Moviefone Editorial

Tag: Prime Video

  • TV Review: ‘Fallout’ Season 2

    Ella Purnell in 'Fallout' Season 2. Photo Credit: Lorenzo Sisti / Prime. Copyright: © Amazon Content Services LLC.
    Ella Purnell in ‘Fallout’ Season 2. Photo Credit: Lorenzo Sisti / Prime. Copyright: © Amazon Content Services LLC.

    Arriving on Prime Video on December 17 is the second season of ‘Fallout’ (one episode will release weekly), the wild and chaotic adaptation of the popular game title.

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    Co-created and overseen by showrunners Graham Wagner (‘Silicon Valley’) and Geneva Robertson-Dworet (‘Captain Marvel’), the series stars Ella Purnell (‘Yellowjackets’), Walton Goggins (‘The Hateful Eight’), Kyle MacLachlan (‘Dune’), Aaron Moten (‘Emancipation’) and Moisés Arias (‘Ender’s Game’).

    Related Article: Macaulay Culkin Will Appear in a Recurring Role in the Second Season of Prime Video’s ‘Fallout’

    Initial Thoughts

    Walton Goggins in 'Fallout' Season 2. Photo Credit: Lorenzo Sisti / Prime. Copyright: © Amazon Content Services LLC.
    Walton Goggins in ‘Fallout’ Season 2. Photo Credit: Lorenzo Sisti / Prime. Copyright: © Amazon Content Services LLC.

    ‘Fallout’ proved to be a hit when it premiered in April last year, and now here comes the next chapter. Can the show continue to bottle the same level of chaotic dystopia, wild dark humor and a surprising level of heart?

    On the evidence of the six episodes (of eight total) provided to press to review, the answer is a mixed yes.

    Script and Direction

    Executive Producer and Director Jonathan Nolan, Cinematographer Stuart Dryburgh in 'Fallout'.
    (L to R) Executive Producer and Director Jonathan Nolan, Cinematographer Stuart Dryburgh in ‘Fallout’. Credit: JoJo Whilden/Prime Video. Copyright: © Amazon Content Services LLC.

    Showrunners Graham Wagner and Geneva Robertson-Dworet, plus the likes of creative partners Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy, keep up a similar level of madness as Lucy (Ella Purnell) and the Ghoul (Walton Goggins) continue their journey through the wasteland.

    The show remains an entertaining watch, though the second season still suffers from some of the issues of the first –– when the narrative focus switches from the main duo (or flashbacks to the Ghoul’s past life as movie star Cooper Howard, wrapped up in the events that led to the dystopian wasteland) –– the interest level does tend to dip.

    And that’s despite fun guest turns from the likes of Kumail Nanjiani and someone who has a long ling with voice work in the games that we won’t spoil here.

    Visually, the show has lost none of its blend of steampunk/‘Mad Max’-esque charm, and the production values remain high.

    Cast and Performances

    Kyle MacLachlan (Hank MacLean) in 'Fallout' Season 2. Photo Credit: Lorenzo Sisti / Prime. Copyright: © Amazon Content Services LLC.
    Kyle MacLachlan (Hank MacLean) in ‘Fallout’ Season 2. Photo Credit: Lorenzo Sisti / Prime. Copyright: © Amazon Content Services LLC.

    Purnell and Goggins continue to be the standouts of the show, the joint beating heart. Some of the new communities they meet along the way certainly entertain and Kyle MacLachlan’s Hank is also great value, experimenting on the poor schlubs at the Vault-Tec building he heads to in Vegas.

    On the villainous front (not that there are strict black-and-white sides in this world), Justin Theroux is enjoyably slimy as Robert House, an iconic manipulator from the game.

    Final Thoughts

    Annabel O'Hagan (Stephanie Harper) in 'Fallout' Season 2. Photo Credit: Lorenzo Sisti / Prime. Copyright: © Amazon Content Services LLC.
    Annabel O’Hagan (Stephanie Harper) in ‘Fallout’ Season 2. Photo Credit: Lorenzo Sisti / Prime. Copyright: © Amazon Content Services LLC.

    ‘Fallout’s blend of sly satire, raucous action (the series appears to be looking to give Prime Video stablemate ‘The Boys’ a run for its money in terms of heads exploded or otherwise damaged), continues, even if some elements feel repetitive and the storyline’s interest level dips away from the main duo.

    ‘Fallout’ Season 2 receives 80 out of 100.

    Ella Purnell (Lucy MacLean) in 'Fallout' Season 2. Photo Credit: Lorenzo Sisti / Prime. Copyright: © Amazon Content Services LLC.
    Ella Purnell (Lucy MacLean) in ‘Fallout’ Season 2. Photo Credit: Lorenzo Sisti / Prime. Copyright: © Amazon Content Services LLC.

    What’s the plot of ‘Fallout’ Season 2?

    The new season picks up in the aftermath of Season One’s epic finale and take audiences along for a journey through the wasteland of the Mojave to the post-apocalyptic city of New Vegas.

    Based on one of the greatest video game series of all time, ‘Fallout’ is the story of haves and have-nots in a world in which there’s almost nothing left to have. Two hundred years after the apocalypse, the gentle denizens of luxury fallout shelters are forced to return to the irradiated hellscape their ancestors left behind — and are shocked to discover an incredibly complex, gleefully weird, and highly violent universe waiting for them.

    Who stars in ‘Fallout’ Season 2?

    • Ella Purnell as Lucy MacLean
    • Walton Goggins as The Ghoul/Cooper Howard
    • Aaron Moten as Maximus
    • Kyle MacLachlan as Hank MacLean
    • Moisés Arias as Norm MacLean
    • Justin Theroux as Robert House
    (L to R) Walton Goggins and Frances Turner in 'Fallout' Season 2. Photo Credit: Lorenzo Sisti / Prime. Copyright: © Amazon Content Services LLC.
    (L to R) Walton Goggins and Frances Turner in ‘Fallout’ Season 2. Photo Credit: Lorenzo Sisti / Prime. Copyright: © Amazon Content Services LLC.

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  • ‘Fallout’ Season 2 Interview: Walton Goggins

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    Premiering on Prime Video beginning December 17th is the second season of the popular adaption of the video game ‘Fallout’, which was created by Graham Wagner and Geneva Robertson-Dworet (‘Captain Marvel’), and executive produced by Jonathan Nolan (‘Westworld’) and Lisa Joy (‘Reminiscence’).

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    The series stars Ella Purnell (‘Army of the Dead’), Aaron Moten (‘Father Stu’), Walton Goggins (‘Django Unchained’), Moisés Arias (‘Pitch Perfect 3’), Xelia Mendes-Jones (‘Havoc’), and Kyle MacLachlan (‘Twin Peaks’), as well as new season 2 cast members Justin Theroux (‘The Leftovers’), Kumail Nanjiani (‘Eternals’), and Macaulay Culkin (‘Home Alone’).

    Walton Goggins stars in 'Fallout' Season 2.
    Walton Goggins stars in ‘Fallout’ Season 2.

    Moviefone recently had the pleasure of sitting down in-person with Walton Goggins to talk about his work on the second season of ‘Fallout’, how The Ghoul has changed since season one, what excited the actor about season 2, and if he knows Cooper Howard’s full backstory or if he likes learning about it with the audience.

    You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews with Goggins, Aaron Moten, Moisés Arias, and series creator Geneva Robertson-Dworet.

    Related Article: Ella Purnell and Aaron Moten Talk Prime Video’s ‘Fallout’ Series

    (L to R) Ella Purnell and Walton Goggins in 'Fallout' Season 2. Photo Credit: Lorenzo Sisti / Prime. Copyright: © Amazon Content Services LLC.
    (L to R) Ella Purnell and Walton Goggins in ‘Fallout’ Season 2. Photo Credit: Lorenzo Sisti / Prime. Copyright: © Amazon Content Services LLC.

    MF: To begin with, how has The Ghoul changed since season one and what you were most excited about exploring with the character this season?

    Walton Goggins: We pick up where we left off in season one with the Ghoul and with Cooper Howard. Season one begins on this post-apocalyptic road trip across the Mojave Desert heading to New Vegas. He’s traveling with Lucy. He’s able to see her as a human being for the first time. This is the first time he’s been around a person for any length of time and a very long time. She has a different point of view than mine. She’s an optimist. I’m a nihilist. On the other side of this, one of them will win out. Either she’ll become more like me, or I’ll become more like her. The thing that was so challenging that I found myself being resistant to was being vulnerable. It was like the inverse of what I usually get to experience. So that was interesting. You dovetail that in with Cooper Howard, and picking up with him finding out that his wife is a principal architect for the ending of the world, and him realizing that the rug was pulled out from underneath him and the world that he thought existed doesn’t exist and he is living in a world of chaos, and he has no control over it. We get to spend so much more time with Cooper this year, so you really get to see it from his point of view and how that informs The Ghoul. You understand him more predicated on Cooper’s experience.

    Walton Goggins in 'Fallout' Season 2. Photo Credit: Lorenzo Sisti / Prime. Copyright: © Amazon Content Services LLC.
    Walton Goggins in ‘Fallout’ Season 2. Photo Credit: Lorenzo Sisti / Prime. Copyright: © Amazon Content Services LLC.

    MF: Finally, how much of Cooper Howards’ backstory do you know at this point? Did the writers tell you his entire history, or do you learn more about the character episode to episode like the audience does?

    WG: No, I think it’s changing. I mean, I have a direct pipeline to obviously the writers and to Jonah, and I’ve been invited to sit at the table and to collaborate with shows and movies for a long time now, so I get that extension, that courtesy, if you will. So, we do have those conversations and what that means, what could it mean? Then we’ll have those talks and then it might be what we talked about, or it might be something radically different. But we all are trying to go in the same direction and say something because it’s through Cooper Howard that you experience the world before the bombs dropped. The Ghoul is unique in this world and that all the other factions want to have the world look like they want it to look. The Ghoul, he wants nothing from the world. He just wants to find his family. That’s all.

    (L to R) Walton Goggins and Frances Turner in 'Fallout' Season 2. Photo Credit: Lorenzo Sisti / Prime. Copyright: © Amazon Content Services LLC.
    (L to R) Walton Goggins and Frances Turner in ‘Fallout’ Season 2. Photo Credit: Lorenzo Sisti / Prime. Copyright: © Amazon Content Services LLC.

    What is the plot of ‘Fallout’ Season 2?

    The second season continues the story set in the wasteland of post-nuclear America and will introduce New Vegas, a major location from the video game ‘Fallout: New Vegas’.

    Who is in the cast of ‘Fallout’ Season 2?

    'Fallout' Season 2 premieres on Prime Video December 17th.
    ‘Fallout’ Season 2 premieres on Prime Video December 17th.

    List of Walton Goggins Movies and TV Series:

    Buy Walton Goggins Movies and TV on Amazon

  • First Look at Guy Ritchie’s ‘Young Sherlock’ Series

    (L to R): Hero Fiennes Tiffin and Dónal Finn in Prime Video's 'Young Sherlock.' Photo: Dan Smith.
    (L to R): Hero Fiennes Tiffin and Dónal Finn in Prime Video’s ‘Young Sherlock.’ Photo: Dan Smith.

    Preview:

    • The first images from Prime Video’s ‘Young Sherlock’ series are online.
    • Hero Fiennes Tiffin is playing the younger take on the sleuth.
    • Guy Ritchie is the main director and executive producer.

    He may not have been able to bring us a third outing of the ‘Sherlock Holmes’ movies that saw Robert Downey Jr. as the famous detective and Jude Law as faithful sidekick Dr. Watson yet (not for want of trying), but director Guy Ritchie is at least keeping the door to Holmes open via a new Prime Video series that turns the clock back to the younger days of the character.

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    The new series, called ‘Young Sherlock’ will see Hero Fiennes Tiffin (yes, Ralph’s uncle) starring as the smart investigator.

    Related Article: ‘Kingsman’s Colin Firth Joins the Cast of Guy Ritchie’s Young Sherlock Holmes Series

    What’s the story of ‘Young Sherlock’?

    (L to R): Hero Fiennes Tiffin, Natasha McElhone and Dónal Finn in Prime Video's 'Young Sherlock.' Photo: Dan Smith.
    (L to R): Hero Fiennes Tiffin, Natasha McElhone and Dónal Finn in Prime Video’s ‘Young Sherlock.’ Photo: Dan Smith.

    ‘Young Sherlock’ follows the origin story of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s beloved detective in an explosive re-imagining of this iconic character’s early days. Sherlock Holmes is a disgraced young man –– raw and unfiltered –– when he finds himself wrapped up in a murder case that threatens his liberty.

    His first ever case unravels a globe-trotting conspiracy that changes his life forever. Unfolding in 1870s Oxford and adventuring abroad, the series will expose the early antics of the anarchic adolescent who is yet to evolve into Baker Street’s most renowned resident.

    Here’s what Ritchie had to say when the show was announced:

    “In ‘Young Sherlock’ we’re going to see an exhilarating new version of the detective everyone thinks they know in a way they’ve never imagined before. We’re going to crack open this enigmatic character, find out what makes him tick, and learn how he becomes the genius we all love.”

    Who else is appearing in the new show?

    (L to R): Max Irons and Natasha McElhone in Prime Video's 'Young Sherlock.' Photo: Dan Smith.
    (L to R): Max Irons and Natasha McElhone in Prime Video’s ‘Young Sherlock.’ Photo: Dan Smith.

    Alongside Tiffin, the cast boasts Dónal Finn (‘The Wheel of Time’), Zine Tseng (‘3 Body Problem’), Joseph Fiennes (‘The Handmaid’s Tale’), Natascha McElhone (‘Halo’), Max Irons (‘Condor’) and Colin Firth (‘The King’s Speech’).

    The series is written and executive produced by showrunner Matthew Parkhill, with Ritchie as the primary director.

    When will ‘Young Sherlock’ be on screens?

    (L to R): Hero Fiennes Tiffin, Zine Tseng and Dónal Finn in Prime Video's 'Young Sherlock.' Photo: Dan Smith.
    (L to R): Hero Fiennes Tiffin, Zine Tseng and Dónal Finn in Prime Video’s ‘Young Sherlock.’ Photo: Dan Smith.

    Prime Video has yet to confirm exactly when the show will land; all we know right now is the company has set a 2026 launch.

    Hero Fiennes Tiffin in Prime Video's 'Young Sherlock.' Photo: Dan Smith.
    Hero Fiennes Tiffin in Prime Video’s ‘Young Sherlock.’ Photo: Dan Smith.

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  • Sigourney Weaver in Talks for the ‘Tomb Raider’ TV Series

    (Left) Sigourney Weaver stars in 'Call Jane.' (Right) Sophie Turner stars in 'Trust'.
    (Left) Sigourney Weaver stars in ‘Call Jane.’ (Right) Sophie Turner stars in ‘Trust’.

    Preview:

    • Sigourney Weaver is in talks to join the ‘Tomb Raider TV series.
    • Sophie Turner is playing Lara Croft.
    • Phoebe Waller-Bridge is co-showrunner.

    While she’ll be back on big screens next week with ‘Avatar: Fire and Ash,’ Sigourney Weaver also has her eyes on TV –– and another big, popular property to boot.

    Deadline reports that Weaver is now in talks to join ‘Game of Thrones’ veteran Sophie Turner in Prime Video’s developing ‘Tomb Raider’ series.

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    ‘Fleabag’ creator and star Phoebe Waller-Bridge is running the show alongside ‘Wayward Pines’ Chad Hodge, while ‘Shōgun’s Jonathan Van Tulleken is an executive producer and lead director.

    Related Article: ‘Game of Thrones’ Sophie Turner is Officially Lara Croft for Prime Video’s ‘Tomb Raider’ Series

    What’s the history of ‘Tomb Raider’?

    (Left) Sophie Turner in 'Another Me.' Photo: 20th Century Fox. (Right) Lara Croft from the 'Tomb Raider' video game.
    (Left) Sophie Turner in ‘Another Me.’ Photo: 20th Century Fox. (Right) Lara Croft from the ‘Tomb Raider’ video game.

    Launched in 1996 on Sony’s PlayStation console, the ‘Tomb Raider’ series has gone on to be a huge selling title across various platforms, earning more than $95 million by last year and spawning a massive amount of merchandising.

    The series gives the player control of fictional British archaeologist Lara Croft, who travels around the world searching for lost artefacts and infiltrating dangerous tombs and ruins.

    It has been adapted a few times for movies––2001’s ‘Lara Croft: Tomb Raider’ and 2003’s ‘Lara Croft: Tomb Raider – The Cradle of Life’, both of which starred Angelina Jolie as the title character, and 2018’s ‘Tomb Raider’, which rebooted the series, with Roar Uthaug in the director’s chair and Alicia Vikander as Croft.

    That most recent title came from MGM and Warner Bros., but though there had been talk of a sequel, with first ‘Meg 2: The Trench‘s Ben Wheatley and then ‘Lovecraft Country’s Misha Green attached to make it, development stalled.

    Amazon, of course, bought MGM, but the rights to the ‘Tomb Raider’ games had already lapsed from the studio because of the lack of forward movement on the new movie.

    With the rights firmly in Amazon’s grip, the plans have now shifted to building out an interconnected Lara Croft universe boasting a new game release and what will probably be another movie reboot but is currently focused on a TV series (unrelated to the one already on Netflix).

    What has Phoebe Waller-Bridge said about ‘Tomb Raider’?

    Phoebe Waller-Bridge from 'Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny' at Star Wars Celebration 2023.
    Phoebe Waller-Bridge from ‘Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny’ at Star Wars Celebration 2023.

    Here’s what ‘Raider’ fan Waller-Bridge had to say:

    “Lara Croft means a lot to me, as she does to many, and I can’t wait to go on this adventure. Bats ‘n all.”

    When will the ‘Tomb Raider’ series hit screens?

    With the show still in the development phase and casting not yet complete, we wouldn’t expect this one on screens much before late next year or at some point in 2027.

    Alicia Vikander as Lara Croft in 2018's 'Tomb Raider.' Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures.
    Alicia Vikander as Lara Croft in 2018’s ‘Tomb Raider.’ Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures.

    Other Movies and TV Shows in the ‘Tomb Raider’ Franchise:

    Buy ‘Tomb Raider’ Movies On Amazon

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  • ‘Merv’ Interview: Zooey Deschanel, Charlie Cox and More

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    Premiering on Prime Video beginning December 10th is the new romantic comedy ‘Merv’, which was directed by Jessica Swale (‘Summerland’), and stars Zooey Deschanel (‘Elf’), Charlie Cox (‘Daredevil: Born Again’), and Gus as Merv.

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    Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Zooey Deschanel, Charlie Cox and Director Jessica Swale about their work on ‘Merv’, Deschanel’s first reaction to the screenplay, why Cox wanted to work with her, their experience acting opposite Gus, and the challenges of directing a dog on set.

    (L to R) Zooey Deschanel, director Jessica Swale and Charlie Cox star in 'Merv'.
    (L to R) Zooey Deschanel, director Jessica Swale and Charlie Cox star in ‘Merv’.

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

    Related Article: Charlie Cox and Vincent D’Onofrio Talk Disney+’s ‘Daredevil: Born Again’

    (L to R) Zooey Deschanel and Gus in 'Merv'. Photo Credit: Wilson Webb/Prime Video. © Amazon Content Services LLC.
    (L to R) Zooey Deschanel and Gus in ‘Merv’. Photo Credit: Wilson Webb/Prime Video. © Amazon Content Services LLC.

    Moviefone: To begin with, Zooey, can you talk about your fist reaction to the screenplay and what it was like for you to work with Gus and Charlie on this project?

    Zooey Deschanel: Well, I first read the screenplay and I really love the concept. I thought it was so sweet. Then I got to talk to this amazing person here, Jess, and we got along so well, and I wanted to do the movie. Then working with Gus and Charlie was just an absolute dream. What incredible actors. Very different. Different styles. Gus works for sausages and Charlie works for hamburgers. Similar, but different, although I bet Gus would work for a hamburger too.

    (L to R) Charlie Cox and Gus in 'Merv'. Photo Credit: Wilson Webb/Prime Video. © Amazon Content Services LLC.
    (L to R) Charlie Cox and Gus in ‘Merv’. Photo Credit: Wilson Webb/Prime Video. © Amazon Content Services LLC.

    MF: Charlie, can you talk about Russ and Anna’s relationship, how they come together to help Merv, and what it was like for you working with Gus and Zooey?

    Charlie Cox: I think one of the things I found charming about the script was this idea that Merv seems to intuit it early on. He knows what they don’t about each other and about their relationship. It’s really a journey of their discovery that they are perfect for each other. That life is difficult, life throws curveballs at you and that doesn’t necessarily mean that the person that is your significant other is the wrong person for you. Gus is a dream, as Zoe said. He’s a very professional. There’s a kind of a fun anecdote, which is that Gus is so well trained that he can do anything on command that he’s trained to do. But because he’s so well trained, one thing he’s not particularly good at is being very enthusiastic because that’s a trait of an untrained dog. So, when we needed Gus to be like crazy, or happy to see us or happy that we’re together or whatever it was, they would bring in Gus’s stunt double, Captain Chaos, who is untrained. Captain Chaos after a slight beard dying, would do a very good impersonation of Gus being very excited. Zoe in my estimation is the GOAT of rom-coms and this genre. So, to work with her is like an absolute treat and dream.

    Gus in 'Merv'. Photo Credit: Prime Video. © Amazon Content Services LLC.
    Gus in ‘Merv’. Photo Credit: Prime Video. © Amazon Content Services LLC.

    MF: Finally, Jessica, can you talk about the challenges of directing a dog and how you were able to get such a great performance from Gus?

    Jessica Swale: Yes, all my normal techniques of persuasion, like taking an actor for dinner and chatting about the character or do some rehearsals and get to know each other. It’s a bit more difficult when he’s a four-legged dog and he doesn’t speak English. It might be my accent because I was one of the only Brits on set, but it was it was great fun. It’s funny because he’s a key part of the movie, but it is essentially a rom com that’s about two people at a very particular moment in their lives and he’s the conduit. So, whilst he’s on screen a lot, it’s really about the story and the kind of machinations of the relationship and the emotional growth of these two. The great thing about having Gus on set was that he is always a pro and he’s always ready and over the course of the weeks that we were shooting, the more you got to know him, we were able to go, “Oh, that’s how we recognize that he’s sad. He’s good at it and he drops his eye line. He puts his head down or he tilts to one side”. So, I think we had a more dramatic performance as the weeks went on.

    'Merv' premieres on Prime Video December 10th.
    ‘Merv’ premieres on Prime Video December 10th.

    What is the plot of ‘Merv’?

    An estranged couple (Zooey Deschanel and Charlie Cox) who learns that the dog they share is suffering from depression following their break-up, awkwardly reconciling over the holidays when they take their dog on a sunny vacation to Florida to lift his spirits.

    Who is in the cast of ‘Merv’?

    Gus on the set of 'Merv'. Photo Credit: Dana Hawley/PrimeVideo. © Amazon Content Services LLC.
    Gus on the set of ‘Merv’. Photo Credit: Dana Hawley/PrimeVideo. © Amazon Content Services LLC.

    List of Dog Movies:

    Buy Zooey Deschanel Movies On Amazon

  • ‘Oh. What. Fun.’ Interview: Michelle Pfeiffer and Felicity Jones

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    Premiering on Prime Video December 3rd is the new Christmas comedy ‘Oh. What. Fun.’, which was directed by Michael Showalter (‘Wet Hot American Summer’).

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    The film features an all-star cast that includes Michelle Pfeiffer (‘Batman Returns’), Felicity Jones (‘Rogue One: A Star Wars Story’), Chloë Grace Moretz (‘Kick Ass’), Dominic Sessa (‘Now You See Me: Now You Don’t’), Jason Schwartzman (‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse’), Denis Leary (‘The Amazing Spider-Man’), Danielle Brooks (‘Peacemaker’), and Eva Longoria (‘The Pickup‘).

    (L to R) Michelle Pfeiffer and Felicity Jones star in 'Oh. What. Fun.'
    (L to R) Michelle Pfeiffer and Felicity Jones star in ‘Oh. What. Fun.’

    Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Michelle Pfeiffer and Felicity Jones about their work on ‘Oh. What. Fun.’, Pfeiffer’s first reaction to the screenplay, making a Christmas movie from the mother’s point of view, Jones’ approach to her character, and her relationship with her mother.

    You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews with Pfeiffer, Jones, Chloë Grace Moretz, and Dominic Sessa.

    Related Article: 5 Things We Learned At The ‘Train Dreams’ Press Conference

    Michelle Pfeiffer in 'Oh. What. Fun.' Photo: Prime Video.
    Michelle Pfeiffer in ‘Oh. What. Fun.’ Photo: Prime Video.

    Moviefone: To begin with, Michelle, what was your first reaction to the screenplay and the idea of making a Christmas movie from the mother’s point of view?

    Michelle Pfeiffer: First, I was so excited to work with Michael Showalter. I think I would’ve done anything that he asked me to do, honestly, because everything he does is so brilliant and it’s all different too. So, I feel like he can tackle any genre of movie making. It wasn’t really on my bucket list to do a Christmas movie and I haven’t seen a ton of them. But it’s one of those things where you don’t even know there’s a story that needs to be told until you read it and you go, “Oh, of course.” It’s like women have just assumed these roles and these responsibilities throughout the generations and done it joyously because they love their families, and they want to be with them. But then I thought, “Wow, that’s so true.” There aren’t any Christmas movies about mothers who are basically the glue to the whole thing. So, I got very excited to do it, and I loved the relationship, the mother-daughter relationship with Channing, and for Claire, the inability to let things evolve. I think that’s the stress and the pressure that Felicity’s character is feeling, the pressure to stay what she was. Anyway, I love the movie.

    (L to R) Felicity Jones and Jason Schwartzman in 'Oh. What. Fun.' Photo: Prime Video.
    (L to R) Felicity Jones and Jason Schwartzman in ‘Oh. What. Fun.’ Photo: Prime Video.

    MF: Finally, Felicity, can you talk about your character’s relationship with her mother, why she wants to be recognized by her, and creating that relationship on screen with Michelle?

    Felicity Jones: Well, it’s just a relationship that’s so true to life, that there’s so much love and there’s so much admiration and affection. But it’s almost like the relationship got a little bit stuck. I think Channing is a bit stuck and she needs to go from being a child to being an adult, even though she’s in her late ’30s. Somehow through the course of the film, she becomes a grown up. When Claire is no longer there, then suddenly, she has all the responsibilities that Claire has, the weight that Claire must hold and suddenly it’s on her shoulders. So, in that happening, she discovers empathy and goes, “Actually, it’s not easy being my mom, and maybe I don’t need to be quite so hard on her.”

    'Oh. What. Fun.' debuts on Prime Video December 3rd.
    ‘Oh. What. Fun.’ debuts on Prime Video December 3rd.

    What is the plot of ‘Oh. What. Fun.’?

    Claire Clauster (Michelle Pfeiffer) makes the Christmas magic happen every year for her family, but her children and grandchildren don’t realize the effort it takes, until she goes missing.

    Who is in the cast of ‘Oh. What. Fun.’?

    • Michelle Pfeiffer as Claire Clauster
    • Felicity Jones as Channing Clauster
    • Chloë Grace Moretz as Taylor Clauster
    • Danielle Brooks as Morgan
    • Dominic Sessa as Sammy Clauster
    • Denis Leary as Nick Clauster
    • Havana Rose Liu as Lizzie Wang-Wasserman
    • Maude Apatow as Mae-bell
    • Devery Jacobs as Donna
    • Jason Schwartzman as Doug
    • Eva Longoria as Zazzy Tims
    • Joan Chen as Jeanne Wang-Wasserman
    • Rose Abdoo as Jane
    Michelle Pfeiffer in 'Oh. What. Fun.' Photo: Prime Video.
    Michelle Pfeiffer in ‘Oh. What. Fun.’ Photo: Prime Video.

    List of Michelle Pfeiffer Movies and TV Shows:

    Buy Michelle Pfeiffer Movies on Amazon

  • Doug Liman Developing his Own ‘Road House’ Sequel

    Preview:

    • Doug Liman is developing his own ‘Road House’ sequel.
    • It would be based on a script by the 1989 movie’s writer R. Lance Hill.
    • This would be a rival for Amazon MGM’s sequel to the 2024 remake.

    Here’s an intriguing twist on the ‘Road House’ saga.

    Doug Liman, who directed the 2024 remake but ended up disagreeing with studio Amazon MGM over its release on Prime Video instead of theaters (more on that below), is developing his own new ‘Road House’ movie.

    That would be a completely different project from the sequel to the remake that Amazon MGM has in the works even now.

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    According to Deadline, Liman has acquired the rights to R. Lance Hill’s sequel script ‘Road House: Dylan,’ which follows up the events of the 1989 original, starring Patrick Swayze as bouncer Dalton (Hill wrote that movie too).

    Related Article: ‘Cross’ Aldis Hodge Joins Jake Gyllenhaal in the Cast of ‘Road House 2’

    What happened with Doug Liman and ‘Road House’?

    Casey Affleck, director Doug Liman and Matt Damon on the set of 'The Instigators'.
    (L to R) Casey Affleck, director Doug Liman and Matt Damon on the set of ‘The Instigators’. Photo: Apple TV+.

    Liman made a deal to direct what became the 2024 ‘Road House’ which starred Jake Gyllenhaal as a new version of Dylan, this one a UFC fighter who starts working at a roadside bar as a bouncer to stop the local thugs and corrupt businessman trashing the place.

    The original plan –– and Liman’s agreement –– was for the movie to hit theaters. It tested well enough to be a sleeper theatrical hit, but Amazon decided it would be released directly to Prime Video.

    While Liman and producer Joel Silver even screened the picture for Amazon chief Jeff Bezos and his now-wife Lauren Sanchez Bezos, Amazon creative execs would not yield.

    There was even a PR conflict, as Liman placed a Deadline article complaining about the move, but did attend the premiere. And the movie became a streaming hit, the biggest film debut ever with a record-breaking 50 million worldwide viewers in its first two weekends on Prime Video.

    This new potential sequel is fraught with its own issues, as there is disagreement over who owns the rights to Hill’s original ‘Road House’ script and anything spawned from it.

    What’s the latest with Amazon’s ‘Road House’ sequel?

    Jake Gyllenhaal stars in 'Roadhouse.' Photo: Laura Radford © Amazon Content Services LLC.
    Jake Gyllenhaal stars in ‘Roadhouse.’ Photo: Laura Radford © Amazon Content Services LLC.

    The “official” sequel to the 2024 effort is shooting now, with Ilya Naishuller taking over in the director’s chair.

    Gyllenhaal reprises as Dylan alongside Dave Bautista, Aldis Hodge and Leila George. The storyline hasn’t been revealed, but expect chaotic clashes.

    When will Liman ‘Road House’ sequel be on screens?

    Don’t start flinging fists, but we’ll have to wait a while to see any forward movement on this one.

    And there’s always a chance that it quietly goes away if Amazon MGM makes a deal… Regardless, this is certainly an interesting wrinkle.

    1989's 'Road House.'
    1989’s ‘Road House.’

    Doug Liman Movies:

    Buy Doug Liman Movies on Amazon

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  • Every Shane Black Written Or Directed Movie Ranked

    Director Shane Black at the premiere of 'Play Dirty'. Photo: Prime Video.
    Director Shane Black at the premiere of ‘Play Dirty’. Photo: Prime Video.

    Filmmaker Shane Black is one of the most successful screenwriters turned directors of all time!

    Black began his career writing screenplays for such beloved movies as ‘Lethal Weapon‘, ‘The Monster Squad‘, ‘The Last Boy Scout‘ and ‘The Long Kiss Goodnight‘, as well as playing the role of Hawkins in 1987’s ‘Predator‘ starring Arnold Schwarzenegger.

    He made his directorial debut in 2005 with ‘Kiss Kiss Bang Bang‘ starring Robert Downey Jr. and would go on to direct Downey in Marvel Studios‘ ‘Iron Man 3‘, as well as the action comedy ‘The Nice Guys‘ and ‘The Predator‘, which was the forth film in that franchise.

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    Black’s latest movie, ‘Play Dirty‘, which is based on the ‘Parker’ books by author Donald E, Westlake and stars Mark Wahlberg, is currently available to watch on Prime Video.

    In honor of the new release, Moviefone is counting down every film Shane Black has either written or directed.

    NOTE: For this list we are only including films where Black has a writing or directing credit, and not films where he only has a Story By credit or an acting credit.

    Let’s begin!

    Related Article: Movie Review: ‘Play Dirty’

    10. ‘The Predator‘ (2018)

    2018's 'The Predator.' Photo: 20th Century Fox.
    2018’s ‘The Predator.’ Photo: 20th Century Fox.

    When a young boy (Jacob Tremblay) accidentally triggers the universe’s most lethal hunters’ return to Earth, only a ragtag crew of ex-soldiers and a disgruntled scientist (Olivia Munn) can prevent the end of the human race.

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    9. ‘Last Action Hero‘ (1993)

    Arnold Schwarzenegger in 'Last Action Hero'. Photo: Sony Pictures Entertainment.
    Arnold Schwarzenegger in ‘Last Action Hero’. Photo: Sony Pictures Entertainment.

    After his father’s death, a young boy (Austin O’Brien) finds solace in action movies featuring an indestructible cop (Arnold Schwarzenegger). Given a magic ticket by a theater manager, he is transported into the film and teams up with the cop to stop a villain who escapes into the real world.

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    8. ‘The Monster Squad‘ (1987)

    1987's 'The Monster Squad.' Photo: Tri-Star Pictures.
    1987’s ‘The Monster Squad.’ Photo: Tri-Star Pictures.

    Count Dracula (Duncan Regehr) adjourns to Earth, accompanied by Frankenstein’s Monster (Tom Noonan), the Wolfman (Carl Thibault), the Mummy (Michael Reid MacKay), and the Gillman (Tom Woodruff Jr.). The uglies are in search of a powerful amulet that will grant them power to rule the world. Our heroes – the Monster Squad are the only ones daring to stand in their way.

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    7. ‘Play Dirty‘ (2025)

    (L to R) Mark Wahlberg and LaKeith Stanfield in 'Play Dirty'. Photo: Prime Video.
    (L to R) Mark Wahlberg and LaKeith Stanfield in ‘Play Dirty’. Photo: Prime Video.

    Expert thief Parker (Mark Wahlberg) gets a shot at a major heist, but to pull it off he and his team must outsmart a South American dictator, the New York mob, and the world’s richest man.

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    6. ‘The Long Kiss Goodnight‘ (1996)

    (L to R) Geena Davis and Samuel L. Jackson in 'The Long Kiss Goodnight'. Photo: New Line Cinema.
    (L to R) Geena Davis and Samuel L. Jackson in ‘The Long Kiss Goodnight’. Photo: New Line Cinema.

    Samantha Caine (Geena Davis) is a small-town schoolteacher and mom with no memory of her life before washing up on a beach eight years ago. After a car accident and a violent home invasion trigger flashes of her past, she discovers she used to be a deadly CIA assassin. Teaming up with a wisecracking private investigator (Samuel L. Jackson), Samantha must return to her old ways to take down the people who tried to erase her.

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    5. ‘Iron Man 3‘ (2013)

    Robert Downey Jr. in 'Iron Man 3'. Photo: Marvel Studios.
    Robert Downey Jr. in ‘Iron Man 3’. Photo: Marvel Studios.

    When Tony Stark’s (Robert Downey Jr.) world is torn apart by a formidable terrorist called the Mandarin, he starts an odyssey of rebuilding and retribution.

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    4. ‘The Nice Guys‘ (2016)

    (L to R) Ryan Gosling and Russell Crowe in 'The Nice Guys'. Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures.
    (L to R) Ryan Gosling and Russell Crowe in ‘The Nice Guys’. Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures.

    A private eye (Ryan Gosling) and an enforcer (Russell Crowe) investigate the apparent suicide of a fading porn star (Margaret Qualley) in 1970s Los Angeles and uncovers a conspiracy.

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    3. ‘Lethal Weapon‘ (1987)

    (L to R) Danny Glover and Mel Gibson in 'Lethal Weapon'. Photo: Warner Bros.
    (L to R) Danny Glover and Mel Gibson in ‘Lethal Weapon’. Photo: Warner Bros.

    A veteran cop (Danny Glover) and an unstable detective (Mel Gibson) become partners who must put their differences aside in order to bring down a heroin-smuggling ring run by ex-Special Forces.

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    2. ‘The Last Boy Scout‘ (1991)

    (L to R) Bruce Willis and Damon Wayans in 'The Last Boy Scout'. Photo: Warner Bros.
    (L to R) Bruce Willis and Damon Wayans in ‘The Last Boy Scout’. Photo: Warner Bros.

    When the girl (Halle Berry) that detective Joe Hallenback (Bruce Willis) is protecting gets murdered, the boyfriend (Damon Wayans) of the murdered girl attempts to investigate and solve the case. What they discover is that there is deep seated corruption going on between a crooked politician and the owner of a pro football team.

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    1. ‘Kiss Kiss Bang Bang‘ (2005)

    (L to R) Val Kilmer and Robert Downey Jr. in 'Kiss Kiss Bang Bang.' Photo: Warner Bros.
    (L to R) Val Kilmer and Robert Downey Jr. in ‘Kiss Kiss Bang Bang.’ Photo: Warner Bros.

    A petty thief posing as an actor (Robert Downey Jr.) is brought to Los Angeles for an unlikely audition and finds himself in the middle of a murder investigation along with his high school dream girl (Michelle Monaghan) and a detective (Val Kilmer) who’s been training him for his upcoming role.

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  • Cameron Monaghan to Play Harry Bosch in New Prequel Series

    (Left) Cameron Monaghan in 'Paradise Highway'. Photo: Lionsgate. (Right) Titus Welliver as Harry Bosch in season 2 of 'Bosch: Legacy.' Photo Credit: Warrick Page.
    (Left) Cameron Monaghan in ‘Paradise Highway’. Photo: Lionsgate. (Right) Titus Welliver as Harry Bosch in season 2 of ‘Bosch: Legacy.’ Photo Credit: Warrick Page.

    Preview:

    • Cameron Monaghan will play Detective Harry Bosch in a new prequel series.
    • ‘Start of Watch’ will be set in 1991.
    • Omari Hardwick co-stars.

    Amazon is continuing to visit the ‘Bosch’ well. With two shows featuring author Michael Connelly‘s LAPD detective character Harry Bosch, played by Titus Welliver and a spin-off around the character of Renée Ballard (Maggie Q), the company now has a third in the works.

    A prequel series that will explore Harry Bosch’s younger days with the LAPD is has the greenlight, with Cameron Monaghan (‘TRON: Ares’) as Bosch and Omari Hardwick (‘Army of the Dead‘) portraying his training officer, police veteran Eli Bridges.

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    Monaghan makes the latest person to play a younger Harry –– both of Welliver’s sons have appeared in the role on ‘Bosch’ in the past.

    And just in case you weren’t already confused where to find Bosch’s cases (since Amazon has released the main show to Prime Video and spin-off ‘Bosch: Legacy’ to the since-defunct Freevee, ‘Bosch: Start of Watch’ will debut on MGM+.

    Related Article: Titus Welliver Talks ‘Bosch: Legacy’ Season 3 and Ending the Series

    What’s the story of ‘Bosch: Start of Watch’?

    Omari Hardwick in 'Xeno'. Photo: Blue Fox Entertainment.
    Omari Hardwick in ‘Xeno’. Photo: Blue Fox Entertainment.

    The new series, which is not based directly on any of Connelly’s books, sets the clock back to 1991 Los Angeles and follows 26-year-old Harry Bosch during his earliest days as a rookie cop.

    The series will explore a city on the edge, teeming with racial tension, gang violence and a fractured LAPD. Amid routine calls and growing unrest, Bosch finds himself drawn into a high-profile heist and a web of criminal corruption that will test his loyalty to the badge and shape his future as the detective who lives by the code, “Everybody counts or nobody counts.”

    ‘Bosch: Start of Watch’: his creator talks

    Author and 'Bosch: Legacy' Season 2 executive producer Michael Connelly.
    Author and ‘Bosch: Legacy’ Season 2 executive producer Michael Connelly.

    This was Connelly’s statement on the new series:

    “I’m deeply grateful to Michael Wright and the team at MGM+ for championing this next chapter in Bosch’s journey with such remarkable care and integrity. Being able to see how Harry Bosch became the man we have loved for 10 seasons is a gift to me and his many fans. I can’t wait to dig in with Cameron and the writers to explore this uncharted character territory.”

    When will ‘Bosch: Start of Watch’ be on screens?

    MGM+ has yet to specify when the show will debut, but like its sibling series, it will shoot in Los Angeles, especially having received a tax credit from the California Film Commission.

    (L to R) Maurice ‘Mo” Bassi (Stephen A. Chang) and Harry Bosch (Titus Welliver) in 'Bosch: Legacy' season 3. Photo Credit: Greg Gayne/Prime. Copyright: © Amazon Content Services LLC.
    (L to R) Maurice ‘Mo” Bassi (Stephen A. Chang) and Harry Bosch (Titus Welliver) in ‘Bosch: Legacy’ season 3. Photo Credit: Greg Gayne/Prime. Copyright: © Amazon Content Services LLC.

    List of Movies and TV Shows Based on Michael Connelly Novels:

    Buy Titus Welliver Movies On Amazon

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  • Movie Review: ‘Play Dirty’

    (L to R) Mark Wahlberg and LaKeith Stanfield in 'Play Dirty'. Photo: Prime Video.
    (L to R) Mark Wahlberg and LaKeith Stanfield in ‘Play Dirty’. Photo: Prime Video.

    On Prime Video on October 1st is ‘Play Dirty’, the new crime thriller from ‘Lethal Weapon’ writer and ‘Iron Man 3’ co-writer/director Shane Black, who here adapts the work of cult novelist Donald E. Westlake.

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    Starring Mark Wahlberg (‘The Fighter’) as inveterate thief Parker, the cast also includes LaKeith Stanfield (‘Sorry to Bother You’), Rosa Salazar (‘Alita: Battle Angel’), Tony Shalhoub (‘The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel’) and Nat Wolff (‘Paper Towns’).

    Related Article: LaKeith Stanfield, Jason Clarke & Trevante Rhodes will Lead ‘F.A.S.T.’

    Initial Thoughts

    Parker (Mark Wahlberg) in 'Play Dirty'. Photo Credit: Jasin Boland/Prime © Amazon Content Services LLC.
    Parker (Mark Wahlberg) in ‘Play Dirty’. Photo Credit: Jasin Boland/Prime © Amazon Content Services LLC.

    Once the king of the 1980s and 1990s action-comedy script sale, since turning his hand to directing, Shane Black has had a somewhat more mixed career. There have been definite highs (‘Kiss Kiss Bang Bang’ and ‘Iron Man 3’) and true lows (his most recent directorial effort was the ill-fated ‘The Predator’ back in 2018). And even when he’s hit the mark, the box office results have not been kind (‘The Nice Guys’ really deserved better).

    With ‘Play Dirty’, he’s got some choice (if frequently adapted) source material in Donald E. Westlake’s Parker character, and while he manages to pull off a convincing, double-triple-quadruple-crossing crime caper, there’s a big problem sitting squarely at the top of the cast list.

    Script and Direction

    Director Shane Black at the premiere of 'Play Dirty'. Photo: Prime Video.
    Director Shane Black at the premiere of ‘Play Dirty’. Photo: Prime Video.

    Black, working here with Charles Mondry (2024’s ‘Road House’) and Anthony Bagarozzi (who co-wrote ‘The Nice Guys’ with the director), has cooked up a twisty heist thriller that draws from Westlake’s novels but isn’t a direct adaptation of any of them.

    It’s certainly chock full of action, though the pacing suffers some when the filmmaker takes his foot off the gas (or the train pedal) to dig down into exposition, but that is largely carried by some great actors spouting swear-laden dialogue at each other. Oh, and no points for guessing that the movie is set during Black’s trademark Christmas season.

    Cast and Performances

    (L to R) Stan (Chai Hansen), Parker (Mark Wahlberg), and Grofield (LaKeith Stanfield) in 'Play Dirty'. Photo Credit: Jasin Boland/Prime © Amazon Content Services LLC.
    (L to R) Stan (Chai Hansen), Parker (Mark Wahlberg), and Grofield (LaKeith Stanfield) in ‘Play Dirty’. Photo Credit: Jasin Boland/Prime © Amazon Content Services LLC.

    The elephant in the room in ‘Play Dirty’s case is Mark Wahlberg, who brings about as much charisma to the lead role as some wet, peeling wallpaper. It’s even harder to stomach when you know that Black’s old pal Robert Downey Jr. was originally attached to star.

    Still, the rest of the cast essentially act Wahlberg off the screen, with particular plaudits due the likes of Rosa Salazar, Keegan-Michael Key, LaKeith Stanfield and Tony Shalhoub, the latter getting to show off his gangster side with aplomb.

    Final Thoughts

    Parker (Mark Wahlberg) in 'Play Dirty'. Photo Credit: Jasin Boland/Prime © Amazon Content Services LLC.
    Parker (Mark Wahlberg) in ‘Play Dirty’. Photo Credit: Jasin Boland/Prime © Amazon Content Services LLC.

    While nowhere near a classic Shane Black offering (come on Prime Video, just buy the rights and let him reunite Ryan Gosling and Russell Crowe for ‘The Nice Guys 2’!), it’s diverting enough, even if the lead character is something of a joyless chore rather than the sharp criminal of the books.

    ‘Play Dirty’ receives 70 out of 100.

    Parker (Mark Wahlberg) in 'Play Dirty'. Photo Credit: Jasin Boland/Prime © Amazon Content Services LLC.
    Parker (Mark Wahlberg) in ‘Play Dirty’. Photo Credit: Jasin Boland/Prime © Amazon Content Services LLC.

    What’s the story of ‘Play Dirty’?

    An expert thief rolls out the biggest heist of his life as Parker (Mark Wahlberg), along with Grofield (LaKeith Stanfield), Zen (Rosa Salazar) and a skilled crew, stumble onto a score that pits them against the New York mob.

    Who is in the cast of ‘Play Dirty’?

    Mark Wahlberg as Parker
    LaKeith Stanfield as Grofield
    Rosa Salazar as Zen
    Tony Shalhoub as Lozini
    Keegan-Michael Key as Ed Mackey
    Nat Wolff as Kincaid
    Chukwudi Iwuji as Phineas Paul
    Thomas Jane as Philly Webb

    Director Shane Black at the premiere of 'Play Dirty'. Photo: Prime Video.
    Director Shane Black at the premiere of ‘Play Dirty’. Photo: Prime Video.

    Other Movies Directed by Shane Black:

    Buy Mark Wahlberg Movies On Amazon

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