Author Archives: Keith Garlington

New on Home Video: “Se7en” 4K Ultra HD Anniversary Edition

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Warner Bros. Discovery Home Entertainment is celebrating the 30th anniversary of David Fincher’s acclaimed psychological crime thriller “Se7en” by bringing it to 4K Ultra HD for the very first time. Led by powerful performances from Academy Award winners Brad Pitt, Morgan Freeman, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Kevin Spacey, “Se7en” has left an indelible mark and is rightfully heralded by many as one of the best movies of its time (see my full review of the film HERE).

This beautiful 4K Ultra HD anniversary edition of “Se7en” includes a digital copy and will be available to purchase on January 7th. See below for a full synopsis and release info including a list of special features.

About the Film:

Year: 1995

Runtime: 127 Minutes

Directors: David Fincher

Screenwriters: Andrew Kevin Walker

Cast: Brad Pitt, Morgan Freeman, Gwyneth Paltrow, Richard Roundtree, R. Lee Ermey, Kevin Spacey, John C. McGinley, Julie Araskog, Richard Schiff, John Cassini, Reg E. Cathey, Peter Crombie, Richard Portnow, Mark Boone Junior, Hawthorne James, Michael Massee, Leland Orser

Rating: R for grisly afterviews of horrific and bizarre killings, and for strong language

Two cops (Brad Pitt and Morgan Freeman) track a brilliant and elusive killer who orchestrates a string of horrific murders, each kill targeting a practitioner of one of the Seven Deadly Sins. Gwyneth Paltrow also stars in this acclaimed thriller set in a dour, drizzly city sick with pain and blight. David Fincher (“Fight Club, Zodiac”, “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”) guides the action – physical, mental and spiritual – with a sure understanding of what terrifies us, right up to a stunning denouement that will rip the scar tissue off the most hardened soul.

Directed by three-time Academy Award nominee David Fincher (“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”, “The Social Network”, “Mank”) from a screenplay by Andrew Kevin Walker, the film stars Academy Award winner Brad Pitt (“Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood”), Academy Award winner Morgan Freeman (“Million Dollar Baby”), Academy Award winner Gwyneth Paltrow (“Shakespeare in Love”), along with John C. McGinley (“Platoon”), Golden Globe nominee R. Lee Ermey (“Full Metal Jacket”), and Academy Award winner Kevin Spacey (“The Usual Suspects”, “American Beauty”) as John Doe. The film is produced by Arnold Kopelson and Phyllis Carlyle. 

“Se7en” received an Academy Award nomination for Best Film Editing (Richard Francis-Bruce) at the 68th Academy Awards.  The film was also nominated for Best Original Screenplay (Andrew Kevin Walker) at the 49th British Academy Film Awards.

The 4K restoration of “Se7en” was completed at Warner Bros. Discovery’s Motion Picture Imaging (MPI) and was sourced from the original camera negative.  The restoration was overseen by director David Fincher.

Special Features:

“Se7en” Digital release and Ultra HD Blu-ray disc contain the following previously released special features:

  • Commentaries –
    • The Stars: David Fincher, Brad Pitt, Morgan Freeman
    • The Story: Richard Dyer, Andrew Kevin Walker, Richard Francis-Bruce, Michael De Luca, David Fincher
    • The Picture: Darius Khondji, Arthur Max, Richard Francis-Bruce, Richard Dyer, David Fincher
    • The Sound: Ren Klyce, Howard Shore, Richard Dyer, David Fincher
  • Deleted Scenes –
    • Car Ride in from Gluttony
    • My Future
    • Raid on Victor’s
    • Spare Some Change?
    • Tracy Wakes from Light Sleep
    • Pride
  • Alternate endings –
    • Animated storyboards of un-shot ending
    • Original “Test” ending
  • Still Photographs (featurettes) –
    • John Doe’s Photographs
    • Victor’s Decomposition
    • Police Crime Scene Photographs
    • Production Photographs
    • The Notebooks
  • Production Design (featurette)
  • Mastering for the Home Theater (featurette)
  • Exploration of the Opening Title Sequence: Early Storyboards (featurette)
  • Exploration of the Opening Title Sequence: Rough Version (featurette)
  • Exploration of the Opening Title Sequence: Final Edit (featurette)
  • Exploration of the Opening Title Sequence: Stereo Audio Commentary One – The Concept – Designer Kyle Cooper (featurette)
  • Exploration of the Opening Title Sequence: Stereo Audio Commentary Two – The Sound – Brant Biles & Robert Margouleff (featurette)
  • Theatrical EPK

REVIEW: “Homestead” (2024)

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Director Ben Smallbone gets some compelling material to work with in “Homestead”, a post-apocalyptic drama that has all the makings of an immersive big screen experience. The film takes its inspiration from the popular 2018 novel Black Autumn by Jeff Kirkham and Jason Ross. The book was the first in a 10-volume series which is now being adapted into an eight-episode streaming series by Angel Studios.

That last bit speaks to a hurdle “Homestead” has a tough time clearing. The movie does some solid tablesetting from building up the story’s complex world to introducing the characters who inhabit it. But just as the story reaches its dramatic crescendo, the film comes to a sudden halt. That’s because it’s all working towards the streaming series. There’s nothing inherently wrong with that. But it shortchanges those hoping for a more complete big screen experience.

Written for the screen by Phillip Abraham, Leah Bateman and Jason Ross, the movie opens with a jolt as a nuclear bomb is detonated near Los Angeles. Soon after, the nation’s power grid is hacked and communications are cut off. These early signs of a crumbling society plunge the entire country into chaos. Fear leads to panic which leads to violence as desperate people scramble for supplies. Meanwhile information remains scarce, leaving the population spiraling into oblivion.

Image Courtesy of Angel Studios

Amid the turmoil we’re introduced to Jeff Eriksson (Bailey Chase), a combat hardened former Special Forces operator whose had a tough time setting aside his military persona since retiring. Despite his best efforts and the encouragement of his wife Tara (Kearran Giovanni), Jeff has struggled to connect with his kids, especially with his oldest son, Abe (Tyler Lofton). After the bomb is detonated, Jeff’s soldier side kicks into full gear. He gathers his family and heads to a place called Homestead.

Nestled on a sprawling property in the Rocky Mountains, Homestead is a massive fortified estate owned by a wealthy landowner named Ian Ross (Neal McDonough). Ian and his God-fearing wife Jenna (Dawn Olivieri) have been preparing for this day by building his own solar power system, indoor gardens for growing food, a warehouse stocked with rations, and an arsenal full of weapons. He even took the precaution of hiring Jeff and former members from his unit to lead his security force if something were to ever go down.

Early on, “Homestead” leads you to believe it’s some doomsday survivalist tale heralding the virtue of those with the foresight to be ready for the inevitable apocalypse. But as it turns out, the movie is smarter than that. It fairly quickly introduces a number of legitimate moral quandaries that none of their military background or end-of-the-world readiness prepared them for.

Image Courtesy of Angel Studios

Much of the film’s conflict is between Ian and Jeff – two men who see their situation through dramatically different lenses. Ian is determined to protect Jenna and their daughter Claire (Olivia Sanabia) at all costs. But he has genuine empathy for those unprepared and optimism that the government will eventually come to their aid. Jeff is a rock-hard realist who struggles to maintain a grasp on his humanity. His tactics are well-meaning but cold and forceful to the point that he’s unable to see beyond “the mission” at hand.

Things ratchet up more as refugees begin arriving at Homestead’s gates. The human dilemma becomes a significant plot point and adds an element to their situation that Ian never considered. His decisions get even tougher when more hostile threats arrive. The story takes a few unfortunate diversions including a schmaltzy teen romance that clashes with the rest of the movie. But overall Smallbone does a good job developing the drama and building tension.

Yet there’s still the nagging issue of the film playing like a big screen pilot episode with so much left unfinished. There are several story threads that are left dangling because they’re clearly intended for the series (take Jeff’s daughter and her prophetic visions). In fairness, the filmmakers never hide their intent and this isn’t the first film meant to frame what’s to follow. But “Homestead” needs a more solidifying third act and a payoff that does more than direct us to a streaming platform. Still, the movie succeeds in several ways, and it’s hard not to be absorbed in the dramatically rich setup we’re given.

VERDICT – 3 STARS

The Top 10 Films of 2024

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It’s hard to believe but another movie year has come and gone. Overall it has been an interesting yet somewhat disappointing year for movies. As always it had its share of surprises and more than a few letdowns. There were a decent number of box office successes, just as many undeserved bombs, and several trendy indies that are being pushed right through awards season. Things started slow but picked up in the final quarter which managed to save the year.

Now it’s late December, that time of the year where we critics complete our silly but fun annual ritual of picking the ten best movies from the past year. Interestingly, there has been a noticeable lack of variety among early top ten lists and awards announcements (at least more than usual). So I’m pretty proud to have one that stands out from the crowd. But enough jabbering. It’s time to get down to business.

As always, let me start by showing some love to my #11-20….

  • #20 – “The Wait”
  • #19 – “Thelma”
  • #18 – “Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga”
  • #17 – “Late Night with the Devil”
  • #16 – “On the Wandering Paths”
  • #15 – “Alien: Romulus”
  • #14 – “Bonhoeffer”
  • #13 – “Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter One”
  • #12 – “Gladiator II”
  • #11 – “Juror #2”

Now without further ado, here are my Top 10 Films of 2024.….

“The Bikeriders” – Jeff Nichols is a filmmaker who makes movies that speak to me. I’ve loved everything he’s done from his 2007 debut “Shotgun Stories” to his latest, “The Bikeriders”. Nichols puts together a tremendous ensemble led by the trio of Austin Butler, Jodie Comer, and Tom Hardy and immerses us in the biker culture of the mid to late 1960s. The style, the music, the attitude – it all coalesces into an authentic experience full of grease, grit, and human spirit. It’s yet another fascinating slice of Americana from Jeff Nichols. [REVIEW]

“September 5” – With “September 5”, director Tim Fehlbaum has crafted one of the most riveting edge-of -your-seat thrillers of the year. This taut journalism procedural chronicles the in-the-trenches work of the ABC Sports team covering the hostage crisis during the 1972 Munich Summer Olympics. “September 5” had me glued to the screen with its fiercely focused ensemble, its detailed recreation of ABC’s studio adjacent to the Olympic village, the gripping real-life intensity of its story, and the humanity that pulses through it all. Whatever you do, don’t sleep on this one. [REVIEW]

“I’m Still Here” – With “I’m Still Here”, Walter Salles delivers a powerful biographical drama driven by a Fernanda Torres performance that should be (but sadly isn’t) atop every Best Actress list. The searing screenplay from Murilo Hauser and Heitor Lorega tells the enthralling true story of a wife and mother in search of her missing husband while protecting her children in the middle of Brazil’s 21-year military dictatorship. Salles maintains a clear-eyed focus and firm control, conveying the horrors of the oppressive regime while emphasizing the family’s emotional journey. The results are intense, enlightening, and heart-wrenching. [REVIEW]

“The Order” – Justin Kurzel’s “The Order” sits comfortably as one of the biggest and best surprises of the 2024 movie year. Set to a striking 1980s rural Pacific Northwest backdrop, this riveting crime thriller is based on the true story of the FBI’s pursuit of a white supremacist terrorist group and its charismatic leader. Jude Law gives one of his best performances as does Nicholas Hoult who has had a remarkable year. They are essential to making “The Order” a thoroughly compelling thriller that emits a resonating urgency. [REVIEW]

“Nosferatu” – Despite having only three feature films to his name, Robert Eggers had already established himself as a visionary filmmaker with an unmistakable style. His fourth film, “Nosferatu” didn’t just cement his reputation – it added an exclamation mark. This is a Robert Eggers movie through and through from his stunning visuals to his masterful tone management. Most impressive is how he honors F. W. Murnau’s 1922 horror classic while still adding his own macabre twists. And he’s helped by an extraordinary cast that includes Lily-Rose Depp, Nicholas Hoult, Bill Skarsgård, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Willem Dafoe, Ralph Ineson, and Emma Corrin. [REVIEW]

“The Piano Lesson” – One of the year’s best ensembles come together to deliver another sterling feature film adaptation of an August Wilson stage play. “The Piano Lesson” marks the impressive directorial debut of Malcolm Washington whose older brother, John David leads a talent-rich cast which includes Danielle Deadwyler, Samuel L. Jackson, Michael Potts, Ray Fisher, Corey Hawkins, Erykah Badu, and Stephan James. Set in 1936 Pittsburgh, this is an authentic lived-in domestic drama with a tinge of the supernatural that kept me captivated throughout. [REVIEW]

“Megalopolis” – No film earned a more divided response than Francis Ford Coppola’s insanely ambitious “Megalopolis”. Most of the reactions have ranged from fascinated to perplexed to scornful. Without question this is a personal passion project that was never going to land with everyone. But “Megalopolis” is an imaginative tour de force that sees Coppola working free of anyone’s rules and expectations. His creation is as breathtaking as it is bewildering; as compelling as it is confounding. And it is every bit a visionary work meant to be absorbed, considered, and reconsidered. I loved every eccentric and extravagant second of it. [REVIEW]

“A Complete Unknown” – Timothée Chalamet playing Bob Dylan was not the recipe for success I expected. But then I saw “A Complete Unknown” and realized how wrong I was. Chalamet delivers one the year’s very best performances in James Mangold’s transporting biography of the American music legend. Outstanding supporting work from Monica Barbaro, Boyd Holbrook, Elle Fanning, and Edward Norton help bring this fascinating slice of music history to life. Together with Chalamet, they sing their own songs and play their own instruments to brilliantly recreate the 1960s New York folk scene. [REVIEW]

“Longlegs” – I’m not sure that any movie sat with me as long as “Longlegs”. This well-written, visually stunning, and utterly harrowing horror thriller found its genesis in the mind of writer-director Osgood Perkins. He takes us on a tense and terrifying journey that mixes the psychological with the supernatural. “Longlegs” features some of the year’s best cinematography from DP Andrés Arochi Tinajero and a superb lead performance from Maika Monroe. And of course there’s Nicholas Cage. In a year full of great horror movies, “Longlegs” remains the best chiller of the bunch. [REVIEW]

“Dune: Part Two” – Denis Villeneuve not only matched the brilliance of his 2021 adaptation of Frank Herbert’s classic science-fiction novel “Dune”, but he surpassed it with his sensational continuation in “Dune: Part Two”. This monumental sequel impressively builds upon the first film, staying true to the spirit of the source material but not shy about adding its own distinct flavor. The cast is extraordinary and the visual wizardry is astonishing. But it’s Villeneuve’s grand vision and keen ability to realize it on the screen that makes this such an unforgettable experience. [REVIEW]

And those are my Top 10 Films of 2024. What do you think of my list? What are your thoughts on the movie year as a whole? What was your favorite movie? Let me know in the comments section below. Until next year…

REVIEW: “Carry-On” (2024)

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This is not your ordinary Christmas movie. “Carry-On” is a surprise end-of-the-year action thriller from Netflix that’s sure to add some spice to your holiday season viewing. The film is directed by Jaume Collet-Serra who is probably known best for his past collaborations with Liam Neeson and Dwayne Johnson. With “Carry-On” he and screenwriter T.J. Fixman put together a no-nonsense throwback genre movie with clear “Die-Hard” inspiration.

“Carry-On” kicks off on Christmas Eve as a shadowy man meets with two members of the Russian mafia at a Christmas tree lot. The man, whose name is never revealed, quickly offs the two mobsters and leaves with a mysterious suitcase. The man (who I’ll refer to as the Antagonist) is played by Jason Bateman who is marvelously working against his usual comic type. It’s a rock-solid performance.

Image Courtesy of Netflix

Elsewhere we’re introduced to a young couple, Ethan (Taron Egerton) and Nora (Sofia Carson). Both work at Los Angeles International Airport – he as a TSA agent and she as an airlines operations manager. They’ve also found out Nora is pregnant with their first child which has Ethan a little antsy. He’s been frustrated since being rejected by the police academy. Since then he has spent three years in an entry level position with the TSA and showing no incentive to move up.

With reality setting in, Ethan convinces his supervisor (Dean Morris) to give him a chance to earn a promotion. He’s tasked with monitoring one of the baggage scanners where someone leaves an earbud in one of his trays. Through it he’s contacted by the Antagonist who orders Ethan to allow a certain piece of carry-on luggage to pass through the scanner otherwise Nora will be killed. Ethan tries to outsmart the Antagonist but quickly leans he is always one step behind.

Image Courtesy of Netflix

Meanwhile, LAPD detective Elena Cole (the always welcomed Danielle Deadwyler) traces the murder of the two Russian mobsters to a potent nerve agent. Her investigation eventually leads her to LAX where she becomes yet another player in Collet-Serra’s high-stakes game of cat-and-mouse. From there it’s all about moving his players from point to point while keeping the audience guessing about how things are going to play out. “Carry-On” certainly succeeds in doing that.

It’s hard to make the case that “Carry-On” breaks new ground in the action-thriller genre. But as I’ve preached before, not every movie needs to. There’s always room for well-written, well-directed, and well-acted features that know exactly what kind of movie they want to be. That’s precisely what “Carry-On” is. And cheers to Jaume Collet-Serra for knowing what he wanted to make and sticking by those convictions. His movie benefits from it and so do we. “Carry-On” is now streaming on Netflix.

VERDICT – 4 STARS

REVIEW: “Nutcrackers” (2024)

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Christmas in small town Ohio is the backdrop to “Nutcrackers”, yet another ‘fish out of water’ feel-good story, this time from director David Gordon Green. Following some lukewarm swings at franchise horror with three Halloween movies and one Exorcist sequel, Green attempts to lighten things up with “Nutcrackers”. Unfortunately he ends up with pretty mixed results.

Ben Stiller takes on his first lead role in seven years playing Michael, a development manager at a prominent real estate firm in Chicago. We meet him as he’s on his way to Ohio to take care of some family business. We learn that his sister and her husband were tragically killed in a car accident leaving behind their four young sons. As the only living relative, Michael has to sign papers before the children can be placed with their new foster family.

Image Courtesy of Hulu

Michael’s plans are for a quick trip as he’s due back in Chicago for an important sales pitch for his firm. But his plans derail after he arrives and is greeted by Gretchen Rice (Linda Cardellini) with the Department of Family Services. She informs him that the potential foster family backed out and he must assume custody until another family can be found. Clearly unequipped and unprepared, city boy Michael finds himself out of his element on his late sister’s farm with four rambunctious kids to wrangle.

A huge chunk of the movie is spent on Michael’s culture clash with his four nephews, Justice, Junior, Samuel, and Simon (played by real-life brothers, 12-year-old Homer, 10-year-old Ulysses, and 8-year-old twins Arlo and Atlas Janson). It’s the centerpiece of what is a cliché-riddled story that’s full of cheap humor and country-fried rural stereotypes. Amid the stream of fart jokes, farm animal cracks, and one painful and neverending sex-ed gag, Green and screenwriter Leland Douglas try to develop something resembling an emotional center but it never feels authentic.

Image Courtesy of Hulu

To Stiller’s credit, he does bring a little warmth, and he manages to make Michael’s eventual internal conflict somewhat believable. But he’s trapped within a terribly predictable character arc that hits every single beat you expect. Absolutely nothing will surprise you about what his character does and where he ends up. And while Cardellini is every bit as good as she always is, she’s given very little to do which seems like such a waste.

By the final act, Green shelves the attempts at comedy and goes for the tear ducts with a sentimental finish that might have tugged at our heartstrings if not for the lackluster hour that preceded it. You can sense what the movie is shooting for and you can imagine ways that it might have worked. But the lack of originality, the overreliance on a tired formula, and the uninspired humor keeps the movie from ever earning our investment.

VERDICT – 2 STARS

MERRY CHRISTMAS !!!

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It’s hard to believe another year has come and gone. I just wanted to take a moment out of the hustle and bustle of Christmas Day to wish all of you a very Merry Christmas. Thanks for all of the visits to this site, the time you’ve put into reading my reviews and/or features, and the great comments and conversations we have had. You all are a big part of what makes this film critic gig so much fun.

I hope each of you have a wonderful and blessed Christmas. Enjoy your time with family and friends and here’s wishing you all the very best in the upcoming year.