The Channel

A fun, shoestring-budget type, heist movie that borrows heavily from superior films in the genre. Namely and obviously the 199x movie "Heat". It's almost like the writers of this movie just finished Breaking Bad and then watched Heat directly preceding receiving the inspiration for writing this film. All that said, you could do worse than Breaking Bad and Heat for touchstones imo. The acting is not great (especially from the dude who played the good bro and the dude who played Pacino's cop character) and some of the lines are just awful but I found it enjoyable. Lots of gunfights and sincere but laughably terrible attempts at N'Orlins accents. I have definitely seen worse.

Going into this film with low expectations and unfamiliarity with the cast, I was pleasantly surprised and thoroughly impressed by what unfolded. The movie, which I initially underestimated, proved to be a captivating experience filled with intense action and compelling performances.

From the start, the film grips you with its high-stakes heist plot that keeps you on the edge of your seat. The actors, though not household names, brought their characters to life with authenticity and vigor that rivaled seasoned stars. Their portrayal of the classic "good guys against the bad guys" scenario was fresh and engaging, making every moment count.

The action sequences were well choreographed, showcasing a blend of strategy and adrenaline that is often hard to balance in heist films. Each scene was crafted with precision, making the action not just exciting but believable.

Overall, this film is a hidden gem that deserves more attention. It's a must-watch for anyone who loves action-packed, edge-of-your-seat thrillers. The movie not only met but exceeded my expectations, earning my full respect and a high recommendation.

The Channel is a low budget film, but one done with style and skill. It's clearly influenced by crime films like Heat and 21 Bridges (the main cop even looks like Chadwick Boseman!), but the plot manages to go to places that those films did not. The result is a movie that feels fresh and thrilling despite wearing its influences on its sleeve.

The film's secret weapon is definitely director William Kaufman, who has made a career of turning out big action on tiny budgets. His signature is creating visceral, realistic-ish gunfights and he doesn't disappoint here. Shootouts that would last 30 seconds in other movies instead go on for 3-5 minutes here and escalate in a pleasing fashion. I wouldn't say The Channel has the best shootouts he's ever made (see The Brave or Daylight's End for that), but this is certainly the best film he's made. It holds up even during the non-action scenes and I found myself invested in the predicament of the main characters.

If you can accept action movies without big studio production values, then The Channel is a good time at the movies.

What a great surprise - i only gave this a chance because Clayne Crawford is in it, terrific edgy actor (the talented one from TV series Lethal Weapon, the wonderful Rectify, and several acclaimed indie movies including The Killing Of Two Lovers and The Integrity Of Joseph Chambers), and was shocked by how good it was. A genuinely tremendous opening set-piece, in which a heist goes wrong, comes pretty close to the wonders of Michael Mann's Heat with an intense and prolonged shootout. The film is beautifully shot, well-acted with muscular and committed direction, tight and straightforward - it may not be Shakespeare, but for action fans it delivers what it promises and more, a gripping, visceral heist movie made with real style and quality. Highly recommended.

In New Orleans, two brothers and their military brothers form a bank robbery crew. They use their military skills to the fullest, but they are surprised by the unexpected arrival of a SWAT team. The FBI is leading the charge as the city is on high alert for the surviving crew members. Ava is their inside woman at the bank. They are lifelong companions from the Irish Channel neighborhood of New Orleans.

There are some good action sequences. The opening bank robbery is good. There is a great section where they are captured by a black crime lord. The rest is a bit of a struggle. The robbery crew does a passable job at being hard. The opening joke reminds me of the inappropriate humor from Predator. The action reminds me of the kinetic energy of Heat. It's obvious that this film is pulling inspiration from some of the best action thrillers around. Problem is that it's beyond their abilities. I would really cut back on the cops in this cops and robbers drama. The actors and filmmaker do struggle at times outside of the bloody gun violence.