10s Movie Review - The Hate U Give

Director: George Tillman Jr.
Genre: Drama/ Drama
Runtime: 133 minutes
Year: 2018
Starring: Amandla Stenberg, Regina Hall, Russell Hornsby, Anthony Mackie, Common, Issa Rae, Algee Smith, Sabrina Carpenter, K.J. Apa, Dominique Fishback, Megan Lawless, Lamar Johnson, TJ Wright

Description: Starr (Amandla Stenberg) witnesses the fatal shooting of her childhood best friend Khalil at the hands of a police officer. Now, facing pressure from all sides of the community, Starr must find her voice and stand up for what’s right.

I WATCHED THIS MOVIE FOR MY 2024 MOVIE CHALLENGE
WEEK 31: A FILM WITH A COMING-OF-AGE STORY
 
Review: The Hate U Give forms the first half of the acronym “Thug Life, which was tattooed on rapper Tupac Shakur’s belly in the 1990s. In full, the acronym stands for “The Hate U Give Little Infants Fucks Everybody. In short, all the woes in society that underprivileged youths face at an early age will later pay off in only more hate. With the late rapper’s thoughts as the main motif, it should be clear that author Angie Thomas’ wildly successful debut novel is a lote more deeply politically engaged than the average teen novel. The film adaptation, let by and outstanging Amandla Stenberg, also manages to do that.

In the opening scene we see Starr and her family sitting at the table. Father Maverick gives them the talk about serious matter. How should they act when they come into contact with the police as black Americans? Overly protective perhaps, but the long list of incidents in which unarmed African-American men were killed by a police bullet in recent years alone shows that Maverick’s concern are by no means unfounded.

When Starr is 16, she has to use these lessons in practice, when she and her childhood friend Khalil are being pulled over by a cop. When Khalil is killed by this cop, Starr has to try and deal with this traumatic and it presents her with a diabolical dilemma. Will she fight for justice by acting as a key witness? Or is she better off staying far away from all the media hysteria and the inevitable hate reactions that come with it? And how will it affect her own reputation at her largely white school when she is suddenly associated in the news with a boy portrayed in the media as a dangerous drug dealer?

Amandla Stenberg, who plays Starr, is absolutely amazing. The young actress shows she has a lot of emotion and she can easily carry this story. I loved the supporting roles by Regina Hall and Russell Hornsby as well. The creators could have done a bit more with Issa Rae and Anthony Mackie’s characters though.

The film has a strong message, is emotional, powerful. I absolutely loved this movie, a different kind of coming-of-age story, but one that I will remember for a very long time.

Rating: 4,5/ 5

00s Movie Review - Street Kings

Director: David Ayer
Genre: Drama/ Thriller/ Crime/ Action
Runtime: 85 minutes
Year: 2008
Starring: Keanu Reeves, Forest Whitaker, Hugh Laurie, Chris Evans, Common, Amaury Nolasco, Naomie Harris, Terry Crews, Cedric the Entertainer, Jay Mohr, John Corbett

Description: An undercover cop (Keanu Reeves), disillusioned by the death of his wife, is implicated in the murder of an officer (Terry Crews) and must struggle to clear himself.

Review: Detective Tom Ludlow has a bad reputation when it comes to doing police work by the book. Ludlow’s motto is: shoot first, ask questions later. Even in his latest case, in which he managed to save two girls, the suspects don’t live to tell the tale. Fortunately, Ludlow can count on the protection of his superior, Captain Jack Wander. But then it turns out that Ludlow’s former partner, Detective Terrence Washington, is planning to rat him out. That could cost Ludlow his job. And so he takes matters into his own hands an decides to teach Washington a lesson. The Washington gets involved in a brutal crime and the trouble truly begins. Captain James Biggs smells trouble and starts investigating Ludlow.  
Two things really spoke to me: the script was co-written bij James Ellroy, whom we now as the writer of “L.A. Confidential”. Second, the great cast, including solid actors such as Forest Whitaker, Keanu Reeves, Hugh Laurie and Chris Evans.
The tension and intrigue builds nicely as Ludlow gets further and further into trouble, with some really strong action scenes. The film has a twist, but it’s not very surprising or original. And because some characters we don’t really get to know very well, their personality changes seem a bit implausible.
The acting, however, is very solid. Whitaker in particular. The visual aspect of the film is also strong, a good visualization of South Central L.A.
“Street Kings” is a solid police thriller, that sadly had to suffer the obligatory plot twist. But overall, it’s a good film that never loses your attention.

Rating: 3,5/ 5

Movie Review - Ava

Director: Tate Taylor
Genre: Action/ Crime/ Drama
Runtime: 103 minutes
Year: 2020
Starring: Jessica Chastain, John Malkovich, Colin Farrell, Common, Ioan Gruffudd, Geena Davis, Jess Weixler, Joan Chen

Description: Ava (Jessica Chastain) is a deadly assassin who works for a black ops organization, traveling the globe specializing in high profile hits. When a job goes dangerously wrong she is forced to fight for her own survival.

Review: Ava is a mysterious woman, former junkie and alcoholic, ex-military and extremely adept at unscrupulously killing her high-ranking targets. A charming and deadly enigma for family, friends and enemies. And they all seldom realize what the assassin is doing until it’s too late. “Ava”, on the other hand, is an ostentatiously transparent film whose greatest mystery is ultimately what the film wants to be. An action thriller, a drama or perhaps something else?
The split personality of the film is probably best sketched on the basis of the cast. The title role is played by Kessica Chastain, an excellent drama actress. The leaders of her chaotic assassin organization are played by an almost caricatural Colin Farrell and an inexplicably smooth fighting John Malkovich, who is a acting a bit wooden here. Common has the thankless job to play Ava’s gambling addict ex-boyfriend.
All four, popular names and great performers. And they can all do better than they are showing here. Director Tate Taylor doesn’t manage to create a successful film, just a mediocre one that will easily be forgotten. Also the story itself isn’t very surprising. I don’t mind clichés when they are done well, but the predictability of this movie make it hard for the viewer to be fascinated.
“Ava” doesn’t really offer anything new. If you miss this film, you don’t really miss anything special.

Rating: 2 / 5

10s Movie Review - John Wick: Chapter 2

Director: Chad Stahelski
Genre: Action/ Crime/ Thriller
Runtime: 122 minutes
Year: 2017
Starring: Keanu Reeves, Ian McShane, Peter Stormare, Ruby Rose, Laurence Fishburne, John Leguizamo, Peter Serafinowicz, Bridget Moynahan, Common

Description: After returning to the criminal underworld to repay a debt, John Wick (Keanu Reeves) discovers that a large bounty has been put on his life.

Review: It doesn’t happen often and it’s always a big task: sequel that is better than the original. “John Wick” excelled in its simplicity: gangsters angering a hitman, hitman takes revenge and kills them all. And when a sequel is made, they always screw it up by making it more complex. But “John Wick: Chapter 2” is even better! Who would have thought that?
John Wick is an interesting character. The Continental Hotel from part one, was begging for some more insight. And that’s what we get. The Continental Hotel is the dream location for every hitman.
When John Wick thinks he is done with his life as a hitman, an old ‘acquaintance’ of his knocks on his door: Santino D’Antonio. An old pact makes for John Wick to once again set his retirement aside.
The set up is simple, but because D’Antonio is also a member of the Continental Hotel, they have to deal with the rules of the accommodation.
This movie is all about the action and, like in the first one, this element is phenomenal. The gunfire scenes are almost epic, they keep you invested at all times.
All in all, “John Wick: Chapter 2” is better than the first film. What I didn’t expect when I started watching it. Just as I didn’t expect “John Wick” to be any good.

Rating: 4,5 / 5

100 Movie Challenge 2017 - # 19: Selma

Director: Ava DuVernay
Genre: Drama
Runtime: 128 minutes
Year: 2014
Starring: David Oyelowo, Oprah Winfrey, Common, Tom Wilkinson, Giovanni Ribisi, Dylan Baker, Tim Roth, Alessandro Nivola, Cuba Gooding Jr.

Description: A chronicle of Martin Luther King's campaign to secure equal voting rights via an epic march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama in 1965.

Review: Racism is an issue that will always be a part of our society, even in a civilized world. And that’s why the Martin Luther King biopic “Selma” is still relevant, to this day. There will always be a certain inequality between people of a different race or religion. In “Selma” we meet Martin Luther King two years after his “I had a dream” speech.
“Selma” centers around the Alabama town Selma. Together the people wanted to fight for equal rights and the right to vote, for everyone. Formally the black people were allowed to vote. But in reality it was a lot more complex. We see this in one of the first scenes of the movie. Where a woman has to get through an impossible test to proof she has the right to vote.
Director Ava DuVernays shows with her script many situations with injustice. This is something you just can’t ignore. But the most interesting part is how she portrayed her leading character. King is a loyal idealist. But along the way we see his imperfections. Very well done and King is well portrayed by David Oyelowo.
“Selma” is a great picture based on one of the most inspiring men in American history.

Rating: 4,5/ 5