The Group Takes THE LONG WALK

 

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to theatres this Friday from director Francis Lawrence, screenplay by JT Mollner, Vertigo Entertainment and Lionsgate is a story from the Stephen King novel THE LONG WALK.

The United States has become a dystopian world under the control of a totalitarian regime that has a yearly contest. Young men are chosen to walk at a designated pace or are removed until only one is left to collect a prize. One such young man is Raymond Garraty (Cooper Hoffman) who is about to leave his worried mother Ginnie (Judy Greer). Immediately Garraty makes friends with Peter McVries (David Jonsson), Arthur Baker (Tut Nyuot) and Hank Olson (Ben Wang).

Before setting off, the Major (Mark Hamill) makes the rules simple but the most important one is – keep walking! Surrounded by military vehicles and weaponized soldiers, the walk begins. Mile after mile, the group keeps it to small talk except for Garraty’s group who try to lighten their situation. Collie Parker (Joshua Odjick) has a stern face and doesn’t say much, Curley (Roman Davis) moves swiftly with Rank (Daymon Wrightly), Gary Barkovitch (Charlie Plummer) can’t help being obnoxious and Stebbins (Garrett Wareing) looks like doom.

Each step the boys take tightens their friendships as they share in the ‘what if’s’ and the possibilities of winning and losing.

Hoffman as Garraty is a young man who has seen his share of heartache but keeps it to himself. Finding friendship in the group of boys becomes the one thing to hold onto with each passing mile. Hoffman gives us a character that is complex, kind, protective and focused. His flow seemed so natural and perfectly paired with Jonsson. Speaking of Jonsson as McVries, he is almost the twin of Garraty in ways and means. He is also clear on the reason to be walking and finds a protective kinship with Garraty and I truly loved watching the two together. Jonsson gives us a character that is a leader without actually realizing he is and that serves his character well.

Nyuot as Baker is thrilled to be part of the group and is the naïve walker in many ways. It is not that he is unaware, he just chooses to see things simpler than most. Davis and Wrightly as Curley and Rank try to stay focused but get wrapped up in emotions that don’t serve them well. Plummer and Wareing as Barkovitch and Stebbins are the thorn to many of the boys on the walk. They test and taunt a bit which, under normal circumstances, would typically be considered normal but, this situation is far from normal.

Greer as Ginnie is a mother who clearly is having a difficult time being separated from her son. Wishing he had made a different choice, Greer gives us the heartache and struggle to let go. Odjick as Parker is doing his best to not becoming part of any clique or friendship group. He has his eyes on the prize and doesn’t want connection with anyone. Odjick’s character says more with his expressions than with words.

Shout out to Mark Hamill as the Major. If you didn’t know it was him you wouldn’t know it was him. Hiding behind large reflective glasses and military uniform, he is the voice that was suppose to encourage but felt more like condescending honest or even teasing with cruelty to me. I am happy anytime I see Luke Skywalker, oh sorry, Hamill on the screen and this role was his chance to be hands-off wicked.

Other cast include Jordan Gonzalez as Richard Harkness, Noah de Mel as Ewing, Thamela Mpumlwana as Pearson, Jack Giffin as Ronald, Keenan Lehmann as Larson, Dale Neri as Percy Grimes, Teagan Stark as Patrick Smith, Sam Clark as Tressler, Emmanuel Oderemi as Zuck, and Josh Hamilton as William Garraty.

THE LONG WALK is probably the closest to the source of Stephen King’s book to be put on film. The amazing part is that he wrote in in 1967 while still in college at the University of Maine. His first completed novel, finally published in 1979 but not under the name of Stephen King but of Richard Bachman. It wasn’t until 1985 when the world would come to know the name of Stephen King (which I like much better).

The film is a gambit of emotions from shocking, to sadness, to feeling a bit uncomfortable listening in on conversations and back to shock again. There is no way to avoid these feelings as the entire film is the boys walking, talking and seeing things no one should ever see or experience. Lawrence may have allowed us to listen in on the conversations but never, ever let us forget for a moment that stopping has consequences. 

Keeping the road as a character in the film, the audience doesn’t have to worry what’s on the right or left because the story is right in the middle, right on the road. The cast is absolutely amazing with powerful performances as each actor playing their characters exactly how I would see and hear a group of boys behave with profound skill. It is the violence that is harsh and the choices each young man has to make it absolutely heartbreaking. Well done all around.

In the end – the task is simple, walk or die!

 

 

JURASSIC WORLD REBIRTH Roars Home

 

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to 4K UHD, Bluray, DVD and Digital platforms from director Gareth Edwards, Amblin Entertainment and Universal Pictures Home Entertainment is the story of JURASSIC WORLD REBIRTH.

It has been several years since the last take on the dinosaurs and Earth is becoming a problem for the creatures. The cause of it is that the environment, air, weather etc., just do not help their survival. One place where they are managing to survive are several tropical locations are similar in many respects to what they need, be can thrive and it be forbidden for anyone to go there.

Martin Krebs (Rupert Friend) meets with Zora Bennett (Scarlett Johansson), a woman with a certain set of skills that Krebs needs to take on a special mission. He asks that she go to the dinosaur island to obtain blood samples that can create medicine to save lives. After striking a deal, they go to the one person who would know how to find the exact dinosaurs needed – Dr. Henry Loomis (Jonathan Bailey) who agrees to go along. Zora finds help, and a boat, from longtime friend Duncan Kincaid (Mahershala Ali).

Out in the ocean, dad Reuben (Manuel Garcia-Rulfo) is sailing with daughters Teresa (Luna Blaise), Isabella (Audrina Miranda) and Teresa’s boyfriend Xavier (David Iacono). As the boat glides through the water, they are bumped by something strange. What they could never have imagined it what was circling them! Kincaid hears a distress call coming from Reuben and makes the decision to go and rescue them. It takes no time before the boat becomes the new target.

Racing to get to the island, if they thought they were any safer on land, they would be wrong as Reuben and his family are separated from those on the boat once again. Knowing they are under a serious time constraint, Zora, Krebs, Duncan and Dr. Loomis continue on to get their samples are met by some amazing animals but they are different dinosaurs, genetically different. In the jungle, Reuben and his family remember hearing the others talk about a village and believe it might by where they can meet up with the others.

Each step they take brings them closer to creatures who do not want them on their island and survival means staying one large step ahead of anything chasing them, including a Distortus Rex!

Johansson as Zora is a woman who, for the right paycheck, can be bought for covert missions. Quick with a sample weapon, she spends time watching everyone around her come face to face with dinosaurs. Johansson gives us a straight forward character who wants to get the job done and get as many people out alive as possible. She is the rough and tumble Ellie Sattler or Claire Dearing, maybe it’s mercenary thing.

Bailey as Dr. Loomis is an Alan Grant type character who is disappointed that people seem to have lost their curiosity for dinosaurs. That, in itself, took the story into a realm because there isn’t a kid (or grown up for that matter) that wouldn’t be all over dinosaurs living in the world. Bailey gives us a man who agreed to help find creatures that will help medicinally. The character of Dr. Loomis gives Bailey an innocent kind of charm in the midst of chaos and dinosaur madness.

Friend as Krebs is a familiar character in his actions and reasons for finding the mutant dinosaurs. His eyes roll with dollar signs and no one is going to get in his way, and I mean no one. Happy to see Friend on the screen even if his character is one I’d have thrown overboard early in the film (kidding). Ali as Duncan knows and understands Zora having worked together before. He may be on a dinosaur mission but he isn’t willing to sacrifice anyone or anything and I like that about his character.

Garcia-Rulfo as Reuben is a father who obviously is clueless to the world around him. On a boat with his kids (in a forbidden area) and a boyfriend that would make excellent dino-bait, it’s just one disaster after another. Blaise as Teresa screams and runs extremely well. Iacono as Xavier is the dude all parents are afraid to find next to their daughter, he has his moments and a few of them bring laughs. Miranda as Isabell is very cute and even cuter when she meets Dolores.

Other cast include Philippine Velge as Nina, Bechir Sylvain as Leclerc and Ed Skrein as Bobby Atwater.

Universal Pictures Home Entertainment has just added an amazing film to their library and making it available for us to all experience and re-experience in our own home theaters. There are films of every genre available from scary to drama to family films. For more of what they have to offer please visit www.uphe.com.

Exclusive Bonus Features are Alternate Opening, Deleted Scenes (Raptors and Mutadon Attack), Jurassic World Rebirth: Hatching a New Era (The World Evolves, Off the Deep End, Trekking Through Thailand, Rex in the Rapids, Don’t Look Down, and Mini-Mark Mayhem), Gag Reel, Meet Dolores, Munched: Becoming Dino Food, A Day at Skywalker Sound, Hunting for Easter Eggs, Feature Commentary with Director Gareth Edwards, Production Designer James Clyne, and First Assistant Director Jack Ravenscroft, and Feature Commentary with Director Gareth Edwards, Editor Jabez Olssen and Visual Effects Supervisor David Vickery.

MOVIES ANYWHERE gives viewers the ability to download the Movies Anywhere App. With that you can view films by downloading or streaming to your favorite device using a Digital Code. For more information on Movies Anywhere please visit www.MoviesAnywhere.com.

Director Edwards says of the film, “There is an aesthetic I’ve been chasing my whole career, that the 70s, 80s and 90s look. Now you can film with a 360 camera, put it into software and get a 3D environment. The quality is so good that it is nearly photo-real perfect.”

In 1993, JURASSIC PARK hit theatres and just literally roared at the box office. It was and still is an amazing film filled with excitement, drama, dinosaurs, screaming and yelling (and a lot of it from the viewing audience). Audiences couldn’t get enough of the film seeing it time and time again and, like me, have it as part of a home entertainment library of films. That is followed by THE LOST WORLD: Jurassic Park (1997), JURASSIC PARK III (2001), JURASSIC WORLD (2015), JURASSIC WORLD: Fallen Kingdom (2018), and JURASSIC WORLD DOMINION in 2022. Where does this leave JURASSIC WORLD REBIRTH?

A mish-mash of easter eggs dropped here and there for fans of the previous films. This seemed more focused on the human story. The dinosaurs were there of course but instead the stories of those who were there and why seemed to take center stage.

If you are a die-hard fan of JURASSIC PARK then the film will be a summer joyride but if you are a JURASSIC PARK purest, one might be like my family finding a mixture of good and not-so-good about the ride. There is a bit of humor, there are characters that might seem familiar in behaviors to past characters and a few jump moments because, I mean, who would expect a dinosaur to be napping next to shore! The drink cups and popcorn footprint ‘bucket’ are pretty awesome though!

In the end – your home and their world!

A Winning HBO Series with THE WHITE LOTUS Season 3

 

Jeri Jacquin

Now on DVD from creator Mike White is the HBO Original THE WHITE LOTUS: The Complete Third Season.

Zion (Nicholas Duvernay) is attempting to try meditation with Amrita (Shalini Peiris) when gunfire breaks out leaving him wondering where mom Belinda (Natasha Rothwell) is. A week prior, a boat comes to port with Rick (Walton Goggins), girlfriend Chelsea (Aimee Lou Wood), Timothy (Jason Isaacs), wife Victoria (Parker Posey) and their kids Saxon (Patrick Schwarzenegger), Piper (Sarah Hook) and Lochlan (Sam Nivola). Also, actress Jaclyn (Michelle Monaghan) and friends Kate (Leslie Bibb) and Laurie (Carrie Coon). Already on shore is Chloe (Charlotte Le Bonn) and Greg (Jon Gries). Fabian (Christian Friedel) meets the guests along with hotel owner Sritala (Lek Patravadi).

The resort is already a buzz with Rick being upset that the person he came to see isn’t there, Kate and Jaclyn talk divorce, Gaitok (Tayme Thapthimthong) finally talks with health mentor Mook (Lalisa Manobal) about his feelings. Belinda and Pomchai (Dom Hetrakul) have something going, Saxon can’t stop himself from being inappropriate, and Timothy tries hard to avoid the calls that are plaguing him. Victoria is dealing with a big of worry about a tsunami which sets Piper off believing it is a foreboding. Piper finally gets to do what she came for and visits a monastery for her thesis. Belinda might know someone and does what anyone would do.

Fabian might have made a mistake by giving Gaitok a gun but Mook sees it as promotion potential. Ricks detachment from Chelsea has her wondering what is happening and gets an unexpected answer. Lochlan also gets an unexpected discussion with Piper about her monastery visit. Timothy can’t get away from his problems and finds a questionable way to deal with it and Gaitok confronts him. Chloe takes the younger crowd to a Full Moon party and supplies the ‘party favors. Jaclyn, Kate and Laurie go clubbing and meets up with guys and makes a night of it, literally.

Belinda is surprised by her son Zion catching her in an awkward situation. Greg is suspicious of the happenings around Saxon and Lochlan. Timothy’s situation has caused him to think about doing the worst things possible. Rick is not done trying to meet Jim Hollinger (Scott Glen) and involves Sritala in his scheming. It doesn’t take but a moment for Rick to make it clear why he is in Thailand and it isn’t for his mental health. Mook decides to go out on a date with Gaitok and she learns his security guard secret. Chelsea tries to help Saxon with his wileyness, but some guys you can’t help.

Piper finally tells her parents the truth of her visit to Thailand, after a girlfriend disagreement, Laurie remembers why she is friends with Jaclyn and Kate and Timothy turns everything upside down in a blender of pina coladas. Jim and Rick finally have their moment and it is after that Sritala changes everything and it seems the only one walking away from this in a positive way is Gaitok!

Goggins as Rick doesn’t have the same thrill as his girlfriend about being in Thailand. That could be because he is there with a mission in mind and it has nothing to do with a vacation. Watching him unpack with health mentor Amrita, he blurts out a past that might explain the present.  I have to say that honestly, I love everything Goggins does so when I heard he was on this season, I tuned in for it. I love when he takes on a character that is spicey or standoffish and the character of Rick gives me both. Wood as Chelsea is a young woman who can’t understand why Rick is behaving a bit mean with her. This is a rather cheerful and outgoing young lady and her man is starting to take the joy out of her.

Isaacs as Timothy is a man with a problem, and that problem is the law. Trying to stay out of it is proving to be a challenge no matter how many phone calls he takes. It is his thoughts about how to get out of it that are disturbing. Posey as wife Victoria seems disjointed on this trip but things begin to happen around her that make it impossible to not have an all-out reaction. Hook as Piper has brought her family to Thailand for one reason but it is clear she has another reason. Out of all the people at the hotel, I think she is the sanest one of all.

Schwarzenegger as Saxon is a sex starved degenerate of a son who doesn’t hesitate to see that he has a problem – but that’s what narcissism does. He is absolutely the peacock of the hotel and doesn’t mind what anyone thinks of what he says or does. Nivola as brother Lochlan admits that he is a people pleaser but finds himself going way to far. Caught between what sister Piper is doing and how brother Saxon behaves may be the thing that pushes him over the edge.

Monaghan as Jaclyn is an actress taking time away to rekindle her friendships. Getting the gossip in person feels so much better than their yearly telephone calls. Bibb as Kate doesn’t mind filling Jaclyn in on what has been happening as their first dinner. The scene between Monaghan and Bibb is girl talk but also feels like a chipping away at a friend yet I loved it. Coon as Laurie is going through problems of her own and trying to hide it from the others. I just love Coon and especially her latest role as Bertha Russell in the wildly successful hit THE GILDED AGE also on HBO.

Rothwell as Belinda is such a charming character. She is at the hotel on her own but it is clear that she feels like she is missing something in her life. Finding it in Hetrakul as Pomchai, it makes her wonder whether staying is something she really wants but at the same time so cute! Manobal as Mook gets the joy (and I laugh when I say that) to deal with the guests and their idiosyncrasies. So charming and lovely, I don’t think I’d be as gracious as Mook and well done Manobal. Thapthimthong as Gaitok is not only a little love sick, but will do anything to move up the ladder and impress Mook. He is equally as charming as Manobal and if I were a big roller I’d tip both of them beyond belief.

Shout out to Patravadi as Sritala, the colorful and outspoken hotel owner who comes in and out at will. She is also a wonderful singer. Also, Friedel as Fabian who tries to keep things running smoothly but his facial expressions say it all.

Other cast include Ke Huy Quan as Kenneth, Scott Galloway as Chuck, Rob Carlton as Rupert, Yothin Udomsanti as Pee Lek, Suthichai Yoon as Luang Poor Teera, Yuri Kolokolnikov as Vlad, Julian Kostov as Aleksei, Morgana O’Reilly as Pam, and Arnas Fedaravicius as Valentin.

HBO Home Entertainment brings critically acclaimed and groundbreaking programming throughout the world. Releases include the global hit Game of Thrones, True Detective, Girls, The Sopranos, Sex and the City, True Blood, The Wire and Entourage. The company's catalog contains hundreds of titles including Big Little Lies and Band of Brothers. For more of what they have to offer please visit www.hbo.com.

The episodes include Same Spirits New Forms, Special Treatments, The Meaning of Dreams, Hide or Seek, Full-Moon Party, Denials, Killer Instincts, and Amor Fati.

The Special Features include Invitation to Set: Welcome to Thailand, Thai Tea, Closet Tour, Unpacking Each Episode, and Get to Know the Characters.

THE WHITE LOTUS: The Complete Third Season gives so much complexity, twists and turns, and getting to learn about each guest is so intriguing. Taking on some dark topics, they are wrapped in the kind of humor that I like. Like a warmed towel, the story slowly unwraps and keeps us comfortable so that we have no issues waiting for it all to explode. Carbon based units are difficult enough, those at THE WHITE LOTUS are ripe with their insecurities and fears but have no problem having a few drinks under the sun.

Watching all these problems under the stunning setting of Thailand, it would normally make one wonder how it’s possible to have any problems at all. Of course, the monkeys probably knew these were human train wrecks before their feet could make an impression in the sand upon arrival. Goggins is sublime, Isaacs has me as nervous as a turkey at Thanksgiving, Posey had me laughing, Schwarzenegger was good at being ridiculous, the trio of Monaghan, Bibb and Coon reminded me of groups of girlfriends I know, and Manobal and Rothwell are so endearing and charming.

This series definitely deserves to be binge-watched because one at a time is just torture. I intentionally left off details because I hate when someone gives everything away. It is much more fun to have a clue about the characters but get the deep dive while watching on one’s own. Also, this is a perfect series to have friends over to share and with the DVD you can do just that. No commercials only a fun get together with strangers in Thailand!

In the end – same luxury new reservations!

They Are ROBIN AND THE HOODS

 

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to Digital Platforms from director Phil Hawkins, Radial Entertainment and Shout! Studios is a fight for a place full of wonder with ROBIN AND THE HOODS.

Robin (Darcey Ewart) is a young girl with a bow and arrow that lives in a mixture of fantasy and friendships while fighting in a world with perceived evil in it. Along with the Hoods, they love the world created behind their homes. In their kingdom, they have vowed to protect the crown that is wanted by Henry (Eddison Burch) who leads the Knights. Keeping an eye out for intruders is Amaya (Gloria Ishikawa) and sorcerer Glen (Bruno Edgington-Gibson).

When Robin isn’t protecting the Kingdom, she is at home with mom Cathy (Morgana Robinson) and dad Nick (Tom Goodman-Hill) who are awaiting the arrival of a new family member. Going to their village in the woods, Robin and the kids notice an adult coming out of the woods. A woman with a Clipboard (Naomie Harris) is gathering up the parents to hear about a redevelopment for their small town with the green light from the Mayor (Mark Williams).

The children are furious that their kingdom is literally under attack. Running into the woods and upset with her parents, Robin wants to find a way to save it all. A bird seen only by Little Dan (Dexter Sol Ansell), a feather and Aura the woody witch (Gwendoline Christie) come together with unexpected help that the bad guys could never see coming!

Ewart as Robin is a young girl who fits in at the Kingdom as other kids look up to her. At home, she feels a distance with her parents and not as happy as she once was. Feeling as if she should be handling everything, it is clear asking for help is difficult. Ewart is tough, charming and so relatable as Robin all while watching her character grow as a person throughout the film. Ishikawa as Amaya is a go-by-the-rules girl but also reminds Robin of the rules and what the Kingdom stands for. She is a strong character and closest to Robin who has no problem saying exactly what she means.

Burch as Henry has his own ideas of who should have the Kingdom and it’s not Robin. In a constant state of planning with his Knights, he wants to rule and more so wants the crown on his head. Edgington-Gibson as Glen is a sorcerer who believes in everything they are doing. So much so that he constantly works on his spells. I just loved watching him portray this character that is so into his art, just fun. Ansell as Little Dan is just so darn cute and at the same time seems to have no fear because the Kingdom means as much to him, maybe more. What a strong personality in a large cast.

Goodman-Hill as Nick is a father conflicted between his daughter’s happiness and helping to prepare for the new arrival. He came to understand that his daughter’s life in the woods was something she couldn’t live without. His performance is one of a dad who just wants to do the right thing. Robinson as Cathy is a mother focused on one thing, and it isn’t Robin. She seems pleased about the development like so many other townspeople.

Williams as the Mayor has a few adult issues and seems to be under the influence of money and the lady known as Clipboard. Recognized as Ronald Weasley’s father from the Harry Potter films, here he gets a chance to do something different and it works so well. Harris as Clipboard wanted to control everyone and everything going on in Robin’s neighborhood. She made is clear that nothing was going to stop her, especially not a girl with a bow. Harris is delightfully wicked and plays right into the story so well.

Christie as Aura is a woman who has issues of her own and lives deep in the woods. Not wanting contact, she sees the kids as an intrusion to her quiet life. Christie gives her character the standoffishness but it comes with a back story about her life. She is still so wonderful to watch and seeing her as part of this kid’s story is truly very cool.

Other cast include Alexa Goodall and Harry Connor as Knights, Marnie Moore, Ali Saleh and Lucas Welbourne, Jessica Whise and Olivia Lomingo as Hoods, Christine Bottomley as Bridget, Jon Chew as Yun-ho and Jessica Blake as Sandra.

SHOUT! Studios have grown into a tremendous multi-platform media company. Releasing new animated features such as the exquisite Long Way North, and the epic fantasy Beauty and The Beast. Also, their own original horror film, Fender Bender gives fans a good scare. For more of what SHOUT! Studios has to offer please visit www.shoutfactory.com.

Radial Entertainment is a global entertainment company operating with FilmRise and Shout! Studios. They have a library of over 70,000 movies and episodes making it the largest independent catalog. Its programming spans a wide range of genre with true crime, reality, animation, action, westerns, classics, horror and so much more. Please visit www.radialentertainment.com.

ROBIN AND THE HOODS is a film that is a mash up of the fantasy life of the kids who protect their woodland Kingdom and the issues of their lives. Ewart as Robin immediately sets up the story by making it clear that she will do anything to protect it all. The cast is so diverse and wonderful to see and brings such life to the film from beginning to end. Each are so relatable and, even at my age, I understand how much the kids wanted to protect something that is good in their life.

The imagination of the story is just delightful and director Hawkins has a vision that plays out perfectly. The cinematography is like another character in the film because if it weren’t for the beautiful forest, the story wouldn’t be the same. ROBIN AND THE HOODS is exactly what a family film should be – fun, full of adventure, friendship, growing pains, changes, imagination and remembering that asking for help is not a sign of weakness but of strength in a groups convictions.

In the end – always stand up for what is right!

 

Each Wanted EDEN

 

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to theatres from writer/director Ron Howard, Noah Pink, Vertical and Imagine Entertainment comes the story of an island and those who want nothing more than to find EDEN.

Dr. Friedrich Ritter (Jude Law) and partner Dora (Vanessa Kirby) have found their bit of solitude on the island of Floreana in the Galapagos. Ritter spends his days writing his meaning of man and Dora gardens and loves her burro, this is the life they want. That is all about to change with the arrival of Heinz (Daniel Bruhl), wife Margaret (Allison Sweeney) along with son Harry (Jonathan Tittel). They have read the works of Dr. Ritter and want to be part of that isolated life.

Upset by the isolated intrusion, Ritter sets them up far away from their home thinking by the looks of them, running home will happen quickly. What Ritter couldn’t have expected is that within months, the new family is adjusting and settling quite well so their presence is tolerated. That tense acceptance is quickly interrupted when Baroness Eloise (Ana de Armas), Felix (Rudolph Lorenz) and Robert (Toby Wallace) land on the beach with plans of their own.

Heinz and Margaret make it work, especially with a child on the way. Ritter, however, is constantly distracted by the madness the Baroness brings with her. There is manipulation and deception constantly swirling around the eight islanders that brings about mistrust and danger. There is a social virus on the island and it is beginning to infect them all!  

Law as Ritter is a man possessed writing a book that he believes will save humanity from itself. Isolation on the island is something he craves in order to do the ‘important’ work. The distraction of new arrivals sets him on a path that can either help his thought process or hurt it. Law is just exceptional in this character with the mystery surrounding him. There are moments of lyrical brilliance followed by madness but who am I to say which is which. I just loved his performance, period.

Kirby as Dora is a woman with her own set of physical issues but believes she is Ritter’s biggest supporter in all things. Keeping herself busy around their makeshift home, she isn’t the warmest human being to be around but they each seem to understand one another and it works for them – well it did for a while. Kirby gives her character the standoffishness that made me want to know so much more about her and why she saw the island as her home.

Bruhl as Heinz is taken with the prospect of making a life on Floreana with the family. Working hard to set it up, he tries to befriend Ritter but realizes its better to focus on their own homestead and let things work out on their own. Bruhl has the uncanny ability to totally own a character role and he has such a wide range of them both good guys and not-so-good guys. Every film he has been in I’m always in line to see where he is going to take the story. In this film, he kept me guessing.

Sweeney as Margaret is a young wife who wants to keep the peace on the island. She does try to befriend Dora and Ritter but finds herself taking small steps to understanding them. When the Baroness enters the pictures, Margaret clearly knows narcissism when she sees it and has not difficulty standing on her own. Sweeney’s character is the timid one and on the watchful side than the other characters, taking it all in before doing whatever it takes to protect her family – and that isn’t always noticeable.

De Armas as the Baroness is an absolute train on flaming tracks and she is the conductor. Every moment she is on the screen I wanted to throw something at it. The character reminded me of an attention seeker who would burn the world down if it would make her feel superior. Charming, well dressed and manipulative are in her bag of tricks. It is an intense role adding another layer to the madness happening on the island. Lorenz and Wallace play the two men who see to her every whim and, like Dora, believes in her and the plan she has made.

Other cast include Ignacio Gasparini as Manuel, Richard Roxburgh as Allan Hancock, Nicholas Denton as Ray, Thiago Moraes as the Captain, and Antonio Alvarez as the Governor of the Galapagos.

Vertical Entertainment is a global independent distributor that offers a unique wealth of experience minus the studio costs. Film such as MY MOTHER’S WEDDING, I DON’T UNDERSTAND YOU, FIGHT OR FLIGHT and IN THE LOST LANDS are only a few of the film the studio has brought forward. For more of what they have to offer, please visit www.vert-ent.com.

The film is loosely based on the real-life story of these characters, living on an island wanting solitude, the Ritters had their life far away from Germany. Even the story of the Wittmer family comes with a respect for the island and the couple living a distance away and again, it worked. Then, Baroness Eloise Wehrborn de Wagner-Bosquet landed on the beach. What comes next is pure speculation and conjecture which is where writer/director Howard and writer Pink comes in.

Howard says of his film, “I am fascinated by stories based on real events. There is no question that in this circumstance, the kinds of the choices these characters feel compelled to make or are forced to make are more complex than anything I’ve done in film. This is what these people leaved through and I found it fascinating, I found it utterly human and surprisingly relatable to the human existence today with all its quirks, all its pain and danger as well. It was exciting every day!”

That is what makes this film so compelling as Howard has chosen to do something out of his directorial character. His memorable films include WILLOW (1988), THE DA VINCI CODE (2006), THIRTEEN LIVES (2022) and in my family, THE GRINCH (2000), which is a yearly holiday happening. EDEN is a different direction bringing such rawness and the horror of human nature when squeezed beyond all sanity. He chose a story that allows for so many levels of lies mixed with truths that I spent some time reading up on this story myself.

EDEN is one of my favorite films of this year because of its unpredictability, its jaw dropping moments, the lives it is based on and the originality of it all. I found myself on the edge just waiting to see what could possibly happen next on this roller coaster ride of a storyline. I love that it is framed around an island forcing the characters to deal with one another because it’s not like they could easily walk away. There is even humor that felt twisted and intriguing at the same time. I am hoping to see awards attached to it very soon.

In the end – where is the truth lie?

 

NE ZHA 2 is a Global Phenomenon

 

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to theatres from writer/director Jiaozi based on the story Investiture of the Gods by Xu Zhonglin and A24 is the animated NE ZHA 2.

Ne Zha (Crystal Lee) and Ao Bing (Aleks Le) bodies are in the hands of Master Taiyi Zhenren (Rick Zieff) as he tries to prevent their souls dying. Using the Seven-Colored Sacred Lotus to turn them from mush back to their original form, the two have a lot of healing to do. Ao Bing’s father, Ao Guang, is the East Sea’s Dragon King and he believes that his son is gone. Trying to make things right gets interrupted when Master Shen Gongbao is sent to fight for the Chentang Pass and without time to properly heal, Ao Bing falls once again.

Now, Ao Bing and Ne Zha will have to share one body but it will only last seven days. Master Zhenren tells everyone that Ne Zha will have to do the three trials to become immortal to get the elixir that will fix the Sacred Lotus and bring Ao Bing back. Going to the Immortal Wuliang (Robert Clotworthy), there is no time to waste to begin the tests. Believing Shen Gongbao (Aidyn James Ahn) will maintain a ceasefire during the process, Ne Zha’s parents Li Jing (Vincent Rodriguez III) and Lady Yin (Michelle Yeoh) attempt to reach him in understanding that what is happening is wrong.

But things go horribly wrong and Ne Zha turns his anger toward anyone who stands in his way. It is the love he has for his family that makes him realize that his anger should be focused towards one person – and it is shocking when they all find out about the lies, deception, and abuse of power. Ne Zha and Ao Bing realize working together to battle the true evil is worth putting themselves in danger as long as necessary.

Other cast include Damien Haas as Deero, Grace Lu as Crana, and Michael Yurchak as Ao Shun.

A24 is an American company specializing in film and television production. They are best known for distributing such amazing films as EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE, MOONLIGHT, HEREDITARY, THE LIGHTHOUSE, MIDSOMMAR and this years stunning look at WARFARE. For more information, please visit www.a24films.com.

NE ZHA II is a fantastical, thrilling, artistically beautiful, funny and a complex story line that is captivating from start to finish. Using the Chinese mythology, it wraps itself around Ne Zha’s need to find out what he is capable of and Ao Bing trying to return to a form that allows him to help with the turmoil from all sides. There are family bonds that are being stretched to its heavenly limits and bonds being formed from the mostly unlikely places.

The relationship between Ne Zha and Ao Bing is complicated and, at times, frustrating to the little fire bomb. Master Zhenren is wise and at the same time a bundle of nerves and wants fire and water to find their way back to themselves. Ao Guang is a father who has his own anger issues and finds himself in the middle of a battle. Immortal Wuliang lives on his little cloud watching Ne Zha take the trials to become and immortal. Parents Li Jing and Lady Yin want what is best for their son and they have the capability to fight as well as any demon or immortal. Watching the journey of these characters is, shall we say, enlightening.

The animation is crips, clean, and mind blowing all at the same time with a powerful story and a message. A sequel to NE ZHA, the visuals fill the screen with flawless battle scenes and emotional family moments that makes the journey through the film helps it fall into the ‘epic’ category. There are so many characters and how they link test the mind and still manage to be surprising at times.

In the theatre there were families watching and cheering throughout the film. My granddaughter and I had such a stellar time together. Seeing it in IMAX 3D is eye candy completely!

In the end – they will change heaven and earth!

 

 

 

They are in a Twisted RELAY

 

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to theatres from director David Mackenzie and Bleecker Street is the story of the chase and those who would stop the RELAY.

Sarah Grant (Lily James) is trying to find help for the problem she finds herself in. When the company she works for sends her into hiding, it is clear that she needs help. Given a phone number, Sarah is told that the person on the other end specializes in the help that she needs. The number she calls leads her to a service that relays messages between callers and help can be had for a price.

Ash (Riz Ahmed) is a fixer, someone who fixes problems that people find themselves dealing with and nowhere to turn which fits Sarah exactly. Explaining that her employee is lying about research that can hurt people, Ash makes it clear that they will never meet and that she must do everything he asks of her to make the problem go away. Right outside her apartment are ‘problems’ in the form of Dawson (Sam Worthington), Rosetti (Willa Fitzgerald), Ryan (Jared Abrahamson) and a few others who want what Sarah has.

That’s when Ash kicks into gear and send Dawson and his cohorts on a wild goose chase in ways they never thought possible. But as the group gets closer and closer, Ash finds himself growing closer to Sarah which can be deadly for them both. The thing is, will being a fixer be enough to get the job done?

Ahmed as Ash is clearly a man who knows how to play the game. Keeping the way he does business clever and undetectable it what has worked for him. Ahmed does an amazing job in this role but then again if you have ever seen THE NIGHT OF, THE OA, and FINGERNAILS it would be clear that this actor is a force whether he has a film full of lines or hardly any. It is his presence and ability to bring a certain mystery to his characters that I enjoy so much. In this film he once again provides that and the steadfast wonderment of which way his character is going to take us.

James as Sarah is a woman clearly looking for a way out of a bad situation. Agreeing to all in order to get help from Ash is taking it step by step to keep the van from coming any closer to her. This is a straight forward role for James but, at the same time, it is as diverse as all the characters that she has played. From iconic roles such as playing Cinderella to the vivacious Rose MacClare in the successful series Downton Abby, James makes it clear that her choices are intentional. Playing Sarah is a chance to dive into mystery, suspense and twists that make for a tension making film.

Worthington as Dawson is a man on a mission and nothing or no one is going to get in his way. Not experiencing anyone like Ash before, it is fun watching his character run around like a chicken with its head cut off. Worthington can play the tough guy with the best of them but as Dawson he adds sarcasm that had me laughing a few times. Nothing like being a problem with a sense of humor.

Shout out to Fitzgerald and Abrahamson add to the problems that seem to be plaguing Sarah. They are equally as on the case as Dawson and follow his lead – not always to the best places.

Other cast include Pun Bandhu as Lee. Eisa Davis as Wash, Matthew Maher as Hoffman, Seth Barrish as Morel, Jamil Haque as Tariq, Victor Garber as McVie

Bleecker Street is a New York City film company that has brought outstanding films to the public. Their library includes TRUMBO, DENIAL, THE LOST CITY OF Z, BEIRUT, HOTEL MUMBAI, ORDINARY LOVE and THE ROADS NOT TAKEN. For more information on the titles from Bleeker Street please visit www.bleeckerstreetmedia.com.

Director Mackenzie says of the characters Ash and Sarah, “These two outsiders must work together (never meeting or hearing each other, communicating through an old but still functioning method designed for the deaf) to safely remove the threat and allow a small semblance of Sarah’s old life to return, away from the city, somewhere where she can build a new life. Ash ruefully acknowledges her desire for normality, even though that is no longer an option for him – his own life having been obliterated by the consequences of his past actions and decisions.”

RELAY is a mixture of action, suspense, mystery, and twists that just keep coming. Ahmed, James and Worthington lead the chase. This is not a story that is going to be easy to figure out, oh no, director Mackenzie wasn’t about to make it so. Instead, it’s like his little playground of tension filled fun, daring us all to come along and pick up the clues he leaves but even that isn’t going to be easy. It’s probably clear that I love films that surprise me and RELAY did just that.

Buckle up because this film is going to keep you going until the very end. In the almost two hours running time, there isn’t a moment to take a breath because, like the characters in the film, there also isn’t much time to do anything else but stay one step ahead!

In the end – never break your own rules!