It all starts with a submerged storyline and while you feel an undercurrent of skulduggery nothing obvious rises to the surface for quite some time. It might even be a tad tardy for those who desire overdriven onscreen action from the go as the genre is often known for those big loud openers. Soderbergh is such an established auteur and he plays to his strengths here including his usual star-studded cast.

You get several James Bond alumni like Pierce Brosnan (the man himself) and Naomie Harris (Moneypenny) as well as Regé-Jean Page (Bridgerton) and another Skarsgår brother, in this case Gustaf. They are all given some delectable dialogue to deliver and they do it so well. These are some very detailed performances and the acting momentum provides David Koepp’s screenplay with a glorious sheen.

This is a film for the hardcore fan of the thinking man’s spy yarn and you need to invest in it to get maximum enjoyment. Bullets might not fly with regularity but the performances provide plenty of sparks and when things do ratchet up and reach the inevitable crescendo the action is more than sufficient to prove completely satisfying.
Rob Hudson
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Featuring terrific performances from Lucy Liu (Kill Bill: Vol 1), Julia Fox (Uncut Gems), Callina Liang (Bad Genius) and Chris Sullivan (Stranger Things), PRESENCE follows a family who become convinced they are not alone after moving into their new home in the suburbs.
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The creative team behind the first film, which garnered praise from critics and audiences alike, has reunited to create the magic again: Channing Tatum reprises his role as Mike Lane and Steven Soderbergh returns to the helm with a script from Reid Carolin, who also wrote the first two films. And starring alongside Tatum is Salma Hayek Pinault (“House of Gucci,” “Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard”).

“Magic” Mike Lane (Tatum) takes to the stage again after a lengthy hiatus, following a business deal that went bust, leaving him broke and taking bartender gigs in Florida. For what he hopes will be one last hurrah, Mike heads to London with a wealthy socialite (Hayek Pinault) who lures him with an offer he can’t refuse…and an agenda all her own. With everything on the line, once Mike discovers what she truly has in mind, will he—and the roster of hot new dancers he’ll have to whip into shape—be able to pull it off?

The film’s producers are Nick Wechsler, Gregory Jacobs, Tatum, Carolin and Peter Kiernan. Julie M. Anderson serves as executive producer.

Also starring with Tatum and Hayek Pinault are Ayub Khan Din (“Ackley Bridge”), newcomer Jemelia George, Juliette Motamed (“We Are Lady Parts”) and Vicki Pepperdine (“Johnny English Strikes Again”).

Soderbergh’s creative team behind the scenes includes production designer Pat Campbell (“The Bastard Son & The Devil Himself”), costume designer Christopher Peterson (“The Irishman”) and music supervisor Season Kent (“KIMI,” “Let Them All Talk”), with choreography by Alison Faulk and Luke Broadlick, both part of the “Magic Mike” franchise.

A Warner Bros. Pictures Presentation, “Magic Mike’s Last Dance” slides into theaters only in North America on February 10, 2023 and internationally beginning 8 February 2023, and will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures.
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Damon plays the real life Mark Whitacre, a highly paid executive in the food chemicals industry who blew the whistle on a long running scam on price fixing and at first you just think he’s just slightly eccentric but amusing. Then you think he’s on the way to being crazy but still likable. However by the end of the film, you can’t really stand him and think jail is really an appropriate home for such a bat shit crazy man.

Most of the film’s humour comes from the completely random thoughts that rattle around in Whitacre’s head, these being relayed by Damon’s narration that runs throughout the film. Every other cast member is basically playing the straight man except Whitacre’s wife played with perfect timing by Melanie Lynskey.

Compared to other projects by Steven Soderbergh, especially his Che films, this work feels a bit lightweight even though some of its themes are deadly serious. Soderbergh has supplied enough funny moments to carry the film but having his main character give you so many conflicting emotions is a sometimes strange and not altogether pleasing sensation.

Rob Hudson
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It’s also a work of two parts and while the first half struggles a bit to find its footing, in the second half, things pick up nicely. As in all good caper yarns, things are not always as they seem and the work’s internal logic by film’s end is most satisfying. Soderbergh as is his way, loads the film with a heavy duty cast and it’s great to see Daniel Craig play against his usual screen persona as Joe Bang, a bleach blonde career criminal with a way with science.

Most will compare it to Soderbergh’s previous works but it’s hard to surpass the Clooney charm factor and so that suave sensibility is replaced with a more humorous approach and it doesn’t always fire on all cylinders. Some of the film’s characters are also not that clearly defined and this slows things down a bit in the first couple of reels.

It’s a welcome return for Soderbergh to the big screen and overall it’s a pleasant experience. Let’s hope his self exile doesn’t last and next time he tackles something with a little more meat on the bone.

Rob Hudson
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Directer Steven Soderbergh’s body of work is a varied one and there is nothing in his back catalogue quite like this. He works the psychological horror angle as well as anyone before him and he ratchets up the tension the entire film to an extraordinary level. You can’t help but get sucked in.

Filling the cast with lesser known actors (other than a very known cameo combatant) helps with the occupation of a never never land of conflicting emotions. Even a few major reveals are swallowed up by the inherent creepiness of it all. It’s low tech look keeps things in character.

There will be no story details here, just a suggestion to go and see the film for yourself and then try to deny its lasting effect of discomfort and questions about how you yourself would deal with a similar scenario.

Rob Hudson
www.bleeckerstreetmedia.com

It’s also a work of two parts and while the first half struggles a bit to find its footing, in the second half, things pick up nicely. As in all good caper yarns, things are not always as they seem and the work’s internal logic by film’s end is most satisfying. Soderbergh as is his way, loads the film with a heavy duty cast and it’s great to see Daniel Craig play against his usual screen persona as Joe Bang, a bleach blonde career criminal with a way with science.

Most will compare it to Soderbergh’s previous works but it’s hard to surpass the Clooney charm factor and so that suave sensibility is replaced with a more humorous approach and it doesn’t always fire on all cylinders. Some of the film’s characters are also not that clearly defined and this slows things down a bit in the first couple of reels.

It’s a welcome return for Soderbergh to the big screen and overall it’s a pleasant experience. Let’s hope his self exile doesn’t last and next time he tackles something with a little more meat on the bone.

Rob Hudson
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But the conniving Jimmy Logan (Channing Tatum) decides its time to turn the family’s luck around, and with a little help from his friends, the Redneck Robbers, he plans to steal $14 million from the Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Logan Lucky was directed by Steven Soderbergh and stars Channing Tatum, Daniel Craig, Adam Driver, Hilary Swank, Seth MacFarlane, Riley Keough, Katie Holmes, Katherine Waterston and Sebastian Stan. Logan Lucky releases in Australian cinemas on August 17, 2017.