Sound Speed Action: Movies, TV & Streaming Reviews

Episode 44 - Review: Conclave (2024) The adaptation of Robert Harris’s 2016 novel comes vibrantly to life in the 2024 mystery thriller film, Conclave . This movie is one of a kind and easily among 2024's best releases so far. Joining me on this episode is my cousin, Bahareh Amidi Shargi, who kindly recommended this movie to me. The film boasts a stellar cast led by the commanding Ralph Fiennes as...

Episode 43 - Halloween SPOILER Review episode: Strange Darling (2024) IMPORTANT NOTE: This spoiler review episode focuses on a psychological thriller film and includes language, topics, and descriptions that are dark, graphic, violent, and disturbing. Listener and viewer discretion is advised. Happy Halloween, everyone! We’re talking about the surprise movie of the year, Strange Darling. Shocking....

Episode 42 - Fly Me to the Moon (2024) Review Hollywood heavy hitter Greg Berlanti directs, while Scarlett Johansson produces and stars in “Fly Me to the Moon”. Although the movie is set during NASA's Apollo 11 mission, this is far from a historically accurate depiction of how the moon landing was planned. Instead, the film uses the Apollo mission as a creative backdrop to explore broader themes l...

Episode 41 - SPOILER Review: Deadpool & Wolverine (2024) The merc with a mouth is back! Putting Deadpool and Wolverine in the same movie has delivered the global summer box office hit we were hoping for (only topped this year by Inside Out 2, another Disney blockbuster). After Marvel’s post-Endgame slump with a few lackluster movies, Director Shawn Levy, Ryan Reynolds, and Hugh Jackman have flippe...

Episode 40 - Hype Episode: Pig (2021) In today's brief episode, it’s all about Michael Sarnoski's 2021 overlooked indie feature, Pig . This heartfelt story will surprise you and remind you why Nicolas Cage is a one-of-a-kind actor. Discover why Pig is a standout, featuring one of Cage’s best performances in years. The movie slowly reveals more to us about Cage's enigmatic character and how he has...

Episode 39 - SPOILER Review: A ‘FURIOSA’ Saga! (2015 and 2024) Welcome to the deranged world of George Miller’s Mad Max universe. Here we are focusing on the epic and indomitable character, Furiosa! My cousin Ali-Reza Beheshti joins me as we break down and provide spoiler reviews of both “Mad Max: Fury Road” (2015) and “Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga” (2024) - two brilliant action movie achievements! The...

Episode 38 - Hype Episode: Road to Perdition (2002) Quick update - "Sohrab's Movie Queue" is now "Sound Speed Action"! In this brief episode, it’s all about Sam Mendes' 2002 triumph, Road to Perdition. Starring Tom Hanks and Paul Newman, this prohibition-era graphic novel adaptation crime drama is one of my top three favorite films. Explore the perfect blend of storytelling, cinematography, and mu...

Warning: This episode discusses explicit content and themes. Viewer discretion is advised. In this episode, my cousin Roya Tavakolian and I break down the critically acclaimed "Poor Things" (2023), directed by Yorgos Lanthimos. Emma Stone shines as Bella Baxter, in a performance that led to her winning Best Actress at the 96th Academy Awards. We highlight the film’s inventive narrative, standout c...

Episode 36 - Review: Ferrari (2023) After 20 years of trying to get "Ferrari" made (including several actors being attached to the film only to depart shortly after), Mann got his lead cast together with Adam Driver playing Enzo Ferrari (2nd time playing a famous Italian entrepreneur after leading in "House of Gucci") and Penélope Cruz as Laura Ferrari, a standout in this movie. Challenges this mo...

Episode 35 - SPOILER Review: Oppenheimer (2023) Two special guests, Papa Hozour and Kathy Garber, join me today to talk about the latest Christopher Nolan epic which seems to be on a clear path to sweep at the upcoming Oscars. After years of success at Warner Bros, his major minor tantrum over the disaster that was the movie “Tenet” and Warner Bros and its irresponsible rollout, Nolan seems to hav...

Episode 34 - Hype: Sneakers (1992) There are so many great movies that came from the 90’s, but “Sneakers” is one that not only stands out but is one that I either return from time to watch again and again or stop and watch some (or all of) whenever I find it playing anywhere.  While I can appreciate dark, twisted espionage thrillers, 'Sneakers' takes a different path. It steers away from what we h...

Episode 33 - Halloween and SPOILER Review episode : Talk to Me (2023) Audio recorded on October 24, 2023 IMPORTANT NOTE: This review episode focuses on a horror film and includes topics and scene descriptions and topics that are serious, dark, graphic and disturbing in nature. To be absolutely clear, the discussion in this episode seeks to only make clear these topics were part of the telling of t...

Episode 32 - SPOILER Review: Mission Impossible Dead Reckoning Part One (2023) Audio recorded on September 25, 2023 Strikes updates: 1) There is a tentative deal in place for the full WGA union to vote on! Starting on Wednesday September 27th, the WGA can resume work. Ratification of the new 3 year deal is expected to happen very soon. 2) As of September 25th, we are almost 2.5 months (73 days) in...

Before mentioning this month’s episode, I just wanted to say that recovery efforts continue to take place after fires devastated the city of Lahaina in Maui earlier this month. A friend of the podcast, Chef Jason Raffin, is one Lahaina resident who needs our support. Just weeks away from opening the new tasting room, Ursulas, in Lahaina, Maui, a devastating wildfire swept through, leaving destruct...

Episode 30 - The US film strikes of 2023 Audio recorded on July 26, 2023 We have 2 major strikes that are ongoing within the American film industry: 1) the SAG-AFTRA strike that started on May 2, 2023 and 2) the WGA strike that launched this month on July 14, 2023.  I go over how this podcast is going to proceed while the strikes are ongoing and I respond to a particular argument that has been voi...

Episode 29 - Review: Air (2022) Ben Affleck is a truly gifted Director and he lets that talent shine again in the drama “Air”. Here Nike is in a very different position then how we know them today. Competition is crushing from all sides. Converse and Adidas are the Goliaths to Nike’s David. Alex Convery writes an amazing debut script (a black list script) and unofficially Affleck and Damon contrib...

Episode 28 - SPOILER review: Smile (2022) *Please note today’s episode has some graphic horror movie descriptions* I don’t know when was the last time that I had a horror movie stay with me like this one. “Smile” was released in September of 2022. What a clever take on a horror story. In this movie we have our main character, Rose (played fantastically by Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick’s daughter,...

Episode 27 - Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves (2023 film) Audio recorded on April 14, 2023 I wasn’t sure if I was going to enjoy the film adaptation of “Dungeons & Dragons” (full movie title “Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves). I went into the film knowing very little about the world of DnD other than it has been around for many years and has a very enthusiastic following. Then the re...

Episode 26 - Review: Creed III (2023 film) Are you ready for one of the best directorial debuts of 2023? That’s what you get with the Michael B. Jordan helmed movie “Creed III”. I went into this movie with doubts: I was not sure of Jordan as a Director. Sylvester Stallone was not involved with this movie at all due to falling out with Producer Irwin Winkler. I was not sure about Jonathan Majors af...

Episode 25 - Special Topic: 2023 Super Bowl Trailers For today’s episode, we are going to look at the movies that studios chose to promote during the 2023 Super Bowl. No surprise here that a lot of these movies are franchises however we do have a few original works in the mix as well. Here is the breakdown: * Universal * Fast X * Strays * Super Mario Bros. * Cocaine Bear * Paramount * Dungeons and...

I know I have been talking a lot recently about Rian Johnson ("Glass Onion", "Knives Out") and his work a lot lately. What can I say - I am fan of his style of storytelling and definitely his sense of humor too. Natasha Lyonne (Netflix series “Russian Doll”) and Johnson have developed a whodunnit mystery series which is both unique and yet also a play/throwback to so many great mystery/detective s...

Episode 22 - SPOILER Review: Avatar - The Way of Water (2022 film) James Cameron is a bit of a madman but it’s hard to argue with the fact that he knows how to entertain an audience. Today’s SPOILER review episode is about a film that was 13 years in the making. On this episode, I'm joined by my friend and filmmaker, Jonathan Olivo, as we dive into James Cameron's highly anticipated film 'Avatar:...

Episode 22 - Review: Glass Onion (2022 film) Rian Johnson knows how to put on a show. He does it again with “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery”. In this mystery, Johnson brings back Investigator Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) to resolve another puzzle. This movie had some big shoes to fill. “Knives Out” (2019) is a timeless classic that continues to age well and to this day I notice new things when I...

Episode 21 - Review: Prey (2022 film) This one breaks the curse of bad movies debuting in the month of August. The spirit of “Predator” Director John McTiernan is alive and well in the 2022 installment of this franchise, “Prey”. This latest entry may be the best in the franchise.  Amber Midthunder commands the screen as our hero, Naru, in this very efficient action movie. “10 Cloverfield Lane” fan...

Episode 20 - Review: The Black Phone (2022 film) It’s been a minute but we are back for the 20th episode! WOOHOO!  Today, Katie and I discuss Scott Derrickson’s (“Sinister”, “Doctor Strange”) new coming-of-age horror film, “The Black Phone”. This film is led by fantastic actors Mason Thames as Finney and the show-stealer Madeleine McGraw who does an awesome job playing Finney’s sister, Gwen. The f...