Canary Black

2024 Amazon MGM Studios

Rated: R

Length: 1 hr 41min

Action ~ Drama

Starring: Kate Beckinsale, Rupert Friend, Ray Stevenson, Saffron Burrows, and Jaz Hutchins.

“There’s a file….Canary Black…….you’re going to steal it from your agency. If you fail your husband dies.”

Kate Beckinsale stars as a top CIA operative, Avery Graves. Avery is blackmailed by terrorists into betraying her own country to save her kidnapped husband. Cut off from her team, she turns to her underworld contacts to help locate the coveted intelligence that the kidnappers want. As she is betrayed at every turn, Avery finds herself in a deadly race to deliver a ransom that could trigger a global crisis.

In the very first scene, Kate Beckinsale is wearing a blonde wig that reminds me of Charlize Theron in Atomic Blonde. In fact they almost look identical. And the plot is almost the same, Spy operative is tasked with an impossible mission to extract the priceless file everybody is dying over. Avery graves then scales down the side of a very tall building and kills numerous armed bad men so can she can execute the target in his own swimming pool. All while still wearing the wig.

Then she shows up at home where her husband of three years is making her dinner because it is their anniversary. Some very cheesy gifts are exchanged and then they go out for dinner. Her Husband is played by Rupert Friend and he apparently has no idea she’s a CIA operative and lethal. Rupert is an English actor and I am not familiar with him, but my first thoughts in that first scene with him were:

Yo, where’d you get those glasses, I would ditch them.
She married you? Really?
What’s up with the thick Irish accent, it sucks, actually it’s annoying. And aren’t you playing an Englishman in this movie.

The dialogue and chemistry between them seemed forced, I didn’t really get the vibe that they had known each other and been married for three years. It was almost as if they were strangers forced into a scene.

There were some other scenes and dialogue throughout the movie that felt the same way to me, forced, wasn’t really feeling the vibe. It just felt a little off. Jaz Hutchins who plays Agent Mayfield was horrible. It was some really bad over the top acting. Reminded me of Gerard Butler in LAST SEEN ALIVE. Even the plot and characters just seemed off, forced. I mean Kate did good trying to pull it all together for everybody else but it seemed lacking.

Pierre Morel also directed Taken and Peppermint which I really like, Peppermint is one of my favorites actually. But this one missed the mark, something didn’t work out right. I like Kate Beckinsale but I think Jennifer Garner did a better job in Peppermint. I went in with high expectations and was looking forward to a new spy action thriller. I did enjoy it in spite of the flaws, but on the other side of watching I don’t feel like I could recommend it.

So, that’s just a wave of the hand as in so-so, it was just alright and I can’t recommend it.

Last Breath

2025 Focus Features

Rated: PG-13

Length: 1 hr 33min

Drama ~ Thriller ~ True Story

Directed by: Alex Parkinson

Starring: Woody Harrelson, Simu Liu, Finn Cole, and Cliff Curtis.

Make Every Breath Count

Last Breath is based on the True Story of a terrifying accident that happened in 2012 deep beneath the North Sea. The film follows three saturation divers working on an oil rig manifold about 300 feet underwater. Their team includes Duncan Allcock (Woody Harrelson), the experienced diver who stays in the diving bell overseeing the operation; David Yuasa (Simu Liu), and Chris Lemons (Finn Cole), who enter the water to replace a pipe on the structure. Their job seems routine until a violent storm disrupts everything.

The large support ship above them uses a computer-controlled system called dynamic positioning to hold its place above the rig despite the rough seas. But when the storm causes the system to fail, the ship drifts dangerously away, pulling on the divers’ lifelines, the essential umbilicals that supply them with breathing gas, heat, and communication. Chris Lemons becomes trapped when his umbilical catches on the structure and then snaps, leaving him stranded on the seafloor without his lifeline.

Without gas from his suit supply, Lemons has to rely on small bailout tanks that only last about ten minutes, making his survival time critical. As Lemons drifts and struggles for air, Yuasa fights to reach him, pulling himself hand-over-hand along the umbilical back toward the rig as the ship continues drifting. Meanwhile, on the ship, the crew races to get the dynamic positioning system back online amid huge waves and high winds. They send out a remote-operated vehicle (ROV) to find Lemons and finally locate him weak and motionless on the seafloor, nearly 30 minutes after losing breathable gas.

Despite the odds, Yuasa manages to drag Lemons back to the diving bell, where Allcock pulls off a dramatic rescue, administering mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and helping Lemons regain consciousness. The amazing thing is Lemons not only survived over half an hour without oxygen but suffered no lasting brain damage, something even scientists cannot fully explain. Remarkably, Lemons returned to work just three weeks later to finish the job.

Captain Andre Jenson (Cliff Curtis) and the vessel crew face a heartbreaking moral choice during the chaos, risking an environmental disaster by staying to rescue Lemons or abandoning the mission to save their own ship. Their decision to keep trying shows the incredible teamwork and human spirit behind this real-life ordeal. Last Breath captures this high-stakes, emotional story with intense realism and respect for the courage of these divers and crew.

In the end, Last Breath is a gripping and inspiring True Story that shows the incredible risks deep-sea divers face and the power of human teamwork and determination. The film’s realistic approach, strong performances, and intense underwater sequences make it both an exciting thriller and a tribute to bravery. While the true story lessens some suspense, the emotional impact and respect for these real heroes more than make up for it. For anyone who loves survival dramas based on real events, Last Breath is definitely worth a watch. It’s a reminder that sometimes the greatest stories come from incredible acts of courage in the face of disaster.

This film is a gripping survival story that’s about more than just a thrilling rescue, it’s about trust, determination, and hope against all odds. It’s highly recommended for anyone interested in real-life drama and amazing true stories.

“Last Breath” (2025) is currently available to rent or purchase digitally on platforms like Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Fandango At Home, and Google Play Movies. It is also streaming with ads on Amazon Prime Video. Additionally, the film is now streaming exclusively on Peacock for subscribers.

Last Breath Coming To Prime Video Friday August 29, 2025

2025 Focus Features

Rated: PG-13

Length: 1 hr 33min

Drama ~ Thriller ~ True Story

Directed by: Alex Parkinson

Starring: Woody Harrelson, Simu Liu, Finn Cole, and Cliff Curtis.

Make Every Breath Count

Last Breath is a Feature Film Remake of the 2019 Documentary of the same name. It recounts the real life drama played out in 2012 during a deep-sea diving accident involving Veteran Saturation Diver Chris Lemons. During a routine deep sea dive to work on gas lines on the ocean floor, the heavy seas on the surface cause a malfunction in the ship’s DPS (Dynamic Positioning System) which results in the ship drifting from their work site down below. The two divers below, Chris Lemons and David Yuasa realize they must look after their umbilical supply lines so they don’t lose oxygen or communication. David makes it to the top of the gas line in time but Chris’s lines become tangled and the lines snap. Chris finds himself completely isolated in the ocean depths with only ten minutes of emergency oxygen and no communication. He can’t rise to the surface because of being in a deep dive, if he does the pressure difference will kill him.

Woody Harrelson, Simu Liu, Finn Cole, and Cliff Curtis star in this Thrilling True Story Dramatization coming to Amazon Prime Video Friday August 29, 2025.

The Pickup

2025 Amazon MGM Studios

Rated: R

Length: 1 hr 34min

Action ~ Comedy

Directed by: Tim Story

Starring: Eddie Murphy, Pete Davidson, Eva Longoria, and Keke Palmer.

They’re Armed But She’s Dangerous

FROM AMAZON MGM STUDIOS:

The Pickup starring Eddie Murphy, Pete Davidson, Eva Longoria, Ismael Cruz Cordova, Jack Kesy, Andrew Dice Clay, Marshawn Lynch, Joe “Roman Reigns” Anoa’i and Keke Palmer premiered on Amazon Prime Video last night, Wednesday August 6, 2025. In the action-comedy, a routine cash pickup takes a wild turn when two mismatched armored truck drivers, Russell (Eddie Murphy) and Travis (Pete Davidson), are ambushed by ruthless criminals led by a savvy mastermind, Zoe (Keke Palmer), with plans that go way beyond the cash cargo. As chaos unfolds around them, the unlikely duo must navigate high-risk danger, clashing personalities, and one very bad day that keeps getting worse.

The Pickup brings together two generations of comedy for an explosive and hilarious partnership that showcases the chemistry between old-school experience and new-wave energy. In addition to Eddie Murphy, Pete Davidson, and Keke Palmer, the film features a diverse cast including Eva Longoria, Marshawn Lynch, Joe “Roman Reigns” Anoa’i, Andrew Dice Clay, and Ismael Cruz Córdova. Directed by Tim Story, who’s known for his work on The Blackening, Barbershop and Ride Along, the film blends high-octane action with sharp humor.

THE REVIEW:

I remember a different Eddie Murphy than the one I saw in this movie. It seemed like a watered down version of the explosive comedy rawness of the Eddie I remember, Saturday Night Live, Raw, Beverly Hills Cop. I watched Beverly Hills Cop 4 and I couldn’t hang, couldn’t finish. It was a trip down memory lane that should have happened decades ago, instead it looked more like a sad “where are they now…oh..in the old folks home” story about a bunch of have beens. That’s harsh I know, but it’s true. The same applies here, it seems like Eddie Murphy is trying to regain his stature before he heads into old age obscurity.

Don’t get me wrong, I like Eddie Murphy, Pete Davidson, Keke Palmer and Andrew Dice Clay. It was nice to see Andrew but it seems more like a nostalgic trip than an action comedy movie. It almost seemed more like an endless bunch of skits. To quote Randy Jackson, “It was just alright for me dog.” The witty banter between Pete and Eddie seemed forced, like they were reading for a skit. The two thugs working for Keke were kind of corny. Not really believable. And the plot and some of the action was just too over the top, almost too silly to be believable.

We were promised, to quote the studio, ” high-octane action with sharp humor”. The action was more like regular unleaded and the humor for the most part was pretty dull. The partnership between Eddie Murphy and Pete Davidson was described as explosive and hilarious;” The Pickup brings together two generations of comedy for an explosive and hilarious partnership that showcases the chemistry between old-school experience and new-wave energy. Nah, it just kinda fell flat. But again, to quote Randy, it was just alright. Worth a watch, sure. A second time….nah.

The Pickup Starring Eddie Murphy Coming to Prime Video on Wednesday August 6, 2025

The Pickup Starring Eddie Murphy Coming to Prime Video on Wednesday August 6, 2025

The Pickup starring Eddie Murphy, Pete Davidson, Eva Longoria, Ismael Cruz Cordova, Jack Kesy, Andrew Dice Clay, Marshawn Lynch, Joe “Roman Reigns” Anoa’i and Keke Palmer premieres on Amazon Prime Video Wednesday August 6, 2025. In the action-comedy, a routine cash pickup takes a wild turn when two mismatched armored truck drivers, Russell (Eddie Murphy) and Travis (Pete Davidson), are ambushed by ruthless criminals led by a savvy mastermind, Zoe (Keke Palmer), with plans that go way beyond the cash cargo. As chaos unfolds around them, the unlikely duo must navigate high-risk danger, clashing personalities, and one very bad day that keeps getting worse.