By TeeJay Small
| Published 1 second ago

Back in 2022, Top Gun: Maverick dominated the box office, and made waves as one of the most successful legacy sequels of all time. Despite the original Top Gun being such a major hit, audiences were shocked to see the follow-up perform so well nearly 40 years down the line. Now, according to a report from Variety, we can confirm that Tom Cruise has officially signed on to make Top Gun 3. The third installment has long been rumored to be in the works, though Cruise has yet to confirm his involvement until a recent appearance at CinemaCon in Las Vegas.

What A Successful Legacy Sequel Looks Like

In case you don’t recall, Top Gun: Maverick released in May of 2022, right when the turmoil of the COVID-19 pandemic was just beginning to die down. As a result, the film became one of the first blockbusters that reassured studios and audiences alike that the theater industry would eventually bounce back. To this day, some fans still credit Maverick for saving cinema as we know it. The film grossed over $1.5 billion on a $170 million budget, making it one of the most financially lucrative outings of all time.

From an artistic perspective, Top Gun: Maverick was also respected for delivering high octane thrills and really solid character work. Some viewers criticized the sequel for its bare bones plot, but others recognized it as one of the best “vibes movies” of the decade. Newcomers to the franchise such as Miles Teller and Glen Powell also received a major boon for their career, while Tom Cruise and Val Kilmer got to give their original characters a nice send-off.

The Next Big Blockbuster?

For now, there’s no word on the plot of the new film, though we can surmise that Maverick and crew will return to their naval base to perform some sick aerial moves and save the day. Powell, Teller, and several others are confirmed to be joining Cruise in the upcoming movie, with Ehren Kruger attached to pen the screenplay. Kruger is previously credited with co-writing Top Gun: Maverick alongside Eric Warren Singer and frequent Tom Cruise collaborator Christopher McQuarrie.

If everything goes according to plan, Top Gun 3 could be even bigger than the last film. With no ongoing pandemic to contend with, and few massive blockbuster films on the horizon, the threequel might even have a shot at cracking the top ten highest grossing movies of all time. For now, we’ll just have to wait and see what Cruise and his team have in store. In the meantime, both Top Gun and Top Gun: Maverick are streaming for free on Pluto TV, so there’s plenty of time to catch up on the franchise.

The neo-noir film really had a decadently diverse decade-long moment, spanning 2010 to 2020 (after a glorious run in the 2000s). The updated version of the 1940s noir saw an eclectic array of movies unveiled that all did the form justice, and then some. While many of these great movies deviated from the standard structure of the noir, they all contributed something darkly satisfying to the genre.

Here is a vital collection of the best neo-noirs from the 2010s. Some of these feature truly tortured protagonists, like in You Were Never Really Here, and others lean heavily into the snide comedy of the form, as seen in The Nice Guys. Any way you slice it, these are noir gems that need another (smoldering) look.

10

‘Inherent Vice’ (2014)

Image via Warner Bros.

Adapting a celebrated novel into a film can be quite challenging. It’s exceedingly difficult to cram all the action into a two-hour-long movie and really do the book justice. Yet, that didn’t deter Paul Thomas Anderson in the slightest from tackling Inherent Vice (he gave himself some wiggle room, as he added an extra half hour). This expansive neo-noir with a darkly comedic twist features some very odd sequences, but is quite engaging throughout.

The story, which adheres mostly to Thomas Pynchon’s literary source material of the same name, is centered on Larry “Doc” Sportello (Joaquin Phoenix, in a very different role than the one further down on this list), a pot-head private investigator living in Los Angeles during the revolutionary, drug-fueled 1970s. He investigates a case which involves the kidnapping of his free-loving ex, Shasta Fay Hepworth (Katherine Waterston), and her current, older lover Mickey Wolfmann (the always entertaining Eric Roberts), a wealthy real estate developer. The plot thickens as Doc has to contend with Christian F. “Bigfoot” Bjornsen (Josh Brolin), an old-school detective who abhors the hippy-dippy lifestyle. Things get even more complex as an underground crime syndicate is unearthed, and yet another missing (presumed dead) dude, musician Coy Harlingen (Owen Wilson), gets thrown into the mix. The dense, somewhat convoluted plot is in good hands with Anderson, who unabashedly loves to lean into the eccentric.

9

‘Bad Times at the El Royale’ (2018)

Image via 20th Century Studios

This 1969-set ensemble-period-piece neo-noir has got it all: a spicy mystery, an intriguing, state-straddling location, throwback aesthetics, and…a Hemsworth. Ambitiously written and directed by Drew Goddard, the story is a cleverly interwoven tapestry of crime-centered riddles. The mood, tone, and timber of this film are just right, as the ironically bold charm of the era is depicted in vivid detail.

The story takes place at the titular hotel, which is half in California, half in Nevada — which naturally leads to a lot of the fun. The narrative consists of several people’s perspectives: Dwight Broadbeck (Jon Hamm), a seemingly slick salesman who is really an FBI agent working undercover at the hotel, Father Daniel Flynn (Jeff Bridges), a priest afflicted with senility who is trying to uncover some hidden loot, Darlene Sweet (Cynthia Erivo), a crooner with professional and financial woes, and Emily Summerspring (Dakota Johnson), who’s fresh out of a zesty cult — led by Billy Lee, (a deranged Chris Hemsworth). It’s as fun as it sounds, and surprises at nearly every turn (with more good than bad times, cinematically).

8

‘Nocturnal Animals’ (2016)

Image via Focus Features

Art-within-art formats sometimes overwhelmingly succeed in film (and sometimes don’t). Here, in fashion maven/sometimes director Tom Ford’s sumptuous film Nocturnal Animals, the semi-true-story within the actual story device is employed to perfection. Ford also co-wrote the script, which is based on the novel Tony and Susan by Austin Wright — and while the movie definitely feels like a book, it is also very much alive, pulsating, and dangerous in tone.

The story focuses on a high-end art gallery owner, the mostly miserable Susan Morrow (played by the ‘is-she-ever-not-amazing?’ Amy Adams). A copy of a manuscript arrives at her luxurious home, and a curious Susan dives in. It’s written by Edward Sheffield (Jake Gyllenhaal), her scorned, volatile ex (depicted as Tony Hastings in the “book”). As she consumes the material, the live action plays out in her mind (with Adams’ lookalike Isla Fisher playing the distorted version of herself, Laura Hastings). It’s violent, brutal, and the symbolism is just as painfully felt as if the actions were real. It’s a neo-noir in an opaque sense, but still strikes all the thrilling cords one expects from the morally murky sub-genre.

7

‘In the Fade’ (2017)

Image via Warner Bros. Pictures

More of a crime revenge story than anything else, In the Fade harkens back to some noirs of yore, where vengeance is at the forefront of the protagonist’s tortured mind. Directed and co-written by Fatih Akin, the film is an indictment of a corrupt legal system, and how the people’s lives affected by it become irrevocably damaged.

The tale begins with Katja (played with the utmost ferocity by Diane Kruger) losing her husband, Nuri Sekerci (Numan Acar), and little son — after some neo-Nazis blow up a building they are occupying in Germany. There is a maddening trial where all Katja experiences is injustice and a severe lack of closure. After the courtroom drama stuff is done, the film kicks into high gear, as Katja takes matters into her own, unapologetic hands — and that’s when things get really good. Revenge may be a dish best served cold, but it’s white-hot in this emotional film, and delivered with sublimely lethal skill.

6

‘Nightcrawler’ (2014)

Image via Open Road Films

Nightcrawler really pushes the boundary of “anti-hero” to its breaking point, so much so that the protagonist, Louis Bloom (a completely unhinged Jake Gyllenhaal), is more of a straight-up villain. Nevertheless, the film doesn’t suffer from this at all, as the viewer still roots for this borderline sociopath the whole way through…mostly.

The story of writer-director Dan Gilroy’s sleek, acerbic film is focused on a crime scene photographer (a “stringer.”) He’s a vulture of sorts, forever circling fresh accidents in hopes of capturing gruesome images. The problem is that his avaricious appetite for money and “fame” knows no limitations, and he begins to commit crimes that he can then take snapshots of. It’s a deviously clever way to earn a buck; as network news director Nina Romina (Rene Russo) says, “If it bleeds, it leads.” Gilroy’s morbidly fascinating film explicitly showcases a leech existing in the underground world of Los Angeles, and doesn’t shy away from the grime. A condemnation of the sensationalized way news is consumed, this neo-noir captures all the right sick beats.

5

‘You Were Never Really Here’ (2017)

Image via Amazon Studios

You Were Never Really Here is more of an intense drama than a true crime thriller, but its nihilistic tone is steeped deep in the noirs of old. Director Lynne Ramsay handles the grim theme here with practiced finesse; he highlights the emotional tension when appropriate, and steps on the vengeance-fueled gas the rest of the film. It’s a bleak, heart-wrenching story, but it’s full of stunning images and exhilarating sequences.

Joaquin Phoenix gives one of the most real, painful, and best performances of his storied career. He plays Joe, a former FBI agent and Gulf War vet, who now works as a ruthless retriever of kidnapped kids. He’s given an assignment by the slick senator Albert Votto (Alex Manette) to find his missing daughter, Nina (Ekaterina Samsonov). All appears to go well…until it doesn’t. Turns out the whole thing was an extremely complicated set-up designed for devious political maneuverings. As poor Joe deals with PTSD from his scarred life, he does his best to save Nina and fight his own personal demons (all as he has to battle real-life ones). It’s a cruel world, and Joe is just trying his best to be good. Now that is a solid noir theme.

4

‘Looper’ (2012)

Image via Sony Pictures Releasing

While this excellent genre-mash-up film leans heavily into the sci-fi realm, it’s a decidedly dark neo-noir thriller as well. Looper is the story of a hitman from the future who gets sent back in time, by organized crime figures, to eliminate targets…before they become a real problem (obviously borrowing a bit of time travel plotting from The Terminator). Things get somewhat sticky when this crafty gun for hire is sent back to take out one very specific target…himself.

Writer-director Rian Johnson’s film explores a very cool concept (“closing the loop,” as it were), but it’s oh so much more than that. The young hitman, Joe, is played by a well-oiled Joseph Gordon-Levitt — while the mature version of this character is portrayed by Bruce Willis, who was at the height of his “older action star” days. Some great turns by Piper Perabo, as the cabaret dancer/femme fatale, Suzie, and Emily Blunt as a fiercely protective mom, Sara, add to the overall quality of this well-designed head trip. By the time the climax arrives, there are so many twisty alleys that Joe has ventured down, it’s a miracle that he (and the audience) emerge with sanity intact.

3

‘The Nice Guys’ (2016)

Image via Warner Bros.

Snappy dialogue has long been a staple of the classic noir, and screenwriter Shane Black is acutely aware of how much the well-placed one-liner can heighten a film. The Nice Guys, which is also directed by Black, is a highly entertaining private detective story, with a twist. Set in late 1970s Los Angeles, this slick film contains Black’s trademark quips and clever plot devices, but it also highlights the wild vibe of the times — all wrapped up in an intricately devised mystery.

The (ironically titled) story is centered on Holland March (Ryan Gosling, at his sarcastic best), a somewhat disreputable private investigator. After roughly scuffling with professional thug Jackson Healy (Russell Crowe, grumbling away nicely), Holland teams up with him in the search for a missing teen, Amelia (the refreshing Margaret Qualley). But wait, that’s not all; their story interlocks with the suspicious death of adult film star Misty Mountains (Murielle Telio). Everyone’s comedic chops are on full display here, even in the midst of this slightly morbid tale. Noir filmmakers of the past would be proud.

2

‘Sin City: A Dame to Kill For’ (2014)

Image via The Weinstein Company

If there is a better representation of a graphic novel in cinema, it must be hidden under a rock somewhere. Sin City presented one of the most uniquely inventive visual films ever, combining live action with an overlay of sleek animation. Beyond stylized, the use of black and white (a tasty throwback to noir classics), replete with all the shadowing that makes a noir great, with very strategic splashes of extremely vivid color, was an ingenious technique to employ. Beyond just the stunning images, the film as a whole is a remarkable achievement in cinema. Sin City: A Dame to Kill For picks up right where the original left off.

The multi-narrative story features four tales, all derived directly from Frank Miller’s beloved comics, that play out on their own and then intersect masterfully. The first, “A Dame to Kill For,” focuses on Dwight McCarthy (Josh Brolin) as a somewhat dense private dick who is led astray by the stunningly alluring Ava Lord (swoon, Eva Green, who maps out the blueprint for the ideal neo-femme-fatale). Next is “Nancy’s Last Dance,” where exotic dancer Nancy Callahan (Jessica Alba) seeks revenge against the dastardly Senator Roark (Powers Boothe) for the murder of her detective beau. “The Long Bad Night” sees Johnny (Joseph Gordon-Levitt, who seems to love noirs) try his luck against Roark in an underground poker match. Finally, the fourth story is about Marv (Mickey Rourke, finding strength again as a broken down brute) as he wakes with amnesia and basically just beats everyone up as he seeks answers. These stories either follow ones from the first film, or are prequels to them. All in all, a superbly crafted movie, with more dark pleasures than should be allowed.

1

‘Drive’ (2011)

Image via FilmDistrict

Sometimes, less is more. That’s the case with the protagonist of Drive (Ryan Gosling), who utters a mere 891 words in the whole movie — proving that words can be hollow and body language can be awfully expressive. This apparently was a creative choice made between the director, Nicolas Winding Refn, and Gosling, who had just come off a dialogue-heavy film. The end result is a movie that really highlights what film is all about: stories told through images. Oh, and music, too, as this baby features one of the best synth-based soundtracks of all time.

Gosling is known only as “Driver,” a stuntman who leads an exciting life by day working in Hollywood — but, by night, he is employed as a getaway driver for criminals. As one would expect, something is bound to go wrong. Because Driver has a conscious, he elects to help his neighbor Irene (Carey Mulligan) and her little kid, and he acts as a driver for her freshly un-incarcerated husband, Standard (Oscar Isaac). Things go awry, and now Driver finds himself at the mercy of ruthless crime boss, Bernie Rose (Albert Brooks, playing wonderfully against his wryly good-hearted type here). This film is a true achievement in movie making because it not only keeps the viewer on the edge of their seat at pivotal moments, it also slows things down to a crawl, as Driver’s internal strife is silently conveyed. Laden with symbolism (just check out Driver’s “scorpion and frog” jacket), this film is layered with deep meanings — often counter to what is initially presented. Even Christina Hendricks, as the ostensible femme fatale, Blanche, is not what she seems. So hit the brakes and give this neo-noir classic a spin.

Advertisement

Drive

Advertisement

Release Date

September 16, 2011

Runtime

100 minutes

Advertisement

Director

Nicolas Winding Refn

Advertisement

Writers

Hossein Amini

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

By TeeJay Small
| Published 1 hour ago

Now that Marvel is shifting full force into the Avengers: Doomsday era, each member of the long-running franchise is preparing to enter a new chapter for their respective characters. Endgame saw major structural changes in the cinematic universe, with the loss of flagship characters like Tony Stark and Natasha Romanoff, opening up leading positions for a younger generation of heroes. Tom Holland‘s Spider-Man was expected to take a leading role among the Avengers in future installments, but the actor is already planning an exit from the franchise, per a write-up in Variety.

During a recent interview, Tom Holland described an interest in passing the torch to a younger hero, and closing the book on his iteration of the friendly neighborhood web-head. Specifically, he articulated “whoever’s next, whether that is a Miles Morales or a Spider-Gwen or a Spider-Woman or something like that, I would love to be a part of setting up the next chapter.” He then added that he’d like to “do what Downey did for me, then I would be so content swinging off into the sunset.”

No Sure Timeline Yet

For those who don’t recall, Holland’s Spider-Man was sort of back-doored into the MCU by Robert Downey Jr.’s Iron Man, who sought the web-slinger’s assistance during the events of Captain America: Civil War. After the success of that film, fans received three standalone Spider-Man movies with Holland at the helm, though Tony Stark loomed large over each outing. Holland’s first main-line Marvel film, Spider-Man: Homecoming, featured RDJ in a very prominent role, guiding Spidey through the dos and don’ts of local crime fighting and work-life balance.

If we’re to take Tom Holland at his word, it sounds like he only plans to stick around for a few more movies before making a graceful exit in favor of a new Spider-themed hero. This would be a bit surprising, since he hasn’t really had the chance to lead the Avengers into battle like Tony Stark and Steve Rogers have so many times before. His next main-line outing Spider-Man: Brand New Day is currently on pace to premiere in July, and the character is expected to play a major role in Avengers: Doomsday this December, but we don’t know much more about Marvel’s plans for Holland after that.

Spidey Still Makes Bank

Even if Tom Holland wants out, it’s tough to imagine Disney letting him off the hook. His MCU films tend to pull in massive box office revenue, even when compared to other flagship Marvel outings. Homecoming touts a box office return of over $880 million, while the follow-ups Far From Home and No Way Home grossed $1.1 billion and $1.9 billion respectively. That makes No Way Home the eighth highest grossing film of all time, trailing just barely behind Avengers: Infinity War.

Given Disney’s ravenous propensity to squeeze every last drop of profitability out of their IP, it feels unlikely that they’d be content to let their cash cow swing into the sunset never to return. Even Robert Downey Jr. and Chris Evans are returning for Doomsday, so there’s little hope of anybody getting a clean exit here. For now, we’ll just have to wait and see what the future holds, though it seems much more likely that, to borrow a phrase from Deadpool, “they’re gonna make him do this till he’s 90.”

By Chris Snellgrove
| Published 12 seconds ago

While many nerds will always remember him best as the Green Goblin, Willem Dafoe has had a long and absolutely kickass career filled with challenging roles, and he hasn’t slowed down yet. That is certainly clear from his thriller Inside that is now streaming on Peacock: it had us on the edge of our seats the whole time and, more importantly, reminded us there is something to stream on this service besides reruns of The Office.

If you’d like to stay on the edge of your seat, often with your hand over your eyes, we recommend you stream it today.

A Classic Setup With A Twist

Part of what makes Inside so interesting is that it combines a classic theme with a very modern setting. For example, Dafoe himself plays an art thief who has plenty of experience pilfering priceless works of art from the homes of the rich and famous. Based on this initial premise, it seems like Inside would be more like a traditional caper: basically, Entrapment meets Ocean’s Eleven. However, while he has professional contacts to help him pull off his fantastic thefts, Willem Dafoe’s character is completely on his own when he disguises himself as a handyman in order to break into the Manhattan highrise of a fabulously wealthy art collector.

It’s meant to be the kind of quick “in and out” heist he specializes in, but the aging art thief accidentally sets off the high-tech security system that guards the residence. This leads to the last outcome he was expecting: being trapped inside a stranger’s house and completely isolated, especially after his contacts abandon him to his fate.

That fate is surprisingly scary and shockingly grim for the simple fact that the wealthy homeowner doesn’t return. Soon, it’s clear that going to prison for his criminal history is the last thing that Willem Dafoe’s character must worry about.

Instead, as he is trapped inside a home with no way out, no way to communicate with others, and very little food, the urbane art thief soon finds himself in a fight for his very survival.

A Perfectly Sparse Survival Thriller

There are many reasons we love Inside as a film, and one of them is that it’s a master class in making an entire cinematic meal out of very few ingredients. For example, aside from Willem Dafoe, there are only two other actors in the entire film.

The film is mostly limited to a single interior setting, but thanks to the many rooms of this exotic house and the skills of the director, it feels just as expansive as other movies where characters keep moving from one exotic locale to another.

Speaking of the director’s skills, special credit should go to director Vasilis Katsoupis: this was his feature film debut, and given the sheer quality of Inside, we’re confident that you’re going to be seeing his name quite a bit more in the future.

Inside’s Reception From Audiences And Critics

The movie made a big splash when it premiered at the 73rd Berlin International Film Festival. While it made a very modest box office of $897,190, this ambitious movie has found new life and a serious cult following on the streaming service Peacock.

Over on Rotten Tomatoes, Inside currently has a 61 percent critical rating. While some critics complained about the limited setting of the film (which was kind of the point of the movie), most of them praised Willem Dafoe’s powerful performance as one that keeps you gripped to the screen.

Since this movie is basically a survival horror film, many critics enjoyed seeing Dafoe flex some of the same horror chops that he showed off in the excellent movie The Lighthouse alongside Robert Pattinson.

Ultimately, Inside is the perfect movie to watch for audiences who have been complaining that every modern Hollywood movie is just another lame retread of what came before. It’s a movie with a great premise and interesting setting, and it forces us to constantly ask questions about the thorny relationship between art, technology, and human suffering. The powerhouse performance from Willem Dafoe is the cherry on top of a film you’re going to be thinking about for a good, long time.  

New York Knicks player Jose Alvarado nearly knocked out former NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg during Game 3 of the 2026 NBA Finals.

The Knicks point guard, 28, collided with the politician, 84, in a scary moment during the fourth quarter of the all-important game at Madison Square Garden in New York City on Monday, June 8.

Alvarado was charging after a ball when he went flying into the first row, seemingly toppling over Bloomberg from his courtside seat. Several nearby fans immediately reached over to check on Bloomberg, including NFL legend Eli Manning and New York Yankees favorite Derek Jeter.

As Alvarado emerged from the entanglement, he was patting Bloomberg’s knee and asking if he was alright. The former mayor seemed shaken but nodded “yes” to Alvarado as action on the court resumed play.

“As Alvarado dives into the stands, he checks with former New York City mayor Mike Bloomberg,” play-by-play announcer Mike Breen explained to ABC viewers.

Analyst Richard Jefferson then joked, “You never know who you’ll run into at a Knick game!”

The collision may have been an omen for a difficult quarter ahead for the Knicks, as they went on to lose 115-111 to the San Antonio Spurs. (The Knicks still lead the 2026 NBA finals 2-1 going into Thursday’s Game 4 at Madison Square Garden.)

Monday’s game was eventful as Cardi B performed her hits “Bodega Baddie” and “Bodak Yellow” during a special halftime show at the world’s most famous arena.

President Donald Trump also attended Game 3 along with his granddaughter, Kai Trump. The New York City crowd gave Trump a less-than-friendly welcome as he was showered with boos when shown on the jumbotron before Monday’s game.

Prior to Game 3, conservative activist Ann Coulter railed against Trump attending the game because of how it would impact businesses around Madison Square Garden.

Thank You!

You have successfully subscribed.

Advertisement

Related: NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani Trolls Vivek Ramaswamy After Knicks Sweep Cavaliers

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani wasted no time in rubbing the Knicks’ dominant Eastern Conference Finals performance in the face of Ohio native and 2024 presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy. Shortly after the Knicks defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals on Monday, May 25, Mamdani, 34, re-posted a social […]

“Of all the selfish, narcissistic things Trump has done, attending MSG to see the Knicks play in person Monday night is the absolute worst,” Coulter, 64, wrote via X on Sunday, June 7. “20,000 attendees will be MASSIVELY inconvenienced for all the extra security, the Knicks Watch Party at Garden Is canceled, thousands of extra law enforcement officers will be required (paid for by taxpayers), traffic will be a disaster — all so he can sit in the Garden rather than watch the game on TV.”

Trump reportedly left his luxury box with around seven minutes to go in the fourth quarter. He had been sitting with Knicks owner James Dolan after receiving a personal invite to attend the NBA Finals game.

Other notable public figures in attendance for Game 3 included Knicks superfan Timothée Chalamet, Jay-Z, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit star Mariska Hargitay, Larry David and current  New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani.

By Chad Langen
| Published 50 seconds ago

Ryan Gosling is making a big splash with his most recent big-budget blockbuster, Project Hail Mary. However, his lesser-known projects, like the romantic crime thriller All Good Things, are always worth a look. Even though the movie didn’t make a lot of noise when it was released in 2010, its presence on Netflix could introduce it to a fresh audience, giving it the attention it deserves.

A Unique Blend Of True Crime And Fiction

All Good Things grips viewers with its intriguing story that blends real-life events with creative interpretation. Gosling, known for his versatility, gives a commendable performance in the film, portraying Robert Durst, a wealthy heir to a real estate empire in New York. Kristen Dunst turns in a remarkable performance as Goslin’s on-screen wife, Katie.

The plot of All Good Things is based on the life of Robert Durst, effectively portrayed by Ryan Gosling, whose privileged life takes a dramatic turn due to his complicated personal relationships. Gosling’s character is seen struggling with family pressures, an abusive childhood, and the mysterious disappearance of his wife. The narrative skillfully intertwines these elements, creating a captivating portrayal of Durst’s life that is both tense and tragic.

The cast of All Good Things includes Ryan Gosling, Kirsten Dunst, and Frank Langella, who portrays Gosling’s powerful and intimidating father, Sanford. Additional standout performances come from Lily Rabe, Philip Baker Hall, Michael Esper, Nick Offerman, and Kristen Wiig. Each actor enriches the film with compelling performances that bring their respective characters to life.

All Good Things, produced by Marc Smerling and Andrew Jarecki, delivers a riveting exploration of a notorious crime, striking a balance between stark reality and cinematic allure. By filming primarily in New York, where the real events took place, the film’s authenticity is heightened, which deepens viewers’ engagement with Ryan Gosling’s depiction of Durst. Each component, from cinematography to production design, aligns with the director’s vision to adhere closely to the real-life narrative.

Truth Is Stranger Than Fiction

All Good Things, despite director Andrew Jarecki’s dedication to presenting Robert Durst’s true story, was met with mixed reviews upon its release. Ryan Gosling and Kirsten Dunst’s performances received praise from many critics, though some critiqued the film’s narrative pacing. However, amidst these diverse opinions, the film succeeded in amassing a loyal cult following over the years.

Interestingly, Robert Durst, the real-life figure that Ryan Gosling’s character is based on, actually cooperated with the movie’s production. Despite the film’s rather unflattering portrayal, Durst admitted that the movie accurately represented his life. In fact, he spent more than 20 hours talking with Andrew Jarecki over a multi-year period.

The impact of All Good Things is perhaps best exemplified by its connection to the true crime documentary, The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst. Andrew Jarecki, the director of both, leveraged the narrative elements and Ryan Gosling’s haunting performance in the film to create an even more compelling exploration of Durst’s life. This documentary was instrumental in Durst’s eventual arrest, as it brought fresh attention to the decades-old crimes associated with him.

The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst, which came out in 2015, was sparked by Durst’s expressed admiration for All Good Things. After the film’s release, Durst reached out to Andrew Jarecki, offering himself for an interview, a departure from his history of refusing to collaborate with journalists. This phone conversation was recorded and later integrated into the documentary.

All Good Things is a gripping film that makes a deep impression on its audience. Its riveting storyline, potent performances, and correlation with actual events create a distinctive cinematic experience that remains with viewers long after the credits roll. Notably, the film’s significance extends beyond entertainment as its influence on The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst, and its consequential role in Durst’s arrest highlight the undeniable cultural importance and impact this film holds within society.

All Good Things is currently available to stream on Netflix.

The Western is particularly popular right now, and, in recent memory, few faces are as synonymous with the genre as Kevin Costner. As John Dutton in Taylor Sheridan‘s hugely popular Yellowstone, Costner helped revitalize the Western for a new audience, with the years since packed with big streaming hits, often from other Sheridan projects. However, in May 2023, it was announced that Costner would hang up his cowboy hat and leave Paramount’s flagship series, instead opting to apply his entire focus to a long-time passion project.

Not satisfied with directing, co-writing, producing, and starring in his supposed four-part Western epic Horizon: An American Saga, Costner would also largely self-fund the project that reportedly took him 35 years to make. All the hype surrounding the opening chapter, released in theaters in June 2024, quickly dissipated, as the movie became one of the year’s most high-profile box office flops by earning just $38 million against a supposed $50 million production budget. Following this disaster, the wheels quickly came off the Horizon wagon, as the future of the whole saga was put into doubt.

Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 2, which was filmed at the same time as Chapter 1, was then quickly put back on the shelf, despite being screened at the Venice Film Festival in 2024. The public still awaits the next installment of the epic Western saga, although Costner remains adamant it will see the light of day, telling the Savannah Film Festival that they were looking for “the right distribution partner.” Truthfully, the dramatic Western saga we’ve all been glued to has been happening off-screen, as the many twists and turns in the Horizon story look likely to entice a greater audience to the release of the sequel.

‘Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1’ Is a Streaming Hit

The fascinating story of Horizon behind-the-scenes has helped encourage viewers to check out what all the fuss is about. After its arrival on the streamer recently, Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1 has officially placed as one of the ten most-streamed movies on Prime Video in the U.S., at the time of writing. This is despite facing some tough competition from other popular movies, including Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, Despicable Me 4, the Oscar-winning One Battle After Another, and the brand-new Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan: Ghost War.

Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1 is streaming now on Prime Video. Stay tuned to Collider for more streaming stories.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Release Date

June 28, 2024

Runtime

Advertisement

182 minutes

Producers

Howard Kaplan, Mark Gillard

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Jack Ryan is a character whose creation felt like a novelty, as he was highly distinct among the other heroes that emerged in the 1980s. Based on the first novel in Tom Clancy’s popular series of “Ryanverse” novels, The Hunt for Red October introduced Ryan as a fiercely intelligent, deeply honorable CIA agent who later became the lead character in several films, portrayed by acclaimed actors such as Alec Baldwin, Harrison Ford, Ben Affleck, and Chris Pine. However, modern interpretations struggled to remain relevant because Clancy’s politics were grounded in the Cold War, and espionage looked much different in a post-9/11 era. Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan is a great adaptation because it retains the spirit of the author’s original stories yet applies Clancy’s approach to modern issues.

‘Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan’ Isn’t a Traditional Origin Story

As was the case with the original films, Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan turned the character into an unlikely hero because he was an analyst, not someone with any fieldwork experience. John Krasinski’s version of Ryan is the CIA’s sharpest expert on international relations and initially teams up with station chief James Greer (Wendell Pierce) to track down a series of irregular bank transfers linked to Middle Eastern terrorists. It would have been easy to pick out different international groups and make them each a “villain of the week,” but Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan doesn’t have the same reverence for American exceptionalism as some of its predecessors did. The most interesting update the series made to the source material is its depiction of Ryan as someone deeply conflicted about his work with the CIA; while he knows that institutional corruption clouds all his actions, it also provides him with an opportunity to do some good.

Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan doesn’t need to delve deeply into Ryan’s backstory because he begins to pick up skills and develop his worldview as he gains more experience. Krasinski’s performance works because he embodies the best traits of his predecessors; he has the quiet intelligence of Baldwin, the moral impeccability of Ford, the sense of humor of Affleck, and even the undeniable charisma of Pine. Krasinski’s Ryan ends up getting into a lot more of the action than the character ever did in the original Clancy books, and it’s not just because a fast-paced television series needed a star who would be willing to do their own stunts. In a modern world where decisions are made from behind a desk or in a secret meeting, Ryan is best able to assess a situation by being there personally. Most international conflicts are a lot more complicated than they are framed as being by Western media, and Ryan frequently comes to the defense of marginalized groups who have been scapegoated.

Although Krasinski’s performance is what helped to bring the show into existence, Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan isn’t just a star vehicle, as it does a great job of developing some of the supporting figures in the “Ryanverse.” Pierce’s performance as Greer is interesting because he has a deeper connection to America’s intelligence community and must fight a different battle to ensure that Ryan’s investigations don’t cause international incidents. Michael Kelly is also a great addition to the show as Mike November, a complex character who left the CIA for ethical reasons to become a private contractor. Since Ryan, Greer, and November have distinct perspectives on justice, the show reaches its peak when the characters work as a triumvirate.

‘Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan’ Is a Modern Spy Thriller

Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan feels most indebted to its cinematic predecessors because each season feels like a standalone adventure, even if it isn’t directly based on one of Clancy’s books. Season 1 explored a terrorist threat to the United States, while also showing the efforts by peaceful Muslims to take down the extremists within their culture; Season 2 looked at the combustible situation in Venezuela in an intelligent way that actually preceded developments in the real world. Season 3 was perhaps the show’s most politically outspoken installment because it called out the failure of democratic nations to stop Russia from amassing significant military power and becoming a dictatorship, while Season 4 ventured even further by showing how vulnerable the United States was to internal threats.

Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan managed to develop Ryan into the type of character who would fit into the later installments in the novel series, and the franchise continued with the sequel Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan: Ghost War, which set the stage for further adventures. Beyond helping to reintroduce Clancy’s writing to a new generation of fans, Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan was highly influential on the subgenre of military and espionage-themed action shows that Prime Video would begin churning out, including Reacher, Cross, The Terminal List, and Citadel. Although it’s likely that Krasinski will reprise his role as Ryan in some other project in the near future, Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan has played a significant role in redefining the franchise’s legacy.