After all the build-up, the long list of nominees, the glitz, the glamour, the expense (oh, the expense), and all those speeches and self-congratulatory pats on the back, the Academy Awards have finally come and gone. Yep, the Oscars are over and it’ll soon be blockbuster season (yay!).
The biggest winners? Erm… the entire film industry, I guess.
The actual winners? Well, Anora took home five awards, including Best Picture, Best Film Editing, Best Original Screenplay, Best Director, and Best Actress for Mikey Madison, while The Brutalist, Emilia Pérez, Wicked, and Dune: Part Two all picked up two awards each.
Other wins went to A Real Pain, Flow, I’m Still Here, Conclave, No Other Land, I’m Not a Robot, In the Shadow of the Cypress, The Only Girl in the Orchestra, and The Substance.
But let’s be honest, the real winners this week are you and I. Every week I watch lots of movies, and every week you read about ‘em!
Speaking of which, in this week’s edition of Movie Reviews 2025 there are reviews for Nickel Boys, Counterattack, and Mickey 17. Plus Robot Wars on disc, and it’s the 40th anniversary of Mask!*
*Which makes no sense, as the film stars Cher and as we all know she’s not a day over 39.
—
Now streaming…
Nickel Boys (2024)
First up this week, in Nickel Boys, it is the 1960s and Elwood Curtis is a young African-American boy living in Tallahassee, Florida. Elwood is a bright lad, trying to make his way through life, despite the social and political troubles of the time period in which he lives.
Due to his potential, Elwood’s teacher suggests he attend a tuition-free study program at the Melvin Griggs Technical College. Elwood agrees and looks forward to seeing what Melvin Griggs has to offer.
On the way to the college, Elwood accepts a lift from a stranger. A short way into the journey, the police pull over the car, arrest the driver for theft, and convict Elwood of being his accomplice.
As punishment, and due to his age, Elwood is sent to a reform school named Nickel Academy. Here the black students are segregated from the white students, Elwood and his peers are subjected to abuse, and all hope seems lost.
Directed and co-written by RaMell Ross, and based on The Nickel Boys novel by Colson Whitehead, Nickel Boys stars Ethan Herisse, Brandon Wilson, and Hamish Linklater. The movie is a historical drama inspired by the real-life horrors of the Dozier School for Boys (which closed in 2011), and is a hard-hitting picture about racism and abuse in 1960s America.
Shot from a first person perspective, with the audience seeing everything as Elwood sees it, the film details his experiences growing up and the injustice he faces. It’s a time when racism was rampant and when facilities such as Nickel Academy could get away with barbaric behaviour.
Over the course of the film, Nickel Boys shows how much Elwood’s life is shaped by outside forces and how his time at Nickel ruins his life. The film also details his friendship with fellow Nickel boy, Turner, who also becomes entwined in Elwood’s journey.
With its uneasy subject matter and its unconventional first-person storytelling technique, which continually delivers a sense of unease, Nickel Boys is a fairly effective drama. It shines a light on some truly awful things, which are sadly reflective of real-life tragedies, and it does so in a mostly captivating way.
Occasionally the first-person POV technique does become a little frustrating, and the film is arguably a touch too long, but for the most part the picture stands up and stands out. It certainly offers something different to other dramas right now, and for many it will be an immersive experience.
Will it work for everyone? No, and if it doesn’t sound like a film for you, then it probably isn’t a film for you (you have been cautioned).
However, it did catch the attention of the judging panel at the Academy Awards, who put Nickel Boys in the running for Best Picture at this year’s ceremony. It didn’t win, it lost out to Anora, but it is understandable why it was in the running.
When Nickel Boys hits certain story beats, and when it is zeroing in on some of the difficulties Elwood faces, it really packs a punch. Plus, at times it is visually arresting and keeps audiences on their toes, even if it does lose a bit of momentum here and there.
Anyway, should you wish to take a look for yourself, Nickel Boys is now streaming on Amazon Prime Video.
—
Now streaming…
Counterattack (2025)
Up next, and moving away from Academy nominated movies for the moment, is the Mexican action film, Counterattack (aka Contraataque, aka Counterstrike). Directed by Chava Cartas, the movie stars Luis Alberti, Noé Hernández, Luis Curiel, and Leonardo Alonso, and tells the story of a group of soldiers who find themselves under attack.
In the movie, Captain Guerrero (the First Captain of the Mexican Armed Forces) is out for a drink with a friend when he spots some trouble. A group of men are attempting to kidnap two young women.
After interrupting the kidnapping, he learns a shocking truth. The women were under threat from goons after they discovered a mass grave on the Valle Hermoso highway which contains the bodies of ten soldiers.
The soldiers disappeared while on a mission to arrest prolific drug trafficker, Josefo Yurías, the leader of the El Enjambre cartel. The goons worked for Yurías, and were attempting to kidnap the two women to keep them silent.
In an attempt to uncover further information about Yurías, Guerrero and a team of operatives track down and arrest one of his men. Seventy-two hours later they are ambushed on the road and have to fight for their lives.
With a fairly simple story, a swift running time (85 mins), and a consistent amount of gunfire, Counterattack is a fairly decent survival film. It’s nothing special, nor does it attempt anything new, but if straightforward shoot-outs are what you’re after, Counterattack certainly delivers.
The movie opens with action, continues with action, and yep, you guessed it, seems quite content to deliver more action for dessert. So, while Counterattack might not explore new ground, it is confident in delivering on its general premise (ACTION!), and with this it can’t be faulted.
Counterattack also benefits from a good cast and some great cinematography. So, all-in-all, perfectly fine for those wanting something that looks good and offers up a gun battle/knife fight/fisticuffs.* (*Please delete as applicable)
Does this sound like something you’re after? Then head on over to Netflix and make use of Counterattack as you see fit.
—
Anniversary focus…
Mask (1985)
Right, let me ask you this: What were you doing in 1985? More importantly, were you watching Mask? Well, I have some good news and I have some bad news.
The good news is, if you were watching Mask you watched a great film. The bad news is, if you did watch Mask then I’m sorry to say you’re getting on a bit now and have probably started to get back pains.
Yes, it’s official, Mask has turned 40 years’ old. This means you’re old too.
But enough about you (you selfish so-and-so), let’s turn our attention to Mask – the biographical drama from director Peter Bogdanovich. Starring Cher, Eric Stoltz, Sam Elliott, and Laura Dern, the film tells the real-life story of Rocky Dennis, and as I’ve just mentioned, it is now celebrating its 40th birthday.
For those not familiar with Mask, or the Rocky Dennis story in general, Roy Lee “Rocky” Dennis was a teenager who grew up during the ‘60s and ‘70s and lived with an extremely rare bone disorder known as craniodiaphyseal dysplasia. The condition caused Rocky various health complications, but most noticeably it impacted his appearance and cut his life short.
Mask presents a re-telling of Rocky’s story (with some adjustments for dramatic effect) and focuses on his schooling, his relationship with his mother, and his first brush with love. The movie takes place during the last year of Rocky’s life, highlighting the triumphs, but also the tragedy.
At the centre of Mask is a story about overcoming adversity and the importance of family and friendship. All the way through the film, Mask promotes a positive message about acceptance and family bonds, with various touching and heartfelt moments thrown in for good measure.
To back all of this up there is strong direction from Bogdanovich, as well as two truly brilliant turns from Eric Stoltz and Cher, which resulted in both actors receiving Golden Globe nominations. The former is an absolute delight as Rocky, while the latter is a revelation as Rocky’s mother, Rusty.
In fact, this could be Cher’s best on-screen performance to date. Sure, she may have bagged an Academy Award for 1987’s Moonstruck, but Mask is where she should have picked up an Oscar.
However, Oscar or not, Cher did receive the Best Actress Award at the Cannes Film Festival, so it’s not like she didn’t get any recognition. But for the record, her performance as Rusty Dennis is superb.
And it’s a superb performance in a superb film. Mask tells a compelling story, it does so in an extremely likeable way, and it is much-loved by Cher fans.
If you wish to watch Mask, to celebrate the film’s birthday, your best bet is through trusty DVD. At present, Mask does not appear to be streaming on any of the major platforms in the UK, is not available to rent or buy on digital, and is not on Blu-ray or 4K either!
Is this a crime against great cinema? Yes. However, it is on DVD, so you really have no excuse not to give the movie a watch.
—
On disc…
Robot Wars (1993)
And from the good to the dire. Sigh…
Now available on Blu-ray in the UK, courtesy of 101 Films, is low-rent sci-fi tosh, Robot Wars. Directed by Albert Band, and originally released in 1993, the film stars Don Michael Paul and Barbara Crampton, and follows the story of a mech-pilot who must do what he can to prevent a global war.
In the movie, the year is 2041 and large parts of North America have become a wasteland. With not much to offer, the country is aiming to salvage the economy with the production of robots.
Once produced for warfare, and large in number, the bots are now reduced to just one lone mech. But when this single bot – titled MRAS-2 – falls into the wrong hands, it’s up to Captain Drake (and his co-pilot Stumpy) to save the day!
Jeez, where to even begin?
OK, so of the many, many things wrong with Robot Wars (dreadful script, awful direction, cheap costumes, etc), the most disappointing element of the film is the significant lack of robot wars in Robot Wars. Oh, there is a fight sequence, which takes place between the aforementioned MRAS-2 and another bot, but a.) it is nothing to get excited about, and b.) it doesn’t fulfil the promise of the title – it’s more of a robot scuffle than a robot war.
It’s also worth noting this action scene doesn’t appear until just over an hour into the film. And as Robot Wars only runs to 72 minutes, with a good five minutes of credits, it’s really not worth sticking around for.
As for the rest of the screen time, it is filled up with endless scenes of dialogue and plenty of wooden acting. Oh, and there is a huge amount of budget-saving padding too.
At one point, two of the main characters wander around a town which has been preserved since a toxic gas incident took place in 1993. With the town effectively being stuck in ‘93, the same year this film was released, there’s no need to spend any money on dressing the sets.
Not that it would matter anyway, because even the scenes depicting 2041 simply look like the 1990s. The film’s budgetary limitations are too obvious to avoid.
The only bright spot in this otherwise woeful film is MRAS-2, which is a scorpion-like mech that is essentially the star of the picture. Bearing a striking resemblance to something from Zoids, MRAS-2 is brought to life via stop-motion practical effects, and is a fun bit of spectacle.
Sure, the mech mostly just wanders from one side of the screen to the other, but it is the only thing of value in Robot Wars. The title and the poster image tease something appealing, but it’s all smoke and mirrors.
Robot Wars was rubbish back in 1993 and it is still rubbish now. Unless you’re desperate to own this movie on disc, it’s best left on the shelf.
—
In cinemas…
Mickey 17 (2025)
And finally, now playing in UK and US cinemas is the sci-fiction comedy, Mickey 17. Written and directed by Bong Joon-ho, and based on Edward Ashton’s novel, Mickey7, the film stars Robert Pattinson, Naomi Ackie, Steven Yeun, Toni Collette, and Mark Ruffalo, and follows the story of a guy named Mickey who volunteers to be an expendable clone.
In the movie, Mickey Barnes and his best friend Timo are financially in the toilet. Unable to pay their debts and on the run from a loan shark, the pair sign up as crew on a space ship and leave Earth.
Timo becomes a pilot, while Mickey is an ‘expendable’. As an expendable, Mickey is sent on dangerous assignments, which end in his death, but is then brought back as a copy thanks to advanced cloning technology.
This technique works well until an 18th iteration of Mickey is created while the 17th is still alive. Problem is, the law states there can’t be multiple clones in existence, and yet there are two Mickeys!
With multi-Academy Award-winning writer/director Bong Joon-ho calling the shots on Mickey 17, it’ll come as no surprise this is a stand-out tale with plenty to offer. From the script which is filled with lashings of black comedy, to the blend of genres that combines sci-fi, horror, and romance (with a bit of room for satire), Mickey 17 is unlike any other picture in cinemas right now.
Its story is captivating, its visuals mesmerising, and its cast marvellous. Lead actor Robert Pattinson is absolutely brilliant as Mickey Barnes (and his many clones), while strong support comes from the ever-dependable Toni Collette and the fab Mark Ruffalo.
The latter spends the entire movie sporting false teeth and channelling his inner Donald Trump and it’s scarily accurate. OK so it’s a bit bonkers, yet it fits the tone of the picture just right, which is in itself… well… quite bonkers.
Outside of the above, there’s plenty of sci-fi goodness for those who like to indulge; the film opens up a dialogue about cloning and the ethics behind it; and it serves up plenty of social commentary. Plus, Mickey 17 benefits from Joon-ho’s ability to move from one scene to the next with such precision that something horrific can follow something daft and it all slots together seamlessly.
Is it perfect? No, and at 137 minutes Mickey 17 is a touch too long.
The film doesn’t drag, but it loses momentum a couple of times and this is arguably due to the length. A few edits to quicken the pace in the mid-section would help.
But a little bit of mid-movie sag aside, Mickey 17 is a damn fine film. It serves up engaging entertainment, rather than blockbuster fluff, and yet has the spectacle and ideas to work for a broad audience.
—
Movie of the Week
All the reviews are in and this week’s Movie of the Week goes to… Mickey 17. The film offers a great mix of genres, has a good cast, and benefits from Bong Joon-ho’s touch.
And if you’re a fan of Mickey 17 you may wish to check out:
Parasite (2019) – Director Bong Joon-ho’s black comedy thriller about a poor family who infiltrate the life and home of a wealthy family.
The Batman (2022) – Robert Pattinson takes on the role of DC’s Dark Knight in Matt Reeves’ reboot of the Batman movie series.
They Cloned Tyrone (2023) – A secret laboratory, clones, and an intriguing mystery are at the heart of this sci-fi tale starring John Boyega.
—
Forthcoming attractions
That’s it for this week, but coming soon…
There’s underwater drama in survival thriller, Last Breath; Paul W. S. Anderson takes on the George R. R. Martin fantasy, In the Lost Lands; and Netflix unveils The Electric State. Plus in the not-too distant future, Jack Black, Jason Momoa, and Emma Myers star in A Minecraft Movie.
With all this and so much more to come, why would you go anywhere else for your movie reviews? Why?!
Actually, don’t answer that question, it’s best I don’t know.
Alex
—
—
Thank you for taking the time to read Movie Reviews 2025 on It’s A Stampede!. For more reviews, check out the recommended reads below.
It's A Stampede! 
Leave a comment