TRON: Ares

When "Tron" was released back in 1982, it was considered a film with amazing cutting edge technology. So with a huge box office draw, Disney, of course, took advantage of those profits, and then produced "Tron: Legacy" in 2010. It obviously wasn't as strong as its predecessor, so another sequel was quelled. But because of public input, Disney finally decided to release "Tron: Ares", and although this installment isn't as well thought as its original, itr was better than 'Legacy'. 

"TRON: Ares" follows a highly sophisticated Program, Ares (Jared Leto), who is sent by his creator, Julian Dillinger (Evan Peters) from the digital world into the real world on a dangerous mission, marking humankind's first encounter with A.I. beings. Encom, Dillinger's rival company has found a way to make the A.I. beings last longer than 90 minutes, Eve Kim (Greta Lee) being the creator of this amazing program. So, her having this information, Dillinger wants it tremendously so he can make an incredible profit. 

Others to round out the cast are Arturo Castro as Seth Flores, Gillian Anderson as Elizabeth Dillinger, Julian's mother, Jeff Bridges as Kevin Flynn, Jodie Turner-Smith as Athena, Hasan Minhaj as Ajay Singh, Cameron Monaghan as Caius and Sarah Desjardins as Erin. 

This was intensely directed with grit by Joachim Ronning ("Bandidas" '06, "Max Manus: Man of War" '08, "Kon-Tiki" '12, "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales" '17, "Doomsday" (TV movie) '17, "Maleficent: Mistress of Evil" '19, "Young Woman and the Sea" '24) plus TV and shorts. What's extremely refreshing about this filmmaker is that he can handle the much size and complexity of a large big-budget film, as with this film, but also he can easily be as comfortable in manning the direction of a smaller production such as "Young Woman and the Sea", which was a very well executed film. It was written with the similarity of its predecessors by Jesse Wigutow ("It Runs in the Family" '03, "The Prince" (TV movie) '15) plus TV and shorts, based on a story by David DiGilio ans Jesse Wigutow, which is based on characters created by Steven Lisberger and Bonnie MacBird. "Tron: Legacy" incorporated two screenwriters for the script, which typically can be effective. However, this installment involved only one screenwriter which can make the story more adhesive and tighter, which made this a better script than that of 'Legacy". It was interesting how this writer was able to incorporate Kevin Flynn (Bridges) into this installment as well as 'Legacy', since the original chronicled Flynn and his issues with the grid. Other than a couple of small inconsistencies in script, this story soared. It did take a little time to get the story going, but once it did, it was much more entertaining. The visual effects, predominantly designed by ILM (Industrial, Light & Magic) were stunning, as was the cinematography by Jeff Cronenweth asc!

If you are an ardent fan of this franchise, you'll revel with this. It definitely does leave the door open for yet another sequel--assuming it makes a truck load of money. If you like the up, close and personal feel, it is presented in an IMAX and a 3D format as well. Assuming you want to see this, you must see it on the big screen to get the full grandiose feeling of it. 

Out of 4 Stars: 3.5                                     Rated: PG-13                             119mins.

The Smashing Machine

Films based on true stories have been a common staple in Hollywood for decades. And with this, sports films based on true stories have grown. And even more to the point, boxing/wrestling films have become more popularized. Films like "Rocky", "Creed", "The Fighter", "Southpaw", "Raging Bull" have captured audiences. So to keep that list growing list,  we have "The Smashing Machine" in the offing. 

This film is based on the unforgettable true story of Dwayne Johnson portraying the former MMA/UFC champion Mark Kerr. This surrounds Kerr's life with his girlfriend, Dawn Staples (Emily Blunt), his coach and friend, Mark Coleman (Ryan Bader) and others, and his rise through the MMA world which unfortunately ended up being derailed by his opioid addiction. This part of his life was set between the years of 1997-2000 where he was to ultimately vie for the coveted top wrestler of the world being telecast in Japan. 

Others to round out the cast are Bas Rutten as himself, Oleksandr Usyk as Igor Vovchanchyn, Andre Tricoteux as Paul Varelans, James McSweeney as Varelans' cornerman, Jerin Valel as Sergio Batarelli. Jill Basey as Peggy, Ilan Rosenberg as Colema's cornerman and Yasuko Mitsuura as Pride Director. 

This was creatively directed by Benny Safdie ("Daddy Longlegs" '09, "Buttons" '11, "Lenny Cooke" '13, "Heaven Knows What" '14, "Good Time" '17, "Uncut Gems" '19) plus shorts and music videos. The amazing quality that this filmmaker has is his innate ability to give a stark and painstakingly vivid approach to his projects. This film was almost approached as though it was a documentary even though it obviously was not--via the photography, editing (which he also edited) and the staging. It definitely made the production much more real than it would've been otherwise. If you like his directing style, his "Lizard Music" is in pre-production. The film was also written with grit and intensity by Benny Safdie ("Daddy Lonhlegs" '09, "Uncut Gems" '19) plus shorts and a music video. Even though he has only two other feature films to his credit, his shorts has certainly served him well. His "Uncut Gems" was remarkable; not only for Safdie, but Adam Sandler as well, who should perform in more dramas. This. like the direction was formatted in a way that the audience was watching the layout of a documentary, or at least a reality show. It was like peering into the lives of Kerr and all he knows. It will be interesting to see how he handles his "Lizard Music" which, as aforementioned, is in pre-production. And being the editor of this film only helped him to convey the feel of the film in order to convince the audience of who this man truly is. It was shot well by Maceo Bishop and the acting by Johnson could possibly garner a nomination for him come Oscar time--it was stunning!

If you like biopics or sports films, or more to the point, boxing/wrestling films, this is one film you must see. The acting, directing and photography are all first rate. Other that a couple of very small areas of inconsistencies in script, this screenplay soared. 

Out of 4 Stars: 3.5                                      Rated: R                                          123mins.

 

Dead of Winter

Hollywood has produced many genres, but the genre of the thriller can be quite exciting yet entertaining depending on how it's crafted. We've seen many: "Pacific Heights", "Shutter Island", "Psycho", "Drop", "Locked", "Prisoners", "Seven""Gone Girl", "Panic Room" "Life"to mention a handful. So, when I saw the first trailer of "Dead of Winter", I felt it would keep me on the edge of my seat, and it did. 

Hit by a blizzard, a grief-stricken loner, Barb (Emma Thompson) gets lost among the backroads near a Minnesotan lake and stops for help at a remote cabin in the woods so she can do some ice fishing. While at the cabin, she discovers a young woman, Leah (Laurel Marsden) kidnapped by a desperate couple, (Judy Greer and Marc Menchaca) who are armed and intent on murder. Isolated and without cell phone service, this unlikely hero realizes she is the woman's only hope of survival. Can she save her?

Others to round out the cast are Gaia Wise as young Barb, Cuan Hosty-Blaney as young Karl, Barb's husband in earlier years, Brian F. O'Byrne as tall hunter, Dalton Leeb as younger hunter, Lloyd Hutchinson as a lawyer and Paul Hamilton as old Karl. 

This was directed with sheer grit and intensity by Brian Kirk ("Middletown" '06, "My Boy Jack" (TV movie) '07, "Gilded Lilys" (TV movie) '13, "21 Bridges" '19) plus TV and shorts. This filmmaker certainly knows how to put his actors in that intense, volatile situation that exudes a frightful and thrilling format. His "21 Bridges" was also truly intense in almost every scene whereas the star, Chadwick Boseman's character  was consistently perplexed in so many scenes. It was interestingly written by Nicholas Jacobson-Larson (Composing) and Dalton Leeb (Acting). This film, considering these writers have no other writing experience (whether feature films or TV), this was executed decently all the while keeping the audience on the edge on their proverbial seats. Where the issues ensued was that there were places where situations either weren't explained in detail enough or not at all. And there were places that physically couldn't be done. I would list the situations, but they would cause spoiler alerts. Suffice it to say that the script needed polish. Was it a wash? No, not at all. The acting by Thompson and Greer were consummate, and, as aforementioned, this yarn definitely kept the audience on the edge of their seats. These writers certainly have potential--they just need more work. The cinematography by Christopher Ross bsc was truly shot with a great deal of cool tones which added that cold temperature feeling which was prevalent throughout the film. 

If you're into thrillers with an underlying mystery feel to it, you'll like this film. It was well acted, directed and shot, but the writers do have promise. They, like I said, simply need more work, and with that, they will be able to hone their talent that much more. It's bone-chilling, so worthy of the price of admission. 

Out of 4 Stars: 2.5                                   Rated: R                                         98mins.

Downtown Abbey: The Grand Finale

As the title of this film indicates, "Downtown Abbey: The Grand Finale" is the third and final installment of this franchise. Of course, if it makes a hefty profit, I'm sure yet another will be in the works. This is based on characters created by Julian Fellows and decided to put the TV series in the format of films starting back in 2019. Six years later, this is a neatly produced ending.

This film is the cinematic return of the global franchise, follows the Crawley family, including Robert Grantham (Hugh Bonneville), Cora Grantham (Elizabeth McGovern), Lady Mary Talbot (Michelle Dockery), Lady Edith Hexham (Laura Carmichael), Lady Petersfield (Joely Richardson), etc,  and their staff including Mr. Carson (Jim Carter), Daisy Parker (Sophie McShera), Andy Parker (Michael Fox), etc, as they enter the 1930s. When Mary finds herself at the center of a public scandal and the family faces financial trouble, the entire household grapples with the threat of social disgrace. The Crawleys must embrace change as the staff prepares for a new chapter with the next generation leading Downtown Abbey into the future.

Others to round out the cast are Joanne Froggatt as Anna Bates, Alessandro Nivola as Gus Sambrook, Dominic West as Guy Dexter, Paul Giamatti as Harold Levinson, Arty Froushan as Noel Coward, Allen Leech as Tom Branson, Robert James-Collier as Thomas Barrow and Phyllis Logan as Mrs. Hughes. 

This was crisply and staged and paced well by Simon Curtis ("My Week with Marilyn" '11, "Woman in Gold" '15, "Goodbye Christopher Robin" '17, "The Art of Racing in the Rain" '19, "Downtown Abbey: A New Era" '22) plus TV movies, TV and a video. Even though this filmmaker has been directing feature films since 2011, his resume is quite impressive to say the least. His ability to allow these actors to dig deep in order to make these characters come alive is consummate and this is the true mark of fine directing. It was solidly written by Julian Fellowes ("Gosford Park" '01, "Vanity Fair" '04, "Piccadilly Jim"'04, "Separate Lies" '05, "The Young Victoria" '09, "The Tourist" '10, "Romeo & Juliet" '13, "Crooked House" '17, "The Chaperone" '18, "School of Rock" '18, "Downtown Abbey" '19, "Downtown Abbey: A new Era"'22) plus TV, TV movies and a book, based on the TV series "Downtown Abbey" created by Julian Fellowes. This script was structured very similarly as the previous films of the same name, but because they were also penned by Fellowes, it would make sense. Other than a couple of areas that had continuity issues, this was what any fan of this series would expect. It, like its predecessors, are written in a sophisticated 'soap opera' approach, , but I feel that is purposed to give it that entertaining feel. 

This is supposed to be the third and last of the franchise, but will it be, especially if it makes a ton of money for Focus Features? Not sure, but there have been other franchises that, after they ended the franchise, still made more films because of the profit factor--'Jurassic World' comes to mind. We'll see, but this ended well with a nicely tied up closing. Why spoil it? Of course, this film didn't include Maggie Smith since she unfortunately passed away. But this was still strong considering her absence. 

Out of 4 Stars: 3                                     Rated: PG                                      124mins.

 

A Big Bold Beautiful Journey

When it comes to the genre of fantasy, they are typically original in their premise which makes them a refreshing change from the typical sequel, franchise, remake, reboot and the like. The originality of them attracts me, and so when I saw my first trailer of "A Big Bold Beautiful Journey", my first thought was that this film was definitely possible, and I was right. 

Some doors bring you to your past. Some doors lead you to your future. And some doors change everything. Sarah (Margot Robbie) and David (Colin Farrell) are single strangers who meet at a mutual friend's wedding and soon, through the guidance of a GPS (Jodie Turner-Smith) and a surprising twist of fate find themselves on A Big Bold Beautiful Journey--a funny, fantastical, sweeping adventure together where they get to re-live important moments from their respective pasts, illuminating how they got to where they are in the present...and possibly getting a chance to alter their futures.

Others to round out the cast are Phoebe Waller-Bridge as Female Cashier, Kevin Kline as The Mechanic, Lily Rabe as Sarah's mother, Jennifer Grant as David's mother, Hamish Linklater as David's father, Lucy Thomas as Amanda, Brandon Perea as Mike, Julian Zane as Eddie Bora and Joyce Guy as Doctor Vernon. 

This was directed with pathos and compassion by Kogonada ("Lunch Line" (co-director) '10, "Late Summer" '12, "Columbus" '17, "After Yang" '21) plus TV, shorts and videos. The way this filmmaker was able to encourage his actors, specifically Farrell and Robbie, to show how they just happen to meet where this was purely a setup was genius. The chemistry between these two actors was amazing and this is talented directing. This was whimsically written by Seth Reiss ("The Menu" '22) plus a plethora of TV and shorts. Even though this writer has only one feature film to his credit, he has a ton of TV and shorts which have served him well. His feature film, "The Menu" was a film that was obscure and quirky which, like this film, was an original piece of work. This film was fresh, concise, cohesive and tight all rolled into a completely entertaining way. As aforementioned, the chemistry was truly effective between Farrell and Robbie which is the mark of creative, effective writing. Being a fantasy, one must put aside a good amount of reality in order to enjoy this story, because it simply doesn't go by the usual norm. The story becomes poignant at different aspects of the film whereas both David and Sarah are pushed to confront their issues and therefore slowly become intertwined with each other. This script is complex in some ways, however definitely simple in others, and this is another compelling intriguing feature of the film. 

If you like fantasies, this is one you will truly love. It's got reality that becomes intertwined with fantasy which, in my book, makes this more captivating and enticing. And with all the films out there that are ripoffs of one another, it is incredibly refreshing to see a film that is original yet entertaining all in the same film.

Out of 4 Stars: 4                                 Rated: R                                      109mins.

The Senior

Hollywood has been producing sports films for decades, and more to the point, football films have been a common staple for filmmaking. Films like "Any Given Sunday", "The Longest Yard", "North Dallas Forty", "Leatherheads", "American Underdog", "Invincible" and others are movies an audience can revel with. And now we have "The Senior" in the offing to revel once again.

2007. At 59 years old, Mike Flynt (Michael Chiklis) may be too old to be on a college football field, but not too old to feel the weight of unfinished business. After nearly four decades, in this film based on a true story, he returns to his alma mater to take the hit that changed everything. Bruised, doubted, and nearly broken, he pushes for one more game, not for glory, but for the teammates he lost, the family he fractured, and the ending he still believes is possible. Through the support of his wife, Eileen (Mary Stuart Masterson), his coach, Sam Weston (Rob Corddry), his teammates, Jeremy Cartwright (Corey Knight), Jamal Johnson (Terayle Hill), Fernie Acosta (Chris Setticase), and even his son, Micah (Brandon Flynn), and others, Mike was able to get to that place of realizing who he was and who was truly on his side. 

Others to round out the cast are James Badge Dale as J.V. Flynt, Mike's father, Shawn Patrick Clifford as 22-year-old Mike, Taylor Fono as 18-year-old Eileen, Gail Cronauer as Pat Flynt, Mike's mother, Steven Van Tiflin as Kyle and Lance Allen Kramer as Randy.

This was directed with pathos and grit by Rod Lurie ("Deterrence" '99, "The Contender" 2000, "The Last Castle" '01, Resurrecting the Champ" '07, "I'm Paige Wilson" (TV movie) '07, "Speechless" (TV movie) '08, "Nothing But the Truth" '08, "Straw Dogs" '11, "The Surgeon General" (TV movie) '13, "Killing Reagan" (TV movie) '16, "Monsters of God" (TV movie) '17, "The Outpost" '19) plus TV and shorts. Certainly a fair amount of the films this director has helmed have had a similar feel to them, but he knows what genre and subject matter works for him and can't be blamed for that. His ability to encourage his actors to dig deep to find those characteristics for their roles is amazing, and this film is no exception. Chiklis gave a riveting performance as this ex-football player wanting and needing to redeem himself by, after all these years, to re-invest himself back on the gridiron. It was equally well penned by writer Robert Eisele ("Breach of Contract" '82, "Last Night" (TV movie) '93, "Vanishing Son" (TV movie) '95, "The Great Debaters" '07, "Hurricane Season" '09) plus other TV movies, TV and a video. By the sheer amount of films this writer has been involved with, he is certainly a seasoned writer and has proven himself with a tight, cohesive script which this film has. It was sequenced well and was able to bring his audience the knowledge of this real person and what he had to endure in his life. 

If you like football and/or films based on true stories, this is the film for you. It has it all: drama, fear, humor, pathos, and redemption all rolled up in an amazing story about this aged athlete ready to make a comback--this is the quintessential underdog film where it creates a want from the audience to stand up and cheer, and isn't this a film we all could use right now?

Out of 4 Stars: 4                                       Rated: PG                                            100mins.

The Long Walk

Usually when a film is based on any work of Stephen King, I have a tendency to skip it, predominantly because his work is typically too gratuitously violent. However his "Misery" and "1408" were the exceptions. They were very suspenseful--kept one on the edge of their seat, but not really violent. Well, "The Long Walk" is basically the same in that, yes there was blood, but not gratuitously so, and that speaks volumes for King. 

In the near future, where America has become a police state, one hundred young men including Raymond Garraty (Cooper Hoffman), Pete McVries (David Jonsson), Stebbins (Garrett Wareing), Art Baker (Tut Nyuot), Gary Barkovitch (Charlie Plummer), Hank Olson (Ben Wang) and others are selected to enter an annual contest where the winner will be awarded whatever he wants for the rest of his life. The game is simple--maintain a steady walking pace of at least three miles per hour without stopping. Three warnings of slowing down or stopping, and you're out--permanently! Many of them struggle--anywhere from a rock in their shoe to having to defecate which became problems since they are warned and if they aren't walking by the third warning, they're done, so consistent movement is vital. This contest is headed up annually by the tyrannical 'The Major' (Mark Hamill) who puts a whole new definition of the term ruthless. 

Others to round out the cast are Jordan Gonzalez as Richard Harkness, Joshua Odjick as Collie Parker, Roman Griffin Davis as Curley, Judy Greer as Ginnie Garraty and Josh Hamilton as William Garraty. 

This was brutally directed with intensity and grit by Francis Lawrence ("Constantine" '05, "I Am Legend" '07, "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire" '13, "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay-Part 2" '15, "Red Sparrow" '18, "Slumberland" '22, "The Hunger Games: The Ballard of Songbirds & Snakes" '23) plus TV, music videos and videos. Obviously this filmmaker could handle this type of production since he was involved with the 'Hunger Games' franchise which, in some ways is a bit similar to "The Long Walk". His ability to involve each of his actors as far as they interacted was consummate. It was interestingly written by JT Mollner ("Outlaws and Angels" '16, "Strange Darling" '23) plus shorts, based on the novel by Stephen King. Even though this writer has limited feature film experience, his experience in producing shorts has served him well where he has had the ability to hone his craft that much more. The writing was sequenced, paced and staged well, and other than a couple of very small places of continuity issues, this script soared. They way this writer showcased these characters different and distinct personalities was amazing. If this writer suits your interest, his "18 Wheels and a Dozen Roses" is in production at this time. It was interesting that even though the premise is held in the near future, the vintage vehicles in this were all circa 60s and 70s, where as certain watches were digitally displayed, and the clothing seemed aged as well. This had to be purposed whereas to allow us to pay attention to the story and not so much the surroundings. 

If you are a King aficionado, you will like this even though it's not his typical fare--this is a plus in my book. This film is similar in what we, as a country, are experiencing today. This film involved a divided nation ending up with a tyrannical government, which is where we are begging to allow to happen here. So, it is high time that we, as a nation, get off our high horse and start listening to one another lest we become this way. Humble ourselves now and allow ourselves to let this film have a sobering effect on us. Nuf said. 

Out of 4 Stars: 3.5                                     Rated: R                                         108mins.