Redemption Day Review: An Action Packed Movie In Some Beautiful Places

Release date: January 8, 2021
Running time: 99 minutes
Starring: Gary Dourdan (“CSI: Crime Scene Investigation,” All She Wrote), Serinda Swan (“Ballers,” “Graceland”), Martin Donovan (Tenet, “Big Little Lies”), Ernie Hudson (Ghostbusters Franchise, “The Family Business” ), Samy Naceri (Taxi Franchise), and Andy Garcia (Oceans 11 & 12, The Godfather: Part III)
Written and Directed By: Hicham Hajji 

Having just returned home, decorated U.S. Marine Captain Brad Paxton's (Gary Dourdan) wife, Kate, is kidnapped by a terrorist group while working in Morocco. He is forced back into action for a daring and deadly operation to save the woman he loves.

Redemption Day has an explosive opening that sets the stage for this film that is part military operations and part intrigue.  In that sequence you see a lot of what makes this film an interesting one.  You get to see Gary Dourdan, who does a great job as Brad Paxton, you get to see some sweeping landscape shots, which happen throughout the film, and you get a dose of action.  First off, Gary Dourdan is really wonderful as Paxton, and he has a quiet calm about him that is fun to watch.  He also looks the part of a soldier, but his demeaner is a little too laid back I think.  But that doesn't change the fact that he is a very fun character to watch  and is full of surprises.  Serinda Swan is great as Kate Paxton.  She is a strong character, which is always great to see, and also has to navigate a range of emotional scenes.  And although the main draws of the film are Andy Garcia and Martin Donovan, they have minor roles.  They were fine and show why they are such successful and sought after actors, but they were not the stars of the film.  

The camera work in this movie is also quite good, and the movie has some really good camera tricks to help tell the story.  The best is it uses these sweeping drone shots to film some scenes when convoys are on the move.  This is coupled with some exhilarating music that really gets your heart pounding as you anticipate what is to come.  And the action is generally well done, though some of the special effects are hit or miss.  Explosions that look a little off or appear to be CG, these can cause a little bit of distraction during the extreme fights.  But the film also has much more intrigue than I expected.  There is some political wrangling as a plan is formulated to rescue Kate, and there is some country intrigue as Brad tries to do whatever he can to get her back.  And that is where some of this seems a little unrealistic; some of the lengths Brad goes just don't seem like they would work in a real situation.  But then again, this is a movie and not a documentary.  If it was 100% accurate it probably would be less enjoyable.  

But another thing I did enjoy about this film is that it doesn't pigeon hole its characters.  Some people have multiple sides they are playing, and some characters intentions might be quite different from your initial impressions of them.  And I also greatly enjoyed the film's multiple languages, making this feel like a much more accurate film based in Morocco.  You hear English, French, and Arabic throughout, with some characters using it interchangeably.  It makes for a much more vibrant and true to life experience.

Redemption Day is equal parts action and intrigue, with intense action, sweeping landscape shots, and heart pounding music to accompany some great performances by Dourdan and Swan.  

 

Rent it.

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Redemption Day is in theaters on January 8, 2021 and on PVOD on January 12, 2021. 

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Interview: Hicham Hajji, writer and director of Redemption Day, starring Gary Dourdan, Serinda Swan, Andy Garcia, and Martin Donovan

Hicham Hajji, the writer and director of Redemption Day, discusses the film, his inspiration for this movie, and what it was like working with this cast. We also discuss whether he himself relies on oil and his next projects!

So give it a watch and make sure to check out Redemption Day in theaters on January 8, 2021 and on demand on January 12, 2021. Starring: Gary Dourdan, Serinda Swan, Andy Garcia, and Martin Donovan Writer & Director: Hicham Hajji Synopsis: Having just returned home, decorated U.S. Marine Captain Brad Paxton's (Gary Dourdan) wife, Kate, is kidnapped by a terrorist group while working in Morocco. He is forced back into action for a daring and deadly operation to save the woman he loves.

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Sing Me A Song Review: An Emotional And Enlightening Documentary

Release date: January 1, 2021
Running time: 100 minutes
Director: Thomas Balmès
Stars: Peyangki, Ugyen

As the Internet finally arrives in tiny Bhutan, documentarian Thomas Balmès is there to witness its transformative impact on a young Buddhist monk whose initial trepidation gives way to profound engagement with the technology.

Sing Me A Song is an interesting documentary that feels much like a drama.  It doesn't have any narration and relies on video footage of the individuals involved.  You learn the story and situation directly from them and their interactions.  It is striking at times, making this film feel much more like a movie rather than a documentary because you are experiencing what these people are.  But it can also lead to some confusing scenes as I sometimes did not know who or what the situation was that I was watching.  

The first thing you will notice about Sing Me A Song is the  phenomenal cinematography.  The film has some absolutely beautiful scenes of Bhutan before technology, and some striking ones after it is introduced.  But director Thomas Balmès has a fantastic eye for giving this documentary a cinematic style.  You get some interesting tracking shots and some cuts during dramatic scenes that really make this feel like a movie.   But you also get some really long shots of dramatic moments, up close and very personal.  It is not the access I would have anticipated with a documentary but it definitely makes the challenges and interests of the young monk feel very personal.

And this film documents a very striking change in Bhutan.  You have a place that had very little technology transform into one that fully embraces modern conveniences.  And following this one monk is enlightening as you can see just how attached and comfortable he becomes with technology and general popular culture in a very short time.  Video games, cell phones, video chat, and simulated violence all become common place in a very short time.  And you have interesting contrasts of picturesque landscapes that people are ignoring due to their phones (which is not too unlike observations that have come about in our own popular culture).  But you also get some very awkward scenes that without more narration, can be a little tough to follow.  There were instances where participants in the documentary acted a little strangely and it was left to the viewer to guess at what the reasoning was.  But wow these scenes can be painful as this young monk learns to deal with modern life.  I would have appreciated a little bit more context, but I can't fault the filmmaker for making this choice.  It turned the film into something more compelling and more cinematic.  

Sing Me A Song shows the pervasive and emotional effect that technology can have on even the remotest of areas, and has a cinematic style that makes this documentary emotional and enlightening.

Watch it.

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Sing Me A Song is available digitally and on demand.

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Herself Review: A Slow Building Drama About Slowly Rebuilding Your Life

Release date: January 8, 2020
Running time: 98 minutes
Starring: Clare Dunne, Harriet Walter, Conleth Hill, Ian Lloyd Anderson, Ruby Rose O’Hara & Molly McCann
Directed by Phyllida Lloyd
Written by Clare Dunne & Malcolm Campbell

Single mother Sandra (Clare Dunne) escapes her abusive partner with her two young children, only to find herself trapped in temporary accommodation. After months of struggling, she draws inspiration from one of her daughter’s bedtime stories and hits upon the idea of self-building an affordable home. She finds an architect who provides her with plans and is offered land by Peggy (Harriet Walter), a woman she cleans for. Aido (Conleth Hill), a building contractor, appears willing to help, too. But as her past rears its head in the form of Gary (Ian Lloyd Anderson), her possessive ex, and as bureaucrats fight back against her independent spirit, will Sandra be able to rebuild her life from the ground up?

Herself is fueled by the powerful performance of Clare Dunne, who portrays a single mother who is dealing with economic and emotional issues following her violent separation with her abusive ex-husband.  The film starts with a very emotional scene that will get you invested in the entire story and her predicament.  And from there the drama continues as she tries to build a life for herself and her kids while still dealing with the pain and consequences of leaving him.  And Dunne does this perfectly, displaying a range of emotions as she tries to create this new life.  Much of the film focuses on her, so she is tasked with carrying the movie and does it perfectly.  From pain, regret, desperation, and joy, Dunne brings the character of Sandra to life.  

But Herself is not just about the powerful performances.  The film itself shows some of the issues with the affordable housing situation.  And although it takes place in the UK the inequities of the affordable housing system and a bureaucracy that can act as a hinderance are applicable everywhere.  From treating people in affordable housing differently, to using the system to attack someone, to the difficulty of reaching out for help, and the shame the risk that one small mishap could have you out of the system, issues that many are dealing with and many have never thought of are laid bare for all to see.  And Herself highlights the determination of one person against all these road blocks that could be used to block that dream. Granted, Herself does paint an emotional journey about a strong character, but she gets a lot of help along the way that is outside the reach of most people in this situation.  The assistance that Sandra receives makes for an emotional, fulfilling movie but it also doesn't seem particularly realistic.  That being said, it does make for good cinema.  

But the film also highlights helping others in a time when it seems like that can be forgotten.  There are some poignant lines in the film about doing something for your fellow human being that should be universal but it sadly not as common today.  And although the movie is a very good one, there are minor flaws here and there.  I felt like some of the cuts during the building of the film and initial moments left some of the details out and the ending seems to be rushed.  And as already mentioned, Sandra does receive some very generous help to make it through her journey, so it is a unique and fortuitous situation for her.  But don't let these minor criticisms keep you from seeing this film.

Herself tells a powerful tale of growth and independence fueled by Dunne's powerful performance and universal lessons about the affordable housing system.

Watch it.

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Herself is available on Amazon Prime Video on January 8, 2020.

Grizzly II: Revenge Review: A Loving Restoration And All Star Cast

Release date: January 8, 2021 (Digital Rerelease)
Running time: 83 minutes
Starring: George Clooney, Laura Dern, Charlie Sheen, Louis Fletcher, John Rhys-Davies, Deborah Foreman, Steve Inwood, Dick Anthony Williams and Deborah Raffin
Director: André Szöts
Writers: Joan McCall, David Sheldon 

All hell breaks loose when a 15-ft grizzly bear, reacting to the slaughter of her cub by poachers, seeks revenge and kills anyone that gets in her way. In the 3 days before the major concert, the gigantic grizzly has brutally attacked campers, a poacher and a park ranger. The terror doesn’t end there as the giant grizzly bear finds its way to the concert grounds to go on a killing spree.

Grizzly II has received a restoration and digital re-release for 2021.  The restoration is actually really well done.  The film looks old, but it looks sharp with clean images and bright colors.  I could tell that the film is from the 80s, but it looked as good as any other restoration I have seen.  The filmmakers used clever splicing of modern nature footage into restored older film to add some beautiful scenery to this film as well.  It also lengthens what is already a pretty short film.  But what will draw you to this film is the all star cast that happened to be in it.  The film is a who's who of well known actors including the first appearances of George Clooney, Laura Dern, and Charlie Sheen.  They have a short but memorable scene in this film and seeing them in a 1983 movie was a treat!  They looked so young!  The film also has a large role from John Rhys-Davies as a grizzly hunter / trapper with an interest in Native American culture.  

But the film itself feels like an old 80s horror movie.  The effects are hit or miss and the bear itself is barely shown during the film.  It is only hinted at until the very end, much like other horror movies at the  time.  In many respects, this movie feels like a terrestrial Jaws, with a larger than life predator mercilessly killing without consequence.  And although there is a decent amount of build up, the final scene is too scattered and resolves itself too quickly.  And often the movie feels like it is a vehicle for a related concert that the grizzly rampages through.  The concert and performers have a lot of screen time and rehearsals are prominently shown before the big event.  And the film also has a few hitches here and there, like dialog that is just played over a person who is not speaking and effects that have different times spliced together for a sequence.  

But all that being said, seeing the loving restoration and the early appearances of many major stars is a treat.  The film itself is forgettable, but seeing these stars in their early roles is a definite draw.  Grizzly II receives a loving restoration for this campy horror film with an all-star cast and 80s horror effects.

Rent it.

If you liked this review and want to see more from Watch or Pass, please consider 

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Grizzly II: Revenge is available digitally and on demand January 8, 2021.

For additional information about the film and to rent / buy it, check it out at the links below.

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Max Cloud Starring Scott Adkins Blu Ray Unboxing

Unboxing the Blu-Ray version of Max Cloud, starring Scott Adkins, thanks to our friends at Wellgo USA. Check out what you get from this interesting space film set in a 16-bit video game!

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Max Cloud: When teen gamer Sarah finds an easter egg and accidentally opens a portal into her favorite side-scroller, she becomes trapped in a notorious intergalactic prison, home to the galaxy s most dangerous villains. To escape, she must finish the game with a little help from her not-so-savvy friend on the outside...or remain a 16-bit character forever. Director: Martin Owen Writers: Sally Collett, Martin Owen Stars: Scott Adkins, John Hannah, Lashana Lynch

What to Watch This Weekend: News of the World, Promising Young Woman, Sylvie's Love, Love Me, Soul, Twentieth Century, Dora, Photograph

We have a special Holiday-themed What to Watch with suggestions for streaming movies so you can stay in, stay warm, and avoid the cold.  Wishing everyone a happy and healthy holiday season!

For A Simpler Time: News of the World (Theaters)
News of the World shows the power of information and connection in a unique western setting, delivering a wonderful performance by Zengel and two hours of signature Tom Hanks!  For more information, check out the review!

For A Powerful And Darkly Comedic Story: Promising Young Woman (Theaters)
Promising Young Woman tells a dark tale with an amazingly bright style, sharp unapologetic writing, and painful lessons that will stay with you well after the credits roll.  For more information, check out the review!

For A Throw Back Jazz Love Story: Sylvie's Love (Amazon)

Sylvie's Love feels like a blend of modern sensibilities and a old time charm, with fantastic performances, wonderful music, and a striking classic film style.  For more information, check out the review!

For An Intricate And Intimate Romance Series: Love Me (Topic)

Love Me is a smart, realistic, and funny series about love and relationships that will touch both your funny bone and your heart.  For more information, check out the review!

For One Some Amazing Animation And Music: Soul (Disney+)

Soul will reinvigorate your heart and soul, with its stunning animation, wonderfully diverse characters and focus on black culture, and humorous and heartfelt story.  For more information, check out the review!

For A Ridiculous, Over The Top Experience: The Twentieth Century (Digital)
The Twentieth Century is so wonderfully different and strange that you will laugh and cringe at the odd characters, technicolor style, and biting satire.  For more information, check out the review!

For The Kids: Dora And The Lost City Of Gold (Amazon)
The live action movie based on the very popular animated kids show was a surprisingly good film, with a funny cast, plenty of Dora easter eggs, and an exciting story that will entertain young and older viewers. 

For A Love Story That Spans Time: The Photograph (HBO)

The Photograph provides a fresh romantic drama, with realistic characters in a modern story layered with an amazing jazz and hip-hop soundtrack and believable dialog.  For more information, check out the review!