Cinema Royale

Travis Hopson of Punch Drunk Critics reviews Chris Pin's directorial debut, the L.A. noir POOLMAN. Pine co-wrote, directed, and starred in the film alongside Annette Bening, Danny DeVito, Jennifer Jason Leigh, DeWanda Wise, John Ortiz, and more. Poolman tells the story of Darren Barrenman (Pine), a native Los Angeleno who spends his days looking after the pool of the Tahitian Tiki apartment block and fighting to make his hometown a better place to live. When he is tasked by a femme fatale to uncover the truth behind a shady business deal, Darren enlists the help of his friends to take on a corrupt politician and a greedy land developer. His investigation reveals a hidden truth about his beloved city and himself.

Travis Hopson of Punch Drunk Critics reviews KINGDOM OF THE PLANET OF THE APES, directed by Wes Ball and starring Owen Teague, Freya Allen, Kevin Durand, Peter Macon, and William H. Macy. Set several generations in the future following Caesar’s reign. Apes are the dominant species living harmoniously with one another, and humans have been reduced to living in the shadows. As a new tyrannical ape leader builds his empire, one young ape will undertake a harrowing journey that will cause him to question all that he has known about the past and to make choices that will define a future for apes and humans alike.

On the latest episode of Cinema Royale, me and Joblo.com‘s Chris Bumbray talk about The Fall Guy. Ryan Gosling falls hard for Emily Blunt, and who can blame him, as a down on his luck stuntman who must brave the criminal underworld to find a wayward movie star, played by Aaron Taylor-Johnson. How does the film compare to the ’80s classic TV show? What kind of crazy stunts does David Leitch, a former stuntman himself, pull out of his back pocket? And where can we get one of those Miami Vice Stunt Team jackets? We also talk about The Fall Guy co-star Winston Duke and wanting him to lead an Action Jackson remake, the classic James Woods/LL Cool J action flick The Hard Way, and more! All of this and more on a new episode of Cinema Royale! Subscribe to Punch Drunk Critics on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PunchDrunkCritics1 Follow Punch Drunk Critics on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/pdcmovies Follow Punch Drunk Critics on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pdcmovies You can also subscribe to Cinema Royale anywhere you get your podcasts! Please leave us a review as it helps us immensely. Thanks!

Travis Hopson of Punch Drunk Critics reviews BOY KILLS WORLD, a hyper violent revenge flick that's part THE RUNNING MAN, part THE RAID. Stars Bill Skarsgard, Famke Janssen, Jessica Rothe, Brett Gelman, Andrew Koji, Michelle Dockery, Isaiah Mustafa, Yayan Ruhian, and Sharlto Copley! Skarsgård stars as "Boy" who vows revenge after his family is murdered by Hilda Van Der Koy (Janssen), the deranged matriarch of a corrupt post-apocalyptic dynasty that left the boy orphaned, deaf and voiceless. Driven by his inner voice, one which he co-opted from his favorite childhood video game, Boy trains with a mysterious shaman (Ruhian) to become an instrument of death and is set loose on the eve of the annual culling of dissidents. Bedlam ensues as Boy commits bloody martial arts mayhem, inciting a wrath of carnage and blood-letting. As he tries to get his bearings in this delirious realm, Boy soon falls in with a desperate resistance group, all the while bickering with the apparent ghost of his rebellious little sister. BOY KILLS WORLD opens in theaters on April 26.

Travis Hopson of Punch Drunk Critics review Luca Guadagnino's steamy tennis love-triangle romance, CHALLENGERS, starring Zendaya, Mike Faist, and Josh O'Connor. Opens in theaters on April 26th! From visionary filmmaker Luca Guadagnino, Challengers stars Zendaya as Tashi Duncan, a former tennis prodigy turned coach and a force of nature who makes no apologies for her game on and off the court. Married to a champion on a losing streak (Mike Faist – West Side Story), Tashi’s strategy for her husband’s redemption takes a surprising turn when he must face off against the washed-up Patrick (Josh O’Connor – The Crown) – his former best friend and Tashi’s former boyfriend. As their pasts and presents collide, and tensions run high, Tashi must ask herself, what will it cost to win.

Travis Hopson of Punch Drunk Critics reviews ABIGAIL, the horror comedy from Radio Silence starring Melissa Barrera, Dan Stevens, Kathryn Newton, Giancarlo Esposito, Angus Cloud, Alisha Weir, Kevin Durand, and William Catlett. After a group of would-be criminals kidnap the 12-year-old ballerina daughter of a powerful underworld figure, all they have to do to collect a $50 million ransom is watch the girl overnight. In an isolated mansion, the captors start to dwindle, one by one, and they discover, to their mounting horror, that they’re locked inside with no normal little girl. ABIGAIL is in theaters now.

Travis Hopson of Punch Drunk Critics reviews Zack Snyder's epic space opera sequel, REBEL MOON-PART 2: THE SCARGIVER, starring Sofia Boutella, Michiel Huisman, Ed Skrein, Djimon Hounsou, Anthony Hopkins, and more! Rebel Moon — Part Two: The Scargiver continues the epic saga of Kora and the surviving warriors as they prepare to sacrifice everything, fighting alongside the brave people of Veldt, to defend a once peaceful village, a newfound homeland for those who have lost their own in the fight against the Motherworld. On the eve of their battle the warriors must face the truths of their own pasts, each revealing why they fight. As the full force of the Realm bears down on the burgeoning rebellion, unbreakable bonds are forged, heroes emerge, and legends are made. Streaming now on Netflix! Subscribe to Punch Drunk Critics on YouTube: / @punchdrunkcritics1 Follow Punch Drunk Critics on Twitter: / pdcmovies Follow Punch Drunk Critics on Facebook: / pdcmovies #RebelMoon #ZackSnyder #TheScargiver

Travis Hopson of Punch Drunk Critics reviews Alex Garland's nightmarish political thriller CIVIL WAR, starring Kirsten Dunst, Wagner Moura, Stephen McKinley Henderson, and Cailee Spaeny. From filmmaker Alex Garland comes a journey across a dystopian future America, following a team of military-embedded journalists as they race against time to reach DC before rebel factions descend upon the White House. A24 has released CIVIL WAR into theaters now.

Travis Hopson of Cinema Royale reviews the Zellner Brothers' Bigfoot comedy SASQUATCH SUNSET starring Jesse Eisenberg and Riley Keough. In the misty forests of North America, a family of Sasquatches—possibly the last of their enigmatic kind— embark on an absurdist, epic, hilarious, and ultimately poignant journey over the course of one year. These shaggy and noble giants fight for survival as they find themselves on a collision course with the ever-changing world around them. Starring Riley Keough and Jesse Eisenberg, acclaimed directors David and Nathan Zellner (Kumiko, the Treasure Hunter) bring you the greatest Bigfoot story ever told. SASQUATCH SUNSET is in theaters now.

Travis Hopson of Punch Drunk Critics reviews Ben Brewer's creature feature/coming-of-age film ARCADIAN starring Nicolas Cage, Jaeden Martell, and Maxwell Jenkins. In a near future, normal life on Earth has been decimated. Paul and his two sons, Thomas and Joseph, have been living a half-life – tranquility by day and torment by night. One day, Thomas doesn’t return home on time from a visit to his crush, the nearby farm girl, Charlotte. Paul chooses to leave the safety of their fortified farm, risking his life to find Thomas. Just as he finds his boy, a nightmarish battle ensues. Back at the house, Joseph is scared and all alone to defend himself against the nightly attack. ARCADIAN opens in theaters on 4/12. Subscribe to Punch Drunk Critics on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PunchDrunkCr... Follow Punch Drunk Critics on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/pdcmovies Follow Punch Drunk Critics on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pdcmovies #Arcadian #NicolasCage #moviereview

Travis Hopson of Cinema Royale review Dev Patel's action flick MONKEY MAN, directed, written, and starring Patel. Produced by Jordan Peele. Inspired by the legend of Hanuman, an icon embodying strength and courage, ‘Monkey Man’ stars Patel as Kid, an anonymous young man who ekes out a meager living in an underground fight club where, night after night, wearing a gorilla mask, he is beaten bloody by more popular fighters for cash. After years of suppressed rage, Kid discovers a way to infiltrate the enclave of the city’s sinister elite. As his childhood trauma boils over, his mysteriously scarred hands unleash an explosive campaign of retribution to settle the score with the men who took everything from him. MONKEY MAN is in theaters now.

Travis Hopson of Punch Drunk Critics reviews DOGMAN, Luc Besson's oddball revenge thriller starring Caleb Landry Jones and a kennel's worth of canine co-stars. The incredible story of a child, bruised by life, who will find his salvation through the love of his dogs. DOGMAN opens in theaters on March 29th. Subscribe to Punch Drunk Critics on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PunchDrunkCritics1 Follow Punch Drunk Critics on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/pdcmovies Follow Punch Drunk Critics on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pdcmovies

Travis Hopson of Cinema Royale reviews GODZILLA x KONG: THE NEW EMPIRE, the latest chapter in the blockbuster Monsterverse! The film stars Rebecca Hall, Dan Stevens, Brian Tyree Henry, and Kaylee Hottle. Adam Wingard once again directs. The epic battle continues! Legendary Pictures’ cinematic Monsterverse follows up the explosive showdown of “Godzilla vs. Kong” with an all-new adventure that pits the almighty Kong and the fearsome Godzilla against a colossal undiscovered threat hidden within our world, challenging their very existence—and our own. “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire” delves further into the histories of these Titans and their origins, as well as the mysteries of Skull Island and beyond, while uncovering the mythic battle that helped forge these extraordinary beings and tied them to humankind forever. GODZILLA x KONG: THE NEW EMPIRE opens in theaters on March 29th. Subscribe to Punch Drunk Critics on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PunchDrunkCritics1 Follow Punch Drunk Critics on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/pdcmovies Follow Punch Drunk Critics on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pdcmovies #godzillaxkong #danstevens #moviereview

On the latest episode of Cinema Royale, it’s brawling brutes and bustin’ ghosts! Joblo.com’s Chris Bumbray joins the show because there’s nobody else I’d want to talk to about Road House, a remake of the stone cold bare-knuckle classic starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Conor McGregor! With Doug Liman behind the camera, does this film come out swinging the way Patrick Swayze’s does? Or is it a first round tap out? Also, we talk about Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire reuniting the classic Ghosbusters with the new generation led by Paul Rudd, Carrie Coon, Finn Wolfhard, and McKenna Grace! Will a return to Manhattan be enough to keep this franchise alive? All of this and more! Plus, apologies for a bit of an editing issue in the middle of the episode. Let’s just say that having a rowdy cat nearby is always a danger to any broadcast.

On the latest episode of Cinema Royale, I’m joined by fellow film critic Karen Peterson to talk about Sydney Sweeney’s religious horror, Immaculate! Is it good enough to help us forget that Madame Web is a thing that happened barely a month ago? We talk about the film’s very clear agenda, how far it goes in emulating the genre’s tropes, and a VERY controversial final scene that could have people buzzing. All of this and more on a new episode of Cinema Royale! Subscribe to Punch Drunk Critics on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PunchDrunkCritics1 Follow Punch Drunk Critics on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/pdcmovies Follow Punch Drunk Critics on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pdcmovies You can also subscribe to Cinema Royale anywhere you get your podcasts! Please leave us a review as it helps us immensely. Thanks!

Travis Hopson of Cinema Royale reviews THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF MAGICAL NEGROES starring Justice Smith, David Alan Grier, An-Li Bogan, and Drew Tarver. THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF MAGICAL NEGROES is a fresh, satirical comedy about a young man, Aren, who is recruited into a secret society of magical Black people who dedicate their lives to a cause of utmost importance: making white people’s lives easier. THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF MAGICAL NEGROES is in theaters now.

Travis Hopson of Cinema Royale reviews Rose Glass's queer crime romance LOVE LIES BLEEDING starring Kristen Stewart and Katy O'Brian. The film also stars Ed Harris, Dave Franco, Jena Malone, and Anna Baryshnikov. From Director Rose Glass comes an electric new love story; reclusive gym manager Lou falls hard for Jackie, an ambitious bodybuilder headed through town to Vegas in pursuit of her dream. But their love ignites violence, pulling them deep into the web of Lou’s criminal family. LOVE LIES BLEEDING is in theaters now. Subscribe to Punch Drunk Critics on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PunchDrunkCritics1Follow Punch Drunk Critics on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/pdcmoviesFollow Punch Drunk Critics on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pdcmovies

Mario Van Peebles Talks With Travis Hopson of Punch Drunk Critics about his return to the Western genre, OUTLAW POSSE! He talks about his love of Westerns, why telling Black stories in the genre is important, and passing the torch to his son, Mandela. OUTLAW POSSE is open in theaters now. Subscribe to Punch Drunk Critics on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PunchDrunkCr... Follow Punch Drunk Critics on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/pdcmovies Follow Punch Drunk Critics on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pdcmovies

Travis Hopson of Cinema Royale creviews Denis Villeneuve's DUNE: PART TWO starring Timothee Chalamet, Zendaya, Austin Butler, Rebecca Ferguson, and Florence Pugh. DUNE: PART TWO opens in theaters on March 1st.

In this episode of Cinema Royale, my partner in crime Tim Gordon joins me to lend his expertise on Bob Marley: One Love, the musical biopic on the legendary reggae star. Why has the film received so much backlash from longtime Marley fans? We talk about the choice that all filmmakers must make when doing a biopic on a music superstar. Do you work with the estate and get their cooperation, in exchange for a sanitized subject? Or do you go it alone and possibly have an unauthorized, hard-hitting movie with musical rights and little outside cooperation? It's a tough call, but one that has needed to be made many times recently. All of this and more on a new episode of Cinema Royale!Subscribe to Punch Drunk Critics on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PunchDrunkCritics1Follow Punch Drunk Critics on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/pdcmoviesFollow Punch Drunk Critics on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pdcmoviesYou can also subscribe to Cinema Royale anywhere you get your podcasts! Please leave us a review as it helps us immensely. Thanks!