Category: Movies

“The Agency” starring Michael Fassbender, Jeffrey Wright, Jodie Turner-Smith & Richard Gere – The Poster and Trailer are Here!

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Deal me in!

The Agency: Covert CIA agent Martian is ordered to abandon his undercover life and return to London Station. When the love he left behind unexpectedly reappears, their romance reignites, pitting his career, his real identity and his mission against his heart while hurling them both into a deadly game of international intrigue and espionage.

Starring Michael Fassbender, Jeffrey Wright, Jodie Turner-Smith and Richard Gere.

“Den of Thieves 2: Pantera” starring Gerard Butler, O’Shea Jackson Jr. – The New Trailer is Here!

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Deal me in!

Gerard Butler (Plane, Has Fallen series) and O’Shea Jackson Jr. (Straight Outta Compton, Godzilla: King of the Monsters) return in the sequel to 2018’s action-heist hit Den of Thieves.

In DEN OF THIEVES: PANTERA, Big Nick (Butler) is back on the hunt in Europe and closing in on Donnie (Jackson), who is embroiled in the treacherous and unpredictable world of diamond thieves and the infamous Panther mafia, as they plot a massive heist of the world’s largest diamond exchange.

Lionsgate presents, in association with eOne and TT Entertainment, a TT Entertainment production. An eOne Features production. A G-Base and Diamond Film Productions production.

Den of Thieves 2: Pantera – in theaters January 10! Starring Gerard Butler and O’Shea Jackson Jr

“Second Wind” (1966) original title: Le deuxième souffle, directed by Jean-Pierre Melville, starring Lino Ventura, Paul Meurisse, Christine Fabréga and Michel Constantin / Z-View

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Second Wind (1966) original title: Le deuxième souffle

Director: Jean-Pierre Melville

Screenplay: Jean-Pierre Melville, José Giovanni based on the novel Le deuxième souffle by José Giovanni

Stars: Lino Ventura, Paul Meurisse, Christine Fabréga and Michel Constantin.

Tagline:  None.

The Plot…

Gustave “Gu” Minda has escaped prison and is on the lam.  He needs money to get out of the country before Police Commissaire Blot’s team find him.

Gu is offered a spot on a dangerous rip-off.  Two armed motorcycle cops will escort an armored truck (with two more armed guards) and over a ton of platinum.  The score will not only get Gu enough cash to slip out of the country, but set him up for life.

Of course the best laid plans…

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

The more I think about this film, the more I like it.

One of my favorite characters in this movie is Alban (Michel Constantin), Gu’s sister’s bodyguard.

Second Wind (1966) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“Dick Dynamite: 1944” – Two Posters and a Trailer!

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The two posters and the trailer for Dick Dynamite: 1944 are so over-the-top low-budget fun-looking, I have got to check out the movie.

Deal me in.

In the dying days of World War II, Dick Dynamite and his ragtag team of Nazi-killing commandos must stop a group of depraved German scientists from turning the population of New York into flesh-eating zombies.

“One False Move” (1992) starring Bill Paxton, Billy Bob Thornton, Cynda Williams & Michael Beach / Z-View

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One False Move (1992)

Director: Carl Franklin

Screenplay: Billy Bob Thornton, Tom Epperson

Stars: Bill Paxton, Billy Bob Thornton, Cynda Williams, Michael Beach, Jim Metzler, Earl Billings, Natalie Canerday, Robert Ginnaven and Kevin Hunter.

Tagline:  There was no crime in Star City, Arkansas. No murder. And no fear. Until now.

The Plot…

Ray (Thorton), his girl Fantasia (Williams) and Lane ‘Pluto’ Franklin (Beach) went on a crime spree.  They committed six brutal murders in two locations in one night.  Now they’ve got several thousand dollars and a big bag of cocaine.  They plan to sell the cocaine for $200,000 to a buyer in another state.  The three pack the car and leave LA.

Cops investigating the murder scenes figure out who the killers are and where they’re heading.  LAPD detectives Dud Cole (Metzler) and his partner John McFeely (Billings) head to Star City, Arkansas.  There they meet their liaison Police Chief Dale ‘Hurricane’ Dixon (Paxton).  Hurricane has never had to draw his gun in six years as Chief of Police.  He’s excited to be part of a “big city” task force.  The LA cops see that Hurricane is in over his head.

The bodies pile up as Ray, Fantasia and Pluto make their way to star city.  Hurricane’s past will come back to haunt him.

This will not end well.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

One False Move was originally made to go straight to video.  It won several awards in film festivals and then was given a limited release.  Word spread and it went into a wide theatrical release.

Billy Bob Thorton and Cynda Williams played lovers in the movie.  They were married after filming ended.  Sadly, they were divorced a couple of years later.

Carl Franklin’s direction is top notch.

Bill Paxton, Billy Bob Thornton and Cynda Williams are excellent.  Michael Beach steals every scene he’s in.  He’s THAT frightening as the genius level sociopathic killer.

One False Move (1992) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“The Royal Hotel” (2023) starring Julia Garner and Jessica Henswick / Z-View

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The Royal Hotel (2023)

Director: Kitty Green

Screenplay: Kitty Green, Oscar Redding based on Hotel Coolgardie by Pete Gleeson

Stars: Julia Garner, Jessica Henwick, Toby Wallace, James Frecheville and Hugo Weaving.

Tagline:  A fun adventure is all they wanted

The Plot…

Hannah (Garner) and Liv (Henwick) are backpacking across Australia.  When their money runs low, the only job the employment agency offers is bartending at a remote pub in a mining town hours from civilization.  They are warned that the place gets wild.  The girls are looking for adventure, so they take the job.

The pub is in the middle of nowhere.  No wifi.  Hot water is a luxury.  The pub is full of drunken men.  Miners letting off steam party hard.  The dirty jokes, sexism and rude behavior disturbs Hanna.  She’s ready to leave after the first night.  Liv plays it off as boys being boys.  Besides there isn’t a bus for several days.  So Hannah agrees to tough it out.

Big mistake.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

The Hotel Royal was inspired by the documentary Hotel Coolgardie (2016).

Julia Garner and Jessica Henwick are, as The Hollywood Reporter says, “superb”.  Sadly the film doesn’t live up to their performances.

The Royal Hotel (2023) rates 2 of 5 stars.

“Blood for Dust” (2023) starring Scoot McNairy, Kit Harington & Josh Lucas / Z-View

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Blood for Dust (2023)

Director: Rod Blackhurst

Screenplay: David Ebeltoft, story by Rod Blackhurst, David Ebeltoft

Stars: Scoot McNairy, Kit Harington, Josh Lucas, Nora Zehetner, Stephen Dorff, Algin Mendez and Ethan Suplee.

Tagline:  Breaking Bad Meets Fargo.

The Plot…

Cliff (McNary) is  paying the price for his past bad choices.  He had an affair with his boss’ wife.  Cliff also convinced his boss to go in on a scheme to embezzle money from the company.  When the theft came to light, Cliff’s boss took the fall.  His boss then committed suicide.  Cliff was fired.

Cliff got work as a traveling salesman, but then his new boss heard the rumors.  Cliff was fired again.  The word was out. Cliff couldn’t find a job anywhere.  With bills piling up and a son with cancer, Cliff became desperate.  So when Ricky (Harington), an old buddy, offered him a job running drugs and guns, Cliff took it.

Cliff is hoping for one big score and to get out clean.  That ain’t happening.  There’s two double crosses that will make sure of that.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

The tagline is Breaking Bad Meets Fargo.  That’s a close description.  I’d just add, “without the humor.”

Blood for Dust (2023) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“Three Days of the Condor” (1975) directed by Sydney Pollack, starring Robert Redford, Faye Dunaway, Cliff Robertson & Max von Sydow / Z-View

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Three Days of the Condor (1975)

Director: Sydney Pollack

Screenplay: Lorenzo Semple Jr., David Rayfiel based on SIX DAYS OF THE CONDOR by James Grady

Stars: Robert Redford, Faye Dunaway, Cliff Robertson, Max von Sydow, Addison Powell, Walter McGinn, Tina Chen, Michael Kane, Jess Osuna,  Patrick Gorman, Hansford Rowe, Hank Garrett, Ed Crowley, James Keane and John Houseman.

Tagline:  The CIA knows him as Condor. What he knows about them has just made him an Endangered Species.

The Plot…

Joe Turner (Redford) works for the CIA… as a research analyst.  He’s part of a small team.  Their cover is the American Literary Historical Society in New York City.  They read and analyze books and magazines from around the world.  They’re looking for hidden messages, ideas for operations… anything useful. Typed reports are sent to CIA headquarters.

The job is very mundane.  Usually the biggest excitement is “what’s for lunch” and whose turn is it to get it?  As it happens, today Joe is up.  He heads out the backdoor since it’s raining and runs over to the deli.

Joe returns with the sandwiches to find everyone in the office murdered.  Joe is shocked.  No one in the office was a field agent.  Who would want them dead?  And why?

Joe quickly leaves.  He finds a phone booth and reports the hit to CIA headquarters.  Joe is given instructions that will bring him in.  When he shows up at the arranged location, Joe is almost gunned down.

On the run, unsure of who he can trust, Joe must figure out why he’s marked for murder.  Even if he does, what chance does a research analyst have against trained killers?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Three Days of the Condor was nominated for one Academy Award

  • 1976 Nominee Oscar for Best Film Editing:  Fredric Steinkamp, Don Guidice

Kudos for using Hank Garrett as an assassin.  He doesn’t look like a stereotypical movie hitman. But he sure fought like one.

Three Days of the Condor (1975) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“Back in Action” starring Jamie Foxx and Cameron Diaz – The Poster and Trailer are Here!

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The poster and trailer for Back in Action starring Jamie Foxx and Cameron Diaz is here.  This looks like fun.

Deal me in.

Years after giving up life as CIA spies to start a family, Emily (Cameron Diaz) and Matt (Jamie Foxx) find themselves dragged back into the world of espionage when their cover is blown.

“Don’t Move” (2024) starring Kelsey Asbille & Finn Wittrock / Z-View

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Don’t Move (2024)

Director: Adam Schindler, Brian Netto

Screenplay: TJ Cimfel, David White

Stars: Kelsey Asbille, Finn Wittrock, Moray Treadwell and Daniel Francis.

Tagline:  You can hide, but you can’t run.

The Plot…

Iris (Asbille) had gone to the site of her young child’s death in a remote wilderness park. One the way back to her car, Iris was kidnapped and drugged by a serial killer (Wittrock).  She escaped, but the narcotic is slowly paralyzing her.

Before long she won’t be able to move at all.  Her time is running out in more ways than one.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Finn Wittrock is believable as he transforms from nice guy to grieving husband to loving father to heartless serial killer.

Don’t Move (2024) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“Wolf Man” starring Julia Garner – The Second Trailer is Here!

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The second trailer for Wolf Man starring Julia Garner is here!

Deal me in.

What if someone you loved became something else? #WolfManMovie only in theaters January 17.

—
From Blumhouse and visionary writer-director Leigh Whannell, the creators of the chilling modern monster tale The Invisible Man, comes a terrifying new lupine nightmare: Wolf Man.

Golden Globe nominee Christopher Abbott (Poor Things, It Comes at Night) stars as Blake, a San Francisco husband and father, who inherits his remote childhood home in rural Oregon after his own father vanishes and is presumed dead. With his marriage to his high-powered wife, Charlotte (Emmy winner Julia Garner; Ozark, Inventing Anna), fraying, Blake persuades Charlotte to take a break from the city and visit the property with their young daughter, Ginger (Matlida Firth; Hullraisers, Coma).

But as the family approaches the farmhouse in the dead of night, they’re attacked by an unseen animal and, in a desperate escape, barricade themselves inside the home as the creature prowls the perimeter. As the night stretches on, however, Blake begins to behave strangely, transforming into something unrecognizable, and Charlotte will be forced to decide whether the terror within their house is more lethal than the danger without.

The film co-stars Sam Jaeger (The Handmaid’s Tale), Ben Prendergast (The Sojourn Audio Drama) and Benedict Hardie (The Invisible Man).

Wolf Man is directed by Whannell, whose previous films with Blumhouse include The Invisible Man, Upgrade and Insidious: Chapter 3. The screenplay is written by Leigh Whannell & Corbett Tuck, Lauren Schuker Blum & Rebecca Angelo (Dumb Money).

The film is produced by Blumhouse founder and CEO Jason Blum and is executive produced by Ryan Gosling, Ken Kao, Bea Sequeira, Mel Turner and Leigh Whannell. Wolf Man is a Blumhouse and Motel Movies production.

“The Amateur” starring Rami Malek & Laurence Fishburne – The Poster and Trailer are Here!

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The poster and trailer for The Amateur starring Rami Malek and Laurence Fishburne is here!  I was also glad to see Jon Bernthal and Holt McCallany listed in the credits.

Deal me in!

Watch the trailer for #TheAmateur starring Oscar® winner Rami Malek (“Bohemian Rhapsody”) and Academy Award® nominee Laurence Fishburne (“What’s Love Got to Do with It”). The all-new espionage thriller opens in theaters nationwide April 11, 2025.

Charlie Heller (Malek) is a brilliant, but deeply introverted decoder for the CIA working out of a basement office at headquarters in Langley whose life is turned upside down when his wife is killed in a London terrorist attack. When his supervisors refuse to take action, he takes matters into his own hands, embarking on a dangerous trek across the globe to track down those responsible, his intelligence serving as the ultimate weapon for eluding his pursuers and achieving his revenge.

The film also stars Rachel Brosnahan, Caitríona Balfe, Jon Bernthal, Michael Stuhlbarg, Holt McCallany, Julianne Nicholson, Adrian Martinez, Danny Sapani, and Laurence Fishburne.

“The Amateur” is directed by James Hawes. The screenplay is by Ken Nolan and Gary Spinelli based on the novel by Robert Littell. The film is produced by Hutch Parker, p.g.a., Dan Wilson, p.g.a., Rami Malek, Joel B. Michaels, with JJ Hook serving as executive producer.