MOVIE REVIEWS: THE RUNAWAYS

ON DVD

THE RUNAWAYS
 

The story of the groundbreaking '70s female rock group the Runaways is recounted in this River Road Entertainment production focusing on the duo of guitarist/vocalist Joan Jett (portrayed by Twilight's Kristen Stewart) and lead vocalist/keyboardist Cherie Currie (Dakota Fanning) as they navigate a rocky road of touring and record label woes under the malevolent eye of abusive manager Kim Fowley (Michael Shannon) during their teen years. Acclaimed video artist Floria Sigismondi directs from her own script, with Scout Taylor-Compton co-starring as guitarist Lita Ford. ~ Jeremy Wheeler, Rovi

Director: Floria Sigismondi

Cast: Kristen Stewart, Dakota Fanning, Michael Shannon, Stella Maeve, Scout Taylor-Compton

Release Date: Apr 09, 2010

Rated R for sexual content, language and drug use all involving teens

Runtime: 1 hr. 45 min.

Genres: Drama, Drama, Music/Performing Arts

Review:

The Runaways, based on Cherie Currie’s memoir, is film that should be a lot more interesting and captivating than it is. Instead of exploring some of the more interesting angles of preteen exploitation and other more diverse themes, director Floria Sigismondi hits the usual notes of most rock band biography. Occasionally the first time director will hit a sweet spot, mostly during the musical numbers, and when she does the film really has a spark of life. Sadly, outside of those moments the film drags and feels more like a made for TV film with more explicit teenage drug use and sex as the only differentiating aspect. As a result strong performances from the film 3 main player in the film are mostly wasted. Dakota Fanning delivers an incredibly strong performance that full of texture and depth, probably more than is on the actual page. Kristen Stewart has the right attitude throughout but her character feels terribly underwritten for some reason, strange considering Joan Jett is one of the producers. Stella Maeve, Ali Shawkat and Scout Taylor-Compton are paid to hold instruments and remain mostly mute with Compton being allowed to scream from time to time. Michael Shannon delivers the most interesting performance as Kim Fowley and he’s easily the most interesting character in this tepid biography.

C-

Sucker Punch Trailer

Not really sure what to make of Zack Synder's newest film just yet but the "cool" visuals are in full effect that's for sure....

MOVIE REVIEWS: THE LOSERS

ON DVD

THE LOSERS



Director Sylvain White adapts the Vertigo comic about a team of mercenaries who wage war on the CIA after they're double-crossed in the field and left to die. Clay (Jeffrey Dean Morgan), Jensen (Chris Evans), Roque (Idris Elba), Pooch (Columbus Short), and Cougar (Óscar Jaenada) were on a black-ops mission in the Bolivian jungle when rogue CIA agent Max (Jason Patric) hung them out to dry. After beating the odds and surviving their ordeal, the team decides to strike back against Max even if it means sacrificing their own lives to do so. Aiding them on their treacherous suicide mission is sexy operative Aisha (Zoe Saldana), who has her own reasons for wanting to see Max get his just deserts. But getting to Max won't be easy, because in addition to having the CIA on his side, he's about to spark a war that could plunge the entire globe into chaos. Their time quickly running out as Max's plan kicks into overdrive, the Special Forces unit that everyone assumed dead arms themselves to the teeth and prepares to strike back with a vengeance. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide

Director: Sylvain White

Cast: Jeffrey Morgan, Zoe Saldana, Chris Evans, Idris Elba, Columbus Short

Release Date: Apr 23, 2010

Rated pg-13 for a scene of sensuality, violence, sequences of intense action and language

Runtime: 1 hr. 38 min.

Genres: Action/Adventure

Review:

Coming to life with a kinetic energy that makes the film engaging right from the start, The Losers is the kind of stupid fun that makes illogical storylines and overly telegraphed twist bearable. Sylvain White give this comic adaptation a zany over the top feel which is perfect for the subject matter and nothing is every terribly weighty or heady. Instead there is a clear cut modus operandi to provide as much action packed mindless fun as possible. White moves this movie along at a brisk pace allowing you to gloss over some of the more glaring issues in the story. The cast is clearly on board and is clearly having fun from the start. Jeffery Dean Morgan feels extremely naturalistic as the team’s alpha dog Clay. He lives in this characters skin easily and coolly throughout. Idris Elba is strong as the 2nd in command even if he’s shackled with the most obvious of storylines. Chris Evan is a real scene stealer as the wise cracking hacker Jensen. Oscar Jaenada and Columbus Short are both good in more limited roles. Jason Patrick seems miscast as the film main baddie, he never quite gets the character and overdoes what should have been a cooler more sinister character. Zoe Saldana is right at home as the resident female ass kicker, her and Morgan have strong chemistry. The flaws while forgivable are hardly small. Sylvain White does what he can to cover up the story’s silliness and illogical plot and for the most part he succeeds but in some of the slower parts in the third act they become more and more apparent. Still, as silly action films go this one is a strong example of how to keep it light and fun.

B-

MOVIE REVIEWS: SALT

IN THEATERS

SALT

Director Phillip Noyce teams with screenwriters Kurt Wimmer (Equilibrium) and Brian Helgeland (Mystic River) to craft this thriller starring Angelina Jolie as dedicated CIA officer Evelyn Salt, who is accused by a defector of being a Russian spy. With each attempt Salt makes to prove her innocence, her mentor, Winter (Liev Schreiber), only grows more suspicious of her true motivations. The longer she eludes capture by ambitious CIA agent Peabody (Chiwetel Ejiofor), the higher the stakes get. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Director: Phillip Noyce

Cast: Angelina Jolie, Liev Schreiber, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Andre Braugher

Release Date: Jul 23, 2010

Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and intense sequences of action

Runtime: 1 hr. 31 min.

Genres: Action/Adventure, Suspense/Thriller

Review:

Excessively ludicrous and obnoxiously stupid Salt is an action dud of massive proportions. Phillip Noyce directs this seemingly endless parade of shoot out, getaways and plot twist with dead set seriousness that can best be described as oblivious. Oblivious to the abject silliness of the entire proceedings with characters so poorly executed it hard to take any of them very seriously. Taking herself just as seriously is Jolie, whose stone cold demeanor makes you think she really believes this character is somehow grounded in reality. More surprising is that her action sequences are surprisingly unconvincing throughout and she shoots, punches and jump kicks with all the passion of a coma patient. Liev Schreiber is saddled with a character who given some of the most banal dialogue in recent memory. Poor Chiwetel Ejiofor just doesn’t seem to have any luck with summer blockbusters, in last year’s 2012 he got to be the scientist who was wrong all the time, as he’s given the unenviable task of simply looking confused throughout. The entire ordeal makes the Bourne movies look like real world documentaries and the Mission Impossible movie look incredibly plausible. Somewhere Tom Cruise thanking his lucky stars that he passed on Edwin A. Salt and it was redone as a vehicle for Jolie otherwise it may have proven the actual nail in his blockbuster coffin something which Knight and Day isn’t.

D

Tron Legacy Full Trailer

I have to confess I was never really a fan of the original but this one looks interesting......

MOVIE REVIEW: INCEPTION

IN THEATERS

INCEPTION



Visionary filmmaker Christopher Nolan (Memento, The Dark Knight) writes and directs this psychological sci-fi action film about a thief who possesses the power to enter into the dreams of others. Dom Cobb (Leonardo DiCaprio) doesn't steal things, he steals ideas. By projecting himself deep into the subconscious of his targets, he can glean information that even the best computer hackers can't get to. In the world of corporate espionage, Cobb is the ultimate weapon. But even weapons have their weakness, and when Cobb loses everything, he's forced to embark on one final mission in a desperate quest for redemption. This time, Cobb won't be harvesting an idea, but sowing one. Should he and his team of specialists succeed, they will have discovered a new frontier in the art of psychic espionage. They've planned everything to perfection, and they have all the tools to get the job done. Their mission is complicated, however, by the sudden appearance of a malevolent foe that seems to know exactly what they're up to, and precisely how to stop them. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide

Director: Christopher Nolan

Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Ken Watanabe, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Marion Cotillard, Ellen Page

Release Date: Jul 16, 2010

Rated PG-13 for sequences of violence and sequences of action

Runtime: 2 hr. 22 min.

Genres: Suspense/Thriller

Review:

Christopher Nolan’s Inception is like watching someone play make-believe on an epic scale. Everything is large about this film, heady themes mixed with aggressive visual and multilayered story arcs crisscrossing about that one could easily be lost by sneaking out to a quick bathroom break. Nolan’s persistent dedication to playing with the audiences perceptions is very much at play here in this sci-fi thriller that is a really a heist movie at its heart. While Nolan crafts an impressively complex and intriguing storyline it’s also one that bears a lot of hallmarks of previous films, clearly showing Nolan’s inspirations for this endeavor. Sadly, this makes certain aspects of the film fairly predictable. It’s original and derivative at the same type, perhaps a purposely imposed paradox from Nolan. The cast is all in fine form and each make the most of their roles regardless of how limited it maybe in some cases. Leonardo DiCaprio is appropriately dour and determined throughout. He doesn’t quiet let this character breathe as much as he should making his realization at the end come off as a tad artificial. Marion Cotillard is clearly having the most fun in the entire film as she gets top play varied versions of the same person throughout. Her performance runs the gamut of tender and heartfelt to mildly terrifying and selfish. She commands the screen every time she’s on it and makes the strongest impression throughout. Ellen Page gives the smart ass shtick a break and plays her character well with a nice sense of wonder and discovery. Joseph Gordon Levitt, Ken Watanabe and Tom Hardy are all quiet strong in supporting roles each giving their characters recognizable traits in limited screen time. Cillian Murphy isn’t given much too do outside of looking like a mark. As a whole this is another win for Nolan’s increasingly impressive resume, even if he couldn’t resist an open ended finale.

A-

Bluray quality; Video is nearly perfect showcasing the wonderful visuals throughout; Sound mix is impressive across the board, extremely active.

I was hand-selected to be a member of Blu-ray Elite, a beta program from Warner Home Video which has graciously sent me this free Blu-ray disc.