Tag: Jeff Bridges

TRON: ARES – Review

Did you think there’s no room at the multiplex for SF/fantasy tent poles during the “ultra-serious” end of the year awards season? Well, the “mouse house” thinks moviegoers still have a taste for at least a couple of big franchise flicks. We’re only two months away from a third trek to Pandora in AVATAR: FIRE AND ASH, but they’re releasing another follow-up, which now cements another trilogy, though this series started long before James Cameron’s blockbusters. Can it possibly be 43 years since that initial entry (which was a modest hit during that great “geek” movie Summer of 1982)? And it’s now been fifteen years since the middle flick (or the first “sequel”). Disney thinks it’s time to boot up the ole’ “mainframe” and take another plunge into the digital dimension with TRON: ARES.


The opening moments transport us into the original with an “archival” video interview with Kevin Flynn (Jeff Bridges), the founder of the tech “dominator” ENCOM. From there, we plunge through “cyber-history” as various TV news people get us “up to speed”. Sam took over from his pop, Kevin, and the company changed hands again as the Kim sisters took ENCOM into the modern age. But the upstart Dillinger Systems is “nipping at their heels” as Ed Dillinger’s grandson Julian (Evan Peters) ruthlessly “steers the ship”. The “talking heads” then segue to a glowing data-filled metropolis where a digital knight in black and red armor named Ares (Jared Leto) destroys all the warriors that challenge him. Soon, he’s joined by his “second-in-command” Athena (Jodie Turner-Smith) as they gather their squad. Cut to the “real world” as Julian makes a big presentation to a group of potential “buyers” at his company’s HQ. Two massive mobile cannons become large-scale digital printers as they build a solid living Ares and his “battle vehicles”. After a demonstration of Ares’ abilities, Julian touts him as the perfect soldier. As the ‘clients” leave, his mother Elisabeth (Gillian Anderson) reminds him that these “products” will only function outside the mainframe for 29 minutes before they disintegrate into dust. Julian insists he’ll find a way to fix that. Meanwhile, Eve Kim (Greta Lee) has already found it. In a remote “off the grid” mountain in Alaska, she has located her late sister Tess’ “tent/research lab”. After countless hours combing through the outdated software and notebooks, Eve retrieves Kevin Flynn’s “Permanence Code,” which will give all digital creations stability indefinitely. But through Ares and his troops, Julian hacks into the ENCOM database and learns of Eve’s discovery. When she returns to the West Coast, he sends Ares and Athena after her. But as the duo dissolves, Eve is zapped into their cyber-home world. Can Eve, with the aid of a more enlightened Ares, keep the code away from Julian? And can she somehow return to this dimension?


Leto commands the often hyperbolic storyline as a modern cyber-punk Pinocchio with a dash of the friendlier Terminator and a splash of Star Trek’s Data. Yes, he’s a fearsome fighter, but a “glitch” in his system causes him to question his creator. So, is he sentient or has he acquired a touch of humanity, even empathy? In our world, Leto’s Ares is a wide-eyed newcomer who relishes every rush of discovery, while in the mainframe, he’s the ultimate digital bodyguard. And who wouldn’t want to protect the ethereal Lee as Eve? She radiates an intelligence muted with a consuming grief as she still misses her “lil’ sis” while fiercely clinging to Flynn’s legacy. And yes, we get to see Bridges as the “master” of his cyber-kingdom. Bridges plays him as an ultra-cool guru exuding gravitas just like classic movie “wizard” like Gandalf and Obi-Wan Kenobi. He brings some much needed warmth to the often cold tech. And bringing the villainy is Peters as the snarling tech bro Julian (if he had a ‘stash he’d be twirling it). Sure, he’s over the top, but the sense of fun Peters is having is most infectious. Ditto for the ferocious and very intimidating (and somewhat sultry) Turner-Smith, whose Athena is almost a spurned lover to Ares as he embraces that outer world. She defies you to look away during her intense pursuit. It’s always a pleasure to see Anderson in a SF project, though she’s relegated to wringing her hands over Julian’s antics as she tries to be the “good angel” on his shoulder (which he ignores). And there’s some sporadic comic relief by Hasan Minhaj as head of ENCOM PR (and cheerleader) and Arturo Castro as Eve’s over-excited and needy aide, Seth.


Well, there’s no questioning the beauty and dazzling visuals that bring this update to neon-soaked life. Director Joachim Ronning keeps the camera moving in a million or so different directions to immerse us in this fantasy light show (that makes great use of the music from Nine Inch Nails). It’s a shame that a bit more time couldn’t have been used to bring greater depth to the plot and the principals. It’s a given that Ares will turn on his creator (it’s hammered home by home video footage of teenage Eve holding Shelly’s Frankenstein novel). And Ronning makes excellent use of the IMAX format (the ads tout it as being shot in it), but the big finale showdown on the city streets feels like a rehash of giant monster/robot battles (though seeing a police car sheared in two by the “light cycles” and their “razor trail” is pretty cool). Lots of creativity went into all the nifty gadgets, but the human element and connection feel like an afterthought. Ah, but those fans of the 1982 and 2010 flicks will get their arcade-style thrills, but casual viewers may wonder why another dive into the concept after seeing TRON: ARES.


2 Out of 4

TRON: ARES is now playing in theaters everywhere

See The Brand-New Trailer For TRON: ARES And Listen To The New Single by Nine Inch Nails “As Alive As You Need Me To Be”

Today, Disney unveiled a brand-new trailer and poster for “TRON” Ares,” the highly anticipated third installment in the groundbreaking “TRON” franchise, opening in theaters on October 10.

Grammy®-award winning rock band Nine Inch Nails composed the score for “TRON: Ares,” and today, the band dropped “As Alive As You Need Me To Be” —the soundtrack album’s first single and the first official music from the band in five years. Listen to “As Alive As You Need Me To Be” and view the visualizer below.

The track is featured in the new trailer for “TRON: Ares.”

“TRON: Ares (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack),” featuring all original music by Nine Inch Nails, will be released on September 19 via Interscope Records. The release marks the first-ever film score by the pioneering band, although bandmates Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross have composed 20 scores under their own names, winning two Oscars®, three Golden Globes®, a GRAMMY® and an Emmy® in the process.

“TRON: Ares” follows a highly sophisticated Program, Ares, who is sent from the digital world into the real world on a dangerous mission, marking humankind’s first encounter with A.I. beings.

The feature film is directed by Joachim Rønning and stars Jared Leto, Greta Lee, Evan Peters, Hasan Minhaj, Jodie Turner-Smith, Arturo Castro, Cameron Monaghan, with Gillian Anderson, and Jeff Bridges. Sean Bailey, Jeffrey Silver, Justin Springer, Jared Leto, Emma Ludbrook and Steven Lisberger are the producers, with Russell Allen serving as executive producer.

(L-R) Jared Leto as Ares and Jeff Bridges as Flynn in Disney’s Live Action TRON: ARES. Photo by Leah Gallo. © 2025 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

TIME WARP: THE GREATEST CULT FILMS OF ALL-TIME VOL 1 – “MIDNIGHT MADNESS” Available On Demand and On Digital April 21st

“Watch as Divine proves that not only is she the filthiest person in the world, she’s also the filthiest actress in the world! What you are about to see is THE REAL THING! “

The greatest cult horror and science fiction films of all-time are studied in vivid detail in TIME WARP: THE GREATEST CULT FILMS OF ALL-TIME, a 3-volume series. Volume 1: “MIDNIGHT MADNESS” is available ON DEMAND AND DIGITAL: April 21. Check out Volume 1’s Trailer:

From “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” to “The Big Lebowski” and everything in between, this fascinating deep-dive documentary begins its celebration of the greatest cult movies of all-time discussing the birth of the midnight movie.  Volume 1 features such cult luminaries as Jeff Bridges, Pam Grier, Rob Reiner, Barry Bostwick, Michael McKean, John Turturro, Gary Busey, Jeff Goldblum, Fran Drescher, Penelope Spheeris and Peter Bogdanovich and is hosted by Joe Dante, John Waters, Ileana Douglas and Kevin Pollak.

VOLUME 2 HORROR AND SCIFI – will be available May 19

VOLUME 3 COMEDY AND CAMP – will be available June 23

Look for continud coverage here at We Are Movie Geeks.

BAD TIMES AT THE EL ROYALE – Review

So what’s the ideal setting for a story filled with lowlifes and immoral and often illegal activities? You know, where dangerous dames and dudes can just appear, almost at random? Maybe a haunted house or creepy mansion just doesn’t ring true. Well, Hitch knew just the locale nearly fifty years ago. By 1960 the glamorous days of lavish, lush vacation spots were long in the past. And who could really afford a night or two at the GRAND HOTEL or HOLIDAY INN? But a dusty motel just off the road, why Alfred Hitchcock made it the perfect place murder and mayhem in 1960’s iconic PSYCHO. That dangerous destination has carried on through the decades, from the Overlook Hotel in THE SHINING, to FOUR ROOMS, and most recently HOTEL ARTEMIS (a haven/hospital for the criminal class). This week an all-stars cast checks in, but might not check out. And who is their host/concierge? Handing out the keys is the multi-talented Drew Goddard. TV fans have been enthralled by his writing/producing work on acclaimed series ranging from “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and “Angel” to “Lost” and most recently “Daredevil” and “The Good Place”. As for the big screen, he was nominated for his screenplay adaptation of THE MARTIAN and co-wrote and directed the nifty, clever horror satire CABIN IN THE WOODS. Now, Mr. Goddard serves up deceit and dirty deeds, mixed in with the tiny soaps and fresh linens during some extremely BAD TIMES AT THE EL ROYALE.

In the story’s quiet, almost silent flashback sequence, one guest has a really bad time in a room at the El Royale, a hotel that is literally split down the middle by the border seperating California and Nevada. After the title, flash forward to the present day. Well, ten years later is actually the late 1960’s/early 70’s. . The once spectacular vacation mecca has seen much better days. Two guests enter the empty lobby. There’s singer Darlene Sweet (Cynthia Erivo), who wants to rest up in a cheaper place than those in Reno, the site of her next “gig”. The other person looking for lodging is Father Daniel Flynn (Jeff Bridges), who is, well, a priest looking for a place to crash. When he slaps a bell at the front desk, another man pops up from behind the bar. He’s not part of the staff, rather he’s vacum-cleaner sales rep Laramie Seymour Sullivan (Jon Hamm). He’s not been able to raise the clerk but warns the two that he’s got “dibs” on the honeymoon suite. Flynn spies a door marked “employees only” and pounds away, It opens to reveal a dazed, unnerved young man in his twenties, front desk clerk, and pretty much the staff, Miles (Lewis Pullman). As he divies up the keys, a car screeches to a halt near the entrance. It’s guest #4, the rough, coarse “hippy chick” Emily Summerspring (Dakota Johnson). As they gather their luggage, the black and white lobby TV flashes bits from President Nixon’s press conference interrupted by the latest on some bloody murders in the affluent hills of Malibu. Thus begins a long, long night filled with false identities, double crosses, and a raging thunderstorm that arrives moments before the enigmatic drifter Billy Lee (Chris Hemsworth) stides barefoot thorough the front door. No doubt the Royale’s AAA rating will never be the same.

The hotel staff and guests are played by some celebrated screen vets and a couple of relative (in one case) newcomers. As the story’s anchor, there’s the continually grizzled Bridges who tries to float above the sleaze as the calm and collected Father Flynn (perhaps a nod to his role in the cult TRON flicks). His friendly demeanor proves to be as phony as his paper collar, as we notice his eyes dart about the lobby, searching for…something. Now Bridges’s low-watt energy is a stark contrast to the motor-mouthed Hamm, who seems to be attired in own of Don Draper’s more garish West Coast casual sports jackets (hmm, Tron now “Mad Men”). His “go-go” hard-pitching salesman strains to be avuncular while cluelessly offending most everyone in his path. But Hamm’s at his best when he lifts the facade and shows us a man in conflict, torn between his mission and doing what’s right. More single-minded and direct, Johnson shows us that she can be much more interesting than her 50 SHADES damsel in distress (and duress) as the tough-as-nails, chain-smoking femme fatale Emily. She brings the sultry and sexy along with (literal) movie god Hemsworth whose blow-dried charisma, and silky smoothness obscure his true sinister nature. As for the new faces, Ervio is a compelling screen presence as the songbird (really, she’s got terrific “pipes”), who refuses to give in to despair, despite the “guidance” of showbiz gurus. Ms. Sweet has nearly soured, but she remains a smart survivor. Speaking of surviving, Pullman (yes, he’s Bill’s son) is the man in the back who appears to be barely hanging on. Sweaty, twitchy Miles seems to be a prisoner of the place, rather than the employee. Pullman plays the battle-scarred (in more ways than one) man barely past his teens, with lots of energy and grit. Oh, and there’s good supporting work from Cailee Spaeny as a young innocent (?) caught up in the chaos, and indie filmmaker Xavier Dolan as a maniacal music mentor.

Goddard’s dreamed up a terrific setting with that broad, dividing borderline, contrasting the rotting Vegas kitch of this former celeb “sin circus”. Kudos to his art directors, for that and the whole panorama of early 70’s cheese (especially the cars that have clocked many, many miles). And the mysterious quartet are most interesting, especially as they introduce themselves in that first act almost in a much harder, seedier version of CLUE. Then it all kind of “goes off the rails” into Tarantino-like homage (or is it just imitation or over-indulgence). We’re teased with a subplot right out of real-life LA legend, amid bursts of violence meant to shock, but with cartoon consequences (folks pop-up from injuries that should keep them in traction for weeks). And rather than using pop tunes from dusty 45’s, Goddard stops the action for long song medleys by Ervio (she bursts into song nearly as much as Lady Gaga in her current flick), perhaps to cut the tension with humor? In the tradition of Marion Crane one guest checks out far too early, packing up a lot of the story’s high-spirited fun. By the time of Billy Lee’s arrival, the influences shift from QT (the whole stranded in the lobby set-up of THE HATEFUL EIGHT) to the Coen Brothers, as one character lifts the whole “gambling for your life” casual sadism of NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN’s Chigurh. And like the old Corman/Price/Poe flicks there’s the cleansing fire unfortunately followed by an epilogue that thumbs its nose at a major plot point (what diagnosis?). What could have been a naughty nostalgic lark degenerates into a goulash of gore and cruelty, a PULP FICTION romp that’s lost its flavor. What began as light-hearted lobby levity truly becomes mean-spirited making for some really BAD TIMES AT THE EL ROYALE.

2.5 Out of 5

 

WAMG Giveaway – Win THE BIG LEBOWSKI 20th Anniversary Limited Edition 4K Gift Set

Get ready for a laugh in the cult-classic comedy that has captured everyone’s hearts when The Big Lebowski 20th Anniversary Limited Edition debuts for the first time ever on 4K Ultra Combo Pack that also includes Blu-ray™ and Digital via the digital movie app MOVIES ANYWHERE on October 16, 2018, from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. Fans can relive the hilariously freewheeling plot of one of the most beloved films of all-time with the twisted crime-comedy starring Jeff Bridges (Crazy Heart, True Grit), John Goodman (10 Cloverfield Lane, Argo), Julianne Moore (The Hours, Still Alice), Steve Buscemi (Fargo, Ghost World), Philip Seymour Hoffman (The Master, Capote) and John Turturro (Barton Fink, Fading Gigolo). The Big Lebowski 20th Anniversary Limited Edition is the perfect gift for any fan and the exclusive set includes a collectible bag, bowling ball pencil holder, polishing cloth and sweater packaging offering an experience like no other to look back on the cultural phenomenon of The Dude in the “#1 cult film of all time” (The Boston Globe).

Now you can own the The Big Lebowski 20th Anniversary Edition with all of these amazing extras. We Are Movie Geeks has 1 copy to give away. All you have to do is leave a comment answering this question: What is your favorite line from The Big Lebowski? (mine is “That rug really tied the room together.”). It’s so easy!

1. YOU MUST BE A US RESIDENT. PRIZE WILL ONLY BE SHIPPED TO US ADDRESSES.  NO P.O. BOXES.  NO DUPLICATE ADDRESSES.

2. WINNER WILL BE CHOSEN FROM ALL QUALIFYING ENTRIES.

With unforgettable scenes and outrageous humor, The Big Lebowski 20th Anniversary Edition showcases hours of bonus features including retrospective documentaries, an interactive map, an in-depth look at the phenomenon known as the Lebowski Fest taking audiences deeper than ever before into the upside down world of “The Dude.”

From the Academy Award®-winning Coen brothers, The Big Lebowski is a hilariously quirky comedy about bowling, a severed toe, White Russians and a guy named…The Dude. Jeff “The Dude” Lebowski doesn’t want any drama in his life…heck, he can’t even be bothered with a job. But, he must embark on a quest with his bowling buddies after his rug is destroyed in a twisted case of mistaken identity.

BONUS FEATURES:

  • The Dude’s Life: Jeff Bridges, John Goodman, Julianne Moore, Steve Buscemi and John Turturro take a look back at their performances and how their delivery of the Coen brothers’ dialog became classic movie lines.
  • The Dude Abides: The Big Lebowski Ten Years Later: A conversation with the cast about the film’s decade-long reign as a cult classic.
  • Making of The Big Lebowski
  • The Lebowski Fest: An Achiever’s Story: An in-depth look at the annual Lebowski Fest, a celebration of The Dude and his world, attended by thousands each year.
  • Flying Carpets and Bowling Pin Dreams: The Dream Sequences of The Dude: Alook at some of the Dude’s trippiest fantasies so fans can learn for the first time how these innovative scenes were created.
  • Interactive Map: Take a tour of the locations of The Big Lebowski, then and now.
  • Jeff Bridges Photo Book: For more than 30 years, Jeff Bridges has been snapping pictures on movie sets. The accomplished photographer presents a portfolio of shots taken on the set of The Big Lebowski.
  • Photo Gallery
  • And Much More!

THE BIG LEBOWSKI at Urban Chestnut October 3rd – ‘Strange Brew’


“That rug really tied the room together!”


Webster University’s Award-Winning Strange Brew Film Series has moved! The new location is Urban Chestnut in the Grove (4465 Manchester Avenue, St. Louis 63110). This month’s film is THE BIG LEBOWSKI. It’s this Wednesday, October 3rd. The movie starts at 8pm and admission is $5.

bigl3
Sometimes it’s easy to forget that THE BIG LEBOWSKI is a mystery, like the Coen brothers’ previous film, FARGO. Where Fargo is a thriller, THE BIG LEBOWSKI is a parody. Hidden in the jokes, satire, idiosyncratic characters, and musical numbers, the story is about a hippie “bum,” brilliantly portrayed by Jeff Bridges, who is unwittingly sucked into becoming a pawn in kidnapping and embezzling scams. As the narrator aka ‘The Stranger’ (Sam Eliot) succinctly puts it, “Sometimes there’s a man–I won’t say a hee-ro, ’cause what’s a hee-ro?–but sometimes there’s a man. And I’m talking’ about the Dude here–sometimes there’s a man who, well, he’s the man for his time’n place, he fits right in there–and that’s the Dude” The Dude takes us on an anti-hero’s journey. The Dude’s legal name happens to be the same as a bigwig whose trophy bride and former porn star, Bunny (Tara Reed), owes money to a porn producer whose goons confuse the two Lebowskis and whiz on the Dude’s room-tying-together rug. This sets off a chain of events that have entertained audiences now for 17 years.

bigl2

THE BIG LEBOWSKI was not a hit theatrically but it’s developed a cult reputation over the years and is now considered a beloved masterpiece with Bridge’s ‘The Dude’ being one of cinema’s all-time great eccentrics. But the entire cast: John Goodman, Steve Buscemi, Julianne Moore and, most hilariously John Turturro in a cameo as Jesus, the uptight, pedophilic rival who represents everything The Dude dismisses, are at the top of their game. Don’t miss THE BIG LEBOWSKI when it screens October 3rd at Urban Chestnut in the Grove (4465 Manchester Avenue, St. Louis 63110)

A Facebook invite for this event can be found HERE

https://www.facebook.com/events/299939097262542/

The movie starts at 8pm and admission is $5. There will be food to order and plenty of pints of Urban Chestnut’s famous home-brewed beer.

Terry Gillam’s TIDELAND Available on Blu-ray August 14th From Arrow Video


For his tenth feature, Terry Gilliam (Time Bandits, Twelve Monkeys) adapted Mitch Cullin s celebrated cult novel Tideland, a work he once described as Alice in Wonderland meets Psycho through the eyes of Amélie.


To escape her unhappy life in a remote part of Texas, nine-year-old Jeliza-Rose dreams up an elaborate fantasy world. But the reality of having junkie parents played by Jeff Bridges (The Big Lebowski) and Jennifer Tilly (Bound) and the influence of her eccentric neighbours begins to encroach, turning her daydreams ever darker.


A rich slice of Southern Gothic blurring whimsical fantasy with unsettling reality, Tideland is among Gilliam’s most personal works indeed, with its shifts between the amusing and the macabre, expressive camerawork and striking special effects, the film could be the very definition of Gilliamesque!


SPECIAL EDITION CONTENTS

  • High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) presentation
  • DTS-HD MA 5.1 audio
  • Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
  • Commentary by writer-director Terry Gilliam and co-writer Tony Grisoni
  • Introduction by director Terry Gilliam
  • Getting Gilliam, a 45-minute documentary on the making of Tideland by Vincenzo Natali (Cube, Splice)
  • The Making of Tideland featurette
  • Filming Green Screen featurette with commentary by Gilliam
  • Interviews with Terry Gilliam, producer Jeremy Thomas and actors Jeff Bridges, Jodelle Ferland and Jennifer Tilly
  • Deleted scenes with commentary by Gilliam
  • B-roll footage
  • Gallery
  • Theatrical trailer
  • Reversible sleeve featuring two choices of original artwork
  • FIRST PRESSING ONLY: Illustrated collector s booklet featuring new writing on the film by Neil Mitchell

 

ONLY THE BRAVE (2017) – Review

Here’s yet another “inspired by true events” film , just in time for the somber Fall season. Somber, the right word for this one. Unlike this weekend’s other non-fiction flicks, it’s set in the not too distant past, not decades ago, but in this decade, the 2010’s. It concerns a group of men who regularly risk their lives, and often make the ultimate sacrifice, in order to protect their fellow men. And it shines a light on the families that must stay behind and hope that all goes well. You may be thinking that’s it’s another those on the front line, our soldiers overseas sagas as in the films THE HURT LOCKER and AMERICAN SNIPER. Well, these heroes aren’t on foreign soil, though they are on the front line, one made of flame. And with their special clothing and gear ,they could be mistaken for soldiers. Rather they are firefighters, but they aren’t roaring down the street on a fire truck, dalmatian in tow, ready to climb the ladder to a “towering inferno”. These guys fight the fires that consume forests, hoping to stop their journey before the flames reach the towns and cities. Such is the mission of the Granite Mountain Hotshots from the Prescott Arizona Fire Department. ONLY THE BRAVE fill their ranks.

 

Nearly ten years ago, Eric Marsh (Josh Brolin) bolts upright in bed after a nightmare. It’s the usual scenario that involves a charging bear on fire, an “ursine torch”. For his wife, horse trainer Amanda (Jennifer Connelly), this is fairly common. He then leaves for work as the captain to a squad of firefighters, a hand crew that goes into to stop wildfires, who report to the Fire Chief Duane Steinbrink (Jeff Bridges). They do the “grunt ” work and the prep for nearby towns. But Marsh wants his crew to become officially accredited by the state of Arizona, to become “hotshots”. But he needs to beef up their ranks, so he begins interviews and try outs. One hopeful is Brendan McDononugh (Miles Teller), a directionless twenty-something who retreated to the bottle and the bong after flunking out of some training courses. He’s just found out that a former fling is pregnant with his child, which spurs him to get his “act” together. After surviving an arduous hike, Marsh decides to take a chance on Brendan. As the months past, he rises to the challenge and even bonds with a former tormentor, Christopher (Taylor Kitsch). Eventually the team earns their accreditation, and Eric dubs them the Granite Mountain Hotshots. They become a proficient, well-oiled machine, starting controlled fires to stop the approaching flames while digging trenches to contain the spread. This leads up to a fateful day in June of 2013 when the Hotshots are called in to stop a lightning fire at Yarnell Hill. This routine assignment soon becomes a desperate fight for survival.

 

 

With his squinty gaze and stern growl, Brolin is a leader of men in the Clint Eastwood/ Kurt Russell mold (almost a brother to Kurt’s DEEPWATER HORIZON role). He’s tough, but he’s got a soft spot for lost causes, which would aptly describe Teller’s Brendan when we first meet him. Much like his roles in WHIPLASH and BLEED FOR THIS, Teller’s Brendan is another fella’ full of determination, though here we see a bit of his tender side as he tries to be a good father to his unexpected arrival. And there’s quite a father/son bond between his character and Marsh (we never see Brendan’s pop, only his ma’). The mother to all the crew may be Connelly’s Amanda who goes toe-to-toe with Eric while fighting despair as he trudges off in his gear, perhaps never to return. I suppose this would make Bridges the grandfather-figure, full of support and encouragement, trying to calm Eric’s frustrations. And Bridges gets to indulge in the drawling, “chaw-filled”, jaw-jutting delivery that we’ve seen many, many times ( TRUE GRIT, HELL OR HIGH WATER, R.I.P.D). His anchor at home is the criminally underused Andie MacDowell, so fiesty and funny (and sexy) in MAGIC MIKE XXL, but here regulated to comforting Connelly and being a sounding board for Bridges. Among the assorted fire house “beefcake”, James Badge Dale is a most able second-in command, while Kitsch as plenty a good ole’ boy charisma as the “heart of gold” Christopher.

 

The fire fighting profession hasn’t been exploited often by the movies, despite the compelling cinematic nature of the raging flames, here a destructive charging beast. Of course, film buffs will harken back to Ron Howard’s BACKDRAFT (though there’s no arson mystery here) or that all-star disaster epic that was producer Irwin Allen’s THE TOWERING INFERNO. But the whole Eric/Brendan theme reminded me of the near 50 year-old HELLFIGHTERS with John Wayne (yeah, the Duke) working with the cocky Jim Hutton. So why isn’t this flick as exciting as those earlier entries? Perhaps it’s because director Joseph Kosinski (OBLIVION) keeps hammering in the symbolism of that burning bear (three times). Or maybe it’s because the script by Ken Nolan and Eric Warren Singer (based on the GQ magazine article by Sean Flynn) spends far too much time on domestic drama and not enough on the fiery fields. They even resort to some clunky “two men and a baby” hijinks at one point. Plus the big verbal throw-down between Eric and Amanda doesn’t ring true (angry because he’s not starting a family with her) and feels more than a tad sexist. This leaves only about 20 minutes of the 133 minute running time for actually fighting fires. The story of the “screw-up” who redeems himself to the guys has been a cliché in war flicks for years (I almost expected one of the crew to be nicknamed “Brooklyn”). The men portrayed are real heroes, true lifesavers who deserved a better celebration and tribute than this lackluster and tedious tale. ONLY THE BRAVE just has little spark.

 

2 Out of 5

 

KINGSMAN: THE GOLDEN CIRCLE – Review

 

Everything seems to be on track for cinema’s final months of the year. Sure, that demented clown ruled the box office for a couple of weeks, but Ben and Jake are here now with some real “Oscar bait” flicks that will usher in the season of serious film works. Hmm, not so fast. Looks like another comics-inspired franchise is blasting into the multiplex. Now, the JLA and Thor are still many weeks away, but this series is more Bond and Bourne than Marvel and DC. Oh, and it’s from graphic novel/ movie adapter veteran Matthew Vaughn. He injected most welcomed energy to the Marvel mutants with X-MEN: FIRST CLASS in 2011, just a year after spicing up that genre with the R-rated KICK-ASS. His follow-up in 2014 was the “origin/training” tale of a super-secret (“veddy veddy” hush-hush, you know) organization whose operatives are impeccably dressed, well-mannered gentlemen (think TV’s John Steed…squared) in the unexpected smash KINGSMAN: THE SECRET SERVICE. So, have they been at rest, polishing their shoes and pressing their suits in the last three years? The second in the series, KINGSMAN: THE GOLDEN CIRCLE, should answer that question.

 

On the streets of modern day London, Eggsy AKA Agent Galahad (Taron Egerton) is under attack by sinister forces lead by someone thought dead at the end of the last big mission, rejected agency recruit Charlie (Edward Holcroft). After escaping them, Eggsy meets up with tech-wiz Merlin (Mark Strong) under a lake (they’ve got lotsa’ underground hiding spots). Eggsy must dash away and escort his girlfriend, Princess (of Sweden, from the first flick) Tilde (Hanna Alstrom) to a birthday party for him thrown by his old “mates” from the neighborhood. But it turns out that old Charlie had a little something up his “bioniclly enhanced” sleeve. Just who is really behind this security breach? His boss, the world’s biggest drug kingpin, the master criminal genius known as Poppy (Julianne Moore). Hidden away at the top of a jungle mountain, in a village designed to look like a 1950’s neighborhood complete with a diner (she loved the nostalgia craze of the 70’s…GREASE, “Happy Days”, y’know), she unleashes deadly missiles that annihilate the Kingsman. Well, everybody but Eggsy and Merlin, luckily. They meet in a hidden room at a spirits shoppe, and open a safe containing a bottle of Kentucky bourbon. This sends them across the pond, hoping to track down their enemies. There the two men are approached by their US counterparts, the agency known as the “Statesmen”, headed by Champaign AKA “Champ” (Jeff Bridges). Merlin meets his American double (not quite), scientist Ginger (Halle Beery), while Eggsy is introduced to agents Tequila (Channing Tatum) and Whiskey (Pedro Pascal). Then Champ stuns his guests by revealing an old friend behind a one-way mirror: the supposedly deceased Harry Hart, the first Galahad (Colin Firth)! That’s just the first surprise as they join forces to thwart the deadly, devious Poppy.

 

 

Just as in the last installment, Egerton is an energetic action hero, evoking memories of Michael J. Fox in his late 80’s glory, not only in stature, but in confident attitude and charisma. Eggsy is at home hangin’ with her ‘buds or impressing royalty at a swanky. And he can literally charm the pants off a high-class “deb” who has vital intel (take that, Mr. Bond). He’s got a terrific rapport with Strong as the brainiac who can put him in his place with a quick retort. This time out, Firth is the one in need of training, since his…accident… has left him in a thick fog (butterflies appear at the worst times) and those razor-sharp reflexes are dulled (a call back to a fave scene from the first doesn’t go smoothly). The best addition and improvement is Moore’s twisted take on June Cleaver (yes, she wields a really sharp one) with the perennially peppy Poppy (just thought Samuel L Jackson was too goofy in the earlier flick). Her twinkly grin makes her demeanor near impossible to gauge giving her crimes an extra quirk. The US agents aren’t as interesting as their Brit brothers. Bridges reprises his guttural drawl , seeming more cattle baron than strategist. Berry is perky and assured, but is mostly a sounding board for Merlin as she pines to be out in the “field”. Pascal (I really thought he was Jeremy Renner when I saw the first teasers) has a good cowboy swagger as he echoes Indiana Jones with his glowing lasso and retractable bullwhip. Speaking of teasers, that sums up Tatum’s role here. Though he’s featured heavily in the marketing, his Tequila character is taken out of the story for nearly an hour, literally “on ice”. Of course, he’s great in the first encounter with Eggsy and Merlin, which gives the rest of the film a “bait and switch” vibe. But kudos to the always wonderful Bruce Greenwood for his comic turn as a funny doofus Prez.

 

Vaughn delivers the action goods and should satisfy the many fans of the first flick. The high-tech gadgets are inventive and fun, especially during the opening car chase (that’s something considering all the similar scenes in this year’s action movie crop). Poppy has a unique master plan that lobs a few laughs at current politics (the first one jabbed the other end of the political spectrum). And her hideout is not the standard “airplane hangar” supervillain lair (though it really resembled downtown Hill Valley from BACK TO THE FUTURE). Plus there’s another pop icon (Mark Hamill last time) that provides some nice comic bits. Unfortunately, at 140 minutes, the film feels bloated, losing some of the bouncy light spirit of the former flick. Many action set pieces go on for too long (most of the ski lift stuff) and border on tedious, with one ending trying to “top” the next. The script from Vaughn and Jane Goldman needed another pass or two to shake the “excess” off, or to tighten up some character relations (there’s little spark between Eggsy and Tilde). And the killer “robo-dogs” felt like something from a 90’s straight-to-video title. With KINGMAN: THE GOLDEN CIRCLE there’s plenty of “bang” (and “booms”) for your movie buck, but at the cost of much of the charm and wit of their introductory flick. Put the bowlers back in the hatbox till a better mission comes along

 

3 Out of 5

 

Win Passes To The Advance Screening Of KINGSMAN: THE GOLDEN CIRCLE In St. Louis

“Kingsman: The Secret Service” introduced the world to Kingsman – an independent, international intelligence agency operating at the highest level of discretion, whose ultimate goal is to keep the world safe. In “Kingsman: The Golden Circle,” our heroes face a new challenge. When their headquarters are destroyed and the world is held hostage, their journey leads them to the discovery of an allied spy organization in the US called Statesman, dating back to the day they were both founded. In a new adventure that tests their agents’ strength and wits to the limit, these two elite secret organizations band together to defeat a ruthless common enemy, in order to save the world, something that’s becoming a bit of a habit for Eggsy…

Stars Colin Firth, Taron Egerton, Julianne Moore, Mark Strong, Halle Berry, with Sir Elton John, and Channing Tatum, and Jeff Bridges.

Directed by Matthew Vaughn, the film opens Friday, September 22nd.

WAMG invites you to enter for the chance to win TWO (2) seats to the advance screening of Kingsman: The Golden Circle on September 18 at 7pm in the St. Louis area.

Answer the Following:

Which song was played in the now infamous church scene in Kingsman: The Secret Service?

TO ENTER, ADD YOUR NAME, ANSWER AND EMAIL IN OUR COMMENTS SECTION BELOW.

OFFICIAL RULES:

1. YOU MUST BE IN THE ST. LOUIS AREA THE DAY OF THE SCREENING.

2. No purchase necessary. A pass does not guarantee a seat at a screening. Seating is on a first-come, first served basis. The theater is overbooked to assure a full house.

WEBSITE: http://www.foxmovies.com/movies/kingsman-the-golden-circle

RATING: R for sequences of strong violence, drug content, language throughout and some sexual material