ACTION DRAMA. “The Wrecking Crew.” / “The Rip.” / “Silent Night.” / “Warrior.”

“The Wrecking Crew” (2026, Amazon Prime) buddy cop action comedy. Private investigator Walter Hale is killed in an apparent hit and run in Hawaii. His sons, estranged half-brothers US Navy SEAL James and suspended police detective Jonny, are informed of his passing. 




       This is a Jason Momoa and Dave Bautista weekend, guys! Bring out the Coleman cooler of Coronas and seafood boil and enjoy! 

       All macho shit, I know. Yet this movie's charm and wit are infectiously unavoidable. The story is flimsy, I know. But the awesome action sequences + the smart-ass attitude are sheer delight! The highway spectacle, featuring Morena Baccarin on the wheels, is worth a bottoms-up chug-along. Morena is the top macho on that one. 

       And it looks like there's a sequel, upcoming? Let it roll! 🎥💻📽


“The Rip” (2026, Netflix) action thriller film written and directed by Joe Carnahan and stars real-life best friends Matt Damon and Ben Affleck as police officers within the narcotics unit of the Miami-Dade Police Department. The film is inspired by the true story of Miami-Dade County Sheriff Chris Casiano. A group of cops who, during a raid on a hidden cash operation, find their trust broken down as team members suspect each other of trying to steal a large sum from the stash. 



       Before you settle on the couch and click-watch, mainly due to the easy attraction of Matt and Ben, this movie is (again!) dimly-lit. Okay with that? Yup, this is obviously a macho/action trip. Mr Carnahan's catalogue isn't A-list. Examples: “Blood, Guts, Bullets and Octane,” “Smokin' Aces,” and “The Grey.” Not a fan, sorry.

       Leveraging Ben and Matt's proven chemistry, the annoying dark lighting is backdrop annoyance. The gritty zeal of the disturbing tension and “who's guilty” suspense waylay the genre cliches and elevate “The Rip” into an enjoyable weekend time-consumer. 🎥💻📽


“Silent Night” (2023, Fandango) vigilante action-thriller film directed by John Woo. The film follows an aggrieved father, who is avenging the death of his son, killed by local gang members in a drive-by shooting on Christmas Eve. 



       The rejoinder: This movie was Mr Woo’s first American feature directorial effort since 2003’s “Paycheck.” And he is the action genre's genius who gave us 1992's “Hard Boiled,” 1993's “Hard Target,” and 1997's “Face/Off.”

       "Silent Night” doesn't need much dialogue because the pertinent pieces are already stacked up. Still a fine watch, buffered by Joel Kinnaman's grip of the distraught dad, but not in the balletic, operatic class of John Woo's past projects. 🎥💻📽


“Warrior” (2011, Amazon Prime) martial arts sports drama. Tom Hardy and Joel Edgerton as two estranged brothers whose entrance into a mixed martial arts tournament makes them come to terms with their lives and each other. 



       Genre cliches batter this movie but the kind of brutal finesse and edge of your seat thrill that are hard to let go. Plus the dramatic force of the three leads: Tom Hardy and Joel Edgerton as brothers Tommy and Brendan, and Nick Nolte as their dad Paddy. No way to ignore that one..Mr Nolte received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor. 🎥💻📽

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