The Bad Guys

We are on the verge of entering the summer film season, and of course, what films are generally part of that season? Animated flicks. Whether it be action films or animated, these are typically the film fare we see each summer, and what a better animated film to start with is that of "The Bad Guys". It is one of the best animated films I've seen in a while, so hopefully this is the beginning of a great season. 

In this new action comedy from Dreamworks Animation, based on the book series, a crackerjack criminal crew of animal outlaws are about to attempt their most challenging con yet--becoming model citizens. Never have there been five friends as infamous as The Bad Guys--dashing pickpocket Mr. Wolf (Sam Rockwell), seen-it-all safecracker Mr. Snake (Marc Maron), chill master-of-disguise Mr. Shark (Craig Robinson) short-fused "muscle" Mr. Piranha (Anthony Ramos) and sharp-tongued expert hacker Ms. Tarantula (Awkwafina) AKA "Webs", but when, after years of countless heists and being the world's most-wanted villains, the gang is finally caught; Mr. Wolf brokers a deal (that he has no intention of keeping) to save them all from prison: The Bad Guys will go good. Under the tutelage of their mentor Professor Marmalade Richard Ayoade), an arrogant (but adorable!) guinea pig, The Bad Guys set out to fool the world that they've been transformed. Along the way, though, Mr. Wolf begins to suspect that doing good for real may give him what he's always secretly longed for: acceptance, so when a new villain threatens the city, can Mr. Wolf persuade the rest of the gang to become...The Good Guys?

Others to round out the cast are Zazie Beetz as Diane Foxington, Alex Borstein as Police Chief Misty Luggins, Lilly Singh as Tiffany Fluffit and Barbara Goodson as Old Lady. 

This was energetically directed by Pierre Perifel (shorts). Usually most animated films are directed by two directors; sometimes with a co-director to complete the film, however not only was this film directed by only one director, he was one with no theatrical film experience to his credit. This is an amazing feat for even a team of seasoned directors, which tells me that this filmmaker is a natural. The sequence in which this was played out was cohesive and concise. He will assuredly be handed more work in the near future. It was also creatively written by Etan Cohen ("Idiocracy" '06, "Tropic Thunder" '08, "Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa" '08, "Men in Black 3" '12, "Get Hard" '15, "Holmes & Watson" '18) plus TV, a short and a video. There was also additional screenplay material by Yoni Brenner and Hilary Winston. And this was based on the book series by Aaron Blabey. This has one of the best scripts of an animated film I've seen in quite a while. I almost didn't see this since, in my opinion, the trailer simply didn't sell the film to me. Wow, so much for marketing! This film is written incredibly well in that it followed the story effortlessly along with amazing order of sequence in the script. The chemistry between the different characters was effective as it was entertaining, and, of course, Dreamworks Animation was spot on. If you like this writer's style, his "Brothers" has been completed. 

If you like animated films, this will be one you'll have to see, and even if you're not, the story is funny, well thought out, all with a great message that everyone is redeemable no matter how much they have strayed. It's entertaining as it is a great roller coaster ride. Grab the popcorn and enjoy this gem!

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

The Northman

It has been commonly known that the Vikings were a brutal culture, but after viewing "The Northman", it brings that opinion to a whole new level. This is a film about Viking life back around 1000 A.D. where it concentrates on betrayal and vengeance all in a world that, compared to today's culture, is savage like where it's basically every man for himself. 

Prince Amleth (Oscar Novak) is on the verge of becoming a man when his father King Aurvandill War-Raven (Ethan Hawke) is brutally murdered by his uncle Fjolvir (Claes Bang), who kidnaps the boy's mother Queen Gudrun (Nicole Kidman). Two decades later, Amleth (Alexander Skarsgard) is now a Viking who's on a mission to save his mother, kill his uncle and avenge his father. This is set in 10th century Iceland which is fraught with violence, vengeance and vastness, which, incidentally is a legend that inspired Shakespeare's "Hamlet". 

Others to round out the cast are Anya Taylor-Joy as Olga of the Birch Forest, Gustav Lindh as Thorir the Proud, Elliott Rose as Gunnar, Willem Dafoe as Heimir the Fool, Phill Martin as Hallgrimr Half-Troll, Eldar Skar as Finnr the Nose -Stub, Olwen Fouere as Ashilour Hofgythja, Edgar Abram as Hersveinn Battle Hard and Jack Gassmann as Hjaiti Battle Nasty. 

This was grittily and brutally directed by visionary Robert Eggers ("The Witch" '15, "The Lighthouse" '19) plus shorts and a video short. This filmmaker is a visionary director much like Guy Ritchie is with his films. Their approaches are a different style, but their films are definitely created in a 'splashy' sort of way. The photography by Jarin Blaschke and editing by Louise Ford combined was stunning as it was powerful, and this is certainly the work of creative directing. It was effectively written by Sjon ("Dancer in the Dark" 2000, "Regina" '01, "Reykjavik Whale Watching Massacre" '09, "Fiskar a burro Landi" (TV movie) '13, "Lamb" '21) plus a short and a music video, and Eggers ("The Witch" '15, "The Lighthouse" '19) plus shorts and a video short. Interestingly, this was written is several 'chapters' giving us different aspects of these lives involved and what they went through to its ultimate climax, and then they were able to intertwine the chapters and ended up with a very taut, headstrong script that allows the audience to see what it had to be like to be a Viking and experience their world more than a 1000 years ago. Other than a couple of very small places of inconsistencies, and the fact that it could've been cut about 5+ minutes, this was a spot on screenplay. 

If you thought we live in a society where the crime is running off the charts, you need to see this. The brutal violence in this is simply the way the Viking and other countries lived their lives. This film left me thinking that our society isn't so bad--in comparison. This was a visual feast for the eyes and the performance by Skarsgard was stunning. 

Out of 4 Stars: 3.5                                              Rated: R                                               137mins.

 

The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent

In my opinion, one of the best forms of comedy is that of either satire or parody. Making light of someone or thing can be, if written well, quite hilarious. There haven't been many comedies that have been effective in conveying that degree of satire or parody, i.e. "State and Main", "Thank You for Smoking", "The Ides of March" and the like. So when I saw my first trailer of "The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent", I felt that this looked totally doable. 

Nicolas Cage stars as...Nick Cage in the action-comedy parody "The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent". Creatively unfulfilled and facing financial ruin, the fictionalized version of Cage must accept a $1 million offer, lined up by his agent, Richard Fink (Neil Patrick Harris), to attend the birthday of a dangerous superfan Javi Gutierrez (Pedro Pascal). Things take a wildly unexpected turn when Cage is recruited by CIA operatives, Vivian (Tiffany Haddish) and Martin (Ike Barinholtz), and forced to live up to his own legend, channeling his most iconic and beloved on-screen characters in order to save himself and his loved ones. With a career built for this very moment, the seminal award-winning actor must take on the role of a lifetime: Nick Cage.

Others to round out the cast are Sharon Horgan as Olivia, Paco Leon as Lucas Gutierrez, Javi's cousin, Lily Sheen as Addy Cage, Alessandra Mastronardi as Gabriela, Jacob Scipio as Carlos and Katrin Vankova as Maria.

This was creatively directed by virtual newcomer Tom Gormican ("That Awkward Moment" '14). With all the mediocre directed comedies out there helmed by seasoned filmmakers, this was a fresh and original approach to a very interesting parody on Cage. His staging and pacing by Gormican were spot on as was his ability to extract those different emotions from Cage depending on whether he was himself or his on-screen alter ego. This director will receive more work. It was also creatively written by Gormican ("That Awkward Moment" '14) plus TV. Along with Gormican, the other writer was Kevin Etten ("Canned" (TV movie) '09) plus a plethora of TV. As I stated prior, satires or parodies are my favorite format for a tight, uproarious comedy, and this certainly lived up to being an effective parody. `Cage has done some creative work, but this was probably one of his better efforts. Going from playing himself and having to then jump back into one of his past on-screen personas and pull it off effectively has to be challenging for any actor, but Cage simply pulled it off effortlessly. Sure, these writers are newbies to feature films, but considering that Etten had as much TV experience that he had certainly helped. Other than a small place of continuity issues (where Cage backed into a car, but shortly after, there was no damage) and a couple of small places of inconsistencies, this script worked. This had to be a film that was created specifically for Cage, and it showed in spades. 

If you are a Cage fan, you'll love this, and even if not, the parody aspect is worth the price of admission. We live in a world where so many people can't make light of themselves, and with this, if Cage can make light of himself, all of us can as well. 

Out of 4 Stars: 3                                            Rated: R                                                 97mins.

Father Stu

For decades, Hollywood has been obsessed with biopics, so much so, that it seemed that the biz knew no other type of films than of biopics. Don't get me wrong, films based on true stories can make a powerful statement, but once in a while fiction can be just as necessary. "Father Stu" is a very personal film of Mark Wahlberg that took him approximately seven years to get on the screen, and the outcome is an emotional, exceptional film.

This film based on a true story follows the life of Father Stuart Long (Mark Wahlberg). When an injury ends his amateur boxing career, Stuart Long moves to Los Angeles to find money and fame as an actor. While scraping by as a supermarket clerk, he meets Carmen (Teresa Cruz), a Sunday school teacher who seems immune to his bad-boy charm. Determined to win her over, the longtime agnostic starts going to church to impress her. However, a motorcycle accident leaves him wondering if he can use his second chance to help others. Leading to the surprising realization that he's meant to be a Catholic, much to the chagrin of his parents, his dad Bill (Mel Gibson) and mom Kathleen (Jacki Weaver), he subsequently inspires countless people during his journey from self-destruction to redemption. 

Others to round out the cast are Malcolm McDowell as Monsignor Kelly, Cody Fern as Jacob, a priest, Ned Bellamy as Dr. Novack, Annie Lee as Dr. Wan, Aaron Moten as Ham, Carlos Leal as Father Garcia, Alain Uy as Tim and Ronnie Gene Blevins as bartender.

This was delineated well by first time director Rosalind Ross. When I realized that she had never directed a feature film--not even any TV, shorts or videos, I went to see this film with a certain amount of trepidation. However, after viewing it, I walked out of the theater assessing that this filmmaker was a natural behind the camera. This being her first film, I can't wait to see what she helms next--and there will be a next time. Even though Wahlberg is a fine actor, it still takes talented directing to be able to transition this actor from a younger, healthy, well built agnostic to a more moral, God fearing, kind of frumpy priest and make it effortless. It was also written by Ross (TV, short), who is a virtual newcomer to the writing field. She has only one TV series and a short to her credit, and she was able to pen a script that a seasoned writer would be envious of. It was well paced and staged and each scene was delineated with careful precision. Other than a couple of places of continuity issues and a small place of some confusion, this screenplay simply rocked. Again, with her being a newbie in the writing realm, I'm curious to see what she writes next. Considering that Wahlberg actually put on the extra weight in which to pull off Long's stature as a portly priest was amazing, but this is the method actor that he is. 

Certainly if one is Catholic or simply a Christian, this will please and give them something to gnaw on, but even if they're non-Christian or agnostic, people are seeking out God all the time and will find this interesting. This is one man's path toward faith from Agnosticism, to hard knocks, to love and God, to forgiving those he needed to confront, to his ultimate redemption. I can see why this was such a personal film for Wahlberg. The nice touch at the end of the credits was where the film was done in loving memory of Alma Wahlberg, Mark's mother. 

Out of 4 Stars: 3.5                                         Rated: R                                                124mins.

Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore

J.K. Rowling came from humbling beginnings, however with her success of the "Harry Potter" books and subsequent films, she then created, as an offshoot from the Harry Potter series, another series whereas wizardry and magic are also key elements. "Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore" is the third installment of the "Fantastic Beasts" series created by Rowling and certainly will follow with more, hence the term series.

Professor Albus Dumbledore (Jude Law) knows the powerful Dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald (Mads Mikkelsen) is moving to seize control of the wizarding world. Unable to stop him alone, he entrusts Magizoologist Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) to lead an intrepid team of wizards and witches including Theseus Scamander (Callum Turner), Yusuf Kama (William Nadylam) and Lally Hicks (Jessica Williams) and our brave Muggle baker Jacob Kowalski (Dan Fogler) on a dangerous mission, where they encounter old and new beasts and clash with Grindelwald's growing legion of followers. But with the stakes so high, how long can Dumbledore remain on the sidelines?

Others to round out the cast are Ezra Miller as Creedence Barebone, Katherine Waterston as Tina Goldstein, Poppy Corby-Tuech as Vinda Rosier, Alison Sudol as Queenie Goldstein, Richard Coyle as Deerforth and Paul Low-Hang as Zabini.

This was directed striving to convey Rowling's vision by veteran David Yates ("The Young Visiters" (TV movie) '03, "The Girl in the Cafe" (TV movie) '05, "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" '07, "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" '09, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1" '10, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 '11, "The Legend of Tarzan" '16, "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" '16, "Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald" '18) plus TV and shorts. As I've referenced in other reviews, this filmmaker certainly stays in his comfort zone with a plethora of fantasy films galore. And since he has been a consummate pro at this genre, why not stay where you an expert at? He simply allows his actors to embrace the embodiment of their respective characters and the audience is the benefactor of it. Redmayne's Newt Scamander and Fogler's Jacob Kowalski characters are conveyed well and are memorable. If you like this director's brand of directing, both his "Fantasic Beasts 4 & 5" have been announced. It was effectively written by J.K. Rowling ("Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" '16, "Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald" '18) plus TV, video games, shorts and videos, and Steve Kloves ("Racing with the Moon" '84, "The Fabulous Baker Boys" '89, "Flesh and Bone" '93, "Wonder Boys" 2000, "Harry Potter and the Scorcerer's Stone" '01, "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" '02, "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" '04, "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" '05, "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" '09, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1" '10, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2" '11, "The Amazing Spider-Man" '12) plus a video short. Even though the lion's share of the experience here lies with Kloves, I believe that Rowling received first billing since this is categorically her baby. The writers and director are certainly one big happy family since they are so intertwined with these films. Hey look, this, like a good many films of this type, is basically a 'good vs evil' film with a wizardry backdrop, replete with characters that one can love, endear, dislike, or simply care about in a turn of the century setting to give it that antiquated feel that lends to the material that much more. It was cleverly written; kept the audience moving right along. Was it as effective as the original installment? No, however they usually aren't as effective as with any other franchise installment. It has some choppiness and continuity issues, but certainly not enough to detract from the overall story. And the visual effects predominantly designed by Framestore and Digital Domain were effective as they were creative. 

Certainly if you're either a "Harry Potter" or "Fantastic Beasts" aficionado, you've be in that particular heaven. I'm not a fan of either, but this franchise has been interesting. If you see this, it must be experienced on the large screen to get the full impact. And if you even want that up, close and personal feeling, this is presented in an IMAX format as well. 

Out of 4 Stars: 3                                            Rated: PG-13                                          142mins.

Ambulance

Nail-biting, intense, adrenaline-ridden films are quite the rush, and because of this, they simply cut to the chase hence the type of films they are. When "Speed" was released in 1994 starring Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock, I felt like I was dragged through the proverbial knothole emotionally. It was adrenaline-packed and was intense from frame one. Well, now we have "Ambulance" which certainly has the same frenetic, adrenaline-ridden feel as with "Speed".

Over one day across the streets of L.A., three lives will change forever. In this breakneck thriller from director Michael Bay, decorated veteran Will Sharp (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II), desperate for money to cover his wife's, Amy (Moses Ingram) experimental surgery, asks for help from the one person he knows he shouldn't--his adoptive brother Danny (Jake Gyllenhaal), a charismatic career criminal. Danny instead offers Will a score: the biggest bank heist in Los Angeles history: $32 million. With his wife's survival on the line, Will can't say no. But when their getaway goes spectacularly wrong, the desperate brothers hijack an ambulance with an injured cop clinging to life and ace EMT Cam Thompson (Eiza Gonzalez) onboard. In a high-speed pursuit that never stops, Will and Danny must evade a massive, city-wide law enforcement response, keep their hostages alive, and somehow try now to kill each other, all while executing the most insane escape L. A. has ever seen.

Others to round out the cast are Garret Dillihunt as Captain Monroe, Keir O'Donnell as FBI Agent Anson Clark, Jackson White as Officer Zach, Olivia Stambouliah as Lt. Draghig, Colin Woodell as EMT Scott, Cedric Sanders as Officer Mark, A Martinez as Papi and Jesse Garcia as Roberto. 

This was intensely directed with a ton of grit by Michael Bay ("Bad Boys" '95, "Armageddon" '98, "Pearl Harbor" '01, "Bad Boys II" '03, "The Island" '05, "Transformers" '07, "Pain & Gain" '13, "13 Hours" '16, "Underground" '19) plus others and shorts and a plethora of music videos. As with this director's previous films, he is clearly in his comfort zone, and so makes it a bit easier to know how to get his actors to extract the emotions needed to keep the audience glued to their seats. His pacing, staging and the impact he accomplished was amazing. If you like this veteran, seasoned director's brand, his "Robopocalypse" has been announced. It was written with amazing grit and frenetically well by Chris Fedak (TV), based on the film "Ambulancen" by Laurits Munch-Petersen and Lars Andreas Petersen. More amazing than Bay's accomplished directing is that of this writer, who, has written a plethora of TV, is still a virtual newcomer to the feature film realm. Really, other than a small issue with continuity and a place where a particular thing couldn't happen the way it turned out, this script was spot on. Fedak's amazing pace throughout the film definitely kept the audience on the edge of their seats, and if that didn't work, this film absolutely cuts to the chase practically minute one. The photography by Roberto De Angelis coupled with editing predominantly by Pietro Scalia ace, was racing and slick which simply added to the story. Also add visual effects predominantly designed by Double Negative and ILM (Industrial, Light & Magic), and you have two and a quarter hours of running time that simply moves right along.

 

If you liked "Speed" or films like that, this film is one you have got to see. It is the quintessential escape film that is as entertaining as it is a roller coaster ride. Note: This is the third film Gyllenhaal has starred in that is a remake of a Danish film; the other two being "The Guilty" '21 and "Brothers". Grab the popcorn and enjoy!

Out of 4 Stars: 3.5                                                Rated: R                                                 136mins.

 

The Contractor

One of the most valued and patriotic people in our country is that of the military, whether they be active or veteran. However, there are situations where soldiers are mistreated or considered outright expendable depending on the powers that be that have an agenda. When a soldier(s) are discharged due to a situation that fully becomes political, it's enough to make one gag. Case in point is a soldier in "The Contractor" where he is left high and dry with no way to take care of his family. What is one to do?

Chris Pine stars in the action-packed thriller as Special Forces Sergeant James Harper, who is involuntarily discharged from the Army and cut off from his pension. In amazing debt, out of options and desperate to provide for his family including his wife, Brianne (Gillian Jacobs) and son, Jack (Sander Thomas), Harper, through his bro Mike (Ben Foster), contracts with a private underground military force headed up by an ex special forces soldier, Rusty (Kiefer Sutherland). When the very first assignment goes awry, the elite soldier finds himself hunted and on the run, caught in a dangerous conspiracy and fighting to stay alive long enough to get home and uncover the true motives of those who betrayed him. 

Others to round out the cast are Eddie Marsan as Virgil, JD Pardo as Eric, Florian Munteanu as Kaufman, Nina Hoss as Katia, Amira Casar as Sylvie, Fares Fares as Salim and Aristou Meehan as Yanis. 

This was intensely directed with amazing grit by Tarik Saleh ("Gitmo" (documentary) '05, "Kronofogden/The Repo Man" (TV movie) '09, "Metropia" '09, "Tommy" '14, "The Nile Hilton Incident" '17) plus TV, a video and a short. Even though this filmmaker has quite the eclectic resume, he still was able to convey to his audience a riveting expose of what happens when the military goes underground. He was simply consummate at being able to extract the intensity and frenzy from his actors, so much so, that it became ultimately a realistic looking outcome. If this director is to your liking, his "Boy from Heaven" is being filmed at this point for a 2022 release. It was frenetically and intensely written by J.P. Davis ("Fighting Tommy Riley" '04, "The Neighbor" '07) plus TV. Although this writer doesn't have an extravagant resume, he certainly knew how to construct an intriguing script. It starts out fairly straightforward, but becomes in rapid succession a gritty thriller rife with mystery and several twists and turns that will have you guessing around the next corner. After a certain point, you'll wonder how or if he will ever get out of one predicament after another. Really, other than a couple of small places of unexplainable situations, this plot simply keeps the audience on the edge of their proverbial seats. 

If military and/or espionage type of films are to your liking, this is the film for you. This is the first film with the teaming of Chis Pine and Ben Foster since they starred in "Hell or High Water" with Jeff Bridges, and their performance in this was every bit as suspenseful as with the other film. It's a great cat-and-mouse game where it has you guessing repeatedly, which definitely makes it worthy of the price of admission. 

Out of 4 Stars: 3.5                                                 Rated: R                                                   103mins.

Morbius

The summer film season is not officially here, however Hollywood has a tendency to jump the gun. Understandably, I get the financial reason why they would, so why not kick the season off early with the release of "Morbius"? This is yet another one of Marvel's flicks they dole out perenially every year; sometimes multiple times. Of course, I keep forgetting than Marvel is owned by Disney, which is all about profit. Makes sense.

One of the most compelling and conflicted characters in Sony Pictures Universe of Marvel Characters comes to the big screen as Jared Leto transforms into the enigmatic antihero Michael Morbius. Dangerously ill with a rare blood disorder and determined to save others suffering his same fate, biochemist Dr. Morbius and Dr. Martine Bancroft (Adria Arjona) attempts a desperate gamble. While at first it seems to be a radical success, a darkness inside him is unleashed. Will good override evil--or will Morbius succumb to his mysterious new urges?

Others to round out the cast are Jared Harris as Emil Nikols, Matt Smith as Milo, Corey Johnson as Mr. Fox, Archie Renaux as Bobby, Tom Forbes as finance bro and Clara Rosager as Jean. 

This film was grittily directed by Daniel Espinosa ("Babylonsjukan" '04, "Outside Love" '07, "Snabba Cash" '10, "Safe House" '12, "Child 44" '15, "Life" '17) plus TV and a short. This director was certainly able to extract those effective emotions from his actors, and with Leto in the title role, between his expertise as an actor and Espinosa's ability to stage and pace his actors, it's no surprise that the characters came alive on the screen. It was effectively written by the writing team Matt Sazama and Burk Sharpless ("Dracula Untold" '14, "The Last Witch Hunter" '15, "Gods of Egypt" '16, "Power Rangers" (story) '17) plus TV and a short, based on a screen story by Sazama and Sharpless, which is based on the Marvel comics by Roy Thomas and Gil Kane. By observing the writers' resume, one can see that these guys are definitely working in their comfort zone. Interesting, considering this, there were still a bit of choppiness and secondly, there were a few places that clearly weren't explained. However, possibly in the next installment, and there will be one, possibly these places will have an explanation. Really the best thing about this film is Leto's characterization of Morbius, which isn't surprising considering his expertise, and secondly, the stunts by Gary Powell and the visual effects predominantly created by Weta Digital were amazing and truly ehanced the story. Really, once you get to the end of the film, you will definitely see that there we be a next installment, so this really isn't a spoiler alert. For instance, Michael Keaton (Adrian Toomes) only has about a couple of minutes of running time near the end, so undoubtedly he will have a much larger role in part 2. 

If you're a Marvel Studios aficionado, you'll love this, however, even if you're not, like me, just focus on Leto's performance and the visuals which are grandiose, and you can't go wrong. This is also presented in an IMAX format for that up, close and personal feeling as well. It''s quite the roller coaster ride, so break out the popcorn and enjoy. 

Out of 4 Stars: 3                                              Rated: PG-13                                                  104mins.