Sunday, January 12, 2025

Comics Review: "NEMESIS: ROGUES' GALLERY #5" Asks, "Do You Kiss Your Cows with That Mouth"

NEMESIS: ROGUES' GALLERY #5 (OF 5)
DARK HORSE COMICS/Netflix

STORY: Mark Millar
ART: Valerio Giangiordano
COLORS: Lee Loughridge
LETTERS: Clem Robins
EDITOR: Daniel Chabon
EDITORIAL PRODUCTION: Sarah Unwin
COVER: Valerio Giangiordano with Lee Loughridge
40pp, Color, $6.99 U.S. (January 2025)

Age range: 14+

Nemesis created by Mark Millar and Steve McNiven

Nemesis: Rogues' Gallery is a five-issue comic book miniseries from writer Mark Millar.  It is a sequel to the miniseries, Nemesis Reloaded (2023) and Big Game (2023).  Published by Dark Horse comics, the new series finds the super-killer, Nemesis, on a mission of revenge.  Rogues' Gallery is drawn by Valerio Giangiordano; colored by Lee Loughridge; and lettered by Clem Robins.

Nemesis: Rogues Gallery finds Nemesis on a mission to once again be the world's greatest super-villain. Now, out for revenge against everyone who wronged him, Nemesis must rebuild his empire and his fortune... this time with a sidekick, Pedro Hernandez, following him every step of the way.

Nemesis: Rogues Gallery #5 opens on an island where billionaires gather to indulge in the worst fantasies mankind can imagine outside the watchful eye of the authorities.  That's where Nemesis is – using his Alton Albrecht identity, of course.

Nemesis is a guest of notorious billionaire, Adrian Zigo, and he plans on being a poor guest.  Nemesis is on a mission that involves each and every one of these billionaires on the island and half their wealth.  However, Nemesis' first sidekick, Sang, is also on the island, and he is leading an assault team in high-tech suits and bearing a hard-on for Nemesis.  Is Nemesis finally trapped for real and looking at his demise or is his new sidekick, Pedro, also on the island?

THE LOWDOWN:  This is the second time that I have been on any kind of list that provides PDF copies of titles published by Dark Horse Comics.  The latest comic book to mark my return is Nemesis: Rogues' Gallery #5.

Writer Mark Millar offers an explosive finale for Nemesis: Rogues Gallery #5, as he did for the previous Nemesis series.  His depiction of the billionaire class as plutocratic dullards who are always looking to indulge their depraved desires is timely.  It is only a little ironic that a substantial portion of the readers for a comic book like Nemesis are chumps for the tech bros and would gladly serve the whims of the super-rich.  Rogues Gallery is cathartic precisely because fiction is the only scenario in which the ultra-rich get their comeuppance.

Artist Valerio Giangiordano continues to deliver stellar storytelling with a gritty, crime-noir spin on violent superhero/fantasy action.  If Nemesis is a take on an evil version of Batman, Giangiordano gets in on the spirit of things and draws several close ups of Nemesis that look like some of the close-ups of Batman that Frank Miller drew for his seminal graphic novel, Batman: The Dark Knight Returns.  Letterer Clem Robins captures the deranged narcissism of the title character by making us believe this comic book has a soundtrack.

Nemesis: Rogues' Gallery offers one of the best lines that I've read in a comic book in recent memory:  “Do you kiss your cows with that mouth?”  If you missed this series, dear readers, there should be a trade paperback available soon.  That's how you can make up for this transgression... before Nemesis finds out.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of Mark Millar's comic books and of Valerio Giangiordano's art will desire Nemesis: Rogues' Gallery.

A

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"


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The text is copyright © 2025 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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Friday, January 10, 2025

Negromancer News Bits and Bites from January 1st to 11th, 2025 - UPDATE #26

by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"

You can support Leroy via Paypal or on Patreon:

Amazon wants me to inform/remind you that any affiliate links found on this page are PAID ADS, but I technically only get paid (eventually) if you click on affiliate links like this, MOVIES PAGE, and BUY something(s).

TREATS: From AnotherCookie?:  There is a new online cookie retailer, "AnotherCookie?" The cookies are delicious.

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NEWS:

AWARDS - From Deadline:  The nominations for the 2025 / 77th Annual Directors Guild Awards have been announced.  In the awards' marquee category, "Theatrical Feature Film," the nominees are Jacques Audiard ("Emilia Perez"), Sean Baker ("Anora"), Edward Berger ("Conclave"), Brady Corbet ("The Brutalist"), and James Mangold ("A Complete Unknown").  The winners will be announced February 8th.

From EW:  The Screen Actors Guild has cancelled the 2025 / 31st SAG Awards nominations announcement live-stream because of the current wildfires sweeing through the Los Angeles area.  The nominations will be announced Thursday morning, January 9th via press release and on SAG Awards website.  The SAG Award ceremony will be hired Feb. 23rd.

CRIME - From LATimes:  There are new details in the shooting death of actor Johnny Wactor ("General Hospital," "Siberia").  The 37-year-old actor died after being shot in the chest May 25, 2024 by one of three thieves who were stealing the catalytic converter from his 2013 Toyota Prius.  At least two of the people involved are members of a South Los Angeles street gang.  One of the thieves reportedly shouted, "No!," before his accomplice shot Wactor, whose funeral was held in June 2024 in his hometown of Summerville, South Carolina.

DISNEY - From USAToday:  The result of FuboTV's lawsuit against Disney/Fox/Warner Bros. Discovery over their planned sports streaming service, "Venu Sports," is that Disney will merge "Hulu + Live" service with FuboTV.  Disney will own 70 percent of the new service, and the merger will be finalized in the next 12 to 18 months.

GOLDEN GLOBES - From THR:  The winners for the 2025 / 82nd Annual Golden Globes have been announced.  "Emilia Perez" won "Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy" and "Best Motion Picture - Non-English Language."  "The Brutalist" won "Best Motion Picture - Drama."  "Wicked" won in the new category, "Cinematic and Box Office Achievement."  "Flow" won "Best Motion Picture - Animated."

BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficePro:  The winner of the 1/3 to 1/5/2025 weekend box office is Disney's "Mufasa: The Lion King" with a take of 23.8 million dollars.

CELEBRITY - From APNews:  Oscar-winner Denzel Washington and Emmy-winner Michael J. Fox were among 19 people who received the Presidential Medal of Freedom (the nation's highest civilian honor) from President Joe Biden today (Sat., Jan. 4th) in a White House Ceremony.

AMAZON - From AwardsWatchAmazon Prime Video is set to debut Viola Davis' next film, the action-thriller, "G20," on April 20th.

MOVIES - From WorldofReel:  Hot off his new film, "Nosferatu," Robert Eggers is set to direct a reboot/sequel to Jim Henson's 1986 film, "Labyrinth."

OBITS:

From Deadline:  British cinematographer, Roger Pratt, has died at the age of 77, December 2024.  Pratt received a "Best Cinematography" Oscar nomination for "The End of the Affair" (1999).  Pratt was also the cinematographer for two "Harry Potter" films and for three films by Terry Gilliam, beginning with "Brazil" (1985).  His other work includes "Batman" (1989), "Chocolat" (2000), and "Troy" (2004), to name a few.

From Deadline:  American singer, songwriter, and musician, Wayne Osmond, has died at the age of 73, Wednesday, January 1, 2025.  Along with his brothers: Alan, Merrill, and Jay, he co-founded "The Osmonds," later known as "the Osmond Brothers."  He was active from 1962 to 2019.  His television appearances include "Donny & Marie" (1976-79), his siblings, Donny and Marie Osmond's ABC variety series.

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BLAKE LIVELY:

From Deadline:  Justin Baldoni, in the middle of legal issues with his "It Ends With Us" co-star, Blake Lively, has added a new front to the war with a strike against Lively's husband, superstar actor and producer Ryan Reynolds.  Baldoni says that in Reynolds' recent worldwide hit, "Deadpool & Wolverine," the character, "Nicepool," is based upon him.

From NBCNews:  NBC News has a rundown on the events surrounding Blake Lively's civil rights complaint against her "It Ends With Us" co-star and director, Justin Baldoni.

From Variety: "That bitch lied on me!" Bryan Freedman, a lawyer for "It Ends With Us" star and director, Justin Baldoni, and his production company, Wayfarer Studios, fired back at the film's lead actress, Blake Lively’s civil rights complaint against Baldoni in a statement. He called it “shameful” and full of “categorically false accusations.”

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BOWL SCHEDULE - From YahooSports:  Here is your 2024-2024 college football bowl schedule with games, matchups, times, and dates.  Most of the games are on ESPN.

It begins with the "Cricket Celebration Bowl" on Saturday, December 14th featuring Jackson State vs South Carolina State at Noon EST on ABC.

The first round of the "College Football Playoff" begins Friday, December 20th with Indiana at Notre Dame at 8 p.m. EST on ESPN.

It all climaxes January 20th, 2025 with the "College Football Playoff National Championship" on ESPN.

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MOVIE AWARDS:

From THR:  The winners for the 2025 / 82nd Annual Golden Globes have been announced.  "Emilia Perez" won "Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy" and "Best Motion Picture - Non-English Language."  "The Brutalist" won "Best Motion Picture - Drama."  "Wicked" won in the new category, "Cinematic and Box Office Achievement."  "Flow" won "Best Motion Picture - Animated."

From Deadline:  The nominations for the 2025 / 77th Annual Directors Guild Awards have been announced.  In the awards' marquee category, "Theatrical Feature Film," the nominees are Jacques Audiard ("Emilia Perez"), Sean Baker ("Anora"), Edward Berger ("Conclave"), Brady Corbet ("The Brutalist"), and James Mangold ("A Complete Unknown").  The winners will be announced February 8th.

From EW:  The Screen Actors Guild has cancelled the 2025 / 31st SAG Awards nominations announcement live-stream because of the current wildfires sweeing through the Los Angeles area.  The nominations will be announced Thursday morning, January 9th via press release and on SAG Awards website.  The SAG Award ceremony will be hired Feb. 23rd.

From AwardsWatch:  The nominations for the 2025 / 56th Annual NAACP Image Awards have been announced.  Netflix's "The Piano Lesson" leads with 14 nominations.  The winners will be announced February 21st and 22nd.

From AwardsWatch:  The winners of the Minnesota Film Critics Association (MNFCA) Awards have been announced.  "The Brutalist" has taken five awards, including "Best Picture," "Best Director" (Brady Corbet), and "Best Actor" (Adrien Brody). 

From AwardsWatch:  The winners at the 2024 Music City Film Critics Association (MCFCA) Awards have been announced.  "Dune: Part Two" has won four awards, including "Best Picture" and "Best Director" (Denis Villeneuve).

From AwardsWatch:  The winners at the 2024 George Film Critics Association (GFCA) Awards have been announced.  "Anora" won four awards, including "Best Picture," "Best Director" (Sean Baker), and "Best Actress" (Mikey Madison).

From AwardsWatch:  The winners of the 2024 Alliance of Women Film Journalists (AWFJ) EDA Awards have been announced.  "The Brutalist" has won "Best Film."

From AwardsWatch:  The winners at the 2024 Austin Film Critics Association (AFCA) Awards have been announced.  "Anora" won five awards, including "Best Film," "Best Director" (Sean Baker), and "Best Actress" (Mikey Madison).

From AwardsWatch:  The winners at the 2024 Kansas City Film Critics Circle (KCFCC) Awards have been announced.  "The Substance" has won six awards, including "Best Film," "Best Director" (Coralie Fargeat), and "Best Actress" (Demi Moore), 

From AwardsWatch:  The winners at the 2024 Greater Western New York Film Critics Association (GWNYFCA) Awards have been announced.  "Challengers" has won "Best Film" and "Best Director" (Luca Guadagnino).

From AwardsWatch:  The winners at the 2024 DiscussingFilm's Global Film Critics Awards have been announced.  "Nickel Boys" won "Best Picture."

From EW:  The nominations for the 2025 / 82nd Annual Golden Globes have been announced.  "Emilia Perez" leads with 10 nominations.  The winners will be announced January 5, 2025 on CBS and Paramount+.

From THR:  The winners at the 2025 National Society of Film Critics (NSFC) Awards have been announced. "Nickel Boys" has won the award for "Best Picture" of 2024.

From AwardsWatch:  The winners at the 2024 Oklahoma Film Critics Circle (OFCC) Awards have been announced.  "Conclave" won five awards, including "Best Film," "Best Director" (Edward Berger), and "Best Actor" (Ralph Fiennes).

From AwardsWatch:  The winners at the North Carolina Film Critics Association (NCFCA) Awards have been announced.  "Conclave" has won three awards, including "Best Narrative Film."

From AwardsWatch:  The winners at the 2024 Columbia Film Critics Association (COFCA) Awards have been announced. "The Substance" has won four awards, including "Best Film," "Best Director" (Coralie Fargeat), and "Best Actress" (Demi Moore), 

From AwardsWatch:  The winners at the 29th Capri, Hollywood-International Film Festival Awards have been announced. "Emilia Perez" won six awards, including "Best Picture."

From AwardsWatch:  The winners at the 2024 Critics Association of Central Florda (CACF) Awards have been announced.  "Anora" has been named "Best Picture."

From AwardsWatch:  The winners at the 2024 UK Film Critics Association (UKFCA) Awards have been announced. "Dune: Part Two" won "Film of the Year" and "Best Director" (Denis Villeneuve).

From AwardsWatch:  The winners at the 2024 North Texas Film Critics Association (NTFCA) Awards have been announced. "Anora" has won four awards, including "Best Picture," "Best Director" (Sean Baker), and "Best Actress" (Mikey Madison).

From AwardsWatch:  The winners at the 2024 Online Association of Female Film Critics (OAFFC) Awards have been announced.  "The Substance" won six awards, including "Best Director" (Coralie Fargeat). and "Best Leading Performance" (Demi Moore).  "The Substance" shared the "Best Film" honor with "Anora."

From AwardsWatch:  The winners at the 2024 Philadelphia Film Critics Circle (PFCCA) Awards have been announced.  "Anora" won six awards, including "Best Film," "Best Director" (Sean Baker), and "Best Actress" (Mikey Madison).

From AwardsWatch:  The winners at the 2024 Florida Film Critics Circle (FFCC) Awards have announced.  "The Beast" has won "Best Picture" and "Best Director" (Bertrand Bonello).

From AwardsWatch:  The winners at the 2024 Nevada Film Critics Society (NFCS) Awards have been announced.  "The Brutalist" has taken six awards, including "Best Picture," "Best Director" (Brady Corbet), and "Best Actor" (Adrien Brody). 

From AwardsWatch:  The winners at the 2024 Dublin Film Critics Circle (DFCC) Awards have been announced.  "The Zone of Interest" was named "Best Film" and its director, Jonathan Glazer, won "Best Director."  Although the film was released in Dublin this year, it was eligible for the Academy Awards in 2023.

From AwardsWatch:  The winners at the 2024 Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critic Association (DFWFCA) Awards have been announced.  "Anora" has won three awards: "Best Picture," "Best Director" (Sean Baker), and "Best Actress" (Mikey Madison).

From AwardsWatch:  The winners of the 2024 Southeastern Film Critics Associations (SFCA) Awards have been announced.  "Anora" has been named "Best Film."

From AwardsWatch:  The winners at the 2024 Iowa Film Critics Association (IFCA) Awards have been announced.  "Anora" won three awards: "Best Film," "Best Director" (Sean Baker), and "Best Actress" (Mikey Madison).

From AwardsWatch: The winners at the 2024 New York Film Critics Online (NYFCO) Awards have been announced.  "The Substance" has won "Best Picture" and "Best Director" (Coralie Fargeat)

From AwardsWatch:  The winners at the 2024 Seattle Film Critics Society (SFCS) Awards have been announced.  "The Substance" has been named "Best Picture."

From AwardsWatch:  The winners at the 2024 Phoenix Film Critics Society (PFCS) Awards have been announced.  "The Brutalist" has been named "Best Picture."

From AwardsWatch:  The winners of the 2024 Indiana Film Journalists Association (IFJA) Awards.  "The Substance" has won six awards, including "Best Film," "Best Director" (Coralie Fargeat), and "Best Leading Performance" (Demi Moore), and "Best Supporting Performance" (Margaret Qualley).

From AwardsWatch:  The winners at the 2024 Toronto Film Critics Association (TFCA) Awards have been announced.  "Nickel Boys" has won "Best Picture" and "Best Director" (RaMell Ross)

From AwardsWatch:  The winners at the 2024 St. Louis Film Critics Association (StLFCA) Awards have been announced. "Dune: Part Two" has won three awards, including "Film" and "Best Director" (Denis Villeneuve).

From AwardsWatch:  The Producers Guild of America (PGA) has announced the nominations in the category of "Outstanding Producer of Documentary Motion Pictures." The winners at the 2025 / 39th Annual Producers Guild Awards will be announced Saturday, February 8, 2024.

From AwardsWatch:  The winners at the 2024 San Francisco Bay Area Film Critics Circle Awards have been announced. "Anora" has been named "Best Film."

From AwardsWatch:  The winners at the 2024 Boston Online Film Critics Association (BOFCA) Awards have been announced. "The Brutalist" has taken five awards, including "Best Picture," "Best Director" (Brady Corbet), and "Best Actor" (Adrien Brody). 

From AwardsWatch:  The winners at the 2024 Las Vegas Film Critics Society (LVFCS) Awards have been announced.  "Dune: Part Two" has won six awards, including "Best Picture" and "Best Director" (Denis Villeneuve).

From AwardsWatch:  The winners at the 2024 African-American Film Critics Association (AAFCA) Awards have been announced.  "Nickel Boys" has won "Best Picture" and "Best Director" (RaMell Ross). "Sing Sing" has won "Best Actor" (Colman Domingo) and "Best Supporting Actor" (Clarence Maclin).

From AwardsWatch:  The winners at the 2024 Phoenix Critics Circle (PCC) Awards have been announced.  "The Brutalist" has been named "Best Picture."  The films four total wins including for "Best Director" (Brady Corbet) and "Best Actor" (Adrien Brody).

From AwardsWatch:  The winners at the 2024 Chicago Film Critics (CFC) Awards have been announced.  "The Brutalist" has won "Best Picture."

From AwardsWatch:  The winners of the 2024 San Diego Film Critics Society (SDFCS) Awards have been announced.  "Sing Sing" won "Best Picture," won of three awards it received.

From AwardsWatch:  The winners of the 2024 Michigan Movie Critics Guild (MMCG) Awards have been announced.  "Anora" was named "Best Picture," one of its four wins.

From AwardsWatch:  The winners of the 2024 Atlanta Film Critics Circle Awards have been announced.  "Anora" was named "Best Film," one of four awards it won.

From AwardsWatch:  The winners at the 2024 Washington Area Film Critics Association Awards have been announced.  "Wicked" has won the award for "Best Feature."

From AwardsWatch:  The winners of the 49th Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards have been announced.  "Anora" was named "Best Picture."  Marianne Jean-Baptiste (for "Hard Truths") became the first Black woman to win a lead performance honor in the groups history.

From AwardsWatch:  The winners for the 2024 / 27th British Independent Film Awards have been announced.  The Irish film, "Kneecap," wins "Best British Independent Film."

From AwardsWatch:  The winners at the 2024 Boston Society of Film Critics (BSFC) have been announced.  "Anora" wins "Best Picture," "Best Director" (Sean Baker), "Best Actress" (Mikey Madison), and "Best Original Screenplay."

From AFI:  The American Film Institute has named its top ten films and television series.  Among the films honored are "Dune: Part Two," "Nickel Boys," and "Wicked."

From THR:  The winners at the 2024 / 37th European Film Awards have been announced.  "Emilia Perez" wins the award for "European Film."  It also won the directing (Jacques Audiard), writing (Audiard), and actress (Karla Sofia Gascon) honors.

From NBR:  The National Board of Review has named its 2024 film honorees.  "Wicked" wins "Best Film" and "Best Director" (for John M. Chu).

From Deadline:  The nominations for the 2025 / 40th Film Independent Spirit Awards have been announced.  Cannes 2024 Palme d'Or winner, "Anora," and "I Saw the TV Glow" each lead with six nominations apiece.  The winners will be announced Saturday, February 22, 2025.

From Deadline:  The winners of the 2024 / 90th New York Film Critics Circle Awards have been announced.  Director Brady Corbet's three-hour epic, "The Brutalist," has won "Best Film" and its star, Adrian Brody, has won "Best Actor."

From Variety:  The winners at the 2024 / 34th Gotham Awards have been announced.  Writer-director Aaron Schimberg's "A Different Man" has won the "Best Feature" award.

From Deadline:  The 2024 / 34th Gotham Awards kick off the 2024-25 movie awards season by announcing its nominations for achievement in film.  Director Sean Baker's "Anora," which won the Palme d'Or at Cannes this year, leads with four nominations.  The winners will be announced Monday, December 2, 2024.

From Deadline:  The nominations for the 2024 / 27th British Independent Film Awards have been announced.  The Irish film, "Kneecap," leads with 14 nominations. The winners will be announced Sunday, December 8, 2024.

BEST PICTURE WINNER COUNT:

From AwardsWatch:  This link will take you, dear readers, to "AwardWatch's" article, "Who Won What? - The 2024/2025 Film Award Precursor Guide."

"Anora": 14 wins (Atlanta Film Critics Circle; Austin Film Critics Association; Boston Society of Film Critics; CACF: DFWFCA; Georgia Film Critics Association; IFCA; LAFCA; Michigan Movie Critics Guild; OAFFC; NTFCA; Philadelphia Film Critics Circle; SFBAFCC; SFCA)

"The Beast": 1 win (Florida Film Critics Circle)

"The Brutalist": 9 wins (AWFJ; BOFCA; Chicago Film Critics; Golden Globes-Drama; MNFCA; Nevada Film Critics Society; NYFCC; Phoenix Critics Circle; Phoenix Film Critics Circle)

"Challengers": 1 win (GWNYFCA)

"Conclave":  2 wins (North Carolina Film Critics Association; Oklahoma Film Critics Circle)

"A Different Man": 1 win (Gotham Awards)

"Dune: Part Two" - 4 wins (LVFCS; Music City Film Critics Associations; St.LFCA; UKFCA)

"Emilia Perez":  3 wins (Capri, Hollywood-International Film Festival Awards; European Film Awards; Golden Globes-Comedy or Musical)

"Kneecap": 1 win (British Independent Film Awards)

"Nickel Boys": 4 wins (AAFCA; DiscussingFilm; National Society of Film Critics; TFCA)

"Sing Sing": 1 win (San Diego Film Critics Society)

"The Substance": 6 wins (COFCA; Indiana Film Journalists Association; KCFCC; NYFCO; OAFFC; Seattle Film Critics Society)

"Wicked": 2 wins (National Board of Review; WAFCA)

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Review: First "DEN OF THIEVES" Brought the Heat, Man

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 3 of 2025 (No. 2009) by Leroy Douresseaux

Den of Thieves (2018)
Running time: 140 minutes (2 hours, 20 minutes)
MPAA – PG-13 for violence, language and some sexuality/nudity
DIRECTOR: Christian Gudegast
WRITERS:  Christian Gudegast; from a story by Christian Gudegast and Paul Scheuring
PRODUCERS:  Gerard Butler, Mark Canton, Alan Siegel, and Tucker Tooley
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Stephen F. Windon (D.o.P.)
EDITORS: David S. Cox, Joel Cox, and Nathan Godley
COMPOSER: Cliff Martinez

ACTION/CRIME/DRAMA/THRILLER

Starring:  Gerard Butler, Pablo Schreiber, O'Shea Jackon, Jr., Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, Maurice Compte, Brian Van Holt, Evan Jones, Mo McRae, Kaiwi Lyman, Dawn Olivieri, Cooper Andrews, Jermaine Rivers, and Eric Braedon

Den of Thieves is a 2018 American action thriller, crime drama, and heist film from writer-director Christian Gudegast.  Den of Thieves focuses on the clash between an elite unit of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and a very successful bank robbery crew.

Den of Thieves opens at night and informs the viewer that Los Angeles, California is the “bank robbery capital of the world.”  In the city, there are 2400 bank robberies a year; 44 per week; 9 committed every day, which comes to about 1 every 48 minutes.  That same night, Ray Merrimen (Pablo Schreiber) leads a team of fellow ex-MARSOC Marines (United States Marines Special Operations Command) to hijack an armored truck that stops at a donut shop.  The ensuing shootout leaves several people dead, including one of Merrimen's crew.

Responding to the incident is Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Detective Nick “Big Nick” O'Brien (Gerard Butler) and his “Major Crimes Unit” team.  O'Brien and his team have Merrimen as their lead suspect in hijacking.  O'Brien and his crew are a “clique” or what is known as a “deputy gang.”  Acting like gang members, O'Brien and his crew kidnap Donnie Wilson (O'Shea Jackson, Jr.), an ex-marine who has been associated with Merrimen in the past, in order to coerce info on Wilson's alleged current association with Merrimen.

As his personal life falls apart, O'Brien gets more involved with Merrimen and his crew, even becoming more confrontational.  When Merriment targets the Federal Reserve Bank – Los Angeles Branch for a seemingly impossible heist, O'Brien finds himself in a complicated game of cat and mouse.  However, the reality of who is the cat and who are the mice is ever shifting.

I did not know that the Den of Thieves movie existed until I saw a commercial for its upcoming sequel, Den of Thieves 2: Pantera (2025), about two weeks ago (as of this writing).  I decided to watch the first film and found it on the “Max” streaming service.  It was not long into watching the film that I realized how much it heavily resembles director Michael Mann's classic heist film, Heat (1995).  One of the stars of Heat was the late actor, Tom Sizemore (1961-2023), and for some reason, Den of Thieves made me think of a short-lived television series in which Sizemore starred.  That would be “Robbery Homicide Division” (CBS, September 2002 to April 2023), for which Mann was also an executive producer.  [I really liked that show, by the way, and was sad when it was canceled.]  However, “Robbery Homicide Division” focused on the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), rather than the L.A Sheriff's Department (LASD).

Den of Thieves is a very entertaining film, and will likely delight fans of Los Angeles-set crime films (although the film was actually mostly shot in and around Atlanta, Georgia).  However, Den of Thieves' story and concept, which was created by writer-director Christian Gudegast and his now former partner, Paul Scheuring, would have been put to better use for a television series.  Den of Thieves is filled with characters that have interesting back stories, but the film only shows us glimpses of that – mostly concerning Gerard Butler's Nick O'Brien.

For the most part, the Den of Thieves' character writing relies on types rather than on depicting fully developed characters.  I can also say that the film's actors pretty much give one-note performances.  Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson's Enson Levoux has one great moment, one good moment, and mostly one-note moments the rest of the time.  Evan Jones' striking facial features with the help of the Den of Thieves' hair and make-up team saves his one-note character, “Bosco.”  By the end of the film, the viewer might realize that O'Shea Jackson, Jr.'s Donnie Wilson is a missed opportunity.

That said – I enjoyed the hell out of Den of Thieves, which makes me think that Hollywood never really maximized the rip-off potential of Michael Mann's Heat.  Den of Thieves is engaging, and the big shoot-outs are a blast to watch.  This film is alluring in what its potential offers – even in the times that it does not deliver on that potential.  It is a good film made very good by its last act, which is full of twists and turns, surprises, and shocking reveals.  I am not sure that I will see its sequel in a movie theater, but I will very likely re-watch Den of Thieves in the future. 

7 of 10
B+
★★★½ out of 4 stars

Friday, January 10, 2025


The text is copyright © 2025 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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Tuesday, January 7, 2025

Comics Review: Disney's "ZOOTOPIA" Brings Back the Film's Fun

ZOOTOPIA VOL. 1 #1
DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT

STORY: Jeff Parker
ART: Alessandro Ranaldi
COLORS: Dearbhla Kelly
LETTERS: Jeff Eckleberry
EDITOR: Nate Cosby
COVER: Trish Forstner
VARIANT COVER ARTISTS: Alessandro Ranaldi; Craig Rousseau; Trish Forstner
32pp, Color, $4.99 U.S. (January 2025)

Rated “Teen”

“Call Dropped”

Zootopia is a 2016 animated buddy-cop comedy film produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios.  Zootopia is set in a world of anthropomorphic animals (animals that talk and act like humans).  The film follows a rabbit named Judy Hopps, who is rookie police officer, and a fox named Nick Wilde, who is a con artist.  Judy and Nick end up working together to uncover a conspiracy involving the disappearance of predators.  At the end of the film, Nick graduates from the police academy and becomes Judy's partner.

Dynamite Entertainment has been producing licensed comic books based on Disney characters and IP since 2022.  The latest is a Zootopia comic book series, entitled Zootopia Volume 1.  It is written by Jeff Parker; drawn by Alessandro Ranaldi; colored by Dearbhla Kelly; and lettered Jeff Eckleberry.  The series continues the adventures of Judy and Nick and is set after the events of the original film.

Zootopia Volume 1 #1 (“Call Dropped”) opens in Zootopia Police Precinct 1.  Officer Hopps and Officer Wilde are known as the heroes who unraveled Assistant Mayor Dawn Bellweather's “prey-supremacist” conspiracy (as seen in the 2016 film).  This morning, however, Chief Bogo has them on the crowd control detail at the airport.

A V.I.P. is arriving, and it's Tripp Zebrando, CEO of PBJ.  Zebrando is introducing a new smart phone, and everyone wants one... that is except the people that are against smart phones.  The trouble starts when Zebrando's airship, “the Sky Cow,” becomes distressed.  It's Hopps and Wilde to the rescue and into another conspiracy... maybe.

THE LOWDOWN:  Since July 2021, Dynamite Entertainment's marketing department has been providing me with PDF review copies of some of their titles.  Zootopia Volume 1, Issue #1 is the latest.

I passed on Walt Disney's 2016 computer-animated hit film, Zootopia, when it first played in theaters.  Later, I started hearing good things about it, so I gave it a try on DVD (via Netflix).  I loved it, and I'm excited about the sequel film, which is due November 2025.

My enjoyment of the film virtually assured that I was going to give Dynamite's new comic book adaptation a try.  I can safely tell Zootopia fans that they will likely enjoy the comic book.  Series writer Jeff Parker is quite adept at writing comic books that adapt other media (DC Comics' Batman '66 and Future Quest) or that revisit comics stories from decades past (Marvel Comics' X-Men: First Class).  He offers an intriguing first issue of Zootopia, in which he smartly puts the movie's star character smack-dab in the middle of new conspiracy.

The series' artists, penciler-inker Alessandro Ranaldi and colorist Dearbhla Kelly, offer the most exciting storytelling that readers will find is similar to the aesthetic the original film.  Ranaldi's illustrations move so fast that I felt as if I were chasing the story in order to keep up with it.  Kelly's colors have the spark of Disney's animation magic and also make the story pop.  As usual, Jeff Eckleberry's lettering captures the motion and the noise.

I look forward to more Zootopia Volume 1.  Anyone who reads this first issue, dear readers, will feel the need to return for the second issue, at least.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of Dynamite Entertainment's Disney comic book series will want Zootopia Volume 1.

A

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"


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Monday, January 6, 2025

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