nice Guys) as Daryl, Jason Mitchell (Straight Outta Compton) as Cordell, Jeff Gum (Day Of The Dead: Bloodline) as Johnny, Kim Collins (Django Unchained) as Big Gary, and Dominic 'Taz' Alexander (The Power Of Few) as Jayden.

The film is kind of a slow burn for most of the film after it starts with a little action, but when you get to the end of the film you are just blown away. You definitely do not see it coming and it hits you out of nowhere. It is definitely the best 20 minutes that you will ever watch as the proverbial sh** hits the fan as the events of the beginning of the film come to bite them at the end. The acting was actually one of the strongest points of the film and Zoey's role in this film was very different than her usual. She played a bartender with an obvious past who just loves to party and have a good time, but she's also caring as well. The whole time I was watching this film, I didn't realize that Emory was Varg in Lords Of Chaos because this was a very different role for him and quite an annoying one if I am being honest. I thought he was really good and his acting was good, but his character was just lame and totally opposite of his brother Vincent. Vincent was more of a reserved, not running wild with emotions kind of person which suit Emile Hirsch very well like he was tailor made for the role. The cinematography was probably one of the stronger points in the film especially with some of the shots of him leaving the city and just how gritty everything looked. As I said before, the ultimate payoff of the film is the last 20 minutes or so because it's one you do not see coming and made it worth the wait. The movie is on Netflix right now so if you want to check it out, I do recommend it. That is why I am going to give the film an B for a final grade.

Vampire Academy (2014)

Back in the last decade, The Twilight Movies sort of ruined what it meant to be a vampire by making it too romantic. Unfortunately, if it wasn't for the fact that today's film starred my celebrity crush in Zoey Deutch (Set It Up), I probably wouldn't have chosen to watch Vampire Academy for today. The film was released in 2014 and it was directed by Mark Waters (Ghosts Of Girlfriends Past) and it stars Zoey as Rose Hathaway, a Dhampir who is a half human, half vampire who is sworn to protect the Moroi, a race of vampires who learn to live very discreetly in our world. Unfortunately, there is the race of vampires that Rose is sworn to protect against and that is the bloodthirsty vampires called Strigoi and she will be put to the test when someone tries to sabotage her Moroi's place in the kingdom. The film also stars Lucy Fry (Bright) as Lissa Dragomir, Danila Kozlovsky (Hardcore Henry) as Dimitri Belikov, Gabriel Byrne (End Of Days) as Victor Dashkov, Olga Kurylenko (Quantum Of Solace) as Headmistress Kirova, Sarah Hyland (Modern Family) as Natalie, Cameron Monaghan (Gotham) as Mason, Ashley Charles (Jimi: All Is by My Side) as Jesse, Claire Foy (The Girl In The Spider's Web) as Ms. Karp, Dominic Sherwood (Don't Sleep) as Christian Ozera, and Joely Richardson (Color Out of Space) as Queen Tatiana.

So, I am going to say right now that this is probably the worst Zoey Deutch film I have ever watched and probably one of the worst Vampire films I have ever seen. Let's just put it this way, the film was way too much Mean Girls and not enough Heathers as the poster suggested that it was written by. The worst thing about it or I should say one of the worst things about it is the fact that it tried to be as cool as the Twilight films and that in of itself is a bad idea to begin with. I think the only good thing about the film itself was Zoey Deutch, but even that was a tiny bit of a stretch. one minute , the main princess is all innocent and then she becomes the bad bitch on campus, but as soon as he friends ankle breaks she becomes the goodie two shoes all over again, but with a little more guts. I don't even want to talk about the action sequences in this film, but even that is as awful as the idea of Vampires trying to be Harry Potter. This film was just all over the place and the creepy dynamic of Zoey's character with her instructor was just a little weird as it should have been handled as just a school girl crush. The only redeeming factor was the explanation of how one becomes a Strigoi which honestly sounds like a faction in the Russian Mob. I honestly could not wait for this film to come to an end when it was all said and done because my patience with the writing and the action was at it's wits end. That is why this film is getting a D for a final grade as I am filing it in the burn at once category.

Set It Up (2018)

So, the film I chose for today was in a way intentionally picked and that is because of how much I enjoy watching my celebrity crush Zoey Deutch (Flower, Zombieland: Double Tap). So, while I was cruising through Netflix, I saw that she starred in the 2018 romantic comedy Set It Up that sees her play Harper, an assistant to a ruthless sports writer. Glen Powell (Everybody Wanst Some!) plays Charlie, a sweet kid who aspires to be his asshole boss who works in thew same building as Harper. One day the two faithfully meet and decide that they are going to try and make their lives easier by setting up their bosses to date and while it's a fruitful mission it could prove to be a disaster as well, but that is the risk you take. The film also stars Lucy Liu (Kill Bill: Vol. 1) as Kirsten, Taye Diggs (House On Haunted Hill) as Rick, Joan Smalls (John Wick: Chapter 2) as Suze, Pete Davidson (The Dirt) as Duncan, Meredith Hagner (Ingrid Goes West) as Becca, Jon Rudnitsky (Big Hero 6: The Series) as Mike, Tituss Burgess (Dolemite Is My Name) as Creepy Tim, Jake Robinson (The Carrie Diaries) as Golf Guy, Aaron Costa Ganis (Jessica Jones) as Dan, and the film was directed by Claire Scanlon (The Last Man On Earth).

One thing I will say is that while I am not a huge fan of Pete Davidson (I hated him in The Dirt), I thought he did a pretty good job as a side character in this one. He is just there to add some comedic relief moments and while not totally hilarious, he served his purpose. The real stars of the film are exactly who the writer and director wanted them to be and that is Glen Powell and Zoey Deutch who carry the film all the way through and they deliver the goods because they kept me well entertained. One thing I will say is that you obviously know right from the first minute that while they are trying to set up their bosses, it's inevitable that they will eventually fall in love because it just written there all over the place. You just knew that Harper wasn't going to find the right guy and that Suze was not the right girl for Charlie, it was just a matter of time until we visited that and we did. At one point, you start rooting for that more than you're rooting for the bosses to continue to hook up. That is why Ia m saying that Powell and Deutch are the MVP's of the film and if you think about it that means the film was well structured when written because every character does his/her specific job which allows our duo to be MVP's. This is definitely a good date night film especially if you and your significant other are looking for something to watch. He is only in it a couple of times in the film, but Tituss Burgess';s role as Creepy Tim is gold. I am going to go ahead and give this one a grade somewhere between an B+/A- for a final grade.

Flower (2017)

One of my biggest celebrity crushes right now in Hollywood is with actress Zoey Deutch (Zombieland: Double Tap) and it all started when I first saw her in Everybody Wants Some!. So, when I was cruising around HULU looking for something to watch, I was excited to see that they had a movie with her called Flower which was written and directed by Max Winkler (The King Of Central Park). The film stars Deutch as Erica Vandross, a very sexually curious teenager who frames older men by performing sexual intercourse for money because she is trying to get enough money to bail him out of prison. Joey Morgan (Scouts Guide To The Zombie Apocalypse) plays Luke Sherman, Erica's mother's boyfriend's social awkward son who has just been released out of rehab and is now in her life. Together they form a very unorthodox relationship that gets them into all sorts of trouble. The film also stars Tim Heidecker (Tim And Eric Awesome Show) as Bob Sherman, Kathryn Hahn (Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation) as Laurie Vandross, Adam Scott (The Secret Life Of Walter Mitty) as Will Jordan, Dylan Gelula (First Girl I Loved) as Kala, Maya Eshet (Man Seeking Woman) as Claudine, Romy Byrne (Love After Love) as Alli Whitman, and Eric Edelstein (Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day) as Dale Cotter.

It's frustrating to look at Hollywood and you see the crap that they spew out every year and unfortunately a film like this one falls in the cracks. The subject matter itself is a little risque especially since she keeps a journal of all the different penises and openly asks her future stepbrother if he would like something done, but other than that it's a really solid story. Zoey's character kind of grows up in this film because for the first part, she's just a reckless teen who kind of does what she wants, but towards the end of the film she kind of has a purpose that is greater than her own and Luke sort of grows on her to the point that she cares about him. One thing the film does not do enough of however is focus on why Erica is the way she is. Instead, they just run with the idea of exploiting her sexuality and not showing you why the events of her life have led her to this. I thought that Zoey Deutch was absolutely amazing in the film, but the real winners have to be Kathryn Hahn and Adam Scott. Kathryn Hahn was so convincing as that mom that feels so bad about dad being gone that she threw out discipline and order for friendship with her daughter and now it's biting her in the rear end. Adam Scott does an amazing job playing a guy who knows he was caught, but is living in such denial because he has nothing else in life. I enjoyed watching the film for what it was and that was a comedy which is why I am giving the film an B+ for a final grade.

Moana (2016)

Every once in a while, I like to check out Disney Plus and maybe watch films that I avoided at the cinemas which definitely includes the film I chose for today. Back in 2016, Disney tackled a new topic when they explored the lore of the Polynesian islands and their culture when they released Moana in 2016. Legend has it that a goddess by the name of Te Fiti created life with the power of her heart. One day, a demigod by the name of Maui (Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson) stole her heart and when he tried to escape it was lost in the ocean and he was banished. Fast forward to the future and we meet Moana (Auli'i Cravalho) who is a very curious girl and only daughter of the chief of her island. All she wants to do is set sail in the ocean, but when resources start to become scarce because of the curse, she finds the heart and sets out to find Maui to convince him to make things right once and for all to save her island. The film also stars Rachel House (Thor: Ragnarok) as Gramma Tala,  Temuera Morrison (Star Wars: Episode II- Attack Of The Clones) as Chief Tui, Jemaine Clement (What We Do In The Shadows) as Tamatoa, Nicole Scherzinger (Men In Black 3) as Sina, Alan Tudyk (Frozen) as Heihei, Oscar Kightley (Hunt For The Wilderpeople) as Fisherman, and the film was directed by Ron Clements (Hercules), John Musker (Aladdin), Don Hall (Big Hero 6), and Chris Williams (Bolt).

What can be said about a Disney movie that hasn't already been said before? They all follow the same formula where you have your main characters with one being on a mission, one being funny, and then they give you the comedic relief character in the form of an animal or creation (snowman). Most every single Disney movie follows that formula and why not? The formula has worked for years and as long as they keep it fresh it will work for more and more years. One thing I will say is that even though he is in cartoon mode, Dwayne Johnson still found a way to be funny and a very integral part of the film because if it wasn't for him I may not have enjoyed this as much. To be honest, I think he was more the comedic relief then the darn chicken who was just too dumb to be eaten. I thought some of the songs were just too much and it's probably the one thing that drives me nuts about Disney movies, but the one I did like was when Jemaine Clement had his time to shine with his song which had a very Bowie/Tim Curry feel to it and that was awesome. This was definitely enjoyable especially if you want to learn about some of the legends of the culture and how they received their names. I however don't think it's the best Disney movie ever made cause that belongs to The Toy Story. Therefore I am going to give this film an B+ for a final grade.

Lady In A Cage (1964)

Last Sunday, we took a week off from Sunday At The Classics, but this week we wanted to get back into the game and I truly believe we have something good for you. While I was searching through HULU looking for a film to watch, I stumbled on a film that while it is listed technically as a horror film, I would say it was more thriller and that is 1964's Lady In A Cage which was directed by Walter Grauman (The Old Man Who Cried Wolf). The film stars Olivia de Havilland (The Adventures Of Robin Hood) as Mrs. Cornelia Hilyard, a wealthy older woman who lives with her 30 year old son while she recovers from hip surgery. In order to get around the house, Ms. Hilyard needs to use an elevator, but one faithful day the power is taken out while poor Ms. Hilyard is trapped inside of it. Then the unthinkable happens as she is terrorized in her own home by some hoodlums who are looking to make a buck. The film also stars James Caan (The Godfather) in his very first role as Randall Simpson O'Connell, Jennifer Billingsley (The Man From U.N.C.L.E.) in her first role as Elaine, Rafael Campos (Shirley Temple's Storybook) as Essie, Jeff Corey (Beneath The Planet Of The Apes) as George L. Brady Jr. aka Repent, Ann Sothern (A Letter To Three Wives) as Sade, and  William Swan (The Twilight Zone) as Malcolm Hilyard.

One of the things I took from this film upon watching it is that I could definitely see this film as being used as a source of inspiration for future horror films especially those of the 1970's. I mean the formula may not be that new, but a group of thugs terrorizing people in their own homes or in their homes. Doesn't that sound familiar to any of you out there? I'll name a few like The Last House On The Left or even The Hills Have Eyes, but there are other factors that make me come to my conclusion. One of other factors is the character of James Caan who appears to be an attractive bad boy with a few loose screws, but he is charismatic and commanding of the screen much like David Hess was in The Last House... film or even Otis from The Devil's Rejects trilogy. You know that character who has been through so much that he makes his own set of rules and he lives and dies by them. Jennifer Billingsley's character could very well compare to that of Sherri Moon Zombie's character of Baby, but the difference is Sherri took hers to a whole other level. I thought for the most part that this was a pretty decent film, but the true magic is in the performances of the actors and for that Caan and Olivia de Havilland deserve all the credit for carrying this film and Olivia was masterful as she quickly realizes that she is not so innocent herself. The only thing that frustrated me was the fact that they were spewing out there names like this was a Cagney 1930's gangster movie. No one does that and if you do come up with a cool name instead of reading out you whole birth name. With that being said, I am going to give the film an B- for a final grade.

Spenser Confidential (2020)

There was a lot of buzz recently in the social media/internet super highway about a film that was premiering on Netflix that featured Hip Hop star Post Malone (credited as Austin Post). That film is called Spenser Confidential and it gained some buzz because it marks the fifth time that Mark Wahlberg (The Other Guys) and director Peter Berg (Collateral) have worked together. The film follows Spenser (Wahlberg), a former Boston Police Officer who was sent to prison for beating up his boss. The day he is released from prison, that said boss is murdered and a police officer Spenser knows is framed and killed for the crime. This bothers Spenser so much that he'll team up with his roommate to get to the bottom of what is going on and it gets dirty. The film also stars Alan Arkin (The Rocketeer) as Henry, Winston Duke (Black Panther) as Hawk, Iliza Shlesinger (Instant Family) as Cissy Davis, Michael Gaston (Bridge Of Spies) as Captain Boylan, Bokeem Woodbine (Overlord) as Driscoll, Marc Maron (G.L.O.W.) as Wayne Cosgrove, James DuMont (Dallas Buyers Club) as Bentwood, Post Malone as Squeeb, Hope Olaide Wilson (I Can Do Bad All by Myself) as Letitia, Colleen Camp (Die Hard With A Vengeance) as Betty, and Kip Weeks (The Strangers) as Macklin.

Out of all the films that Wahlberg and Berg have done together (Patriots Day, Lone Survivor, Deepwater Horizon, and Mile 22) this is definitely a different project for them that shows that Wahlberg still has what it takes to be funny. I was pleasantly pleased with him and what he brought to the table because we have enjoyed this side of him in multiple other films. Alan Arkin was Alan Arkin, the man is just amazing in everything he does as I have not seen one bad film with him yet. I was not sold however too much on Winston Duke as I thought his acting int his could have been better. I think he is supposed to be this interesting character that is the opposite of Wahlberg's and he was just flat and uninteresting in my opinion. I thought Post Malone was good for the time that he was in the film which while it wasn't a lot it was definitely effective. Iliza Shlesinger I thought was so over the top that while some may think that is bad, it was perfect because she is supposed to be this unbalanced, but strong confident Boston gal and she did it well. The accent she used was pretty good in my opinion and reminded me of the Hyundai Super Bowl commercial with Chris Evans that's how much I liked it. I thought there was a decent amount of action in the film to go with what was going on, but one thing I will say is that this isn't the best private detective film there is around, but it was entertaining. I actually enjoyed watching this one then I did The French Connection last night and that is saying a lot. In the end I am going to give the film an B for a final grade and while there could always be a sequel, I would be OK without one.

The French Connection (1971)

I decided that for today's film, despite the fact that it's Friday The 13TH, I am not going to review a horror film because I have seen every Friday The 13TH movie already. This is all about discovering new films that I have never watched before and for today with the fear of the Corona virus looming with shutdowns, I would check out another Sheldon's Choice which is 1971's The French Connection. The film stars Gene Hackman (The Poseidon Adventure) as Jimmy "Popeye" Doyle, a tough as nails NYPD Narcotics detective who just wants to clean up his city. One day, he stumbles onto a huge drug ring that could have very bad implications for the future of New York that is being led by a French Connection. The film also stars Roy Scheider (Jaws) as Buddy Russo, Tony Lo Bianco (Blood Ties) as Sal Boca, Fernando Rey (The Discreet Charm Of The Bourgeoisie) as Alain Charnier, Marcel Bozzuffi (Z) as Pierre Nicoli, Bill Hickman (Bullitt) as Mulderig, Arlene Farber (I Drink Your Blood) as Angie Boca, Frédéric de Pasquale (Swords Of Blood) as Devereaux, Harold Gary (Man Against Crime) as Weinstock, Patrick McDermott (Joe) as The Chemist, Eddie Egan (The New Mike Hammer) as Simonson, and the film was directed by William Friedkin (To Live And Die In LA).

I went into this film with high expectations since it did win the Oscar for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor (Gene Hackman), Best Editing, and Best Adapted Screenplay. Remember, they beat out A Clockwork Orange in two categories that year so I had to know just how good this film was and I thought it was just OK. I thought Gene Hackman definitely deserved the award he received for his performance because he was just relentless in this film. I think the thing that bothered me the most about the film was the ending and how it all came together because the build up was amazing. It's like they are teasing you constantly that they are close and then all of a sudden the proverbial sh** hits the can and it's over. I hated the fact that they actually ended the movie with the intention of having a sequel because it was more than obvious. The one man he wants to get this whole entire film is the one that gets away is just way too convenient. I feel like as soon as I decided to sit down and watch the second one that I am going to treat like I did Godfather 1 and 2 and that is that they are one film. I thought Roy was really good in the film, but they made the right choice in not giving him best supporting actor because he wasn't a huge factor like Hackman was. The film is gritty and there is going to be a language barrier because of some of the terminology used in the film, but remember that this was the 1970's. Therefore I am going to give the film an B+ for a final grade because I am harsh on the ending.

Dangerous Minds (1995)

The early 90's were littered with dramas that were featured in a classroom with inner city kids and teachers who were trying to make a difference (e.g. One Eight Seven, Lean On Me, Stand and Deliver). It's also kind of sad when you know the big hit song from a film (Gangstas Paradise by Coolio), but you still have never seen it which is why I decided to check out Dangerous Minds which was released in 1995 and was directed by John N. Smith (The Boys of St. Vincent). The film stars Michelle Pfeiffer (The Age of Innocence) as Louanne Johnson, an ex-marine who just wants to get a job as a teacher so she accepts one at a high school. What she doesn't realize is that her class is full of poor inner city kids who are bused into the school for this one class. So, she decides that she is going to try her best to make a difference for them before it's too late. The film also stars George Dzundza (The Deer Hunter) as Hal Griffith, Courtney B. Vance (The Hunt For Red October) as Mr. Grandey, Robin Bartlett (Lean On Me) as Ms. Nichols, Lorraine Toussaint (Orange Is The New Black) as Irene Roberts, Renoly Santiago (Hackers) as Raul, Wade Dominguez (City Of Industry) as Emilio, Bruklin Harris (Juice) as Callie, Marcello Thedford (Employee Of The Year) as Cornelius,  Richard Grant as Durrell, and Marisela Gonzales as Angela.

One thing I will say about this film is that it is definitely not better than any of the films that I mentioned in the article. First of all, the story is just awful in my opinion because there is no risk/reward really involved here other than the fact that one character may parish because he's too involved in the streets. She succumbs to everything they want because that is her way of getting them to pay attention. Well, she definitely did not go to the same school of thought as Joe Louis Clark (Lean On Me) or even Trevor Garfield (One Eight Seven) because both did not take any flack from any of the students and I get one is based on a true person and the other is fiction, but we were watching a film here. The acting from some of the characters in the film was also pretty ameuturish and it's no wonder a lot of them didn't do a lot, but that is not discounting everyone. There were definitely some stand outs in the film like Bruklin Harris or even Wade Dominguez even though he acted like he was too tough. I want to say that this film is worth at least one watch, but I definitely think this is one film you could do without unless you like Michelle Pfeiffer then that is totally up to you in the end. That is why I have decided that the final grade to the film is what I consider to be fair because I am giving it an C+ and that is generous.

Brokeback Mountain (2005)

There are so many movies in the world that I have never seen for whatever reason and sometimes it's lack of desire or just not being in the mood. One of my favorite actors of the 2000's was none other than the legend, the late Heath Ledger (The Dark Knight). In 2005, Heath Ledger proved what kind of an actor he was when he took the role in director Ang Lee's (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon) film Brokeback Mountain alongside Jake Gyllenhaal (Donnie Darko) which is today's film and one of the films I had been meaning to see for a long time. The film follows two ranchers (Ledger and Gyllenhaal) who because of one romantic linkup that summer changed the course of their lives as they struggled with the secret for the rest of their lives. The film also stars Randy Quaid (Independence Day) as Joe Aguirre, Michelle Williams (Manchester By The Sea) as Alma, Anne Hathaway (The Dark Knight Rises) as Lureen Newsome, Graham Beckel (L.A. Confidential) as L.D. Newsome, Linda Cardellini (The Curse of la Llorona) as Cassie, Anna Faris (The House Bunny) as Lashawn Malone, David Harbour (A Walk Among The Tombstones) as Randall Malone, Kate Mara (Tall Tales from the Magical Garden of Antoon Krings) as Alma Jr., and  Scott Michael Campbell (Flight of the Phoenix) as Monroe.

Let's get the one question out of the way because you are all wondering it anyways. Are their scenes that could be a little uncomfortable to watch? The answer to that question is an obvious yes especially if you are not comfortable in your own skin. The thing that everyone should worry about when it came to this film was what kind of a performance did these two put in to the film because it can't be easy to play someone who is bisexual or even Gay. The sad reality of this film is the fear these two men felt throughout the whole film because back in 1963 and beyond it was not OK to be a homosexual male especially in the states of Wyoming and Texas in those times. There was so much love between these two men that you could definitely sense how incredible they were in the film. You honestly felt like this was real because it shows the caliber of the two men and to this day Jake Gyllenhaal is still one of my favorite actors. I regret the fact that I had not seen this film anytime within the last 15 years and that is a big shame on me. One of the incredible elements of the film as well is that age transformation job they did for Heath Ledger who looked like he was getting worse for his age while Gyllenhaal still looked good for an older man. A friend of mine told me to check out this film because why not? If it's OK for women to make out on screen, then you should be OK with this and I was definitely OK watching the film. That is why Ia m going to give the film an A+ for a final grade because it had a great story, great cast, and some amazing cinematography to boot.

21 & Over (2013)

Sometimes when you are searching for a film to watch and you just want to unwind and laugh a little then a comedy is what you are searching for. Now when looking for that comedy, I look for certain criteria and having The Hangover 1 and 2, Office Christmas Party, and so much more under your belt makes you a great candidate and that is why I chose 21 & Over which was written and directed by Jon Lucas and Scott Moore. The film stars Miles Teller (Bleed For This) as Miller, Skylar Astin (Pitch Perfect) as Casey, and Justin Chon (The Twilight Saga: Eclipse) as Jeff Chang who are a group of friends that have grown apart a little since going to college. One night, Miller gets them all together for Jeff's 21ST birthday and what turns out to be a one drink night turns into a night of hell as they have to get Jeff home safely for his his big interview the next day. The film also stars Sarah Wright (The House Bunny) as Nicole, François Chau (Birds Of Prey) as Dr. Chang, Russell Hodgkinson (Z Nation) as Chief, Jonathan Keltz (Necessary Roughness) as Randy, Daniel Booko (Avengers: Infinity War) as Julian, and Dustin Ybarra (We Bought A Zoo) as PJ Brill.

Now as far as all of their films are concerned, The Hangover is still the best one that they have written, but this was actually a super fun film to watch. It was exactly what I wanted to watch at the very time that I watched it and that is a fun film that teaches kids the lesson that sometimes after high school, we do grow apart from each other and that happens more than you know. People change and they go in different directions especially with what life throws at you and that certainly happens to these three guys as they figure that out as the movie progresses. Now the film shows me why I should have gone to a real college right away when I was straight out of high school, but I don't think I would have survived. That is a story for another day, but the film was exactly the same as The Hangover. You are presented with a main problem (the plot), which then spirals into several other problems (sub-plots) and there is even the added bonus of a romance thrown in for good measure. Did it payoff though? The answer is definitely yes because Miles Teller was absolutely wonderful and absolutely hilarious as he carries the whole entire film himself. He was absolutely sharp and on point and he commanded the screen every time he was on it. I really liked the other two, but unfortunately without Miles in the film, I am not so sure how I would have felt about it. It would be like having someone else play Alan in The Hangover (Zach Galifianakis's part). So, that is why unfortunately the film only gets an B for a final grade.

The Score (2001)

I have always been a fan of the one and only Robert De Niro and as you can tell I have already seen him Godsend, Silver Linings Playbook, Limitless, and Ronin. There was always one film that was lost in the bunch that I had always wanted to see for the reason of who starred alongside De Niro and the film is called The Score which was directed by Frank Oz (The Muppets Take Manhattan) and released in 2001. The film stars De Niro and veteran safe cracker Nick who believes in his heart of hearts that he has done his last job because he wants a little bit of normalcy. That is until his long time partner Max (the late Marlon Brando) convinces him to take one last job with a hot shot newbie that is guaranteed to make them some big money. The film also stars Edward Norton (Keeping The Faith) as Jack/Brian, Angela Bassett (Olympus Has Fallen) as Diane, Gary Farmer (Ghost Dog: The Way Of The Samurai) as Burt, Paul Soles (The Incredible Hulk) as Danny, Jamie Harrold (Natural Born Killers) as Steven, Serge Houde (The Kennedys) as Laurent, Jean-René Ouellet (The Barbarian Invasions) as Andre, Martin Drainville (King Of The Airways) as Jean-Claude, and Claude Despins (Ceci n'est pas un polar) as Albert.

This was an excellent film that really was all about Robert De Niro and Edward Norton as everyone else were just supporting cast. I think they could have done the whole film with literal nobodies and it would have been great with just those two. I loved that Marlon Brando was in the film because he was a legend, but his character could have been played by just about anyone. I am not saying he did a terrible job, but his character was kind of unmemorable. One thing I will say is that I loved most of the film that showed the setup of the operation and what not, but the last 35 minutes of the film is where all the excitement is because there's the anxiety of whether they accomplish it or not plus there is some backstabbing through in along with some master trickery. That last 35 minutes is definitely worth the price of admission and it ended the film on a high note. The number one lesson is that you may be the young gun, but you do not mess with a guy with experience whose been around the block because he will school you. The writing for the film was on point as it never really felt like there were holes that were left unfilled and there was always some sort of risk reward that was definitely worth it. The cinematography was great with all of the amazing shots of Montreal along with all of the action shots during the actual heist. So, I am going to come and say that I definitely suggest this film for anyone who loves De Niro and Norton because they put on quite the masterful performance. Therefore, I am going to go and give the film an A- for a final grade.