By Robin E. Simmons
BLUE JASMINE
Woody Allen’s 48th feature is a compelling character study of an unpleasant, superficial woman. Cate Blanchett is a wonder as the flat broke, formerly pampered wife of a New York money hustler (Alec Baldwin) who relocates to San Francisco and moves in with her working class half-sister (Sally Hawkins). Flashbacks reveal her materialistic and shallow lifestyle. You may not like her, but you can’t look away as she rides an emotional roller coaster that may end in madness. This exceptionally crafted film is an engaging case study of a peculiar kind of American morality that presses notions of friendship, ethics and family to the breaking point.
The supporting cast — Bobby Cannavale, Louis C.K., Michael Stuhlbarg, Peter Sarsgaard, and Andrew Dice Clay help flesh out the nuances of Blanchett’s petty, pitiful character. This was not the movie I was expecting, but I was very satisfied. I don’t know if Allen has made any comment on the inspiration for this movie, but it seems obvious to me it’s not too far removed from Bernie Madoff and his wife. Allen as moral philosopher is probably his most natural state and here he gives vent to what most troubling about American consumerism. Now playing.
2 GUNS
An action comedy thriller about two crooked undercover cops – one a DEA agent and the other a Naval officer – who too late discover they have been unknowingly leading investigations on the other and must now go on the run after screwing up an attempt to infiltrate a drug cartel (all the while stealing from it). Mark Wahlberg and Denzel Washington are just right as Stig and Bobby. (During the earliest stages of development, Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson were attached. An equally interesting combination.) Hot director Baltasar Kormakur perfectly understands the tone of the story and gives his charismatic stars plenty of time to indulge their on screen chemistry as greed and fear force them into a desperately skewed bromance of sorts. David O. Russel touched up a screenplay by Blake Masters who adapted Steven Grant’s graphic novel. NOTE: Saturday evening (Aug 2), producer Randall Emmett will host a Q&A after the 6:30 showing at Cinemas Palme d’Or.
THE WOLVERINE
James Mangold directs the best train sequence I’ve ever seen. And it’s even better in 3-D, which I generally hate. That’s the biggest take-away from this X-MEN off-shoot sequel. Hugh Jackman is back and in fine form in this moody adaptation of the Chris Claremont & Frank Miller Marvel series from the 80s which finds Wolverine in Japan fighting ninjas dressed as samurai. The story is only so-so, but Jackman is terrific. But let me saying it again; it’s the 3D train sequence that’s worth the price of admission. It’s better than THE LONE RANGER train action, which was the most impressive thing in that odd movie that turned beloved heroes into bumbling clowns. But rest assured, THE WOLVERINE is definitely a clown free zone. Now playing.
NEW FOR THE HOME THEATER:
JUSTICE LEAGUE: THE FLASHPOINT PARADOX
Adapted from the 2011 comic book FLASHPOINT by Geoff Johns and Andy Kubert, this complex and non-stop action animation, tightly directed by Jay Oliva (who contributes to an enthusiastic commentary along with the writers and producer) is about a time traveling Flash who goes back to right a wrong, inadvertently creates ripples in the fabric of the cosmos that result in an alternate reality in which the Justice League never existed! It’s a world ravaged by a war between Wonder Woman’s Amazons and Aquaman’s Atlanteans. If you don’t follow the comics, then all this is just silly gibberish. But if you do, you realize the exciting potential for this clever story that sees Flash team up with government agent Cyborg and a gnarly, violent Batman (Superman doesn’t even exist in this dimension!) to repair and restore the time stream so Flash can accomplish his personal mission. It’s a great story, very well done in a consistent style. A wonderful featurette, “A Flash in Time,” is an unexpected treat as it examines time travel as presented in the film. Warner Bros. Blu-ray.
TEEN BEACH MOVIE
This is the one about clean-cut, fun-loving, singing, dancing contemporary teens at the beach that are transported by a big wave back to a 1960s beach movie where all kinds of complications ensue, mostly around love. It’s actually kinda funny in a surreal and an unintentionally ironic way. If this is not an antidote to SPRING BREAKERS, it’s at least the other end of the beach movie spectrum. No doubt Disney is hoping to create a franchise not unlike HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL with what they call their “Wet Side Story.” Disney. DVD.
Comments? RobinESimmons@aol.com
