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Tag: michael-shannon

  • Movie Review: ‘Nuremberg’

    (L to R) Rami Malek as Lt. Col. Douglas Kelley, Russell Crowe as Hermann Göring in ‘Nuremberg’. Photo: Scott Garfield. Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics.
    (L to R) Rami Malek as Lt. Col. Douglas Kelley, Russell Crowe as Hermann Göring in ‘Nuremberg’. Photo: Scott Garfield. Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics.

    Opening in theaters November 7 is ‘Nuremberg,’ written for the screen and directed by James Vanderbilt and starring Russell Crowe, Michael Shannon, Rami Malek, John Slattery, Leo Woodall, Colin Hanks, Wrenn Schmidt, Mark O’Brien, Lydia Peckham, and Richard E. Grant.

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    Related Article: Russell Crowe Joins Henry Cavill in Chad Stahelski’s ‘Highlander’ Movie

    Initial Thoughts

    Russell Crowe as Hermann Göring in ‘Nuremberg’. Photo: Scott Garfield. Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics.
    Russell Crowe as Hermann Göring in ‘Nuremberg’. Photo: Scott Garfield. Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics.

    The Nuremberg trials were a major turning point in world history: they not only exposed the atrocities of the Nazi regime to the world on a large scale, but they laid down the foundations for what would become international law and the concept of crimes against humanity itself.

    The saga of how the trials came together – a mammoth effort that involved the cooperation of the four main Allied nations – and their complex ethical and moral implications (and failings) is certainly ripe material for filming, as 1961’s ‘Judgment at Nuremberg’ so ably proved. James Vanderbilt’s ‘Nuremberg’ has moments where it approaches greatness – and one spectacularly unsettling performance at its core from Russell Crowe – but the director-writer often focuses on the wrong subject or goes off on tangents that lessen the film’s power.

    Story and Direction

    (L to R) Leo Woodall and James Vanderbilt on the set of ‘Nuremberg’. Photo: Scott Garfield. Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics.
    (L to R) Leo Woodall and James Vanderbilt on the set of ‘Nuremberg’. Photo: Scott Garfield. Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics.

    As World War II ends, one of the chief architects of the Third Reich and its campaign of genocide against the Jews, Hermann Göring (Crowe), turns himself in to the Allied forces. A number of other Nazi officials are captured as well. While Supreme Court Associate Justice Robert H. Jackson (Shannon) prepares the groundwork for what will be an unprecedented international tribunal, psychiatrist Douglas Kelley is tasked with analyzing the mental state of the men who will stand trial – particularly the slippery, effortlessly charming Göring.

    At two and a half hours in length, ‘Nuremberg’ feels like its reaching for epic status. But it also feels like a truncated version of what might have been a longer limited series, with Vanderbilt cramming so many aspects of the story into his film that it’s hard for any of them to stand out. That makes his decision to focus on Kelley’s relationship with Göring even more puzzling (even though the film is based in part on a biography of Kelley).

    Despite Crowe’s excellent work as portraying Göring as a suave, sophisticated, and even witty sparring partner, the exchanges between him and Kelley never come to life, playing instead like an enervated version of Clarice-vs-Lecter from ‘The Silence of the Lambs.’ Göring plays with Kelley, gaining his friendship, but all their repartee in the end feels pointless. Kelley (whose own life came to a grim end in 1958, after his report on the Nazis he studied at Nuremberg was largely dismissed) also strikes up a relationship of sorts (platonic) with Göring’s wife, another unnecessary (and, frankly, rather queasy) side road that the film takes while the most compelling part of the narrative – Jackson’s buildup to the trial and the moment he almost lost it – is frequently left in the background.

    Russell Crowe as Hermann Göring in ‘Nuremberg’. Photo: Scott Garfield. Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics.
    Russell Crowe as Hermann Göring in ‘Nuremberg’. Photo: Scott Garfield. Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics.

    Despite a number of absorbing moments and heroic work by Crowe, Shannon, John Slattery, and Leo Woodall (Malek’s Kelley, unfortunately, is simply a cipher), Vanderbilt tries to do too much. Scenes in which the other Nazi officers are interrogated or treated by Kelley and the German Jewish soldier Howie Triest (Woodall) barely make an impact because of the film’s ‘this-happened-and-then-happened’ structure. The most powerful moment, of course, is when film taken by Allied soldiers from inside the liberated Nazi concentration camps is unspooled during the trial – nothing can ever lessen the impact of that (and people should be reminded of it now more than ever).

    This is a beautifully mounted production – from the sets to the costumes to the insignia on both Nazi and Allied uniforms, this is finely detailed technical filmmaking that immediately brings one back to this period of history. But Vanderbilt – whose only other directorial effort was 2015’s ‘Truth’ – seems overwhelmed by the material, and handles it in a pedestrian way that dilutes its full impact.

    Cast and Performances

    Michael Shannon as Robert H. Jackson in ‘Nuremberg’. Photo: Scott Garfield. Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics.
    Michael Shannon as Robert H. Jackson in ‘Nuremberg’. Photo: Scott Garfield. Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics.

    Russell Crowe’s career trajectory has been so strange in recent years, as he’s chomped the scenery and flaunted extreme accents in films ranging from ‘Thor: Love and Thunder’ to ‘The Pope’s Exorcist’ to ‘Kraven the Hunter,’ that watching his restrained, charismatic, and utterly chilling performance as Hermann Göring makes you remember just what a powerful actor he can be. His work here is the single best aspect of the movie and riveting throughout.

    Just as strong is national treasure Michael Shannon, who brings gravity, eloquence, and humanity to the deeply flawed Robert H. Jackson, and some of the best supporting work comes from dependable scene-stealers Richard E. Grant and John Slattery. As for Rami Malek – who seems to have a hard time finding the right roles lately – he’s good to some extent, but uneven in certain moments and not given enough to make the part of Kelley a truly distinctive character.

    Final Thoughts

    (L to R) Richard E. Grant as Sir David Maxwell-Fyfe, Michael Shannon as Robert H. Jackson, Rami Malek as Lt. Col. Douglas Kelley in ‘Nuremberg’. Photo: Scott Garfield. Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics.
    (L to R) Richard E. Grant as Sir David Maxwell-Fyfe, Michael Shannon as Robert H. Jackson, Rami Malek as Lt. Col. Douglas Kelley in ‘Nuremberg’. Photo: Scott Garfield. Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics.

    ‘Nuremberg’ has the patina of a certain kind of film that would dominate both awards season and critical discussion had it come out perhaps 10 or 15 years earlier. It’s handsomely mounted and James Vanderbilt seems to want to give it the sweep of a true historical epic. Its haunting coda also reminds us that the horrors perpetrated by the Nazi regime remain relevant – perhaps increasingly so – today. But so much time is spent on peripheral matters that the story only comes into focus part of the time. But when it does, it’s powerful stuff.

    ‘Nuremberg’ receives a score of 65 out of 100.

    Russell Crowe as Hermann Göring in ‘Nuremberg’. Photo: Scott Garfield. Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics.
    Russell Crowe as Hermann Göring in ‘Nuremberg’. Photo: Scott Garfield. Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics.

    What is the plot of ‘Nuremberg’?

    The Allies, led by chief prosecutor Robert H. Jackson (Michael Shannon), have the task of ensuring the Nazi regime answers for the horrors of the Holocaust — while a U.S. Army psychiatrist (Rami Malek) is locked in a dramatic psychological duel with former Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring (Russell Crowe).

    Who is in the cast of ‘Nuremberg’?

    • Rami Malek as Lt. Col. Douglas Kelley
    • Russell Crowe as Hermann Göring
    • Michael Shannon as Robert H. Jackson
    • Richard E. Grant as David Maxwell Fyfe
    • Leo Woodall as Sgt. Howie Triest
    • John Slattery as Col. Burton C. Andrus
    • Colin Hanks as Dr. Gustave Gilbert
    • Wrenn Schmidt as Elsie Douglas
    • Lydia Peckham as Lila McQuaide
    • Mark O’Brien as John Amen
    • Lotte Verbeek as Emmy Göring
    'Nuremberg’ opens in theaters on November 7th.
    ‘Nuremberg’ opens in theaters on November 7th.

    List Of Russell Crowe Movies

    Buy Tickets: ‘Nuremberg’ Movie Showtimes

    Buy Russell Crowe Movies on Amazon

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  • ‘Nuremberg’ Interview: Michael Shannon and John Slattery

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    Opening in theaters on November 7th is the new historical drama ‘Nuremberg‘, which was written and directed by James Vanderbilt (‘Truth’), and stars Oscar winners Rami Malek (‘Bohemian Rhapsody’) and Russell Crowe (‘Gladiator’), as well as Michael Shannon (‘The Shape of Water’), John Slattery (‘Spotlight’), Colin Hanks (‘Nobody 2’), and Richard E. Grant (‘Can You Forgive Me?’).

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    Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Michael Shannon and John Slattery about their work on ‘Nuremberg’, Slattery’s first reaction to the screenplay and collaborating with director James Vanderbilt on set, as well as Shannon’s approach to his character and working with Rami Malek.

    (L to R) Michael Shannon and John Slattery star in 'Nuremberg'.
    (L to R) Michael Shannon and John Slattery star in ‘Nuremberg’.

    You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews.

    Related Article: Michael Shannon Talks Director Joshua Oppenheimer’s Musical ‘The End’

    (L to R) Rami Malek as Lt. Col. Douglas Kelley, Colin Hanks as Dr. Gustave Gilbert, John Slattery as Col. Burton C. Andrus in ‘Nuremberg’. Photo: Scott Garfield. Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics.
    (L to R) Rami Malek as Lt. Col. Douglas Kelley, Colin Hanks as Dr. Gustave Gilbert, John Slattery as Col. Burton C. Andrus in ‘Nuremberg’. Photo: Scott Garfield. Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics.

    Moviefone: To begin with, John, can you talk about your first reaction to the screenplay and the importance of telling this story?

    John Slattery: My first reaction was I don’t think I’m the man to play this part. I thought, I don’t have it in me. I said to James, “If you want what’s on the page, then you probably should find someone else because how am I going to run that room and preside over that group?” He convinced me to do it my own way, or we’d figure out a way to do it. That’s coupled with, of course, wanting to be in it and wanting to be a part of such a great story. So, I was daunted by the challenge of it, but certainly wanted to be a part of it. I think Michael, Rami and Russell were already set. So, who wouldn’t want to be a part of that group?

    MF: Michael, can you talk about your approach to playing Robert H. Jackson, the pressure on him to win this trial and what’s at stake if he doesn’t?

    Michael Shannon: Well, I just did a lot of research. I didn’t know much about Robert Jackson, or hardly anything really, going into it, so I had a lot to learn. Obviously, you know, he kind of brings this all upon himself because the trials are his idea. A lot of people in the American government thought if we caught Nazis, we should just execute them, and he went out of his way to establish this tribunal and so he reaped what he sowed to that extent. But thank God he did it because it was a brilliant idea, and he was right. But he sacrificed a bit of his own professional trajectory to accomplish it. I wish what he had set in motion was as strong now as what he established back then.

    Michael Shannon as Robert H. Jackson in ‘Nuremberg’. Photo: Scott Garfield. Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics.
    Michael Shannon as Robert H. Jackson in ‘Nuremberg’. Photo: Scott Garfield. Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics.

    MF: Michael, can you also talk about Jackson’s working relationship with Douglas Kelly as it’s depicted in the film and creating that relationship on screen with Rami Malek?

    MS: Well, I’m so charmed by Rami all the time. I mean, he’s so alive. He’s so much fun to work with, even in in a story and situation like this. You know, in the book, ‘The Nazi and the Psychiatrist’, which the film is based on, you don’t really see too much interplay between Jackson and Kelly. It really focuses on his time with the Nazis in the prison, but I really love doing that scene in the stadium where I lay out to him why what we’re doing is so important. I’m glad it’s in the story and I loved shooting that with him because he was such an amazing listener to play off. Anytime you have a speech like that, you hope whoever you’re saying it to is listening to what you’re saying, and he was always. Yeah, I love him.

    MF: Finally, John, what was it like collaborating with writer and director James Vanderbilt on set and helping him to execute his vision for this project?

    JS: I mean, you couldn’t find a more enthusiastic leader who fortunately had written the script, so we had a resource and wealth of ideas. He was collaborative, excited, tireless and funny, and I couldn’t have had a better experience from the moment I met him till now. He was willing to try things. He was willing to adjust and to accommodate. This cast has very different energies between Russell, Rami, Michael, Richard Grant, Leo (Woodall) and me. There’s a lot of different methods of working and he accommodated all of them, at least speaking for myself. I couldn’t have had a more willing partner.

    (L to R) Leo Woodall and James Vanderbilt on the set of ‘Nuremberg’. Photo: Scott Garfield. Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics.
    (L to R) Leo Woodall and James Vanderbilt on the set of ‘Nuremberg’. Photo: Scott Garfield. Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics.

    What is the plot of ‘Nuremberg’?

    During the Nuremberg trials, chief psychiatrist Douglas Kelley (Rami Malek) interviews Nazi military members to determine whether they are fit to stand trial. There, he enters a “battle of wits” against Adolf Hitler’s right-hand man, Hermann Göring (Russell Crowe).

    Who is in the cast of ‘Nuremberg’?

    'Nuremberg’ opens in theaters on November 7th.
    ‘Nuremberg’ opens in theaters on November 7th.

    List of Michael Shannon Movies and TV Shows:

    Buy Tickets: ‘Nuremberg’ Movie Showtimes

    Buy Michael Shannon Movies On Amazon

     

  • ‘The End’ Exclusive Interview: Michael Shannon

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    Opening in theaters on December 6th in limited release is ‘The End,’ directed by Joshua Oppenheimer (‘The Act of Killing’), and starring Michael Shannon, Tilda Swinton, George MacKay, and Moses Ingram.

    Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Michael Shannon about his work in the film, in which he plays the patriarch of a well-off family who have retreated to a luxurious underground bunker after climate change has brought about the end of human civilization.

    Michael Shannon in 'The End'. Photo: Mubi.
    Michael Shannon in ‘The End’. Photo: Mubi.

    Related Article: Filmmaker Jeff Nichols Talks ‘The Bikeriders’ Digital Release

    Shannon’s character, simply known as ‘Father,’ may have contributed to the collapse of the Earth’s ecosystem as head of a fossil fuel conglomerate. Despite its bleak subject matter, ‘The End’ is a full-blown musical featuring 13 original songs all performed by the members of the cast.

    You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interview with Michael Shannon.

    Michael Shannon talks 'The End'. Photo: Mubi.
    Michael Shannon talks ‘The End’. Photo: Mubi.

    Moviefone: Had you seen Joshua’s two documentaries [‘The Act of Killing’ and ‘The Look of Silence,’ both about the mass murder of Indonesian citizens by a brutal far-right regime in the mid-1960s] and having seen those, was finding out what he wanted to do with this kind of a curveball in a way?

    Michael Shannon: When I first met with Josh, I had not seen the documentaries. I had heard about them, they’re rather legendary, but I hadn’t actually seen them. So I had a pretty fresh palette going into it. All I had to go on was our conversation and then reading the script. But after I signed on, I watched both of the films, and found them exquisite and painful and all the things that everybody else probably has, and I didn’t really find it to be a curveball. Josh talks about these three films, ‘The Act of Killing,’ ‘Look of Silence,’ and ‘The End’ as being a triptych. He actually got the idea to make ‘The End’ based on the time that he spent in Southeast Asia and meeting a wealthy entrepreneur who was building an underground bunker. So I guess he could have made a documentary about that guy, I don’t know. But he decided instead to make his first narrative film.

    MF: What was your reaction reading the script and learning that it was a musical combined with a post-apocalyptic drama?

    MS: I was thrilled. I am really disinterested in doing something that’s been done before. I think there’s probably too many movies and TV shows in general, and that people spend too much time watching them. But if you’re going to go through the trouble of making something — and it is trouble, trust me, because he devoted years of his life to making this movie. It wasn’t easy, and it took a small village to get the thing financed. But if you’re going to go through all that, then you better make something that’s unique, and I definitely feel like he’s accomplished that.

    Tilda Swinton in 'The End'. Photo: Mubi.
    Tilda Swinton in ‘The End’. Photo: Mubi.

    MF: When you do look at a script, do you have an immediate reaction? Do you have to keep turning the pages, and become aware that you want to be involved in it, or on the other hand, do you read 10 pages and are like, “No, this is not for me”?

    MS: Yeah, it’s pretty quick. I don’t like reading screenplays anyway. I don’t know when that happened — it used to be that when anybody thought to send me a screenplay, I was overwhelmingly excited to see it. But I guess just through the years as you read stacks and stacks of them, they become less and less appealing. But yeah, you usually know pretty quick. But this film is about things that are really important to me, and I could tell that basically from the get-go. So this was a very easy script for me to get through.

    MF: Do you see a parallel with the story in ‘The End’ to the political moment that we’re in now?

    MS: A parallel? Well, it’s interesting, because I guess that’s where your mind is inclined to head, but it’s important to remember that this problem existed before Trump was elected. Even if Kamala Harris got elected or Jill Stein or whoever, it’s been a problem. It’s been a problem since the ‘60s, we’ve known about this for decades and we haven’t done enough to fix it or solve it because, frankly, we’re delusional. Not everybody on an individual basis is delusional. There are a lot of people that are aware of the problem and want to do something about it as individuals, but as a society, I feel like within the United States, there are all different kinds of people obviously, but the United States of America as a country, as a collective country, is mentally ill. It’s like a crazy person that needs treatment, and I don’t know who’s going to give us this treatment. I’m pretty sure it won’t be Donald Trump, but we need some serious time away in a clinic somewhere with a bunch of people saying, “Let’s get to the bottom of this, because you’re clearly very dysfunctional.”

    (L to R) Tilda Swinton and Michael Shannon in 'The End'. Photo: Mubi.
    (L to R) Tilda Swinton and Michael Shannon in ‘The End’. Photo: Mubi.

    MF: Father starts off as kind of empathetic and congenial, and then you learn more about him and his dark side starts to come out. What was your approach to playing him?

    MS: Of course he’s congenial, that’s how he got through life. I don’t think many people get to be CEOs or run corporate entities by being complete dickheads. Charm is the name of the game. Is he a sociopath? I don’t know. Sociopaths are very charming. I do believe that he does have a sense of morality ultimately, that he’s not a sociopath per se. But I thought about it, the potential or the possibility for it. But I think ultimately he’s just a man dealing with a profound amount of guilt, which I can relate to. I think guilt is a pretty universal feeling, I would hope. I don’t want people to be afflicted by it, but there are some things, like I mentioned earlier, that perhaps people should have a small amount of guilty feelings about. But I think what you see in the process of the film and the process of the story is a reawakening in him. It starts with Son inspiring him to really try and remember how he and Mother met, and it’s like a thawing of sorts. Like in order to cope with this experience that they’re having, he’s created this persona that he’s perpetuating just out of survival mode, but it’s not actually who he is if he really stops to think about it. But that’s the thing, in the aquarium that they’re all stuck in, self-examination can be a very dangerous thing. You would think, “Oh, I have all this time now, I am just going to get to know myself, and journal and all these things.” But that can lead you to some dark corners or some questions that you don’t know how to answer, and I feel like that’s what happens to Father in the movie.

    MF: You’ve sang onstage in a band, but this is the first time that you’ve sang on film, correct?

    MS: Well, I did a miniseries called ‘George and Tammy,’ where I played George Jones, and I sang quite a bit in that. But in terms of cinema, yeah, it’s been a long road, but yes, I don’t think I’ve sang in a movie before.

    (L to R) Michael Shannon, George MacKay and Tilda Swinton in 'The End'. Photo: Mubi.
    (L to R) Michael Shannon, George MacKay and Tilda Swinton in ‘The End’. Photo: Mubi.

    MF: The cast sang mostly live on set. Was that a challenge in any way?

    MS: Well, we rehearsed quite a bit before we started filming, we had three weeks of intensive singing rehearsals and a little bit of dancing rehearsals, and also table work with the script, blocking the scenes. The challenging part about a lot of the musical numbers that involved the whole group is that Josh had something very specific in mind about how he wanted it to move and flow and look. It’s always hard when you’ve got an ensemble of people all in frame at the same time and camera movement and all that. Some of those shots took a lot of takes to get them just the way that Josh saw them in his head.

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    What is the plot of ‘The End’?

    A wealthy family has lived in a vast underground bunker for 20 years while the world above has become uninhabitable and humankind has all but gone extinct. Their carefully controlled life and routines are disrupted by the arrival of a young woman from above who leads them to question everything.

    Who is in the cast of ‘The End’?

    'The End' opens in theaters on December 6th.
    ‘The End’ opens in theaters on December 6th.

    List of Michael Shannon Movies and TV Shows:

    Buy Tickets: ‘The End’ Movie Showtimes

    Buy Michael Shannon Movies On Amazon

     

  • Movie Review: ‘A Different Man’

    Sebastian Stan in 'A Different Man'. Photo: A24.
    Sebastian Stan in ‘A Different Man’. Photo: A24.

    Opening in theaters on September 20th, ‘A Different Man’ is the latest movie to see Sebastian Stan stretching himself to play a complicated, interesting character. And while his is the marquee role, he gets huge support from co-stars Adam Pearson and Renate Reinsve.

    While not everything about the movie works, it’s a funny, subversive and often surreal look at one man’s struggle both before and after his face changes completely.

    Related Article: Sebastian Stan and Maria Bakalova may Star for Paul Feig in New Spy Comedy

    Does ‘A Different Man’ hit differently?

    (L to R) Adam Pearson and Sebastian Stan in 'A Different Man'. Photo: A24.
    (L to R) Adam Pearson and Sebastian Stan in ‘A Different Man’. Photo: A24.

    Writer/director Adam Schimberg often riffs on identity and the mental issues surrounding it –– his previous movie, 2018’s ‘Chained for Life’ saw an actor struggling to connect with her co-star, who has neurofibromatosis type 1 (and is played by Adam Pearson, who returns to collaborate again here).

    In ‘A Different Man’, he takes a different, fresh approach to the concept, introducing us to the shy, somewhat awkward but still charismatic Edward (Sebastian Stan in some remarkable prosthetics). He’s a wannabe actor who struggles with some aspects of his life, but seemingly never lets his facial condition get in his way. But when he’s offered a life-changing serum that purports to heal his face, he takes it –– and the results are indeed revolutionary (mostly because he now looks like we all expect Sebastian Stan to look). But what Schimberg cannily gets at is Edward’s true heart –– even with his biggest challenge removed, he finds it tough to fit in and make connections, his “new” face turning him into a much shallower man.

    Script and Direction

    (L to R) Adam Pearson and director Aaron Schimberg on the set of 'A Different Man'. Photo: A24.
    (L to R) Adam Pearson and director Aaron Schimberg on the set of ‘A Different Man’. Photo: A24.

    Schimberg has a particular style of writing that recalls some early Woody Allen in its neurotic comedy, but here he’s also employing a more surreal touch along the lines of David Cronenberg. While Edward’s condition is not treated as horrifying in anyway, his New York apartment and his life in the city certainly can be, with a giant leak in the ceiling and random people screaming at him.

    Yet his focus is truly on Edward as a man and the people around him, with Pearson in particular portraying a character who has no issues making a life, in contrast to our protagonist.

    Though Schimberg as both writer and director can sometimes indulge himself in comedy bits that add little to the ongoing narrative, he’s found a truly compelling story here and brings it to the screen with scruffy panache.

    Performances

    There are three main performances drawing notice in the movie, but also a rich bank of ensemble support.

    Sebastian Stan as Edward

    (L to R) Adam Pearson and Sebastian Stan in 'A Different Man'. Photo: A24.
    (L to R) Adam Pearson and Sebastian Stan in ‘A Different Man’. Photo: A24.

    We’re clearly in the era of Stan looking to push himself after years of supporting roles in Marvel movies and other projects. This year alone will see him play Donald Trump and also the sensitively handed, well-rounded character of Edward.

    With excellent prosthetics work by Mike Marino, we first meet Edward slightly shuffling through life –– he’s friendly helpful and wants to be an actor, but the role gives Stan so many different sides to play, and he makes them all work. His chemistry with both of his main co-stars is also excellent, and when the movie takes on a more comically intense feel later on, he’s just as adept at selling that.

    An actor working with prosthetics is sometimes seen as an awards grab, but there is much more subtle work on display here, and we’d be surprised if Stan isn’t at least nominated for several trophies off the back of this role.

    Adam Pearson as Oswald

    Adam Pearson in 'A Different Man'. Photo: A24.
    Adam Pearson in ‘A Different Man’. Photo: A24.

    Director Aaron Schimberg has said that, after working with Pearson on ‘Chained for Life’ where the disability rights campaigner played a very shy man dealing with his facial features, he wanted to work with him on a character more like the outgoing person in real life. And indeed Oswald is breath of fresh air when he arrives into the film, treated without nodding to his condition, and played by Pearson with full charisma.

    It’s not hyperbole to say that Pearson’s performance is worthy of a supporting actor Oscar nomination.

    Renate Reinsve as Ingrid

    (L to R) Renate Reinsve and Sebastian Stan in 'A Different Man'. Photo: A24.
    (L to R) Renate Reinsve and Sebastian Stan in ‘A Different Man’. Photo: A24.

    Playing the wannabe playwright who first encounters Edwards as a neighbor and quickly forms a bond with him, Reinsve is a complicated delight, another fully rounded character who evolves as the story moves along. Initially she’s like a caring tornado in our hero’s life, but that soon changes when he undergoes his medical procedure, and she no longer recognizes him. But far from being a dream girl, Ingrid has her own issues, and Reinsve can handle them all.

    Supporting cast

    Schimberg fills out this world with a variety of characters, from the kooky (including Malachi Weir as Dr. Flexner, who developed the drug that helps Edward) to the more straightforward, including the gruff but kind handyman Ollie (Billy Griffith) who works in Edward’s building.

    Final Thoughts

    (L to R) Sebastian Stan, Renate Reinsve and Adam Pearson in 'A Different Man'. Photo: A24.
    (L to R) Sebastian Stan, Renate Reinsve and Adam Pearson in ‘A Different Man’. Photo: A24.

    Schimberg’s latest is far more than just a handsome actor acting through prosthetics –– it’s a complicated, well though-out and sometimes odd story of a man struggling to find himself.

    Yes, some of the wilder comedy moments occasionally detract from the overall tone, but several of them hit, and the film around them is thoughtful and well-conceived enough that it never struggles. This is accomplished, witty work, and a different film from what you might be expecting.

    ‘A Different Man’ receives 8 out of 10 stars.

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    What’s the plot of ‘A Different Man’?

    Aspiring actor Edward (Sebastian Stan) undergoes a radical medical procedure to drastically transform his appearance.

    But his new dream face quickly turns into a nightmare, as he loses out on the role he was born to play and becomes obsessed with reclaiming what was lost.

    Who is in the cast of ‘A Different Man’?

    'A Different Man' opens in theaters on September 20th. Photo: A24.
    ‘A Different Man’ opens in theaters on September 20th. Photo: A24.

    Other Sebastian Stan Movies and TV Shows:

    Buy Sebastian Stan Movies On Amazon

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  • ‘The Bikeriders’ Digital Release Interview: Jeff Nichols

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    Available to own or rent at home beginning July 9th is the new film ‘The Bikeriders,’ which was written and directed by Jeff Nichols (‘Mud,’ ‘Loving’) and based on the book of the same name by author Danny Lyon.

    The movie features an all-star cast that includes Jodie Comer (‘Free Guy’), Austin Butler (‘Elvis’), Tom Hardy (‘Venom’), Michael Shannon (‘Man of Steel’), Mike Faist (“Challengers’), Boyd Holbrook (‘Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny’), and Norman Reedus (‘The Walking Dead’).

    Director of photography Adam Stone, actor Austin Butler and director Jeff Nichols on the set of 'The Bikeriders', a Focus Features release. Credit: Kyle Kaplan/Focus Features. © 2024 Focus Features. All Rights Reserved.
    (L to R) Director of photography Adam Stone, actor Austin Butler and director Jeff Nichols on the set of ‘The Bikeriders’, a Focus Features release. Credit: Kyle Kaplan/Focus Features. © 2024 Focus Features. All Rights Reserved.

    Related Article: Movie Review: ‘The Bikeriders’

    Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with writer and director Jeff Nichols about the digital release of ‘The Bikeriders’, his passion for the project, the structure of the film, Jodie Comer and Austin Butler’s onscreen chemistry, Tom Hardy’s performance, the challenges of shooting the motorcycle scenes, and why he loves working with Michael Shannon.

    You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interview with director Jeff Nichols.

    Director Jeff Nichols talks 'The Bikeriders,' which is available to own or rent at home beginning July 9th.
    Director Jeff Nichols talks ‘The Bikeriders,’ which is available to own or rent at home beginning July 9th.

    Moviefone: To begin with, I know that making ‘The Bikeriders’ was a long passion project for you. Now that the movie is finishing its theatrical run and about to be released on digital, how does it feel to know that audiences are finally seeing this film?

    Jeff Nichols: It feels great. The responses that I think I appreciate the most are from people involved in motorcycle culture, not having grown up in that culture and around bikes, especially not growing up in the Midwest, growing up in the American South. Anytime someone says, “Hey, I grew up in Chicago in the 60s and my dad rode bikes, or I was around bikes, and man, you just nailed it.” Like any comments, and I’ve gotten a few of those. They seem to mean the most to me just because it is a kind of pat on the back and it’s a little bit of validation to all the work we did. So yeah, that’s it. I think that’s the thing that’s been most enjoyable for me.

    Jodie Comer stars as Kathy, director Jeff Nichols and Austin Butler as Benny on the set of 'The Bikeriders,' a Focus Features release.
    (L to R) Jodie Comer stars as Kathy, director Jeff Nichols and Austin Butler as Benny on the set of ‘The Bikeriders,’ a Focus Features release. Credit: Kyle Kaplan/Focus Features. © 2024 Focus Features. All Rights Reserved.

    MF: Can you talk about what attracted you to this specific material and why were you so passionate about getting this movie made?

    JN: Look, honestly, it’s because of the people contained inside Danny’s book. You could say it’s the bikes and the hair and the clothes, that’s certainly something I was attracted to, but the truth is, in these interviews, they just felt like real people because they were. They felt like people trying to understand their place in the world, and that was very attractive to me, even more attractive than the bikes and the clothes and the hair, which was damn attractive. I think as a storyteller, you’re looking for human beings and you’re looking for human behavior that people can relate to, and they can say, “I know someone like that”, or “I am like that”, this is our connection through cinema. When I looked at Danny’s book and I read those interviews, I saw people and I saw behavior that I felt like people could connect to.

    Mike Faist as Danny and Jodie Comer as Kathy in director Jeff Nichols' 'The Bikeriders'.
    (L to R) Mike Faist as Danny and Jodie Comer as Kathy in director Jeff Nichols’ ‘The Bikeriders’. Credit: Kyle Kaplan/Focus Features © 2024 Focus Features, LLC. All RIghts Reserved.

    MF: Can you talk about the choice of telling the story from Kathy’s point of view and utilizing a documentary structure?

    JN: The truth is Kathy was just the most interesting one in the book. Her interviews, they just kind of glow and it’s because she’s completely unfiltered. Jodie said something interesting about it. She said, “It’s almost like no one ever asked Kathy what she thought about things until Danny Lyon showed up.” It was a big statement for me to hear. Yeah, this woman in the 1960s, it’s like no one had ever bothered to ask her opinion about anything, and she was ready to give it, and she did in this kind of unvarnished, completely unfiltered way. I think it was undeniable as someone looking at the book to say, “Well, she needs to be the one to take us through this world.” Not because she’s an observer, it’s because she’s a participant. It’s because she’s dealing with the same thing that these guys are dealing with, which is this tension between romance and attraction and violence, which is kind of held in the motorcycle and it’s held in the motorcycle club. As far as the documentary style, it was a real challenge for me as a filmmaker. A lot of my films are classical in the directing style. They’re very linear in the storytelling style. Part of the challenge for me as a filmmaker was, I wanted this to feel like maybe a documentary crew went back in time and captured half of this movie at least. There are certainly scenes that start to fall into more of a narrative feel, but I wanted parts of it to feel like a documentary, which is why beyond even just Kathy’s interviews, you’re having portraiture with these guys sitting on their bikes kind of explaining things. It was very much set up to feel like a documentary for, like I said, about half of the film. At some point you wake up into the narrative and you have a better understanding of these characters because of the time you’ve spent with them. It was a strange tightrope to try to walk as a storyteller and as a writer, but one I’m proud of in the film.

    Austin Butler as Benny and Jodie Comer as Kathy in director Jeff Nichols' 'The Bikeriders,' a Focus Features release.
    (L to R) Austin Butler as Benny and Jodie Comer as Kathy in director Jeff Nichols’ ‘The Bikeriders,’ a Focus Features release. Credit: Kyle Kaplan/Focus Features. © 2024 Focus Features. All Rights Reserved.

    MF: Can you talk about Kathy and Benny’s love story and the incredible chemistry that Austin Butler and Jodie Comer have together onscreen?

    JN: These things are magical, and I don’t mean to get kind of too dreamy with my answer, but as a filmmaker, you have very real things in front of you, budgets and schedules, actors, and you look at them and you say, “You look good and you’re a good actor. Let’s see what happens when I put you with this other person”, and then this thing happens. Part of it is they’re both just so talented, but they’re also just so charismatic. I found this with Ruth Negga on ‘Loving’, Jodie’s eyes are disproportionately sized to the rest of her face, which makes her perfect to put on camera because there’s so much information going on inside of her eyes. It’s just a beautiful thing to watch. Then you have Austin who has this supreme control over what he’s doing. When he walks into that bar, turns that chair in and sits down, it looks like something I’ve seen in cinema lexicon, that feels like it’s existed for 60 years. I knew we had something special, and I wish I could tell you that I engineered it and all these other things. It is a magical thing that happens when you put the right people together in the right setting and the right project, and it happened right in front of my eyes, and it was incredible to watch.

    Austin Butler as Benny in director Jeff Nichols' 'The Bikeriders,' a Focus Features release.
    Austin Butler as Benny in director Jeff Nichols’ ‘The Bikeriders,’ a Focus Features release. Credit: Courtesy of Focus Features. © 2024 Focus Features. All Rights Reserved.

    MF: Can you talk about the challenges of shooting the motorcycle scenes and because of the period setting of the movie, needing to have very famous actors ride bikes without helmets? Was it difficult just getting insurance for the film?

    JN: It was. We had a person on set whose whole job was just to coordinate with the insurance companies. At some point we collectively, the actors, the production, the studio, the insurance companies, everyone had to just accept a certain amount of risk, which as a director is terrifying because we’re just making a movie. It’s not worth hurting anyone, but when you put people on motorcycles, you’re never going to reach zero risk. So basically, we collectively had to accept that there was risk, and then move from there, do everything possible from there to make this experience as safe as possible. It was terrifying, I mean, it took years off my life. You film those scenes the way that you film stunt sequences, if you get it right, you’re done. That’s your one shot. You don’t go back for another take, to just see if something else happens, you just get it. Like the bike shot of Austin, I believe we did that in two takes and I would’ve loved a third take, but we got it in the first take, and it was like, “We’re not going to do that again. We’re going to let this be.” The truth is a lot of that credit goes to our actors for the time they spent training on those bikes. Again, you must give credit to Austin, who’s not a stunt performer. He hasn’t been on these bikes for that long, but he makes himself look so comfortable while he’s riding. That is acting because I guarantee you, he doesn’t feel that comfortable on that bike. But he sold it and I’m so proud that we did it that way. I’m so proud that it’s in the film. In an age where everything is CG, everything is fake, I can’t help but think people will show up and watch this film and know somewhere in their brains that we did that.

    Tom Hardy stars as Johnny in director Jeff Nichols' 'The Bikeriders,' a Focus Features release.
    Tom Hardy stars as Johnny in director Jeff Nichols’ ‘The Bikeriders,’ a Focus Features release. Credit: Kyle Kaplan/Focus Features. © 2024 Focus Features, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

    MF: In the film, Tom Hardy’s Johnny is inspired to start the motorcycle club after watching Marlon Brando in ‘The Wild One’ and it seemed like Hardy was channeling Brando for his performance. Is that accurate and is that something you talked about with him?

    JN: Yeah, it was a bit of his calculus. I think Jodie was sharing audio clips with me all along of the work that she was doing, but that’s because she had about an hour of actual audio of the real Kathy. So, she had something specific to go off. Tom didn’t. There was only one interview with the real Johnny, and we didn’t really like his voice. So, Tom was kind of, he had all the other audio examples to listen to, so he knew the world that he’d be living in, but he wanted to develop something for his character. What he kept saying to me was that he can’t be half a gangster. That seemed to be the mantra that he applied to his character, meaning this guy is, he’s not really a gang leader. He’s a guy that’s posing as a motorcycle gang leader, and that’s going to come back on him at some point because he’s not really built for this world. He’s playing a part. So, you have Tom Hardy playing the part of a person playing a part. Tom very clearly was like, “I think this guy grew up on movies. I think he grew up watching James Cagney. I think he grew up watching Marlon Brando, and I think he is putting on a persona.” So, he very intentionally took his voice into that higher inflection, and basically, it’s Johnny doing Brando. I didn’t hear his voice until the first day on set, and he only had a couple lines, and we kind of huddled afterwards. He said, “What do you think?” For me, it was like Domino’s kind of falling backward because I understood we had had all these conversations. I understood exactly what he’s connecting to. It’s like, “I think it’s great, man. Just go with it.” It adds this odd vulnerability to that character. Imagine him only just being gruff, it is less interesting, I think, in my opinion.

    Michael Shannon as Zipco in 20th Century Studios' 'The Bikeriders'.
    Michael Shannon as Zipco in 20th Century Studios’ ‘The Bikeriders’. Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios. © 2023 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.

    MF: Finally, you’ve cast Michael Shannon in every movie you’ve ever directed. Can you talk about why you love working with him and having him on your sets?

    JN: Well, the set part, he adds a level of focus to everybody. We filmed his two monologues in the first week and getting this incredible group of actors together, who I’m not familiar with, who I haven’t done a lot of work with, but having everybody sit around and listen to Mike give a monologue, two monologues in a Jeff Nichols film, it was like a grounding force to the whole production, and it kind of set the bar. It was like, “Okay, we’re in a Jeff Nichols film now. We just heard Mike Shannon give a monologue”. I know that the younger actors look up to him, but Tom as well. He and Tom, I think I’ll get this correctly, they used to be in an acting troop together that Philip Seymour Hoffman led, so they knew each other. Austin tells a great story of about three takes in on Mike’s first monologue, the one leaning on the bike, Tom leaned into him and said, “Oh, he’s in it now.” It was a great actor recognizing another great actor for being in the moment. That’s always the case with Mike. I’ve learned to direct because of Mike, and the truth is he makes me look better. He makes my dialogue better. He’s so thoughtful. But you hear a lot about these actors that they’ll show up and rip out the script pages and start to do their own thing. Look, to each their own, but Mike has a tremendous amount of respect for the words that I write. He knows how much time I spend, and he likes the words I write. They make sense to him the way that I think and the way that I write dialogue and character behavior and movement, they seem to make sense to Mike. So, when he shows up, he’s taking what’s on the page and just bringing it to life in a way that I love the way it looks and sounds and moves. He makes all my work better every time. He doesn’t miss.

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    What is the plot of ‘The Bikeriders’?

    ‘The Bikeriders’ captures a rebellious time in America when the culture and people were changing. After a chance encounter at a local bar, strong-willed Kathy (Jodie Comer) is inextricably drawn to Benny (Austin Butler), the newest member of Midwestern motorcycle club, the Vandals led by the enigmatic Johnny (Tom Hardy). Much like the country around it, the club begins to evolve, transforming from a gathering place for local outsiders into a dangerous underworld of violence, forcing Benny to choose between Kathy and his loyalty to the club.

    Who is in the cast of ‘The Bikeriders’?

    'The Bikeriders' will be available to own or rent at home beginning July 9th.
    ‘The Bikeriders’ will be available to own or rent at home beginning July 9th.

    Movies Similar to ‘The Bikeriders’:

    Buy Austin Butler Movies On Amazon

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  • Movie Review: ‘The Bikeriders’

    Austin Butler stars as Benny in director Jeff Nichols' 'The Bikeriders,' a Focus Features release.
    Austin Butler stars as Benny in director Jeff Nichols’ ‘The Bikeriders,’ a Focus Features release. Credit: Courtesy of Focus Features. © 2024 Focus Features, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

    Opening in theaters June 21st is ‘The Bikeriders,’ directed by Jeff Nichols and starring Tom Hardy, Jodie Comer, Austin Butler, Mike Faist, Michael Shannon, Boyd Holbrook, and Norman Reedus.

    Related Article: ‘The Bikeriders’ Moves Off Original Opening Date In Midst Of SAG-AFTRA Strike

    Initial Thoughts

    Motorcycle club culture remains an enigma to most people; to some, it represents freedom and the ability to live outside the mainstream, while to others it appears to be a dangerous and even criminal lifestyle. Set in the 1960s, ‘The Bikeriders’ balances right on the cusp of those two extremes, with writer-director Jeff Nichols chronicling the history of a (semi-fictional) biker club and the people in its orbit navigating both a changing American landscape and the nature of their community itself.

    Bolstered by several great performances from Jodie Comer, Tom Hardy, and the supporting cast, ‘The Bikeriders’ is always entertaining and often fascinating. But its shifting point of view and meandering narrative keep it from becoming the great American epic that Nichols clearly wants to make.

    Story and Direction

    Jodie Comer stars as Kathy, director Jeff Nichols and Austin Butler as Benny on the set of 'The Bikeriders,' a Focus Features release.
    (L to R) Jodie Comer stars as Kathy, director Jeff Nichols and Austin Butler as Benny on the set of ‘The Bikeriders,’ a Focus Features release. Credit: Kyle Kaplan/Focus Features. © 2024 Focus Features. All Rights Reserved.

    In 1968, photojournalist Danny Lyon published a book called ‘The Bikeriders,’ which illustrated through photos and text the four years he spent with a motorcycle club known as the Chicago Outlaws. Jeff Nichols, writer-director of ‘Mud,’ ‘Loving,’ and ‘Take Shelter,’ was inspired by Lyon’s book to create a fictional club, the Vandals, incorporating elements of Lyon’s book and versions of the real-life club members into the rambling narrative of his first feature film in seven years.

    Lyon appears in the movie as well, played by Mike Faist (‘Challengers’), and it’s his interviews that in some ways form the spine of the film. Much of it is told in flashback by Kathy (Jodie Comer), a blue-collar Midwestern girl who meets and falls in love with (and eventually marries) Benny (Austin Butler), a brooding, charming Vandals member who is the protégé of Johnny (Tom Hardy), the founder and leader of the club.

    Kathy is our way into the story, but it’s here that Nichols’ narrative structure begins to run into problems. With much of the story told from her viewpoint, we never quite get into the inner workings of either Benny or Johnny, the two men who dominate both her life and that of the club. We learn that Johnny – who has a wife and two daughters – decides to form the Vandals after watching the Marlon Brando movie ‘The Wild One’ on television one night. Most of the members of the club are working class, but it’s hinted that Benny – who is as non-verbal as a person can be – comes from a more prosperous background that he’s estranged from. Do these men congregate in the Vandals as a means of rebellion? Or to find a surrogate family? It’s never really made clear.

    Jodie Comer as Kathy and Austin Butler as Benny in director Jeff Nichols' 'The Bikeriders,' a Focus Features release.
    (L to R) Jodie Comer as Kathy and Austin Butler as Benny in director Jeff Nichols’ ‘The Bikeriders,’ a Focus Features release. Credit: Kyle Kaplan/Focus Features. © 2024 Focus Features, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

    What is clear is that the club slowly begins to evolve from a kind of weekend hobby into a criminal organization, attracting more unsavory characters and activities into its orbit. After Benny is almost beaten to death when he walks into a rival bar wearing the gang’s colors, Kathy wants him to quit. But of course, the Vandals are the means through which Benny finds identity and purpose, and he’s also being groomed by Johnny to take over when the latter retires, although why Johnny’s motivations for wanting to bow out are murky at best.

    The heart of the film is the tug-of-war between Kathy and Johnny for Benny’s love and loyalty, set against the shifting societal background of late ‘60s America and the changing nature of the club and its purpose. Yet the way in which Nichols tells the story, shifting back and forth in time and never quite allowing us to get into the heads of either Johnny or Benny, makes for a story that lacks urgency or drama, with the allure of the club itself and the stakes for its members never as forcefully presented as they should be.

    Despite its structural flaws, ‘The Bikeriders’ still manages to be an entertaining watch. The film is bursting with exacting period details, and Nichols recreates the ramshackle late ‘60s milieu of Midwestern suburban, blue-collar enclaves, rundown homes, and darkened, grimy bars with perfectly immersive effect. And you can’t help but be fascinated, amused, and sometimes gripped by the antics of the club and its members, although Nichols never quite allows the film or its characters to make the case strongly enough for what draws them to this lifestyle.

    The Cast

    Jodie Comer stars as Kathy in Jeff Nichols' 'The Bikeriders,' a Focus Features release.
    Jodie Comer stars as Kathy in Jeff Nichols’ ‘The Bikeriders,’ a Focus Features release. Credit: Courtesy of Focus Features ©2024 All Rights Reserved.

    While most of the characters are thinly drawn, Jodie Comer’s Kathy is the exception: Comer is outstanding as the no-nonsense, plainspoken, common-sense-smart Midwestern woman who is pulled in a feral way toward Benny and who can appreciate the protective, strength-in-numbers nature of the club (never more so than in a harrowing scene when some bikers who crash a Vandals party try to rape her).

    At the same time, Kathy’s eyes are always open to the changes in Benny, Johnny, and the Vandals. For her it’s not just matter of love, but practicality: she wants her husband to live, and their lives to stabilize. Through her voice (and dead-on accent), her reliable way of telling the story, and her agency in dealing with both Benny and Johnny, Kathy proves that she knows who she is and what her life has become, and how to change it. Comer shines throughout the film, her expressive eyes and collected demeanor telling us plenty about this engaging woman.

    Tom Hardy stars as Johnny in director Jeff Nichols' 'The Bikeriders,' a Focus Features release.
    Tom Hardy stars as Johnny in director Jeff Nichols’ ‘The Bikeriders,’ a Focus Features release. Credit: Kyle Kaplan/Focus Features. © 2024 Focus Features, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

    As for the two men in her life, Tom Hardy kind of grunts and mumbles his way through a lot of the movie as a man who has never truly learned to express himself until he got on a bike, and for whom the Vandals may be the greatest thing he ever created, until it’s not. But even with minimal dialogue, Hardy is always such a formidable presence that he captures Johnny’s quiet strength and fearlessness effortlessly. Even though he becomes a criminal, one can almost empathize with Johnny thanks to his steadfast loyalty and unwavering devotion to his own ways (even as the other bikers grow their hair long, Johnny keeps his greased back, just as he saw it in ‘The Wild One’).

    Austin Butler’s Benny is less successfully fleshed out, and of the three main players has the least to do. He basically broods, sulks, and occasionally lashes out in anger, his own motivations hidden behind a curtain of tics and poses. Butler, so electrifying in ‘Elvis’ and ‘Dune: Part Two,’ is still charismatic here, but he’s the weakest link in the dramatic triangle of Kathy, Johnny, and Benny, only because he’s pulled between the two yet doesn’t offer enough insight into what he really wants.

    While much of the supporting cast, meaning basically the members of the Vandals, don’t get a chance to differentiate themselves from their compatriots, two stand out: Nichols muse Michael Shannon is excellent as always as Zipco, the often hilarious yet clearly unstable wild card of the gang, while Norman Reedus puts Daryl Dixon on steroids as Funny Sonny, a California biker who comes out to Chicago to scope out the Vandals and ends up hanging on with them (in one amusing scene, he even gets paid to stand outside a movie theater and encourage passers-by to go in and watch ‘Easy Rider’).

    Final Thoughts

    Austin Butler stars as Benny in director Jeff Nichols' 'The Bikeriders,' a Focus Features release.
    Austin Butler stars as Benny in director Jeff Nichols’ ‘The Bikeriders,’ a Focus Features release. Credit: Courtesy of Focus Features. © 2024 Focus Features, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

    Jeff Nichols seems to be going for an objective portrait of the Vandals with ‘The Bikeriders’: he wants to document this lifestyle without passing judgment on it. But that leaves the movie without a point of view: the sheer freedom and exhilaration of the lifestyle is never quite captured, leaving us more often with a view of the Vandals’ grubby, hand-to-mouth, dissolute existence. The fall of the Vandals might be more tragic if we got a sense of what made being part of the gang – or any club of this kind – so compelling.

    Even at over two hours, ‘The Bikeriders’ feels in the end like a series of sketches that never quite add up to the story that Nichols seems to want to tell. In this case, a limited series might have worked better, giving us a chance to dig into the characters’ lives and the existence of the club with more clarity and understanding. As it stands, ‘The Bikeriders’ is like a photo book with no accompanying text: intriguing and often arresting to look at, without enough context of what we’re seeing.

    ‘The Bikeriders’ receives 6.5 out of 10 stars.

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    What is the plot of ‘The Bikeriders’?

    In the late 1960s, Kathy (Jodie Comer) begins a relationship with Benny (Austin Butler), a member of the Chicago Vandals motorcycle club led by Johnny (Tom Hardy). The couple’s ups and downs parallel that of the club as they go through a turbulent period of transformation and growth.

    Who is in the cast of ‘The Bikeriders’?

    • Jodie Comer as Kathy
    • Austin Butler as Benny
    • Tom Hardy as Johnny
    • Michael Shannon as Zipco
    • Mike Faist as Danny Lyon
    • Norman Reedus as Funny Sonny
    • Boyd Holbrook as Cal
    'The Bikeriders,' directed by Jeff Nichols, a Focus Features release.
    ‘The Bikeriders,’ directed by Jeff Nichols, a Focus Features release. Credit: Courtesy of Focus Features. © 2024 Focus Features, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

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    Buy Austin Butler Movies On Amazon

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  • ‘The Bikeriders’ Moves From Its Planned December 1st Launch

    Austin Butler as Benny in 20th Century Studios' 'The Bikeriders'.
    Austin Butler as Benny in 20th Century Studios’ ‘The Bikeriders’. Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios. © 2023 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.

    Preview

    • Who is in the cast of ‘The Bikeriders’
    • The movie will campaign for Best Original Screenplay in the upcoming award season
    • The studio is citing the SAG-AFTRA as the reason for the delay, as actors are currently prohibited from doing promotional work or publicity.

    Jeff Nichols’ upcoming film has been moved off its original release date of December 1, 2023, with no new release date on the calendar.

    ’The Bikeriders’ will star Austin Butler (‘Elvis’) as Benny, Tom Hardy (‘Venom: Let There Be Carnage’) as Johnny, Jodie Comer (‘The Last Duel’) as Kathy, Michael Shannon (‘Amsterdam’) as Zipco, Mike Faist (‘West Side Story’) as Danny Lyon, Norman Reedus (‘The Walking Dead’) as Funny Sonny, and Boyd Holbrook (‘Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny’) as Cal.

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    What Is ‘The Bikeriders’ About?

    Austin Butler as Benny in 20th Century Studios' 'The Bikeriders.'
    Austin Butler as Benny in 20th Century Studios’ ‘The Bikeriders.’ Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios. © 2023 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.

    Written and directed by Jeff Nichols, the movie is inspired by the photo and interview book by Danny Lyons. It was published in 1968 and is filled with black-and-white photographs and interviews with members of the Chicago Outlaws Motorcycle Club.

    The official synopsis for the movie:

    “The Bikeriders” is a furious drama following the rise of a fictional 1960s Midwestern motorcycle club through the lives of its members. Inspired by Danny Lyon’s iconic book of photography, “The Bikeriders” immerses you in the look, feel, and sounds of the bare-knuckled, grease-covered subculture of ’60s motorcycle riders. Kathy (Jodie Comer), a strong-willed member of the Vandals who’s married to a wild, reckless bikerider named Benny (Austin Butler), recounts the Vandals’ evolution over the course of a decade, beginning as a local club of outsiders united by good times, rumbling bikes, and respect for their strong, steady leader Johnny (Tom Hardy). Over the years, Kathy tries her best to navigate her husband’s untamed nature and his allegiance to Johnny, with whom she feels she must compete for Benny’s attention. As life in the Vandals gets more dangerous, and the club threatens to become a more sinister gang, Kathy, Benny and Johnny are forced to make choices about their loyalty to the club and to each other.”

    According to Variety, even though the film is based on Lyons’ book of the same name, the WGA has classified it as original work, and the studio will campaign for Best Original Screenplay for the awards season.

    Related Article: ‘The Bikeriders’ Trailer

    The SAG-AFTRA Strike Cite As Reason For Date Change

    SAG-AFTRA on strike.
    SAG-AFTRA on strike. Photo courtesy of SAG-AFTRA.

    The studio is citing the actors’ strike for the change in the movie’s release schedule, The Hollywood Reporter has learned exclusively. As actors are prohibited from doing any sort of promotional work or publicity during the strike, perhaps the right decision is to wait for the strike to end so the star-studded cast can talk about the movie.

    However, with the talks between SAG-AFTRA and AMPTP halting, there’s no telling when this strike will be over.

    ‘The Bikeriders’ would have also shared an opening weekend with Beyoncé’s concert movie ‘Renaissance’, and given how successful Taylor Swift’s ‘Eras Tour’ movie is at the box office, it gives an additional reason for moving the film off its original release date.

    20th Century Studios' 'The Bikeriders' opens in theaters on December 1st.
    20th Century Studios’ ‘The Bikeriders’ opens in theaters on December 1st.

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  • Where To Watch DC’s ‘The Flash’ Starring Ezra Miller

    Ezra Miller as Barry Allen / The Flash in Warner Bros. Pictures’ action adventure 'The Flash,' a Warner Bros. Pictures release.
    Ezra Miller as Barry Allen / The Flash in Warner Bros. Pictures’ action adventure ‘The Flash,’ a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures/™ & © DC Comics. Copyright: © 2023 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.

    Speeding straight into your TVs, DC’s latest Superhero movie ‘The Flash’ is expected to be available on PVOD on July 18th.

    The film is set after the events ‘Justice League,’ where Barry Allen decides to travel back in time to save his mother – a storyline adapted from the ‘Flashpoint’ comic. Filled with action, cameos, easter eggs, and more.

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    The official synopsis for ‘The Flash’ is below:

    “Worlds collide in “The Flash” when Barry uses his superpowers to travel back in time in order to change the events of the past. But when his attempt to save his family inadvertently alters the future, Barry becomes trapped in a reality in which General Zod has returned, threatening annihilation, and there are no Super Heroes to turn to. That is, unless Barry can coax a very different Batman out of retirement and rescue an imprisoned Kryptonian… albeit not the one he’s looking for. Ultimately, to save the world that he is in and return to the future that he knows, Barry’s only hope is to race for his life. But will making the ultimate sacrifice be enough to reset the universe?”

    Ezra Miller as Barry Allen / The Flash in Warner Bros. Pictures’ action adventure 'The Flash,' a Warner Bros. Pictures release.
    Ezra Miller as Barry Allen / The Flash in Warner Bros. Pictures’ action adventure ‘The Flash,’ a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures/™ & © DC Comics. Copyright: © 2023 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.

    ‘The Flash’ opened in theaters on June 16, 2023. Initially, the movie was slated to release in July of 2022, but due to the shifting of schedules at Warner Bros., the movie was moved to its 2023 release date. ‘The Flash’ opened to $55 million domestically and so far has grossed $102.9 since its release. Worldwide, the movie has earned $249.1 million.

    Directed by Andy Muschietti (‘It’) and penned by Christina Hodson (‘Birds of Prey’), the movie stars Ezra Miller (‘Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore’), who reprised their role as Barry Allen/The Flash, Michael Keaton (‘Morbius’) as Bruce Wayne/Batman, Ben Affleck (‘Air’) as Bruce Wayne/Batman, Sasha Calle (‘The Young and the Restless’) as Supergirl, Michael Shannon (‘Amsterdam’) as General Zod, Ron Livingston (‘The Estate‘) as Henry Allen, Maribel Verdú (‘Death’s Roulette’) as Nora Allen, and Kiersey Clemons (‘Somebody I Used to Know’) as Iris West.

    Two Barry Allens

    Ezra Miller as The Flash, Michael Keaton as Batman and Ezra Miller as The Flash in Warner Bros. Pictures’ action adventure 'The FLASH,' a Warner Bros. Pictures release.
    (L to R) Ezra Miller as The Flash, Michael Keaton as Batman and Ezra Miller as The Flash in Warner Bros. Pictures’ action adventure ‘The FLASH,’ a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures/™ & © DC Comics. Copyright: © 2023 Warner Bros. Ent. All Rights Reserved. TM & © DC.

    Longtime comic book fans knew we would be getting the Flashpoint story in ‘The Flash’, which director Andy Muschietti does a great job of adapting. When it comes to the speedster, time travel and meeting one’s younger self is imminent. Ezra Miller plays two Barry Allens in the movie, one that we have met already through previous DC films like ‘Batman v. Superman’ and ‘Justice League.’ The other Barry is younger and has not become The Flash in their timeline, which makes a lot of the scenes and conversation interesting and funny.

    The juxtaposition of the two Barrys really makes their interaction fun to watch, especially in scenes with Micheal Keaton’s Batman and Sasha Calle’s Supergirl. On top of the humorous scenes, the movie serves up many emotional moments as well when it comes to Barry and their mom.

    Speeding Across The Multiverse

    Ezra Miller as Barry Allen/The Flash, Sasha Calle as Kara Zor-El/Supergirl and Ezra Miller as Barry Allen/The Flash in Warner Bros. Pictures’ action adventure 'The Flash,' a Warner Bros. Pictures release.
    (L to R) Ezra Miller as Barry Allen/The Flash, Sasha Calle as Kara Zor-El/Supergirl and Ezra Miller as Barry Allen/The Flash in Warner Bros. Pictures’ action adventure ‘The Flash,’ a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures/™ & © DC Comics. Copyright: © 2023 Warner Bros. Ent. All Rights Reserved. TM & © DC

    It feels like we are in the multiverse of multiverse movies right now. From ‘The Flash’ to ‘Spider-man: Across the Spiderverse, ‘ Everything Everywhere All At Once’ to ‘Doctor Strange In The Multiverse of Madness.’

    DC has always dealt with the multiverse in shows like CW’s ‘The Flash’ and ‘Crisis on Infinite Earth,’ but in Muschietti’s film, we’re seeing the multiverse on a grander scale. We won’t spoil too much just in case you haven’t had the chance to see the movie, but multiverse and dimensional travel means jaw-dropping cameos aplenty.

    For example, seeing Michael Keaton putting the cape on once again as Batman, with iconic one-liners like, “I’m Batman,” and “You wanna get nuts? Let’s get nuts.” makes an extremely satisfying moment for the fans. Ben Affleck also appears as his version of the Batman.

    Related Article: Movie Review: ‘The Flash’

    Where Can I Watch ‘The Flash’?

    Michael Keaton attends a double bill screening of Tim Burton's 'Batman' followed by 'The Flash,' in London, England.
    Michael Keaton attends a double bill screening of Tim Burton’s ‘Batman’ followed by ‘The Flash,’ in London, England. Photo by Lia Toby/Getty Images for Warner Bros Discovery.

    While the film was initially screened at CinemaCon, it was an unfinished version and ‘The Flash’ officially premiered on June 12th, 2023, at the Grauman’s Chinese Theater in Hollywood. Since the movie has only been out for 4 weeks, it is still playing in theaters, so be sure to check with Moviefone below for showtimes in your area. ‘The Flash’ has a total runtime of 2 hours and 24 minutes.

    Buy Tickets: ‘The Flash’ Movie Showtimes

    Watch the official trailers for ‘The Flash’ below:

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    Can’t make it out to the theater? You will soon have the option to rent or purchase the movie on VOD. Services such as Prime Video, Apple TV, and Google Play will have the movie available digitally for $24.99 on July 18th, 2023. There has been no official word yet on when ‘The Flash’ will stream on Max.

    Where To Watch: ‘The Flash’ Online

    For those who prefer physical copies, ‘The Flash’ should become available on DVD/Blu-Ray by September in formats such as 4K Ultra HD, Blu-Ray, and DVD. Collectors can look forward to an exclusive steelbook edition from Best Buy and an Icon Edition digi-pack set from Walmart. Both are available for pre-order now.

    Buy ‘The Flash’ On Amazon

    Warner Bros. Pictures’ action adventure 'The Flash,' a Warner Bros. Pictures release.
    Warner Bros. Pictures’ action adventure ‘The Flash,’ a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures/™ & © DC Comics. Copyright: © 2023 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.

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  • Nicole Kidman Returning for ‘Nine Perfect Strangers’ Season 2

    Nicole Kidman stars in Hulu's 'Nine Perfect Strangers.'
    Nicole Kidman stars in Hulu’s ‘Nine Perfect Strangers.’ Photo: Vince Valitutti/Hulu.

    Though it would seem to have wrapped up its story –– especially since it is based on a novel –– with its first season, Hulu’s ‘Nine Perfect Strangers’ is preparing a second.

    It would seem that the streaming service is ready to go the ‘White Lotus’ route and turn the concept into an anthology, with star Nicole Kidman the sole name (so far) from Season 1 set to return.

    What was the story of ‘Nine Perfect Strangers’ first season?

    Luke Evans, Melvin Gregg, Michael Shannon, Manny Jacinto, and Bobby Cannavale star in Hulu's 'Nine Perfect Strangers.'
    (L to R) Luke Evans, Melvin Gregg, Michael Shannon, Manny Jacinto, and Bobby Cannavale star in Hulu’s ‘Nine Perfect Strangers.’ Photo: Vince Valitutti/Hulu.

    Debuting in September 2021 as Hulu’s most-watched Hulu original ever — drama, comedy, limited series or unscripted –– the show saw nine stressed city dwellers try to get on a path to a better way of living with a 10-day star at a boutique California wellness resort run by director Masha (Kidman), a woman on a mission to reinvigorate their tired minds and bodies. However, these nine “perfect” strangers have no idea what is about to hit them…

    The cast for that first season co-starred Melissa McCarthy, Michael Shannon, Luke Evans, Bobby Cannavale, Regina Hall, Samara Weaving, Melvin Gregg, Asher Keddie, Grace Van Patten, Tiffany Boone and Manny Jacinto. It was developed (based on ‘Big Little Lies’ author Liane Moriarty’s tome), by David E. Kelley.

    Melissa McCarthy stars in Hulu's 'Nine Perfect Strangers.
    Melissa McCarthy stars in Hulu’s ‘Nine Perfect Strangers. Photo: Vince Valitutti/Hulu.

    Related Article: Nicole Kidman Reteaming With ‘Big Little Lies’ Team for Hulu Drama ‘Nine Perfect Strangers’

    What do we know about ‘Nine Perfect Strangers’ Season 2 so far?

    Nicole Kidman stars in Hulu's 'Nine Perfect Strangers.'
    Nicole Kidman stars in Hulu’s ‘Nine Perfect Strangers.’ Photo: Vince Valitutti/Hulu.

    Kelley will be back to lead the writing staff for the new season, with Kidman once more producing as well as starring.

    According to Deadline, the new episodes will follow the same general concept of strangers seeking wellness in the Swiss Alps this time around.

    And the cast is already starting to come together, with Oscar nominee Liv Ullmann (‘Miss Julie‘), Murray Bartlett (‘The White Lotus’), Dolly de Leon (‘Triangle of Sadness’), Maisie Richardson-Sellers (‘The Kissing Booth 3’) and Turkish actor Aras Aydin all in the midst of making deals to appear alongside Kidman.

    It remains to be seen whether the idea can work a second time, since audiences, even those who have not read the book, will know what to expect. Still, viewers embraced the second run of HBO’s ‘Big Little Lies’ adaptation (which also starred Kidman) despite that show’s first season being planned as a limited series.

    It’s an increasing phenomenon for companies on the hunt for successful titles that can attract audiences to convert what are originally announced as one-shots into continuing series. HBO in particular has drawn dividends with ‘The White Lotus’ which went from one season made in the midst of the pandemic to an ongoing anthology series that carries over one or two actors each time. That show, created by Mike White, has earned plenty of awards acclaim and seen big viewership.

    Moriarty, meanwhile, has become a go-to author for companies looking for source material. Her book ‘Apples Never Fall’ is in development and several others have been optioned.

    Nicole Kidman stars in Hulu's 'Nine Perfect Strangers.'
    Nicole Kidman stars in Hulu’s ‘Nine Perfect Strangers.’ Photo: Vince Valitutti/Hulu.

    Other Nicole Kidman Movies: 

    Buy Nicole Kidman Movies On Amazon

  • Movie Review: ‘The Flash’

    Ezra Miller as Barry Allen / The Flash in Warner Bros. Pictures’ action adventure 'The Flash,' a Warner Bros. Pictures release.
    Ezra Miller as Barry Allen / The Flash in Warner Bros. Pictures’ action adventure ‘The Flash,’ a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures/™ & © DC Comics. Copyright: © 2023 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.

    Opening in theaters on June 16th is the highly awaited new DC Studios movie ‘The Flash,’ which was directed by Andy Muschietti (‘It’) and written by Christina Hodson (‘Birds of Prey’).

    What is the plot of ‘The Flash?’

    In ‘The Flash,’ Barry Allen/The Flash (Ezra Miller) travels back in time to prevent his mother’s death, which traps him in an alternate reality without metahumans. Barry enlists the help of his younger self (also Miller), an older Batman (Michael Keaton) and the Kryptonian castaway Supergirl (Sasha Calle) in order to save this world from the restored General Zod (Michael Shannon) and return to his universe.

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    Who is in the cast of ‘The Flash’?

    ‘The Flash’ stars Ezra Miller (‘Justice League’) as Barry Allen/The Flash, Michael Keaton (‘Batman Returns’) as Bruce Wayne/Batman, Ben Affleck (‘Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice’) as Bruce Wayne/Batman, Sasha Calle (‘The Young and the Restless’) as Supergirl, Michael Shannon (‘Man of Steel’) as General Zod, Antje Traue (‘Man of Steel’) as Faora-UI, Kiersey Clemons (‘Zack Snyder’s Justice League’) as Iris West, Ron Livingston (‘Office Space’) as Henry Allen, and Maribel Verdu (‘Raymond & Ray’) as Nora Allen.

    Initial Thoughts

    Believe the hype! ‘The Flash’ is one of the best comic book adapted films ever made. Director Andy Muschietti reinvents the DC universe by brilliantly adapting the ‘Flashpoint‘ storyline from the comics, and fusing it with Michael Keaton’s ‘Batman’ and other nods to DC’s cinematic past. The movie is an exciting, action-packed, and humorous celebration of the DC Comics characters, with a brilliant dual performance from Ezra Miller, and of course, Keaton’s triumphant return.

    'The Flash' director Andy Muschietti at a Canada-Fan Screening event.
    ‘The Flash’ director Andy Muschietti at a Canada-Fan Screening event. Photos by Sam Santos.

    Story and Direction

    For those not familiar, ‘Flashpoint’ was a 2011 DC Comics storyline that involved the Flash going back in time to save his mother’s life. When he returns, his world is not the same, he no longer has his powers, Thomas Wayne is Batman instead of Bruce, a weakened Superman is secretly being kept prisoner by the government, and Atlantis and Themyscira are at war. ‘The Flash’ follows a similar storyline with Barry losing his powers and needing to regain them, but instead of Thomas Wayne being Batman, its Michael Keaton from Tim Burton’s ‘Batman.’ It’s also a weakened Supergirl they break-out of captivity instead of Superman, and Earth is in danger from an attack by General Zod and the Kryptonians not a war between Atlantis and the Amazons.

    None of these changes affect the power of the story, and the lesson Barry learns about excepting your past and living in the present. But they do allow general audiences to understand the story a little easier, as they are likely more familiar with Michael Keaton’s Batman than the sudden appearance of Thomas Wayne. In the comics, the ‘Flashpoint’ storyline was used to usher in a new continuity, and in that sense, ‘The Flash’ comes at the perfect time for DC Studios, as the film officially marks the end of the DCEU and the beginning of the new DCU. The movie honors the DCEU, as well as other cinematic DC projects from the past, while setting up an exciting future for these characters.

    Director Andy Muschietti clearly loves these characters and retells the ‘Flashpoint’ story well, streamlining it into a tight, fast-paced, and dramatic movie. He also injects the film with a good amount of humor, but it never feels cheesy or forced and aligns with the characters. The filmmaker also handles the time-traveling aspects of the movie very well and in a coherent way, something Marvel struggled to do in ‘Avengers: Endgame.’ Muschietti does a great job with the effects, especially Barry’s powers and the Speed Force. Super-speed has never looked like this before, and Muschietti and his VFX team take a completely new approach to it, which is much different than the slow-motion effects Zack Snyder used.

    Ezra Miller as Barry Allen/The Flash, Sasha Calle as Kara Zor-El/Supergirl and Ezra Miller as Barry Allen/The Flash in Warner Bros. Pictures’ action adventure 'The Flash,' a Warner Bros. Pictures release.
    (L to R) Ezra Miller as Barry Allen/The Flash, Sasha Calle as Kara Zor-El/Supergirl and Ezra Miller as Barry Allen/The Flash in Warner Bros. Pictures’ action adventure ‘The Flash,’ a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures/™ & © DC Comics. Copyright: © 2023 Warner Bros. Ent. All Rights Reserved. TM & © DC

    Ezra Miller’s Dual Performance

    A lot has been written about Ezra Miller over the last few years concerning their brushes with the law and whether this movie should be released at all given their illegal activities. I’m not going to get into any of that, and just judge them on their performance in this film, which was nothing short of extraordinary. Miller plays two roles, the Barry Allen we all know and have seen mature through appearances in ‘Batman v. Superman’ and ‘Justice League.’ But Miller also plays a younger Barry Allen, who has not yet become the Flash and lives in this new alternate reality. Most of Miller’s scenes are with themself, and you truly believe they are two different people.

    Our Barry is a bit older and wiser, and not as impulsive as when we first met them, but the new Barry is young and immature, and it’s fun watching the two of them interact. As both characters, Miller has great chemistry with Keaton and Sasha Calle, as well as a few strong scenes with Kiersey Clemons’ Iris West. In some ways, Miller plays a third role in the movie as well, but to say too much would be a spoiler, so I’ll just say that they are equally impressive and believable in that role too. Whether Miller will ever return to play Barry Allen again is yet to be seen, but if they do not return, it certainly won’t be because their performance in this film was lacking.

    Ezra Miller as The Flash, Michael Keaton as Batman and Ezra Miller as The Flash in Warner Bros. Pictures’ action adventure 'The FLASH,' a Warner Bros. Pictures release.
    (L to R) Ezra Miller as The Flash, Michael Keaton as Batman and Ezra Miller as The Flash in Warner Bros. Pictures’ action adventure ‘The FLASH,’ a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures/™ & © DC Comics. Copyright: © 2023 Warner Bros. Ent. All Rights Reserved. TM & © DC.

    Michael Keaton’s Return

    I was just a kid when ‘Batman’ was released, so for me … Michael Keaton will always be Batman, and his return in this movie is a very welcomed one. While I really liked Ben Affleck’s Batman, and the actor does a great job in this movie in his limited role, the film really kicks into high gear when Keaton is on screen. He reprises his particular version of Bruce Wayne and Batman effortlessly, and while he has some funny moments, brings a lot of emotion and heart to the role. Keaton is also great in the action scenes, including an early fight scene between him and Miller. Muschietti perfectly matches Wayne Maynor, the Batmobile, the Batwing, and the costumes to the look and aesthetic Tim Burton originally created.

    Sasha Calle as Kara Zor-El/Supergirl in Warner Bros. Pictures’ action adventure 'The Flash,' a Warner Bros. Pictures release.
    Sasha Calle as Kara Zor-El/Supergirl in Warner Bros. Pictures’ action adventure ‘The Flash,’ a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures/™ & © DC Comics. Copyright: © 2023 Warner Bros. Ent. All Rights Reserved. TM & © DC.

    Supergirl and General Zod

    Sasha Calle breathes fresh air into the role of Supergirl, which is a much different and darker depiction than we’ve seen before. The actress is strong and believable in the part, and also plays the role in a mysterious way as to never really know her true intentions and keep the audience guessing. Calle has a few fun scenes opposite Miller and Keaton, but most of her work is in the action sequences and that’s where she really excels in the role. It’s also fun to see Michael Shannon return as General Zod, and he’s just as menacing now as he was in ‘Man of Steel,’ but other than the big fight sequence, he doesn’t have a whole lot to do. The Kryptonians are a real threat to our heroes, and that certainly adds to the drama and suspense.

    Ezra Miller as The Flash and Sasha Calle as Kara Zor-El/Supergirl in Warner Bros. Pictures’ action adventure 'The Flash,' a Warner Bros. Pictures release.
    (L to R) Ezra Miller as The Flash and Sasha Calle as Kara Zor-El/Supergirl in Warner Bros. Pictures’ action adventure ‘The Flash,’ a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures/™ & © DC Comics. Copyright: © 2023 Warner Bros. Ent. All Rights Reserved. TM & © DC.

    Related Article: ‘The Flash’ Director Confirms Major Cameo

    The Multiverse, DC Easter Eggs and Cameos

    DC fans have seen the multiverse approached on both the Arrowverse’s ‘Crisis on Infinite Earths’ crossover event, and more recently on ‘Titans,’ but visually, Muschietti depicts it in a way that is much more cinematic than we’ve seen on TV. The multiverse also makes sense in this movie and you can actually follow along with what’s happening, which wasn’t always the case with Marvel’s ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.’ Because of the multiverse angle, Muschietti was able to sprinkle in a lot of cameos, most of which I won’t discuss here. I’ll just say that archival DC footage was used well, and those cameos are nice nods to what has come before.

    There are a few cameos that I will mention since it is already public knowledge they are in the film. As previously mentioned, Ben Affleck returns as Batman, and as seen in the recent trailer, Jeremy Irons is also back as Alfred. Affleck recently let it slip on a podcast that a certain cast member from ‘Justice League’ would be returning for the film as well. I won’t say who incase you don’t know yet, but it is awesome seeing them interact with Affleck and Miller as members of the Justice League early in the film.

    The other cameo I will mention, and only because director Andy Muschietti spoiled it a few weeks ago, is that an actor long rumored to play Superman finally gets the opportunity with a cameo in ‘The Flash’ as an alternate universe version of the Man of Steel. Beyond it being something fans have literally wanted to see for decades, the actor in question is magnificent in his brief role, and fans familiar with the canceled Superman project, will truly get a laugh from watching the scene.

    Michael Keaton as Batman in Warner Bros. Pictures’ action adventure 'The Flash,' a Warner Bros. Pictures release.
    Michael Keaton as Batman in Warner Bros. Pictures’ action adventure ‘The Flash,’ a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Copyright: © 2023 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.

    The New DCU

    There is actually one other major cameo that I will absolutely not spoil, but I will just say that it is a true shocker of an ending, and something people will be talking about all summer long. It also sets the stage for the new DCU, and completely changes the status quo. Whether that actor or actress will continue to play that specific DC character moving forward, is still anybody’s guess. While the film has a very satisfying conclusion, much like the ‘Flashpoint’ comic, it definitely cleans the slate and sets the stage perfectly for James Gunn’s new DCU, whether that was Muschietti original intent or not.

    Are There Any End-Credit Scenes in ‘The Flash’?

    Yes. There is a mid-credit scene, which takes a look at an earlier scene in the movie from a different point of view, and is mostly played for laughs. But there is also an end-credit scene and I will just say that it helps to explain how the upcoming ‘Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom’ takes place in the new DCU.

    Ezra Miller as Barry Allen / The Flash, Ezra Miller as Barry Allen / The Flash and Sasha Calle as Kara Zor-El / Supergirl in Warner Bros. Pictures’ action adventure 'The Flash,' a Warner Bros. Pictures release.
    (L to R) Ezra Miller as Barry Allen / The Flash, Ezra Miller as Barry Allen / The Flash and Sasha Calle as Kara Zor-El / Supergirl in Warner Bros. Pictures’ action adventure ‘The Flash,’ a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures/™ & © DC Comics. Copyright: © 2023 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.

    Final Thoughts

    The really pulled it off! ‘The Flash’ is the most entertaining and satisfying DC movie in decades. Andy Muschietti masterfully adapts the source material and fills it with as many Easter eggs, callbacks and cameos as any fan could desire. While still delivering a coherent, fun, action-packed and emotional movie, that features a mesmerizing dual performance from Miller, and the return of the one and only Michael Keaton as Batman. This is one movie DC Comics fans will not want to miss!

    ‘The Flash’ receives 10 out of 10 stars.

    Warner Bros. Pictures’ action adventure 'The Flash,' a Warner Bros. Pictures release.
    Warner Bros. Pictures’ action adventure ‘The Flash,’ a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures/™ & © DC Comics. Copyright: © 2023 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.

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    Buy Tickets: ‘The Flash’ Movie Showtimes

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    Warner Bros. Pictures presents a Double Dream/a Disco Factory production of an Andy Muschietti film, ‘The Flash.’ It will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures and is set to open in theaters in North America on June 16, 2023 and internationally beginning 14 June 2023.