A Little White Lie Review: Little Chemistry in Literary Rom-Com

A depressed alcoholic handyman masquerades as a reclusive writer while trying to woo a university professor. A Little White Lie attempts romance and comedic mockery of the literary world. It does neither well with an all-star cast that never clicks. The supporting characters are caricatures of academia and politically correct liberalism. They're not believable as fawning writer wannabes enthralled by a supposed genius author. The premise never takes hold which leads to the film plodding along.


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Liam Neeson Drops the Action, Misses the Mark in ‘Marlowe’

Neil Jordan’s “Marlowe” stars Liam Neeson as Raymond Chandler’s iconic detective, whose latest case is a missing persons assignment in which a mysterious femme fatale (Diane Krueger) hires Marlowe to find her vanished lover.

Along the way, Marlowe encounters a slew of wealthy Hollywood power players, potential suspects, and red herrings. The case allows Marlowe to mingle with those who have found stardom in the film industry and others who never achieved fame and are struggling to justify their place in the industry.

There are a lot of things I liked about Neil Jordan’s “Marlowe,” but I also struggle to remember I even saw the film, which is also an indication of how effective it is.

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Early on, someone notes how their conversation with Marlowe is “uninteresting,” which sums up the first 40 minutes. Jordan is clearly trying to recreate the feel of an old-fashioned pulp thriller mystery, but the start is dull and unpromising. Thankfully, things pick up in the second and third act, though the film never overcomes a major problem:

The miscast lead.

Neeson has starred in a flood of interchangeable, one-man-crusade action B-movies lately, though he’s still a tremendous actor. Recent performances in Martin Scorsese’s “Silence” (2016) and Steve McQueen’s “Widows” (2018) are major career highlights, though Neeson has spent too much time on vehicles with generic titles like “Honest Thief” and “The Ice Road.”

Re-teaming Neeson with Jordan, his “Michael Collins” (1996) director, would seem an ideal reunion, but Neeson doesn’t gel with the character. Misplaced audience expectations won’t help, as this isn’t an action movie, but Neeson simply lacks grit here, is too laid back and the entire film suffers as a result.

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Danny Huston has been cast as a wealthy sleaze and while he’s always good, it also serves as a reminder of how tremendous his father, John Huston, was playing a similar part in “Chinatown,” the movie “Marlowe” clearly wanted to be like.

Although most films never reach the heights of Roman Polanski’s 1974 masterpiece, Jordan’s own neo-noir, “The Crying Game” (1992) remains as much a perfect example of contemporary noir as his “Mona Lisa” (1986).

Truly, Jordan gets this genre, is unafraid of challenging his audience with an unreliable and unlikable protagonist and embraces the expected darkness and moral rot the material demands.

There’s a striking sequence here in which we see the inner workings of a secret, sordid club for the rich. Likewise, an arresting image of a fire that seems about to engulf all the artifice of moviemaking. The elements are in place but, as strong as Neeson is elsewhere and as much as his name is still a box office attraction, the actor was not right for this movie.

In a standout supporting role, Seana Kerslake steals a couple of scenes and Jessica Lange thoughtfully embodies a former actress who bitterly watches her life pass her by.

RELATED: ‘GLASS ONION’ MOSTLY DELIVERS ON MYSTERY FRANCHISE

Jordan and William Monahan’s screenplay isn’t based on a prior Raymond Chandler story but John Banville’s 2014 novel, “The Black-Eyed Blonde” (which should have been this film’s title). The character of Marlowe and the milieu have been done better.

Humphrey Bogart may remain the definitive incarnation of the character, though I still have fond memories of Powers Boothe playing the role in the polished, sordid HBO series, “Phillip Marlowe: Private Eye” (1983-1986).

The story offers intriguing echoes of “Mona Lisa,” which was also about a middle-aged man who uncovers a system of powerful men abusing women. A film of Jordan’s that this also reflect is “The Good Thief” (2002), which similarly sported a noir attitude that carried the film for a while, before vanishing from memory the moment you leave the theater.

Another movie this reminded me of was last year’s “Confess, Fletch,” the adult-minded revival of a dormant franchise. I enjoyed that film’s supporting cast and the snap of the dialog but was unconvinced by the lead.

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Both “Confess, Fletch” and “Marlowe” are rare multiplex options for grownups, but neither is as sharp or memorable as they should be.

I suspect we’ll see Phillip Marlowe on film (and for that matter, Irwin R. “Fletch” Fletcher) again. For Neeson and Jordan, it’s an admirable misstep, though I hope they collaborate again soon.

“Marlowe” has an affection for film noir and the production itself is impressive but, despite the efforts of the talent assembled, something’s missing.

Two Stars

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Perry Mason Season Two Review: The Murky Waters of Justice

Perry Mason returns with another bombshell case that divides Depression-era Los Angeles like an earthquake. The brooding lawyer finds himself knee-deep in a twisted maze of murder, sex, blackmail, and racial subjugation. Allies and enemies blend as the murky waters of justice shows no clear path forward. The banner ensemble cast explores a bleak time steeped in hidden lives and secret agendas. But fantastic character exposition, performances, and stellar production values are hindered by laborious pacing. The plot crawls along as several episodes struggle mightily to hold your attention. There are unfortunate lulls that require commitment to follow through the serialized plot.


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iMordecai Review: A Hefty Serving of Schmaltz

Judd Hirsch goes full shtick in a sweet but mawkishly sentimental tribute to heritage and family. iMordecai thrusts a retired Jewish plumber and painter into the modern world when his son buys him an iPhone. The digital embrace unleashes a new zest for life while also evoking memories of escaping the Holocaust as a child. iMordecai then adds a hefty serving of schmaltz with labored subplots that dilute the narrative.


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Enys Men Review: The Horror of Boredom

There's a reason why people joke about how nobody wants to hear someone else's dreams. They're personal experiences that often don't make a lick of sense to anyone else and can never truly be adequately communicated; they're something we pay therapists to listen to. In a way, though, a lot of art is like this — a person or a collective trying to tell people about their dream.


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Can’t Miss Gimmick in ‘Unseen’ (Mostly) Hits the Mark

Smartphones make horror films so much harder to write.

Being chased by a faceless monster? Call for help and wait for the police to arrive. “Yes, please follow my GPS signal before Freddy/Jason/Michael arrives … thank you!” And that flashlight app sure comes in handy.

It’s why some newer horror films are set in the analog age, while others fall back on the smartphone’s greatest enemy – bad cell reception.

“Unseen,” like the recent “See for Me,” embraces what the modern smart phone offers. We watch a woman use a stranger’s video call function to keep one step ahead of her crazed ex-beau. It’s far from perfect, and you keep expecting a woke lecture to interrupt the chase, but “Unseen” efficiently burns through its modest run time.

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Jolene Purdy plays Sam, a down-on-her-luck gal working at a smelly convenience store in Florida. Her boss is cruel, the customers are worse and when she gets a strange phone call she’s anxious to hang up, and fast.

She doesn’t. Instead, she listens as a woman explains that her ex-boyfriend is stalking her, and she needs Sam’s help.

Or else.

That’s Emily (Midori Francis) on the other end of the line, a med student who hooked up with a control freak named Charlie and may pay the ultimate price for it. Emily lost her glasses when she broke free from her ex’s remote cabin, and she’s practically blind without them.

She needs Sam to be her eyes, via video chat, to help her find a way out of the woods.

What a setup! “Unseen” takes full advantage of modern technology, warts and all. Sam’s battery life is waning, for example, and she must fend off customers while trying to save Emily’s life.

Sam and Emily can’t help but bond during the ordeal, arguably the best part of a lean script from Salvatore Cardoni and Brian Rawlins. Sam’s life is far from perfect, and Emily fears she’ll die with serious regrets about not appreciating her hard-working Ma.

Michael Patrick Lane is under-developed as the villainous Charlie, but his presence keeps “Unseen” tense from the opening sequence.

Far better is Missi Pyle, a certified scene stealer doing what she does best as Sam’s nightmarish customer. She’s rude, and entitled and just might stop Sam from saving Emily.

Pyle’s character epitomizes “Unseen’s” coal-black humor. It’s not always a perfect tonal choice, but director Yoko Okumura keeps the energy level high enough to keep everything in order. The director also makes clever use of split-screen visuals, a comic-book sensibility rooted in the 21st century yet connected to pulp stories of yore.

RELATED: WHY HORROR MOVIES ARE HAVING A MOMENT

The film’s woke bona fides are easy to spot. Pyle’s character is a rich, privileged white woman with fire power to spare (don’t ask). Charlie’s controlling nature is the patriarchy on full blast. And a few lines suggest woke is on the tip of the screenwriters’ tongues, like when Emily notes the teasing she endured over Mickey Rooney’s cartoonishly Asian “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” character.

Yes, because Gen Z types are very plugged into Rooney’s body of work.

“Unseen” never leans too far into those progressive bromides. The focus is the chase, the adventure and the legit bond between two souls who know they need each other to survive.

HiT or Miss: “Unseen” is sloppy, silly and sometimes teetering on woke. The bond between the key characters, and a terrific gimmick, keep everything right on track.

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Jesus Revolution Review: A Thoughtful Expression of Faith and Acceptance

An era of sex, drugs, and rock 'n' roll spawned a Christian religious revival that swept America in the early seventies. Jesus Revolution tells the uplifting true story of a young Greg Laurie, his desperate search for meaning, and the altruistic pastors that helped launch a spiritual awakening. Faith-based and devotional films are often maligned in cinema. A proselytizing approach steeped in moralism warrants criticism; but a thoughtful expression of humanity and our need for belonging deserves to be seen.


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The Consultant Review: A Creepy Comedy Thriller Filled with Mystery

CEOs were paid on average 399 times what their workers earned in 2021, and yet, the higher they are paid, the more they tank their firms. A fascinating paper from the University of Utah studied CEO pay in relation to their companies' stock performance over a 17-year period and found up to a 10% negative correlation. These wealthy elites often introduce disastrous policies that satisfy some shareholders and show that they actually did something, and then abandon ship before the company consequently performs poorly. As they jump, their fall is softened by a golden parachute.


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‘Creed III’ Proves There’s Life After Rocky

The “Creed” franchise survived its Rocky-ectomy.

The saga, now three pictures deep, originally spun from the Rocky Balboa franchise with impressive results. Still, losing Sylvester Stallone’s iconic character could have been the spinoff’s death knell.

Instead, the first film without the aging hero holds its own, and then some. Some story hiccups threaten to KO the threequel, but sterling performances across the board and strong bonds between Creed family members make “Creed III” a satisfying chapter.

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We revisit Adonis Creed (Michael B. Jordan, making his directorial debut) wrapping up his illustrious career. He’s freshly retired and eager to spend time with his precocious daughter, Amara, (certified scene stealer Mila Davis-Kent) and his bride (“Thor: Love and Thunder’s” Tessa Thompson).

An old friend pays Adonis a visit, stirring memories our hero would prefer to stay hidden. It’s Jonathan Majors as Dame, Adonis’ childhood chum and aspiring boxer who spent 18 years in prison for a seemingly small crime.

Lame plot device alert!

Now, Dame wants to finish what he started all those years ago … preparing for a run at the Heavyweight boxing title.

Crazy, you say? Wasn’t it crazy for Apollo Creed to give a nobody like Rocky Balboa a title shot so many years ago?

There’s a difference this time. Dame’s ties to Adonis are complicated, and their reunion may find them squaring off against each other at long last.

If that’s a spoiler alert you haven’t seen any of the previous “Rocky” installments (or the film’s trailer).

 

 
 
 
 
 
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Jordan delivers a confident directorial effort, focusing as much on Adonis’ personal life as the boxing sequences. The film’s best moments come within the nuclear family, from Adonis refusing to open up to his patient wife to Amara eager to take lessons from her famous pappy.

These aren’t filler bits between boxing matches. They’re deeply felt and raw, just as they should be.

The Adonis/Dame dynamic is flawed at times, with the screenplay struggling to set them against each other. That’s a problem, but it has nothing to do with Majors. His Dame is a wrecking crew, although that’s hardly new for the franchise.

Remember Clubber Lang and Ivan Drago?

What sets Majors apart is the hurt reflected in his face, and how his body language reflects a man unleashed after years in a cage. His boxing style is unorthodox, making it hard to penetrate his defenses. It’s also visually dynamic, giving the film’s boxing scenes an energy sometimes missing from “Rocky” sequels.

“Creed III” isn’t woke, not by any meaningful measurement. The story dovetails into young black males and their incarceration levels, but it shrewdly lets that dynamic play out in the viewer’s mind.

No lectures, no ham-fisted exchanges tied to societal inequality. That graceful approach speaks volumes about Jordan as a storyteller.

We already know he has charisma to burn, and Thompson’s delicate performance provides a sweet counterbalance. Her character’s hearing issues haven’t gone away, but watching her share how she dealt with the losses they incurred is to watch a young actress finding her voice, her presence.

“Creed III” is still a “Rocky” spinoff, so we get both the obligatory training montage and a sentimental subplot meant to spark a tear duct or two. It’s all handled efficiently, embracing the franchise formula without being consumed by it.

The Big Fight takes a huge risk, transforming the ring into a stylistic battle between two titans. The gamble doesn’t fully pay off, but Jordan understands something intrinsic to the Sweet Science. It’s always good to keep your opponent, or in this case the audience, off balance.

HiT or Miss: “Creed III” continues a credible, inspiring saga started by Stallone and co. Star Michael B. Jordan proves his mettle on camera anew, while Jonathan Majors continues his career ascent.

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Creed III Review: Jonathan Majors Dominates Heavyweight Sequel

Michael B. Jordan lands haymakers and heart in a predictable sequel that punches above its script. Creed III marks a solid feature directorial debut. Jordan's good in front and behind the camera, but the addition of a heavyweight antagonist elevates the film. An absolutely shredded Jonathan Majors brings depth, gravitas, and wicked jabs. He's a beast and a half as a bitter ex-bestie seeking glory. His quest for comeuppance sears with palpable rage. Majors has an underlying intensity that dominates every performance. He brings believable betrayal and menace to an otherwise rote storyline.


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‘Cocaine Bear’ Misses Cult Status by a Country Mile

“Cocaine Bear” has a “Snakes on a Plane” problem that never goes away.

That 2006 romp rocked the zeitgeist for months. And then we saw the film itself, a mediocrity given a pulse by Samuel L. Jackson’s ‘tude.

The gimmick couldn’t support an actual movie.

“Cocaine Bear,” inspired by true events, seemed like a superior bet. Comedy! Action! A coked-out bear on the loose!

What could go wrong? Plenty, and it’s a reminder that even the best Hollywood pitches demand a follow through.

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“Cocaine Bear” opens with a wink and a nod. We get a Wikipedia quote about bears, followed up by an ’80s-era “Just Say No” drug campaign complete with former First Lady Nancy Reagan.

The tone is pithy and self-aware, and it clicks. So does the setup, assembling both innocents and rogues who run into the titular bear.

The great Margo Martindale is a tough-talking forest ranger looking to flirt with a visiting animal expert (a barely recognizable Jesse Tyler Ferguson of “Modern Family” fame). Their meeting is interrupted by runaway pre-teens, a determined cop and drug traffickers looking for cocaine packages dropped from the sky by a doomed drug runner.

A big, black bear gets to the lost cocaine first, and the film’s copious CGI shows what happens when a beast of that size gets too high, too fast.

[The actual bear the film is based on died after snorting too much product]

The coked-out bear attacks anything within its line of sight, meaning “Cocaine Bear” spills plenty of blood. Limbs fly, characters shriek their final breaths and we get to see every last drop of the red stuff.

 

 
 
 
 
 
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Director Elizabeth Banks (“Charlie’s Angels,” “Pitch Perfect 2”) still keeps the tone as light as possible given the grisly bits. 

So far, so engaging. It’s a B-movie with mediocre dialogue, but it’s delivering on its pop culture potential.

More or less.

The bear’s killing spree requires victims, though, and here’s where “Cocaine Bear” falls down on the job. The ensemble cast is filled with “characters,” larger-than-life types meant to spike the cinematic punch.

Except none are up to the challenge.

Alden Ehrenreich couldn’t make us forget Harrison Ford in “Solo,” and he’s equally overwhelmed playing a soft-hearted criminal here. His sobbing character doesn’t generate a single laugh, and he’s not alone.

Old pros like Keri Russell, wasted as the pre-teen’s mom, and Isiah Whitlock Jr. as the determined detective, class up the joint as best as they can. It’s Mission: Impossible, and there’s no Tom Cruise around to save the day.

The first-act laughter dries up, and we’re left with bland characters moving about the forest while we wait for the next bear attack. Even Ray Liotta, in what may be his last screen performance, can’t make his drug lord worth our attention.

The only actor to emerge unscathed is O’Shea Jackson, cast as a drug runner who puts survival over profits.

The last thing a film like “Cocaine Bear” should be is dull, but the screenplay delivers just that. The film’s goofy edge fades, and we’re left with a generic assortment of heroes, villains and folks who could fall in either camp.

Where’s the edge, the campy excitement we were promised?

A movie like “Cocaine Bear” should go out on a high … note. Instead, the interminable third act makes us forget how much fun this “Bear” was supposed to be in the first place.

HiT or Miss: “Cocaine Bear” briefly lives up to the pre-release buzz before succumbing to generic, even bland, storytelling beats.

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Cocaine Bear Review: Elizabeth Banks' B-Movie Blends Your Favorite Genres

The promotional posters will tell you that Cocaine Bear is "inspired by true events." And as the movie begins with a nonstop '80s-themed soundtrack, opening title cards give us a quick breakdown of the dangers to be expected with wild bears. The source of these facts? "Wikipedia."


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The Quiet Girl Review: Ireland's Oscar Nominee Is Heartwarming and Heartbreaking

Aftersun, The Banchees of Inisherin, An Irish Goodbye, and The Quiet Girl are all 2022 films that have received Oscar nominations for the 95th Academy Awards. Considering their success, many people have pontificated about a 'green wave,' and that Irish cinema is having a moment. Of course, there have always been great Irish filmmakers (Jim Sheridan, Martin McDonagh, Lenny Abrahamson, and the great Neil Jordan come to mind), dating back to the 1920s with Rex Ingram and The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, but it's true — something felt different about 2022.


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‘Jesus Revolution’ Shows Spiritual Side of Flower Power Era

The Erwin brothers make a living telling stories that Hollywood would rather avoid.

Think faith-friendly stories like “October Baby” and “I Can Only Imagine,” the latter the duo’s biggest hit to date.

Now, Jon Erwin offers a ‘60s-style flashback that flies in the face of pop culture conventions. It’s a hippie tale brimming with peace, love, understanding and Jesus, and not remotely in that order.

And it really happened.

“Jesus Revolution” recalls how a preacher and a lost young soul teamed to bring faith to a generation desperate for meaning. The drama defines Erwin’s brand of storytelling – strong performances, glossy production values and, occasionally, a dearth of dramatic grit.

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Young Greg Laurie (Joel Courtney) meets a beautiful young woman (Anna Grace Barlow), a Hollywood-approved moment that changes the course of his life in many ways.

She introduces him to Hippie, Inc., the film’s attempt to give a PG:13 rating to the era’s Flower Power movement.

The production values are first rate, but the generic, soft-focus look at these cultural forces will frustrate many.

The two become part of a larger wave of disaffected hippies who would rather drop Bible verses than acid. They’re led by Lonnie Frisbee (Yes, that’s Jesus himself, Jonathan Roumie, from “The Chosen”), a natural leader whose banter bullies past conventional sermons.

Lonnie finds an unlikely ally in Pastor Chuck Smith (Kelsey Grammer, always excellent). Together, they’re a formidable team that inspires what Time Magazine would dub the “Jesus Revolution.”

 

 
 
 
 
 
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“Jesus Revolution” captures a fascinating moment in history, but the focus is too often reserved for smaller, less defined measures.

It’s not clear what the movie’s purpose is, and that haunts us deep into the film.

RELATED: ‘THE CHOSEN’ SHOCKS HOLLYWOOD (AGAIN) 

Young Courtney’s wanderlust perfectly encapsulates the era in question – late ’60s, early ’70s – but Pastor Chuck’s embrace of Team Lonnie happens far too quickly. That transformation alone could have anchored a large swath of the story.

The key romance between Courtney and Barlow’s characters also feels undernourished. They’re beautiful looking and kind of heart, but we need more than that. A key moment late in their courtship, much like the ending of the Netflix rom-com “You People,” is wildly unearned.

Yet “Jesus Revolution” nails why Christianity captured so many hearts and minds during the era. Young people felt disconnected, alone and scared. Many didn’t want to blur their minds with drugs or partake in the era’s sexual freedom.

They craved a spiritual balm, even if they didn’t realize it at the time. “Jesus Revolution” is at its best when showing that hunger. And darned if Roumie isn’t perfectly cast as the charismatic heart of the revolution.

He’s not Jesus, of course, but the film leans into his “Chosen” identity in sly and satisfying ways. Watching him bicker with his on-screen wife, after watching him all but mesmerize a massive gathering of worshipers, is a giddy treat.

The film’s closing credits fill in the real story’s blanks, suggesting a documentary approach might have hit closer to the mark in capturing this “Revolution.”

HiT or Miss: “Jesus Revolution” tells a necessary story with heart, pathos and fine performances. It’s still missing dramatic elements to put it over the top.

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Bunker Review: Horror Lurks Underground

A seemingly easy victory turns to bloody horror, madness, and more for a company of Allied soldiers during World War I. Bunker opens with young American recruits getting a friendly ribbing from hardened British officers in their dismal trench. A hasty German retreat leads to a dangerous trek across no-mans-land to claim their adversaries' position. What happens next combines psychological breakdowns and tension fueled by something sinister lurking among them. The problem is that the mystery aspect crawls at a snail's pace. The film takes way too long to deliver a fairly obvious ending. A thundering score also comes across as heavy-handed and overdramatic.


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Ambush Review: A Muddled Account of the Vietnam War

A forward operating base on the front lines of the Vietnam War comes under attack while protecting top-secret intelligence. Ambush, inspired by a true story, tells of the deadly mission to retrieve the stolen docs from the Vietcong in a labyrinthine maze of underground tunnels. The film vacillates between gritty combat, the brotherhood of soldiers, and a labored plot with critical issues. Pacing also becomes a factor during a prolonged and indiscernible subterranean second act. Characters become muddled in confusing settings. A standout performance by the primary protagonist (Connor Paolo) reminds that war is hell and in many cases utterly futile.


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Sharper Review: Conniving Grifters Circle a Mammoth Prize

Sharper plays a long confidence game with cunning grifters who are never what they seem. The plot is broken down into vignettes that introduce the characters at various stages of deception. We get an early whiff of what's happening, but the true scope remains a mystery until the second act. The subtle art of seduction has predators circling like vultures for a mammoth prize. The well-acted plot takes you from seedy streets to opulent penthouse machinations. I was transfixed until the need to go bigger pops the narrative ballon. The film digs in claws but loses its grip with an overblown climax.


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Devil's Peak Review: Billy Bob Thornton's Fierce in Tepid Backwoods Crime Drama

An Appalachian meth kingpin runs afoul of politicians and his weary son when the teen's drug-addicted mother returns home. Devil's Peak combines dysfunctional family drama with backwoods gangster betrayals. It unfortunately does neither well in a simple narrative with logistical flaws and rote performances. A bald, tattooed, and menacing Billy Bob Thornton props up the film with alpha male bravado. He nails being an abusive father that alternates between punches and hugs. His dominating swagger highlights downbeats that muddle pacing. Devil's Peak needed to disseminate that energy to liven the supporting cast.


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The Integrity of Joseph Chambers Review: Terrific Portrait of a Salesman's Failed Effort to 'Be a Man'

What does it mean to be a man in modern society? That's the central question at hand in The Integrity of Joseph Chambers. From Gravitas Ventures is chilling, suspenseful, top-notch storytelling as we watch the titular character descend in a downward spiral, playing out at a purposefully slow pace. After all, who doesn't love a good indie film with a potentially career-defining performance?


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Maybe I Do Review: A Frivolous Discourse on Romantic Commitment

Three couples at different stages of their relationships face marriage, adultery, and monogamy crises. Maybe I Do has two pairs of septuagenarians cheating on each other while their children date. The millennials hit a commitment snag, decide to involve their parents, and schedule a family dinner where everyone meets for the first time. Shenanigans predictably ensue as the philandering spouses have a painfully awkward encounter. Maybe I Do attempts insightful discourse on the merits of marriage. Can love last after the physical excitement wanes, procreation occurs, and time inevitably passes?


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Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey Review: Childhood Favorites Become Subpar Slashers

Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey reimagines beloved childhood favorites as ferocious monsters with a taste for human flesh. The copyright expiration of A. A. Milne and E. H. Shepard's classic books allows this grotesque new interpretation. Characters without an ounce of self-preservation run amok in dark settings with the cruel Pooh (Craig David Dowsett) and Piglet (Chris Cordell) lumbering behind. The filmmakers could've benefited from more vision and creativity.


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Hello Tomorrow! Review: A Retro Futuristic Comedic Drama That Shoots for the Moon and Misses

Throughout the decades, unhappiness has manifested in different forms, especially in cinema, art, and literature. Whether it is a story about a parent unable to connect with their child or a tragedy happening abroad, movies and television have been a way for audiences to envision their problems potentially being solved, effectively creating a form of escapism, and or figuring out what the future might look like a hundred or fifty years down the future. Some movies have chosen and sought out a future that looks to the not-so-distant past to figure out what society might look like, and Apple TV+’s newest television show, Hello Tomorrow!, cashes in specifically on the nostalgia of the United States in the 1950s.


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Indiana Jones 5 Director James Mangold Shares The Key Challenge Dial Of Destiny Shares With Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull

Indiana Jones 5 director James Mangold discussed a challenge in Dial of Destiny that was present back in Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.

Fast X’s Trailer Shows Off Epic Action And Attention To Detail, But Apparently The Whole Thing Was Rewritten Overnight

Director Louis Leterrier shares his whirlwind experience replacing Justin Lin on Fast X.

Amid Breakup Rumors, Megan Fox And Machine Gun Kelly Are Reportedly 'Trying To Work Things Out'

Following breakup rumors, a source said Megan Fox and Machine Gun Kelly are reportedly "trying to work things out."

I Have No Context For This Clip Of Jane Fonda Talking About Sitting On Ryan Gosling’s Face, But I Can’t Stop Watching It

A new interview has 80 For Brady star Jane Fonda wishing to be able to sit on Ryan Gosling's face, and I can't stop trying to figure out why.

Upon Further Review, The Academy Admits It Didn’t Handle The Will Smith Oscars Slap Very Well

Almost a year later, the Film Academy has admitted fault in the Will Smith Oscars slap controversy.

Paul Rudd Reveals What It Was Really Like To Be In The Room When Steve Carell Submitted To 40-Year-Old Virgin's Infamous Waxing Scene

Paul Rudd reveals what it was really like watching Steve Carrell submit himself to The 40-Year-Old Virgin's infamous waxing scene.

The Whale Producer Responds To Backlash Over Brendan Fraser's Casting

Brendan Fraser's performance in The Whale has earned an Oscar nomination, but it has also earned a lot of criticism.

Michael B. Jordan Shares Thoughts On Entering Another Relationship Following Breakup With Lori Harvey

Michael B. Jordan discusses whether he's ready to embark upon another relationship following his breakup with Lori Harvey.

Swallowed Review: An Aggressively Uncomfortable Horror-Thriller

Some films can get a lot of mileage from a simple premise, especially the kind of nightmare scenarios that fuel thrillers and horror films. Green Room was as minimalist as it gets — a rock band sees something they shouldn't at a dive bar that's run by neo-Nazis, and barricade themselves in the green room. It's a great little premise (just like Rope, Buried, and other claustrophobic thrillers before it), requiring only a handful of actors and a small budget.


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Stephen King Asks Fans For The Worst Line Of Dialogue In A Movie, Offers His Own Pick

Stephen King has asked his followers on Twitter to nominate the worst line of dialogue from a movie, and his personal choice is complicated.

Idris Elba Set The Record Straight After Some People Were Unhappy With Comments He Made About How Being A Black Actor Put Him ‘In A Box’

After people weren’t happy about Idris Elba’s comments on not wanting to be labeled a Black actor, he decided to set the record straight.

Star Trek: Picard Season 3 Episodes 1-6 Review: The Next Generation Returns

Star Trek: Picard brings back The Next Generation for its third and final season. The classic cast returns for a heaping spoonful of fan service. Trekkies will undoubtedly be thrilled to see old-school favorites reunited for another galaxy-saving adventure. But past glory doesn't make up for the issues that have plagued the series. Poor dialogue, indistinguishable settings, and contrived situations continue to be problematic. Moments of fantastic drama and action are undermined by simplistic plot structures. The mystery that drives the narrative meanders then lurches forward. Some parts are gripping while others feel forced and illogical.


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Insider Claims Megan Fox Is Just Trolling Fans 'For Attention' Amid Alleged MGK Break-up

Megan Fox deleted her Instagram after a cryptic post that indicated Machine Gun Kelly had cheated.

Michael B. Jordan Ordered An Insane Breakfast Spread And Now I Know Exactly How He Bulked Up For Creed III

Michael B. Jordan ordered a lot for breakfast, and I now know, for sure, how he bulked up for Creed III.

Channing Tatum Dropped A Wet, Shirtless Post On The Dance Floor To Celebrate The Release Of Magic Mike's Last Dance, Because Of Course

Magic Mike's Last Dance star Channing Tatum celebrated the new release with a shirtless dance floor post.

Debunking The Spiciest Rumors About ‘The Flash’ Movie

There are a lot of juicy rumors floating around about 'The Flash' movie, but most of them are incorrect.

Jennifer Lopez Seemingly Got In On The Internet Roast Of Her Husband, But Insider Says She’s ‘Over’ It

Jennifer Lopez poked fun at husband Ben Affleck, but a report also suggests that she's "over' his social media situation.

Why Is Ben Affleck In A Dunkin’ Donuts Super Bowl Ad? What We Know About The Actor's Love Of The Coffee Brand

Ben Affleck is set to be featured in a Dunkin' Donuts Super Bowl commercial, but what's his relationship with the brand been like over the years?

Megan Fox Drops Post With Cryptic Caption And Deletes All Her MGK Photos In The Middle Of The Night. Fans Think He Was Caught Cheating

Megan Fox is the queen of the Instagram caption, and her dramatic overnight social media shift has fans thinking she broke up with Machine Gun Kelly.

The Last of Us Mid-Season Recap & Review: A Heartbreaking Journey of Loss

The Last of Us lingers with every episode as a heartbreaking journey of loss. It arrives at the mid-season mark carrying the burden of sacrifice. The Cordyceps fungal infection transformed mankind into monsters and worse. Desperation breeds villainy as humanity's remnants resort to whatever means necessary for survival. Those who share compassion become casualties of a cruel new reality. Joel's (Pedro Pascal) mission of taking the immune Ellie (Bella Ramsey) cross-country has left further devastation with each step. The series has sublimely captured every gripping tenet of the blockbuster video game, and continues to do so mid-season.


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Before The Dating Rumors, Pete Davidson And Chase Sui Wonders Apparently Had ‘Insane Chemistry’ While Filming Bodies Bodies Bodies

Pete Davidson's rumored girlfriend co-starred with him in 2022 A24 movie, Bodies Bodies Bodies.

Seth Rogen Explains His Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Movie's Totally Tubular Connection To Tony Hawk

Seth Rogen explains how the latest cinematic incarnation of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles has a connection to Tony Hawk.

Will Smith Had A Sweet Exchange With The Real-Life Pursuit Of Happyness Guy, And Also Shared A Cool Fact I Didn’t Know

Will Smith gives a shoutout to the man who inspired The Pursuit of Happyness while sharing one behind-the-scenes tidbit from the 2006 movie.

Vin Diesel is Officially Returning For Riddick 4, And The First Story Details Have Been Revealed

It’s been announced that Vin Diesel is officially returning for Riddick 4, and with that news comes the first story details.

Everything Everywhere’s Michelle Yeoh Shares Her Honest Thoughts About Aging In Hollywood, Was Told ‘You Should Retire'

Michelle Yeoh is 60 years old but she's not even close to being ready to quit.

Cate Blanchett's Tár Just Hit A Major Awards Season Milestone

Cate Blanchett's latest film just hit a major milestone in critic's circles, making it a massive pre-Oscar awards season achievement.

Rupert Grint Admits Why Knock At The Cabin Was Sort Of The Worst Project For Him: 'It Does Entangle Both Of My Fears'

The Harry Potter alum says his time on the set of M. Night Shyamalan’s latest was stressful because they deal with his real-life fears.

Katherine Schwarzenegger Talks How Arnold Schwarzenegger And Maria Shriver Helped Prepare Her To Be In The Limelight With Chris Pratt

Katherine Schwarzenegger talks how Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver helped her prepare to be with husband Chris Pratt.

Dungeons And Dragons: Honor Among Thieves Brings Its Adventuring Party Together In Big Super Bowl Spot

Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves is looking for a critical hit on Super Bowl Sunday.

Elizabeth Banks Shared Her Honest Feelings About What Happened After Charlie’s Angels Flopped And Cocaine Bear’s Chances Of Box Office Success

Charlie's Angels and Cocaine Bear make for a hell of a connection in Elizabeth Banks' filmography, but the director explains the reasons why both are so important to her resume.

‘Somebody I Used to Know’ Delivers Uneven Love Triangle

Love triangles are both a rom-com staple and brutal to deploy with precision.

Make one of the parties too villainous, or bland, and the chemistry experiment blows up in our faces.

“Somebody I Used to Know” makes a different, but equally critical error in its imbalanced trio. That, and the film’s indifferent approach to comedy, undermines a sophisticated look at relationships.

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Alison Brie plays Ally, a hard-charging TV producer licking her wounds after her reality series gets the ax.

Ally returns to her hometown to regroup but quickly reunites with her old flame, Sean (Jay Ellis, charming). The old sparks are still there, and so is Sean’s fiancé (Kiersey Clemons, “Dope”).

The big wedding is only days away.

Is Ally too late to resurrect her relationship with Sean? Can she stop the wedding in time? Could Brie, a delightful actress, make Ally less appealing?

The latter is doubtful.

 

 
 
 
 
 
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This isn’t the first time a rom-com attempted to shatter a wedding ceremony. The film goes so far as to name-check “My Best Friend’s Wedding,” a genre classic. That film offered Julia Roberts at her most vulnerable.

Brie’s Ally is a mess, but it’s hard to like her on any level. She’s obsessed with her trashy reality show, a dessert-themed dating debacle. She has no empathy for the future bride for a good, long while, nor the hurt she could cause Sean’s friends and family.

And she dismisses her kind-hearted Ma (Julie Hagerty, swiping a few scenes during her small screen time).

Is anyone rooting for Ally here? And, yes, that matters.

The film can survive a callous leading lady, understanding the story may force her to address her toxic impulses. But much of “Somebody I Used to Know” is a snooze, brimming with lackluster sequences and characters who don’t burrow under our skin in the best of ways.

Director Dave Franco, who co-wrote the film with Brie (his off-screen spouse), delivers some droll moments tied to Ally’s Hollywood gig. Reality shows are easy targets, but the laughs come easily all the same.

Then, said laughs dry up. In their place we get forced gaiety from Ally reuniting with Sean’s extended family. That paves the way for a mini-“Community” reunion with Brie and co-star Danny Pudi.

So there’s that.

Otherwise, the film’s core theme doesn’t emerge until late in the story. It’s a feminist twist rarely addressed in romantic features, and it’s handled with the appropriate sense of proportion. The subject isn’t strong enough to hang a story around, though, leaving the film’s third act bereft of dramatic tension.

The Franco-Brie screenplay occasionally remembers it’s a comedy, but the results are often crude and uneven.

That, plus too many scenes wallowing in cringe, mean “Somebody I Used to Know” is an ambitious but clunky spin on the rom-com template.

HiT or Miss: “Somebody I Used to Know” offers something we haven’t seen before in modern rom-coms, but we’re forced to spend time with a terribly off-putting heroine.

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John Travolta Makes Epic Grease Return (Sort Of) In Hilarious New Super Bowl Commercial

John Travolta joined 2023's lineup of Super Bowl ads to arrive early online.

Harrison Ford Talks Waiting For Indiana Jones To Start And Why He Ramped Up Wildly From Only One Project Per Year

Harrison Ford explains why we're seeing him more than normal this year with 1923, Shrinking, and Indiana Jones all coming out in 2023.

Salma Hayek Reveals The Shocking Reason Behind Her Surprise Wedding, And Why Her Family ‘Dragged’ Her To The Courthouse For It

Salma Hayek explains the shocking reason behind her surprise wedding, and why her family had to drag her to the courthouse for it.

Attachment Review: A New Kind of Possession Movie

Danish filmmaker Gabriel Bier Gislason has brought a new kind of possession film to Shudder, exploring the horrors of Jewish folklore. His new film, Attachment, stars Ellie Kendrick (Game of Thrones), Sofie Gråbøl (The House That Jack Built), Josephine Park (The Venus Effect), and David Dencik (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, No Time to Die). Attachment follows the relationship of Maja and Leah, who meet and quickly fall in love. After spending some time together, Leah has an unprompted seizure, leading to Maja joining Leah in London under the care of Leah's mother, Chana.


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Alexandra Daddario Shares Her Thoughts On Intimacy Coordinators And How She Thinks The Industry Has Changed Since Her Start In Percy Jackson

Alexandra Daddario explains how Hollywood has changed since her breakthrough role, including how she feels about intimacy coordinators.

All That Breathes Review: A Beautiful, Eye-Opening Documentary That Serves as a Reminder About Environment

As the world faces increasing climate crises, anxiety and hope have become two completely different anchors for those seeking change. In South Asia, where India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh are facing immense risks of completely disappearing, in some low-lying parts of the countries, due to the impacts of climate change, questions about the future have become critical. Specifically in India’s cities pollution has become a crisis, making the air quality drastically decrease and ultimately making the living conditions unhealthy for the average person, especially those with increased risks. Shaunak Sen’s powerful new documentary, All That Breathes, finds its camera in the heart of New Delhi to capture two brothers’ attempts to save birds from these conditions.


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Magic Mike’s Last Dance Review: A Hip-Thrusting Threequel That Somehow Works Thanks to Channing Tatum

Best not to overthink Magic Mike’s Last Dance. Most folks will arrive to the theater expecting the basics: Channing Tatum shirtless and gyrating his hips in his underwear. To that end, Magic Mike’s Last Dance rises to the occasion. The film is fun (yet unusually somber in tone).


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Michael B. Jordan Gets Candid About Going Through Lori Harvey Breakup In The Public Eye

The Creed III star speaks to going through his first public breakup amidst recently referencing it on SNL.

Alec Baldwin May Face An Extra Five Years In Prison Due To A New Law In Rust Shooting Case

A week after Alec Baldwin was formally charged in the Rust shooting case, he now might face an extra five years in prison due to a new law.

Harry Potter’s Rupert Grint Admits To Stealing From The Set: ‘It Was So Shady’

Harry Potter's security made it hard to steal from the set, but Rupert Grint found a way.

Is A Bring It On Sequel With Kirsten Dunst And Gabrielle Union Still In The Cards? OG Director Peyton Reed Weighs In

Bring It On director Peyton Reed weighs in on whether we’ll receive a sequel with Kirsten Dunst and Gabrielle Union.

Harrison Ford Rebuffed Rumors He Didn’t Know Who Jason Segel Was, And His Reaction To Forgetting Sarah Marshall Is Not What I Expected

Harrison Ford has debunked those stories about not knowing who Jason Segel is, and he's got a wild Forgetting Sarah Marshall take that proves it.

Turns Out Fast X’s Rita Moreno Had Some Help Landing Her Role In Vin Diesel’s Latest Fast And Furious Movie

For Rita Moreno, just like Dominic Toretto, it's all about family.

Jonathan Majors And Michael B. Jordan Sometimes Commiserate Over ‘Girl Troubles,’ And The Timeline There Is Interesting

Creed III's Jonathan Majors and Michael B. Jordan's apparent discussions of "girl troubles" sound like they happened at a rather interesting point in time.

John David Washington Recalls Seeing Dad Denzel Act On Stage For The First Time: ‘It Was Like A Magic Trick’

In the midst of his Broadway debut, John David Washington recalled his first time watching his father, Denzel Washington, act on stage.

Christian Bale Talks His Love/Hate Relationship With Acting In Interview For Netflix’s The Pale Blue Eye

Christian Bale, gets candid about not always loving his job while talking about The Pale Blue Eye.

Anna Kendrick Admits She And Pitch Perfect’s Director Stole A Bunch Of Cups So They Could Get The ‘When I’m Gone’ Scene Just Right

Anna Kendrick admitted she and Pitch Perfect director Jason Moore stole several cups to find the right one for the "When I'm Gone" scene.

Magic Mike’s Last Dance Director Steven Soderbergh Talks About Why He’s More Interested In ‘Sexy’ Than Sex Onscreen

Director Steven Soderbergh discusses his interest in sexy scenes over sex scenes on screen ahead of the release of his latest film, Magic Mike's Last Dance.

As New Kingdom Of The Planet Of The Apes Casting Is Announced, We Finally Have Some Key Story Details

Along with a new Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes casting coming in, we finally have some specific information about the movie’s story to chew on.

M. Night Shyamalan Reacts After Knock At The Cabin Becomes The Fourth Movie In A Row To Hit #1

M. Night Shyamalan is on a box office hot streak after Knock at the Cabin.

After Bad Boys 4 Announcement, There’s Even Better News For Fans Of The Will Smith And Martin Lawrence Sequel

The Bad Boys 4 announcement was exciting enough, but even bigger news on the movie has since come to light.

I Know What You Did Last Summer Is Getting A Sequel, And Two Of The Original Stars Are Already Lined Up

The iconic '90s horror franchise I Know What You Did Last Summer is back, and so are some OGs

Ranking Steven Soderbergh's Top 10 Movies, Including Magic Mike

From Magic Mike to Ocean's Eleven we ranked Steven Soderbergh's top ten movies.

Alison Brie Admits She ‘Loves To Streak’ So They Wrote It Into Her New Rom-Com

Alison Brie talks about her love of streaking and being able to write that into her new rom-com.

Tom Brady Just Shared An A+ Take On Being Retired Now And What That Means For 80 For Brady

Tom Brady shares his A+ response on retirement and how 80 for Brady will fit into that.

Why Top Gun: Maverick Decided To Change The Romance Between Tom Cruise And Jennifer Connelly’s Characters Halfway Through Filming

Top Gun: Maverick director Joseph Kosinski shares why the romance between Tom Cruise and Jennifer Connolly's characters changed throughout the filming process.

Eddie Murphy And Martin Lawrence Keep Dropping Hilarious Takes Who's Gonna Pay For Their Kids' Possible Wedding

Eddie Murphy provided a funny response after Martin Lawrence proposed that he could pay for their kids' theoretical wedding.

Ashton Kutcher Hadn't Done A Rom-Com In 12 Years. Why He Decided To Star In One Opposite Reese Witherspoon

Ashton Kutcher got honest about his decision to return to romantic comedies after a 12-year hiatus.

Director Of Leaving Neverland Blasts New Michael Jackson Biopic, Asks Where The Outrage Is

Leaving Neverland director Dan Reed didn't mince words when discussing the upcoming Michael Jackson biopic.

Man Wanted For Trying To Leave Dead Fish At Goonies House Ends Up Getting Rescued After Accident In Stolen Boat

A man, who police had been looking for leaving dead fish at the famous Goonies home, had to be rescued from a stolen boat.

Scooby-Doo’s Sarah Michelle Gellar Dishes On Deleted Line That Might’ve Confirmed Rumors About Fred’s Sexuality

Sarah Michelle Gellar confirms that there was a cut of the live-action Scooby-Doo that was a bit less traditional.

Alexandra Daddario Gets Real About ‘Pressure’ From Book Readers When She Was Doing Percy Jackson And How Her New Series Compares

As Alexandra Daddario's latest series sees her adapting another popular book series, she looks back on starring in the Percy Jackson movies.

How Does Tom Cruise Feel About Those Viral Deepfakes Of Him Getting Up To Shenanigans?

The creator of the viral Tom Cruise deepfakes shares how the Top Gun: Maverick actor feels about the videos.

Twilight’s Taylor Lautner On How The Rivalry Between Team Edward And Team Jacob Impacted Him And His Relationship With Robert Pattinson

Taylor Lautner gets candid about what it was like to be at the center of the Twilight fandom.

Watch Top Gun: Maverick’s Miles Teller Dance With His Dog (Sadly Not Shirtless) For A Super Bowl Commercial

Check out Top Gun: Maverick star Miles Teller dancing with his dog in a Super Bowl commercial, albeit with his shirt still on.

A Christmas Story And Close Encounters Of The Third Kind Actress Melinda Dillon Is Dead At 83

The actress was nominated for two Oscars and had various memorable roles over the years.

Dear Edward Review: The Friday Night Lights Showrunner May Have Just Given Birth to Another Hit

Keep a Kleenex handy—Dear Edward has arrived. Not since This Is Us has there been a series that plays so repetitively on the heartstrings. That’s a good thing. Apple TV+’s new outing comes from Jason Katims, the genius behind Friday Night Lights and Parenthood. Like those two shows, and with shades of This Is Us, Katims effectively captures the depth and emotion of Ann Napolitano's powerful best-selling novel about grief, our interconnectivity, and human suffering.


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J.J. Abrams Remains On Board For An Upcoming Stephen King Adaptation As It Pivots From TV To Film

As an upcoming Stephen King adaptation switches from a series to a film, producer J.J. Abrams will continue to serve after the swap.

Austin Butler Promises To Drop His Elvis Voice, Laments The Physical Toll Of Filming His Oscar-Nominated Role

Austin Butler's Elvis era is coming to a close, as he's admitting to dropping the accent.

Little Dixie Review: Frank Grillo Leads a Stylishly Brutal Thriller

We like our killers with compassion. The James Bonds, Ethan Hunts, and John Wicks of the world wouldn't intentionally kill an innocent bystander for being in the way; that would shatter the illusion that, no matter their body count, these are our heroes. Even our antiheroes seemingly need some relatable morsel of empathy; if Dexter or Tony Soprano killed a toddler, we couldn't look past all the other horrible minutiae of their daily violence.


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True Spirit Review: An Empowering Tribute to a Magnificent Achievement

On October 18, 2009, sixteen-year-old Australian Jessica Watson left Sydney Harbor to pursue her dream of solo sailing around the world unassisted. She arrived back as a national hero almost three months later. Watson survived an incredibly dangerous and arduous journey loaded with tremendous obstacles. True Spirit chronicles her voyage, fierce determination as a child, and supportive family against a barrage of critics. She became the youngest person to accomplish such an epic feat. The empowering film adaptation of her story reminds that achieving the pinnacle of success takes every drop of courage. Your spirit will soar seeing an admirable young woman prove every doubter wrong.


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Tiffany Haddish Seems Surprised About The Backlash Over Her Possible Girls Trip 2 Return

Girls Trip 2 has been making some progress, and Tiffany Haddish responded to the backlash over her returning for the sequel.

Brendan Fraser Reveals Perfectly Fitting Way His Sons Helped Him Celebrate First Oscar Nomination

Oscar nominee Brendan Fraser revealed the perfectly fitting way his sons helped him to celebrate his first nomination.

Seth Rogen Says No One Has Made A Good High School Movie Since Superbad

Seth Rogen wrote and co-starred in Superbad, and he claims there hasn't been a good High School movie since then.

After Secretly Marrying Taika Waititi, Rita Ora Just Showed Us Her Wedding Ring For The First Time

Rita Ora and Taika Waititi secretly got married, and she just showed off her ring for the first time.

Cocaine Bear Is Based On A True Story, And Meet And Greets With The Taxidermied Bear Will Be Held At A Screening

At the screening for Cocaine Bear, which is based on a true story, people will be able to meet and greet with a taxidermied bear.

Elvis’ Austin Butler Reveals Immediate ‘Relationship’ With Lisa Marie Presley Before Her Death

Austin Butler shares his own memories getting to know the late daughter of Elvis Presley.

‘Knock at the Cabin’ Is What Shyamalan Rarely Delivers

Audiences have a love/hate relationship with the director once dubbed “The Next Spielberg.”

Fans flocked to M. Night Shyamalan’s “The Sixth Sense,” “Unbreakable” and “Split,” while they savaged his bountiful misfires (“Lady in the Water,” “The Happening” and “The Last Airbender”).

That leaves “Knock at the Cabin” as his most curious effort. It’s … fine. The third act doesn’t sink the film, and the trailer’s eerie vibes reverberate from start to finish.

What’s missing? That singular chill Shyamalan musters in his very best movies.

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Dave Bautista stars as Leonard, a hulking stranger who approaches a little girl outside a Pennsylvania cabin. He forges a fast bond with young Wen (Kristen Cui) over grasshoppers, but he isn’t there to talk entomology.

He’s part of a four-person troupe warning Wen’s gay parents Eric (Jonathan Groff) and Andrew (Ben Aldridge) they have a choice awaiting them.

The world will end unless the family makes a terrible, unavoidable sacrifice.

Is Leonard and co. eager to exploit an innocent family? Could they be targeting the trio for homophobic reasons? Or is their dire vision about to come true?

 

 
 
 
 
 
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Shyamalan, working with co-screenwriters Steve Desmond and Michael Sherman, set the pieces in motion with stunning speed. If you’ve seen the trailer, you know what’s coming, but “Cabin” wastes little time getting there.

That’s a blessing and a curse. Can the filmmakers keep our attention for 90-plus minutes given that brisk set-up?

Partly.

It helps that Bautista’s gentle giant shtick is impressive and long-lasting. Leonard isn’t using his bulk to make the couple decide the fate of humanity, or their version of it. He’s soothing, warning the family what will happen if they ignore his warning.

RELATED: SHYAMALAN RETURNS TO HIS ‘OLD’ HABITS

Along the way Shyamalan teases out some real-world scenarios, from the rise of conspiracy theorists to the fears gay men face in modern society.

The latter thread brims with cliches, and it’s the least interesting part of the director’s vision.

Shyamalan is famous for big swings and even bigger misses. “Knock at the Cabin” feels different. He’s working on a smaller canvas, both visually and thematically. There aren’t many storytelling options to consider, and that reduces the thrill level dramatically.

That, and a recurring sense of loss that quickly proves predictable.

How very un-Shyamalan.

NOTE: Shyamalan’s playful cameos are a winning part of his canon, but this film’s close-up could be his best.

“Knock at the Cabin” forcefully reduces the options in play. Most of the action takes place in the titular cabin, and the flashbacks flesh out little of the Eric/Andrew dynamic. It’s a shame “Cabin” takes so few risks with the gay couple in question, following approved narratives without much in the way of introspection.

Good thing Cui reminds us how good Shyamalan is at directing young actors. Her presence matters, ramping up the stakes in play.

Is one child worth … everything?

Shyamalan often injects faith into his narratives, and there’s a spiritual element here, too. He’s also playing with the notion of family, and how far parents will go to protect their children. it’s one of his most charming tics, and something absent in the work of many mainstream directors.

“Knock at the Cabin” packs a third-act wallop, which won’t surprise any of his fans (or foes). What’s most shocking is how you’ll likely see it all coming.

HiT or Miss: “Knock at the Cabin” delivers a thoughtful spin on apocalyptic storytelling, but the film’s first act suggests a slam-bang finale that never materializes.

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Jennifer Lopez And Ben Affleck Are Trying To Sell Their Home For A Huge Profit

J-Lo is saying goodbye to her longtime home in Bel-Air.

Fans (And Writers) Rally Around Dave Bautista After Marvel Star Says No One Will Cast Him In A Rom-Com

Dave Bautista apparently can't get cast in a romantic comedy, but there are a lot of fans who want to see it, and writers who want to make it happen.

Knock At The Cabin Reviews Are Here, See What Critics Are Saying About M. Night Shyamalan's New Thriller

Reviews are here for M. Night Shyamalan's Knock at the Cabin, starring Dave Bautista, Jonathan Groff and Ben Aldridge. See what critics are saying.

Ashton Kutcher Recalls The ‘Bananas’ Story About The Time He Didn’t Realize He Was Watching Harry Styles Do Karaoke

Ashton Kutcher spoke about the time he didn’t recognize Harry Styles as he was doing karaoke.