“The Last Son.” / “Bring Him to Me.”

“The Last Son” (2021, Hulu) Western action drama film directed by Tim Sutton. Plot: Set in the late 19th century Sierra Nevada, Isaac LeMay, has been cursed by a terrible prophecy and in order to prevent his murder from the hands of his children, he hunts down his offspring, including cold-blooded murderer and outlaw, Cal, who is his last remaining son. While U.S. Marshal Solomon and bounty hunters track Cal down.

       This is a decent Western indie. Minimally executed and finely-acted. As the ruthless Cal, Colson Baker, more known as rapper Machine Gun Kelly, can actually act. I only read about Colson when his relationship drama with Megan Fox hits showbiz tabloids. 🎥💻📽

“Bring Him to Me” (2023, Hulu) crime thriller, tells the story of a getaway driver, forced by a ruthless crime boss, to transport an unsuspecting young crew member to a planned execution, creating a tense journey where the driver must grapple with his conscience as he drives the passenger to an uncertain fate, with most of the action taking place within the confines of the car. 

       The plot seems boring yet the actors involved, Barry Pepper as the Driver and Jamie Costa as the Passenger, managed to pull some excitement in such a claustrophobic setting, although some scenes are outside the vehicle. Just ignore Mr Pepper's awful beard, the ugliest beard ever!

       Since the storyline is confined in a 96-minute feature, we are not given ample backstories. Why do these guys seem so desperate? Still, the acting is A1, including short spots by Rachel Griffiths and Sam Neill as bad crime personages. 🎥💻📽

<>WATCHED AGAIN. “Cool Hand Luke” (1967, Tubi) prison drama, starring Paul Newman and featuring George Kennedy in an Oscar-winning performance. Mr Newman was nominated for Best Actor. Luke is a prisoner in a Florida prison camp who refuses to submit to the system. Set in the early 1950s, it is based on Donn Pearce's 1965 novel of the same title. 

       I first saw this movie when I was in grade school. A memorable sequence was when Luke ate 50 hard-boiled eggs in one hour, as a bet. But I reckon, the reason why Luke was cool? He's always smiling, whatever the situation. Like Cool Hand Luka (Doncic).