In The Land Of Saints And Sinners

2023 Samuel Goldwyn Films

Rated: R

Length: 1 hr 45min

Action ~ Crime ~ Thriller ~ Western

Starring: Liam Neeson, Kerry Condon, Jack Gleeson, Colm Meaney and Ciarán Hinds.

“A Saint’s gotta be a Sinner first.”

Liam Neeson stars as Finbar Murphy, a hit man quietly living in Glencomcille in Donegal, Ireland. Finbar masquerades as a bookseller and lives a sedentary life amongst the locals and is friends with the local Police Officer Vincent O’Shea (Ciarán Hinds). Secretly he does contract killing for the local crime boss Robert McQue (Colm Meaney). When Finbar returned home from WW II he found that his wife had died while he was away fighting. He fell into the bottle, having fallen into an alcohol-fueled deep dark depression. Robert convinced him to put his war talents to use and become a hitman for him. Finbar takes on a job kidnapping an ex-hitman from the town of Bantry. Troubled by the man’s words before Finbar kills him, he tells Robert afterwards he is done with killing. He wants to lead a quieter, richer life and help people, not off them.

As Robert is starting his new retirement from being an assassin, a group of IRA members have found their way to the quiet little seaside town. They have extended family there and are on the lam, being wanted for a bombing that killed three innocent children. They hole up in their sister-in-law Sinéad’s barn who works at the local tavern that Finbar frequents. Finbar runs into Sinéad’s daughter Moya fishing along the road and notices her bruised wrists. He eventually gets her to tell him who did this to her and she confesses it was one of the strangers staying in her Mom’s barn. Finbar asks Robert for advice in the matter, being very upset that one of them was hurting and abusing the child.

Robert decides to take matters into his own hands and do one more unsanctioned hit by kidnapping and killing the stranger named Curtis. As Curtis is forced out of the trunk of the car, he lashes at Finbar with a knife he had hidden. As the struggle ensues, Kevin (Jack Gleeson) who is Finbar’s protégé, happens onto the scene and helps Finbar. Doireann (Kerry Condon), the leader of the band of IRA members, starts to suspect foul play when Curtis disappears and tries to find out information about the town and the local crime scene. Which eventually leads her to Robert and the knowledge that Robert and Finbar know who and what she is. And that Finbar is responsible for Curtis’s disappearance.

What follows is a hunt and chase through the Irish sea bound countryside as Finbar and Kevin, and Doireann and her gang search each other out. It is classic Liam (which I found out is short for William) Neeson doing what he does best. And doing a FINE JOB OF IT AS WELL I might add. Colm Meaney and Ciarán Hinds are familiar faces, both being Irish actors you’ve seen in a lot of movies. Both very likeable in this movie. Jack Gleeson does a great job playing the young hired assassin who dreams of a better life in California. Kerry Condon, another Irish actor, deserves a shout out in this, absolutely marvelous job of portraying the hardened IRA member fighting and killing in the name of a free Ireland. A complete bad-ass full of anger and vulgarity with no scruples when it comes to the cause.

The movie was shot entirely in Ireland with all Irish Actors and an all Irish film crew. The director wanted to do it that way to add to the realism of the movie. It is a story about “The Troubles ” in Ireland in the 1970’s, the political upheaval and merciless killings and bombings. It is definitely Irish, complete with heavy Irish brogue dialogue that can be hard to understand. Think Irish before you watch it, practice your accent. It will help with understanding the dialogue. The scenery is beautiful along the rocky coastline, and the quiet little towns. It reminds me of an old Western movie with Liam being the cowboy who brings the bad guys to justice on his terms.

I really enjoyed this movie, being a fan of Liam Neeson I think this is one of his better movies. Again, I really liked Kerry Condon in this as well. I would recommend this one, especially if you like Liam Neeson and Ireland, it does center around the troubled history of the 1970’s and The IRA.

Highly Recommended! (Two in a row!-The Piano Lesson)

TWO THUMBS UP!

Heart Of Stone

2023 Netflix

Rated: PG-13

Length: 2 hr 2min

Action ~ Crime ~ Spy ~ Thriller

Directed by: Tom Harper

Starring: Gal Gadot, Jamie Dornan, Alia Bhatt, Sophie Okonedo, and Matthias Schweighöfer.

HEART OF STONE: An unfriendly or unkind disposition. “She had a Heart of Stone.”

Gal Gadot stars as MI6 Field technician Rachel Stone. Rachel and her team are in the Italian Alps to capture Mulvaney, a wanted arms dealer. They are in a casino resort high up on the top of a mountain where there is a livestream of a Navy Seals operation being broadcast. Mulvaney and the other guests are there to place bets on the outcome. The extraction of Mulvaney doesn’t go as planned and a gunfight breaks out. Parker (Jamie Dornan) manages to get Mulvaney out of the casino and into the cable car amidst the fighting and head down the mountain. Stone slips away and contacts………..

Jack Of Hearts (Matthias Schweighöfer) who, using his very sophisticated extensive computer simulation in real time, guides her down the mountain from his location in London. It is very impressive how Jack of Hearts assists Stone from that far away. It is an action and suspense filled trip down the mountain as Stone deals with every obstacle in her way with Jack’s assistance. As she races down the mountain, the rest of her MI6 team is also trying to get to the bottom to intercept Parker and Mulvaney before a security team reaches them. It is an adrenaline filled race as all three parties try to get to Mulvaney and Parker first.

It is a spy thriller and I can’t talk anymore about the plot without giving things away. Nobody is who you think they are, there are many surprises as the movie unfolds. Stone is called “Nine of Hearts” and referred to as “Heart of Stone” given her cold blooded approach to doing her job. Who does Rachel Stone work for? Does MI6 call her “Nine of Hearts” Who does Jack of Hearts work for? These are questions that get answered as the movie unfolds, and you have to watch for that as it get very tricky following who is who and doing what for what reason. And just when you think you have it figured out…….

I loved Matthias Schweighöfer in Army of Thieves and Army of The Dead, although I liked Army of Thieves much better than Army of The Dead. When I found out that Matthias also directed Army of Thieves, as well as starring in it, I was very impressed and made a mental note to keep an eye out for him. I really like him in this as well, great job, one of my new favorite actors (Top ten lists coming soon!). I just re-watched and reviewed Red Notice and really like Gal Gadot in it and decided to watch her in this movie. Excellent job of portraying Rachel Stone, the bad-ass spy holding her own against anyone in any situation. Kind of like a female James Bond.

It is non-stop action, a tremendous thrill ride full of twists and turns you don’t see coming. It has a lot of modern James Bond type technology that I love to watch and see in a movie. The plot line is a familiar one, but it is what spies do, it is their job to keep the bad guys from getting their hands on things they shouldn’t have and stop them from using them to destroy the world as we know it.

I would DEFINATELY watch this again.

Highly Recommended!

Two Thumbs Up!!

Red Notice

2021 Netflix

Rated: PG-13

Length: 1 hr 58min

Action ~ Comedy ~ Thriller

Directed by: Rawson Marshall Thurber

Starring: Dwayne Johnson, Ryan Reynolds, Gal Gadot and Ritu Arya.

RED NOTICE: The highest level of arrest warrant issued by The International Police Organization (INTERPOL). Reserved for the world’s most wanted criminals.

Though many know the tragic love story of Antony and Cleopatra, the wayward Roman general who fell madly in love with the enchanting Egyptian queen, both of them taking their lives rather than face a world without each other, few know the secret story of the most sought-after prize and unsolved puzzle of their time. The mystery of Cleopatra’s third egg. On their wedding day, as a symbol of his undying devotion, Mark Antony presented Cleopatra with three bejeweled eggs, each one more exquisite than the last. For centuries, these eggs were thought to be nothing more than myth, a rumor. But then, in 1907, just outside of Cairo, a local farmer unearthed two of them.

Cleopatra’s first egg is on display for all to see at the world-famous Museo Nazionale di Castel Sant’Angelo in Rome. The second egg has been sold at auction numerous times and currently is held in a private collection. Some say the third egg was never found. Others claim it was discovered, but just as quickly lost, never to be seen again. Join us as we explore that very question. What happened to Cleopatra’s lost egg? Who may hold it in their possession? And most importantly, will we ever see the day in which all three eggs are reunited for the first time in over 2,000 years?

Ryan Reynolds stars as Nathan Booth, the world’s second most wanted art thief. As the movie starts he is making a copy of Cleopatra’s first egg which is on display at the National Art Museum in Rome. Thanks to an anonymous tip Interpol Agent Urvashi Das (Ritu Arya), accompanied by FBI Profiler John Hartley (Dwayne Johnson), swarms the museum with an entourage of Police and agents, convinced that Cleopatra’s egg is to be stolen today. John Hartley doubts the authenticity of the egg on display and pours coke over it and it promptly melts.

They immediately rush to seal the room but Nathan Booth, who has stolen the egg, escapes and is chased by John. Eventually, after a high action chase through the museum and construction scaffolding, Nathan loses John and escapes to his house in Bali. As he opens up the suitcase to reveal his newest prize possession, The stolen Cleopatra egg, he is surprised by John Hartley and Interpol Agent Das who promptly arrest him and take possession of the egg. As John Hartley is putting the egg in it’s protective case in the back of the armored police vehicle and walks to the front to get in, it is stolen and replaced with a fake by……..

The Bishop (Gal Gadot), the world’s most wanted art thief, and Nathan Booth’s Arch Nemesis. What follows is a globe trotting adventure full of action and comedic one liners as Nathan Booth, The Bishop, Agent Das and John Hartley all pursue Cleopatra’s infamous three eggs and each other. Ryan Reynold’s is in top form with his wise cracks and comedic one-liners. Dwayne Johnson is The Rock we all know from his other movies, able to fight and throw out one-liners to equal Ryan’s at the same time. Gal Gadot is a beautiful, sexy, smart and talented art thief who holds her own against any man physically as she outwits Nathan and John.

It is a familiar story with a twist. Think The DaVinci Code, The Indiana Jones movies, Mission Impossible, The Man from Uncle….I swear some of the soundtrack sounded like Mission Impossible with a couple of different notes just to avoid copyright, or maybe to pay homage. I think a scene at the end mimics and pays homage to one of The Indiana Jones movies. There are ALOT of twists and turns you don’t see coming. It really keeps you guessing and it is very entertaining. Lots of thrilling chase scenes and fights along the way. I have seen this movie at least three times now and I still enjoyed every minute of it.

There are rumor’s of a Red Notice 2 & 3 to fill out a trilogy but no official word. Red Notice 2 is unofficially supposed to have started production right about now but that’s all I the info I can find on that. The ending lends itself to a sequel, I would love to see it.

Highly Recommended!

Two Thumbs Up!

Memory

2022 Open Road Films

Rated: R

Length: 1 hr 54min

Action ~ Crime ~ Thriller

Directed by: Martin Campbell

Starring: Liam Neeson, Guy Pearce, Monica Bellucci, Harold Torres, Taj Atwal and Ray Fearon.

“His mind is fading. His conscience is clear.”

Liam Neeson as Alex Lewis, a hired hitman living in Mexico. He takes on an assignment for a double hit that will take him to El Paso, Texas. His brother has severe Alzheimer’s disease and lives in a nursing home there. Alex leaves for El Paso and stops off to see his brother before embarking on his two contract assignments. His brother is vacant minded and doesn’t acknowledge Alex’s presence. Alex talks to him anyway and presses an old quarter from 1969 into his hand. “Remember that year?, That was a good year.” Alex kisses him on the forehead and leaves for his two assignments.

The first is Ellis Van Camp, the manager of the central processing facility for immigrants in El Paso. Alex waits for him to be alone in his house before entering and forcing Ellis to open his home safe. Alex retrieves the flash drive from Ellis before shooting him and leaves. Alex’s next hit is a young female Mexican immigrant named Beatriz. She was taken from Ellis’s processing facility and placed in a foster home by the police officer that killed her pimp, Papa Leon. Upon entering in the night and seeing that she is a young girl, Alex leaves without killing her, drawing the line at “taking out” children.

He informs his client they need to “Cancel the contract” , but they won’t have it and put out a contract on Alex. So there are three stories going on here, and I’ll try not to give out any spoilers…….

There is the story of Alex dealing with the fast onset of Alzheimer’s Disease and losing his memory just like his brother. And his refusal to kill the girl and his desire to kill those who hired him to kill the girl. Also his desire to kill those who exploited the young girls in the prostitution ring as he watches what’s on the flash drive.
There is the story of the two El Paso police officers tracking the child prostitution ring where Beatriz came from and that Alex is also pursuing.
There is the story of the Police Officer assigned to the case in New Mexico, out of his jurisdiction, who is actually a vigilante seeking justice for the victims of the child prostitution ring who were mostly young girls abducted from Mexico.

It is a little difficult to follow in the beginning, as you watch different scenes unfold that seemingly have no common thread. As you watch remember they are all headed for the same child prostitution ring, they just don’t know it yet. And as the movie progresses their paths all cross. As Alex’s Alzheimer progresses he is forgetting things and having to write them on his forearm. And he is taking medication that has kept it at bay until now, but the pills are no longer being effective as the disease is very aggressive.

It is not one of Liam Neeson’s best but it isn’t his worst either. It was just alright. The storyline was pretty hard to follow, I didn’t put it all together until late in the movie. The action scenes weren’t that good, nor the plot. And some of the acting by the other actors wasn’t top notch. It felt pretty discombobulated as you jump from scene to scene not knowing what they have in common.

So yes, it’s worth a watch (maybe) but it is definitely a “One-off”. I wouldn’t watch it again.

One thumb up, the other down.

The Out-Laws

2023 Netflix

Rated: R

Length: 1 hr 35min

Action ~ Comedy ~ Crime

Directed by: Tyler Spindel

Starring: Adam DeVine, Nina Dobrev, Ellen Barkin, and Pierce Brosnan.

“First off stop crying. When I hear babies cry I start to lactate. I can’t ruin another suit.”

Adam DeVine stars as Owen Browning, a bank manager engaged to Parker McDermott (Nina Dobrev). The couple are set to marry in a couple of days and Owen has never met his in-laws because Parker’s parents have been in the Amazon jungle for a couple of years. BUT, out of the blue they call Parker and inform her they are coming into town for a visit and will be there for the wedding. They surprise Owen in their house after work having broken in to the locked house.

Parker is at work and Owen is in the kitchen putting groceries away singing at the top of his lungs how he is going to “boink” Parker tonight. And suddenly there they are, Billy and Lilly McDermott (Pierce Brosnan and Ellen Barkin). To sum it up, Owen’s bank is robbed and he starts to suspect that his in-laws might be the infamous “Ghost-Robbers” and responsible for the heist.

I tried but couldn’t make it all the way through the movie. I made it to the 37 minute mark mainly out of courtesy to Pierce Brosnan and Ellen Barkin. But, God bless them, even they couldn’t save this movie. I thought ,”Well….. I’ll finish it in the morning as I write the review.” I pulled it up on Netflix but couldn’t bear the thought of having to watch it, I tried. I fast forwarded it to see if it got any better, it didn’t. About the time I saw Adam DeVine enter a bank dressed up like Shrek complete with green skin and a water pistol, I was done.

I always put a tagline in my reviews to kind of sum up the movie. Not sure what the tagline for the movie is but when I saw the scene with Adam Devine and Lauren Lapkus, I watched just long enough to hear, “First off stop crying. When I hear babies cry I start to lactate. I can’t ruin another suit.” Yup, that sums it up. It is supposed to be a comedy, but it so full of pre-adolescent humor it was way too stupid and pathetic to laugh at. I felt sorry for Pierce and Ellen for having got involved in this mess of a movie.

Adam Sandler produced the movie and it seemed like there was a skeleton of a script and they just winged it with whatever direction seemed funny to him. I guess I don’t get his sense of humor. The biggest thing that turned me off right away that I couldn’t get past was Adam DeVine. Horrible. I had to quit watching Hubie Halloween because I couldn’t get past Adam Sandler’s voice as Hubie. Adam DeVine’s performance as Owen was terrible, reminded me of a really poor Jack Black impersonation. Just like Hubie, his whining voice and over the top acting attempt at being funny was just too annoying for me to hang.

It’s bad, really bad.

This marks the third movie I couldn’t hang with: