Living for the Cinema

This film had the misfortune of being dumped by its studio at the time of release AND coming out the week after Black Panther but make no mistake, this is one of THE most impressive science fiction horror films of recent years.  

It was directed by genre master Alex Garland (Ex Machina) and stars Natalie Portman, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Tessa Thompson, and Oscar Isaac. 

 It all revolves around the expedition of four scientists into a mysterious area of Florida swampland now occupied by alien life known as “The Shimmer” and what transpires there is not for the squeamish! 

Host: Geoff Gershon
Producer: Marlene Gershon

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RIP to Wolfgang Petersen, a truly gifted filmmaker who was adept at transporting audiences (myself included) into extraordinary circumstances on-screen through relatable characters.  He directed some of the most creative and engaging genre films of the '80's and '90's including Das Boot, The Neverending Story, In the Line of Fire, Enemy Mine, The Perfect Storm, and Outbreak.  His was a singular talent and he will be missed....

Forty-one years ago, director Wolfgang Peterson (The Perfect Storm, Troy) took the world by storm as this large-scale German production became both a box office hit and recipient of several Oscar nominations.  

We dive into life on the submarine with a crew of 42 trying to survive under increasingly tense (and cramped) circumstances as they traverse through the Mediterranean to try to get home.  Jurgen Prochnow stars as the ship’s captain.

Host: Geoff Gershon
Producer: Marlene Gershon

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What better way to ring in the New Year than to do a deep dive….underwater into the world of submarines?  

Let’s start this week with this exciting mid-‘90’s submarine thriller directed by the late, great Tony Scott.  Denzel Washington and Gene Hackman co-star as the new XO and Captain of the U.S.S. Alabama which has just set sail towards Russia as word gets out of a possible revolution there and the frightening possibility of a new military leader getting control of Russian nuclear weapons.  The submarine starts receiving messages about a possible launch of nuclear weapons but then…more messages start to come through and they’re not all clear.  What follows is an epic battle of wills between two leaders who disagree over what to do next...tensions get increasingly heightened on the boat with other crewmates as well, played by James Gandolfini, George Dzunda, Viggo Mortensen, and several others.  

Host: Geoff Gershon
Producer: Marlene Gershon

EXPLICIT LANGUAGE WARNING

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Remember when The Dark Knight came out in 2008 and how much of a phenomenon it was? 

Well, most do but most do NOT remember this shorter, knockoff version of a similar story released about 15 months later in 2009.  

It stars Jamie Foxx as a District Attorney playing literal cat-and-mouse with this story’s version of the Joker….that would be the homicidal Clyde played by Gerard Butler who after losing his wife and child is now determined to “bring the whole system down.”  

Things get increasingly crazy and violent as Clyde seeks his revenge…but just how entertaining is it?  Thanks to director F. Gary Gray and crew, and we’ll examine why. 

Host: Geoff Gershon
Producer: Marlene Gershon

https://livingforthecinema.com/

#livingforthecinema #moviereviews #lawabidingcitizen #gerardbutler #jamiefoxx #violadavis #FGaryGray #thedarknight #thewho

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What's the final word on this controversial new Matrix movie? Let's find out...

Lana Wachowski returns to direct the new entry in this ongoing saga which started in 1999 as we see the return of Neo played by Keanu Reeves and Trinity played by Carrie-Ann Moss.  
Also along for the ride are new and/or reconfigured versions of previously characters played by Jessica Henwick, Neil Patrick Harris, Yahya Abdul-Mateen, and Jonathan Groff.  What results is a very meta reintroduction to this universe – let’s see if this trip is worthwhile!

Host: Geoff Gershon
Producer: Marlene Gershon

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#livingforthecinema #moviereviews #thematrix #thematrixresurrections #keanu #keanureeves #lanawachowski #carrieannmoss #trinity #jessicahenwick #neilpatrickharris #yahyabdulmateen #jonathangroff #meta

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For the last week of 2021, we will be taking a break due to the holidays and some unexpected illness - we'll be ok and be back to releasing new episodes next week. ;)

Therefore we are releasing an older episode from last year - this is last year's Oscar winner for Best International Feature Film!  What better way to ring in the New Year than to treat yourself to......Another Round! ;)
 
And be on the lookout for reviews of other memorable foreign films (Das Boot, City of God, Run Lola Run) coming soon in 2022......

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Review of the recent Danish-language comedy drama starring Mads Mikkelsen and directed by Thomas Vinterberg which recently won the Oscar for Best International Feature Film!

Host: Geoff Gershon
Producer: Marlene Gershon     

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#anotherround #thomasvinterberg #madsmikkelson #oscarwinner #druk #theofficialmads #lechiffre #casinoroyale #hannibal #teammads #michaelkhohlhaas #danishfilm

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For the last week of 2021, we will be taking a break due to the holidays and some unexpected illness - we'll be ok and be back to releasing new episodes next week. ;)

Therefore we are releasing an older episode to celebrate  today's (December 28) birthday of The Greatest Actor of All Time......DENZEL WASHINGTON.  Denzel turns 67 today and what better way to celebrate than revisiting one of his most purely enjoyable performances and films, this modern classic directed by one of our greatest living directors, Spike Lee.
 And be on the lookout for more reviews of Denzel films (Glory, The Tragedy of Macbeth, Crimson Tide) coming soon in 2022..... 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DENZEL!!!

Spike Lee directs this New York-based bank heist thriller starring SIX Oscar winners and/or nominees - Denzel Washington, Jodie Foster, Clive Owen, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Willem Dafoe, and the late great Christopher Plummer – and the result is a highly rewatchable caper film that lives up to its pedigree.  How could it not, with Spike and Denzel leading the charge?  

Host: Geoff Gershon
Producer: Marlene Gershon

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#livingforthecinema #insideman #denzelwashington #spikelee #jodiefoster #cliveowen #willemdafoe #newyork #christopherplummer #chiwetelejiofor #moviereview #moviereviewpodcast #heistmovie #denzel

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LANGUAGE WARNING

It’s the end of the world as we know it….but do we feel fine? ☹

Two astronomers played by Jennifer Lawrence and Leonardo DiCaprio discover a comet headed towards Earth in six months and it has the potential to destroy all of us.  To try to save the planet, they spread the word to every important figure they can find from Rob Morgan playing the head of NASA’s planetary defense…to Cate Blanchett and Tyler Perry playing co-anchors on the country’s most popular morning show…to Meryl Streep playing the President of the United States. 

It’s a STACKED cast also including Jonah Hill, Mark Rylance, Timothy Chalomet, Ron Pearlman, and….Arianna Grande because why not?  Director Adam McKay takes us through this DARKLY comic look at how society reacts (or doesn’t react) to a looming global crisis. 

Host: Geoff Gershon
Producer: Marlene Gershon

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#livingforthecinema #moviereviews #dontlookup #merylstreep #jenniferlawrence #leonardodicaprio #cateblanchett #tylerperry #jonahhill #adammckay #endoftheworld

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It’s the Spidey Event of the Season!  

Peter Parker/Spiderman (Tom Holland) is back and this time around, he’s coping with the unexpected release of his identity to the public…..along with all of the fallout that comes with that to friends and family.  

He comes to his fellow Avenger, Dr. Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch), to cast a spell to fix things but what results is an unexpected opening into the “Multiverse.”  Soon he’s encountering villains from different universes and things get out of hand.  

Jon Watts directs and returning to the cast are also Zendaya, Marisa Tomei, Jon Favreau along with some familiar faces from Spiderman movies of the past.  It’s a trip through nostalgia, let’s see if it lives up to the hype.

Host: Geoff Gershon 
Producer: Marlene Gershon

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#livingforthecinema #moviereviews #spiderman #nowayhome #PeterParker #DrStrange #multiverse #Zendaya #marisatomeii #jonfavreau #jonwatts #tomholland #tobeymaguire #andrewgarfield #marisatomei #benedictcumberbatch #spidermannowayhome #Marvel 

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Could this be the ultimate Christmas movie?? 

Well, it depends on who you ask...

It’s the timeless story of New York police detective John McClane played by Bruce Willis on his first visit to Los Angeles – he’s there to see his wife Holly played by Bonnie Bedelia and she happens to be at an office Christmas party.  But this party ends up being crashed by a group of unexpected guests led by Hans Gruber, played by Alan Rickman, and what results is full of explosions, hostage stand-offs, crawling through ventilation ducts, and loads of holiday cheer!  

This John McTiernan-directed action thriller is a classic movie choice for this time of year….or any time of year for that matter.

Host: Geoff Gershon
Producer: Marlene Gershon

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#livingforthecinema #moviereviews #brucewillis #diehard #alanrickman #hansgruber #christmasinhollis #RunDMC #yippeekiyay #hohoho #christmasmovie

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