by admin | Apr 11, 2025 | Articles, Moviephone Articles
Paul Walter Hauser in Samir Oliveros’ ‘The Luckiest Man in America’. Photo Credit: Courtesy of IFC Films. An IFC Films Release.
‘The Luckiest Man in America’ receives 6.5 out of 10 stars.
Opening in theaters on April 4th, ‘The Luckiest Man in America’ takes a real-life event as the basis for a comedy drama about a quiz show champ whose winning ways come into question during one fraught day filming ‘Press Your Luck.’
Paul Walter Hauser leads a considerable cast for the new movie, directed by Samir Oliveros from a script he wrote with Maggie Briggs.
Related Article: Paul Walter Hauser Joins Major League Wrestling’s Battle Riot VI
Does ‘The Luckiest Man in America’ avoid the whammy?
Walton Goggins in Samir Oliveros’ ‘The Luckiest Man in America’. Photo Credit: Courtesy of IFC Films. An IFC Films Release.
While younger (well, younger-ish, the figures for the likes of Gen Z and Gen Alpha watching a legacy game show are probably not healthy) audiences know ‘Press Your Luck’ as the quiz show hosted by Elizabeth Banks, that version does sometimes call back to the history of the series, which stretches back to 1983.
This new movie charts a real-life event that happened during a taping on the show, when the most unlikely player somehow managed to get on to set as a contestant. It’s certainly a strange story, and Samir Oliveros’ take on does include some invention wrapped around the basic facts. He only had the actual episode recording to go on (which is on YouTube), so there are scenes set in the control room and before Michael Larson gets on the set that are entirely fabricated.
Yet the whole does hang together decently, the tone pretty much consistent and the ticking clock quality of the day on set giving the movie as a whole a propulsive quality. Yet it’s also burdened with a story that doesn’t quite work and despite some impressive work from a talented cast, not everything functions as it should.
Script and Direction
(L to R) Brian Geraghty and Paul Walter Hauser in Samir Oliveros’ ‘The Luckiest Man in America’. Photo Credit: Courtesy of IFC Films. An IFC Films Release.
Director Oliveros and his co-writer Briggs (who came up with the story –– at least the fictional chunks), have put plenty of work into figuring out the chaos that must have erupted between executives and other staff when Larson’s winning streak really got moving and the bosses started to suspect that he might have figured out the patterns of the board to make sure he kept winning and not land on the show’s famous “Whammy” characters, the little red cartoons who gleefully take any winnings (and ultimately banish a player from the show if they hit more than four).
All of that is clearly conveyed in the script, and while Michael Larson was obviously a real person, it’s impressive how much detail the writers have filled in about him and those who are both on stage and off it. The issue comes when the story starts to run out of steam and little and even Larson isn’t well served.
Oliveros’ directing style does well mimicking the look of the series back in the day, and segues effectively between an authentic 1980s style and the feel of the behind-the-scenes areas.
Cast and Performances
(L to R) Brian Geraghty, Paul Walter Hauser, and Patti Harrison in Samir Oliveros’ ‘The Luckiest Man in America’. Photo Credit: Courtesy of IFC Films. An IFC Films Release.
Paul Walter Hauser is a big part of why the movie succeeds at all. As Larson, he’s a complicated mix of quirky loner and desperate grifter. And he’s excellent as both sides of the character –– at once loveable and weird, but always believable.
It’s a pretty perfect match for the actor’s skillset, since Hauser has bringing people like these to screens for years now, and he’s also had some experience walking the fine line when playing characters based on real-world personalities.
You’ll completely buy him as this oddball, ice cream truck-driving obsessive, whose past life is littered with money making schemes and a marriage that is seriously on the rocks.
Twitchy and nervous when it starts to appear that his appearance on the show might just be his latest scheme, Hauser is great portraying Larson.
He’s matched by David Strathairn (no stranger to a based-on-truth story himself), the veteran actor playing egotistical, calculating executive producer Bill Carruthers. He’s all strutting peacock-disguised-as-homey-man-of-the-people, who makes the decision to override his casting team to invite Larson onto the show after the potential contestant takes someone else’s audition spot.
David Strathairn in Samir Oliveros’ ‘The Luckiest Man in America’. Photo Credit: Courtesy of IFC Films. An IFC Films Release.
Strathairn is also great at portraying Carruthers’ flop sweat as Larson’s winning ways continue as he’s forced to justify the decision to those who write his paychecks.
Walton Goggins makes an impact as Peter Tomarken, the host of the show, who becomes increasingly worried for his own job and starts to improvise as Larson’s earnings rack up. Playing one of the few well-known people in the story, he brings his own flair to it, but doesn’t deviate so far from the recognizable version of Tomarken.
Shamier Anderson plays Chuck, the head of casting for the show, who buts heads with Carruthers’ over Larson’s last-minute selection. Anderson does excellent work as the character, fully channeling his frustration while keeping him relatable.
In smaller roles, we have ‘Game of Thrones’ veteran Maisie Williams as Sylvia, a fresh-faced production assistant on the show who wrangles the talent and conducts tours. She’s fine in a more limited scope. Likewise Brian Geraghty and Patti Harrison as Larson’s fellow contestants.
Finally, Haley Bennett doesn’t have too much to do as Larson’s wife, but she brings some healthy, genuine emotion to the proceedings.
Final Thoughts
Johnny Knoxville in Samir Oliveros’ ‘The Luckiest Man in America’. Photo Credit: Courtesy of IFC Films. An IFC Films Release.
Given how fascinating the real-life story of the movie is, it’s frustrating at times that it rarely feels like ‘The Luckiest Man in America’ takes full advantage of it.
Yet it’s still a well-considered take on a particular piece of quiz show history.
What is the plot of ‘The Luckiest Man in America’?
1984, Michael Larson (Paul Walter Hauser), an unemployed ice-cream truck driver from Ohio, steps onto the game show “Press Your Luck” harboring a secret: the key to endless amounts of money. But his winning streak gets threatened when the executives in the control room start to uncover his real motivations.
Who is in the cast of ‘The Luckiest Man in America’?
‘The Luckiest Man in America’ opens in theaters on April 4th. Photo Credit: Courtesy of IFC Films. An IFC Films Release.
List of Paul Walter Hauser Movies and TV Shows:
Buy Paul Walter Hauser Movies on Amazon
by admin | Apr 11, 2025 | Articles, Moviephone Articles
Meghann Fahy as Violet in ‘Drop’, directed by Christopher Landon. Photo: Universal Pictures.
‘Drop’ receives 8 out of 10 stars.
Opening in theaters on April 11th, ‘Drop’ sees director Christopher Landon, normally known for his blends of horror and comedy in full on Alfred Hitchcock mode, setting up a compelling situation and unleashing a whole host of tense, creative plot turns.
‘The White Lotus’ veteran Meghann Fahy stars in the new movie, which uses its limited, claustrophobic locations effectively.
Related Article: Director Christopher Landon Will Not Make the next ‘Scream’ Movie
Does ‘Drop’ send you the right amount of tension?
Meghann Fahy as Violet in ‘Drop’, directed by Christopher Landon. Photo: Universal Pictures.
Landon has been best known for his inventive, more funny-than-flat-out-scary movies including two ‘Happy Death Day’ entries and serial killer body swap romp ‘Freaky.’ Following a less successful detour into more family-friendly horror comedy with ‘We Have a Ghost,’ he’s now in full thriller territory via ‘Drop.’
And it’s clearly a sphere he excels at –– while this is not a perfect film by any means, it’s certainly engaging and propulsive, anchored by a handful of good performances.
Script and Direction
(from left) Director Christopher Landon and Meghann Fahy on the set of ‘Drop’. Photo: Universal Pictures.
While Landon often writes his own scripts, here he’s working from a screenplay by Jillian Jacobs and Christopher Roach, a pair of stalwarts at production company Blumhouse, who have cranked out an effective, pacey little thriller.
Primarily set in one locale –– upscale Chicago restaurant Palate, which was built as a set for the movie –– it throws Meghann Fahy’s counsellor Violet into an unnerving situation. Already a little on edge since this is the first date she’s been on in years (and she’s coming out of an abusive relationship that ended in her violent, troubled husband’s death), Violet is further unsettled when mysterious messages start showing up on her phone, threatening her family if she doesn’t carry out some dangerous tasks.
Roach and Jacobs’ script builds the tension well, introducing a smattering of other characters including Henry (Brandon Sklenar), the handsome, charming man who has finally encouraged Violet to go on the date and Matt (Jeffery Self), the quirky, wannabe-improv-performer side hustling it as a waiter.
While the story loses a little something as it hurtles towards its conclusion, the ride is a fun one.
And Landon certainly knows how to bring this sort of movie to life, making the various twists work and ensuring that it’s infused with enough humor so as not to come across as a po-faced thriller.
Stylistically, it also makes impressive use of one impressively expansive location, and teamed with cinematographer Marc Spicer, Landon keeps things moving and looking good.
Cast and Performances
(from left) Violet (Meghann Fahy) and Henry (Brandon Sklenar) in ‘Drop’, directed by Christopher Landon. Photo: Universal Pictures.
Meghann Fahy is the emotional and plot core of the movie here, giving Violet some well-chosen emotional sides even beyond the script. She’s just as adept at making you worry for the character as she is as cheering for her when she smartly makes moves to try and outwit the people threatening her family.
It’s a different role for Fahy, but it works really well, and she’s impressive in all aspects of the character, whether bonding with her sister or scrambling to figure out what is really going on.
As Henry, Brandon Sklenar has a little less to do, but he certainly brings the charm and some solid levels of emotion to his own character, a photographer who works for the city’s mayor and who is investigating some potentially dodgy dealings.
Sklenar is also able to bring the funny when needed and his chemistry with Fahy keeps things light even as the plot grows darker.
(from left) Cara (Gabrielle Ryan) and Henry (Brandon Sklenar) in ‘Drop’, directed by Christopher Landon. Photo: Universal Pictures.
Adding comic relief is Jeffrey Self, who makes a meal of the relatively small part as Matt, the couple’s waiter. Whether he’s jauntily rattling off the specials or quietly cursing, “Jesus Christ” when Violet has asked to move tables, only to need to move right back (plot reasons), he’s a delight.
Elsewhere, there are entertaining turns from the likes of Reed Diamond as a man who is also dipping his toe into the dating world, and Violett Beane and young newcomer Jacob Robinson, who play Violet’s sister and son respectively.
Though the latter pair’s roles are naturally smaller, they both bring a healthy level of humanity to their performances, even when much of their screen time involves them being under threat.
Final Thoughts
Meghann Fahy as Violet in ‘Drop’, directed by Christopher Landon. Photo: Universal Pictures.
If ‘Drop’ can’t always maintain the momentum of its rollercoaster middle chunk, and does sometimes stray into believability-pushing silliness, as a whole it’s one supremely entertaining ride.
Yes, it might not quite live up to the same level of bonkers fun as Landon’s previous efforts (particularly the ‘Happy Death Day’ movies), this is its own thing and a faithful use of Hitchcockian tension-building with an added technological flair.
“Everyone’s a suspect.”
Showtimes & Tickets
Violet, a widowed mother on her first date in years, arrives at an upscale restaurant where she is relieved that her date, Henry, is more charming and handsome than… Read the Plot
What’s the plot of ‘Drop’?
Violet (Meghann Fahy), a widowed mother, is on a date with Henry (Brandon Sklenar) when she is terrorized by a series of anonymous messages to her phone. The caller instructs her to tell nobody, and follow increasingly malicious instructions, or her younger sister, Jen (Violett Beane), and her son, Toby (Jacob Robinson) will be killed, culminating with her being told to kill Henry.
Who is in the cast of ‘Drop’?
Meghann Fahy as Violet in ‘Drop’, directed by Christopher Landon. Photo: Universal Pictures.
Other Meghann Fahy Movies and TV Shows:
Buy Meghann Fahy Movies on Amazon
by admin | Apr 9, 2025 | Articles, Moviephone Articles
Directors Ray Mendoza and Alex Garland’s ‘Warfare’. Photo: A24.
‘Warfare’ receives 9 out of 10 stars.
Opening in theaters April 11 is ‘Warfare,’ directed by Alex Garland and Ray Mendoza and starring D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai, Will Poulter, Cosmo Jarvis, Joseph Quinn, Kit Connor, Michael Gandolfini, Noah Centineo, Evan Holtzman, and Charles Melton.
Related Article: Movie Review: ‘Civil War’
Initial Thoughts
Directors Ray Mendoza and Alex Garland’s ‘Warfare’. Photo: A24.
After showing us what a near-future conflict in the United States could look like with 2024’s chilling ‘Civil War,’ writer-director Alex Garland has teamed up with Ray Mendoza – a former Navy SEAL and Iraq War veteran who helped stage the battle sequences in ‘Civil War’ – to reconstruct a real-life incident in which Mendoza’s platoon was trapped by enemy insurgents in a Ramadi apartment house for several hours.
The result is ‘Warfare,’ a powerfully immersive and visceral recreation, told in semi-real time, of the events of a single day in November 2006. That’s when the platoon of Navy SEALs in which Mendoza was a communications officer, embedded in an apartment building on what was supposed to be a routine surveillance mission, found themselves surrounded by Al-Qaeda insurgents and under attack. The movie strips away almost anything not related to that single chain of events, making it both succinct and displaced in time, yet still an overwhelming visual and auditory document of the brutality of war.
Story and Direction
Directors Ray Mendoza and Alex Garland on the set of ‘Warfare’. Photo: A24.
‘Warfare’ is based on the memories of Mendoza and others in his platoon about a single afternoon in which they find themselves pinned down in an apartment building in a dangerous neighborhood in Ramadi, while on what is supposed to be a low-key surveillance mission.
The first half hour of the movie starts out in almost restrained fashion, as the platoon quietly occupies the top floor of the building and tries to reassure the family they find there. A certain amount of tedium sets in as the SEALs settle into position and begin watching the area – but that tedium quickly gives way to unease and tension as they start to see a buildup of insurgents and weapons in the building opposite and realize that an attack is imminent.
When a grenade is hurled into the building, injuring lead sniper Elliot Miller (Cosmo Jarvis) and another SEAL, all hell breaks loose. An attempt to transport the injured outside to an armored vehicle ends with an IED exploding literally under their feet, killing a couple of Iraqi escorts and gravely injuring Miller (again) and another man. The platoon must retreat into the house and hope that reinforcements can come in time, all while defending their position against the encroaching insurgents.
The plot of ‘Warfare’ may be lean, as is the 95-minute running time, but what happens during that time is nothing less than an incredibly potent assault on the senses. Garland and Mendoza, aided by the extraordinary efforts of the production crew, immerse the viewer fully into the panic, terror, violence, and fog of battle. Bullets rip through walls and whine past soldiers; explosions shatter the confined space; smoke and debris cloud the vision; the air is filled with the screams of men in agonizing pain, the constant rattle of gunfire, barking voices over radios.
Director Ray Mendoza on the set of ‘Warfare’. Photo: A24.
Mendoza (D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai) does his best to keep Miller calm and still and safe even as chaos erupts around him and he continues to bleed out from his mutilated legs. The platoon leader, Erik (Will Poulter), goes into shock and melts down, unable to keep control of his nerves or the situation. Most terrifyingly, the men must wait for a second platoon to get to them and shore up their defenses, while sitting tight for hours until more armored vehicles can attempt another evacuation.
All of this happens in direct, no-nonsense style that plays out as a combination of high-octane action film and almost documentary-like authenticity. There are no triumphant victories, no heroic Hollywood moments, no musical score to tug at the emotions. What Garland and Mendoza simply aim to do is place the viewer right in the middle of a real-life “war is hell” nightmare, letting the pure, unspeakable intensity of the situation do all the heavy lifting – and they succeed.
Now there are two areas in which ‘Warfare’ may or may not fall down, depending on your perspective. Like other war films – particularly Ridley Scott’s ‘Black Hawk Down,’ to which this film does owe a large debt in some ways – ‘Warfare’ sacrifices character development for immediacy. We don’t really get to know the guys in the platoon, and as always seems to be the case, it’s often hard to tell who’s who in the midst of the most concentrated action. But the counterpoint to this is that ‘Warfare’ strives to be as realistic as possible, and in real life the sort of character-defining moments or arcs that occur in conventional Hollywood writing simply don’t happen. These are men (and it is all men this time) trying to do their jobs under the most harrowing circumstances possible, and we don’t have time for speeches or back stories.
The other area in which ‘Warfare’ may come under criticism is that of context: it’s widely established that the Iraq War was fought under false pretenses – making it more of an illegitimate invasion than a genuine war – but the movie does not address the geopolitical environment in which these troops fight at all. And again, the response is that this may be the point: ‘Warfare’ does not set out to make political statements – it shows what’s happening on the ground to the troops who are sent to fight whether they want to be there or not. And trust us – if ‘Warfare’ proves anything, it’s that almost no one in their right mind would want to be there. Stripped of context and traditional Hollywood tropes, ‘Warfare’ gets one point across: war is hell no matter where you are and who you’re fighting for.
Cast and Performances
Directors Ray Mendoza and Alex Garland’s ‘Warfare’. Photo: A24.
With little character development in the screenplay, it’s notable that the cast of unknowns and kind-of-knowns manage to make some discernible impressions. D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai (‘Reservation Dogs’) is striking as Mendoza himself, the soldier battling his own fear to keep his friend Miller alive and protect himself and his fellow platoon members. Charles Melton (‘May December’) also makes a powerful impression as Jake, the authoritative leader of the second platoon who arrives late in the game to reestablish command. That happens after Will Poulter’s Erik loses his grip, with the ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’ star giving perhaps the most complicated performance in the film as a smart commanding officer who suddenly finds himself barely able to function at the worst time possible.
While the rest of the platoon does feature some familiar faces under their helmets, masks, and grime (Joseph Quinn and Noah Centineo among them), the actors stand out not for individual character moments but for their credibility as an ensemble – they certainly make you believe you’re watching a well-trained, well-organized group of soldiers who are doing their best to follow orders, protect each other, and stay alive.
Final Thoughts
Directors Ray Mendoza and Alex Garland’s ‘Warfare’. Photo: A24.
It’s difficult to say where Garland’s direction leaves off and Mendoza’s begins, but we’re guessing that the latter worked more directly with the actors based on his experience, while Garland handled the technical and practical side of the filmmaking, expanding on the expertise he’s developed on films like ‘Civil War’ and ‘Annihilation.’ Either way, it’s a seamless effort, aided immensely by the immersive cinematography of David J. Thompson, the precision editing of Fin Oates, the production design by Mark Digby, and especially the gut-churning sound design of Glenn Freemantle.
The result is a movie that defies standard Hollywood filmmaking conventions, and while some may find that jarring, well, we have no doubt that “jarring” doesn’t begin to cover the real experiences that Mendoza and his comrades went through. And even without political context or attempts at standard character journeys, ‘Warfare’ manages to bring forth the real cost of war for every human being involved with an incredible level of detail, horror, and authenticity. It’s brutal – as it should be.
“Everything is based on memory.”
Showtimes & Tickets
A platoon of Navy SEALs embarks on a dangerous mission in Ramadi, Iraq, with the chaos and brotherhood of war retold through their memories of the event. Read the Plot
What is the plot of ‘Warfare’?
A platoon of Navy SEALS on a mission in insurgent-held territory during the Iraq War find themselves trapped in an apartment building by hostile forces and forced to wait for extraction.
Who is in the cast of ‘Warfare’?
- D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai as Ray Mendoza
- Will Poulter as Erik
- Cosmo Jarvis as Elliot Miller
- Joseph Quinn as Sam
- Kit Connor as Tommy
- Michael Gandolfini as Lt. McDonald
- Noah Centineo as Brian
- Evan Holtzman as Brock
- Charles Melton as Jake
Directors Ray Mendoza and Alex Garland’s ‘Warfare’. Photo: A24.
Other Alex Garland Movies:
Buy Tickets: ‘Warfare’ Movie ShowtimesBuy Alex Garland Movies on Amazon
by admin | Apr 7, 2025 | Articles, Moviephone Articles
(L to R) Jean Smart and Hannah Einbinder in Season 4 of ‘Hacks’. Photograph by Courtesy of Max.
‘Hacks’ Season 4 receives 8 out of 10 stars.
Arriving on Max with its first two episodes on April 10th (a further eight arrive weekly except for one other two-episode block for Emmy eligibility reasons), ‘Hacks’ returns with a fourth season on the back of considerable awards success.
And there is good news for fans, who will find the show’s prickly, funny energy undimmed as the leads, played by Jean Smart and Hannah Einbinder, bicker and find ways to work together.
Related Article: 10 Things We Learned at the ‘Hacks’ Season 4 Press Conference
Will ‘Hacks’ Season 4 stand up to criticism?
(L to R) Jean Smart and Helen Hunt in Season 4 of ‘Hacks’. Photograph by Courtesy of Max.
‘Hacks’ has become, on awards haul alone, one of the more successful comedies of recent years, all the more impressive when you consider that, outside of some network heavy hitters and the occasional surprise such as ‘Nobody Wants This,’ the genre has seemed to struggle.
And with Season 4 now arriving on screens, the pressure is on further, since ‘Hacks’ not only has to keep flying the genre flag, but has to live up to three successful previous seasons. It’s a relief to note, then, that the laughs keep coming, and the heart also remains in the show.
Script and Direction
(L to R) Hannah Einbinder and Jean Smart in Season 4 of ‘Hacks’. Photograph by Courtesy of Max.
Perhaps the biggest plus for the new season is the spine of the Deborah Vance character facing up to the challenges of actually creating and hosting a new show in the competitive late-night sphere. She’s landed the white whale… now she has to make it work for her.
As usual, creators Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs and Jen Statsky have crafted an excellent throughline for the season, and are clearly comfortable with their two headstrong leads. The brash and veteran Vance facing off with the nervy, entitled Ava Daniels is one that keeps on delivering year after year.
And turning them into more conventional workmates, with concerns including what coffee machine to stock in the offices of the new show and recruiting/managing a group of fresh new writers works wonders on both a tension and comedy level.
(L to R) Megan Stalter and Paul W. Downs in Season 4 of ‘Hacks’. Photograph by Courtesy of Max.
There is still the gently satirical look at life on different ends of the comedy writer spectrum, but the new dynamic also makes the traditional fall-out-make-up rhythm for Deborah and Ava work without feeling like it is treading over too familiar territory.
Though the new characters have yet to make much of an impression in the early episodes initially provided to press (they are, to be honest, smaller supporting roles designed to drive the comedy between the main duo forwards), they’re still fun.
And the team hasn’t forgotten about the carefully constructed world around Deborah and Ava, with the rest of the ensemble still enjoying solid storylines.
While ‘Hacks’ has never been a show to fall back on visual tricks, the directing team, led by Aniello in particular, always find ways to make it interesting, with Deborah’s panic nightmares about the show brought to screens in convincing fashion.
Cast and Performances
(L to R) Hannah Einbinder and Jean Smart in Season 4 of ‘Hacks’. Photograph by Courtesy of Max.
There is a reason that Jean Smart has won so many trophies for playing Deborah Vance –– the role is such a good fit for her. And in Season 4, she continues to spit venom when needed, but still comes across as a rounded human being with her own hopes, ambitions and needs. A moment later in the season where she explodes in frustration about a big change in her staff and her business gives her such good material to chew on; and chew on it she does, that scene is going straight on the actor’s Emmy submission.
As Ava, Hannah Einbinder continues to walk the tricky path of the character potentially coming across as annoying and whiny and seeing her point of view. Like most of the characters, Ava has evolved as she’s spent time in Deborah’s orbit and Season 4 offers some prime moments, especially where she’s trying to justify her own sneaky way of becoming head writer on the new show –– and trying to assert her own power still.
Around the central pair, there is the delightful regular ensemble, especially co-creator Paul W. Downs as Jimmy, the endlessly frazzled and frustrated manager, who must wrangle both Deborah’s titanic ego and Ava’s many neuroses.
(L to R) Meg Stalter and Paul W. Downs in Season 4 of ‘Hacks’. Photograph by Courtesy of Max.
He, as ever is both helped and hindered by Megan Stalter’s Kayla, his former assistant and now his business partner in a new management company who he both cherishes and regrets ever dealing with. Stalter is a comedic sniper, channeling Kayla’s oddball energy and lighting up every scene she’s in.
And Deborah’s staff, especially Mark Indelicato’s Damien and Carl Clemons-Hopkins as Marcus, continue to impress in their smaller roles.
The show also has the usual series of cameos, though those are something we won’t spoil –– they’re all entertaining, though, especially one returning character from an earlier season in a position of power where they really don’t belong, and who helps Deborah out of a tricky situation.
Final Thoughts
(L to R) Jean Smart and Hannah Einbinder in Season 4 of ‘Hacks’. Photograph by Courtesy of Max.
Some will accuse ‘Hacks’ fourth season of going through some familiar motions, especially in regard to Deborah and Ava, but the storyline of the late-night show and some fresh moments for several characters means it still works.
‘Hacks’ is one of the most reliable comedies on TV, and the new season does nothing to change that.
“Better late than never.”
What is the plot of ‘Hacks’ season 4?
In season 4, tensions rise as Deborah (Jean Smart) and Ava (Hannah Einbinder) endeavor to get their late night show off the ground and make history doing it.
Who is in the cast of ‘Hacks’ season 4?
- Jean Smart as Deborah Vance
- Hannah Einbinder as Ava Daniels
- Carl Clemons-Hopkins as Marcus
- Megan Stalter as Kayla Schaefer
- Paul W. Downs as Jimmy LuSaque Jr.
- Rose Abdoo as Josefina
- Mark Indelicato as Damien
‘Hacks’ season 4 premieres April 10th on Max.
Other TV Shows Similar to ‘Hacks’:
Buy Jean Smart Movies On Amazon
by admin | Apr 6, 2025 | Articles, Moviephone Articles
(L to R) Jack Black as Steve, Danielle Brooks as Dawn and Jason Momoa as Garrett in Warner Bros. Pictures’ and Legendary Pictures’ ‘A Minecraft Movie,’ a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures. Copyright: © 2025 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.
‘A Minecraft Movie’ receives 6 out of 10 stars.
In theaters on April 4th, ‘A Minecraft Movie’ adapts the wildly popular (at least, a few years ago, before the likes of ‘Fortnite’ and ‘Roblox’ took over) video game where players can craft whatever they want in the blocky universe known as the “Overworld.”
While some recent game adaptations have triumphed through finding a unique way into the story, ‘A Minecraft Movie’ has only occasional nods towards that, preferring instead to appeal to its young-skewing audience via bombastic action and comedy.
Related Article: Danielle Brooks Talks Video Game Adaptation ‘A Minecraft Movie’
Does ‘A Minecraft Movie’ build something that works?
(L to R) Jason Momoa as Garrett “The Garbage Man” Garrison, Sebastian Hansen as Henry, Danielle Brooks as Dawn and Emma Myers as Natalie in Warner Bros. Pictures’ and Legendary Pictures’ ‘A Minecraft Movie,’ a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures. Copyright: © 2025 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Video game adaptations were tarred for years with a lack of success, and to be clearer, a lack of understanding what really needs to happen with you convert something from one medium to another. Then, the likes of ‘Detective Pikachu,’ Netflix’s ‘Arcane,’ the burgeoning ‘Sonic the Hedgehog’ franchise and even ‘The Super Mario Bros. Movie’ proved that it could work –– though that last one is more box office behemoth than true creative challenge.
Along the same lines; albeit product rather than game, is ‘The LEGO Movie,’ which showed that it you find the right creators, who hit upon a great idea, you can end up with something really special, particularly if it’s people who don’t treat the source material like gospel to be taken fully successfully.
It’s that last entry to which we might best compare ‘A Minecraft Movie’, though put up against the sheer lunatic invention of ‘LEGO,’ the new offering certainly falls a lot shorter, with fewer points with which to recommend it.
Script and Direction
(L to R) Director Jared Hess and Sebastian Hansen on the set of Warner Bros. Pictures’ and Legendary Pictures’ ‘A Minecraft Movie,’ a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Kristy Griffin. Copyright: © 2025 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.
It’s normal for a project that has been in development for as long as the ‘Minecraft’ outing to boast contributions from a laundry list of writers –– let’s be honest, even the successful ones usually come to screens with a host of uncredited input by funny/professional people. Yet with five people listed on the screenplay: Chris Bowman, Hubbel Palmer, Neil Widener, Gavin James and Chris Galletta, you might expect ‘A Minecraft Movie’ to have come through with a few more original ideas.
Yet for all the concepts drawn from within the game (build anything you can imagine from the blocky source fodder of the “Overworld” and the various creatures/characters who populate the game), this still falls back on some awfully familiar structures, including Hunt for the Object, the Villain who Hates Everything the Heroes Care About and Seeks to Destroy it and the Coming of Age/Believe in Yourself storylines.
(L to R) Jason Momoa and director Jared Hess on the set of Warner Bros. Pictures’ and Legendary Pictures’ ‘A Minecraft Movie,’ a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Kristy Griffin. Copyright: © 2025 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.
What we have here is essentially a remix of those, and while, yes, a lot of films of this genre go for that, it’s how you use them. ‘A Minecraft Movie,’ while sometimes poking fun at the ideas, goes the fairly basic route. Some of the gags land (largely sold by the performers, more on that below), but the whole is less than the sum of its parts. And some of the parts feel awfully second-hand.
As a director, Jared Hess has put out fiercely original, goofy takes on life such as his breakout ‘Napoleon Dynamite,’ and he does manage to bring some of his offbeat comic energy to the film. It’s also credit to him and his team that the world comes across as decent, as opposed to the rushed, cloudy CG-scapes that have brought the likes of ‘Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania’ low.
Still, there remains the feeling that ‘Minecraft’ has seen Hess’ voice fed through the studio machine to some degree.
Cast and Performances
(L to R) Emma Myers as Natalie, Danielle Brooks as Dawn, Sebastian Hansen as Henry and Jason Momoa as Garrett in Warner Bros. Pictures’ and Legendary Pictures’ ‘A Minecraft Movie,’ a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures. Copyright: © 2025 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.
If there’s one element that feels like it drives everything else, it’s the paired zaniness of Jack Black and Jason Momoa.
Black, of course, is bringing his usual manic energy to the role of Steve, the crafter who found his way to the Overworld and in it, discovered what he was looking for (alongside a loyal, blocky wolf companion named Dennis).
If you’re not a fan of Black’s particular, enthusiastic and occasionally musical delivery, you’ll probably be turned off by his wild-eyed posturing and his gesticulating. But vibe with him (and a lot of the kid audience already does) and he brings the role to vivid life, managing to be silly and heartfelt in one package.
Jason Momoa, meanwhile, has proved in the past that he can lean into weirdness when called upon, and here his Garrett, a shaggy-haired, pink-tasseled leather jacket-wearing wannabe badass is another solid comic creation for the actor to bring to life. By turns fake-macho and sensitive, he wouldn’t be out of place in the world of video game documentary ‘The King of Kong’ and he’s just on the right side of annoying as to be watchable.
Jennifer Coolidge in Warner Bros. Pictures’ and Legendary Pictures’ ‘A Minecraft Movie,’ a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures. Copyright: © 2025 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Also on a comic vibe –– though sidelined to such a degree as to almost be completely detached from the narrative at points –– is Jennifer Coolidge, whose kooky energy serves her well as Vice Principal Marlene, who ends up on a dinner date with one of the Minecraft characters who makes it into the real world and chews on her lines almost as much as her meal.
Elsewhere, the other human characters such as Emma Myers’ Natalie and Sebastian Hansen’s Henry are there to provide the heart, which makes them much blander, though they do get their moments.
And while her specific comedy vibe is mostly wasted, Danielle Brooks also has one or two decent gags.
On the villainous side, we have the always-reliable Rachel House (‘Thor: Ragnarok’ and many of Taika Waititi’s other movies), who voices piggy witch Malgosha, a creature with a dark, destructive agenda. She might not sound all that threatening, but she sells the character’s comic business, particularly during a climatic showdown with Black’s Steve.
Final Thoughts
(L to R) Jack Black, Jason Momoa and Sebastian Hansen in Warner Bros. Pictures’ and Legendary Pictures’ ‘A Minecraft Movie,’ a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures. Copyright: © 2025 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.
‘A Minecraft Movie’ never hits the heights of ‘The LEGO Movie,’ but it’s certainly more willing to take risks than Illumination’s ‘Mario’ effort.
Definitely aimed more at younger audiences (this is a real case of “parents, ask your kids,” it’s overstuffed and under-considered, but does the job.
What is the plot of ‘A Minecraft Movie’?
Four misfits—Garrett “The Garbage Man” Garrison (Jason Momoa), Henry (Sebastian Hansen), Natalie (Emma Myers) and Dawn (Danielle Brooks)—find themselves struggling with ordinary problems when they are suddenly pulled through a mysterious portal into the Overworld: a bizarre, cubic wonderland that thrives on imagination. To get back home, they’ll have to master this world (and protect it from evil things like piglins and zombies, too) while embarking on a magical quest with an unexpected, expert crafter, Steve (Jack Black). Together, their adventure will challenge all five to be bold and to reconnect with the qualities that make each of them uniquely creative…the very skills they need to thrive back in the real world.
Who is in the cast of ‘A Minecraft Movie’?
- Jason Momoa as Garrett “The Garbage Man” Garrison
- Jack Black as Steve
- Emma Myers as Natalie
- Danielle Brooks as Dawn
- Sebastian Hansen as Henry
- Jennifer Coolidge as Vice Principal Marlene
- Rachel House as Malgosha
Warner Bros. Pictures’ and Legendary Pictures’ ‘A Minecraft Movie,’ a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures. Copyright: © 2025 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.
List of Jared Hess Movies and TV Shows:
Buy Tickets: ‘A Minecraft Movie’ Movie ShowtimesBuy Jared Hess Movies On Amazon
by admin | Apr 2, 2025 | Articles, Moviephone Articles
(L to R) Naomi Watts and Bill Murray in Bleecker Street’s ‘The Friend’. Photo Credit: Bleecker Street.
‘The Friend’ receives 8.5 out of 10 stars.
Opening in theaters exclusively in New York on March 28th, before opening nationwide on April 4th is ‘The Friend,’ directed by Scott McGehee and David Siegel, and starring Naomi Watts, Bill Murray, Sara Pidgeon, Carla Gugino, Constance Wu, Noma Dumezweni, Ann Dowd, Felix Solis, and Bing as Apollo.
Related Article: Bill Murray and Naomi Watts Talk ‘The Friend’ and Acting with a Dog
Initial Thoughts
(L to R) Bing and Naomi Watts in Bleecker Street’s ‘The Friend’. Photo credit: Bleecker Street.
Based on a 2018 novel by Sigrid Nunez, ‘The Friend’ is a relative rarity in today’s Hollywood landscape: an adult comedy-drama about subjects like love, loneliness, relationships, grief, and loss. Reminiscent in some ways of several Woody Allen’s better efforts in this field, this adaptation by writers-directors Scott McGehee and David Siegel (‘What Maisie Knew’) is funny, moving, bittersweet, and completely absorbing, with a strong cast headed by an excellent Naomi Watts and Bill Murray.
It’s also a story about the wonder and mystery of the way in which humans and animals can bond, bolstered by a fantastic performance from a Great Dane named Bing. If there was an Oscar for “best performance by an animal,” this majestic animal would win hands down. He steals the show and will steal the viewer’s heart as well, making ‘The Friend’ one of the better movies we’ve seen about a person and their animal companion in a long time.
Story and Direction
(L to R) Naomi Watts and Bill Murray in Bleecker Street’s ‘The Friend’. Photo Credit: Bleecker Street.
After a brief opening scene at a very Allen-esque dinner party presided over by famed novelist Walter (Bill Murray), ‘The Friend’ flashes forward sometime later to Walter’s memorial service. It appears he has taken his own life, leaving behind two ex-wives (and a current one), a daughter he’s only recently reconnected with, several friends and former lovers, and a large Great Dane named Apollo (Bing), who he found while jogging under the Brooklyn Bridge one day and took home. But his third wife, Barbara (Noma Dumezweni), doesn’t want the dog, and as it turns out, Walter has bequeathed the canine – much to her shock and surprise — to his dear friend and former student, Iris (Naomi Watts).
Iris, a writer and teacher herself, lives alone in a tiny, rent-controlled Manhattan apartment, but sheltering a large dog like Apollo is a problem for her in more ways than one: the building doesn’t allow dogs, as the super (Felix Solis) constantly reminds her, and she could be in danger of losing her place if she doesn’t find a home for him. But even as Iris desperately tries to find a new home for Apollo, while also grappling with the aftermath of Walter’s death and the task of co-editing with his daughter (Sarah Pidgeon) a book of his voluminous correspondence, something strange begins to happen: she and Apollo, both heartbroken over losing their friend, start to form a bond – even if he initially wreaks havoc in her apartment, takes over her bed, and refuses to eat his food.
‘The Friend’ is about what it’s like to lose someone you love unexpectedly, and how you reconcile your feelings about that person with the truths you come to know about them. Walter is a difficult man and a serial womanizer, yet everyone in his orbit is in one way or another deeply affected by the gravity of his passing. Iris wrestles with the loss of her deep friendship with Walter, her annoyance with his flaws (in particular, his tendency to sleep with his female students), and the status of her own life, all of which become somehow crystallized in her developing relationship with the somber Apollo.
(Left) ‘The Friend’ co-writer and co-director Scott McGehee. Photo credit: Bleecker Street. (Right) ‘The friend’ co-writer and co-director David Siegel. Photo credit: Bleecker Street.
It’s a poignant but also funny tale, set in a community of academics and writers who take the craft of writing and its role in their lives seriously (which feels like a throwback in our current social media-besotted era). The movie is also a love letter to New York City, which McGehee, Siegel, and cinematographer Giles Nuttgens shoot fabulously: the many Manhattan locations are filmed in crisp, bright fashion, while places like Iris’s building and her apartment have a ring of realism that doesn’t always manifest in NYC-set movies. For anyone who has dealt with finding or keeping an apartment in the Big Apple, that aspect of ‘The Friend’ reverberates.
Most importantly, we come to care deeply for Iris, Apollo, and their shared grief and dilemma, while appreciating the presence of the many characters who are part of Iris’s life. The film’s only real stumble is in its final stretch: perhaps in a nod to the book – which is written as an imaginary conversation between the Iris and Walter characters (who are unnamed) – Iris has a sort of fantasy sequence in which her unspoken conflicts and feelings come to the fore. It’s stagey and artificial after the otherwise everyday texture of the rest of the film. And then there’s one final scene that feels shamelessly manipulative.
Cast and Performances
(L to R) Bill Murray and Naomi Watts in Bleecker Street’s ‘The Friend’. Photo Credit: Bleecker Street.
Naomi Watts, in some ways underrated these days, delivers a marvelous, stirring performance here as Iris. Pulled in several different directions, she provides a clear-eyed portrait of a woman who is holding things together even as she struggles with conflicting goals and priorities. Her natural warmth and humor shine through, particularly in her interactions with Bill Murray. Although only onscreen for a limited time, Murray is in relatively sober form here, while still infusing Walter with the wit, charisma, and huge personality that makes it easy to appreciate why so many people stay in his orbit.
The rest of the cast is filled out in excellent fashion, with Constance Wu, Noma Dumezweni, and Carla Gugino sharply defined as Walter’s three wives (it’s always nice to see Gugino in something outside a horror or action thriller) and Felix Solis affecting as Hektor, the guilt-ridden yet compassionate super in Iris’s building. But the VIP of the movie – next to Watts and Murray – is undoubtedly Bing, the dog who plays Apollo. With his big body and incredibly expressive eyes, Bing magically tells us everything we need to know about Apollo; and while many things about animals are truly unknowable, his initially painful grief and gradual affection for Iris are palpable and poignant.
Final Thoughts
(L to R) Naomi Watts and Bing in Bleecker Street’s ‘The Friend’. Photo credit: Bleecker Street.
Except for that wobbly ending, ‘The Friend’ is a profound, compassionate look at how we navigate change and loss in our lives as we get older. Scott McGehee and David Siegel have taken literary material that may not necessarily be easy to adapt and brought it to the screen in captivating fashion. And we dare anyone not to be moved by the relationship between Iris and Apollo, especially with the latter’s emotional life just as involving and complex as the actor starring opposite him. Keep your friends close, the story seems to say, but perhaps keep your animal friends even closer.
Showtimes & Tickets
Writer and teacher Iris finds her comfortable, solitary New York life thrown into disarray after her closest friend and mentor bequeaths her his beloved 150 lb…. Read the Plot
What is the plot of ‘The Friend’?
Iris (Naomi Watts) has had a long, complex friendship with Walter (Bill Murray). Walter is an irresistible charmer, a brilliant author, a lover of many women, and a master at letting down loved ones. When he dies suddenly, Iris is left to deal with all he left behind — three ex-wives (Carla Gugino, Constance Wu and Noma Dumezweni) with unfinished business, his interrupted literary legacy, and his beloved beast Apollo (Bing). It’s not that Iris doesn’t like dogs, but this is Manhattan, and she’ll get kicked out of her building if they find out she’s pretty much trying to house a horse.
Who is in the cast of ‘The Friend’?
- Naomi Watts as Iris
- Bill Murray as Walter
- Sarah Pidgeon as Val
- Constance Wu as Tuesday
- Ann Dowd as Marjorie
- Noma Dumezweni as Barbara
- Felix Solis as Hektor
- Owen Teague as Carter
- Carla Gugino as Elaine
- Gina Costigan as Jocelyn
- Josh Pais as Jerry
‘The Friend’ will exclusively open in New York theaters on March 28th, before opening nationwide on April 4th. Photo credit: Bleecker Street.
List of Scott McGehee and David Siegel Movies:
Buy Tickets: ‘The Friend’ Movie ShowtimesBuy Bill Murray Movies on AmazonBuy Naomi Watts Movies on Amazon
