Movie Review - Crime 101

Director: Bart Layton
Genre: Crime/ Drama/ Thriller
Runtime: 140 minutes
Year: 2026
Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Halle Berry, Barry Keoghan, Nick Nolte, Tate Donovan, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Monica Barbaro
 
Description: An elusive thief (Chris Hemsworth), eyeing his final score, encounters a disillusioned insurance broker (Halle Berry) at her own crossroads. As their paths intertwine, a relentless detective (Mark Ruffalo) trails them hoping to thwart the multi-million dollar heist they are planning.
 
Review: “Crime 101” is a breath of fresh air for fans of the classic noir genre. Based on the novella by Don Winslow, the film offers an intelligent and atmospheric cat-and-mouse game reminiscent of classics like Michael Mann’s “Heat”, yet retains its own distinct identity.

Chris Hemsworth plays a thief. Moving away from his typical high-action superhero persona, Hemsworth portrays a character defined by meticulousness and social complexity. He is a very disciplined jewel thief, who swears by a strict code of honor. Opposite him is detective Lou Lubesnick, played by Mark Ruffalo, whose obsession with the case is palpable. Halle Berry, as Sharon, somehow comes on the path of both. Barry Keoghan, as the unpredictable and violent rival, brings a much-needed dose of danger and tension to the story. The chemistry between the cast is one of the film’s greatest assets.

Director Bart Layon transforms Los Angeles into a characters in its own right. The cinematography captures the city as a place of dark magic and sprawling highways, which amplifies the sultry atmosphere.

The film excels in atmosphere, rather than over-the-top CGI spectacle. It focuses on the characters, their development, over unrealistic action. It’s not even an action movie, the main character doesn’t use any violence. It’s a crime drama, with thriller elements.

“Crime 101” is tightly directed, beautifully acted and with a focus on character development over cheap action. Despite the pacing be rather slow (which I actually liked), the film might be one of the most satisfying films of the year.

Rating: 4/ 5

90s Movie Review - Hercules

Director: Ron Clements, John Musker
Genre: Adventure/ Animation/ Musical/ Family/ Fantasy
Runtime: 92 minutes
Year: 1997
Starring: Tate Donovan, Danny DeVito, James Woods, Bob Goldthwait, Rip Torn, Paul Shaffer, Hal Holbrook

Description: The son of Zeus and Hera is stripped of his immortality as an infant and must become a true hero in order to reclaim it.

I WATCHED THIS MOVIE FOR MY 2021 MOVIE CHALLENGE.
WEEK 17: A MUSICAL
 
Review: “Hercules”, in 1997, was on of the last films to fall within what is known as the Disney Renaissance. The Disney Renaissance was the period from 1989 to 1999 when Disney returned to making successful films based on well-known stories. In 1997 Disney came up not with a fairy tale, but with the Greek myth of Hercules.
It is a typical Disney film in which the story is completely different from what is actually is. In the Greek myth, Hercules is actually a baby from an extramarital relationship. Not so much a Disney theme. So, this film begins with the welcoming of Hercules into the family.
Everyone is happy about the birth of Hercules, except for Hades; the God of the underworld. Hades wants to seize power on Olympus, but he us afraid Hercules will interfere with these plans. To prevent this he sends his henchmen Pain and Panic in the middle of the night. They must make Hercules immortal and then kill him. They succeed in making him immortal, but fail in killing him.
We jump in time and see that Hercules has continued to grow up with the farm couple that found him as a baby. Because he cannot handle his own powers, everyone is afraid of Hercules. In fact, he is known as a big klutz who only brings back luck and breaks stuff. Hercules struggles, but after finding out he is the son of Zeus he is told he can regain his divinity when he proves that he is a true hero. Zeus sends Hercules to Phil, to train him to become a hero.
You don’t need any knowledge of Greek myths to watch this film. I think it’s best, because the story is anything but accurate and the “Disney-fied” the hell out of it. It’s a stunning film, with great songs, especially “Go the Distance”. Perhaps not one of Disney’s very best, but certainly entertaining.

Rating: 3,5/ 5

Movie Reviews - Rocketman

Director: Dexter Fletcher
Genre: Drama/ Music
Runtime: 121 minutes
Year: 2019
Starring: Taron Edgerton, Jamie Bell, Richard Madden, Bryce Dallas Howard, Gemma Jones, Tate Donovan, Stephen Graham

Description: A musical fantasy about the fantastical human story of Elton John’s (Taron Edgerton) breakthrough years.

Review: In almost every article about this Elton John biopic “Rocketman”, it’s being comaired to “Bohemian Rhapsody”, which came out in 2018. This isn’t strange, since both films focus on a British singer of the same generation that are outstanding musicians, struggle with alcohol, drugs and homosexuality, who take on a stage name and have a flamboyant trademark. Both movies are named after their biggest hit. And Bryan Singer directed “Bohemian Rhapsody”, but initially was meant to be directed by Dexter Fletcher, now director of “Rocketman”.
Both movies are very different when it comes to style. “Bohemian Rhapsody” was a more conventional biopic, but “Rocketman” is a musical. Where Elton John tells his life story through song. It’s a logical choice, but not for a biopic about the titular musician. But it works really well. All songs were re-recorded for this film and everything was sung by leading man Taron Edgerton himself. Especially the first hour of the film is very strong, when eventually the story will follow a more conventional path as well. We see Elton in a toxic relationship with John Reid and he eventually can’t resist the alcohol, drugs and other men. His career isn’t only in danger, but also strong bonds he has with certain people. It’s the cliché part of a musical biopic.
Taron Edgerton is a good choice for Elton John. The young actor proofs that he is a capable singer and he can carry a movie. He doesn’t always sound like Elton John, but that’s not an issue. He did his own singing, which makes it more authentic and his acting is tremendous.
I was surprised by some heavy themes in the story. I didn’t know Elton John’s story at all and I was quite shocked about his past and everything he had to deal with in his life.

Rating: 3,5/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2017 - # 42: About Ray

Director: Gaby Delal
Genre: Drama/ Comedy
Runtime: 87 minutes
Year: 2015
Starring: Naomi Watts, Elle Fanning, Susan Sarandon, Tate Donovan

Description: After Ray (Elle Fanning) decides to transition from female to male, Ray's mother, Maggie (Naomi Watts), must come to terms with the decision while tracking down Ray's biological father to get his legal consent.

Review: Worldwide acceptance maybe a long way, but transsexuality reaches a bigger audience nowadays.
In “About Ray” Elle Fanning plays Ramona, Ray. She is sixteen and wants to make the transition from girl to boy, because she always felt more like a boy. Fanning’s performance is really strong. For the testosterone therapy Ray has to go through, she needs consent from both of her parents. But Ray’s father left the family when she was just a baby. Mother Maggie wants the best for Ray, but why does she need to dig up the past.
“About Ray” is a charming drama with little hints of comedy here and there. The cast does a great job, but the film overall never manages to convince completely.

Rating: 3/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2015 - # 14: Argo

Director: Ben Affleck

Genre: Drama/ Thriller

Runtime: 120 minutes

Year: 2012

Starring: Ben Affleck, Bryan Cranston, Alan Arkin, John Goodman, Victor Garber, Scoot McNairy, Rory Cochrane, Christopher Denham, Kerry Bishé, Kyle Chandler, Chris Messina, Zeljko Ivanek, Titus Welliver, Keith Szarabajka, Bob Gunton, Richard Kind, Richard Dillane, Omid Abtaho, Page Leong, Farshad, Cea DuVall, Sheila Vand, Ryan Ahern, Bill Tangradi, Jamie McShane, Tate Donovan, Matthew Glave, Roberto Garcia Christopher Stanley

Description: Acting under the cover of a Hollywood producer scouting a location for a science fiction film, a CIA agent (Ben Affleck) launches a dangerous operation to rescue six Americans in Tehran during the U.S. hostage crisis in Iran in 1980.

Review: November 1979, Iranian students occupy the American embassy in Teheran, to enforce extradition of the Shah. Over fifty Americans were taking hostage and were released after fourteen days, after the Shah died. Six embassy staff members did manage to flee on that same day to the Canadian embassy. With a science fiction movie as a cover, they managed to escape after three months. In 1997, Bill Clinton released information about this mission, with a big role for CIA man Tony Mendez. This is a perfect story for a movie.

Director Ben Affleck choose Rodrigo Prieto as his cinematographer, who is known as the cameraman for Alejandro Gonzálex Iñárritu. This makes all the images authentic. This sets the film of to a good start and the thriller plot can develop. “Argo” looks perfect as a time period piece, with the characters constantly smoking, big glasses and televisions with buttons. In the second half of the film, the pace gets faster. This is a good thing. The movie is build slow and then picks up the pace.

“Argo” does have its weak points. Director Affleck is great, leading actor Affleck, who looks like Al Pacino in “Serpico”, doesn’t manage to convince you completely. As a CIA man he does, but the demons he has (drinking, failed fatherhood) don’t really reach the audience the way it should have. A strong opponent could have covered it up a bit, but the powerful performances are given by John Goodman and Alan Arkin, who have supporting roles.

I understand the success of “Argo”, it’s a true story about a heroic escape plan, and I liked it. The change of pace works well and Ben Affleck did a good job as a director. “Argo” is a good film.

Rating: 3,5/ 5