MOVIE REVIEW: TAR

 

Renowned musician Lydia Tár is days away from recording the symphony that will elevate her career. When all elements seem to conspire against her, Lydia's adopted daughter Petra becomes an integral emotional support for her struggling mother.

Director: Todd Field

Cast: Cate Blanchett, Noémie Merlant, Nina Hoss, Sophie Kauer, Julian Glover, Allan Corduner, Mark Strong

Release Date: October 7, 2022

Genre: Drama, Music

Rated R for some language and brief nudity

Runtime: 2h 38m

Review:

Todd Field's Tár is an immersive and engaging character study lead by a singular turn from Cate Blanchett.  Field's film is a methodical trek into the central character's life, dropping bits and pieces of narrative and themes along the way.  It's a masterclass in subtly as quieter moments and more charged moments are all so densely packed with meaning that it requires your attention throughout.  There's a glossy veneer presented from the onset of the film but there's also an unsettling, disquieting undercurrent that's every present until its final act where things begin to unravel.  Cate Blanchett disappears into her character with incredible ease.  This performance isn't your typical awards showcase that requires big showy moments instead this is a case study in nuance.  It's the kind of performance where looks shared between characters delivers volumes worth of information.  Blanchett owns every moment she's on screen and its film from start to finish but the supporting cast is just as dialed in with each making the most of their screen time.  Once Tár heads into its final act the script and cast deliver some surprising moments which feel organic and earned, a credit to the level of craftmanship from both sides of the camera.  

A

MOVIE REVIEW: CRUELLA

 

A live-action feature film following the evil exploits of Cruella de Vil, the villain from the Disney film, "101 Dalmatians'. 

Director: Craig Gillespie

Cast: Emma Stone, Emma Thompson, Joel Fry, Paul Walter Hauser, Emily Beecham, Kirby Howell-Baptiste, Mark Strong

Release Date: May 28, 2021

Genre: Comedy, Crime

Rated PG-13 for some violence and thematic elements 

Runtime: 2 h 14 min

Review:

Disney's live action remakes haven't been more than cynical cash grabs.  The films themselves have been bland retreads with little to no innovation to justify their existence.  Craig Gillespie's Cruella manages to break the mold by delivering a visual feast for the eyes and story filled with hefty character development and pathos.  Gillespie channels everything from Tim Burton, Lady Gaga, The Devil Wears Prada and even a touch of Cathy Yang's Birds of Prey to create a vibrant dense character study that exceeds all expectations.   It shouldn't work as well as it does and it'll probably bore plenty of the smaller kids expecting something much lighter and funnier.  Gillespie's direction is impressive but it wouldn't work as well as it does if it weren't for spectacular turns by Emma Stone and Emma Thompson.  Both are clearly having a blast glamping it up as the dueling fashionista with their interactions being the high points of the film.  It's be easy to go broad and coast through the film and it'd still be moderately fun but both actresses give their characters so much lived in depth which makes them all the more interesting.  Throw some award winning costumes and it's a feast for movie lovers who enjoy great performances from stars at the top of their game.  The film even manages to give Cruella's sidekicks more depth and characterization than expected with Joel Fry and Paul Walter Hause turning in strong performances as well.  Once the film ends you are sort of left gobsmacked by the quality of the entire production as your reminded this is still a Disney production which started with the most basic of intentions.  Sure it could have used a few trims here and there but the cast and crew all rise above their trappings to deliver something devilishly delightful.

A-

Cindy Prascik's Review of 1917

Yesterday it was off to the cinema for a long-awaited and much-anticipated screening of 1917.

Spoiler level here will be mild, nothing you wouldn't know from the trailer. In the midst of World War I, a pair of British soldiers is sent on a dangerous mission to deliver an important message.

Dearest reader(s), my expectations for 1917 were so high--SO HIGH--and the movie managed to exceed them in every way. 1917 is a close-up depiction of both the horror and the heroism of war.

Lacking big battle scenes, it follows two young men on a harrowing and deeply personal mission. Bigger names in the cast, including Colin Firth, Benedict Cumberbatch, Andrew Scott, Mark Strong, and Richard Madden, turn up for what amounts to little more than cameos, while George MacKay and Dean-Charles Chapman do the heavy lifting. A fine job of it they do, particularly MacKay, who surely should have been acknowledged among the year's finest performances. The movie is mostly quiet and deliberate, with the subdued soundtrack providing an ominous undertone, so each burst of noisy violence is an ugly shock to the system. The "single shot" format (actually several long shots) is highly effective, making the perilous journey feel almost like real time. 1917 looks gorgeous and offers a gut-punch or two to remind everyone of the terrible cost of war.

Art is subjective, and I don't think anyone's opinion is more valid than anyone else's; however, if you're reading this, I assume you're at least somewhat interested in mine, so here's the bottom line: When I watch a movie like Once Upon a Time in Hollywood or the Irishman, much of what I see on the screen is the director's ego. The beauty of great art is that there is no trace of that; every person's effort--however extraordinary--is entirely in service to the art itself. Many exceptional talents conspired to create the work of art that is 1917, and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood isn't fit to carry its muddy boots.

1917 clocks in at 119 minutes and is rated R for "violence, some disturbing images, and language."

1917 is a reminder of how magical a truly exceptional film can make the cinema experience.

Of a possible nine Weasleys, 1917 gets all nine. Until next time...

MOVIE REVIEW: 1917

Two British soldiers receive seemingly impossible orders during World War I. In a race against time, they must cross into enemy territory to deliver a message that could potentially save 1,600 of their fellow comrades -- including one's own brother.

Director: Sam Mendes

Cast: George MacKay, Dean-Charles Chapman, Mark Strong, Andrew Scott, Richard Madden, Claire Duburcq, Colin Firth, Benedict Cumberbatch

Release Date: December 25, 2019

Genres: Drama, War

Rated R for violence, some disturbing images, and language

Runtime: 1h 59min

Review:

It takes a special kind of talent to a take a simplistic story, which has been done before, and make it a thoroughly engrossing journey from start to finish.  Sam Mendes pulls this off by using some visual trickery to make the film seem like it runs in a series of unbroken cuts and populating his film with memorial visual moments. Oscar winning cinematographer Roger Deakin's visual flair is on full display here, matched with Mendes direction gives the audience some truly mesmerizing moments some of which feel closer to horror movie beats than a war film.  These visual cues make what amounts to a simplified Saving Private Ryan engaging right from the start even though there are far fewer characters to follow.  The cast primarily consist of George MacKay & Dean-Charles Chapman with the latter carrying the majority of the load.  Much like Saving Private Ryan, you have a handful of name actors pop up here and there for quick cameos but ultimately it's MacKay that's the audience's primary proxy.  He delivers a strong performance which makes you feel every moment of his trek from fear to exhaustion  even in the film's quieter moments which are just as frazzling as the more action fueled sequences.  As a whole, the film is a technical marvel that doesn't forget to capture the human moments in the horror of war. 

A-

MOVIE REVIEW: KINGSMAN: THE GOLDEN CIRCLE

“Kingsman: The Secret Service” introduced the world to Kingsman - an independent, international intelligence agency operating at the highest level of discretion, whose ultimate goal is to keep the world safe. In “Kingsman: The Golden Circle,” our heroes face a new challenge. When their headquarters are destroyed and the world is held hostage, their journey leads them to the discovery of an allied spy organization in the US called Statesman, dating back to the day they were both founded. In a new adventure that tests their agents’ strength and wits to the limit, these two elite secret organizations band together to defeat a ruthless common enemy, in order to save the world, something that’s becoming a bit of a habit for Eggsy…

Director: Matthew Vaughn

Cast: Taron Egerton, Colin Firth, Julianne Moore, Edward Holcroft, Mark Strong

Release Date: Sept 29, 2017

Genres: Action Adventure

Rated R for sequences of strong violence, drug content, language throughout and some 
sexual material

Review:

Kingsman: The Golden Circle is a solid if flawed follow up to the surprise hit.  Matthew Vaughn delivers more of what made the first film so much fun but the follow up seems to lacks a bit of spark that made the original work so well.  That’s not to say it’s not an entertaining film, because in spurts it’s a lot of fun, but it just feels overstuffed.  The film is helped by a strong cast with some welcome additions but you can’t help but think that Vaughn could have made better use of the talent on hand.  Jeff Bridges and Channing Tatum roles are pretty much glorified cameos with Halle Berry and Pedro Pascal having the beefier roles.  Julianne Moore is fun as the villain even if her character is slightly underdeveloped.  She’s good fun but doesn’t approach the level of Sam Jackson’s lisping villain from the first film.  Kingsman: The Golden Circle has a lot to offer for fans of the original but unfortunately it leaves you wishing it’d been trimmed and streamlined a bit before its release.

B-

Cindy Prascik's Review of Kingsman: The Golden Circle

Dearest Blog: Yesterday it was off to Marquee Cinemas for a peek at Kingsman: The Golden Circle.

Spoiler level here will be mild, limited to a couple non-plot-related things you won't have seen in the trailers.

Their headquarters destroyed and their resources gone, the Kingsman (Kingsmen?) ally with their American cousins.

Kingsman: The Secret Service was my number-one movie of 2015. As it seems I'm saying a lot this year...even a great sequel to a great movie is without that element of surprise that makes the original seem so special, but that reality in no way diminished my expectations for Kingsman: The Golden Circle. I'm pleased to report the movie exceeded all of them.

There's a lot to discuss here, but I feel duty bound to start with Taron Edgerton. Still minus the status that would give him top billing in a movie of which he's clearly the star, he IS a star, perfectly hitting every note of the many sides of Eggsy. I love this kid. The Golden Circle's supporting players are a who's who of mega-stars and awards darlings, including returning favorites Colin Firth and Mark Strong, Halle Berry, Channing Tatum, Jeff Bridges, Julianne Moore (clearly having the time of her life as the picture's number-one baddie), and, yes, Sir Elton John in what's sure to be one of the most talked-about appearances of the movie year. This film is right up my alley in every way, and such a tremendous cast can't help but elevate it beyond what it might have been otherwise. 

The Golden Circle hits the ground running with a wacky chase through the streets of London, and, for over two hours, it never lets up. The action is spectacularly choreographed and never gets old despite being almost non-stop. Humor is consistent and organic, never shoehorned in just for the sake of it. Oh, and on that topic, remember that bit you hated at the end of the first Kingsman? (Well, I'm assuming you hated it, it seems everyone did.) The sequel actually makes that right, so obviously that Matthew Vaughn himself might well have prefaced the moment with, "Hey guys, this is how that was SUPPOSED to work." I have heard a couple people say The Golden Circle is too much fun, but I can't imagine what anyone means by that. This sequel is so much fun that everything should aspire to its heights!

Kingsman: The Golden Circle clocks in at 141 minutes and is rated R for "sequences of strong violence, drug content, language throughout, and some sexual material."

Kingsman: The Golden Circle is a clever, fast-paced, well-acted good time, an absolute can't-miss on the big screen. Of a possible nine Weasleys, Kingsman: The Golden Circle gets nine.

Fangirl points (buckle in, there are a lot of them!): Keith Allen! Emily Watson! Bruce Greenwood! 

OMG that weird mashup/cover of Cameo's Word Up! How about John Denver's resurgence in 2017 cinema?? And...Mark Strong, you can come sing Country Roads with us here in West Virginia any ol' day!

Until next time...

Cindy Prascik's Review of Miss Sloane

 

 

Dearest Blog: Yesterday I swallowed my disappointment over missing out on on Nocturnal Animals and set off to Marquee Cinemas for my only available option, Miss Sloane. 

 

Spoiler level here will be mild, nothing you wouldn't know from the trailers. An abrasive DC lobbyist risks everything to take on a powerful interest. 

 

Miss Sloane is a mature, dialogue-heavy picture. Though it's a fascinating story, it often seems to be getting nowhere, which makes it feel very, very long. 

 

Jessica Chastain is a tour de force in the title role; brash and ballsy, she deftly shows the cracks in that facade as well. The supporting cast is extraordinary, but Chastain is so remarkable that I doubt anyone would notice even if they were cardboard cutouts. 

 

Miss Sloane is often contentious and uncomfortable viewing that (I think) hopes to prompt viewers to consider both sides of its sensitive subject, gun control. It's never quite deep enough to succeed at that, but it does offer good and bad characters on both sides, ultimately presenting a pretty depressing picture of a government for sale to the highest bidder. 

 

Miss Sloane clocks in at 132 minutes and is rated R for "language and some sexuality." Miss Sloane is a clever, twisting film that's both funny and sad, but ultimately is noteworthy mostly for an Oscar-worthy turn by its star. 

 

Of a possible nine Weasleys, Miss Sloane gets seven. Fangirl points: Sam Waterston! Mark Strong! Michael Stuhlbarg! (I love how much work that guy's getting!!) 

 

Until next time...

MOVIE REVIEW: KINGSMAN: THE SECRET SERVICE

Mark Millar and Dave Gibbons' comic series is adapted for the big screen in this Matthew Vaughn-directed action thriller. The story centers on a secret agent who recruits a juvenile delinquent into a top-secret spy organization. Together, they battle a tech genius with diabolical ambitions. ~ Jeremy Wheeler, Rovi

Director: Matthew Vaughn     

Cast: Colin Firth, Michael Caine, Samuel L. Jackson, Mark Strong, Mark Hamill.

Release Date: Feb 13, 2015     

Rated R for Sequences of Strong Violence, Language and Some Sexual Content.    

Runtime: 2 hr. 9 min.    

Genres: Action/Adventure, Comedy    

Review:

Kingsman: The Secret Service is the type of spy spoof that people always told me Austin Powers was supposed to be.  For whatever reason the Powers movies just never worked for me as a spoof but that’s neither here nor there.  Kingsman is a fun filled ride through all the spy tropes we’re familiar with done in the most gleefully and violent manner possible. Fans of Matthew Vaughn’s Kick Ass will find plenty to like here since its cut from the same cloth while laying down some groundwork for a possible franchise.  There are hints of its comic origins here and there as the film uses colorful ways to kill people ending with a “firework” display that plays out like David Cronenberg’s acid trip.  The action is top notch throughout and Colin Firth is shockingly at ease as an action star, showcased in an insane church sequence.  Taron Egerton delivers a star making performance as Eggsy while Sam Jackson and his lisp makes for a fun villain whose aided by a memorable hence woman.  There are a few issues here and there, the film could have been cut a tad and the much talked about joke at the end falls terribly flat even though I was expecting it.  They’re hardly fatal flaws but hopefully something that will get cleared up by the time the sequel hits.

B

MOVIE REVIEW: THE IMITATION GAME

Alan Turing, a pioneer of computers, led a group of scholars to crack the codes of Germany's WWII Enigma machine. A genius under nail-biting pressure helped to save millions of lives and was ultimately convicted for the crime of homosexuality.

Director: Morten Tyldum 

Cast: Benedict Cumberbatch, Keira Knightley, Allen Leech, Rory Kinnear, Mark Strong.

Release Date: Nov 28, 2014

Rated: PG-13 for some Sexual References, Mature Thematic Material and Historical Smoking

Runtime: 1 hr. 53 min.

Genres: Drama

Review:

The Imitation Game is a fairly standard biopic that’s finely crafted and well acted even if it’s a bit mechanical at times.  It benefits greatly from some impressive performances by Benedict Cumberbatch and Keira Knightley.  Benedict Cumberbatch captures the sadness, awkwardness and intelligence of Turing with subtle power.  There are moments in the film that provide him a perfect platform to display his immense talent.  The always reliable Keira Knightley is excellent in a supporting role.  It feels like a standard role at first but as the film moves on she’s allowed to flesh out the roles giving us a meatier role that what’s on the page.  The Imitation Game is filled some incredibly tense moments along with a fresh bit of humor sprinkled in, something you wouldn’t expect from this type of film and it’s theme.  The film’s script is filled with tons of parallels and metaphors which will keep your mind churning well after it’s done.  It’s a tragic tale but one that deserved to be told with an excellent and entertaining film.

B+

Cindy Prascik's Review of Kingsman: The Secret Service

Dearest Blog, yesterday it was off to the cinema for a picture totally worth braving the elements: Kingsman: The Secret Service.

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

A young man headed down the wrong path is recruited as an international super-secret agent.

Dear reader(s), to say I was eagerly anticipating Kingsman: The Secret Service would be the grossest of understatements. In fact, I bought tickets, sight unseen, to watch it back to back, a feat previously achieved only by movies featuring a certain caped crusader. I am pleased to report the film does not disappoint.

Kingsman: The Secret Service is a comic-book movie for grownups. It's fun and funny and crass at times, but it's got a mature feel that has more to do with adult themes than with the film's f-word fueled R rating.

Kingsman features end-to-end action, including brilliantly-choreographed fight scenes, some terrific stunt driving, and even a bit of gymnastics, but it's never in a hurry just to jump from fight to fight, chase to chase; there's a STORY here.

The clever inclusion of just the right tunes in just the right places--tunes most of us likely never would have thought to put in said places--is the best I've seen outside an Edgar Wright picture. Colin Firth is a debonair gentleman spy; in fact, he makes it hard to imagine anyone else ever could have inhabited the film's leading role. Relative newcomer Taron Edgerton seems bound for superstardom if this turn as a smart, cocky ne'er-do-well turned secret agent is any indication.

The supporting cast is uniformly stellar, and, if I had one teensy complaint about this near-perfect movie, it's that I sure would have liked to see more Jack Davenport.

Kingsman: The Secret Service clocks in at 129 minutes and is rated R for "sequences of strong violence, language, and some sexual content."

As a wise friend predicted, of a possible nine Weasleys, Kingsman: The Secret Service gets all nine.

It's a  smart, funny, self-aware spy thriller that proves pushing the envelope has legitimate value and doesn't have to be just to shock.

Until next time...

50 Shades of Who Cares...this is how to be smokin' hot in a suit and tie!

Cindy Prascik's Review of Mortdecai & The Imitation Game

Dearest Blog, lemme tell ya: I'm a little bit exhausted from juggling all these awards hopefuls (that I never expected to see in my area) with regular new releases and weekly screenings of The Hobbit!

However, thanks to an understanding boss, this weekend I was able to catch Johnny Depp's latest as well as one of Oscar's favorites.

First on my agenda: Mortdecai.

Johnny Depp stars as art dealer/thief Charlie Mortdecai, called upon by MI5 to assist with a case.
Well, dear reader(s), even as a die-hard Depp fan, I'm growing bored with his seemingly endless succession of interchangeable goofy characters. Alice in Wonderland, Dark Shadows, and even Transcendence were all terrible disappointments to me. So, as a Depp fan, I'm pleased to say that Mortdecai, while far from perfect, represents a bit of a rebound.

Comedies are a sketchy business...so often you pay ten bucks for a ticket only to find that all the really funny bits were in the trailer. It is, perhaps, because Mortdecai is more amusing than gut-bustingly funny that it doesn't seem that way; instead of a dozen big laughs spread over two otherwise boring hours, Mortdecai is a more evenly-entertaining experience.

Depp is terrific as the self-absorbed Mortdecai, and, if his "weird people with English accents" routine is wearing thin, it works better here than it has in his last few attempts. As Mortdecai's loyal and long-suffering manservant, Jock, Paul Bettany is the movie's highlight.

 A running gag with Jock--not so much as hinted at in the trailers--provides the movie's best laughs.

Mortdecai is a caper as well as a comedy, and it's pretty entertaining. It doesn't drag on or over-inflate itself with unnecessary pretense. It's not too clever, but it IS fun, and, yes, there are even some laugh-out-loud moments.

Mortdecai runs 106 minutes and is rated R for "some language and sexual material." (For my money, I've seen far worse rated PG13...don't understand this rating at all.)

Mortdecai is not a special movie--you won't be talking about it next week, let alone next year at awards time--but Mortdecai IS a bit of mindlessly fun entertainment. Last I checked, that wasn't yet a crime in Hollywood.

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

(It would have been six had it co-starred ANYONE besides Gwyneth Paltrow!)

Next up was The Imitation Game.

During World War II, English mathematician Alan Turing leads a team attempting to break Nazi codes.

Alright, I'm gonna say it straight up: though it has zero chance of taking home the Oscar, The Imitation Game is easily my favorite of the Best Picture nominees I've seen.

 (Still missing Whiplash, which hasn't hit my orbit yet.) Benedict Cumberbatch is phenomenal in the lead, often abrasive but still strangely sympathetic. Again, though he doesn't seem to have a legitimate chance of hearing his name called on the big night, his performance is as good as any I saw last year, and the supporting cast is uniformly strong as well.

The Imitation Game races against the clock to break Nazi codes and prevent further loss of life; as such, it's more "edge of your seat" than it probably seems from the description. The movie also touches on Turing's homosexuality, for which he was prosecuted later in life, under UK laws of the time. It's heartbreaking, but never miserable.

The Imitation Game clocks in at 114 minutes and is rated PG13 for "some sexual references, mature thematic material, and historical smoking."

The Imitation Game is riveting from start to finish, beautifully executed on all levels. The very definition of "must see!"

Of a possible nine Weasleys, The Imitation Game gets nine. Just go see it already!

Until next time...

Somehow I knew the Internet wouldn't make me do this myself! :-)

MOVIE REVIEW: ZERO DARK THIRTY

Kathryn Bigelow and Mark Boal, the Academy Award-winning duo behind The Hurt Locker, reteam for this drama detailing the hunt for Osama bin Laden, which stars Oscar nominee Jessica Chastain as the intelligence expert who dedicated a decade of her life to tracking down the world's most wanted terrorist. Joel Edgerton, Edgar Ramirez, Mark Strong, Chris Pratt, and James Gandolfini co-star. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Release Date: Dec 19, 2012

Rated R for Strong Violence, Language and Brutal Disturbing Images

Runtime: 2 hr. 37 min.

Genres: Action/Adventure, Suspense/Thriller

Director: Kathryn Bigelow

Cast: Jessica Chastain, Joel Edgerton, Edgar Ramirez, Kyle Chandler, Mark Strong

Review:

Zero Dark Thirty is not a jingoistic depiction about the hunt for Osama Bin Laden. Kathryn Bigelow takes Mark Boal script and opts for a detached documentary feel. There’s a noticeable neutrality throughout the film. It’s not the type of feel that’s going for a slant or angle; instead it decides to simply unfurl the series of events that occurred even if some are fictionalized. It’s a methodical straightforward film that keeps you engaged as you watch the frustrating and occasionally dangerous machinations of the world’s biggest manhunt. At its center is Jessica Chastain. Chastain gives her character a calculated intensity and steely resolve. She’s fascinating in her singular dedication to her task, so much so that when the task is done you have to wonder how the character would ever find meaning in another task. The supporting characters come and go as the film goes on. Due to the style of the film, we never get very close to any of the characters even the lead. The climatic raid is almost clinical but incredibly tense and powerful. The same can be said about the film as a whole.

A

[Trailer] John Carter of Mars

I have to admit I know very little about the Edgar Rice Burroughs’ series this is based on, so this trailer for the new film is a tad confusing.

That being said it does kind of peak my interest with it’s epic scope, and fine production values, so it'll probably be something right up my ally.

MOVIE REVIEWS: KICK ASS

Sunday, April 25, 2010

IN THEATERS

KICK ASS



Adapted from Mark Millar's hyper-violent comic book of the same name, director Matthew Vaughn's (Layer Cake) vigilante superhero film tells the tale of an average New York teenager who decides to don a costume and fight crime. Comic book geek Dave Lizewski (Aaron Johnson) may not have good coordination or special powers, but that doesn't mean he isn't a fully capable crime fighter. After purchasing a flashy wet suit on the Internet, Dave starts busting up baddies with nothing but brute force. He calls himself Kick-Ass, and he can take a beating as good as he can dish one out. Before long, Kick-Ass has become a local sensation, and others are following his lead. Big Daddy (Nicolas Cage) and Hit-Girl (Chloe Moretz) are a father-daughter crime-fighting duo who have set their sights on local mob heavy Frank D'Amico (Mark Strong). They're doing a decent job of dismantling Frank's sizable underworld empire when Kick-Ass gets drawn into the fray. But Frank's men play rough, and his son, Chris (Christopher Mintz-Plasse), is about to become Kick-Ass' very first arch nemesis. When Chris assumes the persona of Red Mist, the stage is set for a superhero showdown that could spell the end of Kick-Ass once and for all. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
Director: Matthew Vaughn

Cast: Aaron Johnson, Nicolas Cage, Chloe Moretz, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Mark Strong.

Release Date: Apr 16, 2010

Rated R for strong brutal violence throughout, pervasive language, sexual content, nudity and some drug use -- some involving children

Runtime: 1 hr. 57 min.

Genres: Action

Review:

Matthew Vaughn’s Kick Ass lives up to its name at various times throughout it hyper violent run but its change in tone is so drastic you start to wonder if Vaughn might destroy the clutch on this film. Vaughn gives this film an impressive visual style throughout that keeps your eyes and mind entertained throughout by a wonderful use of smart edits during some of the more drawn out action sequences. In the lead role Aaron Johnson gives the titular Kick Ass a decent blend of nerdiness, naiveté and earnestness in the role. He does fine work throughout but the role doesn’t give him much chance to shine and it’s easy for him to disappear into the background. This is especially true once Nicolas Cage and Chloe Moretz show up. Nicolas Cage fits into his role so well you can sense his glee every time he’s on screen. Chloe Moretz is equally strong as the psychopathic foul mouthed Hit Girl. She’s got some of the strongest comedic and emotional moments in the entire film. Christopher Mintz-Plasse & Mark Strong both deliver strong if generic performances in underwritten roles. Cage and Moretz’s are by far the most interesting characters in the film and make the other story lines look like placeholders until they hit screen again. This choppiness in story and tone becomes more jarring as the film head to its conclusion. Kick Ass shifts from satire to shoot em up to standard comic book movie throughout. Having not read the original comic I don’t know if it’s an issue that inherent to story or if it was something that occurred in the transition. Even with its imperfections, Kick Ass is funny and engaging enough to make for an enjoyable experience for comic book movie fans.

B-

Movie Reviews: SHERLOCK HOLMES

Friday, December 25, 2009
Movie Reviews: SHERLOCK HOLMES
IN THEATERS

SHERLOCK HOLMES

In a dynamic new portrayal of Arthur Conan Doyle's most famous characters, Sherlock Holmes and his stalwart partner Watson embark on their latest challenge. Revealing fighting skills as lethal as his legendary intellect, Holmes battles as never before to bring down a new nemesis and unravel a deadly plot that could destroy the country.

Cast: Robert Downey, Jr., Jude Law, Rachel McAdams, Mark Strong, Eddie Marsan, Kelly Reilly

Opened ..December 25, 2009..

Runtime: 2 hr. 14 min

Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action, some startling images and a scene of suggestive material.

Director: Guy Ritchie

Genres: Detective Film, Action, Mystery

Review:

Outside of general knowledge and a few episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation, yes I’m that nerdy, I have no real knowledge of Sherlock Holmes or any connection to his literary incarnation. As a result, I was a blank slate for Guy Ritchie’s re-imagining of this iconic character and was met with mixed returns. Ritchie’s style and eye work just fine to give this version a visceral hook and freshness lacking form previous versions. He moves the film along at a brisk pace even if some portions feel like they could have been left on the cutting room floor. His biggest advantage is showcasing Downey and Law’s palatable on screen chemistry as Holmes and Watson. The two play off each other incredibly well and give the audience a real sense of their camaraderie. Downey, with an excellent British accent that borders on unintelligible at times, brings a fun bit of manic energy mixed with eccentricity all the while maintaining Holmes’s keen power of detection. He’s like an 18th century Batman sans the mask. Law’s work as Watson is a nice updated and he gives the character depth that isn’t written into the script. Eddie Marsan does strong work in a small role as Inspector Lestrade. Not faring nearly as well is Rachel McAdams and Mark Strong. McAdam’s feels miscast and her character isn’t really much use to the overall story aside from a movie long set up for a possible sequel. The script doesn’t do her character any favors; instead the romantic relationship feels forced and unconvincing. Mark Strong’s role suffers a similar fate as he isn’t required to do much except look villainous and utter dialogue in a monotone voice. Both roles are examples of the main issue with this film in general. The script is convoluted mess, the crux of the main mystery is something about a Masonic like group mixed with supernatural elements, and it’s not nearly as engrossing as it should be for its sometime laborious 2 hours plus runtime. The finale feels hallow as it seems more interested in setting up the sequel than wrapping up this film’s plot points. Even with these issues it’s a fun film that is saved by Downey and Law’s strong work.

C+