Movie Reviews-Schmooze

superhero fare with brains. and then some.

30/4/2016

Captain America: Civil War (2016)
2hr 27min

Starring: Chris Evans, Robert Downey Jr., Scarlett Johansson, Emily VanCamp, Jeremy Renner, Sebastian Stan, Daniel Brühl, Don Cheadle, Paul Bettany, Anthony Mackie, Chadwick Boseman, Frank Grillo, William Hurt, Liz Olsen, Tom Holland, Paul Rudd.

Directors: Joe and Anthony Russo
Writers: Chris Markus, Stephen McFeely
Music: Henry Jackman

If there is one thing I hate in the world right now (more than terrorists), has to be peacocking fanboys who will do anything (including attempted murder) if you dare to besmirch their film, as evident last month with Batshit v Slooperman. Hey, I wanted that film to be great but it wasn't to be and clearly sucked many dicks to become a critical failure. Now, if any of you want to take a potshot at me, then remember the lyrics of my favourite Guns n Roses tune, Get In The Ring. Listen carefully before dropping me that e-mail or making the call. Pussies!

The other day I was having a chat with a best friend (yes, I have those too) about why Marvel always gets it right with their casting and why they are the dominating force in the comic book landscape. I like some DC characters but they're so effed-up: Bruce Wayne cross-dresses as a Bat because his parents were gunned down; Tony Stark is a billionaire-blue collar genius who happens to be Stan Lee's very own 007. Peter Parker is a skinny kid who lives with his hot aunt in Queens and depending which iteration you love, is either a tank-top wearing, bespectacled geek, or a pretty hip fashion-conscious teenager with a taste for fixing PCs and a nice side of wisecracks to go with that pizza. I sit between Stark and Parker, to me they are very relatable (except for having lots of money). When I look at Superman I'm staring at a god who can end this world if he wanted to (boring!) And that's why I love Marvel Comics and the live-action fare they've given us, going as far back to 1977 with The Incredible Hulk and Bill Bixby delivering the most memorable of quotes. DC tried to replicate what Chris Nolan had built upon with his Dark Knight and failed, even to the point of very bad casting and equally dreary colour pallets. Funny, they started in 1934 and Marvel didn't arrive until 1939. My point? Don't think I have one but greatness always takes time. With Suicide Squad in August and its last-minute reshoots of wait for it...additional humour, I fear that film will be meh, or could prove me wrong and be a five-star winner; but unless you're a fan of DC, you'll be waiting in vain like a virgin at the prom; and if you don't care (like me), you'll probably be cruising the net for the latest hot photos of Alison Brie (all things considered, that sounds more appealing). In an ever-increasing world that presents real fear on a daily basis, Marvel films and television offer a colourful, breezy and optimistic counter-balance with larger-than-life heroes and serious wake-up calls. And as BvS proved, DC/Warner Bros. have taken way too long to establish their universe and are struggling. Unfortunately they need to revisit the boardroom again and hopefully the right firings take place.

Civil War is something I never saw coming: From the opening act it just kicks ass with an amazing set-piece involving Grillo's Rumlo (now Crossbones) who's trying to acquire a biological weapon in Lagos, Nigeria. The good Captain is out to stop him and isn't by himself. During the mission, one of the Avengers slips up and causes the death of a few aid workers. In response, General Thunderbolt Ross (Hurt) proposes the "Sokovia Accords" at a meeting held in Avengers HQ; a governing body that monitors superhero activity, thus safeguarding the loss of innocent lives, even though the world owes an unpayable debt to Team Cap for the atrocities of NYC and Washington. Tony Stark is for the idea (Ultron caused more personal damage than he thought) and is trying to redeem himself; Steve Rogers is skeptical for good reason - "Hail Hydra!"

Wakanda does exist in the MCU which is a relief and Boseman as His Royal Highness T'Challa/Black Panther is mesmerising (fact, Ryan Coogler from Creed was asked to redraft some of his dialogue and works a treat). His vibranium suit is an equal match for Cap's shield and imbues the elegance and grace of his creature's namesake. Out of costume, Boseman is quite intimidating and channeling Nelson Mandela (which comes in very handy for a life-making decision much later in the story). Compare this to Suicide Squad's token black-actor-former- innocent-bystander-rapper, Will Smith as Deadshot who wants to "save the world". Again. Can you see where I'm coming from? Finally, Marvel release their latest badass and can't wait to see if his solo film will actually hint at how/why he became BP.

A huge smile came across my face when we turn to a different part of town (New York to be precise) and our first look at Tom Holland as Peter Parker/Spidey. I gotta tell you, he is a lot of fun! He looks and dresses like a typical teenager (still the best time of anyone's life; adulthood just stinks). Don't even get me started on Aunt May (one of my all-time favourite actresses) who happens to be incredibly hot (great casting choice Sony! Let's forget dowdy Sally Field who by rights, hated being in the Garfield-emo vehicles). This is one of the movie's most endearing and iconic highlights and perfectly illustrates that Marvel knows how to deliver drama. Holland is already a star in the making and loved him in The Impossible. I hope Sony hits a homerun with Homecoming in 2017 and thank God the Russos knew who they wanted because CW wouldn't be the same without his presence, fact. And boy, Spider-man is used to amazing effect (pun very much intended). It's whetted my appetite and if Holland is given a decent script/story and incorporates Easter eggs from the 70s/80s, I'll be one happy Jazzy! Still, Tony Stark will pop in and I for one cannot wait.

When Joss Whedon directed The Avengers he proved he could handle all the voices, but wasn't adept with delivering out-of-this-world action (partly his fault as co-writer). Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love the film as it was fan service for Marvel's elite but compare it to Winter Soldier and Civil War, two things separate the men from the boy (those damn Russos again). Pacing is on point, character beats are pitch-perfect and everyone gets to do something! If you felt letdown by Olsen's Wanda in Ultron (Whedon claims to champion strong women but they were sorely lacking) she makes up for it here, as does the heavenly VanCamp reprising Agent 13/Sharon Carter; kickass females with beauty and the ability to bring you down. I've said in the past how I thought Emily Blunt was the better choice for Black Widow (and has since gone onto award-winning fare with Huntsman 2) but Johansson has nailed that part of Romanoff. She's hot, funny and more importantly, a deadly assassin who could betray you in a heartbeat. Mwah!

The awesome Renner gets to do some more this time round as Clint Barton/Hawkeye and even does a great Steve McQueen impression, even if he didn't mean to! Bettany is a hoot and a holler as Vision, trying to merge his virtual self into a real world with surprisingly funny and touching results (thank Whedon for turning Jarvis around as Bettany was told his career in Hollywood was over). If you think Vision is just a Zen Master or Marvel's version of Mr. Spock, think again! While there are shades of Will Smith in Mackie, he's great as Sam Wilson/Falcon and clearly not the Luke Skywalker of the group. Rudd as Scott Lang/Ant-Man almost steals the show and has assumed Agent Coulson duties in the man-crushing department with typically funny moments.

A lot has been said regarding Brühl's casting as Zemo ("didn't need to be in it") and fine, it's okay to express that opinion. However, the Russo brothers want to remind the audience they're not just watching a superhero film, but also a thriller and Brühl is another strand in a movie with many elements. You're not going to have him appear for a few minutes and bugger off; he's a tremendous talent and hoping we might see Baron Zemo in a future Cap movie.

Two towering performances from acting stalwarts, Downey Jr. and Evans - I could watch these guys all day and wouldn't be surprise they're not close friends already. Their dialogue in previous films has been solid and here it's notched-up to a ten. Not since Redford and Newman have I seen such flawless chemistry which rarely gets mentioned. Yes, wearing a superhero costume and spouting meaningful text may seem redundant to those who despise these movies, but let's hark back to Shakespeare (still pausing for thought dear? Okay). Evans IS Captain America and has made that role his own (sorry Jensen Ackles). Not only is Evans a fine physical specimen to behold but he's also a damn great actor who brings command and presence for a character whose popularity was in doubt. But watching The First Avenger again and its superior sequel, it's hard not to love the big guy and rooting for him all the way. But thank the Russos and writers for elevating Steve Rogers status and blending him with politics/corruption, the perfect vehicle. Tony Stark does have his moments to be funny, but also gets to be an entirely different beast (had this been a Zack Snyder project Iron Man would be on a killer rampage by Act 3). DC can sort out their hasty business decisions and fallout, but Marvel know their shit and why casting has been paramount in the success of the MCU. I guarantee by the end of it all, you'll be sucker-punched through the heart with Civil War. RDJ isn't just a great actor, he's a force and I love him for that and never phones in a performance; if anything he owes his second chance in life to Iron Man and Marvel and that is evident (hell, he even owns the Avengers logo which sits in his office!)

The action of Civil War puts Man of Steel and BvS to shame (with no rated-R versions to follow on blu-ray I may add) but instead takes its cues from Far East Asian action flicks and Michael Mann, a storyline with twists you just won't see coming and another inspired score from Henry Jackman (glad he's worked on the last Uncharted game for Naughty Dog). I went in as a serious adult and came out a goofy (teeth included) child who wants his superhero lunchbox; even more so after The Avengers. There is so much to take in that one viewing is simply not enough and will use my Cineworld Unlimited Card with maximum effort (ohh, Deadpool royalties!)

A Make Mine Marvel Rating: 10/10.

Emily VanCamp rarely gets the praise she deserves and a welcome addition to the MCU

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Not quite the finished article

25/3/2016

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Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)
Starring: Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill, Jesse Eisenberg, Laurence Fishburne, Holly Hunter, Jeremy Irons, Rebecca Buller, Amy Adams.
Director: Zack Snyder
Theatrical running time: 2hr 31min

After 3 years of waiting, nerds and CBM lovers finally have BvS, the long-awaited if not, last-minute name-changed sequel to Man of Steel. Not just one universally recognised superhero icon, but 3 in the same picture with cameos sprinkled in for good measure, adding bang to your buck. But has it all paid off though...

It hasn't been an easy road for Dawn of Justice and the casting of Ben Affleck didn't ease the pain either (by now though, those idiots are begging for forgiveness or have gone into hiding). Man of Steel 2 was either being put on hold and awaiting George Miller from Mad Max fame or...hell, let's call BvS a sequel and introduce the Justice League! After all, Warner Bros/DC are sagging behind against Marvel, who have every right to be proud of the comic book universe they've created since Iron Man in 2008. Let us not forget that BvS has suffered immense backlash for THAT trailer which gave away too much about the villain and revealing the trinity of those darn Super Friends! It appeared WB had lost their nerve and wanted to show their movies aren't dark and can be funny (by that point, their marketing staff were hopefully fired). In the end, I've watched a movie that was dark, brutal and a mess.

The opening credits/scenes of BvS are just gorgeous, marred by the fact we have to be reminded again about Bruce Wayne, whose fate is quickly established after the death of his parents, recalled in flashback, as played (almost) in silence by Lauren Cohan and Jeffrey Dean Morgan, aka Maggie and Negan from The Walking Dead; which then segues into the destruction of Metropolis and Bruce Wayne witnessing the death of his many employers, who were collateral from Zod and Superman's fight. At this point it's clear that Bruce holds Supes accountable and vows to get vengeance; a parallel to America's actions after 911. So far, on point.

In the meantime, our good old farmer's boy from Kansas is somewhat of a lost soul and refusing to acknowledge he had nothing to to with the death of thousands of people. He's loved-up with Lois Lame (still horribly miscast in my opinion and maintain Malin Ackerman was the better choice). No fault of Cavill's but he has zero chemistry with Adams and seems the writers weren't sure what to do with them as a couple. I'm not convinced by their quickly-established romance and felt it should have been a more natural progression. Whilst it's not clear if Clark Kent is actually bonking Lane, he's been summoned to appear before a committee headed by Senator Finch (a welcome return by Hunter) to answer for his crimes. Unfortunately, the writing talents of Chris Terrio (overrated) and David Goyer just gets thrown out and that's part of the film's many problems.

Lex Luthor is introduced as a Steve Jobs on drugs with many annoying ticks and quirks, which made sense to cast the eccentric but talented Eisenberg. It's a unique take on such an iconic part, played best by Michael Rosenbaum in Smallville, and since I've had to watch BvS twice, I've grown to loathe (not love) Jesse's take. His evil motivations are unclear and at times diabolical, but will cause a divide with fans. He's not complex at all and just seems hellbent on being megalomaniacal. Worst. Villain. Ever.

Herein lies the problems that have beset BvS: We have a sequel to Man of Steel that also wants to be a Batman movie; or is going to be Wonder Woman taking over? I'll say this much, had Snyder been given free reign to make a standalone Batman film, it would be the best ever, but as this is a catalyst for the Justice League, I get why we're being treated like school kids who've done well in geek 1 on 1.

Should you go and see BvS? Yes and no. Ben Affleck IS the quintessential Bruce Wayne, a lady-loving louche with a penchant for being a detective and when those options run out, becomes the unapologetic Dark Knight whose appearance of hiding on ceilings and running across them is enough to give anyone the bat-shits! He is brutal, merciless and at long last, fans get the Batman they deserve, via the Arkham video game series. If the combat looks slow, it's in keeping with Wayne's 20 years of ass-kicking in Gotham, and as Alfred reminds Master Bruce: "Even you've got too old to die young, not for lack of trying!" The writers were fully invested in how their Batman would look and act (adding a bulletproof cowl is a nice touch) and evoking Year One imagery so blatantly. And don't get me started on Affleck's routines in the workout montage (guess that's where the nudity came into play with the MPPA!) Give Ben his solo Bat movie. Like today, this very minute. Jeremy Irons as Wayne's long suffering but loyal butler is a joy to behold and one forgets how his delivery of sarcastic put-downs at the expense of Bruce are a welcome addition to the film's darker themes.

The other voice of objection was the casting of Gal Gadot as Diana Prince/Wonder Woman. Cries of "too skinny" and "can't act!" Which thespian hasn't had this torrent of abuse? Gadot has gracefully accepted being a supporting cast member for the Fast & Furious series and lesser known movies, and whilst WW isn't Shakespeare in the Park, why can't she be feminine and still kick some ass? Her rapport with Affleck is spot-on, at one time reminding Wayne what men are really like. Gal has definitely worked-out and it's clear her legs and delicate frame are thicker, even causing my friend to confirm who he thought she was, because: "She looked Amazonian". Job done, nice one. Gadot isn't in BvS for long but is subject to some iconic if at times, wobbly introductions of the JLA.

Adams just plods through the film and at times I wish Lois Lane would just STFU and die already (truly horrific casting). Margot Kidder nailed that part, as did Erica Durance but somehow, Adams lacks that sexy-meets-sassy the role deserves. God, Kate Bosworth was far better in Superman Returns which, if it hadn't been a love-letter to Richard Donner (thanks Bryan Singer!) might have played out differently for that character's future.

When Christopher Nolan made his Dark Knight trilogy, it appeared he was allowed to do what he wanted and re-established the look and appropriate tone for Batman. Yes, Chris gave us a more realistic hero and broke away from comic book conventions, in some ways, relieving the pressure for himself. Hack Snyder on the other hand, hasn't had it so easy and seems to be the boy who jumps when he's told to by Warner Bros. I'm skeptical he's made a 3-hour plus unrated cut for a future DVD/Blu-Ray release (Deadpool needs to rip this to shreds in his sequel), but feel the theatrical version's backlash from critics is well-deserved. The third act suffers in places and Doomsday reminds me of a Lord of the Rings reject; a newborn baby who balls too much and not at all scary (Christ, I've faced-off with worse bosses in Splinter Cell). When it comes to showdowns, Marvel may have a simplistic approach, but at least you can take a breath and enjoy; BvS has strange edits all over the place and its final set piece relied too much on CGI. Also, this is Batman v Superman and while that confrontation was almost worth the price of admission, it appears Bruce's quest for vengeance was forgotten about. If he was so pissed at Supes for his unintentional killing spree eighteen months earlier, why not just pursue him more? Look at the recent season of Daredevil and how often Punisher kicked and punched "Red" for getting in his way? That element was sorely missing here and whilst I'm not confused at the title, it seems that audiences are miffed and don't blame them.

BvS is far from perfect and whilst Superman isn't entirely forgettable (Cavill gets to play with some real emotions), things really come alive when Affleck and Gadot are on screen and are such perfect specimens on the IMAX in 70MM. But for the sake of this franchise, WB should just let Snyder go and find a fresh pair of glowing eyes. Civil War, your turn!

A non super-heroic: 5 out of 10

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Deadpool - 2016

10/2/2016

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Deadpool (2016)
Directed by: Tim Miller (sexy thing)

Starring: Ryan Reynolds (dayum!), Karan Soni (Indian gets second credit!), Ed Skrein (Jarvis's A.I. sibling), Morena Baccarin (Wham!), T.J. Miller (stay away from my avocado collection), Brianna Hildebrand (Ripley), Leslie Uggams (Mrs. Magoo)

Disclaimer: The following review contains no references to hard-ons, breasts (unless they're Ryan Reynolds's) and gratuitous pillow talk, but may occasionally break the fourth wall of your butt cheeks.

2016 is the year of the Superhero movie (sorry people of China, but I don't care about Year-of-the-cockroach, or whatever) and Deadpool has taken his silver-tinted balls and planted a big C4 of Sex(check), violence (check), inappropriate jokes (check) and Ryan Reynolds; a man at this moment in time I would gladly became gay for and act as his full-time rent boy (where he keeps all of my earnings and I get to eat scraps of food he leaves on the floor). Even more remarkable is the now famous 'leaked' test footage that Reynolds claims 70% sure he wasn't behind (speaking of behinds, Mr Reynolds needs to release a Buns of Steel workout DVD, phew! I mean, have you seen it?! That manly peach needs to be immortalised on the Sistine Chapel). Whatever/whoever released all that goodness online needs to receive a medal. Deadpool is not only one of the most refreshing takes on the comic book genre, it also proves an R-rated superhero movie can exceed the confinements which a PG-13 can't offer to it's constantly snared telenovela players. Thank God for Netflix and its mature output of Jessica Jones and Daredevil; compared to the throwaway fluff that is Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. which I do watch but may drop as I can spend my time catching-up on all that prime cable output. But going back to Pool, we finally have a movie which doesn't insult the fanbase and maybe now, the studio execs will finally smell the Starbucks and give us more in the way of grown-up CBMs.

The endlessly gorgeous Ryan Reynolds (a deep sigh) plays Wade Wilson, known by his moniker of the Merc with the Mouth; an ex-Special Forces badass who now spends his free time in being a reluctant neighbourhood hero and swizzling shots with Weasel (a very funny T.J. Miller). His meeting with Vanessa (the always excellent Baccarin) delivers one of the best chat-up lines:"What's a nice place like you doing in a girl like this?" - is why Reynolds is funnier than Kevin Hart. It's that once-in-a-lifetime meeting, fueled with the kind of sexual chemistry Sharon Stone had with that Baldwin brother (sorry, wrong movie). She's the yin to his yang, which is soon followed by one of the funniest sex montages I've had the pleasure of witnessing (there's a priceless reaction from Reynolds which is soon to become a meme/GIPHY favourite). But cancer strikes and turns that relationship into a huge puddle of horse piss. Word gets around about his fate where he is approached by the Recruiter with a plan to cure his ills.

Enough about the plot, onto why this essential Valentine's Day rom-com is a cut above the rest. Ed Skrein is a blast as Francis/Ajax and reminds me of Paul Bettany (an in-joke I'm not aware of?) He takes to villain duties without a care in the world and more importantly, is a worthy opponent for Wilson. If you cast a glance at Guardians of the Galaxy, Ant-Man and Iron-Man 2, they all have badly-written foes who appear to have been Floyd Mayweather's leftovers! At least with Ajax, you can see his motivations from the start and shouldn't be a surprise how he turns out. Because of budget constraints, I felt more time had to be dramatically acknowledged and that's a good thing here.

Remember Bryan Singer's blink-it-and-miss shit with Colossus in X2? I'm still trying to erase that awful memory. Finally the Chrome Dome we deserve and he is fricking awesome. It did jar me that a nerd in the screening I attended complained about the bad Russian accent (it's not by the way) when he is voiced by Stefan kapicic (fluent in Russian!) What that whiny bitch-turd of a nerd should be thankful for is that we have the Colossus I have always wanted, no half-measures but the full glass. And then there's that little skinhead firecracker who just happens to call herself Negasonic Teenage Warhead (my Xbox Live gamertag without teenage, in case you might be interested to know) and played with such likability from Hildebrand. She hasn't got a lot of screentime but we all know that sequel is gonna happen, right? Let's see some more development with her.

Some of you will be aware of T.J. Miller's work from Silicon Valley and it's good to see his comedic talents are put to great use; still loving that avocado sex joke dude. There's such a warm, fuzzy feeling when he's acting with Reynolds that you can almost imagine them being spooning buddies. On a quick note, whilst Gina Carano isn't known for her acting abilities, she's rather nice eye candy and puts in a B+ effort as Angel Dust. Leslie Uggams on the other hand is a hoot as Blind Al and want to see more of her in the sequel. A special mention to Soni who plays Dopinder, the taxi driver; his rapport with Pool is both delightful and hilarious. More Dopinder, please!

Now that I've done tugging on Reynolds and Tim Miller's members, here's why Deadpool has raised the bar (this high!) on the superhero Richter scale: Its savvy red/green band trailer campaign, the 12 Days of Deadpool and that hilarious billboard where Wade/Vanessa are sharing their Nicholas Sparks moment is inspired marketing. Even more important to realise is that none of the trailers spoiled anything and showed a mere fraction from a movie that lasts 1h 48min. Whilst you can easily say that Marvel/Disney often present a sanitised version of events with a predicable scenario, Deadpool (under 20th Century Fox who own the X-Men franchise) offers their take, which plays out like the ending of Uncharted 3 (but as a lover of all things Nathan Drake and Nolan North who voices Mr. Pool in that underrated classic video game) I am perfectly fine with that; ecstatic even. But again, the film's mature rating allows for more to happen. Now, whilst I don't usually sing the praises of rap music, the addition of DMX's 'X Gon' Give To Ya' and Salt-N-Pepa's 'Shoop' are soon finding their way to my NANO. Oh, and there are some tunes that will give James Gunn's mixtape a run for his money when Guardians 2 commences. The opening credits alone are the best and most imaginative I've seen in a long time, but I will zip it.

I was nervous about watching Deadpool, but my honest reaction is this: It has elevated my expectations and isn't a series of dick and butt jokes; it has humanity and Reynolds is unafraid to embrace some femininity into what could have been another template hero. The action is a mixture of cartoon violence and real kickass bravado, no quick-cuts that you'd find in a Bourne movie for instance. Now, my final point isn't supposed to be a fangirl debate about Marvel vs DC, but walking away from Deadpool, I said to a few people that my anticipation for Batman v Superman has waned (Wayned? Haha) a little. Warner Bros shot a blank with that ill-advised "I thought she was with you" moment and to me that was showing a little panic; that we the cinema-going-comic-book-loving crowd are just dumbasses and needed spoon-feeding. I didn't ask to be fed and while that film's official running time hasn't been confirmed (a rumoured 2h 30m version by a German theatre no less) how will Zack Snyder fill that void in a production whose budget is a lot more than Deadpool's modest $50 million (from what I've heard). Deadpool's biggest triumph is that it delivered and not surprised it earned an encore and two trailer replays at Comic Con 2015. Sure, BvS will make more money but does that mean it will be critically well-received? Three years later and we'll soon find out. And I say, no excuses....

A penetrative-rating of 10/10 (and not for kids!)

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Elvis for hire

15/1/2016

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Check out the trailer for the forthcoming comedy starring Kevin Spacey and spot-on-genius-casting with Michael Shannon as the King: Elvis & Nixon - this is a hoot and a holler with the latter who looks like he's having tons of fun (and frankly, who could blame him!)

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the undisputed franchise reborn

13/1/2016

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Rocky to boxing is what Miyagi is to karate.

Creed (2015)

Director: Ryan Coogler
Running time: 133 min
Starring: Michael B. Jordan, Sylvester Stallone, Tessa Thompson, Phylicia Rashad, Tony Bellew

I had the pleasure recently of watching the 73rd Annual Golden Globes (nice one Gervais!) and witnessing Stallone collecting his award for Best Supporting Actor (spoiler alert!) to a standing ovation no less. A beautiful moment that brought man-tears to my eyes and Sly informing us that back in 1977, it was a tumbleweed affair when he turned up in dodgy 70s gear to collect his gongs for Rocky(1976). That film alone is the reason I love hitting the gym, and while the only inevitable injuries I've had (lower pain in my back to slamming my fingers between dumbbells), nothing compares to the struggle Stallone endured to get Rocky made. It's an amazing story which never gets old. The Italian Stallion wrote the screenplay in 3 days (and nights I believe) at his apartment in Hell's Kitchen and even sold his beloved pooch to survive! When it won the Oscars in a sociopolitical climate that was recovering from Vietnam, Jason Robards was less-than-impressed and failed to understand why; but it would appear America found itself a new sweetheart who now has a statue in Philadelphia and the best training montage in cinematic history. As I was telling a friend last week, Rocky is not only my favourite film of all-time, but still my pick from that very successful franchise (yes, I'll even include 5 for all of its misfires). Rocky Balboa was Sly putting things right again with an emotionally charged story, infused with great humour and onscreen chemistry and thought it was the swansong to end them all. As countless stories will state, Coogler, who helmed the critically acclaimed Fruitvale Station had an idea for Creed, but still keeping it within that beloved universe. Stallone was reluctant at first to reprise his most famous role but look at where it's landed him (and a now-confirmed nominee for the 88th Oscars announced on 14 January 2016). I hold my breath in anticipation for the lovable lunk-head to collect a long overdue accolade for acting next month.

The story of Creed goes back its basic roots - Adonis Creed (played by rough-around-the-edges B.Jordan) is small punk kid with fists of steel who ends up in juvie and appears to attract trouble on a full-time basis. He is visited by Mary (Rashad) who reveals herself to be the fling-on-the-side his late father (Apollo) had. From here, things take an unexpected turn, 'Donnie' as he prefers, grows up into quite the academic who lands a promotion in his suit-and-tie role. But it's not enough and resigns, realising that it's not just the ghost of his dad that hangs over him, it's also the inescapable family genes. Leaving his fancy mansion and disapproving mother behind (her graphic description of looking after an incapacitated Apollo is enough to put anyone off boxing), Donnie heads off to Philly to track down the one man who knew his father...Rocky Balboa, who still runs Adrian's restaurant. Their first meeting is what you'd expect: A young, brash kid who thinks he knows it all and a wise owl who's been there and done it; digital meeting the analog all over again with added tweaks. As you'd expect in this urban-coming-of-age-tale, there are knockdowns aplenty (and some you cannot see coming a mile off).

This is an exceptional sports-drama movie that someone like Kevin Costner could have directed in his day and scores in so many ways. Whilst I'm not the biggest fan of rap music, it's used to good effect here to define who and what Donnie (or 'Hollywood') is. I've always liked Jordan, a good-looking man with the right hint of brashness and if he plays his cards right, will be in as much demand as Oscar Issac. He doesn't go all gangster as John Boyega occasionally strayed into in a galaxy far, far away and the boy did good in the gym (ladies and gents, you'll be crushing Mikey in the droves!) Despite this, Coogler makes sure that we're still in Rocky's world and are treated to some welcome Easter eggs, and in some ways, echoing the very first film and crap Balboa was going through.

There is great support from the pretty Tessa Thompson as Bianca, whom Adonis meets in the funniest of circumstances. Yes, she appears to be another superficial babe whose dream is to be America's new soul sensation, but wait...she has layers that I couldn't comprehend, which only Donnie's eagle-eye could spot. This is my first time seeing her but she's a very good actress and interesting to see what she does in Westworld for HBO this spring/summer. Then there's Scouser Tony Bellew as 'Pretty Ricky' Conlan and like some of the previous entries in the series, he is also a boxer in real life and quite the ominous physical presence in and out of the ring. And for the record, he is pretty, in a convict kinda way (just kidding!) Phylicia Rashad proves there's still life left in that former Huxtable girl and for her small time on the big screen, she still remembers how to act (are you reading this Carrie Fisher?)

Sly...this guy is a living legend and despite the marital problems that became dirty laundry in public, the boy did good with Jennifer Flavin (and have you seen his daughters, ouch! Pity the future sons-in-law who mess with that family!) I loved him as Rocky in 2006 and for a while, there was a danger that he wouldn't take orders from anyone behind the director's chair but himself, but as Creed has taught me, never underestimate anything. Coogler has coaxed the most beautiful performance from Stallone (okay, that might be overkill) but who could forget Cop Land? He was up against some formidable acting talent, but under the direction of James Mangold, held his own and here it's a whole new ball game. For stalwarts like Clint Eastwood who only managed to reprise 'Dirty' Harry Callahan successfully with Sudden Impact, then later made us regret it with The Dead Pool; Sly has been so fortunate to revisit the best imaginary friend we never had, and adding more to the emotional landscape. It's been a longtime since I've man-cried (although Warrior does qualify on so many levels) but Sly delivers the performance of a lifetime and cannot wait to see where they might go with the Godfather 2 style sequel that's been spoken of recently. Adrian, Paulie, Apollo and Mickey would be proud of their Philadelphia Boy.

A knockout 10/10

That standing ovation, that anthem #GonnaFly

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J-Law: One Woman Show

10/1/2016

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David O. Russell's latest affair is anything but Joyless.

Joy (2015)

Director: David O. Russell
Running time: 124 mins
Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Bobby De Niro, Isabella Rossellini, Bradley Cooper, Virginia Madsen.

Joy reunites the dream team of Jennifer Lawrence, Bradley Cooper and Robert De Niro, from Oscar nominated director David O. Russell (almost disappointed he's not Irish!) 2016 hasn't had a chance to breathe and already have one of my top ten placements (certainly an inspirational one too on a personal level).

I walked into this movie not really knowing what to expect, and for a while thought O. Russell was going to retread I Heart Huckabees territory; the visual gags of Joy Mangano (Lawrence) getting trapped inside a soap opera box with TV characters worse than her own dysfunctional family certainly led me to believe that. Some idiots have moaned that these scenes are distracting and don't add anything (er, yes they do) and what I admire about the director is that he just doesn't give a crap and will do it anyway. Besides, who doesn't want to see Susan Lucci and Donna Mills sending themselves up.

When we first see Joy (and so typically of O. Russell who doesn't want to signpost his flashback for the audience) I deduced it's a wintry 1970s where a sunshine-and-happiness kinda girl is with her best friend Jackie (an excellent Dascha Polanco). One can only imagine this is due to the failing marriage of her parents Rudy and Terry (De Niro and Madsen in a career best, who's aged beautifully, despite some enhancements). Fast forwarding time, Joy is all grown up into the formidable Miss Lawrence. Instead of being the glamour puss about town, our girl is a bookings clerk for Eastern Airlines and clearly not getting any kind of job satisfaction; but has some nifty plumbing skills back at the ranch. On the advice of her grandma Joy sets out to become a strong independent woman in the cut throat world of business building "wonderful things." Just one thing though, she needs to come up with an idea which eventually becomes the self-wringing Miracle Mop. It's no easy feat mind you, she needs backing and luckily her divorced father meets a rich widow Trudy (Rossellini) who agrees in financing the passion project through an amusing process-of-elimination Q&A. Agreeing on taking out a second mortgage, Joy secures an appointment through ex-hubby and close friend Tony (Édgar Ramírez in top form) who knows the executive of QVC (Quality, Value, Convenience) - Neil Walker, as played by the always reliable Bradley Cooper. At this point you just care about the outcome and boy, it's a pretty emotional one at times which had me welling up.

Jen Lawrence is 26 and the Number One Actress in the world right now, make no mistake. After winning the Oscar for Silver Linings Playbook, you'd think she would succumb to the curse most actors dread, the ending-up-in-a-DVD-bargain-bucket-for-a-movie-not-even-your-dog-watched syndrome. She's gorgeous, very career driven and one-hundred percent committed about which roles to seek out and in a rare position with Hollywood to call the shots. Right now I am hating Chris Pratt (man-crush supreme) as it's been reported he's filmed a sex scene with J-Law for sci-fi flick Passengers; I can only imagine what a chore that was. In real life Jen is still adorably funny and says what she likes (although she really should date a better class of man than Chris Martin! Yeah, Coldplay sucks but can blame Gwynnie for that fiasco). It's a given she will be nominated again for Best Actress but from the chatter I've been hearing, Brie Larson is the hot contender for Room (and I will be reviewing that in the future).

This is a more lighter outing for O. Russell, who manages to infuse uncertainty with the proceedings, but still has time for laughs, particularly with De Niro and Ramírez, the failed Tom Jones wannabe (speaking of singing, witnessing the flashback where Joy and Tony are on stage with Something Stupid is a moment to smile at; Jen should release an album interlaced with Metallica!) OK, that might be pushing it too far but one can dream! Virginia Madsen shows a comedic side to her talents; Jimmy Jean-Louis as Toussaint is short-lived but sticks in my mind and Elisabeth Röhm as bitchy sister Peggy is painful to watch (always used to her playing nice and feisty, but this a nice departure and holds her own against the heavyweight ensemble). As this was based on a semi-autobiographical true story, checkout the inspiration behind it. Gotta say, the real-life Joy sure has a mean set of pins :-)

This is an ideal post Christmas feelgood flick, which given its release is timely and reminds us not to take our home comforts for granted. It might be preaching to the females, but men can easily embrace the message and be inspired (just don't expect me to don a blonde wig and sunglasses though).

A Moptastic 8/10

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