Tag: olga kurylenko

MISDIRECTION – Review

In the crime drama MISDIRECTION, a couple of burglars/lovers (Olga Kurylenko, Oliver Trevana) use high-tech equipment and a meticulous plan to rob a rich guy’s (Frank Grillo) large modern home while he’s supposed to be at a banquet for the whole evening. This is meant to be their last big score before retiring to a life of leisure. The soon-to-be-victim departs on schedule; they bypass his security, empty a big stash of cash from his safe and continue looking for more valuables.

Uh oh! The dude comes home much earlier than expected! He can tell there’s been a breach and grabs his gun. The rest plays out just about in real time, as the confrontation gets more and more complicated. The thriller focuses more on the characters than the actual crime.

We soon learn that Olga had another agenda in picking this house besides the booty. That leads to an ongoing argument about what to do with Grillo. They aren’t really killers, but he’s seen their faces.  There’s a lot of movement in physical, logistic and emotional terms as Olga’s underlying motivation gradually unfolds. That includes doubts about whether her anger is justified, or if she’s just nuts.

The house’s rather Spartan décor and dim lighting leave everyone in shades of gray, providing a noirish backdrop that complements the moral ambiguity and the suspense. Lacy McClory’s script keeps us guessing about what may or should happen to whom. The lot of the trio is further complicated by some unexpected visitors. Although everything after a couple of brief early scenes occurs in Grillo’s house, director Kevin Lewis (Willy’s Wonderland) keeps it from feeling claustrophobic, moving them among several rooms in various combinations, incorporating enough action to keep it from being too talky, and sustaining the intensity with a brisk pace.

This drama’s setup could have also worked well as a farce, with things going wrong and the players variably arguing and coaxing each other – especially with the arrival of the others upsetting the apple cart. That’s the direction an Elmore Leonard or Donald Westlake would have taken it, and probably to great advantage, based on their many successful novels turned into comedic caper flicks. But that’s not a complaint. The thriller option works out pretty well, too, with the trio of leads delivering fine performances.

MISDIRECTION is available on Digital formats from Cineverse on February 10, 2026.

RATING: 2 1/2 out of 4 stars

OTHER – Review

Olga Kurylenko stars as “Alice” in the horror thriller OTHER, directed by David Moreau. Photo credit: Jerome Prebois. Courtesy of Shudder

Ready for another spooky Halloween warm-up? In OTHER, Olga Kurylenko stars as Alice – a veterinarian with a boyfriend, Charlie (Philip Schurer), and an abiding loathing for her estranged mother. When she hears that mom died rather gruesomely, she’s far from upset, but flies to her home to do her daughterly duty. Mom’s huge home is far from any neighbors and heavily insulated against the outside world by an elaborate security system worthy of a CIA “dark site.” A paranoid’s idea of Heaven.

We gradually learn why Alice hated her mom through flashbacks and saved videotapes showing that the old gal had been the uberbitch of stage moms, forcing her kid into performing and parading in beauty pageants with Draconian diet and training demands. Alice is a beauty, so she probably had some success despite her wishes to do something else – anything else – during her formative years.

While on the isolated, gated estate, Alice is besieged with strange sounds and movements just teasing the margins of her range of vision. She senses something trying to harm, if not kill, her, though remaining clueless as to what and why. Throughout her ordeal, there’s virtually no other human activity on screen. Charlie is mostly involved by phone. A neighbor kid with a drone pops up a few times, both scared by and drawn to whatever evil forces there be, offering little help to our heroine.

The good news is that for its 95 minutes, the camera is almost always on its exotically attractive star. And at the risk of being labeled sexist, the fact that she’s bare-legged and in tight t-shirts for most of it makes up for a chunk of the film’s considerable shortcomings. Kurylenko is probably best known as one of James Bond’s paramours in 2008’s QUANTUM OF SOLACE. She does not appear to have aged in the intervening 17 years. Most of us wish we could say the same.

There are a generous number of jump scares: some gory bits; and the extremes of security features and other happenings that keep her housebound are intriguing. The fact that I never figured out the WHY of it all was frustrating. I really can’t swear to how much of that was the script’s defects or intention vs. my own failing. You’d have to ask director and co-author David Moreau; I’m not sure that Kurylenko was even privy to the explanation. Perhaps your brain will catch what I missed, or appreciate the unanswered questions more than I could.

OTHER debuts streaming on Shudder on Friday, Oct. 17, 2025.

RATING: 1.5 out of 4 stars

Check Out The Awesome New Trailer For THUNDERBOLTS*

In 1969 the master of the American western, Sam Peckinpah, directed a stellar cast in THE WILD BUNCH, a controversial film that breathed new life into the genre and broke ground in the realistic portrayal of screen violence. Receiving two Academy Award nominations, this bitter, brutal story of magnificent losers in a dying West remains one of the screen’s all-time classics. An explosive adventure drama about the last of the legendary lawless breed who lived to kill – and killed to live. The cast included William Holden, Ernest Borgnine, Robert Ryan, Edmond O’Brien. Warren Oates and Ben Johnson.

Now comes a bunch of a different kind. the THUNDERBOLTS* – an unconventional team of antiheroes – Yelena Belova, Bucky Barnes, Red Guardian, Ghost, Taskmaster and John Walker. The cast features Florence Pugh, Sebastian Stan, David Harbour, Wyatt Russell, Olga Kurylenko, Hannah John-Kamen and Julia Louis-Dreyfus and also includes newcomers to the MCU – Lewis Pullman (The Sentry/Robert Reynolds), Geraldine Viswanathan, Chris Bauer and Wendell Edward Pierce.

On Superbowl Sunday, Marvel Studios released a new trailer and poster for the upcoming feature film THUNDERBOLTS*. After finding themselves ensnared in a death trap set by Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, these disillusioned castoffs must embark on a dangerous mission that will force them to confront the darkest corners of their pasts. Will this dysfunctional group tear themselves apart, or find redemption and unite as something much more before it’s too late?

Watch the fun new trailer.

Wow – this is such a good trailer and kudos to whoever cut it together! We’re all excited for THE FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS movie, but Marvel needs a fun action packed movie to start of the summer. Fans have missed this from a Marvel movie as of late, and this gang has such good one-liners and great chemistry. Plus the trailer gave us a look at The Sentry – one of the most powerful villains in Marvel Comics – who could crush the team. In the comics he’s shown with the power to rip planets in half so the trailer’s emphasis on how the members of the Thunderbolts are not Heroes, not Super, not giving up, makes me want to see even more how all of this will play out.

In THE SENTRY/FANTASTIC FOUR 1 (2001) #1, Bob Reynolds has always been the best friend of Reed Richards. As the Sentry he stood by Mr. Fantastic against Dr. Doom and traveled with him into the Negative Zone. And Reed was the best man at Bob’s wedding! So if the Sentry remembers these monumental moments…why doesn’t anyone else?

Will there be a connection to the Fantastic Four and Earth 616? And how will The Void play into the next phase of the MCU?

The studio also announced the exciting news that Son Lux will be scoring THUNDERBOLTS*. The three-member, American experimental band was Oscar and BAFTA-nominated for their score for 2022’s best picture “Everything Everywhere All at Once.”

Jake Schreier directs THUNDERBOLTS* with Kevin Feige producing. Louis D’Esposito, Brian Chapek and Jason Tamez serve as executive producers.

Marvel Studios’ THUNDERBOLTS* opens in U.S. theaters on May 2, 2025. 

L-R): Alexei Shostakov/Red Guardian (David Harbour), Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen), John Walker (Wyatt Russell) and Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh) in Marvel Studios’ THUNDERBOLTS*. Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios. © 2025 MARVEL.

Check Out The Unlikely Band of Misfits In New THUNDERBOLTS* Poster And Trailer

THUNDERBOLTS*. © 2024 MARVEL.

Today, the teaser trailer and poster for the upcoming feature film,  “Thunderbolts*” debuted.  Marvel Studios and a crew of indie veterans who sold out present “Thunderbolts*,”an irreverent team-up featuring depressed assassin Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh) alongside the MCU’s least anticipated band of misfits.

The film also returns to the screen Marvel Cinematic Universe characters Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan), Red Guardian (David Harbour), John Walker (Wyatt Russell), Taskmaster (Olga Kurylenko), Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen) and Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus), in addition to some exciting new faces.

Jake Schreier directs “Thunderbolts*”with Kevin Feige producing. Louis D’Esposito, Brian Chapek, Jason Tamez and Scarlett Johansson serve as executive producers.

Marvel Studios’ “Thunderbolts*” opens in U.S. theaters on May 2, 2025.

(L-R): Alexei Shostakov/Red Guardian (David Harbour), Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen), Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan), Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh), and John Walker (Wyatt Russell) in Marvel Studios’ THUNDERBOLTS*. Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios. © 2024 MARVEL.

THE PRINCESS – Review

Joey King in 20th Century Studios’ THE PRINCESS, exclusively on Disney+/Hulu. Photo by Simon Varsano. © 2022 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.

Many of you might be wanting to take a break from the big studio action blockbusters with wall-to-wall bone-crunching stunts and feats of physical derring-do. Well, if you see this title popping up on your streaming services, you might believe that it’s a sweet bit of fairy tale fantasy and a relaxing change of pace for your movieviewing. Um…think again, becuase, this royal heir would stun and surprise at a tea party for the “Disney divas’. After watching this you’ll know that there are few medieval movie heroines quite like THE PRINCESS.

Now, when we first meet her, she’s doing the whole “Sleeping Beauty” bit as she sleeps on a fancy feather bed in a room at the top of a castle tower. At least it’s not a glass coffin like Snow White. Ah, but as soon as she awkens,we realize such a fate could be in the cards for the Princess (Joey King). She recalls an altercation ending with her being forced to inhale some form of sleeping salts (no, not a magic potion). Before she can gather her memories she hears heavy footsteps outside the door. When they enter, the Princess transforms into a whirling dervish of punches and kicks, using every object at hand to take down this deadly duo even though her hands are in manacles. Somehow she has to evade all the guards at every level in order to return to the rest of her royal family. many many feet below her. Mother, father, and kid sister Violet are being watched over by the evil schemer Julius (Dominic Cooper). He’s a diplomat from another country (we’re never given exact locations) who decides that the best way to take the throne is by marrying the Princess. And thanks to his secret army of goons led by his deadly “consort” Moira (Olga Kurylenko), he pressures the royals into a last minute wedding, which ends when the bride, the Princess, refuses (leading to the gassing and imprisoning). As she works her way down, flashbacks show us how the daughter of one of the king’s foreign advisors, Linh (Veronica Ngo), trained her in all manner of self-defence skills, which horrifies the King. He had been hoping for a son to take the throne, which inspired the master plan of Julius. But even with her considerable fighting knowledge, can the Princess save her family, and defeat the army of killers that infests the once peaceful kingdom?

Previously known for her work in teen romcoms and a few horror flicks, Ms. King can now add action star to her fairly long film resume. She flings herself into combat with wild abandon, bouncing from one attacker to another as though she’s changing dance partners in a most intricate musical number. Which she is, in a way. Since the settings aren’t especially vast, King needs to be in view, though I’m sure the stunt team really “earned their fees”.Sure, she seems super-human at times, but King shows us the panic in her eyes as she scans the area for a possible weapon. And those eyes water and her mouth contorts in agony when the punches hit their target. Cooper doesn’t have nearly as much to do as his Julius twirls his mustache while screaming orders at his endless henchmen supply, but he does the whole usurper role well, with a a true mania for deviltry. The real “dirty work’ is left to Kurylenko who’s the proper “flipside” of King as the sneering dominating dispenser of pain as she becomes more of a “tigress with a whip”, which packs an extra ‘sting’ when a sharp hook emerges from its tip. Ngo is also quite impressive as the mentor turned partner in the big kitchen “rumble” and during the frenetic finale.

Vietnamese filmmaker Le-Van Kiet keeps the film moving at a break-neck pace almost from the opening moments, only occasionally slowing down to give us a bit of backstory via flashbacks and the Princess peering in on Julius and Moira from the labyrinth of walkways behind the castle’s chambers. In favor of the big fights and escapes, the screenwriters have eschewed much of the period and historical details. As I mentioned, no countries are named along with the monikers of the royal family (other than Violet). the lead is always her royal title. The look of the film balances the decorative with the deadly, especially the weaponry. Aside from the whips’ spring hook, there’s a great spin on the classic crossbow. Along with the swords and spears, the guards use a long-handled sledgehammer device with one end looking like a steel fist. Of course, the story requires a big suspension of disbelief as the heroine has an endless supply of energy coursing through her petite frame, as the film often resembles a medieval KILL BILL or JOHN WICK, as countless cuts and punctures barely slow her down. For the viewer, well it gets a bit exhausting and mind-numbing even at a taut 90 or so minutes. But for the action enthusiast, they’ll get their kicks (and punches and swordplay) here watching THE PRINCESS, a lady in no need of a Prince Charming to rescue her, though it’d be great if he brought some bandages and linament.

Two Out of Four

THE PRINCESS is now streaming exclusively on Hulu

WAMG Giveaway: Win the DVD of the New Shocker THE ROOM

THE ROOM will be available on VOD, Digital HD, DVD & Blu-ray July 21st. Check out this shocking trailer:

When Kate and Matt leave the city to move into an old house, they discover a secret hidden room that has the extraordinary power to materialize anything they wish for. Their new life becomes a true fairytale. Yet beneath this apparent state of bliss, something darker lurks: some wishes can have dire consequences.

Now you can win the Win the DVD of THE ROOM. We Are Movie Geeks has two copies to give away. Just leave a comment below telling us what your favorite movie with the word ‘Room’ in the title. (mine’s THE GREEN ROOM. It’s so easy!)

1. YOU MUST BE A US RESIDENT. PRIZE WILL ONLY BE SHIPPED TO US ADDRESSES.  NO P.O. BOXES.  NO DUPLICATE ADDRESSES.

2. WINNER WILL BE CHOSEN FROM ALL QUALIFYING ENTRIES.

THE ROOM Stars Olga Kurylenko and Kevin Janssens

Gary Oldman and Olga Kurylenko in THE COURIER Coming to Blu-ray January 21st

The nonstop action-thriller The Courier arrives on Blu-ray (plus Digital), DVD, and Digital January 21 from Lionsgate. This film is currently available On Demand.

Starring Academy Award winner Gary Oldman (2017, Best Actor, Darkest Hour) and Olga Kurylenko, a female motorcycle courier must fight off a sadistic crime boss’ henchmen in order to protect the one witness that can bring him down. The film also stars Dermot Mulroney. The Courier Blu-ray and DVD will be available for the suggested retail price of $21.99 and $19.98, respectively.

This intense action-thriller unfolds in real time as two embattled souls fight for their lives. Academy Award® winner Gary Oldman (The Dark Knight) stars as a vicious crime boss out to kill Nick, the lone witness set to testify against him. He hires a mysterious female motorcycle courier (Olga Kurylenko, Quantum of Solace) to unknowingly deliver a poison-gas bomb to slay Nick. But after she rescues Nick from certain death, the duo must confront an army of ruthless hired killers in order to survive the night.

WAMG Giveaway – Win JOHNNY ENGLISH STRIKES AGAIN on Blu-ray


The beloved Rowan Atkinson (Mr. Bean) returns as the much-loved accidental secret agent in the third installment of the hilarious, action-packed spy mission, Johnny English Strikes Again arriving on Digital January 8, 2019 and on Blu-ray™, DVD and On Demand January 22, 2019 from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. Johnny English and his sidekick Bough are back in this hysterical comedy filled with even more action and more laughs for the whole family to enjoy. From one of Britain’s leading comedy directors David Kerr (Inside Number 9), the film boasts an all-star cast including Ben Miller (Paddington 2), Olga Kurylenko (Quantum of Solace), Jake Lacy (Carol), and Academy Award® winner Emma Thompson (Saving Mr. Banks).

Now you can win the JOHNNY ENGLISH STRIKES AGAIN Blu-ray. We Are Movie Geeks has 2 copies to give away. All you have to do is leave a comment answering this question: What is your favorite movie with Rowan Atkinson in it? (mine is THE TALL GUY!). It’s so easy!


When a cyber-attack reveals the identity of all active undercover agents in Britain, the country’s only hope is called out of retirement. English’s new mission is his most critical to date: Dive head first into action to find the mastermind hacker. A man with few skills and analog methods, English must overcome the challenges of modern technology—or his newest mission will become the Secret Service’s last.


Loaded with over 30 minutes of exclusive bonus features, Johnny English Strikes Again on Blu-ray™, DVD and Digital include an up-close look at the carefully selected film locations and detailed sets as well as Johnny’s notable collection of gadgets and cars, along with a breakdown of the extraordinary cast, diving deeper into the legacy of  everyone’s favorite hapless spy!


BONUS FEATURES EXCLUSIVE TO BLU-RAYTM, DVD & DIGITAL:

  • The Comedy Genius Of Rowan Atkinson – A look at Rowan’s comedic talents – the meticulous attention to detail that is the hallmark of his work. Johnny English combines the best of Rowan – a skillful use of dialogue and slapstick.
  • The Johnny English Legacy – What has changed in the series this time around… for Johnny… and for the world? In this piece, we learn from the cast and film-makers how the character has evolved and what’s changed without changing the core of the incompetent agent we have come to know and love.
  • Virtual Reality Johnny English Style – Virtual reality might be everywhere, but no one does it quite like our intrepid agent English.
  • The Gadgets – Rowan leads us through his notable collection of gadgets as the team provides insights into their creation.
  • The Cars – Rowan is a well-known auto enthusiast, and had a big say in the choice of cars used in the film. Olga Kurylenko joins in on the fun and discusses her driving scenes including the differences between shooting for Johnny English 3 and Quantum of Solace.
  • Locations and Design – The movie may be all about the laughs, but the set designs and the locations are the real deal. From Johnny’s bedroom, to the MI7 and Prime Minister Offices, and Volta’s suite in the castle, every detail is carefully crafted. And nothing beats shooting on location – from the south of France to the streets of London, Agent English is well-traveled.
  • A Cast Of Characters – With a lead like Rowan Atkinson, the supporting cast has to be just a strong. We shine the spotlight on this veritable cast of characters:
  • Ben Miller as Bough
  • Olga Kurylenko as Ophelia
  • Emma Thompson as the Prime Minister
  • Michael Gambon as Agent 5
  • Charles Dance as Agent 7
  • Edward Fox as Agent 9
  • Feature Commentary with Director David Kerr

Rowan Atkinson as JOHNNY ENGLISH STRIKES AGAIN Available on Blu-ray, DVD and On Demand January 22nd


The beloved Rowan Atkinson (Mr. Bean) returns as the much-loved accidental secret agent in the third installment of the hilarious, action-packed spy mission, Johnny English Strikes Again arriving on Digital January 8, 2019 and on Blu-ray™, DVD and On Demand January 22, 2019 from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. Johnny English and his sidekick Bough are back in this hysterical comedy filled with even more action and more laughs for the whole family to enjoy. From one of Britain’s leading comedy directors David Kerr (Inside Number 9), the film boasts an all-star cast including Ben Miller (Paddington 2), Olga Kurylenko (Quantum of Solace), Jake Lacy (Carol), and Academy Award® winner Emma Thompson (Saving Mr. Banks).


When a cyber-attack reveals the identity of all active undercover agents in Britain, the country’s only hope is called out of retirement. English’s new mission is his most critical to date: Dive head first into action to find the mastermind hacker. A man with few skills and analog methods, English must overcome the challenges of modern technology—or his newest mission will become the Secret Service’s last.


Loaded with over 30 minutes of exclusive bonus features, Johnny English Strikes Again on Blu-ray™, DVD and Digital include an up-close look at the carefully selected film locations and detailed sets as well as Johnny’s notable collection of gadgets and cars, along with a breakdown of the extraordinary cast, diving deeper into the legacy of  everyone’s favorite hapless spy!


BONUS FEATURES EXCLUSIVE TO BLU-RAYTM, DVD & DIGITAL:

  • The Comedy Genius Of Rowan Atkinson – A look at Rowan’s comedic talents – the meticulous attention to detail that is the hallmark of his work. Johnny English combines the best of Rowan – a skillful use of dialogue and slapstick.
  • The Johnny English Legacy – What has changed in the series this time around… for Johnny… and for the world? In this piece, we learn from the cast and film-makers how the character has evolved and what’s changed without changing the core of the incompetent agent we have come to know and love.
  • Virtual Reality Johnny English Style – Virtual reality might be everywhere, but no one does it quite like our intrepid agent English.
  • The Gadgets – Rowan leads us through his notable collection of gadgets as the team provides insights into their creation.
  • The Cars – Rowan is a well-known auto enthusiast, and had a big say in the choice of cars used in the film. Olga Kurylenko joins in on the fun and discusses her driving scenes including the differences between shooting for Johnny English 3 and Quantum of Solace.
  • Locations and Design – The movie may be all about the laughs, but the set designs and the locations are the real deal. From Johnny’s bedroom, to the MI7 and Prime Minister Offices, and Volta’s suite in the castle, every detail is carefully crafted. And nothing beats shooting on location – from the south of France to the streets of London, Agent English is well-traveled.
  • A Cast Of Characters – With a lead like Rowan Atkinson, the supporting cast has to be just a strong. We shine the spotlight on this veritable cast of characters:
  • Ben Miller as Bough
  • Olga Kurylenko as Ophelia
  • Emma Thompson as the Prime Minister
  • Michael Gambon as Agent 5
  • Charles Dance as Agent 7
  • Edward Fox as Agent 9
  • Feature Commentary with Director David Kerr

Prepare to Lose a Lot of Sleep When MARA Arrives on Blu-ray, DVD and Digital November 6th

Prepare to lose a whole lot of sleep when Mara arrives on Blu-ray™ (plus Digital), DVD and Digital November 6 from Lionsgate. This film is currently available On Demand. Based on famous folklore, the film’s expertly crafted story line tells the tale of criminal psychologist Kate Fuller, who starts to experience the same terrifying symptoms as the victims of an ancient demon who kills people in their sleep. The absolutely chilling Mara will be available on Blu-ray™ (plus Digital) and DVD for the suggested retail price of $21.99 and $19.98, respectively.

From a producer of Paranormal Activity and Insidious comes this shock-filled descent into fear. After a man is seemingly strangled in his bed, criminal psychologist Kate Fuller (Olga Kurylenko) interviews the sole witness, the victim’s eight-year-old daughter, Sophie. When asked to identify the killer, Sophie says, “Mara.” As Kate digs into the case, she unearths a community of people who claim to be tormented by a shadowy menace — a centuries-old demon who kills her victims as they sleep.

BLU-RAY/DVD/DIGITAL SPECIAL FEATURES

  • “Mara: A Legacy of Evil” Featurette

CAST

Olga Kurylenko                      Vampire Academy, Quantum of Solace, Oblivion

Craig Conway                         Doomsday, Estranged 

Javier Botet                             The Conjuring 2, The Mummy 

Rosie Fellner                           The Trip to Italy, Heist