Sully

Director Clint Eastwood

Genre Biography | Drama

Cast Tom Hanks, Anna Gunn, Aaron Eckhart, Sam Huntington

Rating PG-13

Release Date September 9th, 2016

“The story of Chesley Sullenberger, who became a hero after gliding his plane along the water in the Hudson River, saving all of his 155 passengers.”

Directed by the ageless and generally controversial Clint Eastwood, Sully is a drama based on true events. On January 15th 2009, Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger made an emergency landing in New York’s Hudson River after US Airways Flight 1549 struck a flock of geese. Known as the “miracle on the Hudson”, the film proves that much of the story remained a mystery to the general public. Sully stars Tom Hanks, Aaron Eckhart, Valerie Mahaffey, and Delphi Harrington.

Sully is a finely crafted drama, allowing viewers the opportunity to experience the miraculous story of a man that more than deserves to be called a hero. Director Clint Eastwood implements his unique ability as a storyteller, allowing the events to unfold in a way that feels real and heartfelt. To me the film felt similar to Flight starring Denzel Washington, mainly due to the humanistic focus of the story as well as the many layers involved in terms of the event itself. Although Flight lacks the important “based on true events” aspect, I can’t help but acknowledge the fact that it left more of a lasting impression comparatively. Nonetheless, Sully is a well-made film that tells a special story.

Sully delivers incredible acting from top to bottom which proves to be a crucial component to the overall impact of the film. Tom Hanks yet again proves how dynamic he is as an actor and he steps seamlessly into the shoes of Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger. It is obvious how closely Hanks worked with Sullenberger to ensure he had his mannerisms and overall behaviors mimicked perfectly. Aaron Eckhart is exceptional in his role as co-pilot Jeff Skiles. Although it may be easy for some to underrate Eckhart’s performance in terms of how significant it was to the success of the film, I feel that would be a mistake. The chemistry between Hanks and Eckhart is a thing of beauty, simple as that.

Sully has been held in high regards by critics for good reason. It is quite simply a film that should be experienced by anyone who can appreciate a story of heroism in the face of unimaginable adversity. Although it is very much a powerful story with more than enough reason to clap once the credits appear on screen, I still expected more of a hard hitting film considering the man behind the camera. Still, Sully serves as a notch in Eastwood and Hank’s cap and should not be missed. Recommended. 

Wiener-Dog

Director Todd Solondz

Genre Comedy

Cast Charlie Tahan, Greta Gerwig, Zosia Mamet, Danny DeVito

Rating R

Release Date June 24th, 2016

“A dachshund passes from oddball owner to oddball owner, whose radically dysfunctional lives are all impacted by the pooch.”

Wiener-Dog is a dark comedy directed by Todd Solondz, whom previously directed Happiness, Storytelling, and Dark Horse. The film is considered a comedy drama but falls more in the category of dark comedy. Wiener-Dog stars Keaton Nigel Cooke, Tracy Letts, Greta Gerwig, and Kieran Culkin (brother of Mr. Home Alone himself Macauley Culkin).

Director Todd Solondz must have stock in Zoloft and other antidepressant medications because after watching his latest film Wiener-Dog, you will need something with clinical strength to uplift your mood. I was warned that in order to enjoy the film you must have the ability to appreciate Solondz dark sense of humor and "unique" style as it relates to filmmaking. Much to my surprise, this proved to be a task I was unprepared for. I'm not sure what I expected the film to be like but this was far from anything I thought it would be. It was overly depressing, dry, and held a feeling of hopelessness throughout (thankfully it is only an hour and 30 minutes). If they decided to create a genre of film that was the opposite of coming-of-age, Wiener-Dog would fit right in. I am unfamiliar with any of Solondz previous work but I feel pretty good about skipping anything he has made in the past or anything he releases in the future. Do me a favor and look the guy up on IMDb, the look on his face in his profile picture screams "point me in the direction of the nearest building so that I can nose dive from the roof." I wish I was kidding. Actually I looked through a few more of his photos and this guy makes me feel very uncomfortable. 

I can't bash on the acting in Wiener-Dog because it was solid and by far the highlight of the film. The problem with that is the fact that the actors play such depressing roles you find it impossible to invest in any of them. You feel bad for them, which speaks to how effective the performances are. The film plays out in somewhat of a chapter format which seemingly tells various short stories, some of which are connected and others that aren’t at all. Danny DeVito is phenomenal as usual and I also really enjoyed the chemistry between Greta Gerwig and Kieran Culkin. If I was rating the acting alone I would say it deserves at least a B, maybe even a B+. 

The bottom line is simple, Wiener-Dog is very much an acquired taste somewhere along the lines of black licorice or Moxie (both if which I despise, especially black licorice), meaning that fans of the film will most likely be few and far between. I actually have a very high tolerance for films that stray from what we would consider normal or acceptable in society, but believe it or not I do have a line, and although it is rarely crossed, clearly it is possible. I would suggest avoiding this one unless you feel the need to walk around for a week with drooped shoulders and a very bleak outlook on life. After I finished it, I had no choice but to watch 2 ½ episodes of Spongebob Squarepants just to lighten my mood and allow myself a few hours of light unadulterated sleep.

Blair Witch

Director Adam Wingard

Genre Horror | Thriller

Cast James Allen McCune, Callie Hernandez, Corbin Reid, Brandon Scott

Rating R

Release Date September 16th, 2016

“After discovering a video showing what he believes to be his vanished sister Heather, James and a group of friends head to the forest believed to be inhabited by the Blair Witch.”

Blair Witch is a found footage style horror film directed by Adam Wingard, the man behind V/H/S 1 & 2, You’re Next, and The Guest. Although many of his films have remained fairly under the radar, he has proven a knack for producing quality horror films. It was entitled The Woods originally, and the fact that it would be a 3rd Blair Witch film wasn’t announced until only 2 months prior to release. In an effort to protect its secrecy the film was filmed in Vancouver, Canada as opposed to Burkittsville, Maryland where the original was filmed. According to IMDb, Blair Witch was in the filming process for over 5 years before anyone knew it was actually happening.

Blair Witch attempts to revitalize a sleeper hit that released nearly two decades ago, and although certain aspects of the film do make an impact, the final product falls short of expectations. Let’s face it, this film was fighting an uphill battle from the beginning. The 1999 film was a fresh idea and caught audiences by surprise, serving up many sleepless nights for those brave enough to see it in theaters.  The idea of a found footage film was simply unheard of, and because of that it felt incredibly authentic and therefore truly frightening. Fast forward to 2016 and audiences are essentially numb to the effects at this point. You really need a fresh idea in order to make it work, and I’m not sure many of those are still out there. Blair Witch does put its best foot forward, providing quality acting, and overall a very solid and sequel worthy premise. It just really isn’t all that scary, and needless to say when it comes to a horror movie, that is an issue.

The acting in Blair Witch was surprisingly good, all things considered. I mean generally horror films can skate by with average to below average acting, especially when it comes to found footage style films (The Gallows anyone?!). The two primary leads include James Allen McCune and Callie Hernandez. McCune previously held recurring roles on AMC’s The Walking Dead as well as the hit Showtime series Shameless.  Hernandez on the other hand is relatively unknown but seems to be getting more work now according to her IMDb page. Both played solid and convincing roles and most importantly keep the audience from shaking their heads at the Achilles heel of horror films, which is terrible acting. Kudos to them.

Blair Witch serves as a more than worthy sequel to the 1999 money printing machine of a film, and should at the very least erase the joke of an actual sequel that preceded it. It includes effective cinematography, above average acting (at least for a horror film), as well as a creepy and unpredictable feel throughout. Although I slept like a baby after I saw the Blair Witch, it could very well keep you up for a week. I feel like Adam Wingard's newest film is still worth checking out for horror fans, and considering all of the mixed reviews out there, you might as well try and make your own opinion this time around. 

Don't Breathe

Director Fede Alvarez

Genre Horror | Thriller

Cast Daniel Zovatto, Dylan Minnette, Jane Levy, Stephen Lang

Rating R

Release Date August 26th, 2016

“A trio of reckless thieves breaks into the house of a wealthy blind man, thinking they’ll get away with the perfect heist. They’re wrong.”

Don’t Breathe is an original thriller directed and co-written by Fede Alvarez, the man behind 2013’s Evil Dead. Originally called A Man in the Dark, the title Don’t Breathe wasn’t announced until its premiere at the SXSW film festival in 2016. The film stars Stephen Lang, Jane Levy, Dylan Minnette, and Daniel Zovatto.

Don’t Breathe is a tense white-knuckle thriller that will surely satisfy genre fans and anyone seeking a unique premise with an edge. After first viewing the trailer I categorized the film as sharing similarities with the Netflix original film Hush. Instead of a deaf girl living in the woods as the victim who proves to be much more resourceful than expected, Don’t Breathe introduces the audience to a blind military vet who starts as a victim and quickly develops into much, much more. The film is well-written and expertly acted, delivering a dark and gritty environment as immersive as it is unpredictable. The film’s biggest fault in my opinion is the overall believability of the premise, but at the end of the day, who can honestly disprove whether or not the events that unfold could actually take place? Granted the story is fiction, and is far from claiming that it is based on actual events, but still the strength and effectiveness of the film very well may live and die by the viewers ability to buy in. Far-fetched or not, I was certainly on the edge of my seat.

As I mentioned previously, Don’t Breathe benefits from top-notch acting that deserves to be recognized. We are first introduced to the characters played by Jane Levy (Shameless, Evil Dead) and Dylan Minnette (Prisoners, Goosebumps), and both plays their respective roles quite well. Levy and Minnette are tasked with playing characters with a fair amount of backstory, especially Levy, and they deliver believable and chemistry-driven performances. On the other end of the spectrum, veteran actor Stephen Lang delivers a chillingly effective performance as the blind man seemingly protecting his home and his belongings. Levy’s character quickly sheds its skin and reveals a dark side, made believable by his talent as an actor and ability to truly immerse himself into a role. With over 113 acting credits to his resume according to IMDb, Lang is most memorable to me for his role in 2009’s blockbuster film, Avatar. His role as Colonel Miles Quaritch really set the tone for the film and added a level of balance to the high-level CGI the film employed. Lang’s IMDb page shows that he is in pre-production for Avatar 2, 3, and 4, set to release in 2018, 2020, and 2022. Titanic director James Cameron loves his money.

Don’t Breathe accomplishes many things, most of which is the films ability to feel fresh and unique among a variety of disappointing 2016 releases. Although it really isn’t a horror film, it will still appeal to fans of the struggling genre. Regardless of the predisposed notions you may or may not have, Don’t Breathe brings enough to the table to warrant a trip to the theater and maybe even a Blu-ray purchase down the road. Recommended.

Hell or High Water

Director David Mackenzie

Genre Crime | Drama

Cast Chris Pine, Ben Foster, Jeff Bridges, Katy Mixon

Rating R

Release Date August 12th, 2016

“A divorced dad and his ex-con brother resort to a desperate scheme in order to save their family’s farm in West Texas.”

Hell or High Water is directed by David Mackenzie, his next project after directing 2013’s sleeper hit, Starred Up. The film is written by Taylor Sheridan who also wrote 2015’s cartel drama Sicario, his very first writing credit. As an actor just now transitioning into writing, fans of the FX series Sons of Anarchy would recognize him as Deputy Chief, David Hale. The crime drama has a very impressive cast including Chris Pine, Ben Foster, and Jeff Bridges.

Hell or High Water, a gritty heist drama set in West Texas, will leave a lasting impression and is easily one of the best films of 2016. It combines beautiful cinematography, incredible acting, and a uniquely engaging story. The film’s script serves as a character study of sorts, providing audiences an in-depth view of both sides of the law. The chemistry between Chris Pine and Ben Foster quickly develops into a bond only brothers could share, leaving little doubt as far as what they are willing to do for each other. The West Texas setting is absolutely picturesque considering the premise and overall message of the film. Director David Mackenzie and writer Taylor Sheridan (Sicario) click on another level and truly bring the story to life. I also really enjoyed the attention to detail shown by Mackenzie, with an accurate and often times very bleak portrayal of West Texas and its economic issues.

With Hell or High Water it's difficult to narrow down the greatest strength of the film, but acting is undoubtedly near the top of that list. The cast is absolutely incredible and I can't picture anyone else doing a better job. Ben Foster is a very talented actor but is easily the least known out of the leads in the film. He built a reputation as a loose cannon starting with Alpha Dog, right on through 3:10 to Yuma where he starred alongside Russel Crowe, and The Mechanic where he tussled with Jason Statham. Ain't Them Bodies Saints was an under the radar gem of his that truly showcased his skills. Foster is a fantastic actor and understands how to develop a character. The other two lead actors need no introduction, Chris Pine and Jeff Bridges. Pine and Bridges find themselves on opposite sides of the law but the two actors provide the perfect balance and undoubtedly bring out the best in each other.

Hell or High Water is one heck of an experience and should not be missed. I can’t wait to see it a second time so that I can really appreciate some of the smaller details I may have missed. Rarely does a film effectively deliver all aspects of great filmmaking, but when they do, the end result is something special. Audiences may be relatively in the dark as of right now when it comes to this little known gem, but come award season, Hell or High Water will be on everyone's radar. Highly recommended.

War Dogs

Director Todd Phillips

Genre Comedy | Drama

Cast Jonah Hill, Miles Teller, Ana de Armas, Jeff Pierre

Rating R

Release Date August 19th, 2016

“Based on the true story of two young men, David Packouz and Efraim Diveroli, who won a $300 million contract from the Pentagon to arm America’s allies in Afghanistan.”

Originally titled Arms and the Dudes, War Dogs is a comedy/drama based on real-life events. The film is directed by The Hangover director Todd Phillips, and serves as his first non-Hangover film since 2010’s Due Date. This is also his first drama. War Dogs stars Miles Teller, Jonah Hill, Ana De Armas, and Bradley Cooper. The film’s release has been met with a bit of controversy as the real life Efraim Diveroli (played by Jonah Hill) is suing pretty much everyone attached to the film for what he considers unauthorized use of his story. Sure buddy, good luck with that.

War Dogs is a uniquely inspired comedy drama that feels like a mix between Lord of War, The Wolf of Wall Street, and The Big Short. I really enjoyed the overall experience and felt that the film met my high expectations, which was no easy task. War Dogs is very much a comedy and the laughs come early and often, with both leads pulling their weight. I found myself laughing at scenes with little to no dialogue which made me feel a bit ridiculous, I suppose that is a good sign. The story is absolutely insane but somehow doesn’t feel far-fetched (it is based on actual events, so maybe that’s why?). My only real issue with the film would be the slower pace of the 2nd half compared to the hilarious and lively first half. I can’t complain too much considering we had to have a conclusion to the story, but the ride was so much damn fun.

I expected above average acting for War Dogs and the final product certainly delivered. Jonah Hill and Miles Teller have incredible chemistry together, making for a very successful yet unconventional bond. I am a huge fan of both actors and felt like they did a phenomenal job keeping the audience entertained and most importantly making sure the film was far from boring. Interestingly enough, Jonah Hill gained quite a bit of weight after losing 40lbs prior to his role in 22 Jump Street. It seemed he was putting on the weight for this role but come to find out the man he portrayed in the film is very much of average size. Very odd. The only thing that makes sense to me is the fact that Hill was more or less ridiculed by people saying that he was funnier when he was fat. Well he is certainly fat once again, and to be quite honest he does seem to be funnier as well.

War Dogs is a highly entertaining film that simply has a lot of good things going for it. Generally big-budget Hollywood films based on actual events are very “loosely” based, but from the research I have done this one seems to be pretty spot on aside from some of the usual exaggerations. I mean this is just a crazy story and I’m glad Todd Phillips stepped up and put it on the big-screen. If you are a fan of Todd Phillips, Jonah Hill, Miles Teller, or simply value quality entertainment that actual teaches you a few things, War Dogs is worth every penny.

Jason Bourne

Director Paul Greengrass

Genre Action | Thriller

Cast Matt Damon, Tommy Lee Jones, Alicia Vikander, Vincent Cassell

Rating PG-13

Release Date July 29th, 2016

“The CIA’s most dangerous former operative is drawn out of hiding to uncover more explosive truths about his past.”

Jason Bourne is directed by Paul Greengrass and is the 5th installment in the franchise, the 4th with Matt Damon in the lead role. 2012’s The Bourne Legacy starred Jeremy Renner and also included a different director. After getting hounded by fans since 2007’s The Bourne Ultimatum, Damon and Greengrass agreed to return for another film. Jason Bourne also stars Tommy Lee Jones, Alicia Vikander, and Vincent Cassell.

Jason Bourne attempts to reignite the franchise with the return of Matt Damon and Paul Greengrass and even though it is enjoyable, the homecoming feels a bit uninspired compared to previous entries. I wanted to love Jason Bourne, I really did. On one hand the film delivered to fans the finely crafted action they have become accustomed to, but didn’t break any new ground. I am a huge Bourne fan and prior to the release of Jason Bourne I actually picked up the Blu-ray collection of the previous films. Although Matt Damon found himself in incredible shape for the film considering his seasoned age of 45, somehow his character that would usually send a chill down the spine of anyone on the other end of his crosshairs, felt like just another guy. Jason Bourne was supposed to be that much more dangerous considering the plot of the new film, but it seemed that somewhere along the line he lost his edge.

Matt Damon is an amazing actor and I have enjoyed his films for years, dating all the way back to 1997’s Good Will Hunting. We were introduced to his iconic Jason Bourne character in 2002, and Damon never looked back. He took on the Bourne role effortlessly and epitomized the badass nature we have grown to love about Jason Bourne. The lack of success with this film shouldn't fall on Damon, I personally think it was a lack of creativity. They had all of the tools to work with and instead of a fireworks display of a film, they played it safe and basically shackled an iconic character that was primed for a return. My hope is that the fire still burns for Damon after this film and he comes back better than ever. I have said it before and I will say it again, Julia Stiles is a bad actress. She just is. Yes she did well in 10 Things I Hate About You, but similar to Kristen Stewart, I am pretty sure she was more or less playing herself. Tommy Lee Jones was great as usual but man did he look old, I guess that becomes inevitable when you’re pushing 70. Keep fighting Tommy!

Jason Bourne was an entertaining film but you can’t help but compare it to prior entries and when doing so it falls short. It felt tired and sluggish compared to the high-octane thrill ride we have become accustomed to. I commend the effort by Greengrass and Damon and like many other fans out there, I am pleased they made another film. I just really wish it were better. Jason Bourne did pretty well in the box office and I have heard a few rumblings that maybe another film is in the works. If that is in fact the case, bring back the character we all know and love, please!! Perhaps my expectations were too high and maybe I just need to see it for a second time. Either way, I will give it another try once it releases on Blu-ray to make my final judgment. For a well-written action/thriller you could do worse than Jason Bourne, just be sure to keep your expectations in check.