The thrilling heist franchise that became a cult hit in 2018 is back after six years for its long-awaited sequel Den of Thieves 2: Pantera. Written and directed by Christian Gudegast, the film reunites stars Gerard Butler and O’Shea Jackson Jr. as Big Nick and Donnie. Despite still being on opposite sides of the law, the chemistry between this duo takes center stage in this globe-trotting heist.
“The Persian Version,” directed by Maryam Keshavarz follows an Iranian-American family through three different timelines, debuting in selected theaters across the United States on October 19th.
In an era defined by escalating disparities between the privileged elite and the rest of society, “Dumb Money” thrusts us into the epicenter of a battle where underdogs boldly confront the one percenter.
Recalling the fervor of Occupy Wall Street, a movement that erupted over a decade ago against wealth inequality, the documentary draws parallels to the more recent GameStop Short Squeeze of Jan. 2021. A riveting narrative unfolds, inspired by “The Antisocial Network,” reimagining events from just over two and a half years ago.
The story kicks off in the summer of 2019, introducing Keith Gill, brilliantly portrayed by Paul Dano—a Chartered Financial Analyst and YouTuber. Gill passionately champions the undervalued GameStop stock on platforms like YouTube and Reddit, attracting a growing legion of everyday individuals. As the movement gains momentum, Wall Street’s titans grow increasingly uneasy. In the end, Gill and his cohort of investors achieve unprecedented success, leaving Wall Street’s elite reeling from substantial losses.
Paul Dano’s portrayal of Gill is exceptional, capturing the essence of a quirky yet savvy YouTuber and financial analyst. His performance adds depth to the intricate financial machinations beneath the surface. Supported by a stellar cast including Seth Rogen, Vincent D’Onofrio, Pete Davidson, America Ferrera, Sebastian Stan, Shailene Woodley, and Anthony Ramos, the ensemble contributes to the film’s formidable impact.
Director Craig Gillespie, known for his work on “Cruella,” maintains an engaging pace, translating the script into a visually captivating narrative. Despite the potentially intimidating financial jargon, the film ensures accessibility, breaking down complex concepts for a diverse audience.
“Dumb Money” promises an engaging experience for all, whether you’re a financial enthusiast looking to revisit a captivating chapter of history or someone intrigued by the real-life clash between financial giants and the underdogs.
I oftentimes compare films to food because each experience leaves me with a phantom taste that settles ever so abruptly on my tongue. With Silent Twins, I remember that feeling distinctly: gummy worms. It’s something of a treat in that it was mesmerizingly beautiful and yet altogether tough to digest after a two-hour sitting. However, it’s the first film I’ve seen in a while that accomplished its primary role as an indie film, which is to do something new and altogether inventive. The story follows twins who almost inexplicably refuse to talk to anyone else save for each other. It then follows the two as they grow up, fall in love, become writers, and so much more. At the end of the day, it’s a film about mental health that is delicately told and certainly worth a watch.
The woman who helped tell that story was Agnieszka Smoczynska, the director of the film. She’s spent the past few years working to adapt this story to film and her efforts were clear. She beautifully weaved scenes of joy with bleak depictions of sadness, and strategically used stop motion animation to tell an alternate story that paralleled the one which the sisters experienced. This isn’t exactly a new phenomenon but especially considering the nature of the film and the subject matter, this method of storytelling carried this film from another batch in the bin to something worth studying and taking a look at. In fact, without these interwoven animated features, this film would altogether lose any semblance of meaning. Additionally, the film delves highly into surrealism when it comes to conveying sensations and emotions. These scenes are both beautifully shot and incredibly well done.
The other woman who made this something of a standout film is Letitia Wright who was both the star and one of the producers of the film. To say she delivered a great performance would be a disservice to her craft. Her performance, along with that of Tamara Lawrance, carried this film as they occupied more than the majority of the screen time. Each possessed the type of magnetic personality needed to keep an audience entertained when the backdrop of each scene is bleak, dark, or more often than not, harrowing.
In the end, there isn’t much to lay fault to this film but there is a great deal of room to give credit to its inventive storytelling. I felt the film was too long and had a few scenes that were over the top in their presenting. For example, there is a surreal scene late in the movie that exists to convey the message that those committed in an asylum are essentially just dead bodies waiting to expire. While the message is poignant, the scene was not and altogether felt jarring compared to the overall narrative. This is a fairly minor gripe considering the overall body of work. For those looking for an interesting movie going experience, this is certainly one to keep on your list.
It’s difficult to make a horrific story complicated, honest, even funny, and yet Bombshell has blown away expectations to be a fresh, layered film just in time for awards season.
British actor and ‘Magic Mike’ heartthrob Alex Pettyfer takes on the role of both first-time director and star of upcoming thriller and murder-mystery drama ‘Back Roads’.
If you thought your romance life was tricky, you should take a look at the newest indie film, “Banana Split.”
‘What Will People Say’ attempts to tell a complex, heart-wrenching story.
It takes a special talent to make Tom Cruise unlikeable.
Coming off the massive success of ‘The Lego Movie’ comes the solo outing for its dark, caped crusader. It may not meet the high standards of the last movie, but the fun of the film makes it hard to care.
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