All posts by Kenna

“The American Society of Magical Negroes” Sharp Satirical Comedy

adventure, comedy, , , , , ,

Produced, written and directed by Kobi Libii, The American Society of Magical Negroes follows Aren, played by Justice Smith. He joins a magical group of negroes whose mission is to help keep white people happy and comfortable. That way, Black people stay safe.

Forbidden Romance

Aren receives training to effectively soothe white discomfort. One challenge is Jason, a nervous white coworker, as he navigates his blossoming feelings for Lizzie. She also works at the company.

Price of Staying Silent

Everything seems fine until Aren follows his heart instead of what the ASOMN tells him to do. He finally pushes back and asserts his desire to exist on his terms.

The ending has an appropriate twist discovered when Aren reunites with Lizzie.

The satire premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival.

The cast includes Justice Smith, David Alan Grier, An-Li Bogan, Drew Tarver, Michaela Watkins, Aisha Hinds, Tim Baltz, Rupert Friend and Nicole Byer.

American Erotic Thriller “Miller’s Girl”

thriller, , , ,

Cairo Sweet and Jonathan Miller

Written and directed by Jade Halley Bartlett, starring Jenna Ortega and Martin Freeman, Miller’s Girl follows a talented young writer played by Ortega. She embarks on a creative odyssey when her teacher, played by Freeman, assigns a project that entangles them both in an increasingly complex web.

Jenna Ortega as Cairo Sweet in Miller’s Girl. Photo Credit: Zac Popik

Power, Ambition, and Boundaries

The creative writing class turns into a teacher student affair. Where lines blur and their lives intertwine, professor and protégé must confront their darkest motives while straining to preserve their individual sense of purpose and the things they hold most dear.

Ending Explained

Cairo later uses the circumstances to her benefit, while Miller’s marriage and friendship suffer as the consequences of his choices unfurl. The ending leaves an imbalance because the issue remains unresolved. Cairo emerges as the victim but writes about the experience as her “greatest achievement.”

The supporting cast includes Dagmara Domińczyk, Bashir Salahuddin and Gideon Adlon.

“Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga”

action, adventure, prequel, science fiction,

George Miller continues his Mad Max franchise, with Anya Taylor-Joy taking on the lead role of Furiosa. Chris Hemsworth plays Dementus, the main villain. Nick Lathouris and Miller wrote the screenplay Miller directed.

Furiosa’s Origin Story

Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga follows the original story of renegade warrior Furiosa before she teamed up with Mad Max in Fury Road. Mad Max fans are sure to get their fill in this latest installment.

Dementus and Immortan Joe

Dementus is a warlord in the Wasteland. The deaths of this family shattered him, which explains his rage, instability, and fixation with power. He tries to manipulate Furiosa, claiming he can protect her or strengthen her. Still, the story shows he uses that as a reason for violence and possession.

Immortan Joe has military experience, which helped him rise to power after civilization collapsed. He captured the Citadel and established it as the core of his empire in the wasteland. His ultimate goals are domination, legacy, and survival. Joe has radiation sickness, which has caused him to obsess over creating a healthy heir. Dementus and he battle for control of the Citadel, Gastown, and the Bullet Farm.

Action and Visual Style

Miller orchestrates the action as large-scale, composed set pieces that deliver an epic and kinetic experience. The film’s visual design uses dramatic landscapes, emotional lighting, and striking imagery to create a mythical post-apocalyptic world.

Other cast members include Tom Burke, Angus Sampson, Daniel Webber and Nathan Jones.

“John Lennon: Murder Without a Trial” Murder Case Documentary

Apple TV, documentary,

Apple TV has produced some compelling films. I am impressed with Apple’s documentary, John Lennon: Murder Without a Trial.

To think that a psychiatrist cannot brainwash or hypnotize someone into killing another person is not valid. This documentary covers that aspect with hard evidence.

John Lennon’s Death Documentary

The story unfolds as a three-part true-crime documentary narrated by Kiefer Sutherland. It’s formulated around eyewitness interviews and archival material. The documentary focuses on the case, its aftermath, and how the lack of a trial fueled hypotheses and conspiracy theories.

For the first time, key figures from John Lennon’s life and death — including friends, doctors and investigators — share personal memories and reveal what happened on the night of his killing.

“Role Play” A Killer Night Out Comedy

adventure, comedy, ,

Thomas Vincent directed Role Play, a comedy that features an all-star cast including Kaley Cuoco, David Oyelowo, Connie Nielsen, and Bill Nighy.

Kaley Cuoco and Bill Nighy

The Night That Changes Everything

The screenplay, co-written by Andrew Baldwin and Seth W. Owen, depicts a young couple, played by Cuoco and Oyelowo, whose lives take a dramatic turn when they uncover each other’s past secrets.

David Oyelowo

A 2024 action-comedy follows a suburban couple whose anniversary role-play celebration goes off the rails. The wife has a secret life as an assassin, and her husband soon realizes it. He gets pulled into the fray.

Final Thoughts

A story that begins as a game in a hotel bar turns into a precarious murder mystery. It’s so refreshing to see Oyelowo in a comedic role, away from his more serious roles in Selma and A United Kingdom.

“Arthur the King” A True Story of Loyalty and Survival

adventure, true stories, , , ,

Simon Cellan Jones directed Arthur the King based on an incredible true story.

The Unbreakable Bond Between Man and Dog

Over ten days and 435 miles, an unbreakable bond is forged between pro adventure racer Michael Light, played by Mark Wahlberg, and a scrappy street dog, Arthur.

Simu Liu as Leo and Mark Wahlberg as Michael in Arthur The King.
Photo Credit: Carlos Rodriguez

Racing Through the Wilds of the Dominican Republic

The film follows Light, desperate for one last chance to win, as he convinces a sponsor to back him and a team of athletes, played by Simu Liu, Nathalie Emmanuel, and Ali Suliman, for the Adventure Racing World Championship in the Dominican Republic.

Mark Wahlberg as Michael in Arthur The King. Photo Credit: Carlos Rodriguez

As the team is pushed to the limits of endurance in the race, Arthur redefines what victory, loyalty, and friendship truly mean.

Spielberg, Hanks and Goetzman “Masters of the Air” Trailer

Apple TV, episodic, war, , , ,

Airmen risk their lives with the 100th Bomb group, a brotherhood forged by loss, courage and triumph.

Based on Donald L. Miller’s book of the same name and scripted by John Orloff, “Masters of the Air” follows the men of the 100th Based on Donald L. Miller’s book of the same name, and scripted by John Orloff, Masters of the Air follows the men of the 100th Bomb Group, known as “Bloody Hundredth.” The men conduct perilous bombing raids over Nazi Germany and grapple with the frigid conditions, lack of oxygen and sheer terror of combat conducted at 25,000 feet in the air. 

Masters of the Air portrays the psychological and emotional price paid by these young men as they helped destroy the horror of Hitler’s Third Reich. 

Some were shot down and captured; some were wounded or killed. And some were lucky enough to make it home. Regardless of individual fate, a toll was exacted on them all.

Fey Adds a Twist to “Mean Girls” Trailer, Posters, Featurettes

comedy, remakes, teenagers, , , , , , , , ,

Tina Fey brings a fresh take on Mean Girls, the modern classic.

Tina Fey plays Ms. Norbury in Mean Girls from Paramount Pictures. Photo: Jojo Whilden/Paramount © 2023 Paramount Pictures.

Co-directed by Samantha Jayne and Arturo Perez Jr., the story follows new student Cady Heron, who is welcomed into the top social food chain by the elite group of popular girls called “The Plastics.”

Bebe Wood plays Gretchen, Renee Rapp plays Regina, and Avantika plays Karen in Mean Girls from Paramount Pictures. Photo: Jojo Whilden/Paramount © 2023 Paramount Pictures.

The conniving queen bee, Regina George, rules the group. She uses her minions, Gretchen and Karen, to help deliver dirty deeds. However, when Cady makes the major misstep of falling for Regina’s ex-boyfriend Aaron Samuels, she finds herself prey in Regina’s crosshairs.

Christopher Briney plays Aaron in Mean Girls from Paramount Pictures. Photo: Jojo Whilden/Paramount © 2023 Paramount Pictures.

As Cady sets to take down the group’s apex predator with the help of her outcast friends Janis and Damian, she must learn how to stay true to herself while navigating the most cutthroat jungle of all: high school.

Marvel’s “Echo” Trailers and Clips

action, based on a book, Disney+, super heroes

Catriona McKenzie and Sydney Freeland co-direct only streaming Echo on Disney. The Marvel story revisits Maya Lopez, whose ruthless behavior in NYC catches up with her in her hometown.

She must face her past and reconnect with her native roots, embracing the meaning of community and family. So she can, hopefully, move forward.