Movie Review - The Fall Guy

Director: David Leitch
Genre: Action/ Comedy
Runtime: 126 minutes
Year: 2024
Starring: Ryan Gosling, Emily Blunt, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Hannah Waddingham, Winston Duke, Teresa Palmer
 
Description: A down-and-out stuntman (Ryan Gosling) must find the missing star (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) of his ex-girlfriend’s (Emily Blunt) blockbuster film.  

Review: The profession of stuntman is often undervalued in Hollywood. It’s a pretty thankless role, because no one knows who you are and the actors take all the credit. So, it’s high time the stuntman is put in the spotlight.

Director David Leitch pays an homage to the many anonymous stunt people. We meet stuntman Colt Seavers. For years, he has been working as the regular stuntman for movie star Tom Ryder. Colt understands his craft and has a romance with camerawoman Jody Moreno. When Colt performs a new stunt on set in which he has to fall of a tall building, things go wrong. He breaks his back and realizes he has to retire from the stunt business. He also stops talking to Jody. When a year and a half later, he is contacted by producer Gail, Colt hesitates. But when he finds out that it’s Jody who is directing the movie, he decides to make a comeback.

“The Fall Guy” is an entertaining and visually stunning action flick. It’s pretty obvious that director David Leitch previously made “Deadpool 2” and “Bullet Train”. The same type of humor. Which I enjoyed. The film is, sadly, fairly predictable. The chemistry between Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt is really strong and I loved both actors in this film.

“The Fall Guy” is a great time, but it’s also a bit forgettable in the end.

Rating: 3,5/ 5

10s Movie Review - Hacksaw Ridge

Director: Mel Gibson
Genre: Drama
Runtime: 138 minutes
Year: 2016
Starring: Andrew Garfield, Teresa Palmer, Vince Vaughn, Hugo Weaving, Sam Worthington, Rachel Griffiths, Luke Bracey

Description: World War II American Army Medic Desmond T. Doss (Andrew Garfield), who served during the Battle of Okinawa, refuses to kill people, and becomes the first man in American history to receive the Medal of Honor without firing a shot.

Review: Mel Gibson didn’t really grew in popularity, due to his anti-Semitic outbursts and alcoholism. Ten years after his directorial debut, Gibson sits in the director’s chair again for this war film about a true American hero. His impressive comeback “Hacksaw Ridge” tells the story of Desmond Doss, who managed to save 75 fellow soldiers during the battle of Okinawa, by dragging them away from the fire line.
Desmond Doss didn’t want to carry a gun, due to his religion, let alone fire one. So at all times, he was unarmed. At first, the other soldiers and his superiors think he is crazy and want him gone. Because he will not protect his fellow soldiers. And Doss becomes the mark of jokes and they try to get him to leave. But Doss stays and eventually gets permission to join without a gun and become a medic.
Whenever the soldiers step foot on Hacksaw Ridge, the film becomes more brutal and unnuanced. But the images are filmed so well and it looks very realistic, but it’s not for the faint of heart.
Even though there is a lot of war violence going on, Gibson never forgets to focus on his main character. And that’s all because of Andrew Garfield, whose performance is so strong and believable. Vince Vaughn can easily make you forget about his silly comedies and is also very solid in his performance. But the best supporting role is for Hugo Weaving, who plays Desmond’s father.
The film does follow some standards, as we know them from other war movies. It has clichés and it knows when to make certain decisions at the right moment in the film. And sometimes it gets a little too sentimental.
A great comeback by director Mel Gibson and a fantastic performance by Andrew Garfield.

Rating: 4/ 5

100 Movie Challene 2016 - 78: Triple 9

Director: John Hillcoat
Genre: Action/ Drama/ Crime
Runtime: 115 minutes
Year: 2016
Starring: Casey Affleck, Woody Harrelson, Kate Winslet, Aaron Paul, Anthony Mackie, Norman Reedus, Gal Gadot, Teresa Palmet, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Clifton Collins Jr.

Description: A gang of criminals and corrupt cops plan the murder of a police officer in order to pull off their biggest heist yet across town.

Review: Just like in other big American cities, the police in Atlanta works with codes. The 999 code means that a cop has been shot. A group of bankrobbers is about to cause a triple 9.
Michael Atwood has to return a favour to some Russian mobsters. In his group there are the two Welch brothers and two corrupt cops. Irina Vlaslov, leader of that Russian mob, calls the shot. On the other side of town detective Jeffrey Allen is dealing with this gang and tries to get his cousin Chris to get ready for it.
“Triple 9” doesn’t have many surprises. Not in the plot, motives or backgrounds. And there are too many characters to actually make them interesting or deep enough. The atmosphere is perfect, but the screenplay is the problem. The movie doesn’t interest you from beginning till end.

Rating: 3/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2016 - # 22: Point Break (remake)

Director: Ericson Core

Genre: Action

Runtime: 114 minutes

Year: 2015

Starring: Luke Bracey, Édgar Ramirez, Teresa Palmer, Matias Varela, Clemens Schick, Ray Winstone

Description: A young FBI agent (Luke Bracey) infiltrates an extraordinary team of extreme sports athletes he suspects of masterminding a string of unprecedented, sophisticated corporate heists.

Review: Hollywood has an urge to remake or reboot movies from the ‘80s and ‘90s. Nothing is sacred anymore. “Point Break” is also the victim. The action film from 1991, directed by Kathryn Bigelow, starring Keanu Reeves and Patrick Swayze, is seen as a cult classic from the 1990s. The 2015 version has, besides characters with the same names, a similar plot as the original. It adds some new camera and computer techniques, idealism and a soggy love story. This “Point Break” is nothing more than a chain of tough overconfident hipsters doing one impossible stunt after another. A big shell with not a lot in it.

As an excuse for all those daredevils and extreme sports, there is a story. A young traumatized FBI agent infiltrates into a group of ‘Robin Hoods’ who rob banks in the most spectacular ways. In the opening scene we see how Johnny Utah loses his best friend during a motorcycle stunt. When he joins the FBI, they don’t see potential in him. This changes when he sees a pattern in the daring actions led by Bodhi. Utah will have to infiltrate and win Bodhi’s trust.

Okay, the camera work and the stunts are cool. But that’s it. There is really nothing more to this film. The more we get into the film, the more unbelievable it gets. And then there is this unnecessary side plot, a love story. I don’t care about that! Keanu Reeves may not be the best actor in Hollywood, but he has more charisma and talent than Luke Bracey. His performance is bland. The only one that actually does give it his best shot is Ray Winstone, but he is just a supporting character.

“Point Break” is a hopeless remake. Hollywood, please don’t be lazy!

Rating: 1,5/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2014 - # 54: Warm Bodies

Director: Jonathan Levine
Genre: Comedy/ Romance/ Horror
Runtime: 98 minutes
Year: 2013
Starring: Nicholas Hoult, Teresa Palmer, John Malkovich, Analeigh Tipton, Rob Corrdry, Dave Franco

Description: After a highly unusual zombie (Nicholas Hoult) saves still-living girl Julie (Teresa Palmer) from an attack, the two form a relationship that sets in motion events that might transform the entire lifeless world.

Review: The love between a human and a different creature (vampires, werewolves, aliens) has been done a couple of times. In “Warm Bodies” we can add another one to the list: the zombie. But I’m not going to compare it too “Twilight”, because this movie is just too much fun and the vampire movie just isn’t.
In “Warm Bodies” we see a world where a zombie epidemic has taken over most of mankind. A small group of people stay hidden in the city, with a giant wall surrounding them. We meet zombie R, who has forgotten his name, can hardly talk but is sharing his thoughts with the audience. He falls for the beautiful Julie and wants to protect her from the other zombies. Julie doesn’t trust the situation, but sees that R is different.
“Warm Bodies” is based on a book by Isaac Marion and loosely based on “Romeo & Juliet”. With that the movie is filled with humor and romance and a bit of horror elements as well. Nicholas Hoult and Teresa Palmer have great chemistry. I also love the soundtrack, every song is just chosen perfectly.
“Warm Bodies” is a romantic comedy, but then with zombies. There is a perfect balance between humor and romance. It’s original and fresh and a joy to watch!

Rating: 4/ 5