Showing posts with label Martin Sheen. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Martin Sheen. Show all posts
The Double Keeps You Guessing
Cassius has been one of the most elite Russian spies American has known. He has ruled over the Russian forces with an iron fist and remained secretive to American intelligence sources. One man, Paul Shepherdson (Richard Gere), has been closer than any American operative. He has tracked this man in his former career with the CIA, so it is understandable that he is brought back from retirement when evidence mounts that the spy has resurfaced.
He’s paired with a young FBI agent that thinks he understands the mind of Cassius named Ben Geary (Topher Grace). Ben is someone who has risen to his rank with his theories and research on the elusive Russian. Together they will try to stop Cassius before he carries out his mission, whatever it may be. Why has Cassius resurfaced? What does he have planned for his next mission and can Ben and Paul stop him in time.The Double is a solid little film, for the most part. It deals in some cliché at time, but overall tends to work with the pairing of the young buck (Grace) with the wily veteran (Gere). Though the feeling here for me is Grace is coming harder at his role than Gere, and that is what makes this a notch below what you expect from a film like this.
I love Odette Annable and just wish she could be used more in films, but both she and Martin Sheen take a back seat to Gere and Grace.
Twists abound and some aren’t as obvious as others, but this is still an enjoyable little ride. Somewhat formula, but a decent ride nonetheless. How much of what I’m saying is true though, hmmmm, I can’t be a double agent…gotta say what I believe. But; The Double will have you guessing until the end.
C+
The Double
Universal Pictures
Director: Michael Brandt
Cast: Richard Gere, Topher Grace, Martin Sheen, Odette Annable
Rating: PG-13 for intense sequences of action and violence, some disturbing images and language.
Runtime: 1 hour 38 minutes
What Will They Sling Next?
When the reboot of the Spider-Man franchise was announced, I like many folks was skeptical of the outcome. But color me pleasantly surprised that the reimagining of a classic story actually works.Peter Parker (Andrew Garfield) is a college student that is smart and involved. Taking pictures and documenting high school life as it happens leads him to make some friends, and other “enemies”. He has always been attracted to the exciting Gwen Stacy (Emma Stone). Gwen is one of those girls that has it all. She’s not only attractive but intelligent to boot.
Parker’s dad had left him when he was young with his Aunt May (Sally Field) and Uncle Ben (Martin Sheen). When he is looking deeper to find out what happened to his dad he is drawn to Dr. Curt Connors (Rhys Ifans). Connors was a friend of his father and Parker finds a way to get close to him. Gwen happens to be his assistant and Peter and Gwen are able to get close.
So without going into much more on the plot at this point…Peter’s bitten by a spider, and love. Gwen’s bitten by love. And the city is bitten by a giant lizard. Oh and let me mention that Denis Leary is a police chief that doesn’t like Spider-Man, even though he is trying to help. Now will Spider-Man save the city? Will he get together with Gwen? And just who is this “lizard” character?
Everyone will compare this film to the Sam Raimi effort as they are so close together and telling the same story. But let’s take a minute and just look at this film. Andrew Garfield is well cast in the Spider-Man role. When he puts on the mask, his voice fits what I imagine in my head for Spider-Man. The dialogue is snappy and you can’t wait for the next thing to come out of his mouth.
Garfield shares the screen with the lovely Emma Stone. The only problem I had with Stone’s performance was I didn’t totally buy her in high school. Maybe it’s the grown up student from Easy A, but I always saw her as older than what she was playing. That said the chemistry between Garfield and Stone works magically.
Because we are dealing more with the origin story, the action was a bit lacking for a good part of the movie. But never fear fans, that action does get made up for as we progress through the movie.
Overall, I was caught in the web that Spider-Man cast. I’m a fan of the genre, I’m a fan of Spidey and I’m a fan of Marc Webb. I can’t wait to see what they’ll sling at us next.
B
Columbia Pictures
Director: Marc Webb
Cast: Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Rhys Ifans, Denis Leary, Martin Sheen, Sally Field
Rating: PG-13 for sequences of action and violence.
Runtime: 2 hours 16 minutes
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| Hal Holbrook and Martin Sheen |
Contractor Doug Salter (Hal Holbrook) has divorced his wife and is in a relationship with musician Gary McClain (Martin Sheen). When his teenage son, Nick (Scott Jacoby) comes for a visit, he has to deal -- although he doesn't want to -- with the boy's eventual realization of his father's sexual orientation. This was the first made-for-TV movie to deal fairly positively with the subject of gay relationships. The focus is perhaps more on the father-son relationship than it is with the lovers, although they are portrayed as normal human beings and not losers or freaks. It is likely that Broadcast Standards and Practices (the TV censors of the time) probably imposed a speech in which Doug wonders if homosexuality is a "sickness" and says "if I had a choice it's not what I would choose for myself." In spite of this, the gay relationship is in no way presented as being abnormal, and it is made clear that Doug is much more conservative than the younger and more liberated Gary. The entire cast gives excellent performances, including Hope Lange [Peyton Place] as Doug's ex-wife; Jan Shepard [Attack of the Giant Leeches] as Gary's sister; Joe Don Baker [Criminal Law] as his brother-in-law; and Marlyn Mason as a client of Doug's who has romantic feelings for him.
Verdict: Whatever its flaws -- and it has them -- this frank, mostly intelligent film was certainly a step in the right direction. ***.