Tag: Lakeith Stanfield

Movie Review – ‘Uncut Gems’ – “Walking the Edge”

Directed by The Safdie Brothers (Josh & Benny)
Written by Ronald Bronstein & The Safdie Brothers
Cast: Adam Sandler, Kevin Garnett, Idina Menzel, Lakeith Stanfield, Julia Fox, Eric Bogosian, The Weeknd, Paloma Elsesser, Keith Williams Richards, Judd Hirsch, Mike Francesa, Noa Fisher, Pom Klementieff
Soundtrack: Daniel Lopatin

After Good Time came out a couple of years ago, I’ve been voraciously excited to see what the Safdie brothers would do next, so much so that despite seeing the trailer for Uncut Gems approximately a hundred times (What can I say? I go to Alamo Drafthouse a lot), my appetite never once wavered.

I’m sure I’ve said this before, but there’s a spirit of genuine New York City filmmaking that has existed since at least the 1950s, and I’m not just talking about mainstream directors like Martin Scorsese (who’s an executive producer on Uncut Gems; game recognize game) and William Friedkin, but people like Larry Cohen, William Lustig, and James Glickenhaus throughout the 70s, 80s, and 90s as well.

For my money, no filmmakers today carry this torch as brightly and as authentically as Benny and Josh Safdie, along with their writing partner Ronald Bronstein. While it can be argued if Uncut Gems is their best film (after all, Good Time is such an unrelenting, compounding assault on the senses, and I say that with love), it is their most mature film in the sense that they are clearly applying every lesson they’ve learned in the past while still trying something new.

Without saying what it is, the intro to Uncut Gems is reminiscent of the way Friedkin opens such films as The Exorcist and Sorcerer, and I really appreciated that, but the truly ambitious element of the movie is the recording of all the overlapping dialogue, which is a very Robert Altman move, and not an inappropriate one given that Uncut Gems might be the best gambling movie in 45 years (that being Altman’s 1974 opus, California Split).

Let me be clear though, despite all my talk of spiritual continuum and stylistic homages, Uncut Gems is a decidedly independent and original film, so for all the talk about the death of cinema these days, rest assured, there are still life signs to be found, this movie among them (It’s also a surprisingly accessible film, at least by Safdie brothers’ standards, although, you know, maybe don’t take grandma and the kids. Star Wars this is not).

Of course, despite the strength of the filmmaking, the gritty allure of Darius Khondji’s cinematography, and the mastery of Daniel Lopatin’s electronic score, I’d be absolutely remiss if I didn’t at least mention the performances.

Say what you will about Adam Sandler (God knows I’ve said plenty), he absolutely nails this role, but it’s a team effort as well: Lakeith Stanfield puts in his usual good shift; the great Eric Bogosian is properly menacing without being arch; but, for me, the unsung hero of the cast is Keith Williams Richards as Bogosian’s number one lieutenant (Never heard of him? Me neither, but he’s great in this). In addition, there are a few fun cameos spaced throughout; some you may already be aware of, some that require a little digging.

So, if you’re looking for something beyond the usual Hollywood fare this holiday season, I highly recommend Uncut Gems. It’s one of the best of the year, hands down.

Rating: ★★★★☆

Movie Review – ‘Knives Out’ – Delivered On-Time

Written and Directed by Rian Johnson
Cast: Daniel Craig, Chris Evans, Ana de Armas, Jamie Lee Curtis, Michael Shannon, Don Johnson, Toni Collette, LaKeith Stanfield, Christopher Plummer, Katherine Langford, Jaeden Martell, Riki Lindhome, Edi Patterson, Frank Oz, K Callan, Noah Segan, M. Emmet Walsh, Marlene Forte
Soundtrack: Nathan Johnson

It wasn’t that long ago (you know, like two years) that my relationship with Rian Johnson (as a movie fan) was rather uncomplicated. I thought he was a fine writer/director who had vision; someone who made quality, interesting films.

Then, The Last Jedi happened, and, well, let’s just say that was hard for me to reconcile as both a fan of Johnson’s previous work and classic Star Wars.

As painful as that may have been, however, I always believed, nay, knew, that whatever Rian Johnson’s next movie was would be a good one (and I expect a similar rebound effort from Sam Mendes after the SPECTRE debacle).

Despite some trailer fatigue going in (I think Lionsgate was just excited to have a legitimately good general audience movie for the first time in a while), I have to say, Knives Out delivers as a modern take on the classic murder mystery genre.

Similar to Parasite, I wouldn’t say the story is totally mind-blowing, but it does go in ways I didn’t expect, which is satisfying unto itself.

The ensemble cast of top-flight actors is a joy to behold, and in particular it’s wonderful to see Christopher Plummer still having fun at the age of 89 (and still able to play a slightly younger man, I might add).

It’s also interesting that while Knives Out isn’t a Thanksgiving story (like Blood Rage), the family dynamics certainly seem appropriate to the holiday (may your own Thanksgivings never be as stressful).

Also, I have to give credit to the production for actually shooting a Massachusetts-set movie in Massachusetts, and not somewhere down south or, Heaven forbid, California. As someone who’s spent a fair share of time up there, it’s nice to see that authenticity.

Really though, whether you’re an average movie-goer, or someone like me who’s seen every episode of Agatha Christie’s Poirot (or A&E’s classic, A Nero Wolfe Mystery), Knives Out is a quality piece of entertainment for almost any audience.

So, when you get tired of seeing your family this holiday season, go sneak away and see this one. You won’t regret it.

Rating: ★★★★☆

P.S.
Rian, I know you’re still bitter, I probably would be to, but not all of us who didn’t love The Last Jedi are childish alt-right trolls, okay?

Quick Thoughts – July Mega-Post – ‘Mission: Impossible – Fallout’ ‘Sorry to Bother You’ ‘Skyscraper’ ‘The Equalizer 2’

Mission: Impossible – Fallout

My affinity for these movies is fairly well-documented, from the first one to the last one.

And why not?  After all, when the consensus “worst film” in your franchise is a John Woo guns-motorcycles-doves-knives spectacular, you know you’re doing something right.

A lot of that credit belongs to J.J. Abrams for resurrecting things in 2006 (and staying on as a producer ever since), which was perfect timing, because when the James Bond franchise zigged to more gritty and grounded, Mission: Impossible zagged to what classic Bond always was: a globetrotting, fun, high action, insane stunt-filled series.  The key difference is that where the Bond actors would step aside for a stuntman (or stunt driver, or stunt pilot), Tom Cruise, more often than not, gets in there and does these amazing feats himself, and Fallout is no different; so much so in fact that to me the movie played more like a Bond Greatest Hits album than a Mission: Impossible film, which is fine by me.

Hate him all you want for whatever reason you want, I choose to respect Tom Cruise for this: he was an action star at 27, and is still an action star at 57, and while this may be the last Mission: Impossible movie with him in the lead, it looks like he’ll be an action star for at least a few more years.

All that said, and it’s hard to put my finger on exactly why, the script for Fallout feels like a step back compared to the last two films (not to mention my boy Jeremy Renner feels conspicuously absent).  However, I will still give it four stars because the action and stunts are more than big-screen worthy, and because the movie does reward long-time fans (making reference all the way back to the first, and yes, second one).

Rating: ★★★★☆

 

Sorry to Bother You

Often times, when I find myself having to sit through a movie’s trailer dozens upon dozens of times (*COUGH*EighthGrade*COUGH*), I become resentful and refuse to see it on the principle of how annoyed I am, but in the case of Sorry to Bother You, I was always looking forward to it, just because it looked so refreshingly original, which it most definitely is.

In fact, not only is it an original script from writer/director Boots Riley, he also contributed a number of songs to the film’s soundtrack with his band, The Coup, so the whole project has a real homegrown vibe to it (but in a good way, not a crappy student film way).

Fair warning, the third act goes off the rails, which will divide people, but in terms of comedies with social commentary and satire, it’s the best I’ve seen since Ingrid Goes West (though the style of much of the satire is akin to the original Robocop, which, again, is a good thing).

It’s definitely not a movie for kids, and I’m sure it’ll piss some people off, but I enjoyed it and would absolutely recommend it to adults with brains.

Rating: ★★★★☆

 

Skyscraper

I know I’m not making a revelatory statement when I say that this movie is like if Die Hard and The Towering Inferno had a baby in Hong Kong.

In fact, it’s safe to say that not only do most people going to see this already know that, but the movie knows that they know that, and therefore delivers exactly that.

What I’m trying to say here is that the movie knows what it is: a fairly mindless yet relatively satisfying piece of popcorn entertainment.  Is it dumb?  Yes.  Is it as dumb as it could be?  No, and I appreciate that.

It’s nothing special, and you’re either on board or you’re not, but if you are, you’ll have a good time (and I even noticed and liked some of the music, which feels so rare these days).

Rating: ★★★½

 

The Equalizer 2

Maybe I’m wrong, but I’m starting to get the sense that Antoine Fuqua is not a great action director, because though I think these movies are okay (largely because Denzel is Denzel), I have issues with both that hold me back from enjoying them as much as I theoretically think I should.

My major problem with the first one was I felt the “badassness” was way overwrought, and I thought the movie would have been better served by underplaying it a bit; but I guess be careful what I wish for, because the sequel swings the pendulum hard the other way, but overall I didn’t find the story as interesting as its predecessor, so, I don’t know.

There are some satisfying moments and plotlines, and I really can’t hate on the slower pace (and the James Bond-esque cold open was kind of nice), but, I can’t say I’ll be all that disappointed if they never announce an Equalizer 3.

Rating: ★★★☆☆