I continue to enjoy each “Fast and the Furious” installment less than the previous one. “F9: The Fast Saga” makes it clear that this franchise has reached a desperate state. First of all, director Justin Lin is back. He helmed the third, fourth, fifth and sixth entries, then decided to steer his career in a […]
I wasn’t a big fan of 2017’s “The Hitman’s Bodyguard”. Ryan Reynolds and Samuel L. Jackson do their usual schtick in what is a very poorly constructed action comedy. But audiences responded to it as late summer escapism. The film earned $75 million domestically and another $100M internationally… so why not a sequel? Here’s why […]
“A Quiet Place: Part II” opens with a prequel scene. We witness the Day 1 events leading-up to the initial alien attack on the rural Northeastern town that kicked-off “A Quiet Place”. John Krasinski’s Lee Abbott, wife Evelyn (Emily Blunt) and their three children come face to face, for the first time, with those monsters […]
Zack Snyder’s new zombie flick “Army of the Dead” opens with a grand, highly self-aware and mildly entertaining first 15-minutes. With a rendition of “Viva Las Vegas” blaring over an elaborate montage, we get an idea of what’s to come — at least we think we do. Zombies have taken over Sin City. Tens of […]
There’s a chance you read the novel “The Woman in the Window” when it was published in 2018. Over the past few years you may have also read that there was a film adaptation in the works. In July of ’18, four months after winning the Best Actor Oscar for “Darkest Hour”, Gary Oldman re-teamed […]
“Wrath of Man” is director Guy Ritchie’s latest crime thriller. It’s also his fourth collaboration with action superstar Jason Statham. They last teamed-up on 2005’s “Revolver”. The two actually began their film careers together — 23-year ago: Ritchie a rookie director and Statham making his big-screen debut in the British crime comedy “Lock, Stock and […]
In “Together Together”, Ed Helms stars as Matt, a single guy in his 40s who decides he’s going to finally have a baby, using a surrogate. In the opening scene, he’s interviewing 26-year-old Anna (Patti Harrison). She’s chosen to carry and bring Matt’s child into the world. This story chronicles the highs and lows of […]
It’s the monster movie showdown of the ages! (Or at least of this decade.) “Godzilla vs. Kong” is exciting, entertaining escapism and the best installment in WB’s “Monsterverse” to date. If you haven’t seen 2014’s solid “Godzilla”, 2017’s so-so “Kong: Skull Island” or 2019’s dull and disappointing “Godzilla: King of the Monsters” don’t sweat it. […]
I’ll be honest: I did NOT think “Bad Trip” was going to be the funniest movie of 2021, so far. Hidden camera/prank comedies (such as “Impractical Jokers: The Movie” and “Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa”) are always very hit and miss. However, “Bad Trip”, which combines pranks and outrageous ‘filmed on camera’ moments with a legitimate […]
“My Salinger Year” is one of the best movies of 2021 so far, highlighted by yet another showcase performances from Margaret Qualley. She was the shining star of 2017’s sinfully overlooked “Novitiate”. And she sparkled in her scenes with Brad Pitt in Quentin Tarantino’s “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”. In “Salinger”, Qualley plays 23-year […]