Review - Redemption

On DVD and BLU RAY - "Redemption" (Originally Titled: "Hummingbird") - Jason Statham moves a baby-step closer to being a three-dimensional actor with this small-scaled tale of an ex-soldier haunted by his past and hiding out in London's underbelly. The dude even cries... and it's believable! There's only a couple of one-sided fight scenes to speak of, as this is a deeper, more dramatic affair that finds our Hero acting as the enforcer for a Chinese gangster and using the proceeds for good. Hunting for a killer of prostitutes, he falls for an altruistic Nun along the way... yeah, it sounds weird but it's pretty straightforward and doesn't jump off the rails. The fashion in which our Anti-Hero ultimately deals with "the killer" is pretty damned no-nonsense kinda cool.

Statham's homeless, alcoholic war veteran, "Joey", escapes a brutal beating from a couple of street thugs by breaking into a wealthy artist's retreat and assuming his identity.  Realizing just how far he's fallen, our hero attempts a hail-Mary effort to re-invent himself, ditching the greasy-haired, grimy look and sobering up in the process.  Remembering the derelict souls he left behind, the former military man puts his skills to use by working as a debt collector for a middle-man mobster (Benedict Wong) and sending large amounts of the proceeds to a local Nun and her soup line setup.  Statham's inherent presence and scenery chewing is on full display, though most who are familiar with his body of work will recognize the addition of a number of those "little touches" that seasoned actors convey so expertly with just a slight, stirring movement of facial expression. His sarcastic, deadpan delivery and glowering stare is obviously what his fans expect, though there's no good reason why it should define his entire career- then again, maybe I'm in the minority there...

Polish Actress Agata Buzek shines as the virtuous Nun who finds herself tempted by Joey's mysteriously edgy but humble charms- she's good-as-gold and desperate to help, but also secretly longing to break free of her calling's constraints.  Although Buzek is an accomplished actress in Europe, I was previously unfamiliar with her- perhaps that's because of her atypical look that most filmmakers seldom embrace when casting leading ladies.  Most will find Buzek's limited by layered performance to be the strongest, most memorable aspect of the film- it's a modest, natural turn that's quite heartbreaking.  I wish there had been much more of her character.

This film marks the feature film Directorial debut of Steven Knight, the screenwriter of such films as "Eastern Promises" and "Dirty Pretty Things". Knight also supplies the screenplay here and the overall effort is solid, though it could have used a once-over polish.   The cinematography is often striking and the limited action scenes are coherently staged and edited. Overall, I felt Redemption was a welcomed change of pace for Statham that's only seriously hampered by a decidedly lackluster ending.  I liked the English Action Star's "Blitz" (2011) a bit better, but this is similarly toned and might be worth a look for his fans- then again, that all comes down to what they're expecting from him... 

7.0 out of 10

Review - Riddick

At the Theater - "Riddick" - A promising first act, which finds our battered and bloodied hero left for dead and playing "stranger in a strange land" on an alien planet teaming with deadly creatures of various sorts, is undermined by the disappointingly lackluster remaining two-thirds- it devolves into what is essentially a remake of "Pitch Black", though with more guns and thinner characterizations. Soon after two contrasting groups of intergalactic manhunters are introduced into the fold, the narrative loses it's creative drive and bogs down in familiar, derivative territory.  I've never really been in love with this franchise, feeling that the first film was slightly undercooked and didn't really have the budget to impress with it's visuals while it's exponentially larger-budgeted follow-up, "Chronicles of Riddick", was poorly edited and outright bloated with too much narrative. This third outing, like it's predecessors, is passable enough as sci-fi actioners go- it's just too bad that it spends the majority of it's time spinning it's wheels with no new particular destination in mind. 

Vin Diesel (The Fast and the Furious) returns as the titular anti-hero, "Riddick"- the 46 year old New York City native is as physically imposing as ever, with presence to spare.  He's a capable actor who I always believed to be a little too rough around the edges when subtlety or nuance was called upon.  Some may find his sly act annoyingly cryptic in an extended sequence when time is truly of the essence- Riddick harbors the knowledge that a swarm of bloodthirsty creatures are nearly upon the oblivious lot of motley mercs but can't pass up a host of opportunities to growl threats and prophetic riddles. His priorities and motives are a bit wily, to say the least.  Overall, it's a solid performance in the type of role I usually appreciate and I'm happy Hollywood hasn't completely abandoned releasing films of this nature at the theater- the consummate badass central character plopped down into a Creature Feature narrative is usually my cup-o-tea.

Jordi Molla (Bad Boys II) plays the almost hilariously inept boss of a rag-tag group of bounty hunters in "Santana"- I couldn't help but wonder how in the world (or galaxy) he ever secured the position amongst his gang of ruffians.  Watch closely and you'll witness his injured schnozz alternate between battered and bloody to perfectly unscathed and back to mangled and swollen again.  It's laughably bad continuity.

A clearly miscast Matt Nable (Killer Elite 2011) places himself in the lead of most lackluster foil of the cinematic year as "Boss Johns"- the leader of a crew of professional mercenaries also out to land the highly-prized fugitive.  His lead antagonist, saddled with a personal score to settle, is decidedly unimpressive- Nable has some acting chops but zero charisma to speak of.  This would have been a great opportunity to have cast a bigger, more believable presence in an effort to supply a worthy, memorable adversary.

Katee Sackhoff (Battlestar Galactica) is criminally wasted in a garbage role as "Dahl"- it was painful to watch her character, established as a hard-as-nails lesbian Merc, flip the switch and turn into our hero's biggest swooning fangirl by film's end.  You'll roll your eyes at the awkward, 11th hour mishandling of the situation.  I believe the filmmakers should have switched her character over to replace Nable's and enhanced the role, but what the hell do I know?

Two-time WWE Champion Dave Bautista (The Man With The Iron Fists) does a commendable job of chewing scenery as the stereotypical hulk amongst the heavies, though he does little to further his acting career.  Raoul Trujillo (Apocalypto), Bokeem Woodbine (The Big Hit), former kickboxer and Muay Thai fighter Conrad Pla (16 Blocks) and Nolan Gerard Funk (X2), as a young, ultra-religious sort that's glaringly out of place, round out the notable faces as various Mercs and Bounty Hunters out for Riddick's blood.  Most of these individuals were cast for their distinct, chiseled faces, with little or no character development to speak of.  It's a common mistake in these types of films that often works against replay value.  Most of the stronger Creature Feature/Action films in silver screen history, such as Predator or Aliens, boast a well-cast ensemble taking advantage of a healthy script, with each supporting character given their fair share of "little moments" to shine before being dispatched in some decidedly gruesome fashion- there are painfully few of those "little moments" here.

Hopefully this franchise's fans aren't fooled into thinking Karl Urban's (Dredd) involvement in this film is anything substantial- his reprisal, as the villainous "Vaako" from Chronicles of Riddick, consists of an early flashback cameo that literally amounts to less than a minute of screen-time... very disappointing.  

Writer/Director David Twohy has directed all three of the Riddick films- I'm thinking he should have passed up screen-writing responsibilities this time and handed it over to a fresher voice, more specifically, one that excels in the art of good dialogue.  That said, the effects are solid, with a nice blend of the practical and CGI, and it's without question the best filmed of the trilogy- it looks great and the the action is serviceably staged.  Those who enjoyed the first two will probably find more to love here than myself- I just never could shake the feeling that these three Riddick films showcased a character that was significantly more dynamic than the scripts and subsequent situations that surrounded him...

7.0 out of 10


FWIW-

Pitch Black - 7.0
The Chronicles Of Riddick -  7.0

***Of Note***
Some may recognize Grammy Nominated Keri Hilson in a cameo as an ill-fated prisoner- I had no idea who she was until well after the fact.

Review - The Sapphires

On DVD and BLU RAY - "The Sapphires" - Loosely based on the true story of a small singing group of Aboriginal women in the 1960's, this is one of those movies that middle-aged female viewers often refer to as "cute".  Currently the sole screenwriting credit for original playwright Tony Briggs and marking the feature-film Directorial debut of Wayne Blair, The Sapphires is harmless enough, though it can't overcome the utterly pedestrian tone and lackluster construction that is often indicative of novice film-makers. It's a disappointment in relation to the solid cast and narrative potential that would unfortunately fit in rather comfortably with the all of the other mundane, undercooked programming on the Lifetime Channel. 

Chris O'Dowd (Bridesmaids), channeling a younger version of Bill Murray, is the alcoholic talent scout that discovers the four singers and becomes their manager.  His "Dave Lovelace" isn't quite the comic relief I was hoping for as he's a highly capable sort that, with the right material, is as talented and as charismatic as any comedic actor out there.  Mark my words, he's well on his way to becoming a household name...

Australian actress Deborah Mailman (Rabbit Proof Fence) gives the strongest performance as the group's stalwart matriarch, "Gail", while Aussie R&B and Pop singer Jessica Mauboy's "Julie" is understandably the most vocally talented.  Newcomers Shari Sebbens and Miranda Tapsell round out the quartet as "Kay" and "Cynthia", respectively.  The girls find themselves dealing with a number of hardships to overcome as they reluctantly assemble to chase their collective dream, with interior dissonance threatening to break them apart and the ugly reality of that particular era's glaring racism remaining in close proximity. 

The film's second half takes place in 1968 Vietnam, with the group entertaining U.S. troops in areas of conflict.  The musical selections are just O.K.- I never really felt "lifted" by any of them.  A romantic subplot between Gail and Lovelace comes across as more of a tacked-on obligation than a believable event- I can't fault the actors, but there simply isn't much chemistry between the two to speak of. 

Tory Kittles (Frankenfish) pops up here and there as an American soldier and potential love interest for one of the girls that, much like all of the other potential love interests, isn't given enough material to establish a fully-formed character.

This release is described on film information websites across the net as a Musical/Comedy/Drama, though I don't believe it excels in/as any one of those three genres- if only the film's chefs had spiced it up a bit more and left it in the oven a bit longer...

6.0 out of 10

Review - You're Next

At the Theater - "You're Next" - For the better part of the last decade, I've complained about how modern horror films (particularly slasher entries) have apparently abandoned the strong central character who could give as good he/she gets- this film has one of those precious few, memorably tough mother fuckers in the form of Aussie Actress Sharni Vinson as "Erin". What I had believed to be a standard, brainless home invasion flick along the lines of "The Strangers", "Funny Games" (the 1997 original and it's 2007 remake), "The Collector" and "Black Christmas" (the 2006 remake) is oh so much more- there's an actual plot and method to the madness, with at least one character willing to reverse the role of victim and challenge the masked villains with old-fashioned grit and intellect. As is, this is much closer to the 2002 Jodie Foster thriller "Panic Room". Just when the logic starts to wobble a bit, the narrative rights itself in a satisfactory manner. It could use a polish and the subtraction of a scene involving a blender used as a killing tool, but I'm more than willing to forgive it with all the things it does right. 

Celebrating their 35th anniversary, a wealthy couple are joined by their children at a remote mansion getaway only to find themselves under attack by a trio of masked assailants. Not only do the dwindling members of the hunted party have to stave off the advances of the killers but familial discord and sibling rivalries reach a boiling point as the rampage progresses.  Director Adam Wingard and Writer Simon Barrett have collaborated before, contributing segments in the found footage horror releases V/H/S and V/H/S 2- horror fans should hope that these two continue to hone their relationship and respective crafts as this particular entry in the genre boasts a strong narrative and effectively tense Direction while also working commendably well as a black comedy.  There's more than a few chuckles sprinkled about.

Sharni Vinson (Bait 3D), essentially the star of the film, is excellent as "Erin"- the proactive member of the besieged with a survivalist upbringing.  The casting director of that proposed all-female version of The Expendables should take notice.  It would be some kind of crime if audiences weren't able to see her reprise some variation of this character again.  It's a delightfully refreshing turn that I believe to be the strongest aspect of the film.  If only more Horror filmmakers would utilize this crowd-pleasing approach...

AJ Bowen (The House Of The Devil) portrays Erin's pacifist, college professor boyfriend, "Crispian", while Joe Swanberg (V/H/S), the Writer/Director of my current favorite film of 2013, Drinking Buddies, is the resident asshole of the group, "Drake". Dallas, Texas native Margaret Laney portrays Drake's wife, "Kelly", with Nicholas Tucci supplying a decidedly uneven turn as"Felix". Wendy Glenn, primarily a TV actress, is Felix's mysterious girlfriend, "Zee", while Amy Siemetz (AMC/Netflix's The Killing) is the family's youngest sibling, "Aimee".

Farelly Brothers regular Rob Moran (There's Something About Mary) would be the least impressive actor of the lot, his patriarchal "Paul" embodies the lion's share of the film's most ignorant character qualities. Barbara Crampton (Re-Animator, From Beyond, Puppetmaster, Castle Freak, Trancers II)  is some kind of horror royalty and looks fantastic for her age as the family's matriarch, "Aubrey".  Horror Writer/Director/Actors Ti West (The Innkeepers) and Larry Fessenden (Stake Land) are featured in extended cameos as "Tariq" and a next door neighbor with remarkably inconsistent luck, respectively...

Things I didn't care for: I could have done without that damnable shaky cam which was used in a couple of dynamic moments while a recurring song left on repeat at a neighbor's home could have been a better selection.  Furthermore, after the family finds one of their own slaughtered in an upstairs bedroom, I believe it should have been a no-brainer to have immediately realized that at least one attacker had found his way into the home... the nonchalant reaction to the discovery is awkward, to say the least.

There should be some kind of Razzie category for most misleading trailer, for this particular film's would be this year's front-runner.  This film has been on the shelf since 2011 and there's no real good reason for that- I'm glad I was able to view it in the theater and believe it to be one of the more entertaining and mostly intelligent pure Horror/Thriller releases of the last few years. Potential viewers should expect a number of gruesome, unexpected kills, a throwback synth score that periodically chimes in and a clear motive for the onscreen events by film's end. And yes, there's a few effective jump scares, as well.  The film is rated R for blood and gore- as it should be.

Ash, Ripley and RJ MacReady would be proud of Erin...

Recommended.

8.0 out of 10

Review - No One Lives

On DVD and BLU RAY - "No One Lives" - I checked this out because of star Luke Evan's (Immortals, Tamara Drewe, Fast & Furious 6) involvement and an interesting premise; a small group of murderous thieves unwittingly provoke a showdown with a brilliant psychopath. Hoping for at least a guilty pleasure, what I found was a DTV release that starts out promisingly enough only to steadily devolve into a series of absurd events and uninspired gore shots.  Think The Hitcher (the lousy 1997 remake, not the 1986 original) meets the Saw franchise.  The "From The Director Of The Midnight Meat Train..." disclaimer should have been my first clue...

Luke Evans (my pick for the next Actor to portray James Bond after Daniel Craig turns in his license to kill) doesn't do his career any favors with this garbage, though the Welsh actor will undoubtedly land on his feet with a significant role in the next two installments of The Hobbit (2013's The Desolation of Smaug and 2014's There And Back Again) and the titular turns in 2014's Dracula and the upcoming remake of The Crow.  He has presence to spare, but his performance here as the philosophical slasher is decidedly one note.

Lee Tergesen (HBO's Oz) plays the head honcho of a band of marauders who steal a vehicle belonging to Evans character.  Little does the group know that, tucked away in the vehicle's trunk, is the lone survivor of a recent mass killing at a collegiate shindig.  Recognizing the bound and gagged female as the missing daughter of a wealthy couple advertising a reward for her return, the outlaws prematurely plan to use her as ransom.  Everything goes out the window when the big bad wolf comes calling...

Adelaide Clemens (Silent Hill: Revelation 3D), portraying the object of our main villain's obsession, bears more than a passing resemblance to actress Michelle Williams.  Methinks Williams's job is safe, as Clemens is shaky, at best.

Derek Magyar (Phantom) is the unruly upstart with designs on being the criminal outfit's ramrod. Other gang members include; the very sexy America Olivo (Friday The 13th 2009), a greasy-haired twig in Beau Knapp (Super 8), the brown-eyed, button-nosed Lindsey Shaw (ABC's Pretty Little Liars) and 6 foot 7 inch tall George Murdoch, better known as "Brodus Clay" in the WWE.  Hmmm, such a large fellow's torso might provide a convenient hiding place for one so inclined... then again, why? 

Laura Ramsey (The Ruins) has an early, listless turn as a previous obsession of our killer's, while Southern twanged character actor Gary Grubbs (Ray) has a couple of scenes as an ill-fated motel proprietor

One constant with each coming year is a slew of bad horror films- do yourself a favor and avoid this one at all costs. The characters are stupid, the logic is ridiculously awful and the kills are about as lame as one will find in a serious-minded horror film- I could only roll my eyes and shake my head with seeing one unlucky victim having their throat cut with the dull end of a clipboard. Congratulations, you poor soul; you just won the yearly award for shittiest kill in a horror film...

2.0 out of 10

Review - The World's End

At the Theater - "The World's End" - The "Three Flavours Cornetto Trilogy" comes to a satisfactory, albeit slightly underwhelming conclusion with the Science Fiction tilted, "The World's End"- everything's humming along quite admirably, with the razor sharp dialogue and undeniable energy displayed so excellently in the first two films ("Shaun Of The Dead" and "Hot Fuzz"), when Writer/Director Edgar Wright apparently paints himself into a corner with an off-kilter ending. What comes before is the signature chemistry between Simon Pegg and Nick Frost we've grown to love (those of us with discerning tastes) and the fresh, madcap hi-jinx of Edgar Wright's screenwriting. Expect excellent work from all of the support involved while the musical selections are once again a spot-on highlight. The overall experience should leave a smile on the faces of those with an appreciation for that lovably odd British humor. 

Simon Pegg's hedonistic ringleader, "Gary King", reunites a group of five estranged, 40-something friends in an effort to  return to their hometown of Newton Haven and re-attempt an epic 12 pub crawl that they failed to complete as teenagers.  The group soon find that all is not right with the townspeople, with sinister forces having been quite busy during their extended absence.

Pegg (Star Trek Into Darkness) has all the markings of a serious actor tucked away behind his lively comedic charm- there's a unbelievably touching and poignant scene featured in this film's climax, involving the dangers of being consumed with one's past, that sealed that notion for myself.  Nick Frost (Pirate Radio) is as likeable as ever as "Andy Knightley", while it's a crime that Paddy Considine (Dead Man's Shoes), as "Steven Prince" here, doesn't land more meaty, starring roles. Martin Freeman ("Bilbo Baggins" in the The Hobbit films) and Eddie Marsan (Sherlock Holmes) are pitch perfect in support, portraying "Oliver Chamberlain" and "Peter Page", respectively. There's good reason for those cool, medieval surnames.

That wide-eyed, English wonder, Rosamund Pike (Jack Reacher) enters near the end of the first act as "Sam", Oliver's sister and a former conquest of The King.  There's a small story arc regarding a case of unrequited love between the former Bond Girl and Steven that I wish had been given a little more time to blossom.

Speaking of Bond, Pierce Brosnan (GoldenEye) is featured in a cameo- it's pretty cool when one remembers Timothy Dalton's villainous turn in Hot Fuzz.  Bill Nighy (Love, Actually) supplies some late-film voice work, while David Bradley ("Argus Filch" in the Harry Potter films) and Irish Comedian Michael Smiley round out the recognizable faces.

Expect more than a few nods to Sci-Fi fims like Invasion Of The Body Snatchers (1956), Invaders From Mars (1953), The Stepford Wives (1975) and John Carpenter's The Thing, with a handful of elaborate, well-choreographed bar fight scenes that pay homage to Jackie Chan's The Legend Of Drunken Master and The Matrix.  Fans of the two previous films in the trilogy will undoubtedly get a kick out of the inclusion of a few running gags and other familiar happenings.  Remember to pay attention to certain events that occur in each pub the group visit, keeping the respective pub's name in mind... it should lead to a pretty nifty revelation.

The World's End is unquestionably involving, often highly entertaining and fun enough throughout, though it's rarely laugh-out-loud funny and doesn't quite live up to the narrative strength of it's predecessors.  It's still well-worth a look for those interested and may flourish with time and subsequent viewings. I'm not much of a beer drinker, but damned if there hasn't been TWO films this year that have made me want to grab a couple of brews immediately after leaving the theater...

8.0 out of 10

FWIW-

Shaun Of The Dead - 9.0
Hot Fuzz - 8.5