The Matinee Review by RE & MB

This special episode covers Ryan and Mark's list of best movies from 2023. 2023 was loaded with great movies but their lists only include their personal top 5. They did list some honorable mentions that were definitely in the top 10. The Holdovers John Wick 4 Oppenheimer Knock at the Cabin Gran Turismo The Boys in the Boat Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part One Godzilla Minus One Send us...

Unfortunately, Ryan and Mark don't have very many nice things to say about this movie. They both give it a 5/10 and cannot recommend this film. The movie does have some good elements to it and some great acting but overall it just isn't very good. The story isn't very good and often the movie comes off as a bit random. There are good parts that are exciting and interesting but just...

Argylle is a really great movie and then it isn't. Ryan and Mark give this film a 7 and 6.5, respectively. It has a strong cast starring Bryce Dallas Howard. The acting is great as you would expect with such reputable actors. It starts out really strong and then just takes a turn for the worst. As Mark put it, it heads toward "lunacy" with the last 30-45 minutes of the film just get...

I.S.S. (International Space Station) is overall a good movie. Ryan and Mark give it a 7/10 and 7.5/10, respectively. It is about a conflict that goes on in the I.S.S. after Nuclear war between the US and Russia has broken out back on earth. The three Americans that occupy the station have been advised to take over the station using any means necessary. The three Russians received the same communic...

The Beekeeper is exactly what you would expect from a Jason Statham film: ACTION PACKED. The plot is simple and there is a lot you'll have to over look if you enjoy realistic movies. However, overall it is a good movie. Ryan and Mark give this film a 7 and 7.5. They both recommend seeing it. Send us Fan Mail

The Boys in the Boat is arguably one of the better movies of the year and is also based on a true story. Ryan and Mark both recommend seeing it sooner rather than later and give the film a 9 and 8, respectively.  The movie is an underdog story that follows a junior varsity 8-man row team that defies all expectations and ends up in the 1936 Olympic games with a reasonable chance to win a medal.  Se...

In this episode, Mark and Ryan review the most recent DC movie, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom starring Jason Mamoa. They both enjoyed the movie and recommend seeing it. The movie has great action sequences, is very funny, and has a good plot that plays on events in the previous film. They both give this film a 7. Send us Fan Mail

Rebel Moon makes for another Netflix film Ryan and Mark have reviewed this year. Unfortunately, despite a strong cast it was mostly disappointing. The film appears to copy a lot of material from other great movies but really doesn’t develop some key characters very well and leaves the audience feeling like a lot is missing. Ryan and Mark give this film a 5.5 and 5, respectively. Send us Fan Mail

Leave The World Behind is a Netflix movie starring Julia Roberts. Ryan and Mark give it a 7.5 and 6, respectively. It is about a family that takes a vacation away from the city at exactly the same time as some really strange world events. Odd things begin to happen, strangers show up and the family attempts to figure out what to do all while working through trust issues and poor information. Overa...

In this episode, Ryan and Mark review the new Wonka movie starring Timothee Chalamet. The movie is the story of the famous Willy Wonka's humble beginnings.  Wonka and an unlikely group of other unfortunates band together to help Wonka sell chocolate in a city that has been dominated by a corrupt chocolate cartel and police force. Ryan and Mark both recommend this film. It has a great story an...

In this episode, Ryan and Mark review Dream Scenario starring Nicolas Cage. They both recommend this movie and give it ratings of 8 and 7.5, respectively. Cage gives us another excellent performance and it has a good mix of comedy and seriousness with a story that is sure to keep you interested. The movie is about a college professor who, not by choice, keeps ending up in everyone's dreams fo...

This John Woo film was not amongst his best. Ryan and Mark give this film a 5 and 4.5, respectively. It stars Joel Kinnaman as an unconsolable father that has lost his son in seemingly senseless gang violence. He is hellbent on getting vengeance and is willing to lose everything and die for it.  The film does have some really good parts and elements to it but overall it is a bust. The characters a...

In this episode, Ryan and Mark discuss the recent Godzilla Minus One movie. This film was directed by Takashi Yamazaki and might just be one of Mark's favorite films this year. It takes place during World War II. Japan has already been heavily damaged by war but is now having to deal with a new crisis in the form of a giant monster created by nuclear blasts. Mark gives this film a 10/10 and s...

This episode is a brief review of the recent horror film Thanksgiving. Mark does recommend this movie. It is not a very scary movie but it is very graphic and does have a solid plot. Send us Fan Mail

In this episode, Ryan and Mark review the highly anticipated Napoleon starring Joaquin Pheonix. The movie follows the actual events of the life of the well known French Emperor Napoleon. While there are some historical inaccuracies the film does a great job of displaying Napoleon as he really was which you might find is much different than you've heard. Ryan and Mark both recommend this film...

In this episode, Ryan and Mark review the much anticipated Hunger Games movie starring Tom Blyth as Coriolanus Snow AKA President Snow. This film is about the journey that made Snow into the tyrannical and feared leader that he was in the original films.  Ryan and Mark are split in their rating/recommendation on this film giving it an 8 and 6.5 respectively. The movie has some very interesting par...

Ryan and Mark review The Holdovers starring Paul Giamatti in this episode. As usual, Paul gives an excellent performance as does the rest of the small cast. They give the film a rating of 8 and 9, respectively. This movie is likely to be a diamond in the rough to most as it is almost certainly deeper and better than the previews indicate. It is the story of a few troubled people that come together...

Killers of the Flower Moon starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Nero is one of the best movies of the year and Mark and Ryan greatly enjoyed watching and reviewing it. It is based on a true story that until recently was not well known. Martin Scorsese delivers one of his best works yet and does an excellent job of telling a very important story in American history. Ryan and Mark both give this...

In this episode, Ryan and Mark review the film Reptile starring Benicio Del Toro. The film is a murder mystery and to put it short, there's A LOT going on. Benicio does not disappoint as usual but the film can be difficult to keep up with. It may take a couple viewings to really understand exactly what message the director is trying to relay. Send us Fan Mail

In this episode, Ryan and Mark review the futuristic film "The Creator" starring John David Washington. The movie is about a mission to find and stop a secret weapon in the form of A.I. As you might expect, things aren't what they seem which flips the mission on its head.  Ryan and Mark both recommend this movie and give it an 8 and 7.5, respectively. It has plenty of action that wi...

In this episode, Ryan and Mark review Dumb Money a film starring Paul Dano as Keith Gill, the guy that caused a major ruckus in early 2021 using GameStop Stock, a YouTube channel, and a Reddit page. Keith Gill, CFA also known as "Roaring Kitty", is an "amateur investor" that shook up Wall Street in one of the most notable short-squeezes in recent years, perhaps of all time.  Th...

In this episode, Ryan and Mark review "A Haunting in Venice" starring Kenneth Branagh as the famous fictional Belgian detective Hercule Poirot. This film is the third of three related films starring Kenneth Branagh. The two previous were Murder on the Orient Express and Death on the Nile. We thought this was a very good movie and gave it an 8 and 7.5. Despite appearing scary in the trail...

Mark and Ryan review the third installment of the Equalizer films starring Denzel Washington in this episode. The gave it 7.5 and 7, respectively. The film takes place in Italy where the Italian mob has taken over and is terrorizing the locals so they can extend their empire. Unfortunately for them, Robert McCall isn't going for it.  It's a pretty graphic film and has good bit of excitem...

In this episode, Ryan and Mark review two of their all-time favorite movies The Count of Monte Cristo and Saving Private Ryan . These two movies are obviously 10/10 and we strongly recommend if you haven't seen them.  The Count of Monte Cristo is based on a book by Alexandre Dumas (also wrote The Three Musketeers) which takes place in France during the time of Napoleon Bonaparte. It is a stor...

Gran Turismo is one of the best movies of the year starring Archie Madekwe, David Harbour, and Orlando Bloom. Its the story of a gamer becoming a professional race car driver against overwhelming odds and winning one of the hardest races in the sport. Mark and Ryan give this movie similar ratings at 9 and 9.5, respectively. They both strongly recommending seeing it especially if you are a gaming,...