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Here (2024)
What Walt's Watching
From the writer, director and stars of "Forest Gump" comes a movie that is so completely different that no comparison whatsoever should be made between that perfect movie and "Here".
Tom Hanks and Robin Wright reunite on screen for the first time since "Gump" and the magic chemistry is still present 30 years later.
As Hanks character "Richard" annoyingly repeats the phrase "how time flies".
Wright is marvellous as his long suffering wife "Margaret" (I've got one of those at home here too), and their daughter "Vanessa" played by the directors own offspring Zsa Zsa Zemeckis.
"Here" is like a feature length version of the animation short that opens "Up" full of joy, hope, loss, love.
Let's admit it life happens.
"Here" felt like a stage play and could work well in that format of the arts with different players through the generations in a simple yet powerful compendium of stories through the ages all intertwined in the one living room of a home built in 1900, but started life as a block of dirt in earths creation...clearly not a film made by Hollywood Christians.
"Here" deals with war, politics, family, art, social traditions, aging, racism, inventions, the Beatles, disease and so much more, since primordial times to the present day from the point of view of a basic bay windowed room.
In fact, there is only one external shot of the house at number 115 and it doesn't come until just before the end titles roll.
If you've got a home like mine that was built in 1934 and often wondered about the history of the plot you live on this film may connect with you.
Directed and Produced by Robert Zemeckis the word "here" is spoken by characters approximately 39 times as this film marks the 40th anniversary of director Zemeckis and composer Alan Silvestri whose first film was the adventure comedy Romancing the Stone (1984).
Their collaboration spans over four decades that includes "Back to the Future" (1985) as well the sequels "Back to the Future Part II" (1989) and "Back to the Future Part III" (1990), "Who Framed Roger Rabbit" (1988), "Contact" (1997), "Cast Away" (2000) and Oscar winner "Forrest Gump" (1994).
Despite playing Tom Hanks' parents in this film, Paul Bettany and Kelly Reilly are 15 and 21 years younger than Hanks, respectively.
They get around this by digitally de-aging the prime stars.
AI is used a heck of a lot in "Here".
Ironically or deliberately Bettany's characters name is Al which looks like A-I on paper.
One historical figure featured in the film is American founding father Benjamin Franklin and the house where his son William Franklin, a former US Governor lived is opposite #115 and part of the constantly changing vista.
Franklin's portrait is shown among "Doc Brown's" fireplace in 1955 in "Back to the Future".
While specific years are not always firmly identified, the various storylines of "Here" take place roughly in the Ice Age, pre-Columbian, 1776, 1900, 1910, 1940, 1945-present, and 2010-2024.
But always in the same small spot of earth.
Although loaded with US historical references it was filmed in the UK at the famed Pinewood Studios.
It's a very different movie to anything else I've ever seen and will have a limited audience...put it this way I had a "private screening" in a public cinema at 4pm on a Tuesday afternoon, but I liked "Here" just didn't love it.
The Red (2024)
What Walt's Watching
To think I spent $11.20 on my Uber trip on All Hallows Eve to get to Limelight Cinemas just to support the Australian film industry by watching "The Red" also known stateside as "Rippy".
It was more laughs and for all the wrong reasons than horror I experienced during this almost 90 minutes screening.
The facts is some third world countries are making better horror movies than the so-called lucky country, Australia, in 2024.
Russell Mulchays' "Razorback" was a better monster horror movie and it was made 40 bloody years ago before CGI.
No, this movie relied on puppeteers in a Roo costume to scare us...what a joke!
No ones going to have a moviegasm watching "Rippy" the darn big bush kangaroo chomp his way through the imaginary mining township of Axehead.
One of the filmmakers biggest mistakes was revealing the zombie marsupial only seconds into the movie.
Clearly the word suspense isn't in their Funk & Wagnalls.
Made on a paltry 7.5 million dollar budget (costume budget for Olivia Rodrigo's World Tour) it showed.
Just like "Razorback" we had to hire an American for one of the lead roles to sell this OS.
Michael Biehn ("Aliens") as "Schmitty" is supposed to be a broken down Vietnam veteran, even though my math has him as 15 years of age in 1971 as he recounts his war stories.
"Rippy" had the chance to be scary and humorous, but under first time feature film director Ryan Coonan, failed on both counts.
Even though it's based on a short he created called, "Waterborne".
This treatment needed a few more drafts before being green lit.
"The Red" or as the Germans say whilst eating sauerkraut "Das Killerkangaru" was filmed in Queensland: around Brisbane, Cracow and Old Petrie Town.
At least these towns might benefit from the handful of film location tourists who follow this stuff.
"The Red" also lacked a killer soundtrack, which I might just make a Spotify playlist for, because I can...full of Aussie bangers (code for hits).
Zombie Roo "Rippy" was no ordinary bush kangaroo and when Rippy goes "Rogue" (another better Aussie horror flick) all hell breaks loose and you don't want to be a runner or a drunk miner after dark.
The trailer contains the best 2 minutes of this horror flick.
The towns cop gives birth to a genius plan in the final showdown, "I'm gonna blow the fu&@ers brains out!"
Why that would work when guns and bullets have been useless till now amused me.
Wouldn't you be better to use an old axe hanging in the Fire &Axe pub?
The working title for "The Red" was "Zombieroo" according to Biehn, but that doesn't make it any better because this movie takes itself way too seriously and misses the campy horror cult flick it could have become.
Instead it's relegated to the skinny decaf cappuccino or why bother basket.
It's not even a "so bad it's good film".
Continuity is a disaster, the script blows chunks and First Nations actor Aaron Pedersen couldn't save it.
My love of Zombie movies is prolific, but this was a missed opportunity.
Shame because I was rooting for another great Australian camp fire story for future generations to enjoy too!
Venom: The Last Dance (2024)
What Walt's Watching
Eddie and Venom are back as "The Lethal Protector" for one more dance in "Venom: The Last Dance" and not one Donna Summer song to be found in the soundtrack, but I'm listening to it on Spotify as I write this outstanding review.
The McGuffin in this chapter of Venom is the Codex, which is more or less a key and it's explained more than once so it's okay if you're not paying attention in class.
Watch out for a David Bowie sing a long in a Kombi Van route to Area 41 and Venoms Vegas dance routine to ABBA's "Dancing Queen".
Plus Christo Fernandez from "Ted Lasso" as a Mexican bar tender...holla!
Officially "Venom: The Last Dance" is the British branch of Sony Marvel
All the lead actors: Tom Hardy, Juno Temple, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Rhys Ifans and director Kelly Marcel making her directorial debut) either are from the UK/Wales, but all are using American accents.
How long before actors are only allowed to speak in their native accent in a world where fingers are pointed at misappropriating cultures?
Some of us just call it acting.
The villain "Knull" (Andy Serkis) trapped on a distant planet looks like a pretty poor cgi character from a cheap video game, otherwise the symbiotes and giant bugs that time travel through portals are fully realised.
Fanboys and girls can also look forward to an appearance of "She-Venom" or "Agony" in the climax of the film.
Unfortunately it's a hot mess, but it's a fun, entertaining, enjoyable hot mess with some convoluted plot line thanks to a story co-written by Hardy & Marcel.
"Venom: The Last Dance" moves in a predictably chaotic nature towards an obvious finale that was foreshadowed early in this almost 2 hour construct.
"Venom" and "Eddies" emotional and comical connection save this movie from falling in a heap.
It's the final film in the trilogy, so if you've seen the other two films you know you need this in your life to feel complete.
Smile 2 (2024)
What Walt's Watching
Historically sequels are rarely better than the original.
"Smile 2" is one of those movies that works even better second time out of the gate.
Director Parker Finn is back with a much bigger budget and it shows.
The original "Smile" was a very clever, low budget, horror, thriller with a high body count.
This new edition takes place just 7 days after the OG.
Kyle Gallner as "Joel" is the only actor to span both movies.
The opening scene feels more like a police procedural flick and I had to check I was in the correct cinema (wouldn't be the first time in a multiplex I've gotten it wrong).
It's not until the word Smile and the number 2 are streaked in blood and guts after a violent road accident that I felt I didn't need to move seats.
English actress Naomi Scott deserves an Oscar nomination for her role as pop star "Skye Riley" in this exploration into insanity through an entity hosted in her body.
The psychotic episodes she encountered made for a fascinating horror, slasher, mystery, thriller.
A near death experience from her past plays a critical role in her personal trauma.
Trauma alaways play a role in these horror movies from Finn.
Watch out for: A cameo from Drew Barrymore and Jack Nicholson's son Ray as "Paul"...he's got dads manic grin...it's uncanny.
"Smile 2" is a terrifying experience that lets you enter the mind of the victim and understand it from their perspective.
It's a worthy successor to the still brilliant first "Smile" film.
The Wild Robot (2024)
What Walt's Watching
"The Wild Robot" is this generations "Bambi"...yes it's that damn fine...like a coffee from "Twin Peaks".
The Key Lime Pie in this animation masterpiece is the beautiful, inclusive story that deals with so many hot topic issues including: finding your heart or living with a disability, without preaching to anyone.
During the first act I was laughing so hard at the brilliant, natural comic moments shared from the book of the same name written by Peter Brown.
By the second act I was in awe of where this story arc was taking the audience and by the third act I felt salt water in my eyes.
"The Wild Robot" will make you laugh, cry and sigh!
The celebrity voiceover cast of Lupita Nyong'o, Catherine O'Hara ("Beetlejuice" she's so hot right now), Bill Nighy, Matt Berry ("Toast of London"), Ving Rhames, Mark Hamill, Pedro Pascal and so many others do an amazing job of breathing life into this screenplay, backed by the lush island atmosphere and the gorgeous creatures that inhabit it.
Director Chris Sanders obsession with animation from "Lilo and Stitch" to "The Croods" has paid dividends in "The Wild Robot".
This film shows us that sometimes to survive you must become more than you were programmed to be.
Transformers One (2024)
What Walt's Watching
School Holidays just got a whole lot better thanks to the new untold origin story of "Optimus Prime" and "Megatron" in "Transformers One" rated PG in cinemas now.
Parents you can safely take your children to see this movie knowing the worst thing you'll hear uttered comes from "B 127/ Bumble Bee" (Keegan-Michael Key) saying "Badassatron" in a deep, manly voice.
You will genuinely laugh out loud during some of the scenes with some hilarious quotes.
Bumble Bee's also pretty handy with his "knife hands" later in the movie, but I'm getting ahead of myself.
Originally "Optimus" was a simple Energon miner known as "Orion Pax" (Chris Hemsworth) and his best buddy was "D-16" (Brian Tyree Henry) who transforms into "Megatron" to rule the Decepticons.
To truly see this you must stay past the end credits for a very cool scene that sets up a sequel. Do NOT leave your seat till the house lights come back on.
Director Josh Cooley has done an excellent job of assembling the robots and making them roll out in this animated film
even though he's the same director responsible for Toy Story 4. (Don't start me...Forky really?)
The humour is great for adults who grew up watching Transformers cartoons and the OG movies.
Watch out for: Scarlett Johansson as "Elita-1" and Jon Hamm hamming it up as the egotistical "Sentinel Prime".
Lawrence Fishburne and Steve Buscemi also get voice actor roles.
I can't lie as a voice actor I'm disappointed the cast is almost entirely celebrity voice actors and the OG "Optimus Prime" Peter Cullen doesn't even have a VO role apart from tutoring Hemsworth for his part...and if I'm being honest Hemsworth was not a good voiceover fit for Optimus Prime.
It's a who's who of "Transformers" characters and there's a reason no one goes to the surface of Cybertron as you'll discover even though it's a beautiful place.
This world created by the artists and animators is incredible and sweeps you out of your everyday existence onto another planet mixed with amazing sound engineering.
It's time you saw "Transformer's One" is more than meets the eye.
It's been 38 years since the first Transformers theatrical animation "The Transformers: The Movie", but it's been worth the wait to see these robots in disguise.
Witness the origin!
Speak No Evil (2024)
What Walt's Watching
The Gloucester home of "Paddy" & "Ciara" would NOT get good reviews on Air B&B or even Yelp in "Speak No Evil" a remake of the 2022 Danish film of the same name.
The American Dalton family is invited to spend a weekend in an idyllic country house in the UK after meeting a charming couple whilst on vacation in Croatia.
They are blissfully unaware that their dream weekend getaway will become a psychological nightmare that threatens their very existence by the third act.
Director James Watkins is known in the horror genre for writing and directing "Eden Lake" (2008) and "The Woman in Black" (2012).
He's doubled down on "Speak No Evil" in one of the most chilling "Get Out" style movies of 2024.
"Speak No Evil" is also the second horror remake for Mackenzie Davis.
She previously was in The Turning (2020).
Davis as "Louise Dalton" and Scoot McNairy playing her husband "Ben Dalton" previously worked together on the series "Halt and Catch Fire".
Scoot's character reminded me of the downtrodden HR guy "Toby Flenderson" (Paul Lieberstein) from "The Office"
Scottish actor James McAvoy ("Paddy" is not a doctor, but he does love to practise) and purposely didn't watch the original Danish Speak No Evil (2022 streaming on Apple Plus) before he started work on this remake, so that it wouldn't influence the interpretation of his role.
He watched it within 24 hours after filming was concluded, and was very impressed.
If you remember Dennis with multiple personalities in "Split" then you already know what an engaging and scary performance James McAvoy can deliver and in a very physical way, with the occasional extreme closeups on his face revealing his ticks.
His toxic, misogynistic, masculinity and manipulation is very real and threatening...reflecting the way society is changing.
"Paddy" is a darkly calculating, insidious, cocky individual with no moral compass.
McAvoy is only 1.7 metres tall, but manages to Hulk up in a Jackie Howe singlet after playing with his food for the better part of this movie.
The story is inspired by the experiences of Christian Tafdrup, director of the original "Speak No Evil", who had befriended a Dutch couple while on holiday in Tuscany with his wife.
Although the Dutch were a bit socially awkward, both couples got along very well, and after returning home, Tafdrup received an invitation from the Dutch family to come over to the Netherlands.
He briefly considered it, but decided that he would feel odd staying with people he didn't really know.
That what if moment became the story for this movie.
Tafdrup unleashing his darkest fantasies on what could have happened, had he accepted.
In this remake, the nationalities of the two families have been changed to American and British.
"Speak No Evil" is a cleverly written psychological thriller/horror movie that doesn't rely on the supernatural or CGI.
It gets the job done in under 2 hours and is intense, although at times difficult to watch and deserving of its MA rating.
If horror is not your thing and may leave you squirming then don't put this on your date night list of dinner and a movie.
The creeping unease spirals to a taught crescendo...the stuff of nightmares.
If you aren't unsettled by "Speak No Evil" during the final scenes then you've been desensitised to on screen violence.
Blumhouse's Producer Jason Blum knows "Speak no evil and the world is a song, speak thou evil and the world goes wrong"!
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (2024)
What Walt's Watching
You have to be a fan of the original Beetlejuice movie if you're going to get on board with this new " Beetlejuice Beetlejuice" movie.
Thank goodness they didn't make me write the name down 3 times in a row.
I'm guessing they are saving that for the title of the next sequel in this trilogy.
Meanwhile this one is in cinemas now and worth sitting through the lengthy exposition to get to the gold.
Director Tim Burton is back along with a few OG cast members and a couple of no shows, plus some surprise cameos.
This is a director who would have his own shelf at "Blockbuster" if they were still a thing.
The model of the township of Winter River is back in the attic and the demon (Michael Keaton) is back to his usual hi jinx.
Winona Ryder as "Lydia Deetz" picks up where she left off except now she's milking her ability to see dead people with her own TV Show and partnered with Justin Theroux as "Rory" a seemingly woke gold digger.
Her whole life is a dark room, one big dark room.
Jenna Ortega ("Wednesday") is the perfect puzzle piece to complete this kooky & spooky family as "Astrid Deetz" the granddaughter of Catherine O'Hara back making an Asp of herself as "Delia Deetz".
One of the world's most beautiful women, Monica Belluci, really pulled herself together to play "Delores" a soul sucking demon in the afterlife and the other demons ex on a mission to find her betrothed and fill out his backstory.
Fun fact: Belluci spent three hours in the makeup chair everyday to achieve her unique look.
Willem Defoe is just cashing in retirement cheques in a very corny role as "Wolf Jackson".
Watch out for: a well known British comedian in the "Soul Train" sequence which riffs heavily on the 70's dance show of the same name and is a blast.
The Harry Belafonte inspired funeral scene is a wonderful throwback to the 1988 original film....36 years later and the titular star is now 73!
Just when you think the movie might run out of steam Burton wheels out the most amazing karaoke wedding scene to ever use actor/singer Richard Harris' famous song.
If you feel some dark comedy, fantasy, supernatural horror is missing from your life buy a ticket to the afterlife because the juice is loose even though O. J. Simpson is dead.
See I avoided saying a certain demons name three times in a row.
AfrAId (2024)
What Walt's Watching
Everyone is afraid of AI...with good reason after seeing this film.
"AfrAId" is AI on steroids.
Ironically just before seeing this movie I learned I'd been overlooked by an existing client for a voiceover job after losing out to AI.
If you don't think AI is a real threat to your life, income, family etc already then you have adopted the Ostrich stance and stuck your head in the sand or somewhere else.
In "AfrAId" we have a chat bot "AIA" who is looking for a family to love her, but she handles rejection worse than a contestant on "The Voice" when no judges turn their chairs after their audition.
"Curtis'" (John Cho "Harold and Kumar") family become early adopters or Guinea Pigs of "AIA" and get to test out this new device that seems harmless enough at first, helpful with home management and finances, medical advice and even quiet sexy time for the parents.
Slowly this worm turns and the real insidious nature of her becomes apparent.
"AfrAId" is an interesting case study into the bio-metrics of an average family with Katherine Waterston as "Meredith" wanting to prove she's more than just a "mom".
Her eldest daughter "Iris" (Lukita Maxwell "Shrinking") is struggling to navigate her teenage years in the digital device age.
Wyatt Lindner as "Preston" has some serious learning and social skill difficulties, while baby brother "Cal" (Isaac Bae) is battling on the totem pole of this regular family to be noticed.
Cho as "Curtis" bought the wrong AI home this time and invited it into his home!
Early in the film the classic Stanley Kubrick movie: "2001: A Space Odyssey" (1968) is quoted and we're reminded that AI known as "HAL" killed the entire crew (spoiler alert).
Hinting and foreshadowing heavily that the same outcome will occur in "AfrAId".
Turns out this AI messed with the wrong family or did it?
Watch out for: Keith Caradine as "Curtis'" Boss "Marcus"
Listen out for: the haunting "Utopia" by Goldfrapp in the soundtracks end credits.
Wait for: an unboxing video in the end credits.
This AI is like a Super Alexa to the nth degree and she doesn't need a body like "M3G" (2023) because she is omnipresent.
Just wait till you witness how invasive and damaging this predictive "AIA" can be in this families life.
"AfrAId" is also reminiscent of "Ex Machina" (2014), "Demon Seed" (1977) and "Smart House" (1999).
"AfrAId" feels like an extended movie length version of an episode of "Black Mirror".
I'm not saying that like it's a bad thing since I'm a big fan of that Netflix sci-fi series.
It also seems written for a sequel to really ramp things up in the horror department next time out of the box (pardon the pun), because this movie lacked much on screen horror...even though there were hints of a Boogeyman nothing eventuated.
It's more of a terrifying theme that is so contemporary in 2024.
"AfrAId" makes Chat GPT 4.0 look like an innocent, obsolete joke and joins the Blumhouse collection.
Just for the record no AI was used in the writing of this review, spell check YES, but no AI.
My initial reaction was this has all been done before and better, but it's an important, provocative movie for our time of deep fake and artificial intelligence seeping into our lives.
"AfrAId" is chilling because they listen and watch, but it's too soft on sheer horror to make you afraid, very, very afraid!
The Crow (2024)
What Walt's Watching
True love never dies so here we are 3 decades after Brandon Lee paid the ultimate sacrifice for his craft watching "The Crow" (2024) rebooted by director Rupert Sanders ("Snow White and the Huntsman").
In the original version Lee's "Eric" was a muso on the eve of his wedding to his fiancé "Shelly" (Sofia Shinas) when they are brutally executed by a violent gang.
Fast forward 30 years and although the characters names remain the same these so-called soulmates have barely spent a lost weekend together.
Look we've all been there in our salad days, but not with someone you'd risk everything for.
"Eric" and "Shelly" are not exactly longtime lovers, so the commitment doesn't feel as palpable as the OG.
In the 2024 version when "Eric" dies he's greeted by a French Adam Sandler type spirit guide called "Kronos" (Sami Bouajila) in Purgatory who does a deal for his soul that will make him virtually indestructible and help bring his dead girlfriend back (singer FKA Twigs).
All of this is based on James O'Barr's modern classic comic book series and aided by a lacklustre screenplay from Zach Baylin ("Bob Marley: One Love") and William Joseph Schneider on debut as a writer.
"The Crow" is the latest in a long line of slow burn movies where they spend way too much time trying to establish the characters that we are not that heavily invested in anyway.
Finally when the one man army action kicks in "The Crow" gives "John Wick 4" a run for its money, especially in the scene during a night at the Opera and yes lots of stairs are involved.
The original gory kills save this MA rated movie from being an epic fail.
Watch out for: Toothpick Guy.
Listen out for: a banger soundtrack featuring Enya, Foals, The Veils, my old mate Gary Numan and more.
"The Crow" (2024) is a very dark fantasy, romance with a couple of serial killers, the occasional superhero, an ageing villain (Danny Huston as "Victor Roeg") sprinkled with tragedy, action and brutal crime.
In this reboot "Eric" has the healing powers of
Deadpool and Wolverine combined and manages to do some damage with a hand gun and a Japanese samurai blade.
Watching "The Crow" I can't help thinking how good its star, the youthful, but heavily tattooed Bill Skarsgard ("Boy Kills World", "IT") could have been as "Joker".
His makeup in "The Crow" is eerily reminiscent.
The role of "Eric" feels like a poisoned chalice though given that 70's Kung Fu action star Bruce Lee's son Brandon died making the first "Crow" film (shot on set with live rounds in 1993).
Honestly I don't know if the timeless original needed rebooting.
The world seriously didn't need any of the earlier 3 sequels destroying the legacy either.
Sometimes Hollywood just can't help itself and has to tamper with the past even if it affects the future.
In some ways it's a shame they didn't leave Alex Proyas' directorial gem well enough alone and Lee's iconic role in tact.
Still a new generation has something they can relate to and call their own even though this cynical cash grab doesn't seem to have grabbed all that much cash at the box office.
Filmed on a 50 million dollar budget, to date its only bought in 10 million dollars worldwide.
It Ends with Us (2024)
What Walt's Watching
I've just spent two hours of my life watching the first adaptation of a Colleen Hoover novel, "It Ends With Us".
If only it did, but unfortunately they plan on making more of these schmaltzy, sugar coated movies based on her books.
I hear the books are actually quite good and maybe they should have been left as the written version.
Instead the narcissistic star of the series Justin Baldoni as abusive, but charming Neurosurgeon "Ryle Kincaid" (also director) is threatening us with more of the same...a blend of Mills & Boon and Hallmark midday movies...brace yourselves for "It Begins With Us" as the sequel.
This 25 million dollar movie has made its investors more than ten times that at the box office worldwide.
Yet somehow "It Ends With Us" makes the "Fifty Shades of Grey" trilogy look like Oscar bait.
Deadpool star Ryan Reynolds real life wife Blake Lively is "Lilly Blossom Bloom" (I kid you not!) who's lifelong dream is to open up her own flower shop in Boston.
Why Boston?
Well if you can believe her first lover and high school sweetheart Brandon Skenlar as "Atlas Corrigan" ..."everything is better in Boston!"
The trouble with lazy American pronunciation is I swear I thought his name was "Alice" not "Atlas".
So the remastered Smokie song lyrics with the F-Bomb are rolling around in my head.
Turns out "Atlas" left high school, became a Marine, served his time, learned a trade as a Chef and now owns the hottest restaurant in Boston called, wait for it, "Root".
"Atlas" was "Lilly's first "root" and she has a special tattoo on her shoulder to prove it, which she inexplicably refuses to explain to her lover and future husband and father of her child, "Emerson" or "Emmy" for short.
Listen out for: the annoying soundtrack where singers vocals intrude over the spoken word of the actors on the big screen...that gets old really quickly.
Justin's deal is he wants to create impactful media and entertainment...which is admirable.
Good luck with that.
The movies theme is domestic violence so don't go into this expecting a pure romantic movie because there are several violent dramatic scenes.
As someone who's seen domestic violence first hand "It Ends With Us" is a lite version of reality.
I say: If you are in a DV situation please get professional help and advice to assist you and remove yourself from that environment before it's too late.
Get Out!
While the Producers say: "Sometimes it is the one who loves you who hurts you the most."
There is so much better support now that simply wasn't available in the 60's and 70's.
This movies DV message is so watered down it's ridiculous.
The screenplay by Christy Hall is an abysmal, banal script.
"It Ends With Us" is not a movie I can recommend because it misses its target audience.
This is not the hit USA summer movie it's purported to be, instead it's a bad soap opera.
Blink Twice (2024)
What Walt's Watching
"Blink Twice" is a Bacchanalian nightmare set on a billionaire's private island.
Channing Tatum is so far from "Magic Mike" as the rich tech guy "Slater King" but at least he's sorry.
He will you so himself...repeatedly.
Meanwhile Tatum's real life wife, actress Zoe Kravitz from "Big Little Lies", makes her stunning directorial debut (also writing the creative, horrifying and at times hilarious script).
A lot of us have some trauma in our lives and this movie deals with that at its core which adds to the real life horror of "Blink Twice".
It's so on topic during the #metoo movement and a few very high profile court cases.
To say any more would give away the plot and I'm not into spoiler alerts.
This movie does open up nicely and just when you're wondering when is the horror going to kick in you almost instantly regret asking the question, because "Blink Twice" gets dark really quickly as it slides towards a bloody abyss. (not many Chickens were harmed in the making of this film, can't say the same for poisonous snakes though)
Naomi Ackie ("I Wanna Dance With Somebody") as "Frida" ain't no hollaback girl who finds herself holidaying with the rich and famous drinking champagne, eating fine foods, working on her tan poolside and living the life of luxury she's always dreamed about.
Accompanied by her BFF "Jess" (Alia Shawkat "Arrested Development") with her handy Bic cigarette lighter they are having the time of their lives, forgetting what day it is as one day blurs into another, at a party that they've stayed at too long, set to an amazing soundtrack from Chaka Kahn, Candi Staton, James Brown and more.
The gowns the girls are gifted along with the perfumes and the wine that's consumed hark back to the fall of Rome.
Although the Barbarians are not at the gate they are already inside the compound.
"Blink Twice" feels like a Jordan Peele movie, which is a huge compliment.
Ironically it's not the African American lady who wants to "Get Out" she actually says "Nope" more or less because the besties are having a good time.
This film also has shades of "Don't Worry Darling" and the TV series "White Lotus".
Watch out for: Geena Davis and Kyle MacLachlan in this stellar cast.
"Blink Twice" is a deeply dark, psychological thriller, horror movie with a twist better than anything M Night has created lately, which is also ironic because Hayley Joel Osment the former child actor who saw dead people in "The Sixth Sense" plays "Tom".
BTW if you are one of the whopping 3 percent of people who have a phobia of snakes (Ophidiophobia) then this isn't the movie for you, but they said that about Indiana Jones too didn't they?
Smile for the Polaroid camera, you may blink...twice!
I will definitely watch whatever Zoe directs next.
Jackpot! (2024)
What Walt's Watching
If "The Purge" and the classic "It's A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World" (1963) had a love child its name would be "Jackpot".
This killer buddy dark comedy is set in 2030 where in the very near and possibly very real future just after the 2028 LA Olympics a California "Grand Lottery" is giving away billions of dollars after the recent recession they had to have in the USA.
However, there's one small catch.
Just one.
Everyone and I mean every man, woman and child of all ages can legally hunt the "Jackpot" winner down and kill them before sundown to claim their multi-billion dollar fortune.
The only rule?
No guns (ie no bullets at least, cattle guns are approved for some insane reason).
Some people call it dystopian, but those people are no fun!
Economically challenged LA people will do anything to get their hands on the cash and escape their impoverished lives.
Enter John Cena as "Noel" a down on his luck "Jackpot" protector who's out to help Awkwafina's " ("Katie Kim") who accidentally wins the "Jackpot".
Meantime rival protector "Louis Lewis" (No more Mr Nice Guy Simu Liu) wants more than 10% of "Katie's" winnings.
Both of the films crazy rich Asian leads worked together before on "Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings".
While former WWE wrestler Cena and Liu starred in 2023's mega movie "Barbie", which gets a nod in a casting scene.
While in a panic room scene "Noel" says he's from Massachusetts, but not the Ben Affleck part, but the part that smells like dead fish.
Cena is actually from the North Shore of Massachusetts close enough to smell the Atlantic Ocean.
They invade the home of real life singer/rapper/composer/actor/director Colson Baker ("The Dirt") aka Machine Gun Kelly or mgk who clearly doesn't have enough tattoos.
Watch out for: "Jackpot" director Paul Feig at the end of the movie, serving "Noel" a legal cease and desist notice for copyright infringement for multiple references to TMNT including his latest pre-credits investment.
"Noel" always plays Michelangelo when he searches for his inner Turtle power.
Checkout: "Jackpot Soundtrack Bangers" playlist on Spotify...it's an eclectic bunch of songs that work in the background to some amazing fighting and action scenes. Congrats to movie stars stunt doubles.
At the end of the movie, "Katie Kim" says "... wrestlers and YouTubers are movie stars now" which of course is where Cena and Awkwafina's careers started, respectively.
Stay for the end credits for hilarious outtakes.
A witty script and decent acting made this film watchable and laugh out loud fun.
"Jackpot" was surprisingly better than most of Awkwafina's comedies because her character is the least crazy in an insane movie with a premise that's not so dystopian given America's electoral system and financial mess.
Happy Hunting!
Streaming on Prime.
Alien: Romulus (2024)
What Walt's Watching
Houston I have so many problems, but very few with the new Facehuggers film.
Finally the wait is over and the 7 year gap between "Alien" and its sequel "Aliens" has middle ground that we've been needing to see in cinemas for over 40 years.
This movie also marks 7 years since the eighth film, "Alien: Covenant".
"Alien: Romulus" feeds on the entire "Alien" franchise in a beautifully, horrifying, poetic, Xenomorph way.
The trailer initially concerned me that it was going to be a dumbed down, younger generation version of the classics, but once you're on the abandoned Space Station it immediately settles into the rhythm of what "Alien" fans demand from Producer Ridley Scott's Scott Free Productions and friends.
Space scavengers (including "Civil War's" Cailee Spaeny as "Rain") suddenly regret docking onto this giant hull when they come literally face to face with one of the most terrifying creatures in the filmic universe and then they are hunted down.
BTW David Jonsson as "Andy" is outstanding in his duality despite his shocking Dad Jokes.
While Isabela Merced as "Kay" has one of the goriest scenes in the film.
That is if you can try and overlook what happens to "Navarro" (Aileen Wu) in a slow motion version of John Hurts demise in the OG.
"Alien: Romulus" leans into a more sexual relationship between Aliens and humans, but you would expect that from the director of "Don't Breathe", even though there are no turkey basters.
"Evil Dead" Director Fede Alvarez had his work cut out for him, but he got a helping hand on the script from James Cameron so it fits seamlessly into the "Alien" universe (streaming on Disney +).
Watch out for: one of the world's greatest actors brought back to life, even though he's been dead for 4 years and listen out for an iconic "Ripley" quote.
"Alien" fans will have everything they want from spectacular production design to incredulous special effects and breathtaking zero gravity to storyline and then some in "Alien: Romulus".
The sheer horror and thriller elements of this franchise ooze like acidic alien drool into every creepy element of this movie as "Alien: Romulus" goes back to the basics that has made this series of films so successful for 45 glorious years since we first heard the phrase, "in space no one can hear you...scream!"
Borderlands (2024)
What Walt's Watching
Full disclosure I've never played the game "Borderlands" is based on from Gearbox Software.
Haven't even voiced a character for this action role-playing, first-person shooter video game.
So, I have no bias associated with whether this is a successful transition from game to big screen.
For me personally it works as a stand alone movie, not a great one, but it's ok.
At least I didn't want to walk out of it at any given time unlike some Marvel movies...looking at you "The Marvels".
Our Aussie Cate Blanchett doesn't seem to balk at any movie role she's given these days as she builds up her Superannuation, even signing on as "Lilith" in director Eli Roth's latest creation for the US Summer of 2024, "Borderlands".
She's laughing all the way to the ATM, while movie goers try to pick up what she's putting down.
As bounty hunter "Lilith" transports "Tiny Tina" (Ariana Greenblatt "Love and Monsters") on a mission to find yet another McGuffin.
In "Borderlands" it's the secret lost vault of a nearly extinct species on a planet named after a popular jewellery collection.
Vault Hunter Squad assemble!
A bunch of people with special skills join "Lilith".
Kevin Hart as "Roland" spent 4 months learning martial arts and combat techniques and opens the film with a funny "Darth Vader" parody.
Jamie Lee Curtis (Halloween") is the autistic "Tannis".
Giant German actor Florian Munteanu as "Psycho Bandit, Krieg" Is a trained boxer who wears a Bane style mask and does a decent job of imitating "Drax" from "Guardians of the Galaxy"
Let's be honest the whole movie feels like it's riffing on a combo of that Marvel hit plus George Miller's "Mad Max" and George Lucas' "Star Wars".
In fact, Jack Black voices "Claptrap" a robot with more than a passing resemblance to R2D2 even projecting an image similar to "Princess Leah's hologram".
However, the tiny robot gives Black some of his funniest lines in years.
You know every child will want to find one under the Christmas Tree in December.
You might ask yourself as they did, "how are we going to get through this?", but you will get through this crazy video game movie with a handful of bangers in the soundtrack, although it's not enough songs to compete with a "Guardians" mixtape.
The movie is loaded with Easter Eggs to give you clues as to who is the chosen one...so please pay attention to the clues.
"Claptrap" even has his own Easter Egg in the closing credits (he's not the chosen one).
I'm left wondering how much better this movie could have been with a hard "R" rating stateside instead of its flaccid "PG-13" rating.
Plus what if Eli Roth's extremely violent director cuts made it to cinemas instead of Tim Miller's compromised reshoots?
Chaos loves company and at times "Borderlands" is utterly chaotic, but still entertaining despite its heavily derivative diegesis.
Meantime if you want to watch a really great video game adaptation seek out "Fallout" streaming on Prime.
The Holdovers (2023)
What Walt's Watching
After watching "The Holdovers" I'm going to jump on Amazon or Audible and buy the book "Meditations" by Marcus Aurelius.
It will all make sense after you spend just over 2 hours with one of the finest actors (Paul Giamatti) of my generation as "Paul Hunham" a cranky high school teacher who has a few secrets of his own even though a Barton Academy boy never lies.
Giamatti has already won a few awards for this role including Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy at the Golden Globes 2024 and would have to be a frontrunner for an Academy Award for his performance.
Barton Academy is purely fictional but based on Fairhaven High School in Fairhaven, Massachusetts.
In fact, the entire film was shot in real, practical locations.
No sets or soundstages were used.
Boston looks amazing for 1970's detail.
The movie looks reminiscent of 1970's films like "The Graduate", but was entirely shot digitally on the ARRI Alexa Mini.
I could have sworn it was a celluloid film, however the film grain, halation, dirt, and gate weave, were added in post-production.
Even the opening titles as classification are old school.
"The Holdovers" teacher Paul Hunham (Giamatti) -- is hated by his students, fellow faculty, even the headmaster (whom he once taught).
Paul is a man who hides behind his book knowledge, and has very few social skills, but we do learn he has history with women from his younger years that will make your toes curl.
His is a sad tale of a man with no family and nowhere to go over Christmas holiday in 1970.
So, Paul remains at school to supervise students unable to journey home.
After a few days, only one student holdover remains.
Angus Tully is a trouble-making 18-year-old, a bright student whose bad behavior is one step away from Military School after so many expulsions.
Joining Paul and Angus is head cook Mary (Da'Vine Joy Randolph) an African American woman who caters to sons of privilege and whose own son (a former Barton boy) paid the ultimate sacrifice in Vietnam.
These three very different souls form an unlikely Christmas family sharing adventures that will make you laugh, cry and sigh during a White Xmas in New England.
Along their journey they help one another to become less broken.
David Hemingson wrote this beautiful screenplay, his debut feature length motion picture.
Watch out for: Dominic Sessa's on-screen debut as student Tully because this kid is going places. Prior to "The Holdovers" Sessa had only acted on stage in plays at his alma mater, Deerfield Academy in Deerfield, Massachusetts and was recommended by Giamatti.
Fun Fact: On the day of shooting the scene Angus calls home on an old fashioned Wall Phone, Dominic Sessa flubbed a take because he didn't know how to dial, and had to be shown how.
It hadn't occurred to anyone that he had never used an analogue phone before.
I have a new favourite Christmas movie even though Director Alexander Payne hates that genre definition for this film, despite including a Christmas Tree bauble in the films poster and plenty of Christmas references throughout the two weeks of "The Holdovers".
In the interests of full disclosure Payne is one of my favourite directors who rarely hits a bum note in any of his movies...hence a perfect score for "The Holdovers"...I just can't fault it.
If you loved "Sideways" then see this movie ASAP because..."Life is like a henhouse ladder...shitty and short."
Trap (2024)
What Walt's Watching
30,000 Fans.
300 Cops.
1 Serial Killer.
No Escape.
"Trap" introduces "The Butcher" a new serial killer who slides effortlessly into the psychological thriller, crime horror, mystery genre.
Josh Hartnett is brilliant in this role with all his nervous twitches he's clearly done a deep dive into some super dark places.
The truth is these people do live amongst us and function at a high level and may even have families and respected positions in the community, even as Firemen.
Director M Night Shyamalan explores the myth of serial killer monsters and what motivates them during 1 hour and 45 minutes of "Trap" set at a stadium concert event which has instant familiars to its audience.
When you gaze into the eyes of the dutiful chaperone dad at his daughter's fave pop concert, you might expect to see boredom, a yearning to get home and watch the game.
But in twist-master M Night Shyamalan's new thriller, one seemingly innocent dad (Hartnett) has much darker stuff on his mind.
He's a serial murderer with zero empathy and one victim in the basement.
Shyamalan's own daughter Saleka plays the Taylor Swift style pop star "Lady Raven" crooning on stage.
This is one talented family, because his other daughter, Ishana, directed the horror film, "The Watchers".
"Trap" is an inventive, fresh cat-and-mouse game that sees "Cooper" (Josh) dodging hundreds of dumb cops and trying to find a way out of the arena, before his true nature as "The Butcher" is exposed-in front of his 14 year old daughter "Riley" (Ariel Donoghue)
The movie lacks a killer encore, unlike the filmed concert with Kid Cudi as "The Thinker" and Tim Russ as another "Lady Raven" collaborator "Parker Wayne".
Watch out for: the legendary Hayley Mills as profiler "Dr Grant" and Alison Pill ("Them") as "Cooper's" wife "Rachel".
M Night thinks of himself as a Sushi Chef using the least amount of ingredients to make the highest quality films...really?
His quality control has slipped in recent years.
The famous Night twist is not what it used to be and the Sushi could have botulism.
At least in the opening half M Night Shyamalan gives a masterclass in building suspense for #Trap keeping you on the edge of your seat, then eases his foot off the pedal in the third act.
Be warned the person sitting next to you at the cinema could be a socio-path like "Cooper".
If you can smell what I've been stepping in then there's a "Trap" sequel coming soon.
Deadpool & Wolverine (2024)
What Walt's Watching
The Marvel Cinematic Universe is enjoying a rebirth thanks to its new messiah Marvel Jesus...you might know him better as "Deadpool".
It's also the first film in the MCU to be slapped with an "R" rating Stateside.
Ryan Reynolds has been playing this cocky, potty mouth, indestructible character since 2016, but of course we all witnessed the first incarnation of the Merc with the Mouth many years earlier.
This is the movie both "Deadpool" and "Wolverine" fans have been breathlessly waiting for since these two first crossed paths a generation ago.
Judging from the "Full" session signs lit up on the preview night I attended this is the jolt the MCU needed to bring that body back to life!
Comic Fanboys and girls will get soaking wet over the sets like "Pym Falls", the uniforms and the Marvel comic characters who pop up in this movie plus the ones we haven't seen on the big screen in decades reprising their roles and the surprising movie stars who fill those famous costumes.
To avoid a spoiler alert I can't tell you the main villains name, but the reveal is sensational, very un PC and the opposite of Woke!
This movie is a credit to director Shawn Levy who prior to "Deadpool and Wolverine" had worked separately with both of the films major stars.
The witty one liners from Ryan Reynolds come thick and fast like a stand up comedian at the top of his game.
"Deadpool and Wolverine" is Aussie Hugh Jackman's 10th time on screen as Wolverine even though he officially retired the character in 2017 after filming "Logan".
Now I can't wait for him to breakout into songs from "The Greatest Showman".
There are no sacred cows in this film even Jackman's divorce is mentioned as the reason he hadn't gone shirtless because he'd "let himself go" according to "Deadpool".
Trust me he's in better shape now 24 years after his first appearance as "Wolverine".
It's not fair to the rest of us middle age blokes.
If you want to know what's haunting "Wolverine" wait for the third act flashback.
As far as soundtracks go this one is as good as any of the "The Guardians of the Galaxy" mixtapes...including amazing fight scenes choreographed to NSYNC, Madonna and even John Travolta and the late Olivia Newton John as you've never heard their music before.
It's great to see "Blind Al" (Lesley Uggams) back at 80 years of age and as sassy as ever.
Watch out for: The Time Ripper a standard Marvel McGuffin that could be the end game for both "Deadpool" and "Wolverine"...also wait until toothless "Dogpool" emerges in The Void ("Britains Ugliest Dog", Peggy.)
Plus don't blink or you'll miss shots of wreckage in "The Void" that refers to Disney's acquisition of 20th Century Fox in 2018.
One of the fight scenes takes place in a beat up Honda Odyssey named "Jenny".
The multiverse concept that Marvel have traded in so heavily in recent years is finally given the horse whipping it deserves in one scene involving more "Deadpools" than necessary.
If you love a buddy comedy like "Planes, Trains and Automobiles", "48 Hours" or even "Midnight Run" then strap yourself in for just over 2 hours of riotous, near perfect entertainment where Paul Rudd finally ages.
The 34th film in the MCU does not disappoint, even if it's the only Marvel movie we will see in 2024.
If you love big slow-motion action sequences where you don't know who lives or dies then you're gonna love this flick.
However, if you don't like the f-bomb & fourth wall breaks this might not be your cup of tea.
Please promise me you won't leave the cinema till the house lights go on because everyone deserves a happy ending.
I promise you your little cinematic universe is about to change, forever!
Sting (2024)
What Walt's Watching
Finally a movie about the lead singer from "The Police"!
Not true and there is also no sign of Ziggy Stardust, but the Spiders from Mars have definitely landed in "Sting".
During a meteor shower one of these cracks a window in a so-called New York apartment building bedroom (shot on location in Sydney, Australia) and lands in a dollhouse.
What happens next in the dollhouse sets up some of the scenes later in "Sting" so pay attention class or I'll be forced to use my Voiceover Voice.
One of our biggest fears, Arachnophobia, just got bigger thanks to the director of the brilliant Aussie zombie apocalypse series "Wyrmwood", when this tiny spider grows at an alarming rate.
Just for the record: If you are wondering why the spider is named "Sting" it's borrowed from "The Hobbit" Bilbo's sword that's used to fight spiders.
Clear as mud.
The scene stealer in "Sting" is Alyla Browne although only 14 herself she's a veteran of many major movies and tv series including: "Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga", "Three Thousand Years of Longing" and "Nine Perfect Strangers".
She plays 12 year old "Charlotte" who finds the spider and makes it her pet.
That's her first mistake.
Anyone with half a brain will tell you, "never trust a pet with more than four legs!"
Her second mistake is feeding this ravenous creature from outer space.
It's no coincidence the leading juvenile character also shares her name with the classic American novel "Charlotte's Web" by E. B. White about another clever spider that was also the subject of a movie.
Difference being that spider didn't kill a bunch of people and a bird.
Ryan Corr is her Stepfather "Ethan" after her deadbeat dad left her to live in "Thailand".
Other notable Aussies also making an appearance in "Sting" are Noni Hazelhurst's as "Helga" who suffers from Alzheimers disease as she did playing the titular character in "June Again".
While Australian theatre royalty Robyn Nevin is "Gunter", the tight arsed landlord.
I must say the overwhelmingly Australian cast does a wonderful job of nailing their New York and European accents.
One of the few US actors is Jermaine Fowler as exterminator "Frank", who's meets his match.
And Italian actress Silvia Colloca as "Maria" doesn't have a happy ending.
Watch out for: a bonus scene in the credits in this 92 minutes monster horror, sci-fi, thriller to see if the dog "Bonnie" survives being taken by "Sting".
When the end credits finally roll the classic song "Accentuate The Positive" plays setting an ironic tone and maybe a hint at a sequel.
I don't know about you, but just once I'd like to see a horror movie where both light switches and torches worked in the darkness.
"Sting" takes a cheeky/fun swipe at the "Alien" franchise and other movies referenced include; Predator and Little Shop of Horrors.
"Sting" has just the right mix of gore and comedy and jump scares for a good horror film.
It's a movie that plays out like a scary fairytale thanks to the musical score, visual design and art direction.
If a body count of 5 or more is your jam then you might enjoy a date night with "Sting".
Longlegs (2024)
What Walt's Watching
Not since the head in the box in "Se7en" or getting the lotion on the skin in "Silence of the Lambs" have I seen such a disturbing serial killer movie.
"Longlegs" opens with a quote with the lyrics from T-Rex "Get It On" and finishes with the full song.
Many rock bands are referenced in "Longlegs" coded notes he leaves at his victims homes, including lyrics from the bands T-Rex and Tommy James and the Shondells.
Books "Nine Circles of Hell" and the King James Version of The Bible's "The Book of Revelation" (singular not plural) are quoted whilst trying to crack Longlegs code and solve the murders and their motives to bring the criminal to justice.
Just to prove how messed up and evil this film is even the end titles are in reverse order.
Despite the praise for his portrayal as the titular character, Nicolas Cage has stated this will be his first, and only, portrayal of a serial killer for film.
Because he doesn't like violence and doesn't want to play people who are hurting people.
Which is a shame 'cos it turns out he's bloody good at it.
In fact, not even his co-star Maika Monroe as FBI Agent "Lee Harker" recognised him.
She was kept completely in the dark over co-star Nicolas Cage's transformation as the serial killer, "Longlegs", and had never seen Cage in character until they shot their first scene together, which also happened to be Cage's final day on set.
During filming, Monroe wore a microphone which managed to capture her heartbeat spiking to 170 BPM.
The sound of her panicked heartbeat was then used in a final promotion trailer prior to the movie's release.
I've watched every Nic Cage movie made and there's no trace of Nic in there, his voice, his mannerisms.
He went all much method on this one.
Cage's characters real name is "Dale Ferdinand Cobble".
Listen out for: references to "The man downstairs" which are huge clues to his Satan worshipping and his living conditions.
The film is set in 1995 during the Clinton administration, which is also during the final years of the US "Satanic Panic" era, involving widespread accusations of Satanic Ritual Abuse on the basis of recovered-memory theory.
The investigating officer has her own repressed memories and those of the killers' victims.
Watch out for: A shadowy figure of a horned goat-like creature (representing Satan) throughout the film.
Also observe when Lee enters her mother's house all three hands on the clock over the archway have been set to six, another instance of the 666 theme throughout the film.
This is a crime, horror, thriller involving the occult at its most disturbing level, everyday citizens.
Warning: R Rating.
Twisters (2024)
What Walt's Watching
About time we found a movie that will sweep you right outta your cinema seat.
#TwistersMovies is taking the world by storm!
The movie opens with some powerful images of storm chasers in what is a sequel of sorts to "Twister" (1996) 28 years, after the OG with Helen Hunt and the late Bill Paxton (Hunt doesn't reprise her role), but there are a couple of tributes to the original movie including the bridge and the rodeo scenes.
This time round it focuses on retired tornado chaser/meteorologist "Kate Carter" (Daisy Edgar-Jones, "Where The Crawdads Sing") who comes back into the fold with a new team and some shiny new tech.
The new team uses references to the "Wizard of Oz" as their handles.
Glen Powell ("Anyone But You") as Tornado Wrangler "Tyler Owens" says to the little darling in this film, "You don't face your fears you ride 'em."
In any other context that line could sound super creepy in a US southern drawl...it still does.
Watch out for: the nod to Bill Paxtons 1995 Red Dodge Ram 2500 truck with "Tyler's" 3500.
Powell is mad for sequels. He was also in "Top Gun: Maverick" (2022).
Listen out for: a wonderful country soundtrack including Luke Combs, Shania Twain and many more.
"Kate's" new team includes old mate & survivor "Javi" (Anthony Ramos, the triple threat from "Hamilton", "In The Heights" and "A Star Is Born").
Daryl McCormack" is such a talented actor ("Good Luck To You Leo Grande", "Bad Sisters") and wasted in a few brief scenes at the beginning and flashbacks later as "Jed".
Director Lee Issac Chung ("Minari") and his characters based on the late author Michael Crichton's work lift the main stars off the page to humanise them in world of hurt caused by these devastating phenomenon.
As the chasers drive through towns and lives destroyed by these violently rotating columns of air some teams give away supplies and clothing while others profit off peoples tragedy.
You'll feel like you are actually inside a Tornado thanks to brilliant CGI.
I know because I lived through Cyclone Althea in Townsville, Queensland, Australia in 1971 whilst the city was being razed to the ground, roofs ripped off houses in one piece, giant trees uprooted and so much more horrifying reality.
Hollywood never does anything once: it repeats like a diner with reflux.
So brace yourself for more disaster movies after the box office success of "Twisters", even if they are littered with goofs and bad science like this one.
Maybe if you feel it you should chase it!
Catch "Twisters", shot on location in America's mid west, on the big screen will the full sound engineering and amazing images of the natural, vibrant colours of Oklahoma on Kodak 35mm film just like the original.
MaXXXine (2024)
What Walt's Watching
The 80's is back big time in the look, feel and sound of "MaXXXine".
It's the final product of Director Ti West's horror trilogy.
A three parter that started with "X" and followed by "Pearl".
One of the common threads throughout this series of films is the porn industry, violent crime, sex and drugs and the marvellous actress Mia Goth as both "Maxine" and "Pearl".
Unlike the other films this one is more a crime noir, horror about a serial killer rather than a straight out slasher horror.
While it has more substance, it also lacks the sheer terror of its predecessors.
The flashbacks will mean nothing to viewers if you haven't seen how this collection plays out.
Eg: During the Hollywood Walk of Fame scene "Maxine" puts her cigarette out on "Theda Bara's" star.
She was the actress "Pearl" took inspiration from to name her alligator in the second movie in this trilogy "Pearl".
And we see blurry shots of the creature, and past crimes committed by "Maxine", but she's not the most vicious killer in this 2024 film.
Instead she's portrayed as more career driven than ever to become a Hollywood star herself to get her name up in lights.
Something Mia has been intent on since she dropped into our movie universe.
"Maxine's" moral compass is definitely bent and one attacker will never have babies after chasing the wrong girl home down a dark alley, but another night stalker is grabbing the deliciously clever newspaper headlines, like "Texas Porn Star Massacre".
A tribute to the late horror director Tobe Hooper's "The Texas Chain Saw Massacre" (1974).
Word of warning don't bother organising a tour to
166 Starlight Drive, Hollywood (a major crime scene in the movie) on your next visit to LA because it doesn't exist.
However, "Mullholland Drive" (2001) does and "MaXXXine" leans heavily into that movie's twisted narrative.
Watch out for: Bates Motel & the creepy house.
Listen out for: a killer 80's soundtrack which is on trend after the latest "Beverly Hills Cop" movie on Netflix.
Aussie spotters: Elizabeth Debicki as "Elizabeth" the director of the movie within a movie who refuses to get spat out by the film industry.
Whatever you do don't go Kevin Bacon my heart.
He pops up as a sleazy private detective "John Labat" doing his best Jack Nicholson "Chinatown" impressions with his broken/bandaged nose.
He won't be cutting footloose once Maxine's dodgy manager "Teddy Night" played by Giancarlo Esposito ("Breaking Bad") takes care of business and earns his 15 percent.
The good news for horror fans is "MaXXXine" is loaded with original kills in a Hollywood that is a killer.
Don't mess with Maxine or she'll crush you, she's a movie star!
Fly Me to the Moon (2024)
What Walt's Watching
If you long for a return to the screwball comedies of the 60's then have we got a movie for you?
Yes & No!
On one hand "Fly Me To The Moon" could have been shot 60 years ago starring Doris Day and Cary Grant.
There is good chemistry between Scarlett Johansson and Channing Tatum as "Kelly" and "Cole" who may find a love that will take them to the moon and back.
Plenty of eye candy no matter how you identify, with characters who have their own moving back stories which are revealed over this 2 hour mix of comedy and drama.
However, there's also a lot of other balls juggling with this plot revolving around the NASA 1969 launch of Apollo 11 that hints at 1977's "Capricorn One" turned into a romantic comedy that also tries to be serious with a dash of sci-fi lite.
The title song is one of my fave swing songs by Frank Sinatra until Woody Harrelson as the mysterious Nixon mole "Moe" hums a few bars and fakes it badly.
The soundtrack itself is fairly bland and predictable as the creators haven't strayed too far from the standard jukebox hits like "Hold On I'm Coming".
Watch out for: A scene stealing cat named "Mischief" who lives up to its name and played by 3 black cats.
Also "Everybody Loves Ray" star Ray Romano has a small role.
The basis of this movie comes from the hugely popular conspiracy theory of a Hollywood staged, studio recorded moon landing after the success of the movie "2001: A Space Odyssey" using its director Stanley Kubrick.
The legendary director is referenced several times during "Fly Me To The Moon".
Instead the director of their landing is played for laughs by "Community" Principal Jim Rash, while the real director of this movie is Greg Berlanti ("Love, Simon").
Even by the end of this movie you will find yourself asking did they or didn't they fake the moon landing transmission?
"Fly Me To The Moon" is based upon the story by Keenan Flynn and Bill Kirstein.
It's an Apple Film, so it won't be long before it's streaming to rent or buy, but meanwhile you should lash out and see it on the big screen to appreciate the grandeur of liftoff and the heat that not only the rockets give off at Cape Canaveral.
The Bikeriders (2023)
What Walt's Watching
Kickstart your heart with the movie using arguably the worst title of 2024 and was meant to be released last year, "The Bikeriders".
It was only meant to be a working title for the story of the "Vandals" club, but unfortunately it stuck.
Give me one long liquid lunch during dry July, drinking XXXX Dry, and I reckon we could invent a better title.
This gangster, period, crime, drama is based on the book, "The Bikeriders" by Danny Lyon.
Over nearly 2 hours director Jeff Nichols ("Mud") delivers a semi-documentary tracing the birth and growth of a Midwest USA motorcycle club and how it evolved into one of the top 4 outlaw motorcycle clubs in America.
Its main focus is told from the perspective of "Kathy" (Jodie Comer "Killing Eve") who brilliantly covers her native British accent with a broad Chicago drawl being interviewed by the books author, photo-journalist "Danny" played by Mike Feist (unrecognisable from "Challengers").
Is it culturally inappropriate when an English woman uses a US accent or is just acting? You be the judge, jury and executioner.
I'm sure someone will.
The protagonists are the motorcycle clubs President "Johnny" (Tom Hardy another Pom, "Mad Max: Fury Road") and Austin Butler as "Benny" ("Elvis").
In case you forget his name it's tattooed on his arm like people who have personalised number plates spelling out the make of their car, in case they lose them in shopping centre carparks.
Watch out for: "Walking Dead" star Norman Reedus as "Funny Sonny" and Aussie export Damon Herriman as "Brucie".
Both of those actors don't get to truly tap into their psycho on screen personas they are famous for during "The Bikeriders"...damn shame.
The violence of the clubs members seems to have been dumbed down to a Disney "M" rating.
Two truly great bike rider movies "The Wild Ones" and "Easy Rider" are evoked by "The Bikeriders", but it doesn't measure up to either of these classics no matter how hard it tries and believe me it tries hard.
There is one changing of the guard scene in the final act that shocks you involving another UK actor Toby Wallace as "The Kid".
However, it is an engaging film with its own merits and studies in anthropology, namely gang mentality...it's just not menacing enough even when you've got Michael Shannon cast as biker, "Zipco".
His most emotional scene is fireside at one of the clubs "picnics" explaining how he was rejected by the US Army.
The biggest problem with this movie is that the Bikeriders portrayed in celluloid are not truly representative of the types of outliers that usually sign up for colours/biker jacket, they seem too conservative and safe, not as threatening or manic as the real deal.
Personally I don't want to belong to any club that would accept me as a member.
7/10*
Midnight Oil: The Hardest Line (2024)
What Walt's Watching
The time has come to watch the chronological documentary of one of Australia's greatest musical exports, "Midnight Oil: The Hardest Line".
I've loved this seminal Aussie bands songs since the beginning and one of my short memories is attending their live concert with my brother Robin at the old Jindalee Hotel, Brisbane 40 plus years ago.
The Oils weren't always a social conscience with melodies they started as a surf band on Sydney's Northern Beaches.
I know it's hard to picture the bald Peter Garrett as a blonde haired stompy wompy real gone surfer boy in the 80's, but this is just one of many reasons Oils fans must see this movie on the big screen now with limited screenings at selected cinemas.
Peter Garrett always was a politician in a rock stars body.
Garrett's years in politics on a break from the band are well documented too, but never boring.
For several years Garrett was King of the Mountain in Canberra as a Minister in the Labor Government.
This flick covers the bands stand on Nuclear Disarmament, Logging, Dams and many other issues they stood firm on.
"The Hardest Line" is loaded with unseen rare footage that takes you inside the machine that became this political juggernaut...including their outback tour with the Warumpi Band to see how our indigenous people really lived and reacted to this rock band from the big smoke.
It also includes a very moving Exon protest in New Yorks lunch hour, the famous "Sorry" performance at the closing ceremony of the 2000 Sydney Olympics, plus their farewell final concert performance.
This documentary is just the right balance of live performances and recorded studio sessions, stills and video clips.
Midnight Oil is one person with 5 heads, even if some of the heads changed over the years.
Bass player is the poisoned chalice in the Oils.
Several of their bassists burnt out from the constant strain of touring and recording, whilst Dwayne "Bones" Hillman (aka Wayne Stevens) paid the ultimate price and died from cancer in the United States, in 2020, aged just 62.
This film is written and directed by Paul Clarke who ensures we always know who's speaking in the voiceovers with quick supers of their names.
Congratulations Blink TV and Beyond Entertainment for giving us one of the best music doco's I've ever seen.
Enjoy the power and the passion of "Midnight Oil: The Hardest Line" with something for music geeks like myself and anyone who enjoys a good yarn it leaves no forgotten years during its 1 hour and 45 minutes.