Action – Page 24 – Brett Garten, Movie Extraordinare

“Sicario”

By Brett_G on January 19, 2021

8.5

A masterclass in suspenseful filmmaking. The action is razor-focused. The characters are developed in a way that beautifully balances depth with intrigue.

All three leads fit perfectly within their characters. Emily Blunt serves well as a stand-in for the audience, playing off the other characters as she peels back each menacing layer of the narrative onion. Josh Brolin plays the charismatic bad(?) guy that you can’t help but get behind from time to time. Benicio Del Torro has an immense presence on the screen, serving as a man of few words who speaks volumes with the little dialogue he does have. He really serves as the mooring in reality and sanity for the story in the end, as the only consistent character. Even if he is consistently sinister with just enough heart and logic behind him that you go “I kinda get it.”

A thought-provoking film, regardless of your politics and level of violence tolerance. Nuance that is often lacking in today’s storytelling. Plus, the score is amazing. Highly recommend.

Action Suspense/Thriller

“Ex Machina”

By Brett_G on November 26, 2020

7.7

Instead of your typical Victorian/Colonial age film from A24 that makes your skin crawl, this one has robots!

Brilliant performances by all involved precisely weave a cautionary tale of AI gone awry. The age-old scientific inquiry, “we can, but should we?” Michael Crichton would be proud! Get ready to have your mind bent, then blown by this masterpiece of science… Fiction? (only because this feels all too real in the not so distant future)

Action Blockbuster Romance

“Love and Monsters”

By Brett_G on October 20, 2020

8.5

WAY better than this film had any right to be. A strong message of living your life with a sense of bravery anchored in purpose. Beautiful special effects, world building, and storytelling. A cast with a natural chemistry, perfectly assigned to their roles. All set to a rocking soundtrack with a masterful mix in of classics. Like I said, on paper this makes no sense, but it works beautifully and had me terrified, cheering, tearful, and ultimately satisfied. Glad to still have gems like this one out of the woodwork in the hot mess that is watching movies in 2020.

Action

“Honest Thief”

By Brett_G on October 17, 2020October 17, 2020

7.9

… and you thought you hated Jai Courtney before. Sheesh, this guy can’t catch a break on exclusively playing unlikeable characters.

Liam Neeson does Liam Neeson things. This time, his girlfriend is taken, blowing up his plans for a normal life. Kate Walsh does a fantastic job as Liam’s accomplice, as does Jeffrey Donovan as his enabler at the Bureau. Strap in, and watch everything go boom in this edge of your seat thriller. Then, get ready to go “awe…” right before the credits roll. It’s a wild ride.

Action Suspense/Thriller

“Insomnia”

By Brett_G on September 30, 2020

7.6

Almost all the way through the Christopher Nolan cinematic universe. Pretty fitting this is coming out late at night, given the title.

No one does manic like Al Pacino. Walking that fine line between genius and insanity. And an absolute masterclass performance by Robin Williams… as a villain! He plays it straight, and it works. No goofball in this character, only sinister intent. Nolan really has a knack for casting to subvert expectations of us moviegoers. Keeps you on the edge of your seat until the very end. My money is still on us finding out that all Christopher Nolan movies are connected in the end. We’ll have a “saw”-type flashback montage showing how they all connect. Book it.

This film, similar to “Memento,” is an integral stepping stone in a legendary director’s journey honing his craft. The storytelling, casting, and cinematography being further refined as the resume grows over time.