Just Who Is "The Man In The High Castle" ?

The Man In The High Castle (2015)

Amazon Original Programming

Starring Luke Kleintank, Alexa Davalos, Rupert Evans, Arnold Chun, Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, Rufus Sewell,

Created by

The Story:

In 1962, World War II has been over for about 15 years. However, it was America that lost, and it is now divided into the Pacific States of America, controlled by Japan and the Greater Nazi Reich. In between is the buffer zone, which pretty much works as the Colorado Rockies. There is, however, some films being smuggled by the American resistance and sought after by the Nazis. The newsreels suggest a different timeline of the world where the Allies won World War II and the world turned out very differently.

For those with Amazon Prime, you've undoubtedly already watched this one. The pilot was their most watched show on their service.

However, if you haven't, you really should.

The settings, the costumes, the look of the show is nothing short of spectacular as they reinvent the early 60s and put a decidedly unAmerican spin on the country.

The show builds slowly, and centers on Joe (Kleintank) an undercover Nazi trying to get into the resistance and find these films; Julia (Davalos) who winds up with a film in her possession and quickly gets involved over her head; and Frank (Evans) who was with Julia until she vanished, and then has his world turned upside down until all he can think about is revenge.

Frank's story is the most heart-breaking of the main stories, and shows just how cruel the Axis powers could be.

However, that's not to say the Axis aren't just as riveting to watch with their stories, especially that of Obergruppenfuhrer John Smith (Sewell) who has always been a great villain, and he rises to the occasion once again. But to see the family man behind that steely Nazi glare, you almost, almost, sympathize for his situation at home.

So too Trade Minister Tagome (Tagawa) who wants to prepare his country for the moment he feels the Nazis will turn on Japan and seek total global domination.

There's a lot going on, but it's well worth your time.

I'm not sure where they're going with the story, and in many cases, that's a wonderful thing.

Currently streaming on Amazon Prime.

Season 2 coming soon.

Final Grade: B+

Good Versus Evil..."Standoff"

Standoff (2016)

Rated R

Starring Thomas Jane, Laurence Fishburne, Ella Ballentine,

Written and Directed by Adam Allenca

The Story:

Bird (Ballentine) witnesses a murder by Sade (Fishburne) and runs in fear. She winds up finding refuge at a nearby house where the owner, Carter (Jane) protects her. However, Sade wants her dead, and Carter's just about out of bullets in his gun. This may not end well for Bird.

That's pretty much the movie.

It's a rather claustrophobic set as 90% of the film takes place in Carter's house.

Carter holds the stairway to the 2nd floor with Bird while Sade roams freely on the first floor.

It's then a back and forth between the two as they trade barbs and stories with one another while each trying to save or kill the little girl.

Allenca does quite well for himself for the first time behind the camera and he keeps the movie moving along nicely.

He's got two fine actors who are clearly into their roles, and Fishburne owns the screen whenever he's on, and if he had a moustache, you know there would be a scene where he's twirling it.  He embraces the nobility of his villain and you can almost....almost... see his side of things.

A taut thriller enhanced greatly by two great actors.

Final Grade: B- / C+ range

We've All Known A Few... "Bloodsucking Bastards"

Bloodsucking Bastards  (2015)

Rated R

Starring Fran Kranz, Emma Fitzpatrick, Joey Kern, Pedro Pascal, Joel Murray,

Directed by Brian James O' Connell

The Story:

Evan (Kranz) thinks he is about to get promoted at work by his boss (Murray). Instead, he loses out to Max (Pascal) and things really begin to change around the office. Add to that, the fact that he lost his girlfriend (Fitzpatrick) due to a bone-headed decision, and suddenly Evan's life is horrible. The only thing that might make it worse, is discovering that his co-workers are being turned into vampires.

Yep, things are about to get worse!

Another fine entry in the horror-comedy genre has arrived, and it's great fun.

The cast sucks you in and you're along for the ride as Evan and his best friend Tim (Kern) slowly unravel the plot to turn everyone into vampires, and then battle for survival and to try and save Amanda.

However, in their defense, the vampire outsourcing program is a very sound fiscal and productive move.

:)

Blood will be shed...launched... across the screen, but that's part of the fun from the film.

It's played straight, and for laughs, all at the same time.

I've seen a lot of enjoyable horror comedy this year. This and Freaks of Nature are the cream of the crop.

Final Grade:  B+

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

I Really Didn't Like It... "Rock The Kasbah"

Rock the Kasbah (2015)

Rated R

Starring Bill Murray, Bruce Willis, Zooey Deschanel, Kate Hudson, Leem Lubany

Directed by Barry Levinson

The Story:

Richie (Murray) is a music manager who hasn't found the next-big-thing in a few decades. So he takes his only client on a USO tour in Afghanistan, she freaks out and bolts. Richie is all alone until he hears a magical voice singing from a cave and discovers Samir (Lubany). He thinks she could be the next Afghan Star, except for the whole how Afghanistan treats women thing.

And yes, it's based on a true story.

The bad thing...

I was sooooo bored within the first 20 minutes, I wanted to turn it off.

I don't even remember if I did.

I think I fast forwarded to the end of the film to see the happy ending.

I was just happy it was over.

Talented cast.

Sloppy execution.

Now available to stream on Netflix as of this writing.

Final Grade:  D-

Here Fishy Fishy... "In The Heart Of The Sea"

In The Heart of the Sea (2015)

Rated PG-13

Starring Chris Hemsworth, Benjamin Walker, Cillian Murphy, Brendan Gleeson, Brendan Whishaw, Tom Holland

Directed by Ron Howard

The Story:

Herman Melville (Whishaw) is ready to write his next novel. He wants to base it on what happened to the ship, The Essex that was reportedly attacked by a white whale in 1820. For research, he approaches Tom Nickerson (Gleeson) and learns of the fateful attack and the horrific aftermath of the ship sinking and what the surviving crew members had to endure.

Based on a mashup of several bits and pieces of the true story that Melville would create the fictional novel Moby Dick with, the bulk of the story takes place via flashback aboard The Essex. Rookie whaling Captain Pollard (Walker) and perennial first-mate Owen Chase (Hemsworth) butt heads from the get-go, but their determination to fill the ship with oil and return to port to be rid of one another fuels most of the voyage. Along the way, a young Thomas Nickerson (Holland) learns from them and the crew as they are beset with tragedies and unspeakable horrors after encountering the white whale.

Historians can pick this movie to pieces, but they are missing the point.

The sinking of the Essex did happen.

What happened next did happen.

Melville based Moby Dick on those events.

This movie puts all of the above into a blender and hits "go".

It's here to entertain, not turn into a faithful historical adaptation.

Ron Howard brings confident direction to the tale that failed to find an audience in theaters.

Perhaps too long...perhaps not interested enough in "another Moby Dick adaptation", I can't venture to guess.

It kept me interested from beginning to end, and the performances by everyone in the cast were exceptional. Gleeson's Nickerson as the man who's hidden shameful secrets for so long is positively heartbreaking when he finally expresses what happened in the lifeboats as the survivors waited endlessly for rescue.

Hemsworth is a commanding presence as the man who should be captain, and while he is the focal point of the movie, his supporting cast rounds out the film nicely.

A flawed gem from Ron Howard, but they can't all be masterpieces.

Final Grade:  B-

Nothing Can Stop... "The Wave"

The Wave (2015)

Rated R

Starring Kristoffer Joner, Ane Dohl Torp, Jonas Hoff Oftebro, Edith Haagenrud-Sandy

Directed by Roar Uthaug

The Story:

On the banks of the Norwegian fjord Geiranger lies one of hundreds of unstable mountain passes. These mountains have collapsed before, and the resulting tsunamis have killed dozens. The mountain pass is acting up, and it's only a matter of time until the unthinkable happens. And when it does, you only have 10 minutes to get to higher ground...or die trying.

No, this isn't your typical Hollywood disaster flick, this is Norwegian disaster flick that has everything you want in an action/thriller/disaster flick...

Except you have to read subtitles!

And it doesn't star The Rock.

:)

But when it's all said and done, Norway, you did really good.

The scenario of the movie isn't fictional, those mountains are cracking and those towns are in danger.

It's suspenseful, and you get to know the characters quickly and become attached to them.

Then disaster strikes, and you feel the pain as Kristian (Joner) has to decide whether to turn into town to save his wife (Torp) and son (Oftebro) or drive his daughter (Sandy) to higher ground.

Naturally, he does what a Dad would do, and tries to save the one.

Then he's going back to find the rest of his family and save them too!

The special effects are pretty good, and yes, it pretty much rivals a good Hollywood blockbuster, without the huge budget and cast of familiar faces.

Worth a whirl.

Final Grade: Solid B