Tuesday 14 March 2023

REVIEW: Cocaine Bear (2023) - Starring Keri Russell, O'Shea Jackson Jr., Christian Convery, Alden Ehrenreich, Brooklynn Prince, Isiah Whitlock Jr., Margo Martindale, and Ray Liotta

Review by Jon Donnis
The story of Cocaine Bear is a true and unusual one. In 1985, a black bear in Georgia accidentally consumed over 70 pounds of cocaine that had been dropped from a drug smuggler's plane. The bear was found dead a few days later, and an autopsy revealed that it had high levels of cocaine in its system.

The bear's story began when a drug smuggler named Andrew Thornton died in a plane crash while transporting large quantities of cocaine. During the flight, some of the drug bags fell out of the plane and landed in the forest.


The incident inspired a number of pop culture references, including a song by country singer Sturgill Simpson and a movie, this movie!

The year is 1985, Andrew C. Thornton II (Matthew Rhys), a drug smuggler, accidentally drops a shipment of cocaine from his plane while attempting to parachute out with a drug-filled duffel bag. Sadly, he knocks himself unconscious on the doorframe, falling to his death. His body is discovered in Knoxville, Tennessee, and is identified by Bob (Isiah Whitlock Jr.), a local detective, who suspects the cocaine is from St. Louis drug kingpin Syd White (the late great Ray Liotta). The rest of the shipment is missing.

Meanwhile, in the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest, an American black bear consumes some of the cocaine, becoming highly aggressive and attacking two hikers, Elsa (Hannah Hoekstra) and Olaf (Kristofer Hivju), ultimately killing Elsa.


Dee Dee (Brooklynn Prince), a middle schooler in northeast Georgia, lives with her mother, nurse Sari (Keri Russell). One day, Dee Dee and her friend Henry (Christian Convery) skip school to paint a picture of the falls in the forest. While on the trail, they stumble upon a lost brick of cocaine, ingest some, and are then attacked by the bear. Sari, park ranger Liz (Margo Martindale), and wildlife activist Peter (Jesse Tyler Ferguson) venture into the forest to search for the kids. They find Henry hiding in a tree, but the bear attacks, slashing Liz in the process and killing Peter, who was coated in cocaine. The bear ignores Henry, and Sari and Henry flee deeper into the forest. Liz sends for help.

The rest of the film is basically Sari searching for the kids, as well as Cocaine Bear attacking and killing people. The film is quite gory, but it is a horror comedy, so everything does get a bit silly at times.


At its heart, this is a monster movie, but instead of some supernatural monster, you have something that everyone is familiar with, that being a huge bear. Now put that bear on cocaine, and you have a crazed killer bear.

The film never takes itself too seriously, and Keri Russell is strong as the main lead. The two child actors are also convincing in their parts, and Ray Liotta as the St. Louis drug kingpin is perfect casting. The film is dedicated to him too, since it was one of the last he filmed before his sad death.

This is a fun film; you will probably only ever watch it once, but it is enjoyable. The visual effects of the bear are decent, if not up to the standards of Jurassic Park.


The Good
Fun and silly horror comedy. The bear is the real star. Strong perfomances all round. The 90 minute run time feels a little long for a film of this kind, I would have got it down to 80 minutes.

The Bad
The film gets a little repetitive, and we perhaps don't get enough of the bear.

Overall
It's a film about a bear on cocaine killing people, it delivers exactly what it tells you it will, and in a fun and gory way.

I score Cocaine Bear a solid 8/10

Out Now in selected cinemas and on digital at Apple TV - https://apple.co/405M9dR

You can also pre-order the home entertainment release at https://amzn.to/3l9yK5Z

Monday 13 March 2023

REVIEW: A Man Called Otto (2023) - Starring Tom Hanks, Mariana Treviño and Rachel Keller

Review by Jon Donnis
Everyone's favourite actor Tom Hanks is back starring in another heart-warming comedy drama, although you might find that you need the tissues to get through this one as it is designed to really pull on those heart strings.

In a quiet suburb of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, resides Otto Anderson (Tom Hanks), a 63-year-old man who has recently lost his wife, Sonya (Rachel Keller), a schoolteacher. Having retired from a steel company, Otto finds himself struggling to cope with the loss of his beloved wife and decides to end his own life through suicide. Yes folks, suicide is a recurring theme throughout the film.

During his first attempt to hang himself, Otto is interrupted by his new neighbors - Marisol (Mariana Treviño), Tommy (Manuel Garcia-Rulfo), and their two young daughters, Abby and Luna. As he struggles to come to terms with his decision, Otto is overwhelmed with flashbacks of his past, including his failed attempt to join the army due to his hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and the fateful train ride where he first met Sonya.


Undeterred by his failed suicide attempt, Otto tries again, this time opting for carbon monoxide poisoning. As he slips into unconsciousness, he recalls a poignant memory of a dinner with Sonya where he confesses his heart condition and joblessness, leading to an intimate moment between the couple. However, once again, his suicide attempt is foiled by Marisol's urgent plea for help, as her husband Tommy has fallen off a ladder, which Otto had lent him, and broken his leg.

Reluctantly, Otto agrees to help and drives the family to the hospital. Despite his initial hesitations, Otto finds himself drawn to the warmth and kindness of his new neighbors and begins to see a glimmer of hope in his life, realizing that he is not alone in his struggles.


The film does have some funny and lighthearted moments, which is often tough to do when the subject matter is so serious, ultimately this is a film about grief, loneliness and ultimately friendship.

At just over 2 hours it is a little long, and some scenes could easily have been cut without affecting the film, but with that said I thought they did a good job, in pacing the film, and although the ending is a little predictable, it is done in a nice way.

As the film progresses we do get quite a few flashbacks of Otto's life with his late wife, how they met, her accident, and ultimately her death, which helps to explain everything you are seeing with the Otto character.


There is part of me that would have liked to have seen this film played a bit more for laughs, and the journey of grumpy old man to loveable friend of the street being a bit less wrenching on the emotions of the viewer, but I guess we already have that with Ricky Gervais After Life series, which does follow a similar story. (Ricky has a dog, Hanks has a cat)

As it is this film treads a difficult path, I thought that the attempted suicide scenes were well filmed, but could be triggering for some. I also thought the introduction of a transgender character seemed a bit forced, and came across like a box ticking exercise, you could have told the exact same story with the Malcolm character (played by Mack Bayda), without using the trans labelling. With that said I had no issue with the character, and that mini story was told well, even if it didn't really fit in with the overall Otto storyline.


The Good
A well written story, performed well by all involved, Mariana Treviño really shone bright in this film, as the instantly likeable Marisol. Hanks does what Hanks does best. And although a sad film which will bring the tears, it is done in a nice enough way.

The Bad
Felt a little long, and dragged in a few places. I would have liked to have seen a few more laughs, and a little less sadness.

Overall
An enjoyable film, perhaps not one to watch with kids due to its content, and not one to watch if you are feeling depressed or need cheering up.

Out now in Cinemas, and coming soon to Amazon Prime at https://amzn.to/3muXAgY


Friday 10 March 2023

REVIEW: Left Behind: Rise of the Antichrist (2023) - Starring Kevin Sorbo, Neal McDonough, Bailey Chase,Corbin Bernsen, Greg Perrow, Sarah FIsher, Sam Sorbo, Charles Sndrew Payn and Stafford Perry

Review by Jon Donnis
Every time I review a film, I always keep a few things in mind, the main ones being the budget and who the film is made for, and I will judge a film using these two parameters. For example, I am not going to directly compare a low-budget film with a Hollywood blockbuster from Marvel and their infinite budget. Instead, I will judge the film badly based on the limitations it has and if it overcomes them. I also won't judge a film badly if I am not the target audience, because that would be unfair.

Now, I come to Left Behind: Rise of the Antichrist, a sequel to the 2014 Nick Cage film Left Behind. I will admit to not remembering the first film, but since this film has been made nearly 10 years later, I believe it is a film that can be seen without having seen the previous one. This film has a relatively low budget, and it is also a Christian film. Something that we rarely see in cinemas, mainly due to Hollywood's stranglehold on the industry and their hatred of anything and anyone that is openly Christian. I watch this film as an Atheist, but someone who not only can enjoy religious-based films but also seeks them out, as I want to experience all genres, especially ones where I am not the target audience.

It's worth mentioning that this film has quite the cast, with plenty of recognizable faces, which instantly will attract you to the characters.

Millions of people have vanished off the face of the Earth, think Thanos clicking his fingers, and you get the idea. But this isn't a Marvel film, and there is not a group of superheroes to figure things out.

Greg Parrow stars as Cameron "Buck" Williams, a late-night news host and journalist who is desperate to get to the bottom of what happened, but he is getting blocked by his own boss. Think Tucker Carlson trying to reveal things that will hurt the political establishment, and Rupert Murdoch trying to put the brakes on him.


Sarah Fisher stars as Chloe Steele, Buck's girlfriend. Along with her grieving dad Rayford (the legendary Kevin Sorbo), they are trying to deal with the terrible loss that has been called The Vanishing. Rayford's wife, Irene, and their son, Raymie, are gone seemingly forever, along with millions of people around the world, and no one knows why. The politicians, TV hosts, so-called experts all have different explanations, from aliens to man-made technology. But no one seems willing to call it the Rapture. The thing that is getting to Rayford is that Irene told him that this would happen. And that it was told in a book about 2000 years ago!

The world is dealing with the after-effects of the vanishing. Crime has skyrocketed everywhere. People are killing themselves and others. Banking institutes are collapsing, almost like real-world 2023 with Joe Biden leading us.

A savior of sorts comes in Jonathan Stonagal (Neal McDonough), think an Elon Musk type who has stepped up to help the world. Stonagal runs the biggest social media network in the world with 6 billion users. Partnering with a Jewish computer scientist, they will put forward a new worldwide digital banking system, which in turn will help ease the financial banking crisis and help people around the world. All that is stopping them is two countries who have yet to sign on to the plan: Israel and Romania, and they have conditions they want to be met.


Meanwhile, a second wave of Vanishings has apparently occurred, and our newsman Buck is not only suspicious but wants to get to the bottom of what is really going on. But will his investigations go too far into the deep state, and will he risk his life to find out the truth?

As mentioned earlier, this is a Christian film based largely on interpretations of Revelation and Rapture-based scriptures. The film is primarily directed towards Christians and lapsed Christians. However, even with that said, there is also a very good conspiracy-type thriller in here, and a lot of what the film talks about hits very close to home. For instance, the film delves into how billionaires make money during crises, how politicians will use any event to seize power from the people, enrich themselves, and find ways to control and manipulate people. Essentially, everything that has happened in the past two years and is coming out now is referenced in this film, but instead of a global pandemic, we have the Rapture.


The Good
I really enjoyed all of the conspiracy stuff, mainly because it is so close to what is really going on right now, and things that are coming out. There is a lot to compare to the real world, away from the religious based stuff. The cast is awesome, of course Kevin Sorbo is great, but it is also fantastic to see Neal McDonough who has been in absolutely everything, and Corbin Bernsen who I got to know from TV series Psych. All have strong performances.

The Bad
This is a Christian film, and it has a strong Christian message, and if that is not your thing then you might find that that will put you off. Also, if you are a far-left progressive type, then you will probably hate anything that attacks the Government or paints the Government in a bad light.

Overall
Putting this film into the context of how it was made, and who it was made for, then I am pretty impressed. The film has a low budget, that is plain to see, so the filmmakers have done something crazy, instead of relying on fancy visual effects, they have relied on a good story and talented actors! Who'd have thought that was even possible these days.

Although some aspects of the film were not for me, in general I enjoyed the story, and the strong performances.

I score Left Behind: Rise of the Antichrist a strong 8.5/10. It is about time Christians got a film just for them that is actually pretty good.

In selected cinemas now, and on digital 13 March & DVD & Blu-ray 27 March - https://amzn.to/3FgBzca


Thursday 9 March 2023

REVIEW: Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre - Starring Jason Statham, Aubrey Plaza, Josh Hartnett, Cary Elwes, Bugzy Malone and Hugh Grant

Review by Jon Donnis
Did you know that Operation Fortune was supposed to be released over a year ago but was pulled as the bad guys in the film are Ukrainian mobsters, and Russia had just started their "special military operation" after Ukrainian armed forces bombed the Donbass region and broke a ceasefire? So, yes, the film was delayed so as not to upset the most corrupt country on the planet. Well, a year later, the film is out in cinemas and about to be released on Amazon Prime. Luckily, they haven't reshot anything, and the film is unchanged. With a star-studded cast and everyone's favourite Cockney director, Guy Ritchie, we have a comedy action thriller to enjoy.


"The Handle," a device estimated to be worth billions of dollars, has been stolen by a gang of Ukrainian mobsters. The British government has hired Nathan Jasmine (legendary actor Cary Elwes) to recover the device before billionaire arms dealer Greg Simmonds (Hugh Grant sounding a little bit like Michael Caine) can sell it to the highest bidder. To accomplish this task, Nathan enlists the help of super-spy Orson Fortune (Jason Statham) and a team of experts, including Sarah Fidel (Aubrey Plaza) and JJ Davies (Bugzy Malone). The team travels to Madrid to locate the courier responsible for transporting the hard drive containing the Handle's data.


However, their search is disrupted by a rival of Nathan's, who also seems to have been hired to retrieve the Handle. Despite this setback, Sarah is able to make a copy of the hard drive's contents before they can. After discovering that Simmonds plans to hold a charity gala in Cannes, the team decides to infiltrate the event by blackmailing Simmonds' favourite movie star, Danny Francesco (Josh Hartnett), into helping them distract Simmonds. To further their plan, Simmonds invites Danny to his Turkish villa in Antalya.


Meanwhile, Orson infiltrates the Ukrainian mafia's headquarters by posing as a robber to hack into their computer systems. The British government then warns Nathan that the Handle is equipped with advanced artificial intelligence capabilities, allowing it to overcome any security system in the world.

With a runtime of 1 hour 48 minutes, this is a proper comedy action thriller that I really enjoyed. Now, I usually hate Hugh Grant, but for the first time in any movie I have ever seen him in, I rather enjoyed his character. Maybe that is because he sounds a little like Michael Caine, or I just found him interesting, but I did want to give him a special mention. Cary Elwes is great as Nathan Jasmine, the government-affiliated guy trying to keep everything together. However, I do wish that Cary Elwes had uttered the immortal words "as you wish," but alas, we can't have everything we want.


Jason Statham plays the same character in pretty much every film he is in these days, and this film is no exception. Aubrey Plaza is slightly less awkward in her performance here as she is trying to move away from the geeky, socially backward type character that she usually plays to a more confident, sexy character.

The action scenes are all convincing, the visual effects and set pieces are all of the highest quality, which you would expect from a Guy Ritchie film. The comedy moments are well done and never feel too forced. And the ending is not only satisfying, but it also sets them up for sequels if they so feel.

All in all, a really good action comedy.


The Good
Hate to say this, but I really liked Hugh Grant in this film. Great action sequences, decent if slightly predictable story, and strong performances all round.

The Bad
1 hour 48 minutes is too long, a film like this needs to stick to 90 minutes plus credits. Some scenes in the middle of the film dragged slightly.

Overall
A really enjoyable film. And one I score a solid 8.5/10. I look forward to any sequels.

Out Now in Cinemas, and released on Amazon Prime Video in the United Kingdom on April 7 https://amzn.to/3yr45Ux

Tuesday 7 March 2023

REVIEW: The Devil Conspiracy (2023) - Starring Alice Orr-Ewing, Joe Doyle, Eveline Hall, Peter Mensah, Joe Anderson, Spencer Wilding, Brian Caspe and James Faulkner



Review by Jon Donnis:
It feels like ages since I have seen a good biblical-based supernatural film, so when The Devil Conspiracy came across my desk, I was optimistic. It really does seem to tick all the boxes of a good supernatural type film. We have priests, we have angels, we have possessions, we even have the devil! What more could you ask for?

At the dawn of creation, Lucifer (Joe Anderson) leads a rebellion of angels against God. The war ends with God casting Lucifer and his followers down to the depths of Hell. Michael (Peter Mensah), the Archangel of Justice, is sent to Hell to imprison his brother forever. However, Lucifer pleads with Michael to join him, but Michael refuses and departs.


In the present day, the world is abuzz with the exhibition of the Shroud of Turin. Lauren Milton (Alice Orr-Ewing), a student working on a thesis about good and evil, gains access to the exhibition with the help of her friend, Father Marconi (Joe Doyle). Marconi tells Lauren about the battle of angels, depicting a statue of Michael defeating Lucifer. Although Lauren is skeptical, she stays to draw images of the artwork.

Meanwhile, Dr. Laurent (Brian Caspe) showcases his biotech firm's research in genetic cloning to investors, claiming that they can bring back geniuses like Michelangelo and DaVinci. However, the company is actually a cult that seeks to release Lucifer and his demons from Hell to avenge the rebellion. The cult's leader, Liz (Eveline Hall), sneaks into the exhibition and kills a guard to disable the security system. Marconi tries to stop her, but Liz stabs him in the chest. She takes the Shroud, and her men capture Lauren. Before Marconi dies, he asks Michael to use his body to stop Liz. Michael possesses Marconi's body and leaves the city.


Michael is held at gunpoint by a scholar who reveals the prophecy of a wicked woman and a beast of the Earth who will bring forth Lucifer's vessel. Michael realizes that the Shroud was stolen to clone a body for Lucifer, using the DNA of Jesus Christ to bring about the End of the World. A tremor breaks the rock sealing Lucifer, and he frees himself from his chains.

What follows is a rather decent film. Ok, some of the visual effects are a bit dodgy, and a lot of the film is deliberately filmed in the dark to help cover up budget restraints, but what they did film in the daytime uses some great locations and scenery. All the main characters play their parts well. Peter Mensah as Michael is a great choice, and I almost feel like Mensah is always playing these types of characters, but a quick look at his bio shows that this is the first time, he really looks the part as some kind of angelic being. Alice Orr-Ewing manages to keep you interested in the Lauren character throughout. She is very likable, and you want her to come out the other side of the experience on top.


Eveline Hall seems to be the main "baddie" in the film, which is impressive when you consider the film has the literal devil in it. Eveline Hall really pulls off that creepy look well!

So I have covered most of the good stuff. What about the bad? Well, at 1 hour 45 minutes plus credits, the film does feel quite long. Films of this nature need to be under 90 minutes; 80 minutes is best. When you are dealing with a limited budget, this is even more important. Although, as mentioned, the scenes filmed in the day look great, the scenes filmed in the dark are a struggle at times. And since these are the scenes with demons, the devil, and so on, you really find yourself struggling to see what is going on.


The Good
I have to admit I am a bit of a "mark" for films in this genre - anything with a supernatural touch that is connected to Biblical stories, etc., and I am in from the first moment. I thought the story was relatively original, too - stealing the Turin Shroud to get the DNA of Jesus so you can create a baby powerful enough to be possessed by the Devil! That is pretty damn cool. All the actors involved did well, and a special mention for Alice Orr-Ewing, who is excellent throughout.

The Bad
The scenes in the dark are hard to see, and some of the visual effects are a bit poor. Also, about 15 minutes too long.

Overall
I liked this film probably more than I thought. The story really impressed me, and I can only imagine what could be done with a proper Hollywood-sized budget.

If you are a fan of supernatural films with a Bible touch, then you should enjoy this.

I score The Devil Conspiracy a solid 8/10.

Out Now in Cinemas or On Demand at https://apple.co/3F8crEj