Up first this week is Cannes Confidential. It’s a six episode series that I originally thought was a movie. It takes place in Cannes, France and each episode has their own mystery, but there are stories that go throughout the season. It’s about a female detective, her father who’s in jail despite being a former captain, a shady con-artist who’s there to help and more. Jamie Bamber plays the con-artist and he’s the only one I recognized. The first episode involves the murder of a street artist (think Banksy), episode 2 involves the death of a casino owner’s wife, episode 3 involves a monk with a checkered past being killed on a famous island, episode 4 involves a plot against the son of a billionaire at his 30th birthday, episode 5 involves a cursed family and the son dying after a séance, episode 6 involves the father getting released and the assistant of an actress being killed right before the Cannes Film Festival. Overall it is a bit cheesy, but the location is beautiful as are most of the characters. It leaves the door open for season 2 continuing the father’s story and Bamber’s past. If you are looking for a quick binge you can do it over two days.
Second we have Biosphere which is one of the weirdest movies I’ve seen in a while. Starring Sterling K. Brown and Mark Duplass, it’s a single location, 2 person film. The world has been destroyed and Duplass was the president with Brown being the scientist who built the biosphere they are surviving in. They are childhood friends. That’s totally acceptable, but if I told you what actually happens in this film you’d think I made it up. Evolution quickly gets involved and both men have to decide what’s going to happen in order for mankind to survive. It doesn’t really explain how the Earth was decimated or how long they had been alone. Nor does it have much of an ending. It’s freaking bizarre. I’m sure someone out there loves it because I immediately called a friend after watching it. If you thought Duplass had been in some weird stuff before you ain’t seen nothing yet. I can’t say I liked it, but it will be something I talk about for sure.
Third we have Bad City. It’s a solid crime drama out of Asia with great fight sequences and action. The final fight sequences are very good and I look forward to seeing more from those involved. You get Yakuza, gangsters, corrupt cops, corrupt politicians and more. A special unit is put together including a former police captain who was in jail for murder to investigate a businessman who’s running for mayor. The fighter with the bad guys is awesome and gets a handful of top notch fighting sequences including the two on one in the hallway. There’s a big fight with many people on stairs, in doors and more. It’s just under two hours long which is great because it gets right into the story and action. I liked this one quite a bit.
The next two releases come from Mill Creek Entertainment. Up first is Director’s Spotlight Kevin Macdonald: Black Sea and State of Play. Not only had I not seen Black Sea I had never heard of it despite starring Jude Law, Jodie Whittaker, Scoot McNairy, Ben Mendelsohn and more. Law is fired from his job, but takes another gig to locate an old U-boat filled with gold that the Soviets allegedly were paying the Germans before Germany invaded Russia in World War II. Law is tired of bankers and companies pushing down the little guy and wants the gold to change his life and be able to take care of his son. Mendelsohn always plays a good shifty character and McNairy is a good weasel type character. I don’t know how I had never seen this before. State of Play is an underrated drama starring Russell Crowe, Ben Affleck, Helen Mirren, Rachel McAdams and more. Affleck is an up and coming congressman who is trying to take down a contracted company doing work in Iraq and Afghanistan. When his assistant dies at a train station, different versions of the truth come out. Crowe plays Affleck’s friend and journalist trying to uncover the story along with McAdams. This movie is like 14 years old and shows how corrupted the media and government are even back then. I always thought it was an underrated flick and hadn’t seen it in a while so I enjoyed the rewatch. It has a great cast for a film that flies under the radar. Give it a watch.
Last we have God’s Country Song. Have we seen this movie a million times before? Yes. Is it just like every other faith based film? Also yes. It’s about an up and coming country singer who finds out he has a son from a woman he barely remembers. She passes and he must take custody of the kid, but he still wants to live that country singing life. He goes out touring, drinking, getting into fights. His parents are there to help, but have their doubts as does the social worker of the child. But of course you know things will change, his heart will grow and he’ll eventually be their for the son. I’m not the target audience for these types of films, but they are family-friendly and those who enjoy them will like the music and the little boy is pretty funny and cute. You’ll fall for him while the dad does too.
The Nerds Templar 