It's Hard To Describe "Hap and Leonard"

Hap and Leonard (2016)

TV-MA

Starring James Purefoy, Michael Kenneth Williams, Jimmi Simpson, Bill Sage, Christina Hendricks, Pollyana McIntosh,

Created by Nick Damici & Jim Mickle

The Story:

Hap (Purefoy) and Leonard (Williams) are best buddies with a long history together. When Hap's ex (Hendricks) brings them in to find some missing money from a bank heist years earlier, they're going to cross paths with some crazies in the hopes of finding a lost fortune.

This was a puzzler for me.

Based on a series of books, this show is on the Sundance Channel.

Season 1 is currently streaming on Netflix, and it popped up in my recommended list feed.

It's starring James Purefoy? Sure, why not? I'm a fan.

So I watched the first episode...

And it was very slow... deliberate maybe?

A black comedy/crime noir-ish escapade is a tough sell.

It starts off good enough with a great car chase that establishes the main story that will drive the next five episodes.

Then it cuts to the future, or in our case, the past as this takes place in the late 80s.

However the rest of the episode wanders all over the place, so this is a tough one to gauge.

With only 6 episodes, I figured it couldn't be that bad, and it wasn't.

It actually got a little better as each episode got a little more footing and backstory under their belt.

The show was wise in choosing Simpson as a whacked out criminal as the brains behind the scheme.

However without the chemistry between Purefoy and Williams, then this show would have been dead on arrival.

I won't be chomping at the bit to stream season 2, but if I've got the time, I'll be back.

Final Grade: C+   

There Goes The Neighborhood..."High-Rise"

High-Rise (2015)

Rated R

Starring Tom Hiddleston, Jeremy Irons, Sienna Miller, Luke Evans, Elisabeth Moss, James Purefoy

Directed by Ben Wheatley

The Story:

Dr. Laing (Hiddleston) moves into a futuristic high-rise designed by The Architect (Irons). It has all the amenties that you could ever want, and the residents leave only to go to work...if at all. However, as the building continues to have power and other issues, a class-war between floors seems inevitable, and the whole building plunges into chaos.

Well, that was something alright.

Based on a novel by the same name, this freaky look back at a possible future in the swinging 70s is all style, and either no substance, or too much substance.

That the entire citizenry of a building would devolve into total anarchy instead of, oh, I don't know...

MOVING OUT!!!!

Seems ludicrous to me.

As a book, or a movie.

But okay, I get it, you're trying to tell a story, so sometimes you have to suspend reality a bit.

However, in the end, much like the tenants of the building, I watched myself descend into an uncaring state of what happened to these characters.

That's never a good thing in the movies.

Especially one filled with so many talented actors.

Bright side, the recreation to capture the look and feel of the 70s was pretty amazing.

That said, it's now available to stream on Netflix if you'd like to check it out for yourself.

Final Grade: D+

It Could Have Been Epic... "Solomon Kane"

Solomon Kane (2009)

Rated R

Starring James Purefoy, Rachel Hurd-Wood, Pete Postelthwaite, Max Von Sydow, Jason Flemyng, Samuel Roukin,

Directed by Michael J. Bassett

The Story:

Solomon Kane (Purefoy) is a privateer who learns that he's been destined to join the Devil in the afterlife. Rejecting that, he vows a life of  pacifism. As he goes about his life, he is savagely attacked and left for dead, nursed back to health by some pilgrims. When they are attacked and Meredith (Hurd-Wood) is taken captive, Kane decides to do whatever he must to save her, even facing the wrath of Malachi (Flemyng) and the Masked Rider (Roukin).

That's a lot of story to try and condense into one little synopsis, and perhaps that's partly why the movie wasn't more successful.

The 2nd of author Robert E. Howard's greatest creations (Conan), Solomon Kane is a pulp movie eye candy that takes itself seriously enough to avoid the derision and scorn that greeted the likes of Van Helsing when it took itself less than seriously.

Perhaps Kane though is too dark, and that could also be a problem.

What isn't a problem, besides the look, sets, scenery, costumes, effects, etc. is Purefoy's casting as the lead character. I saw him in A Knight's Tale in 2001, and have been a fan of his ever since. Sadly, he doesn't turn up terribly often, but I guess that helps keep his appearances fresh and leaves us wanting more from him.

That definitely beats overexposure!

So not bad, but definitely a genre picture for a specific audience.

It seems like they planned on making it a franchise, but I'm thinking when it's almost a decade since the first one, those plans likely have fallen by the wayside.

Currently streaming on Amazon Prime.

Final Grade: C+

The Proverbial Blast From The Past... "A Knight's Tale"

A Knight's Tale (2001)

Rated PG-13 for language, violence and partial nudity

Starring Heath Ledger,  Rufus Sewell, Shannyn Sossamon, Paul Bettany, Mark Addy, Alan Tudyk, James Purefoy

Directed by Brian Helgeland

The Story:

William Thatcher is a squire whose master dies.  He assumes the identity of the knight to compete and feed himself and his partners Roland (Addy and Wat (Tudyk).  On their journey to tournaments, they meet a young man named Chaucer (Bettany) who forges paper for William that allows him access to bigger and better tournaments.  Then William  sees the lovely Jocelyn (Sossamon) and is in love, and this brings him into direct conflict with Count Adhemar (Sewell).  Will the charade work, or will everything come undone?

I have heard people moan and groan about how much they don't care for this movie...

I am in the other camp.

The happy camp, that enjoys this movie and revels in how much fun the movie is having.

Yes, that includes the usage of rock music in a medieval setting.

A lot of people hated it.

For me, it works.

I don't come to this one hoping for a fairly historical drama.

I want fun.

And that's exactly what we are given from start to finish.

The entire cast is pitch perfect... Sewell as Count Adhemar is a particularly perfect evil foil to Ledger's hero.

I am still torn over which Heath Ledger performance is my favorite, this one or 10 Things I Hate About You. 

You can take his turn as The Joker.  I'll enjoy these films instead.  Way more fun...

Paul Bettany seems to be having a blast as Chaucer, and his introductions at the fight are nothing short of legendary.

A small, but pivotal role is James Purefoy as Sir William Colville... who also isn't exactly what he seems either.

: )

This movie gets a lot of airplay in our house.

A lot.

No complaints.

Final Grade: A

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: Own it. It gets watched at least once a year.  When it wears out, Blu Ray upgrade. ;)