Review: ‘RIDE THE EAGLE’ is endlessly charming, authentic, and funny.

RIDE THE EAGLE

When Leif’s (Jake Johnson) estranged mother Honey (Susan Sarandon) dies she leaves him a ‘conditional inheritance’. Before he can move into her picturesque Yosemite cabin, he has to complete her elaborate, and sometimes dubious, to-do list. Leif and Nora, his canine BFF, step into Honey’s wild world as she tries to make amends from beyond the grave in this hilarious and heartfelt comedy.


Ride The Eagle is a one-of-a-kind film. The script is written by director Trent O’Donnell and star Jake Johnson. Tackling regret, forgiveness, and everything in between, there’s an honesty that stings and inspires. Mostly, Ride The Eagle makes you smile.

The script is filled with quirky characters. J.K. Simmons is fantastic in his manic energy. His delivery makes you involuntarily grin. Susan Sarandon, who we only see in her videotape to Leif, gives us warmth, and wisdom, and a boatload of snark. Her dialogue is yet another example of the care taken by O’Donnell and Johnson in their writing. There is a specificity that allows us to sit in Leif’s emotional shoes.

I want D’arcy Carden to be my new best friend. The scenes between her and Johnson are pure gold. Their chemistry is off the charts. Made even more impressive by the fact that they speak exclusively over the phone. It’s like watching a masterclass in scene partnering. Their report nudges the script into rom-com territory. But, in truth, Ride The Eagle is consistently genre-defying. Jake Johnson owns every frame he appears in. He has this innate ability to put you at ease while simultaneously making you giggle. He keeps you on your toes, always making you wonder what is scripted and what might be improvised. He’s just that talented.

The score is vibrant and incredibly thoughtful. Ride the Eagle shines with heart and charm. It has a palpable vulnerability that makes it undeniably relatable. Of the nearly 200 films I’ve seen in 2021, Ride The Eagle easily soars onto my top 10 list.

DECAL will release comedy RIDE THE EAGLE In Theaters, On Demand, and Digital on July 30, 2021. 

RIDE THE EAGLE is directed by Trent O’Donnell (“New Girl,” “No Activity”) with a screenplay by O’Donnell and Jake Johnson (“New Girl,” Spider-Man Into the Spider-Verse), who also stars alongside Susan Sarandon (Thelma & Louise, Dead Man Walking), J.K. Simmons (Whiplash, Juno) and D’Arcy Carden (“The Good Place,” “Barry”).


Get Ready for ‘A Bad Moms Christmas’ with this Hilarious Teaser Trailer

STXfilms has released brand new trailers and first-look images from A BAD MOMS CHRISTMAS and we have it for you below!

A BAD MOMS CHRISTMAS follows our three under-appreciated and over-burdened women as they rebel against the challenges and expectations of the Super Bowl for moms: Christmas.  And if creating a more perfect holiday for their families wasn’t hard enough, they have to do all of that while hosting and entertaining their own mothers.  By the end of the journey, our moms will redefine how to make the holidays special for all and discover a closer relationship with their mothers.

The film stars Mila Kunis, Kristen Bell, Kathryn Hahn, Jay Hernandez, Cheryl Hines, Peter Gallagher, Justin Hartley, David Walton, with Christine Baranski, and Susan Sarandon.

A BAD MOMS CHRISTMAS in theaters November 3!

Red Band

Green Band

Review: ‘ACE THE CASE: MANHATTAN MYSTERY’ features a little gumshoe with gumption.

gravitas and kaufman logosPresents

ACE THE CASE : Manhattan Mystery

A plucky kid puts herself in peril when she matches wits with three scheming criminals in a suspenseful Manhattan mystery and family comedy.

Ace The Case: Manhattan Mystery

Starring:

Ripley Sobo ( Broadway shows “Matilda” & “Once”)

Susan Sarandon (The Meddler, Thelma and Louise)

Lev Gorn (TV’s “The Americans”)

Aaron Sauter (Detachment, TV’s “Alien Dawn”)

Written & Directed by:

Kevin Kaufman (“The Perfect Murder,”  “I Married a Mobster”) Ripley sobo ATC:MM

Left in the care of her teenage brother Miles (Aaron Sauter) while their mom is out of town, 10-year-old Olivia Haden (Ripley Sobo) takes her dog Charlie for a late-night walk and witnesses a brazen kidnapping on the deserted streets of New York City. But when she tells Miles what she has seen, he dismisses her, and when she reports it to the NYPD, only a sympathetic detective named Dottie (Academy Award®-winner Susan Sarandon) will even listen. Without solid evidence, there’s nothing Dottie can do, so the intrepid tween sets out to solve the crime herself. Facing down a trio of bumbling crooks, a mysterious fixer toting an oversized bun- ny, and a rapidly ticking clock, Olivia crisscrosses lower Manhattan in an exciting family-oriented thriller sure to delight kids of all ages, as well as their parents.

Susan surandonAce The Case: Manhattan Mystery has more than meets the eye in story and fun. This film is a perfect family pick, something you might expect to see as a Disney Channel original movie. There is excitement and intrigue for kids and enough off the cuff jokes for Mom and Dad to enjoy. Thanks to the writing from director Kevin Kaufman and Executive Producing by one of New York’s most iconic homicide detectives, Rick Tirelli, the film is filled with twists and turns that will have everyone on their toes. This kidnapping plot is anything but straight forward when it goes from no one believing young Olivia, to too many hands in the pot. You’ve got hi jinx from the criminals, a mysterious goon-type toting a giant bunny, to the only person who took our young heroine seriously in the first place. Enter, Susan Sarandon.

Ripley SoboSusan Sarandon‘s portrayal of Detective Dottie Wheel is subtly hilarious. Her relationship with lead Ripley Sobo is endearing and gentle. Their scenes are the stuff these family films are made of. Playing older brother Miles is Aaron Sauter. The onscreen brother-sister chemistry is adorable and all too believable. I could have watched an entire film just between Miles and Olivia. And now we come to our star, Ripley Sobo. Ripley is an absolute gem. She is sweet, authentic and a real scene-stealer. Dealing with some content that might be a tad aggressive for her age, she handles it like a true pro. The highlight and added bonus is the original musical number at the end of the film, ” Aim High”. Smartly taking advantage of Ripley’s Broadway background, we are treated to a great, completely kid friendly song. I wish there were more numbers for Ripley spread throughout the film. This would have taken this movie to next level status. Perhaps Kaufman will take this into consideration when the sequel comes out- Ace The Case: Curse of the Deadly Diamond. Sobo deserves to shine as much as possible.

In Theaters & On Demand on August 26, 2016

Featuring Original Song “AIM HIGH”

Performed by Ripley Sobo

Written by Michele Vice-Masli

RT: 94 Minutes

Rated: PG-13

http://acethecasemovie.com/

The 35th Annual Razzies Awards Nominees Have Been Announced

Razzie-Awards-2012

For the 35th year, The Golden Raspberry Award Foundation has announced their nominations for the Razzie Awards. You can check out the list of films and performances deemed to be the absolute worst Hollywood has to offer below… Read More →

Jeremy’s Review: Jason Stone’s ‘The Calling’ Is a Capable Thriller

The Calling-01As you watch Jason Stone‘s thriller The Calling, it may be hard not to recall David Fincher‘s Se7en. Both are steeped in biblical lore and both feature a serial killer, although that could up for some debate in the former. But that’s where the analogy wears off. The Calling is based in the cold expanse of the Great White North – Canada – not the hustle and bustle of the big city (presumably New York) in Se7en. Its lead detective, Hazel Micallef (Susan Sarandon doing her best Marge Gunderson), is the exact opposite of the wise sage that was Somerset (Morgan Freeman) – she is broken and conflicted, a drunk and a pillhead who is seemingly indifferent to doing her job. Her partner Ray Green (Gil Bellows) isn’t anywhere near as apathetic as Hazel and operates by the rules, which is a point of contention between the two throughout the film. An odd couple, if you will. Read More →

Let’s Do The Time Warp Again! Happy Anniversary ‘Rocky Horror Picture Show’ (a day late but never a boa short)

The_Rocky_Horror_Picture_Show

Happy 29th Anniversary of the UK theatrical release of this cult classic. Rocky Horror Picture Show was sort of a flop by today’s standards, but once midnight screenings began in NYC, there was no stopping this raucous and infectious work of madness.

Originally a stage play, it hopped from stage to screen with Richard O’Brien’s script. It was meant to be a tribute to the science fiction and B horror movies of the late 1930s through early 1970s. The costumes are now iconic and shadow casts around the county work painstakingly to imitate them. It’s been said that the film’s costumes were a big influence on the punk music scene with it’s ripped fishnets, dyed hair, and glitter makeup. Rocky Horror is the right balance of shock and camp. It’s difficult not to sing along and no matter if you’re a die hard fan or not, you’ve been hearing quotes from this movie for ages. And speaking of quotes, when attending a midnight screening, the audience is encouraged, dare I say, required to quote along. It’s an immersive experience to say the least.  

Rocky_Horror_throne_screencap

  • Tim Curry as Dr. Frank N. Furter, a scientist
  • Susan Sarandon as Janet Weiss, a heroine
  • Barry Bostwick as Brad Majors, a hero.
  • Richard O’Brien as Riff Raff, a handyman
  • Patricia Quinn as Magenta, a domestic
  • Nell Campbell as Columbia, a groupie
  • Jonathan Adams as Dr. Everett V. Scott, a rival scientist
  • Peter Hinwood as Rocky Horror, a creation
  • Meat Loaf as Eddie, an ex-delivery boy
  • Charles Gray as The Criminologist, an expert
  • Jeremy Newson as Ralph Hapschatt
  • Hilary Farr as Betty Munroe Hapschatt (as Hilary Labow)

Rocky_Horror_Picture_Show_1975_Soundtrack_OST_Cover

Track list

  1. “Science Fiction/Double Feature” – The Lips (those of Patricia Quinn; voice of Richard O’Brien)
  2. “Dammit Janet” – Brad, Janet, and Chorus
  3. “There’s a Light (Over at the Frankenstein Place)” – Janet, Brad, Riff Raff, and Chorus
  4. “The Time Warp” – Riff Raff, Magenta, The Criminologist, Columbia, and Transylvanians
  5. “Sweet Transvestite” – Frank
  6. “The Sword of Damocles” – Rocky and Transylvanians
  7. “I Can Make You a Man” – Frank with Brad, Janet, Riff Raff, Magenta, and Columbia
  8. “Whatever Happened to Saturday Night” – Eddie and Transylvanians
  9. “I Can Make You a Man” (reprise) – Frank, Janet, and Transylvanians
  10. “Touch-a, Touch-a, Touch-a, Touch Me” – Janet with Magenta, Columbia, Rocky, Brad, Frank, and Riff Raff
  11. “Once in a While” (deleted scene) – Brad
  12. “Eddie” – Dr. Scott, Janet, Frank, Rocky, Brad, Riff Raff, and Magenta
  13. “Planet Schmanet Janet (Wise Up Janet Weiss)” – Frank, Janet, Brad, and Dr. Scott
  14. “Rose Tint My World” – Columbia, Rocky, Janet, and Brad
  15. “Fanfare/Don’t Dream It, Be It” – Frank with Brad, Janet, Rocky, and Columbia
  16. “Wild and Untamed Thing” – Frank with Brad, Janet, Rocky, Columbia, and Riff Raff
  17. “I’m Going Home” – Frank and Chorus
  18. “The Time Warp” (reprise) – Riff Raff and Magenta
  19. “Super Heroes” (only present in the original UK release) – Brad, Janet, and Chorus
  20. “Science Fiction/Double Feature” (reprise) – The Lips

Once you finally make it to a screening, you’re going to want to be prepared to get up and shake it. Here is a quick refresher for the all important audience participation Time Warp.

TimeWarp