"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.
Production/Distribution: Happy Madison Productions, Netflix
Director: Tyler Spindel
Writers: Evan Turner, Ben Zazove
Actors: Poorna Jagannathan, Ellen Barkin, Nina Dobrev, Adam Devine, Pierce Brosnan, Michael Rooker, Lauren Lapkus, Richard Kind, Julie Howery, Blake Anderson, Derek Russo, Laci Mosley
IMDb Blurb: A straight-laced bank manager about to marry the love of his life. When his bank is held up by infamous Ghost Bandits during his wedding week, he believes his future in-laws who just arrived in town, are the infamous Out-Laws.
Selina’s Point of View:
With Adam Devine involved, I knew the cringe-factor on The Out-Laws would be high. Although cringe is not my preferred form of comedy, I was ready to give it a chance. Devine does have some endearing qualities that can sometimes outweigh the cringe.
Unfortunately, that didn’t happen in The Out-Laws.
I would have given The Out-Laws some lee-way if it had inspired any laughter at all. Even uncomfortable laughter would have worked because I know some people dig that kind of thing. I didn’t laugh at all. Not for even a second during any part of the film. For the majority, my face was stuck in a permanent cringe.
It was awful.
The trailer is the best thing about The Out-Laws. Save yourself the time and just find that on Youtube.
Cat’s Point of View:
I’ll be frank. The Out-laws was ostensibly fairly hard to watch with a straight face - or even a smiling one, really. Of course, with a comedy feature, you’d hope people aren’t staring deadpan at the screen but laughing, instead. I had a few chuckles here and there, but ultimately This movie was a hot mess cringe-fest.
Let’s start with the few positives I have to offer, though.
When we saw the trailer for The Out-laws, I found it funny but, realistically I realized that Adam Devine’s (The Lego Batman Movie,. Isn't It Romantic, Pitch Perfect: Bumper in Berlin) involvement was going to make the film, on the whole, a little dicey because he was pretty much the main character. He’s very talented, just not generally to my taste. I tend to get annoyed when I see him on the screen. Now, don’t get me wrong - his performance in Green Eggs and Ham (2019-2022) where he voiced Sam I Am was great. It’s just the live-action stuff that goes off the rails.
I was hoping that the rest of the outstanding cast would help elevate everything around him and help it work overall, so I listed The Out-laws as a hopeful #12 on my personal Top 20 list in this month’s article. Maybe I was just a little too loopy-generous with that placement, considering I was in the hospital at the time. I digress…
This cast was stacked with actors I really enjoy. I fell in love with Nina Dobrev (xXx: Return of Xander Cage, Run This Town, Redeeming Love) during The Vampire Diaries (2009-2017). (In fact, I keep procrastinating on finishing the final season that ended years ago because I don’t want to acknowledge it’s over.) Pierce Brosnan (Riverdance: The Animated Adventure, The Misfits, The King's Daughter) is amazing in action and heist roles - or really anything. I’m absolutely biased, admittedly. I was excited he got to use his real accent, too. Ellen Barkin (The Cobbler, Animal Kingdom, The Man from Toronto) was solid, and the combination of Richard Kind (tick tick...BOOM!, Beau is Afraid, American Dad) and Julie Hagerty (Instant Family, Marriage Story, A Christmas Story Christmas) was hilarious. Michael Rooker (Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, F9: The Fast Saga, White Elephant) was even involved! I had no complaints about any of their involvement.
The best moments of The Out-laws for me were scenes where references to the cast’s past work were involved. I adore Easter Eggs. I spent the rest of the time generally face-palming and talking to the screen because of the moronic bumbling of Devine’s character.
I get that his character was supposed to be like that, painted as the doofus but likable underdog. I just couldn’t get into it enough to suspend disbelief on several plot-holes wide enough to park a Winnebago in. That's not even taking into account the general predictability of the overall story. The "twists" weren't twisty at all.
As it stands, I probably won’t watch this one again because there are plenty of other comedy heist movies out there that I would enjoy repeating, and I’ve got a to-watch and to-read list a mile long that would take precedent. My almost 20-year-old daughter was a bit meh as the credits were rolling, as well. Take that as you will.
If you like Devine’s brand of humor steered by the Happy Madison folks, and have enjoyed his previous team-ups with his buddy Blake Anderson (Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse, Voltron: Legendary Defender, Game Over Man!), The Out-laws might just tickle your fancy a bit more than it did for me.
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score – 20%
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score – 43%
Metascore – 36%
Metacritic User Score – 3.5/10
IMDB Score – 5.5/10
Trust the Dice: Selina’s Rating – 1/5
Trust the Dice: Cat’s Rating – 2/5
P.S. - There is a small additional scene during the beginning of the credits.
IMDb Blurb: Full-time detectives Nick and Audrey are struggling to get their private eye agency off the ground. They find themselves at the center of international abduction when their friend Maharaja, is kidnapped at his own lavish wedding.
Cat’s Point of View:
These days, watching an Adam Sandler (The Week Of, Uncut Gems, Hustle) comedy is a bit like playing roulette. (The dramas have been fire lately, though.) You never know until you watch his movie whether or not it’ll turn out okay. In the case of Murder Mystery 2, I’d say that it was better than I thought it would be. My expectations, however, were not very high.
I really enjoyed the trailer for Murder Mystery 2 and felt like it hinted at some great moments that would add up to a fun experience. I just hoped it didn’t give all of the best bits away so there were no surprises. The trailer gave a lot away. Thankfully, however, it didn’t spoil the whole thing.
It’s been a little bit since I watched the teasers, thankfully, so I watched the movie fairly fresh. I probably enjoyed the surprise of a few moments a lot better due to my memory lapse than if I had the imagery fresh on my mind from the trailer.
That being said, Murder Mystery 2 was fun. I laughed and was fairly impressed at the action that they packed into the story. Sandler isn’t the first actor you think about when action is involved, after all. Mark Strong (1917, Cruella, Nocebo), on the other hand, helped lend some ‘action cred’ to a few of those scenes.
Jennifer Aniston (Cake, Storks, The Morning Show) and Sandler’s characters were very relatable as a married couple and their chemistry was fabulous. I’ve been married over 20 years, and I could identify with some of their banter and frustrations with each other on a nearly visceral level. At the same time, it was funny and a respectful take on couples squabbling that didn’t delve into darkness.
I also absolutely adored the Bollywood-like segment of the production. I enjoy a good Bollywood film now and again for all of the costumes and dance choreography. It’s fun and interesting to watch.
Overall, Murder Mystery 2 wasn’t changing the world, but it was a fun ride. I’d definitely recommend anyone that enjoyed the first movie to check out this sequel.
Streaming Service: Netflix Movie Name/Year: Hustle (2022) Genre: Comedy, Drama, Sport Length: 1h 57min Rating: R Production/Distribution: Happy Madison Productions, Kirschenbaum
Productions, Roth Films, Roth/Kirschenbaum Films, SpringHill Entertainment,
Netflix Director: Jeremiah Zagar Writer: Will Fetters, Taylor Materne Actors: Adam Sandler, Queen Latifah, Juancho Hernangomez, Ben
Foster, Kenny Smith, Robert Duvall, Jordan Hull, MarÃa Botto, Ainhoa Pillet Blurb from IMDb: A basketball scout
discovers a phenomenal street ball player while in Spain and sees the prospect
as his opportunity to get back into the NBA.
Selina’s Point of View: I was absolutely
right about what to expect from Hustle. Although Adam
Sandler (Hotel Transylvania, Murder Mystery, Uncut Gems) was at the top
of his game in the 90s and early 2000s, people expect the worst from him these
days. When I mentioned Hustle in my Top 20 for June of 2022, I explained
why that didn’t affect my expectations for this film. Sandler’s a big
kid. As one myself, I don’t see anything wrong with that. That said, his humor
reflects it. He’s stayed stagnant over the years. As our world
evolved, it’s become almost unrecognizable to the past. Where Sandler’s comedy
flicks are concerned, that can make them a little nostalgic, but mostly they’re
just extremely dated. That does not translate to his drama work. Adam Sandler is exceptional
as a drama actor. I don’t think people have fully come to terms with that as a
fact. Those of us growing up with his early works are still seeing him as the
guy from The Wedding Singer (1998) or Mr. Deeds (2002). The
younger generations know him more as the strange guy in Hubie Halloween
(2020) or That’s My Boy (2012). In both cases, it’s
rough to transform expectations from that to heartfelt, sincere, dramatic actor. I think it’s time
to take that mental leap.
As a dramatic
actor, he’s on par with people like Robin Williams. His characters are deep and
empathic, with just enough humor to make them endearing. He should 100% stick
to dramedies. That is where he does his best work. Hustle really showcased that. It elevated
him, and he elevated it. It was an absolute pleasure to watch. Now, I don’t like
basketball. I don’t know the first thing about it. I didn’t have to. Hustle worked
as an emotional and absorbing watch anyway. You could have replaced basketball
with any other sport, and it still would have been just as good. There was a bit
of humor, but it felt natural. There were no forced jokes. Some of it was sweet
and, mostly, mature. A great many
basic sport film tropes were in use, but the way they were done was effective.
If I had any complaints, it would be that the editing could have been tighter. Better
editing could have brought the film down by about 10-minutes. It’s not that big
a deal, though, because there’s no looking away once you start watching. Hustle was everything I thought it would be.
If anything, it should have been higher on my Top 20 list. Give it a shot. (No
pun intended.)
Cat’s Point of View: I’ve said it
before, and I’ll probably say it again a few more times: I’m not a fan of
sports movies. That’s not to say that I haven’t enjoyed the hell out of some genre
offerings over the years. I just don’t seek out sport-related films unless
they’re about figure skating. Simply put, I
love a good story. I’ll end up liking a movie about the sports flavor of the
moment if it gets me invested in spite of myself. It’s not that I hate sports
or anything… I just tend to get bored easily and my ADHD brain doesn’t keep up
with the stats very well. I suppose the
magic question here is: did Hustle grab my attention enough to enjoy it? Simple
answer. Yes. I’ll be the first
to admit that it was my slight bias regarding the genre that had Hustle
placed at #18 on my personal Top 20 list for June. Now that I’ve watched this
movie, I wish that I’d given it a little more of a fair shot. Hustle was entertaining and well worth the
time spent. It took me on a journey and had me invested in the characters. I
laughed and worried with them. I both mourned and celebrated with them. I
didn’t recognize all the professional players on screen, but I didn’t have to.
I really appreciated that.
Of course, there
were quite a few real pros gracing the screen here so actual basketball fans
might get a bigger kick out of that. Since I’m out of the baller loop, I didn’t
realize that Juancho Hernangomez, who plays Bo Cruz in Hustle, was a pro
player. (He is currently a member of the Utah Jazz and the national team of
Spain.) Given his skills in this film, though, it stood to reason. Hustle
is this power forward’s acting debut, and he did a damn fine job. Adam Sandler tends
to get a lot of flack for his comedic movies, especially in recent years. Don’t
judge Hustle by that buzz. Leave your expectations for Sandler to the
wayside when you press play on this one. Sandler seems to
be having a bit of a paradigm shift with his roles. He’s knocking more serious
dramatic content out of the park, and Hustle is one more on that list.
Of course, there were some laughs along the way but the film wasn’t bogged down
with it and the funny elements were seamlessly and organically enmeshed with
the story. All told, Hustle
is an entertaining basketball tale with a lot of heart and delivers a beautiful
love letter to the sport. My husband is the
big sports fan in the household and hadn’t had a chance to watch Hustle
at the time I viewed it for this review, so I can predict with relative
certainty that I’ll be watching it again in the very near future. Here’s the
real kicker – I’m looking forward to it.
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score – 91% Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score – 91% Metascore – 67% Metacritic User Score – 7.4 IMDB Score – 7.3/10 Trust the Dice: Selina’s Rating – 5/5 Trust the Dice: Cat’s Rating – 4/5 Movie Trailer:
Our Top 20 lists don’t usually begin with a preface. However, this time
I just wanted to drop a small note to give you a little info before you dive into the list. What is it? Just simply to let you know that, to the best of our knowledge, all of these movies are scheduled to be released to video on-demand or various streaming platforms on the day listed. Delays or changes in plans may be possible due to the ever-evolving impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the media industry.
We hope you and your loved ones are safe and well.
20 - Bull (5/1)
Production/Distribution: Bert
Marcus Productions, Invisible Pictures, Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions,
Stage 6 Films
Director: Annie Silverstein
Writers: Annie Silverstein,
Johnny McAllister, Josh Melrod
Actors: Rob Morgan, Amber
Havard, Yolonda Ross, Sara Allbright, Keira Bennett, Steven Boyd, Roishaun
Davenport, Karla Garbelotto, Troy Anthony Hogan, Ashton Hughes, Rachel McClure,
Reece McClure, Tadarius Billy Miles, Peggy Schott, Lee Stringer, Keeli Wheeler
Genre: Drama
Rated: Unrated
Length: 105 minutes
IMDb Blurb: In a near-abandoned subdivision west of
Houston, a wayward teen runs headlong into her equally willful and unforgiving
neighbor, an aging bullfighter who's seen his best days in the arena; it's a
collision that will change them both.
This looks like a phenomenal movie with a lot of heart. Why is it this
low on my list, you ask? At any other time, it likely would have rated far
higher. It’s not because of the basic 'angsty teen gets brooding mentor and
learns a new competitive skill' recipe. My reason is simple: it’s worthy of
note certainly, but right now my personal tastes run to the more entertaining
or thrilling fare. Bull looks to be just about as heavy and dramatic as a
hard-hitting, dramatic movie like this should be. It looks like one that will
both pull on the heart-strings and offer a cathartic journey of redemption for
the characters. While I’m trying to find the lighter things, I can’t entirely
knock this out of the running. I hope it does well.
Actors: Kestrin Pantera,
Breeda Wool, Milana Vayntrub, Sam Littlefield, David Giuntoli, Melanie Hutsell,
Cool Benson, Tara Karsian, Rick Overton, Amy Jayne Pilikowski, Mike Rose, Luis
Sosa
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Family
Rated: Unrated
Length: 99 minutes
IMDb Blurb: When Joy Pride, a groovy 70's burn-out on
the caboose of the flower power movement, learns she has weeks to live, her
estranged children come together to do right by a mother who always did them
wrong. Mother's Little Helpers is a funny dysfunctional-family drama, based on
true events and inspired by true lies, about how family ties can twist and tear
you - and though they may not break you, they might send you to prison. It
explores the "OK, Boomer" relationship between the free love
generation and those left to clean up the mess.
Mother’s Little Helpers is a bit more my speed for the things I
am gravitating towards watching lately. While this does deal with a family
member presumably dying, and that’s certainly dark, the trailer evoked a
feeling that the darkness was being funneled into humor rather than some morose
dirge.
Laughter is excellent medicine. The interactions between the members of this dysfunctional family intrigued me and made me want more. While there is some potential for sadness with the story, it seems far outweighed by the other elements sparked by the family coming together.
18 - Union Bridge (5/19)
Production/Distribution: Breaking
Glass Pictures
Director: Brian Levin
Writer: Brian Levin
Actors: Scott Friend, Emma
Duncan, Alex Breaux, Elisabeth Noone, Bobby J. Brown, David Cohen, Lateicia
Ford, Grant Garson, Graydon Hipple, Andy Hopper, Nancy Linden, Teresa
Majorwicz, Bolton Marsh, Jean Miller, Kevin Murray, Samantha Trionfo, Dan
Verkman, Tim R. Worley
Genre: Thriller
Rated: Unrated
Length: 91 minutes
IMDb Blurb: After burning
out in the city, Will Shipe is summoned back home where he uncovers dark truths
about his family and the town he grew up in.
There are some interesting elements to the plot shown in this trailer. Hometowns full of dangerous secrets – and some of them possibly quite
literally buried. The town outcast has visions that drive him a little mad
because the secrets just don’t want to keep in silence. Then there’s the
prodigal townsperson suddenly thrust into the situation and must solve the
mystery of what’s going on and brave the dangerous enormity of it all.
These elements all sound like they belong in a Stephen
King (Doctor Sleep, Castle Rock, It)
novel. In this case, the horror icon has nothing to do with it (as far as I
know). This is the directorial debut of Brian Levin (Genie in a Bikini, Boys in Blue, Flock of Dudes).
I’m intrigued by the mystery, and invested enough
just from the trailer, that I want to know more about what is afflicting the one
poor guy. What the big secret is – and whether or not it is literally
buried somewhere in or around the town. This is one of those films you could curl up
in a blanket with, a cup of tea in hand, just as if you were reading a good mystery
novel.
17 - Walkaway Joe (5/8)
Production/Distribution: SwingLake
Entertainment, In The Garage Entertainment, Quiver Distribution USA Inc
IMDb Blurb: Walkaway Joe is
the story of an unlikely friendship between a young boy searching for his
father in pool halls across the country, and a wandering loner hiding from his
past. In each other they experience the power of a second chance, and a shot at
redemption.
When I saw this title, my mind immediately went to the Trisha Yearwood song, from 1992, and it
immediately started playing in my head. I couldn’t help it. That was one of my
favorites that were released during my ‘country phase’ in high school.
Then, I watched the trailer and I was reminded of The Color of Money (1986). This isn’t attempting to remake that by
any means. There’s a new twist on this whole pool-shark thing. This has a
family angle that takes the story somewhere else besides a young man chasing
the prestige of his mentor. This is a tale of a son trying to save his family
by chasing his father – there are parallels though.
Watching Jeffrey Dean Morgan (Rampage,
Supernatural, The Walking Dead) in just about anything is entertaining. I’m
glad it seems that they carried through the smart-ass charisma, that he’s so well known
for, to this character. My own
head-canon asks me why Sam and Dean’s dad is running pool tables instead of hunting,
but that’s a fan-fiction for another day.
16 - Capone (5/12)
Production/Distribution: BRON Studios, A Band Apart, Addictive Pictures, Creative Wealth Media Finance, Lawrence Bender Productions, Vertical Entertainment, Ascot Elite Entertainment Group, Storm Pictures Korea
IMDb Blurb: The 47-year old Al Capone, after 10 years in prison, starts suffering from dementia and comes to be haunted by his violent past.
This is one of those movies that I tend to be on the fence about
watching until my husband ropes me into it, and then I enjoy anyway. I like a
good mobster movie now and again, it’s just not the genre I turn to first when
I’m looking for entertainment.
That being said, I can still recognize when a movie like this looks
like it’s going to be good – regardless of whether or not I’m in the mood for
zoot-suit gangsters with Tommy-guns.
Besides, with Tom Hardy (This Means War, Legend, Dunkirk) in the
titular role, we should all be ready for quite the experience. Add to that the
fact that he’s facing off against Kyle MacLachlan (Twin Peaks, Portlandia, High Flying Bird) and Matt Dillon (The Art of the Steal, Rock Dog, The House
That Jack Built). This is a stellar cast for
this look at the infamous mob boss in his deranged twilight years.
15 - The Lovebirds (5/22)
Production/Distribution: 3
Arts Entertainment, Media Rights Capital, Quinn's House, Netflix, Central
Partnership, Paramount Pictures, United International Pictures
Director: Michael Showalter
Writers: Aaron Abrams,Brendan Gall, Martin Gero
Actors: Kumail Nanjiani,
Anna Camp, Issa Rae, Paul Sparks, Kyle Bornheimer, Joe Chrest, Andrene
Ward-Hammond, Catherine Cohen, Moses Storm, Jaren Mitchell, Kelly Murtagh,
Mahdi Cocci, Narendra Singh Dhami, Betsy Borrego
Genre: Action, Comedy, Crime
Rated: R
Length: 86 minutes
IMDb Blurb: A couple (Issa
Rae & Kumail Nanjiani) experiences a defining moment in their relationship
when they are unintentionally embroiled in a murder mystery. As their journey
to clear their names takes them from one extreme and hilarious - circumstance
to the next, they must figure out how they, and their relationship, can survive
the night.
I have moved this movie up and down my list so many times, I’m nearly
dizzy. I think the trailer is hilarious and I can’t wait to watch the movie.
Its placement on the list is mainly weighing it against which movies I might
want to watch before this one. If I had the choice to watch all of them right
now – which would I pick first? There are just little bits here and there that
have caught my attention with everything else higher on the list. I digress…
Getting back to this actual film. I love a good comedy full of quirky
crazy accidents that put people in the wrong place at the wrong time. This seems to be one of those. My husband and I
just recently watched Stuber (2019),
and that was a good example of that exact scenario. Of course, I mentioned that movie on purpose,
as Kumail Nanjiani (The Big Sick, Silicon
Valley, Dolittle) is a co-lead in that movie as well as this one. His
talent for comedy is amazing. I am also excited to see Anna Camp (True Blood, Pitch Perfect, The Wedding Year), too.
I really can’t wait to watch it, so don’t let this placement fool you.
If you need a laugh, this should be a great go-to.
14 - Arkansas (5/5)
Production/Distribution: StoryBoard
Media, Buffalo 8 Productions, Don Kee Productions, Rhea Films, Jeff Rice Films,
Sprockefeller Pictures, Media Finance Capital, VMI Worldwide, Lionsgate
Director: Clark Duke
Writer: Andrew Boonkrong,
Clark Duke
Actors: Liam Hemsworth,
Clark Duke, Michael Kenneth Williams, Vince Vaughn, John Malkovich, Vivica A.
Fox, Eden Brolin, Chandler Duke
Genre: Crime, Drama,
Thriller
Rated: R
Length: 117 minutes
IMDb Blurb: Kyle and Swin
live by the orders of an Arkansas-based drug kingpin named Frog, whom they've
never met. But when a deal goes horribly wrong, the consequences are deadly.
I am just going to come right out and state the obvious – this movie
looks odd. The characters are quirky (or at least some of them are), and the
premise is a bit bananas. However, sometimes that’s just how life rolls. All of
these things don’t appear to be negatives at first blush. The trailer succeeded
in drawing me in.
I’m also a sucker for movies based in and around my area. I lived in
Little Rock, AR for a year when I was younger. I haven’t been there in probably
20 years or so, but it’s still ‘close to home,’ as it were.
The icing on the cake is this cast. Of course, quirkiest of all is probably Clark Duke (A Thousand
Words, Hot Tub Time Machine 2, Bad Moms). He got my attention back in Greek (2007-2011). There’s always an
intelligence behind his roles regardless of how silly. Then you have John
Malkovich (Birdbox, Velvet Buzzsaw,
Billions). Anything he’s in is sure to be
entertaining. Yes, yes - Liam Hemsworth (The
Dressmaker, Killerman, Isn't it Romantic) is in it, too. Don’t get the idea
I picked this one because I got all moony.
I am dying to see how the quirky blends in with a crime-drama thriller.
13 - The Half of It (5/1)
Production/Distribution: Likely
Story, Netflix
Director: Alice Wu
Writer: Alice Wu
Actors: Catherine Curtin,
Leah Lewis, Daniel Diemer, Alexxis Lemire, Collin Chou, Wolfgang Novogratz,
Enrique Murciano, Becky Ann Baker, Haley Murphy, Alex D. Jennings, Billy Thomas
Myott, Matt Meinsen, Cronin Cullen, Mehmet Ozyagci, Gabi Samels
Genre: Comedy, Romance
Rated: PG-13
Length: 104 minutes
IMDb Blurb: When smart but
cash-strapped teen Ellie Chu agrees to write a love letter for a jock, she
doesn't expect to become his friend - or fall for his crush.
So this film is here because I would like to watch this one with my
daughter. This is the sort of teen rom-com, or dramedy, that I think would be
right up her alley. I think the story of friendship and relationships will be a
good watch for us. It looks cute and relevant. I really like the casting they’ve done
here.
Actors: Craig Fairbrass,
Mark Monero, Robert Glenister, Izuka Hoyle, George Russo, Nicholas Aaron, Tomi
May, Michael John Treanor, Eloise Lovell Anderson, Jennifer Matter, Cassie
Bancroft, Hester Ruoff, Lee Nicholas Harris, Taz Skylar, Stephanie Fayerman,
Selom Awadzi, Mark Mooney, Daniel Larkai, Lauryn Ajufo, Jamie Crew
Genre: Crime, Drama,
Thriller
Rated: R
Length: 97 minutes
IMDb Blurb: The story
follows (Eddie Franks) a former criminals release from prison and his attempts
to help his family by reconnecting with his daughter and clearing his brother's
debt. Despite his efforts, he is drawn back into a criminal way of life, with
devastating consequences.
Oh, how I love a good Brit-flick. I have been longing for action and
thrills lately, in between my desire for comedy. With films like this, you tend to
get everything. I absolutely adore dry British humor and sarcasm. The trailer
gave me the impression that it’s layered in with the crime drama unfolding.
Anti-heroes are fun to watch. They bring some overdue karma to the REALLY bad
guys.
With the main character getting out of jail to find his brother’s in
trouble, the plot seems like something along the lines of Gone in 60 Seconds (2000), without the car-theft. I am curious
to see how this plays out. I can’t say that I recognize most of
this cast by name, but that can be a good thing. There’s less of a distraction
for my brain while watching. Less of ‘ooh I know them’ and more immersion into
the story.
11 - The Last Moment of Clarity (5/19)
Production/Distribution: Metalwork
Pictures, GEM Entertainment, 101 Films, Inopia Films, Lionsgate Home
Entertainment
Directors: Colin Krisel,
James Krisel
Writers: Colin Krisel, James
Krisel
Actors: Samara Weaving,
Brian Cox, Carly Chaikin, Udo Kier, Hal Ozsan, Pasha D. Lychnikoff, Nicole
Ansari-Cox, Alex Fernandez, Zach Avery, Karl E. Landler, Mark Joy, Kathy
Sanders, Elisa Meri, Karina Chery, Robert Wesley Mason
Genre: Thriller
Rated: R
Length: 90 minutes
IMDb Blurb: A normal New
Yorker's life is upended when his girlfriend is murdered by the Bulgarian mob.
He flees to Paris to hide from her killers. But three years later, he sees a
similar looking woman on the silver screen. Obsession with past love takes Sam
to Los Angeles to look for answers, only to put him back into the sights of the
Bulgarians. An updated Hitchcockian thriller in the vein of Vertigo and Rear
Window.
That old adage to let sleeping dogs lie is a good one. Don’t poke the
dragon, is another. Bilbo didn’t listen, and that poor sleeping dog rarely gets
to finish their nap. Without curiosity making people do dumb things, there
wouldn’t be much of a point to this film though, right?
The trailer succeeded in giving me enough questions about what was
going on and investment with the characters that I really do wonder about the
lookalike girl and the story in general. It stayed with me beyond the end of
the teaser.
10 - Justice League Dark: Apokolips War (5/5)
Production/Distribution: Warner
Bros. Animation, DC Universe, Warner Home Video
Directors: Matt Peters,
Christina Sotta
Writers: Ernie Altbacker,
Mairghread Scott
Actors: Rosario Dawson,
Rebecca Romijn, Rainn Wilson, Camilla Luddington, Shemar Moore, Taissa Farmiga,
Jerry O'Connell, John DiMaggio, Jason O'Mara, Christopher Gorham, Tony Todd,
Liam McIntyre, Matt Ryan, Roger Cross, Hynden Walch, Ray Chase, Stuart Allan,
Sachie Alessio
Genre: Animation
Rated: R
Length: 90 minutes
IMDb Blurb: A Sequel to
Justice League Dark (2017) involving Jack Kirby's New Gods.
This film is allegedly the last one in the DC Animated Universe.
Normally a movie like this would be in my top 5 at the very least. There are just too many films that are stacking up and stealing
my interest – they’re new and shiny. I can’t help it. I am also sad about the
seeming finality of it all if this really is the end of the movies within that
universe – but I say never say never.
Aside from all that, the cast is just absolutely amazing! I’m also
digging that they went for the bold R-Rating, as well. You can bet I’ll be
watching this as soon as I can.
Actors: Sierra McCormick,
Jake Horowitz, Gail Cronauer, Bruce Davis, Cheyenne Barton, Gregory Peyton,
Mallorie Rodak, Mollie Milligan, Ingrid Fease, Brandon Stewart, Kirk Griffith,
Nika Sage McKenna, Brett Brock, Pam Dougherty, Lynn Blackburn, Richard Jackson,
James Mayberry, Nicolette Doke, Grant James, Libby Villari, Gordon Fox, John
Gindling, Brianna Beasley, Chamblee Ferguson, L.A. Young
Genre: Fantasy, Mystery,
Sci-Fi
Rated: PG-13
Length: 89 minutes
IMDb Blurb: In the twilight
of the 1950s, on one fateful night in New Mexico, a young switchboard operator
Fay and charismatic radio DJ Everett discover a strange audio frequency that
could change their small town and the future forever.
There’s so much that I love about this movie.
First, my initial impression of this film is that it looks like a story that
could have come right out of the original Twilight Zone (1959-1964). When I looked up the info for the
movie, I found that the town’s name of Cayuga appears to be named after Rod
Serling's (Appointment With Destiny, Encounter with the Unknown, Phantom of the
Paradise) production company used for making that very show.
Those rotary phones – I have been hauled through time and suddenly I’m
a kid again, spinning the dial on my grandmother’s phone just to watch it spin
back on its own. Touch-tone and touch-screen phones aren’t as fun anymore, man.
I
love the nostalgia of the phone switchboard era. We won’t get into the politics
of it. Let’s just simply let it ride as a classy backdrop to this UFO movie
period piece. Of course, it’s a crazy coincidence that the US Navy has just
recently declassified some videos of a craft interacting with UFOs. ….. Or is it?
8- The Wretched (5/1)
Production/Distribution: AMP
International, Cailleach Productions, IFC Midnight, Front Row Filmed
Entertainment, IFC Films, Première TV Distribution, Vertigo Releasing
Directors: Brett Pierce,
Drew T. Pierce
Writers: Brett Pierce, Drew
T. Pierce
Actors: John-Paul Howard,
Piper Curda, Jamison Jones, Azie Tesfai, Zarah Mahler, Blane Crockarell, Kevin
Bigley, Gabriela Quezada Bloomgarden, Richard Ellis, Judah Abner Paul, Ja'layah
Washington, Amy Waller, Ross Kidder, Kasey Bell, Sydne Mikelle, Tug Coker, Madelynn
Stuenkel, Owen Thomas Pierce, Pamela Gray, Ryan Alexander Holmes, Kenzie Jones
Genre: Horror
Rated: Unrated
Length: 96 minutes
IMDb Blurb: A defiant
teenage boy, struggling with his parent's imminent divorce, faces off with a
thousand year-old witch, who is living beneath the skin of and posing as the
woman next door.
If you’ve been around this blog a while, you’ll know I’m a sucker for a
good (or even bad) horror movie. For those new readers (welcome!), I inexorably find
myself drawn to the horrific. Out of the offerings releasing this month, this
definitely looks like the best horror movie hitting the internet in May.
There seems to be a psychological horror factor along with the gore,
possession, and general creepiness here. Somehow the creature of this feature
can make people forget people. Imagine your parents looking right at you and
not recognizing that you ever existed. Your best friend’s mom says your friend
never lived there. Talk about a gut-punch. It’s the ultimate form of ghosting. There’s a pun in there somewhere where this movie is concerned, and I’m not
sorry.
7 - Survive the Night (5/22)
Production/Distribution: Emmett/Furla/Oasis
Films, SSS Entertainment, SSS Film Capital, Lionsgate, Première TV Distribution,
Youplanet Pictures
Director: Matt Eskandari
Writer: Doug Wolfe
Actors: Bruce Willis, Chad
Michael Murray, Lydia Hull, Tyler Jon Olson, Jessica Abrams, Shea Buckner,
Ravare Elise Rupert, Charlie Alvarado, Riley Wolfe Rach
Genre: Action, Thriller
Rated: R
Length: 89 minutes
IMDb Blurb: A disgraced
doctor and his family are held hostage at their home by criminals on the run,
when a robbery-gone-awry requires them to seek immediate medical attention.
This movie's an action starring Bruce Willis (Once Upon a Time in Venice, Reprisal, Motherless Brooklyn). Is
there really a better reason to watch?
The story looks compelling. I’m left wondering what Chad Michael
Murray‘s (Camp Cold Brook, Max Winslow
and the House of Secrets, Riverdale) character did to get sued in the first
place. That’s small potatoes, however, when put up against the rest of the
action and thrills that this movie promises. I got flashes of Murray’s
character from Crackle’s CH:0S:EN (2013-2014).
I’m eagerly anticipating the team-up of Murray and Willis to take out
the bad guys that dared mess with their characters’ family. I’ve got to learn
whether or not they do, indeed, Survive
the Night.
6 - Proximity (5/15)
Production/Distribution: Demeusy
Pictures, Shout! Studios, Instrum International, Signature Entertainment
Director: Eric Demeusy
Writers: Eric Demeusy, Jason
Mitcheltree
Actors: Don Scribner, Ryan
Masson, Highdee Kuan, Christian Prentice, Shaw Jones, Christopher Murray, Sarah
Navratil, Kylie Contreary, Pamela Holt, Jordan Tortorello, Darin Cooper, Jeremy
Lawson, Stephanie De Bar, Randy Davison, Max Cutler, Ben Sullivan, Mikey
McKernan, Gregory DePetro, Anthony Bradford, Tyler Derench, Ian Coleman, Danny
McFarland, Marc Livingood, Mauri Montebello Perez
Genre: Drama, Sci-Fi
Rated: Unrated
Length: 115 minutes
IMDb Blurb: A young NASA JPL
scientist is abducted by extraterrestrials but when no one believes his story he
becomes obsessed with finding proof which leads him on a journey of discovery.
This movie should not be confused with the 2016 movie of the same name.
That one’s about surfers, this one is a sci-fi film about alien abduction. Just
be careful and take note of release dates when you are selecting
your movie for streaming – or you might be very confused.
Moving on.
The trailer sucked me in. I want to know what the main characters saw.
I want to see what the alien’s ship looks like. I can’t wait to travel this
whole strange and thrilling journey with them. I am going to be on pins and
needles until this one releases, let me tell you.
5 - The Wrong Missy (5/13)
Production/Distribution: Happy
Madison Productions, Netflix, QC Entertainment
Director: Tyler Spindel
Writers: Chris Pappas, Kevin
Barnett
Actors: Lauren Lapkus, Sarah
Chalke, David Spade, Molly Sims, Nick Swardson, Geoff Pierson, John Farley,
Vanilla Ice, Candace Smith, Chris Witaske, Chris Titone, Rob Schneider
Genre: Comedy, Romance
Rated: Unrated
Length: 89 minutes
IMDb Blurb: A guy meets the woman of his dreams and invites her to his company's corporate retreat, but realizes he sent the invite to the wrong person.
It’s a David Spade (The Do-Over,
The Mayor, Father of the Year) comedy.
Honestly, I don’t
really have more of a reason that this not only made my list this month, but
ranked as high as it did. The trailer was hilarious. Spade has this gift of
taking what should be awkward and uncomfortable and turning it into comedy
gold. We need more laughter in the world right now.
4 - Inheritance (5/22)
Production/Distribution: Highland
Film Group, Ingenious Media, Southpaw Entertainment, White Comet Films,
Vertical Entertainment, Blue Swan Entertainment, Inopia Films
Director: Vaughn Stein
Writer: Matthew Kennedy
Actors: Lily Collins, Connie
Nielsen, Simon Pegg, Chace Crawford, Marque Richardson, Michael Beach, Chris
Gann, Joe Herrera, Christina DeRosa, Harrison Stone, Rebecca Adams, Mariyah
Francis, Lucas Alexander Ayoub, Jim E. Chandler, Patrick Warburton, Emily
Towles, Ashley Pereira, John Flanagan
Genre: Drama, Mystery,
Thriller
Rated: Unrated
Length: Unknown
IMDb Blurb: A patriarch of a
wealthy and powerful family suddenly passes away, leaving his wife and daughter
with a shocking secret inheritance that threatens to unravel and destroy their
lives.
I have no idea how I’d react if something like this happened to me.
There are so many among the cast that I really enjoy. Though I’d have
to say most-transformed for this role would be Simon Pegg (Ready Player One, Terminal, The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance). He had to spend 6 months getting in shape for his role. I am dying to know who
he is in relation to the prominent family in the story. The trailer snared me
with his character’s promise of truth and I am sure that I will watch the movie
with bated breath to see if this convoluted chess game leads to the answers.
3 - How to Build a Girl (5/8)
Production/Distribution: Film4,
Lionsgate, Monumental Pictures, IFC Films, Tango Entertainment, Front Row
Filmed Entertainment, flag
IMDb Blurb: The novel charts
the journey of teenager Johanna Morrigan (Beanie Feldstein), who reinvents
herself as Dolly Wilde: fast-talking, lady sex-adventurer, moves to London, and
gets a job as music critic in the hope of saving her poverty stricken family in
Wolverhampton.
There’s something magical about this story. Everyone likes to think we
can reinvent ourselves if need be – makeover shows are all the rage.
Every teen movie worth its salt in the 90s included a makeover scene. We all
want to be able to transform into our best selves – especially when we’re
growing up and striking out on our own.
This is a story that takes that notion to a bit of extreme. It looks
witty and like a wild ride.
Back to that magic thing. I really want to know if the lead character
is certifiable or just has a massively active imagination – she talks to
pictures on her wall that animate like in Harry Potter’s world.
2 - Valley Girl (5/8)
Production/Distribution: Sneak
Preview Productions, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, United Artists Releasing, Orion
Classics
Director: Rachel Goldenberg
Writers: Amy Talkington,
Andrew Lane, Wayne Crawford
Actors: Peyton List, Jessica
Rothe, Mae Whitman, Chloe Bennet, Jessie Ennis, Logan Paul, Ashleigh Murray,
Alicia Silverstone, Judy Greer, Camila Morrone, Josh Whitehouse, Jessie Ennis,
Mary Neely, Rob Huebel, Josh Fadem, Alex MacNicoll, Allyn Rachel, Heidi
Holicker, Mario Revolori, Danny Ramirez, Andrew Kai, Kc Monnie, Chris Tavarez,
Dan Thiel, Alex Lewis, Chrystall Friedemann, Nicholas Azarian, Leo Lam, Kurt
Koehler, Connor Williams
Genre: Comedy, Musical,
Romance
Rated: PG-13
Length: Unknown
IMDb Blurb: Set to a new
wave '80s soundtrack, a pair of young lovers from different backgrounds defy
their parents and friends to stay together. A musical adaptation of the 1983
film.
Alright, I realize this might be controversial to some – because it’s
another reboot or remake. This is, in fact, one of those re-do projects that I
never even knew we needed until I saw the trailer.
I am hooked.
For anyone that hasn’t run off screaming into the distance, I’m glad
you’re still here. Let me share with you what makes my giddy heart go
fluttering over this one.
First, it’s the 80s. I am always head-over-heels for
80s nostalgia.
Next, it’s a musical. The singing and dancing looked pretty epic
from the trailer perspective – and one of my favorite 80s songs was right there
in it. This feels like something along the lines of Rock of Ages (2012) but in
an adaptation of a different story.
It’s a tale as old as time – star-crossed lovers from different
socio-economic backgrounds fighting against the class system, and their parents, to be together.
We would have been able to see this film on big screens years ago if Logan
Paul’s (The Thinning, The Space Between
Us, Foursome) antics hadn’t gotten the movie shelved in time-out until the
heat around his name died down. I’m still shaking my head over all that – but even
so, the rest of the cast and production team for this film deserve to have their
work seen regardless of individuals spoiling the party for everyone.
I can't wait, and I'm glad this one is releasing early in the month.
1 - Scoob! (5/15)
Production/Distribution: Atlas
Entertainment, Primate Pictures, Warner Animation Group, Warner Bros. Pictures,
1492 Pictures, Warner Bros., Karo Premiere, Warner Bros. Singapore, Kinomania
Director: Tony Cervone
Writers: Matt Lieberman,
Adam Sztykiel, Eyal Podell, Joe Ruby, Ken Spears, Jonathon E. Stewart, Jack
Donaldson, Derek Elliott
Actors: Amanda Seyfried, Ken
Jeong, Will Forte, Kiersey Clemons, Zac Efron, Tracy Morgan, Gina Rodriguez,
Frank Welker, Mark Wahlberg, Jason Isaacs, Iain Armitage, Pierce Gagnon,
Mckenna Grace. Ariana Greenblatt
Genre: Adventure, Animation,
Comedy
Rated: PG
Length: 94 minutes
IMDb Blurb: Scooby and the
gang face their most challenging mystery ever: a plot to unleash the ghost dog
Cerberus upon the world. As they race to stop this dogpocalypse, the gang
discovers that Scooby has an epic destiny greater than anyone imagined.
It’s Scooby and the gang. What more of a reason do you need? This is a
beloved set of characters that I’ve grown up with. The lovable mutt and his
Mystery Inc friends have been around my entire life. They’re a
pop-culture staple.
I am a bit bummed that they re-cast most of the voices. That’s the only
negative I see here. Otherwise, I’ve enjoyed pretty much any incarnation of
this bunch of meddling kids and their dog.
You can bet I said ‘rut-roh Raggy’
when I saw that we have to wait until mid-month to watch it.
