Hell or High Water - Review

Hell or High Water

Directed by David Mackenzie and written by Taylor Sheridan who pinned screenplays to “Sicario” and the former long running FX series “The Sons of Anarchy”, their new collaborative effort brings us the film “Hell or High Water” which was initially titled “Comancheria”. That name refers to the commonly used expression to describe the dry arid region of West Texas near New Mexico. Historically that area was largely occupied by the Comanche tribe before the 1860s. Now set in modern day this is where the film’s story begins.

Plot: Brothers “Toby” (Chris Pine from Star Trek) and “Tanner” (Ben Foster from 3:10 to Yuma, Alpha Dog and Phone Booth) are close knit, but like all families they are not without their problems in life. Toby is a divorced father who's trying to make a better life for his sons. His brother Tanner is an ex-convict with a bit of a temper and a loose aggressive trigger finger. But even with their occasional displays of sibling rivalry and verbal put downs there is no doubt they love each other and would do anything for one another to keep the family ranch before the bank takes it. They conclude that the only way to prevent their lost is to carefully plan a series of heists against the very bank chain that's about to foreclose on their family ranch.

Standing in their way is a Texas Ranger named Marcus (Jeff Bridges) a gruff, grizzly and gravelly talking man who’s voice alone suggest…………  “Seen that, heard that, done that”. But Ranger Marcus is on the retirement clock, so before these robberies occurred he had hoped he would be on a relative smooth transition to hanging up his badge soon. But as the siblings plot their next robbery, this crafty old lawman gets re-energize by their case and is now not so ready to ride off into the sunset.

Review: Words and expressions like authentic, smart, old fashion, genuine, enormous, in the moment and out right thrilling are the initial thoughts that come to my mind. And while you may have seen several bank robbing movies before, this feels different. Mostly as a result of the writing and the acting which together makes all of these characters feel grounded and realistic in their camaraderie. And whether it is between the two brothers or their pursuers in Ranger Marcus and his partner (half Mexican – half Comanche) Ranger Alberto Parker, the words they direct to one another feel like soft poetry to the movie’s plot. Dialogue that is skillfully put to paper that captures both the real cadence and colloquial conversational rhythms of a western region without being a western tale. Instead “HoHW” is a humanistic tale where the two principle brothers are indeed doing bad things, they are not bad men. They may be wrong for breaking the law, their intentions are not evil. They may be actually criminals of the first order, they are not morally defective or without a conscious.

“HoHW” execution is just terrific from beginning to end. There are moments of real tension and anxiety as well as biting zinging humor with an appropriate amount of current social commentary.  And if that wasn’t enough virtually every visual scene on the screen is breathtaking and gorgeous to look at, along with every conversational exchange memorable to listen to.

Overall this Southwest story is fresh, griping, exciting, tender and honest, as well as at times filled with genuine dramatic action and anger for the entire 1:40 minutes running time. In addition, “HoHW” delivers stellar performances all round including Chris Pine (his best work) and Jeff Bridges as the sarcastic political incorrect Texas Ranger; Oscar nominations could come both their ways. But I do hope the Academy remembers Ben Foster’s performance as the older brother. His work here as “Tanner” was simple scary good as well as “scary and good”.

I swear I wish Hollywood would make more films like this. Films that are able to take us on a thrilling ride through the grandeur of a land that seems wide, spacious and empty; seemingly almost devoid of human activity or life. But just as I found with “HoHW” upon closer examination for the few people who do actually reside in the nooks and crannies of life’s spacious places they too can have as much emotional intimacy and human appeal as any other earthly location.

No spoilers here, just in the first minute - the very first 60 seconds I knew this film would be great. You see the brothers driving up in a Blue Pontiac to rob a bank. On the street they are coming down is a bank and on the other side is a church with three black crucifixes on the wall. The church wall is in plain view even while they are in the bank. My guess, an opening moral metaphor to the film’s overall story, which is no matter how well intentioned the two brothers motives may be, they chose the side of the street that leads to temptation, which in the end haven’t we all in some way or another struggled with that same moral   dilemma at some point in our own lives?

This is the best film I have seen thus far for 2016. Make a point to see it, not through Redbox or through Netflix, but in the theater. Do what you can to get there, come “Hell or High Water” see it, you’ll be glad you did.

4 Stars

Florence Foster Jenkins - Review

Florence Foster Jenkins

Meryl Streep and Hugh Grant are cast in the true story of a very nice, lovely and wealthy woman who was a committed benefactor to the arts and who also equally loved to perform (act). But her larger dream was to one day to be able to sing alone on the big stage, the only problem is she happens to be a very bad singer and doesn’t know it. Still undeterred she hopes to fulfill her enduring lifelong dream of singing at the biggest performance stage of them all; at Carnegie Hall. This is the story of “Florence Foster Jenkins”.

The film itself, "FFJ" takes place around the 1940’s during the backdrop of World War 2 in New York City. It has an enchanting, very funny (appropriately so) and tender quality to its execution about this unique couple’s loving relationship even though at times the relationship operated under an unusual umbrella of secrets and sad personal history.

Overall “FFJ” has an authentic “old” movie feel about it with its carefully crafted rich and subtle details from the customs and wardrobes and musical selections to the overall set design. But while the film may have had a dated quality about it to the visual eye, there is an homage to the importance of social etiquette through the exalting prism of personal virtues that matter then and even today; graciousness, gentleness, dignity, encouragement, respect and sincerity.

Once again, Meryl Streep is absolutely prenominal as Florence as it will probably land her a record 20th Oscar nomination, which is staggering in itself. But perhaps even more surprising is that her co-star in the film, Huge Grant has never even been nominated once. Well, in my opinion he absolutely deserves a Best Supporting Actor Nomination here as the genuinely devoted husband, muse, confidant and best friend to the Mrs. Foster. Hugh Grant was just splendid from the film’s beginning to the emotional and moving finale. He holds his own with Meryl in every frame and much, much more.

‘FFJ” is such a sweet little film to enjoy. I was enthrallingly captivated - enthrallingly charmed.

3 -3/4 Stars

Suicide Squad - Review

Suicide Squad

Principally starring Will Smith as “Deadshot”, Jared Leto as “The Joker” and, Margot Robbie as “Dr. Harleen F. Quinzel aka Harley Quinn”, the highly, highly  anticipated “Suicide Squad” opened this weekend under the unfortunate weight of reviews that were, shall I say not very flattering. Well, I for one was really hoping for a good imaginative piece of new entertainment here, so I chose to buck my pretty reliable “Rotten Tomato opinion score and be the sacrificial lamb to assess this film for myself.   

As you all probably know the plot revolves around an urgent and desperate need by the federal government to assemble a team of the world’s most dangerous, incarcerated Super Villains. Led by a U.S. federal intelligence officer named Amanda Waller (Viola Davis) and group leader Captain Rick Flagg, together they convened this incarcerated criminal group of disparate, despicable individuals with absolutely nothing to lose. They would be provided with the most powerful arsenal at the government’s disposal with the goal of sending this “odd squad” off on a mission to defeat an enigmatic, insuperable entity with the small chance of them of surviving.

REVIEW: The “RT” score of 26 is a tad low in my opinion as I was never really bored. It’s problem is simply with the Director who I think could not squeeze in that many characters into a 2 hour – 10 minute time frame and give them all some degree of plot relevance. So he (Director David Ayer) gave them something to do and say that was forgettable. Analogy speaking, it would be like me stopping to check air pressure on one obvious low tire and then subsequently stop and checking all four tires every five miles for pressure just because you want the other 3 tires to get some attention. The result is a chaotic hodge-podge of action scenes that really never take you anywhere of importance and dialogue of supporting cast who have absolutely no real importance to the overall film, the overall moment or the overall plot itself…………..Suicide Squad is burdened by being a squad.

WHAT THEY SHOULD HAVE DONE was have the story evolve around Will Smith, Margot Robbie and Jared Leto characters and then I believe you would have had a more interesting and thrilling effort.

Smith and Robbie had natural chemistry together and Leto was a good enough Joker (Heath Ledger Joker is still the best ever). Smith in particular had some smart, funny and interesting scenes – he was very engaging and seemed real. The result was his acting created the much depth and humanity to this film that was severely lacking throughout. Smith was especially effective when he and Robbie’s character were engaged in funny sarcastic banter aka “Harley Quin” and vice versa to his “Deadshot”. NOTE TO FUTURE CONSIDERATION, Smith’s “Deadshot” has enough depth where a real movie could actually revolve solely around him.

Overall “SS” is forgettable. Mostly because it’s just visually messy from the weight of way too many fire fights, too many moving parts and too many humans and “things” that don’t add up to much – just too many supporting “SS” characters you end up caring less about. Structurally SS feels terribly bloated by a screenplay that awkwardly transitions into frantic kinetic action sequences as a substitute for real emotional substance.

If there is a sequel I would offer to the producers the following suggestion. First there is a lot of promise in this odd ball group of miscreants working meaningfully well together but I suggest they just pair it down to 3 bat “sh%t crazy” personalities as they purse a good cause. And secondly get a better Director and screen writer who won’t treat the promise of a good idea as “business as usual - throw up against the wall - see if something sticks” format.

“Suicide Squad”, there are some hints of a better movie here but you have to be smarter next time not to overloaded it for it to ultimately materialized. Sometimes less is more.

2 – 1/2 Stars

Jason Bourne - Review

Jason Bourne

It’s only appropriate that the film “Jason Bourne” starts out with him bareknuckle boxing, somewhere in remote Greece probably not too far from where we first saw him floating in the Mediterranean in ‘The Bourne Identity”. After all it has been his boxing skills, plus a high IQ and quick agility to extricate  and escape impossible circumstances that overall has made the JB series one of the more perplexing and popular espionage film characters.

So with this array of well-developed and honed attributes we have followed the gone rogue CIA agent for 12 years now as he attempts to survive on the run from a range of international assassins under the authority of the CIA who simply want him (for better or worse) dead.  And if you exclude that cinematic hiccup in 2012 starring Jeremy Brenner in “The Bourne Legacy” playing  a similar  super CIA Agent on the run named Aaron Cross, the overall legacy of 3 of the 4 “Bourne films” have had Matt Damon at the helm with the results always being spectacular, thrilling and smart entertainment. So, you ask what has Jason been up to.

PREMISE: Starring Matt Damon, Tommy Lee Jones, recent Oscar winner Alicia Vikander (The Danish Girl), and Vincent Cassel (Ocean 13 and The Black Swan) it’s been nine years after his disappearance from New York at the conclusion of The Bourne Ultimatum. In 2016 we find Jason Bourne unexpectedly resurfacing at a time when the world is faced with unprecedented instability through the back drop of US agencies wrestling with the need for national security at all cost verses personal privacy at all cost. At the same time, a new program has been created to hunt Jason down while he is still trying to find all the answers to his past and family, which as in the past has essentially left him without answers as to who he was and who he is now.

REVIEW: It’s so good to see this franchise revived at the hands of Director Paul Greengrass who directed Supremacy and Ultimatum. From the onset Greengrass appropriately makes it clear our Jason is a weary and tired man as he looks like someone worn down from having to look over his shoulders 24 -7 with advancing gray hair and wrinkles around the eyes. Jason is approaching middle age before our eyes.

But in short order Greengrass takes us on a typical Bourne chase sequence about 30 minutes into the film with the intent (I guess) of capturing the same brilliant chaotic crispness and magical intrigue from the previous films. Instead it felt like a simple retread from “The Bourne Ultimatum’ boarding purely on “Bourne Redundancy”. And yet after that minor miscue the film does settle down to be better than it started. Why?

Well, because of Matt Damon of course, which makes the Jason Bourne film the best action thriller I have seen this year. And while it is not as edgy in the past – maybe not as passionate in the past and in fact even a bit more subdued than in the past, it still works.

Yeah I know Rotten Tomato has it underwater with a score of 59, but for me it still has terrific chase sequences, terrific fight scenes, smart uses of cyber technology and a smart easy plot pace to follow. And while some scene transitions seem a bit out laddish just like in “Star Trek Beyond” it is still just fun to watch.

Furthermore Damon owns the DNA of this character as the laconic, restless, emotionally wounded and personally conflicted Jason Bourne. He is like a “Dark Knight” figure of real flesh and blood minus any reliance on a bullet proof fancy suit or a souped up car or unusual electronic devices to help him survive. It’s all mental acuity and physical instincts on full display with JB and a concise and precise joy to see.

Ultimately with all of the previous Bourne efforts, its all about Jason. Why, because we root for someone who seems underneath like a good guy inspite of the fact the entire world seems to want him dead.

See Jason Bourne – “The Bourne Remastered”.

3 – 1/2 Stars

MOVIE SEQUELS GREENLIGHTED FOR PRODUCTION

MOVIE SEQUELS GREENLIGHTED FOR PRODUCTION

 

Alien: Covenant / Prometheus 2

Alien: Covenant 2 / Prometheus 3

Alien: Covenant 3 /Prometheus 4

Alien 5 (Sigourney Weaver and Michael Biehn – Picks up after 1986 Aliens)

Avatar 2

Avatar 3

Avatar 4

Avatar 5

Bad Boys 3 and 4

Bad Santa 2

Beetlejuice 2

Beverly Hills Cop 4

Bill & Ted 3

Blade Runner 2

Cars 3

Cheech and Chong

Chronicles of Narnia: The Silver Chair

Chucky 7

Clerks III

Deadpool 2

Despicable Me 3

Die Hard 6 / Die Hard: Year One

District 10 (aka District 9)

Dodgeball 2

Edge of Tomorrow 2

The Equalizer 2

Fast & Furious 8

Fifty Shades Darker/Fifty Shades Freed

Frozen 2

G.I. Joe 3

Godzilla 2

Godzilla Vs King Kong

Goonies 2

Gremlins 3

Guardians of the Galaxy 2

Halloween Returns

Hellboy III

High School Musical 4

Hotel Transylvania 3

How to Train Your Dragon 3

The Incredibles 2

Indiana Jones 5

Jack Reacher 2

John Wick: Chapter Two

The Jungle Book 2

Jurassic World 2

Jurassic World 3

Kingsman: The Golden Circle

Kingsman: The Secret Service 3

Layer Cake 2

The Legend of Conan

Mad Max 5

Mary Poppins 2

Men in Black 4

Mission: Impossible 6

Predator 4 - The Predator

Rambo: Last Blood

Riddick 4

Rounders 2

Rush Hour 4

Salt 2

Sicario 2 confirmed as Soldado.

Spaceballs 2

Space Jam 2 (Lebron James)

Stargate 2 - 4

Star Wars: Episode VIII and IX

Taken 4

Terminator: Genisys 2 and 3

Thor 3

Three Stooges 2

Top Gun 2

Toy Story 4

Trainspotting 2

Transformers 5, 6, 7, & 8

Triplets (Schwarzenegger, DeVito and E. Murphy are biological brothers)

TRON 3

Underworld: Next Generation

The Wolverine 3

World War Z 2

Wreck-It Ralph 2

xXx 3

Zombieland 2

Zootropolis 2

Star Trek Beyond - Review

Star Trek Beyond

On the occasion of its 50^th anniversary, for some of us who are old enough to remember the very first episode, I reflect with the common refrain “who knew”?

"Who knew” back in 1966 a seemingly unusual fictional story about an eclectic array of international earthlings and peaceful neighboring space aliens would come together as space travelers for a show titled “Star Trek. A future concept show that would eventually become one of the most “fascinating”, smart, and forward thinking franchises about space exploration in TV and feature film history?

“Who knew” that it’s base story of a crew of navy pilots, scientists, doctors and engineers, under the collective umbrella called the “The Federation” would all come together to “seek out new life and new civilizations” with a faster than light  glamorous Star Ship named “Enterprise”.

“Who knew” this fictional idea would come from the creative imaginative mind of a man from El Paso Texas named Gene Roddenberry. A man who majored in Police Sciences at LA’s City College, who joined the Air Force College, who obtained a pilot's license, who enlisted and graduated from the US Army Air Corp as a commissioned second lieutenant and who was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal. 

“Who knew” after flying for Pan American World Airways he resigned to pursue his dream of writing for the new medium called “television” that would lead him in 1964 to pushing an idea in the form of a sixteen-page pitch. A pitch that was not well received by many executives but was given a chance by a famed female comedienne and her production company to produce the science concept into a weekly show.

“Who knew”, that after its cancellation in only 3 seasons, the show lived on in re-runs with devoted fan commitment to it characters reaching cult like fervor and dedication. An alliance so strong that by the shear will of their enthusiasm alone helped re-imagined the TV series 12 years later as a feature film and subsequently 12 more films and 7 TV spin off series.

“Who knew”, that its combined film box office would reach $3.1 billion. And with that we see the 13^th installment called “Star Trek Beyond”,……….. “Who knew” it would be so much fun.  

MY REVIEW: OK, hold your Warp speed folks, hardcore Trekkers, Trekaholics or whatever you call yourself. This “ST Beyond” is not in the traditional dark, gloom – doom and dire dramatic story line format. We – you can tell that things will turn out just OK in the end long before its ending. So, there is no real deep seeded cryptic mystery buried inside the plot to be revealed at the very end. No, the joy of this film lies in its basic simplicity laid down by its new Director Justin Lin, known for his work in the “The Fast and the Furious” franchise films. It is also helped along with its new screenwriter Simon Pegg who also plays Chief Engineer Lieutenant Commander Montgomery Scott. Together their talents offer up a plot that keeps it simple…………..someone wants to destroy humans.

Now the real plot is this; the crew of the USS Enterprise, halfway into their five-year mission, are attacked by a seemingly unstoppable wave of unknown aliens that look like swarming “metal bees” that force the crew to abandon ship. Stranded on an unknown rocky surface planet and with no apparent means of being rescued, the crew find themselves in conflict with a new and ruthless enemy named “Krall” (Idris Elba). THAT”S IT.  Now there are some interesting subplots involving Kirk and Spock and Spock and Ambassador Spock (Leonard Nimoy) on a personal level but I would not spoil that bit of mild melodrama for you.

Running just over 2 hours, “STB” is for people who simply want to have fun at the movies again. The same way Lucas and Spielberg collaborated in “Raiders of the Lost Ark”. We didn’t care if Indiana Jones could or couldn’t crawl underneath a moving truck to get back inside to fight the villain at the wheel. NO, we only cared that it looked like fun watching him do it. STB follows the same blueprint.

To his credit Director Jin realized that part of this film as with any other highly visual story you have to keep pushing the envelope about what the future may actually look like. Jin makes good use of computer technology to imagine a Starbase called Yorktown as an intricately elaborate port of call for recreation and refurbishing of the Enterprise. IT’S VERY COOL.

Jin also gives the Enterprise itself more air time than Director JJ Abrams previous efforts. There is one brief scene of the ship going to warp speed with an interesting bit of a ‘Go-Pro” point of view…………….. VERY COOL. You also see the ship in full warp speed that seems to be peeling its way through the cold “dark matter” of interstellar space…………..Again very brief, but VERY COOL.

But Jin’s best directing gift to this new effort is that it’s just enjoyable to watch. It’s playful with itself with fast paced action that is well connected and overall is relaxing to be immersed in. And central to this story is it’s not just about the relationship of Kirk and Spock as its primary focus. Rather this plot involves the entire crew as the POV where everyone’s life on the ship have consequences, have meaning – that all of them matter.  

Now, “Beyond” is not without flaws. Star Trek historically always has done a delicate dance between the general technological plausible verses the not so plausible. And yet somehow as fans we always manage to simply look pass what seems at that moment something so convenient to be able to do “just in the nick of time”. In Jin’s “Beyond” on a few occasions he lays the technology “savior buttons and devices” on a bit too thick for my taste. Also, there are some battle scenes that at times are so frantic you literally may lose perspective on exactly what side of the screen are the good guys verses the bad guys; but does it really matter? NO, this is Star Trek.

With snappy new uniforms and new technology gizmos to see, Director Jin ultimately re-captures the full nostalgia of Roddenberry’s original vision I referenced above. That being Gene’s genius vison of a show that was smart, rooted in science and thinks about the future with a swashbuckling adventurous appeal.  

“Star Trek Beyond” reverts very nicely back to what was old in 1966 without really reinventing itself completely and in the end makes this new saga and its familiar characters feel authentically new, inventively smart and funny and invariably just fresh to see again.

“Star Trek Beyond”…, “Who knew” that once again we get to “boldly go where no one has gone before” with the fabulous crew of the Enterprise NCC 1701.

3 -1/2 Stars

Ghostbusters 2016 - Review

Ghostbusters 2016

Fans have been clamoring for 2+ decades for another sequel to the 1984 blockbuster comedy “Ghostbuster”. So it’s no real surprise that it has finally come to fruition with the original cast member Dan Aykroyd taking his turn as the Executive Producer of this effort, along with Director Paul Feig, whose resume is more note-worthy from directing successful TV shows ranging from the acclaimed AMC’s Madmen to The Office, Parks and Recreation and Arrested Development. Collectively the two men are combining their talents and achievements to help guide the new 3^rd reboot of the iconic film with the much heralded idea of an all-female cast in “Ghostbusters 2016”.

This time out we have paranormal researcher Abby Yates (Melissa McCarthy) and physicist Erin Gilbert (Kristen Wiig) who are desperately trying to prove to metropolitan locals that ghosts really exist in modern society. When strange apparitions appear in Manhattan, Gilbert and Yates turn to engineer Jillian Holtzmann (current SNL’s Kate McKinnon) for help, along with Patty Tolan (current SNL’s Leslie Jones), who is a lifelong street smart New Yorker who knows the city inside and out. Together they armed themselves with proton packs and plenty of attitude, the four women set out to prepare for an epic battle as thousands of mischievous spooky and slimy green ghouls descend on Times Square to frighten and “scare the bejeebers” (means “mental soundness and wits) out of everyone.

My review: Well, it’s not insanely boring but I also promise you this. If you should see this film, then somewhere in the time it takes you to leave your theater seat to the time it takes for you to get to your car to go home, you will be unable to recall one single memorable scene, one single unique ghost, one memorable quote or one unforgettable special effect that was redeemable to share with friends.

You then add a silly array of needless acting cameos and homages, along with mediocre special effects, I say why bother to see this in the theater. Just wait for it to come to cable – free basic cable. So, as the quoted line goes, “Who you’re going to call? No one.

To the Hollywood Executives, I am just a fan, so I don’t have your inside knowledge for what it takes to making a great movie or making big deals.  But if you are sitting around in a board room 12 months from now trying to collectively conjure up new plot ideas for films and someone utters the suggestion of another Ghostbuster sequel (which this latest version leaves open that real possibility), my advice to you all is this…………….. “The power of Lester compels you to just let the dead (Ghosts) rest in peace”.

2 - 1/4 Stars