Awards Buzz Weekly: Reviews for The Accountant 2, Until Dawn, and Sinners plus Ramón Rodríguez talks Will Trent, and Guy Fieri’s FYC

Welcome back to Awards Buzz Weekly, a new column covering the latest movies, TV shows, and other industry news. This week, there’s a lot to cover, including three theatrical releases now playing in a theater near you. Additionally, I share my interview with Ramón Rodríguez who plays Will Trent on the hit ABC Series, plus my pick for the FYC Event of the Week with the one and only Guy Fieri.

The Accountant 2 Review: Kicking Ass and Line Dancing

Plot Synopsis: Christian Wolff and his brother Jon Bernthal reunite to solve the case of Raymond King’s murder.

Review: The Accountant wasn’t a film that was on my radar. I didn’t see the first one at a press screening, but rather randomly bought a ticket on a rainy afternoon. Needless to say, like millions of others, I was pleasantly surprised by the film and enjoyed it quite a bit. The sequel, which took eight years to bring to life, stands on its own and feels different from the first. In many ways, it does what a good sequel should—it ups the ante while delivering a surprisingly large amount of laughs and a whole lot of badass action.

Ben Affleck’s Christian Wolff is a character many would agree is a bit rough around the edges, but incredibly likable. Truthfully, I applaud Affleck’s portrayal because he clearly understands that those who are neurodivergent are not all the same. Christian, while being a very attractive guy, doesn’t pick up on social cues well, is a bit awkward, and isn’t the best at reading the room. On the flip side, his brother Braxton, played by Jon Bernthal, is also rough around the edges but is the very definition of masculinity. Affleck and Bernthal are honestly the main reason to see this film—their chemistry is off the charts. They throw insults at each other, but it’s clear it all comes from a place of love.

Director Gavin O’Connor continues to prove that he’s an excellent filmmaker who knows how to make a damn entertaining movie. The film successfully combines comedy and action, with some heart mixed in for good measure. He understands that he’s not trying to redefine cinema, but instead deliver something audiences genuinely want to see. O’Connor and Affleck clearly understand one another and play to each other’s strengths. They’ve created a character who is flawed yet lovable and turned what could have been a standalone film into a potential franchise. It’s a total crowd-pleaser.

While most of The Accountant 2 worked for me, I do have to admit that the pacing felt a bit off at times. You can feel the runtime—I think it could’ve been cut down by about 10–15 minutes. Some of the surprises also didn’t land as strongly as O’Connor may have hoped. The casting of J.K. Simmons as Raymond King felt like a missed opportunity. He’s an incredible actor, but his screen time is so limited that it seemed almost wasteful to cast someone so notable in the role.

Overall, The Accountant 2 is a film that most mainstream moviegoers will flock to and enjoy. It’s wildly entertaining, surprisingly funny at times, and delivers the goods when it comes to action.

Grade: 7/10

Award Buzz: I don’t see any awards for The Accountant 2 outside a potential nomination at the MTV Movie and TV Awards.

Gavin O’ Connor Interview:

Until Dawn Review: David F. Sandberg’s Return to Horror Feels Like a Step Backwards

Plot Synopsis: A year after her sister Melanie mysteriously disappears, Clover and her friends embark on a road trip vacation and end up being trapped in a remote valley where they are forced to relive their deaths in an endless time loop.

Review: Loosely inspired by the mythology of the video game with the same name, Until Dawn is survival horror meets Groundhog Day. As someone who considers themselves a hardcore fan of David F. Sandberg, I feel like Until Dawndoesn’t quite live up to his standards when it comes to this genre. Lights Out and Annabelle: Creation are still two of my favorite horror films of the last decade. While Until Dawn has some interesting ideas, and I loved how the twist tied into mental health, I ultimately struggled to care about what was going on throughout the majority of the film.

The cast does what they need to do to get the job done. They are all solid in their roles and, not for nothing, they are all quite attractive—which is a great selling point to the film’s target demographic. That being said, I do think we’ve reached a point in movies where the whole Groundhog Day concept has been wildly overused. While these characters are not living the same day over and over again, they are dying repeatedly, which gets old pretty fast despite the nightmare changing each new day. The ending also felt a bit underwhelming, as the movie ends rather abruptly—almost as though they ran out of budget and didn’t want to add another five minutes to give the characters some additional closure.

David F. Sandberg does a fine job directing this one, but as I said earlier, it feels like a massive step backward for him. I know a lot of people didn’t like Shazam 2—I personally believe that audiences were way too harsh on that film—but going from four Warner Bros. releases to this feels like he is starting over. I do like that, just like with his previous films, Sandberg added in a few little Easter eggs that only fans of his would get and appreciate.

Overall, Until Dawn isn’t a bad film, but it just wasn’t what I expected from someone like David F. Sandberg. It has some fun moments, like the exploding bodies, but there aren’t enough scares here. I feel like this is a very restrained effort from Sandberg, and I hope that if he signs on to direct the sequel, he adds more of his signature style and vision. Again, I think this is worthy of a watch, but it isn’t something that one will remember much about after leaving the theater.

Rating: 6/10

Awards Buzz: Doubtful. I don’t even see this film getting nominated at horror-specific award shows.

Sinners Review: Ryan Coogler Redefines Vampire Horror

Plot Synopsis: Twin brothers, Smoke and Stack (both played by Michael B. Jordan), return to their Southern hometown to open a new juke joint—only to find themselves under siege by bloodthirsty KKK vampires.

Review: I will be the first to admit it—I was a bit hesitant about Ryan Coogler’s Sinners based on the trailers. I didn’t quite understand the tone of the film from the previews, but luckily, the film itself knows exactly what it is and delivers the goods.

Sinners is one of those films that blurs the lines of genre, and it does so in ways you wouldn’t expect. The film is very much a full meal with a lot to say. The themes explored here are heavy, but they’re handled in such a unique way that the film manages to be entertaining, poignant, and captivating from beginning to end.

Michael B. Jordan playing dual roles showcases his true talent and range as an actor. He is compelling as both characters, and what’s so standout about his performances is how different these two individuals are—completely unlike anything we’ve seen from him before. Jordan acts alongside himself for the first half of the film, and it’s truly mesmerizing to watch. But it isn’t just Michael B. Jordan delivering noteworthy performances. I think the entire cast shines and delivers some of the finest work of their careers, with the two standouts being Wunmi Mosaku and Miles Caton.

You can tell when watching Sinners that, despite its supernatural elements, this film is very personal to Coogler. He clearly wanted to tell this story, but he knew he had to do it in a way that would be entertaining rather than preachy or pretentious. There is so much subtext throughout this film that it demands multiple viewings to fully appreciate. Coogler poured his heart and soul into it, and that can be felt in every frame. While I wouldn’t call this a masterpiece, I would say it’s a truly special film that audiences will be talking about for weeks to come. Sinners has already become a cultural phenomenon, and it’s proof that when studios believe in filmmakers—especially those with a proven track record—they can be trusted to make original movies that truly deliver.

Sinners is one of the most stylistic and greatest vampire films we’ve seen in decades. The use of music is phenomenal and plays such an important role in building and shaping the story. With Sinners, Coogler has proven once again that he’s one of the most influential and talented directors working today. If you haven’t seen it yet, do yourself a favor and go watch it.

Rating: 9/10

Awards Buzz: While it is very early in the year, I do believe that Sinners is the first studio release that could potentially see some awards love later this year. While I think a Best Picture nom isn’t guaranteed, the amount of love and support that the film has recieved from critics, actors and filmmakers is undeniable. This kind of early support leads me to believe that awards could be possible. However, with Cannes just around the corner, it is hard to know if the hype of this film will continue past May but only time will tell.

Ramón Rodríguez talks Will Trent

ABC’s Will Trent is now in its third season and while I haven’t reviewed this season yet – I’m waiting for it to finish, I can honestly say that this is the best season yet. Will Trent stands out from all of the other Broadcast dramas because of the sharp and bold writing, strong direction, and the charismatic and talented cast led by the remarkable Ramón Rodríguez.

Full disclosure, I have been a fan of the series since the very first episode, so when I was presented with the opportunity to finally chat with Will Trent himself, Ramón Rodríguez, I was beyond excited. We had a 30 minute conversation and honestly, I probably could have kept that conversation going for at least another half hour easily.

We talked about a wide array of topics in that 30 minutes from how he got the role to acting alongside Betty to how his love of dance came into play during this season. Ramón shared so much about the show and his love of it. If you are a fan of Will Trent, you will very likely love this interview and how much detail Ramón went into. I think my favorite takeaway is a toss up between Ramón not knowing that people find the character of Will Trent sexy and the secrets behind Betty’s acting on-set. These were my two favorite responses but the majority of this conversation features a lot of fun behind the scenes stuff.

FYC Pick of the Week: Food Network’s Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives

The best part of doing this column weekly is that I get to write about films and tv shows that I love in addition to reviewing movies and tv shows. Well, this week was a double whammy as I got to share my Will Trent interview with Ramón Rodríguez and then this past Thursday night, I got to finally attend an Emmy FYC event for Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives.

When I am not watching or talking about movies and television shows, I am either talking about theatre or eating. I am a massive foodie so there should be no surprise that Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives is one of my favorite shows not only to binge watch but use as a guide whenever I go on vacation and want to try local restaurants. I have been watching Triple D for years and have become such a massive supporter of Guy Fieri because of all the great things he has done to not only help restaurant owners but exudes kindness and positivity.

After watching Tripe D for about 10 years, I started watching Guy’s Grocery Games and Tournament of Champions during the pandemic. This two shows have now joined Triple D as shows that I will happily binge watch whenever I am looking to relax for a few hours.

Needless to say, I have wanted to attend an FYC event for one of Guy Fieri’s shows for a number of years now but finally had the opportunity to attend this year. Prior to the screening of an episode of Triple D, I had the opportunity to walk around the Emmys headquarters to see what they were setting up for the reception later than night. The Food Network team did a great job re-creating the vibe of the show with various food stations including several buffets, a chicken tender bar complete with different dipping sauce options, and a built your own fish taco bar.

After the screening, Entertainment Tonight’s Nischelle Turner brought Guy out on stage for a lively convesation. The two were very comfortable with each other and seemed to have a geniune friendship. They joked with each other while Guy got asked various questions about the series and what the experience has meant to him. Truthfully, I felt like I learned a lot about who Guy was and some very interesting facts about the show itself from this conversation. One of the biggest shockers was the fact that Guy has been working with a lot of the same team since the show started 18 years ago. He noted that he watched many people have chidren and raise them over the course of the past 18 years. I also found it fascinating that for someone with such a dynamic and outgoing personality, Guy is actually a homebody and enjoys being at home rather than traveling around the country.

After the conversation, Guy did come out with a cigar in one hand and a bottle of tequila in the other. He took photos with voters and took the time to chat briefly with everyone who stood in line. He spent a good 45 minutes in total with fans and voters, which I felt was quite awesome given the fact that he was up and filming a new episode of Triple D earlier that morning from 7am until the event started at 7pm. When asked about why he wanted to win an Emmy, he spoke openly and honestly and said that winning an Emmy was more about acknowledging the hard work of his team and al of the time and effort that they put into the show over the past 18 years. He also shared that working in this space is one of the most time consuming positions one can have in the entertainment industry, which each episode of Triple D taking 8 full days to shoot.