Latest news with #ArmyofThieves
The Hindu
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
‘The Four Seasons' series review: Food, friends and Vivaldi
After watching Matthias Schweighöfer's Army of Thieves and obsessively listening to Wagner's Ring cycle operas (Colin Dexter's Inspector Morse also contributed to a fascination with the German composer), The Four Seasonshas prompted a passion for Vivaldi's violin concerti celebrating spring, summer, autumn and winter. Based on the eponymous 1981 movie, The Four Seasons, which Tina Fey adapted with Lang Fisher and Tracey Wigfield, while not laugh-out-loud funny all the time, has enough going for it to elicit warm smiles as we recognise ourselves or friends in the couples on screen. Three couples — Kate (Fey) and Jack (Will Forte), Claude (Marco Calvani) and Danny (Colman Domingo), and Anne (Kerri Kenney-Silver) and Nick (Steve Carell) — go on vacation four times a year. In spring, they go to Nick and Anne's lakeside cottage to celebrate the couple's 25th wedding anniversary, only to learn to their horror that while Anne has planned a surprise party to renew their vows, Nick wants to end the marriage as he is not happy with Anne anymore.'We are like co-workers in a nuclear facility,' Nick explains to Danny. Once Nick and Anne have separated, Nick brings his much younger girlfriend, Ginny (Erika Henningsen), to the vacations, upsetting the group dynamic. The others are not willing to give Ginny a chance, out of a sense of loyalty to Anne. Ginny also does not do herself many favours, choosing a decidedly uncomfortable 'eco-friendly' resort for the group's summer vacation. The Four Seasons (English) Creators: Tina Fey, Lang Fisher, Tracey Wigfield Cast: Tina Fey, Will Forte, Kerri Kenney-Silver, Marco Calvani, Erika Henningsen, Colman Domingo, Steve Carell Episodes: 8 Runtime: 27–35 minutes Storyline: Three couples who have been friends for the longest time meet to unpack laughter, grief, loss and love over four seasons Ginny acts much younger than her 32 years, more like she and her friends are 20-something flower children, but never mind. Awkwardness abounds during autumn break when both Anne and Ginny land up for a family weekend at Anne and Nick's daughter Lila's (Julia Lester) school. Kate and Jack's daughter, Beth (Ashlyn Maddox), also goes there. Things take a turn for the worse during Lila's play which reveals exactly what she thinks of Ginny and her father. Winter sees Nick celebrating New Year's Eve with Ginny's friends, who are mostly sober and vegan, while Anne joins the group with Terry (Toby Huss), whom she is dating. Through the seasonal vacations, the friends and couples get into fights, apologise and are there for each other. Even the fact that the jokes do not come thick and fast is reassuring, as not everyone can be 'on' all the time and makes Danny telling Kate 'why is your face so loud' that much more funny. The funeral, the stripper-shoe-shaped urn, the sea urchin bite, the heart surgery and The Burning Man sand goggles all come together for eight half-hour episodes of frothy fun. These are people one can happily spend time together, giggling and tearing up in equal measure. And there is Vivaldi and Vampire Weekend, or Terry's truly dreadful rendition of 'Candle in the Wind' and the friends' reaction, to sweeten the deal. The Four Seasons is currently streaming on Netflix
Daily Record
03-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Netflix movie 'works perfectly' despite huge stumbling block
Zack Snyder's Army of the Dead has been entertaining Netflix viewers since its release in May but some have raised a few issues with the movie before its sequel Army of Thieves Zack Snyder, known for his work on Watchmen, Man of Steel, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, and Justice League, showcased his cinematic prowess on Netflix with the 2021 post-apocalyptic feature. Army of the Dead is a zombie heist movie boasting a stellar cast that has kept audiences riveted. A critic on Rotten Tomatoes described the film as an "unusual creation," but found that it surprisingly comes together well for them. Their review read: "Very unusual production. The director plays with many motifs and genres here, creating a very unusual creation that, despite its quirks, works perfectly, not only laying the foundations for a new universe well but also introducing a lot of threads that will provide food for all theory fans. Time loop? Aliens? It's all here." Set against the backdrop of a Las Vegas now desolate and swarming with zombies due to a catastrophic government failure, the plot unfolds. A wealthy casino owner has millions stashed in a vault, and a band of mercenaries possesses the necessary skills to recover it. Risking it all, they embark on a perilous journey into the infested territory, aiming to execute an audacious financial heist. They are enticed by the billionaire's irresistible offer to retrieve the cash before the US president executes a plan to obliterate the city overrun by zombies, reports the Mirror US. A critic said: "Zack Snyder's ridiculously entertaining latest is a zombie heist movie with gore at its core." Meanwhile, one cinema-goer conceded the film was "not great," but confessed they still had "a lot of fun." Despite a brief stint in US cinemas, coinciding with its digital debut on Netflix, 'Army of the Dead' clinched victory in the Oscars Fan Favorite contest at the 94th Academy Awards. During that fleeting theatrical exposure, the movie pocketed $1 million at the box office. "A thrilling cinematic experience that brilliantly blends action, horror, and a touch of dark humor" is how one review described Army of the Dead. The spectacle reputedly holds viewers riveted, meticulously engineering each segment for peak engagement. Bautista's portrayal drew particular praise: "David Bautista's performance is nothing short of extraordinary; he brings a deep, emotional complexity to his character that adds a surprising layer of depth to the film." The ensemble cast includes talents like ex-WWE star David Bautista, Omari Hardwick, 'Yellowjackets' star Ella Purnell, Theo Rossi, among others. However, one cast member didn't make it to the final cut – Chris D'Elia was erased using green screens and CGI following sexual misconduct allegations against him. While many lauded the performances across the board, some were less than thrilled. A viewer critiqued: "The worst roster of characters I've seen in a zombie movie, and probably the worst writing." A separate reviewer said: "Great zombie flick; the opening sequence alone was top-tier, over-the-top entertainment. The movie was flashy, had a great cast, and had a great story. So many questions that I just can't wait for them to be answered." They added: "Lots of crazy things you will spot after re-watching multiple times. Zack set a good foundation for a hopeful franchise to take off". Those seeking a no-fuss, adrenaline-fuelled zombie film can currently stream Army of the Dead on Netflix.
Time of India
22-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Brick OTT Release Date: When and where to watch Matthias Schweighöfer and Ruby O. Fee's horror thriller film
Brick OTT Release Date: Imagine waking up one day and finding your entire apartment building sealed off by a strange brick wall - no way out, no answers, and rising panic. This is the chilling setup of Brick, Netflix's upcoming German horror-thriller starring Matthias Schweighöfer (Army of Thieves, The Breakup Man) and Ruby O. Fee (Polar, The Invisibles), set to premiere globally on Netflix on July 10, 2025. A simple apartment turns into a nightmare Brick follows the story of Tim Arnovsky (played by Schweighöfer) and Olivia Neill (played by Ruby O. Fee), a couple living an ordinary life until the day their apartment building becomes trapped by a mysterious, impenetrable brick wall. With no explanation and nowhere to run, they're forced to join hands with their neighbours to try and make sense of the bizarre situation and escape. The plot is tense, eerie, and layered with suspense. As fear sets in and trust begins to crumble among the residents, the film explores themes of isolation, human instinct, and survival. Meet the cast and crew of Brick The man behind Brick is Philip Koch, known for his previous work on Netflix's Tribes of Europa and Sixty Minutes. Brick is his third Netflix Original project, and he not only wrote and directed it but also co-produced the film. According to Koch, the film is designed to be 'a psychological pressure cooker,' exploring how quickly normal people can unravel under extreme conditions. Other than Matthias as Tim and Ruby O. Fee as Olivia, the film also stars Frederick Lau (Victoria, The Wave) as Gael, Salber Lee Williams (Ghost Island) as Ana, Sira-Anna Faal (Druck) as Lea, Murathan Muslu (Cracks in Concrete) as Yuri, Alexander Beyer (Good Bye Lenin!) as Friedman, Axel Werner as Oswalt and Josef Berousek among others. Alexander Fischerkoesen has cinematographed it alongside Anna Drubich, composing the haunting score, and Theresia Anna Ficus managing the production. Brick is produced by Philip Koch, Quirin Berg, Max Wiedemann, Benjamin Munz, and Katrin Götter. It's backed by Nocturna Productions and W&B Television, with casting done by Iris Baumüller.
