Free Guy

  

Free Guy

You know, I really liked this film. and I did not really think I would. The plot follows a background guy (Played by Ryan Reynolds whose name is actually Guy) of a video game, who does not know he is in a video game, and does the same thing everyday. Guy decides to break out of his video game life, which causes mass problems in the video game world. I am not a video game person, so I was not really looking forward to this film, but I was pleasantly surprised.

Casting!! Casting!!

Ryan Reynolds funny and likable as Guy

Jodie Comer as Millie..holds her own with Reynolds, and is bad ass.

Joe Keery as Keys ..plays the computer expert who is helping Guy, very funny and clever.

Lil Rel Howery as Buddy pretty much playing the same character as he did in Get Out, yet it still works.

However the person who steals the film is......

Taika Waititi, yes the director of Jo Jo and other things, as Antwan the owner and investor in the video game company Guy is in. He is just hilarious and evil at the same time. Soooo over the top i laughed out loud often.

I do have to say in the back quarter of the film, the script seems sloppy and feels like they made it up as they went on. I started getting almost bored. It felt like this 2 hour film could have chopped maybe 15 minutes off of it and still would have worked.

Well anyway 3 1/2 stars out of 5 for Free Guy. A fun film to watch.

From the shadows as always thanks for your time

Don't Breathe 2

Dont Breathe 2

I did not post the video. There is no point.

This is a follow up to Don't Breathe from 2016. Which was a pleasant surprise, Dont Breathe was well written and exciting. It starred the wonderful Jane Levy and Stephen Lang.

As for this one...Jane Levy has not returned..she must have seen the script. Stephen Lang has returned as The Blind Man. Yes he still has no name. They now throw in a young child Madelyn Grace as Phoenix. Madelyn is just here to add feeling and tension to this film.

This film is a mess. Violent unnecessarily. The script by Fede Alvarez is just stupid. I cannot find any other words except stupid. I will never get the time back..I wanted to walk out of this movie, I hated every second. 

I am not getting into the plot..not necessary. 

1/2  a star out of 5 for the unwatchable Don't Breathe 2.

Director Rodo Sayagues should be ashamed for this violent mess.

From the shadows...I am sorry.

Respect

RESPECT

Surprising to me how this film about the Queen Of Soul Aretha Franklin, can be so boring..and feel rehashed. She went through what many artist go thru, People around her trying to take advantage of her talent and money. The film just seems to lay there. When people walked out of the theater, you can tell the looks on their faces, it was like eeehhh.

What Respect has going for it, what makes it watchable is Jennifer Hudson. I mean she is wonderful and perfectly cast. Maybe an outside shot for an Oscar Nom., however the poor reception for the film may shut her out. I can't tell if Marion Wayans was miscast as Aretha's abusive husband Ted White or maybe Jennifer Hudson is just that much better of an actor.

I am not saying avoid the film, in fact it worth a look...2 1/2 stars out of 5 for Respect...I mean Jennifer Hudson!!

From The shadows as always thanks for your time.

Suicide Squad 2021

Suicide Squad 2021

Okay...it is a mess. I understand. The jokes fall flat. However there is something here.

First ...I love the Harley Quinn character...with Margot Robbie.

Second ...I love Idris Elba in anything. Here he is really good, as always, as Bloodsport.

Third ...David Dastmalchian steals the film from the above as Polka-Dot Man. So good.

Gret performances push this movie along. It is not the script, it is a mess. It is not the bad CGI.

The performances had me hooked. I cared about the characters.

2 1/2 out of 5 for Suicide Squad 2021

From the shadows as always thanks for the time

Stillwater

STILLWATER

This is a "Fictional" story about an oil rig worker Bill Baker, played by Matt Damon, who travels to France to find out why his daughter is locked in jail and try to prove her innocence.

I put Fictional in parenthesis because, even thought the director denies it, this film was stolen from the Amanda Knox story. We are not stupid.

Well anyway the story is pretty good. It plays out as a man on a mission trying to solve a mystery in a country where he cannot speak the language. 

My big proplem is the ending. Also that his daughter comes across as not very likable played and maybe miscasr by Abigail Breslin.

I give 3 out of 5 for Stillwater. Matt Damon is really good here, it just ...could not close with the intensity the film had throughout.

From the shadows as always thanks for your time.

Old

 

OLD

I cannot give too much away with this M Night film.

Again he has us guessing until the end...I was creeped out as everybody on the beach was getting older. It is not a horror film..well maybe it is. More of a mystery I guess. I was glued to the screen and the 1 hour and 45 minute film seemed to fly by.

If I had problems with the film:

-Not many people on the beach are likable. I really was not vested in any of the characters.

-The M Night surprise ending kinda fell flat. It was almost too complicated and almost too Sci-Fi. 

At the smae time..with Covid..could this be true lol.

So 3 1/2 stars out of 5 for Old.

From the shadows as always thanks for your time.

Jungle Cruise

JUNGLE CRUISE

I really do not have to explain the plot. If you do not know by now you probably dont care about my review anyway.

I can tell you this film delivers exactly what you sign up to see. A fun adventure film, with humor and action.

Perfectly cast with the three leads Dwayne Johnson as Frank the boat captain. Emily Blunt as Lily the woman in pants lol. Jack Whitehall as McGregor Emily's brother and very eccentric. I love all three.

If I had a problem, it was the final 30 minutes. The script was messy and sloppy and throwing everything out there to see if it sticks including a twist with a main charachter which did not really connect with his actions in the beginning of the film. It is a shame the script could not just stay true and just have it be a adventure film searching for treasure.

Still, 3 1/2 stars out of 5 for Jungle Cruise. I hope there is a part 2!!! I want to revisit the characters.

From the shadows as always thanks for your time.

Joe Bell

JOE BELL

Joe Bell tells the story of a father who is walking across the country telling the story of how his son was bullied before his death.

I really liked this film. I thought Wahlberg was wonderful and believable as Joe. His son Jaden, played by Reid Miller was perfect, as a viewer we love him. Connie Britton as Jaden's mom in a small thankless role as the worried mom shines as always.

Critics did not like this film, they did not like Wahlberg in this. Me, I personally thought he was pretty good in the role. I think people did not like a strong catholic in this part lol.

Anyway, it has a good message, it was short and did not overstay its welcome. I give Joe Bell 3 1/2 stars out of 5.

From the shadows as always thanks for your time.

Roadrunner

ROADRUNNER

This documentary follows the extraordinary life of Anthony Bourdaine. His lows and his highs. His mistakes in his personal life and his successes in life and business.

This film was criticized for dubbing in Anthony's voice as a naration for the film. Also critiicized for blaming his partner for pushing away all that could help him in the end.

I personally loved this film. I dont care if they dubbed in his voice, it was his words from a audio book. I dont care. I dont care if they made his partner look bad, maybe she should. I just know I never watched any of his shows, I did not know much about him, and I walked out facinated. What a life.

4 1/2 stars out of 5. I loved this documentary. One of the best films of the year.

Pig

PIG

Critics loved this. Me? It was better than okay. It has such a tinge of sadness, it made me want to walk out. 

Well acted by Nicholas Cage, deserving of an Oscar Nod.

It follows a man who just wants his truffle pig back. Yes the truffle pig made him a lot of money but it was his pet. So he wants his pet back. He is like a hermit..so he has to leave his property to search for his pig. There lies the problems. 

The film also has appearances by Adam Arkin and Nina Belforte..again good performances.

3 out of 5 stars for Pig...better than average. Still it just was not for me.

From the shadows as always, thanks for your time.

Black Widow

Black Widow

This film has a lot going for it. Nice story, almost out of a spy book. Great cast with Pugh; Johannson; Weiz; and Harbour. It works really well with just enough humor to release tension.

My problem with this is the timing. This should have been released in the Marvel Universe years ago. Sadly it was put off and put off because Studio Execs did not feel a female could carry a Marvel film. Then came 

Captain Marvel and the game changed. 

So there lies the problem with Black Widow. Knowing the death of Natasha in Endgame, you kinda think, yes she is in jeopardy here but...she is dead in the last film I saw. Sadly, and it sounds mean, but it is hard to care. The problem is in the timing.

3 1/2 stars out of 5 for this well acted, exciting story.

From the shadows as always thanks for your time.

Summer Of Soul

This The Harlem Cultural Festival was called the inner city Woodstock.

I can see that. 

I was entertained..for sure. Great performances. B B King...Stevie Wonder just to name a couple.

Was it as good the Woodstock Doc.? Unfortunatley this film is a victim of it timing. Questlove worked hard at putting this moment together, which he should get credit for. What it unfortunatley he did not have are many interviews of people who were there like Woodstock had, which made Woodstock interesting. People looking back with pride and with aww. At this point in 2020 (When this was put together) sadly most of the people at The Harlem Cultural Festival has passed on. So it lacks ...something.

Still I give it 3 out of 5 stars for the entertainment and storys from band members who are still living who played there.

From the shadows as always thanks for your time.

The Hitman's Wife Bodyguard

Yes I have been gone for a long while. But I am back!!! Settle down. I have a lot to cover in a short time..I will try to make all review a paragraph or 2.

I had trouble caring about the charachters. There were way too many jokes( I am fine with laughing), so many jokes I could not take the plot and action seriously. 

Well acted... with a surprise cameo in the middle.

2 1/2 stars out of 5 for this sequal of The Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard,. A sequal no one asked for. Still servicable as a movie.