September 2018 Movie Reviews
Peppermint
Jennifer Garner returns to the action movie genre with Peppermint where she plays a mother whose husband and daughter get killed. Now she's out for revenge against those who wronged her and get in her way. I didn't expect much from this movie, so when a friend invited me to see it with her, I said OK. This is one of three movies released by STX Films that I've seen so far this year, the others being Mile 22 which I found absurd and ridiculous yet entertaining in its messy style and unlikable characters, and The Happytime Murders which was an underwhelming attempt to add raunchy humor to puppets. But compared to those movies, even though it has flaws, I felt Peppermint was the most competent STX film this year.
To start things off, Jennifer Garner delivers a solid performance, once again playing a mother that turns rogue after being wronged. Her transformation is pretty cool and his path to vengeance was entertaining. Heck, the last two-thirds made the movie for me. The first act, of course, shows her family life and honestly, even though I appreciate this film for giving some emotional backdrop, I wasn't into these parts because of how cheesy it was. Maybe if they cut down some of those family scenes and showed a little more of what went on during her five-year disappearance, I would be into it more. Another issue was the editors adding some flashes to show how disorienting things are becoming for Garner and it was tacky for me. One other thing was the antagonists were very forgettable, being the standard cartel gangsters.
But with that said, I can't deny that I had a fun time. It turned out to be an enjoyable popcorn flick with Garner going back to her action roots. I don't know if this means more action-oriented roles for her in the future, but it's still a good thing that she can play the down to earth mother and action star at the same time. Also, the movie title's only significance is in a small moment where Garner's daughter wants peppermint ice cream. But if it had a not so subtle title like Jennifer Garner Revenge Flick, I'd still recommend it as a good fun time.
RATING: MODEST APPROVAL (B-)
The Predator
The Predator comes from the director of Iron Man 3...oh, sorry...from Shane Black, writer/director of Kiss Kiss Bang Bang and The Nice Guys. Not only that, Black had a role in the original Predator as Hawkins, so I thought it was very fitting. In this new installment, a sniper named Quinn McKenna (Boyd Holbrook) comes across a Predator during a mission. He obtains the equipment and tech and mails it back home where it falls into the hands of his son. The Predator is brought in for examination by agent Traeger (Sterling K. Brown) and biologist Casey Bracket (Olivia Munn). Meanwhile, McKenna finds himself brought in for questioning and is sent off with a ragtag team of rowdy veterans/marines. They consist of Key of Key and Peele fame, adult Chiron from Moonlight, and Theon Greyjoy, along with other company. When things get out of hand with the Predator, McKenna and the team race to stop the Predator, all the while McKenna's son, being autistic, decodes the alien tech and makes communication with an even bigger Predator.
It's fair to say that nothing can beat the original Predator with its leading man Schwarzenegger and action. And this new movie has the same action and violence of the original with some updates, but also some mild levity than some people wouldn't expect. There has been some criticism against this approach, some saying they turned the Predator franchise into a Marvel movie. Heck, the opening scene in space has credits that look like the same font for the setting titles in Avengers Infinity War. You'd think the Predator ship would run into the Guardians in the Milano. But in my opinion, I didn't mind the tone of this movie. This would come as no big shock as I am a Marvel fanboy.
If there's one thing I like in a movie is a good cast and I think the performances are reasonably well-acted. I like a lot of these people they had for the movie from Boyd Holbrook to Keegan Michael Key. The team was enjoyable enough for me that I wanted to follow them. Heck, even one of the most cringe-worthy jokes by Key is used as a tactic so I'd give it a pass. You also have Jacob Tremblay as Rory, the son of McKenna, and, being one of the most critically acclaimed child actors at this time, I thought he did well. His portrayal of an autistic boy was believable, as I can relate to him, being someone with PDD. I even love how he got to say some swear words. However, the way he is able to decode the Predator tech was a little farfetched.
In fact, the third act is where it starts to lose me a bit. As Rory gets more involved in the plot, so does Traeger as he wants to use the boy to unlock the Predator ship. It is at this point where Sterling K. Brown starts to become very hokey, even laughing maniacally. But it delivers some decent bloody violence. It even ends with a setup for a possible sequel but does anyone honestly care? Give us a single movie that can stand on its own and see if we care enough for a sequel.
In the end, while its new tone and the sometimes convoluted plot will baffle some audience members, The Predator gave me another fun time at the movies. The characters may not be well remembered as the ones from the original, but I felt they did a nice job being people that I could care less about. I would say it's on par with Iron Man 3, in that it's different than people expected and the turns in the plot could disappoint them, but I thought that film was another decent Marvel flick, flaws and all. One last thing: Predator hounds? I don't think so.
RATING: MODEST APPROVAL (B)
Mandy
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Nicholas Cage stars in the second film by Panos Cosmatos, director of Beyond the Black Rainbow. The simple story goes like this: Cage plays a lumberjack named Red Miller where he lives a nice peaceful life in the woods with the title character Mandy (Andrea Riseborough). She catches the eye of Jeremiah Sand, the leader of a cult. With the help of a demonic biker gang, they kidnap Mandy and Red. Jeremiah attempts to seduce Mandy but it ends with him being mocked by her. Mandy is then burned by the cult, leaving Red devastated. Enraged, he goes on a quest for vengeance.
Even with a basic premise like this, it is backed up with one hell of a tone and atmosphere. As one reviewer puts it: "[It] exists in its own supremely unnerving horror dimension." The film has the bright fiery colors of Dario Argento's Suspiria mixed in with the cold tones of David Lynch and Stanley Kubrick, along with imagery that could be awesome album covers for heavy metal bands. It was a beautiful nightmare that some may not want to look at, but you just can't take your eyes off it.
The performances also fit very well with the foreboding tone. Andrea Riseborough as Mandy has a face that is perfect for the world of the film. It can look creepy in a color filter but it can be beautiful at the same time. When we get to see her quiet life with Red, it's actually kind of nice thanks to Johann Johannson's otherworldly beautiful love theme for the film. But in keeping with the hellish tone, we learn a little about her past and a childhood memory that still haunts her. I found Linus Roache terrifying as Jeremiah. To me, there is something unsettling about people twisting the Word of God and using it for sinister purposes. One chilling moment involved him talking to Mandy in a close-up and having Mandy's face fade in with his.
And last but not least, you got Nicholas Cage in the leading role. First off, his performance is well-contained in the first half, and when he witnesses Mandy getting burned, he gives a legitimately heartbreaking performance. This would serve as a good reminder that he can act very well and not just be a total madman. However, he becomes unhinged afterward when he goes on his journey for revenge. His breakdown in the bathroom is another effective moment but some people were laughing since he was leaning towards Crazy Nic Cage territory, and I'd be lying if I said I didn't laugh too but I was trying to restrain myself. The second half is where you get the insane Nicholas Cage and it is bloody glorious! He gets to show his over the top expressions as he kills with some hilarious intervals.
I was absolutely mesmerized by this movie and its insane elements. It was a beautiful visual feast of madness and awesome revenge. It took its time in the first half but the second half picks up speed, but I loved it from beginning to end. This was a perfect vehicle for Cage and I can see it being a cult classic in the future. After watching it the first time, I heard someone said, "That was fucking great!" And at another screening, someone else did a slow clap. This is for true blue cinephiles and fans of Cage's mad acting abilities.
RATING: VERY STRONG APPROVAL (A)
Jennifer Garner returns to the action movie genre with Peppermint where she plays a mother whose husband and daughter get killed. Now she's out for revenge against those who wronged her and get in her way. I didn't expect much from this movie, so when a friend invited me to see it with her, I said OK. This is one of three movies released by STX Films that I've seen so far this year, the others being Mile 22 which I found absurd and ridiculous yet entertaining in its messy style and unlikable characters, and The Happytime Murders which was an underwhelming attempt to add raunchy humor to puppets. But compared to those movies, even though it has flaws, I felt Peppermint was the most competent STX film this year.
To start things off, Jennifer Garner delivers a solid performance, once again playing a mother that turns rogue after being wronged. Her transformation is pretty cool and his path to vengeance was entertaining. Heck, the last two-thirds made the movie for me. The first act, of course, shows her family life and honestly, even though I appreciate this film for giving some emotional backdrop, I wasn't into these parts because of how cheesy it was. Maybe if they cut down some of those family scenes and showed a little more of what went on during her five-year disappearance, I would be into it more. Another issue was the editors adding some flashes to show how disorienting things are becoming for Garner and it was tacky for me. One other thing was the antagonists were very forgettable, being the standard cartel gangsters.
But with that said, I can't deny that I had a fun time. It turned out to be an enjoyable popcorn flick with Garner going back to her action roots. I don't know if this means more action-oriented roles for her in the future, but it's still a good thing that she can play the down to earth mother and action star at the same time. Also, the movie title's only significance is in a small moment where Garner's daughter wants peppermint ice cream. But if it had a not so subtle title like Jennifer Garner Revenge Flick, I'd still recommend it as a good fun time.
RATING: MODEST APPROVAL (B-)
The Predator
The Predator comes from the director of Iron Man 3...oh, sorry...from Shane Black, writer/director of Kiss Kiss Bang Bang and The Nice Guys. Not only that, Black had a role in the original Predator as Hawkins, so I thought it was very fitting. In this new installment, a sniper named Quinn McKenna (Boyd Holbrook) comes across a Predator during a mission. He obtains the equipment and tech and mails it back home where it falls into the hands of his son. The Predator is brought in for examination by agent Traeger (Sterling K. Brown) and biologist Casey Bracket (Olivia Munn). Meanwhile, McKenna finds himself brought in for questioning and is sent off with a ragtag team of rowdy veterans/marines. They consist of Key of Key and Peele fame, adult Chiron from Moonlight, and Theon Greyjoy, along with other company. When things get out of hand with the Predator, McKenna and the team race to stop the Predator, all the while McKenna's son, being autistic, decodes the alien tech and makes communication with an even bigger Predator.
It's fair to say that nothing can beat the original Predator with its leading man Schwarzenegger and action. And this new movie has the same action and violence of the original with some updates, but also some mild levity than some people wouldn't expect. There has been some criticism against this approach, some saying they turned the Predator franchise into a Marvel movie. Heck, the opening scene in space has credits that look like the same font for the setting titles in Avengers Infinity War. You'd think the Predator ship would run into the Guardians in the Milano. But in my opinion, I didn't mind the tone of this movie. This would come as no big shock as I am a Marvel fanboy.
If there's one thing I like in a movie is a good cast and I think the performances are reasonably well-acted. I like a lot of these people they had for the movie from Boyd Holbrook to Keegan Michael Key. The team was enjoyable enough for me that I wanted to follow them. Heck, even one of the most cringe-worthy jokes by Key is used as a tactic so I'd give it a pass. You also have Jacob Tremblay as Rory, the son of McKenna, and, being one of the most critically acclaimed child actors at this time, I thought he did well. His portrayal of an autistic boy was believable, as I can relate to him, being someone with PDD. I even love how he got to say some swear words. However, the way he is able to decode the Predator tech was a little farfetched.
In fact, the third act is where it starts to lose me a bit. As Rory gets more involved in the plot, so does Traeger as he wants to use the boy to unlock the Predator ship. It is at this point where Sterling K. Brown starts to become very hokey, even laughing maniacally. But it delivers some decent bloody violence. It even ends with a setup for a possible sequel but does anyone honestly care? Give us a single movie that can stand on its own and see if we care enough for a sequel.
In the end, while its new tone and the sometimes convoluted plot will baffle some audience members, The Predator gave me another fun time at the movies. The characters may not be well remembered as the ones from the original, but I felt they did a nice job being people that I could care less about. I would say it's on par with Iron Man 3, in that it's different than people expected and the turns in the plot could disappoint them, but I thought that film was another decent Marvel flick, flaws and all. One last thing: Predator hounds? I don't think so.
RATING: MODEST APPROVAL (B)
Mandy
Nicholas Cage stars in the second film by Panos Cosmatos, director of Beyond the Black Rainbow. The simple story goes like this: Cage plays a lumberjack named Red Miller where he lives a nice peaceful life in the woods with the title character Mandy (Andrea Riseborough). She catches the eye of Jeremiah Sand, the leader of a cult. With the help of a demonic biker gang, they kidnap Mandy and Red. Jeremiah attempts to seduce Mandy but it ends with him being mocked by her. Mandy is then burned by the cult, leaving Red devastated. Enraged, he goes on a quest for vengeance.
Even with a basic premise like this, it is backed up with one hell of a tone and atmosphere. As one reviewer puts it: "[It] exists in its own supremely unnerving horror dimension." The film has the bright fiery colors of Dario Argento's Suspiria mixed in with the cold tones of David Lynch and Stanley Kubrick, along with imagery that could be awesome album covers for heavy metal bands. It was a beautiful nightmare that some may not want to look at, but you just can't take your eyes off it.
The performances also fit very well with the foreboding tone. Andrea Riseborough as Mandy has a face that is perfect for the world of the film. It can look creepy in a color filter but it can be beautiful at the same time. When we get to see her quiet life with Red, it's actually kind of nice thanks to Johann Johannson's otherworldly beautiful love theme for the film. But in keeping with the hellish tone, we learn a little about her past and a childhood memory that still haunts her. I found Linus Roache terrifying as Jeremiah. To me, there is something unsettling about people twisting the Word of God and using it for sinister purposes. One chilling moment involved him talking to Mandy in a close-up and having Mandy's face fade in with his.
And last but not least, you got Nicholas Cage in the leading role. First off, his performance is well-contained in the first half, and when he witnesses Mandy getting burned, he gives a legitimately heartbreaking performance. This would serve as a good reminder that he can act very well and not just be a total madman. However, he becomes unhinged afterward when he goes on his journey for revenge. His breakdown in the bathroom is another effective moment but some people were laughing since he was leaning towards Crazy Nic Cage territory, and I'd be lying if I said I didn't laugh too but I was trying to restrain myself. The second half is where you get the insane Nicholas Cage and it is bloody glorious! He gets to show his over the top expressions as he kills with some hilarious intervals.
I was absolutely mesmerized by this movie and its insane elements. It was a beautiful visual feast of madness and awesome revenge. It took its time in the first half but the second half picks up speed, but I loved it from beginning to end. This was a perfect vehicle for Cage and I can see it being a cult classic in the future. After watching it the first time, I heard someone said, "That was fucking great!" And at another screening, someone else did a slow clap. This is for true blue cinephiles and fans of Cage's mad acting abilities.
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| "I couldn't think of a more insane movie with myself if I wanted to. And you have to see it! You have to or there will be blood!" |
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