Sleight of Film

Today’s quick review: Beverly Hills Cop. Axel Foley (Eddie Murphy), a clever but reckless Detroit cop, heads out to Beverly Hills to investigate the murder of his best friend. His prime suspect is Victor Maitland (Steven Berkoff), a powerful art dealer. But Axel quickly finds himself in trouble with the local police department, and he is assigned two officers, Taggart (John Ashton) and Rosewood (Judge Reinhold), to keep him from causing more problems.

Beverly Hills Cop is a crime comedy with entertaining characters, a decent plot, and a catchy synth soundtrack. Axel Foley makes for an interesting, funny protagonist. A troublemaker even before he joined the police, Axel plays fast and loose with the rules for as long as he can get away with it. The trouble is that his gambits only work for so long, often leaving him worse off than he was before.

Axel forms a very effective comedic trio with Taggart and Rosewood, the by-the-book police officers assigned to watch him. Axel is the sharpest of the three, running circles around them so he can continue his investigation. But Taggart and Rosewood are not his enemies, and he takes care not to push them too far. Their lopsided friendship is the most unique part of the movie and drives much of the comedy.

Axel’s tendency to improvise is the film’s greatest strength and its greatest weakness. His ability to think on his feet leads to some of the film’s best scenes, letting Eddie Murphy cut loose as Axel bluffs his way out of trouble. But Axel’s temper leads him to jump the gun and cause needless trouble for himself, making the plot feel like a series of lucky gambles rather than a deliberate investigation.

Beverly Hills Cop is worth a watch if you are a fan of Eddie Murphy or just in the mood for a light, 80s-era crime comedy. While not a home run as either a comedy or a crime film, Beverly Hills Cop delivers solid hits for both, with interesting characters, amusing humor, and a reasonably solid plot. Skip it if you are looking for action or you dislike Eddie Murphy.

7.3 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.0 to 7.5 for good comedy and competent execution.

Today’s quick review: The Losers. While on a mission in Bolivia, the Losers (Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Chris Evans, Idris Elba, Columbus Short, and Oscar Jaenada), an elite special forces team working for the U.S. government, are betrayed by Max (Jason Patric), a CIA bigwig with an extensive criminal empire and no regard for human life. Penniless, thought dead, and stranded in Bolivia, the team is approached by Ayesha (Zoe Saldana), a mysterious woman who wants them to kill Max in exchange for her help.

The Losers is an action film with a fun attitude and an ensemble cast. Based on the DC comic book, The Losers embraces the action genre wholeheartedly, from its larger-than-life villain to the team’s extensive history together. The action itself is decent but not stellar, with a couple of big stunts but nothing truly memorable. The script features a fair amount of comedy, most of it stemming from the Losers’ colorful personalities.

The cast is talented but misused. Jeffrey Dean Morgan leads the team as Clay, a character a bit too bland for the weight he is given the film. His conflict with Roque (Idris Elba), the team’s demolition expert, adds a bit of spice, but Roque himself lacks the depth to be all that interesting. The Losers has better luck with Jensen (Chris Evans), the team’s talkative tech expert, and Max (Jason Patric), the team’s comically villainous nemesis, but neither of them manages to steal the show.

For all that The Losers tries to be a slick, stylish action movie, it falls short of the mark. From its soundtrack to its characters to its plot, the movie never quite clicks the way it should. The problems are all subtle, little errors in judgment or execution, but taken together, they turn what could have been a snappy, entertaining experience into a mediocre action film.

Watch The Losers if you are in the mood for a stylish action movie with a sense of humor. While The Losers does not live up to its potential, it remains a fun watch for fans of light action. For a better take on a similar style, check out Red, 2 Guns, or The A-Team instead.

6.4 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.0 for enjoyable action with some missed potential.

Today’s quick review: Kiki’s Delivery Service. Kiki (Kirsten Dunst), a young witch, leaves her hometown to set up shop in a distant city, a rite of passage for witches. With her talking cat Jiji (Phil Hartman), she opens up a delivery service in the spare room of a kind baker (Tress MacNeille), using her broom to carry packages around the city. Kiki must overcome a skeptical public, the perils of the delivery business, and her own doubts to make it on her own.

Kiki’s Delivery Service is an animated family adventure from Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli. Kiki is a plucky young girl who ventures into the city for the first time. With no friends or city experience, Kiki relies on determination and a bit of good fortune to make her start. Her struggles form the heart of the movie, touching on themes of hard work, self-reliance, and adapting to new situations.

As with most Miyazaki films, Kiki’s Delivery Service has gorgeous animation. Studio Ghibli pays attention to the smallest details, from the way Kiki kicks off the rooftops while riding her broom to the minutiae of the city’s architecture. Coupled with the film’s beautiful landscapes, the animation gives Kiki’s Delivery Service a remarkably consistent tone and makes it a deligh to watch.

The setting blends early 20th-century technology with picturesque architecture, sprawling forests, and ocean vistas. Kiki’s new home evokes all the wonder and trepidation of moving to the big city with none of the skyscrapers, noise, or pollution. The result is a pleasant, idealized story backdrop that lets Kiki’s adventures play out in a relatable way without undue cynicism.

The only real weakness of the film is its lack of plot. The story follows Kiki as she moves to the city, sets up shop, and tries to make it on her own. The progression is natural enough, and the events of the story are tied together by Kiki’s excellent character arc, but the absence of an overarching plot means that the ending feels tacked on and arbitrary. As such, Kiki’s Delivery Service joins My Neighbor Totoro as a Miyazaki movie more notable for its tone than its story.

Watch Kiki’s Delivery Service if you are looking for a cute, gorgeous film with lots of heart. The production quality is high all around, from Studio Ghibli’s lovely animation to the excellent translation and voice cast provided by Disney. While the light plot keeps it from firing on all cylinders, Kiki’s Delivery Service is a wonderful watch that any Ghibli fan should check out.

7.9 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.5 for excellent charm hampered only by an unfocused plot.

Today’s quick review: Good Will Hunting. Will Hunting (Matt Damon), a young janitor at MIT, has an incredible mind but lacks the ambition to use it. When Gerald Lambeau (Stellan Skarsgard), a renowned math professor, discovers Will’s brilliance, he introduces the boy to Sean Maguire (Robin Williams), an unconventional psychiatrist. As he begins to work through his issues with Sean, Will must decide what he truly wants out of life.

Good Will Hunting is a drama about genius, purpose, and fulfillment. The movie makes the most of its excellent cast, with phenomenal performances all around and interesting, nuanced characters to match. The writing is just as strong, with a multifaceted plot, engrossing dialogue, and top-notch characterization. The movie is rounded out by solid pacing, sensible direction, and a soft, emotional soundtrack by Danny Elfman.

The drama stems from several subplots involving different parts of Will’s life. These subplots are interwoven quite nicely, and together they paint a detailed portrait of Will Hunting. The main thread deals with Will’s relationship with Sean, a psychiatrist dealing with issues of his own. Will’s antagonism eventually turns into respect as Sean begins to understand him and anticipate his thoughts. Their dynamic forms the core of the movie.

Another thread deals with Will’s relationship with his friends, particularly his best friend Chuckie (Ben Affleck). His friends are loyal to a fault and are a large part of why Will sticks to blue collar work rather than making the most of his intellect. Yet another thread follows Will’s relationship with Skylar (Minnie Driver), the Harvard premed student Will is dating. Their natural chemistry is offset by their differing backgrounds and Will’s inability to open up.

Watch Good Will Hunting if you are in the mood for a personal drama with excellent writing and acting. The plot mostly focuses on relationships, so it misses out on some of the punch of an event-driven plot, but the movie more than makes up for this with the quality of its characters, their dialogue, and their relationships. Skip it if you are looking for a punchier, less sentimental story or you dislike dramas about flawed characters.

8.3 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.5 for excellent writing and performances; your score will be higher depending on your taste for drama.

Today’s quick review: Macaroni. Robert Traven (Jack Lemmon), an airline executive, returns to Italy on business for the first time since his deployment there in World War II. While there, he is contacted by Antonio Jasiello (Marcello Mastroianni), the brother of the Italian girlfriend left behind years ago. As he reconnects with Antonio, he catches up with the people he left behind, discovers his inadverent legacy, and reexamines the current state of his life.

Macaroni is an Italian dramatic comedy with themes of aging, missed opportunity, and happiness. The film is driven by its two complex main characters. Robert is an American businessman who begins to doubt his career when he sees the warm, familial life he left behind. Antonio is a bureaucrat who spends his free time bringing joy to his neighbors and family. Their reunion is joyful yet bittersweet, as Robert revists a tender part of his life he had buried.

The humor is understated but natural, from the banter between Robert and Antonio to the simple pleasures in life Roberto rediscovers. The film takes a sharp dramatic turn partway through, but the drastic change still fits the tone and characters surprisingly well, and it does not detract from the earlier comedy. What little plot there is moves slowly, but Robert and Antonio are rich enough characters that it barely matters.

Macaroni suffers a lot in its translation from Italian. The subtitles handicap the performances of two very skilled actors, while poor translation into English makes the dialogue difficult to parse. The movie itself is hard to come by, as it never gained much traction in the United States. Coupled with the unusual tone, story, and pacing, these factors make Macroni an aggressively hidden gem that requires effort to truly appreciate.

Watch Macaroni if you are interested in a rare film that captures something meaningful about life. The minimal plot, translation issues, and genre swerve are enough to keep Macaroni living up to its full potential, but its amazing characters, snippets of comedy, and mountains of heart make it worth watching nonetheless. Skip it unless you are willing to stick it out for its considerable payoff.

6.4 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.5 overall as a balance between its virtues and its flaws; translation and pacing would put it lower, but individual moments score much higher.

Today’s quick review: The Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult. After his marriage, Lt. Frank Drebin (Leslie Nielsen) retires from Police Squad to lead a quiet domestic life with his wife Jane (Priscilla Presley). But crimefighting is in his blood, and he soon finds himself doing police work behind her back. To stop Rocco (Fred Ward), a dangerous hitman, he must go undercover as a criminal, putting his marriage on the line to save the day.

The Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult is a crime comedy and the third film in the Naked Gun series. The Naked Gun 33 1/3 offers the same wacky humor as its predecessors and is packed slapstick, parody, and wordplay. Leslie Nielsen is as sharp as ever, and O.J. Simpson and George Kennedy return as Nordberg and Ed, Frank’s partner and boss, respectively.

The Naked Gun 33 1/3 does have a little less meat on its bones than the original. The plot is less of a police spoof and more of a grab bag, while the humor is a bit coarser. Still, the film delivers a couple of great laughs and makes for an enjoyable watch for any fans of the original. Watch it if you are a fan of silly humor and slapstick. Skip it if you are looking for a sophisticated or mature comedy.

6.4 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.0 for silly humor only missing a little polish of the original.

Today’s quick review: The Life Aquatic. Renowned oceanic explorer and documentary filmmaker Steve Zissou (Bill Murray) is suffering from a midlife crisis. His films have lost their luster, his funding is drying up, and his best friend was killed by a monstrous shark while filming Steve’s latest movie. With the help of his long-lost son Ned (Owen Wilson), a pregnant reporter named Jane (Cate Blanchett), and his romantic and professional nemesis Alistair Hennessey (Jeff Goldblum), Steve sets out to hunt down the shark that killed his friend.

The Life Aquatic is a quirky comedy adventure from director Wes Anderson. The Life Aquatic differs from Wes Anderson’s other work in its subdued humor, personal drama, and meandering plot. The story focuses on Steve Zissou, a filmmaker who has fallen on hard times, and his loyal crew. The twin impetuses of a flagging career and a dead friend drive him to embark on one last voyage to find the remarkable Jaguar Shark, an adventure that only gets rockier as it goes along.

Steve Zissou makes for an odd protagonist, a world-weary egotist clinging to the remaining tatters of his reputation. Zissou lives in a world of his own, from his oceanic voyages in search of exotic marine life to his personal island and fan club, painful relics of his glory days. He is capably acted by Bill Murray, who delivers a somber, understated performance in stark contrast with the lively, humorous roles of his youth.

The rest of the cast follows a similar pattern: familiar faces playing characters who are either odd or disaffected. Willem Dafoe plays Steve’s unusually loyal crewmate Klaus, Anjelica Huston his remote wife Eleanor, and Jeff Goldblum his bitter rival Alistair. The one exception is Ned, a sweet but not very bright man who wants to reconnect with his estranged father. His kind heart contrasts nicely with Steve’s selfishness, while his interactions with Jane are perhaps the most normal relationship in the movie.

Wes Anderson takes these elements and wraps them in a story that lacks a clear direction. The Jaguar Shark is the nominal goal of the story, but the incidents along the way are connected more by tone than any overarching plot. The dry, subtle comedy makes the characters harder to relate to than usual; they come off less offbeat than broken. The themes of the film are interesting, chief among them the phoniness of Steve’s life, but the core story drifts.

Still, The Life Aquatic is a creative and skillfully realized film that is worth a watch for curiosity’s sake. It does not crackle the way Wes Anderson’s other work does, but fans of the director are sure to get something out of it. The film’s unconventional world, subtle humor, and attention to detail are enough to make it interesting for the right kind of viewer. If you are not already a Wes Anderson fan, check out a few of his other films first.

7.3 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.0 to 7.5 for creativity and attention to detail held back by too-flat characters and an aimless plot.

Today’s quick review: Sahara. Dirk Pitt (Matthew McConaughey), a globe-trotting explorer, adventurer, and archaeologist, ventures into Africa with his best friend Al Giordino (Steve Zahn) in search of a lost Confederate ironclad. Their expedition is sidetracked when they meet Eva Rojas (Penelope Cruz), a doctor for W.H.O., and help her track the origins of a strange epidemic.

Sahara is an adventure movie based on the book by Clive Cussler. Sahara is a light film with an interesting plot and fun protagonists. While not a standout in any particular aspect, it offers a base of Indiana Jones-style adventure, a layering of buddy comedy, and a dash of spy thriller. Sahara also delivers a steady stream of low-level action, just enough to keep the excitement up without turning into a full-blown action movie.

Matthew McConaughey stars as Dirk Pitt, an adventurer with expertise in a variety of fields. McConaughey fits the easygoing, resourceful side of the character quite well, although he struggles when Dirk tries to be suave or romantic. His friendly chemistry with Steve Zahn gives the movie much of its spark. Penelope Cruz rounds out the main cast as Eva Rojas, a doctor whose dedication draws her into a dangerous investigation that Dirk and Al are eager to join.

Fans of Indiana Jones, The Librarian, or Romancing the Stone will find Sahara particularly enjoyable, although the overall quality is closer to the latter two than the former. Casual action fans will like the film as well, provided they are not bent on big stunts or flashiness. Skip Sahara if you are looking for a more polished take on the adventure genre or if you dislike Matthew McConaughey.

6.0 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.0 for fun, light adventure.

Today’s quick review: The Scorpion King. Mathayus (Dwayne Johnson), an Akkadian warrior, is hired to assassinate a sorceress (Kelly Hu) in the service of Memnon (Steven Brand), a seemingly unstoppable conquerer. Mathayus has almost completed his mission when he is betrayed and left for dead. Now out for revenge, Mathayus kidnaps the sorceress in an attempt to draw Memnon out into the open.

The Scorpion King is a fantasy action movie set in ancient Mesopotamia. A loose spinoff of The Mummy Returns, The Scorpion King fits neatly into the sword and sorcery mold, with mighty warriors, forgotten empires, and scantily-clad men and women. While not a particularly high-budget or polished film, The Scorpion King covers its bases when it comes to the action genre, with serviceable characters, plot, and combat.

The cast is formulaic but satisfying. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson stars as Mathayus, a skilled and cunning fighter driven by honor and revenge. Kelly Hu plays opposite him as the sorceress, the reluctant servant of Memnon and the source of his victories. Grant Heslov fills the role of comic relief as Arpid, a loud-mouthed horse thief who joins Mathayus on his quest, while Michael Clarke Duncan plays Balthazar, a warrior king and Mathayus’s rival. The only real weakness is Steven Brand as Memnon, a generic and forgettable villain.

Watch The Scorpion King if you are in the mood for fun, shlocky action that does not take itself too seriously. Though not outstanding in terms of plot, budget, or stunts, The Scorpion King makes an enjoyable watch for fans of the action genre. Skip it if you are looking for a more substantive movie.

5.5 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.0 for popcorn action and excitement.

Today’s quick review: Fast & Furious 6. Dom Toretto (Vin Diesel) and Brian O’Conner (Paul Walker) come out of retirement when Agent Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson) recruits them for a special mission. Their task is to hunt down Shaw (Luke Evans), a terrorist close to assembling a device capable of crippling a country’s military for 24 hours. Dom and Brian must reunite their tight-knit crew of drivers, thieves, and friends to scour London for Shaw.

Fast & Furious 6 is an action movie and the sixth entry in the Fast & Furious series. Fast & Furious 6 takes the series one step closer to pure action, with a plot more resembling a spy movie than the series’ roots in street racing. The transition is handled with good humor: the characters make jokes about the shift in scale, and cars remain at the center of the action.

The change in plot allows Fast & Furious 6 to go even farther in terms of action. The car scenes include a few creative conceits that keep the driving fresh. The extra gunfights and hand-to-hand combat are enjoyable, especially with Vin Diesel and Dwayne Johnson providing some muscle. While the plot is not quite as tight as Fast Five’s, it serves up plenty of action both on and off the road.

Like its predecessor, Fast & Furious 6 features an ensemble cast headlined by Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, and Dwayne Johnson. Most of the cast from Fast Five returns, bringing their easy banter with them. Fast & Furious 6 plays up the familial aspects of Dom’s crew, and their compatability and loyalty are enough to give the movie a bit of heart without having to include too many character arcs.

Watch Fast & Furious 6 if you are looking for a well-executed action film with a large cast and imaginative stunts. Though a direct sequel to Fast Five, Fast & Furious 6 stands well enough on its own that knowledge of the previous films is not necessary to enjoy it. The shift towards generic action may turn off some Fast & Furious fans, but Fast & Furious 6 remains a solid entry into the action genre while retaining its unique focus on cars.

7.1 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.5 for great action, a good cast, and a reasonable plot.