"Remember the Titans" Still Holds Up

 

by Robert Zenoni

I know, I know, this movie is really old BUT I just watched it for the first time and it was good! For those of you who haven’t seen “Remember the Titans” (2000), it's about a high school team in Virginia right after the Civil Rights Movement's success; as you can imagine, it wasn’t smooth sailing right away. But it shows that we are all humans and deserve proper respect from one another. It still holds up 24 years later and still the message rings clear -- and truly is a good testament to the human condition that we all just want to like each other but most of the time don’t try to get to know one another.

The Ending of "Alien: Romulus" is a Letdown

 

by John Zenoni

‘Alien: Romulus’ is just one more unnecessary entry in the ‘Alien’ franchise. The original from 1979 and its sequel, ‘Aliens’, released in 1986, are the best of the films and - as I have told my moviegoer friends - Ridley Scott should have stopped with those two. I will say that this latest did have a couple of good scares and is better than the last two but the story is just not believable, particularly since the cast looks like a bunch of high school kids! The ‘surprise’ ending also was such a let down considering what the filmmaker and special effects team could have done. Needless to say, another disappointing and not needed ‘Alien’ film.

"Longlegs" Review

 

by John Zenoni

So, not only was I nervous about going in to see this film, as I really do not care for that genre anymore, but I was also apprehensive, as I was not sure what kind of quality film this would be. There are so many attempts at scare/horror today and most of them are failures. However, I will say that ‘Longlegs’ definitely gives others a run for their money. While not the scariest film I've seen, it's very creepy, indeed. It's one of those slow-burning films that stays with you after you leave the theater.

While the story alone about a serial killer is messed up (creepy) and the cast does a credible job, the absolute highlight has to be the performance given by - and he is also a producer of the film - Nicholas Cage. As usual, in most of his latest roles, he is so bizarre and yet he fits into the character of Longlegs perfectly! He definitely freaked me out and this is one film I will not watch again, as once is enough!

"Deadpool & Wolverine" Has Been Done A Thousand Times

 

by Robert Zenoni

Okay! So, Deadpool & Wolverine was the first movie I’ve seen in theaters since Spiderman; No Way Home. And for me it had its funny moments and a nice ending; cool action scenes but overall it's a movie that’s been done a thousand times. Our protagonist finds out something is wrong, he finds someone who doesn’t want to help him to end up helping him and they succeed in the end. The plot is simple, and that's fine because what else are you going to do for a “super hero” movie.

Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman are good in the movie and seem to have a good chemistry. And everything is timed pretty well for punchlines to jokes. There is some blasphemy and there are scenes throughout the film people may think are too much -- which is just up to the person. Overall, good movie and it was cool to see in the credits that his son and wife made secret cameos, along with some people you would not expect.

"One Love" Review

 

by John Zenoni

What a great biographical film about the late, great reggae superstar, Bob Marley, entitled ‘Bob Marley: One Love.’ Directed by Reinaldo Marcus Green, whose 2021 film, ‘King Richard’, was nominated for Best Picture, Green does an amazing job of bringing to screen both the personal life of Bob Marley as well as his wonderful musical legacy in a well-balanced story. The performances by all in the film are so good but the acclaim has to go, of course, to Kingsley Ben-Adir for his portrayal of Bob Marley, but also to Lashana Lynch, who almost steals the show as his wife, Rita Marley. They both light up each scene they are in, whether together, alone, or with anyone else.

For those who are not fans of the genre, rest assured this is a not a musical, but a film which just happens to focus on a music legend and incorporates his songs, whose music is still important to this day. For those who want to hear what musical talent Marley passed on to his kids, check out Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers. Ziggy and his siblings released an amazing album, ‘Conscious Party’, in 1988, which had a couple of hits at the time and deserves recognition for its overall message as well. A great film about an amazing man with a huge message for the world!

"Argylle" Review

 

by John Zenoni

I'm late on my review - if you want to call it that - of this so-called movie because it's just horrible. I just cannot believe that actors the caliber of Sam Rockwell, Samuel L. Jackson, Bryan Cranston and Catherine O’Hara would agree to be in such a mess as ‘Argylle.’ I can’t believe Matthew Vaughn, who has made some pretty good films, directed this thing. It's disappointing too, as the trailer was pretty entertaining (aside from the ‘flying’ cat) so I thought the entire movie would be good. Wrong! The storyline is just dumb and it has to have one of the most stupid action sequences in the history of cinema. Unbelievable! Anyway, if you decide to see it don’t say I didn’t warn you.

"They Called Him Mostly Harmless" Review

 

by John Zenoni

Have you ever thought about just walking away from everything and everyone in your life and not being found? Well, such is the premise of the well-made documentary, ‘They Called Him Mostly Harmless.’ This is an absolutely intriguing story and it's hard to believe that one, it captured the attention of so many online groups and two, it took so long to figure out who the center of the story was. I don’t want to divulge too much as the ending turned out to be different from what I was expecting but it's a fascinating insight into someone, trail name ‘Mostly Harmless’, who decided to leave everything behind but was eventually discovered anyway.

"The Zone of Interest" Review

 

by John Zenoni

Went and saw ‘The Zone of Interest’ this evening and am just stunned by this film. I normally don't do this but I was reading some reviews by other filmgoers to get their take on it and this one by ‘On The Town with Tanya’ is something I have to share as she captures it perfectly!

“Jonathan Glazer is brilliant in telling us the story we all need to know the answer to: "What was happening right outside of the camp?" Who lived on the other side of the wall, outside the walls?? What were they doing? Didn't they hear the screams, smell the fires? Why didn't they do something? Because.....humans get ok with death IF its NOT them or their family....It takes courage to stand for something....and easy to fall for anything that is safe... He draws us in with brilliant views. Cinematography, nature and the sounds (Bravo Johnnie Burn and your team!!) the sound of children we are all familiar with, at first joyous....and then he does the unexpected, tells the story auditory....every sound mattered to bring the audience to that moment of horror, WITHOUT visually re-traumatizing us like most past stories do. Bravo to making the audience FEEL thru sound.....what it is like as a fly on the wall when humans become monsters and don't even have a clue they are. The picking thru jewelry, furs, while others suffered....showing the "vulture" in complacent people...it has happened before....#insanity, which makes us think...humans never learn and they are greedy in the worst of times thinking only of their needs and not that children - people - were being killed. They had NO thought of it, but I love the way Jonathan left it on us, the viewer, to see and hear....how this atrocity happened, because PEOPLE, in feeding THEIR needs and wants...became MONSTERS that contributed, and that is why it went on so long and so many died. This film should be a part of history as when you leave eerie sounds ring in your ears forever and hopefully IF an atrocity EVER attempts to happen we will all take a stand, not take the job, not take advantage of OUR privileged lives, and NOT allow one man to teach millions around the world...to watch as an atrocity happens in front of them. Bravo Jonathan and all the actors, crew, well done!

"The Boys in the Boat" Review

 

by John Zenoni

George Clooney has more than proven himself as an actor, spokesperson, producer and director, having been at the helm of many films including ‘Good Night, and Good Luck’, ‘Leatherheads’, and ‘The Ides of March.’ His latest film, ‘The Boys in the Boat’, is by no means a classic or masterpiece but it is a pleasant, feel-good movie that is an enjoyable watch.

The film is based on the true story of the University of Washington junior row team that competes for - and gets - a spot in the 1936 Olympics in Berlin. At the center of the story is young Joe Rantz, abandoned by his father during the Depression and having to raise himself, who learns of a chance to earn money by taking a spot as one of the men on the row team. We watch to see what he goes through and learns about himself and others as he grows during the tryout and competition. It's a solid performance by Callum Turner as Rantz and the rest of the cast does a good job as well. Interesting story about the Olympics that I was not familiar with and enjoyed seeing played out on the big screen.

The 34 Biggest Flops of 2023

 

The COVID-19 pandemic has left a significant change on moviegoing. And while audiences still flock to theaters en masse, they're much more discerning in regard to what they're willing to pay for at the multiplex. Gone, it seems, are the days when studios could lob any old bullsh*t into the marketplace and reap millions of dollars in profit. The following films are merely the latest examples of Hollywood offerings that movie buffs either elected to watch in the comfort of their own respective homes or simply bypassed altogether.

34. Asteroid City

Loss: $3 million

33. Master Gardener

Loss: $4 million

It seems that moviegoers aren't particularly psyched to watch a Black woman fall for a neo-Nazi. Who knew?

32. Love Again

Loss: $3 million

31. Priscilla

Loss: $4 million

Lisa Marie Presley expressed her objections to this propagandized look at her parents' marriage; apparently, moviegoers shared her view on the film's narrative.

30. Book Club: The Next Chapter

Loss: $6 million

29. Bottoms

Loss: $6 million

28. Theater Camp

Loss: $6 million

27. Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom

Loss: $9 million

26. Next Goal Wins

Loss: $10 million

Following the reception to Love & Thunder, Taika Waititi's schtick seems to be wearing thin with audiences.

25. 80 for Brady

Loss: $12 million

The year's first failure is this football comedy that arrived in theaters just in time for its titular quarterback to retire ahead of a Superbowl that would not include him. Even discounted ticket prices couldn't get audiences across the line into auditoriums showing this flick.

24. Retribution

Loss: $13 million

Liam Neeson's schtick continues to wear thin with moviegoers.

23. The Machine

Loss: $15 million

Star Bert Kreischer's actual life story is the stuff of legend. But the bad comedy throughout this loose adaptation of some of the events that made him famous insured that ticket sales were low.

22. Are You There G*d? It's Me, Margaret.

Loss: $21 million

Apparently 53 years was too long for fans of Judy Blume's book to wait for this feature-film adaptation.

21. About My Father

Loss: $21 million

20. No Hard Feelings

Loss: $28 million

Apparently, sexual grooming as a source of comedy isn't exactly a box-office draw. Not even an A-list actress headlining this misguided raunchy throwback could propel it to break-even status.

19. Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning Part 1

Loss: $29 million

If not for a $71 million COVID-19 insurance payout, Ethan Hunt's latest assignment would've been even deeper in the red. This doesn't bode well for Part Two.

18. Strays

Loss: $31 million

17. Magic Mike's Last Dance

Loss: $37 million

A $45 million production budget combined with $20 million spent on promotion added up to far more than moviegoers were willing to spend on tickets for this trilogy-capper that was initially slated for a straight-to-streaming release.

16. Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre

Loss: $32 million

Apparently, Guy Ritchie fans had little to no interest in seeing him make a comeback -- not even with Jason Statham.

15. Dumb Money

Loss: $40 million

14. Blue Beetle

Loss: $43 million

13. Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken

Loss: $80 million

This Luca rip-off has the dubious distinction of giving Dreamworks Animation its worst-ever opening, making it clear that it would be a massive failure from the outset. Taking the marketing and production budgets into account (https://www.slashfilm.com/1359782/ruby-gillman-teenage-kraken-dreamworks-animation-biggest-flop-ever/) had to be a dismal prospect for the studio's bean-counters.

12. Renfield

Loss: $54 million

Nicholas Hoult's second horror/comedy had a much higher budget than his first feature in the genre hybrid (Warm Bodies), it failed to match the zombie adaptation's quality -- which shows in this collaboration with the other Nicolas' box office receipts.

11. Hypnotic

Loss: $62 million

10. Expendables 4

Loss: $75 million

9. Wish

Loss: $131 million

8. Rise of the Beasts

Loss: $86 million

Sadly, the only good live-action Transformers movie is the very first one. It's a shame too, because this seventh entry showed real promise too, only falling apart around the time that Pete Davidson shows up. 

7. The Haunted Mansion

Loss: $117 million

Disney's decision to release this ghost story remake in late July instead of October probably wasn't the wisest. At any rate, it's managed to surpass its predecessor to become an even bigger box office failure. 

6. The Little Mermaid

Loss: $110 million

While The Little Mermaid was a domestic success, it was DOA overseas. Due to the complaints of online trolls regarding the main character being portrayed by an African-American actress as opposed to a white cartoon, there's widespread speculation that racism is to blame for the movie's collapse. If so, the racists really missed out, since the film's only real problem is the ever-irritating presence of Awkwafina. 

5. Fast X

Loss: $129 million

While the previous entry in the Furious saga, F9, was a step in the wrong direction, Fast X has plumbed new depths -- to audience's mass dismay.

4. Shazam 2

Loss: $166 million

The writing was on the wall well before this debacle premiered. A $125 million production tag combined with marketing costs totaling $105 million was much too large a sum to overcome the global apathy that accompanies a sequel to a movie that also lost millions at the box office (and also apparently required $105 million to promote). It doesn't help that the film isn't actually any good. 

3. The Flash

Loss: $155 million

The Flash's first solo feature film is surprisingly superior to several comic book movies that managed to eke out a profit. However, DC's decision to publicize the fact that the studio's cinematic universe is set to be overhauled soon likely discouraged moviegoers from caring. Nevertheless, The Flash's box-office failure is immensely satisfying if for no other reason than the fact that actor Ray Fisher was unceremoniously written out of it.

2. Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny

Loss: $143 - $219 million (Deadline)

Unsurprisingly, not many moviegoers were psyched to watch a frail octogenarian armed with little more than a bullwhip punch his way through a secret cell of Nazis -- especially given that the previous film in the series was nearly-universally panned 15 years earlier.

1. The Marvels

Loss: $237 million (per Deadline)

Though this MCU sequel is superior to its billion-dollar predecessor in quality, an unpopular lead character and ($100 million) marketing that highlighted its goofy tone led moviegoers to stay far away. The result? The lowest-grossing entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe series to date.

"Ferrarri" Review

 

by John Zenoni

Ferrari the car might be fast but there is definitely nothing speedy about the latest Michael Mann film, “Ferrari”, about the founders and evolution of the famous car company, starring Adam Driver, Penelope Cruz, Patrick Dempsey and Shailene Woodley. While there are some interesting facts in the film about Ferrari and his personal and business life, this movie felt more like a Lifetime drama than an action-packed filled film, which I was expecting to see.

Yes, there are a few race moments - including one of the most realistic and horrible car crashes I've seen - but nowhere near as much as I wanted to see. I also wanted more focus on the development of the car and why and how Enzo and Laura Ferrari founded the company. The film is almost soap opera’ish in a way and definitely was somewhat of a let down. As far as characters go, Driver was ok, at times, but then at other times he was overplaying it, in my opinion. I honestly was more interested in Cruz as his neglected wife than anyone else in the film and Woodley and Dempsey both were wasted in their parts. Definitely not a winner like I had hoped it would be.

"Leave the World Behind" Review

 

by John Zenoni

“Leave the World Behind”, starring Julia Roberts, Ethan Hawke, Mahershala Ali and Myha’la, is a fairly decent pre/post apocalyptic film currently streaming on Netflix. There are some pretty decent performances in this - especially by Roberts and Ali - including a cameo by Kevin Bacon - that makes it worth a look. But, while the build up is pretty intense and keeps you on the edge, the big twist or climatic scene is when I think when it failed for me. It just did not have the ending I expected after everything the characters went through. I have seen better type films -- but one could watch worse.

"Fool Me Once" Review

 

by John Zenoni

Wow! Talk about a Netflix limited series that fooled me. I felt sure when I started to watch “Fool Me Once”, a film based on the novel by Harlan Coben, that it was going to be a Lifetime or Hallmark-type drama. But man I was wrong. This one definitely has enough suspense, twists and cliffhangers in it to keep you fully engaged.

The storyline pulls you in from the get-go as it takes very little time for the mystery to begin. The main character, Maya Stern, is trying to deal with the brutal murder of her husband, Joe. Widowed with a young daughter, her friend installs a nanny-cam to help Maya keep an eye on her daughter while she's working and is with her nanny. Later on, while reviewing the nanny cam footage, she's shocked to see her ‘dead’ husband has been in her house. From there, the chase begins and it's a good one. This is something I almost binged the first night but had to wait and finish the next day. It's that good. Definitely one I recommend.