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DRAMA THRILLER. “Locked.” / “The Neighbor.” / “Under the Silver Lake.” / “Shot Caller.” / “Drone.”

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“Locked” (2025, Hulu) psychological thriller, follows a petty thief and deadbeat dad who breaks into a state-of-the-art SUV , only to be trapped inside and played with by the sadistic owner. Bill Skarsgård versus Anthony Hopkins in a battle of nerves, daring, and wits. It started and carried on with panache and grit, until it went gung-ho that David Yarovesky didn’t seem to find the plug to end it all. Of course, it ended. Predictably.  It was a fine ride, still. Not so bad. 🎥💻📽 “The Neighbor” (2018, Roku) psychological thriller about a technical writer who sees his life shaken by the arrival of new, younger neighbors.         Aaron Harvey's minimalist but controlled direction, anchored on William Fichtner ’s timid technical writer Mike, kept the narrative interesting although we knew the inevitable ending. But would you suspect a “happy” denouement? Nope, not me. Yet it isn’t tragic anyhow. But the slow-burn “thriller” is plau...
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MOVIES BASED on Real People: “Sovereign.” / “Eden.” / “The Last Manhunt.” / “Suitcase Killer: The Melanie McGuire Story.” / “The Banker.”

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“Sovereign” (2025, Hulu) crime thriller, b ased on the events surrounding the 2010 West Memphis police shootings . A father and son align themselves with the sovereign citizen movement and clash with the Police Chief.         Written and directed by Christian Swegal, this movie doesn't mince words or ramble around the bushes of an oft-ranted thesis. Almost like a documentary feature. Dark but not bloody, piercing but not (too politically) preachy.          The film follows Jerry and Joe Kane, a father and son who align themselves with the sovereign citizen movement and eventually clash with the police.        Heavy stuff, indeed. The Sovereign citizen movement (or SovCits) is a loose group of anti-government activists, conspiracy theorists , vexatious litigants , tax protesters and financial scammers .         They have a pse...
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“Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere” (2025, Hulu) b iographical musical drama, written and directed by Scott Cooper , and based on the 2023 book “Deliver Me from Nowhere” by Warren Zanes , as well as some elements from Mr Springsteen's 2016 autobiography “ Born to Run .” The film chronicles Bruce's personal and professional struggles during the conception of his 1982 album “ Nebraska .”        I first hesitated to watch this movie, quite honestly. Although I am a huge fan of Mr. Springsteen's earlier work (of course, clearly 1975's “Born to Run”) I am not into celebrities who spew their partisan political angst, especially on the center-stage. Left or Right. Wait. With the exception of Vanessa Redgrave and Martin Sheen.         But then, I read up. This movie's timeline is essentially the 1980s or before The Boss joyously rode the hate-Trump wagon. And “Nebraska” is my 2nd best Springsteen album. Plus, I wan...
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FOREIGN CINEMA: “Exterritorial” / “Hannah.” / “The Other End.” / “La Sirga.” / “Lila Says.”

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“Exterritorial” (2025, Netflix) German action thriller about a former special forces soldier with PTSD who is determined to find her young son after he mysteriously disappears inside the US Consulate in Germany.         The film reached #1 on the Netflix charts in 79 countries in May last year (2025), the most successful German film on Netflix ever.        On the subject of PTSD as navigated via Jeanne Goursaud's inspired take as ex-special forces soldier Sara Wulf, this thriller works as a psychological treatise. I first saw Ms Gousaud in another popular Netflix series “Barbarians,” the reason why I clicked “Exterritorial.” She is a fine actress.      Anyhow, beyond Sara's compelling character study, the ensuing action sequences and overall drama seemed contrived and robotic, almost like a Hong Kong martial arts fare in some. I don't mean to imply that that sucks, it isn't.   ...
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ACTION. “Fight or Flight.” / “The Unholy Trinity.” / “Fatman.”

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“Fight or Flight” (2025, Apple TV+) action comedy film. Stars Josh Hartnett as a man who is recruited to identify and protect a wanted criminal aboard a commercial airline.         This is an insane movie, just what stoners and constantly high viewers ask for. Yup, Josh Hartnett is game enough to dive into the trip. Cartoonish, silly, wild. Everybody's cartoon character here. It would have been a lot cooler if Danny McBride was in this movie. 🎥💻📽 “The Unholy Trinity” (2024. Hulu) Western action film about a young man who travels to the titular town of Montana to avenge his father's death.        No problem watching veterans Pierce Brosnan and Samuel L. Jackson, always a pleasure. But this formidable duo can only do so much other than deliver their idiosyncratic mannerisms. None of those saved the drained dialogue, formulaic action sequences, and overall narrative cliché of this “day on the job” project. 🎥...
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