Going in Style

Overall:  This film was enjoyable and its nice to see acting veterans ply their trade. Willie (Morgan Freeman), Joe (Michael Caine) and Albert (Alan Arkin) are three buddies who spent a lifetime working together in a manufacturing factory and live across the street from each other in Queens. They’ve all retired and are collecting their pensions.

However, the money flow has stopped and the bank wants to foreclose on Joe’s home. At the time, Joe’s daughter and granddaughter Brooklyn (Joey King) are living with him and he’s afraid to let them down as well as himself.

Albert and Willie are living together and have an interesting and supportive relationship. However Willie has a kidney problem that he’s not told his buddies’ about and he finds out that if he doesn’t get a transplant soon, he’s going to die soon.

They are all going broke so they decide to rob the very bank that has Joe’s mortgage and is managing the refinancing the sale and closure of the factory. They practice by robbing a local grocery store and it is hilarious. The stuffing of food in their jackets and pants followed by the getaway Joe and Willie make in an electric scooter and Al trying to out run a younger man lasting about 100 feet and gives up is very funny.

Donning Rat Pack masks they rob the bank of enough money to cover their pensions. Pursing them is FBI Special Agent Hammer (Matt Dillon) who suspects the three men and builds up a solid case. However, the guys have done their homework and have their stories and alibies down pat. The clincher comes during a line up when a little girl, who recognizes Willie, decides to protect him.

This film is about loyalty, connection, and family. To this end, it is very good as it has small side stories that make it work. There’s the story about how Willie gets his kidney, how the grumpy Albert gets involved with an admirer named Annie (Ann Margaret). The lodge buddy’s, Milton (Christopher Lloyd), odd view of the world. And finally, Jesus (John Ortiz) who shows these old guys the ropes to rob the bank.

Caine was wonderful, and my favorite scene was when he got angry and gave Jesus a piece of his mind. I could see the how Caine’s real and documented difficult scrappy upbringing was used to make this scene effective. I wouldn't want to mess with him. Freeman was gracefully effective as the selfless friend. He supports and takes care of Albert and doesn’t bother anyone with his critical kidney issue. He effectively portrayed his longing to see more of his daughter and granddaughter. Arkin is perfectly cast as the grumpy curmudgeon of the three. He’s the downer guy and doesn’t want his world mussed up much, however, when he’s in, he’s a force and gives it his all. Loved his interactions with Annie his admirer. King was fantastic as Joe’s granddaughter by being interesting, loving, and engaged making her grandfather proud. Margret was amazing as the woman who sees past Albert’s gruff exterior and wants to create something more. Ortiz was strong as the guy who teaches the “rat pack” how to rob the bank. Dillon was very good as the agent who knows who the robbers were and tries to build a case against them. Siobhan Fallon Hogan as Mitzi their favorite waitress was superb. She embodied the part perfectly. Theodore Melfi wrote a really good script and screenplay. Zach Braff had a great handle on the actors and screenplay. I think he knew exactly what he wanted and got everyone engaged to his vision.

Overall:  Although I think there could have been more laughs, this film was lighthearted and very enjoyable.

London Has Fallen

First Hit:  It was as expected and it works – it was entertaining.

As a Secret Service protector of President Asher (Aaron Eckhart), this is what you’d expect a Gerard Butler (as Mike Manning) film to be like.

The basic story is, the US executed a drone attack on Aamir Barkawi (Alon Aboutboul) a weapons dealer who sells to terrorists. The drone attack was at his home compound during his daughter’s wedding.

Revenge is deeply bred, and two years later, Barkawi sets up a “natural cause death” of the British Prime Minister which brings all the Western Heads of State to London. Barkawi has an inside connection to British intelligence and surprises all the heads of state by killing most everyone except President Asher who escapes with Manning’s guidance and protection.

To create more tension and softness in the story, Manning’s wife is about to give birth to his first child and he realizes that his job won’t allow him to be much of a dad. Barkawi wants to kill the President on social media in front of the world, however as most Hollywood films end, it ends with the hero winning.

Butler was well cast in this role. There is a certain level of sarcastic humor and physicality that makes his role work. Eckhart is good as the President yet he’s more physical in action than one might expect. Aboutboul was strong and effective as the revengeful father and terrorist. Elsa Mollien as MI agent was wonderful. Angela Bassett as the President’s secretary was good. Morgan Freeman was effective as Vice President Trumbull. Creighton Rothenberger, Katrin Benedikt, Christian Gudegast, and Chad St. John wrote a typical and entertaining screenplay. Babak Najafi did a good job of creating an entertaining film.

Overall:  It is pure entertainment and it does work.

Ted 2

First Hit:  Some very funny laugh out-loud moments along with crude and sophomoric scenes.

This film was much like the first with John (Mark Wahlberg) and Ted (voice by Seth MacFarlane) being best friends, doing drugs (mostly pot), and acting like they are frat brothers.

However, Ted decides that he’s in love and marries Tami-Lynn (Jessica Barth). Donny (Giovanni Ribisi) still has a grudge (from the first film) that Ted belongs to John. He decides to hatch a plan to have Ted declared “property” and not a human. The case goes to court.

Along the way, we have lots of cameos including Jay Leno, Liam Neeson, Michael Dorn and Sam Jones in roles that personified characters they’ve played. The crude language was more than required to make it funny but there are lots of humorous situations.

Wahlberg was OK at John but I actually like him better in more serious roles. Barth is perfect as Ted’s wife and made her role work. Ribisi is always great in his slightly perverted role. Amanda Seyfried as Samantha, Teds lawyer, was a great counterpoint. Morgan Freeman playing a civil right attorney Patrick Meighan was a typical role for him and even Ted made fun of his perfect voice. Seth MacFarlane and Alec Sulkin wrote the script, which, for the most part worked. MacFarlane also directed the film.

Overall:  It was funny but film becomes forgettable by the next day.

Lucy

First Hit:  Although highly unlikely and unbelievable, it was philosophically interesting and fun to watch.

Luc Besson (director and writer) has a particular philosophical view of life, our interconnectedness, and that time is the sole component that sets our reality as something we can see, touch or feel.

The premise that we only use 10% of our brain and that if we used 100% or a partial percentage between 20% & 100% we could read others’ thoughts and alter physical reality. How Besson shows us his view is to have a young woman, Lucy (Scarlett Johansson) who starts off as not being too smart, being forced to take a drug that increases her brain usage.

Unfortunately she is given a lot of the drug and ends up having amazing skills to fend off the drug lord Mr. Jang (Min-sik Choi) and his gang who wants their drugs back. Lucy gets in-touch with Professor Norman (Morgan Freeman) who can help her understand what is going on with her, and more importantly, receive the information she is learning about humans, life and the universe.

So what we have is a philosophical story based in an action adventure film. Did it work? Yes, and at times I found myself wanting more of the philosophical part and other times I wanted more action and fun special effects.

Johansson has such an amazing voice and sometimes I lose my concentration on her acting when I hear her, however in this film they integrate well. She’s really good at giving looks of indifference and strength, while using her voice to denote intelligence. Choi’s character is a bit overdone but requires his relentlessness to make this film work. Freeman is believable and really good as the professor that knows most about brain use. Besson wrote an interesting script and it is clear he has strong views about how life works. His direction of this story is strong, making it fun to watch.

Overall:  This is an enjoyable action film with a philosophical twist.

Last Vegas

First Hit:  I laughed off and on throughout this film – enjoyable.

It won’t win any Oscar tributes, nor will the Oscar winning actors get nominations for their roles in this film, and my guess is that this group of fine actors had a good time making this film.

Each of the actors Kevin Kline (playing the Florida retired Sam), Morgan Freeman (playing the, I just had a stroke Archie), Robert De Niro (playing the grieving Paddy) and Michael Douglas (playing the rich and I hate getting old Billy) were perfect for their roles.

After more than 60 years of friendship, these guys are in their 70s and the changes in their bodies and lives are more obvious. Billy wants to get the old gang together because he’s decided to get married for the first time (she’s 32). Although there has been a riff between Paddy and Billy, the gang gets together in Las Vegas to rediscover their friendship and have a good time.

For each guy there is something to resolve and this film finds a wonderful way for them to gain peace with themselves, their family, and/or their friends. The best part of this film is the way the actors were themselves (and their characters) with such ease.

Douglas is on target with beginning to process how time flies. De Niro is perfect as the guy who learns to let go, just a little. Kline is great as the guy who learns how to bring life and romance back into his life. Freeman is superb as the guy who wants to live his life on his terms, despite the warning sign of a recent stroke. Mary Steenburgen (as Diana) is sublime as the night club singing woman who helps Paddy and Billy resolve their disagreement. Dan Fogelman did an excellent job of combining today’s world and language with yesterday’s way of viewing life. Jon Turteltaub was very smart in letting these professionals enjoy their roles.

Overall:  Although its subject is light, this was a very enjoyable and entertaining film.