Ron's Gone Wrong

By: Andrew Wing

Ron’s Gone Wrong is a 2021 computer-animated science fiction comedy film directed by Jean-Philippe Vine and Sarah Smith (director of Arthur Christmas), co-directed by Octavio E. Rodriguez, and written by Peter Baynham (co-wrote the screenplay for Hotel Transylvania) and Smith. The film takes place in a world where walking, talking, digitally connected bots are now children’s best friends, but one 11-year-old boy, Barney Pudowski, finds out through an incredible series of events that his robot buddy Ron doesn’t quite work the same as the others do.

The film stars an ensemble voice cast which includes Zach Galifianakis (The Hangover trilogy, Due Date) as the titular malfunctioning B-bot Ron, Jack Dylan Grazer (It, Shazam!, Luca) as Ron’s owner, the socially awkward and lonesome middle-schooler Barney Pudowski, Ed Helms (The Hangover trilogy, The Office) as Barney’s father Graham, Justice Smith (Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, Pokémon Detective Pikachu) as Marc, the creator of the B-bot and CEO of the Bubble company, Rob Delaney (Catastrophe, Deadpool 2, Hobbs & Shaw) as the antagonist Andrew, who is the COO of the Bubble company, Kylie Cantrall as Barney’s classmate Savannah Meades, Ricardo Hurtado (Glitch Techs) as Rich Belcher, another one of Barney’s classmates, and the award-winning Olivia Colman (The Crown, The Father) as Donka, Barney’s paternal grandmother.

It is the first film from Locksmith Animation and was distributed by 20th Century Studios, serving as the company’s first animated film to release since the closure of Blue Sky Studios (Ice Age, Robots, Horton Hears a Who!, Rio) on April 10, 2021. Ron’s Gone Wrong had its world premiere at the 2021 BFI London Film Festival on October 9, 2021, and was theatrically released in the United Kingdom on October 15 and in the United States a week later on October 22, 2021.

THE GOOD

I won’t lie, as crazy as the month of October has been for movies, Ron’s Gone Wrong completely fell off my radar. However, once I checked out the trailer for a second time, I soon remembered why it was even on my radar in the first place. It is an original story that put off a lot of Big Hero 6 vibes simply because of the inclusion of a robot, but it also is headlined by one of my favorite comedy actors Zach Galifianakis as the B-bot Ron, and the rising actor that is Jack Dylan Grazer, whose voice I am already very familiar with after watching Disney Pixar’s Luca (see full review here) earlier this year. Go ahead and throw in the inclusion of one of the funniest guys in the industry in Ed Helms, and arguably one of the best actresses working today Olivia Colman, and I was pumped for this.

After having some time to sit back and think about this film, I have to say my favorite thing about it was the story. It is so tough nowadays, with animated “kid” movies especially, to come up with a unique story that hasn’t been seen before and I think the writers involved did just that with Ron’s Gone Wrong. Now don’t get me wrong, it is not free of those conventional methods of storytelling that we see in most children's movies, but the story itself I found to be quite unfamiliar. It seems like in today’s world, we are becoming more dependent on technology by the day (I am guilty of that myself) and also that young children today rely too much on technology as a means of entertainment and happiness. With that said, I don’t think this movie could have come out at a better time as we are slowly getting things back to normal post-COVID, because I loved the message this movie was trying to send us. Their message wasn’t going all in and bashing the amount of technology kids use today, but instead, Ron’s Gone Wrong just shows us that there is no better way to connect and socialize with each other than face-to-face.

The second main thing that I found to be great about Ron’s Gone Wrong was the overall performance by the voice cast. Jack Dylan Grazer should obviously take whatever role he wants in the future, but if I am him, I might just stick with voice acting because he just has the perfect teenager voice. It is impressive how many different emotions he was able to portray in this film using just his voice and it is obvious that he has a very bright future ahead of him. Grazer was great, but the best voice acting in this comes from Zach Galifianakis as the titular character Ron. There were so many great things from Ron with both his running bits throughout the film with Barney, and also his more emotional dialogue towards the end, but I had a smile on my face so many times watching Ron truly GO WRONG, and I don’t think I would have enjoyed those scenes as much if it were a different voice behind the character. The rest of the voice cast was amazing too, but I just have to say Rob Delaney has one of the most uniquely recognizable voices and I would love to see him voice more antagonistic characters in future animated films because he was phenomenal in this.

I also thought the animation was very well done in this, but that is no surprise when you have 20th Century Studios working with DNEG, one of the best companies when it comes to visual effects and computer animation. Lastly, because of a stacked bunch of animated films coming out in 2021, Ron’s Gone Wrong might be on the outside looking in when it comes to receiving an Oscar nomination for Best Animated Feature Film, but there is always a chance and I wouldn’t be opposed to seeing that.

THE BAD

Like most children's movies that I have seen/reviewed, I have a hard time finding anything “bad” with them, and if you thought I was going to go off the beaten track for that with Ron’s Gone Wrong, you are sorely mistaken.

It is in no way a perfect animated film like Toy Story and The Lion King are, and as I said earlier, it does fall victim to some of those common methods of storytelling that we frequently get with these animated children's movies, but there is no denying that overall, Ron’s Gone Wrong is an original story that people of all ages will enjoy.

THE VERDICT

Despite it being subpar in my eyes to other computer-animated science fiction comedies dealing with robots like Big Hero 6 and The Mitchells vs. the Machines, Ron’s Gone Wrong still holds its own with its unique story that takes aim at iPhone culture in today’s age of social media.

It exceeded my expectations with its super smart and funny writing, on-point social commentary, colorful animation, solid voice cast, and an abundance of extremely pure and heartfelt moments that people of all ages will enjoy on the big screen this fall!

TED TAKES RATING - 8.2/10

Ron’s Gone Wrong is now playing only in theaters. Check out the latest trailer below.

Dune

By: Andrew Wing

Dune (titled onscreen as Dune: Part One) is a 2021 American epic science fiction film directed by Denis Villeneuve with a screenplay by Jon Spaihts (writer on Prometheus, Doctor Strange), Villeneuve, and Eric Roth (writer on Forrest Gump, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, and the 2018 version of A Star is Born). It is the first of a planned two-part adaptation of the 1965 novel of the same name by Frank Herbert, primarily covering the first half of the book. Set in the far future of 10,191 AD, the plot follows Paul Atreides, as he and his family, the noble House Atreides, are thrust into a war for the dangerous desert planet Arrakis, between the native Fremen people and the enemy invaders, and former rulers of Arrakis, the House Harkonnen.

The film stars an ensemble cast including Timothée Chalamet in the lead role as Paul Atreides, Rebecca Ferguson as Lady Jessica, Paul’s Bene Gesserit mother, Oscar Isaac as Paul’s father Duke Leto Atreides, Josh Brolin as Gurney Halleck, the weapons master of House Atreides and one of Paul’s mentors, Stellan Skarsgård as Baron Vladimir Harkonnen, the enemy to House Atreides and former steward of Arrakis, Dave Bautista as Glossu Rabban, the nephew of Baron Harkonnen, Stephen McKinley Henderson as Thufir Hawat, the Mentat of House Atreides, Zendaya as Chani, a young Fremen woman and Paul’s love interest, David Dastmalchian as Piter De Vries, the Mentat of House Harkonnen, Chang Chen as Dr. Wellington Yueh, a Suk doctor in the employ of House Atreides, Sharon Duncan-Brewster as Dr. Liet-Kynes, the Imperial ecologist and judge of the change on Arrakis, Charlotte Rampling as Gaius Helen Mohiam, a Bene Gesserit Reverend Mother and the Emperor’s Truthsayer, Jason Momoa as Duncan Idaho, the swordmaster of House Atreides and one of Paul’s mentors, and lastly Javier Bardem as Stillgar, the leader of the Fremen tribe at Sietch Tabr.

Following a failed attempt by Paramount Pictures to produce a new adaptation of Herbert’s novel, Legendary Entertainment acquired film and TV rights to the science fiction novel Dune in 2017. Development for the film began shortly after, with Villeneuve expressing interest in the project and officially signing on as director in January of 2017. He worked with both Roth and Spaihts to write the screenplay, deciding on breaking it into two parts and incorporating an updated 21st century adaptation of the classic 1965 novel. Filming took place from March to July 2019 at various locations including areas in Budapest, Jordan, Norway, and Abu Dhabi, and was filmed with a production budget of $165 million.

Dune premiered at the 78th Venice International Film Festival on September 3, 2021. Warner Bros. Pictures theatrically released the film in 2D, 3D, and IMAX internationally on September 15, 2021, and a later release in the United States on October 22 and on the HBO Max streaming service on October 21 where it will be available to watch up to a month after its release. A sequel, Dune: Part Two, is scheduled for release on October, 20, 2023.

THE GOOD

I don’t even know where to start. Ask anyone who knows me and they will tell you just how much I have been looking forward to Dune ever since its first trailer came out over a year ago when it was originally slated to be released in theaters on December 18, 2020. But, like so many other major films finally being released this year, the COVID-19 pandemic forced it to be delayed almost a full year later than originally planned. Enough about that though, the long-anticipated sci-fi epic from Denis Villeneuve is finally here and wow was it worth the wait.

I am going to hit on almost every aspect of Dune that I loved later in the review, but first things first, this movie is totally awesome in every way I had hoped and is nearly a perfect film in my eyes. I knew I was going to like this, and I just ate it all up. I mean it has the classic hero's journey tale and it is just one of those once in a blue moon films that you’ll get the chance to see, especially now, when original movies are hard to come by. It meets all the expectations that I wanted for it, and it exceeded my expectations as it feels more purposeful with its slower pace that I really enjoyed because it allows the audience to become immersed in the world that is Dune.

The best thing about Dune in my eyes is just its overall scope and the undeniable ambition of the film. Shortly after the novel’s publication in 1965, Dune was identified for potential film prospects, and multiple attempts to make such a film have been made (only feature film being David Lynch’s 1984 version), but it has been widely considered to be “unfilmable”, due to it being difficult to adapt to the screen because of its breadth of content and furthermore because of the passionate fans of the novel wanting any such film to not deviate much from the original material. However, if there is any director working in Hollywood today that could film the “unfilmable”, it would be Denis Villeneuve, and boy did he ever. Villeneuve read the novel when he was just a teenager and it had an immediate and long-lasting impact on him with his profound love for the story. In an interview, he said that every time he went back and read it, there was something different he took away from it. He was moved by Paul’s journey and specifically how his character embraces all of the other cultures and finds strength in being different. With all that said, similar to his 2017 film Blade Runner 2049, Dune was his dream passion project and let me just say he brought his dream to life.

As I said previously, the diehard fans of the novel out there made it very clear that any deviations from the original content without strong justification would potentially harm the film’s reputation, but that was never a fear with Denis at the helm for this project. He knows the source material probably more than anyone outside of Frank Herbert himself and because of that he was able to bring the book's vision to life on the big screen. In interviews, Villeneuve said he treated the novel as his personal bible by constantly referring to it when he had any doubts or questions while filming. Apparently all of the cast members read the novel as well, and with that piece of information it is no surprise why all of the characters were so well-played and authentic, because they all understood their own characters and Denis knew where to take them. Also worth mentioning despite myself not yet having read the book, the film stays extremely true to the source material and because of that, I don’t think a nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay at the 94th Academy Awards is out of the realm of possibility.

Continuing on with the possible and very likely Dune nominations at the 94th Academy Awards, you can go ahead and lock in a Best Picture nomination and also a Best Director nomination for Villeneuve. I will be hoping and praying so hard for Dune to win both categories, but the more likely one if I had to choose would be Villeneuve winning for Best Director. Why do I think so? Well because he truly is THE BEST DIRECTOR right now. If you take a look at Villeneuve’s filmography, the most impressive thing is that his next film is always better than his last film. Yes, I gave Blade Runner 2049 a perfect 10/10 score, but the overall scale of Dune surpasses Blade Runner 2049 if you ask me. His filmmaking style is just so original and unique and it is just so prevalent in all of his films, but especially this one. It is just unfathomable how he brought this story to life and I really don’t think any other director could have accomplished such a feat and that is saying something.

Obviously I have touched on the fact that Dune was considered by many to be “unfilmable” in and of itself, but there is no denying that Dune has inspired so many sci-fi properties over the years such as Star Wars. With that said, seven years after the release of Star Wars, Dune was finally able to be brought to the big screen in 1984 by director David Lynch. Now I decided to go ahead and check out the 1984 version before seeing the new one, and it certainly wasn’t the best. I didn’t hate it as much as the critics did, but I just think it was set up to fail because of the resources available to filmmakers in 1984. Dune is a movie meant to have perfect technical aspects, and that is why in 2021, where there are more resources and better technology, we see a far better Dune film that is just on another level compared to the 1984 version. As for this films improvements over the 1984 version, the particular things I liked included showing more of the Atreides homeworld of Caladan, less voiceover exposition, improved portrayal of Baron Harkonnen, there were stronger female characters and an overall more diverse cast, and last but not least, there were MORE SANDWORMS!

Yes, the overall scope of the film is what I loved most, but the sound is right up there for the best part of the film. I know I’ve talked and will continue to talk a lot about all the Academy Award nominations Dune will rack up, but I don’t know if there has ever been such a lock of an award to be won than there is for Dune and specifically Hans Zimmer to win for both Best Original Score and Best Sound. I mean it’s freaking Hans Zimmer for crying out loud, the legendary film score composer whose works include The Lion King (1994), Gladiator, The Dark Knight Trilogy, Inception, Interstellar, and Dunkirk. The best way to describe the score for Dune is out of this world, and that is exactly what Denis and Hans were going for with this. They wanted audiences to feel like they were hearing sounds from another planet that they have never heard before and as an audience member myself, I can say they did exactly that. The music was just so damn good, and it honestly served as a great tool to help me understand what characters were thinking, feeling, and where they stood in the film.

As for the technical side of things when it comes to Dune, it just doesn’t miss. One area that I don’t think will get enough attention from mainstream audiences aside from it winning the Academy Award for it, but the editing for this film is so incredibly well done. The film has a runtime of 156 minutes, but despite its length, the film does not feel long at all and that is in large part due to its superb editing. The film takes its time and lets itself breathe, there is not one scene that feels out of place and every scene and every line of dialogue feels so important. You can just tell the filmmakers paid attention to every finite detail on this film, but the editing was so darn good and it deepened the overall story and that is why it will win the Academy Award for Best Editing. Continuing with the technical side of things and Academy Award wins, the visual effects were outstanding. Now the sets were built practically (all the spaceships), but the VFX are amazing with the defense shields everyone uses in combat and also that freaking humongous sandworm. Seriously though, if you don’t think it will win for Best VFX, just google a picture of the sandworm, it’s jaw dropping.

The visuals on this film are incredible. I never thought I would be in such awe just by looking at miles of sand in the deserts of Jordan and Abu Dahbi, but I was. They also filmed in Budapest and Norway, and the landscape set in every scene is just beautiful and mind blowing. Greig Fraser was the cinematographer for this and I don’t see any way he doesn’t collect his first Academy Award win for Best Cinematography. To add on to the overall look of the film, Dune just checks every box with its production design, costume design, and don’t forget about makeup and hairstyling too. It will certainly collect more nominations in all these categories too, but the production design and the level of it is insanely huge. Zendaya and Timothée Chalamet both said in an interview that they literally felt like they were on a different planet while filming. As for the costume design, I loved the uniforms for both the Fremen people and the Harkonnen. Also, the Bene Gesserit women looked fantastic with their all-black cloaks and face coverings. Lastly, the makeup artists for Dune were unbelievable and I can’t believe how well they did the makeup on Stellan Skarsgård for Baron Harkonnen. Just wow!

Not only is it one of the most beautiful films I’ve ever seen, but it also has the heart, the story, and the performances to go along with it. If there was ever a cast that deserved the word “ensemble” before it, it is the cast of Dune. Denis Villeneuve knocked it out of the park casting each character with these star-studded actors, but none shined brighter than one of my favorite actors in the industry right now, Timothée Chalamet. I loved Chalamet’s performance as the lead character Paul Atreides. Chalamet is one of the best actors of this generation, and he is able to carry this movie on his shoulders in the lead role because of how well he embodies his character. He was also responsible for what I thought was the best acting of any scene in the film with his performance in the very iconic Gom Jabbar scene. For this scene, I was just sitting in my seat captivated by how intense a scene can be with no words being spoken and it just shows how talented an actor Chalamet is.

Outside of Chalamet’s performance, you could argue that Rebecca Ferguson had the best performance of anyone involved as Lady Jessica. I loved her chemistry with Chalamet in this, and she is just an amazing actress and she put it on display in all of the intense emotional scenes. I also thought Zendaya was amazing as the mysterious character Chani who, unless you have read the books, we don’t know much about. That gives me a lot to look forward to for Dune: Part 2 which is currently scheduled to release in theaters in October of 2023, because Chani seems very fascinating and as her character says at the end of the film, it is only the beginning. Other performances that stuck out to me were Jason Momoa playing a badass once again as Duncan Idaho, Dave Bautista being intimidating as always as Glossu Rabban, and Josh Brolin was sick as Gurney Halleck and he even had a few one-liners that cracked me up. Lastly, Javier Bardem was phenomenal in his few short scenes as Stillgar and he is just one of the greatest actors out there to be honest, but I might be a tad biased because Bardem did play my all-time favorite character in any film ever with his portrayal of Anton Chigurh in the Coen brothers’ 2007 film No Country for Old Men.

THE BAD

So yeah, if you haven’t caught on yet, I absolutely loved this film. There really isn’t anything to criticize about it if you ask me, but I will address some of the things I have heard people didn’t love about it. The first thing, and I’ve heard this the most, is the critique of the long runtime of 156 minutes. Yeah that is a long time and I understand it is hard for someone to find the time in their busy schedules to sit down and watch a movie for that long, but it is well worth it and trust me when I say it flies by. You will be so immersed in the film that you will lose track of time, and also as I’ve already mentioned, they did a fabulous job editing this film so you will never feel bored from beginning to end.

I have also seen a lot of people saying they have been confused. And while I wasn’t confused watching this, it might have had something to do with me going ahead and watching the 1984 version before so I knew a bit more about it. I totally see why people are saying that it’s confusing at times though, because I’ll admit sometimes while watching I couldn’t tell if Paul’s visions that he had many times throughout the film were actually taking place or if they’re just in his head/dreams. The best thing I can say to try and potentially help you from getting confused is to just do a quick search on the basic premise of the world that is Dune and to obviously pay attention during the film, you don’t want to miss a thing!

One thing I will say though, and this isn’t a critique, it is just my personal desire for the film is that I wanted more from some of the bigger name actors in this. Obviously Chalamet and Ferguson take up the most screen time as Paul Atreides and his mother and I loved every second of that, but I just couldn’t help but want more screen time from Oscar Isaac, Josh Brolin, Dave Bautista, and obviously Zendaya and Javier Bardem as the two biggest Fremen characters. However, the movie was already long and more from those actors would have certainly added on to the runtime. Also, Denis Villeneuve stayed true to the source material, so if in the book, Isaac’s character of Duke Leto doesn’t get many lines, I am not going to criticize him for staying true to the source material. And lastly, we are getting a sequel, so I strongly expect Zendaya and Bardem’s characters to play much bigger roles and I cannot freaking wait!

THE VERDICT

Simply put, Dune is incredible and is the best movie of the year. Denis Villeneuve cemented the fact that he is the greatest director working today by bringing his dream to life in the most massive and ambitious way possible. The production is so amazing from the cinematography, the production design, costumes, editing, VFX, and one of the most beautiful scores you’ll ever hear from the brilliant Hans Zimmer. It also features compelling storytelling from its star-studded ensemble cast led by Timothée Chalamet as the main character Paul Atreides. Dune just has it all.

It is easily one of the best theater experiences I have ever had, and I urge you to see it on the biggest screen possible! It exceeded all of my expectations, and it will without question stand the test of time and be regarded as one of the greatest science fiction films of all time.

That’s not all though, Dune: Part 2 is coming in 2023, and there is no denying that Denis Villeneuve will give us another cinematic blast unlike any we have ever experienced.

TED TAKES RATING - 9.7/10

Dune is now playing in theaters and IMAX and streaming on HBO Max for 31 days. Check out the latest trailer below.

The Last Duel

The Last Duel is a 2021 historical drama directed by Ridley Scott. It is based on the book The Last Duel: A True Story of Trial by Combat in Medieval France by Eric Jager, the screenplay is written by Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, and Nicole Holofcener. The book chronicles the sequence of events that led to France’s last government-sanctioned trial by combat as declared by King Charles VI, held between Jean de Carrouges and his former friend, Jacques Le Gris. The book, consisting of existing documents and records, recounts how Carrouges’ wife, Marguerite, accused Le Gris of rape, leading to the pair fighting to the death with Marguerite’s own life on the line if it was decided she had lied.

The cast includes Matt Damon, Adam Driver, Jodie Comer, and Ben Affleck.

The Last Duel had its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival on September 10th, 2021 and received a theatrical release on October 15th, by 20th Century Studios.

THE GOOD

The Last Duel sort of snuck up on me in a way. Usually a movie directed by Ridley Scott with such a talented cast would be circled on my calendar for months. But because of this seemingly never ending pandemic, release dates and standard promoting have been a complete mess. Once I saw the trailer for The Last Duel I was 100% invested and knew I would be seeing this on opening day. Well, that day has come.

I won’t waste your time beating around the bush, whatever that saying even means, I absolutely loved this movie. The sheer scale, ridiculously impressive set and costume design, top-tier acting, great camera work, and incredible attention to detail made for a movie theater experience that took me back in time. I felt like I was in the stands smelling the blood and sweat as I witnessed a once in a lifetime duel to the death. It’s been awhile since I’ve seen a medieval era film, especially of this scale, and it was glorious.

Within 20 minutes or so I was invested to the point of no return, and to be honest it was a little crazy how fast the two and a half hours flew by, but that is what I like to call the Ridley Scott effect. Scott is known for his unique ability to immerse viewers in such a way that by the time the movie ends you almost snap out of a trance, which is pretty cool if you ask me.

The character development, and overall investment in the characters is fantastic. I felt like I was given an opportunity to get to know each of the three main characters, so by the time the films final act came around, I was on the edge of my seat. And speaking of the final act, oh man it was unreal how intense it was. I won’t give anything away of course but the movie starts at the beginning of the final scene, and flashes back to tell the story in a three chapter format, each chapter from a perspective of one of the main characters. I really liked this format and thought it was a very unique way to allow viewers to get all of the different perspectives. But before I get off track, by the time we get to that final scene, the anticipation is absolutely boiling over. I can’t remember the last time I was legitimately nervous about what was going to happen because it really could have ended in so many different ways. With that being said, I LOVED the ending and felt like it was the perfect way to wrap up a gritty story built around a life-changing event.

It goes without saying that acting is a huge strength for The Last Duel. As I’ve said, the cast is absolutely stacked. As far as screen time The Last Duel centers on three primary characters played by Matt Damon, Adam Driver, and Jodie Comer. Ben Affleck plays a primary role as well. From the scar across his face to his man on a mission demeanor, Matt Damon is exceptional as the brooding Jean de Carrouges. Damon is one of the best actors working today, and his ability to play dramatic roles and comedic roles is in the upper echelon. I really enjoyed his character and felt like his raw emotion was a big reason why the film worked so well. I was very impressed with Jodie Comer, who since her recent role in Free Guy, is quickly becoming one of my favorite actresses. I don’t know if it’s my obsession with blonde hair or what, but she is absolutely gorgeous as Marguerite de Carrouges. The fact that her attractiveness jumps off the screen like it does really helps to drive the narrative and get viewers invested. She just stands out in a good way, and her performance speaks for itself. Comer shares the screen with Damon for the majority of the film, and they have great chemistry together.

The other primary character, the charismatic and mysterious Jacques Le Gris, is played by Adam Driver. A former marine who began his acting career on Broadway, Driver is a fantastic actor and he continues to impress in this role. He plays a complex character who seemingly has everything going for him. When you see things from his perspective, you learn that there is more to him than meets the eye. I really like Driver as an actor and felt like he was perfect for this role. Ben Affleck, a longtime friend of co-star Matt Damon, plays the pivotal supporting role of Pierre d'Alençon, and I really enjoyed his character. He is nearly unrecognizable with his bleached blonde hair and chin strap beard. Affleck’s character is extremely influential in the film and serves as a mentor of sorts to Driver’s character.

I went into seeing The Last Duel with very little knowledge of the events the film is based on, which are chronicled in great detail in Eric Jager’s book The Last Duel: A True Story of Trial by Combat in Medieval France. After seeing the film, I did a bit of research and learned that the film is at least 75% historically accurate, which is impressive if you ask me. You always need to add a touch of “Hollywood Magic” to keep viewers entertained, but to retain that much of the real story is a testament to the script. I also learned that the “event” the story is built around was actually much more violent and deplorable than what is shown in the film. Ridley and the writers decided that they would do just enough to allow viewers the chance to appreciate what happened, without the risk of alienating certain viewers who simply wouldn’t be able to handle a more realistic re-telling. I felt this was the right move and does not take away from how impactful it is.

Technically speaking, The Last Duel is absolutely top notch as you would expect. I really enjoyed taking in the beautiful cinematography, and the mix of blues and greys helped to reinforce that Medieval feel. The score and soundtrack is great as well, matching up nicely with the gritty feel of the film. I talked about how immersive of an experience this was, and the cinematography and score/soundtrack is a big reason why. Like with any period piece, the set design and wardrobe has to be on point and it is with The Last Duel. I really like the medieval time period, and this film checked all of the necessary boxes for me. I also thought the writing was great, with a screenplay from Nicole Holofcener, Matt Damon, and Ben Affleck. Each character is given a ton of depth, and the story plays out perfectly as it builds up to a finale that will hit you like a freight train. That final scene is incredibly violent and just a breathtaking cinematic experience. My eyes were literally glued to the screen. I’m pretty sure I said “holy sh*t” out loud in the theater, and even had to remain in my seat for several minutes to collect my thoughts.

Director Ridley Scott is a legend, that is undeniable. The man who brought us Gladiator and Black Hawk Down to name a few, he has built up quite the resume in his illustrious career. His ability to direct these larger than life movies and take full advantage of the talented actors at his disposal is always seamless. Anything he touches always screams entertainment value. Scott’s involvement was one of the reasons I was really pumped for The Last Duel, and he did not disappoint. His attention to detail and the fact that he won’t settle for anything less than perfection really shows here, and you will leave the theater feeling like you just watched yet another great Ridley Scott film.

THE BAD

As I’m sure you guessed I have very few negatives to touch on with this movie, but I could see some people having an opinion on the films story as it sort of ties into the “Me Too” movement. Based on true events, the heart of the story is rooted in Jodie Comer’s portrayal of the strong-willed Marguerite de Carrouges, and her willingness to stand up for what’s right during a time when it was not only extremely difficult as a woman, but potentially deadly. Personally, I think its unfair to try and act like that was an ulterior motive for the film, and instead should be viewed as an opportunity shine a light on a very important and controversial event in France’s history.

I talked about the character development, and the investment in the characters that the film creates, but that wasn’t instantaneous. I felt like a few of the earlier interactions seemed a little forced, but thankfully things picked up pretty quickly. I don’t count this as a negative by any stretch, but the film is extremely violent as you could probably have guessed, and might be a little much for some viewers.

THE VERDICT

An immersive and visceral experience of epic proportions set in medieval France, The Last Duel is a compelling tale of historic events leading to a breathtaking finale. Exciting from start to finish with incredible performances while serving as a great history lesson, this is what going to the movie theater is all about. Ridley Scott has done it again, and continues to build on his amazing career. I knew this would be a great movie just with the director and cast alone, but it exceeded my expectations and left me wanting more. I plan to read the book to get some more perspective, and can’t wait to see The Last Duel again.

Be sure to see this in theaters to ensure we get more movies like this, ideally sooner than later.

TED TAKES RATING - 9.1/10

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

No Time To Die

No Time to Die is a 2021 spy thriller directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga from a screenplay by Neal Purvis, Robert Wade, Fukunaga, and Phoebe Waller-Bridge. Daniel Craig stars in the lead role once again in his fifth outing as the British MI6 agent James Bond. Craig has said it will be his final Bond film. In the film, James Bond has left active service. His peace is short-lived when Felix Leiter, an old friend from the CIA, turns up asking for help, leading Bond onto the trail of a mysterious villain armed with dangerous new technology.

The cast includes Daniel Craig, Ana de Armas, Rami Malek, Léa Seydoux, Lashana Lynch, Ralph Fiennes, Ben Whishaw, and Naomie Harris.

After numerous delays due to the pandemic, No Time to Die made its debut in theaters October 8th.

THE GOOD

Saying that the James Bond/007 movies have been around for a long time would be the understatement of the decade. This franchise has survived for 60+ years, building one of most diverse fan bases you can imagine in the process. The franchise was already 20+ years old by the time I was born, and I consider myself to be a big fan of the films. The British secret agent working for MI6 under the codename 007, is a fictional character created by novelist Ian Fleming in 1953. The character has been played by a number of top-tier actors since the first film released in 1962, including Sean Connery, David Niven, George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan, and most recently Daniel Craig. James Bond is known for his appreciation of beautiful women, high-grade weaponry, and undying love for martini’s, shaken, not stirred, of course.

Pierce Brosnan stepped away from the franchise after the release of Die Another Day in 2002, opening the door for Daniel Craig to make his debut four years later in Casino Royale. After way too many delays, No Time To Die is finally playing in theaters, and boy was it worth the wait. I know some people may get apprehensive about the 2 hour and 45 minute runtime, but let me just say I wish it was even longer. Seriously, I did not want this movie to end. I was so immersed in the experience that I never took my eyes off the screen. I’m not even kidding, which is partly why I ended up with a lap full of popcorn. Oops. I know it is cliché to say this is the “best one yet!”, especially when you are talking about a franchise like this, but I was blown away. Okay I will admit, Sean Connery will always be the best James Bond, that isn’t even up for debate.

I mean, each movie is supposed to get better and better especially with improvements on the technical side of things, and No Time To Die takes full advantage of its resources, that is for sure. From the car chases, to the seemingly infinite gunfights, this is made for the big screen entertainment. You can try and debate me on this if you want, and I admit I love the new age of action thrillers like the John Wick films for example, but the James Bond movies are just a different breed. When the action takes a rare break, we have a chance to appreciate the great cast of characters, many familiar faces and a few new additions.

We all know the importance of an impactful Bond villain that can stack up against the great 007, and No Time To Die delivers a memorable foe. From the outset Rami Malek makes an impression as the scarred up nemesis, Lyutsifer Safin. I thought it was important for the primary villain to have a rock solid purpose, and he absolutely does. His relentless drive and vengefulness reminded me of Baron Zemo’s character in Captain America: Civil War. You knew more than anything else he would stop at nothing to get his revenge, and that my friends is a dangerous individual. I really enjoyed hating his character, and felt like not a second of his screen-time was wasted. The always beautiful French actress Léa Seydoux is exceptional yet again in her return as Madeleine, and her genuine chemistry with Craig is one of the key elements of the films success without a doubt. As a pivotal character who is crucial to the backstory for No Time To Die, she deserves a ton of credit for her performance.

As expected, the acting in No Time To Die is nothing short of incredible. I already touched on the stellar performance from Mr. Robot and Bohemian Rhapsody star Rami Malek, and he no doubt deserves his props. Malek delivers as the villain, and he earned his place among the great Bond villains. He has a unique ability to immerse himself in complex and downright creepy characters. The leading man still steals the show of course, and that is none other than the great Daniel Craig stepping into the role of James Bond for the 5th and final time, as confirmed by Craig himself prior to the release of the film. I really like Craig as an actor, and feel like his on-screen presence alone is worth the price of admission. Bond is a larger than life character who demands attention everywhere he goes, and Craig brings that unique element to the film. He has had one heck of a run since taking over the character in 2006, and he will surely be missed. Can’t wait to see where they take his iconic character next.

Okay so let me just say that I love, love, looooooove me some Ana de Armas. She is beautiful, talented, and when it comes to No Time To Die, a straight up badass. Watching her down martinis and take out bad guys alongside 007 was an absolute treat. I mean, she was running around in a very revealing cocktail dress emptying clips from a submachine gun, and didn’t even break a sweat. So yeah, she’s special. Another actress that was making her presence felt was Lashana Lynch, who took on the role of Nomi. Lynch proves her worth as a member of MI6, and I think she was a fantastic addition to the cast. I also really enjoyed Westworld star Jeffrey Wright’s character, and thought he brought a ton of value to the film.

Ben Whishaw is fantastic once again as the technical genius Q, who Bond would be lost without. He also offers up some well-timed comic relief during the film. Billy Magnusson takes on the important role of Logan Ash, and I thought the Bridge of Spies and Game Night actor delivered one heck of a performance. Christoph Waltz is great as expected, and I really liked Dali Benssalah in his role as Cyclops, even though he didn’t talk much. He just really looked the part.

Bond movies tend to set the bar from a technical standpoint, and that is absolutely the case with No Time To Die. From the first five minutes of the movie I was in awe of the incredible first car chase scene which has been a staple of the franchise, and that was just scratching the surface. The car chases and choreography for the eye-popping action scenes are nothing short of spectacular. I also can’t remember the last time I was just blown away by an intro, I guess maybe the first Deadpool movie, but the No Time To Die intro backed by the exclusive Billie Eilish track was nothing short of a masterpiece. I can’t wait to watch it again. Speaking of the soundtrack, in typical James Bond movie fashion it is exceptional. I loved every minute of it, and even had goosebumps when the trademark 007 theme graced the speakers in the theater.

Staying with the technical side of things, the cinematography in No Time To Die is nothing short of stunning. Filming in incredible destinations like Matera, Italy, Norway, Denmark, Jamaica, and London, you will likely leave the theater wanting to plan your next vacation. We are treated with more great shots than I could count, allowing viewers every opportunity to really take in the sights. James Bond films always deliver next level scenery, and that is absolutely the case once again and yet another reason why this film needs to be seen in theaters. Director and co-writer Cary Joji Fukunaga deserves all of the credit in the world, and surely made this franchise proud. He is extremely talented so I would keep an eye out for any projects in the future that have his name attached.

THE BAD

At this point you can probably make an educated guess as far as what I didn’t like about this movie, and it’s a short list. Now it can feel intimidating going into a James Bond movie as far as feeling comfortable knowing the backstories etc but it wasn’t an issue in my opinion. I’ve seen all of the movies, although it has been awhile, and aside from feeling a little confused about some of the more intricate details, I was able to jump right in. If possible, I would recommend trying to re-watch Spectre (2015), which will just make things a little easier for you. And as I mentioned already, the two hour and 45 minute length is a non-issue. Aside from that, nothing negative to report.

THE VERDICT

Bulletproof cars, beautiful women, breathtaking cinematography and non-stop action, No Time To Die is an exhilarating experience and the perfect last hurrah for Daniel Craig as the charismatic British secret agent. There is a reason why this franchise has survived 60+ years, and it is simply because the movies are just that good. The entertainment value you get from a James Bond film will have you coming back for more, and I personally cannot wait to see No Time To Die again. Do yourself a favor and go see this movie in theaters, you will be glad you did.

TED TAKES RATING - 9.2/10

No Time To Die is now playing only in theaters. Check out the latest trailer below.

The Many Saints of Newark

The Many Saints of Newark (marketed with the subtitle A Sopranos Story) is a 2021 crime drama directed by Alan Taylor and written by David Chase and Lawrence Konner. A prequel to Chase's HBO crime drama series The Sopranos, it takes place during the 1960s and 1970s in Newark, New Jersey.

Young Anthony Soprano is growing up in one of the most tumultuous eras in Newark’s history, becoming a man just as rival gangsters begin to rise up and challenge the all-powerful DiMeo crime family’s hold over the increasingly race-torn city. Caught up in the changing times is the uncle he idolizes, Dickie Moltisanti, who struggles to manage both his professional and personal responsibilities—and whose influence over his nephew will help make the impressionable teenager into the all-powerful mob boss we’ll later come to know: Tony Soprano.

The cast includes Alessandro Nivola (“Disobedience,” “American Hustle”), Tony winner Leslie Odom Jr. (Broadway’s “Hamilton,” “Murder on the Orient Express”), Jon Bernthal (“Baby Driver,” “The Wolf of Wall Street”), Corey Stoll (“First Man,” “Ant-Man”), Michael Gandolfini (TV’s “The Deuce”), Billy Magnussen (“Game Night,” “The Big Short”), Michela De Rossi (“Boys Cry,” TV’s “The Rats”), John Magaro (“The Finest Hours,” “Not Fade Away”), with Emmy winner Ray Liotta (TV’s “Shades of Blue,” “Goodfellas”) and Oscar nominee Vera Farmiga (“Up in the Air,” “The Conjuring” films).

Warner Bros. Pictures and New Line Cinema obtained the rights to produce The Many Saints of Newark alongside HBO Films. The film had its world premiere at the Tribeca Fall Preview on September 22nd, 2021, and was theatrically released in the United States on October 1st, along with a month-long simultaneous release on the HBO Max streaming service.

THE GOOD

Just as we were closing out the 90’s, a genre-defining series called The Sopranos made its debut, and would be known as one of the best shows of all time. The winner of 21 Primetime Emmy Awards five Golden Globes, James Gandolfini’s Tony Soprano was a staple of Sunday night television. I was part of the crowd that started watching the show from the beginning, and tuned in every week until its conclusion in 2007. When The Many Saints of Newark was announced a few years ago as a movie prequel to the series, nostalgia began to take hold. With expectations and anticipation running rampant, could the film possibly live up to expectations?

Okay so if you’ve made it this far, you are surely well aware of the mixed thoughts on The Many Saints of Newark. High expectations are more often than not the perfect recipe for a letdown, especially when it comes to a movie based on a show that is widely regarded as one of the best ever. With that being said, as a fan of The Sopranos I genuinely enjoyed this film. It was a welcomed journey down memory lane, and reminded me just how much I love shows and movies based around organized crime. The Many Saints of Newark has a similar gritty feel, and sets the tone early with the trademark violence the series was known for. I really liked the idea of finding out how Tony Soprano came to be, and the movie does a really nice job laying that foundation. It is a story about family and role models, and ultimately the desire to make something of yourself regardless of the path you choose.

What I enjoyed most about The Many Saints of Newark was just how immersive the experience was. I remember watching The Sopranos, although admittedly its been awhile, and as soon as you moved past the trademark HBO title screen, you were locked in until that episode concluded. And if you weren’t caught up for one reason or another, there was no way you could watch just one episode. The film is very similar in that sense, and had my eyes glued to the screen for the entire 2-hours. The show was built around the dynamic of loyalty and greed, and The Many Saints of Newark follows in its footsteps nicely.

Pivotal characters meet their demise when you least expect it, and everyone is seemingly on edge. I felt like the characters were well developed and helped to progress the story without much of an issue, and the world felt dangerous and unpredictable just like the series. For those of us who have seen the show in its entirety, the foundation of the series is built around Tony Soprano and his behind closed doors work he is doing with his therapist. The film establishes young Tony as intelligent and a born leader, but also sets the stage for the emotional stress that will take a toll on him later on in his life. I enjoyed the character development, and by the time the final minutes of the film came around, I was ready to go back and re-watch the series which I plan to do soon.

The cast for The Many Saints of Newark is absolutely stacked from top to bottom. Alessandro Nivola plays the most pivotal role in the film as young Tony Sopranos influential Uncle, Dickie Moltisanti, and I thought he did a fantastic job. Nivola is certainly not a household name, but he was incredible in a supporting role in one of my favorite multi-layered crime films, American Hustle. Nivola is everything you could want in a leading man, charismatic, full of personality, and probably most importantly for a role like this, an absolute sociopath. He was just great all around. I also really enjoyed the duo-roles played by Mr. Crime Drama himself, Ray Liotta. Although Liotta technically has a supporting role, he gets a good amount of screen time and leaves a big mark on the film. I loved Jon Bernthal’s portrayal of Johnny Soprano, and was once again reminded why he has become one of my favorite actors since his days on The Walking Dead. He is absolutely deserving of his success.

The very well known Corey Stoll and Vera Farmiga are incredible in their roles as well. Farmiga takes on the important role of Tony’s mother, Livia Soprano, and she is great from start to finish. Stoll plays the often slighted and vengeful Junior Soprano. Leslie Odom Jr. is fantastic as Harold McBrayer, a man that starts as part of the family business but transitions to a dangerous and determined enemy. Even though he didn’t necessarily deliver the best performance in the film, I mean he was up against some stiff competition, but I was a huge fan of the late James Gandolfini’s son Michael, who took on the role of a young Tony Soprano, a character that his father made a legend that will live in television history forever. Maybe I have a soft spot for James Gandolfini and The Sopranos in general, but it just warmed my heart to see that his son had the opportunity to play this role. Kudos to everyone for making that happen.

THE BAD

While The Many Saints of Newark is a great film, it is not perfect. The issue that plagued the film the most would have to be the writing. Now let me just preface this by pointing out the obvious fact that writer Lawrence Konner was at a gigantic disadvantage as he was tasked with doing right by The Sopranos as he collaborated with David Chase, and the characters and world he created. Konner is no slouch with a pen in his hand, as he is credited with contributing to the HBO series Boardwalk Empire, as well as the 2001 film Planet of the Apes, but this was still a tall task. Not only is he in a position where he has to somehow live up to the expectations of one of the greatest crime drama shows ever created, he also has the task of trying to attract new viewers who have yet to see the show. The Many Saints of Newark is a prequel and is without a doubt successful in that sense, but where it struggles the most in my opinion is balancing character backstories as it essentially tries to build up to the start of the series. It was clear that Konner and Chase wanted to tie the film into the series at every turn, but it was a tall task.

The Sopranos ran for 6 seasons and totaled 86 episodes, and one of the biggest strengths of the series was the writing and the acting. The characters and the world that was created is what kept people coming back for more. It is extremely difficult to balance so many influential characters, and while I do think the film does a great job all things considered, it is not perfect. A series has the benefit of taking its time with character development from one episode to another, but with a movie you have to cram just enough into a short window. I do however feel like the decision to try and focus on the coming-of-age element for a young Tony Soprano was the way to go, I just felt like the story jumped around so much that at times it seemed to waste momentum. But again, that is just my personal opinion as a fan of the series.

THE VERDICT

A gritty and extremely violent coming-of-age tale chronicling young Tony Soprano’s formidable years, The Many Saints of Newark is a rewarding and immersive experience for fans of The Sopranos and newcomers alike. I mean sure, the fact that this is a prequel to the show helps, but I could easily recommend this film to fans of crime dramas that have never seen an episode of The Sopranos. While it admittedly is not as polished as the award-winning series, the fact that it can stand on its own like it does is probably what impressed me most about The Many Saints of Newark. While its not perfect and the writing will surely leave some fans feeling like opportunities were missed, the package as a whole still delivers in my opinion. This is a just a good old fashioned mob style flick taking place during a very difficult and confusing time in our countries history, and it is well worth a watch.

TED TAKES RATING - 8.2/10

The Many Saints of Newark is now playing in theaters and streaming on HBO Max through October 31st. Check out the latest trailer below.

The Guilty

By: Andrew Wing

The Guilty is a 2021 American crime thriller film directed and produced by Antoine Fuqua (director of Training Day, Shooter, and The Equalizer), from a screenplay by Nic Pizzolatto (creator of the HBO crime drama series True Detective). It is a remake of the 2018 Danish film of the same name that was selected as the Danish submission for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 91st Academy Awards. 

The film stars Jake Gyllenhaal in the lead role as the troubled LAPD officer Joe Baylor who is working the night shift at a 911 call center while he awaits a hearing for an unspecified incident that occurred on duty eight months prior. The day before his court hearing, Joe answers a call from a young woman who reveals she has been abducted. This leads to Joe scrambling to do everything in his power to save the distressed caller during what turns out to be a harrowing day of revelations and reckonings.

The film also features Christina Vidal (Freaky Friday, See No Evil) and Adrian Martinez (best known for his role as the “Discount Double Check” guy from the Aaron Rodgers State Farm commercials) in live-action supporting roles, along with a talented voice cast consisting of Ethan Hawke (Training Day, First Reformed), Riley Keough (American Honey, The Devil All the Time), Eli Goree (Ballers, One Night in Miami…), Da’Vine Joy Randolph (Office Christmas Party, Dolemite Is My Name), Paul Dano (There Will Be Blood, Prisoners, Swiss Army Man), and Peter Sarsgaard (Flightplan, An Education, Blue Jasmine).

The Guilty had its world premiere at the 2021 Toronto International Film Festival on September, 11, 2021. The film was released in a limited release on September 24, 2021, before then being digitally released on Netflix a week later on October 1.

THE GOOD

As a huge fan of Jake Gyllenhaal like most people who love movies as much as I do, I have been looking forward to this movie ever since I saw his name attached to it. Once I saw that Antoine Fuqua was directing AND that it was going to be a Netflix film, my excitement for it doubled.

With as many movies as I watch and have on my watchlist across the streaming services, it is very easy for me to forget about certain movies on those said lists, and as it turns out, I have had the original 2018 Danish version of The Guilty on my Hulu watchlist for some time now. With that said, it wasn’t until after I watched this U.S. remake this past Friday that I actually decided to watch it. First things first, both films are very good and I enjoyed both of them a lot. But with this review being a review of the 2021 U.S. version, I will occasionally reference where I felt it was better than the original and certainly later on in the review in ‘The Bad’ portion, where I felt it was inferior to the original film and why.

There is no denying that the main attraction for this film is Jake Gyllenhaal. He is undoubtedly one of the best actors in Hollywood today and it is mind-boggling that he only has one Academy Award nomination throughout his illustrious career. If there is one genre that suits Gyllenhaal as an actor, it would definitely be the thriller genre in my opinion. I mean we got Donnie Darko, Zodiac, End of Watch, Prisoners, Nightcrawler and the list goes on. There is just something about the way he acts that just fits like a glove with thriller films, so with The Guilty, it was a match made in heaven. Although I didn’t find his performance in this to be his career’s best work, that does not take away from the fact that he is still really really good in this. He is, and this is not a joke, literally on screen for the entire 90-minute runtime, so it was a treat getting to watch him portray this character and make you feel every emotion you can throughout this wild ride.

Another thing I enjoyed about this film and where I felt it improved from the original film were both the sound editing and the overall look of the film. It is very evident when you watch the trailer, but the use of the ringing of the phone in the 911 call center throughout was really cool and I felt it added another layer to an already suspenseful movie. As for the cinematography done by Maz Makhani, I loved the look of this movie, especially inside the 911 call center and the use of the colors red and black. Also, with the movie taking place in Los Angeles during a forest fire, there were plenty of impressive drone/aerial shots on display.

Lastly, the voice actors in this were great and I was surprised to see so many big names once the credits rolled. It was fun trying to guess whose voice each character was and I thought they all did a fantastic job at bringing their characters to life despite not seeing them on screen.

THE BAD

The biggest critique I have on this film is simply that it just isn’t as good as the original despite the big names this one has attached to it. I know that isn’t saying a lot and it doesn’t help its case that the original was really good, so good that it was the country of Denmark’s submission for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 91st Academy Awards. But, I have to be critical of it because I think whenever there is an American remake of a successful foreign property, the goal of those involved is to make a better film than the original no matter what and with this, they just didn’t do that.

The main reason I felt this was inferior to the original was because in this one I felt it was over-dramatized. The two films are extremely similar obviously, from the story to the script, but the U.S. version is definitely more dramatic and I just felt they went over the top in some scenes that came across just fine to me the way they were in the original film. And despite how good Gyllenhaal was in this, even in some of the more intense scenes towards the end it felt like it was overplayed and just a tad embellished which was unfortunate because it took away from the true genuine emotions they are trying to make you feel when you are watching this story take place.

Lastly, and I am curious to know your thoughts on it if you take my suggestion and check this out, but I just didn’t vibe with the ending. I get what Fuqua was going for with Gyllenhaal’s character of Joe Baylor, but as a member of the audience that I was for this film, I wasn’t very pleased with the journey I went through to reach this conclusion.

THE VERDICT

Despite feeling inferior to the original film, The Guilty is still an extremely tense and enjoyable 90-minute crime thriller from Antoine Fuqua that features another exemplary performance from Jake Gyllenhaal, a talented voice cast, and an intriguing story that just may leave audiences feeling muddled over its divisive third act.

TED TAKES RATING - 7.1/10

The Guilty is now streaming on Netflix. Check out the latest trailer below.

Venom: Let There Be Carnage

Venom: Let There Be Carnage is a 2021 superhero film featuring the Marvel Comics character Venom, produced by Columbia Pictures in association with Marvel. It is intended to be the second film in the Sony Pictures Universe of Marvel Characters, and the direct sequel to Venom (2018).

Directed by Andy Serkis from a screenplay by Kelly Marcel, based on a story she wrote with Tom Hardy who stars as Eddie Brock / Venom alongside Michelle Williams, Naomie Harris, Reid Scott, Stephen Graham, and Woody Harrelson. In the film, Brock tries to reignite his career in journalism by interviewing serial killer Cletus Kasady (Harrelson), who becomes the host of an alien symbiote similar to Venom named Carnage.

Venom was intended to be the start of a new shared universe, and plans for a sequel began during production on the first film. Harrelson was cast to make a brief appearance as Kasady at the end of Venom, with the intention of him becoming the villain Carnage in the sequel.

Venom: Let There Be Carnage was delayed from an initial October 2020 date due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and finally made its debut in theaters October 1st.

THE GOOD

My expectations going in to see Venom: Let There Be Carnage were fairly high all things considered, because well for starters you have Tom Hardy, Woody Harrelson, and Michelle Williams rounding out the cast, an accomplished actor turned director in Andy Serkis, and the Marvel name attached to the movie. What more could you ask for? So needless to say I was expecting a memorable experience, and while it didn’t necessarily live up to my lofty expectations, it was still very good.

I really enjoyed the original film, 2018’s Venom, also starring Hardy and Williams, but this may have been a little better for a few reasons. The first movie felt a bit slower for the reason that we had to get acclimated to Eddie Brock’s character and get a feel for his overall backstory. With Venom: Let There Be Carnage we are able to dive right into the good stuff which made the experience fun from start to finish. The Eddie Brock/Venom character has a unique comedic element to it which was perfectly brought to life here, further reinforcing the decision to give Tom Hardy this role.

Venom: Let There Be Carnage was never boring, offering up a ton of great action sequences all of which I thought were fantastic. The dialogue is top notch with tons of great one-liners and pop culture references. I really enjoyed the bad roommate type relationship between Brock and Venom as well which is always good for lots of laughs. I won’t give anything away of course, but one of my favorite scenes is towards the end of the film involving Michelle Williams character and Mrs. Chen, played by Peggy Lu. This scene perfectly epitomizes the beauty that is the goofy nature of these films.

I touched on it a bit already, but the bread and butter of Venom: Let There Be Carnage is without a doubt the cast. Tom Hardy is easily one of my favorite actors, whether he is taking on the role of Bane, playing an absolute badass in Warrior, or starring as one of the Bondurant brothers in Lawless. He is a more versatile actor than he gets credit for who doesn’t seem to get enough of the quirky or funny roles which I think he plays well. I’m not going to sit here and act like I can’t get enough of his bruising type characters, but he should be allowed to do more. His portrayal of journalist Eddie Brock/Venom is fantastic yet again, and I had no issue buying into his character.

The next guy is a legend and needs no introduction, and that would be the great Woody Harrelson. Bringing him in as Carnage was a HUGE move for this movie, and made all of the difference. I mean you can go all the way back to the 1994 cult classic Natural Born Killers, and Harrelson has always had a knack for playing the sadistic and unhinged roles. He is without question one of the most talented actors working today, and he is great as expected in Venom: Let There Be Carnage.

I really like Michelle Williams especially when she lit the world on fire in Manchester by the Sea, but similar to the original film, she is just average as far as her presence on screen. Her character sort of exists to progress the storyline, but I don’t think she necessarily adds all that much to the film. I guess I just have higher expectations for an actress of her caliber. I did enjoy veteran English actor Stephen Graham in his role as Detective Mulligan. Mulligan’s portrayal of Al Capone in HBO’s Boardwalk Empire was epic, and I enjoyed all of his screen time in Venom: Let There Be Carnage as well. This guy is an extremely talented and very underrated actor. I did enjoy Naomie Harris in her role as Frances Barrison/Shriek, and thought she had great chemistry with Harrelson.

On the technical side of things, Venom: Let There Be Carnage was firing on all cylinders. I thought the CGI was incredible and so much fun to experience, adding a very immersive element to the film. I also thought the cinematography was surprisingly impressive and much better than I even expected it to be. The soundtrack and score was also a big positive for the film, helping to keep things light and upbeat similar to the original. Keep an ear out for the latest Eminem track once the credits start. I also thought the pacing was great, delivering up a smooth 90-minute runtime which is always nice.

THE BAD

Okay so I think I made it clear Venom: Let There Be Carnage wasn’t perfect, and now its time to talk about why. I just felt like it was lacking that “it factor” somehow, that element needed to make it great. Now at the risk of stating the obvious, it would have been much better with an R-rating. Now I’m not saying this movie needs to try and be Deadpool or anything like that, I just feel like it lacked a certain level of grit or intensity that an R-rating would have given it. It just felt like it was missing something, most notably during the scenes when Venom or Carnage would chow down on one of their victims. Because of the limitations of a PG-13 rating, most of the actual mauling is done out of the shot, so you aren’t going to see much as far as blood or gore. I mean its not a deal breaker and maybe its just the horror movie lover in me, I just think it could have made a difference.

THE VERDICT

With an abundance of eye-popping CGI and a post-credit scene sure to leave fans of the MCU downright giddy, Venom: Let There Be Carnage is a worthy sequel and yet another reason to visit the theater. Although I do think an R-rating and a bit more from Michelle Williams character would have made a difference, it was still a very fun movie and a more than welcome addition to the impressive Marvel film library. So grab a few friends and some popcorn, and check this one out in theaters.

TED TAKES RATING - 7.3/10

Venom: Let There Be Carnage is now playing only in theaters. Check out the latest trailer below.

Queenpins

By: Andrew Wing

Queenpins is a 2021 American comedy film written and directed by Aron Gaudet and Gita Pullapilly. The film stars Kristen Bell (Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Bad Moms) in the lead role as Connie Kaminski, a bored and frustrated suburban homemaker whose hobby of using coupons eventually leads to a multi-million dollar counterfeit coupon scandal. The film also stars Kirby Howell-Baptiste (Downward Dog, Killing Eve) as Connie’s partner-in-crime JoJo, Paul Walter Hauser (Richard Jewell, BlacKkKlansman) as Ken Miller, the hapless Loss Prevention Officer from the local supermarket chain, Vince Vaughn (Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story, Wedding Crashers) as the determined U.S. Postal Inspector Simon Kilmurry, and it also features American singer and songwriter Bebe Rexha in her first live-action feature film debut.

The film was released in the United States on September 10, 2021 by STXfilms, and is currently available to stream on Paramount+. Also, the legendary Ben Stiller serves as an executive producer for this movie under his Red Hour Productions banner.

THE GOOD

I remember when Ted sent me the first trailer for this movie and I remember being pumped for it to say the least. Obviously, I was excited to see Kristen Bell in another comedy movie because I am a big fan of some of her big comedy films she has done in the past such as Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Couples Retreat, and Bad Moms. However, I’d be lying if I said that she was the main attraction for me when it came to Queenpins. The main attraction right off the bat was Paul Walter Hauser and Vince Vaughn. We all know Vince Vaughn and we know just how funny he is, but a lot of people still don’t know much about Paul Walter Hauser and just how good of an actor he is. His range as an actor is extremely impressive. There are not many actors who can play both the lead role in a Clint Eastwood biographical drama film like Richard Jewell where he leaves you in awe with such a powerful and authentic performance, but at the same time can also leave you pissing your pants with his comedic skills that he puts on display big time in this movie.

If you haven’t been able to guess yet, Hauser’s performance in this was the highlight of the film for me. There was something just so freaking hilarious about him playing a Loss Prevention Officer for a local supermarket chain that takes his job incredibly seriously that put a smile on my face. This isn’t a big spoiler, but his character’s entrance into the film was amazing as he tells an elderly woman that she can’t use a coupon because the coupon is a fake because of its expiration date being the 31st of November where the month of November only has 30 days. Arguably more impressive than Hauser’s performance, was his on-screen chemistry with Vince Vaughn. Whoever was in charge of casting for this film deserves a raise because these two went together perfectly and because of how good they were together, I am hoping and praying for some sort of future buddy cop comedy film that brings these two actors together again because I know it would be just perfect.

Aside from their performances, I just really enjoyed the fact that the amount of silliness didn’t take away from the overarching story in my opinion. I also thought the movie was paced really well. I was worried going into it that it might drag at points with a 110-minute runtime but that was not the case. Trust me, the fact that this is based on a true story is interesting enough that you won’t be feeling bored whatsoever.

THE BAD

I certainly enjoyed the movie overall, but similar to the last comedy movie I reviewed, Vacation Friends (see full review here), it still has its flaws. Even though I said I thought the downright silliness of the film didn’t take away from the story as a whole, that is just my opinion. It is a very silly movie and you can tell it’s trying to fluff up the story as much as they can to make it an interesting enough film and there is a chance it could be a tad over the top for some viewers. That also ties into my next point that this movie is LOOSELY inspired by true events, so if you’re thinking that this movie will show you exactly how all of it went down, you are mistaken.

I also really wasn’t blown away by Kristen Bell’s performance in this. I mean she’s not terrible by any means, but going into this I really thought she was going to take the cake but that was not the case. For as compelling as her character’s backstory is, I felt Bell’s performance was anything but compelling and that was rather unfortunate. As for the other key players in the film, Kirby Howell-Baptiste and Bebe Rexha, I just thought their performances were average. They really didn’t bring much to the film as a whole other than a few laughs here and there.

Lastly, I thought this movie could have benefitted big time from a good soundtrack but it felt nonexistent at times. I would have loved to see slow-motion scenes of either Bell’s character using her coupons or Hauser and Vaughn’s characters doing some investigative stuff with some modern hip song playing in the background because I think that just would have brought another element to this story.

THE VERDICT

Although not everyone in the talented cast of this coupon-clipping comedy makes their presence felt, Queenpins is still an above average comedy film that most audiences will enjoy. It is a very silly telling of a true story where two housewives created a multi-million dollar coupon scam that is highlighted by awesome performances from two of my favorite actors, Paul Walter Hauser and Vince Vaughn, whose comedic chemistry in this film is so good that it will leave you wanting to see more of it in the future.

TED TAKES RATING - 7.4/10

Queenpins is now streaming exclusively on Paramount+. Check out the latest trailer below.

Cry Macho

By: Andrew Wing

Cry Macho is a 2021 American neo-Western drama film directed and produced by Clint Eastwood. Cry Macho is based on the 1975 novel of the same name by N. Richard Nash and was adapted from a book to the big screen by Nick Schenk. The plot follows a former rodeo star Mike Milo (Clint Eastwood) who is hired to reunite a young Rafael “Rafo” Polk (Eduardo Minett) in Mexico with his father Howard Polk (Dwight Yoakam) in the United States.

There have been numerous attempts in the past to adapt the novel into a feature film with a variety of actors negotiations to star, none bigger than when Arnold Schwarzenegger was cast back in 2011 only for production to be canceled after a scandal. In 2020 though, it was announced Eastwood would create an adaptation with Albert S. Ruddy, Tim Moore, and Jessica Meier attached as producers. Production took place in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic in New Mexico with cinematographer Ben Davis (cinematographer for MCU films: Guardians of the Galaxy, Avengers: Age of Ultron, Doctor Strange, Captain Marvel). During post-production, the score was composed by Mark Mancina (also scored big films such as Speed, Bad Boys, Training Day, and Moana).

Cry Macho was theatrically released in the United States on September 17, 2021, by Warner Bros. Pictures with a simultaneous release on the HBO Max streaming service for 31 days.

THE GOOD

There is no denying what the main attraction was when it came to this movie. It was the man, the myth, the legend, the 91-year-old Clint Eastwood. It is already remarkable that he is still acting at his age, but the fact that he is also producing and directing on top of that is unfathomable. He is undoubtedly one of the biggest movie stars of all-time and after seeing the last movie he directed, Richard Jewell in 2019 that I thoroughly enjoyed, I was not going to miss his follow up.

Unfortunately, there was a lot I didn’t like about the film and I will dive into that later in this review, but one thing I did like about the movie was Eastwood’s performance. It was nowhere near his best work that we got with his early films like The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966) and Dirty Harry (1971) or even some of his more recent films such as Million Dollar Baby (2004) and Gran Torino (2008), but it is still an overall good performance in this movie because even despite his age, it is still Clint freaking Eastwood that is acting. But for real though, his performance in this was very down to earth and authentic and you could tell that this was certainly a passion project of his.

Other than that, the two best things about Cry Macho were the score and the scenery in my opinion. First with the score that was brought to us by Mark Mancina. When I first watched the trailer for this film, what stuck out to me most other than Eastwood’s name being attached was the amazingly moving score that was being played throughout the entire trailer. I am not even joking when I say that I was humming the score hours after initially watching the trailer. That one song was definitely the best, but the entire movie is full of some great music and I am not ashamed to admit that I was already a fan of Mancina’s work thanks to the 2016 Disney film Moana, and with this, my fandom for him has grown even more. Onto the scenery that was shot by cinematographer Ben Davis. The scenery throughout the whole movie is really breathtaking. The film takes place in Mexico for the most part, while production took place primarily in New Mexico and Davis just does a marvelous job at really providing essence to the story as a whole with some of his shots and I would be lying if I said that wasn’t my favorite part of the movie.

THE BAD

As I said in “The Good” portion, there was unfortunately a lot I didn’t like about this film. For starters, it is an incredibly slow movie. If you are going into this movie thinking that you are going to get another gunslinging Western featuring Eastwood in the lead role, you will be sorely mistaken. It also didn’t help that the film was poorly paced. There were some scenes that I wanted to see more of and also scenes that I wanted a lot less of if that makes sense. For example, it made me think of another Eastwood film from a couple years ago, The Mule. With that film, despite it also being really slow in some ways, I thought it was still very well-paced and that helped keep me engaged from start to finish when I watched it where this one did not.

I might as well continue comparing it to The Mule. I know that film got bashed by critics, but I really enjoyed it because of what was a very interesting story in my book. With Cry Macho, I just was not a fan of the screenplay. I already said that it was slow due to poor pacing, and because of a weak screenplay, I also found it to be a quite boring movie for lack of a better term. I thought going into it that there would be some intense action scenes with either Mexican police or border patrol because of the film’s premise dealing with getting the kid back into the United States, but there wasn’t any of that. Instead, there was way too much dialogue for my liking and I just felt that the film’s tone was all over the place.

Lastly, I really did not like a single performance from anyone else besides Eastwood. I’ve already mentioned that this was far from Eastwood’s best performance but I am not going to over-critique a 91-year old man’s acting. I just won’t. I will critique everyone else though. First with Eduardo Minett, the actor who played the boy “Rafo”, I just wasn’t buying what he was selling. I don’t know how many performances he has under his belt, but his inexperience stuck out like a sore thumb in some scenes, especially some of the more emotional ones. Also, it pained me how many times this darn kid said “macho” in the film, I was like dude we get it, that’s the name of the movie. I also did not like Dwight Yoakam’s performance in this. Maybe it is part because his character is kind of a piece of s**t, but he just didn’t bring enough emotion to his character. It felt at times like he was just reading off a teleprompter.

THE VERDICT

Despite some beautiful scenery and a profound score, Cry Macho gets bogged down with its poor pacing, weak screenplay, and some pretty forgettable performances from the supporting cast.

While Cry Macho did not leave the impact on me that I was hoping for, it is still a Clint Eastwood directed movie featuring you guessed it...Clint Eastwood. If there is one thing I took out of watching this movie, it is that Eastwoods proves that he still remains one of the prominent filmmakers we have working today and that is he will always bring the same charismatic screen presence to any role of his.

TED TAKES RATING - 5.5/10

Cry Macho is now playing in theaters and streaming on HBO Max for 31 days. Check out the latest trailer below.

Dear Evan Hansen

Dear Evan Hansen is a 2021 coming-of-age musical drama directed by acclaimed filmmaker Stephen Chbosky (The Perks of Being A Wallflower, Wonder), the film is written for the screen by the show’s Tony winner Steven Levenson with music and lyrics by the show’s Oscar®, Grammy and Tony-winning songwriting team of Benj Pasek & Justin Paul (La La Land, The Greatest Showman).

The film tells the story of Evan Hansen, a high school senior with Social Anxiety Disorder and his journey of self-discovery and acceptance following the suicide of a fellow classmate. Ben Platt plays the title role, reprising the performance that he originated on stage. Dear Evan Hansen held its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 9th, 2021 as its Opening Night Gala Presentation.

Featuring Grammy winning songs, including the iconic anthem “You Will Be Found,” “Waving Through a Window,” “For Forever” and “Words Fail,” Dear Evan Hansen stars six-time Oscar® nominee Amy Adams, Oscar® winner Julianne Moore, Kaitlyn Dever (Booksmart), Amandla Stenberg (The Hate U Give), Colton Ryan (Apple TV+’s Little Voice), Nik Dodani (Netflix’s Atypical), DeMarius Copes (Broadway’s Mean Girls) and Danny Pino (NBC’s Law & Order: Special Victims Unit).

Dear Evan Hansen made its debut in theaters September 24th, courtesy of Universal Pictures.

THE GOOD

I should probably start this review by pointing out the fact that I have never seen the Broadway musical the film is based on, or any Broadway musical for that matter, and had zero context until I watched the trailer. I’m also not a huge fan of musicals in general, although I loved The Greatest Showman and I’m not ashamed to admit it. But once I watched the trailer for Dear Evan Hansen, I knew I needed to see it. I have friends who did see the musical and have been anxiously awaiting the film release as well, so that was definitely a contributing factor. 

Long story short, Dear Evan Hansen is a fantastic and incredibly moving movie. It is heartfelt, very well acted, and the script felt raw and genuine and had me invested from start to finish. I had my reservations as someone who usually has the take it or leave it mindset when it comes to musicals, but with Dear Evan Hansen I was 110% invested. Maybe it’s the subject matter or the simple fact that I’m a sucker for a good tear jerker or coming-of-age film, but for me this was an experience that stuck with me more than most movies do. I felt like it hit me on a personal level, and it also resonated with me as far as my educational background as it relates to psychology and mental illness. High School is hard enough, but in the social media age I can only imagine it is damn near unbearable at times. Movies like Dear Evan Hansen need to be seen to help spread awareness, similar to the recently released Words on Bathroom Walls (full review and trailer here), that tackles schizophrenia, now streaming on Prime Video.

Dear Evan Hansen explores so many important themes while creating awareness in the process, and for me, that’s something that really matters. Whether you’re passionate about the widespread prevalence of mental issues like depression or anxiety, or just the overall struggle with suicide awareness in this country, the topics on the forefront hit hard. Also, I’m not even going to hide from the fact that I was full on tearing up several times, and a few women in the theater were outright crying. Not even kidding. I did my best to sniffle during the louder parts of the movie of course, I mean I have a reputation to protect after all.

The storyline is extremely heavy emotionally, and I feel like the addition of the music was a big time contributing factor as far as the tear jerking element of the film. If you consider yourself to be a bit of a softie with these types of movies, bring lots of tissues. I felt the isolation and loneliness the characters felt whether it was Connor’s family dealing with this tragedy in this unforgiving age of social media, or Evan having to navigate high school while dealing with his own demons. And speaking of the music, the performances were exceptional. I loved each and every song, and if this is what most musicals are like, I should probably start watching more. I mean the music was so seamless in each scene that it just felt like it belonged. Kudos to everyone that worked on this movie.

Speaking of people who worked on Dear Evan Hansen, if you want to bring a coming-of-age musical or book to the big-screen, director Stephen Chbosky is your guy. Anything this guy teaches receives rave reviews, especially from viewers, which at the end of the day is really all that matters. These are the people going out and supporting these movies. He did the 2012 film The Perks of Being a Wallflower, also based on a book. He also did a favorite of mine, and one of my wife’s absolute favorite films, the coming-of-age 2017 drama Wonder (full review and trailer here), based on the New York Times Bestselling book. I read the book which was amazing, and it was perfectly depicted on-screen as well. The film is now streaming on Hulu. Bottom line, you want Chbosky behind the camera for these films because the guy just gets it, and he quite simply makes movies that matter.

The acting is without a doubt one of the main reasons Dear Evan Hansen works so well. The cast is stacked and very well balanced. Going in I wasn’t hugely familiar with Ben Platt aside from the Pitch Perfect movies, but he is incredible in this role and I now understand his Broadway success. His portrayal of a high school student who is struggling with borderline debilitating anxiety and depression felt real and inspiring. He was genuine and his display of emotion was amazing. He is such a talented actor, singer, and songwriter, and the fact that he won a Tony, Emmy, and Grammy in the title role in the Broadway musical for which the film is based, is absolutely insane to me. I mean this guy lit the world on fire with this coming-of-age musical from 2015-2017, and was able to step into the lead role in the film version at the age of 27, and still play what I thought was a very believable and fantastic portrayal of the character. The critics that are grilling him for “looking too old” to play a high school student are just looking for something to nitpick because that never once entered my mind. Instead Platt’s commitment to this role should be applauded, not criticized. Just see the movie and you will be amazed.

Julianne Moore was fantastic in the role of Evan’s mom, and her portrayal of a struggling single mother with a teenager dealing with struggles of his own felt genuine. I loved Amy Adams in her role as Connor’s mom, and felt like her unimaginable struggle as a mother grasping for something to hold onto to keep the memory of her late son alive was authentic. I have dealt with loss in my life and watched my own mother go down a similar path, and it is downright crushing mentally and physically so I really felt for her character. Its true what they say, there is no love like a mothers love. Adams is one of the best actresses working today, and she proves it here.

I also really liked Danny Pino, best known for his role in Law & Order: SVU, as Connor’s step dad. As a father myself, he got the water works going for me a few times. Kaitlyn Dever does a really great job as Connor’s complicated but ultimately kind hearted sister, and her chemistry with Platt was huge to the success of the film. I also really enjoyed Colton Ryan in his role as the troubled and misunderstood Connor Murphy. I was extremely pleased with Amandla Stenberg in her role as Alana Beck. She may not be a household name, but she was amazing in the 2018 coming-of-age drama The Hate U Give. She is an actress to keep your eye on. Nik Dodani essentially plays his exact same character from the Netflix series Atypical, but I didn’t mind it and felt like he did a really nice job here as well with his light-hearted presence.

THE BAD

Whether you are turning a book or a Broadway play into a movie, the bar is already set high and the expectations are unrealistic more often than not. A movie requires so many different things to work in unison in such a small window, that it often produces something considered to be nothing short of a letdown. But sometimes that bar is part of the problem. Like I explained earlier in the review I wasn’t comparing Dear Evan Hansen to the Broadway musical it is based on, but from my perspective, this is just a really good movie plain and simple. You could maybe argue that the acting felt forced at times, but it was few and far between and I felt like it was more of the difficult transitions from acting to singing in certain scenes. I can’t think of any substantial issues I had with Dear Evan Hansen, and I honestly feel thankful that I had the opportunity to see it. This is a movie that will leave a mark on you, and I think it will inevitably help a lot of people. It is a little long at 2 hours and 17 minutes which is lengthy for most people, but trust me it flies by.

THE VERDICT

Powerful, inspirational, and genuinely moving, Dear Evan Hansen is hands down the best musical since The Greatest Showman, and quite the tear jerker. Do yourself a favor and ignore the cynical so-called “critics” and check this out in theaters, you’ll be glad you did. I mean seriously, sometimes these out of touch critics are the absolute worst (I consider myself a lone ranger of sorts of course), and I can’t seem to figure out what is up their you know what when it comes to this movie. I guess I should thank them for lowering my expectations, but needless to say I will be recommending this movie to everyone who will listen, and I truly hope it does well and allows this important message the opportunity to reach as many people as possible.

So please, do me a huge favor and ignore the naysayers and trust the audience score, Dear Evan Hansen is worth it.

TED TAKES RATING - 9.2/10

Dear Evan Hansen is now playing only in theaters. Check out the latest trailer below.

Copshop

Copshop is a 2021 action thriller film directed by Joe Carnahan, and written by Kurt McLeod and Carnahan, based on a story by McLeod and Mark Williams. Carnahan was behind the camera for some great action films like The A-Team (2010), the very underrated Smokin’ Aces (2006), and the 2021 Hulu original time-loop thriller Boss Level (check out our review here), also starring Frank Grillo.

Screaming through the Nevada desert in a bullet-ridden Crown Vic, wily con artist Teddy Murretto hatches a desperate plan to hide out from lethal hitman Bob Viddick: He sucker-punches rookie officer Valerie Young to get himself arrested and locked up in a small-town police station. But jail can't protect Murretto for long. Viddick schemes his own way into detention, biding his time in a nearby cell until he can complete his mission.

The cast includes Gerard Butler, Frank Grillo, Alexis Louder, and Toby Huss. Copshop received a theatrical release on September 17th, courtesy of Open Road Films.

THE GOOD

I pride myself on knowing what movies are coming out and when, yet somehow Copshop snuck up on me. A month or so ago, maybe a month and a half, I came across the trailer and because it wasn’t on my radar I immediately assumed it would be a direct to VOD (video on demand) release. I went ahead and watched the trailer and was admittedly blown away, so I wasn’t at all surprised find out that it was going to release exclusively in theaters. I next found out it was directed by my guy Joe Carnahan and starring Gerard Butler and Frank Grillo and that was all I needed to hear, I would be there opening day.

Alright so I’ve had some time to collect my thoughts since seeing the movie, and Copshop was an absolute blast. It is just a fun ride from start to finish. The only thing I enjoyed more than the movie itself has been telling people about the movie, while doing my best to avoid spoilers of course. I really enjoyed the world they created and I loved the characters. It definitely had a Smokin’ Aces meets Assuault on Precinct 13 feel to it, which is a damn good combo if you ask me. Frank Grillo’s character Teddy Murretto is more or less the Jeremy Piven of Smokin’ Aces, who thinks that assaulting a police officer in an effort to hide out in a local police station is a good idea. Unfortunately for him, relentless hitman Bob Viddick is hot on his trail. The game of cat and mouse between these two is a joy to experience, but the real fun starts when psychopath hitman Anthony Lamb shows up, played by Toby Huss. Lamb is real nut job and not a second of his screen-time is wasted. To say that this small police station will never be the same is a severe understatement.

The violence is prevalent pretty much throughout the film, but the humor is as well which really balances things out nicely. Mixed in with all of the profanity is a ton of well-written dark comedy one-liners, including a few pop culture references. All things considered I very much enjoyed the comedy aspect and laughed out loud quite a few times. I also thought the pacing was great as the movie never once felt boring. Copshop is chock full of fantastic characters and memorable back and forths, making overall replay ability undeniable.

Copshop is undoubtedly anchored by the incredible cast. Frank Grillo is damn near unrecognizable in his role as smooth talking Teddy Moretto, right down to his man bun and goatee, which was a really nice touch. It becomes clear pretty quickly that he would sell out his mother to save his own ass. I really liked his character and felt like Grillo was the perfect person to play this role, once again proving why he and Carnahan are so successful together. I am a huge Gerard Butler Guy, and I honestly feel like at this point in his career he is basically Mr. Crime Thriller. I’ve seen Law Abiding Citizen, a very underrated movie, at least 50 times, and his more recent Den of Thieves (full review here), is another great watch I highly recommend. His portrayal of cool, calm and collected hitman Bob Viddick is just perfect.

I also mentioned Toby Huss in his role as Anthony Lamb, and to be honest he might just be my favorite character. He is a complete sociopath and finds joy in shooting people, usually while cracking jokes or dancing, or both. He points out the fact that the contract for Teddy is a “free fire” meaning anyone with the initiative has the option to try and take him out to collect on the big pay day, which is where he comes in. From his intro scene the tone is set for Lamb’s character, and you will be like a kid in a candy store each and every time he is on-screen, or at least I was anyway. For those of you who have seen the Apple TV series The Mosquito Coast (preview and trailer here), which is a great show by the way, his character reminded me of the contract killer Bill Lee, played by Harry Potter actor Ian Hart, although he is the more calculated and less “colorful” version. If anyone in Hollywood is reading this, a movie with these two characters together would be EPIC.

I also have to give a huge shoutout to Alexis Louder in her role as resourceful rookie cop Valerie Young. I really liked how many layers there were to her character, and I felt like she was believable right from the start. She is a legit badass and is a big reason why this movie worked so well. Louder was asked by Carnahan to channel her inner Dirty Harry as she prepared for her role, so she watched The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly and Dirty Harry to prepare for her character, which is described as a modern-day gunslinger. After watching the movie it all makes perfect sense, and I couldn’t have enjoyed her character more. She is an actress to keep an eye on.

I talk quite a bit about star Frank Grillo and director Joe Carnahan’s personal and professional relationship, and the fact that they have a production company together called WarParty Films in my Boss Level review, which did also produce Copshop. Carnahan might not be a household name, but he sure knows his way around an old school shoot em up action thriller, and he is quickly becoming a favorite of mine especially if he continues working with Grillo. His movies are fun and full of energy, and include lots of laughs, what more could you ask for? On the technical side of things Copshop is fantastic. The old-school feel is fully realized thanks to lots of nice touches with the editing including the opening which is borrowed directly from the 1973 film Magnum Force starring Mr. Dirty Harry himself, the ageless Clint Eastwood. The very upbeat and energetic soundtrack also keeps things going, and in my opinion was a crucial ingredient for the success of the film.

THE BAD

Full disclosure, I’m a sucker for this style of movie for several reasons. You really don’t need a complex plot for it to work if you have great acting and a unique and stylish feel. But, interestingly enough, one of the best elements of Copshop also proves to be something that limits its potential. The characters, primarily Grillo’s Teddy Murretto and Butler’s Bob Viddick, are extremely fascinating and the driving force for the success of the movie but we aren’t really afforded the opportunity to get to know them. The dialogue between the two helps paint a picture as far as who they are and what their personal history is, but they barely scratch the surface. I would love to have seen more time spent on flashbacks so that we could have gotten to know their characters better.

Frank Grillo actually took to social media blasting the films final cut after the editing process was completed saying that his performance was in his words, “castrated”, which significantly impacted the final product. He is pissed that critics have been critical of his performance, and says that the cut he and director/friend Joe Carnahan handed over was skipped over for a different cut which he says makes his character very one-dimensional in comparison. Personally, I still loved his character but I get his frustration. They certainly left lots of untapped potential on the table. I hope they release the directors cut on Blu-ray so that I can compare the two, and maybe Grillo can convince Carnahan to start working on a sequel, perhaps even a prequel focused on Murretto and Viddick’s characters. I would love that.

THE VERDICT

A stylish old-school shoot-em-up action thriller packed to the brim with gratuitous violence, humor, and memorable characters, Joe Carnahan’s Copshop is one heck of a fun ride and well worth the price of admission. Could it have been even better? Sure. I talked about the untapped potential of the film but at this point, I will watch anything Carnahan is involved with especially if Grillo is in a lead role. I just hope he continues to include Butler in the future as well, and maybe we will even get a Copshop sequel/prequel. Fingers crossed. So yeah, ignore the so-called critics who can’t seem to stomach a nice blend of violence and comedy, and go see this at your local theater, you won’t regret it.

TED TAKES RATING - 8.7/10

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

The Killing of Two Lovers

The Killing of Two Lovers is an 2021 drama film, written, directed, produced, and edited by Robert Machoian. The film tells the story of a man named David who desperately tries to keep his family of six together during a separation from his wife, Niki. They both agree to see other people but David struggles to grapple with his wife's new relationship.

The cast includes Clayne Crawford, Sepideh Moafi, Chris Coy, Avery Pizzuto, Arri Graham, Ezra Graham, Avery Pizzuto, Jonah Graham, and Bruce Graham

The Killing of Two Lovers had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival on January 27,th 2020. It received a limited release on May 14th, 2021, courtesy of Neon.

THE GOOD

The Killing of Two Lovers was on my radar prior to its initial limited release on May 14th. I knew right away it was a film I would appreciate so I kept my eyes peeled for it to get a streaming release. Well that day has come as it is now available on Hulu, so I made sure to watch it right away and more than anything else, this is a powerful film. The Killing of Two Lovers sets the tone within the first five minutes, and by then you will be able to tell if it is for you or not. I mean, it is intense from the start, and right down to the 4:3 ratio that you will be watching it in you can tell this is going to be a movie that will hit hard.

The film focuses on one of the most complex issues within our society today, which is of course that of relationships and family dynamics. Writer Robert Machoian isn’t concerned with catering to the audience and setting the stage for an easy to understand story. He throws us right into the fire, and forces us to figure things out along the way. I was on the edge of my seat from the first scene, and I could feel the emotion and despair oozing from the screen. Not only will you feel bad for David, you will relate to him in one way or another as we have all been in his position in some form or fashion, although hopefully not to the same extent.

You get to see how David is with his kids, and how those within his community go out of their way to say hello in the local store or around town, and I personally felt like I really got to know him and that was huge for me. I really enjoyed seeing how important family was to him. He desperately wants to keep his family intact, but is teetering on the edge of making a decision out of anger that could ruin his life. By the end I just wanted things to work out in his favor, and in many ways I felt as helpless as he did. Life is hard, raising kids is hard, raising four kids and trying to salvage a marriage is downright brutal. But, sometimes that is the card you are dealt and you just have to roll with the punches and do what you can try and make things work. His wife Niki is not portrayed as the villain either, which is a testament to the quality writing.

I thought the acting was great from everyone, but I really loved Clayne Crawford as David. A hard working actor who has done a ton of TV work, Crawford is able to display a variety of complex emotions seamlessly throughout the film and is the primary reason why it all comes together and works so well. Many of the scenes are just close up shots of him, and just his face is able to tell the story and keep things moving along. Veteran actor Chris Coy was great in his role as the man David’s wife starts seeing, and I felt like he added a ton of value to the film. Coy had a brief stint in the hit series The Walking Dead. I also feel it is necessary to give a shout out to the kids, played by Avery Pizzuto, Arri Graham, Ezra Graham, and Jonah Graham. They all did a great job. I also really enjoyed Bruce Graham in his role as David’s father. All three kids are definitely siblings in real life which is pretty cool if you ask me, and I assume Bruce is the grandfather, but Google let me down when I was trying to confirm or deny that.

On the technical side of things, The Killing of Two Lovers charts its own course. What I mean by that is it relies on the performances, cinematography, and sound editing more than anything else. The film has no soundtrack whatsoever, and you won’t even hear any music playing during the many truck rides during the film. You will encounter plenty of silence and just pure well intentioned dialogue that moves the storyline along. The sound editing is amazing, as during some of the scenes where David’s emotions and anger are ready to boil over, you feel like you are in his head as the “ringing in his ears” takes over and you can’t hear anything being said in the background. I felt like this was a nice touch and helped to make David that much more relatable especially considering the different emotions he was forced to try and deal with. The Killing of Two Lovers is also designed to feel claustrophobic as far as David’s anxieties and struggles relating to his broken marriage, so the setting in the beautiful yet tiny and isolated town of Kenosh, Utah, is just perfect.

After what is admittedly a small sample size, I am extremely impressed with director/writer/editor Robert Machoian. His camera work for The Killing of Two Lovers is nothing short of exceptional. He makes you feel like you are a part of each scene. Certainly far from a household name, this guy is talented. Looking at his filmography he seems perfectly content focusing on smaller scale art house type films and I understand why. When you watch a movie and a signature style from a director/writer stays with you the way it did for me with The Killing of Two Lovers, you can’t help but appreciate it. His style is raw and genuine, and more than anything else it feels unique. You can tell that this is a movie he is proud of. I look forward to seeing more of his work in the future.

THE BAD

Bottom line, The Killing of Two Lovers is not for everyone. This is very much an art house type film that requires investment from viewers to be appreciated. It doesn’t include any explosions or awesome fight scenes, just beautiful cinematography and great acting. One person could watch this movie and absolutely love it, and someone else could turn it off five minutes in and say it was garbage just because it is filmed differently. But at the end of the day, filmmaking is an art form and its not designed to please everyone. You can say you didn’t enjoy The Killing of Two Lovers, but you can’t say it is a bad movie.

THE VERDICT

A beautifully shot and emotionally powerful journey you won’t soon forget, The Killing of Two Lovers is a raw and intimate portrayal of the complexities of marriage and family. Bottom line, if it doesn’t leave a mark on you by the end you weren’t paying attention. I mean sure this will undoubtedly appeal to the indie film crowd, but I say step out of your comfort zone and give this one a try. You won’t regret it.

TED TAKES RATING - 8.5/10

The Killing of Two Lovers is now streaming on Hulu. Watch the official trailer below.

Vacation Friends

By: Andrew Wing

Vacation Friends is a 2021 American buddy comedy film directed by Clay Tarver (co-showrunner and an executive producer of Silicon Valley), who co-wrote the screenplay with Tom Mullen, Tim Mullen, Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley. It stars Lil Rel Howery (Get Out, Uncle Drew), John Cena (Trainwreck, The Suicide Squad - see full review here), Yvonne Orji (Insecure), Meredith Hagner (As the World Turns, Palm Springs), Robert Wisdom (The Wire, Prison Break), Lynn Whitfield (A Thin Line Between Love and Hate, Madea’s Family Reunion), and Andrew Bachelor (better known as ‘King Bach’). 

The film follows Marcus and Emily (Lil Rel Howery and Yvonne Orji) who are on a vacation in Mexico where they run into the wild and carefree Ron and Kyla at their resort. Living in the moment, the usually level-headed Marcus and Emily let loose to enjoy a week of craziness with their new “vacation friends.” Months later though after returning from Mexico, Marcus and Emily are horrified when Ron and Kyla show up uninvited at their wedding, creating chaos and proving that what happens on vacation, doesn’t always stay on vacation.

Vacation Friends was released on Hulu on August 27, 2021.

THE GOOD

I won’t lie, upon seeing the trailer for Vacation Friends I immediately said to myself “this movie is gonna stink!” I just thought the trailer looked really dumb and corny, and it seemed like they were just bringing two really funny actors together in Lil Rel Howery and John Cena and hoping that would be enough to make a good comedy flick. Well, if that was their original plan, it worked! Don’t get me wrong, the film has its fair share of dumb and corny moments, but overall I really enjoyed Vacation Friends.

Hands down the best part of the movie in my opinion was the back and forth banter and surprisingly great chemistry between the stars Lil Rel Howery and John Cena. As I said earlier, I knew going into this that both actors were funny, but I was skeptical that they would be good together but they proved me wrong right from the start. I absolutely loved Lil Rel in his feature film debut Get Out in 2017 as the comedic relief character in that very thrilling film, and he has only continued to make me laugh more and more in his numerous film roles since that. Probably my favorite thing that he does as a comedic actor is when he gets angry and completely freaks out which leads him to completely ramble on and on and he does that a couple times thanks to Cena’s character’s foolish ways. 

As for Cena, the summer of Cena continues and I am loving every second of it! In my review for The Suicide Squad, I highlighted that he was my favorite part of that insanely amazing superhero movie and I don’t know, I just love seeing this guy on the big screen! He just cracks me up in every scene with everything from his facial expressions to his nonsensical but still hilarious dialogue that just leaves you laughing at the top of your lungs. Being a WWE legend, he obviously is cut from the same cloth as Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, and while I’m not saying he is at that upper echelon of movie-star just yet, if he can follow up the amazing year he is having in 2021 with a few more just like it, John Cena could be right up there with “The Rock” because he just knows how to put a smile on your face and that is very important to me as a viewer.

I also really liked the performances from both Yvonne Orji and Meredith Hagner as the wives of the main characters in this movie. I had no knowledge of either of them going into this and I can certainly say that I am already a big fan of both of them and am looking forward to checking out more of their work in the future. Andrew “King Bach” Bachelor was really funny too in this as the annoying younger brother who disapproves of his sister’s husband which led to some pretty great moments between his and Lil Rel’s character. There isn’t much more to say, I had a great time watching this movie and I was very pumped to see that 20th Century Studios already announced that a sequel titled Honeymoon Friends is already in development, with the main cast and director set to return!

THE BAD

I’m not going to write a dissertation on this, but despite how much I enjoyed the movie, it is extremely far from a perfect comedy. As I said earlier, similar to films like Grown Ups and The Benchwarmers, it is certainly stupid in so many ways but that doesn’t make it an overall bad film. There were definitely a few jokes that missed and it sometimes felt like overkill when it came to the idiotic nature that is the Ron and Kyla couple, but Vacation Friends knows exactly what it is. It’s main purpose is to entertain and that is exactly what it did for me.

THE VERDICT

Although it is far from the perfect buddy comedy film and the laughs aren’t always in a steady supply, Vacation Friends is a turn-your-brain-off movie that you can stream without any serious reservations as it is thrusted forward with some great performances from a terrific cast led by two of the funniest actors in the industry today in Lil Rel Howery and John Cena.

TED TAKES RATING - 7.2/10

Vacation Friends is now streaming on Hulu. Check out the latest trailer below.

Malignant

Malignant is a 2021 horror thriller directed by James Wan, the man who brought us Saw, Insidious, and The Conjuring. The screenplay is from Akela Cooper, and is based on an original story by Wan, Ingrid Bisu and Cooper. The film tells the story of Madison, a woman who is paralyzed by shocking visions of grisly murders, and her torment worsens as she discovers that these waking dreams are in fact terrifying realities.

The talented cast includes Annabelle Wallis, Jake Abel, George Young, Jacqueline McKenzie, and Mckenna Grace.

Malignant made its debut in theaters and streaming on HBO Max September 10th for a limited time, courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures.

THE GOOD

As a horror fan through and through, once the trailer dropped for Malignant, I couldn’t wait for its release. I mean the trailer itself was intriguing on its own, but the name James Wan is what sold me from the start. Wan has become a fixture in the horror community, and has directed his fair share of great films over the years, most notably 2010’s The Conjuring, which kicked off one heck of a franchise. But with a name like his attached comes high expectations, so the obvious question becomes, does Malignant live up to these expectations?

Overall, I was pleased. Malignant is quite an experience, and will undoubtedly keep your attention for the entire almost 2-hours. I was never bored, not even a little bit, and couldn’t wait for the story to unravel and reveal what the heck was going on. The visuals were incredible, and created this really cool immersive experience as you were part of these “nightmares” right along with the main character. They did a fantastic job with that part of the film. The writing was great for the most part as well, offering viewers breadcrumbs throughout but never revealing anything until the end even though you could tell the conclusion was going to catch you off guard. I was also impressed with the performance from Annabelle Wallis in the lead role which was a big positive for the overall impact of the film. She is nearly unrecognizable with her dark hair which was a nice touch for the ominous tone of the film.

Bottom line, Malignant is a very entertaining horror “hybrid”. What I mean by that is it really isn’t a true horror film, blending sci-fi action elements especially towards the end, more specifically the films final act. One thing about James Wan is the guy loves to wow audiences, for better or for worse. Whether he is “goring it up” with Saw, or jumping vehicles off cliffs in Furious 7, he is a man that thrives when he can step outside of his comfort zone and get creative. A few scenes even had a John Wick vibe which I certainly did not expect going in. One thing is for sure, you will not see the ending coming with Malignant, but how you actually feel about it will be the big question. I won’t give anything away of course, but it surely caught me off guard. Instead of writing this review right away I took some time to digest things, and I feel a little different about it now than I did right after I finished the movie. And to be honest, I am going to re-watch it again soon which is always a good sign.

I absolutely LOVED the soundtrack for Malignant, it just added so much to the overall experience which is an underrated part of filmmaking these days if you ask me. The featured track that will no doubt end up stuck in your head, is “Where Is My Mind” by Pixies. The song was also prominently used in the final scene of the hit film, Fight Club (1999). It was cool because during Malignant the song would start playing after a pivotal scene with a well placed slo-mo just for added effect. Just a really nice addition, you will get it once you see the movie.

THE BAD

I really enjoyed Malignant as you can tell, but it certainly had it’s issues which keep it from being great. The acting was good but not great especially from the supporting cast, but I don’t think it necessarily took too much away from the film. I also thought most of the characters lacked any real unique qualities. My biggest issue with this movie is that it felt like some sort of genre clashing experience by the time you reached the ending. I won’t spoil it but the ending is next level ridiculous and almost humorous in a way. I personally would have preferred sticking with more of a horror storyline especially considering how great the first half or so of the movie was. It had the makings of a horror classic early on but decided to take a bit of a detour into other genres, and was also plagued by some poor writing at times.

Another significant issue I had with Malignant is the fact that it wasn’t very scary. I mean sure, early on it has some great horror elements and had me creeped out for the first 45 minutes to an hour, but I also watched it late at night with every single light in the house off. Okay at one point something in the pantry fell and the stability ball decided to roll across the living room floor on its own which was a little nerve wracking, but I recovered. Thanks to a pretty ridiculous conclusion, I was able to turn off the TV and go straight to bed without much of an issue. It just ended up feeling more like a sci-fi action film than it did a horror, which is good and bad I suppose.

THE VERDICT

Entertaining from start to finish and unique in many ways, James Wan’s Malignant highlights the directors signature style with an abundance of blood and gore and an admittedly outlandish final act sure to get mixed reactions. Overall, I was very pleased with this movie and felt like it held my attention and even warrants some repeat viewings, but the ending definitely took away from the overall potential to be a clear cut horror classic. I am still conflicted on whether or not I can even consider this a true horror film for the reasons I previously pointed out, but sometimes its better to be a little different instead of doing what everyone expects you to do. Whether you see Malignant in theaters or stream it on HBO Max, it is absolutely worth a watch so that you can form your own opinion. If you want to watch something that’ll keep you up at night, check out my recent review for The Night House here.

TED TAKES RATING - 6.8/10

Malignant is now playing in theaters and streaming on HBO Max. Check out the latest trailer below.

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

By: Andrew Wing & Ted Trafton (but mostly Andrew)

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is a 2021 American superhero film based on the Marvel Comics featuring the title character Shang-Chi. Produced by Marvel Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, it is the 25th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), preceded by Black Widow (see Ted’s full review here). The film is directed by Destin Daniel Cretton (also directed Short Term 12, Just Mercy) from a screenplay he wrote with Dave Callaham (also wrote Wonder Woman 1984, Mortal Kombat) and Andrew Lanham, from a story by Cretton and Callaham. It stars Simu Liu (Kim’s Convenience) as Shang-Chi alongside Awkwafina (Crazy Rich Asians, The Farwell), Meng’er Zhang in her film debut as Shang-Chi’s sister Xu Xialing, Fala Chen (The Undoing), Florian Munteanu (Creed II), Benedict Wong reprising his role as Wong, Doctor Strange’s right-hand man, Michelle Yeoh (Tomorrow Never Dies, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon), Tony Leung (Chungking Express, In the Mood for Love) as Xu Wenwu, Shang-Chi’s father and leader of the Ten Rings, and last but not least Ben Kingsley, who reprises his role from Iron Man 3 (2013) as Trevor Slattery. In the film, Shang-Chi is forced to confront his past after he is drawn into his father’s Ten Rings organization.

A film based on Shang-Chi entered development in 2001, but work did not begin until December 2018 when Callaham was hired to write the screenplay. Cretton joined in March 2019, with the project fast-tracked as Marvel’s first film with an Asian lead. The film’s title and primary cast were announced later that year in July, revealing the film’s connection to the famous Ten Rings organization, which previously appeared throughout the MCU. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is the first Marvel Studios film with an Asian director and a predominantly Asian cast. Filming began in February 2020 but like so many other movies finally coming out this year, was put on hold in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Production resumed in August 2020 before completing in October.

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings premiered in Los Angeles on August 16, 2021, and was released in the United States on September 3, 2021, as part of Phase Four of the MCU. So far, the film has broken numerous box office records, and has already grossed over $146 million worldwide in its opening weekend.

THE GOOD

I won’t lie, when Kevin Fiege and Marvel announced their slate for Phase Four of the MCU, I was skeptical when I saw Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings as one of the feature films. The main reasons I was skeptical was because one, I had no knowledge of the title character Shang-Chi, and two, the last time Marvel made a movie dealing with the Ten Rings organization, it was Iron Man 3 in 2013 and that is widely regarded as one of the bottom tier MCU movies. Boy oh boy was I wrong though. This movie far exceeded my expectations for many reasons that I will discuss in this review. Before getting to that though, I just have to say that this was hands down one of the more enjoyable MCU movies I have seen in recent years with its straight up action scenes and its insanely different and fresh introduction to a character that is going to be around for a long time in the MCU.

Another reason I think I was skeptical heading into this movie was simply the fact that I had never heard of the actor Simu Liu who plays the title character Shang-Chi. But now, with his amazing performance in this, I can say for a fact that I will never forget him. His performance as Shang-Chi is definitely one of the best parts of the entire movie. I really felt that he just embodied everything that it takes to play a superhero in the MCU with his ability to be a complete badass when fighting but also make you laugh out loud like we have seen with other MCU actors for years now such as Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man, Chris Evans as Captain America, Chris Hemsworth as Thor, and obviously Chris Pratt as Star-Lord. His on-screen chemistry with co-star Awkwafina who plays Shang-Chi’s best friend Katy was amazing, and the comedic scenes of them going back and forth made myself and the entire theater crack up more than a handful of times. But honestly, Marvel made a great decision picking Liu for this role and I can’t wait to see what the future holds for him in the MCU as Shang-Chi.

After having a few days to sit on it, I can say with certainty that the best part of this movie in my opinion is the choreography of the action sequences. In particular, the bus scene that really kicks off the movie is just great and is exactly what all fans of Marvel movies want. It felt contained in a way that allowed you to just take in everything you were getting in that scene and the visual effects in that entire sequence were top-notch. I would have to say that it was definitely one of the best action sequences to take place in a Marvel movie that I have seen in recent memory. Speaking of action sequences, I also really liked the one that took place on a tall building with scaffolding because it shows you just how good Marvel is when it comes to fight choreography because it was really freaking good.

Outside of the great performance by Simu Liu in the lead, there were a few performances from supporting characters Tony Leung, Awkwafina, and Meng’er Zhang that stole the show. First with Tony Leung, I thought he was truly amazing as the film's antagonist. I felt his performance as Xu Wenwu made him an above average Marvel villain because one, he was human, and two, like other Marvel villains in the past, his reasons for doing what he is doing are arguably justified. Next with Awkwafina, I thought Marvel knocked it out of the park casting her as the comedic relief character who is this grounded character with no powers that we see often in superhero movies. It was so funny seeing her react to everything going on around her like the regular person she is and I just thought she was extremely well utilized in this film from start to finish. Lastly, Meng’er Zhang was the most badass character of them all as Shang-Chi’s estranged sister Xu Xialing. It was crazy finding out that this was Zhang’s feature film debut because of how awesome she is in the movie and I don’t think I’m going out on a limb saying that she will be in many more action movies in her young career. 

There were a couple more things that I loved about this movie that I felt were worth noting. First off, it was just great to finally get a Marvel movie that explores and represents Asian culture. Obviously, Black Panther was an outstanding landmark in cinema with its cultural significance to the African-American culture, and I really think Marvel did it again with this as it continues to break box office records all over the world. Also, this movie is incredibly funny. I went and saw it with my brother in a packed theater and it was just great to hear the crowd laugh over and over again at it. The scenes that probably got the most laughs took place when the main characters drive to Ta Lo and are being guided there by Kingsley’s hilarious character Trevor Slattery and his animal companion Morris. Lastly, it was so damn cool seeing Florian Munteanu (actor who played Viktor Drago in Creed II) as Razor Fist, a member of the Ten Rings who has a freaking machete blade for his right hand!

From Ted’s Perspective…

Similar to Andrew, I went into Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings somewhat blind as far as knowledge of the character, or anything related to the film and how it fit into the MCU really. When the first trailers dropped, I was excited to see it because it looked like a visual powerhouse, and it was a Marvel film, always a good combo. And man was this a blast to watch in the theater. The fight choreography was amazing, the CGI and overall visuals were glorious, and the fun factor was just through the roof. Oh, and it was very funny as well. It is definitely the most culture heavy Marvel film since Black Panther, and I mean that as a compliment.

It has come to be expected that acting is top-notch for any Marvel film, and although we are lacking the long list of big names we are used to, that is still the case with Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. Lead Simu Liu is fantastic in his role and is believable from start to finish. I never once thought he came across as corny, and for me that is huge. He has a very bright future in the MCU. I am a fan of comedian/actress Awkwafina, but do feel she is more often than not typecast in her roles which limits her value. Lucky for me and other fans of this particular film, her trademark brand of humor actually works extremely well and adds an element of comic relief that I really enjoyed. Andrew was also spot on when he gave actress Meng’er Zhang her credit as Shang-Chi/Shaun’s sister. Be sure to stay for the incredible post-credits, it had me pumped up and I can’t wait to see more from her. The cast was great all around.

Part of why this film is unique is the fact that we look at Shaun, or Shang-Chi, as a regular guy who just happens to be someone who is capable of manhandling a guy built like an NFL linebacker, with a machete for an arm! As fans of movies like this, we love to see that regular guy who is all of a sudden someone nobody wants to mess with. Its relatable and fun, and for me that’s always a key ingredient as far as entertainment value. Plus the action is pretty much nonstop from start to finish, so the 2+ hours goes by really fast.

THE BAD

There is no denying that this is an overall good movie that is extremely enjoyable and fun to watch. There were some things that I would have liked to have been different that I will discuss, but it is important to remember that this is a superhero film serving as an origin story to a new character, so you are just going to get some of the usual cliches that are tough to avoid when making these movies.

I know I just said in “The Good” portion that the best thing about this movie is the choreography of the action sequences and IT IS in my opinion, but I couldn’t help but feel that the editing in those action scenes felt a little too quick at times. I am no expert when it comes to martial arts films, but I felt it would’ve been beneficial for some of the fight scenes (not the bus one because that is PERFECT) to be shot in one long take so we can truly watch and be amazed by the choreography because it is amazing.

Another thing that bothered me was that for as much as the film pushed family dynamics, I did not walk out of the theater thinking about the dynamics of family and how Shang-Chi had to overcome all of his past hardships with his family. Maybe it is just me, but I just felt the way this movie settled those issues was sort of generic and almost default in a way. In my opinion, it just didn’t pay off at the deeper level that I think it was going for because of the amount of exposition it spent on the topics surrounding family.

The last thing I just got to get off my chest is that I found there to be an overabundance of CGI in the final big battle scene with all of the dragons and the other creatures. I honestly don’t know why they went that route, I would have much rather seen more martial arts fights and more using of the actual Ten Rings than watching screeching dragons trying to tear each other apart for minutes on end but that’s just me.

From Ted’s Perspective…

You’d be hard pressed to criticize much about Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, it is just an all-around very enjoyable film. But if you had to get nitpicky, I suppose you could say that sometimes they opt for more of a comedic tone which can at times take away from the intensity of the more pivotal scenes. But in all honesty, I think they actually had a nice balance. I mean this is a Marvel film kicking off Phase 4 of the MCU, and much like the tail end of Phase 3 with Avengers: Endgame and Thor Ragnarok etc, all of the films find that balance of serious and funny which has become a trademark for Marvel. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings might favor the humor similar to Ragnarok, but it still works.

THE VERDICT

While Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings isn’t entirely free of Marvel’s familiar formula, it still makes for an exciting and fresh origin story that expands the MCU in more ways than one. 

The 25th entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe is definitely a top-tier Marvel movie in my book as it explores and represents Asian culture like no other superhero movie has before. It is propelled by some impressive choreography in the action sequences, a ton of humor, and obviously some standout performances from Simu Liu, Awkwafina, Meng’er Zhang, and Tony Leung as the film’s antagonist and leader of the Ten Rings.

From Ted’s Perspective…

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is easily one of the deeper films in the MCU as far as a backstory with considerable substance. The root of the story is anchored in the complicated web of love, companionship, family, and just what it means to become a parent and everything that comes along with it. As a parent myself, I appreciated the complexities that the film explored when it comes to legacy, sacrifice, and commitment to your significant other. I’m still blown away by just how fulfilling of an experience this movie was, and can’t wait to add it to my Blu-ray collection. Be sure to stick around for the two post-credit scenes as well, because they will have you fired up for what is to come. I can’t wait!

But aside from all that, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is the perfect example of why we go to the movie theater, which is why it demolished the box office over Labor Day weekend, and even influenced the release of Venom: Let There Be Carnage to move up a few weeks. I realize I have said this before, but I am going to say it again, movies are definitely back!! So start digging in the couch cushions for change if that’s what you need to do, and check this out sooner than later. I hope to see it again very, very soon.

TED TAKES RATING - 8.9/10

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is now playing in theaters and IMAX. Check out the latest trailer below.

The Night House

From director David Bruckner, the guy behind horror films V/H/S, Southbound, and The Ritual, The Night House is a 2021 psychological horror thriller, based on an original screenplay by Ben Collins and Luke Piotrowski.

Reeling from the unexpected death of her husband, Beth is left alone in the lakeside home he built for her. She tries as best she can to keep it together – but then nightmares come. Disturbing visions of a presence in the house calling to her, beckoning her with a ghostly allure. Against the advice of her friends, she begins digging into her husband’s belongings, yearning for answers. What she finds are secrets both strange and disturbing – a mystery she’s determined to unravel. The film stars Rebecca Hall, Sarah Goldberg (Barry, Elementary), Vondie Curtis Hall, Evan Jonigkeit, and Stacy Martin.

The Night House released in theaters on August 20th, courtesy of Searchlight Pictures.

THE GOOD

As soon as the trailer dropped for The Night House however many months ago, I was giddy with excitement. I love a good horror film, and I am a big fan of David Bruckner’s work. He is one of those directors who still believes in the value of score and cinematography, and just overall feel when it comes to a finely crafted horror film. He also makes sure to have great acting in his films which can be rare for this genre, and I certainly appreciate that as well. It took me a bit longer to make my way over to the theater to see it, as it was more of a limited release than I originally expected. But I refused to be denied. My expectations just grew with my anticipation, and I am pleased to say that I was not let down. The storyline was engaging and thought provoking, and held my attention from start to finish. I wouldn’t say it was next level scary, but I got chills and jumped a few times I will say that. And for me, chills are always worth the price of admission.

With that being said, this isn’t your run of the mill cheesy horror film, instead it relies on real-life elements like devastating grief and loss, and how that can impact a human being. The Night House also included so many interesting “aha” moments as the story unfolded that I just couldn’t wait to talk about. After the movie ended of course, please don’t be “that guy” in the movie theater. It sort of had a Final Destination feel to it, with the underlying message being that if death has you in its crosshairs, it is only a matter of time. That in itself will make your skin crawl and instill a deep down type of fear, and the film is able to create this almost alternate reality based on that idea which was really cool, and horrifying, to experience. I was actually able to see The Night House with my movie review co-pilot Andrew, who just reviewed the highly anticipated horror Candyman (full review here), so it was nice to have the opportunity to talk about some of the themes of the film as we walked out of the theater. As big horror fans who appreciate the finer elements of filmmaking, we both seemed to have the same takeaways and were equally impressed.

One of the biggest strengths of The Night House is the acting, and Rebecca Hall is absolutely exceptional in her lead role as the troubled and recently widowed lead character Beth. A big reason why the film works so well is how believable Beth’s character and her backstory is, and that is all because of Hall. You can see the grief in her face as she portrays a woman who is beaten down emotionally and physically. You will feel for her character, and will want her to find peace somehow. Hall has a very diverse resume including a prominent role in the incredible 2010 crime thriller, The Town. She is an actress that takes full advantage of her opportunities, and she was without question the right choice for this film. I look forward to seeing more from her in the future. The supporting cast was great as well, with a fantastic role played by Sarah Goldberg, who most will recognize from the HBO series Barry, alongside Bill Hader. I also really enjoyed Vondie Curtis-Hall, who played a small yet crucial role as an empathetic neighbor with a few secrets of his own.

On the technical side of things, The Night House is near perfect. The film is highlighted by beautiful cinematography, as it was filmed at a picturesque lake house in Syracuse, NY. As soon as it starts, you will be wishing you were there, but probably not so much by the end. Just the camera work in general does such a great job of taking full advantage of the setting, and adding that much needed intimate and isolated feel that allows a horror thriller the opportunity to really unnerve viewers. The small details with the shots, utilizing shadows for effect and staying on a characters face longer than expected before transitioning to the next scene, made everything feel that much more real. I was also extremely pleased with the score for the film, which sets a very effective ominous tone throughout.

THE BAD

The Night House is a top-tier horror film, plain and simple, and I won’t budge on that. But as I have pointed out in a bunch of my previous reviews, it is impossible to please everyone and the balance can get extra tricky when you dive into the horror genre. I have been a horror fan for as long as I can remember, and over the years I have come to realize that what I consider to be scary most consider to be downright traumatizing. A prime example would be Ari Aster’s horror gem Hereditary (our full review here) from A24, anyone who says that movie isn’t scary needs to seek professional help because it is just f’ed up on another level. Another great example is Brian Bertino’s deeply disturbing horror film The Dark and the Wicked (preview and trailer here).

I bring up these examples for one basic reason, these are horror films crafted to scare you from the inside out, they don’t care about jump scares, they want you to feel something well after the movie ends, and The Night House is similar in many ways but for that same reason, it might not appeal to the jump scare/run of the mill horror audience looking for some cheap scares while they demolish a bag of delicious popcorn. The story is unique and thought provoking, but may move along a bit slow for some. It puts extra weight into character development and feel throughout the film. David Bruckner also has a certain directing style which requires you to pay extra close attention, or you will risk missing an important detail that may seem like just part of the background initially, making it so you will need to give the movie another watch to fully appreciate the nuances. So yeah, this isn’t so much a section pointing out “the bad” at all really.

THE VERDICT

David Bruckner’s The Night House is a very well-written and immersive horror film anchored by a breakout performance from lead Rebecca Hall, exploring real-life themes sure to leave its mark on viewers. Horror films are often willing to trade quality for jump scares in an effort to satisfy the masses, but that is not the case here. I feel like it is rare to say that the story and the acting is the biggest strengths of a horror film, but that is absolutely what we get with The Night House. Bruckner creates an experience that is as equally entertaining as it is terrifying, so if you consider yourself to be a horror fan, you need to see this sooner than later.

TED TAKES RATING - 8.5/10

The Night House is now playing in select theaters. Check out the latest trailer below.

Candyman

By: Andrew Wing

Candyman is a 2021 supernatural slasher film directed by Nia DaCosta and written by Jordan Peele (director of Get Out and Us), Win Rosenfeld (executive producer on BlacKkKlansman), and DaCosta. The film is a direct sequel to the 1992 film of the same name and the fourth film in the Candyman film series, based on the short story “The Forbidden” by English novelist Clive Barker. The film stars Yahya Abdul-Mateen II (Aquaman, The Trial of the Chicago 7) in the lead role as Anthony McCoy, a visual artist who becomes obsessed with the Candyman legend. Also featured in the film are Teyonah Parris (If Beale Street Could Talk, WandaVision), Nathan Stewart-Jarrett (Misfits, Utopia), and Colman Domingo (Fear the Walking Dead, Euphoria), while Vanessa Williams, Tony Todd, and Virginia Madsen all reprise their roles from the original film.

Plans for another Candyman film began in the early 2000s, with original film director Bernard Rose wanting to make a prequel film about Candyman and Helen’s (Virgina Madsen’s character) love. However, after the studio turned down that idea the project entered development hell. It was not until 2018 when Jordan Peele signed on as producer with Universal Pictures and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer that DaCosta signed on as director. Principal photography for the film began in August 2019 and wrapped in September 2019 in Chicago, Illinois.

Unfortunately though due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the film’s release date was delayed three times from an original June 2020 date. After a long wait, Candyman was theatrically released in the United States on August 27, 2021, by Universal Pictures.

THE GOOD

First off, there is no denying that I was very excited to see this movie, and the three delays only added to my excitement. I watched the original a few years back and I enjoyed it a good amount, it certainly had its issues just like this one does, but overall I found the original to be a pretty solid horror movie. Also, once I heard that Jordan Peele was attached to this project, I almost lost it. The dude just gets the horror genre and it didn’t take longer than ten minutes into the film for me to realize that his fingerprints were all over this.

Enough about Peele though, I was very impressed with Nia DaCosta’s direction in this movie. I thought she did a fantastic job at blending these serious issues around social commentary with horror. The film certainly explores so many valuable themes that dive into racism, police brutality, and many other problems that we see a lot of in our country today. We saw Peele explore these same issues in his feature film Get Out in 2017, and it is important that these topics continue to be discussed in movies like Candyman because they truly are thought provoking.

I will touch on the performances of the cast, but what stood out the most to me were the smaller things that sometimes don’t get mentioned enough. For starters, the film looks incredible. The visual presentation of this film is amazing, DaCosta gives us some very interesting shots and angles of said shots that had me in awe. I particularly loved the way some of the horror/thriller scenes were shot and I found them to be very effective, and the Candyman kill scenes that you expect to see going into this movie are extremely well done. The production design, cinematography, and score were all around pretty good as well. But yeah, DaCosta makes it clear that she can direct a movie, and I am very excited to see what does in The Marvels, the sequel to 2019’s Captain Marvel that she was recently hired to direct which made her the youngest filmmaker to direct a Marvel film. 

Onto the performances, and I found them all to be solid. Yahya Abdul-Mateen II was great in the lead role and he continues to show that he is one of the best up and coming actors in the movie industry. Specifically with him though, I loved watching his character’s descent into madness as the movie went on. It was astounding to see on the big screen and it left me wanting to see him in more roles like that. Despite his greatness though, I felt Colman Domingo’s character was the stand out.

It is crazy to say that being a huge fan of The Walking Dead franchise, because it is rare to see someone from that franchise have this much success in the movie industry, but his performance in this, as well as other films/series he has been in recently probably put him right up there with Jon Bernthal as the most successful actors/actresses from The Walking Dead franchise. For real though, Domingo has a really great monologue in what I felt was the best scene of the entire movie and because of how strong a performance he gives, I felt he epitomized what the movie was going for more than the protagonist in a way if that makes sense.

THE BAD

I won’t lie, being a fan of the original I ultimately liked how they connected Yahya Abdul-Mateen II’s character to the original, but even that couldn’t help the fact that his character was underwritten. It felt like they focused more on how they would connect his character back to the source material than actually developing his character. As much as I loved Abdul-Mateen’s performance of Anthony McCoy, I found him to be a pretty weak protagonist which is something you never want to see with any film of any genre. He just had so much more to offer the story that I would have liked to see, and because of his lack of development, I was confused at the end of the film as to what the point of his character was to the story and I just couldn’t follow his character arc unfortunately.

I think that ties into my next complaint about this movie and that is simply that it is too short. The movie tries too hard to call back to the original film and just spends too much time explaining things that happened in the first film so you could better understand what was going on in this and before you know it you are already an hour into the movie. I think that might be why the end of this movie definitely leaves something to be desired. I did not think it was going to end the way it did and it just felt incomplete and rushed. In the last third of this movie you just sort of watch it fall apart before ending abruptly and I really just think that this is the perfect example of a movie that could and should have been longer than its runtime of 91 minutes.

My biggest complaint with Candyman is easily just the fact that it is far more complicated than a horror movie should be. Going into it, I figured with Peele on board that it was going to focus more on the deeper themes surrounding Candyman in a more developed and mature way than the original only flirted with. And while I thought this film did a better job at tackling these issues than the original, I still wanted it to be explored more. I mean the Candyman is basically a terror created by white society, and the Cabrini-Green projects in Chicago where the story takes place is just another sad example of this cycle of poverty that is created due to government neglect which leads to the majority black populations living in these terrible conditions.

Perhaps a longer runtime could have solved this problem too, but I just felt we were never given a strong perspective on these issues, instead they were just explained to us through narration which is why I say the movie as a whole is complicated. For example, with another Peele movie like Us in 2019, that movie is more complex than complicated and you knew what that movie was going for, but with this I just felt unsure at times at the points they were attempting to make and I wish they would have gone more in depth. 

The last thing I’ll say about this movie is that in my opinion, it was nowhere near as terrifying as some other horror movies I’ve watched recently and I don’t even think it is as scary as the original which is something I did not expect to say after watching. There were not enough horror scenes in the movie to be honest, and the movie as a whole just didn’t have that “mysterious horror” elements that the original did. I think I say that because the movie feels too explained and over discussed and that just takes away from the mysterious intrigue that is the Candyman character.

THE VERDICT

Candyman is a slasher film that checks almost every box as it blends social commentary with horror with some great performances from Yahya Abdul-Mateen II and Colman Domingo, and a visually thrilling approach to the terrifying legend, but it is more complicated than a horror movie should be. As much as I admired Nia DaCosta’s ambition with this movie, there were just far too many ideas going on that a 91-minute movie can properly touch on and handle, and because of that, I have to give the slight edge to the original film.

Despite its complications, I would still strongly suggest checking it out if you are a fan of the original or just a fan of the horror genre in general.

From Ted’s perspective…

I was late to seeing the film, so I actually had the opportunity to read Andrew’s review before going giving me a certain amount of advance perspective. I agree fully with the majority of his takeaways, especially the fact that it should have been longer, at least 20-30 minutes. I think they focused too much on the social commentary, which felt very forced for me because it was so front and center so often, and I think this took away from opportunities to build on the story and the legend that is Candyman. I absolutely loved the slasher scenes that graced the screen when people were dumb enough to say his name 5 times in the mirror, and thought the overall portrayal of the urban legend with a hook for a hand was extremely satisfying. I remember when the original came out, I pre-date Andrew ever so slightly haha, and after seeing the movie I refused to even look in the bathroom mirror for like two years. I wish I was kidding.

Andrew is spot on with saying the original is still a superior film, which is honestly too bad really considering how much potential this new version had with the unique camera work, eye-popping cinematography, and amazing score. It is still very good and well worth seeing, so please don’t let us deter you. I also agree that they overcomplicate the story unnecessarily, which took away from the overall feel and lasting impression of the film. I won’t talk too much about the acting as I agree with Andrew’s thoughts, I did want to point out how much I enjoyed the supporting roles of Nathan Stewart-Jarrett and Kyle Kaminsky, who added a little extra much appreciated humor to the film. Andrew also hit the nail on the head saying that Abdul-Mateen II was a weak protagonist, at times it felt like he was a background character in what was supposed to be his story. Where we disagree the most would be the ending. I actually really liked it, I thought it was high energy and the last 5 minutes of the film reminded me the most of the original Candyman. Overall, it was just a satisfying ending making up for some of the other issues, leaving the door open for another film. Candyman covered in bees, oh the nostalgia. I’m actually looking forward to seeing it again.

TED TAKES RATING - 7/10

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

CODA

By: Andrew Wing

CODA is a 2021 American coming-of-age comedy-drama film that follows a hearing teenage girl who is a child of deaf adults (CODA for short). Written and directed by Siân Heder, the film stars Emilia Jones (Locke & Key, Doctor Who) in the lead role as Ruby Rossi, the hearing girl, with Marlee Matlin (Children of a Lesser God, Switched at Birth) and Troy Kotsur as her culturally deaf parents and Daniel Durant as her deaf brother. Eugenio Derbez (Dora and the Lost City of Gold) and Ferdia Walsh-Peelo (Sing Street, Vikings) also star in the film.

CODA had its world premiere on January 28, 2021 at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival, where it won the U.S. Grand Jury Prize, U.S. Dramatic Audience Award, and a Special Jury Ensemble Cast Award, while director Siân Heder won Best Director in the U.S. Dramatic section. Following its success at Sundance, Apple acquired distribution rights to the film for a festival-record $25 million. The film was released in theaters and through the Apple TV+ streaming service on August 13, 2021.

Also, the film was filmed on location in Gloucester, Massachusetts, and it is an English-language American remake of the 2014 French film La Famille Bélier, directed by Éric Lartigau.

THE GOOD

Ever since I heard that CODA won the U.S. Grand Jury Prize at the famous Sundance Film Festival, it has been very high on my list, and although it has been almost seven months since Sundance, I can certainly say that CODA was worth the wait. Where do I start? CODA is an extraordinary film that strongly represents the deaf community behind incredible performances from the entire cast. But for real, the performances of everyone in the film are astounding and very deserving of some praise which I will give them.

First with who I felt was the star of the film, Emilia Jones. Jones is remarkable in this film as the titular C.O.D.A., and she brings such a sense of realness to her character and you can’t help but to become emotionally attached to her throughout the film. Her singing in the film is amazing and I would love to see her have some more roles where she sings because her voice is that good. Also, the fact that Emilia Jones did not know sign language before this film is stunning, and only adds to just how great she was in CODA.

Outside of the performance of Jones in the lead role, the performance of the entire supporting cast was amazing. There are definitely some Oscar nomination worthy performances from the supporting cast, specifically Marlee Matlin and Troy Kotsur who play her culturally deaf parents, who are actually also deaf in real life. Matlin actually won the Academy Award and Golden Globe Award for Best Actress at the young age of 21 for her performance in the 1986 film Children of a Lesser God, becoming the only deaf performer to have won an Academy Award as well as being the youngest ever Best Actress winner.

With that said, I would not be surprised one bit if she garnered her second Academy Award, this time with a Best Supporting Actress win following her fantastic performance in this. I also loved the performances of Daniel Durant as her deaf brother who made me both laugh and cry at times throughout the film, Eugenio Derbez as the choir teacher who is simply awesome, and lastly Ferdia Walsh-Peelo, who also has an amazing voice which he puts on display in this, and also in his debut film Sing Street in 2016.

In conclusion, I just had a blast watching this film. There is a lot of comedy in it which I did not expect going into it, but it is also an extremely heartfelt film. The representation of deaf people in this film feels very honest which I felt was important dealing with a movie of this magnitude. Also, the family dynamic portrayed is very unique and beautiful and it provides a valuable perspective to the audience which I loved.

THE BAD

I’ll be completely honest, I really don’t think there was anything “bad” about this film. The only thing I will say though is I felt like the cinematography could have been a little bit better. With it dealing with her family’s fishing business, which takes place on the Atlantic Ocean in Massachusetts, I felt it was a missed opportunity to capture some amazing shots of the ocean considering the film’s setting.

Also, with this being a coming-of-age film, there were some parts that I felt were a bit too predictable. However, the fact that it still moves you and touches your heart in those predictable scenes shows that there is nothing wrong with that and that it doesn’t take away from the film as a whole.

THE VERDICT

With the combination of an unbelievable performance from the entire cast and beautiful representation of the deaf community, CODA is hands down one of the best movies of the year. Director Siân Heder’s touching story will touch your heart in so many ways and there is no denying that this film will leave a lasting impression on you.

CODA is my second favorite film of 2021 behind Pig (see review here), and I highly recommend checking it out. I strongly believe that everyone will enjoy this movie just as much as I did, and I’ll go out on a limb and predict that you might shed a tear or two along the way.

TED TAKES RATING - 9.2/10

CODA is now streaming on Apple TV+. Check out the latest trailer below.

Reminiscence

By: Andrew Wing

Reminiscence is a 2021 American neo-noir science fiction film written and directed by Lisa Joy, in her feature directorial debut. Joy also produces the film alongside her husband and creative partner Jonathan Nolan (younger brother of acclaimed director Christopher Nolan). Lisa Joy is best known as the co-creator, writer, director, and executive producer of the HBO science-fiction drama series Westworld (2016-present) that has garnered both and her husband, who is also a co-creator for that series, multiple Primetime Emmy Award nominations.

The film stars Hugh Jackman in the lead role as Nicolas Bannister, a veteran turned self-esteemed private investigator living in Miami, who is an expert in a dangerous occupation in which he offers his clients “reminiscence”, the chance to relive any memory they desire. The film also features other big names such as Rebecca Ferguson (Mission: Impossible - Fallout, Doctor Sleep), Thandiwe Newton (Mission: Impossible 2, Crash, Westworld), Cliff Curtis (Training Day, Fear the Walking Dead), Marina de Tavira (Roma), and Daniel Wu (Tomb Raider, Into the Badlands).

Reminiscence was released by Warner Bros. Pictures in the United States on August 20, 2021, and will also have a month-long simultaneous release on the HBO Max streaming service.

THE GOOD

As a big fan of the HBO series Westworld, I was super pumped when I saw that Lisa Joy was making a science fiction movie, and even more pumped when I saw the names attached to it. We might as well start there, both stars Hugh Jackman and Rebecca Ferguson are great in this movie. Jackman is obviously one of the best actors out there today and he shows you why in Reminiscence. We all know he is great when it comes to action as we have seen him do time and time again as Wolverine / Logan in the X-Men film series and he puts his skills on display in multiple scenes throughout the movie.

But my favorite thing about Jackman as an actor which I don’t think gets enough attention is how good he is in dramatic roles as we saw with Prisoners (2013) and even a little bit in The Greatest Showman (2017). You instantly feel emotionally attached to his character of Nick Bannister in the first half of the film despite not knowing much about his character’s backstory in the military, which is all credit to Jackman’s portrayal of him.

As for Rebecca Ferguson, she just shines in every scene she is in. She obviously grabs your attention with her natural beauty, but she pulls you in even more with her powerful presence on the screen. Also, with her character being a jazz singer, we get the privilege to hear her sing and boy does she have an outstanding voice. She was my favorite part in the 2019 horror film Doctor Sleep, and she has also been a perfect addition to the Mission: Impossible franchise, and to say her future is very bright would be an understatement.

Other than the acting in the film, my favorite part would have to be the cinematography done by Paul Cameron. The movie just looks so cool and I thought they hit the ball out of the park on the setting. The movie takes place in Miami in the near future, where climate change has caused the seas to rise and flood the city, so the roads were flooded with water obviously and there were just a ton of scenes dealing with water and they were all so well done. You can tell right away that they wanted it to look similar to Westworld and it does with the big city/tall buildings similar to what we get in season 3 of the series, but it still makes it its own thing with the addition of the water and I loved that.

THE BAD

When making a movie in the science fiction genre, it is so critical that the story be original and as much as I enjoy this movie’s narrative, its biggest flaw has got to be how similar it feels to some of the best science fiction films ever made, specifically Blade Runner (1982) and Inception (2010) in my opinion. I say Blade Runner because it is set in the near future and it also just brings off the same vibe with the two main characters loving each other, and honestly the posters of both movies even look similar to be honest.

Obviously Inception comes to mind just because you had them “dreaming” as the main part of that movie, whereas in this they are “reminiscing” on their past memories. The worst part about this movie being similar to those was that for me, it made the movie too predictable in some scenes which was disappointing. Just ask my brother whom I watched it with, a couple times throughout the movie I looked over and told him “I knew that was going to happen” or I gave him a sarcastic “shocker”.

The other thing with this movie that I felt was annoying was just the fact that I did not know why everything was happening. Obviously, I was able to follow the main plot between the two main characters and that is good, but there was so much more that I felt I should have known about the main characters. For example, Jackman’s character has a gimp when he walks the entire movie and it's assumed that he got it while serving, but we never find out exactly how. We really never got to know much about his time in the military which ticked me off because he clearly carries a lot of baggage with him from his experience as any veteran would.

Also, why is the world now sleeping during the day and awake at night? I know it had something to do with the climate change that caused sea levels to rise, but I just wanted to know more about this world. Don’t get me wrong, the world the movie is set in is certainly interesting, but I just felt it would have been beneficial to not only myself as a viewer, but to also the movie as a whole if we could have gotten a 5-10 minute introduction to why everything is the way it is in this, but I guess we will never know unfortunately.

Also, I hate to say this but I did not particularly like the performances of both Thandiwe Newton and Cliff Curtis. Newton’s performance was really disappointing in my eyes. Her character is one of my favorites in Westworld and because of seeing her talent in that, I felt she was underutilized in this movie. Her character’s relationship with Jackman’s is so much more than we get to see and I wanted to see more of them together on screen. As for Curtis, he is such an underrated actor, but I did not love him in this. First off, I didn’t like him as the antagonist, and also I don’t know why they had to give him an accent...like is it supposed to make him more intimidating? Because for me, it did quite the opposite.

Lastly, and I’ll be curious to hear your thoughts, but the ending kind of felt like a punch in the face. You spend over one hour and forty minutes diving into this story, getting emotionally attached to the characters, only for the so-called “winner” in the end of everything to be someone you see on screen for maybe a total of a minute or two.

THE VERDICT

Despite its ambitious take on the science fiction genre and some fantastic cinematography, Westworld co-creator Lisa Joy’s directorial debut Reminiscence still felt far too similar to some of the classic sci-fi flicks of the past. That similarity made the movie a bit too predictable at times for me, but the performances from stars Hugh Jackman and Rebecca Ferguson make for an exciting journey.

TED TAKES RATING - 6.2/10

Reminiscence is now playing in theaters and streaming on HBO Max. Check out the latest trailer below.

The Protege

The Protégé is a 2021 action thriller directed by Martin Campbell, and written by Richard Wenk. Campbell is an accomplished director known for his revenge thrillers, including 2017’s The Foreigner (review and trailer here) starring Jackie Chan, Edge of Darkness (2010) starring Mel Gibson, and last but not least James Bond films Goldeneye (1995) and Casino Royale (2006).

Rescued as a child by the legendary assassin Moody (Samuel L. Jackson) and trained in the family business, Anna (Maggie Q) is the world’s most skilled contract killer. But when Moody – the man who was like a father to her and taught her everything she needs to know about trust and survival – is brutally killed, Anna vows revenge. As she becomes entangled with an enigmatic killer (Michael Keaton) whose attraction to her goes way beyond cat and mouse, their confrontation turns deadly and the loose ends of a life spent killing will weave themselves even tighter.

The full cast includes Maggie Q, Samuel L. Jackson, Michael Keaton, Patrick Malahide, David Rintoul, Ori Pfeffer, Ray Fearon, Caroline Loncq, and Robert Patrick.

The Protégé released in theaters on August 20th, courtesy of Lionsgate.

THE GOOD

Okay so I have to admit, this movie was very much under-the-radar for me from the beginning. I feel like they did a poor job with the marketing up until maybe a week before release, which makes zero sense considering the big name cast and very accomplished director. I mean I didn’t even watch the trailer until a few weeks ago when I realized this would be a wide release movie, which is very odd for me since I pretty much watch every single trailer. Once I finally watched the trailer, I was excited for what The Protégé had to offer. The cast included the beautiful, badass, and very underrated Maggie Q, the legend that is Samuel L. Jackson, and one of my favorite veteran actors, Mr. Michael Keaton. If you haven’t seen the cult classic comedy Multiplicity, what are you doing with your life? I mean, seriously. Plus, as I touched on in the intro the man behind the camera, Martin Campbell, knows his way around a gritty R-rated revenge thriller. If you have yet to see The Foreigner and you enjoy a good revenge flick, watch it ASAP. I absolutely love a well made revenge flick, and have seen Gerard Butler’s Law Abiding Citizen at least 30 times. So what did I think about Campbell’s latest?

Long story short, The Protégé is a very engaging and very fun movie. As I mentioned, my expectations were moderate going in but I was hoping to get something that felt similar to The Foreigner, and that is exactly what I got. The action scenes and fight sequences are brutal and very bloody, taking full advantage of that R-rating. The lead character Anna, played by Maggie Q, knows her way around a knife, or any sharp object really, and can also fire a handgun or shotgun with the best of them. I lost count as far as how many bad guys ended up as brain graffiti on the nearest wall, but it was a lot. The movie poster and trailer point out that the studio also churned out the John Wick franchise, and similar to that deadly pet loving assassin, Anna is not interested in sending her enemies to the ER, she is looking to put them on a slab in the morgue. So yeah, best to avoid getting on her bad side.

I enjoyed so much about The Protégé , but more than anything else I loved the energy and the feel. The opening scene set the tone for me, and really established that John Wick-esque element that I was looking for. In order for a movie like this to work, the main character has to be believable as someone you just do not mess with, and they were able to accomplish that, and then some. For a movie that is just shy of 2-hours, The Protégé never feels slow which speaks to the very effective pacing to keep the story moving along. I also really liked the relationships they established between the characters. The acting in itself was stellar, especially from the big 3, but I feel like that was a given. I mean sure Maggie Q is underappreciated in so many ways and is without a doubt one of the biggest female action stars in the business right now, but many of us expected her to crush this role. She is formidable, intense without seeming over the top, and just the perfect balance of beautiful and dangerous. I mean lets be honest, she is the girl we all want but know in our heart of hearts, we couldn’t even come close to handling.

Maggie Q, born in Hawaii as Maggie Quigley, moved to China after high school to pursue acting and modeling. She soon realized people in China had a hard time pronouncing Quigley, and changed her name to Maggie Q. The rest is history as the physically gifted actress who trained under the one and only Jackie Chan in the late 90’s, would go on to star in Mission: Impossible III and the hit CW series, Nikita. She is legit, folks. Oh, and she did all of her stunts for The Protégé with little to no training fresh from bed rest while recovering from spine surgery. Just let that sink in.

Which brings me to one of my favorite elements of The Protégé , which is the relationship between Maggie Q’s Anna and Michael Keaton’s mysterious Rembrandt character. As I mentioned earlier I am a big Keaton guy, so I was pumped that he was in this movie. Anna and Rembrandt cross paths in such a unique way, and to say that relationship develops into something none of us expected would be an understatement. I wasn’t quite sure how Keaton’s character would fit in to the plot I just knew he was one of the “bad guys”, but I really, really loved how many layers were given to his character making it so he was a fan favorite even though he was literally “in bed with the enemy”, which is an inside joke you’ll get once you see the movie. His relationship with Maggie Q’s character was something I was looking forward to seeing develop during the entire movie, and it was never predictable that is for sure.

On the technical side of things, I was thrilled with the fight choreography and stunt work which was top notch. As I mentioned Maggie Q did all of her own stunts and for that reason Anna was established as a real badass after the first 5 minutes of the movie, and it got better from there. I really liked the cinematography as well, taking full advantage of the filming locations in both London and Vietnam. As I touched on before, this is a very violent and very deserving of the R-rating movie. We are treated to a bit of nudity early on, but the majority of the rating is thanks to the many enemies who meet their demise, most of which with either a knife to the jugular, a face that goes Chip Gaines demo day on a sink, or just an old fashioned close range bullet to the head, which is always a crowd pleaser. I loved one scene in particular where Keaton’s character makes it a point to break an arm and a leg of one of his enemies quite violently, before making a hammer part of this unlucky guys face. But don’t worry, it was well deserved.

THE BAD

Okay so as you could tell from the previous section, I really enjoyed The Protégé . But, it wasn’t perfect. One of the biggest and easiest knocks, or lowest hanging fruit as they say, would be that the storyline itself felt fairly “been there done that”. But, I will say that they added some unique wrinkles with the relationships between the characters to make sure that it all still felt unique and new. With that being said, it still had other missed opportunities.

I felt like a more energetic soundtrack would have been a great addition to Maggie Q’s “don’t you even think about messing with me” energy. But I can honestly say that the soundtrack, or lack thereof, had little if any impact on me. I think about the Jason Bourne franchise as an example, it always had a great soundtrack and the final scene right before the screen faded to black always had that trademark score/soundtrack that left you wanting more. I also felt like some of the bigger and more pivotal scenes lacked the intensity they needed, but it was never a deal breaker.

THE VERDICT

An extremely violent and unique take on the revenge thriller genre, The Protégé is a thoroughly enjoyable and not so subtle reminder that former Nikita star Maggie Q is a legit badass and Hollywood needs to take notice. Sure you can argue that revenge flicks are a dime a dozen, but for me they never get old especially when they are able to add in a few unique and intriguing wrinkles we didn’t expect. I thoroughly enjoyed The Protégé and feel like it does more than enough right taking full advantage of a stellar cast and is well worth seeing in theaters.

TED TAKES RATING - 7.5/10

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