Movie Reviews
Tin Soldier: An Ambitious but Uneven Journey Into Trauma and Redemption
Director Brad Furman returns with Tin Soldier, an action-thriller that tackles the weighty subject of PTSD through the lens of a cult infiltration story. While the film boasts an impressive ensemble cast and noble intentions, it struggles to balance its ambitious themes with the demands of its chosen genre.
The story centers on Nash Cavanaugh (Scott Eastwood), a military veteran haunted by PTSD who becomes entangled with The Program, an alternative treatment facility led by the enigmatic Bokushi (Jamie Foxx). When an FBI raid on the compound goes catastrophically wrong, Nash finds himself recruited by Special Agent Emmanuel Ashburn (Robert De Niro) for a second attempt to bring down the organization and its charismatic leader.
Furman, who previously demonstrated his skill with character-driven narratives in The Lincoln Lawyer and explored morally complex territory in City of Lies, attempts to weave together multiple threads: a tense infiltration thriller, a meditation on trauma recovery, and a personal journey of redemption. The director’s experience with ensemble pieces serves him well here, as he manages to give each member of his talented cast meaningful moments to shine.
Jamie Foxx delivers a particularly compelling performance as the cult leader Bokushi, managing to convey both magnetic charisma and underlying menace. His screen presence anchors the film’s more philosophical moments, making every scene he appears in feel charged with significance. Scott Eastwood brings a vulnerable intensity to Nash, effectively portraying a man caught between his desperate search for his wife Evoli (Nora Amezeder) and his own psychological wounds.
The supporting cast, including John Leguizamo as strike team leader Luke Dunn, adds depth to what could have been a straightforward action premise. De Niro, while working with familiar territory, brings gravitas to his role as an FBI agent whose motivations may not be entirely pure.
Where The Tin Soldier struggles most is in its tonal consistency. The film makes bold choices in its sound design, attempting to use audio to replicate the disorienting effects of PTSD—an innovative approach that doesn’t always land successfully. More problematically, the breakneck pace rarely allows viewers to fully invest in the emotional stakes of Nash’s journey or the gravity of the themes being explored.
The film’s climactic confrontation between Nash and Bokushi escalates into an elaborate visual spectacle that, while technically impressive, feels oddly disconnected from the grounded psychological drama that preceded it. This tonal shift exemplifies the movie’s central challenge: its identity crisis between being a thoughtful examination of trauma and a high-octane action thriller.
Furman’s script contains the bones of a powerful story about veterans seeking help and the predators who exploit their vulnerability. The exploration of alternative treatment programs and the desperation that drives people to seek them feels particularly relevant. However, the film’s ultimate commitment to action-movie conventions undermines the very message it’s trying to convey about the importance of proper mental health treatment.
The Tin Soldier represents a valiant effort to address serious issues within the framework of mainstream entertainment. While it doesn’t fully succeed in marrying its weighty themes with its genre elements, there’s enough compelling material here to make it worth watching for fans of the cast or those interested in unconventional approaches to familiar subjects.
The film opens in theaters today, September 12th, with a digital release scheduled for September 30th. Despite its flaws, The Tin Soldier stands as an interesting, if uneven, entry in Furman’s filmography—one that reaches for something meaningful even when it doesn’t quite grasp it.
Movie Reviews
BROKEN LAND – Award-Worthy Texas Western with Deep Natural Humanistic Connection
Directed by Joseph T. Walker
Written by Joseph T. Walker and Christopher C. Young
Starring David Morse (as Carson Tidwell), Jaklyn Bejarano (as Irene Romero), Bill Heck (as Harley Tidwell)
Synopsis: Carson Tidwell, a secluded rancher, inadvertently shoots Irene Romero, a pregnant undocumented immigrant who was trespassing on his land. He has second thoughts and decides to hide her from his estranged son Harley, a Border Patrol agent. Carson and Irene form a redemptive bond.
Although the film reflects the underlying dangers of those taking extreme risks migrating to the United States in search of a better, safer life from their country of origin, there is much more to the storyline than just migration. It encompasses a man being wrecked by quiet remorse after the passing of his wife that came with serious repercussions, which led to the arising tension with his son. By choosing to support a pregnant woman through her journey, he finally experiences true peace and liberation.
Director Joseph T. Walker filmed Broken Land in the rustic areas of Alice and Freer, Texas which brings authenticity to the storyline. Walker captures the rugged yet majestic Texas scenery with its picturesque sunsets in the cattle capital. Utilizing these specific locations anchored the film’s tone and his beautiful use of animals symbolized deeper thematic elements that illuminate the characters’ true nature, allowing to instill an empathetic relation to their experiences.
David Morse naturally embodied the spirit of a Texas cattleman. The highly respected actor and extraordinary Hollywood gem gave an impeccable performance that elevated the material with Jaklyn Bejarano. Bejarano, an actress from Mexico, showcased remarkable devotion to her role being transformative and reflecting absolute emotional vulnerability. Their most notable work transpired while defining conflict amidst their characters and moving toward a shared resilience. There is a notable linguistic barrier between Morse and Bejarano, which they cleverly used as an opportunity to establish a connection that brought their characters closer. It was captivating and felt deeply connected throughout every scene.
The title, Broken Land, perfectly fits the description of anyone who isolates themselves in desolation after a traumatic experience. This profoundly impactful film has a deeply humanistic narrative that focuses heavily on human worth, empathy, and establishing a natural connection. I believe this film is award-worthy for its original cinematography and outstanding performances.
Broken Land is available on video on demand (VOD) starting June 12, 2026.
Watch my interview with Director Joseph T. Walker and distinguished actor David Morse.

Movie Reviews
DISCLOSURE DAY – Radiant as a Meteor that Fizzles Out Into the Night Sky
Directed by Steven Speilberg
Screenplay by David Koepp
Starring: Emily Blunt (Margaret Farichild), Josh O’Connor (Daniel Keliner), Colin Firth (Noah Scanton), Eve Hewson (Jane Blankenship), Colman Domingo (Hugo Wakefield)
Synopsis: A government whistleblower races the clock to expose decades of state secrets and that will fracture human history: we are not alone, and they are already here.
Being one of the most anticipated films by Steven Spielberg – notable for his masterful technique in visual storytelling – Disclosure Day meets the base line sci-fi thriller expectations through its dramatic characters, visually elaborate cinematography and microbursts of action. However, it appears that it did not match the impact of his legendary films that have pioneered a standard of excellence.


The all-star cast held the line together sustaining the film in a uniform effort. There were slight standouts from Josh O’Connor with his approach of complex inner conflict blended with emotional intelligence. He was a great counterweight to his costars: Eve Hewson’s dynamic exceling in psychological thrillers, and Emily Blunt’s craft of enduring pressure with fierce determination. Their action sequences delivered edge-of-your seat captivating thrills that were relentlessly entertaining.


While the topic of government cover-up on extraterrestrials is intriguing, Spielberg leaned heavily on nostalgic repetition of E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial and Close Encounters of the Third Kind with the added bonus excitement of Indiana Jones. He did incorporate effective touches of deep animal symbolism that layered the narrative of humanity and spiritual faith. However, the film’s impact was undermined by an anticlimactic “disclosure” of the outer space visitor. The production design was noticeably a half-hearted attempt to phone in the main prop reveal.
Disclosure Day is an average watch. It offers flashes of brilliance like a meteor but ultimately fizzles out into the night sky.

Movie Reviews
Into the Unknown: Reviewing ‘From the Beyond: High Strangeness in the Bennington Triangle’
In this video, we take a deep dive into the mysterious and unsettling documentary ‘From the Beyond: High Strangeness in the Bennington Triangle’.
Exploring one of America’s most infamous paranormal hotspots, this film examines eerie disappearances, strange sightings, and the chilling folklore surrounding Vermont’s Bennington Triangle. We break down the documentary’s storytelling, evidence, interviews, and overall atmosphere—does it truly uncover something unexplainable, or does it leave more questions than answers?
If you’re into unsolved mysteries, paranormal phenomena, and high strangeness, this one’s for you.

Synopsis: Since the mid twentieth century, a mysterious section of land in rural Vermont has been the home of untold strangeness. Rumors of UFOs, ghosts, phantom lights and mysterious creatures can all be found there in abundance, while verified reports of odd disappearances – many still unsolved – cast a shadow over Glastenbury Mountain. From the Beyond: High Strangeness in the Bennington Triangle goes beyond the rumors and campfire stories, while daring to ask what may be the most frightening question of all – why is Glastenbury Mountain so inexplicable, and what happened to those who have gone missing?
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