Month: May 2025

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The Amateur

The Amateur

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The Nerd Identity.  The Geek Ultimatum.  Although it may sound like I’m being snide, both of those fake titles describe The Amateur perfectly.  The movie isn’t about an extremely capable one man wrecking crew out for revenge, like the characters played by Matt Damon, Jason Statham, Denzel Washington, for example.  Instead we have Rami Malek, who nobody would ever describe as being physically threatening.  He has the body of a man who’s probably never set foot in a gym, and if he ever did it was to reboot the WI-FI router.

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Drop

Drop

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For a movie that recalls suspense thrillers of yesteryear, it’s fitting that Drop begins with an eye-catching opening title credit sequence.  In it, a series of items slowly rotate against a black background, with the breakable ones shattering.  This sequence, a pun on the movie’s title, also hints at what’s in store for us.  (There’s a reason for the inclusion of a spinning chess piece and dice.)  It’s a nice touch, but unfortunately what follows never tops it.

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Thunderbolts

Thunderbolts*

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In one form or another, the MCU films released after the conclusion of the Infinity Saga have been trying to answer the same question:  who will be in the next incarnation of The Avengers?  The six years haven’t provided us with any definitive answers outside of Anthony Mackie’s version of Captain America, who appears to be in because of his brand.  There simply can’t be an Avengers squad without some version of Captain America on it.  Every other superhero we’ve seen so far appears to be in play for a spot on the roster, which is strange considering how well-planned Marvel’s films seem to be.

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Sinners

Sinners

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So this is what’s been on writer-director Ryan Coogler’s mind while he’s been making films based on existing IP.  Although he left his imprint upon Creed and the Black Panther movies, they weren’t entirely his creation.  For example, you could tell which parts of his Marvel movies came from his mind and which were mandated in order to fit into the larger MCU.  Sinners, Coogler’s first original film since Fruitvale Station twelve years ago, reflects the freedom he likely felt at no longer needing to tell a story using other people’s characters and storylines.  His  latest is a rare intimate blockbuster, one that is brazenly adult-oriented, filled with big ideas and told with indelible images that demand our attention.  It’s a full-throated cinematic experience that swings for the fences and connects more often than not.

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