They Come Together in AMSTERDAM

 

Jeri Jacquin

Currently on Digital and coming to 4K Ultra HD, Bluray and DVD from 20^th Century Studios and director David O. Russell is the trio from AMSTERDAM.

It is 1918 and Burt Berendsen (Christian Bale) is off to fight in France during World War I and there he meets his soon to be best friend Harold Woodsman (John David Washington). When both are seriously wounded, they are taken care of by Valerie Voze (Margot Robbie) who has a strange penchant for collecting shrapnel from wounded soldiers.

Making their way to Amsterdam, they all spend time together until Burt goes home to New York City and becomes a doctor. Eventually, Harold follows to become a respected lawyer in the same city. Time passes and both men have their own practices which brings Harold to call upon his friend Burt to find out what killed their regimental commander, Bill Meekins. It is his daughter Elizabeth (Taylor Swift) who wants the answers.

Irma St. Clair (Zoe Saldana) helps Burt discover what could have happened and then chaos breaks loose. Now Burt and Harold are suspected of murder! Both men begin to look for answers to clear their names and it shocks them leading to Valerie! Her brother Tom (Rami Malek) and his wife Libby (Anya Taylor-Joy) who worries that his sister might have mental health issues.

Explaining their predicament, Tom suggests they seek out General Gil Dillenbeck (Robert De Niro) who knew Meekins. Inviting him to speak at the veteran’s gala, Burt and Harold are hoping that those responsible for everything will unknowingly reveal themselves.

Now comes the fast past unraveling as a hitman is after them, the Council of Five is a mystery, there is a secret meeting at the Waldorf Astoria and a plot to removed the President of the United States is met with a gala of beautiful people planning heinous things.

Things were quieter in Amsterdam!

Bale as Burt is afraid of what his wife will think of his injuries when they first happen but also knows that after spending time in Amsterdam, it is time to go home. Becoming a doctor is a way he can help his fellow man, even if he can’t be helped. Bale is a tad scary looking in this role but that starts to fade away when the character just wants to clear his name. Oh, there is the occasional eye thing to remind us of his frailties but his mind works just fine.

Washington as Harold equally wants to help people and knows he can always rely on his friend Burt for help. He doesn’t realize that his latest need for it will cause them both to be on the run! Washington gives us a solid character who knows his heart and is equally as quick as his mind takes it all in and pieces it together.

Robbie as Valerie loves both of the men but in love with just one. She helps them start their lives and fades into obscurity, or so both men thought. Once they realize who she is, Valerie wants to help and if it means being a little nutty doing it then – so be it. We know Robbie can do crazy and it works.

Taylor-Joy as Libby is just as mean as she wants to be under the guise of a caring sister-in-law. Personally, I would have knocked her down a peg or two with a hammer but that’s just me. Saldana as St. Clair helps Burt but keeps her feelings to herself. She is calm, cool and collected which Burt sometimes is not.

Malek as brother Tom is a smooth character and keeps his gentlemanly like composure, well, 99% of the time anyway. De Niro as Dillenbeck is another cool cucumber who wants the answers as to who is responsible for the death of his friend Meekins. He will go along to get along but won’t be bought – period. That’s a De Niro character right there!

Other cast include Alessandro Nivola as Det. Hiltz, Andrea Riseborough as Beatrice Vanderheuvel, Chris Rock as Milton King, Matthias Schoenaerts as Det. Getwiller, Michael Shannon as Henry Norcross, Mike Myers as Paul Canterbury, Timothy Olyphant as Tarim Milfax, Beth Grant as Mrs. Dillenbeck, Casey Biggs as Augustus, Colleen Camp as Eva Ott, Leland Orser as Mr. Nevins, Tom Irwin as Mr. Belport, Dey Young as Alvelia and Ed Begley Jr. as Bill Meekins.

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.

Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment continues to bring quality programming to kids and kids at heart. Home of the most beloved animated features including SNOW WHITE, PINOCCHIO and SLEEPING BEAUTY to name a few is what keeps families coming back for more. To see what is currently available to add to your own family library please visit. www.movies.disney.com for their At Home titles!

The Bonus Feature includes Welcome to Amsterdam – Learn How this original, witty crime epic was made. Hear from the writer/director about his process, the actors who transformed into their characters, and discover how the production created the period look of this visually spectacular film.

AMSTERDAM is a noir thriller with everything in the mix! There is forbidden love, longing, war, secrets, spies, mystery, death, chase, suspects, twists, turns and more twists and that’s probably in the first hour alone. This is a large cast of characters and each has their own part to add to the extremely large puzzle.

The humor is there and it is subtle which if you are going to do a murder mystery is as it should be. I have always been an admirer of this genre of film because, as much as the costuming and settings are an added character bonus, it is the actors who make it all happen. They create these unusual people with unusual background stories that don’t seem so unusual once it is all unraveled.

So, popcorn up and guess who done it!

In the end – let the love, murder, and conspiracy begin!

 

THOR: Love and Thunder Hammers Home

 

Jeri Jacquin

Currently on Digital and coming to 4K, Bluray and DVD from writer/director Taika Waititi, Marvel Studios and Walt Disney Home Entertainment is the next chapter in the life of THOR: Love and Thunder.

Thor (Chris Hemsworth) has been hanging out with the Guardians of the Galaxy for some time and putting in his hammer when needed. That is until a distress signal from Thor’s friend Sif warning him of Gorr (Christian Bale). Gorr has the Necrosword and wants to destroy all the gods for the death of a child. His next target is New Asgard!

Arriving at New Asgard, he is happy to see Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson) and explains about Gorr and needs help. What he does not expect is to see Dr. Jane Foster (Natalie Portman), or in her new incarnation as the Lady Thor. They do not have much time to talk about it when Gorr arrives in New Asgard and captures the town’s children.

Now they must come together to discover what it is that Gorr wants with the children and how to stop him. Thor, Dr. Foster, and Valkyrie set out with Korg (Taika Waititi) to bring together an army with the help of the gods. They reach out to Zeus (Russell Crowe) to get the one weapon that may be able to take on the Necrosword.

But Gorr is not about to back down and when a fight breaks out, it is Valkyrie and Jane that pays. Now Thor has to take on Gorr alone if he is to save the children of New Asgard and stop the evil from having its way with the entire world.

Hemworth returns as Thor, and he’s finally exercised out his previous chunky dad-bod. Back to form he is still with the Guardians trying to figure himself out. When he sees a message from a friend asking for help, he learns about Gorr and his plans. Thinking he has found his purpose and arriving in New Asgard, he does not expect to see Jane transformed. Hemsworth is funny, tries to be charming and in fight mode.

Portman as Dr. Jane, she is ill and finds herself drawn to New Asgard and Thor’s broken hammer Mjolnir. Seeing Thor once again in her new incarnation, she is enjoying her new role as a heroine for the town of New Asgard. When Thor makes it clear he is going after Gorr, Jane also makes it clear that she is perfectly capable of handling both a hammer and a bad guy.

Thompson as Valkyrie lets it be known that being a ‘king’ has not turned out exactly how she thought. But then again being a king on Asgard and being a king in New Asgard is totally different. She is responsible for a town and that means financially and for their well-being. So, when Gorr takes the children, well, she is ready for a good fight.

Bale as Gorr gets a chance to play a villain in the MCU and it is as a butcher of gods. As he gets bolder and bolder with his Necrosword, he fades being a human being. His one ‘wish’ is to get to a place no one else has seen to recover his daughter.

Waititi as Korg is so dang cute it’s ridiculous. He cares so much for Thor that he will stand with him in any battle. There is an innocence to Korg as well that is so sweet because it is honest and heartfelt. When he does go off on a subject, he makes me laugh so much. Crowe as Zeus has issues and we are still trying to figure out how a Greek god has an Italian accent, oh well.

Other cast include Jaimie Alexander as Sif, Dave Bautista as Drax, Karen Gillan as Nebula, Pom Klementieff as Mantis, Sean Gunn as Kraglin, Carly Rees as Miek, Bradley Cooper as Rocket, Vin Diesel as Groot, and Chris Pratt as Peter Quill.

There are so many cameos to mention but I think it would be much more fun in the surprise!!

Walt Disney Studios continues to bring quality programming to kids and kids at heart. Home of the most beloved animated features including SNOW WHITE, PINOCCHIO and SLEEPING BEAUTY to name a few is what keeps families coming back for more. To see more of what they have to offer please visit www.disney.com.

Marvel Studios has released sixteen films since 2008 in what is known as the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Marvel is built on a library of over eight thousand characters featured in a variety of media content for over seventy years. For more of what they have to offer please visit www.marvel.com.

Bonus Features Include Gag Reel, Audio Commentary with Director/Writer Taika Waititi, Hammer-Worthy: Thor and The Mighty Thor, Shaping a Villain, Another classic Taika Adventure, Looking for Zeus, Wasting Time, A Safe Vacation and Fighting For You.

THOR: Love and Thunder is just a good time at the movies. It is the typical Thor vs. a bad guy in order to save those around him but this time he finally has a chance to come face to face with Jane. Let’s face it, he has talked about his broken heart long enough and now is the time to mend it.

A visit from the Guardians gives Quill a chance to tell Thor it is time for him to find out who he is and Gorr helps along that storyline. Returning to New Asgard, it does not take long for the battles to begin in both inner and outer space.

This is a fun time at the theatre for families so pack them up and prepare to laugh, see epic battles and see how New Asgard has grown and come together to protect one another and the universe!

In the end – not every god has a plan!

THOR: Love and Thunder Explodes in Theatres

 

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to theatres this Friday from writer/director Taika Waititi, Marvel Studios and Walt Disney Studios is the next chapter in the life of THOR: Love and Thunder.

Thor (Chris Hemsworth) has been hanging out with the Guardians of the Galaxy for some time and putting in his hammer when needed. That is until a distress signal from Thor’s friend Sif warning him of Gorr (Christian Bale). Gorr has the Necrosword and wants to destroy all the gods for the death of a child. His next target is New Asgard!

Arriving at New Asgard, he is happy to see Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson) and explains about Gorr and needs help. What he does not expect is to see Dr. Jane Foster (Natalie Portman), or in her new incarnation as the Lady Thor. They do not have much time to talk about it when Gorr arrives in New Asgard and captures the town’s children.

Now they must come together to discover what it is that Gorr wants with the children and how to stop him. Thor, Dr. Foster and Valkyrie set out with Korg (Taika Waititi) to bring together an army with the help of the gods. They reach out to Zeus (Russell Crowe) to get the one weapon that may be able to take on the Necrosword.

But Gorr is not about to back down and when a fight breaks out, it is Valkyrie and Jane that pays. Now Thor has to take on Gorr alone if he is to save the children of New Asgard and stop the evil from having its way with the entire world.

Hemworth returns as Thor and he’s finally exercised out his previous chunky dad-bod. Back to form he is still with the Guardians trying to figure himself out. When he sees a message from a friend asking for help, he learns about Gorr and his plans. Thinking he has found his purpose and arriving in New Asgard, he does not expect to see Jane transformed. Hemsworth is funny, tries to be charming and in fight mode.

Portman as Dr. Jane, she is ill and finds herself drawn to New Asgard and Thor’s broken hammer Mjolnir. Seeing Thor once again in her new incarnation, she is enjoying her new role as a heroine for the town of New Asgard. When Thor makes it clear he is going after Gorr, Jane also makes it clear that she is perfectly capable of handling both a hammer and a bad guy.

Thompson as Valkyrie lets it be known that being a ‘king’ has not turned out exactly how she thought. But then again being a king on Asgard and being a king in New Asgard is totally different. She is responsible for a town and that means financially and for their well-being. So when Gorr takes the children, well, she is ready for a good fight.

Bale as Gorr gets a chance to play a villain in the MCU and it is as a butcher of gods. As he get bolder and bolder with his Necrosword, he fades being a human being. His one ‘wish’ is to get to a place no one else has seen to recover his daughter.

Waititi as Korg is so dang cute its ridiculous. He cares so much for Thor that he will stand with him in any battle. There is an innocence to Korg as well that is so sweet because it is honest and heartfelt. When he does go off on a subject, he makes me laugh so much. Crowe as Zeus has issues and we are still trying to figure out how a Greek god has an Italian accent, oh well.

Other cast include Jaimie Alexander as Sif, Dave Bautista as Drax, Karen Gillan as Nebula, Pom Klementieff as Mantis, Sean Gunn as Kraglin, Carly Rees as Miek, Bradley Cooper as Rocket, Vin Diesel as Groot, and Chris Pratt as Peter Quill.

There are so many cameos to mention but I think it would be much more fun in the surprise!!

Walt Disney Studios continues to bring quality programming to kids and kids at heart. Home of the most beloved animated features including SNOW WHITE, PINOCCHIO and SLEEPING BEAUTY to name a few is what keeps families coming back for more. To see more of what they have to offer please visit www.disney.com.

Marvel Studios has released sixteen films since 2008 in what is known as the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Marvel is built on a library of over eight thousand characters featured in a variety of media content for over seventy years. For more of what they have to offer please visit www.marvel.com.

THOR: Love and Thunder is just a good time at the movies. It is the typical Thor vs. a bad guy in order to save those around him but this time he finally has a chance to come face to face with Jane. Let’s face it, he has talked about his broken heart long enough and now is the time to mend it.

A visit from the Guardians gives Quill a chance to tell Thor it is time for him to find out who he is and Gorr helps along that storyline. Returning to New Asgard, it does not take long for the battles to begin in both inner and outer space.

This is a fun time at the theatre for families so pack them up and prepare to laugh, see epic battles and see how New Asgard has grown and come together to protect one another and the universe!

In the end – not every god has a plan!

HOSTILES is the first epic in 2018

Jeri Jacquin

On the vast plains of the 1800s from writer/director Scott Cooper and Entertainment Studios Motion Pictures comes a story of redemption between HOSTILES.

Capt. Joseph Blocker (Christian Bale) has spent his military career fighting both wars and himself. Making it clear he has no compassion for Native Americans, he is shocked when the outpost Colonel instructs him by Presidental order to take Chief Yellow Hawk (Wes Studi) and his family home to Montana after serving seven years in prison. Being defiant, Blocker tells his superior that he refuses the order but is forced to realize that a court martial is possible.

Along with a detail including Lt. Kidder (Jesse Plemons), Wilks (Bill Camp), Corp. Molinor (Stafford Douglas), and Corp. Woodsen (Jonathan Majors), they lead Chief Yellow Hawk and his family Black Hawk (Adam Beach), Elk Woman (O'orianka Kilcher), Little Bear (Xavier Horsechief) and Living Woman (Tanaya Beatty) across the plains to Montana.

Preparing to stop for the night they come across a burned out home and while investigation discover Rosalie Quaid (Rosamund Pike) who is in shock over the death of her family. Capt. Blocker and the men are immediately struck to the bone by what they see and what she has been through knowing they must accompany her fragile self to the next town.

Chief Yellow Hawk knows that the men who caused the chaos are not far away and tries to get the Captain to understand that they want to help but the mistrust is intense. Continuing on their way, the group is attacked by renegade Comanche's who don't care who is in the group. Trying to reach Montana safely the group is now unsure of how they will survive the attacks from all sides.

In the next town, Capt. Blocker asks that the post Lieutenant see that Mrs. Quaid is taken care of but that's not what she wants. Feeling safer with Blocker, she makes it clear that the journey to Montana is something she needs to see to the end. The Lieutenant asks Blocker to escort another prisoner to the next town to be turned over for a murder trial.

He agrees but is equally surprised at who the prisoner turns out to be. Getting closer to their destination, the two sides begin to see the pain and sadness each has experienced and in one moment Capt. Blocker sees his own world shift in the most unexpected way.

That's what happens when you walk a mile in real life.

Bale as Captain Blocker is an angry man who lived his military life surrounded by heinous acts. When those acts begin to reflect back onto his life, watching Bale slowly take in every bit of it is something to experience. There is not a lot of dialogue for his character but instead being continually riveted by the duality of how he handles each step towards Montana.

Studi as Chief Yellow Hawk is the calm in the middle of the storm. I adore when Studi shines on the screen in this way and having spent more than his fair share of time portraying Native Americans, this portrayal is stunningly beautiful. He also has a little dialogue but when he does speak it is from the heart of a wounded people. There is something to be said for quiet strength but don't get me wrong; Chief Yellow Hawk still has fight left in him.

Pike as Rosalie is a pioneer woman who has every reason to be broken, fearful and angry. Finding a sense of security with Capt. Blocker, she also begins to understand the people considered the enemy because of an honorable gesture. Pike grows with each mile they put behind them and doesn't hesitate to pick up a weapon and make her feelings known.

Beach as Black Hawk follows the wisdom and ways of his father Chief Yellow Hawk wanting to do what's best for his family. It is good to see Beach once again in a film that does him justice. Kilcher as Elk Woman takes in everything going on around her making sure to protect her son. Horsechief as Little Bear is thoughtful, smart and embraces everyone with a gentle smile and my heart just melted ever scene he is in.

Plemmons as Lt. Kidder turns in a performance that keeps me believing that he is such an under utilized actor. Here his character experiences events that jolt him but it doesn't change the part of him that wants to do what's right. Camp as Wilks is at the end of his career and throwing unexpected events toward Captain Blocker. Camp's performance is stoic and heartbreaking at the same time.

Other cast also include Rory Cochrane as Master Sgt. Metz, Timothee Chalamet as Pvt. DeJardin, John Hickey as Capt. Tolan, Robyn Malcolm as Minnie McCowan, Peter Mullan as Lt. McCowan, Stephen Lang as Col. Biggs, Paul Anderson as Corp. Thomas, David Midthunder as Buffalo Man, Ryan Bingham as Sgt. Malloy and Ben Foster as Sgt. Wills.

HOSTILES will give audiences an experience with a story that I believe offers up the question of 'who really are the hostiles?' The cinematography is stunning with a wide open view of the elements giving the characters space to truly bring the story and the wide spectrum of human emotions.

Bale carries the load of a man fighting between the hostile man he's become towards Native Americans and now being confronted with that hostility. Studi's character of Chief Yellow Hawk sees the pain Capt. Blocker is in and understands it more than the military man realizes. These are two men who have seen and done things towards one another and it is fitting that they must stand face to face, accept and forgive.

HOSTILES has already received attention from the Central Ohio Film Critics Association with a nomination for Breakthrough Film Artist for Timothee Chalamet and has won the Capri Photoplay Award for Masanobu Takayanagi by Capri, Hollywood.

In the end - we are all hostiles.