Still A Trick Or Two Up His Sleeve.."Wild Card"

Wild Card (2015)

Rated R

Starring Jason Statham, Michael Angarano, Milo Ventimiglia, Stanley Tucci,

Directed by Simon West

The Story:

Nick Wild (Statham) is a bodyguard in Vegas with a heart of gold but with a big gambling problem. Probably not the place to run a business if you've got that kind of issue. Cyrus Kinnick (Angarano) comes into town and wants to gamble big this weekend, so he hires Nick to keep him safe. During that same weekend, Nick stops by for a little revenge session on a thug (Ventimiglia) who beat one of his friends. The bad part, that guy has connections, and now it seems all of Vegas is after Nick. Can he beat the odds and get out of Vegas in one piece?

Wild Card has a great pedigree with the cast and crew assembled, but it hits a few rough notes along the way. That's odd for a movie written by William Goldman, so it's hard to tell if it's deviating from the script or trying to stay true to the story.

It's another one where there are long stretches without action, so that might cause the usual Statham fans to start having withdrawls, but stick around, when he does go into action, it's always worth it.

There are several supporting characters that are in the movie and then disappear without much further fanfare, so it seems odd. Why even introduce them if they aren't going to play any importance in the film?

That complaint aside, I enjoyed the ride from beginning to end. A few familiar beats throughout the movie, but when you've seen a lifetime of action films, it's not easy to find something new.

Normally, you just hope that you aren't disappointed.

I'm rarely disappointed with the entries in Statham's catalog of work, and this one is no exception.

Currently streaming on Amazon Prime as of this writing.

Final Grade:  B- / C+ range

The "Spotlight" On A Great Movie About A Terrible Subject

Spotlight (2015)

Rated R

Starring Michael Keaton, Rachel McAdams, Mark Ruffalo, Brian d'Arcy James, Liev Schreiber, John Slattery, Stanley Tucci

Directed by Tom McCarthy

The Story:

It's 2001 and The Boston Globe gets a new editor (Schreiber). As he feels his way into the job, he decides to pull his Spotlight team (Keaton, McAdams, Ruffalo, James) and put them on the hunt about a Catholic priest who may have abused multiple children and his exploits were known and covered up by the Catholic Church. What starts with dead-end after dead-end soon unravels one of the most scandalous real-life stories ever told.

Wow.

That is likely the feeling you will get as you watch the film and when it concludes.

It deserves every accolade it received, and while I see a great vocal assortment of film watchers clamoring that this movie should not have received the Best Picture Oscar, and it should have gone to The Revenant instead.

That simply reminds me that many people can be wrong.

:)

The cast all give strong performances, and it's a little sad that Brian d'Arcy James doesn't even get billing on the movie poster. He gives an honest, raw performance of a news reporter who wants to tell the world, or at least his corner of it, but can't due to his duty to the story.

Strangely, only Mark Ruffalo's performance is the one I cared for the least. He seemed a little too excitable and manic, and several times I smiled thinking he would turn into The Incredible Hulk when he started stressing out.

Well worth your time and energy.

It should begin streaming on Netflix sometime this summer if  you haven't seen it by then.

Final Grade:  A

I Really Doubt "Transformers: Age of Extinction" Is The Last Film In The Franchise

Transformers: Age of Extinction (2014)

Rated PG-13

Starring Mark Wahlberg, Nicola Peltz, Kelsey Grammer, Stanley Tucci, Jack Reynor,

Directed by Michael Bay

The Story:

It's been 5 years since the Autobots and Decepticons waged war and destroyed Chicago. Now the American government has declared war and is hunting down the remaining Autobots and Decepticon survivors. When robotics tinkerer Cade Yeager (Wahlberg) discovers Optimus Prime, he revives the leader of the Autobots, and the few remaining Autobots gather to help Cade and and his family to take down the government contractors that are using Transformer technology to create their own version of Autobots for sale.  However, as is standard with all Transformers plots...

There is more to it than meets the eye.

:)

Oh come on, you know I had to do it!!

So, I've watched the 3 previous Transformer movies.  Couldn't tell you what happened in any of them except:

Shia LaBeouf whined a lot.
Megan Fox attempted to act a little.
Transformers fought, a lot, in poorly lit action sequences.

So I come back, a glutton for punishment apparently.

However, this one improved in at least 3 obvious ways:

No Shia.
No Megan.
No poorly lit action sequences.

Congratulations and welcome to the best installment of the Transformers franchise.

Granted, that's not saying a whole lot. ;)

With a bloated, nearly 3 hour running time, the movie rarely dragged, which is a good thing.

But still, at nearly 3 hours, I can watch 2 really good 90 minute films instead.

Still, had a good enough time and if there is another film, I'll check it out on DVD.

I'm a glutton for punishment, remember?

Final Grade: C+ maybe even a B- if you push me hard enough.

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: Nope, once was good enough, but at least it was better than all of the previous versions before it.

Who Are These Guys? "The Impostors"

The Impostors (1998)

Rated R for language

Starring Stanley Tucci, Oliver Platt, Alfred Molina, Tony Shalhoub

Written & Directed by Stanley Tucci

The Story:

Maurice (Platt) and Arthur (Tucci) are two out-of-work actors who offend an actor (Molina) and wind up as stowaways on a cruise ship.  However, as they attempt to remain out of sight from the authorities, there are other nefarious plans afoot on the ship.  Nobody is to be trusted on this ship filled with Impostors!

This is an obvious homage to the days of Laurel and Hardy and the Marx Brothers.

Tucci and Platt make a wonderfully adept comic team who work well off one another trading straight man/comedian roles throughout the film as the situations change.

The each keep stumbling into various plots of death and sabotage as they try and stay hidden from the authorities.

Naturally, all of the storylines and cases of mistaken identity will collide in the final act.

The movie is a bit uneven, with various degrees of amusement and hilarity and stretches where it isn't as funny.


Final Grade: C.. maybe C+

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: It was a fine one-time viewing, I would have little need to watch it again.

Farewell To March... "Shall We Dance?"

Shall We Dance (2004)

Rated PG-13 for language

Starring Richard Gere, Jennifer Lopez, Susan Sarandon, Stanley Tucci

Directed by Peter Chelsom

The Story:

John Clark (Gere) is a lawyer who has found that something is missing in his life.  He loves his wife (Sarandon) and family, but he's not quite happy.  On the ride home one night, he sees Paulina (Lopez) at a dance studio and impulsively rushes over to take dance lessons.  He winds up with a different teacher (Anita Gillette) but still, something about dance seems to make John...happy.  So he continues to practice, but keeps his new secret from his wife which sets off a chain of misunderstanding that threatens his homelife.

Not a bad flick at all.

It's a tough sell though...is it a romantic comedy? A Dramedy?

It's charming and humourous throughout.

It straddles a fine line because John isn't happy in life, but he's not cheating on his wife, though it's possible that was his intention when he first got off the train.

Instead, he finds that dance is that passion he never knew he was missing.

Add in the always sensational performance from Stanley Tucci as a co-worker who also secretly enjoys to dance, and you've got a pretty enjoyable flick .

Final Grade: B/B- range

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: I would have no problem letting this play again...not sure I would need to buy it though.

A Peek Behind Hollywood's Curtains... "America's Sweethearts"

America's Sweethearts (2001)

Rated PG-13 for language

Starring Julia Roberts, Billy Crystal, Catherine Zeta-Jones, John Cusack, Hank Azaria, Christopher Walken, Seth Green

Directed by Joe Roth

The Story:

Lee Phillips (Crystal) has been fired as a movie publicist by his boss (Stanley Tucci).  However, when the latest film is being held hostage by director Hal Weidmann (Walken) they beg Lee to come back and try and save the movie that stars the split power couple of Gwen and Eddie (Zeta-Jones and Cusack).  Can Lee save the movie and the couple?

I may be in the  minority but I am one of the few that likes this movie.

I found the film to be very funny and engaging when normally all-star films like this flop.

With Crystal as the helm as one of the writers, all of the characters have a unique voice and vision within the film.  Even the smallest parts have something to add overall to the film.

Hank Azaria probably has the best role in the film as the home-wrecking Spaniard with the crazy accent. :)

It's an interesting, if madcap look at life behind the camera as well for Hollywood stars. 

You can see the romantic setups coming from a mile away, but with the cast and storyline that's assembled, it is definitely a ride worth taking.

Final Grade: B-

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: I do own a copy of this movie, and I would say it gets a spin every few years.

Rough Seas Ahead..."Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters"

Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters (2013)
Rated PG for Violence

Starring Logan Lerman, Alexandra Daddario, Douglas Smith, Leven Rambin, Brandon T. Jackson, Anthony Head, Stanley Tucci

Directed by Thor Freudenthal

The Story:

The halflings of the gods return as their safe haven is threatened by outside forces that want to destroy the gods of Olympus.  The only way to save the world is to hunt down the Golden Fleece.  However it is Percy Jackson's (Lerman) rival Clarisse (Rambin) who is selected for the quest.  However Percy and his best friends Annabeth (Daddario) and Grover (Jackson) go on their own quest.  They are joined by Percy's newly discovered half-brother, Tyson (Smith), who just so happens to be a Cyclops.

I enjoyed the first Percy Jackson film, and no, nobody in the family has ever bothered to read the books, so no comparison to the source material will be forthcoming.

It's an enjoyable movie that's suitable for the whole family to watch together.

It's also been a few years since the first film, so now I'm curious to go back and watch it again and see how this story builds off of it.

Naturally, not enough time is given to Head and Tucci to be much more than plot device managers, but they both do a fine job with their limited screen time.

Plus, Tucci probably has the funniest line/gag in the whole movie, so that's something.

:)

I Am Stanley Tucci... Acting God!

The story itself is fairly straightforward, but it helps tie the two movies together rather nicely.  Some of the action sequences are tremendously inventive and fun, and the special effects are really well done throughout.

Wondering how the actual aging of the stars will affect future sequels, but sign me up for a third installment, because they leave on enough of a cliffhanger to want to see what happens next.

That's much better than the alternative.

Final Grade: B-

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: I will likely pick  it up in the future and add it to the library next to the first installment.

It's Not What You Know, But Who..."The Company You Keep"

Wait, they still have newspapers?

The Story:

Back in the 70s, several Weather Underground activists robbed a bank and killed a security guard.  They disappeared and went into hiding. Over 30 years later, the first (Susan Sarandon) has attempted to come forward to clear her conscious.  A reporter (Shia LaBeouf) tackles her story and begins to peel back the layers and discovers that a local lawyer (Robert Redford) is one of her accomplices.  The dominoes begin to fall as the lawyer begins to run...

But is he running because of guilt, or innocence?

I wasn't sure what to expect when I got this one.  It's got a great cast from leads to bit parts.

Who haven't I mentioned yet?

Nick Nolte. Chris Cooper. Terrence Howard. Stanley Tucci. Richard Jenkins. Sam Elliott and many more.

Granted, the movie falls squarely on the shoulders of Redford and LaBeouf as the two carry out their two stories that weave together throughout the movie.

It was a solid action/drama/thriller.

I won't discuss much more because I don't want to ruin any of the twists and turns for anyone who hasn't  seen it and would like to.

I will say that Redford, much like Eastwood, has developed into a really great director in the latter half of his career.

The main difference, Redford doesn't get the critical acclaim like Eastwood does.

Either way, this was a pretty entertaining movie.

Feel free to give it a spin, I think you'll be pleased with your choice.

Final Grade: Solid B

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: Not quite as fun as Redford's Sneakers, but not bad.  I could watch it again.

Fee Fi Fo Fum...This Movie Doesn't Smell Bad at All! "Jack the Giant Slayer"

This is the stuff of legend...

The Story:

Jack (Nicholas Hoult) comes into the possession of some magic beans, and naturally there is a beanstalk involved.  The princess Isabelle (Eleanor Tomlinson) is whisked away to the clouds, and the King's men, including the captain of the guard (Ewan McGregor) and Sir Roderick (Stanley Tucci), her betrothed are on a mission to rescue her.  Feeling it was his responsibility, Jack goes along as well.  When they arrive, they must find the princess and escape the Giants, led by General Fallon (Bill Nighy).  Ah, but fairy tales are never that simple...

First, I intentionally made the synopsis much shorter than normal.

I would hate to give away everything that is charming about this retelling of the classic fairy tale.

I must admit that the opening of the story is very charming how it flashes between Jack and Isabelle growing up and learning the stories of the Giants.  It sets up the entire story in just a few short moment, introducing all of the players and the backstory of the giants and how they can possibly be defeated.

Then we immediately move to the present when the two are much older, and they bump into one another in the market while Jack is on his quest to sell the horse.

Fate naturally intervenes, and Jack gets the magic beans of legend, but again, like the rest of this story, even the beans have been fully fleshed out with how and why they exist, and like everything else, much thought and care was put into the entire backstory.

The scenery and special effects in the movie are absolutely beautiful to behold.  The actors are all really good in their roles.  While Jack and Isabelle were newcomers to me, Ewan McGregor seemed to be having a blast playing a supporting character and having a good time with it.  Plus, the always great Stanley Tucci is on hand to add a layer of slime to his performance as the bad guy who isn't a giant.

I enjoyed this one quite a bit, and I think the kids did too.  They didn't walk out anyway... ; )

Final Grade: B... maybe even B+

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: I actually own a copy of this film, thanks to winning a contest!  That was pretty cool.  Makes me even more pleased that we liked it. : )