7.7
Jason Statham does Jason Statham things. Need I say more?
7.1
The chill older gentleman slowly whittling a giant phallus really brought everything together for me. Props to that guy.
A really interesting reflection on the need for government, the ways in which we as people choose to operate said governing body, and human nature as it exists in different communities and cultures. When “democracy fails” because too many people agree… that might indicate a problem, no? No matter the catastrophe though, James Bond will be the glue that holds us all together until the bitter end.
7.9
Well that was a pleasant surprise!
Not since “Warm Bodies” has a film nailed the zombie rom-com in my book, and not since “Ready Player One” have I seen this many subtle nods to films of yesteryear cleverly shoehorned into so many frames.
Joe Chrest continues his run as “awkward dad.” Cole Sprouse rocks it as the lovable lug that our heroine can’t help but nurture as they slowly come to bring out the best in each other. Saving the best for last… Kathryn Newton. Holy shit, did she ever nail this! The perfect blend of wit, snark, and sensuality. She elevates every scene she’s in and simply steals the show by the time the credits roll. I honestly can’t see this movie working with anyone else. A testament to her brilliance in the role. A true sleeper hit, perfect for a makeup Valentine’s Day date this weekend!
7.4
Better as a book…
Not that the movie was bad, and I understand it’s a classic and an important story. However, the book was better in this case. I know this is sacrilege as a movie critic.
The performances are spot on and the script really does a great job of hitting the essential marks in the story, but there’s only so much they could fit into the runtime, and there was simply too much to fit into a reasonable runtime. Definitely one of those “Hollywood can’t write something this crazy” stories, that Hollywood struggled to translate to the silver screen.
7.7
Not sure which was worse. Henry Cavill’s CGI mouth in “Justice League” or his haircut in this…
I was really worried during the first 45 minutes of this one. Thankfully, it took off after the first act and ended up being a really well done spy thriller romance by the time the credits rolled. Sam Rockwell can save anything. The man may not always be a lead on the marquee, but he’s a lead in our hearts. Similar to Bob Odenkirk in 2021’s “Nobody,” I never had Rockwell as the James Bond type, but I’ll be damned, he pulls it off and then some in this one! The chemistry between him and Bryce Dallas Howard was, dare I say it, even better than the “Jurassic World” trilogy.
It’s Matthew Vaughn at the helm, so you know the action will be beautiful and the soundtrack eclectic. Both promised delivered on here from beginning to end. There was so much under the hood of this one that I was not expecting, and pleasantly surprised by. The twist leading into the third act dropped my jaw, right before learning the true meaning behind the Beatles song in the background the whole time punched me in the gut. Highly recommend for a fun, albeit long sitting in the cinema!
Brett Garten, Movie Extraordinare 