"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+
"Transcendence" Review
With a roster full of known faces, it may be understandable how the idea of “Transcendence” lured them all in. A man vs. machine film in which a human mind combines with a computer and causes chaos sounds good on paper. Throw on the fact that Wally Fister decided to step into the director’s chair for the first time, shedding his normal role as cinematographer of incredible films like “Batman Begins”, “The Prestige”, “Inception”, “The Dark Knight”, and “The Dark Knight Rises”. The idea sounds great, but in a two hour movie it doesn’t play out as well.
After her husband is shot by cyber terrorists, Evelyn Caster (Rebecca Hall) just wants to keep him alive and with her. Her love for him transcends morality as she uses his research to try and copy his mind to an Artificial Intelligence he had already created. She has help from long time friend Max Waters (Paul Bettany), who at the outset believes it is the right thing to do. Together they successfully upload Will’s mind onto a computer. Of course it’s not enough to be Hal 9000 and control a ship, Will wants to go global and make a better world. Max believes they should shut the computer down, but blinded by love, Evelyn helps Will to go online so that he can stay “alive” with her.
As Will starts to build an infrastructure where he can continue to grow, Bree (Kate Mara), the leader of the cyber terrorists who tried to end his life, teams up with Max and FBI Agent Buchanan (Cillian Murphy) to bring Will down. Let’s not forget their sidekick Joseph Tagger (Morgan Freeman, who plays his usual role). Honestly, in the realm of suspending your disbelief, the first half of the film isn’t horrible. Transferring a mind by way of electrodes on the brain, I’m no scientist, but I don’t think we can do that. Yet it all plays out well for the beginning of the film, but once Will is set up in his new lab the plot holes get bigger.
Evelyn continues to assist Will while starting to question his ethics. It's her blind love that damages the movie with how she tosses her brain out the window to support keeping Will "alive" while ironically she's supposed to be brilliant researcher who should "no" better. Ultimately, her staunch stance of support is the only thing to keep the film moving forward because if someone had just turned off the switch earlier...well there wouldn't be a movie. She finally wakes up and realizes that even though his mind (or something like it) is with her, he isn’t. It’s then that the movie takes on an “Invasion of the Body Snatchers” theme as Will uses nano technology to heal people while taking over their minds. How did we jump to that? As to not have to write much more about this, let’s say that the good guys find a way to stop him, but not before taking casualties along the way.
The theme of morality with man vs. machine and an independent intelligence taking over the world (or a ship) has been done before in film and done so much better. If you’re going to the movies this weekend “Transcendence” should not be on your list of possibilities. Trust me. Transcend the urge to see a movie just because Johnny Depp is in it.
Rating: D-
"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+
"Sabotage" isn't sabotaged by Arnold!
I expect writer/director David Ayer (“Training Day”, “End of Watch”) movies to have a few things in them. One, it’s about some type of elite unit. Two, the unit or someone in it is corrupt. Three, someone on the team has a drug problem that gets in the way. What I don’t expect from an Arnold Schwarzenegger movie is a good performance. Put the two together in “Sabotage” and you actually have a decent film where Arnold doesn’t talk too much (he does have a few corny one liners) and his pocket of protection is a stellar cast.
John “Breacher” Wharton (Arnold Schwarzenegger) is the head of an elite DEA task force that goes in to dangerous situations and gets the job done. Eight months after his wife and child were tortured to death, he is back in the field. Wait. Arnold is dealing with lost love ones in the beginning of the film and not at the first act break? This actually sets the scene for a darker character portrayal for Arnold that dare I say works. (I mean, it works in the sense that for Arnold it's a step up.)
The movie starts with his team entering a drug cartel’s safe-house for a major drug bust. The team gives themselves enough time to syphon off ten million dollars before coming out of the home. When the unit returns to get the money hours later, they find it missing.
From there on the film delves into trying to find out who took the money. The team doesn’t trust each other after months of scrutinization and isolation during an investigation into where the money went. (Which is the first plot hole because Arnold makes a point of blowing up the pile of cash before they leave.) Yet once the investigation is dropped, suddenly bodies in the unit start dropping as well.
The team of corrupt agents are all accomplished actors who give convincing performances. Notably, Lizzy (Mireille Enos) holds it down as the sole female of the team who’s married to fellow agent Monster (Sam Worthington). Lizzy has earned her stripes and doesn’t “play” like one of the boys, but is one of the boys...with a feminine edge. The same can be said for Olivia Williams’ Detective Caroline, another woman hardened amongst men. These actors all rally around their brooding and barely talking quarterback named Arnold.
The major issue is that the film ends, and then keeps going with a closure scene that wasn’t necessary. Even when the film does end in a “Usual Suspects”- detective standing in the middle of an empty street type of way- its’ twist feels rushed and confuses things. You have to watch it to understand what I mean and I don’t want to spoil it. (You can always comment below if you want to delve further.)
Ayer is becoming a master of his own style of dark crime genre. With a solid catalogue of films behind him you know what you’re going to get but it’s never cookie cut out of his prior films. Although at this point, I think “Training Day” will always overshadow the rest of his work, he does write films that are entertaining in theaters and at home.
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-
"Veronica Mars" Review
Warner Bros Pictures
Here's my review of "Veronica Mars", in theaters now!
"300: Rise of an Empire" Review
Writer-Producer Zack Snyder has done it again! Proving that the sophomore slump doesn’t have to happen to all franchises, “300: Rise of an Empire” is a stellar film. It’s not because of the awesome fight sequences, sharp visuals, and body parts being chopped off for shock value but because it understands what so many other films don’t. Sequels should simply expand the original world with great storytelling.
The film entertains our sense of time by showing what was going on in Greece prior to King Leonidus (Gerard Butler) making a stand with his 300 men at the hot gates, during and after making it a prequel/sequel hybrid. True to ancient Greek tradition, the story is set up with storytelling (word of mouth) of the highest quality. We get backstory of all the key players. Queen Gorgo (Lena Headey) starts off telling the story of Thermistocles (Sullivan Stapleton), a warrior from Athens who, among leading Greece to a victory, also made a costly mistake in killing King Darius and leaving his son alive.
The story then flows into the backstory of the young boy who lost his father at the hand of Thermistocles. Xerxes journey from young punk to god king is succinct and entertaining. The story of Artemisa is even tougher. Sexually abused at the hands of her fellow Greeks and left for dead, the emissary who was kicked down the well in the infamous “This is Sparta!” scene, finds her and takes her in. He raises her as a Persian warrior and what a heartless, incredibly skilled warrior she is.
With all back stories told, the film pushes forward as Thermistocles and Artemisia go back and forth in a battle of military wit. Where “300” was a battle on land, this film’s battles take place at sea. Although the odds are against Thermistocles and his army, they get the job done losing friends along the way until the final showdown between Thermistocles and Artemisa.
The key to the “300” franchise is that at the end of the day it’s about life and death. Choosing to live your life how you want to or having your way of life forced upon you is a universal theme. With that simple premise in tact, stacking on eye candy visuals and bloody action scenes is icing on the cake. The film ends with an opening for a third installment, and I can’t wait for it!
Rating: A
"Non-Stop" is a suspenseful ride!
Popcorn flicks are a dime a dozen. “Non-Stop” is one of those films that will come on cable in the future and you’ll stop to get engaged each time it comes on, or at least pay attention between doing something around the house. It’s not Oscar worthy, but it is Liam Neeson.
Neeson is Bill Marks, an alcoholic air marshall who has lost everything. Let’s just say everything because it’s the kind of description that’s not entirely true but sets up his character. From the moment Bill enters the airport, he takes note of everything going on around him. Leading up to take off you watch the boring stuff that comes back later in the movie, but sets up characters, clues, etc. Once the plane actually takes off however, you’re in for a ride.
Bill gets an anonymous text with demands for money or someone will die every twenty minutes. The instant internal clock keeps us in suspense as Bill tries to find out who sent him the message. The film does a good job of creating suspects for us to eyeball, and even some that we think Bill isn’t paying attention to. Bill can be a bit trustworthy of his fellow passengers that he brings into his investigation at times, but what are you gonna do 26,000 feet in the air?
The key to the film’s credibility is that the cast gives solid performances all around. Liam Neeson just has to talk and you believe him, but with Julianne Moore, Corey Stall, Nate Parker, and Michelle Dockery surrounding him you never quite feel as though this couldn’t happen. Lupita Nyongo filmed this way before the Oscar buzz she has now. So there’s no question this will be the last time she plays Gwen (a random flight attendant) again after this Sunday March 2, 2014.
This film may have its weak and slower moments, but there is no question that if you let go and take the ride you will forgive any plot issues. In all if you’re looking for an entertaining time at the movies this weekend, “Non-Stop” is a great pick!
Rating: B
"In Secret" Review
How do you like your romantic drama? I’ve always been one of those people who have to ignore the plot holes and overdramatic performances in soap operas in order to follow them. Yet, there is obviously a huge population of people who don’t care and get swept away in the melodrama. If you fit the latter, “In Secret” is your kind of movie.
The film stars Elizabeth Olsen as Therese. After her father drops her off with her overbearing aunt (Jessica Lange) and sickly cousin Camille (Tom Felton) never to return, she grows up with her new family almost Cinderella style. Her aunt forces her to take care of and eventually marry Camille. Score for Camille! He’s a momma’s boy who has the winning personality to go with his years under his mother’s hand.
So it’s no surprise when the group moves to Paris and meets a worldly artist named Laurent (Oscar Isaac), that Therese would desire and fall for him. Laurent is an escape, a well rounded human being, and not her chauvinistic first cousin who calls her a “portable pillow” at one point in the film. The fact that the film is based off of Emile Zola’s 1867 novel Therese Raquin explains why the steamy love affair dialogue oozes with descriptive language that doesn’t feel authentic. The screenwriting feels copied and pasted from the novel’s pages rather than adapted into cinematic dialogue which makes the secret hard to swallow.
After the duo decides to get rid of Camille, the movie gets a little interesting as Therese and Laurent deal with their cover up and guilt. If you like soap operas, you’ll probably love “In Secret”, otherwise outside of the costumes the movie is underwhelming. I guess if you can't judge a book by its' cover, you can't judge a movie by its' cast!
Rating: D
"Labor Day" a labor to watch?
“Labor Day” is a film that tows the line between forgettable and somewhat memorable. It all depends on if you’re willing to lose yourself in the characters and story that director Jason Reitman displays.
Josh Brolin is Frank, an escaped convict who kidnaps single mother Adele (Kate Winslet) and her son Henry (Gattlin Griffith) from the local grocery store. With a cut to his stomach and damage to his leg, Frank thinks that by going to their home he can buy time to rest and dodge the police. Honestly, the movie would have been over if Adele would have just screamed but that wouldn’t make a feature film right?
As the trio spends the first day together a few things are made clear. The first is that Frank seems to be a genuinely good human being. He’s honest, polite, and can cook a mean pot of chilli. Adele, who has suffered with a crippling depression, is equally hungry for love. Young Henry just wants a father figure in his life after his walked out and remarried. The combination of damaged characters becomes a powder keg for melodrama.
So on one side we have a very implausible situation, but on the other a beautiful story about the definition of family. After all, family isn’t always defined by DNA. It’s loving and caring for one another in spite of our flaws that makes a family. (Just to name a couple of things.) Reitman shows the beauty of family through the interaction and special moments shared by this makeshift family over the course of the Labor Day weekend.
The cast does a solid job in their performances and Reitman has a rhythmic pace to the film. “Labor Day” isn’t as great as some of Reitman’s previous films, in fact it feels a little disjointed. Yet, if given the proper once over there is something beautiful and deeper that might be missed. I’d wait for this to come out on DVD though.
Rating: C
Don't take the Ride!
The premise of “Ride Along” is funny. Wait, is it really funny or funny because the trailers are cut to show all the funny parts of the movie? The answer is the latter. Take away the shenanigans of Kevin Hart’s motor mouth antics and you’re left with an unoriginal wannabe buddy cop movie.
Kevin Hart is Ben Barber, a loud mouthed, high school security guard with big dreams of being a police officer. His girlfriend Angela Payton (Tika Sumpter) puts up with his hours of playing video games in his spare time because she loves him and believes in him, but her dream is to marry Ben. Ben wants to make her dream come true, but there’s one person who stands in his way. James Payton (Ice Cube) is a hard nosed cop, Angela’s no nonsense brother, and the one person Ben needs to impress to win Angela’s hand.
After being accepted to the police academy, Ben seeks out James’ approval and blessing to marry his sister. Thinking he can scare him off, James agrees to a one day ride along where Ben can show him what he’s made of and possibly gain his blessing. Let’s stop right there. Only in a movie would a police officer take a civilian on a ride along with the stakes being for his sister’s hand. The premise is unbelievable in real life, and that’s where the plot has issues converting into a feature length film.
Throughout the day James takes Ben to all the 1-26 situations, a code name for very annoying. Each time, James gives Ben a simple task that he fails at miserably. This is where Kevin Hart’s rat-a-tat comedy comes in to play. You can find a laugh in each situation, but not throughout the entire scene. How many times can you laugh at a height joke?
As you can imagine, as the day goes on, James is still working on a looming case he’s been going after. Trying to find the mysterious Omar (Laurence Fishburne), a ghost of a crime boss, is the only thing on James’ mind. Ben actually discovers clues that assist James with the case that lead them to the big showdown with Omar, but not a moment after they discover who’s been playing both sides of the law.
This ride along isn’t worth the gas it takes to get to your destination. The film is predictable in it’s storyline, and unfathomable even in the comedic situations we find Ben and James in. The sad part is that Ben wanted James to get to know him, but by the end of the movie you've never seen a different side of him outside of being a loud mouth. Trying to set Kevin Hart up for comedic scenes akin to Eddie Murphy in “48 Hours”, the writer forgot to do one thing- make it somewhat believable. This movie is perfect for a Redbox or Netflix night...not a night at the theater.
Rating: D+
"Lone Survivor" Review
“Lone Survivor” is a pulse pounding, based on a true story, love letter to the Navy Seals. The opening alone will make you want to sign up to be amongst the elite. It’s the rest of the film that gives a glimpse of a portion of what goes on during missions while we sleep peacefully and go about our lives. By the end, after you’re finished crying (or trying to be tough and hold it back) it will make you want to call your friend in the armed forces and thank them for their service.
Chief Petty Officer Marcus Luttrell (Mark Wahlberg) is the first face we see after the opening montage, and it’s bloody. As he appears to flatline, the movie flashes back to June 28, 2005. Brothers in arms on Bagram base in Afghanistan race one another, joke with one another, and get serious when orders are handed down to them for Operation Red Wings.
The operation was supposed to be simple. Four Seals would go behind enemy lines to get reconnaissance and return to base. Only what was supposed to be a small group of insurgents turned out to be a small army. While in the mountains, the group runs into three herders and are faced with a moral decision to kill or possibly be killed. After a quick group debate, the men choose the moral decision over tactical. The ramifications of their decision play out in a bloody shoot out leaving a lone survivor.
Director Peter Berg (“The Kingdom”) has a huge respect for the military, and the way he unfolds the story proves it. The real life Marcus Luttrell handpicked Berg to direct the film after seeing “The Kingdom” and noticing his attention to detail in the film. It’s the little details that matter here as well. Whether it’s a look shared between brothers, the bone crushing impact of a fall, or the impact of a bullet on the human body, the details are what draws you in to the film. The details of the film, are what makes up for some of its heavy handed patriotism, and shines light on the real villain...war itself.
Whether you check it out in theaters or wait until it comes out on DVD, “Lone Survivor” is worth seeing. The story told, is one that Marcus Luttrell felt had to be told to honor his fallen brothers. Now that it’s out, in his own words, “mission accomplished”.
Rating: B
"Wolf of Wall Street" Review
It’s a life style that most of us only dream of- having so much money you don’t know what to do with it all. “The Wolf of Wall Street” is a look at one man living that dream in three hours of drugs, debauchery, and greed. While the running time might be a bit much for some, when in the right hands time flies. Martin Scorsese is definitely able to keep the story moving forward and prove he’s still got it.
Leonardo DiCaprio plays Jordan Belfort, a stockbroker who swindled investors through his Stratton Oakmont firm in the 1990s. Belfort is your rags to riches, come from nothing story of a man with a dream. His dream was to be rich. He achieved it with marketing penny stocks, and fraudulent stock sales. After building his empire with dimwit buddies, Belfort believes he’s invincible. The same pride that takes him to the top, also brings him back down.
The story is told with the same quick witted narration style of “Goodfellas”. Belfort is the anti-hero that we know is deplorable but can’t take our eyes off of. No matter how many relationships and lives he ruins, including his own, Scorsese keeps us wondering what could possibly be next in the downward spiral of Belfort’s life.
DiCaprio throws himself into the role and manages to embody the sleaze as only a veteran actor can. Jonah Hill is funny but a bit over the top as Belfort’s right hand, Donnie Azoff. His fake teeth and accent make it easy for him to slip into caricature. Yet, that’s the issue with the film in general in that everyone is excessive. That said, I was exhausted after watching the slime-ball characters use money to do whatever they want by the end of the first hour. By the end of the film Scorsese has us right where he wants us, worn out and just as contaminated as Belfort for watching.
Scorsese and DiCaprio manage to put together some hilarious moments throughout the film as their trust has grown for one another in their fifth collaboration. In one epic scene, Belfort and Azoff pop old quaaludes and take a few too many thinking they aren’t working. Belfort looses the ability to control his body in what he calls the “cerebral palsy phase” of the affects of the drug. DiCaprio is hilarious in his physicality in the scene.
“The Wolf of Wall Street” is one of those films that you probably will only experience once in your lifetime because of the depths of the drug invested, immoral, filth that you have to wade through in the three hour wide. It’s the well constructed direction of Martin Scorsese that makes the experience a once in a lifetime ride!
Rating: B