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Predator: Badlands
Cast: Elle Fanning, Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi
Director: Dan Trachtenberg
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Nuremberg
Rami Malek, Russell Crowe, Richard E. Grant
• 148 min
Bugonia
Jesse Plemons, Emma Stone, Alicia Silverstone
Die, My Love
Jennifer Lawrence, Robert Pattinson, Nick Nolte
Sarah's Oil
Zachary Levi, Bridget Regan, Garret Dillahunt
Lost & Found in Cleveland
Martin Sheen, Liza Weil, Stacy Keach
Good Fortune
Seth Rogen, Aziz Ansari, Keke Palmer
• 98 min
Regretting You
Allison Williams, Mckenna Grace, Dave Franco
117 min
Roofman
Juno Temple, Peter Dinklage, Channing Tatum
One Battle After Another
Leonardo DiCaprio, Sean Penn, Benicio Del Toro
Karen Kingsbury's the Christmas Ring
Kelsey Grammer, Benjamin Hollingsworth, Jana Kramer
Back to the Future 40th Anniversary
Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Lea Thompson
• 116 min
Black Phone 2
Ethan Hawke, Mason Thames, Arianna Rivas
• 114 min
Coming Soon
The Running Man
Josh Brolin, Glen Powell, Lee Pace
Now You See Me: Now You Don't
Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Dave Franco
Wicked: For Good
Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Peter Dinklage
Avatar: Fire and Ash
Kate Winslet, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldaña
Song Sung Blue
Kate Hudson, Hugh Jackman, Michael Imperioli
Movie Guru's Current Movie Briefs
Since I write many of these briefs the day before the movies are released, what we have here are mostly ruminations on movies I have not yet seen. You will have to decide for yourself if these briefs have any value. I believe the less you know about a movie, the better chance you might enjoy it to the upside. Too many reviewers seem to go out of their ways to ruin for you with way too much information your upcoming movie experience. In fact my D graded Master’s Thesis proposed that reviews should be embargoed until after the opening weekends allowing moviegoers to see the movies fresh and without plot summaries taken right out of the press kits.
- Nuremberg
Rami Malek is the psychiatrist who delves into the mind of evil played by Russell Crowe. Either you are for or against Nazi theater. I believe it is terribly difficult to recreate the reality of the Holocaust, but every effort is worth a look. Stanley Kramer’s 1961 Judgement at Nuremberg, a successful all star depiction of the Nuremberg trials,is definitely a film you should watch.
- Sarah’s Oil
I hope people get out and see this movie about a poor child gaining vast wealth from an oil discovery in the early 20th century. This is a true story that I know very well from an earlier 1950’s fiction movie, George Stevens’ Giant starring Rock Hudson as the giant Texas oil well tycoon who marries the Washington D.C. liberal Elizabeth Taylor, and both of them friend to poor employee James Dean who inherits a plot of land which he turns into his own path to riches when he strikes oil. There is much more to the film with jealousy and prejudice and a growing family that goes every which way. It is sad that theaters continue to play good films like Jaws and Back to the Future but ignore the great classics like Giant and Shane.
- Predator:Badlands
The preview surprised me with its PG-13 rating. Hard to believe. So what to expect from its previews? Much more Predator backstory, and possibly more humanity if you can call it that. I waill see it, but I will not be taking the grandkids even with its PG-13 rating.
- Die My Love
The postpartum struggles of a young woman played by the new Jennifer Lawrence, facelift and all. I do not understand why perfectly desirable female actresses go the route of face changes in the midst of their careers. It is time a book of interviews was written with in the limelight men and women who changed their look way too soon and are willing to talk about it.
- A Christmas Ring
More correctly Karen Kingsbury’s A Christmas Ring to distinguish it from the 2020 Hallmark feel good TV movie flick that was OK. The latest in a run of faith based releases that draw crowds and make money, leading to more of this genre being filmed. I love some of them, especially those that have dealt with athletic endeavors from rodeo to football to baseball. Alas, this is not a sports film. Oh well. I will check it out anyway.
- Lost and Found in Cleveland
Here come the Holiday good cheer films. I have no interest even though some of them turn out to be a good time. Mostly I wonder why some small movies come to a theater near you while others go straight to streaming. I am pretty sure it is a money issue.
- Deliver Me from Nowhere
Not a concert filled biopic, but a look at the travails of Bruce Springsteen’s early years. At least that is what a friend told me after viewing an early screening. I look forward to seeing it and wish it well.
- Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc
Japanese anime is all the rage among upcoming generations of moviegoers. Subtitles are in. English dubbed is out. There is nothing wrong with foreign films outgrossing American films in the good old USA. The American theater business gets a billion dollar bump from anime (Japan), K Pop (Korea), India (Bollywood), and various other movies sent our way not because they are critical hits, but because they are the most popular movies in their home countries.
- Regretting You
Sometimes these adaptations of best selling female author’s romantic fireworks jump to the front of the line. This may not be one of those. The female lead Allison Williams may have a future but for whatever reason Dave Franco gives me the creeps.
- Good Fortune
What might remind us of America’s economic disparities through laughter and Keanu Reaves playing an independent spirit as an angel. Keanu grouped with a financially impaired, desperate Aziz Ansari and an overly successful and miserably unhappy Seth Rogan should create a box office success. Not. The week’s winner, the envelope please, Black Phone 2, I am certain a bloodier and more sickening modern horror film than the first. Imho.
- Tron: Ares
I was there when the first Tron was released and was totally confused but loved Jeff Bridges. If I had understood what I was watching maybe I would be an oligarch buying up all the Apples and Microsofts etc. for pennies on the millions of dollars available to those who had vision. Not me. And I expect now that I missed the boat the first time, I expect I will still be oblivious to whatever future world this Tron will be making available to those who understand it.
- Roofman
Channing Tatum has been making small movies that win you over and make you want to see more of him. Though the previews make it seem that all the big laughs have been spoiled by overdone advertising, I am hoping that there is many more in the actual movie.
- Anemone
What is an anemone? Actually I sort of know but wonder why it would be the title of this movie. Are they trying to bury it before anyone gets the chance to see it/ Consummate artist Daniel Day Lewis returns to acting after eight years in retirement. Of course we who know his iconic performances beginning with My Left Foot will be first in line. But a quick warning. The film is written and directed by his son, a good enough reason for the Dad to return to the screen but maybe not a sign that this will be a movie deserving of great praise.
- One Battle After Another
Leonardo DiCaprio with Benicio Del Toro and Sean Penn, directed by auteur Paul Thomas Anderson (look him up). Recently released Caught Stealing was a failed auteur madcap action film. One Battle After Another looks great for those us who want to see a successful auteur madcap action film. This could be the one.
- Superman
Written By Michael Harris
It feels like DC films have constantly been testing the waters lately. Due to the company’s many box office flops in recent years, DC decided that it would be in their best interests to reboot the franchise under James Gunn and Peter Safran. Superman plays it safe and uses what they know will work. With high stakes, honorable characters, and incredible graphics, the viewer is compelled to be invested in the story and its characters. However, the would-be dramatic scenes are undercut by the feeling that they were specifically made for the trailers, the main characters are seemingly one-dimensional even among moral dilemmas, and many subplots feel like they were cut. Still, Superman (2025) has a sort of originality that impresses me, even though its characters have been reused for decades. Overall, Superman is definitely a worthwhile watch for new and old fans alike as DC starts its new chapter. - F1
Written by Michael Harris
F1 does not recreate the wheel but refines it. It takes the successful pieces of other franchises and joins them together in order to appeal to a wide audience. The protagonist, Sunny Hayes (Brad Pitt), fills a John Wick archetype, where his growth to become the best at what he does is not shown, but left to imagination in the form of a legacy. Because the film was by the director of Top Gun Maverick, it was given the technical tools to make it appear accurate to real life Formula 1 racing. However, the movie still feels unrealistic due to its downplaying of the dangers of racing and a predictable story. Filled with unnecessary subplots and a long two and a half hour run time, F1 loses most of its emotional impact, but is still an overall good action movie that is worth watching. - Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning
Tom Cruise is a brute. In his Mission Impossible movies his stunt work really is impossible. The movies themselves have deteriorated over time, but the action is young Jackie Chan but with millions of dollars in preparation and invention backing up every death defying moment. This “final” impossible and the one before ir are more than I can handle though I am sure I will leave the theater in awe of an old man astounding us all.
- The Surfer
Another Nick Cage movie comes out of nowhere. And I am glad. Cage continues to step up to the plate and hit homers in movie after movie surrounded by young filmmakers all putting forth maximum efforts creating low budget genre hybrids. I could tell you a little bit about this movie but, as always, the less you know the better.