Just added this one to my watchlist. Cumberbatch is an incredible actor, but Plemons is no slouch either in my book. I absolutely loved him in Breaking Bad and he was hilarious in that Justin Bateman flick Game Night lol

Plemons is an overlooked actor but has done some great work and I look forward to seeing what else he dazzles us with. I'm definitely a fan of his as well.

I came out about where Irishman did on "Cry Macho." An interesting story but marred by some sappy, improbable scenes and weak dialog for the kid, Rafo. Eastwood was...well...Eastwood, looking all of his 91 years but still good. The movie wasn't without its charming moments, especially as Eastwood starts appreciating Mexicans and especially when dancing with Marta.
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Just watched Malignant. Fell asleep midway because it was so boring, but woke up just in time for the most predictable ending ever. What a shit movie, Irish. I'm so disappointed in James Wan.

THE CARD COUNTER

Let me preface this review by stating to avoid this film, which is a real shame as I am a fan of Oscar Isaac, Tye Sheridan, Willem Dafoe, Paul Schrader, and Martin Scorsese (who was a producer on this film). But this story was painful to get through all 112 minutes of it. It's a slow, dry film that just drifts from scene-to-scene. At first I gave it some time, allowing itself to establish and then open up with the story but it never does that. It just continues to flow through it's monotonous tone for the duration of the film. Isaac plays William Tell, a former military interrogator trying to extract intelligence from supposed terrorist at a blacklist site. Pictures of him and colleagues torturing inmates are made public and as such, the soldiers pictured take the fall, not any of their superiors, so he's an ex-con as well. While in prison, he learns to count cards and upon his release, uses his newfound skill to his advantage. Although, he's able to evade the ire of casinos in that his winnings are modest and not high dollar. Tiffany Haddish also stars as La Linda, who sponsors William in tournaments in exchange for a cut of his winnings. The pairing and forced romance between the two is awkward, with none to little chemistry shared between them. Unless you're having difficulty sleeping at night, avoid this snoozefest. 3/10

You and me both my man. Had the ending figured out within the first 20-30 minutes of the show. Then was just waiting to be proven right.

My Wife & I loved this movie….it had great mystiek.

Glad you guys did. I was pretty disappointed in this, with the cast and Scorsese being a producer on it and all.

Watched a double feature.

Cry Macho, not impressed, same story as others with nothing new to it. Yeah, trying to get 9ut of Mexico fast and stopping way more than they should really was a waste. Eduardo Minett did a terrible job, and Clint Eastwood was not that much better.

Copshop, this one does not add any new formula, but is that old shoot em up action movie. Think of the original Assault on Precinct 13 and Fargo Season 3 in the jail scene and you know what you are getting yourself into. The editing was done poorly and you can see moments where they cut Butler and Grillo from delivering more. The ending leaves off to a possible sequel. You into the old 70s and 80s action shooters? This is for you. It played after Cry Macho and was more entertaining for me despite some of the old quiches.

THINGS HEARD & SEEN

Taking place during the year 1980 in the Hudson Valley, New York, a young married couple and their daughter move from the big city to this small, quite town when the breadwinner, George Claire (James Norton), accepts a teaching position upon completion of graduating from college. His wife Catherine (Amanda Seyfried) works as an art restorer in the city, but once they move, she's left with little to do in her life: no job and no family, she's quickly looking for her purpose during this next phase of her life. However, she soon suspects her home may be haunted after both her and her daughter begin seeing a strange figure. This was a slow paced film but does a fine job at keeping the audience engaged throughout, curious as to what will happen next. My biggest grip was the ending didn't have enough of a payoff for me. Seyfriend and Norton do well in their respective roles, particularly Norton as he is easily believable as the preppy, Connecticut, spoiled rich boy who gets any and everything he wants. He's pompous and overly confident whereas Seyfried is rational and intelligent. A well balanced cast with the additions of Natalia Dyer, Rhea Seehorn, Karen Allen, and F. Murray Abraham. Not a bad gamble to take on Netflix. 5.5/10

THE EYES OF TAMMY FAYE

Jessica Chastain and Andrew Garfield play former TV evangelists Tammy Faye Bakker and Jim Bakker. The story tells the rise and fall of this Minnesota couple who, in an attempt to spread the word of God, succumbed to the desires of this world. Desires that tested their love, their marriage, and their faith. A lot has been said about Chastain's role as Tammy Faye and while I agree an Academy Award nomination could and probably should be in the cards for her, I'm not sure she did enough to bring it home (we'll have to see who her competition is). Garfield doesn't get talked about enough as he's equally mesmerizing as the sleazy, con-artist, looking to enrich himself through his parishioners donations, rather than give the money for its intended charities. However, while Tammy Faye is the Betty Boop voiced, obedient wife, she too is just as culpable as Jim in their transgressions. I appreciate the fact that director Michael Showalter kept his focus throughout and didn't make this a hit/anti-religion piece. 6/10

VENOM: LET THERE BE CARNAGE

Tom Hardy is back as Eddie Brock/Venom. Picking up where the mid credit scene left off in the original, serial killer Cletus Kasady (Woody Harrelson) asks Eddie back so he can give him the exclusive interview every media member has been salivating to get: Kasady opening up about his murders. However, before doing so, he asks Eddie to print something for him in his column that only his love interest Frances Barrison (Naomie Harris) will understand. Once Eddie does and during their interview, Cletus begins mouthing off at Eddie before biting him, transferring some of his blood and thus enabling Cletus to become Carnage. I was a fan of the original, and while this is in many ways in the same vein as it, it doesn't capture the same magic. The banter between Eddie and Venom is still there and I applaud the Axel Foley wardrobe Eddie's rocking throughout. However, being that it's PG-13, the films violent parts are watered down which was disappointing and somewhat took away from the story. Not to mention both Naomi Harris and Eddie's love interest Michelle Williams are sorely underutilized in this, especially Williams who is ever only needed onscreen to help Eddie it seems. Harris' character of Shriek is almost laughable at times with her powers. The only star of the show is Harrelson who does a fantastic job, living it up as the villain in an almost Mickey Knox sort of way. If you liked the original, you'll probably like this (and if you didn't, you probably won't). I'd still see a third film to see if it can redeem the franchise. Great mid credit scene here by the way so stick around for it! 5.5/10

THE MANY SAINTS OF NEWARK

To begin with, I was against this project initially when I first heard about it. THE SOPRANOS is sacred territory as far as I'm concerned and I was afraid HBO was trying to unnecessarily return to a franchise in order to turn out another mediocre film, hoping the title alone would sell itself. Fortunately, after watching this, my fears were put to rest as this was a very beautiful and respectful prequel to THE SOPRANOS story. The trailer leads to you to believe this is a coming of age story of a young Tony Soprano. And while that is true, that part of the story doesn't take shape until the second half. The first half deals with his Uncle, Dickie Moltisanti, and his relationship with his father, step-mother, and business associates (some Italian and others African-American). It was awesome going back in time to see younger versions of Paulie, Livia, Silvio, and Uncle Junior amongst others. Every actor who stepped into those shoes did a great job at capturing the essence of the character from the show. However, the standout for me was Vera Farmiga as Livia as you can definitely tell why Tony wound up in therapy all those years later, she's wonderful! As is Michael Gandolfini as a young Tony. He's great as a teenager of the character his father made famous and I even hear whispers the cast and crew would be up for a sequel if HBO decided to move ahead with one. I would absolutely be up for it! 8/10

Thanks Irishman !

i agree with everything you said my friend
btw you also think it was a little bit short ?
i feel like something missing
maybe i something inside me miss the show so much that it hurts to see it over
but the sequel thing
i hope we going to get it !

I think it was just right. It's a slow burn as I had to pause the movie a few times and was surprised how little of it I'd seen but I think the runtime was fine. Just hope it does well in theaters and HBO Max and that they greenlight a sequel! Fantastic movie. Can't wait to watch it again.

Agree, however…i only wish their was more of Johnny and less Dickie.

I also wish the soap opera drama of the Zip chic could have been a bit less….and the need for Ray Liotta to have a second part as DIckies uncle in prison was to only show who was really in prison….Dickie was.

Acting was very good, the 2hrs run was plenty.

Love how they help us hate Uncle Junior even more.

7.5

The Many Saints of Newark was good. Agreed with Farmiga did a superb job. We can see how Olivia got the way she did with John Sopranos antics. So much to that movie, I have to see it again to see if there was anything I missed. Tony Soprano and baby Chris is a good scene. We see why Junior gets so petty with things and why he turned out the way he did. We get a better look at Dickie Moltisanti and why Tony turned out the way he did. The Christmas scene in the warehouse was heartbreaking. There are a couple of things I am confused about, Salvatore in prison and what Dickie had in his pockets suggests something else, but it could also have been a gift for Olivia. Giuseppina helped to push, not drag the movie otherwise we would not have gotten the movie we got. Great part and I am pretty sure David Chase played DiMeo it is only for a few seconds and we only see his back and him sitting in the chair.

NO TIME TO DIE

Daniel Craig goes out with a bang as James Bond. A beautiful, heartfelt, and at times, gut wrenching film, which is quite surprising to type when describing a film in this franchise. From the opening scene, the film in many ways goes against the grain. The audience thinks they know how the formula works and while it still does stay true to it, in some ways, it doesn't give the audience what they want all the time either. Craig and Lea Seydoux are spectacular in this. Continuing their love affair after the events of SPECTRE before James goes off the grid and into retirement for 5 years before being forced out by new Bond villain Lyutsifer Safin (played by Rami Malek), who like any good Bond villain, has an elaborate plan to infect the world's population with a new biological weapon. Armed with an outstanding supporting cast, this is definitely one of the better Bond films in Craig's repertoire (better than QUANTUM OF SOLACE & SPECTRE but not quite as good as CASINO ROYALE or SKYFALL). Unfortunately for the likes of Christoph Waltz, who's Blofeld was very bland in both here and SPECTRE and Rami Malek, who's hardly in the film, these villains are tragically forgettable. I pity the man who has to take over for Craig as he has some very big shoes to fill. Not too bad for an actor who fans were screaming bloody murder upon his announcement as the new face of the franchise. 8/10

LAMB

Set in Iceland, a childless couple witness the birth of a miracle lamb on their farm. With nothing but animals as their own to serve as substitute children, the couple raises the lamb as their daughter. A lot of religious iconography with very little dialogue makes this a beautiful and well told story. Nothing's spoon fed to you here so this is a film that could definitely be dissected and appreciated more with each additional viewing. Released by studio A24 and one of the main reasons why I took a flyer on this, as they continue to churn out great films. I look forward to another viewing to see what I missed the first time around but the film leaves you asking yourself many questions. An interesting and different film if you're curious enough to get on this ride. 6/10

Where do I find this Irish...Netflix or????..I do have firestick which gave me the opportunity 2 watch "the many saints..."

This and NO TIME TO DIE are only in theaters currently. THE MANY SAINTS OF NEWARK is in theaters and HBO Max (I saw it on HBO Max).

I enjoyed this movie. I almost want to give it a 7, but the second half could've been better. Good effort though. I applaud them.

But yes, a second viewing might be in order.

I've been worried the new James Bond would be super woke, and therefore be terrible. You're review has given me a little hope.

Still has it's moments. There's 2 characters (one a beloved franchise icon) who's "wokeness" seeps through unfortunately.

LANSKY (2021)

I can't figure out why Harvey Keitel signed on for the title role in this piece of crap. He's good, as you'd expect, as the aged Lansky, who allows writer David Stone (Sam Worthington, a one-expression actor) to be his biographer. But, most of the story is told in anachronistic flashbacks, with a weak cast wearing funny hats and suits they must have gotten from the Goodwill bin, and full of errors that easily could have been avoided if they'd simply read "Little Man - Meyer Lansky and the Gangster Life," Robert Lacey's excellent and thoroughly researched bio. Don't waste your time.

Lacey misunderstood Lansky in such a colossal way, I'm surprised he's still being referenced. I have close ties to Miami and have had many conversations with the old timers down there. Lacey can write, but he discounted too many things. He discounted the wiretap information that was available, the accounts of Fratianno, Teresa, Fopiano, his lawyers, almost all of his family members (except for Buddy of course) and pretty much everything Robert Morgenthau and the Southern District had uncovered. Not to mention, the recent accounts of Phil Leonetti and Lansky's mistress who was living like a queen until the man's dying day. I liked the movie though. It was fiction, but I enjoyed it.

THE LAST DUEL

Ridley Scott is back at it again with another star studded cast that includes Matt Damon, Adam Driver, Ben Affleck, and TV now turned film star, Jodie Comer. The story is based on a true event taking place in 1386 France. Damon plays Jean de Carrouges, a man struggling financially through life, and in turn to earn money, constantly is off fighting France's battles with their neighbors in order to stay afloat. While fighting he meets Jacques Le Gris (Adam Driver) and the 2 begin their friendship to open the film. However, Driver is quick to make powerful friends upon his return to France, which only elevates his status within high society; whereas Damon is a brute, not very well mannered, and painstakingly speaks his mind at times, which more often than not, gets him into trouble with the very same crowd. One of Driver's new friends is Pierre d'Alençon (Ben Affleck) who is the cousin to King Charles VI. He lives a life of leisure but has trouble collecting debts. He enlists Driver's help in collecting and proving himself valuable to the task, he's quickly rewarded with property and status. The rise in Driver's status and the friction between Affleck's and Damon's drives a wedge between the Driver/Damon friendship. Off fighting another war, Damon's wife Marguerite de Carrouges (Comer) is left home alone one day when her mother-in-law goes to town to run some errands. Driver uses the opportunity of her solitude to force himself in the house and onto Comer. With no evidence of the crime other than Comer's word of guilt against Driver's of innocence, Damon challenges Driver to a duel and allow God to decide where the truth lays. A modern day RASHOMON, the story repeats itself 3 different times, from each characters point of view. And while this is appreciated, Kurosawa was able to wrap it up in 88 minutes. Scott's runtime balloons up to 152 minutes. Obviously, some scenes could have been trimmed out or omitted all together. The opening 30-45 minutes speeds through rather quickly to establish Driver's/Damon's friendship along with Affleck's/Damon's acrimonious relationship. However, once that's settled, the rest of the film until the duel itself is wrapped up within the 3 main characters. The film did feel a bit bloated but any longer and it would have really dragged on. With a cast like this, Comer continues to shine the brightest as she transitions from TV star to film star, showing a wonderful range as the sweet and innocent wife from Damon's perspective, to a woman who "wanted it" from Driver's, to how she views herself. Affleck also deserves a shoutout as the extremely pompous and arrogant, while rocking blonde hair and beard, Pierre. 6/10

HALLOWEEN KILLS

As with the original sequel HALLOWEEN II in 1981, HALLOWEEN KILLS picks up immediately following the events of the first part of this new trilogy. Laurie Strode, her daughter Karen, and granddaughter Allyson are in the back of a pickup truck as Michael and Laurie's home are burning down. However, the local fire department attempts to put out the blaze and in the process, allow Michael to escape. Some of the local survivors from the original 40+ years ago (Tommy Doyle, Lindsey Wallace, and one other that I won't spoil here) gather at a local bar for a Halloween talent show. When they hear of Michael's escape, they gather as many of the townies as they can in order to hunt and kill Michael. In addition to these characters, the story also goes back to 1978 to paperclip a few additional characters into the story who play substantial parts in this film. The dynamic and volatile relationship within the Strode women is what keeps the story going as Tommy Doyle's vigilante arc is a hot mess, involving a very messy hospital sequence, which allows Laurie's and Tommy's paths to finally cross all of these years later. This is by far the most violent Halloween film of the franchise. It is the most gory film to have the name Halloween attached to it and in some ways, some of the deaths could be considered unnecessarily over-the-top. A disappointing sequel in my eyes and we can only hope the third film is able to redeem it. 5.5/10

Years ago I asked this question about a movie, but I cannot locate it.

There's a movie about a devilish monster that appears out of nowhere. If I remember correctly, he starts out as a kind of a dot and then expands into this horrid looking beast who goes after certain people...I can't remember why. I think he 's controlled by someone.

'The movie is B&W and may be from the 50s or 60s.