Mr-Topshotta Reviews

Atlas (2024)

"ATLAS" REVIEW

[4/10 · 26 May 2024]

Directed by Brad Peyton. A runtime of one hour and fifty-eight minutes. Streaming on Netflix with a PG-13 rating.

"Val Shepherd," played by Lana Parrilla, created the ultimate A. I. in "Harlan," played by Simu Liu. She also created "Casca," played by Abraham Popoola. Her young daughter, "Atlas," played by Briella Guiza, was there throughout the whole process.

After an unexpected event, "Harlan" changed from a promising A. I. that could have changed the world for the better to become the first A. I. terrorist. Getting the help of his fellow A. I. "Casca" and any other A. I. he can control.

"Harlan" had immense capabilities and waged war against humans. Over the next twenty-eight years, he killed millions of humans. Now an adult, "Atlas," played by Jennifer Lopez, is a top analyst. She feels guilty about "Harlan" and has major trust issues with anything that is artificial intelligence.

"General Jake Boothe," played by Mark Strong, knows "Atlas" is unstable because of everything that happened to her. But he also knows she's the only person who can stop "Harlan." "Colonel Elias Banks," played by Sterling K. Brown, has reservations about "Atlas" and doesn't take her concerns seriously. Nonetheless, "Atlas," "Colonel Elias," and his elite squadron will try to stop "Harlan" before he completes his quest for the destruction of the human race.

"Atlas" was what I expected, honestly. The trailer looked busy, and It also didn't look great. I wasn't off. It had endless cheesy one-liners. Even scenes that should have been captivating just lacked believability. Then it had a ton of scenes that just made you say? That's what they chose to do in that scene. It was so ridiculous at times.

Then you have J. Lo's acting in these James Cameron-inspired-looking robots. Let's just say it didn't look like Stephen Lang in the "Avatar" films. Oh, did I mention the ridiculousness and I'm not talking about Rob Dyrdek of the highs and lows in the ending. Of course, it can't be a J. Lo film without giving the audience a butt shot. Not complaining, but predictable.

I think Simu is a talented actor, and when it comes to his martial arts he can get busy with the best of them. Which they showed a little of, but this role was bad for him. He also looked ridiculous. Are you seeing the common theme? The acting overall was bad. Which is hard to say because it has amazing actors like Sterling K. Brown in it. They didn't utilize Sterling enough, in my opinion. That might have helped some.

A major publication said this film is another big-budget Netflix film that's great for doing laundry and half-watching. I won't lie, I was doing other things while trying to watch this. It just couldn't hold my attention. It was a major action scene toward the middle that got me intrigued, but shortly after it went back to the silliness.

This is a big-budget film with expensive actors in it, but instead, I felt like a B-class cheesy sci-fi film. I get it. Netflix pumps a lot of content out. But when they take these big swings, maybe they should focus more on the smaller stuff or the script.

"Starship Troopers" has a way lower budget; it's cheesy, but I love that film even to this day. You could even use "The Fifth Element" as an example. It has big-name actors and the budget wasn't massive, but it was a great sci-fi film. They needed to tape into something else. Because there was no part of this film I truly enjoyed, accepted that five-minute action scene earlier on.

Netflix Please give me a portion of that money, and I guarantee I will write you a script in almost any genre that will be ten times more entertaining. I don't mean to crap on this film; I respect everyone's craft. This just wasn't it, and a lot of mistakes were made in making it. Respectfully, in my opinion. I give this film two mor fires 🔥🔥.

#CosmoandtheMovieWithin #CosmoMovieBlog #CosmoLanier #Atlas.

Night Raiders (2021)

"NIGHT RAIDERS" REVIEW

[4/10 · 12 April 2024]

Directed and written by Danis Goulet. A runtime of one hour and forty-one minutes. Streaming on Hulu and Netflix.

"Niska," played by Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers, lives out in the wilderness with her daughter, "Waseese," played by Brooklyn Letexier-Hart. They are trying to keep a low profile.

An institution runs the world now. Drones monitor the skies, especially at night. Their soldiers keep their proverbial feet on society's necks. Adults can move freely for the most part, but anyone under the age of eighteen must live at the institution's headquarters. Once there, you will never see your family again. Your family is the institution.

"Niska" was doing a great job of keeping her daughter "Waseese" out of sight. But after getting injured, it was hard to move "Waseese." After visiting her friend "Roberta," played by Amanda Plummer, it was clear "Niska" had an impossible task ahead of her.

"Roberta" is also a member of the underground resistance that fights the institution. Feeling trapped, "Niska" decides to turn her daughter in and live to fight another day.

Now this band of vigilantes will try to rescue "Niska's" daughter and all the youth trapped there. Before the brainwashing settles in, and it's too late. With all this going on, they could use any help they can get. Which might come from the same person they are trying to rescue. In this unique sci-fi thriller.

"Night Raiders" was not what I expected. From the trailer and reading about it, I thought I was getting a different type of film. By the time it ended, I was still wrapping my head around what was going on.

At that point, I first gave some thought to wanting to see more to try and piece together what I was watching. I also didn't realize the heavy Native American influence in the film until the end, either.

Danis Goulet had an idea, but I couldn't figure out what it was. This was a confusing mess. I didn't know what direction it was trying to take, and I didn't piece together the importance of the children or "Waseese." A weird film I didn't enjoy watching. I give it two mor fires 🔥🔥.

#CosmoandtheMovieWithin #CosmoMovieBlog #CosmoLanier #NightRaiders.

Carol (2015)

"CAROL" REVIEW

[8/10 · 11 April 2024]

Directed by Todd Haynes. A runtime of one hour and fifty-eight minutes. Streaming on Paramount+ with an R rating.

"Therese Belivet," played by Rooney Mara, has dreams of being a photographer. She has the talent, but right now "Therese" works at a department store. That's not the only thing she's pushing through. Her relationship with "Richard," played by Jake Lacy, seems more like a task than something she wants to do.

While working, she encounters a shopper named "Carol," played by Cate Blanchett. "Carol" is looking for a Christmas gift for her daughter, "Rindy," played by Kennedy Heim.

"Therese" and "Carol" are at two separate points in life. Neither has a support system. "Carol" only has her best friend named "Abby," played by Sarah Paulson. The age difference between them feels like a lot, amongst other things.

Another glaring issue is that "Carol" has a husband named "Harge," played by Kyle Chandler. They are going through a divorce, but "Harge" still can't seem to let go.

Even with all this adversity, the attraction between these two is undeniable. Watch as they try to have a hidden intimate relationship during personal turbulent times and during a not-so-friendly time toward the gay community in the 1950s.

"Carol" was a great romantic drama. It brought romance while also bringing all the drama, and boy was there drama. They took the casting seriously. Rooney Mara and Cate Blanchett fit their characters perfectly. They gave solid performances.

The writers of this film did a great job. The names of the characters fit the time they were in seamlessly. I thought "Harge" was delusional. Not only does he know his wife is a lesbian, but he refuses to acknowledge that. Get a clue.

The same could be said about "Therese" boyfriend, Richard. It's clear she's not into you. Why must you keep pushing a relationship that has no love in it?

Not only was the main storyline intriguing, but the supporting cast members added a lot to the storyline as well. They made me invested in all the little things that were going on. It was a great overall film that I enjoyed. I give it four mor fires 🔥🔥🔥🔥.

#CosmoandtheMovieWithin #CosmoMovieBlog #CosmoLanier #Carol.

Imaginary (2024)

"IMAGINARY" REVIEW

[3/10 · 11 April 2024]

Directed and co-written by Jeff Wadlow. A runtime of one hour and forty-four minutes. With a PG-13 rating.

"Jessica," played by DeWanda Wise, is an award-winning children's author and part of a blended family. Her husband, "Max," played by Tom Payne, is a talented musician and has two kids from a previous marriage. The oldest is "Taylor," played by Taegen Burns, and the youngest is "Alice," played by Pyper Braun.

After some turmoil, this family decides to move into the house "Jessica" was raised in. Hopefully, they can all settle in and become a true family. But nothing seems to ever go smoothly.

"Taylor" seems to hate "Jessica," and "Alice" seems to be occupied with her new imaginary friend. An imaginary friend that's similar to the one "Jessica" had when she was a kid.

"Max" has to go out of town for a gig. "Jessica," thinks this is the perfect time for the girls to bond. But soon they'll find out that "Alice," imaginary friend, is real. He is also connected to "Jessica's" past. A fun bonding time for the girls turns into one hell of a ride with an obsessive but equally psychotic invisible entity.

"Imaginary" was stupid. You could tell their multiple writers because the beginning was decent, but then it got off the rails with a bunch of nonsense. I love DeWanda Wise. She was the best part of this film. I wish she could've chosen a different project to be part of.

"Max" was a pointless character. He contributed nothing to the story. Also, who leaves when there's this much turmoil going on? Your oldest hates "Jessica." You might want to stick around and lay more foundation. How long have you been with "Jessica"? It doesn't seem like it's been long.

The imaginary friend part just kept getting worse the further the film went on. It felt like it took some sauce from the "Insidious" films and other horror films, but they didn't know how to make it into a complete meal.

Then you add to the fact that the imaginary friend is delusional and obsessed. This film pulled from "Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey." Just adding stupid crap together and hoping it sticks.

DeWanda Wise is fine and all, but this imaginary so-called friend has to let it go. "Jessica" is a grown woman now. This plot to get your old thing back isn't going to happen. What kind of film is this? I can go on and on. A terrible film that puts you through a slow build to finally end at awful. I give this film two mor fires 🔥🔥.

#CosmoandtheMovieWithin #CosmoMovieBlog #CosmoLanier #Imaginary.

The First Omen (2024)

"THE FIRST OMEN" REVIEW

[6/10 · 10 April 2024]

Directed by Arkasha Stevenson. A runtime of two hours. With an R rating.

"Margaret," played by Nell Tiger Free, is a young American headed to Rome to become a full-fledged nun. She was guided by "Cardinal Lawrence," played by Bill Nighy.

Once in Rome, everything wasn't as "Margaret" expected. Her roommate "Luz," played by Maria Caballero, is wild and getting the last bit of sin out of her. Then you have this little girl, "Carlita," played by Nicole Sorace, who is unlike the rest of the little girls at the church.

She's also being treated poorly by "Sister Silva," played by Sonia Braga, in "Margaret's" eyes. A lot of weird things are also happening surrounding "Carlita." This is a huge problem because "Margaret" as a child had a hard time recognizing what was real and what was made up in her head.

Things only get worse when she's approached by "Father Brennan," played by Ralph Ineson. He tells her about a horrible conspiracy the church is pulling over everyone's eyes. They are plotting a huge plan surrounding "Carlita" and the incarnation of pure evil.

What is real and what is not? Is this plan serious? "Margaret" will have to figure it out before it's too late. In this eerie prequel to the 1976 horror cult classic "The Omen,".

"The First Omen" cast the right person in Nell Tiger Free. SB (sidebar): I love her name, by the way. My first time noticing her was when I watched the AppleTV+ series, "Servant." Nell plays the innocent but is involved in some terrifying stuff character, all too well.

This film also had Bill Nighy in it. I just wrote about him. He's been booked and busy. Don't let your age be a deterrent, because he isn't.

When it comes to this film, I thought I was watching Sydney Sweeney's "Immaculate." It was pretty much copy-and-paste. The only difference is that they incorporated the language difference in "Immaculate." This film, they just ignored it pretty much.

It wasn't scary, and that's saying a lot coming from me. I was more confused than anything. Now I have to watch "The Omen" to get more context. It wasn't a bad film. I've seen bad horror films. This wasn't it.

It was like watching a different interpretation of "Immaculate" or seeing someone do the same script but with different directors. I feel about this like I feel about that film. It was cool. I think Sydney did an amazing job with that ending, but Nell Tiger Free had a better overall performance.

A decent film that's not that scary. I give it three more fires 🔥🔥🔥.

#CosmoandtheMovieWithin #CosmoMovieBlog #CosmoLanier #TheFirstOmen.

The Beautiful Game (2024)

"THE BEAUTIFUL GAME" REVIEW

[8/10 · 9 April 2024]

Directed by Thea Sharrock. A runtime of two hours and five minutes. Streaming on Netflix with a PG-13 rating. Based on actual events.

"Vinny" played by Michael Ward is at your local park in London watching kids play soccer. After a bit of confusion, between a parent, "Mal," played by Bill Nighy, comes to aid "Vinny".

"Mal," while he has his attention, tells "Vinny" about a league for homeless people. The Homeless World Cup. We're a group of people, no matter age or gender, who will represent their country in a World Cup-style soccer tournament. The only stipulation is that you have to be homeless.

Even with the homeless World Cup being in Rome this year, "Vinny" is a proud full man. He has a complicated past and once wasn't always in hard times. He rejects the notion of being homeless and attending this tournament.

You watch how "Vinny" and "Mal" have more in common than either realized at the time. You'll see "Vinny" mature before your eyes. Not only accepting his circumstances. But working with teammates he can't stand at first, like "Nathan," played by Callum Scott Howells, "Jason," played by Sheyi Cole, and "Cal," played by Kit Young, to name a few.

This is a learning curve for everyone. Find out how "Vinny" handles all the adversity and watch how he grows as a human from it all.

"The Beautiful Game" was a beautiful film. Pun intended. Michael Ward is an amazing actor with a promising career. I became a fan of his after watching his acclaimed series "Top Boy" on Netflix. On top of being in several riveting films and TV shows, he's also Jamaican.

Bill Nighy is a seasoned actor and brings his talents to this film. I never knew about the Homeless World Cup. Toward the end of the film, they show real photos from the tournament. A lot of the actors and players in the tournament are past players.

This is an amazing cause, and I'm thankful for films like this to be made with talented actors. I said this recently, and I'll say it again: you don't have to have a massive budget to make a good film. You just have to care. It seemed like everyone involved in this project cared.

A fun film that might teach you something and share a great cause. I give this film four mor fires 🔥🔥🔥🔥.

#CosmoandtheMovieWithin #CosmoMovieBlog #CosmoLanier #TheBeautifulGame.

When You Finish Saving the World (2022)

"WHEN YOU FINISH SAVING THE WORLD" REVIEW

[5/10 · 9 April 2024]

Directed and written by Jesse Eisenberg. A runtime of one hour and twenty-eight minutes. With an R rating.

"Evelyn," played by Julianne Moore, is a social worker who works at the local shelter. "Roger," played by Jay O. Sanders, her husband is low-key. You wouldn't expect him to be part of his family. He's the odd man.

Then you have their son, "Ziggy," played by Finn Wolfhard. He's in high school and an aspiring musician obsessed with live streaming.

This family is odd. "Ziggy," for some reason, is over his mom, and "Evelyn" is over him. They both have expectations for one another, and both are falling short of them in their eyes.

"Ziggy" is a narcissist at heart. He falls for someone who is the exact opposite of him. "Lila," played by Alisha Boe. "Lila" is a passionate activist and something "Ziggy" should aspire to be.

Meanwhile, "Evelyn" puts her interest in "Angie," played by Eleonore Hendricks, and her son "Kyle," played by Billy Bryk. They're leaving an abusive situation and are now staying at the shelter.

When "Evelyn" notices how "Kyle" is everything her son is not, she takes an interest in him. Both "Ziggy" and his mom go out of their way to have these people in their lives. Sometimes you just have to look a little closer and a little deeper. This is a lesson they both will have to learn in this comedic drama.

"When You Finish Saving the World" enraged me. Finn Wolfhard played the character well. Some might say too well. The amount of disrespect and delusion he possessed was baffling. Multiple times throughout the film, I wanted to put him on a wall, doing squats while holding thick textbooks, until he understood how to speak to adults.

Juliane Moore was terrible in her own right as well. Her character encouraged the nonsense instead of making the situation better. She went out of her way to make it worse. I completely understand the mother-son relationship. I hated it but understood it.

The acting was great, and the storyline made sense for the demographic. But everything about this film was condescending. Even the title of the film when you think about it. This showed narcissism at its finest.

I'm not getting what I should be getting from this important family member, so I'm going to put all my wants and needs in the hands of a random person to replace them. Who does that?

Jesse Eisenberg wrote and directed this film. This feels like something he would write and direct. This screams him. I couldn't relate to any of the issues in the film, and the only thing the dialogue did was piss me off.

It's not a bad film. It had its funny parts here and there but as a whole, all it did was make me vexed. Because of that, I give it three mor fires, 🔥🔥🔥but personally, it was a two-mor fire film.

#CosmoandtheMovieWithin #CosmoMovieBlog #CosmoLanier #WhenYouFinishSavingTheWorld.

Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire (2024)

"GODZILLA X KONG: THE NEW EMPIRE" REVIEW

[7/10 · 1 April 2024]

Directed by Adam Wingard. A runtime of one hour and fifty-five minutes. With a PG-13 rating.

The next film in the "Monster Universe" and the sequel to "Godzilla vs. Kong". After the events from the last film, "Godzilla," is the head honcho of his territory, "Earth." Fighting and killing any Titans around. If you follow the TV series "Monarchs" on Apple TV+, you will know there are a lot of Titans on Earth.

"Kong" is the superior being in his territory, "Hollow Earth." He keeps himself busy trying to learn his new home and regulate it. While still always yearning for a family.

"IIene" is one of the directors at "Monarch," and she watches over them both. Her daughter, "Jia," played by Kaylee Hottle, is now trying to adjust to life on Earth and being separated from "Kong".

This is all a big pill to swallow, but as long as both Titans are separated, there will be no bloodshed. Well, at least from those two. But something is off. There may be a new player in the mix.

"Trapper" played by Dan Stevens, who is the veterinarian for all massive species. "Bernie," played by Brian Tyree Henry, and his conspiracy theory podcast are back to help save the world again. Along with their security, "Mikael," played by Alex Ferns.

They will all travel to "Hollow Earth" to investigate a weird signal they've been receiving. The results from their findings may cause these two natural-born enemies to have to work together. Hopefully, they can and hopefully, they will defeat whatever threats await them. In their latest mashup film.

"Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire" was a bunch of monstrous fun. I went with some of my family members who consisted of three women. They range in a variety of different ages. From eighty-two to nineteen, we were all entertained.

I didn't have high hopes that they would all enjoy it, especially when I asked Nana if she remembered who "King Kong" was. Her reply was "Isn't it about a gorilla or something?" I busted out laughing because of the simplicity she gave this massive franchise with this massive character that goes back decades. This is one of the reasons why I love Nana; she will make you laugh for sure.

Well, the gorilla and the lizard showed up and showed out, entertaining all of us. At one point, I didn't know if I was watching an "Avengers" film or a "Kong and Godzilla" film. The action was jam-packed, and frankly, they were doing things that they shouldn't be capable of doing.

There were a lot of parts that were overdone or very wonky. Something made you scratch your head and ask, "How the heck did they get to this point?" It didn't make sense at times but just go with it. Shockingly, "Godzilla" in all these films has very little screen time. In this film, he didn't even crack double digits. It doesn't matter, though, because you can't tell while you're watching it.

A film with a lot going on. That still won't stop you from having fun and being entertained while watching it. It pleases people of all ages, which is comforting to know. Box office smash, so expect another film.

I love "Godzilla" and especially "King Kong." He didn't disappoint, and he made sure to let everyone know he was not to be messed with, no matter who you were. "Kong" walked around with the you know what energy the whole film. Try not to take certain scenes too seriously. Just enjoy this film on the biggest screen you can find. I give this film four mor fires 🔥🔥🔥🔥.

#CosmoandtheMovieWithin #CosmoMovieBlog #CosmoLanier #GodzillaxKongTheNewEmpire.

Mending the Line (2022)

"MENDING THE LINE" REVIEW

[9/10 · 31 March 2024]

Directed by Joshua Caldwell. A runtime of two hours and two minutes. Streaming on Netflix with an R rating.

"Colter," played by Sinqua Walls, is a Marine. He was injured in Afghanistan, but now, after months of rehab, he finds himself in Montana at a V. A. facility, trying to get cleared to go back to active duty.

"Lucy," played by Perry Mattfeld, works at the local library. She volunteers a lot at the V. A. She's trying to get out of a depression fog after her fiance died. He also served. But it seems like all of her surroundings keep bringing her down mentally.

Then you have "Ike," played by Brian Cox. He served long ago. After getting through a lot of his demons, he uses fly fishing as a cure. But not quite all of his demons have been expunged. He's also facing a race against time.

A doctor at the V. A., "Dr. Burke," played by Patricia Heaton, thinks of a unique way to help "Ike" and "Colter." Watch how the power of fly fishing brings these three individuals together. In this powerful true story.

"Mending the Line" was a great film. I like the fact that when they do films revolving around vets and PTSD, the films are usually done right. A lot of times, they are based on real stories and send a powerful message. All the actors were amazing. Who knew fly fishing could be used as a rehab mechanism?

This film was great from the beginning to the end. It had an ending that made you smile and feel good. I hope anyone struggling with PTSD or just struggles from war sees this film. Maybe fly fishing can be a tool to help them. I give this film five mor fires 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥.

#CosmoandtheMovieWithin #CosmoMovieBlog #CosmoLanier #Mendingtheline.

Vengeance (II) (2022)

"VENGEANCE" REVIEW

[7/10 · 28 March 2024]

Directed, written, and starring B. J. Novak. A runtime of one hour and forty-seven minutes. Streaming on Starz with an R rating.

"Ben" is a writer from New York trying to find his next big thing. He's stuck in a daily routine of hooking up with random women and never committing to someone long-term. When it comes to writing, he's talented, but when it comes to anything else involving his personal life, He needs a lot of work.

After hooking up with a random woman, he gets a random call from a man named "Ty," played by Boyd Holbrook. He proceeds to tell "Ben" that his sister, "Ben's" girlfriend, passed away. Not true "Ben" tries to tell him that couldn't be possible and that "Abilene," played by Lio Tipton, was a booty call he had sex with a couple of times. But those words never come out, instead "Ben" finds himself on a flight to Texas to attend an acquaintance's funeral.

For some reason, "Abilene's" entire family believes she had an extensive relationship with "Ben". Her two sisters "Paris" and "Kansas City Shaw" played by Isabella Amara and Dove Cameron. Her younger brother "El Stupido," played by Eli Bickel; her mother "Sharon," played by J. Smith-Cameron; and even her grandmother, "Granny Carole," played by Louanne Stephens. Everyone believed it was something more than it was.

Once there, "Ty" tells "Ben" that he thinks his sister was murdered. He asks for help to get revenge on whoever killed "Abilene." "Ben," thinking about the bigger opportunity, gets counsel from a colleague and future editor, "Eloise," played by Issa Rae.

"Ben" commits to this investigation. He thinks it will make for a great podcast. This causes him to have to shack up with "Abilene" eccentric and prideful Texas family. Also, interview the people in her life before she died. Like music producer "Quentin," played by Ashton Kutcher.

"Ben" might not find out what happened to "Abeline," but one thing is for sure: he will get some entertaining material because he truly is a fish out of water. But all of this could potentially be his next big story. Find out in this dark comedy.

"Vengeance" was not what I expected. B. J. Novak's character experienced the same thing in the film. Speaking of "Ben," yes, he was a writer, but his being that much of a player was unrealistic. His wingman was John Mayer, John Mayer playing himself at that. Come on now.

I thought that even with all the responsibilities B. J. had to take on, He had a wonderful cast that seemed to make his job easier. My only complaint was the beginning. It seemed like he had a hard time getting to the main plot. Realistically, if I have commitment issues and one of your hook-ups dies, The last thing I'm doing is attending the funeral. Especially somewhere as far as Texas.

Then some parts of the script got shaky. Because "Abeline" had pictures of them both. So clearly, it was a little more than friends with benefits, but then that was later debunked. There were some holes in the story, that's all. Issa Rae did a great job with her character. I love seeing her stardom.

Once you got into the thick of it, it was a good film. Ashton Kutcher's character loved listening to the sound of his voice. I will say that with all his talking, he dropped a lot of gems. In general, I loved the fact that a lot of gems were given in this film. I thought B. J. was extremely clever in how he did it.

This film was entertaining, funny, intriguing, and suspenseful. The ending was predictable and a shocker all in one. I give this film four mor fires 🔥🔥🔥🔥.

#CosmoandtheMovieWithin #CosmoMovieBlog #CosmoLanier #Vengeance.

Cold Copy (2023)

"COLD COPY" REVIEW

[7/10 · 24 March 2024]

Directed and written by Roxine Helberg. A runtime of one hour and thirty-six minutes. To rent or buy on Prime Video with an R rating.

"Mia Scott," played by Bel Powley, is an ambitious journalism student. "Mia" and her roommate/friend "Kim," played by Nesta Cooper, are both students of their esteemed professor, "Diane Heger," played by Tracee Ellis Ross.

"Diane" is not only a professor but a popular cutthroat reporter with her segment on a popular news show. She is harsh and to the point. SB(Side Bar) I love seeing Tracee in an antagonist role.

"Diane" provides an AP journalist class, which "Kim" and "Mia" both attend. The single focus is to provide a story with legs. If the story is good, it will be picked, and you have the potential to work with "Diane" on her show.

By chance "Mia" encounters "Igor Nowak" played by Jacob Tremblay. He has an interesting past that "Mia" can relate to. She decides to tell a story about him with her ulterior motives.

You watch as "Mia" dives down the rabbit hole and does integrity-less things for this story. What won't she do in an attempt to impress her highly critical teacher?

"Cold Copy" was Roxine Helberg's directorial debut. Which wasn't bad since she wrote it as well. Seasoned filmmakers have a hard time doing that, let alone someone in their first major film.

Tracee Ellis Ross played her character effortlessly, giving a spotless performance. She carried the film. Without her performance, this film would have probably been rated lower.

I couldn't stand the Bel Powley character.

Earlier on "Mia," subject Jacob Tremblay's character "Igor" told her this isn't for you. That was a fact. "Mia" was vindictive. You have to have the drive and willingness to go further than the next person. She wasn't competitive; she was just jealous. What drove her came from all the wrong emotions.

If you have to backstab your allies and friends just to get a little bit further, what's the point? You have to have some morals. It's too early in the game to be burning bridges to the bottom of the water. It's hard enough fighting enemies; you don't want to make enemies out of people who know you and can hurt you worse than any real enemy.

Speaking of having issues with morals and ethics, Let's add another word, "optics.". "Diane" was a hard ass and mean for most of the film. But they explained why. She was poor. "Diane" scratched and clawed to get to where she is now. She saw that spark in "Mia" and pushed her.

"Mia," on the other hand, is spoiled. If she doesn't like something, she will sabotage it to get her way. No one can stand in her way because she's mentally weak. She's giving a lot of "Karen" energy. I liked the realism approach, but then it took a turn and clashed with two different points of view. Film-wise, it gave intriguing points, but at what cost? Some of the turns it took made me dislike the film.

Overall, the film held my attention, and whether I agreed with "MiA" or how Roxine Helberg made this film, the final product was solid. Casting was pivotal in this film. Having a seasoned actor allowed this film to flourish and go further than it would have, in my opinion. This is why I give this film four mor stars🔥🔥🔥🔥.

#CosmoandtheMovieWithin #CosmoMovieBlog #CosmoLanier #ColdCopy.

Alone (V) (2020)

"ALONE" REVIEW

[3/10 · 23 March 2024]

Directed by John Hyams. A runtime of one hour and thirty-eight minutes. Streaming on Netflix with an R rating.

"Jessica," played by Jules Willcox, husband recently passed away. She decides out of the blue to pack up her stuff in a portable U-Haul, leaving whatever doesn't fit in it behind. Then she proceeds to drive to a faraway location.

I write it like that because they never truly say where "Jessica" is going. You just know it took multiple days of traveling, and she still hadn't reached her destination before the adversity occurred.

On "Jessica's" road trip, she deals with what looks like a road rage situation in "Man," played by Marc Menchaca. He damn near drives her into a semi-truck.

After a sigh of relief and spending the night at a local motel, she encounters the same "man" again the following day. This time, he apologized for what had taken place the previous day.

"Jessica's" antennas went up, but not up enough because eventually, he kidnaps her, taking her to an even more remote location. "Jessica" escapes but now has to deal with the wilderness and the elements she's exposed to in the wilderness. All while having a deranged lunatic hunt her down. Will "Jessica" escape, or will she die in the woods, never to be seen again?

"Alone" was sick and twisted, but not for the reasons you might think. It's sick and twisted for making me watch it. I guess they didn't make me watch it per se. I guess that makes me the sick and twisted one for watching it from beginning to end.

It had elements in it that could have made the film tolerable. Unfortunately, they weren't homing in on those elements.

The deranged kidnapper couldn't even get a name if that says anything. He's named "Man" under IMDB. No offense to Marc Menchaca, but he looks like a stranger danger. Especially with that mustache.

They never explain why this guy is like this. He just randomly tries to kidnap people and kill them. We never truly learn anything. He captures "Jessica," but she escapes in like ten seconds. You just gather that he wants to kill her and has done this many times before.

Whoever tries to run you over one day, apologizes the next day, then randomly breaks down in the middle of the road and wants you to let them in your car. It's beyond suspicious. "Jessica "knew it. She should have been called the police after her first encounter with him.

Also, let's talk about "Robert," played by Anthony Heald, real quick. He's an old man hunting in the woods. First of all, he's way too old to be by himself. His cell phone is dead, and he doesn't have a car charger. Convenient much. Not to mention, when "man" encounters them, he almost has "Robert" convinced that "Jessica" is his sister and she's just off her meds. Seriously. She's bleeding, has a hole in her foot, and is soaking wet. Does she look like someone who just left her brother?

Back to "Man." He has a part where he goes through her stuff and asks questions about her husband, who died from suicide. Multiple times throughout the film, he is poking the bear. Trying to kill someone while also antagonizing them over their recently passed husband is wild. Also, you mean to tell me you gave up this much of a fight while feeling the most lost you've ever felt. They could've provided something inspiring to fight for.

There are so many problems with this film. I can go on and on. It was a predictable mess. How did "man" always know where "Jessica was without GPS? Let's not even dive into that so-called pathetic ending.

This came out in 2020, and it makes perfect sense. This was an obvious throwaway film. I try not to be this harsh on films, but this just took the oddest way to get to the end goal. If you went straight and made a left at the light, you would've gotten to your destination promptly and enjoyed yourself while doing so. It was a little over an hour and a half, but I still felt like I had been watching this for hours. I give this film two mor fires 🔥🔥 and that might be a little generous.

#CosmoandtheMovieWithin #CosmoMovieBlog #CosmoLanier #Alone.

Orion and the Dark (2024)

"ORION AND THE DARK" REVIEW

[5/10 · 24 February 2024]

Directed by Sean Charmatz. A runtime of one hour and thirty-three minutes. Streaming on Netflix with a TV-Y7 rating.

"Adult Orion" voiced by Colin Hanks is telling his daughter "Hypatia" voiced by Mia Akemi Brown about his younger self voiced by Jacob Tremblay, about how he was scared of everything. You name it, and he has an irrational fear of it. His overzealous imagination only makes things worse.

"Hypatia" is extremely afraid of the dark like "Orion" was as a kid. "Orion," tells her a story about one night, even with the multiple night lights and the door open, he was approached by "Dark," voiced by Paul Walter Hauser. An entity that has a specific task like his counterparts every night.

"Dark" persuades "Orion" to accompany him while he does his nightly task to hopefully help him get rid of his irrational fears. An offer he wouldn't normally agree to, but "Orion" agrees to accompany "Dark." Maybe after all this, he can stand up to his bully, "Richie," voiced by Jack Fisher, or talk to his crush, "Sally," voiced by Shino Nakamichi.

Watch "Orion" and "Hypatia" bond over their fears and a bedtime story that spills into the day.

"Orion and the Dark" was a layered film. It was like a film within a film. The same people who brought you "How to Train a Dragon" made this. Which is interesting. I think there is a little drop-off between the films.

Honestly, "Orion" and "Hypatia" could use a little therapy. "Orion" was scared of anything and everything. His parents growing up have to be losing their minds. You can't have any adult activity, let alone a make-out session with him up y'all butt every night. Now his daughter is doing the same thing to him.

It feels like it stole aspects from "Monster Inc." and "Inside Out," even though it is a completely different film. DreamWorks as a whole has dropped off a little bit in quality. They still have some good staple films, but as a whole, it's not like it once was, in my opinion.

I like animated films that are meant for a younger audience but still have humor in them that only parents or someone older can get. This film had a few of those scenes, but not enough to make it enjoyable for someone older. They weren't funny either. It had topics that were so layered that they might go over a child's head.

As a whole, it was a fine film. They had a good cast of actors voicing these roles. Someone younger watching might enjoy it. But for me, it was just okay. I've seen way better DreamWorks films that hit all the marks, not just some of them.

I won't lie, I was going to give it a lower grade. I went back and rewatched most of it. I saw a couple of things I missed before, but I shouldn't have to watch a film like this multiple times. Especially since I didn't enjoy it the first time around. It's a little too complicated for the age demographic it's trying to appeal to. I give it three more fires 🔥🔥🔥.

#CosmoandtheMovieWithin #CosmoMovieBlog #CosmoLanier #OrionandtheDark.

I.S.S. (2023)

"I.S.S" REVIEW

[3/10 · 20 February 2024]

Directed by Gabriela Cowperthwaite. A runtime of one hour and thirty-five minutes. With an R rating.

"Dr. Kira Foster," played by Ariana DeBose, is an American scientist and astronaut. She's one of the newest members to board the "I. S. S.", a space station shared by both American and Russian astronauts.

On the American side, you have "Gordon," played by Chris Messina, and "Christian," played by John Gallagher Jr. On the Russian side, you have "Weronika," played by Masha Mashkova.

"Weronika" is also in a spacestationship (slaps knee) with "Gordon," the American astronaut. Also on the Russian side are "Nicholai," played by Costa Ronin, and "Alexey," played by Pilou Asbæk.

This space station is used for research purposes. Everyone on it is very smart, and hopefully one day they will cure something with the research they do on this ship. All that goes down the drain when Russia and America go to war. Firing nukes at one another.

Now each side is trying to get the upper hand in this conflict. Both Russia and America give orders to take over the space station by any means necessary. A minute ago, they were all friends; now they must do the unthinkable to gain ground for their respective countries.

"I. S. S." was an interesting concept but a highly flawed film. If America and Russia are nuking everything, then they give you a message to seize the ship. Why would you? I've been working side by side with these people. I'm even in a romantic relationship with one of them.

Humanity might be up to you guys. I would be trying to work together rather than killing one another. Then the Ariana DeBose character was annoying the living crap out of me. She was so optimistic and naïve, while it's obvious you might want to tighten up. The Russians aren't your friends. All for her to flip-flop multiple times, trusting all the wrong people.

I get it; this is a hard situation to deal with. But you are all astronauts. You're trained to deal with highly pressurized situations. It got unrealistic too quickly. It was predictable at times. It wasn't a long film, but I felt like I wished it could hurry up already.

As I said, this is an interesting concept but extremely flawed. Then they added more variables that made it very clear they should be working together, not trying to kill one another.

By the time you got to the end, you felt like this was beyond stupid. It tried to add suspense but failed miserably. I give it two more fires 🔥🔥.

#CosmoandtheMovieWithin #CosmoMovieBlog #CosmoLanier #ISS.

The Holdovers (2023)

"THE HOLDOVERS" REVIEW

[8/10 · 7 February 2024]

Directed by Alexander Payne. A runtime of two hours and thirteen minutes. Streaming on Peacock with an R rating.

"Paul Hunham," played by Paul Giamatti, is a cranky history teacher at a male prep school. The holiday season is upon us, and everyone is about to go on winter break. It originally wasn't his year to stay behind with the kids who had to stay behind for whatever reason. "Mr. Hunham" was punished and forced to stay. It doesn't matter because he has no family or life anyway.

Also staying is the head cook and cafeteria worker, "Mary Lamb," played by Da'Vine Joy Randolph. "Mary" is also going through a lot; she recently lost her son to the Vietnam War.

"Angus Tully," played by Dominic Sessa, is a troubled youth. He's very smart, but some of his family drama has taken its toll on him. If this school doesn't work out, "Angus" will be forced to enroll at an army school. But none of that matters because he is about to go on break. Getting far away from this drag of a school and the teacher from hell, "Mr. Hunham," or so he thought.

Something fell through and "Angus" has to stay at the school for the holiday break, with a handful of people. "Angus," "Mary," "Mr. Hunham," and "Miss Lydia Crane," played by Carrie Preston, have to figure out a way to tolerate one another.

Now in a different setting, they all start to feel differently about each other. Some might say they even like one another. Watch how these unlikely pairings in an unlikely situation help one another out. They don't want to admit it, but they're all going through personal battles at the moment. Even if they refuse to admit it. This situation might be a blessing in disguise, you just never know.

"The Holdovers" was a good film. The subject matter and plot seem simple on the surface. It's a film you have to let marinate. At first, it might seem slow and boring. Don't get me wrong; at times, it is slow and boring. But it's very layered without it being in your face. It also has great comedic timing.

It's been nominated for a lot of awards this award season. This makes sense because all the actors immersed themselves in their characters. I can't stress enough how each actor's performance was spot-on for their role. This film might not be for everyone. But if you like great acting and a layered film, this is for you. I give it a strong four fires 🔥🔥🔥🔥.

#CosmoandtheMovieWithin #CosmoMovieBlog #CosmoLanier #TheHoldovers.

10 Minutes Gone (2019)

"10 Minutes Gone"" Review

[2/10 · 6 February 2024]

Directed by Brian A. Miller. A runtime of one hour and twenty-nine minutes. Streaming on Prime Video with an R rating.

"Frank," played by Michael Chiklis, works for "Rex," played by Bruce Willis. "Frank" is doing a bank heist that seems to be going as planned, and the next thing you know, everything that can go wrong goes wrong.

After leaving the bank unnoticed, he's ambushed. Now the money he had is gone, the person he was with is dead, and so is his memory from getting knocked in the back of the head. "Frank" has to try and piece together what happened and who took the funds before his boss loses patience.

"Rex" has another deal going on. This bank heist was just part of a bigger plan. Along with the money gone and "frank" memory loss, a lot of people are being killed because they're part of this heist. "Frank" needs to figure this all out quickly.

"10 Minutes Ago" was a bad film. I'm going to stop reviewing new Bruce Willis films. I've mentioned it before, and if you don't know, Bruce was diagnosed with early-onset dementia. Knowing his memory would leave him.

Bruce took the initiative and started playing any role he was presented with. He wanted to make sure his funds were right. Bruce was already rich, but he wanted to make sure his family did not have any needs or wants.

Having issues remembering lines, he shot as many films as possible, then retired. Spending whatever little bit of time he had while he still could remember.

Presently, he is a shell of himself. It's sad to see him that way. My pop-pop and grandma suffered bad dementia because of their Alzheimer's. I understand what his family is going through. Sending prayers to him and his family.

Bruce wasn't picking films based on the actors assigned to them or the directors directing them. Because of that, I think it's unfair to review them. Even though he did have one film with Megan Fox that wasn't bad at all, if I stumble upon some of his old work, I will review it. I give this film two mor fires 🔥🔥.

#CosmoandtheMovieWithin #CosmoMovieBlog #CosmoLanier #10MinutesGone.

Argylle (2024)

"ARGYLLE" REVIEW

[5/10 · 5 February 2024]

Directed by Matthew Vaughn. A runtime of two hours and nineteen minutes. With a PG-13 rating.

"Elly Conway," played by Bryce Dallas Howard, is a prestige author who makes spy novels. She has a whole series called "Argylle." In her series, the main character, "Argylle," is played by Henry Cavil. Along with his partners, "Wyatt," played by John Cena, and "Keira," played by Ariana DeBose, do these elaborate spy missions in "Elly's" novels.

"Elly" has garnered a lot of fame and notoriety from these books. The only problem is that everything she's writing about is coming true. Now the real head of a corrupt agency called "The Division," led by a man named "Director," played by Bryan Cranston, is out to get her.

"Elly" is nearly done with the new book. They need her to finish writing because it has great implications for things going on currently. It takes a real spy, "Aidan," played by Sam Rockwell, to help get her out of this situation. As real bad guys are out to kill her.

"Elly" doesn't go anywhere without her cat, "Alfie," played by Chip. "Aidan" will do his best to protect her from "The Director" and his assassins. With an already crazy story, there is still something up. Find out what happens as this novel blends with reality.

"Argylle" was a huge letdown. As whole. At this point, a Matthew Vaughn film will be hit or miss. I like some of the "King's Man" films. The only problem is that he does a little too much. The parts you like he keeps adding, making them wonky. Then you have the actual wonky scenes. By the time it's done, you'll be left feeling a little dissatisfied.

This film cost two hundred million dollars to make. With an all-star lineup of actors and star power. Like Dua Lipa, Samuel L. Jackson, and Catherine O'Hara, to name a few. The cast alone had to cost a grip. Everything was at no expense. Shockingly, when I saw this was an Apple production, I thought it was going to be good.

It wasn't bad; it just wasn't good all the way either. I loved Bryce Dallas Howard. I don't know about Sam Rockwell playing the spy. I do know they went overboard with too many scenes. I was so confused by it all. The action was good at times, but even that went too far.

They were little things. I hoped they didn't do the whole film like that because it was creative yet still annoying. I couldn't stand the ending. It seemed like the film never wanted to end. There is even a post-credit scene. Expect a lot of action, a lot of comedy, and a lot of ridiculousness. With a lavish who's who of actors acting in it. I give it two more fires 🔥🔥.

#CosmoandtheMovieWithin #CosmoMovieBlog #CosmoLanier #Argylle.

Dumb Money (2023)

"DUMB MONEY" REVIEW

[7/10 · 4 February 2024]

"DUMB MONEY" REVIEW

Directed by Craig Gillespie. A runtime of one hour and forty-five minutes. Streaming on Netflix with an R rating.

"Keith Gill," played by Paul Dano, is your everyday person. His hobby is also his passion, the stock market. With a small cult following that listens to his tips on stocks. "Keith" is Far from rich. He just makes sound moves and gives good advice.

After noticing a wrinkle in the stock market for the "GameStop" stock, Yes, the video game company. He notices what brokers and billionaires do to make extra funds.

"Keith" and his following which consist of everyday people like "Marcos Garcia," played by Anthony Ramos, who worked at a retail GameStop store. A couple of college kids "Harmony," played by Talia Ryder, and "Riri," played by Myha'la. To a stressed-out nurse during the height of COVID, "Jenny," played by America Ferrera.

They all bought a ton of "GameStop" stock, and instead of the billionaires like "Gabe Plotkin," played by Seth Rogen, "Steve Cohen," played by Vincent D'Onofrio, and "Ken Griffin," played by Nick Offerman, making a ton of money. All these everyday people who bought the stock made a ton of money instead.

With more people at home than at work, "Keith Gill" fandom grew. This turned into a true David vs. Goliath-type situation. This caused a backlash when "Vlad Tenev," played by Sebastian Stan, who was over a financial service responsible for paying people when they cashed out, turned off the server.

Watch this amazing recent tale and see who made out like a bandit and who lost funds in this unique time in history.

"Dumb Money" brought back a lot of recent memories. I remember when this was going on, I wanted to jump on it. But by the time it hit the mainstream, it was already too late. But if you got in early, you would have received a nice payday.

Watching this makes you dislike the establishment even more. Billionaires do shady stuff just to get richer, and they never have any repercussions behind it. Good for "Keith" to be able to spot it and go the extra mile to share it.

I still question the people who held on too long though. When you're up, you have to know when to fold and cash your chips in.

It was a good film that broke down the inner workings, giving you a behind-the-scenes look at a chaotic time. Showing you many different perspectives. With a massive talented cast. I give this film four mor fires 🔥🔥🔥🔥.

#CosmoandtheMovieWithin #CosmoMovieBlog #CosmoLanier #DumbMoney.

Chowchilla (2023)

"CHOWCHILLA" REVIEW

[7/10 · 1 February 2024]

Directed by Paul Solet. A runtime of one hour and thirty-eight minutes. Streaming on MAX.

This is the documentary about the twenty-six children who were abducted in Chowchilla, California. You watched how these kids and their bus driver were stopped and kidnapped. To them being taken to this remote place and put in a makeshift tunnel. That ends with them being buried alive.

But you'll learn that this was supposed to be a master plan, planned out by three well-off morons. You see this crazy tale: the chaos is caused and the fallout from it all. To the severe and not-so-severe repercussions.

"Chowchilla" was a story I didn't know about. I asked my friend Pam about it because she's a little older than me. She vaguely remembered this story, even to this day.

Back in the 1970s, this was a huge thing. Can you imagine sending your child on the bus to school, and when you go to pick them up, they aren't there? You have to remember that this is the 1970s; there weren't any cell phones or anything like that. If you wanted to get in contact with someone, you had to hunt them down.

The fear those parents had to go through was immense. Then, when you listen to the interviews with the children who are now adults. You see how this event drastically changed their lives. Even to learn about the people who planned this. It's sickening.

This whole documentary pissed me off. Everyone dropped the ball. So many people failed those kids. When you find out what happened to the kidnappers, they will just piss you off even more.

To see the lack of care for mental health was gut-wrenching. I know mental health is more of a topic now, but still, you would think what happened would be taken more seriously. People don't realize that back in the day, the mentality was to put some dirt on it and keep it moving. They'll be fine.

The documentary was okay. The topic was intriguing, but the way it was done could have been better. It wasn't the best documentary I've seen. Regardless, I still feel for all the victims. They were done wrong. I give it three more fires 🔥🔥🔥🔥.

#CosmoandtheMovieWithin #CosmoMovieBlog #CosmoLanier #Chowchilla.

Silent Night (I) (2021)

"SILENT NIGHT" REVIEW

[9/10 · 31 January 2024]

Directed and written by Camille Griffin. A runtime of one hour and thirty-two minutes. Streaming on Netflix with an R rating.

"Nell," played by Keira Knightley, and her husband, "Simon," played by Matthew Goode, have three sons. The oldest is "Art," played by Roman Griffin Davis. He has two younger identical twin brothers, "Hardy," played by Hardy Griffin Davis, and "Thomas," played by Gilby Griffin Davis.

This English family located in England is having a beautiful holiday gathering on Christmas Day. With their closest family and friends attending. Like "Sandra," played by Annabelle Wallis, her husband "Tony," played by Rufus Jones, and their sassy daughter "Kitty," played by Davida McKenzie.

You have "Bella," played by Lucy Punch, and her partner "Alex," played by Kirby. I just did a review of her film "Queenpins" yesterday. "Sophie," played by Lily-Rose Depp, and her man, "James," played by Sope Dirisu.

This is set up for one glorious night, but there is a twist. This is the last night they will all be alive. Everyone has their speculations about where it came from, but it's here. Toxic air that makes your body internally turn on itself, causing you to die. The government has been issuing suicide pills to the wealthy so their deaths won't be so painful.

This night will be full of secrets coming out, and many people will have to face the ugly truth. You have people like "Sophie," who is pregnant and doesn't want to take this pill, even though this toxic air is supposed to kill her and her unborn baby. You also have people like "Art." His parents tried to keep him and his brothers in the dark as much as possible. Unfortunately, it didn't work. "Art" is conflicted thinking about the people in Africa and other parts of the world who won't be getting a pill to ease their suffering.

Watch this family's Christmas party with all this heavy stuff lingering, for it will be their last one on Earth.

"Silent Night" was great. This is the second film of the same name I have reviewed in the last couple of months. This one wasn't an action film, though; it's listed as a dark comedy. It was, plus more.

Some of the content was funny. I loved what Camille Griffin did. This was a case of the audience understanding what was written and directed finally. I thought it was clever and thought-provoking. I love films like that. Not only is it good, but it makes you think.

All the stuff you would think came up came up. All the actors did a great job. Roman Griffin Davis, who played "Art," did an excellent job. He was annoying the crap out of me. In his defense, it is a heavy topic, and he had some valid points.

I enjoyed seeing all these actors I know from other stuff in the big mashup. Like Sope Dirisu, he's in one of my favorite shows, "Gangs of London." Annabelle Wallis is in one of the worst films I've ever seen, "Malignant," but she's still a great actor. She played this role effortlessly.

Then you have Lily-Rose Depp. I didn't know it was her while watching. I just kept saying, man, I know her from somewhere; I just don't know where. But when I looked up her character, I saw who it was. I knew immediately who she was and where I knew her from. "The Idol".

Anyway, it was a very deep, thought-provoking film that had comedy mixed in throughout. This will make you think about it all. You will morally be questioning yourself as well as thinking about what you would do in this scenario. Great film with a wild ending that I somewhat predicted. I give it five more fires 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥.

#CosmoandtheMovieWithin #CosmoMovieBlog #CosmoLanier #SilentNight.

Queenpins (2021)

"QUEENPINS" REVIEW

[8/10 · 30 January 2024]

Directed and written by Aron Gaudet and Gita Pullapilly. A runtime of one hour and fifty minutes. Streaming on Netflix with an R rating. Based on actual events,.

"Connie," played by Kristen Bell, is not content with life. Her husband, "Rick," was played by Joel McHale, and she tried in vitro for multiple rounds. It didn't work and caused them to be in a ton of debt.

"Rick" works for the IRS and travels for three weeks out of the month, every month. They are roommates at this point. Her neighbor and best friend, "JoJo," played by Kirby, is a struggling YouTuber. She lives with her mother, "Mama Josie," played by Greta Oglesby because her identity was stolen. Badly messing up her credit.

"Connie" is a "couponer." That might not be a word, but those are the people who buy a ton of stuff and get a lot free or discounted by using a lot of coupons. They usually have a house or room full of items because of it. They know how to make a buck stretch, that's for sure.

After an encounter with the cashier "Greg," played by Eduardo Franco, at her local grocery store, "Connie" comes up with the bright idea to get the free item coupons and sell them. They enlist the help of "Alejandro," played by Francisco J. Rodriguez, and his wife "Rosa," played by Ilia Isorelýs Paulino.

They start selling these coupons online, making money hand-over-fist. But an overzealous wannabe cop, "Ken," played by Paul Walter Hauser, learns about these coupons. He tries to enlist the help of the FBI to stop it. He ends up getting a postal cop named "Simon Kilmurry," played by Vince Vaughn.

"Ken," whose sole job it is to only check for counterfeit coupons, thrust himself into this case. They even use "Jojo" crush "Earl," played by Dayo Okeniyi, to stop them and their forty million-dollar scam.

"Queenpins" was a wild film. It's crazy because a lot of these films are based on actual events that always start with people just fed up with their lives. It just blows my mind how easily they come up with these ideas and start making an absurd amount of money.

The only problem they seem to face is not having an exit plan or being too careless. I wanted to hate certain aspects of this film, but then I realized this stuff happened. Paul Walter Hauser's character "Ken" irked the heck out of me. He was so annoying. I get that a crime is a crime and boy, they are moving stupidly. But still, you weren't even a cop. It's not like they're killing people.

Paul is an excellent actor, and he doesn't get enough credit. Everything I've seen him in has been great. His characters are always entertaining. A good streaming film that just makes you shake your head at how careless these ladies moved.

In the real version, there were three of them. Lowkey, they still portrayed that in the film; they just went about it a different way. I enjoyed this film; I give it four mor fires 🔥🔥🔥🔥.

#CosmoandtheMovieWithin #CosmoMovieBlog #CosmoLanier #Queenpins.

The Underdoggs (2024)

"THE UNDERDOGGS" REVIEW

[7/10 · 29 January 2024]

Directed by Charles Stone III. A runtime of one hour and thirty-six minutes. Streaming on Prime Video with an R rating.

"Jaycen," played by Snoop Dogg, is a hot-headed ex-athlete from Long Beach, California. Ever since he was young, two things have stayed consistent: his undeniable skill set and his obnoxious attitude. It got "Jaycen" a Super Bowl ring but as soon as that skill set started to diminish he was out of the league. No one wanted to work with him.

Now retired, "Jaycen" still hasn't dropped his attitude. He still thinks the world should worship the ground he stands on. A podcaster now, you would still think he's in the league "Mossing" cornerbacks.

Despite getting into some trouble because of his attitude, He is forced to serve community service on his old stomping grounds. There, he starts seeing familiar faces. Like "Kareem," played by Mike Epps, and an old love, "Cherise," played by Tika Sumpter.

"Tika" has a foul-mouthed son, "Tre," played by Jonigan Booth. He plays on a pee-wee football team that no one seems to care about. "Jaycen" uses this opportunity for all the wrong reasons and becomes the coach of the team.

What was supposed to be something he could use as time to take off his community service hours turns into something much more.

"The UnderDoggs" was loosely based on Snoop Dogg and his youth football league. If you didn't know, Snoop has had a league for some time now. Many college graduates and players in the NFL come from this youth football league.

Snoop is a man of many talents. He might be one of the most recognizable faces with one of the most recognized names. To see where he came from to now is truly amazing.

This film was fun and hilarious. The kids were cold-blooded and did not hold any punches. Snoop acting as well has improved a lot. He was so mean and played being a loudmouth butthead perfectly. If you don't like vulgar language, this might not be the film for you. I give it four mor fires 🔥🔥🔥🔥.

#CosmoandtheMovieWithin #CosmoMovieBlog #CosmoLanier #TheUnderDoggs.

The Kitchen (I) (2023)

"THE KITCHEN" REVIEW

[3/10 · 28 January 2024]

Co-directed and co-written by Daniel Kaluuya. With a runtime of one hour and forty minutes. Streaming on Netflix with an R rating.

Set in London in the not-so-distant future, "Izi," played by Kano, is trying to make it. He lives in a place called "The Kitchen." It's an old project complex. It was supposed to be torn down and the people relocated, but the residents of this project refused to leave.

It's not an easy way to live, but they did what they had to to survive. "Izi" and fellow residents "Staples," played by Hope Ikpoku Jr., do their part, making sure the ecosystem sustains itself by any means.

"Izi" is smart. He knows this can't be a forever plan, even if everyone there might think it is. Like his mate "Dirt," played by Reuben 'Trizzy' Nyamah.

"Izi" and "Dirt" work at a new funeral home. Where they convert the deceased into trees. During a funeral, "Izi" notices the person who's passed is a woman he used to know back in the day. She had a son, "Benji," played by Jedaiah Bannerman. Which he didn't know existed until today.

"Benji" now alone notices "Izi" watching. Their "Benji" is like a stray dog latching on, never wanting to leave. Feeling sorry for him, "Izi" brings him in. Entering each other's lives by fate, or was it? They will soon connect the dots and realize they have a deeper connection with one another.

This is coming at the worst possible time. Will "Izi" change his whole plan and take this kid he just met? Will "Benji" now, without the proper guidance, let the people of "the kitchen" stir him in the wrong direction, or will he just get caught up in all the hysteria going on? What will both of their fates be in this crucial time?

"The Kitchen" was Daniel Kaluuya's directorial debut. I will commend him; he at least had a co-writer in Joe Murtagh and a co-director in Kibwe Tavares. Unfortunately, that didn't help the film at all.

This film was like one big episode of "Top Boy" a British drug crime series, mixed with "Black Mirror." Not only did they use actors who were in both. Small aspects of the Daniel Kaluuya "Black Mirror" episode popped up in this film too.

I was so lost watching this. Was "Izi" "Benji" father or not? Why did it take so long to confirm or deny that? What was the whole beginning all about? Was he a criminal or not? The main part of "The Kitchen," being the projects that no one wanted to leave, wasn't talked about enough.

They harped on all the parts that didn't expand the story but made you ask more questions. Character development was poor. I was highly disappointed. It's hard to switch from an actor to a director. Let alone adding being a writer on top of that. Not everyone is Ben Affleck.

I'm all for actors getting work. I would never want to use different actors. But in these roles specifically, all I saw were the characters they played in "Top Boy." If you're going to use them, give them better roles. So they can have more dialogue and use more of their acting skills. I did not like this film at all. I give it two more fires 🔥🔥.

#CosmoandtheMovieWithin #CosmoMovieBlog #CosmoLanier #TheKitchen.

The Iron Claw (2023)

"THE IRON CLAW" REVIEW

[8/10 · 23 January 2024]

Directed and written by Sean Durkin. A runtime of two hours and twelve minutes. With an R rating.

This is the true story of the Von Erich family. "Fritz," played by Holt McCallany, set the tone. He was an amazing wrestler and traveled non-stop with his family to support them. "Fritz" even came up with his signature move he did during matches "The Iron Claw". His wife, "Doris," played by Maura Tierney, didn't always agree with "Fritz" but used her faith to balance her out and support her husband.

Unfortunately, people would say even being very religious couldn't stop the "Von Erich" curse from penetrating their family. This family was like no other. In the early 80's, the "Von Erichs" were Texas royalty and world-renowned in the world of wrestling.

Once "Fritz" was retired, he ran his wrestling company, with "Bill Mercer," played by Michael Harney, as the announcer. Now it was time for his sons to shine. "Kevin" played by Zac Efron, "Kerry" played by Jeremy Allen White, who you might know from playing "Carmen" in "The Bear," "David" played by Harris Dickinson, and "Mike" played by Stanley Simons.

Things seem promising, but deep down, there is always this eerie feeling that something is off. They've known about this so-called curse for a while. They felt lost early when the firstborn "Von Erich" passed away when he was just a child.

You watch these amazing bonds with these brothers. Following the highs of highs. Like "Kevin" finding love with "Pam," played by Lilly James. As well as opportunities like fighting world champ "Ric Flair," played by Aaron Dean Eisenberg, for the World Championship Belt.

To the many lows that followed in a short amount of time. Watch this amazing but horrible story about the "Von Erich" family.

"The Iron Claw" was a profound film. The acting was stellar, and the body transformation these actors had to go through was incredible. When you see the actual "Von Erich" family, they look and sound just like them. You could tell they took this film seriously.

The film was slow-paced. You knew something bad was coming, and they slowly prepared you for one hardship after the next. The director during an interview said he took out the youngest brother's death because he just figured the audience couldn't handle all that death, and it's a lot.

Trigger warning If you experience suicide in your family, I would pass on watching this. This family went through every type of bad luck you can go through while also experiencing fandom like no other. This would be a great made-up storyline for wrestling personalities; in this case, it was real. If this wasn't a true story, there was so much hardship, that I would think it was fabricated.

Also, I have to say "Ric Flair" has been wrestling for a long time. I'm like, damn, how old is "Ric Flair"? No knock on Aaron Dean Eisenberg, who played him. I wasn't feeling his portrayal of "Ric". That's a hard person to live up to, especially because we can still see him put on a verbal show to this day.

My boy Tyler told me about a documentary on YouTube. It's called "The Dark Side of the Ring," originally on Vice. It's not that long, and they go a little more in-depth. I haven't heard much buzz during this award season about this film, but it needs to be nominated for something. Putting your body through that, along with giving those phenomenal acting performances, should be recognized.

Don't be shocked if you cry. I didn't, but I also think I was in a little bit of shock seeing the amount of tragedy they went through. "Fritz" and "Doris" pissed me off, but I guess everyone processes grief in their way. But man, some of those scenes were already hard to watch, and then you have what felt like the parents pouring salt on the wound.

I'm praying for "Kevin" because it's a different type of mental strength you have to have to endure what he did. I love my brothers Ch'ien and Eli. If anything were to happen to them I would be truly lost. I give this film five mor fires 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥.

#CosmoandtheMovieWithin #CosmoMovieBlog #CosmoLanier #TheIronClaw.

Mayhem! (2023)

"MAYHEM!" REVIEW

[6/10 · 22 January 2024]

Directed by Xavier Gens. A runtime of one hour and thirty-nine minutes. Available on Prime Video. With an R rating.

"Sam," played by Nassim Lyes, was just recently released from prison. Trying to be on the right and narrow. He even has a job with the potential to grow. But his old gang refuses to let him go.

After getting into a severe altercation with one of the members, "Sam" decides to leave Paris and make a new life in Thailand. Now "Sam" has a wife, "Mia," played by Loryn Nounay, and a stepdaughter, "Dara," played by Chananticha Chaipa, whom he loves dearly. "Dara" might as well be his own.

"Sam" has many jobs. One of them is working at the airport. Trying to do something nice for his wife, he finds himself doing an illegal activity for "Narong," played by Olivier Gourmet. But of course, the job didn't go smoothly at all.

"Narong" took his cruelty on "Sam" and his family because of the job going bad. There will be no more hiding. "Sam" and his old Muay Thai coach "Hansa," played by Vithaya Pansringarm, sought out "Narong" so he could get revenge and maybe some closure. In this international action thriller.

"Mayhem!" was a letdown. It said the same people who were involved in the making of "Gangs of London" made this. In the trailer, it mentioned films like the "John Wick" franchise, "The Raid," and "Gangs of London." When talking about this film.

If you know, you know. But they were mentioning those IT films. The badest of the bad (meaning great). Mentioning "The Raid" alone had me fully committed. But this wasn't that, and they should be ashamed of themselves for even mentioning those amazing films.

It was confusing because it was supposed to be an English-speaking film. It started as French, then went to Thai, with English sprinkled in. It got quite confusing. When someone is speaking French and they are responding in Thai, Let's not mention it was a little predictable. The fight scenes were okay, but they could have gone harder. I like how some scenes were shot, but that was only here and there. I can't lie, the trailer got me.

A far cry from the films it mentioned. It wasn't all bad, it just didn't live up to the hype. I give it three mor fires 🔥🔥🔥.

#CosmoandtheMovieWithin #CosmoMovieBlog #CosmoLanier #Mayhem!