Anthony Mackie and Dafne Keen are starring in ‘Barracuda’.
It’s a new action thriller from director Neil Burger.
Steven Bauer and Anthony Del Negro are also in the cast.
‘Divergent’ director Neil Burger has dabbled in a number of genres in his career so far. And with new movie ‘Barracuda’, he’s switching things up for an action thriller.
Official logline time! “When Karl (Mackie), a former smuggler with a haunted past, storms a nightclub in Mexico to rescue Jodie (Keen), a kidnapped teenage girl, he ignites a chain reaction of blood and bullets that burns across 100 miles of deadly roads toward the U.S. border. The breakout turns into a high-speed race when Karl kills the brother of the ruthless club owner and steals his prized 1973 Plymouth Barracuda. Now hunted by relentless criminals, Karl and Jodie tear across the desert with no way to slow down.”
Barracuda: the filmmaker talks
Here’s Burger talking about the new movie, which has kicked off shooting in New Mexico:
“I’ve been looking to make a non-stop action thriller and I’ve finally found it with this great screenplay. This one never lets up. It’s out-of-control, relentless mayhem in a real-time sprint to the border. I’ve also been wanting to work with Anthony Mackie for some time and know we’ll make a great team. As with ‘Limitless’ and ‘Inheritance’, I’m inventing new visual techniques to make this movie a truly wild ride.”
‘Inheritance’ director Neil Burger. Photo Credit: Chris Chapman.
Chris Hemsworth will return as Tyler Rake in ‘Extraction 3’.
Director Sam Hargrave is back behind the camera.
Idris Elba and Golshifteh Farahani are also set to return.
Even though Chris Hemsworth‘s Tyler Rake seemed to die at the end of the first ‘Extraction’ movie back in 2020, audiences responded so well to the action thriller that director Sam Hargrave and the team found a way to bring him back for the second in 2023.
And now it appears Hemsworth will return for more, with Deadline reporting that he’s signed a deal to play Rake a third time.
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Hargrave is also back to call the shots (and punches, kicks, stabs etc.), with cast members Idris Elba and Golshifteh Farahani also back on board.
While we know that David Weil (‘Hunters’) is writing the script, the exact plot details are a mystery for now. But we can expect more crazed action from Tyler and the gang as they’re dispatched on another mission.
When will ‘Extraction 3’ hit screens?
Netflix has yet to confirm a debut date for the new movie, but it has scheduled a summer shoot to accommodate the star’s busy schedule (he also has to film ‘Kockroach’ starting this month), so we could predict a spring/summer 2027 release.
Keanu Reeves in ‘Point Break.’ Photo: 20th Century Fox.
Preview:
A TV series based on 1991’s ‘Point Break’ is in development.
AMC Network is backing the project.
David Kalstein will run the show.
1991 action thriller ‘Point Break’ has been through the remake wringer once before (see more on that lower down the page), but according to Deadline, cable channel AMC has decided to try again, this time developing the concept as a TV series.
David Kalstein, who recently worked on Prime Video series ‘Butterfly’ (which starred Daniel Dae Kim as an intelligence agent working in Korea), will be overseeing the eventual show.
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It’s hardly the first time AMC has looked to convert a 1990s movie into a series –– it has seen success with Anne Rice adaptation ‘Interview with the Vampire,’ which has spawned a small-screen franchise based on the author’s work.
(L to R): Keanu Reeves and Patrick Swayze in ‘Point Break.’ Photo: 20th Century Fox.
The original movie, which was directed by Kathryn Bigelow and written by W. Peter Iliff, starred Keanu Reeves as rookie FBI agent Johnny Utah, who infiltrates the Ex-Presidents, a gang of Southern California surfers who rob banks.
The Ex-Presidents, who wear masks of Ronald Reagan, Jimmy Carter and Lyndon B. Johnson, are led by Patrick Swayze’s Bodhi, and Utah gets swept up in their daredevil lifestyle before a massive action chase and a reunion amid lethal waves.
A bigger question is how the concept can be stretched in order to fit the TV format; though Deadline’s story does at least offer some details: the series is set 35 years after the events of the original film and is focused on a dangerous heist crew with ties to the Ex-Presidents gang.
And converting movies to TV series has been a hit and miss prospect of late, with the likes of ‘Lethal Weapon’ failing to spark.
When will the new ‘Point Break’ TV series be on screens?
It’s clearly early days for this one, so AMC Networks has yet to announce when the show might be hitting our screens. We’re not sure we expect it much before 2027, though.
(L to R): Patrick Swayze, James Le Gros, Bojesse Christopher and John Philbin in ‘Point Break.’ Photo: 20th Century Fox.
Colin Farrell attends the Headline Gala screening of Netflix’s ‘Ballad of a Small Player’ during the 69th BFI London Film Festival at The Royal Festival Hall on October 9th, 2025 in London, England. Photo by StillMoving.Net for Netflix.
Preview:
Colin Farrell is playing a vengeful priest in ‘Ordained.’
‘John Wick’s Derek Kolstad adapted the script from a forthcoming comic title.
Joe and Anthony Russo will produce.
Can a movie where a priest delivers a touch of the ol’ ultraviolence be considered “faith based”? We’re not sure the target audience for movies with that descriptor would agree, but it makes us chuckle, nonetheless.
‘Ordained’ is based on an upcoming comic book by publisher Bad Idea, created by writer Robert Venditti, illustrator Trevor Hairsine and colorist Dave Stewart.
Farrell will star as Father Roy Craig, a priest who performs last rites on a mob boss who miraculously survives — but not before confessing his crimes to the father.
Soon after, Father Roy finds himself targeted by hitmen, corrupt cops and gangsters — all sent by the mob boss who wants to silence him. But Father Roy secretly has a violent past that makes him a more dangerous target than anyone imagines. (He does, however follow the commandment Thou Shall Not Kill, but we’re fairly sure he’s not above brutal maimings!)
Where else can we see Colin Farrell?
Colin Farrell attends the Headline Gala screening of Netflix’s ‘Ballad of a Small Player’ during the 69th BFI London Film Festival at The Royal Festival Hall on October 9th, 2025 in London, England. Photo by StillMoving.Net for Netflix.
Farrell has had something of a mixed year so far –– he scored plenty of acclaim for 2024’s ‘The Batman’ TV spin-off ‘The Penguin,’ but his 2025 movie work hasn’t fared so well –– ‘A Big Bold Beautiful Journey’ got bad reviews and did little business at the box office.
Still, Farrell will likely have more luck (even if he has to get back into the prosthetics) when he reprises the role of Oz Cobb for ‘The Batman II’, which should finally begin shooting next year.
This one is a case of waiting to see which company picks it up. The movie is also without a director at the moment (Kolstad may do it, but that isn’t confirmed yet).
Kiefer Sutherland in ‘Designated Survivor’. Photo: Netflix.
Preview:
Kiefer Sutherland is making a deal to star in revenge thriller ‘Hour of Reckoning.’
He’ll play a retired lawman who must face down a criminal organization.
Vaughn Stein will direct.
Unlike some of his contemporaries who switched from more straight-laced drama to stunt-filled thrillers, Kiefer Sutherland has kept his action bona fides intact via ’24.’
Deadline brings word that he’s set to face off against baddies in a new revenge-flavored action movie called ‘Hour of Reckoning.’
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You might not be too surprised to learn that this one is being produced by Basil Iwanyk, Erica Lee and Will Flynn of Thunder Road, which has brought us the likes of ‘John Wick’ and ‘Sicario’ and this new movie certainly feels akin to the ‘Wick’ franchise.
Kiefer Sutherland as Jack Bauer in ’24’. Photo: 20th Century Fox Television.
Official synopsis time! When a retired lawman (Sutherland) returns to his dying hometown to investigate his brother’s mysterious death, he uncovers a brutal criminal empire led by a charismatic psychopath who rules through fear and corruption.
As he digs deeper into a web of drug and human trafficking, his pursuit of truth ignites a violent war for justice — pitting one man’s code against an entire town. ‘Hour of Reckoning’ is a gritty, high-octane revenge thriller that turns one man’s hunt for the truth into a scorched-earth war against corruption. So now you know…
(L to R) Kiefer Sutherland and Rebel Wilson in ‘Tinsel Town’. Photo: Brainstorm Media.
While ‘24’ fans eagerly await news on more potential time with Jack Bauer, Sutherland has been keeping busy with other projects.
He’s currently at work on drama ‘Father Joe,’ which co-stars Al Pacino, and has others at various stages of production, including comedy drama TV movie ‘Tinsel Town’ (due November 28) and action thriller ‘Sierra Madre’ (which has yet to lock down a date).
When will ‘Hour of Reckoning’ be on screens?
The production team has the rights to distribute the movie up for sale at this year’s American Film Market, so once it lands a home, we’ll know more about when it could head to theaters (or streaming).
Kiefer Sutherland in ‘Designated Survivor’. Photo: Netflix.
Selected Movies and TV Shows Featuring Kiefer Sutherland:
Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Emma Thompson and Judy Greer about their work on ‘Dead of Winter’, their first reactions to the screenplay, their approach to their characters, working together and the challenges of shooting on the ice.
Emma Thompson stars in ‘Dead of Winter’.
You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch the interviews.
Emma Thompson in ‘Dead of Winter’. Photo: Vertical.
Moviefone: To begin with, can you both talk about your first reactions to the screenplay and why you both wanted to be part of this project?
Emma Thompson: Well, it was a surprising screenplay to be sent, to be honest. Then I I started reading. My first thought was, “Oh, good, she doesn’t say anything.” I love movies where you don’t have to say anything, because then you can just think stuff and the camera finds it. I love that. Then she suddenly said a lot and I thought, “Oh, God, I’m going to have to really learn how to speak Minnesotan if I do this.” I then for some reason or other, I read the story and I omitted somehow to process accurately in my brain, quite how much running around and action there was in the film. I just thought that the writing was so great. I said yes, and then I spent six months dreading it, thinking, “What have I done? Oh, no, I’m going to be in the cold for months. Why? Why did I do this? There are other things out there where I could be in an office or something.” But you know what? It was the most extraordinary life experience. Never mind professional one, because there we were on a frozen lake in the north of Finland, 60 kilometers away from the Russian border, thank you very much, ladies and gentlemen. It was insane, you know? It was just insane. It’s 10 feet of snow when you fall into it, which I did, frequently.
Judy Greer stars in ‘Dead of Winter’.
Judy Greer: My first reaction was that I wanted to be a part of it when I got the email, and it said Emma Thompson. So, I said I would do it. Then, when I read it, and I saw the role, I thought maybe it was sent to me by mistake because no one ever sends me roles like this. I was assured that it wasn’t. I probably cried a little if I’m being honest because I was so excited and so proud. Then I met with Brian Kirk, the director and I fell deeply in love with him. He’s about the nicest, funniest guy, but then he directs these movies that are so complicated and intense. So, I’m interested in that person, always, who’s telling these stories. Yeah, it was just a character I’d never been offered before with one of my idols.
MF: Can you also both talk about filming in Finland and the challenges of shooting in those weather conditions?
ET: Well, it was the same for everybody because the point is, where we were shooting was so remote that there’s no nice hotel just down the road and there’s no Winnebago, there’s no where you can go to have a nice hot chocolate or get your feet warm. You just had to endure it. So, the way I prepared for it was to just go a month early, put my costume on and live in it for a month in the cold, just go for walks, you know, snowshoeing, walking around, doing cross- country skiing, learning how to do that, and digging into the ice. I spent a month doing that and talking to Minnesotans in Minnesota. So, it was the combination of that landscape, that Finnish landscape, which is very similar to Minnesota, because it’s the same latitude. And learning from the Minnesotan women and men who were so generous with their time, about what that kind of weather’s really like and how you must behave. You know, for instance, how essential your gloves are. We spent a lot of time talking about gloves. There are three sets of gloves. She must wear gloves if she’s dealing with a metal thing, because if you put your hand on that cold metal, it will stick to the metal. It’s extraordinary. Meanwhile, we’re surrounded by all these huge Fins who are basically chain sawing into the ice and clawing out these huge pieces of ice with their bare hands. I mean, these people are crazy tough, you know?
Judy Greer in ‘Dead of Winter’. Photo: Vertical.
JG: It was totally easy. It was totally not a challenge at all. You should interview the crew. Honestly, they are the real superheroes of this movie because of what they had to do. I am not being hyperbolic, it was Herculean. They were lugging all the film equipment on sleds up these snowy mountains to start the day and then down the snowy mountains to end the day. There were not a lot of bathrooms. There’s a lot of layers of clothing. We got to sit in warming tents. They never did. As soon as they would put out hot coffee, it would get cold. I mean, it was just never ending, but it was also so beautiful. I mean, the first time I walked on that frozen lake, I couldn’t believe it. You can see it in the movie, but that is what we saw every single day. It was stunning for miles and like so quiet and peaceful and beautiful. But then sometimes we’re all standing on this frozen lake, and you would hear these booming sounds. It was the ice breaking, and that’s kind of freaky to someone who lives in southern California, but all you must do is look at a Finnish person and see that they don’t even flinch. It’s like when there’s turbulence and the flight attendants are still talking to each other and laughing and stuff, and you’re like, “Okay, we’re fine”. Like if you’re standing on a frozen lake and there’s booming sounds coming from under the lake and the Finnish people are cool, then it’s cool. Then you know you’re okay.
Emma Thompson in ‘Dead of Winter’. Photo: Vertical.
MF: Emma, can you talk about the resilience of your character and why she takes action to protect this girl that she doesn’t even know?
ET: I think that her resilience comes from having been brought up in the way that she’s been brought up. I mean, her moral gauge is extremely simple, humble, American, a straightforward life where she’s loved somebody very much and been loved very much. She’s had a very rich life from that point of view, with a lot of tragedy in it, but the normal tragedy, human tragedy, because all life contains loss and grief. She’s really does appreciate what she’s had, I think. She’s been formed by the landscape that she’s grown up in, and by the stories, one of which she tells this girl about her grandparents. Because I imagine her life was tough, but she’ll say, “Well, that was nothing compared to my grandmother. You know, she had to give birth under ice.” You know, you just don’t know what people had to go through. So, I think that was her. That was the important thing about her is that she couldn’t have left that child. No one, none of us would have left that child. I mean, those of us who’ve grown up in, you know, like where I grew up, would have died, obviously, in the attempt, just of cold. But Barb is of the landscape, she was born and brought up there. She knows what to do and she’s not only resilient, but she also has a great cunning to her as well. So, you can see that, she’s had a life where she’s not no fool.
MF: Judy, can you talk about your approach to your character and how you were able to justify her actions and motivations in your own mind?
JG: Well, I find that I do fall for every character I play. But I don’t often play characters that do things that I would never do. But I love finding a reason why they do it. This one, even though she seems kind of like a demon, it was easy because she’s just desperate to stay alive. When you think about it, we’re all desperate for something, you know? So, it’s not that hard to tap into that desperation. I mean, physically, it can be trying, with the feeling of being so desperate for this one thing. In this character’s case, it’s keeping herself alive. In every character I’ve played, it’s something different. So, in that sense, she’s a lot like everybody else, you know, she just goes about it and in not maybe a respectful way.
Emma Thompson in ‘Dead of Winter’. Photo: Vertical.
MF: Finally, Judy, what was Emma Thompson like to have as a scene partner on this film?
JG: She’s perfect in every way. She exceeded my expectations as an artist and as a person. I knew I would love being on set with her. I knew she would inspire me and bring out the best in me. What I wasn’t sure about was what it would be like to hang out with her and be stuck in a northeastern Finnish town for a month. She’s just the coolest. She’s so fun and so funny. She’s so kind and so generous. She takes care of everyone around her. She’s never not caregiving. I just loved her. I feel like me as a person in my life is better from having spent two months with her on this movie. And I’m a better artist because of it too.
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What was the plot of ‘Dead of Winter’?
A widowed fisherwoman (Emma Thompson), travelling alone through snowbound northern Minnesota, interrupts the kidnapping of a teenage girl. Hours from the nearest town and with no phone service, she realizes that she is the young girl’s only hope.
Who is in the cast of ‘Dead of Winter’?
Emma Thompson as Barb
Judy Greer as Purple Lady
Marc Menchaca as Camo Jacket
Laurel Marsden as Leah
‘Dead of Winter’ opens in theaters on September 26th. Photo: Vertical.
(Far Left) LaKeith Stanfield attends a Special Screening of ‘The Book of Clarence’ at Pacific Design Center on December 11, 2023 in West Hollywood, California. Photo by Rich Polk/Getty Images for Sony Pictures. (Center Left) Jason Clarke is Roger Robb in ‘Oppenheimer,’ written, produced, and directed by Christopher Nolan. (Center Right) Trevante Rhodes as Zyair in ‘Mea Culpa.’ Photo: Bob Mahoney / Perry Well Films 2 / Courtesy of Netflix. (Far Right) Sam Claflin as Patrick McKee in Bagman. Photo Credit: Vladislav Lepoev.
Preview:
LaKeith Stanfield, Jason Clarke, Trevante Rhodes and Sam Claflin will star in ‘F.A.S.T.’.
Taylor Sheridan wrote the script.
Warner Bros. is backing the movie.
Before he was known as the creator of half the TV series on our screens these days (many spun off from his hugely successful ‘Yellowstone’), Taylor Sheridan was an actor who made the leap to screenwriting with the likes of ‘Sicario’.
He’s back in gritty, big screen action thriller territory called ‘F.A.S.T.’ and the movie has locked in more of its cast.
Brandon Sklenar as Henry in ‘Drop’, directed by Christopher Landon. Photo: Universal Pictures.
Sheridan’s new script concerns a former special forces commando (Sklenar), down on his luck after he returns Stateside, who is tapped by the DEA to lead a black op strike team against CIA-protected drug dealers in his town.
The quartet are playing a range of roles, from DEA agents to the commando’s former Delta Force colleagues. And they’re not the only ones boarding the movie, as ‘Succession’s Juliana Canfield is also in the cast.
Sheridan is keeping this one in the ‘Yellowstone’ spin-off family –– Ben Richardson, a veteran cinematographer who has directed multiple episodes of ‘1923’, will make his feature directorial debut with the movie.
Production is scheduled to kick off later this month.
What else are the new cast members working on?
LaKeith Stanfield in ‘The Changeling,’ now streaming on Apple TV+.
Claflin has Harlan Coben TV miniseries ‘Lazarus’ on the way, and another mystery thriller show called ‘Vanished’.
And Canfield is attached to ‘Everlasting Yea!’, the based-on-truth story of the Crafts, following their rise to fame in the Abolitionist movement after their escape from slavery.
When will ‘F.A.S.T.’ be in theaters?
You might think that any project Sheridan generates these days would be snapped up by Paramount, whose streaming service hosts the various ‘Yellowstone’ series and his other shows, but ‘F.A.S.T.’ is instead under Warner Bros.’ banner.
The studio has penciled in an April 23rd, 2027 release date for the new action thriller.
Taylor Sheridan as Cody in Lioness, episode 1, season 2, streaming on Paramount+, 2024. Photo Credit: Ryan Green/Paramount+.
Kerry Washington as Kyrah in ‘Shadow Force’. Photo: Juan Pablo Gutierrez.
Pulling inspiration from ‘Mr. and Mrs. Smith’ and the Roger Moore era James Bond movies, ‘Shadow Force’ is an entertaining enough action movie but struggles with cliché villains and a complicated third act that will leave viewers slightly puzzled.
Director Joe Carnahan has crafted some unique action sequences that are really the highlight of the movie, while Kerry Washington and Omar Sy give strong performances that help to try and create the heart of the film. But in the end the film fails to establish a cohesive story and the action, and the lead performances are not enough to overcome the script’s shortcomings.
Story and Direction
Director Joe Carnahan on the set of ‘Shadow Force’. Photo: Courtesy of Lionsgate.
The movie begins by introducing us to Isaac Sarr (Sy), a former member of s special forces group called Shadow Force, raising his young son Ky (Jahleel Kamara) in hiding. Ky’s mother, Kyrah Owens (Washington) is also a former member of Shadow Force, and the two broke ties with the group after they fell in love and she became pregnant with Ky, which was forbidden by the group’s leader, Jack Cinder (Strong). Kyrah has since gone underground to protect Isaac and Ky, so that she can confuse Cinder and keep her family safe.
Trouble begins when Isaac, who has hearing loss, protects Ky during an unexpected bank robbery, and Cinder becomes aware of their location, sending the remaining members of Shadow Force to eliminate Isaac and Ky. This leads Kyrah no choice but to step out of the shadows and return to protect her family, reuniting for the first time with Ky since he was born.
Meanwhile, Isaac and Kyrah’s former colleagues Auntie Clanter ( Randolph) and Marcus “Unc” Owens (Smith) are also on their trail, but do they want to help Kyrah and her family, or are they working for Cinder? What follows is a cat and mouse game that ends in a showdown between Kyrah and Cinder where all the characters’ true intentions are revealed.
(L to R) Natalia Reyes as Moriti, Mark Strong as Cinder and Sala Baker as Scath in ‘Shadow Force’. Photo: Courtesy of Lionsgate.
With films like ‘Smokin’ Aces’, ‘The Grey’, ‘The A-Team’, and ‘Boss Level’ under his belt, Joe Carnahan has established himself as one of the best action directors working today, but except for ‘Smokin’ Aces’, Carnahan’s films usually fall apart in the third act and only feature flashy characters and great action sequences. Unfortunately, ‘Shadow Force’ is no different.
However, the movie is worth seeing for the director’s unique take on a bank robbery, as well as a chase sequence involving massive trucks, and the film’s final set piece, a very impressive boat chase. Co-written by Carnahan and screenwriter Leon Chills, you can tell that Chills original script was more of a character-driven story and that Carnahan’s contributions included the action sequences and the supporting characters and villains, that are not as fleshed out as much as the two main characters.
While it would have been a completely different movie, it would have been interesting to see Chills’ original screenplay produced, which would have focused more on the relationship between Kyrah and Isaac, and less of the convoluted spy thriller plot and the generic villains. Although Carnahan’s chaotic shooting style lends itself well to some of his past films, it does become a burden here, but his choice to tie the movie’s music, several beloved Lionel Richie songs, to the core plot works surprisingly well.
Cast and Performances
(L to R) Kerry Washington as Kyrah and Jahleel Kamera as Ky in ‘Shadow Force’. Photo: Courtesy of Lionsgate.
With the film drawing so heavily from ‘Mr. and Mrs. Smith’, it’s interesting to note that Kerry Washington was in that movie, but except for that, has not had a chance to do a lot of action in the past. Much like watching Viola Davis fight terrorists in the recent ‘Die Hard’ inspired ‘G20’, it was refreshing to see an actress of Washington’s caliber take on a role like this. But while she is strong in the action sequences, it’s the scenes when she’s with Sy, and especially reuniting with her son, where Washington shines the most.
While American audiences might not be as familiar with Omar Sy’s work as European audiences are thanks to the French series ‘Lupin’, he did excel in last year’s action movie ‘The Killer’, which was directed by the legendary John Woo. Sy is again great here, especially in the action sequences and has a very strong presence on screen. I also loved the way his character’s hearing loss is treated like a superpower (Not unlike Marvel’s Daredevil character who is name dropped in the film) and not a disability.
(L to R) Cliff “Method Man” Smith as Unc and Da’Vine Joy Randolph as Auntie in ‘Shadow Force’. Photo: Courtesy of Lionsgate.
Oscar winner Da’Vine Joy Randolph and Cliff “Method Man” Smith add a good amount of humor to the film, but their characters are not given a lot to do, and the guessing game of their true intentions becomes trying by the film’s end. But Smith does have a funny moment with Jahlell Kamara, when Ky references the Wu-Tang Clan and Method Man breaks the fourth wall (He is a founding member of the seminal hip hop group in real life) after hearing the comment.
But the weak point of the movie is by far Mark Strong’s performance, as well as the rest of the very forgettable Shadow Force members. Strong, who is typically a very good actor, is clearly phoning this performance in for a paycheck and it shows. To be fair, the character is underwritten to begin with, but Strong does nothing to elevate Cinder from a typical mustache-twirling Bond villain.
Final Thoughts
Omar Sy as Isaac in ‘Shadow Force’. Photo: Courtesy of Lionsgate.
‘Shadow Force’ is a flawed but still fun movie with some great action sequences and good performances from Washington and Sy but falls flat by the end. Carnahan’s vibey direction, the incredible set pieces, the Lionel Richie music and the main characters’ love story is not enough to make this a “rush out to the theaters to see it” movie. But I think it does have enough excitement to hold your attention on a Saturday afternoon once it is available to stream.
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What is the plot of ‘Shadow Force’?
Kyrah (Kerry Washington) and Isaac (Omar Sy) were once the leaders of a multinational special forces group called Shadow Force, but broke the rules by falling in love, and they go underground to protect their son (Jaheel Kamara) with the rest of the Shadow Force hot on their trail.
Gerard Butler stars as commercial pilot Brodie Torrance, who is traveling on New Year’s Eve with a plane full of passengers, including FBI transport and accused murderer Louis Gaspare (Mike Colter).
But when the plane is forced to make an emergency landing, Torrance saves his passengers by landing on a remote island, only to find that it is inhabited by a dangerous group of rebels. When the passengers are taken hostage, Torrance and Gaspare must learn to trust each other and work together in order to rescue them and survive.
The result is a fun and entertaining action-adventure that has elements of ‘Con Air,’ ‘The Grey,’ ‘Speed,’ and even ‘Sully,’ and features a great onscreen duo in Butler and Colter.
Gerard Butler as Brodie Torrance in ‘Plane.’ Photo Credit: Kenneth Rexach.
In some ways, Gerard Butler is one of the most reliable movie stars working today. He created a strong action franchise with the ‘Olympus Has Fallen’ trilogy, and had such success with one-off movies like ‘Law Abiding Citizen’ and ‘Den of Thieves’ that sequels are in the works for each. He’s also appeared in a string of successful action movies like ‘Geostorm,’ ‘Copshop,’ and ‘Greenland.’
With ‘Plane’ Butler adds another entertaining action movie to his resume and also continues to create believable “everyman” characters for the audience to relate to. In a world that is dominated by superhero movies, it’s nice to see a fillm about an “ordinary man in an extraordinary situation” that audiences can actually relate to. Butler has wisely shed the superhero persona that made him a household name with ‘300,’ for an “everyman” persona that he has played well in films like ‘Greenland’ and now ‘Plane.’
Mike Colter, who should be a much bigger star than he is, is probably best known for his work as the title character on Netflix’s Marvel series ‘Luke Cage,’ as well as the CBS series ‘Evil.’ Colter gives a strong performance as convict Louis Gaspare, and is a great partner for Butler. The two actors have a strong chemistry together, and I enjoyed the fact that they left Gaspare’s backstory a mystery, as it was not necessary and adds to the mystic of his character.
Director Jean-François Richet really packs the movie with incredible action sequences, including the crash landing that begins the film. But the action doesn’t stop there, as that is only the beginning and the movie features some great shoot-outs and fight scenes with both Butler and Colter. However, the film also features several quieter moments that allow the audience a better chance to understand these character’s emotions, thanks to a fairly smart script from screenwriters Charles Cumming and J.P. Davis.
Mike Colter as Louis Gaspare in ‘Plane.’ Photo Credit: Kenneth Rexach.
Veteran character actors Paul Ben-Victor and Tony Goldwyn make welcomed additions to the cast as the airline owner and his crisis manager, respectively. While Butler and Colter are obviously the leads, it certainly helped the integrity of the project to sprinkle in such talented and respected actors in supporting roles.
Actress Daniella Pineda, who plays flight attendant Bonnie, is fine in her role, but has limited screen time and could have been given more to do. The weakest point in the cast is probably the rebels. They do the most with what is given, but ultimately the villains were tragically underwritten. It works for a while, having the rebel forces’ true motivations a mystery to both the audience and the other characters, but once they are revealed, little is done to humanize them or make their point of view clear.
In the end, director Jean-François Richet delivers a fun and entertaining action movie that combines elements we’ve seen before but does it in a new and fresh way. Gerard Butler continues his success at turning otherwise “B-Movies” into entertaining theatrical experiences, with some help from Mike Colter’s strong performance and the two actors great onscreen chemistry together.
‘Plane’ receives 7.5 out of 10 stars.
(L to R) Gerard Butler as Brodie Torrance and Mike Colter as Louis Gaspare in “Plane.’ Photo Credit: Kenneth Rexach.
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(L to R) Russell Crowe and Liam Hemsworth to star in ‘Land of Bad.’
When you title your action thriller ‘Land of Bad’, that points to the fact that things are going to go very wrong for the protagonists. In this case, this will be Russell Crowe and Liam Hemsworth playing two characters thrust into an urgent military rescue mission.
Written by ‘Crypto’s David Frigerio and ‘Paranormal Activity: Next of Kin’s Will Eubank (he’ll also direct), the film is scheduled to start principal photography this September in Australia.
Crowe will play Reaper, an Air Force drone pilot supporting a Delta Force special ops mission in the South Philippines. After the mission goes terribly wrong, he has 48 hours to remedy what has devolved into a wild rescue operation.
Hemsworth will play the rookie air controller who is thrust into the middle of a high-stakes extraction which involves no weapons and no communication other than the drone above. Sounds like a real nightmare.
“Working with such talented actors as Russell and Liam is a dream come true. They are both incredible performers who will showcase the powerful sense of brotherhood between the two lead characters,” says Highland Film Group CEO Arianne Fraser, whose company is producing the new movie.
“I am thrilled to work with Russell and Liam and couldn’t be more grateful to this whole team in helping bring this project to life,” enthuses Eubank.
Russell Crowe in ‘Gladiator’ (Photo by Karine Weinberger/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images)
“I couldn’t be more stoked to be making this timely film especially with my good friend Will Eubank piloting the ship. I am beyond excited to watch Russell and Liam bring these characters to life. Buckle up!” added Frigerio.
In addition to his ‘Paranormal Activity’ work, Eubank wrote and directed 2014’s ‘The Signal’ and directed 2020’s ‘Underwater’.
Crowe has been busy of late, what with shooting and starring in his second directorial effort ‘Poker Face’ a crime thriller that happens to co-star one Liam Hemsworth. It suffered a shooting delay after a confirmed Coronavirus case amongst the crew caused a temporary shutdown.
As for Hemsworth, in addition to his role in ‘Poker Face’, he has a role in ‘Lonely Planet’, written and directed by Susannah Grant and co-staring Laura Dern.
The cameras are already rolling on ‘Land of Bad’, and Highland Film Group will be selling rights to the film at the Cannes Film Market, which will run alongside the festival between 17th-25th May.
Given that ‘Land of Bad’ doesn’t yet have a distributor, that also means it doesn’t have a scheduled release date on the books.
Preview:
