WHAT TO WATCH THIS WEEKEND
In what I consider one of the greatest films of the year 2012, Denzel Washington stars as an airline pilot—a talented, alcoholic airline pilot—who gets himself into a heap of trouble because the crash of his plane may lead back to his alcohol consumption. In addition to its numerous amount of potent scenes and the award-deserving cast, this movie doles out a serious life lesson in a very straightforward way. The director, Robert Zemeckis, illustrates to us the dangers of temptation and the destructive things that are in this world without dramatizing its occurrences in a way that is seldom seen done well: pragmatically. Flight is something that adult moviegoers must see because it is one among very few modern-day films that are utterly adult in its foundation; and it's unfortunate that there aren't more like it.
Of the many Mark Wahlberg movies that are being released this year, Broken City might be the most overlooked and possibly the most underrated. Granted, it does have a recycled, cliched feeling to it, but it's entertaining, absorbing, and completely involving. Putting two big name stars together in Russell Crowe and Wahlberg makes sense. Their scenes no doubt crackle with high energy. If the movie does have faults, the chemistry between these two makes up for it. Playing like an episode of any number of cop shows (N.Y.P.D. Blue, Hill Street Blues, C.S.I., take your pick), Broken City is a well paced, tightly edited vehicle that details the mayor of New York City (Crowe as Mayor Nicholas Hostetler) hiring a private investigator (Wahlberg as Billy Taggart) to keep tabs on his wife. What's refreshing about this film is how it concludes. I mentioned earlier that it does have a familiarity problem. However, the ending is not happy and it's not what you'd expect. This flick showcases the final 20 minutes in an effective way and therefore doesn't cop out (get it?). Overall, if you want to view something that defines the word "rental" (I mean that in the best possible way), Broken City delivers the goods. I just wish the film had a better title (it seems generic and unsure of itself).
Unleashed into theaters in the summer of 1981, Escape From New Yorkis a true cult classic. It's a film of heightened originality and it is brought to you from the brilliant mind of director John Carpenter. Inspired by his reaction to the 1970's Watergate scandal (I'm not sure how this movie and Watergate are connected but it doesn't matter), this film depicts a dangerous criminal (Kurt Russell) racing against time to rescue the President of the United States (as well as retrieving a secret government cassette tape with messages on it). The worst part is that the President's plane goes down in Manhatten which, in the future, is the country's only maximum security prison. As antihero, former war soldier, and badly unshaven convict, Kurt Russell commands the screen as iconic screen legend, Snake "plissken". Doing a sort of younger Clint Eastwood impersonation, he still manages to make the character totally his own. He's helped out by an oddball cast consisting of Oscar winner Ernest Borgnine as a cab driver (huh?), music sensation Issac Hayes as the antagonistic "Duke of New York", and Halloween alum Donald Pleasence as well, the President (the flick doesn't give his name). "Escape" benefits from being quirky, action packed, and full of great one-liners courtesy of Russell. Yes, the film's special effects are easily outdated, but it's not about the effects per se. It's about Carpenter's terrific direction. He does an adequate job of filming with hardly any light (the shots of light he does use are soft and gleaming which look eerie as can be) and his synthesizer soundtrack (which he composed by the way) is tops all around (the opening title music is awesome, no joke). And as in most of his films (including the one I'm reviewing), he is methodical in character build up and setting up scenes for monster payoffs. Overall, this is a neat and satisfying futuristic sci-fi thriller. It will no doubt demand multiple viewings. Be on alert though for its inferior sequel Escape From L.A. Skip it unless you have nothing else to do.
7/26/13
Flight (2012)
★★★ ½ (Cole) ~ ★★★ (Jesse)
In what I consider one of the greatest films of the year 2012, Denzel Washington stars as an airline pilot—a talented, alcoholic airline pilot—who gets himself into a heap of trouble because the crash of his plane may lead back to his alcohol consumption. In addition to its numerous amount of potent scenes and the award-deserving cast, this movie doles out a serious life lesson in a very straightforward way. The director, Robert Zemeckis, illustrates to us the dangers of temptation and the destructive things that are in this world without dramatizing its occurrences in a way that is seldom seen done well: pragmatically. Flight is something that adult moviegoers must see because it is one among very few modern-day films that are utterly adult in its foundation; and it's unfortunate that there aren't more like it.
MPAA Rating: R
Cost: $4.99 (On Xfinity On Demand)
Something’s Gotta Give (2003)
★★★ (Cole)
While it isn’t as good as the film that came out six years before, As Good As It Gets, Something’s Gotta Give is an undeniably pleasurable movie-going experience that stars Jack Nicholson as the young woman-seeking Lothario who goes to his girlfriend’s beach house, only to end up falling in love with her mother, played by Diane Keaton. It’s long, maybe a little too long, but it is incredibly entertaining, and has several underlying messages about life. Look out for the great scenery, too.
Available on Netflix Instant Streaming
Broken City (2013)
★★★ (Jesse)
Of the many Mark Wahlberg movies that are being released this year, Broken City might be the most overlooked and possibly the most underrated. Granted, it does have a recycled, cliched feeling to it, but it's entertaining, absorbing, and completely involving. Putting two big name stars together in Russell Crowe and Wahlberg makes sense. Their scenes no doubt crackle with high energy. If the movie does have faults, the chemistry between these two makes up for it. Playing like an episode of any number of cop shows (N.Y.P.D. Blue, Hill Street Blues, C.S.I., take your pick), Broken City is a well paced, tightly edited vehicle that details the mayor of New York City (Crowe as Mayor Nicholas Hostetler) hiring a private investigator (Wahlberg as Billy Taggart) to keep tabs on his wife. What's refreshing about this film is how it concludes. I mentioned earlier that it does have a familiarity problem. However, the ending is not happy and it's not what you'd expect. This flick showcases the final 20 minutes in an effective way and therefore doesn't cop out (get it?). Overall, if you want to view something that defines the word "rental" (I mean that in the best possible way), Broken City delivers the goods. I just wish the film had a better title (it seems generic and unsure of itself).
MPAA Rating: R
Available at Redbox (Cost: $1.20)
Escape From New York (1981)
★★★ ½ (Jesse)
Unleashed into theaters in the summer of 1981, Escape From New Yorkis a true cult classic. It's a film of heightened originality and it is brought to you from the brilliant mind of director John Carpenter. Inspired by his reaction to the 1970's Watergate scandal (I'm not sure how this movie and Watergate are connected but it doesn't matter), this film depicts a dangerous criminal (Kurt Russell) racing against time to rescue the President of the United States (as well as retrieving a secret government cassette tape with messages on it). The worst part is that the President's plane goes down in Manhatten which, in the future, is the country's only maximum security prison. As antihero, former war soldier, and badly unshaven convict, Kurt Russell commands the screen as iconic screen legend, Snake "plissken". Doing a sort of younger Clint Eastwood impersonation, he still manages to make the character totally his own. He's helped out by an oddball cast consisting of Oscar winner Ernest Borgnine as a cab driver (huh?), music sensation Issac Hayes as the antagonistic "Duke of New York", and Halloween alum Donald Pleasence as well, the President (the flick doesn't give his name). "Escape" benefits from being quirky, action packed, and full of great one-liners courtesy of Russell. Yes, the film's special effects are easily outdated, but it's not about the effects per se. It's about Carpenter's terrific direction. He does an adequate job of filming with hardly any light (the shots of light he does use are soft and gleaming which look eerie as can be) and his synthesizer soundtrack (which he composed by the way) is tops all around (the opening title music is awesome, no joke). And as in most of his films (including the one I'm reviewing), he is methodical in character build up and setting up scenes for monster payoffs. Overall, this is a neat and satisfying futuristic sci-fi thriller. It will no doubt demand multiple viewings. Be on alert though for its inferior sequel Escape From L.A. Skip it unless you have nothing else to do.
MPAA Rating: R
Available at your local video store
-All Reviews Written by Cole Pollyea & Jesse Burleson
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