Spy x Family (2022-)

 

Series Name/Year: Spy x Family (2022-)

Genre: Animation, Action, Comedy

Average Episode Length:  24 min

Rating: TV-14

Directors: Kazuhiro Furuhashi, Norihito Takahashi, Takahiro Harada, Kazuki Horiguchi, Yukiko Imai, Takashi Katagiri, Teruyuki Omine, Yôsuke Yamamoto, Toshifumi Akai, Hidekazu Hara, Osamu Honma, Tomoya Kitagawa, Yusuke Kubo, Kodama Makoto, Kento Matsui, Tsurumi Mukoyama, Haruka Tsuzuki

Writers: Tatsuya Endo, Kazuhiro Furuhashi, Tomomi Kawaguchi, Rino Yamazaki

Actors:

Japanese Cast -

Takuya Eguchi, Atsumi Tanezaki, Saori Hayami, Ken'ichirô Matsuda, Emiri Kato, Noucky Andriansyah, Natsumi Fujiwara, Yûko Kaida, Kenshô Ono, Kazuhiro Yamaji, Hiroyuki Yoshino, Ayane Sakura, Haruka Okamura, Hana Sato, Shôhei Kajikawa, Taisuke Nakano, Satsumi Matsuda, Yôji Ueda, Yûichi Nakamura

 

English Dub Cast -

Alex Organ, Megan Shipman, Natalie Van Sistine, Dani Chambers, Caitlin Glass, Stephanie Young, Dallas Reid, Barry Yandell, Anthony Bowling, Lindsay Seidel, Michelle Rojas, Macy Anne Johnson, Jordan Dash Cruz, Aaron Campbell, Kelsey Maher, Kent Williams, Ben Phillips, David Matranga

 

IMDb Blurb: A spy on an undercover mission gets married and adopts a child as part of his cover. His wife and daughter have secrets of their own, and all three must strive to keep together.

 

 

Cat’s Point of View:

A good friend recently reminded me that an anime series I adore is about to have its 2^nd season released this year. Better than that, when I looked into it, I found that there’s even going to be a movie coming out this December. Spy x Family is the series I speak of and its related movie is Spy x Family Code: White. (Look for it on platforms such as Crunchyroll in December 2023.)

 

I was also transported back to a fun lunch I had during Geek’d Con this year which included Kent Williams (One Piece Film: Red, My Hero Academia, Vinland Saga) and his agent. This wasn’t any sort of interview, however. I unfortunately don’t have any scoop for you in that regard. We were just chatting and enjoying the same space at the hotel’s bar/café which was attached to the convention center. (I knew my daughter was going to be over the moon to meet him. Williams is the voice of Mr. Compress for My Hero Academia (2016-), afterall. That will be a review for another time, though.) Before I digress too far, I can assure you that he relates to Spy x Family, as he has a role in that series as well! 

 

 

Spy x Family has the intrigue and action of a spy thriller and a balanced blend of wit and slapstick humor of excellent comedy. The series is thoroughly entertaining and worth every minute of the watch-through. Further, with episodes just under 30 minutes each, it’s a series that’s easy to binge through without taking up a significant amount of time.

 

There’s also a humanizing layer to the story. This hard-core spy master and a top assassin are paired together for the sake of their respective missions – unknown to each other. In the middle of this is an orphan adopted as part of the cover story as well as a pawn to accomplish the mission. Aside from the child’s special abilities and ability to find (if not incite) chaos, you can’t help but root for her to win over her new “parents” and become a family for real.

 

 

The big question throughout is whether or not “playing family” will ultimately spark actual feelings within the adults involved. Will they ever figure out each other’s secrets? Sometimes it had me on the edge of my seat talking to the screen encouraging them to just come clean and they could accomplish their goals so much easier.

 

I can’t wait to find out what Season 2 has to offer, much less the upcoming Code White movie. There’s bound to be plenty of shenanigans, heart, and laughter.

 

 

Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score – 100%

Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score – 90%

Metascore –None

Metacritic User Score – None

IMDB Score – 8.4/10

 

Trust the Dice: Cat’s Rating – 4.5/5

 

P.S. - You can find more information about this series on their website: spy-family.net

 

Series Trailer:

The SAG-AFTRA/WGA strike continues, and it’s tragic that this is has gone on so long. Writers and actors simply want fair pay for their work. The guerilla tactics of some studios and general foot-dragging to reach an equitable resolution is simply shameful on the part of the AMPTP.

The Gray Man (2022)

Streaming Service: Netflix
Movie Name/Year: The Gray Man (2022)
Genre: Action, Thriller
Length: 2h 2min
Rating: PG-13
Production/Distribution: AGBO, Netflix, Roth Films, Roth/Kirschenbaum Films, Stillking Films
Directors: Anthony Russo, Joe Russo
Writers: Mark Greaney, Joe Russo, Christopher Markus, Stephen McFeely
Actors: Alfre Woodard, Ana de Armas, Billy Bob Thornton, Callan Mulvey, Chris Evans, Dhanush, Jessica Henwick, Julia Butters, Rege-Jean Page, Ryan Gosling, Scott Haze, Wagner Moura
 
IMDb Blurb: When the CIA's most skilled operative-whose true identity is known to none-accidentally uncovers dark agency secrets, a psychopathic former colleague puts a bounty on his head, setting off a global manhunt by international assassins.

 
Selina’s Point of View:
The Gray Man was everything I hoped it would be. It was loud, pulse-pounding, turn-your-brain-off escapism. It didn’t reinvent any wheels, but it used a beloved recipe to put out something worth watching.
 
From the beginning, I knew the people involved would be able to elevate The Gray Man. It had the possibility of going a slow, basic route, but with the Russo brothers (Avengers: Endgame, Community, Happy Endings) at the helm I knew that was very unlikely. Then you need consider the cast.
 
My favorite Ryan Gosling (The Nice Guys, Crazy Stupid Love, Only God Forgives) type cast is as the sarcastic and laconic protagonist. The way he portrays his personality through short responses is such a recognizable characteristic of his, that I associate him with the style regardless of what actor is utilizing it. It’s an automatic reminder of him, and no one does it better. I think, in this case, it gave something unique to his character that would have been missing if he was played by someone else.
 
Chris Evans (Lightyear, Don’t Look Up, The Avengers) as a hero would have been easy. Even in Knives Out (2019), when he did play an antagonist, he was still charismatic. It’s rough to take Evans and makes him dislikable. Somehow, The Gray Man manages. There’s no way to sympathize with the psychotic Lloyd Hansen. He is the epitome of a bad guy. There’s no questioning if he might be in the right at any point, but you still enjoy seeing him on screen. It’s a good balance.

 
Ana de Armas (Deep Water, No Time To Die, Blade Runner 2049) has an innocence to her that works well to mask the bad-assery. Her on-screen sense of humor also has a sarcastic core. As a result, she works well with Gosling. She gives as good as she gets, and steals the scene in some cases.
 
Even supporting actors, like Danush (Karnan, Pattas, Atrangi Re), Jessica Henwick (Bus Girl, Moley, The Matrix Resurrections), Billy Bob Thornton (Goliath, 1883, A Million Little Pieces), Regé-Jean Page (Bridgerton, Mortal Engines, The Sandman), and Alfre Woodard (Fatherhood, Clemency, Luke Cage) owned the screen at various moments. Just about every actor felt like a giant at some point.
 
There were a few laughs, but not enough to start pushing The Gray Man toward comedy. The humor was used sparingly in the script and gave just enough relief that it never felt out of place.
 
In the end, it was such a joy to watch, that I forgot to take notes. There was never enough time to look away from the screen to jot things down even if I had remembered. It was 2 hours of heavy-action fun.
 
I hear it’s going to be made into a series, and I will be watching everything that comes next. 

 
Cat’s Point of View:
I was excited enough about The Gray Man to list it as my #2 on July’s Top 20, and this easily could have been a #1 pick – if not going up against an MCU movie. Netflix got the most literal and figurative bang out of every single one of the $200 million-ish that they spent on this production. It was impressive from start to finish.
 
When I watched Ryan Gosling’s interview on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (2014-) the other night, I really just thought they were being silly when they joked about how much action was packed into The Gray Man. It went without saying that there was going to be a lot going on. This movie was set up to be Netflix’s summer action blockbuster, after all. They weren’t just being tongue in cheek when they said "...talk about action, on top of action, on top of action, and then more action!..."
 
Every sequence had my pulse pounding and scooting ever closer to the edge of my seat. The fight choreography was insane. The chase scenes were on par with something you could expect from The Fast and the Furious (2001) saga, or a 007 movie. There were shoot-outs, explosions, and crashes – you name it. I didn’t really have a moment to catch my breath.
 
Of course, a movie full of action could still fall flat if there isn’t a good story, believable characters, and interesting dialogue to go with it. The Gray Man had all of those things.

 
I am still laughing every time I think of some of the banter from Gosling and Chris Evans. I was happy that the bits shown in the trailer weren’t the only gems the production boasted.
 
Let me tell you, Evans is outright terrifying as a villain. Lloyd of the ‘trash stache’ in The Gray Man might be a wise-cracking sociopath that was easy to laugh with – but Evans sold that character in a way that sent chills along my spine at a few points.
 
Ana de Armas was also an absolute badass here. Her role was just as physically challenging as the male leads and she utterly killed it. Honestly, I can’t think of a single questionable performance in the entire project. I adored Alfre Woodard, Billy Bob Thornton was on point, Jessica Henwick didn’t disappoint, and Regé-Jean Page was gloriously insidious.
 
While the book that The Gray Man was adapted from is part of a series, I’m gathering that there are no clear plans at this time for a sequel. The Russo Brothers have gone on record, however, saying that they approached this movie as if it were part of a franchise – so there could potentially be a chance for a return to this world of CIA operatives in the future. I sincerely hope so.
 
In the meantime, I’m likely going to be watching The Gray Man several more times – before the summer is even over. If you have access to Netflix, this is definitely one to add to your watch list ASAP.

 
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score – 48%
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score –90%
Metascore – 49%
Metacritic User Score – 6.1/10
IMDB Score – 6.6/10
 
Trust the Dice: Selina’s Rating –5/5
Trust the Dice: Cat’s Rating – 5/5
 
Movie Trailer:

Operation Mincemeat (2022)

 

Streaming Service: Netflix
Movie Name/Year: Operation Mincemeat (2022)
Genre: Drama, History, War
Length: 2h 8min
Rating: PG-13
Production/Distribution: See-Saw Films, Cohen Media Group, Archery Pictures, FilmNation Entertainment, Ascot Elite Entertainment Group, Paradiz, Shaw Organisation, Warner Bros. Pictures Germany, Warner Bros. Pictures, Warner Bros., Joy n Cinema, Netflix
Director: John Madden
Writers: Michelle Ashford, Ben Macintyre
Actors: Charlotte Hamblin, Colin Firth, Jason Isaacs, Johnny Flynn, Kelly Macdonald, Lorne MacFadyen, Mark Gatiss, Matthew Macfadyen, Penelope Wilton, Ruby Bentall, Rufus Wright, Caspar Jennings, Hattie Morahan, Dolly Gadsdon, Simon Russell Beale, Michael Bott, Alex Jennings, Ellie Haddington, Paul Lancaster, Simon Rouse, Paul Ritter, Amy Marston, Jonjo O'Neill, Gabrielle Creevy, Nicholas Rowe, Will Keen, Alexander Beyer, Markus von Lingen, Nico Birnbaum, James Fleet, Mark Bonnar, Javier Godino, Pedro Casablanc, Laura Morgan, Pep Tosar, Alba Brunet, Óscar Zafra, Lin Gallagher, Graham Curry
 
IMDb Blurb: During WWII, two intelligence officers use a corpse and false papers to outwit German troops.

 

Cat’s Point of View:
While I have a soft spot for World War II movies, they can sometimes be quite hard to watch. There are an abundance of reasons why - one of them being that I miss my grandfathers terribly and they both served in the conflict. I also have to be in a particular mood to enjoy straight war drama. It’s just not generally my cup of tea. When you get into the nuts and bolts of espionage, however, that’s a different story. I can identify with those tales on a whole other level.
 
It’s worth noting that my anticipation for Operation Mincemeat gave the movie a #4 placement on May’s Top 20 list.
 
Spy stories carry weight and tension beyond the battlefield carnage or even modern action sequences. I love that, if executed correctly, how they can engage the mind and ensnare your senses. I enjoyed sinking into the twists and turns of Operation Mincemeat’s story and finding my pulse rising in spite of my fore-knowledge of the eventual outcome.

 
While Operation Mincemeat outlines a story crazy enough to be fiction, it is a retelling of actual WWII events that saved countless lives in Europe.
 
There were so many nuances that brought humanity to all of the people involved with the task of pulling the wool over Hitler’s eyes so that German forces wouldn’t be waiting on the beaches of Sicily that fateful July. I loved the wry wit and the layers to each of the characters. The movie’s tale wove in elements of humor, ambition, jealousy, and romance in organic ways that didn’t undermine the bigger picture or the underpinning of suspense.
 
Operation Mincemeat didn’t need car chases, aerial dogfights, or explosions to keep my attention. I was just as invested watching Colin Firth (Mary Poppins Returns, 1917, Mothering Sunday) and Matthew Macfadyen's (Anna Karenina, Ripper Street, Succession) characters pacing and staring at what was effectively a typewriter, waiting for news.

 
I was charmed by the story and impressed with the details of the caper that it brought to light. I never lost interest and didn’t find my mind wandering, as it sometimes does – especially during long and/or dry subject matters. I was engaged throughout, and that’s saying a lot for my ADHD brain.
 
Firth and Macfaydyen weren’t the only stand-outs among the cast, either. Jason Isaacs (The Death of Stalin, The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance, Occupation: Rainfall) embodied once more a character that I loved every minute of disliking. Kelly Macdonald (Goodbye Christopher Robin, T2 Trainspotting, Line of Duty) deftly brought to life a key player in this spy game with real gravitas. I could go on, but I really don’t need to.
 
I don’t regret for one minute placing Operation Mincemeat as high as it was on my list this month, and I thoroughly enjoyed the experience. I even watched with my picky teen daughter and she didn’t complain one bit (in spite of this not being her cup of tea).
 
If you have Netflix and enjoy tales of intrigue, Operation Mincemeat is worth a shot. 

Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score – 84%
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score – 64%
Metascore – 65%
Metacritic User Score – 6/10
IMDB Score –6.7/10
 
Trust the Dice: Cat’s Rating – 4/5
 
Movie Trailer:

The King's Man (2021)

 

Streaming Service: Hulu
Movie Name/Year: The King’s Man (2021)
Genre: Action, Adventure, Comedy
Length: 131 minutes
Rating: R
Production/Distribution: 20th Century Studios, Marv Films, Marv Studios, Forum Hungary, HKC Entertainment, Ukrainian Film Distribution (UFD), Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Argentina, Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Finland, Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures International, Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, Disney+
Director: Matthew Vaughn
Writers: Matthew Vaughn, Karl Gajdusek, Mark Millar, Dave Gibbons
Actors: Gemma Arterton, Ralph Fiennes, Matthew Goode, Stanley Tucci, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Rhys Ifans, Daniel Brühl, Olivier Richters, Charles Dance, Tom Hollander, Djimon Hounsou, Harris Dickinson, Alexandra Maria Lara, Alison Steadman, Neil Jackson, Robert Aramayo, Branka Katic
 
IMDb Blurb: In the early years of the 20th century, the Kingsman agency is formed to stand against a cabal plotting a war to wipe out millions.

Selina’s Point of View:
If you’ve been reading for any length of time, then you know I’m a huge fan of The Kingsman (2014 -) series. That return to a more ridiculous spy characterization is right up my alley. So, I have been looking forward to this prequel for a long time.
 
There was minimal doubt that I would like The King’s Man. Aside from the possibility that the director might opt for a different tone, or the new cast might alter things too much, it was going to happen.
 
I love this series for all the reasons a more serious critic would hate it. I love that caricature aspect. The over-exaggeration of the action/spy genre is something I just adore. I grew up on all the shows, and movies, that offered up the near-invincible spy with the fancy-ass gadgets. Bringing that into modern times and mixing it up with new filming techniques and exceptional fight choreography is a total win in my book.

 
The convoluted conflict at the core of a plot that seems basic, but subverts expectations at the most random moments, is a bonus to me. The villains supporting their mostly anticipated motivations with their insane and absurd plots makes it fun. How many times do we have to see the same plan with the same reason behind it before it’s acceptable to see something a little preposterous to counteract it?
 
Kingsman films are top-tier escapism to me. There are enough scenes that dip into seriousness to make them feel like anything but a parody, while still giving off that ‘turn your brain off and enjoy’ flair.
 
The King’s Man was exactly all of that. It had moments of glory that sent a chill down my back, huge shocking moments that caused me to exclaim out loud, and great fight choreography. All of it was surrounded with just enough of that caricature feel to make it fit in with the series.

 
I did find Rasputin to be a bit more cringe than I had hoped for. I don’t know if what went down with that character was the director’s choice, or the actor’s, but the performance did dip a bit more into parody than I’d have preferred.
 
That was my only issue, though. The whole film did an amazing job explaining core reasons for the existence, and content, of Kingsmen. It was a phenomenal movie, and it did what it needed to as a prequel.
 
I’m happy to say I’ll be watching The King’s Man again as part of my rewatching of the series. I’ll also be keeping an eye out for the next film, set to be released sometime in 2023.
 
I will be a Matthew Vaughn (Kick-Ass, Stardust, X-Men: First Class) fan for life.

 
Cat’s Point of View:

The King’s Man landed squarely in the Top 10 of both Selina and my December 2021 Top 20 lists. In fact, our placements only varied by 1 spot. Following so many delays (mostly due to the pandemic), it was such a relief that this production finally hit screens large and small. I was doing internal cartwheels when it became available on Hulu and Xfinity’s On Demand.

 
I’ve always been a fan of the action spy-thriller genre. Cool gadgets, suave and quick-witted spies, and choreographed mayhem just does it for me. The Kingsman series just settles gloriously into that comfort zone. With this particular franchise, I adore the tailor shop front and all the references to the legends of King Arthur.
 
The 2^nd movie had a little bit of a wobble with fan service over substance, but I still enjoyed it.

 
That brings me back to this particular installment. The King’s Man is a prequel telling us how the Kingsman Secret Service came to be. So much was packed into 2 hours that I am, frankly, surprised it wasn’t much longer. I honestly wouldn’t have minded. The King’s Man kept me so thoroughly invested in what was going on, I didn’t notice the passage of time. That’s a rare thing for my squirrelly ADHD and MS-addled brain.
 
Aside from the peek into the Kingsman’s history, the cast of this production was a real draw for me. I have been a fan of Ralph Fiennes (Spectre, Holmes & Watson, The Dig) since long before he lost his nose and waved a wand around. I was a freshman in college when The English Patient (1996) hit screens and caused an excessive need for tissues. His portrayal of the Duke of Oxford was everything I could hope it would be.

 
I’m also always excited to see Djimon Hounsou (Air, Captain Marvel, A Quiet Place Part II), Gemma Arterton (Murder Mystery, How to Build a Girl, Summerland), and Charles Dance (Johnny English Strikes Again, Godzilla: King of the Monsters, Iron Mask). I didn’t even realize ‘til I looked at the credits that Tom Hollander (Tulip Fever, A Private War, Bird Box) played King George, Kaiser Wilhelm, and Tsar Nicholas. Bang-up job, there.
 
Though, I will say I was floored by a particular action sequence by Rhys Ifans’ (Serena, Official Secrets, Spider-Man: No Way Home) character of Rasputin. Who would have thought that such a despicable and horrible historical figure would be the center of one of my favorite scenes in this movie?! I’m dying to know if he actually performed the stunts or had a stand-in. I digress.

 
Some history buffs might have had their eyes twitching at the creative license taken with the story. I actually loved the blend of real-world elements and fantasy – spinning a conspiratorial web around the time of World War I and the horrors of that conflict.
 
The production value alone for The King’s Man was off the charts. This film was flat-out gorgeous.
 
I would recommend The King’s Man in a heartbeat. You don’t even have to see the other movies in the series before watching it – but after you do, you’ll probably want to.

Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score – None

Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score – None
Metascore – 44%
Metacritic User Score – 5.1/10
IMDB Score – 6.3/10
 
P.S. – There is a short additional scene in the middle of the credits.
 
Trust the Dice: Selina’s Rating – 5/5
Trust the Dice: Cat’s Rating – 5/5
 
Movie Trailer:

The 355 (2022)

Streaming Service: Peacock
Movie Name/Year: The 355 (2022)
Genre: Action, Thriller
Length: 124 minutes
Rating: PG-13
Production/Distribution: Universal Pictures, CAA Media Finance, FilmNation Entertainment, Freckle Films, Genre Films, Huayi Brothers Media, Perfect World Pictures, Ascot Elite Entertainment Group, Belga Films, Blue Lantern Entertainment International, Chantier Films, China Film Group Corporation, Cinemundo, Diamond Films, Entertainment One, Forum Film Slovakia, Golden Screen Cinemas, HKC Entertainment, Independent Films, Italia Film, Italia Films, Joyncontents Group, Kino Films, Leone Film Group, Leonine Distribution, Lev Cinemas, Nordisk Film Distribution, Nordisk Film, Norsk Filmdistribusjon, PT. Prima Cinema Multimedia, PVR Pictures, Pioneer Films, Roadshow Film Distributors, Roadshow Films, SND Films, Shaw Organisation, Spentzos Films, Ster-Kinekor Pictures, Sun Distribution, Universal Pictures International, Vertical Entertainment, Starz!
Director: Simon Kinberg
Writers: Theresa Rebeck, Simon Kinberg, Bek Smith
Actors: Jessica Chastain, Penélope Cruz, Lupita Nyong'o, Diane Kruger, Édgar Ramírez, Sebastian Stan, Atul Sharma, Bingbing Fan, David Olawale Ayinde, Eddie Arnold, Evie Wray, Francisco Labbe, Hiten Patel, Jason Wong, Leo Staar, Marta Svetek, Maud Druine, Nick Owenford, Oleg Kricunova, Pablo Scola, Raphael Acloque, Sylvester Groth, Toby Sauerback, William El Gardi
 
IMDb Blurb: When a top-secret weapon falls into mercenary hands, a wild card CIA agent joins forces with three international agents on a lethal mission to retrieve it, while staying a step ahead of a mysterious woman who's tracking their every move.

Cat’s Point of View:
I was excited enough regarding The 355 that I listed it as my #3 pick on my January 2022 Top 20 List. The burning question, now, must certainly be: did it deserve its placement?
 
Hesitation lingers in the air as I ponder my answer. It’s not really cut and dry. In hindsight, I might have dropped it a little bit in ranking.  I have a few problems with The 355, but it was entertaining and, certainly, was not without merit.
 
Let this be your warning now. If you don’t want spoilers to a couple of the 2^nd act twists, you might want to skip the trailers.
 
The 355 has a bit of a marketing problem.

 
My impression, after watching the trailer, was that this film was going to be a badass all-female spy team recovering some dangerous tech. While that assessment wasn’t exactly incorrect, The 355 serves as more of an origin story to a team rather than one that is already connected from the beginning. Of course, the trailer does touch on that a little bit – but it wasn’t nearly clear enough to the extent of the disparity between that concept and what the production actually delivered.
 
The good news is that The 355 held my attention sufficiently that I managed not to succumb to my occasional narcoleptic tendencies (and, considering I’m still in energy-recovery mode post-Mardi Gras, that is saying something). Yet, at the same time, I wasn’t as engaged as I would have liked, and I had to fight my urge to grab my phone and fiddle.

 

I rather enjoyed the twisty nature of the story and both the intelligence and independence of the main characters. They weren’t ‘damsels in distress’ even when they were faced with dire circumstances. The action was decent and pretty standard fare for a movie such as this.
 
The 355 has fairly good production quality and a satisfying conclusion. I just wish that the message of the teasers hadn’t muddled things from the outset for me. I would have spent far less time confused.
 
If you’re looking for an entertaining option to watch with some popcorn, The 355 is a fair choice. I’m not sure I’m going to remember it in the long term. It does, however, give a bit of sequel bait so it remains to be seen if there will be future installments.

Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score – 24%
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score – 86%
Metascore – 40%
Metacritic User Score – 3.9/10
IMDB Score – 5.2/10
 
Trust the Dice: Cat’s Rating – 3/5
 
Movie Trailer:

Munich: The Edge of War (2022)

 

Streaming Service: Netflix
Movie Name/Year: Munich: The Edge of War (2022)
Genre: Biography, Drama, History
Length: 123 minutes
Rating: PG-13
Production/Distribution: Turbine Studios, Netflix
Director: Christian Schwochow
Writers: Robert Harris, Ben Power
Actors: Alex Jennings, Anjli Mohindra, August Diehl, George MacKay, Jannis Niewöhner, Jeremy Irons, Jessica Brown Findlay, Liv Lisa Fries, Ludwig Simon, Mark Lewis Jones, Nick Wymer, Raphael Sowole, Robert Bathurst, Sandra Hüller
 
IMDb Blurb: A British diplomat travels to Munich in the run-up to World War II, where a former classmate of his from Oxford is also en route, but is working for the German government.

 
Selina’s Point of View:
I gravitate toward films about World War II. I feel as though the history of my ancestors is intertwined with the events to such a level that refusing to learn as much as I can about that time would be like spitting on a whole lot of graves.
 
This particular film made my blood run like ice.
 
There were conversations held throughout the film that sounded familiar to me. Not because I saw them in other movies, or read them in books, but because I’ve heard people have them in my lifetime. Every time a conversation like that came on screen, chills ran up my spine. Not just because of the comparisons of mass-apathy, but because there are people out there who don’t see the similarities.

 
Although the story in Munich – The Edge of War is fiction, it takes place in a very real setting. One that was well crafted behind the performances. Every step a character took in public was surrounded by an accurate depiction of the daily life of people during the time leading up to World War II.
 
Every watch through, more aspects of that daily life are exposed in the background. I’ve rarely seen that level of apathy mixed with despair and hatred portrayed as well on screen.
 
To get the full depth of Munich – The Edge of War, you really need to focus on the bigger picture – not just the performances and script. A difficult thing to do, since both aspects were entrancing.

 
I always find it difficult to tear my gaze away from George MacKay to begin with, but it was necessary here. In the past three years, I’ve become a huge fan of his, and I only see that growing. He’s exceptionally talented.
 
Despite the importance I found in Munich – The Edge of War, I understand that it’s not going to be for everyone. It’s more of a perpetually tense, slow burn, spy film than a complete war movie. Not everyone has the attention span, or interest, to really get into that.
 
If it is a part of your preferred genre, though, it’s worth a watch.
 
Unfortunately, I believe the people who need to watch it the most, would never get the message. 

 
Cat’s Point of View:
While I’m drawn to World War II movies, as I discussed in my #7 entry in January 2022’s Top 20 list, I’m never that enthusiastic about watching them. I have to muster the resolve to watch, as the memories of my grandfather’s stories and history lessons lurk with sadness in the back of my mind. Munich: The Edge of War was no different in that regard. I was impressed with the cast and curious as to the real events that inspired the tale, yet wasn’t eagerly anticipating the experience.

 
First, let me step back and explore this film from the perspective of a pure spy thriller. Of course, this was more of a period piece than your average spy flick. The trailer didn’t promise much action. A historical biopic drama like this, not based on a battlefront, shouldn’t really have that sort of expectation. All that was just fine. The setting was immersive and highly nuanced. So much was happening in the background around the characters that told a story unto itself.
 
I had been a bit on the tired side before I started watching Munich: The Edge of War, but I was decidedly awake by the time the somber credits ran. This production kept me sufficiently at the edge of my seat with worry for the characters and dread for what I knew was coming in general. I appreciated how authentic it seemed as the pair of schoolmates put themselves in harm’s way to uncover the underlying German ruler’s deceit. If everyone in the movie was a slick and polished master of spycraft, it would have thrown off the balance.

 
Munich: The Edge of War provided an eerie window through which to view Hitler. The production deftly examined how someone so malevolently charismatic could ensnare the hopes and national pride of their people and then show their underlying darkness. The fear of the masses and the zeal of those that followed blindly were clear on the screen without it having to be overtly shoved in the audience’s face.
 
It was particularly chilling, having heard strikingly similar discussions happening in the real world around me in recent years.
 
The performances of the cast really resonated with me. Jeremy Irons fit the role of the elder statesman like a tailored glove. The pair of George MacKay and Jannis Niewöhner gave me goosebumps at a few points and nearly brought me to tears.

 

I have not read the book upon which Munich: The Edge of War was based, so I am unable to attest to how faithful this adaptation was. However, if the book is anything like this movie was – or better – it must be something powerful, indeed.
 
If you’ve a mind for history, and appreciate World War II stories, Munich: The Edge of War is an excellent addition to your Netflix watch list. 

Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score – 84%
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score – 77%
Metascore –53%
Metacritic User Score – 6.6/10
IMDB Score – 6.9/10
 
Trust the Dice: Selina’s Rating – 4/5
Trust the Dice: Cat’s Rating – 4/5
 
Movie Trailer:

The Spy Who Dumped Me (2018)

Streaming Service: Hulu

Movie Name/Year: The Spy Who Dumped Me (2018)

Genre: Action, Adventure, Comedy

Length: 117 minutes

Rating: R

Production/Distribution: BRON Studios, Creative Wealth Media Finance, Imagine Entertainment, Lionsgate, Studio Babelsberg Motion Pictures, Lionsgate UK, Aurum Films, BF Distribution, Belga Films, Constantin-Film, Golden Village Pictures, Independent Films, Metropolitan Filmexport, Mongkol Major, Noori Pictures, Noori, Nordisk Film Distribusjon, Phars Film, Pioneer Films, Roadshow Film Distributors (NZ) Ltd., Roadshow Films, Spentzos Films, StudioCanal, TME Films, Eagle Films, Lionsgate Home Entertainment, Neon, Pris Audiovisuais, TV3

Director: Susanna Fogel

Writer: Susanna Fogel, David Iserson

Actors: Justin Theroux, Mila Kunis, Kate McKinnon, Lolly Adefope, Dustin Demri-Burns, David Iserson, Sam Heughan, Hasan Minhaj, Mirjam Novak, Kev Adams, Gillian Anderson, Ivanna Sakhno, Jane Curtin, Paul Reiser, Fred Melamed, James Fleet, Carolyn Pickles, Tom Stourton, Ólafur Darri Ólafsson

Blurb from IMDb: Audrey and Morgan are best friends who unwittingly become entangled in an international conspiracy when one of the women discovers the boyfriend who dumped her was actually a spy.

Selina’s Point of View:

This movie started on a bad note for me. There was cringe and continuity errors galore, neither of which ever endears me to a film. But the problems barely even lasted to the title screen – then things got much better.

Mila Kunis (Oz the Great and Powerful, Hell and Back, Wonder Park) and Kate McKinnon (Office Christmas Party, Ferdinand, Bombshell) have such amazing on-screen chemistry that I immediately bought the idea that they were best friends. I’ve had some of the same back-and-forth bantering moments with my best friend, and it felt natural to me when I saw it on-screen. I don’t think anyone could fault either of their performances.

A lot of critics had an issue with the humor in this film, but I don’t think they gave it the credit it deserves. Yes, the movie does seem to try to give a few too many poop jokes. When it’s not going to toilet humor, though, it had me giggling out loud.

The humor wasn’t the best part, though.

I expected a fish-out-of-water comedy. I got a LOT of that, but I wouldn’t lean too heavily toward ‘comedy’ when describing this film. It’s not a funny film with some action. It’s an action film with some comedy. I don’t think the production company did itself any favors by marketing it as the former.

The action sequences in The Spy Who Dumped Me were on point. There was so much more action, blood, and intensity than I expected. The first big shootout went by and I was like, ‘yeah, ok. I expected that.’ But the movie never really slowed down after that, and it caught me off-guard. You get a decent high-quality action scene – then some comedy – then right back to the action.

Critics didn’t seem to watch this film from the right perspective. I blame marketing for that. Personally, I loved it. It’s one of those films where I could see it becoming a guilty pleasure.

Cat’s Point of View:

There’s a feeling that you get when a movie opens with one of your favorite songs. It amps you up and automatically puts you in the mood to expect, hope, and pray the movie it’s attached to will be good. Quite a few times, I’ve been disappointed. This was not one of those times. The Spy Who Dumped Me delivered a case full of awesome.

I remember that I’d been rather excited to see this movie from the get-go. I’ll admit that this is actually my second viewing; albeit, my first watch-through was when the film first reached On-Demand through my cable provider over a year ago. I felt like I was watching again for the first time. I was taken back along for the ride, swept into the story and the laughter. Aside from that, Selina and I both scored this movie in our Top 10 movies to look out for in August 2018. I had this one as my #4.

I love the premise of this movie. You see so many buddy-cop and buddy P.I. movies – the list really goes on – with a pair of guys involved. If it’s not two dudes, then there’s a male/female pairing. This is one of those Thelma and Louise (1991) sort of movies that tosses that old recipe out the window and runs with the strengths of two capable women banding together.

Of course, this movie spoofs the spy genre all over the place – that’s fun, too. I just dig that ‘ride or die’ friendship that the two female lead characters have. This is the sort of shenaniganry I would get into with my own best friends. I’d like to think so, at least. Hopefully with fewer flying bullets.

Kate McKinnon is one of my favorite comedians of today. I adore the quirkiness that she brings to her roles. Casting did a wonderful job here pairing her with Mila Kunis. I believed the dynamic of their friendship. It felt organic. Besides, who doesn’t like a good ‘straight-laced’ foil to a kooky character?

The icing on the action-laden cake for me was Sam Heughan’s (Young Alexander the Great, Emulsion, Bloodshot) involvement with the project. Aside from getting moony whenever I hear the Scottish actor speak, I like seeing the different roles he takes outside of his lead role in Outlander (2014-). Even though I’m an admitted fangirl, I feel that I can still be fairly objective when I say that he excels in this sort of genre.

I would definitely give this action-packed spy flick a hearty recommendation. In fact, I’d have to say that the film is probably in my personal top 200 of all time. I’d watch it again, and again.

Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score – 49%

Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score – 57%

Metascore – 52/100

Metacritic User Score – 5.9/10

IMDB Score – 6.0/10

CinemaScore – B

Trust the Dice: Selina’s Rating – 4/5

Trust the Dice: Cat’s Rating – 5/5

P.S. Two extra scenes during the credits.

Movie Trailer: