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Reviews
Challengers (2024)
Threesome whhhaaattt?
Challengers is an MGM studio movie production about two up and coming boys from a tennis academy working together to make it to the big leagues. Art Donaldson (Mike Faist) and Patrick Zweig (Josh O'Conner) shared everything including prodigy tennis player Tashi (Zendaya). Tashi ended up damaging her knee during a match and her future was in jeopardy. She ends up falling in love with both boys but marries Art, becomes his coach and makes him the best player. In the storyline Art goes through a dry spell and works in smaller tournaments to get his groove back and that's when his latest match comes up against his former friend. The film had an 80's vibe but the most annoying part was the soundtrack with electric dance background. As it turns out the boys tension and love for each other came out in their final match against one another. Overall I didn't care much about the characters nor for the love of tennis, Match Point was a better film. Small trivia, all ladies that played Mary Jane in Spider-Man acted as a tennis player in a tennis movie.
The Widow (2019)
Good Enough
The Widow is an Amazon Prime eight episode series about Georgia Wells (Kate Beckinsale) who loses her husband Will Mason (Matthew Le Nevez) in a plane crash across Africa. That's basically the gist of the movie but there is more to the story. Will takes a job that has him traveling back and forth between Africa and England. We learn he works for a good friend of theirs who is played by Alex Kingston. The storyline takes some twists and turns and we find out the reason why the plane crashed and the corrupt government of Congo. Charles Dance helped Kate during her trip in Africa to find the truth about her husband. There is way too many flashbacks and story jumps around from one time frame to another. It could have been told without time lapses. The beginning starts out slow till it builds up but the final episode was not necessary. This could have been a two hour movie instead of a series. It was good to watch once, I would not watch it again.
Your Honor: Part Twenty (2023)
Did not need a second season
Your Honor: Season Two continues where the first season had ended with a disgraced Judge Desiato sent to prison for his dishonorable actions. Fast forward a few years and Cranston's character is let out of prison early in order to aid a federal investigation into the Baxter family. Rosie Perez joins the cast as the US District Attorney who also helps to clear Eugene's name from accidentally murdering Adam while the Baxters try to find a way to dispose him. Season Two concentrated on the stories of drug traffickers lead by Big Mo and her relationship with her sister that she doesn't communicate with. We also learn Fia gets pregnant by Adam and both families now share blood with the birth of their grandchild. Fia does not want to have her child baptized nor does she want Michael's family to raise the child. Margo Martndale also joins the cast as Cranston's mother-in-law and they work together to learn how his spouse was murdered. This was Mark Margolis' final production before his passing as he prized his role as Hope Davis's father who despises Jimmy Baxter. This season had way too many subplots that lengthened the series to ten episodes. At the end Desiato returns back to prison to complete his sentence. We know this was supposed to be the final season but now Netflix is interested to create a third season. Like I said before, there was no need to continue this series when the title has no more meaning to the story.
Your Honor (2020)
A show about Morales and Consequences
Your Honor is a Showtime series set in New Orleans about a well respected judge named Michael Desiato whose son Adam (Hunter Doohan) accidentally gets involved in a hit and run accident that kills the son of a local mafia head. Bryan Cranston played Judge Desiato who did everything in his power to protect his son no matter the consequences of his actions. Michael serves a ruling in the Baxter family court case that always Jimmy Baxter's son to be set free. Jimmy Baxter is played by Michael Stuhlbarg and his wife is played by Hope Davis. Jimmy thinks his son was killed by Big Momma aka Desire (Andrene Ward-Hammond) hitman Eugene Jones (Benjamin Flores Jr.) who would be the sole survivor after the Baxter's killed his whole family. Isaiah Whitlock Jr. Plays the local politician running to be the next mayor and Blair Underwood plays Roland Carter the prosecuting attorney. Adam's actions and his dumb luck make him the most hated person but without him the events that transpired would not have taken place. Adam ends up falling in love with Baxter's daughter Fia (Lilli Kay) and Adam is accidentally shot and killed by the end of the series. This show was meant to be just one season but the producers have another one in the books. I highly recommend this show, Cranston's performance as a father and judge is a good reason to check out this show. The show has become a hit on Netflix.
Argylle (2024)
I can't say it was garbage
Argylle is an AppleTV+ film about an author who who writes spy thrillers about a secret agent by the same name as the title who is played by Henry Cavill. The author Elly Conway (Bryce Dallas Howard) realizes her current work starts to mirror real life events. Sam Rockwell who plays a real spy who shows up at the right time to save Elly's life. Bryan Cranston and Cathrine O'Hara pretend to play Elly's parents. There are plenty of twists in this movie that is directed by Matthew Vaughn. Elly's cat is narrated and voiced by Samuel Jackson, he is the protagonist in this movie compared to Matthew's other movies where he has always played the antagonist. The other characters in the book were played by Dua Lipa and Jon Cena. I got to say it started out swell but it took a turn for the worse. Although there is a trilogy in the works, this one was a bust. I am only giving it a six out of ten only because of the great cast.
Beetlejuice (1988)
Fun and weird
Beetlejuice is a family oriented movie directed by Tim Burton. I introduced this movie to my son and of course he found it fun but weird. The storyline follows the accidental death of Alec Baldwin and Geena Davis during their vacation home town in Connecticut. Their house is sold to an unbearable family headed by Jeffrey Jones, Catherine O'Hara, and their adopted daughter Winona Ryder. Baldwin and Davis have to seek help of bad boy devilish character Beetlejuice who is played by Michael Keaton to help get rid of them. This film is an iconic movie that we all loved including the dancing scene during dinner. The funny thing is that Beetlejuice character has only fifteen minutes air time of the movie. Burton's wacky B rated special effects were cheesy but he was only given a million dollars to put it together. Overall this movie never gets old, you can never go wrong with this one.
ZeroZeroZero (2019)
Incredible Narco Mini Series
ZeroZeroZero is a Sky Production, Amazon Prime miniseries about a shipment of cocaine from the Mexican cartel to the Italian mafia. This isn't your typical mafia story, it follows the flow of drugs from those who brokered by a New Orleans Lynwood family headed by Gabriel Byrne. Gabriel gets killed in a shootout and his children who are played by Dane DeHaan and Andrea Riseborough make sure the drugs get to it's final destination. The series is the most expensive miniseries ever developed with a budget over 160 million dollars. The production took place from Mexico across the Atlantic to Africa and the Sahara to Morocco and finally to Italy. The storyline is filled with backstabbing with the Italian mafia where the grandchild is trying to ruin the deal set by the buyers and sellers. The title relates to the Italian flour grading system as triple zero refers to pure cocaine. Greed, selfishness, and corruption is at the center of the storytelling including the rise of the Vampires in Mexico that end up destroying the cartel. I got to say if there was one mafia series to watch, you got to check this one. Great cast, wonderful script, cinematography, and beautiful composition by Mogwai. I could rewatch this show over and over again, you must this to your list.
Mayor of Kingstown: Comeuppance (2024)
Ended on the right note
Mayor of Kingston: Season Three on Paramount+ continues with more violence but the feud plays out between the Russians and the Blacks. Konstantin (Yorick van Wageningen moves back into town to take the businesses left behind by Milos (Aidan Guillen). Mike (Jeremy Renner) back from his devastating real life injury, plans to set up the two groups against one another. By the end the bloody battle looked like something from Heat. Milo returns to take back his regime but Mike gets the best of him. Mike's brother Kyle, Taylor Handley, transfers to be part of the SWAT team and to work with Robert. Mathew Del Negro joined the cast as a security guard at the women's ward where Kyle's wife worked as a nurse. He ends up hitting on her and physically hurts her but she fights back. This season the writing turned crappy but the action was on par. Not sure if there would be a follow up season, the series did end on a right note.
Wicked Little Letters (2023)
Charming Filthy Story
Wicked Little Letters is a British dark comedy film based on true events. The citizens of Littlehampton begin received raunchy filthy letters and they all point to Rose Gooding (Jessie Buckley) who is a single mom and she gets arrested for sending the letters.. The story is set during the 1920s countryside and the crime becomes known throughout Europe. Experts from Psychics to Psychologists are brought in to examine the letters to find the culprit. Edith Swan (Olivia Colman) comes from a deeply religious family and they blame the letters on Rose, During the trial, the women of the town led by police officer Gladys (Anjana Vasan) suspect Rose is not the suspect but rather the victim. This movie was charmingly raunchy and fun to watch. I found myself enjoying Thea Shamrock's small film, definitely add this to your list.
Kaos (2024)
Chaotic another Woke series
Kaos is a Netflix series written and created by Charlie Covell about the modern day retelling of Greek Mythology. The storyline follows Zeus who is played by Jeff Goldblum along with his family members tormenting humans for their own pleasure. This is a dark comedy that has gone Woke with so many points that I could not stand from trans characters to gender politics. The gods have a wrinkle in their prophecy and Zeus is paranoid. There are six humans unaware of their importance or their connection to one another, along with their journey to the underworld and to the heavens. They will discover the true intentions of the gods and their use of human souls. Janet McTeer plays Hera, Stephen Dillane as Prometheus, David Thewlis as Hades, and Cliff Curtis as Poseidon. Riddy (Aurora Perrimeau) gets killed and is buried without her coin and ends up in hell and cannot be resurrected back to Earth. Overall this was an okay series, and it's not as funny as I would have thought and that no Greeks were used to play the characters and none of it was filmed in Greece but rather in Spain. Not sure there will be a follow up season but who knows what Netflix will do.
The Fall Guy (2024)
Not memorable! Nothing Great!
The Fall Guy is a David Leitch movie based on Glen A. Larson's television series by the same that starred Lee Majors and Heather Thomas who had cameos at the end of this film. Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt take on their roles in this movie as a stuntman and producer respectively. Ryan suffers an almost career ending stunt accident and he is assigned to find the missing movie star who is played by Aaron Taylor-Johnson. Hannah Waddington plays the producer of the film she gave a wonderful performance but it was not enough to make this a great movie. The storyline was full of amazing stunts including a roll that broke a world record. The plot pushes the actors to the brink and it's full of conspiracies that made the movie hard to watch. Jason Mamoa also had a cameo but overall it was okay, I don't think it;s a movie I would watch again.
Incoming (2024)
Fun Teen Comedy for Adults
Incoming is a Netflix movie created, written and directed by Chernin brothers, the same guys behind the series The Mick. The storyline follows four high school freshmen boys Mason Thomas, Ramon Reed, Raphael Alejandro, and Bardia Seiri. The first week of school Koosh's brother is throwing a big bash at his place. Mason who plays Benj has the hots for Bailey (Isabella Ferreira) and the party is the perfect chance for him to get to know her better. This is a combination of several teen movies much like Superbad, American Pie and any other teen movie. Bobby Cannavale played Mr. Studebaker the chemistry teacher who ended up attending the teen party and getting wasted. The end of the credits there is a short reel with him. Coincidentally there were a few actors from The Mick who had cameos which include Kaitlin Olsen, Thomas Barbusca, and Scott MacArthur. The movie covers the current teen topics of catcalling, drugs, and validation. I got to say I enjoyed this movie, it's been a while and but it isn't something I would watch again.
Mayor of Kingstown: Little Green Ant (2023)
Gruesome and harsh
Mayor of Kingston: Season Two on Paramount+ continues where the first season ended when the prisoners tried to riot and take over the prison. Milo (Aidan Gillen) escaped prison and his 15 million dollars in bonds are discovered and eventually lands in the hands of Mike (Jeremy Renner). Due to the riots, all the prisoners are moved to tents and tensions mounting to the point of another brutal assault. Police brutally on the prisoners were at the forefront of this season, so Mike convinces the head of each race to take control of their factions in the tent prison and on the streets. The number of prisoner deaths climb to the boiling point and eventually they are moved back to their respective prisons. Bunny (Tobi Bamtefa) is the only leader that is released and with a Godfather style way he executes the other leaders while they are held captive. The same cast returns from the first season and the number of gruesome deaths becomes to much to watch. This series continues for a third year and hopefully with something less graphic but the series was delayed due to Jeremy's injury.
The Winter King (2023)
It was ok
The Winter King is a British series steaming on MGM+ based on the novel written by Bernard Cornwell and adopted for television by Kate Brooke. This Arthurian legendary tale portrays Arthur (Iain De Caestecker) as a warrior turned monk and how he became the ultimate hero of his kingdom. In this series Arthur's kingdom is in disarray with the Saxon armies surrounding Dumnonia region. Arthur is set to marry the King's daughter but he falls in love with Guinevere (Jordan Alexandra) who was one the princess's maids. The story does have Merlin (Nathaniel Martello-White), Morgan (Valerie Kane) as Arthur's half-sister, and Nimue (Ellie James) as a priestess who was saved by Merlin and who eventually becomes the keeper of the sword. Overall the story has a Britannia feel to it, rough, dark, and not as seasoned fantasy fork tale. I would have rated it higher but the language used was not of the correct timeline, you can't have today's jargons in a past historical setting. Hopefully there will be a second season since the story ended on a cliffhanger.
The Union (2024)
Move along nothing to see here
The Union is a Netflix film that stars Mark Wahlberg as a construction worker in New Jersey and Halle Berry who is an intelligence officer and Mark's high school sweetheart. Halle comes back to her old stomping grounds to recruit Mark as part of her super secret spy group called The Union. The Union is headed by J. K. Simmons as they take on high stakes spy missions. Mark is drawn into the group because a list of agents have been made public and Mark is not part of that list but rather a blue collar worker who lives at home with his mom who is played by Lorraine Bracco. Dana Delaney plays Mark's former high school teacher, Jackie Earle Haley, Alice Lee, and Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje play Berry's counterparts as well as Mike Colter as Berry's husband. The first half of the movie was fun and watchable but by the second half the acting and script became dull. Great cast that is why I gave a six out of ten and great scenery but the action sequences and the script were predictable. I will never watch this one again, skip it don't waste your time.
Archangel (2005)
A mini-series before Bond
Archangel is a BBC mini-series about a college professor named Fluke Kleso who is played by Daniel Craig working in Russia and he investigates certain mysteries surrounding former Russian dictator Joseph Stalin. Kleso is approached by a former Stalin guard that leads him to a diary that is hidden among Stalin's property. Craig works with television reporter R. J, O'Brian who is played by Gabriel Macht along with the guard's daughter who is played by Yekaterina Rednikova, together they untangle Stalin's legacy. History states Stalin had two boys but this fictional storyline dictates he has a grandson that wants to rehash his grandfather's legacy. The title relates to the city where the young Stalin is raised to take over for what his grandfather started. I loved the background was all filmed in Russia to bring another element to the storyline. Overall this was a good DaVinci code style show, I would definitely recommend this.
IF (2024)
Live Action Pixar Movie
IF is a John Krasinski film that he wrote, produced and directed. The story is about a young girl named Bea (Cailey Fleming) who is going through a tough time since she lost her mom and her father (Krasinski) is about to have heart surgery. Bea starts to see everyone else's IF imaginary friends that are voiced by many famous actors including Ryan Reynolds, Steve Carrell, Emily Blunt, Awkwafina, George Clooney, Bradley Cooper, Matt Damon, Bill Hader, Richard Jenkins, Blake Lively, Keegan Michael-Key, Sebastian Maniscalco, Christopher Meloni, Matthew Rhys, Sam Rockwell, Maya Rudolph, Amy Schumer, Jon Stewart, and Brad Pitt. Bobby Moynihan and Liza Colon-Zayas find their own IF's to help them get by from their stressful lives. Unfortunately this was Louis Gossett Jr.'s final film before he passed away. I felt like I was watching a live action Pixar movie a cross between Monsters Inc and Toy Story. I would definitely recommend this family movie but don't forget your tissues.
Supacell (2024)
Black Lightning Series in London
Supacell is a Netflix series produced, created, written and directed by famous London rapper named Rapman. The story surrounds a group of twenty somethings from South London black individuals who have developed superpowers. The only thing they have in common is that they are all black. You would think this day in age society would change even in London about the stereotyping black individuals with drugs, crime, rape and violence. I don't believe blacks should be portrayed by society this way and this series does just that. I felt like I was watching Black Lightning from the DC universe only this one was without costumes. The cast included Tosin Cole, Nadine Mills, Josh Tedeku, and Eric Abrefa. The series started out well, then didn't change much and by the end typical but yet it has been renewed for another season.
Deadpool & Wolverine (2024)
Fun and exciting
Deadpool & Wolverine starts out strong with Ryan Reynolds reprising his role as Marvel's Deadpool. Wade Wilson is living a normal life and looking to fit in with the Avengers to be contributing for the common good. The TVA which is a time cop agency that makes sure all timelines are in place. The head of TVA lead by Mr. Paradox (Matthew Macfadyen) convinces Deadpool he could be included on a team in a different timeline but his present timeline is in danger because of the death of Logan. Deadpool steals all the time dial to look for the right Wolverine to help him fix his timeline. Hugh Jackman returns as Logan and together they are sent to the Void where they encounter Marvel superhero's Electra, Gambit, Blade, and Teenage Wolverine where they are held captive by Cassandra Nova (Emma Corrin) who plays Professor X's sister. There were plenty of cameos from Blake Lively along with their children, Chris Evans, Nathan Fillon, Jon Favreau, Morena Baccarin, Henry Cavill, Rob Delaney, and Matthew McConaughey. Shawn Levy co-wrote and directed this with Ryan and I got to say they brought Marvel back from the age of Woke. The script poked so much fun at Disney and Marvel. I got to say this movie was so much fun, it was filled with so much gore, filthy jokes and so much action. We cannot wait to watch it again in the theaters.
Hit Man (2023)
Charming yet predictable
Hit Man is a Netflix film based on true events.about a professor named Gary Johnson who moonlights as a pretend hit man in New Orleans. Gary is played by the charming Glen Powell and he suits up according to each client's situation to hire him to kill the person they despise. He breaks protocol to help a desperate woman named Madison (Adria Arjona) who is trying to get away her abusive husband. They end up falling in love and Gary ends up becoming a criminal. This was directed, produced and written by Richard Linklater and produced along with Jason Bateman. The story was originally based in Houston but they couldn't get the production credit from the state government. The real life Gary Johnson did not get to see the film, he passed away during production. This was a fun romantic comedy and I can definitely recommend it.
Halo: Halo (2024)
Better than the first season
Halo: Season Two on Paramount+ was much better scripted and far more fun to watch although there were too many side stories that I didn't care much for. This season the Covenant attack humanity on all fronts including the destruction of Reach. Master Chief is considered unreliable and his team is put under pressure to work against him. The main premise is about Halo and how it leads to a new world that the Prophets had foretold. Doctor Hasley is under house arrest for her insurrection for her role on Spartan II. There are quite a few losses especially by the Spartans and Master Chief is the last man standing. I was enthralled by this season but yet Paramount canceled any future seasons and is shopping the series to other streaming services. I could see Amazon taking the series to a new realm.
Find Me Falling (2024)
Predictable RomCom
Find Me Falling is the first ever Cypriot feature film on Netflix directed by Stelana Kliris. This romantic comedy is about a down and out musician John Allman who is played by Harry Connick Jr. He takes a breaks from his career and buys a plot of land on the Mediterranean island of Cyprus along the edge of the coast. Allman without knowledge notices the town citizens come to his cliff to commit suicide. His endeavor was not just a reset but reuniting with his old flame Sia (Agni Scott). Harry learns he has a daughter named Melina (Ali Furniko Whitney) who has a beautiful voice much like his own. The movie was predictable, boy reunites with girl, loses her and gets her back. This was good to watch once, nothing great to write home about besides the beautiful music.
War of the Worlds: Episode #3.8 (2022)
Worthwhile
War of the Worlds the third and final season on MGM+ continues the storyline where the invasion never happened but people all over the world are having hallucinations of what life was like when the invasion originally happened. But now Earth has a massive black hole dilemma that has a parallel universe on the other side of the black hole. If they don't come up with a plan both worlds would collapse upon one another. Bill Ward is now in prison for killing Emily and he must convince to put a stop the remaining aliens. Two new characters were introduced living on the international space station, Richard and Juliet who are played by Lukas Haas and Lizzie Brochere. There were plenty of scientific jargons from polarity to gravitational waves. Byrnes travels to the other world to close the black hole. Overall it was a good series and it got better as the seasons went by just wish it would have shown a sense of urgency amongst the characters when time is of the essence. I would definitely recommend this series.
The Long Game (2023)
Inspirational
The Long Game is based on true events of a group of Mexican American caddies who are set out to learn the sport of golf. In 1956, South Texas region the boys create their own course because they are not welcome on the same course as white golfers. Jay Hernandez plays the superintendent of the local school district and he takes the kids under his wing along with Dennis Quaid to help nurture them into fine golfers and to compete against all the other golfers. Oscar Nunez acts as the principal of the high school, Cheech Marin as the groundskeeper, Jaina Lee Ortiz and Gillian Vignam are the spousal support system for the boys and Brett Cullen as the local judge who disallows the boys to compete on his grounds. This movie was the Field Of Dreams type of feel good film but for golf. The boys did win the championship in 1957 and some of them went on to compete in the PGA. Overall it was a good family movie, I would recommend it.
War of the Worlds: Episode #2.8 (2021)
Terminator meets Back to the Future
War of the Worlds: Season Two on MGM+ continues the storyline of mankind's survival. This season Bill Ward (Bryne) is tasked to eradicate the aliens. Much like Well's book, the virus he creates would put an end to their problem. I got to say this season is much better and helps answer quite a few questions. We learn the aliens are distant descendants from mankind and they had traveled back in time to teach us a lesson. Emily (Daisy Edgar-Jones) and Dylan (Angus Imrie) were the original couple, the alien's version of Adam and Eve, they left Earth to start their own race. Although some time in the future they had muscular dystrophy that destroys their own kind. You would think they would come back to get Ward to help them not too cripple mankind's existence. Ward volunteers to travel back in time to kill Emily hoping the invasion never happens. Of course as he travels so do some of the aliens. This season I let like I was watching Terminator and Back to the Future. The producers made this series at the perfect time when Covid shutdown the economy all over the world that placed the story during that time. Great cinematography, better production and storyline, I could see some sort of multiverse and a different timeline during the third season.