Guy Ritchie’s latest star-studded action-adventure cocktail is “In the Grey”, a film that has the same energy as the director’s 2024 film “The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare”. At least that’s the impression we get from its first trailer that just released yesterday. It’s a rip-roaring first look that shows off a nice cast, some good laughs, and (of course) plenty of action. There’s still a lot to the story that we don’t yet know. But that’s a good thing.

“In the Grey” is strengthened by a compelling ensemble that includes Jake Gyllenhaal, Henry Cavill, Eiza González, and Rosamund Pike. Gyllenhaal and Cavill play two covert operatives led by their handler (Gonzalez) to steal back billions of dollars from a ruthless tyrant. Of course they’ll have to use all of their skills if they’re going to take on the despot’s “reasonably experienced” private army. This looks right up Ritchie’s alley, and if the movie plays as good as the trailer, we might be in for a treat.

“In the Grey” hits theaters May 15th. Check out the trailer below and let me know if you’ll be seeing it or taking a pass.

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment is bringing “The Patriot” to home video in an exciting new limited edition steelbook. Originally released in 2000, “The Patriot” remains an absorbing and entertaining Revolutionary War epic directed by Roland Emmerich and starring Mel Gibson as conflicted veteran Benjamin Martin. It also features a great turn by a young Heath Ledger, the always dependable Tom Wilkinson, and a deliciously vile villain role for Jason Isaacs. “The Patriot” would go on to be a box office success and eventually earn three Academy Award nominations.

“The Patriot” will be available in this special 4K Ultra HD steelbook edition on June 9th. See below for a full synopsis of the film as well as release information including a list of special features.

About the Film:

Year: 2000

Runtime: 165 Minutes & 175 Minutes

Director: Roland Emmerich

Screenwriters: Robert Rodat

Cast: Mel Gibson, Heath Ledger, Jason Isaacs, Tom Wilkinson, Chris Cooper, Joely Richardson, Rene Auberjonois, Gregory Smith, Trevor Morgan, Bryan Chafin, Mika Boorem, Logan Lerman, Skye McCole Bartusiak, Tcheky Karyo, Lisa Brenner

Rating: R for Strong War Violence

In 1776 South Carolina, widower and legendary war hero Benjamin Martin (Mel Gibson) finds himself thrust into the midst of the American Revolutionary War as he helplessly watches his family torn apart by the savage forces of the British Redcoats. Unable to remain silent, he recruits a band of reluctant volunteers, including his idealistic patriot son, Gabriel (Heath Ledger), to take up arms against the British. Fighting to protect his family’s freedom and his country’s independence, Martin discovers the pain of betrayal, the redemption of revenge and the passion of love.

Special Features:

DISC DETAILS & BONUS MATERIALS4K ULTRA HD DISC 1

• 165-minute Theatrical version of the film presented in 4K resolution with Dolby Vision
• English Dolby Atmos + English 5.1
• Special Features:
  • Director & Producer Commentary
  • The Art of War Featurette
  • The True Patriots Featurette
  • Theatrical Trailer

4K ULTRA HD DISC 2

• 175-minute Unrated version of the film presented in 4K resolution with Dolby Vision
• English Dolby Atmos + English 5.1
• Special Features:
  • 7 Deleted Scenes with Commentary
  • Visual Effects Featurette
  • Conceptual Art to Film Comparisons

It was nice to see the El Dorado Film Festival bring back one of its best short film categories. As its name reveals, the “Southern Made” selections shine the spotlight on a wonderful variety of short films that come seasoned with a uniquely Southern flavor. This year brings another entertaining collection that once again promotes a diverse range of visions.

Here are a few impressions out of the films included in this year’s block...

Written and directed by Cathlin McCullough, “The Oldest” tells a bittersweet story of a young girl forced into adulthood well before her time. Young Kate (played with heartwarming sincerity by Meara Wallace) is the oldest of her tight-knit siblings living in a rural home with their alcoholic father (Kristian Day). As the oldest, Kate steps in to take care of the house and her sisters. But deep down she dreams of a normal kid’s life. McCullough vividly defines Kate’s reality yet for a brief period she’s allowed to escape through a beautifully captured montage that hits like a ton of bricks. Honest, evocative, and deeply impactful.

VERDICT – 4.5/5

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Rob Senska brings his skills as a cinematographer to the director’s chair with his visually driven and quietly powerful “Ashes”. Senska slyly blends genre elements with his own wildly original ideas, all in an effort to tell an affecting yet uplifting story about overcoming childhood trauma. The story is not one you summarize. Instead you experience it – allowing the images to transport you as you pick up carefully placed clues along the way. A mysterious cat, a ravenous werewolf, and one determined young boy (Maximilian Good) all play key parts in this impressive visual fantasy that’s firmly grounded in real-life experience.

VERDICT – 4/5

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“Emma’s Social Battery” is a love letter of its own wacky kind to introverts who just need some alone time to recharge from social fatigue. That’s certainly the case for Emma (Olivia Peck) who has a new job and is afraid her social exhaustion may push away her newly made friends and colleagues. Co-written and co-directed by Jannet Lopez and Carlos Jimenez, the film takes a turn after Emma invites her new friends over for a dinner party. And as Emma’s social battery drains, the interactions only get zanier. Peck clearly has a blast while Lopez and Jimenez surround a resonating message with some proudly silly humor.

VERDICT – 3.5/5

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The sister duo of Marquel Skinner and Blair Skinner team up to make “Bot”, one the funnier and most maddeningly relatable films I saw at this year’s El Dorado Film Festival. Blair directs while Marquel writes and stars in this swift yet pointed short about a woman who begins to question her humanity after getting stuck in an endless parade of CAPTCHA tests while trying to order concert tickets online. Blair’s crisp and fluid direction propels the story while Marquel’s hysterical script is only matched by her quick-witted performance. Keep your eye out for this one.

VERDICT – 4/5

A true highlight from Day 3 of the 2025 El Dorado Film Festival was Short Film Block #2, yet another curated collection of shorts created by inspired filmmakers from near and far. Block #2 featured an exceptional group of short films that explored a wide range of themes through various interesting genres. It was the strongest top-to-bottom block of the festival.

Here are a few impressions out of the films included in the block…

Director Sam Henderson’s astonishing “Ado” is an intensely affecting short film that uses incredibly heavy subject matter to speak to the infinite value of school teachers. As a husband to a teacher of nearly thirty years, Henderson’s film is profoundly effective and necessary. He and his co-writer Ryan Romine tell a sobering story about a middle school drama teacher named Mrs. Hopkins (Jenifer Lewis) who has her class interrupted in the most unimaginable way. It’s equal parts moving and terrifying with Henderson handling his material with seriousness and sensitivity. And while his direction is superb, the film wouldn’t be what it is without the sensational central performance from Lewis. She will leave you speechless.

VERDICT – 4.5 STARS

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The straightforward title “Em and Selma Go Griffin Hunting” pretty much sums up the story nicely. Yet to no surprise, there is a lot more going on under the surface of writer-director Alex Thompson’s thematically rich and visually captivating experience. The story is set in the 1930s but has a dark fantasy element that Thompson shrewdly uses to press his film’s deep-running themes. Selma (Pollyanna McIntosh) accompanies her daughter Em (Milly Shapiro) on a hunt to kill a dangerous griffin as part of some warped rite of passage. But Em’s reluctance puts her at odds with her mother and in danger of incurring the creature’s wrath. The film is shot in stunning black-and-white and features spectacular visual effects, all of which Thompson skillfully uses to amplify his film’s overall meaning.

VERDICT – 4.5/5

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In 1893 Cornwall, a fisherman’s wife named Betty (Beatie Edney) shocks the medical world by being the first person to cure someone of Consumption (aka Tuberculosis). A determined doctor and relative Gregory (Ali Cook, who also writes and directs) is sent to her village to investigate and potentially disprove the claims. But rather than receiving a logical medical explanation, Gregory is told a fantastical tale from Betty that’s too preposterous for him to believe. That’s a general introduction to “The Pearl Comb”, a brilliantly conceived and crafted short film that surprises at every turn. The film is strengthened by top-to-bottom stellar performances, not to mention terrific costume and production design. But it’s Cook’s audacious vision that makes “The Pearl Comb” an engaging and immersive delight.

VERDICT – 4.5/5

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Pulling inspiration in Ivan Turgenev’s 1850 Russian short story, director Sam Davis finds hope, humanity, and communion in his warm-hearted Oscar-nominated short film “The Singers”. It’s set late at night in a remote dive bar where a number of blue-collar, world-weary men bare their souls to fellow drinkers. The film features a small yet colorful batch of characters including a broke construction worker who continues to hound the other patrons for some beer money. Tired of his begging, the bartender offers him $100 and a beer if he can out-sing an elderly regular. Before long nearly everyone joins in which takes the film in a whole new smile-inducing direction. “The Singers” is currently streaming on Netflix and it shouldn’t be missed.

VERDICT – 4.5/5

One of the El Dorado Film Festival’s highlights is its strong support of short films from around the world. And this year’s lineup may be their best yet. Short Film Block #1 offered festivalgoers a curated collection of eight short films that spanned different genres and showcased several fresh and exciting voices. It made for a great kick-off the second full day of the festival.

Here are a few impressions out of the eight films included in the block…

An imaginative and unexpectedly tender story lies of the heart of “Patina”, a subtle blend of life-affirming drama and time-hopping science-fiction from writer-director Jake Hull. Charles John Wilson plays 12-year-old Jackson who begrudgingly joins his father at a nursing home to visit his grandpa on his 84th birthday. It’s there that Jackson has a surprise encounter with a “giant” elderly woman named Patina (Casey Camp-Horinek) who’s looking for her lost pocket watch. Jackson ends up finding her cherished heirloom which transports him back in time where he meets someone who will forever change his life. “Patina” offers a moving examination of memories and the connections we make through them.

VERDICT- 3.5/5

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“Fireflies in the Dusk” is an offbeat time-travelling culture clash comedy that seems custom-made for a feature film adaptation. Writer-director Jonathan Hammond transports us back in time to the Victorian Era where Charlotte (Emily Gross) is being pushed by her mother Edith (Amy Yasbeck) to marry the stiffly proper Cecil (Hale Appleman). But her heart belongs to another – a goofball from our modern day named Zach (Nick Ballard). The two exchange love letters through a magic, time traveling desk drawer. But when a desperate Charlotte crosses over through time, the story takes some wild turns. The story doesn’t always make sense and it milks some jokes dry. But the chaos keeps you glued to the screen, even as the whole thing threatens to fly off the rails.

VERDICT – 3/5

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Jonah Haber’s “We Were” is an emotionally rich meditation on the trajectory of life and love as seen through the reflections of a brokenhearted man named David (Kevin Romano). We peer back to the tender affection that 10-year-old David shared with a young girl named Janelle (Vivienne Cvetkovski). We then see him in high school with his first true love, Amy (Amanda Thamage). And then we visit his adult years with his girlfriend Mia (Jessa Richer). But when David and Mia’s relationship falls apart, all he’s left with are the echoes of bittersweet memories that hearken back to some of the best and worst times in his life. Haber examines it all through an evocative lens and with the kind of emotional honesty that should speak to anyone’s heart.

VERDICT – 4.5 STARS

This year the El Dorado Film Festival once again showcased the Top 5 finalists from last Fall’s Louisiana Film Prize. The ever impressive Louisiana Film Prize is a Shreveport-based short film competition and festival that was founded in 2012. As it routinely does, this year’s block included an exciting array of voices belonging to some truly intriguing filmmakers from across the country.

Here are a few impressions from this year’s block…

Alexander Jeffery directs, writes, edits, and produces “The Old Man at the Bar”, a thoughtful and transporting short that subtly hearkens back to the timeless filmmaking of old. Sumptuously shot with a striking eye for detail, Jeffrey ushers us into a Paris bar where two servers (Abby Tozer and Noah Silver) are closing for the night. But before they can, in walks an older American gentleman (Stan Brown) who takes a seat at a table and orders a bottle of wine. From there we simply observe as the three share an encounter that challenges one of them to re-examine their heart. It’s elegantly crafted by Jeffery and driven by three terrific performances, none better than the superb Tozer who conveys the very essence of her character yet leaves so much to our imagination. She’s a crucial part of what makes this gem shine.

VERDICT – 5/5

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Rachael Hudson’s “Girl Dad” is an endearing short film that has the kind of lingering impact that will stick with fathers of all makes and models. Hudson’s evocative direction brings writer and star Ty Hudson’s deeply affecting story to life. He plays a father named Anthony who we observe playing with his daughter Emily during various phases of her life. It starts when Emily is 5-years-old and continues until she’s in her early teens. During each stop on their timeline we’re fed morsels of information about their relationship. And while their connection is undeniably heartwarming, it’s Hudson’s deeper interests that give the movie an emotional punch that you won’t soon get over.

VERDICT – 4.5/5

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The very premise of writer-director Michael Cusumano’s “Last Minute” should resonate with any of us parents with good and/or bad memories of those late-night homework sessions in the pre-internet days. The exhaustion, the frustrations, the verbal sparring. But also the laughs, the connections, and the bonding that we may not have fully appreciated in the moment. Set in 1989, Cusumano’s story follows a single mom, Jackie (a wonderful Charity Schubert) and her 12-year-old son, Jason (Espyn Doughty) rushing to complete a science project that he forgot to mention until the night before it was due. Anyone old enough to remember 1989 will love the details scattered throughout. But it’s the colorful and authentic mother/son relationship at its core that gives the film its heartbeat.

VERDICT – 4/5

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The confounding healthcare industry gets some much-deserved scrutiny in writer-director John F. Beach’s surprising and insightful genre-bender “M.R.I. (or, Michael Returns Indefinitely”). Beach also stars in the film, playing a man named Michael who faces a series of unexplainable peculiarities while visiting his doctor for a scheduled M.R.I. exam. This bonkers blend of suspense, science-fiction, and black comedy wildly finds much of its inspiration in Beach’s own personal experiences. It’s all bound together by a clever script and some keen craftsmanship, highlighted by impressive visuals and striking sound design. Meanwhile its message isn’t spoon-fed to us, yet it hits like a hammer (as it should).

VERDICT – 4/5