Showing posts with label Garrett Hedlund. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Garrett Hedlund. Show all posts
TRON Finds Itself Stuck Inside The Game
In the years since the original Tron, things have changed. Kevin Flynn (Jeff Bridges) has been missing for 20 years, and his son Sam (Garrett Hedlund) longs for the dad who told him stories or his legendary accomplishments. Sam has a mind of his own and marches to the beat of his own drummer. He has seen his dad’s company become solely interested in profits, with no regard for customers.
But when a mysterious page is received, yes I said page, Sam goes to investigate his dad’s office at the arcade. There he finds many mothballs, lots of vintage games, and his father’s office the way he left it. When Sam examines things a bit closer, he soon finds himself inside the programs that have been his father’s home.
Now Sam must join forces with his Father and find a way out of this world. His father has created so many of the programs around him, and some help, while others do not. Quorra (Olivia Wilde) is a program that is viciously loyal to her creator. She’ll do everything she can to protect Kevin and his son. But the other member of this equation is Clu, the younger version of Kevin who was with him and wanted to help him create the perfect environment. Who will reign victorious? Can Sam and his Father exit the game and continue with life?
This is a really tough film to talk about. I wanted this to be an amazing experience. I wanted to love every aspect of this go around with Tron. I wanted to walk out and tell my friends, get your tickets now. Unfortunately, none of what I wanted became reality.
While it was fun to see they “younger” Bridges, the sexy Olivia Wilde, the charismatic Michael Sheen and more, it just wasn’t enough. The action sequences were exciting when they were happening, there were too few occurrences in this slightly over 2 hour long film. Instead of keeping the pace hoping, there were many places where the film tried to get overly philosophical and dragged endlessly.
Tron isn’t awful; I guess I just expected more. Instead of breaking outside of the realm that contains it; TRON: Legacy finds itself stuck inside the game.
C / C-
TRON: Legacy
Walt Disney Pictures
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Cast: Jeff Bridges, Garrett Hedlund, Olivia Wilde, Michael Sheen, Bruce Boxleitner
Rating: PG for sequences of sci-fi action violence and brief mild language.
Runtime: 127 minutes.
READ MORE
In the years since the original Tron, things have changed. Kevin Flynn (Jeff Bridges) has been missing for 20 years, and his son Sam (Garrett Hedlund) longs for the dad who told him stories or his legendary accomplishments. Sam has a mind of his own and marches to the beat of his own drummer. He has seen his dad’s company become solely interested in profits, with no regard for customers.
But when a mysterious page is received, yes I said page, Sam goes to investigate his dad’s office at the arcade. There he finds many mothballs, lots of vintage games, and his father’s office the way he left it. When Sam examines things a bit closer, he soon finds himself inside the programs that have been his father’s home.
Now Sam must join forces with his Father and find a way out of this world. His father has created so many of the programs around him, and some help, while others do not. Quorra (Olivia Wilde) is a program that is viciously loyal to her creator. She’ll do everything she can to protect Kevin and his son. But the other member of this equation is Clu, the younger version of Kevin who was with him and wanted to help him create the perfect environment. Who will reign victorious? Can Sam and his Father exit the game and continue with life?
This is a really tough film to talk about. I wanted this to be an amazing experience. I wanted to love every aspect of this go around with Tron. I wanted to walk out and tell my friends, get your tickets now. Unfortunately, none of what I wanted became reality.
While it was fun to see they “younger” Bridges, the sexy Olivia Wilde, the charismatic Michael Sheen and more, it just wasn’t enough. The action sequences were exciting when they were happening, there were too few occurrences in this slightly over 2 hour long film. Instead of keeping the pace hoping, there were many places where the film tried to get overly philosophical and dragged endlessly.
Tron isn’t awful; I guess I just expected more. Instead of breaking outside of the realm that contains it; TRON: Legacy finds itself stuck inside the game.
C / C-
TRON: Legacy
Walt Disney Pictures
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Cast: Jeff Bridges, Garrett Hedlund, Olivia Wilde, Michael Sheen, Bruce Boxleitner
Rating: PG for sequences of sci-fi action violence and brief mild language.
Runtime: 127 minutes.
Not Quite Headliner Quality
Kelly Canter (Gwyneth Paltrow) is a country icon. She has sold out shows across the country and continues to be one of the most sought after tickets in country music. Currently, Kelly is spending time in a rehab center after a very public meltdown that cost her more than just some time off of her career.
While in rehab she meets a country singer of his own right. Beau (Garrett Hedlund) works at the rehab center during the day and plays the club scene at night. His relationship with Kelly seems to have grown during her time in the center, but when Kelly’s husband James (Tim McGraw) pulls her out of rehab early things change.
Kelly pleads with James to let Beau open for her on her “comeback” tour. Despite the fact that James is clued in to find the next “hot” young female talent, in this case Chlies Stanton (Leighton Meester); he finds a reason for Beau to join them and a purpose for him on the tour.
A tour that was supposed to showcase Kelly’s return to the limelight instead ends up with a bright light shining on every shortcoming in her life. From a marriage that lost most of the love that existed, to a misguided relationship, to a loss of confidence, Kelly sure isn’t ready for this return to the road, even if the road is ready for the return of Kelly.
Will Kelly be able to repair her career, her emotions, her relationship and her life? Or will this be another lyric to a future country sad song?
The music of this film is solid and enjoyable. Paltrow, Hedlund and Meester can sing. But unfortunately their accomplished acting talents don’t get put to the test in this film. Instead a film that seems to have large emotional weight built into the story that is laid before us, just scratches the surface of what could have been. Even the details that make up the basis for the tour seem haphazard and slipshod in the way they are glossed over.
While the back-story for Kelly holds so much promise, it never rises to the fore. We don’t even get a glimpse of Kelly’s meltdown. And with that, it is hard to view Kelly as the monster that took part in a heinous act that haunts everyone. Instead, because Paltrow is so likable, you just don’t feel the past.
The film just feels watered down, to the point where the emotion got lifted from the picture. Sure, I got emotionally attached to some things within the film, but they were limited at best.
I wanted more from Country Strong, there was some great musical performance that will make for a fun soundtrack. Instead of being a movie that headlines a weekend, this is simply another opening act.
C+
Country Strong
Screen Gems
Director: Shana Feste
Cast: Gwyneth Paltrow, Tim McGraw, Garrett Hedlund, Leighton Meester
Rating: PG-13 for thematic elements involving alcohol abuse and some sexual content.
Runtime: 112 minutes.
READ MORE
Kelly Canter (Gwyneth Paltrow) is a country icon. She has sold out shows across the country and continues to be one of the most sought after tickets in country music. Currently, Kelly is spending time in a rehab center after a very public meltdown that cost her more than just some time off of her career.
While in rehab she meets a country singer of his own right. Beau (Garrett Hedlund) works at the rehab center during the day and plays the club scene at night. His relationship with Kelly seems to have grown during her time in the center, but when Kelly’s husband James (Tim McGraw) pulls her out of rehab early things change.
Kelly pleads with James to let Beau open for her on her “comeback” tour. Despite the fact that James is clued in to find the next “hot” young female talent, in this case Chlies Stanton (Leighton Meester); he finds a reason for Beau to join them and a purpose for him on the tour.
A tour that was supposed to showcase Kelly’s return to the limelight instead ends up with a bright light shining on every shortcoming in her life. From a marriage that lost most of the love that existed, to a misguided relationship, to a loss of confidence, Kelly sure isn’t ready for this return to the road, even if the road is ready for the return of Kelly.
Will Kelly be able to repair her career, her emotions, her relationship and her life? Or will this be another lyric to a future country sad song?
The music of this film is solid and enjoyable. Paltrow, Hedlund and Meester can sing. But unfortunately their accomplished acting talents don’t get put to the test in this film. Instead a film that seems to have large emotional weight built into the story that is laid before us, just scratches the surface of what could have been. Even the details that make up the basis for the tour seem haphazard and slipshod in the way they are glossed over.
While the back-story for Kelly holds so much promise, it never rises to the fore. We don’t even get a glimpse of Kelly’s meltdown. And with that, it is hard to view Kelly as the monster that took part in a heinous act that haunts everyone. Instead, because Paltrow is so likable, you just don’t feel the past.
The film just feels watered down, to the point where the emotion got lifted from the picture. Sure, I got emotionally attached to some things within the film, but they were limited at best.
I wanted more from Country Strong, there was some great musical performance that will make for a fun soundtrack. Instead of being a movie that headlines a weekend, this is simply another opening act.
C+
Country Strong
Screen Gems
Director: Shana Feste
Cast: Gwyneth Paltrow, Tim McGraw, Garrett Hedlund, Leighton Meester
Rating: PG-13 for thematic elements involving alcohol abuse and some sexual content.
Runtime: 112 minutes.