Author: FilmNerd

Dark Phoenix (2019)

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Originally created by the legendary duo Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, the superhero group the X-Men debuted in September 1963. A group of mutants who each have their own unique powers, the series was seen as commentary on social prejudice. While the series had its highs and lows, the characters proved popular enough to spawn movies, TV shows, cartoons, etc. Released in 2000, the first X-Men proved to be a massive success and led to a long running franchise. Much like the comics, the film franchise saw its own highs and lows, but it still proved to be successful. In addition to the main films, there were spin-offs focused on the popular character Wolverine, played by Hugh Jackman. There were also the Deadpool films, and eventually the various spin-offs crossed over with the main series with various results. After several years, here comes the supposed last X-Men movie, Dark Phoenix.

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Professor Charles Xavier (James McAvoy) receives a distress call from the President about the Endeavor space shuttle being critically damaged. In response, he sends a team of X-Men led by Raven/Mystique (Jennifer Lawrence) to rescue the crew. They manage to save the crew, but Jean Grey (Sophie Turner) ends up absorbing the energy of a solar flare. She survives, and the energy she absorbed has increased her powers, but also made her unstable, accidentally attacking her friends. After learning the truth about a childhood incident and accidentally killing Raven, she seeks help from Magneto (Michael Fassbender). At the same time, an alien named Vuk (Jessica Chastain) is seeking the power that Jean absorbed and confronts her. Magneto soon learns what Jean did and vows to exact revenge along with Beast/Hank McCoy (Nicholas Hoult). With friendships strained and Jean’s power becoming unstable, things will never be the same.

While some entries are certainly better than others, I’ve generally been happy with the X-Men movies and have few complaints. Many of the recent entries, like X-Men: First Class, The Wolverine, X-Men: Days of Future Past, and Logan, are phenomenal. However, after the mediocrity of X-Men: Apocalypse, and the delayed release of this and New Mutants, I started losing faith. Though this isn’t as bad as critics are saying, I do agree that Dark Phoenix is a pretty big letdown. One positive of the film is that the cast, for the most part, does a great job despite the material. Sophie Turner, James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, and Nicholas Hoult particularly stand out, while Tye Sheridan and Evan Peters are wasted. Speaking of, while she does the best she can, Jessica Chastain is completely wasted as a one-dimensional villain. Like I said, the cast is generally strong despite the weak material.

The other positive I’ll give this is that, while few and far between, the action sequences are fun and exciting. Though it was part of the reshoots, the train sequence is the highlight of the film, highlighting the mutants’ powers. Unfortunately, that’s where many of the positives I have end, as this movie is a pretty disappointing mess all around. While the actors do a good job, there’s not much given to their characters and have the vaguest character development. Also, when there aren’t any action sequences, much of the film is delivering exposition and explaining things, dragging things down. These do lead to some good character moments, like Beast confronting Xavier over his actions, but these don’t help much. Since this is supposed to be the finale, it feels more like X-Men: Apocalypse Part Two than a grand epic. Overall, Dark Phoenix isn’t terrible, but it does majorly disappoint.

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June 9, 2019
Brightburn (2019)

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Love them or hate them, superhero movies are more popular than ever and seem to not be losing any steam. Of course, with the current flood of superhero movies, certain audiences are experiencing superhero fatigue and getting tired of them. Around the time the Marvel Cinematic Universe was starting up, Saint Louis native James Gunn brought us his superhero take. 2010’s Super, about a vigilante who goes after a crime boss after taking his wife, was a much darker take. While not as popular as Kick-Ass released the same year, the movie still maintained a cult following to this day. Given the dark material, as well as his work with Troma, it’s surprising Gunn got to work with Marvel/Disney. While making Guardians of the Galaxy movies, Gunn also produced movies like The Belko Experiment based on an earlier script. Now, he’s producing Brightburn, written by his cousin and brother.

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In the small town of Brightburn, Kyle and Tori Breyer (David Denman and Elizabeth Banks) are trying to have children. One night, a meteor crashes near their farm, and they find a baby boy inside and decide to adopt him. Twelve years later, their son Brandon (Jackson Dunn) begins to show signs of strange powers and develops a stubborn attitude. The parents notice Brandon doing strange things like chewing a fork, sleepwalking to the barn, and scaring the chickens. Soon, things get worse after he accidentally breaks the hand of classmate Caitlyn (Emmie Hunter), resulting in a two-day suspension. One night, Brandon finds the spacecraft that brought him to Earth and learns his true purpose, chanting “take the world.” Before long, people end up missing or dead, namely Caitlyn’s mom Erica (Becky Wahlstrom) and Brandon’s Uncle Noah (Matt Jones). Will Brandon be stopped or will his reign of terror intensify?

Looking at the basic premise of the film, there’s plenty of similarities between this and the origin story of Superman. However, whereas Superman came to be a hero, Brandon has come to cause mass destruction and go on a rampage. Admittedly, Brightburn doesn’t go very far with this concept, as there’s plenty of potential for something more and thought-provoking. While a disappointment, this still delivers a fairly entertaining experience for horror fans and an interesting twist on superhero movies. David Denman and Elizabeth Banks help to propel this film thanks to their strong performances, giving it their full commitment. Banks really comes across as someone who wants to be a loving mother despite what her son has done. Conversely, Denman is believable as the skeptic who realizes the threat Brandon poses and tries being the voice of reason. Their dynamic helps to add a lot to the material.

Jackson Dunn honestly isn’t terrible here, acting especially creepy when he starts acting up and going on a rampage. The rest of the cast, though not memorable, still do their jobs fairly well and don’t drag the movie down. The movie definitely delivers is in shocks and gore, highlights including glass in someone’s eye and someone’s jaw getting snapped. The climax of the film has similar suspense and gruesome gore, so fans of that should be satisfied. In all honesty, while Brightburn isn’t terrible, it’s more of a rental or $5 movie than paying full theatre price. My biggest issue with this is that there’s an interesting concept worth exploring, but not much is done with it. It’s still worth it for the performances and the big set pieces, but don’t expect much else going in. Overall, Brightburn is a fun if disposable shocker you might find some enjoyment with.

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June 5, 2019
Rocketman (2019)

[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”2_3,1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ z_index_tablet=”500″ text_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” text_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” text_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” link_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” link_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” link_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” ul_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” ul_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” ul_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” ol_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” ol_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” ol_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” quote_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” quote_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” quote_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_2_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_2_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_2_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_3_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_3_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_3_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_4_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_4_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_4_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_5_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_5_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_5_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_6_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_6_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_6_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” box_shadow_horizontal_tablet=”0px” box_shadow_vertical_tablet=”0px” box_shadow_blur_tablet=”40px” box_shadow_spread_tablet=”0px” global_colors_info=”{}”]Reginald Kenneth Dwight, better known as Sir Elton John, is one of the most successful musical artists of all time. His records have sold millions of copies worldwide, he’s had several Top 40 hits, and has had several number-one albums. Some of his most famous songs include “Crocodile Rock”, “Your Song”, “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road”, and “Candle in the Wind.” Naturally, with his life story and success, plans for a biopic had been in development for over two decades. One reason why the project staggered was because studios insisted the film be PG-13, but Elton didn’t want that. Eventually, while working on 2017’s Kingsman: The Golden Circle, director Matthew Vaughn decided to produce the film. He personally recommended Dexter Fletcher to helm the project, after being turned down for Bohemian Rhapsody, interestingly enough. With Taron Egerton in the lead role, 2019 saw the release of the anticipated musical biopic, Rocketman.

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Synopsis

As a child, Reggie was raised by his cold mother Sheila (Bryce Dallas Howard), and his caring grandmother (Gemma Jones). He becomes interested in playing the piano, receiving a scholarship at the Royal Academy of Music for his talents. Having grown up, he changes his name to Elton John (Taron Egerton) and starts getting his first taste of success. He manages to get a deal with manager Ray Williams (Charlie Rowe) and meets songwriter Bernie Taupin (Jamie Bell). The two become a hit after a performance of “Crocodile Rock” at the Troubadour club in Los Angeles. Soon, Elton falls for John Reid (Richard Madden), who becomes his new manager, but things start spiraling downward. John does find success with his flamboyant persona, but ends up addicted to alcohol, cocaine, and sex, Reid not caring. It’s a story of the price of fame and how people can leach off your success.

Review

When news of the film first started surfacing, many people were starting to draw comparisons with Bohemian Rhapsody. Obviously, they’re similar in that they’re both biopics about successful rock musicians struggling with addiction and their sexual identity. However, between the two, while Bohemian Rhapsody has its positives, I feel that Rocketman is easily the stronger film. For one, as good as Rami Malek was as Freddy Mercury, Taron Egerton delivers a great performance and then some. Not only is his acting amazing, but he also does his own singing, and he does a phenomenal job at that. Also, while Bohemian Rhapsody mostly skirted around the darker moments, Rocketman embraces those moments and doesn’t pull back. You really get a sense of the struggles that Elton went through and see the low points in his life. This is definitely the film that Freddy Mercury should have gotten in the first place.

What helps set this movie apart is that, though following the typical biopic structure, there’s very lively energy here. While they may seem obtrusive, the musical numbers help give the film a ton of energy and fun. Many of the numbers and songs used help to show what Elton was going through during parts of his life. Some of the highlights include the use of “Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me” and the titular “Rocketman”. Aside from Egerton, the rest of the cast does a good job, Bell is particularly giving a very human performance. You really feel for these two friends, how they support one another, and how they remain friends for years. If this film doesn’t receive at least one Oscar nomination, it will be a damn shame for that awards season. Overall, Rocketman is a powerful biopic that does its subject matter justice.

Buy Rocketman on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4hwkUmk.

Disclosure: The above link is an affiliate link, which means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.

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June 1, 2019
Ma (2019)

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I’ve talked before about Blumhouse and reviewed several of their films, and I’m generally a fan of their work. They’ve made some great films like Jordan Peele’s Get Out and Us, Split, Sinister, Whiplash, The Gift, and Upgrade. Of course, they’re known for their franchises like Insidious, Happy Death Day and Happy Death Day 2U, and The Purge. Granted, they’ve also put out bad movies like Unfriended, Ouija, and The Gallows, but no studio is perfect. Regardless of their overall quality, I admire Blumhouse for investing in smaller productions rather than spending millions on one film. Even if one of their films bombs like Jem and the Holograms, it’s not enough to complete sink the studio. I also respect how they take chances on otherwise ridiculous ideas and work with filmmakers that major studios would ignore. With that introduction out of the way, let’s look at their latest offering, Ma.

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Maggie (Diana Silvers) and her mother Erica (Juliette Lewis) have just moved from California to her mom’s hometown in Ohio. Not long after starting high school, she immediately makes friends with popular girl Haley (McKaley Miller) and her guy friends. They invite her to a private drinking spot, and they try unsuccessfully to get someone to buy booze for them. Eventually, they convince veterinary nurse Sue Ann (Octavia Spencer) to get booze for them, giving her the nickname “Ma”. Soon, Ma starts texting them and invites the teens to come party in her basement, which they agree to. Once their classmates starting coming and turning the basement into a real hotspot, Ma’s true nature starts to come through. As she grows crazier, the teens decide to block her, prompting her to go after them and their families. Soon, we learn what Ma’s true motivation is: revenge.

Between the poster and the trailers, it’s pretty clear that they’re bankrolling on the star power of their Oscar-winning lead. It’s easy to see why since Octavia Spencer is easily the best part of this otherwise sloppy and mediocre thriller. She almost perfectly walks the line between being sweet, friendly, and fun-loving, to psychotic, terrifying, and gleefully insane. It’s a shame that, as great as she is, the rest of the movie falls flat despite its potential. The rest of the cast, while not terrible, are mostly forgettable aside from Lewis, Luke Evans, and Allison Janney. While none of the teens are necessarily unlikable (Maggie is a decent lead), they feel more like archetypes than characters. Likewise, Tate Taylor (The Help, The Girl on the Train) directs the film competently, and there’s a few decent shots. From a film-making perspective, there’s nothing necessarily wrong here.

Honestly, the biggest problem with this movie is the tone, the movie seemingly not knowing what it wants to be. Through flashbacks, we find out that Ma was a victim of bullying, which led to her going crazy. It seems like the movie tries to give an anti-bullying message, but it’s wrecked by how ridiculous this movie gets. While there are some serious/scary moments here and there, it’s more funny and ridiculous than anything, creating tonal whiplash. It’s disappointing because it seems like this movie had potential to be great, but it never lived up to that. Given that Spencer was also a producer and she worked with Taylor on The Help, she clearly believed in it. Honestly, this might be good for a laugh or two, but don’t expect having nightmares anytime soon. Overall, Octavia Spencer’s performance slightly elevates Ma, but it’s a fairly mediocre and disappointing thriller.

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May 30, 2019
Aladdin (2019)

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There’s been a recent trend where Disney has been remaking several of their animated classics, for better or for worse. While live-action Disney remakes had been done before, what kick-started this latest trend was the 2014 film Maleficent. A loose remake of their Sleeping Beauty, the film was a reinterpretation focusing on the villain and making her sympathetic. That film was such a huge success that more live-action remakes started coming out, almost one per year. There was 2015’s Cinderella, 2016’s The Jungle Book, 2017’s Beauty and The Beast, and 2019’s Dumbo, with more coming soon. Though many have received mixed to positive reviews, they’ve all been massive successes at the box office. As with most remakes, many audiences aren’t fond of them, and some have gotten tired of them. Continuing this trend, we have the considerably divisive remake of the 1992 animated classic, Aladdin.

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Synopsis

In the far off land of Agrabah, street rat Aladdin (Mena Massoud) and his monkey Abu steal to survive. One day, they meet a young woman (Naomi Scott) who says her name is Dalia and is the princess’ handmaiden. Turns out she’s actually the sultan’s daughter, Princess Jasmine, who’s been kept away in the palace after her mother’s death. While the sultan is searching for a prince to marry him, his adviser Jafar (Marwan Kenzari) plots to take over. He seeks to enter the Cave of Wonders, but only a “diamond in the rough” may enter. Jafar tricks Aladdin into going into the cave to retrieve a magic lamp, only to leave him to die. However, Abu manages to steal the lamp, and Aladdin rubs it, which ends up summoning the Genie (Will Smith). With the Genie’s help, Aladdin hopes to become a prince and marry Jasmine.

Review

While I do have my issues with the film, there are some things that work, such as Will Smith. Before the movie came out, people were upset over his genie, which was a CGI recreation of the animated genie. That weird CGI genie is here, but there’s also regular Will Smith as the genie, and he’s actually pretty entertaining. Though no one can replace Robin Williams’ performance, Smith does just enough to make this genie his own version. Speaking of the cast, Massoud and Scott do a serviceable job, and they have decent chemistry with each other. However, Marwan’s Jafar is easily the weakest part of the film, lacking the menace the character should have. From a film-making perspective, the production design is fairly elaborate and colorful, and Guy Ritchie’s direction helps give it style. There’s plenty to like, but also plenty to dislike about this version.

Probably the biggest problem is the common problem that what works in animation doesn’t translate well to film. While the animation made the original feel more dynamic and epic, here it feels somewhat flat and more scaled back. Story-wise, if you’ve seen the original, you pretty much know what happens in this version, though there’s some changes. For one, Jasmine is given a more active role, aspiring to be sultan, instead of being a damsel in distress. Also, whereas the Genie was just a genie in the original, here he’s actually a human turned into a genie. The Genie even has a love interest, which is an odd addition as it seems like a slight afterthought. While I think this film isn’t nearly as bad as the internet predicted, I wouldn’t actively watch it again. Overall, families with young children will enjoy Aladdin, but I’d recommend just re-watching the original.

Buy Aladdin from Amazon: https://amzn.to/3JEoDSM.

Disclosure: The above link is an affiliate link, which means that, at no additional cost, I will earn a commission if you click through the link and make a purchase.

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Where to watch Aladdin (2019)

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May 28, 2019
Alien (1979)

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After working with John Carpenter on 1974’s Dark Star, writer Dan O’Bannon wanted to do a horror version of that. Having gotten the attention of writer/producer Ronald Shusett, the two initially pitched their idea to B-movie king Roger Corman. Initially satisfied with their deal, their screenplay got picked up by 20th Century Fox, who were impressed with their work. Naturally, they would have more resources than Corman, so they took their concept to Fox and the film got rolling. Although the studio was initially skeptical about the project, the success of 1977’s Star Wars changed their minds. Producer Walter Hill was originally supposed to direct, but Ridley Scott was hired because of his work on The Duelists. With artists like HR Giger and Ron Cobb designing the creature and ships respectively, they had something special on hand. Finally, 1979 saw the release of a new sci-fi/horror classic, Alien.

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Synopsis

A commercial spaceship called the Nostromo is returning to Earth, delivering several tons of mineral ore and seven crew members. However, the crew is woken up when the ship’s computer detects a distress signal on a nearby planet. Captain Dallas (Tom Skerrit) takes crew members Kane (John Hurt) and Lambert (Veronica Cartwright) go to investigate. They find a derelict spacecraft and find several egg-like objects, with one hatching a parasite that attaches to Kane’s face. Despite objections from Ripley (Sigourney Weaver), the crew is let in by Ash (Ian Holm) to try and save Kane. While the parasite can’t be removed, it eventually falls off and dies, and Kane wakes up feeling fine. Unfortunately, that doesn’t last long as Kane ends up having a small alien creature burst out of his chest. With the creature in hiding, the remaining crew has to track it down before it kills them off.

Review

Given how significant and talked about this movie is, there isn’t much I can say that hasn’t already been said. All I can offer is my own thoughts, that being that this is a phenomenal sci-fi/horror film. For one, the performances are all-around great, with each of them given moments to shine and all being memorable. Given that this was her first film, Sigourney Weaver really shows her early potential and gives a great performance. The rest of the cast are all significant in their own ways, even if some have reduced screen time. Speaking of early debuts, given that this was only his second film, Ridley Scott’s direction is on-point. He mixes slow-moving wide shots with quick-cut close-ups that help give the film a feeling of tension and suspense. You can really see early examples of his future trademarks he’d use in later films.

The film’s title creature, known as the Alien/Xenomorph, is horrific beauty brought to life by artist HR Giger. His designs for the alien and the derelict spacecraft are iconic for a reason, mixing technology with organic materials. Ron Cobb’s work in designing the Nostromo helps to give the film a feeling of realism with his meticulous details. Unlike Star Trek or Star Wars which treat space travel as fun and exciting, this treats it as blue-collar work. It’s a refreshing take on the genre, helped by the retro-futuristic look that helps set the film apart. Some audiences might be put off by the fact that the first 40 minutes are deliberately slow, which is understandable. However, the deliberately slow pace gives a false sense of security that makes the scares all the more effective. Overall, Alien is a sci-fi/horror classic that’s worthy of its status and legacy.

Buy Alien from Amazon: https://amzn.to/3sKS5Ig

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May 27, 2019
John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum (2019)

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Ever since the release of John Wick, a series of films revolving around the formerly retired assassin was being planned. Even before the John Wick: Chapter 2, plans were already being set in motion for a third installment. Luckily for the filmmakers, not only was the sequel critically acclaimed, but the film also made over $170 million worldwide. Given how the last film ended (minor spoilers ahead), they certainly have a lot on their plate. For this installment, original director Chad Stahelski returned along with original writer Derek Kolstad, plus new and returning cast members. According to star Keanu Reeves, the title is taken from a Latin phrase, “Si vis pacem, para bellum.” The phrase means, “If you want peace, prepare for war”, which is appropriate given what happens. So, without further delay, here’s my review of the highly anticipated sequel, John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum.

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After the end of the last film, John Wick (Keanu Reeves) is marked excommunicado and is on the run. Every hitman and assassin in New York City is after him and wanting to get that $14 million bounty. Going to the New York Public Library, Wick grabs a crucifix and marker, and seeks help from an old friend. Said friend is The Director (Anjelica Huston), who accepts his crucifix as a “ticket” to send him off to Casablanca. Meanwhile, for giving Wick an hour’s head start, an Adjudicator (Asia Kate Dillon) is sent to confront Winston (Ian McShane). At the same time, she’s sent to confront the Bowery King (Laurence Fishburne), who gave Wick the gun. In Casablanca, Wick meets Sofia (Halle Berry), a former hitman that reluctantly helps Wick find someone who can help him. It’s a fight for survival as Wick seeks to confront the High Table.

Even though I had problems with John Wick: Chapter 2, I still enjoyed it and was excited for the follow-up. Given how the last film ended, it really got me excited to see how they’d follow up on it. Not only does this installment live up to that, but it exceeds all expectations I had and is phenomenal. As with before, the cast still does an excellent job, particularly Reeves, McShane, Fishburne, and Lance Reddick amongst others. Halle Berry, who previously didn’t do well in action roles, is awesome here, fighting alongside Reeves and dominating her scenes. Anjelica Huston does well in her limited screen time, and Mark Dacascos makes for a good opponent against Reeves. As with before, the fight scenes are incredibly well-choreographed, and there’s a nice variety to the action sequences. There’s gunfights, fistfights, knife fights, motorcycle chases, and even a chase involving a horse.

Honestly, there isn’t much that’s wrong here, but this movie does have a few flaws that slightly hinder its enjoyment. For one, Asia Kate Dillon, when compared to Michael Nyqvist and Riccardo Scamarcio,is weak as the villain. She’s pretty flat, and her over annunciation of words makes it seem like she’s trying to hard. It doesn’t help either when she shares scenes with Fishburne, McShane, and Huston, all of whom are giving their all. Also, while there’s much more world-building, some of it can be confusing and can be a bit overwhelming. Otherwise, this is still a fantastic action film with a great visual style and awesome action set pieces. Without going into spoilers, the last few minutes set up an epic war for the next installment. Overall, John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum is yet another awesome entry is an already awesome action franchise.

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May 19, 2019
John Wick: Chapter 2 (2017)

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Much like its title character, the first John Wick came from nowhere and was a force to be reckoned with. The action-packed tale of revenge was both a critical and financial hit, and was considered one of 2014’s best films. Naturally, a sequel was bound to happen, and luckily everyone involved with the original were more than willing to return. Derek Kolstad returned as screenwriter, and Chad Stahelski returned to direct, and Keanu Reeves returned to the title role. Much of the original cast returned, with some new additions to the cast to make a bigger and better sequel. While this was being filmed, former co-director David Leitch went on to direct Atomic Blonde and Deadpool 2. As with any sequel, there’s a lot of pressure to live up to the quality of the original. After being in development for roughly two years, John Wick: Chapter 2 was finally released.

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After the events of the first film, John Wick (Keanu Reeves) gets his car back, though not without some trouble. He returns home to enjoy retirement with his new dog when he’s visited by crime boss Santino D’Antonio (Riccardo Scamarcio). Turns out he helped Wick retire, but in exchange, Wick would have to complete a task for D’Antonio. Their agreement was solidified with a “Marker”, which Continental owner Winston (Ian McShane) reminds Wick must be fulfilled. After his house burns down, Wick agrees to the task: travel to Rome and kill Santino’s sister Gianna (Claudia Gerini). While Wick manages to complete the task, Santino puts out a contract on him to maintain his innocence. Along Gianna’s bodyguard Cassian (Common) and Santino’s mute enforcer Ares (Ruby Rose), Wick is on the run trying to survive. With help from The Bowery King (Laurence Fishburne), Wick must find Santino and stop the contract.

Though not as fresh as the original, John Wick: Chapter 2 still succeeds for the same reasons the original did. Keanu Reeves still excels in the title role, delivering the same level of intensity and emotion to the character. Ian McShane, who had a supporting role in the first film, is expanded upon here and plays a vital part. Many of the newcomers to this series also stand out, particularly Scamarcio, Gerini, Common, Rose, and Fishburne. While not as intense as Nyqvist, Scamarcio is still fun as the villain, though he comes off a bit petulant. Ruby Rose, even without any lines, easily goes toe-to-toe with Reeves, and even has some funny bits using sign language. Common also has great scenes with Reeves, and FIshburne is fun as a boisterous underground mob boss. In a way, he’s almost a homeless version of his Morpheus character from The Matrix.

Unfortunately, as much as I loved this film and highly recommend it, there are some issues I have here. In the first film, the story had a more personal connection, namely that it was centered around Wick’s revenge. Here, the reason why Wick gets back into the fray is because he’s forced into it, losing that personal connection. Also, whereas Wick was smart and sensible before, much of what happens to Wick here is somewhat his fault. Granted, that does end up making him a stronger character, showing him recovering from losing so much. Plus, the events of this film do tie in with the next, much like the original did with this film. Honestly, many of my gripes don’t take away from how well-crafted and action-packed this entry is. Overall, John Wick: Chapter 2 continues what makes this series stand out and proves modern action can work.

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May 15, 2019
John Wick (2014)

[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}” column_structure=”2_3,1_3″][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ z_index_tablet=”500″ global_colors_info=”{}”]Since he was teenager, Derek Kolstad had been working on screenplays hoping to one day make it in the industry. While he was struggling in Hollywood, a script he had written called Scorn caught the attention of Keanu Reeves. He was so impressed he brought it to Chad Stahelski and David Leitch, the stunt coordinators on The Matrix series. The two were interested in becoming directors after doing stunt work on films like The Crow, Blade, and Fight Club. After being impressed with the quality of the script and seeing Reeves’ enthusiasm, the two agreed to direct the film. While this was going on, Kolstad continued refining the script with additional input from Stahelski, Leitch, and Reeves. The directors offered their own story changes, while Reeves suggested changing the title to the main character’s name. So with that, 2014 saw the release of the neo-noir action film, John Wick.

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Synopsis

John Wick (Keanu Reeves) is a former hitman who retired after the death of his wife Helen (Bridget Moynahan). Following her death, John receives a package his wife sent him prior to her death: a puppy named Daisy. Though reluctant at first, he starts to grow quite fond of the dog and accepts it as his companion. One day, his super sweet ride catches the attention of Iosef (Alfie Allen), who tries and fails to buy it. Upset by this, Iosef and his friends break into John’s house, kill his dog, and steal his car. Word gets back to Iosef’s father Viggo (Michael Nyqvist), who scorns his soon for pissing off the wrong person. Fueled by anger and rage, John suits up and sets out to exact revenge on Iosef. That won’t be easy as Viggo sends his own men and several hitmen to stop John from killing his son.

Review

In an era where the action genre is dominated by quick-cuts and weakened violence, this is what the genre needed. The story, which is a simple revenge tale, works well thanks to its simplicity and moves at a good pace. Keanu Reeves is awesome as John Wick, adding a layer of intensity to the part, while adding some emotional moments. Alfie Allen works as a villain you love to hate, and Michael Nyqvist is intimidating as the ruthless crime boss. Willem Dafoe is also memorable as an old friend of Wick’s who saves him despite being hired by Viggo. Adrianne Palicki is fun as a hitwoman who tries to kill Wick and easily goes toe-to-toe with John Wick. Noteworthy character actors like Dean Winters, Ian McShane, David Patrick Kelly, and John Leguizamo also have their moments to shine. Honestly, there isn’t a single bad performance here, each one just as memorable.

Given their background as stuntmen, Stahelski and Leitch film the action with a style and fluidity that makes it dynamic. You really feel every punch, every gunshot, and every other hit the characters take because it all feels so real. The movie takes time out to flesh out the story and characters, but knows when to return to the action. There’s some interesting world-building here that offers more opportunities for future installments, but doesn’t distract from the main story. Honestly, there isn’t much that’s wrong with this movie, as it’s easily one of the best action films in years. Probably the only complaint one could have is that, as memorable as they are, there’s not much to the villains. Even still, this is a fantastic modern action film that’ll satisfy anyone who’s been disappointed at other recent entries. Overall, John Wick proves that modern-day action films can still work.

Buy John Wick from Amazon: https://amzn.to/3YxfjDB.

Disclosure: The above link is an affiliate link, which means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.

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May 14, 2019
Dragged Across Concrete (2019)

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After the release of Bone Tomahawk in 2015, S. Craig Zahler was starting to receive a lot of attention. His cannibal western received positive reviews from critics and was nominated for various industry awards despite its limited release. Zahler followed that up with the neo-noir crime thriller Brawl in Cell Block 99 released in 2017. Starring Vince Vaughn as a man double-crossed and put in prison, the film received similarly positive reviews from critics. It completely changed the way people saw Vaughn as an actor and showed that he was capable of much more. Around the same time, Vaughn had a role in Mel Gibson’s 2016 WWII film, Hacksaw Ridge, which received high acclaim. While working on that film, Vaughn told Gibson about a new project Zahler wanted to do and Gibson signed on. That project went on to become Zahler’s 2019 crime thriller, Dragged Across Concrete.

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Officers Brett Ridgeman (Mel Gibson) and Anthony Lurasetti (Vince Vaughn) have recently been suspended after a news leak. Their superior, Lt. Calvert (Don Johnson) suspends them for six months as the news labels them as racist and unfair. Having been on the force for over 20 years, Ridgeman feels that he’s entitled to more for his hard work. Through an old contact named Frederic (Udo Kier), he learns of a massive score and invites Lurasetti to tag along. While Bridgeman has a daughter being hassled and his wife has MS, Lurasetti has reservations given his situation. Meanwhile, recently released ex-con Henry Johns (Tory Kittles) is invited by his friend Biscuit (Michael Jai White) for a job. The two are being hired by Lorentz Vogelmann (Thomas Kretschmann) to be getaway drivers for a bank robbery coming up. Both groups eventually collide and all hell breaks loose in a fight for survival.

After seeing Bone Tomahawk and Brawl in Cell Block 99, I was excited to see what Zahler would do next. Having seen this, while this is easily his weakest film to date, this is still a fantastic crime thriller. First thing to mention is the cast, all of whom do a phenomenal job, even if some aren’t given much. Gibson and Vaughn are fantastic together as two morally-conflicted cops who have good intentions despite their actions. Tory Kittles similarly does a great job, and his scenes with Michael Jai White are engaging and even funny. Jennifer Carpenter, previously in Brawl, has a small but memorable role as an innocent bystander caught in the crossfire. While Johnson and Kier only have one scene, it’s still a pleasure to see them given their legendary status. There’s some pretty intense scenes and the storyline is suspenseful and engaging all throughout.

Unfortunately, what makes this film not work as well is the runtime, which is over two and a half hours long. Apparently, the studio wanted to cut the film down to 130 minutes, but Zahler insisted on his 158 minute cut. While I stand behind a director releasing their preferred version, I think some trimming would’ve greatly improved this film. There are several scenes that feel like padding and the pacing tends to drag at times, almost halting the film. Also, while scenes like Jennifer Carpenter’s offer a unique perspective on the situation, it feels somewhat pointless given what happens. Even with that said, this still has the trademark grit and grime that were part of Zahler’s other films. If you enjoyed his previous films, you would definitely enjoy this film, though be prepared for a long runtime. Overall, Dragged Across Concrete is a fantastic if somewhat drawn-out crime thriller.

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May 12, 2019