T.V. REVIEW: THIS IS US-Season 2

4/5

This Is Love.

18 Episodes. Starring: Milo Ventimiglia, Mandy Moore, Sterling K. Brown, Chrissy Metz, Justin Hartley, Susan Kelechi Watson, Chris Sullivan & Ron Cephas Jones. Created By: Dan Fogelman.

"I cry watching 'This Is Us'"! Theo Rossi's gangster Shades character from 'Luke Cage' (S.O.S. Save Our Shows) season 2 says in response to his best friend telling him not to trust someone based on the drawn conclusion that he turns on the waterworks everytime he turns on NBC's hit show on the tube. You cry at 'This Is Us'?! Word! It's a marvellous meta, M.C.U. self-aware, Easter Egg nod of respect towards 'Black Panther's' cameo stealing star Sterling K. Brown. Not to mention and let's not forget Chris Sullivan's 'Guardians Of The Galaxy's' Taserface...don't laugh! Or how about another galaxy guardian? As the older Starhawk to Chris Pratt's Star-Lord, Sylvester Stallone arms up for a celebrity cameo in this ensemble cast family drama. Yep the real 'Rocky' playing himself. Getting his 'Rambo' on in a faux military movie directed by Ron Howard (also actually here in living cameo...Happy Days!). And as wise as-you should give more credit for-ever Sly shows us his shy, sweet side in easily one of the most outstanding episodes, in the stellar second season that refuses to slump like those sophomore streaming shows facing the Netflix axe before Halloween. Trick or treat. Knock on any Pearson door on their white picket dream street and you'll see there's more bruised souls and generations of unsolved issues in each family, behind the manicured lawns and the Hollywood never rains production drive lots. So for any time this looks right off the cob corny or contrived then just remember these guys are just as confused and conflicted as we all are day to day. Hiding behind the filters of all sorts of devices like the selfies on our phones camera rolls. Producing more pictures than their mantle can handle. Yet, still they strive to find peace inside this family frame. Their mind is on more. Like trying to make sure the ills of this world-discrimination, depression, death-don't make it to their front door. This is the U.S. and the watching world right now. It's more than what you see on television. Or the screens you can't switch off when you try to get some sleep at night. Modern love and life has changed, but for us this is one that tries to keep it the same.

Just like the good old days. That sort of 90's, Dave Matthews Band nostalgia in a show that is still so up to date now. For a cast of characters that were all probably twenty-somethings during the Central Perk coffee 'Friends' generation. In their prime before this primetime. But this is what real life looks like when you're deep into your thirties and your young indestructible feeling of youth is replaced with an 'in this together' good fight with a good wife, husband, brother or sister. Which is what marriage is all about, partnerships. Just like family. Blood or not. Whether your adopting. Trying for a baby. Or just trying to touch base with your parents, father figures, or the kids you grew up with. We are all always trying to grow in this life. And even though we may spend some years apart, the real way to do this is together. Intertwined like a family tree. And this is what 'This Is Us' shows to us all with every branch, arc and strand of storytelling. Sure there's conflict, drama and in-fighting. Some solved in each episode of the show. Some never resolved...at least this season. But what family doesn't go through tough stuff like that? What relationship, or marriage isn't even like that? If it ain't like that it ain't real ladies and gentlemen. But no matter what, for every problem there is a solution like Tom Hanks tells us in 'Philadelphia' with Denzel Washington. And each time you think this series doesn't get you. It truly will get you as you'll be left with those excuses like there's something in your eye. It's that darn air conditioning...ah damn it. I forgot Winter is coming. Cue the Sterling K. Brown crying gif. Or the Theo Rossi one. Because there's genuine emotion behind what everyone is talking about on your hopefully spoiler free Facebook feed the next day, like something Trump said or Kanye did. Except West of all that mess this right house and it's inhabitants are bringing positivity to a small world that needs to feel a little closer right now. A little more like family.

A master move of 'This Is Us' and this life itself creator Dan Fogelman is showing us in a 'Boyhood' or Richard Linklater, 'Before...' trilogy the life of a family unit, growing up from childhood to adulthood. We get to relate to what life is like now and what it was like in the memories of way back when. And what all that means across the generations and lessons passed down like family heirloom stories. Timeless, hallmark Americana and what the dream we are now woke up from today looked like back in the head in the clouds day sure was beautiful. And it still exists now in-between the margins of all the lines drawn, scrawled out and drawn again. These are the characters in us keeping it alive. Like 'Gilmore Girls' slick favourite Milo Ventimiglia. All grown up and bearded with a Springsteen sense of bootcut, American blue jeans dream workmanship. Hammer and handyman nail. Always ready with a life lesson before his memory hauntingly delivers his lasting one. Which will leave you with a lump everytime you see a fire hazard in the home for this hero. For the love of God Jack. Don't leave the stove on. You will have to take it to the mattresses. And how about the magnificent Mandy Moore? The anchor of this show. This story. This family. Us all. The heartbreaking 'A Walk To Remember' star maturing from her prime to the made-up, older version of her character she plays, whilst her former on-screen flame Shane West of 'E.R.' fame bulks up to play Bane on the small screen in 'Gotham'. Emmy winning Sterling K. Brown who by law anxiously broke out heart in 'The People vs. O.J. Simpson' is even better at home here. In the biggest couple of years that has seen him hit the blockbuster big-screen this calender with 'Black Panther' and 'Predator'. As the charming, charisma machine with feeling shows us this is one of the greats of our generation. With wonderful wife Susan Kelechi Watson standing by his side in perfect partnership, as Randall and the growing Pearson family's calm and coordinated center. Just like sister Chrissy Metz. As great as it gets. Really coming into her own with this and Netflix's new 'Sierra Burgess Is A Big Loser' headed by no other than Barb of 'Stranger Things'. Now that looks like justice to me. Speaking of which her on-screen husband Chris ('Taserface') Sullivan has had our heart too. Since the moment it broke in two just as we were falling for his character from the upside down. If you know then yes you're not crying, we're crying. But it's 'Young and Restless' and 'Smallville' star (yep...remember the original Arrow? Forgive the green get-up) Justin Hartley who really shows depth and dark shadows beneath those Hollywood actor good looks that look like they've been up all night, addicted to the booze bruised wrong side of partying. And if you don't think there's heart in that soured soul then you may just be more beat than this in and out of work actor character, played by one who should always be guaranteed a payday now. Still the real spine of this story lies in the spindly Ron Cephas Jones. Also of...wait for it like Easter, 'Luke Cage' fame. Not to mention 'Venom' for all you Marvel superhero eggheads. His beast of an old as father time tale is as tragically beautiful as his love for a Billie Holiday mural across the street by nightfall. God bless the child that's got its own. And this one has it all. Like everyone else, even if they just don't know it yet. 'This Is Us'. This is you. This is me. This is love. This is life ('Life Itself'). This is it. TIM DAVID HARVEY.

Further Filming: 'Life Itself', 'Boyhood' , 'Desperate Housewives'.

REVIEW: HALLOWEEN

4/5

Happy Anniversary Michael.

106 Mins. Starring: Jamie Lee Curtis, Judy Greer, Andi Matichak, Will Patton, Virginia Gardner & Nick Castle. Director: David Gordon Green.

Groovy baby! Damn! Sorry. Wrong movie. I've gone and messed up like that con in 'Baby Driver' who got the Austin Powers masks for that botched job robbery when someone told him to pick up some Michael Myers disguises for their heist. They and we mean 'Halloween'. And we ain't talking about Jason. NO! We're talking about a mask and man as iconic as Freddie for a nightmare on the streets of Haddonfield, Illinois. About to take the moustache right off Mercury in a 'Bohemian Rhapsody', killer Queen. All whilst being the king of cosplay and what you're about to get dressed up as for this year's trick or treat season. The Boogeyman is back and it's knife to meet him again. Take a stab at the dark and watch this tonight. Because this is the year everyone is falling in love with the renaissance of horror once again. We're all falling for it like thinking running up the stairs is a good escape plan. Did no one watch the 'Scream' trilogy like the movie after and the Netflix series? Well now you will in-between bingeing the 'Chilling Adventures Of Sabrina' and 'The Haunting Of Hill House's series', which are Netflix's new 'Stranger Things' for the pumpkin season. But what better way to end the best year for horror since that freaky little girls head did a crazy 360 like she just spotted her boyfriend doing that looking at another women meme, then with the iconic reverse rotting Halloween head over John Carpenter's classic titles and that timeless theme? A year that begun without a word in John Krasinski and Emily Blunt's partnership in 'A Quiet Place', that redefined the genre with nere a mere sound. Before ending with a bang and running in the family with the new classic 'Hereditary'. This writer himself a pussycat virgin to this great genre of hallmark horrors. So much so that if he watched one at home he'd hide behind the couch...in his neighbours house. This writer won't even watch 'Mama' with Jessica Chastain (those who know me, know how extreme that is). I literally probably wouldn't even watch it with Jessica Chastain herself. I'd be like, "I'm sorry. I'm washing my hair luv"! That being said get ready for a new chapter as after watching the 'IT' remake I have a new love for the memory of a good scare. So much so on Halloween right now I'm reading Stephen King's 'The Shining' for the first time. Although I have the freezer ready like Joey in 'Friends'. And I haven't even seen the movie yet. Yeah...I know. But what did I just tell you? All work and no horror made me a dull boy. But now it's time to kick in that door with an axe. Because here's Jamie!

'Halloween' just isn't Halloween without Jamie Lee Curtis. The Sigourney Weaver to this franchises 'Alien'. And coming back out of the fog, she's back to dance with her devil in the pale moonlight one more time as Michael is stepping on her toes again. Walking this way from the Aerosmith to the Post Malone generation. And you won't want to miss a thing. As witnessing Curtis unload buckshot on the shooting range in getting ready for the apocalypse that is Michael is the coolest thing since seeing Emily Blunt reload the blunderbuss at the end of 'A Quiet Place'. But in turning her residence into a man-sized mouse trap like 'Home Alone'-only missing the falling iron for your face and the cracked Christmas decorations for your feet-Curtis isn't riding shotgun to this year's best horror movie. Because this 'Halloween' remake/reboot is a legend in its own. The best way to end a 2018, fighting back against all the real life Hollywood horrors who no longer hid under the bed last year. This anniversary is 40 years in the making, discounting all the other 95 'Halloween' sequels that didn't make the classic cut. No matter how much you love Rob Zombie, anniversary sequels being named after water, or Busta Rhymes knowing kung-fu and calling the real Michael Myers a "mother######", wearing his own mask. But as the real Michael Myers stands up and puts back on that classic mask in an iconic scene, you know it's on like not being able to hide under the third toilet cubicle you thought was third bowl of porridge just right as he already saw your feet. And wait! What's that he's dropping over the side? Are those...teeth?! The man in the mask is back and he's still in no hurry four decades later. Looking truly, compellingly chilling in that monotone walk and sinmering boiler-room suit. As he separates people's jaws like a killer shark. Making their mouthpiece look like Ken Kaneki's mask off 'Tokyo Ghoul' in reply. Catching you before you put your blinds down. Slamming you like Shaquille or stomping and turning your head into lasagne as he goes off like Ryan Gosling in 'Drive' without a seatbelt. Leaving victims under a sheet looking like Casey Affleck in 'A Ghost Story'. Don't answer when this walking dread knock, knocks. It's a trap. It's a trick. A Halloween treat. Feast.

'Escape From New York', Carpenter co-writer Nick Castle to be Frank is still the King when it comes to playing Michael. Even if we never see his face no matter how many times we strike fire to a match like Leo in 'Shutter Island'. From the checkerboard chained prison visit reintroduction begining we know it's all his game like chess. His move. We're just playing. Orchestrated by director David Gordon Green who brings a horror great to his big-three headlining, diverse filmography. That includes comedy ('Pineapple Express'...not so much 'Your Highness'), tragedy (the fighting back after the Boston bombing, 'Stronger') and an indie to boot ('Joe'...Nice Cage in a good movie?! Now that's scary. Until you watch 'Mandy'). And he's cut quite the cast that are more than kitchen utensil fodder. From 'Armaggedon' first on the scene, vet beat cop Will Patton who is truly something. To Marvel 'Runaway' Virginia Gardner who babysits the best character in this movie in being stuck with the kid clipping his "nasty a## toenails". Not to mention the best closeted jump scare. But it's the big three generations of Strode women over four decades who are striding against this stalking killer to make sure his horrors no longer run in the family like 'Hereditary'. 'Ant-Man and the Wasp', 'Jurassic World', 'The Village' and 'Carrie' character actress Judy Greer comes into her own as the mother. But it's her daughter played by 'Orange Is The New Black's actress Andi Matichak who really comes of age and may just be the spirit of this franchises future. But payback is a grandmother when it comes to the legendary Curtis. Who far from a curtain call has still got it. Jamie Lee's Laurie may just be the most iconic thing about this 'Halloween' franchise. Crazily more so than even Michael. And she hasn't even been in half of the so-called sequels. But in this true to life one she isn't biting the bullet. Instead arming them up as she goes all Sarah Conner against a real Terminator for its judgement day. And in doing so she leads the 'Me Too' movement to the blockbuster circuit. Flipping the switch and turning the light on to the real horrors that haunt our world that we don't have to be scared of anymore. It's a powerful and poignant stand from a woman who feet planted stood firmly on her own almost a half century ago. Helping pave the way for all we see today. She's a real hero in these dark nights and she's done it all without having to hide behind a mask. Those monsters lurking in the shadows should be real afraid. This is no trick. Happy Halloween everyone. TIM DAVID HARVEY.

Further Filming: 'Halloween (1978)', 'IT (2017)', 'A Quiet Place'.

REVIEW: BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY

4/5

King Of Queen.

134 Mins. Starring: Rami Malek, Lucy Boynton, Gwilym Lee, Ben Hardy, Joseph Mazzello, Aidan Gillen, Allen Leech, Tom Hollander & Mike Myers. Director: ?

Queen may be the best British band of all-time. Which just might make them the worlds greatest. Yeah I said it like a Rolling Stone. And don't get me wrong I love The Beatles. Even if it did take me until I was a quarter century and all of 25 years old to truly get them (for a point of reference that was quite some time ago). I live a half hour train ride away from where they were born for crying out loud. I get it. From Lennon and McCartney, to John and Yoko. George Harrison and even Ringo. And I've fallen in love with Japan. A country who love this band like Beatlemania just began yesterday and not in the swinging sixties. One of their legendary writers Haruki Murakami even named one of his best books and perhaps his most famous after the 'Rubber Soul' song, 'Norwegian Wood'. Today pop and rock, maybe even music wouldn't be what it was without the Fab Four. But there's just something about Queen (no Radiohead or Muse without these innovators who turned the studio into their experimental playground). Or should we say Freddie?! The greatest frontman of all-time (sorry Michael). Or should we say the greatest showman? A true rock star who changed how we dressed, thought, acted. Just like Ziggy whilst under pressure. Or George, 'Rocketman' Elton (we can't wait 'Kingsman') and the real king, Prince after him. And the music?! Name a better stadium anthem than the clap and response of 'We Will Rock You'! Every winning sports team around the world sips champagne out of a trophy whilst drunkenly singing, 'We Are The Champions' my friend. And just wait until you're in the pub turned club in the early hours and the piano of "toniiight I'm gonna have myself a real good time" comes into play. Freddie could even reach the operatic sections in 'Barcelona' with that voice and range of stage presence (my dad used to wind the windows down and turn it all the way up to my embar...nah! I loved it). They even made hits about simply wanting to ride their bicycles ('I Love My Car's is revved up here but no love for these spokes?). Come on! And then like a thunderbolt of lightning there's 'Bohemian Rhapsody'. Galileo! "It goes on forever. Six bloody minutes!" "I pity your wife if you think six minutes is forever", right said Fred in return. Which just may be the greatest, we sure hope is true response since Joaquin Phoenix walked the line as the Man In Black, Johnny Cash and declared, "maybe I am going to a funeral". Another One Bites The Dust. Don't stop them now. Galileo!

'Mr. Robot' himself, Rami Malek is anything but mechanical in his replication of Mercury. Put his Fred next to Marvel heroes like Chadwick Boseman's James Brown, Don Cheadle's Miles Davis, Tom Hiddleston's Hank Williams or Jamie Foxx's 'Ray'.  The real life has become fantasy and back again for a man and his kingdom that was always cinematic, but is now on an even bigger, grander stage. Just see it in the wonder of old Wembley in all it's IMAX clap and foot stomping, depth of crowds like caviar by night. As 'Bohemian Rhapsody' recreates the iconic Live Aid gig that Queen turned into their own for their coming out to the world moment. And it's taken a long time after original born star, Sacha Baron Cohen (who for the record would have been something else) dropped out and then 'X-Men' director Bryan Singer surrounded in controversy left and was replaced with 'Eddie The Eagle' Olympic biopic gold director Dexter Fletcher. Still now on this day, Malek is magnificent as Mercury. Like the director with the same last name but just spelt differently, Terrence it's movie making art. This is the most hype 'Bo Rhap' has had over a blockbuster movie since this iconic number was used to make a killing on the 'Suicide Squad' trailer two summers ago. But grounded in the down to earth indie stylings of something like Ron Howard's Formula 1 biopic 'Rush', this race against time is a real deal winner like champions, are we. Even if our Mercury's prosthetic gnashers and jawline make him look more like both Freddie and 'Family Guy's' idea of British kids (and we aren't talking about Stewie who you should never show the cover of the 'News Of The World' album to). But still Rami remedies all that, sounding so much like him he should sing like Taron as Elton next Summer. He is the cock and the walk of the charismatic and flamboyant front man in every iconic incarnation. From the sequins to the string vest. The mullet to the moustache. The glam rock to the stadium. It's a kind of magic. He's a killer. He's Queen. Dynamite with a laser beam. And there's his crown like King James in Hollywood. Oscar gold would fit with that robe too for the Emmy winner. Because Malek doesn't just look the part. He acts it too. So much so he is the part. All the way down to the hairs on his top lip above those teeth (Mercury's mouth muzzle belongs in the moustache Hall of Fame with Lionel Richie's, 'Magnum P.I.', Tom Selleck's and the late, great Burt Reynolds' (did you ever see him without one? 'Deliverance' just didn't look right)). He has the walk and talk style down, but behind all that is the substance of the real man behind the glam who wanted to break free from his job unloading other people's city stickered luggage from Heathrow. Behind some seventies, 'Whistle Test' stylings of all the landmarks they've played, Liverpool, Tokyo, London, Osaka, Rio, Freddie's arms are spread out like the redeemer for this Christ like figure of rock and roll and music as a whole, wide world. Seeing him own every party or stage he swagger struts through shows his great, legacy making influence. But hearing the pain in the words of this late, great legend under pressure is real acting inspiration. This is an actor who have grace and dignity to his Ahkmenrah character in the 'Night At The Museum' series. When the tragic hero asks, "what if I don't have time", Rami isn't the only one in the house without a dry eye with a lump in his throat. Try and fight back those tears. Too much love will kill you.

The show must go on. And in this kingdom there is more than just the hysterical Queen in this royal family by decree. 'The Tourist' actor Gwilym Lee is right on location as Brian May to the month and iconic hair. Just like the soaring blonde bomber of X-Men Archangel, Ben Hardy as Roger Taylor drumming. And don't forget about Queen's Ringo, John Deacon played perfectly by a deadpanning Joseph Mazzello. Yep, Tim from 'Jurassic Park'. I know human piece of toast shocking right!? There's even a chicken who knows how to hit the high notes. Meanwhile 'Murder On The Orient Express' star Lucy Boynton (brilliant) and 'Downton Abbey's actor Allen Leech play Freddie's first and new love respectively. Whilst 'Game Of Thrones' actor Aiden Gillen and great Brit character actor Tom Hollander play the suit and ties behind the platinum plaques. And pass the false teeth. Because an almost Jon Voight in 'Ali' unrecognisable  'International Man Of Mystery', Austin Powers himself, Mike Myers (no not the masked knife wielding guy this 'Halloween'...did we not learn from the 'Baby Driver' botched mask job? Shout-out to their tribute to the riffs of 'Brighton Rock') is grooving too baby. Playing an EMI record exec with an accent halfway between Shrek and Fat Bastard, who says people will never rock out and head bang in their car to 'Bohemian Rhapsody' for the ultimate 'Wayne's World' Easter Egg. Mamma Mia. Mamma Mia. Party on Freddie. Mercury is rising again. But not without all the properties of the powerhouse ballad of his platinum band. Like he said in response to them calling him a legend and something we all need to heed in this instant celebrity, Instagram selfie age together, "we're all legends"! 'Bohemian Rhapsody' isn't just a biopic about Freddie. It's a biopic about all his friends and what they formed to rock us. A life remade that could even knock the Ra Ra of Lady Gaga and director Bradley Cooper's 'A Star Is Born' remake off the top of the showman charts of La La Land. This is musical royalty. The real monarch we think of when we hear the word Queen. God save him. AY OH! TIM DAVID HARVEY.

Further Filming: 'Rocketman', 'A Star Is Born', 'The Greatest Showman'.

T.V. REVIEW: DAREDEVIL-Season 3

4/5

Better The Devil You Know.

13 Episodes. Starring: Charlie Cox, Deborah Ann Woll, Elden Henson, Joanne Whalley, Jay Ali, Stephen Rider, Wilson Bethel & Vincent D'Onofrio.

Speak of the devil and he shall appear. But to be Frank, even from his Castle walls, The Punisher couldn't hit a Bullseye quite like this. And how do you one up collecting skulls? Well how about a Fisk-full of taking it back to the Kingpin? Yeah...we said his name Candyman. Time to iron out that iconic white suit because Wilson's wardrobe looks like Batman's right now. And with the vigilante taking it back to bandana black for 'Daredevil' Season 3, this feels like 'The Dark Knight's' bloodied to a pulp, no kill code all the way down to the Zimmer-ing cut score. As this devil may care is 'Born Again' like an iconic graphic novel for this comic-book serial. And just when you thought 'The Defender' could no longer stand the heat in Hells Kitchen. Turns out it was the now sadly cancelled, powered down team of heroes for hire, Luke Cage and Iron Fist who were told to get out like 'Black Panther' star Daniel Kaluuya. Despite these superheroes having stellar, star-studded sophomore seasons, no slump. Too many cooks and all that some may say. Not me. Perhaps there's too much salt in this Netflix broth. Want to sign my petition to keep these beautifully nuanced Marvel street-level shows that have more gutter depth than their big movie M.C.U. brothers, despite being kicked to the curb? Did you not see their Wu-Tang Clan, Patty-Cake team-up in 'Luke Cage' Season 2? Fist to palm that had wallop packing potential for the ultimate comic crossover collabo. But now they're the ones who are really dead in a year where every 'Defender' gets a second season starting with 'Jessica Jones', but evidently not a second chance. Everyone except for 'Daredevil' that is, who to end the year gets a surprising third season. But this won't be a trilogy conclusion as the horns still lead the way in the defence of the concrete jungle level of a post-"incident" New York. Looks like this Netflix Avenger and son of a boxer, fighting back could even survive a Thanos golden glove, thumbs down snap. Even without half his click. And after taking on the B.I.G.(gest) mob boss, anti-hero with a bullet and the valentine lover and fighter with the sewer teen turtle, sai swords, this lawyer by day is being targeted like a summons by another iconic 'Daredevil' villain. Not to mention the king of them.

And the most iconic one shot yet in this lucky 13 episodes (not getting trimmed to ten like 'Iron Fist's' swan song). Forget your 'Birdman' superhero Michael Keaton. Or 'The Unexpected Virtue Of Ignorance'. Another D.D. season, another classic action sequence with one continuous camera for your binge watch hit back 30 seconds more times than you can count loop. Now if you thought that punchy hallway scrap from the first season could only be beat by that lightbulb smashing, biker gang corridor rip-through that heads down the whole apartments staircase and right into the lobby. Then just you wait until you see this epic prison riot one shot from the cells to the block. Even rolling some dynamic dialogue inbetween all the baton to orange is the new black beat downs as the camera rotates. And this single take lasts a whopping, a## whupping 11 minutes of classic and compellingly cohesive chereography. As we have the most dynamic direction in all of the M.C.U. and a one shot that can rival McConaughey's biker gang hostage, escape out the hood in 'True Detective'. Or the two epic, violent first-person shooter scenes that start and finish, bookmark the South Korean smash, 'The Villainess'. The devil really is in the details. And there's plenty more amazing, hand-to-hand action where that came from. From the rooftops, to the parking lots. Or a Daredevil of a baton throwing doppelganger hitting everything in sight. Going toe to mirror reflection toe and postal in a New York newspaper office, read all about it bulletin board. Or nailing more targets than the scope of Jon Bernthal's Punisher character in a roadside hit and run play for the Godfather gone disrespectfully bad. Like a blind leading the "blind" gridlocked shootout. Showing there is so much action here in each episode that it almost may be taken for granted in this binge age stream of right now and then forget about it. Before bringing wild to a church congregation like 'Kingsman' Colin Firth from the pew to the pulpit. Speaking of original sin in this art of war, you might want to take solace or communion in the confessional booth (especially if its been months since your last one) before this devil reads you last rights in the lords house.

Sink into the Kitchen Satan's skin and you'll see that the blind lawyer is red, no matter who tries to suit up as Matt Murdock's night alias. There's only one man to play him. And I'm sorry Ben Affleck...or should we say, or hope, Batman? But that's Charlie Cox. The only cast member in the old legend of Michael Caine and Ray Winstone's 'King Of Thieves' right now whose not balancing that budget against drawing out his pension plan. The 'Boardwalk Empire' and 'Theory Of Everything' star brings eyes are the soul depth and haunting darkness to Murdock. A blind man whose other senses are as dialled up to 11 as his empathy and guilt that go hand in hand with his conflicted combat that sees his trade really go rogue as he exchanges blows this time. The hospital over the morgue. He hits someone and they get back up unlike The Punisher's "STAY DOWN". But does he ever get back up? Especially after falling so hard. His crisis of faith confessions with father figure and perfect preist Peter McRobbie are as compelling as they are our real world, all encompassing. And it's a good job his more than reliable as ever best friend would follow him off a cliff. Even if they look like they are being pushed. As this season Elden Henson's floppy Foggy Nelson has passed the bar and is now running for D.A. like Harvey Dent. In again a series that has so much shades of 'The Dark Knight' someone even makes a dent in Two-Face's "the night is always darkest" speech before they get interrupted by someone doing their best party crashing Joker impression. But it's Deborah Allen Woll's journalist character Karen who just may be the best thing about this series. Taking a page out of the addictive substance of darkness and the brutal backstory of this broken but pieced back together character from the comic books history. Her 'Karen' episode is what these groundbreaking, down to earth Netflix superhero dramas are all about. No Eleven, extra nine, strange 'Stranger Things' diversion backstory. The big-three attorneys of law headline a billboard cast that includes a class FBI agent in a conflicted bureau in Jay Ali. 'Willow', Joanne Whalley's nun character who is more familiar than your average sister. And 'Safe House' cop turned detective on series crossover patrol, Stephen Rider. But it's Vincent D'Onofrio pinning down his Wilson Fisk crime lord who would be king of New York. Out on bond in a halfway Penthouse arrest that shows he still stalks this city from an up on Empire like high, with a puppet-string, Corleone state of mind. Judging from a fight night poster Easter Egg too we would love to see this Kingpin owned by Vincent find his far away homecoming in Spider-Man's universe uptown, seens as he is just as iconic a formidable foe to the web crawler as he is to the man without fear. And if his crimes don't make up for a lack of punishment we saw from Frank Castle (whose series cameo that birthed his own season and made for the second chapter of 'Daredevil' being the best Marvel/Netflix series yet), then how about someone who treats shooting ranges like dartboards? And instead of Bernthal, Bethel's Agent Poindexter swats up on another classic Marvel character as the baton is passed. The young 'Harley and the Davidsons' actor revs up his career as an agent of Wilson Fisk as Wilson Bethel hits the spot like any target shot. O.K. we don't want to give the game that's already sold away (you have Google and your timelines for that), but this guy even throws a stapler for crying out loud. Get it? Piece it all together and you have a devil reborn and one hell of a heaven sent season. As all this brimstone turns the pressure cooker of New York's Hells Kitchen into an inferno. Now how do you like that Dante? TIM DAVID HARVEY.

Further Filming: 'The Defenders', 'Luke Cage', 'Iron Fist'.

REVIEW: FIRST MAN

4/5

Man On The Moon.

141 Mins. Starring: Ryan Gosling, Claire Foy, Jason Clarke, Corey Stoll, Shea Whigham, Lukas Haas, Pablo Schreiber, Cory Michael Smith, Leon Bridges, Ciaran Hinds & Kyle Chandler. Director: Damien Chazelle.

"We need to fail. We need to fail down here so we don't fail up there"! Ryan Gosling's words ring true in today's Instagram age, were we can't put a foot wrong without someone and then everyone tweeting about it in an instant put down that keeps scrolling away at us. Obviously they never listened to what the greatest of all-time, Michael Jordan said about failure. But see that phone you hold in your hand? The National Aeronautics Space Administration shot for the same moon that Neil Armstrong took one giant step on before anyone else, with less technical power than what you're thumbing through right now. Now THAT'S what I call a giant leap. Mankind just wait until you hear the warmth of those iconic, immortal words from your vantage point of the third rock from the sun, like everyone did from their living room television sets that day. As you look up and watch this Rocketman propel like, "ready for main engine launch". And we aren't talking about the new Elton John movie starring his 'Kingsman' lead Taron Egerton next Summer. As dressed up in Dodger Stadium concert uniform blue and about to knock it out the parks bleachers, 'Eddie The Eagle' isn't the only one who knows how to soar for the skies when it comes to brilliant biopics in a rhapsody bohemian. Another eagle has landed as Ryan reunites with the 'La La Land' of Damien Chazelle after they looked out of a floating Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles to the heavens. Reuniting to go even further than the sign of the Hollywood 'City Of Stars' and out this world with a buzz cut to play the man followed by Buzz Aldrin, Neil Armstrong. From the first born to boldly go where no man has gone before in space. To the 'First Man' to ever plant a flag on the dark side of the moon. And at the same time that Bradley Cooper is proving that with Lady Gaga 'A Star Is Born', Ryan and Damien show to find one you have to work on the wing of your hope and a prayer. Here's to the fools who dream of a life beyond what crazy, stupid lovers, Gosling and Stone two-stepped to as they floated out of the Hollywood Hills of the Griffith Observatory in a wonder of a waltz. Giant steps is what he takes, walking on the moon. Upon leaving the earths atmosphere there's a moment were the rocket looks like the light of a cross. Showing us we can't get much closer to God or his infinite mercy than this. The final fronteir. And regardless if like the R.E.M. song about Andy Kaufman you believe they put a man on the moon. Or if you think it's all moonshine. You'll be drawn into this fifties feeling, classic looking movies orbit. As poetic as it is magnificent.

Houston, we have an 'Apollo 13' like great at our control. The run for the Oscars has officially begun with the space race dreams of a farmboy from Ohio who wanted to grow up a hero and take off from the cornfields like Superman. And this time the crop of returning mission talent in new actor/director one, two combo Gosling and Chazelle hope they get the right envelope. Signed, sealed and delivered by moonlight. Because it doesn't get much realer than this for all those who thought the space odyssey of the moon landing was all a Kubrick creation like '2001', before astronauts started swinging their best Tiger Woods impressions out the bunkers of its craters. This takes you right into the first person cockpit, claustrophobic confides of the atomic bomb, tin can shuttle itself. That in its ascent feels like the depths of a submarine submerging. And we thought that 'Interstellar' jarring docking scene was still of space, hauntingly tense. Talk about a simulation. This is beyond stimulating. This gives you a rocketman's birds eye view of earth out of the eyes of an Iron Man visor like window, that just goes to show you how super these mere mortals really were at seemingly steel melting temperatures. Which is why like everyone else in the fashion of today, if I want to feel like a real hero I will wear a NASA t-shirt aswell as a Captain America one. The pressure cooker, subtle, oft-pushed to the back of the mind in vain, spring-coiled tension breaks like a blood red wine glass in your unexpected hand at a celebratory party distraction, plot function. All executed perfectly by Chazelle's compelling, straight laced directions and Gosling's quiet, fierce intensity that Bill Murray's photographer in 'Lost In Translation' would snap up in a shutter second. As stoically compelling as this whole picture, his anxiety only showing as he nervously thumbs the band of gold on his ring finger. As he can't find the words at his family dinner table to tell his two sons that their father may not make it home again. One existential scene of one of his sons walking the picket fence street of his families home and taking the grand gravity of it all in echoes that of 'The Tree Of Life'. The moonlight that glows between the same branches at the fog of night shine like beams that are alien, straight out of a sixties sci-fi. Plant and strap yourself in to your place at the table. Because based on James R. Hansen's bedside table, homelife intimate book 'First Man', there's as much tension going on in the heart of the Armstrong household dining room as there is the cockpit core of the Apollo 11. Grounding the realest family drama surrounding this out of world feat since Ron Howard manned a mission with Tom Hanks. Just as there is breathless beauty. Whether it be up there amongst the stars and moondust. Or down to the same earth that looks like nothing else below. As Gosling harmonises like that haunting theremin (Great British talk show host Graham Norton brought it out on his show for Ryan and the theme of new 'Doctor Who', Jodie Whittaker. But you could tell from the look on 'Star Is Born' star Lady Gaga's face that she will probably record her next album on one) the tranquility of the quiet of space with the moments of peace, sweetly singing his newborn baby a lullaby as she falls asleep in his rocking arms. Genuine sentimental serenity amongst all the crazy as he watches his angel rest. Shining on the one you love.

Transcendent like Chris Nolan's 'Interstellar'. As grounding as Sandra Bullock in 'Gravity'. And amongst all the 'Arrival's' and 'Martian's', all whilst showing you the nuts and shaking bolts of all the real, groundbreaking, behind the scenes work that went into this lift off like 'Hidden Figures'. Whip-smart director Chazelle looking to give Gosling 'Whiplash' make for a dynamic duo under dynamite pressure. But the real diamond in this rough, amongst all the boys who have nothing under control is Claire Foy. The Golden Globe winning Royal Highness may just be the one crowned by the Academy. And in the year Janet Armstrong sadly passed and joined Neil in the sky this is the ultimate tribute testament. Just like in one of Hollywood's leading, leading men playing a real (American) hero and historical figure like Kennedy or Ali (the lack of a flag on their play for the moon like the legend Kaepernick isn't unpatriotic, but a world wide reaching influence to the inspirations of men and moments like these. And besides Armstrong left something far more poignant there). Giving us one of Gosling's greatest next to the likes of 'Drive', 'Blue Valentine', 'The Place Beyond The Pines', 'The Ides Of March' and of course last years 'Blade Runner 2049'. But he isn't the only hero here in a class cast of astronauts and engineers who without would render this all nought. The other real hero is the head of the household who keeps a roof and one of hope over her families head when everything else goes to palm to glass imprisoning s###. The forthcoming 'Girl In The Spider's Web' protects her nest with fury and dignity. The bricks and mortar behind the bolster wood crew of valuable vets like filmography everyman Jason Clarke. Class character actors, Shea Whigham, Lukas Haas and Ciaran Hinds. Pablo Schreiber (who looks so much like his famous half-brother we don't even have to say his first name). 'Gotham's' enigmatic Riddler, Cory Michael Smith. Corey Stoll as a biopic worthy Buzz and great by the film Kyle Chandler doing his best Ed Harris. Even modern Motown, soul sensation throwback Leon Bridges doing a protest rendition of late, great Gil Scott Heron's, 'Whitey On The Moon' poetry. But from all the way home to what we see up there from our porches telescope when the sun goes down, this 'First Man' and the womans work behind him are in matrimony what will take our hero to the moon...and back. TIM DAVID HARVEY.

Further Filming: 'La La Land', 'Hidden Figures', 'Apollo 13'.

REVIEW: VENOM

3/5

Symbiote For The Devil.

112 Mins. Starring: Tom Hardy, Michelle Williams, Riz Ahmed, Scott Haze, Reid Scott, Jenny Slate & Ron Cephas Jones. Director: Ruben Fleischer.

Eyes. Lungs. Pancreasss! Popcorn? So many snacks. 'Black Panther'. 'Infinity War'. 'Ant-Man and the Wasp'. Netflix? So much Marvel. So little time. Anti-Venom this anti-hero movie that right now looks to be the Bane of Tom Hardy's life...or at least 27% of it, all you like. But this writer decided to go in with a mind more open than one of Eddie Brock's victims. This isn't just a turd...rolling down the street...in the wind. This gonzo as f### Sony/Marvel hybrid may be a C.G.I. cluster#### carnage we can only wish was as 'Deadpool' R-rated, not P.G.-13 friendly like the Fred Savage cut coming this Christmas as this last line. But even in the epic finger-clicking end which Marvel or superhero movie (Hi D.C.!) isn't? And when it comes to this graphic novel, this is an adaptation incarnation the M.C.U. wouldn't have the balls to pull of (yeah...I know) like all that head (erm...). Even if Tom Hardy and Tom Holland want a homecoming Spider-verse crossover with Peter Parker which is probably too far from home right now. And from New York's Brooklyn Bridge to the Golden Gate of the Warriors bay (we see the Golden State 'The City' tee Tom...we wear one in bed too) Spider-Man's West Coast rival can still leap iconic buildings in a single bound (wait...isn't that Superman?) faster. Even if critics want to give this the Thanos snap like those paranoid geeks thinking that fans of Bradley Cooper and the new leading lady starlet's 'A Star Is Born' are going gaga and writing rotten reviews for all those killer tomatoes attacking. But I see no dust or evidence. And Hardy's new age, vlogging expose journo Brock on the other side of the Hudson undercovers more too. All the way to the fog and rock of Alcatraz island for a classic cameo even more than this Stan Lee one that we won't spoil like the rest of the press. But one that looks a lot like the love child of Sideshow Bob and Carrot Top (wait...isn't that Winter Olympian Shaun White?). So maybe it's time to put your tongue away like '21 Jump Street' and stop getting in a strop or a Channing "Tantrum" (you haven't seen that Facebook post). Because we've waited a long time for this one like Gambit. And as the boy Hardy sinks his teeth into this symbolic symbiote, 'Venom' will get into your veins.

Well...we guess Tom Hardy isn't clawing up to play The Wolverine anymore. Close...but no Canadian cigar. And we thought he'd be the right cut. But then again after the fade to noir of 'Logan' who could possibly follow the greatest showman Hugh Jackman as everyone's favourite X-Man they only wish could Fox crossover to the M.C.U.? But then again this 'Legend' is known for playing two people at the same time like the Kray twins. And now in playing the anti-hero Venom, who seems to be playing super a little too much for our liking, you never know. He's already played one villain, in his muscled and mumbled up, iconic Bane of 'The Dark Knight Rises'. So it won't break his back to do it again. The body of this Great Brit's work is protein powder powered and weight room, filmography ready. 'Bronson', 'Peaky Blinders', 'The Drop' and 'Locke' for starters anybody? And the 'Warrior' of few words ('Taboo', 'Lawless', 'The Revenant', 'Dunkirk' (well he did have a mask on...again) and of course 'Mad Max: Fury Road') is spitting them here with Venom. Oddball and offbeat talking to himself in so many weird and wonderful ways that the man who usually speaks script reams worth in just lines of dialogue reminds us of the charisma which endeared us to him in his dream scene stealing 'Inception'. And if you can't wake up and see it then you musn't be afraid to dream a little bigger darling. From awkward loner loser, to big brawling bruiser, Hardy nails Brock's Venom in all the horrors of it's possessing powers and all it's great power, but lack of responsibility, comic-timing fun. There's even a oil-slick mid-air stretching homage to Topher Grace that rips apart other hidden gems in this Easter Egg time. Crazy good, Hardy rides this horse until the wheels of his motorbike fall off. After an apartment breach and break, door opening to rival Cap and Buck, or Marv from 'Sin City' and his "I'll be right out" cop takedown. One instant classic chopper chase down the iconic hills of the streets of San Francisco is like a 'Bullitt' with Rorschach butterfly wings for Hardy. Arguably the closest we've got today to the Hollywood hard-man good ole days of McQueen. Forget "I am Groot". We.Are.Venom!

Bound to instantly dated C.G.I. cheaper than a date who doesn't go large with the snacks when he hears a voice in his head booming, "HUNGRY", does infect this movie however. With a venomous streak from a snake that may spell D.O.A. while their are plans to write a sequel. Especially in the final, third rocketman act that has more problems than Houston, in a 'Transformer' like digital fight mess that turns into a scud missile. But again...how many Marvel movies do that these days? For every 'Winter Soldier' take away the powers and suits like a bad connection on Netflix that makes for a classic action thriller that leads to a 'Civil War', we have one that takes us to the battle of green screen infinity. No matter your affinity. And anytime the clunky C.G. gets too messy, 'Zombieland' director Ruben Fleischer who knows how to flesh it out and handle machine gunning action by the Tommy ('Gangster Squad'), gives Tom's heavy lifting alter-ego the SWAT team smoke and mirrors treatment that echoes the horrors of the ominous opening score, that turns into a Terminator like dark and haunting need for an Ambulance. That we only wish was answered in siren call and response for the rest of the sometimes sanitised movie. A suggestive, old-school tension builder, that we suggest even movies like todays similar 'The Predator' B-movie throwback learns from like their classic predecessors that shoestring budget paved the way for these big blockbusters. Besides for the Linkin Park generation this does for better or graphics worse give off a vibe of early 2000's nostalgia, akin to the 'Fantastic Four' movies and the original Tobey Maguire 'Spider-Man' trilogy (my senses shudder at those dance moves down the street) back when Marvel had to cut a deal with everyone just to keep the lights on. Admit it they may not hold up today but you loved them way back then. Oh how the cinematic universe has changed. Thank you Robert Downey! So put some Limp Bizkit on your iPod, wear a woolly hat even though you're also in just a t-shirt and oversized jeans and keep that hair looking like you aint cut it since the 'Stranger Things' 80's (O.K. I'm basically describing me right now) and you'll feel right at home. The 'Kamikaze' lyrical fury of Eminem even does the theme song for crying out loud. There's just that much talent on offer here. As a matter of fact the cast including (?) reads like an Academy roll call in a six degrees of superhero seperation time were most leading men and women become Avengers and then memes. There's 'The Night Of', 'Nightcrawler' and 'Star Wars: Rogue One' actor Riz Ahmed who was so good in 'The Reluctant Fundamentalist', as a Mark Zuckerberg generation young villain with a playing God complex he brings in all his own self-made and promoting belief on conviction with no confliction. And 'Manchester By The Sea' and 'Shutter Island' amazing actress Michelle Williams gives depth to another studio tent-pole picture after 'The Greatest Showman' with Wolverine. This 'Blue Valentine' and Hardy's heart gives us one of Marvel's realest relationships yet in all its peaks and valleys in downtown San Fran. Even Captain America's real-life girlfriend, in 'Gifted' co-star Jenny Slate is here with all her gifts. Whilst 'Child Of God' actor Scott Haze earns every dime of his cheque with his goon for hire and 'Veep' actor Reid Scott's doctor is the perfect prescription for the nicest new boyfriend of your ex. And there's even room for 'This Is Us' ("I cry at this is us") actor Ron Cephas Jones in Jonah Jameson mode, whose 'Luke Cage' barbershop council does the full Marvel Cinematic Universe comic crossover. That's a dollar for the jar right there. And with this spider like symbiote even saving convenience store clerks from having their cash drawers rung like your friendly, neighbourhood Peter Parker, there's more to this verse than meets the web. They may spit that this Marvel monster bites. But let's not suck all the life out of 'Venom' yet before you play host. TIM DAVID HARVEY.

Further Filming: 'Spider-Man 3', 'Fantastic Four (2005)', 'The Punisher (2004)'.