(series review) [STREAMING] - Ozark: Season 3

So where do I start? Well, I was going to say that someone put me onto this show, so that was the reason why I watched it, but that would be telling a half truth.  What had actually happened was, I kept seeing Jason Bateman's face on Netflix.  It was obviously a new show they were promoting so you saw it at the top.  I tried to watch it once or twice but I was either not in the mood or it just wasn't grabbing me from the first 10 or so minutes.  The show is quiet, it's slow, it's dull and dreary looking like English weather, it just seemed like it wasn't going to be interesting although I was somewhat interested and I do like Jason Bateman.  A friend of mine THEN asked me if I had been watching and that they have and it is really good.  Because I obviously didn't give this show a chance or much time for me to get into it, I thought I would now, since I got a recommendation, but because I was remotely interested anyway and had already tried and actually wanted to watch at some point, I got into the show.
By the end of the season, my jaw had dropped, I was probably holding my face like the "Home Alone" kid on the poster for the movie and all I kept thinking about was, "What happens now? What happens next? How does this resolve?" A series of questions I. HAD. TO. KNOW. THE. ANSWERS. TO.

So, in short for those who haven't watched any Ozark whatsoever, here is a brief synopsis trying my best not to spoil anything.
Marty (Jason Bateman) is a family man living a normal life.  His relationship with his wife, Wendy (Laura Linney) is a little strained but when Marty falls into the hands of a Colombian Drug Cartel, his life gets turned upside-down in which Marty must clear his bank accounts and move his entire family to The Ozarks, for a new life and to also take refuge from the Cartel and the FBI.

Season 2, Marty and his family live in the Ozarks and are trying to make their life a bit more comfortable there, but the people of The Ozarks are not that willing to let an outsider impose on their way of living.  Marty and family are hit with deadends, road blocks and for the most part, hostile locals. What makes it even worst, the FBI as well as the Cartel are not letting up.

Season 3, Marty and his family are about to open a Casino but the FBI are now literally on their doorstep watching their every move.  Whilst Marty wants to keep the family safe and keep a lower profile to prevent inviting more trouble to their door, Wendy wants to branch out even further regardless of any trouble they seem to be getting themselves into.  On top of that, Wendy's brother comes to town and things get a lot more complicated with all that is going on, not to mention the Cartel war currently going on.

This show gets better and better each season.  The writing is superb.  The directing (with some done by Jason Bateman himself) are great.  The show is slow but it is always at a steady pace and doesn't ever feel like it is stilted or an episode is simply filler.  You go through the motions with these characters and for me, it was a 'Pick A Side' situation for me.  Do you side with Marty or Wendy this season.  Even the smaller storylines with the children and Helen's (Janet McTeer) daughter (Madison Thompson).
Jonah (Skylar Gartner) is still doing young teen "weirdo" things, but he is coming into his own in this season and I love the relationship he had with his uncle Ben (Tom Pelphrey).  It's like everything makes sense and clicks into place.

The show knows how to create awkwardness and tension very well and what I like most about it, although this could be seen as fiction for the most part, the show is very down-to-earth and explores more comical dialogue and situations than before.  I couldn't tell you how much times I was laughing hysterically at situations because it was seriously, too funny which offers levity in a show which is a very serious drama with consequences.

The acting across the board is phenomenal.  Jason goes without saying as his characters simply doesn't have much layers to him since the events of season 1 episode 1, but he is very smart but lacks empathy where Laura is the polar opposite but her character has many layers and although I was not on her side through the earlier part of the season, I started to gravitate towards her at some point.  The introduction of a few other characters such as Tom and Marylouise as Wendy's brother Ben and Marty and Wendy's therapist respectively, were both great, but the stand out actor for me is Julia Garner as Ruth. I simply love her character to no end.  It would be interesting to see where we go in season 4.

If you have ever watched Breaking Bad, Ozark is like that but with a steadier pace and with more tension.  Wendy is a better wife than Skyler was in Breaking Bad and Marty, although not a Walter White, is still a great character.  The bottom line is, if you like Breaking Bad, I cannot see why you wouldn't enjoy this show.  Also, I simply feel that this show is simply one of, if not, the best show currently out.  10 episodes per season where a binge watch satisfies you but also leaves you with heartache awaiting more.  Snow we have to wait a possible 2 years...#sigh

(trailer review) - Defending Jacob

We are currently living in a time where cinema's are closed and there is a global pandemic called CoVid19 (Corona Virus) that attacks the respiratory systems and kills you.  We are encouraged to stay in and either work from home or effectively you have lost your job until the world is free from the pandemic.  You are encouraged to go outside for small essential grocery shopping or an exercise and to keep 6 feet apart from another person, but that is it.  Gyms, restaurants, anything that can congregate more than 2 people is closed due to high risk and this pandemic is taking lives and livelihoods.  So in this bleak time, all we have is our mobile phones, internet and streaming services.

I say that, to say this, I am most likely going to get more streaming reviews on here as the days go on and I will be getting increasingly more intrigued and/or excited with what is to come.  I hope you all stay safe out there and be responsible.

For perfect example of responsibility, Chris Evans, ol' Captain America has a son who had been accused of first degree murder and CapCap is trying to do whatever it takes to save his son in defending Jacob.
This looks really good! A riveting mini-series and something that looks like it is going to go in the way of Prisoners (I think it's called, with Hugh Jackman).
I last saw Chris Evans in Knives Out and he was superb.  It would be even better to see him in more roles than just seeing him as Captain America as he IS a very good actor, try Snowpiercer.  It's also good to see young actor Jaeden Martell as he is also pretty decent an actor.  I'd be invested in watching this!

Directed by Morten Tyldum and starring Chris Evans, Michelle Dockery, Jaeden Martell, Cherry Jones, Jake Picking, Paul Wesley, Pablo Schreiber, Betty Gabriel, Matt Lanter, Sakina Jaffrey, Poorna Jagannathan, Defending Jacob,

(trailer review) - Ozark: Season 3

I cannot remember WHO told me to watch this show, but damn, I'm glad that I did.

For any of you that may have watched Breaking Bad, Ozark reminds me of that but darker and less science, bitch (if you get the reference).  For a little synopsis on the story soo far, Marty is a family man who works in finance, but when Marty falls into the pocket of the Columbian Cartel, owing them a great amount of money, Marty must take his family to the Ozarks where he must find a way to make that money back with interest or the Cartel will kill him and his family.  To top it off, things don't go as swimmingly as he would have thought once he arrives with problems arising day by day.

Phenomenal show.  The way the show has gripped me, has me watching this trailer with glee.  Nice to see Tommy has moved to the Ozarks (shared universe...lol) and now that they have the Casino, you just know (and from the trailer), that it is about to go down.  If you re not least watching it, get on it.

Directed by and starring Jason Bateman, Laura Linney, Sofia Hublitz, Skylar Gaertner, Julia Garner, Jordana Spiro, Jason Butler Harner, Esai Morales, Peter Mullan, Lisa Emery, Charlie Tahan

(film review) - Queen & Slim

It is nice to learn of Black actors who are NOT your Samuel L. Jackson, Denzel Washington, Forest Whitaker or now, Idris Elba coming up.  We have a Michael B. Jordan, Chadwick Boseman and now, a Daniel Kaluuya.  Strangely enough, the last ones are British and are doing soo well in their field.  I learned of Daniel from the Movie 'Get Out' and I recognised him from an episode of 'Black Mirror', and although his character was weird and intense in that show, I've come to realise that Daniel and his efforts in acting, the way he has honed his craft is simply phenomenal.  He didn't do much in Kick-Ass 2, but in this movie, he showed a side of him we have never seen which also helped to elevate this movie to such new heights.  I'll explain.

Queen (Jodie Turner-Smith) and Slim (Daniel Kaluuya) is about two people who meet each other, get into a altercation with the Police, end up shooting the Police and then going on the run, the end.

It is really that simple, but for obvious reasons, I cannot go into any more details due to spoilers.  The story has a background of complexity woven throughout it and the characters themselves have layers that slowly get peeled back during the course of the movie because they are both two completely different people who have lived different lives.  Whilst one is religious and would pray before eating food for example, the other was not religious at all and there were reasons behind their behaviour.  But this is a character driven film and not about a gun-ho couple driving through the US murdering people.  They are not trying to seek revenge for all the wrong-doing going on in this world committed by bad people or glory; they are just two people who are thrusted into a situation and only really have each other.

If I'm going to be brutally honest (in which I am in all my reviews), this movie was an oxymoron for me.  I absolutely hated it, but I loved it at the same time.  The content was dark, the film was intense and I was on the verge of tears the entire movie, but the film was also very colourful, vibrant, soothing, calm and at times I was happy and smiling.  The soundtrack alone is amazing.  There were funny elements in this movie yet, there were moments I was soo angry, by the end I couldn't hold back my tears any longer.  I could identify with these characters and their situation.  I could feel their struggles.  It is bad enough struggling as a black person, but to then commit a murder, and the murder being a Police Officer knowing it's a shoot first, ask questions later or death penalty and/or the eletric chair, brought a realism to the movie I could relate to and was extremely sadden by.  These things are happening in the US right now.  What is known as a routine traffic stop escalates into death more often than it actually should, especially when there are no weapons, drugs or bad behaviour behind it.  Some people are being choked out, tazered and/or shot because the Police Officer didn't like a legitimate question asked.  You just need to look in the papers or online and it wouldn't take long before you found an article about a Police Officer killing a person of colour and what makes it worse, getting away with it.  I was angry and I was scared for the two of them.  For the most part, it was knowing that, I was watching two dead people living out the rest of their lives because of the actions of one Police Officer who was doing way too much and being a nuisance.  But when the layers were being pulled back and the characters were embracing their life on the run (and I say that losely) they were getting to know each other and experiencing life a little more care-free and it was beautiful to see.  Take the moment you are in now because tomorrow is never promised.  By the end of the movie, my defensive walk crumbled and the tears came streaming and this very rarely happens.

Other than that, the movie was acted well, shot well, the dialogue was great.  I mean, for first time writer of a movie and first time director of a movie, this film is up there.  Jodie was also great.  This is the first I am seeing of her and I didn't even know she was a model, but you could tell because she moved with grace and she has a model look.  I could understand people might want a Thelma and Louise or Bonnie and Clyde, but this movie is way bigger than that.  It just isn't that kind of movie as it is something that has a message which isn't necessarily about race or cop killing, it is bigger than that.  The impact you have on others.  The need for Justice.  The need to be loved.  The need to just be you and free.  I definitely recommend this and it would be nice if an Oscar was won.

(film review) - The Gentlemen

Guy Ritchie has always been one of my favourite directors. Not because he is British, but because his films are intelligent, fun and pack enough elements to make for an interesting movie.  Unfortunately, I do feel that Guy has taken a departure from what he became famous for.  Films like 'Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels' and 'Snatch' are seen as his greatest work.  He did 'Revolver' and 'Rock n Rolla' and those didn't come as close to the brilliance of Snatch and Lock Stock, but Rock n Rolla' was really good when compared to Revolver.  Guy also did a bunch of other films but other than, 'Man From UNCLE' and the Sherlock Holmes series, people including myself wondered if Guy still had it.  Aladdin was good.  Aladdin made over a billion, but Aladdin ISN'T Guy Ritchie.  So, what about this new movie called 'The Gentlemen' which looks like it could deliver to us the Guy Ritchie from Lock Stock, Snatch fame?  Is this the return of Mr. Ritchie? I actually think so.  I'll Explain.

The Gentlemen is about a man Micky (Matthew McConaughey) who has built his success and wealth from the growth of weed and distribution in a time where very few people were doing it.  As a drug kingpin who wants to retire and leave it all behind, word gets out and people come from all over to take over his business.  But in the mix of it all a reporter is trying to get the scoop on how Micky became the successful business man he is by also trying to link situations that has happened and piecing it all the information to build the full story.

I almost gave away a few plot points trying to write that because this movie is soo cleverly done and soo all-over-the-place, you will find it difficult to understand the direction of this movie for a moment only to have Ritchie bring it together.  Imagine watching someone draw or paint a picture and you know what the picture is meant to be they are drawing, but they start with the most irrelevant images or sections of the painting and go backwards and forwards to other parts of it so whilst you are watching the mastery, you are trying to follow the artistry, but as soon as you think you begin to see the full picture, you are led in a different direction thinking, maybe you were wrong about the direction you had previously thought, only to be led back.  It's magic and Guy did it again!

The acting in this movie is superb.  Everyone has a role to play whether small or big but the dialogue is also great which brings us to the Snatch and Lock Stock days. Great cinematography and great scenes.  Colin Farrell, Charlie Hunnam, Michelle Dockery and Henry Golding were excellent. Huge Grant was out of this world and I loved it.  Even UK Rapper Bugsy Malone was decent and a shock to see to be honest.  But who was an even bigger shock, was Franz Drameh from 'Attack The Block' who seems to have been relegated to background character like who he was in 'Edge of Tomorrow'.  It was a little upsetting, but he isn't doing too bad in AppleTV's 'SEE' with Jason Mamoa and to be in a Guy Ritchie movie, that's something.  Would be nice if some of these characters could come back for a possible sequel.

I'm not sure if I could gush about this movie any more without giving away spoilers.  I left the cinema happy and pleasantly surprised wanting to see it again because it felt fresh or a lovely rendition of something we have seen or experienced before but with more than just a new coat of paint on it.  Maybe something 'The Force Awakens' kinda did, but didn't.  Yeah it's Star Wars, but with a new coat of paint.  This is, yeah it's Guy Ritchie, but he has levelled up.  Not only is the new paint great, but everything else has got a considerable lift bringing enjoyment in every way visually, with the dialogue and with the story but maintaining the Guy Ritchie stamps without it feeling like a rehash of something old.  And to say this film is funny, is an absolute understatement.  This movie is hilarious and exactly what you'd expect from this type of Guy Ritchie movie.  Let me not even go into the music side of things...#sigh.
There is NOTHING bad with this movie and I really do hope Guy is currently drinking some Earl Grey writing a sequel because it IS very well needed.  And if not a sequel, how about just another hit movie like this to be his Snatch to his Lock Stock.

Ok, this JUST came to me.  IMAGINE, just imagine..., Guy Ritchie brought back some of the survivors and older characters from Lock Stock, Snatch and Rock N Rolla' in a sequel to The Gentlemen or anither film and made it one big shared universe.  I dare you to not to geek out.

Watch it, you'll love it!

(film review) [STREAMING] El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie

I feel weird reviewing this.  Reason being, I haven't watched Breaking Bad in sooooo long.
However, I remember how it made me feel once the show was over.  If I wasn't feeling to lazy, I stood up and clapped.  Yup, standing ovation.  If I wasn't too lazy.  The point is, I clapped.  I felt the show was masterful and I really enjoyed it.
Now a lot of people will talk about "hype" and how the show was too hyped to get into it and how it's surrounded by hype, but people often forget they just need to see the show or movie for themselves (if they are remotely interested of course) and leave all that hype, out.  You can learn to appreciate and value a movie or show by yourself and not get carried away with your own inflated expectations from all the hype you have been told about.  But unfortunately, our thoughts can often get swayed by the thoughts and opinions of others.

Anyway, although it has been 6 years or so since the final episode of Breaking Bad, this movie picks up after the events of the finale where we see Jesse Pinkman (Aaron Paul) driving off in an El Camino laughing maniacally and Walter White (Bryan Cranston) laying, presumed dead, on the lab floor.  Jesse has escaped the Neo Nazis that captured him, Todd (Jesse Plemons), and whilst suffering from PTSD, Jesse needs to figure out what his next move is going to be when you are the subject of a police manhunt, wanted for the operation of the biggest methamphetamine production businesses in the state.

I loved the way this movie opened. You are automatically sucked into the world of breaking Bad easily, especially if you are used to the visuals from the show.  There is no recap whatsoever and it is left to you to pick up the clues and hints spread throughout the movie.  The Acting. I mean, Aaron Paul picked up an award for this character, no? So, it goes without saying that Aaron is definitely on point and you felt his pain and torment.  He slides back into this role with ease.  As there isn't much trailers showing much of the other characters in the movie from the show, I wouldn't want to mention different characters spoiling who is and who isn't in it.
Visually, Vince Gilligan did a great job.  there was a sequence in a scene where it is an overhead shot and it was amazing, very clever.  The just before that shot, a gun barrel shot which looked amazing. It's hard to dislike something you watched several seasons of, enjoyed the hell out of it and then they produce a movie, absolutely nobody asked for, but you watched it nonetheless and it was just like watching the show again with all quirks and kinks that made the show great.  I could only imagine that Vince hasn't been able to sleep for 6 years because he didn't resolve Jesse Pinkman's story.

I don't watch 'Better Call Saul', but having seen this, I will get back into that world and start because I really do miss that world, having seen this film.  You will definitely enjoy this if you enjoyed the show.  If you don't and you watched the show, it would possibly be down to you already satisfied with the ending in the finale....call this a 2 hour epilogue. Enjoy!

(film review) - Hustlers

Off the top of my head, I couldn't tell you which was the last Jennifer Lopez movie I watched, if any.  Well, with her in it, anyway.  To me she is a singer who has dabbled in acting, but to be regarded as a solid actor, ummm...I'm not quite sure, personally.  And no, I didn't watch Selena.
Early reviews for this movie has stated that the actor formally known as or sometimes known as J-Lo (I don't even know or care anymore), has potential to be a runner up for Oscar contender.  Well, going into the movie, I did keep that at the forefront of my mind and having heard one movie personality state that she was excellent at the beginning, I was thoroughly waiting for my socks to get blown off whilst keeping an open mind and let the movie as a whole do it.  And did the movie do that?  Let's just say, my socks were indeed moved, not completely off but past my heels at least.

Destiny (Constance Wu) lives with her grandmother and is an inexperienced stripper.  She has moved from place to place struggling for tips but when she enters a new strip club, admires the strippers there and sees the potential to make a lot of money in the inner city, she is taken under the wing of Ramona (Jennifer Lopez) who teaches her the tips and tricks for chips.  But when the recession hits, these strippers, also accompanied by Mercedes (Keke Palmer) and Annabelle (Lili Reinhart), start to realise, now that the strip club is running dry of customers and most importantly, the money, these women must find another creative way to keep the money coming in before they are out of work.

Based on a very true and real story which actually happened, real life events, I'm not sure if actual situations and some events were exaggerated for film, like how I felt for some or a lot of events and scenes from Pain & Gain was, but I actually enjoyed this movie, just like that one, but this one more.  The scenarios, although got a little repetitive at times when the ladies were carrying out their plan and it could have possibly be done better with a montage, the use of inter-cutting away from the story to recount the events of said story with Elizabeth (Julie Stiles), helped to break the movie up a little as a stark contrast of the now and then.  The acting was A*, especially with Jennifer Lopez if you only ever really knew her as a singer.  Possibly being the only film I've ever seen Keke Palmer in (I'll need to have a look), she was great, especially the Hospital scene.  Lili Reinhart was good as a newcomer (and also to me), as from the absence of Cardi B (which was very short lived) provided some nice comedy mixed with Keke's character as some of the scenes and how they played out provided much entertainment.
I'll give a few a examples; The women walking together into view in the bar was absolute gold.  It was a type of quirky humour that may have been real, but if you think it really went like that in real life, you'd really want to question the levels these ladies went to.  With that in the back of my mind whilst watching, provided excellent comedy value.  A little like watching Pain & Gain and you wonder, "Did this really happen?"  Another example is the kitchen and the baking scene as I audibly bellowed out a cackle because the scene was, indeed hilarious AND unexpected.  Lastly, there is a scene where stripper Liz (Lizzo) comes running into the stripper's changing rooms and then all the strippers all run out.  I couldn't stop myself from laughing at the next scene.
The director Lorene Scafaria (also new to me) did an excellent job in my opinion, bringing this story to life.  And with producers such as Will Ferrell and Adam McKay, you can only really insure some decent belly laughs.  As for Constance Wu, she is very new to me as an actor and I had absolutely no problems with anything she did.  She delivered and played her character well and I loved her dynamic with her Grandmother (Wai Ching Ho), some of us nerds will know her as Madame Gao from the Daredevil Netflix Series.  Constance, famed for her roll in Crazy Rich Asians (In which she starred in a main leading role and a movie in which I did not see), it was nice to see this movie represented in this way even though it was heavily shadowed by Jennifer Lopez.  Representation matters, especially when it isn't a classical stereotype.  It will be nice to see more from her and I hope she will take on more roles across the board such as a  Bond movie, Star Wars etc.

Lastly, I would say this is a very interesting film as it was based in true events. Very well shot, acted and the music was great.  I was nodding and almost singing along in moments.  The soft moments felt soft, the funny moments were indeed very funny and I felt the director did a great job with bringing this story across to film.  The only downfall was when the movie ended, I would like to have seen the real people in real life, but other than that, an enjoyable watch. Go see!