He is the One and Only ELIO

 

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to theatres this Friday for the entire family where ever in the universe you might be from directors Adrian Molina, Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi and Disney Pixar is ELIO.

Young Elio (voiced by Yonas Kibreab) is living with his Aunt Olga (voiced by Zoe Saldana) since the passing of his parents. It has been a difficult adjustment for them both as Elio isn’t sure where the new normal is coming from and Aunt Olga gives up her dream of being an astronaut. They are both trying to patch their family but Elio finds himself in a bit of trouble. First with schoolmates and then at the at Aunt Olga’s job at a government tracking station.

Both have to do with Elio’s love of space and his desire to be abducted. While at the tracking station, the group is excited that Gunther Melmac (Brendan Hunt) announces that he’s discovered a message. When Olga shoots it down, Elio decides to send a little welcome of his own and the results are more than he could have hoped for.

Taken up to the Communiverse, the aliens believe that Elio is a leader planet Earth and they are excited to have him along with Questa (Jameela Jamil), OOOOO (Shirley Henderson), Tegmen (Matthias Schweighofer, Helix (Brandon Moon), Auva (Naomi Watanabe), Turais (Ana de la Regulera) and Mira (Anissa Borrego). Before he is totally accepted into the Communiverse, Elio witnesses Lord Grigon (Brad Garrett) discovers that he isn’t accepted into the group. Angry, he vows retribution for his rejection.

Worries, Questa and the group worry that things will get worse but Elio volunteers to go to Lord Grigon and make him see reason. Over on the angry leader’s ship, Elio tries to reason with him but discovers it doesn’t work. While going through the ship, he meets Glordon (Remy Edgerly) and they strike up a plan and a friendship. On Earth, Aunt Olga is wondering what is happening to Elio because something has changed.  

Chaos explodes when Lord Grigon figures out the plan and Elio is sent back to earth. Elijo explains to Aunt Olga what has happened when a craft with Glordon inside is at the military base. Now it’s time for Elijo, Glordon and Aunt Olga take on the universe to set things right again.

Kibreab as Elio voices a young boy dealing with deal and feeling alone in a very large world. Reaching out into space to find a connection, no one understands what he is doing. When the one thing that he wants in the universe happens, Kibreab gives voice to Elio finding his happy place and that’s the Communiverse. The problem is his dishonesty with his new friends but he tries to make it right. It is his friendship with Glordon that is charming, sweet and so very memorable.

Saldana as Aunt Olga doesn’t know what to do with Elio and she sees that he is so very sad. It isn’t easy trying to understand a child that has gone from being a nephew to practically being a son. Giving up her dreams to take care of Elijo, he senses that she isn’t happy with the decision she made. Saldana is a strong character in a difficult situation and lending her voice to this role is so warm and loving.

Garret as Lord Grigon is an unhappy alien who feels rejected by Communiverse and he’s going to show what happens to unhappy aliens. Garret is a tough voice lending itself to a tough character who doesn’t listen to his son. Edgerly as Glordon is fun, charming, so very sweet and can’t figure out a way to tell his father that fighting just isn’t his thing. I love the friendship that comes about between Glordon and Elio and Edgerly’s giggle is contagious.

Shout out to all the aliens because they are so diverse, colorful and wanting to keep their world intact. My granddaughter just adored Questa because, “she is smooth with a voice that is very calming when things get crazy”. I love that she felt that about one of the characters. Also, Hunt as Melmac is hilarious even though his moments on screen are brief.

Other cast include Young Dylan as Bruce, Jake Getman as Caleb, Shelby Young as Diplo Ship, Bob Peterson as the Universal Users Manual and Kate Mulgrew as Museum Exhibit Narrator.

ELIO is a magical, color and an absolute family film that should have parents running to the theatre. It is a story of love, sadness, friendship, understanding, dreams and how we (on this planet or any other) are not so different that we can’t learn from one another. The story is one of a young boy dealing with the hardest thing a child would ever deal with yet, the adventure teaches him the importance of being in the present and on earth.

I love when Disney Pixar brings such imaginative stories that draw people together and ELIO does just that. It has such profound moments that are made more vivid because of the animation and the imagination it took to not only tell Elijo’s story but the fantastic world of the Communiverse. Pack up the kids and spend a little time in space with ELIO

In the end – the universe came calling!

It is all FIGHT OR FLIGHT

 

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to Video On Demand (Apple TV, Fandango At Home and Prime Video) from director James Madigan based on the books by Brooks McLaren, D.J. Cotrona and Vertical is a plane ride like no other with FIGHT OR FLIGHT.

An elusive hacker named The Ghost has struck again and Agents Aaron Hunter (Julian Kostov) and boss Katherine Brunt (Katee Sackhoff) are up against the wall to find out who it is and how to capture someone with no photo or fingerprint. Brunt decides there is only one person who can do the job, ex-boyfriend and disgraced CIA Agent Lucas Reyes (Josh Hartnett). Reyes is stuck in Bangkok where the Ghost has struck but he doesn’t want anything to do with Brunt or her request for help. He is much happier living his days pickling his liver. Yet, once he realizes that it might be his ticket home, he consents.

Waiting at the airport is a ticket to San Francisco where the Ghost is supposed to land. On the plane greeting boarders are stewards Isha (Charithra Chandran), Royce (Danny Ashok) and Garrett (Hughie O’Donnell) who get everyone settled. It doesn’t take long before there is a leak somewhere as it becomes clear that on the dark web is a hit for Reyes’ target. Still, no one knows who it is. Reyes is the first to be attacked and he is told there is a massive bounty for the Ghost. Brunt also learns that the plan Reyes is on is filled with assassins looking to collect.

Reyes discovers who the Ghost is but needs the help of Isha, Royce and Garrett to keep them alive and the passengers who have nothing to do with the hit. It all quickly turns when Reyes has a hit out on him! Now the fight begins with 8 hours in the air as Reyes realizes there is much more to the story than he is being told by Brunt, the one person he doesn’t want to trust. There are so many on the plane that the fight is going to get duty but then again, you play stupid games you get stupid prizes!

Hartnett as Reyes is a bit of a drinker who is not happy being trapped in Bangkok which his ex-girlfriend is living the good life in a nice job. When he sees her number show up, it is clear he hasn’t gotten over it in two years. Getting on the plane is his only chance to get some semblance of a life back. Hartnett gets the chance to be a run down, angry CIA agent who would rather be mad at everything. With one phone call it can all change, but that doesn’t mean he still isn’t holding a grudge. I loved watching Hartnett be a bit John Wick but the other end of the spectrum with one liners and serious moments where his behind is handed to him. I can see a franchise forming here and I’m all for it.

Sackhoff as Brunt gets to do what she does best, give the audience a stiff face that doesn’t change expression no matter what the circumstances. Knowing calling Hartnett’s character is less than a last resort, she still does it making promises to get her way. Sackhoff has always been able to be a good/bad/good character actor and I can easily see how this role can grow in a franchise. I hope we get to see that. Kostov as Hunter is an agent who is just so all over the place that it’s hard to keep up – just as his fellow agents. Trying to keep happenings away from the boss, the is mouthy, rude and wants to reach higher in his career no matter what it takes. Kostov gives a character that is easy to not like very much and that’s all I’m saying about that. What a well-played roll.

Chandran as Isha is a stewardess who is just trying to do her job, that is until she realizes that Reyes has a problem. She is a strong character that has no problem helping Reyes once she realizes what they are all up against. Chandran does an awesome of being part of the wild ride and for so many reasons. Ashok as Royce is the twitchy steward that can’t keep his OCD at bay once the chaos begins. I have to say love characters like this that give us comedy in the midst of drama and Ashok gives it full on. O’Donnel as Garret is the gold standard of a steward who believes his job in premium class is everything. Well, that is until mayhem comes to his section of the plane. He made me laugh a lot.

Shout out to Kohli and Baxter as the pilots of the plane who seriously had me giggling a lot!

Extended cast includes Sanjeev Kohli as the Pilot, Declan Baxter as the Co-Pilot, Heather Choo as Monk Heather, Claudia Heinz as Monk Claudia, Marko Zaror as Cayenne, JuJu Chan Szeto as Master Lian, Jyuddah Jaymes as Agent Robinson, Willem van der Vegt as Agent Simmons, Sarah Lam as Mae, Iren Bordan as Mrs. Nazareth, Balint Adorjani as Sky Marshall and Nora Trokan as Cat Eyes.

Vertical is a global independent distributor that offers a unique wealth of experience minus the studio costs. They have won a Film Independent Spirit Award for Best Actress for Molly Shannon’s role in OTHER PEOPLE and the film won a GLAAD Award for Outstanding Film Limited Release, Best International Film for Babak Anvari’s UNDER THE SHADOW, a BAFTA and three Independent British Independent Film Awards as well. For more of what they have to offer please visit www.vert-ent.com.

FIGHT OR FLIGHT is from the producers of JOHN WICK and the fight scenes show that. The storyline, however, is very different. The action doesn’t let up once the flood gates of a bounty are open but it is what is in that mix that brings the level up a notch. Keeping it all basically inside the plane giving fighting in a tight space a whole new look. The characters each put in their own twist on the story and I enjoyed that immensely.

Saying this is an action film seems flimsy because it is an ACTION film with a capital A. It is a pulse pounding, don’t look away, guessing game of where are the problems coming from and who can you trust besides yourself, and runaway fun (if you like chainsaws that is) that calls for a second viewing. That’s the recipe for a great franchise and I’ll be waiting for FIGHT OR FLIGHT: You Aren’t Done Yet sequel!

In the end – don’t forget your boarding pass!

 

 

 

Celebrate the 50th Anniversary of JAWS

 

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to 4K Ultra HD, Bluray and Digital celebrating 50 years of scarring us out of the water from director Steven Spielberg and Universal Pictures Home Entertainment, based on the Peter Benchley novel, is the (and I know you hear da-dum, daaaa-dum in your head) fear of JAWS.

Sheriff Martin Brody (Roy Scheider) and his family live on Amity Island. It might be wonderful for most people but the small-town lawman doesn’t like water. Waking up to a phone call that a girl is missing after a swim, he finds himself coming face to face with the worst-case scenario. When he gets the news that it is a shark attack, the sheriff wants to put up signs warning swimmers but it met by Mayor Vaughn (Murray Hamilton) who sees it differently.

Deciding to cave to the mayor but be vigilant, days later another life is lost. Now the town puts up $3,000 for someone to catch the shark responsible. Local shark hunter Quint (Robert Shaw) says he will do it, but for a larger sum. Brody calls for help and Matt Hooper (Richard Dreyfuss) arrives to not only confirm the shark kills but decides to take it on himself to go out and see what is in the night ocean. When the shark is seen again and this time Brody’s son is in danger, Brody gets the mayor to agree to Quint’s demands.

Now Brody, Hooper and Quint take to the sea in the Orca to look for the shark that has been plaguing Amity Island. They come in contact with the 25-foot great white shark and realize that what should have been a quick turnaround back to dock – is not. This great white shark puts itself against the three men in a race against life and death!

Scheider as Brody is just absolute perfection as a man who takes the position of authority in a small town. Once a big city cop, Amity provides him with the sun and surf vibe of a town that is isn’t fast paced or dangerous – well, it wasn’t anyway. I just love him in this role (besides the film 52 PICK UP) as his character is confronted by something he cannot see or predict. His fear of water and what’s in it, Scheider reacts as we would expect and doesn’t disappoint. It is a character that we watch grow from beginning to end doing what he needs to for his family, the town and the sea.

Dreyfuss as Hooper is the expert, the humor and the Boy Scout of the film. Knowing exactly what the town is facing, Hooper is the guy no one listens to because he isn’t an “islander”. It should be known that I’m a huge Dreyfuss fan (remember GOODBYE GIRL?) and his role as Hooper is strong and the necessary as the buffer between Quint and Brody but with the worst jokes of the two. There isn’t one thing about Dreyfuss’ performance that can be picked on, not one thing. Fifty-years later, he is connected to his role at Hooper and it must be said, there isn’t a thing wrong with that.

Shaw as Quint is the third point in this triangle of a shark story. In his role as Quint, Shaw doesn’t give a frog’s butt what anyone thinks about him or what he does. He is clear with the town about what he wants to cure their problem and nails on a chalkboard never looked, or sounded, better. Once on the boat, Shaw gives us a man who doesn’t know when to say when but instead is going up against a creature that is just as determined as he is. Trying everything he knows, it becomes a game of cat and mouse – but which is which? Shaw is a consummate actor that I had watched for years before this role in swashbuckler roles and there is a bit of that here in the way he handles Hooper and Brody but there is an intensity that Shaw brings when death is knocking on the side of his boat. Just epic!

Other cast include Lorraine Gary as Ellen Brody, Carl Gottlieb as Meadows Jeffrey Kramer as Hendricks, Chris Rebello as Michael Brody, Jay Mello as Sean Brody, Lee Fierro as Mrs. Kintner, Jeffrey Voorhees as Alex Kintner, and Craig Kingsbury as Ben Gardner. An appearance can also be found of author Peter Benchley.

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.

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.

Bonus Features include The Making of JAWS, The Shark is Still Working: The Impact and Legacy of Jaws, Jaws: The Restoration, Deleted Scenes and Outtakes From the Set and Original Theatrical Trailer.

The novel Jaws arrived on bookshelves in 1974 and became an instant hit among readers. It isn’t surprising that Spielberg grabbed onto it and brought it to screens nationwide to become the highest-grossing film spawning three follow-up films. It is John Williams that put the music to the film that is so memorable that it’s part of our lexicon today and used to express suspense and even fright. In 2021, the Library of Congress selected the film JAWS for its preservation in the United States National Film Registry.

JAWS, in all honestly, kept me out of the ocean for a few summers and cautious after that! Anyone that says it didn’t bother them needs to take a lie detector test! Spielberg took Benchley’s story and gave it all the intensity that I would expect in a story that took us all on a wild ride 50 years ago. Watching the film again and again and again over the years hasn’t changed that one bit. Although we all have aged, this story never will.

Phrases such as “you’re gonna need a bigger boat” and “Mary Ellen Moffett – she broke my heart” are only two of the iconic lines from the film. Watch and find your own favorite lines. So, turn out the lights, turn up the sound bar and pop the biggest batch of popcorn because JAWS is a film that deserves to bring thrills and chills – even fifty years later and fifty years into the future.

In the end – Amity Island has everything and it’s the perfect feeding ground!

 

HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON is Live-Action

 

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to theatres this Friday from writer/director Dean DeBlois, DreamWorks and Universal Pictures is the returning tale of HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON.

On the island of Berg, Hiccup (Mason Thames) is a young man that doesn’t quite fit in, especially when it comes to fighting the one thing that plagues his village – dragons! It is even more difficult to fit in when your father is Stoick the Vast (Gerard Butler) the chieftain of Berk. Hiccup mainly spends his time in the workshop of Gobber (Nick Frost) the blacksmith and being pushed out of the way when dragons attack. Except during the most recent attack, Hiccup hears something and knows if he can bring down a Night Fury, his life will get better yet, when he does, no one believes him.

Stoick is dead set on finding the dragons lair and getting rid of there dragon problem once and for all. Before leaving on that journey, Gobber talks him into letting Hiccup go into dragon training as a way of giving him something useful to do and staying under the watchful eye of Gobber. When he arrives for training, Hiccup is met with the groans of Astrid (Nico Parker), Fishlegs (Julian Dennison), Snotlout (Gabriel Howell), Ruffnut (Bronwyn James) and Tuffnut (Harry Trevaldwyn) who see him as a hinderance and not a help to the village.

In between training, Hiccup decides to go look for signs that he caught a dragon. There, in a small opening in the woods, he sees the Night Fury struggling and shortly realizes his tail is damaged. When a friendship is struck and he discovers a way to help the Night Fury, Hiccup realizes that he can’t and won’t hurt other dragons. As the two become inseparable and he learns from the dragon named Toothless – Hiccup also becomes a surprise during training much to the suspicion of Astrid.

She learns Hiccups secret but also realizes that the villagers truly don’t understand dragons. When Stoick returns, everything comes out and now Hiccup and Toothless are separated while finding the dragon’s lair. Hiccup enlists the help of Astrid and the others to do what needs to be done – saving his father and the other Vikings!

Thames as Hiccup is a young man trying to find his place in the Viking village of Berk. Keeping himself busy with making inventions that no one really pays attention to, he thinks its time to get a dragon. The one thing Hiccup doesn’t count on is realizing that getting to know dragons is the answer to the villages’ problem. It’s unfortunate that Stoick isn’t interested in hearing about it. Thames is charming and captures a bit of the animated Hiccup but it works smoothly and that’s what is important.

Butler as Stoick is the only person that returns from animation to live-action. The fact is that nobody could voice the chieftain better than Butler and he is fun to watch in full Viking regalia. That makes playing the role much easier since he pretty much already knows the lines. The challenge I think would be going from being only a voice to a full-fledged Stoick on screen. He is funny, challenging, and the scene where he gives Hiccup his mother’s helmet is awkward and lovely at the same time.

Frost as Gobber is the peg-legged, one arm blacksmith who understands Hiccup’s predicament referring to him as “all this” of problems with a mixture of loyalty to Stoick as well as a trusted friend. Frost gives his character sarcasm and wit that I secretly enjoy and delivers. Parker as Astrid giving the strong minded and strong-willed Viking who believes she must beat every one and everything in order to be seen as a leader. Hiccup is an obstacle to all that as she feels that being the son of the chieftain is a point she can not get over. Parker delivers on the right bad attitude of her character until she begins to see the other side of the story. Well done.

Dennison, James, Trevaldwyn, and Codd round out the added cast as the other trainees of dragon camp. They might see Hiccup as a problem-child in the beginning but, like Astrid, learn that there is more to their small world than they could ever imagine. Each of these actors are a sweet addition to the live action story.

Other cast include Peter Serafinowicz as Spitelout, Naomi Wirthner as Gothi, Ruth Codd as Phlegma, Andrea Ware as Burnheart, Anna Brophy as Retcha, Marcus Onilude as Snorti, Peter Selwood as Drul, Daniel Williams as Fungi, Kate Kennedy as Flatula and Murray McArthur as Hoark.

HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON is, of course, the live action version of the 2010 version of the same name. The cast brings together that version of the story nicely with a few changes here and there but most following the formula that made the animated film such a success. That is important for the success of the film because, and let’s be honest here, when a story changes drastically, fans get a little edgy.

Toothless remains animated and everything my family loves about the Night Fury. Needless to say, there are plenty of Toothless items around our house because that is the amazing impression this character has made. He is a combination of a strong willed, free spirited, protector of a black cat and its absolutely wonderful. That’s how I’ve always seen Toothless and this film doesn’t change that about him one bit.

The film is fun, lots of laughs, and exactly the summer feature that families can have an amazing time at the theatre with. There is something for everyone bringing some of us back to 2010 and introducing a new generation to the same fun in a different way with the story of HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON.

In the end – the legend is real!

Greed Finds THE UNHOLY TRINITY

 

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to theatres from director Richard Gray, Saban Films and Roadside Attractions is the story of loss and found with THE UNHOLY TRINITY.

Henry Broadway (Brandon Lessard) has come to say goodbye to his father Isaac (Tim Daly) on his way to the gallows in 1870s Montana. The final words to his son is to find Saul Butler and clear his name in a crime Isaac says he did not commit. Grief stricken, Henry finds his way to the town of Trinity looking for a man he has never seen before to get justice for his father. Right away he meets St. Christopher (Samuel L. Jackson) who seems to befriend him.

Following Gabriel Dove (Pierce Brosnan), Henry mistakes him for Butler and discovers more about the town than he planned. Dove tells the young man to quickly leave before local hot head Gideon (Gianni Capaldi) gets out of control, much more than he already is tracking the Blackfoot woman Running Cub (Q’orianka Kilcher). Gideon blames her for a different death in the town. Having a meal in the salon, Henry meets Rachel (Stephanie Hernandez) and the town is turned upside down.

Sherriff Dove is nowhere to be found as he has gone looking for Rubbing Cub so wife Sarah (Veronica Ferres) tries to calm thing. When he does return and realizes Henry is in trouble, it is time to discover all the secrets being hidden in the town of Trinity because the secrets are dangerous and loom large over all their lives.

Lessard as Henry is a young man unaware of what his father asked of him. He clearly does not have a grasp of how to deal with unsavory men who all have guns and aren’t afraid to use them. Wanting to do right by his father, almost immediately he realizes that there is something more happening in this town. Lessard plays his part in a larger story and does it well, especially playing opposite two big names in the film game.

One of those names is Pierce Brosnan as Sherriff Dove who immediately realizes that Henry was only given a fraction of the story about his father and the town. Keeping the townspeople safe is his ultimate goal, especially surrounded by men who find killing easy. Brosnan’s character is soft spoken and calm even when chaos is happening all around him. Knowing Henry has been misled; it seems almost immediate that he wants to protect the young man from anyone who would harm him. Brosnan is doing what he does best, embracing his role and reminding us that his ease at playing any character is vast.

Jackson as St. Christopher is a bit of a mystery man and when Henry arrives in town, he is quick to share a bit of a rundown not only of the town but how the young man might need to protect himself. It is clear that he, like others, seem to know what Henry doesn’t. Jackson gives us his predictable mash up of ‘is he good or not?’ until all is revealed. That being said there is nothing better than watching Jackson develop a character right before our eyes. He has the fantastic ability to play both good, bad and good/bad characters and in this film, he doesn’t disappoint.

Kilcher as Running Cub has a story of her own and Dove is protective of her. Her role is not a large one but it has its importance. Capaldi as Gideon is as twisted as a bad guy can get in the “Wild West” and it works in the story. Ferres as Sarah is a wife who understands her husband and is a stabilizing force for him.

Other cast include Katrina Bowden as Julia, Beau Knapp as Asa Benton, Tim Montana as Red Benton, Beau Linnell as Butch Benton, Ethan Peck as Sam Scarborough, Dylan Brosnan as Pastor, Chuck Matthews as Charlie, Eadie Gray as Mabel, Paris Brosnan as Thomas, Kelton Cole as the Innkeeper, and David Arquette as Father Jacob.

Roadside Attractions has, since 2003, grossed over $300M and garnered nineteen Academy Award nominations. They have had critical and commercial hits such as MANCHESTER BY THE SEA, BEN IS BACK, BEATRIZ AT DINNER, HELLO MY NAME IS DORIS, WINTER’S BONE and THE COVER as well as so many others. For more information of what Roadside Attractions has to offer please visit www.roadsideattractions.com.

Saban Films was launched in 2014 and has built an impressive slate of high-quality feature films distributed with partner Lionsgate. Focusing on talent-driven films, the company looks at projects in all stages of production to be released across multiple platforms. Films such as SISTER OF THE GROOM, FATMAN and BREACH are part of the wonderful Saban slate, and more information can be found at www.sabanfilms.com.

Director Gray says of shooting THE UNHOLY TRINITY in Montana, “There’s a rawness to the Western genre, more than any other, where it’s really just about survival. The whole point of the Western is that it’s a frontier. When you strip back all of the conveniences and safety nets of modern life, all that’s left is raw emotion and force. No better genre provides that better than a Western.”

He is right, movie goers do love a good Western and a staple requirement is that it be filled with glaring gunmen, rugged good and bad guys, strong women and something to fight more. Well, this film gives all of that and more surrounded by a solid storyline and twists that are a bonus. The cast brings it all together with stellar performances and more than enough guesses to take up the 95-minute running time and I’m all for every minute.

In the end – the mystery brings them all together!

He is THE AMATEUR

 

Jeri Jacquin

This week on Digital and coming to Bluray and 4k Ultra HD from director James Hawes and 20^th Century Studios is a man who is THE AMATEUR. 

Charlie Heller (Rami Malek) is sending his wife Sarah (Rachel Brosnahan) off to a conference in Europe while he goes to his job at the CIA as a cryptographer. Getting straight to work, his job is secretive but he is good at it. When he is called into the office of boss Director Moore (Holt McCallany) and Director O’Brien (Julianne Nicholson) where he is told that his wife has died and Charlie is horrified. Almost immediately he begins his work discovering what happened, how and who is responsible. Bringing it up to his superiors, he makes it clear that all Charlie wants is to handle the situation himself.

When they don’t approve, he is sent Hendo Henderson (Laurence Fishburne) to give him some help in what he is planning to do. While Training, Henderson makes it clear that some people just aren’t simply capable of killing. While he is away, Moore is attempting to discover what Charlie might know and tear his house and office apart. They want to know what is he doing with the information but they obviously don’t understand what Charlie can do. His intelligence gives him the edge as he manages to slip away from everyone and follow the trail to Europe. There, he finally meets contact Inquiline (Cailtriona Balfe) who does her best to help find those responsible for Sarah’s death.

The trail is brutal and full of secrets that go deeper than Charlie could ever have imagined. When CIA operative O’Brien (Jon Bernthal) attempts to wrangle him in, he once again knows how to slip the boundaries they attempt to place on him. No matter how much the CIA uses its technology, they forgot one thing – Charlie created that technology!

Malek as Charlie is a man devastated by the loss of his wife and disgusted by the CIA’s lack of action. Deciding that if they won’t do anything, he will use all he has learned as an analyst play out in the real world. Malek plays a grieving husband but, when his character goes rogue, he does so in such a calm manner. The Agency thinks they are able to corral him but you can’t capture someone who you’ve always underrated. This is such an awesome character for him to play and adds a layer of thrill with the combination of political, psychological and action in the vein of THE BOURNE IDENTITY (2002) among so many others. Malek has cemented his place in that line up.

McCallany as Moore is a stern character who can not get Charlie to understand that there are things at play that he doesn’t know about. Once Charlie goes rogue, he is not only dealing with that, but feeling the breath of Director O’Brien all over his neck. I have come to so appreciate McCallany’s body of work and I just love his strong characters. Nicholson as Director O’Brien understands that Charlie is devastated and enlists the help of Moore to keep their noses clean. She gets the suspicion that Charlie isn’t going to let the death of his wife go unanswered. Nicholson always plays such a strong character and it is the same here.

Fishburne as Henderson attempts to train Charlie but also realizes that training him to kill someone just isn’t working. He is impressed by that Charlie can do but it doesn’t mean it will help him with his goal. Fishburne is just that – Fishburne. A consummate actor who can do any role you put in front of him. This isn’t a large role but it is a good one. Bernthal as O’Brien sees Charlie as a friend and wants to help but so people you just can’t get to understand and Charlie is one of them. Again, the role isn’t a large one but keep you spidey senses on high alert.

Balfe as Inquiline is someone that Charlie has been in contact with for a while but never in person. When he arrives in Europe, it is Balfe’s character that guides him in the direction he needs to go. I just love seeing Balfe as I am a huge fan of OUTLANDER and here she begins to separate herself from that role and onto something thriller in another genre.

Other cast includes Adrian Martinez as Carlos, Marc Rissman as Mishka Blazhic, Joseph Millson as Ellish, Barbara Probst as Gretchen Frank, Alice Hewkin as Ali Park and Henry Garrett as the Chief of Staff. Look for the cameo of Marthe Keller who starred in the 1981 film as Elizabeth.

Twentieth Century Home Entertainment brings award-winning global product and new entertainment to DVD, Bluray, and Digital HD. There amazing collection offers fans an opportunity to expand their own home libraries with the best films. To discover what other titles they have please visit www.fox.com.

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.

Bonus Features include The Team, The World, The Pool, The Score, and Deleted Scenes.

Robert Littrell specialized in espionage novel having been a journalist and novelist writing about the spy world of the CIA. He wrote the screenplay before the novel with the title The Amateur: A Novel of Revenge in 1981.

Malek, having played a Bond Villain in the 2021 film NO TIME TO DIE gets the opportunity to play the other side of a thriller and proves he can do both. In the role of Charlie Heller, he is as smooth as they come, smarter than his superiors could ever have imagined and determined to do what the agency won’t. He has no problem using his intelligence and abilities to keep everyone at arm’s length until he finishes what he started. Just brilliantly done.

The cast brings so much to the political table with secrets, mysteries, lies, no trusting and, best of all, no idea who they are dealing with. I love that part of the film as each thing Charlie pulls off, there is someone in the background shaking his head in disbelief. That makes watching so much more enjoyable because rooting for Charlie is what it is all about. Nothing or no one is going to stop the inevitable.

In the end – do not underestimate him!

She Never Expected to DROP

 

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to 4K UHD, Bluray, DVD and Digital from director Christopher Landon, Blumhouse and Universal Pictures Home Entertainment comes a mind-bending thriller of a DROP.

Violet Gates (Meghann Fahy) is a therapist in Chicago that helps people with their problems and she knows plenty about that. Surviving an abusive husband, her sister Jen (Violett Beane) talks her into going on the first date she’s been on in years. Nervous leaving son Toby (Jacob Robinson), Violet is off to meet Henry Campbell (Brandon Sklenar), a photographer she met on a dating app and now meeting her at the high-rise restaurant Palate. Nervously waiting, she chats with bartender Cara (Gabrielle Ryan) and is slightly hit on by Richard (Reed Diamond) who mistakes her for his date and Phil (Ed Weeks) a drinking pianist who doesn’t take a hint all that well. All the while receiving Digi-Drops that are odd.

Eventually Henry walks in and Violet is happy to sit down and get to know him. Almost immediately she received an influx of these drops. One of them shows a masked gunman inside her house followed by a threat to do what she is told and Toby won’t be hurt. She also can not let anyone know what is happening. That makes it difficult as each instruction becomes more and more threatening. She shows Henry what is happening but he brushes it off as pranks. As Violet does what she is asked to do, there is a strain between she and Henry but she cannot let him leave.

Violet becomes suspicious of everyone in the room and tries to watch where the cameras are and devices all of the restaurant. When the drop finally tells her what the goal is and Violet knows that she is running out of options. She needs to make the connection of what is happening and who is responsible before her family and those around her become victims of the deadly drops coming to her phone.

Fahy as Violet handles this role with smoothness even when her nerves are about to explode. This role called for keep the nervousness at a minimum, keep the eyes open for any detail and try to get ahead of the game that is being played. That can be difficult since the rules are life and death but, as my grandpa always said ‘rules are made to be broken’. Fahy as Violet does just that but takes it step by step. Not only did she make it look easy, she had me talking to the screen along with her silent thoughts. That’s how you know someone has drawn an audience in and its pretty darn cool.

Sklenar as Henry is a photographer who agreed to the date because he saw something in Violet. When she starts to go a bit off the rails, he is patient, kind, and helpful but all things can have their limits. He can’t understand what she is about but feels there isn’t a connection between them. I really enjoy when Sklenar is on screen as there is something about the way he carries his characters bringing a sense of calm when I’d probably normally be all tensed up. Watch his last few films and television role in the Yellowstone series and you will see what I mean.

Ryan as Cara is an intuitive and friendly bartender who wonders about Violet. I loved her energy through it all. Diamond as Richard is the other dating app person who is jittery but Violet is polite toward him while he waits for his own date. Weeks as the piano player is a slick, full of himself guy who sees a ‘no’ as a ‘yes’ because, I mean, all the women love him right? Well done.

Shout out to Jeffery Self as the waiter Matt. Every moment he came into scene I was laughing because I know so many waiters just like him and I love them.

Other cast include Travis Nelson as Connor, Micheal Shea as Blake and Benjamin Pelletier as the masked man.

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.

Blumhouse Productions is known for producing horror films such as PARANORMAL ACTIVITY, INSIDIOUS, SINISTER, THE PURGE, THE GIFT, GET OUT, HAPPY DEATH DAY, SPLIT and M3GAN 2.0. The films from Blumhouse have become instant classics and they continue to give us something to scream about! See more at www.blumhouse.com

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.

Special Bonus includes Feature Commentary with Director Christopher Landon: Insights from the Director on Filmmaking Choices, A Recipe for Thrills: Making DROP: Cast and Crew Discuss the Film’s Development and Thematic Elements and A PALATE FOR PANIC: Exploration of the film’s main set, Palate Restaurant.

DROP is an unexpected thriller from beginning to end to the point where you can not take your eyes off the screen or you will miss a message. That’s one way to make sure the audience pays attention. Keeping the film in basically one location through the entire story, I just love that. Remove all the superfluous noise, keep the story focused and you’ve reeled me in for sure. It is a chance to truly get to know a character and, in this case, its right in front of the screen the whole time.

Director Landon has surrounded himself with an ensemble that just flows to darn well with Fahy at the helm of the tale. It worked on me keeping the jitter factor so high that I was having a conversation with the screen a lot! The setting is magnetic and the ending was stunningly awesome. It is hard to say any more about the film without giving the plot twists away and I absolutely refuse to do that. So, grab a thriller buddy, pop the popcorn, turn out the lights and get ready to DROP.

In the end – everyone’s a suspect!