Information has been sparse concerning the John Wick movies but news came a while ago about a new film that will expand the John Wick universe. That movie is “Ballerina”, or more properly, “From the World of John Wick: Ballerina”. It’s a film that was immediately met with a lot of hesitation. But the long-awaited first trailer alleviates many of the concerns. It very much looks like a John Wick movie. And seeing the beloved faces of Ian McShane, Lance Reddick (in his final screen role), Anjelica Huston, and Keanu Reeves himself only strengthens that sentiment.
Franchise director Chad Stahelski hands the reins to Len Wiseman (the Underworld films). The story is set between John Wick Chapter 3 and Chapter 4 with Ana de Armas playing Eve Macarro, a ballerina turned assassin who sets out to pay back the people who killed her father. Her thirst for vengeance leads her down an action-fueled path that looks to follow the John Wick formula. And that’s a good thing!
“From the World of John Wick: Ballerina” is currently set to release June 6, 2025. Check out the trailer below and let me know if you’ll be seeing it or taking a pass.
If you ever needed evidence that the movie industry has changed, look no further than “Wolfs”. This new action comedy comes with a $200 million budget and is illuminated by the sheer star wattage of its two A-list leads, George Clooney and Brad Pitt. Those used to be the ideal ingredients for a robust big screen release. But not so with “Wolfs”. Instead (minus a very brief and limited theatrical run), “Wolfs” is releasing on AppleTV+. As I said, the industry has changed.
Much of the early conversations surrounding “Wolfs” have centered on its hefty budget, namely the salaries paid to the two stars (several outlets have reported $35 million each while Clooney has denied the figures). Either way, the movie will need to earn its money back without the aid of a theater release. It’s certainly possible, although for people like me, figuring up revenue generated on streaming services is akin to advanced calculus.
Image Courtesy of Apple Original Films
“Wolfs” is directed by Jon Watts whose most notable big screen credits are his three Spider-Man movies for Marvel Studios. Here he crafts a story that sees Clooney and Pitt playing two competing New York City fixers who are forced to work together over the course of one long winter night. There’s not much in terms of inspiration and the movie has its fair share of lulls. But the two stars pack enough individual charisma and comic chemistry to keep the movie afloat.
The movie opens in a $10,000 a night luxury penthouse where a prominent district attorney (Amy Ryan) finds herself in a pickle. In the middle of a rowdy fling, her much younger lover (Austin Abrams) winds up dead. Desperate to have her mess “cleaned” in order to avoid a reputation-killing scandal, the DA calls a number she was given in case she ever found herself in need. On the other end is a fixer played by Clooney (we never get his name) who specializes in handling such things. He immediately heads to the hotel.
Once he arrives he goes straight to work but is interrupted by another fixer played by Pitt (we never get his name either) who has been called to “clean up” the same mess. Against their wishes, the two are forced to work together. But what should be a simple job turns into a nightmare after they discover a backpack hidden behind a dresser containing $250,000 worth of heroin. Even worse, the dead body they’re supposed to dispose isn’t dead at all.
Image Courtesy of Apple Original Films
The majority of the movie follows our two fixers as they sort out who the drugs belong to and how they need to handle their college-aged tag-along. As they do, Watts offers up plenty of banter, much of which revolves around their mutual distrust and lone-wolf mentalities. Clooney and Pitt spit out several decent zingers but spend a lot of time lazily cursing on cue. Yet they remain effortlessly compatible on screen – a muscle they have previously flexed in their three Ocean’s films and other collaborations.
Still, great hair and million-dollar smiles from two former Sexiest Man Alive honorees can only carry a movie so far. A cluttered story, a few dull patches, and some comic misfires keep “Wolfs” from being the satisfying crowd-pleaser it could’ve been. But it’s still George Clooney and Brad Pitt – two actors who emanate charm and charisma. And when you put them on screen together, you have the kind of chemistry that makes overlooking shortcomings a little bit easier. “Wolfs” premieres today on AppleTV+.
Renowned American photographer, photojournalist, and war correspondent Lee Miller has left an impression on the 2024 movie year. First she was an inspiration for Kirsten Dunst’s character in Alex Garland’s “Civil War”. Now she’s the centerpiece of director Ellen Kuras’ “Lee”, a biographical drama based on the book “The Lives of Lee Miller” which was written by her son, Antony Penrose.
Kate Winslet offers a riveting portrayal of the film’s titular lead. Her passion for Lee Miller’s story is evident throughout her performance and led her to also serve as producer. Winslet and Kuras previously worked together on 2004’s “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind”. With “Lee”, the two set out to tackle a much different project – one that has been eight years in the making. Their labors were not in vain. “Lee” is an absorbing, well acted, and handsomely shot feature that captures the essence of this captivating figure.
Image Courtesy of Vertical
The story, penned by the screenwriting trio of Liz Hannah, John Collee, and Marion Hume, includes a broad range of characters, most of whom are based on real people from Miller’s life. In addition to Winslet, the film features a sparkling cast that includes Marion Cotillard, Andrea Riseborough, Alexander Skarsgård, Josh O’Connor, Andy Samberg, and Noémie Merlant. All help to invigorate different areas of Miller’s remarkable life.
The movie is framed through a 1977 interview an older Lee Miller (Winslet) has with an idealistic journalist (O’Connor). It’s a storytelling device the movie doesn’t need yet it has its poignant moments. Through the interview we’re introduced to younger Lee, a former model turned pugnacious party girl who enjoys hanging out with her rowdy friends in 1938 France. That’s where she meets and falls in love with Roland Penrose (Skarsgård), a British artist and curator.
Roland convinces Lee to follow him to London where the two settle down. Lee gets a job as a photographer with British Vogue magazine working under editor Audrey Withers (Riseborough). But as with so many others, Lee’s life changes as the Second World War intensifies. She gets word that her friends back in France are forced to flee underground as the Nazi’s occupy Paris. And soon after, the German’s begin bombing London. That leads Roland, a conscientious objector, to enlist as an air raid warden and camoufleur.
While the men went off to war, the women were expected to stay behind. But not Lee. She was inspired to be a war photographer but was immediately met with resistance from her magazine and even the British government. But she pushed back, eventually finding her way to the war zone. There she befriends and partners with Life magazine correspondent David Scherman (Samberg, giving a career-best performance). Together they travel across war-torn Europe, shooting field hospitals, combat in Saint-Malo, the liberation of Paris, suicide pacts in Leipzig, and the horrors of the Dachau concentration camp.
Image Courtesy of Vertical
Winslet and Kuras paint a fascinating portrait of Lee Miller. They reveal her to be ambitious and determined but also abrasive and impulsive. She’s seen as a straight-shooter to a fault, often dismissing any opinion or suggestion that doesn’t line up with her own. At the same time, it’s that very grit that strengthened her to push through countless barriers placed in front of her. Most importantly, Winslet accentuates Lee’s humanity by injecting humor, vulnerability, and pathos into her performance.
Among the many compelling aspects of “Lee” is watching Kuras build entire scenes around some of Miller’s most iconic images, from lounging with her friends in Mougins, France to bathing in Hitler’s bathtub. Other scenes are so affecting that we can only watch in unsettled silence. But all of them help to give us a well-rounded grasp of who Lee Miller was. And Winslet’s awards-worthy performance is icing on the proverbial cake. “Lee” opens in theaters on September 27th.
Ryan Coogler reteams with his favorite muse, Michael B. Jordan in “Sinners”, a movie that has been described as a supernatural gothic action horror film (whew, that’s a mouthful). Coogler and Jordan have already worked together on a range of films that includes “Fruitvale Station”, “Creed”, and “Black Panther”. The new trailer for their latest collaboration adds another unique entry into their catalog.
Set in 1930s Louisiana, “Sinners” sees Jordan playing a young man involved in a troubling event alongside his twin brother. The two return to their hometown in hopes of making a new start. But they find a sinister force waiting on them which sends them to someplace dark and unexpected. Hailee Steinfeld, Jack O’Connell, Wunmi Mosaku, Delroy Lindo, and Jayme Lawson also star. The trailer hints at a mysterious and compelling story. I can’t wait to see how it plays.
“Sinners” is set to release March 7, 2025. Check out the trailer below and let me know if you’ll be seeing it or taking a pass.
The impending death of their ailing father forces three estranged sisters back together in “His Three Daughters”, an intimate family drama written and directed by Azazel Jacobs. The movie had its world premiere over a year ago at the Toronto International Film Festival where it was picked up by Netflix for $7 million. What a bargain.
“His Three Daughters” is surprising in its simplicity. The opening line in this review is really the movie in a nutshell. But it’s that very simplicity that allows the film to set its feet and hone in on the raw, tangible emotions that drive its story. And Jacobs has just the right actresses to pull it off. Carrie Coon, Elizabeth Olsen, and Natasha Lyonne deliver unbridled performances of such authenticity and weight. Each help to anchor the film in their own distinct yet interconnected ways.
Image Courtesy of Netflix
As their father’s battle with late stage cancer reaches its end, his three daughters, Katie (Coon), Rachel (Lyonne), and Christina (Olsen), gather at his apartment in New York City to be with him during his final days. They meet their hospice representative Angel (Rudy Galvan) who fills them in on what to expect and informs them that their goal should be to make their father’s remaining days as painless and peaceful as possible.
But the main drama is found in the frayed relationships between the three women. Each has their own unique personalities and baggage. Some of the tensions have been packed away for years, and their overall lack of communication and connection has led all three to reach very different conclusions about the others. They try to put those conclusions aside for the sake of their father. But it’s only a matter of time before their proverbial lids blow off.
Katie is the oldest and has a hard time holding back her opinions. She’s prickly, obsessive, drinks when she gets anxious, and is always quick to criticize Rachel. It’s a reflection of her own trouble back home which she keeps bottled up. As for Rachel, she’s crass, detached, and spends the majority of her time smoking pot and betting on sports. It helps her to keep her emotions buried while avoiding the inevitable. Then there is the gentle Christina who spends the bulk of her time keeping the peace between her warring sisters. She is open-hearted and optimistic to a fault, often so aggressively looking for the bright side of things that she misses reality.
Image Courtesy of Netflix
The more time we spend with these three women, the more we learn about them. And the more we learn, the better we understand them. Jacobs’ incisive script adds layers to each woman, taking the necessary time to allow them to fully form. Emerging bitterness and resentment leads to confrontations, yet Jacobs never paints anyone as the bad guy. They don’t always earn our approval, but they do earn our empathy. It’s due to the characters being sharply written and achingly authentic in nearly every regard.
If you have experienced watching a loved one die, “His Three Daughters” will speak to you in a number of profound ways. Jacobs approaches his subject with honesty and clarity, avoiding theatrics and never hitting a false note. But even as his characters navigate the valley of death, they insightfully speak to the deeper meaning of life. It’s all anchored by the sublime performances from Coon, Lyonne, and Olsen who make us laugh and break our hearts. And they do so while giving us hope that good can come from life’s most painful events. “His Three Daughters” is now streaming on Netflix.
Universal Pictures Home Entertainment is set to release “Despicable Me 4” in a terrific Blu-ray and Digital combo-pack. “Despicable Me 4” was a box office hit, grossing just under $1 billion dollars. Amazingly the popular film series has earned over $5 billion and is the only animated franchise to ever do so. “Despicable Me 4” once again follows the adventures of reformed supervillain Gru (Steve Carell) and his high-energy family. And that’s precisely what fans want.
This new Blu-ray edition of “Despicable Me 4” will be available to purchase on September 24th. It will also be releasing on 4K Ultra HD on the same date. See below for a full synopsis and release information including special features.
About the Film:
Year: 2024
Runtime: 95 Minutes
Directors: Chris Renaud
Screenwriters: Mike White and Ken Daurio
Cast: Steve Carell, Kristen Wiig, Pierre Coffin, Joey King, Miranda Cosgrove, Stephen Colbert, Sofía Vergara, Will Ferrell, Steve Coogan, John DiMaggio, Chloe Fineman, Dana Gaier, Madison Polan, Tara Strong
Rating: PG
The world’s favorite supervillain-turned-Anti-Villain-League-agent returns for a bold new era of Minions mayhem in Illumination’s “DESPICABLE ME 4”, now with 2 mini-movies. Gru, Lucy and their girls welcome a new member to the family – Gru Jr. – who is intent on tormenting his dad, as a new nemesis shows up and forces the family to go on the run. This latest blockbuster chapter in the biggest global animated franchise in history is packed with nonstop action and filled with Illumination’s signature subversive humor.
Special Features:
TWO EXCLUSIVE MINION MINI MOVIES
Game Over and Over – After stumbling upon a powered-up game controller inside Gru’s lair, the mischievous Minions discover its ability to control one another, unleashing mayhem as they compete for high scores.
Benny’s Birthday – Benny finds himself trapped in a time loop of a Minion-style birthday party, encountering uproarious mischief at every turn.
Keith & the Movies 