Tag Archives: Amy Ryan

Crime, No Spoiler Reviews, Thriller

WOLFS (2024): The Thing I liked…

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Wolfs (2024), Brad Pitt, George Clooney, Sony Pictures Entertainment copy
Wolfs (2024), Brad Pitt, George Clooney, Sony Pictures Entertainment copy

I’d started and stopped watching Wolfs at least thrice prior over the last few weeks before finally committing. Perhaps the mood wasn’t right before. Either that or the dialogue, pace and story failed to keep me engaged enough to watch the whole thing.

Full disclosure, it took me first attempting to find almost anything else that’s not too emotionally taxing and starring actors I generally enjoy watching before giving up the search and surrendering to Wolfs. 

George Clooney and Brad Pitt are usually fun to watch, especially together. Yet, writer/director Jon Watt’s crime/thriller about two fixers forced to team up doesn’t bring out their usual magic to its fullness.

My favourite character in Wolfs is courtesy of Austin Abrams, his physical performance and especially the dialogue when he ‘explains the day.’ For me, everything else outside of that is quite forgettable.

Have you watched or tried to watch Wolfs, and how was it for you? 

For those who haven’t and are curious enough, as always, give it a try; maybe it’s just the pace and vibe you’re after.

Happy Film Loving, 

G

Drama, Mystery, Thriller

LOST GIRLS (2020): New Trailer From Amy Ryan, Dean Winters, Thomasin McKenzie…

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Lost Girls (2020), Amy Ryan, Netflix
Lost Girls (2020), Amy Ryan, Netflix

Based on true stories, Lost Girls stars Amy Ryan as Mari Gilbert. Gilbert’s daughter Shannan disappears, and police inaction drives her to investigate the gated Long Island community where Shannan was last seen. Her search soon brings attention to an even more grim reality.

 Directed by Liz Garbus; additional key cast includes Gabriel Byrne, Dean Winters, Thomasin McKenzie and Lola Kirke.

It seems quite clear that Dean Winters’s character isn’t all he ought to be. I’m in for the mystery, plus the great performances by all, especially Ryan and Byrne.

Kevin Corrigan, Miriam Shor, Oona Laurence, Reed Birney, Austyn Johnson, Rosal Colon, Molly Brown, Haskiri Velazquez, Jimi Stanton and Harvey B. Jackson also star.

Lost Girls Release Dates: March 13th, 2020 (US & UK) / Netflix…

Happy Film Loving,

G

No Spoiler Reviews, Thriller

STRANGE BUT TRUE (2019): The Things I Liked…

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Strange But True (2019), Nick Robinson
Strange But True (2019), Nick Robinson

Strange But True is a story about a young woman who surprises the family of her deceased boyfriend by telling them she’s pregnant with his child. Based on the novel by John Searles, Strange But True is a good, suspenseful thriller I’m glad to have seen. 

Besides the notable performances by all involved, including Nick Robinson, Greg Kinnear, Margaret Qualley, and Amy Ryan, director Rowan Athale’s movie features a central mystery that builds up satisfyingly. A mystery that had me feeling all kinds of emotions at once. Especially as I began to notice that nearly everyone isn’t quite who you first think them to be.

The way the film opens and closes with a short reflective voice over reminded me of one of my favourite TV show, Grey’s Anatomy. I feel that Grey’s definitely does a better job with the voice overs overall. Still, I found Athale’s film to be mostly good and well put together. It’s dark, suspenseful and worth the time I dedicated.

It was also interesting to see the different ways the key protagonists dealt with grief. As the film showed me, grief can make some people near impossible to be around. Yet with great understanding, anything is possible.

Watch it because it’s good.

Happy Film Loving,

G

Drama, Thriller

BRIDGE OF SPIES (2015): Worth Your Time…

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Bridge Of Spies (2015), Tom Hanks
Bridge Of Spies (2015), Tom Hanks

In new historical  thriller Bridge Of Spies, Tom Hanks is American Lawyer James B. Donovan; a man  whose job it is to defend an arrested Soviet spy played by Mark Rylance.

Directed by Steven Spielberg, before watching Bridge Of Spies, I had anticipated fighting legal dialogue and courtroom dramatics. In truth, there’s a touch of that but not in the traditional sense. Some of my favourite moments of dialogue happened during the negotiation scenes, plus in the conversations between Donovan and his CIA contact.

In terms of the film’s look and feel, at first it took me a few minutes to get used to the noticeable reduction in colour in reference to the cinematography, however, considering the Cold War setting of Spielberg’s story, I soon understood.

Hanks’s Donovan is very much a hero; one that I adored because he’s determined and focused on what he believes to be the right and reasonable thing to do; a man of conscience, if you will. What’s not to love about that?

Forrest Gump (1993), one of my favourite Tom Hanks movies came to mind upon reflection, because though the characters are quite different, Donovan’s gentle disposition and caring nature took me back to what I loved most about Hanks’s portrayal of Gump.

From the lead actors’ well measured performances to the dialogue and story, I enjoyed Bridge Of Spies. One more key highlight for me is the beautiful ending and all it said so perfectly without words.

Watch it because it’s good.

Happy Film Loving,

G

Action, Comedy, No Spoiler Reviews

CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE (2016): The Things I liked…

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Central Intelligence (2016), Kevin Hart, Dwayne Johnson
Central Intelligence (2016), Kevin Hart, Dwayne Johnson

Central Intelligence is a watchable action/comedy because of the fantastic dynamic between Kevin Hart and Dwayne Johnson’s characters.

As for how believable I found the movie in regards to the way some of the story and action unfolded, let’s just say my disbelief was hardly ever fully suspended.

Nevertheless, i say watch it for the light entertainment and humour. Just don’t expect to be convinced by everything that takes place.

Jason Bateman’s small part is a highlight, as was the message about bullying.

Happy Film Loving,

G