MOVIE REVIEW: AMERICAN FICTION

 

Monk is a frustrated novelist who's fed up with the establishment that profits from Black entertainment that relies on tired and offensive tropes. To prove his point, he uses a pen name to write an outlandish Black book of his own, a book that propels him to the heart of hypocrisy and the madness he claims to disdain.

Director: Cord Jefferson

Cast:  Jeffrey Wright, Tracee Ellis Ross, Issa Rae, Sterling K. Brown, John Ortiz, Erika Alexander, Leslie Uggams, Adam Brody, Keith David

Release Date: September 8, 2023

Genre: Comedy, Drama

Rated R for language throughout, some drug use, sexual references and brief violence.

Runtime: 1h 57m

Cord Jefferson's big screen debut, American Fiction, is a wonderfully nuanced satire led by a multifaceted performance from Jeffrey Wright.  Jefferson, who also wrote the script, shows a steady, confident hand behind the camera as he delivers a film that's easy to enjoy even as it covers some expansive racial issues and themes.  He allows his actors to shine by giving them plenty of quieter character moments that gives the film and story an impressive level of depth.  His cast is more than up for the task led by Jeffrey Wright who's never been better.  Wright is the kind of actor that's always brings a certain kind of authentic intelligence and pathos to his roles which is tailor made for playing this role.  Wright adds so much nuance and layers playing an incredibly intelligent man who's seething with resentment over his talents being overlooked.  In the hands of a lesser performer, the character could have come off more one dimensional and one note, but Wright is able to make him a complicated, living breathing human being while still deftly handling the more comedic moments.  The supporting cast is no less impressive with each leaving a noticeable impression on the film with stand out performances from Erika Alexander with an endearing turn as the love interest and Sterling K. Brown playing against type as Monk's chaotic and equally complicated brother.  There is a natural chemistry together from the cast as a whole which makes the story and film as a whole connect on another level.  The pacing that hit a slight hiccup in its final act which is I suspect is intentional in order to reflect the complexity of the racial discussions at play which has no easy or straight forward answers much like the film's conclusion.  American Fiction proves to be the kind of film that works on multiple levels either as comedy, drama or dissection of social issues thanks to the collective talent assembled.

A-

MOVIE REVIEW: BUMBLEBEE

On the run in the year 1987, Bumblebee the Autobot seeks refuge in a junkyard in a small California beach town. Charlie, on the brink of turning 18 years old and trying to find her place in the world, soon discovers the battle-scarred and broken Bumblebee. When Charlie revives him, she quickly learns that this is no ordinary yellow Volkswagen.

Director: Travis Knight

Cast: Hailee Steinfeld, John Cena, Jorge Lendeborg Jr., John Ortiz, Jason Drucker, Pamela Adlon,  Dylan O'Brien

Rated PG-13 for sequences of sci-fi action violence

Genres: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi

Runtime: 1h 53min

Review:

The Transformers movie series was in need of jump start since The Last Knight was easily the worst of the Michael Bay’s run.  Travis Knight takes the helm for this prequel/reboot and he does so with gusto.  Knight clearly knows the 80s cartoon and finally delivers the kind of Transformers film that we fans have been asking for all along.  Knight and his team redesign the Transformers removing a lot of the more insect like look of the Bay era with designs that look much closer to the original cartoon design.  It’s a simple change but one that makes longtime hearts feel all warm and fuzzy.  There is quite a bit of nostalgia mining going on but in doing so Knight never loses focus of what really matters, the actual characters.  Bumblebee is front and center with Hailee Steinfeld making for a likable lead.  At its base it’s a simpler story, one that isn’t overly busy which is a welcome change of pace from the hectic Bayhem we’ve come to expect from these films.  The story shares a lot with The Iron Giant which is a good thing.  The villains of the pieces are slightly underwhelming since they’re fairly non descript and unmemorable.  It’s a shame since they cast Angela Bassett and Justin Theroux.  Still, this film is just what the franchise needed in order to make fans happy, hopefully it’s a sign of better films to come.

B+

MOVIE REVIEW: KONG: SKULL ISLAND

A secret government organization mounts an expedition to Skull Island, an uncharted territory in the Pacific. Led by an explorer (John Goodman) and a lieutenant colonel (Samuel L. Jackson), the group recruit a disillusioned soldier (Tom Hiddleston) and a photojournalist (Brie Larson) to investigate the island's peculiar seismic activity. But once there, they discover that Skull Island is home to a gigantic ape called King Kong, and find themselves caught up in an ongoing war between the beast and the area's indigenous predators. Jordan Vogt-Roberts directed this reboot of the classic monster franchise. ~ Daniel Gelb, Rovi

Director: Jordan Vogt-Roberts

Cast: Tom Hiddleston, Samuel L. Jackson, John Goodman, Brie Larson, John Ortiz.

Release Date: Mar 10, 2017    

Rated PG-13 for Intense Sci-Fi Violence/Action and Brief Strong Language    

Runtime: 1 hr. 58 min.    

Genres: Action/Adventure, Sci-Fi/Fantasy    

Review:

Kong: Skull Island is a bit of a throwback in multiple ways.  Bringing back the cinematic beast with a 90’s style blockbuster bombast provides some good fun even if the film’s human characters suffer.  Kong and his fellow island beast all look great and are appropriately menacing during the huge set pieces that make up the better part of the film.  The action itself is well directed and fun with the helicopter sequence being the biggest standout.  There are a few drawbacks that keep the film from being great.  First off, there are way too many characters in the film with none of them really getting any sort of depth.  There’s a bevy recognizable faces on display but the director Jordan Vogt-Roberts doesn’t seem all that interested in using them for anything other than eye candy.  As a result, strong actors like Tom Hiddleston, Brie Larson, John Goodman and Sam Jackson (channeling Ahab vs. Kong via Apocalypse Now) are short changed by the script which leaves them spinning their wheels.  John C. Reilly is fairly great as the downed WW2 pilot.  He brings a ton of energy and fun to the film as soon as he hits the screen in the third act helping keep the momentum going for the finale.  Kong: Skull Island implies a much larger monsterverse at play, which cough cough includes Godzilla, so future entries can improve on some of the faults in this entry. 

B-

Cindy Prascik's Review of Kong: Skull Island

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dearest Blog: Yesterday I took a trip through uncharted territory (well...Marquee Cinemas) to Kong: Skull Island.

 

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

 

A team of scientists and its military escort investigate a mysterious island in the Pacific.

 

Ladies and gentlemen: the third month of 2017 has presented us with what might end up being its best summer-style blockbuster.

 

The success of any movie featuring a character as iconic and oft-portrayed as Kong depends a great deal on how well it handles its icon. I am more than a little pleased to report that Skull Island's Kong is every bit as majestic and intimidating as he should be. See this movie in 3D on the biggest screen you can find; you'll deliver yourself straight into the jaws of the great gorilla himself. The other creature effects are pretty terrific, but, when it's down to nuts and bolts, Kong is definitely king. Skull Island's human cast--including Tom Hiddleston, Brie Larson, Samuel L. Jackson, John Goodman, and John C. Reilly--is an impressively-decorated lot, elevating the outlandish premise and predictable dialogue. Skull Island boasts awesome locations and sets, terrifying battles, and fantastic disaster effects. It's funny when it wants to be, pointed when it needs to be, and thrilling from beginning to end. A rousing score by Henry Jackman, peppered with some great 70s tunes, perfectly underscores the movie's tone, and a fun post-credits scene makes sitting through 15 minutes of compositors' names worthwhile.

 

Kong: Skull Island clocks in at an even 120 minutes and is rated PG13 for "intense sequences of sci-fi violence and action, and for brief strong language."

 

Kong: Skull Island is a terrific popcorn feature, about as much fun as two hours at the cinema could be. Of a possible nine Weasleys, Kong: Skull Island gets eight.

 

Fangirl points: Toby Kebbell! Shea Whigham! (A man who improves any project fortunate enough to have him.) Also, for the record, Hiddles has never looked hotter!

 

Until next time... 

 

Cindy Prascik's Review of The Finest Hours

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dearest Blog: Yesterday it was off to Marquee Cinemas for the action-thriller The Finest Hours. Spoiler level here will be mild, nothing you wouldn't know from that lone trailer you've been seeing every week since last May. 

 

When a T2 oil tanker splits in half during a brutal Nor'easter, it's up to a small, brave Coast Guard crew to mount an unlikely rescue. Ahhh...the bleak midwinter...that No Man's Land between the awards hopefuls tuckering themselves out and the Lenten glut of Bible stories, where Hollywood dumps all the movies it's given up on or has no idea what to do with. These are movies with no ulterior motive. 

 

They don't expect to win anything, and they certainly don't expect to save your soul; they just want to entertain you. These movies are my friends. The Finest Hours is an old-school adventure, perhaps too old-school for today's audiences. 

 

The heroes are traditional, Ken-doll types, the elements big and threatening, the romance sweet and chaste. There's not much chemistry between Chris Pine and the always-delightful Holliday Grainger, but both are likeable enough to get by. The movie's real star (outside of some nice water and disaster effects) is Casey Affleck, as the de facto captain of the disabled tanker. Ben Foster, perpetually one great performance away from knocking Russell Crowe out of my Holy Trinity, is fantastic in a smaller role, and West Virginia boy Josh Stewart is great as well, though also with not too much to do. 

 

The rescue itself is hold-your-breath tense, and plays out so Hollywood-perfect that I'd call it hokey if not for the fact they've stuck pretty close to true events. Though it may be an unremarkable picture in the grand scheme of things, The Finest Hours a perfectly enjoyable afternoon at the movies for anyone who isn't expecting an Oscar coulda-shoulda-woulda. 

 

The Finest Hours clocks in at 117 minutes and is rated PG13 for "intense sequences of peril." It may not win any awards, but The Finest Hours kept me well and propertly entertained for the duration. 

 

Of a possible nine Weasleys, The Finest Hours gets seven. 

 

Until next time...