APPLE TV HAS A DEFINITE HIT WITH "WOLFS"

🎥🎞️Movie Review🎞️🎥 - WOLFS [2024] - [R] - Apple+ - Directed & written by Jon Watts. Produced by Apple Studios, Plan B Entertainment, & Smokehouse Pictures. Stars George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Amy Ryan, Austin Abrams, & Poorna Jagannathan. Budget $85 Million.

After a married woman [Ryan] witnesses her "side-lover" fall to his death crashing into a glass serving table in her luxurious hotel room, she calls a special cleaner [Clooney] to "clean up" the mess and get her out of the trouble she may be in. All is going according to plan until a second cleaner [Pitt] arrives, being hired by the hotel manager to observe the first cleaners job. During a time of cleaning, the duo share notes on how to clean a scene, when one of them finds a backpack full of unprocessed drugs.  They both summarize that the drugs belong to a local cartel who could start up lots of trouble, so they both use all of their known contacts to help them track down the possible real owners of the drugs. This is where a real adventure begins as the cleaners have to find the owners of the heroine and erase any existence of their work, and more especially, their identities.

THE GOOD - A large part of this film was filmed using the new Apple iPhone 18 Max; which was a good call with the slow motion and close up shots. Clooney and Pitt have outstanding chemistry, both developing parts of the same type of character; dressing the same, carrying the same weapons, being prepared for the same type of upcoming scenario, knowing the same contacts, etc. The visual effects are outstanding and the location spotting was perfect. Filmed entirely in New York, the director flawlessly showcased the underbelly of New York with some impressive cinematography. The editing was top notch, making the movie flow seamlessly from one scene to another, presenting a realistic feel of the consequences should the duo fail to complete their jobs.

THE BAD - Some of the bad guys in this film are never shown, only mentioned in passing or with mysterious phone calls; leaving all kinds of questions lingering. There is some dialog between the two main characters that seem to goo too long at times.

POST MORTEM - This is a great action/dark comedy, with some well thought-out twists and turns that tie the whole thing together with a surprise ending that had me as surprised as the main characters. This could be an interesting first part to a two-part film. Kudos to Apple+ for producing this little gem which is sure to beg for a follow up sequel!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 [4.5 of 5 Stars]

"PLANE" IS THE SURPRISE ACTION FILM WE'VE BEEN NEEDING!

🎥🎞️Movie Review🎞️🎥 - PLANE [2023] - STARZ - [R] - Directed by Jean-Francois Richet. Story by Charles Cumming. Starring Gerard Butler [also a producer], Mike Colter, Lilly King, Tony Goldwyn, and Evan Dane Taylor. The entire production was mostly filmed in Puerto Rico and was filmed during the Covid-19 Shutdown. The film was shelved for two years before it was finally released.

This is a very dramatic and action filled film. Some of the initial scenes in the film concern a commercial plane being piloted by Captain Brodie Torrance, played by a relatively passive Gerard Butler; who plays the character of a commercial pilot with only previous military pilot experience. The plane is leaving Singapore on New Years eve and has  about 14 passengers on board, including a prisoner transfer. The prisoner, Louis Gaspare [played brilliantly by Mike Colter], is a charged criminal who spent years with the Foreign Legion. When the plane experiences some intense turbulence in a storm along the intended flight path, being hit by lightning in the process, the plane is forced to crash land in a cluster of Philippine Islands filled with hostile militants. The pilot and the criminal must work together to protect and save the passengers who have no idea about the amount of trouble they are in.

THE GOOD - The initial scenes are filled with surreal turbulence and are delivered with some intense camera angles and practical effects that work seamlessly to deliver a harrowing flight during the storm sequence. The film takes the right time to develop solid characters and also sharpen the delivery of the antagonist bad-guy, who has complete control of a group of heavily armed guerilla militants under his dark leadership.  There is a vulnerability to the crew and passengers of the plane that keeps the feeling real and Butler doesn't play the "instant hero" that he is well known for; presenting a more cautious and emotional character, than a killer behemoth. Colter's portrayal of Gaspare has qualities that could lead his character to helm a spinoff sequel to the film, which is currently in pre-production.

THE BAD - There are two to three scenes which are obviously poorly filmed with green screen. The ending to the film seemed rushed, as the plane is prevented covering 50 miles in only thirty seconds; it doesn't ruin the entire film, but I'm surprised the final action sequences of the movie decided to rush the final landing of the plane in such a poorly played order of the screenplay.

POST MORTEM - This is a finely tuned action film. The military tactics are perfect for today's military-style format and the graphics in combat are delivered perfectly and without remorse. There weren't a lot of large explosions to admire, and much of the combat scenes were kept realistic; delivering skirmish style firefights with M-16s, AR-15s, and AK-47s. I can guarantee that this film will keep you on the edge of your seat, forcing you to stay focused on what will happen next!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ [4 of 5 Stars]

“JOLT” BRINGS SPARK BACK TO AMAZON PRIME

🎥 🎞  Movie Review 🎞 🎥 - JOLT - (R) - Amazon Prime - Kate Beckinsale is back in this action robust, gritty, sometimes overly humorous, but dark comedy that lights up the streaming window with fun scenes, while bringing a clear grudge-like, homicidal feel of entertainment back into the realm of solid movie making. 

In the recent years, Beckinsale movies have been a hit or miss with success, but JOLT has something not expected in both the writing and directing department. This movie is clearly an original installment of a possible series which could elevate the lovely Beckinsale into a new plateau of movie-series that are planned for streaming instead of hitting the movie theaters...and I like that!

Written by Scott Wascha, a first time short script writer who also plays a small part in the film, the format of the story falls right in line with what you might expect in a comic book formatted film. The action sequences are simple, but delivered in a style that you might expect from a real life  scenario when you're dealing with a sexy, semi-psychotic, impulsive bouncer with anger-management issues. Where most Beckinsale films cater up to a shoot'em up finale, this film keeps things up tight and personal, showing the dexterity of the actress at every chance. Each action sequence builds up with an overly explosive result, some make believe, some very real; but all of which result in a character building motif that makes this dark comedy a huge relief from the other robustly bad films that have been released from Netflix and forced down your throat with exaggerated reviews and trailers that doesn't have any class at all.

Directed by Tanya Wexler, who is known for being a bit aggressive on set herself, I found that the texture of tension between the main character "Lindy" - performed brilliantly by Beckinsale, and her unsuspecting prey is the magical touch this movie needed to launch me in the right direction at the beginning of the films character development phase. Kudos to Wexler for keeping the pace of the film at an upper level of flow, choosing not to use an over abundance of camera angles to "add action" to each scene.

Outside of a few editing errors that I noticed in a restaurant scene, the film was patched up well in post production. The surprise ending wasn't a smash up, "Oh shit, I didn't see that one coming!" moment, as I am sure the director wanted it to be but, the film had an acceptable ending that is surely going to lead into a sequel or sequels to come, should Amazon Prime gets off it's ass an push the advertising on this fantastic film.

Go to your Amazon Prime account and click on this movie. You will NOT be disappointed that you did! ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️  [4 of 5 Stars]