REAL STEEL and THE IDES OF MARCH: Reel Rhino Reviews

This was a weekend that jammed about 20 hours of stuff into each 15 hour waking day, up to and including one nature walk, one visit to the pumpkin farm, and one helluva garage sale.

I am a tired Rhino, but I did manage to catch both flicks.

REAL STEEL - 3.5 of 5 Horns

From IMDB.com: "Set in the near future, where robot boxing is a top sport, a struggling promoter feels he's found a champion in a discarded robot. During his hopeful rise to the top, he discovers he has an 11-year-old son who wants to know his father."

If I had been a younger man, I may have loved this movie.  If I had been a bit less jaded of a movie goer, I would have had a passion ignited in me, for a film like this.

As it stands, I liked this movie.

I did have the good fortune of catching the flick with my friend Matt and his girlfriend Jen.  Matt is one of the main AMC faithful, who recently surpassed more than 800 AMC Stubs memberships sold...a helluva milestone indeed...1000 is a knockin' brother!  Matt, being a wide-eyed 19 year old, did enjoy the flick a fair bit more than me, and I think watching it with him helped me enjoy it more, as he was a big proponent, who immediately put this into his top 5 of the year to date.

I am a fan of Hugh Jackman's and I am happy to see Evangaline Lily getting some post Lost work.  Anthony Mackie wowed us in The Hurt Locker, and he again showed himself as a fully capable and extremely enjoyable.  Dakota Goya was really solid as Charlie Kenton's (Jackman) long lost son, Max.  You think you saw him somewhere before?  Yep, he was the young Thor earlier this summer.

This movie was well shot, looked great, and had a moderately enjoyable story.  But it was maybe just a little too much in the robots fighting department.  I did like the sense of weight that was given with each step they took, especially seeing it in IMAX.  That said, it was really good, just not great.

I had hoped for more, but you take the good, you take the bad...it wasn't a terrible flick and it served its purpose for a mindful summer flick.  Yes, I know it isn't summer anymore, and I wonder if some of this films shortcomings didn't keep it from going head to head with that other giant robots fighting movie.  I think Real Steel would have had more impact if it had dropped in August, rather than October.  What we need now is a good horror movie, and what we are getting is Paranormal Activity 3.  Like I said, you take the good, you take the bad...

Also, Steven Spielberg was an Executive Producer for this flick.  It showed...Atom, the underdog bot that becomes the lead fighter for Charlie and Max, was found and salvaged by Max.  This essentially becomes the non-transforming version of "a boy and his car" that Spielberg pushed into the first Bay Transformers.

These robots are not thinkers.  They are controlled by operators, which brings more "realism" to the concept and keeps this well out of the realm of being a Transformers spin-off.  But, with the robots being nothing more that machines, there is less invested in the outcomes except for the emotional attachments that have been added to them by the humans that control them.

The upside was that for a mildly effective drama throughout, I really thought the last fight and the resolution between Charlie and Max struck me as effective.  The movie ended at exactly the right moment, but that was exceptionally important since it clocked in at 127 minutes.  I think the whole thing would have been a tighter film at about 100 minutes and the drama would have been tighter if not stretched out so much.

Watch the previews, you'll get a good sense of the action the film presents.

Again, not great, but definitely worth seeing at the theater, and I promise it will be enhanced if you see it in IMAX. 

THE IDES OF MARCH - 3 of 5 Horns

Directed by George Clooney, here is the IMDB description in brief: An idealistic staffer for a newbie presidential candidate gets a crash course on dirty politics during his stint on the campaign trail. Based on the play by Beau Willimon.

This movie is being critically lauded and this is definitely the result of the superb acting chops that fill this flick from start to finish.  Ryan Gosling has been relatively quiet through the past 10 years in subtle roles, making a choppy wake in the Hollywood pool.  Folks, this is the year of the Gos.  He is making waves now, and with the Ides, Drive, and Crazy Stupid Love trifecta, he is officially marked as a superstar.  He excelled in all three roles, bringing high drama, delivering unwavering violence, and napping status as a sex symbol who has comedic delivery on top of it all.

George Clooney is standard (read: great) as presidential hopeful; Phillip Symore Hoffman is standard (read: stellar) as his campaign manager; Paul Giamatti is standard (read: stellar) as the opposing team campaign manager...even Evan Rachel Wood was above par in her role as the scandalous intern that serves as the fuel to feed the fire of drama in throughout the flick.  Also featured were Jennifer Ehle (see also: Contagion); Jeffrey Wright; Marisa Tomei; and Gregory Itzen.

Clooney is an effective director and I enjoyed a good number of his shots and the mild tension that some of the lighting choices brought.

But all this said, here is what I didn't like...

The overall story was far too light in its handling of the drama.  There was far too little tension and while the gravity of the events unfolding were apparent, there was too little featured in the film that conveyed that any of the characters were really affected by the weight of things going on around them.

Really, only Gosling's role as the idealistic staffer takes appropriate action when the situations around him demands it, but everyone else seemed to be coasting along.

George Clooney is a Steven Soderbergh favorite and I think the Soderbergh style has rubbed off on him.  I was reminded of Clooney's 2006 role in The Good German, also billed in part as a thriller.  I liked The Good German, but thrilled I was not.  Just as with that film, I thought the Ides of March was an effective drama, but there was too little dramatic tension that gives the film the chance to be elevated to the status of thriller.

That I was expecting a political thriller, I was let down.  I remember thinking during the flick that if you told me that this was a dramatic re-enactment of actual events, I would have believed it.  Life is usually filled with drama, but far less thrilling that the movies make it out to be.  To that end, as a drama; as a view through a window looking into the procedural world of dirty politics, I guess the movie succeeded.

For my money, I was happy to see this flick, but overall, I liked it for the actor's workshop we were treated to, more so than the tale that was woven.  I don't know how the Willimon play came off, but I think the story created for the screen by Clooney and Grant Heslov was a little milquetoast.

That's all folks....I will catch up with you soon.  I hope to get to business catching up on some TV this week.  I have three more episodes of Breaking Bad before I can watch the season finale from tonight...love that show.  Dexter is back.  I tried revisiting CSI with Ted Dansen in the lead...he looked competent in the role, but I decided to keep it off my watch list.  The first 8 season wore me out, but I will always remember the Quintin Tarantino directed two-fer back at the end of season four or five...perhaps my all-time favorite episodes of any show ever. 

I would have liked to have caught Emilio Estavez's The Way this week...it looks a little schlocky, but in a wholly enjoyable and heartfelt way.  Also, I am pretty excited for The Thing...hopefully this prequel will be the horror fare I am clamoring for.  That and Footloose are opening...my prediction on Footloose: atrocity.

Until later, take care....

Reel Rhino

Three Reviews: X-Men, Super 8, and Midnight in Paris

I have had a real-life work project rolling along, so I apologize for my rather selfish use of the site over the past few weeks.

For instance, if you haven’t heard, this Saturday, June 18th, 2011, the Reel Rhino will make history. Well nothing so significant as to cause Encyclopedia Britannica to get their shorts in a bunch, but significant enough for me to tell you about it here.

This Saturday at AMC Barrywoods, I will be taking in my favorite hetero man-crush, Ryan Reynolds, as he joins the Lantern Corps in GREEN LANTERN, the latest comic book, summer block buster offering. For whatever reason, DC comics always seem to have a darker tone than its Marvel counterpart. If you have seen the extended cut of the trailer, you’ll have to agree that but for Reynolds trademark wise cracks, that this film seems like the real deal for genre buffs, which luckily, I happen to be. I think this film will exist nicely in the realm of sci-fi, adventure, and comic book fare.

So what have I seen lately? I offer to you my single paragraph review, whirlwind takes on X-Men: First Class, Super 8, and Midnight in Paris.

X-Men: First Class 4 of 5 Horns

What a great entry into the X-Men series! This was an exciting film with a dynamic cast and it painted a vivid picture of the formation of one of the most feared super teams of all time: The Avengers! Wait a minute...that’s next summer! Make no mistake, this is a well made film and Matthew Vaughn is a force to contend with in the realm of up and coming directors. Layer Cake, Stardust, Kick-Ass, and now First Class…that is a quality resume. I think this entire cast performed with style, but super kudos go to James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender as Charles Xavier and Erik Lensher. First Class has style, but it also has a sense of self-awareness. Some of the scenes are so comedic, given the high quality of the rest of the film, I am assuming that the scenes dialogue or action was shot with the tongue firmly planted in the cheek. These scenes are not only forgiven, they are embraced easily by the movie goers and provided well placed laughs amidst the gasps at the sense of adventure. Kevin Bacon is hammy in less sensational roles; he absolutely chewed his way out of this world eating set pieces with ease. For additional, enjoyable Kevin Bacon, leave Footloose on the shelf and shoot for James Gunn’s SUPER, from earlier this year.  P.S. Greatest cameo of the year....I'm not telling who, but you will know when you see it.

Super 8 5 of 5 Horns

Lora, I sensed from your comment, that you have some issues with Super 8. You are a dear friend, but I must contest, I loved this movie. J.J. Abrams has existed as one of my favorite folks in the entertainment industry for some time now. He solidified that opinion with the wonderful reboot of the Star Trek series. I always have been a fan of Star Trek; not a full fledge Trekker, but a fan none the less. J.J. made Star Trek cool again (yes, folks, it was cool before as well…deal with it). I’d like to say J.J. is a wunderkind director, but he’s been in the biz for over 20 years. In the 1980’s Abrams helped Steven Spielberg repair home movies he had made as a kid. That’s a pretty good break for a young wannabe filmmaker and this was just the first of Abrams/Spielberg interactions that would ultimately lead to this project. While Abrams calls Spielberg the Grandfather of Super 8; Spielberg maintains that Abrams could have travelled this road on his own. Super 8 is something of a Goonies meets E.T. alien adventure film, that is surrounded by all the mystery that both directors love. For further reading, please see also, Abrams TED talk on the mystery of the box. Well Super 8 is loaded with mystery. For starters, the mystery of who the hell are these kid actors? If they were to remake the Goonies, I would vote these folks in. Elle Fanning is charming and a chip off the old family block. I was also happy to see Noah Emmerich and Ron Eldard back in the acting game. Emmerich was formerly married to a friends sister. At said friend’s wedding, we had a blast hanging with “Mo” from Beautiful Girls. Must see TV, if you’re in the game for a flick. Super 8 is pure adventure from start to finish. See this movie.

Midnight in Paris 4 of 5 Horns

This film has been out for some time and for many of the past few weeks, Woody Allen’s latest film has raked in the highest per screen average amongst all the summer blockbusters playing at your local theaters. Impressive as the comic book, sequel, superhero films have occupied most screens nationwide, it’s good to see Allen still has the magic. And this film does have some magic. SPOILER ALERT: Most critics have steered clear of sharing the secret of this movie, but I think in doing so, you may be more inclined to see it. MIDNIGHT IN PARIS IS A TIME-TRAVEL, SCI-FI WONDER! Yep, you heard it here first. Midnight in Paris as a title describes a magic moment in time in a magical city. As the clock strikes midnight, our hero, Gil (Owen Wilson) is transported to an earlier time. The 1920’s in Paris were a renaissance as Gil saw it. As a “Hollywood hack” as he puts it, Gil is trying to write a novel. He dreams of a bygone era and wonders how great the inspiration would have flowed, had he been born in a different generation. Gil is transported into the 1920’s ala a midnight ride he takes each night in an old-timey car that mysteriously erupts from a foggy Paris night. This cast is loaded with stars and they all earn their paychecks here. I won’t say anymore other than Woody Allen works wonders with the time travel genre, flipping it on its head. This was an extraordinarily fun movie and whether or not you like Allen or not, this is not your standard Woody. I experienced a funny moment after the film, as I was discussing the movie with two ushers. I was perhaps the youngest person in the theater by 10 years and when I was talking to these folks, the young lady I was describing the film to, asked me in a hushed tone: “Is this an old person movie?” as several silver haired movie goers passed us by. Well folks, Woody Allen has been around for years, by I argue that he still has the power to entertain people of all ages.

I hope to see you all on Saturday at AMC Barrywoods…it’s a big day for me and I look forward, just as much, to the next 1000.

Until later, take care!

Reel Rhino