April 25, 2025
After a lackluster first quarter in the movie industry, we are finally starting to see some signs of life that 2025 could turn out to be a good year. As I covered in my preview post last month here, there are a number of intriguing films on the horizon for later this year. But for whatever reason (likely the disrupted productions following the dual industry strikes) the last few months have been a little weak.
On the commercial side, the industry (especially theater owners) breathed a huge sigh of relief when audiences showed up in droves this month for A Minecraft Movie, which followed in the footsteps of 2023’s Super Mario Bros. and Five Nights at Freddy’s which showed there is a strong interest in kids movies based on video games. As for me? Not so much. Nope, A Minecraft Movie is not for me and that’s just fine. You may have seen the trend of kids going bananas during a specific scene of this movie, throwing popcorn in the air and cheering at the screen. Now, I am the biggest proponent of theater etiquette (like the people who talk at the screen like they are in their living room, or scroll on their phone when they get bored), but I don’t mind the fun these kids are having. It’s kind of like The Rocky Horror Picture Show screenings and if it gets more people to the theaters, feel free to knock yourself out. Just don’t hurt anyone. And you damn well better not try this shit during Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning next month. We don’t go crazy when Tom Cruise saves the world (and movies). We just wait until the credits roll and politely stand up, applaud, and thank him for his service.
On the critical front, we finally (FINALLY!) have a masterpiece on our hands with the release of Ryan Coogler’s Sinners, one of my most anticipated movies of 2025. Not only has it received rave reviews from critics and audiences, it had a phenomenal first week at the box office. It instantly moved to the top of my list of favorite movies of 2025. More on that in a minute, but suffice it to say, Sinners is another positive for the industry, as it shows that there is still a market for original ideas from talented directors. I just implore studios to keep giving these filmmakers a shot. Let’s get to this month’s report.
Accountants Rule (But You Already Knew That) – The Accountant 2
I wasn’t sure if we needed a sequel to 2016’s The Accountant that starred Ben Affleck as an autistic forensic accountant who investigates fraud for criminal organizations. He also runs a small CPA shop to launder his money – hey, you gotta use your skills, right? But after seeing the sequel last week, let me tell you I’m sure glad we got one. Technically, the film opens in theaters today, but I saw it at a sneak preview that our local theater showed on April 15th. You know, for tax day. Get it? Cause he’s an accountant? Ok, moving on.
Affleck returns as Christian Wolff, the secretive man who helped U.S. Treasury Department agent Ray King (played by J.K. Simmons) catch some bad guys in the original film. As the sequel opens, King is killed and leaves a message before he dies to “Find the Accountant.” Eventually, King’s successor Marybeth is brought in to figure out who killed him, but first she must find Christian to enlist his help. He reluctantly agrees to assist Marybeth (played by Cynthia Addai-Robinson, also returning from the original) and recruits his estranged brother Braxton, portrayed by the always terrific John Bernthal. They soon learn that King’s murder is connected to a missing woman and a group of human traffickers.
If you liked the original film, it’s a good assumption that you will like this one too. It features a lot less time in conference rooms with spreadsheets (which some of us love) and more time with Braxton and Christian as they search for the missing woman and gun down the bad guys. The last third of the movie is a straight-up action shootout sequence. Now, one of the key plot points felt very far-fetched to me (it literally took me a little while to confirm in my brain that what I thought was happening was actually happening), but there is one major reason to see The Accountant 2. Affleck and Bernthal are dynamite together. Their chemistry, especially when Braxton is teasing his brother about coming out of his shell, and Christian refusing to play along, plays for many laughs. And if you ever wanted to see Ben Affleck line dancing in a country bar, you’ve come to the right place. The Accountant 2 is now playing in theaters.
Better Than I Expected – The Amateur
I’ve written several times about the number of movie previews that I see when I go to the theater. I try to avoid whatever I can and mostly ignore them (to prevent a film being spoiled), but it’s not always easy. I bring this up because I’ve been inundated with the trailer for The Amateur for the last few months and I was skeptical if this would be good or a disaster. I’m pleased to report that it’s actually pretty good, in spite of the lead actor who I just have a hard time believing in most of the roles that he plays.
The film has a pretty cool premise, along with a dynamite supporting cast that saves this from being a disaster. The Amateur is far from the worst movie I saw this year – that would be The Alto Knights, a comically bad film about gangsters that’s so boring that you forget it’s actually about gangsters. Oh, and Robert De Niro plays two rival mobsters. That’s right – he plays both roles. It’s terrible – if you see it show up on your streaming service later this year and think, “Oh, I like De Niro and I like mob movies,” skip this and put on Goodfellas or The Irishman instead. Trust me.
Ok, back to The Amateur. Rami Malek (Oscar-winner for Bohemian Rhapsody) stars as Charlie, an analyst working for the CIA whose wife is murdered while on a business trip in London. He discovers that his superiors are dragging their feet on the investigation to hide a number of other transgressions, so he decides to take matters into his own hands. He uses his technical skills to find the killers and decides to get some field training to exact his revenge. That proposal is met with skepticism, but his bosses humor him by sending him to see a skilled veteran (Laurence Fishburne, terrific as always), who provides a little training. Charlie learns what he can and disappears over to Europe to find the people responsible for his wife’s death, all while dodging the CIA agents trying to find him.
Now, this premise (on paper) is pretty good. A bookish nerdy CIA analyst has to learn how to chase down the bad guys, using his special set of skills, not the brute force strength and marksmanship he lacks. The issue I had with the movie is with Malek’s performance. He’s an actor that I just have a hard time buying into when I watch him, because it feels like he is always delivering the same stiff performance. I never see any range from him and when he tries to show emotion, it rings false. The scene where he breaks down after seeing the recording of his wife’s murder was laughable. That was the sequence I saw in the trailer that really made me wonder if this film would work.
Despite Malek’s shaky performance, this is a pretty good action-thriller that is worth checking out for a few different reasons. First up, the script outlines some creative ways that Charlie tracks down and disposes of the criminals who killed his wife. One of them (which was unfortunately spoiled in the trailer) was particularly maniacal. The second reason is the outstanding supporting cast including Fishburne, Rachel Brosnahan (as his wife, an underdeveloped character, but understood given the plot), Holt McCallany as Charlie’s superior at the CIA, Julianne Nicholson as the CIA director and John Bernthal (there he is again, classing up another film) as a CIA operative that helps Charlie. They are featured throughout a lot of the story, so it’s not just Malek’s movie. It won’t win any Oscars, but you could do a lot worse than The Amateur for a fun action-thriller with enough twists to keep you guessing. The Amateur is now playing in theaters and should be available to rent on demand in June.
Bring the Tissues – Audrey’s Children
I had Audrey’s Children on my list ever since it premiered at the Philadelphia Film Festival last fall. The festival organizers do a good job of spotlighting at least one movie each year centered around Philadelphia, and they held a Q&A afterward with the director and star of the film. I just couldn’t fit it into my schedule, but I was intrigued by the story and was glad I was able to see it in the theater this year.
Natalie Dormer is terrific as the star of this true story about Audrey Evans, a British oncologist who arrives at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia in the late 1960s with an ambitious goal. She wants to revolutionize the treatment of neuroblastoma, an aggressive form of cancer, especially in children. During her time there, she runs into the typical sexist resistance to a woman with a new idea, but continues to push forward with what she suspects will be a groundbreaking treatment. She finds a reluctant ally in Dan D’Angio, played by Jimmi Simpson in a nice, understated performance. Together, they lead a group that not only develops new treatments, but performs research that led to the creation of the “Stage” classification of cancers, and eventually, the founding of the Ronald McDonald House charity.
At times, Audrey’s Children is a little too sentimental, but the crowd-pleasing aspect of the film won me over several times. It’s primarily because Dormer is so strong in the role as Evans that it’s impossible to root against her, even when she is breaking hospital rules in an effort to not let red-tape slow down progress. There are a few sad scenes (not unexpected given the subject matter), so have the tissues handy, but this is a film I still recommend given the inspiring story and the fact that it is based on a true story. Stay for the touching credits that feature photos of the real-life characters, including one of the doctors who went on to become a very famous Surgeon General. Audrey’s Children will be available to rent on demand on April 29th.
A Delightful and Charming Film – The Ballad of Wallis Island
Oh, this movie made me smile a lot. Sometimes, you don’t need a complicated plot with action sequences, surprise twists, and special effects. You just need a damn good script, terrific actors, and a beautiful location. Throw in some quality original songs and you have a winning movie. Ok, maybe it’s not that easy, but the cast and crew of The Ballad of Wallis Island sure made it look easy.
Director James Griffith is behind the camera for this witty British comedy with Tom Basden and Tim Key (who co-wrote the script) at the center of the story. As the film opens, we meet singer-songwriter Herb (Basden) arriving at a small island for a private gig arranged by Charles (Key), an eccentric wealthy man who is apparently a huge fan of Herb’s music. Well, actually, he is an obsessive fan of Herb’s work with his previous partner Nell, when they were a very successful folk-singing duo. Years ago, Herb decided to make a solo album and his partnership (and romantic relationship) with Nell dissolved. They haven’t spoken in years and Herb assumed that he’s been invited to play a concert for fans of his new music. After he arrives, he quickly learns that the audience will be just one (Charles) and that Nell is also due to arrive to reunite for the gig. Oh, and she shows up with her new husband.
If you are a fan of clever British humor, you will likely enjoy this one. There are subtle jokes, moments of cringe uncomfortableness, primarily from Key’s performance as Charles, and heartwarming moments, especially after we learn the true reason he is so devoted to Herb and Nell’s music. I love movies like this that have an intriguing premise that I decide to take a chance on and end up on my list of most favorite movies of the year. The chemistry among all of the actors is terrific and it’s always nice to see Carey Mulligan (who plays Nell), likely the only actor you will recognize in The Ballad of Wallis Island, but don’t let that discourage you from seeing this one, as it is fantastic, despite any big-name stars on the poster. The Ballad of Wallis Island should be available to rent on demand in May.
A Fun Action Thriller – Drop
The way things are going this year, I might need to hold a place in each blog post for the “preposterous but fun” movie of the month. After Novocaine and Companion last month, let me suggest another fun movie with a ridiculous premise. Meghann Fahy, who you may recognize from season two of The White Lotus, stars as Violet, a single mom who endures the worst first date ever in Drop. Speaking of The White Lotus, the third season just wrapped up and I thought it was pretty good. Mike White (the creator, writer and director) always does a fantastic job with casting these unique characters each season and bringing plot lines that will keep you guessing (and make you uncomfortable) throughout the series. I have to say that I liked the characters and actors a lot more than how the plot unfolded with this season, if that makes sense. I think White was getting a little too caught up in trying to solve the mystery of a dead body that the plot resolution in the finale felt rushed and contrived. I feel like he might be suffering from what M. Night Shyamalan dealt with after The Sixth Sense, where every subsequent movie needed a twist ending. Now every season of The White Lotus is geared towards, “Who is going to die in the finale?” Hopefully White comes up with a creative new idea for the next season.
Anyway, back to Drop. In the opening scene of the film, we see how Violet suffered a terrible tragedy in her past that left her a single mom raising a young boy. She musters the courage to go on a date with a man she has met online. They have gotten to know each other through text messages, but this is their first time meeting in person, a dinner at the top of a beautiful restaurant that overlooks Chicago. Her date is Henry, a dashing photographer played by Brandon Skelnar who also recently appeared in It Ends With Us, the film that spawned the crazy tabloid scandal between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni.
The date seems to be off to a good start, despite a few strange people in the restaurant and a terribly annoying waiter, until Violet starts receiving “drop” messages to her phone. At first, they dismiss it as a teenage prank, but she learns that someone has broken into her home and is threatening her sister and son if Violet doesn’t follow their orders. What do they want? Oh, it’s simple – she has to kill her date.
Now, this is a clever premise given today’s technology and the dating environment in which most single people participate. And for the most part, Drop is a fun little thriller with a good performance from Fahy at the center of it. That being said, the plot is paper-thin, some of the character choices are downright confounding, and Violet’s past trauma is overplayed a little too much for my taste. But Drop is a good effort from director Christopher Landon, who has a long list of horror films he has worked on over the years. His 2020 body-switch horror movie Freaky with Vince Vaughn and Kathryn Newton was terrific. If you like a fun action thriller that doesn’t take itself too seriously, Drop might be worth checking out. Drop is now playing in theaters and will be available to rent on demand on April 29th.
This is Why We Go to the Movies – Sinners
I’m having a hard time deciding where to start in sharing my thoughts about Sinners, the new film from Ryan Coogler, the director of Creed and Black Panther. It could be the high concentration of cold medicine coursing through my bloodstream right now that is giving me terrible brain fog. It’s been a rough few weeks – I know, cry me a river. More likely it’s that Coogler has created a masterpiece that demonstrates everything that I love about movies in one glorious two-hour experience. You can tell that a movie works for me when I keep thinking about it several days after I’ve seen it, I devour every podcast and article about it that I come across, and I eagerly accept my son’s offer to see it again. That’s on tap for Monday night.
Michael B. Jordan, who has starred in all of Coogler’s previous films, stars as twin brothers Smoke and Stack, who return to their home in Mississippi during the height of the Great Depression. They came from Chicago where they earned a lot of money, although it’s not quite clear how, eager to open their own juke joint. As the first half of the film unfolds, we see them go around town, connect with friends, former lovers, and others they need help from to realize their dream. When the big night arrives, a huge crowd is there to celebrate, but some evil forces also show up to disrupt the proceedings.
It’s kind of hard to describe what kind of movie Sinners is, as it features so many elements of stories we often see in films. It’s a family drama, an underdog story, and a sexy romance. Hell, at certain times you are convinced it’s a musical. Oh yeah – the back half of the film turns into an all-out horror movie that gets pretty bloody at times. Most importantly, Coogler has brilliantly used all of these genres to tell the story of two brothers, conflicts among races in the 1930s, the history of the blues (and really all music in one sequence), and asking what you would do to achieve the American dream. Simply put, it’s an incredibly ambitious undertaking and Coogler earns an A+ across all aspects of the film.
Let’s start with the cast. Jordan is sensational in the dual role and has now cemented himself as a top-tier movie star AND great actor. Miles Caton plays a blues guitarist prodigy who is the cousin of the twin brothers in an astonishing performance for someone making his movie debut. Hailee Steinfeld is terrific as Stack’s former girlfriend who arrives in an effort to reconcile with him, leading to a “complication” with their relationship. Other supporting cast standouts include Jack O’Connell and Delroy Lindo, who just might sneak out a long overdue Oscar nomination for his performance.
Moving on to the other technical aspects of the movie, when my son asked me if I liked it, my first response was that Sinners was “elite filmmaking, across the board.” The script is excellent, with the first half a slow burn that sets up the characters in a subtle way, without overexplaining all of their backgrounds, followed by a second half that ratchets up the tension before the thrilling conclusion. Speaking of which, do not leave before the credits end – there is a mid-credit scene that is very important, and a small scene at the very end that isn’t critical to the plot, but nice nonetheless.
When I think about the team Coogler assembled to make this movie, I immediately think of what Christopher Nolan did with Oppenheimer. The cinematography is fantastic – the film looks gorgeous on the big screen. The score and original songs fit the mood of the movie perfectly, including one sequence that will leave your jaw open at the screen wondering how Coogler filmed it. The costumes, production design, makeup, and special effects are also top-notch. I’m literally running out of superlatives. I could totally see Sinners getting ten Oscar nominations next year. A horror movie getting that kind of recognition? After what The Substance achieved this year, I think all bets are off.
Sinners showcases a filmmaker clearly working at the top of his game and it legitimately has Hollywood excited that an original story from a talented team can still be successful in an era when movies come and go with very little resonance in our culture. As I left the theater buzzing from my joy at this brilliant piece of art (and let’s face it, probably from the cold medicine too), I was once again reminded that this is why I love going to the movies and sharing my thoughts about them in this blog. And I can’t wait to see it again – lucky I’ll be doing so in a few days. Sinners is now playing in theaters.
That’s all for this week. I hope you found some movies to add to your watch list. I’ll be back next month with my thoughts on more new releases, including my most anticipated movie of 2025 – Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, coming to theaters on May 23rd. The runtime was just revealed as two hours and 51 minutes. My reaction? Not long enough. I’m only partially kidding. Thanks for reading and if you’d like to be notified of future posts, you can subscribe below.