Showing Tag: " cop" (Show all posts)

REVIEW: Given Gucci Toilets, Hydrangeas & Mrs. Black Hammer, Ride Along 2 Certainly Doesn't Boast Blentlemen Brothers in Law

Posted by James Brown on Saturday, January 16, 2016, In : 0.12% Hard Liquor 
Ride Along 2





Directed By: Tim Story

Starring: Ice Cube, Kevin Hart, Ken Jeong, Benjamin Bratt, Olivia Munn, Bruce McGill, and Tika Sumpter


I have no love lost for the original Ride Along, but it unfortunately made a decent chunk of change at the box office.  Given this, the greed machine that is Hollywood greenlit a totally unnecessary sequel.  That sequel arrives at the box office this weekend and is taking Kevin Hart and Ice Cube's less-than-interesting bromance to Miami.  It saddens me to say...

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REVIEW: Hot Pursuit – The Joke? Sofia Vergara Is Old & Reese Witherspoon Is Short

Posted by SoberFilmChick on Saturday, May 9, 2015, In : 0.09% Cocktails 
Hot Pursuit
SoberFilmChick




Directed by:  Anne Fletcher

Starring: Reese Witherspoon, Sofia Vergara, Robert Zakinsky, and Richard T. Jones

Presumably in an effort to offer an alternative to Avengers: Age of Ultron, Warner Brothers released a female buddy comedy this week, Hot Pursuit.  At first glance, the pairing of Academy Award winner Reese Witherspoon with television darling Sofia Vergara seems like a grand idea.  Witherspoon, while known for her dramatic turns, has found success with comedies ...

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REVIEW: No Longer Tetravaal's Scout 22, Black Sheep Chappie Becomes the Conscious RoboCop Copycat of 2015

Posted by James Brown on Sunday, March 8, 2015, In : 0.06% Beer or Wine 
Chappie





Directed By: Neill Blomkamp

Starring: Sharlto Copley, Dev Patel, Watkin Tudor Jones, Yolandi Visser, Jose Pablo Cantillo, Sigourney Weaver, and Hugh Jackman

There's a fine line between a director utilizing recurring stylistic flourishes throughout his or her filmography and a director doing the same thing over and over again expecting the same success time and time again.  Neill Blomkamp is flirting with this line.  His first film District 9 focused on aliens living in the slums of a fut...

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REVIEW: Whether a Backstreet Boys Patrolman or Brothers in Blue, I Don't Want Let's Be Cops Either Way

Posted by James Brown on Friday, August 15, 2014, In : 0.12% Hard Liquor 
Let's Be Cops





Directed By: Luke Greenfield

Starring: Jake Johnson, Damon Wayans, Jr., Rob Riggle, Nina Dobrev, James D'Arcy, and Andy Garcia

Parleying success on the small screen into success on the big screen can be a daunting task.  There's a big difference between holding viewers' attention for 30 or 60 minutes with commercial breaks and holding it for two hours straight. Sure, there are plenty of examples to the contrary including the likes of Jamie Foxx, Martin Lawrence, and Will Smith.  St...

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REVIEW: To Deliver Us From Evil, Sergeant Ralph Sarchie Must Use His Radar, His Discernment of Spirits, to Stop Mick "Jungler" Santino #Invocamus

Posted by James Brown on Friday, July 4, 2014, In : 0.06% Beer or Wine 
Deliver Us From Evil





Directed By: Scott Derrickson

Starring: Eric Bana, Édgar Ramírez, Olivia Munn, Sean Harris, and Joel McHale


"Invocamus Vi Ingredi Ab Inferi

Hollywood hasn't figured out what to do after the success of the horror genre in 2013.  In a reactionary move to box office gold, they're mostly releasing halfway decent movies from a singular niche genre, possession films.  Just look at the slew of flicks we've had featuring demons trying to make their way into the world.  They incl...

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REVIEW: Work Hard? Yes. Play Hard? Yes. 22 Jump Street Is All About the WHYPHY

Posted by James Brown on Saturday, June 14, 2014, In : 0.06% Beer or Wine 
22 Jump Street





Directed By: Phil Lord and Christopher Miller

Starring: Jonah Hill, Channing Tatum, Peter Stormare, Ice Cube, Nick Offerman, Dave Franco, and Rob Riggle


Channing Tatum has been in entertainment headlines quite a bit lately.  With his miscasting as Gambit in future X-Men films, the unfortunate prospect of a sequel to the completely unnecessary Magic Mike, and the surprise delay in the release of the Wachowskis' Jupiter Ascending, it suffices to say that there's a lot happening with...

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REVIEW: Maleficent – Jolie As Both Hero And Villain In This Sleeping Beauty Remake

Posted by SoberFilmChick on Saturday, May 31, 2014, In : 0.09% Cocktails 
Maleficent
SoberFilmChick




Directed by: Robert Stromberg

Starring: Angelina Jolie, Elle Fanning, Sharlto Copley, Sam Riley, Imelda Staunton, Juno Temple, and Lesley Manville


The latest trend is for movie studios to reinvent old fairy tales by making them darker and edgier. Snow White and the Huntsman, Jack the Giant Slayer and Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters are the most recent examples.  Some adaptations have been successful, while others have floundered.  On the one hand, it is refreshing to s...

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REVIEW: Despite Baseball Bats, Hammers, & Uco's Fiery Ambition, It's Rama's Time to Rage in The Raid 2: Berandal

Posted by James Brown on Saturday, April 5, 2014, In : 0.03% Wine Coolers 
The Raid: Berandal





Directed By: Gareth Evans

Starring: Iko Uwais, Arifin Putra, Oka Antara, Tio Pakusadewo, Alex Abbad, Julie Estelle, Ryuhei Matsuda, Kenichi Endo, and Kazuki Kitamura

Applause is a memorable thing in a movie theater.  In a place where silence is golden, it's the rarest of signs of utter amazement and respect for what an audience has just witnessed on the big screen.  I reflect on films like The Dark Knight, The Avengers, and Moonrise Kingdom and remember the applause that came ...

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REVIEW: Sabotage – Breacher Delivers Violence, But Not Much Else

Posted by SoberFilmChick on Sunday, March 30, 2014, In : 0.09% Cocktails 
Sabotage
SoberFilmChick




Directed by: David Ayer


Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sam Worthington, Olivia Williams, Terrence Howard, Joe Manganiello, Harold Perrineau, Martin Donovan, Max Martini, Josh Holloway, and Mireille Enos


Since his political career ended and his marital woes took center stage, Arnold Schwarzenegger has not been able to connect with American audiences.  His most recent films, The Last Stand and Escape Plan were box office duds domestically, and his latest action thriller Sa...

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REVIEW: In the Matter of OmniCorp Vs. the Dreyfuss Act, RoboCop Alex Murphy Wins With an Assist from The Novak Element

Posted by James Brown on Friday, February 14, 2014, In : 0.06% Beer or Wine 
RoboCop





Directed By: José Padilha

Starring: Joel Kinnaman, Gary Oldman, Michael Keaton, Samuel L. Jackson, Abbie Cornish, Jackie Earle Haley, Michael K. Williams, Jennifer Ehle, and Jay Baruchel

I'm very much looking forward to many of the blockbusters in 2014.  It's not that Hollywood is breaking new ground, but they are revisiting many of the franchises that have brought us movie magic for generations.  Who can turn down a showdown between Godzilla, the King of the Monsters, and Heisenberg, a...

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REVIEW: In a Ride Along Full of 126s, Black Hammer Kevin Hart Shows & Proves That He's Unfortunately Unlocked the Platinum Level

Posted by James Brown on Saturday, January 18, 2014, In : 0.09% Cocktails 
Ride Along





Directed By: Tim Story

Starring: Ice Cube, Kevin Hart, John Leguizamo, Bruce McGill, Bryan Callen, Tika Sumpter, and Laurence Fishburne


Kevin Hart seems to be everywhere.  He was in This Is the End and Grudge Match last year.  He's done several stand-up comedy tours all over the country over the last several years.  He's got two big romantic comedies this year with About Last Night and his follow-up to Think Like a Man.  Strangely enough, he's even been on ESPN lately.  All of this po...

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REVIEW: All the Dumplings in the World Can't Help Spike Lee Answer the Fundamental Question About Evergreen Oldboy Joe Doucett

Posted by James Brown on Wednesday, November 27, 2013, In : 0.09% Cocktails 
Oldboy





Directed By: Spike Lee


Starring: Josh Brolin, Elizabeth Olsen, Sharlto Copley, Samuel L. Jackson, and Michael Imperioli


We're seeing an interesting trend this month at the box office.  Hollywood is in the mood to distribute English-language remakes of successful foreign films.  Last weekend, Ken Scott gave us an Americanized version of his Canadian comedy Starbuck with Delivery Man.  It's safe to say that this flick was horrendous.  Now, this Thanksgiving week, we have a much bolder remak...

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REVIEW: Prisoners Is One Intense Abduction Thriller Chock Full of Snakes, Torture, and Mazes

Posted by James Brown on Saturday, September 21, 2013, In : 0.00% Water 
Prisoners





Directed By: Denis Villeneuve

Starring: Hugh Jackman, Jake Gyllenhaal, Viola Davis, Maria Bello, Terrence Howard, Melissa Leo, and Paul Dano

It's official.  The awards season has begun at the box office.  Though we've had some early contenders such as Fruitvale Station, Blue Jasmine, and The Butler, we've now hit that time of year where we'll see more of the movies that will be competing for golden statuettes in January and February of next year.  Last year around this time, we had Pau...

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REVIEW: Meerkat Frey Forever Grabs All the Fruit She Can From Elysium While Standing on Hippo Max

Posted by James Brown on Friday, August 9, 2013, In : 0.03% Wine Coolers 
Elysium





Directed By: Neill Blomkamp


Starring: Matt Damon, Jodie Foster, Sharlto Copley, Alice Braga, Diego Luna, Wagner Moura, and William Fichtner


2013 has been a pretty good year for sci-fi lovers.  We've had plenty of fun with movies like Oblivion, Star Trek Into Darkness, and even Pacific Rim.  If District 9 director Neil Blomkamp has anything to say about it, we're not done quite yet.  Hitting theaters this weekend, his latest film Elysium is the last big science fiction film until the like...

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REVIEW: In 2 Guns, Robbing Tres Cruces is Worse Than Robbing the Bank Across the Street From a Diner With the Best Donuts in Three Counties

Posted by James Brown on Friday, August 2, 2013, In : 0.06% Beer or Wine 
2 Guns





Directed By: Baltasar Kormâkur


Starring: Denzel Washington, Mark Wahlberg, Paula Patton, James Marsden, Bill Paxton, Edward James Olmos, and Fred Ward

The summer movie season is starting to wind down.  It's been an underwhelming summer to say the least.  With bomb after bomb after bomb hitting the box office, we've been continuously disappointed.  The duds have included films like After Earth, White House Down, The Lone Ranger, and R.I.P.D.  Though there have certainly been standouts lik...

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REVIEW: The Heat – Werkin’ Girls Bring Laughs In This Buddy Cop Romp

Posted by SoberFilmChick on Saturday, June 29, 2013, In : 0.06% Beer or Wine 

The Heat
SoberFilmChick



Directed by: Paul Feig 

Starring:  Sandra Bullock, Melissa McCarthy, Marlon Wayans, Michael Rapaport, and Jane Curtin

Melissa McCarthy has been on a comedic roll since her breakout performance in Bridesmaids. With her hit film Identity Thief, and scene stealing cameos in This Is 40 and The Hangover Part III, McCarthy has had a meteoric rise.  The new film The Heat pairs McCarthy with America’s sweetheart Sandra Bullock, and I suspect both actresses have another hit on ...


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REVIEW: With Bank Robbers, Corrupt Cops, and Bitter Sons, The Place Beyond the Pines is the Place Where Luke and Avery Show Their True Colors

Posted by James Brown on Saturday, April 6, 2013, In : 0.06% Beer or Wine 
The Place Beyond the Pines






Directed By: Derek Cianfrance


Starring: Ryan Gosling, Bradley Cooper, Eva Mendes, Ray Liotta, Ben Mendelsohn, Rose Byrne, Mahershala Ali, Bruce Greenwood, Harris Yulin, Dane DeHaan, Emory Cohen and Olga Merediz

"If you ride like lightning, you're gonna crash like thunder."

-Robin (Ben Mendelsohn)

I am a big advocate of filmmakers who take creative risks.  Many are so afraid of crashing and burning that they don't think or do anything outside the box, particularly in main...

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REVIEW: End of Watch is a Cop Mockumentary with a Foul Mouth

Posted by James Brown on Sunday, September 23, 2012, In : 0.06% Beer or Wine 

End of Watch





Directed By: David Ayer

Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Michael Peña, Anna Kendrick, Natalie Martinez, America Ferrera, Frank Grillo, and David Harbour

We've had our fair share of bromances this year.  With This Means War, 21 Jump Street, and Savages having already rolled into theaters in the last several months, it's safe to say that there has been plenty of male bonding on the big screen.  With David Ayer's cop mockumentary End of Watch hitting movie theaters this weekend, it's al...


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REVIEW: Polisse. That's How the Good Lord Works

Posted by James Brown on Saturday, May 26, 2012, In : 0.00% Water 
Polisse





Directed By: Maïwenn

Starring: Karin Viard, Joeystarr, Marina Foïs, Nicolas Duvauchelle, Karole Rocher, Emmanuelle Bercot, Frédéric Pierrot, Arnaud Henriet, Naidra Ayadi, Jérémie Elkaïm, and Maïwenn

Our society has a way of turning some of our more serious problems or struggles in life into entertainment.  Reality TV is a prime example of this.  It's turned love and relationships into a joke with shows like The Bachelor and Flavor of Love.  It's turned family life into a gag with...
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REVIEW: I'm Not a Racist, But I Know Somebody Who Is — Dave Brown in Rampart

Posted by James Brown on Monday, February 20, 2012, In : 0.03% Wine Coolers 
Rampart





Directed By: Oren Moverman

Starring: Woody Harrelson, Ned Beatty, Anne Heche, Steve Buscemi, and Sigourney Weaver

It's good to see a movie about a hardcore racist.  Hollywood has been obsessed in recent years with sugary dramas about overcoming racial barriers.  They show harmonious relationships where an upstanding white member of the community helps out some downtrodden, oppressed blacks.  Just look at films like The Blind Side and The Help.  They're movies that make you feel good abou...
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