Nobody 2

My View:  Nobody 2  (2025)  R  In Nobody 2, Hutch Mansell (Bob Odenkirk), a former lethal assassin, has been away from his family for too long. It’s time for him to make amends by planning a family vacation. Unfortunately, Hutch has chosen the wrong destination for him and his family to relax and unwind. I had fun watching the first Nobody film that came out in 2021, which I said, “If you are an action fan and don’t mind a bloody body count, then have fun as Hutch ruins a few bad guys’ day.” I had fun again watching 62-year-old Bob Odenkirk beating the crap out of a bunch of guys that deserved getting beaten to a bloody pulp. My problem with the movie is that, unlike the first film, we are in on the joke, and it takes a long setup time, with only a few fights, to get to the final confrontation. We have a couple of new bad guys to take on. Colin Hanks as a local sheriff and Sharon Stone, happily chewing up scenery, as Lendina, a mob boss whose solution to everything is just to kill everyone. If you can get through the first hour of setup and a few roadblocks that are soon forgotten, the last 30 minutes are a blast (no pun intended) as Hutch, his dad (played by the amazing Christopher Lloyd), and a few surprises take on Lendina and her goons. I have a feeling that we will be seeing Hutch again, this time maybe with the family joining in on the fun. My Rating: Bargain Matinee  Nobody 2 Website  Now playing in theaters. 

My View:  Highest 2 Lowest  (2025)  R   In Highest 2 Lowest, set in New York City, music mogul David King (Denzel Washington) becomes the target of a kidnapping. However, in a case of mistaken identity, his chauffeur’s son is abducted instead. As King strives to protect his family and preserve his legacy, he faces a significant moral dilemma. I made the mistake of watching the morning before our screening, Akira Kurosawa’s film High and Low (see review below), which is a two-part drama, the first part a character study and the second a hard-boiled detective film. Spike Lee adapted Kurosawa’s film, updating it for the modern world. He transformed Toshirô Mifune’s character, a shoe company executive, into Denzel Washington’s character, a music mogul who once had the music world at his feet but may have lost his touch. I had problems with Highest 2 Lowest, mostly because I couldn’t figure out if this was a drama, a comedy, or a satire. Unlike the original film where the ransom exchange is full of tension and drama, the ransom exchange in this version is full of humor with a very loud combination of Yankee fans chanting and a Puerto Rico day celebration with a jazz performance by Eddie Palmieri and his Afro-Caribbean Jazz Orchestra, where the ransom bag full of money exchange is seemingly bungled, or is it. Lee seems to be constantly poking at us with somewhat clever items like an apartment adorned with the address of A24 (the distributor of the film) or jokes about insurance ads when Dean Winters (the star of a series of insurance TV spots) is in the cast playing a constantly angry and possibly racist cop. I predicted to a fellow critic that, unlike the original film, where Mifune’s character disappears for the most part in the 2nd half of the film as the detective’s work to find the kidnapper, Denzel’s character would do the searching on his own. I also had a hard time with the character of King’s wife, Pam, played by Ilfenesh Hadera, who didn’t help anything with a wooden performance that lacked spark. In the original film, Gondo’s wife (Kyôko Kagawa) is the voice of reason and conscience, who convinces Gondo to pay the ransom. Pam, on the other hand, is cold-hearted and only cares about her wealth and her son’s safety. She shows little concern for the child whose life is at stake if the ransom is not paid. As always, I enjoyed watching Denzel perform, and his scenes with Jeffrey Wright, who portrays his chauffeur and best friend, are the highlights of the film. However, these performances were overshadowed by the film's bizarre tonal shifts, which transitioned from a drama (with a very conservative soundtrack) in the first half to a wild, sometimes off-the-rails, cheeky film that let Denzel explore a wide range of antics. Additionally, I hope not to see another Yankee uniform in a film anytime soon, as they appeared in seemingly every scene.  My Rating: Bargain Matinee  Highest 2 Lowest Website  Now playing in theaters 

Indiefest:  East of Wall  (2025)  R   East of Wall takes place in the Badlands of South Dakota, where Tabatha Zimiga is working to keep her horse ranch running after the death of her husband. As she navigates personal grief and financial challenges, Tabatha also provides refuge for a group of troubled teens. I highly enjoyed this slice of life film that director Kate Becroft has described as a docu-fiction. The film is based on Zimiga’s real life, and most of the cast is playing a version of themselves as fiction and reality are combined. While not a perfect film, as some scenes feel a little too loose, East of Wall captures the joy of riding a horse, the emotional connections that the kids make with their animals and with Tabatha, and the emotional toil it takes to keep the operation running as kids flock to Zimiga’s ranch to escape their almost non-existent parents. Tabatha’s daughter, Porschia, steals the movies as a teen whose talent for riding horses is matched by her ability to get into trouble with her mother. There are a few established actors in the cast, with Jennifer Ehle playing the continually drunk mother of Tabatha, whose heart sometimes guides her to a bit of wisdom when dealing with the kids or her daughter. East of Wall is a film where both adults and kids are trying to survive, with their happiest times on the Badlands plains riding a horse as fast as they can, where emotions are out for everyone to see.  My Rating: Full Price  East of Wall Website  Now playing in theaters 

Indiefest: Americana (2025)   R  Americana revolves around a Ghost shirt, which is sacred to Indigenous communities and valued at half a million dollars. Everyone wants the shirt, including Mandy (Halsey), who has a kid, Cal (Gavin Maddox Bergman), with local tough guy Dillion (Eric Dane). Also on the hunt are Lefty (Paul Walter Hauser) and his girlfriend, Penny Jo (Sydney Sweeney), along with almost everyone else in town. Which raises the question: who will find the shirt first, and who will be left to cash the reward in? I have a soft spot for modern-day westerns, and this funny, strange tale of a bunch of misfits who all think risking everything is better than the life they are living hits you over the head with interesting characters and a few outstanding performances. Paul Walter Hauser proves again what a talent he is in being able to take a simple character and give it grace. Just his presence on screen makes you root for his character to find the love he desperately needs. Americana is a combination of a Coen Brothers movie, combined with a bit of a zany 60s comedy, but without the whole happy ending. I particularly enjoyed Halsey’s portrayal of the abused girlfriend with a hidden past, who is willing to confront it to achieve her goals. At its core, Americana has a big heart, but be warned—there are many characters in the film eager to put a knife in it.  My Rating: Full Price   Americana Website Now playing in select theaters

Indiefest:  Went Up the Hill  (2024) Went Up the Hill is about Jack (Dacre Montgomery), who ventures to remote New Zealand for the funeral of his estranged mother. There, he meets his mother’s grieving widow, Jill (Vicky Krieps), who insists that he stay at her home. While there, both will experience the spirit of the deceased woman who returns to inhabit each of their bodies. Went Up the Hill is a ghost story that is all visual and very little story. It’s a film that is told in darkness, as the two strangers are suddenly thrown together, having to deal with the idea that when they go to sleep, one of them will be possessed by the dead woman. When the ghost takes over Jill, she transforms into the mother that Jack never had. Conversely, when the ghost inhabits Jack, he becomes Jill's wife and lover again, but with a sinister plan for the two to be united.  The film has almost no scares and is more about a disturbing way of looking at love, grief, and control. I wanted more than filmmaker Samuel Van Grinsven was willing to give us. It’s a visually striking movie that never matches the look to the feel of the film. Went Up the Hill is a ghost story that only shocks but never gives you a scare.  My Rating: Bargain Matinee  Went Up the Hill Website  Now playing in theaters

Forgotten Film:  High and Low  (1963)   High and Low is a film that is part character study and part detective film. Starring Toshirô Mifune as Mr. Gondo, a ruthless business executive who is trying to pull a deal that will give him control of a company that he has poured his life into. His plans are ruined when his son is kidnapped and demands 30 million, which will not only ruin Mr. Gondo’s plans for a takeover but also financially ruin him. Mr. Gondo is willing to pay the money until it is discovered that a huge mistake has been made. It’s not Mr. Gondo’s son but his chauffeur’s son who has been kidnapped. The film then becomes a detective film in which we see how they plan to catch the kidnapper, with or without Mr. Gondo’s help. High and Low is a film that will keep you on the edge of your seat as clues slowly start coming in, a money drop is involved, and even a look at the ugly side of Tokyo’s nightlife. Directed by the legendary filmmaker Akira Kurosawa, High and Low is a master class in pacing and framework.  My Review:  Full Price  High and Low Info  The film is available on most streaming sevices

Weird Credits:  From the credits of Highest 2 Lowest: Helicopter Ground Coordinator 

Coming Soon to a Screen Near You:  The Long Walk  (2025)  R  Set in the near future, a group of teenage boys compete in the annual contest known as “The Long Walk.” The winner is awarded whatever he wants for the rest of his life. The game is simple; maintain a pace of four miles per hour or you're out - permanently. The film is based on a Stephen King novel.  The Long Walk Website In theaters on Friday, September 12, 2025

Until Next Time!