Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves

 

   

    I confess, I've never played Dungeons & Dragons but the trailer for this film intrigued me. I was pleasantly surprised that the trailer lived up to the expectations. This is a fun fantasy adventure that requires no prior knowledge of D&D to enjoy. 

    The film stars Chris Pine, Michelle Rodriguez, Rege-Jean Page, Justice Smith, Sophia Lillis, and Hugh Grant. Mr. Pine makes a dashing rascal of a hero even if he is a thief. Ms. Rodriguez is his partner in crime who gets to do most of the heavy lifting in the fight scenes. Mr. Smith and Ms. Lillis  are their colleagues, a self doubting magician and a shape shifter who makes the most of her CGI abilities. Mr. Grant is the villainous con man who has betrayed his friends and fallen in with the all powerful evil Red Wizards.

    The story is actually well written for a fantasy adventure. It's heartfelt, funny, exciting and suspenseful. It's also filled with great special effects that really pop, especially in IMAX. While there are plenty of fight scenes, the violence is rather cartoonish with little blood. It's a film that the whole family can enjoy together, although there are a few scenes that may be scary or too intense for small children.

    This is a fantasy film done right and I hope the inevitable sequels hold up just as well.

John Wick: Chapter Four

     

Since this is the fourth film in the series, if you're not a fan by now, don't even bother reading any further. If trailers or reviews of this film have peaked your interest, go back and start with the initial film, "John Wick".

      As for fans, "Chapter Four" will not disappoint. The action sequences have set a new bar for violence and maximum carnage. The plot is simple enough, the High Table wants John Wick dead and all Wick wants to do is leave his past behind and be free of his obligations to "The Table".

      Keanu Reeves once again stars as John Wick and the film co-stars Donnie Yen as Caine, the blind assassin, Bill Skarsgard as the villainous Marquis de Gramont, Ian McShane as Winston, Laurence Fishburne as Bowery King, as well as Hiroyuki Sanada, Shamier Anderson, Rina Sawayama, Clancy Brown and Lance Reddick.

      Director Chad Staheiski, having directed previous installments knows what a John Wick audience expects and here he ups the ante with incredible scenes of chaos and destruction filmed in breathtaking locations including Toyoko, Berlin, and Paris. Credit Mr. Staheiski for his directorial style. While super violent, there is a certain operatic and balletic quality to the mayhem, much of it done without CGI.  His only fault lies in the length of some of the set pieces. Some of the fight sequences go on a bit too long, growing repetitive and borderline tedious. Cut 20 minutes of the two hour and forty nine minute running time and you would have a perfect "kill" shot.

       

RRR

 

    

     After winning the Academy Award for Best Song, I was curious enough to finally watch this film on Netflix. And I'm so glad I did.

     This is one of the greatest action films I've ever seen. The CGI and stunt work meld beautifully to create unbelievable fight sequences both on a large scale as well as intimate battles. The two male leads (N.T. Rama Rao Jr. and Ram Charan) are remarkable for both their physical prowess as well as their incredible dance moves.

     The film is written and directed by S.S. Rajamouli and he has done a remarkable job creating a terrific story built around India's independence from Great Britain and filming the impossible. There are scenes in this film that will actually make your jaw drop.

      It is criminal that the Academy Awards only recognized the film for Best Song. Not only should the film have been included in multiple categories, but had it been, it probably would have won them all.

        The story, while filled with generous amounts of incredible and at many times violent action sequences, also has heart and depth. It's themes include friendship, family, loyalty and betrayal, politics and of course love. It's such a well blended plot that there is something for everyone. And I can't forget to mention the amazing dance sequences. 

         Available on Netflix, you can watch the English dubbed version (well done by the way) or the original Hindi with English subtitles. Don't let the three hour running time scare you, the film takes off like a rocket and never lets up. "RRR" will blow you away.

65

   

    Adam Driver and Ariana Greenblatt star in this cross between "The Last of Us" and "Jurassic Park". 

    It's a fun concept. After an asteroid collides with their spacecraft, killing almost everyone, two survivors crash land on our earth 65 million years ago. They have to deal with dinosaurs and other threats as they try to find a way back home. 

    Mr. Driver is a fine actor who can carry off drama, blockbuster action/adventure or in this case, a silly Sci-fi romp. This is Ms. Greenblatt's biggest role to date and she carries it off in great fashion. The two actors have great chemistry which helps bring gravitas to the CGI dangers surrounding them.

    Co-starring as Mr. Driver's wife and daughter back on their home world are Nika King and Chloe Coleman.

    If you don't read much into it and just settle down with your popcorn, it's an exciting 93 minutes.

Barbarian

  

This is not a brand new film but one I missed in theaters last year and I'm so glad it's available now on HBOMAX. While I usually reserve my reviews for new films, this one deserves honorable mention.

   While I love the horror genre, I am usually disappointed in what passes these days for really scary movies. I'm writing about this one as it's the best horror film I've seen since "Hereditary" and "The Babadook".

     The film is written and directed by Zack Cregger. The less known about the plot the better. I will just say, it's creepy, truly scary, quite disturbing and infused with some clever surprises. Mr. Cregger really knows how to throw a curve ball and his cast is up to the challenge of scaring the crap out of you. While aspects of the script aren't perfect, you are pulled right into the story from the start and won't really care.

      Georgina Campbell is the terrific female lead and co-starring are Bill Skarsgard, Justin Long, Richard Brake and Matthew Patrick Davis.

      Be prepared for nightmares...

Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre

    

     Co-written and directed by Guy Ritchie, this "by the numbers" spy caper should have been a "direct to video" release skipping theaters altogether. It's a formulaic plot with lazy direction by Mr. Ritchie.

     The film, which if successful, will probably start a franchise, stars Jason Statham as Orson Fortune, master spy. He is recruited by Cary Elwes to lead a team in search of a stolen "something". The film co-stars Aubrey Plaza as a snarky (what else) computer genius, who is one of the best things about the film. Also on board is Bugzy Malone as the team's sniper, Josh Hartnett as a movie star used as bait, and Hugh Grant as an arms dealer/middleman. Mr. Grant does his best Ricky Gervais impression and is fun to watch. Eddie Marsden also has a small part as the head of the department employing Mr. Fortune and his team.

      There are plenty of explosions, much shooting (and of course, the good guys can't miss) and the occasional hand to hand fighting, Mr. Statham's specialty. But by the end of the film, it's instantly forgettable. This is such a typical February release and not one of Mr. Ritchie's best.

Argentina 1985

 

  Based on real events, the story follows the events surrounding the 1985 "Trial of the Juntas", which prosecuted the ringleaders of Argentina's last civil-military dictatorship(1976–1983).

    It is a fascinating legal drama that centers on the lead prosecutor, Julio Strassera, his co-prosecutor, Luis Moreno Ocampo and their team as they gather evidence and build their case against Jorge Vedela and his generals. The second half of the film focuses on the actual trial, sometimes incorporating actual footage from the period.

      Ricardo Darin stars as Mr. Strassera and as usual gives a wonderful, commanding performance. His co-star, Peter Lanzani, as Mr. Ocampo is also excellent, as is the rest of the cast.

      The late seventies to early eighties was a terrible time in Argentina's history. The testimony of the surviving witnesses is heartbreaking but necessary to the case. The film serves as a tribute to those lost and as a reminder that it can never happen again.

       The film is nominated for this year's Oscar in the International Film category and can be seen on Netflix.

Creed III

 

     Don't be sucker punched by this money grab. The third outing in the series is far from a charm despite Michael B. Jordan's best efforts to direct and star.

     Mr. Jordan definitely has star power and co-star Jonathan Majors is a growing force in film, especially this year (he's the best thing about "Quantumania"). The two certainly deliver in the boxing sequences. What lets them down is the sorry excuse for a credible plot. Thin to begin with, the story rushes through the past to establish the present and it's consequences and then rushes through the present just to have a reason for both men to box each other in the climax. It's just not credible.

     Co-stars Tessa Thompson, Mila Davis-Kent and Phylicia Rashad are there to add gravitas to the story. Ms. Davis-Kent is an adorable, deaf pre-teen actress who plays Creed's daughter. You can see the set up gestating here for Creed IV a mile away. The film also co-stars Florian Munteanu who has been cast to be a human punching bag and Wood Harris as Duke, Creed's trainer, who is actually very good here (although at times, he's channeling Mickey from the "Rocky" films).

     The fight sequences lack any real excitement as the outcome is obvious and the score doesn't help. The music should be accompanying the visuals, not overpowering them to force an audience's emotional response.

     Michael B. Jordan is a very talented actor and budding director. He can have his pick of any multitude of projects. Beloved "Rocky" overstayed his welcome with six films. Hopefully Mr. Jordan's "Creed" won't make the same mistake.

      

Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania

   If you are a fan of Marvel movies and especially the Ant-Man series, of course, this is a must see. If not you can easily avoid it.

   The best that can be said about "Quantumania" is it introduces the newest great Marvel villain, Kang the Conqueror, a time traveling supervillain who is a core Marvel character. In the film, Kang is played by Jonathan Majors and he is terrific.

   Aside from a silly intro scene, the entire film take place in the sub-atomic world of the Quantum realm which is visually overwhelming and looks like a rejected idea from the Star Wars production team. Not only do many parts of the sets look familiar but some costumes and various creatures also seem very much Star Wars castoffs. 

   Returning to the series of course are Paul Rudd as Scott Lang aka Ant-Man, Evangeline Lily as Hope Van Dyne aka Wasp, Michael Douglas as Hank Pym, Michelle Pfeiffer as Janet Van Dyne, and Corey Stoll as Darren, now appearing as M.O.D.O.K. Scott's Daughter Cassie, now a teenager (with her own Pym Particle suit) is played by Kathryn Newton. Bill Murray also appears in a pointless and distracting cameo.

   The film is overblown with special effects, noise and much running around with characters shooting and fighting each other. There is no real plot to speak of except for Kang and the others looking for a way out of the Quantum realm. To counter balance the chaos of the film, the writers attempt to add a human element, father and daughter bonding. "I love you peanut" just makes you want to cringe.

   There are two extra scenes, both significant for a change. One mid-credits explaining more about Kang and one post credits, a complete and welcome surprise to any Marvel fan. 

This film exists only as an introduction to Kang and the bridge to the next Marvel movie/TV show. If not already obvious, the filmmakers remind you at the end, "Kang will return".

Close

 

   This is a story of childhood's lost innocence as two very close friends, Leo and Remi enter high school and adolescence.

    It's a universal story that is so emotional and heart wrenching, that at times is hard to watch. Taking place in a small town in Belgium, Leo and Remi have grown up together, the best of friends. When they start the new school year, their intimate friendship is misperceived by new classmates and life begins to change for the boys. 

    The film stars Eden Dambrine as Leo and Gustav De Waele as Remi. The are both terrific but young Mr. Dambrine takes things to another level. His acting is so pure and real that he will take your breath away and in many scenes, tear a hole in your heart.

     Directed and co-written by Lukas Dhont, there is so much to unpack in this tender, emotionally rich story that discussions about the film could last for hours. This is Belgium's well deserved Academy Award nomination for best International film.

      In French with subtitles and currently only in theaters.

Sharper

 

         A welcome return to a genre we haven't seen in a while, this is a fun ride that will keep you guessing until the end. The less said about the film, the better.

         The film stars Julianne Moore, Sebastian Stan, Justice Smith, Briana Middleton and John Lithgow. It's a terrific cast that will raise your anxiety level as you try to keep up with them.

         Directed with smooth assurance by Benjamin Caron, the film moves from the streets to the penthouses of New York with money on everyone's mind. You could argue it's not perfect, especially in the last act but it's certainly good enough to be very entertaining.

          Exclusive to Apple TV +

To Leslie

 

      Andrea Riseborough is sensational and fully deserving of her Academy Award nomination for the lead role in this Indie drama.

     Ms. Riseborough stars as Leslie, an alcoholic single mother who years earlier won $190,000 in the Texas lottery but lost it all to drink and drugs. After abandoning her young son and hitting rock bottom, she attempts to get her life back on track but with little success. Years later, her son now grown, Leslie tries to reunite with him but falls into old habits and he tells her to leave.

      Returning to her home in Braddock Texas, life is still difficult for her, but Leslie's life starts to change for the better when she meets Sweeny, played by Marc Maron. The film also co-stars Allison Janney, Andre Royo, Owen Teague and Stephen Root.

       It's a tale of redemption that we've all seen before but Ms. Riseborough's commitment to the role is fierce. She inhabits Leslie with a raw depth of emotion that makes you ache for her failures and root for her little victories. It is her finest performance to date.

Knock at The Cabin

 

    Co-written and directed by M. Night Shyamalan, this is a thought-provoking thriller that asks a great philosophical question. Would you sacrifice a member of your family to save the rest of the world?

     Jonathan Groff stars as Eric and Ben Aldridge stars as Andrew, two dads who with their adopted Asian daughter Wen (played by the adorable Kristen Cui) are on vacation at a cabin deep in the Pennsylvania woods. A literal knock at the door introduces them to Leonard and his three companions who have had shared visions of the apocalypse and need their help to avert it.

     Leonard is played by Dave Bautista, very much against type but still a physically scary presence. His friends, Sabrina, played by Nikki Amuka-Bird, Abby Quinn as Adriane, and Rubert Grint as Redmond all have very distinct personalities which come to light late in the film, if not already guessed by the audience.

      The entire film plays out in and around the cabin, pausing at times show relevant images on the cabin's flat screen TV. The four visitors have tied up the two men and have explained that they must sacrifice a member of their family within the next 24 hours to save the world. The claustrophobic setting tightens the suspense but don't expect to be scared. It's not that kind of thriller. 

       As the story progresses, it seems obvious that a simple solution will play itself out but being Mr. Shyamalan, there is always one final twist in store.

       
"The Sixth Sense" was Mr. Shyamalan's masterpiece and most of his films have never reached that level with some better than others. This one is better than average only due to the thought-provoking question it raises that may have you discussing it, long after the credits roll.

Triangle of Sadness

 

    Writer/director Ruben Ostlund has everybody fooled. This film is nominated for Best Picture and was a hit at Cannes winning the Palm d' Or. Sorry but this is much ado about nothing. It pretends to be a satirical look at the pretentious uber-rich but aside from a very few amusing scenes, its social commentary falls flat and rings hollow.

      It starts out well enough with male models auditioning for a photo shoot.  It is there that we meet Carl, a model and boyfriend to Yaya. This vaporous couple constantly argue over money and gender roles. As a social influencer, Yaya is invited for a cruise on a super luxurious yacht where we meet the rest of the cast.

       Everyone is extremely wealthy and obnoxious in their own way.  A terribly gross dinner scene attempts to give them their due in the worst physical way. Later on, a new situation finds role reversal to be the order of the day, an unoriginal concept that appears to have been stolen right from Lina Wertmuller's "Swept Away".

       The film stars Harris Dickinson as Carl, Charlbi Dean as Yaya. It also features Dolly de Leon as Abigail, Zlatko Buric as Dimitry and Iris Berben as Therese. Interesting enough the only American in the cast is Woody Harrelson, who appears to have slept walked from a different film to appear as the captain of the yacht. He adds absolutely nothing to the already shallow story. The whole thing is a big bore wrapped up in a pretty bow.

         The ending will leave you shaking your head wondering did I miss something? I have a better nomination for the film...worst movie of the year.

You People

    

    A terrific cast is wasted in this uneven and at times cringeworthy, new comedy. The film is written by Kenya Barris and Jonah Hill. Mr. Barris also directed the film and Mr. Hill stars as Ezra Cohen, along with Lauren London as Amira, his girlfriend, Eddie Murphy as Akbar, Amira's father, Nia Long as Amira's mother, Julia Louis -Dreyfus as Ezra's mother Shelly, David Duchovny as Ezra's father and Sam Jay as Mo, Ezra's podcast partner and best friend.

     In some ways, it's an updated comedic take on the film "Guess Who's coming to Dinner" which was radical for it's time in the 1960's when a white woman brings home her black boyfriend to meet her parents. 

    Placed in this contemporary setting, it is a clash of culture and race that fuels the comedy when both sets of parents have no idea how deal with Ezra and Amira's intention to marry. There are a few funny moments but Mr. Murphy plays against type with Mr. Hill and especially Ms. Louis -Dreyfus providing most of the laughs. However, while mildly funny, many of the jokes fall flat and come off cringeworthy and offensive equally to blacks and whites.

   While Mr. Hill and Mr. Barris have a lot to say about race relations and culture, their ideas come off either preachy or as confused as Ezra and Amira are about their situation. There is not a lot of character development except to create stereotypes and and while the actors try hard, the message that we can all get along is too easily resolved at the end.

Living

    

    Bill Nighy is simply fantastic in a nuanced performance of a British bureaucrat facing a terminal illness who reassesses the way he has lived his life. The film is based on a Japanese film, "Ikiru", which in turn was inspired from the Russian novel, "The Death of Ivan llyich".

    Set in London, 1952, Mr. Nighy plays Mr. Williams, a buttoned up, conservative, senior manager at Public Works. His character and the staff under him are typical of the white collar British "gentlemen" of the time. Pinstripe suits, bowler hats, repressed emotions and umbrellas are the uniform of the day.

    When Mr. Williams learns of his illness, he decides to change his old ways for the better but the change is subtle and not drastic. It is a purposeful, understated performance that has been recognized in an Academy Award nomination for Mr. Nighy.

    The film costars Aimee Lou Wood as Ms. Harris, Tom Burke as Mr. Sutherland, Arian Rawlins as Mr. Middleton and Alex Sharpe as Mr. Wakeling. it is a fine cast that captures perfectly the characteristics of the British establishment at the time. 

    The film is heartbreaking in Mr. Williams inability to convey his feelings or even divulge his illness to his family or co-workers but there is a charming buoyancy that grows in Mr. Williams late in the film that keeps it far from a bleak ending.

  This Indie drama rests on squarely on Mr. Nighy's shoulders and he does not disappoint.

Jews of The Wild West

  

  This new documentary tells the story of Jewish immigration to the American West during the period 1850-1920.

     Director Amanda Kinsey uses rare film footage, photographs, and contemporary interviews to create a fascinating view of how a large segment of Jewish immigrants played their part in shaping the wild west. We learn about Josephine Marcus Earp married to the famous Wyatt Earp, Levi Strauss, and many other colorful characters that existed beyond the narrow scope of Hollywood westerns.

     

A Man Called Otto

   

      Tom Hanks stars in this American version of the Swedish film "A Man Called Ove". It's a dramady that teeters on the brink of melodrama but never goes over the edge and rather, wins you over with warmth and it's heart on it's sleeve.

      It's the story of a cantankerous widower and his neighbors that you will know exactly where it's going when the new family moves in across the street. However, the backstory will surprise you and Mr. Hanks is so natural and appealing that you will follow him anywhere

      The film co-stars Mariana Trevino, Manuel Garcia-Ruflo, Truman Hanks (Tom's son as the younger Otto), Mack Beyda, Rachel Keller and Mike Birbiglia.

       Late in the film, the humor is overshadowed by a sweet sadness that permeates until the inevitable ending. You see it coming but Mr. Hanks figuratively holds your hand and makes it alright.

Broker

     Written and directed by Hirokazu Kore-eda, this touching new Korean Indie drama stars Song Kang-ho (so good as the patriarch in "Parasite") as a part time baby "Broker" Ha Sang-hyeon. Along side his partner Dong Soo played by Gang Dong-won, they occasionally steal unwanted babies from a church "baby box" and sell them on the black market.

     When a young prostitute, Moon So-young (Lee Ji-eun) leaves her baby at the church, a pair of policewomen played by Bae Doona and Lee Joo-young follow the trail of the baby and hope to arrest the two men. Things get more complicated when Moon returns for the child and ends up with the two men as they try to find the right couple to buy the baby.

     The film is a dramady mixing humor with sentimentality and heartbreak. It doesn't rely on a Hollywood ending which is refreshing. The three leads develop great chemistry along with the adorable baby Woo-sung, and a young boy, Hae-jin played by Im Seung-soo who ends up joining them on their travels. 

     Families don't have to be born of blood as illustrated in this surprising and touching film.

White Noise

 

    Director Noah Baumbach tackles the novel "White Noise" by Don Delillo that many have considered an unfilmable book. He wrote and directed the film which stars Adam Drive, Greta Gerwig and Don Cheadle. 

    For the most part he succeeds in capturing the essence of the novel and its many themes (including death and consumerism) but the film as a whole is uneven despite standout performances. Mr. Driver in particular is amazing, transforming himself into a character like nothing he has ever played.

    This is very much an absurdist black comedy that at times is very funny and at times actually depressing.  It follows the story of a family faced with narcotic addiction, toxic gas exposure, hallucinations, confronting death, Hitler studies and shopping.

    It is a Netflix exclusive.