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: VENGEANCE

 

A journalist and podcaster travels from New York City to Texas to investigate the death of a woman whom he hooked up with.

Director: B. J. Novak

Cast: B. J. Novak, Boyd Holbrook, Dove Cameron, Issa Rae, Ashton Kutcher, J. Smith-Cameron

Release Date: July 29, 2022

Genre: Comedy, Mystery, Thriller

Rated R for language and brief violence

Runtime: 1h 47m

Review:

B. J. Novak's Vengeance is a dramady that's disarmingly funny even though its dissecting some heady and timely themes.  Novak wrote and directs the film and you get the distinct feeling that the story and idea are something very personal to him.  The script has an easy flow to it as you meet the assorted cast of characters who start off as clichés before being revealed as three dimensional people.  Novak's main character plays as a your standard narcissistic coastal elite who's clearly outside of his bubble.  The comedy that comes from the fish out of water situation is solid and delivers some solid laughs.  Boyd Holbrook and Novak have some solid chemistry together and deliver some of the film's funnier moments.  J. Smith-Cameron provides a strong maternal performance that's more subtle than a lot of the other characters but packs a punch by the end of the film.  Ashton Kutcher also delivers a surprisingly subdued but incredibly effective supporting turn as a small town record producer who like most people in the film have much more to them than meets the eye.  Vengeance has a slightly choppy tonal feel that makes it uneven in parts but ultimately it does a solid job of capturing the current state of our divided country.

B+

Cindy Prascik's Reviews of The Predator & White Boy Rick

 

 

Dearest Blog: After a two-week hiatus, yesterday it was off to Marquee Cinemas for The Predator and White Boy Rick.

 

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

 

First on my agenda: The Predator.

 

They're baaa-aaack...

 

I have sometimes been accused of using too many words, so today I'm going to tell you in not very many words, dear readers, that this movie is very stupid and I didn't like it. I love the original Predator. It is the only film in cinema history that has ever actually scared me. The latest entry in the series features hokey effects, lame dialogue, and action sequences that are frequently too dark to see much of anything. The tone feels wrong from the outset, with crass, unfunny stabs at humor. I fell for the entire cast quickly and against expectations, which was enough to provide the occasional briefly-entertaining interlude, but it was far too little to redeem the whole.

 

The Predator runs 107 minutes and is rated R for "strong bloody violence, language throughout, and crude sexual references."

 

The Predator exploits a popular franchise for a cash grab, an all-too-familiar Hollywood tale. Of a possible nine Weasleys, The Predator gets four.

 

Next on the docket, White Boy Rick.

 

In the Just Say No era, a young man from a troubled family says yes.

 

White Boy Rick is the disturbing true story of Rick Wershe, Jr., a Detroit-area teen who, seeing no other escape from his family's dismal existence, begins dealing drugs and ends up an FBI informant. The grimy reality of 1980s Detroit is the perfect backdrop for this depressing tale. It's difficult to watch, but outstanding work by the cast makes it worth your effort. There were some spots where I felt the film moved too quickly (such as explaining Rick's initial acceptance by his gang), but it's a petty quibble with a well-done picture that you'll be thinking about long after you leave the theater.

White Boy Rick clocks in at 110 minutes and is rated R for "language throughout, drug content, violence, some sexual references, and brief nudity."

 

White Boy Rick is a dark tale buoyed by superb performances across the board. 

 

Of a possible nine Weasleys, White Boy Rick gets seven.

 

Until next time...

MOVIE REVIEW: THE PREDATOR

From the outer reaches of space to the small-town streets of suburbia, the hunt comes home. The universe's most lethal hunters are stronger, smarter and deadlier than ever before, having genetically upgraded themselves with DNA from other species. When a boy accidentally triggers their return to Earth, only a ragtag crew of ex-soldiers and an evolutionary biologist can prevent the end of the human race.

Director: Shane Black

Cast: Boyd Holbrook, Trevante Rhodes, Jacob Tremblay, Keegan-Michael Key, Olivia Munn, Thomas Jane, Alfie Allen, Sterling K. Brown

Release Date: September 14, 2018

Genres: Action, Adventure, Horror

Rated R for strong bloody violence, language throughout, and crude sexual references

Runtime: 1h 47min

Review:

The Predators is an odd film that can never figure out what it ultimately wants to be.  Shane Black directs this 6^th screen appearance of the Predator and gives it a strange infusion of comedy.  The violent space hunters face off vs. a ragtag group of misfits who have a quip for every occasion.  The comedy is enjoyable but it feels out of place in the Predator franchise with long sequences veering incredibly close to self parody.  The actors are all fine even though some seems to be hamming it up, like Sterling K. Brown, while others are playing it straight like Boyd Holbrook. It makes for a choppy tone which makes the film just feel off.  It’s a shame because the film has potential particularly if they’d focused on the band of misfits.  The characters are all interesting enough but the film just doesn’t spend much time with them.  Instead we get Oliva Munn who just doesn’t fit in the film; it’s particularly glaring since the film also has Yvonne Strahovski but decides to use her in a throwaway role.  The Predator isn’t the return to form most fans were hoping and with the level of talent assembled you’d be remiss to think if it’s even possible at this point.

C