Movies

There’s a particular sound that reverberates in the mind when you realize that even your dependable genre heroes have begun to phone it in, a sort of dull, metallic clank, like the start of a fight scene you hoped would end differently. With Diablo, Scott Adkins charges in alongside Marko Zaror for a billed “assassin-laced redemption movie on steroids.” But what crashes onto the screen isn’t a revelation or even a sturdy brawl in the rain; it’s more like a day shift at a cookie-cutter action factory, misfiring on every cylinder except, occasionally, the one that relates to punches and kicks.

Bill Duke’s Deep Cover wears its neon-lit grime like a badge of honor—a garish, stylized crime thriller dressed up in the trappings of hardboiled noir and early-’90s urban anxiety. If the movie’s mood—the slick rain on Los Angeles streets, the burnished cathedrals of vice, and the snaking synth-and-hip-hop soundtrack—is its raison d’être, then what we get, ultimately, is exactly that: a heady, immersive surface that is always beckoning, yet never really giving.

Tyler Perry’s Duplicity—now streaming on Amazon Prime Video—wants to be urgent, topical, and bracing. It arrives with all the signals of “serious intent”: brooding about justice, the jagged aftermath of police violence, and a pair of ambitious Black women set against a system that doesn’t budge for grief or outrage. There is the shape here of a vital film, but what actually transpires is a parade of perfunctory gestures and canned dramatics; it’s as if Perry had borrowed the scaffolding of a social thriller and was content to let it creak.

“Donnie Brasco” is one of those rare crime movies that operates less as a cautionary tale than as an anatomy of yearning—of what we’re willing to counterfeit, and what must finally be, heartbreakingly, real. Directed by Mike Newell (whose touch is lighter than the usual genre brutes), the film plunges us into the rank back rooms and vinyl-upholstered dusk of Mafia New York. Yet what haunts you afterward isn’t the ratcheting tension or the whiff of violence—it’s the look in Al Pacino’s eyes as he walks toward obliteration, and the ache of Johnny Depp’s split, nearly-shattered soul.

"Den of Thieves 2: Pantera" takes the baton from its predecessor and sprints into new territory, evolving from raw intensity to a polished, character-centric narrative that glistens with refinement. Released in early 2025, this sequel features Gerard Butler returning as the indefatigable Sheriff Nick O'Brien, with O'Shea Jackson Jr. reprising his role as the enigmatic Donnie Wilson.

In "Den of Thieves," a film that firmly plants its roots in the pantheon of heist dramas, audiences are lured into a world where the lines between lawmen and outlaws blur, creating an enthralling narrative reminiscent of classics like "Heat" and "The Usual Suspects".

Uberto Pasolini’s The Return brings a sumptuous and contemplative interpretation of the final chapters of Homer’s Odyssey. Starred by the incredible Ralph Fiennes as Odysseus and the mesmerizing Juliette Binoche as Penelope, this film walks the line between myth and human emotion, delivering a story that resonates deeply. As I settled down to watch this retelling, my anticipation was palpable, especially given the accomplished cast and the rich thematic foundation. What unfolds is a journey that, while artistically rich, carries both tremendous highs and noticeable pitfalls.

Dirty Angels, the cinematic masterpiece directed by Martin Campbell, featuring an ensemble cast that includes the likes of Eva Green, Ruby Rose, and Maria Bakalova. You would think with a lineup like that, we were about to experience a blockbuster renaissance. Instead, what we received is more akin to a late-night infomercial for a "bargain bin" action flick. As I settled in, I half-expected a free gift with my ticket purchase just for enduring this spectacular failure.

Dominique—the film that initially felt like it was going to be a bit of a struggle, but ultimately delivered a surprising punch. Directed by a team eager to deliver a compelling story, this film stars Oksana Orlan as the intriguingly complex assassin.

Frank Herbert’s “Dune” is the Mount Everest of science fiction, looming, treacherous, irresistible to climbers. Its reputation has become its curse. With each attempt to bring Herbert’s syncretic, sand-blasted cosmos to the screen, we glimpse the mirage on the horizon, the masterpiece peeking through the haze, while filmmakers crawl toward it, parched, hallucinating grandeur but often finding only the plastic taste of compromise on their tongues.