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Streaming
Service: Amazon Prime Video Movie
Name/Year:
3 from Hell(2019) Genre:
Action, Horror Length:
1h
55min Rating:
R Director:
Rob Zombie Writer:
Rob Zombie Actors:
Sheri Moon Zombie, Bill Moseley, Sid Haig, Jeff Daniel Phillips,
Richard Brake, Emilio Rivera, Dee Wallace, Clint Howard, Daniel
Roebuck, Wade Williams, Sean Whalen, Danny Trejo, Barry Bostwick,
Pancho Moler, Chaz Bono
IMDb
Blurb: After barely surviving
prison, the demented Firefly clan go on the run, unleashing a whole
new wave of murder, madness and mayhem.
Cat’s
Point of View: 3 From Hell is a little more
“mainstream” than most of the other movies in our Killer
Countdown, but it can't be denied that its writer and director Rob
Zombie (Halloween II, 31, The Munsters) is known for work that
is bonkers, chilling, provocative, and darkly comedic. What more
could you want for the spooky season, right?
This movie is the final chapter in a
trilogy that also includes House of 1000 Corpses (2003) and
The Devil's Rejects (2005). Both films and their events are
heavily referenced throughout 3 from Hell. If you haven't seen
those other films first, I'm afraid you'll get quite a lot of
spoilers as well as likely not quite get all the...dare I say,
nuance, of these psychotic family members.
I will have to admit that I fall
somewhat in the latter category, as I am afraid I have been
procrastinating on watching The Devil's Rejects. I have seen
the initial movie in this trilogy, however, so I wasn't entirely
lost. I will say, however, that there's enough mocumentary-type
build-up in the beginning of the film that it did generally fill in
some of the blanks.
3 From Hell doesn't hit as many
hardcore horror notes as House of 1000 Corpses did. It plays
out more like an action thriller with horror elements of the
occasional spattering of blood and gore. I wasn't necessarily
disappointed with this, though it was not exactly what I was
expecting. I had been hoping for something a little more chilling
than this bonkers cross between trippy, gritty, and brutal dark comedy and mocumentary. I
liked it all the same.
Aside from the core cast members of
Zombie's wife and muse Sheri Moon Zombie (Toolbox Murders,
Halloween, The Haunted World of El Superbeasto), Bill Moseley
(Prisoners of the Ghostland, Hayride to Hell, Stream), Jeff
Daniel Phillips (The Gifted,. The Munsters, Christmas Bloody
Christmas), and the late Sid Haig (Kill Bill: Vol. 2,
Halloween, Bone Tomahawk), there were quite a few that I was
excited to see here.
Though, before I get into those
familiar faces, I must note that I feel that this film was a little
lacking for the absence of more plot involving Haig's Captain
Spaulding. Unfortunately, Haig's declining health required a bit of
re-tooling of the script, and I feel that even though something felt
missing that they gave him a proper cinematic send-off. It was the
right call, however, as he, in a sad twist of fate, passed away
within a week or so of the film's release.
Zombie was able to work in Richard
Brake (Game of Thrones, Bingo Hell, Barbarian) to round out
the titular trio, without Spaulding available, and I think his energy
was a great addition to this ensemble. Brake's most memorable roles
tend to be his unhinged villains. He fit right in here with this
completely unhinged family dynamic. Dee Wallace (The Lords of
Salem, 9-1-1, Stream) can actually be found in quite a few of
Zombie's movies – quite the juxtaposition to her earlier work in
the genre and even as the wholesome mom in E.T. The
Extraterrestrial (1982). I was rather amused that none other than
the O.G. Brad Majors, Barry Bostwick (American Pie Presents:
Girls' Rules, Love by Drowning, Daruma), was offering narration.
Clint Howard's (The Funhouse Massacre, Solo: A Star Wars Story,
The Old Way) character both made me giggle and feel the pangs of
remorse for my amusement at his character's tragedy. My daughter and
I both practically pointed to the screen and called out “MACHETE!”
when we saw Danny Trejo (American Underdog, Big City Greens, Seven
Cemeteries). Last, but certainly not least, we really enjoyed
seeing Emilio Rivera (Sons of Anarchy, Mayans M.C., Dante's Hotel)
as well.
While 3 From Hell wasn't exactly
what I was expecting, it was crazy fun that especially highlighted
the extreme level of batshit of Sheri Moon Zombie's character, Baby
Firefly. The actual insane gleeful abandon of that character drives
the plot and actually offers a few genuinely touching moments.
I can't say that 3 From Hell is
a movie that I would want to return to in the future, it did make me
want to go back and watch the film in the middle of the events, The
Devil's Rejects. If you're a fan of Zombie's work and the other
movies in this trilogy, I would definitely recommend giving this one
a shot to round out your experience, if you haven't already. If
you're new to Zombie's work, then maybe start at the beginning first.
Either way, you're in for a wild ride.
Actors:Frank
Grillo, Josh Hutcherson, Mekhi Phifer, Eden Brolin, Melissa Leo, Andy
Garcia, Beau Knapp, Juan Pablo Raba
Lionsgate
Blurb: Gunner, a special forces
soldier who has witnessed the darkest side of country and combat, is
forced back into the field of battle to save his niece, who is being
held in South America. As the fight intensifies, Gunner and his team
discover that her disappearance is part of a corrupt private
operation that hits way too close to home. Acclaimed actors Andy
Garcia, Melissa Leo, Josh Hutcherson, and Frank Grillo star in a
nonstop action-thriller that will leave you breathless.
Frank Grillo as “Gunner” in the action drama LONG GONE HEROES, a Lionsgate release. Photo courtesy of Lionsgate.
Cat’s
Point of View:
I've been looking forward to watching
Long Gone Heroes. While it hadn't really been on my radar
prior to putting September's Top 20
article together, after watching the trailer I knew had to place this
movie on the list.
So the big questions here are simple to
get out of the way first. Did I enjoy it? Yes, I really did. Was Long
Gone Heroes everything I expected it to be following the teaser
clips in the trailer? Not exactly, but not in a way that made me mad
about it. I'll elaborate.
In my article entry for Long Gone
Heroes, I explained (and you probably have seen me say this
before) that I am quite fond of the adrenaline rush from action
movies. I had connected to this film's trailer a bit more than the
other Frank Grillo (What If...?, Lights Out, Hounds of War)
movie coming out this month, and was anticipating a compelling story
layered into some special-forces style infiltrate and extraction
action.
[L-R] Juan Pablo Raba as “Guapo,” Frank Grillo as “Gunner,” and Josh Hutcherson as “David” in the action drama LONG GONE HEROES, a Lionsgate release. Photo courtesy of Lionsgate.
I did get that to a degree, but perhaps
just not with the same combat quotient that I expected. That's not
saying that it was wrong, or bad, though. Long Gone Heroes was
more of a long burn of intensity with sporadic explosive action.
There was some solid close-quarters combat combined with stealth,
sniping, and a lot of gunfire exchange. Underlying that was family
drama on multiple fronts and humanitarian gravitas. The plight of the
Venezuelan people and the level of crime and chaos might have seemed
a little over-the-top to some, but that country's real-world
conditions have been spiraling downward consistently in recent years
with political unrest, shortages of basic and necessary resources,
and steady economic deterioration. The events within Long Gone
Heroes were actually solidly believable.
The trailer seemed to allude to a more
fast-paced scenario, so anyone going in expecting that might be a
little frustrated if they're the impatient type. As audiences, we've
been spoiled by this genre type delving into a quick-time and
hard-hitting level of nonstop edge-of-the-seat action such as
Extraction (2020) and its sequel. Long Gone Heroes does
have intensity – it's just different and not quite at the same
level.
I will also say that the story
transitioned into the rescue mission to an epic soundtrack with
Pantera's “Cowboy from
Hell.” I was rather giddy about that.
While I'm talking about content within
this film, however, I feel I need to address the R rating to parents
out there. This is not going to be one of the action movies you'd
want to show your kids. The rating isn't solely based on violence and
language. There are some rather graphic scenes of nudity and sexual
content. These come in small flashes as part of settings, rather than
any sort of drawn out part of the story. It's an ambiance thing, but
it's still present to the point that you wouldn't want young kids to
be watching this on their own. These scenes would be easy to do a
quick 'cover the eyes' maneuver for, however.
Andy Garcia as “Roman” in the action drama LONG GONE HEROES, a Lionsgate release. Photo courtesy of Lionsgate.
Let's talk cast.
Grillo was everything I'd anticipated
from the trailer, and as an action veteran. I also love that he's not
all surly expressions, waving guns, throwing military hand signs as
well as punches. I continue to be appreciative to the nuanced
performances he can bring to the table. There's one scene where his
eye ticks in reaction to something told to him and it was glorious
that he got that that level of immersion to his character. I'm no
Hollywood professional, but I know very few people who can achieve an
eye-tick on command and make it look natural. I continue to also be
impressed with Josh Hutcherson's (57 Seconds, Five Nights at
Freddy's, The Beekeeper) range and enjoyed his character's
contribution to this story, as well.
Andy Garcia (Mamma Mia! Here We Go
Again, The Expendables 4, Pain Hustlers) and Mekhi Phifer (8
Mile, Frequency, The Supremes at Earl's All-You-Can-Eat) were
great as adversaries here – especially with their business-like and
heartless drive to accomplish their goals. I was really impressed
with Eden Brolin (Emerald City, Beyond, The Cleaner) and Beau
Knapp (Ida Red, The Bikeriders, Road House) also. I definitely
want to see more of their work, and will likely seek out some of
their existing projects to catch up on their performances, too.
[L-R] Eden Brolin as “Julia” and Juan Pablo Raba as “Guapo” in the action drama LONG GONE HEROES, a Lionsgate release. Photo courtesy of Lionsgate.
Juan Pablo Raba (Agents of
S.H.I.E.L.D., Narcos, The Marksman) was able to round out this
cast of battle brothers with some serious authenticity for his role.
His South American heritage really paid off in making things flow
smoothly. Though, I am aware that his country of origin, Argentina,
is on the opposite end of the continent from Venezuela. To my
layman's eyes, it really gave him an edge here. Finally, I always
seem to grin when I see Melissa Leo (The Equalizer, Novitiate,
King Ivory) on the screen, because her role as Sally from
Oblivion (2013) pops into my head with that sweet as sugar
southern drawl. This role was nothing like that, and shouldn't be
compared … but that's what my brain does sometimes. I could feel
the desperation of her character even if I wasn't 100% immersed in
her performance.
All told, I enjoyed my experience
watching Long Gone Heroes and I wouldn't be upset if I ended
up watching it again. If you're a fan of the genre, it's definitely
worth giving a shot.
Long Gone Heroes will hit
theater screens as well as releasing to Digital and On Demand Friday,
September 20th, 2024.
Melissa Leo as “Olivia” in the action drama LONG GONE HEROES, a Lionsgate release. Photo courtesy of Lionsgate.
Movie
Name/Year: Continue
(2024) Genre: Drama Length: 1h 52min Rating: R Director: Nadine Crocker Writer: Nadine Crocker Actors: Nadine Crocker, Shiloh
Fernandez, Emily Deschanel, Lio Tipton, Kat Foster, Annapurna Sriram
Blurb: Writer-director-star Nadine
Crocker’s tour-de-force of confessional filmmaking dissects mental health
struggles with the raw authenticity of a true survivor. Convinced she’s fated
to walk the same troubled path as her father, Dean (Crocker) suffers a major
mental health episode and is committed to a rehabilitation facility. Once
confined, Dean shudders through the agonies of recovery, and bravely comes out
the other side armed with a defense against the darkness, summed up in one
word: Continue.
Cat’s
Point of View: Watching Continue
was a profound experience. I have been
battling my way back from my second run with Covid.
It's been slow going, but I'm steadily on the uptick. I wasn't sure I would
make it through the full-length of a 2-hour movie, much less remain
riveted to the screen the way I was. There was no
snoozing here, just some significant tears and subsequent
nose-blowing. This single-genre drama kept my attention from beginning to end.
It was a heart-wrenching rollercoaster that I identified with on a painfully
deep level. First, let me
stress that while Continue focused on a girl who attempted to take her
own life, this movie did not glorify the act in any way, shape, or form. That
is always a concern with projects coming out of Hollywood that touch on this
sort of subject matter. You don't want it to show that everything is shiny or
that there isn't a high price to pay for everyone involved – from the family
and friends of someone who has died in that manner to even people who only
briefly have touched their lives. It's a ripple effect of pain. Continue handled the topic in a way that set it above Girl, Interrupted (1999), which tackled a
similar story in its day. I'm not knocking the older film, but I am saying that
it was clear that Continue came from a more genuine and raw place – and
out of hope that it might make a difference.
Nadine Crocker (The
Amityville Haunting, Cabin Fever, Desperation Road) might not be a
household name today, but she could be. I felt every emotion along with her, and
my heart broke for the story Continue told. It was gritty and pulled no
punches, and Crocker was the perfect casting to bring it to the screen– because
it was her story. She lived it and now wants to pay the help she received
forward through this film and her Continue On Foundation. The fact that the
“i” in the title on the posters is shown as a semicolon is no accident. Some who have made an attempt on their own lives but survived sometimes get a tattoo of that specific punctuation mark. It represents the continuation of a
sentence that would have otherwise ended, making it an excellent symbol for
surviving the darkness and moving beyond it. I've struggled
with depression most of my life. It is, indeed, genetic. It hurts in every cell
of my being that it was something I passed along to my daughter. I never wanted
to remove myself from the planet, but I can understand that deep level of
despair. I am thankful that I was given tools to work through day-to-day
because of therapy and my support system. I can't stress
enough that someone is always available to talk through that darkness. If you don't feel like you know anyone you can reach out to personally, you can dial a hotline (such as 988). Mental health is
absolutely part of overall health, just as much as getting your eyes checked or an annual physical. It's time we break down the stigmas
that surround these issues. Continue will be in Theaters, On Digital, and On Demand
September 6, 2024.
Selina’s
Point of View: Continue was an extremely difficult watch for me. I
knew it was going to be about suicide, and I figured it would have a kind of Girl
Interrupted (1999) feel to it. I braced myself, but I had no idea what I
was in for. Continue was incredible. It’s tied to a mental health movement
through the Continue On Organization, an organization devoted to making mental health care more accessible. Mental health services can be the difference between life and death for someone who is truly struggling. Whether it’s found in the form of a place they can stay and be monitored or therapy sessions once a week, it doesn’t matter. There is help for everyone somewhere.
Making it affordable and accessible is extremely important. I positioned Cat’s review of Continue first for a reason. Hers is a review of the film, and we are, at heart, a review site. Since I wholeheartedly agree with her review, I will let that stand and instead share my story. When I was younger, I had a lot of self-destructive tendencies. I’ve
referenced them in previous reviews and likely will again. I was
a teen who was angry at the world, and I had to go through years of therapy to
help me mature into the adult I became. The story I go into here is not that. I’m
going to offer my perspective of a time much more recent. Although my marriage was good in the beginning, it spiraled out of
control over time. We didn’t communicate well and were rarely on the same page.
When we lived in Brooklyn, it was easier for me to handle because I was
surrounded by my support base. It wasn’t a huge group but enough to
offer respite when things got bad. The plan was always to move to Long Island. It might not sound
like a far distance, but it was two to three hours away during the daytime, and
I was just learning how to drive after I had my daughter. I wasn’t comfortable
on the highways yet, and none of my loved ones drove. My delivery was rough, and the months after were more so. People
from his family opted to not respect our wishes to get acclimated to our new
family dynamic alone and even once suggested that he just ‘throw a blanket over
me’ while I was recovering so they could come to see the baby. Like I was a piece
of furniture. Eventually, I learned that even though I was at my weakest point, I would have to fake being all right. It seemed that no one was going to
have my back. So, I put on a fake smile that wound up being less than temporary
as I was forced to compromise more and more of what I needed because of what
he and his family wanted. As time passed, we moved to a bigger, more comfortable house. We
were closer to his support group, but things only got worse. Away from my
people, there was no break from the worst of it, and I grew increasingly
isolated. Covid hit soon after, and we were trapped. That was when I started
therapy. We fought more constantly, to the point where I would go to hide in my office, and he would chase after me, screaming through the door. I rarely wanted to leave that room unless it was to be with my daughter. That’s how it stayed—for years. We’d visit Brooklyn, or my best friend would come visit us. But
the smile on my face was only real during that time. It always faltered once I
was alone again. One night, without going too deep into detail, we fought so badly that he came after me in anger in front of our daughter. After that, we
stopped sleeping in the same room. I made him go to anger management. I felt thoroughly trapped. I had nowhere to go, and my self-esteem
had been destroyed over the years of isolation. I didn’t think anyone cared.
That no one would be there for me even if I did go. I resigned myself to what my life had become. I’d spent so long
slicing off pieces of who I was to try and accommodate him and his family that
I barely remembered myself anymore. I figured I would stay until my daughter
was old enough to be on her own, and then whatever happened would happen. I did
not believe I would survive past that. I didn’t think I wanted to. My therapist and I would meet once a week. I’d tell her how low I was getting each time and what had happened that week. My disappointment. Our miscommunications.
The anger growing. I was seeing the old me, but not the one that had healed
from the past. The version of me that had self-destructed when I was younger.
That believed she wasn’t worth anything. She kept me from sinking all the way to the bottom. To a place I
wouldn’t have come back from. She helped me remain hopeful and try to find what
I wanted. Divorce began to tease at the edges of my mind.
One day, my friend Mike called to ask me if I thought he should move in with Rich, someone from our past. I hadn’t heard Rich’s name in a long time and was confused at first. We’d dated back in the day, and I remembered semi-living with him for a short time then. I advised Mike to do it; I knew he would be a good roommate. Move-in day came, and we all worked to get Mike packed up. I drove
Rich back to the apartment, and we got to talk. He was going through a divorce after about a decade, and I asked
him the most important question on my mind: “Are you happy?” He told me he was, and we discussed what was happening while I
parked. “Why didn’t you call me?” he asked, telling me he would have
given me somewhere to go. I told him that I thought he wouldn’t answer. “I don’t care how long it’s been,” he said, “If you need
something, you call me, and I will help. We’ve known each other for how long? I’ll
always be there for you.” I burst into tears. For the first time in a long time, it wasn’t
out of misery. It was because I realized I wasn’t as alone as I thought.
That the space and the time and the people I’d been surrounded with that had
convinced me no one would be there for me… they were all wrong. I had people.
People who cared. I started going to Brooklyn on the weekends not long after that. I
rediscovered my support system and asked for a divorce of my own. Not once after that conversation did I have a second thought about
moving on. Without my therapist keeping me from taking that last step down a dark road and losing myself in despair, I wouldn’t have had the strength to process any of it. I’d still be locked in my office, pretending I don’t exist
and waiting for a day when I could just… go. Instead, I’m moving into a new
apartment, surrounded by friends – new and old. I’m dating Rich and learning to
live this brand-new, happier life. My daughter is coming back to Brooklyn with
me, and she’s meeting a whole new version of me. A happy version that she’d
never known before. The version of me she deserves. There is a depth of depression when you’re in the wrong place. You
know it every day. You feel it every day. You don’t belong, and you can’t imagine
finding that place where you do. You watch movies, read books, go to weddings
and parties where you watch people consistently find that place for themselves
and wind up wondering why you’re defective. It makes you feel even more alone, like a puzzle piece that slipped inside the wrong box. It’s easy to give up. If you stick it out, though, one day, things can change. Suddenly, you’re in a new place where all the pieces fit just right and build a picture
of happiness that feels so very good. No one just snaps out of it alone, though. You need a support base
and, especially if you’re isolated, sometimes the best start is a professional.
Having access to that professional is extremely important. If you have your own rock-bottom story that you’ve come back from,
putting money or effort toward something like the Continue On Organization
could pay it forward to the next person scrambling out of their hole. If you are at the deepest point of your darkness now, know that
there are people who want to help you. It gets better.
Trust
the Dice: Selina’s Rating – 5/5 Trust
the Dice: Cat’s Rating – 5/5 P.S. The US suicide helpline: 988. The UK suicide helpline: 0800 689 5652. China psychological assistance:
024-23813000 Movie
Trailer:
Movie
Name/Year: The
Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare(2024)
Genre:
Drama, Action, Comedy, War
Length:
2h
Rating:
R
Director:
Guy Ritchie
Writers:
Guy Ritchie, Paul Tamasy, Eric Johnson, Arash Amel, Damien Lewis
Based
On: Book "The
Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare: How Churchill's Secret Warriors
Set Europe Ablaze and Gave Birth to Modern Black Ops"
by Damien Lewis
Actors:
Henry Cavill, Alan Ritchson, Alex Pettyfer, Eiza González, Babs
Olusanmokun, Cary Elwes, Hero Fiennes Tiffin, Henry Golding, Rory
Kinnear, Til Schweiger, Freddie Fox, James Wilby, Henrique Zaga,
Danny Sapani, Matthew Hawksley, Simon Paisley Day, Mark Oosterveen,
Victor Oshin, Alessandro Babalola, Orshuff Emmanuel Mele, Tim Seyfi,
George Asprey, Luca Marrocco, Paul Antony-Barber, Bikiya Graham
Douglas, Nikolas Salmon
IMDb
Blurb: The British military
recruits a small group of highly skilled soldiers to strike against
German forces behind enemy lines during World War II.
Cat’s
Point of View:
When I tell you I was excited to watch
The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare leading up to its April
2024 release, it's, in fact, a gross understatement. This movie was
one of the small handful in recent years I was practically bouncing
off the walls with the anticipation. There was never even a question
of where it would land on my personal Top 20 list that month. This
production about these marvelous military mad men was absolutely my
#1 pick.
It didn't surprise me that Selina had
The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare pegged as her own #1
entry. What did give me a moment of pause, and made me giggle, was
that her blurb that month fairly echoed my own thoughts on the film
almost verbatim.
We were absolutely here for a movie
where we got to see Superman kill Nazis with gleeful abandon.
Yes, yes, it's clear that Henry Cavill (The Man from U.N.C.L.E.,
Enola Holmes, The Witcher) was not actually in the red & blue
super suit while gunning down Nazis, but ever since Man of Steel
(2013) he has etched himself into my heart and personal cinematic
landscape as the caped embodiment of the symbol of hope – and one
that the late Christopher Reeve (1952-2004) would be proud of. (Of
course, except when sporting long white hair, but that's an entirely
different scenario. I digress...)
Watching interviews of Cavill pretty
much, if low-key, geeking out over the actual history behind this
band of men that thwarted the 3rd Reich's Atlantic U-boat
campaign throught Operation Postmaster was one of the most
wholesomely joyous things ever. The man who was presumptively in line
for playing 007, himself, ended up in the role of the man that
inspired Ian Fleming to create James Bond in the first place. In one
interview, Alex Pettyfer (Magic Mike, Endless Love, Back Roads)
explained that Cavill also pretty much “saved his life” while
shooting this film. Pettyfer had a near misstep and loss of balance
while transitioning between boats while filming and attributes Cavill
for hauling him back to safety in the nick of time.
Okay, okay... enough rambling about
that. You get the point. The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare
simply gave me so many reasons to fangirl and do a lot of geeking out
of my own.
Cavill and Pettyfer weren't the only
names among the cast I was excited to see. Alan Ritchson (Titans,
Fast X, Reacher) playing Anders Lassen was another source of joy
from this production. It was glorious to watch him rack up possibly
the largest kill-count in close-combat with Nazis in the movie, with
his character's rage-fueled glee. Then, of course, Cary Elwes’
(Saw, The Princess Bride, BlackBerry) was magnificent with his
wry delivery, and Rory Kinnear (Penny Dreadful, Skyfall, Black
Mirror) was an excellent choice as Churchill. Hero Fiennes
Tiffin (After, The Silencing, The Woman King), Henry Golding
(Crazy Rich Asians, The Gentlemen, Last Christmas) , and Til
Schweiger (Inglourious Basterds, Atomic Blonde, Charlie
Countryman) were also on point. Eiza González (Baby Driver, I
Care A Lot, Godzilla vs. Kong) was an excellent choice for this
WWII badass lady of mystery and espionage. Babs Olusanmokun (Dune:
Part One, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, The Book of Clarence)
phenomenally delivered his character's measured and seemingly calm
demeanor – while being no more peaceful than a body of water with a
deceptively still, glassy surface but powerful and deadly currents
underneath.
When Guy Ritchie (Snatch, Wrath of
Man, The Man from U.N.C.L.E.) is involved with a project, I just
expect a really good viewing experience – and The Ministry of
Ungentlemanly Warfare was no exception. The banter was on point,
and the comedy was expertly woven in as Ritchie is known for. It was
all seamless and felt right in the moment. There were never any
forced laughs or any that didn't fit the scenes. This is a good
example of why people just say “Yes” when Ritchie calls them,
before they even know what he's pitching.
When you pair that with the experience
and production value that Producer Jerry Bruckheimer (Armageddon,
Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End, Top Gun: Maverick)
brings to the table, it becomes pure movie magic. For example, all of
the boat shots used for this movie, for the most part, were shot on
actual boats out on the water and not on a sound-stage. It brought an
extra layer of realism with the practical effects, and helped the
story become more immersive.
Action lovers have plenty to enjoy here
from hand-to-hand, lots of gun-fighting, plenty of explosions, and
even a fair bit of archery.
While quite a lot of the movies based
in the history of WWII tend to be super serious, The Ministry of
Ungentlemanly Warfare manages to bring an edge of levity and an
extra helping of excitement to its task of bringing this slice of the
actual events from the last World War to the big screen without being
disrespectful. The story was taken straight from Churchill's
declassified documents and brought to the public eye and attention
through a historian and former war-reporter's book – and now The
Ministry of UngentlemanlyWarfare adapted that for the screen. Of
course, there's likely to be some wiggle-room in the historical
accuracy of some of the events for the sake of cinematic license, but
that doesn't change the core of the story based in fact.
If you are a fan of any of the cast,
production team, or genres I've mentioned here at length, my
recommendation is to watch The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare
as soon as you can get your hands on it – and you likely won't be
disappointed.
Rotten
Tomatoes Critic Score – 69%
Rotten
Tomatoes Audience Score –
93%
Metascore
– 55%
Metacritic
User Score –
6.6/10
IMDB
Score –
6.8/10
Trust
the Dice: Cat’s Rating – 5/5
P.S. - While there isn't a mid or post-credits scene for this movie, there is a segment where the real people involved with Operation Postmaster as shown in this movie have an homage with their photo and a small epilogue blurb for each citing what happened for them afterwards.
A Little Lagniappe ("something extra") - You can visit the official website for the movie here. You can also watch the Extra interview where Cavill and crew discuss making the movie and includes Pettyfer's description of how Cavill saved him.
10 – Talk to Me
(7/28) Production/Distribution:
Bankside Films, Causeway Films, Head Gear Films, Metrol Technology, Screen
Australia, Talk to Me Holdings, The South Australian Film Corporation, A24 Director: Danny
Philippou, Michael Philippou Writer: Bill
Hinzman, Danny Philippou, Daley Pearson Actors: Sophie
Wilde, Joe Bird, Alexandra Jensen, Otis Dhanji, Miranda Otto, Marcus Johnson,
Alexandria Steffensen, Zoe Terakes, Chris Alosio, Ari McCarthy Genre: Horror,
Thriller Rated: R Length: 1h 34min IMDb Blurb: When a group of friends discover how to conjure
spirits using an embalmed hand, they become hooked on the new thrill, until one
of them goes too far and unleashes terrifying supernatural forces. I find myself completely hypnotized by the trailer for Talk
to Me. The visuals are terrifying. Even parts that would otherwise come
across as basic jump scares feel like there’s more to them. The part where one
of the characters is repeating ‘run’ is tense as hell. The only reason I don’t have this higher on my list is because
there’s a small red flag in the beginning. The voices don’t entirely sync up to
the lips at one point. It could be nothing, just an editing mishap, but it
could also be a sign of those in charge trying to hide a sub-par script. I’m
hoping that’s not it, because it seems like a solid horror flick otherwise. 9 – Insidious:
The Red Door (7/7) Production/Distribution:
Alliance, Blumhouse Productions, Screen Gems, Sony Pictures Entertainment
(SPE), Stage 6 Films, Columbia Pictures Director: Patrick
Wilson Writer: Scott
Teems, Leigh Whannell Actors: Rose
Byrne, Patrick Wilson, Ty Simpkins, Hiam Abbass, Lin Shaye, Andrew Astor,
Juliana Davies, Sinclair Daniel Genre: Horror,
Mystery, Thriller Rated: PG-13 Length: 1h 47min IMDb Blurb: The Lamberts 10 years after the last installment,
as Dalton begins college. I’ve never really gotten into the Insidious films.
Every time one comes out, the trailer looks amazing, but then when it’s time to
sit down and watch something there’s always a different movie that draws my
attention more. I think what’s kept me away from Insidious is the
belief that it’s connected to the Conjuring universe, which I’ve just
been corrected on. So, I think it’s time for me to sit down and really watch
the rest of the series in anticipation of The Red Door. The mystery aspect of Insidious: The Red Door is more
inviting to me than I thought it would be. The trailer engages me enough to make
me want to know what’s going on. It’s impressive, considering my ambivalence up
until now. This is, allegedly, the last installment of Insidious.
You know how Hollywood goes, though, if it’s successful enough that could be up
for debate. From what the trailer is showing, it may go down that route. 8 – They Cloned
Tyrone (7/14) Production/Distribution:
Federal Films, MACRO, Made With Love Media, Netflix Director: Juel
Taylor Writer: Tony
Rettenmaier, Juel Taylor Actors: Jamie
Foxx, John Boyega, Teyonah Parris, David Alan Grier, Kiefer Sutherland, J.
Alphonse Nicholson, James Moses Black Genre: Action,
Comedy, Mystery Rated: R Length: 2h 2min IMDb Blurb: A series of eerie events thrusts an unlikely trio
onto the trail of a nefarious government conspiracy in this pulpy mystery
caper. They Cloned Tyrone is going to be one of the funniest
movies out there. It has a stunning cast and a fun plot. The idea of people being cloned due to some government conspiracy,
while someone with the comedic timing of Jamie Foxx (Strays, Day Shift, Just
Mercy) is running around is hilarious. It’s still also topical, especially
with the history of non-consensual experimentation on people of color and other
minorities. To be fair, I’d have added They Cloned Tyrone to the
list just with the excitement of seeing Foxx, Teyonah Parris (Candyman,
Charm City Kings, Chi-Raq), and David Alan Grier (Joe Pickett, The Cool
Kids, Sprinter) work off each other. It’s going to be a killer film. 7 – Bird Box
Barcelona (7/14) Production/Distribution:
Chris Morgan Productions, Dylan Clark Productions, Netflix Studios, Nostromo
Pictures, Netflix Director: David
Pastor, Àlex Pastor Writer: David
Pastor, Àlex Pastor Actors: Georgina
Campbell, Mario Casas, Diego Calva, Michelle Jenner, Patrick Criado, Leonardo
Sbaraglia Genre: Horror,
Mystery, Sci-Fi Rated: Unrated Length: 1h 50min IMDb Blurb: After an entity of mysterious origin annihilates
the world's population causing those who observe it to take their lives,
Sebastián and his daughter begin their own great adventure of survival in
Barcelona. The first Bird Box (2028) was a lot of fun. Much like
A Quiet Place (2018), it robbed the characters of one of their senses and
put them in a dangerous world. And, despite the similarities, they did wind up being
two very different movies. Not showing the big bad at all was one of the best things Bird
Box did. It allowed audiences to use their imagination to create something terrifying
for them. It’s a strategy that is too often not taken in horror films, and it’s
one that works. I hope that Bird Box Barcelona continues down the same
road, allowing the antagonist creatures to remain a mystery. The biggest
mistake I believe they can make is to show us some kind of creature. No matter
how well done, it would remove some of the tension. Luckily, the trailer makes
it seem as though they will be taking that same route. I’m glad they’ve opted to go into a different story in a different
part of the world. As much as I’d enjoy checking in with the original story and
seeing how that’s going, there wasn’t a whole lot to do with that that wouldn’t
mess up what we’ve already gotten. Seeing a whole new perspective from new
characters was absolutely the way to go about it. There’s a bit of concern that the change in writer/director could
mean a change in tone, but Àlex and David Pastor (The Head, Self/less, Carriers)
are brilliant with apocalyptic stories. If there is a change in tone, it just might
be for the better. 6 – Cobweb (7/21) Production/Distribution:
Lionsgate, Media Capital Technologies, Point Grey Pictures, Vertigo
Entertainment Director: Samuel
Bodin Writer: Chris
Thomas Devlin Actors: Lizzy
Caplan, Antony Starr, Cleopatra Coleman, Luke Busey, Woody Norman Genre: Horror, Thriller Rated: Unrated Length: 1h 28min IMDb Blurb: Horror strikes when an eight-year-old boy named
Peter tries to investigate the mysterious knocking noises that are coming from
inside the walls of his house and a dark secret that his sinister parents kept
hidden from him. The trailer for Cobweb does a good job of showing
that it was inspired by The Telltale Heart. Obviously, it’s not the same
story, but the inspiration is apparent. What I love about the direction the film takes is that I can’t
predict it from the start. There are a lot of different ways it can go. All the
supernatural stuff could be real, or just part of the kid’s nightmares. The
parents could have a body hidden from someone they killed, or from someone the
kid killed. There are a ton of possible outcomes. That means it will be more
interesting to watch than the basic jump-scare fare that we’ve become used to. It seems like Cobweb will be a solid horror flick. 5 – Mission:
Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One (7/12) Production/Distribution:
Paramount Pictures, Skydance Media, New Republic Pictures, TC Productions, Bad
Robot Director: Christopher
McQuarrie Writer: Erik
Jendresen, Christopher McQuarrie Actors: Rebecca
Ferguson, Tom Cruise, Hayley Atwell, Pom Klementieff, Shea Whigham, Vanessa
Kirby, Rob Delaney, Simon Pegg, Cary Elwes, Ving Rhames Genre: Action,
Adventure, Thriller Rated: PG-13 Length: 2h 43min IMDb Blurb: Ethan Hunt and his IMF team must track down a
dangerous weapon before it falls into the wrong hands. I’m not much of a Mission Impossible (1996-)girl,
but you can’t write a Top 20 for movies coming out in July of 2023 without
acknowledging this one. Tom Cruise (Top Gun: Maverick, Edge of Tomorrow, Jack
Reacher) does all his own stunts and pours his heart and soul into each of these
films. He’s a talented guy, regardless of anything else. He never does anything
without doing it 100%, often to a fault. That does tend to make his movies
worth dropping the theater money on. If you’re a fan of the Mission Impossible films, this
is a must-see. Especially since it’s part one of what is supposed to be the
finale to the flicks. 4 – Joy Ride
(7/7) Production/Distribution:
Lionsgate, Point Grey Pictures Director: Adele
Lim Writer: Cherry
Chevapravatdumrong, Teresa Hsiao Actors: Stephanie
Hsu, Ashley Park, Sherry Cola, Sabrina Wu, David Denman, Meredith Hagner, Annie
Mumolo Genre: Comedy Rated: Unrated Length: 1h 35min IMDb Blurb: Follows four Asian-American friends as they bond
and discover the truth of what it means to know and love who you are, while
they travel through Asia in search of one of their birth mothers. What I thought would be a basic buddy comedy in the vein of Girls
Trip (2017) took a hell of a left turn in the trailer. Suddenly there are cocaine
mules and fake K-pop stars singing Cardi B. No doubt there’s going to be a bunch of cringe in Joy
Ride, which is not my favorite, but there’s also a lot of heartfelt story
as well. Aside from the story of friendship, there’s also the plot addition of
one of the main characters looking for answers in a homeland they never knew. That
has the potential to get extremely deep. Done right, it might even lead to some
ugly crying. Now, this is Adele Lim’s (Dynasty, Reign, Life Unexpected)
directorial debut, but she’s credited as a writer for some beloved flicks such
as Crazy Rich Asians (2018) and Raya and the Last Dragon (2021).
Being a good writer doesn’t necessarily make someone a good director, but I
have a lot of faith in her. She’s been gathering writing credits for just over
20 years, and I think she has the know-how to make her directorial debut shine. Both writers, Cherry Chevapravatdumrong (Awkwafina is
Nora from Queens, The Orville, Resident Alien) and Teresa Hsiao (Awkwafina
is Nora from Queens, American Dad!, We Bare Bears) have credits writing for
Family Guy (1999-). I know that’s not everybody’s humor, but I happen to
love the show. I feel like that gives me a clue as to what the majority of the
jokes will be like – and I’m here for it. I believe Joy Ride is going to strike a balance
between heartfelt and funny that will delight audiences. 3 – Haunted
Mansion (7/28) Production/Distribution:
Walt Disney Productions, Rideback, Walt Disney Pictures, Walt Disney Studios
Motion Pictures, Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment Director: Justin
Simien Writer: Katie
Dippold Actors: Jamie Lee
Curtis, Winona Ryder, Rosario Dawson, Jared Leto, Danny DeVito, Owen Wilson, Dan
Levy, LaKeith Stanfield, Tiffany Haddish, Hasan Minaj Genre: Comedy,
Drama, Family Rated: PG-13 Length: Unknown IMDb Blurb: A single mom named Gabbie hires a tour guide, a psychic,
a priest, and a historian to help exorcise her newly bought mansion after
discovering it is inhabited by ghosts. If you put LaKeith Stanfield (Sorry to Bother You, Uncut
Gems, Judas and the Black Messiah) in a movie, I’m going to see it. I don’t
know if I’ll enjoy the film, but I know from the jump that I’ll enjoy his part
in it. The man is brilliant. I’ve seen him take on films that are absolute
stinkers and still shine like the god-damn sun in them. After all, I fell in
love with his acting after watching Death Note (2017) which was
otherwise objectively bad. I must not have been the only one, because, since 2017, Stanfield
has been cast in some seriously amazing projects. To put it in perspective: he’s
been in 14 full-length feature films/TV shows since then and only 1 of them has
been deemed rotten on Rotten Tomatoes (by either audience or critics). That
means he has roughly a 93% success rate for his films. Clearly, either only the
best creators are interested in him – or, more likely, he chooses his projects
carefully. Either way, I will follow him to all the films he does. Blindly. Aside from Stanfield, they got Jamie Lee Curtis (Halloween,
Everything Everywhere All at Once, Knives Out), Winona Ryder (Stranger
Things, Destination Wedding, Beetlejuice), Rosario Dawson (Clerks III, The
Lego Batman Movie, Luke Cage), Danny DeVito (Matilda, It’s Always Sunny
in Philadelphia, Jumanji: The Next Level), Owen Wilson (Loki, Paint,
Marry Me), Dan Levy (Schitt’s Creek, Happiest Season, Degrassi: The Next
Generation), Tiffany Haddish (Like a Boss, Keanu, Night School), Hasan
Minhaj (The Daily Show, No Hard Feelings, Goatface), and more. It’s an
absolutely stacked cast. It just so happens that Haunted Mansion looks good. I’m
a little surprised there’s a PG-13 rating. The original Haunted Mansion
(2003) starred Eddie Murphy (Dreamgirls, Dolemite is my Name, Shrek) and
was undoubtedly made for kids. Then there was Muppets Haunted Mansion
(2021) which was also a kid’s film. Both previous films were rated PG. The trailer for this Haunted Mansion looks like it’s
geared more toward older teens and adults. There’s some actual ghost-based
horror in it. I think this is going to be a new look at an old favorite. I’m
looking forward to it. 2 – Oppenheimer
(7/21) Production/Distribution:
Universal Pictures, Atlas Entertainment, Syncopy Director: Christopher
Nolan Writer: Christopher
Nolan, Kai Bird, Martin Sherwin Actors: Josh
Hartnett, Florence Pugh, Cillian Murphy, Robert Downey Jr., Emily Blunt, Matt
Damon, Olivia Thirlby, Jack Quaid, Gary Oldman, Gustaf Skarsgård, Kenneth Branagh,
David Dastmalchian, Rami Malek Genre: Biography,
Drama, History Rated: R Length: 3h IMDb Blurb: The story of American scientist J. Robert Oppenheimer and
his role in the development of the atomic bomb. Although Oppenheimer is not a horror, there’s no
doubt in my mind that the story of the title character’s life and ‘accomplishment’
is going to be harrowing. To say the least. It’s a story that’s more than worth
watching play out. The choice of Cillian Murphy (Inception, 28 Days Later,
Sunshine) for the title role was the right one. He’s capable of bringing weight
to the performance that might have been missed by many others. He’s joined by a
staggering amount of talent that would take me weeks to write about in any way
that does the cast honor. Oppenheimer is just about a guaranteed success. 1 – Barbie (7/21) Production/Distribution:
Heyday Films, LuckyChap Entertainment, Mattel Films, Mattel, Warner Bros. Director: Greta
Gerwig Writer: Greta
Gerwig, Noah Baumbach Actors: Margot
Robbie, Kingsley Ben-Adir, Ryan Gosling, Hari Nef, Ariana Greenblatt, Helen
Mirren, Michael Cera, John Cena, Simu Liu, Will Ferrell, Kate McKinnon, Rhea
Perlman, America Ferrera, Dua Lipa, Issa Rae, Alexandra Shipp, Ncuti Gatwa Genre: Adventure,
Comedy, Fantasy Rated: PG-13 Length: 1h 54min IMDb Blurb: To live in Barbie Land is to be a perfect being in
a perfect place. Unless you have a full-on existential crisis. Or you're a Ken. I don’t know what I was expecting the Barbie movie to
be about, but I can tell you that it wasn’t what the trailer showed. In fact,
this is another film I was surprised to find a PG-13 rating for. I 100% thought
it would be for little kids. I’d say the only thing I got that I knew I would get was oversaturated
pinks and pastels. They hurt my eyes, but anything other than that would have
felt unbelievably wrong. The trailer looks incredible. Margot Robbie (Suicide
Squad, The Wolf of Wall Street, Babylon) embodies the presence of the
Barbie we all know. Seeing Ryan Gosling (Blue Valentine, Drive, The Gray Man)
as a peppy Ken doll makes me laugh just by the thought of it. I always
associate him with sarcastic banter. I have no idea how that’s going to
translate to the rose-colored glasses of his character but I’m dying to find
out. I love that every single Barbie or Ken doll featured in the
film represents a doll that actively exists somewhere in our world. That means
there should be a touch of nostalgia for just about anyone who goes to see it.
What I find most interesting is that it’s written and
directed by Greta Gerwig (Lady Bird, Little Women, Nights and Weekends).
Most of the film is from the viewpoint of characters that are significant naïve
and viewing the world through an unmarred perspective of innocence. Gerwig is
not a happy-go-lucky story creator. Her stories have a sense of realism and
understanding of the world around her. That makes me certain that this bright
and peppy flick is going to have a few more realistic twists that people won’t be
able to peg from the jump. As tempting as it may be to bring young children to see it,
I doubt this Barbie film will be for them. I, however, will be seeing it
ASAP.
