MOVIE REVIEW: THE UNBEARABLE WEIGHT OF MASSIVE TALENT

 

Unfulfilled and facing financial ruin, actor Nick Cage accepts a $1 million offer to attend a wealthy fan's birthday party. Things take a wildly unexpected turn when a CIA operative recruits Cage for an unusual mission. Taking on the role of a lifetime, he soon finds himself channeling his most iconic and beloved characters to save himself and his loved ones.

Director: Tom Gormican

Cast: Nicolas Cage, Pedro Pascal, Ike Barinholtz, Alessandra Mastronardi, Jacob Scipio, Neil Patrick Harris, Tiffany Haddish

Release Date: April 15, 2022 

Genre: Action, Comedy, Crime, Thriller

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

Runtime: 1h 45m

Review:

The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent is a treasure trove of Nicolas Cage career Easter Eggs and meta humor, packaged in fun self aware film.  Tom Gormican's film has a light tongue in cheek vibe to it from the start.  He takes a hands off approach by simply moving along the plot with very few visual flourish to distract from the performances on display.  He knows that Nicolas Cage is the central attraction who is more than game poking fun at his persona and career.  There are plenty of references to a bevy of his film's with some references being more overt while more subtle are peppered throughout the film.  Cage playing an outsized version of himself might sound like a lot but he plays it with a measured hand, a de-aged imaginary version of a Wild At Heart era Cage lets him really let loose, for the better part of the film.  The real treat here though is his chemistry with Pedro Pascal who steals multiple scenes throughout the film. Pascal is incredibly versatile actor and with this role he shows off another side of himself by playing a nebbish Cage fanboy who might also be a huge arms dealer. The bromance that grows between Cage and Pascal's characters make up the backbone of the film with both clearly having a ball playing off each other.  The script occasionally veers into super meta territory, you might be left wondering if any of the events in the film actually happened by the end, while never fully embracing it with more inspired flourishes like Cage's imaginary Cage.  As is, The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent is the kind of film that's easy to enjoy due to its stars and meta concept.

B+

MOVIE REVIEW: EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE

 

When an interdimensional rupture unravels reality, an unlikely hero must channel her newfound powers to fight bizarre and bewildering dangers from the multiverse as the fate of the world hangs in the balance.

Director: Daniel Kwan, Daniel Scheinert

Cast: Michelle Yeoh, Ke Huy Quan, Stephanie Hsu, Jenny Slate, Harry Shum Jr., James Hong, Jamie Lee Curtis

Release Date: March 11, 2022

Genre: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy, Sci-Fi

Rated R for some violence, sexual material and language

Runtime: 2h 12m

Review:

Everything Everywhere All At Once is a wildly imaginative bonkers film that will leave you looking at hotdogs and everything bagels in a new way.  Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert direct the film with a freewheeling kind of energy that's infectious and captivating because of the sheer audacity of the entire thing.  This is the type of film that has no problem throwing everything at the audience but the biggest bit of cinematic alchemy is the amount of heart at the center of it all.  A hefty amount of credit for that goes to Michelle Yeoh who anchors the film with a performance that runs the gamut of emotions.  She's entirely committed to the role and rolls with everything her character goes through with incredible ease, displaying the kind of singular talent she is.  She is the beating heart of the film aided by some strong supporting turns from Ke Huy Quan, Stephanie Hsu, James Hong and Jamie Lee Curtis who is clearly having a ball.  They share incredibly strong chemistry together which makes the insanity on screen easier to digest.  If there is a small complaint, the film is unfettered on every level and probably could have benefited from some trims here and there to make it a more effective film.  Still, Everything Everywhere All At Once stands as a beacon of originality in a sea of diluted ideas. 

A-

MOVIE REVIEW: AMBULANCE

 

Needing money to cover his wife's medical bills, a decorated veteran teams up with his adoptive brother to steal $32 million from a Los Angeles bank. However, when their getaway goes spectacularly wrong, the desperate thieves hijack an ambulance that's carrying a severely wounded cop and an EMT worker. Caught in a high-speed chase, the two siblings must figure out a way to outrun the law while keeping their hostages alive.

Director: Michael Bay

Cast: Jake Gyllenhaal, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Eiza González, Garret Dillahunt, Keir O'Donnell

Release Date: April 8, 2022

Genre: Action,Crime, Drama, Thriller

Rated R for intense violence, bloody images and language throughout

Runtime: 2h 16m

Review:

Michael Bay is the kind of director whose better known for his cinematic excess more than the fact that he can create a fun big screen thrill ride.  Glossy, frenetic and over the top can describe pretty much any movie on his resume.  Ambulance sees Bay at his best and worst anchored by some fun performances from his central cast who are clearly having a blast playing in this wheelhouse. Bay directs this film with a coked out frenzy that starts immediately and rarely lets up during its overlong runtime.  The film works best during it's opening act bank heist which suits Bay's talents perfectly.  The camera flies around every scene like it can't stop or it'll die.  The action is loud and glossy with random dips into stark violence which is jarring when it pops up.  Still, its hard to ignore the insane cinematic energy on display especially when the cast is on the same page as the director.  Jake Gyllenhaal channels 90s Nic Cage by going all in on the crazy energy that last for the entire film, it's an impressive display of stamina to say the least.  Yahya Abdul-Mateen II is more subtle and measure, something rare for a Bay film, in his turn as he gives his character far more depth than the script does.  Eiza González fares far better than most of the female characters in a Bay film.  Sure she's the best looking EMT you've ever seen with make up that never smears regardless of what kind of madness she's gone through.  Like everyone else, her character is more of a caricature than anything else but then again nobody ever goes into a Michael Bay film looking for a character study.  Bayhem is in full effect once the movie hits the road with an assortment of car chases and crashes which are increasingly ludicrous as the film goes on.  Bay is the type of director that just can't help himself with the final act displaying his directorial hubris.  Ambulance works really well as cinematic junk food but its like watching fireworks for 2 hours, sometime less is more. 

B-

MOVIE REVIEW: MORBIUS

 

Biochemist Michael Morbius tries to cure himself of a rare blood disease, but when his experiment goes wrong, he inadvertently infects himself with a form of vampirism instead.

Director: Daniel Espinosa

Cast: Jared Leto,  Matt Smith, Adria Arjona, Jared Harris, Al Madrigal, Tyrese Gibson

Release Date: April 1, 2022

Genre: Action, Adventure, Horror, Sci-Fi, Thriller

Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence, some frightening images, and brief strong language

Runtime: 1h 44m

Review:

Morbius is the kind of paint by the numbers, forgettable comic book origin story whose main purpose is to set up future installment.  Daniel Espinosa film is both glossy and undercooked at the same time.  His direction borrows from a bevy of comic book films mainly from the early 2000s which isn't the greatest source for inspiration.  The plot moves at a surprisingly quick pace which maybe intentional so you don't notice how nonsensical the whole thing is.  Jared Leto, an actor known for throwing himself into roles, is surprisingly understated and uninspired in the central role.  His performance gives you the impression that he'd rather be anywhere else but there.  Matt Smith, on the other hand, seems to relish chewing up scenery as the requisite friend/villain who ends up with the exact same power as the hero.  Supporting players Adria Arjona, Jared Harris, Al Madrigal and Tyrese Gibson all show up for a quick paycheck while bringing very little to their undercooked characters.  At least Morbius has the common sense to not overstay it's welcome with its quick runtime that still includes two post credit scenes that feels more like the result of corporate deal than some sort of big revelation.

C-

MOVIE REVIEW: THE LOST CITY

 

Reclusive author Loretta Sage writes about exotic places in her popular adventure novels that feature a handsome cover model named Alan. While on tour promoting her new book with Alan, Loretta gets kidnapped by an eccentric billionaire who hopes she can lead him to an ancient city's lost treasure from her latest story. Determined to prove he can be a hero in real life and not just on the pages of her books, Alan sets off to rescue her.

Director: Aaron Nee, Adam Nee

Cast: Sandra Bullock, Channing Tatum, Daniel Radcliffe, Da'Vine Joy Randolph, Brad Pitt

Release Date: March 18, 2022 

Genre: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Romance

Rated PG-13 for violence and some bloody images, suggestive material, partial nudity and language.

Runtime: 1h 52m

Review:

The Lost City is cinematic fast food, instantly recognizable, mildly comforting and full of empty calories.  Director's Aaron Nee and Adam Nee know what kind of film they are making so they keep everything light and breezy.  The film takes off with a hearty amount of laughs aided by an extended cameo from Brad Pitt who makes the most of his screen time.  Once the film settles in on the central romance between Sandra Bullock and Channing Tatum the comedy slows a bit as they try to make their mismatched pair seem romantically plausible and only partially succeeding.  For their part Bullock and Tatum are clearly having fun with their roles with both showing off their strong comedic chops even if their romantic chemistry doesn't quite work.   Daniel Radcliffe makes for a surprisingly effective villain here putting in more effort than the role really needs.  Da'Vine Joy Randolph makes her subplot funnier than it really is by bringing some chaotic energy to her role.  The Lost City is the type of film that's easy to enjoy and just as easy to forget about once you step out of the theater.

B-

MOVIE REVIEW: X

 

A group of actors sets out to make an adult film in rural Texas under the noses of their reclusive hosts, but when the elderly couple catches their young guests in the act, the cast finds themselves in a desperate fight for their lives.

Director: Ti West

Cast: Mia Goth, Jenna Ortega, Martin Henderson, Brittany Snow, Owen Campbell, Stephen Ure, Scott Mescudi

Release Date: March 18, 2022 

Genre: Horror

Rated R for strong bloody violence and gore, strong sexual content, graphic nudity, drug use, and language

Runtime: 1h 45m

Review:

Ti West has always shown a deep affinity for 70's horror film with The Innkeepers and House of the Devil serving as prime examples.  X is his loving tribute to Grindhouse horror with heavy homages to The Texas Chainsaw Massacre before it veers into even stranger and grosser territory.  The plot itself is familiar and the first half of the film checks all the requisite boxes.  West does a great job of establishing the setup with wonderfully crafted shots and goofy dialogue from the future victims.  The performances from the cast are fun and loose which fits the film.  His approach is impressively restrained initially which makes the mayhem that follows all the more potent and impactful.  In the latter half of the film you get the strong sense that he wants to make the audience squirm in their seats and for the most part he succeeds.  There's violence and gore aplenty but it's never overly serious or heady.  X is the type of horror film that isn't setting to make some grand statement it just wants to titillate, shock, and even gross you out.

B+