Thriller

She Rides Shotgun

/ / Movie Reviews
  • Title: She Rides Shotgun
  • IMDb: link

Adapted from the novel of the same name, She Rides Shotgun opens with Polly Huff (Ana Sophia Heger) being picked up from school not by her mother or stepfather but her biological father Nate (Taron Egerton) who was released from prison that morning. And he’s had something of a day. In a choice that pays off beautifully, we don’t learn anything before Polly does. She’s a smart enough girl to know something is wrong with Nate showing up in a hotwired car but also scared enough to not push the issue with the most dangerous man in her world.

…

She Rides ShotgunRead More »

She Rides Shotgun Read More »

The In Crowd

/ / Home Video
  • Title: The In Crowd (2000)
  • IMDb: link

Throwback Tuesday takes us back to the year 2000. The 90s and early 2000s saw a glut of erotic thrillers including Wild Things, Poison Ivy, and Embrace of the Vampire. Susan Ward starred in a handful of these: Poison Ivy: The New Seduction, Wild Things 2, and The In Crowd (which did get a theatrical release after a bit of trimming got its R-rating slashed down to PG-13). Although none of these would be classified as good movies, it’s the last of these for which I remember the actress far more than her later roles Sunset Beach or Make It or Break It. And she’s really the only reason to check back in with the film 25 years later.

…

The In CrowdRead More »

The In Crowd Read More »

Eddington

/ / Movie Reviews
  • 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.

…

EddingtonRead More »

Eddington Read More »

Countdown – Happy Birthday Final

/ / Television Reviews
  • 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).

…

Countdown – Happy Birthday FinalRead More »

Countdown – Happy Birthday Final Read More »

Countdown – Teeth in the Bone / Dead Lots of Times

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

The death of a Homeland Security Officer (Heroes‘ Milo 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.

…

Countdown – Teeth in the Bone / Dead Lots of TimesRead More »

Countdown – Teeth in the Bone / Dead Lots of Times Read More »