The Cinematic Review-verse

On Thursday, February 26, 2026, I saw ‘Crime 101.’ Despite knowing the cast but not the plot, I thought it was well-executed. It felt like a neo noir film, particularly like Steve McQueen’s ‘Bullitt’ movie with the California setting and Chris Hemsworth’s character in chases with stylish classic cars. Speaking of Hemsworth, I think he, along with co-star Mark Ruffalo, showed some star potential away from his frequent Marvel Studios films. And Halle Berry’s character proved that just because you’re older, doesn’t mean you don’t still have some gas left in the tank. In ‘Crime 101,’ Hemsworth played a jewel thief named Mike Davis who preferred to be nonviolent while trying to be rich. I liked him best when he was just cruising around in a Dodge Challenger and charming a publicist’s assistant named Maya, played by Monica Barbaro. Chris Hemsworth as Mike Davis in ‘Crime 101.’ Photo courtesy of IMDb.com and Amazon MGM Studios. Monica Barbaro and Chris Hemsworth in character as Maya, and Mike...

Meghann Fahy as Violet Gates and Brendan Sklenar as Henry Campbell in "Drop." Courtesy of Universal Pictures. The last time I saw Meghann Fahy was when she was the mother in "The Unbreakable Boy." On Wednesday, I saw her in a vulnerable and headstrong combination in her leading role in "Drop", directed by "Heart Eyes" producer Christopher Landon. Because I'm still new at watching suspense films, I didn't think highly of the film until it bypassed the "awkward first date" story between Fahy and Brandon Sklenar's characters and transitioned to the action towards the climax. Besides that, the good parts of the film were the camera work and the scoring by Bear McCreary, which sounded reminiscent of the scoring from "Jaws." Fahy played a widowed therapist mother in Chicago named Violet Gates who went on her first date in years with a photographer named Henry Campbell, played by Brandon Sklenar. As if her nerves about a ...

Even though the plot was convoluted, Matthew Vaughn’s ' Argylle ' was a good watch. I said the plot was convoluted because the tricky spy life--i.e. not knowing who’s the true protagonist or villain from the get-go-- and a few twists left me puzzled. But what it lacked in a plot to keep up with, ' Argylle ' made up in great acting led by Bryce Dallas Howard and Sam Rockwell , well-executed fighting and dancing choreography, wily production design, and blazing pop or disco music. Thrills come in the form of super-spy Sam Rockwell and author Bryce Dallas Howard in Matthew Vaughn's 'Argylle.' Photo courtesy of Universal Pictures. ' Argylle ' is like 'Central Intelligence' in that a mild-mannered career person, this time an author played by Howard, unwillingly gets sucked into high-octane action, with her crazy guide being laid-back yet effective agent Rockwell. Once Howard managed to flip the script and get some action in her blood, I was im...

Aquaman is ready to ride...the seahorse! Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures. When I saw Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, it was similar to other adventure films, e.g. Atlantis: The Lost Empire, Avatar, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, you get the idea. But what really astounded me was how it helped the main man Arthur Curry become more than his usual reckless, happy hour-loving self, and brought out his true heroic nature. In The Lost Kingdom , Aquaman, played by Jason Momoa, is trying to be a responsible king of Atlantis and have a life on land. But his hands, or should I say "fins", are about to get fuller when Black Manta/David Kane, played by Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, seeks revenge and tries to destroy Atlantis and its multiple kingdoms. To save his loved ones and the sea, Aquaman has to turn to his least favorite person: his half-brother, Orm, played by Patrick Wilson. It started off with Aquaman telling a literal hard rock tale of his battling pirates with Steppenwolf in th...