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Archives for : January2022

“Reacher” Interview with Alan Ritchson

I spoke with the star of the highly anticipated new Jack Reacher series (“Reacher”), Alan Ritchson. We talk about what small detail says the most about him, what he was like as a teenager, and we play a rapid fire game related to the show.  

“Reacher” is based on Lee Child’s first Jack Reacher book, “Killing Floor”.  

“Reacher” streams on Amazon Prime February 4, 2022.

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“A Hero” Interview w/ Oscar Winner Asghar Farhadi

I sat down with two-time Academy Award winner, Asghar Farhadi to discuss his newest film, “A Hero”. It’s Iran’s Official Selection for Best International Film and it’s already been generating a lot of Oscar buzz. We discuss the film’s message, the power of social media, our Iranian roots, and so much more in this online exclusive interview.

“A Hero” is currently play in select theaters and streams on Amazon Prime January 21, 2022.

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Review: “A Hero” & “This is Us”

This week I review Iran’s Official Selection for Best International Film, “A Hero”. The film has already been nominated for a Golden Globe and Critics Choice Award. Find out if I think it’s worth the Oscar nomination! The review is followed by a preview of the 6th and final season of NBC’s “This is Us”.

“A Hero” is currently playing in select theaters and streams on Amazon Prime January 21, 2022. “This is Us” airs Tuesday nights on NBC.

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“Shattered” Interview with Cameron Monaghan

I got a chance to speak with Cameron Monaghan, star of the new thriller, “Shattered”. We discuss the film, how to know when to trust someone, and we play a rapid fire game!

The film opens in select theaters and OnDemand on January 14, 2022.

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Movie Review: “355” – Plenty of Action, Not Enough Excitement

It’s January; and in the movie world that means it’s “dump month”. After all the award contenders have released their films, a wave of big budget flops tend to make their debut. Don’t get me wrong, there’s the occasional good movie that makes it through. Unfortunately, Universal Pictures’ new action flick, “The 355”, is not one of them.

Jessica Chastain stars as “Mace”, a lonely CIA operative who has no loved ones in her life except for her partner, Nick (Sebastian Stan). They have been strictly platonic until one assignment, that has them playing husband and wife, abruptly gets them in bed together. Well, that assignment goes awry, and she loses an advanced technological device that must be kept out of enemy hands.

One thing leads to another and eventually, Mace teams up with her old friend Khadija (Lupita Nyong’o), an MI6 technological threats expert who used to be a field agent. Marie (Diana Kruger), a German operative who’s a tough, skilled fighter. And Graciela (Penelope Cruz), a Colombian police therapist, who accidently gets involved in this new mission.

Director and co-writer Simon Kinberg does a solid job shooting the film. There’s no shortage of action sequences and the movie looks great, but the screenplay (Co-written by Theresa Rebeck and Bek Smith) offers no excitement and there’s not enough depth to keep us invested in these characters. In fact, the one you care about the most is Graciela, who desperately just wants to home to her family. Cruz’s performance as an innocent and concerned mother makes hers the only relationship you hope gets a happy ending.

It’s easy to root for the team of women, who commit to their lackluster script, but they all deserved better. There are a lot of forced emotions between characters you don’t get to really know. Though Chastain, Nyong’o, Kruger, and Cruz do a fine job, the same cannot be said Sebastian Stan. He barely makes an effort with his character, Nick. There’s a lack of chemistry between him and Chastain, greatly due to his lethargic delivery.

There’s not much else to really say about the film and I don’t want to sit here and rip it apart. From the trailer, “The 355” looks like it will be a fun espionage thriller featuring an awesome, all-star cast. I’m sadden by the fact that it wasn’t. The film had all the right pieces to an underwhelming puzzle.

The powerhouse women in the movie are what make “The 355” a bearable watch, however, the story is forgettable and a missed opportunity with a talented cast.

Rating: C-

“The 355” opens in theaters January 7, 2022

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