Jessie Buckley, Riz Ahmed, and Jeremy Allen White are excellent in an otherwise underwhelming sci-fi romance.

Plot: Anna and Ryan have found true love. It’s been proven by a controversial new technology. There’s just one problem: Anna still isn’t sure. Then she takes a position at a love testing institute and meets Amir.

Review: Science fiction, as a genre, is often associated with space battles, aliens, and other action-oriented elements. Sometimes, as in the films Her and Gattaca, sci-fi can be dramatic and take a slight twist on the very near future. Fingernails follows that tradition by presenting a contemporary world almost the same as our own but with one main difference: a process where a couple can be tested to confirm that they are compatible and truly in love. It is with that conceit that filmmaker Christos Nikou looks at two people, Anna and Amir, who have tested positive with others but find themselves falling in love with each other. The idea that love is more than a testable diagnosis is not new but is a touching and quirky starting point for this sweet movie. Fingernails may not be revolutionary, but it works because of the resonant performances from the talented main cast.

In Fingernails, Duncan (Luke Wilson) runs a facility where a series of exercises and a genetic test can determine with certainty if you are in love with your partner. Anna (Jessie Buckley), a schoolteacher, works at the center unbeknownst to her boyfriend, Ryan (Jeremy Allen White), with whom she tested as a 100% match three years earlier. Anna is fascinated by how the center analyzes couples through exercises like holding their breath underwater, blind smell tests, tandem skydiving, and analysis of fingernails extracted through a torturous procedure involving pliers and a wooden spoon. Seeing couples enter the facility awakens Anna’s look at her own relationship, which is further complicated as she develops feelings for her coworker, Amir (Riz Ahmed). While Amir is in a relationship with Natasha (Annie Murphy), he and Anna begin a quiet and seemingly unrequited courtship while each questions the truth behind the tests they administer.

This is not just a movie about love but how culture pushes relationships worldwide. With online dating, DNA genealogical testing, and countless other modern advances, the concept of what it means to be in a relationship has changed compared to a hundred years ago. Hell, things have changed even as compared to twenty years ago. Continuing the thematic trend from this year’s excellent Past Lives, Fingernails is categorized as a romance but only in a very unconventional way. Fingernails instead focus on the question of what love truly is and if you can define it concretely or if there is more nuance to it. Is it possible to be in love with more than one person? This is a question Anna asks, to which Duncan resoundingly says no. But Fingernails ponders whether loving someone and being in love with them are one and the same. It is a powerful question and one that Christos Nikou tries desperately to answer.

Clocking in at just under two hours, Fingernails is a deliberately paced drama with elements of quirky humor that keep it from feeling languid. Watching multiple couples, to varying degrees of success, undertake the testing process gives us a good look at how pairs of all kinds can come together. In some cases, the tests prove that the lack of visible chemistry is an indicator, while others bring the whole process under review. The film’s title refers to the brutal and hard-to-watch process of extracting a fingernail to test in a machine whose operation is never truly explained. But, for all of the questions not answered, Nikou’s film works thanks to the effortless chemistry between Buckley and Ahmed. Both actors are excellent here, especially Buckley, who is far more contained than she has been in films like Men, I’m Thinking of Ending Things, and The Lost Daughter. Jeremey Allen White is also very good as Anna’s boyfriend, Ryan, who does not question the relationship plateau that has caused Anna to question. Annie Murphy and Luke Wilson are good in their smaller roles, but Riz Ahmed continues to show why he is one of the best actors working today.

This movie is a very restrained and quiet film that never delves deeply into the subject of love on a verbal level. Much of the film lingers on the unspoken, with cinematographer Marell Rev focusing on Ahmed and Buckley’s glances while the other is not quite looking. The almost retro production design makes Fingernails feel like it is out of time, distancing it from the science fiction themes within the story. Christopher Stracey’s score is good and elevated by classic romance songs performed in French (you have to watch to find out the reason why). Nikou co-wrote his English-language debut with Sam Steiner and Stavros Raptis and misses hitting the points it is trying to convey. Much of the film’s build-up feels anticlimactic in the end due to the lack of any concrete resolution, leaving a lot of questions unanswered. Much of that is likely intentional, as Fingernails is not about explaining things but rather asking questions that the characters are too afraid to ask. I wish there were a bit more fleshed out for the supporting characters, who seem to get the short end of the stick here in favor of trying to drive Anna and Amir together.

Fingernails, premiering on AppleTV+ and in limited release on November 3rd, is a nice movie and one that is certainly romantic. It is a movie that fills your heart with questions and hopes for Anna and Amir, as well as their significant others, while also providing harsh realities that question when, if, and how these two well-suited partners could be together. Fingernails is a showcase for Jessie Buckley and Riz Ahmed in a quiet and restrained story that will make you feel good as much as it makes you feel bad. This movie is about heartache more than romance, but it does not build enough on an intriguing premise. There is a missed opportunity here to have explored things about the process that Christos Nikou and his co-writers developed, but it is enough to watch these actors share the screen together. I wanted a little bit more out of this film, but Fingernails is still worth a watch.

6

Prepare to get blown away again when Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer returns to IMAX theatres on November 3! This special presentation only lasts one week, with special showtimes assigned to 70mm screenings of the director’s explosive drama starring Cillian Murphy as the Father of the Atom Bomb, J. Robert Oppenheimer. This limited-time event happens globally in IMAX Theatres, with six exclusive IMAX 70mm locations, including:

• AMC CityWalk Stadium 19 IMAX(Hollywood, CA)
• AMC Irvine Spectrum (Irvine, CA)
• AMC Lincoln Square IMAX (New York, NY)
• AMC Metreon 16 IMAX (San Francisco, CA)
• BFI IMAX London (UK)
• Melbourne Museum IMAX (Australia)

Tickets are on sale now. For more information, check your local listings.

Oppenheimer is based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning book American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer by Kai Bird and the late Martin J. Sherwin. The film is produced by Emma Thomas, Atlas Entertainment’s Charles Roven, and Christopher Nolan. Written and directed by Christopher Nolan, Oppenheimer is an IMAX-shot epic thriller that thrusts audiences into the pulse-pounding paradox of the enigmatic man who must risk destroying the world to save it.

The film stars Cillian Murphy as J. Robert Oppenheimer and Emily Blunt as his wife, biologist, and botanist Katherine “Kitty” Oppenheimer. Oscar-winner Matt Damon portrays General Leslie Groves Jr., director of the Manhattan Project, and Robert Downey, Jr. plays Lewis Strauss, a founding commissioner of the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission. Academy Award nominee Florence Pugh plays psychiatrist Jean Tatlock, Benny Safdie plays theoretical physicist Edward Teller, Michael Angarano plays Robert Serber, and Josh Hartnett plays pioneering American nuclear scientist Ernest Lawrence. Oppenheimer also stars Oscar winner Rami Malek and reunites Nolan with eight-time Oscar-nominated actor, writer, and filmmaker Kenneth Branagh.

The cast includes Dane DeHaan (Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets), Dylan Arnold (Halloween franchise), David Krumholtz (The Ballad of Buster Scruggs), Alden Ehrenreich (Solo: A Star Wars Story) and Matthew Modine (The Dark Knight Rises).

Oppenheimer is filmed in a combination of IMAX 65mm and 65mm large-format film photography, including sections in IMAX black and white analog photography, for the first time ever. Fans of Nolan’s work anticipate the film as one of the director’s most visually spellbinding features, with IMAX being the ideal venue for viewing.

If you missed Oppenheimer‘s theatrical debut, there’s no better time to rush back to theatres for a unique screening of Nolan’s latest box-office smash! Mark your calendars for November 3, and reserve your tickets today!

Sam Raimi is set to direct the island thriller Send Help, working from a screenplay by Freddy vs. Jason writers Damian Shannon and Mark Swift

Back in 2007, it was rumored that Sam Raimi would be producing a fantasy film with a screenplay written by Freddy vs. Jason and Friday the 13th 2009 writers Damian Shannon and Mark Swift. That didn’t pan out, but a decade later Raimi considered directing a Bermuda Triangle project that once had Shannon and Swift working on the script. Again, that didn’t pan out, with Scott Derrickson and more recently Marc Webb picking up the project after Raimi dropped it. In 2019, it was announced that Raimi would be directing an untitled island horror thriller for Columbia Pictures, working from a script by Shannon and Swift. Then the pandemic hit and Raimi went on to direct Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness… but after spending some time in the Marvel universe, the Evil Dead creator has circled back to horror. Film scooper Daniel Richtman has revealed that the “untitled island horror thriller” is still alive and now going by the title Send Help – and he went on to share a logline and character details!

Here’s the logline: Comedy-adventure horror about a female put-upon employee and her jerk boss. On a business flight together with their company, the plane crashes on an island and only those two make it. She has serious survival skills which means she’s his only hope.

Character details:

LINDA: Smartest person in the room, but no one takes her seriously. Actor can’t be overly comedic, has to be believable in serious office setting. Eyed Sandra Bullock

BRADLEY: LINDA’S misogynistic boss.

When Send Help was first announced, it was said to be like “Misery meets Cast Away” in tone. Raimi said, “I am thrilled to be reunited with Columbia Pictures and reteaming with [Sony Motion Picture Group president] Sanford [Panitch] and [Columbia executive vp production] Ange [Giannetti]. I have been a fan of Shannon and Swift and we have found the perfect adventure to share with the world.“

Raimi is producing the film alongside Zainab Azizi for Raimi Productions.

I will always watch anything Sam Raimi makes, and it sounds like Send Help could be a fun addition to his filmography.

How does Send Help sound to you? Let us know by leaving a comment below.

JoBlo Media and NORTH STAR MACHINE CO. are teaming up to bring the joy of pinball to more pinheads in Montréal, Canada!

JoBlo Media and NORTH STAR COIN MACHINE CO. are joining forces to bring the joy of pinball to more pinheads in Montréal, Canada! On Monday, NORTH STAR COIN MACHINE CO. announced a new partnership with JoBlo CEO and resident pinball wizard Berge Garabedian (aka JoBlo) to fund an expansion of the amusement and arcade arena. After working with the City of Montréal to make pinball legal after decades of laws against it, NORTH STAR COIN MACHINE CO. expanded pinball and arcade machines around the city, bringing the joy of manipulating plungers, flippers, and bumpers to several locations, including Time Out Market, Centre Bell, and Montreal-Trudeau International Airport, and more!

Mr. Garabedian joins previous investors Charles Bombardier and Justin Evans (co-founder of Landr.com), and the primary executive team of Adam Kiesler and Charlotte Fillmore-Handlon for this exciting new venture.

“The world is in a bad place these days. People want to get away and just let loose, enjoy the day-to-day and that’s where a company like North Star comes in,” Garabedian said as part of an official press release. “I’m very proud to be a part of a team who’ve being doing an incredible job of cultivating happiness in the world, while building a highly profitable business at the same time. Watching their accelerated growth after surviving the Covid shutdowns has gotten me very excited to join this team and help them reach the next level.”

With Mr. Garabedian on board, NORTH STAR COIN MACHINE CO. aims to introduce more opportunities to enjoy the thrill of gaming in select parts of Montréal, such as the Montreal-Trudeau International Airport. The expansion also strives to increase its presence in multiple Montréal brew pubs and enable the launch of a new large-scale arcade location in Montréal.

“I consider myself very lucky to have found a passion in my life that I was able to make a living from as an adult,” Garabedian said while taking stock in his hard work to build an essential and creative corner of the entertainment industry. “One that allowed me to combine my pure love of movies with my entrepreneurial business background. Today I’m happy to announce a new investment that allows me to partner with the best pinball/arcade company in all of Montreal, Canada, dudes who had to take the city to court in order to get pinball back in the bars! Gotta love it.”

In addition to founding JoBlo.com, producing film projects, and establishing an expansive YouTube network focusing on the film and entertainment industry, Mr. Garabedian is an avid pinball and arcade cabinet player, libation enthusiast, and a hell of a Halloween party planner. If you’re lucky enough to be invited to his place, prepare for an evening of pinball, delicious beer, and a showcase of movie memorabilia (pictured above).

This new pact marks the beginning of an exciting era for pinball and arcade gaming. Put your quarters up, and shoot for the high score! If you’d like to see more of what North Star is all about, check out their Instagram below:

Scott Adkins discusses his rise to martial arts fame, playing Killa in John Wick: Chapter 4, and his ambitions for the future.

When most people think of martial arts masters, names like Bruce Lee, Donnie Yen, Chuck Norris, Michael Jai White, Cynthia Rothrock, Jean-Claude Van Damme, and Michelle Yeoh come to mind. Still, Hollywood is ripe with what some would call unsung industry heroes, such as Scott Adkins, a powerhouse of talent on several fronts. In a detailed article featured in The Hollywood Reporter, Alex Ritman delves into Adkins’ origin, a quest for the spotlight, and reputation for being one of the hardest working badasses in Tinseltown.

In addition to being a charismatic actor, Adkins is a gifted student of many martial arts disciplines, including Taekwondo, Judo, Karate, Ninjitsu, Capoeira, Krav Maga, Wushu, Muay Thai, Kung Fu, Jeet Kune Do, Kickboxing and Brazilian and Jui Jitsu. His passion for elevating his body and spirit began near the age of 10 when the captivating Bruce Lee inspired Adkins to study Judo. After getting mugged at age 13, Adkins expanded his training to include Taekwondo and Kickboxing, with Jean-Claude Van Damme as a source of inspiration. Adkins likens Van Damme’s Kickboxer as a gateway into the martial arts arena, as his desire to kick ass on screens grew with every passing day.

Appearing in over 60 titles, most of Adkins’ roles involve making an impression from the backline or straight-to-DVD affairs. However, Adkins got a chance at the big time when he joined the cast of John Wick Chapter 4 as the German mob boss Killa. Still, the high-profile part came at a sacrifice, with Adkins slipping into a fat suit, obscuring his chiseled physique. Making the most of an outstanding opportunity, Adkins owns the role and then some, giving Keanu Reeve’s Mr. Wick a run for his money while battling the Baba Yaga in the rain. The fight between Killa and Mr. Wick is a highlight of the Chad Stahelski-directed film and a fine display of Adkins’ ability to take advantage of any opportunity.

“It’s a weird one, because I’m not very recognizable,” Akins told THR. “Even though it’s a great character to play and I really relished the opportunity to create him and do something different, I’m still under the radar.”

While Adkins is more than aware of his worth, others feel he’s criminally underrated in Hollywood.

“Scott should have been James Bond, he should have been Batman,” says Isaac Florentine, the action filmmaker who’s worked with Adkins on several projects. “Because people will see someone who not only can act, but can move like nobody else, with no stunt guys and no doubles. He deserves to be a mainstream star.”

Speaking with THR, Florentine says Adkins almost missed the chance to play the Russian prison fighter and MMA champion Boyka in 2006’s Undisputed II: Last Man Standing. Michael Jai White is the film’s leading man, but esteemed members of the martial arts community highly regard Adkins’ role. Florentine fought to give Adkins the part after concerns about him being too attractive and only 5’10. Adkins grew a beard and slipped on heeled shoes, transforming him into a more imposing and gruff figure. His performance spread like wildfire among action aficionados, bolstering his reputation as a force to be reckoned with.

Thankfully, Adkins says a “new wave of stuntmen turned directors,” know a good thing when they see it.

“So you’ve got those guys that look at what I’ve done in the past and they’re not snobby about it,” Adkins says. “Because they understand what it is and that you need to have somebody who can do the action to make their films better.”

With high-profile filmmakers like Chad Stahelski and Keanu Reeves in his corner, it could only be a matter of time before we see Adkins’ name center stage for an action blockbuster or franchise. While Adkins remains humble and is happy being who he is, he keeps the dream of going bigger close at hand.