MOVIE REVIEW: FERRARI

 

During the summer of 1957, bankruptcy looms over the company that Enzo Ferrari and his wife built 10 years earlier. He decides to roll the dice and wager it all on the iconic Mille Miglia, a treacherous 1,000-mile race across Italy.

Director: Michael Mann

Cast: Adam Driver, Penélope Cruz, Shailene Woodley, Sarah Gadon, Gabriel Leone, Jack O'Connell, Patrick Dempsey

Release Date: December 25, 2023

Genre: Biography, Drama, History

Rated R for some violent content/graphic images, sexual content and language.

Runtime: 2h 11m

Michael Mann's Ferrari is a slick, easily digestible bio pic led by strong central performances from Adam Driver and Penelope Cruz with the latter nearly stealing the show.  Mann gives the film the kind of polish that you'd expect from any of his films with the racing sequences pulsing off the screen.  The quieter moments he leaves to his stellar cast lead by Adam Driver.  Driver's quiet intensity and determination shines through even though he's a tad too young for the roles even as he sports a fully silver head of hair for the majority of the film.  He manages to give the character plenty of depth with his nuanced performance.  The film really sizzles when Penélope Cruz joins him onscreen as she delivers an excellent turn as Ferrari's emotionally broken wife.  Cruz's brings an acidic passion and anger to the screen with incredible ease which speaks to her immense talent.  While the story is engaging enough it never quite finds the same sort of energy when Cruz is off screen leaving Shailene Woodley's character feel rather bland and uninteresting in comparison.  This leaves those moments a more ponderous which kills the film's energy and overall pacing which makes the film far more choppy than it should be.  The film does recover in its final act with a pulse pounding and ultimately tragic race that's initially thrilling before delivering a brutal gut punch.  Those closing moments do give the story a more grounded and somber feel to the story of Ferrari and his life's passion.  

B+

Cindy Prascik's Review of Jungleland

 

My dear reader(s): Much to my delight, this weekend's home viewing options included a new Charlie Hunnam movie, Jungleland. 

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

Having landed in debt to some very dangerous people, a boxer and his trainer-brother are forced to transport a young woman cross-country. 

Jungleland is an oft-told tale that doesn't really have much new or interesting to recommend it. The story is predictably miserable and moves at a snail's pace, and characters have about as much depth as paper dolls. Bland performances from the noteworthy cast, led by Hunnam and Unbreakable's Jack O'Connell, might be blamed as much on pedestrian writing as on the actors themselves. It's a grim movie about unpleasant people with barely a single redeemimg quality among them. 

Jungleland runs 90 minutes and is rated R for "pervasive language, some sexual content, violence, and nudity." 

Jungleland is a depressing exercise that's disappointing on every level. Of a possible nine Weasleys, Jungleland gets three. 

Jungleland is currently available for digital rental ($9.99) or purchase ($14.99 SD/HD or $16.99 UHD). 

Until next time...

Cindy Prascik' s Review of Money Monster

Dearest Blog: Yesterday it was off to Marquee Cinemas for the entertaining-as-it-is-depressing Money Monster. 

Spoiler level here will be mild, nothing you wouldn't know from the trailers or if you've personally been hosed in the Market, I guess. 

When one of his stock tips proves to be a bust, a brash TV presenter and his crew are taken hostage by an unhappy investor. Money Monster is a bit hokey at times, but that's about its only shortcoming. 

Blessed with two of Hollywood's most capable and engaging leads, George Clooney and Julia Roberts, and edge-of-your-seat storytelling, the movie grabs your attention and does not let go. 

Jack O'Connell is also terrific, and it's a credit to his performance how easily you'll begin to side with the guy waving the gun around. 

Money Monster expertly maintains tension throughout, spelled with perfectly-timed humor, and is smart enough not to wear out its welcome. 

The movie's very obvious message is about greed and corruption, but also paints an uncomfortable picture of today's society, as as the hostage situation plays out on live television as "entertainment." 

Money Monster clocks in at a smart 98 minutes and is rated R for "language throughout, some sexuality, and brief violence." It may not bring much new to the table, but Money Monster is an exciting and well-acted picture that's well worth your movie dollar. 

Of a possible nine Weasleys, Money Monster gets seven (and fangirl points for Giancarlo Esposito). 

Until next time...