It was only a few days ago that Chuck Norris passed away in Kauaʻi, Hawaii. The legendary martial artist, action movie star, television actor, and author was 86 years ago. He was born March 10, 1940 in the tiny town of Ryan, Oklahoma. His eventual love for martial arts opened the door to an acting career which kicked off in the 1970s before flourishing in the 1980s.
Norris’ success in martial arts led to him meeting and befriending Bruce Lee. It was Lee who gave Norris his first significant role as a main antagonist in 1972’s “The Way of the Dragon”. Norris would work in several other movies during the decade as an actor and fight choreographer. But it was during the 1980s that his career as an action star took off with films like “The Octagon”, “Lone Wolf McQuade”, the “Missing in Action” trilogy, “Code of Silence”, “Invasion U.S.A.”, and (my personal favorite) “The Delta Force”.
Norris would continue making movies into the 1990s. But his biggest success of the decade came with the hit television show “Walker, Texas Ranger”. The show ran for nine seasons and a total of 196 episodes. Since then, Norris has appeared in several television and movie projects while participating is numerous charities aimed at children, military veterans, AIDS/HIV care, and more. RIP Mr. Norris.
I admit to being surprised by the overwhelmingly positivity found in nearly every early reaction to “Project Hail Mary”. I know that the film’s star, Ryan Gosling is infinitely likable and has a strong and very vocal fanbase. But “Project Hail Mary” follows the kind of feel-good formula that often gets panned by more cynical critics and crowds. And it isn’t the most original slice of science-fiction to come down the cinematic pipeline.
But here’s the good news. “Project Hail Mary” is a winner. It’s a big-hearted and proudly human science-fiction adventure that is propelled by the effortless charisma of its beloved star. And this is the kind of role that fits perfectly with the current phase of Gosling’s career. He’s occasionally too silly and overly charming. But he remains remarkably grounded which keeps this unexpectedly gripping crowd-pleaser anchored for most of its hefty running time.
Written for the screen by Drew Goddard, “Project Hail Mary” is an adaptation of Andy Weir’s 2021 novel of the same name. The directing duo of Phil Lord and Christopher Miller once again bring their blend of jaw-dropping spectacle with childlike wonder, which energizes a story that certainly doesn’t break new ground. But the emphasis they place on smaller, humanity-infused details rivals any of the grander deep-space set pieces they deliver. And their film’s moving thematic shift in the second half is the icing on the cake.
Image Courtesy of Amazon MGM Studios
The movie begins with what plays like a fairly conventional ‘save the planet’ story. Earth’s scientists have discovered that our sun is slowly dying. A rapidly reproducing, parasitic microorganism called Astrophage is consuming our sun’s energy, which in time will inevitably lead to a catastrophic cooling of Earth. To stop the extinction level event, scientists scramble to find a solution. They discover that the Astrophage has affected every known star but one – Tau Ceti.
Enter Dr. Ryland Grace (Gosling), an ostracized molecular biologist who has found his place as a middle school science teacher. One day he is approached by Eva Stratt (Sandra Hüller), the head of the multinational Hail Mary project. She recruits him to join their last desperate attempt to save the planet – a one-way mission to Tau Ceti to learn why the star remains unaffected by the Astrophage.
All of the above is mostly revealed through a series of well-incorporated flashbacks. The film’s nonlinear storytelling actually begins with Grace waking up from an induced coma, only to learn that he is the lone member of his three-person crew to survive the long journey to Tau Ceti. Light years away from home and all on his own, Grace must pull it together and complete their mission if Earth is to have any chance at survival.
Image Courtesy of Amazon MGM Studios
The movie takes an interesting turn after Grace discovers he’s not to the only one there to research Tau Ceti. He makes first contact with an inquisitive stone-like alien who also happens to be the soul survivor of his crew sent to save his planet from the Astrophage. Their initial caution turns to curiosity as the two space travelers connect over a shared purpose. Soon they’re bridging their communication gap, sharing their knowledge, and working together to stop the destruction of their home worlds.
While their theorizing and experimenting is fun to watch, it’s the heartfelt development of their friendship that sends the story in a new direction. Grace gives his new pal the name Rocky and the two only get closer through the urgency of their missions. Rocky is the creation of Oscar-winning effects artist Neal Scanlan and was a brought to life through animatronics, puppeteering, and some VFX. Rocky is a magnificent creation who we immediately believe and invest in.
At 156 minutes, “Project Hail Mary” runs a little long, bogging down just a little around the halfway mark. But Lord and Miller quickly kick their story back into gear, transporting us through a thrilling cinematic journey that is equal parts spectacular and personal. The film looks amazing with its heavy reliance on impressive practical effects. Yet it’s the inescapable feel-good charm and stirring emotional core that makes the film so utterly irresistible. Again, it doesn’t break new ground. But it’s hard to knock it when it does what it does so well.
In “Wardriver”, Dane DeHaan plays a low-level criminal named Cole. His racket is simple but clever. He drives around swiping people’s credentials by hacking into Wi-Fi networks and/or rigging phony card readers onto ATM machines. Once he has his victim’s information, he drains their bank accounts without leaving a digital trail. He only targets small scores which keeps him off the law’s radar. But when he’s pulled into a dangerous cyberheist, Cole finds himself caught in a web he can’t escape.
That’s a good introduction to director Rebecca Thomas’ “Wardriver”. It’s a slow-building crime thriller that takes some time to get going. Much of the first half is Cole driving around Salt Lake City, typing on his keyboard, sucking on lollipops, and puffing on his vape. Still screenwriter Daniel Casey’s script does a good enough job dropping us into Cole’s lonely, isolated existence, even if it doesn’t amount to much dramatically.
Image Courtesy of The Avenue
Things finally rev up after Cole is grabbed and beaten down by a local hood named Oscar (Mamoudou Athie). We learn Oscar works as a doorman at a swanky hotel’s restaurant that is frequented by a young woman named Sarah (Sasha Calle) and a man he believes to be her father. Oscar puts together a plan using an unaware Sarah to steal a chunk of money from her wealthy father. But he needs a hacker to pull it off. So he forces Cole to join his heist.
Cole skillfully pulls off the robbery, transferring over $800k out of Sarah’s account and getting Oscar off his back. But he quickly learns the older man is a powerful attorney with political connections named Mark Bilson (Jeffrey Donovan). And he’s not Sarah’s father. It turns out he’s her sugar daddy and he blames her for stealing his money. A guilt-ridden and slightly smitten Cole jumps back in to help Sarah. But he quickly discovers he’s in over his head.
Image Courtesy of The Avenue
The final act of “Wardriver” picks up momentum while adding a few interesting twists that liven things up a bit. The ending leaves several obvious questions but none that really bother us. That’s mainly because the characters remain at arm’s length for the duration of the movie. We never know them well enough to fully invest in their situations or circumstances. Even with solid performances, we only maintain a surface-level connection to them throughout.
There are several things to appreciate about Thomas’ direction, from her choices with the camera to her trust in her actors. She also does a good job capturing atmosphere and mood similar to that of popular neo-noirs. But the story, and more specifically the characters, are practically begging for more depth. That one emphasis could have taken “Wardriver” from a minor key crime thriller to something considerably more memorable.
At a time when the sputtering Marvel Cinematic Universe is in desperate need of a boost, along comes “Spider-Man: Brand New Day”. This is the fourth Spider-Man film in the MCU and the first since 2021’s wobbly but lucrative “No Way Home”. Even crazier, it is the 38th (!!!) film in the seemingly everlasting MCU. Director Destin Daniel Cretton takes the reins from departing Jon Watts, but Tom Holland returns to the Peter Parker role that made him a star.
“Brand New Day” takes place four years after the events of ”No Way Home”. If you recall, Dr. Strange saved the world by casting a powerful spell. But as a side effect, the world has forgotten that Peter Parker exists. So now he spins his web across New York City, fighting crime as Spider-Man. But as Peter Parker, he’s alone and forgotten by all those he loved. But things take a turn as his past rears its dangerous head.
The new trailer doesn’t tell us much, but it should do its job of exciting fans of the franchise. It mostly just character drops those who will play a part in Peter’s next chapter. Characters such as MJ (Zendaya), Ned (Jacob Batalon), Frank Castle aka The Punisher (Jon Bernthal), Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo), and more. To be honest, it wasn’t enough to hype me for the movie. But I’m sure we will see a lot more before it hits theaters.
“Spider-Man: Brand New Day” swings into theaters on July 31st. Check out the trailer below and let me know if you’ll be seeing it or taking a pass.
Easily among my most anticipated movies of 2026 is Denis Villeneuve’s “Dune: Part Three”. After two stellar entries into his adaptation of Frank Herbert’s seminal science-fiction classic, Villeneuve wraps up his trilogy with what promises to be one of the biggest films of the year. “Dune: Part Three” brings together a star-studded cast of returning characters and new additions, many of whom get their moment in the exciting first trailer that just dropped.
Written by Villeneuve and Jon Spaihts, “Dune: Part Three” adapts Herbert’s novel “Dune: Messiah”. In the new trailer we’re treated to much of what has made this film series great: terrific characters, stunning visual effects, an immersive world, and what looks to be an absorbing story. Not only will the dark tale of Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet) continue on the changing desert planet of Arrakis, but Villeneuve is taking us to the stars. Overall it’s a journey I can’t wait to continue.
“Dune: Part Three” releases in theaters on December 18th. Check out the trailer below and let me know if you’ll be seeing it or taking a pass.
Perhaps more than any other horror subgenre, it’s possession movies that too often find themselves treading the same ground. A prime example is “The Containment”, another possession chiller that hits so many familiar beats that you’ll immediately recognize the tune. It features all the normal tropes that we’ve seen a million times which numbs us to most of its attempts to scare. Yet to its credit, the film throws us an unexpected curveball in the third act that almost saves the day…almost.
From co-directors Jack and Yossy Zagha Kababie, “The Containment” tells a fairly simple story, although it’s one that seems to be missing some key narrative pieces. It’s set in Fayetteville, Arkansas and focuses on a grieving family still reeling after a horrible tragedy. Jules (Charlotte Hunter) is trying to keep things together after her quadriplegic husband kills himself. Their two children are coping in their own ways. The older Caroline (Gia Hunter) has turned rebellious and defiant while her kid brother Don (Gabriel Bonilla) hasn’t spoken since the incident.
Image Courtesy of Level 33 Entertainment
The family dynamic is set up early on and there is no real variation to it for the vast majority of the movie. Instead the three family members remain stuck in the same gear, even when the abovementioned possession comes. Rather than exploring the layers of emotional strain between the characters, we instead watch as the snotty Caroline get snottier, as Jules sorts out an out-of-the-blue and woefully underdeveloped relationship, and as Don remains quiet.
But things do change when a large bug resembling an ancient Egyptian scarab crawls into Caroline’s mouth and down her throat as she sleeps. As bad luck would have it, the scarab thingie is carrying a malicious demonic force that possesses Caroline whenever it feels like it. When it does, we end up getting the whole bit – blacked out eyes, vomiting, levitation, bone-cracking body contortions, speaking in other voices. It’s all there.
Image Courtesy of Level 33 Entertainment
The hospital can’t find anything wrong. A YouTubing demonology expert is a bust. Even the local priest refuses to perform an exorcism. The family’s lone help comes from a lowly nun named Sister Esperanza (Fernanda Romero) who seems to be in way over her head. The story sputters along from there, teasing us with moments that never really deliver the tension or scares we’re looking for. It isn’t until the very end that we get our first surprise – a sinister jolt that broadsides our expectations.
“The Containment” hits us with some stylish visual flourishes and some fairly creepy imagery. But it struggles mightily in distinguishing itself from the countless possession movies that have done the same thing better. The film isn’t helped by the shaky pacing, the lack of scares, and a noticeably dry lead performance. But its the copy-and-paste adherence to the possession movie formula that drags everything down. And even an unexpected kick at the end isn’t enough to bring it to life.
Keith & the Movies 