MOVIE REVIEW: GLADIATOR II

 

Years after witnessing the death of Maximus at the hands of his uncle, Lucius must enter the Colosseum after the powerful emperors of Rome conquer his home. With rage in his heart and the future of the empire at stake, he looks to the past to find the strength and honor needed to return the glory of Rome to its people.

Director: Ridley Scott

Cast: Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal, Joseph Quinn, Fred Hechinger, Lior Raz, Derek Jacobi, Connie Nielsen, Denzel Washington

Release Date: November 22, 2024

Genre: Action, Adventure, Drama

Rated R for strong bloody violence.

Runtime: 2h 28m

Review:

Gladiator 2 marks Ridley Scott's return to ancient Rome's fighting pits with massive action set pieces that are dazzling and entertaining, but the story never finds its own footing as it is content with hitting the same beats as the original.  Twenty four years after his Oscar winning original Ridley Scott is still a master of creating massive set pieces with a heavier emphasis on maritime action here.  The battles are wonderfully staged and appropriately bloody and chaotic as Scott ups the ante in terms of cinematic mayhem.  These moments deliver the kind of thrills you'd expect from a legendary filmmaker returning to one of his most loved creations but it does beg the question as to why the story feels like an afterthought.  The plot seems to twist itself into all sort of illogical contrivances to make Maximus's son follow the exact same path as his father.  It would be excusable if it had something new, interesting or revelatory to say but its pretty much the same "Dream of Rome" tagline from the original.  It makes everything feel like a hollow facsimile of the original which is hammered home with clips of that film being inserted throughout.  Paul Mescal has the unenviable task of stepping into Russell Crowe's shoes here and sadly he can't match the screen presence or intensity he brought in the original film.  Mescal does his best but he's generally the least interesting character onscreen as we follow him go through the same trials as Crowe's Maximus, he even has a dead wife he wants to meet in the afterlife to boot.  Suffering a similar fate are Joseph Quinn and Fred Hechinger who have to step into the emperor role which Joaquin Phoenix memorably played in the original. In spite of their best effort, neither can really bring the sort of dangerous depravity needed to make for a memorable antagonist.  Pedro Pascal fairs better with a measured turn as a general who is ready to lead a revolt.  The film wouldn't have fared better if it'd given his character more of a spotlight as there's plenty of moral grey to play with but the story never bothers to fully explore it.  Denzel Washington proves to be the film's saving grace as the only real movie star onscreen throughout.  Washington is clearly having a ball as he chews up scenery gleefully every time he shows up onscreen.  He bring so much enthusiastic energy to his performance that you easily overlook how clichéd the character and his motivations are written.  In another universe there's a better version of this story that would have focused on Pascal and Washington's characters and political aspirations and intrigue.  These kind of missed opportunities leaves Gladiator 2 feeling like a well constructed but ultimately soulless retread of far better film. 

B-

MOVIE REVIEW: EQUALIZER 3

 

Since giving up his life as a government assassin, Robert McCall finds solace in serving justice on behalf of the oppressed. Now living in Southern Italy, he soon discovers his new friends are under the control of local crime bosses. As events turn deadly, McCall becomes their protector by taking on the mafia.

Director: Antoine Fuqua

Cast: Denzel Washington, Dakota Fanning, David Denman, Sonia Ammar, Remo Girone

Release Date: September 1, 2023

Genre: Action, Crime, Thriller

Rated R for strong bloody violence and some language.

Runtime: 1h 49m

The third and possibly final installment of the Equalizer franchise is a leaner, more focused entry which makes it the most effective of the three.  Antoine Fuqua's film is still as violent as ever, but he gives his main character a bit more time to breathe outside of his avenging angel persona.  There's a bit more nuance at play throughout which helps flesh out the character especially if you've followed his journey from the start.  Fuqua still delivers plenty of hero shots for his leading man with those visuals boarding between triumphant and menacing.  The action sequences are just as visceral and bloody as the past entries, but they are far less frequent than the first two entries leaning more on Washington's acting chops.  Denzel Washington has always been this series secret weapon as he pulls so much more out of the character than what's written on the page.  In this entry, he is given more room to explore moments of happiness and contentment before external forces bring him back to unleash his talents on a slew of faceless villains.  Washington does give the character a slightly different feel here, older more weathered and almost brutish in certain moments.  It makes those moments where his character unleashes his brand of justice interesting in that it could easily be flipped into a horror movie with little effort. Sadly, the supporting character are paper thin across the board, something that's been an issue with the three films.  Adding former Man on Fire costar, Dakota Fanning, should work better than it ultimately does with her character feeling more perfunctory than necessary.  Still the series as a whole is a testament to Washington's impressive talent and ability to make these films far more watchable than they would be in lesser hands.

B

MOVIE REVIEW: THE TRAGEDY OF MACBETH

 

A Scottish lord becomes convinced by a trio of witches that he will become the next King of Scotland. His ambitious wife will do anything to support him in his plans of seizing power.

Director: Joel Coen

Cast: Denzel Washington, Frances McDormand, Bertie Carvel, Alex Hassell, Corey Hawkins, Harry Melling, Brendan Gleeson

Release Date: December 25, 2021

Comedy, Drama, Romance

Rated R for violence

Runtime: 1h 45m

Review:

Joel Coen's The Tragedy of Macbeth is a fascinating amalgam of stage minimalism and cinematic grandeur.  The resulting concoction echo's Ingmar Bergman's The Seventh Seal and Akira Kurosawa's Throne of Blood itself an adaption of Macbeth.  It's visually arresting and engaging from it's opening frame.  Stage actress Kathryn Hunter eerie turn as the witches gives the film an air of urgency and kinetic energy and she contorts unnaturally in her introduction.  The familiar but dense Shakespearean dialogue is performed with emotional precision from it's stellar cast.  Denzel Washington's older Macbeth hits all the right notes especially as the film progresses and his character's mental state declines into madness.  Frances McDormand is just as strong as his calculating Lady Macbeth.  They both deliver lines in such a naturalistic fashion that it's easy to get lost in their individual performances, when the pair share a scene their energy burns through the screen.  Supporting turns from Alex Hassell as Ross and Corey Hawkins as Macduff leave the biggest impact outside of the central duo.  The Tragedy of Macbeth is a visually striking, narratively efficient adaptation that's sure to leave an impression for years to come. 

A

MOVIE REVIEW: THE LITTLE THINGS

Deputy Sheriff Joe "Deke" Deacon joins forces with Sgt. Jim Baxter to search for a serial killer who's terrorizing Los Angeles. As they track the culprit, Baxter is unaware that the investigation is dredging up echoes of Deke's past, uncovering disturbing secrets that could threaten more than his case.

Director: John Lee Hancock

Cast: Denzel Washington, Rami Malek, Jared Leto, Chris Bauer, Natalie Morales, Terry Kinney

Release Date: January 29, 2021

Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller

Rated R for violent/disturbing images, language and full nudity

Runtime: 2 h 7 min

Review:

There’s plenty that will feel familiar about The Little Things, it’s a film that feels stuck in the past on multiple levels.  John Lee Hancock’s film is methodically paced and well filmed but all of it feels perfunctory and familiar.  The character’s all have specific quirks or demon’s they are dealing with but the story never gives us anything new or revelatory about these tortured men.  Instead its stellar cast is stuck making the best of this script which feels like it’s from another era, mainly because it is.  This script has been languishing in development since the 90’s and so much about it feels like it would have been fresh back then but now some of these tropes have been done multiple times over.  It’d be easy to get some Seven vibes here and there but its never as polished or refined as that film.  Denzel Washington leads the film ably and honestly he can play this type of character in his sleep so it’s not a challenging role for him.  That being said, he’s able make his character interesting enough to keep the proceedings engaging enough to keep you moving forward.   Rami Malek feels miscast as the young rising detective, something about Malek’s talents and this type of role just don’t mesh in a believable fashion.  Jared Leto’s performance here lacks any sort of subtly which takes you out of the film once he gets the spotlight.  The third act can be described as problematic without giving anything away.  The Little Things is saved from being a complete mess by top tier talent but even then it’s decidedly middle of the road.

C

Cindy Prascik's Review of The Little Things

My dear reader(s), this weekend the streaming services offered up a gift to the the homebound and weary: The Little Things, starring Academy Award (tm) winner Denzel Washington, Academy Award (tm) winner Rami Malek, and Academy Award (tm) winner Jared Leto. 

Spoiler level here will be...uh...mild, I guess. If you saw a trailer, there's not likely anything here you didn't see or guess from there. 

Two cops risk everything in the hunt down a serial killer. 

So, you got that the Little Things stars some ACADEMY AWARD (tm) winners, right?? All that hardware is the film's chief selling point, and, for my money, anything that has Denzel Washington's name at the top of the list is worth a look. I don't think the Little Things strains Denzel's exceptional skillset, but, as usual, he carries the picture with ease. I've fallen out of love with Rami Malek since his Oscar win, so if he's any better than serviceable here, it's lost on me. Jared Leto is laughably bad in a poorly-crafted role. I actively despised every minute he was onscreen, and I'm not normally a Leto-hater. I even liked his Joker. (Don't @ me.)

Outside of its acting heavyweights, the Little Things is a creepy but predictable procedural. The cops rough up persons of interest and deliver tone-deaf dialogue as reliably as if it were an old Starsky & Hutch episode. Everybody makes bad choices. You get a bad choice! You get a bad choice! And YOU get a bad choice! Where those choices lead may surprise you...or not...depending on how much of this sort of thing you watch. The Little Things looks, sounds, and feels suitably bleak, with muted colors and a grim score by Thomas Newman. Outside of Leto, it's a pretty well-crafted work that suffers only for feeling like it should be more, somehow. Maybe not worth subscribing to HBO Max, but if you're already a subscriber, definitely worth a look. 

The Little Things runs 127 minutes and is rated R for "violent/disturbing images, language, and full nudity." The Little Things is a passable yarn that features some nice work by Denzel Washington. In Covid times, we can't ask for much more...apparently. Of a possible nine Weasleys, the Little Things gets six and a half. 

The Little Things is now streaming on HBO Max. 

Until next time...

Cindy Prascik's Review of The Equalizer 2

Dearest Blog: Yesterday it was off to Marquee Cinemas for one of my favorite things in this wide world: a new Denzel Washington movie. On the docket: The Equalizer 2.

 

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

 

Righting the world's wrongs takes a personal turn for Robert McCall.

 

Well, dear reader(s), I would be remiss indeed if my review of a Denzel Washington movie didn't begin by mentioning just how lucky we are to have Denzel Washington doing what he does. He is one of the world's most gifted actors, and, for my money, Hollywood's greatest and most watchable leading man. However good or bad the movie, there is something incomparably special about him, and I'm pleased to report that The Equalizer 2 gives his talent a surprisingly good workout.

 

The Equalizer 2 boasts plenty of action, with well-choreographed fight scenes playing out against the backdrop of an impending hurricane. The climactic confrontation in the height of the storm is especially exciting. Quieter bits of character development and plot progression occasionally seem a little longer than necessary, but not enough to derail the whole. We may take for granted that Denzel will be extraordinary--and end-to-end he's no less--but The Equalizer 2 features an exchange between him and a young co-star that matches even his (or anyone else's) greatest performances, absolutely chill-inducing. Harry Gregson-Williams' brooding score and phenomenal work by the sound department perfectly compliment the movie's somber tone. If the primary plotline makes its twists a bit too obvious, there's enough greatness surrounding it that it hardly matters.

 

The Equalizer 2 clocks in at two hours on the dot, and is rated R for "brutal violence throughout, language, and some drug content."

 

The Equalizer 2 is a worthy and satisfying follow-up to the original. 

 

Of a possible nine Weasleys, the Equalizer 2 gets eight.

 

Fangirl points: Denzel! (Obvs.) My gal Melissa Leo!

 

Until next time...

Cindy Prascik's Reviews of Coco & Roman J. Israel, Esq.

Dearest Blog: Yesterday it was off to Marquee Cinemas for a double-bill of Coco and Roman J. Israel, Esq. Talk about mood swings!

 

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

 

First on my agenda was the wonderful animated feature Coco.

 

A young Mexican boy learns the importance of family, and of being true to yourself, on Dia de los Muertos.

 

Coco is preceded by a short called Olaf's Frozen Adventure. It runs about 20 minutes and feels like about 20 years. Outside of an amusing number about different holiday traditions, the songs are pedestrian and the story even more so. The animation is lovely, as you'd expect, but that's really about all this one has going for it. Do yourself a favor, dawdle an extra minute at concessions and turn up late.

 

Once you've survived this latest attempt to cash in on Ana and Elsa, your reward is sweet. Coco is a beautiful, heartfelt story featuring delightful characters, stunning artwork, and a magical score by Michael Giacchino. If the movie is a bit heavy-handed with its message, it's sincere enough that you probably won't mind. Myriad skulls and skeletons could seem a bit macabre to unfamiliar eyes, but bright colors and cheerful patterns keep the tone friendly enough for even very young children. The picture's climax drags just a hair, but it's a petty quibble with a pretty perfect movie.

Coco clocks in at 109 minutes and is rated PG for "thematic elements." Coco is a sweet story brought to life by glorious artwork and enjoyable characters. With just four weeks left in 2017, I’m inclined to call it the year's best animated feature. Of a possible nine Weasleys, Coco gets eight.

 

Next on my agenda, the perplexing legal thriller Roman J. Israel, Esq.

 

When his longtime partner passes away, a brilliant lawyer is thrust from the shadows into the spotlight.

 

Dear reader(s), Roman J. Israel, Esq. is one weird little movie. The titular attorney is a far cry from the cool tough guys Denzel Washington often portrays; instead he's an awkward loner whose odd mannerisms are portrayed by Washington with meticulous attention to detail. Colin Farrell and Carmen Ejogo are both solid in supporting roles, though I'd have liked them both to have a bit more to do. The story is never dull, but clunky pacing and a sense of moral ambiguity make the movie feel awkward and unsatisfying. Complicated characters are one thing, but this is poorly-fleshed-out enough that it's hard to grab onto anyone's real goals or motivations. I saw a headline over the weekend that called this film "one of the most confounding misfires of 2017," and that says it better than I ever could. There's really no excuse for this not being better than it is.

 

Roman J. Israel, Esq. runs 129 minutes and is rated PG13 for "language and some violence."

 

Roman J. Israel, Esq. is a terrific showcase for the acting tour de force that is Denzel Washington, but it doesn't have much else going for it. 

 

Of a possible nine Weasleys, Roman J. Israel, Esq. gets five.

 

Fangirl points: DAMN does Trouble Man sound awesome in that glorious surround sound!

 

Until next time...

Cindy Prascik's Review of Fences

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dearest Blog: Today it was off to Marquee Cinemas to spend the afternoon with my favorite leading man, Denzel Washington, doing double-duty as director and star of August Wilson's Fences. 

 

Spoiler level here will be mild, nothing you wouldn't know from the trailers. A family in 1950s Pittsburgh struggles with an imperfect home life and its place in a changing world. 

 

August Wilson's Fences is storytelling at its finest. It needs no bells or whistles to grab your attention and hold it tight. Leads Denzel Washington and Viola Davis are appearing on awards shortlists everywhere, but the entire cast is quite stellar enough to be mentioned in the same breath. 

 

Washington--for my money, Hollywood's most magnetic leading man--also displays a deft touch in a rare outing behind the camera. Sets/locations are few and simple, retaining the feel of the movie's stage origins. 

 

The story is so real that it's often as difficult to watch as it is impossible to look away, becoming especially tense as the household grows increasingly contentious. Fences is a mature film that doesn't always have to be pretty to be beautiful. 

 

Fences clocks in at 138 minutes and is rated PG13 for "thematic elements, language, and some suggestive references." 

 

Fences is a smart, wordy outing for grownups, deliberately paced but never dull. 

 

Of a possible nine Weasleys, Fences gets eight. 

 

Until next time... 

 

MOVIE REVIEW: THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN

In this remake of the classic 1960 oater of the same name (itself a Western remake of Akira Kurosawa's masterpiece, The Seven Samurai), seven gunslingers join forces in order to protect a small town from a mining tycoon (Peter Sarsgaard) and his goons, who plan to seize the residents' land by force. The seven-man army is led by a mysterious bounty hunter (Denzel Washington), and also includes a sharp-witted gambler (Chris Pratt), a troubled ex-Civil War soldier (Ethan Hawke), a mountain man (Vincent D'Onofrio), an expert knife thrower (Byung-hun Lee), an outlaw (Manuel Garcia-Rulfo), and a Comanche warrior (Martin Sensmeier). Directed by Antoine Fuqua (Training Day). ~ Jack Rodgers, Rovi

Director: Antoine Fuqua

Cast: Denzel Washington, Chris Pratt, Ethan Hawke, Vincent D'Onofrio, Lee Byung-hun

Release Date: Sep 23, 2016

Rated PG-13

Runtime: 2 hr. 12 min.

Genres: Action/Adventure

Review:

I’ll start by saying that I’ve never seen the original The Magnificent Seven film so I don’t have anything to compare it to.  The plot itself has been recycled multiple times so the story itself doesn’t hold much in the way of surprises.  Antoine Fuqua seems to know this so he tries his best to honor the classic westerns of yesteryear.  As such, you get plenty of scenic cinematography and high intensity shoot outs throughout.  Ultimately, the only way this film would maintain anyone’s interest would be because of the cast.  Denzel Washington holds the entire film together as the steely eyed bounty hunter.  The film is at it’s best during the first half as the team is assembled and we get a taste of each of the characters being assembled.  Some of which get more time than others but in the end you can tell the actors are just having a blast.  That keeps the film fun and interesting even as we start heading into very well worn territory in terms of story.  As such, The Magnificent Seven is an enjoyable bit of entertainment that could have used a tad bit more depth to make it truly standout.

B

Cindy Prascik's Review of The Magnificent Seven

Dearest Blog: Yesterday it was off to Marquee Cinemas for one of my more anticipated offerings of 2016, Antoine Fuqua's remake of The Magnificent Seven. Spoiler level here will be mild, nothing you wouldn't know from the trailers. 

When a brutal robber baron tries to steal a town right out from under its inhabitants, the townsfolk turn to an eclectic band of gunslingers to defeat him. So, dear reader(s), you're tired of remakes and reboots and rehashes, right? I hear ya. Hollywood apparently doesn't, but I do. Scarred though you may be by lady Ghostbusters and a decidedly Michael Bay-ish Ben-Hur, I'm asking you to give this one a chance. Please. 

Throwing the universe's most watchable actor, Denzel Washington, into an ensemble picture is a bit like putting a perfect diamond on a CZ-tennis bracelet--no matter how good the rest is, it won't compare--but he does a masterful job of leading this pack without actively scene-stealing. 

His diverse group of not-so-merry men is uniformly fantastic, with Byung-hun Lee and the brilliant Vincent D'Onofrio nearly walking off with the movie. Gunfights are tightly-choreographed chaos, a delight to watch. The picture also boasts some majestic scenery and a lovely score by Simon Franglen and the late James Horner. 

Throughout, it feels like a throwback to the glory days of Hollywood westerns. Among The Magnificent Seven's relatively few weaknesses: It relies just a little to heavily on Chris Pratt's appeal, while criminally wasting the lovely Matt Bomer. 

Haley Bennett overacts like a madwoman at times. There are some weirdly obvious inaccuracies, like blindingly-white teeth all 'round, and a few prominently-placed prostitutes who more closely resemble 1980s video extras than anything from the wild west. The entire cast is sweat-shiny for the duration...except Denzel, who is cool as a cucumber until the very end. 

Also, the movie is occasionally so very traditional as to appear almost comical on today's cinema landscape. This remake defies many current cinema norms. Though a battle is the picture's primary focus, there are no bloated, never-ending fight scenes. The pace is deliberate, but the movie is never dull. There's surprisingly little graphic gore, despite a Game of Thrones-esque body count. 

The single female lead provides opportunities aplenty, yet she's never shoehorned into a romance with any of our heroes. Finally, this film is utterly disinterested in kicking off a franchise. Come on, reader(s), when was the last time you walked out of the theatre without feeling like you'd just been set up for the next sequel? 

The Magnificent Seven is a beautifully-filmed, epic western that features top-notch performances from some of today's best and most-loved actors. Simply put, movies like this are why I go to the movies. 

Of a possible nine Weasleys, The Magnificent Seven gets eight. 

Until next time... 

Cindy Prascik's Reviews of The Boxtrolls & The Equalizer

Dearest Blog, today it was off to the cinema for a pair of flicks I've been pretty would up about: The Boxtrolls and The Equalizer.

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

First on my agenda was The Boxtrolls.

Underground dwellers the Boxtrolls are threatened by the above-ground humans who fear them.
The Boxtrolls looks for all the world like a movie Tim Burton might have made when he used to be interesting. Pretty much everything in it is expressly designed to be ugly (you haven't seen teeth like this since Austin Powers!), but the artwork is stunning. Boxtrolls is a dark movie, taking place mostly underground or at night, with neutral colors setting the perfect tone. The entertaining voice cast includes Ben Kingsley, Jared Harris, Elle Fanning, Nick Frost, Richard Ayoade, Tracy Morgan, Simon Pegg, and Isaac Hempstead Wright. The story is a little dark and pretty slow at times; I would be hard pressed to try selling this as a movie for kids, even though that's obviously what the filmmakers intended. The second act is somewhat brighter than the first, and even has a few laugh-out-loud moments, though, truth be told, I found them ill fitting and less enjoyable than the rest of the movie.

The Boxtrolls runs 97 minutes and is rated PG for "action, some peril, and mild rude humor."
It's not the game-changer I'd anticipated, but it's pretty darn great nonetheless. Of a possible nine Weasleys, The Boxtrolls gets seven.

Next on the docket was The Equalizer.

A seemingly ordinary man, living a quiet life, resurrects some old skills to help a young acquaintance who gets into trouble.

Okay, dear reader(s), you know me well enough to know that my review of The Equalizer can be summed up in two words: HELL YEAH! First there's Denzel Washington. Now, here's the thing about a movie that has Denzel Washington: it really doesn't need anything else. Chloe Grace Moretz, Bill Pullman, and my best gal Melissa Leo, among others, have a cup of coffee in the film, and Marton Csokas makes an able foil, but when push comes to shove it's Denzel's movie to carry and, as always, carry it he does. The man is on screen for nearly all of the prohibitive two-hours-plus runtime, and he is riveting, seamlessly dialing between "regular guy" mode and "stone cold killer" mode.

The oft-repeated vengeance tale is nothing new, but thanks to Washington's commanding lead and plenty of YESSSSSSS! moments, it doesn't seem that long...which is not to say it couldn't have been trimmed a bit without suffering for it, either. There are some...erm...interesting kills, and the language is pretty rough at times, but nothing out of the ordinary for your average R-rated flick. If I had one complaint, it's that at times the direction seems amateurish, too much exaggerated slow-mo, but it's a petty gripe about what's otherwise an exceedingly entertaining film.

The Equalizer clocks in at 131 minutes and is rated R for "strong bloody violence and language throughout, including some sexual references."

It may not be a perfect movie, but it sure is a perfect movie for me. Of a possible nine Weasleys, The

Equalizer gets eight.

Until next time...

 .































Hell. Yeah.

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???

MOVIE REVIEW: FLIGHT

FLIGHT



A pilot with a substance-abuse problem has to land a crippled airliner in this Robert Zemeckis-directed drama for Paramount Pictures. Real Steel's John Gatins provides the script. Denzel Washington heads up a cast that includes The Hurt Locker's Brian Geraghty, along with John Goodman and Don Cheadle. ~ Jeremy Wheeler, Rovi

Director: Robert Zemeckis

Cast: Denzel Washington, Don Cheadle, Kelly Reilly, John Goodman, Bruce Greenwood

Release Date: Nov 02, 2012

Rated R for Intense Action Sequence, Drug and Alcohol Abuse, Language and Sexuality/Nudity

Runtime: 2 hr. 18 min.

Genres: Drama

Review:

After watching Flight I’d come to the realization that Denzel Washington had been churning interesting and impressive performances in some rather lackluster films for a good while. So much so that I’d almost consider him unappreciated, considering how some Academy Award winners have been known to phone it in more often that not. Flight is a bloated ham fisted film that’s elevated by its incredible leading man. Denzel Washington is the show here and the film dips significantly whenever he’s off screen. Thankful he’s onscreen for the better part of the film and he’s entrancing even though he’s dealing with a script that rams every cliché it could think of into the characters and plots. Washington performance is so much more impressive considering what he’s handcuffed with and I shudder to think of what a lesser actor would have done in this role. Robert Zemeckis has been removed from live action film directing for a while and outside of truly spectacular and horrifying crash sequence he overdoes everything. There’s a scarcity of quiet moments where he’s just pulls back and lets Denzel do his thing. Instead there’s are some eye rolling bad musical cues to hammer home each point not to mention an overused religion slant which is just as frustrating as the rest of the script. Denzel doesn’t just carry this film he drags it kicking and screaming to respectability that alone deserves kudos and awards.

C+

MOVIE REVIEW: SAFE HOUSE

IN THEATERS

SAFE HOUSE



A rookie CIA operative goes on the run with a rogue former intelligence officer after a South African safe house comes under attack by heavily armed mercenaries. Matt Weston (Ryan Reynolds) is a CIA agent just waiting for the perfect opportunity to prove himself. But that's no easy task when you've been cooped up in an empty Cape Town safe house for a whole year. Weston realizes that a prime opportunity is headed his way, however, when he learns that former agent Tobin Frost (Denzel Washington) has been captured after nearly a decade on the run. Frost is about to become Weston's one and only guest at the safe house, and the fledgling agent is determined to handle the situation like a true professional. But by selling U.S. secrets to countries like North Korea, Frost has made more than his fair share of enemies in high places, and shortly after he arrives at the safe house, all hell breaks loose. A small army of gunmen are determined to see Frost dead. Meanwhile, Weston will do everything in his power to protect Frost, regardless of his crimes. Now Weston's only hope for getting out of this alive is to find out who's gunning for them, and seek out someone he can trust before it's too late. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Director: Daniel Espinosa

Cast: Denzel Washington, Ryan Reynolds, Vera Farmiga, Brendan Gleeson, Sam Shepard

Release Date: Feb 10, 2012

Rated R for violence and some language

Genres: Action/Adventure, Suspense/Thriller

Review:

Safe House is the type of film you keep expecting to surprise or excite you but it never really can. Incredibly generic and predictable it never rises above better films of its ilk. Daniel Espinosa directs his film like a muted Tony Scott, the action is chaotic and loud but nothing seems to illicit the response intended. To his credit, Espinosa does pace his film steadily and never lets it lag too much, as a result this 2 hour film doesn’t feel any longer than it should. Denzel Washington is clearly having a good time; he’s always the most interesting person on screen both as an actor and character. Sadly the character is underwritten and you can’t help feeling like you’ve just scratched the surface. Ryan Reynolds should make for a perfect action star but he just never believable especially when delivering a punch. It doesn’t help that his character is a moron who makes the absolute worst decisions in every situation. The supporting cast is made up of top tier actors and strong character actors which could enhance the overall experience but they are all terribly underused and underwritten. The plot itself is straightforward and generic, nothing really surprises you and any of the turns or surprises are telegraphed in such an obvious manner that they might as well have street signs announcing them. Still, it’s all easily digestible with its Bourne style action even if it’s instantly forgettable.

C