Ryan Reynolds and Kenneth Branagh make a great pairing in this action buddy-comedy throwback that shows the 80s had that formula down pat. Directed by John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein Mayday is vastly entertaining. Reynolds, when he wants, can do a lot more than the one-note sarcastic charming guy, but that seems to work,…
Tag: chemistry
The Sandlot (1993) – David Mickey Evans
I don’t remember this one in theatres, but when it came to home video, this thing was huge! It was a go-to film to play in the store, because it had great tunes and quotable dialogue, and it’s just so much fun. And I think the last time I saw it was probably sometime in…
TIFF ’26: Coward dir. Lukas Dhont
Instead of retreading antiwar themes so brilliantly evoked in films like All Quiet on the Western Front (1930, 1979, and 2022) Lukas Dhont’s third feature film delivers a poignant character film that explores hope, love, the horrors of war and the shattering of youth and the illusions they hold for their lives. Pierre (Emmanuel Macchia)…
End of Watch (2012) – David Ayer
First off, let’s get this out of the way… the onscreen friendship and chemistry of Jake Gyllenhaal and Michael Pena is absolutely fantastic. The pair are absolutely fantastic together as a pair of friends who serve together in the LAPD. The film is predominantly shot to look and feel like a documentary; Brian Taylor (Gyllenhaal)…
The Naked Gun (2025) – Akiva Schaffer
I never would have thought it before, but after seeing the first trailer, I thought, of course Liam Neeson can play the new Frank Drebin! And honestly, throughout the course of the film, it just feels like he’s having a great time. Taking a page from the original Naked Gun films, and its launching point,…
Cold Storage (2026) – Jonny Campbell
David Koepp has his fingerprints on some of the biggest movies ever, he’s scripted some very succesful films. You know he can tell a story. His novel, Cold Storage has been on my to be read shelf for quite some time now. So long that it seems he’s had time to make a movie version…
Wolfs (2024) – Jon Watts
Jon Watts wrote and directed this crime thriller with buddy overtones that shines with the banter and chemistry with its two stars, George Clooney and Brad Pitt. The two leading men play fixers who are summoned to a hotel, Margaret’s (Amy Ryan, who I always delight in seeing, she’s wonderful) Man (Clooney) is summoned by…
Stargate: Atlantis (2008) – Tracker, and First Contact
Tracker first airs on 19 September, 2008. It was written by Carl Binder from a story by Binder and David Schmidt. McKay (David Hewlett) is looking forward to some alone time with Keller (Jewel Staite) when he accompanies her on a medical mission. He’s a little bummed when they are joined by Ronon (Jason Momoa)….
A Knight’s Tale (2001) – Brian Helgeland
Making a film intentionally anachronistic can work, and A Knight’s Tale is really no better example. Using classic rock songs, modern language, which also filters into the styles and production design, A Knight’s Tale is a medieval take on the sports movie. And despite not having seen it for a couple of decades at this…
Stargate: Atlantis (2008) – Outcast, and Trio
Sheppard (Joe Flanigan) journeys home to Earth for his father’s funeral in Outcast. Written by Alan McCullough from a story created by Flanigan, the episode debuted on 1 February, 2008. On Earth, Sheppard is joined by Ronon (Jason Momoa) and they are approached by Ava Dixon (Emma Lahana), who knows all about the Stargate, the…
