Reggie Ponder,The Reel Critic, Movie Review

Reggie Ponder caught up with writer/director Elegance Bratton about his film The Inspection - A young, gay Black man, rejected by his mother and with few options for his future, decides to join the Marines, doing whatever it takes to succeed in a system that would cast him aside.

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Critic, talks to film critic extraordinaire about what to watch while we are social distancing.

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Critic, interviews Dale Elliott, lead actor in SPRINTER about being a first-time actor and the message of the film.

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Critic got a chance to speak with writer?Director Storm Saulter about his film SPRINTER. It is now available on Netflix and while the story has a universal theme it has a uniquely Jamaican flavor.

Reggie Ponder Reviews Bad Boys For Life starring Will Smith and Martin Lawrence

Reggie Ponder talks about the movie Just Mercy, Starring Michael B. Jordan, Jamie Foxx and Brie Larson.  

What's it about
A powerful and thought-provoking true story, “Just Mercy” follows young lawyer Bryan Stevenson (Jordan) and his history-making battle for justice. After graduating from Harvard, Bryan had his pick of lucrative jobs. Instead, he heads to Alabama to defend those wrongly condemned or who were not afforded proper representation, with the support of local advocate Eva Ansley (Larson). One of his first, and most incendiary, cases is that of Walter McMillian (Foxx), who, in 1987, was sentenced to die for the notorious murder of an 18-year-old girl, despite a preponderance of evidence proving his innocence and the fact that the only testimony against him came from a criminal with a motive to lie. In the years that follow, Bryan becomes embroiled in a labyrinth of legal and political maneuverings and overt and unabashed racism as he fights for Walter, and others like him, with the odds—and the system—stacked against them.

Who's In it?
Michael B. Jordan, Jamie Foxx, Brie Larson, Rob Morgan, Tim Blake Nelson, Rafe Spall, O’Shea Jackson Jr, Karan Kendrick

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Critic, reviews the film Queen & Slim starring Daniel Kaluuya and Jodie Turner-Smith. Reggie talks, Box Office, has an excerpt from Daniel Kaluuya and reviews the film. 

What's the movie about?
While on a first date together, a black man (Daniel Kaluuya) and a black woman (Jodie Turner-Smith), are pulled over for a minor traffic infraction. The situation escalates, with sudden and tragic results, when the man kills the police officer in self-defense. Terrified and in fear for their lives, the man, a retail employee, and the woman, a criminal defense lawyer, are forced to go on the run. But the incident is captured on video and goes viral, and the couple unwittingly become a symbol of trauma, terror, grief and pain for people across the country. From trailblazing writer Lena Waithe and visionary director Melina Matsoukas comes a powerful, consciousness-raising love story that confronts the staggering human toll of racism and the life-shattering price of violence.

This episode, Reggie, The Reel Critic, The Good Liar which pairs pairs Oscar winner Helen Mirren (“The Queen”) and two-time Oscar nominee Ian McKellen (“Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring,” “Gods and Monsters”) on the big screen for the first time. Bill Condon, the Oscar-winning screenwriter of “Gods and Monsters,” directed and produced the film from a screenplay by Jeffrey Hatcher (“Mr. Holmes”), based on the widely acclaimed novel by Nicholas Searle. Career con artist Roy Courtnay (McKellen) can hardly believe his luck when he meets well-to-do widow Betty McLeish (Mirren) online. As Betty opens her home and life to him, Roy is surprised to find himself caring about her, turning what should be a cut-and-dry swindle into the most treacherous tightrope walk of his life. Musings takes a look at schemes and cat fishing people might try on your elderly love ones.

This episode Reggie, The Reel Critic, reviews Ford v Ferrari.  Academy Award-winners Matt Damon and Christian Bale star in FORD v FERRARI, based on the remarkable true story of the visionary American car designer Carroll Shelby (Damon) and the fearless British-born driver Ken Miles (Bale), who together battled corporate interference, the laws of physics, and their own personal demons to build a revolutionary race car for Ford Motor Company and take on the dominating race cars of Enzo Ferrari at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in France in 1966. Reggie also talks about Director Tim Miller who directed Terminator Dark Fate and his feud with James Cameron as well as his problems with Ryan Reynolds.  

This episode is about the movie Last Christmas starring Emilia Clarke, Henry Golding, Emma Thompson, and Michelle Yeoh.  Clarke plays Kate who harumphs around London, a bundle of bad decisions accompanied by the jangle of bells on her shoes, another irritating consequence from her job as an elf in a year-round Christmas shop. Tom (Henry Golding) seems too good to be true when he walks into her life and starts to see through so many of Kate’s barriers. As London transforms into the most wonderful time of the year, nothing should work for these two. But sometimes, you gotta let the snow fall where it may, you gotta listen to your heart … and you gotta have faith. Directed by Paul Feig, from a screenplay by Academy Award winner Emma Thompson and playwright Bryony Kimmings, Last Christmas is a romantic comedy inspired by the music of George Michael, including the bittersweet holiday classic of the film’s title.

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Critic, reviews movies and provides his take on why he likes or doesn't like a movie.  This episode has three segments: Box Office discussion, Movie Review and Musings.  Reggie looks at the Box office and points out any important findings regarding the top 10 films and even some of the lesser performers. Reggie reviews a movie telling you what's it about, who's in it, what's to like, what's not to like and then his overall verdict.  Finally, the Musings section is where Reggie talks about something in the movie industry that has him pondering.