Movie Review - Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny

Director: James Mangold
Genre: Adventure/ Action
Runtime: 154 minutes
Year: 2023
Starring: Harrison Ford, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Toby Jones, Mads Mikkelsen, John Rhys-Davies, Antonio Banderas, Boyd Holbrook, Olivier Richter, Thomas Kretschmann, Karen Allen
 
Description: Archeologist Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) races against time to retrieve a legendary artifact that can change the course of history.

Review: When it comes to film, Indiana Jones is the adventurer. Harrison Ford gives the iconic character heart and soul.

In this final Indiana Jones adventure, Indy is after an artifact that could change the course of history. He is accompanied by his goddaughter Helena. But we start the movie in the past, where Ford has been made digitally younger. Here is explained what this artifact, a dial made by Archimedes, means to his friend Basil Shaw, Helena’s father.

Even though “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny” is a big step up from “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull”, it is the first film without Steven Spielberg as a director. James Mangold takes over and does a good job, but you do miss Spielberg at times. It is entertaining and I always like going on an adventure with Dr. Jones. He is my favorite male movie character for a reason. And Ford hasn’t lost it. But this movie never reaches the level of the first three films in the franchise.

Rating: 3,5/ 5

Movie Review - Beckett

Director: Ferdinando Cito Filomarino
Genre: Thriller/ Crime/ Drama/ Action
Runtime: 110 minutes
Year: 2021
Starring: John David Washington, Alicia Vikander, Boyd Holbrook

Description: Following a tragic car accident in Greece, Beckett (John David Washington), an American tourist finds himself at the center of a dangerous political conspiracy and on the run for his life.

Review: When Becket is on vacation with his girlfriend April they get into a car accident. In this accident Beckett sees a boy with red hair, but doesn’t know if it is an illusion or not. When Beckett wakes up in the hospital, he goes back to the place where they crashed to see what exactly happened. From that moment on, Beckett is on the run for his life and must survive in a strange country where he doesn’t know who he can trust or not.
The movie has a quick introduction to our main characters, before we get into the action and suspense. “Beckett” has a lot of tension and you really become eager to find out why this is happening to him. The movie captivated me from start to finish.
John David Washington, in the lead, does a good job and proves ones again that he can carry a movie well. Boyd Holbrook and Alicia Vikander both have smaller roles, but are solid.
I liked “Beckett”, but it will probably be a movie that will be easily forgotten.

Rating: 3/ 5

20s Movie Review - We Can Be Heroes

Director: Robert Rodriguez
Genre: Family/ Adventure/ Fantasy/ Action
Runtime: 100 minutes
Year: 2020
Starring: Pedro Pascal, Boyd Holbrook, Christian Slater, YaYa Gosselin, Priyanka Chopra, Christopher McDonald

Description: When alien invaders capture the Earth’s superheroes, their kids must learn to work together to save their parents and the planet.

I WATCHED THIS MOVIE FOR MY 2021 MOVIE CHALLENGE.
WEEK 6: A SUPERHERO MOVIE

Review: Superhero movies for a younger audience. Director Robert Rodriguez has had varying degrees of success with it, since the first part of the “Spy Kids” franchise was released in 2001. In the Netflix film “We Can Be heroes”,  he continues his efforts with accessible superheroes in a lighthearted story without heavy moral dilemmas.
A group of superheroes, called the Heroics, have been struggling among themselves since their leader Marcus Moreno decided to stop going on missions since his wife died, ad he now devoted himself entirely to being a father to Missy. During a routine mission, Tech-No and Miracle Guy stumble upon a group of alien ships that want to attack Earth. The head of the Heroics, Ms. Granada, immediately deploys all the superheroes to stop the invasion. But when the heroes are captured, it is up to their children to stop the alien invasion.
Missy follows in her father’s footsteps and immediately takes charge of making sure the rescue mission succeeds. Every child in the group has special powers, with the exception of Missy.
Rodriguez didn’t have a big budget to work with and it shows in the visual effects that come across as cheap. But in the end the story gets the live-action drama it needs. Rodriguez’s script is filled with jokes surrounding the kids and their physical powers.
The kids, of course, set out to save their parents, but the mission is ultimately not the main message Rodriguez wants to convey. The various forces aside, it’s as much about the strength of the individual as it is about be stronger together when you work for the greater good. It seeps in that the children represent the next generation.
Since it is targeted at a younger audience, I forgive the cheesiness. But it also doesn’t take itself seriously and is self-aware. It’s entertaining for a fun family movie night. And for the mom’s there is Pedro Pascal.

Rating: 3/ 5

TV Show Review - Narcos (Season 2)

Season: 2
Genre: Thriller/ Drama/ Crime
Number of episodes: 10
Year: 2016
Starring: Wagner Moura, Pedro Pascal, Boyd Holbrook, Alberto Ammann, Paulina Gaitan, Joanna Christie

Description: A chronicled look at the criminal exploits of Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar, as well as the many other drug kingpins who plagued the country through the years.  

Review: The Netflix original series “Narcos” tells the story of Pablo Escobar and the fight against drugs in Colombia. Especially because of the latter, the desire of the series’ creators to want to make a season is understandable. Season 2 is about the last phase of the life of Pablo Escobar.
Escobar is portrayed superbly by Wagner Moura. Actually, all the performances are strong. The series is authentic because the characters speaks Spanish and it uses TV images of the actual events.
Season 2 is just as raw and rough as the first. The big difference is that the pace is much slower. This only benefits the series. It gives more room for the characters, but also more time for the story. This season is only about the last month of Pablo Escobar’s life, the story continues to captivate every episode.
As mentioned before, the main storyline is the downfall of Pablo Escobar, but also the rise of the rival Cali cartel. The latter make good use of the fight against Pablo Escobar and his Medellin cartel. The story is still told from the perspective of DEA agent Steve Murphy, but actually has multiple perspectives. Such as from partner Javier Peña (my crush Pedro Pascal) who chooses to work with a branch of the Medillin cartel and thus indirectly the communist rebels and the Cali cartel. The relationship of Tata with Pablo is also explored further. So much that it turns out that their love for each other ultimately meant the final downfall of Escobar.
Despite the large number of storylines events and characters, “Narcos” is very easy to follow. The intense, rock-hard battle is portrayed crystal cleat and regularly supported by authentic TV footage from the news. The character of Pablo Escobar has lost all sympathy. In season 2 it is only about survival. In the beginning he succeeds quite well. Especially since he has the police pretty much under control and even manages to kill his biggest legal opponent. However, his other enemies and former friends smell blood and, as so often, it ends in a bloodbath.
“Narcos” clearly shows that a man who thinks he can conquer the world can also fall very hard. Symbolically, it goes from unprecedented wealth to a shabbily dressed ending in flip flops. It is raw and explicit in its violence, but has a compelling story. “Narcos” season 2 is amazing, probably even a little better then season 1.
 

TV Show Review - Narcos (Season 1)

Season: 1
Genre: Thriller/ Drama/ Crime
Number of episodes: 10
Year: 2015
Starring: Wagner Moura, Pedro Pasal, Boyd Holbrook, Alberto Ammann, Paulina Gaitan, Joanna Christie

Description: A chronicled look at the criminal exploits of Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar, as well as the many other drug kingpins who plagued the country through the years.  

Review: ‘Plato o plomo’, or ‘silver or lead’ is the choice you had when you encountered Pablo Escobar. In seasn 1 of “Narcos”, viewers can see what happened if you chose one of the two options. In ten episodes we are introduced to one of the greatest drug traffickers to have ever existed.
The series revolved around three characters. The first is Pablo Escobar, played by Wagner Moura. Moura does a great job of portraying the character of Escobar. One moment you admire him and the next you are disgusted by him. Escobar is one of the most interesting drug lords to ever exist. He went from being a poor street kid from a disadvantaged neighborhood in Colombia to a cocaine dealer who made a million dollars a day in his heyday.
The others are DEA agents Steve Murphy and Javier Peña. Murphy is a young American agent whose personal goal is to put Escobar behind bars. It is also Murphy who takes us into the story and provides the narrative. Which is a bold choice, since the series is about Escobar. Peña is the cop more known in the district of Colombia and is familiar with how things work there. Together they try to bring down Escobar. Boyd Holbrook and Pedro Pascal are both really solid in their roles, though I did wish Pascal had more screen time then Holbrook.
In the first season, we learn how Escobar allows his drug cartel to become one of the largest in the world. Escobar knows that he wants and thinks he can make anything happen. Anyone who works against him is given a choice: plato o plomo. In other words, you either allow yourself to be bribed or you will be shot. Agents Murphy and Peña do everything to stop the regime of Escobar.
The story is structured in such a way that at first you can still admire Escobar, but eventually you become more against him. He is a smart businessman and shares his wealth with the less fortunate. As the power of his cartel grows, so does his ego. And Escobar slowly loses himself in the madness that his wealth has created.
In addition to the story of the struggle between the police and the drug traffickers, as a viewer you also learn a lot about the political history of Colombia and the struggle between America and communism. For example, we follow the story of President César Gaviria, who regularly faces difficult decisions that could potentially cost him his life. It is interesting to see how two warring factions both tried, in their own way, to fight for the Colombian people.
The strength of the series is its authenticity. The story is supported by real footage from the time, so that as a viewer you are sometimes reminded with amazement that all the violence and bizarre events in the series really happened. The creators’ choice to have Escobar and his associates speak Spanish also contributes well to this, because often movies and shows do everything in English to make it more accessible for viewers.
“Narcos” is a fantastic show, I don’t know why I didn’t watch it sooner.

10s Movie Review - A Walk Among the Tombstones

Director: Scott Frank
Genre: Crime/ Thriller/ Drama
Runtime: 114 minutes
Year: 2014
Starring: Liam Neeson, Dan Stevens, Boyd Holbrook, David Harbour, Adam David Thompson, Mark Consuelos
 
Description: Private investigator Matthew Scudder (Liam Neeson) is hired by a drug kingpin (Dan Stevens) to find out who kidnapped and murdered his wife.

Review: In recent years you can usually guess what you get when you’re watching a Liam Neeson movie. Since the success of “Taken” ins 2008, the Irish actor has regularly been casted as the old hand in the business, who hasn’t yet forgotten to use his trades or other deadly weapons. It’s not very surprising anymore, but convincing it still is.
Neeson is also the main reason why the crime thriller “A Walk Among the Tombstones” remains entertaining. It doesn’t leave you on the edge of your seat, but it’s entertaining enough to keep you attention the full runtime.
The opening is promising. In 1991 New York, we see Matthew Scudder having breakfast in a restaurant, when he’s brutally disturb by a group of robbers. An explosion of violence follows. The film jumps eight years ahead. Matt Scudder has now left the police force and started out as a private investigator. His conscience starts to gnaw when Kenny Kristo, a drug dealer, asks for his help. The dealer can’t turn to the police, but he wants revenge. He paid a lot of money to get his kidnapped wife back, but found her in the trunk of an abandoned car chopped up into pieces.
Eventually Scudder decides to help, so he starts an investigation. And the men responsible for the death of Kenny’s wife have done it before. Scudder digs into the dark past of the gloomy city.
“A Walk Among the Tombstones” is a solid crime thriller, with a changing pace. The setting is great, the performance by Neeson is as well. The film goes on a bit too long, but overall it’s a movie worth checking out.

Rating: 3 / 5

10s Movie Review - The Predator

Director: Shane Black
Genre: Action/ Adventure/ Thriller
Runtime: 107 minutes
Year: 2018
Starring: Boyd Holbrook, Trevante Rhodes, Jacob Tremblay, Keegan-Michael Key, Olivia Munn, Sterling K. Brown, Thomas Jane, Alfie Allen, Jake Busey, Yvonne Strahovski

Description: When a young boy (Jacob Tremblay) accidentally triggers the universe's most lethal hunters' return to Earth, only a ragtag crew of ex-soldiers and a disgruntled scientist can prevent the end of the human race.

Review: With “The Predator”, director Shane Black tries to bring the nostalgia back to life, from the 1987 original (Fun fact: Black was actually in that film). The film is iconic, especially because of its one-liners coming from Arnold Schwarzenegger.
And they use these one-liners, but change them. Auch…. Not very clever. Then only clever choice is to copy the level of ‘macho’ from the original.
The film never gets scary or exciting. It’s a very messy film with no memorable characters, besides the Predator himself off course.
This movie wasn’t really necessary, I’ll stick with the Arnold Schwarzenegger film.

Rating: 2 / 5

100 Movie Challenge 2017 - # 93: Morgan

Director: Luke Scott
Genre: Horror/ Science Fiction/ Thriller
Runtime: 88 minutes
Year: 2016
Starring: Kate Mara, Rose Leslie, Toby Jones, Boyd Holbrook, Michelle yeoh, Paul Giamatti, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Anya Taylor-Joy, Brian Cox

Description: A corporate risk-management consultant (Kate Mara) must decide whether or not to terminate an artificially created humanoid being.

Review: People have always been fascinated by creating artificial intelligence. And movies about this theme are popular and sometimes really successful. Morgan is the result of synthetic DNA and nanotechnology. It is a fast developing human looking being, whose intelligence and physique grow exceptionally. But this apparent perfect creation has its defects. After an incident, risk-management consultant Lee Weathers has to evaluate the specimen and whether it should be terminated or not.
It’s been done so many times, this theme. And many directors managed to give it their own twist and make it look fresh. Sadly Luke Scott (son of Ridley Scott) is not one of them. The film never reaches above mediocre and the tension is nowhere to be found. The presence of a fantastic cast doesn’t always guarantee a good movie. It really fascinated me how naïve all those academics are in this film. And the film is very predictable. And the supposed plot twist at the end, didn’t come as a surprise at all.
“Morgan” had a lot of potential, but didn’t execute it very well.

Rating: 2/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2017 - # 34: Logan

Director: James Mangold
Genre: Drama/ Action/ Science Fiction/ Thriller
Runtime: 137 minutes
Year: 2017
Starring: Hugh Jackman, Patrick Stewart, Dafne Keen, Boyd Holbrook, Stephen Merchant

Description: In the near future, a weary Logan (Hugh Jackman) cares for an ailing Professor X (Patrick Stewart) in a hide out on the Mexican border. But Logan's attempts to hide from the world and his legacy are up-ended when a young mutant arrives, being pursued by dark forces.

Review: There aren’t a lot of Hollywood stars that stayed so true to their break through roles as Hugh Jackman. For “Logan” he portrays the role of Wolverine for the ninth time. For about seventeen years he carried this role, starting with “X-Men”. “Logan” takes the super out of superhero. Jackman plays Wolverine for the last time, and he was never better.
It’s 2029 and the world is not doing well. Logan is a broken man: he drinks, curses and doesn’t care about the world. He works as a limo driver and also takes care of Charles Xavier, who is old and ill. Logan himself isn’t in the best physical shape either. He doesn’t heal as quickly as he did before. They are the only mutants left, until they find a girl named Laura.
Wolverine has always been the rougher character in the X-Men series, but in “Logan” he is rougher than ever. Jackman gives his all here, it looks like he had to hold back in all the other films he played Wolverine in. The film is rated R. It’s explicit, raw, bloody and very violent. And it all looks fantastic. The choreography of the fight scenes is amazing.
Director James Mangold clearly doesn’t like the stereotypical superhero. In the previous film “The Wolverine” he showed that he had more affinity with the human side of Logan than his powers. In “Logan” that’s also the focus.
When Laura comes into Logan’s life, you expect it to be emotional. But the connection between the two never gets too sentimental. I loved “Logan”, it’s a fantastic film. My favorite X-Men film and a worthy good bye to Hugh Jackman as this iconic character.

Rating: 4,5/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2014 - # 149: The Skeleton Twins

Director: Craig Johnson

Genre: Drama/ Comedy

Runtime: 93 minutes

Year: 2014

Starring: Bill Hader, Kristen Wiig, Luke Wilson, Ty Burrell, Boyd Holbrook

Description: Having both coincidentally cheated death on the same day, estranged twins reunite with the possibility of mending their relationship.

Review: Milo Dean is unhappy with his life and decides to step out of it. Right at the time that his estranged twin sister Maggie wants to take a pill overdose, she gets a call that Milo is in the hospital. It brings the two back together after ten years of not speaking to each other.

That Bill Hader and Kristen Wiig work well together, we have already seen on “Saturday Night Live”. They were part of the cast for many years. The two of them team up again in “The Skeleton Twins” and it works like a charm. It’s clear that the duo had a lot of fun making it and they are well attuned. Especially the scene were Milo is trying to make Maggie feel better by lip syncing to an eighties song, you can see how well Wiig and Hader function on screen as a duo.

What I found fascinating was to see all these comedic actors in more serious roles. Kristen Wiig has already proven a couple of times that she can also do light drama. Bill Hader also finds his way around the genre. Luke Wilson and Ty Burrell, who have supporting roles, are both convincing as well. When you put drama and comedy on a scale, it wouldn’t be balanced, because the drama has the upper hand. Although the movie deals with some heavy themes, the drama is kept light by the touch of comedy that sometimes has a dark edge.

“The Skeleton Twins” is a strong drama, that especially succeeds because of the great chemistry between the two lead actors. It’s their power that made us care for them and their story.

Rating: 4/ 5