Gravity

DRAMA, SCI-FI/FANTASY

Weightless

8.0 out of 10 | Movie or DVD

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Rated: PG-13 Intense perilous sequences, some disturbing images and brief strong language
Release Date: October 4, 2013
Runtime: 1 hour 31 minutes

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Director: Alfonso Cuaron
Writers: Alfonso Cuaron, Jonas Cuaron
Cast: Sandra Bullock, George Clooney, Ed harris, Orto Ignatiussen 

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SYNOPSIS:  A medical engineer and an astronaut work together to survive after an accident leaves them adrift in space.

REVIEW: Alfonso Cuaron, director of Children of Men and Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, writes a tale with co-writer Jonas Cuaron about the vastness of space and the perils of being alone. 

Aningaaq (Orto Ignatiussen) Above Mother Earth in the near reaches of space mission specialist Ryan Stone (Sandra Bullock, The Heat) and space shuttle commander Matt Kowalski (George Clooney, The Descendants) work on replacing and updating components to the Hubble telescope. When Mission Control (Ed Harris, Pain and Gain) relays to the space shuttle Explorer that the Russians had sent a missile against one of their own spy satellites, raising concerns that debris from the explosion may interfere with their mission. When the debris destroys other satellites, more debris causes the threat to becomes critically imminent. Stone is blown off the telescoping arm of the space shuttle. The commander must save Stone and come up with a way to make their way to the International Space Station in order to use one of their escape pods. Fighting against time and a constant barrage of streaking metal, the pair must do everything they can do to survive.

Gravity is a beautifully crafted film, with stunning special-effects, dazzling cinematic shots and a intriguing story. Shown in IMAX 3-D, the film leaps off the silver screen as man rages against the heavens and the advances of his own technology. Alternating between human insignificance, the vastness of space and a claustrophobic confines due to technology, Gravity is true to its namesake as the situation soon becomes untenable for the mission specialist and commander. Every nut, bolt and solar panel is gorgeously rendered and destroyed in grand fashion - as satellites and space stations collide in an ever decreasing trajectory. Not is seam or air hatch is out of place.

Coupled with astounding special-effects and beautiful camerawork, Gravity has a simple but elegant storyline. Similar to run Howard's Apollo 13 with Tom Hanks and Kevin Bacon, Gravity has the impossible task of returning humans back from the stars. Every movements is an efforts, every decision critical and with consequence. With Bullock's Ryan Stone, there seems to be an endless list of improbable tasks to complete in order to space walk one step closer to earth.

George Clooney and Sandra Bullock, along with the voice of Ed Harris, seem to be the only distracting spot for me in this film. While both are phenomenal actors, their sheer star power are a detriment. As beautifully crafted a story as Gravity is, Alfonso Cuaron could have cast lesser-known talent for as good a result. Both do their best, but they both fall into familiar trappings.
Gravity is a fast-paced and beautiful film, tied in with an intense story of survival. Cuaron does use some symbolic cinematography to represent life and rebirth, but most of the story is straight on drama and gripping action. Gravity may be a simple tale without all the summer blockbuster formula, but it does prove that sometimes mans pursuit to the heavens should be left to the gods.

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Pain and Gain

ACTION/ADVENTURE, COMEDY

Bigger Than Yours

8.0 out of 10 | Movie or DVD

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Rated: R Language throughout, bloody violence, drug  use, crude sexual content and nudity
Release Date: April 26, 2013
Runtime: 2 hours 9 minutes

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Director: Michael Bay
Writers: Christopher Markus, Stephen McFeely, Pete Collins
Cast: Mark Wahlberg, Dwayne Johnson, Anthony Mackey, Tony Shalhoub, Ed Harris, Rob Corddry, Ken Jeong, Rebel Wilson, Mindy Robinson

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SYNOPSIS:  A trio of bodybuilders in Florida get caught up in an extortion ring and a kidnapping scheme that goes terribly wrong.

REVIEW: Director Michael Bay made his mark on Hollywood with his adrenalized actioners Bad Boys, Pearl Harbor, and The Transformers franchise. He takes a break from robots in disguise to return to something more terrestrial. The true story is adapted to the big screen by Captain America and The Chronicles of Narnia series writers Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely, and new writer Pete Collins.

Daniel Lugo (Mark Walhberg, Broken City) has a dream. He is a body builder trainer with ideas of being the best he can be. He's a do-or not a don't-er. After going to a self-help seminar led by Johnny Wu (Ken Jeong, The Muppets), Daniel gets it in his head to target one of the gym's wealthy clients, Victor Crenshaw (Tony Shalhoub, Monk), and take his house and money. A three-man job, in his opinion, Daniel enlists the help of fellow trainer Adrian Doorbal (Anthony Mackie, Gangster Squad) to help. Needing one more man, they approach ex-convict muscle head named Paul Doyle (Dwayne Johnson, G.I. Joe: Retaliation). Looking to have Crenshaw sign over his property and bank accounts, the trio end up being bumbling idiots and unable to get the kidnapping for the transfers done right the first time around. When Crenshaw somehow survives the experience the cops do not believe his story and Daniel, Paul and Adrian hunt Crenshaw down again. Crenshaw goes to the Yellow Pages to find former Miami cop and former private detective Ed Du Bois (Ed Harris, Man on a Ledge) to take his case. When Daniel, Paul and Adrian start living the big life off the money they stole from Crenshaw, their living in excess has its costs and forces them to plan another job, thus allowing the Miami-Dade police department to close in.

Michael Bay returns to the directors chair to leave behind giant robots and alien invasions. This time, he focuses on an unfortunate true story that seems almost as unbelievable. Michael Bay was the originator of the slo-mo hero walk and overly stylistic cinematography. In this effort he adds in some Tarantino-esque edit stop shots and on-screen labels to add to the story. With the added elements, it  shows that the director is expanding his palette a little bit.

Mark Wahlberg, Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson, and Anthony Mackie devoted their bodies to fitness for the making of this film - and it shows. Each of them normally have great physiques but they completely bulked up for these roles. Wahlberg is thick, Johnson has no neck, and Mackie looks almost unrecognizable (except for his mug). The trio is so big there costars Tony Shalhoub and Ed Harris look utterly puny in comparison.

Wahlberg knows his way around both drama action and comedy. Pain and Gain is right up Mark alley. Anthony Mackie adds in his own style, and The Rock plays against type as a coke-snorting, Jesus-finding ex-con. These guys makes for a modern day Three Stooges criminal disorganized ring. One would like to believe that Americans aren't this stupid, but since it is based on true story I guess anything is possible.

Coming in at two hours and eight minutes this film is long, but he keeps moving. Michael Bay changes narrative perspectives, by letting each of the main characters have their own voice over. Switching perspectives keeps everybody involved in the plot line and keeps the story moving. It also helps that all the characters are just fun to watch.

The success of Pain and Gain comes in the fact of its ridiculousness. Wahlberg is a master of the straight man with absurd dialogue and monster stunts without cracking a smile. The film is a series of misdeeds and misadventures on a scale larger then Dwayne Johnson's biceps.

Filled with laughs, a degree of cat and mouse antics, and some Oceans 11 style planning, Pain and Gain will make you laugh and will make you cringe. This film is never better then when Mark Wahlberg and his cronies are at their worst.

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Man On A Ledge

On The Edge

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Rated: PG-13  Violence and brief strong language
Release Date: January 27, 2012
Runtime: 1 hr 42 min

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Director: Asger Leth

Writers: Pablo F. Fenjves
Cast: Sam Worthington, Elizabeth Banks, Jamie Bell, Anthony Mackie, Edward Burns, Ed Harris

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SYNOPSIS: Ex-cop turned escaped con stands on the ledge of a Manhattan hotel claiming his innocence for the crime he was imprisoned. But while a police psychologist tries to talk him off the ledge, his stunt may only be a distraction for a bigger crime.

REVIEW: Asger Leth, director of the documentary Ghosts of Cité Soleil, takes a stab at the mainstream with Sam Worthington (Avatar) and Ed Harris (Appaloosa) with a high stepping suspense thriller from TV movie writer Pablo F. Fenjves (Trophy Wife). Can both writer and director make a successful flick without slipping off the edge? Let's find out.

Cop Nick Cassidy (Sam Worthington, The Debt) on a moonlight assignment for real estate mogul David Englander (Ed Harris, National Treasure: Book of Secrets) is accused of stealing Englander's 40 million dollar diamond and sentenced to twenty five years in prison. Even with help from his former partner Mike Ackerman (Anthony Mackie, Real Steel), Nick has run out of appeals. But when his father passes away, he is given opportunity to attend the funeral and takes the opportunity to make a daring break from the guards. Cassidy makes his way to the 21st floor of the Roosevelt Hotel on 45th Street and Madison Avenue, eats a large meal, and steps out onto the building's ledge to wait for the police and media to arrive. Asking specifically for Lydia Mercer (Elizabeth Banks, The Next Three Days) as the negotiator, Cassidy strings the cops and the gathering crowd along while a more calculated plan is set into motion.

From the trailers you might get the idea that Man on a Ledge is similar to Colin Ferrell's Phone Booth, focused on a solitary man in a limited venue trying to affect change. But where Ferrell's film was a psychological thriller where he was placed in stationary peril - a phone booth - at the whim of a calculating psychopathic killer, Sam Worthington becomes the Man on a Ledge by his own volition to clear his name of the crimes he was accused and convicted of. The tension is still present as Nick Cassidy puts his life in jeopardy with the soles of his shoes hanging off the stone ledge.

Part police drama, part heist film, Man on a Ledge breaks up the singular story of Nick Cassidy with flashbacks from his time in prison and his escape from confinement. Also in the mix are Nick's brother Joey (Jamie Bell, The Eagle) and his sassy girlfriend Angie (Genesis Rodriguez). Lydia Mercer, fresh off a failed jumper save of a rookie cop, must face a disapproving squad, fellow negotiator Jack Dougherty (Edward Burns, 27 Dresses) and commander Dante Marcus (Titus Welliver, The Town) as she attempts to bring Cassidy in from the edge. David Englander rules with a iron real estate fist as he deals with zoning committees, investment meetings, and men looking to jump off a building accused of stealing the diamond he so prized. Lastly, a opportunistic reporter Suzie Morales (Kyra Sedgwick, Gamer) distills the play-by-play of the neck-craning events to all who will watch.

Worthington is committed to the role, muttering up enough piercing stares, slipping gasps, and furrowed-brow scowls to work throughout the film. Banks' performance is serviceable, but she just doesn't click with Worthington as well as she does with Edward Burns. Bell and Rodriguez, on the other hand, work and play well together as Joey and Angie argue and weave their way through Nick's master plan. Ed Harris is a worthy adversary as the mogul Englander but doesn't get nearly enough screen time to be effective.

Man on a Ledge aspires to be a lofty suspenseful action drama. The elements are all in place, whether suspended by nylon ropes, perched on the edge of the wind against the side of a building, or smashing gift watches against the wall behind the presenter's head. The problem with an aspiration of a film is that sometimes you lose your footing and tumble over the edge. i look forward, instead, to Sam Worthington Wrath of the Titans. 

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WORTH: Rental