MOVIE REVIEW: BABYGIRL

 

A high-powered CEO puts her career and family on the line when she begins a torrid affair with a much younger intern.

Director: Halina Reijn

Cast: Nicole Kidman, Harris Dickinson, Sophie Wilde, Antonio Banderas

Release Date: December 25, 2024

Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery, Thriller

Rated R for strong sexual content, nudity and language.

Runtime: 1h 54m

Review:

Babygirl plays like a gender-swapped version of 2002's Secretary and when it works it pulsates off the screen, but it struggles to maintain that energy despite a stellar turn from Nicole Kidman.  Writer/Director Halina Reijn has plenty on her mind as she presents a series of tantalizing themes over the course of her film.  Sexual desire, normalcy, power dynamics and age all bounce around the edges of the screen as we follow the torrid affair with her intern played by Harris Dickinson.  Kidman's performance is a study in layers as she gives the audiences glimpses of strength, intelligence, repression and shame that are all bottled up in her character.  She's consistently the most interesting performer onscreen as she crafts this fully formed character that feels like a living breathing person along with all her complications.  Her performance carries the film but the central relationship between her and the intern is a bit choppier due to a variety of reasons.  Harris Dickinson and Kidman just don't share the kind of electric chemistry together that would make their affair believable.  His character is terribly underwritten with the audience never being presented because he's so attractive to Romy.  We're told at various points that he is intelligent but never shown anything outside of the most generic sort of blackmail.  He's never portrayed with the sort of charisma or tact that he would be able to engage and enchant in the way we're led to believe on screen.  It doesn't help that he looks like any random, faceless guy you'd see on a subway or train and never give a second thought about.  The film's kinkier moments really play more like softcore Cinemax than anything else albeit with Kidman going for broke with each scene.  Antonio Banderas has a small supporting role as Kidman's husband, and he's given an impressive scene in the final act that reminds you how powerful of a performer he can be.  The film would have been well served had it given him a bit more screentime and fleshed out his character more but like most of the themes that Reijn throws onscreen such as an undercurrent about the monotony and automation of our everyday lives are never explored in any sort of meaningful way.  There's plenty left unexplored throughout which is shame because Reijn does deliver a series of energetic moments topped by a sequence in a dance club that just reverberates off the screen.  These sorts of moments highlight surges of energy in Babygirl which highlight how much more effective the film would have been if it had something substantial to say about itself.  

B-

MOVIE REVIEW: INDIANA JONES AND THE DIAL OF DESTINY

 

Daredevil archaeologist Indiana Jones races against time to retrieve a legendary dial that can change the course of history. Accompanied by his goddaughter, he soon finds himself squaring off against Jürgen Voller, a former Nazi who works for NASA.

Director: James Mangold

Cast: Harrison Ford, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Antonio Banderas, Toby Jones, Boyd Holbrook, Ethann Isidore, Mads Mikkelsen, John Rhys-Davies, Karen Allen

Release Date: June 30, 2023 

Genre: Action, Adventure

Rated PG-13 for sequences of violence and action, language and smoking

Runtime: 2h 34m

Indiana Jones and The Dial of Destiny is a perfectly capable send off for the legendary character even though it does feel like a band on their farewell tour playing all the greatest hits.  James Mangold does his best Spielberg by delivering the kind of action set pieces you'd expect in an Indy feature, the extended opening is well done but the de aging technology still looks a bit odd in extended use.  The film rarely drags except for a few spots here and there that could have been cut to make it a more efficient experience.  It’s all enjoyable but like the script it’s all incredibly familiar on multiple levels.  There are bits about age and regret interwoven throughout the story but none of it is particularly revelatory.  The addition of his goddaughter, played with appropriate spunk by Phoebe Waller-Bridge, feels like a redo of the much-maligned character from Crystal Skull, Indy's son Mutt Williams.  Helena Shaw's character veers closer to being a mirror image of Indy and their interplay is fun thanks in large part to the actor’s natural chemistry together.  Harrison Ford puts the fedora back on with general ease which shouldn't come as a shock to anyone.  Ford's general gruffness works well with the character at this point in his life so much so that you sort of wonder if he's even acting or just being himself.  He clearly enjoys being back in the saddle one last time even though the film doesn't cover any new territory.  Mads Mikkelsen and Boyd Holbrook villainous character are broadly drawn and don't really make for very interesting adversaries.  Mikkelsen, for his part, does what he can with the character but you really get the feeling he was dying for a beefier role.  The same is true of Indiana Jones and The Dial of Destiny as a whole, it ultimately serves as comfort food for long time fans of the character who wanted just one more taste before saying goodbye.    

C+

MOVIE REVIEW: PUSS IN BOOTS: THE LAST WISH

Puss in Boots discovers that his passion for adventure has taken its toll: he has burnt through eight of his nine lives. Puss sets out on an epic journey to find the mythical Last Wish and restore his nine lives.

Director: Joel Crawford

Cast:  Antonio Banderas, Salma Hayek, Harvey Guillén, Florence Pugh, Olivia Colman, Ray Winstone, Samson Kayo, John Mulaney, Wagner Moura, Da'Vine Joy Randolph, and Anthony Mendez

Release Date: December 21, 2022 

Genre: Animation, Adventure, Comedy, Family, Fantasy, Mystery, Romance

Rated PG for action/violence, rude humor/language, and some scary moments.

Runtime: 1h 40m

It’s rare that a sequel, much less to a spinoff of another franchise, would still pulse with the energy of Puss in Boots: The Last Wish.  This newest entry into the Shrek spinoff is surprisingly vibrant onscreen which paired with a sharp script makes for a pleasant surprise of a family film.  Kids and adults will find plenty to enjoy here as the story tackles such heady issues like enjoying every moment of your life in the face of your own mortality.  If it sounds like a rather heavy topic for a kid’s movie it is but the script has the right balance of emotional resonance and fun to keep things enjoyable for the younger members of the audience.  Cleary, the film's biggest assets is its collection of stars voicing the collection of fantasy characters onscreen.  Antonio Banderas and Salma Hayek's interplay drives the film with the kind of chemistry few couples have shared even behind animated characters.  They both bring so much fun and authenticity to their characters that the adults may forget they are watching fairy tale cats on an adventure.  Harvey Guillén joins the couple as an orphaned but kindhearted dog who looking for friendship.  Florence Pugh, Olivia Colman, Ray Winstone and Samson Kayo have just as much fun bring Goldilocks and Three Bears to life by giving their classic fairytale newfound resonance and meaning by the time the film ends.  John Mulaney is solid as the primary villain, but Wagner Moura's Big Bad Wolfe is impressively creepy, probably too much for very young children, as the embodiment of death.  Puss in Boots: The Las Wish could use a few trims here and there but overall, it’s the kind of family film that doesn't feel the need to pander to its audience while delivering and meaningful experience for children and adults alike.

A-

MOVIE REVIEW: UNCHARTED

Nathan Drake and his wisecracking partner Victor "Sully" Sullivan embark on a dangerous quest to find the greatest treasure never found while also tracking clues that may lead to Nate's long-lost brother.

Director: Ruben Fleischer

Cast: Tom Holland, Mark Wahlberg,  Sophia Ali, Tati Gabrielle,  Antonio Banderas

Release Date: February 18, 2022 

Genre: Action, Adventure

Rated PG-13 for violence/action and language

Runtime: 1h 56m

Review:

The Uncharted video game franchise is known for it's cinematic style and plotting so its rather baffling to see the live action take hit the big screen in such a bland vehicle.  I will say that I only have a passing familiarity with the game series but it does seem like a perfect franchise to make the jump to the big screen successfully.  Sadly, the film that ends up on screen feels like a copy of a copy as it delivers retreads of better action adventure films but never delivering anything new or exciting.  Ruben Fleisher's film feels like it's been through multiple focus groups resulting in the most generic action and characters.  The script doesn't help much since it's content with following the path of least resistance leaving very little mystery since you can see every turn coming.  Tom Holland and Mark Wahlberg do the best they can with the material but neither can be accused of elevating any of it.  Their central relationship never really works the way it should even though some of the interactions are fun.  Sophia Ali and Tati Gabrielle do more with limited screen time but both of their characters are woefully underdeveloped.  Antonio Banderas is criminally underused as the film's main villain even though he seems game to ham it up.  Uncharted isn't the worst video game adaptation out there but it could have been much better and more memorable.

C

MOVIE REVIEW: THE HITMAN'S WIFE'S BODYGUARD

 

The world's most lethal odd couple -- bodyguard Michael Bryce and hit man Darius Kincaid -- are back for another life-threatening mission. Still unlicensed and under scrutiny, Bryce is forced into action by Darius's even more volatile wife. Soon, all three are in over their heads when a madman's sinister plot threatens to leave Europe in total chaos.

Director: Patrick Hughes

Cast: Ryan Reynolds, Samuel L. Jackson, Salma Hayek, Richard E. Grant, Frank Grillo, Tom Hopper, Antonio Banderas, Morgan Freeman

Release Date: June 16, 2021

Genre: Action, Comedy, Crime

Rated R for strong bloody violence throughout, pervasive language, and some sexual content

Runtime: 1h 39min

Review:

The Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard never really breaks any new ground on the genre and it's script feels hackneyed and lazy but its still manages to provide some good mindless R rated fun.  Patrick Hughes directs his film with a made for standard cable feel to it even with the A list talent.  The action is fast and energetic set in attractive European locales but it all feels disposable like they could have been lifted from a dozen other films.  Thankfully, he's edited this film down to a lean hour and half so it's kinetic energy doesn't become exhausting like the first film.  Ultimately what save this film is the what made the first film work the chemistry of the cast.  Ryan Reynolds and Samuel L. Jackson are once again set to ten for the duration of the film as curse words and bullets fly.  Salma Hayek gets a much larger role here and it's to the film's benefit since she can play just as rough and loose as her two counter parts.  Antonio Banderas is just as a fun sporting a fabulous blonde wig while doing his best mock James Bond Villain.  It's all decidedly goofy and silly but you get the feeling the cast knows exactly what kind of film they are making, Frank Grillo's over the top Boston accent should be a dead giveaway, and they have fun with it.  The Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard isn't going to be topping a lot of people top ten films of the year but it's goofy enough for an enjoyable bit of mindless fun.

C+

Cindy Prascik's Review of The Laundromat

Construction having made local traffic an almost insurmountable headache, this weekend I again leaned on Netflix' original content so that I would have something to write about for you--yes, YOU--dear reader(s).  Our film of the week: Cautionary tale the Laundromat.

Spoiler level here will be mild, nothing you wouldn't know from the trailers.

A woman widowed in a freak boating accident experiences firsthand the duplicity of big insurance and the networks that support it.

Oscar winners Meryl Streep and Gary Oldman (yes, I'm always going to remind you he's an Oscar winner now) head a decorated cast that also includes Antonio Banderas, James Cromwell, Robert Patrick, Jeffrey Wright, and Sharon Stone, as well as a host of other familiar faces. Many appearances amount to little more than cameos, and you get the feeling the Laundromat's message is important enough that some pretty impressive names just wanted to be a part of it. So, why does it seem like Netflix is burying this picture? I mean, when I log on, the first thing it suggests is that Breaking Bad movie that's a week old already. (Sorry, Netflix, that's a no go.) I had to do a full-on search to get a Netflix original STARRING MERYL STREEP to even show up. Sure there were some legal hassles over this picture, but those were resolved in Netflix' favor. I think the problem here is that--for all its star power--the Laundromat is a barely average movie.

Starting with the positives, the Laundromat's talented cast does a terrific job with the material. Streep is heartbreakingly perfect in the lead, as of course one would take for granted. Oldman and Banderas are fantastic together, a pair of slimy lawyers telling their "side" of this based-on-actual-events tale. Each familiar face that turns up in a smaller role is a nice surprise that makes the movie worth watching, despite its flaws. The story itself is compelling, and it's told here with grim humor. You'll feel dirty for laughing at it, but laugh you might. The attorneys serve as narrators, and their spin gives the picture a different vibe. I doubt it will make anyone sympathize with them, but it's a clever enough turn. The movie transitions with animated frames that also give it a lighter feel that it might have had otherwise; in fact, the whole has something of a theatrical sense to it. On the flip side, the Laundromat is extremely heavy-handed with its message and--while I'd agree its lessons warrant firm and regular reinforcement--that doesn't do the movie any favors. The film moves slowly, and there are very few likable or sympathetic characters, ultimately making it rather a tedious exercise that feels like a poor man's Big Short.

The Laundromat clocks in at 95 minutes and is rated R for "language, some sexual content, and disturbing images."

The Laundromat has an important message that might have been more impactful if its story were more deftly told.

Of a possible nine Weasleys, the Laundromat gets six.

Until next time...

Cindy Prascik's Review of The 33

Dearest Blog: today it was off to Marquee Cinemas for an uncommon treat: Lou Diamond Phillips on the big screen in The 33. Spoiler level here will be mild, nothing you wouldn't know from the trailers or the news. 

 

A mine in Chile collapses, trapping 33 miners underground for over two months. 

 

Dear reader(s), make no mistake: This is a fascinating, inspiring story that's more than worth hearing. 

 

Shame somebody couldn't do a better job of telling it. 

 

For The 33's purposes, it's not good enough that these men survived such extraordinary circumstances. 

 

Not good enough, the genuine angst of family and friends camped out waiting for any small bit of news. Not good enough, the folks whose great leaps of faith ensured hope was never abandoned. 

 

The melodrama is laid on so thick that connecting to any real emotion is...well...about as easy as finding a bunch of guys buried under thousands of feet of solid rock. The miners' personalities are so broadly-drawn they're little more than caricatures, and the dialogue is just plain cheesy. 

 

That's the bad news. The good news is, an excessive runtime doesn't really feel like it. Despite a well-known outcome, the movie still expertly maintains tension as the audience waits with the miners' loved ones for any positive sign. We West Virginians are no strangers to holding our collective breath through such events, and the painful experience is effectively portrayed onscreen. 

 

There's some strong work among the supporting cast, even if most of the headliners are quite over the top. Lou Diamond Phillips is amazing, because Lou Diamond Phillips is always amazing. (That's a scientific fact.) There are some good laughs and some cheap ones--the good ones lightening the mood at just the right moments--and James Horner's score is terrific. 

 

Overall, an imperfect exercise, but still worth a look. The 33 clocks in at 127 minutes and is rated PG13 for "a disaster sequence and some language." The 33 isn't a terrible movie, yet it's hard not to think such a great story deserves better. Of a possible nine Weasleys, The 33 gets five. Until next time...

Cindy Prascik's Review of The Expendables 3

 

 

Dearest Blog, yesterday it was off to the pictures for something that gets me as excited as landing on The Nice List come Christmas Eve: a new Expendables movie.

Spoiler level here will be mild-ish, mostly nothing you wouldn't know from the trailers.

Barney adds some fresh faces to his team, in hopes of bringing down an old foe.

Reader(s), let's just get this out of the way: I think the Expendables franchise is the most awesomely awesome awesome in the history of awesome. I didn't love the second installment *quite* as well as the first--it felt a lot like throwing more names at the screen just to see what stuck--and trailers led me to fear the new one might be more of the same. While part three definitely does offer an expanded array of ass-kickers, I am happy to declare it the best of the franchise (so far).

Expendables 3 is non-stop action, spelled with brief bits of Feelings and quick frames of Other Things That Make Badasses Cool, such as riding motorcycles and doing shots. The Expendables get that the action is probably why you came, though, and they see to it you get your money's worth.
Daring vehicular stunts, massive weapons, and nicely-choreographed hand-to-hand combat occupy most of the screen time. As always, the cast is a who's who of action stars: Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Dolph Lundgren, Wesley Snipes, Terry Crews, Randy Couture, and Jet Li. Throw in Mel Gibson, Kelsey Grammer, Antonio Banderas, and Harrison Ford for good measure, and you've got yourself quite the crew.

The pitfall of a cast this size is that there's never quite enough of THAT ONE GUY you want to see more of (in my case, Statham, always), but the silver lining is that Harrison Ford is...well...Harrison Ford, and Banderas, in top comic form, completely steals the show. The young'uns are the most forgettable batch of low-watt never-will-bes this side of a Twilight movie--and I certainly could have done without the addition of a female Expendable--but the big guns thankfully have enough star power to go around. Though there was quite a fuss about keeping this installment tame enough for a PG13 rating (as opposed to the Rs earned by the first two Expendables flicks), the film doesn't suffer for it. Quite honestly, I can't imagine a more fun time at the movies.

The Expendables 3 clocks in at 126 minutes and is rated PG13 for "violence including intense sustained gun battles and fight scenes, and for language."

Of a possible nine Weasleys, The Expendables 3 gets eight. Oh, and Sly, dahhhling, you don't have to be 30 years younger to come knockin' on MY door.

Until next time..

 Shut up and take my money!

MOVIE REVIEW: THE EXPENDABLES 3

Barney (Stallone), Christmas (Statham) and the rest of the team comes face-to-face with Conrad Stonebanks (Gibson), who years ago co-founded The Expendables with Barney. Stonebanks subsequently became a ruthless arms trader and someone who Barney was forced to kill... or so he thought. Stonebanks, who eluded death once before, now is making it his mission to end The Expendables -- but Barney has other plans. Barney decides that he has to fight old blood with new blood, and brings in a new era of Expendables team members, recruiting individuals who are younger, faster and more tech-savvy. The latest mission becomes a clash of classic old-school style versus high-tech expertise in the Expendables' most personal battle yet. ~ Jeremy Wheeler, Rovi

Director: Patrick Hughes

Cast: Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Antonio Banderas, Jet Li, Dolph Lundgren, Wesley Snipes

Release Date: Aug 15, 2014

Rated: PG-13 for Language, Intense Sustained Gun Battles, Fight Scenes and Violence 

Runtime: 2 hr. 7 min. 

Genres: Action/Adventure 

Review:

By this point in time you come to expect certain things from the Expendables movies.  The third entry starts off well with a rollicking, if a tad silly, action sequence that brings back Wesley Snipes to the screen.  Honestly, I didn’t know I missed Snipes that much but he perks up the first 20 minutes of the movie with an energetic charisma that’s hard to ignore.  After that sequence, the film turns into a bit of slog as we’re slowly introduced to new recruits, none of which have even the tiniest bit of screen charisma, with the characters we’ve come to know relegated to wait off screen.  The biggest sin isn’t that these characters are faceless and just there to serve the plot, it’s that during this extended sequence nothing happens.  There lots of exposition with Frasier popping up to throw some zingers at the plastic corpse that is Stallone but very little action or fun.  It’s honestly the films biggest drawback because the whole sequence could have been done in about 10 minutes so we could bring back the established fun characters or the other new additions like Antonio Banderas who’s hilarious as a motor mouth killer looking for a new team.  Once the final action sequence starts, you remember why your watching this film, lots over the top action with fun characters and crazy eyed Mel Gibson hamming it up as the villain of the piece.  That’s all I was really looking for in this franchise.

C+

MOVIE REVIEW: SHREK FOREVER AFTER 3D

IN THEATERS

SHREK FOREVER AFTER 3D



A domesticated Shrek hatches a plan to recapture his mojo and discovers what life in Far Far Away land would have been like had he never existed in this final chapter of the popular animated film series. There used to be a time when the villagers would run in terror at the mere mention of the name Shrek, but these days the big green ogre is married to Princess Fiona and raising triplets. Maintaining your fierce public persona is no simple task when you're juggling infants and changing diapers, so when Shrek realizes that nobody is afraid of him anymore he recruits mischief-maker Rumpelstiltskin to restore his once-mighty roar. Unfortunately for Shrek, that plan hits an unexpected hitch. As a result, the morose monster takes a trip into an alternate-universe Far Far Away land where there is no Shrek, and Rumpelstiltskin reigns. There, Donkey spends his days hauling carts, and a portly Puss in Boots prefers lounging to swashbuckling. Perhaps with a little extra effort, Shrek will be able to regain his status as top ogre in town and still have his happily ever after, too. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide

Director: Mike Mitchell

Cast: Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz, Antonio Banderas, Julie Andrews.

Release Date: May 21, 2010

Rated PG for some rude humor, mild action and brief language

Runtime: 1 hr. 33 min.

Genres: Sci-Fi/Fantasy

Review:

Shrek Forever After is a decent if mostly ho hum finale to the once impressive and fresh series. Not nearly as horrible as the dreadfully boring Shrek The Third this entry recaptures a bit of the energy of the first two entries. The 3D is used well and certain scenes are truly magical especially with witches hovering around. The script is fun if a tad bland and predictable. The satire isn’t as strong as it could have been considering the It’s a Wonderful Life slant this go around and it feels like they play it way too safe. Instead we get more pop songs and dance numbers that feel terribly forced. It not all bad there are some funny portions spread throughout the films run time. Mike Meyers does decent work and even provides some dramatic thump during some of the more tender moments. Cameron Diaz is a given a fun warrior princess angle and she clearly enjoys herself. Eddie Murphy and Antonio Banderas both give fun if paint by the number performances. New comer Walt Dohrn has an interesting nasally timber to his voice and his character could have been more interesting and better fleshed out. As the finale entry, Shrek Forever After can’t help but show the series age, fun but overly safe.

C+