Off Script Film Review

Judd Apatow returns to comedy in 'The King of Staten Island', a alternative tale of SNL comedian Pete Davidson's life and how things may have gone for him at his Staten Island home had he not fallen into comedy after the death of his firefighting father. Then, Spike Lee incites a movement in 'Da 5 Bloods', a new Netflix original film that chronicles the journey of four fellow soldiers as they quest back into their former battlefields of Vietnam to find the remains of their beloved squad leader (and the millions of dollars in gold bars that they buried with him). Also, HBO moves some movies around on it's new platform, AMC Theaters announce their plan to reopen theaters, and with all the films that got pushed back this summer, what's happening with the Oscars?

Injustice is served in Ava Duvernay's '13th', a scathing 2016 documentary that examines the U.S. prison system's contribution to the country's history of racial inequality, now available on Netflix and YouTube. Next, the plot thickens in 'Oldboy', a 2003 South Korean neo-noir action thriller that's become a pulp cinema cult-classic for it's brilliant cinematography, biting story, and unabashed purview of visceral violence. Also, AMC is going bankrupt (again), Cinemark doesn't want it's patrons to wear facemasks, and the first trailer for Bill and Ted 3 has arrived.

Natalie Portman returns to the stars in last years 'Lucy In the Sky', a based-on-a-true-story drama about an all-too-perfect astronaut trying to recover from her earth-shattering psychological shift following her breathtaking gaze at the earth on her very first spacewalk. Then, the Coen Brothers become the Coen Brothers in 'Raising Arizona', the 1987 comedy film about two young lovers and their quest to raise a child of their own by kidnapping one of somebody else's. Also, Hulu is testing out Watch Parties on their premium platform, Sonic the Hedgehog is getting a sequel, and why does Ryan Gosling want to play The Wolfman?

Laughs roll in Netflix's 'The Lovebirds', a refreshing rom-com about two star-crossed lovers (played by Kumail Nanjiani and Issa Rae) who are forced to put aside their rocky relationship to solve a goofy murder and clear their names. Also, Taron Egerton delights in 2019's 'Rocketman', the music biopic about Elton John's challenging childhood, ultimate undoing, and the man he became along the way. Finally, Christopher Nolan's 'Tenet' gets a new trailer in unexpected places, the Safdie Brothers sign deal with HBO, and what's happening with the Snyder Cut?

Looks can kill in 'Bombshells and Dollies', a beauty-centric documentary feature centered around the 2015 Viva Las Vegas rockabilly festival and the twelve stunning finalists in it's global Pinup Girl competition. Also, tensions rise in 'Good Time', the 2017 Safdie Brothers film that sees Robert Pattinson race against the clock in a desperate attempt to save his brother from a stint on Rykers Island. Finally, Zach does a mini-review of the new Warner Bros. animated film 'Scoob', Disney's 'The New Mutants' gets a new release date (again), and when's Christopher Nolan's new film coming out?

Love burns like wildfire in Hulu's new 2019 film 'Portrait of a Lady On Fire', a meticulously patient French film centered around a forbidden love between an impassioned painter and her soon-to-be-wed subject on the windswept coast of 18th-century Brittany. Also, Michelle Obama exits the limelight in the new Netflix documentary 'Becoming', the inspiring story of the former First Lady's journey from her humble beginnings in Chicago to her nationwide book tour shortly after her family's eight years in office. Finally, Texas theater chain Alamo Drafthouse is starting a video-on-demand service, Amazon is rumored to be purchasing AMC Theaters, and when is everybody gonna see 'Hamilton'?

White men meet depression in Amazon Prime's SXSW 2020 film 'TFW NO GF', a grassroots documentary about four young men in their early 20's that discovered a twisted comfort in a horrifying community on the controversial imageboard website 4chan. Also, the dead use mass transit in the 2016 South Korean film 'Train To Busan', a low-budget-high-concept zombie thriller centered around a distracted father's journey with his young daughter across a zombie-ridden hellscape in an overcrowded train. Finally, Netflix is already greenlighting an 'Extraction' sequel, Taika Waititi is directing a Star Wars film, and Andy and Zach reflect on 100 episodes of Off Script Film Review.

Action abounds in Netflix's 'Extraction,' a new film starring Chris Hemsworth as Tyler Rake, a black-market mercenary that's got 48 hours to steal back the son of a drug dealer from a rival gang of drug dealers and escape Bangladesh before it all goes wrong. Also, Hugh Jackman and Allison Janey put on a masterclass in nuanced performances in HBO's new film 'Bad Education,' the based-on-a-true-story retelling of a beloved Rhode Island school superintendent and how a student reporter accidentally uncovered the biggest embezzlement scandal in American school history. Finally, Netflix sees a huge boost in subscribers in the wake of the Coronavirus pandemic, WarnerMedia announces the release date for HBO Max, and what's AMC's problem with Trolls: World Tour?

Tempers teem in the impoverished city of Montfermeil in 'Les Misérables', a new film with a confusing name from first-time French director Ladj Ly. Available on Amazon Prime, Les Misérables tells the story of Corporal Ruiz, a newly-transferred police officer who's first day in Paris simmers with tension until overboiling in an explosive third act. Also, Ryan Gosling and Russel Crowe attempt to delight in Shane Black's 2016 comedy-caper 'The Nice Guys', a funny, but ultimately uninspired tale of two mismatched private-eyes that are set to solve a murder in the heart of 1977's Los Angeles. Finally, CBS resurrects Sunday Movie Night, Amazon begins Watch Parties on Twitch, and Cinemark lays off nearly 18 thousand employees in the wake of COVID-19.

From the director of last year's buddy-cop-comedy 'Stuber,' comes a new vision in buddy-cop-comedy in the new Netflix film, 'Coffee & Kareem,' a surprisingly vulgar coming-of-age story about a milquetoast Detroit cop and his feeble attempts to connect with his new girlfriend's 12-year-old son while fleeing from an underground drug kingpin that's hellbent on revenge. Also, IndieGoGo presents 'Tombstone Rashomon,' a time-traveling mockumentary about the shootout at the O.K. Corral told by the people who lived it. Finally, HBO's giving away content, Amazon's hosting a digital SXSW 2020 film festival, and what's this coronavirus content drought all about?