THE RIP (2026)

Written & Directed By: Joe Carnahan 

Story By: Michael McGrale 

Cinematography: Juan Miguel Azpiroz 

Editor: Kevin Hale

Cast: Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Steven Yuen, Kyle Chandler, Catalina Sandino Moreno, Teyana Taylor, Sasha Calle, Scott Adkins, Nestor Carbonell, Lina Esco 

A group of Miami cops discovers a stash of millions in cash, leading to distrust as outsiders learn about the huge seizure, making them question who to rely on.

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This Is a film one wouldn’t have mind seeing in a theater as to me. It’s that exciting visual and good, too good to just be relegated to streaming.

As it has Matt Damon and Ben Affleck back together again, though for once more in a action thriller than necessarily drama or comedy in which you usually see them costarring together in now while they didn’t write or direct this, they’re strictly in this and acting capacity their natural chemistry is still there

The film takes place in Miami of all places which I have never seen filmed darker as usually it’s filmed a lot more colorful and vibrant here. It just seems so cold that it might as well have been set in Boston.

While playing like a thriller in somewhat of a mystery, it’s pretty easy to figure out but appreciate that the film still try to make you question every character and their motives and giving reasons why there is plenty of gun play and Mano y Mano type attitudes and energy throughout

Which they really show in the third act by having most of the female character, sit out the action while all the men or the big names on the poster, do it out and share the reveals as well as a few chase scenes.

The film is entertaining in directed and written by Joe Carnahan. I’m not surprised as he has always been a solid Director, who specializes in gritty action films here he does what he does best. As the film stays exciting and entertaining throughout, even though it has very few locations in the film. Makes the best of it and still makes it feel like it in its own world, but identifiable in dark

They don’t make films like this much anymore and it’s nice to see something a little more hard hitting a film that can be itself and doesn’t necessarily care too much about being politically correct. As well as a cast that can do these roles in their sleep, but while it might be casting for some of the cast, it’s about face for others and it allows them to show their range and it’s quite a good look. Is a film made for an adult audience in the action crime junkies will love.

No, of course, Matt, Damon, and Ben Affleck are the leads and get the best scenes dialogue in action, but the supporting cast does as well as as they can with what they are handed and truly do stand out.

The only problem I could foresee with this film is, if there was ever a sequel that mystery element that worked here won’t work out so well in the next film, but you could see ongoing films with this crew and their adventures and what they have to go through, but it’s fine also as just a standalone film

Grade: B- 

CODE 3 (2025)

Directed By: Christopher Leone

Written By: Christopher Leone and Patrick Pianezza

Cinematography: Mark Williams 

Editor: Jay Friedkin

Cast: Rainn Wilson, Lil Rel Howery, Aimee Carrero, Yvette Nicole Brown, Rob Riggle, Page Kennedy, Xolo Mariduena, Andy Milder, Eric Jungmann

Follows a paramedic that is so burnt-out by the job that he is forcing himself to resign, however, he first must embark on one last 24-hour shift to train his replacement.

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It’s a premise that sounds simple, but it slowly reveals more weight than you might expect.

This film arrived quietly, with little fanfare, but it ends up being one of those low-key discoveries you’re genuinely glad you stumbled upon.

In some ways, this feels like a gentler, less nightmarish cousin to BRINGING OUT THE DEAD. Our lead has been in this life so long that chaos is second nature, even as it’s clearly hollowing him out. He frequently breaks the fourth wall, letting us in on his internal monologue and dropping bits of EMT trivia that feel funny, sad, and revealing all at once.

Most of the film lives inside that single shift. riding along with his partner and trainee as they move from call to call. We see the patients, the downtime, the doctors, the red tape, the absurdity, and the quiet exhaustion that comes with a job where the world’s worst moments are just another stop on the route.

Just when the film seems like it’s going to stay light, it takes a darker turn, then eases back again. That tonal push and pull feels intentional, mirroring how life works when you think you’ve hit your breaking point, only to realize you still have to keep going. And somehow, the film finds room for hope without forcing it.

It’s not a gory movie, but it can hit hard. Rainn Wilson is excellent in the lead, fully proving his range as a character actor. Lil Rel Howery gets to stretch into more dramatic territory while still landing the humor. You could call this a buddy comedy, but the partnership is already fully formed when the movie begins, and the film is more interested in the cracks and complexities than the setup.

There’s also a strong streak of Kafkaesque frustration running through the story, systems that don’t make sense, problems that pile up, and no easy way out. Yet despite all that, this is a surprisingly emotional and good-hearted film.

As dark as it wants to be, it can’t help but let some light in. It’s a bit of a pick-me-up, even if you have to wade through some mud to earn it. It may not seem special at first glance, but if you stay with it, the charm reveals itself.

Grade: B

THE ROUNDUP: PUNISHMENT (2024)

Directed By: Heo Myeong-Haeng

Written By: Oh Sang-ho

Cinematography: Sung-Jeo Lee

Cast: Ma Dong-Seok, Kim Mu-Yeol, Park Ji-Huan, Lee Dong-Hwi, Lee Beom-Soo, Hyun Bong-Sik, Kim Do-geon, Lee Ji-Houn, Lee ju-bin 

Detective Ma Seok-do joins the Cyber Investigation Team to nab Baek Chang-ki, a former mercenary and the head of an online gambling organization.

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This is like a modern day Korean version of Clint Eastwood‘s DIRTY HARRY films only more action oriented. 

As the films in this franchise play like typical procedurals on a much grander scale. As most of the films follow the same formula with the same main police detective character Detective Ma Seok-Do, only now in a different department, but has the same captain, same partner, the same informant that he uses and tricks with promises that he never really delivers on that will help him throughout. Played by Lee Dong-Hwi 

The only thing that really changes is the villains who always come off as damn near impossible to defeat, but yet by the end of the film and hand on hand combat are defeated within 10 minutes by the main main character

Instead of a noted, Smith & Wesson or Magnum gun here the weapon of choice is the detectives fist which are lethal weapons in themselves and he uses quite freely. They don’t necessarily kill, but they do enough damage.

These films are violent as usually the villains have no humanity so that these films do feel kind of like 80s or 90s action films only on foreign soil, not quite as violent, but they have an upbeat attitude and don’t dwell too long on things they keep the story moving and keep leading from one action sequence to another, even though it does play up the thriller elements quite a bit

They are never slow and keep up the pace and quite entertaining even though the movies are usually typically two hours they feel like they could be a television episode yet one keeps finding themselves drawn to this franchise as long as they keep making them they are of good quality and never quite let you down nor are ever  boring. Nor are they really that deep.

So if looking for just an entertaining action film, that’s a bit glossy, but engaging. I would say you can’t go wrong with this film nor any in the franchise as they don’t disappoint and they keep it moving

Grade: B-

 

TRON: ARES (2025)

Directed By: Joachim Ronning 

Written By: Jesse Wigutow

Story By: Jesse Wigutow and David Diglio

Based on characters created By: Steven Lisberger and Bonnie Macbird 

Cinematography: Jeff Cronenweth 

Editor: Tyler Nelson 

Cast: Jared Leto, Greta Lee, Evan Peters, Jodie Turner-Smith, Gillian Anderson, Jeff Bridges, Arturo Castro, Cameron Monaghan, Hasan Minhaj, 

A highly sophisticated program, Ares, is sent from the digital world into the real world on a dangerous mission.

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Now I was prepared to really dislike the movie.  As I have seen the previous two TRON’S and liked them, but I wouldn’t say I’m a fan of the franchise so when another one was announced to come out, I was shocked and I really didn’t understand why because I know that the last film had gone way over budget and was not seen as a hit, even if the soundtrack by Daft Punk was

Though I have to say watching this film, it feels a little simplistic, but I surprisingly found myself entertained. I’m not going to say that the film is great, but it is entertaining enough to keep your interest as majorly. It is more style over substance and it’s a film that looks great and the special effects look seamless. The action scene is the ones that they are are pretty clean. Get well shot.

Even though I’m not the biggest fan of Jared Leto as many times though method, he seems like how I describe this movie style over substance. He does what is needed as the lead of the film. Greta Lee, as the co-lead of the film deserves better material than this, especially as a best actress nominee, though I am a fan and understand hey, this might be the best that she got out of the scripts offered and she does what she needs to do in her role.

This is the type of film that would’ve came out in the late 90s and early 2000 and seemed kind of basic but watching it here this is truly a film that is more spectacle than storytelling as instead of dealing with the Tron world inside of the computer like the last two films it explores Tron coming into the real world which helps keep the budget down, but also explores new territory, even if not as wondrous.

The fountain definitely feels more in debt to the 1980s of the evil corporation head, wanting to control all instead of using the technology to help or just to open up the world. 

Now the history of this film was that originally there was supposed to be a sequel to the 2010 movie Tron Legacy in 2012 called Tron Ascension, which was more of a direct sequel but due to the budget and the Tron legacy not doing as well as expected the film was shelved while Jared Lido was attached to play a role. What ended up happening is that the writer strike happened in Disney needed a tent pole film for 2025 just in case depending on how long the rider strike went on so they dusted off the old Tron ascension script, and once the writer strike ended quickly rewrote that script to be more of a kind of continuation, but also standalone not really needing to repeat any characters from the previous film and Jared Leto got a career high payment of 15 million to star in the film.

I don’t know how the die hard of the franchise will feel about this film, and truthfully, it is quite disposable, but the two things that stand out from the film or the soundtrack by Nine Inch Nails, so continuing in the tradition of memorable soundtracks of the Tron films, and also the look while it doesn’t break new ground and special effects the style of the film is just so beautiful and delicious to look at that even if you don’t like the film, you can’t deny it’s looks. As it is as sleek, slender and, conditioned as the leads.

Two of the reasons for the Sharp look is cinematographer Jeff Cronenweth known for dark beautiful visuals and director Joachim Ronning is a director of range but constantly sharp visuals. 

This comes off as a guilty pleasure and the technology shown off seems advanced, but yet behind as far as on-screen tech innovation goes. 

The film isn’t as smart as it likes to think it which isn’t very, but works as a kind of mindless popcorn science fiction movie. So if looking for check your brain at the door entertainment this is perfect for you. 

Grade: C+ 

DIE MY LOVE (2025)

 

Directed By: Lynne Ramsay

Written By: Enda Walsh, Lynne Ramsay and Alice Birch

Based on the book by: Ariana Harwicz 

Cinematography: Seamus McGarvey 

Editor: Toni Froschhammer 

Cast: Jennifer Lawrence, Robert Pattinson, Sissy Spacek, Nick Nolte, Sarah Lind, Lakeith Stanfield, Gabrielle Rose, Clare Coulter 

Grace, a writer and young mother, is slowly slipping into madness. Locked away in an old house in and around Montana, we see her acting increasingly agitated and erratic, leaving her companion, Jackson, increasingly worried and helpless.

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Jennifer Lawrence gives a phenomenal performance that is raw animalistic and amazing more physical than verbal as that is what the script calls for so she just morphs into the role and is a sensation

Though sadly, she is more interesting and truly the highlight of the movie as the movie is not bad, but she is clearly the star in the heart of the film, even with a stacked cast she’s the only one who makes an impression and stays memorable

Now be warm this film is very dark and very depressing throughout. There are very few if any moments of joy and none that I can truly remember. 

Now I knew what I was getting into when it came to watching this as most of Director Lynne Ramsey‘s movies are intense sad and mostly joyless. I’m not saying that is a bad thing. It’s just that, that is the mood and vibe that they give off they can be quite depressing and this film is no exception. They like the main character and maybe this was intentional. The film also feels a little lost.

As it plays, this feels like the film NIGHTBITCH with Amy Adams strive to be or at least make the audience feel like, whereas, even though that film is more of a satire that involve postpartum depression this film is definitely a drama showing the ravages of postpartum depression only revealing through flashbacks that not only to this character might have had mental problems already, but it seems like everyone around her is also breaking down in their own way. They both have many similarities as both protagonists are artists of some kind. Who begin to exhibit animal type behavior. 

We see that the relationship seemed kind of rushed from the beginning, and that both characters were always impulsive and now that they are need to be more responsible Lawrence his character does not seem prepared or ready for it or as Robert Pattinson‘s character does but doesn’t want to take on all the responsibilities either

As like in the film night, bitch, he comes across as careless and not at all helpful and expecting her to take on everything

Just as with the main character film plays with time where sometimes we’re not sure exactly where we are in the timeline of their relationship exactly where they are and sometimes if what we’re seeing is real, we’re all in her head

Which is shown to be faulty as in a scene when she sees her neighbor who always rides a motorcycle at a supermarket with his wife and disabled child at first, we believe she’s going to talk to him to help her with a flat tire. Then we realize nose, some weird fantasy that she had of talking to as he represents temptation even though doesn’t really have any lines throughout the film.

Speaking of which Nick Nolte is in the film as Robert Patterson‘s father, who is slowly losing his cognizance and seems to be in a film for only five minutes before he’s gone, which is a shame as he has a screen legend and was hoping that he’d have more time on screen and more things to do, though  Sissy Spacek as Lawrence‘s mother-in-law is powerful in her scenes

As she seems to be having her problems after her husband‘s recent death, but still can hold it together and seems to understand what Lawrence‘s character is going through, but wants her to take responsibility and kind of snap out of it even while having sympathy for her

One can’t see who this film’s audience really is as it got a very low cinema score, but it is good filmmaking that is more experimental and doesn’t hold the audience‘s hand. What’s the where it goes and leaves them to interpret it however they will as the last 15 minutes of the film, which so far has been a buildup is truly worth the film. Let’s loose and becomes all the more powerful.

As even though the film does offer some surprises before we reach that point, it’s never as strong as the ending just as a strong and deeply felt Jennifer Lawrence‘s performances. The rest of the film just isn’t as strong as you constantly wonder where it’s going.

Grade: B-