The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2, the long awaited sequel to Part 1 from last winter by director Francis Lawrence was nowhere near as good as Part 1 in my opinion. In fact Part 2 felt like it was a movie those involved in it or with it were just going through the motions. It was boring and uninspired. Because of that I can barely give Mockingjay 2 two buckets of Killer Korn.












So I finally saw this movie over the holidays, and I am glad I did not rush out and pay NYC movie theater ticket prices to see it. I would have truly been displeased had I done so. The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2 is a flat out boring film. That's not to say there isn't any action sequences because there are, but even those were tired and weak (mainly because of all the nothing that surrounds the sequences). I read all the books in the series by Suzanne Collins, and I remember the third book distinctly because it contained the attack on the Capitol, and it worked for the most part. The problem with this movie is that it stuck far too close to the book. I get it, You want to do that as much as possible as to not upset the fan base, but the way the book was written in my opinion wasn't going to translate well visually. This was supposed to be the culmination of the series, the all out attack on the Capitol. It was supposed to be this major confrontation and battle. Instead what we got was a movie that couldn't decide if it wanted to be an action film or a dramatic one. Instead we got a movie devoid of both.

This was one movie where a little thing known as "creative license" would have worked wonders. Instead of following the book almost to the letter and giving us wasted characters with no backstory why not give us an exciting action packed culmination with the ending of the book? Mockingjay Part 2 was a sorry way for this franchise to bow out. I don't know about anyone else, but I hate a bad ending to anything, and this was just horrid. We saw nothing new or different from Katniss this time around while heading into the Capitol on a mission to kill Snow. No ferocity or determination whatsoever. No frustration on her part to being used for propaganda purposes, and no real drive to get the job done as soon as possible to end all the bloodshed. What Francis Lawrence instead gave us was a suicide mission with characters we know NOTHING about, basically making them cannon fodder.

This film was filmed at the same time as Mockingjay Part 1 which is probably why everyone looked exhausted. They either seemed drained or completely disinterested, and believe me that showed onscreen. Visually the film looked the part, same camera work, same tone and look as the previous two, and that's thanks to Jo Willems who shot them. The music by James Newton Howard was great work, and he tried to give this placid movie some kind of movement. It was a valiant attempt, and I tip my hat to his effort, but honestly nothing was going to save this movie from itself. All I'll say is this. If you haven't seen this movie yet then save your money, buy the soundtrack, and read the last book as you listen. That's a better way to spend your money and your time. I'll see you at the theater.

Concussion

Concussion, the latest film from writer/director Peter Landesman is an intelligent and gripping tale about the brain trauma concussions cause in professional football players. It also speaks on the cover-up by the NFL regarding this information. It's a well crafted and timely movie when considering how football is the most popular sport in the country right now. For that reason and many more I am giving Concussion four and a half buckets of Killer Korn.












When you see Concussion it'll be hard to believe that it's only Peter Landesman's second feature film. It's rare that a director's second film is as good as Concussion is. Peter's first film was a movie entitled  Parkland which I missed unfortunately, but after seeing Concussion I am looking forward to seeing Parkland even more. Concussion tells the story of Dr. Bennett Omalu who is a forensic pathologist living in Pittsburgh during the time Super Bowl Champion and Hall of Fame football player Mike Webster committed suicide. As a die hard football fan I remembered hearing that news and thought something didn't make sense. Dr. Omalu was tasked to do the autopsy and he thought the same thing apparently. Mike Webster abandoned his family, became homeless, pawned his Super Bowl rings, and lost all of his money. During the autopsy the doctor couldn't understand why a seemingly healthy man with a brain that showed no signs of outward distress would live the way Mike Webster lived before his death. Dr. Omalu chose to run tests on Mike's brain and saw something that started the NFL down a path that organization never wanted to travel down.

Based on an article in GQ magazine by Jeanne Marie Laskas was the foundation on which this movie was built on and that article pulled no punches. It was far more damaging to the NFL than Concussion could ever be. I think in order to get any cooperation from the NFL though a more light handed approach was probably negotiated. There were a few names of other players that were in this movie of that I watched play like Andre Waters, Junior Seau, and Dave Duerson who suffered with CTE or chronic traumatic encephalopathy and committed suicide. And to know that it was all unnecessary was heartbreaking and Peter captured that as best he could. It wasn't overly maudlin or emotional nor was it glossed over. He walked that fine line with showing the downward spirals of these players while telling the compelling story of Dr Omalu and his life. There was a moment where Will Smith who plays Dr. Omalu brings a two by four to a wall in his newly constructed house tearing it down which to me represented the NFL tearing him and his work down when he honestly couldn't understand why he was being vilified when he was just trying to help the players and the league.

Will Smith was excellent as the talented and tormented Nigerian born Dr. Omalu and he was surrounded by an equally talented cast but that stand out in my opinion was David Morse. He played the tragic Mike Webster so well that there should be some kind of recognition for his portrayal. David is a chameleon and can bring any role to vivd life convincingly. To me he'll forever be Brutal from Shawshank. Concussion was easy on the eyes and a lot of that had to do with cinematographer Salvatore Totino. There was nothing special about the camera work but there was also nothing about it that took you out of the movie. It was good work. James Newton Howard did the score and it was a light touch to such a heavy topic. I think the music could have been more impactful but that's not in Howard's wheel house. Concussion may change the way you look at football but if you're a fan it probably won't. What it WILL do though is make you look ay the NFL differently and I think that's what they're frightened of more than anything. Concussion is definitely worth the price of admission so check it out and I'll see you at the theater.

Star Wars VII: The Force Awakens

Star Wars VII: The Force Awakens, the newest offering from writer/director JJ. Abrams is a spectacular spectacle. It's chock full of adventure, humor, and heroics. That's not to say it's perfect because it's not. There are far too many holes and old ideas passed off as new. What it is though is what Star Wars has always been synonymous with (well the original trilogy anyway) and that's FUN! It's that fun factor that earns Star Wars VII: The Force Awakens four buckets of Killer Korn.












I am warning you now before you read any further, THERE WILL BE SPOILERS in this review. If you haven't seen the movie yet and don't want it spoiled in any way then STOP READING!!!

Now back to our regularly scheduled review.


There are some juicy tidbits regarding the movie to discuss but they'll be brought up later. What can be discussed now is how JJ Abrams masterfully delivered the shits and giggles. The story is somewhat convoluted and we have no real idea who the movie is about (is it about Rey, Finn, Luke?), but JJ and  co-writers Lawrence Kasdan (the writer of Empire and Jedi), and Michael Arndt (with Hunger Games: Catching Fire and Oblivion to his credit) delivered characters that are interesting, funny, heroic, and human. JJ the director just did what he does, deliver a visual feast for the eyes (without his trademark lens flare). He's no Irvin Kershner but Awakens had similarities of Kershner's Empire, at least stylistically. Thematically however, Awakens is more in line with Star Wars and Jedi as Empire was the only Star Wars movie without a weapon of planetary destruction as the center piece. This time around the dark side is represented by Kylo Ren, The First Order, and their planetary system destroying weapon, the Starkiller Base.

Luke Skywalker is missing. His sister, General Organa wants to find her brother and bring him home. The  Resistance she is in commanding needs him because the dark side is becoming more powerful and he is the last known Jedi. The entire movie is all about finding Luke but the Starkiller Base needs to be dealt with since it's next target is the planet that the resistance is using for it's home base. If that sounds familiar then you are not new to the Star Wars game. I'm personally beginning to wonder when the Empire/First Order is going to learn from their past mistakes. They've already lost two planet destroying battle stations so who knows what made them think this one would last but that's not my biggest beef with this movie as Starkiller Base almost seems like an afterthought (that is until Han Solo get's killed by his son). My biggest beef is that this movie doesn't focus on one character. We the viewer don't know who we should be emotionally invested in. In Star Wars we met Luke and it was through Luke that we met Obi-Wan, Han, and Leia. In Awakens we meet Finn, a Stormtrooper from the First Order who wants out and Rey, a scavenger from the planet Jakku who's waiting on her family to return. The two wind up running from the First Order together and going on a life changing adventure with BB-8 in tow.

As I stated earlier, Awakens is a great feast for the eyes and that's due in large part to cinematographer Daniel Mindel. He's worked with JJ on his Star Trek films so they both have a good idea what each other wants. JJ also usually works with Oscar award winning composer Michael Giacchino but how can there be a Star Wars movie without the maestro John Williams behind the score? That idea is inconceivable so John did his best to craft a score befitting a Star Wars movie. Sadly in my opinion John's score was more reminiscent of his Harry Potter compositions than his earlier Star Wars works. It's my hope that the next film has a more dynamic, thematic, and potentially iconic score. I left the theater definitely wanting more which is what the producers and the director wants because as of this writing they are currently filming the follow up. I personally can't wait and I'm sure when you see Star Wars VII: The Force Awakens you will feel the same and I'll see you at the theater.

Creed

Creed, the latest film from writer/director Ryan Coogler is a force of nature.  It's a highly preceptive film with a whirlwind of blistering moments that conjure up a torrent full of raw uncapped emotions that come at you like fighters fists. Coogler's Creed is not a perfect film at all, but it's well crafted and better executed. Because of that I give Creed four solid buckets of Killer Korn.














With Creed Ryan Coogler has perhaps put himself on the cusp of greatness with just his second feature length film. That's something rare for any director, but for a Black director it's unheard of. I think only Spike Lee and Matty Rich garnered such buzz after their first two films. People were curious to see what their third projects were going to be, and other than myself I am sure there are quite a few people waiting with baited breath to see what Coogler will do next. (As of this post he is rumored to direct Marvel's Black Panther.) Creed should do what the disappointing Southpaw didn't, resurrect the boxing film. Make no mistake, where Southpaw fell short Creed excelled. Both movies were gripping, and like Southpaw, Creed had a scintillating leading man. Where Creed separates itself is with all the wonderful nuances like HBO's 24/7 segment or the touches of boxing realism. The biggest advantage though is the name of the movie. It's grandfathered in so to speak and every fan of the Rocky movies knows the name Creed. That added to the gravitas and the true beauty of this movie is that you don't have to be a fan of the Rocky franchise to enjoy Creed. You don't even have to be a fan of boxing to appreciate Creed because the characters are so rich.

Michael B. Jordan who plays Adonis Creed is definitely on his way to being a household name. His portrayal of the forgotten son of Apollo Creed was transcendent. Jordan has been a phenomenal actor since his days on The Wire as Wallace, but his physical transformation is reminiscent of DeNiro's Jake LaMotta in Raging Bull. He carries this movie like he carried Fruitvale Station and seems to have a symbiotic relationship with Coogler. Adonis is a hot head when we meet him as a pre-teen in juvenile detention and headed nowhere fast until Mary Anne Creed comes to his rescue. She's not his mother, and yet takes him in as her son since he is Apollo's son from an affair. His father died before Adonis was born, but fighting is what Adonis knows best.  He compelled to follow in his father's footsteps, but wants to make his own name so he uses his mother's last name instead. He's an angry Black man with a warped sense of manhood and looking for direction. He moves from L.A. to Philadelphia and seeks out Rocky in the hopes that Rocky will train the son of his one time nemesis and best friend. What follows is movie gold.

Creed is beautiful to watch. There is one fight that is one continuous shot, no cuts, no breaks, and it's amazing. You feel like you are in the middle of the fight ducking punches and moving from side to side. There are incredibly intimate moments between Adonis and his lady, Bianca, played by the beautiful Tessa Thompson that are shot with minimal camera movement putting you bedside or in the booth with them as they eat and share. It's excellent work by cinematographer Maryse Alberti who by the way also shot Mickey Rourke in his Oscar nominated performance in The Wrestler. The score by Ludwig Goransson was magnificent. He embellished on Bill Conti's magic while at the same time crafting a theme for Creed that stands alone. Only time will tell however if it will become iconic. Coogler has the perfect set up for Creed 2 should he want to turn this into a franchise. After the cheering I did and the goosebumps I got, I hope he does because Creed is absolutely worth the price of admission. See it and I'll see you at the theater.