Begin Again

    Mark Ruffalo and Keira Knightley star in this charming comedy/drama from the folks that brought us the film, "Once". An unconventional love story filled with terrific music, this is a film that goes down smooth on a summer night (which is what you can say about "Once" as well).

     The film co-stars Adam Levine, Hailee Steinfeld, Catherine Keener, Cee Lo Green, and Yaslin Bey (formerly known as Mos Def). Ms. Keener is Mr. Ruffalo's ex-wife and Ms. Steinfeld plays their teenage daughter. Mr. Bey, together with Mr. Ruffalo own Distressed Records. 

      Distressed is appropriate for Mr. Ruffalo as when the film starts he is very much down on his luck until he meets Ms. Knightley singing in a bar. She is a struggling songwriter and Mr. Ruffalo becomes inspired by her and decides to produce her first album. I won't spoil Mr. Levine's role but suffice to say, he does get to sing quite a bit (as does Ms. Knightley) and the original songs for the film make an excellent soundtrack.

      The editing at the beginning uses flashbacks in a clever way to introduce the characters. Director John Carney (who also wrote the screenplay) then takes the film to the streets of New York in an unusual way and the city itself becomes a character. There are equal parts drama and comedy but everything stays lighthearted and enjoyable.

Boyhood

    Written and directed by Richard Linklater, "Boyhood" is a remarkable achievement in so many ways. The film focuses on Mason, a 6 year old boy living an ordinary life and was shot in sections over a 12 year period. We watch Mason, his actor parents, played by Ethan Hawke and Patricia Arquette and everyone else in the film age naturally over the course of 12 years.

    The screenplay was written as the film was shot to match each time period so all the dialog and references are authentic to the appropriate year. The editing is flawless and you get the sense you are watching a 12 year documentary rather than a scripted story. The film itself runs almost three hours and captures moments big and small in Mason's life. There is nothing in the story that is sensational or manipulative. Everything is rather ordinary but the screenplay focuses on the little details that make even an ordinary life, extraordinary.

     When the film starts Mr. Hawke and Ms. Arquette are divorced and Mason and his sister (Played by Lorelei Linklater, the director's daughter) live with their mother. Mr. Hawke gets the kids every other weekend. Characters come and go and more importantly grow in many ways as the film progresses. 

      Ellar Coltrane plays Mason and being privy to the intimacy of his life from 6 to 18 is fascinating. Yes, the film is scripted but Mr. Coltrane and the rest of the cast are so natural, you feel like a voyeur in his life and once the film ends, you will find yourself wishing for a sequel. What happens next is left to the imagination but credit Mr. Linklater for stimulating us and looking at life through his lens in a new and captivating way.

A Most Wanted Man

  From the novel by John LeCarre, this is Phillip Seymour Hoffman's last completed film.  As with all of Mr. LeCarre's spy novels, this story is more about intelligence than gunfights and chase scenes. It is a slow, intriguing story with a meticulous performance by Mr. Hoffman. 

    Mr. Hoffman plays Gunter Bachmann, a German counter-terrorist agent leading a rogue task force in Hamburg. For his final performance, Mr. Hoffman's character is overweight, drinks and smokes too much and has pasty white skin behind a glimmer of intelligent eyes. Physically, he's a wreck but his performance still shows what a great actor he was.

   The film co-stars Rachel McAdams as a civil rights lawyer protecting a major character, Willem Dafoe as a banker brokering an important transaction and Robin Wright as a U.S. diplomat with her own agenda. The cast is very good but on film, the story comes off rather dull. We follow the players and we follow the money but the film never rises above a slow burn.

    Espionage films without much action depend on twists and turns and a complex puzzle for the audience to solve if you intend on keeping them involved. This plot is not that complicated and almost disappointingly easy to follow. While it does have one or two twists, it's really not enough to satisfy fans of this genre.

Sex Tape

     Cameron Diaz has sunk to a new low starring with Jason Segel in this raunchy but boring comedy. The subject is appropriate for the times. What if you made an amateur sex tape for your own enjoyment but it leaked onto the internet and you tried to retrieve it? The antics of this married couple to get back the video are meant to be funny but the script fails horribly.

      Aside from the sex tape itself ( of which we see "R" rated bits and pieces)' there is little action. The film is all exposition and terrible dialogue. There is only one mildly amusing sequence at the home of Ms. Diaz's boss, played by Rob Lowe. It starts out creepy, gets stranger and stranger but the weirder it gets, the funnier it somehow becomes.  Pay close attention to all the paintings. The laughs during this sequence involving Mr. Segel come at the expense of simulated violence to a German Shepard which I only enjoyed because Mr. Segel is on the losing end of the encounter.

         The film had promise...a good cast and an interesting premise. It's a shame it falls apart quickly and never really recovers. Even a cameo by a particular comedic actor late in the film can't save it.

          Life should have imitated art. Someone should have deleted the film before it showed up in theaters.

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes

       What a pleasant surprise. I wasn't expecting much as far as a sequel to a reboot of a beloved classic but "Dawn" is actually a better film than the first. It's a smart script with lots of emotion. The special effects are absolutely breathtaking and the motion capture work is brilliant.

         Andy Serkis breathes 100% life into Caesar, the ape leader. The film goes out of its way to show extreme close ups of Caesar as if showing off just what the technology can do. Jason Clarke, Keri Russell and Gary Oldman are the human stars in the film. They end up in conflict with the apes when they want to restart electrical power at a dam in the ape's territory.

           There are some good action sequences throughout and as I mentioned, the film actually packs an emotional punch. This is a film that deserves to be seen on a big screen. My biggest criticism is that it runs too long. It could have been better edited. Losing fifteen minutes or so would have kept things tighter and possibly more exciting.

          With technology advancing with every film, they can keep sequels coming for years although sooner or later the ape/human conflict has to end with the apes winning. After all, it isn't called Planet of the Apes for nothing.

Wish I Was Here

     Zach Braff follows up "Garden State" with this new film that could be described as a "Garden State" for adults. He tackles lots of themes, some better than others but his script is at its core is filled with stereotyped characters and situations that try too hard to be funny in a depressing drama.

      We learn early that a major character is dying, which is important to the story but the impending death casts a pall over the rest of the film. Mr. Braff's character is struggling with family, his job, and his relationship with his father and brother to the point of exhaustion. He has the loving supportive wife, played well by Kate Hudson and the requisite precocious little boy and more mature than her years, teenager daughter played wonderfully by Joey King.  His slacker brother is played by Josh Gadd, a good actor in a typical role and Mandy Patinkin is perfect as Mr. Braff's judgmental father.

        Mr. Braff stars, directs and has co-written the script with his brother. It is obviously a personal film for him and it's his direction that stands out. He does an admirable job getting the best out of his cast.  Ms. King, in particular excels here and is the best thing about the film. She has been steadily building up her resume in a slew of films, usually playing someone's daughter and is definitely a young actress on the rise. As with his previous film, Mr. Braff also makes excellent choices for the music in the background.

          There are some fresh settings for the story which helps mask the "I've seen this before" feeling but the ambition of the script ultimately disappoints. And, after suffering along with the characters, the audience is treated to a feel good ending that ties everything up neatly so you can leave the theater feeling better. So, at least, thank you for that, Mr. Braff.

Life Itself

 A new documentary from "Hoop Dreams" director, Steve James that examines the life and unfortunately, the death of film critic, Roger Ebert. The film is based on Mr. Ebert's book of the same title and it follows him from his early days at college writing for the school paper until his untimely death from cancer.

    It is an unflinching portrait of Mr. Ebert, the man and the critic and whether or not you agreed with his reviews, you still had to admire him for (along with fellow critic Gene Siskel) for making film criticism accessible to mainstream America. It was Mr. Ebert and Mr. Siskel who brought the world "Two Thumbs Up" when they would agree on a review. Many would argue that Mr. Siskel was the better critic and probably deserves a documentary of his own someday but it's Mr. Ebert who reminds us that he has won a Pulitzer Prize and is a critic of the people.

    The film balances flashbacks, film clips and interviews evenly to represent Mr. Ebert's contribution to film and more importantly to his family and the world. We see scenes from some of his favorite films and great clips from the TV show Mr. Ebert shared with Mr. Siskel for so many years. We learn that he married at age 50 to an African American woman named Chaz and that they had a wonderful marriage for 19 years. Many of scenes with Mrs. Ebert  after her husband's cancer diagnosis and subsequent deterioration are so raw and honest that they are hard to watch. However, it is Mr. Ebert love of life and fighting determination right to the end that you will remember and admire.

Obvious Child

   Comedian and actor Jenny Slate steps into the spotlight starring in this new comedy and she shines brightly. Her character, Donna Stern works in a bookstore during the day and does stand-up comedy at night. When her boyfriend dumps her,  Donna's life begins to take unexpected turns.

    Sometimes laugh out loud funny and sometimes heartbreaking, the film is always honest, and it is Ms. Slate that drives the raw comedy and emotions of the film.  Director Gillian Robespierre also wrote the screenplay and directing from her own material really helps keep the story grounded and brings out the natural performances from her cast.

     The film co-stars Gabby Hoffman as Donna's best friend, and Polly Draper and Richard Kind as her parents. But the film completely belongs to Ms. Slate who balances vulnerability and strength in an uncompromising performance. 

Snowpiercer

         Forget the latest installment of that noisy, repetitive Hollywood robot movie and treat yourself to an incredibly original science fiction film that you will label an instant classic. Famed Korean director Bong Joon-ho (The Host) makes his English language debut with this exciting, funny and smart sci-fi adventure.

          In the near future mankind attempts to stop global warming but instead sends the earth into a deep freeze that wipes out the majority of the planet. Survivors circle the globe on a high speed train called "Snowpiercer" where the poor are forced to live in squalor at the tail end and the rich live in the luxurious front end. Seeking better living conditions and equality for all, a plot is hatched by a rebellious lower class to break through the train and take over the engine. Sounds like a simple enough plot but this is no ordinary train and Mr. Joon-ho is no ordinary director.

         As the rebels move deeper through the train, the film gets weirder and weirder with each train car, a one of a kind set piece. The visuals are amazing and the action scenes are made even more exciting by the claustrophobic nature of the train. Mr. Joon-ho balances scenes of extreme violence with scenes of beauty and humor throughout the film.

          Chris Evans (fresh from playing Captain America) plays Curtis, the reluctant anti-hero of the rebellion. Jamie Bell plays his sidekick, Edgar. John Hurt is Gillam, the wise old mentor and Korean superstar Song Kang-ho is Namgoong Minsu, a mysterious character needed by the rebels and Ko A-sung is his daughter Yona. Octavia Spencer and Allison Pill are also aboard in very original roles. There is also a surprise cameo by a very recognizable dramatic American actor that I won't spoil and completing the great casting is the remarkable, unrecognizable Tida Swinton as Minister Mason, who provides much of the film's humor.

            Without the big bucks of Hollywood to promote this film, you won't find it playing multiple times a day in multiplexes but search for it while it's still on the big screen and you will be rewarded with the summer's most original and fun film so far.

We Are The Best!

   A new Indie film from Swedish director Lukas Moodysson, captures youthful rebellion in all it's joy and heartbreak. Taking place in Stockholm circa 1982, this is the story of Klara and Bobo, two 13 year old non-conformist girls who decide to start a punk rock band even though they have no idea how to play music.

    Considered outsiders and weird at their school, they find happiness at a local youth center thrashing around a set of drums and a bass guitar. When they actually write a song, they decide to become serious about the music and enlist the aid of Hedvig, a 14 year old loner who can actually play guitar. They form an all girl punk trio, still without much talent but plenty of spirit.

The three leads, Mira Barkhammar (Bobo), Mira Grosin (Klara) and Liv LeMoyne (Hedvig) are just terrific and perfectly cast. Ms. Barkhammar and Ms. Grosin, in particular, have great chemistry and talent to spare.

     Part coming of age drama, part musical, the film celebrates teen spirit with humor and grit. Boys threaten to break them apart and parents don't understand them but the girls determination lead them on. I would have liked even more musical performances but it's still a joy to watch. 

22 Jump Street

     Jonah Hill & Channing Tatum return in this predictable yet fresh sequel to "21 Jump Street". Predictable since they basically do the same film again although now they are undercover in college rather than High School. Fresh because they are self deprecating and constantly making fun of the fact they are doing a sequel.

     The twist this time is that the "bromance" may be over but the chemistry between the two actors still holds the film together. The jokes remain crude but the tongue in cheek gags are very funny even if they sometimes get lost in the toilet humor. The story itself is too long and the film feels like two movies stitched together but it's worth it just to get to the credits for a look at the imagined sequels to come.

      Ice Cube returns as the foul mouthed police captain in charge of Jump Street division. This time out he is given more to do and is obviously enjoying spoofing himself. There are a few surprise cameos but the film belongs to Mr. Tatum and Mr. Hill who are funny throughout.

      If you enjoyed the first film, you won't be disappointed. And if you don't catch it in the theater, they are already advertising the DVD...coming out any minute.

Edge of Tomorrow

     Director Doug Liman really knows how to hold your interest. This new action adventure is a science fiction "Groundhog's Day" and it easily could have become repetitive and silly. In Mr. Liman's capable hands however, he manages to keep things fresh and moving despite the repetitive nature of the story. 

      The most important element to it's success however is it's star. Tom Cruise is just terrific in one of his best roles in years. Here he plays against type to start and grows into the hero role guided by his equally terrific co-star, Emily Blunt. Mr. Cruise is at his most charming and yet conveys a genuine vulnerability we usually don't see in his action films. Ms. Blunt has come a long way from "The Devil Wears Prada" becoming an action hero in her own right. 

      The film co-stars Bill Paxton as a tough talking sergeant stuck in Mr. Cruise's repetitive loop as well as Brendon Gleeson as the General who sets things in motion. Noah Taylor plays the requisite scientist who knows the truth and how to defeat the enemy. There is also a ragtag group of soldiers all played by fresh faced actors that support Mr. Cruise.

    

 The special effects are quite good and the film is fast paced and very exciting. The premise is a bit far fetched by this is a summer blockbuster so just go with it. You will be very entertained.

A Million Ways to Die in The West

   If you are expecting this generation's Blazing Saddles, you will be disappointed. Although there is one scene that completely out grosses the famous campfire scene in that classic. Writer/ director Seth McFarlane straddles the line between a sweet comedic story and outright crude silliness never really committing to either one. 

     

   There are some good laughs, especially due to surprise cameos but Mr.McFarlane would have been better served letting someone else direct his material. He overplays too many jokes and they lose their effectiveness. He is also obsessed with western vistas as scene after scene of endless wide angle background shots go on forever. I get the satire of a few shots but they just keep coming with no discernible end. 

     

     It's a fun cast that seem to be enjoying themselves as well as serving the audience. Some of the scenes between Charlize Theron and Mr.McFarlane appear improvised and they crack each other up quite a bit. Liam Neeson makes a good villain and Sarah Silverman is perfectly cast as a foul mouthed prostitute...with good Christian morals (you will understand when you see it). Neil Patrick Harris steals every scene he is in besides stealing the heart of Amanda Seyfried.

     

     I could have done without the few racist jokes (although one in very poor taste is redeemed during the credits). Fans of Seth McFarlane will find the film critic proof and probably hysterically funny. I thought it could have been funnier.

The Immigrant

"The Immigrant"

     Writer/director James Grey's latest film is a period piece set in New York City circa 1921. It stars Marion Cotillard as Ewa, a Polish immigrant fresh off the boat with her sister Magda. When they arrive at Ellis island, Magda is taken to the hospital to be treated for lung disease and Ewa is threatened with deportation. She is rescued by Bruno, played by Joaquin Phoenix, and thus begins a complicated relationship when Bruno doesn't turn out to be the savior he appears to be.

       Mr. Grey shoots the film in a sepia tone to help give the illusion of 1921 and with authentic sets and some CGI, viewing the film appears to be a genuine return to the past. The hardships of life on the lower east side of New York are many and  life does not go easy for Ewa as she struggles to earn money to help her sister. As the story unfolds, she meets Orlando the Magician, played by Jeremy Renner, who has a history with Bruno and offers Ewa a possibility of a better life.

        The three leads are the only "name" actors in the film and they are all excellent, especially Ms. Cotillard. She is perfectly cast as Ewa with her beautiful features and sad eyes, it's easy to feel her pain and anguish at the situation forced upon her. It's also easy to see how both Mr. Phoenix and Mr. Renner can fall in love with her.

         The story is a bit thin and moves slowly but it's Ms. Cotillard that drives the film and there are small pleasures in many scenes. The closing shot, in particular, is beautifully framed and leaves it's image well beyond the credits.

Chef

 
     Jon Favreau juggles producer, writer, director and star duties in the charming indie film that takes him back to his roots before "Ironman" and "Cowboys and Aliens". Mr. Favreau plays Carl Casper, a very talented chef who is in a creative rut. When he clashes over the menu with restaurant owner Riva, played by Dustin Hoffman, he ends up with a terrible review by food critic, Ramsey Michel, played by Oliver Platt.
 
     The consequences of that review start him down a path of change that restore his creativity and make him a better man. His journey involves a food truck and the help of John Leguizamo, Sofia Vergara, Emjay Anthony and in a one scene cameo, Robert Downy Jr. Also on the menu is Bobby Cannavale and Scarlet Johnansson as his co-workers at Riva's restaurant.
 
      It's a great cast in a light and breezy film structured as a feel good movie and it succeeds on all levels. The music is terrific as is all the prepared food and I guarantee you will leave hungry. Make a night of it...see "Chef" and then head out to your favorite Cuban restaurant.

X-Men: Days of a Future Past

 
     If you are a fan of the series, you will be pleasantly rewarded with this well crafted next chapter in X-Men mythology. If you aren't familiar with the series, skip this film as you won't have any idea what's going on. The plot concerns time travel and that can always be confusing but director Bryan Singer does an admirable job keeping the story together.
 
     The film is full of X-Men cast members from all the films so fans will be happy to see all their favorite characters, both past and present. However, the story is so complicated that many characters are sacrificed to one or two scenes and dont get their fair share of the action (poor Halle Berry).  Hugh Jackman stars again as Wolverine and he has the largest role since he is sent back in time to convince the younger versions of Professor X and Magneto to work together to stop an event that will change the course of history for the worst. Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart reprise their roles as the older Magneto and Professor X and Michael Fassbender and James McAvoy, once again play the younger versions. Jenniefer Lawrence gets a lot of screen time as Raven/Mystique since it is her actions in the past that need to be altered. New faces this time out are Evan Peters as Quicksilver, a cameo role but he gets the best scene in the film and Peter Dinklage as a mutant hating scientist ( also crucial to the plot).
 
       The CGI is first rate and the action sequences are terrific. Much of the humor in the film is provided at Wolverine's expense but it helps keep things from getting too dour. The climatic scenes switch back and forth between the future and the past and everything tends to mash together but it all makes sense in a comicbook universe sort of way. There are some surprise cameos as well that will keep the fans happy and as always, stay through the credits for a quick glance of things to come.
 
         So far, the X-Men win the battle of the summer blockbusters but I will withold final judgement until after "The Guardians of the Galaxy".
 
     

Godzilla

 
   What do Bryan Cranston, Julliette Binoche, David Strathairn, Ken Wantanabe, Sally Hawkins and Elizabeth Olsen all have in common?  Yes, they are all actors with serious acting credibilty and yes, they have all taken the money and ran for appearing in the newest remake of "Godzilla". Bryan Cranston plays a scientist who disappears from the movie before Godzilla even makes an appearance and Julliette Binoche plays his wife in a blink and she's gone moment. Ken Wantanabe and Sally Hawkins are scientists following the trail of the monsters but dont really do anything. Mr. Strathairn has the most screen time as an admiral commanding his fleet to shadow Godzilla as he swims from Toyko to San Francisco. And Ms. Olsen has the unfortunate sterotyped role of the worried wife and mother.
 
     The producers brought in these big guns to lure the public into thinking this was a serious monster movie. Well that's an oxymoron. What it really is, unfortunately, is a snorefest (except in Imax 3D, where the sound alone will keep you awake). The director, Gareth Edwards uses the "Spielberg" card by not revealing Godzilla to the audience until at least an hour into the film. Instead we get two strange looking monsters who eat radiation and are trying to find each other to mate.
 
     Godzilla has sprang from the ocean depths to prevent the other monsters from mating and then he leaves. That about sums up the plot. Much of Toyko and San Francisco get destroyed in the process (nice change from New York getting battered again).  Oh and I forgot to mention Aaron Taylor-Johnson as Mr. Cranston's son, Ford, who gets to globe hop at will chasing Godzilla too. 

      The CGI work is credible but Godzilla looks like he's put on a few pounds waiting for his remake. The 3D is wasted and while the fight scenes are fun in IMAX, there really isn't enough story here to keep you interested. Spoiler alert- I did enjoy how Godzilla kills the second monster.

   Yes, it was a man in a rubber suit but stick to the original.

The Amazing Spiderman 2

       The summer movie season kicks off early with the continuing story of The Amazing Spiderman "Andrew Garfield" Edition. Bigger and louder than the first reboot (especially in IMAX 3D), this one featuring once again, Emma Stone as Gwen Stacy and Sally Field as Aunt May. The villains this time around are portrayed by Paul Giamatti, Dane DeHaan, and Jamie Foxx. 

         Mr. Garfield has a boyish charm that suits him well as Spiderman and he continues to have great chemistry with Ms. Stone. Jamie Foxx as "Electro" is asked to play him as a tragic figure but once he transforms, is little more than a one note villain. His two pivotal battles with Spiderman account for most of the action.  Paul Giamatti plays a Russian gangster transformed into "The Rhino" but has very little screen time. Dane DeHaan takes over the role of Harry Osborn and while he plays evil well, he doesn't have the exaggerated presence to embody "The Green Goblin" and frankly there is too much Osborn and not enough "Goblin".

           The sub-plot of Peter Parker's past is explored in too much depth and stretches the film past the two hour mark. Further lapses between action sequences also contribute to the feeling that the film goes on far too long.

            The action scenes are impressive (especially in 3D) as Spiderman swings through the concrete canyons of Manhattan and squares off against "Electro" in Times Square. You may want to bring earplugs if you see it in IMAX. Director Marc Webb (no pun there) alternates between lulling you to sleep and waking you up with deafening fight scenes.

            Spiderman purists may take issue with deviations on Electro's origin, "The Rhino's upgraded body armor, Gwen Stacy's fate, and a lack of J.Jonah Jameson but the entertainment value is still there. It's just not quite "amazing".

Nymphomaniac Volume II

            It is more obvious now that writer/director Lars van Trier originally made a single four hour film cut up for U.S. distribution. Vol. 2 picks up immediately where Vol. 1 ends and continues the story of Joe, the woman found beaten in an alley and tended to by Seligman.

             Vol. 1 centered on Joe as a young woman discovering her sexuality. As we begin the second half, the adult Joe (Charlotte Gainsbourg) has lost all sexual stimulation and begins a descent into extreme kinds of sex in order to experience orgasm. She continues to relate her story to Seligman (Stellen Skarsgard) who passes no judgement and finds ways to wax philosophical about her increasingly strange life.  Mr. van Trier has a odd sense of humor and while there are a few disturbing yet somehow humorous scenes, most of Vol. 2 takes a more serious and darker tone.

              Shia LeBeouf returns as Jerome and as in Vol.1 is still embarrassing to watch. Jamie Bell co-stars now as "K",  a sadistic young man who invites women to knowingly and willingly be tied up and beaten. It's a brave but brutal role and I give Mr. Bell credit for taking on the challenge. Willem Defoe also has a small part as a shadowy figure who gives Joe a job as an unusual debt collector.

               As with all his films, Mr. van Trier is daring and provocative but after four hours of emotionless sex and various shots of both male and female genitalia sprinkled in between ridiculous dialog, you will find yourself bored rather than aroused. It all "climaxes" in an ending I found utterly repulsive and unnecessary.

The Raid 2

         Gareth Evans does it all...screenwriter, director, choreography and producer but it's star Iko Uwais that you will never forget in this "sequel" to "The Raid: Redemption". In the first film, Rama, a cop played by Uwais storms his way into an apartment complex overrun by bad guys and fights his way to the top in what was billed as one of the greatest action films ever (and was). "The Raid 2" picks up moments later as Rama, with barely time to breathe,  is recruited to go undercover and infiltrate a gang of very, very bad criminals.

           In this new film, Mr. Evans actually makes an attempt at a real plot but borrows heavily from "Infernal Affairs" (later done as "The Departed" by Martin Scorsese) as his undercover cop Rama, finds himself in the middle of a mob war. The dialog is silly, in sub-titles and barely necessary since you bought your ticket for the action but endure the story and you will be rewarded by amazing sequences. Mr Uwais is a living version of the cartoon Tasmanian Devil and has moves Bruce Lee could only dream of. The fight scenes are breathtaking in a beautiful ballet of violence and mayhem. No CGI here, you feel every punch and Mr. Evans has a particular style that leaves you surprised with every battle.

          You may quickly forget the plot but you will remember the fight in the prison yard, the fight in the kitchen, the fight in a moving car, and the fight in the hallway just to highlight the best of the action sequences. The fight choreography is incredibly real and so inventive that if you are a martial arts aficionado or just an action junkie, you will be blown away.