Month: August 2017

The Hitman’s Bodyguard

“The Hitman’s Bodyguard” is a “quirky, funny and entertaining summer flick.”

Ryan Reynolds plays Michael Bryce, a top protection agent who has been summoned to protect a Notorious Assassin, Darius Kincaid (Samuel L. Jackson). Darius’s testimony is needed in criminal court case to put away a dictator who has been killing or ordering the killing of innocent people.

Michael Bryce and Darius Kincaid have a history. They don’t like each other, so when they are faced with each other and it dawns on Michael Bryce what he is getting into, dangerous sparks start flying. The story unfolds from there…

The paid critics did not like “The Hitman’s Bodyguard”. The movie is not perfect by any stretch of the imagination, but it’s not bad. In fact it’s funny and entertaining. There is a story, a plot, intrigue, suspense and a couple of twists. It’s mindless entertaining.

Ryan Reynolds is an unlikely bodyguard, but he does a good job. Samuel L. Jackson is the perfect assassin. The movie is worth seeing if for no other reason than to see Salma Hayek. She kicks some serious butt!!

Check out “The Hitman’s Bodyguard” for some fun entertainment.

This is a 3 Star Movie!

Logan Lucky

After a very slow start “Logan Lucky” revs its engine and races to the finish line. It’s a story we have all seen before, but “Logan Lucky” has a few entertaining moments along with a few interesting twists.

Brothers Jimmy (Channing Tatum) and Clyde (Adam Driver) Logan are trying to eradicate a family curse by successfully executing an elaborate bank robbery during the famous Coco-Cola 600 Race at the Charlotte Motor Speedway. They need help and guidance, but the person they need help from is currently in prison. That doesn’t stop them. They figure out an elaborate scheme to setup a prison break and get their friend out to help them. The story unfolds from there…

“Logan Lucky” is a departure from the norm for Mr. Bond (Daniel Craig). You will see him in a very different light with his bleached blonde hair.
Director Steven Soderbergh is back from a 4 year hiatus. The last movie that he directed that I saw was “Side Effects” in 2013.

There are some strange, quirky and interesting moments in “Logan Lucky”. Example… just when things are heating up the movie plot stops for a beauty pageant. It’s a cute moment.

Director Steven Soderbergh is excellent at what he does, so I say that while “Logan Lucky” has a slow and strange start, the movie does come together at the end and it is worth a look.

I am looking forward to “Ocean’s Eight” in 2018 which is a Steven Soderbergh production.

This is a 4 Star Move!

Detroit

“Detroit” is a very well executed movie that is hard to digest.

It’s 1967 and racial tension is at an all-time high in places like Newark, Watts, Philadelphia and Detroit. The promises of a better life are not being realized by people of color. In Detroit, the Civil-Rights movement isn’t being recognized or adhered to.

The movie “Detroit” depicts the summer of 1967 when the city of Detroit endured one of its darkest time in its history.

“Detroit” is hard to take. It’s Brutal, Honest and Gut-Wrenching. I wanted to leave, but I stayed so that I could give an honest and accurate review. I did not enjoy the movie, but that does not mean it was a bad movie. Academy Award Winning Director, Kathryn Bigelow cuts to the chase. The absolute only bright spot in the movie is regarding the 1970’s R&B Group known as “The Dramatics”. “Detroit” shows how this group got started and went on to fame.

This is a 4 Star Movie!

The Dark Tower

“The Dark Tower” is one of Stephen King’s best-selling novels about the last Gunslinger, Roland Deschain (Idris Elba) who continues to battle the “Man in Black” (Matthew McConaughey) to prevent him from destroying the Dark Tower, which holds the Universe together.

A young boy, Jake Chambers (Tom Taylor) has continued nightmares, visions and dreams about a “Dark Tower”, a “Gunslinger” and a “Man in Black”. He draws what he dreams. Jake’s dreams, visions and nightmares lead his parents to thinking that he needs to be placed in an institution. When the representatives from the institution arrive at Jake’s home, he recognizes them from one of his nightmares. Jake finds a way to escape his home and is able to evade them.

Jake on the run makes his way to an abandoned mansion he saw in one of his visions not realizing that inside this mansion is the gateway to where the “Gunslinger” and the “Man in Black” are located. Jake enters the gateway. The “Man in Black” realizes that Jake is the boy who holds the powers that he needs to use to topple “The Dark Tower”. The story unfolds from there…

Unfortunately the movie does not do the book justice. Although watching Idris Elba as a “Gunslinger” is a wonderful thing… He and his five o’clock shadow look good doing just about anything and Idris Elba is the bright spot in the movie.

“The Dark Tower” spends too much time at the beginning not giving you what you need to put everything in perspective. There is plenty of action and special effects. The movie spends most of its time being dark and mysterious.

I grew up a Stephen King fan and read almost all of his books. I did read “The Dark Tower” and I am disappointed that the movie does not represent the book better.

If you are a Stephen King fan, you may find “The Dark Tower” worth your time, but I suggest waiting for it to come out on DVD, Blu-Ray or Cable.

This is a 2 Star Movie!