Posted in: The Reel World by Gino Sassani on November 22nd, 2025
“Because they need someone to be wicked -- so you can be good.”
I’d say this is one of those times when dividing the project into two parts did more harm than good. No one can discount the impact of the first film, where Cynthia Ervio and Ariana Grande gave us phenomenal and complimentary duets, as well as excellent acting performances. Also, no one can discount the impact of the musical that has dominated the theater for more than twenty years. However, I’d say the good thing about the theater version is that you get all of that at once. In the case of this film and its predecessor, the films are divided into acts, and in my humble opinion, Act 1 is the stronger of the acts, which is also the case with the two films. Wicked set a very high bar by empowering Ervio’s character to stand up for injustice and against Jeff Goldblum as the fraudulent Wizard of Oz. Also, there is certainly a difference in songs. Specifically, in Wicked For Good, there isn’t a song to match the dominance of Defying Gravity.
Posted in: No Huddle Reviews by Gino Sassani on November 20th, 2025
"Plato wrote that the ancient Greeks believed we were created with four arms, four legs, and a head with two faces. but Zeus feared our power so he split us into two separate parts, dooming us to spend our lives in search of the other half."
What's in a name? Let me tell you, Billy. When I was first offered the opportunity to watch and review Together out on Blu-ray from NEON, I nearly passed. I saw that it was directed by a Michael Shanks, and I had met Shanks a few years ago. I honestly found him to be one of the biggest idiots I've ever had the displeasure of meeting in the business. Fortunately, I took a closer look at the thing, and I'm glad that I did. You see, this Michael Shanks is not the idiot I met years ago. Of course, that guy was the Stargate SG-1 actor, and this guy is much younger and now a first-time director, and not a complete idiot after all. So I could watch the film minus the bias I would have had a hard time ignoring if it had been that guy. So I took the opportunity, and I'm happy that I did, because while nothing close to a classic or masterpiece, Together is a rather fresh look for a horror film and first effort for the director.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on November 18th, 2025
"Sometimes I feel the past is a more comfortable place than the future."
I think for anything to have a grand finale, it has to have been grand to begin with. And I don't think one could argue that Downton Abbey hasn't been grand, at least at some points in its life. 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 and will insist on franchise authenticity. 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 were 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. Now that the expected last film has been released, where will Downton Abbey fit in this equation? The fans have been vocal and strong enough that a new film franchise had been anticipated to fill the void left by the series almost at once, and those fans weren't disappointed. But how will they feel now that it has all come to an end?
Posted in: The Reel World by Gino Sassani on November 15th, 2025
“Stop filming me!”
Interestingly enough, this 2025 remake/adaptation is a more faithful reproduction of its source material than the 1987 version. The 1987 adaptation, while popular, took liberties when it came to the main character’s backstory and motivations, such as him being a wrongfully accused and convicted policeman getting his shot at freedom by participating in a TV game show where convicts called Runners must battle killers for their freedom. In the 2025 remake, Ben Richards, now played by Glen Powell, is a blacklisted blue-collar worker living in dystopian anarchistic police state with his wife and infant Cathy. Unable to afford medicine for Cathy's influenza, Ben attends tryouts for the network's game shows, where his anger, misanthropy, and physical fitness see him selected for "The Running Man", their most popular and dangerous show. That backstory is much more in line with the 1982 Stephen King novel. Rounding out the cast are Josh Brolin, William H Macy, Lee Pace, Michael Cera, and Colman Domingo. Arnold Schwarzeneggar even makes a surprise appearance. It’s quick, though. Blink and you could miss it.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on November 15th, 2025
“Now we’re playing some football.”
Let’s just start with the high marks: Marlon does his thing, which I fully expected that he would. Right when you think that we have already seen the best that he has to offer, he finds a new gear, and let it be known that he will not be typecast as just a comedian or as a writer or as producer. He is, in fact, him. Pun intended. Tyriq Withers shows some promise as a leading man, and like his character is clearly hungry to make a name for himself, with this project being his second box office horror appearance this year (the other being I Know What You Did Last Summer). Also, you can see Jordan’s Peele’s influence on the film, as there are a handful of similarities to his previous projects. However, Him, while entertaining, does not achieve the same impact as those aforementioned projects. There was plenty of intrigue, but the train somewhat comes off the track, particularly in regard to the film’s conclusion.
Posted in: Uncategorized by Gino Sassani on November 14th, 2025
“Man, I just deliver packages for a living. What the f—k am I doing here? What a day…â€
Donald Faison’s quote during the opening scene of Next Day Air sums up the film for the most part; a delivery blunder lands Leo (Faison) in the middle of a drug deal gone wrong in Philadelphia.
Posted in: 1.85:1 Widescreen, 2160p, Classic, Dolby Digital Atmos, Drama, UHD Blu-ray (4K), Warner Bros. by Gino Sassani on November 14th, 2025
"Well, gentlemen, in my opinion, if we send him back to Pendleton or we send him up to Disturbed, it's just one more way of passing on our problem to somebody else. You know, we don't like to do that. So I'd like to keep him on the ward. I think we can help him."
One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest was the first movie I ever saw on HBO. These were the very early days of the cable network. It was before the dawn of any real home video. It was at my Aunt Shirley's house that several members of the extended family gathered in dining room chairs around a 19-inch television to watch a movie uncut and without commercial interruption for the first time in our lives. A lot has changed since that 1970's afternoon at my aunt's house. Today we have hundreds of such choices on our television dials. I've seen a huge wave of home video technologies since that day that have included CED video discs, VHS/Beta, laserdisc, DVD, high-definition Blu-ray and now on UHD Blu-ray in glorious 4K The entire game has changed since that gathering 50 years ago. One thing has not changed a bit. One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest was a dynamic and compelling film that day. It remains so today.
Posted in: No Huddle Reviews by Gino Sassani on November 14th, 2025
“The History of Black New York†thematically explores various aspects of the black experience through the use of historian testimony and period specific media. The documentary begins with the early arrival of the Dutch on Manhattan Island and their fair treatment of black slaves. With the arrival of the English, morality and race became intertwined in New York, as with the rest of America, leading to the ensuing years of black oppression and segregation. Quickly, the DVD jumps into an analysis of the role of blacks in the American military, ranging from the Colonial & Civil Wars to the rise of Colon Powell to military prominence.Then the film shifts focus from the blacks' martial experience to the social, with a brief discussion of the Harlem Renaissance and its impact upon the evolution of modern black culture.A brief biography ofcongressional pioneer Adam Powell, a glimpse into the life and rhetoric of Maclom X, a tip of the hat to baseball legend Jackie Robinson, and various other black heroes highlighted the portion of the documentary which touched upon the Civil Rights movement.
As a documentary viewed in a vacuum without prior knowledge of the history of blacks in America, this film would make little sense.Yet, most Americans are familiar enough with at least the basic story of the the civil rights movement in the United States to understand a good portion of “Black New York.â€Perhaps the filmmakers bore this in mind when they left out key transitions between subject matters, jumped around in time to further a topical point, and chose to include obscure anecdotes by historians instead of the bare bones structure of narrative.
Posted in: No Huddle Reviews by Gino Sassani on November 13th, 2025
"I wish I could have enjoyed it more. It's only due to the flaws in my character which I'm rather proud of."
Douglas Adams once told us in his series of Hitchhiker's Guide books that the secret to life, the universe, and everything is 42. While Adams was a great writer and had a wonderful imagination, his math is a little suspect. Any of us who have grown up with This Is Spinal Tap over the last 40 years, we know the real answer is 11. If that confuses you, then stop reading right now. Go out and rent, stream, buy, or pinch a copy of 1984's This Is Spinal Tap. Once you've watched that film, you can come back and rejoin the conversation on the long-awaited sequel: Spinal Tap II: The End Continues. It will all start to make some sense, and when that happens, then you know you're gone completely bonkers ... and that's OK. We'll wait for the rest of you to catch up. Wasn't that a hoot? Now that we're all on the same page, we can take a look at the Blu-ray release from Bleeker Street.
Posted in: No Huddle Reviews by Gino Sassani on November 11th, 2025
"Hi, Dad. It's me, Frank Jr. I want to be just like you, but at the same time be completely different and original. So, if you're proud of me, give me a sign. Like, maybe make me see an owl or something."
The Naked Gun (2025) is a beautifully absurd film that had me and everyone in the theater laughing in tears. It is both a continuation and reboot to the original franchise that introduces a new generation of characters, which still honors the classic formula of deadpan delivery, absurd plotlines, and visual gags that gave the original its significance. It was like a breath of fresh air in a lackluster era of Hollywood which felt was seriously rich in soul. I can’t even joke; my face was hurting from laughing and smiling throughout the entire movie!
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