Need For Speed

Need For Speed, the latest from director Scott Waugh, the man that brought to the screen the half documentary, half fictitious military film Act of Valor brings a high energy, slick looking car racing film that amazingly isn't all that bad. While the acting is over the top at times, the stars of this movie aren't the actors but the cars, and the cars shine. Because of that, I give Need For Speed three buckets of Killer Korn.












With his first foray into big budgeted Hollywood films after his memorable run in the TV show Breaking Bad, Aaron Paul, who plays Tobey Marshall is a charming mechanic/street racer from Mt. Kisco. A sleepy little town that still has a drive in, if you can believe that. Aaron Paul is not a great actor, in fact I have my doubts if he's even a good one, which is evident by his performance in this movie. What he is right now though is a hot actor which is how he landed this role in the first place. I'm sure the producers on this film are hoping all Aaron's fans from Breaking will come and watch him sit behind the wheel of some amazing cars and drive, because that's basically all he does. He drives and he rarely talks, and when he does talk, it's pretty much all cliche drivel that pours out of his mouth. It's not just him though, the entire cast is also prone to overact due to being saddled with cringe worthy dialogue, but what do you expect from a movie inspired by a video game, Shakespeare?

Written by (and I use that term loosely here) the brothers Gatins, John and George, the story is one of revenge and redemption, with really bad dialogue. The revenge comes in when Tobey's good friend and brother of his ex-girlfriend Pete, played by Harrison Gilbertson is killed while street racing against Tobey and the bad guy of the film Dino Brewster, played by Dominic Cooper. Tobey does time for a crime he didn't commit and is hell bent on making sure Dino pays for what he did to Pete. Tobey and his crew of misfit mechanics Benny, played by Scott Mescudi aka Kid Cudi, Finn, played by Rami Malek, and Joe, played by Ramon Rodriguez are all reunited when Tobey is released and they figure the best way to get back at Dino is to race him in an exclusive race thrown by Monarch, played by Michael Keaton who does his best to make the corny dialogue sound convincing. He fails but again, the stars of the show are the cars and they don't fail at all.

A Lamborghini Elemento, a Shelby Mustang, a Saleena S7 Twin Turbo, a Bugatti Veyron Super Sport, and three Koenigsegg Agera R's tear up the roads in marvelous fashion in Need. They are what makes this movie worth watching if you are a car person. Even if you aren't a car person, it's hard to not be impressed with the array of exotic cars that litter the screen, and the driving  is very impressive with the exception of a few unrealistic stunts. Get past those and Need For Speed truly does keep you entertained.

The cinematography by Shane Hurlbut is well done, he captures the cars in their full throaty glory as they rip past cameras or drift around corners perfectly. The look of the film is soft, there are no hard edges and the color palette is very easy on the eyes. The score by Nathan Furst, who also did the music for Valor creates a score that kept me humming it for days afterwards, which rarely happens, if ever. It was the perfect accompaniment to the images on the screen. In my opinion, this movie is what Fast And Furious used to be but has failed to deliver on for the past six movies (I'm counting Fast 7 that's currently in production). I highly recommend Need For Speed if you want a good time and I'll see you at the theater.

 

The Lego Movie

The Lego Movie, the latest film from writer/directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller is a playful and thoroughly hilarious send up of a childhood toy with very adult themes. This movie will make you laugh out loud and possibly spill your popcorn (I didn't spill mine because I'm a seasoned professional, but you...well just hold on tight). Because this movie was such a delight, I give The Lego Movie three buckets of Killer Korn.












Never in a million years would I have thought The Lego Movie would have been better than RoboCop and yet this movie was better in every damn way. It's a charming, funny, and immensely entertaining story about a nobody who was in the wrong place at the right time. Emmet, voiced by Chris Pratt is a character that can't do anything without instructions and if the instructions tell him to smile and be happy then that's just what he's going to do. He's a construction worker and thinks he's part of a team but he finds out the hard way that he's really not all that special in the eyes of his peers.

One night as the site is closing down he spots someone looking around the site that shouldn't be there. He comes across Wyldstyle, voiced by Elizabeth Banks and she's looking for "the piece of resistance". The one that finds it supposedly fulfills the prophecy of being a "master builder" as well as being "the special", the most extraordinary person in every way and tasked with saving the world. Instead of the more capable Wyldstyle finding the piece, Emmet lands on it and the piece sticks to his back. Side note: Emmet is in love with Wyldstyle who is dating Batman which is voiced by Will Arnett. The hilarity that ensues thanks to that love triangle will make you laugh so hard you'll have a difficult time breathing.

The piece is the only thing that can thwart President Business' plans for destroying the planet. President Business, voiced by Will Ferrell is opposed by Vitruvius, voiced by Morgan Freeman who whenever suits him is either one hundred percent in the corner of Emmet or doubts he can get the job done. The job in question is to stop President Business from unleashing the Kragle on the world. The only thing that can stop the Kragle is the piece of resistance.

I won't get into what the Kragle is, just know it's an hilarious premise. Written by Dan and Phil Hageman, and the directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, The Lego Movie is at times raunchy, bawdy, bold, and always hilarious. It's also a serious commentary on life, conformity, and being so afraid to stick out that you compromise yourself to fit in. It may be a movie made of Lego pieces but it's got a serious theme underneath all the hi-jinks. The Lego Movie in my opinion is worth the price of admission. I'll see you at the theater because everything is awesome.  

RoboCop

RoboCop, the latest film from director Jose Padilha is in my opinion a complete waste of time, especially if you liked the original. This incarnation of RoboCop is a loud movie with a dated idea. In fact the person who green lit this 100 Million dollar fiasco should be looking for a new job. Because of that I give one bucket of Killer Korn.

The genius that put this production in the hands of the relative new comer Padilha, whose previous body of work consisted of four documentaries and two feature films is hopefully unemployed. Now I don't condone anyone losing their job ever, but to give one hundred million dollars to a man who had only previously done four documentaries and two films (Elite Squad and Elite Squad: Enemy Within) obviously has no idea what they were doing.  And while Jose Padilha may one day become an amazing director, RoboCop clearly shows that he was severely in over his head.

There really isn't much to say about RoboCop's story line that you don't already know. Cop is almost killed, get's put into machine by evil corporation, seeks to take down evil corporation, yadda, yadda, yadda. This time however, the so called "updated" idea is the evil corporation headed by genial Raymond Sellars, played by Micheal Keaton (who seems to be on the comeback trail), wants to put robotic personnel in American cities and have them then police American citizens. Backing him is THE right wing talk show host of the day Pat Novak, played by Laurence Fish err Samuel L. Jackson. Senator Hubert Dryfuss, played by Zach Grenier passed a law which won't allow Omni Corp. to police America with robots. 

Undeterred, Raymond thinks what the people want is a machine with a soul. So he sets about putting a man in a machine, enter detective Alex Murphy, played by Joel Kinnaman. He gets blown to bits and his wife Clara Murphy, played by Abbie Cornish signs off on the whole "put my husband in the machine" thing. That allows Dr. Dennett Norton, played by Gary Oldman to do just that. Robo/Alex is then put through his paces by the seedy Rick Mattox who's played by the seedy looking Jackie Earle Haley. In the original film, Alex decides to take down the evil corporation after taking out their henchmen. This go round, Alex is after the dirty cops who were ordered to kill him. 

This RoboCop is tired, dated, and riddled with more plot holes than can be believed. Written by (if you can say that with a straight face) Joshua Zetumer, a man whose previous body of work included...NOTHING! THIS is his first screenplay. Once again, one hundred MILLION dollars handed to a director with no real experience, working off a screenplay by someone with NO experience. Add those two things together and is it any wonder that as of yesterday, this movie has only grossed thirty one million dollars domestically? Do not see this movie unless you need something to inspire you to see the original all over again. I'll see you at the theater.

  

Labor Day

Labor Day, the latest film from the talented writer/director Jason Reitman is a moving, mesmerizing tale of three very damaged and very loving people who need each other in such profound ways. This movie is a joy to watch, the performances are wonderful, and the pacing is superb. That's why I give Labor Day five buckets of Killer Korn.












I initially described Labor Day as "gorgeous", but it's more than that, so much more than that. What this film is/was is flawless. It's the first first of its kind of 2014 and that certainly wasn't what I was expecting going in. I am a fan of Jason Reitman's. Yeah, I said it! I loved Up In the Air, Thank You For Smoking, and Juno so I was definitely going to see this film even though I heard some describe the source material, the novel Labor Day penned by Joyce Maynard as tepid. I had faith in Jason though, and he didn't disappoint. Labor Day was written for the screen as well as directed by him and because of the way he mapped it out, I now wouldn't mind reading the book, just to compare.

This wonderful film stars Kate Winslet as the damaged but fiercely protective mother Adele. Gattlin Griffith is the self aware Henry, her loving, heartbroken young son who takes on the role of man of the house nicely, that is until bleeding escaped convict Frank shows up and demands a ride. At first Adele rebuffs him but when Frank chillingly puts his hand on the back of Henry's neck, she relents because Henry is all she has in the world.

The entire story takes place in a span of only three days, the labor day weekend right before Henry is to start the 7th grade. It also primarily takes place in Adele's house which would be a challenge to any filmmaker but Jason handles it with aplomb. Instead of turning the house into a character, Jason turned it into a maze with turns and twists and off rooms that made the house seem bigger. When all three arrive at the house, Frank helps bring in the groceries, and after having his wound attended to, proceeds to repair things around the house that needed repair. He explained to Adele that she was being shorted by the fire wood salesman, he cooks for them, and while Adele is tied up, strictly for appearances should any neighbors stop by, he slowly feeds her a bowl of chili. And he lays down a path for Henry to follow by showing them how to bake a peach pie.

His plan is to make a run for the train but he's convinced to stay by both Adele and Henry for fear that his stitches from having his appendix removed may reopen. The reasons why they asked and Frank stayed are simple. Adele longed for human touch again, Henry longed for approval by a father figure, and Frank wanted to be needed again.

Labor Day is a wonderfully multi-layered yarn with rich characters who've been through and endured such pain, you wonder how they were able to carry on at times. The story takes place in 1987 so it was in the same time frame as when the film Super 8 takes place. The sets, the clothes, and the cars were era perfect. The film was shot beautifully, cinematographer Eric Steelberg did a wonderful job of capturing this movie just right. Nothing was too garish or too startling. It was never too bright or too dark, and the tones were perfect.

Scored by Rolfe Kent, the creative mind behind the music of Up In the Air, Thank You For Smoking, Reign Over Me and many others helps this movie come alive. The score is pitch perfect and it completes the puzzle beautifully. I highly recommend Labor Day, it is the one flawless film  you would be sorry you missed, and I'll see you at the theater.

Gimme Shelter

Gimme Shelter, the latest film from writer/director Ron Krauss is based on the true story of a troubled young lady and the struggles she endures to get out of the system and away from an abusive mother. The performances are riveting and some moments are truly gut wrenching, but the film came across as a made for TV more more that a full length feature film. Because of that I give Gimme Shelter two and a half buckets of Killer Korn.










I knew Rosario Dawson was a talented actress. While I never paid close attention to her career, whenever she showed up in something I was watching she never failed to impress me. I don't want to say that her performance in Gimme Shelter was the best thing she's ever done and will ever do, but she is going to have a hard time topping what she did here. While there may have been a moment or two of overacting, Dawson nailed this character. When she was on screen it was impossible to take your eyes off her, she dominated the scene and overshadowed anyone else who was unfortunate to be sharing screen time with her. Starring alongside Rosario who plays June Bailey was the talented Vanessa Hudgens playing her daughter Agnes "Apple" Bailey, Brendan Fraser as Apple's father Tom Fitzpatrick, Stephanie Szostak as his wife Joanna Fitzpatrick, James Earl Jones as Frank McCarthy, and Ann Dowd as Kathy.

Apple wants out. She wants out of the foster care system and out of her drug addicted and violent mothers apartment. She's been in more foster homes and shelters than she can remember and she's had it. She believes the only way to get out is to get to her biological father who resides in a bucolic New Jersey suburb. Getting away from her mother however was step number one. Vanessa Hudgens has the kind of cherub face that makes you fear for it and want to protect it so the scenes where she's doing whatever she can to get away from her mother made my gut clench. Vanessa finds her dad and that situation predictably falls apart faster than a house of cards in high winds. It's not until she's virtually kidnapped off the streets by a would be pimp do things start turning around for her. She meets Father McCarthy and he gets her to a shelter for would be mothers where she is finally able to break free of her own mother and meet people she can finally put her trust in. It's hard to see the transformation but she emerges a better person, a whole person with friends and a family she can call her own.

Gimme Shelter is based on a true story and that makes this film more compelling in my opinion even if the script is flat. If this was a work of fiction it would be hard to be believed. The fact that someone lived through this brings to mind all those young ladies who lived and are currently living through the same kinds of hell, if not worse. The movie I'm certain took some creative license with the actual true story and that may have given this film that made for TV feel which in a way I guess couldn't be helped. There were times where Gimme Shelter had the look and feel of a full length feature film and then there were times when it felt like if I could, I would turn the channel. Shot by cinematographer Alain Marcoen the look was inconsistent and that was bothersome. I would have liked less hand held camera work and not so many closeups. The score by Olafur Arnalds was utterly forgettable which was surprising because he is a very talented composer. The lacking music though may have contributed again to that made for TV feel. Unless you know someone who has gone though this sort of journey or you yourself have, I would skip Gimme Shelter unless you're a Rosario Dawson fan. If not then wait for it to appear on cable because then the ending won't be so bad. I'll see you at the theater.

Ride Along

Ride Along, the latest film from director Tim Story, the man behind the movie Think Like A Man is at times both uproariously funny and so utterly predictable it's embarrassing. There is nothing original about this film and if you've ever seen a buddy cop film before, ANY buddy cop film before, then you've seen this one. That's the biggest reason I'm only giving Ride Along one and a half buckets of Killer Korn.











When I walked out of Ride Along, I realized I could have died happy having never seen this movie. It wouldn't have haunted me in the slightest if I never saw it on the big screen, mainly because I had seen this movie already. Ride Along starring Oshea Jackson aka Ice Cube as Det. James Payton and Kevin Hart as Ben Barber is a rehash of every, and I do literally mean EVERY buddy cop movie that's ever come out of Hollywood. The two main films this movie takes, borrows, steals from is the classic Eddie Murphy, Nick Nolte vehicle 48 Hours and the seminal and searing film Training Day starring Denzel Washington and Ethan Hawke. Now if I wanted to see either one of those films again I could have done it for free since I have them both in my movie collection. I didn't have to pay to see Oshea and Kevin badly re-enact scenes and dialogue from those two films.

I do admit however, and happily that there were some very funny moments in this film, The sad part is that all those funny scenes were all in the trailer. If you've seen the trailer then basically you've seen this films best moments. Oshea is a rogue cop in Atlanta after the unseen and notorious Omar played by Laurence Fishburne with his fellow two officers John Leguizamo who plays Santiago and Bryan Callen playing Miggs. Kevin plays Ben who is in love with James' sister Angela played by the stunning Tika Sumpter. He wants to marry her but must first get the blessing from James who feels Ben isn't man enough to marry his sister and keep her safe. In order to get James' blessing he must go on a ride along and prove himself. Add to that fact that Ben wants to join the police force so badly that he'll pretty much do anything to make that happen and James knows he can make Ben do almost anything he wants. The scenarios are at times both funny and yawn inducing and if you don't see what's coming from around the corner, then you just aren't paying attention.

Ride Along was written by (written by being used loosely) Greg Coolidge, Jason Mantzoukas, Phil Hay, and Matt Manfredi. I can't imagine how many times those four men have seen Training Day and 48 Hours but I'm sure, while penning this screenplay, those two films were in heavy rotation. The originality was sorely lacking and the dialogue was laughable at best. The people behind this film set out to make a mindless popcorn film and that's exactly what they delivered. It's set up for many more sequels so be on the lookout for a Lethal Weapon like franchise because it's coming. The cinematography by Larry Blandford and the score by Christopher Lennertz was nothing special. They fit the spirit of the film, one that could have been a two hour pilot for TV perfectly. I would wait for this film to hit the DVD shelves rather than spending any money on tickets for it since you probably have it already sitting at home in your movie collection. I''ll see you at the theater.  

Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit

Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit, the latest film from director Kenneth Branagh is somewhat of a disappointment. It seems that the "intelligence" movie genre has now crashed upon the shore of the horror movie genre. There's very little that's original anymore in either genre, and in this movie there's very little suspense or charm as well. Because of that I give Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit only two buckets of Killer Korn.











When you talk about a film completely lacking in charm or characters lacking in charisma, when you talk about a film that is seemingly devoid of any chemistry between the actors, you are talking about this one. And that is surprising considering the director of this film directed the charming Thor. Thor possessed everything Jack Ryan didn't have an ounce of. Where Thor had humor, Jack didn't. Where Thor had charm, Jack...zilch. Where Thor had chemistry, in the chemistry department Jack was a cold fish. To say this was a real head scratcher is an understatement. I went to see this movie BECAUSE of Thor. I figured Kenneth Branagh was once again stepping out of his usual element of Shakespeare like he did  with Thor and trying his hand at something new, and since I enjoyed Thor and Kenneth's previous works, it just stood to reason that I would enjoy Jack Ryan too. I did, but just barely. Starring Chris Pine as Jack Ryan (the fifth actor to play Jack Ryan btw.), Keira Knightley and Cathy Muller, Jack's paranoid girlfriend/fiance, Kevin Costner as Thomas Harper, Jack's "handler", and Kenneth Branagh as Viktor Cherevin on screen it seemed like these people didn't want to be around each other at all.

The story was tired, lame, and yawn producing. This time around there is a Russian company that seeks to destroy America's economy with a terrorist attack that will destroy the blah, blah, blah. Yawn. This movie was also devoid of any drama as well because you knew that Jack would be successful in foiling the plot, even though he wasn't recruited to be a field agent. He was brought in to be an analyst and yet he was given a gun and sent to dangerous Russia pretty much alone. This movie made very little sense and failed to connect. Who knew Mother Russia had sleeper agents here in America just waiting to strike? Who knew they hated the U.S. so much that they would want to destroy the dollar and watch America fall to it's knees and suffer through yet another great depression? This movie DID have potential but somewhere along the way it missed the mark which is shocking considering who wrote the damn thing. Accomplished scribe David Koepp teamed up with first time writer Adam Cozad. Those men are responsible for this fizzle.

Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit may be on empty in the significant story departments and off on some of the directing ones as well, but as for the look of the film, that was top notch. Shot by cinematographer Haris Zambarloukos who worked on Thor is a man that knows his craft. This film looked liked it belonged on the big screen in every way. Too bad his effort was wasted. Scored nicely by hit or miss Patrick Doyle, the music of the film was definitely a hit. It struck the right chord, had the right heroic themes and the bad guy themes at the precise times. Again it's too bad his efforts were wasted. Kenneth could have undoubtedly done better and hopefully he will next time around. He should just chalk Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit up to being a teachable moment and not make this kind of mistake again. I'll see you at the theater.