Tag Archives: Winston Duke

THE FALL GUY (2024): The Things I Liked…

Starring Emily Blunt, Ryan Gosling, Aaron Taylor Johnson and Hannah Waddingham; The Fall Guy is a movie with a trailer that didn’t have me as excited as I wanted to be, especially with a cast this stellar.

I can now confirm that my instincts about director David Leitch’s action/comedy/drama were correct, in that I did not love the finished product. 

One might say that The Fall Guy is simply ‘not my vibe,’ and they would be correct. Especially since a keyword that came up as I watched the movie is ‘silly.’ Leitch’s film has a certain silliness and sense of humour that isn’t fully for me, even though some parts may have put a smile on my face.

The story of a retired stuntman getting drafted back to work on a movie directed by his ex-girlfriend is simple enough; arguably too simple and inadequately engaging. Especially since, for me, the idea of Gosling and Blunt playing a couple felt as much a miscast in the finished movie, as it did in the trailer. 

Maybe it’s just the wrong project for them to do together. Or it’s the script/simple story. Perhaps it’s this specific brand of silliness and the fact that it’s not quite ‘my vibe’. 

In fairness, the action/stunts/story became more engaging in the last third/quarter, but not enough for me to consider the overall experience a positive one.

If you’re curious enough, give The Fall Guy a chance. It certainly offers a window into the stunt-double experience; a more modern version than Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019), that’s for sure. And perhaps you’ll love it – if you don’t already. 

Happy Film Loving,

G

THE FALL GUY (2024): New Trailer From Ryan Gosling, Emily Blunt, Winston Duke, Hannah Waddingham…

Read my spoiler-free movie review of The Fall Guy (2024).


In new action/comedy/drama The Fall Guy, Colt Seavers (Ryan Gosling) is a retired stuntman who gets drafted back into stuntwork after the star of a big-budget studio movie goes missing.

A key complication is that the director of the mega-budget film is his ex-girlfriend Jodi Moreno (Emily Blunt), with whom he has unfinished business.

The films that both Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt are in are usually good. And, I’m quite sure that The Fall Guy will be quite entertaining.

However, I think it’s taken me a while to post about this trailer because I wasn’t sure about the casting of Blunt and Gosling as a couple. I just don’t see it so easily for some reason. Maybe my slight aversion has more to do with the main song in this trailer. Sorry, Jon Bon Jovi fans!

Winston Duke, Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Hannah Waddingham are no doubt great additions to the cast. May the end result be as fun as one hopes, even though the plot seems quite far from meaty.

Are you excited to see The Fall Guy?

Directed by David Leitch; Teresa Palmer, Stephanie Hsu and Matuse also star.

The Fall Guy Release Dates: May 3rd, 2024 (US & UK)…

Happy Film Loving,

G

US (2019): The Things I Liked…

What to say about Us? It had its moments, several that were perfectly engaging. However, there were some scenes I wish had gone differently. 

Starring Lupita Nyong’o, Winston Duke, Elisabeth Moss and Tim Heidecker, I enjoyed much of the mystery in Jordan Peele’s horror/mystery/thriller about a family whose beach holiday takes a terrorising turn, thanks to the arrival of their doppelgängers. It’s just unfortunate that a little bit of that enjoyment disappeared when I realised I’d guessed a crucial element of the story within the first ten minutes.

Other moments that convinced me I’m not enjoying Us as much as I did Get Out (2017) include the feeling that Nyong’o’s doppelgänger has far too much dialogue. Another is the taking of young Evan Alex’s character towards the end. Now, I’m sure that parents get distracted in extraordinary circumstances. Nevertheless, that specific taking felt as though it happened far too conveniently for my liking.

Even with the above considered, there’s no taking away from the brilliant performances by the entire cast. I especially found Winston Duke’s character quite entertaining. 

For me, Peele is still great at creating a perfectly uncomfortable atmosphere that’s very difficult to look away from, even if, in the case of Us, the social commentary doesn’t quite land as neatly. 

You’ve probably already watched Us, but if you haven’t and you’re curious. Plus you enjoyed Get Out, then give Us a chance. 

Happy Film Loving,

G

NINE DAYS (2020): New Trailer Starring Winston Duke, Bill Skarsgård, Zazie Beetz, Benedict Wong…

Nine Days (2020), Bill Skarsgård, Sony Pictures Classics
Nine Days (2020), Bill Skarsgård, Sony Pictures Classics

Nine Days is a new drama/fantasy film about a reclusive man as he conducts a series of interviews with human souls, to determine which one can be born on earth.

From writer/director Edson Oda; Nine Days stars Bill Skarsgård, Zazie Beetz, Winston Duke and Benedict Wong.

I’m so curious to see how the topic of ‘pre-life’ will be covered because I have so many questions. For example, what is pre-life really like and why is life on earth so very appealing? To what extent can a soul know the type of life experience they’re likely to have once on earth? How much joy versus suffering? What kind of human being are they likely to become? And so on.

In part because of the premise, this trailer and the one for Sound of Metal are in my top five of 2020’s best indie trailers.

Tony Hale, Geraldine Hughes, David Rysdahl, Arianna Ortiz, John Forker, Perry Smith, Dave Bresnahan, Logan Smith, Rachelle Hardy, Lisa Starrett and Sammie Edgington also star.

Nine Days Release Dates: January 27th, 2021 (US)…

Happy Film Loving

G