Knives Out

2019 Lionsgate Films

Rated: PG-13

Length: 2 hr 10min

Comedy ~ Crime ~ Drama ~ Mystery ~ Thriller ~ Whodunnit

Starring: Daniel Craig, Chris Evans, Ana de Armas, Jamie Lee Curtis, Michael Shannon, Don Johnson, Toni Collette, LaKeith Stanfield, Katherine Langford, Jaeden Martell, Christopher Plummer, Frank Oz, Riki Lindhome, Edi Patterson, K Callan, Noah Segan, M. Emmet Walsh, Marlene Forte and Joseph Gordon-Levitt.

Nothing Brings A Family Together Like Murder

Knives Out follows the wealthy Thrombey family in the aftermath of crime novelist Harlan Thrombey’s (Christopher Plummer) mysterious death at his sprawling estate. Detectives led by gentleman-sleuth Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) arrive to question the relatives, all of whom seem more interested in Harlan’s money than in mourning him. As Blanc listens in, it becomes clear that each family member is hiding something, and that the “suicide” might not be as straightforward as it looks.

At the heart of the story is Marta Cabrera (Ana de Armas), Harlan’s kind, soft-spoken nurse, who had a close, genuine bond with him that his own children (Jamie Lee Curtis, Michael Shannon, Don Johnson, Toni Collette) seem to lack. Marta throws up when she tries to lie, which turns her into both an unlikely ally and a walking truth-detector for Blanc. When the will is read and Marta unexpectedly becomes the main heir to Harlan’s fortune and mansion, the once-smug Thrombeys quickly turn on her, exposing their entitlement and desperation in very down-to-earth, almost darkly comic ways.

As pressure mounts, Marta finds herself scrambling to keep her own involvement with Harlan’s final hours hidden while also trying to do the right thing. Harlan’s black-sheep grandson Ransom (Chris Evans) steps in, acting like the only family member willing to help her, but his smug charm and sudden interest raise questions about his true motives. The investigation spirals into car chases, secret notes, and late-night meetings, all while Blanc patiently pieces together a timeline that keeps shifting as new details emerge.

Ana de Armas shines as Marta Cabrera, the immigrant nurse who’s equal parts heart and hidden steel in a house full of schemers. She plays her as genuinely kind and awkward, constantly fidgeting or throwing up when she tries to lie, which makes her the moral center everyone else orbits around. It’s a breakout role that lets her mix vulnerability with quiet smarts, turning what could be a side character into the emotional engine of the whole mystery. Her chemistry with Harlan (Christopher Plummer) feels real and earned, like the one authentic relationship in a family built on fakeness, which sets her up perfectly for the chaos when the will drops its bombshell. De Armas nails the outsider vibe too, soft-spoken accent, wide-eyed politeness that masks a fierce sense of right and wrong, making every scene she’s in crackle with tension and sympathy

A couple of minutes in watching Daniel Craig as Benoit Blanc, I forgot that it was Daniel Craig. Instead of just playing Daniel Craig with an accent, he disappears into Benoit Blanc completely. He leans hard into Benoit’s slow, drawling Southern charm, with a slightly goofy, theatrical edge, and it strips away all the cool, steely James Bond baggage we’re used to seeing almost immediately. The physicality helps too, looser posture, more expressive hands and face, and a kind of amused curiosity, so he feels like a quirky gentleman detective rather than an action star slumming it. The softness in his voice, the patience in his pacing, and the way he lets other characters fill the space all help you forget the actor and just track Blanc’s brain at work. It feels like watching a character from a classic mystery novel who has somehow wandered into a very modern, messy family drama, and Craig commits to that blend so completely that the star persona fades into the background.

Knives Out doesn’t just copy the old-school whodunnit formula, it updates it by blending classic mystery motifs with today’s social and political tensions. Rian Johnson builds the story around familiar elements, a big eccentric family, a sprawling mansion, and a quirky detective, but uses them to explore themes like privilege, immigration, and class conflict in a way that feels current rather than nostalgic. By flipping when and how key information is revealed, the film shifts the focus from simply guessing the killer to questioning motives, power dynamics, and who gets to claim the moral high ground, turning a cozy genre staple into something sharper and more reflective of the world viewers recognize now.

Knives Out is highly recommended for anyone who loves clever mysteries with bite. It nails the whodunit formula while delivering fresh laughs, stellar acting, and social commentary that doesn’t preach. You know what Bobby says:

Turn off the lights and devices,

Make some popcorn,

Grab a beverage,

and

Stream This Movie!

The Lost Bus

2025 Apple Original Films

Rated: R

Length: 2 hr 9min

Drama ~ Survival ~ Thriller ~ True Story

Directed by: Paul Greengrass

Starring: Matthew McConaughey, America Ferrera, Yul Vazquez, and Ashlie Atkinson.

Inspired By The True Story Of Survival.

The Lost Bus on Apple TV+ grips from the start as a harrowing true-story survival thriller, directed by Paul Greengrass and starring Matthew McConaughey as Kevin McKay, a down-on-his-luck school bus driver in Paradise, California. Set against the 2018 Camp Fire, the deadliest wildfire in state history, the film thrusts McKay into chaos when flames erupt during a routine school run, forcing him to evacuate 22 elementary kids with the help of quick-thinking teacher Mary Ludwig, played by America Ferrera. Greengrass’s kinetic, handheld style immerses viewers in the smoke-choked inferno, where every decision means life or death amid crumbling infrastructure and zero visibility.

McConaughey delivers a powerhouse performance, channeling raw vulnerability and grit as a flawed everyman rising to heroism, his Oklahoma drawl adding authentic texture to the role. Ferrera shines as the composed educator whose calm anchors the kids’ panic, their chemistry fueling tense, heartfelt exchanges that humanize the disaster. Supporting turns from young actors portraying the children bring genuine terror and resilience, while cameos like Steve Zahn add grounded support without stealing focus.

Technically, the film excels in building relentless suspense through practical effects and sound design, the roar of flames and kids’ cries create palpable dread, though some CGI fire sequences feel slightly artificial. Greengrass, known for United 93 and Captain Phillips, masterfully blends real-time urgency with emotional depth, exploring themes of community and redemption without veering into melodrama. Pacing never lags, clocking in at a taut 129 minutes that leaves you breathless.

Overall, The Lost Bus stands as a top-tier disaster drama with its pulse-pounding action, stellar leads, and inspirational true events. Perfect for thriller enthusiasts craving high-stakes heroism like 127 Hours, it’s a must-watch on Apple TV+.

Killer Heat

2024 Amazon MGM Studios

Rated: R

Length: 1 hr 36min

Crime ~ Drama ~ Mystery ~ Thriller

Directed by: Philippe Lacôte

Starring: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Shailene Woodley, and Richard Madden.

Jealousy can drive anyone to the edge.

Killer Heat is based on the short story The Jealousy Man by Jo Nesbø. It is from the 2021 book The Jealousy Man and Other Short Stories.

FROM JO NESBØ’S WEBSITE (www.jonesbo.com):

Jo Nesbo is the consummate mystery writer, and his talent for hair-raising suspense and shocking twists are on full display in this inventive and harrowing collection of stories.

A detective with a nose for jealousy is on the trail of a man suspected of murdering his twin; a woman finally overcomes her intimacy issues through a dark encounter with her Peeping Tom neighbor; a fugitive on the run in a remote corner of Norway is lured by a friendly local to what seems to be a wedding ceremony–only to find a much more macabre event.

Contained in this collection are stories of insatiable avarice, unscrupulous lovers, and heartrending fate. With Nesbo’s gift for outstanding atmosphere and complex characters, this is a veritable crime lover’s delight.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt stars as Private Detective Nick Bali. He is a former NYPD Detective who has relocated to his father’s empty apartment in Greece following the demise of his marriage. Haunted by the memory of events that led to his failed marriage, and of his daughter, he drinks heavily to block it out. “There’s a calculus to drinking. And if I get the math right, I’ll land in the perfect blackout. No Memories.” Intense jealousy on Nick’s part led to his wife’s cheating and the end of their marriage. It also helped him be a better private Investigator when it came to investigating marital issues between a couple. Through a friend who recommends him, he is contacted by……..

Penelope Vardakis (Shailene Woodley) to investigate the death of her brother-in-law’s identical twin brother Leo Vardakis. Leo and Penelope’s husband Elias were avid rock climbers, having been climbing since childhood. Growing up on the island of Crete with all it’s cliffs was an ideal playground for the two boys. Leo had been rock climbing a cliff Free Solo, which is ascending without any ropes or equipment, relying only on his hands covered in climbing chalk and climbing shoes. He was found at the bottom of the cliff after apparently having lost his footing and dropping 30 meters (100 feet).

Nick flies to Crete where he is met by Penelope who explains that she believes her brother-in-law’s death was no accident. And given the family’s wealth and stature on the island, she has hired him to secretly investigate the murder. Penelope has arranged for him to stay anonymously at a Monastery where she is good friends with the Monks who live there. He settles in and heads to town to start investigating and immediately runs into the Vardakis Family’s influence everywhere he turns. Being a highly successful Billionaire family with generational roots in Crete, they own or have their fingers in everything including the police, the government and the politicians.

This is a Contemporary Noir Thriller complete with voice-over narration by Nick the private eye every step of the way. It feels like those old black and white private eye movies from the past. It is well shot on location in Crete, Greece and is very picturesque. It is not what my dad would call a “Bang Bang shoot ’em up”. It is more of a slow burn as Nick narrates his investigation and findings, and as the plot unfolds. It is based upon the book The Jealousy Man by Norwegian Mystery Thriller Author Jo Nesbø.

I liked Joseph and Shailene in this, I thought it was a good mystery thriller with just enough twists and turns to keep you guessing. It is a slow burn but it kept me intrigued as it went along. I have come to like Jo Nesbo and his books, I would definitely recommend them. After all, he is a New York Times Bestselling Author. I personally think he is a good writer and really have enjoyed his books, he is now one of my favorite authors. I am also a fan of this Neo-noir Slow Burn Thriller and a huge fan of Shailene Woodley, and I think you should read Jo Nesbø and watch this movie!

After The Hunt

2025 Amazon MGM Studios

Rated: R

Length: 2 hr 18min

Drama ~ Psychological Thriller

Directed by: Luca Guadagnino

Starring: Julia Roberts, Ayo Edebiri, Andrew Garfield, Michael Stuhlbarg and Chloë Sevigny.

Not everything is supposed to make you comfortable.

FROM AMAZON PRIME:

AFTER THE HUNT is a gripping pychological thriller about a college professor (Julia Roberts) who finds herself at a personal and professional crossroads when a star student (Ayo Edebiri) levels an accusation against one of her colleagues (Andrew Garfield), and a dark secret from her own past threatens to come into the light.

“A Gripping Psychological Thriller…..”

I would hardly call it gripping, borderline boring, and definitely not thrilling. More of a “where is all this leading?” quandary as you watch and wonder. The very beginning of the movie starts out with the very loud ticking of a clock. So loud it was immediately annoying, and I had to pause the movie to make sure it wasn’t something else I was hearing. It wasn’t, it was in the movie soundtrack. It was odd because they didn’t even show a clock, I kept waiting for one. It seemed to last forever until it finally abated, only to show up obnoxiously halfway through the movie, just as loud. The only thing I can assume is that it was meant for dramatic effect, apparently to add a heightened sense of tension. Which, as far as I can tell, failed in it’s mission because it seemed to have no relation to the film or the storyline.

The Characters:

In the beginning, as we meet the characters in the movie, Alma (Julia Roberts) and her husband Frederik (Michael Stuhlbarg) are throwing a dinner party at their lavish house. Alma, Maggie (Ayo Edebiri) and Hank (Andrew Garfield) are engaged in a very philosophical debate about the current state of man and education. It came across as very contrived philosophy forced onto actors playing the part. Hank and Alma are both up for tenure at Yale, and Maggie is Alma’s brightest student. Hank and Alma were also lovers in the past, as we find out later in the movie, which is part of the supposed tension and drama. It didn’t really come across that way, although there was some solid chemistry between Julia and Andrew. Hubbie Frederik came across as a bit of a weirdo, it was hard to imagine that Julia and Michael were a married couple, more like The Odd Couple.

The Actors:

We all love Julia Roberts, hopefully. As I watched her I couldn’t help but compare her in this to some of her other roles like Pretty Woman, Ocean’s Eleven, The Pelican Brief, and one of my all time favorite movies, Erin Brokovich. I don’t think this role was right for her, although she did a fine job with it. I think that had more to do with the directing and the story itself. Andrew Garfield is a Streaming Movie Night Favorite: Hacksaw Ridge, We Live In Time, Spider Man….Andrew is a charismatic, lovable Character Actor. He does some fine dramatic acting in this movie, but again, some of it fell flat thanks to the directing. Ayo Edebiri as Maggie came across as contrived, clunky in her motions and scenes. People don’t act like that, pun intended, but again I think it was the script, story or the directing.

The Less Than Thrilling Drama:

I didn’t set out to bash this movie, although as I look at what I have written, it sure feels that way. There were scenes that really didn’t make sense to me, for example:

- Maggie rooting through the bathroom linen closest looking for toilet paper, ransacking the entire closet all the way to the bottom shelf. Then leaning over and in far enough to find the envelope Alma had taped to the underside of the shelf, to hide it from the world. Then opening it and taking something from inside it……
- Frederik getting upset at the dinner table with Maggie for no apparent reason, then turning into a complete ass, grabbing his plate and storming off. Then playing music at such a loud obnoxious volume…for what? That was not clear to me.
- Alma stealing blank prescriptions from her friend Dr. Sayers office and then forging a prescription for pain meds while she is trying to walk the straight and narrow line to a Tenure position at Yale. Doesn’t make sense.

I feel like I need to stop the bashing, again, that is not what I intended when I started writing this, but that is what I feel like I am doing. My expectations were high given the star power of Julia Roberts and Andrew Garfield. But for me, it didn’t deliver. They were great but the movie itself felt disjointed, and as a whole, contrived and over dramatized. Somewhere about an hour and a half into it I thought, “How long has it been, how long is this movie?” I was a little dismayed when I saw I still had a ways to go.

The hook at the end, the secret that Alma was hiding, the thing that Maggie discovered about Alma and tried to use against her, was anti-climatic. I think it was supposed to pull it all together but it just kind of fell flat. It was disappointing, I found myself thinking, “That’s it? That’s what I waded almost two and a half hours through…….for that?”

So while it features some great acting by Julia Roberts and Andrew Garfield, the direction and story felt like they missed the mark. In hindsight I do see what it could have been, a better movie…a great movie. But for me, it didn’t get there. I wouldn’t waste almost two and a half hours on After The Hunt again.

We Live In Time

New Movie After The Hunt Debuts On Prime Thursday November 20, 2025

AFTER THE HUNT

“People never lie so much as after a hunt, during a war, or before an election.”

–Otto Von Bismarck

FROM AMAZON MGM STUDIOS:

In Luca Guadagnino’s thriller, written by Nora Garrett, a devastating campus accusation unleashes a torrent of public and personal chaos that blurs the truth of what really happened beyond recognition. Secrets, deceptions, furies, and mixed agendas for the film’s five central characters soon collide in the morality tale that is After The Hunt. And as the tension mounts, the film becomes an intentional provocation, a mirror on this modern moment, probing the dynamics of power, privilege, community—and how they interplay with a whole host of human frailties.

After The Hunt tells the blisteringly psychological story of gifted, unapologetically ambitious philosophy professor Alma Imhoff, who is in an all-out bid for the tenure she knows her work merits. But when Alma’s prize student Maggie suddenly asks for help, levelling charges against Alma’s colleague and close friend Hank Gibson, it threatens to uncover Alma’s own long-buried private history.

Academy Award® winner Julia Roberts is joined by Academy Award® nominee Andrew Garfield, Emmy Award® winner Ayo Edebiri, Academy Award® nominee Chloë Sevigny, and SAG Award® winner Michael Stuhlbarg creating an all-star cast each matched in craft and versatility. Their intricate performances underline After The Hunt’s stark refusal to provide easy answers and instead barrel into the blurred, divided territory we all vividly recognize as the world we inhabit right now.

This visceral sense of life as we feel it is a touchstone quality of storytelling in the auteur vision of Luca Guadagnino. With his meticulous cinematic craft and love of hard questions, his audiences’ minds are often active long after the credits have rolled. For Guadagnino, the story of an elite campus in turmoil was a magnet precisely because it felt destined to ignite conversation—not just about which people in the story are telling the truth but how status, desires, and prejudices tint our views of reality.