Author: John Spry

I am a reviewer of films and television at Spryfilm.com and I upload stories to thisissouthtaranaki.com.

Film review: “Solo: A Star Wars Story” (2018)

On By John SpryIn Reviews, UncategorizedLeave a comment

“Solo: A Star Wars Story” (2018) Sci-Fi Running Time: 135 minutes Written by: Jonathan Kasdan & Lawrence Kasdan Directed by: Ron Howard Featuring: Alden Ehrenreich, Woody Harrelson, Emilia Clarke, Donald Glover, Thandie Newton, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Joonas Suotamo, and Paul Bettany Han Solo: "I heard a story about you. I was wondering if it's true." Lando Calrissian: "Everything you've heard about me is true." Was anyone really wanting …

Continue reading Film review: “Solo: A Star Wars Story” (2018)

Film review: “The Bookshop” (2018)

On By John SpryIn Reviews, UncategorizedLeave a comment

"The Bookshop" (2018) Drama Written & Directed by: Isabel Coixet Based on the novel by Penelope Fitzgerald Featuring: Emily Mortimer, Patricia Clarkson and Bill Nighy From the novel:“Courage and endurance are useless if they are never tested.” To say that this movie represents aspects of life that are from a bygone age is an understatement, it is a period …

Continue reading Film review: “The Bookshop” (2018)

Official Trailer Debut: “The Happytime Murders” (2018)

On By John SpryIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

Official Trailer Debut: "The Happytime Murders" (2018) No Sesame. All Street. THE HAPPYTIME MURDERS is a filthy comedy set in the seedy underbelly of Los Angeles where puppets and humans coexist. Two clashing detectives with a shared secret, one human (Melissa McCarthy) and one puppet, are forced to work together again to solve the brutal …

Continue reading Official Trailer Debut: “The Happytime Murders” (2018)

Film review: “The Strangers: Prey at Night ” (2018)

On By John SpryIn Reviews, UncategorizedLeave a comment

“The Strangers: Prey at Night " (2018) Thriller/Horror Running Time: 85 minutes Written by: Bryan Bertino and Ben Ketai Directed by: Johannes Roberts Featuring: Christina Hendricks, Martin Henderson, Bailee Madison and Lewis Pullman Kinsey: "Why are you doing this?" Dollface: "Why not?" Ever since the original home invasion horror “The Strangers” (2008) burst into cinemas it was a completely unusual as well …

Continue reading Film review: “The Strangers: Prey at Night ” (2018)

Official Trailer – “Mile 22” (2018)

On By John SpryIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

Official Trailer - "Mile 22" (2018) An elite American intelligence officer, aided by a top-secret tactical command unit, tries to smuggle a mysterious police officer with sensitive information out of the country. MILE 22 is directed by Peter Berg and stars Mark Wahlberg, Lauren Cohan, Iko Uwais, Ronda Rousey and John Malkovich. MILE 22 releases …

Continue reading Official Trailer – “Mile 22” (2018)

DVD Review: “Molly’s Game”(2017)

On By John SpryIn DVDReviews, UncategorizedLeave a comment

“Molly's Game" (2017) Drama Running Time: 140 minutes Written & Directed by: Aaron Sorkin Featuring:  Jessica Chastain, Idris Elba, Kevin Costner, Michael Cera, Brian d'Arcy James, Chris O'Dowd, Bill Camp, Graham Greene, Claire Rankin, Joe Keery, and Jeremy Strong Molly Bloom: "I’ll be hosting a game in this suite every Tuesday night. The first buy-in, two hundred and fifty thousand." Disappointment is the word that …

Continue reading DVD Review: “Molly’s Game”(2017)

Film review: “Dark Crimes” (2018)

On By John SpryIn Reviews, UncategorizedLeave a comment

“Dark Crimes" (2018) Thriller Running Time: 92 minutes Written by:Jeremy Brock Directed by: Alexandros Avranas Featuring: Jim Carrey, Agata Kulesza, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Kati Outinen, Zbigniew Zamachowski, and Marton Csokas Kozlow: “The river has an end and a beginning.”   There is undoubtedly a dark side to Jim Carrey's professional and personal persona, which has never been fully explored on film, although he …

Continue reading Film review: “Dark Crimes” (2018)

Film review: “Lucky” (2017)

On By John SpryIn NZIFF2017, Reviews, UncategorizedLeave a comment

“Lucky" (2017) Drama Running Time: 90 minutes Written by: Logan Sparks and Drago Sumonja Directed by: John Carroll Lynch Featuring: Harry Dean Stanton, David Lynch, Ron Livingston, Ed Begley Jr. and Tom Skerritt Lucky: "It's all going to go away. You, you, you, you, me, this cigarette, everything... into blackness, the void. And nobody's in …

Continue reading Film review: “Lucky” (2017)

Film review: “Deadpool 2” (2018)

On By John SpryIn Reviews, UncategorizedLeave a comment

"Deadpool 2" (2018) Action Written by: Rhett Reese & Paul Wernick and Ryan Reynolds Directed by: David Leitch Featuring: Ryan Reynolds,  Josh Brolin, Morena Baccarin, Julian Dennison, Zazie Beetz, T.J. Miller, Brianna Hildebrand, and Jack Kesy Deadpool: "Sorry, I’m late. I was rounding up all the gluten in the world and launching it into space where it can’t not hurt us ever again." Here …

Continue reading Film review: “Deadpool 2” (2018)

Streaming review: “Cobra Kai Season One” (2018)

On By John SpryIn streaming, UncategorizedLeave a comment

“Cobra Kai Season One” (2018) Television 10 Episodes Produced by: Jon Hurwitz, Hayden Schlossberg, and Josh Heald Featuring: Ralph Macchio and William Zabka Amanda: "What is going on?" Anthony: "Dad is about to fight this guy." Daniel: "Amanda, just please go inside. This is between me and Sensei Lawrence." Amanda: "Yeah, you two seem to have this pretty …

Continue reading Streaming review: “Cobra Kai Season One” (2018)

Film review: “Bombshell: The Hedy Lamarr Story” (2017)

On By John SpryIn NZIFF2017, Reviews, UncategorizedLeave a comment

“Bombshell: The Hedy Lamarr Story” (2017) Documentary Running Time: 88 minutes Directed by: Alexandra Dean Featuring: Hedy Lamarr, Mel Brooks, Diane Kruger and many others Hedy Lamarr: “People are illogical, unreasonable, and self-centered. Love them anyway. If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives. Do good anyway. If you are successful, …

Continue reading Film review: “Bombshell: The Hedy Lamarr Story” (2017)

Film review: “Game Night” (2018)

On By John SpryIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

“Game Night" (2018) Comedy Running Time: 110  minutes Written by: Mark Perez Directed by: John Francis Daley & Jonathan Goldstein Featuring:   Jason Bateman, Rachel McAdams, Billy Magnussen, Sharon Horgan, Lamorne Morris, Kylie Bunbury, Jesse Plemons, Michael C. Hall and Kyle Chandler Annie: [as Annie is playing with a fake gun, she quotes Pulp Fiction] "Any of you fucking pricks move, I'm gonna execute every motherfucking …

Continue reading Film review: “Game Night” (2018)

New Trailer: “A Simple Favour” (2018)

On By John SpryIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

"A Simple Favour" (2018) A SIMPLE FAVOUR, directed by Paul Feig, centres around Stephanie, a mummy vlogger who seeks to uncover the truth behind her best friend Emily's sudden disappearance from their small town. Stephanie is joined by Emily's husband Sean in this stylish thriller filled with twists and betrayals, secrets and revelations, love and …

Continue reading New Trailer: “A Simple Favour” (2018)

DVD/Blu-ray review: “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” (2017)

On By John SpryIn DVDReviews, UncategorizedLeave a comment

"Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri" (2017) Drama Written & Directed by: Martin McDonagh Featuring: Frances McDormand, Woody Harrelson, Sam Rockwell, John Hawkes and Peter Dinklage Willoughby: "I'd do anything to catch the guy who did it, Mrs. Hayes, but when the DNA don't match no one who's ever been arrested, and when the DNA don't match any other crime nationwide, and …

Continue reading DVD/Blu-ray review: “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” (2017)

New Trailer: “Ant-Man and The Wasp” (2018)

On By John SpryIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

“Ant-Man and The Wasp” (2018) From the Marvel Cinematic Universe comes “Ant-Man and The Wasp,” a new chapter featuring heroes with the astonishing ability to shrink. In the aftermath of “Captain America: Civil War,” Scott Lang grapples with the consequences of his choices as both a Super Hero and a father. As he struggles to …

Continue reading New Trailer: “Ant-Man and The Wasp” (2018)

DVD/Blu-ray review: “Coco” (2017)

On By John SpryIn DVDReviews, UncategorizedLeave a comment

“Coco” (2017) Animated/Pixar Running Time: 109 minutes Written by: Adrian Molina & Matthew Aldrich Directed by: Lee Unkrich & Adrian Molina Featuring:   Anthony Gonzalez, Gael García Bernal, Benjamin Bratt, Alanna Ubach, Renée Victor, Ana Ofelia Murguía, and Edward James Olmos Abuelita: "No music!" It may be difficult to believe but it has been over twenty years since the first Pixar full-length film was …

Continue reading DVD/Blu-ray review: “Coco” (2017)

DVD/Blu-ray review: “I, Tonya” (2017)

On By John SpryIn DVDReviews, UncategorizedLeave a comment

"I, Tonya" (2017) Drama/Comedy Written by: Steven Rogers Directed by: Craig Gillespie Featuring:  Margot Robbie, Sebastian Stan, Julianne Nicholson, Bobby Cannavale, Allison Janney Tonya Harding: "I mean, come on! What kind of friggin' person bashes in their friend's knee? Who would do that to a friend?" Towards the end of every year there are multiple films …

Continue reading DVD/Blu-ray review: “I, Tonya” (2017)

DVD/Blu-ray review: “The Shape of Water” (2017)

On By John SpryIn DVDReviews, UncategorizedLeave a comment

"The Shape of Water" (2017) Drama/Horror Written by: Guillermo del Toro & Vanessa Taylor Directed by: Guillermo del Toro Featuring: Sally Hawkins, Michael Shannon, Richard Jenkins, Doug Jones, Michael Stuhlbarg, Octavia Spencer Giles: [interpreting Elisa] "When he looks at me, he does not know - how - I am incomplete. He sees me... as I …

Continue reading DVD/Blu-ray review: “The Shape of Water” (2017)