Month: January 2024

1) Pedro Pascal is a Chilean-American actor who has featured in many starring roles.

2) In the last decade he has become a household name due to the hit TV show ‘The Mandalorian’ and his starring role on the Netflix drama ‘Narcos’.

-3)His first name is actually José.

4)His astrological sign is Aries.

5)One of his biggest breakout roles was on the hit HBO series ‘Game of Thrones’. He played Oberyn Martell, a much beloved character of the series.

A nice jaunt into the horror-comedy subgenre from Nick Frost (star and co-showrunner), his previous appearances alongside Simon Pegg have always been a hit with the public. Now he’s going it alone with a new(ish) series from Amazon Prime. I put off watching ‘Truth Seekers’ for some time - and now that I’ve finally given it a chance, I’m delighted to say it’s a highly unique tribute to televised ghost stories, urban tales, and the horror genre as a whole. 

Where it really excels is its expert editing and jump-scares. Nick Frost and Simon Pegg helped to create the show with the director Jim Field Smith - and together they’ve made a very funny and offbeat comedy series that lovingly homages horror classics.  

A subway train is taken hostage by a team of criminals sporting automatic weapons. They demand a hefty sum of 1 million dollars US or they will start executing passengers - one every minute. Walter Matheau stars as a Transit Detective named Zachary who ends up with the unlucky job of negotiating with the hostage takers. Robert Shaw is the lead bad-guy, “Blue” an ex-mercenary who leads his team with a deadly poise. Martin Balsam stars as a disenfranchised transit worker, the accomplice - and inside man.

This film was heralded as an accomplishment in scale and for its visual characterization of New York, nominated for 2 BAFTA Awards in 1974. One for Best Supporting Actor (Martin Balsam), the other - a BAFTA for Film Music (Anthony Asquith). 

But I’m going to be blatantly honest…

‘The Taking of Pelham One Two Three’ just didn’t do it for me.

1. Florence Pugh was born on January 3, 1996, in Oxford, England.

2. She made her acting debut in the 2014 mystery drama film "The Falling."

3. Pugh gained international recognition for her role as Dani Ardor in the 2019 horror film "Midsommar."

4. She received critical acclaim and an Academy Award nomination for her performance in the 2019 drama film "Little Women."

5. Pugh has a diverse range of accents and can seamlessly switch between different dialects.

6. She is known for her ability to fully immerse herself in her characters, bringing depth and authenticity to her

Oppenheimer begins with a quote from Greek mythology: 

 "Prometheus stole fire from the gods and gave it to man. For this, he was chained to a rock and tortured for eternity." 

It would be an understatement to say that this opening helps to establish the thematic elements of the movie, in truth - this quote sums up the man as much as it does the film. Christopher Nolan directed Oppenheimer, and he ensured that it wouldn’t be your run of the mill biopic. Whereas most biopics choose to be either a celebration of the subject’s life or a nuanced take on their flaws, Nolan’s film instead opts for something a little more ethereal. I would argue that Cillian Murphy’s, J Robert Oppenheimer isn’t the main focal point of the film - but that his obsession is. 

‘Be Cool’ is a nice return to form, a witty crime dramedy that manages to not only equal its predecessor - but also improves pleasantly upon the thrust of the first film. It adds a much needed layer to Chili Palmer, Hollywood’s most likable wiseguy.

An ex-loan shark and bookie, Chili is always getting himself into situations that he can handle. John Travolta suits the role of Chili Palmer like a tailored glove, ironic, since the shylock tends to don a pair whenever he’s about to “get down to business”. If you’re a fan of ‘Get Shorty’ then you should adore this second entry in the Elmore Leonard duology.

They say you shouldn’t always judge a book by its cover.

A useful fascimile for cinema lovers: you shouldn’t judge a movie by its trailer.

I am very guilty of breaking this unspoken rule when it comes to the brilliant ensemble piece ‘Now You See Me’. It turns out, that it handles its contrasting tones masterfully, and manages to make a rather “out there” concept not only seem believable, but extremely fun - in the process.

The comedic banter in this movie is carried - nay, elevated by the varied and prestigious cast. Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman, Woody Harelson, Mark Ruffalo, Isla Fisher, Jesse Eisenberg, Mélanie Laurent, and Dave Franco to name a few. Also you get some neat cameos, Common and Conan O’brien being among them. This is the type of film that shouldn’t work on paper, conceptually. But somehow Louis Leterrier ties this neat lil’ bow on it all, using a standard heist script that’s imbued with light satire in addition to a juxtaposition of high-stakes action and jeu d’esprit.