Shoaib

 Malcolm Washington makes his feature film debut with "The Piano Lesson," a challenging adaptation of the renowned play by August Wilson. Teaming up with a talented cast that includes his brother John David Washington, Samuel L. Jackson, and Danielle Deadwyler, Washington explores themes of inheritance—such as trauma, wealth, and history—offering a compelling depiction of Black heritage in America. The Charles Family holds a treasured heirloom: an upright piano adorned with the faces of their ancestors. This piano was originally taken from their former slave owner, James Sutter (Jay Peterson), with the intention of passing it down through the generations. Fast forward to 1936, during the Great Depression, when Boy Willie (Washington) embarks on a journey from Mississippi to Pennsylvania with his friend Lymon (played by the charming Ray Fisher), aiming to sell the piano to purchase his own piece of land. Blocking his path is his sister Berniece (Deadwyler), the owner of the pi...

 It’s hard to believe that Prince Andrew would agree to such an open-ended interview with the BBC, and even more astonishing that he thought it went well! What kind of mindset leads someone to make statements like “I don’t sweat” and “It was a convenient place to stay,” and then think, “I really nailed that”? We can guess the kind of environment he’s in—the royal bubble, which is quite insulated. Despite this, Prince Andrew has a whole PR team at his disposal. These professionals presumably understand the real world and know how to navigate potential pitfalls. So why did they let this happen? It seems Prince Andrew and his team entered the interview believing it was a smart move, but the outcome was so disastrous that Charlie Proctor, editor-in-chief of Royal Central, likened it to “a plane crashing into an oil tanker, causing a tsunami, triggering a nuclear explosion level bad.” The film “Scoop,” directed by Philip Martin and based on Sam McAlister’s book “Scoops: Behind the Scene...

 Before Judd Apatow dominated the comedy scene with films centered on eternally immature men, there was Peter Farrelly. Alongside his brother Bobby, Farrelly created a range of films that could be charmingly humorous—albeit sometimes inappropriate—such as “Dumb and Dumber” and “There's Something About Mary.” However, his solo venture, “Movie 43,” is often remembered as a notorious disaster. Since then, Farrelly has explored television, won an Oscar for “Green Book,” and tackled the dramatic Vietnam War era in “The Greatest Beer Run Ever.” Now, he has returned to the familiar territory of outdated male-centric comedies with “Ricky Stanicky.” “Ricky Stanicky” comes across as a throwback, but not in a way that evokes fond memories. Instead, it feels like a rehash of overused jokes and clichés, lacking any fresh or clever insights. With Farrelly sharing writing duties with five other writers and two additional contributors credited with the story, it’s hard to pinpoint exactly where th...

 I’m not outright accusing the writers of “Bad Boys: Ride or Die” of relying on A.I., a sensitive topic in Hollywood right now. However, if a computer had crafted this blockbuster sequel, the result might not be very different.  “Ride or Die” serves as a more straightforward continuation of 2020’s “Bad Boys for Life” than many might anticipate. It ticks all the boxes typical of this genre, but it does so in a way that feels disappointingly lackluster, shying away from any fresh or innovative ideas. While it does come alive at times thanks to its energetic visuals and editing, it ultimately lacks the spontaneity and creativity needed, opting instead to play it safe and avoid taking risks. It seems there was a third choice: Ride, Die, or Just Coast. In "Ride or Die," many elements closely reflect those from the previous film, starting with the dizzying drive through Miami that kicks off both stories and culminating in a near-fatal encounter for a cherished character. In the las...

 If you’re lucky enough to attend an early screening of John Krasinski’s new film, “IF,” you may be greeted with a short introduction by the writer/director, asserting that the film is expressly for all the “girl dads” out there. Having now seen it, that much is true: despite its family-friendly brief, “IF” is less for kids than for the adults of kids — the girl dads, if you will — who want something that feels a little more mature than “Minions” but doesn’t scare the kids away. Far from it; it might just bore them to tears. It’s a bold shift for Krasinski, who’s already transitioned from sitcom lead to successful director with the “Quiet Place” series, and yet, looking at the man himself, it makes perfect sense. This is the guy who started a little feel-good news show from his house during the pandemic (that he then sold to ViacomCBS for a presumed truckload of money), after all. He’s the kind of all-American aw-shucks new dad who dipped his toe into the horror genre, and now want...

I travel by air every couple of months, and always think about a single, burning question: What makes for a great airplane movie? Not movies about being on planes. Movies to be watched on planes, making bearable the three or nine hours spent in a tin can, squashed on all sides, munching tiny pretzels and trying not to order yet another gin and tonic. “The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare,” the latest offering from the director Guy Ritchie, is a perfect airplane movie. That is not a compliment, but it’s not exactly a dis. Some movies shouldn’t be watched on planes — slow artful dramas, or movies that demand concentration and good sound (please do not watch “The Zone of Interest” on your next flight). But you’ve got to watch something, and for that, we have movies like this one. Ritchie hasn't always focused on making films centered around airplanes. His earlier works, energetic and irreverent comedies like “Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels” and “Snatch,” were best enjoyed in a l...

 The Toronto International Film Festival has showcased the world premieres of “Unstoppable,” “The Fire Inside,” and director Sydney Freeland’s “Rez Ball,” signaling a strong resurgence of the “inspired by true events” sports drama. Co-written with Sterlin Harjo, co-creator of “Reservation Dogs,” the film draws from the nonfiction book “Canyon Dreams,” which chronicles a season of basketball for the Chuska High School Warriors, a Navajo team that clinches the state championship in New Mexico. From the outset, viewers can anticipate the film's emotional journey, beginning with the introduction of the teammates and their struggles. We first meet Nataanii Jackson (Kusem Goodwind), the star player grappling with the loss of his mother and sister, who were killed by a drunk driver a year prior. Next is his best friend, Jimmy Holiday (Kauchani Bratt, who brings a delightful charm), who juggles a job at a burger restaurant before school to help support his single mother, Gloria (Julia Jone...

 In Tyler Perry's emotionally charged war film "The Six Triple Eight," the subtle moments resonate with a powerful intensity. This film, based on a true story, is Perry's second historical narrative following "A Jazzman’s Blues," and it highlights the experiences of the all-Black 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, who confronted severe racism while serving in World War II. Although the Women’s Army Corps (WACs) has had some representation in cinema, such as in Edward Buzzell’s "Keep Your Powder Dry," the contributions of Black servicewomen have largely been overlooked. This film presents a significant opportunity to share their story, making the flaws in Perry’s portrayal particularly hard to accept. Perry's storytelling often feels disjointed. The film begins in December 1943 in San Pietro, Italy, with a dramatic scene where a white soldier navigates through trenches and charges into a devastated landscape, narrowly escaping the crash ...

 Like many fans of fantasy, J. R. R. Tolkien’s iconic work, The Lord of the Rings, was a significant part of my childhood. Since the third grade, I have immersed myself in the films and books countless times, explored various video game adaptations, and even contributed to the social media campaign for the Prime Video series, The Rings of Power. So, when I learned that Peter Jackson was coming back to Tolkien as a producer for an anime adaptation focusing on the story of Helm Hammerhand, I was absolutely thrilled. Set 200 years prior to the events of The Hobbit, The War of the Rohirrim delves deeper into the lore of Middle-earth found in the appendices of The Return of the King. The story follows Helm (voiced by Brian Cox), the King of Rohan, who inadvertently kills the lord of the Dunlendings during a duel, sparking a bitter blood feud with Wulf (Luca Pasqualino), the lord’s son, whom Helm subsequently exiles. When Wulf returns with a formidable army, the people of Rohan must unit...

 “The Roundup: Punishment” marks the third installment in a series of Korean cop thrillers featuring a massive boxer known as the “monster cop.” However, these films don’t quite deliver the excitement that title implies. Ma Dong-seok, also known as Don Lee, portrays Seok-do, the only consistently memorable character in this episodic action series that kicked off in 2017 with the successful “The Outlaws.” Throughout the previous three films, Seok-do has been seen sending villains flying and breaking through any barriers in his path. After all, what else would you expect from someone who resembles Benjamin Grimm’s distant relative? In 2017, Lee wasn’t as well-known, particularly outside of Asia, which explains the erratic tone of the first two sequels that fluctuated between overly broad police humor and standard crime drama. Each new entry in “The Roundup” series has paradoxically leaned more on Lee’s star power while showcasing less of his talents. In “The Roundup: Punishment,” whi...

  Frédéric Jardin’s “Survive” may not redefine the genre, but originality isn’t the main focus of this entertaining French disaster film. Disaster movies typically adhere to a familiar pattern; you can simply swap out the catastrophe, and the storyline of “Survive” closely resembles that of “Daylight” or “The Poseidon Adventure.” The film maintains a similar level of suspense. It begins in a seemingly idyllic setting, where a family of four is sailing off the coast of Puerto Rico, until they notice unsettling signs: ominous clouds, turbulent waters, and a disrupted internet connection. The family is on a sailing trip to celebrate Ben’s (Lucas Ebel) 13th birthday. His father, Tom (Andreas Pietschmann), is teaching him how to fish while his mother, Julia (Émilie Dequenne), a doctor, relaxes in the calm waters nearby. Suddenly, Tom rescues Julia from drowning as a whirlpool unexpectedly pulls her under. Meanwhile, Ben’s sister Cassie is video chatting with her boyfriend when his feed ...