Original Gangster

 

The U.S. has produced a plethora of crime-ridden drug lord films, i.e. "Traffic", The Godfather", "Goodfellas", "Casino", "Sicario", and the like. However the U.K. has also produced their fair share of them as well, i.e. "Legend", "Rock N' Rolla", "The Gentlemen" and the like. So, when "Original Gangster" came along, I felt it would be a film, being a U.K. film, worthy of its attention.

Castor (Alex Mills) is orphaned when gangsters murdered his parents, but sentimental assassin Milo Novak (Ian Reddington) spares his life. Ten years later, once Castor has reached adulthood, the two are reunited when Castor steals from one of Milo's men to survive. Milo sees a budding gangster in Castor, who has resorted to violence to sustain himself in his mostly homeless existence. Milo subsequently procures a job for Castor as an enforcer. Since Castor is happy to repay Milo for saving his life, he finds himself increasingly uncomfortable with the cold, emotionless existence of a criminal. After screwing up his job, Milo then sends Castor to his friend Jean-Baptiste Philippe (Steve Guttenberg) to help him out with giving him a job which Baptiste does only involving Castor to even more of the underworld. Castor must make a choice between living the violent, empty life of a gangster or to pursue his lifelong dream of having his own family. 

Others to round out the cast are Adam Deacon as Remo, right-hand man of Baptiste, Isabelle Hernandez as Maria Leon, Milo's wife, Mike Mousicos as Mario Leon, Maria's father, Jamie Crew as Damien Tarver, Vas Blackwood as Bobby Bravo and Daniel Caltagirone as Campbell.

This was directed with grit and soberness by Savvas D. Michael ("Smoking Guns" '16, "Red Devil" '19, "Righteous Villains" '20). Certainly this film doesn't stretch too far out of his comfort zone, however he does what he does best, I can definitely respect him for that. The film is gritty, bloody and violent--all attributes one would expect being the film it is, and he surely creates the tone in which the film involves. It was also written by Michael (same as resume above). This is where the story gets a bit bogged down. First of all, it moved a bit too slow whereas it could have been cut about ten minutes and still get the essence of the story. Secondly, there were a couple of inconsistencies, albeit not too obvious, however still there which created a bit of confusion. After about half way through the movie, it started to pick up and then became the film Michael was attempting to convey. The only American in this was Guttenberg, which portrayed a congenial, yet deadly adversary. It is definitely a Britain film, replete with the dialects, locales and culture. If you like the work of this filmmaker, his "The Bezonians" which he wrote and directed is in post-production.

If crime films, and more to the point, U.K. crime films are to your liking, you will enjoy this movie. It's not the best U.K. crime film produced, however it does have something for all who enjoy this genre: crime, violence, retaliation, revenge and redemption, with enough four-letter-words for any young 18-24 year-old single male to get into. Again, like the previous film, this was released on 12-1-20, whereas it didn't make it to theaters due to the pandemic, so I purchased it to view so as to critique it for you. 

Out of 4 Stars: 2.5                                        Rated: Not Rated                                         110mins.

A Christmas Hero

 

With the many Christmas themes that Hollywood shells out i.e. "It's a Wonderful Life", "A Christmas Carol", "Home Alone", "National Lampoon's Christmas" and the like, it's refreshing to see a film that actually is inspiring along with pulling the emotional strings. "A Christmas Hero" is just that film replete with a guardian angel and a poor soul in desperate need to heal his wounds from the Afghan War.

When a young war veteran returns home from Afghanistan, he, Nick Averie (Michael Welch) struggles to find joy in the life he once knew. As he comes close to giving up all hope, his guardian angel, Michelle (Lauren Rys Martin) pays a visit to show him there's more meaning to his life than he's ever known. As Nick finds a new job in an air museum through Troy (Patrick Floch) and attempts to rekindle his broken marriage with his wife, Lynn (Kayla Kelly), he believes he is the only one that can solve his problems, hence the visit from his guardian angel that has to cause Nick to see that he is worthy of being loved by those around him.

Others to round out the cast are Cat Grey as Kristen, a co-worker, Peter Carey as Brandon, Troy Thrash as Troy, Peter Gray as Zach, Derek Duzan as Ben, Greg Ward as George and Bob Nevins as Grandpa Pete. 

This was effectively directed by Phil Wurtzel ("The Chameleon" '01, "Showband" (documentary) '13, "The Barn Theatre: Tomorrow's Stars Today" (documentary) '17) plus a short. The frenetic presence of Nick's issues coupled with Michelle's coolness as his guardian angel was played out with effect and truly kept its audience riveted. He certainly has experience and will be interesting to see what he helms next. It is adequately written by Patti Wittenberg (""Shadow of Light" (short) '18) and Wurtzel ("The Chameleon" '01, "A Hunting in Cawdor" '15, "The Barn Theatre: Tomorrow's Stars Today" (documentary) '17) plus a short, based on a story by Wurtzel. While watching this, I couldn't help but think that this is a modern day combination of "It's a Wonderful Life' and "A Christmas Carol". It's interesting in that the attempt of combining the two classic stories was a refreshing idea, however the implementation of this script could've been a bit tighter and cohesive. The chemistry between Welch and Martin as Nick and Michelle was certainly effective and compelling, but the script simply needed more polish. 

Don't get me wrong, this film definitely pulled the heartstrings and was very inspiring, especially in a day where inspiration is a much needed and welcomed element. This film was originally released with a 11-28-20 release date, so after purchasing it, I viewed it so as to critique for you. 

Out of 4 Stars: 2.5                                       Rated: Not Rated                                         90mins.

The Outpost

 

As long as there are wars, Hollywood will continue to makes films about them, especially since audiences have an intense fascination of them. WWI, WWII, the Vietnam Conflict, and certainly the Middle East conflict have given a ton of fodder for writers to create scripts whether being based on reality or not. With "The Outpost" in our midst, this is certainly one of the most descript screenplays based on a true story that I've seen in years.

During the Afghanistan war, several outposts were placed to control the Taliban movement and their supply chain. Camp Keating, situated in a valley surrounded by three mountains, was one of them. While being shot at by the Taliban was business as usual, they attempted to gain respect from local village elders and have them help stop these skirmishes. One day, when 400 Taliban soldiers rallied for a surprise attack, it was up to this small team, including SSG Clint Romesha (Scott Eastwood), SPC Ty Carter (Caleb Landry Jones), CPT Ben Keating (Orlando Bloom), SGT Vernon Martin (Cory Hardrict), SGT Josh Kirk (Jack Kesy), CPT Robert Yilescas (Milo Gibson) and others, to leverage the poor defenses and lack of ammo and manpower they had, to ultimately survive and go back to their loved ones. The Battle of Kamdesh, as it was known, was the bloodiest American engagement of the Afghan War in 2009 and Bravo Troop 3-61 CAV became one of the most decorated units of the 19-year conlict.

Others to round out the cast are Jacob Scipio as SGT Justin Gallegos, Taylor John Smith as ILT Andrew Bundermann, Jonathan Yunger as SFC Jonathan Hill, Alexander Arnold as SPC Chris Griffin, George Arvidson as CPT Chris Cordova, Will Attenborough as PVI Ed Faulkner, Chris Born as SPC Stephan Mace, Ernest Cavazos as SGT Armando Avalos, Scott Alda Coffey as SPC Michael Scusa, Jack DeVos as SGT Josh Hardt, Sharif Dorani as Mohammed, Kwame Patterson as CPT Sylvanius Broward and Alfie Stewart as PFC Yunger. 

This was amazingly delineated with incredible intensity by director Rod Laurie ("Deterrence" '99, "The Contender" 2000, "The Last Castle" '01, "Resurrecting the Champ" '07, "I'm Paige Wilson" (TV movie) '07, "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) plus TV and shorts. Certainly with this filmmaker's resume, one can see why he could helm this film with the expertise and grit it definitely supplies. The emotion within the comaraderie of these soldiers is amazing and the audience can obviously feel their pain. It was intensely written by Paul Tamasy ("Air Bud" '97, "Air Bud: Golden Receiver" '98, "Walking Across Egypt" '99, "The Fighter" '10, "Santa Paws 2: "The Santa Pups" '12, "The Finest Hours" '16, "Patriots Day" (story) '16) plus TV and videos and Eric Johnson ("The Fighter" '10, "The Finest Hours" '16, "Patriots Day" (story) '16), which is based on the book, "The Outpost: An Untold Story of American Valor" by Jake Tapper. These two writers were certainly able to capture what these soldiers were up against in this outpost against a merciless adversary. The story builds from what was a routine existence (with the occasional daily shooting) to these guys being totally under fire in a surprise attack. The film almost seems boring at the beginning which was apparently planned, but once the intensity started to rise, it simply moved right along. The fact that Johnson came in to start co-writing scripts with Tamasy only helped both of them be the writers they've become. I'm certainly looking forward to see what they write next. And besides  Eastwood, Jones and Bloom being the most notable actors in this, the supporting cast was riveting and were truly believable in their roles. Other than a couple of very small places of inconsistencies, such as what happened to one of their CPT's in that, all of a sudden, the audience sees yet another CPT was interesting, but not crucial. The stunts and special FX makeup was as much the stars as the stars. 

This film was originally slated for a 7-3-2020 release, but because of the pandemic, it was pushed back to a 11-11-2020 (Veteran's Day) release date. If it was released then, it wasn't playing in my neighborhood, so I purchased it so I could critique it for you. Mind you, this being a war film, it's very graphically violent--certainly understandable considering what these guys went through. So, due to violence and language the 'R' rating is justifiable. But if you are looking for a war film based on an incredible true story, this has it all!

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

The Tax Collector

 

As time goes by, crime dramas seem to become more gratuitously violent. I'm not sure why, except for the fact that we are living in a time where the only thing that seems to get the public's attention is how over-the-top our news and lives have become. It's like what came first? Are films more violent because of the times in which we live, or these kinds of films cause those to go out and become violent? "The Tax Collector" certainly addresses this replete with crime, greed and violence abound.

David (Bobby Soto) and Creeper (Shia LaBeouf) are 'tax collectors' for the crime lord, Wizard (Jimmy Smits), collecting cut from the profits of local gangs' illicit dealings. But when Wizard's old rival, Conejo (Conejo) returns to Los Angeles from Mexico, the business is upended and David finds himself desperate to protect what matters more to him than anything else: his family, including his wife, Alexis (Cinthya Carmona). Between David, Creeper and David's uncle, Louis (George Lopez), will they be able to hold Conejo and his henchmen back in order to maintain order and protect his family? 

Others to round out the cast are Cheyenne Rae Hernandez as Gata, Noel G as Snoopy, Cle Slogan as Bone, Elpidia Carrillo as Janet and Rene Moran as Victor. 

This was intensely and grittily directed by David Ayers ("Harsh Times" '05, "Street Kings" '08, "End of Watch" '12, "Sabotage" '14, "Fury" '14, "Suicide Squad" '16, "Bright" '17) plus video shorts and TV. As with his other films, Ayer certainly centers on crime and gangs with how these two elements are intertwined and shows us what's really going on out there in the seediest of hoods. He truly has an effective handle on how to showcase his characters in coming across as realistic as possible. In other words, he doesn't gloss any situations over, but rather hits us between the eyes which is tough to watch. He also wrote the script as well. Ayer's writing ("U-571" 2000, "The Fast and the Furious" '01, "Training Day" '01, "Dark Blue" '02, "S.W.A.T." '03, "Harsh Times" '05, "End of Watch" '12, "Sabotage" '14, "Fury" '14, "Suicide Squad" '16) plus TV, is always aggressive and over-the top mostly to stress a point, especially in his latter films, such as "End of Watch" and "Dark Blue". Even though Ayer's films make a tough sit, one can certainly appreciate the message behind them. As with a lot of his film, again specifically, one will not actually watch his films for the entertainment factor as much as to learn something societally. Certainly this had inconsistencies in it, but the message Ayer was attempting to unfold make it a little more palatable. If you like his brand of writing and directing, his "The Wild Bunch" is announced with a 2022 release and his "Bright 2" has also been announced. 

Mind you, this is not a rated film, which usually means there are elements of gratuitous sex, drugs or violence which this is certainly not without those aspects, however after watching this, it certainly wasn't any better or worse than its 'R' rating counterpart. This is not to say that this is for everyone, especially kids, but I was expecting something far more gratuitous. This film is obviously for those single guys out there that love violence and fast cars and explosions. This, like the last I reviewed was viewed on my DVD player since my theaters are closed due to covid. So, this was purchased it being a 2020 release earlier in the year. 

Out of 4 Stars: 3                                        Rated: Not Rated                                          95mins.

 

Irresistible

 

My favorite genre is comedy, and more to the point is that I especially admire satire. Then when it's coupled with political satire, it becomes even funnier, mostly because there is so much fodder when politics are involved. There have been political satires created in the past, but when I viewed "Irresistible", I suddenly realized that there ought to be more comedies like this.

This story is about what happens when a small town becomes the main attraction for two rival political consultants. Top Democratic consultant Gary Zimmer (Steve Carell) sees an opportunity to win back votes in America's heartland, namely Deerlaken, Wisconsin, when a video of a passionate farmer and retired Marine Colonel Jack Hastings (Chris Cooper) goes viral. After a long, hard day's work as a farmhand, Gary persuades the farmer to run for mayor. However, when the Republican National Committee counters him by sending in his brilliant nemesis, Faith Brewster (Rose Byrne), Gary is more than primed to up his game, turning this local race into a hilarious game of tug of war.

Others to round out the cast are Mackenzie Davis as Diana Hastings, Jack's daughter, Topher Grace as Kurt, Brent Sexton as Mayor Braun, Bruce Altman as Mr. Peeler, C.J. Wilson as Dave Vanelton, Will Sasso as Big Mike, Will McLaughlin as Little Mike, Alan Aisenberg as Evan, Christian Adam as Michael, Pat Fisher as Dot, Ian Covell as Daniel and Eve Gordon as Tonya Vanelton.

This was slickly directed by Jon Stewart ("Rosewater" '14). Considering this being only his second screenplay to his credit, I was awe-inspired. The way he played both Carell and Byrne off toward one another was amazingly effective due to their chemistry as being political enemies, however clearly still friends at the end of the day. They respect each other, at the same time one upping each other. This takes slick directing. It was also interestingly written by Stewart ("Rosewater" '14) plus a plethora of TV. This was an expose of what honestly goes on behind the scenes of a political battle replete with all the back-stabbing, brutal honesty without any compassion and what will win an election whether or not honesty is involved. I akin this film between "Our Brand Is Crisis" '15 with Sandra Bullock and Billy Bob Thornton and "Ides of March" '11 with Ryan Gosling, George Clooney and Paul Giamatti. There were a few inconsistencies with this, such as before the starting credits, there were clips and audio of the 2016 presidential election, however as this story unfolded, it was difficult to ascertain whether it was 2016 or today. Plus there was a small amount of choppiness, otherwise it was an enjoyable film with a lot to say, especially in addressing the political machine. It was also encouraging to see how non-partisan the film was. So many political films today are incredibly partisan, considering the brunt of Hollywood being of the Democratic ticket. Stewart wasn't bias. He basically went for the jugular on both sides of the aisle, and that's refreshing.

If you're a political junkie who likes a good comedy, this will be the film for you. I personally love satires, but this being one that has a political bent certainly didn't hurt it. This film was actually released, via the internet back in June because of the pandemic, so I decided to purchase it to view, so I could review it for your pleasure. If you'd like, one can certainly Netflix or rent this.

Out of 4 Stars: 3                                   Rated: R                                                  101mins.

 

Let Him Go

 

Suspense films are always nail-biters, but throw in family roots facing a demented other family and it becomes the perfect storm for "Let Him Go". This isn't an action film as most are, rather the intensity comes from the quietness of the situation as the suspense grows which makes this a tight and concise storyline which is scarier.

Following the loss of their son, James (Ryan Bruce), retired sheriff George Blackledge (Kevin Costner) and his wife Margaret (Diane Lane) leave their Montana ranch to rescue their daughter-in-law, Lorna (Kayli Carter), who,after James' death remarried Donnie Weboy (Will Brittain) and their grandson Jimmy from the clutches of a dangerous, psychotic family living off the grid in the Dakotas, headed by matriarch Blanche Weboy (Lesley Manville). When they discover the Weboys' have no intention of letting the child go, George and Margaret are left with no choice but to fight for their family.

Others to round out the cast are Booboo Stewart as Peter Dragswolf, Jeffrey Donovan as Bill Weboy, Adam Stafford as Marvin Weboy, Bradley Stryker as Sheriff Nevelson, Connor Mackay as Elton Weboy and Greg Lawson as Gladstone Sheriff. 

This was intensely and grittily directed by Thomas Bezucha ("Big Eden" 2000, "The Family Stone" '05, "Monte Carlo" '11). He certainly has gone out of his comfort zone with this. In fact, he doesn't actually gravitate toward any certain genre which, I believe, is healthy. It takes a talented filmmaker to be willing to take on many different genres and do it with relative ease. The 'quiet' intensity with many scenes in this film were eerily creepy which again adds to the suspense much more than outright explosiveness. Don't get me wrong, there is explosiveness, but not until the eeriness has grown slowly. It was also equally delineated tightly by writer Bezucha ("Big Eden" 2000, "The Family Stone" '05, "Monte Carlo" '11, "The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie" '18), based on the novel by Larry Watson. Because this story builds slowly to ensure the eerie suspense, at first it seems like the story is too slow. However, as it unfolds, it is crystal clear that this dangerous family are just as psychotic as George and Margaret had feared. The script was tight, cohesive and followed evenly. It will be interesting to see how Bezucha handles his next screenplay, "The Good House" which is in post-production at this point. 

If suspense thrillers are your forte, this nail-biter is something you can sink your teeth into. I was shaking inside by the sheer eeriness of it, mostly because there are people out there like the Weboys' psychosis. This makes it much scarier than something like "Halloween" or "Friday the 13th" or the like which obviously are not based in anything real. This kept me riveted!

Out of 4 Stars: 4                                      Rated: R                                                113mins.

The Nightmare Before Christmas

 

As the pandemic surges on, we have been offered a plethora of films being re-released to fill the multiplexes since many of the film studios have opted to push some pf their films to next year so as to profit in order to continue to be solvent. So, out of the ones that are back in theaters, we have the delightful "The Nightmare Before Christmas".

This film follows the misadventures of Jack Skellington (Chris Sarandon and Danny Elman-singing), Halloweentown's beloved pumpkin king, who has become bored with the same annual routine of frightening people in the 'real world'. When Jack accidentally stumbles on Christmastown with all bright colors and warm spirits, he gets a new lease on life--he plots to bring Christmas under his control by kidnapping Santa Claus (Ed Ivory) and taking over the role. But Jack soon discovers even the best-laid plans of mice and skeleton men can go seriously awry. His friend Sally (Catherine O'Hara) has a premonition and subsequently attempts to warn Jack of impending doom, however to no avail. So between Halloweentown's mayor (Glenn Shadix) and others, can this escapade really happen?

Others to round out the cast are William Hickey as Dr. Finklestein, Paul Reubens as Lock, Ken Page as Oogie Boogie, Susan McBride as Big Witch and Glenn Walters as Wolfman.

This was wonderfully and whimsically directed by Henry Selick ("James and the Giant Peach" '96, "Monkeybone" '01, "Coraline" '09) plus TV and shorts. This film being presented in a claymation format, Selick has certainly proven himself considering this was his first claymation film. His "Coraline" was beautifully and whimsically directed. It would be interesting to see what he could do with more films other than claymation ones. In fact it's been a while since he's directed a film, so it will be interesting to see what he will do with "Wendell and Wild" which is being filmed at this time. It was brilliantly written by Caroline Thompson ("Edward Scissorhands" '90, "The Addams Family" '91, "Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey" '93, "The Secret Garden" '93, "Black Beauty" '94, "Buddy" '97, "Corpse Bride" '05, "City of Ember" '08, "Welcome to Marwen" '18) plus a video and video short, adapted by Michael McDowell, which is based on a story and characters created by Tim Burton. Certainly Thompson has got to be one of the most talented screenwriters in Hollywood. Her "Edward Scissorhands" and "The Addams Family" are incredibly well thought out and well structured scripts and this film is no exception. As with this film, her other films are cohesive, tight and paced amazingly well. Before this film, no one could've connected Christmas and Halloween like Thomas did. Any other script would've ended up convoluted and confusing. 

Why can't there be more films as well written and directed today as this was then back in 1993? Watching this film gave me a sense of awe that it was the age it was. It is as fresh today as it was back then--talk about a timeless film. If you've never seen this film on the large screen before, I'm sure it's playing in a multiplex somewhere near you-- please see it.  It is a 77 minute gem where one can escape and enjoy a well crafted film and the great music and lyrics by the incomparable Danny Elman. Grab the popcorn and enjoy this gem!

Out of 4 Stars: 4                                         Rated: PG                                                77mins.

Synchronic

 

Usually the sci-fi genre isn't one of my favorite ones, unless it has an unusual and interesting premise to offer, and as I was driving to the multiplex, I wasn't expecting anything intriguing. However, as "Synchronic" started to unfold, at first was a bit slow, turned out to be a film I clearly wasn't expecting.

When New Orleans paramedics and longtime best friends, Steve (Anthony Mackie) and Dennis (Jamie Dornan) are called to a series of bizarre and gruesome accidents, they chalk it up to a mysterious new drug found at each scene. But after Dennis' oldest daughter Brianna (Ally Ioannides) disappears, Steve stumbles upon a terrifying truth about the supposed psychedelic called Synchronic that will challenge everything he knows about reality--and the flow of time itself, especially after inadvertently meeting the creator of the drug, Dr. Kermani (Ramiz Monsef).

Others to round out the cast are Katie Aselton as Tara, Dennis' wife, Natasha Tina Liu as Christina, Martin Bats Bradford as Bob, Devyn A. Tyler as Danika, Lawrence Turner as Joe, Shane Brady as Travis, Kate Adair as crack girlfriend of Travis' and Bill Oberst Jr. as the looter.

This was calculated and delineated well by directors Justin Benson ("Resolution" '12, "V/H/S Viral" (segment- "Bonestorm") '14, "Spring" '14, "The Endless" '17) plus TV and shorts, and Aaron Moorhead ("A Glaring Emission" '10 plus the films listed above) plus TV, shorts and a video short. Certainly with the experience these filmmakers bring to the table, they have proven themselves time and again and this is no exception. The pathos and grit the actors exuded in their performances shows these two are talented. It was creatively written by Benson ("Resolution" '12, "V/H/S Viral" (segment- "Bonestorm") '14, "Spring" '14, "The Endless" '17). The writing in this has a 'Christopher Nolan' type of feel to it in that it is a bit cerebral, but definitely captures the audience's attention. I could go into some of the plot in this, however in doing this, it could possibly spoil the effect. As I mentioned prior, it starts off a bit slow, but takes no time in picking up the pace and then keeps one riveted. Suffice it to say, it involves past time travel after taking Synchronic. This is truly a Moorhead/Benson film considering they also were involved in the cinematography and editing and I feel that only contributed to its effectiveness.

If sci-fi, or more to the point, sci-fi that is intriguing and keeps you wondering is to your liking,  this is the film for you. It ends somewhat bittersweetly, not to blow it for anyone, but the ride there is worth the 100 minute running time. This also looks killer on the large screen as well. 

Out of 4 Stars: 3.5                                              Rated: R                                                101mins.

2 Hearts

 

Even though Hollywood releases the vast majority of their inspirational films in the spring, for some reason--maybe because of covid or possibly because of the holidays coming up soon, they opted to release "2 Hearts" now to stir our heartstrings. 

For two couples, Chris (Jacob Elordi) and Samantha (Tiera Skovbye), and Jorge (Adan Canto) and Leslie (Radha Mitchell), the future unfolds in different decades and different places, but a hidden connection will bring them together in a way no one could have predicted. Based on an inspirational true story, this tale is a romantic journey that celebrates life, love and generosity of spirit, and challenges audiences to believe miracles can possibly happen. 

Others to round out the cast are Steve Bacic as Jose Bolivar, Jorge's father, Kari Matchett as Grace, Chris' mother, Tahmoh Penikett as Eric, Chris' father, Jordan Burtchett as Colin, a brother of Chris', Anthony Konechny as John, another brother of Chris', Mariessa Portelance as Dr. Porter and Neil Webb as surfer dude. 

This was effectively directed by Lance Hool ("Missing in Action 2: The Beginning" '85, "Steel Dawn" '87, "One Man's Hero" '99). Considering that the majority of Hool's experience is in the action genre, he was able to show us that he can pull our heartstrings with extracting the perfect emotions to bring the audience's empathy to the forefront. It was written by Robin U. Russin ("On Deadly Ground" '94) plus TV and a short, and Veronica Hool. This being based on a true story, it already obtained a very interesting premise, but as the storyline continued to unfold, it simply became choppy and convoluded in its continuity. This film having a 100 minute running time, it could've been a bit longer in order to explain how these two stories being from two decades could be connected. It truly had a difficult time in implementing this. The characters were well scripted in a way which created believability, and the music used was moving, but the script just needed more polish. These writers need to hone their talents more in TV.

Hollywood once again need to pony up the dough and hire writers that could've nailed this story. The best thing about this film is the message: love, connection, life and the cost it is to go through life and not realizing how much a person can help others. As mentioned prior, this has a great message, and this is what helped me through this.

Out of 4 Stars: 2.5                                         Rated: PG-13                                                     100mins.

Honest Thief

 

When it comes to action-packed films, there are not very many actors that can pull them off as well as Liam Neeson, except for maybe Mark Wahlberg. With films such as "Taken", "The Commuter", "The Grey", "Cold Pursuit", "Run All Night" and the like, it was certainly not difficult to realize that he would be effective in "Honest Thief".

They call him the In and Out Bandit because meticulous thief Tom Carter (Liam Neeson) has stolen $9 million from small-town banks while managing to keep his identity a secret. But after he falls in love with the bubbly Annie (Kate Walsh), Tom decides to make a fresh start by coming clean about his criminal past to Chief FBI Agent Sam Baker (Robert Patrick), only to be double-crossed by two ruthless FBI agents, Nivens (Jai Courtney) and Hall (Anthony Ramos). Now, Tom must go on the lam to clear his name and bring them to justice.

Others to round out the cast are Jeffrey Donovan as Agent Meyers, Jose Guns Alves as bomb squad specialist, Lewis D. Wheeler as ER doctor, Osmani Rodriguez as short detective, Michael Malvesti as wired agent and Tazzie as Tazzie, Agent Meyers' dog. 

This was intensely directed by Mark Williams ("A Family Man" '16). Even though this filmmaker has no other directing experience to his resume--not even TV, his ability to create a gritty, tight story by extracting the most effective emotions to convey to his audience was amazingly well done. Most of his experience has been in the producing realm, so he certainly has hung around enough directors for some of that expertise to rub off. It was interestingly written by Steve Allrich ("The Canyon" '09, "Bad Karma" '12, "The Timber" '15) plus a short and Williams (TV), based on a story by Allrich and Williams. Even though there were a few twists in this, it was still a bit predictable in how it unfolded. It was a very similar premise which has been a common staple in Neeson's films: Neeson is a loner, meets or has a girlfriend. He has a past which leads him into danger and fears for the girlfriend's safety. He ends up conquering the bad guys, but first has to go through fights and explosions to save the day. What makes this palatable is that when you know this before entering the theater, it makes the premise more forgiving. Will this be nominated for any Oscars? No, but that's not why the audience is watching this. It's pure escapism at its finest. 

I feel that the main reason why we see films is to escape to a different place with different people so we can put our problems aside for a couple of hours. Well, I have to say, this film did that for me, and that speaks volumes. 

Out of 4 Stars: 3                                        Rated: PG-13                                            109mins.

Yellow Rose

 

We've seen so many biopics in the past when going to the theater, that when a film comes along about the rise of a new performer, we tend to assume that it's a biopic. Even though "Yellow Rose" seemingly comes across as a biopic, it isn't. Does this detract from this 'rites of passage' film? Not in the least. In fact, it's fresh to see a fictional story that carries us effortlessly from scene to scene.

A Filipina teen, Rose Garcia (Eva Noblezada) from a small town outside of Austin, Texas fights to pursue her dreams as a country music writer/performer, while having to decide between staying with her Aunt Gail (Lea Salonga) since her mom, Priscilla (Princess Punzalan) was deported back to the Philippines by ICE, or leaving the only home she has known. If it wasn't for a good friend, Elliot Blatnik (Liam Booth), a bar owner, Jolene (Libby Villari) and a country singer, Dale Watson playing himself, Rose's journey would've been next to impossible to obtain. With this 'roller coaster' ride of a life of hers, she sticks to her guns even though all looks grim. 

Others to round out the cast are Susan Myburgh as Aleta Peacock, an immigration attorney, Beau Smith as Alan and Gustavo Gomez as Jose, a co-worker of Rose.

This was directed with such pathos by Diane Paragas ("Brooklyn Boheme" (documentary) '11) plus TV documentaries and shorts. Certainly the experience this filmmaker had delved into with documentaries and TV has served her well. I have felt that 'cutting ones' teeth' in TV can only assist when projecting oneself into the feature film business and this director proved this. She was able to make these characters come alive, especially with Noblezada playing Rose. It will be interesting to see how she does with "The Three Lives of David Wong", a documentary which is in pre-production. It was written with depth and sincerity by Annie J. Howell ("Small, Beautifully Moving Parts" '11, "Claire in Motion" '16, "Little Boxes" '16) plus TV, a TV documentary and a short, and Celena Cipriaso (TV and a short), based on a story by Andy Bienen and Paragas. Even though this, as it unfolded, was a bit predictable, it still had passion, compassion among all the crisis in which this 17-year-old and her family were forced to endure. One scene that I thought wasn't fully explained was when this teen's mom was caught by ICE, unless someone blew her cover as an undocumented person, how would they even know that she was there? But then there wouldn't be a way that Rose would be forced to 'find her way'. Otherwise, considering the limited experience of these two writers. this was a compelling script. Assuming they will receive more work, I would be excited to see what they can do next.

If 'rites of passage' films are to your liking, this will certainly fit the bill. It has an extremely talented and believable cast, especially Noblezada as Rose. She could easily receive an Oscar nomination for her work. Possibly Villari as Jolene could receive a supporting nomination as well. A small film that packs a wallop in spades!

Out of 4 Stars: 3.5                                          Rated: PG-13                                           94mins.

The War with Grandpa

 

During this pandemic, with all the fear, stress, and losses we have endured, we certainly need a number of comedies to lighten our load. Will comedies, or movies for that matter eliminate our problems and issues? No, but they can take us to another place and/or time and allow us to escape for an hour and a half or two hours. Such as the case with "The War with Grandpa", it pits a kid against his grandpa in, who is going to keep the kids' room after the kid is forced to leave to make room for grandpa? 

Peter (Oakes Fegley) and his grandpa, Ed (Robert De Niro) used to be very close, but when Ed moves in with the family, his daughter, Sally (Uma Thurman) and son-in-law, Arthur (Rob Riggle), Peter is forced to give up his most prized possession: his bedroom. Peter will stop at nothing to get his room back, scheming with friends including Billy (Juliocesar Chavez) and Steve (Isaac Kragten) to devise a series of pranks to drive him out. However, grandpa doesn't give up easily, and, with his friends including Danny (Cheech Marin) and Jerry (Christopher Walken), it turns into an all-out war between the two. Which one will win: old school or new school?

Others to round out the cast are Laura Marano as Mia, Jane Seymour as Diane, Poppy Gagnon as Jennifer, T.J. McGibbon as Emma and Colin Ford as Russell.

This was effectively directed by a filmmaker that has certainly directed light-hearted fare as a common staple, Tim Hill ("Muppets from Space" '99, "Max Keeble's Big Move" '01, "Garfield: A Tail of Two Kitties" '06, "Alvin and the Chipmunks" '07, "Hop" '11, "Grumpy Cat's Worst Christmas Ever" (TV movie) '14, "The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run" '20) plus TV and a short. With his light-hearted fare, this filmmaker has used quite the variety of formats to convey his films: live action, animated and live action with animation combined. He is certainly no stranger to this kind of fare, and with that he stays with what he knows best. The chemistry between De Niro and Fegley showed us their tenacity, but, at the same time, they loved one another since they were family. Sure, this wasn't an acting stretch for De Niro, but Fegley certainly wasn't upstaged and this is effective directing. It was written by writing team, Tom J. Astle ("Bejewelled" (TV movie) '91, "Elmopalooza" (TV movie) '98, "Failure to Launch" '06, "Get Smart" '08, "Epic" '13, "Home" '15) plus TV and videos, and Matt Ember ("The Dan Show" (TV movie) '03, "Failure to Launch" '06, "Get Smart" '08, "Epic" '13, "Home" '15) plus TV. While these writers have had questionable screenplays, this film is certainly an improved script with a more coherent storyline. Their "Get Smart" and "Failure to Launch" were dismal at best, especially "Get Smart". The premises of their films certainly have interesting ideas, however as they unfold, they typically become choppy and incoherent grappling to find a story. I believe their turn around film was "Epic". While it wasn't great, it was a vast improvement to its predecessors. This film has proven that with practice becomes perfect. Is this film great? No, but it flowed much better than I have seen them perform. And hey, how bad could this be with the likes of veteran actors, De Niro, Walken, Seymour and Marin? 

In this day and age, comedies and other entertaining film fare are more important now than ever. With all that's going on, I was able to go to the theater and escape into a very family-oriented film for an hour and a half and simply laugh, which is something we all need more of. Also, I beseech all who love films to go see a film or two in the actual theater (as opposed to Netflix or U-tube). I have been to many films in theaters, and they are safe as safe can be. The only difference I've experienced is that I must wear a mask. That's it! And the theaters need the business so they can continue to provide that movie-going experience for us all. 

Out of 4 Stars: 3                                           Rated: PG                                                 94mins.

The Last Shift

 

We've seen many films that involve two individuals where they are as mismatched as any could--a sort of 'odd couple' type of situation, but "The Last Shift" certainly exemplifies that definition. Two totally different men attempt to survive working together in a fast-food eatery simply in order for one to retire and the other to try to make something of his life.

This film is an American story about two men struggling in the same town of Albion, Michigan while worlds apart. Stanley (Richard Jenkins), an aging fast-food worker, plans to call it quits after 38 years on the graveyard shift at Oscar's Chicken and Fish. His last weekend takes a turn while training his replacement, Jevon (Shane Paul McGhie), a talented but stalled young writer whose provocative politics keep landing him in trouble. These two who share little in common are brought together through circumstance. Stanley, a high school dropout who has watched life pass by his drive-through window, proudly details the nuances of the job. While Jevon, a columnist who's too smart to be flipping patties, contends their labor is being exploited. A flicker comradery sparks during the long overnight hours in a quiet kitchen. Dale (Ed O'Neill), a friend of Stanley, attempts to encourage him in what Stanlet deems as a worthless town, as the two mens' manager, Shazz (Da'Vine Joy Randolph) tries to hold them and the place together. 

Others to round out the cast are Allison Tolman as Mrs. Kelly, Jevon's social worker, Birgundi Baker as Sydney, Jevon's girlfriend, Dano Duran as Fernando, John Gawlik as Police Officer, Deron J. Powell as Perry and Jeff Dlugolecki as Degenerate Rommate.

This was refreshingly directed by Andrew Cohn ("Medora" (documentary) '13, "Night School" (documentary) '16, "Danny Brown: Live at the Majestic" (documentary) '18) plus TV, TV series documentaries, a documentary short and a short. Considering the amount of documentary experience this filmmaker has accumulated, I am very surprised that he was able to pull off this film as well as he did. I've seen direction by seasoned directors that weren't half as talented as this filmmaker. The pacing and staging was professional and the emotion and pathos he was able to extract from his actors was phenomenal. He will receive more feature film work. It was written by Cohn as well. The only other writing credit he has to his resume is a short, "Chile Road" '11, so when I viewed this, knowing this information, astounded me! Now, was it an Academy Award caliber film? Not really, however, considering all, this was a well delineated and thought out film. There were a few places of a lack of continuity, but watching this definitely kept me riveted to my seat. Not to be a spoiler alert, but this does end bitter sweetly in that one would not like the ending, but one can appreciate its conclusion. Even with such limited writing experience, I can certainly see this writer receiving more work along with directing. And what can I say about Jenkins? He is a consummate actor, and his co-star, McGhie definitely was not upstaged by Jenkins. He held his own easily. 

If you are interested in a well constructed character study of extreme opposites, this is the film for you. It being an independent film, has the propensity of being bittersweet, but sometimes life doesn't end with a nice bow tied at the end of a situation. If you want a well crafted American film that's artistically done, then delve into this one, otherwise pass it on.

Out of 4 Stars: 3.5                                                   Rated: R                                                   90mins.

Resistance

 

When it comes to war films, Hollywood is the king. This was supposed to be released on 3-27-20, but because of the pandemic, it was sent to online for sale. I, in turn, purchased it and decided to see it as to review it, and it was every bit worth the purchase. This wasn't as much a war film as much as it was centered on a pivotal person in our past and what he did to attempt to change the course of WWII.

Before he was the world-famous mime Marcel Marceau, he was Marcel Mangel (Jesse Eisenberg), an aspiring Jewish actor who, in inadvertently, joined the French Resistance during WWII to save thousands of children orphaned at the hands of the Nazis. He and others, including Emma (Clemence Posey), Georges (Geza Rohrig), Mila (Vica Kerekes) and Dominique (Aurelie Bancilhon) are unsung heroes who put themselves in extreme harm's way to rise above hatred and oppression. As told as a flashback eight years later by General Patton (Ed Harris) to his troops, this film, based on the inspiring true story, is the revolutionary tale of a selfless act that would forever change countless lives. 

Others to round out the cast are Matthias Schweighofer as Klaus Barbie, Karl Markovics as Charles Mangel, Marcel's father, Bella Ramsey as Elsbeth, Alicia von Rittberg as Regine, Klaus' wife, Martha Issova as Flora, Felix Moati as Alain, Edgar Ramirez as Sigmund, Elsbeth's father and Klara Issova as Judith, Elsbeth's mother.

This was rivetingly written and directed by Jonathan Jakubowicz ("Ships of Hope" (documentary) 2000, "Secuestro express" '05, "Hands of Stone" '16) plus TV and a short. Even though this filmmaker hasn't got a tremendous amount of feature film experience, he certainly knows how to direct actors where they emit the correct amount of emotions and intensity to convey the realism needed for its audience. His writing was amazingly intense and was interesting in that it conveyed the story well to the audience, except that it became a bit long-in-the-tooth about half way through. It probably could've been cut ten minutes from its running time and still convey the story easily enough. Believe me, I wasn't disappointed; this story kept me on the edge of my seat, so how bad could it have been? The cast lead up by Eisenberg was credible and certainly added its own nuance to the story. I definitely believe that this filmmaker will have a far reaching career considering this film. 

As I had mentioned above, this is not so much a war film as it is a backdrop to people's survival and willingness to stick together especially at a time of crisis. Considering we are living through a pandemic, it seems like we are living in a life that pales in comparison to those that lived during this time that atrocities ruled the earth. I believe that in watching this, maybe, just maybe people could see that, as compared, we have it fairly easily. Just saying.

Out of 4 Stars: 3.5                                   Rated: R                                                 120mins.

Infidel

 

We've seen terrorist oriented films before and also inspirational ones as well, but when have we seen a combination of the two? Probably never that I can remember. This film is as riveting as it is uncomfortable anticipating two extreme beliefs colliding within the Middle East. It truly shows that all people aren't what a lot of people here seem to think they are. Oh, there's lots of baddies, but it also shows us a side to them we don't see on the news.

Doug Rawlins (Jim Caviezel), an outspoken American Christian blogger and journalist is kidnapped by members of the Iranian regime headed up by terrorist, Ramzi (Hal Ozsan) while in Cairo, Egypt on a talk show where the conversation, instigated by the host, turned into Rawlins telling them that although Jesus Christ was a good prophet, he was also the Son of God who came to earth to redeem mankind toward the creator, lest he be a liar. Rawlins is ultimately taken to Lebanon and put on trial for erroneous and phony spying charges. Rawlins' wife, Liz (Claudia Karvan), a State Department official, attempts to use her influence to persuade the American government to become involved to no avail. Since our government backs out of helping Rawlins escape, Liz is the forced to go to the Middle East to search for him herself.

Others to round out the cast are Stelio Savante as Doug's Iranian friend, Bijan Daneshmand as Dr. Houssein Tehrani, Isabelle Adriani as Maria Landi, J.R. Cacia as Sgt. Knebel, Hanna Jiryis as Agent Ardy, Nadeem Strouji as Larijani and Noor Taher as Meena.

This was rivetingly directed by Cyrus Nowrasteh ("Veiled Threat" '89, "The Island" '98, "The Day Reagan Was Shot" (TV movie) '01, "The Stoning of Soraya M." '08, "The Young Messiah" '16) plus TV. The way this filmmaker use the editing along with the ability to extract the fear, suspense and peril that he was able to get out of his actors was phenomenal. He's directed many political thrillers before, so he is right at home with this, however he is amazingly adept at it and this certainly showcases his ability in spades. It is also written by Nowrasteh ("Veiled Threat" '89, "The Interview" '95, "The Advocate's Devil" (TV movie) '97, "The Island" '98, "The Day Reagan Was Shot" (TV movie) '01, "10,000 Black Men Named George" (TV movie) '02, "The Stoning of Soraya M." '08, "The Young Messiah" '16) plus TV. This writer's ability to convey an intense and thrilling story is about as amazing as his directing ability. Although this is not based on a true story, it is based on true events, meaning, in this case, it's not based on an actual person as much as those who are and have been abducted and taken to the Middle East for reasons of espionage or something political or something else equally as bizarre. It starts as a flashback and then leads us back to the events that bring him to the horrendous situation he ends up experiencing. Other than a couple of very small areas that were a bit choppy, this script was spot on. 

Mind you, one truly has to be in a certain mood to be able to sit through this considering how violent and suspenseful it undoubtedly is. The performance by Caveizel was amazing. Certainly his role as Jesus Christ in Mel Gibson's 2005 "The Passion of the Christ" has got to be Caveizel's best performance to date, however this was delineated as well.

Out of 4 Stars: 3.5                                         Rated: R                                                  107mins.

The Personal History of David Copperfield

We've seen many biopics before--it seems to be a Hollywood fave, but what makes "The Personal History of David Copperfield" so much more interesting is the fact that this film, based on a fictitional character plays out as though Copperfield is a real person. Based on Charles Dickens' classic novel, this is an original expose of what this character must've been like.

A fresh and distinctive take on Charles Dickens' semi-autobiographical masterpiece, this story, set in the 1840's, chronicles the life of its iconic title character as he navigates a chaotic world to find his elusive place within it. David's (Dev Patel) journey is by turns hilarious and tragic, but always full of life, color and humanity. Along his trek as his life unfolds is Peggotty (Daisy May Cooper), Betsy Trotwood (Tilda Swinton), Mr. Dick (Hugh Laurie), Uriah Heep (Ben Whishaw), Steerforth (Aneurin Barnard), Mr. Micawber (Peter Capaldi).

Others to round out the cast are Rosalind Eleazar as Agnes, Anthony Welsh as Ham, Benedict Wong as Mr. Wickfield, Gwendoline Christie as Jane Murdstone and Paul Whitehouse as Daniel Peggotty. 

This was whimsically directed by Armando Iannucci ("2004: The Stupid Version" (TV movie) '04, "In the Loop" '09, "The Death of Stalin" '17) plus TV and a TV short. The way this filmmaker was able to convey this film into it appearing as though it was a biopic was brilliant. As the audience watches this, one has to keep telling themselves that this isn't a biopic, but a fresh and original story about this character. Dev Patel has certainly proven himself as an accomplished actor, but this was incredible. He was amazingly believeable. It was effectively written by Simon Blackwell ("The Way It Is" (TV movie) 2000, "Monkey Trousers" (TV movie) '04, "2004: The Stupid Version" (TV movie) '04, "In the Loop" '09, "Four Lions" (additional writing) '10) plus TV and a TV short, and Iannucci ("Angllan Lives: Alan Partridge" (TV movie) '03, "2004: The Stupid Version" (TV movie) '04, "In the Loop" '09, "Milton's Heaven and Hell (TV movie documentary) '09, "The Death of Stalin" '17) plus TV, a TV short and a video, based on the classic novel by Charles Dickens. Although it was a fesh, original chronicling of the Dickens' character, the way the film kept going back and forth in a fashback format, normally it would be an effective way to tell the story, but with this, it went back and forth a bit too much, so it became somewhat confusing. Maybe if it was constructed in more of a sequential way within the flashback, it might have worked better. Not sure. The acting by Patel, Swinton, Laurie, Whishaw, Barnard and Capaldi are all seasoned pros in their field which made this the film it truly wanted to be, but the writing could've been a bit more polished. Still, at the end of the day, this was a very interesting way to convey a classic story for a new generation of moviegoers. 

If you are a Dickens fan or even a period film fan, you will love this. This comedy-drama will warm the hearts and entertain you all the while keeping one wondering if this is a biopic or not. The direction is tight, concise and absolutely makes these characters come to life. 

Out of 4 Stars: 3                                          Rated: PG                                              119mins.

 

The Broken Hearts Gallery

Typically rom-coms are fraught with predictability, with trite and banal storylines--most are a complete letdown, but, along with a small handful of other rom-coms, "The Broken Hearts Gallery" was actually better than I expected, mostly due to a somewhat interesting premise along with an effective chemistry between the two lead stars.

What if you saved a souvenir from every relationship you've ever been in? This story follows the always unique Lucy Gulliver (Geraldine Viswanathan), a 25-year-old art gallery assistant living in New York City, who also happens to be an emotional hoarder. After she gets dumped by her latest boyfriend, Max Vora (Utkarsh Ambudkar) due to his infidelity with one, Dr. Amelia Black (Tattiawna Jones), Lucy is ultimately inspired to create The Broken Heart Gallery, a pop-up space for the items love has left behind. She is also motivated after being fired from the art gallery she worked at owned by Eva Woolf (Bernadette Peters). Enters into her life but Nick (Dacre Montgomery), a construction worker attempting to renovate an old hotel with his best buddy Marcos (Arturo Castro), and as circumstances that happen, whether realized or not, Nick and Lucy meet and ultimately help each other on so many levels.

Others to round out the cast are Molly Gordon as Amanda, Phillipa Soo as Nadine, Suki Waterhouse as Chloe, Nathan Dales as Jeff and Sheila McCarthy as Cheryl Gulliver.

It was written and directed with relative graceful pacing by Natalie Krinsky (TV). Other than a healthy dose of TV experience, this filmmaker is virtually a newcomer to the feature film realm. The direction was truly spot on showing these young people in their everyday lives with all the pathos and emotions that come with that. Krinsky extracted just the correct amount of these emotions that made these characters come to life. The writing by Krinsky was definitely better than I ever expected. Other experience--this being TV, certainly served her with this film. Although the film was predictable and shared the usual format with other rom-coms, what made this more palatable was the premise--different than other rom-com premises--and the chemistry between Nick and Lucy. Even though I haven't heard of these two actors, they came across likeable, affable and truly strived to stick together no matter what the obstacles. Montgomery looks a lot like Zac Efron facially--he could be his brother it's so uncanny. 

After seeing so many banal, unoriginal and trite rom-coms in the past, this film certainly gave me a little more faith in this particular genre. Did it still need some work? Clearly, but I can definitely see Krinsky making more films considering this is her first feature film. I'm curios in what she'll attempt in the future. 

Out of 4 Stars: 2.5                                       Rated: PG-13                                       108mins.

The New Mutants

Really, since the late 70's, we have seen a plethora of superhero films, or, as I like to call them, comic book films. More to the point, of all those films, one of the franchises we've seen many incarnations of is that of the "X-Men" one. "The New Mutants" is basically taking five teenagers attempting to, not only to realize what their mutant ability is, but also how to harness it so they can control.

Others to round out the cast are Adam Beach as Dani's father, Thomas Kee as Sam's father and Colbi Gannett as young Illyana.Illyana Rasputin (Anya Taylor-Joy), Rahne Sinclair (Maisie Williams), Sam Guthrie (Charlie Heaton) and Roberto da Costa (Henry Zaga) are four young mutants being held against their will in an isolated hospital for psychiatric monitoring. Dr. Cecilia Reyes (Alice Braga), believing the teenagers are a danger both to themselves and to society as a whole, keeps a close eye on them as she struggles to teach them how to rein in their mutant abilities. When newcomer Danielle 'Dani' Moonstar (Blu Hunt) joins the other patients in the facility, strange occurrences begin to take place. The hospital's patients are plagued by hallucinations and flashbacks, and their new mutant abilities--and their friendships--will be tested as they battle to try to make it out alive.

This was effectively directed by Josh Boone ("Stuck in Love." '12, "The Fault in Our Stars" '14) plus TV. Even though this filmmaker doesn't have a ton of experience, he still has the ability to extract from his actors the pathos and emotion to set the mood given the scene at hand. His "The Fault in Our Stars" was an amazingly well directed film, so I depended on that same caliber and got it. It was interesting written by Boone ("Stuck in Love." '12, "All We Had" '16, "The Pretenders" '18) plus TV and Knate Lee ("Cardboard Boxer" '16, "Kidnap" '17) plus TV. Even though it worked that Boone didn't have a ton of experience when directing, not having a ton of experience in the writing category didn't serve him as well as Lee. Mind you, it wasn't a wash--it did have certain redeeming values. Such as creating this entire film holed up in a creepy, old psychiatric hospital. With this--it definitely gave the audience a chance to get to know these young people. Where this film got bogged down was that in places, certain things couldn't have happened, and there was more than one place where the audience had to scratch their heads in how did certain characters get from one place to another, The visual effects predominantly designed by Method Studios, MPC (Moving Picture Company) and Double Negative didn't seem heavy-handed as with other films of this type, which certainly did help.

If you're a comic book film fan, or specifically an "X-Men" affictionado, this film will work for you. However if you're looking for a tighter script that follows easily, you may have to flip a coin. A little heads up: there are some graphic scenes and adult scenes that probably won't be suited for the kiddies. This could've been rated R easily.

Out of 4 Stars: 2.5                                            Rated: PG-13                                       94mins.

Tenet

 It is official--the movie theaters are back open following a forced closing back in March due to the coronavirus pandemic. So many films were forced to push their release dates back ("Tenet's" release date originally being 7-17-20), that it was practically a miracle the films are starting at this time. So now, with "Tenet" being released today, 9-3, it's an epic Christopher Nolan vehicle with so many places that simply bend the mind, much like "Inception" and "Interstellar". 

Armed with only one word--Tenet--and fighting for the survival of the entire world, the Protagonist (John David Washington) along with his espionage partner, Neil (Robert Pattinson), Kat (Elizabeth Debicki) and Ives (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) journeys through a twilight world of international espionage on a mission that will unfold in something beyond real time. Crime boss, Andrei Sator (Kenneth Branagh) attempts to use Tenet in order to fulfill his evil plan toward his greedy end.

Others to round out the cast are Michael Caine as Michael Crosby, Himesh Patel as Mahir, Clemence Poesy as Barbara, Fiona Dourif as Wheeler, Dimple Kapadia as Priya, Wes Chatham as Sammy, Martin Donovan as Victor and Yuri Kolokolnikov as Quinton.

This was mesmerisingly written and directed by the incomparable Christopher Nolan ("Following" '98, "Memento" 2000, "Insomnia" '02, "Batman Begins" '05, "The Prestige" '06, "The Dark Knight" '08, "Inception" '10, "The Dark Knight Rises" '12, "Interstellar" '14, "Dunkirk" '17) plus shorts and a video. One has to have a tremendous amount of respect for this filmmaker considering his incredible talent of not only writing but helming a production as well. Also this filmmaker is one of a few who opted to wait for the theaters to open instead of selling the film to Netflix, streaming or putting it up on VOD--he is a purist who truly believes that films are meant to be shown on the large screen. His direction of this was crisp, tight and simply kept the audience riveted to the screen. He definitely has a distinct style to helming a picture which is evident in other productions, i.e. "Memento" 2000, "Inception" '10 and "Interstellar" '14. The plot and the process he used to convey the storyline is a bit cerebral so it can seem confusing to some, but I believe this is Nolan's style--hence the other aforementioned films. This film is true artistry, in the writing, directing and the sond mixing by sound veteran, Willie D. Burton. The sound mixing was haunting and enhanced the feel of the film hands down. Nolan and Burton could be considered for Oscar nominations. It will be interesting to see what Nolan does with his remake of "Memento" which has been announced.

Of all the films that filmgoers would see coming up, this film must be seen on the large screen, otherwise it will be lost on 50 incher. In fact, I was thinking about seeing it in IMAX, however that would've been a 35 minute trek for me, and since this is the first film out, I thought that seeing it on a large screen would suffice and it did. In retrospect, this film would be killer in the IMAX format it's being offered in as well. 

Out of 4 Stars: 3.5                               Rated: PG-13                                      150mins.

Capone

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 Mob films that Hollywood has produced are as plentiful as there are actors that play in them. The list is endless: "Godfather", "Godfather II", "Godfather III", "Casino", "Goodfellas", "Untouchables", and that's not even delving into the films of the '30's and '40's. "This version of "Capone", while it's not the first, it certainly is the most unique. 

Once a ruthless businessman and bootlegger who ruled Chicago with an iron fist, Alfonse Capone (Tom Hardy) was the most infamous and feared gangster of American lore. At age of 47, following nearly a decade of imprisonment, dementia and neurosyphilis rots Alfonse's mind and his past becomes present. Harrowing memories of his violent and brutal origins melt into his waking life. As he spends his final year surrounded by family, including his wife, Mae (Linda Cardellini), Junior (Noel Fisher), and confidantes, Ralphie (Al Sapienza), Johnny (Matt Dillon) and Gino (Gino Cafarelli), with the FBI lying in wait, this ailing patriarch struggles to place the memory of the location of 10 million dollars he hid away on his property.

others to round out the cast are Katherine Narducci as Rosie, Mason Guccione as Tony, Jack Lowden as Crawford, Kyle MacLachlan as Doctor Karlock, Rose Bianco as Nanna, Manuel Fajardo Jr. as Manny Fajardo, Christopher Bianculli as Young Tony, Edgar Areola as Rodrigo and Jhemma Ziegler as Betty.

This was interestingly and grittily written and directed by Josh Trank ("Chronicle" (story) '12, "Fantastic Four" '15, plus TV and a short). This is one of those filmmakers that, through their career, slowly but consistently improves with each project. Although he's not a seasoned filmmaker (whether writing or directing), he certainly has enough on his resume to conclude that this filmmaker has what it takes to succeed in this crazy community. Even though the incomparable Hardy played the title role, it still took talented writing and especially directing to watch this notorious gangster deteriorate slowly as one watched the film. It was a site to behold! Hardy is a consummate actor--the quintessential method actor that has transcended every role he has played. In fact, assuming we even have an Academy Awards presentation next year, Hardy will surely nab a nomination for best actor. As I mentioned prior, this filmmaker only gets better with each film, so it will be interesting to see how his "The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt" is handled by him in its writing. To showcase Capone's dementia, there were places where is became fuzzy where reality ended and the dementia would kick in. I believe this was purposed to show us what it's like to be demented and how subtle fantasy and reality can actually blur. 

As I was watching this biopic film, I couldn't help but think of the scripture, "what you shall sow, you shall also reap", or the adage, "what goes around, comes around". This expose certainly allows us to see the consequences of Capone's brutal past and how he reaped a pathetic present. This is a must see! I'm not sure if it's playing on VOD still, but you can purchase it online or most likely Netflix it.

Out of 4 Stars: 4                                   Rated: R                                                 103mins.

Updated Hiatus Disclaimer

 This is an updated disclaimer about my hiatus due to the pandemic. Obviously, it is now clear that the reason for not being visible as far as film reviews are concerned, is because the movie theaters have been closed. As they are still closed, (I reside in the San Diego area), I have decided to review a film that was supposed to be released in the theaters on May 12th, but eventually was placed on Video on Demand, and subsequently put up to be sold online. I opted to purchase the DVD online. The theaters were supposed to open by Aug. 21st, however I believe that date has, once again, been pushed back. When? Who knows. I just hope it's soon, because watching films on a 50 incher just doesn't do it. So following I will be reviewing "Capone" with Tom Hardy in the title role.

I am on hiatus

To my followers or those who are first time readers:
This letter is to let all of you know that, at least, until the middle of April, I will be on hiatus from writing any reviews due to the coronavirus outbreak. Since the movie theaters' closures and the different production and releasing companies pushing their release dates back, I will basically have nothing to post. Be rest assured, I will be back with a vengeance to start up again as soon as the theaters are open and the film companies will start releasing their films. Please come back to continue reading my new reviews as soon as the the brunt of all this starts to wane. I will miss you all. Stay safe; wash your hands, self quarantine, work at home (if you can), and just be careful and smart and we will get through this. Take care of yourselves and if you pray, continue to do so--I know I have. Also, if you are stuck at home, I have over a 1,000 films in which to peruse so you can rent, Netflix, etc. Just type in the name of the film at the search bar at the top left of the site. I don't have all films that were released, but I do have many. Until later, take care. All the best, Gary Payne

Bloodshot

Through several decades, we have seen many superhero movies through companies such as Marvel, DC Comics and certain films based on graphic novels. Now there's a new company to add to that ever growing list which is Valiant Comics that "Bloodshot" is based on. Like with the other companies, will Valiant spawn even more films than just "Bloodshot"?

Based on the bestselling Valiant comic book, Vin Diesel stars as Ray Garrison, a soldier recently killed in action and brought back to life as the superhero Bloodshot by the RST corporation headed up by Dr. Emil Harting (Guy Pearce). With an army of nanotechnology in his veins, he is an unstoppable force--stronger than ever and able to heal instantly. But in controlling his body, the company, including KT (Eiza Gonzalez), Jimmy Dalton (Sam Heughan) and Barris Merc (Alex Anlos) has swayed his mind and memories, too. Now, Ray doesn't know what's real and what's not--but he's on a mission to find out. Will he find the truth or be continually misguided in a myriad of lies and confusion?

Others to round out the cast are Toby Kebbell as Martin Axe, Talulah Riley as Gina Garrison, Ray's wife, Lamorne Morris as Wilfred Wigans, Siddarth Dhananjay as Eric and Johannes Haukur Johannesson as Nick Barris.

This was rivetingly directed by a newbie to feature films David S.F. Wilson (TV series short). Considering this filmmaker's limited experience in directing, this definitely kept its audience on the edge of their seats. Wilson has a ton of experience in visual effects and shorts, so his ability to helm a film simply made it easier for him to implement. It was interestingly written by Jeff Wadlow ("Cry Wolf" '05, "Prey" '07, "Kick Ass 2" '13, "True Memoirs of an International Assassin" '16, "Blumhouse's Truth or Dare" '18, "Fantasy Island" '20) plus shorts and TV, and Eric Heisserer ("A Nightmare on Elm Street" '16, "Final Destination 5" '11, "The Thing" '11, "Hours" '13, "Lights Out" '16, "Arrival" '16, "Extinction" '18, "Bird Box" '18) plus TV, based on a story by Wadlow which is based on the Valiant comic book by Kevin VanHook, Bob Layton and Don Perkin. One would think that with the combined experience of these two writers that this screenplay would've been more cohesive and not as confusing. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't a total wash, but it became difficult what was really happening as opposed to what was going on in Ray's mind. When it comes to melding these two aspects, a story can become convoluted, however considering the experience here, it could've been a more polished script. It did obtain some awesome stunts predominantly by J.J. Perry and the visual effects predominantly designed by Method Sudios were amazing, but even these were not enough to save this script which actually had a very interesting premise. Bad day at the laptop? Not sure, but it needed more cohesiveness.

If you're into comic book movies about superheros, no matter how the writing is, you'll love this. It definitely gave us some very believable characters and actors in this with amazing effects, but it simply needed more to grip us. If you want to see it up close and personal, it's presented in a nifty IMAX and 4DX format as well.

Out of 4 Stars: 2.5                                     Rated: PG-13                                           107mins.

I Still Believe

As Easter approaches, Hollywood starts releasing certain religious and inspirational films to get us in the mood. Some are OK, and some are actually very thought-provoking and emotionally heart-wrenching. As with the case of "I Still Believe", this is incredibly heartwarming and speaks to the heart in ways that will surprise.

This is the powerful true life story of Christian music mega star Jeremy Camp (K.J. Apa). Jeremy's remarkable journey of love and loss proves there is always hope in the midst of tragedy and that faith tested is the only faith worth sharing. 
This starts in Sept. 1999 with Jeremy leaving home for college and saying his goodbyes to his parents, Tom and Terry Camp (Gary Sinise and Shania Twain) respectively, and as he lands in college, he meets and subsequently falls in love with fellow student, Melissa Henning (Britt Robertson). As they grow to know each other better, Melissa contracts stomach cancer and comes close to dying, however only, through prayer, pulls through. Through their friend Jean-Luc (Nathan Dean) and their respective families, their faith was tested once again when the cancer comes back. This is a true test, if not a trial, of their faith to rely on the Lord and each other. 

Others to round out the cast are Melissa Roxburgh as Melissa's sister, Cameron Arnett as Dr. Furst, Reuben Dodd as Josh Camp, Jeremy's brother, Tanya Christiansen as Janette Henning, Melissa's sister and Abigail Cowen as Adrienne.

This was directed in a sobering way by Andrew Erwin ("The Cross and the Towers" (documentary) '06, "Alumni" (TV movie) '09, "October Baby" '11, "Moms' Night Out" '14, "Woodlawn" '15, "I Can Only Imagine" '18) plus TV and videos and Jon Erwin (Same as above plus "Fully Alive" '12 and "Steve McQueen: American Icon" (documentary) '17. As one can observe, these filmmakers are avid inspirational artists. They have the innate ability to bring us a heart-wrenching and realistic account of different famous Christian leaders and/or singers to the screen. We end up knowing so much more about them and their lives. It will be interesting what they will do with their "American Underdog: The Kurt Warner Story" which is in pre-production for a 2020 release. It was compassionately written by Jon Erwin ("Alumni" (TV movie) '09, "October Baby" '11, "Moms' Night Out" '14, "Coffee Shop" '14, "Woodlawn" '15, "I Can Only Imagine" '18) plus videos and Jon Gunn ("Mercy Streets" 2000, "The Week" '15), based on the book by Jeremy Camp. As this story unfolds, it is conveyed to its audience of the harrowing progression that not only Melissa had to endure, but Jeremy as well. The chemistry between Apa and Robertson was incredibly well thought out in their connection. It was obviously apparent how much these two loved one another by the approach these writers took, which made it gut-wrenching in how these two young people had to endure this. Their faith had everything to do with how they were going to get through this situation. One of the lines in this really stuck with me: "Suffering doesn't destroy faith, it refines it". Their writing showed cohesiveness and clarity, with an abundance of compassion and hope, all which is need in this crazy world. Apa, who plays Archie on CW's "Riverdale" gives a riveting performance as Camp and actually learned to sing for this. He already knew how to play the guitar, but proved himself as an actor with this. 

In a world where we have violence, divorce, micro organisms, incredible weather conditions, and the like, we need films like this more than ever, whether it's nearing Easter or not. If one would like to see this up, close and personal, you can see it in an IMAX format as well.

Out of 4 Stars: 4                                              Rated: PG                                            116mins.