Thor: Love and Thunder

It just goes a bit too far. This series’ deconstruction of the superhero genre--irst evident in the Ragnarok outing--goes hog-wild here, with all involved playing most of this episode not just for laughs, but in the service of outright absurdity. Chris Hemsworth’s affability makes that a seemingly reasonable choice, but this film extends its form so far into the territory of schtick that it becomes an open question of, if these people can’t take any of this seriously, then why should we? The stakes don’t seem particularly high throughout this tale--indeed, one can argue that Christian Bale’s Gorr the God Butcher character is in the right throughout, so there's no real satisfaction in seeing him defeated (and, arguably, he's not here). Thus, everything presented in this work comes across as less exciting adventure and more a mild diversion--one the has the flash and dash of something well done, but hardly any of the heart. All that, plus a pervasive sense of relentless obsequiousness towards social identity concerns, makes for a viewing experience that has little sizzle, despite ample servings of action and scale. As with all old gods, I think it's time for this one to retreat into a silent eternity.

The Mummy (2017)

Yeah, sure--if CBS can drag Magnum P.I. out of its grave, why shouldn't Universal resurrect this beastie? At this point the classic monsters in the studio's stable are less corpse-like than Selleck's old character. The problem with this outing, specifically, is twofold--one aspect looking backward, the other looking forward. Backwards, this installment suffers from comparison to the Brendan Fraser flick, which at this point is damn near a classic and a model of a revival done right. On the forward side, it's clear that too much thought was put into setting up the new "Dark Universe" franchise and not enough into the work immediately at hand. This movie has problems as a consequence, up to and including a climax and an ending that make little sense. But it's not awful, it delivers a fair amount of entertainment, and Tom Cruise is so professional at being a movie star that he simply won't let a film he's in be a total disaster. It could have been a lot better, but the brave new world of gods and monsters that this one hopes to spawn may yet produce something great. You never know.

Noah

If it had been all theology, this movie would have been a dud. With the human dimensions added to the story--which is already at its core a pretty good story--the equation changes in this flick's favor. It still suffers somewhat from its bible story origins--pieces of the narrative feel like those children's books based on the scriptures that your weird aunt or uncle gives you for a birthday present--but the overall effect of good performances, interesting direction, and universal themes make the movie worth the effort.

Man of Steel

A surprise, in that it was much better than I thought it would be. By this point the Superman story is so played out that it seems impossible to make a movie out of it that will actually have any ability to impact the viewer, yet this one does so. The film accomplishes this by tapping into the fundamentals of the story--Superman being clearly the most messianic of all the comic book stories--and laying bare the reason why these movies have become such a huge part of the zeitgeist: our growing desperation and ever-burgeoning desire for someone to come and save us. It’s almost heartbreaking, in that sense, since we don’t live in a movie and can’t expect such a person to truly arrive--but at least we have these few hours of film during which we can dream that dream.

Les Misérables

Simply spectacular stuff. I was surprised by all the complaints I heard and read about this film; the issues raised never amounted to more than quibbles in my eyes. What I got out of it was a great viewing experience: tremendous performances from several of the cast members (Jackman, Hathaway, and Barks in particular), a lot of memorable music, and a rich visual presentation that truly enhanced the complex and deeply emotional story. I was especially intrigued by how Javert prefigures the soldiers of Nazi Germany, and by the moral contrast between Javert's failures and Valjean’s powerfully redemptive story. Not just bang-up entertainment, but heavy, interesting stuff to think about, too. A must see.

Robin Hood

The ghost of Errol Flynn hangs heavily over this movie. It would be bad enough trying to do a standard remake of the Merry Man's adventures; a re-imagination that changes the story in significant ways asks a lot of the audience. Not that this film is bad; there's much to recommend it, including a lot of authenticity and good performances by leads Crowe and Blanchett. But even so, you walk away feeling that something is missing here. A tough call--probably worth a look, but no guarantees.

American Gangster

A muddled beginning followed by a slow build, but the film steadily grows into a riveting account of one man's rise and fall (and another's fall and rise). On its own merits, this might be just another crime movie, but some rich, compelling work by stars Crowe and Washington lift this one into something a cut above. Worth a look.

Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World

An impressive, dynamic, realistic presentation of a terrific story. Sailing the oceans back in the day was no picnic, and this film makes that abundantly clear. That veracity, plus the rousing historical backdrop and fine work from some excellent actors, combine to give the viewer one excellent movie. Not to be missed.

3:10 To Yuma

For all the shooting and other assorted noise, this powerful film is subtle and nuanced--almost philosophical--when it counts. Wonderful performances by Crowe and Bale as polar opposite characters--on different poles, separated by the entire globe, yet still on the same planet--lay the foundation for the story's stunning climax. Not to be missed.

Cinderella Man

The early scenes are almost too dour and depressing, but alas, that is the reality of the story. Thankfully, that story builds momentum, and a cast of fine actors--Crowe, Zellweger, Giamatti--do a great job of making you care deeply about the payoff. You won't be disappointed. A related note: this film provides yet another reminder of how compelling the fight game once was (and presumably could be, if the seediness was removed).

A Beautiful Mind

I'm nagged by the feeling that they're not being entirely accurate here, but ultimately it matters not--this is an intriguing and well-done story. It's got some suspense, some emotion and--for those with fairly open minds--even some consideration on the question of what is really "real." And, all off-screen personality issues set aside, Russell Crowe is truly a brilliant actor.

Mystery, Alaska

Simple, yet sweet--very straightforward, and in this case that's enough. It could almost be for hockey fans what Field of Dreams is for baseball fans. And there is a tremendously important lesson to be learned from the ending. Posted .