Leon: The Professional Sony Pictures 4K
Jean Reno, Natalie Portman. Directed by Luc Besson. 1994
A corrupt Drug Enforcement Administration boss and his thugs murder Mathilda's family in a drug deal gone awry. Orphaned by the massacre, Mathilda is forced to take shelter in the apartment of a neighbor, Léon, whom she knows only slightly. He's a loner and first generation immigrant, who also happens to be a professional hitman.

I've always thought that "The Professional" was a terrific Action Film and a wonderful follow-up to "La Femme Nikita". However, this might just be my first time watching the extended cut. Luc Besson reportedly considers the original Theatrical release his "Director's Cut" and that the "European Cut" is just a longer version. It includes scenes he intended to be in the film but were rejected by test audiences. For my part, I think it adds some depth and breathing room to the film without slowing it down in the slightest.

"The Professional" was blessed to have Jean Reno early in his career, before he played similar roles in what seems like hundreds of Thrillers. Of course, it's Natalie Portman who has the pivotal role of "Mathilda" and brings the magic that makes this film work and is able to overcome some of the ick! that comes with it. The film also has a magnificently agitated performance from Gary Oldman as the villainous Norman Stansfield, and his off-the-wall reading of "Everyone!" is one of those references my friends and I have traded for years.

The only problem with the film is that there are some scenes between Portman and Reno that are so damned French they make watching the film uncomfortable.

1966. Not as bad as everyone says it is. Has good atmosphere.

1964. First saw this when I was 6 years old at the movies. Seen it numerous times since. I'm getting up there, may be the last time. The Twilight Time blu-ray is first rate. Awesome picture with DTS 5.1 audio.

I think that was the first role where Jeremy Renner stood out early in his career and he was a massive prick in that movie the character and not him personally.

Maybe Carlito should have watched Regarding Henry and you don't mess with John Leguizamo since he has murdered several people in movies and on Miami Vice too

I'm still waiting for DWilson's Devil Wears Prada 2 review

Expect it to be fashionably late.

I was never a fan of "Cheech and Chong" and have never watched their movies. I do know their signature bits, though. However, I do love Entertainment Documentaries, and "Last Movie" is a good one. It was a lot more straight-forward than I expected it to be. It seemed very concerned with establishing Tommy Chong's creative legacy as the brains of the outfit, though Cheech Marin makes a case for being overlooked for his own contributions.

I was surprised at the extensive "Origin Story" leading up to the formation of the duo, as all that was news to me. I was also surprised that it clearly addressed their (apparently ongoing) beefs, even though they are still friends. The film ends with Cheech doing "Born in East LA", which essentially broke up the group, and I kind of wished it had gone on a bit longer. 120 episodes of "Nash Bridges" and not even a mention.

Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey (Disney) w the grandkids. We had to get them something quality to watch instead of the crap they have today.

Dinner for Schmucks - Somewhat of a stinker, but some parts were amusing

Executive Decision

So for the last couple of weeks instead of choosing my own films to watch I've just been watching through the films on the Criterion Channel that are "leaving soon". Going into them blindly if I hadn't seen them before and so far I've seen a few gems like Ball of Fire & All That Heavens Allows. But today the Criterion gods decided to curse me with an absolutely horrid film called The Million Dollar Hotel. I had never heard of it but saw it was by Wim Wenders a beloved director who I actually had never seen a film by before and wow what a film to start with from him. Every aspect of this movie from the plot, soundtrack, acting and dialogue is abysmal. One of those movies were within the first 5 minutes you can tell you are going to be in for a bad time but I like to see things through and hope for the best but in this case it never came.

I wonder why they left out Nash Bridges or not even a mention unless Cheech did want that to be brought up or some rights or licensing issues.

2025

Amazon Prime

"A Paiute woman enters a Las Vegas casino in 1980, triggering strange happenings. The addicted in-house comedian (Billy Gardell) counsels eccentric patrons and must make a pivotal choice."

Jaina Lee Ortiz and Christopher Titus shows up as a mob boss.

I wanted to like and only 80 minutes. byt regret that I picked it for a Sun night and not something better.

Most of the movie is just showing Gardell playing a slot machine with different characters stopping by and not as dark or intense as I thought it would be.

Amazon Prime


"A gripping psychological drama about a college professor (Julia Roberts) who finds herself at a personal and professional crossroads when a star student (Ayo Edebiri) levels an accusation against one of her colleagues (Andrew Garfield), and a dark secret from her own past threatens to come into the light."

It was ok but not a must see and really long.

The Andrew Garfield character was the only thing that stood out and kept my interest,

2026

"A grieving woman testing her limits in the Australian wilderness is suddenly ensnared in a deadly game with a ruthless predator."

It was ok and passable for Sat night entertainment.

I just wondered why the Taron Egerton character was making bird noises all the time.

Was alright, but I do love me some Sydney Greenstreet and Peter Lorre!

2019

"Moe Diamond is a New York City money launderer who wakes up with no memory and millions of dollars in stolen cash and drugs. He must soon scour the streets in search of answers while trying to dodge a crew of violent and crooked cops."

Fell asleep and took 2 days to complete

I don't think Liam Hemsworth will ever become a thing no matter how hard Hollywood tried to push him.

HBO

I had never seen it before and it was pretty good though a sad ending.

I wish HBO had the rights to Dracula, Frankenstein, and the other Universal Monsters movies since it seems like they are never shown on cable or the streamers.

2023

Amazon Prime

"A loving father (David Strathairn) grapples with how to protect his daughter-in-law (Jane Levy) when he discovers that his son is having an affair. A heart-tugging drama about finding kindred spirits in unexpected places, A Little Prayer is a sensitive and searching portrait of a Southern family from writer-director Angus MacLachlan."

I thought this was pretty good and David Strathairn was greart and one of the more underrated actors and should get his flowers for the consistent great work he has put out over the years.

Shelter Universal Studios Blu-Ray
Jason Statham. Directed by Ric Roman Waugh. 2026
A recluse on a remote Scottish island rescues a girl from the sea, unleashing a perilous sequence of events that culminate in an attack on his home, compelling him to face his turbulent history.

Much like Gerard Butler. Jason Statham seems to turn out a new film every January, and I guess that's working out for them both. It seems fitting that "Shelter" is directed by Ric Roman Waugh, since Waugh (a former Stunt Coordinator) directed Butler in "Angel Has Fallen" and his two "Greenland" film. "Shelter" eventually develops a nice pace, and the stunts, -whether its car chases, gunfights, or hand-to-hand combat, - are slick and effective.

"Shelter" is a story well-told, but, unfortunately, it's a story that has been told hundreds of times and it doesn't add one new thing. Jason Statham is Mason, a former MI6 assassin presumed to be dead. He's hiding from the agency because he refused to take part in some shady operations. He rescues a young, orphaned girl named Jessie during a storm at sea and takes her into his home. Jessie doesn't quite trust this sullen, secretive man but they eventually build a bond. Now the agency has discovered Mason is alive and comes for his scalp (and mind you that's a lot of scalp). Mason has to find a way to get Jessie to safety while fighting off all the resources of MI6. Stathem brings his usual surly charm to the proceedings and he's fun to watch in Action mode.

"Shelter" is a perfectly adequate film. However, it's so familiar that I found my mind drifting to household errands I should have been doing.