The Man from U.N.C.L.E.

Right off the bat, for context, my two favorite film franchises are Mission:Impossible and the Bond films. So, an action-packed espionage thriller is usually something that I'll have a good time watching. 2015's The Man from U.N.C.L.E. wasn't a hit at the box-office and recieved mixed reviews from critics, but I think it's actually pretty good.

 The film was directed by Guy Ritchie and stars Henry Cavill, Armie Hammer, and Alicia Vikander. While I'm not a Hugh Guy Ritchie fan, I think this is actually one of his better movies. Like many of his other films, this one is bit more style over substance. However, I think the slick production and editing, along with the likeable characters, makes this an overall entertaining experience. 

The plot is a bit formulaic in that two rivals are forced to work as partners in order to stop the the villain's plan. In this particular scenario, it's the 1960's at the height of the coldwar, the villain wants a nuclear warhead, and our unlikely team is the CIA's top agent (played by Cavill) and Russia's top KGB agent (played by Hammer). Also thrown into the mix is German woman named Gaby (played by Vikander) who's father is a former Nazi scientist, and the man who's nuclear weapons research is so valuable.

Overall, I like the three lead actors, I think the film is pretty well paced with a few little twists along the way, the musical score is solid... it's a fun movie in my opinion. Not great, but fun.
3.5 out of 5

The Seven Year Itch

Perhaps best known today for the iconic moment when Marilyn Monroe is standing over a subway grate and her white dress is subsiquently blown up by a train passing below, 1955's The Seven Year Itch is actually a really fun movie. 

Richard (played by Tom Ewell) works at a New York City publishing company. His wife and son are away on vacation for the summer and Richard has to resist the temptations of smoking, drinking, unhealthy eating and most of all, his new upstairs neighbor (played by Marilyn Monroe). This simple premise leads to a lot of really funny moments. One scene in particular where Richard has an imaginary conversation with his wife and tries to convince her that he is irrasistable to women, makes me laugh everytime.

Overall, the movie provides a good deal of entertainment packed into it's one hour and forty-five minute runtime. Tom Ewell is great in the movie and his comedic timing is spot on. Marilyn Monroe's role is basically ditzy, blonde, eye-candy... so, great casting there. I don't consider The Seven Year Itch to be some great, all-time classic. However, I do recommend it if you're looking for a solid, lighthearted comedy.
I give this one a 4 out of 5.

Today's Movie: Skiptrace

Released in 2016, Skiptrace is a movie that I thought would be right up my alley. I like Jackie Chan, I like Johnny Knoxville, and I like action-comedies but, unfortunately, this film just doesn't put those elements together in a particularly entertaining way. 

The film follows a very clichéd formula; Jackie Chan plays a cop who has been trying for years to catch the man who killed his former partner. Johnny Knoxville's character is wisecracking conman who has stumbled upon a valuable piece of evidence that Chan needs. So, together this duo must reluctantly work together to take down a crime syndicate. Oh, and of course they get themselves caught up in all sort wacky situations along the way.

 I wasn't expecting a lot out of this one, it was after all directed by Renny Harlin who has been nominated for five Golden Raspberry Awards for Worst Director during his career. However, I was hoping Chan and Knoxville would each bring enough energy and comedy to make up for any script or directing issues. Unfortunately, though there are a few good moments, the film never really seems to kick into gear. 

I give Skiptrace a 1.5 out of 5

Wild River

A little while back I posted a list called My Top 100 Favorite Films, and one of the movies that just missed making it was 1960's Wild River starring  Montgomery Clift, Lee Remick, and Jo Van Fleet.

Directed by Elia Kazan (who made a number of other notable films like On the Waterfront, East of Eden, Panic in the Streets and A Streetcar Named Desire) Wild River is a terrific, though often forgotten, film. The setup here is simple; It's the 1930's and Chuck Glover (played by Montgomery Clift) is and official with the Tennessee Valley Authority who has been sent to acquire the last piece of land that has to be cleared before a new hydroelectric dam can go into service. The only problem is, there is an old woman named Ella Garth (played by Jo Van Fleet) who refuses to sell her land. Additionally, there is a romance that develops over the course of the movie between Chuck and Ella's granddaughter Carol (played by Lee Remick).

Overall, I find the plot of this movie pretty interesting and where the film really shines is with it's characters and their interactions. It's well-written and the actors do a great job with the material. Sure, Ella Garth is a stubborn old woman but it is her land, it's all she knows, and she has good reason not to leave. Chuck has a job to do and the dam will not only prevent flooding that could kill people but, it will also provide the whole town with electricity. The theme of an individual's rights to property versus the role of government to provide for it's citizens is a timeless one and, I think makes this movie very rewatchable. I highly recommend Wild River if you've never seen it. 
I give it a 4.5 out of 5.

The Hunt for Red October

Released in 1990, and based on a Tom Clancy book of the same name, The Hunt for Red October is a Cold War thriller that features a pretty impressive cast. I already briefly mentioned this film in one of my earliest blog entries 10 Sean Connery Movies Everyone Should See, and it currently holds a spot on My Top 100 Favorite Films list but, I've never given it its own dedicated post.

The story centers on a well-respected Soviet submarine captain named Marko Ramius (played by Sean Connery). Ramius has been tasked with taking the newest Soviet sub, the 'Red October', out to sea for some training exercises. However, Ramius murders the ships political officer and gives the crew false orders to head toward the East coast of the United States. This change of plans alarms both the U.S. and the Soviet government, as neither side wants a rogue captain with an armed nuclear submarine out in the ocean. Thus the hunt for the Red October is on. The one additional wrinkle in the scenario is that the Red October is equipped with a state-of-the-art "caterpillar drive" which makes it virtually undetectable to sonar. While both sides see Ramius as a threat, CIA analyst Jack Ryan (played by Alec Baldwin) is convinced that Ramius wants to defect and plans on turning over the Red October to the United States. So, the race is on to see who can get to Ramius first Jack Ryan or the Russians... Spoiler Alert! for a 30 year old movie: Jack Ryan reaches the Red October and Ramius successfully defects.

I love this movie. It's not without flaws but, I think the plot is very engaging, it's well shot, the actors are all pretty good, the musical score is solid... It checks all of the boxes or me. I highly recommend this one if you've never seen it.
4.5 out of 5

Double Feature: The 'Maleficent' Films

It's time for another Double Feature.

2014's Maleficent and it's sequel 2019's Maleficent: Mistress of Evil are part of a wave of Disney live-action/photo-realistic adaptations based on their classic animated films. While many of these movies are basically one-to-one remakes with maybe a new song or a few extra scenes added to pad the runtime, the Maleficent films are different. Different doesn't necessarily mean they're better but, I think they are more interesting.

The first of the two films, Maleficent, takes the approach of looking at the 'Sleeping Beauty' story but from the villain's point-of-view. Who is Maleficent as a character? Why does she curse the princess? Is she really all that bad? The film is predictable and some of the special effects less than spectacular but, I think it is a decently made and entertaining movie. Plus, I think Angelina Jolie perfectly cast as the title character. 

The sequel on the other hand, is a not as good. The story picks up a few years after the events of the first film and splits the focus between the upcoming marriage of Princess Aurora and Prince Phillip, and a plot about Maleficent meeting a whole race of fairies that are like her (except she's the only one who possesses the powers of the phoenix... It's a bit of a mess). The two movies came out five years apart, so Disney didn't exactly rush out the sequel but, it feels like the script for this one needed more time. 

I don't think either one of these movies will rise to that "Disney Classic" status. Both films did make money but, were also met with mixed reviews. Maleficent has enough that I like about it and I think it is worth watching. However, Maleficent: Mistress of Evil falls just on the other side of that recommendation line for me.  
I'm going to give Maleficent a 3 out of 5 and Maleficent: Mistress of Evil a 2 out of 5.

Sonic the Hedgehog

Sonic the Hedgehog, the speedy blue video game character that caused so many kids in the early 90's (myself included) to beg their parents to buy them a SEGA console has finally made his way to the big screen. 

The film is a live-action/CGI hybrid that stars James Marsden, Jim Carrey, and Ben Schwartz (voicing Sonic). The premise is simple; Sonic is a blue, anthropomorphic hedgehog from an alternate dimension that ends up in our world. The U.S. government sends a mad scientist named Dr. Robotnik (played by Jim Carrey) to capture the blue blur and he, of course, wants to harness Sonic's powers and presumably take over the world. Along the way Sonic meets and befriends a small-town Sheriff named Tom (played by James Marsden) who agrees to help him elude the villain. 

Overall, It's nothing too complex but, it is a film targeted towards kids. I took my 7year-old, who has been dying to see the movie for weeks, and he had a blast. Setting aside the fun he had and viewing it just as the movie it is, I thought it was ok. The story is a bit bland and predictable but, I think he film does have some charm. Like the title character himself, the film moves along at a fast pace and at least I can say I was never bored. Sonic himself I though was a likeable character and, while not all of the jokes hit the mark, I did get a few laughs out of his shenanigans. The real standout of the film is Jim Carrey. It was nice to see him return to doing this type of over-the-top character that he used to be so well-known for.

To wrap things up, Sonic the Hedgehog is fun movie. It's not great. It's not going to win any Academy Awards. However, if you have young kids or if you're just a fan of the character then I recommend giving this one a shot.
2.5 out of 5 

Double Feature

It's been awhile since my last post and, while I may have needed a break from writing the regular blog entries, I kept on watching and thinking about movies. Two of the films that I rewatched, having not seen either one in a few years, are the subject of today's post. Those films are 1973's American Graffiti and 1986's Stand By Me. These two have a couple similarities that I think make them a good paring. Firstly, they both take place on the west coast and around the same time period (with Stand By Me set in Oregon in 1959 and American Graffiti set in California in 1962). Both are also coming-of-age movies that focus a small story, with all of the events taking place in a short period of time. 

Oh, and Richard Dreyfuss is in both films.

As for an overview of the films, I'll start with American Graffiti. Right from the get-go we're introduced to Curt and Steve (played by Richard Dreyfuss and Ron Howard respectively), two friends who have graduated high school and are set to leave for college the next day. Steve is ready to leave their hometown and move on to the next phase of his life, while Curt is having second thoughts. The film goes on to follow how this last night on the town unfolds not only for Curt and Steve but also two of their friends. One of those friends is John Milner (played by Paul Le Mat) who is the town's drag-racing king that finds himself challenged to a race by Bob Falfa (played by Harrison Ford). The other is Terry (played by Charles Martin Smith), a stereotypical nerdy character at the start but who ends up having the wildest night of them all by the end. It's a fun light-hearted movie, full of great music and likeable characters.

Next up, Stand By Me. The setup is pretty simple; a group of four friends (played by Wil Wheaton, River Phoenix, Corey Feldman, and Jerry O'Connell) hear that there is a dead body that hasn't been discovered by police yet. They figure that if they can find it and alert the authorities then they'll be local heroes... and that's the premise. The interactions between the four kids is really what makes the film worth watching. Some of the heart-felt moments feel a little forced and phony, and a few of the comedic beats miss the mark in my opinion but it's still a good movie.

Overall, I like both of these films and, honestly, you can't go wrong with either one. Both films were box-office successes, feature some strong performances, and were nominated for several awards. I personally like American Graffiti a bit more but, I think both are solid movies that I recommend checking out if you've never seen them. 

I give American Graffiti a 4.5 out of 5 and Stand By Me a 3.5 out of 5