MOVIE REVIEW: THE BEEKEEPER

 

One man's brutal campaign for vengeance takes on national stakes after it's revealed he's a former operative of a powerful and clandestine organization known as Beekeepers.

Director: David Ayer

Cast: Jason Statham, Emmy Raver-Lampman, Josh Hutcherson, Bobby Naderi, Minnie Driver, Phylicia Rashad, Jeremy Irons

Release Date: January 12, 2024

Genre: Action, Thriller

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

Runtime: 1h 45m

Review:

The Beekeeper is a lean, 80's style action film that's solely concerned with delivering mindless mayhem via a perfectly cast Jason Statham.  David Ayer's film waste very little time with set up before he unleashes Statham on his rampage of revenge.  The script doesn't concern itself much with too much backstory with the majority of the background of Statham's character being relayed via exposition dumps provided by a rather game Jeremy Irons.  Statham is perfectly in his element with the film asking him to maintain a steely determined gaze while he plows through an endless barrage of adversaries while never breaking a sweat.  Its all rather ridiculous but undeniably entertaining at the same time.  What makes it work as well as it does is the fact that Ayer and his cast know exactly what kind of film they are making and they go all in with rather impressive gusto.  The supporting cast is populated with a handful of familiar faces such Minnie Driver, Phylicia Rashad and Jeremy Irons with the latter getting the most substantial role.  Josh Hutcherson gets the role of the main villain, a pampered trust fund tech baby, and he's clearly relishing the chance to play against type as he chews up scenery every time his character gets on screen.  Emmy Raver-Lampman and Bobby Naderi have a fun buddy cop chemistry going as FBI agents on Statham's tail.  These performance all come together to make The Beekeeper the kind of film that doesn't ask much of you but to sit back and enjoy.

B

MOVIE REVIEW: CREED III

 

Still dominating the boxing world, Adonis Creed is thriving in his career and family life. When Damian, a childhood friend and former boxing prodigy resurfaces after serving time in prison, he's eager to prove that he deserves his shot in the ring. The face-off between former friends is more than just a fight. To settle the score, Adonis must put his future on the line to battle Damian -- a fighter who has nothing to lose.

Director: Michael B. Jordan

Cast: Michael B. Jordan, Tessa Thompson, Jonathan Majors, Wood Harris, Florian Munteanu, Phylicia Rashad

Release Date: March 3, 2023

Genre: Drama, Sport

Rated PG-13 for intense sports action, violence and some strong language.

Runtime: 1h 56m

Review:

Creed III is an energetic passing of the torch from Sylvester Stallone to Michael B. Jordan as he moves front and center in the franchise. Jordan takes the reins in the director's chair and shows off an impressive eye throughout.  His direction gives the film a tangible sense of immediacy and energy that makes Stallone's absence almost an afterthought.  Jordan guides the film with a self assured confidence that's readily apparent and engaging from the start which makes this work far better than it should.  The plot also offers an interesting twist on the usual formula by delivering an antagonist who plays like Mike Tyson by way of Cape Fear.  Jonathan Majors plays the role with a simmering anger and resentment lingering under his smiles and brutish physique.  Majors is able to give the character far more depth and pathos than what's written on the page and in doing so makes him the most interesting performer onscreen.  That's not to take away anything from Michael B. Jordan who delivers a more season take on his character in this third round.  The film pops when they both share the screen with a special kind of energy that's a product of their chemistry together.  Their energy is strong enough that it nearly drowns out the supporting players with Tessa Thompson being the only one who leaves a noticeable mark with a measured and loving turn.  Ultimately, it's a showcase for its two stars as the story runs through a variety of themes in its run up to the final showdown.  There are still the usual tropes as we get a rather rousing training montage and expertly crafted fight sequences which convey the ferocity of the matches.  Jordan does use a few flourishes during the final sequence to deliver something different, almost mystical as a chance of pace.  Creed III is a solid display filmmaking especially since it makes you overlook the fact that everything plays out in an entirely predictable manner and ties it up with a particularly tidy bow.

B+

MOVIE REVIEW: SOUL

 

Joe is a middle-school band teacher whose life hasn't quite gone the way he expected. His true passion is jazz -- and he's good. But when he travels to another realm to help someone find their passion, he soon discovers what it means to have soul.

Director: Pete Docter

Cast: Jamie Foxx, Tina Fey, Graham Norton, Rachel House, Alice Braga, Richard Ayoade, Phylicia Rashad, Donnell Rawlings, Questlove, Angela Bassett

Release Date: December 25, 2020

Genre: Animation, Adventure, Comedy 

Rated PG for thematic elements and some language

Runtime: 1 h 40 min

Review:

Pixar's latest Soul pushes the boundaries of abstraction and metaphysical meditation especially for what's considered a kids movie.  Pete Docter, who directed the equally abstract Inside Out, delivers a beautiful film, each frame is visually dense and detailed whether it occurs in the real world or on the astral plane.  The story's meditation on what makes life worth living is an interesting subject to tackle for a children's film and the story never dumbs it down.  As such, a bevy of references will fly right over smaller children's heads but the candy colored afterlife which is populated by abstract Picasso like overseers and adorable newborn souls puffs will offer plenty to keeps kids interested.  Throw in a fun bit of body swapping comedy in the middle act which should give them lots to enjoy even if the larger themes seemed aimed at their middle aged parents.  Those themes are handled with great care and consideration which the film brings to a thoughtful conclusion.  The voice cast is excellent across the board with Jamie Foxx & Tina Fey doing the largest part of the heavy lifting. They share a good rapport together which shines throughout the film.  The supporting cast of is made up of excellent actors and actress such Richard Ayoade, Phylicia Rashad and Angela Bassett which each leaving their mark with their distinctive tenors.  Soul is a heady film that will probably linger with the adults longer than the children they see it with, it's a testament to the kind of storytelling that Pixar can pull off as they continue to push the envelope as to what these type "kids" movies can be.   

A-

Cindy Prascik's Review of Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey

 

My dear reader(s): 2020 being devoid of joy as it has, one can forgive Netflix for jumping the gun a bit on the Christmas cheer. Last weekend I checked out their original holiday offering, Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey.

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

After the world's most magical inventor is betrayed by his protege, it's up to his equally magical granddaughter to help him get back his mojo.

Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey is a joyful delight from start to finish. Academy Award winner Forest Whittaker leads a noteworthy cast that includes Phylicia Rashad, Hugh Bonneville, Anika Noni Rose, and Ricky Martin. As the story's big baddie, Keegan-Michael Key steals the show, and the movie is notably more entertaining when he's onscreen than when he's not. It drags *just* enough in the middle to suggest a trim of its two-plus hours might have been in order, but that's a small quibble with what's otherwise a lively adventure filled with catchy tunes, brilliant costumes, lovely animation, and funky choreography. 

Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey runs 122 minutes and is rated PG for "some thematic elements and peril."

Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey is an entertaining, uplifting bit of holiday fare that's sure to become a Christmas classic. Of a possible nine Weasleys, Jingle Jangle gets seven and a half.

Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey is now streaming on Netflix.

Wishing a happy and safe Thanksgiving to those dear reader(s) who are celebrating!

Until next time...

MOVIE REVIEW: CREED 2

In 1985, Russian boxer Ivan Drago killed former U.S. champion Apollo Creed in a tragic match that stunned the world. Against the wishes of trainer Rocky Balboa, Apollo's son Adonis Johnson accepts a challenge from Drago's son -- another dangerous fighter. Under guidance from Rocky, Adonis trains for the showdown of his life -- a date with destiny that soon becomes his obsession. Now, Johnson and Balboa must confront their shared legacy as the past comes back to haunt each man.

Director: Steven Caple Jr.

Cast: Michael B. Jordan, Sylvester Stallone, Tessa Thompson, Dolph Lundgren, Florian Munteanu, Wood Harris, Russell Hornsby, Andre Ward, Phylicia Rashad

Release Date: November 21, 2018

Genres: Drama, Sport

Rated PG-13 for sports action violence, language, and a scene of sensuality

Runtime: 2h 10 min

Review:

Creed 2 is a well acted and directed sequel that delivers what people expect from the Rocky films even though there’s a strict adherence to the tired and true tropes and beats.  Steven Caple Jr. does solid work stepping in for Ryan Coogler who brought the franchise back to life.  Caple Jr. gives his film enough artful touches to give it a distinctive feel which makes some of the more predictable moments easier to sit through.  The biggest thing this sequel has going for it is its cast lead by the incredibly charismatic Michael B. Jordan.  Jordan’s profile has risen quiet a bit since the first film came out and it’s well earned.  He feels much more comfortable in the roles and explores other aspects of the character’s psyche.  Tessa Thompson is just as comfortable this go around which leaves us with an incredibly watchable on screen couple.  The heart and soul of these films is still Sylvester Stallone this remains true here even though his role is limited.  Bringing back one of Rocky’s most iconic adversaries could have been a major misstep but luckily it’s handled nicely.  It’s an interesting turn that expands on what was, and still is, a cartoonish type of character.  Some of the Drago story threads still come off as a bit silly but the story really does an impressive job of adding some interesting depth to Drago.  Creed 2 isn’t quiet as impressive as Creed but it more than holds its own in the Rocky ring.

B

MOVIE REVIEW: CREED

Adonis Johnson (Michael B. Jordan) never knew his famous father, world heavyweight champion Apollo Creed, who died before he was born. Still, there’s no denying that boxing is in his blood, so Adonis heads to Philadelphia, the site of Apollo Creed’s legendary match with a tough upstart named Rocky Balboa. Once in the City of Brotherly Love, Adonis tracks Rocky (Sylvester Stallone) down and asks him to be his trainer. Despite his insistence that he is out of the fight game for good, Rocky sees in Adonis the strength and determination he had known in Apollo—the fierce rival who became his closest friend. Agreeing to take him on, Rocky trains the young fighter, even as the former champ is battling an opponent more deadly than any he faced in the ring. With Rocky in his corner, it isn’t long before Adonis gets his own shot at the title...but can he develop not only the drive but also the heart of a true fighter, in time to get into the ring?

Director: Ryan Coogler

Cast: Sylvester Stallone, Michael B. Jordan, Tessa Thompson, Phylicia Rashad, Ritchie Coster

Release Date: Nov 25, 2015

Rated PG-13 Violence, Some Sensuality and Language

Runtime: 2 hr. 13 min.

Genres: Drama

Review:

Ryan Coogler’s Creed is one of the rare sports films that works for an actual sports fan.  It’s structure is very similar to the past Rocky movies and there isn’t much surprise about what goes down during it’s somewhat extended runtime.  Still it works on various levels because of some excellent direction and strong performances from Michael B. Jordan and Sylvester Stallone.  Coogler pulls off an effective redux of the original Rocky story that’s engaging enough to keep everyone engaged throughout.  It’s clear that Coogler is a big fan of the original film and it come through the screen.  Michael B. Jordan is focused and believable as the upcoming boxing trying to make a name for himself.  The real surprise though is Stallone who delivers one of his best performances in years.  It’s been so long since Stallone has fallen into a parody of himself that it’s easy to forget that he was a capable actor at one point.  Stallone’s work is heartfelt and reflective.  He and Jordan share some solid chemistry together making it easy to care about their journey.  Creed isn’t a perfect film though.  The structure is very well worn and characters seem to appear and disappear regularly with Phylicia Rashad left acting alone reacting to a TV.  Its far from a fatal flaw but it does feel like a missed opportunity to expand on certain relationships and characters.  As a boxing fan, nothing takes me out of a film quicker than staged fights that instantly feel inauthentic.  It’s a difficult thing to pull off because of the nature of the sport but Creed does an excellent job of pulling off the illusion for the most part, there’s rarely that much chatting between rounds from the fighters.  As a whole though, Creed finds the essence of the original film which isn’t a small feat considering this is 7^th entry in the long running franchise.  

B