Cast: Michelle Yeoh, Cynthia Rothrock, John Sham, Hoi Mang, Hark Tsui, James Tien, Dick Wei, Fat Chung
Two unlucky thieves break into a just murdered man’s hotel room and steal his passport with a hidden microfilm wanted by a triad boss. Two hard-kicking women cops from HK and the UK get the case.
I didn’t know much about this film going in. That only added to the surprises and pleasures that this film offers.
This is an enjoyable action film starring Michelle Yeoh and Cynthia Rothrock as a kind of buddy comedic film. Though the laughs mainly come from the con-man trio they are chasing throughout and working with on deals to catch bigger villains. The film allows them to be human and a bit more than just types.
There are plenty of action set pieces. As the film is mostly easy though towards theme becomes a bit more dramatic and tragic.
There is plenty of stunt work and scenes that amaze as far as their choreography. Not surprising when you know the the director is master fight choreographer Corey Yeun. Which truthfully is one of the reasons one finally checked this movie out.
The film moves quickly, though some jokes and scenes go on for a bit too long. Overall, it is a joyous affair that never quite runs out of energy.
Cast: Jesse Eisenberg, Kieran Culkin, Jennifer Grey, Will Sharpe, Daniel Oreskes, Liza Sadovy, Kurt Egyiawan, Ellora Torchia
Mismatched cousins reunite for a tour through Poland to honor their beloved grandmother, but their old tensions resurface against the backdrop of their family history.
One wonders as he writes, directs, and stars in the film. If Jesse Eisenberg wrote this film specifically for Kieran Culkin and his talents or just a dynamic role and character that culminated easily fits. As he has played versions of this type before. Only here he has softer edges to offer the character. He still is good at playing these types of characters and roles. His performance comes off more natural not clearly scripted and more off of instinct.
As it gives Eisenberg a perfect partner to bounce off of and play the exact opposite of. Eisenberg’s character is his usual nerdish, nebbish, and afraid of life. Overly polite and settled down with a wife and child. So he is responsible. who resents but is amazed by his cousin. Who is charming, resourceful, and troubled.
This trip is catching up for both of them. Not to mention an adventure. To honor their grandmother.
As it goes along you wonder exactly what is going on. As the film and main character grow more Intense you wonder exactly what she is after and hoping to achieve. As it comes off more an intellectual’s adventure. Which is pleasant but always seems At odds. Even when there is no reason for there to be
So that the film constantly ends up and feels like a mystery. That sometimes gets explained but other times, lets it flow and we hope will work itself out and find closure, but we will always wonder.
One can appreciate the end. As an ending an end to this adventure for both of these characters. Where they go from here we will have to wonder or at least wait and see. As it’s not clearly defined.
Though have to admit for such a short film, it feels like it drags a lot of time and is a bit like the whimsical indie films of the early 2000’s. It tries to register characters in a foreign environment that is picturesque historical and oddly Poetic filled with conversations and tries to be on the wavelength of visual Poetry.
Though from Someone who knows how to do it but feels way too Technical Than actually passionate.
Cast: Ellie Kemper, Luke Grimes, Nico Santos, Blythe Danner, Julia Shiplett, Ben Cook, Shayvawn Webster, Gus Birney
A year after getting divorced, Helen Carpenter, thirty-two, lets her annoying, ten years younger brother talk her into signing up for a wilderness survival course. It’s supposed to be a chance for her to pull herself together again, but when she discovers that her brother’s even more annoying best friend is also coming on the trip, she can’t imagine how it will be anything other than a disaster.
This has been a trend for Netflix recently releasing romantic movies that seem like they more belong on the hallmark network. That would seem like in the old days the type of TV- movie a network would put all of its show stars into one to win ratings for the night. Not to mention keep their salaries down by making them do the television movie rather than a big screen role that might be a hit and increase their asking price
This film is simple enough and it’s romantic and heartwarming. So that it has its charms and laughs even though you never are in doubt as to where it is going.
Happy to see Ellie Kemper in something. Though there are many things here that just nag you in the audience. The characters other than the roads seem to be one-dimensional they get mroe dimensions by the amount of screen time they have.
Most of the cast are good looking at least the ones who are either the romantic leads or might be distractions for them.
Never quite understand why Kemper’s character would marry a guy who is such an idiot and has no chemistry with him. To set her characters ark and then when it’s obvious who she is supposed to be with they have moderate chemistry but still seem a bit put off.
Despite the film’s many problems and situational humor. It still has a charm. It’s not impressive but it’s a nice enough viewing.
Cast: Joel David Moore, Madeline Zima, Abraham Benrubi, Jayson Blair, Joanna Canton, Joel Michaely
A hot one-night stand turns into an awkward morning after when GUY and HOLLY get STUCK in a dead-stopped traffic jam. As they begrudgingly get to know each other, we learn of their sexually raucous evening and then they’re led to their surprising destiny.
One might label this an MTV version of the BEFORE SUNRISE films as we watch characters learn about each other only after they have had a one-night stand and are stuck in Never-ending traffic.
While there are plenty of conversations throughout the film. There are also plenty of cutaways of other passengers and flashbacks of the precious night. Where we get to see how they got together in the first place.
So that we learn about each of the characters. As they do, which helps us in the audience to become more invested in the characters and their fates.
The film does tend to people in other cars stuck in the traffic jam as well. Though only for minutes that feel more like filler and some distractions to keep the film from being a two-hander. Even though in the flashbacks we do see plenty of others. However, it also makes the independent production feel bigger in scope to a degree.
It’s a cute romantic indie film with plenty of humor and the leads will charm the audience. I enjoy both lead actors but really watched the film for Madeline Zima and wasn’t disappointed.
At times the film is a bit mroe risqué than expected year manages to stay sweet throughout. Even when it tries to be cynical. It still manages to leave you with a smile on your face.
Cast: William Jackson Harper, Aya Cash, Sarah Bolger, Tony Cavalero, Peri Gilpin, Azita Ghanizada, Kobi Libii, Larisa Oleynik, Eduardo Franco
Longtime couple Lori and Doug break up just days before Lori’s little sister Bea’s wedding to Jayson. In order to not disrupt the fun, they decide to pretend they’re still together until the weekend is over.
This is The second movie I have watched with William Jackson Harper about an African-American breaking up with a white woman, but also played by a good underrated actress here played by Aya Cash. both of them can pull off this material in their sleep.
We’ve seen this type of story and film before a comedy-drama with romance where a couple is forced to attend a wedding and act like nothing happened to say face in front of family and friends and for the special occasion
Like most relationships, the same in many ways, but are significantly special in the details, locations, and structures of their own
Going through the break up with one another, and so close to the time was all already sudden we are watching them deal with the ramifications and emotions while being forced to be around one another
The film is artistically, directed, and pasted while going for comedy or humor, but not too outlandish at times
It’s a joy to either of the actors and anything as they have shown their versatility and can be quite charming.
As it’s actually more enjoyable than expected, and it gets deeper as it goes along and offers a mature look at relationship relationships they will admit it is filled with sitcom situations and humor at times.
It’s a satisfying watch that will ring true for some viewers as it is the cast that pulls it across the finish line and makes it somewhat memorable.
Cast: Jamie Bell, Camilla Belle, Justin Chatwin, Lou Taylor Pucci, Rory Culkin, Glenn Close, Carrie Anne Moss, Ralph Fiennes, Jason Isaacs, Lauren Holly, Caroline Goodall, William Fichtner, John Heard, Allison Janney, Rita Wilson
a dark comedy about the lives of people who live in upper-class suburbia. It all begins when Dean Stiffle finds the body of his friend, Troy. He doesn’t bother telling any of the adults because he knows they won’t care. Everyone in town is too self-consumed to worry about anything else than themselves. And everybody is on some form of drug just to get themselves through the day. After Troy’s death, local drug dealers at the school run out of their stash. They convince Dean to get Troy’s stash or they are going to kill his brother that they kidnapped, but they grabbed the wrong kid.
This show is an intriguing failure that seems to be some sort of statement or satire on disaffected teens coming apart at the seams in suburbia after tranquilizing themselves on recreational drugs for so long that they seem to be scared of their own emotions. I wish the film played and explored more of what I just described.
Instead, the film seems more interested in the adult characters, who are not as deep and as types. This only makes their stories seem melodramatic or the product of a soap opera. Which makes one wonder how the film got such a powerful cast for a film that feels more like a desperate Housewives spin-off
The film seems to shy away from too much depth to focus more on the quirks and offbeat comedy.
The film is all surface but tries too hard at times to seem deep almost like a pretty girl reading an intellectual book and you notice over weeks each time you see her she is on the same page as she only does it for the attention or seems smarter than she might actually be
The ending feels too. The end feels too clean cut which one could see if this was based on pre-existing material but as it is an original production, it could’ve been worked on a bit more. It feels too self-serving, trying to please an audience instead of going for emotional truth.
It ends up playing more like a studio version of an independent coming-of-age film. With the parents so busy with themselves, they never pay attention to their own kids, even after one commits suicide, which might be blatant science for attention and help or even subconscious ones.. though the adults seem to anodize themselves with Work and each other as a form of hiding.
The film tries to tighten it like video games and not feeling real trying to achieve a numbness or doing things so that they can feel something. Not fall into the same traps and behavior as their parents, though it seems they easily follow suit.
Has a good score which other than the cast seems to be the most accomplished thing about it.
Cast: Keke Palmer, Sza, Vanessa Bell Calloway, Maude Apatow, Katt Williams, Patrick Cage, Lil Rel Howery, Gabrielle Dennis, Janelle James, Amin Joseph
When best friends and roommates Dreux and Alyssa discover Alyssa’s boyfriend has blown their rent money, the duo finds themselves going to extremes in a race against the clock to avoid eviction and keep their friendship intact.
At first, this film Feels like it’s Going to be the female version of FRIDAY. It’s not so much a hang-out movie as the characters keep running around the city. Though like that film there are plenty of colorful characters.
The humor is also a little More Lightweight and goofy. as at times it feels like it could go further but it keeps holding itself back to be less wacky and a bit more Realistic.
The film is entertaining and likable enough. Though the comedy there is. Nothing exceptional except Again it’s nice to see two female Characters in a comedy. They get into all sorts of adventures and shenanigans and aren’t necessarily Portrayed as angels, but as good at heart.
Especially one staring at two African American females that are as smart as it is silly and doesn’t feel like it’s Talking down nor above the audience.
The Film Stays fun throughout. Though both the leads are way better than the material they make it work with their chemistry and energy. Keke Palmer deserves better scripts and roles. She clearly is having the time of her life.
One admires her for her natural charisma On Screen and has usually been solid in her roles. As she is a former child Star has kept working over the years and only recently started getting recognized for her talent and getting bigger and better roles. As here she is the more responsible of the duo.
Sza plays the second lead the more free-spirited of the duo. Also the more comedic one and she makes a memorable acting debit
As always in comedies some Of the best things about the film And script are the supporting characters those who are predictable and unpredictable.
The only part that could have been worked on or tighter could have been the third-act villain out of nowhere.
It’s a film that moves fast and isn’t too deep keeps Up the momentum, and never slows down
Cast: Joanna Arnow, Scott Cohen, Babak Tafti, Michael Cyril Creighton, Alysia Reiner, Peter Vack, Parish Bradley, Rushi Birudala
A mosaic-style comedy following the life of a woman as time passes in her long-term casual BDSM relationship, low-level corporate job, and quarrelsome Jewish family.
This film feels like a collection of mundane experiences suffered by the main character well, also letting the film is autobiographical as it is written and directed by its lead, and her parents play her parents, and friends fill out the cast.
The film would seem to most like a sad, sad comedy that would feel like it follows in the footsteps of such filmmakers as Woody Allen and Todd Solondz where there might be a kind of sadness about the characters who either seem to be taken advantage of or bring on the bad things that happened to them somewhat punished by society.
Only what’s different is The main character isn’t so much a victim as she seems to welcome it and seems content with her life, relationships, and situations. The film is just trying to show her reactions to the situation, she finds herself in and she comes across as one of the more normal characters as all the other characters come off as rather quirky or disturbed.
The film also tries to present BDSM relationships in a droll way. As a tries to show modern dating with a dry sense of humor. That at times comes across as brutally honest, but with humor.
There’s a film that’s not gonna be for everybody. it might take a while for you to get on its wavelength but once you do, it’s smooth sailing as long as you are digging what you have seen so far.
Watching the film, it almost comes across as a visual journal of our lead character. Where she doesn’t try to sugarcoat or make anyone including herself look good it’s presented matter-of-factly, even allowing herself to be for half of the film.
For some the film or the situations as depressing and almost like a form of degradation. Which, for most, it might be, but here it actually shows the characters enjoying themselves for the most part.
Think Lena Dunham and her early films and even girls only with no real group of friends so that the main focus is on her and some odd supporting characters. As the tone goes from absurd to reality.
The film might throw some people off at first you just have to get into it sensibilities as it does showcase as sensitive charm many times and it’s style and tone.
It definitely shows a singular vision where the first half of the film is more random and the second half seems to get more into a plot, whereas the first half of the film is more showing her day-to-day life and seeing various people other than a recurring boyfriend like character, the second half focuses More on her, trying to maintain a relationship with a new guy who’s not used to her form where it feels like the film has shown enough of her background at that point so that we see the character and trust her alone and not reacting off of a series of familiar characters so the second half is kind of like seeing a normal character interact with her and how they react
This film really shocked me at how enjoyable it was and how much one could get into the film with just the nitty-gritty and didn’t need so much dressing or packaging around it is definitely to try and watch. In the end won’t say it’s necessarily rewarding but as a film fan her artistry while semi-autobiographical it’s also admirable.
Cast: David Krumholtz, Martin Starr, Luxy Banner, Olivia Thrilby, Jocelyn DeBoer, Stephen Root, Macon Blair, Andrew Bujalski
Man-baby Lousy Carter struggles to complete his animated Nabokov adaptation, teaches a graduate seminar on The Great Gatsby, and sleeps with his best friend’s wife. He has six months to live.
Watching this film is kind of like reading a novella. It’s not quite 90 minutes well short of it but over an hour and is more of a character piece with a lead character who sets up most of the film entertainment as he seems to be a very morose and depressed guy, surrounded by characters who are supposed to be friends, family, and colleagues who don’t seem to really like him, but keep him around as they think they are better than him or to make themselves look better in some kind of light
Did I mention this is supposed to be a comedy, to tell the truth, if it wasn’t for the actors being so likable in their rules and this undercurrent of dead comedy throughout the film really wouldn’t work.
Though it has a charm to it, it is ultimately a tragedy of comedic proportions as the lead can’t seem to ever catch a break through his own stubbornness at times and he is dealt.
Even his ex-girlfriend doesn’t seem to be fond of them, nor the woman he is sleeping with even his student who seems to find a fascination in him as much as he finds a fascination in her there more to make herself feel better with his bad luck.
This is for the viewer who likes their comedy warped and sad but funny enough to keep from being down in the dumps and far from tragedy.
Veteran character actor David Krumholtz in the rare leading role totally sells his character and the film and is what makes this film so watchable. It tries to take a stab at the intellectual college crowd, though offers a bleak outlook that is more humorous than depressing, which is what makes the film stable and keeps the audience engaged.
The film even offers a joke at the end for the audience and on the audience.
Cast: Diane Keaton, Tess Harper, Jessica Lange, Sissy Spacek, Sam Shepard, David Carpenter, Hurd Hatfield, Beeson Carroll
Three sisters with quite different personalities and lives reunite when Babe, the youngest, has just shot her husband. Oldest sister Lenny takes care of their grandfather and is turning into an old maid. Meg, who aspires to make it in Hollywood as a singer and actress, has had a wild, man-filled life. Their reunion is joyful but also stirs up much tension.
This is one of those films that seems to be a claim for its time and while it’s not horrible, not a film can easily get into.
As the story is obviously based on a play and that they’re in lies the problem as lived in as the direction production design and dialogue, tries to feel the acting feels like it is more a writer’s invention rather than necessarily natural.
So that throughout while quirky and revelatory, and at times it might seem relatable. It always feels more like a production than anything that rings true. This can be fine but for such a film that wants us to feel down deep at times, it feels almost like a designing women episode that’s been extended.
Not to mention some of the stories, mindset, and plot lines that make up this film might’ve been passable and somewhat racy back then, but now it feels more taboo and unacceptable, and today’s climate.
One can understand going for realism, but there is one scene in the use of racial language that just seems maybe natural for the character but just seems inappropriate for the film, and the mood and tone that it seems to be going for don’t sink into the film just throw it off at times. Same thing where Sam Shepard Dr. character has messed up teeth for no reason then to maybe make Shepard not seem like such a dreamboat and more like a regular character or a guy. You might wonder why when this film is hardly a bastion of realism half the time.
All the performances are great and Tess Harper, who got a Best Supporting Actress Academy Award nomination for the film truly does stand out as more of the thorn in the side of the characters a busybody, who is always opinionated and shockingly memorable. She is barely in the film.
This film should be a great triumph with such dramatic actresses altogether on the big screen all at once such as Jessica Lang, Diane Keaton, and Sissy Spacek, and they all are given much to do and characterizations, but unfortunately, the film just doesn’t feel that big or special maybe that strength is that supposed to feel subtle. No, it doesn’t come off as satisfying, and by the end, it just feels like it just stops instead of having any real feeling of resolution.
Cut To The Chase 