Sleight of Film

Today’s quick review: Now You See Me 2. Eighteen months after their last job, the Four Horsemen (Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Dave Franco, and Lizzy Caplan), a group of magicians who use their talents to combat injustice, return to right another wrong. But their comeback is upstaged by Walter Mabry (Daniel Radcliffe), an information magnate believed dead, who abducts the Horsemen and forces them to steal a dangerous computer chip for him.

Now You See Me 2 is a magic-based heist film with an ensemble cast. Set in the wake of the first film, Now You See Me 2 sees the Horsemen stumble out of the starting gate as they return to the public eye. Weakened by doubts and their time in the shadows, they are one-upped, kidnapped, and forced to use their talents to help Mabry cement his power over the world’s information.

Now You See Me 2 sports a couple of cast changes from the original. Lizzy Caplan replaces Isla Fisher on the Horsemen’s roster, the talkative Lula filling a similar role as the first movie’s Henley Reeves. Daniel Radcliffe joins the cast as Walter Mabry, a villainous millionaire who orchestrates the Horsemen’s downfall. The changes work well enough, but do not add all that much to the series: Radcliffe makes for an odd villain, while Caplan has a minor part at best.

Much of the original cast returns, including Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Dave Franco, Mark Ruffalo, Morgan Freeman, and Michael Caine. The high pedigree of the cast is marred somewhat by weak roles for veteran actors Morgan Freeman and Michael Caine, but the Horsemen have good banter and Mark Ruffalo makes for a likable protagonist.

Now You See Me 2 addresses one of the issues with the first film, but at a cost. The original kept its leads offscreen for much of the film in order to keep their plans secret. The sequel shows the Horsemen improvising as they go along, both humanizing them and affording them more screen time. Their tricks are a joy to watch, and each heist has an inventiveness that few ordinary crime films can rival.

The tradeoff is a somewhat weaker plot than the original, with an unclear trajectory and twists that are harder to appreciate. Putting the Horsemen on such a weak footing damages the mystique they built up during the first film, while the plot’s grand reveal leaves something to be desired. The sequel also delves deeper into the backstory of the original, which, depending on your perspectice, is either a sensible elaobration or a needless reframing.

Still, Now You See Me 2 is an enjoyable and unpredictable heist film with a couple of unique perks. Watch it if you enjoyed the first film and are game for another. The sequel’s changes are not all positive, but enough of the old charm is there for the sequel to be worth a watch to the curious. But those content with the ending of the first film would not be missing too much by skipping the second.

6.5 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it the same for being an entertaining heist film with a strong cast and some plot issues.

“Were you expecting a street fight?” —Dom Toretto

Today’s quick review: The Fate of the Furious. When cyberterrorist Cipher (Charlize Theron) gets leverage on Dominic Toretto (Vin Diesel), Dom betrays his family and helps Cipher steal a laundry list of dangerous weapons. Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson), Letty (Michelle Rodriguez), and the rest of Dom’s crew must team up with their recent nemesis, Deckard Shaw (Jason Statham), to hunt down Cipher and save Dom.

The Fate of the Furious is an action thriler and the eighth installment in the Fast & Furious franchise. Vin Diesel returns as Dominic Toretto, a street racer turned reluctant hero, now pitted against his own team in a high-stakes test of skill. The Fate of the Furious is another solid entry in the series, bringing the usual assortment of big stars, spectacular stunts, and gorgeous cars.

The Fate of the Furious continues the series’ gradual shift towards the spy genre, featuring the return of friendly government spook Mr. Nobody (Kurt Russell), a spy thriller plot, and cyber technology bordering on science fiction. The transition lets the series keep its thrills coming, meshing well with its over-the-top stunts and need for adrenaline.

As usual, The Fate of the Furious gets a lot from its ensemble cast. While the loss of Paul Walker is felt, Vin Diesel and Dwayne Johnson continue to impress, while the supporting cast of Michelle Rodriguez, Ludacris, and Tyrese Gibson have a practiced chemistry. Jason Statham’s extra screen time is put to great use, while newcomer Charlize Theron makes for a strong, if not outstanding, addition to the series.

Compared to the other movies in the series, The Fate of the Furious spends very little time on setup. Apart from the key question of Dom Toretto’s motivations, the movie lets momentum carry its characters into their latest adventure, diving straight into the action at the cost of some sense of grounding. Likewise, the exaggerated stunts and loose plot logic place the film firmly in the popcorn category rather than any sort of drama.

Watch The Fate of the Furious when you are looking for splashy action in its purest form. The Fate of the Furious continues to up the stakes in a franchise known for spectacle, and it does so with no significant dip in quality. Action fans should definitely check the series out, up to and including its eighth film, while those looking for something deeper should look elsewhere.

7.3 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.5 for high-quality action, a great cast, and plenty of fun.

Today’s quick review: Supercop. Renowned Hong Kong cop Ka-Kui Chan (Jackie Chan) goes to mainland China for a dangerous undercover mission. His goal is to earn the trust of a criminal named Panther (Wah Yuen) to infiltrate an international drug ring. With the help of a tough Chinese cop named Jessica Yang (Michelle Yeoh), he braves bullets, bombs, gangsters, and police to bring the drug traffickers to justice.

Supercop is an action comedy movie starring Jackie Chan. The third entry in the Police Story series, Supercop sees Chan go deep undercover to help a criminal escape from prison, make his way to his older brother in Hong Kong, and rendezvous with the larger criminal operation. Though the plot has a few notable holes, the premise is clear and the dialogue is uncluttered, making Supercop one of the cleaner localizations of Jackie Chan’s Hong Kong-developed films.

Supercop has much more in the way of explosions and gunplay than the usual Jackie Chan movie. The fights are more destructive, the body count is higher, and the combat is more chaotic. At the same time, Supercop retains the sharp martial arts action, the impressive stunts, and the goofy sense of humor Jackie Chan is known for, resulting in a simple, satisfying watch with a higher-than-average quotient of action.

Watch Supercop when you are in the mood for action that delivers on several levels. A good blend of comedy, hand-to-hand combat, and elaborate gun fights and vehicle stunts make the movie a solid choice. Skip it if you are looking for a strong plot or purer comedy.

6.9 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.0 for fun bits of humor, big stunts, and entertaining action.

Today’s quick review: Soul Plane. After a disastrous flight, Nashawn Wade (Kevin Hart) wins $100 million from the airline in a lawsuit. With the help of his cousin Muggsy (Method Man), he uses the money to start his own airline, a hip luxury service with all the amenities its passengers could possibly want. Nashawn hops aboard his airline’s wild first flight, headed by the laid-back and dubiously qualified pilot Captain Mack (Snoop Dogg).

Soul Plane is a raucous comedy that satirizes the flight industry by pairing it with a caricature of black culture. From the airline’s curvacious stewardesses to the plane’s spinners and hydraulics, Soul Plane is an extended thought experiment that explores the wildly infeasible way an airline could be run, given enough money and laxity towards federal aviation regulations.

Soul Plane focuses on comedy to the exclusion of all else: the film has incredibly little in the way of character development or plot. Instead, Soul Plane delivers a rapid-fire string of cheap jokes with only a few loose plot threads to hold them together. The humor is crass but earns an occasional chuckle, while the outrageous tone of the movie ensures that the viewer’s expectations are never set too high.

At its best, Soul Plane tells simple jokes in suitably over-the-top fashion. No one joke is all that clever, but the movie goes to extremes to make sure every gag comes across clearly and energetically. At its worst, Soul Plane is a mishmash of offputting humor with no real purpose or direction. Anyone who isn’t sold on the premise in the first five minutes won’t be sold at all.

Watch Soul Plane when you are in the mood for a ridiculous romp that does not take itself too seriously. The lowbrow humor and lack of redeeming features will be enough to turn most viewers off the experience, but those who are willing to check their standards at the door can have a good time with the film.

4.4 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 4.0 for storytelling quality and a 6.0 for dumb, entertaining humor.

Today’s quick review: Twin Dragons. John Ma (Jackie Chan), a renowned conductor and pianist, and Boomer (Jackie Chan), a mechanic and street tough, are twins who were separated at birth. When the two run into each other in Hong Kong, they become entangled in one another’s lives, with John caught up in Boomer’s gang troubles and Boomer whisked into John’s wealthy lifestyle.

Twin Dragons is an action comedy that introduces mistaken identity to the martial arts genre. Jackie Chan stars as a pair of twins with very different lives. When a series of coincidences causes them to switch places, chaos ensues. Twin Dragons is a movie with a simple premise and decent execution. Neither its plot nor its characters are all that special, but its action and comedy are consistently entertaining.

Twin Dragons squeezes a surprising amount of humor from its premise. From simple mistaken identity to elaborate attempts at keeping the extra brother hidden, the movie touches on just about every conceivable consequence of its setup. The jokes are predictable but entertaining, and Jackie goes the extra mile to keep the humor flowing smoothly.

Twin Dragons lacks the jaw-dropping set piece stunts of Jackie Chan’s other work, but it does not skimp on car crashes, explosions, or skillful choreography. Jackie’s footwork is as fast as ever, and he elegantly fumbles his way through battles in a way that is remarkable to watch. The action alone makes Twin Dragons a worthwhile watch, although the comedy carries more of the weight than usual.

Watch Twin Dragons when you are in the mood for a light comedy with a healthy dose of action. Though not Jackie Chan’s best work, a steady stream of clever gags and inventive stunts makes the movie entertaining throughout. The thin plot and improbable setup place Twin Dragons firmly in the popcorn category, so look elsewhere if you are looking for a well-told story.

6.4 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.5 to 7.0 for entertaining action and comedy.

Today’s quick review: The Recruit. James Clayton (Colin Farrell), a whiz kid from MIT, catches the attention of Walter Burke (Al Pacino), a CIA recruiter. James accepts Walter’s challenge and heads to the Farm, a CIA training facility, where he meets Layla Moore (Bridget Moynahan), a talented fellow recruit. But the training is rigorous, and James must decide how much he is willing to sacrifice to be a covert agent.

The Recruit is a spy thriller that follows the beginning of a young CIA agent’s career, as guided by a cynical veteran agent. In terms of quality, The Recruit is on par with a typical entry in its genre. The premise focuses not on the usual global terrorist threat but instead the CIA’s recruitment and training process. The plot unfolds nicely, with a few good twists to be had, while the cast has just enough depth to support the story.

Al Pacino is The Recruit’s biggest draw. Walter Burke is not Pacino’s most iconic character, but he is certainly a solid one. Pacino plays the role with a gruff personality and Pacino’s usual sarcasm, a flawed mentor figure who keeps his real thoughts secret. Burke provides the movie with its thematic weight, his distrust and cynicism showing James where he could wind up, as well as the limits of his knowledge.

Watch The Recruit if you are in the mood for a solid but not outstanding spy thriller. Al Pacino, a tight plot, and a decent premise make The Recruit a worthwhile watch, but the movie lacks the extra spark to make it exceptional. For a more outlandish take on a similar premise, check out Kingsman: The Secret Service.

6.6 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.5 to 7.0 for a good plot and Al Pacino.

Today’s quick review: The Double. Retired special agent Paul Shepherdson (Richard Gere) returns to the CIA when Cassius, the Russian assassin he spent years of his life chasing, resurfaces after years in hiding. To track down the elusive assassin, Paul joins forces with neophyte FBI analyst Ben Geary (Topher Grace), a specialist in Cassius and his work. But as the investigation continues, the two agents discover that the clues do not add up.

The Double is a spy thriller with a good setup and lackluster follow-through. The plot revolves around the murder of a Senator that fits the profile of missing Russian assassin Cassius. Paul Shepherdson, the CIA’s leading expert on Cassius, is convinced that Cassius is dead, but heads the investigation to find out who is responsible. His new partner, Ben Geary, believes Cassius is the killer, but struggles to earn Paul’s respect.

The Double has a few major shortcomings that keep it from making the most of its better qualities. The cast is shallow in terms of characters and actors, with only CIA director Tom Highland (Martin Sheen) standing out among the supporting cast. The villains in particular are lacking: Cassius carries more weight as a ghost than any assassin ever seen onscreen. The acting as a whole is adequate, but only Richard Gere seems to own his role.

From a plot perspective, The Double has better ideas than execution. The perks are one or two excellent hooks early in the Cassius investigation, a few interesting moments along the way, and Richard Gere as a veteran CIA agent with a mysterious past and an unhealthy connection to the investigation. The failures are a short, aimless plot, a limp payoff, and a missed opportunity for a larger cast and added subterfuge.

Watch The Double if you are in the mood for a decent thriller with a couple of good ideas and mediocre execution. Elements of The Double could have been built into an excellent spy story, but as it is, The Double does not distinguish itself within its genre. Watch Salt, Safe House, or your favorite spy thriller for a better take on a similar premise.

5.9 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.5 for passable execution with a couple of high points.

Today’s quick review: Atlantis: The Lost Empire. In 1914, Milo Thatch (Michael J. Fox), an aspiring explorer, has his dreams come true when a wealthy benefactor sponsors an expedition to find the lost city of Atlantis. Led by a soldier named Rourke (James Garner), a multinational team of specialists brave the depths of the Atlantic Ocean in a massive submarine, following the clues in an ancient book left to Milo by his grandfather.

Atlantis: The Lost Empire is an animated science fiction adventure that follows an underwater expedition for the lost city of Atlantis. With decent production values and a healthy splash of creativity, Atlantis: The Lost Empire is a rare family movie that actually tries to capture the tone of science fiction, with advanced submarines, ancient Atlantean technology, and a pinch of retrofuturism.

As far as execution goes, Atlantis: The Lost Empire is a mixed bag. The character designs show promise but do not quite hit the mark. The animation has the budget and vision to impress but cuts a few odd corners. The setting seems to have plenty of depth, but little of it actually matters to the film. The cast includes a few familiar voices in Michael J. Fox, James Garner, and Leonard Nimoy, and Fox in particular does a great job with Milo.

The plot deserves special mention as the area that could have stood the most improvement. While the existing plot is adequate, it follows the progression of a standard kids’ adventure instead of innovating. The pacing feels rushed, from the breathless dialogue of the first half-hour to the remarkably few events between the establishment of the conflict to the ending. The setup is interesting enough that the movie could have done much more with it.

Watch Atlantis: The Lost Empire if you are in the mood for family science fiction with a few good ideas and decent execution. Though it has a certain charm to it, Atlantis does not quite live up to its full potential. For a movie with similar themes and greater artistry, check out Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind or Castle in the Sky instead.

6.8 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.5 for a mixture of creative ideas, reasonable execution, and missed potential.

“How can I be lonely when I have you to keep me company?” —Trevor Reznik

Today’s quick review: The Machinist. Trevor Reznik (Christian Bale), a worker in a machine shop, has suffered from insomnia for over a year. His body has become emacited, his behavior has grown erratic, and he suffers from odd lapses of memory and attention. But when Trevor’s distraction on the job costs a fellow worker his arm, he spirals further into paranoia, struggling to decipher the clues of just what is happening to him.

The Machinist is a psychological horror movie that follows an insomniac’s mental breakdown as it progresses from bad to worse. The Machinist is an impressive movie that makes the most of its compelling premise. Christian Bale throws himself into the role of Trevor Reznik, a likable but deeply troubled man whose psyche is beginning to split at the seams. His performance walks the line between rational and irrational, keeping Trevor sympathetic even at his most erratic.

The Machinist does an expert job at maintaining tension. The plot begins as a slow boil, but it escalates as Trevor begins to come undone. Even the tiniest details serve to escalate the tension, from the odd deja vu Trevor experiences to his use of harsh chemicals instead of soap. The movie is also packed with hidden foreshadowing, so that the ending, when it comes, makes sense of peculiar elements the viewer never realized were clues.

Watch The Machinist when you are in the mood for a tense, brooding mystery. The film’s tight execution and expert handling of its tone make it a worthwhile watch for anyone willing to put up with its dark subject matter. Those looking for a darkly humorous take on similar themes should check out Fight Club, while those looking for a thriller in a similar vein should check out Memento.

7.7 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.5 for a great premise and impressive execution.

“Let’s do some gratuitous violence.” —Murphy MacManus

Today’s quick review: The Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day. Eight years after their crusade against the Boston underworld, Connor (Sean Patrick Flanery) and Murphy (Norman Reedus) MacManus are drawn out of retirement by the murder of a beloved priest. With the help of Romeo (Clifton Collins, Jr.), a well-connected Mexican, they return to Boston to take their revenge on the guilty party.

The Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day is a stylized crime film that sees the return of the MacManus brothers, a pair of Irish vigilantes renowned for their ruthless brand of justice. The Boondock Saints II mimics its predecessor, offering the same mixture of bloody vigilantism, boyish banter, and considered style. But where the original movie was a novel thriller that balanced its elements well, the sequel struggles to recapture its magic.

The sequel’s greatest loss is Willem Dafoe as Paul Smecker, the eccentric FBI agent originally assigned to the brothers’ case. His role is filled by Eunice Bloom (Julie Benz), a hardnosed colleague of Smecker’s who takes the lead on the current investigation. Though Julie Benz does a decent job with the part, she is a weak successor to Willem Dafoe’s iconic role. The movie invites direct comparison between the two, and the replacement agent is lacking.

Beyond the loss of Willem Dafoe, The Boondock Saints II also fails to strike the right balance of style and incompetence for the Saints. The Saints in the original were lovable rogues who managed to get the drop on the criminal underworld through a combination of luck and daring. The Saints in the sequel are hamstrung by their reputation, caught between proper action stars and goofy wannabes with little room left to be ordinary people.

Still, The Boondock Saints II does have a few innovations of its own. Bloom’s crime scene reconstructions do not match Smecker’s, but they do have a couple of stylish twists. The plot touches on Il Duce’s past as a hitman for the mob, an interesting chapter of the Saints’ history. Romeo, although a carbon copy of comic relief character Rocco from the first film, is a welcome addition to the cast.

The Boondock Saints II has moments that almost sell the movie. The brothers are still as entertaining as ever, at least when they are given the chance to bicker and mess around. The movie fluctuates around a tonal sweet spot, and if it misses its mark most of the time, it still hits it every now and then. The movie also does not take itself too seriously, instead poking fun at everything from the Saints’ inflated reputation to the original’s cult status.

The result is a formulaic but not catastrophic sequel that mismanages its tone and takes the wrong kinds of chances. Watch The Boondock Saints II if you enjoyed the first film and can stand a substantial dip in quality. Though not as charming or original as the first one, The Boondock Saints II is still a solid, stylish watch with a few tricks up its sleeve.

6.3 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.5 to 7.0 for decent, stylized action that’s missing much of the magic of the original.