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

100 Movie Challenge 2016 - # 60: Hop

Director: Tim Hill
Genre: Animation/ Comedy
Runtime: 95 minutes
Year: 2011
Starring: James Marsden, Russell Brand, Hank Azaria, Hugh Laurie, Elizabeth Perkins, Kaley Cuoco, Chelsea Handler, Gary Cole

Description: E.B. (Russell Brand), the Easter Bunny's (Hugh Laurie) teenage son, heads to Hollywood, determined to become a drummer in a rock 'n' roll band. In LA, he's taken in by Fred after the out-of-work slacker hits E.B. with his car.

Review: A film about Easter, we had it coming. The makers of “Despicable Me” bring us the the animation “Hop”. On Easter Island there is a gigantic candy factory, where they make Easter candy. A team of chicks works there for the Easter Bunny. He is getting older and wants his son E.B. to take over. But E.B. isn’t ready for it and doesn’t have the ambition either. He wants to be a drummer instead. E.B. leaves the island to chase his own dream. There he meets Fred, an grown man who still lives with his parents and can’t find a job.
“Hop” is filled with typical Easter ingredients: eggs, chicks, bunnies. But it’s mostly a story about the expectations that parents have of their children. The film has some really funny moments. The factory looks really good and Russell Brand voices E.B. well. The problem here is that mix of animation of live action. It can work, “Who Framed Roger Rabbit” and “Mary Poppins”proved that. But here there is a distance between the animated characters and the people.
“Hop” is film that will be loved by children, the adults won’t like it as much. Maybe it’s because I’m a bunny owner myself, that I kinda had fun watching “Hop”.

Rating: 3/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2015 - # 70: Tomorrowland

Director: Brad Bird

Genre: Action/ Adventure/ Science Fiction

Runtime: 129 minutes

Year: 2015

Starring: George Clooney, Britt Robertson, Hugh Laurie, Raffey Cassidy, Tim McGraw, Kathryn Hahn, Keegan-Micahel Key, Chris Bauer, Thomas Robinson, Pierce Gagnon, Matthew MacCaull, Judy Greeg, Matthew Kevin Anderson, Michaell Giacchino

Description: Bound by a shared destiny, Casey (Britt Robertson) bursting with scientific curiosity and former boy-genius inventor Frank (George Clooney) embark on a mission to unearth the secrets of a place somewhere in time and space that exists in their collective memory.

Review: The world isn’t doing so well, according to “Tomorrowland”. War, natural disasters, neglecting our nature. Leading scientists have created an utopia: Tomorrowland. It’s a futuristic location, in a parallel universe. There they are trying to find solutions to help planet Earth.

We meet young Frank Walker. He build his own jetpack and wants to show it at an exhibition. If someone his age can make it, anything is possible, so he says. He meets Athena, a recruiter for Tomorrowland. She makes him part of the project.

Many years later, earth hasn’t changed much. People are selfish and pretend not to see all the bad things happening in the world. Except for Casey Newton. While on a mission to prevent rocket base Cape Canaveral from shutting down, she is arrested. When she is released, a mysterious pin is handed to her. This pin brings her to Tomorrowland. But why was it given to her?

There is a clear moral in “Tomorrowland”. We should take care of our planet. This is typical for Disney. That nostalgic perfection of the opening scene is also very Disney, just like the rest of the film is pure magic and fantasy. But “Tomorrowland” has much more to offer. The movie shows us that we all make our own future.

“Tomorrowland” is visually stunning. The movie all together is an exciting rollercoaster ride. It’s a great movie experience. George Clooney is really good in this film. He has humor and I enjoyed his performance. Same goes for Britt Robertson, an upcoming star in Hollywood. Raffey Cassidy was probably the biggest surprise. The young girl was the star of the film.

“Tomorrowland” is definitely a movie worth watching.

Rating: 4/ 5