Advertise on podcast: Movies Merica

Director Guy Ritchie, when his movies don’t star Madonna, tends to make his movies about crime and capers and calamity. His latest movie, “In The Grey”, is no different. This time, instead of an unintelligible Brad Pitt or that guy who played Iron Man playing Sherlock Holmes, we get Henry Cavill and Jake Gyllenhaal playing some action and adventure bad-asses named Sid and Bronco, respectively. Their job is to protect big money debt collector and fixer extraordinaire Rachel Wild, played by Eiza Gonzalez. She sells the capital management firm who loaned a billion dollars to a drug boss, who is now not paying the billion back, on her being able to get the drug boss to pay it back. Predictably the drug boss, as drug bosses tend to do, turns this debt collection into a dangerous game of automatic weapons, mines, drones with bombs and booby traps. Ritchie brings his usual well-choreographed action to this movie but is it worth going to the theater to find out what happens? Check out this episode of Movies Merica to find out! “In The Grey” also stars Carlos Bardem, Rosamund Pike, Fisher Stevens, Michael Vu, Mohammed Al Turki, Kojo Attah, James Wong, Kristofer Hivju, Darrell D’Silva, Emmett J. Scanlan, Christian Ochoa Lavernia and Gonzalo Bouza.   Support the show Feel free to reach out to me via: @MoviesMerica on Twitter  @moviesmerica on Instagram Movies Merica on Facebook

If you weren’t alive to know, or old enough to comprehend, how massively popular Michael Jackson was in the 80s, just picture the biggest music star today and times it by five, at least. This week’s movie, “Michael”, tries to give you an idea about how big he was, but you really had to be there to know. This movie shines a bright light on the turbulent childhood the Jackson boys, particularly Michael, went through at the hands of their self-absorbed, tyrannical father, Joe Jackson. Joe created the Jackson 5, with Michael as the lead singer, and got them into the sights of Motown. That primarily got Michael made as the next megastar by Berry Gordy at Motown and Quincy Jones. Still in the background was Michael’s familial struggle with his father trying to rule his life with an iron fist and knowing his grip is slipping. Michael fights to be his own man and achieve his own dreams all while being the biggest music star of all time. Is it worth going to see this biopic at the theater? Check out Movies Merica to find out! “Michael” stars Jaafar Jackson, Colman Domingo, Nia Long, Miles Teller, Juliano Valdi, Liv Symone, Laura Harrier, Larenz Tate, John Rabe, KeiLyn Durrel Jones, Kendrick Sampson, Michael Andrew Baker and Zach Kenney.  Support the show Feel free to reach out to me via: @MoviesMerica on Twitter  @moviesmerica on Instagram Movies Merica on Facebook

When you think of some small town in Minnesota, do you think of action, intrigue, explosive excitement? No? Me neither. I think of ice augers, hot dish and grumpy old men, not automatic weapons, rocket launchers and C4 explosives. This week’s movie, “Normal”, might just blow your mind about small town Minnesota. Bob Odenkirk stars as Sheriff Ulysses Richardson who is serving as the temporary sheriff in the small town of Normal, Minnesota. At first it’s what he expects. Overly friendly people, potlucks and snow. Along the way, he sees some suspicious things that make his curiosity alarm bells go off such as the police armory with a weapons stockpile you could invade a small country with. Then a bank robbery lights the fuse on the town having to reveal its dark secret to the new sheriff and soon it’s adios Minnesota nice, hello Minnesota mayhem. Is it worth checking this out at the theater? Watch this episode of Movies Merica to find out! “Normal” also stars Ryan Allen, Billy MacLellan, Lena Headey, Henry Winkler, Reena Jolly, Brendan Fletcher, Peter Shinkoda, Jess McLeod and David Lawrence Brown.  Support the show Feel free to reach out to me via: @MoviesMerica on Twitter  @moviesmerica on Instagram Movies Merica on Facebook

There’s been more than a few movies surrounding a character down on their luck trying to punch, kick, jab, grapple, or all of the above, their way to success or back to success. Think “Rocky”, “Million Dollar Baby”, “Warrior”, etc. In 2026 we get a new entry into that movie genre, “Beast”, that revolves around MMA fighting. Oscar winner Russell Crowe plays Sammy, a MMA trainer and Daniel McPherson plays Patton James, a former MMA champion, who Sammy once trained. Patton had it all right in front of him after becoming champion and in one instant he threw it all away. Now years later, retired as a fighter and nearly broke, Patton’s younger brother is trying to be a MMA champion and is brutalized in a fight by another fighter, Xavier Grau, who Patton knocked out years ago. This draws Patton, and his wife and daughter, into a web of danger with Xavier, Xavier’s promoter and some local thugs. Will Patton be able to fight his way out of this one? Will Sammy help him after Patton betrayed him? Is it worth going to the theater to find out? Watch this episode of Movies Merica to find out! “Beast” also stars Luke Hemsworth, Bren Foster, Kelly Gale, Mojean Aria, George Burgess, Nathan Phillips, Sol Nc Carrico, Saphira Moran and Amy Shark.  Support the show Feel free to reach out to me via: @MoviesMerica on Twitter  @moviesmerica on Instagram Movies Merica on Facebook

The movie adaptation of Andy Weir’s novel, “Project Hail Mary” is a big box office hit. However, the first movie adaptation of a Andy Weir novel, that was a big box office hit, was “The Martian” starring Matt Damon in 2015. That’s what I’m retro reviewing this week. Damon plays astronaut/botanist Mark Watney, who’s part of a NASA mission on Mars. His team has to suddenly evacuate Mars and Mark is killed, or so his crew thinks. Surprise! He’s alive and the movie becomes all about the mission to save Mark. Is it worth finding out what happens next enough to watch this? Find out on this episode of Movies Merica Live! “The Martian” also stars Jessica Chastain, Michael Pena, Chiewetel Ejiofor, Jeff Daniels, Kate Mara, Kristen Wiig, Sebastian Stan, Sean Bean, Aksel Hennie, Benedict Wong, Mackenzie Davis and Donald Glover.  Support the show Feel free to reach out to me via: @MoviesMerica on Twitter  @moviesmerica on Instagram Movies Merica on Facebook

In the movie “Project Hail Mary”, scientists learn that in a few years, planet Earth will become unlivable and they need a way to prevent that. Who do ya call? Ken from the “Barbie” movie or rather, Ryan Gosling as Dr. Ryland Grace. Dr. Grace is a sheepish, introverted former molecular biologist turned middle school science teacher who is recruited into this program by the mysterious Stratt, played by Sandra Huller. Grace works on how to keep this microorganism in space, called “astrophage”, from siphoning the sun’s energy and destroying life on Earth. Circumstances eventually sees Grace sent into space where he has to use what they’ve learned on Earth to try to fight the astrophage. Along the way, Grace meets an alien who’s world is also in danger from the astrophage. Grace and the alien develop a working relationship and then a friendship and Grace names his new buddy, Rocky. Grace and Rocky have to do some dangerous things to try to save both their worlds. Is it worth going to the theater to find out what else happens? Watch this episode of Movies Merica to find out! “Project Hail Mary” also stars James Ortiz, Lionel Boyce, Milana Vayntrub, Ken Leung, Priya Kansara, Mia Soteriou, Annelle Olaleye and Maya Eva Hosein.  Support the show Feel free to reach out to me via: @MoviesMerica on Twitter  @moviesmerica on Instagram Movies Merica on Facebook

World War II was the biggest battle in history, and still is to this day. More people died during that war, than in any other event in world history. Of course at the end of it, there was a winner and there was a loser. Obviously one of the losers were the Nazis, and this episode’s movie, “Nuremberg”, is about putting the Nazi high command on trial, notably Hermann Goring. Oscar winner Russell Crowe plays Goring, the second in command in Germany behind you know who. Another Oscar winner, Rami Malek, plays a U.S. Army psychiatrist who is sent in to evaluate Goring, and the other members of the high command, before the Nuremberg trials can begin. Michael Shannon plays Supreme Court Justice Robert Jackson, who didn’t just want Goring and the others to just be executed. He wanted a trial to get Goring and company to tell the world what they’re guilty of. It’s a legal and high tension end to one of the most evil chapters in world history. Is it worth watching to see what happens? Check out this episode of Movies Merica to find out! “Nuremberg” also stars John Slattery, Leo Woodall, Wrenn Schmidt, Mark O’Brien, Lydia Peckham, Richard E. Grant, Colin Hanks, Lotte Verbeek and Andreas Pietschmann.  Support the show Feel free to reach out to me via: @MoviesMerica on Twitter  @moviesmerica on Instagram Movies Merica on Facebook

Like they say, behind every good Frankenstein’s monster is a great Frankenstein’s monster’s girlfriend??? If you’re scratching the bolts that are on both sides of your neck in confusion, fear not. Perhaps this week’s movie “The Bride” exclamation point will educate you and raise awareness as to what’s going on. This movie could, quite possibly, save lives! One of the lifesavers is Christian Bale, playing Frankenstein’s monster and the other is Jessie Buckley as The Bride exclamation point. They join forces as a sort of grotesque Bonnie and Clyde or Mickey and Mallory from “Natural Born Killers” in director Maggie Gyllenhaal’s “reimagining” of Mary Shelley’s classic story. Is it worth watching at the theater to find out what happens? Check out this episode of Movies Merica to find out! “The Bride!” also stars Annette Bening, Jake Gyllenhaal, Penelope Cruz, Peter Sarsgaard, John Magaro, Matthew Maher, Julianne Hough, Jeannie Berlin and Zlatko Buric. Support the show Feel free to reach out to me via: @MoviesMerica on Twitter  @moviesmerica on Instagram Movies Merica on Facebook

That Ghostface killer just won’t go away because while he’s stacking bodies in these Scream movies, he’s also stacking large stacks of cash for the movie studio. Therefore, I now present you “Scream 7”, the latest in the blood-soaked, big bucks franchise, started way back in 1996. In these movies, we’re now in the era where the final girl from most of the early Scream movies, Neve Campbell as Sydney Prescott, has had movies and books written about Ghostface killers terrorizing her. She’s a celebrity and she’s back as the main character in this latest installment. Joining her from the 1996 movie cast is Courtney Cox as Gale Weathers, the former news reporter and now media personality. A major new player introduced in “Scream 7” is Sydney’s daughter, Tatum, played by Isabel May and she’s the typical rebellious, moody teenager girl who annoys her Mom. Throughout the course of this movie, she learns she needs her Mom, and her experience with the psycho killer in the mask and black robe. Will mother and daughter survive this movie? Is it worth going to the theater to find out? Find out in this episode of Movies Merica! “Scream 7” also stars Jasmin Savoy-Brown, Mason Gooding, Joel McHale, McKenna Grace, Anna Camp, Celeste O’Connor, Sam Rechner, Asa Germann, Matthew Lillard, Kraig Dane, Ethan Embry and Mark Consuelos.  Support the show Feel free to reach out to me via: @MoviesMerica on Twitter  @moviesmerica on Instagram Movies Merica on Facebook

This episode’s movie, “How To Make A Killing”, is about the have a lots, and I mean a lot, vs. the have nots, primarily a have not named Beckett Redfellow played by Glen Powell. He is the son of the heiress to the $28 billion dollar Redfellow family fortune. However, his mother had him out of wedlock and was disowned by the family, but her and her son are still in line for the fortune. Beckett also has a sort of puppy love romance with a girl, Julia, when they’re both still kids. Fast forward to present day and adult Beckett is grinding out a meager living and he gets a visit from Julia (Margaret Qualley) at his work being a modest suit salesman. He’s still into her, but she’s getting married, but she still makes a off-handed joke that he should call her after he’s killed off the family members in front of him in the line for the family fortune. That gets Beckett thinking and soon after our plot is off and running. Is it worth going to the theater to learn what happens next? Find out in this episode of Movies Merica! “How To Make A Killing” also stars Jessica Henwick, Adrian Lukis, Zach Woods, Bill Camp, Topher Grace, Raff Law, Nell Williams, Bianca Amato and Ed Harris.  Support the show Feel free to reach out to me via: @MoviesMerica on Twitter  @moviesmerica on Instagram Movies Merica on Facebook

In “Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die”, the world is full of people who are addicted to their phones and social media, if you can imagine that. Suddenly a man from the future barges into a diner and warns that the future is hell because of everyone’s addiction to social media. He explains he’s recruiting people to help him fight to save the future from this fate and we’re off on a crazy, wacked out plot. Sam Rockwell plays the future man who has to lead this desperate campaign. Is it worth going to the theater to see what happens? Find out in this episode of Movies Merica! “Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die” also stars Michael Pena, Zazie Beets, Haley Lu Richardson, Juno Temple, Asim Chaudhry, Tom Taylor, Georgia Goodman and Artie Wilkinson-Hunt. Support the show Feel free to reach out to me via: @MoviesMerica on Twitter  @moviesmerica on Instagram Movies Merica on Facebook

If you think L.A. is Sodom and Gomorrah 2.0 today, it was not exactly Disney World in the 80s either. A movie came out in 1985 that showed the not so glamorous side of L.A. with a story about Secret Service agents chasing down a murderous, psychotic counterfeiter around L.A. That movie is William Friedkin’s “To Live And Die In L.A.”, and if Friedkin’s name sounds familiar, it’s because he also directed “The Exorcist” and “The French Connection.” He brings his gritty, never-know-what-you’re-gonna-get style to his action thriller. William L. Peterson plays the main character, Secret Service agent Richard Chance and his target in a quest for vengeance is a clever counterfeiter named Eric Masters, played by Willem Dafoe. Masters murders someone very close to Chance and that triggers a dangerous, frenzied pursuit where you never know who’s going to make it out alive. “To Live And Die In L.A.” is also famous for a 80s cool soundtrack by Wang Chung. Is it worth checking out? Check out this episode to find out! “To Live And Die In L.A.” also stars Darlanne Fluegel, John Pankow, Debra Feuer, Dean Stockwell, Steve James and Robert Downey Sr. Support the show Feel free to reach out to me via: @MoviesMerica on Twitter  @moviesmerica on Instagram Movies Merica on Facebook

Tom Hanks did a movie called “Cast Away” almost 30 years ago where his only “companion” on a remote tropical island was a volleyball named Wilson. Fast forward to now, and in this episode’s movie “Send Help”, we’re shown two people that are also trapped on a remote tropical island who would’ve preferred their only “companion” there was a volleyball. Rachel McAdams plays Linda Liddle and Dylan O’Brien plays her corporate boss, Bradley Preston, and they’re both trapped in the middle of nowhere after their corporate jet crashes. Linda back in the world was the hard working company employee, but because she’s socially awkward, gets passed over for promotions. Bradley is the smarmy, narcissistic, cruel owner of the company, only because he got it handed down to him by his Daddy, the company founder. He treats Linda like dirt even though her work keeps the company afloat. Next thing you know the tables are turned on a remote tropical island, where Linda is the boss and Bradley is the helpless subordinate, because Linda has survival skills and he doesn’t. Bradley doesn’t like this arrangement one bit, but Linda of course loves it. Even though Linda helps nurse him back to health and provides food and shelter for Bradley, he still is who he is. Also, Linda doesn’t ever want to leave this island, and the new power dynamic. This leads to some bloody conflict and chaos. Is it worth going to the theater to see everything that happens? Watch this episode to find out! “Send Help” also stars Dennis Haysbert, Edyll Ismail, Xavier Samuel, Chris Pang, Thaneth Warakulnukroh, Emma Raimi, Kristy Best, Francesca Waters and Olivia Sawyer.  Support the show Feel free to reach out to me via: @MoviesMerica on Twitter  @moviesmerica on Instagram Movies Merica on Facebook

Chris Pratt’s new movie takes us into a time where if you’ve been accused of a violent crime, no lawyer and no jury for you! “Mercy” is about a new AI criminal justice system that uses its super-duper AI powers to play judge, jury and executioner to those accused of violent crime. The accused are locked into a chair and sit face to face with the Mercy AI system which appears in the form of Rebecca Ferguson who looks better than most judges you’ll deal with. The accused then has 90 minutes to prove their innocence, and has the AI power of Mercy at their fingertips to do so. It’s a cinematic interpretation of the saying “Someone who is their own lawyer has a fool for a client.” In this movie’s case, Pratt is a detective so he’s got a bit of criminal investigation experience and he puts it to use after he’s the one in the Mercy chair, accused of killing his wife. He gets to look through all the evidence. Call anyone in the law enforcement community and they’ll go anywhere you need them to in order to find clues, leads, etc. As Pratt leads this investigation to clear himself, he uncovers a sinister plot. Is it worth finding out more in the theater? Watch this episode to find out! “Mercy” also stars Annabelle Wallis, Chris Sullivan, Kali Reis, Kylie Rogers, Jeff Pierre, Rafi Gavron, Kenneth Choi, Jamie McBride and Ross Gosla.  Support the show Feel free to reach out to me via: @MoviesMerica on Twitter  @moviesmerica on Instagram Movies Merica on Facebook

The Rage Virus was unleashed upon the world by some environmentalist terrorists, turning people into bloodthirsty zombies, and now it’s 28 years later. In “28 Years Later: The Bone Temple”, people have begin to adapt to this savage, murderous, bloody world. Bad news is, so have the bloodthirsty zombies. Since this world is changing, only the most aware, the most intelligent and/or the strongest will survive. Enter Dr. Kelson, played by Ralph Fiennes, who takes innovative steps in his fight against those with the Rage Virus, like coating himself in iodine, which he says prevents being infected by the virus. In the previous “28 Years Later” movie, he had to protect a young boy, Spike, and his mother, Isla. Now a new threat emerges. Is this world ready to deal with them? Is it worth finding out in the theater? Watch this episode to find out! “28 Years Later: The Bone Temple” also stars Jack O’Connell, Alfie Williams, Connor Newall, Erin Kellyman, Maura Bird, Ghazi Al Ruffai, Robert Rhodes, Emma Laird, Sam Locke and Chi Lewis-Parry.  Support the show Feel free to reach out to me via: @MoviesMerica on Twitter  @moviesmerica on Instagram Movies Merica on Facebook