Film Review: Hit Man (2024)

 

So many things in Hit Man look like other things. The directorial approach that Richard Linklater takes feels like something that mixes Quentin Tarantino with Guy Richie. The lead man, Glen Powell, feels a lot like young Tom Cruise. The lead female character, Adria Arjona, is reminiscent of the young Penelope Cruise. Thanks to that, from the start, Hit Man works as something you feel you saw time and time again in the past.

Its story, which focuses on a professor-turned-fake-hitman working for the New Orelans PD, is ultimately a “fish out of water” tale, but it too slowly slides into Donny Brasco territory. Wherever this movie and its complete cast turn, there is already something there that pretty much did it in the same way, likely a bit better as well.

That is not to say that the film is not engaging and manages, especially in the start, to grip the audience’s attention. The main problems arise at the halfway point, when the novelty wears off and too many similarities begin to pile up. Linklater is a brilliant veteran director, but even he didn’t manage to steer clear the film away from all of the copycat pitfalls. Unfortunately, the film ultimately rams straight into most of them.

AMC, Vue, Cinepolis, Cineworld, Cinemark, and Cineplex Entertainment Take Notice - Tube-E Movie is Ready for a Great Theatre Run!

Here on Movies, Films and Movies, the interesting project known as Tube-E Movie has already been showcased some weeks ago. This independent film by Will Adams presents a satirical and highly entertaining take on the mass production of streaming-only, low-budget films that became their own set of tropes. Through this, Adams managed to create something that is both a homage to filmmaking against all odds and a fun ride in a bizarre world of insane plot twists, characters who notice crew members, and many more elements of a great modern satire. Now, it is time for film projection and theater distribution companies, mainly AMC, Vue, Cinepolis, Cineworld, Cinemark, and Cineplex Entertainment to take notice of Tube-E Movie and get it in front of their audiences. 

Today, the sad fact is that many people choose to watch movies on their home TV sets while they're scrolling through their phones. The issues and problems related to excessive screen time are also well-known. By getting people to watch movies in theaters, they could find a chance to put down their phones and share engaging moments of laughter and fun with their actual peers in the audience.

So, why should the same companies want to have a chance to give this film a theater run? First off, Tube-E Movie is ideal for a theater run because it covers all the technical elements of movie making. Adams, with over 20 years in the film business, made sure of that with this release. But, more importantly, having Tube-E Movies in theaters belonging to AMC, Vue, Cinepolis, Cineworld, Cinemark, and/or Cineplex Entertainment would provide an influx of new audiences. For many of them, being accustomed to watching films at home on streaming services like Tubi, a movie-going experience might be new and thrilling.

That way, any of these distribution companies would do themselves a favor by supporting a Tube-E Movie theater run. It is a clear win-win scenario for everyone involved, especially moviegoers and theater companies. While many would get to enjoy this unique film, many more would likely take the chance to visit one of their theaters and get reacquainted with the joy of going to the movies!

Temp to Fire - Great Comedy now Streaming on Tubi!

 

The history of movie-making clearly shows that great comedies never go out of fashion. A hilarious film can be years or even many decades old and still manage to get many laughs. Temp to Fire, written and directed by Ash Davito, is an independent comedy that came out in 2015. Now, nearly a decade later, the same film is streaming on Tubi and still can connect to the audience with its themes of love, ambition and chasing dreams. Here is how the film describes itself:

Single Playboy and struggling actor "Phillip Cox" finds himself unfulfilled in his career and love-life. After getting dumped by his famous ex-girlfriend "Valerie Mills" for a rich director, Phillip also loses his dream job. In-spite of being unemployed with a broken heart, Phillip remains hopeful and determined to reach for the stars. While job hunting Phillip lands a temporary position teaching Theater Arts, along with his best-friend "Mooch" as a janitor at Goon Middle School. Sparkles really fly when Phillip pursues a romantic interest with his beautiful co-worker "Zenobia".

As the synopsis shows, Temp to Fire juggles a range of characters which are all in some shape or form interconnected. Out of those connections many situations arise, leading to a range of hilarious results. Here's the official trailer for the same film, showing a bit of its atmosphere:

10 years after its release, Temp to Fire still also looks great, showcasing some exceedingly high production values. From great cinematography and lighting, to excellent sound design, the movie clearly aged very well. Thanks to all of that, Temps to Fire on Tubi can now find a brand new audience and share laughs and fun with millions around the world!

Check out the film on Tubi and enjoy Temp to Fire right now!

Film Review: Road House (2024)

To have a good laugh, go watch a random clip from the original Road House film from 1989. There, so many things are completely god-awful and terribly unintentionally funny, but Patrick Swayze somehow made it all work out in the end. Today, the film is a classic of campy movies and something that offers loads of fun whether you ultimately appreciate it as a work of cinematography or something that is basically a reel of Fail Army videos with a shared common topic.

The 2024 remake of Road House works broadly in a similar manner, offering the central point of Jake Gyllenhaal as the ex-MMA now wanton bouncer coming to the Florida Keys to set everything right without even trying. The director of the film, Doug Liman, focused on the need to keep the original’s carefree fun spirit and he managed to do a moderately good job there. The photography of the film is great, the warm Florida sun shines on the white sands, while the night shots are all clad in colorful bar lights. Liman previous did films like Edge of Tomorrow, so his cinematography, including inventive camera movements, is excellent. Overall, the visuals are definitely there, but the narrative essence doesn’t manage to follow suit.

The reason for that is that neither Man nor Gillenhall managed to fully capture the once-in-generation mixture of unintentional charm that the original had. That is why the new version has drastically fewer insanely dumb parts, but just as few very good parts as well. There are also many abs and biceps in the film, countlessly more than any appreciation of the female body. Also, people wrestle and fight all of the time, grappling on the floors and bar tables with no end in sight. Because of that, at least, Road House from 2024 will become an iconic gay film in the coming years and decades.

Tube-E Movie - A Satirical Crash into the Forth Wall of Filmmaking

 

Creating independent films has never been a simple process and too often, it becomes a harrowing ordeal for its authors. However, in the present day and age, with the ability to shoot and then distribute films through modern technology, it might seem that making small indie films has never been easier either. Streaming services in particular provide a huge range of film content, much of which was made completely independently, but also with somewhat lacking results that the audience often lampoons and ridicules. In that odd and conflicting paradigm, the long-time film director Will Adams decided to create his film, Tube-E Movie. Here is how the film describes itself:

In 'Tube-E Movie", follow the zany journey of a young couple, their wise-be-yond-his-years son, and romantically perplexed couples. This isn't your typical family comedy-actors break character, venting frustrations to the bewildered cast and crew, while the rest stay delightfully in character. This film hilariously pokes fun at Tubi's outrageous content library, diving into wacky romance, perplexing plot twists, and side-splitting satire. "Tube-E Movie'' is a laugh-out-loud experience that celebrates the quirkiest offerings of the streaming universe, perfect for those who appreciate wild and unpredictable humor.

This interesting premise quickly comes to the forefront thanks to Adams' writing and 20-plus years of experience in making indie films. Also, the cast, including Damon Williams, Adele Givens, and Brandall Cole manages to get on the same wavelength as the unusual, but very appealing script. The result is at moments strange and unnerving, but also a very funny outlook on the process of filmmaking by those who might lack the means, but not the drive to make their art. Here's the film's official trailer which shows the quirky weirdness right from the get-go:

There's little doubt that Tube-E Movie as a short film has a unique outlook on the art of cinematography. It comes from a place of extensive experience and deep love for the same craft, but also the ability to break the fourth wall and offer some insider light onto the same field that is equally amusing as it is insightful.

Film Review: Maggie Moore(s)

From the start of Maggie Moore(s), this quirky little film works as a mixture of Breaking Bad, especially because of its New Mexico setting, and a Coen brothers movie. However, in that fusion, the film somewhat takes away from both influences, ending up as something theoretically similar, but ultimately less fun and less engaging.

In its story, which is partly built on real events, the film deals with the double murder of two women named Maggie Moore, living in a small town and both having zero reasons to be killed. Smartly written, the script opens with a resolved mystery, putting the viewers in a position where they already know everything.

As the story progresses, a set of initial blunders only continues to grow around the evil-doers, while Sheriff Sanders, played by Jon Hamm, and his love interest Rita, played by Tina Fey, try to unravel the bizarre and apparently senseless murders. At the same time, their middle-age romance blossoms in its full awkward glory.

But, despite the great leading cast and a good script, the film's dark comedy angle simply never comes to full fruition. It remains stuck in a place where it is neither a thriller nor a true black comedy, leaving it looking very pale, which rarely happened to its main influences.