Steve Stebbing

Breaking down all things pop culture

What The Hell Should I Watch? – Jun 23

stevestebbing

no comments

June 23, 2022

New Releases:

Elvis – I have to be honest, I am not the biggest fan of the works of filmmaker Baz Luhrmann but the more I saw the trailers for this new biopic of the original King Of Rock n Roll the more interested in it I became. It isn’t for Tom Hanks either, who kind of looks and sounds bizarre in it, but Once Upon A Time In Hollywood actor Austin Butler who takes on this infinitely iconic role and is seemingly doing a great job of it. The film takes on the story from top to bottom, from his childhood in Tupelo, Mississippi to his rise to stardom starting in Memphis, Tennessee and his conquering of Las Vegas, Nevada, as Elvis Presley becomes the first rock ‘n roll star and changes the world with his music. The look of the film is absolutely gorgeous, something that Luhrmann always has going for him, but I also put that in the hands of Mulan cinematographer Mandy Walker who worked on his last movie Australia as well. I have a lot of hope for this movie and for it to attach a rocket to Butler’s career as he is earning great acclaim for his performance.

The Black Phone – Another pandemic rescheduled film, this new horror from writer and director Scott Derrickson has been on my most anticipated movies list for a long time, ever since I saw the trailer, and it has to be because of the uber-creepy performance from a masked Ethan Hawke. It also is because Derrickson is a master of scaring you out of your seat, as is evident in one of the scariest films of all time, his chiller Sinister. The story follows a thirteen-year-old boy who is abducted by a child killer and locked in a soundproof basement with only a broken phone in the corner on which he starts receiving calls from the killer’s previous victims. I can tell that Derrickson and co-writer Robert Cargill have cooked up something special and wildly original to kick off some great summer horror, a niche in the genre that is sometimes pretty hit or miss. I think this movie is going to mess with people and word of mouth will be pretty big.

The Man From Toronto – This had so much potential out of the gate, an action-comedy about mistaken identity with Kevin Hart and Jason Statham directed by Patrick Hughes, the guy behind fun action films like Red Hill, Expendables 3 and The Hitman’s Bodyguard. Due to scheduling issues, Statham had to drop out and Woody Harrelson stepped in which isn’t a downgrade in my opinion so everything is looking good. The story which I nutshelled at the beginning follows the results of a case of mistaken identity that arises after a screw-up sales consultant and the world’s deadliest assassin, known only as The Man from Toronto, run into each other at an AirBnB holiday rental. This movie starts with that promise I described and then quickly pulls into a nose dive as things get worse and worse. The CGI and effects are horrible, the script is lame and wastes both actors’ talents featuring lines I know I’ve heard in better movies and the only saving grace is some well-done action scenes. If only I could care about those because everything in between screams bad Netflix action and it’s evident why Sony Pictures offloaded this dud to a streaming service. An utter waste of time.

Beavis and Butt-Head Do the Universe – It’s been a long time coming for another installment in the saga of two of the biggest slackers of the nineties and an animated gem out of the MTV generation. That’s right, I’m. a huge Beavis and Butthead fan and it’s been too long since their last series, which was eleven years ago, or their last and only movie, which was over twenty-five years ago. Now, after a “creative” judge sentences them to space camp, a black hole sends our adolescent heroes twenty-four years into the modern future where the duo misuse Iphones, embark on a quest to score and become targets of the Deep State. Yes, I feel like, as a fan, this is exactly what I want and creator Mike Judge always seems to hit with the great satire and comedy coupled with the love and reverence for the characters that got him here, thirty years later after their debut on Liquid Television. I’m watching this day one on Paramount+ and can not wait.

Drive My Car – With Academy Awards nominations, which notched a win for Best Foreign, and critical acclaim from so many renowned film reviewers around the world, the bar was set pretty high for this Japanese drama. This is no flinching matter for writer and director Ryûsuke Hamaguchi, who not only netted the Best Foreign Oscar award but the Best Adapted Screenplay nomination as well, which puts him in the arena against favourites like Jane Campion, Denis Villeneuve and Maggie Gyllenhaal but I don’t think he’s worried because his film is that good. The story follows Yusuke Kafuku, a renowned stage actor and director, who receives an offer to direct a production of Uncle Vanya at a theatre festival in Hiroshima just shortly after the tragic passing of his wife. There, he meets Misaki Watari, a taciturn young woman assigned by the festival to chauffeur him in his beloved red Saab 900. As the production’s premiere approaches, tensions mount among the cast and crew, not least between Yusuke and Koshi Takatsuki, a handsome TV star who shares an unwelcome connection to Yusuke’s late wife. Forced to confront painful truths raised from his past, Yusuke begins, with the help of his driver, to face the haunting mysteries his wife left behind. This film is made with such rich performances and a beautiful scope that reminded me of the serene qualities of a Hikaru Korreda film, a dramatic director who prefers stories about quiet solitude. I don’t want to give too much of this movie away but it is a real crowd-pleaser that will be remembered long afterwards and goes down avenues of grief and processing it through art.

Rise – After Adam Sandler’s Hustle a couple of weeks ago, I’m totally ready for more basketball movies and this one just happens to be directly based on a true story which gives it that added boost. I’m not too familiar with a lot of players in the NBA right now but I would have to be under a rock to not know who Giannis Antetokounmpo is, especially after he won the NBA championship last year with the Milwaukee Bucks. This is his origin story, following the parents of Giannis and his two brothers as they emigrate from Nigeria to Greece for a chance at a better life for their family, working hard to provide for their children, while the reality of deportation from a difficult citizenship system threatens the dreams for their future. When an opportunity arises, the Antetokounmpo brothers take their frustrations to the public basketball courts and although they have no experience in the sport, they realize they are naturally gifted ball players. With the help of a talent agent, the trio decides to pursue careers in the NBA. This movie looks like a feel-good story of an underdog family fighting against poverty and adversity to achieve a dream and it looks like it could transcend the interest in baseball just to be a solid based on a true story drama.

Jazz Fest: A New Orleans Story – Nothing is better than a solid music documentary even if I’m not exactly into the genre in question but I think the fact that “jazz” is in the title is a bit misleading as it really encompasses many different styles into one show. The movie also brings something that is special to me in many different settings, the festival feel, atmosphere and ability to bring people together. This documentary not only captures the signature annual music and cultural event that has been called America’s greatest festival in all of its beauty and glory but also delves deep into the rich culture of The Big Easy. New Orleans is a destination for me as I’ve seen so much of it through film and television many times and this film just compounds how much I need to go there. The music and the culture, yes, but, oh my god, the food looks incredible and the documentary definitely focuses on that a little bit as it is a big part of the celebration as well.

Slash/Back – I love that Indigenous stories or films written, produced and starring the community are getting a bigger platform because it’s about damn time these films stopped getting marginalized and, let’s face it, they can help elevate the mediocre name that Canadian films have had as a stereotype for decades. What was even better about this new and fantastical sci-fi adventure is that the early buzz and festival reactions to it were really positive. The story follows Maika and her ragtag friends who discover an alien invasion in their tiny arctic hamlet and decide that it’s up to them to save the day. Utilizing their makeshift weapons and horror movie knowledge, the aliens will soon realize you don’t mess with girls from Pang. For me, the biggest takeaway from this film was the emerging voice of writer and director Nyla Innuksuk who brims with originality in her storytelling. I really hope that this debut feature is just the tip of the iceberg and we get to see more from her in the coming years. This movie pays beautiful homages to the classic alien invasion films that obviously inspired it but does it in unique ways that keep you excited for what’s next. I loved this one and hope it gets to shine on a wider audience level.

Blu-Ray:

The Unbearable Weight Of Massive Talent – Being a huge Nicolas Cage fan, which is no secret to any regular readers of my work, this seems like the ultimate goal for this legend to hit at least once in his career, playing an ultra version of himself. Add to that the added charm of starring The Mandalorian himself, Pedro Pascal, which gives this comedy even more of a draw and it becomes even more must-see for 2022. In the film, he plays a cash-strapped Nicolas Cage who agrees to make a paid appearance at a billionaire super fan’s birthday party but is really an informant for the CIA since the billionaire fan is a drug kingpin and he is forced to live up to his own legend, channelling his most iconic and beloved on-screen characters in order to save himself and his loved ones. The onscreen chemistry between Cage and Pascal is absolutely beautiful and incredibly charming and the addition of Tiffany Haddish and Ike Barinholtz as the CIA agents in question adds so much more to the hilarity as well. I had a huge bar set for this movie to clear and it soared so high above it that I forgot any of my expectations and just had a hell of a time. Getting meta with Nic Cage has never been so much fun and I can’t wait to watch this again and again, one of my new favorite comedies.

Cinderella – With the flash mob stunt that was pulled in Los Angeles by James Corden, this fairy tale remake was already skating on thin ice for me as, c’mon, you guys know that Corden is the friggin’ worst, right? Anyways, I really love what Kenneth Branagh did with the Disney live-action version of the story so I feel like this one is highly unnecessary and a musical as well and with the heavyweight that is also coming on blu-ray in that department, this one doesn’t have a chance. This remake stars Camila Cabello, Billy Porter and Idina Menzel and opts to take a modern take on the traditional story you grew up with, even down to the fairy godmother who Porter plays as Fab G. Yeah, I don’t like any of it either but I’m sure this one will find an audience and become a pretty sizeable hit and we’ll all still regret that horrible PR traffic stunt.

After Yang – Colin Farrell has had a hell of a year so far, not only playing The Penguin in, as of now, one of the biggest films of 2022 but also co-starring in this critically-lauded drama. The film was made by writer and director Kogonada in his follow-up to the phenomenal Columbus from almost five years ago and features Jodie Turner-Smith who blew me away in Queen & Slim last year. The film is set in a near-future where humans are dependent on androids to do their bidding and one family’s struggle with questions of love, connection, and loss after their A.I. helper unexpectedly breaks down. Kogonada plumbs some incredible depths of human emotion in his last film so I’m really excited to see what he does with this sci-fi twinged setting and I really love sombre Colin Farrell’s character work as in the Yorgos Lanthimos films The Killing Of A Sacred Deer and The Lobster. This might be a low-key best film of 2022 I think.

You Are Not My Mother – There is something about British, Irish, Scottish or Welsh-made films that automatically makes me gravitate towards them but the horror side of things really gets my attention because they are always so incredibly crafted. Last year had the Welsh mind twister Censor and the British chiller Caveat and it’s right in between those great films where this simple and slightly monstrous horror tells its compelling tale. Not featuring any cast members that are known on a global scale, this film is set in a North Dublin housing estate where a young teen named Char’s mother goes missing. When she returns Char is determined to uncover the truth of her disappearance and unearth the dark secrets of her family as she starts to see weird behaviours in her mother that she has never seen before and her grandmother seems both wary and knowledgable about the whole situation. This film is immensely satisfying in its incredible atmosphere that draws you in deeper and deeper into the mystery that surrounds Char and her family with subtle little flashes of pure terror that will get under your skin. What I love about horror is it can be made for relatively nothing and still be effective with every frame, as this film shows off with class.

The Cellar – Yes, I’m a huge horror fan so it doesn’t take a lot to get me into a new fright flick but I also have had a deep love for Elisha Cuthbert but not during the Popular Mechanics For Kids time because that would be creepy. No, my crush is on Kim Bauer in the Keifer Sutherland series 24 but a brunette Elisha takes the lead in this new thriller and I’m so intrigued. She plays Keira Woods, a mother whose daughter mysteriously vanishes in the cellar of their new house. She soon discovers there is an ancient and powerful entity controlling their home that she will have to face or risk losing her family’s souls forever. Oh yeah, haunted house films get me all the time but my issue is that this film never seems to get to a place beyond middling in any facet. The script feels limp, the acting watered down and the scares are almost nonexistent due to its been there done that nature. Usually, these Shudder originals deliver but this one felt like a floater in the end.

Aquaman: King Of Atlantis – Aquaman seems to be in the news for all of the wrong reasons with the Amber Heard and Mera conversation being on everyone’s lip so it figures that this silly little animated version just slipped under the radar. The animation style may rub many adult viewers the wrong way as it is geared to the more simple ways of doing it but with shows like Steven Universe and Adventure Time being the rage, well, the kids are into it and it can be as crazy as it wants to be. The story follows Aquaman just as he finally becomes king of Atlantis, but he has a lot of learning to do and thankfully, his advisors Vulko, a scholar, and Mera, a water-wielding warrior, are there to give him a hand. Cooper Andrews takes the lead role, an unknown to many people, but veteran comedian Thomas Lennon plays Vulko and, a great casting choice, Community’s Gillian Jacobs takes the role of Mera which kind of makes me want to see her in the live-action role as well. You know it would be a better choice than Heard but at this point that isn’t a hard sell.

The Patrick Star Show: Season 1 Volume 1 – As big as a Spongebob fan I am, I really have a soft spot for his good buddy Patrick Star and, honestly, it’s high time that this underwater madness got some sort of a spin-off, especially after multiple movies. The dim-witted starfish is honestly the perfect candidate for the show too because who wants to follow around the dour and depressing Squidward Tentacles? The Nickelodeon series is pretty simple at its core, following Patrick who still lives at home with his parents, a helpful sister and a grandparent he can’t seem to remember from day to day but neither can the rest of the family. I’m willing to let it slide that Patrick is no longer living next to Spongebob under a rock because apparently we’ve retconned that but I do love that they play in Patrick’s imagination and he has his own talk show through that. Yes, I know this is all geared at the kids but I am thankful that I love it just as much as they do and that’s probably more telling that I’m a stoner.

Steve’s Blu-Ray Geekouts:

Blade Runner – One of the greatest sci-fi stories of all time hit the four-decade mark this week and I just had to bring it as I think it is still to this day Ridley Scott’s crowning achievement. Through multiple cuts, writer and director theories and audience conspiracy, this movie has managed to keep relevant for forty years and we even got a long-anticipated sequel from Denis Villeneuve that I love more than the original. For those who need to get a quick education on this Philip K. Dick brilliance, the film follows Harrison Ford as Deckard, a blade runner who must pursue and terminate four replicants who stole a ship in space and have returned to Earth to find their creator. Ford is great in this but it’s Rutger Hauer who steals the show as the enigmatic Roy Batty, the replicant leader as well as a soulful philosopher who sees the mark of a new life on an old world and hopes to capitalize from it. The effects, the cinematography, the script, performances and studious direction all combine to make one of the most perfect moments in science fiction film history and I raise my glass to an absolute masterpiece.

Television:

The Umbrella Academy: Season 3 (Netflix) – This show has to be one of the most difficult to reform after the transition of one of its main characters and it is at a time where they are just sort of figuring out the power and depth of said person. Yes, it is now widely known that Elliot Page is the actor going forward but it also leaves the big question of what happens to their character, Vanya Hargreaves, a huge part of the main superhero family at the center of this show. The show as we know it has the crew back in their own timeline after a brief visit to the sixties in season two but the reality has changed and the man who put the group together, Reginald Hargreaves, has opted to adopt seven different miraculous babies instead with an all-new result. I love this show so much, one of Netflix’s greatest assets and a series that is so reverent and celebratory of the Gerard and Mikey Way-created comic series. The feel and drive of it have never faltered and it still manages to completely surprise me as it tries to carve its own path. This is a welcome return and I highly recommend getting into or back into it.

Wellington Paranormal: Season 3 (The CW) – As a big fan of everything that Jemaine Clement, Taika Waititi and their insane New Zealander comedy stylings, I have been waiting for this series to hit North American television screens as it has finished its entire run in its native country. Following on the heels of the phenomenal What We Do In The Shadows, the series follows Sergeant Ruawai Maaka of the Wellington Police who enlists the aid of Officers Minogue and O’Leary to tackle paranormal events in New Zealand’s capital city. In a police reality show style, the third season of this series follows these kiwi cops as they investigate cases such as the demon possession of a teenager, a noise complaint at a haunted house and a blood bank robbery in a completely irreverent comedic fashion. Seriously, New Zealand might be the funniest country on the planet and I’m pretty sold on that opinion. Prove me wrong, other countries!

Man vs. Bee (Netflix) – Rowan Atkinson is one of the best physical comedy actors of any generation and all you need to do is point to the many adventures of Mr. Bean, both on television and in the movies, for evidence. I have to assume, for this reason, it was a no-brainer for Netflix to pick up his new no-dialogue adventure even if he wasn’t playing the Austin Mini driving oddball. Again, we have a really simple premise, with Rowan playing a man who finds himself at war with a bee while housesitting a luxurious mansion. I can only imagine the hijinx that ensues with the brilliance contained in the head of Atkinson but how far can this be stretched out? I had initially thought this was a movie but it is a series apparently. Luckily, they are just fifteen-minute episodes but I hope that doesn’t overstay its welcome either.

What The Hell Should I Watch? – Jun 16

stevestebbing

no comments

June 16, 2022

New Releases:

Lightyear – The amount of promise that this new Pixar film has amassed since it was announced is very interesting because I didn’t really see the appeal when the idea was first proposed but this cast alone has got me going. Chris Evans is taking over the iconic role from Tim Allen, a replacement I’m more than fine with but it also has the added boost of Nope’s Keke Palmer and the great Taika Waititi to join him on his brand new adventure. This is a prequel adventure that follows the real and non-toy Buzz as he is marooned while spending years attempting to return home and encounters an army of ruthless robots commanded by his arch-nemesis Zurg who are attempting to steal his fuel source. Being a Pixar film, I do have an ascertained level of expectation for this movie but, given its source material, it has to be delivered through a canon of predetermined things around this character to be fully satisfying. This could be polarizing but I’m looking forward to it.

Spiderhead – Top Gun Maverick director Joseph Kosinski didn’t even have time to do a victory lap over the success of his long-anticipated Tom Cruise sequel before Netflix rolled out his newest movie but that is just the pitfalls of being in a “post-pandemic” existence. For this new thriller, he got to bring along Miles Teller for a familiar face in his works as well as work with the uber-talented Christ Hemsworth just a month before Thor: Love And Thunder hits theatres. The story is set in a near-future where convicts are offered the chance to volunteer as medical subjects to shorten their sentences. One such subject for a new drug capable of generating feelings of love begins questioning the reality of his emotions and the motivation of the man in charge of the whole facility. Teller gets the main role in this film as Hemsworth dons a role that is rare for him, the shady scientist with cold calculations who might be a villain and for how interesting the switch in the archetype is, the interest of this movie never rises above a dull hum. The cinematography is great and the style is present but the story consistently falls into familiar ruts and the engagement never seems to arrive. Even by the last moments, I felt disappointed in the fact that for all of the talents of everyone involved, it all came across so mid-grade.

The Phantom Of The Open – This is a lucky week for character acting because we get not just one Mark Rylance-led film but two and it all kicks off with this based on a true story underdog tale and it features all of the Oscar-winning actor’s best qualities. Charm is the name of the game in this one as it also has the immeasurably great Sally Hawkins as Rylance’s wife in the film so the points it automatically earns are off the charts. The film has Rylance playing Maurice Flitcroft, a dreamer and unrelenting optimist, who managed to gain entry to The British Open Golf Championship Qualifying in 1976 and subsequently shot the worst round in Open history, becoming a folk hero in the process. Based on a novel by author Scott Murray, written by Paddington 2’s Simon Farnaby and directed by the immensely talented actor turned filmmaker Craig Roberts, this film is so endearingly funny and all has the brimming heart of its star and co-lead to rub off on all the other elements of the film. I loved the cinematography of it, done by Eternal Beauty’s Kit Fraser, which gives the whimsy of Flitcroft’s wonderful imagination in some really key scenes. The best part is that you don’t need to be a golf fan or even a casual viewer to really sink your teeth into it. The film feels broad in its appeal and I think it will spread through word of mouth.

Brian And Charles – Every now and then there is a festival darling that, despite the studio’s best efforts, just squeaks by without any notice due to not featuring a big star, a notable director or a sizeable budget. That’s exactly what this little British film tried to do but luckily I was sent a trailer for it months ago and have been eagerly waiting for its release. The film follows Brian, a man in a deep depression after a notably bad winter who wallows in the anxiety of loneliness until he finds the one thing to bring him out of it and that is building himself a robot companion. This comedy has such great word of mouth behind it with people calling its brand of deadpan brilliant which has me even more excited to check it out. I also really enjoy David Earl’s work from his roles in some of Ricky Gervais’ shows like After Life and Derek.

Jerry And Marge Go Large – Just looking at the poster, with lead actors Bryan Cranston and Annette Bening sitting on the back of a pickup truck, I knew I was going to be into this movie no matter what it turned out to be because I love both of these stars. Upon a deeper dig, I found this was a comedy that happens to be based on a true story and I was even more elated because both of these great talents work so well in comedic settings. The film is the real story of retiree Jerry Selbee, who discovers a mathematical loophole in the Massachusetts lottery and, with the help of his wife, Marge, wins millions and uses the money to revive their small Michigan town. Very inspirational and totally sweet-hearted at its core, it has the added charm of being directed by David Frankel who has given some solid offerings like The Devil Wears Prada and Marley And Me. On the other hand, this is his follow-up to Collateral Beauty which had an amazing cast but the worst follow-through of a good concept I have seen in a while. I’m trying not to let that hang over this one though.

Father Of The Bride – It’s an odd shift to go from a couple of Steve Martin-led comedy films that were beloved by its audience to the not usually comedy-associated star of Andy Garcia but that is exactly what HBO has done for their new remake of a nineties favourite. They’re also making the gamble of putting it in the hands of director Gary Alazraki in his English language debut but I think this is just part of the Latinx spin that this story is getting and dealing with big families and big weddings, well, it works well. The film is fairly simple as its predecessor, following a father’s coming to grips with his daughter’s upcoming wedding through the prism of multiple relationships within a big, sprawling Cuban-American clan. I didn’t space on the fact that classic actor Spencer Tracy originally starred in this story in 1950 and this is the style of film that I think we are getting this time around, rather than any of the physicality and excessiveness that comes with a Steve Martin film. That said, I think those expecting that sort of movie will be disappointed.

Cha Cha Real Smooth – With only two feature films under his belt including this one it may be a little early to call writer, director and actor Connor Raiff one of my current favourite filmmakers but following up the brilliant comedy-drama Shithouse with this even better offering has me speaking in hyperbole about the guy. Raiff has such a great command of deeply humanly flawed dramas with a comedic twist that after his microbudget debut he has managed to get Dakota Johnson and Leslie Mann in this one and it pays off beautifully. Raiff plays 22-year-old Andrew, a guy fresh out of college and without a clear life path going forward who is stuck back at home with his family in New Jersey. If there’s one thing that belongs on his nonexistent résumé, it’s how to get a party started, and this lands him the perfect job of motivational dancing at the bar and bat mitzvahs for his younger brother’s classmates. When Andrew befriends a local mom, Domino, and her daughter, Lola, he finally discovers a future he wants and his meandering in life days might come to a close if he makes the right moves. Raiff’s script is so snappy and funny that I found myself laughing so hard with each sarcastic and sardonic delivery, which elevated Dakota Johnson’s performance as well, an actress who seems to get immensely better and better in each performance I see from her. Much like Coda did for it last year, I think this is a slow-burn film for AppleTV+ which will constantly be pushed by word of mouth. I consider it equally as special.

Blu-Ray & DVD:

Morbius – I had definite worries about this new piece of the Sony Pictures part of the Marvel cinematic universe and it wasn’t just because of the length of time it took for it to finally be released, all pandemic related but from the lacklustre trailers that seem totally corny and uninspired, the shoehorning of Michael Keaton’s Spider-Man: Homecoming character into said preview and the list goes on and on. Well, my worries were half right as the film is corny, uninspired and totally forgettable but that isn’t to say it’s a bad movie just a film that completely fails to elevate itself to any degree. The story follows the brilliant biochemist as he tries to cure himself of a rare blood disease but he inadvertently infects himself with a form of vampirism instead. This movie is a special kind of dumb in the fact that Sony thought it was a smart idea to release the film to bomb a second time after they were led to believe that the internet was a huge fan, meaning that someone at the studio had a hard time reading sarcasm. This isn’t a film that will gain cult status in ten years or will be remembered fondly. The sad fact is that aside from the microcosm of 2022, Morbius is destined to float away in a sea of mediocre comic book movies.

The Outfit – My second opportunity to praise Mark Rylance is here and I revel in it because he is an Academy Award winner who always gives his best in every film he does but a lot of people still don’t know who he is or know his face but not his name. Well, he might get some eyes on him now as he’s in this brand new crime thriller that has a broad genre appeal with him front and center and the target of some pretty bad guys. The story has him as Leonard, a master English tailor who’s ended up in Chicago and operates a corner tailor shop with his assistant, played by the great Zoey Deutch, where he makes beautiful clothes for the only people around who can afford them, a family of vicious gangsters. One night, two killers, played by Dylan O’Brien and Johnny Flynn, knock on his door in need of a favour and Leonard is thrust onto the board in a deadly game of deception and murder as a result. This film is the debut as a director for writer Graham Moore who won an Academy Award for his screenplay for The Imitation Game not to sound like a cliche when it comes to a film about a tailor but the look is so slick and stylish and that is all thanks to cinematographer Dick Pope who has done incredible work in his career, especially his films with Edgar Wright. The film is a satisfying journey of plot twists and motivation reveals, although it seems to float under the mark f better films of its ilk. Rylance still is mesmerizing to watch on-screen though and elevates anyone that is in the scene with him.

Father Stu – With the news that Mark Wahlberg may soon be retiring from mainstream Hollywood filmmaking and focusing only on faith-based stories like this one, it adds all that much more disappointment to covering this one which was already at a low with the casting of Mel Gibson. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, n good storytelling has come out of the faith-based market ever and I have suffered through too many of them. This one follows the life of Father Stuart Long, played by Wahlberg, a boxer-turned-priest who inspired countless people during his journey from self-destruction to redemption. Everything about the trailer for this movie feels like a pandering message-driven story that once again focuses on delivering the ideals over being an actually entertaining movie. I don’t need to be preached at about faith and belief but that is all these films seem to do. Seriously, how many people are being converted to Christianity or catholicism during an outing to the movies? Just give it up already.

Fatherhood – It was with a chip on my shoulder I entered into this new Kevin Hart comedy as I usually really dislike the films he chooses to make unless he’s teamed with The Rock. This film had some great things going for it though, as it was made by Paul Weitz who directed great films like About Boy and Grandma, so I had glimmers of hope. The film follows Hart in a sweet story about a father who brings up his baby girl as a single dad after the unexpected death of his wife who died a day after their daughter’s birth. Hart plays this role in a beautifully subdued performance that has instant chemistry with his little co-star Melody Hurd who can be seen in the incredible Amazon Prime series Them. I also adored his friends in the film, played by Bill And Ted Face The Music’s Anthony Carrigan and Get Out’s Lil Rey Howery who have hilarious lines throughout. I was really surprised by how much I adored this movie and I hope it lands with people.

Benedetta – One thing that has remained the same for pretty much his entire career, you can always count on filmmaker Paul Verhoeven to be a really horny storyteller. Much like David Cronenberg’s entry into cinema this year, these storytellers have a certain writhing sexuality that has been a part of their oeuvre as long as we’ve been watching them and at over eighty years old now we know that Paul is going to go out on a shield shaped like a naked woman. For this new film, he brings some religious controversy as he is telling the story of a 17th-century nun in Italy who suffers from disturbing religious and erotic visions. She is assisted by a companion who she saves from abuse and slavery, and the relationship between the two women develops into a romantic love affair that invokes a blasphemy that could lead to both their demise. It can be easily said that there is not a single dull moment to be had in this film which has everything sexual, sexually violent and just plain violent to be had and it’s all gorgeously shot. I do think that he could seriously benefit by having a single woman in the creative process but at this stage, a leopard is definitely not going to change his spots and what has worked for decades will continue to set him apart from other filmmakers.

Off Season – Trying to find information about this movie before I popped in the blu-ray was like trying to find the map to the Ark de Covenant so I was forced to go on what the studio and Shudder’s own PR people have said about it rather than get a Rotten Tomatoes or Letterbox’d pre-review.That said, I’m more grateful to have gone in pretty much blind because this film is all about atmosphere and ambiguity. Like all great mystery thrillers, this movie is largely about lineage and dormant family bonds as it follows Tenn and his relentless search for his father which takes him back to his childhood town only to find a community gripped by fear. As he travels deeper into the bitter winter wilderness of the town he uncovers a dreadful secret buried long ago and, even worse, he has dragged his unknowing significant other into the mess. Brimming with fog and greyness, this film languishes on being a head trip, starting out with a chilling monologue from character actress Melora Walters which ends with a tortured scream that plays over the beginning credits. This sets up quite the ride but if you don’t like a flighty arthouse horror it may just sail right by you.

The Clock – Warner Archive slides into the new releases this week with another Judy Garland film out of its vaults and now is the plotting on the timeline of the troubled star of when this was made in her storied career. The film was made and released in the mid-forties which was six years after her landmark performance in The Wizard Of Oz so this was very much in her heyday. The film was a modern one that was set during a 48-hour leave at a Pennsylvania station where a soldier meets a girl accidentally and spends his leave with her, eventually falling in love with the lovely New Yorker. Looking at Garland at the time, it wasn’t hard to imagine why she was so sought after and eventually overworked, as she had all the qualities that just popped on the screen. This was also during her romance with Vincente Minnelli who would make way for Liza to be born just a year later.

Steve’s Blu-Ray Geek-Outs:

E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial – One of my first major cinematic moments in memory has to come from this Steven Spielberg family sci-fi classic that gave me serious envy of finding an alien in my backyard. I feel like many kids of my generation and beyond had a love for this movie and for many of us it also may have been the point where we started to love watching films and even making them. For those who have been under a rock for forty years, the story follows an alien who is stranded on Earth but discovered and befriended by a ten-year-old boy named Elliott. Bringing him into his suburban California house, Elliott introduces E.T., as he is dubbed, to his brother, Michael, and sister, Gertie, and they decide to keep his existence a secret. Soon, however, he falls ill, resulting in government intervention and a dire situation for both him and Elliott. I remember that last part devastated me as he went all white like an old dog turd in the backyard. This movie is so special in so many ways and I have had so many deep discussions with friends on its resonance so it is really cool to celebrate its fortieth anniversary this week.

Predator – Speaking of really cool anniversaries, I couldn’t resist bringing this landmark action sci-fi flick on the week of its thirty-fifth birthday as it is another film that shaped my love of movies undoubtedly. As a kid of the eighties, action films were high up on my list and there were few bigger than the great Arnold Schwarzenegger and this one is still possibly one of his best. Obviously, a classic that a majority of people show know but this film follows a team of special force ops, led by a tough but fair soldier, Major “Dutch” Schaefer, who are ordered to assist CIA man, Colonel Al Dillon, on a rescue mission for potential survivors of a Helicopter downed over remote South American jungle. Not long after they land, Dutch and his team discover that they have been sent in under false pretenses but this deception turns out to be the least of their worries when they find themselves being methodically hunted by something not of this world. The movie still holds up with the action and monster-building elements even if the dialogue is clunky and has been more related to the iconic catchphrases that Arnie utters throughout it. This is the kind of film that I will watch the duration of as soon as it pops up on television as well as being an action thriller that informed many of our favourites to come afterwards. Sad that Jean Claude Van Damme quit his role as the Predator itself because it could have been a collaboration long before he and Arnie crossed paths in The Expendables 2.

The Witches Of Eastwick – Imagine assembling a cast like this now for a seemingly unbankable film about three newly anointed witches taking on the devil. I don’t think it would get the go-ahead from a big studio nor would they pitch stars like Jack Nicholson, Cher, Susan Sarandon and Michelle Pfieffer for it. Well, we lucked out thirty-five years ago and they even gave it to the Mad Max creator George Miller to direct, even if it followed the flop that was Beyond Thunderdome. This movie is a beloved classic, much better than the celebrated Practical Magic, that followed three single women in a picturesque village who have their wishes granted, at a cost when a mysterious and flamboyant man arrives in their lives with the intent of turning it all upside down in a lurid affair. The performances from each person in this powerhouse cast are so good and, although I’m not usually a fan, Cher is really the standout alongside Jack who gives his iconic best as Daryl Van Horne. I know they did a television version of this story but I think it would be fun to have an updated kick at this story again.

Television:

God’s Favorite Idiot (Netflix) – The combination of writer, director and supporting comedy actor Ben Falcone and his wife, actress and comedian Melissa McCarthy, has yet to yield anything of substance and usually causes me great frustration in the review department. With dogs like Tammy, The Boss, Life Of The Party and more unfortunate messes, the fact that Netflix has now given them the space to roam around in series form isn’t that inspiring but here we go anyways. Falcone takes the lead this time, playing mid-level Tech support employee Clark Thompson who finds love with co-worker Amily Luck, played by McCarthy, but at exactly the same time he becomes the unwitting messenger of God which includes the trappings of roller skating, a lake of fire and an impending apocalypse. I really love Melissa and want this to work out but once you’ve been burned by horrendous comedy, an affliction that these two suffer from, it’s hard to renew your investment. Will I still give it a chance though? Yeah, most likely. I’m a foolish sucker.

The Old Man (FX) – As soon as I saw that Jeff Bridges was doing his first television series and it was on FX I knew I was immediately on board and couldn’t wait. The trailers were simple and knew that all we needed to see was The Dude as an old modern cowboy with a gun and it would totally nab viewers. Bridges stars as Dan Chase, a former CIA officer living off the grid, who finds himself on the run from law enforcement who want to bring him in for past jobs that have been revealed. When Chase proves to be more difficult to apprehend than the authorities expected, a highly trained special ops contractor is sent to pursue him as well. This is totally my kind of show and it comes from the creative team behind Black Sails, which is a far different style of show granted, but it made a hell of an impact on screen no matter what the genre was. I hope this one is a big hit as it would be great for Bridges to have beaten cancer for.

What The Hell Should I Watch? – Jun 9

stevestebbing

no comments

June 9, 2022

New Releases:

Jurassic World Dominion – My feelings are really mixed on what is said to be the conclusion of the Jurassic Park slash World franchise as the last movie left me cold with bad writing, nonsensical plot decisions and totally dumb characters but this film is fully bringing Sam Neill, Laura Dern and Jeff Goldblum back into the fold and I really am excited about that. These legacy sequels have been hit or miss but with director Colin Trevorrow out of movie jail and back at the helm of it, this might be great. The film takes place four years after the destruction of Isla Nublar and dinosaurs now live and hunt alongside humans all over the world. This fragile balance will reshape the future and determine, once and for all, whether human beings are to remain the apex predators on a planet they now share with history’s most fearsome creatures in a new era. The trailers are fun and exhilarating and a lot of that frontier landscape is right in my backyard here in the Okanagan area as it was filmed in the surrounding areas of Kamloops which star Chris Pratt fell in love with. It’s hard not to set a bar on how good this will be but after Fallen Kingdom they have the benefit of the bar being a good notch lower.

Hustle – I hope it is widely known that Adam Sandler is a fantastic actor when he picks the roles that command more presence. He’s proved this with films like Punch Drunk Love, Reign Over Me, Spanglish and more recently with the pulse-pounding Safdie film Uncut Gems. That said, when he signed his Netflix deal I expected more of the Grown-Ups and Hubie Halloween side of the comedy actor but I wasn’t expecting this new one. Sandler plays a washed-up basketball scout for the Philadelphia 76ers who discovers a phenomenal street ball player while in Spain and sees the prospect as his opportunity to get back into the NBA. The film is brimming with heart and charm brought to the center of it by Sandler’s capable performance that has little nuances of the real Sandman and the giant stature of real NBA star Juancho Hernangomez as the prospect Bo Cruz. Under the steady direction of We The Animals filmmaker Jeremiah Zagar the movie manages to be so infectious that it is able to vault over the more formulaic pieces of the story.

Blu-Ray:

The Contractor – I will fully admit that just Chris Pine alone is not enough to sell a movie for me but when you put Ben Foster in the same film it will pique my interest just because of their chemistry in Hell Or High Water. Even so, on the surface, this movie looks pretty damn formulaic and, for the most part, it is but it still manages to be entertaining. The film has Pine as a discharged U.S. Special Forces sergeant named James Harper who risks everything for his family when he joins a private contracting organization that his military friend has been doing jobs for. The film also has the great Keifer Sutherland and Community’s Gillian Jacobs but everyone takes a back seat as Pine is the driving force of the story and does a dutiful job of keeping it firmly on his soldiers. This isn’t a gamechanger by any standards but it does keep you engaged for the whole duration which is a lot to ask sometimes.

Compartment Number 6 – Conversational movies are a really hard sell to most mainstream audiences at best but when it is a foreign film with a whole bunch of subtitles, it can be worse. I’m a guy who cut his teeth on films like Singles and Richard Linklater’s Before trilogy with Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy so when a film like this comes out it feels like it is directly in my wheelhouse. The film follows a young Finnish woman who escapes an enigmatic love affair in Moscow by boarding a train to the Arctic port of Murmansk. Forced to share the long ride and a tiny sleeping car with a Russian miner, the unexpected encounter leads the occupants of Compartment number six to face the truth about their own yearning for human connection and the real feelings of loneliness that have clouded them for longer than they can remember. The fascinating thing about this film is the archetypes which it deals with because, in a focused European way, they seem cliched but this is only on the surface. Laura is an introvert yearning to be a bubbly and outgoing person which could cure her ennui while Ljoha is a brash Russian who replaces anger with vulnerability but also has a soft spot for love stories like Titanic. Most won’t have the patience to see the glow within this movie but those who can will feel totally rewarded.

Catch The Fair One – At a quick breakneck speed, this less than an hour and a half of intense redemption got me hooked right away and I knew absolutely nothing about it when I pressed play. It feels like I’m jumping into descriptors on this film early but that is to sell how out of nowhere great this movie was and how compelling its newcomer lead star is, Kali Reis, who also wrote the story. The story follows a former champion indigenous boxer battling her demons of addiction and family estrangement that embarks on the fight of her life when she goes in search of her missing sister, to bring her home to her mother and earn some sort of redemption. The grit of this movie shakes off in every scene as Reis’s portrayal feels real and the inexperience of her character drives the inexperience and, above all, the reckless abandon of her objective. The violence is explosive but the emotion is just as palpable leading to a third act that delivers an ending that will sit with you for more than a moment.

Steve’s Blu-Ray & DVD Geek-Out:

Poltergeist – This is one of the classic ghost stories on film, a movie released forty years ago this week that will always have a place in many people’s hearts but will also always be a cautionary tale in filmmaking as it has so many dark clouds over it. First off, there’s always the debate on whether Tobe Hooper directed this as he is credited or if producer Steven Spielberg did the heavy lifting and the second one is the use of real human skeletons which may have cursed not just this movie but the subsequent sequels to come. It’s really fascinating to dig into. The film follows the Freelings, a young family who is visited by ghosts in their home. At first, the ghosts appear friendly, moving objects around the house to the amusement of everyone but then they turn nasty and start to terrorize the family before they focus on the youngest daughter, one who has an astral connection with them. This movie oozes style and the effects were groundbreaking at the time. It also illustrates how different a tie it was when it was released as the film would have probably gotten an R-rating these days just for the bathroom mirror scene with Marty alone.

Con Air – If a Nicolas Cage movie is going to hit a milestone anniversary, you know I’m going to try and talk about it on The Shift this is arguably one of the audience favourites of his filmography and it definitely has to do with it being a high octane action thrill ride from start to finish. The cast is another heavyweight that keeps this on the top of the action pile with John Malkovich, John Cusack, Steve Buscemi and so many more with dialogue I still bring up all the time. For those who haven’t seen this, the adventure of an incarcerated Cameron Poe, it follows the newly-paroled ex-con and former U.S. Ranger as he is trapped in a prisoner-transport plane when the passengers seize control. Insane action sequences and the Bruckheimer flair make the almost two hours of this epic fly by. If you haven’t seen this or it’s been a while, no time is better than now to refresh your action muscle.

Harry And The Hendersons – This is a neat reach back here as this family classic is celebrating its thirty fifth anniversary this week and it was a big film in my house during my childhood and to see it pop up again just warms my heart. It was I think the first time I had seen anything with John Lithgow in it to my knowledge which is a big deal because he has since become one of my favourite character actors. For those who haven’t had the sweetheart privilege of seeing this gem, it follows the Hendersons, a family returning home from a family trip who hits something on the road in the forest. At first, they fear it was a man, but when they examine his “body”, they find he’s a “bigfoot”. They think he’s dead, so they decide to take him home. As you guessed, he isn’t dead. Far from being the ferocious monster they fear him to be, he’s a friendly giant. In their attempts to keep him a secret, they have to hide him from the authorities and a man who has made his goal in life to catch a “bigfoot”. This movie is so much fun and still plays so well with the big goofy bigfoot being a live practical effect, something that probably wouldn’t be in a big studio feature film these days. I love when family films were kind of bonkers like this one is and it was a lot of fun to relive it.

Television:

Ms. Marvel (Disney+) – After the heavy mythological, spiritual and emotional barrage that Moon Knight was the Marvel Cinematic Universe continues on a television path with something decidedly lighter, more fun and colourful and with a new young Canadian star in the lead. Yes, Canadian raised actress Iman Vellani gets the plum role of Kamala Khan in this six episode series and just judging from the first two episodes she has all the charm and charisma to handle it. The series is directly tied to the Captain Marvel movie and the upcoming sequel and follows the New Jersey raised Khan as she discovers the newly found polymorphous powers that infuse her through an old family heirloom. Those who have played the recent Avengers video game or are current with the Marvel comics know the Marvel fangirl that Kamala is so it’s really cool to see everything done so spot on, some of the first in the MCU storytelling to not seemingly have some sort of deviation. It could all go to hell in the next four episodes but I really liked the first two and can’t wait for more.

Under The Banner Of Heaven (Disney+) – It’s a big week television wise for Disney and the second piece comes with this Hulu produced miniseries that comes from true story writer Jon Krakauer and I will say that I was hooked almost immediately. I will admit that the lead star Andrew Garfield made this series a can’t miss for me but it’s the story at the heart that really kept me situated and engaged. Garfield plays a devout Mormon detective in Salt Lake City whose faith is tested as he investigates the brutal murder of a mother and her baby which is seemingly connected to an esteemed Utah family’s spiral into Latter Day Saints fundamentalism and their distrust in the government. The cast around him is deep with Hell Or High Water’s Gil Birmingham playing his partner and Billy Howle, Rory Culkin, Wyatt Russell and Sam Worthington playing members of the family in question. The series is brilliantly shot, delving into backstories of not just the family and Garfield’s faith but into the origins of the Mormon faith and the actions of their founder, Joseph Smith. This is not a faith based show that I can see but even if it is it seems to operate with a freeness that doesn’t try to drive home a message like a spike to the forehead.

What The Hell Should I Watch? – Jun 2

stevestebbing

no comments

June 2, 2022

New Releases:

Crimes Of The Future – Cronenberg is back in a big bad way and I really can’t contain my excitement because, from who I’m hearing, he is back to his body horror ways and just judging by the trailer it’s going to mess people up. Of course, my guy Viggo is in the film as well but the Canadian auteur also has Kristen Stewart and Lea Seydoux on board for it and, living in a small town, I’m really upset that I will most likely not get it here in our theatres. The film takes place in a future reality where the human species adapts to a synthetic environment and their bodies undergo new transformations and mutations. With his partner Caprice, Saul Tenser, a celebrity performance artist, publicly showcases the metamorphosis of his organs in avant-garde performances and Timlin, an investigator from the National Organ Registry, obsessively tracks their movements. This is when a mysterious group is revealed with an intent to use Saul’s notoriety to shed light on the next phase of human evolution. Yes, this one is deliciously disturbing sounding and totally up my all as a ravenous fan of all of David Cronenberg’s work. I hear that during screenings, both test and at the Cannes Film Festival, viewers were having a pretty adverse reaction to the movie which makes me even more intrigued.

Hollywood Stargirl – Disney has another cute direct-to-the-streaming-service release this week to join Sneakerella from a few weeks ago and this one has the bonus of starring the great Judy Greer and the legendary Uma Thurman which gives it a leg up on that fairy tale inspired modern take. Even better, this is the first big studio movie for writer and director Julia Hart who hasn’t disappointed yet, giving us bold films like Miss Stevens, Fast Color and I’m Not Your Woman. Unknown to me before watching it, this is a sequel to Hart’s film Stargirl and follows Grace Vanderwaal as the titular character, a silver-voiced teenager whose simple acts of kindness work magic in the lives of others. The story follows her journey out of Mica, Arizona when her mother Ana (Judy Greer) is hired as the costume designer for a movie, relocating them to L.A., where Stargirl quickly becomes involved with an eclectic assortment of characters. This is a great film to sit and watch with the family as all the corniness of it will resonate as a more heartfelt aura and may let your cynicism bleed away. Hart has a gift for great storytelling and I doubt that would diminish in this setting and hopefully, it gets more eyes on her work.

Fire Island – Romcoms have always been an incredibly heterosexual dominated genre in the popular zeitgeist which is something that needed to change in our modern and progressive age so the fact that Disney+ is releasing this in the face of Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” aftermath is, in my opinion, absolutely applauded. It also capitalizes on the rising star of comedian Joel Kim Booster who wrote this film and Kim Kardashian’s favourite Saturday Night Night Live cast member Bowen Yang makes it that much more charming. The film is simple in its initial premise, following a pair of best friends who set out to have a legendary week-long summer vacation with the help of cheap rosé and a group of eclectic friends. The movie is so well written and borrows a lot from classic Jane Austen stories, which is great because the film starts with a paraphrased quote from the woman herself. It connects the dots in some of the usual romantic conventions but the fact that is so out and proud makes it that much more refreshing and with a well-written and naturally funny character’s to boot.

The Righteous – Canadian actor Mark O’Brien is not just spending some time creeping people out just on the screen in this new horror thriller but is also taking on the added duties of writing and directing this and it reunites him with his father in the brilliant comedy horror Ready Or Not, Henry Czerny, a totally Canadian legend. This has some great substance and atmosphere to it as well as the horror is being derived from faith and belief and the abandonment of it. The film is beautifully shot in black and white and tells the story of Frederic (Czerny) a grieving man struggling with his faith, who helps an injured young man, Aaron Smith (O’Brien) who stumbles onto his property one night, claiming to be lost in the woods. Frederic and his wife (another Canadian veteran, Mimi Kuzyk) invite the man to stay for the night, but Frederic soon begins to have doubts about this enigmatic stranger’s story and his motives for being there. When Aaron asks Frederic to commit an unspeakable deed, it becomes clear that the man is not who he seems, and has been sent to test the very limits of Frederic’s existence. O’Brien’s writing has this ability to get under your skin and live at the back of your mind as you try to gleen what of Aaron’s stories and ideals are true, when is a mislead or trap and just what Frederic takes from this as Czerny’s performance boils deep under the surface. I really loved this one but it does play a lot like a slow boil arthouse film.

Interceptor – With the follow-up to his badass Netflix film Extraction on the horizon to be released, Chris Hemsworth’s wife Elsa Pataky is getting in the game now with this new action-adventure from one of the guys behind the Pirates Of The Caribbean franchise. Honestly, for me, these Netflix action flicks generally become enjoyable if not forgettable sometimes and this looks just like that, a quick high octane morse that doesn’t overstay its welcome. The film follows Pataky as an Army captain who must use her years of tactical training and military expertise when a simultaneous coordinated attack threatens the remote missile interceptor station she is in command of. Co-starring Luke Bracey, the unfortunate star of the Point Break remake from half a decade ago, this movie probably won’t go any deeper than the surface value you see in the trailer but Netflix is usually here to save us from boredom and this looks anything but dull and looks to have some fantastic action sequences. Maybe it will surprise us and Elsa can have her own franchise alongside Chris.

Blu-Ray:

Big Gold Brick – With the cast boasted in this new weirdo crime fantasy I was really heading into it expecting what the title suggested, a big gold brick. Led by Brooklyn’s Emory Cohen and co-starring Andy Garcia, Megan Fox, Lucy Hale and even Oscar Isaac, the expectations climbed every time I read someone new on the cast list. The film recounts the story of fledgling writer Samuel Liston and his experiences with Floyd Deveraux, the enigmatic, middle-aged father of two who enlists Samuel to write his biography. The circumstances that lead up to this arrangement in the first place are quite astonishing, as Floyd basically runs Samuel over on a dark night,-and efforts to write the biography are quickly stymied by ensuing chaos as Floyd was already into some bad business that will quickly end the two’s newfound partnership. As high as my expectations were, it was never ready for this mess of a movie that was badly written from the start and features an almost nonsensical performance from Cohen that grated on my nerves every time he spoke. This brings me to Oscar who is utilized for a five-minute scene that goes absolutely nowhere. I appreciate where these filmmakers were coming from but they failed in every conceivable way.

Row 19 – Terror in the airplanes, that’s what we need right now just as we’re thinking of planning vacations and destination getaways now that we are seemingly emerging from this pandemic, right? Well, the Russians are. definitely not messing around and are bringing some frenetic action horror to the sky with some totally supernatural thrills. The story follows a young female doctor with a 6-year-old daughter who is on a night flight caught in a terrible storm. In a half-empty cabin, she faces unexplained deaths of her fellow passengers, loses her grip on reality and relives the worst nightmare from her childhood in an execution that plays to the strength of the ADD style of Russian filmmaking. Taking cues from Night Watch and Day Watch’s Timur Bekmambetov kind of movie-making, the inconsistencies in the plotting are evident but when it all gets rolling you care less and less. In the end, I was entertained with a good horror thrill ride but I recommend doing it with subtitles, the best way to watch a foreign film.

The Untouchables 4K – There’s no denying that Brian De Palma made one of the greatest gangster films of all time with his film Scarface in the early eighties but he also did it for a second time in the mid-eighties by showing both sides of the lawless and law enforcing with this Elliot Ness versus Al Capone masterpiece. Now in glorious 4K, this incredible film just pops off the screen and instantly renewed my love for it as well as shining a spotlight on one of De Palma’s crowning achievements. For those who haven’t seen it, the story follows federal agent Ness during the era of Prohibition in the United States as he sets out to stop ruthless Chicago gangster Al Capone and, because of rampant corruption, assembles a small, hand-picked team to help him. The cast in this film is awesome, with Kevin Costner and Robert De Niro taking the heavy lead roles and Sean Connery and Andy Garcia in really great supporting roles. The movie was nominated for four very deserving Academy Awards and Connery ended up winning his, beating out films like Broadcast News and Moonstruck. This is one of those must-see movies for any cinema lover.

Lucifer: Season 5 – The show that the fans keep having the ability to revive enters what I thought was going to be the finale for it, was split into two parts to prolong the magic, pardon the on the nose pun, and now is available to finish expanding your collection on DVD. The show has since been given a sixth season after it performed so well on Netflix with an all-new vigour following this season which focuses on Lucifer’s lineage, his past and those close around him getting the truth of what he has revealed to them. There is also a killer guest spot of 24’s Dennis Haysbert showing up as, wait for it, God himself and, yes, I’m so behind President David Palmer portraying the thing that makes people do the stupidest things when people use it to embolden their stances on politics and human and ethical rights. Okay, dialling back the ire here, but I will conclude by saying that this series has made lead actor Tom Ellis a bankable star and I’m more than happy to get more of him in this great role.

Steve’s Blu-Ray & DVD Geek-Outs:

Beverly Hills Cop II 4K – I know I already brought the first film in this landmark action-comedy trilogy, with the third film being a totally admitted flop, but it’s beautiful to see these movies that shaped my love for film get the update to 4K now. These were really the superstar making films in Eddie Murphy’s career and those who listen to The Shift know that we have a lot of love for Axel Foley, which hasn’t diminished for me at all. This sequel follows Foley as he returns to Beverly Hills to help Taggart and Rosewood investigate Chief Bogomil’s near-fatal shooting and the series of “alphabet crimes” associated with it. Taking over for director Martin Brest, this film is crammed full of everything we love about Tony Scott’s filmmaking as he was fresh off of the fighter pilot iconic scope of Top Gun. Murphy is at the top of his game and Judge Reinhold and John Ashton will always be widely underrated as his straight-laced police companions. This movie is still special and it really pops in this new format too.

The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance 4K – John Wayne is a name that’s special on my dad’s side of the family as I have an uncle who idolizes The Duke and even named his first son after him, my cousin John Wayne Stebbing. I will say that my interest in Wayne is small, except for his work in True Grit and Rooster Cogburn but I know that this classic, co-starring Jimmy Stewart, is one of the benchmarks in his long and revered career. The film follows Stewart as Senator Stoddard who returns to a western town for the funeral of an old friend, John Doniphon, and tells the story of his origins. Flashing back, we learn Doniphon saved Stoddard, then a lawyer, when he was roughed up by a crew of outlaws terrorizing the town, led by Liberty Valance, played by the stalwart Lee Marvin. As the territory’s safety hung in the balance, Doniphon and Stoddard, two of the only people standing up to him, proved to be very important, but different, foes to Valance in a western story that really is a cornerstone in the genre. Getting this 4K transfer of this Oscar-nominated giant is really special and opened up my eyes to another great Wayne performance in the company of legends.

Succession: Season 3 – This was a series I was certainly very late to the game on but after the audience and critic buzz as well as the awards acclaim that it was evident that I needed to change that and I crash coursed it before this season was released. It follows the Roy family who controls one of the biggest media and entertainment conglomerates in the world and their lives as they start to make power moves in the hopes that their ageing father begins to step back from the company. The. series stars Brian Cox as the patriarch of the Roys as well as Kieran Culkin, Nicholas Braun and Jeremy Strong but the standout for me is Hiam Abass as Cox’s wife who constantly delivers knockout performance after performance. This is a winner for sure and the more people talk about it the more “watercooler talk” that it will be and those who aren’t on board will relive the things they went through when they didn’t watch Lost, Game Of Thrones or Breaking Bad. You snooze, you lose.

The Batman – This was the first highly anticipated release of the year for me as I’m sure it was for a lot of Batman fans out there and I dare say it squashed the conversation of Robert Pattinson only being a sparkly vampire for good. Yes, there was a lot of anger at the casting of the Tenet and Good Times star but I knew he was going to absolutely crush it as a younger Bruce Wayne and Caped Crusader and he really did. The film follows Batman as he is forced to investigate the city’s hidden corruption and question his family’s involvement when the Riddler, a sadistic serial killer, begins murdering key political figures in Gotham. The film is directed by Matt Reeves who has a perfect filmmaking record which includes Planet Of The Apes sequels and a remake of an incredible Swedish vampire masterpiece so I really have the utmost respect for him as a storyteller and he brings the batman character into a story style that should have been utilized from the beginning, the detective noir. Reeves approached this story almost like David Fincher did with Zodiac and it pays off beautifully with great character work, incredible cinematography and an unforgettable time in about the year three mark of Batman’s story. This is a “best of 2022” without a doubt.

Doom Patrol: Season 3 – After a killer first season and a killer sophomore season that kept the momentum going and added even more fun to the mix, I know people are chomping at the bit for this new season of a show that not only gives White Collar’s Matt Bomer a cool role but also gave some new life to 90s star Brendan Fraser who is continuing to get that redemption he deserves. For those who are uninitiated to this DC Comics world, it is a re-imagining of one of DC’s most beloved groups of outcast superheroes: Robotman, Negative Man, Elasti-Girl and Crazy Jane, led by modern-day mad scientist Dr. Niles Caulder, also known as The Chief. The series is tied to the cinematic universe by the common character of Cyborg so it’s neat to see exactly where all these stories meet up. Another great show to get into you eyeballs this week.

Television:

Floor Is Lava: Season 2 (Netflix) – Netflix has a plethora of crazy reality shows with ridiculous premises but I have to say this is one of the top echelon of weird-ass ones and it definitely has to do with it being a take on an elementary playground game. The series follows teams as they compete to navigate rooms flooded with lava by leaping from chairs, hanging from curtains and swinging from chandeliers. Obviously, it isn’t real lava and the production of the series is turned up to eleven to make it look like lava but the sad thing is that no matter how much I wanted to hate this show, I felt strangely compelled to press play on each and every episode which was a lot because I hadn’t seen the first season before this one arrived. Stupid and vapid, this show has a compulsory drive to it that is undeniable.

Physical: Season 2 (AppleTV+) – All you had to tell me to sell me on this series is that Rose Byrne is in it and it takes place in the eighties. Hell, if I didn’t have an AppleTV+ account already, I’d get it for sure. Look at this streaming service go! The second season of this series follows Byrne as Sheila Rubin, a quietly tortured, seemingly dutiful housewife supporting her smart but controversial husband’s bid for state assembly but behind closed doors, she has her own darkly funny take on life she rarely lets the world see. She’s also battling a complex set of personal demons relating to her self-image which come to a head when she finds release through the unlikeliest source in the world of aerobics. At first, hooked on the exercise itself, Sheila’s real road to empowerment comes when she discovers a way to merge this newfound passion with the burgeoning technology of videotape to start a revolutionary business. I do feel that this show comes with more than a couple of caveats and trigger warnings as Sheila doesn’t hold back with her vitriol for one second and that almost immediately makes her sort of a villainous character in some degrees but it may be all in how you interpret it. The series is biting and fresh and I hope this second installment can showcase its longevity.

The Boys: Season 3 (Prime Video) – One of my current favourite shows based on one of my favourite comic books of all time is returning and bigger, badder, bolder and more offensive than ever and I can’t wait to get my eyes on every gory moment. Coming from the mind of Irish hand grenade writer Garth Ennis through the conduit of Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg, the sky is no limit as this show is sure to stir controversy with everyone who hasn’t seen it. The basis of the story follows a group of vigilantes who set out to take down corrupt superheroes who abuse their superpowers after varying tragedies and bring them together for a shared goal of revenge. Karl Urban, Jack Quaid, Laz Alonso, Antony Starr and many more round out a pitch-perfect cast of a comic series that I enjoyed over the years while creating an original path. That isn’t to say that it isn’t directly putting stuff off the page to the screen as we finally get Herogasm this season, the island retreat of sex and debauchery for all of the “superheroes.” This one is going to leave a mark, people.

The Orville: New Horizons (Disney+) – Seth MacFarlane is a creator that I really loved at the beginning of his run with Family Guy but as the series progressed and American Dad, The Cleveland Show and his Ted movies rolled around, he had started to lose his appeal with me. When it was announced that he was doing a Star Trek-like series my eyeroll may have been audible for blocks because, as much as I love sci-fi, it gave me zero interest and I never gave it a chance. Set 400 years in the future, the show follows the adventures of the Orville, a not-so-top-of-the-line exploratory ship in Earth’s interstellar fleet. Facing cosmic challenges from without and within, MacFarlane plays the newly minted captain of a crew of oddballs and after just a few episodes I’m really starting to see how this show survived to a third season now and has been wrapped in the Disney+ umbrella. The series is really funny in a way that feels fresh compared to the projects Seth has released before, the cast is filled with a bevy of solid character actors and there’s a self-referential beat to it that I’m enjoying a lot. If you haven’t seen it yet and like your sci-fi and a few laughs, this is recommended.

Pistol (Disney+) – When it comes to the story of the creation and wild years of a young Steve Jones, Sid Vicious, Johnny Rotten and Glen Matlock, collectively known as the Sex Pistols, there can’t be a more apropos filmmaker to guide that journey than Trainspotting director Danny Boyle. From the opening moments of episode one and Cooky stealing the microphone and amps of David Bowie from the Hammersmith Odeon, his style is all over this and it fits. The show is based on Jones’ memoir Lonely Boy and written for the screen by Craig Pearce, the guy behind pretty much all of Baz Luhrmann’s movies, and is the story of a band of spotty, noisy, working-class kids with “no future” who shook the boring, corrupt Establishment to its core, threatened to bring down the government and changed music and culture forever. The show isn’t getting stellar reviews but I’m really enjoying it so far, just based on the music history I’m seeing in it with the inclusions of future Pretenders frontwoman Chrissy Hynde and the badass legend of Siouxie Sioux. This definitely has a niche audience it is playing to and some people are going to get it and some people aren’t.

What The Hell Should I Watch? – May 12

stevestebbing

no comments

May 12, 2022

New Releases:

Firestarter – Doing Stephen King adaptation is really dicey at any time because, in this avid reader and huge fan’s mind, they haven’t had the best transition time from page to screen and some of them have gone beyond being disappointing and gone to the depths of being downright awful. This adaptation has the benefit of being one I’ve read but haven’t had the deepest connection with at the time, although the father and daughter bond at the center of it have sentimental value to me now, decades after I initially read it. For those who didn’t get to read this or see the eighties Drew Barrymore film, the story follows parents Andy and Vicky who have been on the run for more than a decade, desperate to hide their daughter Charlie from a shadowy federal agency that wants to harness her unprecedented gift for creating fire into a weapon of mass destruction. Andy has taught Charlie how to defuse her power, which is triggered by anger or pain but, as Charlie turns 11, the fire becomes harder and harder to control. After an incident reveals the family’s location, a mysterious operative is deployed to hunt down the family and seize Charlie once and for all but, of course, she has other plans. The casting looks solid with Zac Efron playing Andy and Indigenous actor Michael Greyeyes as the formidable assassin bearing down on them. Director Keith Thomas gets his shot at this big budget Blumhouse feature, which gives me a lot of excitement because his last film, The Vigil, absolutely blew me away with its stylish chills. Working in more of a sci-fi action sort of story, this could be really interesting.

Senior Year – It looks like Netflix is buying into the vapid and dumb Rebel Wilson market as they have optioned this new high school set romantic comedy, a part of the actresses new push in her career and definitely trying to separate herself a bit from the Fat Amy character of the Pitch Perfect franchise, a role of hers I actually enjoyed. Her performance in Cats however is one of pure nightmares and I really don’t want to talk about it beyond that. Not to be confused with National Lampoon’s Senior Trip, this film follows Ruby, the most popular girl in her high school in 2002. She’s the captain of the cheerleading squad, dating the quarterback, is well on her way to becoming the prom queen and girls want to be her and guys want to be with her. She has it all until she falls off the top of the cheerleading pyramid and goes into a coma. Fast forward twenty years later and Ruby finally wakes up from her coma as a thirty-seven-year-old woman. She goes back to her high school and tries to assume her role as the star of her school and, of course, she is still set on winning the crown as prom queen. Co-starring This Is Us star Justin Hartley and 90s darling Alicia Silverstone, expect nothing out of this movie except cheap laughs and Rebel quips in the styling that got her popular. This movie isn’t one that would have garnered any interest in theaters so it’s probably best that it landed here.

Operation Mincemeat – Usually the British strategic side of World War II isso painfully dull that it takes outside forces to make them enjoyable such as a great cast and a solid director. It’s a good thing that this is exactly what this Netflix released drama has going for it because it has two Mr. Darcys in Colin Firth and Matthew MacFayden, who occupy the lead roles, Kelly Macdonald, Prunella Scales and Jason Isaacs and is directed by Oscar nominated director John Madden. An oddity from World War II, the story follows two intelligence officers who devise a plan to use a corpse and false papers to outwit German troops to protect a massive invasion force from a potential massacre. The story is fascinating in its scope as I really didn’t know anything about this mission and Madden is able to string it all together in a compelling and intriguing way. The acting is top notch and how can it not be with Firth leading the way.

Sneakerella – Leave it to Disney to take a classic fairy tale and revitalize it for a modern generation but not release it in theaters and throw it directly onto ther streaming platform. This really isn’t that surprising of a decision as the film really doesn’t have poster worthy stars to showcase in theater lobbies with Stephen King’s It star Chosen Jacobs in the lead role. The film fully wraps the New York City sneaker scene into this modern fable about an aspirant Queens sneaker designer who gains the confidence to pursue his dream of becoming a professional sneaker designer with the help of his best friend, Sami, and his Fairy Godfather after falling in love with Kira King, the daughter of basketball star. This movie plays out exactly how you think it should, no better, no worse, but is also stuck in the soulless part of the Disney+ vacuum which only plays to absolute audiences and leaves other viewers in the cold. My kid digs this movie to a small degree but I don’t think it has any value to an adult crowd other than its small homages here and there.

This Much I Know To Be True – Nick Cave is an artist that I have had a fascination with ever since I feel like my tastes matured and definitely since I heavily got into film as he has scored some of my absolute favourite films. Cave is the mind behind the hypnotic compositions that accompany films like the Australian western The Proposition and The Assassination Of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford but his documentaries are more intimate, about the man behind the music and, in this case, just the bare bones of his melody. This new documentary explores the creative relationship and songs from Nick Cave and Warren Ellis’ last two studio albums, “Ghosteen” and “Carnage” as the two with the rest of the Bad Seeds, perform each song in a closed-off studio warehouse complete with intricate lighting at the height of the global pandemic. To see these gifted artists work to a sweating fever and include other artists like Marianne Faithful, who both have collaborated with before, is so fascinating. Cave is an absolutely tragic figure but definitely one of the most musically gifted creative minds and a film like this is a testament to that.

Blu-Ray:

Uncharted – I feel like the rights for this video game property from developer Naughty Dog were optioned by Sony so long ago with multiple stars attached at some point or another but I guess it just took their golden boy Tom Holland’s influence to get the film going finally. Mark Wahlberg had been attached to the lead role for a long time and had director David O. Russell behind the camera but now steps into the supporting role to Holland’s Nathan Drake and Venom director Ruben Fleisher at the helm. The story follows a young version of the street smart character as he is recruited by seasoned treasure hunter Victor “Sully” Sullivan to recover a fortune amassed by Ferdinand Magellan and lost 500 years ago by the House of Moncada. The film has the formidable Antonio Banderas in the lead villain role and is totally an action-packed and fun ride with some really cool-looking sequences and Indiana Jones-style puzzle scenes that had me totally nostalgic for these types of films. The chemistry between Holland and Wahlberg is really great and though there may come a time when we tire of Tom and his leading roles, it’s not here yet.

Marry Me – I’m still sort of baffled by it but apparently, Jennifer Lopez-led romantic comedies are still box office bankable although I think there is about a twenty million dollar step down from her last movie Second Act and this movie, one that was delayed for pandemic reasons. The charm is there as Owen Wilson does a questionable career movie by starring as her romantic lead in this, a reunion between the two Anaconda stars from twenty-five years ago. The film has JLo as music superstar Kat Valdez who is about to get married in a high profile wedding in from of all her fans to fellow star Bastian. when Kat learns, seconds before her vows, that Bastian has been unfaithful, she instead decides to marry Charlie, a school teacher in the crowd holding a “Marry Me” sign while attending the concert with his daughter. The trope here is mismatched worlds colliding and love winning out over everything and it plays out exactly how you would think it would, complete with all the eye-roll-inducing cliches. It all leads me to wonder if these films are on a conveyor belt for from com stars to pick out and even more baffling for me is this movie is based on a graphic novel, a medium always applauded for pulling from. I have been hoisted on my own petard for this terrible film.

Dog – Channing Tatum knows who he is and knows that the women and men will flock to his movies because he oozes sexuality and charm. As gross as it was for me to say ooze there, I know this is the case and I really also enjoy him as an actor but to bring a dog along for your new film in the co-star seat seems a bit like stacking the deck I think. Co-directing this film as well with the Magic Mike franchise writer Reid Carolin, he plays one of two former Army Rangers who are paired against their will on the road trip of a lifetime, the other one just happens to be a Belgian Malinois named Lulu. Together they buckle into a 1984 Ford Bronco and race down the Pacific Coast in hopes of making it to a fellow soldier’s funeral on time while pushing each other’s buttons, breaking a small handful of laws and narrowly avoiding death along the way. It seems crazy to say this but this may easily be one of my favourite movies this year, a film with charm and heart while telling a good character story with real issues at its center. The script is so fresh and funny and Tatum is the perfect guy to lead it. I wanted this film to do way better in theatres but now that it is on Blu-ray and streaming it may get that word of mouth it deserves.

The Cursed – When I was working at a video store I came across an indie film from a young Irish filmmaker named Sean Ellis called Cashback and I’ve been hooked ever since. His movies come across as creepy and fantastical but always play in a different pool of the mystery-thriller genre but for his new film he goes full-on gothic monster horror and it’s pretty awesome. Originally called Eight For Silver, the story is set in rural 19th-century France as a mysterious and possibly supernatural menace threatens a small village causing John McBride, a pathologist, to come to town to investigate the danger and exorcise some of his own demons in the process. The gore is immediately present and the darkness of this almost Lovecraftian levels of despair, this was quickly my type of movie about fifteen minutes in. Not to give any spoilers but there is a scene in this film that was so bold in its heightened horror that it caught me off guard and it reminded me of the great body scares John Carpenter brought to his The Thing remake. This movie will only appeal to a certain part of the horror community but those who are into it will love it immensely.

Clean – Adrien Brody is really wanting to do the antihero tough guy thing it seems as he co-wrote, produced and even did all the original music for this noir urban loner story from Paul Solet, a filmmaker I know mostly from horror. They’ve assembled a nice little ensemble around them too with the stalwart performances of Mykelti Williamson and The RZA to help out. The story follows a garbage man named Clean who is suffering from the relentless memories of a dark past but tries to follow a quiet life of redemption, helping a young girl and her grandmother out, his only connections in the world. He soon finds himself forced to reconcile with the violence of his past when the ties that he had in his past land at his doorstep threatening to burn everything he has left to the ground. This movie really wanted to be cooler than it actually is and it feels like it’s going well until halfway into it. Just before the third act, Brody gets all John Wick in the most ridiculous of ways, the heavy symbolism starts to wane and the botched execution of the script and story starts to shred around the viewer. The vision was there but everything else really fails to fill in.

The Beta Test – Jim Cummings is an indie filmmaker who is consistently on the rise and has given us multiple films already in his short career that have surprised and resonated to equal degrees. I’m still on the high of his last movie, The Wolf Of Snow Hollow, a small-town murder mystery that may or may not have a werewolf in it, so I was totally excited to get this new feature in my eyeballs. Simply put, this is a story of an engaged Hollywood agent who receives a mysterious letter for an anonymous sexual encounter and becomes ensnared in a sinister world of lying, infidelity, and digital data which go to further lengths of self-sabotaging everything in his life, both personal and professional. This is only the surface value of what this film contains, kicking off with one of the most explosively disturbing opening moments of a movie in recent memory. I also have to say that Cummings’ vibrant and manic energy in this film, as he is the star of his films as well, gave me some serious uncomfortable anxiety. I really dug the hell out of this movie.

The Carey Treatment – One of those classic Warner Archive films slipped into the mix this week and it’s always a good time to slip into some golden age Hollywood and this one is just that as it features the formidable James Coburn in a mystery thriller from the early seventies. The film also has him paired with Jennifer O’Neill, a leading actress who starred in some of the best films within a decade of this one and was directed by the usually hysterically funny Blake Edwards. The story follows Coburn as a doctor at a Boston hospital who must investigate the botching of an illegal abortion that kills a 15-year-old girl to clear the name of his colleague. This was such a dicey topic at the time but a hugely relevant thing to talk about now with the dealings in the Roe v Wade case recently. Edwards actually disowned the final film due to constant studio interference. He originally planned to leave the project during production, but after MGM threatened to destroy his career, he finished filming and quit the day production ended.

Kin: Season 1 – As a big fan of Daredevil but the film Stardust first and foremost, I love the work of actor Charlie Cox and really want him to succeed. Secondarily to that, I also really love a great gangster series and that is exactly what his new project is and it co-stars Game Of Thrones and The Wire’s Aidan Gillan, which is so much more fantastic British gangster swagger for me. The show tells the story of a fictional Dublin family embroiled in gangland war and speaks to the enduring unbreakable bonds of blood and family, something that will immediately interest the fans of the British series Peaky Blinders, especially as the run of that show is coming to an end. I’m really loving the slow boil of this show as it opens with the family tragedy that sets the fire of the series in motion and I really can’t wait to see where it goes. Seeing as the Blu-ray is labelled Season 1, I can only assume that more is coming as well.

Steve’s Blu-Ray & DVD Geek Outs:

Where Are You, Jay Bennett? – As an outside fan of Wilco, only really knowing a few tracks, it took me a while to figure out that this was a new documentary about a prominent founding member of the Chicago formed alternative rock band but once I was in the know, I was immediately interested because I love a good music film. The film is the story of Jay Bennett, a legendary musician and recording studio savant, who as a member of Wilco, was a large part of the genius behind their three seminal albums as well as the Mermaid Avenue/Woody Guthrie sessions with Billy Bragg. The film was written and directed by seasoned documentarian Gorman Bechard whose film Pizza: A Love Story had me hooked with an undeniably human story and that approach is how this movie won me over as well. With the utmost commitment from Jay’s family and friends, there is a solid portrait of talent I am just starting to really get and the human being that was being these great creations.

In The Army Now – The trifecta of my Pauly Shore buying spree concludes with this, his third feature film and one I totally think is underrated and doesn’t get brought up as much as the obvious choices in his library. I think this movie excels in the fact that he has Andy Dick, Lori Petty and David Alan Greer to play off of, making him that much more fortified in his comedy. The story follows him and Dick as two misguided youths who join the reserves to make some money for their entrepreneurial dreams. No sooner than they finish basic training, they are called up to do their part to save the free world and sent to a desert in the middle of nowhere, most likely to keep them out of trouble, labelled as the misfits they are. I remember this being such a milestone at the time because they made a big deal of shaving Pauly’s curly locks for the standard military hairdo, cutting the power of the Weasel off at its core. As I said, I still enjoy this movie but everything ages differently from everyone else.

The Good Fight: Season 5 – As a big fan of the series that this show spun off of, The Good Wife starring Julianna Margulies, I have been a fan of this show since it started on the less constrained CBS All Access for two reasons, the carryover star from that show, Christine Baranski’s Diane Lockhardt and the always incredible Delroy Lindo. For those out of the loop, this series picks up one year after the events of the final broadcast episode of The Good Wife, where an enormous financial scam has destroyed the reputation of a young lawyer, played by Game Of Thrones’ Rose Leslie, while simultaneously wiping out her mentor and godmother Diane Lockhart’s savings. Forced out of Lockhart and Lee, they join Lucca Quinn at one of Chicago’s preeminent law firms to hopefully rebuild an empire. The show plays heavily on real politics and it may have become exhausting with the consistent anti-Trump message but I think they have now moved a bit past that with the current administration leaving a little bit less vitriol in the writer’s room. That said, Baranski still rules and I’ll watch her in pretty much anything.

Television:

Hacks: Season 2 (Crave) – I have been a fan of Iris Behr’s work ever since I discovered her show Svetlana almost by accident and ended up binging every episode of it I could find. For this series, now entering a widely anticipated second season, she teams with Broad City creator Lucia Aniello to tell the story of Deborah Vance, played by the great Jean Smart, a legendary Las Vegas comedian who enters into a very dark and sometimes totally inappropriate mentorship with Josefina, an entitled but totally socially outcast twenty-five-year-old. Josefina is played by actress Rose Abdoo, who was a small supporting player in the long-running Gilmore Girls, but really gets to shine here with some great chemistry with Smart who is truly hitting legendary status along with her what character is really supposed to be. I feel like this was a dark horse for HBO Max when it originally came out but with the awards that Smart earned and the feverish acclaim that critics and audiences alike gave it, the show has risen to be a flagship one for the streaming service I think.

The Kids In The Hall (Prime Video) – The kid that grew up on great Canadian comedy is over the moon right now as the legendary greatest comedy group of all time has resurrected their brand for a brand new series of sketch comedy and I want everyone to tune into it because we need to make sure that they get many more seasons to come. For those who don’t know and AREN’T CANADIAN TO THE FIBRE OF THEIR BEING this sketch series has Dave Foley, Mark McKinney, Bruce McCulloch, Scott Thompson and Kevin McDonald rebooting their CBC landmark series and hopefully bringing back some old favourites as well as new perspectives. I don’t want to put expectations on the show but I’ve seen everything they’ve done, gone and seen them live and have been waiting oh so long to see this show realized. I am damn excited about it.

Shoresy (Crave) – Letterkenny is getting a spinoff for the first time and I will stop naysayers right now that are saying they already got one in the animated Little Letterkenny because I don’t think that one counts. What’s really fun about this show is the fact that lead actor Jared Keeso is playing the lead in this too, a character who is actually a long-running in-joke for the full run of Letterkenny. This full realization of something that was a long time coming sees the foul-mouthed, chirp-serving, mother-loving, fan favourite character, Shoresy, join a senior AAA hockey team in Sudbury on a quest to never lose again. With all the explorations that they have already done with this character, especially in the Indigenous league, I’m so excited to see what Keeso and company do with this one and how many of the characters will cross over.

What The Hell Should I Watch? – May 5

stevestebbing

no comments

May 5, 2022

New Releases:

Doctor Strange And The Multiverse Of Madness – The Marvel Cinematic Universe’s first film of 2022 rolls out this week and it definitely will play in more of the story that will affect the future of this world because it once again, after Spider-Man: No Way Home, plays with the ever-expanding multiverse and the consequences of that film. I was initially bummed that the director of the first film, Scott Derrickson, stepped away from this project but I think we are in great hands with the incredible Sam Raimi. To put this in a spoiler-free nutshell, the synopsis is that Doctor Stephen Strange has cast a forbidden spell that opened the doorway to the multiverse, including alternate versions of himself, whose threat to humanity is too great for the combined forces of Strange, Wong, and Wanda Maximoff leading them to gather a few more helpful combatants like the debuting America Chavez, a comic character I’m excited to see in live-action form. The trailer for this movie absolutely rocks and gets me excited every time I see it, especially because we get Raimi back in a comic book world after the much-maligned Spider-Man 3. I hope that he loves doing it so much that he and Tobey do Spider-Man 4.

Nitram – Without knowing anything about the story, I was drawn to this film solely for character actor Caleb Landry Jones who excels in every project I’ve seen him in, sometimes elevating the subject matter more than it already is. This is another deep character drama for him to sink his teeth into and I learned fully about the real-life story after watching it and it shook me even more than the film already did. The film follows him as Nitram, a dude definitely on the spectrum of autism who lives with his mother and father in suburban Australia in the Mid 1990s. He lives a life of isolation and frustration at never being able to fit in but unexpectedly finds a close friend in a reclusive heiress, Helen. However when that relationship meets a tragic end, and Nitram’s loneliness and anger grow, he begins a slow descent that leads to disaster and ultimately unspeakable violence. This film is based on the lead-up to the 1996 Port Arthur massacre in Tasmania in which 35 people were killed and 23 others were wounded by the hand of Martin Bryant and his semi-automatic rifle. Director Justin Kurtzel frames this film in an unflinching and rough way that drags us along in a slow descent into the dark paths of a broken mind. There are many trigger warnings in this but I felt so compelled by it, a fantastic film.

The Takedown – The release of this new Netflix-produced French action-comedy is really kind of funny as it is all connected to the turmoil of Justin Lin leaving the director’s chair of the new Fast And Furious installment. The director of this movie, Louis Leterrier, is now the man tapped to direct a doughy Vin Diesel for the next two movies so this, I guess, is the last thing of his we will see before he has Dominic Toretto on his mind. Starring Lupin’s Omar Sy and Laurent Lafitte, the film follows Ousmane Diakité and François Monge, two cops with very different styles, backgrounds and careers that worked together for many years ago but life took them into very different facets of the department. Now, the unlikely pair are reunited once again for a new investigation that takes them all the way up to the French Alps to investigate a murder with some possible white nationalist ties. Aside from the action scenes which seem to break up the monotony, this movie largely doesn’t work. The humour feels completely dated, especially the racial jokes with Sy being the sole black man for almost the entire duration, and the storyline feels so predictable and telegraphed. If this is what we have in store for Fast X and beyond the cliff, this series with a leap off will be so high that even more begging to The Rock will not revive it.

Sheryl – I am a real sucker for a good music documentary and sometimes I don’t even have to be a big fan of the artist to really enjoy the biography on how they got their success. This is definitely true with the subject of this movie, Sheryl Crow, as I was a big fan of her first album, Tuesday Night Music Club, but that was the extent of it. This film is more than just a run-of-the-mill artist’s story though and is a portrait of the singular storyteller who’s lived it all, seen it all but never told it all until now. From humble beginnings to sold-out world tours Sheryl Crow’s life has been extraordinary, creating a legacy that continues to inspire, including beating cancer at one of the lowest personal times of her life. With all of the Lance Armstrong drama being a large part of her life, I’m really fascinated by how they will cover that section of her experience, especially the marks that it made on her career that really had nothing to do with him.

The Twin – It’s not usual that Shudder makes its movie premiere’s release dates on a Friday, as it is usually done on the Thursdays before the weekend but I think it is because this movie has the higher profile of starring Teresa Palmer, who is the lead star in a Prime Video and Shudder co-produced show, A Discovery Of Witches. Well, Tez is heading back to a supernatural-infused story again but this one plays into family lineage in a decidedly creepier way. This film opens during the aftermath of a tragic accident that claimed the life of one of their twins, with parents Rachel and Anthony relocating to the other side of the world with their surviving son. What begins as a time of healing in the quiet Scandinavian countryside soon takes an ominous turn when Rachel begins to unravel the torturous truth about her son and confronts the malicious forces that are trying to take hold of him. The initial reviews on this film are really strong with a great sense of mystery and atmosphere enveloping it to make it an edge-of-your-seat nailbiter. There’s something about emotional fol horror that always lands with me and this film seems to have it written all over.

Blu-Ray:

Turning Red – Another Pixar release that had been given the direct route to Disney+  gets the upgrade to Blu-ray, a better format, but, again after Luca, I feel for the people behind this beautiful production because it would have played so wonderfully on the big screen. Even more a bummer, this film is distinctly Canadian as it is a fully Asian story that feels so fresh and original. The story follows a thirteen-year-old girl named Mei Lee who turns into a giant red panda whenever she gets too excited which, as it turns out, is a family tradition she was not informed of. The movie is put together by writer and director Domee Shi who did the Pixar short Bao, a little story that literally brought me to tears in theatres. There are many beautiful moments that will make you well up in this and that third act is gargantuan in stature and in heart as well. The kids will love this one but so will the adults.

Without Remorse – Prime Video relied on some of its pre-existing subscribers with this new action thriller as it will automatically nab the fans of their Tom Clancy series Jack Ryan which has people thirsty for more after the second season and it will rope in those who love Michael B. Jordan from his villain performance in Black Panther, his starring role in the Creed movies or all of those women and men who are just plain thirsty for him and his body. Written by Sicario and Yellowstone’s Taylor Sheridan, this film is about an elite Navy SEAL who uncovers an international conspiracy when a squad of Russian soldiers kills his family in retaliation for his role in a top-secret operation. Pursuing the assassins at all costs and joining forces with a fellow SEAL and a shadowy CIA agent (Jamie Bell), his actions unwittingly expose a covert plot that threatens to engulf the U.S. and Russia in an all-out war and torn between personal honour and loyalty to his country, he must fight his enemies ‘without remorse’ if he hopes to avert disaster and reveal the powerful figures behind the conspiracy. The action is awesome, the performances are solid and I really hope this is just the beginning of the adaptations of this Clancy character.

Constantine: The House Of Mystery – It’s a very comics-heavy week for this installment and I have to say that I’m not even a little apologetic about it but, to be fair, I usually bring an overabundance of horror and there is only one this week. Usually, these DC films are a full-length feature that runs about an hour and twenty minutes but this release is what’s called a DC Showcase and features four self-contained episodes, with three of them being pretty dark and dour. The main piece is the Constantine story that takes place after the events of Justice League Dark: Apokolips War, which was essentially the end of the DC animated universe, and then it moves on to a couple more classic characters stories, including The Losers taking on dinosaurs before finishing off with a campy and fun in an Adam West sort of way with Blue Beetle. I have to say that more would have been better but I really did enjoy what we got here in a totally nerdy sense. This may be for the deepest of fans but I dug the whole thing.

Steve’s Blu-Ray Geek-Outs:

Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2 – It’s all Marvel this week in the Geek Outs as it is a pretty sizeable time in the anniversaries department starting out with this sequel that had such an insurmountable challenge of being at least as good as its predecessor. Well, I will say that it did what it set out to do but I had absolute faith it would because it was written and directed by the great James Gunn. The story picks up with the Guardians now recognized as heroes after saving Xandar from Ronan’s wrath. Now the team must help their leader Star Lord uncover the truth behind his true heritage. Along the way, old foes turn into allies, betrayal is on the horizon in many ways and the Guardians find that they are up against a devastating new menace who is out to rule the galaxy. The humour of these films is its strong point which is fueled by great casting, a snappy script and a banging soundtrack of great songs curated by a filmmaker who is so stellar at creating mood and atmosphere. This movie never pales anytime I watch it and I still quote things from it all the time.

The Avengers – Celebrating a decade since its release, this unfortunately Joss Whedon written and directed film pushed the boundaries in what we thought comic book movies could be and was the landing point of multiple solo movies to bring us an iconic supergroup. There were moments in this film that I experienced in theatres that I will never forget as a lifelong comic fan and I am eternally grateful to Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige and everyone involved for getting us there. For those who have been under a rock for the past ten years in film, it follows a group of the Earth’s mightiest heroes who must come together and learn to fight as a team if they are going to stop the mischievous Loki and his alien army from enslaving humanity. This film has so many comic easter eggs hidden throughout but also is just a great series of moments for all of these stars to become completely comfortable in their character’s shoes and impart that onto each other. This was also the ground zero for so much of the Marvel Cinematic Universe to come and still gets mentioned a lot even in the current fourth phase we are in the story. This still hits with so much excitement although I am happy that The Hulk’s look has been upgraded quite a bit.

Spider-Man – This is the comic book movie that really started it all in my world as I was too young to fully understand the ramifications of 1989’s Batman and, as good as that movie is, it ignores so much of what makes Batman the Caped Crusader. That said, Sam Raimi was the outside choice I’m sure no one saw coming, with films like Evil Dead and Army Of Darkness but as a fan of Darkman, I knew it was perfect. Tobey Maguire was the star, playing Peter Parker, a nerdy, shy, and awkward high school student who gains spider-like abilities when bitten by a genetically modified spider that he eventually must use to fight evil as a superhero after tragedy befalls his family. This movie acted as the template for a whole new cinematic genre to come and served as the jumping point for a Marvel Universe that we are lucky to have now. I always say that Tobey ran on the rooftops of New York so that we could see Iron Man fly for the first time and I still stand by that. This movie is still a total gem of an action-adventure and will always be in the hall of fame of theatrical experiences for me.

Television:

The Pentaverate (Netflix) – It’s been a while since we’ve gotten some Mike Myers live-action comedy, fourteen years to be exact since The Love Guru and comedy is a relative term on that one. Now we get the legendary Canadian funny man in a brand new series and he is also stretching his wings again in multiple characters, retrieving that Austin Powers like freedom of comedy once again. The show has him as an unlikely Canadian journalist who finds himself embroiled in a mission to uncover the truth and just possibly save the world himself at the same time. What if a secret society of five men has been working to influence world events for the greater good since the Black Plague of 1347? This is the question at the heart of this story, but is timely and dated but it still all seems to work. The show also features comedy legends Jennifer Saunders, Keegan Michael Key and Ken, the stoicism of Jeremy Irons and the Wayne’s World reunion of Myers and Rob Lowe and I can’t say I’m not more than a little curious about how it will all pan out.

The Wilds: Season 2 (Prime Video) – I love a good stranded on an island mystery, something I was trained for even before Lost hit the airwaves because The Prisoner had already instilled the weirdness in us via the conduit of Patrick McGoohan. I have to admit I was really late to the game with this one, a blindspot being earlier Prime Video productions, but I’m cruising through the first season currently and loving it. The series plunks you into the middle of everything without explanation and follows a group of teens who must survive after a plane crash leaves them stranded on a deserted island. In the present tense, the girls tell their stories to investigators who slowly piece together what happened to them as they were all connected by being sent to a retreat for wayward teen girls. This show is constantly pulling the rug from under you and I love every moment of it for being purely original and wildly unpredictable, no pun intended. The cast is fresh and new except for Six Feet Under alum Rachel Griffiths who plays a character I can even begin to give away. This may still be a sleeper so people really need to get on board with it now.

The Staircase (Crave) – If your series is led by Colin Firth and one of the greatest actresses to grace the screen, Toni Collette, well you’ve got yourself a hit with this guy immediately. Not only that but it is also a mystery that is the adaptation of a famous suburban murder that Nancy Grace obsessed over for years which is kind of cool but may turn others off due to the oversaturation of the story. This is once again the telling of the story of Michael Peterson, but this time by HBO and not Lifetime, a crime novelist accused of killing his wife Kathleen after she is found dead at the bottom of a staircase in their home. Beyond that, which is told in flashbacks, this follows the sixteen-year judicial battle that followed and features a great cast around Firth and Collette with Game Of Thrones’ Sophie Turner, Boardwalk Empire’s Michael Stuhlbarg, Dane Dehaan, Juliette Binoche and Parker Posey. I love these mystery melodramas that HBO puts out like The Undoing so I’m looking forward to this one.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (Crave) – Well, I have made it a habit to check out everything Star Trek the streaming service of Paramount+ has done, ever since it started as CBS All Access, launching with what would set the flagship assail, Star Trek: Discovery. It was the second season that brought in Anson Mount as Captain Kirk’s processor, Captain Christopher Pike, along with his number two, played by Rebeccas Romijn and this universe’s version of Spock, which served to set up this brand new spin-off that looks really awesome. Effectively, this is exactly a prequel to that original series and how close we snug up to the William Shatner and Leanard Nimoy landmark series is really unknown but I do know that it has been getting really stellar reviews, which is honestly better than any of the other shows have gotten in their entire runs. I love what Mount has done with this character so I’m really looking forward to it.

What The Hell Should I Watch? – Apr 28

stevestebbing

no comments

April 28, 2022

New Releases:

Memory – The set up for this week’s releases feels like a harbinger of doom because we have not one but two Liam Neeson movies this week in varying degrees with Blacklight landing on blu-ray and this new geriatric action flick and don’t worry, Liam calls them that too. The only good thing heading into this is that it was directed by Martin Campbell who is usually very reliable given that he’s also done some kick ass Bond movies as well. Co-starring the beautiful Monica Bellucci in a villain role, the story follows Neeson as Alex Lewis, an expert assassin with a reputation for discreet precision who is caught in a moral quagmire, refusing to complete a job that violates his code. Quickly, he must hunt down and kill the people who hired him before they and FBI agent Vincent Serra, played by Memento’s Guy Pearce, find him first. Alex is also suffering from a rapidly deteriorating memory as he tries to piece together what is real and what isn’t. Again, because Neeson seems to bring the exact same energy to everything, this movie starts out on a high note and gets dulled down as it progresses. He has really carved out his own niche with these movies but are they really drawing the box office numbers to sustain them?

Firebird – I know it feels really taboo to talk about anything Russian these days, and with very good reason, and for that reason, I think this new 1970s set drama might get buried a bit. I feel it should get celebrated as it is an LGBT story at its heart and something that Putin is largely against so it almost feels like something to stick it to the man. The story follows a handsome, soulful young soldier who embarks on a clandestine sexual affair with a charismatic fighter pilot on a Soviet Air Force Base at the height of the Soviet Union’s Communist rule. The film is led by actor Tom Prior, who I know mostly from Kingsmen: The Secret Service, and written and directed by Peeter Rebane in his debut feature film and the gritty seventies look he gave it is so great. This film is some of that deep romantic melodrama but works against a backdrop of total stoicism and war classism. I don’t think this movie will make any sort of impression this weekend but may garner interest when it hits a streaming platform.

The Sadness – It takes a lot for me to be affected seriously by a horror film so I think that just adds a lot more weight to this new Taiwanese horror thriller which knocked me through a loop, to say the least. I’m good with excessive amounts of blood and guts, zombies, slasher films, monster movies and all of the others but this one fell unrelenting and I don’t mean it in a bad way either. The story follows a young couple trying to reunite amid a city ravaged by a plague that turns its victims into deranged, bloodthirsty sadists. Passed through blood and spit amidst a very relateable pandemic, the lengths to which some of these newly created psychos go in their kills absolutely floored me. Writer and director Rob Jabbaz seems to have carved out an insanely intrusive feeling nightmare of horror that reminded me a lot of the graphic novel Crossed from one of the greatest comic creators ever, Garth Ennis of Preacher and The Boys fame. While I don’t think I can recommend this to a casual horror fan, I do implore the hardcore to check it out and then reach out to me with what they thought of it. I feel like it was hideously groundbreaking.

Blu-Ray:

Blacklight – Liam Neeson has a death grip on these geriatric action films and while I really feel bad for calling it one and now feel that Neeson has put me on his mental shitlist to fight at a later date, he did say he was retiring from them unless I made that up in my brain. It would be acceptable if the action movies he was making beyond this fake retirement were any good but most of them don’t resonate beyond the end credits and feel like constant retreads. This one has him playing Travis Block, a government operative coming to terms with his shadowy past when he discovers a plot targeting U.S. citizens and now finds himself in the crosshairs of the FBI director he once helped protect. The film comes from writer and director Mark Williams who has apparently found his action-thriller comfort zone and is constantly working with the Taken action hero as he has had a hand in three of Neeson’s films since 2020 with this one included. I enjoy that former nineties heartthrob Aidan Quinn is the formidable foe for Liam to fight but nothing about the trailer or story seems like any new territory for audiences to discover.

Moonfall – Oh boy, the stupidity runs rampant and you just knew it had to when the name of writer and director Roland Emmerich is brought up, a filmmaker who loves to destroy the Earth in bigger and more ridiculous ways. Following his career making films like Stargate and Independence Day, which are both unique classics in their own ways, he chased his own madness down the rabbit hole for films like 2012, The Day After Tomorrow, an ill-advised Godzilla and a sequel to Independence Day without Will Smith and now we are here with the moon attacking the Earth. Seriously. The story starts with a mysterious force that knocks the Moon from its orbit around Earth and sends it hurtling on a collision course with the planet. With mere weeks before impact and the world on the brink of annihilation, NASA executive and former astronaut Jo Fowler (Halle Berry) is convinced she has the key to saving us all but only one astronaut from her past, Brian Harper (Patrick Wilson) and a conspiracy theorist K.C. Houseman (Game Of Thrones’ John Bradley) believes her. These unlikely heroes will mount an impossible last-ditch mission into space, leaving behind everyone they love, only to find that they just might have prepared for the wrong mission in a movie that gets more and more insane and still utterly dull as it goes on. I didn’t care about any of the characters and even the big bombastic special effects get tiresome in a movie that overstays its welcome at over two hours long. This has been on Prime Video for a bit and I can’t see anyone wanting the blu-ray, personally.

Expired – After the dusty Australian mystery thrillers Mystery Road and Goldstone, the latter which I checked out at one of the Vancouver International Film Festivals, I was really set on the works of writer and director Ivan Sen. His films had a slow boil to them that brimmed off the screen and an attention to character that drew you in as well and for that reason I was very excited to receive his new film, a sci-fi love story. The film stars True Blood’s Ryan Kwanten as an assassin named Jack who crosses paths with a nightclub singer and becomes increasingly drawn to her depite his body mysteriously deteriorating when he near her. Jack tracks down reclusive life extension scientist named Doctor Bergman, played by the great Hugo Weaving, in a search for answers and he unearths the assassin’s long buried secret, forcing him to confront his own murky past. This film looks gorgeous, almost like Sen wanted to make an homage to the world of Blade Runner but with more of a meditation on Wim Wenders’ Until The End Of The World. The result is an ambitious story that is too dull to be effective. The performances are great but the story crawls into an unsatisfying third act and I was pretty let down by it all.

Orange County – This is one of those guilty pleasure movies that served as almost a coming of age time that you go through pretty much at the same time as the character. That sounds really vague but it all makes sense in the end. The film had Colin Hanks and Jack Black and it served as the launching point for director Jake Kasdan who would go on to make the masterpiece known as Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story. Hanks plays Shaun Brumder, a local surfer kid from Orange County who dreams of going to Stanford to become a writer and to get away from his dysfunctional family household except he runs into one complication after another starting when his application is rejected after his dim-witted guidance counsellor sends the wrong application. So, Shaun goes to great lengths with a little help from his girlfriend Ashley and his drugged-out loser brother Lance to get into Stanford any way they see fit leading to more problems which also include arson. This film still makes me laugh and is something I quote a lot because all of Jack Black’s lines are total comedy gold. It was written by Mike White, who is enjoying a lot of success right now with The White Lotus, and he was Black’s neighbour at the time, writing this role specifically for him. The gift kept on giving too because School Of Rock came from the two neighbourhood pals afterwards.

Win A Date With Tad Hamilton – Romantic comedies had their little booms in every decade, a genre that will never go away and will never not have a place in cinema life or on a date night. This new reissue hitting blu-ray this week definitely had its time in the sun and was a bit of a favourite when I worked at the video store and I have to credit a great cast for doing so. The film is about a small-town girl who wins a date with a male celebrity through a contest. When the date goes better than expected, a love triangle forms between the girl, the male celebrity, and the girl’s best friend who has always been pining for her attention. Very standard stuff that almost feels lifted from a sixties romantic film but it all works with the great performances from Kate Bosworth, Topher Grace and Josh Duhamel playing the titular Tad Hamilton. This was also an early film from director Robert Luketic who made these types of comedies as well as thrilling films like 21. Oh yeah, he was also responsible for a little film called Legally Blonde but I don’t think that one went anywhere. 

Steve’s Blu-Ray & DVD Geek Outs:

Son In Law – I’m bringing the post 420 gifts this week and I feel totally unashamed about it! Well, maybe there is a little bit of embarrassment with this one as it is fully led by Pauly Shore and a young Carla Gugino couldn’t help it from aging terribly. Essentially, she is kind of the lead of the story, playing a naive farm girl who returns home from her first semester of college as a drastically different party girl with her best friend, a flamboyant party animal who is clearly a fish out of water in a small farm town. I absolutely adored this movie when I was a kid as I was a huge Pauly fan and maybe quoted his lines a little too much. Now I see this movie as a springboard for some of the worst nineties comedy cliches and it also felt like it was aggressively horny the whole time which made me laugh in a whole new way.

Encino Man – This is a movie that was a total turnaround on me and my family’s Pauly Shore night and, yes, I sat around with my wife and mother-in-law for a viewing of both these films, if you can call them that. The difference-maker is the simple fact that Pauly needs other talented folks around him to elevate the movies and he has the charm of Sean Astin and Brendan Fraser to do that lifting. For those who haven’t seen it, the story follows two high school friends who find a frozen caveman buried in the backyard. They thaw him out and mad antics ensue as Dave, Astin’s character, tries to use the situation as leverage to get popular and to win the heart of his dream girl. This movie still comes across as funny and some of those scenes are still burned into my memory like an unerasable Etch-A-Sketch. I also really love the soundtrack to the film which also includes an unforgettable performance from funk-rock group Infectious Grooves and their song Feed The Monkey which I can’t seem to find anywhere.

44 Inch Chest – Aging British tough guy angles got a refresher course in this film which was a rekindling of the producers around the phenomenal but criminally under-talked about Sexy Beast and it even got most of the cast back for it but most importantly it features Ray Winstone and Ian McShane. This is gritty and angry crime drama to its core so if you aren’t into hearing the f word and the c-word over a hundred times each then steer clear of this one. The story follows Winstone as a jealous husband who plots with his friends the kidnapping of his wife’s lover with the intention of restoring his wounded ego. A kangaroo court takes place, and as the situation escalates, loverboy’s life hangs in the balance as Winstone’s desperate character wrestles with revenge, remorse, grief, and self-pity, all the while egged on by his motley crew of friends who just want him to get on with it so they can get down to the pub. With this film and the thriller Jawbone which hit theatres in a limited release about five years ago, it carved a niche in the aging British gangster narrative that I wish was explored more. The movie didn’t make any sort of dent in the popular film market but I found myself gripped by it and equally so on a rewatch.

Television:

We Own This City (Crave) – David Simon, the creator of one of the greatest shows of all time, HBO’s The Wire, has returned with some more Baltimore streets set crime stories but this time it’s based on a true story. From the book by Justin Fenton, This is the perfect time for a series like this and I guarantee that Simon and his band of usual suspect writers penned this during the height of the Black Lives Matter protests as well. I probably know this more because I follow him on Twitter and he’s very outspoken. Directed by King Richard’s Reinaldo Marcus Green and starring Jon Bernthal in the main roles, this series tells the story of the rise and fall of the Baltimore Police Department’s Gun Trace Task Force and the corruption surrounding it. Gripping from the first moments, this show deals with systemic racism, abuses of power by those who hold the badge and so much more. With only one episode under my belt, I know that this is just the tip of the iceberg and I can’t wait for the next five episodes.

The Offer (Paramount+) – This is a troubled television production about a source matter I was really intrigued and I’m so happy it’s here and even more elated that it is good. Sadly, it will all get overshadowed by the fact that Armie Hammer was replaced on it due to allegations that he is a cannibal and he was shuffled out for Miles Teller who is problematic in his own way but let’s not let that bog down the classic Hollywood story they are telling here. The film follows the experience of tech salesman turned Hollywood producer Albert Ruddy’s experience in getting the Mario Puzo novel The Godfather from the written page to the big screen. Great casting, fun writing and a known Hollywood as its backdrop kept me ravenously taking in each episode until I was all spent on the seventies era. As a cinema fan, this one is almost made exclusively for people of a like mind but I think it could have legs for other viewers as well. The saddest part of it all is that I’m done now and this is a one-season thing.

Ozark: Season 4 Part 2 (Netflix) – We are seeing the end of the Byrde’s story as well know it with the final run of episodes hitting Netflix this week and I definitely think it did it in a prolonging the magic but decidedly frustrating way by releasing two batches of episodes. In case you haven’t dug into the show yet, Jason Bateman plays Marty Byrde, a financial advisor in Chicago who is unknowingly been fudging numbers for the cartel, something his business partner hasn’t clued him in on until the finality of being murdered in from of him by the leader of this deadly group. A quick thinker under pressure Marty is able to convince him to spare his life by moving to the remote Ozarks to clean millions for his new boss, presenting an all-new set of problems for him, his wife who is played by the great Laura Linney and his two kids. The show is so phenomenally well done and Bateman himself directs a handful of episodes. Highly recommended if you have immersed yourself in it yet.

Barry: Season 3 (Crave) – One of the top new shows of the last few years has returned to an eagerly waiting fan base and, just judging by what I see on social media, it came back with a very satisfying episode. I love that it comes directly from the mind of one of my favourite former Saturday Night Live cast members, Bill Hader, who stars in the title role and it also features Henry Winkler who got so much awards recognition for it. Hader stars as depressed, low-level hit man Barry Berkman, a guy seeking a way out of his industry. When the Midwesterner reluctantly travels to Los Angeles to execute a hit on an actor who is bedding a mobster’s wife, Barry gets an epiphany that the City of Angels may be his sanctuary. He follows his target into acting class and ends up instantly drawn to the community of eager hopefuls, especially dedicated student Sally, who becomes the object of his affection. While Barry wants to start a new life as an actor, his handler, Fuches, has other ideas, and the hit man’s criminal past won’t let him walk away so easily. This show is so darkly funny and acerbic which is its driving force along with fantastic performances. This is the epitome of must-see television and you really got to reach out and hug HBO for it because they always seem to have the best of the best.

Grace And Frankie: Season 7 (Netflix) – Speaking of a Netflix series that is drawing to a close, this massive Netflix hit is finally here to finish its massively successful run and as a guy still playing catch up with the show I definitely have my opinion about the show and it’s direction. For those who don’t know, the story follows two women who find out that their husbands are not just work partners but have also been romantically involved for the last twenty years. The two ladies already have a strained relationship but try to cope with the circumstances together and even go into business with each other over the five seasons. I watch the series definitely for lead stars Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin but mostly for June Diane Raphael who plays Grace’s daughter Brianna, the highlight of the show to me. The downside to the show is the ex-husbands, played by Sam Waterston and Martin Sheen who consistently nauseate me and borderline make me want to fast forward through their scenes. This is so odd to me because in anything else I really love them. Either way, salute to a long-lasting comedy that got to go out on its own steam.

What The Hell Should I Watch? – Apr 21st

stevestebbing

no comments

April 21, 2022

New Releases:

The Northman – Following his incredible films the VVitch and The Lighthouse, this new feature film from writer and director Robert Eggers is easily one of my most anticipated films of 2022. The atmosphere and the approach to the subject matter are always one of a kind. The simple fact that he is tackling the Viking era with this film and a cast that is familiar to him and some outstanding new additions make me even more excited. The story follows Prince Amleth, played by Alexander Skarsgaard, who is on the verge of becoming a man when his father is brutally murdered by his uncle, who kidnaps the boy’s mother. Two decades later, Amleth is now a Viking who’s on a mission to save his mother, kill his uncle and avenge his father in a viscerally violent art film that will most likely be on my best-of list at the end of the year even though I haven’t seen it yet. With a cast around Skarsgard featuring Anya Taylor Joy, Willem Dafoe, Ethan Hawke, Claes Bang and even Bjork, this is going to be one hell of an experience.

The Unbearable Weight Of Massive Talent – Being a huge Nicolas Cage fan, which is no secret to any regular readers of my work, this seems like the ultimate goal for this legend to hit at least once in his career, playing an ultra version of himself. Add to that the added charm of starring The Mandalorian himself, Pedro Pascal, which gives this comedy even more of a draw and my anticipation for it is huge. In the film, he plays a cash-strapped Nick Cage who agrees to make a paid appearance at a billionaire super fan’s birthday party but is really an informant for the CIA since the billionaire fan is a drug kingpin and he is forced to live up to his own legend, channelling his most iconic and beloved on-screen characters in order to save himself and his loved ones. The onscreen chemistry between Cage and Pascal has me laughing so hard whenever I see the trailer and the addition of Tiffany Haddish and Ike Barinholtz as the CIA agents in question adds so much more to the hilarity as well. So excited for this movie too. What a movie week this is!

The Bad Guys – Based on a series of best-selling kids’ books, I knew nothing about this new Dreamworks animated movie but my daughter seems to know everything so when it comes to the subject of this new film I will just defer to being a fan of the voice casting in this. Led by an always charming Sam Rockwell, this film also has Marc Maron, Awkwafina, Richard Ayoade, Craig Robinson, Anthony Ramos, Zazie Beetz and many more, which would make a great adult comedy so I’m looking forward to what they do for the children and the parents who have to watch it along with them. The story follows notorious criminals Mr. Wolf, Mr. Snake, Mr. Piranha, Mr. Shark and Ms. Tarantula who are finally caught after a lifetime of legendary heists. To avoid a prison sentence, the animal outlaws must pull off their most challenging con yet, becoming model citizens. Under the tutelage of their mentor, Professor Marmalade, the dubious gang sets out to fool the world that they’re turning good. The animation style looks very cool and original, playing on a noir style almost with a dynamic shading to it which now looks confusing as I’m writing this but it really gives it a unique style. I’m sure that Dreamworks is hoping that this strikes with the reader fan base but as I haven’t heard of it before it might be smaller than they think.

Charlotte – As a big fan of foreign and European films, I really have a deep love for all French cinema and I have to say that their animation offerings are always so deep and have so much more to say than the mainstream pushed North American ones do. Instead of focusing on Shrek or whatever new Pixar commodity is up next, these films generally delve into something more real and totally grounded and this new film just happens to come from the creators of The Triplets Of Belleville, an incredible film from close to twenty years ago now. This film is based on a true story and is an account of German-Jewish artist Charlotte Salomon living in the south of France between 1941 and 1943. Fiercely imaginative and deeply gifted, she dreams of becoming a celebrated creator and her first love applauds her talent, which emboldens her resolve. Sadly, the world around her is changing quickly and dangerously, limiting her options and derailing her dream. When anti-Semitic policies inspire violent mobs, she leaves Berlin for the safety of the South of France. There she begins to paint again and finds new love but her work is interrupted, this time by a family tragedy that reveals an even darker secret. Believing that only the extraordinary will save her, she embarks on the monumental adventure of painting her life story in a film that hits hard in its end credits with the reality of Charlotte’s situation and untimely end. For the English version, Keira Knightly gives voice to the title character but in France, it was Marion Cotillard, a personal favourite of mine. This movie is heavy but bold and quite beautiful at the same time.

Blu-Ray:

Cyrano – The story of Cyrano De Bergerac has been told many times with many different actors taking the role like Gerard Depardieu and Jose Ferrer being the notables but when I saw Game Of Thrones star Peter Dinklage and Atonement filmmaker Joe Wright attached to this, I got immediately interested. What turns me off of it a little bit is that it is a musical but I’m willing to push that aside for a well-made movie. The story follows the title character, a man ahead of his time who impresses everyone with ferocious wordplay at a verbal joust or with brilliant swordplay in a duel but, convinced that his appearance renders him unworthy of the love of a devoted friend, the luminous Roxanne, Cyrano has yet to declare his feelings for her and Roxanne has fallen in love, at first sight, with Christian. The film is getting fantastic reviews and most of them praise Dinklage’s performance which this rests solely on in a lot of places but the help of supporting roles from Haley Bennett, Kelvin Harrison Jr. and Ben Mendelsohn definitely elevate it as well. It was also shot by Seamus McGarvey who makes absolute gold with Wright time after time.

Jackass Forever – This may seem weird for a guy who loves to review Oscar-nominated and arthouse films but this is one of the most anticipated sequels and one I’ve been waiting a long time for. Yes, this is a justification coming from a forty-year-old dude but, to be honest, I grew up into my adulthood with Jackass the series, the movies and the CKY or Camp Kill Yourself videos that came before it and have been a longtime fan that even wore a wristband from the second film until it all but deteriorated off my body. Now having proven my fandom, we welcome this new and final film that brings back all but Ryan Dunn, who sadly passed away and Bam Margera who has been going through some notable drug and alcohol issues as well as severe mental health ones. What to expect from this one? Well, what do you usually go into these gross-out and low-bar series of stunts and practical jokes? Just go in with the brainpan closed off to any smarts and laugh your jackass off. That’s what I did and it paid off well.

The King’s Daughter – Looking at the cover of this blu-ray, it feels like it would have fit in well during the early to mid-2000s in the time of Ella Enchanted and films like that but this one plays it a bit more earnest which I believe is one of its many faults. The casting is solid though, featuring Pierce Brosnan, Kaya Scodelerio, Pablo Schreiber and William Hurt in one of his final performances and the writing was promising with Ang Lee’s guy James Schamus penning the screenplay. The film follows Brosnan as King Louis XI and his quest for immortality which leads him to capture a mermaid to harvest her life force, a move that is further complicated by his illegitimate daughter’s discovery and immediate bond to the creature. This movie is beyond corny and, while still looking like a multi-million dollar production, is a misstep in every way. Predictable and groan-inducing, the film consistently feels like a film that was shelved for twenty years and forgotten about which is almost half true as it was made eight years ago and just got released now. The delay came from a series of events starting with the studio’s lack of enthusiasm with the cut they were originally presented with followed by Fan Bingbing getting into trouble with the Chinese authorities for non-payment of taxes. As the film featured a then major star in Chinese cinema and Chinese investors stumped up 50% of the budget, her income tax issues and the negative publicity in China effectively killed her career there and with it any chance of a lucrative Chinese release. With Pierce Brosnan as the only international star in the cast and without a major studio to back the release campaign, the film sat and collected dust which was probably for the best.

The Humans – With the buzz from film festivals and critics who got an early look at the film starting at the Toronto International Film Festival, I knew that this movie would be one of note but I didn’t want to know anything beyond that it was a Tony Award-winning play. This cast had me immediately on board, with Richard Jenkins, Beanie Feldstein, June Squibb, Steven Yuen and Amy Schumer, but the substance behind it is where it excels and I won’t tip the hat at all to what it contains. The film is set inside a pre-war duplex in downtown Manhattan and follows the course of an evening in which the Blake family gathers to celebrate Thanksgiving but, as darkness falls outside the crumbling building, mysterious things start to go bump in the night and buried family tensions begin to reach a boiling point. This movie goes from conventional drama to veiled horror in unpredictable moments and it is so crazily unexpected that I slowly felt myself falling in love with it. The acting hits a crescendo that solidifies it as one of the strongest of the year but it’s the puppeteering of writer and director Stephen Karam that brings it there. This may not be for everyone but I’m saying this is one of last year’s best films.

Steve’s Blu-Ray Geekouts:

6:45 – Just one sole geek out this week and it just happens to be in a favourite genre for The Shift, the horror story! This one combines that lovely styling of films with the vacation subgenre making everyone’s thoughts and dreams cloudy with screams, terror and, of course, blood! The film is distributed by Well Go USA, a company usually behind Asian cinema from every eastern country but this is a strictly American production that features a totally unestablished cast. In a “Groundhog Day” style story, the film follows Bobby Patterson, a man who is taking one last romantic shot at saving his rocky relationship with his girlfriend, Jules Rables, by taking her on a weekend getaway to the picturesque island resort of Bog Grove. To their bewilderment, the sleepy beach town is curiously deserted but they soon learn about its notorious and bloody history, one that’s about to repeat itself again and again. This movie was a pleasant surprise for me as I’m used to seeing some of the bottom of the barrel, eye-roll-inducing crap. Maybe it’s due to me really liking the time loop device in horror and this film using it well, even if it peters out a bit in the finale. Even still, it was one of the more enjoyable horror stories this year that I hadn’t heard of previously.

Television:

The Flight Attendant: Season 2 (Crave) – I have to admit that for a long time whenever I saw anything with Kaley Cuoco in it for over a decade I automatically think of her character Penny from the long-running series The Big Bang Theory because that’s just the stigma that these sitcom stars are saddled with. Now she has been Harley Quinn in animated form for three going on four seasons and the first season of this dark comedy mystery really earned her a lot of acclaim. In the show, she plays flight attendant Cassandra Bowden who wakes in her hotel room in Dubai, hungover from the night before and with a dead body lying next to her. Afraid to call the police, she continues her morning as if nothing happened, joining the other flight attendants and pilots travelling to the airport but in New York, she is met by FBI agents who question her about her recent layover in Dubai. Still unable to piece the night together, she begins to wonder if she could be the killer. I love the mystery drive of this series and it was created by writer Steve Yockey, who wrote for years on the recently ended Supernatural and more so I have some high hopes for where this continuation of the show is going, especially because I had assumed that it would be just a limited series.

Russian Doll: Season 2 (Netflix) – I might be putting a lot of hopes into the sophomore season of this great time loop series but I believe it has all the elements to have some continued success and may even bring more viewers in through word of mouth this time around. Natasha Lyonne stars as a woman who is desperately trying to escape a party thrown for her for one reason or another. The compounding issue is that every time she makes a break for it she dies in varying ways and then is reset to the beginning of the party again in sort of a Groundhog Day scenario. I really hope I threw you for a swerve in that description because that is exactly what the trailer for the first season did for me and I fell deeply in love with it. Created by Lyonne, Amy Poehler and the very funny Leslye Headland, this is probably your next binge and it would be a more than worthy one.

Mayans M.C.: Season 4 (FX) – Sons Of Anarchy fans, myself included, still have something to cling to as this series has broken through its uncertain period and now Kurt Sutter has exited as showrunner and it’s been fully on co-creator Elgin James’ plate for the past season or so. The show is thriving with its new sort of Jax, EZ, played by JD Pardo, a character that starts his journey from the bottom as a prospect which adds to a different dynamic in the show. I love the supporting cast like Edward James Almos and Tudors star Sarah Bolger and the returning actors Ray McKinnon and Emilio Rivera in their Sons of Anarchy roles, this all taking place in a post-Jax Teller world. As a merchandise-owning fan of the original series, I will ride with this show until the wheels fall off. Blood feuds have come and gone, new feuds have started and the show is more engaging than ever. Just hook it to my veins!

A Very British Scandal (Prime Video) – If it’s a British true story and Claire Foy is a lead role then you definitely have my attention but when you add one of my favourite character actors of all time, Paul Bettany, into the mix then you make it one of my most anticipated things of the week. Foy is also getting a second kick at the Royal family as well with this being very Winsor-centric, returning her to the wheelhouse of The Crown once again. This limited series is the story of events surrounding the notorious divorce of the Duke and Duchess of Argyll during the 1960s, a story that I really had no information going into but the advanced word says that Foy and Bettany are really great at playing two completely loathsome characters and that totally has me fired up. Funny enough that no one involved in The Crown had anything to do with this show as it comes from showrunner Sarah Phelps who cut her teeth in writing for over fourteen years on Eastenders. Scandal is definitely her wheelhouse but this is definitely on a bigger scale, historically speaking.

What The Hell Should I Watch? – Apr 14

stevestebbing

no comments

April 14, 2022

New Releases:

Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets Of Dumbledore – I head into this second sequel in the spinoff prequel of the Harry Potter franchise with a few mixed emotions. The first Fantastic Beasts film I found to be really fun with some great characters and storytelling but the second film, The Crimes Of Grindelwald, felt way too much at once being shoved into a single movie which grew tedious as the story moved on. Now we return to the world of wizarding with Dumbledore, played by Jude Law, at its head. With the knowledge that Grindelwald, now played by the great Mads Mikkelsen, is intent on seizing control of both sides of the world, both magic and ordinary, Albus must enlist Magizoologist Newt Scamander to lead an intrepid team of wizards, witches and one brave Muggle baker on a dangerous mission, where they encounter old and new beasts and clash with Grindelwald’s growing legion of followers. The good thing is, from all early reviews of it, we get more of a return to what made the first movie so entertaining and they don’t feel like they cram in and rush little storylines that come to fruition later. I wonder how now they will deal with the problematic casting of Ezra Miller who now seems like more of a PR problem than Johnny Depp ever was.

Father Stu – With the news that Mark Wahlberg may soon be retiring from mainstream Hollywood filmmaking and focusing only on faith-based stories like this one, it adds all that much more disappointment to covering this one which was already at a low with the casting of Mel Gibson. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, n good storytelling has come out of the faith-based market ever and I have suffered through too many of them. This one follows the life of Father Stuart Long, played by Wahlberg, a boxer-turned-priest who inspired countless people during his journey from self-destruction to redemption. Everything about the trailer for this movie feels like a pandering message-driven story that once again focuses on delivering the ideals over being an actually entertaining movie. I don’t need to be preached at about faith and belief but that is all these films seem to do. Seriously, how many people are being converted to Christianity or catholicism during an outing to the movies? Just give it up already.

Choose Or Die – I can’t lie, I had some hopes for this new technology-driven horror movie that played with the trope of being based around an 80s style video game but having lived through 2006’s Stay Alive in theatres, a video game horror slasher film that was terrible, I should have known better. My draw to this, besides what I previously mentioned, is it has Sex Education’s Asa Butterfield and Freddy Krueger himself, Robert England, but the latter was in voice form only and he kind of plays himself. The story follows a broke student who, in pursuit of an unclaimed $100,000 prize, plays an obscure 1980s survival computer game and after a series of unexpectedly terrifying moments, she soon realizes she’s no longer playing for the money, but for her own life. The premise is neat but that’s all there is to this bare-bones horror film that relies on cheap sound drive jump scares and some janky special effects to get its thrills across. Butterfield plays a small supporting role to drive the main character’s narrative and I feel like nothing comes together in any logical sense in the third act. Disappointing all around.

All My Puny Sorrows – I really have a place in my heart for festival darlings and not only does this one hold that title but it won a handful of awards at last year’s Vancouver International Film Festival which gives the love that local flavour. Beyond that, the film features leading performances from two favourite Canadian actresses, Alison Pill who I’m currently watching on Picard and Sarah Gadon who I have loved in absolutely everything she has done. The film is based on the international best-selling novel by Miriam Toews and is the poignant story of two sisters, one a concert pianist obsessed with ending her life and the other, a writer, who is wrestling with this decision, makes profound discoveries about her herself. With mental health finally being something discussed more openly, this film is an important narrative to get out to the masses and writer and director Michael McGowan does an incredible job in conveying it. It also adds to a killer list for the filmmaker as his Joshua Jackson drama One Week is a Canadian favourite of mine.

Kicking Blood – Vampire horror is a dicey thing to get into these days, especially with the absolute classics that reside in that side of the genre, so if you’re going to do it, you better expect many people to compare it to things they have already seen before. That is the minefield that Canadian writer and director Blaine Thurier is navigating with his new feature film but he isn’t a stranger to the overarching genre as he is following u his last film, a high school-set dark comedy horror called Teen Lust. This story follows Anna, a centuries-old vampire who spends her nights watching Robbie, a charming but reckless young man that is recovering from his alcoholism. Finding that her possible obsession might be something more deep and human in nature, she decides to quit blood and restore her humanity. The film doesn’t feature any widely recognizable cast but lead actress Alanna Bale is so compelling in her performance that it is hard not to be drawn into the drama of it all. This film played at the Vancouver International Film Festival last year and I heard a bit of buzz about it then but finally seeing it, I was really impressed with how well the story is told against a pretty low budget.

Blu-Ray:

Spider-Man: No Way Home – It was pretty damn cool to head into the end of the year with the biggest Marvel movie of 2021 and a film that changed the landscape of that cinematic universe for the next phase. There was so much speculation heading into this film, one that brings the multiverse into the equation and we knew from the trailers that Alred Molina’s Doc Ock, Willem Dafoe’s Green Goblin and Jamie Foxx’s Electro appear but the big question was do Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield’s Spideys drop in as well? I think a large number of us know the answer to that now but I’ll still play vaguely on it. The film takes up just after Spider-Man’s identity was revealed, forcing Peter to ask Doctor Strange for help. When a spell goes wrong, dangerous foes from other worlds start to appear, forcing Peter to discover what it truly means to be Spider-Man. Again, I’ll play non-spoiler games here ad not delve in on the secrets revealed in this awesome thrill ride but I will say that it is possibly one of the most entertaining films in the whole Marvel universe and proves not just how great of a Spider-Man Tom Holland is but just how damn good that Willem Dafoe is as well. There’s a reason that he is consistently my favourite actor in everything he does.

Gold – Zac Efron’s most recent adventures were documented in his Netflix docuseries Down To Earth which had him travelling around the world with wellness expert Darin Olien in search of healthy, sustainable ways to live but it must have also been to help prepare him for this new survival thriller because it really seemed to pay off. Interestingly enough, he almost died making the reality show so it’s even more fitting that this film takes place in one of the most deadly places on the planet as well. The film is set in the not-too-distant future and follows Efron as a drifter travelling through the desert who discovers the largest gold nugget ever found with his driver who is reluctantly escorting him through the harsh terrain. While his new business partner treks off to find an excavator to dig up their find, the drifter is left to his own devices to guard it against thieves amid harsh conditions and wild dogs while waiting for his meal ticket to return. Beautifully shot but dour and depressing, this movie is as harsh as they come and shows, without any flinching, a man whose body is torn apart by the elements he faces. Efron is put through the absolute wringer in this film and I felt captivated the whole time. The viewer takes a beat, albeit far less than the character on screen, but it is quite the journey.

Last Looks – Just like anyone else that sees the cover of this new blu-ray, I feel all kinds of weirdness seeing Mel Gibson in any sort of prominent role, a guy that has had no remorse for any of the bad things he has done but still gets rewarded anyways. That said, the film is lead by Charlie Hunnam and I am a huge Sons Of Anarchy fan so I had no choice but to pop it in and press play. The film is based on a novel of the same name by author Howard Michael Gould, who also wrote the screenplay, and follows a disgraced ex-cop named Charlie Waldo who seeks solace by moving to the woods, but finds his quiet life shattered when a studio executive recruits him to investigate the high profile murder of a famous actor’s wife. As against this film as I felt initially, I found myself falling deeper and deeper into the storyline as it progressed, filled with intriguing characters and some well-written dialogue. The film isn’t really anything largely special but I do appreciate the private investigator Hollywood noir of it all and I wouldn’t be against seeing more of the Waldo character as Gould already has another novel in this progressing series out.

Spiritwalker – South Korean cinema is still and forever will be my total jam and this new action thriller with a little bit of a sci-fi element filled that bucket for me so well. It doesn’t come from a filmmaker that I’m at all familiar with, Jae-geun Yoon in just his second feature film, but he has quickly been put on my list of people to keep an eye on, especially his last movie Heartbeat which features Lost actress Yunjin Kim. This stylish film kept me on the edge of my seat though, a fantasy action that revolves around a man who loses his memory and subsequently wakes up in a new body every twelve hours. As the reasoning around his predicament becomes increasingly clear, his peril becomes more heightened and Yoon and his cinematography hold his perspective so well. These films are still very niche, no matter what the acclaim that Bong Joon Ho’s Parasite should have done for Korean films after the Oscars, so they all seem like hard sells still but they arguably make better action thrillers than most of the North American productions. If you aren’t going to see the Bay-hem of Ambulance in theatres now, this would be a solid runner-up.

American Flyers -Warner Archive hooked me up with a Kevin Costner double feature this week and it’s pretty cool because the two films occupy certain niches in his career starting with this one, the sports movie. It is the beginning piece to a trend that would encompass a golf movie, a relay racing film, a football draft story and multiple baseball films and I definitely think it was a really solid start. He plays Marcus in this, a sports physician who persuades his unstable brother David to come with him and train for a bicycle race across the Rocky Mountains. Marcus doesn’t tell David that he has a brain aneurysm that could render him paralyzed or dead at any given moment and while his brother powerfully heads for the victory, he has to realize that the contest is now beyond his capabilities and his progressing disabilities. This was just at the beginning of Costner’s leading man career and he hadn’t hit his stride yet as an A-lister but this movie excels on the work of director John Badham, fresh off of WarGames, and writer Steve Tesich who had just earned acclaim for The World According To Garp. The drama is so well told and the chemistry between Costner and his co-stars David Marshall Grant, Rae Dawn Chong and Alexandra Paul is solid and keeps you into it.

Fandango – This is a special film in the career of the great Kevin Costner as it is the first collaboration between him and writer and director Kevin Reynolds with the duo pairing to do two more films afterwards with Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves and the unfairly maligned Waterworld, as well as the Hatfields & McCoys series. This film also pushes the great ensemble tendency for Costner again as Judd Nelson and Sam Robards feature alongside him with Suzy Amis and Gleanne Headly in supporting roles. The film is an emotional story of a “last hurrah” and the changing of innocence following five college buddies from the University of Texas circa 1971 who embark on a final road trip odyssey across the Mexican border before facing up to uncertain futures, in Vietnam and otherwise. A cool story about this film, it was the feature-length version of Reynolds’ short student film from when he was in USC film school which was seen by Steven Spielberg who coaxed him into making it a feature film that was definitely underappreciated critically in its time and has found a positive reaction since.

Steve’s Blu-Ray Geekouts:

The Cabin In The Woods – I am fully in the know of how unacceptable it is to praise Joss Whedon as a creator now that the grossness of his past actions has been brought to light but I instead use this film to give accolades to Drew Goddard, the director and co-writer of this brilliant horror-comedy that was shelved by the studio for so long because they didn’t understand where to release it in the year and had no idea how beloved it would become to the fan base. It really took Chris Hemsworth’s success in Thor to give it a new theatrical life. This movie is fantastic in every way but I’ll keep spoiler-free for those who haven’t seen it and just say that it is about five friends who go for a break at a remote cabin, where they get more than they bargained for and discover the sinister and crazy truth behind the cabin in the woods. Featuring Bradley Whitford, Richard Jenkins, Fran Kranz and Jesse Williams, this might be one of my favourite horror films of all time and no one at all is prepared for the game-changing twists or that insane third act. True movie magic.

Frailty – This is a great week for the geek-outs as I wasn’t sent anything late so I get to delve into the anniversaries of the week, as that previous entry with its ten-year birthday. This thriller here is turning twenty this week and is one of my all-time favourites as well and was also the directorial debut of the late, not forgotten and sorely missed Bill Paxton. Paxton stars in a major supporting role but the heavy lifting is done by Matthew McCougnahy and Powers Boothe in a story about a mysterious man who arrives at the offices of an FBI agent to recount his childhood and how his religious fanatic father received visions telling him to destroy people who were in fact “demons.” This movie brilliantly plays with your perceptions of what the final truth is and is crafted so masterfully until its sinister final act. There are many fans of this film that wanted a sequel but I’m so happy it was left to breathe on its own because I believe it is a perfect southern gothic tale in every way.

Grosse Pointe Blank – I’m a huge John Cusack fan and have been for a long time and this is a film in his filmography that I will always hold close to my heart, along with High Fidelity, but I assure you the love does come from before this. This one is really special as well because he co-wrote the screenplay for it and it shows off that great dark humour that he wears on his sleeve in so many roles. For those who have never seen this absolute gem that is celebrating twenty-five years, it follows Martin Blank, a professional assassin sent on a mission to a small Detroit suburb, Grosse Pointe, which is also, by coincidence, his hometown and his ten-year high school reunion party is taking place there at the exact same time. All the awkwardness of those reunions is at play at the exact same time that a rival killer is looking to snuff out the competition, played so well by the great Canadian, Dan Aykroyd. With a soundtrack that you can’t help but tap your toe along to and a script that is hilarious and infinitely quotable, there is no wrong time to see this movie for the first time. Trust me, it is a total classic.

Television:

Roar (AppleTV+) – I’ve said it many times before but I think AppleTV+ is one of the only streaming services that are taking bold chances with their programming, sometimes picking up other network and studio cast-offs, and this new series fits the niche of original and offbeat shows. What took me in right away about this show was how non-linear it came across in its approach and, aside from the mega-stardom of Nicole Kidman and the always fantastic Betty Gilpin from GLOW, it relies on its writing and focused subject matter to do it. The description feels very vague on the outside but to put it in nutshell it is an insightful, poignant, and sometimes hilarious portrait of what it means to be a woman today featuring a unique blend of magical realism, familiar domestic and professional scenarios, and futuristic worlds. The show actually comes from a novel by author Cecelia Ahern, an Irish writer who gifted the from com audiences with favourites like P.S., I Love You but this one is a totally different sort of beast and offers some gender empowerment that sometimes isn’t present in the mainstream television ideals. It feels very much like a cut and dry single season so I think it’s easy to call this one a limited series.

Anatomy Of A Scandal (Netflix) – Nothing ropes viewers in better than a controversial and maybe seedy storyline and, honestly, no one does it better than the Brits when it comes to depicting it because the BBC has been doing knockout work in this type of show for years. Netflix seems to want their cut of that action as they’ve produced this new series and enlisted a handful of recognizable actors but only if you’re an avid watcher of British television and to be honest most of them are faces that I can’t put immediate names to. The story infiltrates Britain’s elite through personal and political scandal, where the truth lies between justice and privilege following James and Sophie Whitehouse who live in a blissful and rarified world. A Minister in Parliament with a loving family at home, James’ trajectory appears without limits until a scandalous secret suddenly comes to light. Barrister Kate Woodcroft has a trajectory of her own, and her prosecution threatens to tear into Westminster, the Whitehouse marriage, and her own personal esteem. The subject matter and how it is taken on may feel a bit dry to North American viewers who are used to a glossier sort of courtroom procedural but for me, a fan of Broadchurch, Law & Order UK and Vera, all of this plays so well into my wheelhouse. That said, I don’t at all expect this series to be a runaway hit at all, just a pleasant discovery for Netflix subscribers.

Hard Cell (Netflix) – Speaking of British programming, this new comedy series caught my eye because of the lead star Catherine Tate who, for me, is always memorable as one of Doctor Who’s Companions, Donna Noble, but for many she is remembered as one of the many replacements for Michael Scott on The Office when Steve Carrell departed the show. Now she gets to stretch her comedy wings again, something she is incredibly good at, even on Doctor Who, and play around with portraying multiple characters. Taking a bit from The Office’s styling, developed by the great Ricky Gervais of course, the series is a documentary-style show that follows a filmmaking crew filming the inmates and staff of HMP Woldsley while Tate portrays multiple characters to capture the penal system at its brutal humorous best. There is a lot of obviously British-focused lampooning in this but for a guy like me that was raised on this country’s comedy, through the Canadian PBS broadcasting, all of it plays so well with me. Like the previous entry on this list, the series may not appeal to a broader North American audience but I’m sure it will land with a United Kingdom comedy-seeking crowd.

Outer Range (Prime Video) – Josh Brolin is an easy sell for almost everyone as he is guaranteed to have been in a film you love, dating all the way back to The Goonies because, damn, wasn’t Brand the epitome of cool? Well, he heads to the open country but this one isn’t No Country For Old Men or anything Cormac McCarthy but something more mysterious and I’m still trying to figure out what. Co-starring the equally phenomenal Imogen Poots and Lili Taylor, this series centers on Royal Abbott, a rancher fighting for his land and family, who discovers an unfathomable mystery at the edge of Wyoming’s wilderness, delving into some seemingly supernatural mystery. The series was created by Brian Watkins who has no other credits under his name but sometimes that works out in a sort of wunderkind fashion as it did for the Duffer Brothers with Stranger Things. Now, I’m not trying to set up the expectations that that series have levelled with its fans but I am really excited to see an original idea fleshed out with the power of Prime Videos wallet which is immense just based on the budget that The Marvelous Ms. Maisel has.

What The Hell Should I Watch? – Apr 7

stevestebbing

no comments

April 7, 2022

New Releases:

Sonic The Hedgehog 2 – If you ask my daughter what the biggest movie of the year is she will without hesitation point to this film, the sequel to the best movie of 2020 just before we headed into the shutdown of the pandemic. Video game adaptations are more often than not completely awful but the first film was well constructed, brilliantly cast and made with the same love that the fans have for this beloved SEGA character. This film picks up right after the first film with Sonic embracing his newfound hero role when the manic Dr. Robotnik returns to Earth with a new ally, Knuckles the Echidna. Together with his new ally Tails, the blue and speedy hedgehog had to take down not just his old enemy but an unpredictable foe that is very similar to himself. The initial reviews are really great for this movie promising that if you loved the first movie you will indeed adore this one just as much. The trailer is all sorts of fun and I’m excited to get more characters from Sonic’s world and can’t wait to see how the third movie will be set up which has already been greenlit.

Ambulance – Looking to blow things up in the biggest ways possible with the story usually being a secondary motion, Michael Bay is back on the scene with this new action thriller that only has my attention because of the lead stars of Jake Gyllenhaal and Yahya Abdul Mateen III who are always incredible on screen. I used to be into the “Bay-hem” of this action pioneer but have been dulled down by too many Transformers films and the cacophonous noise of his style but maybe the low bar will work out in my favour. The film follows two desperate men who pair for the biggest bank heist in Los Angeles history with a take of $32 million. Of course, things go wrong and they hijack an ambulance with a wounded cop clinging to life and an ace EMT on board, played by Baby Driver’s Eiza Gonzalez. With it being a Michael Bay film, besides explosions, it will be full of insane camera twirling, sunkissed shots of the Los Angeles cityscape and more of his trademarks but I’m hoping that the acting elevates this one because he has some heavyweights. The movie is also a remake of a 2005 thriller out of Denmark as was Gyllenhaal’s previous film, The Guilty, which is fantastic and on Netflix right now.

All The Old Knives – I feel like it’s been a long while since we’ve seen Chris Pine in a leading capacity, the last time being the complete downgrade of a Wonder Woman sequel. He has great company for this new Prime Video released espionage thriller with Thandiwe Newton who has always been a favourite but rides even higher now with the phenomenal Westworld character Maeve in recent memory. They play two CIA operatives, and former lovers, who reunite at idyllic Carmel-by-the-Sea to re-examine a mission six years ago in Vienna where a fellow agent might have been compromised. The film comes from Danish filmmaker Janus Metz who compelled with his sports biopic Borg McEnroe which I had the pleasure of seeing at the Vancouver International Film Festival, and he also did some episodes of the second season of True Detective so he has experience in a darker form of storytelling. It’s interesting to note that it was supposed to be Idris Elba and Kate Winslet, who starred together in The Mountains Between Us, and at one time Michelle Williams was attached as the lead.

Metal Lords – Someone at Netflix must have my best interest in mind because they have gifted me and everyone else, I guess, with a film so embedded with the love of heavy metal that you feel it in every moment. This, paired with the warm and funny heart of Nick And Norah’s Infinite Playlist director Peter Sollett, makes this immediately one of my most enjoyed films of the year. The story follows two kids who want to start a heavy metal band in a high school where exactly two kids care about heavy metal. Hunter is a diehard metal fan who knows his history and shreds with an undying dream to win the upcoming Battle of the Bands. He enlists his best friend Kevin to man the drums but with schoolmates more interested in Bieber than Black Sabbath, finding a bassist is a struggle until Kevin overhears Emily playing her cello. The motley crew must contend with school, parents, hormones and teen angst while trying to get along long enough for Skullfucker to win the Battle of the Bands. With a killer soundtrack, a staple in Sollett’s films, great performances from a stellar young cast and thoroughly funny script I don’t think it’s hyperbole to call this a crowd pleaser but I think it would be better to call it a mosh pit pleaser. Damn, this movie was so great.

Mothering Sunday – If you’re in the mood for some post World War I British romance then this is a damn good week for you because this film ticks all the boxes plus it features Colin Firth and Olivia Coman in supporting roles which is the set up to an actor’s dream showcase. The film also features actress Odessa Young in the lead role, looking for some redemption after The Stand, opposite Josh O’Connor who swept television award shows recently for his portrayal of Prince Charles in the Netflix series The Crown. The story follows a maid living in England after the war who secretly plans to meet with the man she loves before he leaves to marry another woman in a clash of familial relationships and societal politics. This film is driven by fantastic performances that are subdued and seemingly bubble just under the surface. Aside from the few episodes I saw of the Prime Video series Hanna that director Eva Husson had directed, I wasn’t familiar with her work until this movie and was totally blown away by how studious her craft was alongside Moffie cinematographer Jamie Ramsey. This film won’t have a lot of mainstream buzz around it but it is definitely worth the watch.

As They Made Us – Bonafide movie stars still very much have their allure to me and one of those people is Dustin Hoffman, a classic presence who never seems to disappoint even if the movie around him does. He takes a supporting role to Glee actress Diana Agron in this film but he also has Candice Bergen and Big Bang Theory’s Simon Helberg with him which is fitting because his co-star Mayim Balik makes her feature directorial debut here as well. The story follows Agron as Abigail, a divorced mother of two who is struggling to balance the dynamics within her dysfunctional family as she attempts to cultivate new love. Her father Eugene has a degenerative condition that he and his wife Barbara refuse to accept, and her brother Nathan has been estranged from the family for decades. A self-appointed fixer, Abigail tries to mend her complicated family before it’s too late but it may be enough dysfunction to sabotage her own life. This movie was a delightful surprise that doesn’t just sate by on the power of it’s cast but has a great heart at the center of it’s script, also written by Balik. You can really feel Mayim draw from her own life experiences and Agron paints it so well onscreen with her dramatic prowess that has never been properly shown as it is here.

Blu-Ray:

Scream – Usually January is a dead-in-the-water month for big releases but in 2022 we got the horror year rolling in style early because a slasher franchise heavyweight made its way back to theatres and fans, such as myself, was really excited about it. It should be noted right away that this is the first Scream film to not be directed by horror master Wes Craven who sadly passed away almost seven years ago but it is in safe hands with Ready Or Not filmmaking duo Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett. The film picks up twenty-five years after the streak of brutal murders that shocked the quiet town of Woodsboro, California in the original film and now a new killer dons the Ghostface mask and begins targeting a group of teenagers to resurrect secrets from the town’s deadly past and to force Sydney Prescott to come back and deal with the terror for good. The film has Neve Campbell, David Arquette and Courtney Cox returning to the franchise with The Boys’ Jack Quaid, 13 Reasons Why’s Dylan Minnette, Yellowjackets’ Jasmin Savoy Brown and more joining the cast. I have to say that I was totally satisfied with the outcome, a film that breathes a fresh new life into a franchise that does have a pulse in continuing and does it with reverence to Craven and Kevin Williamson’s original landmark film. Without giving too much away, Scream fans will really dig into this film as a feast created just for them.

Death On The Nile – Agatha Christie is something of a forgotten era of filmmaking but Kenneth Branagh seemed to pull it off well with his remake of Murder On The Orient Express and why shouldn’t he be successful? This is the guy who did a multitude of Shakespeare adaptations. Now he is returning with another Christie mystery and slipping back into the role of master detective Hercule Poirot. This film follows the Belgian sleuth vacationing aboard a glamorous river steamer when it turns into a terrifying search for a murderer after a picture-perfect couple’s idyllic honeymoon is tragically cut short. Set against an epic landscape of sweeping Egyptian desert vistas and the majestic Giza pyramids, this mystery has a killer cast in it including Gal Gadot, Annette Bening, Russell Brand and more and I have a good feeling for it to be a fun flick, especially for a totally classic whodunit being retold.

Parallel Mothers – Pedro Almodovar makes cinema with every flourish of his being. It may not be relatable or something in your particular wheelhouse but it is evident that he comes from the school of the greatest international auteurs and he also has that classic loyalty to his stars like Penelope Cruz who leads this film as well. Co-starring the incredibly stunning Rossy de Palma, the story sets out with two women, Janis and Ana, connecting in a hospital room where they are going to give birth. Both are single and became pregnant by accident with Janis, a middle-aged man who doesn’t regret it and is excited for the journey and the other, Ana, an adolescent who is scared, repentant and traumatized by the whole experience. Janis tries to encourage her while they move like sleepwalkers along the hospital corridors and with only a few words exchanged between them in these hours, it will create a very close link between the two, which by chance develops and complicates, and changes their lives in a decisive way. The film is always vibrant and colourful but it is the eyes of both women that get a focus that pulls you into the drama of the situation as well as the dread felt when secrets and revelations come to light but aren’t immediately spoken. The film fills an international niche that might be widely sought but the fans of this style will eat it up like a well-prepared meal.

Jockey – Clifton Collins Jr. is a name you might not know by just hearing it but you know his face and he’s been making your favourite films better with his supporting work for decades now. He gets his chance to absolutely shine in this new horse racing-driven character drama and shares the screen with an equally game Moises Arias from The Kings Of Summer. Collins plays an aging jockey who is still hoping to bring home another championship for his longtime trainer but injuries have thrown the whole arrangement into question. Throw in a new young rider who claims to be his son, and whom he takes under his wing, to further complicate the path to fulfilling his dream of going out at the top. Beautifully written and directed by Clint Bentley in his feature film debut and shot by Adolpho Veloso, whose work is new to me but I look forward to what he does next. The final shot of this movie is such a lingering triumph that it made me smile. I love character films like this one.

The Long Night – Some occult horror hits the screens this week with the scream queen of Scout Taylor Compton, an actress that was given her start with Rob Zombie in his remake of Halloween. Beautifully shot and with some insanely insidious imagery, the film would be a perfect fit for a company like SpectreVision, nestled against other movies like Mandy and Color Out Of Space. The story follows Compton as New York transplant Grace who returns to her childhood southern stomping grounds with her boyfriend, searching for the parents she’s never known and following a promising lead on her family’s whereabouts. Upon arrival, the couple’s weekend takes a bizarre, terrifying turn as a nightmarish cult and their maniacal leader terrorize the pair en route to fulfilling a twisted ancient apocalyptic prophecy. So many creepy animal skull masks but surprisingly low on the gore angle. It still does have its fair share of blood but the scares come from the atmosphere of it all and the creepy drone to the musical score. I also have to hand it to the director by doing a full-on intro that mirrors the opening of Kubrick’s The Shining and I think it even uses the same music which is probably public domain now.

Let It Ride – Paramount is coming through with three new editions of their library this week, two of them being a couple of forgotten classics. This first one here was a complete surprise as I had never seen it before and it features the fantastic Richard Dreyfuss who is one record for saying that he’s forgotten doing some of the films in his career. I wonder if this is one of them. In this fast-paced comedy he plays an average kind of guy who drives a cab for a living and tries to stifle his problem with gambling. So, of course, he goes to the track, and mystically, it seems as though he can’t lose, no matter how he bets and he has an incredible day. Is this the turning point in his life or a pathway to his untimely demise? The film is interesting because it was made by filmmaker Joe Pytka, a guy largely known as a music video director aside from this then Space Jam about six years later which I find totally odd. The secondary interesting fact is that this was the second of three adaptations of the novels of author Jay Conely which started with the Chevy Chase movie Funny Farm and finished with Bill Murray’s Quick Change, an all-time favorite of mine.

Jack Reacher 4K – With Lee Child’s character Jack Reacher being back in the zeitgeist with the hotness of the new Prime Video series Reacher being a top show in 2022, it’s cool to get this brand new 4K version of the first Tom Cruise film as well as being in a gorgeous steelbook which you should hop online and check out. This is the be-all and end-all of Reacher films as well as the sequel proved that Tom Cruise should never double dip in franchises that aren’t Mission Impossible. Nothing is decided on Top Gun: Maverick yet. This film follows Cruise as Reacher, an enigmatic ex-Army investigator who is brought in to look into the murder of five seemingly unconnected victims who were taken down by a former Army sniper who has a history of shooting people in the streets when he was in the service. The action is fantastic in this movie and I have to give it to the chemistry between Tom and writer and director Christopher McQuarrie who have a near perfect penchant for making explosively entertaining films together. Now you can experience it or relive it in glorious 4K, the way it’s supposed to be.

Soapdish – This is a weird one, the second of the classic Paramount releases, and I only think so because I saw it at a young age for the first time and definitely didn’t fully understand the subject matter but also did not appreciate the caliber of the cast. Interestingly, this movie also touched on a film from my generation’s childhood too as Kevin Kline was unable to accept the lead role in Steven Spielberg’s Hook due to the extensive reshoots and Robin Williams replaced him. This dastardly comedy romance follows an ambitious television soap actress who conspires with her producer to scuttle the career of the show’s long-time star but nothing works as they plan and the blowback comes back to affect the fate of the entire show. The cast is crazy in this with Sally Field, Whoopi Goldberg, Robert Downey Jr., Elisabeth Shue, Teri Hatcher and Cathy Moriarty to back up Kline and my young little mind at the time had no idea the mixed generational talent that was in this. The film was also very well reviewed at the time but seems to have vanished from conversations of great rom coms, especially during the kick off to the nineties which was a great time for the genre.

The Handmaid’s Tale: Season 4 – To be honest, knowing the Margaret Atwood source material, I always thought that this series had a finite amount of story to it but I really think that this adaptation has almost evolved into something all on its own now. The series is also massively popular and has given lead star Elisabeth Moss so much well-earned acclaim in her role as June Osborne. Now after three seasons, this one has June in a desperate situation as she is wounded from the events of the third season finale and a fugitive of Gilead along with some of her fellow handmaids. This is the season where she rises up to become a formidable rebel leader though and takes the fight to her oppressors in a season that I felt was a bit better than the last but I still feel like an abrupt end should still be on the horizon. Moss is so good, as well as Joseph Fiennes who is a usual favourite of mine for anything he’s in.

Steve’s Blu-Ray Geekouts:

Bryan Loves You – I love it when obscure horror lands on my doorstep and it’s even better when it is a fresh new voice in the genre that gathers some classic names in their cast. This is a reason why I love my little gig here because I get to megaphone out to the masses with this weirdo stuff and it just happens to have some Rob Zombie alumns in it like Daniel Roebuck, Cheers regular and House star George Wendt and Candyman himself, Tony Todd. This movie is a straight-up creeper that follows a small-town therapist played by Seth Landau, who also writes and directs this, that falls under the seductive spell of a dangerous cult in a dusty Arizona town in 1993. The idea and execution of this movie are super compelling as it takes a low pro approach in a documentary feel that ramps up with the intensity we are seeing on screen. I feel like this is for the oddballs in the genre fans’ wheelhouse and not really a recommendable film by any standard but I know I found myself highly entertained.

From Paris With Love – Sometimes you need a campy and ridiculous movie to throw on and laugh at how bad it is, elevating it to be an enjoyable experience. That is exactly what this movie is through and through, a high budget and insanely explosive action comedy that pairs the proper and meek Jonathan Rhys Meyers with a gonzo hitman John Travolta. This one is over a decade old now but for those who have never seen it, the film follows a young employee in the office of the US Ambassador who is forced to tag along with an American spy looking to stop a terrorist attack in the city. The film was directed by the eyes behind the Liam Neeson franchise Taken, Pierre Morel, who is a protege of the great actioneer Luc Besson and all of those lessons he learned under the tree of one of the best work well in the high octane nature of this nutso flick. It’s just everything else like plot and script that don’t really cohese that well. Still, if you turn the volume up and grab some snacks you probably won’t even notice.

Television:

Close Enough: Season 3 (Netflix) – Ever since HBO Max has launched in the United States they have been releasing series after series of new show revivals, original programming and bold narrative choices for all ages but this new animated series might be one of my favorite products from the platform and I honestly just started getting into it. Coming from the creators of Regular Show, a Cartoon Network original from J.G. Quintel, this is a decidedly more adult-oriented series about a couple trying to face various challenges in their daily lives while trying to cope with their changes from 20s to 30s. Quintel takes the lead role, just as he did with his previous series but this also has Jason Mantzoukas who just might be my favorite current comedian, podcaster and writer. I think I love this show so much because I see so much of myself within it, a pretty immature dude who has the responsibility of molding a young mind to thrust into this thing we call society. I can’t be the only one that relates to it and that is something that Quintel has a gift for because I even saw myself in the Regular Show characters and they were a blue jay and a raccoon.

Tokyo Vice (Crave) – Michael Mann has been off the grid for a while but in the last six months he popped up again in a big bad way with the announcing of a sequel to his bank heist masterpiece, Heat, although it is in novel form. Another announcement, although a little bit quieter, was this series and just from the name alone I get excited because this is the man who started his career with a show called Miami Vice and I’m actually a fan of the movie as well. Starring West Side Story’s Ansel Elgort and the great Ken Watanabe, the story follows a Western journalist working for a publication in Tokyo who takes on one of the city’s most powerful crime bosses in a descent into the neon lit underbelly where foreigners are not welcome. I am so excited for this and though Mann only directs the pilot, he still oversees the entire eight episode run of a show produced by HBO Max so you know the grit contained will be boundless. This might be a good fit for those who were enamoured with True Detective.

Blog at WordPress.com.