Based on the short story of the same name by George R. R. Martin, “In the Lost Lands” is an upcoming action-fantasy epic from director Paul W. S. Anderson. The film stars Anderson’s real-life wife Milla Jovovich who he previously worked with on the Resident Evil film series and more recently “Monster Hunter”. The film also stars Dave Bautista who can be good if given the right material. The first trailer dropped today and it’s hard to get a good feel for what to expect.

From the trailer the film’s fantastical story is a little hard to put together. It sees Jovovich playing a powerful witch named Gray Alys who’s on a mission to the violent post-apocalyptic wilderness known as the Lost Lands. Ahead of her journey she hires a guide named Boyce (Bautista) who is familiar with the dangers that lie ahead. The two immediately encounter a variety of threats, some natural and some not so much. The film looks to incorporate a heavy does of dark fantasy action and it looks to have an equally dark story. Hopefully that story has enough meat on its bones to stay interesting.

“In the Lost Lands” opens in theaters February 28th. Check out the trailer below and let me know if you’ll be seeing it or taking a pass.

Recently I shared my Top 10 films of 2024 (you can check them out HERE). Today is a far less joyous occasion. As I’ve often done in the past, today I’m sharing my choices for the five worst movies I saw this past year. It’s sad to say but there were quite a lot to choose from. But who takes these things seriously anyway? So without further ado, here are my picks. Enjoy….I guess.

Dishonorable Mentions: “Babygirl”, “Dirty Angels”, “Red One”, “Lonely Planet”, “The Killer’s Game”, “Tarot”, “Kinds of Kindness”, “The Crow”, “The Union”, “A Family Affair”, “The Exorcism”, “Something in the Water”, “Sunrise”, “Mean Girls”, “The Apprentice”

#5 – “Space Cadet”

The premise of “Space Cadet” isn’t very encouraging. Then you actually watch the movie and realize it’s worse than expected. “Space Cadet” is absurd in all the wrong ways. You do feel for Emma Roberts who does everything she can to make us laugh or at least care about what we’re seeing. Sadly, her efforts are in vain as the material is just too bad for her or anyone else to overcome.

#4 – “Anora”

I know, I know. People love this thing which may lead some to accuse me of being a contrarian. But nothing could be further from the truth. I left the theater with the same opinion I have now – “Anora” is a messy and shallow grind. It’s a numbingly exhausting 140 minutes spent with annoying characters with practically no meaningful depth.  And good luck finding an emotional core amid the endless yelling, constant arguing, and (at times) brain-melting dialogue.

#3 – “Madame Web”

It certainly wasn’t a great year for superhero movies. Sony’s SpiderVerse had an especially tough time led by the train-wreck that was “Madame Web”. I feel bad for Dakota Johnson who I’m sure received a nice paycheck but who didn’t exactly get a career boost with this one. The movie was risky from the start. But I can’t imagine many expected such catastrophic results. Bland story, bland protagonists, a bland villain, and bland action. That’s not a winning formula.

#2 – “The Strangers: Chapter 1”

I really responded to 2008’s home invasion horror film “The Strangers”. Sadly “The Strangers: Chapter One” captures none of what made the original successful. It’s essentially a stripped-down version of the original film that has us spending most of the running time waiting for something to happen. There’s barely enough material here to fill a 30-minute pilot episode much less a feature length movie. And when something FINALLY does happen, it isn’t worth the wait.

#1 – “Mea Culpa”

Tyler Perry’s self-branded feature “Mea Culpa” clearly wants to be a legal, psychological, and erotic thriller all wrapped into one. The problem is the film isn’t remotely thrilling in any imaginable way. Instead, this astonishingly bad, completely hollow, and downright trashy straight-to-streaming debacle only gets by on its handful of unintentional laughs. There’s certainly talent in the cast, but sadly they’re trapped in a no-win situation. And so is the audience.

Today I’m wrapping up my look back at the best performances of 2024 with what I believe is the strongest category of the bunch – Lead Actor. It’s a group filled with exciting contenders making it tough to narrow them down to only five. But that’s how these silly lists work so let’s get to it. Here are my five favorite Lead Actor performances along with some worthy honorable mentions.

Honorable Mentions: Cillian Murphy (“Small Things Like These”), Victor Clavijo (“The Wait”), Ralph Fiennes (“Conclave”), Jonas Dassler (“Bonhoeffer”), David Dastmalchian (“Late Night with the Devil”), Colman Domingo (“Sing Sing”), Jesse Eisenberg (“A Real Pain”), John David Washington (“The Piano Lesson”), Nicholas Hoult (“Juror #2”), Austin Butler (“The Bikeriders”), James McAvoy (“Speak No Evil”), Kevin Costner (“Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1”), Michael Keaton (“Goodrich”)

#5 – Hugh Grant (“Heretic”)

I’m loving this current phase in Hugh Grant’s already superb movie career. His latest performance in the horror thriller “Heretic” only emphasizes why. “Heretic” is unquestionably the talkiest horror movie of the year but that plays right to Grant’s strength. He’s disarmingly funny, devilishly charming, and utterly terrifying once the movie calls for it. This is easily one of the most entertaining performances of the year.

#4 – Adrien Brody (“The Brutalist”)

In “The Brutalist”, Adrien Brody continues his trend of consistently delivering top-tier performances regardless of the genre he’s working in. Here he plays an accomplished architect and Holocaust survivor who emigrates to the United States. Brody pours himself into the role with the same intensity as he did in “The Pianist”. While this film isn’t as good, Brody’s performance is worthy of the same attention.

#3 – Jean Dujardin (“On the Wandering Paths”)

Many people on this side of the pond were introduced to Jean Dujardin through his Oscar-winning performance in 2011’s “The Artist”. But the actor has made many notable films before and after that highly acclaimed feature. Take this year’s “On the Wandering Paths”. Dujardin has always had charisma to spare, but it’s the humanity that shines brightest in his best work. We certainly get that in this rich and soulful performance.

#2 – Jude Law (“The Order”)

I’ve long appreciated Jude Law. His latest series of projects have only made my appreciation grow. None have been better than “The Order” where Law gives one of the best performances of his 35-year career. Sporting a thick mustache and a world-weary veneer, Law is completely convincing as a dedicated but flawed FBI agent on the trail of a rural white supremacist group. “The Order” is one of 2024’s best surprises, and Jude Law is a crucial part of the film’s success.

#1 – Timothée Chalamet (“A Complete Unknown”)

To be honest, I had no real expectations when it came to Timothée Chalamet playing Bob Dylan. But much as he did in this year’s “Dune: Part Two”, the young actor bowled me over. In addition to his impressive committed acting, Chalamet sings and plays his own songs which only enhances his overall work. It’s easily one of the most challenging roles of the year, and Chalamet’s seamless fusion of music and drama puts this on the top of my list.

And that wraps up another celebration the best performances of the year. Thanks for following along. I’d love to hear what would have made your list in the comments section below.

With the supporting performances in the books today we began the task of looking back at the very best lead performances from 2024. As usual we’ll start with lead actress, a category chock-full of worthy considerations. There were several very deserving leading ladies making this a challenging category to narrow down. But such is the nature of these silly lists so let’s get to it.

Honorable Mentions: Kate Winslet (“Lee”), Marianne Jean-Baptiste (“Hard Truths”), Saoirse Ronan (“The Outrun”), Kirsten Dunst (“Civil War”), Jodie Comer (“The Bikeriders”), Lily-Rose Depp (“Nosferatu”), Adria Arjona (“Hit Man”), Angelina Jolie (“Maria”), Cate Blanchett (“Rumours”), Daisy Edgar Jones (“Twisters”), Lupita Nyong’o (“A Quiet Place: Day One”), Maika Monroe (“Longlegs”), Pamela Anderson (“The Last Showgirl”), Vicky Krieps (“The Dead Don’t Hurt”)

#5 – Soheila Golestani (“The Seed of the Sacred Fig”)

There’s A LOT going on in Mohammad Rasoulof’s captivating political thriller “The Seed of the Sacred Fig” and lead actress Soheila Golestani is the linchpin that holds it all together. She plays a wife and mother torn between her loyalty to her husband and the well-being of their two daughters. Golestani navigates the simmering political and domestic drama with remarkable control which is essential to what Rasoulof is going for.

#4 – Nathalie Emmanuel (“Megalopolis”)

You won’t find much awards talk about Francis Ford Coppola’s “Megalopolis”, but I’m not ashamed to say I loved it. One of its strengths lies in the performance of Nathalie Emmanuel which is a significant piece of the film’s audacious story. Emmanuel’s character offers us a distinct perspective on the many themes Coppola is exploring and she brings some much-needed heart amid the corporate and creative chaos. Emmanuel is our emotional anchor and deserves recognition for what she’s able to pull off.

#3 – June Squibb (“Thelma”)

Now here’s a more lighthearted yet equally deserving pick. June Squibb brings heart, humor, and incredible personality to “Thelma”, one of the most enjoyable comedies of the year. Squibb has an effortless charm that once again shows itself in her latest film. But she’s also strikingly authentic which makes a movie like this even more endearing. Don’t miss her in “Thelma”. She’s an absolute delight.

#2 – Christiana Dell’Anna (“Cabrini”)

It seems so long ago, but one of the year’s best performances came in March in director Alejandro Monteverde’s biographical drama “Cabrini”. A fiercely committed Cristiana Dell’Anna offers a subdued yet powerful portrayal of Catholic missionary Francesca Cabrini who tirelessly worked on behalf of immigrant children in 1889 New York City. It’s a stirring and deeply empathetic performance that has stuck with me since first seeing it.

#1 – Fernanda Torres (“I’m Still Here”)

Among the easiest choices for this list is Fernanda Torres. She is the emotional force behind “I’m Still Here”, the Brazilian political thriller that tells the true story of Eunice Paiva, a wife and mother navigating through a harrowing political whirlwind. Torres is fearless but also remarkably restrained which fuels some of the movie’s most heart-wrenching scenes. This was an eye-opening turn for me, and how Torres isn’t topping every Best Actress list is beyond me.

And that does it for the Lead Actress category. See something I miss? Let me know in the comments. There’s only one category left – Lead Actor. Look for it tomorrow.

Last night the Hollywood Foreign Press returned with the 82nd Golden Globe Awards. 2024 wasn’t the greatest year for movies and the current awards season has certainly reflected that. But to the show’s credit it did shake up what looked to be a fairly predictable evening. There were a few surprises (one really exciting one) and an interesting choice or two that hopefully will set up a little drama for Oscar night.

As I do every year, here are a few random thoughts on this year’s Golden Globes awards...

• One of the two biggest awards of the night went to “The Brutalist”. It won Best Picture – Drama which punches its ticket as a legitimate contender for the Best Picture Oscar. It’s a mostly good movie but not one I’d vote for.
• Far more bewildering is “Emilia Perez” winning for Best Picture – Musical or Comedy. I’ve had a hard time believing the film ever had a shot. But apparently it does (for reasons that escape me). Now it looks like the stage is set for it to duke it out with “The Brutalist”.
• To the credit of the Hollywood Foreign Press, they didn’t get onboard with the wild “Anora” hype. Sean Baker’s numbingly messy film had been touted as a possible big winner but it went home empty-handed. I wouldn’t be upset if the same thing happens on Oscar night.
• Best Supporting Actress goes to Zoe Saldaña for “Emilia Perez”. Again it’s movie I didn’t love that somehow received ten nominations. That said, Saldaña was terrific and well deserving of the award. She’s always been an underrated actress and this was a big moment for her.
• Zoe Saldaña also gave one of the best acceptance speeches of the evening. It was so full of humility, excitement, and gratefulness. It was hard not to be moved.
• Adrien Brody won Best Actor – Drama for “The Brutalist” and followed it with another moving speech. While I’m not as in love with the movie as many seem to be, his performance was absolutely brilliant and among the year’s best.

• The very best surprise of the night came in the Best Actress – Drama category. The phenomenal Fernanda Torres wins for “I’m Still Here”, a movie that didn’t receive its due from the critics group awards (mine included). It’s easily among the year’s very best performances and hopefully this will be the first of several nods it’ll get over the next few weeks.
• Nikki Glaser was a solid host, opening the show with some pretty good zingers. It was nothing especially memorable, but she got some laughs and did what she could to keep the show rolling.
• Less impressive were the comedy bits from the presenters. They routinely went on for way too long and the attempts at comedy often fell flat. How about next year we replace those with actual clips from the nominees?
• Best Supporting Actor goes to Kieran Culkin for “A Real Pain”. He beat out Guy Pearce (“The Brutalist”) and Denzel Washington (“Gladiator II”) who were the strongest of the bunch. But there’s no denying Culkin gave a really good performance.
• The cantankerous Harrison Ford was hilarious. Whether presenting or any time the camera caught a glimpse of him in his seat, Ford looked like he’d rather be anywhere other than where he was. I couldn’t help but laugh.
• In a category with several head-scratching nominees, “Conclave” wins for Best Screenplay. It’s a movie that I loved right up until it comes unglued in its sloppy final 15 minutes. I’m not sold it will take home the Oscar, but this is big win for it.
• One of the more obvious yet still frustrating wins went to “Emilia Perez” for Best Non-English Language Film. How it beat such strong movies as “I’m Still Here” and “The Seed of the Sacred Fig” continues to baffle me. But it’s that kind of year.
• Best Animated Feature went to “Flow” which beats out “The Wild Robot”. It’s somewhat of a surprise and it’ll be interesting to see if it plays out the same way at the Oscars.
• Demi Moore beats Mikey Madison to win Best Actress – Musical or Comedy. Madison had been winning everything until Moore begin shaking things up. I wasn’t a fan of either movie, but it does make things interesting come Oscar night.

• And I’m sorry, but I still have a hard time seeing “The Substance” as a comedy. But apparently some do so…
• Speaking of Demi Moore, she too gave a really good speech. In it she said “I’ve been doing this for 45 years and this is the first time I’ve ever won anything as an actor.” That has now changed and as an proud 80s kid I’m happy for her.
• Sebastian Stan took home the award for Best Actor – Musical or Comedy. He gave a solid performance in “A Different Man” although not what I would consider awards worthy. That said, it’s considerably better than his performance in the hysterically bad “The Apprentice” (which was also nominated).
• “Wicked” won for Cinematic and Box Office Achievement although I’m still not sure that’s much of a feat. I’m also not sure what the criteria is considering there were other nominees that were critical successes and made more money than it did. Oh well.
• And that’s the only award “Wicked” would win which restores a little faith in the process. But fear not, stars Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande were still able to continue their strange and awkward promotional tour which I’m guessing will continue through Oscar night.
• Brady Corbet wins Best Director for his three-hour indie “The Brutalist”. Later on in the night he would say “Final Cut tie-break goes to the director”. I agree, but it’s interesting considering his movie’s lone big flaw is due to that very thing.
• Best Original Score went to Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross for their work on “Challengers”. It wasn’t my favorite, but it’s certainly a propulsive score. And it’s considerably better than the movie its in.

And that wraps up my thoughts on the 2025 Golden Globes Awards. Did you watch the big show? What did you think of this year’s batch of winners?

Continuing my recognition of the best performances from the 2024 movie year (you can see my Supporting Actress picks HERE), today we’re putting the spotlight on the Supporting Actors. Much like yesterday, this was a really good category full of great choices from a variety of different movies. Narrowing them down to five wasn’t easy. So let’s get started…

HONORABLE MENTIONS: Richard Roundtree (“Thelma”), Kieran Culkin (“A Real Pain”), Samuel L. Jackson (“The Piano Lesson”), Edward Norton (“A Complete Unknown”), Boyd Holbrook (“A Complete Unknown”), Jeremy Strong (“The Apprentice”), Peter Sarsgaard (“September 5”), Ray Fisher (“The Piano Lesson”), Willem Dafoe (“Nosferatu”), Adam Pearson (“A Different Man”), Antonio Banderas (“Babygirl”), Josh Brolin (“Dune: Part Two”), August Diehl (“Bonhoeffer”)

#5 – Tom Hardy (“The Bikeriders”)

There hasn’t been much awards chatter for Jeff Nichols’ “The Bikeriders” and that’s unfortunate. Among the period biker drama’s many highlights was its superb ensemble which included Tom Hardy. He gives an appropriately gritty, tough-as-nails performance that’s flavored with a surprising amount of humanity. Hardy is always fun to watch because of the commitment he puts into every character he plays. He does it again to great effect in “The Bikeriders”.

#4 – Nicholas Hoult (“The Order”)

What a year it has been for Nicholas Hoult. He has shined in several performances in 2024, one of my favorite being as a committed white supremacist in Justin Kurzel’s exceptional “The Order”. This is such a change of pace for Hoult, but he uses that to make his character more believable and even more chilling. The performance is a testament to Hoult’s diversity as an actor and it’s an exciting sign of what he may have in store for us in the future.

#3 – Chris Hemsworth (“Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga”)

This was never a performance most awards voters were going to consider. But that doesn’t mean it isn’t deserving. Chris Hemsworth is a fun and charismatic actor who has never been afraid of taking wild and sometimes wacky chances. For proof look no further than his role as Dementus, the preening yet diabolical leader of a post-apocalyptic biker hoard in George Miller’s “Furiosa”. He’s mean, nasty, calculated, and utterly hilarious and Hemsworth savors every delicious moment.

#2 – Denzel Washington (“Gladiator II”)

We’ve reached a point where we just expect Denzel Washington to be great in whatever he’s in. And wouldn’t you know it, he never disappoints. He is an absolute scene-stealer in Ridley Scott’s period epic “Gladiator II”. The Oscar-winner has a ball playing a power-hungry broker who’s not afraid to get his hands dirty in order to get what he wants. Washington sells every facet of his character, bringing a gravitas that keeps us glued to every scene he’s in.

#1 – Guy Pearce (“The Brutalist”)

For decades I have been championing Guy Pearce as an actor who never seems to get the recognition he deserves. That looks to be changing following his performance in “The Brutalist”. While I didn’t quite love the film the way I hoped to, Pearce was nothing short of magnetic playing a devilishly charming yet predatory industrialist. He is such a good fit for the character and the seasoned screen veteran offers an acting masterclass that simply can’t be overlooked.

That wraps up the supporting categories. What did I get right or wrong? Let me know in the comments section below. Stay tuned….the lead performances are coming up next.