POLITICAL MOVIES. “A House of Dynamite.” / “How to Blow Up a Pipeline.” / “Don't Look Up.”

“A House of Dynamite” (2025, Netflix) apocalyptic political thriller film directed by Kathryn Bigelow and written by Noah Oppenheim. 



       Story; The U.S. government navigates an official response to a single nuclear missile launched by an unidentified enemy.

       The unfailing, masterfully-crafted suspense and overlying anti-nuke message is clear but the storyline is a bit implausible or unrealistic to me. I won't give away the end game though since you may already have imbibed the moral of the story.

       And you have reliable performers here, such as Idris Elba, Rebecca Ferguson, Jared Harris, Jason Clarke, Tracy Letts + brief appearances by Greta Lee and Kaitlyn Dever. Per Ms Bigelow's filmography, I rate this B+. 🎥💻📽


“How to Blow Up a Pipeline” (2022, Hulu) action-thriller, relies on ideas advanced in Andreas Malm's 2021 book of the same name. Examines the history of social justice movements and argues for property destruction as a valid tactic in the pursuit of environmental justice. 



       Sans violence, this indie forwards the premise that “eco-tourism” is justified or a form of defense against corporate greed and government complicity. Directed by Daniel Goldhaber, who co-wrote the screenplay with Ariela Barer and Jordan Sjol, this feature negates the usual moralizing or prolonged lectures of why these youngsters had to do what they have to, which makes the advocacy somehow work although I am not into the promotion of terrorism in the narrative. 

       Topnotch acting by the stars, relative unknows: Ms Barer, Kristine Froseth, Lukas Gage, Forrest Goodluck, Sasha Lane, Jayme Lawson, Marcus Scribner, and Jake Weary, who’s known as one of the main performers in the TV series “Animal Kingdom.” 🎥💻📽


“Don't Look Up” (2021, Netflix) political satire black comedy, directed by Adam McKay. Two astronomers attempting to warn humanity about an approaching comet that will destroy human civilization. Stars a sparkling wine set of elite stars: Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Lawrence, Jonah Hill, Timothée Chalamet, Cate Blanchett, Meryl Streep, Tyler Perry, Ariana Grande.



       In 2021, this movie generated an irritatingly loud anti-Trump noise in Social Media following The D's loss to Joe Biden. But I wasn't tempted to watch the feature then. Until now.

       I don't really see why zealots align this with whatever their insults of Mr Trump were. It was more of a “political humor” directed at politics per se and its super-wealthy donors.

       Sure, this film received four Academy Award nominations (including Best Picture), four Golden Globe Award nominations (including Best Picture – Musical or Comedy), six Critics' Choice Award nominations, (including Best Picture), and also won Best Original Screenplay at the 74th Writers Guild of America Awards. 

       But I am not really impressed. Entertaining, yes. But a remarkably-crafted project? Nope. Predictable, soap-operatic, even silly. Yet for a budget of $75 million, it earned $791,863 in the global box office. 🎥💻📽


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