"Central Intelligence" Review by Tim Hellman

'CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE': Four Stars (Out of Five)

An action-comedy buddy flick, starring Dwayne Johnson and Kevin Hart. It was directed by Rawson Marshall Thurber (who also previously helmed other hit comedy flicks, like 'WE'RE THE MILLERS' and 'DODGEBALL'). It was written by Thurber, David Stassen and Ike Barinholtz. The film costars Amy Ryan, Danielle Nicolet and Aaron Paul. It's a pretty funny movie, because of the pairing of Johnson and Hart, and it's also surprisingly touching (at times).

Johnson plays Bob Stone; a once bullied (and severely overweight) nerd, that's now a lethal CIA agent. Calvin Joyner (Hart) went to high school with Stone; he was really popular, and helped Bob out during a traumatizing incident. So Bob has idolized Calvin ever since. The two meet for drinks, the weekend of their high school reunion, and Calvin gets pulled into a life threatening CIA adventure.

Johnson and Hart have beautiful chemistry together; it really is a classic odd couple pairing! That's the highlight of the movie, but it also has a lot of heart; and a strong message about bullying. It's definitely 'forced' and 'clichéd', but it's also (surprisingly) emotional. I really enjoyed the movie, for that reason as well. The plot, and action scenes, are routine (and forgettable), but the character development is awesome! It's probably the best Kevin Hart vehicle yet!

Action Crime Thriller "Triple 9" Blasts its Way to DVD & Blu-Ray

Universal Home Entertainment recently release information for the upcoming DVD & Blu-Ray release of "Triple 9". The film is the latest from director John Hillcoat (Lawless) and stars Casey Affleck, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Anthony Mackie, Aaron Paul, Norman Reedus, with Woody Harrelson and Kate Winslet.

Special features on the DVD & Blu-Ray includes Deleted Scenes, Under the Gun (The acclaimed cast of Triple 9 offers an in-depth look at its characters and the pulse-pounding twists and turns at the heart of the film.) and Authentic World (Director John Hillcoat and the cast of Triple 9 discuss how their grounded approach to filmmaking helped highlight the film's gritty, authentic look and feel.).

"Triple 9" hits retail on May 31st.

Press Release:

When a veteran cop and his rookie nephew discover a shocking conspiracy that leads dangerously close to home, they'll stop at nothing to get to the truth in Triple 9, an action-packed tale of corruption and betrayal coming to Digital HD on May 17, 2016, and Blu-ray™, DVD and On Demand on May 31, 2016, from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. Propelled by John Hillcoat's (The Road, The Proposition) ferocious directorial style and a top-notch cast, Triple 9 races through a world where no one can be trusted in a "crime caper like no other" (Peter Travers, Rolling Stone). Triple 9 on Blu-ray™, DVD and Digital HD includes deleted scenes and a peek backstage at the making of the most original cop thriller in years.

Woody Harrelson ("True Detective," The Hunger Games series), Anthony Mackie (Avengers: Age of Ultron, The Hurt Locker), Chiwetel Ejiofor (12 Years a Slave, The Martian), Aaron Paul ("Breaking Bad," Need for Speed), Norman Reedus ("The Walking Dead," The Boondock Saints), Casey Affleck (Out of the Furnace, Gone Baby Gone) and Kate Winslet (Steve Jobs, Titanic) star in an explosive, action-packed thriller critics call "a twisty, terrific ride" (Peter Travers, Rolling Stone). A bank robbery is just the tip of the iceberg when two cops in Atlanta begin suspecting that members of their own team are involved. Not knowing whom to trust and how deep the corruption goes, the clock is ticking as they try to uncover the truth — before they become the target for the next deadly job.

Clifton Collins Jr. (Pacific Rim, "Westworld"), Teresa Palmer (Warm Bodies, The Choice), Michael K. Williams (12 Years a Slave, The Road) and Gal Gadot (Furious 7, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice) also star in what critics call "a modern-day heist thriller with a diverse, high-wattage cast" (Justin Chang, Variety).

"Triple 9" Review by Tim Hellman

'TRIPLE 9': Four and a Half Stars (Out of Five)

Gritty crime thriller; about a gang of criminals (including two corrupt cops) that are forced into performing two dangerous heists, for a Russian mob boss's wife. It was directed by John Hillcoat (who also directed the outstanding 'LAWLESS' and 'THE ROAD'), and it was scripted by first time feature film writer Matt Cook. The all- star cast includes Casey Affleck, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Anthony Mackie, Kate Winslet, Woody Harrelson, Clifton Collins, Jr., Aaron Paul, Norman Reedus, Teresa Palmer and Cal Gadot. I enjoyed it immensely.

The story takes place in Atlanta, Georgia; where Michael Atwood (Ejiofor) leads a team of criminals in a daring bank robbery. They're objective is to retrieve a safe deposit box; which contains information vital to freeing a convicted Russian Mafia boss. Michael takes the box to Irina Vlaslov (Winslet), the mob boss's wife, but she insists they perform another job for her. She next wants the gang to steal more important data (on her husband), from a secured government building. Irina kills one gang member, and threatens to take Michael's son; in order to get the criminals to cooperate. The group devises a plan to kill a cop (a Triple 9 police call), as a diversion. Gang member Marcus Belmont (Mackie), a corrupt cop, suggests they kill his new partner, Chris Allen (Affleck).

The movie is very dark, gritty and graphically violent; it also contains explicit sex, nudity, disturbing drug use and lots of foul language. It's definitely not a movie for everyone, but the right audience should get a big kick out of it. Some of it seems pretty intense and hard to watch; but it also feels like a movie (like a really good crime action flick). The pacing is great, the performances are all good and the dialogue is witty. The film definitely has it's flaws too though. It's an especially odd mix of genre pleasing action formula, and realistic crime thriller; but I really enjoyed it.

"Exodus: Gods and Kings" Review - Written by Jim Herling

It seems like there's an awful lot to say about Exodus: Gods and Kings. For example, there's the controversy over the "whitewashed" main cast (which is admittedly distracting), but I don't want to talk about that. There's also all the hubbub over the glaring historical and even more glaring biblical inaccuracies (both of which are just mind-boggling, especially considering director Ridley Scott had a four-person writing team to work with, consisting of Adam Cooper, Bill Collage, Jeffrey Caine, and Steven Zaillian, none of whom had the sense to point out the inaccuracies apparently), but I don't want to talk about those things either. All the controversies, while interesting and worthy of discussion on their own, have little to do with the quality of the movie itself, which is what I'm here to talk about.

And the quality, in this case, is pretty damn bad.

The only thing I can say for Ridley Scott's latest work is that it is a visually stunning movie. Which is no surprise, really; Scott's movies are always treats for the eyes, shot and framed beautifully, with top-notch effects, and this one is no exception. The Red Sea sequence is particularly breathtaking. But, as Jay said towards the end of Clerks, "what's a good plate with nothing on it?"

When it comes to what's on this plate, the answer is precious little. Inconsistence is the least of the plot's sins; for example, the movie is just boring as hell. It has a very similar structure and story to one of Scott's masterpieces, Gladiator (which should be a clue as to just how far afield from the historical narratives the story blunders), but it lacks that film's cohesion, and its action. Action pieces are short and few and far between. Even the Red Sea finale is anticlimactic, boiling down not to an epic battle or even a thrilling chase but a distant standoff between Moses (Christian Bale) and his "brother" Ramses (Joel Edgerton) that is as ponderous and awkward as the rest of their performances. And they're not alone; whitewashing is a far less problem of this cast than their obvious discomfort with the whole production. From Bale and Edgerton down through the line to Ben Kingsley and John Turturro, this is a talented cast having no fun and clearly not putting their heart into their characters. The most glaring cast misstep is Aaron Paul as Joshua, one of Moses' lieutenants. Joshua does nothing but glare and stare, shouting his handful of lines that all consist of one variation or another of "Come on!" or "Let's go!" The swagger that usually makes Paul's performances compelling is nonexistent, and it's a disappointing microcosm of how disappointing the movie is as a whole.

I'm giving Exodus: Gods and Kings one star or of five for cinematography. The rest of the movie is as bad as a plague of locusts.

Final Trailer for Ridley Scott's Upcoming Film "Exodus: Gods and Kings"

20th Century Fox recently released the final trailer for Ridley Scott's latest film "Exodus: Gods and Kings". The upcoming film stars Christian Bale, Joel Edgerton, Aaron Paul, John Turturro, Sigourney Weaver, Ben Mendelsohn and Ben Kingsley. "Exodus: Gods and Kings" hits theaters on December 12th.

For more information on this film, you can visit the film's official website at: www.exodusgodsandkings.com.

"Exodus: God and Kings": Final Trailer

Official Trailer for the Upcoming Ridley Scott Film "Exodus: Gods and Kings"

20th Century Fox recently released a new trailer for the upcoming Ridley Scott film "Exodus: Gods and Kings". The upcoming film stars Christian Bale, Joel Edgerton, Aaron Paul, John Turturro, Sigourney Weaver, Ben Mendelsohn and Ben Kingsley. "Exodus: Gods and Kings" hits theaters on December 12th.

For more information on this film, you can visit the film's official website at: www.exodusgodsandkings.com.

Plot Synopsis:

From acclaimed director Ridley Scott (Gladiator, Prometheus) comes the epic adventure “Exodus: Gods and Kings,” the story of one man’s daring courage to take on the might of an empire. Using state of the art visual effects and 3D immersion, Scott brings new life to the story of the defiant leader Moses (Christian Bale) as he rises up against the Egyptian Pharaoh Ramses (Joel Edgerton), setting 400,000 slaves on a monumental journey of escape from Egypt and its terrifying cycle of deadly plagues.

"Exodus: Gods and Kings": Official Trailer

First Trailer for Ridley Scott's Newest Film "Exodus: Gods and Kings"

20th Century Fox recently released the first trailer for the upcoming film "Exodus: Gods and Kings". The upcoming film is the latest from director Ridley Scott and stars Christian Bale, Joel Edgerton, Aaron Paul, John Turturro, Sigourney Weaver and Ben Kingsley. "Exodus: Gods and Kings" hits theaters on December 12th.

For more information on this film, you can visit the film's official website at: www.exodusgodsandkings.com

Plot Synopsis:

From acclaimed director Ridley Scott (Gladiator, Prometheus) comes the epic adventure “Exodus: Gods and Kings,” the story of one man’s daring courage to take on the might of an empire. Using state of the art visual effects and 3D immersion, Scott brings new life to the story of the defiant leader Moses (Christian Bale) as he rises up against the Egyptian Pharaoh Ramses (Joel Edgerton), setting 600,000 slaves on a monumental journey of escape from Egypt and its terrifying cycle of deadly plagues.

"Exodus: Gods and Kings": Official Trailer