Taken (2002) – Beyond the Sky

I’m writing this in May long before Steven Spielberg’s Disclosure Day comes out. I love when Spielberg plays in the science fiction genre, and I am very excited to see what happens in his new film. But I also realized it had been forever since I watched the Leslie Bohem created miniseries that he executive…

All That Jazz (1979) – Bob Fosse

Roy Scheider owns this movie. He definitely deserved the Oscar for which he was nominated, but didn’t win. He turns in a fantastic performance as Joe Gideon, an avatar for Fosse in this captivating tale. Gideon is a womanizer, a father, a choreographer, a director, a drinker, and an addict. He’s also sick. But he…

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…

Never Flinch (2025) – Stephen King

I love the character of Holly Gibney, so anytime King wants to put her in another story, I’m there for it. And he did just that with Never Flinch. And if Holly is there, you know some of her friends will be around – Barbara, Jerome, Izzy. Holly, and the readers, soon find themselves dealing…

Twisters (2024) – Lee Isaac Chung

I love Twister. Unabashedly. Bill Paxton, Helen Hunt, Cary Elwes, Philip Seymour Hoffman, some fun tunes, some solid (mostly) effects (cow!) and some great pacing and set pieces. So I was both excited and nervous when Twisters was announced. There’s some nice nods to the original film, and there’s some pretty easy character set-up. You…

Blown Away (1994) – Stephen Hopkins

Jeff Bridges and Tommy Lee Jones star in a cop thriller about revenge and the past. Set in Boston, Jimmy Dove (Bridges) is verging on retirement from the Bomb Squad following his marriage to Kate (Suzy Amis). Unfortunately, Dove’s past comes calling for him in the form of Ryan Gaerity (Jones) an IRA extremist with…

Bad Tourists (2024) – Caro Carver

Simon & Schuster delivers the perfect beach read for your summer enjoyment. Bad Tourists by Caro Carver is a compulsive page-turner whose last third is a non-stop rush, and whose first two-thirds are filled with twists, turns and keeps you guessing the whole way through. Darcy, Kate and Camilla are close friends, united by a…

47 Meters Down (2017) – Johannes Roberts

Mandy Moore and Claire Holt star in 47 Meters Down a fairly well-realized white-knuckle thriller from Johannes Roberts. Whatever you think of the concept of the story, a pair of sisters stuck 47 meters down in shark-infested waters, Roberts is able to tap into some very primal fears, add in some solid visual effects work…