Big Screen Blurb: Looper

Put simply, time travel flicks blow my freakin' mind. Endless loops of astro-physics meet the butterfly effect and I'm literally left in a daze. Looper is no different. In this case, however, it is very much worth that flippy, foggy feeling.

See Joe (Joseph Gordon-Levitt). See Joe kill people. He waits for them to just pop onto the canvas and then blows them away. Before you get all judgmental, it's Joe's job to kill people so that makes it o--wait...it's still really, really bad. At any rate, Joe is a looper. It's the year 2044 and time travel had been invented in the future. This means that Abe (Jeff Daniels) has been sent back to the past to hire guys to kill people who are: captured...sent back to the past...killed and disposed of to close the loop. The trouble with being a looper is that, at times, your number gets called. That's right...you get captured in the future...sent back and you kill yourself to close your own loop. Confused yet? Take a couple of swigs...I'll wait...

Okay, you back? Enter Joe (Bruce Willis)...thirty years later. Captured and sent back to stare at his own gun, held by his own hands while peering into his own eyes. Joe (old) escapes Joe (young) and the hunt is on. But wait--there's more. Old Joe is on a mission. If he can kill the one called the Rainmaker, who has created all of this mess, he can make it all disappear and enjoy what was a horrible, junkie/murderer's life turned good when he met his fine wife. So, Old Joe is on a mission to kill a seven-year old and Young Joe is on a mission to kill Old Joe. Hmm...need another drink? Yada...swig...yada...gulp...yada...Joe and Joe square off in one wildly entertaining and potentially befuddling ride.

It's good. Ya know...about halfway through this two-hour movie, I was ready to give up on it. Fortunately, my future self sent me a text and told me to hang in there, that I 'would < 3 it'. I wasn't sure what that meant, but kept an open mind. I'm glad I did. I'll give it 4.0 Stars. You think you know where this one is going and quite frankly, you're not thrilled. Sure, if it stayed on that path it would have been okay, but when it shifts gears and takes the story to new heights...that's when this one kicks into a new gear and gets really good.

After all, you think it's going to be about Young Joe killing Old Joe and all of the trauma...action, etc. that such a plot would bring. Oh-Ho-Hum, in my book. But--when it turns into a race to kill the Rainmaker as Young Joe bonds with Sara (Emily Blount) then it turns into one entertaining and truly thought-provoking flick. I'm not going to give anything away here, but Looper prompted my little group to sit in the theater loooong after this one ended to re-hash the finer points and time theories (it's okay...don't worry about us...we have no lives anyway).

Further, the acting in Looper is tremendous. Gordon-Levitt continues his hot streak untarnished (I'm not going to hold Premium Rush's lack of titillating success against him) as he was tremendous. I'm not sure what they did to him (whether it was CG or make up) to make him look more like a younger Bruce Willis, but it worked. Willis...still amazing. Daniels...great role for him. Blount...love her with that American accent!

Honestly, this is some exceptionally thought-provoking stuff that stays with you for awhile. You've got some fantastic moral dilemmas from start to finish and each is worth a lengthy discussion.

To discuss it, you need to see it and see it, you should!!! Go BIG on this one. Just be warned that it contains plenty of violence of the blood and guts variety. If you can endure that (or you sick-o's may crave it) then you should be fine. You may get that foggin' feeling, but you're probably going to be glad you did!

True...OUT!!!

Big Screen Blurb: End of Watch

Looking for a combination of depressing, disturbing with plenty of action, interesting characters and a dash of funny? Your search has ended with End of Watch. It's a movie that effectively touches on many emotions, makes you think and makes you wonder.

Brian Taylor (Jake Gyllenhaal) is an ambitious guy. He's in school in the midst of his day job, which is that of an officer of the LAPD. He's gutty, gritty, fun-loving and best described as a realistic idealist. His partner in law enforcement is Mike Zavala (Michael Pena). To Mike, it's more or less just a job. He's just trying to get through, what can be in South LA, a dangerous day. They're both young guys, the former dating 'the one' (Anna Kendrick) and the latter looking to start a family with his wife Gabby (Natalie Martinez). However, their no non-sense approach to law has gotten them in trouble. They "uncovered" (--mostly by accident) enough to put them on a target list of a Mexican drug cartel. We follow the story from point-to-point as the boys in blue make their mark and get the mark put on them in return. Yadayadayada...we watch the chases, fights and bullets as good squares off against Big Evil.

It's good. I'll go with 4.0 Stars on this one. Let me start with the negative. It's shot completely within the hand-held camera approach, which as you may know, I'm not a big fan. Actually, there were some scenes that made me want to reverse my Jalepeno Poppers, King Size Reese's and Mr. Pibb. I understand the desire to take a realistic approach. I also understand the desire to actually enjoy a flick and the ole hand-held camera puts a distinct damper on that for me.

Aside from that, End of Watch is a movie that's going to spark emotion. It's going to bring you into a very realistic and dangerous world of a LA cop. Word of warning: It's not pretty. We follow this pair through basically nine months of duty. Honestly, it's pretty disturbing. Don't get me wrong, I realize that this is not a typical, 'day-in-the-life' piece. It's a movie; but there are strong elements of realism that draw you to the characters and their developing story. Pena and Gyllenhaal are great. These were a couple of strong performances that allow the audience to share in their brother-like friendship, while experiencing the ups and downs of a couple of beat cops. You certainly develop a quick and very strong respect for what they go through on a daily basis. Again, that's kudos to Pena and Gyllenhaal.

The story is--and this isn't a necessarily a negative--is one that forces some pretty disturbing, and subsequently depressing, realities on you. That violence is presented in a very real way. I'm not a big fan of violence, but End of Watch presents those realities in a way that forces one to think.

The bottom line: this is probably a movie to see and see BIG. Anything that stirs this type of emotion, is worth a watch--even if it's painful to watch in the moment. You will make it through and, on the other side, you'll probably have stirred plenty of thoughts and emotions along the way.

True...OUT!

Big Screen Blurb: Lawless

Three things became glaringly obvious to me as I watched Lawless. One, I could never have lived in the 20's. Second, there has never been a movie title more accurately describe or detail a flick than Lawless. Finally, and this is probably the most glaring: See this movie, based on a true story!

It's the 1920's. The Bondurant brothers live in Virginia and live somewhat outside of the law. They are moonshine runners in the era of prohibition. I say 'somewhat' outside of the law because the local law enforcers don't really do much to enforce said law. At least not as long as they are given a case or two of the good stuff. So, Forrest (Tom Hardy) along with his younger brother, Howard (Jason Clarke) and their baby brother, Jack (Shia Labeouf), run their local tavern and even more moonshine. It's a rough world, but all is well. That's when trouble shows up in the form of the Feds. Charlie Rakes (Guy Pearce) is in charge of the effort. He and his boss are willing to play ball with the Bondurant's for a cut. When the brothers are unwilling to cut the big boys in on the deal, all hell...quite literally...breaks loose. It's a long series of punch-counter-punch as the feds put the heat on the Bondurant's in an effort to shut them down. Yadayadayada...The law is anything but legal, while the brothers operate with equal reckless abandon.

It's good...very good actually. I'll go with 4.0 Stars here. This is a violent movie, which comes as no surprise, but it is not a gore-fest from the Tarantino-esque ranks. This story is about its characters. It's about their relationships; their pain, progress and grit. Lawless is a period piece that captures a time brilliantly within the confines of an interesting tale. There are two polarized views of life here: the pure and the purely violent. Whether it is the gangster, Floyd Banner (Gary Oldman), who I would have liked to have seen more of, or Jack's crush on a girl who is a good barn-raising away from being Amish, there are distinct boundaries between the bloodshedders and the innocent. That paints an interesting landscape.

The beauty of Lawless, however, is found in its characters. They truly make this movie fascinating. You're talking about Jack, the runt of a rough litter, who truly grows over the course of these 115 minutes. Shia captured something special here in this character, but if you want a special performance, check out Tom Hardy's portrayal of Forest. This guy got some good recognition for Bronson; however, his Bane in The Dark Knight Rises really didn't get its due respect. Most likely, this was because of the thick accent and the mask. There's no mask here--just a tough guy, who is bright enough to be dangerous and demanding enough to be successful. Jason Clarke was solid, as well, with his Howard Bondurant. Of course, Gary Oldman was is typical great self and Guy Pearce really makes you loathe his character, which was, of course, the goal since we're supposed to be rooting for some guys who are just as lawless as he is.

This is definitely one to see and see BIG. That is, unless you can't take any violence than a skip is in order. If, however, you can skillfully time several 'close-your-eyes' moments, you'll find a gem.

True...OUT!

Big Screen Blurb: The Words

The Words. Hmm...how does one describe Bradley Cooper's The Words? It's the print version of Quiz Show in film. Sure, that may not make a lot of sense until you see the film...and see the film, you should. 

Meet Rory Jansen (Cooper). He's an aspiring author who is, well, stuck in aspiration mode. Yeah, he's written some good stuff that would, admittedly, see the light of page--at least according to one literary agent. However, it's a manuscript that no publisher would pick up from a no-name author. Unfortunately, that's Rory's current plight. He and girlfriend, Dora (Zoe Saldana) continue to forge ahead. She's supportive of her guy's ambition, which is a little more than you can say about his dad (J.K. Simmons), who is flipping too many of Rory's bills. Then, a trip to Paris sets the stage for Rory's break...or at least a choice. Dora buys a classy, but weathered old satchel for Rory, which unknowingly contains opportunity. One day as Rory examines the satchel, he finds a manuscript in a hidden compartment. The manuscript is a tale of relationships, love, and pain...in short: life. It's a classic and Rory is prompted to re-create it in digital form. He enters the manuscript into his laptop without nary a word changed. Soon, he comes home to an emotionally moved Dora, who has read the story on his computer and assumed that it is Rory's. Here's where choice meets opportunity with a dash of chance thrown in for good measure. After all, this is presumed to be, and is, a unique tale. 

So, Rory takes credit for the work and soon delivers the tale to a publisher. He is as enthralled as Dora. Soon, the book is in print and Rory is the toast of the literary world. His other manuscripts are finding the presses as well, and life is good. Then, Rory is presented with a wrinkle, which comes in the form of an old man (Jeremy Irons). Rory's breakthrough piece was actually the old man's story. Suddenly, Rory is slapped with a very tangible sense of guilt, which had previously been real, yet distant. Now, it's concrete and his dilemma is real. Fess up and face the horrific music? Or, bury the guilt and continue to live the lie? Meanwhile, weaved throughout the story is a description of Rory's tale from author Jay Hammond (Dennis Quaid). His book recounts Rory's deception. Yadayadayada...these lives intersect and unveil a truly conversation piece of a flick. 

It's good. I'll go with 4.0 Stars on this one. It is what is it is and that is an interesting drama and conversation starter. Make no mistake about it. This is a movie where moral dilemma meets relationships and aspirations. It's a flick to think through; and it's worth the intellectual investment.

Quite simply and naturally, The Words poses the question: What would you do? Your dreams are seemingly there for the taking. Just take credit for someone else's work which could possibly give you everything you ever wanted. Or would it? Have you really accomplished said dream if you've relied on someone else to deliver that aspiration for you...while you merely serve as a stand-in for all of the glory shots and speeches??? This certainly causes some unsettling realizations for Rory, which truly slaps him in the face when his plagiarism comes to light. In fact, for Rory, the only relief seems to be found in the story that gave him both life and death. 

The movie presents quite the moral dilemma, which draws a natural comparison to Quiz Show. In terms of the story itself, it would seemingly be very difficult to have the opportunity to stand on someone else's shoulders and not claim your dream--all with the mindset that, "Oh, if I do this, it's going to bite me later." Just as in Quiz Show, it's easy to sit back, while looking in the rear view mirror, and say, "I would never have done such a thing." But life is not viewed in hindsight. It lives and breathes in front you with real decisions in real-time. Where a passion for a goal...where the desire to make others around you proud...where the desire for fame and recognition may usurp the need to stay within the lines. All of that culminates, in a moment, to pose tricky forks in the road for certain. 

There is another aspect of the movie, which might be somewhat of a spoiler alert. I won't talk about that here, but it's certainly worth discussion. Don't 'comment', but feel free to e-mail me about it. 

At any rate, this is a very intriguing tale that is well told through a great cast. If a thought-provoking movie floats your boat, see The Words and see it BIG. If you're just looking for a comedy or action piece or a combination of the two, this one may not be for you at all. You will miss a good story and a nice trip to the think tank. 

True...OUT!

Big Screen Blurb: The Cold Light of Day

I'll start this off with a little SPOILER ALERT...but don't freak, because you may want to think of this as more of a spoiler notice. If you're considering heading off to see The Cold Light of Day because of Bruce Willis and the promise of another action-packed Die Hard-esque experience...well, you need to realize that his role in this one is reduced to that of a glorified cameo. If, however, you're checking this one out as a sneak peek from the future Man of Steel...well, you are a little more on target. 

Will (Henry Cavill) is begrudgingly joining his family in Spain for a vacation. Why is he not giddy about a magical Madrid getaway? Mostly because of his dad, Martin (Bruce Willis). We get the idea fairly quickly that Will and his dad have never really seen eye-to-eye. That may be putting it mildly, because Will really doesn't like ole pop. Martin is a demanding father with high expectations, as he himself hops around the globe booking gospel bands. Nevertheless, with plenty of pressure from mom and even little brother, Josh, Will finds himself on a boat just off of the coast of the land of the setting sun. That is, until he decides to go into town on an errand. Upon his return, he finds no boat and no fam. Curiously troubling, indeed. Even more so is the lack of help from the police. Actually, they turn the tables on Will and start hunting him down. All of that is just the beginning. From there, Yadayadayada...Will begins to track down the truth about his father...find his family by finding a mysterious suitcase...all while evading bullets from multiple sources. 

It's okay. I'll go with 3.0 Stars on this one. There's a lot of potential here plot-wise, although it's certainly not exactly a unique story. For a few reasons, however, it is just a tad flat. The element of mystery as to what is happening and why is revealed way too soon for my taste. As a result, the flick becomes less of a psychological thriller and more of a straight action picture. I prefer the former. Sure, there are still a few twists left and the audience is left to put the pieces of the puzzle together, which is no small task considering the number of pieces and moving parts to said puzzle. 

At any rate, it does have several redeeming qualities. First, I'm never opposed to a trip to Spain and that scenery provided a nice vacation. Second, it's good to see a mixture of veterans like Sigourney Weaver fused with some fresh faces, while getting a sneak preview of Cavill in an action role. Finally, the core story is pretty interesting, even if it unfolds in way that was shy of satisfying. 

How is Cavill as an action hero? Not bad. I was hoping for a true humanistic character that stepped out of shadows of normalcy and, when thrust into dire circumstances, met the challenges in very human ways. Instead, we got the typical tale--normal everyday guy one minute...scaling rooftops the next before taking brutal beatings that in reality would end the average Joe's day in a millisecond. But wait, this is the next Superman we're talking about, so I'll let it pass.

Is this one to go BIG on? Probably not. The Cold Light of Day will make a solid rental experience. It's slated for a BluRay/DVD release in January. 

True...OUT!

Big Screen Blurb: Premium Rush

I admit it. As I nestled my tail-end into a stadium seat at the Pinnacle, I knew that I had a bias already established. I'm one of those drivers that's annoyed by bicyclers. Not the peddlers that stick to the sidewalks, I actually have great respect for them. Rather, my problem is with the ones that insist on riding on the road, endangering themselves and everyone around them, when a sidewalk is a mere three feet to their right. With that in mind, would I be able to give a fair assessment of a movie like Premium Rush, a flick that is all about the bicycler? Well, you tell me.

Meet Wilee (Joseph Gordon-Levitt). He's a bike courier with a chip on his shoulder. He prefers this chaotic and dangerous life to his former. That previous life involved law school. Wilee has little respect for those donning the daily suit and tie. He prefers the rush of the ride. Need proof? Well, his bike has been stripped of its brakes and gears. Wilee wants to be constantly moving forward...fast. That's great, because with one late day delivery he's going to need it. It's a seemingly normal pick-up, albeit from a somewhat nervous girl. Wilee shrugs that off, especially since he knows the girl as his girlfriend's roommate. The real obstacle comes next. A guy approaches Wilee as he mounts his bike, claiming that he's campus security and needs the envelope back. That's a problem for Wilee, who reminds him that he works for Secure Courier and once a package is picked up, it...most assuredly...gets delivered. With that, the imaginary starter pistol is fired into the air and the race is on. The "security" guy is after Wilee with in balls-to-the-wall mode, while Wilee attempts to navigate the streets of New York City while dodging the enemy. Yadayadayada...we watch as Wilee gets to the bottom of exactly why this envelope is so vital to two people and why it's worth, quite possibly, his own death.

It's okay. I'm wavering between 2.5 and 3.0 Stars on this one. Yeah, there are some interesting production elements involved; and, the teen guys will love how Wilee breaks down is route alternatives with three of the four possibilities resulting in his violently bloody demise. And yeah, there are plenty of chase scenes and race sequences; and again, that's all good and well, if you're 15. (Meet your target audience, right!) 

However, I need stronger characters and a better storyline. Yes, the bad guy here is a bad guy, but he's such a freakin' moron, he doesn't exactly strike fear into you. Actually, from an acting standpoint, only Joseph Gordon-Levitt shines in this one. This guy is on fire. Let's see...there's The Dark Knight Rises...and the promise of sequels set-up through his character, and the upcoming The Looper with Bruce Willis, along with Lincoln, which is set for a November release. Not a shabby year, huh? All in all, he's one talented guy and someone to watch. Further, he takes a so-so script full of 'eh'-characters and turns in a solid performance. That is really the only true bright spot here...unless, that is, you are a 15 year old kid. 

Don't get me wrong, the story is okay. The flick is shot in a fairly interesting way. So, there is some entertainment value here. Plus, if you need a bike race to get you going, this is a must see; but again, I don't. For that reason, I'd advise you to rent this one if you get extremely board this winter. Other than that, see Batman again versus this bike ride. Oh...and by the way...it's just three feet to your right, bicyclers. It's called a sidewalk and it's not just for teenage girls to drive on...it's there for you! 

True...OUT!

Big Screen Blurb: The Possession

It's true. Every kid has that special toy that they just can't seem to do without. I had my Star Wars toys...my Batman toys and my cap guns. You had your faves and Emma has her box. Of course, Emma's affection for her toy prompts her to stab ole Dad with a fork...sees fingers coming out of her throat and moths emerge from her mouth. Yeah...pretty standard stuff for kids everywhere when it comes to their playthings, right?

Meet Clyde and Stephanie (Jeffrey Dean Morgan and Kyra Sedgwick). They are your typical family. The couple is recently divorced with two daughters. Hannah (Madison Davenport) is your normal teenage girl...yeah, you guessed it, pretty bitchy; and, the other (Em/Natasha Calis) is a sweetheart of a fourth grader. On a weekend visit with Dad, Hannah spots a yard sale and reminds ole Pop that he needs dishes. Yeah, that's right...bitchy does not equate with bright! Who would buy their dishes at a yard sale, right? At any rate, Em spots a box that intrigues her. Of course, Clyde, being the guilt-ridden divorced father tries to compensate for family failures with cash and off Em goes with her hand-me-down box. What she doesn't know is that her box has been around. So much so, that it's inhabited with a  demonic spirit. This particular spirit, as is the norm in these stories is looking for a body. Hello Em!!! Yadayadayada...Emma becomes possessed as ma and pa try to figure out what's wrong with this sweetie turned satanic chickie. 

Eh...it's okay. I'll go with 3.0 Stars. The story is too familiar to be truly scary and the attempts at shock value are to 'in-your'face' to be truly shocking. I've longed for a good thinking man's scary movie since Silence of the Lambs or Sixth Sense. This one doesn't really fit the bill. It's not bad. It's a decent story that comes together fairly well. The twists offer no surprises really--either that or I should be a horror flick writer as I called about everything in play-by-play mode. It's your tried-and-true possession story...not a classic by any stretch, but not bad.

It's shot to seemingly appear like a 70's horror flick, which isn't a bad element in terms of production value considering the genre. It's the look of The Birds  meets Insidious with a splash of Amityville Horror. I'm talking production look, here, not fear factor; because The Possession doesn't really live up to any of those (not even Insidious) in that category. 

The acting has its moments, but all-in-all is just a notch above average. Natasha Calis is your highlight among the cast, in what was undoubtedly a challenging role for a little kid. Did she scare me? Well, no, but she gave a pretty good performance of a demon-possessed squirt. 

I guess the whole demon thing is just a storyline that has never really scared me. I've just tallied up the demon-possessed among the ranks of the mentally ill and left it there. I need a story that is real--with characters that, as humans, truly become something to fear. That is the story that is going to freak my freak and until I find it...well, I'll just settle on flicks like this to get my freak on! 

No need to go big on this one...check it out on BluRay when you need a little late night jumpstart.

True...OUT!