Showing posts with label Blake Lively. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Blake Lively. Show all posts
A Town Like No Other
Doug MacRay (Ben Affleck) has a checkered past. As a resident of Charlestown he is in the area with the most bank and armored car robberies in the United States. In this Boston neighborhood, robberies are a way of life for many residents, handed down through generations.
MacRay is following in his dad’s (Chris Cooper) footsteps. He is leading his own crew to intricately timed and precision executed robberies. His best friend James Coughlin (Jeremy Renner) stands by his side and has his back no matter the circumstance. When a job leaves some loose ends, Doug goes to solve the problem so Coughlin doesn’t endanger his own well being.
But things don’t always work out the way you might plan. FBI Agent Frawley (Jon Hamm) is on the gang’s trail, and will use all of his well placed sources to find them. Putting these bad guys away is his goal, and he will pull out all of the stops to succeed.
Will anyone survive this ride?
It has always been said; do what you know. There is no question Ben Affleck knows Boston and this film, along with Gone Baby Gone have proven that point. Affleck makes Boston an additional character in his film. It becomes a character with real faults and real problems. Affleck also knows how to surround himself with good actors and get every ounce of performance out of them.
Jeremy Renner has emerged as a solid working actor that you can count on to deliver. And deliver he does. He makes you love Coughlin gor his devotion to a friend, but makes you despise him for so many other reasons. And Jon Hamm emerges as a force to be reckoned with on the big screen as well as his current prowess on the small screen.
If not for a small clunky sequence for me, this would be a near perfect popular heist film. It’s got everything; action, romance, violence, nudity, innuendo, drugs and so much more. A throwback to films gone by, The Town is an impressive look inside a subculture in a classic American city. I’d love to be on the right side of this town.
B+
The Town
Warner Brothers Pictures
Director: Ben Affleck
Cast: Ben Affleck, Rebecca Hall, Jon Hamm, Jeremy Renner, Blake Lively
Rating: R for strong violence, pervasive language, some sexuality and drug use.
Runtime: 125 minutes.
READ MORE
Doug MacRay (Ben Affleck) has a checkered past. As a resident of Charlestown he is in the area with the most bank and armored car robberies in the United States. In this Boston neighborhood, robberies are a way of life for many residents, handed down through generations.
MacRay is following in his dad’s (Chris Cooper) footsteps. He is leading his own crew to intricately timed and precision executed robberies. His best friend James Coughlin (Jeremy Renner) stands by his side and has his back no matter the circumstance. When a job leaves some loose ends, Doug goes to solve the problem so Coughlin doesn’t endanger his own well being.
But things don’t always work out the way you might plan. FBI Agent Frawley (Jon Hamm) is on the gang’s trail, and will use all of his well placed sources to find them. Putting these bad guys away is his goal, and he will pull out all of the stops to succeed.
Will anyone survive this ride?
It has always been said; do what you know. There is no question Ben Affleck knows Boston and this film, along with Gone Baby Gone have proven that point. Affleck makes Boston an additional character in his film. It becomes a character with real faults and real problems. Affleck also knows how to surround himself with good actors and get every ounce of performance out of them.
Jeremy Renner has emerged as a solid working actor that you can count on to deliver. And deliver he does. He makes you love Coughlin gor his devotion to a friend, but makes you despise him for so many other reasons. And Jon Hamm emerges as a force to be reckoned with on the big screen as well as his current prowess on the small screen.
If not for a small clunky sequence for me, this would be a near perfect popular heist film. It’s got everything; action, romance, violence, nudity, innuendo, drugs and so much more. A throwback to films gone by, The Town is an impressive look inside a subculture in a classic American city. I’d love to be on the right side of this town.
B+
The Town
Warner Brothers Pictures
Director: Ben Affleck
Cast: Ben Affleck, Rebecca Hall, Jon Hamm, Jeremy Renner, Blake Lively
Rating: R for strong violence, pervasive language, some sexuality and drug use.
Runtime: 125 minutes.
A Savage Assault On The Screen
Cast some great looking young actors like Kitsch and Lively alongside true pros like Del Toro, Travolta and Hayek and it seems like a winning combination. From an acting perspective it almost works.
But when the film gets hung up on trying to be too cool, it falls flat. A stylish swipe at the ending of the film just gets muddled and almost laughable. An attempt to work too many characters into the intricate plot means too many quality performances are left with unsatisfying ends. And the violence, yes the ENDLESS violence proves to be too much to take before the film reaches its climax.
READ MORE
Ben (Taylor Kitsch) and Chon (Aaron Johnson) have the number one pot business on the west coast. In fact their weed is thought of as some of the best in the world. As business partners Ben is the muscle, while Chon is the businessman and business is good. But playtime is also good with O (Blake Lively)in their lives. There is an open relationship between the three. Everyone loves each other but their lives are about to get turned upside down.
As if ripped from the headlines, a Mexican cartel wants in on the best action on the coast. That cartel, headed by the mysterious Elena (Salma Hayek)is about to look for their piece of the pie. They know that their method of pure evil force will win most people over, but Chon and Ben are not most people.
As the cartel takes O, Ben and Chon start to come around. Now will they sell the business they worked hard to create or make a run for it? The extremely bloody truth is, no one really knows how to deal with savages.
Oliver Stone gives us a film that feels ripped from the headlines. Mexican cartels that use violence and brute force to get what they want and a drug that could one day be legal, but now is a cash cow for those that have the best of the bunch create a truly fascinating plot for the film.
Cast some great looking young actors like Kitsch and Lively alongside true pros like Del Toro, Travolta and Hayek and it seems like a winning combination. From an acting perspective it almost works.
But when the film gets hung up on trying to be too cool, it falls flat. A stylish swipe at the ending of the film just gets muddled and almost laughable. An attempt to work too many characters into the intricate plot means too many quality performances are left with unsatisfying ends. And the violence, yes the ENDLESS violence proves to be too much to take before the film reaches its climax.
While there is a true discussion to be had here, it felt like a first time director with the reins instead of the veteran stone. Unfortunately Savages somewhat savaged the plot and the viewer is left to sort out the carnage. It simply results in a savage assault on the screen.
B-/C+
Universal Pictures
Director: Oliver Stone
Cast: Blake Lively, Taylor Kitsch, Aaron Johnson, Benicio Del Toro, Demian Bichir, Salma Hayek, John Travolta
Rating: R for strong brutal and grisly violence, some graphic sexuality, nudity, drug use and language throughout.
Runtime: 2 hours 10 minutes
He’s Green, He’s Ripped, He’s Ryan Reynolds
Super heroes, there have been a number of films about these individuals that rise above and battle the forces of evil. Now it’s the Green Lantern’s turn.
Hal Jordan (Ryan Reynolds) knows how to fly planes, fast. He seems fearless when he is in the sky doing his job. His fearlessness is why he’s in the air with ex-Carol Ferris (Blake Lively) for a big military test. But this test will expose the fact that maybe Hal isn’t as fearless as everyone thinks.
Meanwhile, back in another part of the universe, we are introduced to the Green Lanterns, protectors of us all. But there is a dark force that is trying to eliminate the lanterns and capture the strength of all of humanity.
When one of those guardians is ready to pass on, he heads to the nearest inhabited planet, Earth, to have the ring choose the next lantern.
The ring has a power that knows who is best suited for a job where you need to be fearless and guard the universe against evil. In this case the ring chooses Hal and he is whisked away to see his future.
Now Hal must not only adapt to these newfound powers, but also understand that much of the safety of his home will be his responsibility. Possessing the powers of the ring is just the beginning. Will he be able to conquer his inner fears and get the girl?
I love super heroes. I really do. But let me get this out there right off the bat so there is no confusion in what I’m about to say. This is NOT a good movie, BUT it IS fun!
Ok, let me explain. This is a comic book film; I’m ok with it taking some liberties with my sensible nature. That said, there are so many times where I found myself scratching my head, wondering how Hal knew where to go in deep space and how to get there. Plot holes and story holes that had me just wondering who put the film together dot this effort. Everything I look for in a good film was missing.
That said, I also found myself actually enjoying the 3D treatment that was before me. This was one of few films that just felt right from a 3D perspective. And just watching the crazy action had me smiling. I enjoyed myself amidst the muck that was packaged in the film.
It’s crazy, there are moments where Ryan Reynolds tries out his new look that are just fun and smile inducing. In fact Reynolds OWNS the green suit; I have no problem admitting that. Then there are moments as the story bounces all over the map that are cringe inducing.
What does that mean for me? Well the grade is average; but I’m sure I’m not going to pass this by if it’s showing on a premium channel or when it pops on Blu-Ray (which I expect to be pretty amazing). I’m sure there is a lot of green in the future, and I could actually see a sequel getting better (gasp, did I really say sequel?) but this effort doesn’t run rings around the competition. Bottom line, he’s green, he’s ripped and he’s Ryan Reynolds. And that will be enough for some to see this film, but if they keep going, I need more.
C
Warner Brothers Pictures
Director: Martin Campbell
Cast: Ryan Reynolds, Blake Lively, Peter Sarsgaard, Tim Robbins
Rating: PG-13 for intense sequences of sci-fi violence and action.
Runtime: 1 hour 45 minutes