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Showing posts with label Ron Howard. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ron Howard. Show all posts

Sunday, May 27, 2018

Cindy Prascik's Review of Solo: A Star Wars Story







































Dearest Blog: Yesterday it was off to Marquee Cinemas for a trip back in time with Han Solo.
 
Spoiler level here will be mild, nothing you wouldn't know from the trailers or that our leading man hasn't spoiled in an interview. (Non plot-related!)
 
A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, a cheeky kid from the wrong side of the universal tracks sets out for something better.
 
Dear reader(s), I must warn you that Memorial Day puts me in an odd frame of mind, so my experience with Solo: A Star Wars story will have been colored by that, as, undoubtedly, will this review. Please excuse if it's all a bit scattered.
 
I liked this movie. I didn't love it--I might have loved it on a different day--but I did like it a great deal. It's a perfectly fun outing that would be accepted as such if only it weren't part of this legendary franchise. BUT...it's a Star Wars movie, so the Internet has to beat the hell out of it because that's what the Internet does. Don't listen to the Internet, kids. 
 
Alden Ehrenreich is terrific, and the world owes him an apology for the bashing he took upon being cast in this iconic role. I know it can be hard for die-hard fans to accept a new face on a favorite character, but all timeless characters ultimately are likely to be portrayed by someone who isn't the actor we grew up with, and we're just going to have to get over it. Ehrenreich has charisma to spare, and fills Harrison Ford's boots quite admirably. For whatever it's worth, I also think he has just the right status to take on a role like this; he's done enough that people will have an idea what he can do (if they've been paying attention), but he isn't saddled with a past role or career that would have brought too much baggage with it. Emilia Clarke further cements her genre legacy, joining yet another franchise that guarantees her a convention living even if she never scores another acting role. As expected, though, the real scene-stealer is Donald Glover as a young Lando Calrissian. Glover is deservedly the current "it" performer across pretty much all media, and I think I speak for the majority when I say, if someone wants to make a Lando Calrissian movie with Glover, we are down with that.
 
A handful of negatives: Solo is too long by a good 20-30 minutes, most of which easily could have been rectified by trimming the inter-galactic chase scenes. It's like Fast & Furious in space, and, while those scenes are consequential, they seldom need to be as long as they are in ANY movie, out in space or here on good ol' planet Earth. The picture comes out of the gate running, but the first act still seems painfully dull. It also tries too hard to present any Han Solo-related incident that's been referenced in any Star Wars movie, ever. New characters seem insistent on becoming memorable, but most of them are just very, very annoying. (Oh, that damnable droid!) Finally, a fair bit of Solo--maybe more than half--is so dark it's nearly impossible to see what's going on, likely a by-product of seeing a 3D production in 2D. Of course it's the ticket-buyer's choice to skip the 3D, but if a film is showing in 2D, it should be of an acceptable quality to be seen in 2D.
 
Now for the good news: As mentioned, Solo's cast is mostly terrific; it would have been very hard to go too wrong with this group. In addition to Ehrenreich, Glover, and Clarke, Solo boasts the talents of Woody Harrelson, Thandie Newton, and Paul Bettany, in a wicked turn that's almost enough to make a person forgive his annoying Vision. (*Almost.*) Both sound and visual effects are nicely done, and John Powell's score is sufficiently epic for this iconic origins tale. (If I had to pick someone to pick up John Williams' baton, it would certainly be Powell.) Once Solo gets rolling, it's great fun and moves along at a good clip, and it's easy to invest in these fresh-faced youngsters who will become the characters we know and love so well. Ehrenreich revealed in an interview that he is signed for three films, and it's not difficult for me to believe that Solo could be the launching pad for something very, very good.
 
Solo: A Star Wars Story clocks in at 135 minutes and is rated PG13 for "sequences of sci-fi action and violence."
 
If there's backlash against Solo, I wish it were directed at the cash-grabbing Disney machine, rather than at the folks who worked long and hard on this bit of fun summer escapism. 
 
Of a possible nine Weasleys, Solo gets seven and a half.
 
This Memorial Day weekend, I post in memory of my friend Chris, who was killed in Iraq in 2004, and with gratitude to those who gave all for something that meant more to them than themselves. 
 
I am in your debt.
 
Until next time...

Friday, May 25, 2018

MOVIE REVIEW: SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY







































Young Han Solo finds adventure when he joins a gang of galactic smugglers, including a 196-year-old Wookie named Chewbacca. Indebted to the gangster Dryden Vos, the crew devises a daring plan to travel to the mining planet Kessel to steal a batch of valuable coaxium. In need of a fast ship, Solo meets Lando Calrissian, the suave owner of the perfect vessel for the dangerous mission -- the Millennium Falcon.

Director: Ron Howard

Cast:  Alden Ehrenreich, Woody Harrelson, Emilia Clarke, Donald Glover, Thandie Newton, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Joonas Suotamo, Paul Bettany

Release Date: May 25, 2018

Genres:  Action, Adventure, Fantasy

Rated PG-13 for sequences of sci-fi action/violence

Runtime: 2h 15min 

Review:

Solo: A Star Ware Story went through some much publicized behind the scenes drama.  Directors were fired, Phil Lord and Chris Miller were let go and replaced by Ron Howard, and a large chunk of  the film was reshot.  Rogue One: A Star Wars Story went through some similar trials and tribulations but that film ended up being a pleasant surprise.  Solo though ends up feeling decidedly safe but still solid.  Ultimately, the entire film feels like fan service.  After a rather thrilling heist on a train, it feels as if Ron Howard is checking off a list of Disney approved sequences that he needs to emulate with a fresh coat of paint.  Howard, to his credit, delivers a serviceable film that's as enjoyable as it is as non nondescript.  You can feel Howard trying to provide some iconic or memorable shots but none of them land the way you'd like them to.  It's hard to figure out why this film doesn't land the way it should but it's definitely not Alden Ehrenreich's fault.   Ehrenreich had the daunting task of taking over a legendary role and after a bit of an adjustment period he delivers solid work. Ehrenreich captures the swagger and charisma of Ford's Solo, for the most part.  Ford's work was so singular that'd it'd be impossible to duplicate it but Ehrenreich delivers an impressive performance.  The supporting cast is made up of familiar faces and you'd think they'd make a lasting impression but sadly they don't.  Stilted dialogue and undercooked supporting characters leave you wanting for more.  Emilia Clarke and Woody Harrelson are solid but their characters never pop the way you'd hope they would.  Donald Glover leaves a bigger impression as a younger Lando Calrissian.  Glover captures Billy Dee Williams tenor and smooth charm effortlessly, making him the most interesting thing on screen throughout the film.  You kind of wonder if this film would have worked better as buddy comedy with
Ehrenreich's Solo and Glover's  Calrissian as the central point.  As is, Solo is solid but incredibly safe entry into Star Wars cannon.

B-

Wednesday, November 2, 2016

Cindy Prascik's Review of Inferno








































Dearest Blog: Yesterday it was off to Marquee Cinemas for the latest in Dan Brown's Robert Langdon series, Inferno. Spoiler level here will be mild, nothing you wouldn't know from the trailers. 
 
After waking in a hospital, suffering from amnesia, Professor Robert Langdon (Tom Hanks) teams with Doctor Sienna Brooks (Felicity Jones) to thwart a global threat. Okay, dear reader(s), here's the thing about this Langdon series: these movies just oughta be better than they are. 
 
All the pieces are there, yet the finished product is always decidedly mediocre...in fact, the middle installment was so forgettable I had to double-check to make sure I'd even seen it before moving on to the new one! Inferno, like its predecessors, is fortunate to have the eminently likable Tom Hanks reprising his role as Langdon. 
 
No matter what else a movie has going for or against it, Hanks generally guarantees it'll be at least watchable, and certainly that's the case here. Jones, on the other hand, is her usual blandly irritating self; if not for her weird teeth, you might mistake her for ten other actresses of similar age and appearance. Inferno boasts more of the series' usual lovely locations and tidbits of historical interest. 
 
There's action aplenty, with our heroes spending much of the picture running through crowded streets and imposing buildings, but ultimately the whole thing just feels too silly for something that pretends to be so intellectual. 
 
Inferno clocks in at 121 minutes and is rated PG13 for "sequences of action and violence, disturbing images, some language, thematic elements, and brief sensuality." 
 
Inferno is a passable afternoon's entertainment, but, sadly, it's nothing special. 
 
Of a possible nine Weasleys, Inferno gets five. Until next time... 
 
PS: Dear Cinemas Everywhere: I know Chris Pratt and Jennifer Lawrence are the cutest people on Earth, but that Passengers trailer is getting old REAL DAMN FAST. 
 
 

Saturday, December 12, 2015

MOVIE REVIEW: IN THE HEART OF THE SEA,











































Director: Ron Howard     

Cast: Chris Hemsworth, Benjamin Walker, Cillian Murphy, Ben Whishaw, Tom Holland

Release Date: Dec 11, 2015 RealD 3D    

Rated PG-13 for intense Sequences of Peril, Intense Sequences of Action, Brief Startling Violence 
and Thematic Material.    

Runtime: 2 hr. 2 min.    

Genres: Action/Adventure    

Review:

In the Heart of the Sea is a serviceable film that sadly never achieves the epic scope it aspires to.  Ron Howard, workman as always, diligently directs his film with a clear earnestness which shines through the filming.  It’s a fine looking film, occasionally bogged down by some shoddy looking CGI, that does nearly everything we ask from our films but it just seems to be missing something.  The characters and tension is poorly drawn with little to no depth on either end.  Chris Hemsworth looks the part but his character, the proto Ahab, isn’t very compelling or interesting.  The supporting characters is a venerable whose who of strong actors and all of them end up in thankless roles, particularly Brendan Gleeson and Cillian Murphy.  The film does perk up a bit during the pivotal whale act which is much more thrilling than the rest of the film combined. 

C+

Saturday, September 28, 2013

MOVIE REVIEW RUSH



Chris Hemsworth and Daniel Bruhl star as legendary Formula One drivers James Hunt and Niki Lauda respectively in this biographical drama set during the 1970s, at the peak of their heated rivalry. Both on the track and off, Hunt (Hemsworth) and Lauda (Bruhl) couldn't have been more different. Yet as much as Englishman Hunt's showy public persona clashed with Lauda's reputation for tightly-controlled perfectionism, both men remained bound together by one undeniable fact -- they were both among the best drivers ever to grace the racetrack. Olivia Wilde and Alexandra Maria Lara co-star in a film directed by Academy Award-winner Ron Howard, and penned by Peter Morgan (Frost/Nixon, Hereafter). ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Director: Ron Howard

Cast: Chris Hemsworth, Daniel Brühl, Olivia Wilde.

Release Date: Sep 20, 2013

Rated R for sexual content, nudity, language, some disturbing images and brief drug use

Runtime: 2 hr. 3 min.

Genres: Action/Adventure, Drama

Review:

People that know me know I love my sports. I’m a fan of pretty much any and every sport but I’ve never been a fan of sports movies because they all have the same trajectory and beats. That being said it takes alot for a sports movie to capture my attention the way Rush did. Ron Howard’s love of the subject matter is readily apparent from the get go. He directs the racing sequences with a white knuckled ferocity that delivers the most visceral experience I’ve ever had in a movie about racing. His film does dip in some of the non racing sequences mainly because the script lacks subtly, beating themes into your head instead of letting them flow organically. Chris Hemsworth and Daniel Brühl both impress in their roles as Hunt and Lauda. Hemsworth’s natural on screen charisma is perfect for the role. Hemsworth is believable and likeable even though the character is a bit of a jerk. Brühl is given the meatier part of Lauda and he’s easily the most interesting thing onscreen, outside of Hemsworth’s unnaturally chiseled body. Brühl performance is measured but on point, don’t be surprised if his name comes up during awards season. Sadly the characters don’t feel tactile, mostly because of the script. They are types more than they are real life people and while it’s not a sin it would have been nice to get inside the heads of both characters a bit more. Something the wonderful documentary Senna did so well. Still, Rush is a quality “prestige” film which may get some nods come awards season.

A-
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