Reclusive author Elly Conway writes best-selling espionage novels about a secret agent named Argylle who's on a mission to unravel a global spy syndicate. However, when the plots of her books start to mirror the covert actions of a real-life spy organization, the line between fiction and reality begin to blur.
Director: Matthew Vaughn
Cast: Henry Cavill, Bryce Dallas Howard, Sam Rockwell, Bryan Cranston, Catherine O'Hara, Dua Lipa, Ariana DeBose, John Cena, Samuel L. Jackson
Release Date: February 2, 2024
Genre: Action, Thriller
Rated PG-13 for strong violence and action and some strong language.
Runtime: 2h 19m
Review:
Argylle, the latest spy riff from Matthew Vaughn, is overstuffed to the point of exhaustion as it hurls a seemingly endless barrage of twists at the screen which would make even M. Night Shyamalan blush. Initially, Vaughn's film has a breezy feel as it plays with a fun premises. The early action sequences that pepper in bits of Henry Cavill doing his best Bond impression is energetic and engaging. Bryce Dallas Howard and Sam Rockwell have some fun chemistry with both making the best of their likeable onscreen charm. Howard is appropriately nebbish early on as insanity plays out around her. Rockwell seems to be having a blast playing the superspy guiding her and it all works fairly well in the film's opening act. Bryan Cranston hams it up as the film's central villain but much like the movie's plot, his performance gets progressively more exaggerated and outsized especially as the first reveal which alone would have been a fun thread to chase. Instead, that initial reveal is barely given anytime to breathe before another U Turn takes in another silly direction follow by another and another. There are a few fun action sequences interspersed between it all, but those slower moments are noticeably slow especially as the film gets more aggressively silly, highlighted by a colorful bullet filled dance and skating sequence which makes it clear that it’s all intentionally stupid. In a weird way, Vaughn and his cast end up delivering a modern day Naked Gun film which would have been fun if it weren't so incredibly overstuffed.
World-changing events spectacularly disrupt the itinerary of a Junior Stargazer/Space Cadet convention in an American desert town circa 1955.
Director: Wes Anderson
Cast: Jason Schwartzman, Scarlett Johansson, Tom Hanks, Jeffrey Wright, Tilda Swinton, Bryan Cranston, Edward Norton, Adrien Brody, Liev Schreiber, Hope Davis, Steve Park, Rupert Friend, Maya Hawke, Steve Carell, Matt Dillon, Hong Chau, Willem Dafoe, Margot Robbie, Tony Revolori, Jake Ryan, Jeff Goldblum
Release Date: June 23, 2023
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance
Rated PG-13 on appeal for brief graphic nudity, smoking and some suggestive material
Runtime:1h 45m
By this point in Wes Anderson's career people should know what they are getting into when they step into the theater to watch one of his films. His esoteric, meticulous style may not be for everybody but you have to appreciate the level of craftmanship on display in every shot. This latest entry has all of his quirks and style set to max which a multilevel structure that allow him to explore a wide variety of themes and ruminations on life, love and loss. Anderson has run through these sort of themes in the past but this is his most densely packed film which is ready made for discussion and dissection. The film follows a very specific pace which might be a bit slow for some since its in no hurry to get anywhere. Like everything in this film, its measured and calculated and it allows the all star cast really shine in each scene. It's truly an ensemble piece with everyone getting their moment throughout the film with Schwartzman and Johansson getting slightly more screen time. Those looking for a straightforward comedy might be disappointed since it's a much more varied beast that has more charm than outright belly laughs. As the film moves into its final act it also gets more experimental in its structure and overall approach. Asteroid City proves to be something far more interesting and innovative when its all said and done. Its an impressive feat from Anderson and his cast but I don't believe this is the type of film that will change people who dislike his singular style into fans.
When, by executive decree, all the canine
pets of MegasakiCity
are exiled to a vast garbage-dump called TrashIsland, 12-year-old Atari sets off alone in a miniature
Junior-Turbo Prop and flies across the river in search of his bodyguard-dog,
Spots. There, with the assistance of a pack of newly-found mongrel friends, he
begins an epic journey that will decide the fate and future of the entire
Prefecture.
Director: Wes Anderson
Cast: Bryan Cranston, Edward Norton, Bill
Murray, Jeff Goldblum, Greta Gerwig, Frances McDormand, Courtney B. Vance,
Harvey Keitel, Liev Schreiber, Scarlett Johansson, Tilda Swinton, F. Murray
Abraham, Frank Wood, Yoko Ono.
Release Date: March 23, 2018
Genres: Animation, Adventure, Comedy
Rated PG-13 for thematic elements and some
violent images Runtime: 1h 41min
Review:
Isle of Dogs, Wes Anderson’s 2nd
foray into stop motion, is a charming and thoughtful tale of mans best
friends.Wes Anderson’s film is filled
with his usual hipster hallmarks which people either love or hate.Its all here in spades so if you’re not a fan
of his distinct style this won’t change your mind.Those who do enjoy his style will find plenty
to love here.The direction and
craftsmanship is top notch throughout making it one of the most visually
arresting films of the year.The voice
cast is filled with Anderson regulars and a few newcomers like Bryan
Cranston.Cranston provides the emotional center of the film and really
gives the story its heart.Like most of Anderson’s films there’s a streak of sadness through the
entire story.Isle of Dogs does have a
slightly bleaker outlook than usual and the story has a fairly obvious allegory
to current events which makes it more dense than expected and one of Anderson’s best.
Dearest Blog: Yesterday it was off to Marquee Cinemas for a pair of strange bedfellows: The Infiltrator and Ghostbusters.
Spoiler level here will be mild, nothing you wouldn't know from the trailers.
First on the docket: The Infiltrator.
A US Customs officer launches a dangerous undercover mission to catch one of the world's top drug kingpins.
It is both a blessing and a curse that The Infiltrator is good, but not special. In an age where the Internet has no problem convincing people they hate films they haven't even seen yet, being neither great nor terrible enough to be buzzworthy isn't necessarily a bad thing.
Still, structured as it is around a decorated actor (Bryan Cranston) in a role tailor-made to earn him more hardware, the tense tale ultimately can't help feeling a little disappointing.
Cranston is solid in the lead, but it's John Leguizamo who steals the show as his loose-cannon partner. Diane Kruger, Benjamin Bratt, and Joseph Gilgun are also terrific in supporting roles.
Characters are well fleshed out, so that even the worst earn a bit of sympathy. Focusing on the money side of the illegal narcotics trade, The Infiltrator is less sensational than movies that detail the gorier realities of drug running, but the intense plot has no trouble holding your attention. Sadly, if it's details that elevate a good movie to great, that's where The Infiltrator fails.
Some of the direction is decidedly amateurish, with too-obvious foreshadowing and lingering frames that almost stray into comic territory. Hairstyles, fashions, and music are sometimes not correct for the picture's 1985 setting. There's no obvious filler, but the movie runs a hair too long and drags noticeably in the second act.
The Infiltrator clocks in at 127 minutes and is rated R for "strong violence, language throughout, some sexual content, and drug material."
The Infiltrator boasts strong performances and well-definted characters, offering solid "grown-up" counterprogramming on a blockbuster family-release weekend.
Of a possible nine Weasleys, The Infiltrator gets six and a half.
Fangirl points: Jason Isaacs!
Next up: the poliarizing reboot of Ghostbusters, a.k.a. why it's best to ignore Internet trolls.
Three scientists, an MTA employee, and the world's best-looking receptionist team up to quash a ghost infestation in New York.
Dear Reader(s): We all have things we love enough to drive us past the point of reason. I am no stranger to this phenomenon, and, thus, in my presence it is best not to speak of that unfunny, unholy, disrespectful dumpster fire that is 2004's Starsky & Hutch. Herein I shall attempt to give even the staunchest fan of the original Ghostbusters a few reasons why 2016's Ghostbusters is NOT 2004's Starsky & Hutch.
Ghostbusters is a well-and-truly funny comedy, with laugh-out-loud moments throughout. Rather than bastardizing beloved characters, it reboots with new ones. Kristin Wiig and Melissa McCarthy are delightful as estranged friends reunited by the spirit crisis; their chemistry is fantastic. Leslie Jones' wisecracks and physical comedy provide the movie's funniest moments, and Chris Hemsworth is perfect as the dopey but ridiculously-hot office assistant.
There's nostalgia aplenty for those who want it, in faces both living and undead, the recurring Ghostbusters theme, and that very familiar logo.
Though rarer than laughs, there are a fair few proper scares to be had as well. The movie boasts super effects and 3D that is not just worthwhile, but great! Ghosts run the gamut from pretty terrifying to pretty hilarious. The comedy slows up a bit in the movie's second act, displaced by some fun, well-executed action sequences.
Only Kate McKinnon's character, Jillian Holtzman, is a weak link, so jarringly off that every appearance becomes an unfortunate distraction. Writers and actress must share blame for bringing to life possibly the most irritating character I've ever seen on the silver screen (and, yes, I'm including Jar-Jar Binks in that equation).
Ghostbusters runs 116 minutes and is rated PG13 for "supernatural action and some crude humor."
Ghostbusters is a uniformly funny movie with a great cast and terrific effects. Only that rare individual who strongly feels Chris Hemsworth is better used in something like Black Hat wouldn't find something to enjoy here.
Of a possible nine Weasleys, Ghostbusters gets seven and a half.
Fangirl points: Michael Kenneth Williams and one teeny glimpse of my beloved Shubert Theatre!
Dearest Blog, yesterday I headed to the cinema to see Godzilla with the rest of the known universe.
Spoiler level here will be mild, pretty much nothing you wouldn't know or have guessed from the trailers.
The fate of the world hangs in the balance when giant monsters do battle.
Well,
dear Blog, I gotta say this is the first time I ever wished I had a
video blog so I could make the video and audio out of sync for this
review. My version of an homage. Sorry, best I got.
Godzilla's
latest screen outing has a bit of a split personality. The titular
monster does not make his first real appearance until almost exactly
halfway through (I checked the clock) and the first and second acts are
like night and day.
Act one is our setup, and it's a little slow
and "peopley" for my taste. The cast boasts some noteworthy names: Bryan
Cranston, Juliette Binoche, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Ken Watanabe, Sally
Hawkins, and David Strathairn. Whatta we got, an Oscar and a handful of
nominations there? For all that acting juice, nobody is really worth a
mention either way, other than to say, if you were thinking of seeing
this movie just because you love Juliette Binoche...um...maybe don't,
m-kay?
Act two: MONSTERS. Woot! I can't speak for anybody else,
but I sure as hell didn't see Godzilla because I thought Bryan Cranston
might be looking for an Oscar to go with his Emmy. I saw it because I
like monsters...big, scary ones that look like they're coming off the
screen at me. And let me tell ya somethin', people: if I'd seen this in
3D, I might have wet myself. The monsters are phenomenal, absolutely
everything for which I'd hoped, imposing with just the right touch of
silliness here and there. The disaster effects are great too, authentic
looking and presented in such a way that the mass destruction never
wears thin. (Are you paying attention, Man of Steel?) Though the first
hour does feel a bit long, once the action gets rolling, you won't
care...or even remember.
Godzilla clocks in at 123 minutes and is rated PG13 for "intense sequences of destruction, mayhem, and creature violence."
If
Godzilla's first act feels a little sluggish, I'm pretty sure I was
grinning from ear to ear for the entire second hour. Of a possible nine
Weasleys, Godzilla gets seven.
The king of all monsters gets a reboot with this Warner
Bros./Legendary Pictures production helmed by Gareth Edwards, who gained
critical attention with his intimate twist on the giant-creature genre with his
feature-film debut, Monsters. Frank Darabont (The Mist) and Max Borenstein
provide the script. ~ Jeremy Wheeler, Rovi
Director: Gareth Edwards
Cast: Aaron Johnson, Elizabeth Olsen, Bryan Cranston,
David Strathairn, Ken Watanabe
Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of destruction, mayhem
and creature violence
Gareth Edwards’ Godzilla is filled with top level acting
talent.So much so that Juliette Binoche
stops by for a cup of coffee and is gone before you notice it.Bryan Cranston is there, makes an impression,
and is gone.Then there’s Ken Watannabe
and David Strathairn looking stern and concerned for the majority of their
screen time.Throw in Aaron, is his
voice really still cracking, Johnson and Elizabeth Olsen for good measure and
you have a lot of recognizable faces who really don’t matter in the grand
scheme of this film.This film is name
Godzilla for a reason after all.Edwards,
shooting a visually beautiful film, shows a level of restraint that’s rare for
big budget blockbuster.His slow reveal
of the titular monster is like watching a monster mash version of a burlesque
show, lots of tease before the payoff.The human stories are clichéd but interesting enough to keep you
entertained in between some massive set pieces that feel fresh but
familiar.The monster on monster action,
which includes destroying some fun vacation spots, is top notch with excellent
CGI throughout especially Godzilla himself.Some of the battles do lose a tad bit of their luster since Pacific Rim
ran through some similar sequences but there are plenty of moments which are
filled singular Godzilla greatness that’ll bring a gleeful smile to anyone
raised on the original films.Be sure to
watch it on a massive theater screen.
The first teaser trailer for Gareth Edwards redux of Godzilla is out and it does its job perfectly, setting up tone and atmosphere.
We don’t get a clear view of Godzilla but it sure looks like it’ll actually be Godzilla and not some unrecognizable beast like the 1998 film, which also had an excellent teaser trailer I might add. For now, I’ll give Gareth Edward the benefit of the doubt…..
When militants seize control of the U.S. embassy in Tehran during the height of the Iranian Revolution, CIA agent Tony Mendez (Ben Affleck) creates a fake Hollywood film production in order to rescue a group of American diplomats who have sought refuge at the home of the Canadian ambassador. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
Director: Ben Affleck
Cast: Ben Affleck, Bryan Cranston, Alan Arkin, John Goodman, Taylor Schilling.
Release Date: Oct 12, 2012
Rated R for language and some violent images
Runtime: 2 hr. 0 min.
Genres: Drama, Suspense/Thriller
Review:
Argo is a wonderfully crafted film. The fact that Ben Affleck did not get an Oscar nomination for work behind the camera is nearly criminal. His skill is readily on display throughout culminating with a tension filled 30 minute climax. The film itself is easily accessible and immediately engaging, an impressive feat considering the subject matter. Affleck onscreen delivers an understated and subtle performance as Mendez. He gets plenty of help from some excellent supporting players. Alan Arkin chews up the scenery with gleeful delight. He and John Goodman make for an impressive team leaving you wishing there was more of them in the film. It’s always good to see Bryan Cranston get good film roles and here he’s given a nice part that lets him flex his acting chops. Argo is one of those films you know the ending to already but it doesn’t detract from the experience in the slightest.
Originally adapted by director Paul Verhoeven in 1990, author Philip K. Dick's classic sci-fi short story We Can Remember It for You Wholesale returns to the big screen in this remake starring Colin Farrell, Bryan Cranston, and Kate Beckinsale, and directed by Underworld's Len Wiseman. The planet has been decimated by nuclear war in the late 21st century, leaving only two nations -- the United Federation of Britain and the Colony. Douglas Quaid (Farrell) is a factory worker with a stable job and a loving wife (Beckinsale), but upon learning that a company named Rekall could grant him the memory of the ultimate espionage adventure, he decides that a virtual vacation is better than no vacation at all. But in the midst of having the new memories implanted, something goes haywire. Still strapped to the chair as the system breaks down, he's branded a spy as the authorities close in, and quickly flees for his life. Later, Quaid discovers that he has a secret identity, and he joins forces with rebel soldier Melina (Jessica Biel) on a mission to track down Matthias (Bill Nighy), the head of a fierce resistance movement that's been labeled a terrorist organization by the tyrannical Chancellor Cohaagen (Bryan Cranston). Cohaagen seeks to control the entire free world, and now the harder Quaid fights to defeat him, the clearer it becomes that his memory had been altered long before he walked into Rekall. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
Director: Len Wiseman
Cast: Colin Farrell, Kate Beckinsale, Jessica Biel, Bryan Cranston, Bokeem Woodbine
Release Date: Aug 03, 2012
Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of sci-fi violence and action, some sexual content, brief nudity and language
Runtime: 1 hr. 49 min.
Genres: Action/Adventure
Review:
The 1990 Total Recall was one of the few Arnold Schwarzenegger films I’ve always had a real affection for, the other being Predator. With Paul Verhoeven inspired direction it was on of those classic 90’s sci-fi films that just worked on so many levels. To say that this remake is pointless and ultimately soulless kind undersells the point. Les Wiseman has made a career of “borrowing” styles from other better films and for this he seems to have just lifted entire visual styles from other directors and films (Minority Report, Blade Runner & J.J. Abrams wonderful lens flare amongst the most obvious). His film has a polish but it’s about as hacky as it gets. The plot is roughly the same from the 1990 film except Mars and air have been replaced with Blade Runner-esque Australia and invasion. Outside of that the plot hits the basic bullet points and even replicates some of the scenes with the shiny new veneer except everything feels rushed, lacking any depth. Colin Farrell is in cruise control for the better part of the film and honestly he isn’t asked to do much, ditto for Jessica Biel whose character is about as one dimensional as they come. Kate Bekinsale works her badass chick routine while looking steely the entire time. Considering her character was the combination of 2 characters from the 1990 film, you’d think there’d be more depth to her but like everybody else in the move she’s just asked to follow the threadbare script and look good posing for the camera. On the bright side, you can make a great drinking game out of the number of time she’s got her mouth slightly open while eye banging the camera. Bryan Cranston’s Cohaagen barely registers, wasting the wonderful talents of a fine actor. Bill Nighy appears and disappears from the screen so quickly you’d barely notice him. There are some visually fun action sequences here but nothing close enough to justify the remake. Occasionally remakes surprise you, other times they remind you that just because it’s new doesn’t mean its better.
