Movie Review - Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F

Director: Mark Molloy
Genre: Action/ Comedy/ Crime
Runtime: 118 minutes
Year: 2024
Starring: Eddie Murphy, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Paul Reiser, Kevin Bacon, Judge Reinhold, Taylour Paige, John Aston, Bronson Pinchot
 
Description: Axel Foley (Eddie Murphy) returns to Beverly Hills after his daughter’s (Taylour Paige) life is threatened, and works with old pals John Taggert (John Aston) and Billy Rosewood) (Judge Reinhold) to uncover a conspiracy.

Review: It has been thirty years since Eddie Murphy last took on the role of Axel Foley in “Beverly Hills Cop 3”(1994) (secretly my favorite 😉). Netfix is reviving the cop with “Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F”.

The film opens the way you’d want it: Axel gets behind the wheel of a snow plow and immediately turns the streets of Detroit upside down, hoping to catch a bunch of thugs. It gets completely out of hand, obviously, and before you know it Axel is back in Beverly Hills to help his daughter Jane, who is being threatened. She is a lawyer and is assisting a client falsely accused of killing a cop.

Martin Brest, Tony Scott and John Landis directed the three previous installment of the franchise and debut director Mark Molloy is taking over. He has looked closely at his predecessors and manages to deliver a more than entertaining film. He takes into account the many fans of the previous films (me), but manages to attract a whole new audience as well. Axel Foley is still the foul-mouthed and rule-breaking Detroit cop turning Beverly Hills upside down. It’s not different this time. And other characters we know from these film are returning as well. All though, I was a bit disappointed there. The screentime Axel has with his buddies Billy and Taggert is very limited. And I missed Eddie Murphy’s signature laugh.

The only new element in this film is the father-daughter relationship. For the most part, “Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F” is not an innovative film. But a fun addition to the series and an entertaining action comedy. Great that “Akwel” is back, we’ve waited long enough.

Rating: 3,5/ 5

Movie Review - Leave the World Behind

Director: Sam Esmail
Genre: Drama/ Thriller
Runtime: 138 minutes
Year: 2023
Starring: Julia Roberts, Ethan Hawke, Mahershala Ali, Myha’la, Kevin Bacon, Farrah Mackenzie, Charlie Evans
 
Description: A family’s getaway to a luxurious rental home takes an ominous turn when a cyberattack knocks out their devices, and two strangers (Mahershala Ali, Myha’la) appear at their door.

Review: Amanda and Clay go on vacation with their two children, but that very night their relaxing getaway comes to an end. There is a knock at the door. Because of a power outage in town, the owner of the home and his daughter, want to spend the night. That immediately increases tension.

If you have not read the book it’s based on, written by Rumaan Alam, please avoid the trailer. It spoils the fun. You know from the start of the film that something is wrong, there is constant suspense and an ominous feeling creeps up on you. But you don’t know what it is.

Each character deals with this frustrating situation differently. Amansa is immediately hostile to G.H. and his daughter Ruth. While Clay, on the other hand, wants to keep the peace. Meanwhile, G.H. tries to protect Ruth by keeping many of his concerns to himself. He seemingly knows more about what’s happening.

I read the book earlier this year, which immediately became a new favorite of mine. The book is fantastic and when I learned about a movie adaptation I was excited. A movie is hardly ever better then the book, or even meets the same level. But with this book I felt it could happen. Although I highly enjoyed the film, the book is much better. And they are also very different from each other. The suspense is much more stretched out in the book, you’re kept in the dark way longer. When in the movie, things start happening very early on. It doesn’t take away from the tension though, because you still don’t know what’s going on.

I’m not going to compare “Leave the World Behind” to its source material anymore, because when you look at it aside from the book, it’s a very decent, solid and suspenseful thriller. The first part of the film takes place for the most time in the house. The main characters are trying to figure each other out. The cast is excellent and I especially loved Mahershala Ali as G.H. and Ethan Hawke as Clay. Very strong performances. Julia Roberts and Myha'la are also really solid, but the men are the scene stealers here.

Director Sam Esmail takes nearly two and a half hour to tell his cynical story and with that “Leave the World Behind” is not for everyone. Esmail gives his own inky black review of a faltering society and leaves you with a rotten feeling. And with probably even more questions then when you started the movie. And this is all very similar to the book.

Rating: 3,5/ 5

Movie Review - The Guardians of the Galaxy: Holiday Special

Director: James Gunn
Genre: Science Fiction/ Action/ Adventure/ Comedy
Runtime: 41 minutes
Year: 2022
Starring: Chris Pratt, Dave Bautista, Pom Klementiff, Karen Gillan, Bradley Cooper, Vin Diesel, Sean Gunn, Michael Rooker, Kevin Bacon
 
I WATCHED THIS MOVIE FOR MY 2022 MOVIE CHALLENGE
WEEK 51: A CHRISTMAS MOVIE
 
Description: The Guardians of the Galaxy engage in some spirited shenanigans in an all-new original Holiday special.

Review: Marvel’s first special came out on Hallowee, being “Werewolf by Night”, an ode to classic monster movies from the 1930s. I loved that one. And we didn’t have to wait that long for another special, this time for Christmas. The Guardians of the Galaxy come together again for their own Christmas special.

Both “Guradians of the Galaxy” film are amongst my favorite Marvel film ever. So I couldn’t wait to see this short film, set during the holidays. The focus is on Mantis and Drax, who are trying to find the perfect gift for Peter, to give him an unforgettable Christmas. The film is hilarious, as we are used to from the previous movies.  But director James Gunn managed to add some sentiment in it as well.

“The Guardians of the Galaxy: Holiday Special” is a small package with a big heart. Loved it.

Rating: 4,5/ 5

00s Movie Review - Mystic River

Director: Clint Eastwood
Genre: Drama/ Thriller
Runtime: 137 minutes
Year: 2003
Starring: Sean Penn, Kevin Bacon, Tim Robbins, Laurence Fishburne, Marcia Gay Harden, Laura Linney, Emmy Rossum

Description: With a childhood tragedy that overshadowed their lives, three men (Sean Penn, Tim Robbins, Kevin Bacon) are reunited by circumstance when one has a family tragedy.

Review: How do you recognize a good movie? A tough question if you ask me. But the people who watched “Mystic River” know that this is an example of a very good movie. The film, directed by Clint Eastwood, managed to win several Academy Awards. It might surprise you, because the story isn’t new and the cast isn’t filled with the biggest Hollywood names. “Mystic River” is a very strong movie that deserves every credit it gets.
The movie starts with three kids, Jimmy, Dave and Sean. They are inseparable and like to hang out together on the streets of Boston. Their bond changes when Dave is taken by a strange man, who pretends he’s a cop. When Dave returns he is traumatized. Years later the three friends reunite, when Jimmy’s daughter is found dead. Jimmy wants revenge and wants to find the person responsible.
Like I stated before, the story doesn’t sound that special. And the main characters don’t seem impressive at first either. Kevin Bacon, as Sean, is a cop trying to have a neutral view on the murder case. And Sean Penn, as Jimmy, plays a man with a temper and a criminal past who has bettered his life. Tim Robbins plays the mysterious looking Dave, who is still trying to deal with his childhood trauma. The way it was all executed is true craftsmanship. Clint Eastwood made this movie with lots of precision, love, intensity and integrity, which center the characters and not the story. The plot is done well, but aren’t the center of our attention. Eastwood focuses especially on the  irreparable friendship and what it once was. And with a cast of talented actors it gives us an anguishing movie experience. 
Eastwood gives his actor room to exploit and bring their characters to life. Sean Penn proofs why he is one of the best, what a great performance. Tim Robbins plays a remarkable role as well. His body language and facial expression sometimes tell us more than the actual words that come out of his mouth. His performance is very believable and even thinking about it gives me goose bumps.  Laura Linney and especially Marcia Gay Harden show us that they can stand tall in a movie filled with strong male actors.
“Mystic River” is a beautiful, sensitive character profile about friendship, pain and human shortcomings. Clint Eastwood deliverd one of his best movies and one of my all-time favorites.

Rating: 5/ 5

90s Movie Review - Wild Things

Director: John McNaughton
Genre: Drama/ Thriller/ Crime
Runtime: 108 minutes
Year: 1998
Starring: Matt Dillon, Kevin Bacon, Neve Campbell, Denise Richards, Theresa Russell, Bill Murray, Robert Wagner

Description: A police detective (Kevin Bacon) uncovers a conspiracy behind a case involving a high-school guidance counselor (Matt Dillon) when accusations of rape are made against him by two female students (Neve Campbell, Denise Richards).

Review: At first sight “Wild Things” looks like a film that we already have a dozen of. A popular teacher, type ideal son in law, is accused of raping one of his students. But with this movie, nothing is as it seems. Instead of going down the obvious road, “Wild Things” has some surprising plot twist and original turns. the viewer is constantly tested and the exact details are left for the end.
The acting in “Wild Things” is not always convincing. Kevin Bacon gives away one of the stronger performances, as detective Ray Duquette. And Matt Dillon also does a solid job as Sam Lombardo. Denise Richards is not that great as the somewhat spoiled Kelly van Ryan, while Neve Campbell is more convincing as the outcast Suzie. Bill Murray is a fun supporting actor, who plays an unreliable lawyer.
“Wild Things” is definitely a film you should see, because it’s more than meets the eye. If you can look past the quality of some of the actors and the fact that there is only pretty people in the film, you’re going to have a good time with this movie.

Rating: 3,5/ 5

90s Movie Review - Apollo 13

Director: Ron Howard
Genre: Drama/ Adventure
Runtime: 134 minutes
Year: 1995
Starring: Tom Hanks, Bill Paxton, Kevin Bacon, Ed Harris, Gary Sinise, Kathleen Quinlan, Ray McKinnon, Clint Howard

Description: NASA must devise a strategy to return Apollo 13 to Earth safely after the spacecraft undergoes massive internal damage putting the lives of the three astronauts on board in jeopardy.

Review: Jim Lovell is working at NASA, in 1970s America. He wants only one thing and that is to set foot on the moon. He has therefore had to wait a long time, but now it’s finally  happening. Due to illness of the original flight leader, Jim and his team are deployed on Apollo 13. During the flight, which initially goes well, some major problems arise. Jim and his team now have to do everything to get back to Earth safely. Jim, and his team members Fred and Jack must survive in a hostile environment, with a dwindling supply of oxygen.
“Apollo 13” tells the true story of the failed trip to the moon on the thirteenth Apollo mission. This was to be the third time humans would walk on the moon, but during the trip, all sorts of things went wrong. Commander of the ship, Jim Lovell, wrote about his experiences in the book “Lost Moon: The Perilous Voyage of Apollo 13”. This book was the basis for the film, which was directed by Ron Howard. True-life stories van be bogged down quite often in a heavy dose of sentiment and tear-jerking. “Apollo 13” also has several moments where this applies, but overall it is a film that manages to captivate and entertain. the facts told in the story are exciting and dramatic enough in themselves. I actually thought that the whole family drama at home, took the tempo out of the movie a bit. I was more interested in the space part, not the personal lives.
The cast seems to give their all and is extremely empathetic. The roles of the three astronauts are played by Tom Hanks, Kevin Bacon and Bill Paxton. Hanks is strong as ever, but Paxton and Bacon manage to hold their own alongside him. The trio manages to convey the desperation and mutual tension well. This makes the whole thing come across as authentic and realistic. Ed Harris and Gary Sinise, in smaller roles, also make  an impression.
“Apollo 13” is clearly created with a lot of love and attention to detail and it looks very realistic. It’s an entertaining movie, even on multiple viewings.

Rating: 4 / 5

00s Movie Review - Death Sentence

Director: James Wan
Genre: Drama/ Thriller/ Crime
Runtime: 110 minutes
Year: 2007
Starring: Kevin Bacon, Garrett Hedlund, Kelly Preston, Jordan Garrett, Stuart Lafferty, Aisha Tyler, John Goodman, Matt O’Leary, Leigh Wannell

Description: Nick Hume (Kevin Bacon) is a mild-mannered executive with a perfect life, until one gruesome night he witnesses something that changes him forever. Transformed by grief, Hume eventually comes to the disturbing conclusion that no length is too great when protecting his family.

Review: Nick Hume is a hard-working man who lives with his wife Hellen and two sons Lucas and Brendan. One evening, Nick and Brendan are on their way home after attending an ice hockey game. The two stop at a gas station, but a robbery takes place and Brendan is attacked. He is taken to the hospital, where Brendan dies. Nick, Helen and Lucas are overcome with grief, but it all gets worse when it turns out that the culprit will only spend a short time behind bars. Nick changes his statement, making sure that the killer is back on the street. Nick takes matter in his own hands. But before he knows it, he is involved in a war between him and the gang members that cost Brendan his life.
“Death Sentence” is based on a book by author Briand Garfield. Revenge is the theme here. James Wan directed the film. Wan knows how to keep the tension strong and to present us with some violent scenes. The transformation of Nick goes a bit fast and the gang members are portrayed very standard.
Kevin Bacon plays Nick. Because of him, “Death Sentence” is a movie that rises above average and his role is intense and realistic.
The story might be a bit predictable here and there, but because of the great performance by Bacon, “Death Sentence” and the constant tension, it’s a movie worth watching.

Rating: 3,5 / 5

10s Movie Review - Crazy Stupid Love

Director: Glenn Ficarra, John Requa
Genre: Drama/ Comedy/ Romance
Runtime: 118 minutes
Year: 2011
Starring: Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone, Julianne Moore, Marisa Tomei, Kevin Bacon, John Carroll Lynch, Analeigh Tipton, Joey King

Description: A middle-aged husband's (Steve Carell) life changes dramatically when his wife (Julianne Moore) asks him for a divorce. He seeks to rediscover his manhood with the help of a newfound friend, Jacob (Ryan Gosling), learning to pick up girls at bars.

Review: Filmmakers have tried so many times to create a romantic comedy that is liked by women and men. But they have only managed to succeed a couple of times. “Crazy Stupid Love” is one of them.
Cal is a decent, good 40 something guy, with a solid job, nice kids and a beautiful wife. During a nice dinner with his wife Emily, she surprises him with a request for a divorce. Because she slept with someone and they have drifted apart. Cal doesn’t know how to handle the situation and goes to bars, sobbing about his failed marriage. In that bar there also happens to be Jacob, a handsome, smooth talker that can score any woman any night. The two meet each other and Jacob decides to help Cal rediscover his manhood.
Cal and Jacob are the central figures in “Crazy Stupid Love”, but there are other characters struggling with love in many shapes and forms. And it’s one of the strongest elements of the film. All those different characters and their different feelings and emotions, they make sure everyone can relate to someone in this film. “Crazy Stupid Love” is fresh and has some surprising moments.
Every member of this cast seems perfect for their role. There is not one star, they are all equally good. And the humor and drama is in perfect balance.
“Crazy Stupid Love” is probably one of the best film to watch on a date.

Rating: 4,5/ 5

80s Movie Review - Footloose

Director: Herbert Ross
Genre: Drama/ Romance/ Music
Runtime: 107 minutes
Year: 1984
Starring: Kevin Bacon, Lori Singer, John Lithgow, Dianne Wiest, Chris Penn, Sarah Jessica Parker

Description: A city teenager (Kevin Bacon) moves to a small town where rock music and dancing have been banned, and his rebellious spirit shakes up the populace.

Review: It sound a bit silly, a town that has banded rock music and dancing. And it kinda is. But somehow, “Footloose” is still a fun film, filled with great 80s music.
Ren McCormack is a city boy, who moves to a small town with his mother. Rock music and dancing is banned, but Ren and his new friends are going to rebel against that. Ariel is the reverend’s daughter, the man who started it all. And of course she falls for Ren.
Two things I love about this film: the music and the choreography. It looks good, makes you happy and you instantly start moving in your chair. And especially the dance montages are my favorite.
“Footloose” isn’t really a timeless classic, but after so many years it’s still a fun film to watch. The story is still a bit silly and the performance are a bit flat. But overall, it’s a great dance film.

Rating: 3 / 5

90s Movie Review - Tremors

Director: Ron Underwood
Genre: Action/ Comedy/ Horror/ Thriller
Runtime: 95 minutes
Year: 1990
Starring: Kevin Bacon, Fred Ward, Finn Carter, Michael Gross, Reba McEntire, Charlotte Stewart, Tony Genaro, Ariana Richards, Richard Marcus, Victor Wong, Sunshine Parker, Michael Dan Wagner, Conrad Bachmann, Bibi Besch

Description: Natives of a small isolated town defend themselves against strange underground creatures which are killing them one by one.

Review: Don’t you just love monster movies? In “Tremors” the danger comes from graboids, some kind of giant, hungry worm that lives underground of the little town called Perfection.
At the start of the movie, we see people attack and die by the graboids. And we also meet the characters who have to deal with these creatures. The best part of the film is how it manages to combine action, tension, horror and humor all together. You are curious to what is happening, but it takes some time to really see the monsters. And the film has tempo. Because the character aren’t really safe anywhere, the tension is continuous. The graboids are fast and strong and find their victims due to the tremors of the ground.
As stated before, there is humor in this film. Throughout the entire film.
Kevin Bacon and Fred Ward, not particularly known for their humor, proof that they have a comedic talent. And Michael Gross is probably the funniest part of the film.
The effects are pretty good, especially when you hardly see any computer techniques being used.
“Tremors” is a great example of an exciting movie, that doesn’t lose its tension because of the huge dose of humor. For me, “Tremors” is always a joy to watch.

Rating: 4 / 5

100 Movie Challenge 2014 - # 61: X-Men: First Class

Director: Matthew Vaughn

Genre: Action/ Drama/ Adventure/ Science Fiction

Runtime: 132 minutes

Year: 2011
Starring: James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence, Rose Byrne, Nicholas Hoult, Kevin Bacon, January Jones, Oliver Platt

 

Description: In 1962, the United States government enlists the help of Mutants with superhuman abilities to stop a malicious dictator who is determined to start world war III.

 

Review: “X-Men: First Class” is a so called origin story, that explains how the lead characters from this well-known series became the people they are now. It’s not based on the comics, so the fans might be disappointed.

Like “X-Men”, this films starts in concentration camp Auschwitz. Young Magneto, who then is still Erik Lehnsherr, suffers under the cruel Nazi science of Dr. Schmidt. In another part of the world is telepath Charles Xavier leading a privileged but lonely life. Erik and Xavier meet each other as adults, in the sixties, where they develop a close friendship. They decide to join forces and form a group with young mutants to protect the world from Dr. Schmidt.

“X-Men: First Class” isn’t flawless. It starts out as a clear and solid story about Xaviers idealism versus a cynical Erik. Halfway through subplots develop and supporting characters are added, who aren’t all interesting enough. Take Emma Frost, who is literally a sparkling character but comes off a bit bland.  You only get  a more closer look at Beast and Mystique, who both struggle with their physical appearance.

It’s easy to forgive these shortcomings, because the movie is strong because of its dark humor, action and special effects. Michael Fassbender is cast perfectly as the charismatic and cynical Magneto. James McAvoy is a bit more timid in his performance, but has manpower enough to make Xavier the powerful and charming man that he is. Jennifer Lawrence is also solid as Mystique, who you see change throughout the film.

I really enjoyed “X-Men: First Class”, a good prequel to the series.

 

Rating: 4/ 5

In the Picture: The Characters from "Crazy Stupid Love"

I rewatched this movie recently and I liked it even more after watching it a second time. I also got time to dissect all the characters, so here they are.

Cal Weaver
Played by: Steve Carell
Cal just found out that his wife Emily wants a divorce, because she slept with someone else. After moving in to his own appartement, Cal goes to a bar where he meets Jacob. After this meeting Cal decides to change and to stop sobbing about Emily. Cal is very honest, goodhearted and he will never stop loving Emily.

Jacob Palmer
Played by: Ryan Gosling
Jacob wants Cal to rediscover his manhood. He wants him to change. To be more like him, a womanizer. Jacob is a smooth talker and can get any woman he wants… but Hannah. When he meets Hannah, his view on life changes and he regrets who he used to be.

Emily Weaver
Played by: Julianne Moore
Emily cheated on Cal with a coworker. Emily says that she and Cal had already drifted apart, but when Cal really leaves she realizes how much she loves him. Emily is a very supportive mother and loves Cal deep in her heart.

Hannah Weaver
Played by: Emma Stone
Hannah is a recent law school graduate and is expecting her boyfriend to propose to her. Instead he offers her a job and that’s when Hannah decided it’s time for a change. She goes to meet Jacob in the bar, where she earlier rejected him. Hannah is not like other girls. She’s not afraid to speak her mind and she is out of the ordinary.

Robbie Weaver
Played by: Jonah Bobo
Robbie is the only Weaver boy and madly in love with Jessica, his babysitter. Unlike his dad Cal, he fights for Jessica and will continue until he won her over. For a kid his age Robbie is pretty smart and wise.

Jessica Riley
Played by: Analeigh Tipton
Jessica is the Weavers babysitter. Although Robbie has had a crush on her for a while, Jessica is trying to ignore him. She made clear that she’s not interested in him. Jessica only has eyes for one man: Cal. And now that Emily is out of the way she thinks she stands a chance. Jessica is naïve, but kindhearted.

David Lindhagen
Played by: Kevin Bacon
David is the guy that came between Cal and Emily. He’s a bit of a sleezebag and he’s trying to find his way into the family. Robbie doesn’t really like him, Cal doesn’t and soon no one will.

Kate Tafferty
Played by: Marisa Tomei
Kate and Cal meet each other in the bar and she’s Cal's first girl after Emily. Kate appreciates Cal for his honesty and goes home with him. Cal promises to call her, but he doesn’t and when they meet again it doesn’t end well for Cal. Kate is a very unstable and emotional woman.

Favorite Character: Hannah Weaver

In the Picture: The Characters from "Mystic River"

Clint Eastwood is a fine actor, but in my opinion he's an even better director. "Mystic River" is such a great piece of work and an actual character study of the people involved in the story. Here are the most important characters in the film.

Jimmy Markum
Played by: Sean Penn
Jimmy is the beloved father of three daughters. Two of them he had with current wife Annabeth and he had his oldest daughter with his now deceased wife Marita. Jimmy does have a criminal history. He spend two years of his life in prison for a robbery. After they found Jimmy's daughter Katie dead, that old Jimmy turns up again. For him it doesn't matter how, but he's going to find the man who did this to her. And he will pay.

Dave Boyle
Played by: Tim Robbins
Dave is a loving father and a loyal husband to his wife Celeste. As a kid he experienced something horrible and now, twenty years later, he's still traumatized. Dave is very troubled and the image of that incident so many years ago is still haunting him every day. This is also a burden in his relationship with Celeste, his son Michael and his friend Jimmy.

Sean Devine
Played by: Kevin Bacon
Sean used to be friends with both Jimmy and Dave. Nowadays he doesn't have contact with them, although they run into each other from time to time. He is a cop and the one who has to solve the murder of Katie Markum. He tries to handle it as professional as possible. Sean's wife left him six months ago, while she was pregnant. She calls him, but never says anything when he picks up the phone. It looks like it doesn't affect him, but his future with her isn't secure and he just wants her back in his life.

Celeste Boyle
Played by: Marcia Gay Harden
Celeste is Dave's wife. She loves him more then anything, but she doesn't know what to do with her troubled husband. Celeste doesn't know about Dave's traumatic experience as a child. When Dave comes home covered in blood, she doesn't believe his story. After she finds out about Katie Markum's death, Celeste starts doubting her husband and feels really insecure about her life with him.

Annabeth Markum
Played by: Laura Linney
Annabeth is Jimmy's second wife. She accepted Jimmy's oldest daughter, but it's clear that they don't always get along. Unlike Celeste, Annabeth will always stand by her husband and she would never doubt his actions. Even if it's not the right thing to do, according to the law.

Favorite Character: Dave Boyle