Dynamic Duo... "Central Intelligence"

Central Intelligence (2016)   

Rated PG-13

Starring Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Amy Ryan, Danielle Nicolet, Jason Bateman, Aaron Paul

Directed by Rawson Marshall Thurber

The Story:

Calvin Joyner (Hart) is apprehensive about his impending 20 year high school reunion. The man voted most likely to succeed has felt like anything but successful in the ensuing decades, his best days seemingly far behind him. When he accepts a friend request from Bob Stone (Johnson), it turns out that it's a former classmate who was bullied in high school, but Calvin stood up for him once upon a time. The two reunite, and Bob tells Calvin that he needs his accounting skills to help him find the elusive Black Badger!

Kevin Hart has grown on me over the past few years.

Starting as a supporting cast member, he usually made the movies he was in better, graduating into leading man or at least supporting lead actor in a film.

When paired with the right actor, he forms a great comedy tandem.

Thankfully, he's paired with The Rock, Dwayne Johnson.

This time, Johnson gets to play the action hero again, but in a much more comic role, and with faults and foibles that normally he doesn't get to use in most films.

The results are comedic gold, and it may be an eye-opening film for a lot of moviegoers who may not be used to seeing Johnson displaying his comedic chops.

The movie even keeps you guessing on whether or not Bob really is a traitor or not, so Thurber delicately balances the fun with the action and it combines to be a fun movie for the whole family.

Plus, when any movie gets the "Mom Seal of Approval" by my lovely wife wanting to see it again the same week...

Well, that's a winner in my book.

Welcome to the first contender for Best of the Year 2017 status!

Final Grade: B+ 

Surviving The Cold War..."Bridge Of Spies"

Bridge of Spies (2015)

Rated

Starring Tom Hanks, Mark Rylance, Alan Alda, Amy Ryan, Austin Stowell

Directed by Steven Spielberg

The Story:

James Donovan (Hanks) is selected by the CIA to defend Rudolf Abel (Rylance) who is charged with spying on America and giving intelligence to the Russian government. Naturally, defending a spy during the Cold War isn't the most glamorous position to be in, and Donovan suffers for it. He does provide an intriguing twist to the proceedings when it is time for the sentencing, one that would have repercussions years later when American pilot Franci Gary Powers (Stowell) would be shot down in his U2 plane while flying over Russian airspace.

This is their story.

And, aside from some dramatics, most of the story is roughly true, and condensed for time.

Yet it is always a tense and gripping drama and spy thriller all rolled into one.

Hanks and Spielberg know each other so well and they do exactly what they need to complement the other in what they do.

Mark Rylance however, is quite wonderful as the accused spy. Never bending, never breaking, and always with a bit of wit to his credit, his performance brings much levity and heart to the story.

Now for the second time in as many weeks, I must seriously ask if this was indeed an Oscar worthy performance?

My gut instinct: No.

While he is a great supporting actor in this movie, his support is very minor. I think of all the nominees, he ends up with the least amount of screen time.

I'll get to that review and who should have won soon enough, but I won't begrudge Rylance his statue. It's a very good performance and he would have been my 2nd choice to win of the group mentioned.

Naturally, as with most spy or heist movies, I try not to say too much to avoid any potential spoilers.

Watch this one, you're very likely to enjoy it.

Final Grade: Solid B