Accident Man: Mike is a tough hitman, who makes his hits look like accidents or suicide. He's in a gang of hitmen, each with his own style. When his loved ex is killed, Mike looks for those responsible.
Kind of a poor man's Deadpool, the main actor is Reynolds-esque. Not total humor, but some dark comedy lines in there. Way more martial arts scenes. I did enjoy it, and look forward to the sequel, a good time killer.
When you tell somebody somethin', it depends on what part of the United States you're standin' in... as to just how dumb you are.
Accident Man: Hitman's Holiday: One constant fight scene, cheese closing speech, even worse ending. Don't bother.
Scarlett: A college student must draw upon all the skills her spy-father taught her to protect herself and save her father from weapons dealers.
Even worse.
Black Box: After losing his wife and his memory in a car accident, a single father undergoes an agonizing experimental treatment that causes him to question who he really is.
This one hooked me a bit, due to the important question of "what's the end game of the main character?" You are left dangling for quite a bit, and once that knife was twisted, you knew what was going to happen, but man, they waited until the last minute. The movie it reminded me most of was Lawnmower Man (which, IMO, is still begging for a remake, just because of lack of technology back then, that one was way before its time).
When you tell somebody somethin', it depends on what part of the United States you're standin' in... as to just how dumb you are.
Anora (Dis+): A young escort from Brooklyn meets and impulsively marries the son of a Russian oligarch. Once the news reaches Russia, her fairy tale is threatened as his parents set out for New York to get the marriage annulled.
Well, don't make a Russian oligarch mad, that's just World Politics 101. 😉
Really good movie, the characters went from shallow to deep to shallow again. Really yo-yos all the main players, especially Mikey Madison (the main star) who plays Ani/Anora. Of course the trope "strippers be crazy, man..."
When the marriage has become known, I'd say the fit hits the shan, but that is a massive understatement. For those not in the know on how Russian oligarchs (ahem, mafia) work, it might come as a surprise as to how they behave in America. For those who DO know, you won't even blink. They are much more abrasive and blatant than the Italians, and I say that with some research in my arsenal.
When you tell somebody somethin', it depends on what part of the United States you're standin' in... as to just how dumb you are.
Dead Money: Andy (Emile Hirsch) and his girlfriend Chloe are involved in a crazy 24 hours after a home poker game is robbed. Andy ends up playing the largest poker game of his life as both of their lives are in danger.
"Professional" is used loosely here. It's illegal high-stakes games. That being said, that is his profession. I still consider "Rounders" as a top-notch poker movie of this sort, and like many others, this one falls just short. A for effort, B for execution. Definitely worth watching, it doesn't use smoke and mirrors to tell the story, like a con-man game or anything. It just didn't have that authentic feel of "grit" that the grinders have in these games (grinder: lives and dies on the income; whereas many high-stakes guys have money to burn).
Emile Hirsch, over the years, has shown his versatility, and I've become a fan of his work overall. If he's in a movie, yeah, I'll check it out.
When you tell somebody somethin', it depends on what part of the United States you're standin' in... as to just how dumb you are.
Anora (Dis+): A young escort from Brooklyn meets and impulsively marries the son of a Russian oligarch. Once the news reaches Russia, her fairy tale is threatened as his parents set out for New York to get the marriage annulled.
Well, don't make a Russian oligarch mad, that's just World Politics 101. 😉
Really good movie, the characters went from shallow to deep to shallow again. Really yo-yos all the main players, especially Mikey Madison (the main star) who plays Ani/Anora. Of course the trope "strippers be crazy, man..."
When the marriage has become known, I'd say the fit hits the shan, but that is a massive understatement. For those not in the know on how Russian oligarchs (ahem, mafia) work, it might come as a surprise as to how they behave in America. For those who DO know, you won't even blink. They are much more abrasive and blatant than the Italians, and I say that with some research in my arsenal.
I saw Anora shortly after it was named best picture of 2024. Thought Mikey Madison was wonderful & thought she earned best actress over Demi Moore, I saw “the substance” too & Demi was good, but Mikey was better. As far as the entire movie, if that’s the best picture of 2024, it speaks volumes about the overall dip in movie making quality (that we’re currently experiencing). Anora was fine…but IMO much weaker than “Crash” from 2004 which has been widely panned as a low bar best picture winner.
Anora (Dis+): A young escort from Brooklyn meets and impulsively marries the son of a Russian oligarch. Once the news reaches Russia, her fairy tale is threatened as his parents set out for New York to get the marriage annulled.
Well, don't make a Russian oligarch mad, that's just World Politics 101. 😉
Really good movie, the characters went from shallow to deep to shallow again. Really yo-yos all the main players, especially Mikey Madison (the main star) who plays Ani/Anora. Of course the trope "strippers be crazy, man..."
When the marriage has become known, I'd say the fit hits the shan, but that is a massive understatement. For those not in the know on how Russian oligarchs (ahem, mafia) work, it might come as a surprise as to how they behave in America. For those who DO know, you won't even blink. They are much more abrasive and blatant than the Italians, and I say that with some research in my arsenal.
I saw Anora shortly after it was named best picture of 2024. Thought Mikey Madison was wonderful & thought she earned best actress over Demi Moore, I saw “the substance” too & Demi was good, but Mikey was better. As far as the entire movie, if that’s the best picture of 2024, it speaks volumes about the overall dip in movie making quality (that we’re currently experiencing). Anora was fine…but IMO much weaker than “Crash” from 2004 which has been widely panned as a low bar best picture winner.
"Crash" was much better when it was called "Higher Learning." 😉
When you tell somebody somethin', it depends on what part of the United States you're standin' in... as to just how dumb you are.
@bearpaw28As far as the entire movie, if that’s the best picture of 2024, it speaks volumes about the overall dip in movie making quality (that we’re currently experiencing).
I was just telling someone this recently, this is still a result of the COVID shutdown at all the studios. People don’t realize that most films take up to 5 years to shepherd through the system. When Hollywood shut down the train didn’t slow down, it stopped. That system is only now getting back up to speed.
And I will also say, the Academy Awards are to promote the ART of filmmaking. It’s not popularity, it’s not box office, it’s to uphold the mission of the Academy. That might sound bougie, but there’s plenty of other awards to highlight other aspects of film. And, politics run rampant through the selected winners, or losers. See Emilia Perez as this years top example 😉
When people tell me I’ll regret not having kids, I say that’s okay I know a really good place to cry. It’s my vacation home.
Sly Lives! (Hulu/Dis) It focuses on the life and legacy of Sly and the Family Stone, telling the story behind the rise, reign and fadeout of one of pop music's most influential artists.
Solid documentary, mainly focused on his musical influence, but gave a fair amount of attention to his substance abuse. The abuse was a secondary point, as it should be. They did show multiple uses of artists using samples of his music, which I definitely appreciated, as it shows how much he affected those future stars.
Side note: It's still weird to me when Q-Tip cusses, he's so soft-spoken, it'd be like hearing Prince drop the F-bomb in a convo, lol.
When you tell somebody somethin', it depends on what part of the United States you're standin' in... as to just how dumb you are.
Sleeping Dogs: An ex-homicide detective with memory loss is forced to solve a brutal murder, only to uncover chilling secrets from his forgotten past.
It was shaping up to be a good movie until the line: "Until I met her..." Paraphrasing, but that was the gist of it, and 15 minutes later I shut it off. Read the recap on wiki, and I'm glad I shut if off. What a waste of time.
When you tell somebody somethin', it depends on what part of the United States you're standin' in... as to just how dumb you are.
The Tax Collector (Hulu): A "tax collector" working for a local crime lord finds his family's safety compromised when the rival of his boss shows up in L.A. and upends the business.
Mexican gang/cartel stuff, and it's real and raw. An asset to the movie was showing the code between the two worlds of civilian/profession, until the rival shows up and crosses lines, including mixing in the Mexican culture. The ending was a bit of a cliched mishmash of action movies, but until that point, it was extremely well-done, and to be honest, the ending didn't ruin the movie whatsoever. The final dialogue pulls it together, in that part.
I do recommend it, for sure.
When you tell somebody somethin', it depends on what part of the United States you're standin' in... as to just how dumb you are.
Bastion 36 (aka Squad 36; French movie): Transferred to the Anti-Crime Brigade, a senior officer probes the deaths of two ex-colleagues and disappearance of another, exposing a bitter feud within the police force.
Lone cop gets things REALLY done after he loses his badge, etc etc. It's cookie-cutter, but entertaining enough for one not to feel it's wasted time. I really can't say anything better or worse about this movie.
When you tell somebody somethin', it depends on what part of the United States you're standin' in... as to just how dumb you are.
The Electric State: An orphaned teen hits the road with a mysterious robot to find her long-lost brother, teaming up with a smuggler and his wisecracking sidekick.
There's a war between man and robot, man wins, but the aftermath isn't ideal. There are social parallels to human history which is beyond transparent, and I'll leave it at that to stay within the rules of this message board. 😉
Taking in the movie at face value, it's a fun little action movie, with some funny moments couple with some sentimental ones. I'd say it's worth a watch.
When you tell somebody somethin', it depends on what part of the United States you're standin' in... as to just how dumb you are.
A Complete Unknown (Hulu) In 1961, an unknown 19-year-old Bob Dylan arrives in New York City with his guitar and forges relationships with musical icons on his meteoric rise, culminating in a groundbreaking performance that reverberates around the world.
This covers up to his "Dylan Went Electric" performance, and I must say, this movie lives up to the accolades. All the performances were outstanding, and I did like how they incorporated the whole folk scene and didn't just concentrate on Dylan for a good chunk of the movie. It showed what shaped him, and his music, etc.
Highly recommend, even if that style of music isn't your thing.
When you tell somebody somethin', it depends on what part of the United States you're standin' in... as to just how dumb you are.
Listen to me, Hillary. I'm not the first guy who fell in love with a woman that he met at a restaurant who turned out to be the daughter of a kidnapped scientist, only to lose her to her childhood lover who she last saw on a deserted island, who then turned out fifteen years later to be the leader of the French underground. RIP Val.
(and out of ALL his movies, they keep leading with Batman Forever. WHY?!)
When you tell somebody somethin', it depends on what part of the United States you're standin' in... as to just how dumb you are.
Listen to me, Hillary. I'm not the first guy who fell in love with a woman that he met at a restaurant who turned out to be the daughter of a kidnapped scientist, only to lose her to her childhood lover who she last saw on a deserted island, who then turned out fifteen years later to be the leader of the French underground. RIP Val.
(and out of ALL his movies, they keep leading with Batman Forever. WHY?!)
Nick Rivers was the GOAT!
“When your best friend is the son of God, you get tired of losing every argument.”
― Christopher Moore, Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal
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Listen to me, Hillary. I'm not the first guy who fell in love with a woman that he met at a restaurant who turned out to be the daughter of a kidnapped scientist, only to lose her to her childhood lover who she last saw on a deserted island, who then turned out fifteen years later to be the leader of the French underground. RIP Val.
(and out of ALL his movies, they keep leading with Batman Forever. WHY?!)
Den Of Thieves 2: Pantera: Big Nick is back on the hunt in Europe and closing in on Donnie, who is embroiled in the treacherous world of diamond thieves and the infamous Panther mafia, as they plot a massive heist of the world's largest diamond exchange.
Gerard Butler plays a great rogue cop (his style is almost like Russell Crowe 2.0), and O'Shea Jackson (Donnie) is coming into his own as an actor.
Standard heist movie with turns and twists and creative ways of pulling the job, but very entertaining.
When you tell somebody somethin', it depends on what part of the United States you're standin' in... as to just how dumb you are.
I was today years old, when in "Tombstone," I learned that during the "you, the drunk piano player" scene where Val Kilmer says "I have two guns, one for each of you" and then spins them...one hand spins the gun clockwise, and the other spins the gun counter-clockwise. WTF.
I must have seen that movie well over 50 times, and never noticed. 😶
When you tell somebody somethin', it depends on what part of the United States you're standin' in... as to just how dumb you are.
Demon City (Japanese film): Framed for his family's murder and left for dead, an ex-hitman will stop at nothing to exact revenge on the masked "demons" who have taken over his city.
Starts off as an over the top action movie, as in....forget ANY logic, as far as fight scenes/injuries/etc. But as the story progresses, it's based more on myth than fact (think: the movie 300). It makes much more sense. And in THAT world, yes, the movie is growing on me, the more I think about it.
Either way, worth watching, good action, and once you accept the way of the telling of the story, good story.
When you tell somebody somethin', it depends on what part of the United States you're standin' in... as to just how dumb you are.
Went to ‘King of Kings’ tonight with the wife and 2 youngest kids. It’s up for the hype it’s been receiving. The story line was nice and biblical representation was accurate.
Ol' Dirty Bastard: A Tale Of Two Dirtys (Hulu) A&E doc on Russell Jones, aka ODB, aka Ason Unique aka (for a second) Big Baby Jesus.
It really covers the two sides of ODB, and I will vouch for partial narrator S.H. Fernando Jr, who wrote the book "From The Streets Of Shaolin," which is approximately 450 page book on the Wu-Tang Clan*.
There is Russell Jones, the person, and ODB, the persona. Unfortunately the persona overtook the person. Lots of home footage, and interviews with family, band-mates, friends, industry people. Some good raw footage of his performances. This doesn't sugar-coat too much at all (as a famous ODB lyric says, "I like it rawwwwwww")
If you are a hip-hop fan, definitely watch it. If you're curious about why he had (and Wu) had such an impact, watch it. If you hate hip-hop, well give it a go, and maybe you'll catch a flicker of interest and learn about why hip-hop has really caught on amongst a vast audience.
*I am a big fan of RZA's work as a rapper, actor, and director, who co-founded Wu-Tang Clan, and have read Raekwon's (Wu-Tang member) autobiography which minces nothing. He extolls his achievements, but is also honest with his faults. Also recommend the Netflix series "Hip Hop Evolution" where an episode strictly covers the NY scene at the time of Nas/Wu-Tang, although others are in there.
When you tell somebody somethin', it depends on what part of the United States you're standin' in... as to just how dumb you are.
Geostorm: When the network of satellites designed to control the global climate starts to attack Earth, it's a race against the clock for its creator to uncover the real threat before a worldwide Geostorm wipes out everything and everyone.
Every modern "climate/weather" disaster movie rolled into one.
2 things save it (sorta): 1. The cast. Amazing cast. They milked all that they could from what was given to them, which was cliched, subpar, cookie-cutter dialogue in these movies, and made it work as best they could. 2. The occasional funny line (which was also pretty corny/cliched) to break the tension. The delivery of such lines is, again, kudos to the actors delivering them.
I expected over the top. I didn't quite expect OVER THE TOP.
When you tell somebody somethin', it depends on what part of the United States you're standin' in... as to just how dumb you are.
Geostorm: When the network of satellites designed to control the global climate starts to attack Earth, it's a race against the clock for its creator to uncover the real threat before a worldwide Geostorm wipes out everything and everyone.
Every modern "climate/weather" disaster movie rolled into one.
2 things save it (sorta): 1. The cast. Amazing cast. They milked all that they could from what was given to them, which was cliched, subpar, cookie-cutter dialogue in these movies, and made it work as best they could. 2. The occasional funny line (which was also pretty corny/cliched) to break the tension. The delivery of such lines is, again, kudos to the actors delivering them.
I expected over the top. I didn't quite expect OVER THE TOP.
Gerard not disappointing I can def agree with. As I mentioned a few reviews ago, him and Russell Crowe are the same kind of actor, and if I see those names, I will give the movie a shot.
When you tell somebody somethin', it depends on what part of the United States you're standin' in... as to just how dumb you are.
G20: When terrorists take over the G20 summit, US President Danielle Sutton uses her governing and military experience to defend her family, fellow leaders, and the world.
Action movie in the vein of White House Down with Viola Davis, Anthony Edwards and other character actors most will recognize.
We enjoyed it for what it was. Nothing groundbreaking, somewhat cliched but no giant plot holes and not full of corny one-liners.
My Name Is Vendetta (Italian movie): After old enemies kill his family, a former mafia enforcer and his feisty daughter flee to Milan, where they hide out while plotting their revenge.
The backstory isn't always clear, but the main character, Santo, used to work for the 'Ndrangheta mafia. The other two main mafias in Italy are the Camorra and the Cosa Nostra (the ones that started the Italian-American mafia, aka The Five Families).
Santo offed a guy that basically caused a mafia boss to have a personal vendetta, and due to Santo's disappearance, was resurrected after many a year, when they find him. It's a revenge/popcorn/one man army (well, two, if you count his daughter, learning on the fly), another movie entertaining enough to keep your attention, but by no means outstanding.
Flip a coin on this one. You'll either get bored, or be interested enough to see it through.
When you tell somebody somethin', it depends on what part of the United States you're standin' in... as to just how dumb you are.
iHostage (Dutch movie): When a gunman enters an Apple Store in the heart of Amsterdam, the police face a delicate challenge to resolve the standoff. Based on true events.
Decent cat-and-mouse hostage movie until HOLY WTF ENDING. Completely caught me off-guard. Sometimes truth is stranger than fiction. Worth it for the ending alone, JFC.
When you tell somebody somethin', it depends on what part of the United States you're standin' in... as to just how dumb you are.
Oklahoma City Bombing: American Terror: Examines the devastating 1995 Oklahoma City federal building bombing - the worst domestic terror attack in US history.
I had forgotten some of the specifics (example: Michael Fortier), but I do remember where I was as when it happened. Very chilling, matter-of-fact documentary, and I'll just say that some of the LEOs were brutally honest on their takes of the alleged-then-convicted perps. I also will say that some of the initial suspicions of the LEOs and public made me a little perturbed, and I shall leave it at that.
Overall, very good documentary, as it IS honest in capturing the feelings at the time, and in hindsight.
When you tell somebody somethin', it depends on what part of the United States you're standin' in... as to just how dumb you are.
Oklahoma City Bombing: American Terror: Examines the devastating 1995 Oklahoma City federal building bombing - the worst domestic terror attack in US history.
I had forgotten some of the specifics (example: Michael Fortier), but I do remember where I was as when it happened. Very chilling, matter-of-fact documentary, and I'll just say that some of the LEOs were brutally honest on their takes of the alleged-then-convicted perps. I also will say that some of the initial suspicions of the LEOs and public made me a little perturbed, and I shall leave it at that.
Overall, very good documentary, as it IS honest in capturing the feelings at the time, and in hindsight.
I listened to a podcast where they interviewed Wendy Painting (who wrote a book about the bombing and key players) and yeah… there was a lot of weird “coincidences” to say the least.
Trap: A father and his teen daughter attend a pop concert only to realize they've entered the center of a dark and sinister event.
Did not know this was an M Shamalamadingdong movie until I saw the opening credits, which at that point made me cringe. However, he delivered. It was never the who, it was the how, in this movie. Very taut cat-and-mouse game. Loved the creative possible solutions that the characters came up with. I fully enjoyed it, and there was even a bit of humor injected into the now-cliched bonus credits.
The Champion: The story of the pre-war boxing champion Tadeusz "Teddy" Pietrzykowski, who in 1940 arrives with the first transport of prisoners to the newly created Auschwitz concentration camp.
Great story based on real events. I tagged it as "overdubbed," but wasn't sure. Checked the wiki/imdb page, and they used CGI to change the mouth movements to match the words. It's a subtle difference, but since I watch every movie with closed-captioning, I did pick up on it. That, and the different accents in the voices. 😉
It was a bit rough, due to the subject matter, but not so rough you are repulsed by it (as I can imagine Schindler's List is; and no, I will still not watch that movie). I honestly didn't know if I'd finish the movie, it depended on what was shown in the camps. This was quite sanitized, as far as what went on. That wasn't the main subject of the movie.
As far as the brutality, I know what happened, don't need to see it, sort of thing. I digress, good movie, worth watching.
When you tell somebody somethin', it depends on what part of the United States you're standin' in... as to just how dumb you are.
Easily in my top 5 movie list. Should’ve had removable poster of Raquel Welch over the hole.
That, and put the name Andy Dufresne on it. Then, also have another right next to it with a figure in a nice suit with shiny shoes, named Randall Stephens of course.
Trap: A father and his teen daughter attend a pop concert only to realize they've entered the center of a dark and sinister event.
Did not know this was an M Shamalamadingdong movie until I saw the opening credits, which at that point made me cringe. However, he delivered. It was never the who, it was the how, in this movie. Very taut cat-and-mouse game. Loved the creative possible solutions that the characters came up with. I fully enjoyed it, and there was even a bit of humor injected into the now-cliched bonus credits.
I knew this was an M Night Shyamalan movie when I watched it. I was watching for the twist the entire time. Took me about halfway to realize that the twist was the movie was a vehicle for his daughter (the main actress) to become a famous actor and/or pop star.
The Life List: A woman revisits her childhood aspirations, endeavoring to achieve her old goals, only to discover that pursuing these lifelong dreams takes her on an unforeseen and surprising journey.
While not a Lifetime/Hallmark movie, one could make a case either way. That being said, I'd (barely) say it's not. It was actually enjoyable, and while you think you know the ending, there are enough plausible roadblocks along the way to at least question your decision, but you probably know the ending. Fun ride, though.
There is one predictable side-story that if you don't see, you probably don't understand life.
Overall, it didn't go for one heart string, it went for the full harp. That's about the only nit I really have with it.
When you tell somebody somethin', it depends on what part of the United States you're standin' in... as to just how dumb you are.
Bogota: City Of The Lost: Young South Korean man moving to Colombia with his family for a better life, but he ends up living from hand to mouth. He later goes against all odds to dominate Bogota's black market.
Good movie, lots of moving parts, as it is in the underworld. The timeline could use some filling in, there are some gaps as to "how did this switch to this?, but that's a minor nitpick. The main theme seemed to me that even though you're part of something, you're still on your own, because that is how Colombia works, and that's not necessarily a lie. It is subtitled, so watcher beware.
When you tell somebody somethin', it depends on what part of the United States you're standin' in... as to just how dumb you are.
Murder At Yellowstone City: A former slave arrives in Yellowstone City, Montana, a desolate former boomtown now on the decline, looking for a place to call home. On that same day, a local prospector discovers gold - and is murdered.
Classic, but cliched western. You have your gold, whorin', a touch of gambling, old-school law (justice, and if truth happens to be there, that's a bonus), and a bit of treachery.
It started off strong, but just went into trope after trope, and some of the dialogue devolved even quicker. Overall, as a whole, it was a decent Saturday Afternoon Time Killer, but it could have been better.
When you tell somebody somethin', it depends on what part of the United States you're standin' in... as to just how dumb you are.
