10s Movie Review - The Normal Heart

Director: Ryan Murphy
Genre: Drama
Runtime: 122 minutes
Year: 2014
Starring: Mark Ruffalo, Matt Bomer, Jim Parsons, Joe Mantello, Taylor Kitsch, Julia Roberts, Jonathan Groff, B.D. Wong

I WATCHED THIS MOVIE FOR MY 2022 MOVIE CHALLENGE.
WEEK 27: A MOVIE ABOUT A HISTORICAL FIGURE

Description: A gay activist (Mark Ruffalo) attempts to raise H.I.V. and A.I.D.S. awareness during the early 1980s

Review: Nowadays, with the right medications, you can live a respectable age when being diagnosed with HIV or AIDS. But back in the 1980s, when the disease first manifested itself, that was a different story. At that time AIDS was called ‘gay cancer’ and more and more people saw the mysterious virus invade their lives. The truth behind the origin of this disease remained unknown for a long time, especially since it took some time for AIDS and HIV to be recognized. Someone who played a major role in putting both diseases on the map is the American writer and activist Larry Kramer, who this story is based on, only now with fictional characters.  

In “The Normal Heart” it’s Ned Weeks, portrayed by Mark Ruffalo, a political activist and writer. We meet him in the summer of ’81, joining a party in Long Island. He reads articles about a mysterious cancer, that exclusively affects homosexuals. He sees the seriousness of this disease and decides to consult doctor Emma Brookner. She researches the disease and discovers that there is more to it. She asks Ned to warn the gay community about the disease.

As the disease gets closer and closer to his own group of friends, Ned takes actions. Not much help comes. The city of New York and the Reagan administration refuse to recognize the disease. He seeks supports of his brother Ben, a lawyer. But even with the strong bond they have, Ben finds it hard to understand Ned’s orientation. Reporter Felix Turner, whom he later gets in a relationship with, is willing to help.

“The Normal Heart” is a project that director Ryan Murphy put his entire heart and soul in. And it’s visible. Not only because of him, also thanks to Mark Ruffalo, who is really impressive as Ned Weeks. He is supported by a strong cast, where Jim Parsons and Joe Mantello really stand out. Murphy doesn’t shy away from portraying the horrors that AIDS brings. But the main strength lies in the screenplay.

Rating: 4/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2016 - # 158: The Maginificent Seven

Director: Antoine Fuqua
Genre: Action/ Western/ Adventure
Runtime: 132 minutes
Year: 2016
Starring: Denzel Washington, Chris Pratt, Etha Hawke, Vincent D’Onofrio, Byung-Hun Lee, Manuel Garcia Rulfo, Martin Sendmeier, Haley Bennett, Peter Sarsgaard, Matt Bomer

Description: Seven gun men in the old west gradually come together to help a poor village against savage thieves.

Review: Remakes are dangerous and most often I don’t like them. The original “The Magnificent Seven” is one of my favorite classic westerns. This remake has a double risk. The original by John Sturgess was already a retelling of the legenday “Seven Samurai”, translated to a western. Director Antoine Fuqua doesn’t only have to fight the popularity of the 1960 film, but also has to refresh the well-known story. Luckily for us, “The Magnificent Seven” is not a bad remake.
Fuqua takes his time with the introduction and really focusses on the charisma of Denzel Washington, Chris Pratt and Ethan Hawke. All three are convincing. Washington as the calm bad-ass, Hawke as tence sharp shooter and Pratt as a cowboy with a sense of honor.
The violent opening sets a certain tone, but then “The Magnificent Seven” turns into a more standard western. Lots of action, pretty shots of landscapes and a big dose of testosterone. For the genre it’s good, but it never reaches the same level as the original.
The final battle of the movie is action packed and it’s one giant spectacle. Beautifully shot.
“The Magnificent Seven” is a good film when you think of it as an original film. When you compare it to the original, it’s better than average. Very entertaining and a good cast.

Rating: 3,5/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2016 - # 87: The Nice Guys

Director: Shane Black
Genre: Action/ Comedy/ Crime/ Thriller
Runtime: 116 minutes
Year: 2016
Starring: Russell Crowe, Ryan Gosling, Angouri Rice, Matt Bomer, Keith David, Kim Basinger, Ty Simpkins

Description: A mismatched pair of private eyes (Russel Crowe, Ryan Gosling) investigate the apparent suicide of a porn star in 1970s Los Angeles.

Review: Besides a director, Shane Black is also a great writer. While “The Nice Guys” is only his third directed film, he impresses. Like his previous film “Kiss Kiss Bang Bang”, this movie has a film noir feel and is a detective story set in Los Angeles. And again it’s fabulous!
The buildup in “The Nice Guys” is a bit more traditional, but the two private detectives in the story aren’t. Holland March, played by Ryan Gosling, is the kind of guy that hates himself. He doesn’t believe he will ever be happy again and blames himself for the death of his wife. March is cynical and funny. Gosling has a surprising talent for physical comedy. Russel Crowe plays Jackson Healy, a more straight forward detective. Probably better at his job then March, but less conventional. Crowe’s character is also very likeable. Angourice Rice, who plays Gosling’s daughter in the film, is fantastic. She is a smart twelve-year-old, who wants to work with her father even if it’s a danger for her own life.
Gosling and Crowe are a match made in heaven. They have great chemistry and good dialogues. Most ‘buddy cop’ films have two cops paired that are very different from each other. The characters in “The Nice Guys” are really not that different and that’s why this movie feels so fresh. It’s a great crime comedy for a broad audience. I love the cynicism, humor and action in this film. “The Nice Guys” is definitely a favorite of the year

Rating: 5/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2015 - # 101: Magic Mike XXL

Director: Gregory Jacobs

Genre: Comedy/ Drama

Runtime: 115 minutes

Year: 2015

Starring: Channing Tatum, Joe Manganiello, Matt Bomer, Kevin Nash, Adam Rodriguez, Jada Pinkett-Smith, Elizabeth Banks, Amber Heard, Donald Glover, Andie MacDowell

Description: Three years after Mike (Channing Tatum) bowed out of the stripper life at the top of his game, he and the remaining Kings of Tampa hit the road to Myrtle Beach to put on one last blow-out performance.

Review: Channing Tatum broke through as the lead in a dance movie called “Step Up”and returned to his ‘roots’ in “Magic Mike”. This Steven Soderbergh directed movie was loosely based on Tatum’s past as a stripper. The movie was a hit and fans were really excited about a sequel. This time without Matthew McConaughey and director Soderbergh, but some extra women in the cast and more sexy dance movies and six-packs.

Like the character that Donald Glover plays says in the movie: “All we got to do is ask them what they want”. And that is “Magic Mike XXL”. We get more naked body parts and lap dances. The ‘Kings of Tampa” have to practice for their last performance, where Mike returns after being absent for three years. During their road trip they get in trouble a couple of times and they meet some colorful people along the way. Like Rome, played by Jada Pinkett-Smith, the owner of a club. She actually outplays all the guys in the film.

There isn’t as much humor in this film as the first. The story on the other hand, has become more important. This takes the pace out of the movie, it drags a bit. And that final dance act should be the highlight of the film. For many people it probably is, but I hated it. Male strippers should look masculine, but for me it’s a big turn off.

For the fans of the first movie, they get what they want: more half naked men and more sexy moves. But for the people who want a bit more, like humor and pace, it’s a letdown. The movie was saved by the women, pretty strange when it’s about stripper men.

Rating: 2/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2014 - # 23: Magic Mike

Director: Steven Sodenbergh
Genre: Drama/ Comedy
Runtime: 109 minutes
Year: 2012
Starring: Channing Tatum, Alex Pettyfer, Matthew McConaughey, Cody Horn, Joe Manganiello, Matt Bomer, Adam Rodriguez, Oliva Munn, Kevin Nash

Description: Mike Lane (Channing Tatum) is a thirty-year old living in Tampa, Florida. By day he works as a roofer whilst at night, as Magic Mike, he is the star attraction of the Kings of Tampa, a group of male strippers. Secretly he wants out in order to further a projected furniture-making business, but instead he teaches the young Adam (Alex Pettyfer) how to party, pick up women, and make easy money.

Review: No, he isn’t a magician, Magic Mike is a stripper. Channing Tatum based parts of the film on his own life, because he started out as one. Tatum had woman swooning for him in movies like “Step Up” and “She’s the Man” and this film is right up his alley. But it’s not as cliché as I thought. This comedy, with a semi-original theme, is entertaining and light and it sometimes even hits a nerve.
Mike is the center character, who is a thirty-year old playboy who performs as a stripper in a club called Xquisite, runned by Dallas. Mike meets Adam, a young guy who wants to explore the exciting night life. It appears he also has potential as a stripper and he joins the group.
It’s an outstanding theme. Although there are movies about the stripper profession, but it’s mostly women who take off their clothes. So the fact that it’s about male strippers makes the movie unconventional. Between all these half-naked guys there is also a love story, where Mike falls for Adam’s sister Brooke. It seems to go into the same old direction, but the movie avoids all the sweetness and cheesiness. Channing Tatum and Cody Horn don’t really seem to have that much chemistry though. Horn isn’t the best choice for the role.
The movie goes in a different direction then the audience would expect. That makes this a surprising movie. Although for woman it’s a joy to watch all those handsome men getting rid of their clothes, I never found male strippers very masculine, but it’s not just a movie about male strippers. It has more layers, which makes it bearable to watch for men and women. It’s a lovely, fresh film.

Rating: 3/ 5