“Red One” is a solid holiday flick for the family
Hollywood superstar Dwayne Johnson teams up with director Jake Kasdan for the third time in “Red One” from Amazon MGM Studios. Chris Morgan pens the film’s script from a story by Hiram Garcia. Callum Drift (Johnson) has spent the last few centuries guarding Nick, a.k.a Santa Claus (J.K. Simmons), as the North Pole’s Head of Security. Due to the selfishness in the world, Callum has become disillusioned with the holiday and is ready to retire.
Sebastian Stan and Jeremy Strong shine in “The Apprentice”
After directing two episodes of HBO’s “The Last of Us,” director Ali Abbasi shifts to the biopic genre with “The Apprenticeship” from Briarcliff Entertainment. Gabriel Sherman pens the film’s script, which focuses on a young Donald Trump (Sebastian Stan), eager to make his name as a hungry second son of a wealthy family in 1970s New York.
“Y2K” uneven tone fails to drum up nostalgia
Director Kyle Mooney transports audiences to 1999 with his debut feature film, “Y2K,” from A24. Mooney directs, takes on a supporting role, and collaboratively writes the script with Evan Winter.
“Wicked” is a high-flying adaptation
“Wicked” presents the untold narrative of the witches of Oz, specifically Elphaba (portrayed by Cynthia) and Glinda (portrayed by Ariana Grande), who encounter one another at Shiz University in the enchanting Land of Oz. Elphaba, who possesses distinctive green skin, faces misunderstanding from those around her and has yet to realize her true potential. In contrast, Glinda is a figure of fame and vanity, shaped by privilege and ambition, yet she has not discovered her genuine self.
“Armor” shoots and misses as an enjoyable action flick
Director Justin Routt offers Academy Award nominee Sylvester Stallone another opportunity to explore a villainous role in his fourth directorial project, “Armor,” produced by Lionsgate. Adrian Speckert and Corey Todd Hughes have crafted the screenplay for the film.
Director Steve McQueen delivers an engaging family drama in “Blitz”
“Blitz” is limited theaters now and will begin streaming on Apple TV+ on November 22.
100 Yards martial arts chorography makes up for mediocre acting
Martial arts director Xu Haofeng presents his latest action art film, “100 Yards,” released by Well Go USA Entertainment. Haofeng also wrote the screenplay and recruited co-director Xu Junfeng.
Over ambition hinders “My Name Is Hitchcock”
Renowned filmmaker Mark Cousins returns with his latest documentary, “My Name Is Alfred Hitchcock.” A century after the release of Alfred Hitchcock’s first feature, he continues to be one of the most influential filmmakers in cinema history. The enduring question remains: How does his extensive body of work and legacy resonate in today’s world?
“Classified” is an underwhelming mess of clichés
Aaron Eckhart continues his trend of top lining second-tier action flicks in “Classified” from Saban films. Roel Reiné directs the film from a script by Roel Reiné. Evan Shaw (Aaron Eckhart) is a CIA officer who has spent the last two decades alone in the field. He uses the “Help Wanted” section of the newspapers to get his orders from the agency.
“Amber Alert” is a solid thriller
Former child stars Hayden Panettiere and Tyler James Williams have collaborated for the first time in the thriller “Amber Alert” from Lionsgate. The film is directed by Kerry Bellessa, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Joshua Oram. This is not the first time the duo has explored this topic; they previously worked on a film with the same title in 2012, using a found footage approach.
Usher shines in the city of lights with his latest concert film
Currently, Usher is captivating sold-out audiences throughout the US on his sixth concert tour, “Past Present and Future.” Despite this, he hasn’t forgotten about the fans who may not have the chance to experience the tour in person. As a thoughtful gesture, Usher has released the concert film “Usher: Rendezvous in Paris” for those unable to attend the live shows.
James McAvoy shines in “Speak No Evil” remake
The Dalton family, comprising Ben (Scoot McNairy), Louise (Mackenzie Davis), and their daughter Agnes (Alix West Lefle), are American expatriates who have recently relocated to the United Kingdom. During a vacation, they encounter a charming British family, including Paddy (James McAvoy), his wife Ciara (Aisling Franciosi), and their non-speaking son Ant (Dan Hough).