Director : Colin West – Cast Includes : Sylvie Mix, Justin Rose, Quinn Armstrong
Colin West‘s directorial debut DOUBLE WALKER came out of the blue… I’d not even seen any promotional work for this movie, not heard of the filmmaker or indeed it’s thrilling young star either… I know this may sound rather morbid but I do love the revenge genre, somebody has been wronged in someway and punishment must be handed out, and you know the really great thing about Double Walker is that it’s refreshingly original, a bizzare mix of intrigue, weirdness (in a good way) and horror, all this combined allowing you to escape into it’s delicious twisty plot watching the perpetrators get their comeuppance one by one until the story unfolds and everything makes perfect (well sort of) sense towards it’s finale… Sylvie Mix wrote the story and she also plays the lead role, her screen presence is alluring and although her character rarely speaks her actions are enough to carry the film, grabbing your attention from that very first moment she appears in the woods to those mysterious scenes in the town of Fairview… the writing is clever, I loved the mood and the way Sylvie’s character is dressed in mostly white almost angelic, the darkness that consumes each & every character and the blood that’s spills… Double Walker comes highly recommended, it’s a slow burning chiller that I throughly enjoyed and I can’t wait to see what the future holds for it’s director and star ★★★½
Director : Jeymes Samuel – Cast Includes : Jonathan Majors, Idris Elba, Zazie Beetz, Regina King
I fucking love The Bullitts aka: Jeymes Samuel he’s one talent dude and his latest The Harder They Fall is a breath of fresh air in the Western genre, and although the film’s a fictional piece, its characters are based on real cowboys, real lawmen and real outlaws of the American West around the 19th-century…. with a cast bursting at the seams I found this film to be simply MAGNIFICENT… a stylish, well worked western that contains an interesting storyline, a whole bunch of fun characters to sink your teeth into and root for including Lakeith Stanfield’s gunman Cherokee Bill and my favorite Danielle Deadwyler’s Cuffee a saloon hand turned outlaw and a killer soundtrack that matches each and every scene with great panache… some of the gunfights are violent and bloody, the colors used in the saloons are sumptuous, the camera angles, shadows in the dirt and overall photography by DP Mihai Mălaimare Jr are quite irresistible, another top notch performance by one of my favorite actors Jonathan Majors and the showdown between Stagecoach Mary and Trudy is off the charts GOOD… so if your looking for just over 2hrs of pure western escapism then The Harder They Fall will fit the bill perfectly : IT’S BRILLIANT ★★★★½
Director : Christopher Alender – Cast Includes : Brigitte Kali Canales, Andrea Cortés
I must confess I’d not heard of filmmaker Christopher Alender before watching this movie, his only other feature was back in 1999 called Memorial Day a horror film I’d not come across but after watching his latest I will certainly be tracking this down, he’s a director I hope to see more of in the future… armed with a devilishly good score by composer Ben Lovett who also worked on Jim Cummings awesome werewolf movie The Wolf of Snow Hollow I really found THE OLD WAYS a creepy, atmospheric ghost story with unsettling scenes of demonic rituals including a snake extraction, haunting scenes of candles burning out, animal teeth and that poor rat… the lightening and makeup felt authentic and the main girl who played Cristina, Fear the Walking Dead’sBrigitte Kali Canales delivers a strong performance : WELL WORTH A WATCH ★★★½
Director : Brandon Christensen – Cast Includes : Sarah Canning, Osric Chau, Gracie Gillam
Recently watched SUPERHOST a new horror film written & directed by Stillborn filmmaker Brandon Christensen… and what an absolute blast I had watching this infectious slice of low budget horror : if like me you like your rental house, unhinged misery kinda sub-genre with a plot that’s relevant, utterly bonkers and a cast that’s on point then you have to see this one… Sarah Canning (The Vampire Diaries) & Osric Chau (The Flash) are both terrific but it’s the crazy energy of Gracie Gillam that really wins the day : TOP NOTCH ★★★½
Director : Ryan Kruger – Cast Includes : Gary Green, Chanelle de Jager, Brett Williams
I’m not quite sure where to start with FRIED BARRY the directorial debut of South African filmmaker Ryan Kruger… and I don’t even think the guy who wrote the story James C. Williamson knew either… from it’s alien abuction, sex fueled Greasy Strangler vibe to it’s drug tripping, chainsaw killing Cuckoo’s Nest insanity Fried Barry is a stomach churning, chaotic slice of weird that needs a sequel and I’m here waiting for it… sometimes you just have to sit back and admire a filmmaker & his cast especially actor Gary Green who plays Barry for being brave and creating something wildly original, dark & squeamish and so far out : this is MY KIND OF INSANE BLISS watch it if you DARE !! ★★★★
Director : George Gallo – Cast Includes : Robert De Niro, Tommy Lee Jones, Zach Braff
The Comeback Trail : from George Gallo the writer of Wise Guys and Midnight Run comes a remake of the 1982 comedy of the same name about two movie producers who need some money to make their dream project and pay of a local mobster before he comes a calling… as remakes go THE COMEBACK TRAIL is a hoot, full of delightful nods to the movie world of yesteryear, terrific acting by it’s ageing cast with Braff & De Niro sharing some wonderful chemistry and scenes of pure hollywood gold including De Niro getting kicked by buttercup the horse, that whole scene with Emile Hirsch’s Moore trying to buy De Niro’s Paradise script is soooo damn good and of course Duke Montana egging Walter to cross further along the rope bridge that’s been sabotaged by Max is hilarious and amongst the films madcap highlights… The Comeback Trail may not be perfect but I had so much fun with it’s well worked story, funny scenarios and anytime I get to see three movie legends share the same movie screen then COUNT ME IN ★★★★
Director : Justin Lee – Cast Includes : Scout Taylor-Compton, Stuart Townsend, Thomas Jane
Apache Junction : I love a good old cowboy and Justin Lee’s movie is reminiscent of the westerns of yesteryear with less focus on nudity & violence and more on it’s solid plotline that’s also written by it’s director known for his work on Badland & Big Legend… it’s story that follows a female reporter Annabelle Angel played by Halloween’s Scout Taylor-Compton who’s sent to an outpost at Apache Junction to write a new piece for her paper but gets mixed up with a local outlaw played by Stuart Townsend, Tomas Jane’s propreitor come barman, the calvary led by Trace Adkins Captain Hensley and Oslo Pike a villanious gunslinger with a name to match who’s after notoriety… although the film’s pace is sluggish at times, the musical score is great, the characters throughout are interesting and I found myself enjoying it’s satisfying and entertaining shoot out at it’s finish : ENJOYED !! ★★★
Director : Antoine Fuqua – Cast Includes : Jake Gyllenhaal, Adrian Martinez
The Guilty : from Training Day director Antoine Fuqua comes a remake of the Danish thriller Den skyldige… the film follows a police detective played by Gyllenhaal who’s been demoted to a 911 operator whilst under investigation for possible misconduct… The Guilty is GRIPPING from start to finish, the acting from Jake Gyllenhaal is off the charts, he’s an excellent actor and in Joe he submerges himself into this emotional trainwreck of a guy and takes us along for this chaotic bumpy ride… it’s script by True Detective’sNic Pizzolatto is smart, quick paced and packs a punch with it’s suspense and hard hitting final act and it’s nice seeing Adrian Martinez getting some screen time, such an underrated actor… The Guilty is top notch filmmaking and is just as much about what you can’t see as to what you can, the sounds of the sirens, the voices on the other end of the phone stir the atmosphere pot to boiling and like Steven Knight’sLocke and Schumacher’sPhone Booth both of which are recent examples of this claustrophobic meltdown The Guilty is compelling, nail biting and entirely brilliant to watch ★★★★½
Director : Destin Daniel Cretton – Cast Includes : Simu Liu, Awkwafina, Meng’er Zhang
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings : Shang-Chi must confront the past he thought he left behind when he is drawn into the web of the mysterious Ten Rings organization… I’m not gona start prattling on about Scorsese or Villeneuve, I just LOVE MOVIES and variety is the spice of life… so what did I think of Marvel’s latest cinematic outing? well firstly it’s directed by Destin Daniel Cretton known for his work with Brie Larson (Captain Marvel) on the likes of Short Term 12, Just Mercy and The Glass Castle all of which are good movies but nothing like the sheer size of Shang-Chi so I can’t deny I was surprised by Marvel’s choice in giving the reigns to a director with not much experience in this arena… but Destin’s involvement was not just the chair, he also co-wrote the picture as he did with his other three movies and after recently watching the film in my local cinema his choice was the right one so what do I know eh!… Shang-Chi is the REAL DEAL it’s an explosive, kung fu opera that dazzles with it’s entertaining style, it’s incredible stunts and choreography and sumptuous backdrops : I loved the energy from Simu Liu, from those riotous fight scenes including the Chan inspired bus fight to the chemistry he shares with Katy played by the delightfully funny Awkwafina, Liu has stamped his mark on the MCU and in Shang-Chi he makes the film experience a much more enjoyable one… I loved the mythical beasts of Ta Lo, some cute and cuddly and others looked ready to rip your head clean off, the sets are costumes are sublime, Ben Kingsley gives a gentle reminder of his comic genius and if the casting of Michelle Yeoh who plays the aunt to Shang-Chi was inspired then what would you call Meng’er Zhang’s introduction to film? AMAZING is just one word I’d use, Zhang plays Shang-Chi’s mysterious, confident if not slightly damaged sister Xialing and what a debut, the scenes Xialing shares with Katy and Shang-Chi are electrifying… so as you can see from my movie thoughts Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is a cinematic joy to behold, it’s top tier Marvel and one that balances action and humor with the seriousness of it’s world perfectly ★★★★
Director : Joe Carnahan – Cast Includes : Gerard Butler, Frank Grillo, Alexis Louder
If your a fan of the late 60s into the 70s gritty thrillers that starred the likes of Marvin, Eastwood, McQueen and Bronson then find a local cinema that’s showing this bad boy and buy a ticket… you may find yourself in movie heaven as I was listening to it’s punchy Lalo Schifrin’sMagnum Force score reverberate around the cinema, the camera work in the prison cell as it becomes home to Teddy Murretto and I loved the way this slow burning hunk of simplicity grabs you by the throat and just doesn’t let go until it’s final explosive minutes… from it’s rookie cop played by Alexis Louder who’s sooo Harry Callaghan, calm collected and ice cold, the cool as a cucumber hitman Bob Viddick played by Gerard Butler, the devious conman who’ll do anything to save his own ass played byFrank Grillo to the looney tunes psychopath Anthony Lamb brought to life by the brilliant Toby Huss who’s mobster for hire is the dogs bollocks… the writing by Kurt McLeod is slick & effective and when you consider the majority of the film is set inside the Copshop I found myself utterly invested, loving every minute of the characters banter and humor, drooling over the second half shootout and found it’s runtime just flying by : Joe Carnahan’sCOPSHOP is big screen dynamite, an excellent thriller and unlike anything you’ll see this year !! ★★★★½
Director : James Wan – Cast Includes : Annabelle Wallis, Maddie Hasson, George Young,
You just can’t beat the big screen experience, forget streaming the cinema is where you go to watch a big movie release… yesterday I was front row with a pretty good crowd in and I could smell the popcorn, feel the anticipation & when that first scare hits you can hear the anxious murmurs and the nervous giggles that all add to that ultimate film watching experience! and so to the film… MALIGNANT is a twisted, cocktail of horror from the finest exponent of the genre since Craven danced the dance… not only is Malignant the filmmakers most bloody & violent outing yet it’s also a real mixture of sub-genre’s that scatter the horror landscape, from it’s atmospheric almost supernatural start, the moments of unsettling domestic abuse, it’s killer slasher elements that gave off a De Palma & Argento vibe to that CRAZY final 30 minutes that if your squeamish then close your eyes… I loved it’s head spinning camera work by Michael Burgess (The Curse of La Llorona) that scene in the house where the camera is tracking Madison from above as she runs away from her assailant now that’s pretty darn cool, the vulnerable & terrifying performance by Annabelle Wallis to it’s blood lust carnage second half that delivers not only a high body count but huge amounts of gore Malignant’s director James Wan has given life to a new play thing… and this one BITES !! ★★★★½
This Christmas comes The Matrix Resurrections the fourth movie in the groundbreaking franchise directed by Lana Wachowski and starring Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss, Jada Pinkett Smith, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II & Jessica Henwick : as expected not much info on it’s synopsis is available but judging by this incredible trailer expect a trippy action packed addition to the original The Matrix and it’s sequels Reloaded and Revolutions : forget streaming this Christmas and find the biggest screen (hopefully IMAX) and let Wachowski take us back down the rabbit hole…
One of the modern great character actors Michael Kenneth Williams has died suddenly at the age of 54, born in Brooklyn, New York, after starting out as a back up dancer for the likes of George Michael and Madonna Michael K Williams big break came when he was spotted by the late rapper Tupac Shakur for a part in his movie Bullet : his career on screen was underway, leading to numerous movie roles and TV shows through the years such as The Wire where he played Omar Little, Boardwalk Empire as Chalky White and I last saw him star as the terrific Montrose Freeman in the breathtaking Lovecraft County… I can’t express how sad I feel that we’ll never see this wonderful actor bring to life new characters, his presence, smile and on screen menace will be sorely missed RIP
Director : Lisa Joy – Cast Includes : Hugh Jackman, Rebecca Ferguson, Thandiwe Newton, Cliff Curtis, Daniel Wu, Marina de Tavira, Natalie Martinez
From it’s engaging cast and Westworld inspired imagery Lisa Joy’s directorial debut (in a feature film) is a thought provoking slice of scifi escapism that could have been so much more… I LOVE original content and having just watched the film I was blown away by the idea of a future world where retrieving & replaying favourite memories was possible, filmed like an film-noir mystery with accompanying narration Reminiscence had me hooked from early doors so why did I feel that tiny bit lacklustre after the end credits began to rise?… well to be honest I just felt the movie could have run for another twenty minutes, surely there was a need to explore the future world Lisa Joy had created, giving more meaning to the intriguing landscape of futuristic Miami rather than using it as alluring backdrop to a love affair that was doomed from the outset… I wanted to know much more about the characters that inhabitated Joy’s headspace and how did the city end up the way it did submerged under water with only the rich living in the dry space? was I wrong in feeling such originality, such ambition need more substance even if the runtime crept on slightly… but that being said Reminiscence is a fabulous movie and I feel my love for it will only grow over the years… so who cares what it does at the box office, as I sit here thinking what a certain time traveller once said… (I guess you guys aren’t ready for that, yet. But your kids are gonna LOVE IT) ★★★★
Director : Leos Carax – Cast Includes : Marion Cotillard, Adam Driver, Simon Helberg
ANNETTE : Henry is a stand-up comedian who falls in love with Ann, a famous opera singer. Under the world’s glare they form a much photographed and devoted couple but when Ann gets pregnent and gives birth to a little girl their lives are turned upside down : the passion & the commitment by Adam Driver in giving Henry McHenry this bat-shit crazy existence is totally admirable, from the opening tune of So May We Start to the scenes on the boat and his showdown with Simon Helberg’s Accompanist, Adam Driver is devastatingly good… as is Marion Cotillard playing Ann the opera singer and partner to McHenry, from the extraordinary sex scene to the birth scene Cotillard one again demostrates her prowess, her range of vocals and acting ability is astonishing… and don’t get me started on baby Annette (bizzare just don’t cover it)… and as for Leos Carax’s movie I can guarantee you that you will not see anything as uniquely ambitious, wildly bizzare yet quite as brilliant this year !! ★★★★½
Director : Robert Schwentke – Cast Includes : Henry Golding, Andrew Koji, Úrsula Corberó
SNAKE EYES (G.I. Joe Origins): After saving the life of the heir apparent a Japanese clan called the Arashikage welcomes Snake Eyes into their world. He is taught the way of the Ninja until his past catches upto him and his secrets become known to all around : I had a good time watching Snake Eyes but just felt the PG-13 rating hampered the overall tone of the movie, if it was darker, a tad more violent as the Yakuza generally are and the lead role of Snake Eyes was someone with a bit more experience in Martial Arts in real life and onscreen then the film would have kicked ass, I’m a big fan of Henry Golding but didn’t find his character believable enough… so overall Schwentke‘s movie is nothing more than a solid slice of entertainment that fails more than it does succeed ★★★
Director : Michael Morrissey – Cast Includes : Kay Tuckerman, Chukwudi Iwuji, Lexi Johnson
THE GIRL WHO GOT AWAY (aka: Mother) : After a female serial killer who killed four young girls escapes from prison, she returns to a small town to hunt the one girl that got away : It’s been eleven years since filmmaker Michael Morrisey directed Boy Wonder his first feature and judging by his latest I hope he directs another one soon… The Girl Who Got Away is a slow burning low budget slasher that’s reminisent of Carpenter’s Halloween, the film does a great job in keeping the tension bubbling with it’s intriguing plot and fabulous turns especially from Iwuji and Johnson, some of the death scenes really caught me off guard, making me jump on a few occassions and the film has a few twists that you don’t see coming duing it’s finale ★★★★
Director : Shawn Levy – Cast Includes : Ryan Reynolds, Jodie Comer, Lil Rel Howery
FREE GUY : A bank teller who discovers he’s an actual NPC (non-player character) in an open-world video game, decides to become the hero of his own story : Shawn Levy has directed many films in his career including the likes of Real Steel, Night at the Museum and The Pink Panther BUT nothing comes close to what he’s achieved with Free Guy a film that MUST BE SEEN on the biggest screen (please stay safe and wear a mask but this is perfect Cinema material), the writing by Zak Penn and Matt Lieberman is a delight, keeping the plot fresh, funny and playing perfectly into Ryan Reynolds capable comedy turning hands… the action is break neck and Jodie Comer is ON FIRE (and without sounding creepy she’s GORGEOUS too) her chemistry alongside Reynolds is terrific handling all the action scenes with ease and the faces she pulls when delivering her pitch perfect comic moments are so damn funny… I must also mention Taika “what you talking about Willis” Waititi who’s hilarious as the film’s villain, he swaggers with the best of them and his one liners are out of this world and along with some wonderful movie injokes look out for a great cameo by Channing Tatum who had me in tears (mum can you stop the hoovering)… CINEMA feels damn good right now and FREE GUY is the summer blockbuster of the year !! ★★★★★
What can I say that I haven’t already said about the legendary Canadian Filmmaker James Francis Cameron : each and every one of his movies are BADASS… filthy, beautiful, iconic slices of Badass CINEMA that I have crazed over since I was thirteen years of age, sneaking into my local big screen and falling in love with 1984’s Sci-Fi Classic The Terminator, the film, the cast, the story just blew my tiny mind to smitherines… and then if that wasn’t enough of a cinematic awakening how about 1986’s ALIENS the BEST godamn movie sequel that’s ever been, the film has the greatest ensemble, the greatest number of quotes that I’ve used in daily life than any other movie and a movie that sits comfortably in My Top 10 Greatest Movies of ALL TIME… James Cameron is an innovator, a visionary, an artist and although he doesn’t knock out movies every few years like say Ridley Scott or Clint Eastwood the quality and substance of his material is high end, near perfect and usually they turn out to be ground breaking in every way possible, just look at the visual effects, the ideas put together and what was achieved on the likes of The Abyss, Titanic and still the Best 3D IMAX experience that’s ever been in Avatar… and how about the comedy he injects into his films such as T2 Judgment Day and True Lies, both rock the pants off most in the action genre and both are incredibly funny too… so if like me your a fan of James Cameron then raise a glass and salute one of Cinema’s Greatest Filmmakers…
“I'm a mog - half man, half dog. I'm my own best friend” - Spaceballs (1987)
“I once stole a pornographic book that was printed in Braille. I used to rub the dirty parts” - Bananas (1971)
“Roses are red, violets are blue, I'm a schizophrenic and so am I” - What About Bob? (1991)
“Yeah I called her up, she gave me a bunch of crap about me not listening to her, or something, I don't know, I wasn't really paying attention” - Dumb and Dumber (1994)
“Fat, drunk, and stupid is no way to go through life, son” - Animal House (1978)
“Like a midget at a urinal, I was going to have to stay on my toes” - Naked Gun 33 ½ : The Final Insult (1994)
"Yes, it's true. This man has no dick" - Ghost Busters (1984)
"I have nipples, Greg. Could you milk me?" - Meet the Parents (2000)
Movie Taglines
"They called him 'Fast Eddie'... He was a winner... He was a loser... He was a hustler" - THE HUSTLER (1961)
"For Three Men The Civil War Wasn't Hell. It Was Practice!" - THE GOOD, THE BAD, THE UGLY (1966)
"The night HE came home" - HALLOWEEN (1978)
"All the power on earth can't change destiny" - THE GODFATHER PART III
"In space, no one can hear you scream" - ALIEN (1979)
"Be afraid. Be very afraid" - THE FLY (1986)
"Cruise like Thunder" - DAYS OF THUNDER (1990)
"Same Make. Same Model. New Mission." - TERMINATOR 2: JUDGEMENT DAY (1991)
"Houston, we have a problem" - APOLLO 13 (1995)
"The greatest fairy tale never told" - SHREK (2001)
"We've Sensed It. We've Seen The Signs. Now... It's Happening." - THE HAPPENING (2008)
Movie Trivia
DJANGO UNCHAINED is the first time in 16 years that Leonardo DiCaprio didn't get the top billing
In John Carpenter's HALLOWEEN Michael Myers' mask is actually a Captain Kirk mask which was altered for the film
On the set of 1982's THE THING the whole cast and crew was male
BLAZING SADDLES was shot on the same MOVIE set as Yul Bryner's WESTWORLD
The first TWILIGHT movie is the only film in the saga to not receive any Razzie Award nominations
In a deleted scene from James Cameron's ALIENS Ripley's (Sigourney Weaver) daughter was played by Elizabeth Inglis, Sigourney Weaver's real-life mother
Prints of the movie INCEPTION were shipped to theaters under the name "Hour Glass"
The Dude from the superb THE BIG LEBOWSKI says "man" 147 times in the movie
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