Everest

    Based on the true story of an ill fated expedition to Mount Everest in 1996, this new film is best seen in IMAX 3D to be appreciated. The screen play is based on the Book "Left For Dead" by Beck Weathers but the story has been told before in the book  and the film "Into Thin Air" by Jon Krakauer. 

     Mr. Krakauer's first hand account of the tragedy that left nine people dead was an absorbing read that gave the reader insight into many of the real life people on the mountain. This new film is focused more on a few characters in the drama, primarily Rob Hall, played by Jason Clarke, Doug Hansen, played by John Hawkes, and Beck Weathers, played by Josh Brolin. There are many other recognizable stars in the film including Jake Gyllenhaal, Sam Worthington, Michael Kelly (as Jon Krakauer), Keira Knightley, Emily Watson, and Robin Wright. 

     Most of the actors are just fodder for the mountain or the women left behind to anguish over their men.  The real star of this film is the cinematography and special effects that literally immerse the viewer into the film, especially in IMAX 3-D.  You literally feel like you are on the mountain with danger at every turn.
 
     There is not much thought given to character development and with the exception I made earlier, we don't know much about these people or what drives them. The story itself is simplistic.  People climb up to reach the summit and then climb down. What happens along the way makes for an harrowing adventure but an unfortunately tragic story as well.

Sicario

      Summer is over and the serious fall films are starting to emerge. This new crime thriller from director,  Denis Villeneuve, will satisfy fans of "Traffic" and the TV show, "The Bridge". The story centers on our government's involvement with the Mexican drug cartel.

      The film stars Emily Blunt as Kate, an idealistic FBI agent who is recruited into a mysterious unit led by Matt, played by Josh Brolin, working off the grid to find a Mexican crime boss. It's a bit confusing at first, especially when Alejandro, played by Benicio Del Toro makes his appearance. The confusion, however, is clearly deliberate as we see the story unfold through Kate's eyes and it's easy to understand how the lines blur and everything is not as it seems. Ms. Blunt is excellent but her character is underdeveloped, acting more as our window into this violent world, more than anything else. Far more interesting characters are Matt and Alejandro, especially as motives become clearer.

       There are some riveting sequences as well as quiet moments but the film propels itself towards a climax we don't expect, yet fully understand as the credits role. There are many violent scenes and yet, Mr. Villeneuve shakes us with violence that takes place off screen as well. The cinematography is by Roger Deakins, and he makes great use of the desert scenery and a particularly tense sequence shot through the lens of night goggles. The musical score is haunting and serves to keep the audience unnerved throughout the film.

        It lacks the scope of "Traffic" but it's an authentic and suspenseful drama that exposes the ambiguity and grey lines that sometimes have to be crossed for the greater good. There are no easy answers when the wolves at the door end up everywhere.

Irrational Man

      Woody Allen's latest ruminates on questions and ideas he has expressed far better in films like "Love & Death" and "Crimes & Misdemeanors".  His themes are the same old questions of meaning of life and what motivates us to action. His voice this time is  represented by Joaquin Phoenix  and Emma Stone.

      Mr. Phoenix plays an philosophy professor at a small college in Newport Rhode Island. Ms. Stone is one of his students who falls for him, even though he is an alcoholic, overweight and depressed. Parker Posey plays another professor, married but lonely who also becomes involved with Mr. Phoenix. The cast work very well together and do a good job expressing Mr. Allen's ideas.

       The first half of the film is dialog heavy as Mr. Allen sets up the plot twist that turns the story. Newport is a lovely setting and the score, mostly Ramsey Lewis, is infectious. Things pick up rapidly in the second half and  play out to a logical and what some would think, a surprising conclusion. It's entertaining enough but Mr. Allen doesn't have anything new to say.

No Escape

      Owen Wilson and Lake Bell star as a couple, along with their two young daughters, caught up in a coup in an unnamed Asian county. The film belongs to the genre "run for your life movies" as it's a variation on trying to survive in a very hostile environment. The problem here that there is no real justification for the trouble they are in and the film comes off racist and fairly ridiculous.

       The saving grace is that the film is pretty suspenseful with some truly intense moments as the family find themselves in danger just about right from the start.  As silly and irrational as it seems, you find yourself rooting for everyone to survive. The action sequences are pretty much non-stop with not much thought as to how or why. Ms. Bell and Mr. Wilson are credible as a scared mom and dad doing whatever it takes to protect their kids. Pierce Brosnan plays a mysterious figure in what amounts to a cameo, but he does get at least one big scene.

          The unnamed country is obviously Thailand and I suppose they were so upset at the end result they fought to have any reference removed. The trailer does a great job sucking you into the action but taken as a whole, if you must, wait for cable or Netflix to catch this one.

Rikki and The Flash

      Don't expect to see Meryl Steep winning any awards anytime soon for this lightweight family drama. The film should have been called "Rikki and her Dysfunctional Family", as it's certainly not about her band. And it's barely about her family.

        The thin bare plot is about a mother who abandoned her family years ago to pursue her musical dreams. After one album that went nowhere, Rikki is barely surviving a minimum wage job during the day and playing covers in a seedy bar at nights. One gimmick is that Rick Springfield is her guitarist and boyfriend. They are a mismatched pair and this would be a complete embarrassment for Ms. Streep except for the fact she can carry a tune and manages to get by on "American Girl" and "My Love Won't Let You Down".

         The other gimmick is to have her real life daughter, Mamie Gummer, play her troubled daughter in the film. This certainly lends credibility to the character's relationship. The family plot that drives the story, though, is so lightweight it's laughable (at least something is funny because the film isn't). The characters are stereotypes and cover all backgrounds. A gay son, check. An interracial couple, check. An understanding ex husband, check. There is no character development or back story for any of the characters other than Rikki herself. Audra McDonald and Kevin Kline also co-star but are restrained by the weak writing. 

           I can't resist the pun. "Rikki and The Flash" is a flash in the pan. If you love Rick Springfield or worship Ms. Streep, see it quick before it's gone.

The Man From U.N.C.L.E.

        Ah, Robert Vaughn, where are you when we need you? Guy Richie's big screen treatment of the '60's T.V. show is all style and very little substance.  It's an origin story of how U.N.C.L.E.'s top two spies, Napoleon Solo and Illya Kuriakin meet for the first time and it's clever enough but poor acting and not enough action do not make for top notch entertainment.

         The film does have it's tongue planted firmly in it's cheek and and is saved from being a complete dud by it's humor, soundtrack and visuals. The '60's Europe recreation is "fab" and the wardrobe department worked overtime to get everything right. Although how exciting can it be watching the two leads argue over women's fashions?

           Henry Cavill looks the part as Agent Solo but has no personality. Arnie Hammer works hard on his accent as Illya but plays him as a big Russian bear. Hugh Grant co-stars in a small but significant role, especially if you are a fan of the original T.V. show. The femme fatale is played by Alicia Vikander and she is an absolute delight to watch. The other female lead, Elizabeth Debicki, makes a fine icy, cool villain. What can it say about the film when  the two featured women are more interesting than the two main male characters?

            The set-up is there for a sequel  and if it's made, I hope to  see a certain little New York tailor shop featured somewhere.

Mr. Holmes

      A quiet film of dignity, intelligence, wit and surprise, "Mr. Holmes" is an oasis from the loud action popcorn movies of summer. Ian McKellen plays an elderly version of a retired Sherlock Holmes living by the sea and tending to his honey bees. And of course, he is absolutely terrific.

       As his memories start to fade with age, Holmes struggles to remember details of his last case, which we see develop in flashbacks.  He relates the facts of the case to young Roger (played by Milo Parker) who's mother is Holmes's housekeeper, Mrs. Munro. Laura Linney co-stars as Mrs. Munro and it's quite a successful departure for the talented actress.

        This is a period film jumping between two earlier periods in time and Mr. McKellen doesn't miss a step or trick as the older and elderly versions of Holmes. His scenes with Roger are tender and witty and in the flashbacks, even as an older version of Sherlock Holmes, he does the character justice.

         The film is directed by Bill Condon with a quiet elegance and yet a twinkle in his eye. The screenplay is by Jeffrey Hatcher, with a very different take on the famous detective, who ends up solving more than one mystery.

          "Mr. Holmes" is a breath of fresh air and filled with simple pleasures, anchored by a wonderful Ian McKellen.

Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation

         Tom Cruise returns in this 5th installment of the series. With each film, logic continues to dwindle and plot holes continue to grow larger but that's not really important in these films. 

          The franchise exists as the perfect summer popcorn film...big stars and bigger stunts and in that respect, the film delivers. For my money, the stunts have been better in the previous  films but there is no denying that Tom Cruise hanging off the side of a plane during taking off is pretty incredible. The problem though, is by now it's certainly no surprise (duh, look at the poster)  and it occurs right at the beginning of the film.

            Mr. Cruise is joined once again by the IMF team of Simon Pegg , Jeremy Renner, and Ving Rhames. Mr. Pegg is comic relief, Mr. Renner provides exposition and Mr. Rhames stands around looking tough.  The new faces this time include Alec Baldwin as the pompous CIA chief, Sean Harris as the creepy villain, and Rebecca Ferguson as the femme fatale double agent. Ms Ferguson holds her own very well in the stunt department going literally toe to toe with Mr. Cruise.

          Directed by Christopher McQuarrie (who also wrote the screenplay), the film jumps from stunt to stunt with a simplistic story to bridge the action. While the stunts are well staged, Mr. McQuarrie doesn't know when to stop and the film runs too long and with so many sequences, you begin to lose interest. Credit Mr. Cruise however, for doing his own stunts. He appears to be in great shape and goes out of his way to prove it.

            Films like this are becoming interchangeable with Jason Bourne, James Bond, even the Fast & Furious series. Yes Hollywood, all the stunts are fun but please give us a well written script that provides suspense and intelligence to go along with all the action.

Fantastic Four

       Fantastic Flop is more like it. I don't remember the last time a film actually offended me because it was so bad. Here, four good actors are trapped in a fantastic foul-up of a film. Miles Teller plays Reed Richards. Mr. Teller was exceptional in "Whiplash". Now he is so miscast, it's criminal.  Jamie Bell plays Ben Grimm, otherwise known as The Thing. Again, good actor ridiculously miscast and the same can be said for Michael B. Jordan as Johnny Storm or Kate Mara as Susan Storm. There is no chemistry between them or the film with it's audience.

        The film runs 100 minutes. The first hour is all origin story (and not even the correct origin) with no action sequences at all. If this part of the film was a superhero, it's power would be boredom and the ability to put the audience to sleep.  The last 40 minutes contains a big action sequence where the heroes square off against Dr. Doom on a barren planet. It is a poorly conceived battle with the cheesiest CGI, seemingly left over from a 1970's arcade game. When The Thing shouts his signature line, it is forced and comes out of nowhere, losing all it's verbose appeal.

         20th Century Fox has only had success with The X-Men films. They can't get Spiderman right or The Fantastic Four forcing reboot after reboot and failing miserably every time. They should wise up and sell their rights back to Marvel studios who have shown they know what to do with their heroes.

           Do not waste your time or money on this "Forgettable Four".

Southpaw

          Jake Gyllenhaal takes the hits but it's the audience that gets sucker-punched in this cliche-ridden fight film.  Mr. Gyllenhaal is the only reason to watch this boxing boredom. He is just terrific as Billy Hope, a boxer on top of the world, who falls quickly after a tragedy. Of course he ends up being trained by the wise, ex-boxer, mentor played here by Forest Whitaker, for one more shot at the title and redemption.

         Written by Kurt Sutter (known for the TV show "Sons of Anarchy"), its a lazy script with nothing new to bring to the genre (except the plot device that sets the story in motion). Director Antoine Fuqua tries to bring "street cred" to the story with gritty dark visuals and Eminem rapping the title song, but it all feels fake and a constant retread of a story told many times.

          Rachel McAdams plays "Mo", Billy's wife in what amounts to a cameo. Their daughter, played by newcomer, Oona Laurence is a 10 year old bore who, unfortunately, can't hold her own in her scenes with Mr. Gyllenhaal. Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson is the stereotypical manager who turns on his fighter the minute he smells a better deal. And Mr. Whitaker, an actor with a quality pedigree walks through his role as the trainer using "Mickey" from the "Rocky" movies as his role model.

           There are so many contradictions, I don't know where to begin and the climatic fight, while very realistic,  just doesn't produce the same excitement as so many other "fight" films. What holds the film together is the committed performance by Mr. Gyllenhaal. His physical and emotional performance rises above the material and he's a winner, even if the film isn't.

Trainwreck

    I first saw Amy Schumer on "Last Comic Standing" many years ago. She was pretty funny but she didn't win. That's how I feel about her new movie, pretty funny in spots but not a winner.

    In her first starring role, Ms. Schumer plays Amy, an alcoholic, promiscuous single girl in the city, not really looking for love. She is a writer for a tabloid magazine  run by the always wonderful, Tilda Swinton.  I don't think I've ever seen Ms. Swinton in such a loose, contemporary role and she is clearly having a blast as the crude head of the magazine.

    The film plays like an anti-romantic comedy with Ms. Schumer in a role reversal of the usual male part.  The first half of the film is a series of encounters that allow Ms. Schumer to sleep around and toss off great one-liners.  When she is assigned to write a story about a sports doctor played by Bill Hader, love hits her when she least expects it. Not knowing how to deal with this new emotion is the basis of the rest of the film.

     Mr. Hader is a terrific comedian but having him play the straight man is a complete bore. It may be right for the character but it's disappointing for the audience. The "actor" who steals the movie is LeBron James, playing himself as a close friend of Mr. Hader's. He is a natural and their scenes together are very funny.

      There is a subplot involving Amy's sick father, played by Colin Quinn and her sister, played by Brie Larson. Mr. Quinn basically plays himself, making Ms. Larson one of the few truly professional actors in the film and it shows. She has matured into a fine young actress who is always a pleasure to watch. Mike Birbiglia plays her husband and Evan Brinkman plays her stepson, Allister, in a role written for awkward laughs.

       There are some funny scenes throughout the overlong film but they are far and few between the awkward moments. Ms. Schumer's character is not likable. The "showstopper" at the finale made me what to scream "enough, make it stop". This is a film that will appeal to a very particular audience. Luckily for Ms, Schumer, she can always fall back on her very funny TV show.

Ant-Man

       Big things do come in small packages. Marvel Comics continues it's movie domination with it's latest and most unexpected hero, Ant-Man.

        The film stars Paul Rudd (an unlikely action hero but as it turns out, the right man for the job) as Scott Lang, Michael Douglas as Dr. Hank Pym, Evangeline Lilly as Hope Pym, Hank's daughter and Corey Stoll as Darren Cross. Co-starring are Michael Pena, Bobby Cannavale, Wood Harris and the rapper T. I. There are also some familiar cameos and some surprise stars from the Marvel Universe.

          Since this is an origin film, the first half is very dialogue heavy with just a few short action sequences to keep you interested in what's to come. Mr. Rudd is not quite his usual snarky self but he is never the less, charming and fun to watch. The real fun is the special effects. The small (no pun intended) visual taste in the beginning really pops in the second half of the film. Clearly the CGI artists had fun with their work as many scenes will have you laughing out loud.

          The CGI ants look a bit too metallic but they are quite detailed and fun to watch as Ant-Man leads them into battle. There are many clever action sequences making use of environments you wouldn't expect and one terrific fight with a surprise Marvel hero. Speaking of which, the film references the Marvel universe multiple times and keeps Ant-Man firmly rooted in the same reality. As to what added to the success of "Guardians of The Galaxy", the film doesn't take itself that seriously which is why Mr. Rudd is a perfect choice for the lead.  The self deprecating humor keeps the film lively and things never get too heavy.

          Make sure you stay through all the credits as there are two additional scenes once the film ends and they are both significant to the continuity of future Marvel films.

Me and Earl and The Dying Girl

     Yes, there is a dying girl but this clever new Indie film tries it's best to present an honest, unmelodramatic portrait of teen angst in a refreshing way. For the most part it succeeds although it does occasionally slip into said melodrama.

       Thomas Mann plays the "Me" in the title, a high School senior named Greg who is perfectly at home navigating his final school year staying invisible to the cliques around him. His "friend" is Earl (RJ Cyler), a black teen Greg has known since they were little kids. When Greg's mom learns of Rachel, a girl in Greg's school has been diagnosed with Leukemia, she tells Greg to befriend her, even though he barely knows her. Rachel is played by Olivia Cooke. The film also co-stars Connie Britton, Nick Offerman, Molly Shannon and Jon Bernthal as the various adults.

        Greg narrates the story with the plot separated into chapters (like the novel it is based on). The three soon become platonic friends and Greg and Earl entertain Rachel with videos of their home made movies, spoofs of Hollywood greats. These spoofs are some of the funniest scenes in the film. 

        The story remains upbeat, filled with odd ball humor and avoids, for the most part, the trappings of a typical teen comedy/drama. Greg is a quirky character that takes some time to warm up to but Earl is a likable character from the start. Their relationship with Rachel is interesting from a fresh perspective.

        "Me and Earl and The Dying Girl" deserved it's Audience Award at Sundance earlier this year. It is a funny, heartfelt film that will surprise you.

Inside Out

       Pixar films have an uncanny knack for entertaining with a strong emotional core, This new film continues that tradition with a story that is smart and deeply heartfelt.  Be warned however, this is not a film for small children. It attempts to deal with basic emotions in a kid friendly anthropomorphic way but the concepts introduced are complex and may not be easily understood.

         For older children and adults, it is a very rewarding experience with an excellent message that will tug at your heartstrings. The animation is, of course, brilliantly rendered and the colors and physical comedy will appeal to the little ones ( They just won't grasp what's actually happening and may be frightened during certain scenes).

         When eleven year old Riley and her parents move from the comfort of their home in Minnesota to a new home in San Francisco, it triggers a massive reaction of emotions, portrayed by Joy (Amy Poehler), Fear (Bill Hader), Disgust (Mindy Kaling), Sadness (Phyllis Smith), and Anger (Lewis Black).  When Joy and Sadness are separated by the others, Riley goes deeper into a tailspin and it's up to her emotions to all work together to save the day. It's a heady concept (pun intended) and it works brilliantly. An imaginary friend, Bing Bong, voiced by Richard Kind, almost steals the film and helps it reach it's emotional core. As always, the vocal casting is spot on.

          As with most Pixar films, "inside Out" can easily be enjoyed by adults with or without children. Writers and co-directors Pete Docter and Ronnie del Carmen get inside our heads and our hearts.

Terminator:Genisys

            Not a sequel and not quite a reboot, but rather a recharge of the whole series. If you are familiar with the mythology, "Genisys" will blow your mind. If you don't know the story, rent the original before you go or you may have a hard time keeping up.

              This is a perfect film for IMAX 3-D as the visual and sound effects will knock you right out of your seat. There are terrific action sequences throughout the film and plenty of surprises that I don't intend to spoil. Needless to say, this installment is a game changer.

               Arnold Schwarzenegger is terrific, reprising his role as the original Terminator. It's as if he never left. He can still handle the action and adds a great deal of humor throughout the film. Sarah Connor is played by Emilia Clarke and who better than "the Khaleesi" of "Game of Thrones" to tackle the role. Kyle Reese is played by Jai Courtney in his biggest part to date and he does an admirable job in this major role. John Connor, the other main character in the series is played this time by Jason Clarke, who is becoming the "go to" actor for sci-fi reboots ( see Dawn of the Planet of the Apes).

              Credit writers Patrick Lussier and Laeta Kalogridis for a script that is familiar and yet, turns the whole Terminator mythology on it's head. It is a very welcome addition to the series.

Infinitely Polar Bear

      Mark Ruffalo stars as Cameron, a manic depressive bi-polar father of two little girls. Zoe Saldana co-stars as his wife, Maggie. The title refers to how his youngest pronounces his condition.  And while Mr. Ruffalo's acting is as excellent as always, his portrayal is one dimensional. Whether it's the direction or his interpretation but his only clinical sign (after a initial breakdown) is just being totally manic.

       When Maggie decides to go back to school to get an MBA, she leaves the girls in Cameron's care. The story is both amusing and heartbreaking and is clearly a showcase for Mr. Ruffalo. Imogene Wolodarsky plays Amelia, the older daughter and  Ashley Aufderheide plays Faith, the younger sister.  They are both very good and play well against Mr. Ruffalo.  The three share most of the screen time together.  

        The film is written and directed by Maya Forbes, based on her own experiences growing up with a bi-polar father. Since it's her own story, I can only assume it's a fairly accurate portrait of her life. Mental illness is not easy to get right on screen and while the film seems to paint a bit too cheerful picture, it's still a worthy drama.    

Spy

    Writer/Director Paul Feig has another hit with his muse, Melissa McCarthy.  Ms. McCarthy continues to improve with each film. She absolutely shines here in her first fully developed leading role.

       The movie is a clever send up of James Bond films from the opening credits to very funny sight gags. Ms. McCarthy plays a desk bound agent for the CIA who finally gets into the field when a fellow agent, played by Jude Law, is killed chasing a stolen nuclear bomb.

       Her fellow agent in the field is played by tough guy Jason Statham, who hilariously makes fun of his own image. He almost steals the film but make no mistake, this is a star vehicle for Ms. McCarthy. She shows a wide range while maintaining her natural goofiness. Her verbal barrage of one-liners, whether scripted or ad-libbed are absolutely hysterical.

        The villains are played by Bobby Cannavale and Rose Byrne. Mr. Cannavale role is small but crucial to the plot. Ms. Byrne is clearly enjoying her role as the femme fatale who shares some great scenes with Ms.McCarthy. The CIA chief is played by Allison Janney, deserving of more screen time but good none the less.

       Mr. Feig makes good use of his globe hopping locations, moving briskly around Paris, Rome, and other major European cities. He and Ms. McCarthy have a natural connection that is evident on screen.

    "Spy" is funny, exciting, filled with actual intrigue and can easily be the start of a  franchise character.

Jurassic World

        New director Colin Trevorrow takes over the reins for this reboot of a huge franchise. The film is executive produced by Steven Spielberg and while he may not have been on set, you can feel his presence throughout the film. After an entire trilogy of dinosaurs running amok, Mr Trevorrow has big shoes to fill and guided by Mr. Spielberg, his reboot ultimately succeeds.

         It's a clever script that makes fun of itself right from the start. People are getting bored visiting Jurassic World. They've gotten used to seeing the dinosaurs now for years so of course, the mad scientists back in the lab must produce a bigger, meaner, scarier model. What could possibly go wrong?

          The film stars Chris Pratt as a raptor trainer (don't ask, just go with it) and Bryce Dallas Howard as the Director of the theme park. Co-starring is Vincent D'Onofrio representing the evil corporation with its own agenda and Irfan Khan as the billionaire who funds the park. Jake Johnson is comic relief and B.D. Wong is back as the mad scientist. The film also introduces the requisite kids (this time brothers) who, of course, are immediately in danger. They are played by Nick Robinson and Ty Simpkins.

           Mr. Pratt makes a dashing hero as he proved in "Guardians of the Galaxy" but his role here is not quite as freewheeling as Peter Quill. Ms. Howard does a good job of starting out as the Ice Queen and eventually melting into a caring human being, Being chased by  monster dinosaurs can have that kind of impact.

             The film starts slow with lots of sentimental backstory but picks up steam and holds a few good unexpected surprises for the audience. The CGI is better in some scenes than others but the raptors are just terrific. You really imagine them to be actually on screen interacting with the cast.

              I enjoyed it more as it went on and it ultimately does succeed as a perfect summer popcorn movie. You get what you expect...and then some.

love&mercy

    Director Bill Pohlad brings the story of Brian Wilson to life in this remarkable new film.  The screenplay cuts back and forth in time focusing on two seminal points in Mr. Wilson's life, the creation of "Pet Sounds" and dealing with his midlife mental issues.

      The film opens with the Beach Boys riding high on their success but Brian no longer interested in touring. While the group tours Japan without him, he stays behind to work on what would eventually become "Pet Sounds". The young Brian is played by Paul Dano and he is just terrific. Scenes in the studio, working with the musicians to create the album, you get chills watching him bring Mr. Wilson's genius to life. And you are chilled even further as the "voices in his head" get louder and he begins to totally breakdown.

       The older Brian is played by John Cusack and he is just as daunting, tacking mental health issues, and the domineering Dr. Eugene Landry, who was his doctor and legal guardian. Dr. Landry is played by the always reliable Paul Giamatti who overcomes a horrible hairpiece to create a vile human being who almost destroys Mr. Wilson. It is only when Brian meets Melinda Ledbetter (played beautifully by Elizabeth Banks), that, with her love and determination, he is able to get free from Dr. Landry and begin to really live again.

         Some of the dissolves between time periods are disruptive and choppy but for the most part the device works and combined with the heartbreaking true story, terrific acting, and the brilliance of Brian Wilson, this is a must see on so many levels.

Slow West

          A new Indie western that at once is iconic and yet at the same time turns the genre upside down. Brilliant in its simplicity with wonderful cinematography, this is a film to be savored slowly and appreciated for it's quirkiness. 

          Kodi Smit-McGee stars as Jay, a lanky naive young man, new to the American west in search of his true love, Rose. In flashbacks, we see them together in Scotland when circumstances force Rose and her father to leave for America. The film opens on Mr. Smit-McGee staring up at the stars, alone at his campfire. Soon enough, he gets into trouble and is rescued by the film's narrator and his co-star, Michael Fassbender. Mr. Fassbender is a drifter in the iconic mold of Clint Eastwood's "man with no name".  The two men come to an arrangement of sorts and ride off together. 

           The land is expansive (New Zealand fills in for the American west) but the film is small. There are few characters within the contained story. There is no town, just the land, our two riders and the small band of bounty hunters following them, led by Ben Mendelssohn.  No better choice here than Mr. Mendlesohn to play the villain. He is wonderful in these types of roles.

           Writer/director John McLean respects the western genre but stages ample scenes with a Wes Anderson playfulness. There is requisite gun play but staged in unusual and original ways. The ending is  refreshingly different than expected but yet, makes sense at the same time. There is so much to enjoy in this "little" film that I can't wait to see it again.