Takers (2010)

 

**This post contains spoilers**

The Story- A tight crew of professional bank robbers contemplates accepting a high stakes job from Ghost (Tip Harris), a member of the gang, who just finished a five year prison sentence. Thomas (Idris Elba), John (Paul Walker), Jake (Michael Ealy), and A.J. (Hayden Christensen) all have their doubts, but the money is just too tempting to resist. 

The gang questions Ghost’s motivations, but John, A.J., Thomas, Jake, and his younger brother, Jesse (Chris Brown) execute their plans to follow through with the heist. The crew is pursued by Detective Jack Welles (Matt Dillion) and his partner, Eddie Hatcher (Jay Hernandez). Risks are apart of a bank robber’s life, and a betrayal from within the group threatens to jeopardize the mission.

My Thoughts-They’re bank robbers, but the crew in Takers are also presented as likable characters. Thomas is struggling to help his sister, Naomi (Marianne Jean-Baptiste) with her drug addiction. Jake is serious about caring for and protecting Jesse, and Jake loves his girlfriend, Lilly (Zoe Saldana). Thomas and A.J. are just two cool and easygoing  guys, who are dedicated team players. There’s nothing sleazy about the crew. They’re not into blowing all their money on drugs and women. It’s a gang featuring efficient professionals, a close family willing to die for each other, if things go south.

The opposition? Matt Dillion’s Jack is a burnt-out detective trying to juggle work and his family life, often prioritizing his duties as a detective over his own daughter. Eddie stole money from a drug bust, but he did it to try and help his family, because he’s drowning in debt. To cap off a sad ending for Eddie, he drops his guard during a face-off with Jesse, allowing Jesse to shoot and kill him.

Outside of just doing their jobs, there’s really not a strong conflict between both sides. You can look at the majority of the characters in Takers, and easily find redeemable qualities. I was hoping for a stronger blood feud, but it’s more of a simple “they’re bad guys, and we have to stop them” mindset from Jack’s side.

One big score! The job, where everything could possibly go wrong…and that’s exactly what happens. Ghost is a traitor, playing both sides. His plan involved pitting his crew and Sergei’s (Gideon Emery) gang against each other, allowing Ghost to take all the money for himself after everyone else is dead.

Okay. I get that, but did they REALLY have to make it so obvious? You can easily tell Ghost is still bitter about being caught on old job, that cost him five years of his life in prison. Ghost also resents Jake for stealing Lilly away from him, while he was locked away. The snide look Ghost gave Lilly before the heist, his constant smart remarks throughout the movie, and he’s very open about how resents the gang for forgetting about him. And to make matters worse, the crew openly acknowledges Ghost is someone, who can’t be trusted.

They could’ve tried to throw a curveball? At least make an attempt at a believable swerve, or tease the possibility of Ghost being a true team player. Ghost’s impending betrayal kills a lot of the tension in Takers. You know it’s coming eventually, so it’s just a lot of waiting around for the moment, when he officially turns on the gang.

T.I. delivers a solid performance. I could easily believe and buy into his character. Ghost has a skeevy personality, an irritating and cocky jerk, who only cares about himself and punishing his friends. Idris Elba always brings a strong presence to his characters. Thomas is a leader, and Elba does a good job of showing frustration and anger, as he tries to help Naomi through an agonizing rehab process. 

There’s a lot of showing off in the early stages of the movie. The crew lives a lavish lifestyle. They wear nice suits, a fancy club is their hangout spot, and it’s a cool all-star team of bank robbers. 

The opening heist provided a good spark for the movie. The action and the thrills picked up again after the chaotic fallout from the final heist. And the shootout scene at the hotel really worked, as the violent and intense turning point before the big standoff at the airport. Takers had a lot of potential. It’s predictable, but Takers is still a decent and entertaining heist film, that delivers a solid adrenaline rush during the home stretch.

Rating- 5/10

2013 End Of The Year Awards- Best Science Fiction Action/Adventure Film- Star Trek Into Darkness

J.J. Abrams had to top his own film to justify feelings of newfound excitement and hope for the Star Trek franchise. The 2009 reboot was a critical and financial success, but nine time out of ten, the stakes are higher for a sequel, because everyone is stuck in the on pins needles stage. Was the original (or in this case a reboot) a fluke? Can they give us a reason to come back for more after a second film? Well, Abrams answered each question with a resounding yes. Abrams delivered a darker sequel with sleek action sequences, awe-inspiring visuals, and a tense, thrilling finale.

Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto returned with excellent chemistry, Zoe Saldana is on top of her game the second time around, and the rest of the returning members from the supporting cast deliver solid and enjoyable performances. But Benedict Cumberbatch steals the show as the newcomer here. Cumberbatch is flawless as Khan. He's a sophisticated and devious villain with a chilling dark side, and Cumberbatch's performance is one of the major highlights in the sequel.

Star Wars fans can rest easy now, because the beginning of a new era for the famed franchise is in good hands with J.J. Abrams. Need some proof? Just watch Star Trek Into Darkness. Trust me, you won't regret it.

Out Of The Furnace (2013)(Minor Spoilers Review)

**This review contains MINOR spoilers, no character deaths or major reveals**

Russell Baze (Christian Bale) is a simple hard working man, who makes a living at the local steel mill. Living in a small Pennsylvania town, Russell enjoys life with his girlfriend, Lena (Zoe Saldana), but Russell’s quiet little world isn’t free of problems.

Russell’s father is slowly dying of cancer, and Russell’s younger brother, Rodney (Casey Affleck) is stuck in debt with a local tavern owner named John Petty (Willem Dafoe). As a returning US Army soldier, Rodney struggles to adjust to civilian life. Rodney is jobless, and he refuses to break his back in the steel mill for some paychecks, so Rodney fights for money in Petty’s underground boxing club.

An anxious and frustrated Petty is tired of Rodney’s unwillingness to take dives in fixed fights, but Rodney is hungry for more. Unable to fight his urges for more money and tougher competition, Rodney pushes Petty to set up a series of fights with another underground club in New Jersey. Harlan DeGroat (Woody Harrelson) is the leader of New Jersey’s most infamous fight club, and Harlan won’t take no for an answer, when Petty and Rodney dig themselves into a deep hole of debt.

Russell returns home after a prison sentence to help Rodney with his troubles, but Rodney vehemently refuses Russell’s assistance. After a while, Rodney and Petty disappear during their most recent trip to New Jersey. Police Chief Wesley Barnes (Forest Whitaker) promises to solve the mystery of Rodney's disappearance, but Russell is looking for a personal and severe form of revenge. With help from his uncle, Red (Sam Shepard) and a loaded sniper rifle, Russell takes a trip to New Jersey to teach Harlan a lesson he’ll never forget.

First of all, I need to point out some footage from one of my favorite horror films here. During the opening scene, Harlan and his lady friend (it’s hard to tell if they’re actually boyfriend and girlfriend, or if Harlan is just using her as a prostitute) are watching a drive-in movie…and the drive-in movie is The Midnight Meat Train! It took me a few seconds to catch it, but I went nuts, when I finally noticed it. Kudos to whoever selected The Midnight Neat train for the drive-in movie, because they have good taste in horror films!

Anyway, Woody Harrelson delivers the best performance, as the sociopathic scoundrel. Harrelson is a genuinely menacing villain, with a disturbing dark side (i.e. the hot dog scene at the beginning), and Harrelson really pulls everything together with an unflinching and intimidating demeanor. Christian Bale is very convincing as this troubled soul, who’s trying to salvage his brother’s broken life, and towards the end, Bale is able to switch gears by showcasing the persona of an impassive man motivated by revenge.

Casey Affleck? He delivers a top notch performance, as the frustrated and troubled solider, who returns to a world of hopelessness. Affleck nails the Rodney character, because you can feel everything he’s going through. The rage, the disgust, the haunting memories of war, everything. It’s a shame, because with more screen time, Affleck could’ve been a contender for a Best Supporting Actor Oscar. But after the calamity in New Jersey, Affleck’s  screen time is cut short, and once he disappears, Harrleson and Bale take center stage.

Zoe Saldana did a good job of showing some believable emotion and heartache as Lena. Willem Dafoe and Forest Whitaker deliver a pair of solid performances, and it’s not fair to judge Sam Shepard, because the Red character is an afterthought here.

I enjoyed Out Of The Furnace, but I can’t ignore the obvious missed opportunity here. Casey Affleck portrays a solider, who feels betrayed by his country, because he can’t find a job or any help. Rodney risked his life, and he’s tired of the cold shoulders and slaps in the face (to give an example, a fighter mocks Rodney with salutes during a fight).

Out Of The Furnace never takes the time to explore and analyze the issues facing neglected US soldiers, who have a hard time readjusting to civilian life. There’s the one scene, where Rodney explodes, when Russell urges him to quit the street fighter lifestyle. Rodney recalls the horrors of war, and vents his disgust with the lack of respect he received during his return…but that’s it. Unless, I’m missing something, the heated argument between Russell and Rodney is the only scene, where they truly focused on the hardships returning soldiers are forced to deal with. After that, Out Of The Furnace’s primary focus revolves around Petty and Rodney’s troubles with Harlan, and Russell hunting Harlan for revenge.

Still, I can’t dismiss Out Of The Furnace’s stellar cast, and you’ll see some tense “edge of your seat” moments here. All in all, Out Of The Furnace is a gritty and emotional drama/thriller, featuring a raw tale of revenge in the dismal and deteriorating landscape of the struggling working class. With the way things are going now (overall lukewarm feedback, not living up to the hype in the eyes of some people, etc.), there’s a good chance Out Of The Furnace will miss the boat for any award nominations during Oscar season, but I’ll remember this one as a top ten worthy film in 2013.

Rating: 8/10

Michael Jordan had another run with the Wizards after winning six championships. Brett Favre was one step away from earning a second ring with the Vikings.

As the world's definitive multi-talented superstar athlete, Trisha Bunrastar is taking an unexpected and shocking leap into a new career path. Assuming the identity of Freechelle Fantabulous, Trisha vows to fight crime and battle evildoers as a superheroine. Will she conquer her new mission? Find out more here! http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EFLI6VK

Or take a trip into my special world of madness that includes comedy, horror, and the supernatural in this collection of short stories- http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EFMYZ0U

Remember Amazon offers free Kindle App downloads for various platforms. Follow this link to find out more- http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html?ie=UTF8&docId=1000493771

And don't forget to follow me on Twitter here- https://twitter.com/LQuigleyFan1

Out Of The Furnace (2013)(Spoiler Review)

**This Review contains spoilers**

Russell Baze (Christian Bale) is a simple hard working man, who makes a living at the local steel mill. Living in a small Pennsylvania town, Russell enjoys life with his girlfriend, Lena (Zoe Saldana), but Russell’s quiet little world isn’t free of problems.

Russell’s father is slowly dying of cancer, and Russell’s younger brother, Rodney (Casey Affleck) is stuck in debt with a local tavern owner named John Petty (Willem Dafoe). As a returning US Army soldier, Rodney struggles to adjust to civilian life. Rodney is jobless, and he refuses to break his back in the steel mill for some paychecks, so Rodney fights for money in Petty’s underground boxing club.

An anxious and frustrated Petty is tired of Rodney’s unwillingness to take dives in fixed fights, but Rodney is hungry for more. Unable to fight his urges for more money and tougher competition, Rodney pushes Petty to set up a series of fights with another underground club in New Jersey. Harlan DeGroat (Woody Harrelson) is the leader of New Jersey’s most infamous fight club, and Harlan won’t take no for an answer, when Petty and Rodney dig themselves into a deep hole of debt.

Russell returns home after a prison sentence to help Rodney with his troubles, but Rodney vehemently refuses Russell’s assistance. After a while, Rodney and Petty disappear during their most recent trip to New Jersey. Police Chief Wesley Barnes (Forest Whitaker) promises to solve the mystery of Rodney's disappearance, but Russell is looking for a personal and severe form of revenge. With help from his uncle, Red (Sam Shepard) and a loaded sniper rifle, Russell takes a trip to New Jersey to teach Harlan a lesson he’ll never forget.

First of all, I need to point out some footage from one of my favorite horror films here. During the opening scene, Harlan and his lady friend (it’s hard to tell if they’re actually boyfriend and girlfriend, or if Harlan is just using her as a prostitute) are watching a drive-in movie…and the drive-in movie is The Midnight Meat Train! It took me a few seconds to catch it, but I went nuts, when I finally noticed it. Kudos to whoever selected The Midnight Neat train for the drive-in movie, because they have good taste in horror films!

Anyway, Woody Harrelson delivers the best performance, as the sociopathic scoundrel. Harrelson is a genuinely menacing villain, with a disturbing dark side (i.e. the hot dog scene at the beginning), and Harrelson really pulls everything together with an unflinching and intimidating demeanor. Christian Bale is very convincing as this troubled soul, who’s trying to salvage his brother’s broken life, and towards the end, Bale is able to switch gears by showcasing the persona of an impassive man motivated by revenge.

Casey Affleck? He delivers a top notch performance, as the frustrated and troubled solider, who returns to a world of hopelessness. Affleck nails the Rodney character, because you can feel everything he’s going through. The rage, the disgust, the haunting memories of war, everything. It’s a shame, because with more screen time, Affleck could’ve been a contender for a Best Supporting Actor Oscar. But after the calamity in New Jersey, Affleck’s  screen time is cut short, and once he disappears, Harrleson and Bale take center stage.

Zoe Saldana did a good job of showing some believable emotion and heartache as Lena. Willem Dafoe and Forest Whitaker deliver a pair of solid performances, and it’s not fair to judge Sam Shepard, because the Red character is an afterthought here.

Russell serves a prison sentence after committing vehicular homicide, and he returns to an empty life after serving his time. Rodney is in deep trouble with Harlan, Russell and Rodney’s father lost his battle with cancer, Lena is in a relationship with Wesley, and she’s pregnant with her first child from Wesley. To make matters worse, Harlan murders Petty and Rodney after a fight, when Petty refuses to pay Harlan.

Of course, Russell takes matters into his own hands to hunt and kill Harlan. Russell lures Harlan to Pennsylvania with the promise of a cash settlement for Petty’s debts. During a fight, Russell repeatedly shoots Harlan with the sniper rifle, and Russell forces a wounded Harlan to run in an open field. Wesley arrives on the scene with the hopes of talking some sense into Russell, but Russell ignores Wesley’s pleas, and Russell kills Harlan with one shot to the back of  the head.

A tense and gut-wrenching series of events, because for a split second, I thought Russell would show some compassion, and allow Harlan to live. Harlan is running, and you see Russell slowly aim the sniper rifle, and there’s a brief moment of hesitation before he actually pulls the trigger. The bottom line is Russell didn’t care anymore. He lost his father, his brother, and the woman of his dreams left him to start a family with another man. In Russell’s mind, he didn’t have anything to live for anymore, so the thought of dying in prison (Russell also murdered one of Harlan cronies at Petty’s tavern) didn’t faze him at all.

And speaking of tension, there’s a scene where Russell and Red visit Harlan's drug house for some recon. Russell plans to buy some drugs, so he can learn more info about Harlan at the same time. In the house, the dealer suspects something fishy, but Russell has the money, so the suspicions die down for a little while. There’s a shot of Harlan in a mirror, as Red and Russell are leaving the house, and Harlan is unaware of their presence. As they prepare to leave the house, the dealer stops Russell and Red, because Russell forgot to pick up his bag of drugs. After an awkward pause, Russell picks up the bag, and they leave the house without any trouble.

Russell and Red’s trip is a real nail-biter, and the close-calls are unreal. For starters, they’re clearly out numbered by a pack of ruthless thugs, and Harlan knows Russell’s face. Earlier in the film, Russell and Harlan had a brief stare-down at Petty’s tavern, so Harlan wouldn’t hesitate to kill Russell and Red, if he spotted Russell. Good stuff.

I enjoyed Out Of The Furnace, but I can’t ignore the obvious missed opportunity here. Casey Affleck portrays a solider, who feels betrayed by his country, because he can’t find a job or any help. Rodney risked his life, and he’s tired of the cold shoulders and slaps in the face (to give an example, a fighter mocks Rodney with salutes during a fight).

Out Of The Furnace never takes the time to explore and analyze the issues facing neglected US soldiers, who have a hard time readjusting to civilian life. There’s the one scene, where Rodney explodes, when Russell urges him to quit the street fighter lifestyle. Rodney recalls the horrors of war, and vents his disgust with the lack of respect he received during his return…but that’s it. Unless, I’m missing something, the heated argument between Russell and Rodney is the only scene, where they truly focused on the hardships returning soldiers are forced to deal with. After that, Out Of The Furnace’s primary focus revolves around Petty and Rodney’s troubles with Harlan, and Russell hunting Harlan for revenge.

Still, I can’t dismiss Out Of The Furnace’s stellar cast, and you’ll see some tense “edge of your seat” moments here. All in all, Out Of The Furnace is a gritty and emotional drama/thriller, featuring a raw tale of revenge in the dismal and deteriorating landscape of the struggling working class. With the way things are going now (overall lukewarm feedback, not living up to the hype in the eyes of some people, etc.), there’s a good chance Out Of The Furnace will miss the boat for any award nominations during Oscar season, but I’ll remember this one as a top ten worthy film in 2013.

Rating: 8/10

Michael Jordan had another run with the Wizards after winning six championships. Brett Favre was one step away from earning a second ring with the Vikings.

As the world's definitive multi-talented superstar athlete, Trisha Bunrastar is taking an unexpected and shocking leap into a new career path. Assuming the identity of Freechelle Fantabulous, Trisha vows to fight crime and battle evildoers as a superheroine. Will she conquer her new mission? Find out more here! http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EFLI6VK

Or take a trip into my special world of madness that includes comedy, horror, and the supernatural in this collection of short stories- http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EFMYZ0U

Remember Amazon offers free Kindle App downloads for various platforms. Follow this link to find out more- http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html?ie=UTF8&docId=1000493771

And don't forget to follow me on Twitter here- https://twitter.com/LQuigleyFan1