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| Rating: About Ratings
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| Opens: 03/20/2026 |
| Running Time: 156 |
| Rated: PG-13 |
| Cast: Ryan Gosling, Sandra HUller, James Ortiz, Lionel Boyce, Travis Jay, Priya Kansara, Milana Vayntrub, Ken Leung, and Annelle Olaleye. |
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| Crew: Directors: Phil Lord and Christopher Miller. Producers: Phil Lord, Christopher Miller, Ryan Gosling, Barrie Hemsley, Ross Jensen, Rachel O'Connor, Amy Pascal, Aditya Sood, Andy Weir, and J. Wheeler White. Executive Producers: Nikki Baida, Sarah Esberg, Drew Goddard, Ken Kao, Lucy Kitada, and Patricia Whitcher. Screenwriters: Drew Goddard and Andy Weir. Music: Daniel Pemberton. Cinematographer: Greig Fraser. |
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REVIEW: "PROJECT HAIL MARY" IS A MISSION THAT ALMOST SOARS
By: Lana K. Wilson-Combs
"Project Hail Mary" has all the ingredients of a gripping sci-fi epic, yet it falls a bit short.
Based on the 2021 bestselling novel of the same name from Bay Area/Davis, California author Andy Weir, this big-screen adaptation from screenwriter Drew Goddard ("Untitled Cloverfield Sequel") and directors Phil Lord ("Artemis" and "Strays") and Christopher Miller (TV's "The Afterparty") aims high with its mix of hard science fiction and character-driven drama.
Yet despite its ambition, the result feels uneven. It's engaging in stretches, but unless you're already familiar with the source material, the film's dense ideas and shifting timeline may leave you feeling, quite literally, a bit lost in space during its indulgent 156-minute runtime.
The story centers on Dr. Ryland Grace, (Gosling), who awakens alone on a spacecraft 12 light years from Earth with no memory of how he got there. As his memories slowly return through flashbacks, we learn that he was a disgraced molecular biologist and middle school teacher.
Earth is facing extinction due to a mysterious microorganism--Astrophage--draining energy from the sun. Grace is soon recruited by the steely government agent Eva Stratt (Sandra Huller, "Anatomy of a Fall"). He becomes a reluctant participant to save humanity in a last-ditch NASA mission: Project Hail Mary.
The film toggles between Grace's present isolation and his past on Earth, where we also meet his crewmates--Commander Yao Li-Jie (Ken Leung, "Superfakes") and Olesya Ilyukhina (former AT&T spokesperson Milana Vayntrub, TV's "Going Dutch")--both of whom are gone by the time he regains consciousness.
There is a quiet poignancy in the way Grace honors them before committing their bodies to space, one of the film's more touching scenes.
Still, something feels slightly off kilter with the movie. Even early character interactions--like Grace's initial dynamic with a security guard named Carl (Lionel Boyce, TV's "The Bear"), don’t quite land with emotional clarity or weight.
But let's be real. What keeps "Project Hail Mary" afloat is Gosling. His natural charm, wit, and understated vulnerability carry much of the story, making even the more convoluted scientific exposition easier to digest.
Whether he's fumbling through fragmented memories or tackling impossible scientific problems, Gosling holds the audience even when the script meanders.
Visually, the film has its moments too, particularly in its depiction of deep space and the sterile isolation of the Hail Mary spacecraft.
Then there's Rocky, the peculiar, faceless, rock-like five-legged alien Grace discovers. At first strange and even off-putting, Rocky (voiced by James Ortiz, "The Woodsman"), gradually becomes one of the film's most endearing elements. By the end, his gentle intelligence and unexpected warmth manage to win you over, adding a much-needed emotional anchor to the story.
"Project Hail Mary" offers an interesting premise, a strong central performance, and flashes of genuine heart, yet never fully comes together.
It's a film that you can admire more than you truly connect with although fans of the novel will likely appreciate it more. For others, it's a decent journey that leaves you with the sense that there's a certain spark missing that would have made it even more memorable.
Editor's Note: Be sure to catch my N2Entertainment.net movie talk segment on the Kitty O'Neal Show Fridays at 5:17 p.m. and 6:47 p.m. on radio station KFBK 93.1 FM and 1530 AM.
Check Out This Trailer For "PROJECT HAIL MARY"
Lana K. Wilson-Combs is a member of the Broadcast Film Critics Association (BFCA), The American... |
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Rated: PG-13
Opens: 03/13/2026
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Rated: PG-13
Opens: 03/13/2026
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Rated: PG
Opens: 03/06/2026
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Rated: R
Opens: 03/06/2026
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Rated: R
Opens: 02/27/2026
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Rated: PG
Opens: 02/13/2026
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OLD SCHOOL VIDEO PICK OF THE MONTH
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Title: SOUNDER
Year Released: 1972
Running Time: 105
Production Company: 20th Century Fox
Director: Martin Ritt
Director of Photography: John A. Alonzo
Screenwriter: Lonne Elder III
Author: Lana K. Wilson-Combs
REVIEW: "SOUNDER"-- A STORY THAT STILL SPEAKS
I remember the first time I saw the movie "Sounder"--back in 1972, when it first came out--at a downtown Los Angeles theater with my older brothers.
I was just a 11-years-old but watching that powerful story unfold on screen left a lasting impression.
I was captivated by the powerful performances of the late, great Cicely Tyson and Paul Winfield,...
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NEW ON DVD
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Title: GHOST TRAIN
Year Released: 2025
Running Time: 94
Production Company: Dimix Studio
Director: Tak Se-woong
Review By: Lana K. Wilson-Combs
"GHOST TRAIN"--A DARK AND BLOODY RIDE
Climb aboard the "Ghost Train," a compact but chilling South Korean horror flick arriving on Digital Feb. 17 from Well Go USA Entertainment.
Directed by Tak Se-woong, ("Devil in the Lake"), the film follows struggling YouTuber Da-kyung (Joo Hyun-young, "The Story of Park's Marriage Contract"), who ventures into the haunted Gwanglim Train Station where there have been disappearances and even ghost sightings. Surely capturing that news will revive her fading channel and perhaps get her boss Woo-jin (Choi Bo-min, "Gory: A Horror Tale") to cut her some slack about her declining viewership.
But Da-Kyung is competing against Hey-jin (Kim Ji-in), a popular beauty influencer who is racking up big numbers including Woo-jin, and Da-Kyung is kind of freaking out.
Da-Kyung soon finds herself listening to the station master's increasingly disturbing tales. They are stories that blur the line between urban legend and terrifying reality.
Structured as a series of eerie vignettes, "Ghost Train" delivers steady suspense, punctuated by bursts of genuinely unsettling imagery.
The anthology format works in its favor, allowing each segment to explore a different flavor of fear, from psychological dread to full-throttle supernatural menace. But be warned: this isn't just a creepy little thriller, it's a bloody one, with graphic moments that are decidedly not for the squeamish.
The special effects are effective, even when the movie occasionally feels uneven. Still, the dark and gory "Ghost Train" maintains enough macabre creativity and unpredictability to keep viewers on edge until the final stop.
(Recommended).
Take A Look At This Trailer For "GHOST TRAIN"
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Title: FRONTIER CRUCIBLE
Year Released: 2025
Running Time: 125
Production Company: Bonfire Legend/ Renegade Ent.
Director: Travis Mills
Review By: Lana K. Wilson-Comb
"FRONTIER CRUCIBLE" BRINGS GRIT, SWAGGER, AND SURPRISING STAR POWER
At a time when studios often shy away from Westerns due to their high production costs, "Frontier Crucible" from Well Go USA Entertainment, rides in as a gritty and welcome surprise.
Directed by Travis Mills (TV's "The Pendragon Cycle: "Rise of the Merlin") and based on Harry Whittington's 1961 novel "Desert Stake-Out", the film delivers a harsher, more unforgiving portrait of the Old West than most modern entries dare to attempt. This isn't a glossy cowboy saga, it's dusty, violent, and morally bleak.
Myles Clohessy (TV's "The Pendragon Cycle: "Rise of the Merlin") anchors the film as Merrick Beckford, a former soldier forced into an uneasy alliance with outlaws to escort desperately needed medical supplies through dangerous Apache territory.
Clohessy--son of stage/TV actor Robert Clohessy, ("Blue Bloods") appears to have studied Clint Eastwood closely. He borrows a page or two from the legend's playbook, adopting the steely stances, deliberate movements, and quiet swagger that defined Eastwood's Western persona. It mostly works, giving the film a familiar but sturdy center.
Mary Stickley, in her big screen debut, proves she's more than just a pretty face, bringing emotional resolve to a role that could have easily been one-note.
And it's always a treat to see William H. Macy, ("The Running Man") put in work. He elevates even this modestly budgeted production with his seasoned gravitas.
Perhaps the most eyebrow-raising presence is Armie Hammer, making a notable return to the screen after time away amid widely publicized allegations that clouded his career. His appearance adds an extra layer of curiosity, and he delivers--as always--a solid supporting turn.
Violent, tense, and unflinchingly raw, "Frontier Crucible" may not reinvent the Western, but it proves the genre still has bite.
(Recommended).
It is currently available On-Demand/Digital/Blu-ray and DVD.
Watch This Trailer For "FRONTIER CRUCIBLE"
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Title: TURA!
Year Released: 2025
Running Time: 105
Production Company: Quiver Productions
Director: Cody Jarrett
Review By: Lana K. Wilson-Combs
FROM SURVIVOR TO SHOWSTOPPER: HOW TURA SANTANA REWROTE HER OWN STORY
Comedian Margaret Cho co-executive produced and narrates this remarkable and unapologetically raw story of Tura Satana, a woman who didn't just survive the odds, she annihilated them.
Tura! is a powerful and unflinching documentary that pulls no punches in telling the life story of Tura Satana, Born Tura Luna Pascual Yamaguchi, a Japanese-American actress, exotic dancer, and pop culture trailblazer who turned her pain into power.
From surviving a brutal gang rape at just nine years old, to being pushed out of her home as a teen and nearly sold into marriage at the age of 13, Tura's life was defined early by cruelty and betrayal. But rather than be crushed by it, she fought back. She trained in martial arts, became a black belt in karate, and vowed that no man would ever hurt her again.
"Tura!" is about survival, of course, but more than that, it's about the refusal to be a victim.
Tura seemed destined for showbiz. Her father was a silent actor in Japanese films, and her mother was a circus performer of Cheyenne and Scots Irish descent.
The film explores Tura's meteoric rise from the underground club scene, where she worked as a dice girl in Illinois and danced burlesque in New Orleans, to the cult status she earned in Russ Meyer's 1965 exploitation classic "Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill!" and director/producer Ted V. Mikels, 1968 sci-fi horror film, "The Astro-Zombies." She wasn’t just playing tough. She was tough. And for an Asian American woman in mid-century America to exude that kind of commanding sexuality and power was unheard of.
The documentary captures her onscreen magnetism and offscreen struggles with equal care, highlighting not only her performances but also the emotional cost of constantly having to fight for respect in an industry and a society that never knew what to do with a woman like her.
Through interviews with filmmaker John Waters, family members, co-stars, and historians, "Tura!" stitches together a complex portrait of a woman who was equal parts myth and flesh. We hear stories of her romantic entanglement with Elvis Presley. He supposedly proposed to Tura, and she turned him down. He insisted she keep the engagement ring. And she did. Tura also had a deep friendship with silent film legend Harold Lloyd.
Audiences experience the chilling accounts of how she tracked down her childhood rapists as an adult, bringing her own version of justice. She was fearless. And yet, the film doesn't shy away from showing the toll it took. There was loneliness, the suicidal lows, the rumors surrounding her violent injuries, and the relentless battles with depression as the industry left her behind.
But what lingers most after the credits roll is her legacy, not just as a cult figure, but as a cultural force. Tura Satana smashed stereotypes and redefined what strength could look like onstage, onscreen, and in life. This documentary doesn't simply celebrate her; it honors her and in such grand and deserving fashion.
With Cho's heartfelt narration, "Tura!" becomes more than a biography. It becomes a rallying cry for women who have had to fight to be seen, heard, and remembered.
Tura wasn't just ahead of her time, she was the time, and finally, the world is catching up. Say her name.
(Highly, Highly Recommended).
Look At This Trailer For "TURA!"
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Title: ROBIN AND THE HOODS
Year Released: 2025
Running Time: 100
Production Company: Future Artists Entertainment/Silver Reel
Director: Phil Hawkins
Review By: Lana K. Wilson-Combs
PLAYTIME GETS SERIOUS IN THE DELIGHTFUL "ROBIN AND THE HOODS"
Director Phil Hawkins ("Prancer: A Christmas Tale"), along with screenwriters Stuart Benson ("The Theory of Everything") and Paul Davidson (TV's "British Rationals"), delivers a lighthearted and whimsical fantasy adventure with "Robin and the Hoods."
Bursting with heart and imagination, the film which debuts on all major digital platforms Aug. 27, follows Robin (Darcy Ewart, "Prancer: A Christmas Tale"), a bright and spirited young girl who leads a tight-knit group of kids known as "The Hoods."
Together, they spend their days in joyful make-believe battles across a wild patch of land they've dubbed "The Kingdom." But they're not the only ones with a claim. Henry, (Eddison Burch, TV's Dreamland) the leader of his loyal crew the Knights, often challenges their rule.
Robin is sharp, fearless, and especially handy with a makeshift bow and arrow. Her clan is just as clever: Amaya (Gloria Ishikawa, in her debut) is fiercely loyal and quick-thinking, never backing down from a fight or a debate.
Glen (Bruno Edgington-Gibson, also debuting) adds a dose of magic as a livestreaming wizard. He is always ready with a spell or a clever trick when it matters most.
The fun and games take a serious turn when a pushy "realtor" named Clipboard (a funny and villainous Naomie Harris, "Black Bag") shows up with big plans to turn their beloved playground into a modern town leisure center. Clipboard pitches the idea to Robin's parents, but the kids see the truth. If the Kingdom disappears, so does their world of adventure.
Desperate to save it, Robin brings their concerns to the town's well-meaning mayor (Mark Williams, "Dream Hacker," "Harry Potter" franchise), who may not be hearing the full story from Clipboard.
Realizing they can't win this battle alone, Robin and the Hoods attempt the unthinkable: joining forces with their rivals, The Knights.
With help from a quirky, vegetarian witch (Gwendoline Christie, TV's "Game of Thrones" "Severance"), the kids set out on a bold mission to protect their treasured land, but the clock is ticking.
(Recommended).
"Robin and the Hoods" begins streaming on Digital platforms Aug. 27.
Watch This Trailer For "ROBIN AND THE HOODS"
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By: Lana K. Wilson-Combs:
"SCENE" AND HEARD BACKSTAGE AT THE 98TH ACADEMY AWARDS
HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA-- It was a glorious night for Paul Thomas Anderson at the 98th Academy Awards on March 15.
His movie "One Battle After Another" won six Oscars, including "Best Picture" and "Best Director" for Anderson.
The film also scored Oscars for "Best Adapted Screenplay," "Best Supporting Actor" (Sean "No Show" Penn), "Best Casting" and "Best Film Editing."
Here is what Anderson had to say to the press backstage at the Dolby Theater.
PAUL THOMAS ANDERSON ("Best Director"/"Best Picture"--"One Battle After Another")
Q: How are you? Congratulations.
A: (Paul Thomas Anderson) This is cool. This is like the Situation Room.
Q: They say that winning "Best Picture" it tells the temper of our times. So how does this one reflect where we are or where we're going in society?
A: I thought we were supposed to be partying. (Laughter). I think that our film obviously has a certain amount of parallels to what's happening in the news every day. So it obviously reflects what's happening in the world. In terms of where it's going I don't know. But I know that the end of our movie is our hero Willow, (Chase Infiniti) heading off to continue to fight against evil forces and, I think, like I said in my speech bring at least common sense and decency back into fashion.
Q: So, it has been dare we say it kind of a diverse Oscars in terms of the spreading the wealth especially in the crafts categories. And I wanted to ask you about some of the craft collaborations because you had such long-standing collaborations,
and how that helps you bring to life a vision especially with source material as complex as a Pynchon novel.
A: Well, I mean, I've been doing this long enough to tell you that the reason I continue to do it is because of the people that I collaborate with. It's probably not very fashionable to say that you don't do it for awards or anything else, but, honest to God, the thing that gets me really excited about making films is collaborating with people. It's now number one you know, on my list. Maybe when you start out you think whatever else you're after, you just want to be in the movies. But as you get older and you do it, the only reason to do it is to be with people.
Q: Some audience conversations around "One Battle after Another" have pointed out the racial politics and the conversations around the portrayal of its black female characters. How do you respond to how people have interpreted and critiqued race in the film?
A: Well, I just know a little bit about that critique. I know that Teyana (Taylor) has talked about it a lot. I know that we have the portrayal of many different characters in particular her character who is so flawed and unfortunately makes decisions that are detrimental to the revolution that she's trying to fight. It's complicated. We always knew that we were trying to make something complicated. We knew that we weren't making something that was heroic, and we needed to lean into that and we needed to own the fact that this woman was suffering not only from postpartum depression, but she had issues of her own that she hadn't really reconciled with. You know, it's a very dangerous thing when you start out and you want to change the world but you start to kind of become selfish. That was our hero in Perfidia.
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By: Lana K. Wilson-Combs:
KATE HAWLEY SCORES OSCAR FOR "BEST COSTUME DESIGN" FOR "FRANKENSTEIN"
HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA-- Kate Hawley spoke with the press backstage at the 98th Academy Awards about winning the Oscar for "Best Costume Design" for "Frankenstein" and her collaboration with visionary filmmaker Guillermo del Toro.
Hawley's film credits include "Pacific Rim," "Crimson Peak" and "Suicide Squad."
Here's what an elated Hawley had to say.
KATE HAWLEY ("Best Costume Design"--"Frankenstein")
Q: Congratulations on the win. This has been such an incredible journey for you and reuniting with Guillermo del Toro. Looking back what does it mean to have gone on the "Frankenstein" journey and what does it mean for you to be standing here today?
A: I think it's representative in some ways, a lot of work, but also in the current world that we're in Guillermo is a big champion of the art and of craft. And so we're all very aware during this journey how important that was to us. You know, he said that he wanted to challenge us all and it really did. And we again thrive when we're challenged. It's like catnip. And to be standing here and being able
to work on this with Guillermo means everything, really. I count myself very, very lucky.
Q: This is such an exciting achievement. What were your biggest influences in crafting these looks?
A: Color was a big part of it in the discussions with Guillermo del Toro. You know, how to elevate it into a heightened melodramatic operatic world. As a designer you're working for your director and you're working for the text, which is, you know, crafted by Guillermo. So, the themes of religious imagery, nature and all its chaos and form those are the things that we focused on and grew and used all those accents of color theory, you know, pattern work. It was part of the palette, but it all served the story in support of the work that we did with Guillermo.
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By: Lana K. Wilson-Combs:
HERE ARE N2ENTERTAINMENT.NET'S TOP 20 MOVIES OF 2025
With 2025 now in the rearview mirror and Awards Season officially underway, it's the perfect time to unveil N2Entertainment.net's Top 20 Movies of 2025.
While several of these standout films are major awards contenders, others may have flown under the radar, but each one delivered memorable performances, compelling storytelling, and pure entertainment value worthy of recognition.
After screening more than 150 films this year, narrowing the list down to just 20 was no easy task, but it's a challenge I always relish. In addition, N2Entertainment.net is also spotlighting our Top Five Animated Films of 2025, celebrating the best in animated storytelling.
Be sure to tune in to the 31st Critics Choice Awards, taking place at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica and airing Jan. 4 on E! and the USA Network. The star-studded evening honoring the year's finest achievements in film and television will once again be hosted by the ever-entertaining Chelsea Handler, and promises plenty of memorable moments. Check out our Critics Choice Awards Preview Feature on the TV Close-Up Section.
N2Entertainment.net will be on the scene bringing you behind-the-scenes coverage, highlights, and all the buzz from the festivities. Follow us on X @combs_Lana, Facebook, and Instagram so you don’t miss a thing.
Now, without further ado, dive into N2Entertainment.net's Top 20 Movies of 2025!
1. "Sinners"
2. "Nuremberg"
3. "Wicked: For Good"
4. "Train Dreams"
5. "Jay Kelly"
6. "Marty Supreme"
7. "Weapons"
8. "Avatar: Fire & Ash"
9. "Mission: Impossible--The Final Reckoning"
10. "Blue Moon"
11. "Dead Man's Wire"
12. "Hamnet"
13. "One Battle After Another"
14. "The Testament of Ann Lee"
15. "Song Sung Blue"
16. "Relay"
17. "The Short Game"
18. "The Lost Bus"
19. "Is This Thing On?"
20. "Bugonia"
TOP FIVE ANIMATED MOVIES OF 2025
1. "David"
2. "Zootopia 2"
3. "The King of Kings"
4. "The Bad Guys 2"
5. "K-Pop Demon Hunters"
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