MOVIE REVIEW: THE EMPTY MAN

 

On the trail of a missing girl, an ex-cop comes across a secretive group attempting to summon a terrifying supernatural entity.

Director: David Prior

Cast: James Badge Dale, Marin Ireland, Stephen Root, Ron Canada, Robert Aramayo, Joel Courtney, Sasha Frolova

Release Date: October 22, 2020

Genre: Crime, Drama, Horror

Rated R for violence, disturbing images, language, some sexuality and nudity

Runtime: 2 h 17 min

Review:

The Empty Man is surprisingly engaging horror film that echoes The Ring with dashes of A Nightmare on Elm Street.  David Prior lets his film’s mystery unfurl organically allowing it to slowly wrap you into the central mystery.  There are a few tantalizing hints dropped here and there to keep you engaged.  Thankfully this horror film doesn’t rely on cheap jump scares with only a handful used for maximum effect.  As the twist and turns reveal themselves and the characters make for a fun watch.  James Badge Dale leads the film, initially stoic but he loosens up as the film moves along.  As the audience’s proxy he’s a believable and likable lead even with the film’s dark tone.  The rest of the cast is made up of recognizable character actors and fresh faces which let the story be the central focus.  It’s to the film’s benefit that the mystery is good fun and it’s wrapped up in a solid and satisfying way.  This film marks the final 20^th Century Fox release after the Disney merger.  The Empty Man has been quietly released during the current pandemic with little to no fanfare, it’s a shame since it’s a well made film that will likely become a hidden gem once it hits VOD and Bluray. 

B

MOVIE REVIEW: BORAT SUBSEQUENT MOVIEFILM

 

Borat Subsequent Moviefilm: Delivery of Prodigious Bribe to American Regime for Make Benefit Once Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan is a 2020 American mockumentary comedy film directed by Jason Woliner in his feature directorial debut.

Director: Jason Woliner

Cast: Sacha Baron Cohen, Maria Bakalova

Release Date: October 23, 2020

Genre: Comedy

Rated R for raw language, nudity and general filthiness.

Runtime: 1 h 35 min

Review:

In Borat Subsequent Moviefilm pulls off the same magic trick he did in the original film with such an audacious fearlessness that once you stop laughing you’ll be left wondering how he pulled it all off.  The story itself is the thinnest grating that holds the whole thing together.  Its biggest gift is adding a new character to proceeding in the form of his daughter played by Maria Bakalova.  Going into this you’d expect Cohen to go all in with the performance like he’s done his whole career but Bakalova is just as impressive here.  She’s just as committed as Cohen and they make for a hilarious pair as they traverse the underbelly of Trump’s America much in the way the original held a mirror to the Bush era.  It’s consistently hilarious and rather terrifying when you step back from it for a minute especially since much of what is presented is happening now.  The situations are incredibly outlandish and dangerous with the much talked about Rudy Giuliani sequence is even more gross in live action than described.  If there is a minor drawback its that the character and tropes have been done by Cohen as recently as his own 2018 Showtime’s Who is America.  This sequel feels more like that show than the original movie because the American landscape has changed from the Bush era and not in a good way but you might as well laugh at it exposed.

B

MOVIE REVIEW: HONEST THIEF

 

Hoping to cut a deal, a professional bank robber agrees to return all the money he stole in exchange for a reduced sentence. But when two FBI agents set him up for murder, he must now go on the run to clear his name and bring them to justice.

Director: Mark Williams

Cast: Liam Neeson, Kate Walsh, Robert Patrick, Anthony Ramos, Jeffrey Donovan, Jai Courtney

Release Date: October 16, 2020

Genre: Action, Crime, Drama

Rated PG-13 for strong violence, crude references and brief strong language

Runtime: 1 h 39 min

Review:

Honest Thief serves as a fine encapsulation of Liam Neeson’s late career action star turn.  The main issue is this entry lacks any real flair or gusto, instead it all feels kind of perfunctory.  Mark Williams seems to come from the generic filmmaking school since the film is impressively bland and generic.  Liam Neeson goes through the motions while still trying to infuse some gravitas to the proceedings.  The main issue is that the characters are all so thinly written that there is only so much these actors can do with them.  Kate Walsh is given the thankless love interest role that seems to just go along with all the increasingly insane situations with nary a question or concern.  Jai Courtney character is so over the top that the only thing he’s missing is a villainous mustache to twirl throughout the film.  Those expecting some Taken style action to cover up the script’s failings will be left wanting since there’s not much to be found.  Honest Thief seems tailor made for that random mindless cable watching when you put zero effort into your entertainment choices.

C

Cindy Prascik's Review of The Boys In The Band

 

Dear reader(s): Last weekend offered no real excuse for getting out to the cinema, but fortunately my friendly neighborhood streaming services had me covered. On my agenda: The Boys in the Band.

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

In late 1960s New York City, eight gay friends gather for the worst birthday party ever.

Netflix' the Boys in the Band is a remake of the 1970 film of the same name. Anyone who watches this space regularly won't waste time wondering whether I bothered to revisit the original before opining on its successor; of course I did not. This updated rendering features the company of the Tony Award-winning 2018 revival of the off-Broadway groundbreaker from 1968.

The Boys in the Band takes place in a time when homosexuality was still outlawed, and even dancing or socializing with a partner of the same sex could get a person thrown in jail. The whole thing should feel very dangerous, but, sadly, this telling is mostly missing the feel of another era. Excepting Zachary Quinto's unfortunate hairstyle, the movie feels more like a modern story with characters who are into retro fashion, which leaves the film with less edge than it could have had. Jim Parsons enjoys the most screen time, but his is an unsympathetic take on an abrasive character. Also on the character note (back to the actors later), the question I kept asking myself was: "Why do these people even hang out together?" Their disdain for one another is obvious, and it only becomes more so the more they drink. The underlying theme of self-loathing is critical to the story, but most of these people seem to hate each other more than they hate themselves. A few characters ultimately prove decent and aware enough to start trying to repair the damage, but - given the things that are said and done throughout - it feels like too little, too late. There's an nasty awkwardness to the whole that makes it a difficult watch, BUT...

Difficult or not, the Boys in the Band is definitely a worthwhile watch, for a number of reasons. The cast is so good I'd be hard-pressed to pick a standout. Zachary Quinto is an obvious choice, but Robin de Jesus is also terrific, and on- and off-screen couple Andrew Rannells and Tuc Watkins are heart-wrenching. The extraordinary Matt Bomer is a bit underused. Understandable, since his character doesn't feed into any of the major conflicts, but disappointing because featuring him more prominently might have made the whole an easier watch. (And not just because Matt Bomer is quite easy to watch, if ya know what I mean.) For whatever reason, we humans tend to be fascinated by others' trials, and here there is an aspect of watching something awful unfold without risk of being dragged into it personally...rather like reading all 500 comments in a Facebook argument among people you don't know! Finally, while the impact of this play in the late 1960s must have been monumental, it continues to carry a feeling of immense release and freedom. Seeing a story that reflects your own - warts and all - is an all too uncommon experience for many. I'm reminded of a moment when the the National Tour of Rent stopped in my city a few years back. As the theatre emptied out after the show, two people stood at the front for the longest time, crying and hugging each other, so deeply moved they were oblivious to anything around them. Long before Rent, the Boys in the Band would have been the first time many folks had seen someone like themselves on page, stage, or screen, and that emotion runs through even its bitchiest moments. 

The Boys in the Band runs 121 minutes and is rated R for "sexual content, language, some graphic nudity, and drug use."

The Boys in the Band isn't a perfect movie by any means, but its fantastic cast and emotional wallop make for worthwhile viewing. Of a possible nine Weasleys, the Boys in the Band gets seven.

The Boys in the Band is now streaming on Netflix.

Until next time...

MOVIE REVIEW: POSSESSOR UNCUT

 

An elite assassin uses brain-implant technology to inhabit other people's bodies.

Director: Brandon Cronenberg

Cast: Andrea Riseborough, Christopher Abbott, Rossif Sutherland, Tuppence Middleton, Sean Bean, Jennifer Jason Leigh

Release Date: October 2, 2020

Genre: Horror, Sci-Fi, Thriller

Unrated

Runtime: 1 h 43 min

Review:

Possessor Uncut is shocking sci-fi thriller from Brandon Cronenberg which shows him following in his father’s footsteps.  His film has a disquieting feel from its opening frames but it quickly moves to violently gruesome.  The visceral shock of the violence is incredibly pointed since the film doesn’t use it regularly but when it does it’s a sucker punch.  The story itself is ripe for exploration and you’ll be hard pressed if you didn’t notice some similarities to his father’s earlier works.  The film’s visuals are incredibly striking throughout with some shots composed in such a way that they elicit dread without any action occurring.  Andrea Riseborough and Christopher Abbott get the lion’s share of the screen time with the latter carrying the better part of the film.  Abbott is tasked with two roles which are being played out in his mind which sounds like complicated but he makes it work in a believable manner.  It’s an impressive performance which is really a showcase for his talents.  Riseborough doesn’t get nearly as much screen time but when she’s onscreen she leaves a haunting impression.  Cronenberg’s film will never be considered subtle but there are moments where a less is more approach to violence might have worked in the films favor.  Still, Possessor Uncut is the type of mind bender that will stay in genre fans minds long after it’s over.

B

MOVIE REVIEW: AVA

 

An assassin becomes marked for death by her own black ops organization after questioning orders and breaking protocol.

Director: Tate Taylor

Cast: Jessica Chastain, John Malkovich, Common, Geena Davis, Colin Farrell, Ioan Gruffudd, Joan Chen

Release Date: September 25, 2020

Action, Crime, Drama

Rated R for violence and language throughout, and brief sexual material

Runtime: 1h 36m

Review:

Ava has all the hallmarks of Luc Besson’s late career films, a betrayed assassin fighting for survival with extreme prejudice and a bass heavy techno beat playing the background.  Throw in a nonsensical plot and this is the type of movie you probably end up watching during a sleepless night on Showtime simply due to a lack of options.  The oddity here is that this isn’t a Besson film, Tate Taylor directs this overly busy femme fatale cliché minefield, led by some model turned actress instead it stars Jessica Chastain.  Chastain also produced the film which leads me to believe it might be a bit of a vanity project where she could try her hand as an action hero.  As usual, Chastain is the most interesting person on screen and she handles herself well in the action portions of the film, making for a believable killer.  The supporting cast is also filled with name stars all making what’s onscreen far more interesting than it should be.  The main problem is the film’s script is so hackneyed that once you get past Chastain killing 30 armed guards with her bare hands in a spaghetti strapped cocktail dress you start to notice the film and characters are all kind of ridiculous.  Chastain’s character for example doesn’t just have one thing haunting her instead she’s got a bevy of them, she’s an alcoholic, a terrible sister with daddy issues.  The fact that Chastain makes this all passable is a testament of her strength as an actress but by the point you have John Malkovick karate fighting Colin Farrell it’s a bit tough to overlook the issues with the script.  I can’t say Ava isn’t fun in a trashy sort of way because it is in its own way especially watching all the grade A talent slumming it because of a overcooked script.

C+