Movie Review: "Chariots of Fire" (1981)

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Movie: "Chariots of Fire"

Director: Hugh Hudson
Year: 1981
Rating: PG
Running Time: 2 hours, 5 minutes

Two runners compete for Great Britain during the 1924 Olympics. Their religions impact their desire to race.

Movie Review: "Creed II" (2018)

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Movie: "Creed II"

Director: Steven Caple Jr.
Year: 2018
Rating: PG-13
Running Time: 2 hours, 10 minutes

As Adonis Creed becomes world champion, his past comes back to haunt him as Viktor Drago, the son of the man who killed his father, challenges him for the belt.

Movie Review: "Seau" (2018)

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Movie: "Seau"

Director: Kirby Bradley
Year: 2018
Rating: NR
Running Time: 1 hour, 28 minutes

A documentary chronicling the life, career, and death of Hall of Fame NFL linebacker Junior Seau.

Movie Review: "Tiger" (2018)

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Movie: "Tiger"

Director: Alister Grierson
Year: 2018
Rating: PG-13
Running Time: 1 hour, 40 minutes

A Sikh boxer fights for his rights to compete when he is banned from competition for having facial hair.

Movie Review: "Uncle Drew" (2018)

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Movie: "Uncle Drew"

Director: Charles Stone III
Year: 2018
Rating: PG-13
Running Time: 1 hour, 43 minutes

A man named Dax has invested all he has to enter a team in a blacktop basketball tournament known as the Rucker Classic, only to have his ringer and his entire squad stolen by an old rival. Now, up against a wall, he rounds up a group of aged former greats to face off against the young guns in the tournament for a chance at redemption and a big cash prize.

"There's a fine line between confidence and arrogance." (Image Source)

Can Hollywood turn an advertising mascot into a feature-length film? It worked for Ernest P. Worrell, so why can't it work for Uncle Drew? The movie "Uncle Drew" is directed by Charles Stone III, who has directed movies such as "Drumline," "Mr. 3000," and "Paid in Full." It is written Jay Longino, whose other writing credits include "Skiptrace" and the straight-to-video "Bachelor Party 2: The Last Temptation." It is based on the Pepsi Max mascot and now titular character Uncle Drew (Kyrie Irving). The story revolves around a young Footlocker employee named Dax (Lil Rel Howery), who has recently taken out his life savings to use as an entrance fee into the blacktop basketball tournament known as the Rucker Classic. Winning this competition means winning a $100,000 prize, and he thinks he has just the team to do it thanks in large part to his star player Casper (Aaron Gordon). When Dax's old rival Mookie (Nick Kroll) steals his team including Casper away from him, he has to think fast and come up with a new team or be out the entrance fee and prize money. Dax hears about a legendary athlete named Uncle Drew, the greatest blacktop player of all time, and seeks him out to recruit him for his crew. When Dax eventually finds him, he asks him to join his team despite being a septuagenarian. Uncle Drew agrees to participate on one condition: he gets to pick the teammates and run the show. Now, Uncle Drew, Preacher (Chris Webber), Lights (Reggie Miller), Boots (Nate Robinson), and Big Fella (Shaquille O'Neal), his group of longtime friends/senior citizens are set to face off against the toughest players in blacktop basketball.

"That's the problem with your generation: million dollar movie, 5-cent finish." (Image Source)

We had many reservations going into this film. After all, it is based on a commercial, which means it is in constant danger of becoming a one-joke premise stretched out for 103 minutes. If the whole movie was just about Kyrie Irving and a bunch of other pro-basketball players in mediocre old-age makeup out-doing a bunch of young ballers, the concept would get old pretty quick, no pun intended. Luckily, "Uncle Drew" is anchored by a lot of funny actors to surround the geriatric b-ballers and their shenanigans. Lil Rel Howery is very charming and extremely humorous. He is a likable and sympathetic guy, which makes Dax a character you really want to root for. Dax gets to have a bit of back and forth with his rival Mookie and his one-time girlfriend Jess, who have the advantage of being played by supremely talented comedians Nick Kroll and Tiffany Haddish, who elevate the project even further. All three of these characters get the chance to bring some big laughs, which quite frankly we were surprised about, once again, given the fact that the character comes from a soda ad. The movie also has some good heart and tries to have a genuine message. As for the former NBA All-Stars, most of their content is limited to heartfelt drama and physical gags stemming from the fact they are playing 70+-year-old men who can still dunk, pick and roll, and hit three-pointers with the best of them. Most of their jokes are basically "haha, old people can act like young people," and "oh wow, look how cocky new basketball players are now." The only exception to this is Shaq, who gets a couple of non-age related gags given his character's status as a Zen master.

"Play the game the right way, it fixes everything." (Image Source)

Sure, "Uncle Drew" is a formulaic mashup of a road trip flick and a traditional sports underdog story, but it is still mostly entertaining and is much funnier than we anticipated. Hey, if two people who don't even like basketball can find some enjoyment in this film, it can't be half bad, right? The road trip aspect did drag for us at times, but beyond that, this is an otherwise decent watch that may have you laughing as well.

My Rating: 6/10
BigJ's Rating: 6/10
IMDB's Rating: ~5.7/10
RT Rating: ~66%
Do we recommend this movie: Sure, why not?

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Movie Review: "Bring It On" (2000)

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Movie: "Bring It On"

Director: Peyton Reed
Year: 2000
Rating: PG-13
Running Time: 1 hour, 38 minutes

Torrance Shipman is the new captain of her champion cheerleading squad. She has just discovered her previous captain, Big Red, stole all of their award-winning routines from another school. Now, she makes the decision to come up with something fresh and new to compete on their own merits so they can defend their title against the very school Big Red stole the championship cheers from in the first place. 

"If we're gonna be the best, we have to have the best. Missy's the poo, so take a big whiff." (Image Source)

Mt. Carmel Sundevils represent! "Bring It On" is the feature film directorial debut of Peyton Reed, who would go on to direct movies like "The Break-Up," "Ant-Man," and most recently, of course, "Ant-Man and The Wasp." It is written by Jessica Bendinger, who would go on to write screenplays for movies like "First Daughter," and "Stick It." The film stars Kirsten Dunst as Torrance Shipman, a high school senior who has been voted captain of the Rancho Carne Toros, a five-time national champion cheerleading squad. When a new student and dancer named Missy (Eliza Dushku) transfers to Rancho Carne from a school in Los Angeles, she tells Torrance that the team's winning cheers were actually stolen by the team's previous captain, Big Red (Lindsay Sloane), from a cheer squad called the East Compton Clovers. Much to Torrance's horror, Missy is not lying, and after watching the Clovers perform their cheers, captain of their squad, Isis (Gabrielle Union), accosts them and tells them they need to bring it since the Clovers will be competing in the National Championships for the first time. Torrance refuses to do the stolen cheers, which leaves the Toros scrambling to create new and original routines in time for the competition.

"Your trophies are bullshit because you're a sad ass liar." (Image Source)

I might be a little biased because "Bring It On" was filmed in part at my high school, but this movie has always made me laugh and smile as long as I can remember. This comedy gives a loving but tongue-in-cheek look at the world of cheerleading competitions. At times, it makes fun of the stereotypes about all cheerleaders, and at other times, it turns these preconceived notions on their head in a smart but sincere way. Overall, the story is super simple and somewhat formulaic. An athletic team has a limited amount of time to master something difficult before a big competition. Much of this scenario leads to some awkward cringe-comedy where we feel embarrassed by what the characters have to endure, but remain completely entertained by it at the same time. Everyone in this movie is excellent, and they all play off of each other well. Kirsten Dunst and Gabrielle Union absolutely nail their respective team captain roles. Eliza Dushku brings a lot of smartass, sassy, sometimes backbiting humor to the table. Jesse Bradford offers the film's romantic aspects because of course there has to be a romance...it is a teen comedy from the early 2000's after all.

This isn't your typical underdog narrative because the Toros aren't viewed as underdogs. The kids on the Toros come from wealthy families and live in an upper-class neighborhood. They are the defending champions and are the farthest thing from being underdogs. In any other more cliche movie, the team from the inner-city would be the focus of an underdog story. They just lack the financial means to be able to show off their cheerleading prowess. The Clovers are struggling to pay for their trip to Nationals, but the movie as a whole manages to avoid the typical "white savior narrative." The story should be commended for literally ripping this tired scenario in half. The dynamic of these two teams being competitors means there is no real villain in the story. The question then becomes, who does the audience root for: the protagonist, their redemption story, and their quest to make things right to prove that they can succeed on their own, or their competition, who want to show that it was them all along who deserved the championship all those years because they are vastly more talented. The movie covers this conflict in a well-rounded manner and offers a satisfying conclusion by the movie's end.

"I don't know what's scarier: neurotic cheerleaders or the pressure to win. I could make a killing selling something like diet Prozac." (Image Source)

In the end, "Bring It On" is a simple, witty, light, fun story that is an entertaining and hilarious-but-very-dated watch. It balances sports, teen drama, and snarky humor perfectly. It remains one of my "childhood" favorites to this day.

My Rating: 7.5/10
BigJ's Rating: 7/10
IMDB's Rating: 6.0/10
RT Rating: 63%
Do we recommend this movie: Yes!

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Movie Review: "Breath" (2018)

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Movie: "Breath"

Director: Simon Baker
Year: 2018
Rating: R
Running Time: 1 hour, 55 minutes

A couple of young teenagers take up surfing and meet a veteran surfer who takes them under his wing and changes their lives forever.

"We didn't know it yet, but we had already imagined ourselves into a different life." (Image Source)

Teenaged boys come of age through surfing...and autoerotic asphyxiation. Well, that's certainly a new one! "Breath" is the feature film directorial debut for Simon Baker, who is best known as the lead actor from the TV show "The Mentalist." Baker also stars in the film and helped write the screenplay along with Gerard Lee, and it is adapted from the novel of the same name by Tim Winton. The story takes place in the mid-70's and centers on two young teens, 13-year-old Pikelet (Samson Coulter) and his much more rambunctious, troublemaking friend, 14-year old Loonie (Ben Spence). After Loonie busts up his bike goofing off on the highway, they are picked up by a group of surfers who take them to the beach. After that, the two boys begin to surf and are eventually taken under the wing of a guru-like veteran wave catcher named Sando (Simon Baker). He shares with them his philosophy on life and surfing, and though they don't know it when they first meet, Sando and his wife Eva (Elizabeth Debicki) will change each of the boys' lives forever in very different ways.

"Never had I seen something so beautiful, so elegant, so pointless." (Image Source)

"Breath" is a pretty standard coming-of-age film...until it isn't. It is set against breathtaking and beautiful settings and is full of glorious surfing moments that are very fun to watch, though they aren't anything we haven't already seen 100 times before. The story has pivotal life-changing moments, as well as a sexual awakening for the protagonist as the boys learn about all the wonders that life has to offer outside of school and home life. Actors Samson Coulter and Ben Spence offer two excellent debut performances. Simon Baker is also quite charming as their surf guru Sando. Baker gets to wax philosophical about life being an adventure, facing fears, and how surfing is a physical and spiritual experience more than just a sport. Elizabeth Debecki's Eva spends the majority of the movie stoned and sulking over her injured leg, which ended her skiing career. She feels underappreciated by her husband Sando, who disappears on surfing adventures without warning. It's when Sando heads off on one of his unannounced trips that the movie takes an odd, drastic turn away from surfing as Eva takes Pikelet under her wing and shows him the joys of sex, drugs, and autoerotic asphyxiation. The fact that an adult woman has sex with a 13-to-14-year-old kid will definitely be a deal-breaker for some viewers and will repel them from this film entirely. Hell, we could physically hear the patron behind us shifting in his seat uncomfortably as this plotline began. Even if you can get over Eva taking advantage of Pikelet and excuse it because it was the 70's and all, you know, free love and all that, it's hard to deny that right around this time, there is a jarring tonal shift that can be a little off-putting.

"I wonder what the ordinary people are doing today." (Image Source)

"Breath" is a bit long and doesn't have the best pacing, so it winds up feeling much longer than it is. Still, there are many excellent performances in this movie. Everything else about it was mediocre for us, and though it has elements that can be admired, it isn't a film that ever fully gripped us.

My Rating: 5.5/10
BigJ's Rating: 5/10
IMDB's Rating: ~7.2/10
RT Rating: 74%
Do we recommend this movie: Meh.

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Movie Review: "Cool Runnings" (1993)

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Movie: "Cool Runnings"

Director: Jon Turteltaub
Year: 1993
Rating: PG
Running Time: 1 hour, 38 minutes

When an Olympic hopeful's dreams of becoming a Jamaican Olympic sprinter are dashed, he decides to shift his focus and finds a new way to get to the Olympics: by forming the first Jamaican bobsled team.

No one believes in the Jamaican bobsledders, but they are out to prove the haters wrong. (Image Source)

"Feel the rhythm, feel the rhyme, get on up, it's bobsled time!" "Cool Runnings" is directed by Jon Turteltaub, who has helmed films like "3 Ninjas," "Phenomenon," and "National Treasure." The script was penned by a multitude of people and is said to be loosely based on and inspired by true events. Everything from what caused the formation of the team to the names of the team members themselves is pure Disney fiction. The only things that are true about this story are A) that there is a country called Jamaica, and B) Jamaica does have a bobsled team. This story focuses on an Olympic hopeful named Derice Bannock (Leon), who can run the 100m dash in 9.9 seconds. His father was an Olympian, and Derice hopes to follow in his footsteps. At the Olympic trials during his qualifying race, however, another runner named Junior Bevel (Rawle D. Lewis) falls, tripping Derice and another sprinter named Yul Brenner (oddly enough) (Malik Yoba). This dashes all of their Olympic dreams in one fell swoop. Determined to get to the Olympics one way or another, Derice meets up with his father's old friend, two-time bobsledding gold medalist Irv Blitzer (John Candy), to create a Jamaican bobsled team comprised of the three fallen sprinters, as well as Derice's best friend and Jamaican push cart champion Sanka Coffie (Doug E. Doug).

Disney had a winning underdog sports formula during the 90's, and by god they used it. (Image Source)

"Cool Runnings" was a popular film amongst 90's kids. BigJ grew up with it, and while my mom swears we owned the VHS tape while I was growing up, I couldn't for the life of me remember anything that happened in this movie. It makes sense considering it is a rather formulaic, run-of-the-mill, feel-good inspirational sports story. It follows in the footsteps of 1992's "The Mighty Ducks," where a ragtag group of unlikely people with little resources come together and defy the odds to best even the greatest in their sport. Everyone is against them and says they can't do it, but they are out to prove everyone wrong.

Having never seen snow in the warm climate of Jamaica, the bobsledding team heads to the Olympics and experiences it for the first time with hilarious results. (Image Source)

Despite sticking to a tried and true formula, "Cool Runnings" is still a rather enjoyable movie. All the characters are likable, and we want to root for them individually as well as in their team. It's all about how Derice, Junior, and Yul try to redeem themselves from a single mistake and rise above the odds to still make it to the Olympics. It's about a coach who is a disgraced former athlete showing that he can do something right for a change and stop wallowing in the past. As for Sanka, the fourth and final member of the team, he's just there to be a comic relief character. This movie is a lot of fun as much of it plays out a fish-out-of-water scenario. Most of the humor is about how these men from a tropical island where it never snows must compete in a winter event as they experience it in all its powdery glory for the first time. Once the team gets to Canada, the movie is about how a group of men from a tropical island who have never seen snow make jokes about how they handle this new-to-them situation. Finally, it's about how these people must be true to themselves regardless of whether they win or lose. This is a message we can definitely get behind, but again, it's one we've heard dozens of times in the past. The climactic final moments help elevate "Cool Runnings" just a little bit more in the end. It may feel manipulative since it is thought to be manufactured-Disney-heartstring-tugging-hogwash, but it is the truest scene in the whole film.

In the end, though "Cool Runnings" is a little basic, it still provides a fun, slightly sentimental viewing experience.

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My Rating: 6/10
BigJ's Rating: 6.5/10
IMDB's Rating: 6.9/10
RT Rating: 76%
Do we recommend this movie: Sure, why not?

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Movie Review: "Breaking Away" (1979)

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Movie: "Breaking Away"

Year Nominated: 1980
Director: Peter Yates
Rating: PG
Running Time: 1 hour, 41 minutes
Did It Win?: No.

A group of townies hoping to show their worth get an opportunity to compete against the more well-off college kids in the Little 500 bike race. 

"Breaking Away" is directed by Peter Yates, who is known for films like "Bullitt" and "Krull." It is written by Steve Tesich, who took home an Oscar for his original screenplay here. The narrative focuses on a group of 'Cutters,' which is a nickname given to the blue-collar townies from Bloomington, Indiana. Dave, played by Dennis Christopher, is a cyclist who is obsessed with Italy and its people thanks to its extraordinary bike riding heritage. Mike, played by Dennis Quaid, is a former high school quarterback with a chip on his shoulder. Cyril, played by Daniel Stern, is a bit of a goof and is an underachiever. Finally, Moocher, played by Jackie Earle Haley, is a temperamental guy who is a little touchy about his height. These local boys often have conflicts with the local university students, who come in from out of town and look down their noses at those who choose not to pursue higher education. However, this year, the Cutters have a chance to show the college kids what's what by competing in the annual Little 500 bike race against them.

This film is part coming-of-age story, part exploration and dissection of classism, and part classic underdog sports tale. It also looks at the changing times and the diminishing opportunities for a blue-collar career. The nickname 'Cutters' is in reference to the stone cutters, who used to work the quarry in Bloomington. Of course, the quarry has now laid off most of its workforce due to the dwindling demand for new stone structures. This leaves those who used to work in these industries forced to search for jobs outside of their previous field of employment or seek out higher education and become one of the college elitists the Cutters used to despise. This issue continues today as more and more blue-collar industries dry up as technological advancements make these jobs more obsolete. 

The character of Dave is the primary focus of the movie as he tries to find himself as a person, come to an understanding with his father, and make a decision about what he wants to do with his life. He is smart enough to go to college and is a skilled cyclist, giving him a potential collegiate athletics opportunity. The other boys play a much more minor yet integral part of the story. The acting is great across the board. Jackie Earl Haley is excellent as Moocher, who is a bit of a goofball but will go off on anyone who makes fun of his height or his size. Dennis Quaid is also good as the bitter jock reminiscing about what could have been. Barbara Barrie earned an Oscar nomination for her understated, small-scale performance as Dave's supportive mother. Performances like this don't happen very often nowadays. There is a good amount of humor here, as well as some more touching and dramatic moments between Dave and his father, played by Paul Dooley. Dave's dad is an old-fashioned kind of guy who has trouble grasping his son's eccentricities and obsessions with Italians. He frequently belittles what Dave loves in his confusion.

"Breaking Away" is nearly 40 years old, but is still quite relatable, fresh, and entertaining. It touches on a few topics that are still very relevant today and it holds up in terms of its quality. If we are being honest, we don't think a film like this would get nominated for an Oscar today, but the late 70's were different a time.

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My Rating: 7.5/10
BigJ's Rating: 8/10
IMDB's Rating: 7.7/10
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 94%
Do we recommend this movie: Yes!

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Movie Review: "I, Tonya" (2017)

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Movie: "I, Tonya"

Director: Craig Gillespie
Year: 2017
Rating: R
Running Time: 1 hour, 59 minutes

The life story of infamous Olympic figure skater Tonya Harding.

Many of us who were alive at the time are all too aware of the incident that made Tonya Harding a household name in the mid-1990's. But who is Tonya Harding beyond being the woman linked to the knee-capping of one of her fellow U.S. Olympic figure skating teammates? Is she the mastermind of a horrendous act, or did she just happen to surround herself with stupid people doing stupid things? Those are the questions explored in director Craig Gillespie's darkly comedic biopic "I, Tonya." The film is written by Steven Rogers, who has worked on films like "Hope Floats," "Stepmom," and "Kate & Leopold," so this screenplay seems to be new territory for him. The film stars Margot Robbie as two-time Olympic figure skater Tonya Harding. Joining her are Sebastian Stan, who plays Harding's abusive first husband Jeff Gillooly, and Allison Janney, who plays her abusive mother LaVona Golden. As you can already plainly see, abuse played a big factor in Tonya's upbringing. More on that later. The film follows her from her early youth to her rise in the ranks as a figure skater, all the way through the Nancy Kerrigan scandal and its aftermath.

There are some tremendous performances in "I, Tonya." Margot Robbie is excellent as Harding and plays her as a hard-nosed, rough around the edges, redneck-type looking for respect in a sport that expects and demands prim and proper. Robbie captures the mannerisms and vocal cadence of Harding with the looks to mostly match. The costuming and makeup work in this film should really be getting more attention. Allison Janney is brilliant as LaVona and completely steals the spotlight whenever she's on screen. Her character may be a little one-note, but she hits that note beautifully. She is mean, nasty, seemingly unloving, a complete and total asshole. Speaking of assholes, Sebastian Stan is great as one of the stories biggest dirtbags, Jeff Gillooly, the abusive lover Tonya seemed addicted to for years. Finally, Paul Walter Hauser delivers a hilarious performance as Tonya's bodyguard Shawn, who is a little too stupid for his own good but talks a big game despite being a brute and a loser who literally lives in his mom's basement.

The "I, Tonya" screenplay allows the audience to learn a little bit more about Tonya Harding beyond the media sensation and spectacle of the attack on Nancy Kerrigan. We learn about the struggles she endured in her life and how her eventual downfall came about post-attack. If you take what this film says as gospel, Tonya was not the mastermind of some grand assault and in fact, had no knowledge of an impending physical attack on her competitor. She simply surrounded herself with the dumbest, most moronic bulbs in the bunch like Jeff and his friend/her bodyguard Shawn. She may have contributed with words, but she was mostly a victim of circumstance, that the disorder, misery, and abuse she suffered growing up led to her eventually marrying an abuser. We assume the truth lies somewhere in between the lines. Some will not enjoy "I, Tonya" for the simple fact that they think she is not worthy of cinematic redemption or acclaim. Others will not like it because it is not a happy story. We found this movie to be quite funny, though darkly so and in the worst way possible. It highlights terrible people doing awful things for a bit of an uncomfortable laugh. By the time the film was over, we found ourselves sympathizing with Tonya Harding just a little bit. We started to wonder if her punishment truly fit the crime of guilt by association. There's no way around the fact that she was involved in terrible things, but this paints the story in a different light just a little bit. We enjoyed watching this film and think it's definitely worth checking out if it comes to a theater near you.

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My Rating: 8/10
BigJ's Rating: 8/10
IMDB's Rating: ~7.7/10
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 89%
Do we recommend this movie: Yes!

Movie Review: "Battle of the Sexes" (2017)

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Movie: "Battle of the Sexes"

Director: Valerie Faris & Jonathan Dayton
Year: 2017
Rating: PG-13
Running Time: 2 hours, 1 minute

The story of Billie Jean King and her legendary tennis match against Bobby Riggs.

One may think the majority of the issues being faced in 1973 would have been resolved by now, 44 years later. One may think a film like "Battle of the Sexes" would be a simple historical dramatization and not a piece of cinema pertinent in today's politics as they stand. Though things have gotten better since the 70's, it is obvious we have a long way to go. "Battle of the Sexes" is a biopic about professional tennis player Billie Jean King, played by Emma Stone, and her life leading up to her famous match against equally great tennis champion/professional loudmouth Bobby Riggs, played by Steve Carell. BigJ knew the outcome of this match before we stepped foot into the theater, and though it sounds silly, I did not. I had an inclination about the outcome because a movie about this event wouldn't exist if Riggs had beaten King. It doesn't really matter either way since we both enjoyed this film. That may be because the story goes beyond a simple high-stakes tennis match. It also shows the turmoil in the personal lives of both King and Riggs leading up to their battle on the court. The main focus, however, is on King and her blossoming relationship with a hairdresser named Marilyn Barnett, played by Andrea Riseborough, despite the fact King was already married to a man named Larry King (no, not that Larry King), played by Austin Stowell. Riggs has problems with gambling and a failing marriage to deal with on his own, so when their problems are added to the sports conflict, it makes for a solid, tumultuous, entertaining drama.

Some have called this film overly political, that the fantasy politics going on within the confines of the film are not accurate. Some say the story is exaggerated to match the current times to create a more identifiable final product. Others have criticized it for not having enough bite, that it doesn't feel damning enough to the system of inequality we once faced and still face as a nation. For us, we don't believe the goal is to do either of these things. Instead, we believe "Battle of the Sexes" wants to show how things were and let the audience draw its own conclusions.

Bobby Riggs is charismatic, garish, loud, pompous, and likable despite spewing misogynistic comments to hype his tennis bout with Billie Jean. We understand that, like a prizefighter or a professional wrestler, he is simply a hype-man promoting an angle that will sell well. Thus the catchy and aptly timed name "Battle of the Sexes." It's really the background characters who are the true villains of this true-life story, and not even overtly. People like Jack Kramer, played by Bill Pullman, who thinks men are the draw over women because they are more competitive. These are the people who don't even fully realize how terrible the stuff they are saying is and how demeaning it is to women. The most depressing part of it is we still hear some of the same rhetoric spewed today.

Beyond the social implications, the acting is fantastic from both Emma Stone and Steve Carell. When we watched the film, we didn't see Stone doing a Billie Jean King impression or Carell doing a Bobby Riggs impression. We truly saw King and Riggs on screen. These actors are some of the best Hollywood has to offer right now and their performances are both excellent. We also enjoyed Sarah Silverman's performance as Gladys Heldman, the promoter/manager of their newly formed women's tennis league. This league was instrumental in creating comparable pay for women players. It proved women's tennis could sell just as many tickets as men's tennis when given a proper chance. We were drawn in by the story and the struggle the female tennis players faced fighting for their fair share. We see the results of that struggle today as some of the most famous tennis players in the world are women. In fact, when put on the spot about it during our podcast, we could name more women tennis players than men.

"Battle of the Sexes" is not played up for politics. This really happened. Life really used to be like this. These women existed and fought for their place in the world, for a little bit of what men have. Just because you disagree with the politics or the actions of the players doesn't make it any less true. The drama is great, the romantic angle is captivating, the acting is superb, it is surprisingly funny, and the film as a whole is a real crowd-pleaser. The final tennis showdown still manages to be exciting, too, even if you know the outcome.

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My Rating: 8/10
BigJ's Rating: 8/10
IMDB's Rating: ~6.7/10
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: ~85%
Do we recommend this movie: Yes!

Movie Review: "Kickboxer" (1989)

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Movie: "Kickboxer"

Director: Mark DiSalle & David Worth
Year: 1989
Rating: R
Running Time: 1 hour, 37 minutes

Kurt Sloane looks to train Muay Thai with master trainer Xian Chow so he can defeat Tong Po, the man who paralyzed his brother Eric in a kickboxing bout.

"Kickboxer" is a 1989 martial arts action flick starring Jean-Claude Van Damme. Van Damme also had a hand in writing the story and did all of the fight choreography for the film. It is directed by Mark DiSalle and David Worth. Worth is known for directing numerous low budget action flicks, many of which deal with martial arts themes. DiSalle also helped write the film and produced it, along with a few other Van Damme films like "Bloodsport" and "Death Warrant."

This is a simple tale of revenge with a little bit of an underlying underdog story. Van Damme plays Kurt Sloane, a guy with martial arts training, but no professional experience. His brother Eric, played by real life kickboxing champion Dennis Alexio, is a professional martial artist and is the best in America. Out of opponents in the United States, Eric heads to Thailand to face their champion, Tong Po, played by Michel Qissi. Unfamiliar with the Thai style of boxing, Eric is soundly beaten, and to add injury to insult, Tong Po intentionally elbows a defeated Sloane in the spine, paralyzing him instantly. Extremely upset by this, Kurt seeks out Muay Thai master Xian Chao, played by Dennis Chan, to help him train so he can get the chance to avenge his brother and defeat Tong Po.

As a martial arts movie, most of the action in "Kickboxer" consists of hand-to-hand combat with a lot punches, kicks, and aerial spinning techniques. The fighting in the movie mostly looks good, but there are a few blatantly terrible moments of goofy fight choreography. There are also some other instances of action including gun-play and even a few explosions worked into the plot for good measure, just in case the viewers tire of physical combat. Oh, and speaking of plot, the one here is, as one might expect, very thin, but then again, this isn't really a movie about plot. When there is no fighting going on on screen, the vast majority of the film consists of training montages, as is the formula for these types of sports stories. We also get a few moments of charming humor, and like clockwork, a shoehorned in romantic storyline to bring some heightened stakes and extra drama for our protagonist.

Even with a low budget, third rate, poorly written dialogue, and hackneyed drama, there is a lot of entertainment to be had in "Kickboxer." It is always fun to watch JCVD in his prime landing jumping spin-kicks to someone else's face, and it's equally fun to watch him dance in bar in a dopey black tank top. If you give this movie a chance, you'll most likely be amused.

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My Rating: 7/10
BigJ's Rating: 7.5/10
IMDB's Rating: 6.4/10
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 60%
Do we recommend this movie: Sure, why not?

Movie Review: "Miracle" (2004)

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Movie: "Miracle"
Director: Gavin O'Connor
Year: 2004
Rating: PG
Running Time: 2 hours, 15 minutes

The story of the 1980 Winter Olympics where the underdog United States hockey team must face off against the heavily favored Soviet powerhouse team. 

"Miracle" is an inspirational sports story directed by Gavin O'Connor. It is based on the true story of the 1980 USA Olympic hockey team. The primary focus is on the coach of the hockey team Herb Brooks, played by Kurt Russell. We learn his strategy for choosing his players and the rigorous training he put them through that made the US Olympic team the best conditioned group on the ice. We also see some of the strain that his focus, hard work and dedication to his hockey team puts on his family life.

Kurt Russell is fantastic in this role. His performances is one where he has to be both tough and caring, and we believe him in both instances. He also works really well with Patricia Clarkson, who plays his wife Patti Brooks. The actors that compose the members of the hockey team itself are mostly little known actors who didn't really do much after this project. These people were picked more for their skills on the ice rather than their acting abilities in front of the camera. We appreciate this small authentic touch to make the film that much more believable. That being said, these chaps do just fine in performing their parts, mostly because the majority of their parts are spent skating, roughing each other up, training, and playing hockey.

This is the classic underdog inspirational sports story laid out from A-Z with very few surprises. In that respect, it is unfortunately by the book sports in terms of its sports narative as a group of former rivals have to learn to put their differences aside and learn to work together to create one common goal. This, of course, is achieved through a series of training montages and believe us, there are plenty of them. After all, what would a sports movie be without a few montages? The entire plot builds to the actual hockey games themselves, which always contain highlight reel action because this is what gives movies like this their excitment. It really is entertaining, even knowing the outcome of the final Olympic games themselves, and even with a formulaic plot. We still manage to get fully invested in the story of the Olympic hockey team and their coach, and any time America's scores a goal on screen, it makes us feel like chanting USA! USA! USA! Maybe we did once or twice in real life, who knows! We also like "Miracle" doesn't treat the opposing Soviet team like generic villains, even though many Americans of that era certainly viewed them as such. They are simply a heavily favorite rival team that the Americans must beat to bring home the gold medal during a time when political strife was rampant between the two countries.

In the end, Disney knows what to do when it comes to inspirational stories like "Miracle" and they execute the heck out of it, making a believable, fun movie in the process.

My Rating: 7/10
BigJ's Rating: 7/10
IMDB's Rating: 7.5/10
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 80%
Do we recommend this movie: Sure, why not?

Movie Review: "Raging Bull" (1980)

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Movie: "Raging Bull"
Year Nominated: 1981
Director: Martin Scorsese
Rating: R
Running Time: 2 hours, 9 minutes
Did It Win?: No.

A look into the life and career of World Champion boxer Jake LaMotta (Robert De Niro).

"Raging Bull" is directed by Martin Scorsese, the director of films like "Goodfellas," "Hugo," and "Casino." It is based on the biography of Jake LaMotta titled "Raging Bull: My Story" by LaMotta himself, along with Joseph Carter and Peter Savage. It stars Robert De Niro as the former world boxing champion. De Niro does a fantastic job as this rather unlikable protagonist. He manages to re-create what is a very complex character and makes him charming despite his many demons. He even took home an Oscar for best actor for his work in this film, which we totally agree is well deserved.

It is hard to get behind a character like LaMotta, someone who leaves his first wife for a 14-year-old girl named Vickie, played by Cathy Moriarty, and was known to slap them both around. Though he marries Vickie when she is 16 and everything seems to be all sunshine and roses (apart from the age difference), their marriage quickly dissolves into a controlling and abusive relationship, not only verbally, but physically as well. LaMotta's attitude also alienates him from his brother and former corner-man Joey, played by Joe Pesci, though having an anti-hero with so much drama in his life does make for a compelling story. Pesci is also excellent in the film, and he and De Niro have a wonderful working relationship with one another even when tensions are high between their characters.

Director Martin Scorsese does a really great job as per usual with his remarkable visuals, especially during the boxing segments. There is a beauty to the brutality in these scenes and the camera angles and lighting are all executed amazingly. The black and white color palette makes it feel that much more artistic and even that much more grim and depressing. The work between Scorsese and cinematographer Michael Champman is absolutely brilliant. Unfortunately, despite the film's beauty and remarkable performances, for some reason, it's a little hard for us to get fully invested in a character like LaMotta. There are times in "Raging Bull" when many of the technical aspects are exceptional, but everything else is overshadowed by its distressful premise regarding LaMotta. While this is clearly the point of the movie as he is a deeply layered character, it makes it feel that much slower overall, and it's not even that long. Still, this is a movie that must be seen for historical cinephile purposes.

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My Rating: 7.5/10
BigJ's Rating: 7.5/10
IMDB's Rating: 7.9/10
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 98%
Do we recommend this movie: Yes!

**To review this movie for yourself on one of the best websites on the internet, visit filmfed.com!*

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Last Oscar season, we were watching: "An American in Paris"

Two Oscar seasons ago, we were watching: "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Rings"

Three Oscar seasons ago, we were watching: "Her"

Movie Review: "Occupation: Fighter" (2011)

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Movie: "Occupation: Fighter"
Director: Andre Enzensberger
Year: 2011
Rating: NR
Running Time: 1 hour, 25 minutes

Chad "The Savage" George is an up and coming mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter competing in the 135 lb. weight class. This documentary follows his activities as he trains for an upcoming bout in World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC).

Director Andre Enzensberger takes a look inside the world of mixed martial arts, or MMA for short. His choice for the focus of this documentary is journeyman fighter Chad "The Savage" George, who now sports a 16-8 professional record, but at the time of the filming of this movie, he had a not much more impressive 11-5 record. When this documentary was being shot, George was competing in the 135 lb. bantamweight division of World Extreme Cagefighting, or WEC. The WEC was owned by then UFC parent company Zuffa, LLC., and specialized in showcasing fighters 155 lbs. and below before the entire moniker was absorbed into the UFC in January 2011.

BigJ has been a fan of mixed martial arts since UFC 1 aired all the way back in 1993 when it was no-rules-no-holds-barred, and we have attended numerous live WEC and other MMA events together in the last 11 years. Even as big fans of the sport, we had trouble keeping engaged with "Occupation: Fighter." This documentary doesn't really offer any new information or insight into the sport beyond what anyone can already see every week on the UFC's reality television show "The Ultimate Fighter," or even on UFC's Fight Week. Fighters train day in and day out. They have to diet to make weight and sweat off extra pounds, sometimes dropping up to 20 pounds in a day to make their fight weight. It is a sport where fighter pay is very top-heavy, and those in Chad George's position and skill level must find other means of support beyond just fighting. This can be a strain on family and relationships, and we watch the pressure it puts on him and his life as he pursues his dream. This means those who get into the sport must do it for the love of the competition rather than looking to get rich quick. In order to make big bucks, you have to be the top in your division, and the lower the weight class you fall into, the more talented you have to be to get noticed and make good money.

There are far better, much more interesting documentaries about MMA out there. If you are looking for one in particular, try "The Smashing Machine," and if you're looking for a better MMA fighter-specific flick, check out "Once I Was a Champion" about the late Evan Tanner.

My Rating: 5/10
BigJ's Rating: 5/10
IMDB's Rating: 6.6/10
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: ---%
Do we recommend this movie: Meh.

Movie Review #523: "Bleed for This" (2016)

Movie: "Bleed for This"

Director: Ben Younger
Rating: R
Running Time: 1 hour, 56 minutes

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The story of boxing champion Vinny Pazienza's (Miles Teller) comeback from a broken neck resulting from a terrible car accident.

"Bleed For This" is written and directed by Ben Younger, based on the true life story of former boxing champion Vinny "The Pazmanian Devil" Pazienza, played by Miles Teller. The main focus of the film is on Pazienza's horrific car accident directly following him obtaining the WBA light middleweight boxing title. This accident left him with a broken neck, as well as a long, hard road back from an injury that almost put an end to his career and unable to walk.

This is a fairly by-the-book inspirational sports story. The acting is very good as Miles Teller puts on a mostly solid performance, donning a svelte boxer's body in what was clearly an effort to get him award recognition, losing and gaining weight to display his before and after "accident" appearance. The true standouts for us, however, are in the supporting cast, including Aaron Eckhart and his portrayal of the alcoholic has-been trainer Kevin Rooney, and Ciarán Hinds and his role as Vinny's father Angelo Pazienza. Eckhart has the capacity to be a fantastic actor when he wants to be, so it puzzles us when he takes roles like "I, Frankenstein," and though we don't know much about Hinds, he is excellent here as a concerned father who helps his son after his accident, a father who has had enough of being part of his son's injury-prone career.

Audiences love a triumphant return, and Pazienza's against all odds comeback from a perceived career-ending injury is compelling to say the least. Sports films live and die by these types of narratives with built-in drama. We personally love underdog stories...when they are well made. The main flaw in "Bleed for This" comes from its pacing. It is abhorrently slow at times and feels much longer than it actually is. There is also quite a bit of fudging when it comes to facts and details surrounding Vinny's actual career as the rounds, endings of fights, and judges scorecards are changed frequently for dramatic license. Also, the date of his supposed comeback was omitted in the movie, something we noticed right away because the dates of his previous fights had been purposefully included. This is because the fight showcased and depicted as his first post-injury bout actually took place years after Vinny's real comeback. The only reason for this change is because Roberto Duran is a far more well known, higher caliber boxer than the guy Vinny first fought after his injury. We understand dramatic effect being in play, but the degree Younger goes to to change many details about a true story is a bit bothersome, especially for boxing fans, which we used to be. Finally, there is also an odd choice to mix footage of the actual Pazienza with Teller's Pazienza (sometimes in the same frame), which is jarring and took us completely out of the film. We feel a director should go all in or or nothing at all when it comes to past footage of a person, and if the need to use actual footage is far too great and must be implemented, save it for the film's credit roll, or simply make a documentary.

Overall, "Bleed for This" had a lot of promise, but is ultimately a basic sports melodrama with some jarring behind-the-scenes decisions and some excellent in front of the camera performances.

My Rating: 6/10
BigJ's Rating: 6/10
IMDB's Rating: ~6.6/10
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: ~64%
Do we recommend this movie: Sure, why not?

Movie Review #502: "Queen of Katwe" (2016)

Movie: "Queen of Katwe"
Director: Mira Nair
Rating: PG
Running Time: 2 hours, 4 minutes

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A young girl from the slums of Uganda begins to change her world through the game of chess.

"Queen of Katwe" is directed by Mira Nair, who is known for her films "Monsoon Wedding" and "The Namesake." It tells the true story of Phiona Mutesi, played here by Madina Nalwanga, a young girl living in Katwe, a poor city in Uganda. She lives with her widowed mother Nakku Harriet, played by Lupita Nyong'o, in a little shack scrapped together from sheets of aluminium and spare pieces of wood. Despite the low quality of their home, they struggle to even afford that. Phiona has a couple of younger brothers and an older sister, and they all struggle to make ends meet by selling maize on the street. Phiona's life is changed forever when she meets Robert Katende, played by David Oyelowo, who teaches the children of Katwe the game of chess as part of the local mission's community outreach program. The children are taught chess and fed porridge every day, which is the initial reason Phiona and her brother Mugabi Brian, played by Martin Kabanza, start to learn the game. Despite no formal education, Phiona has a mind for strategy and takes to the game quite naturally. She becomes addicted to it, eventually getting so good that she leads the Katwe team to a championship and then moves on to compete at an international level. During her travels and time away from home playing the game she loves so dearly, she is exposed to comforts never before imagined, which starts to give her a negative perspective on her very humble, poor home life as she finally begins to realize and understand just how much she doesn't have.

"Queen of Katwe" is a breath of fresh air when it comes to sports films. This is a fantastic, extremely moving film that is both heartfelt and heartbreaking at the same time. The acting is nothing short of incredible. Lupita Nyong'o has become a favorite of ours since she burst on the acting scene, and she delivers a brilliant performance as Phiona's strong but stubborn mother Nakku, struggling to maintain her independence and give her kids the best life possible. Nakku has some understandable apprehension about her daughter learning chess, as well as the sacrifices that must be made in order for her to do it. She wears her emotions on her face and does a superb job conveying them. David Oyelowo is equally as impressive in his own right as a man who has risen up in life from a very poor, tragic beginning to being the top of his graduating class, to being someone who gave up financial success in order to help the less fortunate. The true standout of "Queen of Katwe" is, of course, Madina Nalwanga in her feature film debut. This being her first movie, we are absolutely blown away by her commanding, endearing, passionate performance. Nalwanga acts alongside the likes of Oscar winner Nyong'o and Golden Globe nominee Oyelowo as if it's second nature to her. We cannot wait to see if she continues her acting career beyond this movie.

At its core, "Queen of Katwe" might seem like just another inspirational sports movie with an underdog formula, only it's much more than this. It offers a firsthand look at what it's like to come from nothing and be exposed to everything, but in a subtle, unglamorous, non-grandiose way like Disney's other offerings, including the ham-fisted "Million Dollar Arm." Its very honest portrayal of life in the slum of Uganda that emphasizes the reality of Phiona's situation, giving it a unique perspective which sets it apart from all of the thousands of other movies that follow a similar formula. This movie sent us on a roller coaster of emotions, making us laugh, cry, and cheer all within the span of over 2 hours. It manages to be both sentimental and powerful, an incredible film to show the young daughters of the world with a strong female protagonist who overcomes great odds to do what she loves. This is a magnificent, must see film that didn't get enough recognition and didn't make enough money at the box offices.

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My Rating: 8.5/10
BigJ's Rating: 8/10
IMDB's Rating: 7.2/10
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 91%
Do we recommend this movie: Yes!

Movie Review: "Warrior" (2011)

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Movie: "Warrior"
Director: Gavin O'Connor
Year: 2011
Rating: PG-13
Running Time: 2 hours, 20 minutes

A school teacher who is upside-down on his mortgage returns to MMA to make money. He joins a 16 man tournament with a seven-figure prize for the last man standing. Meanwhile, his estranged Marine brother enters the same tournament hoping to win the money himself. 

"Warrior" is directed by Gavin O'Connor, who also wrote the film along with Cliff Dorfman and Anthony Tambakis. It stars Joel Edgerton and Tom Hardy as estranged brothers Brendan and Tommy Conlon, and Nick Nolte as their alcoholic father Paddy. Brendan is a high school math teacher, but is in serious financial trouble after the housing market crash, so much so that he is now upside-down on his mortgage. Desperate, he will do whatever it takes to make sure his family keeps their roof over their heads. Tommy is a Marine who has recently lost a large portion of his unit, including his best friend, who were all killed in action. Tommy is a very angry man who harbors a lot of resentment towards his father and brother due to past conflicts. Brendan also has issues with his dad due to his alcoholic past. Both men enter a 16 man mixed martial arts tournament with a multi-million dollar purse. Brendan is a former UFC journeyman who is a bit past his prime and is coming out of retirement, and Tommy is a former wrestling prodigy with devastating power and a natural athleticism. Brendan needs the money for his family, Tommy wants the money for his best friend's widow.

Some may read the description for "Warrior" and write it off as just another dramatic sports movie, but nothing could be further from the truth. As huge fans of MMA, we love this movie as it is one of the best current portrayals of MMA film. It still doesn't give a 100% accurate portrayal of the sport entirely, but it's the closest we've ever seen. As movie fans, we very much enjoy the acting and the conflicted family dynamic found here. Nick Nolte does an astounding job as a recovering alcoholic trying to make amends for his abusive past. He even received a much deserved Oscar nomination for best supporting actor, though he didn't win the statue. Tom Hardy gives a gripping, masterful portrayal of a son jaded by life and his mom and dad's divorce. We really believe him as a naturally gifted fighter and he sure as hell looks the part. Edgerton is equally stellar as a loving husband and father who will do anything for his family. He is a fighter who may have more heart than talent, which truly is the case sometimes in the fighting game.

There is a ton of palpable excitement in the MMA fighting sequences as Brendan is a regular comeback kid and Tommy is a human steamroller. The film showcases a wide variety of competitive submission moves, as well as plenty of knockout action. All of these scenes are expertly choreographed. It gets all the more exciting as the competition progresses and as we come to the realization that these two estranged brothers may have to fight one another at the end of the tournament. As their fights get tougher, so too do their internal struggles and their fight for acceptance and forgiveness from those they initially shunned.

"Warrior" is one of the best sports movies in recent memory. The story is a very human, compelling one and it'd be hard not to relate to the characters and their struggles in some small way. It has many engaging moments of drama from these strained family relationships, and a lot of MMA action from the sports aspect of the story. This is a wonderful, nearly flawless film and is one we highly recommend, even if you think it's not something that will interest you.

My Rating: 9/10
BigJ's Rating: 8.5/10
IMDB's Rating: 8.2/10
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 82%
Do we recommend this movie: ABSOLUTELY YES!!!