Wednesday, April 30, 2025

HAVOC (2025)

 


Written & Directed By Gareth Evans

Cinematography: Matt Flannery 

Editor: Sara Jones and Matt Platts-Mills 


Cast: Tom Hardy, Jessie Mei Li, Forest Whitaker, Timothy Olyphant, Luis Guzman, Quelin Sepulveda, Justin Cornwell, Sunny Pang, Yeo Yann Yann, Michelle Waterson


After a drug deal gone wrong, a bruised detective must fight his way through the criminal underworld to rescue a politician's estranged son, unraveling a deep web of corruption and conspiracy that ensnares his entire city.

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Gareth Evans is truly an Auteur and filmmaker whose work you’re excited to see especially when he has a new project. As unfortunately it seems like it took way too long for this film to come out as it was completed in 2021 and the postproduction took four years to make the film and in certain things you can notice where the reshoot have been done.


No, he is so strong a filmmaker that a new film from him is usually worth the wait. As many tried to copy his style, but none do it quite as well, or as over the top and make it just seem fluid.


Like a modern-day John Woo, so many people try and attempt to copy his style even though as soon as you watch it it’s so distinct if you’ve seen any of his films before you recognize it immediately and it’s always more Hand to hand  in close quarters, with a weapon thrown in time to time and doesn’t shy away from any of the violence, choreography, individuals, or perfectly together Almost to Tango Or a modernfied dance . I was on creation just modify.


If this is what it takes now, we have to wait all this time for films like this it’s more than worth it because each time out of the gate if somethings so regional visual exciting it’s an experience that it feels like most modern action films have a bit of it at times and sometimes come close, but never can quite figure out the formula it’s like having a meal after dealing with so much fast food and restaurants and if each time

out of the gate, produces something that memorable than you, my friend are a master of your class 


while this film certainly won’t win any Oscars, except for maybe in the future for stunt coordination. This movie is an action fans, wet, dream, and fans of cinema. it is something so visually Exciting with a perfectly cast Tom Hardy at the center of y’all


Gareth and Timo Tjhajanto (NIGHT COMES

FOR US) are really the ones at the head of the class For action filmmaking. The difference is that Timo makes more Low budget foreign action films but they come Out more often and at a brisker Pace 


Usually Cold-hearted, so That no one is truly safe. Which does add an excitement to the film, but also a certain sadness.


Not only is it brutal action, but So much overkill


No, I’m not gonna lie and say that this film is perfect. There are plenty of flaws for all the Hand to hand combat. There is plenty of gun use and it seems like every weapon somehow becomes a machine gun even at first pistols so that feels a little ridiculous at times and of course no one seems to ever really need to reload unless the plot calls for it and to make that character victim or use their weapons to defend themselves while trying to reload the weapon and the story Makes sense as much as it needs to, but it is not necessarily the best well plotted.


Even one of the villains played by Timothy Olyphant you just wonder why an actor of his quality is even in the film as of course he’s a representation of evil and crooked cop. Thou and most of the action scenes even as he survives he doesn’t really seem to do much damage or be that dangerous you know obviously he’s a random selves and protect himself, but he doesn’t seem like a scary enough villain to be that powerful or one we have to worry about.


Just as it would be nice to see much more of the Asian gangsters a little bit more maybe a little bit more drama or showing how bad ass their leader is instead of just limiting her to really one scene of showing how dangerous she can be and that’s it really, other then being a leader of a threatening force.


while I truly enjoyed the film, I will admit that it’s probably more of the action that I am a fan of when it comes to this film as if you go into the film and just don’t think too hard about it I think it’s a very enjoyable film, but if you break it down and pay attention to certain aspects of it, that’s where you might have little problems that all combined to kind of put a dent in the hole and never at least for Supv it’s still one of the better films, especially action films that Netflix has produced Or released.


Even Tom Hardy again gives a great performance. He’s doing better with his American accents as this film. As He doesn’t sound as dopey or stupid as he can whenever he hast to do an American accent here. It at least sounds a little more tough and normal.


No filmed in Wales. The film takes place in a nondescript. What is supposed to be? I’m guessing American city and at times it almost feels like a made up city from a film Wonderland. I love the crow or maybe even dark city it’s not a very important part, but it would’ve been nice if it could’ve been a little bit well defined by its location as it’s not the most important thing, but it does help the film re-ground in a little bit more.


The log cabin scene towards the end will be remembered for years as an action highlight for many.


The Film is far from perfect and he does have its noticeable problems. No, just looking for something that is pure entertainment that’s ridiculous, but somehow grounded, go with us. Especially if you’re an action junkie. 


The film is worth checking out and giving a chance.  it’s going to Divide audiences but it will definitely have a crowd of fans for it. It definitely  should be released and seen on the big screen.


Grade: B

Saturday, April 26, 2025

LOVE IN THE AFTERNOON (1972)

 


Written & Directed by: Eric Rohmer 

Cinematography: Nestor Almendros

Editor: Cecile DeCugis


Cast: Bernard Verley, Zouzou, Francoise Verley, Daniel Ceccaldi, Malvina Penne, Babette Ferrier


The last of Rohmer's Six Moral Tales. Frederic leads a bourgeois life; he is a partner in a small Paris office and is happily married to Helene, a teacher expecting her second child. In the afternoons, Frederic daydreams about other women, but has no intention of taking any action. One day, Chloe, who had been a mistress of an old friend, begins dropping by his office. They meet as friends, irregularly in the afternoons, till eventually Chloe decides to seduce Frederic, causing him a moral dilemma.


Friday, April 25, 2025

JEFF OF THE CINEFILES & UNFINISHED BUSINESS: HALL OF FAME - FILE #0076: PERSONA (1966)




Written & Directed: Ingmar Bergman

Cinematography: Sven Nykvist

Editor: Ulla Ryghe 


Cast: Bibi Andersson, Liv Ullman, Margaretha Krook, Gunnar Bjornstrand 


A young nurse, Alma, is put in charge of Elisabeth Vogler: an actress who is seemingly healthy in all respects, but will not talk. As they spend time together, Alma speaks to Elisabeth constantly, never receiving any answer. Alma eventually confesses her secrets to a seemingly sympathetic Elisabeth and finds that her own personality is being submerged into Elisabeth's persona.


Thursday, April 24, 2025

LE BONHEUR (*HAPPINESS) (1965)

 


Written & Directed By: Agnes Varda 

Cinematography: Claude Beausoleil And Jean Rabier 

Editor: Janine Verneau


Cast: Jean-Claude Drouot, Claire Drouot, Marie-France Boyer, Marcelle Favre-Bertin, Manson Lanclos 


François, a young carpenter, lives a happy, uncomplicated life with his wife Thérèse, and their two small children. One day he meets Emilie, a clerk in the local post office.


Saturday, April 19, 2025

AMUCK! (1972)

 


Written & Directed By: Silvio Amadio

Cinematography: Aldo Giordani

Editor: Antonio Siciliano 


Cast: Farley Granger, Barbara Bouchet, Rosalba Neri, Umberto Raho, Patrizia Viotti, Dino Mele, Petsr Martinovitch, Nino Segurini


The secretary of a writer and his wife investigates the disappearance of her lover - their previous secretary - and finds herself the target of the couple's erotic desires and a murder plot.


Friday, April 18, 2025

BLOW JOB (1980)

 


Written, Directed & Edited By: Alberto Cavallone

Cinematography: Maurizio Centini

Cast: Danilo Micheli, Andrea Massarelli, Anna Bruna Cazzato, Mirella Venturini, Valerio Isidori, Antonio Mea, Alea Armani

Stefano Vicinelli and his girlfriend Diana fall two weeks behind on their hotel rent and face having their luggage and car impounded until they can pay the bill. Conveniently for them, a distraught woman in the room right above theirs leaps to her death from the window. Using that as a distraction, the lovebirds sneak out and take off. Running low on money, they pool what little cash they do have and go to the racetrack. Stefano encounters a crazed woman wearing sunglasses who demands he give her a key so she can unlock a door. After she calms down, she proposes a deal with him: She'll help him win money in the horse race if he'll help her "get past the gate." Having no clue what she's even talking about, Stefano reluctantly agrees and bets on her suggestion. After the horse wins and he collects, he feels obliged to accompany the strange woman - who introduces herself as Countess Angela - back to her home.

Thursday, April 17, 2025

DEATH WALKS ON HIGH HEELS (1971)

 


Directed By: Luciano Ercoli 

Written By: Ernesto Gastaldi and May Velasco 

Story By: Dino Verde, Ernesto Gastaldi and May Velasco

Cinematography: Fernando Arribas 

Editor: Pedro Del Rey and Angelo Curi


Cast: Susan Scott (Nieves Navarro), Simon Andreu, Frank Wolff, Carlo Gentilli, George Rigaud, J. Manuel Martin, Luciano Rossi, Claude Lange


After a French stripper is harassed by a man who wants a cache of diamonds stolen by her late father, she flees to England in the company of a doctor, but danger follows.


Tuesday, April 15, 2025

G20 (2025)

 



Directed By: Patricia Riggen 

Written By: Caitlin Parrish, Erica Weiss, Logan Miller & Noah Miller 

Story By: Logan Miller & Noah Miller 

Cinematography: Checco Varese 

Editor: Doc Crotzer and Emma B. Hickox 



Cast: Viola Davis, Anthony Anderson, Anthony Starr, Ramon Rodriguez, Marsai Martin, Douglas Hodge, Elizabeth Marvel, Christopher Farrar, Clark Gregg, Angela Sarafyn 


Terrorists take over the G20 summit with President Sutton, bringing her governing and military experience to defend her family, company, and the world.



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 I wish I could say that this film still apart or was better considering who stars in it, but this film is pretty basic and predictable for anyone who’s ever seen a movie before especially an action movie 


One of the main differences is that the hero of the film is female and a woman of color African-American to be exact and it feels a little revolutionary considering that the film takes place in South Africa 


This film you wonder if they were expecting a different outcome for the presidential election of 2024 as the main character or the first family in this film is African-American, who, along with other leaders are taken hostage and at some point, each of them managed to escape being captured and then come together to the end


The action sequences are nothing to write home about, but they are serviceable and Viola Davis still has all that muscle from the woman king so she’s got the guns to be an action hero, and we all have to take a paycheck now and then because she is definitely better than the material and even the film.


She has been in the suicide squad movies and across the DC universe as I’m on the Waller even though all of the films she’s been involved in her action films. She’s never personally done any action scenes herself in those films here shows she’s capable of it.



But this is a perfectly fine time. Keep your interest while you watch it, but forgettable once it’s over.


Think typical Jason Statham-type action films only with a lack of one-liners after a kill or action scene 


As this is a film, you don’t have to think or make sense as one of the qualities of films or films like these usually is that they have so many writers and you would think having so many would make the film a little bit more intricate or cleanup maybe some of the other writers mistakes but it seems like the case of too many cooks in the kitchen or maybe they oversimplify everything and try to explain even though they’re probably there to brush up on elements that the filmmakers are studio didn’t like about the last draft


There are no big surprises as you can tell exactly where the story is going you can tell the double crosses in advance could almost be a modern black film because all colors are good and bad, but you’ll notice that most of the villains are heroes people of color which is inspiring.


Grade: C- 

Saturday, April 12, 2025

SUBSERVIENCE (2024)

 


Directed By: S.K. Dale

Written By: Will Honley and April Maguire 

Cinematography: Daniel Lindholm 

Editor: Sean Lahiff 


Cast: Megan Fox, Michele Morrone, Madeline Zima, Matilda Firth, Andrew Whipp, Atlas Srebrev, Manal El-Feitury, Antoni Davidov 


Follows a struggling father who purchases a domestic SIM to help care for his house and family, unaware she will gain awareness and turn deadly.


Friday, April 11, 2025

IT’S WHAT’S INSIDE (2024)

 


Written, Directed & Edited By: Gregory Jardin 

Cinematography: Kevin Fletcher 


Cast: Brittany O’Grady, James Morosini, Gavin Leatherwood, Nina Bloomgarden, Alycia Debnam-Carey, Reina Hardesty, Devon Terrell, David Thompson, Madison Davenport 


A group of friends gather for a pre-wedding party that descends into an existential nightmare when an estranged friend arrives with a mysterious game that awakens long-hidden secrets, desires and grudges.


Thursday, April 10, 2025

MORGAN (2016)

  


Directed By: Luke Scott

Written By: Seth Owen 

Cinematography: Mark Patten 

Editor: Laura Jennings 


Cast: Kate Mara, Anya Taylor-Joy, Rose Leslie, Toby Jones, Michelle Yeoh, Garret Hudlund, Paul Giamatti, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Brian Cox 


A corporate risk-management consultant must decide whether or not to terminate an artificially created humanoid being.