"Interstellar" Review

“Interstellar” may single-handedly give NASA a new crop of aspiring astronauts across the United States. The film immerses you into its world with the enthusiasm of its lead character Cooper (Matthew McConaughey) about exploring the stars, and it’s a visual marvel! It’s also an incredible ride that looses fuel twenty minutes out from landing and crashes. 

Earth is slowly wasting away, mother nature is turning on us, and our food supply is dwindling. Most humans have to be farmers in order to ensure that we might continue to live. After receiving a binary message in his daughter Murph’s (Mackenzie Foy) room, ex-astronaut turned farmer, Cooper, goes to the coordinates to find a thriving underground NASA organization. 

Cooper gets a quick education as to what the organization, headed by Professor Brand (Michael Caine) and his daughter Amelia (Anne Hathaway), has been doing out of the scrutiny of the public eye, and how they plan to save the world. Cooper then has to decide if he wants to be a part of it. In an effort to save his family, Cooper makes the decision to embark on the journey, in spite of the fact that he may miss years of their lives in traveling light years away. (There is plenty of “science” that explains things throughout the film, but it’s laid out in a user friendly way.) 

The strength of the film is in the relationship between Cooper and his kids, specifically his daughter Murph. Their bond is undeniable and his love for them drives each decision he makes, especially life and death decisions. In fact, writer/director Christopher Nolan pushes the point that love can triumph anything, including time and space. The father/daughter bond was so genuine and resonated with me so personally that if I wasn’t trying to be so cool during the press screening I think I would have cried a lot more. 

There is no question that Nolan is a visionary. The film challenges the boundaries of cinema and dares other directors to do the same. The galaxies and planets that Nolan has created are fresh, and make you wonder what’s past our skies. Hans Zimmer once again proves to be a master of musical composition with his hypnotic, eery and edgy score. Using organs and horns, the score perfectly bridges the drama between parallel stories on Earth and in space while keeping the mood off-kilter.

Unfortunately, after investing in the well being of Cooper and his family for the first couple of acts, in the midst of the third act things start to unravel. It’s sad that all of the innovation, suspense and wonderment that is built up towards the climax is shattered by lazy writing. Regardless, more filmmakers should follow in Nolan’s shoes with efforts like this! So while the film may be worth the trip to the IMAX (you should see it in IMAX for an amazing immersing experience) this weekend, expect to see a film that swings for the stars and falls short. 

Rating: B

"Beyond the Lights" Review

“Beyond The Lights” is a tough nut to crack. On the surface it’s as shallow as its main character’s on stage persona. Yet underneath, it has a lot to say about who we really are behind the masks we all wear.

Noni (Gugu Mbatha-Raw) is a burgeoning pop star. With hit records and an award before her first album drops, this Rihanna-esque idol is going places. At least that’s what one would think. Yet the outside force of being pushed into her on stage persona by her helicopter mom Macy Jean (Minnie Driver), her fans, her record label, and  the rest of the music industry has Noni thinking about going over the edge of her penthouse balcony. Fortunately, the police officer on duty for her security, Kaz (Nate Parker), is able to catch her before she can hit the ground. It’s in this moment that Kaz tells Noni he “sees her”. This resonates with Noni because for the first time someone looks past the glitz and glamour to the real person inside.

Circumventing a PR disaster, Macy Jean writes a nice check to a police foundation to get Kaz to agree to a story that paints Noni as having been drunk and slipping over the edge of the balcony rather than attempting suicide. Kaz himself is all too familiar with a parent trying to live through his child with his father Captain Nicol (Danny Glover) pressuring him to back the story. Neither Noni or Kaz are able to be themselves due to outside coercion. It’s in this pressure cooker that both Noni and Kaz have grown into the adults they are, seem to relate to one another, and how their love blossoms. 

The heavy lifting of the film is done by Mbatha-Raw. As the rest of the story unfolds we see the layers come off Noni both figuratively and literally as she gets back to her true self. Slowly she starts to wear more clothes, less makeup and eventually her natural curly, colorless hair. The transformation throughout the film is powerful and credit must be given to Mbatha-Raw in showing her range from a confident, trained starlet to an insecure but genuine everyday girl. 

Writer/Director Gina Prince-Bythewood proves that we can’t wait another six years for a film from her, and certainly not another fourteen years (since “Love & Basketball”) for another love story! This film makes a powerful statement on today’s music industry that’s built on fabricating identities, and selling sex at the cost of an entertainer’s own identity. Yet the most relevant lesson is that it’s never too late to take control of your own life, and empowering oneself to be true to yourself. 

I know. The burning question you want to know: Is it as good as “Love & Basketball”? You’ll have to grab your significant other and see for yourself! I will say, it just may be the “Love and Basketball” for this generation!

Rating: B

"John Wick" Review

Growing up I always loved watching movies where the good guy unleashed rounds of ammo and hit every target while the bad guys aim was never true. “John Wick” is that film for this generation. While there are so many implausible moments, it’s a good ol’ fashion shoot ‘em up! 

John Wick (Keanu Reeves) is an ex-hitman who has just buried his wife. An unexpected knock at the door brings a glimmer of hope from his dead wife in the form of a cute puppy. As Wick tries to move forward (the very next day) he has a random encounter with Iosef (Alfie Allen) the son of a Russian mob boss Viggo Tarasov (Michael Nyqvist). After refusing to sell his car to Iosef, Wick gets a visit from him and his crew. Poor Iosef decides to kill Wick’s puppy and steal his car during the home invasion. Bad move.

From then on, Wick is on a one man mission to kill Iosef. As he steps back into his old killing shoes we’re introduced to a world of hitmen and women who are all as principled as he is. Wick is a professional finisher dealing out a shot to the head to ensure his victim’s death after quick shots to the chest. Screenwriter Derek Kolstad does an excellent job infusing comedy throughout the film. It doesn’t take itself too seriously, but instead relishes in the fact that Wick is “The Boogeyman” and everyone knows it. Each henchman is just a speed bump on the road to Iosef. 

The movie is an exercise in the deadly combination of atmosphere, pacing, and score. Keanu isn’t the greatest actor, but the script doesn’t call for him to say much...which is a positive. So every word spoken creates a tense atmosphere and a desire to see what’s going to happen next. Visually the color palette cinematographer Jonathan Sela uses adds to the atmosphere of “John Wick”. Whether it’s the color drenched club scenes, or desaturated scenes in Wick’s home life...color is another character. The pacing and score create the perfect mood for the entire film.

It’s no doubt that this film is Keanu’s vehicle back into being taken seriously as an action star. In the same ring as Denzel’s “The Equalizer”, this film proves that men of a certain age can dish out bullets and a box office hit. 

Rating: B-

"The Judge" Review

As I drove to the screening of “The Judge” I thought to myself, “I’m not looking forward to another stubborn father/son relationship movie”. In fact, I wasn’t looking forward to seeing Robert Downey Jr. play Tony Stark minus the billions of dollars. Imagine my surprise when I viewed a movie about Tony Stark minus the billions of dollars that actually had heart!

Hank Palmer (Robert Downey Jr.) is a big time Chicago lawyer who left behind the simple town he came from. When the death of his mother brings him back to Carlinville, Indiana, Hank has to face the demons he left behind. One particular demon being his father, Judge Joseph Palmer (Robert Duvall), who has served as the town judge for the past 42 years. No matter what Hank has done that may impress most people, his father doesn’t seem to care. In fact, he doesn’t seem to care that he came back for the funeral outside of a handshake.

Once the funeral is over, Hank is ready to get on the next flight out of town, but a mysterious car accident involving the judge keeps him there. It seems the aging judge hit and killed Mark Blackwell (Mark Kiely), an ex-con that he let off easy that wound up committing murder soon after. With Judge Palmer’s memory on the fritz, a courtroom drama plays out with the judge being the on the other side of the fence and Hank choosing to stand by his father’s side. Amidst the trial, Hank also tries to tidy up his relationship with his father and loved ones.

There are plenty of great performances in the film. Robert Duvall will probably receive award nominations as the aging judge. Billy Bob Thornton plays the slick, and equally brilliant prosecuting attorney Dwight Dickham, who’s bent on getting Judge Palmer convicted. Vincent D’Onofrio is as real as it gets as the brother who stayed behind, and has the weight of the family at large on his shoulders. Vera Farmiga helps give us a heartfelt look into who Hank was before he left Carlinville as Hank’s ex-girlfriend Samantha. Robert Downey Jr. is a low budget Tony Stark in the film, but he does it so well that you wind up believing he’s Hank Palmer shortly after the film gets underway.

Regardless of its’ sappy overtones, there is something about “The Judge” that speaks to the human experience. Wether it’s family grudges, unforgiven history, or the inevitable certainty of death we all must face, this movie touches on it all. Stemming from personal experience, director David Dobkin (Wedding Crashers, Change-Up) does a great job of spearheading a universal story. Sure, it may be a little melodramatic in it’s handling of said topics, but it handles them in such a way that you automatically think about your own life experience while watching the film.

In lesser hands, “The Judge”, may not have worked. With a random heart to heart in the middle of a tornado scene, and a son who no matter how much he says he hates his father, keeps trying to please him, the film could easily derail into Hokeyville, USA. Fortunately, the combination of veteran actors come together to create a film that speaks to the human experience.

Rating: B 

"Gone Girl" Review

If director David Fincher is signed on to a movie you can expect it to have a signature tone and pace. Fincher’s latest, “Gone Girl”- save a few scenes- does not disappoint. Despite it's main character's being people you probably don't care for, it’s a mystery of blockbuster proportions that will have you hooked.

On the day of their five year wedding anniversary, Nick Dunne (Ben Affleck) comes home to find his wife Amy (Rosamund Pike) missing. With signs of a struggle inside the house, and Nick’s nonchalant attitude, he quickly falls under the microscope of the police and public as suspect #1. Part of the brilliance of the story is that we see their courtship and marriage from beginning to present unfold through Amy’s diary and the investigation. As the story moves forward we learn that things aren’t as they seem.

You can only go so far in reviewing the film without getting into spoiler territory. The key to the film’s success is that it hypnotically sweeps you into the whirlwind of the missing person investigation. The performances from the actors are top notch across the board. Affleck’s ability to play an “every man” works to this film’s advantage as you don’t know whether to trust him or not. Carrie Coon is excellent as Nick’s twin sister. The chemistry between the two is as good as it gets. Tyler Perry turns in his best performance...ever...as an extremely talented attorney, Tanner Bolt. Pike’s performance is the standout of the group and when you see the film you’ll know why.

The film would be perfect except a few scenes that pull you out of the movie, making the tone feel comical when it shouldn’t. Outside of that, Fincher has you in the palm of his hand for the two and a half hour run time of the film. The lengthy run time is necessary to tell the full story, and it moves surprisingly fast. In fact, you probably will want to see more by the time it ends, and the ending will probably be much talked about.  

Rating: B+

"Sin City: A Dame to Kill For" Review

A picture is worth a thousand words, and visual storytelling doesn’t get too much better than “Sin City: A Dame To Kill For”. The only issue is that the film can’t rely on its' visuals alone. The plot makes this second installment inferior to the first.

There are three main stories throughout the film that are connected with a thin thread in a huge man named Marv (Mickey Rourke). Marv is a sadistic character who one look at his face tells you he’s been through plenty of battles, and doesn’t mind taking on the next one. This makes Marv the perfect muscle for Dwight (Josh Brolin), who after being  enchanted by former flame and femme fatale Ava Lord (Eva Green) to kill her husband for her, is in need of a little payback. This story is the most developed of the three and also has the most violence and misogyny throughout. Where Marv and Dwight let their fists or weapons do the talking for them, Eva Green spends half of her screen time topless or naked and uses her body as a weapon. It’s this dichotomy of men being cavemen and women being conquests or eye candy that makes the movie fall short of imitating classic film noir. Where it wins on the film noir style, it fails miserably in class.

The second story which gets far too little time is that of Johnny (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), a cocky gambler who is looking to take on the city’s crime boss Roark (Powers Boothe). Levitt has the swag and handsome face that’s perfect for a role like this. It’s unfortunate that he gets just enough screen time for you to remember the character, but wish there was more. In fact, the abrupt ending to the storyline caused a gasp in the theater.

The final story is scraps left for the dog. It follows stripper Nancy Callahan (Jessica Alba), distraught from the death of John Hartigan (Bruce Willis), and trying to work the nerve to pull the trigger on Roark to avenge John. This story is a lot like Nancy, sloppy and all over the place. Once again Alba dances as a random plot point, not pushing the story forward, until directors Frank Miller and Robert Rodriguez decide it’s time to wrap the movie up.

Sin City is a one note town that’s fueled by men’s needs to solve problems with uber-violence, a stiff drink, and a hot dame.  Miller and Rodriguez understand and nail the power of the aesthetics that can be seen in a single frame. The story and plot to this sequel may have needed to go back to the drawing board though.

Rating: C

"Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" Review

If you’re of my generation or older you remember going to the theater twenty four years ago to see the original turtles movie. If you’re anything like me you had the pajamas, action figures, halloween costume and more as a kid. So how does the new “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” stack up? Well, if you’re going to see the movie with the next generation (your kids) they’re going to love it, but “us adults” won’t be fooled!

April O’Neil (Megan Fox) is a determined investigative reporter who wants her first big break. Tired of doing puff pieces for her network, she goes after the biggest problem in New York, the Foot Clan. The Clan is a group of gun totting militia that seems to be invincible except for the fact that some of their crimes have recently been thwarted. As April pushes her way into dangerous situations she shouldn’t be in, she finds out that the “vigilantes” (is this a Charles Bronson film?) doing the crime stopping are turtles.

The film is all about the teenage turtles taking their first steps out of the shadows and becoming the unsung saviors of New York. Donatello (Jeremy Howard), Raphael (Alan Ritchson), Michelangelo (Noel Fisher), and Leonardo (Johnny Knoxville) all fit a certain personality type: the smart one, the arrogant one, the party dude, and the leader respectively. As the story moves forward they find out that the mastermind behind the Foot Clan, Shredder (Tohoru Masamune), has aligned himself with industrialist Eric Sacks (William Fichtner) with a plot to devastate the masses. So it’s up to the gang to derail their intentions.

As long as the turtles are on screen, it’s a fun time. Writers Josh Applebaum, Andre Nemec, and Evan Daugherty nailed the tone as far as the bond of teenage brothers having fun fighting while telling light hearted jokes. I thought the CG turtles would be a scary distraction, but director Jonathan Liebesman purposefully, slowly reveals the new look so that you are able to settle in comfortably. Unlike Jim Henson’s 1990 practical creations, the turtles do things that are hard to follow visually at times with frenetic camera work. However, with the CG turtles we’re given bullet proof and super strong heroes in a half shell, which I think worked for the reboot.

Megan Fox was seriously miscast as April O’Neil. First, her acting ability and range is limited and it shows in the film. Second, it’s hard to take her seriously when she wears a bike helmet with pink stickers on it (childlike), everyone around her comments repeatedly on how hot she is, there is a gratuitous shot of her buttocks for us to gawk at during the height of an action scene, and she does some of the most annoying screaming that seems like it was a nightmare for the sound mixer. So with her sadly being objectified and her limited dramatic skills, it pulled me out of the film numerous times when she received the “Weeds” treatment as the beautiful girl in dangerous situations, making dumb decisions, but still making it to the end of the movie because of the wonderful men and mutants that come to her rescue. Excuse me as I throw up.

There’s no denying that there will likely be another installment in this long lived franchise. If they can work on the story, and get rid of Megan Fox I think the next one will be even more enjoyable. If you don’t have to take your kids this weekend, I’d suggest waiting to see this on DVD rather then shelling out dough (see what I did there?). If you’re exposing the next generation to the film, have fun building new memories while reminiscing!

Rating: C

"The Purge: Anarchy" Review

Yes, “The Purge” franchise has an outlandish premise that would never happen in real life (I hope), but in the cinematic world of this America where all crime is legal for 12 hours once a year- I get invested in the story. It’s the “what would you do?” type moments that had the audience I saw it with laughing at implausible actions/decisions or cheering when the underdog gets a kill. It’s the moral dilemmas that the characters face that allow the viewers to take sides and the ride of the annual Purge.

In the first film, the story focused on an affluent family who tried to bunker down in their secure home through the night.  Forces inside and outside of the house caused them to have to fight for their lives, and thus made it a home invasion film. “The Purge: Anarchy” takes us out into the city of Los Angeles to get a more expansive view of what happens during Purge hours, and a deeper look at the depraved mentality of Purgers.  The movie also puts together a rag tag team of strangers who unite for the common cause of survival, which makes for an interesting mix of characters to watch.

The film’s central characters are Eva Sanchez (Carmen Ejogo) and her daughter Cali (Zoe Soul) who are a lower middle class family trying to make ends meet. After narrowly escaping a neighbor’s attempt to rape them, a mysterious Sergeant (Frank Grillo) saves them from being taken by a highly trained tactical team. During the brief moment it took the Sergeant to abandon his Purge ambitions to play good Samaritan, his unlocked car becomes a safe haven for young couple Shane (Zach Gilford) and Liz (Kiele Sanchez).  With two groups of Purgers converging on the bunch, they don’t have time to argue, and are forced to work together to try and get across town to a save place.

With time ticking away for the annual Purge, the journey for the group to get across town is reminiscent of “The Warriors”. Although this film could never be a classic like the aforementioned film, it does have a similar suspense value. Suspense is the key to the Purge. The beginning of the film is leading up to commencement, and once the annual Purge commences your in suspense until it ends. Where the first “Purge” film was very reactive, the sequel allows characters to be proactive and make decisions to try and enhance their survival.

The one issue I have with “The Purge” is some of the violence within it. There are plenty of shock value kills that only further desensitize our already diminished reception of gun violence. Moments after The Purge starts we see a couple armed with guns mowed down by a man with an even bigger gun with sound effects and blood squibs to emphasize the impact of the armor piercing bullets’ devastation. Perhaps this franchise is making a statement on our society’s insane gun culture, but I don’t think it’s smart enough to do that. I do think it’s smart enough to continue to crank these films out as long as they’re making 30 times the amount it cost to make.  So while some of us can appreciate this being a fictional film, it starts the age-old debate of whether films like this hurt our society more than entertain it.

“The Purge: Anarchy” is an entertaining popcorn flick. Even though it has some of its’ characters making stupid decisions in intense situations, the built in suspense keeps you entertained and engrossed in its world. Be sure to purge yourself of the deviance when you walk out of the theater!

Rating: B

"Transformers: Age of Extinction" Review

“Transformers: Age of Extinction” is the ex that you keep going back to. You know you broke up for a good reason, but you think “maybe she’s changed”. I’m that good friend that slaps some sense inside your head and says “Wake up!”. This franchise has only gotten longer and worse.

The Autobots (good guys) are now hiding on Earth from the CIA. Did I really just write that? These huge, “far more intelligent” beings are hiding from us measly humans? Well that’s the case in this film. Inventor, Cade Yeager (Mark Wahlberg) finds an old truck that he plans to pick apart for money only to find out that it’s Optimus Prime, leader of the Autobots. Getting Optimus back up and running turns Harold Attinger (Kelsey Grammer) and the rest of the CIA goons on the Yeager family. With Attinger cutting a deal with Lockdown (a super transformer Decepticon of sorts), the rest of the film is about the Yeagers and Autobots on the run and trying to solve the mystery of who is after them and why.

What’s good about the film? It’s no doubt that Michael Bay is the king of summer blockbusters. His visual style is arresting. If you’re going to see this film in theaters it’s to see Transformers do their thing, cool visuals, and listen to things explode. Unfortunately, that’s all I can say that’s good about the film.

In regards to the bad, let’s just look at the running time. Two hours and thirty seven minutes of your life will be devoted to a story that could have been told in ninety minutes. The plot is like taffy stretched out over the running time to the point that it’s just thin enough to still be together, but almost one minute more from being broken. As per usual in this franchise, the adults are like kids and kids are like adults. This just makes it hard to take characters seriously. Bay even has a slow motion, low angle shot where Wahlberg yells as his daughter is being taken by transformers that looks like a baby having a tantrum. I laughed out loud in the theater and quickly quieted down as I seemed to be the only one who thought it was Bay paying homage to Daniel Lugo from his own “Pain & Gain”.

I wish I could say that you should check the movie out in theaters just for the visuals, but you should save your money and wait for this to come out on Netflix or Redbox. This film is not good for you. Remember what it did the last time? Took you for a ride, but left you feeling duped. Don’t fall for the fourth time! 

Rating: D

"Think Like A Man Too" Review

“Think Like A Man Too” throws out the playbook of its’ predecessor and replaces it with your typical black ensemble film cliches. It has beautiful people in silly situations, token white boy jokes, throwback music, a dash of melodramatic black love and a nice bow to wrap it all up in. That being said, fans of the first film and its’ stars will likely still eat it up!

At the film’s opening we find Michael (Terrence J) and Candace (Regina Hall) in Las Vegas to get married. Of course, their crew is along for the ride and shenanigans. Kevin Hart reprises his role as Cedric, the little man with a big mouth. Cedric is the narrating thread throughout the film’s barely there plot, which can easily be broken down like this: here’s what your favorite couples are up to and the issues they’re facing, let’s break up separately to party as the fellas and the ladies, then let’s come back together and solve all of our problems in the last twelve minutes of the film. 

The sequel has no reference to the Steve Harvey book Act Like A Lady, Think Like a Man that inspired and drove the story of the first movie. It was the book that created a tug of war battle of the sexes in the game of love that really worked for the first film. Not that the book needed to be in the second film, but I think without it we’re left with too many characters with not much to do. Rather than an organic film that highlights all of its’ cast, it feels more like passing the baton at summer camp to make sure everyone gets a chance to speak. 

At the end of the day, “Think Like A Man Too” will be a great time for its’ core fans. Kevin Hart’s physical and rapid fire comedy pushes the film forward with laughs along the way.  There are plenty of cameos that got a rise out of the crowd I saw the film with, and a random music video sequence for BBD’s “Poison”. Although the movie is full of cliches like overbearing characters who don’t get “put in check” until the end of the film, the butler from B.A.P.S. (do those kind of jokes really still get laughs?), or the only white lead in the film saying “badonkadonk”, it is popcorn flick entertaining.  

I wish this film would have been more, because I really enjoyed the first one. If you’re looking for a good laugh and a chance to relax from the week, this movie has what you need. If you’re looking for a classic black romantic comedy or even a movie you’ll remember in two weeks, think again!

Rating: D+

"22 Jump Street" Review

I didn’t bother seeing “21 Jump Street” when it came out because it looked like it was going to be a dud. Apparently it wasn’t. So I went to see what the hype was all about with “22 Jump Street”. I didn’t even need to see 21 because of the recap in the beginning of the movie, and the sequel actually turned out to be a funny, self-aware buddy comedy!

Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum are back as Schmidt and Jenko. From the jump the film uses every trope from the 80’s buddy cop  films while somehow managing to acknowledge it with wit. Ice Cube plays an authentically hilarious, always angry, Captain Dickson. You know, like the angry black captain that was always yelling at Eddie in “Beverly Hills Cop”, but believable. The assignment is simple. In fact, it’s the same as its’ predecessor. Schmidt and Jenko must infiltrate a college campus, find the bad guy, and bring the criminal to justice. 

The two quickly fall into their roles. Schmidt is the nerdy, socially awkward student while Jenko quickly falls in with the in crowd. As the duo try to dig up and follow leads, their differences get in the way. They bicker like a young college couple which turns into some funny gags, although sometimes it gets a little old. 

Watching Hill and Tatum make fun of themselves, each other, and Hollywood stereotypes all while somehow managing not to be a wink fest is really what the film is about.  What works for the movie is that it is able to poke fun of itself while continuing to move forward. It never gets too bogged down in making a joke or point, and when a joke goes for a while it’s actually funny! Credit the writing team of Michael Bacall, Oren Uziel and Rodney Rothman for penning a buddy movie comedy within a mystery. 

There are clear moments when the stars and lesser members of the cast have moments to shine, and boy do they! I’m usually not a Channing Tatum fan, but this movie is perfect for him. Ice Cube has a memorably funny interaction with Hill that gives the “angry captain” a reason to be! Jillian Bell (“Bridesmaids”) steals the scene every time she’s up against Hill, and I think that’s hard to do when he’s on a roll. 

There are some overused gags in the film, but as the film continues to move forward there is always a new spin on an old take. This isn’t a classic comedy that’s a must have for your collection, but it delivers. Overall, I had a good time and I think you will too!

Rating: B-

"The Fault in Our Stars" Review

“The Fault In Our Stars” isn’t a movie you recommend people go see. Two teenage lovers whose love blossoms after meeting at a cancer support group. You know teenager equals melodrama when it comes to love, and you know cancer means life and death. Even though the writing may be on the wall in your mind, this is a film that is more about how you choose to live life than death, which makes it worth the watch. 

We first me Hazel Grace Lancaster (Shailene Woodley) in an isolated state. She’s cornered herself off from the world as not to bring the pain of her inevitable death to anyone close to her. Her parents (Laura Dern, Sam Trammell) think she’s depressed and want her to attend a cancer support group that may give her help. That’s where she bumps into (literally) Augustus “Gus” Waters (Ansel Elgort).

Gus is a cornball. He has the worst pick up lines, and his syrupy sweet smirk could fill a pool. He seems to fall for Hazel the moment they bump into each other, and as overbearing as it is for the audience, its’ his outlook on life that draws Hazel in. He occasionally puts a cigarette in his mouth, not to smoke it, but to stare a tool of death in the face and metaphorically not let death have power over him. As the two get to know each other and share philosophies on life, they also share a love for An Imperial Affliction, a book by renowned author Van Houten (William Defoe). The ever eager to please Gus uses his Genie (a make a wish type foundation) Wish to meet their favorite author in Amsterdam.

It’s in Amsterdam that the movie finds its’ stride. This once in a lifetime opportunity would be cherished by anyone, but we know the stakes for this couple. Visually we see the beauty of the area in extreme wide, and wide shots with Hazel and Gus in the middle of it all. We’re on the ride as they meet Van Houten, and find out he’s not the most admirable person. We’re on the ride as they tour the Anne Frank house with its’ overt metaphors to a girl who is forever young. We’re on the ride as the two make their deepest connections, and tough discoveries. 

As the film plunges into the third and final act we’re hooked. Every phone call has significance and subtext. Woodley proves that she can be forgiven for “Divergent” as a tentpole, popcorn movie for her imdb page. She’s grounded in the role and carries the film rooted in the naturalism and talent of a young actress worthy to watch. Unfortunately, her co-star Elgort diverges from her skill level to create his own awkward, faux charming character but it doesn’t put the brakes on the movie.

If you’re like me and haven’t read the book, you’ll enjoy the twist in the film. Sometimes it’s easy to run away from a movie with a heavy subject matter so that we don’t have to “depress ourselves”. Don’t let that be an excuse not to see this film. Isn’t that what we love the movies for? Cinema gives us a chance to reflect on all aspects of life through the lives of people on a two dimensional screen. If we don’t let the moment pass by, perhaps through that reflection we can make decisions on how we approach each day, while we have them. This film does just that!

Rating: B

"Maleficent" Review

“Maleficent” asks you to believe that in a world of humans versus creatures endowed with magical powers...humans can win. Swords and shields versus tree monsters, fairies and giant boars? Any human in that predicament would stand down. Instead Hollywood once again pushes for the prideful, ambitious, lunacy archetype of men that would believe world domination is entitled to them. So it’s the worst parts of us that turned the purest fairy and classic Disney villain into a cold hearted meanie! How original!

Building the character of the innocent young Maleficent (Isobelle Molloy) shouldn’t be so platitudinous. Imagine this: a young orphan who protects and loves the creatures around her dreams of finding love. One day she meets a young boy who happens to have stolen from her people. After returning what he stole, a friendship and love blossoms between the two. Sounds familiar right? Twenty minutes of character building you won’t get back. Try harder Hollywood.

The film gets going once Stefan (Sharlto Copley) steals Maleficent’s (Angelina Jolie) wings in order to take the throne in the kingdom of men. The betrayal turns Maleficent into a woman scorned, or more like a teenager scorned. She keeps tabs on what Stefan is doing through her shape-shifting crow Diaval (Sam Riley). After learning of Stefan’s child being born she decides she’s had enough of hearing about his happiness and wants to give him some of the grief she feels. She crashes a celebration and puts a curse on Aurora (Elle Fanning) aka Sleeping Beauty straight from the classic tale.

To the writers credit, even though over the next sixteen years Maleficent stalks Aurora in the woods like a bitter teenager who has nothing but time on her hands, she also has sixteen years of maturation in which she realizes she made a mistake. She ruined the life of an innocent girl who had nothing to do with her heartache. You could say Maleficent evolves into a grown woman. (SPOILER ALERT) Maleficent tries to undo the curse that she created, but to no avail. As Aurora nears her sixteenth birthday, King Stefan ups the ante on securing the castle for the big fight he’s believed was coming his way for the past sixteen years. (SPOILER DONE)

The film ends differently then you may expect, somewhat. Being open minded to a new twist on a classic villain is the best way to approach “Maleficent”. I was expecting more and visually I wasn’t let down but much of the story made me wish I had seen it for free or on Netflix. I suggest you do.

Rating: C-

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"X-Men: Days of Future Past" Review

“X-Men: Days of Future Past” is one of the better super hero films of the summer. Drawing on story plots from “T2: Judgement Day”, “The Matrix”, and “The Wizard of Oz” director Brian Singer leads his troops into a film we’ve seen before but it just happens to be our favorite mutants banding together to get the job done this time. I’m no fanboy but I was definitely entertained!

The film starts in a dystopian future in which mutants are being wiped out by sentinels. After years of being on the run, and down to only a handful still standing, the X-men have one last hope of survival. By sending Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) into the past to stop the assassination of Dr. Bolivar Trask (Peter Dinklage) at the hands of Mystique (Jennifer Lawrence) they believe the sentinels would never be created. The trick is, Wolverine has to convince a young Magneto (Michael Fassbender) and Professor X (James McAvoy) to work together to accomplish the task. 

This movie doesn’t take itself too seriously and knows that it has history and a future with its’ characters. One of the funniest moments in the film is  when Quicksilver (Evan Peters) disarms a group of guards in the Pentagon. The slow motion sequence produced laughter and a round of applause from the audience I saw it with. Some may argue that the climactic ending is the slowest part of the movie, but watching Magneto rip RFK stadium apart and finding out what he was using it for was a stroke of genius I didn’t see coming! 

The film also pokes at history with answers to why JFK was assassinated and by whom, and how Trask was funded after rejection from the US government. It also takes a humorous approach to Wolverine meeting up with younger versions of good friends and old rivals. The banter and slightly inside nods should be good for the fanboys and girls out there.

The leads in the film are on top of their game in Fassbender and Ian McKellan’s Magneto, Patrick Stewart’s Professor X, Jackman’s Wolverine, and Dinklage as Trask. Everyone else brings their acting tools but don’t quite build the same gravity in their roles. Who cares? As long as we see cool special effects, a good story, and action, it’s all good right?

Time travel is always hard to do in movies, but when done really well it can be amazing. The writers ask you to overlook a few plot holes here, and it’s not too hard to do for the sake of the story. The end feels a little like “Toy Story 3” with a subliminal curtain call for the cast.  (I’m not saying it’s lights out on any of the characters, but you’ll understand when you see the film.) The biggest thing about this film, without giving spoilers, is that it creates a clean slate for the X-Men portion of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. After this movie, writers can go anywhere with any story, be it First Class or the cast from the original films. Let’s just hope the blank canvas allows room for even better storytelling!

Rating: B

Note: Don’t see it in 3-D. It’s absolutely unnecessary and adds nothing to the story. Stick around to the very end for an easter egg.

"The Amazing Spider-Man 2" Review

Dear studio heads, just because you’re making a tent-pole movie (films that are guaranteed to make large amounts of money) doesn’t mean that they have to be long. In fact less is more sometimes. “The Amazing Spider-Man 2” is a bit longer than necessary and stuffed with plot points. It isn’t the best super hero film of the summer, but it’s a fun ride. 

The film opens with a backstory on Richard Parker (Campbell Scott) uncovering evil at Oscorp, and fleeing after destroying fourteen years worth of work there. You can guess what becomes of him and his wife. Present day Peter Parker (Andrew Garfield) is at home flying between the skyscrapers of New York City, but more importantly in his skin (or suit) as Spider-Man. He and on-again off-again girlfriend, Gwen Stacy (Emma Stone), have just graduated high school. Even though Peter is plagued by the Gwen’s father’s ghost (kind of) he struggles with giving into love and the promise he made to her father.

The chemistry between Stone and Garfield is genuine and you either reminisce on times that you’ve felt that way or envy their relationship as a viewer. That being said, we spend the first hour of the film setting up the back and forth forbidden love they share. In the mean time, uber stereotypical nerd Max Dillon (Jamie Foxx) is saved by Spider-Man. With extreme social issues and the desire to be known, Max becomes obsessed with Spider-Man because of their brief encounter. Foxx's comic timing helps make Max somewhat humorous as a character I've never seen in life. Maybe that's the point? He's rarely noticed. Another subplot is the death of Norman Osborn (Chris Cooper), which brings his son Harry (Dane DeHaan) back into town and Peter’s life. Before his father dies, Harry learns that he has a genetic disease that will kill him soon. I really like DeHaan as an actor. He generally plays troubled youths, and he doesn't overplay the role too much here.

With the stage set for volatile people to become villains, they do. Max has an accident at Oscorp, turning him into Electro. Harry believes he needs Spider-Man’s blood to live and goes after it. 

Spoiler Alerts in the next paragraph. Skip down one if you haven’t seen the film.

This film proves that cutting an amazing trailer can increase ticket sales. I went into the movie thinking Spidey would have an epic battle with two villains, Electro and Green Goblin, at the same time. I also thought Rhino would be seen a lot more. I was disappointed in the fact that these villains faced Spider-Man one at a time, and more so that Green Goblin and Rhino got about five minutes of screen time each. I love a slow burn to the climactic big fight, but in comparison to the trailer the film was anti-climactic. Is it just me or does it not make sense that Richard Parker supposedly killed all the super spiders in the past but Harry Osborne can’t find one in the present day? Didn’t Peter get bit by one? 

Safe to read below.

The film excels in pockets mainly surrounding the relationships of Peter Parker. He and Gwen have and undeniable bond. The relationship between Peter and Aunt May (Sally Field) shows years of life condensed to beautiful moments on screen. Even the friendship between Peter and Harry is heart warming. Unfortunately, there’s a disconnect between the human moments and other plot points in the film. 

Overall, “The Amazing Spider-Man 2” is an entertaining film. It’s worth seeing in theaters  to see some of the best web slinging, high flying action of the Spidey franchise (Tobey Maguire included). The writers definitely went after the light hearted Spider-Man of the comics and it translates. Yet, in comparison to other super hero films of late it has a lot of fat to trim to compete.  

Rating: C+

"From the Rough" Review

Apparently the theme of overcoming struggle is not just in the movie “From the Rough”, but it’s also a part of the movie’s release. Filmed in 2010, the movie is just seeing the light of day in a nationwide release (it was shown at some film festivals) in 2014. Whatever the reason for the struggle surrounding the film’s release and poor marketing, it’s a shame, because it’s an inspiring, family friendly story that should be seen.

The film is based on the true life story of Catana Starks, the first African-American woman to coach a collegiate Division 1 men’s golf team. In the movie, Starks (Taraji P. Henson) takes on the role of the men’s golf coach at Tennessee State University at the end of her season as women’s swim team coach. Her Athletic Director, Kendrick Paulsen Jr. (Henry Simmons), holds back giving her scholarships and new equipment. Using her resources, Starks eventually finds players internationally to come and play for her.

With a ragtag team of misfits, Starks polishes her gems into diamonds. It’s a classic underdog story and each team member has their own as well. Whether dealing with self-identity problems in the case of Korean player Ji-Kyung (who goes by Young G), feeling like you are the trash everyone says you are with Britain’s Edward (Tom Felton), or second guessing yourself like Craig (Robert Bailey Jr.) the players have hurdles to get over. With so many issues you could see how this film could easily turn into a melodrama and get away from the director. While there are plenty of glimpses of it, co-writer/director Pierre Bagley manages to bring the film to touch the line but not cross it in such a way that we never come back. 

Even though the film’s script reads like an after school special, Taraji P. Henson’s work proves that a great actor can elevate any script to new heights. It’s a performance that I can only imagine inspired her fellow actors around her to rise to the bar set before them. On screen, her tenacity to be the best and pull the best out of her golf team is so genuine that you’re willing to tolerate and even enjoy the syrupy feel good moments of the film...and there are plenty.

“From the Rough” is definitely a family friendly movie that would be played in your local middle and high school for a lesson on themes such as perseverance, commitment, etc. Henson shines in the film and honors the legacy of the real Catana Starks. While I would definitely suggest renting it on Netflix for most people, it may be worth the money for a family outing to the theater as well. 

Rating: C+

"Rio 2" is fun for kids

Blu (Jesse Eisenberg) and Jewel (Anne Hathaway) are back with three additions to their family. Although time has moved forward, the gang is still in tact, the music rocks just as loud, and the colors are just as vibrant. Yet with all its’ shimmer, “Rio 2” is dulled by multiple themes and storylines that point in opposite directions.

The beauty of “Rio” was that it showed us an animated but authentic mock up of Rio de Janeiro and had a classic story outline that was easy to follow. Blu was thought to be the last male blue macaw bird in the world, and Jewel was the last female. After being domesticated for years in America by his owner Linda (Leslie Mann), Blu, who didn’t know how to fly, and Jewel met in an effort to keep the species alive. Yet after being kidnapped by smugglers, the two had to work together to get to freedom. Pretty succinct right? (More happened in the film of course, but it was simple.)

In “Rio 2” Linda and her husband Tulio (Rodrigo Santoro) find more blue macaw’s living deep in the Amazon. This incites a family trip for Blu, Jewel, the kids, and their motley group of friends- cardinal Pedro (will.i.am), toucan Rafael (George Lopez), and yellow canary Nico (Jamie Foxx). While Blu and Jewel struggle with raising their children with Blu’s domestication and Jewel’s living naturally in the wild on their trip; their friends are searching for new talent for Carnival.

On their way to the Amazon they attract the attention of Nigel (Jemaine Clement), a cockatoo and Shakespearean actor, who seeks revenge from Blu giving him a devastating injury that left him unable to fly in “Rio”. Once the group arrives in the Amazon they reunite with Jewel’s thought-to-be-lost family who are hiding deep in the rain forest to escape human poachers and illegal loggers. Not only do the blue macaws have an environmental fight against humans, but they’re up against a large family of red macaw’s for forest space. The youthful leader of the blue macaw family, Roberto (Bruno Mars), engages in a friendly “girl that got away” grudge match with Blu as well. Do you see what I’m talking about? There are way to many subplots in this film that take away from what it did best in “Rio”, which is entertain while keeping the story moving forward at a good pace. The film feels like it was written in chapters for each situation with a thin through line.

At the end of the day who cares about subplots and disjointedness? Certainly not the crowd full of kids that I saw the film with. I guess that’s what director Carlos Saldanha counted on. “Rio 2” will definitely entertain the kids, and allow parents a moment to relax and laugh with their children. Unfortunately, as a film, it’s the embodiment of a great first animated feature with a lesser sequel.

Rating: C+

"Draft Day" Review

When you bring up greatest sports movies, “Draft Day” will certainly not be one of them. The fact that writers Scott Rothman and Rajiv Joseph managed to find conflict and keep the story of the hours leading up to an imaginary NFL draft interesting is a feat in itself. That being said, self-contained, the movie managed to keep me interested, and I’m not a sports guy.

Sonny Weaver Jr. (Kevin Costner) is the General Manager of the Cleveland Browns. With a loosing record and their beloved coach Sonny Weaver recently passing, Brown nation has Sonny Jr. under a microscope. So it’s no wonder that Sonny is distracted and out of touch with his feelings when his under the table girlfriend and co-worker, Ali (Jennifer Garner), tells him she’s pregnant. This opening scene sets the table for the rest of the film. A mixture of Sonny’s personal life constantly conflicts with his need to focus on his professional duty in picking the right players for the Draft. Yet, that’s real life right? Our personal lives always mix with our professional decisions. That’s a part of what makes the film believable.

The cast of “Draft Day” does a good job of turning the film in to something that feels real. Again, I’m no sports guy, and I’m not sure if teams really call each other to make last minute deals for draft spots but it was intriguing in the film. While this may not be his best sports film by far, Costner brings the weight to the role that we’d expect. Garner is underdeveloped and underused as Costner’s football loving baby momma. Chadwick Boseman plays a side that we haven’t seen in prior films as Vontae Mack, a prospect who wants to play for the Browns. Although his character is very reminiscent of Cuba Gooding’s Rod Tidwell (“Jerry Maquire”). 

Director Ivan Reitman uses split screens, and triptychs to help keep the pace moving in a time sensitive movie. (Although sometimes it looks like cartoonish like 2003’s “Hulk”.) The film has a decent payoff by the time it gets to the actual draft that you may not have seen coming. “Draft Day” is fun for the moment you’re in the huddle around the screen but forgettable once you break the huddle.

Rating: C

Cap's Got His Groove Back!

Practice makes perfect. That saying is definitely true for the latest installment for the Cap! “Captain America: Winter Soldier” benefits from the films that have come before it in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). As the ninth installment in the franchise, the writing and direction has a formula that made me a fan of Captain America! (He used to be my least favorite in the Avengers...Thor has taken his place.)

More than likely if you’re reading this it’s not because you’re not planning on seeing the film. It’s probably because you want to know if it’s awesome or not. It is! The film starts with Steve Rodgers/Captain America (Chris Evans) trying to find his way in the modern world. He runs into Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) or should I say runs past him a few times on his morning run. The two have some friendly banter that comes back later in the movie. Comedy in the MCU is something we’ve come to expect, but for the Cap it used to be a bit on the nose. Not anymore. The world feels more realistic and the dialogue is genuinely funny. 

To summarize as quickly as possible, Cap and Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) lead a mission on a hijacked S.H.I.E.L.D. ship. During the operation, Black Widow goes off mission and recovers some intel for Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson). Fury isn’t able to get into the intel but learns that he’s a target after agents attack him. He hands the info off to Cap and tells him to trust no one before another attack on his life is carried out. It’s this command that leads Captain America and us as viewers throughout the majority of the rest of the movie. Who do we trust? Is everyone dirty? What intel is on the flash drive? These questions help root the film and push each scene forward.

As S.H.I.E.L.D. prepares to launch three huge warships to police Earth, led by Alexander Pierce (a nicely cast Robert Redford), Captain America also becomes a target of S.H.I.E.L.D. after not stating why Nick Fury visited him. With this putting Cap on the run, he has a short list of people he can trust. Enlisting the help of Black Widow and the Falcon (Mackie), the group tries to get to the bottom of the mystery and fight the mysterious Winter Soldier who stands in their way. 

The key to this film being great (amongst the MCU) is that it is grounded in realism. Rather than Captain America being a symbol of morality and a previous era, he just is. He is who he is as he navigates through the modern world. He stands for something and rather than the writing team beating us over the head with reminders, Cap just faces each situation with internal conviction rather than overt statements (that were made clear in the past). The action sequences in this film highlight Cap’s abilities with great choreographed scenes that allow him to physically shine as a juiced up human being. Samuel L. Jackson finally gets used in such a way to showcase his acting ability as well as comedic timing! Even Scarlett Johannson is more than a pretty face in this film, bringing a little more depth to her character. Mackie as The Falcon is a decent edition to the cast, and the graphics really make him look like a high flying falcon! These upgrades work for the movie in a positive way.

Marvel has the super hero movie business on lock right now. “Captain America: Winter Soldier” is another solid notch in a MCU belt that extends to the year 2028. The film is grounded in reality, and doesn’t rely on parlor tricks and extras to keep you hooked. The direction, writing, and acting are all on point in building Cap’s character, his slice in the Marvel Universe, and the Marvel Cinematic Universe as a whole. I don’t think you need to see it in 3D or IMAX. 2D does the job just fine. If you’re planning on seeing the film, you won’t be disappointed!

Rating: B+

"Divergent" Doesn't Diverge From an Old Story

You’ve seen “Divergent” before. You might remember the movie about the dystopian society with the group or person that is different from everyone else, and decides to take down the powers that be. That’s “Divergent” in a nutshell. 

In the world of “Divergent”, everyone is divided into factions that’s based on their personality. Shailene Woodley is Tris, the heroine that we’re supposed to root for. She’s grown up in the “good will to others” faction, but has a hankering for being with the soldier group. When she comes to the age of deciding what group she will live with for the rest of her life, she takes a test that concludes inconclusive or...divergent. After watching her brother Caleb (Ansel Elgort) choose a group outside of their family’s, she bypasses the farmers, thinkers, logicals, and decides to live her life with the soldiers. 

Tris’s decision puts her in the soldier (Dauntless) group with the mysterious higher ranking Four (Theo James). Oddly, in film nerd trivia, it also places her in the same group with adversary Peter (Miles Teller). This means that Shailene Woodley is in a movie with a leading man she was in love with in a past film (“The Spectacular Now” with Miles Teller), a current love (“Divergent”), and a future love (“The Fault in Our Stars” with Ansel Elgort). That trivia was more exciting then the rest of the film. That had to be strange on set...but I diverge...digress! 

There is a huge chunk of time in which Tris has to learn to fight and think like her new Duantless family while keeping her true identity a secret. Four helps our heroine along the way. In the meantime the evil Jeanine (Kate Winslet) is trying to make her Erudite group the governing societal body while hunting down and killing divergents to keep society from leaving the commands that it’s founders have set out for them. 

There has been a lot of comparison to “The Hunger Games” franchise with this film due its similar theme. The biggest issue I have with the film is that I don’t care about Tris. Whereas Katniss from “The Hunger Games” is a more well rounded person who seems to think for herself, Tris just let’s things happen to her and when she does think for herself it feels forced. “Divergent” has an awesome ensemble of characters in its’ cast but they can’t overcome the script. Truth be told “The Hunger Games” is Sprite and “Divergent” is 7 Up. Sure it looks the same and tastes similar, but one is a far superior movie. “Divergent” is Netflix, Redbox material, that may be your favorite home movie rental franchise to watch as a guilty pleasure.

Rating: C-