Sleight of Film

Today’s quick review: The Librarian: Quest for the Spear. Flynn Carsen (Noah Wyle), an over-educated but inexperienced career student, takes an unusual job offer as the Librarian, the keeper of a secret collection of supernatural artifacts. When a piece of the Spear of Destiny is stolen, Flynn must venture into the Amazon to locate the other pieces before they can be reunited, granting the wielder the power to conquer the world.

The Librarian: Quest for the Spear is an action adventure movie with a light tone. Noah Wyle stars as Flynn Carson, a bookish man who must put his encyclopedic knowledge to a much more practical use than he ever imagined. He is joined by Sonya Walger as Nicole Noone, the Librarian’s tough, jaded protector, and Bob Newhart as Judson, an ex-Librarian who recruits Flynn for the job.

Quest for the Spear was produced for television, and the limited budget shows. The plot is a bare-bones treasure hunt, the script is packed with cute but obvious jokes, and the action is carefully arranged to disguise the film’s poor special effects. As such, Quest for the Spear can’t really compete with big-budget adventure films in terms of action or writing, but it occupies a comfortable niche as their pared-down cousin.

When taken on its own terms, The Librarian: Quest for the Spear is an enjoyable, if basic, popcorn flick. The characters are simple but likable, the humor is consistently amusing, and the premise is just enough of a twist on the genre to feel worthwhile. The lack of violence and easy-to-follow plot also make the movie perfect to relax to when a more involved film would be too daunting.

Watch The Librarian: Quest for the Spear when you are in the mood for a light adventure in the vein of Indiana Jones or Warehouse 13. Skip it if you are looking to be wowed rather than merely entertained. For a romantic adventure with a similar tone, check out Romancing the Stone. For an adventure with a touch more action, check out Sahara. Fans of the movie should also check out its sequels.

6.2 out of 10 IMDB. I give it a 6.5 for light, pure adventure with decent execution.

Today’s quick review: Kingsman: The Secret Service. Eggsy (Taron Egerton), a talented youth with a troubled home life, receives the opportunity of a lifetime when Galahad (Colin Firth) invites him to become a Kingsman, a member of a secretive international spy ring. While Eggsy trains in spycraft, Galahad races to unravel the plot of Valentine (Samuel L. Jackson), a technology magnate with a radical plan to “save” the world.

Kingsman: The Secret Service is a spy action comedy directed by Matthew Vaughn. Kingsman presents a modern twist on the spy film, combining genre staples with tongue-in-cheek humor, a neophyte protagonist, and a heaping serving of violence. The result is an entertaining, if polarizing, romp that injects a new style of fun into a time-tested genre. The supporting cast includes Mark Hamill, Mark Strong, and Michael Caine.

Kingsman: The Secret Service has a number of well-executed components that let the film function as well as it does. Taron Egerton makes for a likable protagonist in Eggsy, a streetwise troublemaker with a good heart and demonstrable loyalty. Colin Firth plays opposite him as Galahad, a veteran Kingsman who challenges Eggsy to become someone more. Samuel L. Jackson rounds out the lead trio as Valentine, a goofy and subversive take on the Bond supervillain.

The film’s action is as impressive as its characters. Kingsman agents show all the bloody martial prowess of a modern action hero and all the panache of a classic gentleman spy. The two flavors blend together well, at least for those who like them individually. The action sequences are hectic, explicit, and lethal, built on a foundation of flashy martial arts, clever use of spy gadgets, and brutally efficient use of bullets and knives.

Kingsman’s sense of humor is rooted in its love for the spy genre. The universe embraces all the genre’s excesses, from overblown plots to destroy the world to secret agents capable of mowing down dozens of men without breaking a sweat. Good characters and a well-defined plot help keep the movie grounded while its more absurd elements go to work, creating a quirky yet satisfying world that never loses its fun.

However, Kingsman’s quality comes at a price. The movie has much more gore, swearing, and crude humor than James Bond, Mission: Impossible, or any of the classic spy franchises. Old-school fans might find that these additions taint the very fun and sense of adventure they are meant to foster. Those who don’t mind gore in their action will enjoy Kingsman’s tone, but those looking for an unadulterated take on the genre may find it off-putting.

Watch Kingsman: The Secret Service if you are a fan of violent action that doesn’t take itself too seriously. Kingsman is a well-conceived and well-executed movie that only requires accepting its somewhat jarring tone to enjoy. Skip it if you are averse to violence, value the innocence of the spy genre, or are looking for realism in your action.

7.7 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.5 to 8.0 for a creative premise, solid execution, and sheer fun.

Today’s quick review: The Gunman. Eight years after killing a politician in the Congo, Jim Terrier (Sean Penn) has given up his life as an assassin in favor of honest work for an aid organization. But his fresh start is interrupted when he is targeted for death in connection with the Congo job. Fleeing to Europe, Jim pays a visit to Felix (Javier Bardem), an old associate and one of the only people who can find out who wants Jim dead.

The Gunman is an action thriller with a realistic tone. Anchored in the tumultuous situation in the Congo, The Gunman follows ex-assassin Jim Terrier as he struggles to escape the ghosts of his past. The movie features passable writing, solid action, and a capable cast that includes Sean Penn, Javier Bardem, and Idris Elba. However, slow pacing and a dour mood keep it from working well as a pure action film.

The Gunman takes a while to get going. The first half of the movie is just build-up, establishing who Jim is and who his allies are. Unfortunately, the mystery of who wants Jim dead is not that strong of a hook, and The Gunman must rely on its ill-established characters to keep the viewer watching. The performances are fine, but not even Jim is all that likable, and many of the points the movie lingers on prove unimportant in the end.

The second half of the movie is more interesting, as Jim is thrust into a series of conflicts with the men chasing him. The action here manages to be tense, crafty, and realistic, if not exceptional by action movie standards. The plot clears up some as Jim figures out who wants him dead and why, but neither the reveal nor the resolution are enough to justify the gratuitous amount of setup.

Watch The Gunman when you are in the mood for a thriller with decent execution hurt by a few crippling flaws. The Gunman has the setup of a cerebral political thriller and the payoff of a run-of-the-mill action thriller. While individual components, such as the action and acting, are fine, the whole package together is merely adequate. Skip it if you are looking for a more rewarding movie.

5.8 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.0 to 6.5 for decent late-game action held back by a weak plot and poor pacing.

Today’s quick review: Wonder Woman. When Captain Steve Trevor (Chris Pine) crashes on the hidden Amazonian island of Themyscira, he brings with him news of World War I. Recognizing the war as the work of the Amazons’ ancient enemy Ares, Diana (Gal Gadot), the daughter of the queen and a talented warrior, strikes a deal with Steve: she will help him return to Britain if he will help her hunt down and kill the God of War.

Wonder Woman is a superhero war movie based on the DC Comics character. Wonder Woman features polished and creative action, an unusual flavor of superhero plot, and a pair of surprisingly likable leads. The story follows Diana as she ventures out into the world of Man and one of its greatest wars to pursue an enemy her people believe to be dead. Steve Trevor acts as her guide while looking for intelligence that could end the war.

Wonder Woman’s action is a delight to watch. As an Amazon, Diana has the speed and strength to go toe-to-toe with dozens of German soldiers at once, pitting her ancient weapons against modern bullets and explosives. Diana’s powers grow as she tests her limits, and the audience gets to watch her figure them out as the movie progresses, putting her lifetime of training into practice. The stunts are backed by all the polished CGI and wire work of a big-budget action movie.

Wonder Woman handles the characters of Diana Prince and Steve Trevor remarkably well. Gal Gadot strikes a delicate balance between the strength and unflinching bravery of an Amazon warrior and the innocence and naivety of a sheltered immortal. For his part, Chris Pine plays a charming, cynical, and nonetheless heroic spy, who must weigh his own duty against his promise to help Diana.

Impressively, neither character feels superfluous. Steve helps Diana navigate the complexities of the modern world, while Diana’s superhuman prowess tips the scales in the Allies’ favor on the battlefield. The focus of the film is not on comedy, but enough of it follows naturally from Steve and Diana’s relationship that the movie feels fun, in spite of its mature setting.

Wonder Woman also engages with interesting moral themes. Unusually for a superhero movie, Wonder Woman has a villain who may not even exist. Diana is convinced Ares is to blame for the horrors of World War I, but she does not understand what atrocities men are capable of on their own. Diana’s black and white approach to morality is a seemingly poor fit for the grey situation she finds herself in, an incongruity that the movie puts to good use.

Other moral questions include when to sacrifice a lesser good for a greater one, what moral compromises are acceptable, and the role of heroes in an impersonal war. Wonder Woman works these questions into the movie organically, with satisfying and thought-provoking results. As a result, Wonder Woman boasts a richer moral backbone than most superhero films, helping to distinguish it from its contemporaries.

The movie does have a few weaknesses, including flawed casting outside the leading duo, a few plot elements that are less than satisfying, and a couple of lines that miss the mark. These missteps are minor enough not to ruin the fun of anyone who already likes the film, but they are noticeable enough to hamstring the film for anyone who isn’t already impressed. As such, it’s best watched by those who like the genre, even a little, and not by skeptics.

Check out Wonder Woman if you are a fan of the superhero genre. Wonder Woman’s strong writing, characters, and action make it a solid entry into the genre, while its World War I setting and interesting moral themes help give it an identity of its own. Skip it if you dislike superhero stories or are picky about plot logic, since the movie’s handful of faults are enough to grate at discerning viewers.

7.9 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it an 8.0 for strong writing, characters, and action.

Today’s quick review: Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle. When the Witness Protection database is stolen and auctioned on the black market, the United States government hires Charlie’s Angels, a trio of talented crime-fighters, to recover it. With the help of Bosley (Bernie Mac), Angels Natalie (Cameron Diaz), Alex (Lucy Liu), and Dylan (Drew Barrymore) must fight their way through a gauntlet of assassins and criminals to catch the thief.

Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle is an action movie with a dose of comedy. Based on the classic TV series, Full Throttle is a sequel to the first Charlie’s Angels movie and follows the original’s recipe of light humor, exaggerated stunts, and improbable disguises. However, a weak plot, flat acting, and artificial action keep Full Throttle from living up to its full potential as a carefree spy romp.

Full Throttle ramps up the action compared to its predecessor. In addition to the usual slate of Hollywood martial arts, chase scenes, and explosions, the sequel has one or two stunts that are boldly conceived and potentially quite impressive. However, neither the CGI nor the cinematography is up to the challenge, and even the film’s best stunts lack credibility and polish.

On the comedy side, Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle offers one-liners, unintentional innuendo, and a fun attitude. None of the jokes are stellar, but they do succeed in keeping the tone light. Full Throttle suffers from the loss of Bill Murray, one of the highlights of the original film; Bernie Mac makes for a passable but somewhat weaker replacement. Notable cameos include Demi Moore, Crispin Glover, John Cleese, Shia LaBeouf, Matt LeBlanc, and Luke Wilson.

Check out Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle if you enjoyed the first film or are in the mood for a bit of mindless spectacle. The movie lacks the quality that the best action films bring to the table, but its playful tone and flashy action make it a passable popcorn flick. Skip it if you’re looking for a more impressive action comedy.

4.8 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.0 for fun but flawed entertainment that doesn’t take itself too seriously.

Today’s quick review: Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders. Batman (Adam West) and Robin (Burt Ward) face their most dangerous challenge yet when their greatest foes, the Joker (Jeff Bergman), the Penguin (William Salyers), the Riddler (Wally Wingert), and Catwoman (Julie Newmar), steal a replication ray and use it to wreak havoc in Gotham. But Catwoman has one extra trick up her sleeve and unleashes an unexpected foe on the Dynamic Duo.

Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders is an animated superhero comedy. A modern continuation of the classic 1960s Batman TV show, Return of the Caped Crusaders captures the campy innocence of the original while telling a new story of its own. Adam West, Burt Ward, and Julie Newmar reprise their iconic roles, while Jeff Bergman, William Salyers, and Wally Wingert fill out the rest of Batman’s rogues gallery.

Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders manages to seamlessly blend the tone of the original series with smart, subtle writing and modern shoutouts. The movie takes place in the stylized Gotham of the 1960s, a city of petty villains, abandoned buildings, and scrupulous law and order. Return of the Caped Crusaders is true to the spirit of show, from the profusion of Bat-gadgets to Batman’s strict moral compass.

But mixed in with the formula is an undercurrent of self-awareness that lets the film achieve a unique style of humor. The silliness of the world crosses the threshold into gentle but clever self-parody. Impressively, Return of the Caped Crusaders achieves all this without compromising the charm of the original. The tongue-in-cheek gags are played entirely straight, and the movie celebrates rather than mocks the quirks of the TV show.

Watch Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders when you are in the mood for light, cheesy, and self-aware superhero fare. The movie’s deft writing recreates the magic of the original, and its playful tone makes it an excellent breather from the serious side of the superhero genre. However, Return of the Caped Crusader’s peculiar blend of influences gives it a niche appeal; skip it if you don’t appreciate camp.

7.0 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.5 for being an entertaining, well-written tribute to a classic.

“Wiseguy’s always right. Even when he’s wrong, he’s right.” —Lefty

Today’s quick review: Donnie Brasco. When FBI agent Joe Pistone (Johnny Depp) goes undercover as Donnie Brasco, a jeweler with criminal potential, he catches the eye of Lefty (Al Pacino), a longtime member of the New York mob. Lefty inducts Donnie into the world of organized crime and, unknowingly, provides him with a wealth of incriminating information. But as his assignment drags on, Joe finds his personality and his priorities beginning to change.

Donnie Brasco is a crime drama with an emphasis on character and a strong pair of leads. Based on a true story, Donnie Brasco offers competent writing, a well-constructed plot, and the acting needed to make them sparkle. The movie has little that can’t be found in other crime movies, and its individual components are rough around the edges. But Donnie Brasco avoids any major mistakes, and its pieces come together in a satisfying and oddly sentimental way.

Donnie Brasco is notable for its impressive lead characters. Al Pacino plays Benjamin “Lefty” Ruggiero, an underappreciated member of the mob who takes Donnie under his wing. Lefty makes a bad first impression: argumentative, bad with money, an dan admitted murderer. But his loyalty to Donnie, his mistreatment by his crime family, and his troubled personal life gradually morph him into a sympathetic character, a transition that Pacino handles with skill.

For his part, Johnny Depp plays a similarly fascinating character in Joe Pistone, alias Donnie Brasco. Quiet, sharp, and helpful, he settles into an almost genuine friendship with Lefty. But his exposure to the criminal world begins to affect his speech, his attitude, and his temper, isolating him from his family and sending him down a dark path. The relationship between Donnie and Lefty is the single most rewarding aspect of the movie.

Watch Donnie Brasco when you are in the mood for a character-based crime drama. Although the film’s individual pieces are imperfect, enough quality shines through in the acting and writing for the viewer to actually invest, a property that sets Donnie Brasco apart from less successful crime dramas. Skip it if you are looking for action, a complicated plot, or an upbeat story.

7.8 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.0 to 7.5 for good writing and moving acting.

“Lady, I never walk into a place I don’t know how to walk out of.” —Sam

Today’s quick review: Ronin. To steal a valuable case from a crack security team, Deirdre (Natascha McElhone) hires a group of spies, soldiers, and criminals. The most skilled of the bunch turns out to be Sam (Robert De Niro), an enigmatic man with a cautious streak and undeniable talent. But Deirdre and her bosses are not the only party after the case, and Sam and his new team must improvise a way to both get the case and keep it.

Ronin is an action movie with a strong plot and fairly good action sequences. Robert De Niro stars as Sam, whose genial mannerisms mask a sharp mind and genuine experience. As he surveys the team he has joined, he stikes up a friendship with Vincent (Jean Reno), an easygoing and competent Frenchman. Their team also includes Spence (Sean Bean), an unruly ex-soldier, and Gregor (Stellan Skarsgard), a quietly dangerous ex-KGB agent.

Ronin does three things well: interesting characters, brutal plot twists, and frantic action sequences. Sam and Vincent shine in spite of their limited personal details. Their warm personalities and grounded professionalism stand out both in the crime genre and among the characters in Ronin itself. This solid base lets Ronin indulge in drastic plot twists without losing its sense of direction.

The action in Ronin is fairly strong by crime movie standards. Though the film’s focus is on skill and preparation, Sam and his team often resort to flying bullets and explosive distractions to get what they want. Between the cat-and-mouse gunplay, the lengthy and impressive chase scenes, and the odd explosion, Ronin has the action to back up its unpredictable, well-paced plot.

Ronin’s main flaw is its lack of context. Ronin deliberately plays its cards close to its chest, with no last names, uncertain motives, and a mysterious case at the heart of it all. The film’s point about the anonymous, fleeting nature of the spy business is well taken, but Ronin sacrifices some clarity to make it. However, the damage of unconstrained ambiguity is offset by likable characters in Sam and Vincent, good action, and a worthy plot.

Watch Ronin when you are in the mood for a crime movie with a dose of action. Ronin does not succeed in the higher points it tries to make, and its ambiguity is often to its detriment. But otherwise solid execution and a pair of surprisingly likable characters make the film a satisfying watch overall. Check it out if you are a fan of the genre and skip it otherwise.

7.3 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.0 to 7.5 for good characters, action, and plot.

Today’s quick review: Heist. After his face is caught on camera during a heist, Joe (Gene Hackman) decides to retire from crime. But his partner Mickey (Danny DeVito) pressures Joe into pulling one last job: stealing a shipment of Swiss gold. To make sure everything goes smoothly, Mickey sends his rash nephew Jimmy (Sam Rockwell) to tag along. However, mistrust and misfortune threaten to tear the job apart.

Heist is a crime drama from writer and director David Mamet. Heist follows Joe and his partners as they attempt to thread the needle, pulling off their final job for Mickey while securing a healthy retirement package for Joe. The film features schemes within schemes as Joe puts his planning prowess to work, and the mechanics of the main heist are constructed well. However, flawed writing and mediocre characters keep Heist from being entirely satisfying.

Heist suffers from a dearth of likable characters. Joe earns some points for his clever planning, but he fails to charm as a person. His team are fine supporting characters but are not given much depth. For their part, Danny DeVito and Sam Rockwell play an unappealing pair of criminals, belying their acting talent. Between the unsympathetic characters and the frequent plot twists, Heist is a movie that is difficult to invest in and offers little emotional payoff.

Heist’s writing is another mark against it. The dialogue is abstractly clever but doesn’t hang together well on the screen. The lines have a realistic imperfection to them, but they are indirect and hard to follow. The plot indulges in too many false starts and fake outs, and while each individual twist is interesting, they are layered on too thickly to have much impact. As such, the story as a whole is less than the sum of its parts.

Still, for all its faults, Heist is a serviceable crime drama with a reputable cast and an interesting heist at its core. Those who like realistic dialogue and seedy characters will enjoy the film, while those who don’t will still get something from its twists and turns. Skip Heist if you’re looking for an emotionally rewarding or tightly plotted crime movie.

6.5 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it the same for a decent plot let down by lackluster dialogue and mediocre characters.

“This is the best bad idea we have, sir. By far.” —Jack O’Donnell

Today’s quick review: Argo. In 1979, six diplomats escape the capture of the capture of the U.S. embassy in Iran and seek refuge in the Canadian ambassador’s residence. With the situation in Iran growing worse, Tony Mendez (Ben Affleck), a CIA agent specializing in exfiltration, proposes a risky plan to sneak the diplomats out of the country: have them pose as a Canadian film crew visiting Iran to scout for a location to shoot a fake science fiction movie.

Argo is a political thriller set during the Iran Hostage Crisis. Argo is based on the true story of a daring attempt to rescue six diplomats trapped in Iran. The movie features strong writing and directing, a star-studded cast, a tense tone, and a firm dedication to realism. Argo captures a particularly dramatic period in U.S. history, letting the uneasy political climate underscore the stakes of Tony Mendez’s far-fetched scheme.

As a drama, Argo relies heavily on realism to establish its tone. Real events and people are recreated in minute detail, and the movie never loses sight of its historical context. At the same time, the focus of the story is on the mechanics of the escape itself. Some attention is spared for the individual characters, particularly Tony’s struggle to put the operation together, but for the most part, Argo simply lets the events do the talking.

Argo also has a light dusting of comedy due to the absurd nature of the ruse. John Goodman and Alan Arkin play John Chambers and Lester Siegel, the Hollywood insiders who agree to help Tony stage his fake movie. Their performances are a breath of fresh air, a reprieve from the otherwise constant drama of the film. They are joined by Bryan Cranston as Jack O’Donnell, Tony’s superior at the CIA and the one ally he has in pitching his scheme.

Watch Argo when you are in the mood for a weighty, well-executed thriller with a solid grounding in historical fact. The political aspects of the film and its heavy tone make Argo a poor choice for those looking for escapism. But its strong craftsmanship and credible story make it a worthwhile watch for those who don’t mind some truth mixed in with their fiction.

7.7 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.0 to 7.5 for strong craftsmanship; your score will be higher if you appreciate the film’s realistic approach to drama.