The Long Walk (2025) – Francis Lawrence

The Long Walk, based on the novel by Stephen King, is a brutal, moving and engaging piece of filmmaking that follows a group of young men making an unending walk, until only of them survives to claim the prize and receive one wish. Dystopian in nature, something director Francis Lawrence (he directed Constantine, and I…

The Dog Stars (2012) – Peter Heller

When I heard The Dog Stars was going to be Ridley Scott’s new film, it moved up to the top of my reading list. I almost wish it hadn’t. I didn’t not like it, but the event that occurs on third into the book kicked my ass, so much that I almost decided not to…

The Longest Yard (1974) – Robert Aldrich

Burt Reynolds headlines as Paul Crewe, a former pro quarterback, who is not the nicest person. He’s abusive, violent, and isn’t always the best teammate. After a particularly ugly interaction with a woman the top of the film, Crewe ends up in a prison, run by Warden Hazen (Eddie Albert) and Captain Knauer (Ed Lautrer)….

Stargate: Universe (2010) – Pain, and Subversion

Pain first aired on 14 May, 2010 and was written by Carl Binder. Something is going on aboard Destiny. Hallucinations seem to be running rampant, and they either cater to desires or phobias, what is going on here? Things start with what looks like a passionate encounter between James (Julia Benson) and Scott (Brian J….

TIFF 25: The Furious dir. Kenji Tanigaki

The Furious is a balls-to-the-wall actioner that is outrageously over-the-top but incredibly crowd-pleasing in its violence and action beats. Having said that, the ADR in the film is terrible, and I honestly think the entire film should just be subtitled. The film has a strong enough appeal that I don’t think it needed to have…

TIFF 25: Orwell – 2+2=5 dir. Raoul Peck

Damian Lewis narrates text by George Orwell, as director Raoul Peck profoundly demonstrates that we as a society, and a planet, are living smack dab in the middle of Orwell’s 1984. Intercutting with the various adaptations of 1984 and Animal Farm, Peck includes documentary and news footage charting the new rise of fascism, authoritarianism, and…

Deep Cover (1992) – Bill Duke

Bill Duke directs a gritty, rough and tumble cop film, and does it incredibly well. It’s an entertaining and brutal ride, and lets Laurence Fishburne shine. Fishburne plays Russell Stevens, a cop recruited by Carver (Charles Martin Smith) to go undercover as a drug dealer in order to get close to Barbosa (Gregory Sierra) and…

The Mercy of Gods (2024) – James S.A. Corey

When I see James S.A. Corey on the front of a book, I know I can buy it whether I know anything about it or not. I love their storytelling style, and The Mercy of the Gods, the first book in a new trilogy called The Captive’s War. Shorter than some of the entries in…

Hamburger Hill (1987) – John Irvin

It’s been a while since I watched Hamburger Hill. In my teens, a lot of film and television were finally beginning to explore and talk about Vietnam and its effects on the servicemen who were in-country. I was reading books. I remember, vividly reading Robert Mason’s Chickenhawk, as well as the first time I saw…