MOVIE REVIEW: SUPERMAN

 

When Superman gets drawn into conflicts at home and abroad, his actions are questioned, giving tech billionaire Lex Luthor the opportunity to get the Man of Steel out of the way for good. Will intrepid reporter Lois Lane and Superman's four-legged companion, Krypto, be able to help him before it's too late?

Director: James Gunn

Cast: David Corenswet,  Rachel Brosnahan, Nicholas Hoult, Edi Gathegi, Anthony Carrigan, Nathan Fillion, Isabela Merced

Release Date: July 11, 2025

Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi

Rated PG-13 for violence, action and language.

Runtime: 2h 9m

Review:

James Gunn's Superman forgoes all the dour, grittiness of Snyder's take on the character by going in the opposite direction by embracing a more colorful, less grounded approach that allows for him to have more fun with the character and his heavily populated comic book world.  Gunn doesn't bother with the usual origin story instead he gets right into the action almost immediately which gives the film a strong headwind that rarely lets up throughout its runtime.  The world he splashes onscreen is fully formed, already populated by villains and heroes who battle regularly.  It all leans heavily into its comic book roots which feels like it unburdens him and his cast to just have fun with the characters and story.  The action sequences are bombastically big and fun however this version of Superman is beaten around on more than a few occasions.  This version of the character is established but also still green enough to give moments of trepidation and self-doubt.   David Corenswet easily steps into the role with a disarming, boyish charm that fits the character perfectly especially when he's in his Clark Kent guise.  He has the perfect "Aw, shucks" quality that Christopher Reeve brought to the role back in the 1978 version that makes the character easy to like.  This is very much the boy scout version of the character who's straightlaced, well intentioned and ultimately just trying to do the right thing.  Rachel Brosnahan is equally impressive as she takes up the Lois Lane mantle with her performance being a mix of Margot Kidder and Dana Delany's animated versions.  Her Lane is plucky enough to hold her own against the Man of Steel as exemplified with a wonderful character moment during a private interview with him.  Corenswet and Brosnahan share excellent chemistry together, something that shines through in that scene as they bounce off each with believable ease.  I personally would have preferred a bit more focus on them at the cost of some of the more extraneous characters we get time with.  The "Justice Gang" made up of Green Lantern, Mister Terrific and Hawkgirl played by Nathan Fillion, Edi Gathegi and Isabela Merced are fun when they pop up on screen, but we're given the tiniest bit of information about each.  Fillion has a blast playing up the jerk angle as Guy Gardner's Green Lantern while Merced does what she can with the limited amount she's given to work with as Hawkgirl.  Edi Gathegi gets more screentime as the super genius Mr. Terrific, playing him mostly like a human supercomputer with occasional flashes of personality.  He gets a fun action sequence that feels like Gunn is plagiarizing his own work from Guardians of the Galaxy as it feels fairly similar to Yondu and his arrow.  In the same vein, Krypto essentially serves as this film's version of Groot with his appearance being well used for relatable pet comedy.  On the downside, Nicholas Hoult's Lex Luthor is more of a mixed bag as he comes off more like a hodgepodge of previous versions but missing the cold calculating, genius from the best take of the character which was Clancy Brown's work in Superman The Animated Series and Justice League.  Additionally, the film is overstuffed with ideas and plotlines that the film almost buries the titular character under the sheer weight of it all.  Still, it’s hard not to appreciate what Gunn and his cast accomplish with this restart of the DC movie universe with this easy to enjoy and incredibly fun version of Superman.  

B+

MOVIE REVIEW: THE AMATEUR

 

Charlie Heller is a brilliant CIA decoder whose world comes crashing down when his wife dies in a London terrorist attack. When his supervisors refuse to take action, his intelligence becomes the ultimate weapon as he embarks on a dangerous trek across the globe to track down those responsible.

Director: James Hawes

Cast: Rami Malek, Rachel Brosnahan, Caitríona Balfe, Jon Bernthal, Michael Stuhlbarg, Holt McCallany, Julianne Nicholson, Adrian Martinez, Danny Sapani, Laurence Fishburne

Release Date: April 11, 2025

Genre: Action, Thriller

Rated PG-13 for some strong violence, and language.

Runtime: 2h 3m

Review:

The Amateur is a solid, albeit predictable, revenge thriller elevated by a nuanced, tortured turn from Rami Malek who channels some old Mr. Robot energy.  James Hawes directs the film with a steady hand, giving it a polished look and feel that harkens back to old school spy thrillers.  He moves the film at a steady pace which makes for a breezy two hours taking full advantage of its European locales.  The set up is decidedly simple and there's a steady sense of tension built up throughout even though you never get the sense that Malek's Charlie Heller won't achieve his ultimate goals.  Malek though manages to add so much more depth and pathos to his character that makes his quest more intriguing.  It goes without saying that Malek doesn't look like an action star and the film smartly avoids trying to make him into one instead leaning into his introverted intellect.  Even as the kills get more grandiose and ridiculous, Malek manages to keep his character's motivation grounded through his haunting desire to avenge his wife, an underused Rachel Brosnahan.  While Malek delivers strong work throughout the film doesn't take full advantage of its supporting cast's talents.  Laurence Fishburne gets most screentime proving to be more than capable of pulling off an experienced black bag agent even in his 60's but your left wishing the script had given him a bit more to do.  It’s a similar story with Caitríona Balfe, sporting a spotty Russian accent, who's a dark web contact that assist Heller and shares the loss of a spouse.  Their relationship seems ripe for exploration, but the script never delves too deeply into it before moving on.  Holt McCallany, Jon Bernthal and Michael Stuhlbarg all have small supporting roles that feel like they should be more impactful than they are, but the script gives them such thin characterization that you kind of wonder why they bothered casting such capable performers only not to use them.  These missed opportunities keep The Amateur from becoming something truly special as opposed to the enjoyable but forgettable thriller it is.  

B-

MOVIE REVIEW: THE COURIER

 

The true story of a British businessman unwittingly recruited into one of the greatest international conflicts in history. Forming an unlikely partnership with a Soviet officer hoping to prevent a nuclear confrontation, the two men work together to provide the crucial intelligence used to defuse the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Director: Dominic Cooke

Cast: Benedict Cumberbatch, Merab Ninidze, Rachel Brosnahan, Jessie Buckley, Angus Wright

Release Date: March 19, 2021

Genre: Thriller

Rated PG-13 for violence, partial nudity, brief strong language, and smoking throughout

Runtime: 1 h 52 min

Review:

The Courier is a throwback cold war spy thriller that hits nearly all the right marks.  Dominic Cooke directs his film with an efficient fun energy especially in opening sequences before slowing into more direct drama.  Cooke’s film never feels overbearing or stuffy which many of these types of films tend to feel like.  Benedict Cumberbatch carries the film with an impressive everyman turn that’s grounded and believable.  Cumberbatch makes his character incredibly likable from the first time he appears onscreen, as such you are emotionally invested in his journey.  Merad Ninidze is equally effective at engaging the audience with a steely turn as the brave Soviet officer who’s providing the intelligence.  Ninidze makes his character more than just a one note character making him more nuanced with real depth.  When Ninidze and Cumberbatch share the screen you get a real sense of their characters respect and admiration which serves as the lifeblood of the film.  Rachel Brosnahan, playing a composite CIA character, makes the best of her limited screen time with her tangible strength the film would have been served well to have given her a bit more to do.  Likewise Jessie Buckley is solid when she’s give time but her character isn’t given much to do.  Still, The Courier works primarily due to strong direction and excellent turns from the two leads as a old school spy film.  

A-