Sunday, December 7, 2014

The Weekly Movie Watch Volume 20

This week I watched 22 Jump Street, Open Range, Sabotage, Exit through the Gift Shop.

I watch movies every week and then write down my thoughts. Read my previous reviews!
My rating is simple, Watch It, It Depends, Skip it.


Channing Tatum, Jonah Hill in 22 Jump Street
22 Jump Street - Time to do it again.
22 Jump Street (2014)
Watch 22 Jump Street
Written by: Michael Bacall and Oren Uziel  and Rodney Rothman (Screenplay), Michael Bacall & Jonah Hill (Story), Patrick Hasburgh  & Stephen J. Cannell (television series "21 Jump Street")
Directed by: Phil Lord, Christopher Miller
Starring: Channing Tatum, Jonah Hill, Ice Cube, Peter Stormare
Rated: R

Police officers Jenko and Schmidt go undercover at a college to nab a drug dealer. It's 21 Jump Street on a bigger budget, in college. 

Tatum and Hill look like they have a great time and their chemistry is undeniable.  It's raunchy and funny, with solid writing. The comedy shines because it doesn't rely on raunchiness alone. The film pulls no punches, acknowledging the fact it's a sequel. It states many times it's a retread of the first film on a larger budget, riffing on the actors and their body of work. If you liked the first, you'll like this one.
It depends.


Kevin Costner, Robert Duvall in Open Range
Open Range - A western revenge tale.
Open Range (2003)
Watch Open Range
Written by: Lauran Paine (novel), Craig Storper (screenplay)
Directed by: Kevin Costner
Starring: Kevin Costner, Robert Duvall
Rated: R

Two cattle farmers seek revenge after being targeted by a corrupt marshal. 

Open Range has great production values, with excellent imagery. The western is a forgotten genre, but this is a solid addition. The landscapes alone makes it worth a watch. Duvall and Costner do a great job in standard revenge story. The penultimate scene and the lead up is great, though there are a couple too many scenes afterwards. The good outweighs the bad, and this is a great addition to any film collection.
Watch it.


Arnold Schwarzenegger in Sabotage
Sabotage - It just goes downhill from here.
Sabotage (2014)
Watch Sabotage
Written by: Skip Woods, David Ayer
Directed by: David Ayer
Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sam Worthington, Terrence Howard, Josh Holloway
Rated: R

An elite DEA team rips off a cartel. When the team disappears one by one, who is behind it?

It's got a great start, and while it looks like a lot of fun, it doesn't compare to Schwarzenegger's previous movies. A story like this needs to be tightly wound, and this movie is not. There are no standout action scenes. The big reveal fell flat. Do not be fooled by any previews.
Skip it.


Thierry Guetta aka Mr. Brainwash in Exit through the Gift Shop
Exit through the Gift Shop - Art is a joke.
Exit through the Gift Shop (2010) 
Watch Exit through the Gift Shop
Directed by: Banksy
Starring: Banksy, Space Invader, Mr. Brainwash 
Rated: R

What is art? Theirry Guetta decides to film everything, including his cousin, a street artist. Through sheer luck, he finds Banksy, a phenomenal street artist and decides to make a documentary.

Banksy see Guetta's finished product and realizes Guetta is not a filmmaker, he is a guy with a camera. Banksy sends Guetta on a task to create art so that Banksy can rework the documentary. Banksy focuses the documentary on Guetta, who became a sensation with no experience nor exposure. Everything Theirry does is just a copy of what has already been done, yet somehow he excels. Banksy said it best in closing, either Guetta is a genius or art is a joke.
It depends.

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