You know when a job says ‘we’re like a family here’? Well, writer and director David Ayer took that to heart and A Working Man was born.

Jason Statham stars as Levon Cade, an ex-military man turned construction foreman who works for the Garcias (Michael Peña and Noemi Gonzalez) as part of their family-run development firm. He’s got a young daughter, lives in a caravan, and rarely smiles.

Despite his gruff demeanour it’s obvious he’s got a good head on his shoulders and will go above and beyond for those he considers his own. This was proven in the first 10 minutes when one of his workers is being roughed up on site by some sketchy guys. Levon decides to step in, politely ask what’s going on and then proceed to throw a bucket of nails at the assailants and whip out a sawn-off shotgun that he apparently just hides onsite. A veritable OSHA nightmare but great for Levon if he’s ever in a pinch!

Trouble truly unfolds when his boss’s daughter Jenny (Arianna Rivas) is kidnapped on a night out. Desperate to get her back, the Garcias ask Levon for help. He declines, but after a trip to visit his old military mate Gunny (David Harbour) to do some soul searching, he quickly acquiesces to the plea. After all he did make a promise to Jenny that he would always have her back. This promise was sealed with a fist bump so you know it was serious.

The relationship between Levon and Jenny is what really holds the film together. Girl dads rejoice! As a full time daughter myself it’s comforting to know that there are dads out there that will hunt down, torture and murder dozens of human-traffickers and other equally unsavoury people in order to make sure their daughters (biological or not) are safe. This idea of a father’s love and duty is also mirrored with some of the antagonists. One in particular propels the second half of the film and proves to be an ever-looming threat to Levon.

This movie is classed as an action/thriller and while it delivers on the former I can’t say that I was particularly thrilled at any point. Any suspense that’s built up quickly disperses as we cut back to Levon’s brooding face.

The action sequences were definitely a highlight of the film. Tight choreography and inventive methods of inflicting pain made for a fun watch. Notably, there were a few water–based torture methods and deaths. A nice change from the stabbing, slicing and dicing. Pair this with a ton of bullets and bombs in small quarters and you’ve got action baby!

But is this the most original movie? No. Absolutely not. In fact when you google ‘A Working Man’ one of the top questions asks “is A Working Man a sequel to The Beekeeper?” Both were directed by Ayer and star Statham as a man with an innocuous job and a killer past. Throw in some punches, explosions and take a few too many bathroom breaks you’ll see it’s no wonder why people would come to that conclusion.

In terms of performances, Jason Statham is classic Jason Statham. This film is yet another notch in his brusque assassin belt. Honestly, I do like him but I think he shines in more comedic films such as Spy (2015) and the more recent Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre (2023).

One word for this whole movie is ‘safe.’ It delivered exactly what was written on the tin but nothing more. The film leaves a significant loose thread that can be easily followed for a sequel, but if (or when) that happens I’m unsure if there will be any audience members clamouring for tickets.

The post A Working Man (Amazon MGM Studios) Review appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

Bad news at Christmas and handcrafted outdoors Christmas decorations that just won’t cut it sets the tone for a festive family comedy film from Amazon, Candy Cane Lane.

Eddie Murphy plays the role of family man Chris Carver, who is not only struggling to deal with an unexpected job loss right on the doorstep of their last family Christmas together, but also starts a war with his neighbours over who has the best Christmas decorations in the street.

As the competition heats up, Chris ‘buys’ what he thinks is a deal with a magical Christmas Elf called Pepper to win the local home Christmas decoration competition, the Candy Cane Lane Spectacular, which has a large prize money reward.

But Pepper’s intentions are a little darker and she unleashes the 12 Days of Christmas to life.

Chaos throughout the town and within Chris’s life ensues.

Candy Cane Lane is a feel good family film for the holiday season, with laugh out loud moments and a touch of seriousness and dark humour too.

An excellent film to watch with the kids or loved ones this end of year season, exclusively on Prime.

The post Candy Cane Lane (Amazon MGM Studios – 2023) Review appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

A tale of be careful what you wish for and be content in your own life.

Three Thousand Years of Longing sees Tilda Swinton as Alithea Binnie a stuffy and straight scholar who is also incredibly lonely.

She has been invited to do talks in Istanbul about mythology, all the while she has her own delusions of being able to see mythical creatures.

While in Istanbul she visits an antique dealer and purchases a small vase as a souvenir.

Giving the old and dusty porcelain trinket a thorough wash she releases a Djinn (Idris Elba).

After the initial surprise and shock, the Djinn proceeds to tell Alithea she must make three wishes. If she does not make all three, the Djinn will be bound until she does.

The film is that of a fairytale for adults as the Djinn relays his tales from across the centuries.

Each story segment is sliced into small chapters.

Both Tilda and Idris are fantastic in their roles and the film has a warming calm about it.

Having watched the trailer prior to seeing the film, the movie was something else almost entirely.

A good watch, but a watch once only, Three Thousand Years of Longing is a love story from and across the ages.

The post Three Thousand Years of Longing (MGM – 2022) Review appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

Got my lunch, got my school books, got my Viewmaster.

Mattel and Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures (MGM) have partnered to develop a live action motion picture based on Mattel’s classic toy line View-Master.

For more than 75 years, generations of kids have been introduced to the wonder of 3-D by View-Master. Named by TIME as one of the 100 All Time Greatest Toys in 2011 and inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame, Mattel’s updated version of the classic toy brings the user experience to a whole new level of realism with View-Master VR.

Mattel Films and MGM will co-produce the film. Robbie Brenner, Mattel’s Head of Film and Cassidy Lange, MGM’s Co-President of Production will oversee production.

“Since the 1940’s, View-Master has inspired wonder and joy in children of all ages, creating huge opportunities for storytelling,” said Ms. Brenner. “MGM Pictures has tremendous expertise and a proven track record in capturing audiences’ imagination through film, and we’re proud to be partnering with them to bring another Mattel franchise to theaters. This marks another important milestone as we transform Mattel into an IP-driven, high-performing toy company.”

“View-Master was the first device that allowed families all over the world to escape their reality and take them places they never thought they could go. We couldn’t be more excited to partner with Mattel to create a family adventure integrating the old school turn and click stereotypic device with the modern world of virtual reality,” said Jonathan Glickman, MGM’s President, Motion Picture Group.

This is the second recent collaboration between Mattel Films and MGM, following the companies’ recent announcement to create a feature film based on the beloved American Girl brand. Mattel recently announced an upcoming Hot Wheels live action motion picture and the Barbie feature-film starring and co-produced by Academy Award nominated actress Margot Robbie, both in partnership with Warner Bros. Pictures. Mattel has also partnered with Sony Pictures for a reimagining of Masters of the Universe, based on Mattel’s beloved toy line which became a successful animated television program.

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Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures (MGM) announced today acclaimed stage director Liesl Tommy, the first black woman to earn a Tony Award nomination for Best Direction of a Play, is set to direct Respect, a feature film based on the life of music icon Aretha Franklin.

As previously announced, Academy Award, Golden Globe, Screen Actors Guild, BAFTA and Grammy Award winner Jennifer Hudson was personally handpicked by Ms. Franklin to portray her on the big screen.  Academy Award winner Callie Khouri (Thelma & Louise, creator of Nashville) will pen the screenplay following the rise of Ms. Franklin’s career, from a child singing in her father’s church’s choir to an iconic and international superstar. The announcement was made today by Jonathan Glickman, President, Motion Picture Group.

Tradecraft’s Scott Bernstein who produced the groundbreaking bio pic Straight Outta Compton about the infamous gangster rappers N.W.A., which garnered an Academy Award Nomination for Best Screenplay, and Harvey Mason, Jr., renowned Grammy Award nominated music producer who has written and produced songs for both Aretha Franklin and Jennifer Hudson, will produce. Glickman and Adam Rosenberg, MGM’s Co- President of Production, are overseeing the project on behalf of the studio.

Tommy is a multi-award winning stage director, who garnered six Tony Award nominations for Eclipsed including Best Director. She is known for both her provocative world premieres and re-imagining classics with racially diverse casts in several shows including a 2012 production of Hamlet at California Shakespeare Theatre and an internationally acclaimed production of Les Misérables. She is also on board to direct Born A Crime, the film adaptation of the autobiography by the same name by Trevor Noah starring Lupita Nyong’o for Paramount Players. In addition to developing and directing Frozen Live, the multi-media theatrical extravaganza adaptation of the Disney film for the Hyperion Theater in Disneyland, Tommy has also directed episodes of AMC’s Walking Dead, HBO’s Insecure and OWN’s Queen Sugar created by Ava DuVernay.

Respect is the remarkable true story of Aretha Franklin’s journey to find her voice in the midst of the turbulent social and political landscape of 1960s America. Ms. Franklin landed over 100 singles in the Billboard charts, including 17 Top 10 pop singles and 20 No. 1 R&B hits, winning 18 Grammy Awards and was the first female to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Franklin’s reinvention of Otis Redding’s “Respect” as a feminist anthem transformed her into an icon of the civil rights and women’s movements. Her cultural impact was felt throughout her career, from her singing at Dr. Martin Luther King’s memorial service to performing at three presidential inaugurations.  In addition to “Respect,” her countless hits including “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman,” “Do Right Woman – Do Right Man,” and “Think” were beloved around the world and will be featured in the motion picture.

“Over the years and in our many meetings and countless conversations with Aretha, we came to understand the stories she most wanted to share and the moments in her life that made her who she was. It was an honor to have gotten that insight directly from Ms. Franklin and we are now taking the utmost care in upholding her legacy. We are thrilled that Jennifer, Ms. Franklin’s first choice, will be portraying her as we bring this inspirational and legendary life story on the big screen as she wanted,” said Mason, Jr. and Bernstein.

Tommy said, “The story of Aretha Franklin’s journey from child prodigy in Detroit to international supernova is rife with struggle and triumph, making her life one of the great American stories of all time. As a filmmaker there is no greater gift than to be able to bring this transcendent chronicle of a woman’s fight for self-realization to visual life with the enormous talents of the soulful Jennifer Hudson, Callie Khouri, and our incredible producers.”

“It is an absolute honor to be a part of bringing Ms. Franklin’s story to audiences who adore her around the world. She is one of the most iconic and talented artists of all time and what a dream come true it is to portray her extraordinary life on screen. I could not be more excited to be working alongside Liesl Tommy, a brilliant and thoughtful director, who is no doubt the perfect choice to lead the film,” said Hudson.

“Aretha Franklin was indisputably one of the most important cultural and musical forces the world has ever seen.  Along with our producers, we could not be more excited to have assembled such a tremendous team of Liesl, Callie and the incomparable Jennifer Hudson to bring the Queen of Soul’s iconic story and music to big screens around the world,” said Glickman.

MGM recently released Steven Caple Jr.’s Creed II, starring Michael B. Jordan and Sylvester Stallone, setting the record for highest grossing live action opener across Thanksgiving.

Upcoming on the MGM film slate is Fighting With My Family, a comedy-drama written and directed by Stephen Merchant, based on the true personal story of WWE Superstar Paige and her family of professional wrestlers, starring Florence Pugh, Vince Vaughn and Dwayne Johnson, in New York and Los Angeles on February 14th, 2019, expanding wide on February 22nd, 2019 is The Hustle, a hilarious new comedy starring Academy Award winner Anne Hathaway and Rebel Wilson, which will be released in theaters on May 10th, 2019.

The feature adaptation of Nicola Yoon’s best-selling novel The Sun Is Also A Star with Warner Bros. Pictures, directed by Ry Russo-Young and starring Yara Shahidi and Charles Melton, in theaters on May 17th, 2019, Conrad Vernon and Greg Tiernan’s animated adaption of The Addams Family featuring the voices of Oscar Isaac, Charlize Theron, Chloë Grace Moretz, Finn Wolfhard, Nick Kroll, Bette Midler and Allison Janney, in theaters on October 18th, 2019 and the 25th installment of EON Productions, MGM and Universal Pictures’ James Bond film directed by Cary Fukunaga and starring Daniel Craig which will be released theatrically in the U.S. on February 14th, 2020.

Legally Blonde 3 starring Reese Witherspoon in her return to the beloved character Elle Woods, is scheduled for release on May 8th, 2020; and Candyman, a re-imagining of the 1992 horror classic, directed by Nia DaCosta and written and produced by Jordan Peele, in theaters on Jun 12th, 2020.

The post LIESL TOMMY TO DIRECT ARETHA FRANKLIN’S BIOPIC appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

Production begins today in Philadelphia on Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures (MGM) and Warner Bros. Pictures’ Creed II, starring Michael B. Jordan and Sylvester Stallone, reprising their roles of Adonis Creed and Rocky Balboa respectively. Creed II is the continuation of the Rocky saga and sequel to the 2015 critically acclaimed and crowd-pleasing 2015 hit Creed, which took in more than $170 million at the worldwide box office. Ryan Coogler (Black Panther), who directed the first film, returns to the franchise as an executive producer on Creed II. The new film is being directed by Steven Caple Jr., who helmed the acclaimed 2016 drama The Land.

“When I wrote and directed Creed, I wanted to tell a human story about a family from a new perspective, while also paying homage to the Rocky characters we’ve all grown up knowing and loving. I’ve known Steven was an amazing filmmaker since our days at USC film school together, so I can’t wait to see what he, Sly, Mike and Tessa bring to this next chapter,” said Coogler.

Caple Jr. said, “It’s an honor to be a part of the franchise and work with such a thoughtful team. I got involved because I’ve always been a Rocky fan and I enjoy stories with heart and substance. But when Ryan put his touch on Creed I felt another level of connection to the franchise. It started to feel personal for many different reasons. This next Creed is a tale beyond the boxing ring and dives deep into family, legacy, and fears. I’m excited to share my view and collaborate with the talented cast and crew.”

“Ryan and Steven are voices for their generation and their shared vision for Creed has brought the Rocky franchise to an entirely new audience. We know audiences will continue to embrace the legacy that Sly created so many years ago,” said producer Irwin Winkler.

Life has become a balancing act for Adonis Creed. Between personal obligations and training for his next big fight, he is up against the challenge of his life. Facing an opponent with ties to his family’s past only intensifies his impending battle in the ring. Rocky Balboa is there by his side through it all and, together, Rocky and Adonis will confront their shared legacy, question what’s worth fighting for, and discover that nothing’s more important than family. Creed II is about going back to basics to rediscover what made you a champion in the first place, and remembering that, no matter where you go, you can’t escape your history.

Also reprising their roles from the first film are Tessa Thompson as Bianca, Phylicia Rashad as Mary Anne, Wood Harris as Tony ‘Little Duke’ Burton, and Andre Ward as Danny ‘Stuntman’ Wheeler. The new cast is rounded out with Florian “The Big Nasty” Munteanu as Viktor Drago, Dolph Lundgren returning to the role of Ivan Drago, and Russell Hornsby as Buddy Marcelle. Creed II will be distributed theatrically in the U.S. by MGM on November 21, 2018, and Warner Bros. Pictures will distribute the film internationally.

Caple Jr. directs from an original screenplay written by Stallone based on characters from the Rocky franchise. The film is produced by Irwin Winkler, Charles Winkler, William Chartoff, David Winkler, Kevin King-Templeton and Stallone. Coogler, Jordan and Guy Riedel will executive produce.

Collaborating with Caple Jr. is a creative team led by director of photography Kramer Morgenthau (Thor: The Dark World, Game of Thrones); production designer Franco Carbone (The Expendables, Billionaire Boys Club); costume designers Lizz Wolf (A Single Man, Dreamgirls); art director Jesse Rosenthal (Black Panther, Trumbo); fight coordinator Daniel Hernandez (Avengers: Infinity War, The Fate of the Furious); technical boxing advisor Robert Sale (Grudge Match, Ali); special effects coordinator Patrick White (Baby Driver, Deepwater Horizon) and VFX producer Crystal Dowd (Straight Outta Compton, Pitch Perfect 2). Filming will take place primarily in Philadelphia with additional locations in New Mexico.

Creed, directed by Coogler, was released by Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures, Warner Bros. Pictures and New Line Cinema in November 2015 and went on to garner many honors for Stallone, including a Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture, and an Academy Award nomination for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role.

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