Big Screen Blurb: Red Tails

It's a historical tale from the 40's told with a distinctive 60's flare with all of the special effects of today. It's Red Tails, the story of the pilots of the Tuskegee air program.  And...it's pretty good--further proof that the profitably performing string of History genre flicks is alive and well in Tinsel Town.

The Tuskegee air program was a group of African American pilots during World War II. However, according to "official" military reports, the colored soldier was an inferior soldier. Enter Colonel Bullard (Terrance Howard). He's in charge of the Tuskegee air men and set to prove such reports as false. The Tuskegee pilots have been relegated to a mop-up role when it comes to taking out the Jerry's (Nazi's) of the war. This hasn't set too well with the hungry pilots of the program, including squad's leader, Easy (Nate Parker), and Lightning (David Oyelowo). Small victories begin to add up and the group is given the task of protecting bombers. Yadayadayada...we look on as the Tuskegee pilots give the bad guys hell, while building the respect they had desired and deserved for so long.

It's pretty good. I'll go with 3.5 Stars. It's a great story of the disrespected underdog emerging as the big dog in a big way...and it's true. Well, the story at its core is true. Along with the tale, we get the low-down on a handful of the characters. I'm not sure how historically accurate those characters are, but we do experience the story very nicely through their eyes and various accounts.

My only real issue with the flick is the dialogue that seemingly comes right of a 60's war flick. We get a lot of quick-hitting quips as a substitute for real character interaction. That's all good and well, but when characters need more hard-hitting dialogue to truly develop, the quippy writing in the screenplay just comes up a little short.

That minor complaint aside, it's solid. The special effects hit hard, true and in a way that gets the ole testosterone crankin'. Sure, you get some certain CG moments, but we'll experience those for quite some time, me-thinks. The trick is to make those few and as non-distracting as possible, which is what you get with Red Tails.

If you're remotely a history buff and can see one movie this year...well, go see J. Edgar, but if you can see two...well, then go see The Iron Lady; but, if you can see three historical tales...see Red Tails and see it BIG.

True...OUT!

Big Screen Blurb: Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close

Pain is a very real part of the human experience. So much so, that it greatly defines that experience. The exploration of that pain as it impacts each of us, is the backdrop throughout Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, a movie that serves a thread which binds all humanity.

Oscar Schell (Thomas Horn) is an exceptional kid. He's a ten year old boy who is simultaneously incredibly bright, annoyingly demanding and socially misplaced. His parents delight in each of those attributes, especially his father, Thomas (Tom Hanks). He's a closeted scientist living life as a mild-mannered jeweler. Thomas has a special connection with Oscar, stemming beyond the ole father-son dynamic. Thomas continually challenges his son by creating expeditions that help Oscar discover the world around him, while enhancing the boy's innovative flare. The two are close. Very close. Actually, his father may well be the only one who has a genuine grip on the kid. Enter The Worst Day: September, 11, 2001. On that infamous day, Thomas entered an 8:30AM meeting at the World Trade Center. He did not come out. Months later, Oscar discovers a key in his father's closet. He embarks on one more expedition in an effort to discover a message held within its lock--surely to provide one last communication from his father. Yadayadayada Oscar searches the five burrows of NYC for the lock that matches this undoubtedly special key.

It's good. Very good--I'll go with 4.5 Stars. It's a great story that is well told by director, Stephen Daldry. Sure, there was a little lull around the 40-minute mark, but there was more than enough weight in the storyline to build up great momenum heading into a great last hour.

There's plenty to watch for in this one: Father-Son relationship; Mother-Son relationship; Grandfather-Grandson relationship; the incredible pain that one experiences in losing one of the most important people in your life; rebuilding your life after such a tragedy; and even the symbolic relationship that exists within the key and lock--undoubtedly a metaphor for the father-son dynamic. Plenty of late night discussions packed within this 130 minute film.

Further, wow...I can't say enough about this kid. Never seen him before, but Thomas Horn is someone to keep an eye on for certain. This was a very challenging role because of the very unique nature of the character. We're talking about a nine/ten year old kid teetering on Asberger's and bordering on brilliant--all while living with intense pain. That is a difficult combination to pull off. Either this kid IS quite similar to the character, or he is a very talented young artist. Sure, Tom Hanks and Sandra Bullock were their typical Oscar-esque selves; and, Max von Sydow was amazing, even with limited lines (I've loved this guy since Pelle the Conqueror in 1987 and he seemed ancient then!).

No real complaints on this end--aside possibly from the previously mentioned short lull and well, what is a very challenging title. Come on folks...Extemely Loud and Incredibly Close is TOOOOO long. Original flicks just can't contain titles with five words in them. Sure, there's The Lord of the Rings or The Man Who Went Up a Hill but Came Down a Mountain...zzz...oh, sorry--dozed off there. At any rate, I would have stuck with "Extremely Loud" and left it at that.

Regardless of what you call it, go see it and see it BIG!

True...OUT!

Big Screen Blurb: Contraband

Here comes Chris Farraday (Mark Wahlberg) with an attempt to unseat Han Solo as my favorite smuggler of all time. Did he do it? Hmm...I love Mark Wahlberg, but come on, man--we're talking about Han Solo, here! With that said, Chris might sneak in at number two on that list, nudging ahead of Lando. Of course, that's probably only because Lando went straight, but so did Chris...only to go crooked again, for a reasonable cause, mind you.

Meet Chris. He was a famed smuggler in his day, but gave it all up once he said, "I do" and his wife punched out a couple of kiddos. Yeah, he gave it all up, but he's been horse-collared right back into the game because of his dumb bochagaloop brother-in-law, Andy (Caleb Landry Jones). Andy decides to run some drugs for a local drug lord, Tim Briggs (Giovanni Ribisi). Andy dumps the shipment when their barge is boarded, leaving him as Target #1 for ole Tim. Chris steps in to help out--even in-law blood is blood, right? So, off he goes to Panama for a little sun, a few margarita's and, oh yeah...a few million in counterfeit bucks. In the meantime, Tim is getting anxious about his dough and starts to lean on Chris' fam. Not so fast, says Sebastian (Ben Foster), who plays the role of Chewbacca to Chris' Han Solo--or is it Boba Fett? At any rate, yadayadayada...we experience the race to make all things right in hopes of seeing the bad guys get their's and the good bad guys get a little extra.

It's okay...I'll go with 3.0 Stars, which is actually on the sunny side of okay. It's a well put-together story. Sure, it includes a few typically implausible moments that help cure the impossible escape syndrome that is the norm for this genre. It is fun, however, and contains enough intensity to live up nicely to the expectations.

As you know, when it comes to movies with me, it's all about concept and cast. I liked the concept here and had no doubt in the cast, with one possible exception. That exception was not Wahlberg. He does tough just fine. From The Fighter to The Departed on the serious side, to Date Night and The Other Guys on the comedic side, Wahlberg owns tough--even if it's funny. Ben Foster is also a pretty proven commodity in the bad boy role. No, I'm not referring to his Fast Forward Disney days, but rather Alpha Dog--where he was a pretty convincing psycho. My real concern was Giovanni as a crime lord. He actually pulled it off nicely--although crime lord is not the best descriptive for how his character develops. However, he nails the psycho, playground bully very well.

My only real complaint is the lack of character development at the film's beginning. The movie begins smack-dab in the plot. It would have been good to get to know the characters a little bit better, making the overall effect of the plot better as it played out. Yeah...yeah...I know, I can already here you saying, "Then you'd be complaining about time, True!" But hey, this was a 110 minute flick so they had ten minutes to include a couple of scenes of good ole CD without going over the expected two-hour time limit of the action genre.

All in all, it's a pretty good movie to go BIG on if you like action and intensity. I do--so I did; but you're you, baby! Enjoy your weekend!

True...OUT!

Big Screen Blurb: The Iron Lady

"It used to be about 'doing' something. Now, it's all about 'being' someone."

That's my favorite line from the no-nonsense political powerhouse, Margaret Thatcher; in a flick that is best described as  J. Edgar with an estrogen injection. The Iron Lady represents another solid tale of a fascinatingly influential historical figure told in a series of reminiscing flashbacks. We pick up with former Prime Minister Thatcher (Meryl Streep), who is well past Golden Girl status. At times, she's sharp as the ole tack, at others, well...not so much. In those times, Mags is pretty much lost in her own little world, which includes full-blown dialogues with her deceased husband, Denis (Jim Broadbent). Not that that makes one crazy, mind you--of course, I have names for my pillows, so I probably shouldn't talk, but I digress. At any rate, Margaret begins this reflective tale which begins with her teen years as a grocer's daughter, continues through her rise to the highest political office in Great Britain and closes with her begrudging departure from office. Yadayadayada we experience the good, the bad and belligerent of one of the most notable characters in history.

It's good. I'll go with 4.0 Stars. First, Streep, who is actually my secret mom (don't tell her), was absolutely amazing. We're talking Oscar stuff for sure. Make no mistake, this has been a year that has seen the nominee ballot box stuffed full. Obviously, we see the same age progression that was at times distracting in J. Edgar due to atrocious make-up. This crew did a far more effective job of bringing Thatcher to life through the decades. What make-up didn't manage on that front, Streep more than made up for with her own brilliance. Just in the last three years, we've seen a range that spans from comedic (It's Complicated) to yet another historical juggernaut in Julia Childs; and mom nails them all. Admittedly, my experience with Prime Minister Thatcher is limited to history classes, old news reels and YouTube footage. With that said, Streep captured Thatcher's unwavering strength and no-nonsense approach to public service that made her the Iron Lady. 

It's a story told through a series of flashback vignettes that are truly human. These tales reveal an individual's struggle with the social factions in play during a time when politics was a male-only vocation. We get to experience the resulting price that such a career had on her family life; and the spectrum of the ups and downs of married life and more.

My only real complaint with The Iron Lady is that too much time was spent developing the aging decline of Mrs. Thatcher. I wanted to see more time spent on her prime--making those critical decisions that helped bring Great Britain out of economic woes, war with Argentina over the Falkland Islands, etc. Those things were certainly developed, but not as extensively. We got to see her at her weakest, far more than at her strongest.

All in all, The Iron Lady is one to see and go BIG with this one. Solid performances abound in a socio-this political historical piece about one common-sense ladened leader.

True...OUT!

Big Screen Blurb: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

We all know those people who are a tad socially awkward, right? We may even cut against society's grain ourselves, right? Well, if watching The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo doesn't make you feel a bit better about your place in society...hmm...stop reading and immediately Google "How to overcome my social misfit nature!!!" Then, go to Fandango and get tickets to this flick, it's well worth the watch.

Meet Mikael (Daniel Craig). He's just emerging from a pot of boiling water. Mikael is an investigative journalist, who has just lost a huge libel case against corporate giant, Wennerstrom. It's a case that has definitely damaged the ole reputation and has put his publication in dire straights. That's one reason Mikael is willing to entertain an interesting offer from another corporate giant, Henrik Vanger (Christopher Plummer). Along with cash, Mikael will receive insight to Wennerstrom that will, indeed, prove his case and turn things completely around on the libel front. What does he have to do for the dough and the promise of a restored reputation? Good question. He's got to look into a disappearing persons case that happened within the Vanger family some forty years prior.

Mikael accepts and the search for enlightenment begins. He makes some headway as he makes some enemies among the rest of the Vanger clan--all of whom are suspects in the presumed murder. Mikael is on the verge of something, but needs a little help. Enter Lisbeth (Rooney Mara). She's one weird chick, yes, but you gotta love this girl. She's a no-nonsense 23-year old who is a genius at researching people. Sure, all we actually see her do is hit up Google, but we can presume that there is much, much more. After all, she did a thorough research check on Mikael on behalf of the Vangers. With that, he was sold and brings in Lisbeth to help with the search. Yadayadayada Mikael and Lisbeth team up in an effort to slay a few dragons.

It's good...quite good, actually. I'll go with 4.0 Stars here. It's a dark story that spreads out over two and half hours. Yeah, it's long and drags a bit at times, but all things considered, it easily holds your interest. The plot centers around a 40-year old missing persons case, which involves a myriad of different characters. They weave in-and-out of the flick seamlessly, which left me a little lost at times in terms of who was who and the various character's relationship with the missing girl. At times, I needed a double-take as to how exactly they fit in with the investigation. So, get something caffienated at the concessions...come on, it's only $6, right!?! With adrenaline in a cup, you should be good to go.

Acting in this one is great. Rooney played Lisbeth tremendously well. This had to be an incredibly challenging role and she knocked it out, baby. Yes, Lisbeth is all kinds of freaky, but not only do you feel an incredible sense of sympathy toward her, you actually like her. And, Daniel Craig is, well...Daniel Craig. I like him more as an actor with every role--which has nothing to do with me going with the 'Daniel Craig' hairstyle last summer.

The story itself is perhaps the strongest selling point. It is an interesting plot that merges two separate trails of 'happenings', both of which converge to make for a thoroughly interesting 138 minute ride. Give this one a shot and go BIG with it. Then, rent it in April to pick up on anything that slipped by you on the first run!

True...OUT!

Big Screen Blurb: The Devil Inside

A priest, a chick, a student and a videographer walk into a exorcism. No, no, it's not a joke. It's a movie, one designed to scare the scootledop out of you. So, are you looking for a flick to freak-your-freak and think The Devil Inside is the answer? Hmmm...Let me put it this way. You might have more luck if you went to a hypnotist and had her erase your memory of watching The Sixth Sense then go watch that one again.

Meet Isabelle (Fernanda Andranda). She's a twenty-something who has had it a little rough. This is mainly because her mama went...well, a little psycho-nutso and violently slaughtered two priests and a nun when lil Issy was eight. There's been much mystery surrounding the events since, leaving Isabelle with plenty of questions. To add to the intrigue, mama was shipped off to an asylum in Italy. So, off Isabelle goes to Rome, building frequent flyer miles and looking to learn more about her madre. The investigation begins with a class on exorcism. After all, it was during an exorcism in which those murders ocurred. With that in mind, she joins her entourage in a series of under-the-table exorcisms. Yadayadayada all hell breaks loose...check that...all hell is released as events spiral out of control--all under the lens of the documentarian for good measure.

I realize The Devil Inside has been butchered by many reviewers--mainly because of the ending. I'm not going to fillet the thing, but honestly, it's not very good. I'll go with 2.0 Stars. It's true...there are some interestingly intense scenes that get you thinking that this one just might have something. Unfortunately, there are just too few of those moments and just not enough glue (in the form of solid acting performances) to make it all stick together.

The acting is shoddy at best. These kinds of flicks are difficult to cast because the objective centers around genuine realism. That sense of reality is not something that the audience is going to buy into if you've got a cast of familiar faces on-screen. Therefore, you're left with a group of actors with no real track record of pulling off a challenging genre...S&S (Suspense & Scary). This group didn't.

Further, it's so scripted within the 'reality' concept, you're immediately drawn away from any genuine feel. I'm not a big fan of the hand-held camera, docu-style shoot (along the lines of The Blair Witch Project, Cloverfield or Quarantine). They usually make me nauseous, and I eat way too much at the movies to get that feeling, but I digress. That aspect didn't really bother me in this flick, so maybe I'm adjusting to it or maybe it was done with a steadier hand! Who knows? I do know that for a movie which was supposed to be grounded in suspense and genuine realism, it was pretty predictable and fake.

As for the ending, hmm--actually, I'm not going to beat anyone up over the ending. It's unique and ballsy. I'll give it that much credit, which is a little something to build on, right?

All things considered, this is nothing to see BIG and is a marginal rental at best. That's only if you get in a mood to see a sloppy flick in the ole S&S genre.

True...OUT!