Cindy Prascik's Reviews of Extraction & The True History of the Kelly Gang

My dear reader(s), I hope you are keeping well — physically and mentally — in these strange, strange times.

Following a prolonged and entirely unintentional hiatus, yesterday I attempted an at-home double-bill, just I like I used to do at the cinema except the popcorn's not as good and nobody's kicking the back of my seat.

On yesterday's agenda, the Netflix original Extraction and the True History of the Kelly Gang.

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

First up: Extraction.

When a drug lord's son is kidnapped by a rival kingpin, a troubled mercenary is his only hope of survival.

Extraction is a serviceable thriller that's heavy on fighting, chasing, and bleeding, and light on surprises. The movie trades on the fact that most of us probably *would* trust Chris Hemsworth with our lives, making it less insufferable than it could have been, despite its not quite earning its runtime. If Hemsworth is a guy that brings you to the movies, you won't be disappointed; this is definitely his movie. Inhabiting broadly-drawn characters, supporting players are neither good nor bad enough to make a lasting impression. (But if there's an award for obviousness, please hand it to David Harbour now.) By-the-numbers fight scenes are likewise fine but unremarkable, peppering a seemingly endless race to the finish. There's been a bit of buzz about the single(ish)-shot chase scene, but all its technical prowess couldn't keep me from longing for its eventual end, while predictable twists and redundant action diminish the plot's high stakes. Outside an eyeful of Hemsworth, Extraction's high points for me were unintentional (probably?) nods to Gladiator and Crocodile Dundee II, but, you know, desperate times and all.

Extraction clocks in at 116 minutes and is rated R for "strong bloody violence throughout, language, and brief drug use."

Like Triple Frontier before it, Extraction proves that Netflix can play the action game with the big boys. Like Triple Frontier before it, Extraction also makes one wonder if that's a game worth playing anymore.

Of a possible nine Weasleys, Extraction gets five and a half.

Next on the docket, the True History of the Kelly Gang.

The maybe-sorta-kinda-trueish story of Australian outlaw Ned Kelly.

It's imperative that I preface what follows with a disclaimer: No matter what I want or expect of a movie, and no matter how far from that it may land, I always try to keep an open mind and give it a fair shake. That being said...

Y'all know I watched this movie for Charlie Hunnam, right? If you're thinking of paying for this film expressly to see Charlie, here's the scoop: Charlie's not in it a lot, but there's a lot of Charlie in it. His character is relevant only to the first 30-or-so minutes, and after that it's a whopping 90 minutes of Charlie-less movie. Forewarned is forearmed.

1917's George MacKay headlines this biopic, following the infamous Ned Kelly from his horrifying childhood through his brief, criminal, adult life. MacKay was nothing short of brilliant in 1917, and he's equally so here, though the material is less impressive. Russell Crowe is great, as usual, in a small but pivotal role. The True History of the Kelly Gang plods along at a snail's pace, making it seem very long indeed. Punk musical stylings and trippy, strobe-lit frames underscore Kelly's unhinged descent into violent, unlawful behavior. The movie sometimes seems to shock just for shock's sake, with vile language, grotesque violence, and uncomfortable situations. I don't flinch from any of the above when necessary and deftly handled, but here they're only sometimes the former and never the latter. Ultimately, the movie serves as a nice showcase for MacKay's talent, but has little else to recommend it.

The True History of the Kelly Gang runs 124 minutes and is rated R for "strong violence throughout, bloody images, pervasive language, sexual content, and some nudity."

The True History of the Kelly Gang features strong performances, but it struggles with the complexity of an anti-hero that history both loves and hates. Of a possible nine Weasleys, the True History of the Kelly Gang gets five.

Until next time, dear reader(s), please keep yourselves safe and well, and I'll hope to see you at the cinema soon!

MOVIE REVIEW: EXTRACTION

A black-market mercenary who has nothing to lose is hired to rescue the kidnapped son of an imprisoned international crime lord. But in the murky underworld of weapons dealers and drug traffickers, an already deadly mission approaches the impossible.

Director: Sam Hargrave

Cast: Chris Hemsworth, Rudhraksh Jaiswal, Pankaj Tripathi, Randeep Hooda, Golshifteh Farahani, Suraj Rikame,  David Harbour

Release Date: April 24, 2020

Genres: Action

Rated R for strong bloody violence throughout, language and brief drug use.

Runtime: 1 h 56 min 

Review:

Extraction bare bone action plot could have resulted in a big dud had it not been for the impressive direction from Sam Hargrave and a subdued but effective performance from Chris Hemsworth.  Sam Hargrave's seems fully aware that the story is a retread so he doesn't try to make it anything more than it is.  As such, he focuses on building impressive action set pieces that deliver a visceral punch.  These sequences pepper the film and they are the beating heart of the whole film.  The action is fast bloody and thoroughly enjoyable.  Is it a smart film, no far from it but it never pretends to be either.  At its heart the film is a body count shoot up in the vein of 80's classics like Commando or Rambo. Chris Hemsworth is ready made for this kind role and he delivers a strong but understated performance that's strong enough to keep his character interesting even if he's just fairly one dimensional.  The supporting characters are sparse with Rudhraksh Jaiswal getting the most screen time but his character doesn't have much depth.  David Harbour pops in for a quick second but he's gone before you know it adding very little to the film overall.  That's not to say anything about his performance because he's hardly phoning it but the film is just as bare bones as they come.  Hargrave's wants to deliver a sleek actioneer and he does so with impressive aplomb.  

B

MOVIE REVIEW: SONIC THE HEDGEHOG

The world needed a hero -- it got a hedgehog. Powered with incredible speed, Sonic embraces his new home on Earth -- until he accidentally knocks out the power grid, sparking the attention of uncool evil genius Dr. Robotnik. Now, it's supervillain vs. supersonic in an all-out race across the globe to stop Robotnik from using Sonic's unique power to achieve world domination.

Director: Jeff Fowler

Cast:  Ben Schwartz (voice), Jim Carrey, James Marsden, Tika Sumpter, Natasha Rothwell, Adam Pally, Neal McDonough

Release Date: February 4, 2020

Genres: Comedy/Family

Rated PG for action, some violence, rude humor and brief mild language.

Runtime: 1h 39 min 

Review:

Sonic the Hedgehog is one of those family film's that's not just inoffensive but it does so aggressively.  That's not to say it's a bad film because it's not but it's so light and inconsequential that's it's liable to float away at any moment.  Jeff Fowler does pull an impressive magic trick, delivering a video game adaptation that actually works even though the game itself is incredibly light on plot to begin with.  The script is fun but safe all around with Ben Schwartz delivering a likable turn as the titular animated hedgehog.  Sonic isn't annoying for the majority of the film, instead the script treats him like an over caffeinated toddler.  James Mardsen gets straight man duty to Schwartz animated character and he does what he can with the role.  The real star of the show though has to be Jim Carrey who rediscovers his 90s comedic energy.  His Dr. Robotnik is like a long lost In Living Color character from Carrey's formative days.  Its a treat for the audience and you can tell he's having a ball really going all out again.  The film as a whole is perfect for the kids even though the adults might feel it start to drag near the end even with it's brisk runtime.

B-

MOVIE REVIEW: TROLLS WORLD TOUR

Poppy and Branch discover that there are six different troll tribes scattered over six different lands. Each tribe is also devoted to six different kinds of music -- funk, country, techno, classical, pop and rock. When rockers Queen Barb and King Thrash set out to destroy the other music, Poppy and Branch embark on a daring mission to unite the trolls and save the diverse melodies from becoming extinct.

Director: Walt Dohrn

Cast: Anna Kendrick, Justin Timberlake, James Corden, Kunal Nayyar, Ozzy Osbourne, Zooey Deschanel, Rachel Bloom

Release Date: April 10, 2020

Genres: Animation, Adventure, Comedy

Rated PG for some mild rude humor

Runtime: 1h 34min

Review:

Trolls World Tour is a fizzy lighthearted follow up to the original film.  The scope of the film expands even if the story is simpler than the first go around.  This entry is brighter and more energetic than the first and its chalk full of jukebox sing a longs that’s sure to get your toes tapping.  Walt Dohrn’s direction keeps the story moving at a swift pace which keeps the film from dragging for the most part.  Anna Kendrick and Justin Timberlake both ease back into their roles easily while newcomers like Kelly Clarkson and Ozzy Osborn fit right end with their particular musical genres.  There are plenty of musical jokes that are aimed more at the parents than the kids which gives everyone something to enjoy.  Rachel Bloom is solid if underdeveloped as the defacto villain.  The story doesn’t really give you a ton of information or backstory on her character so she mostly works as a function of a story telling tool.  Overall, the story overcomes some of it short comings by carrying a sweet message in an easy to like package. 

B

Cindy Prascik's Review of The Courier

Greetings, movie fans!

As COVID_19 Rules kept me confined to my own four walls on the High Holy Day of Gary Oldman's birthday last Saturday, I celebrated by watching the only Gary project I hadn't seen already, The Courier. I must say, his birthday deserved better.

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

A London courier finds herself at the center of a plot to assassinate a valuable witness.

Gary Oldman is no stranger to taking sketchy projects for the paycheck; this is a well-documented fact. With an Academy Award under his belt (if you think it's ever NOT going to be mentioned, you're mistaken), I am equally impressed and disappointed that he still doesn't mind tackling a script that leaves me wondering how it ever got past his agent. The Courier is so very bad from the outset, I kinda wonder how it got past *anyone's* agent.

The Courier lays its groundwork broadly, through news clippings shown over the opening credits. Following is such a by-the-numbers outing that it's not only easy to guess every twist and turn, but I caught myself saying dialogue out loud before the characters did. (The beauty of home viewing, I guess?) Though the stakes are high, there's nary a hint of tension; it's that predictable. The film is as violent as you might expect, with plenty of up-close beatings and kills for your viewing "pleasure." Transitions among three primary locations — New York City, London, and Washington, DC — are choppy and awkward, and the acting can only be described as Shatner-esque. Gary gets a fair bit of screen time, though not nearly enough to make it worth enduring the rest. Two weird things that worked my nerves worse than the rest: the young woman who had her handbag on her arm at all times, even though she was mostly just walking around her house, and the guy who appeared to be channeling (poorly) Stansfield, Gary's character in 1994's The Professional.

The Courier clocks in at 99 minutes that feel like 99 years.  It is rated R for "strong violence, including bloody images, and language throughout."

Hollywood has already been trending towards the quicker release of bigger and better films for home viewing, and the current health crisis is only hastening that trend. Let's hope it will soon let movies like The Courier be mercifully lost in the shuffle.

Of a possible nine Weasleys, the courier gets one, for my Gary.

Until next time, stay well movie fans!

Cindy Prascik's Review of Spenser Confidential

Well, hey there. Remember me? It's been awhile. As yet another weekend has gone by without time for a visit to my poor, neglected local cinema, I decided to give the Netflix original Spenser Confidential a try, just so I'd have something for you — yes, YOU, dearest reader(s) - to read about.

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

Upon his release from prison, a disgraced ex-cop steps right into a mystery that threatens not only his freedom, but his life.

Spenser Confidential is hardly gritty realism, but it's not quite as comical as I expected, either. Neither keeps it from being an entertaining ride, but sometimes it feels a bit tonally unsettled.

Mark Wahlberg is perfectly capable in the lead, as well he should be; this is basically the same not-as-dumb-as-he-looks tough guy he's played dozens of times before. No surprises, no complaints. Winston Duke is a treat as his more subdued sidekick, and the movie is, of course, better for having the brilliant Alan Arkin.

Spenser Confidential kicks off to the strains of Boston's Foreplay/Longtime, in what may be the most effective use of a dinosaur rock classic in a film since Kingsman's Freebird church massacre. Following are some fisticuffs, a chase scene or two, the standard troubled love affair, and a decent number of excuses for Wahlberg and Duke to appear shirtless. The movie gets funnier as it goes along, building to a ridiculous climax that starts out a little like a poor man's Fast & Furious. Ultimately, Spenser Confidential is the film equivalent of comfort food: it's pretty basic and not at all challenging, but you won't mind because it's exactly what you want and expect.

Spenser Confidential clocks in at 111 minutes and is rated R for "violence, language throughout, and sexual content."

If you're tired of worrying about everything going on in the real world right now, Netflix' Spenser Confidential is a great escape. Of a possible nine Weasleys, Spenser Confidential gets six.

Until next time...let's hope there is a next time.