New Review on Vocal: “Shadow Force” (2025)

New Review on Vocal: Shadow Force (2025)

Posted May 13, 2025 by Sean Patrick – Sean at the Movies

If you’ve ever wondered how a solid, stylish action film can vanish at the box office before anyone notices, look no further than Shadow Force. The new film from director Joe Carnahan stars Kerry Washington and Omar Sy as ex-CIA assassins turned fugitive parents—and despite being packed with thrilling action, emotional beats, and even a Lionel Richie joke that works, the movie was seemingly doomed from the moment someone gave it that title.

I had a great time watching Shadow Force and even more fun writing about it. This one feels like a throwback in the best way possible: tight direction, great performances, and a totally adorable kid sidekick who might just be a future star. It deserved a better shot in theaters—and definitely a better title.

👉 Read my full review exclusively on Vocal

If you enjoy sharp, stylish action films with heart—and if you can get past the Cannon Films-era title—you might find yourself pleasantly surprised by Shadow Force. I was.

As always, thank you for supporting over 24 years of movie reviews here at Sean at the Movies. You can find over 2,800 reviews in the archive right here on the blog. Be sure to follow me on Twitter @PodcastSean and on BlueSky, and subscribe on Vocal for all my new writing.

• 🎙️ Listen to me talk movies on the I Hate Critics Movie Review Podcast!
• 💬 Like what you read? Share the Vocal post, leave a comment, or drop a tip. Your support keeps this going.

Movie Review The Holdovers

The Holdovers (2023) 

Directed by Alexander Payne 

Written by David Hemingson 

Starring Paul Giamatti, Dominic Sessa, Da'Vine Joy Randolph 

Release Date October 27th, 2023 

Published November 20th, 2023 

The Holdovers is the story of three people trying to avoid discomfort, sadness, and reminders of grief and loss. It's a story that patiently and comically lays out the case that avoiding life is as painful or more painful than risking pain or sadness in the pursuit of something good. The trio of main characters in The Holdovers are cut off from the world physically and, more importantly, metaphorically as they'd like to avoid discomfort or wish that they could shape the world to what they want it to be. They will each learn that the world doesn't conform to anyone's will and that hiding from the world is not the answer. 

Paul Hunham, a perfectly rumpled Paul Giamatti, is the most hated teacher at Barden Academy, a private school for very, very, rich boys. Hunham is openly contemptuous and hostile toward students who don't appear to take their learning as seriously as he does. Hunham doesn't appear to enjoy many things but he does relish openly insulting students who fail to meet his standard of excellence in learning. Oh but, Paul's contempt is not reserved for just the lesser students in his class. He has hate for school staff, fellow teachers, and for his boss, a former student of his who can't understand how Paul has remained at the school considering how miserable Paul appears to be at all times. 

The plot of The Holdovers kicks in when one of Paul's fellow teachers schemes his way out of staying at the school for the winter/Christmas break. Thus, the duty of staying behind at the school and supervising kids left behind by parents and guardians, falls to Paul. Admittedly, Paul was going to be at the school during the break anyway, he doesn't have a life or home away from Barton. Monitoring the holdover students will also allow Paul to indulge in his dictatorial style of teaching even during a time when students are supposed to be on a break. 

There are five students this year who have nowhere to go for the holidays. Among the five is Angus Tully (Dominic Sessa), a brilliant young man haunted by the ghost of his father. The other four students are soon shuffled off to a convenient trip with a generous parent but Angus is stuck as his mother is refusing to respond to repeated calls. Thus, we end up with Paul, Angus, and the school's head cook, Mary Lamb (Da'Vine Joy Randolph). Mary is grieving the loss of her son who was killed in Vietnam not long before the setting of this story in December of 1970. 

Find my full length review at Geeks.Media