Onslaught

My View:  Onslaught  (2026)   R   Onslaught follows Celeste (Adria Arjona), an army veteran and single mother living in a trailer park. Celeste will have to use her sniper training when a rogue squad of genetically engineered soldiers escapes from a secret military facility and starts killing everyone in sight. This film opens with a mad scientist, Hans Kammler (Dan Stevens), crawling on all fours to kiss (and lick) his wife’s feet (played by a very stoic Rebecca Hall). Has a drugged out government point man (Drew Starkey) whose bondage playtime is interrupted by a job to go cover up any mess that the mad scientist has created, and three former soldiers, who all did horrible acts during wartime, have been turned into killing machines with no conscience and you have a great start to a film that plays homage to both John Carpenter films and the Grindhouse films of the 70s. After a rousing start, the film fails to fulfill its promise by the end. My problem is twofold. First, these super soldiers don’t seem all that super. Sure, they kill a lot of people, but it’s mostly innocent people that can’t fight back. In fact, the only time that people fight back, i.e., our hero Celeste, the super soldiers get their butts kicked. My other problem is that the film builds Celeste up as a troubled former soldier who trained for exactly this kind of confrontation. However, she isn’t the killing machine I expected and depends too much on her fellow residents to do the heavy lifting. Adrian Arjona does a good job as Celeste, but I wanted more from her part in the killing of the super soldiers than there is. I will say, it is fun seeing Reginald VelJohnson on screen as the Vietnam vet, chain-smoking, shotgun-welding old man who seems to be the only one in the trailer park with any sense. I wanted more from this film, and since it seems by its ending that there will be a sequel (and more of Rebecca Hall), I hope they let Adria Arjona kick a lot more butt in that one. Be sure to stay during the credits to read all the news stories and missing reports that are posted.   My Rating: Bargain Matinee  Onslaught Website  Now playing in theaters

My View:  Mayday  (2026)  PG-13  In Mayday, U.S. Navy pilot Lt. Troy “Assassin” Kelly (Ryan Reynolds) is on a reconnaissance mission over the Soviet Union, and Troy crashes in the Russian wilderness. Nikolai (Kenneth Branagh), a former KGB agent with a deep fondness for American culture, finds him. The two form an unexpected alliance to get Troy rescued, if the two don’t kill each other first. This is an old-fashioned (meaning 70s/80s) buddy comedy action film that harkens back to a day when two oddball men would team up to save the world or each other while making us have fun watching things crash and blow up. The film's co-directors/writers, John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein, directed Game Night (2018) and the very underappreciated Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves (2023). I had a great time with both films, and this one did not disappoint. Now, if you aren’t a fan of Ryan Reynolds, then stay away from this one, because he is cracking wise about every three minutes. I will say that at one point while watching the film I said to the screen, “Shut up already”; however, most of his jokes are pretty funny, and there are a couple of great sight gags along the way. Branagh is hilarious as the Russian with a soft spot for all things American, and having a “Top Gun” pilot crash into his life is like manna from heaven. I also loved the fact that Branagh, as the former KGB agent, does all the fighting, while Reynolds does a lot of ducking. There are some great chase sequences and a very funny escape from a train full of soldiers that keeps the action going. This is a good-time film you don’t take too seriously (Ryan speaking English all the time while trying to blend in with the Russians doesn’t make much sense), but it moves along and doesn’t dwell on much more than two guys trying to get across Russia without getting caught. So sip some beet juice alcohol and enjoy the ride.  And be sure and stay through the first portion of credits to see a funny bonus scene.    My Rating: Full Price    Mayday Info    Now playing on the Apple TV platform

My View:   Fall 2: Deadpoint  (2026)  PG-13  In Fall 2: Deadpoint, Jax Hunter (Harriet Slater) is grieving the death of her sister, Shiloh. Jax agrees to a tribute climb by Shiloh’s friend Luce (Arsema Thomas), traveling to Thailand to conquer the treacherous plank walk on Mount Kwan. It’s a climb that will push their limits, and they will have to depend on each other to stay alive. Fall was a hit with audiences who, like myself, watched about 1/3 of the film through their hands in front of their faces as we kept thinking, “That’s really a long way down.” The film had a couple of shocking twists that made it more than just a ‘don’t look’ type of film. Unfortunately, Fall 2: Deadpoint fails to capture the thrills and chills of the first film. One of the standout things about the first Fall film was that you felt the height with the characters, making your stomach churn and creating that great sense of dizziness from being so high up. I never felt those heights or the queasiness in this film. Instead, it was mostly the two women sitting around, waiting for it to be daytime or nighttime, and not doing a heck of a lot. Yes, there is a twist in the film, but it’s right there for you to see almost from the start. I didn’t like either character, and I think one fault of the film is that, in the first one, the two were best friends. In this one, they are strangers, with one of them always pushing the other to do stuff she doesn’t really want to do. Instead of the two daredevils we got for the first film, this one gives us two really stupid people doing stupid stuff they don’t know how to do. So stay off the ledge and see something else. My Rating: Cable   Fall 2: Deadpoint Website  Now playing in theaters

Indiefest:  Dear You  (2026)   PG-13   Dear You follows Xiaowei, a man deep in debt, as he travels to Thailand to find his long-lost grandfather, rumored to be a billionaire. Instead, he finds that the man died years ago, and he finds decades of correspondence involving his grandmother and a man who never came back to his wife. Instead, may have found another family to love. This is a beautiful, moving, and at times funny look at a couple separated by long distance for most of their marriage. The tale unfolds through the correspondence between the husband and wife, as their lives slowly reveal themselves. This is a film about love, loss, and sacrifice, and how well intentions can hurt rather than help. The film is full of interesting characters that we slowly begin to understand and fall for. This is a film about the power of words, not only through those letters but also how reading and writing can change lives. Dear You is a powerful lesson in love and longing, and how distances, no matter how far, can be conquered with good deeds and love. Be sure to stay through the credits for actual letters written to family members during the time that the film is set in.  My Rating: Full Price  Dear You Website    Now playing in select theaters

Forgotten Film:  Safe in Hell  (1931)   After killing the man who raped her and forced her into prostitution, Gilda (Dorothy Mackaill) is rescued by her sailor boyfriend (Donald Cook). He hides her on a ship and then sets her up on an island. The island has become a home for criminals because of its non-extradition policy. There, Gilda has to try to stay good (she promises her boyfriend she will after they marry themselves in an abandoned church) while avoiding all the men on the hotel’s guest list. But trouble always follows Gilda, and she has to deal with an unwanted guest at the hotel. This very dark drama was made before Hollywood started its Hays Code of industry guidelines. That the film tells us from almost the first frame that Gilda is a prostitute is amazing. Then she kills a man, gets her boyfriend to help her escape, and then is leered at constantly by the men at the hotel. Also, the men and Gilda drink, which, under Prohibition, was illegal. Also, Gilda has to deal with a local police chief who basically wants to make her his mistress. The film is directed by William Wellman (nominated for four Academy Awards and winning one for the screenplay for the 1938 A Star Is Born), and Wellman does a great job of keeping us involved with Gilda’s life, as the storyline keeps twisting as Gilda’s life keeps getting more and more dangerous and complex. The movie works because of Dorothy Mackaill, who took over the part from Barbara Stanwyck because of a contract problem. Mackaill is perfect as a hard-as-nails woman who has had a hard life but keeps going, finding hope in the one man who loves her. It’s a role that makes us love a tough woman who has been pushed down in life but keeps trying to keep her promise to her love. It should be noted that Nina Mae McKinney and Clarence Muse play the only characters in the film that seem to have Gilda’s back, and the two actors avoid the stereotyping of servants during this time in Hollywood. Nana Mae McKinney also sings an incredible song during one of the hotel dinner scenes. The ending is quite shocking and lives up to the rest of the film by keeping us guessing about what will happen next to our unlucky Gilda.  My Rating: Full Price  Safe in Hell Info  The film is available on DVD

Weird Credits:  From the credits of Onslaught:  Working Trucks

Coming Soon to a Screen Near You:  Practical Magic 2  (2026)  PG-13  In Practical Magic 2, the Owens sisters (Sandra Bullock, Nicole Kidman) face a new crisis when Sally’s daughter, Kylie (Joey King), uncovers hidden family secrets and develops her own abilities. The Owens women must unite to finally break the curse that has haunted their family line of witches for centuries. The film is set twenty-five years after the first film.  Practical Magic 2 Website    In theaters nationwide on Friday, September 11, 2026

Until Next Time!

The Color Purple

My View: The Color Purple (2023) PG-13 Musical that follows the decades-spanning tale of Celie (Fantasia Barrino), who faces hardships in her life but finds her strength to survive through her faith and the unbreakable bonds of sisterhood. I am not a huge fan of the 1985 Steven Spielberg film, feeling it never captured the magic of the beloved Alice Walker book. Now we have a new version based on the Broadway musical. I am still not a fan. The film feels very much like a Broadway musical, with the songs taking up much of the film’s 2 hour and twenty-minute length. I loved some of the performances, especially Danielle Brooks as the fiery Sofia. I am guessing she might have supporting actress Oscar nod in her near future. However, the film never hit the mark emotionally for me, and there wasn’t a song in the bunch that I felt was a show-stopper. I think some of the fault is that Fantasia Barrino is asked to carry the film and while she can sing, I never connected with her character. Some of that is because of its Broadway roots, where we learn about the characters through their songs, but it seems like a lot of the songs were filler and not about what was going on with the characters themselves. Ultimately, this version of The Color Purple is too much Broadway glitter and not enough character insight like what we got from Alice Walker’s brilliant book.   My Rating: Bargain Matinee  The Color Purple Website  Now in theatres everywhere.

My View: The Boys in the Boat (2023) PG-13 The story of the University of Washington junior eight-man rowing squad, from their Depression-era beginnings to their magical trip to the 1936 Berlin Olympics. Coach Al Ulbrickson (Joel Edgerton) molds the crew into winners and picks them over the more experienced senior crew to race. It’s a pick that could end his job. Joe Rantz (Callum Turner), a self-made man who has been on his own since he was 14, joins the team as his only way to stay in college. There is nothing new in this old-fashioned sports film directed by George Clooney, and that’s ok. This is a good film that hits all the right notes in a movie about a group of young men who start as cast-offs and work together to become something great. Edgerton works well as the hard-nosed coach who is short of praise but believes in his crew and makes them believe in themselves. Callum Turner does a fine job as the main character, Joe, who has had to work for everything he has ever achieved but isn’t sure he deserves any success until he meets a man who shows him he can overcome any challenge. While not an Oscar-worthy film like Chariots of Fire, The Boys in the Boat still is everything you want in a come-from-behind sports film, and that’s ok, too.   My Rating: Bargain Matinee  The Boys in the Boat Website Now in theaters everywhere.

My View: Ferrari (2023) R  In 1957, Enzo Ferrari’s (Adam Driver) auto empire is in trouble, and all that he and his wife Laura (Penélope Cruz) built in the last ten years is about to crumble. Enzo decides to bet it all on winning one race, the 1,000-mile trek across Italy, the iconic Mille Miglia. Enzo and Laura recently lost their son, and Laura controls the company’s finances. Complicating matters even further is Enzo’s mistress, Lina (Shailene Woodley), who has given Enzo another son. This film only works as well as it does because Adam Driver is such an outstanding actor. The problem is that Enzo is not a likable character and is a control freak who thinks he can outsmart and out-manipulate not only his competitors, but his loved ones as well. The script doesn’t give Driver a lot to work with, but he commands every scene he is in and holds his own with Cruz, who plays Laura, a woman who is constantly battling Enzo at every turn (and justly so). Ferrari feels a little like the cars that Enzo builds: fast and sleek but hard to control, and at times, I felt the story bogged down the back story of how Enzo’s company is failing and not enough about the man himself. I found Cruz’s Laura to be the more interesting of the two main characters and wanted more of her story to come to the surface. But this is Enzo’s story, and he will drive that car as fast as he can, no matter who tells him differently.   My Rating: Bargain Matinee  Ferrari Website Now in theatres everywhere.

Forgotten Film: A Midwinter’s Tale (1995) R  Joe (Michael Maloney) is an actor who is having a bit of a crisis and decides to save his sanity and career by staging a play as soon as possible. He picks Hamlet and perform a Christmas production in a small town in England. His agent (Joan Collins) thinks it’s a bad idea, and it is. To say mildly, the talent is almost nonexistent in the small town, and Joe is forced to cast a motley crew to put on his play. Written and directed by Kenneth Branagh, a man who knows a bit about Shakespeare and theatre, it brings us a fun and funny movie where everything that can go wrong does, despite that, the troupe tries to valiantly put the play on. I love the dialogue in this film as Branagh lets his cast spout off with hilarious results. My Rating: Full Price  A Midwinter's Tale Info   Available to rent or buy on Apple TV or Amazon.

Weird Credits: From the credits of The Color Purple: Child Labor Coordinator

Coming Soon to a Screen Near You: Miller’s Girl (2024)   Cairo (Jenna Ortega) is a high school student who excels at everything she sets her mind to. Her English teacher, Jonathan (Martin Freeman), sees talent in Cairo and gives her some extra attention. When he realizes things may have gone too far, he rejects her, and now Cairo is out for revenge. The film has been talked about quite a bit, with some worrying about the underage girl having a possible affair with a teacher. Ortega is a rising star, and it will be interesting to see if she has some box office draw.   The film comes to theatres in late January.  Miller's Girl Info

A Haunting in Venice

My View: A Haunting in Venice (2023)  PG-13  Hercule Poirot (Kenneth Branagh) has retired, giving up solving crimes, and is living in his own exile in post-World War II Venice. He reluctantly attends a seance, and one of the guests is murdered. Now it’s up to the world’s foremost detective to once again solve a crime and uncover the killer, even if it brings up ghosts from the past. Regardless of what the trailer makes it look like, A Haunting in Venice isn’t a horror film. It’s still a mystery based on an Agatha Christie novel, though very loosely. As with the other two Kenneth Branagh Christie films, this one has an all-star cast with Michelle Yeoh as a medium, Tina Fey as a world-famous mystery writer, and Kelly Reilly as the woman who has lost a child and wants to use Michelle Yeoh’s character to talk to her daughter. The film has a few scares and is greatly helped by Tina Fey’s character, who constantly gives Poirot a hard time. Of the three films, I enjoyed this more than the Death on the Nile, though I think Murder on the Orient Express is still the best. However, this is a fun film to go on a mystery with Hercule as he battles ghosts and a murderer.   My Rating: Bargain Matinee  A Haunting in Venice Website  Now playing in theatres nationwide.

My View: A Million Miles Away (2023) PG  A Million Miles Away is the story of Jose Hernandez (Michael Peña), who started out as a migrant farmworker who, after putting himself through school to become an engineer and then, against the odds, became an astronaut. The review will be up Friday night. I loved this film about a man who dreamed from an early age about the stars and becoming an astronaut. Michael Peña is terrific as a man who worked hard and believed in himself to reach for the stars and make his dream come true. Rosa Salazar is brilliant as Jose’s wife, who always believed in her husband and sacrificed as much as he did to get him into space. Their chemistry is real, making the film work as they struggle together. I loved the soundtrack to this film as it captured Jose's spirit and the culture he grew up in. A Million Miles Away is a feel-good movie that may bring a tear or two and one the whole family can enjoy.   My Rating: Full Price   A Million Miles Away Website  Now playing on Amazon Prime.

My View: Love at First Sight (2023) PG-13   Love at First Sight starts on a long flight from New York to London, where Hadley (Haley Lu Richardson) and Oliver (Ben Hardy) meet and sparks fly. After Oliver gives Hadley his phone number, there is an accident, and the number is lost. What’s the odds of Hadley ever finding Oliver in a city as big as London? Love sometimes has a way of defying the odds. I love romantic movies, and this one works because of the stinking chemistry between the two leads. The ‘meet cute’ is fun, and there are sparks right from the start between the two. I have enjoyed Haley Lu Richardson in films such as Columbus (2017), After Yang (2021), and Montana Story (2021), and she is fun to watch in this film, giving Hadley someone you root for right from the start. Jameela Jamil is also outstanding as the narrator who keeps showing up to help move our two lovers closer to their happy ending (oops, spoiler alert). So go on a really long first date and have some fun when the two try to find each other in the big city of London.   My Rating: Full Price  Love at First Sight Website  Now playing on the Netflix platform. 

My View: Cassandro (2023) R   The story of Saúl Armendáriz (Gael Garcia Bernal), a gay man who, in the macho wrestling world of Lucha Libre, became a star as the character Cassandro, an ‘exotico.’ I think I will be in the minority with other critics with this film, but I didn’t like it. I loved Gael Garcia Bernal’s performance, but the storyline didn’t connect with me. One problem I have with this film is that Saul keeps talking about how rough it is being a gay wrestler, but you never see him suffer or get put down. Sure, his father rejects him, but even that doesn’t stop him from living his dream. My other problem is we see all the work that goes into when he is small time but other than one match, we don’t see how Cassandro became a huge star, one who broke a lot of barriers. It’s a strange film that I wanted more from, but I felt let down by the end.   My Rating: Bargain Matinee  Cassandro Website  Now playing in theatres and on Amazon Prime on Friday, September 22nd.

FamilyFaire:  The Inventor (2023) PG   Leonardo da Vinci (voiced by Stephen Fry) was a famous artist who felt he wasn’t appreciated in Italy, so at the invitation of the King, he moves to France, where he hopes he has more freedom to explore his ideas including where in the body the soul resides. There he meets a French princess (Daisy Ridley) but finds that science is not always welcome when it means doing something new and different. The Inventor is a beautiful film to watch, and I enjoyed the performances of Stephen Fry and the rest of the cast. The film does an imaginative job of blending in Da Vinci’s actual drawings with both stop-motion and 2-D animation. This is a film that explores Da Vinci’s ideas on war, life, liberty, and God. The Inventor is an animated film that smaller kids will have trouble following, though I think they will enjoy the songs and the animation style. There is a fun running joke about how Da Vinci couldn’t finish a project while his rival Michelangelo spends years and years working on his ’ceiling painting.’   My Rating: Bargain Matinee  The Inventor Website  Now playing in theatres. 

Sorry I Missed It (A film that I didn’t see in theatres but have seen recently): The Retirement Plan (2023) R  When Ashley (Ashley Greene) and her young daughter Sarah (Thalia Campbell) get caught up with some bad guys who put their lives at risk, Ashley turns to the only person who can help, her estranged father, Matt (Nicolas Cage). Matt may look like a retired beach bum, but he has a past that the bad guys will soon learn about with their lives. I’m a fan of Nicolas Cage, though I understand he can be a bit weird for some moviegoers. Cage is a low key in this film, playing a guy who wants to make up for past mistakes and save his daughter and granddaughter. The film is aided by performances from Ron Perlman as a mob enforcer who loves Shakespeare, Jackie Earle Haley as a mob boss who can’t believe all his guys are getting killed by a retired beach bum, and Ernie Hudson as a former colleague of Matt’s. I have a feeling all this star power, including Cage, was because they all got to hang out together in the Cayman Islands to shoot the film. I had fun with the film’s first half, but the script shows its weakness in the 2nd half when it tries to pull all the plot points into a neat pile. Still, it’s a fun ride, and Cage gets to kill (almost matter-of-factly) a bunch of bad guys.   My Rating: Bargain Matinee  The Retirement Plan Website  Now playing in theatres.

Forgotten Film: Cross My Heart (1987) R David (Martin Short) and Kathy (Annette O’Toole) are about to go on their big ‘third date’ known as the one you have sex on. They are going into the date with some baggage. David just lost his job, and Kathy has a kid, and each one is worried that the news will cause them to break up. But lies lead to bigger lies, and the once promising night becomes a night never to forget. Cross My Heart is another film where the two stars outperform the script they are given. Martin Short makes an enjoyable romantic lead, and I have always enjoyed Annette O’Toole in movies and TV. Now, I don’t particularly appreciate where the characters end up, but the performances make this film worth watching. I’m tempted to tell you to stop watching after the bedroom scene.   My Rating: Bargain Matinee Cross My Heart Info Available on DVD.

Weird Credits: From the credits of A Haunting in Venice: Set Decorator Breakdown Artist

Coming Soon to a Screen Near You: Five Nights at Freddy’s (2023) PG-13 A new security guard (Josh Hutcherson) takes his kid (Piper Rudio) to his new job, the night shift at the old, shutdown Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza. Once upon a time, Freddy’s was the place to be with pizza and animatronic bears singing songs. But something happened to cause the business to close, and the guard and his daughter are about to find out. There is a lot of buzz about this Blumhouse Productions horror film, and I can’t wait to see it.  Five Nights at Freddy's Website   The film will be in theatres in late October. 

Until Next Time!

Mike's Fearless 2022 Oscar Picks

I am picking who I think will win, not who I think should win. If I think there could be an upset or another winner, I’ll give you that alternate pick. 

Best Picture: CODA       Possible: The Power of the Dog

Directing: Jane Campion - The Power of the Dog

Lead Actress: Jessica Chastain - The Eyes of Tammy Faye     Possible: Penélope Cruz - Parallel Mothers

Lead Actor: Will Smith - King Richard     Possible: Benedict Cumberbatch - The Power of the Dog

Supporting Actress: Ariana DeBose - West Side Story

Supporting Actor: Troy Kotsur - CODA  

Adapted Screenplay: Siân Heder - CODA      Possible: Jane Campion - The Power of the Dog

Original Screenplay: Kenneth Branagh - Belfast      Possible: Paul Thomas Anderson - Licorice Pizza  

Animated Feature: Encanto      Possible: The Mitchells vs. The Machines

Documentary Feature: Summer of Soul      Possible: Flee

International Feature: Drive My Car      Possible: The Worst Person in the World

Cinematography: Greig Fraser - Dune     Possible: Ari Wegner - The Power of the Dog

Costume Design: Jenny Beavan - Cruella

Fim Editing: Joe Walker - Dune     Possible: Myron Kerstein,Andrew Weisblum - tick, tick…Boom!

 

Makeup and Hairstyling: Linda Dowds, Stephanie Ingram, and Justin Raleigh - The Eyes of Tammy Faye

Production Design: Dune

Score: Hans Zimmer - Dune

Original Song: No Time to Die - No TIme to Die     Possible: Dos Oruguitas - Encanto

Sound: Dune

Visual Effects: Dune

Animated Short: Robin Robin

Documentary Short: The Queen of Basketball      Possible: Audible

Live Action Short: The Long Goodbye      Possible: Please Hold

Godzilla: King of the Monsters

My View:  Godzilla: King of the Monsters  (2019)  PG-13  The Titans have awakened and the three-headed King Ghidorah is taking over. It’s up to Godzilla to save the world from Ghidorah and the army of titans. So the fights between Godzilla and the Titans are cool but there is just too little fighting and too much human talking. The film feels longer that it’s two hours and eleven minutes in length. The film wastes the talents of Vera Farmiga and Sally Hawkins. Millie Bobby Grown is given almost nothing to do in the film other than hug people and scream. The plot has holes as big as Godzilla himself and much of it doesn’t make sense. Do stay through all the credits as there is a clue for the next Godzilla film.   My Rating;  Cable   Godzilla Website

My View:  Rocketman  (2019)  R  The life and music of Elton John (Taron Egerton). This is one of the best films of the year and Egerton gives one of the great performances I’ve ever seen. Egerton perfectly captures the magic of Elton John’s performances and you get to see John and lyric writer Bernie Taupin create their greatest songs. This is a different type of biopic as the music tells most of the story. My only complaint about this film is the last third of the film lags a bit as Elton John goes down a dark hole of drugs and alcohol, cutting off everybody he was close to. All your favorite Elton John songs are in this film making it a trip down memory lane. If you are an Elton John fan this film is a must but really it is a must for any film lover.   My Rating: Full Price    Rocketman Website

Indiefest:  All is True  (2019)  PG-13  William Shakespeare (Kenneth Branagh) retires from writing and goes home to his family. I liked this film because I felt that I got to know the man behind the legend. Branagh is perfect in the role of Shakespeare, bring the man to life in front of our eyes. I loved the look of this film, as all the interior scenes were shot only using candlelight. Fans of the bard are going to love this movie.  My Rating: Full Price    All is True Website

Forgotten Film:  Collateral (2004) R   Max (Jamie Foxx) is a cab driver who picks up a passenger, Vincent (Tom Cruise) who gives Max 600 dollars to take him to five stops. What Max soon learns is that Vincent is a contract killer and is going to kill someone at each stop. What I enjoy about this movie is not the action sequences, it’s the conversations that Max and Vincent have in the cab and at a nightclub that Vincent makes Max go to. Their conversations are interesting and meaningful, as Vincent is constantly thinking about the meaning of life, even though his occupation is taking life away.  My Rating: Full Price    Collateral Info

Weird Credits:  From the credits of Rocketman: Facial Hair

Coming Soon to a Theatre Near Your:  Late Night  (2019)  R  Molly (Mindy Kaling) joins the staff of a late night talk show hosted by Katherine (Emma Thompson) who is told that her show is in its last year. Could Molly be the one to save the show? The trailer looks amazing and I love Mindy Kaling, so I’m really looking forward to this one.    Late Night Website

Until Next Time!

22 Jump Street

My View:  22 Jump Street (2014)  R  The boys are back! Schmidt (Jonah Hill) and Jenko (Channing Tatum) have left high school behind and now are ready to go undercover at the hallowed halls of a local university. Now that they are big men on campus, will their friendship survive?  I wasn’t a huge fan of the first film, but I did like some of the comedic moments, especially when some of the TV cast showed up.  I was mildly amused by this film but was put off by the number of jokes making fun of how homosexual Schmidt and Jenko’s relationship seems to be.  Too often the film went for the easy joke and sometimes it felt like we were watching a live action cartoon. At one point I swear I heard the Benny Hill theme music. I did enjoy the performance of Jillian Bell, who plays a roommate with an attitude. I think some people will enjoy this movie, but I can say I only liked it.  There is a funny sequence during the first part of the closing credits, and there is a very small bonus scene at the end of all the credits.  My Rating: Bargain Matinee  22 Jump Street Website

Family Faire:  How to Train Your Dragon 2 (2014)  PG   It’s been five years since Hiccup (Jay Baruchel) and Toothless the dragon saved the day and created peace between the dragons and the Vikings. Hiccup and Toothless stumble upon a faraway cave that houses hundreds of new wild dragons. The two friends discover that there is evil brewing as there is a Viking named, Drago (Djimon Hounsou), that plans on conquering the world.  I loved the first film and I very happy to say that the sequel is it’s equal, and due to the excellent animation, maybe even better.  The storyline moves at a quick pace, and the characters are fun and well developed, and the animation is incredibly detailed and colorful.  It’s film that kids and adults will both love, possibly seeing it several times.  The film also has a great message about friendship, family and taking responsibility.  Go see this film in 3-D, as it uses the technology to great advantage throughout the film, especially during the flying sequences. My Rating: I Would Pay to See it Again  How to Train Your Dragon 2 Website

Forgotten Film:  Cat Ballou (1965) A young woman (Jane Fonda) wants her murdered father avenged. She hires a gunfighter (Lee Marvin) to fight her battles but she doesn’t realize that there is one problem, the gunfighter is a drunk.  This is a hilarious comedy that makes fun of all the arch-typical western stereotypes.  Fonda is excellent as the girl who thinks just about everything in the west is amazing.  Marvin is brilliant as the boozing gunfighter, Kid Shellen, making this film so much fun to watch.  My Rating: Full Price  Cat Ballou Info

In Memory of Ed Wood (A Movie I’ve Only Seen in Trailers But Just Looks Like a Bad Idea):  Step Up: All In (2014)  PG-13  Dancers from the previous films compete in a dance off in Las Vegas.  I think I will sit this one out.  Step Up: All In Facebook page   

In Case You Missed It (A Film Just Released on DVD/Blue Ray):  Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit (2014)  PG-13  Jack Ryan (Chris Pine) is a junior analyst for the CIA. When he uncovers evidence of an imminent terrorist attack, he is sent to Moscow to continue his investigation. He encounters Viktor Cherevin (Kenneth Branagh) who is intent on taking down the world’s economy.  I enjoyed this action film, especially the interplay between Pine and Kevin Costner, who recruits Pine’s character into the CIA.  My Rating: Bargain Matinee  Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit Website

Weird Credits: From the credits of 22 Jump Street:  Football coordinator 

Coming Soon to a Theatre Near You: Snowpiercer (2014) R In the future, almost all life on Earth has perished.  The only people still alive are on a train that travels across the globe.  The film sounds really weird but the trailer makes it look awesome.  Snowpiercer Website 

Until Next Time!

Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit

My View:  Jack Ryan:  Shadow Recruit  (2014) PG-13  Jack Ryan (Chris Pine) is a junior analyst for the CIA. When he uncovers evidence of an imminent terrorist attack, he is sent to Moscow to continue his investigation. He encounters Viktor Cherevin (Kenneth Branagh) who is intent on taking down the world’s economy. Can Jack stop Cherevin’s plan?  This is an enjoyable spy caper with Pine playing the new recruit trying to save the world from economic disaster and terrorists at the same time.  I like the interplay between Pine and Kevin Costner (who plays the man that recruits Ryan into the CIA).  Keira Knightley is cute as Ryan’s girlfriend who gets caught up in the action, but she isn’t asked to do much in the film.  I felt that Branagh made a rather poor villain, as he played the part too low key.  While not a great film, it is an enjoyable ride and makes a nice diversion from all the Oscar heavyweights in the theatres right now.  The film is being shown in IMAX, but unlike the last Mission Impossible film, this one isn't worth seeing in that format.  My Rating: Bargain Matinee  Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit

Family Faire:  The Nut Job (2014) PG  Surly (Will Arnett) is a squirrel with a hankering for nuts. After burning down the tree where all the animals were storing their nuts for winter, he is banished from the park. In town, Surly discovers a Nut store and with his friend, a rat, he plans the heist that could keep him in nuts for the rest of his life. What could go wrong?  This isn’t a bad film, but it can best be described as bland.  I didn’t like Will Arnett as the lead squirrel as I think he really brought nothing to the role.  I did enjoy Maya Rudolph, who voices the Pug Precious, as she steals the movie playing the loveable dog.  The animation was clean and crisp, but the storyline was just dull and lifeless.  I kind of wish the film had been about Precious and not Surly.  The film is not worth seeing in 3-D and parents be warned, there are a number of fart jokes. My Rating: Cable  The Nut Job Facebook Page

Forgotten Film:  Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2003) R  Harry (Robert Downey Jr) is a bumbling thief.  Evading the police after a botched robbery, Harry stumbles into an acting audition and impresses the producers of a movie.  At a Hollywood party, Harry meets a Private Investigator, Perry (Val Kilmer) who is going to train Harry for his role in the film.  An unusual friendship is started and soon the pair are caught up in a murder investigation.  This is a very funny comedy that plays on stereotypical detective films of the 40’s and 50’s.  Downey and Kilmer are hilarious, and the dialogue is sharp and fast.  My Rating:  Full Price  Kiss Kiss Bang Bang Info

In Memory of Ed Wood (A Movie I’ve Only Seen in Trailers But Just Looks Like a Bad Idea):  Blended (2014)  This romantic comedy  stars Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore who, after a blind date that goes bad, find themselves and their families on the same vacation.  I think Sandler just makes movies now so that he can travel, this time to Africa.  Blended Website

In Case You Missed It (A Film Just Released on DVD/Blu-ray):  Carrie  (2013) R  I didn’t like this film, mostly because it didn’t bring anything new to the plot.  I felt that Chloe Moretz was badly cast as Carrie, and the film didn’t have any spark to it.  My Rating:  Bargain Matinee  Carrie Website

Weird Credits:  From the credits of Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit:  Russian arm operator

Coming Soon to a Theatre Near You:  The Railway Man  (2013)  Based on a true story about a British officer who was forced to help the Japanese build a railway during World War II. Now, years later, he finds out that the Japanese officer who tortured him is still alive.  Nicole Kidman and Colin Firth star in the film.  The Railway Man Facebook Page

Until Next Time!