Silent Night

Silent Night is a 2023 action thriller film directed by John Woo, from a screenplay by Robert Archer Lynn. The concept of the film is unique as it includes no dialogue whatsoever with the story being driven solely by sight and sound. Principal photography began in April 2022 in Mexico City but was delayed due to an on-set injury involving a crew member. The film is Woo's first American feature film since Paycheck (2003).

A gritty revenge tale of a tormented father who witnesses his young son die when caught in a gang’s crossfire on Christmas Eve. While recovering from a wound that costs him his voice, he makes vengeance his life’s mission and embarks on a punishing training regimen to avenge his son’s death.

The cast includes Joel Kinnaman, Scott Mescudi, Harold Torres, and Catalina Sandino Moreno.

Silent Night made its debut in theaters on December 1st, courtesy of Lionsgate. 

THE GOOD

I love me a good revenge thriller, which has been proven time and time again by my obsession with the John Wick franchise, as well as my willingness to go down the rabbit hole of watching some of my favorites over and over again. Now I have gone as far as to dabble in the I Spit on Your Grave franchise, but those are a VERY tough watch and not movies I would recommend watching more than once. But when we are talking about the Gerard Butler film Law Abiding Citizen or the Jodie Foster film The Brave One, I am more than happy to watch those whenever I am in the mood. I think it is natural to enjoy seeing bad people get what they deserve, and the only way to avoid the bureaucracy of it all is good old-fashioned vigilante justice. Am I wrong?!

But a common theme of these films is some dark and downright depressing subject matter, like Gerard Butler’s character watching his wife and child murdered in front of him as he lay there helpless, or Jodie Foster and her fiancé falling victim to a random attack that costs him his life. For a revenge tale to get viewers invested, the reason for seeking revenge needs to be good and that is what all of these films have in common. Now I know that Silent Night has the backstory a great revenge flick needs, but is the unique element of no dialogue a bit too much? Keep reading to find out!

Silent Night is a unique film, and boy is it dark and pretty damn depressing for the most part, but all things considered I enjoyed it. From the opening sequence it felt like a John Woo film, and that alone is something to get excited about. The film opens in the midst of the action and starts to backtrack a bit after this with flashbacks, a storytelling technique that I have a bit of a love and hate relationship with mainly because it can be a bit of a distraction when it comes to viewers getting invested in the story, but I will talk more about that later. In the end the approach worked for this film, and that is all that matters.

For the most part I thought Woo stuck with his style and it paid off in the end, as he refuses to skimp on the action and provides some badass action sequences and fight scenes. Silent Night is a stylish action thriller that in many ways feels like a blend of John Wick and the Max Payne videogame franchise. And yes I am referring to the same franchise that churned out the 2008 Mark Wahlberg movie, which was enjoyable but a letdown in terms of the subject matter.

Silent Night is the ultimate story of revenge by any means necessary, and it also delves into a real problem plaguing many big cities, which is gang violence. The heart of the story is this seemingly normal suburban family that encounters unimaginable tragedy as their little boy is struck and killed by a stray bullet from a gunfight between rival gangs while riding his bike in his front yard. Just brutal. I saw the trailer before seeing the movie of course so I knew what to expect in terms of what brought on this revenge mission, but I liked how they pieced together the sequence of events bit by bit before giving viewers the full picture. At the beginning of the film the main character is in an operating room with blood just gushing from his throat as “Silent Night” plays in the background, and let me just say that is a pretty good indication of what to expect going forward. I was invested in the characters and I felt the pain they were feeling. It was clear from the start that healing was not an option for this family who lost their son, and although revenge on those wouldn’t bring him back, it was the only option. I will say that as dark as the story was, I was genuinely impressed by the fact that it still found a way to tug at the heartstrings during the film’s final act.

As far as the cast is concerned, it is hard to dig too deep for a film without any dialogue, but I was honestly blown away by the performance from Joel Kinnaman. To say this was a difficult role to take on would be an understatement, and I thought he crushed it. His character had no dialogue whatsoever during the entire film, meaning that he had to make his mark with raw emotion and body language and boy did he ever. I was first exposed to Kinnaman when he did the crime drama series The Killing, and in my opinion, he has more than proven the fact that he has a ton to offer as an actor. Silent Night is quite the notch in his belt, and I wouldn’t be surprised in the least to see him working with John Woo again in the near future. I thought Catalina Sandino Moreno was great as Kinnaman’s wife, and I barely recognized Kid Cudi in his supporting role as a detective more or less along for the ride during this inevitable mission for revenge. The supporting cast in general was fantastic, but again this was the Joel Kinnaman show, and a show it was.

From a technical perspective, Silent Night was fantastic, which should come as no surprise considering John Woo’s involvement. One thing about Woo is his films tend to hit harder than other films, and the action scenes primarily the fight sequences were next-level good. Similar to the John Wick films, Silent Night is more interested in showing viewers that although this man on a revenge mission is mortal and can be hurt, nothing aside from death will slow him down. I know people tend to get annoyed by these revenge thrillers that take this nerd office worker who has a 5-minute training montage and all of a sudden he is a straight badass, but that is not the case here. Kinnaman’s character nearly dies, and while recovering physically he also deals with the emotional pain of losing his son.

The pain he experiences is so severe that he makes his mind up pretty quickly, and he will either get revenge on the people who took his son from him or die trying. Nothing more, and nothing less. I thought they did a fantastic job of making his transition to badass as realistic as possible, to the point that he was bleeding the entire movie. The fight scenes were crazy intense, and I liked the focus on hand-to-hand combat. Now his character does get familiar with firearms including some great work with a shotgun, but he doesn’t’ just magically become legendary hitman John Wick overnight which helped to reinforce the believability of the story. So kudos to the stunt team for kicking ass and taking names, and also shoutout to composer Marco Beltrami for a great score, cinematographer Sharone Meir for creating this authentic feeling of criminal underworld, and Zach Staenberg for doing his thing in the editing room.

THE BAD

The bottom line, this movie is not for everyone. As I talked about during my review not only is the lack of dialogue something certain viewers will have a problem with, but the subject matter is difficult, to say the least. Now not only does this father and mother tragically lose their son, but the father is so brutally tormented by the loss that he can focus on nothing more than revenge with little concern for his well-being or his marriage.

Also, this movie is dark and depressing from the start and that never really changes. Now getting back to the lack of dialogue, the fact that viewers are essentially forced to marinate in the pain of the main character just adds another level to what is already a difficult watch. Now make no mistake I am of course referring to your average moviegoer, and not the hardcore genre fans like myself who will happily relish in the pain knowing that sweet revenge is right around the corner. I will say though as a father the movie does hit hard, which again speaks to how effective the story was. I will also point out that Silent Night does feel a bit slow at times so you will need to be a bit patient to enjoy the inevitable payoff.

THE VERDICT

An intensely dark revenge thriller featuring a gut-wrenching performance from Joel Kinnaman, Silent Night is a pleasant surprise for genre fans and serves as a return to form for director John Woo. This movie will hit you like a freight train, and if you aren’t prepared it could be a little much as far as the subject matter as I touched on during the review. The lack of dialogue takes a bit to get used to as well, but in my opinion, the story is so powerful and Kinnaman just embodies the main character in such a way that I was still bought in pretty quickly.

Instead of trying to appeal to a broader audience Silent Night goes all in on the genre, and for that I am thankful. Also by the end of the movie, I felt satisfied with how everything came together in terms of the story, and for me, that says a lot especially considering the unique approach Woo took with this film. Give it a chance and go in knowing what to expect and I think you will be pleasantly surprised.

TED TAKES RATING - 7.1/10

Silent Night is now playing only in theaters. Check out the latest trailer below.

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is a 2023 horror slasher film directed by Eli Roth (Hostel, Death Wish) and produced by Roger Birnbaum, from a screenplay written by Roth and Jeff Rendell (Cabin Fever). It is based on Roth's mock trailer of the same name from his film Grindhouse (2007), for which Rendell was also a co-writer.

A mysterious serial killer, known only as "John Carver", comes to a small town in Massachusetts intending to create a Thanksgiving carving board out of the town's inhabitants.

The film stars Addison Rae, Patrick Dempsey, Milo Manheim, Gina Gershon, and Rick Hoffman.

Thanksgiving made its debut in theaters on November 17th, courtesy of TriStar Pictures.

THE GOOD

As a longtime and devoted fan of the Friday the 13th franchise, slasher films are like comfort food to me so needless to say I was pumped for Eli Roth’s Thanksgiving (pun intended, of course). When it comes to a good slasher I want all the fixings, and I have seen enough from Roth to know that he is more than capable of delivering the goods. Once the first trailer dropped I was honestly next-level excited, this just looked really good from top to bottom in terms of what you want to see from this genre. So as the holiday known as Turkey Day neared, I couldn’t wait to plant my ass in a comfy movie theater seat. So, was the latest film from Eli Roth moist and tasty, or was it more like just holding your breath until the relatives you can’t stand finally leave? Keep reading to find out!

Thanksgiving is everything I want in the aforementioned holiday, a filling and very tasty meal topped off with decadent desserts followed by a nap on the couch with a big smile on my face. I really liked the story for the film which was simple but extremely effective, giving audiences plenty to keep them engaged as well as a great twist that I did not see coming. I thought the characters were great as well, and even though they were formulaic as far as slasher films go, they were properly utilized, and each added value. A big-time shining star for the film was the technical elements, bringing to the table a ton of creativity and lots to be excited about. I also thought the tone was absolutely perfect, balancing comedy and brutality with ease in typical Eli Roth fashion. Plus as a native of the “go fuck yourself” state of Massachusetts, Roth does a hilarious job paying homage to the “Massholes”. Bottom line, Thanksgiving is a horror slasher that delivers the goods.

Filmmaking is meant to be an escape for viewers, and when a film is able to provide a certain level of immersion it is already ahead of the game. Thanksgiving has a very clear identity from the start, and after the 17th “go fuck yourself” I felt like I was spending the weekend in the Commonwealth. Seriously, stand outside of Fenway before a Sox game for two minutes and you’ll likely be told to fuck off at least six times. This state was the perfect setting for a Black Friday sale that quickly went from bad to worse, and although much of the film is very over-the-top it still somehow feels grounded in this troubling but still hilarious reality. The stage was set perfectly giving this mysterious killer the perfect reason to create his guest list of deserving victims, and I loved how they made sure to include the social media element as well. No matter how depraved, if someone posts a video online people will watch it because people are messed up, simple as that. The mystery surrounding the killer felt reminiscent of the Scream films which is a positive. I enjoyed the story from start to finish and felt like the pacing really couldn’t have been better.

Now I won’t sugarcoat it, Thanksgiving is brutally violent and several scenes are difficult to stomach, but that is part of the allure. I mean, let’s be honest, would it even be an Eli Roth film without some reference to cannibalism? The guy clearly has some demons and a few therapists on call, but his talent as a filmmaker is undeniable. I laughed out loud a ton and made the “oh shit” face quite a few times, and I am a sick individual when it comes to my tolerance who also happens to need therapy. From a technical standpoint as far as slashers go this is crazy good as it includes some really creative and brutal kills. At times the film gave me a Final Destination vibe just in terms of how a few of the victims met their end. I also thought the way the killer moved and went about his business was pretty much flawless.

The cast was as good as you can hope for when it comes to a horror slasher film. The headliner for Thanksgiving is Maine native Patrick Dempsey, who plays the well-intentioned Sheriff Eric Newlon. Dempsey’s character finds himself at the heart of the incident that leads to the killings and is also tasked with leading the investigation into who is responsible before more victims meet their demise. Like most people, I love me some Patrick Dempsey, and I thought he was fantastic in Thanksgiving and was easily my favorite character.

My second favorite is one of the film’s primary antagonists, White Collar star Rick Hoffman. If you haven’t seen the show you are missing out for sure, but if you have you are familiar with Hoffman’s ability as an actor to be very easy to dislike. Hoffman plays Thomas Wright, the greedy owner of the retail store where the Black Friday tragedy took place. I just thought his character was fantastic and added a lot of value to the story. Honestly, I enjoyed the cast from top to bottom and thought everyone came together to create a top-notch theater experience. Well-deserved shout-outs to Gina Gershon who I will always remember from Showgirls, Addison Rae, Tomaso Sanelli, Gabriel Davenport, Jalen Thomas Brooks, Amanda Barker, Tomaso Sanelli, Jenna Warren, and Tim Dillon.

THE BAD

I honestly have very few issues with this film, I mean it is easily one of the better entries in the slasher genre in recent memory. Plus it’s a holiday-themed film which is just a bonus, in my opinion. But as an Eli Roth film, it goes without saying it may not be for everyone. If you are a fan of the slasher genre in general odds are you have seen it all, but Roth is known for pushing the envelope in terms of the gore factor and he certainly does that here. So if you consider yourself to be a bit squeamish this may be a tough watch. Also, some of the Mass accents were a bit much at times, but this just added to the comedic element in my opinion so I wouldn’t necessarily consider it to be a flaw.

Also, and this is not really a gripe about the film, but what was up with the football jersey numbers?! Around the third act, we see a few of the characters in uniform as they prepare to play a game but for some reason, the jersey numbers are super small, like what you would usually see on a child-size jersey. I just found it strange and would love to know the reasoning behind it.

THE VERDICT

A crafty horror slasher that often feels inspired by a mix of the Scream and Final Destination franchises, Thanksgiving will have you laughing and cringing simultaneously which is a testament to the vision of the talented Eli Roth. By the end of this movie, you will be stuffed with sheer enjoyment and as the tagline says, there will be no leftovers. But lucky for us this film will likely get even better with each viewing and is sure to become a classic for the genre as Roth himself already confirmed that a sequel is in the works aiming for a theatrical release in 2025. Do yourself a favor and see Thanksgiving in theaters sooner than later.

TED TAKES RATING - 8.5/10

Thanksgiving is now playing only in theaters. Check out the latest trailer below.

Next Goal Wins

Next Goal Wins is a 2023 biographical sports comedy-drama directed and co-written by the uber-talented Academy Award Winner Taika Waititi (known for Jojo Rabbit and Thor: Ragnarok), who co-wrote the screenplay with Iain Morris (Flight of the Conchords, What We Do in the Shadows). Filming took place in Honolulu.

The film recounts the true story of the American Samoa soccer team, notorious for their brutal 31-0 FIFA loss in 2001. With the World Cup Qualifiers looming, the team hires down-on-his-luck maverick coach Thomas Rongen (Michael Fassbender), hoping he can turn the world’s worst soccer team around in this heartfelt underdog comedy.

The cast includes Michael Fassbender, Elisabeth Moss, Oscar Kightley, Uli Latukefu, Rachel House, Kaimana, David Fane, Beulah Koale, Chris Alosio, Taika Waititi, Will Arnett, and Rhys Darby.

Next Goal Wins made its debut in theaters on November 17th, courtesy of Searchlight Pictures.

THE GOOD

I’m a Taika Waititi fan through and through, and I’m not ashamed to admit it. I first became familiar with Waititi’s work with Hunt for the Wilderpeople, a coming-of-age comedy-drama that I absolutely loved. What stood out to me most was the fact that this guy clearly had a signature style, and I was here for it. Waititi just gets it, and his films tend to be escapism in its finest form. When I watched the first trailer for Next Goal Wins I was intrigued, to say the least, and I knew I would be seeing this in theaters right away. So, did it hold up to what I have come to expect? Keep reading to find out!

I genuinely enjoyed Next Goal Wins for several reasons, but it is not without its flaws which I will talk about later in the review. To focus on the positive this is what I would consider to be a genuinely heartwarming underdog story with several great characters that are easy to root for. The setting is fantastic and offers up some spectacular shots, and it was clear the entire cast had a blast making this movie. The Taika Waititi touch was evident throughout, and let me just say I am ALWAYS here for that.

I would have to say the primary draw for Next Goal Wins aside from Waititi would be the story, which on its surface is pretty straightforward as it tells the story of a disgraced soccer team looking to do one thing, score a single goal. The first goal in the team’s history, as a matter of fact. Now this isn’t your typical underdog sports comedy-drama as the film rarely takes itself too seriously, but it does have a few unexpected dramatic elements that add another level of depth to the story. I felt immersed from the start in the overall feel of the film and the story was a big reason why.

From the jump the cast had me fired up, particularly the fact that Michael Fassbender would be taking on the primary role in the film. Fassbender is a very talented actor, and his involvement had me leaning toward the obvious fact that this film would be very good. Now although I did enjoy his role, it left something to be desired which I will talk about later on in the review.

My favorite performance in the film is easily my guy Oscar Kightley who delivers as always. Now this dude is not a household name by any means, but the Samoan-New Zealand actor is a Taika Waititi favorite and even starred in Waititi’s Hunt for the Wilderpeople. He is absolutely hilarious in this, and to be honest, this movie isn’t nearly as good as it was without him. He just brings so much positive energy to his roles and is just a great on-screen presence. I also really enjoyed Rachel House in her role, who also played a part in Hunt for the Wilderpeople. House has a strong on-screen presence as well and always demands the attention of the audience. I also thought Kaimana was great in her role as Jaiyah. The supporting cast was solid from top to bottom, even including a few very recognizable names in small roles like Elisabeth Moss and Will Arnett, and I always enjoy the hilarious New Zealand actor Rhys Darby no matter what role he plays.

Director Taika Waititi is my guy, and I would literally follow him to the ends of the Earth. This dude just has something about him that always translates to his films, a certain feel that I have always gravitated to. Sure his accent is hilarious, but even more than that he is not concerned with the stereotypical idea of success. Waititi doesn’t even consider himself to be a director necessarily, he says he is an artist who just happens to be directing movies and I believe him. Waititi isn’t concerned with what type of movies he is “supposed” to be making, he makes films that mean something to him and provide viewers with an escape from reality. He can’t quite figure out why people want him to make his movies more serious or I guess more depressing because at the end of the day, we go to the movie theater to get away and he understands that. So yeah, my favorite thing about this movie is the fact that it is Taika Waititi through and through.

I was pleased with Next Goal Wins from a technical perspective, but it’s not going to blow you away by any means. The film has a fantastic setting as it was filmed in Honolulu, Hawaii, a place that many have considered a vacation destination ever since they were kids. The fact that it is a gorgeous place is undeniable, and I loved that they took full advantage of the filming location as far as the cinematography and just the overall feel.

When Fassbender’s character gets settled into his new “home” as coach of the team he sort of has this attitude like this place is a real dump, but then he walks outside and is literally on the beach. I mean, if I’m renting this place on Airbnb I’m walking around taking videos talking about how amazing it is. The other primary thing that stands out for Next Goal Wins is the soundtrack which I really enjoyed and thought added some nice overall value to the film. Plus as usual, Taika Waititi was a master behind the camera taking full advantage of his opportunities.

THE BAD

As I made pretty clear in the review I enjoyed Next Goal Wins but it could have and should have been so much better which is honestly a bit frustrating. The root of the issues I had with the film are with the screenplay, more specifically character development, or lack thereof. The film is an underdog story about a soccer team trying to erase the memory of a demoralizing and embarrassing defeat, but another driving force for the story is the story of redemption for disgraced soccer coach Thomas Rongen, played by Michael Fassbender.

In order for the story to really flourish audiences needed to buy into Fassbender’s character and the progress he makes as a coach and as a person. The film is mostly a comedy for sure, but Rongen’s personal life is a mess, and one particular life-changing event has led to his ultimate downfall as a soccer coach. Now I know Fassbender is a talented actor, I mean look no further than the recently released Netflix film The Killer, but for me, his character ultimately left a lot to be desired. I just thought his character development felt very messy and inconsistent, which for me just took away from what I thought was another powerful element of the story.

THE VERDICT

A feel-good quirky comedy-drama with an inspirational message and lots of quality laughs, Next Goal Wins is held back by poor character development but ultimately makes for a uniquely wholesome experience only Taika Waititi can provide. I’m glad to see Waititi back to making movies that really have his signature feel, and although he can still make his mark with some of these bigger franchise films I do hope he continues to make films like this. I do wish the screenplay was able to flesh out the characters a bit better, but for my money, Next Goal Wins is still a quality film with plenty to offer.

TED TAKES RATING - 6.8/10

Next Goal Wins is now playing only in theaters. Check out the latest trailer below.

Freelance

Freelance is a 2023 action comedy directed by Pierre Morel (Taken, Peppermint), from a screenplay by Jacob Lentz.

An ex-special forces operative stuck in a dead-end desk job (John Cena) reluctantly takes on a gig to provide private security for a washed-up journalist (Alison Brie) as she interviews a ruthless—but impeccably dressed—dictator (Juan Pablo Raba). When a military coup breaks out just as she's about to get the scoop of a lifetime, the unlikely trio must figure out how to survive the jungle, the assassins, and each other in order to make it out alive.

Freelance made its debut in theaters on October 27th, courtesy of Relativity Media.

THE GOOD

To be honest when the trailer for Freelance was first released it felt like a straight-to-streaming release to me in the sense that it sort of came out of nowhere and seemed to lack substance. Now I’m not going to sit here and act like I wasn’t interested because I enjoy John Cena as an actor, and I also like Alison Brie as well. I watched the trailer and it seemed like something I would enjoy as long as I kept my expectations in check. Now Freelance did turn out to be a theater release and did not debut on a streaming platform, so I made sure to check it out on the big screen to see if it was worth the extra gas money.

Alright so I did manage to keep my expectations in check and I’m glad I did, because Freelance is a fun movie if you can appreciate action comedies that aren’t overly concerned with story or lasting appeal. Now it may not be worth the price of admission for the majority of people, or the gas money for that matter, but I didn’t hate this movie. Again, all about expectations.

I thought the cast was fun and it was clear they enjoyed working together, Pierre Morel is a solid director and overall he seemed to make the most of what he had at his disposal, and I thought the film took advantage of some beautiful filming locations in Columbia thanks to cinematographer Thierry Arbogast. Freelance also has a decent comedic element thanks to what I felt was natural chemistry between the cast and a tone that was mostly light throughout. The screenplay was admittedly brutal, but more on that later.

The primary draw for Freelance is the cast obviously, and all things considered, I thought they had fun with this movie. This movie is far from gritty and is much more goofy if anything, but the cast seemed to gravitate to that and kept things fairly light throughout. Although this is far from one of Cena’s better films, I thought he was still good here. As expected he contributed to the majority of the film’s comedic element and he got a few solid laughs out of me.

Personally, I like Alison Brie as an actress, and I felt like she took advantage of her opportunity here. She plays a disgraced journalist willing to do anything to get her career back on track and she fits this role well. She also shined in a scene where she did her best to get Cena into bed and full disclosure it did feel like the temp in the theater went up a few degrees during this particular scene, just saying. I also had fun with actor Juan Pablo Raba, a native of Colombia where the movie was filmed. Raba played the film’s misunderstood primary antagonist, and as silly as he was for the majority of the film I really liked his performance. Raba helped to round out the dynamic for the primary cast and kept things light and fun.

THE BAD

Alright, so where do I start? Freelance is incredibly flawed, but in all seriousness what were we expecting? At the end of the day, this is an action comedy starring John Cena, so I don’t think at any point we expected it to win any awards. Now does that mean it was okay to just coast with a bland story relying entirely on the cast? Of course not, but clearly the people making the important decisions disagreed. Freelance is the first screenplay from writer Jacob Lentz, and his inexperience was one of the most glaring issues for the film. With that being said, it would not surprise me for a second if he was specifically told to keep things as simple as possible ensuring that the primary focus for the film is the cast, and simple it was.

Now the story is okay in the sense that it isn’t brutally slow or obnoxious by trying to be clever when it had no chance to be, it just has zero substance. This screenplay was all about playing it safe allowing the cast to steer the ship, but the refusal to put more value on the comedic element with a cast like this felt like a waste. It had funny parts but they were really few and far between in my opinion. It was almost like they thought the story would resonate more with viewers and they didn’t want to overshadow that with too much humor, but that is just a silly notion considering the final product.

I talked about how the cast had a certain chemistry that really helped the film, but the tone was massively inconsistent. As an action comedy Freelance lacks the laugh-out-loud moments you would maybe expect it to have, and to say it was predictable would be an understatement. At the end of the day this movie is what it is, and keeping your expectations in check will serve you well.

THE VERDICT

A bare-bones action comedy lacking substance or really any lasting appeal for that matter, Freelance is a movie that can still be enjoyable as long as you keep your expectations in check. The fact that critics have slapped this with a 0% rating on Rotten Tomatoes is funny to me because it really isn’t that bad, and it makes me wonder what the heck they were expecting. Now it is incredibly flawed which I touched on during the review, but to say it is unwatchable or just a horrible movie is a bit ridiculous. Now with that being said I’m not going to tell you this is worth a trip to the theater, but I also don’t think you will regret spending just shy of 2-hours watching it once it is available to watch at home.

TED TAKES RATING - 5.2/10

Freelance is now playing only in theaters. Check out the latest trailer below.

Five Nights at Freddy's

Five Nights at Freddy's is a 2023 supernatural horror film directed by Emma Tammi from a screenplay she co-wrote with Scott Cawthon and Seth Cuddeback, based on the video game franchise of the same name created and developed by Cawthon.

The film was first announced in April 2015 with the involvement of Warner Bros. Pictures, and Gil Kenan made a deal to direct and co-write it. After several delays to begin production, Warner Bros. eventually put the project into turnaround and Kenan was no longer involved. In March 2017, it was announced that Blumhouse Productions would produce the film.

Mike Schmidt, a troubled security guard, starts a night-time job at Freddy Fazbear's Pizza, a once-successful, but now generally abandoned family entertainment center, where he discovers its four animatronic mascots — Freddy Fazbear, Bonnie the Bunny, Chica the Chicken, and Foxy the Pirate Fox — move and kill anyone that is still there after midnight.

The cast includes Josh Hutcherson, Elizabeth Lail, Piper Rubio, Kat Conner Sterling, Mary Stuart Masterson, and Matthew Lillard.

Five Nights at Freddy's made its debut in theaters and streaming on Peacock on October 27th, courtesy of Universal Pictures.

THE GOOD

I should probably preface this review by pointing out the fact that prior to the announcement of this movie, I had little to no knowledge of the videogame franchise it was based on aside from hearing about it or maybe seeing an image at one point or another. I really had no clue what it was about aside from the fact that it included animatronic robots that to to be honest reminded me of the Chuck E. Cheese franchise that was part of my own personal childhood.

Either way, even with my lack of familiarity I still knew how much of a cult following the franchise had and was certain the film would rake in the money for that reason alone. As the release neared anticipation continued to build, and the the involvement of Blumhouse had me intrigued from the start either way so I was pretty excited for the opportunity to see how this latest video-game-to-film adaptation turned out. So, was Five Nights at Freddy’s a pleasant surprise or a corny mess disguising itself as a horror movie? Keep reading to find out!

I wouldn’t say that my expectations were high necessarily, but full disclosure I was pleasantly surprised by this movie. It was honestly pretty good. Now it has lots of flaws which I will touch on later in the review, but above all else, it was entertaining, pretty creepy all things considered, and featured solid production value all things considered. They certainly could have gotten away with a no-name cast but starring Josh Hutcherson in the lead role was a smart move, and the supporting cast was fine as well. I really enjoyed the feel of the film and thought the technical elements were very solid, including some creepy visuals and a great score. I also felt like the cinematography was on point bringing Five Nights at Freddy’s to life.

As I said I have no real knowledge of the videogames so I was basically coming in from scratch as far as the story is concerned, aside from the obvious fact that I knew the film was centered around animatronics. I liked how the film opened and how they set the stage for the story. I felt invested from the start and quickly came to care for Hutcherson’s character and the trauma he suffered as a child. To be honest I didn’t expect as much depth to the story as the film had so that was a big plus for me.

I was also very impressed with how everything sort of came full circle, including a few big-time twists that I did not see coming. By the end of the film, I felt very satisfied, and I definitely got that fan service feel in terms of doing right by the fanbase and setting up more films. The story for Five Nights at Freddy’s was without a doubt a highlight for me.

Now I will touch on the cast which I thought was pretty good overall. I mentioned Josh Hutcherson in the lead role of Mike and I really liked him here. Hutcherson is a talented actor so they had a lot to work with having him as the focal point for the film. Plus considering his character is dealing with significant childhood trauma that he has carried with him throughout his life, it was important that his character was believable and I think he did the job. I liked Elizabeth Lail in her role as Vanessa, and not just because she is a beautiful blonde which is admittedly a weakness for me. I thought Lail was very solid in her role and turned out to be a very important character in the story.

Piper Rubio was far from perfect as Mike’s little sister Abby but the good outweighed the bad. She had a few missteps with forced dialogue but was never enough to really negatively impact the film, and she showed up when it mattered most. I always like seeing Matthew Lillard get a chance to play a decent role, and although he has a small part I definitely enjoyed him here. Overall I thought the cast was solid.

As far as the technical elements are concerned Five Nights at Freddy’s impressed me. First of all the film had a very clear identity and tone which I personally gravitated to, and I liked that it stuck with the same feel throughout. I can’t speak to how much the music and the overall score stayed true to the games, but I thought the composers, The Newton Brothers, did a fantastic job. Talk about a couple of guys who are red hot right now, they just worked on two brand new horror series including Goosebumps and The Fall of the House of Usher. Five Nights at Freddy’s maintained a creepy and dark feel throughout thanks to their hard work, and it was easily one of my favorite elements of the film.

I also thought cinematographer Lyn Moncrief did really well here and helped to keep that same feel and create an immersive film. I also thought the visuals and the effects with the animatronics were fantastic. I may sound like a little pansy ass saying this but for the most part, I thought they were pretty creepy as far as their moments and just how they interacted with the characters. Plus as I said I grew up with Chuck E. Cheese and full disclosure I never trusted that damn mouse and his ragtag band of misfits. I always knew they were up to something behind closed doors.

THE BAD

Five Nights at Freddy’s is far from perfect, but that doesn’t keep it from being a really entertaining movie. Now I think we can all agree that nobody really expected critics to love this movie, because at the end of the day, it wasn’t for them, it was for the fans. They were clearly more concerned with satisfying their fanbase than they were with making a great movie, and that is how it should be. It honestly reminds me of the 2009 film, Friday the 13th, which as a fan of the franchise I loved, and critics widely despised. Now I can’t go into detail considering as I have already said I’m not super familiar with the games, but Five Nights at Freddy’s just felt like a film that was intentionally crafting a fan-friendly experience, and I am glad they did.

Now I will point out that the story had quite a few annoying inconsistencies and at times the dialogue was just plain bad, but at the end of the day it didn’t really impact the final product and for me, that is what matters most. Plus I definitely wouldn’t say this movie is scary which is a bummer for a hardcore horror fan like myself, but it is creepy and creative enough to where it didn’t bother me as much as it probably could have. I’ve seen people talk about how this movie is geared more towards kids which I personally found interesting because when I read that I figured it would be corny, but let me just say Five Nights at Freddy’s is pretty messed up and I probably wouldn’t have my kids watching it unless they enjoy having nightmares.

THE VERDICT

Although plagued by inconsistent story and bad dialogue at times and surely traumatizing to those who grew up fans of the Chuck E. Cheese franchise, Five Nights at Freddy’s is a creepy and overall enjoyable experience that wisely caters to a diehard fanbase. I was pleasantly impressed is really all I can say and I may even go as far as checking out the videogames, but I will definitely be watching the next of what I would say is an inevitable film franchise in the making. So yeah, if you have any interest in seeing this movie ignore all of the hate from critics and check it out for yourself.

TED TAKES RATING - 6.5/10

Five Night’s at Freddy’s is now playing in theaters and streaming on Peacock. Check out the latest trailer below.

Killers of the Flower Moon

Killers of the Flower Moon is a 2023 historical drama film directed by Martin Scorsese, from a screenplay by Scorsese and Eric Roth. The film is based on author David Grann’s best-selling book of the same name, which chronicles the unlikely powderkeg romance of Ernest Burkhart (Leonardo DiCaprio) and Mollie Kyle (Lily Gladstone).

At the turn of the 20th century, oil brought a fortune to the Osage Nation, who became some of the richest people in the world overnight. The wealth of these Native Americans immediately attracted white interlopers, who manipulated, extorted, and stole as much Osage money as they could before resorting to murder.

The cast includes Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro, Lily Gladstone, Jesse Plemons, Tantoo Cardinal, Cara Jade Myers, JaNae Collins, and Jillian Dion.

Killers of the Flower Moon made its debut in theaters on October 20th, courtesy of Apple Studios.

THE GOOD

When Killers of the Flower Moon was first announced I was pumped, to say the least. First, I will see literally anything Martin Scorsese is willing to be involved with, and the fact that all of his films always have the best actors is just icing on the cake for me. Leonardo DiCaprio is my guy, so his involvement solidified the fact that I would be reserving my seat for opening day. Once the film was announced I did my research and learned that it was of course based on true events, so I looked into the David Grann book that the story was pulled from and decided to grab it from the library.

I enjoy myself a good crime thriller book, but they are usually fiction aside from a few exceptions, and I decided I would give this one a chance and wow was it an edge-of-your-seat read. I often read before bed and I couldn’t wait to find out what happens next often pushing me to stay up a little later most nights. Needless to say, my expectations for Killers of the Flower Moon were pretty high. So did it deliver or was this one of those epic disappointments? Keep reading to find out!

Killers of the Flower absolutely blew me away. This movie is a great example of how you effectively take a book to the big screen, which in my opinion is that much more difficult when the source material is based on a dark period in our history. Martin Scorsese found a way to craft a three-and-a-half-hour cinematic experience that told a raw and important story that needed to be told. The story of the Osage has been buried deep in the history books, and Killers of the Flower Moon brings it to the forefront in a big way.

It is no secret that Scorsese is one of the best directors to ever stand behind a video camera, but he reminds everyone that he is still at the top of his game as a director who prioritizes the finer elements of filmmaking. I thought the cast was phenomenal led by Leonardo DiCaprio, Lily Gladstone, Robert De Niro, and a stellar supporting cast, and the technical elements helped to create a memorable theater experience. I have seen the movie twice so far in theaters, and it was even better the 2nd time around.

The driving force of Killers of the Flower Moon is without a doubt the story. As I said in the opening I read David Grann’s book and I was honestly blown away by it. The story of the Osage is that of incredible tragedy, and at the heart of it all lies pure evil motivated by unwavering greed. One thing Killers of the Flower Moon and the recently released Dumb Money (our full review here) have in common is the simple fact that people will do anything to get rich or stay rich, simple as that. As the great Notorious B.I.G once famously said, Mo Money Mo Problems, and when it comes to the 1920s and the riches the Osage tribe stumbled upon with the oil below their land, that sentiment could not ring more true.

Throughout history, Native Americans have gotten the short end of the stick in one way or another, and the story of the Osage was supposed to be different. But as expected, the big bad wolf aka the white man refused to allow this good fortune to be. The Osage were viewed as savages, people who were lesser than and therefore undeserving, so it quickly became a story of what was viewed as a justified series of atrocities. The Osage were systematically murdered for financial gain amid a web of violence and corruption, and Killers of the Flower Moon tells this story in epic fashion. Whether or not you read the book, know the history, or just go into the theater completely blind, you will be shaken by the story that is told.

The cast in Killers of the Flower Moon is really nothing short of phenomenal in my opinion. As I said I have seen the movie twice, and the performances just seemed to get better the second time around. The film includes two particularly memorable performances delivered by Leonardo DiCaprio and Lily Gladstone. I will begin by talking about Leo just because he gets the vast majority of the screen time and the story essentially runs through his character, and really loved him in this. After the movie my dad made a comment that this was a pretty unique role for him and I would agree with that, definitely not how we are used to seeing him.

The unique thing about DiCaprio’s Earnest Burkhart character is just how complex of a person he is, and for that reason, I feel like most people will have mixed emotions when it comes to how you feel about him and I felt the same way when I read the book. Burkhart is a flawed and impressionable man who is also very personable and opportunistic which more often than not lands him in hot water. The bottom line, you really needed an actor with top-tier talent taking on this role to make sure his character really resonates with viewers and I thought DiCaprio crushed it.

Lily Gladstone isn’t a household name by any means especially not up against someone like DiCaprio, but she is an incredibly talented actress who takes full advantage of their opportunity with their character Mollie Kyle. Kyle is a strong no-nonsense woman who prides themselves on speaking their mind and will do anything to protect their family. Tragedy strikes Kyle at nearly every turn and slowly turns this once confident and almost stoic Osage woman into a defeated shell of themself. Viewers will feel Kyle’s pain thanks to a powerful performance from Gladstone. I thought she was believable right from the start, and similar to Dicaprio’s character this film does not work without near-flawless execution from Gladstone and she absolutely delivered.

It will surprise nobody that Robert De Niro was crazy good as Burkhart’s uncle, William Hale. As far as character progression goes you won’t do much better than Hale, and trust me when I say that your opinion of him will change 50 times at least and that speaks to how well De Niro played this character. Hale is at the center of the spider web of tragedy surrounding the Osage, but you will have to see the movie to figure out which side he is on. Plus I really enjoyed the chemistry between all three actors and some of the scenes and interactions I could happily watch over and over again.

Although he had a fairly small amount of screen time compared to the other main characters, I loved the casting of Jesse Plemons as by-the-book Federal Agent Tom White. I gravitated toward White’s character when I read the book, and I thought Plemons did a great job capturing the energy and perseverance White brought to the investigation of the Osage murders. I won’t go too in-depth on the rest of the cast but a shout-out is deserved for Tantoo Cardinal as Kyle’s mother Lizzie Q, Cara Jade Myers as Kyle’s wild sister Anna, JaNae Collins as Kyle’s sister Rita, Jillian Dion as Kyle’s other sister Minnie, Louis Cancelmi as Kelsie Morrison, Tatanka Means as John Wren, Pete Yorn as Acie Kirby, and Tommy Schultz as the likable but not very bright bad-gun-for-hire Blackie Thompson.

Although this isn’t a film that will wow you with spectacle, Killers of the Flower Moon still brings it on the technical side of things. First I thought the score was absolutely amazing in the way that it helped to really tell the story just with tone and feel which made a huge difference in terms of how the more emotional scenes would resonate with viewers. Oftentimes heart-wrenching cries are slightly muted in favor of the score and I just loved how these scenes just seemed to hit that much harder. The late great composer Robbie Robertson, who worked with Scorsese on the 1986 film The Color of Money and The Irishman (2019), did a masterful job here.

I also have to talk about talented cinematographer Rodrigo Prieto who was fantastic as well. So much of Killers of the Flower Moon relied on really transporting viewers back to 1920s Oklahoma, and I thought Prieto was able to do that with some great shots right from the opening sequence. The film feels immersive and authentic from start to finish, and to me, the cinematography was a big reason why.

THE BAD

If you haven’t figured it out by now I loved this movie and to say I have very few issues with it would be an understatement as it is quite an achievement in filmmaking. Now interestingly enough the only thing I would even dare point a finger at is the same thing people seem to be complaining about, which is the film’s runtime. Now I understand it is already three and a half hours long but the reality is it could have been longer, and I would have welcomed that. David Grann’s book is nothing short of fantastic, and the story of the Osage is as captivating as it is heartbreaking. The story has so many layers, and I would say you needed at least five hours to tell the story from beginning to end.

Scorsese and Eric Roth do a great job summarizing the story and telling the parts that needed to be told, but I would have loved to get more of Tom White’s story, played by Jesse Plemons. White is the centerpiece of the story in the book once he is introduced, and I was fascinated by him and where his story goes well beyond the events depicted in the film. Now granted this is not a knock on an already lengthy film, but I highly recommend reading the book after seeing the movie to get the full story.

THE VERDICT

A deeply personal cinematic journey told through the legendary lens of the great Martin Scorsese, Killers of the Flower Moon is a tragic and powerful story told with the utmost care and brought to life by incredible performances from a talented cast. This movie is vintage Scorsese as it executes all of the elements of great filmmaking that matter flawlessly. The vision of Scorsese, the intimate and immersive screenplay, an amazing score, glorious technical elements from the cinematography, set design, and costumes, it all came together to create one of the best films I have seen in a long time. Support filmmaking in its finest form and see Killers of the Flower Moon in theaters as soon as possible.

TED TAKES RATING - 9.7/10

Killers of the Flower Moon is now playing only in theaters. Check out the latest trailer below.

The Creator

The Creator is a 2023 science fiction action thriller film directed by Gareth Edwards (Godzilla, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story) from a screenplay written by Edwards and Chris Weitz (American Pie, About a Boy), and a story from Edwards. The film stars John David Washington (Tenet, BlacKkKlansman), Gemma Chan (Eternals, Don’t Worry Darling), Ken Watanabe (Inception, Batman Begins), Sturgill Simpson (The Dead Don’t Die, The Hunt), Madeleine Yuna Voyles, and Allison Janney (10 Things I Hate About You, I, Tonya).

Amid a future war between the human race and the forces of artificial intelligence, Joshua (Washington), a hardened ex-special forces agent grieving the disappearance of his wife, is recruited to hunt down and kill the Creator, the elusive architect of advanced AI who has developed a mysterious weapon with the power to end the war—and humankind itself.

The Creator made its debut in theaters on September 29th, courtesy of 20th Century Studios.

THE GOOD

I’m not necessarily a sci-fi guy when it comes to movies, at least its not my favorite genre, but I am always intrigued by the films that take a more creative approach in terms of the story and the feel to try and appeal to viewers who may not always be drawn to the genre. When the first trailer for The Creator dropped I was intrigued as it looked like something that seemed to add that little extra, and it actually gave me vibes reminiscent of Neil Blomkamp’s underrated 2009 sci-fi action thriller District 9, and that alone had me intrigued. The trailer was immersive, I loved the overall feel, and I’m not gonna lie I am a fan of John David Washington, the son of one of the greatest actors to ever do it, Denzel Washington. So, was my excitement for The Creator warranted or was it just another letdown for the sci-fi genre? Keep reading to find out!

I had high expectations coming in and this movie did not disappoint. I absolutely loved the visuals and the overall feel of The Creator, and I thought they nailed it in terms of what they were going for. A film like this needs to suck viewers in and I was locked in from the start because of the lived-in and immersive world they were able to create. This is very much a post-apocalyptic style film in terms of the presence of artificial intelligence and just how different things have become. I won’t spoil anything but the film does a great job of setting the stage for the focal point of the films story and keeps viewers on the edge of their seats. With a film like The Creator you expect the score and soundtrack to play a big part and it does.

A big selling point for The Creator is the story and overall I was impressed with it. I really liked how they handled the flashbacks, and I felt like I continued to learn more about the story as the film progressed without anything feeling rushed or forced. Even though the film is science fiction it feels very much rooted in reality when it comes to heart of the story for the film. I liked how certain events more or less force you to make assumptions which are later questioned which adds to the intrigue of the overall story. I was never bored and and for me that alone speaks volumes.

John David Washington delivers what I felt like was one of his best performances so far. I have been a fan of his for quite some time and it is great to see him getting opportunities with starring roles. I felt like he took full advantage and made his mark with this role. As his career continues to progress I could see JDW duplicating some level of his fathers success even though they do have a different skillset as performers. I thought Gemma Chan was fantastic as Maya, and really helped to bring the necessary intrigue to the film alongside Washington’s character. I also really liked young actress Madeleine Yuna Voyles as Alphie. Her character was such a big part of the story and if she didn’t deliver things would have fallen apart fast, so a well deserved kudos to her. Allison Janney is a star, no question about that, and one of my favorite things about her as an actress is her impressive versatility. She can play a sympathetic character perfectly, and the next thing you know she is the primary protagonist for a film. She is just such a great actress and deserves each and every role she is given. I won’t go too much more in depth on the cast but I thought everyone was fantastic.

On the technical side The Creator is an impressive film, and for that reason it really needs to be seen in theaters to be fully appreciated. One of the reasons why is just the sheer scale of the film as it feels pretty massive from the start. This genre really needs to sell the element of spectacle and I felt like they succeeded here. I also really enjoyed the score and soundtrack for the film as I felt like it added that additional element of immersion for viewers. My favorite thing about The Creator on the technical side is without a doubt the visuals and overall feel of the film as it reminded me of one of my favorite sci-fi dramas in Neil Blomkamp’s District 9. The AI and “robots” had a unique humanity to them which helped to create this unique tug-of-war for the us vs. them element of the story. Although it does borrow elements from other great sci-fi films, The Creator still maintains a unique identity because of the half human/half AI population and I thought they looked so damn cool.

THE BAD

I really didn’t have many issues with The Creator as a whole, but I do think that it had a chance to be epic but never quite took that leap. I can think of a few points in the film towards the final act where it had a chance to really blow viewers away, but it was almost like it held back to an extent or maybe chose to stay a bit more grounded for one reason or another. I guess I was just expecting that “wow moment” that never really came, or maybe even the mind-blowing finale like we got from Denis Villeneuve’s 2016 sci-fi drama Arrival (our full review here), but admittedly that is a high bar. If you have yet to see it I couldn’t recommend it more, and it is now streaming on Paramount Plus. Either way, the good surely outweighs the bad with The Creator no question about that.

THE VERDICT

A powerful story with top-tier visuals reminiscent of Neil Blomkamp’s District 9, The Creator is a large-scale sci-fi thriller that needs to be experienced in theaters. I am always excited when I have the opportunity to experience this genre in theaters and it did not disappoint. Between John David Washington’s performance and the overall immersive experience the film provides, The Creator is well worth the price of admission.

TED TAKES RATING - 8.1/10

The Creator is now playing only in theaters. Check out the latest trailer below.

Dumb Money

Dumb Money is a 2023 biographical comedy-drama film directed by Craig Gillespie (I, Tonya, Cruella), from a script by Lauren Schuker Blum & Rebecca Angelo, based on the book The Antisocial Network: The GameStop Short Squeeze and the Ragtag Group of Amateur Traders That Brought Wall Street to Its Knees by Ben Mezrich. The film chronicles the GameStop short squeeze from January 2021. Teddy Schwarzman, Aaron Ryder, and Gillespie served as producers for the project.

The talented cast includes Paul Dano (The Batman, Little Miss Sunshine), Sebastian Stan (Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Avengers: Infinity War), Seth Rogen (Superbad, This Is the End), and Pete Davidson (The King of Staten Island, Bodies Bodies Bodies).

Dumb Money made its debut in limited theaters on September 22nd, before its wide release on September 29th courtesy of Columbia Pictures and Sony Pictures Releasing.

THE GOOD

It feels like the GameStop stock fiasco just happened yesterday, and to say they got this movie made crazy fast would be an understatement considering it took just over two years after everything transpired back in late 2020, early 2021. Admittedly I didn’t have my ear to the ground as far as the world of Reddit when this all happened, but when things began to ramp up a buddy of mine reached out and I was instantly intrigued for obvious reasons. I didn’t have the balls to invest, still kicking myself for that to be honest, but the entire situation was nuts and I remember thinking they will no doubt make a movie about this.

As I mentioned in the intro the film is based on the book by Ben Mezrich which was published in September 2021, where he does a fantastic job chronicling the roller coaster ride of events. My initial impression was that Dumb Money felt very similar to 2015’s The Big Short, which told the story of the 2008 housing crisis. I knew for some time that the film was in the works, and when I saw the first trailer my excitement level was at a 10 considering the cast and feel of the film. So, was Dumb Money as good as I hoped it would be or just another attempt to cash in on a crazy story? Keep reading to find out!

I absolutely loved this movie! Dumb Money is just so much fun as it tells this wild story with a ridiculously talented cast playing genuinely relatable characters. They crushed it with the casting decisions, and I personally thoroughly enjoyed each and every character. The film carries a comedic tone pretty much throughout and I loved how upbeat it was for the majority of the film. I really liked how they told the story through humor and even added in a few heartfelt moments, but more than anything it all felt authentic. Whether you know the story or go in blind, you will be entertained that I can guarantee. Dumb Money opens with Seth Rogen’s character, hedge fund manager Gabe Plotkin, panicking after he receives a call from a business partner as Cardi B’s WAP starts blaring through the theaters speakers, and I was smiling ear to ear from there on out.

With a story this crazy the screenplay basically writes itself in my opinion, but what needs to be handled properly is the characters the writers chose to focus on as well as the overall tone, both of which I thought they executed perfectly. The film focuses on all of the major players that were involved in this crazy story, and also gives viewers insight into the lives of the regular people most impacted by the financial implications. From the GameStop employee working at “ground zero”, to the single mother doing her best to finally catch a break in life, viewers will be able to relate to these people.

Investing in stock is not for the faint of heart because of the inherent risk as it is a form of gambling at the end of the day, but to put faith in this guy who was willing to take on Wall Street took some serious guts so I say kudos to them and I hope things worked out in the end. With that being said, the tone of the film was amazing. The GameStop situation pissed off a great deal of people rightfully so, but they kept the tone pretty light all things considered and still managed to effectively tell this story. The movie is hilarious and the tone and the screenplay is a big reason why. You can’t deny the influence social media has on our society as a whole, but it was pretty cool to see people use it as a way to band together and “stick it to the man” for a change. Plus if you do some research on the story you will learn that the majority of what happens in the film is 100% true, which is pretty awesome if you ask me.

In my opinion the cast could not have been better for this Dumb Money, I mean if I was given the responsibility of casting director and I could have my choice of anyone I wouldn’t change a thing. I am a huge Seth Rogen guy, and I thought he was incredible as hedge fund manager Gabe Plotkin, one of the primary antagonists in the story. As a native of the great state of Maine myself and someone who has lived and spends a great deal of time in Portland, it was cool to know that Plotkin is actually from the city. Plotkin is at the center of the GameStop short squeeze and I don’t think anyone could have done a better job than Rogen in this role.

The other primary character in the story is Keith Gill, aka Roaring Kitty, the man that single-handedly brought Plotkin and the rest of Wall Street to its knees in late 2020/early 2021. A financial advisor for Mass Mutual by day and a YouTube stock investment personality in his basement by night, Gill is the regular guy just trying to support his family and for that reason he could not be more relatable. Gill is played by Swiss Army Man and The Batman (our full review here) star Paul Dano who was amazing in this role.

In order for viewers to really get invested in the story Gill’s character had to really resonate and Dano’s unique versatility as an actor made all the difference. During the film you will be rooting for Gill to succeed, and although he hits his fair share of bumps in the road along the way, his portrayal as a man with unwavering integrity, loyalty to his followers, a strong moral compass, and lets be honest balls of steel, are the backbone of this story. Bottom line, Keith Gill is the man.

I could honestly go on and on talking about this fantastic cast because it really is that good, but I will do my best to sum it up. The exceptional supporting cast includes one of my favorite actors, Nick Offerman, who plays filthy rich hedge fund manager Ken Griffin, Pete Davidson as Gill’s all-over-the-place brother, Anthony Ramos (Transfortmers: Rise of the Beasts) as GameStop employee Marcus Barcia who reminded me of my Best Buy days and had the best TikTok dance to the Megan Thee Stallion hit song Savage, Sebastian Stan as Robin Hood co-founder Vlad Tenev, Shailene Woodley as Gill’s supportive wife Caroline, Clancy Brown as Gill’s father, Vincent D’Onofrio as billionaire hedge fund manager Steve Cohen, and America Ferrera who recently starred in Barbie (our full review here) as Jenny, the single mom who is just looking for a break in life. As I said the entire cast was truly amazing, including the supporting roles I left out, so kudos to everyone who had the opportunity to be involved with this project.

On the technical side of things I have to talk about the amazing soundtrack, the incredible editing, and the unique camera work from director Craig Gillespie. The soundtrack was front and center from the opening of the film right up until the end credits popped up on the screen, and I loved every second of it. As I mentioned earlier in the review things get rolling with Cardi B’s WAP right out of the gate but that is just the tip of the iceberg as Dumb Money packs a profanity-laden and energetic soundtrack that fit the film perfectly. I also felt like the featured music and the score were helped to tell this powerful underdog story. Big time props to Will Bates who handled the score for the film, and music supervisor Susan Jacobs who Gillespie tasked with creating a track list of COVID-era hip hop and she did not disappoint.

Editing is incredibly important for a film like Dumb Money as it needs to balance the story in such a way that all of the parts that matter are told but the entertainment value still remains high throughout, and editor Kirk Baxter knocked it out of the park in my opinion. The film also takes the approach where it tells the story from the perspectives of all involved and I felt like they handled it perfectly. From the decision to open during the films culminating moments before flashing back to the beginning of the story, I don’t think they could have handled it better. I do hope they include bonus content and deleted scenes once they release the Blu-ray for the film because I know they had to cut a ton of great content including an extension of the awesome Savage TikTok dance from Ramos’ that was originally set to play during the end-credits before they made the difficult decision to cut it for the purposes of continuity.

I really like Gillespie as a director, and he has proven his worth when it comes to directing these based on true events films that include a hard to believe overall story, like his 2007 film I, Tonya. As a director he understands how to maximize the polarizing element of a story like this and he gets the job done once again. One of the biggest trademarks of his work seems to be how well he balances the tone of his films and I can’t wait to see what he decides to tackle next.

THE BAD

I didn’t actually read the book so I can’t speak to whether or not they took too many liberties in terms of the events that transpired, but based on my knowledge the film and the research I did it seemed to be pretty spot on so no issues there. I also really liked the tone of the film which I talked about during the review so I would keep that in the positive column, although I also wouldn’t argue with someone who may have preferred more of a serious tone for the film. It is preference at the end of the day, but we also need to keep in mind the fact that the film centers around a guy who wears cat sweatshirts as he goes to battle with Wall Street in his basement. Plus as I mentioned Gillespie has a certain tone he thrives for and he stays true to that. Telling the story while making sure the film was entertaining was the obvious focus for Dumb Money, and in my mind they couldn’t have executed it better, so for that reason I really don’t have any issues with this movie. It really is that good and I honestly can’t wait to see it again.

THE VERDICT

A wildly entertaining and ridiculously hilarious David vs Goliath tale with a star-studded cast and a fire soundtrack that will have you choreographing your next TikTok dance, Dumb Money is an exceptional film and the most fun I have had at the theater this year. Whether you know the story of the infamous GameStop short squeeze or not it really doesn’t matter because of the simple fact that director Craig Gillespie and everyone involved with this project put together an experience that is more than worth the price of admission. I honestly could have gone on and on talking about how much I enjoyed this movie, and I really can’t recommend Dumb Money enough. Do yourself a favor and see it in theaters sooner than later, because I know I will be seeing it again very soon.

TED TAKES RATING - 9.4/10

Dumb Money is now playing only in theaters. Check out the latest trailer below.