Author: Shani

From its opening moments to its ever-rising tension, Caught Stealing delivers a smart, pulse-pounding ride anchored by characters who feel real—and urgent. This is a film that builds on style and substance alike, and the main players here make it all the more compelling.

At the centre is Austin Butler’s Hank Thompson, a former high-school baseball phenom whose career was cut short, now tending bar and trying to keep his life together. From the first scenes we see his restless energy, his frustration at the way things went off-track, and his attempt to stay afloat. Butler gives Hank a leanness of regret mixed with dogged resilience: you believe in his desperation, but you root for him as much as you fear for him.

By his side is Zoë Kravitz’s Yvonne, Hank’s girlfriend, professional and capable, a stabilising force in his chaotic world. Their chemistry is quietly compelling: she’s neither a damsel nor a side-kick, but a partner whose dignity and drive give weight to Hank’s arc. When the world begins to spiral, Yvonne is the emotional counter-balance, reminding us that his fight isn’t just for survival—it’s for connection.

And then there’s Matt Smith’s Russ, the punk-rock neighbour whose off-hand request to Hank (take care of his cat) becomes the spark that ignites everything. Smith leans into the weirdness of Russ—mo-hawk, brash attitude, trouble on his mind—and his presence ripple-effect-style drags Hank, unsuspecting, into a world of violence and chaos. Russ may be peripheral in screen-time, but he’s central to the disruption of Hank’s life—and that makes him unforgettable.

Director Darren Aronofsky gives these characters the space to breathe in crisis, and yet the staging never lets tensions off the leash. The world around them—’90s New York with its grit, neon, dingy bars, late-night phone calls—feels lived in. And inside that world the characters drive the story. Hank isn’t just reacting; he’s making mistakes, choosing poorly, figuring out how to claw his way back. Yvonne isn’t just along for the ride; her stakes are real. Russ isn’t just a catalyst; his choices ripple outward.

What makes this film shine is how these characters interact under pressure. There’s the moment when Hank realises he has no idea what he’s gotten into—and his face says all you need to know. There’s the scene where Yvonne asks Hank a simple question—and you see her concern, her fear, her strength. And Russ? The small moments where he disappears from view tell you more than his dialogue ever could.

In short: Caught Stealing is gripping because the characters matter. The fast-moving plot and slick visuals draw you in, but it’s the human inside the chaos that makes you stay. Regardless of your familiarity with crime thrillers, you’ll find yourself caring about Hank, respecting Yvonne, and wary of Russ—and that investment pays off as the story accelerates. A thoroughly satisfying five-star experience.

A Fierce, Flawless Spin-Kick of a Movie

From the World of John Wick: Ballerina is the cinematic adrenaline shot I didn’t know I needed—served ice cold, and with stilettos. Let’s talk about Anna De Armas, because WOW. She doesn’t just carry this film—she pirouettes through pain, dives into chaos, and makes revenge look like an art form. Graceful and savage? That’s a yes from me.

If you’re a fan of the John Wick universe, this one hits like a bullet wrapped in silk. Every fight sequence is a symphony of violence, every moment with Anna feels like poetry in motion (but with broken ribs and bullets flying). She gives heart, heat, and high-stakes energy. And yes, she absolutely earns her place in this brutal ballet.

Bottom line? Ballerina is sharp, stylish, and absolutely electric. It’s got grit, it’s got glamour, and it’s got Anna De Armas absolutely dominating every frame. If you’re sleeping on this movie—wake up. She’s that girl.

Go see it. Go again. Thank me later.

The long-awaited live-action film of Snow White finally hit the big screen. I will say when I first heard of the film being made I was excited for the tale to come to life, but then I heard Rachel Zegler would be cast in the lead role and the excitement sort of went away. From her days playing roles in Westside Story and then The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes; I just couldn’t see her giving the role justice.

Despite my feelings towards her in previous film and the recent negative press around the film, I went into this film with an open mind. Also, I was looking forward to Gal Gadot giving it a go at being the villain in the film.

I had the privilege of bringing along two guests to preview the film, my eight year old niece and her mother who are both Disney tale lovers.

Delaney, 8
The movie was really good and cute. There was a lot of new music which I enjoyed. The animals were very realistic and the dwarfs were really funny and not scary.

Hillary,
I was pleasantly surprised with the movie! The movie added a lot to the backstory of Snow White and the evil stepmother, and Gal Gadot was phenomenal in the role. The movie seemed a tad long, but the new music was very well done, the characters had a lot of personality and it was overall a very beautiful movie.

Now for me the film was surprisingly pleasant. Not at all what I was expecting. Do I like they diverted from the original tale? Not really, but I guess we do have to evolve in some way. It would have been nice for children today to be able to experience the magic we all experienced as children.

As for Rachel Zegler, I do think she played the role well and her singing the new tunes in the film were justified. The songs were a bit long/too many but it worked. As for Gal Gadot, she blew me away as the villain and with her singing chops. Who knew she could sing? Looks like she embraced the role and had fun playing the evil queen. I did notice ‘the kiss’ was altered to be not even a kiss… more of a peck, thought it was unnecessary.

I know I have to address the fact of the dwarfs, honestly they did look creepy at first but as the film went on and you saw their personalities mesh with that of Snow White, it worked! I don’t understand why they didn’t use real beings, but the CGI dwarfs worked and will grow on you.

“Disney’s Snow White,” a live-action musical reimagining of the classic 1937 film, opens exclusively in theaters March 21, 2025. Starring Rachel Zegler (“West Side Story”) in the title role and Gal Gadot (“Wonder Woman”) as her Stepmother, the Evil Queen, the magical music adventure journeys back to the timeless story with beloved characters Bashful, Doc, Dopey, Grumpy, Happy, Sleepy, and Sneezy. “Disney’s Snow White” is directed by Marc Webb (“The Amazing Spider-Man”) and produced by Marc Platt (“The Little Mermaid”) and Jared LeBoff (“The Girl on the Train”), withCallum McDougall (“Mary Poppins Returns”) serving as executive producer, and features all-new original songs from Benj Pasek and Justin Paul (“Dear Evan Hansen”).

You might not remember but, “Gladiator”, blasted in to theaters during the summer of 2000, and banked over $465 million worldwide. It was the second-highest of the year behind the other money maker, “Mission: Impossible II.” It was clearly a standout film as it earned 12 Oscar nominations, winning 5, which included Best Picture and Best Actor for Russell Crowe. A sequel was bound to happen to piggyback off the success of the first film, unfortunately it took over 20 years for that reality to come to fruition.

But perhaps, the waiting of over 20 years for the sequel was meant to be because we needed to wait for Pedro Pascal and Paul Mescal to grace the big screen in two iconic roles. Both took on their roles with strength and charisma to make them each stand out in their own ways. You’ve got Pedro as the general who wants to make things right and bring Rome to what it’s supposed to be…FREE. Then you have Paul who is the … dare I say handsome sword-wielding poet ends up winning more hearts than intended.

The film is packed with turns and twists while answering our some of our questions 20 years later after the death of MAXIMUS (Russell Crowe). We do have the return of Connie Nielsen, who portrays Lucilla in the first film. Unfortunately for her, the script does fall flat for her and makes her seem not as important as she really is in the film. She does still grace the screen with her passionate character that made her so memorable to us in the first film.

Some of the best scenes in the film are that of the battles. It’s amazing to see the work the were able to do to accomplish them and make them realistic. Even more so because these battles were a part of history. KUDOS for the action and editing.

From legendary director Ridley Scott, Gladiator II continues the epic saga of power, intrigue, and vengeance set in Ancient Rome. Years after witnessing the death of the revered hero Maximus at the hands of his uncle, Lucius (Paul Mescal) is forced to enter the Colosseum after his home is conquered by the tyrannical Emperors who now lead Rome with an iron fist. With rage in his heart and the future of the Empire at stake, Lucius must look to his past to find strength and honor to return the glory of Rome to its people.

Speechless…

That’s the word to describe this film. There’s not much to say about this film… you just have to watch it. I will say it should be watched in theaters just to appreciate it’s beauty and it’s sound.

Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo were born for these roles. The spirits of Glinda and Elphaba lives within them. You will see it on the big screen how these two tremendous voices compliment each other while also their chemistry just shines.

I will dare to say that the film is a bit too long, but you can’t single out a scene that you could actually cut to make it shorter.

There is a bit of intolerance, perhaps a bit too much while they playfully do it in the film at Shiz University and within its student body. While it may be unintentional, it is still a bit too obvious to overlook and ignore. But it’s also the reality of life because that type of bullying does still exist in some parts and in the lives of many.

Michelle Yeoh and Jeff Goldblum are like the aunt and uncle we’ve come to love in the film but THEN with a twist of events we find out their motives. They each do bring their own charisma and energy to support their roles, making us want more even though it may cause us to highly dislike them.

After two decades as one of the most beloved and enduring musicals on the stage, Wicked makes its long-awaited journey to the big screen as a spectacular, generation-defining cinematic event this holiday season. 

Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Jon M. Chu (Crazy Rich Asians, In the Heights), Wicked is the first chapter of a two-part immersive, cultural celebration. Wicked Part Two is scheduled to arrive in theaters on November 26, 2025.

Wicked, the untold story of the witches of Oz, stars Emmy, Grammy and Tony winning powerhouse Cynthia Erivo (Harriet, Broadway’s The Color Purple) as Elphaba, a young woman, misunderstood because of her unusual green skin, who has yet to discover her true power, and Grammy-winning, multi-platinum recording artist and global superstar Ariana Grande as Glinda, a popular young woman, gilded by privilege and ambition, who has yet to discover her true heart. 

The two meet as students at Shiz University in the fantastical Land of Oz and forge an unlikely but profound friendship. Following an encounter with The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, their friendship reaches a crossroads, and their lives take very different paths. Glinda’s unflinching desire for popularity sees her seduced by power, while Elphaba’s determination to remain true to herself, and to those around her, will have unexpected and shocking consequences on her future. Their extraordinary adventures in Oz will ultimately see them fulfill their destinies as Glinda the Good and the Wicked Witch of the West. 

The film also stars Oscar® winner Michelle Yeoh as Shiz University’s regal headmistress Madame Morrible; Jonathan Bailey (Bridgerton, Fellow Travelers) as Fiyero, a roguish and carefree prince; Tony nominee Ethan Slater (Broadway’s Spongebob Squarepants, Fosse/Verdon) as Boq, an altruistic Munchkin student; Marissa Bode in her feature-film debut as Nessarose, Elphaba’s favored sister; and pop culture icon Jeff Goldblum as the legendary Wizard of Oz.

The cast of characters includes Pfannee and ShenShen, two conniving compatriots of Glinda played by Emmy nominee Bowen Yang (Saturday Night Live) and Bronwyn James (Harlots); a new character created for the film, Miss Coddle, played by Tony nominee Keala Settle (The Greatest Showman) and four-time Emmy winner Peter Dinklage (Game of Thrones) as the voice of Dr. Dillamond. 

Wicked is produced by Marc Platt (La La Land, The Little Mermaid), whose films, television shows and stage productions have earned a combined 46 Oscar® nominations, 58 Emmy nominations and 36 Tony nominations, and by multiple Tony winner David Stone (Kimberly Akimbo, Next to Normal), with whom Platt produced the blockbuster Wicked stage musical. The executive producers are David Nicksay, Stephen Schwartz and Jared LeBoff. 

Based on the bestselling novel by Gregory Maguire, Wicked is adapted for the screen by the stage production’s book writer Winnie Holzman and by legendary Grammy and Oscar® winning composer and lyricist Stephen Schwartz. The Broadway stage musical is produced by Universal Stage Productions, Marc Platt, the Araca Group, Jon B. Platt and David Stone.

Genre: Musical Event

Cast: Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Michelle Yeoh, Jeff Goldblum, Jonathan Bailey, Ethan Slater, Marissa Bode, Bowen Yang, Bronwyn James, Keala Settle and Peter Dinklage 

Director: Jon M. Chu

Written by: Winnie Holzman

Based on the musical Wicked, music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, book by Winnie Holzman, from the novel by Gregory Maguire 

Producers: Marc Platt, David Stone

Executive Producers: David Nicksay, Stephen Schwartz, Jared LeBoff

Rated PG for some scary action, thematic material, and brief suggestive material.

Warner Bros. managed to drag us back to theaters to catch a glimpse of our favorite comedic corpse.

Now was Michael Keaton’s revival of his iconic role suffice our needs 36 years later?!

I would say it sufficed us enough. Was it better? No, definitely not. I don’t think you could ever outdo the first film, it’s obviously the film the captivated our hearts.

It was fantastic to see most of the original cast reprise their roles and how they have gone on with their lives and how they have all evolved because Beetlejuice was a part of their lives.

Newcomer Jenna Ortega who plays the daughter of Lydia Deetz did her part in the film but it just wasn’t enough to make the film explode. In all honesty it almost felt like I was watching her Netflix show, Wednesday. Which yes I understand the characters carry the same vibe but there has to be some way they could have made Astrid a bit different from Wednesday. This is not knocking Jenna’s acting skills, it isn’t her fault both roles were similar and sort of seemed to morph together.

As highly anticipated this film was this year with the trailers keeping us on our toes and eager to see the film, the best parts were unfortunately included in the trailers and promotional hype.

BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE

In Theaters September 6^th

Rated PG-13 | 104 min

SYNOPSIS:

Beetlejuice is back! Oscar-nominated, singular creative visionary Tim Burton and Oscar nominee and star Michael Keaton reunite for Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, the long-awaited sequel to Burton’s award-winning Beetlejuice.

Keaton returns to his iconic role alongside Oscar nominee Winona Ryder (Stranger Things, Little Women) as Lydia Deetz and two-time Emmy winner Catherine O’Hara (Schitt$ Creek, The Nightmare Before Christmas) as Delia Deetz, with new cast members Justin Theroux (Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi, The Leftovers), Monica Bellucci (Spectre, The Matrix films), Arthur Conti (House of the Dragon) in his feature film debut, with Emmy nominee Jenna Ortega (Wednesday, Scream VI) as Lydia’s daughter, Astrid, and Oscar nominee Willem Dafoe (Poor Things, At Eternity’s Gate).

After an unexpected family tragedy, three generations of the Deetz family return home to Winter River. Still haunted by Beetlejuice, Lydia’s life is turned upside down when her rebellious teenage daughter, Astrid, discovers the mysterious model of the town in the attic and the portal to the Afterlife is accidentally opened. With trouble brewing in both realms, it’s only a matter of time until someone says Beetlejuice’s name three times and the mischievous demon returns to unleash his very own brand of mayhem.

What an exciting ride this one is!

Not going to lie, I was a bit hesitant about this one when I heard there was going to be a so-called remake of Twister. You’ve heard of all the remakes of all the recent films and it’s like come on do we really need to try to touch this one? That’s how I felt about the blockbuster film to blew us all away in 1996 and still continue to blow us away to this day.

The star in this one is Glen Powell, who has been riding a wave of hits that began with “Top Gun: Maverick.” In this flick he plays a hotshot, recording tornadoes for a YouTube channel. Online, he attracts a strong following of storm chasers who think nothing of their own safety and embrace in the adventure.

Enter Powell’s lead lady, Kate Carter played by Daisy Edgar-Jones, who works for the National Weather Service and has reason not to go after the adventure. An earlier tornado resulted in the deaths of people she was close to. She doesn’t want to go into the field that is until a friend, Javi played by Anthony Ramos, begs her to track tornadoes for a project that could end up saving hundreds of lives. She agrees, but starts to reconsider when she sees the “tornado wrangler” making a profit off others’ woes.

I will say this film made it’s own story if that makes sense. I was elated to see that it did not try to mock the original nor compete with it. “Twisters” is more involved than “Twister,” it does follow a similar route to that of the original where they did follow the formula of it. There are no cameos of original characters but there is a cameo by the son of Bill Paxton, the first film’s star.

The special effects of the film and visuals are superb to the point that they frighten you make you wonder if the theater you’re sitting in is safe. There are some scenes that are just silly and make you wonder why they’re happening but then again why not add something different.

All in all, it’s a film you must see in theaters due to the visuals and sound!

This summer, the epic studio disaster movie returns with an adrenaline-pumping, big-screen thrill ride that puts you in direct contact with one of nature’s most wondrous—and destructive—forces. 

From the producers of the Jurassic, Bourne and Indiana Jones seriescomes Twisters, 

a current-day chapter of the 1996 blockbuster, Twister. Directed by Lee Isaac Chung, the Oscar^® nominated writer-director of Minari, Twisters stars Daisy Edgar-Jones (Where the Crawdads Sing), Glen Powell (Top Gun: Maverick) and Anthony Ramos (Transformers: Rise of the Beasts)as equal forces, with opposing motivations, who come together to try to predict, and possibly tame, the immense power of tornadoes.

Edgar-Jones stars as Kate Carter, a former storm chaser haunted by a devastating encounter with a tornado during her college years who now studies storm patterns on screens safely in New York City. She is lured back to the open plains by her friend, Javi (Ramos) to test a groundbreaking new tracking system. There, she crosses paths with Tyler Owens (Powell), the charming and reckless social-media superstar who thrives on posting his storm-chasing adventures with his raucous crew, the more dangerous the better.

As storm season intensifies, terrifying phenomena never seen before are unleashed, and Kate, Tyler, Javi and their crews find themselves squarely in the paths of multiple storm systems converging over central Oklahoma in the fight of their lives.

Twisters features an exciting new cast, including Nope’s Brandon Perea, Golden Globe winner Maura Tierney (Beautiful Boy), Sasha Lane (American Honey), Harry Hadden-Paton (The Crown), David Corenswet (We Own This City), Daryl McCormack (Peaky Blinders), Tunde Adebimpe (Leave the World Behind), Katy O’Brian (Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania), Nik Dodani (Atypical), Kiernan Shipka (Chilling Adventures of Sabrina) and Paul Scheer (Black Monday).

From Amblin, Twisters is directed by Lee Isaac Chung and is produced by Oscar^® nominee Frank Marshall (Jurassic and Indiana Jones franchises) and by Patrick Crowley (Jurassic and Bourne franchises). The screenplay is by Mark L. Smith, writer of the Best Picture nominee The Revenant, from a story by Joseph Kosinski (Oblivion), based on characters created by Michael Crichton & Anne Marie Crichton. The executive producers are Academy Award^® winner Steven Spielberg, Thomas Hayslip and Ashley Jay Sandberg. Twisters will be distributed by Universal Pictures domestically and by Warner Bros. Pictures internationally. 

Genre: Disaster Epic

Cast: Daisy Edgar-Jones, Glen Powell, Anthony Ramos, Brandon Perea, Maura Tierney, Sasha Lane, Harry Hadden-Patton, David Corenswet, Daryl McCormack, Tunde Adebimpe, Katy O’Brian, Nik Dodani, Kiernan Shipka, Paul Scheer

Director: Lee Isaac Chung

Screenplay by: Mark L. Smith

Story by: Joseph Kosinski

Based on characters created by Michael Crichton & Anne Marie Crichton

Producers: Frank Marshall, Patrick Crowley

Executive Producers: Steven Spielberg, Thomas Hayslip, Ashley Jay Sandberg