Sleight of Film

Today’s quick review: Venom: Let There Be Carnage. Eddie Brock (Tom Hardy), a disgraced reporter, has bonded with Venom, a bloodthirsty alien symbiote that grants him superpowers. During an interview with condemned serial killer Cletus Kasady (Woody Harrelson), Eddie accidentally lets Cletus absorb a part of Venom, imbuing him with the same powers and turning him into the monstrosity known as Carnage.

Venom: Let There Be Carnage is a dark superhero action comedy based on the Marvel Comics character. In the aftermath of the first movie, Eddie Brock and Venom are struggling to adapt to life together. Despite his attempts to stay out of trouble, Eddie is forced back into action when Cletus Kasady goes on a rampage. Let There Be Carnage features flashy action and some fun humor, but at the cost of clumsy direction and a thin story.

Where Venom: Let There Be Carnage shines is its action scenes. Venom and Carnage are monstrous beings with a frightening array of abilities. Seeing them clash is just as chaotic, violent, and destructive as fans could hope for. Carnage in particular comes off well, the erratic embodiment of Cletus Kasady’s rage. The special effects show some wear around the edges, but they hold up remarkably well in every scene that counts.

The comedy in Let There Be Carnage is more of a mixed bag. Eddie and Venom still make for an amusing duo, with Venom acting as an impulsive and brutal manifestation of Eddie’s id. But the movie overplays its hand by doubling down on the humor from the first film without balancing it out. Instead of letting the jokes flow from the predicament Eddie is in, the movie forces its characters to go through the motions just for the sake of a laugh.

Where Let There Be Carnage shows real weakness is its story. The movie does not have enough plot to fill even its modest run time, so it stalls with Venom’s antics and a thoroughly unnecessary backstory for Cletus Kasady. This pushes the actual conflict back, which reduces the amount of time Eddie gets to spend as Venom. The pacing issues are compounded by an abrupt directorial style that condenses important developments into sound bites.

Venom: Let There Be Carnage is a strange movie that will hold some appeal for fans of the original but comes with baggage attached. Action fans who are just looking for a CGI-fueled clash peppered with humor will get what they want. But pacing issues, a stretched plot, and overplayed comedy will make the movie a poor pick for viewers who have a critical eye. Approach with caution.

For a cleaner take on the character, check out the original Venom. For a more grounded story featuring the character, try Spider-Man 3. For a hyper-stylized crime thriller starring Woody Harrelson as a lovestruck serial killer, check out Natural Born Killers. Finally, for a comedy featuring a man with poor impulse control and similarly cartoonish powers, try The Mask.

[6.0 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7097896/). I give it a 6.5 for excellent action saddled with a story that does not live up to its potential.

Today’s quick review: Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City. Claire Redfield (Kaya Scodelario) returns to Raccoon City to warn her brother Chris (Robbie Amell) that the Umbrella Corporation has been poisoning the town, only to have her fears confirmed when the locals begin turning into zombies. As the town is overrun, Claire and Chris join forces with police officers Leon S. Kennedy (Avan Jogia) and Jill Valentine (Hannah John-Kamen) to escape.

Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City is a zombie survival horror movie based on the Resident Evil video game series. Unlike the previous live-action adaptations, Welcome to Raccoon City hews closer to its source material, mashing up the plots of the first two games. The movie blends zombie action with a heavy dose of atmospheric horror. However, mediocre characters and some peculiar presentation choices dent an otherwise solid story.

Welcome to Raccoon City handles its horror well. The movie does a good job of conveying Raccoon City as a dying, desolate town that is home to some nasty conspiracies. Every now and then the movie gets carried away trying to unnerve the audience, shattering the illusion, but Umbrella’s experiments are interesting enough to reel the audience back in. The atmosphere and the dark mystery

That said, Welcome to Raccoon City has plenty of flaws. Chief among these is that the characters never quite click. Their reactions to the events around them are not entirely believable, and two or three weirdly stylized scenes heighten the sense of disconnect. Inertia and a few good lines are enough to keep the audience rooting for the survivors, but the movie misses the chance to make the characters more engaging.

Welcome to Raccoon City also suffers from pacing and logic issues. The slow build-up sets the tone quite nicely but drags out the plot, wasting time in the predictable early stages of the outbreak and pushing the more interesting material on Umbrella to the end of the movie. The action is likewise back-loaded, only hitting its stride later on. Finally, the plot is pocked with minor holes that will diminish the enjoyment of attentive viewers.

Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City is an interesting experiment with a few points in its favor, but its many flaws make it a rocky pick. Fans of the games or of the horror genre may want to give it a shot, as much for its idiosyncrasies as for its story and atmosphere. But viewers who are looking for either straightforward zombie action or masterful horror may want to steer clear.

For a less faithful but more action-packed adaptation of the same source material, try the original Resident Evil and its sequels. For a classic horror movie about the early hours of a zombie outbreak, try Night of the Living Dead. For a superhero horror movie that toys with a similar setup, try The New Mutants. For an action movie set in a police station under attack, try Assault on Precinct 13.

[5.6 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6920084/). I give it a 6.0 to 6.5 for a a promising mystery hurt by some questionable choices along the way.

Today’s quick review: Guns Akimbo. Miles Harris (Daniel Radcliffe) makes a costly mistake when he trolls on Skizm, a site that streams death matches. In retaliation, Riktor (Ned Dennehy), the owner of the site, bolts two guns to Miles’ hands and forces him to participate in the next Skizm match. Now Miles has just 24 hours to kill Nix (Samara Weaving), his psychotic opponent, or Riktor will have him killed instead.

Guns Akimbo is a gory, stylized action thriller about an innocent man who gets forced to participate in a violent death match in front of millions of viewers. Guns Akimbo features an over-the-top premise, bloody and chaotic action, and heavy video game influences. The movie’s rampant violence and warped sense of humor will drive off many viewers, but anyone with compatible taste will be treated to a wild and creative thrill ride.

Guns Akimbo nails its sense of style. From its neon overlays and varied camerawork to its pulsing electronic soundtrack, Guns Akimbo draws the viewer into a world of death and mayhem. Miles, unable to accomplish even basic tasks because to the guns attached to his hands, races to get away from Nix, his heavily armed and highly capable opponent, in a city that’s buzzing with excitement for the latest Skizm stream.

The style wraps perfectly around the backbone of the movie: the action. Guns Akimbo goes all in on its action, shooting up apartments, streets, and offices as Miles and Nix duke it out. The fights are noisy and creative. The movie has a knack for throwing awkward obstacles in Miles’ way, and Nix has her own armory to keep things fresh. The experience is topped off with a passable plot and some barbed jabs at internet culture.

Still, in spite of its best efforts, Guns Akimbo comes across as a little thin. The movie flirts with a backstory for Nix and Riktor which would have fleshed out the world of Skizm. But instead of supporting this extension to the story, it treats it as a passing curiosity. Likewise, the movie is a little too aggressive about sacrificing its characters. The result is a story that’s less satisfying than it could have been with a shade more effort.

Guns Akimbo is decidedly not for everyone. Anyone even remotely sensitive to violence should steer clear, as should anyone who prefers the carefully channeled violence of films like Pulp Fiction. But for fans of flashy violence and dark humor, Guns Akimbo is a rare treat. Give it a shot if you think your tastes line up.

Guns Akimbo is the latest in a long line of gory, stylized action movies. Shoot ‘Em Up has a tongue-in-cheek tone and treats guns as the solution to every problem. Gamer deals with similar themes of video game violence and internet voyeurism. Hardcore Henry has video game influences and its own gimmick in the form of parkour. Crank and its sequel feature similarly manic energy and heavy stylization.

With more of a thematic connection, Wanted tells the story of an office worker who finds his calling as an assassin. Smokin’ Aces features a group of rival assassins who descend on the same hotel. Scott Pilgrim vs. the World drops the violence and doubles down on the video game influences. Battle Royale and The Tournament have free-for-all death matches. Finally, Arena is a budget action movie about a man forced into an online death match.

[6.3 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6902676/). I give it a 6.5 to 7.0 for stylish execution of a hit-or-miss premise.

Today’s quick review: American Ultra. Mike Howell (Jesse Eisenberg), a drug-addled grocery store clerk, lives in West Virginia with his girlfriend Phoebe (Kristen Stewart). Unaware that he is the product of a shuttered CIA program, Mike gets a rude awakening when Victoria Lasseter (Connie Britton), the former head of the program, activates his latent training to save him from killers sent by her successor Adrian Yates (Topher Grace).

American Ultra is a violent action comedy about a dimwitted man who becomes the target of a CIA cover-up. Even more confused than usual, Mike races to get out of town with Phoebe in town before Laugher (Walter Goggins) and Yates’ other killers can eliminate him. American Ultra mashes up gory action, drug-fueled philosophy, and an oddly touching love story to spin a niche but enjoyable yarn.

American Ultra gets a lot of its power from its characters. Mike is an irresponsible slacker plagued with memory issues and panic attacks, but he is redeemed by his fundamentally good nature and his love for Phoebe. No matter what happens to him, he never loses his sense of wide-eyed innocence. Jesse Eisenberg and Kristen Stewart make for a natural couple, and their connection with each other makes Mike and Phoebe worth rooting for.

American Ultra supplements their story with stylized action, courtesy of Mike’s assassin training, and a hefty dose of chaos. Between Yates’ botched cover-up and Mike’s questionable decisions, what should have been a quiet mission instead turns the town into a war zone. The scale of the story is still modest, limited to Mike and Phoebe’s attempts to leave town, but the destruction and the mayhem make it an entertaining watch.

American Ultra is not for everyone, but it is a hidden gem for the right viewer. Anyone with a high tolerance for violence, drug use, and dark humor will find it to be an interesting and occasionally touching watch, even if it doesn’t reach as far as other movies. Sensitive viewers and anyone looking for a polished, sensible story should look elsewhere.

For a more serious action thriller about a man with hidden training, check out The Bourne Identity. For a straightforward teen action thriller with a similar premise, check out Abducted. For another black comedy starring Jesse Eisenberg, try The Art of Self-Defense. For a more satirical comedy about a government attempt to create supersoldiers through the power of mind-altering drugs, try The Men Who Stare at Goats.

[6.1 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3316948/). I give it a 6.5 for unexpected charm.

Today’s quick review: Cool Money. Bobby Comfort (James Marsters), a robber just released from prison, tries to work a normal job to support his wife Stephanie (Robin Brule) and their daughter. But Bobby falls back into his old ways when his partner Doc (Wayne Robson) introduces him to Sammy Nola (John Cassini). Together, the three men plan a series of brazen hotel robberies that could net them millions or earn them a lifetime in prison.

Cool Money is a crime movie about a small-time criminal who makes it big by stealing from luxury hotels in New York City. The movie follows Bobby, Sammy, and Doc as they carry out their jobs and try to stay ahead of the police. Cool Money relies on Bobby’s charisma, non-violent robberies, and the question of when to quit for most of its entertainment value. Unfortunately, mediocre characters and a flat plot keep it from shining.

Cool Money aims to be charming, and it is partially successful. James Marsters is a good fit for the part, and the low-pressure tactics the robbers use give a comfortable quality to the whole endeavor. However, the movie struggles to find a hook. The character drama is never that compelling, the robberies are fairly basic, and there is never a strong sense of progression. The result is a crime movie with nice ideas but little to back them up.

Give Cool Money a shot when you are in the mood for something light and relatively inconsequential. There are any number of crime comedies that pull off a similar story with sharper humor and more flair, but Cool Money does a decent job with what it has to work with. Still, critical viewers will be better off trying one of the more ambitious crime movies whose stories have a better payoff.

For another crime movie about a gang of small-time thieves setting out to steal millions, try Plastic. For a darker crime drama about a criminal trying to balance a family life with his career ambitions, try Thief. For a light heist of similar caliber, try The Heist, starring Pierce Brosnan. For a funnier, more elaborate, and more charming heist movie, check out Ocean’s Eleven.

[5.7 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0435719/). I give it a 6.0 for a somewhat charming story without much heft.

Today’s quick review: Blackhat. When a cyber attack takes down a power plant in China, Captain Chen Dawai (Leehom Wang) of the PLA recruits his sister Lien (Tang Wei) and his college roommate Hathaway (Chris Hemsworth), a convicted American hacker, to track down the criminal responsible. Following a trail of digital clues, the trio travels around the world to catch up with the hacker and prevent him from walking away with millions of stolen dollars.

Blackhat is an action movie and cyber thriller directed by Michael Mann. The story serves up a blend of conventional action and digital forensics, making for a solid thriller with a couple of good twists. The seriousness with which the movie treats its subject matter is a point in its favor, as is its willingness to throw hard setbacks at its characters. However, a slew of minor flaws keeps it from capitalizing on its strengths.

Blackhat tries too hard to be dramatic, which ends up costing it in other ways. Instead of concentrating its drama on the moments that matter, the movie tries to inject everything with tension, even its more mundane moments. This slows the pacing to a crawl and keeps the characters from having a chance to breathe. As such, the audience has no reason to invest in the character themselves, only the investigation they are a part of.

Blackhat is a decent pick when you are in the mood for a thriller, but its awkward pacing, lackluster character work, and overly dramatic presentation style keep it from flowing the way the best thrillers do. Those willing to put up with its foibles will find that it’s an unusually sober take on the cyber thriller genre, albeit one peppered with action. But thanks to its flaws, casual viewers will want to approach with caution.

For a more colorful crime movie about an ex-hacker getting back in the game, try Swordfish. For a lighter crime movie about digital crime, try Sneakers. For an action thriller with something of a similar flavor, try The Peacemaker. For a globe-trotting action thriller with a more sympathetic protagonist, try The Bourne Identity.

[5.4 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2717822/). I give it a 6.0 for a solid plot let down by an overly dramatic style.

Today’s quick review: My Name Is Thomas. Thomas (Terence Hill), an old man on a pilgrimage to the Spanish desert, breaks his own rule and picks up a hitchhiker: Lucia (Veronica Bitto), a young woman on her way to Barcelona to visit her aunt. As the two travel by motorcycle across Spain, they connect with each other and share their perspectives on life. But it isn’t long before Lucia’s health issues threaten to cut the trip short.

My Name Is Thomas is an Italian drama about a pensive old man and a troubled young woman who find common ground. The movie aims to be a bittersweet reflection on life, religion, and dying. The minimalistic story gives Thomas and Lucia plenty of time together, and their conflicting personalities are the backbone of the movie. However, poor fundamentals undermine the movie’s efforts, making it a dry and somewhat confusing watch.

My Name Is Thomas never lays the groundwork it needs to make its story work, beginning with its title character. Thomas is framed as a modern-day cowboy, an aging but capable man with a keen sense of honor. But although his character comes across just fine, his personal circumstances do not. The audience is left wondering who he is, why he is going to the desert, and what the book he takes with him is supposed to mean.

The same confusion applies to the story as a whole. There is no hook to reel the audience in and no target for the story to aim for. Instead, My Name Is Thomas meanders without purpose. Lucia causes trouble for Thomas in a series of forgettable incidents, and the two engage in philosophical conversations that are not properly grounded in the story. Topping it all off is some heavy-handed symbolism that adds little to the movie.

My Name Is Thomas falls short of the goals it sets for itself. Its characters have potential but never do anything of note. Its story works as a vehicle for introspection, but it doesn’t have anything meaningful to say. And while it sets up one or two emotional moments later on, they rely on the audience forming a connection with characters they never truly understand. As such, My Name Is Thomas will be a miss for most viewers.

For a dramatic comedy about a man who connects with a mentally troubled hitchhiker, try Arthur Newman. For a more poignant drama about the process of dying, try Seven Pounds or I Want to Eat Your Pancreas. For a more iconic role for Terence Hill, try My Name Is Nobody.

[5.3 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6292090/). I give it a 4.5 for poorly framed drama.

Today’s quick review: Croupier. Struggling to make ends meet, Jack Manfred (Clive Owen) shelves the novel he is writing and takes a job as a dealer at a casino, where his technical skill and professional demeanor make him an excellent employee. But the nightlife soon drives a wedge between Jack and his girlfriend Marion (Gina McKee), a problem compounded when he meets Jani (Alex Kingston), an alluring gambler who needs his help.

Croupier is a crime drama about a detached writer who takes a job at a casino. Observing the gamblers, getting to know his fellow dealers, and losing himself in the spin of the roulette wheel, Jack gradually morphs into a different person. Croupier is an introspective movie about gambling, the creative process, and one man’s transformation. Interesting ideas and capable acting are hurt by an aimless plot with a mediocre resolution.

What sets Croupier apart is the way it peeks inside Jack’s head. He is not a gambler, but he is every bit as addicted to the game as the customers he serves. The atmosphere of the casino encourages him to take risks with his job and his relationship, all while he observes the changes and uses them for his writing. Jack has a very particular set of values that make him interesting to watch, and Clive Owen’s performance grounds the character nicely.

Croupier has a few issues with its story that will diminish some viewers’ enjoyment. The plot meanders without a clear destination in mind, focusing on Jack’s mental state as he deals with a series of loosely related incidents. This results in stagnant stretches where there is little progression to be had, and the movie tends to break them up with arbitrary developments that create loose ends later on.

How much you get out of Croupier will depend on your taste in storytelling. Those interested in character-focused stories with literary stylings and the apparent randomness of real life will get the most out of the movie. Viewers who prefer tighter plotting and full character arcs may find that the story never quite clicks.

For a darker, more surreal drama about a writer forced to choose between his artistic ideals and a paycheck, check out Barton Fink. For another story about a frustrated writer who turns to other means to achieve success, try The Words. For a drama that explores the temptations of gambling from the other side of the table, check out The Gambler, Rounders, or The Hustler.

[7.1 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0159382/). I give it a 6.5 for sound character work with debatable story decisions.

Today’s quick review: Runner Runner. Richie Furst (Justin Timberlake), a Princeton graduate student, earns the offer of a lifetime when he impresses Ivan Block (Ben Affleck), the owner of an online gambling site. Moving to Costa Rica, Richie rakes in the cash as he helps Ivan run the business. But the job turns out to be too good to be true when Richie learns that Ivan will bribe, blackmail, and threaten to get what he wants.

Runner Runner is a crime thriller about a bright young man who gets pulled into a lucrative, semi-legal online gambling operation. What begins as the job of his dreams soon turns into a nightmare as Ivan shows his true colors. Runner Runner features a promising setup that sees Richie trapped every way he turns. However, weak character work and a couple of casting misses keep the movie from living up to its potential.

One of the key issues with Runner Runner is that Justin Timberlake is a poor fit for his role. Instead of a sympathetic protagonist with bold dreams and a sharp mind, Richie comes across as greedy, arrogant, and short-sighted. In the context of another story, Timberlake’s performance would work just fine, but as it stands, it keeps the audience from sympathizing with him.

Runner Runner fares somewhat better with its plot. The setup takes one or two too many steps, but once Richie settles in under Ivan, the movie gets down to business. The tension mounts are Richie gets boxed in by local authorities, a rough FBI agent (Anthony Mackie), and Ivan’s scheming. To the movie’s credit, it gives Richie the chance to strike back. But loose plot work and a weak supporting cast keep the story from every really shining.

Give Runner Runner a shot when you are in the mood for a thriller about a man who’s in over his head. The basics of the plot are enough to make the movie a decent watch, but the cast never quite clicks, making it hard to engage with the story. As such, Runner Runner is outclassed by a number of similar movies, and more critical viewers will want to steer clear.

For a movie about a college student trying to turn a profit off gambling, try 21. For another crime thriller about a smart young man who gets in over his head, try Paranoia. For a drama about a talented gambler drawn in by a shady mentor, try Two for the Money. For a story about a stock broker lured by the siren call of money, try Wall Street.

[5.6 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2364841/). I give it a 6.0 for a decent plot held back by a weak lead.

Today’s quick review: Paranoia. Adam Cassidy (Liam Hemsworth), a junior employee at a tech company, gets caught between a rock and a hard place when Nicolas Wyatt (Gary Oldman), the head of the company, blackmails him into spying on Jock Goddard (Harrison Ford), his biggest rival. Adam infiltrates Jock’s company and uses his connection to Emma Jennings (Amber Heard) to steal information, only to hit a snag when he tries to deliver it to Wyatt.

Paranoia is a crime thriller about corporate espionage. Liam Hemsworth stars as Adam, an ambitious engineer whose mistake puts him at the mercy of his cutthroat boss. Paranoia aims to be a slick thriller about a bright but misguided young man who gets caught between two of the leaders in his field. The movie’s promising setup and talented cast are undermined by a script that is not as clever as it tries to be.

Paranoia has a hard time making Adam into a character worth following. Liam Hemsworth does a decent job with the role, but Adam shows little of the brilliance that he is supposed to have. He is consistently behind the curve, walks into obvious traps, and rarely takes the initiative. The same goes for the other characters: serviceable acting let down by character decisions that are not as cunning as the movie pretends.

The final product is a light and reasonably enjoyable thriller that suffers from weak characters and a couple of glaring plot holes. Viewers who are just looking for a bit of entertainment will find that Paranoia gets the job done. But the movie never realizes its potential, and what should be a battle of wits between three technological geniuses instead devolves into a linear story that never does anything unexpected.

For a corporate drama about an ambitious executive sparring with an unscrupulous mentor, check out Wall Street. For a crime thriller about a man caught in a similar predicament thanks to his misuse of a mind-altering drug, try Limitless. For a crime comedy about a young man caught between two feuding crime kingpins, try Lucky Number Slevin. For another thriller that peeks inside a tech company, try The Circle.

[5.7 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1413495/). I give it a 6.0 for a decent plot that’s not as clever as its premise requires.