The world stands on the brink of annihilation when a mysterious force knocks the moon from its orbit and sends it hurtling toward a collision course with Earth. With only weeks before impact, NASA executive Jocinda "Jo" Fowler teams up with a man from her past and a conspiracy theorist for an impossible mission into space to save humanity.
Director:Roland Emmerich
Cast: Halle Berry, Patrick Wilson, John Bradley, Michael Peña, Charlie Plummer, Kelly Yu, Donald Sutherland
Release Date: 2h 10m
Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
Rated PG-13 for violence, disaster action, strong language, and some drug use
Runtime:2h 10m
Review:
Roland Emmerich's latest sci-fi disaster film is a campy busy mess of a film that never embraces it's overall absurdity and just have fun with it. Emmerich's film feels more like a relic from the early 2000s with it's tired redemption arches and shoehorned product placement. Halle Berry, Patrick Wilson and John Bradley do the majority of the heavy lifting with the main story thread. Patrick Wilson does the best he can with the material but at least he doesn't phone it in like Halle Berry who looks like she's just a collecting a paycheck here. John Bradley is likeable as the conspiracy nerd and he seems to be the only one who's having a good time. A secondary story thread drags the entire film down with a pointless earthbound subplot dealing with the leads kids and some overly persistent thieves. That subplot is as ludicrous as it is boring and could probably have been excised from the film altogether and streamlined the story. A third act reveal is a goofy fun but thematically interesting even if the movie doesn't explore it in any sort of depth. Moonfall is the type of film that will run on cable endlessly which will make for perfect background noise.
A legendary rivalry reemerges when Jerry
moves into New York
City's finest
hotel on the eve of the wedding of the century, forcing the desperate event
planner to hire Tom to get rid of him. As mayhem ensues, the escalating cat-and-mouse
battle soon threatens to destroy her career, the wedding, and possibly the
hotel itself.
Director: Tim Story
Cast: Chloë Grace Moretz, Michael Peña,
Colin Jost, Rob Delaney, and Ken Jeong, Nicky Jam, Bobby Cannavale, Lil Rel Howery, William Hanna, Mel Blanc,
June Foray, Frank Welker
Release Date: February 26, 2021
Genre: Animation, Adventure, Comedy
Rated PG for cartoon violence, rude humor
and brief language
Runtime: 1 h 41 min
Review:
Tom and Jerry is very much a throwback on
multiple levels. The titular pair are
some of the most iconic characters in the history of animation with this being
the second outing on the big screen.
It’s not the mess that the 1992 film but still scattershot and uneven
for its runtime. The live action hybrid
works fairly well even though there are multiple times that you can tell the
cast is reacting to air or placeholders.
Its still a very impressive feat on a technical level and the animations
looks wonderfully fluid. It’s hard to
watch this without getting some Who Framed Roger Rabbit vibes in spots with a
more family friendly approach. The story
and direction are harmlessly broad for the most part but there are bits of
edge, some of which works well while others fall flat. Tom and Jerry mostly stay true to their
classic iterations which is a win for people who remember the classic
shorts. The human cast is solid if bland
with Chloë Grace Moretz carrying the larger portion of the film, Moretz is a
talented actress but her delivery here feels a little wooden and
uninspired. Her character never really connects
as a fully formed entity but just a vessel to move the story along. Michael Peña likewise doesn’t feel as
naturalistic as he usually does which leads me to be believe that there might
be a disconnect between the live actors and their animated counter parts. As such, we are left with an overlong film
that works in spots but lulls in others.
Tim Story’s film would have benefited from trimming but overall it’s a
solid mindless family film that’ll keep most kids entertained.
Broke, alone and facing foreclosure on his
business, Earl Stone takes a job as a drug courier for a Mexican cartel. His
immediate success leads to easy money and a larger shipment that soon draws the
attention of hard-charging DEA agent Colin Bates. When Earl's past mistakes
start to weigh heavily on his conscience, he must decide whether to right those
wrongs before law enforcement and cartel thugs catch up to him.
Director: Clint Eastwood
Cast: Bradley Cooper, Laurence Fishburne,
Michael Peña, Dianne Wiest, Andy García
Release Date: December 14, 2018
Genres: Crime, Drama, Mystery
Rated R for language throughout and brief
sexuality/nudity Runtime: 1h 56 min
Review:
The Mule is surprisingly funny, occasionally
reflective entry into Clint Eastwood’s resume.Eastwood’s film is impressive for its measured approach at making an
unlikable character incredibly likeable.Eastwood can be credited for this since he’s the star and director.His performance is heavy on grandpa-ism which
makes Earl Stone easy to like.There are
a few odd moments in the film where you get the feeling that Eastwood is trying
to say something about race but he never really commits to that thread.As a self reflective film, you get the sense
that this subject matter hits close to home for him.So much so that he beats you over the head
with the “family is what matters” message.Still the film offers a bevy of strong performances from Eastwood and
his supporting cast even if the story itself is a bit simplistic.
Scott Lang is grappling with the
consequences of his choices as both a superhero and a father. Approached by
Hope van Dyne and Dr. Hank Pym, Lang must once again don the Ant-Man suit and
fight alongside the Wasp. The urgent mission soon leads to secret revelations
from the past as the dynamic duo finds itself in an epic battle against a
powerful new enemy.
Director: Peyton Reed
Cast: Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, Michael
Peña, Walton Goggins, Bobby Cannavale, Judy Greer, Tip "T.I." Harris,
Hannah John-Kamen, Abby Ryder Fortson, Randall Park, Michelle Pfeiffer,
Laurence Fishburne, Michael Douglas
Release Date: June 8, 2018
Genres: Action, Comedy, Crime
Rated PG-13 for language, drug use, and some
suggestive content Runtime: 1h 50min
Review:
Ant-man and The Wasp is an interesting
pallet cleanser after Avengers Infinity War.Its scale is markedly smaller which should come as no surprise since
it’d be hard to top the scale of Infinity War.As such, Peyton Reed delivers a fun film that’s fun but ultimately feels
inconsequential.It’s a strange
juxtaposition simply because it’s an enjoyable film that’s carried by the
cast’s endless charisma but it doesn’t really add up to much.Paul Rudd does his dead pan Paul Rudd deal
which is always fun but the film’s really boosted by Evangeline Lilly taking a
more active role in this entry.Lilly
and her perpetually rosy cheeks give the film a nice boost of energy with her
character fitting right in with Rudd’s Ant-man.Michael Peña and Walton Goggins are both solid in supporting roles, each
providing real highlights during the film.Sadly, Michelle Pfeiffer appearance is more of a cameo than anything
else.I’d have enjoyed a bit more of her
and Michael Douglas as opposed having her character essentially serve as the
film’s Mcguffin.Still, Peyton Reed
directs a fun little film that’s has some inventive action sequences and laughs
to boot.It’s not one of the best Marvel
films but it’s a solid entry.
The battle for NINJAGOCity
calls to action young Master Builder Lloyd, aka the Green Ninja, along with his
friends, also secret ninja warriors. Led by Master Wu, as wise-cracking as he
is wise, they must defeat the evil warlord Garmadon, who also happens to be
Lloyd's dad. Pitting father against son, the epic showdown
tests these fierce but undisciplined modern-day ninjas as they learn to check
their egos and pull together to unleash the inner power of Spinjitzu.
Director: Charlie Bean, Bob Logan, Paul Fisher
Cast: Jackie Chan, Dave
Franco, Michael Peña, Fred Armisen, Abbi Jacobson, Justin Theroux, Kumail
Nanjiani
Rated PG for some mild
action and rude humor
Genres: Animation,
Family, Comedy
Review:
The LEGO Ninjago Movie is
a fine addition to the blossoming franchise even if the sheen is starting to
wear off just a tad.The movie is full
of all the pop culture references and self aware humor we’ve seen in previous
installments.The best thing this film
has going is Jackie Chan.Jackie Chan
shows up in the opening and closing but supplies the film with its heart Master
Wu.Justin Theroux is a lot of fun as
the villain even if he’s just doing a Will Arnett impression throughout.Theroux and Dave Franco have fun chemistry in
the second half of the film.The main
issue with the film is that the plot and overall story seems hacked
together.The story lacks any sort of
real flow even though there are still lots of like here.That probably speaks to the general fun in
the franchise, where even a lesser entry still delivers.
Dearest Blog: Yesterday it was off to the pictures for a promising pair, Sicario and The Martian.
Spoiler level here will be mild, nothing you wouldn't know from the trailers.
First on my agenda: Sicario.
A tactical specialist for the FBI is recruited for a multi-agency operation targeting a drug kingpin.
Dear Reader(s), I was a HUGE fan of the TV series The Bridge, so when I started seeing trailers for Sicario, I thought, "The Bridge on the big screen, with a li'l Josh Brolin stirred in for good measure? SIGN ME UP!" The movie does have its twists, but it definitely includes all the "law vs. cartel" aspects you'd expect, too.
To wit: It will surprise exactly no one that a film about running down a cartel boss is not for the faint-hearted. Sicario is brutal, and it does not flinch in its presentation of violence and gore, though torture is mercifully more implied than explicitly shown. It's all about ugliness, with the occasional surprisingly pretty moment. In a world of dirt and shacks, suddenly there's a silhouette framed against a stunning sunset, a frame of breathtaking beauty. Emily Blunt is fantastic in the lead, a competent, confident woman who lands in a situation she doesn't fully understand and can't control. For the second time in as many weeks, Josh Brolin turns up as a vaguely obnoxious guy that you'll kinda like anyway, and Benicio Del Toro all-but steals the show. The proceedings are accompanied by a menacing, magnificent score (composed by Johann Johannsson) that perfectly enhances the movie's tense tone. There are many moving pieces in Sicario, but, at almost an even two hours, it never feels muddled, slow, or long.
Sicario clocks in at 121 minutes, and is rated R for "strong violence, grisly images, and language."
I anticipated greatness from Sicario, and I'm pleased to report it exceeded my expectations.
Of a possible nine Weasleys, Sicario gets eight.
Next up: Ridley Scott's The Martian.
A space mishap leaves a presumed-dead astronaut alive and alone on Mars.
Box office reports indicate that, if you went to the movies this weekend, you probably saw The Martian. And you loved it, didn't you? Seems everyone did. Well, almost everyone...
First, the positives: The Martian is a great story, and very well acted. A strong supporting cast is uniformly solid, but it's essentially up to Matt Damon to ensure you aren't rooting against astronaut Mark Watney's rescue. Damon does a fine job; he's believably smart, funny, and likable, yet also beautifully plays those moments of despair bound to beset a person in his situation. It's worth noting that, for all the movie's meant to be taken seriously, it does not hesitate to get a shirtless Matt Damon onscreen as early and as often as possible. There's a shortage of Sebastian Stan (would you even believe I wrote this if I didn't say it?), but it's nice to see Stan, an excellent actor in his own right, in something worth watching. I'm a long-standing Stan Fan, but outside Marvel projects, I'm pretty sure he hasn't done a decent movie or show since the short-lived NBC series Kings. The Martian's effects are big and sweeping, not in the same universe (see what I did there?) as the visual magnificence of Interstellar, but certainly worth seeing on the big screen. It's played for laughs, but there's also a proper disco-stompin' soundtrack that'll leave you humming ABBA's Waterloo for the next week or so.
The negatives? Despite all that, The Martian is pretty boring for pretty frequent and pretty significant stretches. You've no reason to care whether anyone outside of Watney lives or dies. The off-Mars sequences at NASA are actually far more interesting and entertaining than the movie's galactic bread and butter. If we're being honest, I looked at the clock a LOT and was fidgetingly anxious to wrap it up before the movie's halfway point.
The Martian runs an excessive 141 minutes, and is rated PG13 for "some strong language, injury images, and brief nudity."
It's a good movie, maybe even a great movie, but on the heels of Sicario,
During a manned mission to Mars, Astronaut Mark Watney (Matt Damon) is
presumed dead after a fierce storm and left behind by his crew. But Watney has
survived and finds himself stranded and alone on the hostile planet. With only
meager supplies, he must draw upon his ingenuity, wit and spirit to subsist and
find a way to signal to Earth that he is alive. Millions of miles away, NASA
and a team of international scientists work tirelessly to bring “the Martian”
home, while his crewmates concurrently plot a daring, if not impossible, rescue
mission. As these stories of incredible bravery unfold, the world comes
together to root for Watney’s safe return. Based on a best-selling novel, and
helmed by master director Ridley Scott, THE MARTIAN features a star studded
cast that includes Jessica Chastain, Kristen Wiig, Kate Mara, Michael Pena,
Jeff Daniels, Chiwetel Ejiofor, and Donald Glover.
Director: Ridley Scott
Cast: Matt Damon, Jessica Chastain, Kristen Wiig, Jeff
Daniels, Michael Peña.
Release Date: Oct
02, 2015
Rated PG-13 for Injury Images, Brief Nudity and Some
Strong Language
Runtime: 2 hr. 22 min.
Genres: Action/Adventure
Review:
Ridley Scott’s The Martian is a welcome return to form
for the acclaimed director.The film is
a visually stunning and thoroughly engaging story of survival.It’s an impressive achievement since it the
type of film that focuses on a single character.The story can be described as a mixture of
Castaway and Gravity sans manufactured sentimentality.The man at the center of the film is Matt
Damon’s Mark Watney.Damon’s performance
is impressive because it steers clear of the typical tropes we’ve seen
previously, keeping the performance rational and fresh.Damon dominates the first half of the film
and it’s to the film’s benefit.The
story starts to falter just a bit when it loses focus on Damon and starts
throwing a myriad of supporting characters some of which are more distracting
than interesting…..Kristin Wiig & Donald Glover immediately come to
mind.I would have preferred more
characterization on Watney’s crew which gets the short end of the stick.Minor quibbles aside; The Martian is a
thoroughly enjoyable survival story which earns the most of its 2 hours plus
run time.
Dearest Blog, today it was off to the pictures to wage war with Brad Pitt's Fury.
Spoiler level here will be mild, nothing you wouldn't know from the trailers.
As World War II draws to a close, an outmatched US tank crew undertakes a dangerous mission.
Well,
dear reader(s), I'll be straight with you: my interest in Fury can best
be described as "at least it's not that Nicholas Sparks thing." It
looks like my kind of movie, and the cast is (mostly) terrific, but for
some reason the trailers did nothing to excite me. Figuring I'm gonna
need this one come awards time, though, I set out today hoping to be
pleasantly surprised.
Fury is being lauded as an honest look at
war, and that may well be, but it's otherwise a total dud.
The
characters are broadly drawn caricatures, and the dialogue is so badly
written it might as well be Twilight. Every incident, every encounter,
every happening is more predictable than the last, straight out of the
tear-your-heart-out War Movie Playbook.
The cast actually IS mostly
solid and can't be faulted for the film's failings, with the notable
exception of Shia LeBeouf.
A great actor inhabits a character so you
forget whatever you might know of him, personally, but LeBeouf is so
profoundly unlikable that whatever acting skill he possesses is nowhere
near up to that task. Even Brad Pitt seems somehow diminished, following
so quickly on the heels of Robert Downey, Jr.'s and Denzel Washington's
most recent starring turns.
If Fury gets credit for putting the horrors
of war on up-close-and-personal display, it also has to take the blame
for dawdling overlong on just about everything, resulting in an
excessive runtime that could and should have been trimmed by at least 20
minutes. If this mess makes a ripple come awards season, I shall fail
to feel even the tiniest bit of shame for keeping I, Frankenstein on my
year-end top ten list!
Fury clocks in at 134 minutes and is rated R
for "strong sequences of war violence, some grisly images, and language
throughout."
I never go into a movie set on hating it, and
honestly expected to come out of Fury impressed despite myself, Instead,
the only fury to be had was my own, for seven bucks and two hours I
can't get back.
David Ayer's End of Watch stars Michael Peña and Jake Gyllenhaal as a pair of L.A. cops and close friends who work to keep the streets safe. Shot in a found-footage style, the movie follows the duo as they make enemies with a major drug cartel and attempt to lead happy personal lives. ~ Perry Seibert, Rovi
Director: David Ayer
Cast: Jake Gyllenhaal, Michael Peña, Anna Kendrick, Frank Grillo, America Ferrera.
Release Date: Sep 21, 2012
Rated R for sexual References, Pervasive Language, Some Disturbing Images, Some Drug
Use and Strong Violence
Runtime: 1 hr. 49 min.
Genres: Drama
Review:
End of Watch is an aggressive film which feels like a cop version of into The Heart of Darkness. David Ayers uses a lot of filming techniques to get give his film a crazy kind of energy that makes the more mundane parts of the film seem less so. His style works for the most part but occasionally it’s more distracting than it needs to be, detracting from the quality of the story and excellent performances on display. Jake Gyllenhaal and Michael Peña have some of the best chemistry I’ve seen in ages in this type of film. Each works off each other extremely well. Their performances have a tangible and believable sense of authenticity throughout. It’s the best performance from both in a long while. They are the heart and soul of the film, creating an impressive connection with the audience even as the story gets more and more extreme, occasionally veering into implausibility. The supporting cast fills out the character’s world well, adding to the film’s overall quality and compounding the emotional punch the climax delivers.
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Movie Reviews: OBSERVE AND REPORT
IN THEATERS
OBSERVE AND REPORT
As head of security at the Forest Ridge Mall, Ronnie Barnhardt (Seth Rogen) takes his job very seriously, enforcing mall rules with an iron fist. When a flasher strikes Forest Ridge, Ronnie sees a chance to display his unappreciated cop skills and bring the felon to justice, and, at the same time, impress his dream girl (Anna Faris) and win a coveted spot at the police academy.
Cast: Seth Rogen, Ray Liotta, Michael Peña, Anna Faris, Dan Bakkedahl
Director: Jody Hill
Opened .April 10, 2009
Runtime: 1 hr. 26 min.
Rated R for sexual content, violence, pervasive language, graphic nudity and drug use.
Genres: Black Comedy, Comedy
Review:
If you are going into Observe and Report expecting to see the same Seth Rogan you’ve seen in his Judd Apatow films you’ll be sorely disappointed here. Observe and Report is about as non mainstream as comedy come. Director Writer Jody Hill pushes his film near or over every boundary and isn’t afraid to test the audiences, a long full frontal flasher scene comes to mind, and prod them to see how much we can take. This film is funny but not in the way you’d expect from the advertising. It’s the darkest kind of humor mixed with some truly brutal set pieces that are as funny as they are brutal. Seth Rogan totally breaks from his usual lovable loser shtick and gives Ronnie a complexity and depth that’s shockingly impressive. He shows the type of range that I didn’t know he was capable of and makes me think that if this would have been a straight drama it could have been a kid brother to Taxi Driver. Ronnie is a sad even pathetic individual whose delusions of grandeur are incredibly out of reach. Anna Faris also delivers a slightly off kilter performance, her character isn’t the sweet lovable bimbo from The House Bunny. Instead she’s fairly despicable self centered individual who’s as vapid as she is vain. Ray Liotta is effective as the detective who butts heads with Ronnie while working on the flasher case. Michael Peña is memorable as Ronnie’s right hand man who works his perm as well as his lisp. Veteran actress Celia Weston does fine work her in a small role as Ronnie’s boozy yet sweet mother. Aziz Ansari also has a small but memorable role as a mall vendor whose has a slight dislike for Ronnie. Most of these characters are just horrible or unbalanced individuals; Collette Wolfe’s Nell, who’s smitten with an oblivious Ronnie, is sweet and lovable. Jody Hill’s direction is sharp and aggressive, keeping the eye interested in what’s occurring even in some of the most mundane sequences. There’s a sharp shift from humor to sadness that borders on poignant. It’s the type of film that keeps you off balance and unsure of what to expect from one moment to the next. Observe and Report is a daring follow up to Jody Hill’s first film, The Foot Fist Way, and one that might surprise and shock a lot of people.
