A Who Dunnit For the Ages... "Knives Out"

Knives Out (2019)

Rated PG-13

Starring Daniel Craig, Ana de Armas, Chris Evans, Jamie Lee Curtis, Don Johnson, Michael Shannon, Toni Collette, Christopher Plummer

Written and Directed by Rian Johnson

On the night of his 85th birthday, Harley Thrombey (Plummer) gathers his family at his home to celebrate. However before the night is over, Harley is dead and everyone in his family is a suspect!


You can start with the old standbys when discussing Hollywood:

They're out of new ideas.
They don't make them like they used to.

Then Rian Johnson effectively says, "hold my beer" and dusts off the all-star murder mystery of days gone by and sends you on a twisty turvy ride that grabs your attention and doesn't let go.

Will you solve the whodunnit before the reveal?

Quite likely.

Will you still remain engaged throughout?

Absolutely.

I would almost dare to defy a movie lover to not enjoy this film.

I've bemoaned bloated running times and how many movies could/would have been much better if they had left 30 minutes (or more!) on the cutting room floor.

This film is precisely the opposite.

So well paced, it never feels like it stretches over the 2 hour mark, and I don't think I would have been bothered if there had been more scenes left in or extended.

It's a testament to Johnson's script and the assembled cast that they flesh out every character from the leads to the bit players and give everyone on a screen a fully realized three dimensional person.

The movie never cheats the audience or itself in the slow reveal of the entire story, and that in itself is worthy of praise.

A sequel is reportedly in the works, most likely centering on Benoit Blanc (Craig). If it's half as good as this first adventure, it will be a rollicking good time.

Try Not To Offend "The Other Woman"

The Other Woman (2014)

Rated PG-13

Starring Cameron Diaz, Leslie Mann, Kate Upton, Nikola Coster-Waldau, Don Johnson, Niki Minaj

Directed by Nick Cassavetes

The Story:

Carly (Diaz) is a successful lawyer who has found the guy of her dreams (Waldau).  However, when she finds out that he is married to Kate (Mann), she immediately ends things.  When Kate discovers that her husband was cheating on her, she becomes depressed, then obsessed with hanging out with Carly.  When they both discover that he had been cheating on BOTH of them with Amber (Upton), then it's on.  The trio team up to take the scumbag down.

This was much funnier the first time I saw it.  It was called "The First Wives Club".

:)

This version falls squarely into the "it's okay" pile.

Good, not great.

Diaz does fine as the lead.  The story does a nice job of ensuring that none of the ladies are to blame for anything.  This is all squarely on the shoulders of the guy.  None of the girls know the others even exist, so you can sympathize with each of them.

However, while I normally enjoy Mann's work in film, this time she dials the screeching nutjob up just a hair too much and spends much of the movie being annoying.  You would think that someone that smart and supposedly independent would be a little stronger and less needy when the chips are down.

Upton isn't given a whole lot to do except parade around in a bikini.

However, she's given a funny ending that you'll see coming but is still a nice payoff for her character by the end of the film.

Why they decided to include Niki Minaj in this film, besides being able to say "this is her first role" is beyond me as that role could have (should have) been given to anyone that can actually act. :)

Finally, it was nice to see Don Johnson pop up, albeit way too briefly in the film.


Final Grade: C

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: Sorry, not enough going for this one to merit a purchase or to really bother to see again.

Fore? I'd Give It A Five! "Tin Cup"

Tin Cup (1996)

Rated R for language

Starring  Kevin Costner, Rene Russo, Don Johnson, Cheech Marin

Directed by Ron Shelton

The Story:

Roy "Tin Cup" McAvoy (Costner) is a golf pro at a dusty old course in Texas.  He gets a new golfer, psychiatrist Molly Griswold (Russo) who Roy flips for.  The problem, she's dating his old friend, and PGA sensation David Simms (Johnson).  Simms dares McAvoy to try out for the US Open, and so begins Roy's road to redemption to qualify for the Open and try and win Molly away from Simms.  Will he win the Open and the girl, or flame out on both?

Kevin Costner makes excellent sports movies.

As golf is technically a sport, this is one of my three favorite golfing movies.

Yes, Caddyshack and Happy Gilmore are the other two.

:)

This one has the added bonus of being a romantic comedy, and a pretty good one, so both the guys and the ladies should have little problem compromising and enjoying this one together.

See, the perfect date film can sometimes be a sports movie too!

Written and directed by Ron Shelton, the man knows his way around a sports film.  Having delivered his first feature, Bull Durham (baseball) with Costner and also helming White Men Can't Jump (basketball) and Play It To The Bone (boxing).

I think that just means he owes us a football and hockey film, and he'll have hit all of the main sports.

Cheech Marin works as Roy's beleaguered best friend and caddy who tries to help Roy with his golf game, but gets exasperated when his advice falls on deaf, and often dumb, ears.

Johnson comes across just slimy enough as the bad guy.

It appears that he and Marin hit it off rather well as the two would star in Nash Bridges for the next 5 years after Tin Cup was made.

Costner and Russo make a fun on-screen couple.

The film ends perfectly with a nod to what makes sports, and sports moments great.

As the years pass, people forget who won and lost, but the 'moment', whether they are great or dubious plays, live forever.


Final Grade: A-

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: This is a fun one to break out every so often and watch again.  It's fun everytime.