Barry Seal, a TWA pilot, is
recruited by the CIA to provide reconnaissance on the burgeoning communist
threat in Central America and soon finds himself in charge of one of the
biggest covert CIA operations in the history of the United States. The operation spawns the birth of the Medellin cartel and almost brings down the
Reagan White House.
Director: Doug Liman
Cast: Tom Cruise, Sarah Wright, Domhnall
Gleeson, Jayma Mays, Jesse Plemons
Release Date: Sept 29, 2017
Genres: Action, Adventure
Rated R for language throughout and some
sexuality/nudity
Review:
American Made, the second collaboration between
Doug Linman and Tom Cruise, is a fun fast paced quasi docudramedy.Linman delivers a fizzy if somewhat light
hearted take on Barry Seal’s crazy story.Tom Cruise is front and center throughout and he’s clearly having a
great time in the role.Sporting a
barely convincing southern accent, Cruise is still great.He’s the driving force of the movie
throughout, so your enjoyment of the film will depend on how much you like
Cruise.Personally, I think it’s one of
best performances in a good while.The
character is incredibly compromised and not nearly as smart as he thinks he is,
so it’s a bit of a change of pace for Cruise and it works well for him and the
film.The supporting cast is a bit under
developed and I would have liked to know a bit more about Domhnall Gleeson’s
shady CIA character but it’s not a massive misstep.A tad bit of trimming towards the end would
have helped but as is it’s a strong showcase for Cruise and Liman.
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: Today it was off to Marquee Cinemas for Flatliners and American Made.
Spoiler level here will be mild, nothing you wouldn't know from the trailers.
First on the docket: Flatliners.
A group of med students experiments with death.
The original Flatliners is a disturbing exercise that leaves an unsettled hangover long after the picture ends. Its perfect cast, gloomy atmosphere, and graveyard humor make it a classic I never mind revisiting. The new Flatliners is a sloppy collection of paper-doll characters, cringe-worthy dialogue, and jump scares...and, oh, James Norton...you deserve so much better! While the remake's premise is basically the same as the original's, it's hard to muster any interest in this unsympathetic group of newcomers. Jump scares are plentiful but far too easy to anticipate, and the "flatline" experiences look a lot like low-rent haunted attractions. Because things weren't going poorly enough, filmmakers also shoehorned in a couple ill-conceived sexual interludes. Lacking any of the original's humor, Flatliners seems to drag despite clocking in well under two hours, building to one of the more eye-rolling endings in recent memory. Among the few positives, James Norton and Diego Luna are both more than watchable, and a couple callbacks to 1990's Flatliners offer a welcome bit of nostalgia. I've heard some folks say this remake wasn't "necessary," but a thing doesn't have to be necessary to be fun, entertaining, or even worthwhile. Sadly, 2017's Flatliners is none of that, either.
Flatliners runs 110 minutes and is rated R for "violence and terror, sexual content, language, thematic material, and some drug references."
While I'm not normally opposed to films being remade--even films I love dearly--I kinda wish they'd left this one alone. Of a possible nine Weasleys, Flatliners gets two.
Next on my agenda, American Made.
An airline pilot is pressed into some shady dealings by the CIA.
American Made sells like an action-comedy in its trailers, so viewers might be excused for forgetting its story is serious as a heart attack and likely to end badly for anyone it makes you care about. The picture is a Tom Cruise vehicle through and through, and Cruise carries it with his usual ease. If you're having a hard time forgiving him for The Mummy, maybe this is a better reminder of how masterful he is in even sub-par projects. The suddenly-ubiquitous Domhnall Gleeson is also brilliant as the CIA mentor who drags Cruise's character into all the hot water. Now...for the hard part. I can't say I didn't like American Made, and I can't say I did. It's action packed, yet somehow I was bored. The supporting cast isn't standout like Cruise and Gleeson, but there are plenty of fine performances to go around. It could have used a small trim, but it's not really all that long. While the tale is no doubt embellished for the big screen, the film remains a sobering reminder of what's considered "acceptable" when you're doing it for the "good guys" (and as long as nobody finds out). And, yes, it *is* quite funny at times. So...where, exactly, does American Made go wrong? I honestly can't say, I can only say that it does, and thus is nowhere near the thrill-ride you'd expect from its trailer.
American Made clocks in at 115 minutes and is rated R for "language throughout and some sexuality/nudity." (Anybody else find it weird that a film about a cartel doesn't get a certification for drug content?)
American Made is a passable way to spend a couple hours, easily digested and easily forgotten.
Of a possible nine Weasleys, American Made gets five.* (*Includes one bonus Weasley for having an actual Weasley in the cast.)
“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 HalleBerry 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.
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!
A couple's relationship is
tested when uninvited guests arrive at their home, disrupting their tranquil
existence. From filmmaker Darren Aronofsky (Black Swan, Requiem for a Dream),
mother! stars Jennifer Lawrence, Javier Bardem, Ed Harris and Michelle Pfeiffer
in this riveting psychological thriller about love, devotion
and sacrifice.'.
Director: Darren Aronofsky
Cast: Jennifer Lawrence, Javier Bardem, Ed
Harris, Michelle Pfeiffer
Release Date: Sept 15, 2017
Genres: Drama, Horror
Rated R for strong disturbing violent
content, some sexuality, nudity and language
Review:
Darren Aronofsky’s Mother! is sure to be a
divisive film especially anybody who goes in expecting a straight up horror
film.It’s anything but a straight up horror
film.Aronofsky’s film is pretentious
arthouse fodder that doesn’t tell a straight forward story.If anything it’s an extended allegory, about climate
change or the creative process depending on your point of view, which works
more often than not once you wrap your mind around what’s going on.It’s a visually impressive film that leads
you down the rabbit holes subtly at first until it pulls the rug out from under
your feet.Jennifer Lawrence is front
and center throughout and she does a fine job in the role even if it’s not her
best work.It’s not really her fault
though as the film seems a bit restrictive due to its nature.Bardem suffers a similar fate but they both give
the film a strong energy that centers it’s.Mother! is a self important piece that’s undeniably pretentious but
that’s not to say it’s an impressive cinematic feat.
Dearest Blog: Yesterday it was off to Marquee Cinemas for the first big-screen stab at Stephen King's It.
Spoiler level here will be mild, nothing you wouldn't know or have guessed from the trailers.
A group of young outcasts faces off with an ancient evil that haunts their town.
Disclaimers: While I am a fan of both the book and the original TV mini-series adaptation of It, I'm many moons removed from revisiting either, so you'll find little by way of comparison here. Also, for the record, I like clowns.
Regular reader(s) may recall I don't have much love for modern horror. Mostly I find it a series of cheap startles and gross outs. I have four cats, so I needn't pay for either; I can step out of bed into a hairball any o'l time. It has a fair bit of blood and guts and some of the effects are lame enough they could be right out of the film's late-80s setting, but it is much more than just a horror movie.
As with the earlier TV version, 2017's It has an air of melancholy that reaches to the very depths of the story, the town, and the characters. It's not just about missing children; it's about an unhappy home life and not fitting in and, from an adult standpoint, those childhood connections that invariably fade and disappear with time. The movie's visual tone beautifully conveys the uneasy mood, along with some legitimately great acting by the young principals. It's a common complaint of mine that kid actors, even when they're good, are generally "good for kid actors," but these kids are GOOD, and that's to a person, not one weak link. As for Pennywise himself, filmmakers have worked to make him as horrific as possible, but the frights are mostly down to to timing, makeup, and effects rather than to Bill Skarsgard's performance. (Editorial note: Incessant drooling is not scary and I'm not a fan.) It is smartly-crafted enough to more than make up for any small complaints, though, a suspenseful thriller highlighted by outstanding performances and enough gore and jump-scares to keep horror fans happy.
It clocks in at 135 minutes and is rated R for "violence/horror, bloody images, and language."
Send in the clowns! Of a possible nine Weasleys, It gets eight and a half.
Fangirl points: Keep those ears open for pieces of Anthrax' Antisocial and XTC's Dear God!
Seven young outcasts in Derry, Maine, are about to face their worst nightmare -- an
ancient, shape-shifting evil that emerges from the sewer every 27 years to prey
on the town's children. Banding together over the course of one horrifying
summer, the friends must overcome their own personal fears to
battle the murderous, bloodthirsty clown known as Pennywise.
Director: Andy Muschietti
Cast: Bill Skarsgård, Jaeden Lieberher, Jeremy
Ray Taylor, Sophia Lillis, Finn Wolfhard, Wyatt Oleff, Chosen Jacobs, Jack Dylan Grazer, Nicholas Hamilton, Jackson Robert Scott
Release Date: Sept 9, 2017
Genres: Drama, Horror
Rated R for violence/horror, bloody images,
and for language
Review:
I’ve been a huge fan of Stephen King for most of my
life.Strangely though 2 of his books
really never connected with me, The Dark Tower series and IT.The latter I tried to make it through before
just giving up.Ultimately, clowns just
never scared me much, I actually like clowns, so maybe the scares never landed
as intended.This new film version
suffers, just a tad, from the same effect.Bill Skarsgård is great
as Pennywise, even though it feels a bit more like old school Freddy Kruger
more often than not, but I was ever really scared throughout the film.That’s not to say it’s a bad film, far from
it, IT just isn’t very scary.That being
said, a big chunk of the credit for the film’s success has to go to director
Andy Muschietti and his preteen cast.Muschietti
directs a well crafted, borrowing bits and pieces from the best King adaptor Frank
Darabont, piece that captures that all important feel of King’s works.There’s a slight Stand by Me feel to the
proceedings even though the film is set in the late 80’s.The cast delivers excellent performances
throughout, making you care about each character’s journey.Jaeden Lieberher and Sophia Lillis in
particular stand out for the authenticity of their performances.IT is an excellent film even if it doesn’t
make you hide under your covers after you see it.
Dearest Blog: Thanks to an extra-long holiday weekend, yesterday I was able to enjoy a Fantastic Friday Double-Feature.
Spoiler level here will be mild, nothing you wouldn't know from the trailers.
First on my agenda, a visit to Marquee Cinemas to see early awards hopeful Wind River.
When a young woman's body is discovered on a Native American Reservation, an FBI agent recruits the local game tracker to assist in the investigation.
Wind River is a somber, inspired-by-true-events tale that sheds some light on a violent reality faced by Native American women, a sad reality-check sold as a movie thriller. The picture is suspenseful and intense, with quiet power underscored by majestic winter scenery. A perfect cast is headed by Jeremy Renner and Elizabeth Olsen, supported by Graham Greene, Julia Jones, The Magnificent 7's Martin Sensmeier, and Gil Birmingham in what may be my favorite performance of the year so far.
There is a profound moment between two grieving fathers that, with zero showboating, is the best thing I've seen at the movies in 2017. (And I spend a lot of moments at the movies, so that's saying something.) Wind River's only fault is that that most of Jeremy Renner is mostly covered by a snowsuit for most of the time. It's worse than when whoever dresses the Avengers decided it was a good idea to put sleeves on Hawkeye. Hrmph.
Wind River runs 107 minutes and is rated R for "strong violence, rape, disturbing images, and language."
Wind River is a smart, moving film that will be on your mind long after you leave the cinema. Of a possible nine Weasleys, Wind River gets eight and a half.
Next on the docket, a home screening of Goon: Last of the Enforcers.
Doug "The Thug" Glatt mounts a comeback amidst mounting challenges on and off the ice.
Like the first Pirates of the Caribbean and Guardians of the Galaxy movies, the original Goon surprised movie-goers by being much more than they expected, a legitimately solid picture that wasn't just good for a comedy or good for a sports movie or good for what you'd expect from the creative team in question. Incapable of duplicating that element of surprise, even a good sequel naturally feels diminished, but I am pleased to report that Goon: Last of the Enforcers still has a great deal going for it.
Getting my petty quibbles out of the way first: Last of the Enforcers is amusing throughout and has moments of hilarity, but the humor is nowhere near as consistent as the original. The movie also goes overboard in its depiction of hockey violence. The best comedy is rooted in reality, and too many liberties are taken here, particularly during the climactic bloodbath. That out of the way, Goon 2 is a funny film that retains all the heart of its predecessor. It's bittersweet catching up with the old crew, several of whom have taken on new roles in the time meant to have passed between pictures. It goes without saying that more Liev Schreiber is always better than less Liev Schreiber, but being a supporting player does nothing to dim his brilliance; his aging tough guy Ross "The Boss" Rhea is again the very best thing about the movie. New characters serve their purpose well enough, but never manage to drum up a fraction of the affection I have for even the most minor players from the first film. Jay Baruchel doubles as director on this outing, so his screen time as Glatt's profanity-spewing best friend is limited, and the brilliant Kim Coates also feels underused. Returning Highlanders, though they probably have no less screen time than the first time 'round, sometimes feel pushed aside for the new guys, but the movie does give each his moment. Perhaps more importantly, it also does a great job of showing how they've grown together as a team. That, coupled with Doug's new life as husband and father-to-be, is really what makes Last of the Enforcers a great sequel that's well worth your movie dollar.
Goon: Last of the Enforcers clocks in at 101 minutes and is rated R for "pervasive language, crude sexual content, and bloody sports violence."
The original Goon was great enough to rob even the best sequel of the element of surprise, but Goon: Last of the Enforcers is a solid comedy with well-played, heartfelt moments that ultimately win the day.
Of a possible nine Weasleys, Goon: Last of the Enforcers gets eight.
Dearest Blog: Yesterday it was off to Flashback Cinema at Marquee Cinemas to revist the Zucker-Abrahams-Zucker classic Airplane! on the big screen.
Here there be spoilers.
It's been 37 years since Airplane! originally blazed its hilarious trail through the cinema. If you're thinking surely I can't be serious, well, I am serious...and don't call me Shirley. That line is one of dozens of iconic Airplane! bits that have become so ubiquitous one might be forgiven for failing to credit the picture for its many contributions to our everyday lexicon. In 1980, the brilliant writing/directing team of David Zucker, Jim Abrahams, and Jerry Zucker birthed a comedy masterpiece that was like nothing anyone had ever seen before. Well-regarded dramatic actors play it straight with silly dialogue and ridiculous scenarios. Leslie Nielson, for whom Airplane! launched a second career as a comedy staple, delivers deceptively postive updates deadpan, with a Pinocchio-style growing nose. Our leading man, the handsome Robert Hays, has a "drinking problem" that consists entirely of his wearing the contents of his glass. In a genius piece of casting, Barbara Billingsly (a.k.a. June Cleaver) translates "jive" for a stewardess having difficulty communicating with a pair of travelers. In these more aware times, there are a couple small things that feel a bit tone deaf, but even today that's a small quibble with a groundbreaking comedy that remains one of the funniest movies ever made.
Airplane clocks in at 88 minutes and is rated PG for some language, comic violence, and brief nudity.
My common complaint with comedies, and the reason I seldom pay to see them at the cinema, is that you sit through a two hour movie only to realize you've already seen all the funny parts in a two-minute trailer. Nearly four decades later, Airplane! proves the exception to that rule, a picture that is laugh-out-loud funny from beginning to end, no matter how many times you've seen it.
Of a possible nine Weasleys, Airplane! gets nine. It's an all-time classic.
West Virginia family man Jimmy Logan teams up with his one-armed
brother Clyde and sister Mellie to steal money from the Charlotte
Motor Speedway in North
Carolina.
Jimmy also recruits demolition expert Joe Bang to help them break into the
track's underground system. Complications arise when a mix-up forces the crew
to pull off the heist during a popular NASCAR race while also trying to dodge a
relentless FBI agent. Director: Steven Soderbergh
Cast: Channing Tatum, Adam Driver, Daniel
Craig, Katie Holmes, Riley Keough
Release Date: Aug 18, 2017
Genres: Comedy, Crime, Drama
Rated PG-13 for language and some crude
comments
Review:
Logan Lucky is a fun energetic return for Steven
Soderbergh after a 4 year “retirement.”This heist caper is like a Dixie styled
Ocean’s 11 with a good sense of fun.It
never takes itself too serious and knows how to keep the audiences attention
from waning.Soderbergh’s direction is
slick as always, resulting in a breezy film that never really feels long or
hits many dips in energy.The cast is
all fully committed with each member giving a fun if occasionally understated
performances, except for Daniel Craig who’s clearly having a ball.Most of the characters are broadly drawn but
they do their job in service of the
story.Only a handful of them feel out
of place like Seth McFarland over the top Nascar owner and Hilary Swank’s under
baked FBI agent who shows up far to late in the game to be taken seriously.Still, Logan Lucky a welcome return for
Soderbergh and his film making style.
Dearest Blog: Yesterday it was off to Marquee Cinemas for the promising pair of The Hitman's Bodyguard and Logan Lucky.
Spoiler level here will be mild, nothing you wouldn't know from the trailers.
First up: The Hitman's Bodyguard.
When a former assassin's testimony is needed at the International Criminal Court, it's up to a disgraced personal security expert to get him there safely.
The Hitman's Bodyguard is exactly as advertised, a thrilling and wildly funny action-comedy. Co-stars Ryan Reynolds and Samuel L. Jackson have as much chemistry as the best buddy-comedy pairs, easily playing off one another in hilarious fashion. Gary Oldman digs his cartoonish bad-guy schtick out of storage for a broad, accented turn reminiscent of his mid-90s meat and potatoes. He's not really in the movie as much as I'd have liked, but, as always, he puts his screen time to good use. Action is almost non-stop, though the story beneath never feels underdone. Pretty European locales and a multi-cultural cast give the film a nice international flavor. Only the final chase scene seems to drag on just a bit too long; otherwise, the movie is a perfect balance of well-crafted action and foul-mouthed comedy.
The Hitman's Bodyguard clocks in at 118 minutes and is rated R for "strong violence and language throughout."
The Hitman's Bodyguard is a rollicking end-of-summer blast. Of a possible nine Weasleys, The Hitman's Bodyguard gets eight.
Fangirl points: GARY! (Duh.)
Next on the docket: Logan Lucky.
A pair of small-town brothers attempts to rob Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Dear reader(s), I'll consider it more a warning than a spoiler to tell you one thing about Logan Lucky that you probably didn't guess from the trailer: It's not really a comedy. It's amusing at times, and the overall tone certainly isn't heavy, but it is not the laugh-riot promised by the trailer.
Logan Lucky IS a clever, well-acted yarn about a down-on-his-luck West Virginia boy (Channing Tatum) who conscripts his brother (Adam Driver) into a wild plot to rob Charlotte Motor Speedway. The brothers enlist an "in-car-cer-rated" felon (Daniel Craig, playing delightfully against type) to assist with the scheme, which obviously doesn't go entirely as planned, or there'd be no movie. The terrific cast is rounded out by Katie Holmes, Riley Keough, Seth McFarlane, Katherine Waterston, Dwight Yoakam, and Sebastian Stan in a blink-and-you'll-miss-it turn. When Logan Lucky is funny, it's really funny, but unfortunately you've already seen most of what's really funny in the trailer. The twists and turns along our would-be robbers' path are well-plotted and certainly not boring, but the movie is so unlike its advertising that the whole can't help feeling kinda dull.
Logan Lucky runs 119 minutes and is rated PG13 for "language and some crude comments."
Logan Lucky is a smartly-crafted heist picture whose impact is sadly diminished by misleading advertising.
Of a possible nine Weasleys, Logan Lucky gets six.
Fangirl points: Sebastian Stan!
Also, however much it may have been intended to make fun of us, a roomful of people singing Country Roads will always put a teardrop in my eye.
A couple still grieving the death of their
daughter take in children from a local orphanage, but the family are soon
terrorized by a demented doll known as Annabelle. Anthony LaPaglia, Miranda
Otto, Stephanie Sigman, Talitha Bateman, and Lulu Wilson star in this horror
sequel from director David F. Sandberg (David F. Sandberg). ~ Jack Rodgers,
Rovi
Director: David F. Sandberg
Cast: Lulu Wilson, Grace Fulton, Anthony LaPaglia, Miranda Otto
Release Date: Aug 11, 2017
Genres: Horror, Suspense/Thriller
Rated R for horror violence and terror
Review:
Annabelle: Creation is a better film than it
deserves to be.Horror clichés run amok
in a script that seem more interested in moving from set up to set up than
telling a coherent story.Director David
F. Sandberg doesn’t seem to know the meaning of efficiency as his movie is a
bloated overlong hodgepodge of things we’ve seen before.Again, it’s a decent horror film, there are
far worse films in the genre that’s for sure, but it’s slightly frustrating
because it feels like there is a better film in there somewhere.The decision to cast Anthony LaPaglia & Miranda Otto seemed like it’d
give the film a bit of credibility but the script moves them to the sidelines
and barely uses them at all.What we’re
left with is an ensemble film with kid actors who do the best they can but it’s
never terribly interesting or engaging.Annabelle: Creation is the very definition of a wait for cable type of
film.
A police raid in Detroit in 1967 results in one of the largest RACE riots in United States history. The story is centered around the Algiers
Motel incident, which occurred in Detroit, Michigan on July 25, 1967, during the racially charged 12th Street Riot. It involves the death of three black men and
the brutal beatings of nine other people: seven black men and two white women.
Director: Kathryn Bigelow
Cast: John Boyega, Will Poulter, Anthony
Mackie, John Krasinski, Jack Reynor, Jason Mitchell, Hanna Murray
Release Date: Aug 42017
Genres: Crime, Drama, History
Rated R for strong violence and pervasive
language
Review:
Detroit is a tense, uncomfortable and incredibly timely
film.Kathryn Bigelow’s style of
filmmaking is perfectly suited for the story being told.Bigelow’s immersive style leaves like a fly
on the wall during the entire ordeal.It’s an intense film that’s anchored by a strong ensemble cast.John Boyega and Will Poulter really shine
throughout the film, with some of the films best moments are watching their
character’s process and think through situations.Poulter though is the real surprise here
since he’s been mostly a comedic actor.Poulter provides the character an unsettling detachment and coldness
that’s deeply unsettling.The film loses
a little steam after it moves on to the aftermath with the court proceedings
and post event stories.I was personally
more interested in what happened to John Boyega’s character but the film chose
a different direction.It’s a small
issue on an otherwise strong film that really shines a light on a dark portion
of American history.
Dearest Blog: Yesterday it was off to Marquee Cinemas for Detroit and The Dark Tower.
Spoiler level here will be mild, nothing you wouldn't know from the trailers or the news.
First on the docket, Kathryn Bigelow's Detroit.
During the Detroit Rebellion of 1967, a handful of city cops terrorize young people staying at the Algiers Hotel.
Dear reader(s), you know when I call a movie "must-see," it's usually gonna be some big, dumb actioner with a current obsession not *quite* getting enough screen time for my liking. Evidence: that latest Transformers movie that everybody hates? Yeah, that'll be skirting my Top Ten come year's end. However, here I must break with tradition to suggest emphatically that everyone get out and see Detroit. It is a very, very important movie and a timely reminder of what happens when we allow some people to be treated as less than others.
Detroit opens with a clever sequence that brings viewers who might not be familiar with this event up to speed, and from there it's a slow burn into chaos. The movie is never in a hurry to get where it's going, yet there are millions of things happening all at once. Point of view is personal rather than general, with dialogue so natural as to seem unscripted. I'm no fan of Bigelow's jiggly camera work, but I couldn't look away from the terrifying events playing out onscreen. There is no sugar-coating, there are no cookie-cutter characters, and the performances are uniformly extraordinary. Of special note, as usual, is John Boyega in a smart, sympathetic turn. The violence and torment are up close and personal, at times nearly impossible to watch. The movie builds to its unsettling climax with such tension you might not even realize you're holding your breath. This is no fun summer flick; it's challenging and exhausting. (For the record, I ran straight to the ladies' room and threw up when it ended, and it's had me in tears more than a few times since.) Detroit is smart enough not to leave it to viewers to distinguish between "based on a true story" and "inspired by actual events;" it freely acknowledges that its account relies on the recollections of people who were under not-a-little duress during these events. No fun summer movie, Detroit will stay on your mind long after you exit the theatre.
Detroit clocks in at 143 minutes and is rated R for "strong violence and pervasive language."
A headline I saw earlier this morning said, "Detroit is going to hurt, but it's worth it," and that's about the best way to sum up this brilliant but difficult movie.
Of a possible nine Weasleys, Detroit gets eight.
Fangirl points: Not to take away from the seriousness of this picture, but I can't imagine a more beautiful human than Anthony Mackie exists anywhere in the universe. *le sigh*
Next on my agenda was the first big-screen shot at Stephen King's Dark Tower series.
The Last Gunslinger hopes to stop the Man in Black from toppling the Dark Tower, which protects the world from evil...or something like that. (I'm pretty close, right?)
Not having read this book series from Stephen King, and having heard nothing good about this adaptation prior to seeing it, I was prepared to state that--while I understood it might not meet the expectations of book fans--the movie is perfectly passable entertainment for the rest of us.
Sadly, after nearly nodding off twice in just an hour and a half, I had to rethink that opening.
The Dark Tower is just a bad movie, and that's without even being able to speak to its failings by comparison to the books. It feels like, at some point very early in its making, all the Stephen King forces in the universe decided to focus their positive energy on the remake of It and deserted this entirely. (I guess the good news is my pretty busy cinema seemed to soil its collective drawers at the It trailer that preceded Dark Tower, so King may be redeemed rather quickly.) The Dark Tower's characters are so broadly drawn you'll only care what happens to any of them if you have a vested interest in the actor(s). Shallow storytelling provides very few answers, but leaves lots of question marks, for anyone unfamiliar with the source material. Clearly this was meant to set up a franchise, but if it's to do so with any success it'll need serious retooling. Man in Black Matthew McConaughey is as bland as ever (can't spell "McConaughey" without "ugh!") as a paper-doll baddie who's about as menacing as my little Cockapoo. Idris Elba is smokin'--and I mean SMOKIN'--hot as the Gunslinger, but the role is so poorly fleshed out it scarcely taxes his ability or charisma. Effects are pedestrian at best, and the action (such as it is) is accented by a comically-melodramatic score.
The Dark Tower runs the slowest 95 minutes ev-ah and is rated PG13 for "thematic material, including sequences of gun violence and action."
I truly had hoped to buck the trend and declare the Dark Tower passable entertainment for a summer afternoon, but, sadly, it can't meet even that low bar. Of a possible nine Weasleys, the Dark Tower gets two.
Fangirl points: OMG you guys...Idris Elba! (Teeny-weeny spoiler alert: When a boy says to the Gunslinger, "I dreamt about you!" I'm pretty sure I said out loud to the screen, "Me too!")
Oscar® winner Charlize Theron explodes into
summer in Atomic Blonde, a breakneck action-thriller that follows MI6’s most
lethal assassin through a ticking time bomb of a city simmering with revolution
and double-crossing hives of traitors. The crown jewel of Her Majesty’s Secret
Intelligence Service, Agent Lorraine Broughton (Theron) is equal parts
spycraft, sensuality and savagery, willing to deploy any of her skills to stay
alive on her impossible mission. Sent alone into Berlin to deliver a priceless
dossier out of the destabilized city, she partners with embedded station chief
David Percival (James McAvoy) to navigate her way through the deadliest game of
spies.
Director: David Leitch
Cast: Charlize Theron, James McAvoy, John
Goodman, Sofia Boutella, Til Schweiger
Release Date: Jul 28, 2017
Genres: Action/Adventure, Suspense/Thriller
Rated R for for sequences of strong
violence, language throughout, and some sexuality/nudity
Review:
Atomic Blonde is a stylish spy thriller
that’s a great vehicle for a kick ass Charlize Theron.That’s really the main attraction here,
watching Charlize Theron repeatedly beat up anyone and everyone in a variety of
fashions.The film’s action sequences
are impressive works of art that really highlight the director’s
strengths.The two major sequences, one
involving a rope and lots of police and the finale which is one of the most
brutal fight sequences in a long time, are when the film hits its peak.The plot though is a slight weakness, the spy
plot is pretty basic, missing microfilm, and there aren’t nearly as many twist
and turns as you’d expect.Still it’s
got enough style blended with a strong 80s soundtrack to make it memorable.
Dearest Blog: Thanks to a half-day closing at the office, I was able to avoid the weekend rush and catch a Friday-afternoon screening of Atomic Blonde.
Spoiler level here will be mild, nothing you wouldn't know from the trailers.
Against a backdrop of the tumultuous days leading to the fall of the Berlin Wall, agents from several nations race to claim a stolen piece of valuable intelligence.
Regular reader(s) will have heard me say time and again that I haven't much interest in movies about women, but apparently my interest can be piqued when said women are beating the ever-lovin' crap out of everyone. Take note, Hollywood.
If we're being honest, Atomic Blonde is mostly a bunch of wild action sequences strung together with a thin of bit spy-thriller thread. The plot is compelling, with a few great twists, but it can't steal the spotlight from the movie's fight and chase scenes. It is a testament to how great the action is that you won't mind that a bit. It's a testament to the rest that the movie still has a few surprises up its sleeve.
The lovely Charlize Theron is...well...lovely, ceaselessly making fashion statements while knocking people's lights out. (Note to self: Anyone dressed too nicely is probably a spy.) Theron is mesmerizing, carrying the movie as effortlessly as her character puts down the bad guys. James McAvoy, Sofia Boutella, Eddie Marsan, John Goodman, and Toby Jones round out an excellent supporting cast. Atomic Blonde features terrific graffiti-style graphics on the titles and credits, some beautiful scenery, and the best fight choreography I've seen in many a day. Full marks for all of the above, but if I told you any of that was the movie's high point, I'd be lying. No, the best thing about Atomic Blond is its wonderful soundtrack, featuring a couple-dozen of the 80s best nuggets, including the original German versions of two of my favorites: Peter Schilling's Major Tom (Coming Home) and Nena's 99 Luftballons. As most of the film's brutality is set to music, a final face-off is all the more effective for being backed by nothing but the sound of punches landing and people getting the wind knocked out of them.
Atomic Blonde clocks in at 115 minutes and is rated R for "sequences of strong violence, language throughout, and some sexuality/nudity."
These days people talk a lot about the importance of representation in film. I'm not sure anyone will be calling Atomic Blonde an "important representation for girls," but if, like me, you're a girl who would rather jump off a cliff than sit through Wild or its ilk again, it's certainly a step in the right direction.
Of a possible nine Weasleys, Atomic Blonde gets eight.
Dearest Blog: This week I had the opportunity to enjoy two classics in tandem: Magical musical Singin' in the Rain at Wheeling's majestic Capitol Theatre.
First, let's talk a bit about the venue. The historic Capitol Theatre opened for business in 1928, and is perhaps best known as the former host of Jamboree USA, a live, weekly country music broadcast enjoyed by fans near and far. It is currently the proud home of the best little orchestra in the nation, the Wheeling Symphony, and presents an annual Broadway series, as well as occasional country and rock concerts. In the late 2000s, the theatre underwent extensive renovations to improve the seats, bathroom facilities, and lounge areas, upgrading it to the area's most comfortable, as well as its most beautiful, venue.
This summer, the Capitol is offering a summer movie series of old and new favorites on Thursday evenings and Sunday afternoons. Admission is only $5 for adults and $3 for children. Concessions are more reasonably priced than your average cinema, and, in addition to the usual popcorn and soda, the menu features pizza, hot dogs, and--for the Thursday-night shows--cocktails. Now it's a party, right?! Movies are general admission, and there's not a bad seat in the house. Close up, further back, center or side, you'll see and hear just fine.
Thursday night, we visited the Capitol to revisit another classic, Singin' in the Rain.
A handsome movie star (Gene Kelly) finds true love against a backdrop of Hollywood's first talking pictures.
Ladies and gentlemen, there's a reason why people are still interested in a movie like Singin' in the Rain six and a half decades after its original theatrical run: It is simply timeless. Gene Kelly is a legendary talent: actor, dancer, singer, director. Hollywood has never known a more charismatic leading man, not before and not since, and here--a movie star playing a movie star--he's at his most magnetic. Nineteen-year-old Debbie Reynolds is fun and feisty as his leading lady, but the movie's real scene-stealer is Donald O'Connor, with his timely wisecracks and extraordinary dance moves.
The plot moves at a crisp pace, with well-placed musical numbers and a healthy dose of humor. Its love story may seem a bit saccharine by today's standards, but Singin' in the Rain's ageless choreography, lively tunes, spectacular costumes, and engaging performances will never go out of style. It's a perfect fit for a glorious venue like the beautiful Capitol Theatre.
Singin' in the Rain runs 103 minutes. It pre-dates the MPAA's current ratings system, but, unless you're that dude from Footloose who thinks dancing is evil, I can't imagine any sane person would find anything objectionable about it.
Singin' in the Rain is a timeless classic for all generations. Of a possible nine Weasleys, Singin' in the Rain gets nine.
Thanks to all involved with bringing the Summer Movie Series to the Capitol! Get out and see some of these upcoming favorites:
Mary Poppins - Sunday, July 30 - 3:30 p.m.
The Blues Brothers - Thursday, August 10 - 7:30 p.m.
The Little Mermaid - Sunday, August 13 - 3:30 p.m.
Caddyshack - Thursday, August 24 - 7:30 p.m.
The Wizard of Oz - Sunday, August 27 - 3:30 p.m.
The Big Lebowski - Thursday, September 7 - 7:30 p.m.
