Warfare

2025 A24

Rated: R

Length: 1 hr 35min

Action ~ Drama ~ War ~ True Story

Directed by: Ray Mendoza and Alex Garland

Starring: D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai, Will Poulter, Cosmo Jarvis, Kit Connor, Finn Bennett, Joseph Quinn, Charles Melton, Noah Centineo, and Michael Gandolfini.

EVERYTHING IS BASED ON MEMORY………

SYNOPSIS FROM THE OFFICIAL WEBSITE:

Written and directed by Iraq War veteran Ray Mendoza and Alex Garland (Civil War, 28 Days Later), Warfare embeds audiences with a platoon of American Navy SEALs in the home of an Iraqi family, overseeing the movement of US forces through insurgent territory. A visceral, boots-on-the-ground story of modern warfare, told like never before: in real time and based on the memory of the people who lived it.

THE REVIEW:

I was looking for a movie to watch when I saw this on Prime. I am not big on War Movies but did a quick google search and saw it had pretty good ratings, so I thought I’d give it a go. I have watched Saving Private Ryan and liked it, the first twenty minutes is pure hell to watch. I can’t imagine what our soldiers go through when they fight for our freedoms. I saw Warfare was by A24 as well, I love their movies. And Alex Garland directed this as well as Civil War, another newer War movie which I liked as well. I’ve seen it three times so far.

So anyway I decided to give it a watch. As it starts a Navy Seal platoon is taking sniper positions in support of a US Marines operation. Walking down a main dirt street in Ramadi, Iraq November 19th, 2006 on foot in the quiet of the night. They decide they are going to set up a surveillance outpost inside one of the homes on the street. They quietly break-in and clear all the rooms and put the family that lives there in the main bedroom with an interpreter. They proceed to the upstairs and are greeted with a block wall. The interpreter asks the family why it is there and they tell him that it is another apartment. Another family lives in the upstairs.

The Navy Seals produce a sledge hammer from one of their backpacks and proceed to knock the wall down and escort the upstairs family down to the bedroom with the first family. The Seals set up a surveillance perimeter in the upstairs apartment, busting a hole in the exterior block wall for the sniper scope on a Seal’s Gun. They monitor activity from every direction through all the windows and with the high tech surveillance and satellite monitor they have with them. In constant communication with high command and other platoons on the ground, they become aware that their presence is known and their location has been compromised.

All hell breaks loose as they are fired upon with guns and grenades. And it is pure drama, action and warfare in every direction as they attempt to survive and leave the city of Ramadi. It is a very tense 95 minutes. It is not your typical war movie, it is as if you have been placed right there in the house with the platoon of Navy Seals. It is more like an immersive experience into being a Navy Seal deep in enemy territory on their own turf, fighting for every square inch. It is eye opening, I couldn’t believe the experience of being there with them and what they were going through. I also was very impressed by the brotherhood, camaraderie, and professionalism of the platoon in the face of mortal danger from every direction.

I was also impressed by how much gear these guys carry and I did a quick google search. Navy Seals can carry anywhere from 43 to 100 pounds of gear with them. Unbelievable, these are some tough guys, ready to go. It is a violent, intense, terrifying close up look at what war looks and feels like through the eyes of the Navy Seals Platoon. Ray Mendoza was part of the platoon that day and set out to make this movie for his Navy Seal Brother Elliot who lost a leg in the ordeal. He does not remember much of the mission nor how he lost his leg. Ray thought that he should make a movie based upon all the Platoon’s memories of that day, so that Elliot could see how it all happened.

I liked it but I’m not sure if you will. If you like war movies or have an interest in the Iraq Wars or the Navy Seals…..you should watch it. It is a good one, well done. I felt like I was right there in that room with them. Like I said, it was definitely eye-opening and I have an even greater respect for the Navy Seals and what they do for us now. So it’s worth watching for that.

September 5

2024 Constantin Film

Rated: R

Length: 1 hr 35min

Drama ~ History ~ Thriller ~ True Story

Directed by: Tim Fehlbaum.

Starring: Peter Sarsgaard, John Magaro, Ben Chaplin, and Leonie Benesch.

The Day Terror Went Live

During the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, Germany two very important events took place that altered the course of history. ABC Sports was covering the event live in Munich with a full team and broadcasting live worldwide via satellite for the first time ever, and a Terrorist group named Black September broke into the apartments housing the Israeli athletes and took them hostage. They immediately demanded release of 200 Palestinian prisoners being held in Israel. Word spread quickly and the ABC Sports News Team jumped into action covering every minute of the ordeal and broadcasted it worldwide. It was the first ever televised Olympics and a terrorist attack in real time. September 5 recreates the event from the perspective of the ABC crew in their control room.

FROM THE OFFICIAL WEBSITE:

“September 5” unveils the decisive moment that forever changed media coverage and continues to impact live news today. Set during the 1972 Munich Summer Olympics, the film follows an American Sports broadcasting team that quickly adapted from sports reporting to live coverage of the Israeli athletes taken hostage. Through this lens, “September 5” provides a fresh perspective on the live broadcast seen globally by an estimated one billion people at the time.

At the heart of the story is Geoff (John Magaro), a young and ambitious producer striving to prove himself to his boss, the legendary TV executive Roone Arledge (Peter Sarsgaard). Together with German interpreter Marianne (Leonie Benesch) and his mentor Marvin Bader (Ben Chaplin), Geoff unexpectedly takes the helm of the live coverage. As narratives shift, time ticks away, and conflicting rumours spread, with the hostages’ lives hanging in the balance, Geoff grapples with tough decisions while confronting his own moral compass.

Interwoven with real footage from that day it is a fascinating look at the events that happened and the quick thinking of the ABC team in real time as they decided that since they had the capability, the world should see the events unfolding before them. It is also an interesting look at TV production in real time without the aid of computers and graphics. There is an interesting scene where we see how they came up with titles to overlay on the live feed. Very interesting stuff, way different than now when we can quickly add graphics to video in seconds.

It is a True Story and you know I love the True Story Movies. It is also a really good movie, you feel as if you are right there in the control room with them sweating out every second and every decision. Very well done down to the details in the control room, I was eyeing some of the vintage audio gear on the wall. Very Authentic!

I highly recommend this one. Give it a go!

Nonnas

2025 Netflix

Rated: PG

Length: 1 hr 51min

Comedy ~ Drama ~ True Story

Directed by Stephen Chbosky.

Starring: Vince Vaughn, Lorraine Bracco, Talia Shire, Brenda Vaccaro with Linda Cardellini and Susan Sarandon.

Your Table Is Waiting………

FROM NEXTFLIX:

Nonnas follows Joe (Vince Vaughn), who, after losing his mom and grandmother, turns to their generations-old recipes for solace and direction. With the money from his mom’s insurance and a little help from his friends, he opens Enoteca Maria, an old-school Italian spot staffed by four grandmothers, or “nonnas,” from different cities in Italy, who share their dishes with the neighborhood.

FROM THE WEB:

Nonnas is based on the True Story of Joe Scaravella who took the insurance money from his mother’s policy and opened his Staten Island, New York Restaurant Enoteca Maria in 2007. Just like in the movie, he hired all Italian Grandmothers (Nonnas) to do the cooking. The Restaurant is still open and thriving today, and as of 2015 they have expanded the use of Nonnas as Chefs from not only Italian Ancestory but Culinary Cultures from all over the world. You can visit Joe Scaravella and Enoteca Maria on the web at their site: ENOTECA MARIA.

The filming of Nonnas took place in various places around New Jersey including: Bayonne, Paterson Great Falls National Park, Downtown Paterson, Hoboken, Jersey City and Elizabeth. In Elizabeth, New Jersey they filmed the Restaurant scenes in a now closed Italian Restaurant named Spiritos. Spiritos opened in 1932 and closed in 2020 due to the pandemic. They paid homage to the restaurant by featuring the name and date in the tiled floor in the movie, which I thought was so classy. According to a previous lifelong customer who’s mother used to work at Spiritos:

“After they permanently closed, the people in the neighborhood knew there was a movie being filmed at Spiritos in Elizabeth NJ, but we didn’t know too many details. SPIRITOS opened in 1932 and they kept everything authentic and original including the menu and decor, until they closed for good in 2020. Their ravioli was legendary and it was my favorite, but some loved the pizza best, or the veal parm, or the garlic salad… I ate there regularly throughout my life and my mom worked there for 25 years until they closed. Like all of their waitresses who were all seniors, they took the orders without ever writing them down. They didn’t serve coffee or dessert because the line of hungry customers waiting for a table used to wrap around the room. If you wanted butter you had to bring it from home because they didn’t serve it. They didn’t need it because the bread was for mopping up the “red lead”, as their hearty gravy was nicknamed.”

“What a beautiful way to honor the history of such a special place that sadly had to close, than by using it as a set for a movie that celebrates the traditions, food, and love that the restaurant left behind. Spiritos brought family, food, love and tradition to the table, and it’s clear that the NONNAS movie is going to do the same.”

FROM BOBBY:

I am always on the hunt for the latest movies to watch and had my eye on NONNAS. I am a Vince Vaughan fan from way back and when I read the movie description about a guy opening a restaurant to honor his late Italian Mother and Grandmother, I was in. As I started to watch and saw from the very beginning that it was a true story, I started googling on my phone. It was indeed a true story and it gets even better, he wanted to use real Italian Grandmothers, Nonnas, to do the cooking. Joe Scaravella wanted to bring the love and warmth of an Italian family gathering, and the food his Mom and Nonna made to the masses in a restaurant, to honor them and spread the love.

Are you kidding me? We need more of this in our world, how is this not a major headline story? Well, ok…I guess a major Motion Picture is good enough. I was hooked from the very beginning as Joe watched his Mom and Nonna in the kitchen, I swear I could smell the food cooking in the kitchen. And then along comes Linda Cardellini, I am a fan! Susan Sarandon and all the Nonnas were loveable in this, I love how Roberta and Antonella show their love for each other with such disdain at first!

I love Italian food and love to cook. I’ve worked in an Italian Restaurant in another life and there is something very special about all day simmered Red Gravy (Tomato Sauce). I have an Italian friend up in Pittsburgh who grew up like Joe did and told me stories about Sunday family gatherings and the infamous “Sunday Gravy” sauces his mom and Nonna would make. I love this story and I love the movie. I have to tip my hat to Joe Scaravella, his Nonnas and Enoteca Maria. And I think Netflix, Vince Vaughan, Linda Carellini, Susan Sarandon, Lorraine Bracco, Talia Shire and Brenda Vaccaro all did a fantastic job of bringing the warmth and love of Joe’s story to life.

Highly Recommended!

Only The Brave

2017 Sony Pictures

Rated: PG-13

Length: 2 hr 14min

Action ~ Drama ~ True Story

Directed by: Joseph Kosinski

Starring: Josh Brolin, James Badge Dale, Jeff Bridges, Miles Teller, Alex Russell, Taylor Kitsch, Ben Hardy, Thad Luckinbill, Geoff Stults, Scott Haze, Andie MacDowell, and Jennifer Connelly.

Based on The True Story of The Granite Mountain Hotshots.

I came across this movie on Netflix and had to watch it again. I remembered seeing it when it first came out and that I really liked it. It is based on the true story of The Granite Mountain Hotshots, a Fire and Rescue Team in Prescott, Arizona. They lack the Hotshot Certification they need to be able to fight fires and are delegated to cleaning up after the Hotshot crews that are flown in. “Hotshot” crews are certified elite teams of Wildland firefighters that get called in to battle the big wildland fires local crews aren’t equipped or certified to handle. Josh Brolin portrays Eric Marsh, the Superintendent of the team, who is frustrated by having the best firefighting team around but because of a technicality, can’t get the certification they need to become “Hotshots”.

Eric enlists the help of his Fire Chief friend Duane Steinbrink (Jeff Bridges) to help him convince the Mayor to allow them to get Certified. He agrees and the team is given until the end of the fire season to achieve their certification, which they end up receiving. Miles Teller plays down on his luck Brendan McDonough who hears there might be a slot open on the crew. He has the right certification and is looking to turn his drug fueled existence around after finding out his ex-girlfriend is pregnant with his child. He does exactly that by giving it everything he has to prove to Eric and the team that he is clean, sober and fighting to make a change and be an integral part of the team.

Jennifer Connelly stars as Eric’s wife Amanda and in doing research for her role spent time with the real life Amanda Marsh. I love Jennifer in this movie, I think she did an excellent job of being the tough cowgirl wife of Eric not afraid to speak her mind. Josh Brolin is an absolute winner in this movie. I think it is one of his best performances in a movie, absolutely riveting. I really liked everybody in this movie as well, Jeff Bridges, Andie MacDowell and all the guys on the crew. The scenery was southwest beautiful and the fires themselves were intense. The action of the firefights themselves had me on the edge of my seat.

It is an incredible story portrayed well by the cast. I never knew The Granite Mountain Hotshots but this movie made me proud to know them through the movie. I love the relationship between Eric and Amanda, Brendan and his girlfriend, and the comradery of the guys on the crew. I had seen it before but I was glad I watched it again. Well worth a second viewing, I’d have to put it up there as one of my favorites. If you haven’t seen it, It is a damn good movie, well worth a watch. Give it a go!

Inside Man: The Gemini Lounge

2023 Vertical Entertainment

Rated: 16+

Length: 1 hr 31min

Crime ~ Drama ~ Thriller ~ True Story

Directed by: Danny A. Abeckaser

Starring: Emile Hirsch, Jake Cannavale, Lucy Hale, Ashley Greene, Vincent Laresca, Kyle Stefanski, James Russo and Robert Davi.

Bobby Bones is a Freaking Cop!

Emile Hirsch stars as Bobby “Bones” Belucci, a disgraced New York City Police Detective who sees an opportunity for redemption. Bobby came home early from work one afternoon to find his wife with another man in their house. Being a little hot-headed, Bobby loses his mind on the guy and beats him to a pulp. His wife subsequently leaves him and he is demoted at work over the incident. Bobby is placed on desk duty and relieved of his service weapon. Completely miserable, one evening after work he decides to stop at a bar and tie one on.

Bobby gets pretty drunk and as he is relieving himself in the men’s room, two guys are doing a drug deal in a stall next to him. Suddenly they bust out of the stall and the customer pulls a knife on the drug dealer. Bobby snaps and jumps the knife yielding customer and takes out all his life’s frustrations on the guy. The Dealer, being very grateful to Bobby for saving his life, asks him for a ride. Bobby drives the dealer, Chris Rosenberg (Jake Cannavale) to The Gemini Lounge. Afterwards Bobby does some research on Chris and discovers that he is tied to The Demeo Crew and The Gemini Lounge is their hangout.

Bobby decides to go to the Gemini Lounge to hang out and get in good with his new friend Chris. It isn’t long before Chris introduces him to the rest of The Demeo Crew and finds himself fitting in with the gang. He approaches his Captain and convinces him to let him officially go undercover and get evidence against the group and their leader Roy Demeo. His boss agrees and assigns Bobby a budget and a partner. And that’s where the rest of the movie takes us, on the journey Bobby takes being undercover with a ruthless Mafia group with ties to the Notorious Gambino Family.

There are drugs, pimps, prostitutes, murders, dismemberments, and assorted mob violence portrayed in the film. It is a true story and there is nothing pretty about Mob activities. One scene in the bathtub reminded me of a scene from Scarface with Al Pacino. Emile Hirsch does a good job of portraying the tough Bobby Bones Belucci with a short fuse, not afraid to get dirty with the mob to bring them down. Reminded me of his role in Walden, somewhere in that mild-mannered actor lives a very violent man.

It is an independent film that Vertical Entertainment picked up and released. it was originally called Gemini Lounge and was re-titled Inside Man by Vertical. They should have kept the original name so it wouldn’t get confused with the 2006 Inside Man Movie with Denzel Washington. I thought it was pretty good for an independent film, well shot and the movie itself flowed pretty good. Not a lot of huge plot lines like some indies. It is a True Story and I thought they did a good job of portraying the story and The Demeo crew. If you are a fan of the Mob/Mafia/Gangster movies, you should like this…..just remember it is not a big budget production like The Irishman.

If you are not a fan of that genre or don’t like gangsters and violence, you’re not gonna like it.

So there you have Inside Man/Gemini Lounge not to be confused with Inside Man starring Denzel Washington, Clive Owen, Willem Dafoe and Jodie Foster or it’s sequel Inside Man: Most Wanted.