"Grey & Greene" Offer Up Some Vintage Grooves

The multi-talented Grey DeLisle has released a lot of incredible music in the last few years, including the fantastic records She’s An Angel (2023) and The Grey Album (2025). She was the executive producer and driving force behind last year’s all-star benefit album It’s All Her Fault: A Tribute To Cindy Walker. But if you thought the amazing Ms. DeLisle (who’s also a marvelous voice actress and stand-up comedian) was going to rest on her laurels after that, then you don’t know her very well. Her latest album, Grey & Greene, is a fabulous collaboration with soul singer Les Greene, who you might recognize from Baz Luhrmann’s 2022 film Elvis, in which he portrayed Little Richard, or from his work with his fabulous soul/rock band, Les Greene and The Swayzees.

Grey and Greene is a sensational record, which finds DeLisle and Greene deeply inhabiting some soulful tunes which are infused with the sounds of classic soul, country, pop, and rockabilly, though the driving force here is soul with a capital S. Greene offers spectacular vocal work on the R&B flavored “I’m Gonna Let You Call Me Baby” and “Back of Your Hand,” while alt-country heroine DeLisle indulges her inner soul sister on the lovely “Mariposa” and the gospel-infused “Mister.” The dynamic duo trade vocals on the rollicking “Go Go Go,” “Shake That Thing” and “Home Wrecker,” which is a Greene led re-working of the title track from DeLisle’s 2002 album.

The tunes on Grey and Greene have a timeless quality, which is one of the hallmarks of DeLisle’s songwriting. She penned most of the tunes on the album, collaborating on several tracks with producer James Intveld. These exceptional songs are filled with real emotion, and the performances by both singers are outstanding. Just listen to the stellar work from DeLisle on the heartfelt “The Pieces,” and Greene’s exceptional take on the heartbreaking ballad “That’s All.” Their voices meld perfectly throughout the record, including on the closing track, a delightful cover of the John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John hit “You’re The One That I Want.” Here's a link to the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1Rm8nR_dto.

The disc also features some fabulous backing musicians, including DeLisle’s frequent collaborator, guitarist and singer Deke Dickerson. Grey & Greene is a compelling, groovy and exuberant record. The disc moves effortlessly between multiple genres, including Southern soul, pop, rockabilly and country, but maintains a truly soulful sound at its core, steeped in real heart and emotion. If you’re a fan of Grey DeLisle and Les Greene, or dig the vintage genres featured on the disc, then this album is a must have. It's one of the best records of the year. Check out these links for “I’m Gonna Let You Call Me Baby” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7a0ev2pFcw and “The Pieces.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQs_D5qcnZs&list=RDEQs_D5qcnZs&start_radio=1.

The Monster and The Bride: Bonnie and Clyde?

Writer-director Maggie Gyllenhall's The Bride! is an inventive, kinetic and expressionistic re-imagining of the Frankenstein saga, focusing on the story of the Bride of Frankenstein. The bride of the monster was previously immortalized in the classic 1935 film helmed by James Whale. Gyllenhall's dazzling, creative and imaginative take on Mary Shelley's tale features an amazing performance by Jessie Buckley, who portrays both Shelley and The Bride, while Christian Bale portrays the Frankenstein Monster, and Annette Bening plays a brilliant doctor named Cornelia Euphronius.

The Bride! takes place in 1936 Chicago, where we meet Ida, a sort of gangster's moll who is possessed by the spirit of Mary Shelley, and begins blurting out the secrets of a gang boss named Lupino. Ida is killed while being pursued by Lupino's henchmen. Meanwhile, Frankenstein's Monster visits Dr. Cornelia Euphronius, who is experimenting with reanimating dead flesh. He begs her to create a companion for him. At first, she's reluctant, but ultimately she agrees, and it turns out the corpse they choose to work with is Ida's. The experiment is a success, but the revived Ida has no memory of her previous life.

That's the starting point for a wildly over the top tale that's partly a Bonnie and Clyde lovers on the run tale, mixed in with a female empowerment story, a classic 1930s style monster movie, and a little touch of an old fashioned gangster saga thrown in for good measure. Oh, and it's a moving love story as well! Guillermo Del Toro's fabulous 2025 film Frankenstein might be the more mythic "classic rock" version of Mary Shelley's tale, but Maggie Gyllenhall's The Bride! is most definitely it's irreverent punk rock cousin. This is a visually striking film, courtesy of cinematographer Lawrence Sher's and production designer Karen Murphy. And it's all shot in glorious black and white!

Gyllenhall's clever script combines elements of horror, comedy, and drama, with moments of real emotion and pathos, and her direction is nothing short of masterful. The cast is terrific, with Buckley and Bale doing superb work as The Bride and The Monster, while Bening shines as the somewhat mad doctor. The excellent supporting cast includes Penelope Cruz, Peter Sarsgaard and Jeannie Berlin. Maggie Gyllenhall and her talented cast and crew took some really big creative swings on this project, and I think they succeeded in producing a creative, unique, and visionary film experience. If you're looking for something truly different on your movie menu, The Bride! just might fit the bill.

Sam Raimi's Wildly Entertaining "Send Help"

Dylan O'Brien and Rachel McAdams

Sam Raimi has achieved considerable success as a director, and is probably best known to genre fans for his work on the original Evil Dead trilogy, Darkman, the Spider Man films from the 2000s which starred Tobey Maguire, the horror thriller Drag Me To Hell, as well as other high profile projects such as Oz the Great and Powerful, and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. His latest film, Send Help, is a wild, enjoyable, and often surprising ride; the movie spins through a number of genres including thriller, horror, survival drama, and (very) black comedy.

Send Help is the story of Linda Liddle, who's an employee of Preston Strategic Solutions, While she's a smart, efficient  ans successful worker, she quickly is sidelined by Bradley, the company's new CEO, a frat boy, "bro" type dude who takes over the company after the death of his father. He marginalizes Linda, and denies her a promotion that was promised to her, citing what he views as her meek personality and socially awkward style.

The balance of power changes drastically when a plane traveling to a corporate meeting crashes, killing everyone onboard except Linda and Bradley, stranding them on a deserted island. Suddenly, the tables are turned. Bradley, who has no real world skills, must depend on Linda, who's clearly more effective in this type of crisis. Their desperate situation flips the established hierarchy. Bradley’s cocky confidence is useless, while Linda’s survival knowledge gives her the upper hand. She thrives on the island, providing food, water and shelter for herself and Bradley.

As Linda rises to the challenge and helps keep them alive, Bradley sees her in a different light. However, there might be a darker side to her personality, and she could be keeping secrets from him. As time goes on, Bradley suspects there may be something amiss in their idyllic island world. The central tension of the film comes from watching each of these characters refuse to fully surrender the upper hand. Who will be the last one standing in what ends up being a terrifying game of cat and mouse?

What makes Send Help so entertaining is that we're never quite sure what will happen next, and there are several twists to the tale. The film constantly shifts our allegiance between the lead characters. Bradley begins as an arrogant and sexist jerk, but the clever and resourceful Linda (who we are rooting for initially) ends up being the more terrifying of the two. The bravura performances of Rachel McAdams and Dylan O'Brien deftly illustrate the psychological tug-of-war between Linda and Bradley.

Sam Raimi's terrific direction really energizes the film, which is laced with black humor and features some unsettling, quirky and what the heck? moments, which will be no surprise to fans of director Raimi's earlier genre work. The score has a fabulous old school movie music vibe, thanks to the talents of Danny Elfman, and the clever, twisty screenplay for the film was written by Damian Shannon and Mark Swift. Send Help is well worth checking out for thriller fans, especially if you're a fan of vintage Raimi, like I am. Here's a look at the film's trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4wiXj9NmEE.

Presence: Family Drama, Supernatural Style

Chris Sullivan and Lucy Liu

Have you ever felt like there was an otherworldly spirit in your home? That's what happens to the Payne family in director Steven Soderbergh's compelling 2024 film Presence. Husband and wife Chris and Rebekah, and siblings Tyler and Chloe move into a new home after Chloe suffers the loss of a close friend from a drug overdose. Chris and Rebekah feel like the family needs a change, and hope a different location and neighborhood will provide them with a fresh start. But from the beginning, there's a ghostly presence in the house, which adds to the family's stress level. This spirit reveals itself several times, and its interest seems to be centered on Chloe.

While Chris and Rebekah deal with the cracks that have developed in their marriage, Tyler's new friend Ryan insinuates himself with both Tyler and Chloe. Ryan's something of a bad influence on Tyler, but he displays a more low-key, understanding side with Chloe....or does he? When Chris and Rebekah leave for a business trip, Ryan visits and parties with Tyler. He also appears to have sinister designs on Chloe. Can the mysterious supernatural force that's present in the house protect Chloe from danger?

Presence is a captivating film that's as much a powerful family drama as it is a ghost story. In fact, while much of the advertising for the movie played up its horror elements, it's the story of the Payne family, and their issues, that really drive the narrative. Chris Sullivan (who's perhaps best known for his role as Toby on the NBC series This Is Us) gives a superb, nuanced performance as Chris, the head of the Payne family, who's struggling with issues as both a husband and father. Lucy Liu as Rebekah, Callina Lang as Chloe, Eddy Maday as Tyler and West Mulholland as Ryan are all excellent in their roles as well.

What sets Presence apart is that the story is told from the perspective of the ghost, as it observes and interacts with the Payne family. Director Steven Soderbergh served as the cinematographer for the film, and he's credited under the pseudonym Peter Andrews. The movie features clever visuals, creative POV shots and longer scenic takes. Soderbergh and his camera are essentially a character in the story. He also edited the film, using another pseudonym, Mary Ann Bernard. The screenplay for Presence was written by David Koepp, who's penned the scripts for movies like Jurassic Park and Carlito's Way, based on an idea by Soderbergh.

Presence is a captivating film that's part family drama, part thriller and part ghost story. The family drama aspects of the story are emotional and powerful, and the thriller and horror components of the movie are gripping and spine-chilling. It's a unique tale that's worth seeing, even if you're not normally a horror film enthusiast. Soderbergh continues to experiment with different genres and styles in his work, as he has with other recent projects like 2022's action-oriented thriller Kimi and 2025's spy drama Black Bag. Presence is now available on Blu-ray and DVD, and is currently streaming on Hulu. Here's a look at the trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XfSNmYhV8Xc.

Darkness and Death Invade the DC Universe

Cover Art for Issue #1

If you’re a fan of DC Comics “Elseworlds” stories, which feature alternate versions of DC’s most famous characters in storylines that couldn’t take place in the main DC Universe, you’ll likely enjoy DCeased, which is DC’s version of a zombie apocalypse tale. The storyline consists of several limited series and one shots, but the original (self-contained) miniseries was first published in 2019. In DCeased, the super-villain Darkseid manages to transform the fabled Anti-Life Equation into an organic techno-virus, which spreads across the Earth via our digital devices and technology, turning everyone infected into living dead, zombie-like carriers. The only purpose of the virus is to spread death across the entire world.

DC’s greatest heroes try to stop the virus, but several of our stalwart champions become infected, and must be stopped by the members of the Justice League, several other familiar DC heroes and even a couple of villains. What sets DCeased apart from similar “superheroes become zombies” tales is its focus on character. Writer Tom Taylor clearly understands the core concepts of these iconic heroes, especially the trinity of Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman. He uses this apocalyptic story to test their strength and their mettle as their world crumbles around them. The result of the chaos caused by the virus is that our heroes are forced to make difficult choices, and in some cases even sacrifice themselves for the greater good.

Amid the darker moments of the story, DCeased features a bit of welcome humor based around the long-established personalities and interactions of these classic characters, which should make long-time fans smile. There are also some cool new twists on long-running characters. Wait until you see who becomes a Green Lantern during the course of the story. The artwork by Trevor Hairsine and Stefano Gaudiano complements Taylor's story, combining horror and superhero action, allowing the series to have the look and feel of a big-screen DC film.

DCeased is much more than DC’s answer to other terror tales like the long-running Marvel Zombies franchise. It's a truly compelling, character-driven tale steeped in tragedy which forces some of our favorite heroes to make some very difficult choices. In addition to the horror and superhero action elements of the story, there’s also a bit of sci-fi vibe as well. DCeased is essentially a self-contained story, though there have been some sequels and follow-up series. The saga has been published in various formats by DC. If you’re looking for something a little different than the usual superhero fare, check out DCeased.

An Emotional, Life-Affirming "Journey"

Colin Farrell & Margot Robbie

 A Big Bold Beautiful Journey is the kind of film that lingers in your mind after the credits roll. It's a story about the decisions we've made throughout our lives, and how those choices informed the person we turned out to be. The movie tells the story of David and Sarah, two strangers who meet at a wedding, though they don't "meet cute" or get together in tried and true romantic comedy fashion. Following the wedding, thanks to a mystical GPS (just go with it), and some car trouble for Sarah, the two end up taking an amazing journey together, which ends up changing their lives forever.

That otherworldly GPS takes David and Sarah on a "big, bold beautiful journey," guiding them through a series of magical doors, which allow them to relive important moments from their lives. Reliving these key episodes from their younger days inspires them to reconsider those pivotal moments, and think about the consequences of their choices. Can they move beyond their past experiences and find real love in their lives? The performances by Colin Farrell as David and Margot Robbie as Sarah are excellent. They subtly convey the sense that David and Sarah's lives are not just made up of memories, adding depth to their characters without needing a ton of overt exposition.

A Big Bold Beautiful Journey deftly illustrates what these characters discover about themselves on their journey, and how they are inexorably changed along the way. The movie is thoughtful, visually compelling, and deeply emotional. It takes some big swings thematically and plot-wise, and if it occasionally stumbles, it's still a journey well worth taking. The movie's solid direction is by Kogonada, the colorful cinematography is by Benjamin Loeb, and the insightful script is written by Seth Reiss.

While some critics and viewers have derided the film as too predictable and overly sentimental, I think the spiritual themes and emotional tone of the film are one of its strengths. We can all relate to David and Sarah's journey, and that's what makes the movie and its themes so compelling. A Big Bold Beautiful Journey is now available on disc, as well as for viewing on various digital platforms and streaming services. Here's a look at the trailer for the film: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7t9cPtA9St0.

Altered States: A Cosmic Love Story

Altered States (1980), directed by Ken Russell, isn't just a movie. It's a mind-blowing, universe-altering experience, blending elements of science-fiction, horror, cosmic philosophy, and mysticism. It's also a deeply powerful love story. Altered States is based on a 1978 novel by Paddy Chayefksy, the writer of such acclaimed films as Marty (1956), The Hospital (1972) and the beloved classic, Network (1977). The novel was inspired by the real-life experiments of Dr. John C. Lilly, who conducted research on sensory deprivation and how it alters human consciousness. Lily immersed himself and others in isolation tanks while under the influence of psychoactive drugs such as LSD, mescaline and ketamine, and recorded the experiences. 

Chayefsky designed a fictionalized version of these events, focusing on Dr. Edward Jessup, who is researching other states of consciousness as part of his work with schizophrenic patients. This leads Jessup to more intense experiments in sensory experience. Chayefsky intended the work to be a serious look at the research conducted by scientists like Lilly, integrated with man's spiritual search for truth. The film version of Altered States began pre-production at Warner Brothers with Arthur Penn (Bonnie and Clyde) as director, and Chayefsky receiving full creative control over the project. Penn resigned from the film after a dispute with Chayefsky, and Ken Russell (The Devils, Tommy) was brought in as a replacement. 

Russell's flamboyant visual style seemed to be a perfect fit for Chayefsky's imaginative story, but the two clashed frequently during production. Russell eventually disavowed the movie, and asked for his name to be taken off the film. The screenplay was credited to Chayefsky's pseudonym, Sidney Aaron. It's a shame that the conflicts with Russell soured Chayefsky on the project, because Altered States is a daring, one of a kind and awe-inspiring film. The top notch cast includes William Hurt, Blair Brown, Bob Balaban and Charles Haid, who perform Chayefsky's pseudo-scienctific and quasi-philosophical dialogue in a rapid fire, Howard Hawks-ian style, a choice which irritated Chayefsky but suits the characters perfectly.

Altered States tells the story of Dr. Edward Jessup, a scientist obsessed with exploring altered states of consciousness through sensory deprivation and hallucinogenic drugs. What begins as intellectual curiosity quickly spirals into something more primal, as his experiments unlock not just his mind, but an evolutionary memory embedded in our DNA. Jessup's anchor is Emily, an anthropologist he meets at a faculty party, and later marries. Their connection is intense, intimate and passionate, but Jessup's quest to unlock the secrets of the universe threatens to derail their relationship. Jessup's colleagues Arthur Rosenberg and Mason Parrish alternately support and hinder his efforts, but cannot stop him from conducting more dangerous and elaborate experiments. 

Jessup is brilliantly portrayed by William Hurt, and he's matched by a phenomenal supporting cast, including Blair Brown as Emily, Bob Balaban as Arthur and Charles Haid as Mason, Jessup's partners in his epic research into the origins of humanity. Emily, whose love for Jessup is fierce nd strong, will have to save him from the phantasmagorical transformations he suffers as a result of his experiments, and bring him back to reality from the brink of the ultimate trip into another plane of existence. In the end, can true love triumph over scientific obsession and the power of the universe? 

The film's brilliant special effects were designed by Bran Ferren, the amazing makeup was created by the legendary Dick Smith, and the stunning cinematography is by Jordan Cronenweth. The other worlds Eddie explores are visualized by surreal imagery: pulsating lights, religious iconography, and a psychedelic array of colors and sounds. His experiments also lead to some offbeat physical transformations. The hallucination sequences are the film’s centerpieces, and even by modern standards they retain a raw, disorienting power. There’s a tactile, almost grimy quality to the effects that make them feel more real and visceral than you'd likely experience via today's CGI creations. The movie also features a great score by composer John Corigliano.

Chayefsky's script grapples with big ideas like states of consciousness, religion, and evolution. At times, the sharp dialogue feels like an extended philosophical discussion, punctuated by Russell's fever-dream imagery, which illustrates Jessup's forays into other realities. The intensity of both the characters and Jessup's quest is what makes Altered States unique and memorable. Few films are willing to go all in on such wild concepts, while ultimately becoming the story of two characters united via a deep emotional bond. Altered States often feels less like a conventional narrative and more like a full-on sensory experience, but it's really a love story between two people whose passion creates a universe all their own.