Category: Reviews

  • Don’t wait for the end of the world to see ‘The World’s End’

    Don’t wait for the end of the world to see ‘The World’s End’

    Simon Pegg, Nick Frost and the rest of the main cast of 'The World's End'
    Simon Pegg, Nick Frost and the rest of the main cast of ‘The World’s End’

    From the brilliant minds of Simon Pegg and Edgar Wright comes the third film in their “Cornetto Trilogy”, The World’s End.  The other films in the trilogy are of course Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz.  All three are comedies and while they feature many of the same players, they portray different characters in each.

    Five men who grew up together in a small English town and left long since are brought together by one of their number for a trip home.  “Gary King” (Pegg) is almost exactly as he was when he and the other four attempted “The Golden Mile” just after graduation from school.  The Mile is a pub crawl, 12 pints in 12 pubs that begins at “The First Post” and will conclude at “The World’s End.”  Gary finagles, cajoles and tell outright falsehoods to get “Andy” (Frost), “Peter” (Marsan), “Steven” (Considine) and “Oliver” (Freeman) to join him on this journey.  All four have moved on from their small-town roots, become successful and have nice lives that they are leaving behind for this weekend jaunt, unlike Gary.

    Simon Pegg holding a map of The Golden Mile in 'The World's End'
    Simon Pegg holding a map of The Golden Mile in ‘The World’s End’

    Gary is expecting to be welcomed back home as a conquering hero but that isn’t the reception they receive at The First Post.  What they find instead is that things have changed in their hometown of Newton Haven.  The pubs are different (they all look remarkably similar), the town looks different and the people are decidedly different.  Andy refuses to drink, having given up alcohol long ago after an accident that is the reason he and Gary are no longer close.

    At their second stop, “The Old Familiar” they run into “Sam” (Pike) who happens to be the sister of Oliver, one of the many objects of Gary’s lust, and the woman that Steven has been in love with for as long as he’s known her.

    'The World's End' is a quest for five guys to drink pints in each of 12 pubs in their hometown
    ‘The World’s End’ is a quest for five guys to drink pints in each of 12 pubs in their hometown

    When Gary gets into a tussle with a teenaged boy at yet another pub further along in the crawl; part of a group of five such youths who remind our heroes of themselves at that age, he discovers the big secret.  Many of the town’s residents have been replaced by what appear to be robots, filled with a colorful goo rather than blood.   Rather than draw attention to themselves by trying to flee, they decide to continue the crawl.

    The writing is nothing short of brilliant, the film is filled with humor and biting social commentary.  It’s science-fiction, comedy, action and more all wrapped up in a neat package.  It doesn’t go over the edge of camp into total ridiculousness, but gets just close enough to that edge to be thoroughly enjoyable.  The humor, both verbal and physical is superb.  Enjoy!

  • ‘The Grandmaster’ has some slick moves up its sleeve

    ‘The Grandmaster’ has some slick moves up its sleeve

    Tony Leung is Ip Man in 'The Grandmaster'
    Tony Leung is Ip Man in ‘The Grandmaster’

    Mention the name of Bruce Lee to any aficionado of martial arts movies and they will immediately know who you are talking about.  Ask them the name of the man who taught Wing Chun kung fu to the late actor/martial artist and some may know the name Ip Man.  The Grandmaster is the story of Ip Man’s rise to prominence in the martial arts community.  Written and directed by Wong Kar-wai, whose Happy Together won the Best Director award at the Cannes Film Festival, The Grandmaster focuses on Ip Man’s life in Foshan, China during the 1930s and how he eventually migrates to Hong Kong where he first meets the young Bruce Lee.

    Ip Man, portrayed by Tony Leung, is a rising star in China’s southern martial arts community.  The nation is divided into two regions in terms of these arts, with the northern styles having the man considered to be the nation’s “grandmaster” as their leader.  This man, “Gong Yutian” (Wang Qingxiang) has named a successor in “Ma San” (Zhang Jin), but wants to challenge the best of the South in an effort at uniting the two factions.  After some debate, the more renowned masters of the southern styles put Ip Man forward to represent them.

    The contest turns out to be one of wit and thought rather than physical combat and Gong Yutian declares Ip Man to be the winner.  But after he leaves, his daughter “Gong Er” (Zhang Ziyi) challenges Ip Man to try to regain the family’s honor.  She wins their contest and its clear there is a mutual attraction between the two.  Never mind that Ip Man is married and has children.

    Zhang Ziyi in 'The Grandmaster'
    Zhang Ziyi in ‘The Grandmaster’

    The two stay in touch through letters.  Ip Man’s plans for the future must be put on hold when the Japanese invade.  Eventually the war ends and he journeys on alone to Hong Kong, to set up a school and fend for his family.  He meets up with Gong Er there, and wishes to pursue a relationship but she will have none of it.  She vowed to never marry, have kids or teach in order to carry out vengeance on Ma San who commits several heinous acts and will not break those vows to be with Ip Man.

    This is not a wu xia film but has some of the elements of this genre.  There is plenty of fighting, a definite hero, and much of the philosophy of the martial arts preset.  Leung gives a solid turn as the title character while Ziyi shines as his unrequited love.  The action is simply stellar, thanks to the presence of Yuen Woo-ping as the overall fight sequence coordinator.  His presence on-screen in a small role is just a bonus to his fans.

    It is obvious that Leung and writer/director Wong Kar-wai have collaborated before.  In fact, they have done seven films together now and their synergy is just one of the reasons The Grandmaster is an enjoyable watch.

    The version showing in the U.S. runs only 108 minutes as opposed to the 130 minute version shown in China or the 123 minute version screened at the Berlin Film Festival.  Hopefully someday those of us in the U.S. can view the extended cut.

  • There is something special about ‘The Spectacular Now’

    There is something special about ‘The Spectacular Now’

    Miles Teller and Shailane Woodley in 'The Spectacular Now'
    Miles Teller and Shailane Woodley in ‘The Spectacular Now’

    Living in the moment is great, when you’ve gotten somewhere in life.  When you’re a senior in high school who hasn’t accomplished much of anything, let alone get into a college, living in the “now” is a problem.  This problem is the subject of The Spectacular Now, a pretty good adaptation of a novel that’s received a number of accolades.

    Miles Teller plays “Sutter” who is a good looking kid known mostly for being a serious partier. He doesn’t really belong to any particular clique at his school.  He’s fun to be with, makes people laugh and has no plans for the future.  The only positive thing in his life is that he has a job at a men’s clothing store, and seems to have an altruistic streak in him.  He hasn’t seen his father in years and his mother (Jennifer Jason-Leigh in a small, but strong turn) refuses to give Sutter his father’s phone number.

    His girlfriend “Cassidy” is portrayed by Brie Larson and their relationship is not good.  Cassidy is going to college and she can’t understand why Sutter isn’t taking the subject of college and his future in general more seriously.  They break up.

    When he meets Shailene Woodley’s “Aimee”, who is an odd duck herself, it wasn’t with any romantic intentions or plans to use her as a rebound romance.  She’s smart, hides her beauty and finds herself attracted to Sutter.  She’s such the “good  girl” that she has assumed her mother’s job as newspaper delivery person in the mornings.  She’s very different from Sutter in that her future is planned out and she is bound to be successful.  Sutter introduces Aimee to alcohol and the rest of his foibles and they only make him more endearing in her eyes.  Sutter is determined to find his father one way or another and he will never stop living in the “now” until he does.  It’s clear that Sutter doesn’t feel as strongly toward Aimee as she does toward him and it is very easy to find yourself rooting for her to not get hurt.

    The bad boy and the good girl has been done to death and yet it works here.  There’s an innocence about Woodley’s Aimee that makes her intelligence and common sense obvious.  She may be naïve and inexperienced when it comes to love and relationships and yet she knows what she wants.  Teller’s Sutter is someone that most of his peers may laugh at, but any of them would give him a ride home.  The leads in this film show talent and maturity far beyond their actual ages.

    James Ponsoldt proved his directing chops with last year’s excellent Smashed and this film continues to demonstrate that he works well with films involving “difficult” interpersonal relationships involving teens and/or young adults.

  • ‘Kick-Ass 2’ retains original’s mix of wit and violence

    ‘Kick-Ass 2’ retains original’s mix of wit and violence

    Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Chloe Moretz are back for more in 'Kick Ass 2'
    Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Chloe Moretz are back for more in ‘Kick Ass 2’

    The first film based off a work by Mark Millar was Wanted, which was a horrible butchering that turned a unique comic into a generic action movie. But Kick-Ass got it right, with a proceeding that was anything but generic. Luckily Kick-Ass 2, despite a change in directors and studios, keeps up the same manic blend of humor and violence.

    Mindy Macready (Chloe Grace Moretz), or Hit Girl, is now in the same high school as Dave Lizewski (Aaron Taylor-Johnson), or Kick-Ass. As the story begins, she is still putting on the purple wig and going out cracking skulls while he has stopped but wants to start again and asks her to rain him. In the midst, her guardian Marcus (Morris Chestnut), a detective and her late father’s partner, discovers what she’s been up to and makes her promise to quit. Dave however suits up again and joins a group of vigilante heroes who were inspired by Kick-Ass to take action. Led by former mafia enforcer Colonel Stars and Stripes (Jim Carrey), Justice Forever also includes his high school friend Marty (Clark Duke) and Night Bitch (Lindy Booth), who becomes a romantic interest; Katie (Lyndsy Fonseca) dumps him when she overhears an argument he has with Mindy and mistakes them for lovers.

    Meanwhile Chris D’Amico (Christopher Mintz-Plasse) and “Alfred to [his] evil Bruce Wayne” Javier (John Leguizamo) have begun a plan to take revenge on Kick-Ass for the death of the former’s father. Scrapping the Red Mist identity in favor of fetish gear and the title “The Motherfucker”, D’Amico then assembles a diverse group of henchmen who he gives some very ethnically-questionable names.

    Jim Carrey joins in on the fun in 'Kick Ass 2'
    Jim Carrey joins in on the fun in ‘Kick Ass 2’

    An interesting thing happened following the release of the first film: it more or less came true. Phoenix Jones (secret identity Benjamin Fodor) led his own vigilante group in Seattle called the Rain City Superhero Movement. His exploits, much like those of Kick-Ass, have been filmed and uploaded online to (cumulatively) over a million views.

    Whether it were intentional or not, the story feels like a critique of this movement. The members of Justice Forever are shown as well-meaning but for the most part in way over their heads. As the events of the story unfold, the main message seems to be that this kind of vigilantism brings consequences and in some respects makes things worse.

    Other than that, you’re in for the same sort of trip its predecessor delivered. This is easily Jeff Wadlow’s best film and proof that he is more than capable as a writer/director. Once again Moretz comes away some of the best moments and lines, though her now being older dulls the impact a little.

    But it’s Carrey who’s a standout. The series seems to have a desire to get a name actor for a supporting hero character. Occupying the position that Nicolas Cage held in the previous film, he plays a special kind of insanity that it’s hard to imagine anyone else doing yet distinct from his frequent persona. It’s just a shame he isn’t in it more.  If there is another go round, it’s interesting to ponder who will be next (Robin Williams maybe?).

    This summer has largely been one of disappointment and disaster, but Kick-Ass 2 is a bright spot as it draws to a close. Better luck next year. Bring on the fall.

  • Serve yourself a heaping helping of ‘Lee Daniels’ The Butler’

    Serve yourself a heaping helping of ‘Lee Daniels’ The Butler’

    Forest Whitaker is brilliant in 'Lee Daniels' The Butler'
    Forest Whitaker is brilliant in ‘Lee Daniels’ The Butler’

    Combining a compelling story with an ethereal resemblance to the historical presentation in Forrest Gump, Academy Award nominee Lee Daniels has come up with a superior film that has his name in front of it on the marquee.  Lee Daniels’ The Butler wasn’t given that title due to his tremendous achievement, or from any egotistical notions.  The name change from “The Butler” was mandated by rules involving movie titles.

    Starring Oscar winner Forest Whitaker as “Cecil Gaines”, this movie is inspired by the true story of a man who spent more than three decades working as a butler in the White House.  Beginning life as the son of “servants” on a Georgia cotton farm, the young Cecil sees his father murdered by the farm’s owner.  This results in that murderer’s mother taking the boy into her home and training him to be a “house nigger” (I really do hate that phrase).  He leaves home as quickly as possible to make his own way in the world.

    Clarence Williams III and Aml Ameen in 'Lee Daniels' The Butler'
    Clarence Williams III and Aml Ameen in ‘Lee Daniels’ The Butler’

    Desperate for food he steals from a bakery and is caught by the servant in charge there, “Maynard” (Clarence Williams III).  He offers the young adult Cecil a job and then trains and mentors him in the way of being a servant.  When Maynard is offered a job as a butler at a Washington, D.C. hotel he passes on the opportunity and instead tells them to hire Cecil.  At that hotel Cecil impresses the man in charge of hiring butlers for the White House and from there, he finds himself in the Oval Office serving President Eisenhower (Robin Williams).

    Along the way Cecil marries “Gloria” (Oprah Winfrey) who he met on the job at that hotel.  They have two children, “Louis” (David Oyelowo) and “Charlie” (Elijah Kelley).  He befriends the head butler at the White House (Cuba Gooding Jr) and his next door neighbor, (Terrence Howard).  But when Louis goes off to attend Fisk University and gets involved in the civil rights movement, it will cause strife in the Gaines household.  The rest of the film is a dual-track story, tracing the trials and tribulations faced by Louis as he becomes a Freedom Rider, while the audience watches Cecil serving one President after another.

    Oprah Winfrey is the wife of "Cecil Gaines" in 'Lee Daniels' The Butler'
    Oprah Winfrey is the wife of “Cecil Gaines” in ‘Lee Daniels’ The Butler’

    The script is good, but it’s the acting that makes this a must-see movie.  Whitaker, brilliant in The Last King of Scotland (for which he won Oscar, Golden Globe and BAFTA awards) may have surpassed that brilliance in this performance.  People forget that Oprah Winfrey is one very talented actress because of her success in other areas, and she reminds us of this fact through an outstanding turn here.  David Oyelowo has the camera and the audience enthralled.  Most of the actors portraying prior Presidents are very good, but the work by John Cusack in portraying Richard Nixon stands head and shoulders above this talented crowd.  The moments where we see a bloated, distraught Nixon who is about to become the only President in history to resign his office are especially effective.

    Don’t be surprised if we see Lee Daniels and some of this film’s actors in the Oscar discussion that is just getting started.

  • Audiences will warm to ‘The Frozen Ground’

    Audiences will warm to ‘The Frozen Ground’

    Nicolas Cage and Vanessa Hudgens in 'The Frozen Ground'
    Nicolas Cage and Vanessa Hudgens in ‘The Frozen Ground’

    Scott Walker’s feature film debut as writer and director is The Frozen Ground, based on the true story of Robert Hansen, probably the worst serial killer in the history of Alaska.  Movies in this genre are very easy to get engrossed in, and this is no exception.  It is an auspicious beginning for a clearly talented writer/director.

    Nicolas Cage is “Jack Holcombe (fictional character based on a real person)” an Alaska State Trooper who is about to leave the force for a job with regular hours and better pay.  His wife “Allie” (Radha Mitchell) has already quit her job and they are only two weeks away from leaving when “Cindy Paulson (not a fictional character, played by Vanessa Hudgens)” comes into his life.

    She is a prostitute who was raped and chained up by her attacker, but managed to escape before he could return and do whatever he was planning to do.  She can identify him, but wants no part of the investigation.  She trusts no one.  Jack was just handed a murder investigation involving a body found in a remote, frozen region and he suspects there is a connection between the victim and Cindy.

    Soon the investigation turns toward “Robert Hansen” (John Cusack), who owns a local bakery and is a “good guy”, “family man” and the person one might least suspect to be a serial killer.  The fact that he is, and that he learns that Cindy got away and could identify him worries him quite a bit.  He sets about locating and eliminating her.  That isn’t going to stop him from continue to engage in his hobby of kidnapping, raping and then hunting the women he chooses as his victims.

    John Cusack shines in 'The Frozen Ground' portraying a real-life serial killer
    John Cusack shines in ‘The Frozen Ground’ portraying a real-life serial killer

    Eventually a few random matters put Hansen on the radar of Sergeant Holcombe and then the hunter becomes the hunted.  Will Holcombe get the goods on Hansen so that he doesn’t escape justice.  Without giving too much away, let’s just say it is not going to be an easy task.  Cindy won’t be helping by choosing to run away from Sergeant Holcombe’s attempts to protect her.

    Nicolas Cage is better in this film than he has been in other films in recent years.  He isn’t up to the level of his amazing awesomeness in 1995’s Leaving Las Vegas, but it’s a solid bit of work for him.  Vanessa Hudgens is miscast and does her best, but the role is beyond her.  On the other hand, John Cusack brings out nearly enough evil to reach the malevolence of the real serial killer he is portraying.

    The script is solid enough, especially in light of the writer/director’s apparent attempt to minimize the amount of artistic license taken to make the real story cinematic while maintaining at least some of the horror of what this man did to his victims.  The scenery is certainly authentic in appearance and there are no moments where you’re be tempted to look at your watch.  Alright, alright, maybe there are one or two.

    The only serious flaw is that on the surface, this movie seems to be nothing more than an hour long police procedural drama made for television, telescoped out to 105 minutes and taken to the big screen.  It’s an easy impression to get, but if you take the time to watch this film, it’s more than that.

  • ‘2 Guns’ fires high-velocity action

    ‘2 Guns’ fires high-velocity action

    Paula Patton is Denzel Washington's control officer and lover in '2 Guns'
    Paula Patton is Denzel Washington’s control officer and lover in ‘2 Guns’

    “Bobby” (Denzel Washington) takes “Stig” (Mark Wahlberg) with him across the border into Mexico, for a meeting with the leader of a drug cartel that Bobby had made a deal with.  Bobby would give “Papi Greco” (Edward James Olmos) some fake passports that would not be detected and in return he would get $100,000 worth of cocaine.  But for some reason, Papi Greco gives him the cash and refuses to exchange it for cocaine.

    Bobby tosses it back and he and Stig head back to the U.S.  Once back across the border, they are promptly arrested by the DEA. Stig doesn’t know that Bobby is actually an undercover DEA agent and he’s been “working” Papi Greco for a long time.  Welcome to 2 Guns.

    Edward James Olmos as drug cartel leader "Papi Greco" in '2 Guns'
    Edward James Olmos as drug cartel leader “Papi Greco” in ‘2 Guns’

    Bobby’s control, “Deb” (Paula Patton) and Bobby don’t know that Stig is actually a Navy SEAL, working undercover on orders from his commanding officer, “Lt Commander Quince” (James Marsden).  Stig proposes robbing a bank in a town near the border and Bobby likes the idea.  He plans to use the money to prove that Papi Greco is laundering his money through the bank.   Quince had ordered Stig to steal the money, claiming it would be used to fund the Navy’s operations against the cartel.  They believe they will find $3 million or so in the bank.

    But they find $43 million and it turns out it doesn’t belong to Papi Greco.  It’s the CIA’s money and they dispatch one of the operatives, “Earl” (Bill Paxton) to recover it.  He has carte blanche to do whatever he has to in order to recover the money.  Then Bobby gets framed by Earl for the murder of his lead agent and Quince leaves Stig out in the cold after failing to kill him.  Confused yet?

    Bill Paxton's "Earl" puts a great big R in the word ruthless in '2 Guns'
    Bill Paxton’s “Earl” puts a great big R in the word ruthless in ‘2 Guns’

    It makes sense when you sit down and watch it, assuming you can suspend your sense of disbelief and just enjoy the action and one-liners.  Wahlberg and Washington have terrific chemistry.  It turns out that Deb is not just Bobby’s control, but she’s also his lover.  She also has another boyfriend and who it is ends up being a bit of a surprise (no, it isn’t Stig).

    Komakur, who did an amazing job with last year’s The Deep, delivers a pretty good action/comedy with 2 Guns.  Edward James Olmos is a credible villain, sufficiently sinister to convince you he’d cut your head off as soon as look as you.  But it’s Bill Paxton who shines in this.  He is magnificent as the CIA agent who would kill his best friend if that would get the job done, and wouldn’t feel a single iota of guilt about it.  There are sufficient “booms”, chases and tense moments to satisfy all but the most incredibly hard-core action fanatics.

    Stop at the concession stand on the way in and grab the large popcorn.  Maybe even the extra-large.  With a running time approaching two hours, you may need it.

  • ‘Lovelace’ is a look deep into the life of its title character

    ‘Lovelace’ is a look deep into the life of its title character

    Amanda Seyfried as Linda Lovelace in the biopic 'Lovelace'
    Amanda Seyfried as Linda Lovelace in the biopic ‘Lovelace’

    In June of 1972 pornographic movies in the United States changed forever.  The 61 minute long Deep Throat, starring Linda Lovelace and Harry Reems became an instant hit.  It would run in some theaters for many years afterward.  Lovelace is a bio-pic about the star of Deep Throat and her relationship with the man who took her from innocent girl to become the Queen of Porno.

    The majority of the actors in the film are portraying the real-life people involved in the story and their real names are used.  Amanda Seyfriend stars at the title character while Peter Sarsgaard is Chuck Traynor, the man who introduced her to the world of adult films.

    Linda Susan Boreman had moved from her New York home to a Florida suburb along with her father John (Robert Patrick) and mother Dorothy (Sharon Stone) after her father retired from his job as a police officer in New York City.

    Raised by a strict mother, Linda is a very strait-laced young woman with a wild side yearning to be freed.  One night she and her best friend “Patsy” (Juno Temple) are at a roller disco when Linda meets Chuck Traynor.  He’s good looking, has a nice car and is interested in her.  Soon they were headed to New York where Chuck felt he could succeed at something.

    That something turned out to be making a pornographic movie called Deep Throat, produced by Louis ‘Butchie’ Peraino (Bobby Cannavale) with money provided by “Anthony Romany (Chris Noth, playing a fictional character used to represent the real-life Anthony Peraino who was a made member of a ‘Mafia’ crime family).  Gerald Damiano (Hank Azaria) was the director of the film and Harry Reems (Adam Brody) was the man on whom Linda Lovelace performed the act of fellatio that inspired the title of that film.

    Sharon Stone brings Dorothy Boreman, mother of the title character in 'Lovelace' to life
    Sharon Stone brings Dorothy Boreman, mother of the title character in ‘Lovelace’ to life

    The reception received by Deep Throat was unprecedented.  People who wouldn’t ordinarily go anywhere near an adult theater stood in line to watch this 61 minute porno.  It was the first such film to have plot and decent production values.  Linda Lovelace became the toast of the nation.  No less than Hugh Hefner (James Franco) took notice of her and he wanted to put her in his magazine and in his bed.

    But behind the scenes the glamour and celebrity was a very dark existence indeed.  Chuck Traynor was the kind of man who didn’t just beat his wife, he wanted to terrorize and intimidate her in order to exert total control over her.  He forced her to engage in prostitution and saw her as nothing more than a cash cow.  He had her future in pornographic movies all laid out in his mind.

    There’s more to her story in the post-Traynor era and it is well-documented here.  Very little dramatic license is taken in this excellent film adaptation of someone’s true story.  The backgrounds, wardrobe and the sound capture the early 1970s very well.  Seyfried is outstanding in capturing the difficult struggle that Linda Lovelace underwent to survive her relationship with Traynor, while Sarsgaard does a pretty good job of capturing the malevolence of this truly evil man.  The casting was done quite well, and Adam Brody completely captures the essence of the late Harry Reems.

    But it is Sharon Stone who steals every moment that she is on screen.  Ms Stone is still a gorgeous woman at age 55, yet she IS the essence of a frumpy housewife who can’t, or more properly refuses, to understand how her daughter turned out the way she did.  It is an outstanding performance, worth of being remembered next awards season.

    This is movie-making of the highest order when it comes to bringing a true-life tale to the big screen.

  • ‘The Wolverine’ scratches, claws and fights to succeed and does

    ‘The Wolverine’ scratches, claws and fights to succeed and does

    Hugh Jackman bares more than his claws in 'The Wolverine'
    Hugh Jackman bares more than his claws in ‘The Wolverine’

    For the sixth (and certainly not last) time, Hugh Jackman has donned the twin sets of adamantium “claws” of “Wolverine”, aka “Logan” although he was born James Howlett.  The Wolverine takes place following the events of the 2006 film X-Men:  The Last Stand.  Logan is living alone near a remote town in the Yukon.  He comes to town to take care of something and encounters “Yukio” (Rila Fukushima).  She has been searching for him at the behest of “Ichiro Yashida” (Haruhiko Yamanouchi).  He is the head of the largest corporation in Asia and it turns out that Logan saved his life during World War II.  Yashida is dying and wants to thank Logan for the life he has led, and to give him a gift.

    Yashida claims his company has developed the ability to take Logan’s healing power and transfer it to someone else.  Then he would no longer heal rapidly, would age normally and then could die.  Logan seems ready to die, as he has dreams in which “Jean Grey” (Famke Janssen) appears and tries to entice him to join her in the afterlife.  But he refuses the offer and Yashida dies.

    At the funeral Yashida’s granddaughter “Mariko” (Tao Okamoto) is kidnapped by Yakuza but Logan intervenes and rescues her, aided by the martial arts skills of Yukio and by “Harada” (Will Yun Lee), a member of “The Black Clan”.  They are ninjas who have served the Yashida family for seven centuries.  Eventually Logan and Mariko hide out at a family home.  During the struggle to save Mariko, Logan was wounded and discovers that his almost instantaneous healing power isn’t working.

    The woman who was serving as Yashida’s oncologist is really a mutant named “Viper” (Svetlana Khodchenkova) who wields all sorts of poisons (and she’s immune to all poisons) and is also an expert in biochemistry and physics.  She has plans, Harada has plans, Mariko’s father “Shingen” (Hiroyoki Sanada) has plans and the ultimate outcome involves major stakes.  They include control of the Yashida Corporation and whether or not Mariko will live.  Can a weakened Wolverine save the girl?

    James Mangold directs a fine script from writers Mark Bomback and Scott Frank.  While fans of the franchise have witnessed much of the Wolverine’s journey, they are treated to more information and further growth of the character.  Given that his powers, if restored, guarantee a very long life for him, he must find a purpose for that life.  This portion of the story is very well told.

    Jackman is a major talent and he seems to improve in this role with every film.  Most of the rest of the cast is new or nearly new to American film but they carry off their parts with panache.  Particularly the two main women in Yashida’s life, Mariko and Yukio.  Choosing Yukio as the granddaughter’s name is an interesting choice, since it is a name usually associated with Japanese men.

    Good acting, a strong story and tremendous fight/action sequences make The Wolverine a ‘must see’.

  • ‘Only God Forgives’ can be forgiven, given the director’s other great films

    ‘Only God Forgives’ can be forgiven, given the director’s other great films

    "Julian" (Ryan Gosling) and "Mai" (Ratha Phongam) in Julian's boxing club in a scene from 'Only God Forgives'
    “Julian” (Ryan Gosling) and “Mai” (Ratha Phongam) in Julian’s boxing club in a scene from ‘Only God Forgives’

    If you think the fact that Only God Forgives brings writer/director Nicolas Winding Refn and Ryan Gosling together again will make it anywhere near as good as Drive, think again.  There’s a good idea in there somewhere, but it got lost in the execution.  Maybe because there are several executions juxtaposed with scenes of cops singing karaoke.

    Gosling portrays “Julian” who lives in Thailand now and runs a boxing club.  On the surface.  Beneath that surface he and his older brother “Billy” (Tom Burke) are running a big smuggling operation which is actually the enterprise of their mother “Crystal” (Kristin Scott Thomas) who still lives back home in the U.S.

    Billy makes an intriguing statement about the devil to his brother before he heads out looking for a 14 year old prostitute to satisfy his yearnings.  He finds a 16 year old girl and proceeds to rape and murder her.  He is discovered with the corpse in the trashed hotel room and the police are summoned.  They call for a detective.  “Lt. Chang” (Vithaya Pansringarm) shows up.  He’s referred to by the other cops as “the Angel of Death” for reasons that become obvious very quickly.

    "Lt Chang" aka "The Angel of Death" (Vithaya Pansingarm) in 'Only God Forgives'
    “Lt Chang” aka “The Angel of Death” (Vithaya Pansingarm) in ‘Only God Forgives’

    He locates the girl’s father and brings him to the hotel room, where he locks him in with Billy.  As one would expect, he beats Billy to death and emerges covered in his blood.  He expects to be arrested for murdering a foreigner but Lt. Chang dispenses his own unique brand of justice with a krabi (curved sword) he carries.

    Crystal comes to town to claim the body and take it home for burial and is angered when she discovers that Julian hasn’t yet killed the man who killed her oldest son.  Julian, who had located the father was conflicted about killing a man who had killed to avenge the rape and murder of his daughter.  Julian is also clearly a “mama’s boy” who was whipped long before he became an adult.  Crystal tells him not to worry, she will take care of the death of the father and Lt. Chang for allowing him to kill her son.  Who hunts whom from that point forward is what we’re supposed to be interested in and care about for the rest of the mercifully short (90 minutes) movie.

    Kristin Scott Thomas portrays the mother of Ryan Gosling in 'Only God Forgives'
    Kristin Scott Thomas portrays the mother of Ryan Gosling in ‘Only God Forgives’

    Lacking an engaging story and having a style that makes it difficult to watch, Only God Forgives challenges the viewer by giving us no one to root for or care about.  Lt. Chang has an interesting system of values but his methods will offend some.  If the actor portraying Lt. Chang looks familiar, you may have seen him in The Hangover Part II .  Julian, Billy, Crystal and all their minions are flawed individuals without any redeeming values.  Refn’s failure to develop anything of substance within the characters.  Ryan Gosling is a talented actor but he has little to work with here.  Only Kristin Scott Thomas, going against type as a foul-mouthed evil mother is fun to watch.  Perhaps if we’d been given more Thai boxing and less retribution combined with cop karaoke bars, this might have worked.