MOVIE REVIEW: NOBODY

 

Hutch Mansell fails to defend himself or his family when two thieves break into his suburban home one night. The aftermath of the incident soon strikes a match to his long-simmering rage. In a barrage of fists, gunfire and squealing tires, Hutch must now save his wife and son from a dangerous adversary -- and ensure that he will never be underestimated again.

Director: Ilya Naishuller

Cast: Bob Odenkirk, Connie Nielsen, RZA, Aleksei Serebryakov, Christopher Lloyd

Release Date: March 26, 2021

Genre: Action, Crime, Drama

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

Runtime: 1 h 32 min

Review:

Nobody isn’t a John Wick spin off but it sure feels like one since it’s written by John Wick scribe Derek Kolstad. Ilya Naishuller’s film hits a lot of the same beats as the Wick franchise but there are some distinctive flourishes that allow it to stand on its two feet.  A sequence early on which displays Hutch’s everyday drudgery that shows some directorial talent and these types of sequences are used to great effect.  The entire film wouldn’t work if we couldn’t buy Bob Odenkirk as a believable action star and on paperwork it shouldn’t work but somehow it does.  Odenkirk does a strong job of playing his character as a pent up powder keg of furiosity in an unassuming vessel reminiscent of Ed Norton in Fight Club.  Connie Nielsen does solid work but her character is terribly underwritten which is a shame since she’s such a capable actress.  Aleksei Serebryakov villain is just as underwritten but he leaves a bigger impression through seer screen presence.  Serebryakov captures the unhinged madman frighteningly well which is aided by a particularly effective introductory scene.  Christopher Lloyd and RZA have fun supporting parts which come together in a bloody but incredibly fun finale which plays like Home Alone with a lot more kill shots.  Kolstad peppers the scripts to a larger world at play much like he did in the Wick series which points to franchise building.  As a standalone film, Nobody is a bloody mindless fun that begs you not to think about anything for too long and just enjoy the fireworks. 

B

Cindy Prascik's Review of Hardcore Henry

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dearest Blog: With this weekend's promising new releases opening nowhere near me, yesterday it was off to Marquee Cinemas for the...um...less-than-promising Hardcore Henry. Spoiler level here will be mild, nothing you wouldn't know from the trailers.

 

A man awakes in a laboratory to discover he's acquired a bunch of robot parts, but lost his memory.

 

Dear Reader(s), I'ma be straight with ya: With time to spare between halves of yesterday's double-feature, I stepped out of Harcore Henry, sat in the hallway, and wrote something akin to Spinal Tap's infamous "S**t Sandwich" review. However, the well-stated enthusiasm of one of my cinema buddies caused me to give the movie some additional thought, and, with thanks to Paul at Marquee, here's a more considered opinion.

 

Hardcore Henry is quite unique. Shown entirely through Henry's eyes, the viewer sees all the wiggly-jiggly action in the first person. While that's not always a great choice for your viewing enjoyment (and thank heavens it's not in 3D!), the filmmakers get full marks for commitment and attention to detail. Every bit looks entirely authentic. 

 

Sharlto Copley is his usual brilliant self, changing personalities like I change my socks. Like Sebastian Stan, Copley is a fantastic actor who usually deserves better than the projects he or his agent chooses, but, on the plus side, even a bad movie is so much better for having him. The action sequences are very well-choreographed, and the film is also smart enough not to wear out its welcome, clocking in at a quick hour and a half.

 

Now, the bad news: the violence and portrayal of women in Hardcore Henry are straight out of a teenage boy's dream. Even I--Number-One Expendables Fan--have to admit that the pointless chaos wears thin pretty quickly. The picture’s clearly more interested in grabbing your attention with something weird or shocking than keeping it with a well-thought-out story; the plot is riddled with holes and bizarre moments that make no sense...even in the context of something that makes so little sense overall. 

 

Minus anything more substantial underlying it, the incessant brutality is a lot to take, and the non-stop action can't save the movie from being a bit of a bore. 

 

Hardcore Henry runs 96 minutes and is rated R for "non-stop bloody brutal violence and mayhem, language throughout, sexual content/nudity, and drug use." 

 

Harcore Henry certainly isn't everyone's cup of tea, but, if you're looking for something well and truly different at the movies, it might just be for you. Of a possible nine Weasleys, Hardcore Henry gets three.

 

Until next time...