MOVIE REVIEW: BEAST

 

Recently widowed Dr. Nate Daniels and his two teenage daughters travel to a South African game reserve managed by Martin Battles, an old family friend and wildlife biologist. However, what begins as a journey of healing soon turns into a fearsome fight for survival when a lion, a survivor of bloodthirsty poachers, begins stalking them.

Director: Baltasar Kormákur

Cast: Idris Elba, Iyana Halley, Leah Sava Jeffries, Sharlto Copley

Release Date: August 19, 2022

Genre: Adventure, Drama, Horror, Thriller

Rated R for violent content, bloody images and some language.

Runtime: 1h 33m

Review:

Beast is a lean, straightforward but brain dead animal attack thriller that's engaging enough to keep your attention during it's brisk runtime.  Baltasar Kormákur directs the film with a steady hand, establishing the landscape and players early on before moving on to the mayhem everyone knows is coming.  The script provides the thinnest of characterization for Idris Elba's character, he's trying to connect with his daughter after the loss of his wife, while providing nearly none for a criminally underused Sharlto Copley.  Elba for his part is fully committed here and elevates the material as best he can.  This film isn't concerned with it character's as much as building tension for some well scripted set up which make the central CGI animal feel like a tangible menace.  The film's at its strongest during these sequences thanks to strong directions and staging.  Unfortunately, this is the kind of film where character's continue making abjectly stupid decisions which put them in harm's way.  It's brisk pace makes it easier to overlook some of these issues if not entirely.  Beast works as a mindless empty calorie fun but those looking for a better lion attack film might be better checking out 1996's The Ghost and the Darkness.

C+

MOVIE REVIEW: 2 GUNS

Contraband director Baltasar Kormákur and star Mark Wahlberg reteam for this all-star thriller centered on the fragile alliance between two operatives from rival bureaus, neither of whom realize that the other is working undercover. For the past year, U.S. naval intelligence officer Marcus Stigman (Wahlberg) and DEA agent Bobby Trench (Denzel Washington) have been on a covert mission to infiltrate a powerful narcotics syndicate. In the criminal underworld, trust comes in short supply. Bill Paxton, Edward James Olmos, Paula Patton, and James Marsden co-star. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Director: Baltasar Kormákur

Cast: Mark Wahlberg, Denzel Washington, Paula Patton, Bill Paxton, Fred Ward

Release Date: Aug 02, 2013

Rated R for violence throughout, language and brief nudity.

Runtime: 1 hr. 49 min.

Genres: Action/Adventure, Suspense/Thriller

Review:

2 Guns is an incredibly fun film which takes advantage of its 2 stars talents which is helped by a whip cracking script. Baltasar directs a brisk film which doesn’t take itself overly seriously. A solid sense of fun is established right from the start with Washington and Wahlberg shooting back and forth with each other. They have wonderful screen chemistry together making it a joy to watch them onscreen. Both seem to be having a blast working together. The supporting cast is solid throughout with Paula Patton and Edward James Olmos doing yeoman’s work in limited roles. Bill Paxton chews up the screen every minute he’s on it but in a good way. The action is big loud and violent. All of it choreographed perfectly making each action set piece more fun than the last. After a crash em up sequence between Wahlberg’s Stigman and Washington’s Trench, Wahlberg ask him to admit that was a lot of fun. I’d have to agree.

A

Cindy Prascik’s Review of 2 Guns

Dearest Blog, yesterday I took advantage of my employer's benevolence and used my afternoon off for an early screening of the Denzel Washington/Mark Wahlberg buddy action flick 2 Guns.

Spoiler level here will be mild, only things divulged by the trailers. I must call out the film on one specific scene, but I won't mention any details.

Nothing is what it seems in the fallout of two law enforcement agents' attempt to infiltrate a Mexican drug cartel.
If we're being honest, chances of my not liking 2 Guns were slim to none, as I knew from the first trailer that it's exactly my kind of movie: action heavy, with two great male leads and nary a chick in sight. Booyah! Fortunately, the movie does not disappoint.

Though 2 Guns is obviously not short on gun battles and explosions, it also tells a great story full of interesting twists. Denzel Washington and Mark Wahlberg have terrific chemistry, and Washington commands the screen as only he can. If he just stood there reading the TV Guide, it'd easily be worth the price of admission. The supporting cast boasts standouts Edward James Olmos, Bill Paxton, and Fred Ward, as well as the lovely Paula Patton and James Marsden.

2 Guns is a very violent film, including one unnecessary and inexcusable scene of animal cruelty early on, but it also has a fair bit of humor. I laughed out loud several times, was engaged from start to finish, and can happily say I loved it every bit as much as I expected to.

2 Guns clocks in at 109 minutes and is rated R for "violence throughout, language, and brief nudity." If not for the awful animal-abuse scene, it might well have had my first perfect rating of the year, but, even so, of a possible nine Weasleys, 2 Guns easily earns eight.

Until next time...




Denzel Washington, Mark Wahlberg, and it's raining money? Where do I sign up???