VENOM: The Last Dance

 

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to Bluray and Digital from writer/director Kelly Marcel and Sony Pictures Home Entertainment is the next adventure with VENOM: The Last Dance.

Eddie (Tom Hardy) and his symbiote Venom are sitting in a bar in Mexico drinking and chatting away when a he sees a news report that is accusing him of murdering Patrick Mulligan (Stephen Graham). Now the only thing to do is go back to New York to find out what happened and straighten it out but they end up in the desert. What they don’t know is that a Xenophage is tracking them!

Rex Strickland (Chiwetel Ejiofor) is a soldier that doesn’t yet understand what is happening while decommissioning Area 51, but watches what Imperium Dr. Teddy Paine (Jeno Temple) and Sadie (Clark Backo). The women are attempting to discover the connection with the symbiote who is now part of Mulligan. Meanwhile, Eddie and Venom are attacked by the Xenophage sent by Knull (Andy Serkis) who wants the Codex.

Getting away, Eddie meets the Moon family with Martin (Rhys Ifans), wife Nova (Alanna Uback), daughter Echo (Hala Finley) and son Leaf (Dash McCloud). He and Venom see what a normal life can look like but also know they must find a way to stop what is happening. The trip leads them to sin city and the bright lights of Las Vegas. Unfortunately, Eddie can’t hide much longer and Krull wants that Codex at all cost.

Back at the defunct Area 51, the Martin is thrilled to finally see it but disappointed in what he finds. That disappointment won’t last long when Eddie, Venom and the Xenophage go at it once again. Dr. Paine and Sadie make a run for it releasing other symbioses’ that want to go against Krull’s creatures. Now the fight is on to discover a way to stop it all before the world is destroyed!

Hardy as Eddie is the straight guy to Venom’s humor. Hardy as Eddie acts as if he wants to go back in time when he didn’t know Venom. That’s the duality of their relationship – the wonderful emotions of love and hate. Yet, when it comes down to it, Eddie cares about Venom and vice versa (although a little crazier on Venom’s part). I love Hardy’s relationship with Venom and yes, I realize it’s a “character” but it is still important that this actor make it look flawless which he does.

Ejiofor as Strickland is a soldier who is doing what he is told. Once things get a little crazy, the only person he trusts is himself. Suspicious of what is really happening, he is shocked to see the Xenophage and now knows he is being kept in the dark. Ejiofor is always amazing in these character roles and I enjoy his performances. Temple as Dr. Paine along with Backo as Sadie are the two women who are working with Mulligan and his symbiote. Knowing about the Codex and dealing with Strickland bring about surprising results.

Ifans as Martin is so charming as a dad who only wants to go to Area 51 with his family. Ubach as Nova is so encouraging of her husband and wants him to be happy. Finley as Echo is a daughter going along for her father’s ride and McCloud as Leaf is a son who is enjoying the ride and meeting Eddie but doesn’t want anything to do with aliens!

Other cast include Otis Winston as Donald, Jack Brady as Jim, Ivo Nandi as Javier, Reid Scott as Dan Lewis, Jared Abrahamson as Captain Forrest, and Peggy Lu as Mrs. Chen.

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment encompasses motion picture production for television, digital content and theater releases. The studios include Columbia Pictures, Screen Gems, TriStar Pictures, Sony Pictures Animation, Stage 6 Films and Sony Picture Classics. To see what is coming to theaters and to home entertainment please visit www.sonypictures.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 Features on 4K UHD, Bluray and Digital Extras are Deleted & Extended Scenes,

Venomous Laughs: Outtakes & Bloopers, Bonded in Chaos: Tom Hardy, Author of Mayhem: From Writer to Director, Venom’s Inner Circle, Venom Unleashed: The Action & Stunts, Select Scene PreVis, One Last Dance – Tom Morello x Grandson Music Video, Savor the Last Bite: The Venom Legacy, and Brock Bottom: Mrs. Chen Interview.

DVD Extras include Venomous Laughs: Outtakes & Bloopers, Author of Mayhem: From Writer to Director and Venom’s Inner Circle.

VENOM: The Last Dance is an adventure for sure with Hardy and Venom going at it together. I have to say that it is those two characters that I enjoy the most because its just two friends who are constantly going back and forth with wit, sarcasm and even a bit of sweet friendship. The action and adventure part are evident from the very beginning and doesn’t stop until the end (which you must be prepared for).

The special effects are pretty darn good considering they are the important part of the storytelling which by the way includes Tom Hardy and Todd McFarlane. The film has received nominations from the Academy of Science, Fiction, Fantasy & Horror for Best Science Fiction Film, the Indiana Film Journalist Association for Best Vocal/Motion Capture Performance and the Hawaii Film Critics Society for Best Comic Book Film.

In the end – till death do them part!

 

They are THE BIKERIDERS

 

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to Digital, streaming on Peacock and soon to Bluray from writer/director Jeff Nicols and Universal Pictures Home Entertainment is the story of THE BIKERIDERS.

Danny Lyon (Mike Faist) is a photography student who wants to hear the story of the Vandals and speaks to Kathy. It is 1965 and a very lovely Kathy (Jodie Comer) is with friends at the Vandals Motorcycle Club. Not wanting to stay longer, she gets up to leave when she sees Benny Cross (Austin Butler) and is stopped in her tracks. Also watching her is Johnny (Tom Hardy), the leader of the Chicago based Vandals. When Kathy accepts a ride home from Benny, they are married weeks later.

Kathy finds herself caught up in the whirlwind of being a woman who is in the club. When Benny is beat up badly, she tries to convince him to leave the club but he is dedicated to the club and the members in it. Johnny has another way of handling things and it is dangerous and destructive but it is how the club handles anyone who hurts a member.

One day, passing through on a ride, a young man known as The Kid (Toby Wallace) sees the power in riding and wants to be a part of the club. Johnny doesn’t believe he has what it takes making it clear that he is not going to be a Vandal. The Kid isn’t about to be dissuaded in any way and decides his time will come and when it does, the Vandals will never be the same.

Hardy as Vandals leader Johnny is a leader that believes in action before talk. Hardy plays this character as one who is keenly aware of the responsibilities to the members but gawd help anyone that hurt one of his guys. Looking out for them is a full-time job and he looks to Benny to help keep everything together.

Butler as Benny is quieter than the Vandals leader if that’s possible. He finds love with Kathy but makes it clear that the club comes first which puts a strain from time to time on their relationship. Butler uses his longing stares and wicked smile to the role of a man who puts himself in harms way intentional or not and usually with consequences that don’t seem to change him.

Comer as Kathy has no trouble talking about her history with Benny and Johnny and where the club was when she started hanging out in 1965. She also has no trouble talking about her feelings regarding everything she experienced and the changes to the club that were inevitable. Comer is quick in this role and has moments where her accented sarcasm is so well done and suits the character absolutely.

Wallace as The Kid comes in later to the story but is important as he is the catalyst for changing everything on his terms with no apologies. There is a streak in this character that has even less fear that Benny and Johnny and that’s all it took, that one extra step of ‘no fear’.

Shout out to Michael Shannon and Norman Reedus! I’m happy anytime I see these two actors on screen. Reedus gets a chance to be crazy and back on the bike so I’m sure he jumped at the chance to play Funny Sonny.

Other cast include Boyd Holbrook as Cal, Damon Herriman as Brucie, Karl Glusman as Corky, Happy Anderson as Big Jack, Paul Sparks as Gary, Will Oldham as the Bartender, Emory Cohen as Cockroach, Beau Knapp as Wahoo, Michael Shannon as Zipco and Norman Reedus as Funny Sonny.

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.

Exclusive Bonus Features include Johnny, Benny & Kathy – From the accents to the attitude, get to know the lead characters of THE BIKERIDERS. Hear from the cast and producing team on how they took the personalities and environments from a book of photographs and brought a narrative to the big screen, The Era of THE BIKERIDERS – Grab your leather jacket and gear up for a ride as we enter the era of THE BIKERIDERS, and Feature Commentary with Writer/Director Jeff Nichols.

THE BIKERIDERS is a story about those who rode their bikes and the troubles they got into for it. Growing up in the 1970’s, there were plenty of stories out in the world (yes, before the internet) about “biker gangs” and the havoc they were wreaking on society. Living in a small beach community, we had our own biker bar that had one window and gawd help the town if anyone tried to peek inside. The bikes were big (so were some of the riders) and the bikes were loud, that was all we needed to know.

That’s the feeling I got from this film, as if I took a step back in time. The look and feel of the film is truly amazing and nostalgic. This was a club of bad boys who just wanted to do whatever they wanted to do with no repercussions if someone tried to interfere. The women are second to the club and if you couldn’t cut that, well, then being a biker ole lady wasn’t (and still isn’t) something to be a part of.

The cast did a fantastic job of bringing this story from book to screen. The story is inspired by Danny Lyon’s photo-book THE BIKERIDERS. Lyon’s was himself a member of the Outlaws Motorcycle Club for a year saying, “I was kind of horrified by the end…realizing that some of these guys were not so romantic after all”. Soon after, Lyon’s turned to documenting the lives of inmates in Texas prisons.

In the end - outsiders become legends!

VENOM: Let There Be Carnage Bites Onto Bluray

 

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to Bluray, DVD and Digital from director Andy Serkis, in association with Marvel and Sony Pictures Home Entertainment is the next adventure of VENOM: Let There Be Carnage.

At the St. Estes Home for Unwanted Children, it is 1966 and two young people have fallen in love. Cletus Kasady and Frances Barrison are teens subjected to a miserable existence in the institution. One day Frances tells Cletus that she is being taken away to someplace with people like herself and that sets in motion rage of emotions.

Frances does have an unusual power in that she can manipulate sound and on her way to Ravencroft Institute, she shows what she is capable of! A struggle ensues with Officer Patrick Mulligan and Frances is injured but Mulligan believes she died.

That all happened in the past and now Eddie Brock (Tom Hardy) is called to speak with Cletus (Woody Harrelson) who is on death row. Symbiote Venom is thrilled to have the opportunity to get out of the house and believes eating prisoners is an okay thing. Mulligan (Stephen Graham) goes along to see if Cletus has any information about the people he is accused of hurting but gets nothing from Eddie.

During the visit, Eddie notices something in Cletus’ cell only to discover what managed to evade police. All while learning that the love of his life, Anne Weying (Michelle Williams) is engaged to Dr. Dan Lewis (Reid Scott) which Venom is totally upset about. Going back to visit Cletus, Venom gets upset with things that he says and jumps towards the death row inmate. Cletus responds by biting Eddie and instantly feels differently.

On the way home, Venom becomes upset with Eddie and the insults start to fly, so much so that Venom literally leaves Eddie. While Cletus is being executed, something happens, and a creature destroys everything in its path. Feeling powerful, the first thing Cletus does is name his ‘other’ Carnage and rescues his love Frances (Naomie Harris).

But they both have a vendetta and revenge is going to sweep through town and Venom has to be found to make it all stop!

Hardy as Eddie is ever present and bounces off Venom like insane ping pong ball. It can be difficult to get the upper hand when playing alongside a symbiote, but Hardy is back and manages to get in his one liners and parental tips. It is clear that this time the show is all about Venom and Carnage so Hardy lets them take the lead and he follows along.

Harrelson as Cletus a bone to pick with Eddie but gets something better in return. Getting a chance to release Carnage is a dream come true for this character who does not quite have all his beans in one basket. Harrelson does give us Cletus’ total devotion and love for Frances, just in what the medical community might call ‘unhealthy’ ways.

Harris as Frances is equally devoted to Cletus and when she sees him again, he has a little something else to bring into the relationship. Graham as Mulligan has his own demons to deal with and it all has to do with Frances. The twist is another added bonus to the story.

Williams is back as Anne with a surprise for Eddie but the surprise may be on her when Venom asks a favor! Scott rides in as Dr. Dan and gets an opportunity to experience a bit of Eddie and Anne’s world before he came along.

Other cast includes Sian Webber as Camille Pazzo, Scroobius Pip as Siegfried and Peggy Lu as Mrs. Chen.

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment encompasses motion picture production for television, digital content and theater releases. The studios include Columbia Pictures, Screen Gems, TriStar Pictures, Sony Pictures Animation, Stage 6 Films and Sony Picture Classics. To see what is coming to theaters and to home entertainment please visit www.sonypictures.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.

4K Ultra HD, Blura and Digital Bonus Features include Outtakes & Bloopers, 6 Deleted Scenes, Eddie & Venom: The Odd Couple, Sick and Twisted Cletus Kasady, Concept to Carnage, Let There Be…Action and more!

VENOM: Let There Be Carnage is exactly that – a wild ride between two people who have symbiotes piggybacking onto their lives. Both are hostile and both want one thing, to create as much havoc as humanly possible. Vemon may have thought he was the toughest alien in town, but Carnage gives him a run for his chocolate.

We have to talk about Venom for a moment, he is so insanely crazy that it is almost like listening to a parent and a pre-teen going at it constantly. Vemon throws fits and thinks he knows everything while Eddie tries to steer him away from trouble, and it does not always work. I have to say that between Vemon and Deadpool – that would be a match I would pay serious money to see.

Vemon’s thought process is hilarious and it does make the film so much more enjoyable so here’s to you, you crazy fit throwing alien infection – well done!

In the end – let there be carnage!

 

VENOM Strikes

Jeri Jacquin

Coming this Friday from director Ruben Fleischer and Marvel is the next superhero with the help of VENOM.

One night a space probe crashes to earth owned by the Life Foundation and tubes containing life forms are collected. Transported to a lab, Carlton Drake (Riz Ahmed) is thrilled at what is brought back.

Eddie Brock (Tom Hardy) is a reporter who goes out of his way to report on issues that need his style of uncovering. Good at what he does, it gives him time to enjoy his relationship with his lawyer love Anne (Michelle Williams).

He is given his next assignment to interview Drake about the Life Foundation and realizes that Anne knows a little about his business. Nosing onto her laptop, he finds information about Drake that he uses the next day during their interview. Much to Drake’s dismay, he ends the interview sending Brock out on his ear.

That move cost Drake his job and his relationship as Anne also loses her job and refuses to forgive him. Everything he worked for is gone in a second at the payback hands of Drake.

Inside, Dr. Dora Skirth (Jenny Slate) who is working with Drake’s research and the creatures that he obtained. Watching what he is doing, she is horrified that Drake is using human beings for testing. She reaches out to Eddie for help in exposing what is happening and he gets inside the Life Foundation to see for himself. What he doesn’t expect is to be leaving wearing a symbiote suit!

Introducing himself as Venom to Eddie, it is clear that it is the beginning of a strange relationship in an effort to stop Drake and what he is doing. Eddie is being affected physically and looks to Anne and beau Dr. Dan (Reid Scott) for help. Venom knows there are other symbiotes and needs Eddie to stop the leader Riot.

Drake just wants his ‘property’ back and sends head of security Reese (Scott Haze) to round up Eddie. When Drake decides that it’s time to erase humanity, he takes on Riot and now, more than ever, Eddie and Venom have to bring it to save the world.

Hardy as Eddie is going to win over people in the role because of the humor he brings to the role. The relationship he has with Venom is unique because of their ability to communicate and both have a line of sarcasm that is entertaining. Of course I’d prefer Hardy in his role in the television series Taboo, the cable series Peaky Blinders and the film DUNKIRK. It isn’t that I think his role in VENOM isn’t good, it was just predictable and I think I’m getting to old to sit in a theatre for predictable.

Williams as Anne broke character and lost me the minute Anne broke up with Eddie with a simple walk away. Yea girl, I believe you’d do that in real life…nope! This role just didn’t do her any favors (and neither did that short Catholic school girl skirt she ran around in) but I’m sure we’ll see it in the next VENOM movie.

Ahmed as Drake is instantly unlikeable but at least he hasn’t a problem with that. There isn’t anything redeeming about his character and Ahmed makes sure we see that without batting an eye about it. I like Ahmed and have seen his roles become more and more expanded. The mini-series The Night Of truly gave Ahmed the lift and notice that I was thrilled for.

Slate as Dr. Skirth is daring to go against a powerful boss and it will cost her. Scott as Dr. Dan is oddly alright with an ex-boyfriend showing up out of nowhere but has a reason to freak out when something wicked jumps out of an MRI machine. Haze as Treece is a shark on wheels and his goal is to do whatever it takes to get Eddie and Drake’s extra-terrestrial guest back into his lab.

Other cast include Peggy Lu as Mrs. Chen, Malcolm C. Murray as Lewis Donate, Sope Aluko as Dr. Collins, Wayne Pere as Dr. Emerson, and an appearance by Stan Lee.

VENOM is an action packed film filled with humor, car chases, creatures and sarcasm from both humans and not-so-human. In the vein of all Marvel movies I’m sure fans will be happy to see another character go from page to screen.

For me, I went along for the ride but didn’t feel like I got anywhere by the end of it (and trust me I have to call my son now and ask about a character I don’t know about). This film seemed so busy trying to make the audience laugh while keeping the action going, it seems someone forgot to write a strong script.

What kept me going was Tom Hardy (and not just because I adore him). It’s because he held his own in a film that needed to be held up by something good. He made me laugh and jump once or twice. I feel like this is a dark DEADPOOL and lawd knows no one, not even Mr. Hardy, is going to take my heart away from that man in a red suit (and we aren’t talking about Santa Claus).

So go, enjoy and move onto the next Marvel movie. When Venom 2 comes out, let us hope that Marvel will get their storyline together and remember that special effects don’t make an entire film.

In the end – embrace your inner anti-hero!

DUNKIRK is Astounding!

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to theatres from writer/director Christopher Nolan and Warner Brothers is a story that tells of the dangers, the ravages and the bravery of those at DUNKIRK.

Let’s begin with a tad bit of history behind the film’s story. It is World War II in 1940 and the Germans have pushed their soldiers into Northern France and Belgium. Allied forces are trapped on the beach as bombardment comes from both land and sea. There are almost 400,000 troops on the shores with no where to go.

The larger military vessels were under constant attack and sunk with devastating losses of life. Across the channel were smaller boats consisting of fishing boats, merchant marines, personal boats, speed boats, ferry’s and even life boats that took to the call to rescue soldiers. Over 800 of these boats made it to the beaches of Dunkirk and a mass evacuation would come to be known as the Miracle of Dunkirk.

Christopher Nolan has brought this incredible story to the screen and it is grand, beautiful and heart stopping. The audience is taken into the story from land, air and sea as filming began in Dunkirk, France. In his style, DUNKIRK is filmed in IMAX 70 mm film with the score of the incredible Hans Simmer.

On the beach, Commander Bolton (Kenneth Branagh) is the ranking officer attempting to get the men off the beaches of Dunkirk along with Colonel Winnart (James D’Arcy). As each ship leaves, it is met with either U-boat fire or planes dropping artillery either killing the men or putting them back in the water.

Soldiers Tommy (Fionn Whitehead) and Alex (Harry Styles) attempt time and time again to find a way off the beach. Finally making it onto a ship, they do not get far before they are back in the water and headed to shore where bombs are going off.

In the air is Collins (Jack Lowden) and Farrier (Tom Hardy), two Royal Air Force pilots who are hell bent on keeping the enemy off their fellow soldiers. Their fuel consumption is of concern but they will not stop until they take out the danger.

Across the channel, Mr. Dawson (Mark Rylance), son Peter (Tom Glynn-Carney) and their family friend George (Barry Keoghan) take off for Dunkirk. Knowing what needs doing, Dawson has the knowledge not only of the Channel but of how to handle the enemy. The crew finds their first shell-shocked soldier (Cillian Murphy) sitting on the turned over hull of a sunken ship. D’Arcy as Col. Winnart follows by example keeping the soldiers as calm as possible.

From air, sea and land the struggle for survival is moment by moment under circumstances that are unimaginable.

I have to start with Mark Rylance as Mr. Dawson; there is something about this actor that I believe from the moment he speaks. As this character, Rylance is the strong silent type who knows what needs to be done and doesn’t need to be told how to do it. Watching how he explains things to Peter and George, this character gets every ounce of the audiences trust. When they have their own problem on board, Mr. Dawson keeps the atmosphere calm in the emotional storm.

Hardy as pilot Farrier is straight on point and although I had a Bane moment (please stop putting stuff over his face!), it is a minor point because everything you need to know is found in this actors eyes. The message is clear ‘do what you must to save as many as you can’ and his actions are evident. Lowden as pilot Collins is equally as powerful to watch and gives a suspenseful scene that needs to be talked about later.

Whitehead as Tommy and Styles as Alex are two very young men that are trying anything to get off the beach. It just breaks the heart to see these two young men and as clever as they are, it is living from one moment to the next. Well done performances by both of these young men.

Branagh as Commander Bolton stands tall for his men even when he knows that the clock is ticking – literally. Having to change tactics quickly, he is the strong face for the men to follow. Murphy as the shocked soldier is intense and frightening because of his unpredictability. Glynn-Carney is strong as Peter as he learns the price of war along with Keoghan as George playing a character I can’t even begin to talk about.

Other performances that need recognition are Damien Bonnard as the French Soldier, Aneurin Barnard as Gibson, Lee Armstrong as Grenadier, Will Attenborough as Second Lieutenant, Richard Sanderson as Heinkel Spotter and so many, many more.

TUBS OF POPCORN: I give DUNKIRK five tubs of popcorn out of five. There isn’t a massive amount of dialogue and I didn’t need it. The ensemble of actors brought out every emotion without saying much at all. DUNKIRK is an intense experience as the volume, literally, of the film is pure cinema.

Yes, it is a film of war and there is no doubt in every flicker of film of it being anything else. Nolan meshes the inescapability of war with the human story with a cast that gives the audience a heart stopper that will not stop from start to finish.

I tell you now that the film is so powerful and strong that you will leave the theatre drained both physically and emotionally. The visceral moments that take us so deep that there was one moment during a water scene when I realized I was holding my breath!

Hans Zimmer brings on an epic score that will not let us all get away. At the screening I saw for myself what an amazing score does to people. There is a moment where a clock is ticking, which by the way is the sound of Christopher Nolan’s watch, and people were putting their hands on their chest or over their mouths knowing something was coming. 

DUNKIRK is cinematically stunning and beautiful which seems weird to say considering it is a war film with human causalities. In that is the exquisite gift that director Nolan seems to have and I hope he never changes it. His films give us a duality we are forced to reckon with. DUNKIRK gives us that with the defeat of battle but the pyrrhic victor of humanity.

In the end – when 400,000 men couldn’t get home, home came for them!