It’s time for the Movie Minute with Matinee Matt. This week’s flick: Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother.
We might not have gotten Blade, but this is the next best thing: Blade meets John Wick meets The Mandalorian.
Mahershala Ali stars as Latif, a devout Muslim hitman left to raise three children after his wife dies. He’s a mercenary who shows mercy, guided by a faith that shapes his complicated relationship with violence.
Ali brings expert sword fighting and enough humanity to make his on-screen family feel real, aided by three talented young actors playing his kids.
It’s smarter than your average popcorn fare, wrestling with faith, grief, family and morality. But there’s still a primal, lizard-brain appeal to watching Mahershala Ali go Kill Bill with a sword.
John Cho makes the most of his screen time as a cartoonish villain, while the action is visceral and exceptionally choreographed.
Comparisons to Ghost Dog are inevitable, with both movies built around spiritual hitmen. But Forest Whitaker didn’t kick a tenth as much butt as Mahershala does.
It’s thoughtful without sacrificing thrills.