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Streaming Service: Netflix Movie Name/Year: The 2nd (2020) Genre: Action, Drama Length: 1h 33min Rating: Unrated Production/Distribution: Daniel Grodnik
Productions, Front Row Filmed Entertainment, Fury Film Franchise, GEM
Entertainment, Leonine Distribution, Lucid Film, Momentum Pictures, Première TV
Distribution, Source 1 Media, The Movie Partnership, Turbo Panda Productions, Voltage
Pictures, Wonderfilm Media, WOWOW Cinema Director: Brian Skiba Writer: Eric Bromberg, James Bromberg, Paul Taegel Actors: Ryan Phillippe, Casper Van Dien, Jack Griffo, Lexi Simonsen Blurb from IMDb: An Army Delta Force officer
is late picking up his son at college. His son and a Supreme Court Justice's
daughter are the last there. A gang of terrorists are there to abduct her and
force her dad's hand on a Second Amendment vote.
Selina’s Point of View: The
2nd definitely had an
agenda. There was nothing subtle about it. In fact, it bordered on propaganda at
times. This isn’t the
first time we’ve mistakenly scheduled a flick that wound up having a propaganda
feel to it. Usually, we just opt to skip the day and not platform it at all. By
the end of The 2nd, though, I decided it was just preachy and
distasteful instead of full-on propaganda. So, here we go. One of my big actor-related
hot takes, is that I really like Casper Van Dien (Mad Heidi, Daughter, A
Tale of Two Guns). I think he is capable of much better roles than he gets.
I fell for him in Starship Troopers (1997) and my opinion has never changed.
The problem is, where I like him, I very rarely like the movies he’s in. The
2nd was not an exception. I just don’t understand why he can’t seem to land
parts in flicks that are actually good.
Aside from Van Dien,
The 2nd had absolutely nothing going for it. The acting was obnoxious,
you could hear the microphone rubbing against something sometimes, and I cannot
believe anyone approved the script. Nothing about the dialogue was natural. I think they
might have had a ten-year-old watch Die Hard (1988) a few times and then
had him write something as close to it as he could remember. Then they took out
all the good parts and released it. I would not sit
through The 2nd again for any reason. It was absolutely awful.
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score – 0% Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score – 11% Metascore – None Metacritic User Score – 4.0 IMDB Score –3.8/10 Trust the Dice: Selina’s Rating – 1/5 Trust-the-Dice’s
Parental Advisory Rating:
R Movie Trailer:
Streaming Service: Hulu Movie Name/Year: Shadow in the Cloud (2021) Genre: Action, Horror, War Length: 1h 23min Rating: R Production/Distribution: Four Knights Film, Rhea Films, Film & TV House,
GEM Entertainment, Splendid Film, Redbox Entertainment, Signature
Entertainment, Vertical Entertainment, Capelight Pictures, Cinemundo, Film1,
Gravel Road Distribution Group Director: Roseanne Liang Writers: Max Landis, Roseanne Liang Actors: Chloë Grace Moretz, Nick
Robinson, Beulah Koale, Taylor John Smith, Callan Mulvey, Benedict Wall, Byron
Coll, Joe Witkowski IMDb Blurb: A female WWII pilot traveling
with top-secret documents on a B-17 Flying Fortress encounters an evil presence
on board the flight.
Selina’s Point of View: I was excited to
see Shadow in the Cloud, then disappointed when the reviews started
trickling out. I tend to go with audiences over critics, and it caused me to
delay in seeing it. That makes this film a
very strong warning that reviews can only take you so far. I think the critics
are right where Shadow in the Cloud is concerned. I’m not sure
why audiences despised it so much, but I liked it. It had a few of the basic
issues that a lot of action/horrors have. Lack of realism, dumb (but fun)
stunts, and a whole lot of camp. The pitfalls may have
been a bit predictable, but the movie uses them well to move along the story.
Based n the plot, I
assumed the flick would be dreadfully long, but it’s only about 80 minutes. The
editing was so on point that there was barely any down time. Even though the
majority of Shadow in the Cloud is just Chloë Grace Moretz (Kick-Ass,
Let Me In, If I Stay) alone on screen, it never got boring. There was
always something to draw the eye. That’s a tough task to accomplish in
something meant to be this claustrophobic. I don’t normally call
out editors in my reviews, but maybe I should. I think editor Tom Eagles (Jojo
Rabbit, The Harder They Fall, Hunt for the Wilderpeople) really helped this
flick. I don’t know what he left on the cutting room floor, but I don’t think
it matters. I don’t need any further explanation for anything, and – even with
my ADHD – I never lost focus. That is a tough balance to strike. Eagles was
probably worth more to the film than some of the actors. I hope he made a
decent amount, otherwise, he should get a raise. In the end, Shadow
in the Cloud was a decent film. I know some of the reviews might be
scary, but I strongly urge trying it out for yourself.
Cat’s Point of View: I had high hopes and excited anticipation for Shadow in the Cloud when it was first
released. It even landed as my #2 pick on January 2021’s Top 20 list. Needless to say, the moment I
was able to watch Shadow in the Cloud,
I did. When it came up on our schedule for review, I was happy to watch this
movie again. A lot of that falls to the strong performance by Chloë Grace
Moretz (Brain on Fire, Tom & Jerry,
Mother/Android). She drew me in and held my attention, keeping me on the
edge of my seat with the tension of her character’s plight. I was hooked and my
curiosity was piqued regarding the contents of the confidential and classified
package she brought on board the plane. Once the big reveal happened, I was
even more invested in what was going on and it ramped up the suspense, thrills,
and horror factor.
I enjoyed the way that Roseanne Liang (My Wedding and Other Secrets, Flat3, Friday Night Bites) tackled this
particular story. The action sequences were both crazy and spectacular. It was
fairly easy to suspend disbelief and just hang in with what was going on – even
though at times it was a bit bananas. Though, as a sci-fi geek at heart, it was
all par for the course for me. I think some of the more out-there elements of
this tale were set up quite nicely. I couldn’t help getting flashback feelings
from the likes of The Twilight Zone:
Nightmare at 20,000 Feet (1963). (That episode is, honestly, the only one
out of that whole series that I remember in great detail – it struck that much
of a chord with me.) Shadow in the Cloud
wasn’t exactly what I was expecting, but I believe I got more out of it with
what actually transpired than what I had originally inferred from the trailer
in 2020. In fact, I picked up on so many more nuances of this production with
my 2nd viewing. I was still left wanting to know more about this
story and what might have happened next.
I admired the feminist message underscoring this World War
II tale, as well. There were actual female pilots that participated in the war,
even if they were transporting planes rather than flying them into combat in
most cases. It was a hard won victory as the military in general had to
eventually admit that lady pilots were just as good as their male counterparts.
It wasn’t implausible for a situation such as this to happen in that timeframe.
Women weren’t confined to roles such as “Rosie the Riveter” during that
conflict. All told, Shadow in
the Cloud was a great popcorn movie and I really wouldn’t mind even
watching it again in the future. I absolutely don’t understand why it’s getting
such mangled reviews by audiences so the best bet is to check it out for
yourself and give it a chance.
Rotten Tomatoes Critic
Score – 77% Rotten Tomatoes Audience
Score – 32% Metascore – 66% Metacritic User Score – 3.6/10 IMDB Score – 4.9/10 Trust the Dice: Selina’s
Rating – 4/5 Trust the Dice: Cat’s
Rating – 4/5 P.S. – There are video clips
from WWII showing women involved with aviation during the credits. Movie Trailer:
20 – Jackass Forever (2/4) Production/Distribution: Dickhouse Productions, Gorilla Flicks, MTV Entertainment Studios, MTV Films, Paramount Pictures, Paramount Players, Constantin-Film, Paramount Pictures Australia, Paramount Pictures Germany, Paramount Pictures UK, United International Pictures (UIP), Universal Pictures International (UPI) Director: Jeff Tremaine Writer: Jason 'Wee Man' Acuña, Eric André, Derrick Beckles, Colton Dunn, Dave England, Spike Jonze, Johnny Knoxville, Nick Kreiss, Preston Lacy, Knate Lee, Bam Margera, Ehren McGhehey, Chris Pontius, Sarah Sherman, Steve-O, Jeff Tremaine, Andrew Weinberg Actors: Machine Gun Kelly, Eric André, Johnny Knoxville, Steve-O, Chris Pontius, Rachel Wolfson, Jeff Tremaine, Jason ‘Wee Man’ Acuña, Rob Dyrdek, Tory Belleci, Ehren McGhehey, Chris Raab, Dave England, Tony Hawk, Preston Lacy, Tyler the Creator Genre: Documentary, Action, Comedy Rated: R Length: 96 minutes IMDb Blurb: After 11 years, the Jackass crew is back for their final crusade. I don’t like Jackass. I like a lot of the people involved, but as a whole – I think the world would have been better off without the existence of the project. The only reason I’ve opted to include Jackass Forever on my list, is because I know how much the majority do love it. As far as I’m concerned, this is more of a reminder entry than one that accurately depicts my own opinions. 19 – Gasoline Alley (2/25) Production/Distribution: 308 Ent, BondIt Media Capital, Buffalo 8 Productions, Head Gear Films, Highland Film Group (HFG), Kreo Films FZ, Lost Winds Entertainment, Metrol Technology, Yale Productions, Originals Factory Director: Edward Drake Writer: Edward Drake, Tom Sierchio Actors: Bruce Willis, Devon Sawa, Luke Wilson, Kat Foster, Sufe Bradshaw, Kenny Wormald, Irina Antonenko, Rick Salomon, Angie Pack Genre: Action, Thriller Rated: R Length: Unknown IMDb Blurb: A man implicated in the triple homicide of three Hollywood starlets begins his own investigation. Needing assistance, he enlists the two detectives on his tail in order to expose a conspiracy more explosive than any of them imagined. I fought myself over whether to add this one to my list. After all, it has Bruce Willis (Fortress, Cosmic Sin, Breach) in it. We all know Willis was once a selling point on films. For the last decade, or so, he seems to have given up. It doesn’t feel like he wants to do any of it; like it’s all just for the paycheck. Most of the time, I completely count out a flick if he’s featured in it, these days. The thing that’s different here, is Devon Sawa’s (Chucky, Hunter Hunter, Punk’s Dead: SLC Punk 2) presence. I feel like people count him out way too quickly based on his previous ‘teen heartthrob’ status. If you can look at a picture of who he was, and who he is now, and say that’s still a factor – I’m going to need you to explain to me how. Sawa was always versatile, but since his transformation into more action-heavy roles I feel like he’s bloomed. Now, he’s one of those actors I would follow anywhere. Even to a Willis movie. 18 – Through My Window (2/4) Production/Distribution: Netflix, Nostromo Pictures Director: Marçal Forés Writer: Ariana Godoy Actors: Julio Peña, Pilar Castro, Clara Galle, Hugo Arbues, Eric Masip, Rachel Lascar, Guillermo Lasheras, Natalia Azahara, Marià Casals, Emilia Lazo, Lucía de la Puerta Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance Rated: R Length: 116 minutes IMDb Blurb: Raquel's longtime crush on her next-door neighbor turns into something more when he starts developing feelings for her, despite his family's objections. Through My Window feels like your basic trashy romance story. Right down to the parallels with the mythology of Ares and Aphrodite. That said, if you’re into trashy romance – this looks like it could be decently done. This is Netflix, which doesn’t lead to thoughts of reliability – though they do tend to do better with their foreign projects than those made in the USA. I’d say it’s worth a watch, but with tempered expectations. 17 – Book of Love (2/4) Production/Distribution: Buzzfeed Studios, Blazing Griffin, BondIt Media Capital, Head Gear Films, Kreo Films FZ, Metrol Technology, NOW Films, Pimienta Films, Vertigo Films, Shaw Organisation, Amazon Prime Video, Falcon Films, Sky Cinema, XYZ Films Director: Analeine Cal y Mayor Writer: Analeine Cal y Mayor, David Quantick Actors: Sam Claflin, Verónica Echegui, Fernando Becerril, Ruy Gaytan, Horacio Villalobos, Horacio Garcia Rojas, Lucy Punch, Edwarda Gurrola, Melissa Pino, Daniela Luque, Giovani Florido Genre: Comedy, Romance Rated: Unrated Length: 106 minutes IMDb Blurb: Two writers thrown together on a book tour in Mexico. I do have some trouble buying the apparent story of Book of Love, but that’s from my very specific perspective. I believe, from a majority outlook, it makes a lot more sense. It’s sappy, for sure. It will also likely follow a very common recipe. That said, it seems like the perfect film to invite a date over for on Valentine’s Day. You won’t be too upset if shenanigans occur to keep you from finishing the film, and it should lead to some will-they, won’t-they silent flirting in the meantime. Any other month, this one wouldn’t make my list. For the month of February, though… it works. 16 – The Wolf and the Lion (2/4) Production/Distribution: Mai Juin Productions, Galatée Films, Les Productions Wematin, StudioCanal, M6 Films, SODEC Québec, Canal+, Ciné+, W9, MK2 Mile End, Blue Fox Entertainment, StudioCanal Germany, TriPictures Director: Gilles de Maistre Writer: Gilles de Maistre, Prune de Maistre Actors: Molly Kunz, Graham Greene, Charlie Carrick, Derek Johns, Rhys Slack, Evan Buliung, Rebecca Croll, Victor Cornfoot, Daniel Brochu Genre: Family Rated: PG Length: 99 minutes IMDb Blurb: A wolf pup and a lost lion cub are rescued by a girl in the heart of the Canadian wilderness. Their friendship will change their lives forever. The Wolf and the Lion is another saccharin sweet, protect the animals, kind of film. There are going to be heart-breaking moments alongside those that are more on the heartwarming side. Throughout, we get to watch the antics of adorableness. Nothing about this movie stands out to me as something that would make it life changing. It does, however, seem like something cute the whole family can sit down and watch. 15 – A Banquet (2/18) Production/Distribution: Tea Shop Productions, Riverstone Pictures, Reliance Entertainment Productions 8, IFC Midnight, Front Row Filmed Entertainment, HanWay Films Director: Ruth Paxton Writer: Justin Ball Actors: Sienna Guillory, Jessica Alexander, Ruby Stokes, Lindsay Duncan, Kaine Zajaz, Richard Keep, Deka Walmsley, Rina Mahoney Genre: Horror Rated: Unrated Length: 97 minutes IMDb Blurb: Widowed mother Holly is radically tested when her teenage daughter Betsey experiences a profound enlightenment and insists that her body is no longer her own, but in service to a higher power. Bound to her newfound faith Betsey refuses to eat, but loses no weight. In an agonising dilemma torn between love and fear, Holly is forced to confront the boundaries of her own beliefs. At first, I was concerned that A Banquet might be an exploitative film revolving around anorexia. Now, I think it’s supernatural. There’s more of a possession feel to the trailer, than a realistic one. If it is supernatural, then this should be much higher on my list. Maybe even cracking into the Top 10. The coming attractions paint the story as exceptionally creepy. Even the music makes me feel a great deal more on edge than most trailers would. However, if it is what I initially feared, it could be damaging in a great many ways. I think it’s going to be a proper horror flick, but I’m issuing a trigger warning. Just in case. 14 – Big Bug (2/11) Production/Distribution: Eskwad, Gaumont, Netflix Director: Jean-Pierre Jeunet Writer: Jean-Pierre Jeunet, Guillaume Laurant Actors: Dominique Pinon, Elsa Zylberstein, André Dussollier, Alban Lenoir, Isabelle Nanty, Claude Perron, Claire Chust, Youssef Hajdi, Stéphane De Groodt Genre: Comedy, Sci-Fi Rated: TV-MA Length: 111 minutes IMDb Blurb: A group of bickering suburbanites find themselves stuck together when an android uprising causes their well intentioned household robots to lock them in for their own safety. Big Bug looks insane. It looks like a very adult version of the Smart House (1999) idea. We’re seeing a lot more use of this plot as technology evolves. We were bound to. It’s a huge part of our lives, yet it’s not overly understood by everyone. We may know how to use it well, but there aren’t many people who could tell you WHY things work. Which makes movies like this a bit more interested because we couldn’t say why it wouldn’t happen. It’s great to see the idea used in something other than a thriller/horror. Big Bug looks hilarious. The only reason I can’t put it higher, is because there’s a lot of cringe. Cringe is just not my favorite flavor of giggles. 13 – Catch the Fair One (2/11) Production/Distribution: The Population, Protozoa Pictures, FirstGen Content, Heretical Reason Productions, Needle's Eye Productions, Front Row Filmed Entertainment, IFC Films Director: Josef Kubota Wladyka Writer: Kali Reis, Josef Kubota Wladyka Actors: Lisa Emery, Kevin Dunn, Kimberly Guerrero, Daniel Henshall, Michael Drayer, Jonathan Kowalsky, Peter Johnson, Gerald Webb, Isabelle Chester, Tiffany Chu, Kali Reis, Shelly Vincent, Aaron Krygier Genre: Crime, Thriller Rated: Unrated Length: 85 minutes IMDb Blurb: A former champion boxer embarks on the fight of her life when she goes in search of her missing sister. When I first heard of Catch the Fair One, I rolled my eyes. I thought it was going to be a typical fighter-seeks-missing-sibling film (which sounds ridiculously specific, but it is actually a pretty common trope). Most of those films involve a niche-popular fighter, known from wrestling/MMA/boxing/etc., semi-acting their way through some minimum-effort script. I started to think Catch the Fair One would be different when I heard of Darren Aronofsky’s (Mother!, Requiem for a Dream, The Fountain) executive producer credit. Then I saw the trailer. Clearly, there’s going to be some intrigue in this one. There are conspiracy and trafficking vibes involved, as well as some current issues examined. As a result, I feel like this film may have more to offer than I initially gave it credit for. I hope it does. 12 – They Live in the Grey (2/17) Production/Distribution: STANDOFF Pictures, Whiskey Stream Productions, Shudder Director: Abel Vang, Burlee Vang Writer: Abel Vang, Burlee Vang Actors: Michelle Krusiec, Ken Kirby, Madelyn Grace, Audrey Moore, Ellen Wroe, J.R. Cacia, Bernard Bullen, Cami Storm, Ian Stanley, Patrick Hume Genre: Horror, Thriller Rated: Unrated Length: Unknown IMDb Blurb: Follows a young social worker who must stop a supernatural entity that is tormenting the family that she was investigating in order to save the parents from losing the custody of their child. It makes me so happy when a Shudder film makes its way onto my Top 20. We try to get to all the new flicks shown on Shudder every month, but the trailers don’t always stand out. Even when the movies wind up good. That tempers my excitement at times. They Live in the Grey, though, instantly snags my interest. There are some basic haunting tropes shown, but for the most part it looks like a film that will keep me gloriously on edge. I’m looking forward to seeing it very soon. 11 – Last Survivors (2/4) Production/Distribution: Yadav Productions, El Ride Productions, Fry Cook Productions, SSS Entertainment, Volition Media Partners, Front Row Filmed Entertainment, Vertical Entertainment Director: Drew Mylrea Writer: Josh Janowicz Actors: Drew Van Acker, Alicia Silverstone, Stephen Moyer Genre: Sci-Fi, Thriller Rated: Unrated Length: Unknown IMDb Blurb: A father and son, who have been living off grid for 20 years, encounter an outsider who threatens to destroy the utopia they've built. Most apocalypse films revolve around action, and the initial survival. I have no issue with those, in fact, I love them. That said, there’s something extremely attractive to me about an end-of-the-world story that focuses more on human nature and drama, or more relatable thrills. Yes, I’m aware that Last Survivors may not actually be an apocalypse story – but the way it’s designed (as seen in the trailer) there are definite parallels. I’m interested in seeing what road the story takes. If the son gives in to the teachings of his old-man, or if he tries to be better.
10 – Big Gold Brick (2/25) Production/Distribution: A Saboteur, JoBro Productions & Film Finance, Oceana Studios, Potato Eater Productions, Productivity Media, The Panics Film, Arclight Films, Front Row Filmed Entertainment, Samuel Goldwyn Films Director: Brian Petsos Writer: Brian Petsos Actors: Oscar Isaac, Megan Fox, Lucy Hale, Andy Garcia, Shiloh Fernandez, Emory Cohen, Aly Crocker, Frederick Schmidt Genre: Comedy, Fantasy Rated: Unrated Length: 132 minutes IMDb Blurb: Big Gold Brick recounts the story of fledgling writer Samuel Liston and his experiences with Floyd Deveraux, the enigmatic, middle-aged father of two who enlists Samuel to write his biography. But the circumstances that lead up to this arrangement in the first place are quite astonishing-and efforts to write the biography are quickly stymied by ensuing chaos in this darkly comedic, genre-bending film. Everything about Big Gold Brick looks insane. Just the act of someone inviting a person they hit with their car to live with them is sketchy. Makes me immediately wonder what they’re trying to avoid. Then you add in all the scenes that seem to show hallucinations and it gets even more interesting. My bet is that we’re not going to be able to figure out what is really happening to the character in this film until the end – if at all. I’d love to see an open ending that keeps us guessing forever, but even if they come to an easier conclusion, I feel like it would still be worth it. Just for the ridiculousness. 9 – Marry Me (2/11) Production/Distribution: Kung Fu Monkey Productions, Nuyorican Productions, Perfect World Pictures, B&H Film Distribution, United International Pictures (UIP), Universal Pictures Argentina, Universal Pictures International (UPI), Universal Pictures, Peacock Director: Kat Coiro Writer: Harper Dill, Bobby Crosby, John Rogers, Tami Sagher Actors: Jennifer Lopez, Utkarsh Ambudkar, Owen Wilson, John Bradley, Maluma, Sarah Silverman, Chloe Coleman, Jimmy Falon, Stephen Wallem, Michelle Buteau, Brady Noon, Alex D. Jennings Genre: Comedy, Music, Romance Rated: PG-13 Length: 112 minutes IMDb Blurb: Music superstars Kat Valdez and Bastian are getting married before a global audience of fans. But when Kat learns, seconds before her vows, that Bastian has been unfaithful, she decides to marry Charlie, a stranger in the crowd, instead. In a month that tosses a ton of rom-coms at us, it’s rare to come across one that looks at all original. Marry Me will be a on the formulaic side, but the meet-cute feels new. It feels like a fantasy a lot of big fans have had involving whomever their celebrity crush is. As a result, it should attract quite a few viewers. Jennifer Lopez (Second Act, Hustlers, Good Trouble) has always been a decent actor. A lot of what she’s done that sticks out in my mind, is from rom-coms. Same with Owen Wilson (Loki, The French Dispatch, Bliss). So, when it comes to this mildly new idea, I feel like there’s a possibility they could take it to the next level. At the very least, it should be a decent Valentine’s date night movie. 8 – Studio 666 (2/25) Production/Distribution: Roswell Films, Therapy Studios, Open Road Films Director: BJ McDonnell Writer: Dave Grohl, Jeff Buhler, Rebecca Hughes Actors: Jenna Ortega, Will Forte, Leslie Grossman, Whitney Cummings, Jeff Garlin, Dave Grohl, Marti Matulis, Jason Trost, Taylor Hawkins, Pat Smear, Nate Mendel, Rami Jaffee, Chris Shiflett Genre: Comedy, Horror, Music Rated: R Length: Unknown IMDb Blurb: Legendary rock band Foo Fighters move into an Encino mansion steeped in grisly rock and roll history to record their much anticipated 10th album. I have a soft spot for passion projects and films that are made simply to allow the actors/creators to have fun. Studio 666 is one of those. I cannot describe how much I want to see Dave Grohl (Bill & Ted Face the Music, Drunk History, The Muppets), and the rest of the Foo Fighters, pour themselves into this insane flick. It’s bound to have a gorgeous soundtrack, and the comedy is going to speak to anyone who enjoys a bit more spontaneity in their films. A project like this has, at the very least, cult potential. 7 – Moonfall (2/4) Production/Distribution: AGC Studios, Ascot Elite Entertainment Group, Central Partnership, Centropolis Entertainment, China Film Group Corporation (CFGC), Cinemundo, Constantin-Film, Diamond Films, Dutch FilmWorks, Edko Films, Entertainment Film Distributors, Golden Village Pictures, H Brothers, Huayi Brothers Media, Italian International Film, Kinepolis Film Distribution, Kino Films, Lenta, Leonine Distribution, Lionsgate, Long Shong Entertainment Multimedia Company, Lucisano Media Group, Metropolitan Filmexport, Mongkol Major, Noori Pictures, PT. Prima Cinema Multimedia, PVR Pictures, Roadshow Film Distributors (NZ) Ltd., Roadshow Films, Selim Ramia & Sons, Street Entertainment, Sun Distribution, UK Moonfall, Ukrainian Film Distribution, Vertical Entertainment Director: Roland Emmerich Writer: Spenser Cohen, Roland Emmerich, Harald Kloser Actors: Halle Berry, Patrick Wilson, John Bradley, Michael Peña, Donald Sutherland, Charlie Plummer, Wenwen Yu, Eme Ikwuakor, Carolina Bartczak, Ava Weiss, Maxim Roy, Stephen Bogaert, Hazel Nugent Genre: Action, Adventure, Fantasy Rated: PG-13 Length: 120 minutes IMDb Blurb: In Moonfall, a mysterious force knocks the Moon from its orbit around Earth and sends it hurdling on a collision course with life as we know it. With mere weeks before impact and the world on the brink of annihilation, NASA executive and former astronaut Jo Fowler is convinced she has the key to saving us all - but only one astronaut from her past, Brian Harper and a conspiracy theorist K.C. Houseman believe her. These unlikely heroes will mount an impossible last-ditch mission into space, leaving behind everyone they love, only to find that they might have prepared for the wrong mission. During the monthly Trust the Dice stream, I said that Moonfall looked like what would happen if Edgar Wright (Baby Driver, Hot Fuzz, Shaun of the Dead) directed Independence Day (1996). That was before I even knew the writer/director of Independence Day, Roland Emmerich (Stargate, Dark Horse, 2012), was involved. Emmerich is a person I would trust with this kind of film. Granted, he’s had some missteps, but I believe his wins have outweighed his losses. Most of his work is stuff I’ve greatly enjoyed. Even the stuff that didn’t do as well by critics – like The Day After Tomorrow (2004) – I’ve enjoyed. In fact, it’s one of my comfort movies that I can throw on in the background to help me concentrate. Moonfall seems like it’ll be a touch more on the comedic side, though it is primarily an action/adventure. It’s labeled as a fantasy, but I’ve never believed that word is synonymous with sci-fi, so I think that’s just flat-out wrong. I’m here for this one. If I can, I’d really like to see it on the big screen. 6 – Dog (2/18) Production/Distribution: Ascot Elite Entertainment Group, Blue Lantern Entertainment International, CAA Media Finance, CatchPlay, Cinemundo, Diamond Films, Entertainment Film Distributors, FilmNation Entertainment, Free Association, ITN Distribution, Leonine Distribution, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), Monolith Films, Nordisk Film Distribution, Notorious Pictures, Roadshow Film Distributors (NZ) Ltd., Roadshow Films, Sam Film, Shaw Organisation, Times Media Films, United Artists Releasing, WW Entertainment Director: Reid Carolin, Channing Tatum Writer: Reid Carolin, Brett Rodriguez Actors: Channing Tatum, Q’orianka Kilcher, Kevin Nash, Jane Adams, Aqueela Zoll, Emmy Raver-Lampman, Nicole LaLiberte, Cayden Boyd, Ronnie Gene Blevins, Amanda Booth, Skyler Joy, Darren Keilan Genre: Comedy Rated: PG-13 Length: 90 minutes IMDb Blurb: Two former Army Rangers are paired against their will on the road trip of a lifetime. Briggs (Channing Tatum) and Lulu (a Belgian Malinois dog) race down the Pacific Coast to a fellow soldier's funeral on time. I love dogs. Dogs have been a huge part of my life since I was a little girl. In fact, this is the first time I haven’t had a dog for any long stretch of time. (I prefer to adopt, but it’s difficult with a toddler. Will be finding a new fluff ball when my daughter’s old enough to understand how to respect pups.) Movies like this just warm my soul. In this case, you have someone underestimating a dog that has behavioral problems but helping them out anyway. For selfish reasons, maybe, but still. My late dog, Honeybear, was like that. She had a lot of behavioral problems when I adopted her. In fact, her first act when we met was to bite me. I took the time and energy to retrain her, and, in the end, she was the best dog I’ve ever known. This movie is going to make me miss her. I have no doubt about it. But that’s a big part of why it’s so high on my list. I feel like I’ve already got the story pegged, but it should be a cute watch anyway. 5 – Death on the Nile (2/11) Production/Distribution: 20th Century Studios, Disney+, Forum Hungary, Kinberg Genre, Scott Free Productions, The Estate of Agatha Christie, The Mark Gordon Company, TSG Entertainment, Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Germany, Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures International, Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Italia Director: Kenneth Branagh Writer: Agatha Christie, Michael Green Actors: Kenneth Branagh, Gal Gadot, Rose Leslie, Armie Hammer, Emma Mackey, Letitia Wright, Jennifer Saunders, Sophie Okonedo, Annette Bening, Tom Bateman, Russell Brand, Adam Garcia, Dawn French Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery Rated: PG-13 Length: 127 minutes IMDb Blurb: While on vacation on the Nile, Hercule Poirot must investigate the murder of a young heiress. I don’t feel one way or another about the character of Hercule Poirot. So, when I see the trailer for Death on the Nile – it’s just about the film as a murder mystery. Where that’s concerned, it seems pretty bad ass. The trailer does a good job of making me want to learn more, without making the questions so big that they confuse me. I want to know exactly what went down on the Nile. I have some suspicions – based on general film tropes – but nothing concrete. The cast is absolutely unignorable as well: Gal Gadot (Wonder Woman, Red Notice, Criminal), Rose Leslie (Honeymoon, Game of Thrones, Morgan), Kenneth Branagh (Tenet, Murder on the Orient Express, All is True), Letitia Wright (Black Panther, Small Axe, Guava Island), Jennifer Saunders (Absolutely Fabulous, Shrek 2, Sing 2)… etc. There’s one wild card, based on some scandals that came up while the film was in post-production, but I don’t think that’s enough to tank it. 4 – Last Looks (2/4) Production/Distribution: Eagle Films, Film & TV House, GEM Entertainment, Head Gear Films, MadRiver International, Metrol Technology, RLJE Films, Romulus Entertainment, Waldo Film Productions Director: Tim Kirkby Writer: Howard Michael Gould Actors: Charlie Hunnam, Mel Gibson, Lucy Fry, Rupert Friend, Morena Baccarin, Jacob Scipio, Clancy Brown, David Pasquesi, Sophie Fatu, Robin Givens, Xen Sams, CC Castillo, Method Man, Dominic Monaghan Genre: Action, Crime, Mystery Rated: R Length: 110 minutes IMDb Blurb: A disgraced ex-cop seeks solace by moving to the woods, but his quiet life comes to an end when a private eye recruits him to investigate a murder. The immediate intrigue is quick to pull me in for this one. It’s the easy question: did Mel Gibson’s (Fatman, Boss Level, Blood Father) character kill his wife? But it seems like there’s a huge amount more to this movie. There’s the idea of the PI fixer on a Hollywood set. There’s the insane cast. The list of draws in the trailer for Last Looks is just about endless. I’m also impressed that it’s written by Howard Michael Gould (Cutters, Mr. 3000, Home Improvement), the same person who wrote the book. You don’t see that nearly enough. That should make fans of the original work happy. There’s bound to be a lot of action alongside some quick-witted humor and the ironic amusement that we get to see Gibson call someone else crazy. 3 – KIMI (2/10) Production/Distribution: New Line Cinema, Warner Bros., Warner Bros. Pictures Germany, HBO Max Director: Steven Soderbergh Writer: David Koepp Actors: Zoë Kravitz, Erika Christensen, Rita Wilson, Devin Ratray, Jaime Camil, India de Beaufort, Robin Givens, Jacob Vargas, Charles Halford, Emily Kuroda, Caleb Emery Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller Rated: R Length: 149 minutes IMDb Blurb: An agoraphobic Seattle tech worker uncovers evidence of a crime. There’s a lot of good in the trailer for Kimi. You get a few flavors of Minority Report (2002), maybe even Mr. Robot (2015-2019), but it seems to be interwoven with a fresh flavor. It’s almost hypnotizing. I’ve grown into a huge fan of Zoë Kravitz (Big Little Lies, Allegiant, Dope) over the years. I’ve seen her kill at just about everything she’s ever been cast in – even when the movie itself was not up to snuff. This movie seems to utilize her in a way that will really show off the type of lead chops she has. She’s already a household name, but this is certainly not going to hurt. Steven Soderbergh (No Sudden Move, The Laundromat, Logan Lucky) is bringing something special with KIMI, and I can’t wait to see how it turns out. 2 – Uncharted (2/18) Production/Distribution: Arad Productions, Atlas Entertainment, Ayuntamiento de Madrid, B&H Film Distribution, Big Picture 2 Films, Columbia Pictures, Columbia Pictures Corporation, Naughty Dog, PlayStation Productions, Sony Computer Entertainment America, Sony Pictures Entertainment Iberia, Sony Pictures Filmverleih, Sony Pictures Releasing, Sony Pictures Releasing Argentina, Sony Pictures Releasing Australia, Sony Pictures Releasing Canada, Sony Pictures Releasing International, Sony Pictures Releasing Italia, United International Pictures (UIP), Universal Pictures International (UPI) Director: Ruben Fleischer Writer: Art Marcum, Rafe Judkins, Matt Holloway, Amy Hennig, Jon Hanley Rosenberg, Mark D. Walker Actors: Tom Holland, Mark Wahlberg, Antonio Banderas, Sophia Ali, Tati Gabrielle, Patricia Meeden, Sarah Petrick Genre: Action, Adventure Rated: PG-13 Length: Unknown IMDb Blurb: The story is a prequel to the games, starring Holland as a younger Drake, showing us details of how he came to meet and befriend Sully. I have always loved the idea of Tom Holland (Onward, Cherry, Avengers: Endgame) playing Nathan Drake. While the rest of the world was still thinking over how they felt, I was out-right cheering for the casting decision. The more I see Holland in, the more I adore him. Uncharted is a great game. I’m not rabid about it, but I am a fan. As a result, I’ve been looking forward to this flick for a long time. Even with the history of video game movies warning me to temper my expectations, I’m still here for it. I’m not even really worried about Holland’s comments about his performance. The only thing that does concern me, is that there were some creative differences with previous directors attached to the project. That worries me because it means there might be a little too much production company involvement. That is the kind of thing that kills video game flicks. When production companies get too involved, the director has less creative ability to bring to life the feel of the game… and you wind up with something like Monster Hunter (2020) – which didn’t even feel complete. I’m hoping the creative differences involved in this case were from something else. Either way, I’m still looking forward to it. 1 – Cyrano (2/25) Production/Distribution: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), Working Title Films, BRON Studios, Universal Pictures, United Artists Releasing, Forum Hungary, United International Pictures (UIP), Universal Pictures Argentina, Universal Pictures International (UPI) Director: Joe Wright Writer: Edmond Rostand, Erica Schmidt Actors: Peter Dinklage, Haley Bennett, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Ben Mendelsohn, Monica Dolan, Bashir Salahuddin, Joshua James, Anjana Vasan, Ruth Sheen, Mark Benton Genre: Drama, Musical, Romance Rated: PG-13 Length: 124 minutes IMDb Blurb: Too self-conscious to woo Roxanne himself, wordsmith Cyrano de Bergerac helps young Christian nab her heart through love letters. Peter Dinklage (I Care A Lot, I Think We’re Alone Now, The Angriest Man in Brooklyn) is a god amongst men. I’ve said it before, and likely will again. Cyrano is the perfect film for him. It’s heavily dramatic and puts him front and center. I don’t need any other reason to put it at #1, but I have them. Director Joe Wright (Pride & Prejudice, Atonement, Anna Karenina) is a master of these kind of romance-related, period-piece, dramas. If anyone was going to perfectly bring the story of Cyrano to life, it was going to be him. Writer Erica Schmidt (Miles from Nowhere) is more of a dark horse, but that means there will be a fresh voice carrying the script. Taking an old story like this and adding that new voice to it could make it legendary. The rest of the cast is nothing to sneeze at, either. I’ve been excited for Cyrano for at least a year now. Nothing was going to beat it to my #1 spot.
Streaming Services: Amazon Prime Video Movie Name/Year: Jolt (2021) Genre: Action, Comedy Length: 91 minutes Rating: R Production/Distribution: Busted Shark Productions, Campbell Grobman Films, Eclectic Pictures, Jolt Productions, Millennium Films, Nu Boyana Film Studios, Golden Village Pictures, Kinepolis Film Distribution, Purple Plan, Amazon Prime Video, Blue Swan Entertainment, Eagle Films, Film & TV House, GEM Entertainment, Joy n Cinema, Leonine Distribution, VVS Films Director: Tanya Wexler Writer: Scott Wascha Actors: Kate Beckinsale, Jai Courtney, Stanley Tucci, Bobby Cannavale, Laverne Cox, Constantine Gregory, Ori Pfeffer, David Bradley, Susan Sarandon Blurb from IMDb: A bouncer with a slightly murderous anger-management problem that she controls with the help of an electrode-lined vest she uses to shock herself back to normalcy whenever she gets homicidal. After the first guy she's ever fallen for is murdered, she goes on a revenge-fueled rampage to find the killer while the cops pursue her as their chief suspect.
Selina’s Point of View: Jolt was not terrible. It had its issues, though. A lot of the good seen in Jolt can be attributed to the actors. Kate Beckinsale (The Widow, Absolutely Anything, Farming) knows how to kick ass and make it look good. Jai Courtney (Honest Thief, Semper Fi, Buffaloed), Stanley Tucci (Worth, The Hunger Games, The Fifth Estate), Laverne Cox (Promising Young Woman, Bad Hair, Charlie’s Angels), Bobby Cannavale (Superintelligence, Thunder Force, Motherless Brooklyn)… they all did phenomenal in their parts. They were tough, sleezy, rigid – and whatever else they were meant to be. I had no complaints with any performance. The direction was pretty solid, too. I’m not overly familiar with Tanya Wexler’s (Hysteria, Buffaloed, Ball in the House) work, but she took some risks with her directing – most of which paid off. There was one glaring issue, though. It’s hard to hide bad writing.
There were some interesting one-liners, I’ll give it that. The comedic parts were pretty spot on. Nothing else, though. Any time there was an explanation of something, it was forced down the audience’s throat. Even in the beginning, there’s some narration that just feel weird and unnecessary. Up until Beckinsale finally came on screen, it felt like they were trying to go for a Sucker Punch (2011) feel. On top of that awkwardness, there were some serious issues with the plot. The idea was intriguing. Absolutely. Unfortunately, the writer decided to exhibit the interesting aspects of their story by using the road most traveled. There’s a problem when I can, with 100% accuracy, predict the ending by 5 minutes in. I have to acknowledge that this is Scott Wascha’s first full-length feature film credit as a writer. He’s new and he made mistakes. It’s possible that he hasn’t entirely found his voice yet. When he does, I do hope he goes in a direction where a penis isn’t the answer to every problem the main character has ever had. Could have done without that. My final thought is that Jolt did have its good aspects. I could see this being a guilty pleasure flick for many. I give it 5 years before people forget it exists, though.
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score – 34% Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score – 56% Metascore – 45/100 Metacritic User Score – None IMDB Score – 5.3/10 Trust the Dice: Selina’s Rating – 3/5 P.S. Short scene mid-credits. Movie Trailer:
Streaming Services: Amazon Prime Video ($5.99) Movie Name/Year: Greenland (2020) Genre: Action, Drama, Thriller Length: 119 minutes Rating: PG-13 Production/Distribution: STX Films, Anton, Thunder
Road Pictures, G-BASE, Riverstone Pictures, Film & TV House, GEM
Entertainment, CatchPlay, Cinépolis Distribución, Diamond Films, Elevation
Pictures, ErosSTX International, Golden Village Pictures, Impuls Pictures, Joyncontents
Group, Kinomania, Metropolitan Filmexport, Pony Canyon, Roadshow Film
Distributors (NZ) Ltd., Roadshow Films, STX International, Spentzos Films, Square
Box Pictures, TGV Pictures, TOBIS Film, The Searchers, Top Film, Vertical
Entertainment, Amazon Prime Video, Cinemundo, Encore Films, Eros Now, HBO Max, JL
Vision Film, Leonine Distribution, TOBIS Home Entertainment, The Filmbridge Director: Ric Roman Waugh Writer: Chris Sparling Actors: Gerard Butler, Morena Baccarin, Roger Dale Floyd, Scott
Glenn, Randal Gonzalez, Scott Poythress, Claire Bronson, Madison Johnson, Gary
Weeks, Tracey Bonner, Hope Davis, David Denman, Andrew Bachelor, Joshua Mikel,
James Logan, Randall Archer Blurb from IMDb: A family struggles for
survival in the face of a cataclysmic natural disaster.
Selina’s Point of View: I have been looking
forward to Greenland for a long time. Maybe even since the start of the
pandemic. It was delayed
several times before being released to streaming in the USA. Sometimes, that’s
a bad sign. It could indicate reshoots or post-production issues. I think it’s
pretty clear that, this time, it was delayed solely because of COVID. Apocalypse movies
are my thing. No matter what ends the world in those films, they always draw
me. These days,
apocalypse movies hit different. They just pack a lot more of a punch since the
coronavirus shut down our world. I imagine this is because if everyone was as
absolutely moronic as the anti-maskers & anti-vaxxers are, it very well
could have been an extinction-level disease.
That said, I was
happy to see a film like this that focused on comets. Most of the apocalypse flicks
I’ve seen have involved zombies, aliens, ice ages, or Earthbound natural
disasters – with a scattering of religion. It’s nice to see something different.
There’ve been a few comet/meteor/asteroid/thing crashing into Earth movies, but
not a whole lot that I can recall. That means the majority of them probably
weren’t all that memorable. Greenland is. It did sport some
of my least favorite apocalypse tropes. Among them are: a couple starting on
the rocks (we all know they’ll bond over the trauma and be back together in the
end) and a child needing access to meds (you just know they’re going to lose,
or be separated from, the meds at some point). I feel like, in this case, those
tropes (and a couple of others) could have been subverted easily.
If they were, Greenland
would have gotten a perfect score from me. Even with the small plot holes that picked
at me by the conclusion. The rest of the
film was phenomenal. All the serious, emotional scenes, were so well done that
I wound up ugly crying in the middle of the movie. That kind of reaction is
normally ear-marked for the very end. I have to give
props to director Ric Roman Waugh (Felon, In the Shadows, Snitch) and
writer Chris Sparling (Buried, ATM, The Warning). They created something
special. It’s difficult to make an apocalyptic film feel fresh, but they did. I
do believe their project was elevated by the work of Gerard Butler (The
Vanishing, 300, Angel Has Fallen), Morena Baccarin (Deadpool, Gotham, Ode
to Joy), and even the child star, Roger Dale Floyd (Doctor Sleep, Dr.
Bird’s Advice for Sad Poets, Kronos). The various side-actors also felt
perfect.
The ladies in
charge of casting, Mary Vernieu (Euphoria, Promising Young Woman, Knives Out)
and Michelle Wade Byrd (The Photograph, Bird Box, We Can Be Heroes), damn
well earned their paychecks. Greenland dug deep. It told a terrifying,
gut-punch, of a story. One that will stand out – even to someone like me. I
watch over 300 movies a year and I forget roughly 80% of them. I don’t believe
this will be one of those. It’s only $5.99
to rent Greenland on Amazon Prime Video. I think it’s totally worth it.
20 – The Enormity
of Life (4/6) Production/Distribution:
1031 Films, Garage Creative Studios Director: Eric
Swinderman Writer: Eric
Swinderman, Carmen DeFranco Actors: Emily
Kinney, Breckin Meyer, Giselle Eisenberg, Rick Montgomery Jr., Debra Herzog,
Bryant Carroll, Davis Aguila, Andrew Gordon, David Vegh, Daniel Repas, Aubree
Stone, Carter Anderson, Allen O’Reilly Genre: Comedy Rated: Not Rated Length: Unknown IMDb Blurb: After a failed suicide attempt, a man receives a substantial
inheritance from a long lost relative and meets a struggling single mom with an
eccentric young daughter. Together they embark on a journey of self-discovery
and healing. This film is going to be a gut punch. The trailer is as clear
as possible about that. It’s going to touch on suicide, as well as other heavy
triggers. I think it’s all going to be worth it in the end, though. The Enormity of Life seems like it’s going to show
what it means to hit rock bottom and then climb out. I’m pretty sure it’s going
to wind up having a hopeful message – which I think people need right now. The only reason I couldn’t put this movie any higher, is
because there’s the possibility it may go too far, without any real resolution.
Sometimes, flicks like this are guilty of that kind of thing, and that makes
them a chore to watch. It’s labeled a comedy, which isn’t really shown well in the
trailer. That makes me a little suspicious as well. Here’s hoping this one gives us what we need. 19 – The Believer
(4/2) Production/Distribution:
Gypsy Lane Films, Relentless Escargot Productions, 611 Films, Black Powder Works,
Artist View Entertainment, Freestyle Releasing Director: Shan
Serafin Writer: Shan
Serafin Actors: Aidan
Bristow, Sophie Kargman, Susan Wilder, Lindsey Ginter, Billy Zane, Robbie
Goldstein Genre: Horro Rated: Not Rated Length: 91
minutes IMDb Blurb: None shown This trailer looks like a rom-com gone evil. The Believer seems to go into a relationship where
the female is the abuser – which is not something movies tend to explore. Sure,
you’ve got stuff like Gone Baby Gone (2007), but it’s rare. It’s
something I feel needs more examination. Abusers come in all shapes and sizes,
and so do their victims. In all honesty, the horror aspect feels reminiscent of Audition
(1999). There are scenes in the trailer that immediately pull that Japanese
flick to mind. Which is not a bad thing. I’m not familiar with anyone working on The Believer,
but I do think there are some good signs in the trailer. 18 – Vanquish (4/16) Production/Distribution:
March On Productions, Lionsgate, Signature Entertainment Director: George Gallosw Writer: George
Gallo, Samuel Bartlett Actors: Ruby
Rose, Morgan Freeman, Patrick Muldoon, Julie Lott, Nick Vallelonga, Ekaterina
Baker, Joel Michaely, Richard Salvatore, Miles Doleac, Juju Journey Brener, Ele
Bardha, Bill Luckett Genre: Action,
Crime, Thriller Rated: R Length: 96
minutes IMDb Blurb: A mother, Victoria, is trying to put her dark past
as a Russian drug courier behind her, but retired cop Damon forces Victoria to
do his bidding by holding her daughter hostage. With Vanquish, it’s less about the story and more
about the actors involved. Ruby Rose (The Doorman, Batwoman, John Wick: Chapter 2)
is a hell of an actor in her own right, but Morgan Freeman (The Comeback Trail,
Ben-Hur, Lucy) is legendary. I am very much looking forward to seeing how
they mesh in a film like this. It also looks like a solid action flick. I doubt it will be
too deep, but there will almost definitely be amazing fight scenes. 17 – Bloodthirsty
(4/23) Production/Distribution:
Voice Pictures, 775 Media Corp, Brainstorm Media, Première TV Distribution Director: Amelia
Moses Writer: Wendy Hill-Tout
Lowell Actors: Lauren
Beatty, Greg Bryk, Katharine King So, Michael Ironside, Judith Buchan, Jayce
McKenzie, Jesse Gervais Genre: Horror Rated: Not Rated Length: 84
minutes IMDb Blurb: Grey is an indie singer who is having visions that
she is a wolf. When she gets an invitation to work with notorious music
producer Vaughn Daniels at his remote studio in the woods she begins to find
out who she really is. Bloodthirsty could go one of three ways. It could
either be an honest werewolf film, a metaphor, or all in the characters mind. I’m
fine with the former two, but if it turns out to be all hallucination… that
would be tricky. There are so many pitfalls this flick could fall into if it’s
the latter. The worst of which would be leaving the audience unfulfilled. Way
too often, when that’s the case, it feels like the whole thing just didn’t
matter. Why bother telling the story if nothing’s affected by the contents –
right? I really want to see a new, modern, actual werewolf film.
But because of the aforementioned possibilities, I couldn’t put this any higher
on my list. 16 – Justice
Society: World War II (4/27) Production/Distribution:
DC Comics, Warner Bros. Animation, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Director: Jeff
Wamester Writer: Jeremy
Adams, Meghan Fitzmartin Actors: Matt
Bomer, Stana Katic, Chris Diamantopoulos, Matthew Mercer, Elysia Rotaru, Liam McIntyre,
Omid Abtahi, Geoffrey Arend, Ashleigh LaThrop, Darin De Paul, Keith Ferguson,
Armen Taylor Genre: Animation,
Fantasy Rated: PG-13 Length: 84
minutes IMDb Blurb: The Justice Society of America, a group of heroes
aiding the allies in World War 2, acquire an ally from the future who sends
them on an adventure that changes history. Any time DC intends to put out an animated film, chances are
high it’ll be on my Top 20 for that month. DC’s animated features are just as consistent as their live-action
films are inconsistent. It’s that simple. Sure, you’ll get the occasional Dark
Knight (2008) out of their blockbuster-type flicks, but it feels more
likely that you’ll get a Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016).
Their animation work is just a significantly higher quality. That’s what I expect here. I expect a movie that sticks to
the feel of the comics and fulfills audiences. It will be somewhere between
watchable and amazing. 15 – The Power (4/8) Production/Distribution:
Air Street Films, British Film Institute (BFI), Head Gear Films, Kreo Films FZ,
Metrol Technology, Stigma Films, Shudder, VR Films And Studios Director: Corinna
Faith Writer: Corinna
Faith Actors: Rose
Williams, Emma Rigby, Charlie Carrick, Gbemisola Ikumelo, Paul Antony-Barber,
Clara Read, Diveen Henry, Robert Goodman, Nuala McGowan, Shakira Rahman, Marley
Chesham, Joe Haddow, Maria Major Genre: Horror Rated: Not Rated Length: Unknown IMDb Blurb: 1973: a young nurse is forced to work the night
shift in a crumbling hospital as striking miners switch off the power across
Britain. But inside the walls lurks a terrifying presence that threatens to
consume her and everyone around her. The more I watch this trailer, the more I’m feeling it. I thought it seemed a little basic at first, but my opinion
slowly evolved. Now, I think the time period it takes place in, and the setting,
may wind up elevating what could have been a basic supernatural haunting story. The trailer seems terrifying. I’d love to move it higher on
the list… but I have to admit that the plot (on its own) seems rather tropey. We’ll find out soon enough. 14 – Concrete
Cowboy (4/2) Production/Distribution:
Green Door Pictures, Lee Daniels Entertainment, Neighborhood Film Co., Tucker
Tooley Entertainment, Waxylu Films, Netflix Director: Ricky
Staub Writer: Ricky
Staub, Dan Walser Actors: Idris
Elba, Lorraine Toussaint, Caleb McLaughlin, Jharrel Jerome, Method Man, Swen
Temmel, Byron Bowers, Terez Land, Jennifer Butler, Ivannah-Mercedes, Liz
Priestley Genre: Drama Rated: R Length: 111
minutes IMDb Blurb: A teenager discovers the world of urban horseback
riding when he moves in with his estranged father in North Philadelphia. You had me at Idris Elba (Luther, Thor: Ragnarok, Beasts
of No Nation). Elba is just one of those actors I will follow to any
project. I trust his professionalism, and I trust his process. No one is going
to have a 100% success rate in the movies they work on… but I know that the projects
he opts to join have a leg up on the rest. The trailer looks interesting, heartbreaking, and honest.
Down-to-Earth, even. It’s going to touch on some serious subjects, but I
believe it will wind up being heartwarming in the end. 13 – Monday (4/16) Production/Distribution:
Faliro House Productions, Automatik Entertainment, Protagonist Pictures, Blonde
Audiovisual Productions, IFC Films Director: Argyris
Papadimitropoulos Writer: Argyris
Papadimitropoulos, Rob Hayes Actors: Sebastian
Stan, Denise Gough, Dominique Tipper, Yorgos Pirpassopoulos, Elli Tringou,
Andreas Konstantinou, Sofia Kokkali, Syllas Tzoumerkas, Chloe Sirene, Marisha
Triantafyllidou, Orlando Seale, Prometheus Aleifer, Efi Gousi Genre: Drama,
Romance Rated: R Length: 116 minutes IMDb Blurb: A spark on a Friday can lead to a sizzling weekend
fling, but what happens when you get to the inevitable Monday? Sebastian Stan (The Devil All the Time, We Have Always
Lived in the Castle, I’m Not Here) is going to be trending for a while
because of his work in the Marvel Universe’s Falcon and the Winter Soldier
(2021). For that reason, I was expecting to see other films starting to pop up
for him in the next few months. He’s a great actor, no one can deny that. I think it’s important
that he’s branching out into a variety of parts, so that he doesn’t get type-cast.
As such, I’m looking forward to seeing him as a romantic leading man. Romance films don’t always speak to me, but this one seems a
little more modern in its story telling. I feel like we’re going to see less in
the way of tropes, because it’s trying to weave the plot into our current
societal norms. Most flicks still try to stick to the past, and they utilize
all the problematic aspects that people have started rolling their eyes at. Monday seems like it’s going to be a unique take on
love. 12 – Four Good
Days (4/30) Production/Distribution:
Indigenous Media, Oakhurst Entertainment, Productivity Media, DeAPlaneta,
Vertical Entertainment Director: Rodrigo
Garcia Writer: Rodrigo
Garcia, Eli Saslow Actors: Mila
Kunis, Glenn Close, Stephen Root, Carla Gallo, Michael Hyatt, Chad Lindberg,
Violet Brinson, Joshua Leonard, Rebecca Field, Gloria Garayua Genre: Drama Rated: R Length: 100 minutes IMDb Blurb: A mother helps her daughter work through four
crucial days of recovery from substance abuse. Addiction is a very serious subject. One that Hollywood tends
to tackle in pretty much the same way all the time. It takes the obvious stance
of “drugs are bad,” and they teach us that lesson through showing people spiral
down until there’s nothing left of them. Granted, there are some extremely good films in the sub-genre.
Requiem for a Dream (2000) being the first one to come to mind. The problem is, we all know that. We know drugs are bad. Our
parents pushed it into our mind, the schools we went to, the after-school
specials of our favorite TV shows… etc. That makes it difficult to feel like there’s
anything new to say on the subject. What I like about Four Good Days is that it assumes
we know that drugs are bad, and it seeks to show us a different perspective. It
wants to show us what happens after someone has already decided to leave drugs
behind. I like that it’s going to go into what an addict goes through when they
want to quit, but they don’t feel capable of it. I’m also looking forward to seeing Mila Kunis (Family
Guy, The Spy Who Dumped Me, Bad Moms) step into a role that seems outside
her comfort zone. 11 – Thunder
Force (4/9) Production/Distribution:
Marc Platt Productions, Netflix Director: Ben
Falcone Writer: Ben
Falcone Actors: Jason
Bateman, Melissa McCarthy, Pom Klementieff, Octavia Spencer, Bobby Cannavale,
Melissa Leo, Sarah Baker, Melissa Ponzio, Braxton Bjerken, Tyrel Jackson
Williams, Trevor Larcom, David Storrs Genre: Action,
Adventure, Comedy Rated: PG-13 Length: 105
minutes IMDb Blurb: In a world where supervillains are commonplace, two
estranged childhood best friends reunite after one devises a treatment that
gives them powers to protect their city. I wanted to put this movie higher on the list but, when I
think about it, I don’t believe I can. I said it while I was streaming the trailers – Melissa McCarthy
(Life of the Party, The Kitchen, The Boss) is like a female version of
Adam Sandler (Uncut Gems, The Week Of, Murder Mystery). She’s a good
actor – great even – but she’s known to make some rough project choices. Her
name feels like a draw, but her films often prove disappointing. For every Can
You Forgive Me? (2018), there are several The Happytime Murders
(2018). Now, I’m not saying this will definitely be a bad film. If I
thought that, it wouldn’t be on my list. In actuality, I believe Octavia
Spencer (The Witches, Onward, Ma) is a good choice to work with McCarthy.
I’m thinking she’ll be able to reign her in a little and offer a good sense of
balance. The trailer itself looks interesting. There are a bunch of
funny moments, but I don’t think they did that thing where they left nothing
for the movie. I look forward to seeing for myself.
10 – The Unholy (4/2) Production/Distribution:
Screen Gems, Ghost House Pictures Director: Evan
Spiliotopoulos Writer: Evan
Spiliotopoulos, James Herbert Actors: Jeffrey
Dean Morgan, Cary Elwes, William Sadler, Katie Aselton, Christine Adams,
Cricket Brown, Diogo Morgado, Marina Mazepa, Gisela Chipe, Janelle Feigley, Dustin
Tucker, Bill Thorpe, Danny Corbo, Sonny Corbo, Bates Wilder Genre: Horror Rated: PG-13 Length: Unknown IMDb Blurb: A hearing-impaired girl is visited by the Virgin
Mary and can suddenly hear, speak, and heal the sick. As people flock to
witness her miracles, terrifying events unfold. Are they the work of the Virgin
Mary or something much more sinister? Although this movie does play with a plot that has been
touched on before, it still feels a bit fresh to me. I think it goes a little harder
on convincing the audience that the corrupted thing isn’t a bad thing. At
least, according to the trailer. I believe it’s going to go into the idea of blind faith –
which I’ve always believed was dangerous. Humans are fallible and blind faith
rarely works out well. Also, the cast is a big draw for me. Cary Elwes (Black
Christmas, Stranger Things, Best Sellers) was a favorite of mine as a kid,
and Jeffrey Dean Morgan (Supernatural, The Walking Dead, Walkaway Joe)
is always a win. 9 – The Outside
Story (4/30) Production/Distribution:
Greenmachine Film, Sub-Genre Film, Samuel Goldwyn Films Director: Casimir
Nozkowski Writer: Casimir
Nozkowski Actors: Brian
Tyree Henry, Sonequa Martin-Green, Sunita Mani, Olivia Edward, Asia Kate
Dillon, Rebecca Naomi Jones, Michael Cyril Creighton, Matthew Maher, Hannah
Bos, Maria Dizzia, Jordan Carlos, Lynda Gravatt, Paul Thureen, Nadia Bowers Genre: Drama Rated: Not Rated Length: 85
minutes IMDb Blurb: An introverted editor living a vertical life in his
2nd-floor apartment, always on deadline and in a rut. When Charles locks
himself out of his building, he's forced to go horizontal and confront the
world he's been avoiding in search of a way back inside. If The Outside Story is as good as the trailer tries
to portray, it could wind up being the best rom-com of the year. The thing is, this film seems different. It’s not
advertising a meet-cute. It’s not showing the rise and fall of a relationship.
It’s examining life after a relationship in a relatable and humorous way. I’ve
never seen a flick, or a trailer, that I could compare this one to. Most of the cast are people I’m not familiar with. Who doesn’t
love Sonequa Martin-Green (The Walking Dead, Star Trek: Discovery, Holiday
Rush), though? I feel like she could carry a film on her own if she had to. I’d put this movie higher, but there are some unknowns that
make this feel more like a dark horse than a top choice. Still, I’m greatly
looking forward to it. 8 – Stowaway (4/22) Production/Distribution:
RainMaker Films, Yale Productions, Augenschein Filmproduktion, Black Canopy Films,
MMC Movies, Phiphen Pictures, RISE PICTURES, Stage 6 Films, XYZ Films, Dutch
FilmWorks (DFW), Elevation Pictures, Falcon Films, Falcon, InterCom, Kinepolis
Film Distribution (KFD), Sony Pictures Releasing Australia, Sony Pictures
Releasing, Ster-Kinekor Pictures, United International Pictures, Volga Film
Ukraine, Volga, Netflix Director: Joe
Penna Writer: Joe
Penna, Ryan Morrison Actors: Anna
Kendrick, Daniel Dae Kim, Toni Collette, Shamier Anderson Genre: Drama,
Sci-Fi, Thriller Rated: Not Rated Length: 116
minutes IMDb Blurb: A stowaway on a mission to Mars sets off a series
of unintended consequences. This trailer looks interesting. It boasts an outstanding
cast – with no weaknesses – and a usual plot with an unusual twist. Whenever it comes to these fantastic outer-space films, the
immerse is essential. We need to feel like we’re in space with the characters. I
expect the visuals to be outstanding – it may even be where the movie is made
or broken. From what I can see, the creators of this film understand
that, because the trailer is gorgeous. 7 – Boys from
County Hell (4/22) Production/Distribution:
Six Mile Hill Productions, Blinder Films, Endeavor Content, Screen Ireland, Northern
Ireland Screen, Automatik FX, Egg Studios, Inevitable Pictures, Shudder Director: Chris
Baugh Writer: Chris
Baugh, Brendan Mullin Actors: Jack
Rowan, Nigel O’Neill, Louisa Harland, Michael Hough, John Lynch, Fra Fee,
Morgan C. Jones, Andrea Irvine, Robert Nairne, Marty Maguire, Kathy Monahan,
Emma Paetz, Jordan Renzo, David Pearse Genre: Comedy,
Horror Rated: Not Rated Length: 90
minutes IMDb Blurb: A crew of hardy road workers, led by a bickering
Father and Son, must survive the night when they accidentally awaken an ancient
Irish vampire. I knew immediately that Cat would be looking forward to this
one. It’s Irish. That’s all the reason she needs. I’ll admit, that’s a bonus for me… but we all know I’m here for
the horror-comedy sub-genre. It’s just my thing. I can handle any amount of
camp if the comedic horror runs deep, and goes far enough. Boys from County Hell definitely seems like it’s
going to be right up my alley. We’re getting access to it a little before it
comes out, and it’s the screener I’m most looking forward to this month. 6 – Wildcat (4/23) Production/Distribution:
Divide/Conquer, Soapbox Films, Saban Films Director: Jonathan
W. Stokes Writer: Jonathan
W. Stokes Actors: Georgina
Campbell, Luke Benward, Ibrahim Renno, Mido Hamada, Ali Olomi, Maz Siam, Faruk
Amireh Genre: Drama Rated: R Length: 93
minutes IMDb Blurb: An ambitious reporter stationed in the Middle East
who is taken captive after her convoy is ambushed. She is confronted by the
trauma of her past and must find a way to bring down the militants who
incarcerated her. One of the reasons this movie stuck out to me, is because I
have never seen anything quite like it. At least, not in the drama genre. Sure, you have stuff like Saw (2004) – but that’s
pure horror. It doesn’t even feel like it’s based in reality. Here, you have a
war movie with a realistic captivity situation. A lot of war films may show
people being captured, but I’ve never seen one that solely focuses on what
happens during the hostage situation, from the viewpoint of the hostages. The only similar media I can think of that has shown that
kind of thing is a couple of episodes of NCIS (2003- ). I think it’s a great idea for a film, and it has a lot of ideas
to explore, none of which should feel overdone or tropey. In fact, if it’s done
well enough, the film could wind up building tropes of a whole new sub-genre. 5 – Tom Clancy’s
Without Remorse (4/30) Production/Distribution:
New Republic Pictures, Midnight Radio, Outlier Society, Weed Road Pictures, Amazon
Studios, Paramount Pictures, Skydance Media, Amazon Prime Video Director: Stefano
Sollima Writer: Taylor
Sheridan, Will Staples, Tom Clancy Actors: Michael B.
Jordan, Jodie Turner-Smith, Jamie Bell, Guy Pearce, Lauren London, Jacob
Scipio, Todd Lasance, Jack Kesy, Lucy Russell, Cam Gigandet, Luke Mitchell,
Artjom Gilz, Brett Gelman, Merab Ninidze, Alexander Mercury, Colman Domingo,
Rae Lim Genre: Action,
Adventure, Thriller Rated: R Length: Unknown IMDb Blurb: John Clark, a Navy SEAL, goes on a path to avenge
his wife's murder only to find himself inside of a larger conspiracy. Michael B. Jordan (Creed, Black Panther, Just Mercy)
lives rent-free in my head. The emotion and micro-expressions that he is able
to bring to his characters is unparalleled. He’s just one of those actors I
would trust to elevate any production he’s in. Just look at that scene in the trailer where he’s screaming
in grief. You hear nothing over the music, but there’s no question – just based
on Jordan’s expressions – what’s going on. The film itself looks like a solid, if a bit basic, action
flick. Which is kind of what Tom Clancy (Splinter Cell: Blacklist, The
Division, Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan) is good at. I have to admit, though… that scene where the main character
sets a car on fire, and then gets in? I have never seen that. If the trailer
didn’t show all the best action sequences, leaving none for the movie, then we
may get more strokes of brilliance like that. 4 – Every Breath
You Take (4/2) Production/Distribution:
Construction Film, 13 Films, Southpaw Entertainment (I), Story Mining &
Supply Co., Trinity Media Financing, Vertical Entertainment, Film & TV
House, GEM Entertainment, Originals Factory, Youplanet Pictures Director: Vaughn
Stein Writer: David
Murray Actors: Michelle
Monaghan, Sam Claflin, Casey Affleck, Emily Alyn Lind, India Eisley, Veronica
Ferres, Hiro Kanagawa, Kheon Clarke, Lilly Krug, Daniel Bacon Genre: Thriller Rated: R Length: 105
minutes IMDb Blurb: A psychiatrist, whose client commits suicide, finds
his family life disrupted after introducing her surviving brother to his wife
and daughter. On the subject of micro-expressions, Sam Claflin exhibits
some severely well-crafted expressions in this trailer. Actually, he almost
looks completely different than he usually does in his films. I was immediately
impressed by his performance. I can only imagine what it looks like in context. I would have been interested in this film just based on
that, but even the plot looks riveting. The thriller aspect definitely comes through incredibly
well, and I believe the entire project is going to be something much greater
than any other thriller that has come out so far this year. 3 – The Mitchells
vs. the Machines (4/30) Production/Distribution:
Sony Pictures Animation, Lord Miller, Columbia Pictures, United International
Pictures (UIP), Universal Pictures International (UPI), Netflix Director: Michael
Rianda, Jeff Rowe Writer: Michael
Rianda, Jeff Rowe Actors: Olivia
Colman, Eric André, Maya Rudolph, Charlyne Yi, Danny McBride, Abbi Jacobson,
Fred Armisen, Chrissy Teigen, Madeleine McGraw, Alex Hirsch, Conan O’Brien,
Sasheer Zamata, John Legend, Beck Bennett, Griffin McElroy, Jay Pharoah, Blake
Griffin, Michael Rianda, Skylar Gray, Doug the Pug, Elle Mills, Obada Adnan Genre: Animation,
Adventure, Comedy Rated: PG Length: 113
minutes IMDb Blurb: A quirky, dysfunctional family's road trip is
upended when they find themselves in the middle of the robot apocalypse and
suddenly become humanity's unlikeliest last hope. When I first saw this trailer, the film was called Connected.
I kinda like the name change. It fits better. The trailer looked phenomenal. I love the war of the
generations they exhibit, while finding a way to unite them and have them work
together. It feels a little like Onward (2020) in that way. It looks hilarious – not just for kids, either. I feel like
people of all ages will get a kick out of the story and humor involved in this
flick. It should make for a great family film night. It’s something I’ll be
going to the theaters to see (after my vaccine). 2 – Voyagers (4/9) Production/Distribution:
AGC Studios, Fibonacci Films, Freecs Films, Icon Films, Ingenious Media, Nota
Bene Productions, Stillking Films, Thunder Road Pictures, GEM Entertainment, Cinemundo,
Deepjoy Picture, Diamond Films, Digi-Optic Films, Elevation Pictures, Golden
Village Pictures, Italia Films, Joyncontents Group, Lionsgate, Nashe Kino, PVR
Pictures, Pioneer Films, Spentzos Films, Telepool, The Moments Entertainment, United
International Pictures (UIP), United King Films, Universal International
Pictures (UI), Universal Pictures International (UPI), Vertical Entertainment, The
Searchers Director: Neil
Burger Writer: Neil
Burger Actors: Tye
Sheridan, Lily-Rose Depp, Fionn Whitehead, Chanté Adams, Quintessa Swindell,
Archie Madekwe, Isaac Hempstead Wright, Viveik Kalra, Madison Hu, Archie
Renaux, Wern Lee, Colin Farrell, April Grace, Laura Dreyfuss, Veronica Falcón Genre: Adventure,
Sci-Fi, Thriller Rated: PG-13 Length: 108 minutes IMDb Blurb: A crew of astronauts on a multi-generational
mission descend into paranoia and madness, not knowing what is real or not. This trailer has had some significant staying power with me.
I saw it about two months ago and have been waiting with baited breath for the
film to come out. It’s dystopian, it involves some serious rebellion, it’s
science fiction… it’s everything I love in a story. More specifically, I love
that kind of thing in books. Movies of the same ilk have disappointed me in the
past, but I have seriously high hopes for this one. I really tend to enjoy the work of Neil Burger (Limitless,
Divergent, The Upside). On top of that, there are some great actors
involved – such as: Colin Farrell (The Gentlemen, The Killing of a Sacred
Deer, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them), Lily-Rose Depp (Tusk,
Yoga Hosers, Savage), Tye Sheridan (Ready Player One, Scouts Guide to
the Zombie Apocalypse, The Mountain), and Isaac Hempstead Wright (Game
of Thrones, The Boxtrolls, The Awakening). There’s every reason to believe Voyagers is going to
be worth watching. 1 – Mortal Kombat
(4/23) Production/Distribution:
New Line Cinema, NetherRealm Studios, Atomic Monster, Broken Road Productions, Karo
Premiere, Universal Pictures International, Warner Bros. Pictures Germany, Warner
Bros. Pictures, Warner Bros. Singapore, Warner Bros., HBO Max Director: Simon
McQuoid Writer: Greg
Russo, Dave Callaham, Oren Uziel, Ed Boon, John Tobias Actors: Jessica
McNamee, Hiroyuki Sanada, Josh Lawson, Lewis Tan, Joe Taslim, Tadanobu Asano,
Mehcad Brooks, Ludi Lin, Chin Han, Sisi Stringer, Mel Jarnson, Daniel Nelson,
Elissa Cadwell, Laura Brent, Max Huang, Matilda Kimber Genre: Action,
Adventure, Fantasy Rated: R Length: 110
minutes IMDb Blurb: MMA fighter Cole Young seeks out Earth's greatest
champions in order to stand against the enemies of Outworld in a high stakes
battle for the universe. There was no way, in any world, that this was not going to
be #1. I mean, who doesn’t love the campy, over-acted, 1995
version? It was cute, at the very least. Memorable, even. But it wasn’t the
kind of adaptations that fans really hoped for. Mortal Kombat, as a game, is brutal and bloody. The
fatalities get more insane with every sequel, the characters are unique and
recognizable. There was never any way for the PG-13 rating of the previous film
to really represent what fans get from the games. It’s was just unheard of back
then. Video games were for children, and an adaptation couldn’t be rated R. Times are different now. With a hardcore R rating, this new film has the chance to go
every bit as far as the games do. The trailer even shows a fatality being
performed – in all its biologically impossible glory. On top of all that, this film has a much more well thought
out, and culturally sensitive, cast. There are a lot more Asian actors
involved, and I think that was a very good choice by those in charge. Just on aesthetics
alone, I can tell I will much prefer Tadanobu Asano (Followers, Minamata,
The Outsider) over Christopher Lambert (Highlander, Shadow of the Wolf,
Sobibor) as Raiden. And we all know how I feel about Sisi Stringer (Children
of the Corn, Bloody Hell, Matt Gaffney Must Die) as Mileena. Her look is impeccable. There’s some concern about this flick, just because it’s a
video game adaptation and, let’s not kid ourselves, there’s some room for improvement
where those kinds of adaptations are concerned. Still, Mortal Kombat is
the film I’m looking forward to most for next month. What can I say? I’m a glutton for punishment.
