Tag Archives: Denzel Washington

Action, Adventure, Drama

GLADIATOR II (2024): New Trailer Starring Denzel Washington, Paul Mescal, Pedro, Joseph Quinn, Connie Nielsen…

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Ridley Scott’s epic Gladiator (2000) finally has a sequel and it stars Denzel Washington, Paul Mescal, Joseph Quinn, Pedro Pascal and Connie Nielsen.

Following Maximus’s death, the story picks up with Lucius, the son of Maximus’s love Lucilla.

I’ll start by saying that the original Gladiator film is the first movie I watched that was so impressive that it left me speechless. Now that I have seen the trailer for the follow-up, as harsh as it sounds, it appears I may be wise to lower my expectations.

Much of this trailer just isn’t clicking for me right now, and that’s before mentioning the ill-advised soundtrack.

As wonderful as the actors are, I’m not getting the expected epic vibe as I watch this. Dare I say, so far, Gladiator II is feeling oddly lower budget. Plus, I already miss Russell Crowe’s Maximus Decimus Meridius.

It also looks like I’ll have to see one more Pedro Pascal character slain in another one-on-one battle, just like his much-loved Oberyn (my favourite character) in Game of Thrones. That’s not necessarily something I want to see again.

With all the above in mind, I may have to hold back before I buy my ticket. I hope I’m wrong – and may well be. But what do you think?

Fred Hechinger, Alexander Karim, Derek Jacobi, Chidi Ajufo, Peter Mensah, Rory McCann, Riana Duce, May Calamawy, Tim McInnerny, Alec Utgoff and Matt Lucas also star.

Gladiator II Release Dates: November 15th 2024 (UK); November 22nd, 2024 (US)…

Happy Film Loving,

G

Action, Crime, No Spoiler Reviews, Thriller

THE EQUALIZER 3 (2023): The Things I Liked…

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The final instalment of Denzel Washington’s The Equalizer franchise is quite a pleasant surprise. The deliberately slower pace during the first half might have irked me greatly had it not felt strangely meditative in a good way. 

Additionally, it isn’t the type of slow that has you doubting the filmmaker’s skills because what’s happening is still quite engaging. 

I find the pace of the first half much closer to the kind of ‘slower beginning’ that other skilled directors have utilised to great effect. To name just two examples, Blade Runner (1982) and A History of Violence (2005). 

My ability to tolerate the slow beginning is also probably helped by the film’s southern Italy/Sicily location, one of my favourite places to visit and watch on screen. 

Directed by Antoine Fuqua, The Equalizer franchise follows a man (Robert McCall) who takes it upon himself to serve unflinching justice to those who have it coming. As such, in the second half of the movie, during scenes when said justice is served, at the very least, I expected to be pleased. What I didn’t anticipate was finding myself expressing audible glee. The kind close enough to levels I had not experienced since the super evil King Joffrey Baratheon finally got all he deserved in Game of Thrones.

The Equalizer 3 is worth watching to see the satisfying way the franchise ends. It’s also for you if you like seeing bullies silenced, enjoy the beautiful sights of Sicily, and you’re into fun/thrilling action sequences that require you to leave expectations of realism safely at home. Lastly, you’ll need to be okay with gratuitous violence because there is quite a healthy serving, but not too much more than in previous Equalizer movies.

I am super glad that the Equalizer films happened. As satisfying as it has been to watch the cocky villains deservedly meet their ends, there is still only one scene that springs to mind whenever I think of the franchise. The famous gun-snatching scene from The Equalizer (2014), of course.

Watch it all, if you’re crious.

Happy Film Loving,

G

Action, Crime, Thriller

THE EQUALIZER 3 (2023): New Trailer Starring Denzel Washington, Dakota Fanning, David Denman, Sonia Ammar…

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Read my spoiler-free movie review of The Equalizer 3 (2023).

Director Antoine Fuqua (Training Day (2001) is back with another The Equalizer (2014) sequel starring Denzel Washington as server of unflinching justice, Robert McCall.

Featuring a supporting cast that includes Dakota Fanning, David Denman and Sonia Ammar, this time McCall takes on the job of protecting his friends against the Mafia in Southern Italy.

Having watched the first two The Equalizer movies, I definitely have to see this for closure. And since they are calling this third instalment the last one, I’m a little afraid that McCall is about to be killed off. I’m actually okay with the franchise ending. I just don’t think that ‘a killing off’ is the ending I necessarily want to see. Maybe, I’ll get over it if this movie is super impressive in other important ways.

Are you interested in seeing more justice served McCall style? Looks as though he’ll be getting a little help from Dakota Fanning’s character, possibly.

Eugenio Mastrandrea, Gaia Scodellaro, Andrea Scarduzio, Massi Furlan, Remo Girone, Bruno Bilotta and Salvatore Ruocco also star.

The Equalizer 3 Release Dates: August 30th, 2023 (UK); Septemeber 1st, 2023 (US)…

Happy Film Loving,

G

No Spoiler Reviews, Thriller

THE LITTLE THINGS (2021): The Things I Liked…

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The Little Things (2021), Denzel Washington, Rami Malek, Warner Bros. Pictures
The Little Things (2021), Denzel Washington, Rami Malek, Warner Bros. Pictures

As many can imagine, a thriller starring Denzel Washington, Rami Malek and Jared Leto is the kind that’s highly unlikely to disappoint, especially on the performance front.

All three Academy award-winning actors were great in their roles. I particularly enjoyed the tension-filled dynamic between Washington and Malek’s characters. I also happened to like the way Malek walks in this movie, but that’s neither here nor there.

Performances and walks aside, The Little Things is very unlikely to be what you expect. Writer/director John Lee Hancock’s serial killer movie is engaging and suspenseful; especially at the start. Yet, even though I appreciated the story that Hancock chose to tell, the way the film’s unexpected difference is executed resulted in a storytelling experience that left me feeling disappointed and unsatisfied.

To be clear, I’m not dissatisfied because I didn’t get the ending I wanted. I’m left wanting because the story structure did a less than satisfactory job of managing my expectations.

Besides the already mentioned high points of this movie, one of the biggest positives of The Little Things, for me, is the musical score; the sound of which you’ll recognise, particularly if you enjoyed and or replayed the impressive trailer as much as I did. 

The Little Things is a movie you watch if you’re curious about the performances. And to find out how it’s different from what you typically expect from a serial killer movie, should you be so curious.

Happy Film Loving

G

Thriller

THE LITTLE THINGS (2021): New Trailer From Denzel Washington, Jared Leto, Rami Malek…

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The Little Things (2021), Denzel Washington, Warner Bros. Pictures

Read my spoiler-free movie review of  The Little Things (2021).

Jared Leto, Denzel Washington and Rami Malek are the stars of new thriller The Little Things.

From writer/director John Lee Hancock; the story follows two cops in their efforts to track down a serial killer.

A very good trailer. I like the music almost as much as I love seeing the names Washington, Leto and Malek on one cast list.

For a moment there, I thought Washington was playing the serial killer. I say ‘thought’ but I’m still not sure. It’s almost too scary if he is, isn’t it? I can’t wait for the truth to be revealed. Oh, and yes, Leto is wearing a prosthetic nose.

Sofia Vassilieva, Natalie Morales, Tom Hughes, Michael Hyatt, Chris Bauer, Terry Kinney, Jason James Richter, Stephanie Erb and John Harlan Kim also star.

The Little Things Release Dates: January 29th, 2021 (US)…

Happy Film Loving

G