Strange But True..."American Made"

American Made (2017)

Rated R

Starring Tom Cruise, Domhnall Gleeson, Sarah Wright,

Directed by Doug Liman

The Story:

In 1978, Barry Seal (Cruise) was a burned out TWA pilot who was recruited by the CIA to fly reconnaissance missions for them. In the years that follow that would turn to drug and arms smuggling for both sides. However when you work for the cartels and they suspect you're double-crossing them, your story will not have a happy ending.

Naturally, based on a true story goes without saying here.

Liman and Cruise are together again in the exploits of Barry Seal.

The story jumps around with what happens next, inter-spliced with video narratives by Seal taping confessionals of his unbelievable story to a camcorder.

And it was a wild ride that Barry lived.

Dramatic license or not with the actual events, this is a guy who flew spy missions for the CIA and smuggled drugs for Pablo Escobar.

Throw in arms dealing in a little thing called the Iran Contra Affair and the story is just over the top crazy.

But it's true.

It's also a pretty good film.

And that's never a bad thing.

Final Grade:  B-

The Freedom Of The World Rests On "Dunkirk"

Dunkirk (2017)

Rated PG-13

Starring Fionn Whitehead, Damien Bonnard, Mark Rylance, Tom Hardy, Kenneth Branagh,

Written and Directed by Christopher Nolan

The Story:

Late May 1940, the Allies have been pushed out of Europe and now are desperately bunched up on the beaches of Dunkirk awaiting transportation back to England. Thankfully, Hitler decides to stop the advancement of tanks on their location and this gives the Allies the small window to charter boats (and lots of them!) to cross the channel and save the troops. They hope to get a small fraction out... they end up saving them all.

For those that failed to read up on their history, this is indeed based on the true story of a pivotal moment that saved Europe from completely falling under Hitler's relentless march.

Nolan's three-headed tale bounces between land, sea, and air to show different people trying to escape death or heading straight into it to save lives.

It's a good film, but I didn't find it nearly as great as much of the hype that followed it.

Best war movie ever? That's pretty lofty praise.

I would argue that it wasn't even the best war movie of last year. I'd give that title to yesterday's film that I reviewed, Darkest Hour. They even touch on the Dunkirk evacuation, and I felt in the brief moment of that mission, they almost conveyed it in a better scope than the entirety of this film.

But that's just me, feel free to judge for yourself.

Final Grade: B

Understanding Serial Killers..."Mindhunter"

Mindhunter (2017)

TV-MA

Starring Jonathan Groff, Holt McCallany, Hannah Gross,

Created by Joe Penhall

The Story:

FBI Agents Holden Ford (Groff) and Bill Tench (McCallany) have trained law enforcement officials from coast to coast. However, they are about to embark on something off the beaten path as they decide what better way to figure out the mind of a killer, than to actually sit down and interview them.

Should I mention this is based on a true story?

It's the 70s, and while serial killers existed, they had yet to have that term attached to them.

In fact, there's a lot of things that these first two pioneers of profiling would create as they bounced from coast to coast discussing WHY with some of the worst of the worst to ever stand before a court.

It's a slow burn...

But man, is it intense and fascinating!

At 10 episodes in length, it doesn't suffer from many of the pacing issues that plague the shows that extend into the teens.

Be warned though, it is driven by a very dialogue-intensive narrative.  So if you aren't a fan of talking heads in your police dramas, this may not be the show for you.

That being said, the slow burn effect keeps building throw the series and at the last episode, you want nothing more than to start the next episode to find out what the heck happens next!

This Netflix original is available to stream whenever you're ready to venture down the seedy side of town.

Final Grade: A-

Good...Not Great..."Battle of the Sexes"

Battle of the Sexes (2017)

Rated PG-13

Starring Emma Stone, Steve Carell, Andrea Riseborough, Bill Pullman, Sarah Silverman, Elisabeth Shue

Directed by Jonathan Dayton & Valerie Faris

The Story:

In 1973, Bobby Riggs (Carell) challenged Women's # 1, Billie Jean King (Stone) to a tennis match to prove that men were the superior sex in the world of sport. Shenanigans ensued.

I'll file this under uneven, and leave it at that.

Except, where's the fun in a one line review?

So stretching to 2 hours, because half the movie seemingly focuses on King's sexual discoveries with hairdresser Marilyn Bennett (Riseborough).

It's a necessary portion for a biographical picture such as this one, but it's also the weakest part of the entire movie.

Much more interesting were the break from the tennis circuit by King and all the ladies under the leadership of Gladys Heldman (Silverman) and their clashes with Jack Kramer (Pullman).

Even more interesting was Bobby Riggs and his quirks that were quietly destroying his relationship with his wife (Shue).

When it's Riggs vs. King at the finale of the movie, the energy is there and it's quite good.

I'd go so far to say that it's Carell and Pullman in the adversarial roles that helped shaped King's career that make this movie as watchable and entertaining as it is.  Remove them, and this would be a bland mess.

Final Grade:  B-

Whatever Doesn't Kill You Makes You "Stronger"

Stronger (2017)

Rated R

Starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Tatiana Maslany, Miranda Richardson,

Directed by David Gordon Green

The Story:

In 2013, terrorists set off explosive devices at the Boston Marathon. One of those survivors, Jeff Bauman (Gyllenhaal) was there to cheer on his on-again/off-again girlfriend, Erin (Maslany). His courage and strength became a huge part of the #BostonStrong movement. Here is his story, warts and all.

I've been down this road before with 'based on true stories' before.

You want to like it, and you feel bad when you don't, because this was somebody's real-life story, not a character brought to life by the imagination of a screenwriter.

I would say if you wanted to watch a movie about the Boston Marathon bombing, go watch the far superior Patriots Day.

The biggest issue I had with this movie was Jeff Bauman himself.

He's an ass, pure and simple.

Sure, you feel bad for the guy and the situation that he's been put into, but he really wasn't that likable before the accident, and afterwards, he becomes nearly insufferable.

To his credit, Gyllenhaal comes across exactly as that.

You feel for the guy, then the next minute, you wouldn't mind punching him in the face.

Then there is Erin, the long-suffering girlfriend of the guy that wouldn't be there for her, then the one time he does something nice for her, this happens. How's that for a guilt trip, and she feels obliged to literally put her entire life on hold to be there for Jeff.

Do they really love each other?

Hard to say, but the implication is that they are simply bound together by fate, and actual feelings take a backseat in Boston.

Final Grade: C

You'll Never Make It At The Next Level... "Greater"

Greater (2016)

Rated PG-13

Starring Christopher Severio, Neal McDonough, Leslie Easterbrook, Peter Gray Lewis, Frederic Lehne, M.C. Gainey, Mark Dobies,

Directed by David Hunt

The Story:

Brandon Bulsworth (Severio) dreamed of playing for the Arkansas Razorbacks since he was little. He lacked the size, but he had the heart. If only he could get his chance, he could show the coaches, and the world, what he could do.

Naturally, based on a true story.

Bulsworth's life is probably part of Arkansas lore at this point, but for the rest of us, it's a nice movie that flashes back to Brandon's life as he struggles to become...well... greater than what he is.

His high school coach believes in him, and gets him a tryout at Arkansas. They are unimpressed, but Brandon foregoes a full scholarship at a junior college to instead walk on at Arkansas. The financial impact will likely cripple his mother (Easterbrook) and his big brother (McDonough) is frustrated that Brandon's heart is overruling his head.

However, you can probably tell where this movie is headed.

After all, they rarely make movies about has beens, or never weres.

Of course all of this is told via flashback as we prepare for Brandon's funeral.

Because on top of the inspirational football life, Brandon was a devout Christian, whose faith and determination helped him become the man that he was.

Which of course leads his brother to the awful question of why do bad things happen to good people.

It's a fine balance that the film walks, as it is neither a complete sports movie nor is it a complete faith movie.  Both are presented equally, fairly, and are well done.

Even though you know what the movie is building up to, you may still find yourself with a lump in your throat by the end.

Final Grade: B+

Let's Do The Time Warp Again..."GLOW"

GLOW (2017)

TV-MA

Starring Alison Brie, Betty Gilpin, Marc Maron, Sydelle Noel, Chris Lowell, Britney Young, Britt Baron, Kimmy Gatewood, Sunita Mani,

Created by Liz Flahive & Carly Mensch

The Story:

It's 1986 and Hollywood has-been Sam Sylvia (Maron) has been tasked to direct something that's never been done before: an all-women's wrestling show. So the open audition goes out, and hundreds of actresses come to the audition, but when they find out there will be wrestling involved, most get up and walk away. Those that survived the initial cut might go on to make the first wave of women's wrestlers the world would come to know as GLOW: The Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling.

This is their story.

Ish.

:)

At the center of the story is Ruth (Brie) an actress who never quite lands the role of a lifetime, and realizes that all of the best parts go to men. She may not be a wrestler, but she wants it more than any of the other ladies that are there.

The biggest problem, she just slept with the husband of her best friend, Debbie (Gilpin) and when Sam decides to build the show around Debbie as Liberty Belle, it appears that Ruth is going to be expendable as a wrestler.

Ah, but as any wrestling fan will tell you, to have a good hero, you must have a great villain, and as the show evolves, Ruth will become the best possible villain any mid-80s wrestling hero could ask for.

My hat is off to the creators and stars of the show for taking me back to the 80s to relive the fun that was GLOW.

In 10 episodes that run just a shade over half an hour, the show builds quickly, not wasting a lot of time, yet each episode further fleshes out the overall storyline and the dozen actresses who are going to put their body on the line in the name of entertainment.

Dividing the first season into thirds, it's the middle act that cements everything.

What is going along pretty well in the first act, gets turned up to 11 once Ruth finally finds her true calling and gets her character. Also, Debbie's realization that wrestling isn't stupid...it's a soap opera, and that is something she is good at, and it all begins to click for her as well.

Then as the season winds down, it reveals it's heart and at this point you're so invested in the characters that you'll feel their pain even as they try and keep their smiles on for the cameras and their co-workers.

It's a whole lot of fun, and I think even if you've never cared for wrestling before, you might just find yourself digging what these ladies have to offer.

I would also be remiss to not mention how good Maron is in his role as director. I swear he gets the best lines in the show, and his delivery is impeccable. If this was being filmed 30 years ago, I'd swear he was the second coming of Terry Kiser.  Don't worry, I'll give you a minute to Google him if you don't remember. :)

Once you've finished Season One and await what will hopefully come next, there is also a documentary: GLOW: The Story of the Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling (2012) streaming on Netflix as well. Clocking in just a little over an hour, you can relive the lightning in a bottle that was GLOW and how much fun the original show was for them, and their millions of fans.

Myself included.

And 30 years later, count me as a fan of the New GLOW as well.

Final Grade for Both:  B+ / A- range

The War To End Absolutely Nothing..."War Machine"

War Machine (2017)

TV-MA

Starring Brad Pitt, Anthony Hayes, John Magaro, Anthony Michael Hall, Emory Cohen, Topher Grace, Aymen Hamdouchi, Alan Ruck, Nicholas Jones,

Written and Directed by David Michod

The Story:

General McMahon (Pitt) is brought in by politicians to help clean up the mess that is the war in Afghanistan. Except McMahon isn't used to tidying up anything, if there's a war, he's there to win it. Which is exactly what nobody apparently wants, except McMahon.

Welcome to one of the latest Netflix originals to roll out this year.

It's based on a true story.

It's also a satirical look at the war effort in Afghanistan.

Your mileage will vary on how well either of those work as an overlong film written and directed by Michod.

In a nutshell, McMahon and his staff are seemingly doing very well, but through an article written by Rolling Stone, it undermines McMahon's credibility and leads to his ouster.

Pitt plays McMahon as a caricature of an actual person.

Normally, this works to some extent, but Pitt dials the caricature of McMahon to 11; some of the mannerisms given to McMahon such as the facial expressions, the voice, you can't quite tell if they were going for outright parody or not in the film.

They become almost a distraction throughout the film.

So with an uneven tone, a leading man who is all over the map on whether or not you need to take what he's doing at face value, or to laugh at what he's saying or doing, it makes this a mess.

Just like the war in Afghanistan.

In that regard, mission accomplished.

Final Grade:  C

Against All Odds..."Into The White"

Into The White (2012)

Rated R

Starring Florian Lukas, David Kross, Stig Henrik Hoff, Lachlan Nieboer, Rupert Grint

Directed by Petter Naess

The Story:

In the early days of World War II, the Allies and Nazis were hoping to gain access to the mineral deposits in Norway. As both sides waged aerial battles for dominance, on one mission, a German bomber is shot down as well as a British aircraft. The 3 Nazis (Lukas, Kross, Hoff) find an abandoned cabin to wait for the weather to die down and allow them to march back to the sea. The next day two British (Niebor, Grint) arrive and are taken prisoner. To survive the elements, and each other, both sides will need to work together to outlast a severe Norwegian storm.

Yes, it's based on a true story.

Not nearly an action or war film, it's a drama about 5 men who are thrust together in a desperate situation and forced to survive.

As the time in the cabin stretches, so do the nerves of the men as they must put aside their differences if they have any hope of survival.

This keeps the movie running at a slow pace, though it does attempt to keep you riveted as the situation becomes more and more desperate and the men become less hostile to one another.

Naturally, there will be a few curveballs thrown at everyone along the way.

Humanizing the faces of war, you'll find these are likely the 3 "best" Nazis to appear on screen in likely forever.

Nice to see this true story of men overcoming the element and each other brought to the screen.

Final Grade: B-

Space Race Relations..."Hidden Figures"

Hidden Figures (2016) B+

Rated PG

Starring Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, Janelle Monae, Kevin Costner, Kirsten Dunst, Jim Parsons, Mahershala Ali, Aldis Hodge, Glen Powell

Directed by Theodore Melfi

The Story:

In the race to beat the Russians into space, NASA was coming up short. Test after test was proving fruitless. Al Harrison (Costner) has ordered the first IBM computer, but it's taking forever to arrive and get installed. So he turns to the human computer section, and is sent Katherine Johnson (Henson) who can do computations better and faster than anyone else. Meanwhile Dorothy Vaughan (Spencer) can see the writing on the wall: with IBM on the way in, she and all the rest of the human computers are on their way out. Finally, Mary Jackson (Monae) is asked a simple question - why aren't you an engineer?

You guessed it, based on a true story.

Elevator pitch was probably The Right Stuff meets The Help.

Boiled down to the basic framework of the story, that's an apt description. The best part, those were both pretty good movies in their own right.

Hidden Figures doesn't let them down.

Johnson's story gets the most screen time, but the three stories interlock nicely together.

There is enough glimpse of life outside of NASA (as well as inside) that paint the Civil Rights portrayal as a whole without overshadowing what these ladies were all bringing collectively to the table in their own lives and to the history of NASA.

The cast is an amazing ensemble of talent...

however...

The casting of Jim Parsons struck me as odd.

I don't watch the show he is on, but I know enough about it and his character to know they annoy me.

So when he shows up here, it just felt more like stunt casting, let's give the comedy guy a serious role to show his range.

Meh.

However, you wanted to give me a character I didn't like, well, bravo, his casting sure helped.

:)

Aside from that though, inspiring stories, very well done by all involved.

Absolutely worth your time.

Final Grade: B+ / A- range.

You'll Have It His Way...Or Else! "The Founder"

The Founder (2016)

Rated PG-13

Starring Michael Keaton, Nick Offerman, John Carroll Lynch, Laura Dern, Linda Cardellini,

Directed by John Lee Hancock

The Story:

Ray Kroc (Keaton) was a salesman on the road trying to make a fortune. When a restaurant out in California ordered multiple milkshake makers, Kroc assumes it's a mistake and heads west. When he meets the McDonald brothers (Offerman & Lynch) he is struck by how efficient, and delicious, their restaurant is. He wants to franchise their restaurant. The boys are reluctant at first, but eventually relent.

The rest, as they say, is history.

Keaton is on fire with his acting career over the last few years. The Founder is no exception. He plays Kroc with a drive and ambition to get his franchises off the ground and turn them into a household name.

Stymied at nearly every turn by the McDonald brothers, he can't seem to figure out how to turn a profit on the restaurants.

Then, as Lucy Van Pelt once lamented that all she wanted was real estate...

Kroc is told to buy the land, and rent the property to the new franchises.

Not only does this turn the tables for Kroc, it also establishes McDonalds as one of the largest property owners on the planet.

Highly recommended.

Final Grade: B+

All That Glitters..."Gold"

Gold (2016)

Rated R

Starring Matthew McConaughey, Edgar Ramirez, Bryce Dallas Howard,

Directed by

The Story:

Kenny Wells (McConaughey) is a down on his luck miner who has one last shot at the big time. He heads to Indonesia to meet Michael Acosta (Ramirez) and promises to get him the money to search for gold. Kenny gets the investments to come pouring in, and Acosta gets Kenny the gold that he promised, and even more money pours in.

Of course if that were the full story, it wouldn't be a very good movie.

And since this story is based on true events, it seems like something is missing.

Ah yes, the fact that there was no gold, or at least, not where they were looking.

Acosta delivers some gold in the core samples to Kenny to pass off to Wall Street and other investors.

They hear "gold strike" and they literally threw money hand over fist to get in on the deal before it passed them by.

Follow the twists and turns as Kenny balances the high-wire act to secure the financing and all the ups and downs that met him along the way.

Then there is the finale of the movie and it resonates with a did it or did it not really happen that way?

Only a few people know for certain, and they sure aren't telling.

Final Grade: C+

Boston Strong... "Patriots Day"

Patriots Day (2016)

Rated R

Starring Mark Wahlberg, John Goodman, Alex Wolff, Themo Melikidze, J.K. Simmons, Kevin Bacon,

Directed by Peter Berg

The Story:

A beautiful morning for the Boston Marathon in 2013 gives way to chaos as the Tsaranaev brothers (Wolff & Melikidze) detonate bombs near the finish line. Sgt. Tommy Saunders (Wahlberg) is pulling security and is near ground zero when the bombs explode. He helps lead the Boston Police Department and the F.B.I. manhunt to capture the suspects before they can strike again, or leave the city to strike elsewhere.

Naturally, this is based on a true story.

The 2nd true story for Mark Wahlberg to save the day is better than Deepwater Horizon.

As I mentioned in that film review, it's hard to accurately gauge the entertainment value on a movie where lives were lost and every day people step up and do heroic things.

The main argument that Patriots Day seemingly endured was the every man police sergeant who was in the right place at the right time at every step of the investigation.

Well, it's called a narrative device people. :)

It allows the story to flow a little better instead of jumping around from points A-F and introducing new characters along the way.

It's not a documentary.

It is engrossing and engaging.

It's also uplifting and poignant.

The drama of the police hunt, the emotional barrage of the victims of the bombing.

Keep a tissue handy, you might need it.

Very well done, but I've also come to expect that from Peter Berg who continues to craft very well made movies throughout his career.

While I rarely go back and watch movies like this again, I could see this as being an exception to that rule.

Final Grade:  B+

Greed Isn't Good...It's Delicious! "Waffle Street"

Waffle Street (2015)

TV-PG

Starring James Lafferty, Danny Glover, Julie Gonzolo, Dale Dickey

Directed by Eshom & Ian Nelms

The Story:

James Adams (Lafferty) is a successful broker who ends up taking the fall when his firm is hit by the financial crisis of the early 2000s. He loses his job, and becomes untouchable by other firms. So he attempts to find another job...any job... but being a numbers guy for so long, he's got no real skills to do anything else. He finds himself in a 24 hour waffle house one day with a help wanted sign outside. The rest, is history.

Naturally, this is based on a true story.

James becomes a server, and develops a friendship with the rest of the staff, several of the regulars, and the short order cook, Edward (Glover).

His plan, to put in the hours, save up the money and buy his own Waffle Street franchise so he can be the boss, and reclaim some of his past glory and financial security.

Naturally, things don't always go as planned.

This is a cute little comedy/dramedy that relies on the likability of the cast and the honesty of the source material to keep you invested in the story.

Nothing exceptionally groundbreaking here, but if you're searching around Netflix for something new to stream, here's 90 minutes that are worth your time.

Final Grade: B- 

Criminal "Masterminds" Indeed!

Masterminds (2016)

Rated PG-13

Starring Zach Galifianakis, Kristen Wiig, Kate McKinnon, Owen Wilson, Jason Sudeikis, Leslie Jones

Directed by Jared Hess

The Story:

In 1997, David Ghantt (Galifianakis) pulled off one of the largest bank heists in American history when he robbed the Loomis Fargo armored car company of $17 million dollars. This is pretty much his story, and it's mostly all true.

Ghantt meets the lovely Kelly (Wiig) and he is so smitten with her that he would do anything. When Kelly leaves the company, Ghantt is depressed until she contacts him again about the possibility of robbing Loomis of all that money just sitting in the vault.

Ghantt agrees, and becomes the inside man that gets the money and passes it along to Kelly and Steve (Wilson), the brains behind the operation. They take the money, send David to Mexico with a few thousand dollars to lay low, and then plan to cut the guy loose while they keep the rest.

There are a few laugh out loud moments, but for the most part, this is a retelling of a true story that punches up some of the humorous aspects of what really happened, and pads the rest with creative story devices and characters to add meat to the story.

Sudeikis pumps some much needed fun and energy when he arrives as a hitman that is to eliminate Ghantt, but even that doesn't go right.

Nothing that reinvents the comedy genre, but it's harmless enough, and gets a lot of extra mileage from an enjoyable cast of characters.

Final Grade:  C+

War Is Hell... "Hacksaw Ridge"

Hacksaw Ridge (2016)

Rated R

Starring Andrew Garfield, Hugo Weaving, Rachel Griffiths, Teresa Palmer, Vince Vaughn, Sam Worthington,

Directed by Mel Gibson

The Story:

Desmond Doss (Garfield) is a conscientious objector who still feels the need to serve his country during World War II. He enlists but refuses to carry a weapon. He simply wants to be a medic and do his part by saving people.

This is his true story.

The actions and decisions by Doss at an early age shape his beliefs as he grows older. He makes a fateful mistake one day that has nearly tragic consequences.

His parents (Weaving and Griffiths) are of course a huge influence on the man he would become. His father served in The Great War, and Desmond watches as everyone around him grows up and goes off to war.

He feels the need to make the sacrifice as well, even if it means losing the love of his life (Palmer) while in combat.

Of course the second half of the movie details Doss' training and the fact that the Army really didn't care to have someone unwilling to pick up a rifle take up their time and energy during basic training.

The movie establishes the rest of the characters at this point that will be a part of Doss' life until the fateful day on Hacksaw Ridge.

The horrors of war that Gibson portrays on film are just as effective as Spielberg's D-Day Invasion for Saving Private Ryan.

What Doss does once he gets to the top of Hacksaw Ridge is nothing short of miraculous.

It's an inspirational story, more than worth your time.

Final Grade: A-

The Fate Of History Decided In Court... "Denial"

Denial (2016)

Rated PG-13

Starring Rachel Weisz, Tom Wilkinson, Timothy Spall

Directed by Mick Jackson

The Story:

Historian and author Deborah Lipstadt (Weisz) is accused of libel by historian David Irving (Spall). He makes the accusation in England, where Deborah is forced to prove that Irving's claims are false. With Richard Rampton (Wilkinson) and his team on her side, she must prove that Irving's claims that the Holocaust never happened are patently false.

If she should fail, then the British government will be forced to rule that the Holocaust never happened.

How's that for a high stakes game of  Law & Order?

It's a fascinating, and sad, story to be told.

How anyone could deny what happened during World War II is unfathomable to begin with. To do so as an author and historian seems incredible to believe.  But here it is.

And did I mention it was based on the real court case that happened in the late 90s?

Because if I didn't, well, it was.

The entire existence of whether or not the Holocaust ever occurred was played out in an English courtroom.

To make things even more challenging, Rampton refused to let Leipstadt or any Holocaust survivors even testify.

They refused to give Irving any ability to question, interrogate, harass and belittle any survivor, as he was very much a "shock and awe" public speaker.

Instead, they would use his own words against him whenever possible, and rely on historical fact and inaccuracies in Irving's own published words against him to win the case.

If you're up for a good legal thriller, look no further.

Final Grade:  B

His Will Remained "Unbroken"

Unbroken (2014)

Rated PG-13

Starring Jack O'Connell, Domhnall Gleeson, Miyavi,

Directed by Angelina Jolie

The Story:

Louis Zamperini (O'Connell) went from being an Olympic medalist in Berlin to a POW in World War II in just the span of a few short years. When his plane crashes in the Pacific, Louis makes God a deal that he'll dedicate his life to following God if he surives. Louis and Phil endure 47 long, arduous days on a life raft with his friend Phil (Gleeson) before they are picked up by the Japanese and interned into a prison camp. There, he receives even more punishment under the brutal reign of the camp warden (Miyavi) but Zamperini's spirit remains...

wait for it...

Unbroken.

Cheesy, I know.

But then, this movie sometimes felt the same way.

On paper, it's one of those amazing but true, true life stories brought to life by Hollywood.

In practice, it was nearly 2 1/2 hours, and you literally feel every minute of it.

Zamperini suffered at the hands of the Japanese because he was a famous athlete. He was then given a chance to broadcast that he was alive and well back to America, much to the relief of his family.

When he refused to broadcast anti-American propaganda, he was returned back to the Japanese where further brutality awaited.

Again, there's nothing inherently wrong with the story, the actors, the direction, it just seemed like it was missing some key ingredient or two to make this film feel special.

If I'm going to devote over 2 hours of my life watching a film, I need that spark to keep me interested, and sometimes more importantly with movies, wanting to come back in the future to see it again.

This one was okay, but could have, and should have been so much more.

Final Grade: C+

'Eleven Hundred Men Went Into The Water'... "U.S.S. Indianapolis: Men of Courage"

U.S.S. Indianapolis: Men of Courage (2016)

Rated R

Starring Nicolas Cage, Tom Sizemore, Thomas Jane, Matt Lanter, James Remar, Brian Presley, Yutaka Takeuchi,

Directed by Mario Van Peebles

The Story:

Captain McVay (Cage) receives orders to deliver a Top Secret cargo which will help end World War II. Because of the secrecy, nobody is tracking the departures and arrivals of the U.S.S. Indianapolis. Once the cargo is delivered, McVay requests their tracking to be announced, but he is told since they "never officially arrived, how can they officially depart?" As they return home, they are torpedoed and sank in the Phillipine Sea. No rescue efforts were mounted, as no ship was presumed missing.

Naturally, this one is based on the true story of the U.S. Navy's single worst disaster in history.

If you've seen the movie Jaws, then you've heard this story encapsulated into one of the best monologues ever delivered in cinematic history, that of Quint's recount of surviving the sinking and the subsequent days of shark attacks on the survivors.

This movie stretches that 5 minute scene into 2 hours, but the film divides the storyline very well.

We get to know the Captain and the crew in the first half, so that when the attack and subsequent sinking occur, we feel sympathy and sadness as each character meets their fate, whether they survive the initial sinking or perish days later due to a shark or exposure.

Of the 1,100 men that went into the water, days later just a little over 300 came out alive when they were finally rescued.

The film ends with the court martial of Captain McVay, the only Naval commander to be court martialed for losing a ship during the war. Even the enemy submarine commander (Takeuchi) testified on whether or not McVay's decision of not to zig zag the ship played any part in the attack.

The attack haunted McVay in the years that followed. Families of those that lost someone called him for years and said hateful things to him until he could take it no longer.

It's a good, but not great account of the tragedy.

If you don't have the time though, spend 5 minutes and look up Quint's speech on YouTube if you've never seen Jaws before, or it's been years, and you'll save a few hours instead.

Final Grade: C

A Truly Bad Day At The Office..."Deepwater Horizon"

Deepwater Horizon (2016)

Rated PG-13

Starring Mark Wahlberg, Kurt Russell, John Malkovich, Dylan O'Brien, Gina Rodriguez, Ethan Suplee, Kate Hudson,

Directed by Peter Berg

The Story:

In April 2010, operational supervisor Jimmy Harrell (Russell) and his chief engineer, Mike Williams (Wahlberg) are trying to explain to BP executives why the Deepwater Horizon oil rig is overbudget and behind schedule. BP of course wants no more excuses so they order shortcuts to get caught up and back on schedule. Naturally, bad things are about to happen and the worst oil spill in history is about to occur.

Naturally, this film is based on a true story.

While it's not a documentary, and parts of it are dramatized, what is true is that corporate greed cost men their lives and spilled millions of gallons of oil into the ocean.

When it went to trial, naturally, BP executives got off with no charges.

Go figure.

Peter Berg continues to be one of those efficient directors that seemingly flies under the radar.  He makes a big budget film on a low budget, and makes the most of his cast, crew and editing. They are usually crisp movies that move along at a perfect pace and keep your interest from start to finish.

He re-teams with Walhberg, and set off on the quest to be an action drama that thrills and also leaves you holding your breath wondering how it's going to turn out, and who isn't going to make it.

Those people are honored as the end credits roll.

And that's part of what makes movies like this so difficult to watch.

You're both entertained, but at the end of the day, these weren't just actors getting killed to further the story, these were people who paid the ultimate price trying to do their jobs.

It also makes watching movies like this more than once a rare thing to do.

While they are technically sound and very well crafted, the subject matter doesn't cry out to be watched multiple times as an entertaining experience.

Your mileage may vary.

Final Grade: Solid B