Going Back: The 5 Best Tom Cruise Movies Since 2000

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October 13, 2016

Ever since making his big-screen debut in 1981 romance Endless Love, Tom Cruise has appeared in nearly 40 films ranging from blockbuster fare like the Mission: Impossible franchise to Oscar-caliber dramas like Magnolia and Born on the Fourth of July. What’s most impressive, however, is that Cruise has maintained a pretty solid track record of successful projects. Rarely has he headlined a box office disaster, and even films that aren’t widely praised (e.g., Vanila Sky, Legend) often go on to develop cult following. Since 2000 in particular, Cruise has been on a roll. As he reprises the title role in his new action thriller Jack Reacher: Never Go Back, let’s go back in time and revisit the best films Cruise has appeared in recent years. For the record, we’re only including one entry per franchise. So fans hoping to see multiple Mission: Impossible entries on here will be sorely disappointed.

5. Edge of Tomorrow (2014)

Call it Edge of Tomorrw, Live Die Repeat or some combination of the two, but this sci-fi action thriller — based on the 2004 Hiroshi Sakurazaka light novel All You Need is Kill — is a blast to watch. Cruise plays against type as a sniveling military public relations officer who winds up trapped repeating the same day over and over after a battlefield encounter with an invading alien race. Emily Blunt also shines as the war hero who whips Cruise’s character into fighting shape. We can only hope that the discussed sequel eventually pans out.

4. Tropic Thunder (2008)

In an uncredited role as a ruthless studio executive, Cruise was unrecognizable and hilarious in this Ben Stiller-directed Hollywood satire. Still smarting from the image problems caused in part by his couch-hopping appearance on Oprah, Cruise’s delightfully profane, over-the-top performance here won audiences over so thoroughly that a spinoff film was once being considered for his character. We’ll never hear Flo Rida’s “Low” without thinking of Cruise’s Les Grossman now.

3. Mission: Impossible — Ghost Protocol (2011)

Over the past 20 years, Cruise — driven perhaps by his ambition to perform his own increasingly dangerous stunt — has continued to keep the Mission: Impossible franchise afloat. Following the tepid critical response to the second film and the underwhelming financial performance of the third, this fourth entry in the series reinvigorated the franchise and proved to be one of the biggest hits of Cruise’s career. Moreover, director Brad Bird (making his live-action debut) infuses such a high energy and visually striking spectacle into the adventure that it still stands as arguably the best of the Mission: Impossible films to date.

2. Minority Report (2002)

Cruise’s 2005 collaboration with director Steven Spielberg, the duo’s remake of War of the Worlds, may have its critics, but this other sci-fi thriller is widely regarded among the best films that either has ever made. Set in a 2054 wherein law enforcement uses precognition to prevent crimes before they happen, the film flawlessly marries elements of film noir, murder mystery and sci-fi cautionary tale. It’s also one of the best films ever made to be based on the work of influential novelist Philip K. Dick, whose writing also inspired Total Recall, Blade Runner and A Scanner Darkly. Cruise is perfect in the role, emotionally grounding his deeply damaged hero and delivering one of the best performances of his career.

1. Collateral (2004)

Few actors embody the archetype of Hollywood leading man more than Cruise. So it may come as a surprise that our top pick sees him as a philosophical hitman who forces a Los Angeles cab driver (Jamie Foxx) to drive him from one target to the next over the course of a single night. Gorgeously shot and dripping with symbolic imagery, the film — directed by Michael Mann (Heat) — features one of Cruise’s most chilling and charismatic performances ever and earned Foxx an Oscar nod for Best Supporting Actor. A meditative, meaningful thriller sure to keep audiences on their toes, Collateral is easily Cruise’s finest film in quite some time, an endlessly rewatchable entry in his filmography.

What’s your favorite Tom Cruise film released since 2000? Let us know your pick in the comments section below!

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Scarlett Johansson Drops Updates on ‘Black Widow’ Movie

By

Manuel Gomez

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October 13, 2016

Ever since her debut in Iron Man 2 as the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s version of Black Widow, fans have been clamoring for the red-headed super spy to ger her own film. According to ComicBook.com, actor Scarlett Johansson (who has played Natasha Romanova/Black Widow in five films now) touched on the subject in a Variety interview:

I would like for it to happen under the right circumstances. I think there’s a lot of opportunity to mine that story line. She’s got a really rich origins story. There’s a lot of places you can go — you can bring it back to Russia. You could explore the Widow program. There’s all kinds of stuff that you could do with it. You could really uncover the identity of who this person is, where she comes from and where she’s part of.

When asked abut the possible timeline of a solo movie, Johansson had this to say:

There’s plenty of back story. Or not. It could be something else. Where do the Avengers go? They are underground. What happens then? What happens after it all falls apart? There are so many ways you can go. I think it would just have to be very much like its own specific thing. It would have to have its own specific vibe. It would have been totally different than any of the other standalone films. I think if the fans wanted it enough, then it would probably become a reality. I talk to them about it often. It would have to fit in the idea of where they want to go. I’m invested in that character. Marvel is greatly invested in that character. If I did it, I’d have to do it while I still actually wanted to wear a skin-tight catsuit. I don’t know how much longer that’s going to be.

The upcoming scheduled movies for the MCU are: Doctor Strange on November 4, 2016, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 on May 5, 2017, Spider-Man: Homecomin on July 7, 2017, Thor: Ragnarok on November 3, 2017, Black Panther on February 16, 2018, Avengers: Infinity War on May 4, 2018, Ant-Man and the Wasp on July 6, 2018; Captain Marvel on March 8, 2019.

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Beyond Wolverine: 5 Must-See Hugh Jackman Movies

By

Robert Yaniz Jr.

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October 13, 2016

We live in a golden age of superhero films. While fans may argue over whether the Marvel Cinematic Universe or the DC Extended Universe is superior, there’s such a wide array of comic book-based features out there that most moviegoers have no trouble finding something that fits their taste. While this modern explosion of superheroes can be traced back to the 1998 release of Blade, most credit Bryan Singer’s X-Men for really helping to re-popularize the genre after films like Batman & Robin caused it to falter. That film also launched the career of Hugh Jackman into the stratosphere.

The then mostly-unknown Australian actor has since appeared in eight of the 9 X-Men films Fox has released over the years (and, really, he sort of showed up in Deadpool anyway). As a result, he is just as synonymous with the role of Wolverine as Robert Downey Jr. is with Iron Man. With recent news revealing that Jackman’s final appearance as the adamantium-clawed mutant has been titled simply Logan, we look back at some of the other memorable roles the actor has taken on.

5. The Fountain (2006)

Although some cinephiles hold this Darren Aronofsky film in high regard, its divisive status among other moviegoers pushes it to the last spot on our top five. An ambitious narrative unites three different storylines separated by time, all of which star Jackman and co-star Rachel Weisz. The film uses Aronofsky’s distinct visual style to delve meaningful themes of love and mortality. While The Fountain was a box office flop, it has since developed a cult following and demonstrates Jackman’s impressive range.

4. Eddie the Eagle (2016)

Inspirational sports dramas are a known crowd-pleaser, but this charmer from director Dexter Fletcher rises above other recent additions to the genre, thanks to winning performances by Taron Egerton and Jackman. The story follows real-life skier Eddie Edwards (Egerton), who represented Great Britain in the 1988 Olympic Games. Jackman shines as Eddie’s alcoholic coach, and together the two leads elevate what could have been a pretty standard biopic.

3. Les Misérables (2012)

Based on the timeless stage musical, this Tom Hooper-directed film earned Jackman his first (and, so far, only) Academy Award nomination. As the morally conflicted fugitive Jean Valjean, Jackman hits all the right notes, both musically and emotionally. The actor commits every bit of his physicality to the role and proves that his 2004 Tony win for The Boy from Oz was no fluke. While the film may be dire, Jackman has rarely been better than this.

2. Prisoners (2013)

Talk about a harrowing experience. This thriller follows an ensemble cast — including Jackman, Jake Gyllenhaal, Viola Davis, Maria Bello and Terrence Howard — as they grapple with the abduction of two young girls. As the father of one of the missing kids, Jackman is raw, fierce and a force to be reckoned with. Moreover, director Denis Villeneuve (Sicario) demonstrates a slick command of the story and its characters. How this thematically rich film didn’t earn more than simply a Best Cinematography Oscar nomination is beyond comprehension.

1. The Prestige (2006)

As a pair of feuding magicians, Jackman and co-star Christian Bale dig deep into obsession and the dangerous places men will go to when they’re hell-bent on winning. Director Christopher Nolan transforms the Christopher Priest novel into a thrilling period piece that features one of the most memorable twists in recent memory. Jackman too taps into a quiet intensity and simmering darkness that easily makes The Prestige one of his most popular non-superhero films.

What’s your favorite non-Wolverine film that Hugh Jackman has starred in? Share your pick in the comments section below!

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‘Rogue One: A Star Wars Story’ Trailer #2 Released

By

Aric Sweeny

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October 13, 2016

Lucasfilm has officially released the second trailer for Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, via their Youtube page. Check it out below.

“From Lucasfilm comes the first of the Star Wars standalone films, ‘Rogue One: A Star Wars Story,’ an all-new epic adventure. In a time of conflict, a group of unlikely heroes band together on a mission to steal the plans to the Death Star, the Empire’s ultimate weapon of destruction. This key event in the Star Wars timeline brings together ordinary people who choose to do extraordinary things, and in doing so, become part of something greater than themselves.”

‘Rogue One: A Star Wars Story’ is directed by Gareth Edwards, and stars Felicity Jones, Diego Luna, Ben Mendelsohn, Donnie Yen (IP Man), Jiang Wen, Forest Whitaker, Mads Mikkelsen of Hannibal fame, Alan Tudyk (as a motion capture character), and Riz Ahmed.

The film is a prequel to the original 1977 Star Wars, dealing with rebel efforts to convey Death Star blueprints to Leia Organa. The screenplay is by Chris Weitz, and the film is due in theaters on December 16.

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An Open Letter To Vendors In Role-Playing Game Worlds

By

Ruben Diaz

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October 13, 2016

Dear Vendors in RPGs,

You might recognize me. I’m the one everyone is talking about. I’m the one who is destined to save your entire existence by learning a great lesson and defeating an even greater evil. It was probably a prophecy that foretold my arrival or just word of mouth of my sheer awesome. If it helps, the entire plot revolves around me. Now remember?

I appreciate how you appreciate that I’m brave enough to take on pure evil to save you. I do it for the love of button-mashing, uh, I mean smiting evil! So, is it still necessary to charge me 100 gold pieces for that sword? I kind of need it, you know, to save your sorry behind from being enslaved by whatever mysterious uber-villain comes for us all.

Listen, vendors, I understand capitalism.

I understand profit margins and that you have mouths to feed. But I counter that with the fact that if not for me there would be no mouths left to feed. Mr. Uber-Villain is not going to give you brownie points for making it harder on me. Mr. Uber-Villain is going to eat your soul or enslave you or do some other imaginative apocalyptic thing.

The point is, I need that sword, and you need money. But we BOTH need a relatively peaceful world that’s not tormented by the psychotic tyrant but by an experienced, albeit uninspiring, leader. So, how about you give me the sword, and I’ll earn some money. I’ll bring the gold to you and even though I’m now a level higher and have a new power capable of incinerating you, I will refrain from using it on you because I’m the force for good. But right now, keeping me from that sword keeps me from my destiny, and that’s leaning you, Mr. Shoppe Keep, towards being a part of the problem, not the solution.

Is that a threat? Yes! But not one I can follow through on since the programmers of this game don’t let me kill NPCs.

Do you take BitCoin?

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Review: ‘Scooby Apocalypse’ #6: Survival By Flashback

By

Anthony Wendel

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October 12, 2016

Scooby and the gang are under siege! While the minutes tick by as they await the next wave of monsters, Velma does some soul-searching…which leads to some stunning revelations! You’ll never look at her the same again!

Writing

The concept of Scooby Apocalypse was met with cautious optimism and the hope that something good would truly come out of such an extreme take on such familiar characters. Unfortunately, the first few issues seemed to move at a snail’s pace, and didn’t deliver the action and storytelling necessary to truly sell people on the idea. This issue is able to make a turn in the right direction by finally delivering something the book was truly missing: heart.

Despite the fact that these characters are so well known, they needed to be reintroduced in a way which fans would be able to truly empathize and connect with them. By finally taking the time to look at Velma, a character who is responsible for the current state of the world, and showcase what led her up to her own current state really helps to finally make the connection necessary which will make the readers want to know more. Writers J.M. DeMatteis and Keith Giffen need to make sure to look at what they did in this issue and keep up with level of improvement from here on out. If they do, they may just have something truly impressive on their hands.

Artwork

Taking a step away from the darker images they used for the apocalypse, the art team of Howard Porter and Wellinton Alves use a much softer tone with the flashback. Though not as detailed as some of the action scenes in the past, the focus instead becomes on character moments which are made just as effective through the art they use. A perfect example of less is more when trying to tell a story visually.

Conclusion

This issue showcases that the series is just getting started with its story, and those who dropped off too soon will regret not sticking around for such a fantastic issue. This is the first must read issue of this series and with any luck it won’t be the last. Now fans just have to hope the team is able to get out of the grocery story they have been in for the last three issues.

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‘Supergirl’: Jimmy Olsen Suits Up As The Guardian In New Photo

By

Aric Sweeny

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October 12, 2016

Coming off the announcement that Jimmy Olsen will be suiting up as Guardian in season two of Supergirl, The CW has released the first official image of the character, via Heroic Hollywood.

The Guardian is a classic DC Comics character created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby in 1942. Rivaling Marvel’s Captain America, the character has reached peak physical human condition, and uses an indestructable shield to fight crime.

Jimmy Olsen has never dawned the Guardian mantle in the comics, which shows that the series isn’t afraid to stray from its source material.

“The Last Children of Krypton”— (8:00-9:00 p.m. ET) (Content Rating TBD) (HDTV)

IAN GOMEZ STARS AS SNAPPER CARR — CADMUS attacks National City with a kryptonite powered villain who ends up seriously hurting Supergirl (Melissa Benoist). Superman (guest star Tyler Hoechlin) blames Hank (David Harewood) because the kryptonite was stolen from the DEO. Meanwhile, Kara’s first day at her new job doesn’t go as planned after she meets her new boss, Snapper Carr (guest star Ian Gomez). Glen Winter directed the episode written by Robert Rovner & Caitlin Parrish (#202). Original airdate 10/17/2016.”

Supergirl airs every Monday at 8/7c on The CW.

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Star Wars: New ‘Rogue One’ Poster Released, Trailer Thursday

By

Ashley Carter

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October 12, 2016

Lucasfilm has released a new official poster for Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.

The film’s director Gareth Edwards revealed the poster on The Star Wars Show.

It was later posted to the official Star Wars Twitter account.

New #RogueOne poster revealed by Director Gareth Edwards, as seen on The #StarWarsShow today. Plus, see the new trailer tomorrow morning! pic.twitter.com/qFsMYp2NdG

— Star Wars (@starwars) October 12, 2016

Also part of the announcement, fans will be treated to a new and final trailer, which drops Thursday morning.

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story hits theaters December 16.

Source: The Star War Show

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‘The Accountant’ Review: Rollercoaster Of Emotions Wrapped In Violence

By

EJ Moreno

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October 12, 2016

You Know ‘The Accountant’ Is Good When My Only Complaints Is There Needs To Be More Of It.

I wouldn’t say I had low expectations for ‘The Accountant‘ but it was more so, I didn’t know what to expect. The marketing makes it seem like ‘John Wick‘ meets ‘Rain Man‘ and the movie delivers just that. Blending the action choreography of recent movies with a near manic level of brilliance makes for a great time at the theater.

To put the plot simply, the movie is about a math savant with high-functioning autism who makes his money as an accountant for dangerous criminals. He is a wizard at going through months and years of books and figuring out any financial problem you can think of. This socially awkward dude and mathematical genius is also a very deadly assassin.

When Christian Wolff (Ben Affleck) takes on a seemingly simple case for a robotic prosthetics company, our complex math wiz finds himself in a mess he must get himself out of but he also HAS to finish this case. Along the way, Wolff meets a girl with a great mind for math named Dana Cummings (Anna Kendrick). He fights to protect her and figure out what is happening by using any means. There is also a hit-man going after them named Brax (Jon Bernthal) and a Treasury agent investigating Christian Wolff.

“Calculate your choices.”

All of these moving parts blend well together. It’s Bill Dubuque’s screenplay and the fluid directing of Gavin O’Connor (‘Miracle‘, ‘Warrior‘) that makes the film feel whole.

The most outstanding thing about ‘The Accountant‘ has to be the titular character. Ben Affleck brings to life the tics and manic moments of Christian Wolff with beautiful realism. Introducing the viewer to his routine early helped establish what kind of man he was. The experience we then see him go through is much more deserving because of it. Affleck’s character is so blunt it stings at times. There’s so many cringe-worthy moments but then, he is beating someone to death with a belt and you’re in shock. The harmony created with all the film’s tones is refreshing.

The only thing I could have had more of were the action set pieces. I know that less is more for some, but I’m a child of excess. When something is so stunning like the fights and action sequences in this movie, there needs to be more of it. Whether if it a martial arts flashback or a present-day ass kicking shoot-out, there’s some real solid fights. There’s some reminiscences to ‘John Wick‘ but it also has the realism of the first ‘Bourne’ film. You can see the influence of the Indonesian martial art form Pencak Silat. It’s known for being a full body fighting style and also based deeply in the psychology of fighting. That analytical fighting fit the neurodevelopmental disorder of Ben Affleck’s Christian Wolff perfectly.

Young Christian’s Father: Can our son lead a normal life?
Neurologist: Define normal.

Going into the film, there was a few things I honestly thought would take away from the movie. The Treasury agent story seemed unnecessary and Anna Kendrick’s levity would take away from the piece. How wrong I was when she ended up playing the straight man to the hilariously awkward Affleck. Also, the agent plot featuring the talented J.K. Simmons wasn’t really needed but it did add an extra layer to the film. If we took away some of that and focused it towards some the family problems with Christian Wolff, it may have vaulted to another cinematic level. Like I said, when there is something so good…give me more of it.

And when the credits wrapped, I was left wondering if the third act “twist” was meant to be a twist at all. With something so obviously spelled out for you but never confirmed till the last minute, why was it even there in the first place?

Final Thoughts:

‘The Accountant‘ is one of the best films of the year. Ben Affleck has seen this amazing career renaissance since ‘Argo‘ and it doesn’t seem to stop here. While 2016 isn’t known for having the best blockbuster movies, Affleck has had great performances out of two major movies this year.

Everything is fleshed out enough to tell a complete story. Enough questions were answered but nothing was wrapped up in a pretty bow. For having such fun moments, there is a darkness to this film that makes it a bit different.

Go see ‘The Accountant‘ in theaters October 14th, 2016! Starring Ben Affleck, Anna Kendrick, J.K. Simmons, Jon Bernthal, and Cynthia Addai-Robinson.

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Darren Aronofsky Drops Cryptic Clues About His New Film with Jennifer Lawrence

By

Larry Taylor - Managing Editor

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October 12, 2016

It’s been just over two and a half years since Darren Aronofsky’s Noah was released. In other words, it’s been too long since Darren Aronofsky released a film.

He’s had projects come and go, most notably that Evel Knievel drama with Channing Tatum that fizzled out. But now, finally, it seems Aronofsky’s latest project, starring Jennifer Lawrence, Javier Bardem, Domhnall Gleeson and Michelle Pfeiffer(!), is going to happen. In fact, he recently wrapped filming, though there is no title or release date set.

Aronofsky spoke at a Master Class at the Reykjavik Film Festival, and he discussed a number of things, most notably this upcoming mystery movie. First and maybe most interesting/disheartening is the fact Clint Mansell, who’s scored all of his movies to this point, won’t be scoring this one. That’s a bummer. On the plus side, Mansell is being replaced by Johan Johannsson, whose Sicario score was one of the best of 2015.

This new film will also have some special effects of some sort, as he had to switch from 16mm to digital to incorporate said effects. As for the plot, Aronofsky didn’t give any details. He did have this to say:

“When it came to ‘Noah,’ there was this clear environmental statement in the original gospel, which was interesting to push forward. My latest project probably has similar political intentions behind it, but first and foremost responsibility as a narrative filmmaker is making something that is emotional and can connect with an audience.”

Clearly the environment has taken center stage in Darren Aronofsky’s life, and he is intent on sharing his feelings on the issue in his work. It worked in Noah, at least it did to me. The film may have ruffled feathers in some circles, but changing Noah into an environmentalist felt right. It worked.

Stay tuned for updates on this latest film.

Source: ScreenCrush

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5. Edge of Tomorrow (2014)

4. Tropic Thunder (2008)

3. Mission: Impossible — Ghost Protocol (2011)

2. Minority Report (2002)

1. Collateral (2004)

5. The Fountain (2006)

4. Eddie the Eagle (2016)

3. Les Misérables (2012)

2. Prisoners (2013)

1. The Prestige (2006)

Listen, vendors, I understand capitalism.

Writing

Artwork

Conclusion

You Know ‘The Accountant’ Is Good When My Only Complaints Is There Needs To Be More Of It.

“Calculate your choices.”

Young Christian’s Father: Can our son lead a normal life? Neurologist: Define normal.

Final Thoughts:

Young Christian’s Father: Can our son lead a normal life?
Neurologist: Define normal.