Day: February 22, 2023

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Movie Review

The Gods 2: The Dark Side (2023) Movie Review

The Gods 2: The Dark Side – Movie Review

Gods 2

Director: Mykel Shannon Jenkins

Writer: Mykel Shannon Jenkins (Screenplay)

Cast

Plot: Following ‘The Gods’, Mikey James comes back from hiding to pay old debts, only to be fighting for survival against his old enemy Anthony Fasano, awaiting his return.

Runtime: 2 Hours 4 Minutes        

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Story: The Gods 2: The Dark Side starts as the James brothers, Mikey (Jenkins), Keith (Banks), Bobby (Alexander) and their crew come out of hiding. They look to rebuild the bridges with an old enemy Anthony Fasano (Interdonato). However, to return they must pay a debt.

This doesn’t see everything go to plan, as the old enemies end up finding themselves dealing with other problems. Can they clean up the mess they created and return to a normal life before it is too late?

Verdict on The Gods 2: The Dark Side

The Gods 2: The Dark Side is an action crime thriller sequel. It follows three brothers looking to return to their former life after being forced into hiding. They must work with an old enemy until they find themselves getting caught up in a new war between gangs.

This does fall into the same path as many of the gangs against each other movies. It looks to continue building the battle between the two gangs, a battle that had previously ended. Now seeing the two sides trying to smooth things over only leads to more problems and more bodies being left behind. There is very little we haven’t seen before and the length of the movie overplays certain scenes in the movie.

Final Thoughts – The Gods 2: The Dark Side is a by-the-book gangster sequel.

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Movie Review

The Help (2011) Movie Review

The Help – ABC Film Challenge – Oscar Nomination – V (Viola Davis) – The Help – Movie Review

Help

Director: Tate Taylor

Writer: Tate Taylor (Screenplay)

Writer: Kathryn Stockett (Novel)

Cast

Plot: An aspiring author during the civil rights movement of the 1960s decides to write a book detailing the African American maids’ point of view on the white families for which they work, and the hardships they go through on a daily basis.

Runtime: 2 Hours 26 Minutes

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Story: The Help starts when Skeeter Phelan (Stone) returns home after her spell at college. She was raised in a world where she has an African American maid who has now vanished. Skeeter sees how some of the upper society including Hilly Holbrook (Howard) treat the maids around their home.

Aibileen (Davis) decides to open up to Skeeter about the stories of mistreatment. Leading to Skeeter learning to more horrendous behaviour towards the maids. Just as the civil rights movement was starting to gather steam.

Verdict on The Help

The Help is a drama that follows an aspiring author who looks to take a stand against the upper-class women that walk over their African American maids. She is grateful for everything she learned from her own maid and doesn’t agree with the second-class citizen hate shown toward them. as she looks to make an impact, she starts listening to the stories of abuse.

This is a movie that shows the conditions many maids found themselves in during the 1960s. Showing how they dealt with many problems from their employers. It sends an important message about how things changed over time, but they needed somebody to take the stand.

The performances in the film are strong, with a fantastic cast that went on to get Oscar nominations for their performances.

Final Thoughts – The Help is an excellent drama with an outstanding cast.

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Movie Review

The Strays (2023) Movie Review

The Strays – Movie Review

Strays

Director: Nathaniel Martello-White

Writer: Nathaniel Martello-White (Screenplay)

Cast

Plot: A Black woman’s meticulously crafted life of privilege starts to unravel when two strangers show up in her quaint suburban town.

Runtime: 1 Hour 40 Minutes

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Story: The Strays starts when struggling to make ends meet woman Cheryl (Madekwe) decides to leave her life behind her. Years later, she has become Neve living a privileged life with a new family. Neve is married to Ian (Salinger) and has two children Sebastian (Small) and Mary (Almeida). She is well respected in the neighbourhood and community.

One day, Neve starts seeing two strangers around the town. She starts to believe that her past has come back to haunt her as the figures seem similar. Carl (Myrie) and Dione/Abigail (Bukray) have arrived in the town to search for Cheryl.

Verdict on The Strays

The Strays is a thriller following a woman who left her previous life behind, only for it to start to catch up with her. It follows her perfect life comes crumbling down as two strangers find a way into her life.

This is an impressive thriller that feels like inspiration came from Jordan Peele’s Us. However, this does keep things on a more human level for the sudden appearance. It tackles a lot more serious subjects while reflecting on a question. The film is split into chapters, that let different moments unfold from different points of view. This helps add an edge to everything we are seeing.

Ashley Madekwe in the leading role is brilliant, she shows the woman seeing her life unfold. Jorden Myrie and Bukky Bakray bring an excellent range for their performances. This ends up being a tense thriller filled with unexpected consequences for one decision.

Where to Watch: The Strays is available on Netflix Now.

Final Thoughts – The Strays is an intense uneasy thriller.