Tag: Helen Mirren

F9: The Fast Saga in Real Dolby

F9: The Fast Saga in Real Dolby

The Crew is back!! The long-awaited 9th installment of the “Fast & Furious” Franchise has arrived on the big screen. 

The crew finds themselves once again thrust into a mission where they are tasked with trying to stop something catastrophic from happening to the world.

Unlike other installments, there is a serious backstory that plays a part in this current mission and forces one of the crew to face their past. On this mission the crew crosses paths with the most skilled assassin and high-performance driver they have ever encountered. The story unfolds from there…


Don’t try to keep up, just enjoy the ride!! Just when you think that you have seen every possible stunt, acrobatic move or crazy car chase, a movie comes along and throws more over-the-top craziness in your face.  “F9” is fast paced, has tons of action, intrigue and a decent amount of suspense and humor. The cinematography, special effects and camera angles are on point. You may think you know the enemy and have it all figured out, but you will be surprised.

There are a few holes in the story and a bit of a lull… But that does not diminish the movie. 

There are a few surprises like Actress Helen Mirren makes an appearance. I wish her role would have been a bit larger. She is so much fun to watch.

“F9” is a must see for “Fast & Furious” Fans. Something to note… This franchise has amassed $6.2 Billion dollars since its humble beginnings in 2001. I doubt it will be going anywhere anytime soon…

This is a 4 Star Movie!!

The Good Liar

Based on the best-selling novel, “The Good Liar” is about the ultimate Con Artist, Roy Courtnay (McKellen) trying to work his magic on his latest mark, a widow (Mirren) who happens to be worth millions, but there is something big brewing under the surface that could up-end Roy’s carefully laid plan. The story unfolds from there…

“The Good Liar” is an excellent suspense drama! The movie is intriguing, suspenseful, engaging and fun to watch unfold. This is one of those movies where you think you have it all figured out and then something happens to destroy that theory.

Helen Mirren and Ian McKellen do not disappoint.

“The Good Liar” is definitely worth the price of admission.

This is a 4 Star Movie!!

Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw in AMC Dolby

Finally an entertaining movie!! I will admit I was a bit concerned when I first learned that the “Fast & Furious” Franchise was continuing. I tried to image what was coming next…
It’s great that they went back to the drawing board and figured out how to put out a new fresh installment/spin-off. I am a big fan of the “Fast & Furious” Franchise. I am glad they are back!!

This installment brings sworn enemies lawman Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson) and lawless outcast Shaw (Jason Statham) together when cyber-genetically enhanced anarchist Brixton (Idris Elba) gains control of an insidious bio-threat that could alter humanity forever. The usual bickering ensues between Hobbs & Shaw, but at the end of the day it’s all about saving the world and humanity. The story unfolds from there…

The movie has non-stop action, is extremely entertaining, funny at times and has some stupidly wild stunts. The kind of stunts that are “Don’t Try This at Home” type of stunts. The cinematography is fantastic!! Great camera angles put you right in the mix of the action. There is even some cool computer hacks. This is a good start to a “Fast & Furious” spin-off. I am sure we have not seen the last of Hobbs & Shaw.

This is a 4 Star Movie!!

Anna

Anna (Sasha Luss) is a beautiful woman who has many talents. She works as a model and receives assignments from the KGB and eventually from the CIA in the US. When Anna needs to be, she becomes a deadly government assassin and possesses deadly skills that any ordinary person coming in contact with her would not believe she possesses.

“Anna” was not on my original “Watch List” I found out about the movie a couple of weeks ago. There was very limited advertisements/trailers.

The movie is a wild ride!! You have to paid close attention because the back story is played out in different sections of the movie. You are shown something in the present and then taken back to how it came to be. Often, movie goers don’t like their movies to be shown this way. Once I saw what was happening, the back and forth did not bother me. There is a ton of action and suspense. It’s very bloody at times.

The Paid Critics did not like “Anna” at all. I personally do not think the movie was that bad, in fact I thought it was pretty good. It’s definitely NOT a 4 or 5 Star movie, but it’s passable.

This is a 2 1/2 Star Movie!!

Fate of the Furious: The IMAX Experience

“The Fast & Furious Franchise Lives On…”

I was actually stunned to hear that another installment of the “Fast & Furious” franchise was coming our way after the great sendoff that was given for Paul Walker during Furious 7. I thought it would be tough for the original cast to continue without him, but I guess I was wrong. It is really all about making “Dead Presidents”.

So here we are two years later and the original cast minus Paul Walker with about five new faces ventures into another realm. There is some very good casting although this installment moves further away from its roots.

The story starts off great with Toretto (Diesel) and Letty (Rodriguez) together doing their thing in Cuba living what appears to be a normal life. The rest of the team is no-where around. The peace that Toretto and Letty enjoy can only last so long. A new villain makes its way into Toretto’s life. This villain needs Toretto’s special driving skills to pull of some major international jobs. In order to get Toretto’s help, this villain has already procured something that is very precious to Toretto, so how can he refuse? The story unfolds from there…

In order to keep this franchise going there needed to be a fresh new story, with fresh new characters. On a very small scale this story is fresh with new characters, but on the larger scale it’s a “Been There, Done That” sort of story. Unfortunately Jordana Brewster did not reprise her role as “Mia”. She is one of the original cast members.

There is a ton of action, serious car chases, crashes and cool moves. The computer age is rampant in this movie as there are many high-tech maneuvers made and used. There is even some comedy relief. During the opening credits the music that plays is off the chain…

“Fate of the Furious” is a must see in IMAX. The camera angles, sound and the cinematography are excellent and you will feel like you are in the cars and planes riding right along with the gang.

The movie is not bad, it’s just not as fresh as it needs to be with an eighth installment.

“Fate of the Furious” is definitely worth a look.

I am almost sure there will be a ninth installment.

This is a 3 ½ Star Movie!

Collateral Beauty

“Collateral Beauty” is about an executive in a successful N.Y. Advertising Company who loses his six year old daughter. She dies unexpectedly and basically the executive never recovers. He totally retreats from day to day life. The other executives in the company spend an undisclosed amount of time trying to communicate with the executive. He totally ignores their calls, visits, emails, and letters.

The company decides they need to divest the executive of his shares in the company, they hire someone to watch him so that they can try to get evidence to show he’s unfit. The story unfolds from there…

“Collateral Beauty” starts off ok, but goes downhill quickly. It’s a colossal waste of some powerfully strong actors and actresses. Besides the main story there are several side stories that pop-up and take control, but are never completed. This causes the movie to appear and feel disjointed.

I had high hopes for “Collateral Beauty”, after all it is the holiday season and this is when the best movies make their appearances. Unfortunately there is no beauty in “Collateral Beauty”.

This is a 2 Star Movie!

Eye in the Sky

“Eye in the Sky” was not on my original “Watch List” and I did not know the movie existed until a couple of weeks ago, but WOW!! What a well-executed movie!!
“Eye in the Sky” is about the dealings and procedures that take place when a Drone Strike has been ordered. Everyone (Military, Political and Legal) evaluates and measures the possible collateral damage and loss of human life against the killing of identified international terrorists and suicide bombers. The story unfolds from there…

“Eye in the Sky” is an excellent movie. The suspense and Intrigue are “Off the Chain”!!

Helen Mirren as Col Katherine Powell was awesome!

There was never a dull moment throughout the movie. An excellent Drama that does produce some ambivalence at the end, but it goes with the territory.
I highly recommend “Eye in the Sky” for those who like Military films with Politics mixed in.

This is a 4 1/2 Star Movie!

Woman in Gold

Based on a true story; “Woman in Gold” is about a woman Maria (Mirren) who fled to America during the Nazi invasion of Vienna who now sixty years later is trying to get back valuable paintings and family possessions that were seized by the Nazi’s.

Maria employs the services of a young spunky lawyer Randy Schoenberg (Reynolds) who also has a family heritage in Vienna and Poland. Together they meet with continued opposition from the Austrian Establishment, but this does not deter them. Maria and Randy will take their fight all the way to the United States Supreme Court. The story unfolds from there…

“Woman in Gold” is a very moving and entertaining story. There are some holes left unfilled, but over-all it’s a pretty decent film. The injustices done by the Nazi’s are on full display. It’s a constant reminder of historical events that took place abroad.

“Woman in Gold is worth a look.

This is a 3 Star Movie!!

The Hundred-Foot Journey

A family of cooks from India is forced to flee their home land after tragedy strikes them. They make their way to England. They then travel to France to a small town where they find a place to live and eventually open a restaurant. What they don’t know is that the French Village they set up shop in is very close net, quaint and the best restaurant in town is owned and run by Madame Mallory (Helen Mirren). Everyone eats at Le Saule Pleureur.

The India natives purchase the property across the road (100 feet) from Le Saule Pleureur and Madame Mallory’s home. They turn the property into a restaurant known as Maison Mumbai. Once Madame Mallory gets wind of this she protests vehemently. The story unfolds from there…

“The Hundred-Foot Journey” is a very heart-warming, entertaining story. It’s based on the best-selling novel by Richard C. Morais. There is a few times where the story lags a bit, but the movie definitely has many finer points.

There are some wonderful views of the French Countryside. While “The Hundred-Foot Journey” wasn’t advertised very much, it’s definitely worth the ticket.

As a foot note: Steven Spielberg and Oprah Winfrey produced this movie.

This is a 3 1/2 Star Movie

Red 2

The 2011 sleeper hit “Red” follows up its success with a sequel.

Retired Black-ops CIA agent Frank Moses (Bruce Willis) reunites with his motley crew of elite operatives to chase down and recover a missing nuclear war head. This chase takes them to London, Russia (Moscow), France and of course the United States.

To find the missing warhead the team will have to battle a gang of relentless assassins who will stop at nothing to try and stop them from recovering the warhead. The story unfolds from there…

Unfortunately “Red 2” is not quite as interesting or entertaining as its predecessor. I was very sad to see that Morgan Freeman did not reprise his role from the first installment.

I found Helen Mirren to be as good in this installment as she was in the first. Any part of the movie that she is in is fun to watch. Unfortunately she is only in about 40% of the movie. Bruce Willis kicks the butt of men half his age with ease. He’s getting a bit too old to continue this pastime. Anthony Hopkins is a breath of fresh air, unfortunately his air comes a bit too late in the movie.

I found “Red 2” to be a bit stupid and boring.