Off Script Film Review

A Grimm fairy tale returns to the screen in 'Gretel & Hansel', an endearing independent horror film from director Oz Perkins that revisits the classic story of a couple of sibling's innocent walk in the woods in a bombastic style that's closer to a Kubrick film than most modern horror counterparts. Also, blue-collar workers find their footing in 'American Factory', an Academy-Award-Nominated Netflix Documentary about the closing and sudden reopening of a Dayton, Ohio factory and it's employees challenging integration into it's new Chinese-owned policies. Finally, there's fewer movie trailers at the Super Bowl, Adam Sandler's making more Netflix movies, and who's going to win the Oscars?

Guy Ritchie returns to his headily British directorial roots in 'The Gentlemen', a modern mobster tale of mystery, murder, and the lovely Mary Jane. Helmed by a star-studded cast of cretinous characters (including Matthew McConaughey, Henry Golding, and Hugh Grant) that only a Guy Ritchie picture could offer, the film's two-hour running time makes an unreliable narrator feel that much more unreliable, but at a pace that's upbeat enough to bring even the most scatterbrained audiences along for the ride. Also, Anthony Hopkins and Jonathan Price impress the Academy in 'The Two Popes', a new Netflix film from director Fernando Meirelles about the Catholic Church's largest transition of power in it's 2,000 year history. After his brief tenure as the head of the church, Pope Benedict XVI invites his most divisive rival, Cardinal Bergoglio, to The Vatican to dine, debate, and ultimately decide the future of the Catholic Church amidst a tidal wave of modernity that's simply too big to ignore. Finally, Paramount Pictures is making more Transformers movies, Universal is rebooting John Carpenter's 'The Thing', and why are people watching movies about China's Coronavirus epidemic?

Thalassophobia abounds in 'Underwater', a new January horror film starring Kristin Stewart and disgraced lardass T.J. Miller in an under-the-sea claustrophobic adventure that's sure to mildly amuse even the most skeptical of b-movie audiences. Next, the jig is up in 'American Animals', a 2018 based-on-a-true-story heist movie starring Evan Peters and Barry Keoghan as two Kentucky college students whose youthful desire for adventure leads them to stealing the most expensive book in the country. Also, the 2019 Academy Award nominations are here, Warner Bros. is determined to use a computer to choose which films to greenlight, and what's the deal with Billie Eilish?

Adam Sandler makes a triumphant return to drama in 'Uncut Gems', the new Safdie Brothers film about a high-profile New York jeweler in his high-wire lifestyle trading money and gems between friends and enemies to try to make one more big score. Also, Greta Gerwig returns to the director's chair in 'Little Women', a postmodern retelling of the classic Louisa May Alcott tale of Jo March and her three sister's growth over seven trying years in the early 1900's, featuring a star studded cast including Saoirse Ronan, Florence Pugh, Emma Watson, and Timothee Chalamet. Also, Bob Dylan is getting a music biopic, Knives Out is getting a sequel, the 77th Golden Globes went off with a bang, and what were Andy's favorite films of the last decade?

Disney concludes George Lucas' legacy in 'Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker', the final film in the Skywalker saga. J.J. Abrams returns to the writers room and director's chair to finally reveal the mystery behind Rey's origins, the answers to Kylo Ren's problems, and whether or not Emperor Palpatine is truly back in power. Also, director Sam Mendes and cinematographer Roger Deakins join forces again in '1917', a harrowing World War I film that's hyper focused on two young soldiers that have to cross enemy lines to deliver a message and save 1600 of their compatriots. Also, Andy and Zach reveal their top 10 films of 2019, Alamo Drafthouse is making a killing, and what's happening with Barack Obama?

The CIA commits warcrimes in Amazon's 'The Report', an star-studded film about the use of 'enhanced interrogation techniques' (read: torture) after 9/11 and the subsequent investigation by the Supreme Court's Daniel Jones, played by Adam Driver. Also, Adam Driver and Scarlett Johansson light up the screen in Noah Baumbach's 'Marriage Story', an incredible film about heartbreak seen through the lens of a challenging divorce between a New York-based Stage Director and his soon-to-be lead actress ex-wife. Also, The Academy's still struggling to make the Oscars more lively and the Golden Globe nominees have been announced. What else is new?

Martin Scorsese returns to the Italian Gangster Mob drama in his new Netflix Original Film, 'The Irishman' starring Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci, and Al Pacino. Based on the 2004 book 'I Heard You Paint Houses' The Irishman tells the story of Frank Sheeran, a Philadelphia truck driver that gets entangled with the Bufalino crime family, leading to his time working with the one and only Jimmy Hoffa. Also, Studio Ghibli announces a new way to see their award-winning film library, Marvel releases the teaser for the new Black Widow film, and what's going on with Planet of the Apes? Tune in to find out!

Rian Johnson revives the classic whodunnit in 'Knives Out', his latest film featuring a colorful menagerie of star-studded characters in a comedy-crime drama that's sure to impress, if you can leave his Episode VIII at the door. Also, the House of Mouse dominates the box office again in Disney's 'Frozen II', a blockbuster return to the magical land of Arendelle where Elsa, Anna, and Olaf must travel to a mystical land to find out the origins of Elsa's magical powers and save their home from destruction. Finally, Todd Phillips is working on another Joker film, Apple TV+ isn't doing so hot, and what's DC doing with these R-Rated comic book films?

James Mangold returns to cinemas with his new film 'Ford V Ferrari', a Christian-Bale-Matt-Damon vehicle about vehicles in this 'based on a true story' retelling of Ford Automotive's fight for global dominance against Ferrari Motors in the 1966 Le Mans race that's sure to tantalize motorheads and Academy Award voters everywhere. Also, Anna Kendrick and Bill Hader shine in the Disney+ original film 'Noelle', a charming little G-Rated Christmas film about Santa's daughter's struggle to save Christmas after the big man skips town to find himself in Phoenix, Arizona. Finally, Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson is coming to comic-book films in 2021's 'Black Adam', 'Joker' clears a cool BILLION dollars at the box office, and why's the United States Justice Department letting Disney run the world? Tune in to find out!

Arnold Schwarzenegger returns to the silver skeleton screen in 'Terminator: Dark Fate', the latest Terminator film from Director Tim Miller and Producer James Cameron. In this alternate-universe follow-up to Terminator 2, Sarah Connor stopped Judgement Day 20 years ago, but now it's up to her (and human cyborg Mackenzie Davis) to do it again. Also, return to the Overlook Hotel in Stephen King's 'Doctor Sleep', a modern follow-up to the Stanley Kubrick film 'The Shining'. As an older Danny Torrance, Ewan McGregor discovers a young girl who also shines, and before he knows it, has to protect her from the horrors of the quasi-immortal cult, the True Knot. Finally, Andy and Zach's 2019 Holiday Film Preview is here, HBO Max has a price and a launch date, and what's going on with Disney+? Tune in to find out!