March 28, 2025
The beginning of the movie year is a tricky one for the industry. There is usually an avalanche of releases in the winter, especially with studios making the final push towards the awards season. In the first few months of 2025, audiences were catching up on a lot of the Oscar nominees ahead of the ceremony in early March. It’s not usually a time for big blockbusters (that’s reserved for the summer) or awards contenders. Voters have a short attention span and will typically forget about films released too far ahead of the Oscar campaigning. You only have to look at last year when Challengers (released in April) received no Oscar recognition and Dune Part Two (released in March) received some nominations, but had no shot at winning Best Picture. A recent rare exception was 2022’s Best Picture Everything Everywhere All At Once, which went wide in March of that year.
Nevertheless, the beginning of the year is when you can usually find some hidden gems. It’s typically a popular season for horror movies or independent films that don’t have to compete with summer blockbusters for space in the theater. So, as I consider the first three months of 2025, it’s been decent. A few very good movies, but nothing that has completely knocked me over. We did have two high-profile directors, both of whom have Oscars on their mantle, release new films. Unfortunately, one of them did not work for me at all.
A Disappointing Return – Mickey 17
It’s been five years since Bong Joon Ho took over the movie world for several months when his masterpiece Parasite won four Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Director. I was fortunate to see this one again in IMAX a few weeks ago and it was a reminder of how the combination of a perfect script, brilliant cast, and master storyteller behind the camera can bring magic to the big screen. Naturally, Hollywood has been eagerly awaiting his follow-up, which was announced more than three years ago.
The release date for Mickey 17 was moved several times due to the 2023 industry strikes and reportedly due to concerns about the similarity between a main character and a certain politician quickly moving up the charts as the most despicable person in human history. It was never confirmed, but reports were that the leadership at Warner Bros. Studios didn’t want to piss off the fascist-in-chief before the 2024 election. Nevertheless, we finally got Mickey 17 this past month.
In a futuristic world, Robert Pattinson stars as Mickey, a man who is threatened by some loan sharks following a business deal going sour. He decides to leave Earth behind and join an exploration group to colonize a new planet. Mickey neglects to read the fine print and doesn’t fully understand the role of the job he signed up for – an expendable. He becomes the guinea pig of the militaristic organization, testing out every potential risk of the new planet. Every time he dies, a new version of Mickey is created from a 3-D printer. The opening portion of the movie has a dark comedic tone to it as we see Mickey get used to his new life, which kind of sucks, but he also falls in love with another member of the expedition, played by the terrific Naomi Ackie. One day, the crew thinks that Mickey has died again and creates a new version, not realizing that he actually survived an attack by a group of creatures, dubbed the “creepers.” When people realize there are now multiple Mickeys, all hell breaks loose as one of them needs to be eliminated.
Now, on the surface, this sounded like an interesting premise and I was game to give this one a go. However, there were several problems I had with what Bong created with this film. For one, the tone of the movie is all over the place. It’s trying to be a comedy, but wasn’t terribly funny. It has action-thriller elements that weren’t very captivating. And like most of Bong’s movies, it is a social commentary about the evils of capitalism, but that aspect was my least favorite part.
Two major co-stars of the film are Mark Ruffalo as the leader of the expedition, and Toni Collette as his wife. Ruffalo acts in mannerisms that are not explicitly, but definitely overtly, based on the asshole currently residing in the White House. There have been denials about this correlation in recent press interviews, but he is introduced as a congressman who recently lost his last two elections (my guess is Bong planned on their being a different outcome with the 2024 presidential election when he made the film) and some of his supporters were wearing red hats. I could literally feel my eyes rolling in my head when I saw that scene and every time Ruffalo (an actor I usually love) appeared on screen. It was a massive distraction. Collette, who is also typically great, was cartoonish as the evil matriarch of the organization with sights on exploiting the new planet.
Look, I can find the humor in satire, but only if it is done creatively. I just felt that the storyline here was lazy and predictable. I also didn’t expect the last third of the movie to turn into a creature-feature as the creepers fight back against the evil U.S. military looking to exploit their planet for precious raw materials. As far as social commentary goes, the messaging felt as subtle as a sledgehammer over the head. Maybe it was due to Ruffalo’s over-the-top performance, which felt forced and not genuine to me.
I usually don’t cover movies that I am not a fan of, but given the high-profile of this release, I wanted to get my thoughts out of my brain and onto my website. Now, there are a few positives with Mickey 17, starting with Pattinson who is outstanding as the goofy, nervous versions of Mickey, displaying tremendous physical comedy skills. And like most of Bong’s pictures, the production design is impeccable. Even the CGI looks good, and not like the typical slop we see in too many movies these days. Alas, that’s not enough for me to recommend Mickey 17, as it’s pretty forgettable. I’d recommend you watch (or rewatch) Parasite, a movie you will be thinking about for several days after seeing it. Mickey 17 is now playing in theaters and will be available to rent on demand in April.
Now We’re Talking – Black Bag
Steven Soderbergh is one of the more prolific directors working today, having helmed over thirty feature films, plus several television projects, since he burst on the scene with 1989’s Sex, Lies & Videotape. He is also one of my favorite filmmakers, as I covered a few years ago here and here. He is constantly working, always has multiple ongoing projects, and his method of filmmaking allows him to quickly turn ideas into finished movies. His newest film, Black Bag, is actually the second Soderbergh picture we were fortunate to see in 2025, following the January release of Presence, his clever drama told from the perspective of a ghost. Granted, Presence premiered at Sundance a year ago, but the man’s filmography speaks for itself. I wouldn’t be surprised if we soon learn that his next movie is almost finished.
Black Bag is peak Soderbergh, right up there with some of his best work, like Out of Sight and Logan Lucky. It’s a sleek and stylish spy thriller featuring Michael Fassbender and Cate Blanchett as married spies playing a cat-and-mouse game when he is assigned to investigate an intelligence leak. The list of suspects includes several of their friends and also his wife. Fassbender is outstanding, channeling the same cool, calculated presence he brought to David Fincher’s assassin thriller The Killer from two years ago. Blanchett is wonderful as always, keeping us in suspense about her true motivations. The supporting cast is also top-notch with Tom Burke, Marisa Abela, Naomie Harris, and Regé Jean Page playing the star couple’s friends, who are also involved in the spy game. Rounding out the cast is Pierce Brosnan as the leader of the British intelligence agency in which they all work. If there is one thing we know about Soderbergh’s best work is that he is meticulous in his casting choices. Just look at the Ocean’s films.
Much like the best kind of spy movies, Black Bag works because of a fantastic script from writer David Koepp, who has written some of the better screenplays of the last thirty years. The story will keep you guessing the identity of the guilty party, and when it’s all over, you will be left thinking back to what you saw, eager to watch the film again to see the clues you may have missed along the way. Best of all, Soderbergh delivers this compelling story in a tight 90 minutes that looks beautiful and keeps you engaged the whole time. There’s a reason studios keep greenlighting his projects, because they know they will likely be backing a fantastic movie. This one is currently holding the top spot as my favorite film of 2025. Black Bag is now in theaters and will be available to rent on demand on April 1st.
A Riveting Drama – Last Breath
One of my favorite movies of 2022 was Thirteen Lives, the Ron Howard film about the rescue of a group of boys stranded in a flooded cave in Thailand. A year before that film’s release, there was an excellent documentary (The Rescue) that told the same story. The reaction to Howard’s movie was somewhat muted given its close proximity to The Rescue, but it didn’t diminish the quality of Thirteen Lives, and it was a shame it was overlooked by most movie fans.
A similar situation has emerged with Last Breath, the true story of a deep-sea diver who is stranded at the bottom of the ocean while trying to repair a gas line. Alex Parkinson directs this feature film and previously co-directed a documentary about the same story, with the same title (2019’s Last Breath). Now, I never saw the original documentary and I had no idea what the final outcome of this story would be, but the premise left me intrigued.
The headliner star of Last Breath is Woody Harrelson as Duncan, the veteran deep-sea diver who is facing the end of his career, but leading one last mission. He is joined by veteran diver Dave (Simu Liu) and newcomer Chris (Finn Cole, in a fantastic performance). While Dave and Chris are exploring the damaged oil line, a storm impacts the ship they are tethered to, several hundred feet above them. Chris’s oxygen line is severed and he is stranded at the bottom of the ocean with very little time to survive. Duncan and Dave then set out to rescue Chris with the help of the crew on the ship above them.
Last Breath is a thrilling story of survival under extraordinary circumstances and while it’s not breaking new ground for these types of stories, I was still captivated the whole time. I think it helps with movies like this to know that it was a true story, which makes you really appreciate what these characters are going through. Parkinson does a nice job of filming the underwater sequences to demonstrate the danger that the divers are experiencing, while making it clear how they are maneuvering the structure below. This isn’t the easiest story to tell as you have to combine the suspense of the danger Chris feels with the emotional beats of the crew realizing that they might lose one of their own during the mission. Be sure to pay attention to the final title card where you will learn a factoid about this incident that is truly jaw-dropping. Last Breath is now available to rent on demand.
Music Documentary Corner – Ladies and Gentlemen…50 Years of SNL Music and Becoming Led Zeppelin
You know doubt have heard that this is the 50th anniversary of Saturday Night Live. Technically, the actual anniversary of the first episode is later this year, but the series is in the midst of its 50th season, hence all of the hoopla we’ve seen the last several months that culminated in a three-hour special in mid-February. I watched some of that special, but was underwhelmed. I chalked it up to being too old and not having a full appreciation for a lot of the skits they chose to air that night. I remember liking the 40th anniversary special a lot more. That’s ok, because we were fortunate to also get an outstanding documentary about the incredible history of musical acts who have appeared on Saturday Night Live, directed by a talented musician and filmmaker.
Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson would probably describe himself as a musician before adding that is also a filmmaker. He is the drummer for The Roots and has an extensive resume as a music producer, but four years ago made his directorial debut with Summer of Soul, the phenomenal documentary about the forgotten 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival. He demonstrated the ability to comb through hundreds of hours of footage to tell the story of the festival while highlighting incredible performances.
Questlove returns this year with Ladies and Gentlemen…50 Years of SNL Music,a look at some of the iconic music performances from SNL over its fifty year history in a documentary that is fascinating, especially if you are a music fan. There are exceptional clips of legendary performances and interviews with cast members and performers who talk about their experiences. Of course some of the iconic stories are included, like Sinead O’Connor’s performance where she ripped a photo of the Pope, Ashley Simpson’s lip-syncing fiasco, and several other notable ones. I particularly loved hearing about the unknown artists who exploded on the scene after their SNL debut, like when the cast members stopped in their tracks when they heard Adele rehearsing, asking “Who’s THAT?”. After her appearance, her debut album exploded on the charts and she was famous overnight. That’s one thing that SNL did exceptionally well – finding new artists before they broke out, and Questlove showcases that several times.
One other reason to watch this – the opening sequence when Questlove showcases dozens of music clips by mashing the songs together as he transitions from one to the other was unlike anything I’ve seen in a music documentary. It’s no surprise that he is a legendary DJ, but he’s also an incredible filmmaker. Ladies and Gentlemen…50 Years of SNL Music is now available to stream on Peacock.
While we are on the topic of music documentaries, there was an interesting one released earlier this year that I’ve had on my radar for several years. Becoming Led Zeppelin is a look at the iconic band, told through interviews with the three surviving band members and archival interviews with drummer John Bonham, who died in 1980.
This one is probably only for the diehard fans of the band as it is heavy on performance footage, which was outstanding in the IMAX theater where I saw it. There isn’t anything too revelatory about the band, which isn’t surprising because they had a hand in its making. So, you won’t get any big scandals in this film. A few years ago, I read a comprehensive book about the band and let me tell you, there could be a ten-hour television series about their adventures, some which were highly illegal. Also, the film only covers the band’s story through their first two albums, so you are left wanting more when the credits roll. But it was interesting hearing the stories of how they came together, wrote some of their earlier hits and meshed as a band. Would I take a sequel that covers the creation of more of their albums and their eventual dissolution after Bonham’s death? Absolutely. Becoming Led Zeppelin should be available to rent on demand in April.
A Compelling Look at a Tragedy – Last Take: Rust and the Story of Halyna
I’m not a fan of the true-crime documentary genre that seems to be taking over much of the bandwidth of streaming services lately, especially Netflix. I just find a lot of these stories quite depressing and repetitive. But I was intrigued when I heard about Last Take, a new documentary about one of the more baffling (and tragic) stories in Hollywood history.
You are more than likely familiar with the incident on the set of Rust, a Western being shot in New Mexico in 2021. Alec Baldwin was rehearsing with a prop gun when it accidentally went off, killing cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and injuring director Joel Souza. The reaction at the time, and for the last 3 ½ years has been “How the hell did that happen?” I just had to watch the new documentary from director Rachel Mason, a close friend of Hutchins, to learn the truth behind this tragedy.
As far as documentaries go, Last Take is a very good examination of not only the incident on the set of Rust, but a deeper exploration of the safety parameters (or lack thereof) on some film sets, and a look at the career of Hutchins. Mason does a great job of using contemporary interviews with those on set that day, as well as archival footage from the day of the shooting, police investigation, and trial of the film’s armorer, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, who was convicted of involuntary manslaughter.
I liked that this movie wasn’t just focused on the incident, but also served as a tribute to Hutchins, in a tasteful way. It was also strange to see the cast and crew gather over a year later to finish the film, this time with an expert armorer demonstrating the proper handling of firearms on movie sets. Rust was completed and premiered at a film festival in Poland late last year and a release date was just announced. It will be available in limited theaters and available to rent on demand on May 2nd. I’m not sure if I will watch it, given the tragic production, but this behind-the-scenes story was captivating to me. Last Take: Rust and the Story of Halyna is now streaming on Hulu.
Preposterous but Fun – Companion and Novocaine
One of Hollywood’s favorite buzzwords these days is “nepo baby,” the term for a second generation actor who has a famous parent that also worked in the industry. It’s frequently used as a pejorative term, implying that the newcomer only got the job through nepotism. The latest example is Patrick Schwarzenegger (you can guess who his father is), who is crushing it in the latest season of The White Lotus, dispelling the myth that he only got the job because of his last name. If you’re not watching The White Lotus, you should be, and if you are, then I’m sure you are as uncomfortable as I am watching these deranged rich people making some “interesting” life choices while on vacation in Thailand. Just like the show’s creator Mike White wants us to feel.
Another member of this group is Jack Quaid, the son of Dennis Quaid and Meg Ryan, who has been acting for several years now. He may be best known for the television series The Boys (which I have not watched), but has also had supporting roles in several films. This year is the chance for him to lead two movies which I liked a lot, even if their plots are quite ridiculous.
First up is Companion, in which Quaid plays Josh, who brings his new girlfriend Iris to a cabin for a weekend getaway with some friends. Iris is actually a companion robot, a plot detail that was revealed in the trailer, but would have been better served by letting it emerge when viewers saw the film. Nevertheless, Iris is played by Sophie Thatcher, who is quickly becoming one of the hottest actresses in Hollywood, following her excellent performance in the television series Yellowjackets and last year’s terrific thriller Heretic with Hugh Grant. The weekend getaway for Josh and Iris starts out perfectly normal, but things start to take a turn when Iris has an interaction with one of the other guests that I don’t want to spoil. From there, the plot goes from romantic comedy to horror-thriller that I really enjoyed. Are there plot points that seem ridiculous? Sure, but that’s what we love about fun movies like this. Companion is now available to rent on demand.
Next up for Quaid is Novocaine, in which he plays Nathan Caine, a mild-mannered assistant bank manager with a unique genetic disorder. It seems that he cannot feel any pain, which may sound great in theory, but when he explains the restrictions on his lifestyle (like not eating solid foods for fear he will bite his tongue off without realizing it), it’s rather sad. Nathan pines after Sherry, one of the clerks at the bank and they hit it off after a date one night. Things seem to be going great until a bank robbery results in Sherry being kidnapped and Nathan decides to go after the robbers to rescue his soulmate.
From there, Novocaine moves from romantic comedy into action-thriller, with plenty of comedy as we see Nathan repeatedly endure injuries that he cannot feel. In this respect, Quaid is terrific as the introverted banker whose sole excitement comes from online gaming to battling criminals while trying not to lose too much blood. Speaking of which, some of the scenes in the second half of the film get a little gruesome, but they are mostly played for laughs.
In addition to Quaid, Novocaine features a very good performance by Amber Midthunder (as Sherry), who is another actress to keep your eye on. She was terrific in Prey, the 2022 Predator prequel film and is showing a lot of potential with her performance. And since we started this section talking about second generation actors, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention who plays one of the bank robbers. That would be Ray Nicholson, son of a pretty famous actor. You only need to search for an image of Nicholson smiling in last year’s Smile 2 to figure it out. It will likely remind you of a character who spent some quality time working on his novel during a blizzard while staying at the Overlook Hotel many years ago. Novocaine is now playing in theaters and will be available to rent on demand in April.
That’s all for this week. I hope you enjoyed my first monthly movie report of the year. I’ll be back at the end of April with a look at some more new releases, including the new Ryan Coogler horror movie Sinners, one of my most anticipated films of 2025. Thanks for reading and if you’d like to be notified of future posts, you can subscribe below.