"We're not critics. We're professional fan-girls." --- This blog is dedicated to movies and the entertainment industry. We use random selection to bring into light the best and worst of streaming films and entertainment news.
Streaming Service: Netflix Movie Name/Year: Trap (2024) Genre: Horror, Crime, Thriller Length: 1h 45min Rating: PG-13 Director: M. Night Shyamalan Writer: M. Night Shyamalan Actors: Josh Hartnett, Ariel Donoghue, Saleka Shyamalan, Alison
Pill, Hayley Mills, Jonathan Langdon, Mark Bacolcol, Marnie McPhail, Kid Cudi,
Russ, Marcia Bennett, Lochlan Miller, Vanessa Smythe Blurb from IMDb: A father and his teen
daughter attend a pop concert only to realize they've entered the center of a
dark and sinister event.
Selina's Point of View: Trap
got mixed reviews, at best, but I rather enjoyed it.
Josh Hartnett (Lucky
Number Slevin, Black Hawk Down, Sin City) is a brilliant actor. Early in
his career, he pushed himself out of the heartthrob rom-com box and hasn't
really looked back since. It was a great move, because he has a range that I
don't think people fully appreciated back then.
Saleka Shyamalan
felt a little green and now I know why. This was her first full-length feature film
acting role. As M. Night Shyamalan's (Signs, Knock at the Cabin, Split)
daughter, she was likely bound to step into one of his movies eventually. He
has a habit of tossing himself into his work whether or not he should, so it
was only a matter of time before he did it with his daughter. Luckily, she fit
the role and really made me believe her. There were parts of her acting that
felt a little rushed or tense, but considering the scenes, it worked. It may
have even been on purpose. I'd absolutely be open to watching more of her in
the future.
And, yeah, M. Night
tossed himself into Trap. It was a smaller part than he normally takes
though. I didn't even realize it until after the fact.
I kept waiting
for the typical Shyamalan pitfalls. I originally missed his cameo, which is
one. The other is his signature twist, which he uses whether it fits the flick
or not. Trap didn't really have one, but there were scenes that were
absolutely designed to make us think it would. Honestly? I think that's the
best thing he could have done for this film. Waiting for that twist I wound up
pulling twists on myself.
Trap wasn't a masterpiece, but it was a
solid thriller with fantastic acting and some laughter thrown in. I was
cautiously optimistic, and I think that was the right feeling going into it. It was fun.
Actors:
Josh Brolin, Peter Dinklage, Taylour Paige, M. Emmet Walsh, Jen
Landon, Brendan Fraser, Glenn Close, Gralen Bryant Banks, Andrew
Joseph Brodeur, Margo Moorer, Brooks Indergard, Jonathan Aidan
Cockrell, Joshua Mikel, Marisa Tomei
IMDb
Blurb: Two criminal twin
brothers, one who is trying to reform, embark on a dangerous heist
road trip. Facing legal troubles, gunfights, and family drama, they
must reconcile their differences before their mission leads to
self-destruction.
Selina’s
Point of View:
Our
first movie back and we are faced with Brothers,
starring Josh Brolin and Peter Dinklage.
From
the moment I saw the trailer for Brothers, I was all in. Both
Brolin and Dinklage are fantastic actors, and the latter is one of my
favorites. Both of them have huge range and can pull off anything
from a gentle good guy to a bad-ass bad guy. I figured, if there was
any issue, it would be in the chemistry between them.
However,
the chemistry was fantastic. The way they were at each other’s
throat felt familial. It made the family connection much easier to
believe. When paired up across from Brendan Fraser, it was a match
made in heaven.
I’ll
admit that the comedy was on the 13-year-old side of humor. It isn’t
trying to make people think – it’s definitely more of a
turn-your-brain-off kind of film. After two months of holidays,
however, isn’t that all what we need? A little light laughter and
dirty fun? Let the stress of the season fade into the background...
Brothers
is not going to be for everyone, but I
laughed. There were some good aspects to the script, fun pop-culture
references, and decent callbacks. It’s a fun film. Best watched
with friends.
Cat’s
Point of View:
When you tell me that the cast for a
movie includes Brendan Fraser (No Sudden Move, Killers of the
Flower Moon, Doom Patrol), Peter Dinklage (American Dreamer,
The Thicket, Wicked), Josh Brolin (Deadpool 2, Dune: Part One,
Outer Range), Glenn Close (3Below: Tales of Arcadia, Swan
Song, The Deliverance), & Marisa Tomei (Spider-Man: No Way
Home, Upgraded, High Tide) you really don't have to say anything
else. I'm already going to be chomping at the bit to see that film.
It's even better when a powerhouse cast such as this takes part in a
production within a genre I enjoy.
Crime caper movies that bring in
elements of comedy to go with the action tend to be a lot of fun.
The trailer had me chuckling and I
wanted to see how everything played out with this pair of mismatched
twins and their dysfunctional situation. Brothers took a
similar aesthetic concept such as Twins (1988) and turned it
on its head a bit with the comedy-heist theme.
I enjoyed the chemistry between
Dinklage and Brolin. They had me 100% sold that they were siblings at
odds.
Whenever I see Brendan Fraser on a
screen, I generally just want to give him a hug. His character in
Brothers was definitely not what I was expecting, but I'm not
mad about it at all.
Honestly, I wish I liked it more than I
do. I can't even put my finger on why Brothers just wasn't
firing on all cylinders for me. Don't get me wrong, though. The
performances were solid, it was an entertaining experience, and even
kept my attention in spite of the gloomy rainy and wintry weather.
That, in itself, is a bit of a feat while I'm still recovering energy
reserves following a hectic holiday season.
What I would say, however, to anyone
that is amused by the trailer but is on the fence regarding watching
Brothers is this: give it a shot.
Director: Drew
Garcia, Nathan Garcia Writer: Harris
Kauffman, David Altman, Edward Nakfoor, Howard Weinberger Actors: Cooper
Tomlinson, Julie Oliver-Touchstone, Kim Sandwich, Amelia Salazar, Patrick G.
Keenan, Jim Johnson, Leora Berry Genre: Adventure,
Family Rated: PG Length: Unknown IMDb Blurb: A trio of misfit middle schoolers band together to
investigate their small town’s mythic treasure, only to uncover a Halloween
curse. Treasure Trackersimmediately reminded me of The Goonies (1985). I love the idea of kids today growing up with some version of that same kind of story. It’s fun and nostalgic, and although it could never take the place of The Goonies for my generation, perhaps it could bring the same feelings to the next generation. Let’s hope.
19 – Piece
by Piece (10/11)
Director: Morgan
Neville Writer: Morgan
Neville, Oscar Vazquez, Aaron Wickenden, Jason Zeldes Actors: Pharrell
Williams, Morgan Neville, Kendrick Lamar, Gwen Stefani, Timbaland, Snoop Dogg,
Justin Timberlake, ItzKiff, Jay-Z, N.O.R.E., Daft Punk, Busta Rhymes, Pusha T,
Taaes2008, Aaron Wickenden Genre: Animation,
Musical, Biography Rated: PG Length: 1h
33min IMDb Blurb: A vibrant journey through the life of cultural icon
Pharrell Williams, told through the lens of LEGO animation. They made this documentary a
Lego movie. A LEGO MOVIE.
I’m not a huge fan of
documentaries. I’d rather watch my fantasies and read my facts. That said, you don’t have to be into documentaries to be interested in Piece
by Piece. I’m not even interested in Pharrell Williams, the person this
documentary is about, and it’s on my list.
There’s great music and Legos
involved. You really can’t go wrong.
18 – Salem’s
Lot (10/3)
Director: Gary
Dauberman Writer: Gary
Dauberman, Stephen King Actors: Lewis
Pullman, Spencer Treat Clark, Pilou Asbæk Genre: Horror,
Thriller Rated: R Length: 1h
53min IMDb Blurb: Author Ben Mears returns to his childhood home of
Jerusalem’s Lot in search of inspiration for his next book only to discover his
hometown is being preyed upon by a bloodthirsty vampire. I’ve never seen the original Salem’s
Lot (1979), nor have I read the book. So, I have no idea what’s going on in
the trailer, but it’s Stephen King (Pet Sematary, Carrie, Firestarter),
so I have a decent amount of faith. In most of the film, if not the ending.
17 – Conclave
(10/25)
Director: Edward
Berger Writer: Peter
Straughan, Robert Harris Actors: Ralph
Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow Genre: Thriller Rated: PG Length: 2h IMDb Blurb: When Cardinal Lawrence is tasked with leading one of
the world’s most secretive and ancient events, selecting a new Pope, he finds
himself at the center of a conspiracy that could shake the very foundation of
The Church. There’s an insane cast at
work here in a storyline I never thought I’d see. I imagine it will be more of a slow burn, but there are enough thrills to keep me completely absorbed, even in just the trailer. I can only imagine the direction of the full-length film.
16 – Smile 2
(10/18)
Director: Parker
Finn Writer: Parker
Finn Actors: Kyle
Gallner, Naomi Scott, Drew Barrymore, Peter Jacobson, Raúl Castillo Genre: Horror,
Mystery, Thriller Rated: R Length: 2h 12min IMDb Blurb: About to embark on a world tour, global pop
sensation Skye Riley begins experiencing increasingly terrifying and
inexplicable events. Overwhelmed by the escalating horrors and the pressures of
fame, Skye is forced to face her past. The first Smile (2022) was all right. I liked it fine, but Cat loved it. Admittedly, it stuck with me
more than I expected it to. Enough that a sequel makes sense to me
– depending on what they do with it.
It would be very simple for
the studio to release a cash grab that is exactly what the first one was and
still have an audience for it. I’m worried that’s what’s happening here. However, I can’t fully explain why without spoiling the first one. I will say that parts of the trailer seem to point the story in a direction that
the first one also went in, with little difference.
I hope that’s not what it is. I hope the trailer is just a creative way to make audiences think there’s little difference between the two movies.
15 – Memoir
of a Snail (10/25)
Director: Adam
Elliot Writer: Adam
Elliot Actors: Eric
Bana, Sarah Snook, Kodi Smit-McPhee Genre: Animation,
Drama Rated: R Length: 1h
34min IMDb Blurb: A bittersweet memoir of a melancholic woman called
Grace Pudel - a hoarder of snails, romance novels, and guinea-pigs. Stop-motion animation is not my favorite; it takes a lot to get me interested in it. In this
case, there’s a heartwarming story and a look at life through the eyes of
nostalgia. I’m in a season of my life where that hits home almost a little too
hard.
I love the quote that we can
only understand life backward but are forced to live it forward. That
makes sense to me on every level. Hearing it in the context of this trailer gave
me chills.
14 – White
Bird: A Wonder Story (10/4)
Director: Marc
Forster Writer: Mark
Bomback, R.J. Palacio Actors: Bryce
Gheisar, Priya Ghotane, Teagan Booth, Kevan Van Thompson, Helen Mirran, Laura
Hudeckova, Gillian Anderson, Ariella Glaser, Orlando Schwerdt Genre: Drama,
Family, War Rated: PG-13 Length: 2h IMDb Blurb: Struggling to fit in at his new school after being
expelled for his treatment of Auggie Pullman, Julian is visited by his
grandmother and is transformed by the story of her attempts to escape
Nazi-occupied France during World War II. There’s hopefulness in White Bird: A Wonder Story. It tugs at the heartstrings, not just because of the grandmother’s story but also because of the possibility of the boy being redeemed.
As much as I love a revenge
story, I am also a sucker for a good redemption. In this case, that redemption
comes from a story of how much hate there is in the world, which speaks to me on a cultural level as much as it does on a human level.
I’d have tissues ready for
this one.
13 – Terrifier
3 (10/11)
Director: Damien
Leone Writer: Damien
Leone Actors: Lauren
LaVera, David Howard Thornton, Jason Patric, Daniel Roebuck, Samantha Scaffidi,
Bryce Johnson, Bradley Stryker Genre: Holiday,
Horror Rated: Unrated Length: 2h
5min IMDb Blurb: Art the Clown is set to unleash chaos on the
unsuspecting residents of Miles County as they peacefully drift off to sleep on
Christmas Eve. Terrifier (2016) became an instant cult classic when it first
came out, which has spawned these sickening sequels. Sure, it features your
basic unkillable slasher type, but there’s more to Art the Clown than most of
the evil antagonists in slashers these days – and his kills are insane. For Halloween, there’s no excuse
to miss Terrifier 3.
Director: Brad
Anderson Writer: Dan
Hall Actors: Mark
Strong, Joel Kinnaman, Mekhi Phifer, Michael Eklund, Sandra Mae Frank, Jonathan
Koensgen, Sean James Sutton Genre: Crime,
Thriller Rated: R Length: 1h
39min IMDb Blurb: A detective with hearing loss and a deaf witness to
a murder must lean on each other to outsmart killers they can’t hear coming
when cornered in an abandoned apartment block. I’m addicted to stories like
this one. The cop shows with action and mystery and semi-likable, but extremely
flawed, characters. In this case, the twist of deafness adds a whole lot to the
story. Communicating with the witness through sign language gives it another realm to work in.
I’m looking forward to seeing
what they do with it.
10 – Die
Alone (10/18)
Director: Lowell
Dean Writer: Lowell
Dean Actors: Frank
Grillo, Carrie-Anne Moss, Douglas Smith, Kimberly-Sue Murray, Steven Roy,
Jonathan Cherry, Amy Matysio Genre: Horror,
Thriller Rated: Unrated Length: 1h
31min IMDb Blurb: Tells the story of a young man who has amnesia. He
bands together with a rugged survivalist in a zombie-like outbreak to find his
girlfriend. Zombies are some of my
favorite horror creatures, and Die Alone looks like a solid
zombie flick. It even has the ever-ethereal Carrie-Anne Moss (The Matrix,
Memento, Wisting) in it. That’s not why I found myself interested in Die
Alone, though.
The design of the zombies
caught me.
There’s one moment in the
trailer where we get a shot of a zombie with plants growing out of his face. It’s
done very simply but so well that it looks brilliant. Like a
high-budget version of a movie I saw a few years back at a film festival, Brain
Freeze (2021). I loved Brain Freeze, so it’s a compliment coming
from me.
I’m very much looking forward
to this one.
9 – Venom:
The Last Dance (10/25)
Director: Kelly
Marcel Writer: Kelly
Marcel, Tom Hardy Actors: Tom Hardy,
Juno Temple, Alanna Ubach, Stephen Graham, Rhys Ifans, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Peggy
Lu Genre: Adventure,
Sci-Fi, Thriller Rated: Unrated Length: 1h
50min IMDb Blurb: Eddie and Venom are on the run. Hunted by both of
their worlds and with the net closing in, the duo are forced into a devastating
decision that will bring the curtains down on Venom and Eddie’s last dance. Here’s the obligatory hero
(even if he is an anti-hero) movie of the month.
Venom is not my favorite of the hero movies that have
taken over, but it’s certainly not the worst. I find them enjoyable enough. Tom
Hardy (Inception, The Dark Knight Rises, Mad Max: Fury Road) also does a great job as the titular character. It won’t be a
thinker, but Venom: The Last Dance will undoubtedly be fun. I don’t know
about you, but I like fun.
8 – Woman of
the Hour (10/11)
Director: Anna
Kendrick Writer: Ian
McDonald Actors: Anna
Kendrick, Daniel Zovatto, Tony Hale, Nicolette Robinson, Pete Holmes, Autumn
Best, Kathryn Gallagher, Kelley Jakle Genre: Crime,
Drama, Mystery Rated: Unrated Length: 1h
35min IMDb Blurb: Cheryl Bradshaw, a single woman looking for a suitor
on a hit 1970s TV show, chooses charming bachelor Rodney Alcala, unaware that,
behind the man’s gentle facade, he hides a deadly secret. I’m unfamiliar with the true
story Woman of the Hour is based on, but I’m not surprised it is based
on one. I don’t think a woman on earth has been in the dating scene and hasn’t had some off experiences. Creepy moments that have made their
breathing speed up and their mind race. If they’re lucky, that’s all they’ve
had.
Match that with these dating
shows we keep getting, and you have to wonder how many women deal with both
combined.
A movie based off that one
terrifying bad date, and the dating show that led to it, is a great idea.
I’m also looking forward to
seeing how Anna Kendrick (Pitch Perfect, Up in the Air, Noelle) does as
a director. She one of those actors I would follow to any film, so I can’t wait
to see if that translates to her directing.
7 – Scarygirl
(10/4)
Director: Ricard
Cussó, Tania Vincent Writer: Craig
Behenna, Matt Everitt, Nathan Jurevicius, Cristin O’Carroll, Les Turner, Polly
Watkins Actors: Anna
Torv, Sam Neill, Liv Hewson, Remy Hii, Tim Minchin Genre: Animation,
Mystery, Sci-Fi Rated: PG Length: 1h
30min IMDb Blurb: As her world is shrouded in darkness, a young girl
must overcome her fears and travel to a mysterious city of light, save her
father from a dangerous scientist and prevent the destruction of her planet. This strange
animation style really speaks to me. I don’t get that awful uncanny valley
feeling, and it doesn’t go far enough that I’m sending gagging gifs back and
forth with Cat. It’s cute but still gives enough oddity for that sci-fi/horror
feel. It hits that sweet middle spot that’s just perfect, along the same lines
as Nightmare Before Christmas (1993).
The story is cute,
reminiscent of Jordan Peele’s (Nope, Get Out, Us) Wendell & Wild (2022).
I’m looking forward to seeing if it can live up to the movies it brings to
mind.
6 – V/H/S/Beyond
(10/4)
Director: Jay
Cheel, Jordan Downey, Christian Long, Justin Long, Justin Martinez, Virat Pal,
Kate Siegel Writer: Evan
Dickson, Jordan Downey, Mike Flanagan, Christian Long, Justin Long, Justin
Martinez, Virat Pal, Kevin Stewart, Benjamin A. Turner Actors: Various Genre: Horror Rated: Unrated Length: 1h
54min IMDb Blurb: Six bloodcurdling tapes unleash horror in a sci-fi
inspired hell landscape, pushing the boundaries of fear and suspense. The V/H/S (2012) movie
series has a hold on my heart that I cannot fully explain. The past couple have
exceeded my expectations, too. I remain cautiously optimistic about what’s to
come. It seems like aliens are the theme for this turn in the anthology.
With people like Justin Long
(Lady of the Manor, The Real Stephen Blatt, Live Free or Die Hard) and
Mike Flanagan (Hush, Doctor Sleep, The Haunting of Hill House) involved
this time, it’s going to be out-of-this-world (terrible pun, terrible).
5 – Saturday
Night (10/11)
Director: Jason
Reitman Writer: Gil
Kenan, Jason Reitman Actors: Gabriel
LaBelle, Rachel Sennott, Cory Michael Smith, Ella Hunt, Dylan O’Brien, Emily
Fairn, Matt Wood, Lamorne Morris, Kim Matula, Finn Wolfhard Genre: Comedy,
Drama, History Rated: R Length: 1h
49min IMDb Blurb: At 11:30pm on October 11th, 1975, a ferocious troupe
of young comedians and writers changed television forever. Find out what
happened behind the scenes in the 90 minutes leading up to the first broadcast
of Saturday Night Live. Saturday Night Live is one of those TV shows that everyone knows about and has seen—at least once. Its influence on pop culture is undeniable, so it was just a matter of time before someone made a movie explaining
how it came to be. I’m excited to see how that
first show went down and curious about how a newer generation of actors will represent the people I grew up laughing at. I’m a little confused
about Dylan O’Brien (The Maze Runner, Teen Wolf, The Outfit) as Dan
Aykroyd (Ghostbusters, Workin’ Moms, 50 First Dates), but open-minded.
He’s a good actor. He could pull it off. I think Ella Hunt (Anna and the
Apocalypse, Lady Chatterley’s Lover, Dickinson) will be a fantastic Gilda
Radner (The Last Detail, Haunted Honeymoon, The Woman in Red).
I hope writer/director Jason
Reitman (Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, Demolition, Tully) does right by
the show.
4 – Brothers
(10/1)
Director: Max
Barbakow Writer: Macon
Blair, Etan Cohen Actors: Marisa
Tomei, Brendan Fraser, Josh Brolin, Peter Dinklage, Glenn Close, Devyn Dalton Genre: Action,
Comedy Rated: R Length: Unknown IMDb Blurb: Two criminal twin brothers, one trying to reform,
embark on a dangerous heist road trip. Facing legal troubles, gunfights, and
family drama, they must reconcile their differences before their mission leads
to self-destruction. How about this cast?
Marisa Tomei (My Cousin
Vinny, High Tide, Spider-Man: No Way Home), Brendan Fraser (The Mummy,
Doom Patrol, The Whale), Josh Brolin (No Country for Old Men, Avengers:
Endgame, Dune: Part Two), Glenn Close (The Wife, Guardians of the Galaxy,
Tehran) and Peter Dinklage (Game of Thrones, The Hunger Games: The
Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, She Came to Me). Every name on that list
is a person I’d happily follow from project to project without caring what they’re
about. In this case, there’s a funny premise and an interesting concept.
Brothers is going to be hilarious. 3 – The
Platform 2 (10/4)
Director: Galder
Gaztelu-Urrutia Writer: Galder
Gaztelu-Urrutia, David Desola, Egoitz Moreno, Pedro Rivero Actors: Ken
Appledorn, Tadashi Ito, Óscar Jaenada, Hovik Keuchkerian, Antonia San Juan,
Milena Smit, Natalia Tena, Bastien Ughetto Genre: Horror,
Sci-Fi, Thriller Rated: Unrated Length: 1h
39min IMDb Blurb: A thrilling physical journey that allows an approach
to the darkness, where it is scary to look. It appeals to the viewer’s civil
responsibility and forces them to face the limits of their own solidarity. The first Platform (2019)
was incredible. I thought the concept was brilliant from the start, but the full
version of the movie was so much better than I could have expected.
I was a bit confused by some
of the faces I saw in the trailer for The Platform 2 just because of
the outcome of the first one, but I’m assuming that will all be explained in
the film. I can’t wait to see where they go with the story.
2 – A
Different Man (10/4)
Director: Aaron
Schimberg Writer: Aaron
Schimberg Actors: Sebastian
Stan, Renate Reinsve, Adam Pearson, Miles G. Jackson, Patrick Wang, Neal
Davidson Genre: Comedy,
Thriller Rated: R Length: 1h
52min IMDb Blurb: After undergoing facial-reconstructive surgery,
Edward becomes fixated on an actor in a stage production based on his former
life. A Different Man looked amazing immediately. Based on the trailer, it
felt fresh. There was something so undeniably interesting about watching
Sebastian Stan (Avengers: Endgame, Sharper, Pam & Tommy) try to come
to terms with the loss of this strange identity through the minute and thirty
seconds it was on screen. I’m more than willing to sit through a nearly 2-hour version. 1 – Joker:
Folie à Deux (10/4)
Director: Todd
Phillips Writer: Scott
Silver, Todd Phillips Actors: Joaquin
Phoenix, Zazie Beetz, Lady Gaga, Ken Leung, Catherine Keener, Brendan Gleeson,
Harry Lawtey, Steve Coogan Genre: Crime,
Drama, Musical, Thriller Rated: R Length: 2h
18min IMDb Blurb: Arthur Fleck is institutionalized at Arkham,
awaiting trial for his crimes as Joker. While struggling with his dual
identity, Arthur not only stumbles upon true love, but also finds the music
that’s always been inside him. I have been foaming at the
mouth, waiting for Joker’s (2019) sequel.
Joaquin Phoenix (Her, You
Were Never Really Here, C’mon C’mon) brought the Joker to life so realistically that thinking of arcs such as TheKilling Joke becomes terrifying. He made the Joker a real man, and that made him so much creepier. I
wondered how they would bring Harley Quinn to life with him.
Lady Gaga (A Star Is Born,
American Horror Story, Sin City: A Dame to Kill For) was a fantastic choice
for the part. She can bring in that insane, yet somewhat
child-like, personality that Harley is known for.
The fact that it’s a musical just
feels right to me.
Actors:Frank
Grillo, Josh Hutcherson, Mekhi Phifer, Eden Brolin, Melissa Leo, Andy
Garcia, Beau Knapp, Juan Pablo Raba
Lionsgate
Blurb: Gunner, a special forces
soldier who has witnessed the darkest side of country and combat, is
forced back into the field of battle to save his niece, who is being
held in South America. As the fight intensifies, Gunner and his team
discover that her disappearance is part of a corrupt private
operation that hits way too close to home. Acclaimed actors Andy
Garcia, Melissa Leo, Josh Hutcherson, and Frank Grillo star in a
nonstop action-thriller that will leave you breathless.
Frank Grillo as “Gunner” in the action drama LONG GONE HEROES, a Lionsgate release. Photo courtesy of Lionsgate.
Cat’s
Point of View:
I've been looking forward to watching
Long Gone Heroes. While it hadn't really been on my radar
prior to putting September's Top 20
article together, after watching the trailer I knew had to place this
movie on the list.
So the big questions here are simple to
get out of the way first. Did I enjoy it? Yes, I really did. Was Long
Gone Heroes everything I expected it to be following the teaser
clips in the trailer? Not exactly, but not in a way that made me mad
about it. I'll elaborate.
In my article entry for Long Gone
Heroes, I explained (and you probably have seen me say this
before) that I am quite fond of the adrenaline rush from action
movies. I had connected to this film's trailer a bit more than the
other Frank Grillo (What If...?, Lights Out, Hounds of War)
movie coming out this month, and was anticipating a compelling story
layered into some special-forces style infiltrate and extraction
action.
[L-R] Juan Pablo Raba as “Guapo,” Frank Grillo as “Gunner,” and Josh Hutcherson as “David” in the action drama LONG GONE HEROES, a Lionsgate release. Photo courtesy of Lionsgate.
I did get that to a degree, but perhaps
just not with the same combat quotient that I expected. That's not
saying that it was wrong, or bad, though. Long Gone Heroes was
more of a long burn of intensity with sporadic explosive action.
There was some solid close-quarters combat combined with stealth,
sniping, and a lot of gunfire exchange. Underlying that was family
drama on multiple fronts and humanitarian gravitas. The plight of the
Venezuelan people and the level of crime and chaos might have seemed
a little over-the-top to some, but that country's real-world
conditions have been spiraling downward consistently in recent years
with political unrest, shortages of basic and necessary resources,
and steady economic deterioration. The events within Long Gone
Heroes were actually solidly believable.
The trailer seemed to allude to a more
fast-paced scenario, so anyone going in expecting that might be a
little frustrated if they're the impatient type. As audiences, we've
been spoiled by this genre type delving into a quick-time and
hard-hitting level of nonstop edge-of-the-seat action such as
Extraction (2020) and its sequel. Long Gone Heroes does
have intensity – it's just different and not quite at the same
level.
I will also say that the story
transitioned into the rescue mission to an epic soundtrack with
Pantera's “Cowboy from
Hell.” I was rather giddy about that.
While I'm talking about content within
this film, however, I feel I need to address the R rating to parents
out there. This is not going to be one of the action movies you'd
want to show your kids. The rating isn't solely based on violence and
language. There are some rather graphic scenes of nudity and sexual
content. These come in small flashes as part of settings, rather than
any sort of drawn out part of the story. It's an ambiance thing, but
it's still present to the point that you wouldn't want young kids to
be watching this on their own. These scenes would be easy to do a
quick 'cover the eyes' maneuver for, however.
Andy Garcia as “Roman” in the action drama LONG GONE HEROES, a Lionsgate release. Photo courtesy of Lionsgate.
Let's talk cast.
Grillo was everything I'd anticipated
from the trailer, and as an action veteran. I also love that he's not
all surly expressions, waving guns, throwing military hand signs as
well as punches. I continue to be appreciative to the nuanced
performances he can bring to the table. There's one scene where his
eye ticks in reaction to something told to him and it was glorious
that he got that that level of immersion to his character. I'm no
Hollywood professional, but I know very few people who can achieve an
eye-tick on command and make it look natural. I continue to also be
impressed with Josh Hutcherson's (57 Seconds, Five Nights at
Freddy's, The Beekeeper) range and enjoyed his character's
contribution to this story, as well.
Andy Garcia (Mamma Mia! Here We Go
Again, The Expendables 4, Pain Hustlers) and Mekhi Phifer (8
Mile, Frequency, The Supremes at Earl's All-You-Can-Eat) were
great as adversaries here – especially with their business-like and
heartless drive to accomplish their goals. I was really impressed
with Eden Brolin (Emerald City, Beyond, The Cleaner) and Beau
Knapp (Ida Red, The Bikeriders, Road House) also. I definitely
want to see more of their work, and will likely seek out some of
their existing projects to catch up on their performances, too.
[L-R] Eden Brolin as “Julia” and Juan Pablo Raba as “Guapo” in the action drama LONG GONE HEROES, a Lionsgate release. Photo courtesy of Lionsgate.
Juan Pablo Raba (Agents of
S.H.I.E.L.D., Narcos, The Marksman) was able to round out this
cast of battle brothers with some serious authenticity for his role.
His South American heritage really paid off in making things flow
smoothly. Though, I am aware that his country of origin, Argentina,
is on the opposite end of the continent from Venezuela. To my
layman's eyes, it really gave him an edge here. Finally, I always
seem to grin when I see Melissa Leo (The Equalizer, Novitiate,
King Ivory) on the screen, because her role as Sally from
Oblivion (2013) pops into my head with that sweet as sugar
southern drawl. This role was nothing like that, and shouldn't be
compared … but that's what my brain does sometimes. I could feel
the desperation of her character even if I wasn't 100% immersed in
her performance.
All told, I enjoyed my experience
watching Long Gone Heroes and I wouldn't be upset if I ended
up watching it again. If you're a fan of the genre, it's definitely
worth giving a shot.
Long Gone Heroes will hit
theater screens as well as releasing to Digital and On Demand Friday,
September 20th, 2024.
Melissa Leo as “Olivia” in the action drama LONG GONE HEROES, a Lionsgate release. Photo courtesy of Lionsgate.
