I think it is safe to say that we go through our lives trying to do our best to not hurt people either emotionally or physically. Granted, there are people who wake up in the morning full of anger in their heart and they spend the rest of their day wreaking havoc on the world, but the average man and woman simply go about their day.  

Granted, our best hopes to not hurt people don't always work out. We say things we don't mean, or sometimes our fists come into play. But there is often times a reason that leads to those moments of weakness. Sometimes, the reasons we hurt other people are vast and we feel we have no other way but to inflict pain to solve our own sticky mess and in 1996, the Coen brothers took a little time to examine this darker part of our psyche with the brilliant motion picture, Fargo. 

Jerry Lundegaard is truly an average joe. He has a wife, a child and a solid job given to him by his father in law. In fact, he seems like a pretty stand-up guy. But what few know about Jerry, is that there are some skeletons in his closet. Not only is he hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt, he is becoming a criminal mastermind...sort of. You see, Jerry is planning to have his lovely wife kidnapped and held for ransom so that he can get enough money from his wealthy father in law to get himself and his family out of debt. But what seems like a simple plan is about to change Jerry's life and the lives of everyone he knows when murder comes into play.

It's hard to truly categorize Fargo's exact genre, simply because this movie mixed so much into one ninety-minute run. It was part murder mystery, part black comedy and every second of it works. It starts with the cast of course, simply because William H. Macy, Steve Buscemi and Frances McDormand are beyond incredible in this film, but I think what truly makes this motion picture so memorable is the simple fact that it is an incredibly dark character study.  

I say that, because there are only two major characters in this film that are worth a damn as human beings, Marge Gunderson and her husband. She is a brilliant detective and he is just a good man who takes good care of his pregnant wife. Everyone else however...are pieces of garbage. I mean come on, Jerry Lundegaard actually schemes to have his wife kidnapped for cash. It doesn't get more screwed up than that. In fact, Jerry is a weasel through and through and more or less could give a crap about human life in general if it doesn't serve a purpose for him.  

As I said before, the film really does take an in depth look at the reasons we hurt our fellow man, and quite frankly, it offers no easy answers as to why.  In this case it all comes down to money. Oddly enough, the solution to Jerry's problem is presented by one of the men he hires when Carl Showalter simply asks Jerry why he didn't ask his father in law for the money, an idea that could have changed the film's plot but instead reinforces its point. That while we have our reasons for what we do, we don't always think about the consequences of our actions and that alone makes this a wonderful film worth watching.

There was a time, when the grindhouse film ruled the day at the cinema, and it makes sense as to why. For the 50s and 60s were a time in cinematic history, where movies were indeed designed to be wholesome and sanitized for the masses and well, there were so many movies in that cuddly vein that a great deal of filmmakers were eager to reject that saccharine tainted dogma and bring forth movies that looked at the world in a vastly different light. Which in turn gave life to dark and gritty stories that explored all kinds of wild and twisted corners of our world and their popularity spoke volumes to how much the public wanted something different, something more.
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But what is wild about the grindhouse film, is that it eventually faded from the market as quickly as it arrived and its exit from popular media also makes sense. In that, while grindhouse did indeed offer up something wild and new and vastly different than the norm… it often had little substance. Instead, these movies were often a collection of moments or self-encapsulated violent adventures and while we often claim we just want to be entertained, at the movies… the fact of the matter is, we do indeed want something deeper from motion pictures; be it direct or subliminal. Which really does then beg the question, what would grindhouse have looked like, if it featured the commentary and reflection that today’s films do? And it just so happens that writer/director Mike Cuenca, explores that question in his latest feature, Like a Dirty French Novel.

Now in this particular film, we are introduced to a bevy of unique and dynamic characters in a manner that is quite akin to Pulp Fiction. For all their various chapters and interludes, tie into one another in some form or fashion. Which is a stroke of genius storytelling wise since it places the viewer firmly in familiar territory and it makes one eager to continue this journey. Because once it dawns upon you that this is comfortable and friendly, you want to know how every quirky moment in this movie is going to tie together, and what makes this a genius move, is that it really does allow for one’s guard to drop so that the motion picture can offer up its first real surprise. 

In that, this is indeed a love letter to the grindhouse films of yesteryear, and in between the quirky and familiar moments are some strange and outlandish and violent concepts. The kind where angry emotions are expressed in the most unique manner possible. Where double crosses and betrayal is the norm and violence reigns supreme and these dark and twisted moments, are true grindhouse through and through. For they genuinely go where stories normally don’t and that really does provide for a unique and visceral viewing experience, one that makes you uncomfortable in a manner that only grindhouse can.
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However, there was mention of the fact that this movie takes the time to make grindhouse relatable and analytical and that’s handled by way of the film’s overall setting. For this particular story takes place in the midst of a pandemic. And by intentionally or unintentionally setting the film during such an event, adds incredible depth to the story and it oddly enough, allows for some of the character's outlandish decisions to make sense. Because some of the frustrations and fury in this plot, mirror what we have felt during the past year, and that really does serve as a fine reminder as to how increased and prolonged stress can make us shells of our former selves and motivate us to do things, we never thought we were capable of, making this movie a surprising reflection of our world at the height of Covid’s reign.

If anything, all of these elements make this quite the fascinating film when all is said and done. Simply because you’ve never seen a movie in this vein and this writer feels quite confident in saying that. Because there is no other movie out there that manages to blend the commentary of modern drama with the violence and wonder of the grindhouse and that definitely makes this motion picture worth your while. So, if you’re interested in seeing something refreshing and new, give Dirty Like a French Novel a chance when it hits your local multiplex or digital on demand. Simply because you cannot go wrong with enjoying an original ride in an era where sequels and reboots, rule the day.  

Finding a way to escape and enjoy quiet time for one's self in the modern world is damn near impossible. We are connected now more than ever. Through social networking and the technological miracle that is the cellular phone, the world and everyone in it are truly at our fingertips.  

But there is a price to pay. Work is always waiting for us, there are emails that need to be answered, coworkers that need a hand and our friends and family are but a text message away. Yet we all wonder, what would it be like to escape? To be able to disconnect ourselves from the world that surrounds us...it is that question that serves as the groundwork for the thought-provoking motion picture, Up in the Air. 

Ryan Bingham is a man without connection. He travels from city to city, stepping in to help out cowardly employers in firing their employees. He comes in, does the dirty work and is off to catch another flight toward another city to repeat the process all over again. It is bliss for Ryan, for he is always above the earth, free of the confines of the world below and all its hardships. That is until the company he works for decides that it is time for him to stay on the ground and in the process, Ryan is returned to the world, and the people within it.  

I think what I enjoy most about this film, is the fact that it so absolutely raw. The characters in this motion picture are like the rest of us, full of flaws and capable of the same mistakes we commit on a daily basis. It's something that makes this film instantly accessible to any viewer and draws the audience in because not only do we find something in every character in the film, they are likeable. This is likely due to the fact that George Clooney is one of the finest actors out there and he presents Ryan Bingham as a confident man who is clearly terrified to deal with people on any level outside of what he does for a living. We don't pity Ryan for who he is, we are in fact fascinated with what makes him this way and it makes for just incredible film.  

But outstanding performances aside, another element that makes this motion picture so absolutely fascinating is the fact that it does not offer any answers. We never really find out why Ryan is the way he is. We as an audience never get a clear answer as to what will heal him or make his world better. We just know that he belongs in the skies, heading from place to place without a care in the world. We pity Ryan, yet we also in part admire him for his ability to escape the confines of our busy world and focus on a dream/goal, regardless of how silly others think it to be.

If by some chance you haven't seen this film, do so immediately. Trust me, this is one that will blow you away and in the process of showing you what life would be like if we got away from it all, it also makes you cherish the chaos that surrounds us since without it, we are just like Ryan, observing all the wonder of the world from far away, lost in the skies.  ​

It's amazing how much influence a movie trailer can have upon us. Because when the screen goes dark and the trailers get underway, you are either blown away by a collection of powerful scenes that have you marking down your calendar so you don't miss that particular film, or you are left utterly confused as to what you just witnessed and wonder if you should rush out see that movie or wait until it arrives on DVD or Netflix.  

Sometimes we take a chance on that 'other' film and find ourselves disgusted with the fact we just wasted ten bucks on a movie that we certainly did not enjoy, or we do indeed wait to watch it later and find ourselves stunned when we are treated to an incredible gem of a film, one that knocks our socks off, and we are left sitting there, wondering, why the trailer didn't hint at the fact that this story would be so incredible. You almost feel cheated in a way. I, however, simply feel foolish for missing out on not experiencing an amazing movie sooner. As was the case for me when it comes to the fascinating film; Looper.

Set in Kansas in the year 2044 we meet a young man who works for the mob named Joe. Joe has a unique position within the criminal underworld, he is a hitman known as a 'Looper', a man who eliminates the mob's enemies the instant they arrive...from the future. In 2074, time travel is invented and outlawed, and in order to evade the advanced forensic technology of the time, those deemed expendable are sent into the past to be killed and disposed of. For men like Joe, there comes a time when the mob no longer needs them, and they are sent into retirement by killing their future selves, effectively 'closing the loop', and as fate would have it, Joe's time has come at last, but the older version of himself...isn't going down without a fight. 

​Time travel stories are always a tough venture because they run the risk of being too smart for their own good since they can quickly lose themselves in the technology and the details surrounding time travel, pulling us away from the story and thankfully that wasn't the case with Looper. Rather than break down the technology and theories and all the other techno-babble that goes into time travel, this film chose to focus on the fascinating concept of meeting one's older self and learning what we have become, and this was achieved by way of some top notch acting.

Portraying Joe at the two various stages of his life are Joseph Gordon-Levitt as young Joe and Bruce Willis as old Joe and they do not disappoint when it comes to their performances. Joseph does an incredible Bruce Willis, and with a little help from some prosthetics he manages to resemble Bruce physically, but the magic in this film is that you completely buy the fact that on screen, this is the same man. Not to mention, this motion picture manages to visually combine the dystopia of Blade Runner with the world we live in today while holding on to our love of American nostalgia. Truly it is a visual feast, and while it is a little slow in the middle, Looper impresses with its strong cast and unique twists on the tired time travel genre and there are definitely some jaw dropping moments when it comes to how present events can influence the future.  

But the best part of this film is the fascinating story arc that revolves around young and old Joe. That despite their unique experiences, their distinct difference in age and the fact that they both have differing opinions on what must happen next, deep down this is the same man, just at different physical stages of his life. It is a unique perspective which allows the film to pose a powerful question, can we ever truly change? The ending is one that is hopeful, but it plays with you at the same time, because that question hovers over the final moments of this motion picture. Either way, don't make the mistake I did and second guess whether this film may or may not be good, it's awesome in fact, and accessible to any fan of science fiction and anyone out there who outright loves cinema. 

Caution: This article contains minor spoilers for the motion picture, ‘Free Guy’.
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There was a time, where video games were considered nothing more than a fad. For owning a console involved shelling out a serious chunk of change and few adults saw the value of spending money to get one so their kids could spend their time in front of the television, running around in a fictional world when the outdoors offer so much. But those very adults eventually gave into their kids and provided them with that console and well, that changed everything. For a generation of gamers grew up and endeavored to make video games the next frontier of storytelling and they have been quite successful in their efforts. Because games these days are nothing short of an immersive cinematic experience, one complete with powerful visuals and stellar acting and stories written by some of Hollywood’s finest scribes. 

Plus, they’re so beloved and of such high caliber that in some instances, there are games out there that are complete worlds of their own. To the point where they have eco-systems and weather and people meandering about, and they also feature endless corners for the player to explore and that really does leave one wondering… how far are video games going to go in their world-building? Because this genre of storytelling has the potential to do some bold things, to the point where even Holllywood is beginning to ponder upon its potential. In fact, there’s a brand-new movie in theaters today that opts to explore the possibility of what might happen, if the digital people that populate these worlds, had free will and thoughts of their own and that makes Free Guy one of the most intelligent comedies of the year. 

Now in this particular film, we are introduced to an everyday and overly perky guy named… Guy, and he lives in a wondrous place known as Free City. Where the coffee is perfect, joy is in the air and superheroes that wear sunglasses tear through the city and do whatever the heck they want. But while Guy is happy go about his life and deal with the everyday robberies that happen at the bank where he works… he does desire more. Specifically, he’s hoping that someday he will meet the woman of his dreams and enjoy a love affair for the ages and one day it seems, he’s about to have that dream fulfilled. For an encounter with a mysterious and beautiful woman, awakens something within and his newfound desire to be near her, is going to unlock a powerful truth for Guy. In that, he’s a video game character that has achieved sentience and this revelation is going to change his digital life in ways he never thought possible.

Which is a plot that at first glance, appears as though it doesn’t reflect any notions of comedy in the slightest. In fact, it seems to be nothing more than a video game re-telling of The Truman Show since we are watching the mediocre life of a video game guy play out before our eyes. But the instant Ryan Reynolds turns on his comedic chops, you’re treated to quite the boisterous comedy. One that quite frankly, is far funnier than one might expect. For there are moments when the jokes just hit in a rapid-fire manner, leaving one wiping the tears from their eyes and that really does make this movie quite the delightful ride. Because you can never go wrong with a lighthearted affair that knows what it is about and what it stands for.
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But while the comedy alone could have carried this story from beginning to end, what’s truly amazing about this film… is that it really does feature a fascinating plot. One that is shockingly plausible in nature since notions of artificial intelligence come into play here, as part of the reason as to why Guy is able to see his world in a different light and injecting that here, really does pose some fascinating questions about video gaming and how we perceive entertainment. Because a sentient and thoughtful digital character would really give us pause in regard to how we treat them and what kind of stories we write about them and well... this is a wildly original idea that hopefully is explored further in fiction and if by chance that’s handled by way of a sequel to this movie… well that’s just fine.

Because this particular tale is a true delight and in this age of sequels, a follow-up that expands a world as rich as this one and still keeps us laughing, would be welcome for certain. Especially when one considers that this movie serves as the perfect anthesis to the tension of the world. For there is no grit or darkness to be found in this film. Just fun for the whole family, and jokes that work basis and it features a stellar cast as well. Since Ryan Reynolds (Guy) is balanced out nicely by Jodie Comer’s (Millie) and Joe Keery’s (Keys) wonderfully earnest performances and of course, you can never go wrong with Taika Waititi (Antwan) just doing his thing. So, if you’re looking for a lighthearted and fun comedy, one that takes you on an epic ride, then swing by your local theater this weekend and give Free Guy a look.

​The old saying 'variety is the spice of life' exists for one particularly valid reason. Because sometimes we get stuck in a rut, and we need to shake things up to keep our heart and soul invigorated and often times, the need for variety often applies to our chosen career path. 

Because work usually entails a routine, and routine can sometimes lead to boredom. Which means we either take on more work, or push toward a promotion, in an attempt to invigorate and challenge ourselves. But sometimes we come to realize that a particular line of work no longer suits us, or it has come to make us miserable, and we seek out a career change in the hopes of spicing up our days and nights with a new and exciting challenge, and the whole notion of shaking things up career wise was explored in fascinating fashion in the 1988 film, Midnight Run.

Former Chicago police officer Jack Walsh is just trying to get by these days now that life has dealt him some serious blows. Corrupt cops, on the payroll of mobster Jimmy Serrano more or less ruined his life and career as he closed in on arresting Serrano and rather than take a payoff from the mob, Jack left everything behind and became a bounty hunter in Los Angeles. It's work that he despises, and he would give anything to get away from the business and as luck would have it... his golden ticket has arrived. Jonathan 'The Duke' Mardukas, a former accountant for Serrano, who embezzled $15 million from the mobster, was arrested, posted bail and promptly disappeared and it's up to Jack to bring him in, and what makes this particular job so sweet... is the fact that it finally pay him enough to get him away from the bounty hunter life and in the process, he could help bring down Serrano once and for all. But his quest for freedom and justice will be anything but easy...because the Duke is in high demand, and the FBI, Serrano's men and even a rival bounty hunter all want to get their hands-on Jack's big prize.

There's some sweet irony that comes with this film, in that Robert DeNiro took the role of Jack Walsh to spice up his acting career and well, the need for variety comes across in his performance because DeNiro and the entire cast have a blast in this film, and they should. This is a movie that brings together some fine genres since it's a buddy cop comedy, a road trip flick and a crime/action film all rolled into one and well... every single second of it is genius. The action is thrilling, the laughs are plentiful and just when you think this film is a good old fashioned, fluffy comedy... it surprises you with some meaning.

Because Midnight Run features some incredible depth when it comes to its characters, especially when it comes to Jack. He is after all, a man of honor, one who was willing to walk away from a good life and everything it entailed to keep his conscience clear and has paid the price for it. But is it his infallibility and sense of duty that drives him to redemption since he finally gets his chance to deal with Serrano and because some good things finally come his way. How exactly that all happens, I won't discuss too much seeing as to how that would utterly ruin the plot for you if you haven't seen this, but it is refreshing to sit through a film where the characters flaws come from their greatest strengths and Jack's sense of honor is something that you simply don't see much in film anymore.

Either way, this movie is another one of those forgotten gems. One that I saw as a kid on video and one that I found myself pleasantly surprised with when it popped up on cable the other day and well... it's one that I think others need to revisit as well, because of its rich and thoughtful characters, the laughs that leave you smiling and the sheer satisfaction that it supplies you with by telling a sweeping and complete story that manages to wrap up every single little plot thread with a beautiful bow and truly, it's a shame they don't make movies like this anymore, because watching this again served as a nice little break from the hustle and bustle of sequels and remakes and superheroes.