Paddington in Peru is the third installment in the Paddington franchise that started in 2014 and comes 7 years after the second entry. This entry find Paddington traveling to Peru with the Brown family to find his missing aunt. As they search for her, they soon find themselves in a greater mystery with antagonist foes trying to get in their way. The film stars High Bonneville, Emily Mortimer, Julie Walters, Jim Broadbent, Carla Tous, Olivia Colman, Antonio Banderas, and Ben Whishaw as the voice of Paddington under new direction from Dougal Wilson in his feature directorial debut.
If you know me, I am a huge fan of the first two Paddington movies. They took me completely by surprise. As much as a third one sounded appealing, I also had my reservations much like everyone else when Paul King & Sally Hawkins were not returning. Paul King directed the first two and Sally Hawkins was the heart & soul of the first two as Mary Brown who was the sole reason why Paddington has a human family. The third entry is nowhere near as good as the first two, but it’s still a solid addition in this franchise.
What director Dougal Wilson does so well is respecting the legacy of the first two films. Immediately, the film throws you back into that silly, sarcastic off-beat humor. It’s not quite as good as the first two, but it enjoyable. I could see viewers being turned off by this as it’s not the first two. I am coming at this from the perspective that there are new people involved who did the best they could, and I’d say they did an admirable job.
If things were any different, Colin Firth would have been the voice of Paddington from the get-go. It feels like everything worked out, because Ben Whishaw jumps back into the voice of Paddington like he never left. It’s impressive how he can still put in so much life in this character, especially after such a long wait for this one. His voice establishes a youthfulness to the character, all while still making him incredibly likable for viewers of all ages.
I would have liked more of Paddington’s arc in the beginning to double down on the conclusion’s themes. Without giving anything away with the conclusion, I believe the film could have started with Paddington having a sort of identity crisis. That would have made his journey even more impactful.
The film also has to deal with overcoming Sally Hawkins’ departure and having Emily Mortimer taking over her role. I am never a fan of actors replacing other iconic characters. If Hawkins could never come back, I would have been okay with the first two ending there. Hawkins brought so much soul to the first two movies, but Mortimer manages to take on the role gracefully. She has the same mannerisms that made me forget there was ever a difference. There is just one particular scene involving a flashback to when the character first met Paddington. It’s awkward, because they can’t show Hawkins. I would have been okay without this flashback.
As for the other characters, I have mixed feelings. Hugh Bonneville has one of the best stories as he has to prove that he has to be more fearless. It’s funny and entertaining, and I love how the films continue to raise the stakes for the character, yet it still feels similar to what we saw in the last entry. The film can even be redundant with Paddington having to get to his aunt. We got that with the last film. Instead, to get around Sally Hawkins’ departure, I think the film could have picked up after the last one and have Paddington and his aunt traveling to Peru. That would have been different and exciting. The middle portion also has a bit too much exposition that does feel forced to help us better understand what’s going on. Maybe that’s the film trying to overcompensate for what they lost, but it’s still entertaining nonetheless.
It’s quite clear the films don’t really know what else to do with the kids of the family anymore. Believe it or not, they are still played by the same actors of the first two. Judy Brown barely has a presence an Jonathan Brown serves more of a plot device more than anything else. It does feel like the film tries to rely on giving us what we saw before to keep within the same tone. Instead, it doesn’t give the characters the proper development that made them so compelling.
Viewers might also be mixed on the villains played by Olivia Colman & Antonio Banderas. They are both great in their roles as they embrace the insanity of their characters. It can be too much for viewers. I am not sure why the film wanted two villains as it doesn’t quite give them enough purpose for the story. Again, I still think they did a great job with what they are given.
Where I felt like the first two acts were passable, the third act not only gives us a lot of adventure, but it also gives an emotionally charged & impactful ending. Instead of going for bleak, it honors the journey that started from the first one. It reminded me why I became a fan in the first place.
Overall, Paddington in Peru was a great time through its flaws. It’s difficult to strike gold twice, but striking gold three times is nearly an impossible feat. Still, the film honors what came before to give us something that feels conclusive if they decide to end it here. If you are a fan of these characters or adventure films, I think you’ll have a good time. Just don’t expect a flawless masterpiece like the first two are.
Marvin Gable, played by Ke Huy Quan, is a successful realtor whose past as a violent hitman comes back to haunt him when his brother Knuckles, played by Daniel Wu, hunts him down. The film also stars Ariana DeBose, Marshawn Lynch, Mustafa Shakir, Lio Tipton, Rhys Darby, André Eriksen, Cam Gigandet, and Sean Astin. The film comes from co-producer former stuntman-turned-director, David Leitch. With the film capitalizing on violence and action, it seemed like an easy sell, especially with two Oscar winners in the lead roles. With only an 83-minute runtime, I had my reservations… and I’d say I was about half right on how the movie turned out.
This is in no means a bad movie nor is any good. I never thought to myself this should end, even when the runtime surprisingly made the film longer. The film feeling longer than what it actually is comes down to how the film throws you right into it. It wastes no time getting you right into it. Ke Huy Quan is such a super likable actor and I am thrilled to see him get his spotlight here. Unfortunately, it feels like the rest of the movie is banking on the success of the actor.
Anyone looking for something mindless who just want a good time, I don’t think you’ll have a bad time for it. If I spent money on it, I wouldn’t be mad, but I also wouldn’t pay money to see it again. The action is exciting with some top-notch bone-crunching action. It’s not until the third act where the film finally finds the right tone and leans into the kind of action I was looking for here.
The humor works about half the time. The supporting cast of characters are hilarious and keep the film engaging. There is a hilarious side plot involving Ke Huy Quan’s employee and a hitman that fully embraced the film’s holiday. Marshawn Lynch continues to show comedic range in his performance alongside André Eriksen, who gave as great of a performance. The humor outside of that can be so forced and unnatural. It comes off too silly to try to maintain the pacing. Instead, it comes off too cheesy, which is one of the reasons I had my eyes rolling.
I also had my eyes rolling based on how mediocre the script was. It was like the film was banking on Ke Huy Quan’s success that a script formed around him. The dialogue is corny and completely unrealistic. There way too many villains involved that it becomes too difficult on who you should care about. The plot is so convoluted that it needs to time to stop for heavy exposition. The film also doesn’t know what it wants to be at times. The music makes it sound like it’s set in the 70’s. The production design literally just looks like pristine movie sets that don’t even closely resemble anything realistically.
The chemistry between Ke Huy Quan & Ariana DeBose is also one of the film’s worst traits. You have two Oscar winners alongside each other. DeBose’s career post-West Side Story needs to be sutdied. She’s a talented actress and the script does no favors for her. The way she is even introduced in the film makes zero sense. I didn’t believe at all that these two characters were into each other, especially with that age gap.
Speaking on something that makes no sense is why this needed to be set around Valentine’s Day. Aside from one small storyline involving supporting characters, it makes no sense. It was like the film needed something to fit its release date. I am not mad about it, but I am just confused. There was potential here to make it more fitting to the themes. It’s not fun or exciting. The only love I see here is that it is a love letter to Ke Huy Quan as a stunt man and as an actor.
On a side note, that Goonies reunion was nice.
Overall, Love Hurts was a let down. I wanted more based on the talent in the movie. I’ll take it for what it was. I certainly didn’t have a bad time, but I also can’t see myself wanting to rewatch it. I can’t imagine this ending Ke Huy Quan’s career, but I do hope whatever he does next is better. It’s fun and mindless in the right areas, but also lacking in terms of writing, pacing, and tone.
Starting right where the last episode ended, we learn the teenage girl actually brought in her aunt for her abortion as her real mother storms in demanding the abortion, to, well, abort. This storyline is a real turning point with Dr. Heather Collins, played by Tracy Ifeachor. I haven’t mentioned about the character before. As great as she is, it feels like she hasn’t had her real standout episode until now. Dr. Collins is also go through a pregnancy. It’s easy to see where she feels sympathy for the girl who clearly isn’t ready to be a parent. It leads to an interest conclusion that makes me curious as to how this will set the stage for the rest of her character arc.
Aside from this particular storyline, she is also sent to help a college-aged boy. I am not even sure how to explain it without being explicit. It requires her to get very comfortable with the patient, which leads to some interesting and humorous dialogue with the patient’s mother. When the patient’s mother sees Dr. Collins for the first time, there is immediate trust as she sees the doctor as themselves. You can tell where it puts a smile on Dr. Collins face, which is something she needed in this episode.
When I first started watching this show, I would say it closely resembles 24 with its format. At this point, I am starting to see it also resembles Lost with the way it treats its characters. Each episode dives deeper into certain characters to give them proper arcs, and to show that these doctors are just as much people as their patients. This episode in particular how strong and the well-written the female characters are.
The two strong standouts here are with Isa Briones’ Dr. Trinity Santos, and with Taylor Dearden’s Dr. Melissa King. From what I have noticed, many viewers don’t like Santos. This episode will make you like her. You can hate the character, but you have to respect the talent for making you strongly like and dislike them at the right times. Santos screws up badly in this episode, which sets her on a path that begins to put her ego in check.
I have really liked King from the get-go. Her awkwardness is funny, but also relatable. In this episode, she spirals out from feeling like her patient’s daughter, and caregiver, ran away. She goes down a path between not saying anything at all to the patient or just ripping the band aid and being honest with her. It leads to a satisfying conclusion that also broke my heart as more is revealed about her.
We get more of the parents dealing with their comatose son, which leads Dr. Robby towards having to bare some bad news to the parents. It’s quite remarkable how Wyle can flip a switch with this character that makes him sympathetic towards his patients versus being hard on his colleagues. There’s a nice balance of a character who appears to have it all figured out, even though we know this is just his way of coping. On top of all of this, Robby has to deal with even more office politics that may lead to a drastic change for the future of his work.
The episode has more moments that will make you squirm with who comes into the E.R. While I found myself squirming at times, this one also felt a bit more slowed down to help develop more with these characters. We learn more about Robby’s backstory. McKay & Javadi’s core relationship goes through a nice change that may have McKay looking at Javadi differently. Whitaker finally has a break this episode. Langdon has great chemistry with Robby. Mohan is getting it together. Oh, and let’s not forget about the beating heart that is Dana Evans who is consistently checking on everyone. Good for her. She is so good to her team.
Overall, another strong episode that solidifies why it’s one of the best shows going right now. It keeps up the momentum both in pacing and character development. There are some strong standout scenes from the supporting cast that goes to show that this show has amazing female characters. The shorter runtime continues to be conflicting, but when you take the high-stake energy into account, it’s easy to feel like you’re right there with these characters.
Episode 6 of “The Pitt” premiere on Max Thursday night at 9pm EST.
Companion is a 2025 horror comedy starring Sophie Thatcher, Jack Quaid, Lukas Gage, Megan Suri, Harvey Guillén, and Rupert Friend. It’s crazy how there are two official synopses for the film. I am going to give you the better one. A billionaire’s death sets off a chain of events for a group of friends during a weekend trip to his lakeside estate. Boom! There you go. That’s exactly how mysterious the movie should have been promoted. While there are surprises, this is also a great example as to the marketing revealing too much. Similar to producer Zach Cregger’s latest film, Barbarian, this is a film best going into completely blind.
I’ve seen where this has been at the top of a lot of people’s most anticipated lists of the year. That’s crazy when we are only in January. With an IMAX run, it went to show how much promise there was in the film. I can’t say the IMAX screen enhanced the viewing experience, but the idea of such premium format helps heighten the importance of seeing the film. Given the surprises and the qualities this film holds, this feels like an event worth seeing in the theater.
Actress Sophie Thatcher has been absolutely crushing it since her theatrical debut in 2018’s Prospect when she starred opposite Pedro Pascal. Since then, she has been more recognizable in works such as The Boogeyman, MaXXXine, Heretic, and Yellowjackets. She has a likable presence that reminds me a lot of Anya Taylor-Joy just in their tone and their mannerisms. Thatcher puts on an acting class in her performance here. Considering this had more spoiled in the promos that what it deserved, I am going to treat this as though it hasn’t been spoiled. When we get to the reveal of who Thatcher’s character really is, you begin to realize just how locked in she is. There are moments that require her to consistently change her language and actions that is truly unbelievable to witness. Just one of the several instances where my jaw was on the floor.
My jaw was also on the floor with the amount of twists and turns that occur. The first act of the film does feel choppy with characters acting and talking in an unrealistic fashion. At first, it felt like the direction didn’t know how to create a realistic setting. When the main reveal occurs, you begin to see things differently. When the real nature of who these people are revealed, my jaw was once again on the floor. I don’t think I audibly gasped like that since Parasite.
By the time, we get to the middle portion of the film, everything is at a 10/10. The cinematography invites you into the isolation of the situation. The editing helps give each character the proper amount of screentime. The sound design transitions in and out perfectly. The visuals and makeup are also outstanding. Everything looks great. It’s clear this idea was born out of the pandemic, and what a more fitting way to do that by integrating themes that are relevant to today.
As much as this is Thatcher’s film, the film also spends a considerable amount of screentime with each character. Quaid has a meaningful character arc that tackles the nice guy trope. Lukas Gage is an easy standout. Between his work here and in Smile 2, the guy is going places. It’s also great to see Harvey Guillén getting such a strong role outside of television. Give him more roles! Megan Suri, a name I was not familiar with, does some great work. As for Rupert Friend, he effectively makes use of his time by creating a memorable character.
What’s so great about the storyline with these side characters is that it makes you rustle with their ideology. At first, I questioned why they could like each other given what we found out about these characters. Then, it becomes fitting, but it also makes you question who the real villain is. Anxiety will make you do crazy things. When more and more is revealed, you realize how easy it can be gaslit. This is a great film that helps you realize to always trust your gut.
The third act leans into some cliche, predictable plot points. It’s clear the film lingers on longer than it needs to. The situation just sort of drags. Character’s stories abruptly stop, the villain talks way too much about his plan before following through on his plan, and it’s clear the film is going to give you a happy ending. I loved how the film followed through on its themes where it made me say “good for her.” It just didn’t need to take the cliche route. For a film that was mostly unpredictable, I do wish the third act continued being unpredictable until the very end.
Overall, Companion is the first great movie that I think will satisfy nearly everyone. It is best seen in theaters, knowing as little as possible. Sophie Thatcher is a star in the making with a performance that will show why she deserves more roles. The film also has an impressive supporting cast that are so good at being unlikable. The film has many technical achievements that enhance the viewing experience. Definietely a movie you need to see as soon as possible.
Dog Man is a new 2025 animated superhero comedy film based on Dan Pilkey’s children’s graphic novel series from the same name. It serves as a spin-off and and story within a story of 2017’s Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie. The film has an ensemble cast that includes Pete Davidson, Lil Rel Howery, Isla Fisher, Poppy Liu, Stephen Root, Billy Boyd, and Ricky Gervais. This is not only Universal’s second movie to come out this year, but it’s also the second one to have “Man” in the title. What’s more ironic is that I am giving them both the same score.
I can’t say I was looking forward to this at all. I knew nothing about it and nothing about interested me. I even had an invite to go see this early at a press screening, but tapped out the night before because of how tired I am. I felt like it wasn’t worth it. That says a lot when I saw every Universal movie that I have been invited to for the last year. I even saw Migration, which happened to be the movie that put me on the map for Universal’s screener list, so I am eternally grateful. This… was just not it. I am glad I didn’t sacrifice my sleep to see this.
With a 72% on Rotten Tomatoes and hearing the laughs surround me in the theater, I know this is going to be a hit. The film has a $40 million price tag attached to it, and I am already seeing where the film will make $30 million in its opening weekend. That’s great! Even if movies are not for me, I am glad that there are movies that help keep the theater business thriving. In recent years, it makes sense for studios to capitalize on family friendly movies as they almost never fail.
What I did like about the film is how it wears its heart on its sleeve through its humor and themes. The humor has a sarcastic tone that reminded me of DreamWorks’ original works with some strong scenes that stood out. I didn’t quite understand the sarcastic tone as it almost felt out of place, but there are some standout moments that did make me chuckle. The film even manages to have some meaningful character arcs with Petey (voiced by Pete Davison), having the strongest one that will connect with families.
Maybe I saw it in the wrong format, but I felt like my head went through blender after I saw it in Dolby. I know someone else who also watched it and enjoyed it in the same format. I think I am just more easily overstimulated. I don’t need loud noises and the plot changing every 5 minutes to be entertained. As someone who was not familiar with this property at all, I didn’t see the point in it at all. This was supposed to be a Captain Underpants spin-off, but you’d never know it. Considering it’s been 8 years since that movie, it’s hard to believe why no one thought it would be a good idea to have a connection to something that is far more popular.
The origin of how Dog Man becomes the titular character is not only dark, but it doesn’t make any sense. What we know about these characters before they have to become the same person is simply bizarre. So, they both died and became the same person? I know it’s a kid’s movie, but what a strange concept. They literally tie on the head of a dog of a human, but also give the character dog arms. This sounds like a concept better suited for a Tim Burton stop-motion picture. Once again, I am not familiar with the material its based off. Instead, it would have been better if there was no origin and we just saw this character as it was to begin with. Petey is already a cat. Why couldn’t we get the same thing with a dog? At least the dog could have a voice.
Since the film resolves around a character that mainly makes dog noises, it’s harder to relate to the character. Due to this, the film has Pete Davidson & Lil Rey Howery talking a LOT. I don’t mind Davidson and I really like Howery. It’s within the script and the direction that makes them be consistently loud and obnoxious for little to no reason. Sitting right next to a speaker throughout with everyone consistently yelling was not enjoyable.
The film also has multiple storylines going on at the same time. It feels like it’s changing every few minutes that it made me forget what happened moments earlier. Instead of trying to be exciting, it comes off boring and lifeless. I will say I like the animation, especially when it mimics its comic book style. When the plot changes every so often, why should I care though? I don’t even think the kid version of me would have enjoyed this.
I am not meaning to sound harsh. This is a film that has substantial potential. I love this type of humor. It reminds me of DreamWorks and Illumination’s earlier works. Similar to Despicable Me 4, I don’t need the plot to consistently change throughout. It feels like I got whiplash. It’s the equivalent of doom scrolling on TikTok. I think the film could have been better had it slow down in its pacing. The film is moving so quickly. By the time it gets to its third act, it stretches out for about 30 minutes to meet a reasonable runtime.
Overall, Dog Man will win over families and fans of the material, but this one is not for me. I don’t think I could recommend this to anyone who is neither familiar with the material nor anyone who doesn’t like genre. For me, there was plenty of missed potential that could have been better capitalized had it slow down the pacing and give the film more of a purpose. I don’t need to be overstimulated to be entertained. Maybe watching this in a quieter setting would make me appreciate it more.
Picking up right from the last episode, the doctors begin treating the same guy who started spazzing out in the last episode. The situation is resolved pretty quickly within the episode’s opening minutes. Shortly after, more madness ensues. It’s astonishing how much is packed into this episode. This is most stressful episode yet, but also a heartfelt one where we learn more about the characters.
Much like the previous episodes, you are still seeing a large portion of what’s going on from Robby’s perspective. You have your moments with the side characters where Robby will pop in here and there. As someone who likes to keep themselves busy and like to help people, this episode actually made me question why I didn’t go into this field. This show just gives you a transparent view of this world. Just when you think someone isn’t going to make it, they end up pulling through, because these are trained professionals. I can’t even begin to understand how Robby can juggle so many cases at the same time. He can just flip like a switch.
We get more of Whitaker in this episode, who I believe will go down as a fan favorite by the end of the season if he isn’t already. In the prior episodes, we’ve seen him have to switch his clothes on multiple occasions. He doesn’t do it once, but twice in this episode. The guy isn’t safe from anyone. It’s admirable how he still keeps on going even when he doubts himself. There are people who believe in him. I think many people will see themselves in this character.
We finally get McKay’s backstory! She has been quiet around Javadi, who she knows has been lowkey judging her. McKay ends up confiding in another patient around the same age as her. We learn a lot more about McKay through this dialogue, which is one of the best conversations I have seen so far in the show. Fiona Dourif’s performance as McKay is outstanding. She manages to find this balance between being a doctor and being a person. When Javadi comes in and messes up the moment, McKay doesn’t even yell at her. She is honest about why she did was not okay in the hopes to make Javadi better at her job. It’s such a heartbreaking storyline that I deeply connected with.
Coming from the last episode is a storyline involving a teenager who is seeking an abortion. The story really goes to show how much the doctors care about her situation. This storyline actually ends the episode on a clever cliffhanger that worked better than last week’s. Without getting into any spoilers, I do wish it went a step further. If it went that extra step, my jaw would have been on the floor. You’ll know what I mean when you see it.
The patient from a few episodes ago who came in with sickle cell finally gets the treatment she needs, but it ends an interesting story with Dr. Mohan. She’s really focused on developing a relationship with patients instead of helping them at times. She talks to this patient and her wife like everything is okay. Just as Robby checks in, she immediately changes her tone with what’s going on. She tells Robby how bad she really is, forcing Robby to be real with all of them. Why didn’t she do that before? She ends up helping the patient though. I get the sentiment of developing relationships with patients to make them feel more comfortable, but there needs to be a line. I am really intrigued as to what’s going to happen next for Dr. Mohan.
As for other things, the guy with chest pain from the first episode is still trying to get treatment. A stolen ambulance is still on the run, forcing some employees to bet on it. A kid comes in puking blood. An older lady gets treatment for a dislocated shoulder with some of the best one-liners. I really like that character. This is just an all around terrific episode with so much to add. The events that are happening isn’t just happening to keep us on our toes. It’s happening to paint a realistic picture of what this life looks like.
I have two small issues with the episode. For how quickly the opening scene is resolved, the show didn’t need to end there on a cliffhanger. Ending it there last week amounted to nothing as it was not one of the show’s main focuses. Also, the episode clocks in at about 46 minutes. For a show that capitalizes on the hour format, I really want to be in this show in real time. I understand you probably aren’t thinking about it, but when you know how short it is, it does take me out of the illusion that I am right there with these doctors.
Overall, another impressive episode. I was looking away at times, because I couldn’t bare the thought of someone getting hurt again or worse. You just never know what’s going to happen in this show. This episode also manages to fill in the gaps with who these characters are. We’ve got 10 episodes left! I can’t wait to see what happens next. Please, let there be enough people who watch this to warrant a second season.
The Pitt is a new medical drama created by R. Scott Gemmill, which premiered on Max on January 9, 2025, with its first two episodes. The series unfolds over the course of a single 15-hour emergency department shift at a fictional hospital in Pittsburgh, with each episode covering one hour of the shift. The story is led by Dr. Michael “Robby” Rabinavitch, a seasoned senior doctor portrayed by Noah Wyle.
As of this publication, four episodes have aired. After becoming a huge fan of the first few episodes, I reached out to Warner Brothers, and they kindly granted me early access to each episode—up to two days ahead of their official release. I’ll be posting my reviews every Wednesday night at 9 p.m. EST, a full 24 hours before each episode premieres on Max at 9 p.m. EST on Thursdays. With Episode 5 premiering this week, I’ll be releasing my review later this Wednesday at 9 p.m. EST. In the meantime, here are my reviews of the previous episodes to catch everyone up on my thoughts so far.
Episode 1
The first episode of The Pitt immediately throws you into the madness. Fans of 24 and ER will have plenty to enjoy here. ER is especially fitting here as it not only comes from the Gemmill who worked on the show, but also stars Wyle who starred on the show. I was really curious about Wyle, because he seems like someone I’ve seen before, but to be honest, I think I am getting him mixed up with Thomas Jane. After learning more about Wyle, though, it’s clear he’s the perfect fit for the role. His dedication to the medical field is evident—beyond his time on ER, he’s been deeply involved with organizations like Doctors of the World, among others. It’s clear he’s the ideal person for the role.
I don’t know much when it comes to understanding the terminology the show throws around. Yet, it does a great job at simplifying it to help us better understand. To be fair, I didn’t even think this would be a show for me, which says a lot with the praise I am giving it. Between the intensity and character development, there is more than enough to keep viewers invested.
Even though the show covers an hour in real time, it’s still short of an hour in runtime. We learn a lot about so many characters. Since I am now covering the show, I have seen this episode twice and I am picking up on even more, because the show is throwing a lot at you, and it’s easy to miss things the first time around. It’s a show you want to watch immediately, but watching it at 9pm EST might be too late. It will give you a lot of anxiety, which might keep you up at night. With so many storylines unfolding, there’s plenty to get invested in.
The show doesn’t hold back on the graphic scenes either. Someone comes in from a possible hate crime that leads to a resident passing out (I don’t blame them). A patient makes herself sick to protect their child from hurting other people. A child consumes drugs. A doctor steps a little too close to the edge on the top of a roof. Most of these situations involve Wyle’s character. It’s quite remarkable how collected and knowledgeable he is throughout, even when he’s still reeling over something traumatic. While it doesn’t show what happened during the pandemic exactly, we get glimpses of what it was like for them during that time. I really respect how the show covers how the pandemic still gives the employees trauma. On top of that, he’s also dealing with the possibility of the hospital shutting down with a higher up consistently pestering him.
The only setback I have with this episode involves a patient who speaks a foreign language that no one understands. It takes a while for everyone to understand where the patient comes from. Personally, I don’t quite understand why no one decided to use Chat GPT to figure it out. That would have resolved that issue immediately. It could have not even been Chat GPT. I am just throwing that out there as an example. It just felt like it was a conflict that could have been resolved easier.
VERDICT: 4.5/5 (Amazing)
Episode 2
The show keeps up the momentum all thanks to stellar direction and a tremendous performance from Wyle. Wyle’s performance as Robby is intelligent, cool, collected, and always knows what to say and do. He’s the perfect mentor to everyone around him. He’s not arrogant, but he won’t be afraid to be honest. With the amount of things he’s multitasking, it’s impressive how good he is at his job.
There’s a particular side story involving an older patient where Robby has to be real with the patient’s adult children. The children give Robby more problems, but he’s still patient with them, because he knows what they have to decide is not an easy choice. The fact that he rarely gets mad shows how much he cares for people and for his job.
This episode fleshes out its characters and storylines more. You can see where nothing is ever rushed, which is helped by its hour-by-hour format. You become more and more invested with these stories that you want to see resolved. The show lays out plenty of mystery as well to reel us in to see what happens in the end. At the same time, you just know things are going to only get worse since these employees still have 13 more hours to go. It’s hard to believe this show won’t release its final episode until April 10th.
All the side characters are also relatable and admirable. Most notably, the female characters are well written with some amazing performances. Taylor Dearden as Dr. Melissa “Mel” King is likable as a socially awkward individual. Fiona Dourif is great as Dr. Cassie McKay who has more experience with life over the other ones she works with. She’s a lot more socially aware and it’s clear in this episode that she has quite a bit of personal problems she has to deal with. Then, there is Shabana Azeez as Victoria Javadi who is trying to prove that she’s worthy of her job and not because her parents work there.
Gerran Howell plays as fourth-year medical student Dennis Whitaker who lacks confidence even when he is incredibly smart. The way his character ends this episode will surely set the tone for his character for the rest of this season.
While these storylines continue to progress, the show has a realistic tone to it all. Everyone is consistently busy dealing with people’s problems, but the show still finds time to have heart & humor. It’s quite remarkable how much is jam packed into each episode. You really feel everything with these characters in real time.
VERDICT: 5/5 (Perfect)
Episode 3
Picking up right from the last episode, the show wastes no time getting you back into it. The way this show flows so far can either make you binge watch it or anxiously anticipate for the next episode. This is the equivalent of a weekly episodic show where you can talk about it with your coworkers at the water cooler. You could also binge watch it, but binging all 15 episodes in one sitting sounds overwhelming, which is why I’m okay with the episodic format. Plus, I wouldn’t recommend missing out on this show. The fact that it also releases at a specific time makes it an event worth watching.
Starting where the last episode ended, Gerran Howell’s character as Dennis Whitaker continues to try to revive someone he felt close to. Unfortunately, it doesn’t end well. You’d think he’d give up afterwards, but he keeps going. There’s even a comedic side plot involving him having to get new clothes. That’s the reality of people who work in this field. They have to make their best judgement and keep going. It has to be draining and traumatic at the same time. It’s no wonder Wyle’s character as Robby is still reeling from the pandemic.
You’d think with the amount of arrogance Robbie exudes, he’d show no sympathy. That continues to not be the case. He takes the time to respect those who passed. He checks in with those around him. He’s genuine with everyone around him. Given what his colleague almost went through in the first episode, I hope he doesn’t try to do the same at the end of this season.
More and more madness ensues. Not only are prior storylines still going, but new situations arise. Someone with a nail in his chest comes in. A girl who won’t wake up also comes in who has a connection with a comatose patient from the prior episode. There’s an open heart surgery. An EMT gets their shoulder hit by a truck. The anxiety doesn’t stop.
Other notable characters in this episode are Dr. Trinity Santos, played by Isa Briones, and Dr. Frank Langdon, played by Patrick Ball. Santos has a lot of arrogance that needs to be checked. People might be annoyed by her. Similar to Squid Game’s Thanos, Briones does a great job at playing a character that is not meant to be completely liked. The difference is that what she does is a result of a coping mechanism. Langdon could be arrogant, but it’s clear his arrogance is in check. He does have experience that makes him an effective right hand for Robby. Whenever he has down time, he’s always concerned about getting his kids a dog, which shows how he can keep going with the amount of things he has to go through.
Dr. Samira Mohan, played by Supriya Ganesh, has a notable scene with Robby. Robby calls her out on going too slow. She tries to reassure him by saying that she has the highest success rate, where Robby argues that the slower she goes, the less people they can treat. He snaps her out of it, persuading her to do more. I’m really interested to see what she does next.
There is so much more that occurs that I won’t even spoil it. There are twists and turns at every corner that will keep you engaged. The episode concludes with Robby helping a grieving woman with a connection to a patient from the first episode. Robby didn’t deal with the patient directly. It’s interesting to see the person who tried to help the patient versus the person having to deal with the fall out.
I could see where the daughter of the older patient might be a little much or even selfish to some people, but I believe the actress played the character perfectly. It makes complete sense to want to hold onto your loved ones longer. Considering how much time is spent with this storyline, it’s going to be interesting to see how it ends.
Now I just need to know if Robby gets that bathroom break in the next episode. At least there’s more reality to that over 24.
VERDICT: 5/5 (Perfect)
Episode 4
Episode 4 continues to solidify the fact that this is one of the best shows out now that you don’t want to miss. It’s actually impressive how production is able to pick up right after the last episode as though there was no break in between.
We see the conclusion of the older man with his two kids. At what first seemed like it wouldn’t amount to much, ended up bringing together some of the show’s core themes. We see his children reach peace with the decision, but we also see where Robby has flashbacks from the pandemic that took place in the same room. It shows how the scars never go away. It’s incredibly poignant. The talent who played the son and daughter of the dad were incredible.
This episode slows down quite a bit. There’s a trans character who gets their arm cut who finds some respect from the people treating her. Robby finally gets that bathroom break. A grumpy patient finally gets the treatment he needed from the first episode. Whitaker goes through something comedic that’s going to require him to change clothes again. It’s an episode where it felt like a lot of storylines are starting to come to a close. You even get to see Dr. Mohan taking on more responsibilities since her talk with Robby.
Now that I have seen all 4 episodes twice, it’s quite remarkable how I’m catching new details that make more sense. The amount of things everyone has to go through all while staying calm not only shows how well crafted the story is, but also how committed the talent is to their characters. The show is a true love letter to the the heroes that work in this field.
The only thing I didn’t like in this episode was the very end. Just as everything starts to resolve, a brand new issue comes up at a convenient time that makes us wait for the next episode. Personally, it would have been okay if the show ended before that happened to help us breathe a little until the next episode. I understand the point of it is to show the job never stops. It just felt like incredibly convenient timing to keep us wanting to see the next episode. Nonetheless, I’m curious to see how this plays into the next episode.
The Girl with the Needle is a 2024 Danish historical psychological horror film directed by Magnus von Horn, from a screenplay written by von Horn & Line Langebek. The film was selected to compete for the Palme d’Or at the 77th Cannes Film Festival, named one of the top 5 international films of the year by the National Board of Review, and nominated for Best Foreign Language Film at the 82nd Golden Globe Awards and for Best International Feature Film at the 97th Academy Awards. The film takes place in 1919 where Karoline, played by Vic Carmen Sonne, who works as a wet nurse for a secretive adoption agency for disadvantaged mothers, grows suspicious of the woman who runs the operation.
I’ve been interested in the film for quite some time now, but a release date in the U.S., nor a digital screener, was available. Now that it became available on Mubi, I finally got around to seeing it. Since it’s now an Oscar nominee for the Best International Feature Film category, it felt like now was a perfect time to review it. Taking place 105 years prior to its release date, it’s fitting for the film to transport you back in time with it being in black-and-white. The opening credits are even in black-and-white (even if it goes on long enough to be a running gag).
This film truly blew me away. Many people are excited by the fact that The Substance is getting nominations at the Oscars, but I don’t think this one is getting the proper attention. To be fair, it’s been a lot harder to find and to watch. This story, though, is not for the faint of heart. It has imagery and story beats that will stay with you. For context, I am currently having to play Inside Out 2 in the background to having something more upbeat playing. If anything, I believe that goes to show how effective The Girl with the Needle is.
There’s quite a bit of story setup here that I clocked at around 40 minutes. For a 2-hour movie, that may not be for everyone. Some even may question if it was added just to fill up the runtime. To me, it adds so much development to the characters and to the story. Just when things get bad for Karoline, you think the major inciting incident is going to occur… and you’d be wrong. Everything she goes through gets worse and worse. At first, it seems like her problems of her own doing. Instead, her problems stem from the way people take advantage of her. It could speak on the way the horrors of war and societal issues were addressed at the time, but I’d go a step further to say that it still speaks on issues today.
From the way war veterans are treated when they come back home to tackling topics like abortion access and the morality around it is something that I believe viewers could strongly relate to. With a horror undertone, it brings shock, awe, and entertainment, but it will leave you with a dreadful feeling that we need do better for others and not do the things we believe will be for the best. The themes can get a little meddled at times. I wasn’t sure if the film was trying to condone abortion at times. I don’t believe that was the case. Then again, this is going to be a film that many people will get something different out of it.
One of the film’s strongest assets comes from the lead performance from actress Vic Carmen Sonne. Had I saw this sooner, she could have made possibly made it into my top 10 performances of the year. She is so earnest in her approach. You believe everything she is feeling. Every time things keeping worse for her, you feel even worse for her. It’s a performance that is 100% carried from start to finish. I can’t wait to see what she does next.
The film’s other strong assets stem from the cinematography and sound design. As mentioned, the film transports you back to its time, and that wouldn’t be possible without the film’s technical components. Not only does the film look like it was literally shot in 1919, but it has some beautiful imagery. It is consistently amazing to look at it, even in the film’s more disturbing scenes. The sound design is just as effective with bringing you back to its time. From the way the dialogue sounds to the eerie score, this offers something in film that is far too rare these days.
Overall, I can totally get on board with the praise The Girl with the Needle is getting, along with the awards recognition. The performances, cinematography, and sound design are all effective. The pacing may not be for everyone and the themes may get overlooked, but there is still something engaging and original here that’s worth exploring. I can’t see it winning Best International Feature Film at the Oscars, but the nomination warrants the film’s quality.
Flight Risk comes from the director of Braveheart, Apocalypto, and Hacksaw Ridge (we all know it’s you, Mel Gibson. The poster won’t fool us into believing this is any good). This apparently come from a screenplay in 2020 that was voted as the year’s “Black List” of the most-liked unproduced screenplays in Hollywood (lol okay). The film stars Mark Wahlberg, Michelle Dockery, and Topher Grace. The plot follows a polit transporting a U.S. Marshal and a witness, where the intentions of everyone on board comes into question. Or, if you saw the trailer, then you basically know everything that happens.
If you’re interested in watching this, I don’t blame you at all. Wahlberg hasn’t been good in anything in who knows how long and Gibson has been met with much controversy for as long as I can remember. Yet, there was still some sort of promise in a film that looked to just be fun. Instead, it’s a film that is much worse that you could ever imagine with only Wahlberg’s presence being the film’s smallest saving grace.
The film’s true major characters are played by Dockery, the U.S. Marshall, and Grace, the witness. The film opens up on a terrible green screen where we are meant to believe Grace is hiding out in. That should have been a bad omen of what the rest of the film’s visuals were going to be. We are immediately thrown into Grace’s character being caught by Dockery. These opening minutes offer some of the worst dialogue and direction I have seen in some time. It’s January, so I suppose dumping it here was fitting. Both characters act like caricatures of themselves. Grace is annoying from start to finish. Dockery is there trying to save the film as the film is really about her more than anyone else.
Wahlberg shows up and we immediately know where the film is going to go from there, because trailers give too much away these days. The time it takes for Wahlberg’s character to finally reveal his true intentions. Way too much unbelievable setup. I couldn’t care less of what happened next. Grace continues to be annoying with some of the weirdest actions. It’s like he’s trying to be in an 80’s film, which might have been fitting since Gibson directed it. Why Wahlberg didn’t just take these two out immediately is beyond me.
By the time he reveals his true intentions, he’s tied up for nearly the rest of the movie save for a few times he gets out and tries to attack the heroes. Someone said that he probably has about 15 minutes of screentime and that couldn’t be anymore from the truth. Wahlberg’s choices in film as of lately has been truly baffling. I thought it was just his straight-to-streaming movies, but that’s not the case. Since he spends so much time tied up, what’s the point of the movie, you ask? There is none.
The film’s primary objective is to have this be about Dockery’s character. At the mid-point, it’s revealed that she accidentally got her last witness killed. Grace is shocked at this news as this should be relevant at all. Once again, who cares? Oh, right, it’s to give Dockery the missing characterization she was needing to begin with. Her character manages to escape death a few times by flying the plane. Then, she needs help from someone to fly the plane. But didn’t she already fly the plane? It makes no sense to me.
The way this film wraps up is as believable as you would think. Dockery saves the day, but wait, there’s more! She somehow knows someone new is trying to kill Grace’s character, who really is. She saves him once again! She could care less about saving this person and more about saving her own ego. About the time everything is said and done, it ends on the most baffling and questionable final shot I have ever seen.
I do want to bring up the fact that this cost $10 million. Most of the money must have gone to the cast and crew, because this looks terrible. The effects are phoned in and Gibson’s direction shows that he couldn’t care any less. In comparison, The Brutalist cost jsut as much and that movie looked much better. From a production management perspective, it’s frustrating when any sort of money is used improperly in any movie. There are filmmakers who would love to have that kind of money to deliver something good. The film is already opening to a $4.4 million box office, which is modest, but it’s not warranting a box office return. There are big names attached to this who are capitalizing on their names, instead of caring enough to deliver something worthwhile.
Overall, Flight Risk might be exactly what it sets itself out to be for any moviegoer, even if it’s far worse than it has any right to be. Mark Wahlberg is perfectly fine as he has shown in the past in an antagonist role. The film’s flaws stems from the terrible dialogue, little to no characterization, and awful effects. Five minutes in, I was ready to give up. This film serves literally no purpose even when its trying to be fun. If you are looking for something more fun with an evil Mark Wahlberg, I’d recommend watching Fear.
Presence is a film that was released initially in 2024 at the Sundance Film Festival, but had it wide release this weekend. On a quick side note, it’s crazy how long it takes for certain films to be publicly available after a debut at a film festival. Directed by Steven Soderbergh (Ocean’s Trilogy, Logan Lucky) and written by David Koepp (Jurassic Park, Secret Window), the film stars Lucy Liu, Chris Sullivan, and Callina Liang. The plot revolves around a family who moves into a suburban home and becomes convinced they’re not alone.
Soderbergh happens to be one of the biggest names in film working right now, and yet, he continues to make smaller independent films. His ability allows him to release movies once, sometimes twice, a year. He already had another film with David Koepp as writer coming out in about 2 months titled Black Bag. What’s so surprising is how he continues to create something new, fresh, and exciting. I can already see this not being for everyone as it’s not as horror as the promos would like you to think; however, it’s Soderbergh’s ability to create something that mimics the horror tone for this family drama.
Lucy Liu is an underrated actress, and she’s great here, but seeing Chris Sullivan act as her husband was quite surprising. The actor is 12 years younger than the actress. Even though the couple’s marriage in the film is strained due to Liu’s character committed something illegal, there is something familiar between the fictional husband and wife. Some may be familiar with Sullivan’s work on This Is Us. It’s great to see Sullivan get some bigger work, especially with the like Liu & Soderbergh. Liu & Sullivan act completely in sync and totally believable as a couple. That’s why it’s even more convincing to believe what this couple goes through, making it easier to sympathize with their situation.
Many viewers will tell you this is not at all what you’d expect from a movie like this. My best suggestion is to keep it that way. I heard the film’s true format before I saw it. While it’s not the film’s major twist, it’s unique approach took the surprise of the film’s format away from me. Since the film follows a strict format throughout, there are a lot of one-take shots, showing how much time Soderbergh spends with his talent to create authentic performances, all while allowing the cast to fully memorize their dialogue. The camera work is also quite seamless and never misses a beat. This approach may not be for everyone as it doesn’t answer all the questions, but the film ends on a note that gives you more than enough to piece the rest together.
One major standout in the film is star Callina Liang, who plays as the couple’s teenage daughter. I can see Liang’s career taking off after this. It’s great to see a talented actor or actress who’s career will take off when they haven’t been in anything major. From what I can see, she has a few credits under her belt. Truthfully, she is the film’s major character. Without her, the film’s thematic messages don’t work. The way she displays anxiety & emotion is deeply authentic.
Liu’s character as her mom is more obsessed with her brother, Tyler, played Eddy Maday. It doesn’t seem like his character is as important as you would think. Liu’s character treats him as some sort of god, and it can get weird with how much she treats him like a surrogate husband. When the true reality of his character comes into play, it will make you reevaluate everything you saw, especially with the way he treats his family and how his family treats him.
The way this film concludes literally had my jaw on the floor. I didn’t want to accept it, and that’s something that will also turn people off. While the twist does work for its story and themes, the reality of the fallout doesn’t make as much sense. There’s so much that’s open in the air that the family manages to piece together. I guess it is believable, but I also think the film could have spent more time showing that fallout. I would have loved to have seen how the family reacted to it all. The ending not only had me almost in tears, but it made me want to rewatch it as it made me view the film in a brand new perspective.
Overall, Presence won’t for everyone, even those looking for a simply ghost horror story. To me, this felt like director Steven Soderbergh utilizing his past techniques as a filmmaker to create something new and exciting that’s fitting for the film’s story. The twist is amongst one of the best one’s I have seen in recent memory. In the end, it will probably give you emotional damage, but it also probably wouldn’t have been possible without the film’s talented cast and tremendous camera work.
The Creative Cinematic Collection 
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