Category: Reviews

  • ‘Aftershock’ will shake you up, but you’ll enjoy the feeling

    ‘Aftershock’ will shake you up, but you’ll enjoy the feeling

    Lorenza Izzo with Eli Roth in 'Aftershock'
    Lorenza Izzo with Eli Roth in ‘Aftershock’

    The great disaster films have a common thread.  Human beings, usually ordinary type people, who face death and are doing whatever they can to survive.  It isn’t always about the story itself.  The original Poseidon Adventure is brilliant, while the remake that came 24 years later in the form of Poseidon was only ordinary.

    This becomes particularly difficult to do when dealing with a natural disaster, as is the case in The Towering Inferno, Earthquake and The Impossible.  Now we have a new entry in the genre and it’s a good one.

    Aftershock is filled with horrifying moments, but it isn’t really a horror film.  It’s a disaster film and there just aren’t enough good ones being made in that genre in recent years.  Eli Roth is “Gringo”, the good friend of “Ariel” (Ariel Levy) who he is visiting in Chile.  Ariel is very close with “Pollo” (Nicolas Martinez) who is a wealthy playboy type.  Gringo is from L.A. and has a daughter back home that he misses badly, but he’s doing his best to enjoy his time in Chile.

    Andrea Osvart, Nicolas Martinez, Natasha Yarovenko and Lorenza Izzo in 'Aftershock'
    Andrea Osvart, Nicolas Martinez, Natasha Yaravenko and Lorenza Izzo in ‘Aftershock’

    After several parties, Pollo suggests they journey to Valparaiso, on the Chilean coast, where a really big party is going to be held.  Since none of the trio has had any success yet with their individual quests to get laid, Gringo and Ariel agree.  Once there, they meet a pair of sisters, “Kylie” (Lorenza Izzo), who is a wildchild, and her half-sister “Monica (Andrea Osvart), who was sent by their father to keep an eye on Kylie.  A difficult task even at the best of times, it becomes seriously challenging in the wild party atmosphere.  Gringo also meets “Irina” (Natasha Yaravenko), a gorgeous model who is smarter than you may think.

    The six go sightseeing together and then the wildest party of all takes place.  A massive earthquake strikes.  The group immediately faces challenges just to survive and they only get worse.  There is a prison near Valparaiso and it has collapsed, freeing all of the inmates.  They are running rampant and government officials seem conspicuous by their absence, making no visible attempt to restore order.

    Partying followed by horrifying events seems formulaic for Roth and there are parallels between this film and Hostel.   This film is not nearly as disquieting as Hostel, nor does it skirt the edge of the violence being almost pornographic in nature like that earlier film.  What makes Aftershock so compelling is that the graphic deaths sometimes come so suddenly that even the most avid horror-film devotee will be surprised.

    Gringo is a nice, divorced Jewish guy and since that appears to be part of Roth’s reality, portraying on the screen wasn’t much of a challenge.  He is a good actor (see Inglorious Basterds for proof) but this isn’t his best work.  Osvart is solid and Martinez amusing.  The impressive achievement here is the direction provided by Nicolas Lopez.   He gives the audience an intense experience, with impressive filmmaking.  He enables us to see the humanity of the victims as they do their best to survive what may well be impossible to live through.

  • ‘Iron Man 3’ proves the third time is a charm

    ‘Iron Man 3’ proves the third time is a charm

    "Tony Stark" (Robert Downey Jr) tinkers with his Iron Man suit in "Iron Man 3"
    “Tony Stark” (Robert Downey Jr) tinkers with his Iron Man suit in “Iron Man 3”

    In bowling, throwing a strike usually means you hit the target perfectly.  Three straight shots where you hit that target perfectly and make strikes is known as a “turkey”.  Iron Man 3 is certainly NOT a turkey, but it is the third straight film in the franchise that hits the target, perfectly.

    “Tony Stark/Iron Man” (Downey Jr.) has his life just how he wants it.  He’s settled down after what happened in New York (in The Avengers) with his love, “Pepper Potts” (Paltrow) running his company and sharing his luxurious Malibu home.  But he can’t sleep.  He works incessantly, trying to improve his Iron Man suits.

    At the film’s outset, Stark is narrating a flashback to New Year’s Eve, 1999 where he says something all began.  He was in Switzerland, and had a one night stand with a pretty, extremely intelligent botanist named “Maya Hansen” (Hall).  She wanted his help to resolve her DNA sequencing which would allow the body to become totally self-healing.  At this point, there’s a ‘minor glitch’ in her process that causes things receiving the sequencing to sometimes explode, giving off tremendous heat. Tony’s not interested.  He also blows off another scientist who was trying to start a think tank.  “Aldrich Killian” spent a long time waiting on the roof of the hotel for Stark to show, but he never does.

    "Pepper Potts" (Gwynneth Paltrow) stares at the mask of the missing Iron Man in 'Iron Man 3'
    “Pepper Potts” (Gwynneth Paltrow) stares at the mask of the missing Iron Man in ‘Iron Man 3’

    In the present, a terrorist who calls himself “The Mandarin” (Kingsley) is setting off bombs around the world, and hijacking television signals to broadcast his anti-American hatred; and promise of retribution.  “President Ellis” (Sadler) promises retribution.  Killian, looking remarkably changed shows up at Stark Industries, seeking Pepper’s help with a brain mapping/DNA sequencing project, but she turns him down.  “Happy Hogan” (Favreau), formerly Stark’s chauffeur and now Head of Security at Stark Industries, suspects something is wrong with Killian and his assistant, a shifty looking man named “Savin” (Dale).

    Hogan follows Savin to the famed Chinese theater in Hollywood and is nearly killed in the latest explosion set off by The Mandarin. Stark vows to kill the Mandarin himself, and that’s what leads to the scenes of helicopters attacking his house that we’ve seen over and over in the trailer.  Now Tony Stark must hunt down The Mandarin without his personal lab or army of armor.

    The special effects and the action are exceptional.  Better still, the sense of humor used brilliantly in The Avengers is present here in just the right quantity. There is enough to allow the audience to laugh and enjoy those moments, without turning a comic book generated action piece into farce.

    Rumors are swirling that this is the next to last performance for Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man. Reportedly, the upcoming The Avengers 2 (due out in summer of 2015) will be his swan song in the role.  Let’s hope not.  They could re-cast the role but no one will play Tony Stark as well as he’s done in four films thus far.  Shane Black’s direction and the writing he and others did is first-rate.  Well worth the fervent hope that sometime before the end of the decade, we will be lining up for Iron Man 4.

  • ‘Kiss of the Damned’ is damned good

    ‘Kiss of the Damned’ is damned good

    Joséphine de La Baume bares her fangs in 'Kiss of the Damned'
    Joséphine de La Baume bares her fangs in ‘Kiss of the Damned’

    Kiss of the Damned is one of those films that came very close to earning a rating of four.  It deserves extra consideration simply for the fact that the vampires in the movie don’t glow in the sunlight.  They do something far more “normal”, if that word can be used to describe portrayals of these fictional creatures; when they encounter sunlight.

    “Djuna” (de La Baume) is a vampire who has never known deep, intense love for a man until she encounters “Paolo” (Ventimiglia) in a video store.  She reveals what she is to him in short order and he gives up his humanity willingly in order to spend eternity with his beloved.  It is a seductive lifestyle after all, given the power, wealth and grandeur of Djuna’s existence.  She and other vampires, “led” by matriarch “Xenia” (Mouglalis) refrain from hunting humans, preferring artificial blood.

    Josephine de La Baume and Milo Ventimiglia in 'Kiss of the Damned
    Josephine de La Baume and Milo Ventimiglia in ‘Kiss of the Damned

    But then Djuna’s sister “Mimi” (Mesquida) comes to visit (how they are ‘sisters’ is never explained).  She moves into the house owned by Xenia where Djuna and Paolo are living.  She hunts, she has lots of sex and calling her extremely hedonistic is understatement in its finest form.  Djuna wants Xenia to send Mimi on to her intended destination in Arizona, but Xenia won’t do it.  The question is, will Mimi’s insatiable appetites ruin the lives of the rest of the vampires, especially Djuna and Paolo.

    As debut features go (Cassavettes did make a wonderful documentary about “Z Channel”, which I miss dearly), this is an excellent beginning.  The two actresses portraying the vampire sisters do so with strong sexuality that doesn’t reduce the other qualities that make them so joyful to watch.    While there is plenty of sex on display, it is neither gratuitous nor gross.  It is beautiful, as are the vampires and their surroundings.  They live well, they dress well and the costuming and production design are exceptional.

    'Paolo" after "Djuna" has put the 'bite' on him in 'Kiss of the Damned'
    ‘Paolo” after “Djuna” has put the ‘bite’ on him in ‘Kiss of the Damned’

    When asked why it was important to make a “different” vampire film, Cassavettes said “…the most important thing in making a film is that you have an idea and you become obsessed with it.  That obsession makes you do crazy things to get that film made.”   Mesquida     and de La Baume talked about feeling a sisterly bond almost immediately.  Mesquida said “at first when I heard she knew my ex-boyfriend, I was worried. But then we talked and talked and it was wonderful.”

    That’s a great word to use to describe this film, atypical of the vampire fare we’ve seen in recent years.  It is seductive, sensual and superb.  See it.

  • Matthew McConaughey and ‘Mud’ are as good as it gets

    Matthew McConaughey and ‘Mud’ are as good as it gets

    Matthew McConaughey in 'Mud'
    Matthew McConaughey in ‘Mud’

    “Ellis” (Sheridan) and “Neckbone” (Lofland) are two teen boys living on a river in Arkansas who make an amazing find one day.  A boat, stuck in a tree.  They immediately decide it is theirs, until they look inside and discover that someone is living there.  There being a somewhat remote island up-river from where they live.  The boat’s occupant is Matthew McConaughey, who tells them his name is “Mud” and he wants to make a deal with the boys.  If they will supply him with food, he will let them have the boat.  He’s waiting to meet someone and once that someone and he connect, he’s leaving.  The boys agree to the deal.

    Ellis lives with his mother (Paulson) and father (McKinnon) on a riverboat.  Things are not going well between his parents.  Ellis helps his father out with his business of selling fish along the river while going to school in town.  He’s got a crush on “May Pearl” (Sturdivant).  He takes food from the cupboards at home and takes it out to Mud on the island.

    The boys eventually learn that Mud is waiting for his girlfriend, “Juniper” (Witherspoon), who happens to be staying in town at a motel.  She’s being watched by “Galen” (Shannon) who wants to find Mud.  So do the police.  Turns out that Mud shot and killed a man who was giving Juniper a rough go.  Galen has been sent, along with a number of thugs, to find Mud.  His father, “King” (Baker) wants Mud dead and he wants it now.

    Once Mud learns that Juniper is in town and that Galen and his crew are around, and that the cops are searching vehicles on the highway; he realizes his only possible escape is to get the boat working and to leave on the river.  He needs the boys to help him, but there are things even they can’t do for him.  So he asks them to seek help from “Tom Blankenship” (Shepard) who happens to live across the river from Ellis.  Blankenship refuses and the boys set out to do the work themselves.  The question is, will the trio get the boat running in time for Mud to escape before King’s men track him down and kill him.

    Last year Matthew McConaughey gave four stellar performances, in Bernie, Killer Joe, Magic Mike and The Paperboy.  He delivers again here, bringing Jeff Nichols’ scruffy, morally confused, lost soul to life from the excellent script.  The concept of a lost soul seeking to reclaim his great love is not new but Nichols and McConaughey combine to make the story work and work well.  However, it is Tye Sheridan who really amazes here.  It is a magnificent performance for such an inexperienced actor, making the angst of a tortured teen so damn realistic.  Reese Witherspoon’s considerable talents are not put to good use though, as any attractive actress could have done this role in her sleep.  There’s just not that much to the character.

    This is fine filmmaking and worth paying full price if necessary.  See Mud.

  • ‘Pain & Gain’ doesn’t hurt… much… but is Michael Bay’s best since ‘The Rock’

    ‘Pain & Gain’ doesn’t hurt… much… but is Michael Bay’s best since ‘The Rock’

    Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson and Mark Wahlberg in 'Pain & Gain'
    Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson and Mark Wahlberg in ‘Pain & Gain’

    The new film from director Michael Bay, Pain & Gain, is based on a true story involving kidnapping, torture and murder.  The criminals were bodybuilders who worked out at the same gym in Miami.  “Daniel Lugo” (Wahlberg) was a personal trainer at the gym, which was owned by “John Mese” (Corddry).  Lugo got himself hired by promising to triple the membership, which he did.  But he wanted more from life, especially after attending a success seminar put on by “Johnny Wu” (Jeong); who divided people into two groups.  Doers and Donters.  Lugo wanted to be a doer.

    He enlisted his good friend “Adrian Doorbal” (Mackie) in his scheme and “Paul Doyle” (Johnson) also became part of the plan.  That was to kidnap one of Lugo’s clients, “Victor Kershaw” (Shalhoub) who was wealthy and a major pain in the ass.  Once they had him in their clutches, they would force him to sign over all of his assets to them and then they’d dump him somewhere after drugging him.  But the plan goes awry after he recognizes Lugo.  So they decide once they have his money, they have to kill him.

    But he survives all of their efforts to kill him and after the police won’t take his story seriously, he calls a private detective.  “Ed Du Bois” (Harris) is a retired cop who doesn’t believe him either, at least not at first.  Soon however, he is investigating the trio, who are now living large on Kershaw’s money.  As his investigation proceeds, they find out that Kershaw is still alive and want very much to find and kill him.

    Meanwhile, Paul has run through his share of the crime proceeds, and wants to do it again, to someone with more money.  “Frank Gringa” (Rispoli) is a porn king and the trio is going to try to scam him.  Things go awry and suddenly there are bodies to dispose of, while Du Bois continues to search for evidence to bring the trio down.

    This is one of the better films to come from Bay since The Rock, although that’s not saying much.  While not groundbreaking or particularly brilliant, Pain & Gain has wit and interesting characters, although some of both are lost in Bay’s incessant need to have chase scenes and violence.  Worse yet, the level of violence doesn’t begin to come close to the real story in terms of how the victims were tortured and put through a living hell.  Wahlberg is good and Shalhoub is terrific as the douchebag who manages to evoke sympathy in spite of what an awful person he is.  Rebel Wilson has a few nice moments as the nurse who gives treatment first, and then love to Doorbal for an embarrassing medical predicament.  However, the talented Rob Corddry goes to waste in this film.

    I don’t want to provide film spoilers, but after you’ve seen the film, check out the real story, which is much more interesting.  The film is based on three articles published in the Miami New Times.

  • Buy a big tub of popcorn for ‘Oblivion’

    Buy a big tub of popcorn for ‘Oblivion’

    Tom Cruise in 'Oblivion'
    Tom Cruise in ‘Oblivion’

    The dystopian surface of Earth shown at the outset of Oblivion is not a place that any human being in their right mind would choose to live.  Barren, filled with zones of high radioactivity and still populated by the “Scavs” (who are supposedly the remnants of an invasion force); almost no humans live there.  They are all on “Tet” a gigantic ship in orbit around the planet, or on Titan, one of the moons of Saturn.  The planet was ravaged by the invasion of the Scavs, who blew up the Moon along with creating havoc on Earth.

    But “Jack Harper” (Tom Cruise), better known as Tech 49, is there along with his partner, “Victoria Olsen” (Andrea Riseborough) who is his communications officer.  His job is to maintain the drones that protect the large machines that are using the Earth’s oceans to create energy for use on Titan.  They are less than two weeks away from completing their mission, going back to Tet and setting off to their new home on Titan.

    Jack isn’t quite sure he wants to leave.  He and Victoria were given a mandatory “memory wipe” before being put onto the planet’s surface, yet he is troubled by recurring mental images of himself before the war.  Some of them feature him and a woman he can’t quite place, on the observation deck of the Empire State Building.  He also has found and is maintaining a small patch of fertile, lush land with a small cabin on it.  He isn’t sure he wants to leave it, but he can’t convince Victoria to leave the station and visit the surface with him.  It is “against the rules”.

    The Scavs manage to transmit a homing beacon and that causes the “Odyssey” to crash at a precise set of coordinates.  Jack shows up and finds a number of the ship’s crew in sleep capsules and rescues one of them from the drones.  She is “Julia” (Olga Kurylenko), and she knows Jack.

    As for the rest of the story, it is best experienced by you on-screen rather than on the written page.  It’s a strong ‘popcorn’ type flick that definitely is derivative and pays homage to a number of other sci-fi/action films.  I found some of the activities of the drones very reminiscent of one of my favorite 1970s era films, Silent Running.  You can pick at the story and the science if you wish, but you’d be far better served by just ignoring those things and enjoying the film.  Olga Kurylenko is gorgeous to look at although she isn’t a brilliant actress.  Tom Cruise is steady in typical action-hero mode, and Andrea Riseborough has some excellent moments.  Melissa Leo plays “Sally”, the commander of Tet and does it quite well.  Kosinski has proven he is up to the task of handling sci-fi films and while this isn’t ground-breaking or highly original, it’s fun.

  • Emily Blunt shines in ‘Arthur Newman’, but film does not

    Emily Blunt shines in ‘Arthur Newman’, but film does not

    Emily Blunt and Colin Firth bond in 'Arthur Newman'
    Emily Blunt and Colin Firth bond in ‘Arthur Newman’

    “Wallace Avery” (Colin Firth) is the man who could have been somebody.  He was a golf pro with talent but lacking the ability to handle pressure-filled situations.  Now he’s a manager at Fed-Ex who dreamt of becoming the company’s CEO and will never get there.  He has a son, an ex-wife and a girlfriend, all of whom he seems to disappoint with great consistency.

    Given that life, is it any surprise he decides to start over?  He purchases a new identity as “Arthur Newman” (the last name being perhaps the film’s best device) and the great plan is to fake his own death. Then he can drive to Terre Haute, Indiana, where he was promised a job as club pro at a country club owned by someone he met.  Seems that when he met this guy, he helped him fix his golf swing and was told the job was his.

    But on his first night after disappearing, he meets “Mike” (Emily Blunt), a woman who was involved in a big confrontation with some guy and the cops; and is now sitting by the motel swimming pool.  She has overdosed on cough syrup and Arthur takes her to the ER.

    When she feels better; she learns that Arthur is really Wallace and since she’s running from her own past, she decides she is going to go with him.  She’s also interested in a bag filled with stacks of fifty dollar bills that Arthur has locked in the trunk of his new Mercedes.

    "Mike" and "Arthur" spy on a couple they are following
    “Mike” and “Arthur” spy on a couple they are following

    The duo form a strange relationship as they journey toward Arthur’s new gig, following complete strangers to their homes; breaking in, and then having sex while pretending to be the couple they followed.  These scenes may have been intended to show a bond forming between the two, but they seem very out of place.

    Mike’s past is revealed and eventually Arthur tells Mike the one fact he’d been trying to conceal.  The question becomes, will they realize that there really aren’t do-overs by starting again as someone else, and make the choice to go back to those who love them.

    First-feature director Dante Ariola sets an almost glacial pace at the outset and it doesn’t really improve as the film progresses.  Colin Firth is a wonderful actor but he can’t overcome the limitations of a character that the filmmakers want to experience ‘growth’ as a person, but who wasn’t all that flawed to begin with.  He stepped up to help Mike, and was the only person who tries to save someone’s life when the duo stumble upon a life-threatening emergency.  Anne Heche as the girlfriend who only seems to miss Warren once he’s gone is given very little to do.  The one bright spot in Arthur Newman is Emily Blunt who shines in every moment she is on-screen.  She brings nuance and sub-text to the character of “Mike”.  Kudos to her and those who handled her wardrobe and appearance for managing to make her look nowhere near as attractive as she really is, but still keeping a quality of strong sexual appeal.  She alone is reason enough to check out Arthur Newman.

  • ‘Lotus Eaters’ has its moments, but not enough of them

    ‘Lotus Eaters’ has its moments, but not enough of them

    Antonia Campbell-Hughes stars in 'Lotus Eaters'
    Antonia Campbell-Hughes stars in ‘Lotus Eaters’

    “Less is more” – famous quote

    Actually there are times when less is simply less.  Sadly, Lotus Eaters is one of those times.  I’s 78 minute running time might be its strongest attribute, although there are some good things to be found here.  That is, f you’re willing to look past the parts that aren’t quite up to snuff.

    The title is plucked from Greek mythology and refers to the inhabitants of an island who were constantly in a dazed stupor from the narcotic contained in all of the island’s foodstuffs.  They lived their lives in blissful ignorance of the realities of the world.  The same can be said of “Alice”, “Charlies”, “Felix” and the remaining members of their “circle” of friends in North London.

    “Charlie” (Flynn) is fresh from yet another stint in rehab and he wants to win back the heart of “Alice” (Campbell-Hughes), and yet seems inexorably drawn back to the drugs that have put him into rehab so many times in the past.  Alice, now pursuing her newest dream, being an actress, wants to remain friends with Charlie.  But you can see she is clearly still smitten and torn between believing that he will stay sober this time, and knowing that the inevitable backslide is coming.   “Felix” (Northover) wants Alice for himself and is biding his time, waiting for the right moment to move in and swoop her up.

    The rest of their social circle is only there to reinforce the general truths about this group.  They live extremely empty existences in terms of contributing to society or accomplishing anything.  Except of course for drinking, taking drugs, having sex and generally living the party-lifestyle 24/7/365.  To describe them as the height of vapidity is to greatly understate the uselessness of their lives.

    There are moments where you want to root for Alice to find happiness and achieve some of her goals, until you see how little effort she’s willing to expend to get where she wants to go.  There is really no one else you can root for.  But the production values here are so very strong, and the choice to use black and white to heighten the awareness of how empty these lives are works extremely well.  The music fits perfectly, the costuming is amazing and how they managed to highlight the luxury and excess of these people’s lives makes this a better film than it seems at first glance.

  • ‘Scary Movie 5’ is about as far away from funny as a comedy can get

    ‘Scary Movie 5’ is about as far away from funny as a comedy can get

    Sarah Hyland isn't looking to good in 'Scary Movie 5'
    Sarah Hyland isn’t looking to good in ‘Scary Movie 5’

    With the Scary Movie sequels, I’ve always found that I was very critical of them on the first watch but seeing them makes me feel I was being too harsh. I’ve ended up seeing Scary Movie 5 twice, but I can’t say the same. There’s simply nothing in it that will register as anything even remotely close to hilarious.

    Jody Sanders (Ashely Tsdale) and her husband Dan (Simon Rex) gain custody of his two nieces and nephew after the death of their father (Charlie Sheen, kind of playing a version of himself). Aiden is still a baby, but the older Kathy (Gracie Whitton) and Lilly (Ava Kolker) act all creepy due to the influence of “Mama.” As condition of this arrangement, they all move into a McMansion filled with cameras that record their every moment. Thing start going bump in the night and Jody suspects Mama may have something to do with it. The trail will eventually lead to “the cabin in the woods” and an evil book that resides there.

    Charlie Sheen and Lindsay Lohan make ill-advised appearances in the unfunny 'Scary Movie 5'
    Charlie Sheen and Lindsay Lohan make ill-advised appearances in the unfunny ‘Scary Movie 5’

    Paranormal Activity, Mama, and Evil Dead are obviously the primarily targets here, but a number of others (not scary movies) are inexplicably parodied. Black Swan, Rise of the Planet of the Apes, The Help, and Inception get the treatment too. And none of it is done well. The comedy is too reliant on poor slapstick, which is far too predictable to be effective in any manner. And if not that, then the gags are rooted in juvenile immaturity.

    It’s a little infuriating that they had a golden target to skewer and plot path to follow yet completely ignore it: Scream 4. The franchise owes its whole existence to the first Scream film, right down to the title (Scary Movie was the working title). So when it came back only a couple years ago, what better lead to follow? The last Scary Movie installment was 7 years back, so this could have used that same sense of rejuvenation, as well as have a reason for the new characters.

    Ashley Tisdale and Simon Rex look like they're wondering why they appeared in this movie.
    Ashley Tisdale and Simon Rex look like they’re wondering why they appeared in this movie.

    And to briefly address that: Is the lack of hitherto franchise star Anna Faris a huge problem? No, not particularly. Her presence really didn’t help the last two all that much and Tisdale is a capable replacement who’s very funny (as proven elsewhere, of course).  But the real problem is that like the last couple installments, the movie loads the supporting cast with notables only to do nothing with them. Among others, showing up here are Heather Locklear, Usher, Sarah Hyland, Darrell Hammond, Mike Tyson, and Kate Walsh, but contribute nothing of significance. The more extended visits from Snoop Dogg and Lindsay Lohan fare little better. Sheen lampooning himself may have been amusing, if he hadn’t spent the last God-knows how many years pretty much exclusively doing exactly that. The brightest spot of the last two was Leslie Nielsen, who was used well and stole both of them. But since he sadly passed away since, he is not here and his absence is strongly felt.

    The Scary Movie series may never have been on the same level as Mel Brooks, but even on its own scale, number 5 is a low. So memo to any other franchises who are planning on a long hiatus: Simply coming back is not good enough. You need to put these things in called time and effort to make something to justify that wait.

  • ‘42’ is the best baseball movie in ages

    ‘42’ is the best baseball movie in ages

    Chadwick Boseman is Jackie Robinson in '42'
    Chadwick Boseman is Jackie Robinson in ’42’

    In 1945, Branch Rickey (Ford) was the part-owner, club president and general manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers.  He was also a man on a mission. He wanted to break the “color barrier” in Major League Baseball.  He needed a Negro who was not just a great player, but one who could withstand the blistering, withering assault that would come from those who didn’t want to see this barrier broken.

    He chose Jackie Robinson (Boseman) and history was made.

    The film 42 is the story of this short period of the life of Jackie Robinson when he shattered a barrier that had been an unwritten rule since the 1880s that Negros were not allowed to play in the majors.

    42, written and directed by Brian Helgeland, begins in Rickey’s office in Brooklyn as he is looking over players who might be the right one for him to select.  He eventually sends someone to bring Jackie back to Brooklyn to meet with him, a famous interview that the film captures quite well in what is reported to have actually taken place.  Rickey signs Robinson to a contract to play at the club’s Triple-A franchise in Montreal.

    Harrison Ford and T.R. Knight in '42'
    Harrison Ford and T.R. Knight in ’42’

    Robinson marries his sweetheart Rachel (Beharie) and she accompanies him to his first spring training.  It is difficult as even some of the Brooklyn players want nothing to do with Robinson.  Wendell Smith (Holland), a reporter who was involved in choosing Robinson (something history has long short-changed him of credit for doing), was hired by Rickey to chronicle Robinson’s effort to make the majors.

    A year later, Robinson is back at spring training, this time with the knowledge that it is very likely Rickey will be moving him to the big league club before the season begins.  Some of the players on the Dodgers are unhappy with this and start a petition, saying they won’t play with Robinson.  The club’s manager, Leo Durocher (Christopher Meloni) puts a fast stop to that with a famous speech to the players that Meloni delivers very well.

    This is fine filmmaking.  Helgeland doesn’t follow the history of events perfectly and what is changed is actually changed to inject drama into the story and present some of the real people involved in this in the most favorable light.  Why Leo Durocher was suspended for a year is far less important than what he did and said to ensure that the majority of the club’s players would accept Jackie Robinson as one of their own.

    The performances are strong, particularly Chadwick Boseman in the title role, and Harrison Ford who is wonderful in every moment he has on-screen.  Kudos must also go to Alan Tudyk for portraying an extremely racist individual who taunted Robinson mercilessly.

    Unlike Movie 43, for which there were at least 43 reasons not to go, there are at a minimum, 42 good reasons to go and see 42.