Geek For E!

MOVIE REVIEW: Creed III

Last night I saw Creed 3. Although I enjoyed the movie, I found the movie to be a little uneven but found the characters compelling enough to care about them.  Jonathan Majors is great again in another role where he outshines everyone else. Not to say Tessa Thompson and Michael B. Jordan were underwhelming in the movie, they just don’t sparkle as much as Majors.  The movie has a feeling of family as well as forgetting those from our past.  Both guys look huge as they took their roles seriously in terms of putting on muscle. The movie had a perfect running time at just under 2 hours.  Parts of the movie felt like it was paying homage to earlier Rocky movies, specifically Rocky 3 and Rocky 4 as there was a nice 5–6-minute montage of Creed and Dame (Michael B. Jordan and Jonathan Majors respectively) training and getting ready to fight each other.  All in all, the movie was good enough to recommend. B- (Writer: Marc Moses)

TwiView: Ant-Man And The Wasp, Quantumania (in theaters FRI 02.17.23)

This time, things are getting micro!

I have heard comments about this movie. About how it reminds people of a Star Wars flick, and I can honestly say it does. Maybe it’s the fact that ILM worked on this project, or there were many types of beings being showed. The way it most reminded me of a Star Wars movie is how much fun AATWQ was.

Most of the movie takes place in the Quantum Realm which has been discussed throughout the movies. Here we meet all different creatures and beings who have been under the rule of the Conqueror, Kang the Conqueror. The movies moves through a bunch of different storylines that I thought meshed well together. The pacing was fine at a little over 2 hours felt just right. It wasn’t perfect but I thought it held together. Was it a little chaotic? Yes, but isn’t that what the Quantum Realm is supposed to be?

All the actors in the movie give it their all and produce a fun ride that let’s us know where this phase is going. There are 2 end credit scenes so stay around. (Geek For E – Marc Moses)

Movie Review: 80 For Brady (in theaters FRI 02.03.23)

These ladies are on a mission!

This was a 90-minute tale of four iconic actors having a great time. Anytime you can put Jane Fonda, Lilly Tomlin, Sally Field and Rita Moreno in a movie together, sparks will fly.  They look like they are having a blast making this film about 4 women who go to the Super Bowl to see their favorite player, Tom Brady.  It started by accident and turned into an obsession. It became something they looked forward to every week thereafter.

Their bond of friendship is what keeps this movie rolling. They look after each other, care for each other and love each other. Some of the high jinks you have to suspend disbelief, which I was able to do (The Gronk storyline was a lot of fun)!

I recommend this movie as one I wish I took my mother to as I felt fairly young in the theater as a 50 year old man. I was glad the movie was only 90 minutes. Anything more would have felt long. The other co stars in the movie were wonderful as well, Glynn Turman, specifically gives such a sweet performance, you just want to give him a huge hug. It was also great to see Harry Hamlin again.

Bring your favorite Boomer to this and watch them smile at this sweet movie about life long friendship

Writer: Marc Moses.

Movie Review: Black Panther, Wakanda Forever (2022)

Wakanda Forever!

Welcome back to Wakanda was all I thought walking into the screening. Once the lights went down, however, I knew we were not in for a happy ride.

This movie was not an easy one to make due to the circumstances behind the scenes. The original movie had to be scrapped due to Chadwick Boseman’s untimely death. Even with all the obstacles in front of him, Ryan Coogler made a movie that not only dealt with grief but paid their former star a great deal of homage.

The movie takes place a year after T’Challa’s death. Wakanda is grieving and lost. They try to get back to normalcy, such as tracking down Vibranium that has been taken from Wakanda. Instead, they are met with another obstacle, Namor, who is also trying to hinder the outside world from realizing who they are. Namor though, is seen as a deity. His name to his people is Kukulkan, loosely meaning “Amazing Serpent”.

The movie is long, clocking in at 2 hours and 41 minutes. I did not look at my watch once, however there were times where it dragged.  The film’s a little messy, and does not flow the way the first one did. There is a lot to like about the movie, starting with the performances. Letitia Wright and Angela Bassett bring their “A” game, taking on the hardest scenes to film. You can see how much they miss and loved Chadwick Boseman. Their raw emotion comes through in their performances. Winston Duke does his usual great things with M’Baku. Newcomer Tenoch Huerta is a solid addition to the ever-growing actors in the MCU and a great choice to play Namor.

BPWF takes your emotions on a roller coaster ride. It is heavy at times but needs to be heavy because of Chad’s death. You know that going into it.  Although a solid entry into the MCU, it does not feel as complete and as fluid as the original but considering the circumstances I think Mr. Coogler and the crew did the best they could, and it shows.

3 out of 4 stars (Marc Moses)

Movie Review: The Woman King, B+

The Woman King is a special movie. I went into the screening only having seen the poster. But based upon who was in the cast, specifically Viola Davis’ intensity, I knew I was in for a ride. And what a ride it was. The movie pulls you in immediately, showing off the toughness, skill and community respect of The Agojie, the all-female warrior King’s Guard who protected the West African kingdom of Dahomey in the 19th century.  From the set design to the action sequences, The Woman King feels authentic. You feel like you are there fighting beside them as they take on whoever is in front of them. The costume design was tremendous. The robes of King Ghezo, played by the wonderful John Boyega, were colorful and beautiful.  For a 120-minute movie, it never feels bogged down, even as it fleshes out the different characters who we come to love and deeply care about throughout the movie.

The performances were stellar all around. Lashana Lynch, the aforementioned John Boyega, and Sheila Atim do some of their best work in this film. As expected, Viola Davis gives her all. In my opinion, she is one of the finest actors working today. As the lead Agojie, General Nanisca, Davis leads with a ferocity yet also exudes the emotion of the burden she carries, and a much more vulnerable, softer side. Her name should pop up during awards season along with all the actors mentioned above.

I do want to give a special shout out to Thuso Mbedu as Nawi. This was my first time seeing her on screen. She is going to be a powerhouse. This performance was so genuine and passionate. Her emotions, whether saving a friend or standing up for herself, are not overdone. There are times when she is all I can see, even when Viola Davis is on screen. Directed and co-written magnificently by Gina Prince-Bythewood, the Woman King felt personal like it was written from deep within her soul. I really enjoyed this film.

Reviewer: Marc Moses, Geek For E!

Movie Review: Jurassic World: Dominion

About halfway through Jurassic World Domination, I concluded that if you put dinosaurs in a movie, people will go see it. That does not mean the movie is good. Such is the case for this 3rd installment. The actors seemed like they were having a good time together and although the script was weak, the actors, due to their talents made the ride a fun one. There felt like there was no depth to the script. The premise followed in the same line as other Jurassic movies.

What I really enjoyed seeing was both sets of stars interact with each other. I am more of a fan of the original cast, but seeing Chris Pratt and Sam Neil say “Do Not Move” in unison, was cool. Their charisma is on full display.  DeWanda Wise, a newcomer to this cast was arguably the best part of the movie. She is funny, tough and oozes confidence on the screen.  One good thing is that you really do not have to see any of the other movies to watch this one.  There are some callbacks for sure, but nothing that will affect this viewing.

The movie takes us on an adventure to such places as Malta and Italy.  The parts filmed on location in Malta, which was fun, had a great motorcycle chase. There was whole facility in which the third act takes place. Beautiful scenery and cinematography.

The villain in the movie, Lewis Dobson, played by Campbell Scott, came across as a whiny, entitled, brat. He did nothing for me. On his staff was another newcomer to the cast, Mamoudou Athie, who plays Ramsey, was terrific. He is an actor on the rise.

In summation, the movie had moments to scare you, make you laugh, get you excited and feel some emotion, but the movie also seems disconnected. It is not as bad as Jurassic World Fallen Kingdom, but not as good as either the first Jurassic World or the original, Jurassic Park. I think we could all use a break I for one, am “Dinosaured out”.

 Let’s hope this is the last one for a while. (Marc Moses – GeekForE)

Movie Review: Top Gun: Maverick

Maverick is back, and this time – he’s training the best

Top Gun: Maverick (in theaters now! THU 05.26.22).  This high-octane and nostalgic ride should have been called ‘Top Gun: Mission Impossible’ rather than its true title.   Co-writer Christopher McQuarrie (The Usual Suspects) and Director Joseph Kosinski (Tron: Legacy) bring home a winning combination of the original Top Gun film, mated with a gut wrenching and visually stunningly impossible mission for the intrepid pilots in this sequel.  TGM picks up some 25 years or so after the first film, and before you ask – No.  You don’t need to have seen the original to enjoy the hell out of this one.  Tom Cruise (Taps) returns as Pete Mitchell, and sadly, he’s still a Navy Captain (even though he’s old enough and experienced enough to be an Admiral).  Resigned to special interest Navy flying projects, he’s reluctantly recruited back to Top Gun school to train the newest and toughest graduates for a specific mission.  A tough mission…an insane and miraculous one that will have you on the edge of that IMAX seat (or whatever format you prefer).   The key to this one being so good is really the writing out of onscreen characters.  Taking the place of Navy pilot Iceman from the original film, is a square-jawed, ridiculously handsome asshole you love to hate in pilot callsign ‘Hangman’ portrayed cleanly, sharply and with much disdain by actor Glen Powell (Hidden Figures).  You all but forget Cruise’s original love interest from the first film, and seamlessly fall in love with his love interest Penny Benjamin (Jennifer Connelly-The Rocketeer).  She’s gorgeous, tough, a loving mom, a townie, and one hell of a sailor – you just feel the connections between the two.  But the genius in the writing here is how the original character Iceman from the first film was handled.  We all know, from real life, that actor Val Kilmer (The Saint) returned for the role – we also know that in real-life he’s suffering from a form of throat cancer that affects his ability to speak.  And his size and looks have changed dramatically since the original film.  The filming crew of TGM makes it work and exacts it on-screen into a beautiful culmination that serves the story. Films like this have a built-in audience, heck it’s been 35 years since the original, so this is going to be a hit – but I’ll go out on a limb with a fearless Memorial box office prediction of $230M.  I give it an A+ and even now I’m itching to watch the dog-fighting scenes again.

Review: Dr. Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness (2022)

If you asked me to describe Sam Raimi, the director of Dr. Strange in one word, that word would be “Bonkers”. From his early days as the director and creator of the Evil Dead Franchise, his movies have always had a feeling of being off the wall. This movie was no exception.

The movie picks up after the events of WandaVision, which is now currently playing on Disney Plus. If you have not seen the show, I would highly recommend watching it before you see the movie. Things will make much more sense if you do. Without giving too much away about the story, Dr. Strange recruits Wanda in helping him understand the Multiverse. This is where things go sideways.

Besides Wanda, we have our usual cast of characters, Wong, Mordo and Dr. Christine Palmer. A new character we meet is America Chavez, a girl who has the power to travel through multiverses. I do wish they spent a bit more time on her backstory, but maybe that will come in future projects. Wanda’s importance in the movie, I will not reveal, but safe to say she plays an essential role in the movie.

The movie which I enjoyed, felt messy and a bit all over the place with a script that felt as if it was being held together by a band-aid. There was not enough backstory to many elements of the movie, elements that I believe were more important to the overall movie. The stunning visuals of the different set pieces, however, which makes the viewing experience a blast as we watch Dr. Strange and his companions travel throughout the multiverse. (There are some exciting surprises in this movie as well).

The performances were fine, nothing special except for Elizabeth Olsen, who as Wanda, shows her full range of acting ability. Picking up where she left off in WandaVision, Olsen shows off her acting range as she seamlessly moves through a vast array of emotions throughout the movie and in my opinion, is this movie’s true star.

Is this movie the best of the MCU? No. I don’t feel as if I know any more about Phase Four now than I did before watching the movie. There are still so many questions I have.

Where this movie ranks is somewhere in the middle tier and make sure you stick around to the end as there are 2 credit scenes.

Rating – 3 out of 4 stars (writer: Marc Moses)

Review: Moonfall, IMAX (in theaters FRI 02.04.22)

Moonfall, Don’t look up…oh wait, that’s another movie

First things first.  I don’t see Roland Emmerich movies because it’s Shakespeare (he’s done ID4, 2012, Day After Tomorrow, Godzilla).  I see them because he’s got a great visual eye for giving us world destruction playing out on the big screen (and in IMAX no less).  How he was snubbed in 2009 for even an Oscar nomination for Special Effects for ‘2012’ is beyond me…especially considering the Academy can nominate up to 5 films in each category, and that year (2009), they only slid the nom to 3 total films, and ‘2012’ – which had some of the most amazing detail in death and destruction I’ve seen on the screen, was snubbed for even a nod.  That aside, he’s charging back with Moonfall, a far-reaching story about an intrepid team of astronauts and star gazers who are convinced that the moon is in fact, not the shiny glowing white ball we’ve thought it was all these years.  Not just that, but’s its orbit around the earth is way off, and in just mere weeks, it’ll crash into the planet.  Yikes!  Awesome setup for sure, and as you can expect worldwide mayhem ensues with an eye-pleasing display of destruction peppered throughout, but sadly, the film misses.  Not because it rehashes some very similar elements from the film ‘2012.’ Including the family dynamic and sacrifice – but really because its just too unbelievable.  Even if we could hatch the on-screen plan to save us, this is America – we would botch the execution and then the laughable response to the crisis by the military in the film wouldn’t be so bad.  Did I mention that our 3 heroes have hatched their plan to ‘grab a space shuttle’ and go up to the moon…all by themselves? Yikes, again.  See this for the effects on the big screen.  See it because Halle looks super-cute in her wig and easily slides through this subject matter.  Heck, even see it because the comic relief character (aka Samwell from Game of Thrones, John Bradley), is a delight as a fervent, if not neurotic astronomy lover.   The film does touch on overall creationism with an intriguing theory that had me thinking (no spoilers), for that, I give the film a plus.  But even that can’t save this one.  Fearless forecast: 18M weekend box office (IMAX prices!) C+

TwiView: Matrix, Resurrections (2021)

Matrix, Resurrections (2021) A-.  They should have called it Matrix Redemptions; it erased the stench of the 2nd and 3rd installments.  It was fresh, it what was logically next for the Matrix on film and for the lore of how the Matrix system worked.  It was a bit long at 2hrs+ and for me, a little short on ‘money shot’ effects.  Thankfully, it’s still a love story at its core, centered around the two we know (even if this time they don’t know each other).  You don’t need to have seen Reloaded or Revolutions to feel right at home in this one.  It’s the original Matrix film…essentially resurrected (no spoilers!)  The opening scene sets the tone for a sweet ride down memory lane via the first film (keep your eyes open and if you can, watch the original before catching this one!).  #MatrixStillHasIt #MatrixMovie #MatrixBaltimore

Movie Review: Sing 2 (in theaters and On-Demand, WED 12.22.21)

Buster Moon is at it again!  Only this time, you’ll feel a bit different about it.  Sing 2 thumps into theaters and On Demand this holiday weekend and hopes to entice you and your little ones back for some high flying adventure and super cool pop tunes like the original.  All the cast is back including some newcomers (Singers Halsey & Bono as well as Letitia Wright to name a few), and they’re trying to put on an epic show anchored by a retired rock-and-roll star who is reluctantly pulled back into showbiz.   For me, this one is a miss – not because it’s almost 2 hours long (is that necessary?), and not because it’s the same awesome pop-music & hijinks formula as the original.  For me, it misses because it’s not inspiring, nor original.  You know the show will happen; you know it’ll be epic – but where’s the character growth?  Even Rosita (the worrywart pig voiced by Reese Witherspoon), and Meena (the shy elephant voiced by Tori Kelly) are the same tepid characters who big shock, overcome it again in the 3rd act.  I loved the song selections (covering the 70’s thru today), the coloring was masterful (the Ms. Crawly chase scene was amazing!), but it doesn’t make the film, and your little ones will fade away a bit, it’s just too long.  I’m giving this one a C+; see it if you have kids who need some new ‘food’ and loved the original.  Heck, watch it if you dig pop music through the years, but I defy you to not think you’re watching Zootopia 2 in between the song numbers. 

Movie Screening: Black As Night (THU 09.30.21 @ 9PM)

HOME MOVIE SCREENING: Black As Night (THU 09.30.21 @ 9PM @ Your House!)  The horror macabre lovers at Blumhouse TV & Amazon Studios are back at it.  This time with an eerie new tale of a resourceful black teenage girl who takes on a group of deadly vampires down in the creole of New Orleans.  This is no standard vampire tale as our 15yo heroine frantically fights the masses while trying to turn her friends back into human beings.  What’s a young girl to do?  Why not find out with us!  This is a special contest that not only gets you streaming access for 2 to the film, but you also get an exclusive invite to the online after-party with the stars of the film, filmmakers, producers, acting talent and a LIVE DJ!  This is the Halloween jam you and your friends have been looking for, so why not post a pic on our Facebook page, win some tix and catch the horror!  Look for us on Facebook @geekfore and start posting! #staygeeky #Blumhouse #Black As Night

Contest Details:

You know we like you to show your love of the studio and this one is no different.  Post up any image, any meme for any past Blumhouse movie (don’t know any?  IMDB is your friend!).  Add the hashtag #blumhouse and you’re all set.  If we LIKE your post, please send us both names and email addresses for you and your online guest.  We’ll send that to the studio who will send you the unique access codes for the online movie screening and party!    In a rare twist, we’re also allowing you to win more than once (we may LIKE many of your posts!).  If you are LIKE’d more than once, you must provide unique names/email addresses for the studio to send the access codes to!

TwiView: M. Night Shyamalan’s ‘Old’


TwiView (Movie reviews in 140 words or less, cause ain’t nobody got time for that!)
M. Night still has it!  Don’t try and scour the edges of this slick noir for the clues, you will not guess this twist, just sit back and enjoy it.  That said, you will get a classic suspenseful treat that will have you guessing, figuring, pointing, laughing, and maybe even shedding a tear or two.  Simple premise, a family is on a tropical vacation at the beach and begin aging rapidly with no explanation as to why or what’s to become of them.  This is not a perfect M. Night rollout, but he has mastered the art of subterfuge by showing you everything and telling you nothing (till the end).  Did I love the twist?  Let’s just say it makes sense at the end, but I never saw it coming, maybe you will – get to the megaplex asap and post up your plot questions on our Facebook page…we have a few ourselves, but we’ll wait until the film opens (FRI 07.23.21 at theaters everywhere!)!  A-

MOVIE SCREENING/Premiere: Without Remorse (THU 04.29.21)

Film deets:

Starring Michael B. Jordan, Jamie Bell, Jodie Turner-Smith, Lauren London, Brett Gelman, Jacob Scipio, Jack Kesy, Colman Domingo, Todd Lassance, Cam Gigandet, Luke Mitchell and Guy Pearce

Without Remorse

An elite Navy SEAL uncovers an international conspiracy while seeking justice for the murder of his pregnant wife in Tom Clancy’s Without Remorse, the explosive origin story of action hero John Clark – one of the most popular characters in author Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan universe. When a squad of Russian soldiers kills his family in retaliation for his role in a top-secret op, Sr. Chief John Kelly (Michael B. Jordan) pursues the assassins at all costs. Joining forces with a fellow SEAL (Jodie Turner-Smith) and a shadowy CIA agent (Jamie Bell), Kelly’s mission unwittingly exposes a covert plot that threatens to engulf the U.S. and Russia in an all-out war. Torn between personal honor and loyalty to his country, Kelly must fight his enemies without remorse if he hopes to avert disaster and reveal the powerful figures behind the conspiracy.  The film is rated R with a running time of 110 minutes.

CONTEST DETAILS:

We want your Michael B image/meme posts – in all his glory (keep it PG-13 though).  Go back to the Facebook post that brought you here and start posting images of Michael B Jordan with the hashtag #WithoutRemorse. 

If GeekForE ‘LIKE’s’ your Facebook post, you are a winner and we’ll Inbox you your unique redemption code to stream the movie the day before it opens (THU 04.29.21 @ 7PM).  If GeekForE ‘LOVE’s’ your post, then you’re one of our two World Premiere/VIP prize winners and we’ll send you details on how to attend the VIP screening on THU 04.29.21 @ 8PM.  Now go get posting and don’t forget the hashtag!

MOVIE REVIEW: The Father (opening 03.12.21 in theaters, 03.26.21 SVOD)

Film Synopsis: Anthony is 80, mischievous, living defiantly alone and rejecting the caretakers that his daughter, Anne, encouragingly introduces. Yet help is also becoming a necessity for Anne; she can’t make daily visits anymore and Anthony’s grip on reality is unravelling. As we experience the ebb and flow of his memory, how much of his own identity and past can Anthony cling to? How does Anne cope as she grieves the loss of her father, while he still lives and breathes before her? THE FATHER warmly embraces real life, through loving reflection upon the vibrant human condition; heart-breaking and uncompromisingly poignant – a movie that nestles in the truth of our own lives.

Geek For E Review (Matthew Snider)

This movie is not for the faint of heart nor the weak-minded. What unfolds is a “memento-esque” deep dive into dementia and how it impacts not only the person diagnosed with it but everyone around them as well.

Sir Anthony Hopkins puts in a spectacular performance as Anthony, an aging dad who seems to be quickly on the decline with his understanding of reality in his truly hard-to-watch battle with dementia.

The film takes place mostly in Anthony’s flat of over 30 years, or so it seems. As his mind unravels we are invited into what he sees. Some of which makes sense, yet a lot of which doesn’t. We meet Anne, his daughter and caretaker, and a few other outside characters but it mainly focuses on Anthony and Anne and their ups and downs in navigating this tumultuous relationship and disease impacting The Father.

Not only do the performances pull on your heartstrings, but it also brings you along for a ride on a roller coaster of emotions which is hard to swallow. You see so many sides of this disease ravage both Anthony and Anne that you are left exhausted and confused by the end of the film.

Directed by Florian Zeller, and lead by Sir Anthony Hopkins, Olivia Colman, Mark Gatiss, and many more familiar faces you can’t help but feel for these people, their story, their pains, and figuring out what the next right thing is for each of them.

What plagues this film is the direction giving by Florian. It follows the mind (or lack thereof) of Anthony which takes away from a fluid and linear timeline/story. Due to this “memento-esque” storytelling sometimes you lose the characters and their storyline amongst trying to figure out what the hell is going on.

While this technique is used to show the sheer confusion of dementia itself, it takes away from the storyline and the pain suffered by all a little too much.

The Father is a behind-the-scenes look into this degrading, frustrating, and life-altering disease that impacts more than 6 million Americans, and more than 50 million worldwide. 

It is a film that brings to the light family, and the senior years, and all that can come with it. The Father brings to the screen a story that is almost always behind closed doors, a story that asks you to suffer alongside its characters, to feel for them, to want to help, and to just sit and hold them. 

The Father is a film I recommend you to see, albeit with a box of tissues nearby.

MOVIE REVIEW: Judas and the Black Messiah (everywhere FRI 02.12.21)

Judas and the Black Messiah tells the true story of the rise of Fred Hampton (Kaluuya) as the revolutionary leader of the Black Panther Party and how the organization is infiltrated, and he is ultimately assassinated with the help of a fledgling crook named Bill O’Neal (Stanfield) supported by an unscrupulous FBI system led by J Edgar Hoover (Martin Sheen).   

First and foremost, major props to Director Shaka Smith.  He is young, but learned, as this is his first true feature film and he succeeds admirably with his tone and angle usage.  The tension the audience feels with the inevitable betrayal and death of its lead character was palpable from the opening scene (and the lead wasn’t even in it).  It’s not surprising he was given the helm of this subject matter (he co-wrote the screenplay) and we even chimed in to ask why he wanted to make a film focused on the Black Panthers?  “The Panthers led with love,” he said.  It’s that type of passion that led him to make what he calls “a vast film, a dense film.”  He succeeded, watch the film.  You’ll see it’s range, its power to incite, Hampton’s propensity to love through a sea of racial hatred and most importantly ‘feel’ what it’s like to be a ‘Judas.’

Lead performances here are no surprise from Daniel Kaluuya (Fred Hampton) and Lakeith Stanfield (Bill O’Neal).  Kaluuya is a past Oscar nominee, I knew he could handle the subject matter but asked all the same what drove you to portray Hampton in the film?  Said Kaluuya, “his love for his people and I’m humbled and honored.”  What I wanted to see  (and have not from his past work) is his ability to feel.  To show a loving touch and nature.  His relationship with Deborah Johnson (mother to his unborn child, played masterfully by Dominique Fishback…more on her later) is where I hoped he could prove it.  And he did.  His ability to be softer and accessible and still be convincing as a revolutionary leader is what I needed to see, and I did (all without dropping his accent).  He’ll get an awards nod for this, but regrettably, he won’t win it.  Not because he isn’t that good with the character, but I’ve seen the Best Actor winner already (no spoilers from a Geek!)

Lakeith Stanfield who portrays the ‘Judas’ that is Bill O’Neal gets a nod and hats off from me.   It’ll be sensitive to read, but I’ll write it all the same – he brings (to me) a bit of Richard Pryor ‘scared n*gga’ to his roles which seems to fit this film perfectly, after all he’s portraying a Judas – he should be afraid.  Not in his dialogue, but in his eyes when it’s needed.  From the opening scene which showcases his characters range as a thief, you can see an underlying fear which stays with him as he confidently infiltrates the Panthers, rises through its ranks, deals with the FBI and even becoming Head of Black Panther security.  All the while with a confident but doomed look for the fraud he knows he is.   There’s a moral burden even portraying such a character, and he spoke about it at great length.

The unsung hero here is relative newcomer but soon to be household name, Dominique Fishback who portrays the lead character Hampton’s empowering, viscerally literal, and fierce girlfriend and fiancé.   I had to look up the actress, could there be anything in her past work that showed an inkling of what she poured out here?  From her introduction, playing a waifish adorizing young girl – her delivery was perfect.  Deifying Hampton but still with a mind of her own – hats off to Director/writer Shaka King for writing her well and major ups to the make-up/production crew for her onscreen appearance.  I thought she was 16 when her character meets Hampton for the first time at a rally, I had to Google to find out, the actress is nearing 30yo.  You go girl, reached right back into that younger time and brought her through with shining colors, I hope the awards machine sees you this season.

See this film people, if not for its social relevancy – than just to get a bit of education in Black History month.  Do you really know what the Black Panthers were all about?  A- #JudasandtheBlackMessiah

Judas and the Black Messiah (in theaters and streaming exclusively on HBO Max, FRI 02.12.21) – Win Tickets Now!

Judas and the Black Messiah tells the true-life story of Fred Hampton who was the Chairman of the Illinois Black Panther Party that was fatefully betrayed by an FBI placed informant into the organization.  Academy Award nominee Daniel Kaluuya (Get Out) stars as Hampton, with thriller alum LaKeith Stanfield (Sorry To Bother You) starring as William O’Neal the fateful betrayer. 

CONTEST:

Find the Facebook post from us that brought you here and post up your best homages to actor Daniel Kaluuya, LaKeith Stanfield or meme a message on the Black Panther Party.  You can get creative with your posts, just stay PG-13.  To be eligible, YOU MUST add the hashtag #JudasAndTheBlackMessiah to your post. If GeekForE ‘LIKE’s’ your post, you are a winner and we’ll Inbox you your unique redemption code.  The code can be used at participating movie theaters or through Fandango online (we’ll send you the additional details!)  Facebook voting begins right now, and all LIKE’s will be issued by THU 02.11.21 (just in time for the show!)

PVOD & Twitter Watch Party: The Croods: A New Age (FRI 12.18.20 @ 7PM)

The future ain’t what it used to be.

DreamWorks Animation’s THE CROODS: A NEW AGE is on PVOD this Friday, December 18th

Official Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | #CroodsNewAge

The Croods have survived their fair share of dangers and disasters, from fanged prehistoric beasts to surviving the end of the world, but now they will face their biggest challenge of all: another family

The Croods need a new place to live. So, the first prehistoric family sets off into the world in search of a safer place to call home. When they discover an idyllic walled-in paradise that meets all their needs, they think their problems are solved … except for one thing. Another family already lives there: the Bettermans. 

The Bettermans (emphasis on the “better”)—with their elaborate tree house, amazing inventions and irrigated acres of fresh produce—are a couple of steps above the Croods on the evolutionary ladder. When they take the Croods in as the world’s first houseguests, it isn’t long before tensions escalate between the cave family and the modern family. 

Just when all seems lost, a new threat will propel both families on an epic adventure outside the safety of the wall, one that will force them to embrace their differences, draw strength from each other and forge a future together. 

The Croods: A New Age features the voice talent of returning stars Nicolas Cage as Grug Crood, Catherine Keener as Ugga Crood, Emma Stone as their daughter, Eep; Ryan Reynolds as Eep’s boyfriend, Guy; Clark Duke (Hot Tub Time Machine) as Thunk and Cloris Leachman as Gran. They’re joined by new stars Peter Dinklage (HBO’s Game of Thrones) as Phil Betterman, Leslie Mann (Blockers) as Hope Betterman, and Kelly Marie Tran (Star Wars: Episode VIII-The Last Jedi) as their daughter, Dawn. 

The film is directed by Joel Crawford, who has worked on multiple DreamWorks Animation films, including Trolls and the Kung Fu Panda franchise, and is produced by Mark Swift (Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie, Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted).

Genre: Animated Comedy

Cast: Nicolas Cage, Emma Stone, Ryan Reynolds, Catherine Keener, Cloris Leachman, Clark Duke, Leslie Mann, Peter Dinklage, Kelly Marie Tran

Directed by: Joel Crawford

Produced by: Mark Swift

MOVIE SCREENING: Do The Right Thing & Get Out (WED 08.12.20 @ 7PM)

Don’t call it a comeback geeky faithful, we’ve been here through all this crazy COVID stuff but we’re not letting it get us down.  If you can’t go in a theater, how about going to one outside?  Sounds crazy for Millenials, but Gen X & Y know all about drive in-movies and now with coronavirus at our door, drive-ins are making a comeback.  Luckily we have one here in the Maryland area (also another a bit up north and further south in VA, but that’s a story for another day).  The good news is, the movie studios are embracing the drive-in format to promote new and old films.  Now, let’s not get carried away when we start thinking about what the film selections will be in the drive-in format.  It’s extremely unlikely that say, Warner Bros will make a special 70MM to drive-in movie format copy of their incredible new sci-fi thriller ‘Tenet’ which was due to come out like five months ago.  But it is very likely they’ll dust off some of their older, quality and entertaining releases to the drive-in format.  And that brings us to our special ticket giveaway for this week courtesy of Amazon Studios & actor/producer Michael B Jordan (Creed, Fantastic Four).  Check the details below the banners and we hope to see you (and all the humans you can comfortably, and social distance style, fit into your car) at the movies!

Amazon Studios and Michael B. Jordan’s Outlier Society present to you ‘A Night At The Drive-In.’  A nation-wide screening of selected films celebrating multi-cultural voices.  This week, nation-wide is your opportunity to catch Spike Lee’s 1989 comedy-drama-thriller, ‘Do The Right Thing.’  The film centers on one of the hottest days in 1980’s Brooklyn and the simmering racial tensions that come to the surface as the heat heightens; culminating into a powerful and thought-provoking narrative about race, class, gender and even ageism in America.  One of Lee’s best works and it cemented him as a versatile, opinionated and worldly Director.  Directly following that film, will be Jordan Peele’s 2018 thriller ‘Get Out.’  Set against the backdrop of current day America, the film takes you on a journey deep into the bowels of race, trust, prejudice, belief, love, and betrayal (of yeah, there’s some comic relief too).  The world knew writer and Director Jordan Peele had talent from his previous work in comedic stage and TV acting, but winning the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay for this film cemented his moxie and slow draw film style into the cinematic landscape.

We’re super stoked that Michael B and Amazon are doing this and when asked why he was embarking on such a bold summer move, he said “with this drive-in summer series, I hope that friends and families are able to not only enjoy, but to learn and grow. Now more than ever, amplifying Black and Brown stories means engaging culture to speak to hearts and minds about the world we live in. As we use this opportunity to reimagine community and proximity, I am excited that these films will be shared and celebrated all across the country.”

As part of the concessions for the screenings, all attendees will receive refreshments provided by Black and Brown owned businesses, which are Path Water, Pipcorn Popcorn and Partake Cookies.

SCREENING INFO:

Box offices opens @ 7PM and closes at 10PM – you are free to arrive and claim your ticket anywhere in between. The first film begins @ 8:30PM (hey…the sun has to go down right?). COVID policies are in effect – you must wear a facemask for entry and there is a $15 charge to bring in outside food.

TICKETS: Check our Facebook page, that’s where the ticket code will be posted in the 9PM hour (FRI 08.07.20)

Some helpful tips for attending films @ Bengies:

  • The theater and box office open at 7PM, and best seating goes to those who get there early, but NOTE!  4×4’s and SUV’s only get one row of dead center parking (at the back of the lot), otherwise you are located to the 45 degree left or right of the screen
  • You are not allowed to run your car during the film.  If you try and cheat by turning the key over without engaging the engine (cause you need some AC bad), make sure your car battery is strong.  If not, no worries, Bengies is prepared with mobile car jumpers (no charge), however, once they start your car – you will have to leave the facility
  • You cannot sit any higher than your vehicle.  What does that mean?  If you drive in with a Ford F150 with a nice towbed and decide you’ll place your lawn chairs in the bed to get as high a seat as possible…you’ll be asked to take them down.  In fact, Bengies has staff wandering around with stretches of rope to help you bring your rear hatch doors down to no higher than your vehicle’s height.
  • Don’t test them on the personal food.  If you plan to bring your own food, pay the $15 fee at the gate.  There are roaming Bengie staff looking for you, and they know what their food items look like!  You’ve been warned.

TwiView: The Lost City, C+

TwiView: The Lost City, C+ (in theaters everywhere FRI 03.25.22) Sandra Bullock (Demolition Man) co-stars with Channing Tatum (21 Jump Street) in this sweet, implausible adventure and dare I say ‘love story?’  Loretta (Bullock) is a famed romance-adventure novelist who travels with Alan (Tatum) her cover-boy model that makes a living and life out of living as the pretty-boy Fabio cover model.  When Loretta taps into a clue to a famed Lost City in one of her books, she gets kidnapped by an eccentric zillionaire (Harry Potter aka Daniel Radcliffe) intent on finding a treasure buried within.  The adventure is fun enough, and Bullock looks uh-mazing, but there’s just no chemistry between she and Tatum (not as love interests anyway).   What starts as a comical action farce to rescue Loretta, somehow morphs into a love confession.  And just when you thought you could let that go and absorb the payoff of the big treasure find and untold riches….you just get a dose of lovey-dovey reality.  Brad Pitt’s cameo is fun and a great comical stretch for him, but even he can’t save this one.  See it for the fun ‘Indy Jones’ style adventure, see it for a knock-out Bullock in a hot pantsuit!  Heck, even see if for Tatum’s bare-chested hot bod; but don’t see if for a believable romance between the two of them, you’ll be lost.