I Promise It Will Not Leave You "Sleepless"

Sleepless (2017)

Rated R

Starring Jamie Foxx, Michelle Monaghan, Scoot McNairy, Dermot Mulroney, T.I., David Harbour, Gabrielle Union, Octavius J. Johnson,

Directed by Baran bo Odar

The Story:

Vincent (Foxx) is an undercover cop who appears to be on the take with his partner Sean (T.I.). However when the drugs they stole turn out to belong to the mob, well let's just say they want their product back. If that isn't enough heat on his back, Internal Affairs is also coming after him because they think that he's a dirty cop.

Release this spring, if you blinked, you probably missed it.

However, in the grand scheme of things, that's probably okay.

Foxx is far removed from his glory days of Ray (2004) and Django Unchained (2012), but I'll never begrudge an actor from making a living.

I mean if Seagal, Van Damme and the like can still put out direct to DVD fare, who am I to judge?

That said, this feels like a direct to DVD release with a great cast bogged down with a pointless script that elicits too many unintentional laughs for the thriller it was trying to be.

Piling on to that was the "oh wait, let's throw a twist that they won't see coming" moments that are scattered throughout the film, it just becomes an exercise in willpower to stay to the end.

It's watchable, sure, but you can, will, and have seen better.

Much better.

Final Grade: C-

I Would Like To Chop Down "The Family Tree"

The Family Tree (2011)

Rated R for language

Starring Dermot Mulroney, Hope Davis, Rachael Leigh Cook, Chi McBride, Max Thieriot, Britt Robertson

Directed by Vivi Friedman

The Story:

A dysfunctional family barely held together gets a second chance at life when the mom (Davis) develops amnesia and suddenly becomes a nice person, causing a ripple of change through the family dynamic.

Will it last?

Beats me.

I turned it off after 5 minutes.

Great cast, saddled with a horrible script that was just moving from point to point with no purpose whatsoever.

I usually try and stick a movie out for the full 20 to see if it has any hope of redemption, but this was a cast of characters I immediately didn't care for, and I didn't care if they learned any lesson at all.

I learned I could get about 90 minutes of my life back if I turned it off immediately.

Final Grade: F.  Only the 2nd F I've given this year, but the shortest time viewing a movie.  Congratulations!

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: Seriously?

Looking For "Jobs" In All The Wrong Places

Jobs (2013)
Rated PG-13 - Language

Starring: Ashton Kutcher, Dermot Mulroney, Josh Gad

Directed by: Joshua Michael Stern

The Story:

The film opens with Steve Jobs (Kutcher) introducing the folks at Apple to his newest idea: the iPod (2001).  The we head back in time where he has dropped out of college, yet he still yearns to learn. Anything. Everything.  Next he's at Atari, where he brings in his friend Steve Wozniak (Gad) where they make a little miracle called Breakout, and then he's starting a business out of his garage.  The movie then jumps forward through the creation of Apple, Jobs ouster from his own company, until his triumphant return after being ostracized.

Well, that was something.

You know, I'll give Ashton Kutcher credit.  Buried under the beard, there are times it is easy to forget that this is the same goofy Ashton Kutcher we've come to know and either love or loathe over the last decade or so.  While I never would have pegged him to pull off a Steve Jobs role, he does a fine job as the star.

I Have A Dream...

It's the material that ultimately lets him, and the entire movie, down.

There is a story to be told, for certain.

Steve Jobs is a true visionary, and now that he is no longer with us, it's easy to see Hollywood lining up to tell his tale, whether it be honest or a hatchet job.

Only the people that were there can really verify the authenticity of what we are seeing on the screen, and the guy that lived every moment isn't going to call anyone on it, so where does that leave us?

Is Wozniak or Mike Markkula (Mulroney) going to come out and say "no that's not true..." or "yes, that's exactly what happened..."

Doubtful.

Therein lies the greatest problem with the movie.

That 70s Show!

They wanted to tell so much, in the end, they barely tell anything.

Each incident is glossed over quickly.  Years pass, people have moved on, and it simply is.

For example, Jobs first daughter, Lucy, whom he wants nothing to do with.

By the end of the movie, Steve is happily married, Lucy is hanging at his house and he has his own family now.

What the?  When did that happen?

It's staggering jumps like that which make the narrative a little hard to follow.

Separated at iBirth

I suppose if you are fully immersed in the back story already, this will simply be a Cliff's Notes version of the life of Steve Jobs.

If you only knew a little, this is a sampling of what his complicated life had to offer, and you'll be disappointed that it didn't reveal more.

At least that's where I'm at.

Final Grade: C

Would I Watch It Again: Nope, I think once was enough.

Would I Buy The Movie: Not a chance.