Myusersnameiscoolokay Reviews

The Purge: Anarchy (2014)

Part 2 gives more context. Fascinating sci-fiction that'll keep you entertained

[7/10 · 12 April 2015]

The Purge: Anarchy [2014] delivers the stuff viewers so desperately yearned for from the first installment, to witness the utter destruction and mayhem brought upon by this so called purge. So, we'll have to go without Ethan Hawke this time around (it's a shame). Instead Frank Grillo will play leading man with supporting smart-ass comments coming from Matt Seracen himself, Zach Gilford (Friday Night Lights fame, for transparency).

There's a new rag-tag bunch of unfortunate individuals that somehow get stranded in the middle of the killing fields at the worst possible time, ever. Instead of following a particular family we meet several characters (mother and daughter from the poor side of town, separated white couple and a man on a murderous mission whom decides to take the role of their bodyguard and protector).

In this sequel, you'll find out a lot more about the context. How do people from different class divisions manage with it all and reasoning behind the government's being a-okay with the entire thing (not buying this). Apparently, the day of the purge is an absolute necessity for human beings. Therefore, bad luck to those unlucky enough to get stuck outside. It's not an ideal situation, as anyone with two brain cells can ascertain. But…but… the unemployment rate is at an all-time low! It's a science fiction so any attempts to delve any deeper into this analysis is futile.

Meaningless violence and poor character development, this movie is for you. In all honesty, it's an enjoyable watch. The acting is by no means strong but the situations the characters get stuck in and the madness that goes on around them is eventful and ensures horror movie fans stay interested. Annoying self-righteous teenager Cali (played by Zoë Soul) is the daughter of the main character. Cali is grating and unlikable, so much in fact that I hoped she'd feel the wrath of this annual cleanse. By the end of the film you probably will too.

Transsiberian (2008)

So, avoid Moscow?

[7/10 · 12 April 2015]

Transsibberian (2008) is a psychological mystery-thriller that tells the tale of two American travelers Roy (Woody Harrelson) and Jessie (Emily Mortimer) on their way from China to Moscow by using the old sturdy means of transportation, the train. They encounter a mysterious couple Abby (Kate Mara) and Carlos (Eduardo Noriega) whom befriend them become entwined in the couple's journey there. Jessie reluctantly develops a growing attraction for Carlos and then boom, her husband goes AWOL.

Destination from hell. Purely from personal opinion, how anybody would willingly want to take a trip like this is mind-boggling. The film does a brilliant job of highlighting the lack of safety afforded to foreign travelers on the train. As the train reaches Moscow, some of the political nuances are discussed to provide overview (in a non-lecturing type of way). This is all done with great restraint, due to its status of not being a documentary and obviously, no one has signed up for one.

Director Brad Anderson does little to highlight it as a go-to travel experience. The word bleak comes to mind when describing the atmosphere of the train ride. So, of course friendliness afforded to this American couple by other train travelers is troublesome and cause for suspicion. The camera pays special attention to the facial expressions of each pertinent character that the audience puts priority on deciphering the motives of this well-traveled couple. Sir Ben Kingsley plays a pivotal role in moving the films narrative during the middle of the film and of course, his screen presence never hurts. The first half brings us more mystery than thriller and vice versa. Everything is where it needs to be, no fat or fluff to eat up some screen time.

Kill List (2011)

There will be blood, there will be violence and you'll be knocking down doors for answers by the end.

[7/10 · 12 April 2015]

Kill List (2011) shows the events that unfold when a retired hit-man is pressed back out of retirement to financially support his family during a squeeze. Jay (Neil Maskell) is a husband and father of one whom is experiencing some serious marital discord with his wife Shel (MyAnna Buring) due to some serious relationship straining cash flow issues. In a dinner party over at the Jay residence, the stressed couple invite over Jay's former hit-man partner Gal (Michael Smiley) along with current flame Fiona (Emma Fryer). The couple persist to passive aggressively dig at each other until they awkwardly fight in front of mixed company. In a moment alone together, Gal and Jay have a discussion about the old times in a botched job which nevertheless put old Jay in retirement, which leads to Gal putting forth a very lucrative offer on the table. Three assignments equals three kills and a tonne of money. Save your marriage, Jay. Get paid.

Prepare your ears. It'll take some time getting accustomed to the very thick accents on show. It will no doubt frustrate those who are not used to it. The music is unsettling and feels as if it takes precedence over much of the dialogue. Without any warning, the volume of the background music reaches so high, it'll have you scrambling to find the remote control. Each character's seemingly peculiar actions breeds' distrust till you'll start speculating the self-interest of every single wacko on screen. Two words to perfectly explain the feelings brought about by the end of the film: discomfort and distrust. It's all a little mysterious and cold. A hit-mans' motis operandi. No knowledge of anything besides the target and no remorse.

Glaringly similar to A Serbian Film. Luring a family man back out of retirement and into the darkness is both harrowing and intriguing. Did I mention that they both also happen to feature on the Top 200 Most Disturbing Films list?!

Symbology unexplained. You'll probably think to yourself, what any if all of the symbols and metaphors mean. Perhaps you'll need to opt in sifting in forums for answers. That's the type of movie it is.

Gone Girl (2014)

Detective hat and cape on, Holmes.

[9/10 · 12 April 2015]

Gone Girl [2014] is a drama/mystery/thriller (directed by David Fincher) which follows Nick Dunne (Ben Affleck) as the disappearance of his wife, Amy (Rosamund Pike) creates massive national media coverage to decipher whether he's guilty or innocent.

No spoilers. The movie trailer gives nothing away. So rest assured the mystery stays intact as you press play. As the story unfolds and more details are revealed concerning their tumultuous relationship, the more you'll switch from one side to the other. It's in the subtleties at first, then the big reveals. We are first the news audience, knowing only what is shown on the surface. Fincher slowly feeds us behind the scenes knowledge and creates an uncomfortably close for comfort intimacy with the characters.

Great casting. Rosamund Pike gives a highly captivating and haunting performance as the missing wife, Amy Dunne. A performance so solid it has earned her a Golden Globe nomination. Let's hope she wins it, because it would be richly deserved. Tyler Perry (yes, that very one) appears in a minor but visibly valuable role, as Tanner Bolt (Nick Dunne's attorney). Perry provides the comedy relief in what is a tense and disturbing film. Neil Patrick Harris plays Desi Collings, an old boyfriend of Amy, whom is painstakingly pivotal to the morbid goings-on in Gone Girl. Side note: Desi lives in divinely beautiful house.

Impressive original score. Now to tie in the acting, story, directing, is the wonderfully composed score by Atticus Ross and NIN band member Trent Reznor. It is the perfect accompaniment to the morbidly mysterious tale.

It's a heavy watch. No doubt a thick and foreboding cloud of deep thought will linger above your head after the film ends. It stays with you awhile. A shocking, intriguing, morbidly engrossing ride for the whole one hundred and forty nine minutes.

The Signal (2014)

What could have potentially been great, settles for good enough

[6/10 · 12 April 2015]

The Signal [2014] is an independent science fiction (directed by William Eubank) that introduces three MIT students: Nic (Brenton Thwaites), Jonah (Beau Knapp) and Haley (Olivia Cooke) as they go on a road trip to California. On the way there, Nic and Jonah decide to locate and confront a mysterious hacker which is stalking their (physical) movements online. The trio end up waking up in a foreign place, while Nic gets acquainted with Laurence Fishburne (in a cool looking space suit).

Interesting premise with a clouded script. The Signal generates interest from the outset. The mystery surrounding this unknown hacker and the road trip gives no clues on where this film eventually leads. The premise is meaty enough on its own. Some aspects were crucial, while others completely useless. It's all in the editing. Too much is going on. Plus, occasionally the dialogue sounds unnatural considering the context. Some of the characters exhibited strange and somewhat frightening behavior (see religious church lady).

Unintentional comedy from the OTT. A particular scene (somewhere in the second half of the movie) where Nic and Jonah are yelling about something (not saying what!) is a perfect example of what happens when actors perform without conviction (unconvincing comical delivery).

Nicely timed VFX. It makes up for some of above mentioned missteps. Instead of putting it all out there from the very beginning, The Signal opts for a strategic reveal. The VFX is slowly increased and aides makes each instance surprising and more potent

John Wick (2014)

John Wick, the name that's uttered a billion times. For lovers of action, creative subtitles & Keanu Reeves

[8/10 · 12 April 2015]

John Wick [2014] is the action/thriller (directed by Chad Stahelski) about the aforementioned retired hit man (played by Keanu Reeves) returning back to the underbelly, after a bunch of well-connected punks decide to mess with the wrong guy on the wrong day, steal his car and do something else unmentionable.

Whoa, Keanu. Vengeful returns usually end ugly with blood spilling all over the place. John Wick is no different, with revenge as the cornerstone. The director/s (and/or Lionsgate) knows you want an action (franchise?) film, so there's a crap tonne of action that seems to seamlessly end and begin with gusto.

Cool subtitles. Colorful, unique and enhanced the viewing experience without ruining the momentum of the fight scenes.

Everything is shallow. Who is John Wick besides a mourning expert super assassin with a quench for vengeance? But more importantly, why is Ryan O'Reilly (Dean Winters) from the superb TV show Oz even doing there? I still don't know.

Shallow? Pfft, who cares? It's better this way. You see, bad-guys and assassins like to hang together in their own bars and hotels away from the general population. When Wick goes back into the assassin world leaving the 'real' one behind, this separation of the two worlds permits us to be entirely immersed in John Wicks murderous mission. Better to avoid pesky thoughts of the potential for innocent bystanders.

Horrible Bosses 2 (2014)

It's not for everyone. Avoid it if you're sensitive to the politically incorrect and obscene. If not, go right ahead

[7/10 · 12 April 2015]

Horrible Bosses 2 [2014] is the comedy film (directed by Sean Anders) which reintroduces Nick (Jason Bateman), Kurt (Jason Sudeikis) and Dale (Charlie Day) from the first installment. Sick of working for someone else, they create their own company and invent 'The Shower Buddy' (a new product that cuts shower time in half). When their only investor cancels their order, the comically inept trio secure a large debt and 100,000 units of their own product. To recoup their financial losses, they decide to kidnap the rich investor's son (Chris Pine) and hold him for ransom.

Better than the original. A comedy sequel that's funnier than the former film is a rare thing. HB2 features the first HB characters: Kevin Spacey, Jennifer Aniston and Jamie Foxx in standout expletive laden scenes that will be quotable for quite some time. I had no idea that Chris Pine could be funny.

Right chemistry and timing. At every turn, the trio make such stupid decisions, that one would start to resent these characters that take us along on a cringe inducing trip. But, the dynamic between the main characters with their incessant yammering and likable demeanors makes the trip worth it. HB2 has a script that's both fresh and hilariously obscene, and is delivered by consummate professionals that have chops to deliver the lines.

Videodrome (1983)

Heavy on the fiction. Heavier on the weird.

[7/10 · 12 April 2015]

Videodrome [1983] is the science-fiction classic (by critically acclaimed director David Cronenberg) which introduces Max Renn, a cable TV executive on the search for the newest frontier of sexually explicit and violence- centered programming. Max Renn (acted by James Woods) is alerted to 'Videodrome', a pirate signal exclusively broadcasting scenes of violence, torture and murder.

Unexpected turn. The setup is a perfect beginning for a captivating mystery thriller. Further into the film, weird imagery pops up thick and fast. Part frightening, part disturbing, part nauseating. From one scene to the next, convoluted and silly sci-fi elements creep in and figuratively consume any semblance of logic. How the hell did we get here?

Deborah Harry. Playing love interest to Max Renn, she sells each line and is mesmerizing in her scenes. Written intriguingly complex for a supporting role. Besides being Nikki Brand, the masochistic psychiatrist and radio host, you never get to find out what her deal is. Videodrome avoids going into depth about anything besides the science-fiction story line.

Remarkably unusual. A male extra wears too much eye shadow. Inanimate objects start to pulsate. James Woods loses the plot. Deb Harry likes it rough. An old woman is peddling porn. So strange in fact, it differentiates itself to the point of becoming unforgettable. The extremely gory special effects (relative to the movie gore in the 80's) just intensifies the weirder elements and oozes a degree of David Lynch.

The Imitation Game (2014)

Don't mind a tale of friendship and struggle, served with a side of creative license

[8/10 · 12 April 2015]

The Imitation Game [2014] is the quasi-biographical historical thriller on acclaimed mathematician Alan Turing's (played by Benedict Cumberbatch) contribution toward deciphering the German enigma code. Turing is recruited, along with a team of mathematicians to do something statistically improbable in order permit the government to gather intelligence on the Nazis.

Simplified. Fed to us in easily digestible bites. No unnecessary jargon about the technological workings of enigma or an overwrought explanation on the political climate of the time. Just enough detail to sink your teeth into.

Drama and witty banter. It's based in depressing war-times, where members of the public are going hungry and this group will be stuck in a room doing stats. Sounds like a good time, right? Well, the majority of the time it is. Benedict Cumberbatch commits completely to the role as abrasive mathematician with such charm that Turing is likable from the outset and entirely sympathetic. His sharp wit is countered by co-star Keira Knightley, who plays Joan Clarke the caring companion and fellow brain. The rest of them ain't all that bad either.

Not a biography. One must acknowledge that there are major discrepancies between the actual events of Alan Turing's life and the film itself. Spoiler alert. The screenwriter has injected conflicts, relationships and hardships where none ever existed. Why? To deliver satisfying resolutions. For us, the viewing audience. Albeit, the clever tactic pays off and won Graham Moore the Academy Award for Best Writing Adapted Screenplay. The Imitation Game does not attempt to educate you on the realities of Alan Turing. But instead, conveys an essence of who Alan Turing was.

Nightcrawler (2014)

A disturbing character study on the dangerous qualities of self-interest, determination and moral ambiguity.

[9/10 · 12 April 2015]

Nightcrawler [2014] is the neo-noir crime/drama/thriller that stars Jake Gyllenhaal as Lou Bloom, a petty thief that is drawn to a career in L.A crime journalism. Driven by determination 'to make it' into being a supplier of crime footage for news networks, Lou blurs moral boundaries in order to succeed in his new profession.

Disturbing character motivations. Its thoroughly unnerving yet entirely fascinating to view characters put success and self-interest above all others. This is a tall-order to achieve in cinema, as they can appear as villainous subjects from a separate reality altogether. Morning news director, Nina Romina (Rene Russo) plays a complementary role to Gyllenhaal's facade. Nina is absolutely necessary for the narrative, as she is exposed to Lou Bloom's detestable Machiavellian way of viewing the world.

The subtleties of the great direction, score & script. Direction and script is courtesy of Dan Gilroy. It's his directional debut and great one at that. The score is engaging and instrumental to the narrative, and adds to the macabre atmospheric qualities of the script and direction.

Good show, creepy Gyllenhaal. He is terrifying as an eager to learn and grow sociopath. Striving to reach his dreams, we're taken on a journey to see this underdog try to make it in the crazy world of LA crime journalism. But damn, Lou is just so unnerving to watch. Gyllenhaal accomplishes a careful balance between trying to act like a sympathetic human being while being completely aloof and insincere. His body movements, line delivery and facial expressions all perfectly portray Lou in his true (character) form: an imposter. It's a shame that he missed getting nominated for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in the 2015 Academy Awards.

Big Hero 6 (2014)

Everyone needs a little Baymax in their lives

[8/10 · 12 April 2015]

Big Hero 6 [2014] is the Disney 3-D animated comedy action film that centers on Hiro Hamada, a 14-year old robotics prodigy, Baymax (an inflatable health companion robot) and an unlikely team of superheros.

5/5 graphics. Big Hero 6 transports viewers into a new visual realm and relatively individual style (besides its anime resemblance). The story is set in the futuristic city of 'San Fransokyo'. A little of Tokyo and San Francisco in one place. This explains the amalgamation of both Japanese and American components within the story and setting. It should be noted that Big Hero 6 is not a wholly original idea, and the animation is inspired by the Marvel comic by the very same name.

Baymax. Voiced by Scott Adsit, this lovable robot is animated to appear soft, cuddly and adorable, credit goes to the graphics and writing team on this one. Hiro's close friendship with Baymax is a highlight. Baymax can hold his own on the screen alone too, just strolling through the city streets, caring for others health and well-being. So yeah, he's cute and he knows it.

Expect to have a couple of teary moments. I won't describe or skim through details, out of utmost respect for those who haven't had a chance to see it yet. Since more serious topics aren't the usual in children targeted animation films, it's a nice change of pace.

Fantastic message for the young'uns. The main character Hiro (voiced by Ryan Potter) and the rest of the superheros team study robotics at the local university (including T.J. Miller from Silicon Valley and Damon Wayans Jr from New Girl). Reach your potential, practice non-violence and exercise sacrifice. That's just the tip of the iceberg. There are more spoiler-worthy ones that will be omitted from this review entirely. By the way, it's not 'preachy' in the slightest.

Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) (2014)

A brilliant film with immense intellectual and artistic merit.

[10/10 · 12 April 2015]

Birdman [2014] is the critically acclaimed dark comedy and drama (directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu) which presents washed-up actor Riggan (Michael Keaton) in and around his new debuted Broadway play.

Quality casting. Time and time again, usually big names attached to movies tend to hinder a films credibility, merit and sometimes ends in disaster (ala Movie 43). Then there are movies that are the exception, the cinematically exceptional Birdman. The actors fit their roles like hands to a glove. Michael Keaton, largely known from his widely released Batman [1989] is Riggans. Edward Norton plays Mike, acutely intense stage actor. In some circles Edward Norton is rumored to be every bit as intense and committed to his role (ahem…allegedly). Norton is charismatic and Keaton is sympathetic. Of course, special mentions go to Emma Stone (Riggan's daughter, Sam), Amy Ryan (ex-wife of Riggan) and Naomi Watts (the female lead of the play, Lesley).

Ideal marriage of style and substance. As you are probably aware, Birdman is shot in one continuous take. Instead of limiting the audience, Alejandro González Iñárritu creates enough realism to transport us into the screen without boring us to death with it. Truly captivating, the visual style is only aided by the score comprising of drums and several pieces of superbly selected classical music. Special effects are used sparingly, and with purpose. Riggans inner monologue (or 'mental formation') is the husky voiced superhero Birdman (sounds just like a certain famous bat superhero…) presents his state of mind. The substance lies within the dialog. It's fresh, hilariously written in its dark comedy and poignantly real to life in its drama. Birdman is meta. It's a film that uses the backdrop of Hollywood to examine something that's universal: striving to receive validation and the lengths we go to satisfy the ego.

Frank (II) (2014)

It's not a feel-good flick, but is a guaranteed must-see.

[9/10 · 16 October 2014]

Frank (2014) follows Jon Burroughs, a wannabe musician on a quest to put behind his humdrum office job to become the new keyboard player to an eccentric and downright crazy (literally) music band. Jon (played by Domhnall Gleeson) attempts to find musical inspiration, failing to find some within we see him resorting to walking down the street and writing unimaginative lyrics about women holding grocery bags. His life is boring, and he believes himself to be unremarkable.

We've seen it done before. Protagonist meets person(s) with unconventional world views or eccentric characteristics, whom impact their lives in some meaningful way. Jon Ronson (one of the co- screenplay writers) loosely based the film's story on the musician Chris Sevey's comic persona, Frank Sidebottom. With the ingenuity of the director (Lenny Abrahamson), it carefully avoids the trite convention by providing genuine dialog, dimensional characters and real-world consequences.

The title character, Frank (Michael Fassbender) whose unrelenting need to wear a disproportionately large cartoon head is both intriguing and worrisome. Michael Fassbender shines as Frank. Limited to talking wearing that gigantic head, stating his facial expressions and communicating through body movements, he is the star (and rightly so). Honourable mention to Maggie Gyllenhaal (who portrays Clara, the feisty and quirky antagonist). The film preaches, without being preachy. Musical talent is hindered by mental illness, not the cause of it. Social media popularity does not equate to real life popularity. Some people will put their self-interests ahead of your health. It somewhat spouts Lars Von Trier's mantra, that people are selfish and generally horrid, while giving them redeeming qualities. This film is more than what it seems.

Forgetting the Girl (2012)

Interesting concept. Good ending. Forgetting the Girl is above average for an independent production.

[6/10 · 17 August 2014]

Forgetting the Girl introduces us to Kevin Wolfe (Christopher Denham), a soft spoken photographer consumed by his need to try to reconcile the traumatic childhood memory of his sisters accidental death. He works in a rented studio space with a chatty and emotionally fragile makeup assistant, Jamie (Lindsay Beamish). Their job brings upon encounters with a flurry of wannabe actresses and models. They fleetingly pass, both into and out of Kevin's life.

Kevin addresses the camera directly, with neurotic detail to explain his sometimes unusual, borderline obsessive way with the ladies. We follow Kevin's visits to his last living relative, his grandmother (Phyllis Somerville), his awkward but well-meaning exchanges with potential clients/ potential subjects of a mild infatuation (one of which is Adrienne, played by Anna Camp). He scared her off with his tenacious approach to the post-hookup.

He finally catches a break when viable love interest, Beth (Elizabeth Rice) meets him outside a theater and has an actual interest in getting to know him. From this point forward, it becomes apparent that one of these characters are not to be trusted.

The GOOD The gore level is set to a minimum. It achieves the same intended result without the use of gratuitous violence. The end. Many viewers will probably predict what will happen, the first 10 minutes in. Well thought out, nonetheless.

THE BAD The proclamation power-point presentation. The three P's, if you will. Kevin speaking directly into the camera is reminiscent of a mediocre high-school drama monologue (intentional?).

Mawkish is the only way to describe the script. Especially when Jamie repeats the whole "I want to be beautiful for you, Kevin" bit. Involuntary eye-roll.

This is Nate Taylor's directorial debut . It's well directed with an intriguing set of characters. Impressive considering it's an independent film with a low estimated budget of only 600K.

6/10

The Squid and the Whale (2005)

Authentic, intelligent and humorous.

[8/10 · 17 August 2014]

The Squid and the Whale (directed by the writer and director of 'Greenberg', Noah Baumbach) is about the everyday happenings of the Berkman family set in 1980's Brooklyn . Bernard Berkman (Jeff Daniels) is a middle aged father with a strong and detrimental emotional reliance on his family members (one of his sons, Walt is played by Jesse Eisenberg). We're introduced to the mother of the Berkman clan: Joan Berkman (Laura Linney). A promiscuous writer who is unhappy with the state of her marriage and decides that divorce is now an option.

The kids are treated as miniature adults. No topic seems too risqué or uncomfortable to discuss in great detail (sex, relationships, underage drinking). The Squid and the Whale may flare up feelings of second-hand embarrassment in some particular scenes.

THE GOOD: It's all good. The cast, writing, direction. All of it.

THE BAD: Nothing. I'm sure with a re-watch in some years, they'll be something to pick at. Cosmetically, Jeff Daniels has a big pimple in between his eyebrows. So there's that.

If you enjoyed this movie, you'll love 'Margot at the Wedding' by the very same director, Noah Baumbach.

Highly recommended.

The Fault in Our Stars (2014)

Grab some tissues, you'll need them.

[7/10 · 17 August 2014]

The Fault In Our Stars (directed by Josh Boone) is the screen adaptation of the bestselling book of the same name (written by author John Green). Hazel Grace Lancaster (Shailene Woodley) is a long-time cancer survivor who carries an obligatory oxygen tank wherever she goes. Concerned with her daughters depressive state (for reasons known to us), Hazel's mother, Frannie Lancaster (played by Laura Dern) lovingly pushes her to attend a cancer support group. While attending said support group, Hazel locks eyes with Augustus Waters (Ansel Elgort) and from then on, a blossoming relationship begins.

THE GOOD: Drama central. From this, I mean the all the talk of dealing with tragedy, cancer, death and consequently having to do so at such a young age. The main characters, Augustus and Hazel try to uncover their lives impact, the meaning behind life and aim to experience their short times on earth together. Laura Dern delivered a splendid and non-standardized portrayal of a parent with a terminally ill child.

Funny bits. So that audiences do not sob throughout the entire movie, The Fault in Our Stars has incorporated dashes of comedy. Especially seen in the encounters with their mutual friend Isaac (Nat Wolff). I'll admit that a few of the sickly sweet dialogue between the couple made for some chuckle-some scenes.

THE BAD: Anne Frank's exhibition. Ugh, people actually watched them kiss and started clapping and cheering. I've read other people's takes on this scene being quite fitting considering Anne Frank's narration was playing as Hazel struggled to make it up the stairs of the exhibition. I do not agree. Why would a crowd of people surround you and applaud you, no matter the situation. It felt unrealistic and out of place.

That cigarette close to death metaphor. Hearing the explanation, once was enough. It can only be described as an agonizingly reoccurring bit. Augustus never failed to have an unlit cigarette hanging out of his mouth (being seated on an airplane, rocking up in a limo etc.)

Willem Dafoe. Why Dafoe, Why?. I'm accustomed to seeing him in the less mainstream films (such as Lars von Trier's Antichrist and Nymphomaniac). This appearance is simultaneously unnerving and baffling to say the least. He plays Peter Van Houten, a caricature of a peeved off writer whose last book had caught the admiration of lead character Hazel. Subsequently, the two teens travel to meet him in a scene that can only be described as saddening and utterly bizarre. Eventually, he's villainous behavior is given an explanation in an attempt to give his character depth.

Lucy (I) (2014)

Discard the rubbish. Enjoyable film made for the big screen.

[7/10 · 17 August 2014]

Sci-fi blockbuster Lucy follows protagonist and leading heroine Lucy (Scarlett Johansson) in a fast-paced ride to gain vengeance, drugs and self-actualization. Directed and written by Luc Besson (director of The Fifth Element), Lucy delivers drug-fueled driving chases, visually breathtaking SFX and metaphorically significant stock footage. We meet Lucy, with a series of quick cuts of her partying. Lucy converses with her cowboy-hat wearing friend Richard, after a long night out on the town. He's bad news. Outside a business building, they chat about nonsense. Richard states he needs Lucy's help to deliver an important briefcase to Mr. Jang (conveniently, he's waiting inside that same building). ScarJo declines this task for the comforting embrace of her bed. Out of the blue, scummy Richard pulls out cuff-links and attaches her to the briefcase. Then all hell breaks loose.

Spoilers ahead:

While this is going on, we cross to Professor Samuel Norman (Morgan Freeman) as he presents his hypotheses to his peers regarding the limited 10% capacity that human beings supposedly make use of (*cough* bullshit *cough*) and rattles off the multitude of cool powers obtained if the capacity were to increase. Of course, this happens during the pivotal scenes, where the bag leaks, gets absorbed by Lucy and she transforms from absorbing the super-powerful drug.

Lucy, an innocent bystander, gets taken away by a bevy of Asian baddies following orders from the supposed drug lord, Mr. Jang (Min-sik Choi) and gets all tangled up in a drug smuggling ring as a drug mule. It all happens so fast. A bag of a new crystal blue designer drug is surgically placed into her stomach while unconscious. One of Mr Jang's cronies (an English guy, The Limey' played by Julian Rhind-Tutt) threatens Lucy and the other luckless mules that they must do as they're told, or it's all over for them and their loved ones.

THE GOOD:

Special FX. It's the meat and potatoes of the entire experience. Watch it for the effects and do so on a mammoth screen. The visual effects crew earned their pay checks for this project, that's for sure.

Super human abilities. Lucy becomes smarter, stronger and more bad-ass as she reaches her brains 100% capacity.

THE BAD:

It's a jumbalaya of sorts. Get a pot and just add a bunch of movie ideas and motifs. Obviously, comparisons that come to mind are Limitless (2011) and slight resemblance to 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) . Okay, so that's a minus, but it's all been done before anyway.

Overacting. More specifically about the scene after Lucy gets kicked in the stomach and the bag leaks. She's transforming into Lucy 2.0 by shaking uncontrollably, you might say? Whatever happened to fade to black! Morgan Freeman's peer conference had a bunch of extra's hamming up their minuscule parts. Keep an eye out for the one of the professors in the audience nodding profusely and embodying an overenthusiastic portrayal of what a professor is supposed to act like.

Illogical story-line: So, either the policeman became infatuated with ScarJo or is scared witless, it still all remains a mystery. He gathers up his police pals to protect her in the end, after she killed a couple of people and drove recklessly in order to get juiced on her drug of choice. He sure was smitten with old ScarJo. Also, Lucy's choice to let the drug lord live when he was defenseless and a breath away was illogical and served only to further the 'run away from baddies' subplot.

You'll need to disregard science altogether and get comfortable with fiction. The premise of humans having usage of only 10% of the brain's capacity is a (popularly?) debunked myth for a while now.

Don't get bogged down in the particulars of the story and enjoy the visual feast.

The Call (II) (2013)

The Call achieves its main objective. Not without its flaws, it's surprisingly entertaining and suspenseful.

[7/10 · 14 August 2014]

From the beginning scene, it is obvious that The Call (directed by Brad Anderson) exhibits a fine representation of a film within the thriller genre. As an experienced emergency operator, Jordan Turner (Halle Berry) handles emergency phone calls which vary from the serious to the not-so-serious. Each call is completely different from the next. Off the bat, there is a sense of quasi-realism. These operators deal with less serious issues as well! It's not all suspense, shock and awe stuff. A couple shots dealing with inconsiderate callers in a bind to find a flirt buddy, urgent cooking tips, and the like. Then we're exposed to seeing Jordan on the serious life or death calls. Jordan displays a healthy amount of both detachment and concern on these calls. As the work day comes to a finish, her boyfriend Officer Paul Phillips (Morris Chestnut) is introduced as the male love interest/secondary character.

Spoilers ahead:

As Jordan is going through her normal work-day, she receives a distressed call from a teenage girl amid a possible home invasion. An uninvited male suspect in a baseball cap. Doing the usual Q&A to begin with, the girl identifies herself as Leah Templeton. Then Halle... I mean Jordan instructs Leah to find the nearest exit or to lock herself in a room, as the police hurry themselves to the residence ASAP.

Halle messes up, big time. Girl is found dead not too long after. Visibly shaken and emotionally affected by this incident, she decides that after a brief conversation with Paul (Officer Phillips, that is) that it's best to quit the emergency operator game.

Six months later, she's a different person. Teaching newbies on the job, appearing jaded and aloof. We know that some long-term damage has been done. Two steps away, an emergency phone call fitting the similar details of Jordan's life-changing mistake call. Of course, the emergency operator is not equipped to handle the call and pleads with Jordan, 'What do I do?" over and over til she obliges. Time to shine, Halle!

THE GOOD

Full-on suspense. Halle's acting is pretty good. she doesn't transform into another person, but that really wasn't the purpose of the movie. I was seriously convinced that she cared deeply for the kidnapped. I'll admit, maybe I started to believe that Halle was moonlighting as an operator, or did some ride-along placement and got in too deep. Either way, good job.

One-dimensional bad-guy, Michael Foster (played well by Michael Eklund). This blind hate for the villain had the the whole good vs. evil dichotomy thing. The safe return of the kidnapped is the only objective, with allowance given to the kidnapped to use any means necessary to escape . Cheesy line in the final scene is both good and bad, for obvious reasons. Villain receives his comeuppance, served with a delightfully catty 'It's already done!" (reference to villains own words). Not surprising since I feel like I've been made to loathe this dangerous weirdo from the get-go.

No overacting from Abigail Breslin (who plays Casey Welson, the distraught kidnapped victim). She plays the role right, without going overboard with obnoxious screaming and sobbing.

THE BAD

One-dimensional bad guy. Micheal Foster might as well been named, 'Indiscriminate killer'. The Call grazes over motive like it's an art. A bad thing happened to this kid, so now he's all messed up inside. In fact, kidnapping and killing teenage girls, setting men on fire and stabbing them to death can be attributed to this unfortunate life experience. Give me a break. Pointing in the general direction of his weird obsessions with hair (as a child, his blonde sister passed away from cancer). I'm assuming we're just supposed to infer the rest. No explanation is given.

One-dimensional characters. As credits roll, very limited information is presented about any of the characters: back-stories and/or personalities.

FINAL NOTE:

The good and brave citizens blocking this demented killer from his ghastly deeds sure got taken 'care' of ridiculously fast. A familiar face, Michael Imperioli is introduced into the film for a good 5 minutes and sadly, just as quick as he appears, he disappears.

7/10