Thriller

Eddington

  • Title: Eddington
  • IMDb: link

Writer/director Ari Aster‘s latest is an absurdist dark comedy where the humor comes from the stupidity and poor decision-making of its characters. And, oh boy, do we get some stupid decisions from its characters. Set in the town of Eddington, New Mexico, during the COVID-19 lockdown, we’re introduced to an entire town of incredibly dumb characters all following their own agendas while shouting their opinions at each other and rarely, if ever, truly listening to another person. In some ways, Aster has brought Internet discourse to life which, while intriguing, isn’t always interesting.

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Countdown – Happy Birthday Final

  • Title: Countdown – Happy Birthday Final
  • IMDb: link

Things start to get silly in “Happy Birthday Final” as Meachum (Jensen Ackles) puts together a ridiculous plan involving a fake prison escape to get more information from a guy who might, might, have connections to attack being planned on U.S. soil. And, surprise, surprise, something goes wrong providing a turning point where two members of the team are shot (for questionable intel) allowing the local Attorney General (Merrick McCartha) to put some added pressure on the team when the tension should be coming from preventing the attack. Also of note, Violett Beane is pretty cute her planning a surprise party for one of her teammates (even if that thread seems to come from an entirely different show).

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Countdown – Teeth in the Bone / Dead Lots of Times

  • Title: Countdown – Teeth in the Bone / Dead Lots of Times
  • IMDb: link | link

The death of a Homeland Security Officer (HeroesMilo Ventimiglia) with access to the Port of Los Angeles launches a joint task force made up of LAPD, FBI, and DEA who are brought to get to the truth of why the officer was killed and what has just been smuggled into the United States. Believing anyone could be corrupt, FBI Special Agent Nathan Blythe (Eric Dane) puts together a crew of talented agents known for doing the right thing even to the detriment of their own careers including LAPD Detective Mark Meachum (Jensen Ackles) and DEA Special Agent Amber Oliveras (Jessica Camacho) for their undercover experience and connections, FBI Special Agent Keyonte Bell (Elliot Knight) for his experience with terrorist threats, LAPD Detective Lucas Finau (Uli Latukefu) for his experience with narcotics and smuggling, and fresh-eyed FBI Special Agent Evan Shepherd (Violett Beane) for her technical skills.

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The Holcroft Covenant

  • Title: The Holcroft Covenant
  • IMDb: link

Adapted from the Robert Ludlum novel, 1985’s The Holcroft Covenant is a convoluted affair starring Michael Caine as the American son of one of Adolf Hitler’s top aides. Noel Holcroft’s birthday triggers a plan his father, and two other Nazi officers, created in the wanning days of World War II. Money put aside in 1945, along with four decades of interest, is to be turned over to Noel and the sons of the other two officers (Anthony Andrews and Michael Lonsdale) to disperse as they please as reparations for WWII.

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Jaws

  • Title: Jaws
  • IMDb: link

Released 50 years ago, Steven Spielberg‘s Jaws forever changed what a summer movie was and what horror movie was capable of. Far more successful than anyone could hope, Jaws captured the hearts and minds of audiences making it the most profitable movie ever released in theaters (at least until a certain sci-fi fantasy hit theaters two years later). Despite it’s troubled production, including a mechanical shark that often wouldn’t work as intended, Spielberg delivered by suggesting the shark’s presence through most of the first-half of the film relying heavily on his human actors and John Williams‘ famous score to set the mood of the film.

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