Movie Review: "Thelma & Louise" (1991)

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Movie: "Thelma & Louise"
Director: Ridley Scott
Rating: R
Running Time: 2 hours, 10 minutes

Best friends Thelma (Geena Davis) and Louise (Susan Sarandon) plan a weekend getaway for some light fun and fishing. The two women stop at a bar for some drinks and a little dancing. When the guy Thelma was dancing with attacks her in the parking lot, nearly raping her, Louise shoots him. Not knowing what to do, the ladies go on the run to Mexico on a life changing cross-country road trip.

"Thelma & Louise" is crime drama directed by Ridley Scott, who earned an Academy Award nomination for his work on this film. It is written by Callie Khouri, who took home an Oscar statue for best screenplay. It stars Geena Davis as Thelma, a housewife with an overbearing, controlling, and seemingly philandering husband, and Susan Sarandon as Louise, a waitress with a tragic past who is Thelma's best friend. Louise has planned a weekend getaway for the two of them at a cabin by a lake where they can go fishing and have a relaxing few days away from their job and husband. On the drive to the lake, the ladies stop at a trucker bar for some drinks. A charming bar patron named Harlon, played by Timothy Carhart, buys them a few rounds and dances with Thelma for a bit. While Louise is in the bathroom, Harlon takes the drunk Thelma out to the parking lot where he smacks her around and tries to rape her. Louise catches him in the act and makes him stop at gunpoint, but when Harlon gets mouthy and vulgar, Louise shoots him, dead. Not knowing what to do and thinking the police won't believe their side of the story, they drive off and head for Mexico, and what was once supposed to be a peaceful, quiet weekend quickly turns into one full of police chases, robberies, soul searching, and a whole lot more.

Both Geena Davis and Susan Sarandon put on tremendous performances. Both women were nominated for the best actress Oscar, and deservedly so. Davis and Sarandon play polar opposites, but eventually, their personality paths cross as they are able to respect one another for the choices they have made and continue to make throughout their journey. They fight, they bicker, and they get mad at each other, but at the end of it all, they see eye to eye and have a deep, unabashed mutual love and admiration for one another. We cannot imagine anyone else playing these two roles. On their travels, Thelma and Louise cross paths with many different folk, the most notable of which is their encounter with a young, sweet-talking cowboy named J.D., played by Brad Pitt in the role that put him on Hollywood's radar.

In many ways, "Thelma & Louise" might be seen as a standard road trip film, but these women don't just go on a trip from Arkansas to Mexico. Rather, they go on a journey of self-discovery and an eventual fight for their lives and the restraints that society has placed upon them. Thelma breaks free from the shackles of oppression and control put on her by her tyrannical husband, and eventually, Louise is finally able to shake off the demons from the past that have been holding her back for so long. It's simultaneously crazy and depressing how relevant "Thelma & Louise" still is, 25 years later. The issues raised within its screenplay are still constantly being debated, questioned, and brought up in our society, especially when it comes to sexual assault and/or rape. It's utterly heartbreaking to hear these two women, who at the start of the film would not have hurt a fly, are essentially forced to go on the run just because they figured no one would believe them because Thelma danced and drank with the man who attempted to rape her. Some viewers might not interpret the film this way, but in a "blame first, ask questions later" world, well, it's not hard to connect A to B.

At the center of their trip and the ugly reasons for its derailment, "Thelma & Louise" juxtaposes their acts of crime with some truly beautiful cinematography of the southern United States as small town(s) USA are put on display in all their glory, good and bad. These towns and their twisty, winding roads lead them to desert landscapes and vast plains of rock and nothingness, which provide moments of calm and clarity before more impending storms for our two protagonists,

In the end, "Thelma & Louise" is a must see. This movie is dramatically impactful, and despite the reason why these two woman are on the run, it is still kind of fun, too. It offers both deep, emotionally moving moments and subject matter, as well as some lighthearted laughter. Geena Davis and Susan Sarandon sell their friendship extremely well and have a brilliant, believable chemistry. Other parts performed by the likes of Harvey Keitel, Christopher McDonald, and Michael Madsen are also excellent, but no one person ever eclipses the greatness of Sarandon and Davis. The screenplay is both insightful and depressing, and the direction by Ridley Scott is top-notch. All in all, this is a fantastic, poignant film with a kick ass ending.

My Rating: 8/10
BigJ's Rating: 7.5/10
IMDB's Rating: 7.4/10
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 83%
Do we recommend this movie: Yes!

*We were invited to attend the 25th anniversary screening of "Thelma & Louise" by Park Circus, a group that helps classic films get distributed on the big screen. All opinions and thoughts are our own and we were not compensated for this review.

Movie Review #479: "The Light Between Oceans" (2016)

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Movie: "The Light Between Oceans"
Director: Derek Cianfrance
Rating: PG-13
Running Time: 2 hours, 12 minutes

Post-WWI, a former soldier named Tom (Michael Fassbender) takes a job tending a lighthouse on an isolated island. He falls in love with Isabel (Alicia Vikander), a woman from the nearby town. They are soon married and move to the lighthouse together. After the next few years bring two pregnancies and two miscarriages, Isabel has fallen into a deep depression, but when a baby and a dead man in a boat wash up on shore, she believes it is fate and convinces Tom they should keep the baby as their own. On a visit to town to christen their "daughter," who they have named Lucy (Florence Clery), Tom discovers their baby's real mother, Hannah (Rachel Weisz), grieving at a memorial for her dead husband and child. Now, Tom is forced to chose between telling the truth to ease this random woman's suffering or hiding the lie in order to keep his beloved wife happy. 

"The Light Between Oceans" is directed by Derek Cianfrance, who is best known for his films "Blue Valentine" and "The Place Beyond the Pines." Cianfrance also wrote the screenplay for this movie, which he adapted from the novel by M.L. Stedman. It stars Michael Fassbender as a World War I veteran who takes a job working at an isolated lighthouse located on the small island of Janus Rock off the coast of Point Partageuse, Australia. After working there a short time, he starts to fall in love with a young woman named Isabel, played by Academy Award winner/Fassbender's girlfriend Alicia Vikander, who lives in the town nearest his lighthouse. This film is all about their relationship from the day they meet through its entirety. They face one of the worst hardships a couple can go through when Isabel gets pregnant and has a miscarriage, and even more so when it happens all over again a few years later. Their heartbreaking changes when they spot a boat floating in the water with what they discover is a baby inside. The only caregiver they know of dead inside the boat with it. Isabel persuades Tom they should keep the baby and raise it as their own child, which seems like a lonely, potentially barren couple simply trying to save an orphan's life. Of course, their plan works for many years, until it goes awry when Tom discovers the baby's biological mother is still alive and grieving for her husband and daughter, who were lost at sea and presumed dead.

When we saw the trailer lay out the scenario within "The Light Between Oceans," the first thing we thought of were phrases like "Oscar bait" and "prestige piece." Neither of these are inherently bad things, but a melancholy tale of turmoil within relationships, miscarriages, finding a sea-swept baby, and the ensuing moral dilemma pitting the happiness between two women? It's no wonder this film screams "hey everybody, look! It's award season!"

The best thing about this movie is its breathtaking visuals. This is a wonderful, beautifully shot film with great, jaw-dropping cinematography full of gorgeous coastal landscapes, intense and frequent sunsets, rolling waves, cobbled cliffs, and oceans as far as the eye can see. Despite all the brilliant visuals and interesting camerawork that ranges from hyper close-ups to far off long shots, the story is rather mundane and is full of a lot of banal dialogue. Even with powerhouse actors like Oscar winner Alicia Vikander and Oscar nominee Michael Fassbender putting on mostly riveting performances, this film doesn't wind up being all that memorable. It lacks a certain emotional oomph for us, and given its subject matter(s), one might think getting a moving, impassioned response or reaction with a tale like this would be like shooting fish in a barrel. Unfortunately, not so much. It didn't quite affect us like we hoped it would, at least not until the very end, and I was the only one touched by it.

"The Light Between Oceans" is a very human story about realistic, well developed characters, so it's a shame Cianfrance wasn't able to capitalize on the emotional gravity of the situations within this tale. We understand why the characters do what they do and we can't blame anyone of them for their actions, and yet for some reason, it's not nearly as gripping as is should or could be. Fassbender and Vikander, luckily, ace their performances, and we would not be surprised if either of them received Oscar nominations for their roles in this film, but then again, this also feels like a Lifetime movie in disguise. We found Weisz's performance to be a bit underwhelming and a touch over-dramatic. While the visuals will surely delight those with a penchant for beautiful film making, the rest of it may leave you feeling underwhelmed, too.

My Rating: 6/10
BigJ's Rating: 6/10
IMDB's Rating: 7.3/10
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 58%
Do we recommend this movie: Sure, why not?

Movie Review: "Mr. Pig" (2016)

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Movie: "Mr. Pig"
Director: Diego Luna
Year: 2016
Rating: NR
Running Time: 1 hour, 40 minutes

A pig farmer named Ambrose (Danny Glover) is in failing health and massive debt. He makes a last ditch effort to earn money by selling his prized pig Howie to the son of an old friend in Mexico. When he doesn't like the facility, Ambrose decides to take his pig back and look for a more suitable home for Howie with the help of his daughter Eunice (Maya Rudolph).

"Mr. Pig" is directed by actor Diego Luna, who also wrote the film along with Augusto Mendoza. It stars Danny Glover as Ambrose, a grouchy, aging pig farmer in failing health and on the brink of losing his farm. He has spent the last little while racking up credit card debt and drinking to his heart's content. In an effort to have something to leave behind to his estranged daughter Eunice, played by Maya Rudolph, Ambrose loads up his prized pig Howie in his van and heads to Mexico where the son of an old friend has offered to buy it for $50,000 dollars. When Ambrose doesn't like the conditions at this massive pig farm/slaughterhouse, he decides to look for a better home for Howie with the reluctant help of Eunice, who has since dropped everything in her life to head to Mexico to help the dad she hardly knows.

This is a slice of life road trip movie about what we do as we face our mortality, as well as the importance of living in the now, balancing responsibility and fun, and of course, family and familial bonds. Danny Glover does an excellent, rather heartbreaking job playing the character of Ambrose, the grizzled old temperamental pig farmer. He is kind of an old fashioned farmer and doesn't like the modern farming conditions of close-quarters living where the hogs are pumped full of antibiotics. He doesn't like to accept help, either, and despite the fact he is very sick, he doesn't want to be a burden and would rather tough out what little life he has left in solitude...well, and with Howie, of course. It is clear to the audience Ambrose has not always been the best father and grandfather to Eunice and her son, but fortunately, when Eunice shows up in Mexico to help him, he gets an opportunity to reconcile and bond with his daughter while they drive around the country with a giant pig in the van. We want to see more of Danny Glover doing these dramatic types of movies where he so clearly feels at home as an actor. Maya Rudolph also puts on a marvelous performance as a daughter who is both concerned about her father, and at the same time, fed up with his attitude and stubbornness. She has a lot of unresolved feelings about his absence in her life. Rudolph has this unique way of showing exactly how she feels through expression without actually saying a word. Of course, we'd be remiss if we didn't mention the adorable big guy Howie, who is a star in his own right.

"Mr. Pig" is a charming, touching story that has moments of profound sadness, mild humor, and extreme heart. The cinematography is beautiful and it really displays the gorgeous, vast Mexican landscapes as many may not have ever seen them. The acting is also top-notch, and we'd love to see Glover and Rudolph stay in the drama genre where they so clearly excel. Overall, this might be seen as a simple father/daughter bonding/road trip story, but it is also very enjoyable and worth checking out for what it has to say about family and relationships, even if that relationship is as minute as the one between you and your pet.

My Rating: 7/10
BigJ's Rating: 7/10
IMDB's Rating: 6.6/10
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 50%
Do we recommend this movie: Sure, why not?

Movie Review #478: "Morgan" (2016)

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Movie: "Morgan"
Director: Luke Scott
Rating: R
Running Time: 1 hour, 32 minutes

A corporate risk management consultant (Kate Mara) is sent to one of her company's research facilities to investigate an incident involving their experiment, a genetically enhanced artificial human called Morgan (Anya Taylor-Joy).

"Morgan" is the first feature length film by director Luke Scott. It is a dramatic sci-fi thriller with a bit little action thrown in for good measure. It stars Kate Mara as Lee Weathers, a corporate risk management consultant who is sent to one of her company's experimental research laboratories. While there, she is tasked with looking into a violent incident involving Morgan, played by Anya Taylor-Joy, an artificially designed and enhanced human who stabbed another employee at the laboratory. Joining them are Rose Leslie, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Toby Jones, Michael Yare, Chris Sullivan, Vinette Robinson, Michelle Yeoh, and Boyd Holbrook, who make up the other staff members at this isolated research lab. Upon arriving at the facility, it becomes clear to Lee that many the staff members have grown far too fond of Morgan and treat her more like a child/daughter/sister than the financed experiment she is. When Morgan has a second violent "error," Lee decides it is time to terminate the experiment; however, Morgan is not so willing to go peacefully.

We were not really sure what to expect from "Morgan." The few times we saw the trailer, it never really drew us in or got us hyped despite a solid cast featuring the likes of Jennifer Jason Leigh, Paul Giamatti, and even Anya Taylor-Joy, who had quite the breakthrough role in "The Witch" earlier this year. Now that we've seen the movie, we have to say, the trailer is definitely somewhat misleading, and we are not so pleased with the final product of "Morgan." There are some exciting and worthwhile elements here and there. Early on, there are a couple of very tense scenes and situations, as well some excitement to go along with them. The movie starts off as a drama mystery where those behind the camera build up the situation and characters. Unfortunately, the film never gets to the point where you really care all that much about any of them and whether or not they can stay alive long enough to make it to the end of the film. Many of these characters also do inexplicably stupid things, so you don't really feel bad if something terrible happens to them. By the latter portion of the movie, it evolves into full-on action thriller complete with gun-play, car chases with an all too durable Chrysler and Mercedes-Benz that can apparently barrel through objects without so much as a scratch, and fight scenes ripe with a busy, shaky camerawork and 50 cuts in 60 seconds. There are way too many contrivances here for it to be taken seriously as a drama, and it's far too dull to be a mystery.

We are sure there will be a portion of the viewing audience that will be deceived by the flashy sci-fi charm and dramatic intentions of "Morgan" upon first examination (especially if you have seen the trailers), but once you begin to peel back its many messy layers, it all starts to crumble apart a little bit more and more. Provided you don't think about it too hard, you may like this film. While there are some enjoyable moments early on, the film falls prey to predictability and a rough third act. This one is just mediocre for us.

PS: Lolo was right.

My Rating: 5/10
BigJ's Rating: 5/10
IMDB's Rating: ~/10
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: ~%
Do we recommend this movie: Meh.

Movie Review #477: "Mechanic: Resurrection" (2016)

Movie: "Mechanic: Resurrection"
Director: Dennis Gansel
Rating: R
Running Time: 1 hour, 39 minutes

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Arthur Bishop (Jason Statham) has been hiding out in Brazil and has put his past as a hit-man behind him. When he is located by a man from his past and asked to do three hit jobs, Arthur refuses. Then, when a woman he just met and had sex with (Jessica Alba) gets kidnapped by this same man, now, this old friend named Crain (Sam Hazeldine) has found the leverage he needs to force Arthur to do the jobs.

Charles Bronson is rolling over in his grave right now.

"Mechanic: Resurrection" is the sequel to the 2011 film "The Mechanic," which is a remake of the 1972 film of the same name starring Charles Bronson. Dennis Gansel takes over the directorial duties from Simon West for this installment. Jason Statham returns as Arthur Bishop, who is no longer a hit-man for hire. Bishop has been hiding out in Brazil for the past few years. His location is discovered by an old childhood chum named Crain, played by Sam Hazeldine, who wants Bishop to perform three very difficult 'jobs' for him, and when we say 'jobs,' we think you know what we mean. Arthur refuses and bails to Thailand. While there, he rescues a woman named Gina (Jessica Alba) from what appears to be an abusive boyfriend. Of course, Bishop being the savvy former hit-man he is, he immediately figures out she was being blackmailed by Crain to seduce him so she can, in turn, be kidnapped and used as a hostage to force him to do the jobs he doesn't want to do. You know, that old chestnut. In response, Bishop falls in love with Gina and Crain kidnaps her, which forces Arthur to do the jobs he doesn't want to do. Yes, you've read that correctly. This is exactly what happened in this movie. This totally mind-numbingly stupid plot point actually happened.

"Mechanic: Resurrection" is idiotic and completely abandons any true characteristics of Arthur Bishop. The 2011 remake at least tried to keep the themes and share a similar spirit of the original, but this film goes so far off the rails that it basically becomes a circus. This sequel also turns Bishop into your run-of-the-mill generic anti-hero. The defining characteristics of Bishop have always been that he was fairly cold-blooded, killing was never personal for him, and he doesn't keep attachments. All of this has flown out the window as Bishop is now a reluctant killer with a seeming heart of gold. This movie is full of clichés and contrivances. It has a villain that incessantly threatens to kill his hostage, and despite constant disobedience from the person he is blackmailing, he never comes close to following through on his threat. This movie is laughably bad as we see the ridiculous over-the-top stunts coming from a mile away after they are foreshadowed in the scenes just before them, ranging from implausible and inane to just plain ol' inconceivable. There are exactly two cool scenes in this entire thing, but the rest of it is so bad, so hilariously bad, we began to simultaneously attempt to stifle our laughter and question our entire lives as movie reviewers while sitting in a theater with about 20 other people who made no reactions whatsoever for an hour and 40 minutes. In addition, Statham either flexes his muscles so his veiny arms are in full view of the camera, or he takes his shirt off in just about every scene of the film in a misguided attempt at...what exactly, we don't know. What's he trying to prove? It feels like water scenes were worked into this movie in an effort to get Statham to fulfill his contractual topless obligation.

"Mechanic: Resurrection" is an unnecessary sequel to remake that only had mediocre success in the first place. There is absolutely no reason for the steaming garbage pile to exist. It's not just terrible, it's laughably terrible. It is so bad, in fact, I was in tears from laughing so hard at three separate points in this godawful excuse for cinema, and two out of three of these instances involve Tommy Lee Jones and his ugly, poorly constructed outfit including black and white striped pajamas, a leather jacket, two gold hoop earrings, hippie glasses, and a soul patch. It's no wonder why people don't want to go to the movies in the theater anymore when, without Jason Statham, this movie would have been guaranteed to go straight to DVD. This is 2016's "Transporter Refueled" (which is ironic considering Jason Statham wasn't in that movie because they wouldn't pay him enough).

My Rating: 2/10
BigJ's Rating: 2.5/10
IMDB's Rating: ~6.2/10
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: ~25%
Do we recommend this movie: AVOID LIKE THE PLAGUE!!!

Weekend Box Office Results: August 26th, 2016 - August 28th, 2016

"Don't Breathe" dethrones "Suicide Squad;" other newcomers fail to impress

*all numerical information provided by boxofficemojo.com

Hey, movie lovers! Hope you had a great weekend! Here are your weekend box office results!

Horror thriller "Don't Breathe" has claimed victory over all, dethroning its weeks long run of "Suicide Squad" by making an impressive $26,115,000. "Squad" dropped to second place to the tune of $12,110,000, bringing its domestic total gross to $282,882,627. "Kubo and the Two Strings"  had an impressive second week showing by coming in third place, making $7,909,000. This movie still deserves your money, so go see it if you can! In fourth place was "Sausage Party," which made $7,665,000. Finally, rounding out the top five this weekend was another newcomer in "Mechanic: Resurrection," which made far too much money, $7,500,000. Please don't see this stupid film.

		This Week	Domestic Gross
1	Don't Breathe	$26,115,000	$26,115,000
2	Suicide Squad	$12,110,000	$282,882,627
3	Kubo and the Two Strings	$7,909,000	$24,920,378
4	Sausage Party	$7,665,000	$80,008,510
5	Mechanic: Resurrection	$7,500,000	$7,500,000
6	Pete's Dragon	$7,282,000	$54,715,378
7	War Dogs	$7,255,000	$27,757,687
8	Bad Moms	$5,760,000	$95,453,235
9	Jason Bourne	$5,230,000	$149,357,235
10	Ben-Hur	$4,530,000	$19,552,877

*See you at the movies!!!*

Movie Review #476: "Anthropoid" (2016)

Movie: "Anthropoid"
Director: Sean Ellis
Rating: R
Running Time: 2 hours, 0 minutes

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A pair of Czechoslovakian soldiers parachutes into German-occupied Prague for operation Anthropoid, which has a mission objective to assassinate the Nazi third-in-command, Reinhard Heydrich.

Directed by Sean Ellis, "Anthropoid" is a true WWII drama about a mission to assassinate Reinhard Heydrich, the third-inicommand for the Third Reich and one of the principal planners of the "Final Solution." It stars Cillian Murphy and Jamie Dornan, who play a pair of Czechoslovakian soldiers named Josef Gabcík and Jan Kubis, who are tasked with the aforementioned mission, dubbed "Anthropoid." The basic story behind this film sounds like a compelling one subject wise. Though Heydrich was third-in-command, it's always interesting to see WWII movies that don't focus on Hitler directly because there are so few of them out there. The planning and execution of a mission such as Anthropoid should make for a captivating film. Unfortunately, this is not the case, and "Anthropoid" winds up being rather dull and uneven as it gets lost in its sloppy execution. The first three fourths of it is borderline mundane and meandering, never really sure if it wants to be as it is part romance, part drama, part thriller, and part historical war picture. It focuses heavily on two possible romantic relationships the aforementioned men have with two women named Marie Kovárníková, played by Charlotte Le Bon, who has a romance with Jamie Dornan's Jan, and Lenka Fafková, played by Anna Geislerová, who is paired up with Cillian Murphy's Josef. Josef's and Lenka's relationship isn't quite as impassioned as Jan and Marie's, who hit it off instantly and fall in love during wartime, even as Jan is tasked with a mission that could end his life at any moment.

After the love story takes a back seat, the film focuses on Jan and Josef, along with the Czechoslovakian resistance, planning out Heydrich's assassination by tracking his comings and goings using assets working inside his building to gain information. One might hope the story would pick up a little bit in this planning phase, which sounds like it could be enthralling, but again, it really isn't. It's not until after they carry out their somewhat failed plan when it all finally starts to pick up the pace. The fallout from their attack on Heydrich becomes the most engaging part by far, and even when our protagonists are in danger, it never loses steam in its final moments. It all leads to a grand finale showdown that is far more exciting than anything else that has happened the hour and 30 minutes leading up to it, leaving just a mere 30 minutes for something interesting to actually happen. Director Sean Ellis focuses too much on crafting this grandiose finale, which works with us and against us as viewers. Ellis is clearly more concerned with creating an exciting ending than making everything leading up to it worthwhile. Though some viewers may be able to forgive the rather boring initial 90 minutes for 30 minutes of excitement and intrigue, we would personally prefer our thrills dealt out in a more evenhanded manner. The good comes a little too late. This messy distribution of excitement reminds us of "Jane Got a Gun" from earlier this year, which has nearly the exact same slow unfolding of events early on that leads to a whopper of a finale. Cillian Murphy does a fine job here, but none of the performances are really anything to write home about. Jamie Dornan's accent gets distracting after a while, as does Charlotte Le Bon's, but at the end of the day, we don't really remember the performances because they aren't good enough to overcome the dullness early seen on in the film.

Though "Anthropoid" is not a completely terrible movie, we cannot truly say it is worth the time we spent watching it. History buffs may enjoy this film, but for most of us, it's a mundane and messily constructed film with some nice enough visuals surrounding all of the horrors going on inside Prague. We wouldn't mind seeing this story told again in a more engrossing manner at some point in the future.

My Rating: 5.5/10
BigJ's Rating: 5/10
IMDB's Rating: 7.7/10
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 58%
Do we recommend this movie: Meh.

Movie Review: "The Mechanic" (2011)

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Movie: "The Mechanic"
Director: Simon West
Year: 2011
Rating: R
Running Time: 1 hour, 33 minutes

A meticulous hit-man (Jason Statham) takes a young apprentice (Ben Foster) under his wing to teach him the tricks of the assassin trade.

"The Mechanic" is a remake of the 1972 Charles Bronson crime thriller of the same name. It is directed by Simon West, who is known for directing movies such as "Con Air" and "Lara Croft: Tomb Raider." In this version of the film, Jason Statham takes on the role of Arthur Bishop, the titular mechanic. Bishop is a hit-man who specializes in clean kills which he can make look like accidents. When he gets a job to take out an old friend, played by Donald Sutherland, he takes that friend's son, Steve, played by Ben Foster, under his wing and teaches him the business of professional murder, though Steve has no idea it's actually Arthur that killed his father. Surprisingly, this remake doesn't stray too far from the path of the original's plot. It does take a far more action-oriented approach to the story, which gives it a much different tone overall, but we were shocked it kept most of the plot details the same.

Jason Statham in Jason Statham fashion plays his typical tough guy schtik, you know the one we've all seen him play in a thousand films in the past. He is the tough English guy who can kick major ass, and this is his part in about 94.875% of his movies. He is a relatively safe bet when it comes to these big, violent action movies, so he nestles into Bronson's role with ease. Ben Foster does a fine job as Arthur's assassin-in-training, one who makes a lot of mistakes on his path to being a hit-man. Donald Sutherland has a small part here as well, and in his very limited capacity, he is effective in driving the plot where it needs to go.

Some viewers may actually wind up enjoying "The Mechanic" from 2011 better than the original from 1972 because of its faster pace, its focus on the aforementioned action over Arthur's methodology as a hit-man, and because of its cleaner but equally violent approach, (though we still prefer the original Bronson-led thriller). Though we don't want to really nitpick differences between the two films, one major one we will note is the approach to the mentality of the two main characters. In the 1972 original, Bishop was a stone-cold killer, and Steve was pretty much a sociopath. This time around, both characters are far more humanized as Arthur shows regret and remorse for some of his choices, and Steve actually cares his father is dead and seeks vengeance for whoever killed him. This may be done in an attempt to make the protagonists far more sympathetic and relatable to show that they have normal human emotions, which is fine, though we do prefer the more hardened approach the original took in this respect. Unfortunately, this movie doesn't have a great narrative, dialogue, or themes. Its main purpose is to take the plot from the original and modernize it, which it does, turning it into a popcorn action flick you don't have to think about too hard.

That being said, though not as engaging as the original, "The Mechanic" remake sticks closely enough to its source that it's not a completely different story, and we appreciate this in a world full of up-ended, overhauled remakes. It is a decent watch, even if it's somewhat forgettable.

My Rating: 6/10
BigJ's Rating: 6/10
IMDB's Rating: 6.6/10
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 53%
Do we recommend this movie: Sure, why not?

Movie Review: "Frankenweenie" (2012)

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Movie: "Frankenweenie"
Director: Tim Burton
Year: 2012
Rating: PG
Running Time: 1 hour, 27 minutes

When his dog Sparky is hit by a car and killed, the intelligent and inventive Victor Frankenstein (Charlie Tahan) develops an experiment that brings him back to life. Now, other kids hoping to win the science fair try to duplicate his experiment with horrific and unforeseen results. 

"Frankenweenie" is a stop motion animated film directed by Tim Burton. It is based on a live action short film Burton made in 1984, and it is also draws inspiration from the classic Universal horror film "Frankenstein." It boasts the voice talents of Charlie Tahan, who plays Victor Frankenstein himself, as well as Winona Ryder, Catherine O'Hara, Martin Short, and Martin Landau. All of these actors, with the exception of Tahan have worked with Burton in the past, and we know he's one of those directors who loves using the same storied actors over and over. Burton is no stranger to stop motion animation and has directed it before with "Corpse Bride" and the short film "Vincent." Stop motion is often used for these darker themed animated films, so much so that it has almost become a tradition. This movie is yet another film we would describe as "Burtonesque." The classic Burton films contain the same look and tone with macabre, twisted imagery, and this is definitely not a complaint whatsoever. We have seen characters like this in past Burton directed and produced affairs, as well as in his artwork and concept designs for his projects. To let "Frankenweenie" maintain the same feel as the 1930's monster movie, the entire film is done in black and white, which we think really aids in telling this story.

At its core, "Frankenweenie" is about the love, friendship, and devotion a boy has for his dog, and vice versa. Anyone with an animal can relate to this, even the most hardened movie watcher. This story takes place in one of the weirdest towns we've ever seen spring out of someone's imagination and put into a movie. Every resident of New Holland seems a little off in some way or another. This helps the movie maintain its creepy but light feel because what fun would a Burton romp like this be without a little oddity? When Victor's beloved dog Sparky is hit by a car and dies, he is understandably devastated. While conducting a science experiment, Victor comes up with the idea to bring his pup back to life, and to his shock, he is successful. The only difference this time is Sparky looks like a patch-worked version of himself. While this story is mostly straightforward, there is enough here to keep even the littlest viewer interested. Hell, if you're a dog lover, this might even bring a tear to your eye. Burton always takes such painstaking time to craft his characters just the way he wants them whether they are a human or an animal, and even Sparky gets a boisterous personality. The animation is striking and gorgeous, as most of Burton's stop motion efforts are. Unfortunately, this is not a perfect movie and its biggest flaw is its pacing. Despite its extremely short run time, "Frankenweenie" still manages to feel a little long, but in the end, this is still a solid offering from a talented director who always seems to put a little bit of himself into his work. Dog lovers will especially relate and love this mildly twisted, odd, ominous story.

My Rating: 7/10
BigJ's Rating: 7/10
IMDB's Rating: 7.0/10
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 87%
Do we recommend this movie: Sure, why not?

Movie Review: "Sleepy Hollow" (1999)

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Movie: "Sleepy Hollow"
Director: Tim Burton
Year: 1999
Rating: R
Running Time: 1 hour, 45 minutes

Constable Ichabod Crane (Johnny Depp) is sent to the rural town of Sleepy Hollow to investigate a string of grizzly beheadings. He quickly discovers a ghostly headless horseman is the one committing these acts, but he is determined to discover who is controlling the horseman behind the scenes. 

Directed by Tim Burton, "Sleepy Hollow" is a ghostly, supernatural re-imagining of the classic Washington Irving gothic horror tale. It stars Johnny Depp as Ichabod Crane, a constable from New York who is sent to investigate a string of murders in the small town of Sleepy Hollow. Crane is a character that believes in science and reason in a time of superstition and a strong theocracy. He plans to use his scientific method to discover and determine who is committing the murders in Sleepy Hollow. The townspeople already seem to believe they know who is perpetrating these violent decapitations: the headless specter of a Hessian known as The Headless Horseman. The Horseman is actually played by two actors, Christopher Walken when he appears as the Hessian with his head on, and Ray Park (though not credited) whenever he is without a head. Neither actor speaks a single line of dialogue in the whole film. We'd imagine it'd be kind of hard to talk when you don't have a head, but this antagonist is still just as scary even without any spoken lines. Joining these aforementioned actors is an ensemble cast featuring the likes of Christina Ricci, Michael Gambon, Miranda Richardson, Ian McDiarmid, Jeffery Jones, Richard Griffiths, Casper Van Dien, and Michael Gough, who flesh out the prominent, key members of Sleepy Hollow. As Crane digs deeper and deeper into the mystery of this seemingly supernatural being, things are not what they appear and he realizes those he thought he could trust in this tiny town might be the very people involved in these horrible murders.

Like most of Tim Burton's films, the visuals are quite alluring with a wonderful, twisted gothic look. Burton doesn't always make R-rated movies, but when he does, he's sure to add a lot of creepy vibes and maimed body parts. He has always had a penchant for the macabre, and this is no exception, however, this film lets him really take his dark yet artful vision to the next level. There is no shortage of rolling, flinging, flying chopped off heads, or people being chopped in half, or impaled, enough to satisfy every horror fan imaginable. In fact, this is one of his bloodiest projects, but this isn't a typical horror film and it's much more ghost-centric and super-normally inclined. The goal is not to necessarily scare the audience or make them jump out of their seats, but rather, to display some pretty horrific acts of violence perpetrated by an undead, headless former war mercenary in this gothic horror fantasy. It's much more dramatic than your typical slasher gore-fest, so this might isolate some viewers only looking to watch the aforementioned heads roll. The acting is compelling for the most part. There is quite a bit of humor in this film as well, mostly coming from Johnny Depp's odd, slightly off portrayal of Ichabod Crane. Ichabod's somewhat nervous mannerisms and his reaction to spurts of blood are good for a chuckle or two mixed in with all of the plasma and gore going on. While the story is engaging, it moves pretty slow even though it isn't very long. Overlooking this one complaint, ultimately, we really enjoy the experience "Sleepy Hollow" offers and think Burton was an excellent choice to bring this story to a modern audience.

My Rating: 7/10
BigJ's Rating: 7.5/10
IMDB's Rating: 7.4/10
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 67%
Do we recommend this movie: Sure, why not?

Movie Review: "Don't Breathe" (2016)

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Movie: "Don't Breathe"
Director: Fede Alvarez
Rating: R
Running Time: 1 hour, 28 minutes

When three petty criminals break into a blind Iraq war veteran's house looking for a big score so they can leave Detroit forever, they get far more than they bargained for and will be lucky to get out of the house alive.

"Don't Breathe" is directed by Fede Alvarez, who also wrote the screenplay along with Rodo Sayagues. The two previously worked together on the 2013 remake of "Evil Dead." This film tells the story of three friends and petty criminals named Money, played by Daniel Zovatto, Rocky, played by Jane Levy, and Alex, played Dylan Minnette, who, thanks to Money's sleuthing, have a plan to break into the house of a blind Iraq war veteran, played by Stephen Lang, and steal the six-figure sum of cash he supposedly has hidden somewhere inside. Rocky is especially desperate to get the money so she can get her little sister out of Detroit and away from their abusive mother and her junkie boyfriend. Considering their target is blind, they expect the heist to be a cake walk and to go off without a hitch...but boy, were they wrong.

BigJ and I have been looking forward to "Don't Breathe" ever since we saw the trailer for it many months ago, and it certainly did not disappoint us in the slightest. This is an ultra-intense horror thriller that takes place in and around a single home on an almost deserted street. There is a bit of character building early in the movie that sets up the protagonists and their motivations for their criminal activity just enough so we understand their reasoning for such a crime. Once the three friends break into the blind man's house, the tension revs up and puts you on the edge of your seat so you'll be sitting with your eyes widened and your mouth agape the entire time. You may even find yourself biting your nails as these three low level offenders fumble and bumble their way through the man's home just trying to stay alive after they quickly realize he's not a helpless, weak blind man. The film holds this intensity throughout the rest of its run time, offering only brief, fleeting moments to catch your breath.

We would equate the unsettling tension in "Don't Breathe" to what we experienced from "Green Room" earlier this year. Both movies have such simple concepts, but they are both extremely effective in creating unnerving, perturbing, and claustrophobic situations. Director Fede Alvarez is burdened with the difficult task of making the victim of this break-in the antagonist of the story, and we think he is wildly successful in doing so. Of course, this wouldn't be possible without the brilliant, brutal, and scary performance given by Stephen Lang. In fact, though Lang is the clear standout, all of the other performances are solid as well, and Levy, Minnette, and Zovatto do what they need to do so they can further the story with conviction and ease. The film uses jump scares sparingly to startle the audience, but most the frights come from this taut game of cat-and-mouse between the blind man and the perpetrators who broke into his home and now must stay as quiet as possible to avoid being on the receiving end of his deadly, ultra violent wrath. "Don't Breathe" is sure to delight horror fans and thriller lovers alike, and we absolutely loved each minute of this movie.

My Rating: 8.5/10
BigJ's Rating: 8.5/10
IMDB's Rating: ~8.3/10
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: ~90%
Do we recommend this movie: Yes!

Movie Review: "Father of the Bride" (1991)

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Movie: "Father of the Bride"
Director: Charles Shyer
Year: 1991
Rating: PG
Running Time: 1 hour, 45 minutes

With his daughter Annie (Kimberly Williams-Paisley) returning from Europe, George Banks (Steve Martin) is looking forward to spending some quality time with his little girl. He is hit with the shock of a lifetime when she returns madly in love with a fiance named Bryan (George Newbern). Now, George is facing the very harsh reality that his little girl is now all grown up, and he has to let her go for good, a prospect he is having trouble coping with as the person who used to be the only man in her life.

Directed by Charles Shyer, "Father of the Bride" is a 1990's comedy remake of the 1950's film of the same name. This version stars Steve Martin as George Banks, a father who is having a hard time dealing with the fact his daughter is growing up. Joining Martin is Diane Keaton as George's wife Nina, Kimberly Williams-Paisley, who plays their daughter Annie, and a very young Kieran Culkin as George and Nina's "surprise" son Matty. Annie has recently been to Europe for several months to study the architecture there and has just returned home. She surprises her parents with the news that she "met a man in Rome, and he's wonderful and brilliant, and they're getting married." Her fiance's name is Bryan, played by George Newbern, an independent communications consultant who comes from a wealthy Bel Air family. Upon first meeting Bryan, Nina adores him and how much he loves her daughter, but George? George nitpicks every single thing about Bryan and instantly dislikes him and his handsy approach to their daughter. Since George still sees Annie as his little girl despite her being in her early 20's, he has a little trouble coming to terms with his daughter's impending nuptials.

Steve Martin does an excellent job filling the role of the overprotective, zany parent who is at odds with throwing his daughter her dream wedding, but simultaneously doesn't want to let his daughter go. He gets into numerous situations that are extremely awkward but hilarious, though they are almost always due to his own bad judgment. This film takes a more traditional stance on weddings, and as per unwritten rule, the father of the bride is in charge of paying for the wedding. George isn't exactly poor, but he's certainly not as well off as his daughter's soon-to-be in-laws. Very soon after the wedding date is set, the tremendous pressure of the upcoming lush, extravagant, and expensive wedding begins mounting on George. Between having to rearrange his house, having to sit in on cake and china procurement, trying to find a tuxedo that fits and isn't from the 70's, picking and choosing who to invite and discovering who may or may not be dead...it's all too much for him. It doesn't help that Annie and Nina have hired a wedding coordinator named Franck, played by Martin Short, who is constantly breathing down his neck. Needless to say, chaos ensues, and as things progress in the planning of this wedding, things start to fall apart for not just George, but those closest to him who have to endure his wedding-induced insanity. As the expenses go up, so too does George's instability, which leads to his eventual breakdown. The only one there to force him to get a grip is his lovely wife Nina, and Diane Keaton does an outstanding job playing his wife, tasked with roping him in on several occasions. Much less agitated and much more levelheaded, Keaton provides the voice of reason during the wedding planning madness. Kimberly Williams-Paisley is not a hugely well known actress, but her portrayal of Annie, a woman who just wants to marry the love of her life, is excellent. She holds her own with veteran actors Martin, Keaton, and Short, and feels wise beyond her years. She and George Newbern have believable, luminous chemistry, as do Martin and Keaton. And speaking of Martin Short, the aforementioned wedding jitters leads to some hilarious, over the top comedic moments from Short, who, odd accent and all, does an equally fabulous job in his smaller role.

I grew up watching "Father of the Bride" and have fond memories of it. Watching it now as a married adult, I love it just the same. The situations might be zany, but there is an underlying tenderness to it all, and though some might see George's actions as abhorrent, pushy, and rude, well, remember, this is a comedy. We always enjoy pulling this movie out, and when we do, we know we're in for a worthy, solid remake that does justice to its source featuring a tremendous cast, some hilarious exchanges, and a whole lot of heart.

My Rating: 9/10
BigJ's Rating: 8/10
IMDB's Rating: 6.4/10
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 73%
Do we recommend this movie: ABSOLUTELY YES!!!

Movie Review #474: "Florence Foster Jenkins" (2016)

Movie: "Florence Foster Jenkins"
Director: Stephen Frears
Rating: PG-13
Running Time: 1 hour, 50 minutes

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Wealthy heiress and philanthropist Florence Foster Jenkins (Meryl Streep) lives for and loves music. Her dream is to sing at Carnegie Hall, but there's just one problem: she can't really sing, though she doesn't know it. Her husband St Clair Bayfield (Hugh Grant) will do anything to keep her from learning this fact, even if means bribing a lot of people to do it.

Directed by Stephen Frears, who is known for films like "High Fidelity" and "The Queen," "Florence Foster Jenkins" tells the story of the woman herself. The always fabulous Meryl Streep plays the titular character Florence Foster Jenkins, a wealthy, quirky, odd heiress with a deep and unabashed love for music and the voice of a tortured chimpanzee. As we all know from her other storied, excellent past roles, Streep is actually quite the accomplished singer, so she does a brilliant job pretending she can't sing a note on key. Hugh Grant plays the husband of Florence, Mr. St Clair Bayfield, who loves his wife and is deeply devoted to her despite living in a separate house with a live-in mistress. Florence is very ill and St Clair will do whatever he can to keep her happy and comfortable, even if it means allowing her to perform an operatic concert for the masses. He never lets on that she can't sing and does his best to make sure no one else does either, even if it means bribing critics and surrounding her with agreeable friends and audience members who have benefited from her philanthropy. As the film progresses, we learn more about why Florence loves music so much, as well as understand where she has come from and has been in her life in regards to her money, her family and friends, her relationships, and of course, those who help her musically.

As we fully expected, Meryl Streep is Florence Foster Jenkins. She is absolutely brilliant in this movie. Every horrible note, every tear, every scream, every laugh, we believe Streep as Jenkins 100%, and that's why it is an honor, nay, a privilege to watch her act every time she graces us with her presence. Streep may be closing in on her 20th Academy Award nomination with her performance in this film. Surprisingly, this may be Hugh Grant's best performance to date. Grant is a much more devoted, involved, and believable character than we've seen from him in the past, and we truly loved his performance. Don't be surprised if you hear his name called at the Oscars next year, either. They both give worthwhile, engaging portrayals of their respective persons. Grant and Streep have incredible chemistry together in their aged, mature relationship, and even when they are apart from each other, we never once doubt their love for one another. Joining Grant and Streep is Simon Helberg as Cosmé McMoon, the man given the fortunate (or unfortunate privilege, depending on how you look at it) of being the pianist for Florence Foster Jenkins. McMoon is all too aware Florence cannot sing, but a steady job paying $150 a week during the time of WWII is just too much to pass up, reputation be damned. We know Helberg in name only and are unfamiliar with most of his work (mainly because we do not watch "The Big Bang Theory"), but his acting here is a pleasant, delightful treat and quite a surprise.

"Florence Foster Jenkins" can be quite funny while Florence is singing, even though it is not really supposed to make us laugh. Whenever she is thrust upon the general, unbribed public, there is a hearty mix of uncontrollable laughter and secondhand embarrassment. At some point, though, many of those who watch her perform take a liking to her ironically because they believe she is a comedic genius, even if that comedy is unintentional. There is a delicate balance between "should we be laughing at her?" and "oh man, she is terrible!" and "awww, she's just so sweet!" Ultimately, this is a charming movie with stellar performances from its three main actors. One could argue it is simply a movie about a wealthy woman feeding her own ego through self-indulgent delusions bolstered by those who benefit financially from her generosity, but this would be a very cynical outlook. There is a deep heart and sincerity to "Florence Foster Jenkins," one that is very endearing even if it feels overlong and mostly drawn out to squeeze a couple more tears from the audience. Mostly, this is an amusing, irresistible film about a woman you should probably know about if you're into music. Check it out if you're into such things.

My Rating: 7.5/10
BigJ's Rating: 7.5/10
IMDB's Rating: 7.3/10
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 86%
Do we recommend this movie: Yes!

"Thelma & Louise" 25th Anniversary Special Event!

Tomorrow, for one night only in select cinemas, Wednesday August 24th, 2016 at 2 PM and 7 PM, relive the classic film "Thelma & Louise" on the big screen for its 25th anniversary, courtesy of Fathom Events, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and Park Circus!

Special Fathom Feature: Featuring a special introduction from film critic Ben Lyons talking about the legacy of Thelma & Louise and why, after 25 years, it is still considered the ultimate road trip movie.

Movie summary: Thelma (Geena Davis) and Louise (Susan Sarandon) - a bored housewife and a straight-laced waitress at a coffee shop - are best friends who are sick of what they've settled for. Deciding to escape the tedium of their everyday lives, the pair sneak off in Louise’s '66 T-bird convertible for a three-day fishing trip with no husbands, no boyfriends and no problems. But things don’t go quite according to plan when an encounter with a drunken, foul-mouthed, would-be rapist transforms their quiet getaway into a cross-country escape that will change their lives forever.

This film will be shown in the same aspect ratio as when it was originally released in cinemas.

For tickets, please check out this Fathom Events link. We hope to see you there for this very special occasion!

Movie Review: "The Mechanic" (1972)

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Movie: "The Mechanic"
Director: Michael Winner
Year: 1972
Rating: PG
Running Time: 1 hour, 40 minutes

A meticulous hit-man (Charles Bronson) takes a young apprentice (Jan-Michael Vincent) under his wing to teach him the tricks of the trade.

Directed by Michael Winner and written by Lewis John Carlino, "The Mechanic" tells the story of a cold-blooded, methodical hit-man who has uncounted ways to end the lives of his targets. Charles Bronson plays Arthur Bishop, the aforementioned hired gun who has spent the last many years developing a routine of sorts when it comes to killing. After a health scare and the ultimate realization that he doesn't have anyone in his life, Arthur takes a young man named Steve, played by Jan-Michael Vincent, under his wing to teach him all of the knowledge he has acquired over the years when it comes to being a assassin. Steve has shown he has the proper, borderline sociopathic attitude that makes him an ideal candidate to be a hit-man, and Arthur hopes to capitalize on this, but there's just one problem. Arthur has a secret that may very well flip the script on him once Steve realizes who he really is.

"The Mechanic" is a very solid crime thriller. Early on, the filmmakers set the tone and display the skills of their anti-hero protagonist. They show the lengths he is willing to go to in order to kill his marks, as well as his ability to make his assassinations look like accidents. The first 16 minutes of this film are devoid of any dialogue as we watch Arthur assemble his weapons, listen to classical music at a very loud volume, and learn about his finer tastes in life as he sets up his first mark. We really understand the mentality of this character and get drawn in by him despite the fact he kills people without remorse. When Steve enters the story, he is developed in almost the same way as Arthur, by displaying his cold-blooded nature in a scene involving some sort of romantic fling and the sadistic, borderline inhumane way he treats her.

Unfortunately, this movie is not without its flaws. It is a bit uneven. The beginning is much more of a thriller about planning hits and pulling them off seamlessly whereas the second half of the film falls into a more action-oriented style. The assassinations that take place in the second half of the film include vehicle chases and shootouts and aren't remotely clean, but they are always entertaining in a raw, untainted, boom-tastic way. Charles Bronson really lights up the screen with his gruff, hardened exterior. He is always the perfect choice for roles like this due to his rugged look, piercing eyes, and stoic, steely demeanor. Bronson is not a large, imposing guy with an intimidating stature, but he looks like a person who has been through rough, tough, hard times in life, so much so that it wears it this his face, which gives him his intimidating look. I had personally never seen a Charles Bronson picture prior to "The Mechanic," but I really, really like his style and look forward to watching more of his movies over time. The dude did have a pretty rad, fierce mustache. Jan-Michael Vincent is surprisingly excellent as Steve, the flitty but cold protege of Arthur's, but all eyes are pretty much on Bronson the entire show.

Overall, "The Mechanic" is quite engaging and very exciting at times. It is certainly worth checking out to experience an excellent action thriller with a classic 70's feel and a deeper look into the mind of a hired, well trained assassin. Plus, we have to give the movie props for its incredibly tight, very quick, ballsy ending, which pretty much made the entire thing worth it.

My Rating: 7.5/10
BigJ's Rating: 7.5/10
IMDB's Rating: 7.0/10
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 40%
Do we recommend this movie: Yes!

Movie Review: "Big Fish" (2003)

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Movie: "Big Fish"
Director: Tim Burton
Year: 2003
Rating: PG-13
Running Time: 2 hours, 5 minutes

A man tries to reconnect with his dying father and learn about his life beyond the fantastical tales his father fed him growing up.

Directed by Tim Burton, "Big Fish" is a fantasy drama based on the Daniel Wallace novel "Big Fish: A Novel of Mythic Proportions." It boasts a wonderful and fitting cast including Albert Finney, Ewan McGregor, Billy Crudup, Jessica Lange, Alison Lohman, and Marion Cotillard, as well as many bit parts performed by the likes of Steve Buscemi, Danny DeVito, Helena Bonham Carter, Matthew McGrory, Missi Pyle, and Deep Roy, including others. This film is all about a relationship between a father and son mostly told through a love story between a husband and wife. Will Bloom, played by Billy Crudup, has had a falling out with his father Edward, played by Albert Finney. Now, many years later, Ed is dying, and Will is looking to reconcile their strained relationship before it is too late. Will's biggest issue is he feels he doesn't really know his father since his dad has always had a tendency to tell overly fantastical tales about his life that never rang true to reality. Will regales the life of his dad to the audience the way Edward himself told his stories. We get to experience the amazing adventures of Edward Bloom, played by Ewan McGregor in his younger years, embellishments and all, and boy, are they adventures to behold.

This movie hits pretty close to home for us for many reasons, but primarily because BigJ can see many elements of his own father within the character of Edward Bloom. Maybe that's the point of it all. We've seen elements of ourselves and our loved ones in the characters on screen in many different movies and in many different capacities, but few films are able to achieve this with the precision-point accuracy of "Big Fish." This is a visually striking and beautiful film that displays the colorful and whimsical side of Tim Burton rather than the dark, gothic one. There are so many iconic visuals throughout this film that will burn themselves into your memory long after the VCR/DVD/blu-ray/streaming player has been turned off. It's hard to pick our favorite visual moment because there are just too many, but a few that come to mind are when Edward displays his of love for Sandra in the form of thousands and thousands of yellow daffodils outside her dorm room window, and when Edward sees Sandra for the first time at the circus and time freezes as he makes his was through the expansive crowd. This is a true display of Burton at his best. "Big Fish" also has a gorgeous Oscar nominated score by Danny Elfman, which not only adds whimsy, but also aids in the storytelling aspect, too. The acting is great from everyone involved, including a few memorable performances by Finney, Crudup, Lange, and McGregor.

No matter how many times we watch "Big Fish," we are reduced to tear-filled, blubbering little messes by the end of it. Though many viewers might not "get" what this story and movie are really about, at the end of the day, we're willing to call it Tim Burton's best, most underrated film because its message, themes, characters, and essence resonate so strongly with us. We absolutely adore every aspect of this movie, no matter how sad it may make us when all is said and done. The acting is perfect, the vast cast is vibrant, and the story boasts a big, fanciful plot full of lessons in life, love, lies, imagination, and loss. Please do yourself a favor and watch this gem of a film.

My Rating: 10/10
BigJ's Rating: 10/10
IMDB's Rating: 8.0/10
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 77%
Do we recommend this movie: ABSOLUTELY YES!!!

Movie Review #473: "War Dogs" (2016)

Movie: "War Dogs"
Director: Todd Phillips
Rating: R
Running Time: 1 hour, 54 minutes

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A massage therapist teams up with his best friend from junior high to start a business selling guns to the US military.

"War Dogs" is directed by Todd Phillips and is based on the true story of American arms dealers Efraim Diveroli and David Packouz, played here by Jonah Hill and Miles Teller. The primary focus is on the character of David Packouz, who goes from being a massage therapist in Miami working for $75 bucks an hour to an international arms dealer working on a $300 million dollar weapons supply contract with the US military. Being directed by Todd Phillips, who is responsible for movies like "The Hangover" series, "Old School," and "Starsky & Hutch," many expected this to be a comedy, and the marketing for the film certainly didn't try to dissuade this notion. This is very similar to what happened with "Whisky Tango Foxtrot" earlier in the year, how the film was marketed as a comedy and people were surprised and off put when it wasn't. Prepare yourselves, the same can be said of "War Dogs." At best, this film is a dark comedy, but as a whole, it's really more of a biographical drama with a few ironically humorous situations and lines of dialogue. It almost seems lost in a middle ground between genres, never totally sure what it wants to be. There are dramatic moments and some darker comedic ones, but it's also got a couple of scenes meant to be thrilling, all while attempting to be an indictment of the military industrial complex by shedding a light on the use of war as a means to drive the economy. It wants to examine these issues the same way "The Big Short" delved into the 2007-2009 housing and financial crises, but manages to do so with far less sophistication and a much more bro-ha-ha approach.

Luckily, the acting in "War Dogs" is acceptable and really drives the entire movie when the story suffers from an identity crisis. Both Jonah Hill and Miles Teller perform their parts convincingly, but Hill is definitely the standout. He plays a very obnoxious and reactionary character in Efraim Diveroli, powered by gaining money and screwing anyone he can to get more of it. He never shows his true persona, instead opting to fit who he is perceived to be based on who he is with at the time. Diveroli is the kind of guy who idolizes the Brian De Palma classic "Scarface" and his rise to power as a drug kingpin, but forgets Montana wound up dead in the end. Miles Teller's David Packouz is the far more levelheaded of the two business partners. Desperate to get himself out of financial hardships, and with a baby on the way with his girlfriend Iz, played by Ana de Armas, Packouz teams up with junior high bestie Diveroli. He can't help but love all the money coming in at first, until he wises up and finally sees Efraim may actually screw him in the long run. Kevin Pollak also has a limited but impactful role as their silent business partner Ralph Slutzky, who owns a chain of dry cleaners and thinks he is investing in doing the lord's work with a devout man in Efraim. Finally, Bradley Cooper plays Henry Girard, a bad ass gun runner who eventually teams up with the guys in order to fulfill their hefty order for the American government. In his limited capacity, Cooper is also effective, talking in a deeper-than-normal voice and with slicked back hair because, you know, he's a gun runner. Girard is also not what he seems, which is a constant theme throughout the film.

We were really hoping for a lot more from "War Dogs," but in the end, we were left with a product that was only "fine," which is super disappointing. This film doesn't know what it wants to be and gets muddled down by trying to be too many things all at once. Todd Phillips may not have been the right directorial choice for this movie, and with too much Miles Teller voice over and not enough risks being taken in its storytelling, we suggest holding off on this one until it comes out to watch at home.

My Rating: 6/10
BigJ's Rating: 6/10
IMDB's Rating: ~7.4/10
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: ~59%
Do we recommend this movie: Sure, why not?