Mark Wahlberg continues to make movies with stories that need, and should be told. Deepwater Horizon is the latest flick to do this.
This is based on the story of the sinking of the massive oil rig Deepwater Horizon in the Gulf Of Mexico in April of 2010 where 11 men lost their lives. We all kind of know what happened, but what really happened, and who are these brave people that work well off shore on those oil platforms?
This stars Wahlberg as Mike Williams, a real technician on the DH. It also stars Kurt Russell, Kate Hudson, John Malkovich and Ethan Suplee in a nice breakout role for him. All of our stars are actual real characters from the real story. It is told from Williams point of view who somehow found his way off the DH under amazing circumstances.
This movie puts you right on the DH, and place that we never get to go. How many of us have actually been on a rig? The sets are amazing, and the casting of our characters and the total supporting cast is terrific. The special effects are sensational, as this is extremely intense, exciting, and very suspenseful. This is incredible movie making in every regard.
As far as the plot is concerned, this places the blame for this horrible disaster right at the feet of B.P. Oil. They did NOT own the rig, as they hire companies who know what they are doing to drill and capture the oil. Here, the BP brass overrides the company and pushes the DH to over perform and go against protocol and safety procedures. This is not an anti-energy movie, but it is not afraid to place blame where they feel it belongs.
This movie also takes the time to let us get to know these people on these platforms. And shows us what kind of lives they lead, which none of us really know. They also explain what the DH was, and what role it played in the gulf. And how the system works at large. This is a very exciting movie, that is right on time for this time of the year. It's grown up, and is helping usher in the fall movie season where the better movies start showing up.
Deepwater Horizon. Flat out good all the way around.
Friday, September 30, 2016
Tuesday, September 27, 2016
MOVIE REVIEW - The Magnificent Seven
Many people who go to see this star-studded western will have no idea this is a remake of a movie from about 50 years ago of the same name. Same basic premise, but not the same movie.
The M7 from the 60's was even more star-studded at the time than this one, and was a big hit. But this time Denzel Washington leads a strong cast, in this really well done remake directed by the ever improving, Antwon Fuqua.
Sadly, for some reason westerns in this era don't do the box office they should. Yes, this did open number one but this is certainly a hit, and absolutely very good. This is far more like Tombstone (1993), True Grit (2010), and Unforgiven (1992) than the original M7 in its feel, look and overall presentation. Our stars are great, and Washington continues his march on, as a reinvented tough guy in his second career.
This stars Washington, also Chris Pratt, Ethan Hawke, and many others, in this story of revenge and redemption. A poor western city is being taken over by a horrible bunch of terrible people for profit and a few members of the town hire a few strong gunmen to push back. It's a classic formula, and it works. It pits really tough, and bad men, against really tough worse men. A feel far more authentic than the 1960's John Wayne classics of simply good versus bad.
This is very well done, with incredible character development, and a story that is timeless. This is also filmed beautifully in the wonderful mountainous backdrop of the American west. The music soundtrack is strong and our performances same. This is also shot in the classic western style of Clint Eastwood style of westerns. Many very tight facial shots, with strange characters to showcase the tension in the room. This technique was certainly researched before shooting, and works very well still. Tombstone used the same formula and was great there too.
Yes this is violent, but not bloody or gratuitous. This is powerful, and exciting with a strong plot, and a very nice payoff. Kudos to our supporting cast, sets and costuming, all extremely good and really adds to the entire project.
The Magnificent Seven. Terrific!
The M7 from the 60's was even more star-studded at the time than this one, and was a big hit. But this time Denzel Washington leads a strong cast, in this really well done remake directed by the ever improving, Antwon Fuqua.
Sadly, for some reason westerns in this era don't do the box office they should. Yes, this did open number one but this is certainly a hit, and absolutely very good. This is far more like Tombstone (1993), True Grit (2010), and Unforgiven (1992) than the original M7 in its feel, look and overall presentation. Our stars are great, and Washington continues his march on, as a reinvented tough guy in his second career.
This stars Washington, also Chris Pratt, Ethan Hawke, and many others, in this story of revenge and redemption. A poor western city is being taken over by a horrible bunch of terrible people for profit and a few members of the town hire a few strong gunmen to push back. It's a classic formula, and it works. It pits really tough, and bad men, against really tough worse men. A feel far more authentic than the 1960's John Wayne classics of simply good versus bad.
This is very well done, with incredible character development, and a story that is timeless. This is also filmed beautifully in the wonderful mountainous backdrop of the American west. The music soundtrack is strong and our performances same. This is also shot in the classic western style of Clint Eastwood style of westerns. Many very tight facial shots, with strange characters to showcase the tension in the room. This technique was certainly researched before shooting, and works very well still. Tombstone used the same formula and was great there too.
Yes this is violent, but not bloody or gratuitous. This is powerful, and exciting with a strong plot, and a very nice payoff. Kudos to our supporting cast, sets and costuming, all extremely good and really adds to the entire project.
The Magnificent Seven. Terrific!
Saturday, September 10, 2016
MOVIE REVIEW - Sully
Clint Eastwood directed it, Tom Hanks stars in it, and the true story supplies the backdrop for this bio-pic of Captain Sullenberger. The pilot at the controls of the US Airways flight that went into the Hudson a few years ago.
Since the actual flight only lasted 208 seconds, there has been a lot of speculation if there is enough story to make this as a feature movie. What this is, is the back story of the investigation that followed the accident where every single person got off safely. Some of this you know, and some you don't. I always think that is a sign of good movie making, where you have a story where you know the eventual outcome, and still have it being compelling and interesting.
This is Eastwood's real first wading into the CG world, and being honest, the scenes where the landing is showcased are quite good. It successfully puts you on the plane, and in the cockpit, a place few of us seldom get to go. Might be interesting to see how actual pilots view this, but from a citizens view, it looks pretty good. But I, and every other critic can't honestly tell you if it's authentic or not.
This movie also understands well, that this has a story to tell, and says it in about a hour and thirty-five minutes. Good move. They take this about as far as it can go, and this does not get old and repetitive. Hanks is very good and the supporting cast, although small, is well cast and quite good.
Is this fantastic? No, but it is interesting and sometimes it is nice to see a movie that showcases an actual event that does have a good ending. Even though the plane is ill-fated, the eventual outcome is basically a happy one. This is not too intense for most, it is compelling and done tastefully where essentially anyone can go. One of the more tame Eastwood flicks ever.
Sully. Available to you in IMAX as well.
Since the actual flight only lasted 208 seconds, there has been a lot of speculation if there is enough story to make this as a feature movie. What this is, is the back story of the investigation that followed the accident where every single person got off safely. Some of this you know, and some you don't. I always think that is a sign of good movie making, where you have a story where you know the eventual outcome, and still have it being compelling and interesting.
This is Eastwood's real first wading into the CG world, and being honest, the scenes where the landing is showcased are quite good. It successfully puts you on the plane, and in the cockpit, a place few of us seldom get to go. Might be interesting to see how actual pilots view this, but from a citizens view, it looks pretty good. But I, and every other critic can't honestly tell you if it's authentic or not.
This movie also understands well, that this has a story to tell, and says it in about a hour and thirty-five minutes. Good move. They take this about as far as it can go, and this does not get old and repetitive. Hanks is very good and the supporting cast, although small, is well cast and quite good.
Is this fantastic? No, but it is interesting and sometimes it is nice to see a movie that showcases an actual event that does have a good ending. Even though the plane is ill-fated, the eventual outcome is basically a happy one. This is not too intense for most, it is compelling and done tastefully where essentially anyone can go. One of the more tame Eastwood flicks ever.
Sully. Available to you in IMAX as well.
Thursday, September 1, 2016
MOVIE REVIEW - Hands Of Stone
This movie goes into wider release this weekend, and may be worth a look.
This is the story of the very flashy boxer from the late 1970's and 80's, Roberto Duran (Edgar Ramirez) and his hectic career. Based on a book of the same name, and is written from Duran's point of view. This is a sympathetic piece towards Duran and attempts to explain the reasons why Duran was the way he was.
This takes us from his very troubled youth in Panama, until basically his famous "no mas" fight with Sugar Ray Leonard. And then on to his eventual comeback a couple years later. This is an interesting movie that continues in the really nice new trend of sports movies, that uses sport as a backdrop, but tells the story of the man first and sports second.
This also showcases the relationship between Duran and his reluctant trainer Ray Arcel (Robert DeNiro). There are some really nice aspects to this, but this does have its troubles. As well as this is filmed, especially the fight scenes, much of this looks like a ton of other boxing movies. There is a formula and they follow it. Being totally fair, this would be a very nice 30 For 30 on ESPN. This is a story worth telling, but I'm not so sure there is enough to carve out a 2 hour theatrical presentation.
But there is a bunch of good here. Both Ramirez and DeNiro give great performances. The fight scenes are very well done and authentic. The supporting cast is fair, and the overall picture is decent. I won't say this is a opportunity missed, but I will say there just may not be enough there to support this movie in his form. Seems here we say the same thing a few too many times.
Hands Of Stone. Nothing really wrong here, just nothing great either.
This is the story of the very flashy boxer from the late 1970's and 80's, Roberto Duran (Edgar Ramirez) and his hectic career. Based on a book of the same name, and is written from Duran's point of view. This is a sympathetic piece towards Duran and attempts to explain the reasons why Duran was the way he was.
This takes us from his very troubled youth in Panama, until basically his famous "no mas" fight with Sugar Ray Leonard. And then on to his eventual comeback a couple years later. This is an interesting movie that continues in the really nice new trend of sports movies, that uses sport as a backdrop, but tells the story of the man first and sports second.
This also showcases the relationship between Duran and his reluctant trainer Ray Arcel (Robert DeNiro). There are some really nice aspects to this, but this does have its troubles. As well as this is filmed, especially the fight scenes, much of this looks like a ton of other boxing movies. There is a formula and they follow it. Being totally fair, this would be a very nice 30 For 30 on ESPN. This is a story worth telling, but I'm not so sure there is enough to carve out a 2 hour theatrical presentation.
But there is a bunch of good here. Both Ramirez and DeNiro give great performances. The fight scenes are very well done and authentic. The supporting cast is fair, and the overall picture is decent. I won't say this is a opportunity missed, but I will say there just may not be enough there to support this movie in his form. Seems here we say the same thing a few too many times.
Hands Of Stone. Nothing really wrong here, just nothing great either.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
