John Wick- Chapter Three: Parabellum

   

 If the name John Wick means nothing to you, skip this review. Otherwise, know that Keanu Reeves is back in the third chapter of what will surely continue for some time. If a ballet of ultra violence featuring guns, knives, swords and incredible martial arts is your thing, you will be right in your wheelhouse for two hours of mayhem.

     Wick is becoming a defining role for Mr. Reeves. A man of few words, he lets his fighting skills speak for him. The film picks up right from the end of “chapter two” and the action barely stops. John Wick has a $14 million bounty on his head for breaking the rules of the mysterious organization he works for and every criminal world wide is after him.

      There are incredible set pieces of action that are just amazing. I can’t even begin to describe the knife fight, the motorcycle chase with Wick on horseback, the library fight...the second motorcycle chase, the gun battle in Morocco...the list just goes on and on until a terrific climatic fight sequence.

       Along for the ride as friends and foes are Laurence Fishburne, Ian McShane, Lance Reddick, Halle Berry, Asia Kate Dillon, Anjelica Houston and Marc Dacascos. Add a long list of stunt people that deserve to be acknowledged in the credits.

       And for those who worry about the three dogs in the film, I must include this spoiler alert, they all survive unlike most of the humans.

Rocketman

           Elton John's life story comes to the screen billed as a rock and roll fantasy. What sets it apart from other musical biographies is the fantasy element that adds another layer to what is otherwise a straight forward narrative. Credit goes to Mr. Lee Hall for a very creative script.

            Most of Mr. John's hit songs are represented in wonderful musical numbers throughout the drama, elevating (literally at one point) the story to another level. Directing the story with  great flair is Dexter Fletcher who also handles the emotional core with a deft touch.

              Portraying a musical icon like Elton John is not an easy task but actor Taron Egerton is more than up to the task. He is simply brilliant, doing his own singing and dancing as well. It is truly a great performance that I hope will be remembered during award season. The film also stars Jamie Bell as Mr. John's lifelong friend and writing partner, Bernie Taupin. Mr. Taupin has written all the words to Mr. John's music and the lyrics are never more honest and true than the way the songs are used in the film.

             Co-starring are Richard Madden as John Reid, Elton's long time manager, Bryce Dallas Howard as his mother, Sheila, Stephen Graham as Dick James, his first manager, and Tate Donovan as Doug Weston, owner of "The Troubadour", the famous L.A. rock club where Elton John first performed in America. Kit Conner and Matthew Illesley play younger versions of Elton in his early years.

              The acting is wonderful, the music is fantastic, the story is emotional and, at times, outrageous, and it all makes for a thoroughly enjoyable film. "Rocketman" soars...

Booksmart

         Twelve years after "Superbad" comes the female equivalent with a fresh perspective. Rather than the nerdy boys of "Superbad", looking to party and have sex, we now have the super smart best friends, Amy and Molly, played respectively by Kaitlyn Dever and Beanie Feldstein.  Both girls have always played by the rules preparing for college throughout high school and on the night before graduation, they decide it's time to break all their rules and just have one crazy night before everything changes.

          First time director, actress Olivia Wilde handles her cast and story with a confident hand and eye. The film is a fast paced, fresh take on the high school coming of age story that still has plenty of raunchy comedy and yet is very heartfelt and genuine. Ms. Dever and Ms. Feldstein are terrific together with great chemistry and while the rest of the cast may come off as stereotypical characters, they too, will surprise you. One wonderfully original character is Gigi, played by a terrific Billie Lourd.

          The film has a great soundtrack that compliments the story and helps keep the pace frenetic. Of course nothing goes as planned and the girls have some very original adventures before reaching the ultimate pre-graduation night party. Humorous situations and dialog run throughout, including some very funny cameo bits by Jason Sudeikis, Lisa Kudrow and Will Forte.

            "Booksmart" will win you over with its humor and heart.

Long Shot

             Charlize Theron and Seth Rogan star in this Rom-Com that gives hope to geek boys everywhere. Mr. Rogan plays Fred Flarsky, a journalist hired by his ex-babysitter, Ms. Theron, now the Secretary of State. When she decides to run for president, Fred becomes her speech writer. And while the pairing is odd, an unlikely romance develops between the two.

                You can't imagine the plot working but the chemistry of the two stars is so good, it actually becomes believable.  Very crass dialog runs throughout but it is also a smart comedy with lots of great laugh out loud moments. There is also a key scene that I just can't describe but you will know it when you see it and probably not forget it for some time.

                 The film costars Bob Odenkirk, O'Shea Jackson Jr., Andy Serkis (unrecognizable but always good), June Diane Raphael, and Alexander Skarsgard. Mr. Odenkirk plays the clueless President, Mr. Jackson Jr. is Fred's best friend and Mr. Serkis is a wealthy, despicable media mogul who has the President in his pocket. Ms. Raphael is the Secretary's assistant who can't stand Fred and tries to undermine him at every turn.

                  Mr. Rogan and Ms. Theron are an unlikely duo to star in a Rom-Com but the script turns the genre on it's head and elevates it beyond what you might typically expect.

Her Smell

       Written and directed by Alex Ross Perry, the film stars Elizabeth Moss as Becky Something, the leader of a female punk rock band,  "Something She". Becky is a wild, out of control rock star on a serious downward spiral. Ms. Moss is brilliant in a role unlike anything she has ever done.

         Her bass player, Marielle, played by Agyness Deyn, and drummer Ali, played by Gayle Rankin, love and support her but both are reaching their breaking points, dealing with her attitude and outrageous behavior. The three women have terrific chemistry but the film clearly belongs to Ms. Moss. Also featured are Eric Stoltz, as Howard, the long suffering manager, Dan Stevens as her husband, Danny, trying to raise their daughter amidst Becky's madness, Virginia Madsen as Becky's mother and Amber Heard as Zelda, a rival singer. 

           The film is presented in five segments representing different point in Becky's life with the band. A pivotal moment is when Howard signs a new girl band played by Cara Delevingne, Ashley Benson, and Dylan Gelula. Feeling threatened at first, Becky lashes out but then tries acceptance using them to back her up on new songs that never really materialize. 

           The plot is fairly simple, following Becky's descent until she hits rock bottom and then possibly redemption.  Ms. Moss gives such a powerful  and brave performance, I hope she is remembered at award season.

Avengers:Endgame

                  If you've been following the Marvel film universe since the first Iron Man film, jumped aboard after the first Avengers film, or started with "Infinity War", then you've been waiting for "Endgame" for some time now and your wait is gloriously rewarded. 

                  "Endgame" features all your Marvel favorites (well at least half of them, wink wink) returning for a final gambit against Thanos in order to restore order to the universe. Robert Downey Jr. brings a new level of emotion and spark to Tony Stark in a terrific performance. Chris Hemsworth is quite funny as a Thor who has lost his way. Everyone, in fact, ups their game for the final showdown.

                   As far as I'm concerned, the real heroes of this saga are the screenwriters, Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely, who have created a story filled with laughs, tears, suspense, plenty of action and unexpected surprises.  They manage to juggle so many characters and complex story lines into a film that gives everyone their "moment" and due to the fantastic direction of Anthony and Joe Russo, make it believable and easy to follow.

                   Unlike "Infinity War", which was just about all action sequences with little time to breathe, "Endgame" (at three hours) takes it's time to set the plot in motion with wonderful moments that I will not reveal but still brings the action when necessary.

                    I could quibble about the fate of one character that bothered me (and not who you might think) but in all, if these kinds of films are your thing, "Endgame" is nearly perfect, closing out this incredible saga in a deeply moving way.

Hotel Mumbai

        Based on the true story of the 12 terrorist attacks in Mumbai India on November 26th, 2008, this harrowing drama centers on the attack at the Taj Mahal Palace hotel. Directed with incredible realism by Anthony Maras, the audience is thrust directly into the bedlam of what amounts to a massacre at the hotel. 

         The handful of terrorists make their way into the hotel in a mob of scared people seeking safety from the other attacks around the city. Once inside, they methodically go through the hotel killing everyone they see without a second thought. It is brutally realistic and almost unwatchable.

          Head chef, Hemant Oberoi, played by Anupam Kher, staff member Arjun, played by Dev Patel along with other hotel staff try their best to hide many of the hotel's guests, including real characters played by Jason Isaacs, Armie Hammer, Nazanin Boniadi and Tilda Cobham-Hervey. 

                The fear is palatable and the suspense is non-stop as everyone is a target. The violence is chilling but the story is real and the survivors and the people that helped them need to be acknowledged. In the middle of this madness, heroes do emerge, not in a Hollywood way but rather as real human beings trapped in a life and death nightmare.

                 Just as the events of 9/11 in the United States reverberated throughout the world, this coordinated attack in Mumbai is considered by many to be the Indian equivalent. Of course, while the death toll could not compare, it was still a tragedy of grand proportions carried out by just 10 men that brought a city and a country to its knees.

                  While it is almost unbearable to watch, it's an important story to tell and it pays tribute to  both the fallen and those who survived.

US

             Is Jordan Peele the new M. Night Shyamalan?  After a terrific debut with "Get Out", Mr. Peele's sophomore effort, "Us", despite much promise at the beginning, falls apart in the last act much like many of Mr. Shyamalan's films.

              With a creepy prologue that sets up an interesting premise, the film settles into a standard horror story setup. The initial moments of terror are genuinely unsettling, if not downright scary but it doesn't take long for the unnerved feeling you've gotten turns to disbelief at the ridiculous explanation for what's happening. There are some twists and turns, one in particular, that try to keep things interesting but  the film really loses any credibility as it moves into the final act.

                Mr. Peele wrote, produced and directed the film. As a director, he does a masterful job. The film is well paced, his actors are terrific (more on that in a moment), his camera work is interesting and both lighting and music blend together for great effect. Mr. Peele does an admirable job balancing the suspense with comic relief.  His downfall is the script. His lofty idea turns ridiculous as the film goes on.

                 The film stars Lupita Nyong'o and Winston Duke as a married couple on vacation with their kids played by Shahadi Wright Joseph and Evan Alex. Their friends are played by Elisabeth Moss and Tim Heidecker. Ms. Nyong'o is brilliant in a double role as is Ms. Wright Joseph as her daughter and Mr. Alex as her son, also in double roles. Mr. Duke provides some comic relief even as he is trying to protect his family.

                  Every aspect of the film works so well except the failure of the script to finish the job it so beautifully sets up in the first place. Mr. Peele continues to show great promise as a director. Let's just hope he doesn't fall into the Shyamalan trap as a writer.

Captain Marvel

                     The latest entry in the Marvel film universe can be fun for the casual viewer but essential viewing for fans of all the Marvel films and in particular, "Avengers: Infinity War" which left a Captain Marvel clue at the end.

                      There is an inherent problem with origin films and this one falls into the same trap making it fun but flawed. By twisting the origin into memory loss for our heroine, played by Brie Larson, the plot can be confusing. Fans of the comic will appreciate the use of the Skrull-Kree Wars as a story line but the casual viewer may still find themselves lost in the story.

                       What does work is Ms. Larson's performance (which may be unfairly compared to Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman, who is a very different kind of character).  In a world of male superheroes, Captain Marvel will make a great role model for young girls looking for their own superhero to emulate.  Another big positive is the chemistry between Ms. Larson and Samuel L. Jackson, reprising his role as Nick Fury. 

                        Since the film takes place in the '90's, Mr. Jackson, along with Clark Gregg (as Phil Coulson) are both made younger by post production CGI. The effect works better for Mr. Jackson. Mr. Gregg looks downright creepy. The rest of the CGI effects are typical for this kind of film, so no surprise there. There are plenty of action sequences but also too many dead moments.

                         Ben Mendelsohn plays the leader of the Skulls and while he is a terrific actor, his dialogue for an alien is pretty ridiculous. Lashanna Lynch plays Maria, an air force pilot and Marvel's best friend. She gets to shine in her own action sequence. Two strange casting choices are Annette Bening as both an earth scientist and the Kree Supreme Intelligence and Jude Law as Marvel's Kree mentor. Both are out of their element in this live action comic book fantasy.

                           Using the film to set up "Avengers: Endgame" forces the writers to inject many elements for Marvel universe continuity. I won't give them away but if you are familar with these films, you'll know them when you see them.  Fans should also stay past the credits for, what has become the norm, the extra scenes. One used for comedic effect and the other important for "endgame".

The Mustang

               Cliched yet deeply moving none the less,  this is a beautiful film about the transformational power of love between man and animal. While it tugs at your heartstrings, there is a great deal of sadness as well so be prepared to be emotionally drained by the end.

              Matthias Schoenaerts (best know for "Rust & Bone") stars as Roman Coleman, a prisoner in an Arizona state penitentiary. Roman is full of pent up anger and rage with no outlet. As he tells the prison therapist, played by Connie Britton, "I'm no good around people". When he is assigned yard work, he inadvertently is chosen for a horse rehabilitation program run by a horse trainer named Myles, played by Bruce Dern.

             Of course Roman ends up fascinated by the meanest, wildest mustang in the group, and while they get off to a terrible start (a hard scene to watch), eventually man and horse bond with mutual love and respect. Roman becomes a better man for the experience. It enables him to begin to repair the relationship with his estranged daughter, Martha, played by Gideon Adlon. 

             Jason Mitchell also co-stars as Henry, another convict already good with horses, who helps Roman learn the ropes (literally and figuratively). Mr. Mitchell is a natural cowboy and does excellent work here. The film however, belongs to Mr. Schoenaerts. He is absolutely remarkable. His scenes with his horse, both violent and eventually loving are both difficult and beautiful to watch. The scene where he finally finds the words to express himself to Martha is just incredible. This is an award worthy performance by a wonderful actor that elevates the film beyond cliche.

            The horse rehabilitation program is a real program currently running in many western states. The film points out that there are still thousands of wild horses roaming the west and the program serves two successful purposes for both convict and horse.

The Invisibles

      During World War II, 7000 German Jews remained in Berlin and went into hiding to escape capture by the Nazis and their Gestapo agents. By the end of the war, only 1,500 had survived. This docudrama, written and directed by Clause Rafle, focuses on the personal stories of four Jewish teenagers . It interweaves personal interviews, dramatic reenactment, archival footage, and narration to bring their story to life. It is in German with English sub-titles.

      Interviews with Cioma Schonhaus, Hanni Levy, Ruth Arndt-Gumpel and Eugen Friede were conducted in 2009 and hearing them tell their stories and watching the reenactments is incredibly emotional, even if you are not of the Jewish faith. After conducting the interviews, Mr. Rafle set about to create the film around their experiences. While they did not know each other at the time, the nightmare they endured was a common bond shared by every Jewish person in hiding at the time. The film is also a tribute to the many non-Jewish German citizens who opposed the war and helped hide these people, risking their own lives to do so.

                While danger lurks everywhere and there are many tense moments and close calls, the fact that the four protagonists survived, creates a certain lack of suspense. However, this is not a work of fiction and the story is not to entertain but rather to educate and understand that this should never happen again...and yet, unfortunately, it does continue to this day in many parts of the world.

Everybody Knows

        Written and directed by  Asghar Farhadi ("A Separation", "The Salesman"), this new drama stars Penelope Cruz, Javier Bardem, and Ricardo Darin. It takes place in a small town outside Madrid. Working for the first time outside his native Iran and with a Spanish speaking cast, Mr. Farhadi explores his  familar themes in a new setting.

          Ms. Cruz stars as Laura, a woman living in Argentina, who travels back to her home town with her two children to attend the wedding of her younger sister. Unexpected events reveal old secrets that impact Laura, her family and friends.

            I wouldn't call the film suspenseful but more of a tense mystery. Mr. Farhadi is more interested in using the turn of the plot as a device to explore his themes of class and family dynamic rather than turn the film in a different direction to create a typical thriller.

            The acting is first rate and the film is beautifully shot in a lovely Spanish setting. The story itself gets overly complicated involving too many characters but eventually does come to a resolution that leaves broken lives in it's wake. 

Cold Pursuit

   It's February and traditionally time for a Liam Neeson "action" film. But before you roll your eyes and say "again", this one sneaks up on you and is not what you usually have come to expect.

    Based on a 2014 Norwegian film, "In Order of Disappearance", the original director, Hans Petter Moland, directs this American version with the same action and dark humor that made that film so much fun.

    While Mr. Neeson does set out for revenge once again, this time, he unknowingly sets off a drug turf war and the high body count isn't all his fault. The film is set in the winter in a small ski town outside Denver. Mr. Neeson is a snowplow driver and model citizen. Of course things begin to go off the rails and it isn't long before bodies start piling up. To give away more would ruin the fun.

            The film co-stars Laura Dern, who is wasted in a small "blink and you miss it" role as Mr. Neeson's wife. Also co-starring are Emmy Rossum, Tom Bateman, William Forsythe, Domenick Lombardozzi and John Doman. And I must also credit Mr. Neeson's snowplow, which is a character unto itself.

            The film moves at a leisurely pace but has enough dark humor between killings to keep you involved. The action sequences are plentiful and spread evenly throughout the film. The snowy mountain locations make for a beautiful backdrop for a film with its share of bloody violence.

Hush

"Hush"

       A short film, you can find on Vimeo, written and directed by Joseph McGovern.

       "Hush" tells the story of an obsession taken to it's extreme, done without dialogue. The acting is a bit exaggerated to make up for the lack of dialog but the story flows well.

        The music really helps create the mood and propel the story forward. The cuts between reality and fantasy are important and work very well to convey the obsession.

        While the climax of the film is deliberately shocking but necessary, the aftermath should have had a stronger response by the actors. There is a nice little twist though that I thought added a new element to familar themes.

          The short film is not hardcore but definitely for mature audiences only.

         

Starting Over Again

    You can find this short film on Vimeo. It's written and directed by Joseph McGovern.

     It tells the story of Greg, a guitarist in his younger days who has lost his passion for playing. He goes to a cafe night after night listening to amateur performers on open mike night and eventually finds his mojo to play again.

      As a short film, the concept works well. The various cast members do a good job with the material and I enjoyed the spoken word pieces and the song at the end.

       The camera work is well done but some of the editing is cut too quick and the flashbacks  don't quite convey why Greg lost his passion in the first place. But as a short, the story works and Greg is an engaging personality and musician. 

They Shall Not Grow Old

      Peter Jackson produced and directed this amazing documentary about World War One.  Combing through a hundred hours of original film footage stored in the Imperial War Museum in London, Mr. Jackson and his team narrowed it down to two hours, restored visuals, added sound and colorization.

       It is truly a riveting experience that brings the war to life in a completely new way. The film is narrated by the actual voices of surviving veterans from the war that was recorded in the 1960's. Using the stories of these men, Mr. Jackson is able to create a flowing narrative that is just fascinating to watch and hear. Be warned, however, that the film does contain some horrific images.

      Mr. Jackson introduces the film at the start and tells us that should we be interested, at the conclusion,  there is a thirty minute "behind the scenes" of how the documentary was put together. It is definitely worth the extra time to watch true movie magic being made.

Cold War

             Co-written and directed by Pawel Pawlikoski, this is a story of obsessive and destructive love set in Poland and France during the years of 1949 to 1964. It is the period known today as the Cold War and musicians Wiktor and Zula , who meet and fall madly in love, struggle for a life together, in a world torn by political unrest between Eastern and Western Europe.

             As the years pass and always unable to really be together, Wiktor and Zula's lives continually cross and their obsessive love for each other always remains. Joanna Kulig plays Zula and Tomasz Kot plays Wiktor. They are excellent together with great chemistry but I found their characters lacking and I couldn't form an emotional attachment to them.

             There is a great deal of music in the film and the songs and score are wonderful. The film is also shot in black and white which really brings great depth to the cinematography. Mr. Pawlikoski has a great eye for the period and the historical details. 

             The film is nominated in the foreign film category at this year's Oscars and there are many good things about it. I just didn't find it as wonderful as many other critics.

Glass

     Strictly for fans of M. Night Shyamalan and his previous films, "Unbreakable" and "Split". Anyone else should stay far, far away. And even the few fans Mr. Shyamalan has left will be disappointed by this weak attempt to create a trilogy out of two films that really had nothing to do with each other.

     By tacking on an ending to "Split", featuring Bruce Willis as the David Dunn character from "Unbreakable", Mr. Shyamalan builds a shaky bridge to "Glass", giving a reason for his three main characters to come together for a big finale. Besides, Mr. Willis recreating his role, James McAvoy returns as Kevin Wendell Crumb, the man with multiple personalities, and Samuel L. Jackson returns as Mr. Glass, the brittle boned villain from "Unbreakable". Also returning from the previous films are Anya Taylor-Joy, Spencer Treat Clark, and Charlayne Woodard. Sarah Paulson joins the cast as a psychologist who ends up treating all three major characters.

           Mr. Shyamalan weakly links his characters together with a highly ambitious storyline that collapses in the final act with a disappointing finale. He does however, create an opportunity for another film to further explore the concepts he introduces here.

            The only real value is Mr. McAvoy, who is amazing to watch as he slips in and out of his multiple personalities. Mr. Jackson spends most of the film seemingly tranquilized and he plays it well. Mr. Willis is restrained to the point you imagine he prefer to be anywhere else besides back in his character. 

             Now that Mr. Shyamalan has gotten this "trilogy" out of his system, maybe can concentrate on returning to the form of his earlier work but for now, his "glass" is empty.

the upside

         Based on the French film, "The Untouchables", which itself is based on a true story, this American remake is an unlikely "buddy" story. It tells the story of Phillip LaCasse, a Quadriplegic billionaire, played by Bryan Cranston and his caretaker, Dell Scott, an ex-convict, played by Kevin Hart.

         Phillip's administrative assistant, Yvonne,  is played by Nicole Kidman ( who was probably looking for something lighter after her amazing drama, "Destroyer"). When he rejects all the applicants Yvonne brings him, Dell wins the job when he accidently interviews and Phillip finds him funny and intriguing. 

        The film is a drama but with many comedic moments provided by Mr. Hart. He also does a capable job with the dramatic scenes involving his ex-wife and son. The chemistry between Mr. Cranston and Mr. Hart is terrific and I can only imagine the hilarious outtakes that must exist somewhere. Ms. Kidman is a strange choice for Yvonne but she is a good comedic foil for Mr. Hart.

       While there has been some criticism of Mr. Cranston taking the part of a quadriplegic, his expressive ability with just his head and voice remind you of his excellent acting and how he makes the role his own. The film is predictable but still enjoyable to watch as an unlikely friendship develops between these two opposites. It's a nice "feel good" movie to start the year.

Destroyer

      Nicole Kidman is mesmerizing as a troubled L.A. detective investigating a murder that opens up wounds from an old undercover assignment. Directed by Karyn Kusama, the film is uncompromising in it's grim portrayal of Ms. Kidman's journey through the underbelly of Los Angeles. 

      Ms. Kidman, herself, dives deep into the role of Erin Bell in a level of work that we've never seen before from the talented actress. She loses herself in a character so flawed and unlikable that it makes watching her almost unbearable but at the same time, you can't take your eyes off her. The film jumps back and forth in time to her earlier undercover work and the present, slowly revealing to the audience the events that lead to the changes in Ms. Kidman's character. 

      The film co-stars Sebastian Stan as Erin's undercover partner, Chris, as well as Toby Kebbell, Bradley Whitford, Tatiana Maslany, and Scoot McNairy. Very well cast, it is Ms. Kidman, on screen in almost every scene, that drives the narrative. This is a dark and surprising film on many levels. It is certainly not light entertainment but it is a chance to watch an actress doing her best work, spiraling out of control in this nasty (in a good way) crime drama.