The Roundup with Jeff Stockton (Season 8 Round 8)

We will now be officially back to the usual format and scheduling for The Roundup...

3. Armie Hammer
While the film, Green Arrow 2: Hunters, was not great, Armie Hammer continued to show that he is a star on the rise. He perfectly captures the character of Oliver Queen, from the action to the drama to the necessary arrogance of the character. The first film gave him plenty to sink his teeth into, and here's to hoping that the third film in the series gets the character back into interesting territory.

2. Caleb Landry Jones
If you have a younger, aggressive, low-life character, Caleb Landry Jones appears to be the go-to name. He has such a unique energy that every performance he gives becomes instant must-see viewing. He may end up with another Best Supporting Actor nomination this season.

1. Cascade
This unrelenting western is officially one of my favorite films of the season, if not at the top of the list. It gives us an angle the genre has never given us before, making this seemingly traditional story feel especially fresh and unique.

3. Box Office
On paper, the box office numbers for the round don't look so bad. But in reality, Green Arrow 2 vastly under-performed, grossing well less than the first film in the series. Runaway failed to make a profit, granted with its subject matter, a huge hit was not expected. Cascade is the lone bright spot, making a minuscule profit.

2. Green Arrow 2 Villains
The first Green Arrow worked so well because it had our hero taking on colorful, entertaining villains. A superhero film is only as good as its villains, and the villains of GA 2: Hunters were bland, and uninteresting. The lone interesting villain, the film's take on class Green Arrow baddie Count Vertigo, doesn't show up until the climax of the film. Villains like Clive Owen's Dark Archer were sorely missed.

1. Jack Ryder
Word has come down that writer/nemesis Jack Ryder is taking a hiatus from his writing career due to personal reasons. We may have had our difference over the seasons, but he has always been an integral part of the Last Resort Films screenwriting community. Hopefully his break will be a temporary one and he will back with more interesting films (and lousy soundtracks) sooner rather than later.