Film

BULLET TRAIN

• By RICH ANDREW
• Photo Courtesy of SONY PICTURES

In his latest action flick, director David Leitch (Atomic Blonde) wows us once again with his American translation of the Japanese novel Maria Beetle by Kōtarō Isaka. The assignment seems simple enough: steal a briefcase off a train. But what follows is a comedy of errors told through the most stunning of action sequences. Donning the eyes of undercover albeit unlucky operative Ladybug is the iconic Brad Pitt (The Lost City), whose spy days have long since been over until he’s called back to task by his old handler Maria Beetle, played by the always kick ass Sandra Bullock (The Lost City). Ladybug’s past body of work involves almost fatal run-ins with five of the world’s most lethal assassins who have maneuvered their way onto this bullet train, each one out for blood, the briefcase, or both. As a stunt superman himself, Leitch continues to prove his masterful eye by capturing the film’s jaw-dropping action bathed in a kaleidoscope of neon lights that turns every frame into epic eye candy. With a star-studded cast that also includes Joey King (The Princess), Zazie Beetz (Atlanta), Aaron Taylor-Johnson (The King’s Man), Hiroyuki Sanada (Westworld), Logan Lerman (Hunters), Brian Tyree Henry (Atlanta), Andrew Koji (Warrior), Bad Bunny (Narcos: Mexico), and Michael Shannon (Abandoned), Bullet Train promises fun at two hundred miles per hour.

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Mack & Rita

• By AC Remler
• Photo Courtesy of Gravitas Ventures

Beloved icon Diane Keaton is back on the big screen starring in a new comedy Mack & Rita that hits theaters August 11. Mack & Rita features Elizabeth Lail (You) as Mack, a 30-year-old struggling author who feels like she is an older woman trapped in the body of a young girl. Everything her contemporaries enjoy, she finds overwhelming and tiresome.

While at her best friend’s bachelorette getaway in Palm Springs (played with subtle perfection by Taylour Paige), she participates in a new-age past life regression exercise designed to release your inner self. When she emerges, she has transformed into Keaton—a 70-year-old woman. While this popular cinematic trope is not new (think Freaky Friday and Big), Keaton brings her full throttle kookiness to the role offering a delightfully fresh spin to a predictable plotline.

Dazzling us with her signature stylish flare, Keaton caps her look off with flowing gray hair and eccentric runway-ready wardrobe that transforms her into a smoking hot “glamma.” Mack, now known as Rita, drops acid, drives a convertible Thunderbird, posts on socials and turns heads—including that of her young hottie neighbor played by Dustin Milligan (Schitt’s Creek). The most awesome thing about Keaton is that she pulls it off without a single cringe-y moment.

Mack & Rita, directed by Katie Aselton and produced by Keaton, is the perfect summer comedy for all ages.

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Thirteen Lives 

• By Debbie Emery
• Photo Courtesy of Prime Video

Four years ago, the focus of the world was on a remote region of northern Thailand where the fate of a junior soccer team hung in the balance. Twelve players (aged 11 to 16) and their assistant coach entered a cave after practice, only to be trapped when a heavy rainfall flooded their exit. The group were stuck in the Tham Luang Nang Non cave in Chiang Rai Province for 18 days as international rescue crews struggled to free them. 

Oscar winning director Ron Howard is now bringing this harrowing story from the dark depths to the big screen in Thirteen Lives, starring Viggo Mortensen, Colin Farrell, Joel Edgerton, Tom Bateman, Paul Gleeson, Pattrakorn Tungsupakul, Tui Thiraphat Sajakul, James Teeradon Supapunpinyo, Sahajak Boonthanakit, and Weir Sukollawat Kanaros. The drama follows the most skilled divers in the world as they attempt to navigate the flooded, narrow cave tunnels to free the boys and their coach. Tragically, one former Thai Navy Seal didn’t make it out as he died of asphyxiation. (The following year another diver died of a blood infection contracted during the rescue). Ultimately, however, this is story of how 10,000 volunteers banded together to make sure the team were returned safely to the surface.

In theaters on July 29 and streaming on Prime August 5. For more, click here.

THE GRAY MAN

• By RICH ANDREW
• Photo Courtesy of NETFLIX

Directors Anthony Russo and Joe Russo have launched Mark Greaney’s best-selling series of novels onto the silver screen with star power sure to dominate the streaming platforms. Tackling the titular role is Ryan Gosling (First Man) as CIA operative Court Gentry, who’s been snatched out of obscurity from the penitentiary to join the CR program. This exclusive task force was designed to function only in unofficial capacities with anonymous agents who have been trained to be ruthless assassins, and Gentry’s body of work has made him as legendary as he is lethal. But when he stumbles upon a computer chip full of damning agency secrets, he soon finds himself in the crosshairs of another CIA black operative Lloyd Hansen, played by fellow super star Chris Evans (Lightyear). To ensure the assignment’s success, Hansen puts such a large bounty on Gentry’s head that allies and assassins alike from all over the world compete for the glory of taking out the most infamous mark of all. Both Gosling and Evans are at their best as they battle to be known as our favorite action star. With outstanding performances by fellow cast mates Ana De Armas (Deep Water), Jessica Henwick (Moley), Regé-Jean Page (Bridgerton), Wagner Moura (Shining Girls), Dhanush (Maaran), Billy Bob Thornton (1883), and Alfre Woodward (Viral), The Gray Man packs quite the punch.

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