Free Association

‘Blink Twice’ Movie and Blu-ray Review

Posted on by The Ultimate Rabbit

The following review was written by Ultimate Rabbit correspondent, Tony Farinella.

“Blink Twice” is a film with ambition, style, and some big goals.  It does not always achieve those goals from a filmmaking perspective, but it’s an interesting directorial debut from actress Zoë Kravitz, who also co-wrote the screenplay with E.T. Feigenbaum. The film also opens with a trigger warning for audiences, which is something I don’t think I’ve seen before from a big screen movie. I’ve seen it before on TV shows when a particular episode is going to show scenes involving abuse, suicide, or rape.  “Blink Twice” has become one of the most-talked about movies of 2024, and it’s easy to see why.  It’s a film that is either going to piss audiences off or leave them with a lot to ponder.

Our film opens up introducing us to Frida (Naomi Ackie) who, along with her friend and roommate Jess (Alia Shawkat), work a ritzy and glamorous exclusive event, where she runs into Slater King (Channing Tatum). He was recently forced to step down as CEO of his company after a scandalous event which forced him into therapy.  He claims to be a changed man and has also apologized publicly for his behavior.  When he runs into Frida and Jess, they are invited to his private island, where they have to put their phones in a bag.  It seems to be your typical rich, glamorous party with drugs and over-the-top behavior, but Slater insists he has toned down his behavior. The longer Frida and Jess spend at this private island, the more they suspect something is up. Can they put the pieces together?

Kravitz has assembled an all-star cast for her feature film debut.  The film features unique screen performances from Christian Slater, Haley Joel Osment, Geena Davis, Kyle MacLachlan, and Simon Rex.  While their performances are unique and out there, unfortunately these are not characters that are particularly well-written or fleshed out. Since they are good actors, they chew up the scenery.  However, I can only imagine how much more effective these performances would have been if these characters were not so one-dimensional. The stand-out performance comes from Tatum, who gives a chilling, eerie and unnerving performance.

The first 45-60 minutes are repetitive and boring at times, even though the film is shot beautifully and looks fantastic.  As a director, Kravitz has a keen eye behind the camera. This is a gorgeous film featuring beautiful people looking their best while doing very bad things.  The film is much more interesting in the third act when certain elements of the plot are revealed to the audience.  I wanted the film to be more like the third act, which was lively, intense and exciting. The film lost me for the first hour or so, which is why it was too little, too late to save it as a whole.

I could examine all of the issues and themes which are rather on-the-nose, but I don’t think it would serve my review.  I think Kravitz has A LOT to say, and she’s not shy about how she goes about presenting that message. Is it preachy at times? Yes, but it didn’t take me out of the film or make me lose interest in the story. As a matter of fact, it did the opposite for me—it left me with a lot to think about long after the credits rolled.  It made me want to see what she has up her sleeve in the future as a filmmaker.  “Blink Twice” is a film that gains traction the more you think about it and the further removed you are from it as an audience member. It was the lack of action and the pacing which took me out of the film in the first hour.

Overall, “Blink Twice” almost lost me entirely for a good chunk of its running time.  This is something that cannot be ignored.  If I wasn’t reviewing the movie, I would have shut it off.  Yes, I enjoyed the scenery and the acting, but the plot took way too long to get moving.  That being said, I also can’t ignore the power and the impact of the film’s final act along with the energy Kravitz brought to this film as a director. After the movie was over, it stayed with me and I thought about it for a long time.  This is a movie that is below average for the first 45-60 minutes before it ends with a bang for the final 30-35 minutes. This is a brainy film. I give it a slight recommendation with some hesitation.

* * out of * * * *

Blu-ray Info: “Blink Twice” is released on a single-disc Blu-ray from Warner Brothers Home Entertainment. The film has a running time of 102 minutes and is rated R for strong violent content, sexual assault, drug use and language throughout, and some sexual references. It comes with a digital copy of the film as well.

Blu-ray Audio/Video Info: “Blink Twice” looks good on Blu-ray, but I’m not sure why this film didn’t get a 4K release.  This film was screaming to be released on 4K, and I’m not sure why they didn’t offer that option. It is still a solid Blu-ray, but a 4K transfer would have been eye-popping and mesmerizing.  The Dolby Audio is also solid, but an Atmos track would have been preferred for this movie. Subtitles are included in Parisian French, Castilian Spanish, Italian, English, Latin Spanish, and Canadian French.

Special Features:

NONE

Should You Buy It?

Considering this film should have received a 4K release and there are no special features on this Blu-Ray disc, I don’t think it is a film you need to purchase right away. It also doesn’t come with a slipcover for the Blu-ray. For a collector like me, I enjoy a slipcover over the Blu-ray case. For the time being, it is a film worth seeing, despite how frustrating it can be at times.  I’d recommend you rent the film from a digital platform like Amazon, YouTube or Apple TV. It’s worth renting digitally and checking out.  I’m looking forward to the next film from director Zoë Kravitz, as she impressed me with her first offering.

**Disclaimer** I received a copy of this film from Warner Brothers to review for free.  The opinions and statements in the review are mine and mine alone.

‘Magic Mike’s Last Dance’ Movie and Blu-ray Review

Posted on by The Ultimate Rabbit

The following review was written by Ultimate Rabbit correspondent, Tony Farinella.

I thought the first two “Magic Mike” films served two different purposes, but they were entertaining and fun in different ways.  The first “Magic Mike,” directed by Steven Soderbergh, was more artistic and character driven.  It was a good film with great performances and cinematography. In “Magic Mike XXL,” we got some comedic touches to the material, and it was a charming and fun journey.  “Magic Mike’s Last Dance” features style but very little substance and almost none of the charm of the second film.  Instead, we are left with a film which really serves no purpose. I really hope it is Magic Mike’s last dance because what else is left to explore with this franchise at this point?

Mike Lane (Channing Tatum) has fallen on hard times after his furniture business went under because of the pandemic.  He is now a bartender in Miami and trying to keep a low profile.  It’s not that he is ashamed of his past, it’s just that he is looking to leave it behind and move forward. While bartending, one of Mike’s former clients recognizes him, but she plays it cool because she is with her husband.  This information gets passed onto Maxandra Mendoza (Salma Hayek Pinault) who offers him $6,000 for a dance.  He initially asked for $60,000, but they were able to settle on $6,000.  After he dances for her, she offers him a chance to earn that $60,000 in London, but she leaves out the details.

MAGIC MIKE’S LAST DANCE Copyright: © 2023 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures Caption: (L-r) SALMA HAYEK PINAULT as Maxandra Mendoza and CHANNING TATUM as Mike Lane in Warner Bros. Pictures musical comedy “MAGIC MIKE’S LAST DANCE,” a Warner Bros. Pictures release.

While in London, we discover Max is in the middle of a divorce and is now in possession of the Rattigan Theatre. She wants Mike to choreograph dance elements into “Isabel Ascende,” a play which was being run there before she arrived and shut it down.  When Mike and Max come together, they come up with the idea of incorporating erotic dance into the production in a way which will spice things up around town.  This, however, does not come without problems from her ex-husband, Roger (Alan Cox).  Max believes Mike can find a way to put something magical out there, even if it is for only one night, as he really made an impression on her back in Miami with his dancing.

One of the biggest problems with this film is the fact it does not feature the previous crew of dancers such as Kevin Nash, Joe Manganiello, Matt Bomer and Adam Rodriguez. They are only shown here on a brief Zoom call, where Mike promises to get them their money back after the furniture business they invested in with him went out of business.  The film was really missing their presence and chemistry together as a group.  Overall, the film does have some great dance numbers, especially the one in the beginning between Mike and Max and some big numbers at the end.  It is everything in the middle which just seems unnecessary and unimportant to the viewers.

I liked the chemistry between Tatum and Hayek Pinault. I wanted their relationship to develop more on screen from a character perspective instead of just being a physical attraction. I thought her personal assistant, Victor (Ayub Khan-Din), had some great one-liners and used his screen time wisely. More of his character would have been appreciated. Max’s adopted daughter, Zadie, played by Jemelia George in her first film role, also showed tremendous timing and screen presence.  There is a genesis for an entertaining film here, but at nearly two hours long, it’s a real slog to sit through from start to finish. The first two films were better than I expected them to be, but this one is a drag.  There is not a lot of enjoyment to be had here as this sequel is really flat and uninspired.

* * out of * * * *

Blu-ray Info: “Magic Mike’s Last Dance” is released on a two-disc Blu-ray/DVD combo pack from Warner Brothers Home Entertainment.  It has a running time of 112 minutes and is rated R for sexual material and language. This combo pack comes with the Blu-ray, DVD, and a digital copy of the film as well.

Video Info: The 1080p High-Definition transfer looks really, really good here. I’ve always been a big fan of the look and feel of Steven Soderbergh’s films, and this is no exception here. It has a crisp, clear look, but it also knows when to light up during the dance numbers.  This is a really, really good-looking Blu-ray.

Audio Info: The DTS-HD MA: English 5.1 audio transfer is also top notch with flawless sound.  It also comes on the following audio formats: Dolby Digital: English Descriptive Audio, French, and Spanish. Subtitles are in English, French, and Spanish.

Special Features:

Magic Mike’s New Moves

Deleted Scene

Should You Buy It?

I understand they wanted to do something different with the third film. They took it to London and added Hayek Pinault. They had good intentions here.  After all, this is Tatum’s baby, and he’s a producer on the film.  However, they left behind the boys from the first two films, and they are such a big part of this franchise. They added the flavor and the fun factor.  The film also takes itself too seriously with these voiceovers which come across as too self-important.  There are good intentions here, as I mentioned, but the execution is very poor. There is no meat on the bone with the screenplay here. I did not feel like I knew any of the other dancers all that well, and I wanted to know more about Hayek Pinault’s character besides the fact she is getting divorced from a wealthy businessman.  If this is on HBO one night, you can check it out.  I would not go out of my way to see it or buy it.

**Disclaimer** I received a copy of this film from Warner Brothers to review for free.  The opinions and statements in the review are mine and mine alone.

‘Dog’ Movie and Blu-ray Review

Posted on by The Ultimate Rabbit

The following review was written by Ultimate Rabbit correspondent, Tony Farinella.

There is nothing about “Dog” that will offend your cinematic senses, nor is there anything in the film which will reinvent the wheel.  This is a simple movie with a simple concept.  For a lot of filmgoers, they probably love the idea of a dog movie starring Channing Tatum, who also co-directed the film with its screenwriter, Reid Carolin.  For some people, they are fine with a film that just leaves them feeling happy and does not require a lot of thought behind it.  They simply kick back their feet and enjoy themselves.  At times, I believe film can be a great form of escapism when done right.  In the case of “Dog,” there are individual moments that worked in the film, but as a whole, it’s missing a lot of key ingredients.

“Dog” follows Jackson Briggs (Channing Tatum), a former U.S. Army Ranger, who is having a tough time adjusting to regular life.  He has brain injuries and PTSD.  When the film opens, he’s making sandwiches at a sandwich shop, which is clearly not the best use of his skills.  Because of this, he’s eager to do something that will challenge and excite him. He wants to be put on the rotation for Pakistan, but there are major concerns about his health and if he will be able to handle it. He assures them he is fine, but it is clear he’s struggling.

This image released by MGM shows Channing Tatum in a scene from “Dog.” (Hilary Bronwyn Gayle/Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures via AP)

When one of his former squad members is killed in a car accident, he is given the task of driving Lulu, a Belgian Malinois military dog, to Arizona for the funeral.  If he does this successfully, they will put in a good word for Briggs for a future tour. After the funeral, Lulu, because of its violent nature, will have to be put down. From here, the film turns into a road trip movie with Briggs and Lulu.  The dog causes a lot of headaches for him, especially when he’s trying to have sex. There is also a comical run-in with a psychic and her paranoid husband, played by former professional wrestler Kevin Nash.  It was great to see Nash on the big screen once again.  There is also a cameo by comedian Bill Burr.

There are other encounters along the way for both Briggs and Lulu. Some of them are successful and some of them are unsuccessful.  Some of them are funny, and some of them are what you would expect in a road trip movie featuring Tatum and a dog.  I imagine that was a big selling point for the film.  Considering the low budget for the film and its final box office numbers, it was a low-risk, high reward project for the studio.  From an artistic standpoint, the film has real issues with its pacing.  It’s very slow-moving and tedious to sit through at times, even though it’s 101 minutes. Tatum is a fine actor, but he’s not the kind of actor who is going to keep my interest for an entire film as the lead.  Even though I love animals, the same is true of the dog.

This is a feel-good flick with a lackluster story.  It’s not a bad movie.  It’s average, run-of-the-mill, and forgettable.  After it was over with, there wasn’t anything from the film that really stayed with me.  Considering its subject material (the impact and healing powers of animals and the real struggles the military deals with from a mental health perspective), they could have done a lot more here.  Instead, they played it safe and easy with a formulaic film that needed a little more bite to it, no pun intended. There are some laughs to be had here, especially with some of the cast members I mentioned, but they are few and far between.  I’m sure a lot of families and Tatum fans will enjoy this film. It didn’t do it for me, however.

* * out of * * * *

Blu-ray Info: “Dog” is released on a two-disc Blu-ray and DVD Combo Pack from Warner Brothers Home Entertainment, which also comes with a digital copy of the film. It is rated PG-13 for language, thematic elements, drug content, and some suggestive material.  It has a running time of 101 minutes.

Video/Audio Info:  The film comes on 1080p High Definition with two audio tracks: DTS-HD MA: English 5.1 and Dolby Digital: English Descriptive Audio. Subtitles are in English and Spanish.

Special Features:

“Dog” Trailer

Should You Buy It?

I can’t think of any reason to buy this film unless you are part of the Channing Tatum fan club.  The film has its heart in the right place, so I can’t fault it for that.  It just doesn’t want to try to break out of its formula.  The film follows all of the familiar beats one would expect in a film like this, and it ends exactly how you would expect it to end.  It follows the formula from A to Z.  It does not take any chances or have any surprises, whatsoever.  I don’t even think it’s worth a Redbox rental.  It’s a film you can completely pass on, and you will be just fine. The Blu-ray does not come with any special features, which is a bummer.  It would have been nice to see how Tatum worked with the dog and some of the challenges it presented for the actor. I feel like the Grinch giving this film a bad review, but its screenplay is just lazy and the pacing is really rough.  I’d pass on this one altogether.

**Disclaimer** I received a Blu-ray copy of this film from Warner Brothers to review for free.  The opinions and statements in the review are mine and mine alone.