ACTION Drama on Tubi: “Running with the Devil.” "The Marksman." "Damaged."

<>“Running with the Devil” 2019, starring Nicolas Cage and Laurence Fishburne. Traces the journey of cocaine, moving from the fields to the processing facilities, and then crossing borders to reach the distributors. Hey, Mr Cage and Mr Fishburne together in a crime/narcos movie is a winnable bet, don’t you agree? Add Cole Hauser, who pretty much essays the same Rip character that he muscled around in “Yellowstone,” you are at 7-3 odds you'd enjoy this macho ride-along.

       The characters are introduced as The Cook, The Man, Agent In Charge, The Boss, The Snitch, The Farmer, and The Executioner. So you know how the entire ride is gonna be. To his credit, the director Jason Cabell had a winner in 2016’s “Smoke Filled Lungs,” which he wrote, directed, and won Best Actor for at the Milan Filmmakers Film Festival. The movie also won Best Picture.

       To my disappointment though, “Running…” isn’t a winner. It was simply a visual recitation, told in “matter of fact” non-imaginative manner, how the coke traveled to here and there, who got wasted along the way, and who are responsible for all these deadly shenanigans. The problem? Mr Cabell, who once served as a decorated combat Navy SEAL, supervised the feature as though it was a field report told as is. I mean, Nic Cage didn’t even do a Nic Cage, if you know what I mean. 🎥👍📽

<>“The Marksman” 2021, starring Liam Neeson. The plot follows a rancher and former Marine living in an Arizona border town, who must help a young boy escape a Mexican drug cartel. Mr Neeson could be Nicolas Cage's competition as streaming TV's most prolific gig guys. Although Liam delivers almost the same cold as a chilled PBR in a Coleman dude as he did with his Bryan Mills persona in “Taken,” we didn’t get to hear him do the “I will look for you, I will find you, and I will kill you!” line in “The Marksman.” But let’s admit it, Nic has a wider range or character diversity than Liam. Still, this little movie bites. Not as a doberman though; just a puppy pug nip. Still entertaining. 🎥👍📽

<>“Damaged” 2024, starring Samuel L. Jackson. Follows a Chicago-based detective who investigates a series of serial killings in Scotland alongside another detective. The crime pattern is similar to another killing spree they handled five years prior. 

       Along with the usually remarkable, Vincent Cassel and Scottish vet Gianni Capaldi, the thriller had the workings of a fine goth gore mystery, most of the way. Intriguing, inquisitive, daring. Until the last part, and the not so “pleasing” end. I did follow the “investigation,” and had some clues, and although the climax or semi-resolution is fine with me, I wanted some more shudders, you know. 🎥👍📽

MOVIE that I gave up: “American Insurrection” (2021, Paramount+) thriller drama. Premise: After a powerful militia seizes control of the United States, some friends try to escape the escalating violence and oppression. Compelling plotline and fine performances but it all evolved as a “politically correct” yarn. I didn’t go past 15 minutes though.