MOVIE REVIEW - The Call

Halle Berry is back in a starring role, in the stirring new action drama, The Call.

The Call is the story of Jordan (Berry).  She is an experienced 911 call operator who makes a tragic, but honest mistake during an emergency call.  A young girl is on the line with her explaining that there is an intruder in her home.  After the call becomes disconnected, Jordan calls her back. The intruder hears the ring, finds and eventually kills the little girl.  Jordan blames herself, and leaves the active 911 call center to become a teacher of same.

Then during a training session, a far less experienced 911operator gets an emergency call from a young girl named Casey, (Abigail Breslin).   Casey has been kidnapped by the same lunatic that killed the other girl that Jordan blames herself for.   So Jordan takes over the 911 call and attempts to make it right for herself, and to hopefully save Casey from the same fate.  Can they find Casey in time as they comb the entire city of Los Angeles to find her?

This is a pretty interesting idea for a movie.  It is very cool to go back stage at a major 911 call center and see how they do what they do on a daily basis.  Much of this movie is Jordan talking Casey through this horrible ordeal as Casey is stuffed in the trunk of a car, with an untraceable, disposable cell phone.   Sounds a bit boring I know.  But skillfully, they do keep you entranced in that conversation, and a whole lot of that is pretty compelling stuff.

Then a huge mistake in the movie and the story itself.  After her shift with the ordeal still not over, Jordan gets in her car, and heads up to the last known location Casey and her captor were though to be.  In the middle of the night, in the middle of nowhere, she discovers the place where Casey is. And goes in and rescues her.  It's not quite a simple as that, and this is not a spoiler problem.  You know the whole time this is going to have a good ending.  But at this point in the movie after a pretty good first hour, the last 30 minutes is just stupid, and silly.

There are a TON of unanswered questions about our characters, especially our villain that have no real resolution at all.  I mean they allude some things, but who is he really?  Why is he doing this exactly, and his motivation?  You really don't know.   How is it that Jordan, can make about 20 horrible decisions once she discovers the scene?   And where is this place, and where did it come from?  (if you see it you'll know exactly what I mean).  And of course, the ending.   Not exactly closed for another one of these.  And that's the thing. Can't we just make one singular movie anymore?   Does everything have to be set up for sequel?

But I will say, this is a pretty good idea for a cable TV show.  I could see this concept being adapted over to a weekly show.  This idea is not without merit.  But his is a movie here, and not a TV show.  So write your story, tell it, and be done with it.

Berry and Breslin are pretty good here. Berry has the lions share of the spotlight, as Breslin is mostly in the trunk, or in a compromising position, but I like her.  At 17, she's really growing up as an actress, and is shedding the chains of being a childhood kid in the movies.  This is a nice transitional role for her.  Sad the entire project isn't a bit better. 

The Call.  Good beginning, good idea.  In the end, too many mistakes to be taken seriously.

MOVIE REVIEW - The Incredible Burt Wonderstone

There's a big cast in the new comedy, The Incredible Burt Wonderstone. Wonder if it can pay off with a good movie?

It's the latest Steve Carell comedy, with Steve Buscemi, Jim Carrey, Olivia Wilde, James Gandolfini, Alan Arkin and others.  With this ensemble, you would think this is a can't miss!  And full disclosure, there were a few scenes in this movie where I laughed out loud in the theater.   And as funny as they were, it's too bad there were not more of them.

This is the story of two huge magicians, Burt (Carrell) and Anton (Buscemi).  They have been friends since childhood, and have become the biggest magic and illusion act on the Las Vegas Strip.  But they can't stand each other, and the troubles begin.  Their act is getting old and tired, and attendance at their shows is slipping.  Plus, there is a new hot act in town, Steve Gray (Carrey.)  He is a new kind of lunatic magician, and has a big following on he Internet and on a TV show.  He does magic a new way, that consists of punishing stunts, and outrageous gags.  And he is killing Burt and Antons act.

So, Burt and Anton break up and go their own ways.  Burt falls the farthest, ending up doing magic at a retirement home.  There he meets Rance (Arkin), his childhood idol magician who tries to reintroduce Burt to the love of magic like he had as a kid. Can Burt make it all the way back? Will Burt and Anton get back together?  And where does Jane (Wilde) fit in to the plans, as she is a young and beautiful up and coming magician that has an interest in Burt.  That is where we are here.

After watching this movie I was thinking over the pro's and con's of it.  I think the main problem is the weakest link, and that's Carell in the lead.   He's just not funny here.  His act is old and tired and it's been a long time since his really funny performance in Bruce Almighty.  He has nothing new to add to this movie he hasn't already done. He is the killer for this movie. His batch of unoriginal takes, and worn out bits really hold this back.  The supporting cast is much better than he is. I like him much better when he's just a guy. Like in Dan In Real Life, or Hope Springs.   

But one thing really learned by me today, and I think by his maturation, is Jim Carrey.  He has a very small, but important role here, and he is pretty darn funny.  Unquestionably, he is becoming far better as a side dish, and not a main course.  He made me laugh a few times, pretty hard.  And finally a role for Olivia Wilde where she gets some decent air time, and is asked to do a few things.  I really like her, in these supporting roles as she is a fresh new face.  Her opening scene was really funny, as she is tossed onstage to be an assistant with Burt and Anton during a Vegas performance with no experience.  Really funny.

This movie also takes time to make a small point that was pretty interesting.  It is an indictment of sorts of what we think is funny, and what is flat out gross, or tasteless.   What is the line between really funny and really not funny.

The Incredible Burt Wonderstone.   Moments of fun, moments of not fun.   Average script saved by some talented people.  Not a bad night at the movies, if you can make it past Carell.

MOVIE REVIEW - Emperor

In limited release it's the new post WWII movie, Emperor with Mathew Fox, and Tommy Lee Jones.

This movie from me will get originality points right up front.  This is the story of post war Japan from the perspective of  United States Army General Bonner Fellers (Fox) .   He is given the charge by Supreme Commander Douglas MacArthur  (Jones), to investigate the Japanese Emperor and to see if he, as figurehead of the country of Japan was responsible for the war with the United States.  Or if he simply sat back while the political leaders of that country ordered the attack on Pearl Harbor and started the war.  Pretty interesting stuff.  But sadly, that's where the originality points end.

I always like movies with stories you have not seen before.  But this movie takes a pretty good idea, and makes it ordinary.  The story is very intricate and too difficult to explain quickly here.   But what this turns into, is Mathew Fox driving around in a jeep throughout bombed out Japan, asking a bunch of questions and doesn't get many answers.   And that's a shame.  There are moments of real good movie making here.  There are some riveting scenes, and I especially liked the final sequence when the Emperor himself meets MacArthur.  There is some well written dialogue at times that showcases the fact that war is hell, and no matter what side is fighting, there are consequences.

There is also too much narration done by Fox's character throughout this movie, that doesn't make it better, just more boring.  I guess in the end, the real crime of this move is that it's a really good and original idea, and is presented in a very bland and unoriginal fashion.  You also have to have some idea about WWII to really get all that is presented here.   They really don't take time to give you a history lesson while you watch, and that's fine with me. No sense dumbing it down too. They assume those going have a working knowledge of WWII, and that's to their credit.  But it's not enough to save it.

Emperor.   For a niche audience for sure.   Should have been better.  Might have been a far better TV documentary with this idea.

MOVIE REVIEW - OZ Great And Powerful

This is the toughest kind of movie to review.   The trouble with movies like OZ is, virtually everyone who is going to see this, loves it before they even buy a ticket.   And there are somethings to love here, just not what you would expect.

Oz, is the prequel to the original Wizard of Oz from 1939.  It's the story of how the Wizard came to OZ, and how he became the great and powerful.  James Franco was given the role of The Wizard.   He is a hack magician in Kansas in 1905 in a traveling show.   What he really is, is a con man who makes many enemies.  So in a frenzied escape from a swindle gone wrong, he takes off in his hot air balloon, and straight into another tornado.   He then crash lands in the land of OZ.  There he is greeted by a witch (Mila Kunis), who begins to fall in love with him.

They travel to the Emerald City, and begin big plans to rule OZ together, as he is the answer to a long anticipated plan for OZ.   Then it all goes wrong, as more witches enter the fray, and jealously takes hold. And suddenly, Oz himself finds himself with the actual "good witch" of the south (Michelle Williams), and the other sister witches launch a diabolical plan to rule OZ with and iron fist.  So, can Oz the man, the good witch and her people save the land of OZ so all may be free?  In nutshell, that is this movie.

Just what we need, more witch and sorcery movies right?  OK, enough sarcasm, but in the end, that's what this is. It's a visual feast, and that is what it required in this era of movie making to get the core to go. Now that there is no more Harry Potter around, we get this.   The visual is the draw, the story is fair at best, and the payoff is basically average at best.   But the story is not why most are going. This is 3-D, regular D, and IMAX 3-D in some areas.

Franco is fine as Oz.   He certainly looks like a crook, as his smile and general attitude is that of a con man. Being fair, he was better than I thought he would be.  Kunis is who she is, but she has certainly been better in other movies.   The fact is, all the actors in this movie look like they are in school when Michelle Williams is on screen.   Williams is sensational in this role of the good witch.  She is alluring, gentle, and perfectly cast.  She is maybe the most quiet superstar in Hollywood. She has been great in virtually everything she has been in, and she dominates this movie with her amazing acting talent.  This movie is way better when she's on screen. She is schooling everyone else in this movie, as at times they all look over matched in many scenes with her.

Oz Great and Powerful.  Good, not great. The only thing great and powerful in this movie is Michelle Williams. 

MOVIE REVIEW - Dead Man Down

It's new, it's heavy and it's the new Colin Farrel, Terrence Howard inner city crime piece, Dead Man Down.  Among the other things it is, is boring.

This is a very sullen, dark, dank drama that deals with inner city organized crime, revenge and an attempted love story.  This is a strange movie.  It actually has a rather exciting ending, and a pretty good crescendo moment.   But the trek to get there is slow, arduous, and painfully slow.

Farrell is Victor.   He is part of an organized crime family,  and is in the inner circle as is a trusted member, especially by the crime boss, Alphonse (Howard).  The crime ring is having a feud with other crime rings in New York City and members of his crew are being killed methodically.   As paranoia grows, a new wrinkle develops.  

A beautiful young woman, Beatrice (Noomi Repace)  seemingly befriends Victor.   Then while on a date, she states her real intention, and that is to blackmail Victor as she saw him kill a man in his apartment and has it on film.   She says Victor must kill a man who was a drunk driver and caused a terrible car accident that has left her facially disfigured.   She has no idea who Victor really is, and what he does for a living.

Turns out that the crime family doesn't know who Victor is either, as he is actually the mole that is killing off gang members, extracting his own ounce of revenge.  I know this sounds a bit interesting, and the basic premise is.  Trouble is, that this has a hard time getting off the ground.  In fact, some of this is very sleepy, and staying awake might be a chore.  This is all filmed very dark, everyone speaks in very low monotone voices, and there is not much emotion, or action for the first 90 minutes.  Man, wake me up when the good parts come on.

And the end is a pretty good payoff, and clearly the chemistry between Beatrice and Victor is there, and you know where that is eventually going.  You do kind of have the feeling the whole time that it will end well.  But the journey there is pretty tough.  As good of a cast as this has, and as deep as this story is, there is a reason it's a March release, that's because it's pretty marginal.

Dead Man Down.  You're getting sleepy....very sleepy....

MOVIE REVIEW - The Last Exorcism 2

When you step back and analyze it, by sheer definition this movie should never had been made.  Seems the original The Last Exorcism would have signaled that indeed, number 2 would not be needed.   But this is number 2 alright.

First off, this is horrible.   It is he sequel to the  2010 original that I don't remember being this bad.  Ashley Bell stars again as Nell who is still being pursued by this horrible demon and wants to pro-create with her.  As it is revealed in this sequel, the demon has a deep love for her.  If it comes to be that they do procreate "everyone will die."

This is a great example of a movie that is about 90 minutes long, and absolutely nothing happens.  This is not scary, this is not compelling,  this is not anything at all except bad.   A very poor script, with mediocre at best acting.  No special effects that make any difference, and a wimpy, wimpy approach that clearly goes way out of it's way to maintain a PG-13 rating. That of course, is to ensure that middle school kids can go to this movie and make same dough.  Mix it all up and what do you have?   A silly, watered down piece of garbage that middle school kids can go to, but won't and if they do, won't be scared or even entertained in the slightest.  There is no reason to go, rent, borrow, or pay-per-view this movie - ever!

Makes me wonder about movies like this. Any film maker knows this is horrible the minute the copies go out in the UPS truck.   Seeing how the average movie is about 40 million to make how does this kind of movie really make it out of the studio?   This first weekend out is always the biggest, and this brought in a measly 8 million last weekend.  And there is not much hope as we move on to expand on those numbers.  Yeah rentals down the line, I get it, but everyone on earth better rent it. But they won't.  This is terrible, and nothing can save it.  

The Last Exorcism 2. Honestly, I can't say one good thing about this movie.  

MOVIE REVIEW - Phantom

Every now and again a movie falls into the "what a shame" department.  And that sadly is the new in limited release, Phantom.  

Phantom is loosely based on the 1968 incident of the Soviet submarine K-129 during the height of the cold war between The United States and the former Soviet Union.   K-129 was a Soviet sub that carried nuclear missile's sank and disappeared in strange fashion.   There has been tons of speculation since then about what her actual mission was.  Why did she sink?  And did the sub go rogue and attempt to perfect first strike nuclear capability.   And did it try to start a nuclear war?   This movie speculates the latter.

Phantom has a great cast with Ed Harris, David Duchovny and Julian Adams.   This is a classic "submarine" movie that virtually all takes place on the sub. It shows the inner workings of the Soviet sub command and the plot from the KGB to overtake the sub, and attempt to begin WWIII.  Should be noted again, this is not a true story, but based on some kind of legend from the Cold War. The writers have their theory and that's fine.

Clearly the writer has a real passion for this subject matter, and story.  But sadly, they have a hard time translating that to an effective movie.   The story they write is interesting enough most of the time, but predictable dialogue, and really unoriginal filming hold this back.  It also is a bit disjointed, and has an ending that may have you scratching your head a bit, as it is an attempt at cool but falls flat.  I was really surprised by the lack of imagination here, the the uninspired writing with such a cool canvas to paint on.  Original concept, but same old same old in the end.  It looks and feels like 20 other submarine movies.

The performances are fine, with what they had to work with, and honestly this is not a bad movie by any means.  It just lacks the punch it needs to be next level, or at least be a nice surprise in the middle of winter.

Phantom, just a shame.  Should have been much better.