Release date: November 22, 2016
Studio:CBS Films, Lionsgate
Director:David Mackenzie
MPAA Rating:N/A
Screenwriter:Taylor Sheridan
Starring:Jeff Bridges, Chris Pine, Ben Foster, Gil Birmingham
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“To Hell and High Water” what an amazing exercise in desolate beauty! This is an amazingly understated crime Thriller with a focus on on Hollywood exaggeration. “Hell and high water” is wonderfully stripped down, no frills, and bare bones… and I loved it!
You start out by jumping right into the action, but even that is presented in a wonderfully toned down fashion. There’s a certain greatness to the overall tone, or palate of the film, which I really appreciated. The film accomplished an amazing feat in keeping us on the edge of our seats while, the same time, presenting deep and complex characters which you really become involved with emotionally. The latter statement is true of just about every character in this film, from the smallest part to the main stars.
The main actors Jeff Bridges, Ben Foster, and Chris Pine did a phenomenal job representing and flushing out their individual characters, however it is clear that the director make sure that everyone had a richness about their characters. There is one particular scene that involved a waitress and even though the part was fairly small the actress presented an amazing assortment of emotional levels.
The story revolves around two brothers (Chris Pine and Ben Foster) who have come up with a plan to get themselves out of the horribly impoverished situation that they are in. That plan being, unfortunately, to relieve certain banks of their drawer money.
One of the many interesting facets of this film was how it opens up. It’s a kind of 360 shot that shows the town, assorted buildings, a woman going towards the bank, a few cars and then the two main characters getting out of one of those cars. The reason I mention this is because most Hollywood films jump right into explosions and gunfire and things of that nature. What I liked about this film is that it did not do that. The movie focused on the characters and their backstory. Now don’t get me wrong, there was plenty of action in this film! Ben Foster’s character “Tanner Howard” made sure of that! Tanner is a just out of jail fireball. He is the bull in the China shop in contrast to Toby Howard’s (Chris Pine) calm planner type.
The plan is strike several banks for a specific purpose. The interesting thing is that this is not a Robin Hood story. This has a very interesting underlying message of frustration over banks abusing their power and taking advantage of the common citizenry.
One of the other things I appreciate it is that Jeff Bridges character it’s simply not politically correct. He and his partner share a certain repartee with each other. And what I would imagine we’ll be typical fashion they insult each other quite regularly throughout the film. I found this rather refreshing seeing as how we live in a very, very sensitive environment. I appreciate it that they were both thick skinned enough handle a playful banter. Story follows through very smoothly and the characters information previously very rich and texture. I couldn’t more highly recommend watching this movie as it is a refreshing rather fresh air combining dismal Beauty, believable action and twists in the characters to keep you very entertained.
A struggling couple with their young daughter are invited to spend an idyllic weekend at a newly made friend’s country house, that hides a whole bunch of nasty secrets!
Normally, a review consists of a few paragraphs of expounding on the movie and then the ranted opinion itself, closing with a recommendation as to whether or not Moxie recommends going to see said film. Speak No Evil is a very weird exception, for there is very little in the way of plot to follow, and the would-be horror devolves into cheap scares and dumbassery for us to laugh at. When the theater audience has cat-callers hooting and calling out the protagonist dad figure of the film and there is no censure from anyone else, you’re doing something wrong. But, let’s attempt a dive anyway!
So Ben (Scoot McNairy) and Louise (Mackenzie Davis) Dalton are struggling, with life, with career and money trouble of course, and perhaps most importantly but less often spoken of, with each-other. Whilst trying to hide it all from their sensitive bunny-stricken daughter Agnes (Alix West Lefler) too, of course. They somehow took a vacation runaway of sorts to Tuscany of all places, where they stay in a villa with a few other vacationers, bonding over the one annoying couple no-one else likes with new friends Paddy (James McAvoy) and Ciara (Aisling Fraciosi) and their apparently nonverbal kid Anthony or Ant (Dan Hough). Later, after a reminder postcard with the extended offer of a weekend stay at their country home is again extended to the Daltons, the two parental units decide it would be a good idea to run away some more and off they go, with Agnes and Hoppy in tow!
It’s amazing that the Dalton parents know so little about Paddy and Ciara and still decide to spend a weekend with them at their run-down country house. And just as soon as they do finally find the place, Paddy goes from the amiable fellow-dad to sympathize and bro-mance with, to an opinionated antagonistic competitor, who has to have his way about absolutely everything. It begins with the named goose he cooked for their first dinner there, despite being well aware Louise is vegan, and escalates to trying to instigate Ben into being more manly and take-charge, to serious disagreements in the way Paddy tries to raise his not-quite-mute kid, and finally the Dalton parents begin to realize perhaps this wasn’t such a good idea.
It’s often the children in these stories who provide the horrific reveal of what the villain, or villains, have been up to, and Speak No Evil is no different in this regard. Little Dan Hough gives a striking and ghastly performance as Ant, chop-chop-chopping his way through a silent explanation of what actually happened to his poor tongue. The brilliant way Agnes gets her parents alone to inform them of Ant’s new information is one of the few bright, smart spots of the entire movie. And after the Daltons have finally understood the true nightmare of their situation and their very real need to escape, the film basically degenerates into a kind of reverse home invasion horror flick, as the Daltons try to hide amidst the country house of our baddies trying to hunt them down!
None of it is enough. No reason was ever given as to why Paddy the purported former doctor is like this, why he needs to OCD his trophies to the point of an incriminating evidence locker, why Ant was the one to finally find the courage to fight back, why the hell Ben is such a freaking milquetoast of a human one can’t even consider him the head of the Dalton family, why Louise is still putting up with all this nonsense over the safety of her beloved daughter, and why hasn’t the authorities or the families of other victims kicked up any kind of ruckus by now? Why is the neighboring handyman type Mike (Kris Hitchen) in league with our villainous couple to the point where he takes to hunting the Daltons with shotgun in tow, too? The film is apparently a remake of a 2022 Danish film of the same name, and we have to ask, why did anyone think the film market needed such a thing? Well, whatever.
Cover your mouth to keep from yelling common-sense advice to the deplorably naïve characters on the screen and catch Speak No Evil in theaters now!
Here’s a full list of last night’s Primetime Emmy Awards winners.
Outstanding comedy series
WINNER: “Hacks”
“Abbott Elementary”
“The Bear”
“Curb Your Enthusiasm”
“Only Murders in the Building”
“Palm Royale”
“Reservation Dogs”
“What We Do in the Shadows”
Outstanding drama series
WINNER: “Shōgun”
“The Crown”
“Fallout”
“The Gilded Age”
“The Morning Show”
“Mr. & Mrs. Smith”
“Slow Horses”
“3 Body Problem”
Outstanding lead actress in a drama series
WINNER: Anna Sawai, “Shōgun”
Jennifer Aniston, “The Morning Show”
Carrie Coon, “The Gilded Age”
Maya Erskine, “Mr. & Mrs. Smith”
Imelda Staunton, “The Crown”
Reese Witherspoon, “The Morning Show”
Outstanding lead actor in a drama series
WINNER: Hiroyuki Sanada, “Shōgun”
Idris Elba, “Hijack”
Donald Glover, “Mr. & Mrs. Smith”
Walton Goggins, “Fallout”
Gary Oldman, “Slow Horses”
Dominic West, “The Crown”
Outstanding limited or anthology series
WINNER: “Baby Reindeer”
“Fargo”
“Lessons in Chemistry”
“Ripley”
“True Detective: Night Country”
Outstanding lead actress in a limited anthology series or movie
WINNER: Jodie Foster, “True Detective: Night Country”
Brie Larson, “Lessons in Chemistry”
Juno Temple, “Fargo”
Sofia Vergara, “Griselda”
Naomi Watts, “Feud: Capote vs. the Swans”
Outstanding lead actor in a limited anthology series or movie
WINNER: Richard Gadd, “Baby Reindeer”
Matt Bomer, “Fellow Travelers”
Jon Hamm, “Fargo”
Tom Hollander, “Feud: Capote vs. the Swans”
Andrew Scott, “Ripley”
Best directing for a drama
WINNER: Frederick E.O. Toye, “Shо̄gun”
Stephen Daldry, “The Crown”
Mimi Leder, “The Morning Show”
Hiro Murai, “Mr. & Mrs. Smith” “First Date”
Saul Metzstein, “Slow Horses”
Salli Richardson-Whitfield, “Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty”
Governors award
WINNER: Greg Berlanti
Best directing for a comedy series
WINNER: Christopher Storer, “The Bear”
Randall Einhorn, “Abbott Elementary”
Ramy Youssef, “The Bear”
Guy Ritchie, “The Gentlemen”
Lucia Aniello, “Hacks”
Mary Lou Belli, “The Ms. Pat Show”
Best writing for a limited series or TV movies
WINNER: Richard Gadd, “Baby Reindeer”
Charlie Brooker, “Black Mirror”
Noah Hawley, “Fargo”
Ron Nyswaner, “Fellow Travelers”
Steven Zaillian, “Ripley”
Issa López, “True Detective: Night Country”
Best writing for a drama series
WINNER: Will Smith, “Slow Horses”
Peter Morgan and Meriel Sheibani-Clare, “The Crown”
Graham Wagner and Geneva Robertson-Dworet, “Fallout”
Francesca Sloane and Donald Glover, “Mr. and Mrs. Smith”
Rachel Kondo, Justin Marks, “Shōgun”
Rachel Kondo, Caillin Puente, “Shōgun”
Supporting actor in a limited or anthology series
WINNER: Lamorne Morris, “Fargo”
Jonathan Bailey, “Fellow Travelers”
Robert Downey Jr., “The Sympathizer”
Tom Goodman-Hill, “Baby Reindeer”
John Hawkes, “True Detective: Night Country”
Lewis Pullman, “Lessons In Chemistry”
Treat Williams, “Feud: Capote vs. The Swans”
Best talk series
WINNER: “The Daily Show”
“Jimmy Kimmel Live!”
“Late Night with Seth Meyers”
“The Late Show with Stephen Colbert”
Writing in a comedy series
WINNER: Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs, Jen Statsky, “Hacks”
Quinta Brunson, Abbott Elementary”
Joanna Calo, Christopher Storer, “The Bear”
Meredith Scardino, Sam Means, “Girls5eva”
Chris Kelly, Sarah Schneider, “The Other Two”
Directing limited series or TV movie
WINNER: Steven Zaillian, “Ripley”
Weronika Tofilska, “Baby Reindeer”
Noah Hawley, “Fargo”
Gus Van Sant, “Feud: Capote vs. the Swans“
Millicent Shelton, “Lessons in Chemistry”
Issa López, “True Detective: Night Country”
Outstanding writing for a variety special
WINNER: Alex Edelman, “Alex Edelman: Just For Us”
Jacqueline Novak, “Jacqueline Novak: Get On Your Knees”
John Early, “John Early: Now More Than Ever”
Mike Birbiglia, “Mike Birbiglia: The Old Man And The Pool”
“The Oscars”
Best scripted variety series
WINNER: “Last Week Tonight with John Oliver”
“Saturday Night Live”
Supporting actress in a limited or anthology series
WINNER: Jessica Gunning, “Baby Reindeer”
Dakota Fanning, “Ripley”
Lily Gladstone, “Under The Bridge”
Aja Naomi King, “Lessons In Chemistry”
Diane Lane, “Feud: Capote vs. The Swans”
Nava Mau, “Baby Reindeer”
Kali Reis, “True Detective: Night Country”
Outstanding reality competition program
WINNER: “The Traitors”
“The Amazing Race”
“RuPaul’s Drag Race”
“Top Chef”
“The Voice”
Outstanding lead actress in a comedy series
WINNER: Jean Smart, “Hacks”
Quinta Brunson, “Abbott Elementary”
Ayo Edebiri, “The Bear”
Selena Gomez, “Only Murders in the Building”
Maya Rudolph, “Loot”
Kristen Wiig, “Palm Royale”
Supporting actress in a drama series
WINNER: Elizabeth Debicki, “The Crown Netflix”
Christine Baranski, “The Gilded Age”
Nicole Beharie, “The Morning Show”
Greta Lee, “The Morning Show”
Lesley Manville, “The Crown”
Karen Pittman, “The Morning Show”
Holland Taylor, “The Morning Show”
Supporting actress in a comedy series
WINNER: Liza Colón-Zayas, “The Bear”
Carol Burnett, “Palm Royale”
Hannah Einbinder, “Hacks”
Janelle James, “Abbott Elementary”
Sheryl Lee Ralph, “Abbott Elementary”
Meryl Streep, “Only Murders In The Building”
Outstanding lead actor in a comedy series
WINNER: Jeremy Allen White, “The Bear”
Matt Berry, “What We Do in the Shadows”
Larry David, “Curb Your Enthusiasm”
Steve Martin, “Only Murders in the Building”
Martin Short, “Only Murders in the Building”
D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai, “Reservation Dogs”
Supporting actor in a drama series
WINNER: Billy Crudup, “The Morning Show”
Tadanobu Asano, “Shōgun”
Mark Duplass, “The Morning Show”
Jon Hamm, “The Morning Show”
Takehiro Hira, “Shōgun”
Jack Lowden, “Slow Horses”
Jonathan Pryce, “The Crown”
Supporting actor in a comedy series
WINNER: Ebon Moss-Bachrach, “The Bear”
Lionel Boyce, “The Bear”
Paul W. Downs, “Hacks”
Paul Rudd, “Only Murders In The Building”
Tyler James Williams, “Abbott Elementary”
Bowen Yang, “Saturday Night Live”
Ryan Reynolds has become one of Hollywood’s most beloved actors, known for his quick wit, charm, and ability to effortlessly switch between comedy, action, and heartfelt moments. With a career spanning multiple genres, Reynolds has delivered some truly iconic performances. Here’s a rundown of the top five Ryan Reynolds movies that every fan should watch, filled with SEO keywords to help you discover them easily.
1. Deadpool (2016)
Ryan Reynolds found his career-defining role as the wise-cracking antihero Deadpool, and the movie became a game-changer for superhero films. With its R-rated humor, brutal action sequences, and Reynolds’ perfectly timed one-liners, Deadpool is a must-watch for fans of comic book movies. Reynolds’ portrayal of Wade Wilson/Deadpool is the perfect blend of his trademark sarcasm and heart, making it one of his most beloved performances.
2. The Proposal (2009)
In this romantic comedy, Ryan Reynolds stars alongside Sandra Bullock as Andrew Paxton, an assistant who agrees to a fake engagement with his demanding boss to help her avoid deportation. The Proposal showcases Reynolds’ comedic timing, and his chemistry with Bullock elevates the film to one of the best romantic comedies of the 2000s. Reynolds’ charm and humor make it a standout in his filmography, and fans of rom-coms shouldn’t miss it.
3. Free Guy (2021)
In Free Guy, Reynolds plays Guy, a non-playable character (NPC) in a video game who gains self-awareness and decides to take control of his own destiny. The film combines action, comedy, and a surprisingly heartfelt story about finding your purpose. Reynolds’ performance is both funny and endearing, making Free Guy one of his best films in recent years. Fans of video games, action-comedies, and feel-good films will love it.
4. Buried (2010)
Buried is a tense thriller that features Ryan Reynolds in a solo performance, trapped in a coffin with only a cell phone and lighter. The film is a masterclass in suspense, and Reynolds’ gripping portrayal of a man fighting for his life showcases his dramatic acting chops. Buried is a must-watch for fans who want to see Reynolds in a more serious, intense role.
5. 6 Underground (2019)
In Michael Bay’s action-packed 6 Underground, Reynolds leads a team of vigilantes who fake their own deaths to take down notorious criminals. The film is pure adrenaline, filled with high-octane action sequences and Reynolds’ signature humor. If you’re looking for a fun, explosive action movie with witty banter, 6 Underground is the perfect choice for a thrilling movie night.
Honorable Mentions:
Deadpool 2 (2018): Reynolds continues to shine in this hilarious and action-packed sequel, cementing his role as the ultimate antihero.
Detective Pikachu (2019): Ryan Reynolds voices the adorable Pikachu in this family-friendly adventure, bringing humor and heart to the beloved Pokémon character.
The Hitman’s Bodyguard (2017): An action-comedy where Reynolds teams up with Samuel L. Jackson for a wild, thrilling ride.
Ryan Reynolds’ versatility as an actor shines through in each of these films, whether he’s playing an action hero, a romantic lead, or tackling more serious roles. From Deadpool to Buried, his unique blend of charisma and talent keeps audiences coming back for more. Make sure to add these top five Ryan Reynolds movies to your watchlist!
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