I will admit up front that I don’t care about basketball or Nike and this movie didn’t convince me otherwise. Why? Because there’s a reverence to the story that makes it almost unbearably smug. “Tetris” which came out the same day has a similar plot and same sad sack hero that the movie tells us we have to be invested in because we already know the outcome. But “Tertris” had style (maybe too much) which “Air” lacks.
And yet two…
I thought the first Shazam was a breath of fresh air with its light and goofy tone. Unfortunately, that tone is the sequel’s downfall. The kids were immensely more interesting than their superhero counterparts. Zachary Levi was especially disappointing.
That said, Helen Mirren rocks. She can do anything including not even flinching when someone mentions “The Fast and the Furious” franchise.
Taste the rainbow? Thy flavor is unimaginative.
That said, much better than “Black Adam.” Low bar, but still worth mentioning.
This is a slow burn thriller about a crime nobody wants to take responsibility for. Eddie Redmayne used to be one of my least favorite actors for a while but with the appearance of Rami Malik, I’ve grown to like (or at least accept) Eddie even when he’s in creepy mode.
But the heart of the film is Jessica Chastain and she is doing subtle, quiet acting here, which is a tonic after so many over the top (although enjoyable) roles. And hoping Nnamdi Asomugha will start getting bigger parts after his good work here
I have no idea why this movie affected me so. The set-up is obvious, the situation is predictable and the resolution is just plain manipulative. And yet. And yet, I found Tom Hanks’ commitment to the role so convincing and relatable (as much as a curmudgeon can be).
Although nepotism abound, I found Hanks’ son as the younger Otto and his wife’s song both effective.
The film is corny as all heck, and yet it was immensely watchable.
Full review here.
