The War In Afghanistan..."Whiskey Tango Foxtrot "

Whiskey Tango Foxtrot (2016)

Rated R

Starring Tina Fey, Margot Robbie, Martin Freeman, Alfred Molina, Christopher Abbott, Billy Bob Thornton, Nicholas Braun, Evan Jonigkeit

Directed by Glenn Ficarra and John Requa

The Story:

In 2003, the war in Iraq has pulled all of the world's major journalists there to cover the story. Turning to whatever resources they have left, new reporters are sent to Afghanistan to cover that story. Kim Baker (Fey) is selected and heads to Afghanistan even though she's never worked in front of the camera before. However, her inquisitive nature and determination help her immensely as she befriends her colleagues, the military and the Afghan locals.

Yes, this is a true story.

And while there are many amusing things that happen, this falls more along the dramedy realm than a straight up zany Tina Fey movie.

So make sure you know that going in, or you too may think..."Whiskey Tango Foxtrot!?!"
Or some equivalent.
:)

Had Tina Fey written it, it's likely it would have been even funnier, but sometimes the truth is stranger than fiction, and there is plenty of that to go around in the film.

She's surrounded with some wonderful supporting characters, especially Christopher Abbott as her interpreter and Billy Bob Thornton as General Hollanek.

Along the way, Kim uncovers the cold truth about the war: while Americans love and support the military, they just don't want to see it, or the harsh realities of war played out on the television nightly.

That was true then in 2006, when everyone was tired of it.

A decade later, it's sadly even more true.

Final Grade: B

Putting Lipstick On A Pig... "Our Brand Is Crisis"

Our Brand Is Crisis (2015)

Rated R

Starring Sandra Bullock, Billy Bob Thornton, Anthony Mackie, Joaquim de Almeida, Ann Dowd

Directed by David Gordon Green

The Story:

In 2002, former Bolivian President Castillo (de Almeida) is so far behind in the presidential election polls, the group that is trying to get him elected turns to former election strategist "Calamity Jane" Bodine (Bullock) to do what she can to get him elected. The problem is, the people don't want him in charge, so Jane works to create a message that will resonate with the people, even if her candidate doesn't.

Based on a true story.

Can you imagine that?

An election with candidates so awful, that you have to spin anything to try and promise some hope and whiff of chance that your candidate is the only one that can save the day.

Bolivia 2002, or America 2016?

Either way, it tries hard to be both a comedy and a drama. A thriller and a political satire.

Perhaps it tries too hard? There's a good story in there, but sometimes trying for a bit or a moment, the story feels forced and doesn't organically flow.

It all amounts to not a whole lot, other than some really good actors given not a whole lot to do except bark at one another.

Thornton plays very well as the yin to Bullock's yang.

The main problem:  this is Sandra Bullock. If we are supposed to have any doubts that she can be devious and willing to risk it all, those ideals are packaged into one of America's sweethearts, and it's much harder to buy that as the audience.

And there are several moments that work, the llama scene and the election coverage spring to mind.

Joaquim de Almeida impresses as always. He could be a bad guy in any role on any movie, and you will believe it. And he has enough charisma and presence that you like to hate him, or hate to like him.

It was good, but with a few tinkerings, it could have been great.

Now I have to wonder which of the 2016 campaigns Jane is working on...

Final Grade:  C+

You'll Never Forget The Events Of "Parkland"

Parkland (2013)

Rated PG-13

Starring Zac Efron, Marcia Gay Harden, Paul Giamatti, Billy Bob Thornton, Ron Livingston, James Badge Dale,

Written and Directed by Peter Landesman

The Story:

November 22nd, 1963. Dallas Texas. A chilling date in history shown from the perspectives of the many lives that were woven together over the course of the next few days in the most harrowing fashion. One day changed the course of America, and these people were all first-hand witnesses as it happened.

There is a lot to cram into 90 minutes of movie.

You know how you can complain that a movie was too long, or felt like it took forever?

The opposite could be held true here.

Apparently it was planned as a miniseries for HBO, but alas, that didn't pan out, and what's left is made up as Parkland.

The movie takes its name from Parkland Hospital, where they took Kennedy after he was shot.  It was here that the medical staff (Efron, Harden and many more) work frantically to save his life. Then they are tasked just days later with trying to save another gunshot victim.

Then there is Mr. Zaprudar (Giamatti) who goes out to record the President and winds up with the footage of a lifetime that takes such a huge toll on his life.

There's the Dallas FBI Agent (Livingston) who learns that Oswald was in the bureau very recently.

Speaking of Oswald, his brother's (Dale) story is perhaps the most tragic of the whole group.

Finally there is Agent Sorrells (Thornton) who realizes he is the first Secret Service head to lose a President.

Taking a sad true story, and adding a layer of lives that were profoundly affected by that tragedy makes for a harrowing experience that should have been extended, but for what they managed to create, well done.

Final Grade: B

Who Are We To Be "The Judge" ?

The Judge (2014)

Rated R

Starring Robert Downey Jr., Robert Duvall,Vera Farmiga, Billy Bob Thornton, Vincent D'Onfrio, Jeremy Strong,

Directed by David Dobkin

The Story:

Hank Palmer (Downey Jr.) is a hotshot lawyer from Chicago who pretty much has it all. He receives news that his mother has passed, so he goes home for the funeral. There he reconnects with his brothers (D'Onfrio and Srong) and continues an icy relationship with his father, The Judge (Duvall). However, when his dad is accused of murder, Hank insists on trying to save his father from prison. However, even Hank is going to try every trick in the book, especially when it looks like the truth is going to do anything but set his father free.

This film is a bit of an odd duck.

Completely a drama, the tone remains light and comedic throughout. However, I think that owes more to it trying to relate to real life than anything else. Sometimes, these things happen, and if you don't laugh, you'll likely explode.

The trick at this point is divorcing Robert Downey Jr. from the role of Tony Stark. Hank Palmer is as smooth and assured of a character as Stark, so at times, it's easy to forget which Downey we're watching.

Again, this is not exactly a bad thing, if you want someone to be an awesome Robert Downey Jr. / Tony Stark amalgam, you might as well hire the guy, right?

Duvall also commands the screen, walking a fine line between pride/ego and pain. It's one he pulls off effortlessly, and so easy to see how a father and son can both love and hate each other, so much, at the same time.

Especially when they are both too stubborn to communicate with each other.

Surrounded by a fine supporting cast that gets to shine with little moments, it's a great character piece which ultimately takes you around in circles and puts everything right back together again at the end.

Just differently.

Life life.

No complaints here.

Final Grade: B

Duck Dynasty Meets Quentin Tarantino..."The Baytown Outlaws"

The Baytown Outlaws (2012)
Rated R for Violence and Language

Starring Clayne Crawford, Travis Fimmel and Daniel Cudmore

Directed by Barry Battles

The Story:

The Oodie Boys, Brick (Crawford), McQueen (Fimmel) and Lincoln (Cudmore) are three redneck renegades who make a living keeping a local town clear of low-life criminals by killing them.  This arrangement works great for the sheriff (Andre Braugher) until the boys accidentally go to the wrong house... this draws attention from the Feds.  The boys get hired by Celeste (Eva Longoria) to head to Texas and rescue her godson (Thomas Brodie-Sangster) from her ex-husband Carlos (Billy Bob Thornton).  If they do that, and kill Carlos, they'll make $25,000.

What could possibly go wrong?

Well, considering they are about to be hunted across the country by a group of prostitute assassins, some angry Indian bikers and another gang of bounty hunters, things are going to get pretty hairy for the boys.

First, Billy Bob Thornton and Eva Longoria get top billing and most prominent casting on the poster, but neither is in it very much.

But in reality, that's a good thing.

No, this film belongs to the Oodie Boys, and these three pull of hillbilly redneck like nobody's business!

Here Come the Oodies!

The banter and interaction between them, yes, it's easy to believe that they are brothers who've got each other's backs at all times.

The movie seemingly veers off into the absurd with each new wave of bounty hunters chasing the boys down.

Prostitutes on motorcycles? Check!

They Charge By The Hour...Or The Mile!

A black militia with a vehicle straight out of the Road Warrior movies?  Check!

A tribe of scalping Indians on motorcycles? Check!

Yet in this crazy world that the Oodies inhabit, you buy each layer of crazy with no reservations at all.

It's crazy. It's funny.  It's violent.

And every once in a while, it surprises itself and becomes a little touching.

But they quickly kick that aside and get back to crazy.

:)

Not too bad for a pure-bred B movie!

Final Grade: C+/B-

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: Nah, one viewing for this is fine.  Though if they boys found themselves in a sequel, I'd certainly give it a try!