2022 * R * 1h 31m If you're up for an over the top action movie, you'll absolutely love this flick. The lead character is sort of a John Wick on steroids. If you can imagine that.
The movie takes place during the closing days of WWII. Our hero Aatami (Jorma Tommila) is a hardened Finnish veteran living in the far north of the country. One day, he strikes gold and manages to unearth a couple large satchels of the valuable mineral. On his way to the big city, he encounters a platoon of German soldiers. They're fleeing the battleground, hoping to make it to freedom. When they encounter Aarami and his stash, they figure it'll help pay their way after the war ends.
Well, they picked the wrong guy to take on. He's famous for the huge number of Russian soldiers he's already killed. He a one-man army, to say the least.And he's not going to let a band of Nazis get in his way. The whole rest of the movie is him battling the Germans in countless different ways. Some of the scenes are just unbelievable. But if you're into Nazi-killing themed movies, this one's for you. I don't think I need to warn you, there are a ton of bloody scenes. This film is not for the squeamish!
4 out of 5 stars
Currently streaming on Hulu and to rent on Apple TV, Amazon, and a bunch of other streaming services.
2015 * PG-13 * 2h 17m I've seen a bunch of the "Fast & Furious" films and they're all just wall to wall action. Perfect for a night when you just want to shut your brain off and enjoy some cheap thrills. Actually, I thought the one that took place in Japan was really dumb and had to turn it off after about 20 minutes.
This one is about Deckard Shaw (Jason Stathem) looking for revenge against Dominic Toretto (Vin Deisel) and the rest of the gang for his comatose brother. It's so over the top it isn't funny. Just about ever scene is either a barrage of bullets and explosions, a hand-to-hand combat sequence, or a balls out racing scene. And it never lets down for two hours and seventeen minutes. It's also the last film that starred Paul Walker. He was in a fatal car crash before the movie was finished, but they managed to complete it without him.
There was a definite note of sadness at the conclusion of the movie, which was dedicated to him in the closing credits. If you're looking for one of the most adrenaline pumping films of all time, don't miss this one.
It's on Netflix and Tubi (for free) and to rent on YouTube, Amazon, Fandango, and other streaming services.
2023 * R * 1h 50m Science Fiction is one of my favorite genres and Saoirse Ronan is one of my favorite actors. So when you combine the two, you know you're in for some exceptional movie viewing. And this film did not disappoint. Sure it was a bit slow moving at times and could easily have been 20 minutes shorter. But that said, it still was a captivating film.
The movie takes place in the near future and the planet looks pretty bleak. As does the chances for human survival. So the government is looking to populate a large space station. While we learn about these plans, most of the action takes place out in a rural part of the United States. Hen (Ronan) lives out on a farm with her husband Junior (Paul Mescal). One day Terrance (Aaron Pierre), a government representative arrives and informs them that Junior has been selected to travel out to space for a year, but first they need some time to evaluate him. So Terrance moves in with the couple. The plan is that when Junior is sent to the space station, an AI robot will move in with Hen to keep her company.
The movie moves along at a gentle pace until near the end. Then there's a plot twist I certainly didn't see coming. And then there's a second plot twist as the film ends. I won't even hint at what's to come. You'll simply have to check out this well-crafted and well-acted movie and find out for yourself.
2023 * PG-13 * 1h 30m This is one of those films that's totally predictable, full of ethnic stereotypes, and one cliche after another. But you know what? I thought it was really funny. Especially when you have two exceptional leads like Robert De Niro. and Sebastian Maniscalco.
The film is about Sebastian (Maniscalco who uses his real name in the film) a manager of a hotel in Chicago. He's from a modest, working class background but is dating Ellie (Leslie Bibb) who comes from a wealthy family. He's invited to the family's summer home to celebrate the 4th of July. He decides it would be the perfect opportunity to propose to Ellie. The problem is, his dad Salvo (De Niro) is still grieving over the recent loss of his wife, and the family has always celebrated the Fourth together.
So he brings his dad along for the party. Here's is where the movie gets amusing. Salvo is a bit rough around the edges and is really out of place around Ellie's snobbish family It makes for some hilarious scenes that, while you've seen situations in movies like this before, somehow seem fresh when you have an actor like De Niro delivering the lines.
If you're looking for some fairly mindless entertainment with a generous sprinkling of both laughs and touching moments, check this one out!
3 1/2 out of 5 stars
Currently streaming on Netflix, and to rent on YouTube, Amazon, Apple TV, Fandango, and other services.
2023 * PG-13 * 1h 58m “We live in troubled times” as the saying goes. Actually, if you think about it, just about every time in history has its fair share of troubles. Whether it’s caused by wars, politics, economics, or any number of things that can get you down. So it’s nice to have a safe haven where you can put negative thoughts aside for an hour or two. That’s the way I felt while watching the heartwarming film “Bank of Dave.” The fact that it’s loosely based on a true story, makes it even more of a restorative.
This sweet movie is about Dave Fishwick, the owner of several van dealerships in Northern England. It was written by Piers Ashworth and Clare Keogh and was directed by Chris Foggin (“Fisherman’s Friends,” “This is Christmas”). It’s one of those films that has you rooting for the underdog that the Brits do so well. If you’re not smiling by the time the film ends, I’ll be shocked.
“Bank of Dave” takes place in the years following the economic collapse in 2008. The film opens in a friendly English pub where Dave (Rory Kinnear) is singing a rousing Karaoke number to an enthusiastic crowd. When he’s done, a gentleman hands him a wad of cash, paying him back for a recent loan with un-asked for interest. The loan was for the building of new shopping center. As the story unfolds, we learn that Dave has the heart of gold, and he’s leant money to hundreds of locals without interest, just to help folks achieve their dreams, no matter how big or small they are.
Then Dave has a brainstorm. What if he opened a small bank, focused on making these sorts of loans official? He’s so taken with the idea, he contacts a London law firm to assist him in his endeavor. The case is given to Hugh (Joel Fry), a hotshot lawyer who knows what he’s up against. It soon becomes obvious that he has almost no chance of winning the case. There hasn’t been a new bank in Great Britain in over 150 years. And the big banks intend to keep it that way. Even though they lost millions of pounds, the upper management helped themselves to millions in compensation and bonuses.
Hugh, the wealthy, big city lawyer visits Dave in the small town of Burnley. Dave takes him around town and we witness all the good he’s done by lending money to the locals as well as friends and family. He’s actually making a difference in the lives of others in the community. Slowly, the skeptical attorney begins to come around and he starts getting fired up about his case.
He submits his application to the U.K.’s Financial Regulation Board, not quite sure what to expect. There he meets Sir Charles, played by Hugh Bonneville. Mr. Bonneville usually plays a kind-hearted gentleman like he did in “Downton Abbey,” “Paddington,” and “Notting Hill.” Here he plays an evil, conniving sort, and he does it quite well. His years at the Royal Shakespeare Company and the National Theatre certainly paid off.
While Hugh is being initiated into Dave’s plan, he meets his niece Alexandra (Phoebe Dynevor), a doctor at the local emergency clinic. She tells him that her dream is to open a free medical clinic so those in need can get the attention they deserve. It sounds a bit like socialism, but they way she sells Hugh on it, it just makes sense. And it isn’t long before their friendship becomes a bit more than that. It encourages him to try just that much harder to help Dave win his case.
It’s then that the story hits a snag. A female friend of Hugh’s is working to get ahead at her law firm. She absconds with a page of Hugh’s files and turns it over to the powers that be. It’s a record of a loan Dave made to a local woman to help her pay for her husband’s funeral. Technically, the loan wasn’t totally legal and it’s the basis of a trial that is aimed to stop the founding of a new bank. If Dave is found guilty, he wouldn’t be able to start a bank since he’d have a criminal record.
The story is one of those heartfelt dramas that is guaranteed to have you grinning from ear to ear. One thing that makes it such a wonderful film is Dave’s character. Kinnear, even though he’s gotten filthy rich over the years, has never forgotten about where he came from. And he’s always giving back to the community. He delivers several speeches that’ll make you practically jump out of your seat and shout, “You go guy!” What a great performance.
If you’re looking for something that’ll restore your faith in humanity, don’t miss this fine movie.
Currently streaming on Kanopy and Hoopla (for free with your library card) and Netflix. And to rent on Apple TV, Amazon, Fandango, and other streaming services.
I love just about anything Will Farrell is in. So I really don't know why I never heard of this film before. What a hoot. It's one of those off-beat, well-written comedies that will have you chuckling out loud. And what a great cast! It also stars Linda Cardellini and Mark Wahlberg.
Brad (Farrell) is married to Sara (Cardellini) and is the step dad to her two young kids. He's a gentle, happy-go-lucky sort who desperately wants them to accept him. Then the ex, Dusty (Wahlberg) arrives out of nowhere. He's an ego-tripping, pompous ass--probably close to Wahlberg in real life. He's simply the coolest dad on the planet. So the two of them try to outdo each other to win the kids' favor.
The competition starts out small, then spirals out of control. I had an absolute blast watching this movie. I noticed there's a "Daddy's Home Part 2" which I'm a bit skeptical about. It got pretty high ratings on IMDb, so I think I'll give it a shot.
4 out of 5 stars
Currently streaming on Netflix and for free on Hoopla (with your library card. Also to rent on Apple TV, Amazon, YouTube, and other streaming services.
2011 * PG-13 * 1h 51m I'll readily admit, I'm a big fan of Vince Vaughn. I love his early screwball comedies. Over the years, he's sure had provided his share of laugh out loud moments. But more recently, he's proven that he definitely has some significant acting chops as well. Take his most recent film "Nonnas" for example. What a great job he did. "The Dilemma" is an older film of his that could loosely be defined as a comedy. It's definitely a film that flew under the radar.
"The Dilemma" was directed by Ron Howard, who rarely disappoints. It's about Ronny (Vaughn) and Nick (Kevin James), who have been best buds for ages. They're partners in an automotive supplier company and are trying to get Chrysler to buy into their shop. They're working on a way to give EVs a muscle car sound and feel. One day, Ronny catches Nick's wife Beth (Jennifer Connelly) having an affair with another man. Here's where the dilemma comes in. Just how does he break the news to his pal?
The story takes its share of twists and turns as it heads for a final resolution. Getting there is frustratingly comical. The film is categorized as a comedy. Well, maybe a dark comedy would be a better description. As an aside, I usually don't like Kevin James. I find him really irritating. But I enjoyed his performance here. If you're looking for a couple hours of first-rate entertainment, check this one out!
Currently streaming on Netflix and to rent on Apple TV, Amazon, Youtube, Fandango, and other streaming services.
