MOVIE REVIEW: GRAN TURISMO

A player wins a series of Nissan-sponsored video game competitions through his gaming skills and becomes a real-life professional race car driver.

Director: Neill Blomkamp

Cast: Archie Madekwe, David Harbour, Orlando Bloom, Darren Barnet, Emelia Hartford, Geri Halliwell Horner, Djimon Hounsou

Release Date: August 25, 2023

Genre: Action, Adventure, Drama, Sport

Rated PG-13 for intense action and some strong language.

Runtime: 2h 15m

Gran Turismo is one of the more interesting video game adaptations since it takes a real life underdog story as its basis instead of a straight up adaptation.  The story's beats are all familiar enough that it'd be easy to dismiss this as little more than Rocky on wheels but thanks to confident direction from Neill Blomkamp and earnest performances from the cast it’s far more watchable than you'd expect.  Blomkamp manages to balance the human interest side and racing sequences all while still making sure the corporate suits are happy with their IP's representation.  It’s a slick looking film from start to finish but you can clearly tell he's far more interested in the racing sequences than the human drama at play.  That's not to say the dramatic side is bad but it’s just serviceable enough to make you care about the characters.  The racing sequences on the other hand has an energetic verve that pulls you into each race in a visceral way that lets you feel speed and danger in each race.  There's a noticeable spark during those moments which make them the highlights of the film.  It’s a testament to Archie Madekwe and David Harbour performances that you care about the people once the film gets to those rousing moments.  Madekwe's baby face gives him an air of authenticity that works in the film's favor.  He has an understated, uncertainty that makes his character feel far more fleshed out than what's on the page.  Harbour natural, gruff charm works well for his character which plays like a racing version of Burgess Meredith's Mickey from the Rocky films.  When they are onscreen together, they share a believable rapport together that makes it easy to overlook all the paint by the number bits of melodrama woven into the story.  Orlando Bloom, Geri Halliwell Horner and Djimon Hounsou are all familiar faces who are saddled with underwritten supporting roles.  Josha Stradowski suffers a similar fate as Jann's racing antagonist whose characterization comes down to being a rich jerk with the script offering little more than that.  Gran Turismo will never be accused of being a deep dive character study, but it delivers a solid bit of entertainment for those looking for a feel good underdog story.  

B

Cindy Prascik's Review of We Have a Ghost

 

My dear readers, yesterday I caught up with a cute little streaming offering called We Have a Ghost.

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

In search of a fresh start, a family moves into a haunted house and finds that supernatural housemates sometimes beget earthly troubles.

We Have a Ghost is typical of most streaming options I've found lately, a decent enough way to pass a couple hours, if nothing particularly special. This one starts off with enough creepy ambiance that I wondered why it wasn't released as a "family" Halloween offering. It then evolves into an action movie that doesn't work well at all. Weaving the two together is a superficial but engaging family drama that's elevated by a very good cast, led by the young standout Jahi Di'Allo Winston. There's a fair bit of humor that's more amusing than laugh-out-loud funny. While the house itself is beautifully spooky, the ghostly effects, and David Harbour's otherworldly turn as the titular spirit, are too cheesy to provide a good fright. The movie runs a bit long, but a solid classic rock soundtrack is an unexpected plus, and a reference to the Wizard Clip (a haunted property in my home state) was a grand surprise.

We Have a Ghost clocks in at 126 minutes and is rated PG13 for "language, some sexual/suggestive references, and violence."

We Have a Ghost is a fun but forgettable offering that's fine for streaming, but you'll be glad you didn't pay cinema prices to see it. Of a possible nine Weasleys, We Have a Ghost gets five and a half.

We Have a Ghost is now streaming on Netflix.

Until next time...

MOVIE REVIEW: VIOLENT NIGHT

 

An elite team of mercenaries breaks into a family compound on Christmas Eve, taking everyone hostage inside. However, they aren't prepared for a surprise combatant: Santa Claus is on the grounds, and he's about to show why this Nick is no saint.

Director: Tommy Wirkola

Cast:  David Harbour, John Leguizamo, Alex Hassell, Alexis Louder, Edi Patterson, Cam Gigandet, Leah Brady, Beverly D'Angelo

Release Date: December 2, 2022

Genre: Action, Comedy, Crime, Thriller

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

Runtime: 1h 52m

Violent Night is a bloody bit of Christmas camp that answers the question, what would happen if you threw Die Hard, Miracle on 34th Street and Home Alone into a blender.  Tommy Wirkola's film tries to balance over the top bloody action with some Christmas magic, only partially succeeding in frenzied spots before hitting noticeable lulls.  The film embraces it’s over the top violence which are what most people are coming for but it also takes long periods of time to try and set up a Christmas magic type subplot which just kills it's forward momentum.  The film would have been better served if those sequences were trimmed down allowing it to lean into the goofy Christmas mayhem.  David Harbour deserves a lion share of the credit for making this film work with an incredibly fun performance as an apathetic, disillusioned Kris Kringle.  Harbour is a generally likable performer which works well for him here as the Viking berserker turned Santa Claus, seriously, and child confidant.  His ability to switch between ferocity and heartfelt sincerity is rather impressive.  John Leguizamo serves as the film's villain, a role he's clearly having a ball playing.  It’s an over the top performance but it works perfectly with the film overall.  Beverly D'Angelo and Edi Patterson make the most of their limited screen time, it’s a shame the film didn't make better use of their talents.  Violent Night is a choppy affair but when it embraces its violent B-movie camp it’s a lot of fun.

C+

MOVIE REVIEW: BLACK WIDOW

 

Natasha Romanoff, aka Black Widow, confronts the darker parts of her ledger when a dangerous conspiracy with ties to her past arises. Pursued by a force that will stop at nothing to bring her down, Natasha must deal with her history as a spy, and the broken relationships left in her wake long before she became an Avenger.

Director: Cate Shortland

Cast: Scarlett Johansson, Florence Pugh, David Harbour, O-T Fagbenle, William Hurt, Ray Winstone, Rachel Weisz

Release Date: July 9, 2021 

Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi

Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence/action, some language and thematic material

Runtime: 2h 13min

Review:

Black Widow, directed with a meticulous hand by indie director Cate Shortland, is an engaging spy thriller/family drama that's far more grounded than most Marvel movies.  Scarlett Johansson's long overdue solo outing feels a bit like a film displaced in time, you get the strong sense this film should have come out much earlier.  Being sandwiched between Captain America: Civil War and Avengers Infinity War allows the stakes to less grand and more personal.  That being the case, the film is able to focus on her character and relationships on a more granular level while still delivering massive action set pieces.  This makes the film's first half feel more like a Mission Impossible/Bond mash up than a straight up superhero film.  It also benefits from more organic banter and interactions which is due in no larger part to the stellar cast assembled.  Johansson wears this character like a second skin at this point but she's able to bring some more nuance and vulnerability to her performance here.  It'd have been easy for her to phone in her performance, but you get the sense she really cares about this character and cares about her legacy in this universe.  Her costars deliver equally strong performances even if the script is clunky on more than a few occasions.  Florence Pugh delivers a fun and memorable turn as Natasha's "sister" Yelena Belova.  Pugh's wry wit and spunk really shines through her entire performance.  It's a perfect showcase for an immensely talented actress who looks to be taking over the mantel from Johansson.  Pugh and Johansson have natural chemistry together and they serve as the beating heart of the entire film.  David Harbour is perfectly cast as Russian super solider who's more brawn than brains.  Rachel Weisz is sadly underutilized but she makes the most of her scenes since she's clearly acting well above the material.  Ray Winstone's villain isn't asked to do much more than talk menacingly and look vaguely greasy which leaves the finale lacking the cathartic kick it's meant to have.  Instead, it does what most Marvel movies do, and become a long CGI action sequence which is well choregraphed but becomes mildly numbing by the end since we know how it'll all end.  There in is the main problem with the film, had Marvel made and released this film after Captain America: Civil War it would have amplified the emotional impact of the character's ultimate sacrifice in Avengers Endgame.  Ultimately, Black Widow is a well-made spy thriller that fleshes out her character on a personal level but still feels like a missed opportunity.  

B

Cindy Prascik's Reviews of Extraction & The True History of the Kelly Gang

My dear reader(s), I hope you are keeping well — physically and mentally — in these strange, strange times.

Following a prolonged and entirely unintentional hiatus, yesterday I attempted an at-home double-bill, just I like I used to do at the cinema except the popcorn's not as good and nobody's kicking the back of my seat.

On yesterday's agenda, the Netflix original Extraction and the True History of the Kelly Gang.

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

First up: Extraction.

When a drug lord's son is kidnapped by a rival kingpin, a troubled mercenary is his only hope of survival.

Extraction is a serviceable thriller that's heavy on fighting, chasing, and bleeding, and light on surprises. The movie trades on the fact that most of us probably *would* trust Chris Hemsworth with our lives, making it less insufferable than it could have been, despite its not quite earning its runtime. If Hemsworth is a guy that brings you to the movies, you won't be disappointed; this is definitely his movie. Inhabiting broadly-drawn characters, supporting players are neither good nor bad enough to make a lasting impression. (But if there's an award for obviousness, please hand it to David Harbour now.) By-the-numbers fight scenes are likewise fine but unremarkable, peppering a seemingly endless race to the finish. There's been a bit of buzz about the single(ish)-shot chase scene, but all its technical prowess couldn't keep me from longing for its eventual end, while predictable twists and redundant action diminish the plot's high stakes. Outside an eyeful of Hemsworth, Extraction's high points for me were unintentional (probably?) nods to Gladiator and Crocodile Dundee II, but, you know, desperate times and all.

Extraction clocks in at 116 minutes and is rated R for "strong bloody violence throughout, language, and brief drug use."

Like Triple Frontier before it, Extraction proves that Netflix can play the action game with the big boys. Like Triple Frontier before it, Extraction also makes one wonder if that's a game worth playing anymore.

Of a possible nine Weasleys, Extraction gets five and a half.

Next on the docket, the True History of the Kelly Gang.

The maybe-sorta-kinda-trueish story of Australian outlaw Ned Kelly.

It's imperative that I preface what follows with a disclaimer: No matter what I want or expect of a movie, and no matter how far from that it may land, I always try to keep an open mind and give it a fair shake. That being said...

Y'all know I watched this movie for Charlie Hunnam, right? If you're thinking of paying for this film expressly to see Charlie, here's the scoop: Charlie's not in it a lot, but there's a lot of Charlie in it. His character is relevant only to the first 30-or-so minutes, and after that it's a whopping 90 minutes of Charlie-less movie. Forewarned is forearmed.

1917's George MacKay headlines this biopic, following the infamous Ned Kelly from his horrifying childhood through his brief, criminal, adult life. MacKay was nothing short of brilliant in 1917, and he's equally so here, though the material is less impressive. Russell Crowe is great, as usual, in a small but pivotal role. The True History of the Kelly Gang plods along at a snail's pace, making it seem very long indeed. Punk musical stylings and trippy, strobe-lit frames underscore Kelly's unhinged descent into violent, unlawful behavior. The movie sometimes seems to shock just for shock's sake, with vile language, grotesque violence, and uncomfortable situations. I don't flinch from any of the above when necessary and deftly handled, but here they're only sometimes the former and never the latter. Ultimately, the movie serves as a nice showcase for MacKay's talent, but has little else to recommend it.

The True History of the Kelly Gang runs 124 minutes and is rated R for "strong violence throughout, bloody images, pervasive language, sexual content, and some nudity."

The True History of the Kelly Gang features strong performances, but it struggles with the complexity of an anti-hero that history both loves and hates. Of a possible nine Weasleys, the True History of the Kelly Gang gets five.

Until next time, dear reader(s), please keep yourselves safe and well, and I'll hope to see you at the cinema soon!

MOVIE REVIEW: EXTRACTION

A black-market mercenary who has nothing to lose is hired to rescue the kidnapped son of an imprisoned international crime lord. But in the murky underworld of weapons dealers and drug traffickers, an already deadly mission approaches the impossible.

Director: Sam Hargrave

Cast: Chris Hemsworth, Rudhraksh Jaiswal, Pankaj Tripathi, Randeep Hooda, Golshifteh Farahani, Suraj Rikame,  David Harbour

Release Date: April 24, 2020

Genres: Action

Rated R for strong bloody violence throughout, language and brief drug use.

Runtime: 1 h 56 min 

Review:

Extraction bare bone action plot could have resulted in a big dud had it not been for the impressive direction from Sam Hargrave and a subdued but effective performance from Chris Hemsworth.  Sam Hargrave's seems fully aware that the story is a retread so he doesn't try to make it anything more than it is.  As such, he focuses on building impressive action set pieces that deliver a visceral punch.  These sequences pepper the film and they are the beating heart of the whole film.  The action is fast bloody and thoroughly enjoyable.  Is it a smart film, no far from it but it never pretends to be either.  At its heart the film is a body count shoot up in the vein of 80's classics like Commando or Rambo. Chris Hemsworth is ready made for this kind role and he delivers a strong but understated performance that's strong enough to keep his character interesting even if he's just fairly one dimensional.  The supporting characters are sparse with Rudhraksh Jaiswal getting the most screen time but his character doesn't have much depth.  David Harbour pops in for a quick second but he's gone before you know it adding very little to the film overall.  That's not to say anything about his performance because he's hardly phoning it but the film is just as bare bones as they come.  Hargrave's wants to deliver a sleek actioneer and he does so with impressive aplomb.  

B

MOVIE REVIEW: HELLBOY

Based on the graphic novels by Mike Mignola, Hellboy, caught between the worlds of the supernatural and human, battles an ancient sorceress bent on revenge.

Director: Neil Marshall

Cast: David Harbour, Milla Jovovich, Ian McShane, Sasha Lane, Daniel Dae Kim

Release Date: April 12, 2019

Genres: Action, Adventure, Fantasy

Rated R for strong bloody violence and gore throughout, and language

Runtime: 2h 1min

Review:

Guillermo del Toro’s 2 Hellboy films were fantasy fill adventures with a strong likable star at it’s center.  It’s a shame that he never got to finish off his trilogy properly and thus resulting in this loud and unnecessary reboot.  It’s hard to figure out exactly who deserves most of the blame since there are talented people all around.  Neil Marshall is an under appreciated director who has direct some wonderful films in his time.  Here much of his style is missing, outside for a few impressive action sequences, replaced by a hodgepodge of scenes that rarely flow together as a cohesive whole.  It makes for an odd movie watching experience since the story never really flows together leaving the plot more convoluted than it needed to be.  David Harbour takes over as Hellboy and he’s solid if underwhelming throughout.  He lacks the natural charisma and presence of Ron Perlman’s version, as such the whole film is far less interesting.  The supporting cast fares slightly better with Daniel Dae Kim and Sasha Lane faring the best overall.  Still, it’s hard to watch this lackluster, soulless reboot and not wonder what Del Toro’s film would have looked like.    

C