Posted in: Disc Reviews by Brent Lorentson on July 27th, 2022
It is a shame that director Roger Michell (Notting Hill) passed away before this film had a proper release. He’s a director who while he may not have a filmography of blockbuster hits, he’s literally worked with many of the biggest stars of the industry. Notting Hill is easily my favorite film of his; easily I’d rank it as one of the best rom-coms of all time. Sadly he’d go most of his career not quite matching the success of the 1999 film, but with The Duke, he gives us a film that is so damn charming it shows how he’ll be missed in an industry that’s become so dependent on CGI and spectacle.
The film presents itself as “based on a true story”. When it comes to the movies, it has become harder to believe how much is actually true and how much is sensationalized to tell a “better” story. In 1961, Kempton Bunton (Jim Broadbent), stole the Goya portrait of the Duke of Wellington from the National Gallery in London and held it hostage for 140 thousand pounds. This wasn’t some simple get-rich-quick scheme that Bunton concocted, but instead it was a way to get the government to pay for television licenses for the poor, the disabled, and the elderly. Despite the noble intentions, it was a crime that could possibly land the man in prison for ten years. While the film does cover the heist and eventual trial of Kempton Bunton, the real heart of the film is about the relationship between Kempton and his wife, Dorothy Bunton (Helen Mirren).
Posted in: The Reel World by John Delia on July 25th, 2022
Very quirky, exciting to watch, and a sci-fi mystery you will not believe: that’s the film Nope. There have been many stories about flying saucers and invaders from space, but this wild and wacky production grabs you right from the beginning and never lets go. My kind of film; the pace is fast, and there’s never a dull moment. For years Otis Haywood, Sr. has been uneasy about happenings on his ranch. His sudden death, however, has his sons OJ Haywood (Daniel Kaluuya) and Emerald Haywood (Keke Palmer) completely baffled. Their income has fizzled since their movie horses have been acting skittish on the sets, so OJ and Emerald want to get to the bottom of what has caused the recent disturbances at the ranch. One cloudy day, OJ sees a shiny object in the sky that he believes is an alien vessel. When it’s likely the reason for the turmoil, OJ and Emerald get set to challenge the mysterious invader. Jordan Peele does a terrific job of putting his film together, pacing it so the buildup to the finale becomes a modern-day war of the worlds. Not on the grand scale of films like Independence Day or even the movie War of the Worlds, this minimal film does it all in a rancher’s back yard.
What also makes the film good is the acting by Daniel Kaluuya and Keke Palmer, who run rampant as the unstoppable offspring. Driven mad by the constant attacks, the two make a plan to prove what is happening on their ranch by turning it into a film. But they chew off more than they can eat, or so their adversary thinks.
Posted in: Podcasts by Gino Sassani on July 22nd, 2022
There have been many films about World War II. Some have been great. A few are considered classics. We're entering that moment in history where we will soon lose the last remaining fighter from that war. It's a hard subject for a small budget film, but every now and then someone comes along and pulls it off. Wolf Hound is not going to become a classic. That doesn't mean it isn't a stellar film. Director Michael Chait has a passion for the subject that starts with his father who was an award-winning aviator. Everything about Wolf Hound is touched by that passion. The aerial work is first rate and with minimal CGI. Don't take my word for any of this. See the film for yourself. As for that passion. Listen to Michael Chait express that in his own words. I was honored to spend some time talking to the promising young director. Bang it here and you can listen in on my conversation with Michael Chait.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on July 22nd, 2022
"Sounds like the Mad Hatter is throwing a tea party."
Of all of the Arrowverse shows, I think Batwoman has had the hardest road of it. Ruby Rose was far from the dynamic character the CW or DC could have hoped for, and she spent most of her first season complaining or on the outs in some way or another. In her single season she was constantly outshone by her villain and pretty much everyone around her. It's bad when the one in the cape and cowl can't seem to attract any attention. It was a surprise to no one that Ruby Rose left the show after that first year. What did surprise me was that the show was going to continue. Instead of recasting Kate Kane, the powers that be brought in a completely different person to play the title character. Enter Ryan Wilder, played by Jevicia Leslie. She took the rap for a friend and ended up serving 18 months in prison for drug possession. Her foster mother was killed by some bad guys who never paid for the crime. Needless to say, she is carrying a lot of angst. Now she can't find a job or a place to live. She's homeless and living out of her van. She watches a ball of fire which turns out to be a plane crashing out of the sky. It hits near her van, and when she explores the wreckage, she finds the batsuit. Of course she puts it on and gets quite a kick out of the things she can do. She soon realizes the suit can help her get some revenge on the bad guys and starts kicking some butt.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on July 22nd, 2022
"The modern world comes to Downton."
Downton Abbey spent six years on television and has amassed 52 episodes. In that relatively short run the series has also managed to collect over 200 award nominations and several Golden Globes along with other prestigious awards. Let's not forget a rather loyal fan base that has watched each episode with anticipation of the next sharp barb or character revelation. The fans have been vocal and strong enough that a new film franchise has been anticipated to fill the void left by the series and the first film. In one of its years it was the number-one binged series in the world. That's a lot of power, and it's little wonder that all of these ingredients are expected to create a little box office gold. But film franchises from television shows rarely go on to such golden heights. There are some notable exceptions, to be sure. But even here, expectations and changing caretakers often lead to both high points and flops. The Star Trek franchise is a perfect example of those kinds of ups and downs. Mission Impossible is an example of shows that have to be completely retooled to hit the high numbers. Where has Downton Abbey fit in this equation so far? I rather suspect the jury is still out, because the arrival of COVID put a bit of a spanner in the works, both in time between films and available cast. One thing I can tell you with complete confidence: the film will absolutely entertain fans of the series. There's no retooling to be found here, and you can expect the same kind of drama that you've been mainlining for 52 episodes and one film.
Posted in: No Huddle Reviews by Jeremy Butler on July 22nd, 2022
Unfortunately, this film was a little immature to gain the Nalyce stamp of approval. While Japanese animated films have been her bread and butter in recent years, her tastes venture more towards anime such as Inuyasha and My Hero Academia. When it comes to Panda! Go Panda!, it was just too kiddie for her. Had this been a year or two ago, she would have been all about it. Perhaps there will be such an opportunity with my son, but given that he is only a week old, time will have to tell. As far as I’m concerned, it was a cute story if impractical. I recommend a suspension of belief if you chose to watch the film. Given that a suspension of belief is a prerequisite for all animated films, that shouldn’t be too much to ask. While I understand the need for this suspension of belief, I’m afraid I wasn’t fully able to achieve it at times.
Divided into two short-film formats, the story follows a young girl named Mimiko, who is left on her own when her grandmother leaves to attend her grandfather’s memorial service in Nagasaki. Having never known her parents, this leaves Mimiko alone. Let’s pause here: this is a point where suspending belief was difficult. By all accounts, Mimiko is a little girl, not even a teenager, so the idea that her grandmother would leave her with no supervision whatsoever is a hard thing to sell. I would have bought it more if the events took place while traveling with her grandmother or with distant relatives looking after her. However, as is, I am unable to accept that idea. Maybe it’s the parent in me.
Posted in: The Reel World by Michael Durr on July 19th, 2022
Some of my favorite films are those directed by Mel Brooks. Blazing Saddles, Spaceballs, Young Frankenstein, The Producers, and the list goes on and on. He has an ability to create a wonderful parody that blends comedy and homage to so many great films. The films are those quite frankly that you can watch over and over again even if you have heard the joke fifty times in a row. (I used to recite Spaceballs by heart until my college roommates at the time threatened to beat me to a bloody pulp) So imagine my surprise when in the year 2022, we get an animated film with Mel Brooks in one of the supporting voice roles, and it smells quite a bit like Blazing Saddles. Let's take a look at Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank.
Before we start this fine film, we are treated to a Big Nate short, since this is Nickelodeon and all. I thought it was named How to Make Ice Cream, but it's actually named Bad Hamster, according to online sources. It starts out with Nate and a few of his friends making an online video about how to make ice cream. A few minutes later, I'm watching an awful dance number from a hamster who is singing "Don't Shove Me in Your Pocket" while pooping out other hamsters. I'm not kidding. This is worse than "Frozen Fever", which was in front of the live-action Cinderella from 2015.
Posted in: The Reel World by Gino Sassani on July 18th, 2022
"I, like you, have heard the tall tales told about the Marsh Girl. An abandoned child. A little girl surviving on the marsh on her own, reviled and shunned."
Where The Crawdads Sing took a rather unlikely journey to the big screen. It was the first novel from Delia Owens, who spent most of her life as a scientist focusing on Africa and coming up with some rather controversial theories. She went to Africa with her husband in 1996 and before long was embroiled in a situation where a documentary was shot that depicted the murder of a poacher. They left Africa facing murder charges, and now in her 70's Delia has tried her hand as an author of fiction. It shouldn't be too surprising that her maiden novel focused on a woman who was believed to be a killer. There's no question that some of her own life bled into the story, but in her 70's Delia Owens had a bestseller on her hands which was given more attention when Reese Witherspoon made the novel one of her book club selections, something Oprah was also able to do for many titles in her day. Witherspoon soon obtained the film rights of the film, and the result is a movie with a wonderful premise and set against some of the most beautiful locations in the southern United States. Add a pretty solid cast and you should have a great film. Something gets a little lost in the translation, but you do end up with a wonderfully atmospheric film that is likely to be a heavy contender for SEFCA's Gene Wyatt Award that goes to the film that best exemplifies the south. There's still a full six months to go, but it has the inside track right now for my vote.
Posted in: No Huddle Reviews by Gino Sassani on July 16th, 2022
"Space ... the funniest frontier?"
Star Trek: The Animated Series first aired in September of 1973, four years after the three seasons of what is now referred to Star Trek: The Original Series. It was a straight sequel that continued the five-year mission of the starship Enterprise. All of the original cast lent their voices to the characters they played in the live-action series with the notable exception of Walter Koenig. Chekov was replaced with an alien that had three arms and legs named Arex, who was voiced by James Doohan, as were many of the other guest characters throughout the two years the series ran. There were episodes that served as direct sequels, and so we were treated to the likes of Harry Mudd, tribbles, and the Guardian of Forever once again. Now Paramount and CBS have brought us a second animated series, and the second season of 10 episodes arrives on Blu-ray straight from its running on the network's streaming service.
Posted in: No Huddle Reviews by Jeremy Butler on July 16th, 2022
I would categorize this as a unique movie. Not only based on its premise, even though that did possess a measure of intrigue. Zero Contact has multiple things that make it unique, such as it is the first film from a major Hollywood studio to exist on the blockchain. According to my research, the film will premiere on new NFT platform Vuele, a premier platform for collecting, watching, and trading exclusive, limited edition feature-length films and collector NFT film content. However, while this is interesting and potentially could serve as a new frontier for cinematic releases, there was another factor that made the film unique in my eyes. To me, Zero Contact’s most unique quality is that the film was produced in 17 different territories entirely virtually during the 2020 global pandemic. Anthony Hopkins leads the cast and is supported by a cast of faces that I recognize, but whose names are not on the rolodex of actors that I keep in my head.
The film’s setup consist of five strangers who are remotely connected and must work together to shut down a tech titan's most secret invention, a machine that could represent the solution to mankind's problems or the end of life on Earth. As expected, Anthony Hopkins portrays our tech titan. In regards to his character, there isn’t much substance to him. He is predominantly referred to in the past tense by the rest of the cast, which should give you some idea to his current status within the film. Naturally, certain film sequences raise questions about this status, causing it to become ambiguous. The film’s premise leads us to believe that these five strangers are the only thing standing between the world and a potential global extinction event. While strangers to each other, each has a connection to our titan and his company; an attorney that served as the company’s outside counsel, the tech’s business partner, a freelance cybersecurity expert, and a project leader on the secret invention, and the tech’s estranged son.
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