Showing posts with label Gwyneth Paltrow. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Gwyneth Paltrow. Show all posts
Anthony Stark (Robert Downey, Jr.), whom the world knows is the hero Iron Man, issues a challenge to a terrorist known as the Mandarin (Ben Kingsley) and shortly after Stark's cliffside house is demolished by missiles. Another threat is posed by one Aldrich Killian (Guy Pearce), who has developed Extremis technology that gives human beings explosive and fiery super-powers that can easily get out of control. Are Killian and the Mandarin working together? The Mandarin in this movie is nothing like the character in the comics, but the business with Extremis was taken from relatively recent Iron Man stories. Iron Man 3 is entertaining [although non-comics fans may wonder what the hell is going on] and generally fast-paced, although it can be awfully talky at times. The action scenes are pretty well-orchestrated, and the two best scenes detail the attack on Stark's house and a knock-out sequence when Iron Man rescues eleven people who have been sucked out of an airplane [surely some of them would have died from terror?]. The climax has Iron Man and Iron Patriot (Don Cheadle) -- formerly known as War Machine -- rescuing the president and having a knock-down drag-out with a super-charged Killian. Iron Man 3 has a little too much humor and comes dangerously close to camp at times. Downey gets across the movie Stark's flippancy, but not much else. Guy Pearce steals the picture as Killian, easily giving the most impressive and intense performance. Don Cheadle is miscast, but Gwyneth Paltrow is fine as Stark's girlfriend and associate Pepper, and there are notable turns by Rebecca Hall as Myra Hansen, James Badge Dale as Savin [both associates of Killian's], and Ty Simpkins as little Harley, who helps Tony midway through the picture. Ben Kingsley is also good as the movie's rather weird reinterpretation of Iron Man's arch-enemy, the Mandarin. To read more about the comic book adventures of Iron Man, see The Silver Age of Comics.
Verdict: Iron Man fans may scratch their heads but otherwise enjoy this. ***.
Suits and Stark and Pepper Oh My!
This is the third summer to blast off with Iron Man and a 4th visit with Tony Stark (if you include last summer’s blockbuster The Avengers). And I’ve got good news; Iron Man 3 starts the summer off right yet again.
For this installment, Tony Stark is remembering choices he made in the past. You see he is now a one-woman man with Pepper (Gwyneth Paltrow), but that was not always the past. We open with a look back at his wilder days in 1999 as he meets the attractive and intelligent Maya (Rebecca Hall). She wants him for his wisdom and financial support of her endeavor; he has a variety of very different interests in her. Who knew that meeting from years earlier would have an impact on Tony yet today?
Fast forward to today. As Tony continues to tinker with the Iron Man suit, and variations on his designs, he is leading a much simpler life. Gone is the womanizing and party lifestyle. Instead he is worried about one thing above all Pepper.
The world is in a scary place at this point. There is a mad bomber that is going around and causing chaos. Stark has lunch with his friend Colonel James Rhodes (Don Cheadle)and learns that the War Machine has been “rebranded” as The Patriot (it plays better) AND The Mandarin (the character that has been behind the bombings has actually completed many more bombings than anyone knows about.
As the attacks get more severe, the media and even random people want to know what Tony Stark and Iron Man will do about this menace. After the question pushes Tony over the edge he issues a threat to this super criminal. Here’s my address, come and get me. But nothing can prepare him for the assault to come.
After hearing a knock on the door from the old friend Maya and an explosion in the living room of his palatial house, the chase is on.
While much of the country believes Tony Stark is gone he searches for answers and looks to help be the solution to the problem that is The Mandarin. But can he rise from the ashes or is this the end of Tony Stark and the end of Iron Man?
So this series has done an amazing job of launching the summer lately. Every visit with Iron Man and Tony Stark has been enjoyable, but to different levels. This time, I enjoyed my time in the theater, but I felt things were just sloppy. What does that mean, exactly? Well…let me tell you.
I liked getting Tony Stark back and Robert Downey Jr. is the perfect actor to play him, but this film felt like it didn’t know what to do with him all the time. Gone were most of the wild and wisecracking Stark moment (save for his time with the kid in the film), replaced by the kinder and gentler Stark.
Pepper’s (Paltrow)getting a lot of buzz in this one because she steps out a bit, but even then she seems a bit underutilized.
The Mandarin (Ben Kingsley) rocks and his character works on every level. But at times I felt that the other “bad” guys were just giant stereotypes and lacked depth.
And the ending of this film felt like they got to a certain length and just said…ok, we’re done and ended it with a whoosh. It felt like it needed a better climax. The third act, while visually cool at times, lacked heart and that special feeling. And the film as a whole was missing that hard driving soundtrack that blows your mind away and elevates the testosterone level.
Despite my gripes, let me say I enjoyed the film on a totally visceral level. I felt excited and a rush at many times in the film. I think it is a very solid summer film. I just expected more. This felt like one of those movies that was more style than substance. There were lots of “suits”, Tony Stark and Pepper Potts but oh my how it just sloppy in the execution. But I'm sheep...I'll still watch it again and again and again.... :-)
B
Iron Man 3
Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Director: Shane Black
Cast: Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle, Guy Peace, Rebecca Hall, Jon Favreau, Ben Kingsley
Rating: PG-13 for sequences of intense sci-fi action and violence throughout, and brief suggestive content.
Runtime: 2 hours 10 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.
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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.