Mississippi Grind

Written and directed by Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck, Mississippi Grind is the story of two gamblers who meet at a poker game as they travel to New Orleans for a high stakes poker game as they bond through their love of gambling. The film is an exploration of gambling as two men in different paths come together in the hope to get a big score. Starring Ben Mendelsohn, Ryan Reynolds, Sienna Miller, Analeigh Tipton, Robin Weigert, James Toback, and Alfre Woodard. Mississippi Grind is an exhilarating and engrossing film from Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck.

Two different gamblers in different directions of winning and losing meet at a poker game as they bond through their love of gambling as they travel from Iowa to New Orleans for a high stakes poker game hoping for a big score. It’s a film that is a road film of sorts but also a story of two men who live through gambling as they both have a love for it but also hope to get a lot of money for a better life. The film’s screenplay by Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck follow the different paths of its protagonist as Gerry (Ben Mendelsohn) is a man that constantly loses and going through some financial issues as he owes money to a loan shark in Sam (Alfre Woodard) who is sympathetic to his issues but wants what he owes her. Gerry is also divorced and hasn’t seen his six-year old daughter in years where he knows he messed up and wants to do right but has a gambling addiction with a real estate job that isn’t going anywhere. It’s where he meets a young traveling gambler in Curtis Vonn (Ryan Reynolds) who is on a hot streak hoping to go to New Orleans for a score as he and Gerry meet up and share their stories of gambling and such.

Curtis agrees to take Gerry to New Orleans from Dubuque, Iowa as long as Gerry drives where they would make several stops to various cities down the Mississippi River and would make some money through greyhound races and card games along the way. During a stop in St. Louis, Curtis and Gerry meet a couple of prostitutes in Simone (Sienna Miller) and Vanessa (Analeigh Tipton) as Simone and Curtis have some history that Gerry notices. Gerry would reveal that he still has feelings for his ex-wife Dorothy (Robin Weigert) though his visit to her home at Little Rock, Arkansas would only bring trouble following a set-back for both Curtis and Gerry. The script does show that as flawed as both Gerry and Curtis are as men in their pursuit of gambling. They still carry some humanity and goodness as Curtis’ often talkative and energetic persona is a front for some of the pain he carries into his own life as he also has another reason to go to New Orleans.

The film’s direction from Boden and Fleck is largely intimate in its presentation as it is shot on various locations such as New Orleans, Little Rock, St. Louis, Memphis, and various parts around the Mississippi River. While there’s some wide shots in the direction, Boden and Fleck focus on this intimate friendship between Curtis and Gerry that slowly develops as the latter is someone that is in need of luck while the former is in need to find the next path in his life having traveled so much. The film would often feature Gerry listening to a self-help CD to be a better gambler as it would occur often during the course of the film. Boden and Fleck’s usage of close-ups and medium shots help play into the conversations between Curtis and Gerry in a car or what goes on during a poker game where Boden and Fleck would shoot something on a hand-held camera and focus on what one player is seeing in his head or how he’s reacting physically as it play into the things Gerry is listening to from the CD.

With Boden serving as the film’s editor, there is a fluid and rhythmic approach to the editing where the shots do last to get a sense of the location as well as the way the conversations are edited. The direction also play into these somber moments such as Gerry playing piano with Vanessa sitting beside him while Curtis and Simone listen in the other room. Boden and Fleck would also carry this somber mood into the third act as it relates to Gerry’s bad luck as well as Curtis’ own setbacks and his own insecurities once they reach New Orleans to play in this game that is run by a famed gambler that Curtis knows. It also play into two men who both aren’t sure when to quit but they have this need to win something no matter how much they lose. Overall, Boden and Fleck craft a riveting and compelling film about two gamblers working together to work to play a big game in New Orleans.

Cinematographer Andrij Pakeh does brilliant work with the film’s cinematography with its usage of low-key and natural lights for many of the interior scenes at night including the casinos and bars while emphasizing on something realistic for the exterior scenes in the day and night. Production designer Jade Healy, with set decorator Selina van den Brink and art director James A. Gelarden, does excellent work with the look of the place where Simone and Vanessa work at as well as a few motel rooms and places where Gerry and Curtis play poker. Costume designer Abby O’Sullivan does nice work with the clothes from the stylish clothes that Simone and Vanessa would wear as well as stylish suits that Gerry and Curtis would wear at a riverboat casino.

Visual effects supervisor Luke DiTommaso does wonderful work with some of the film’s minimal visual effects as it mainly focuses on set dressing and a low-key dramatic scene during a simple conversation between Gerry and Curtis. Sound designer Abigail Savage does superb work with the sound as it play into the loud sounds of machines at a casino as well as the sounds of crowds at a casino or at a racetrack along with low-key moments in some of the different locations of the film. The film’s music by Scott Bomar is terrific for its blues-based score that help play into the atmosphere of the locations while music supervisor Jim Black provide a soundtrack that mainly focuses on blues, jazz, folk, and other traditional forms of music that play into the atmosphere of the Mississippi River and its many locations.

The casting by Cindy Tolan is fantastic as it feature some notable small roles and appearances from famed country-rock singer/songwriter Marshall Chapman as a club singer in New Orleans, Robin Weigert as Gerry’s ex-wife Dorothy who harbors some mistrust and issues with him, filmmaker James Toback as a revered poker player that Curtis claims to know, and Alfre Woodard in a superb performance as a friend of Gerry who loaned him money as she is sympathetic but also serious about wanting her money back. Analeigh Tipton is excellent as Vanessa as a young prostitute who befriends Gerry as a woman who has a lot more to offer than be pretty as she is still trying to figure things out for herself while finding some support from Gerry in what she wants to do.

Sienna Miller is amazing as Simone as a prostitute and on-off companion of Curtis as she is suspicious about Curtis’ intentions for Gerry while is also unsure about embarking on a serious relationship with Curtis. Finally, there’s the duo of Ben Mendelsohn and Ryan Reynolds in incredible performances in their respective roles as Gerry and Curtis. Mendelsohn displays a physicality as someone who has been on a major losing streak as well as this humility where Mendelsohn sells his character’s insecurities as well as his determination to win. Reynolds’ performance as Curtis is showier in terms of its energy and being very talkative about anything and everything with a sense of charm yet also displays some vulnerability as someone that really wants a better life for himself. Mendelsohn and Reynolds together are a joy to watch as two men who both want to win but also realize their worth to each other as they have this natural chemistry and rapport where they both bring the best in each other.

Mississippi Grind is a sensational film from Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck that features great performances from Ben Mendelsohn and Ryan Fleck. Along with its supporting cast, gorgeous locations, themes of gambling and friendship, and a sumptuous music soundtrack. It’s a film that definitely explore two men who bond through gambling as well as not being afraid in showing how flawed they are as well as this sense of hope that gambling can bring for them. In the end, Mississippi Grind is a spectacular film from Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck.

Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck Films: Half Nelson - Sugar (2008 film) - It's Kind of a Funny Story - Captain Marvel - The Auteurs #71: Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck

© thevoid99 2019

Deadpool 2

Based on the Marvel Comics series by Fabian Nicieza and Rob Liefield, Deadpool 2 is the sequel to the 2016 film in which the titular character forms a team to protect a young mutant from a soldier with time-traveling capabilities. Directed by David Leitch and screenplay by Rhett Reese, Paul Wernick, and Ryan Reynolds, the film is an action-adventure comedy that has the titular character/Wade Wilson who is known for his profane language and thirst for violence as he decides to form his own team while causing all sorts of shit as he is once again portrayed by Ryan Reynolds. Also starring Morena Baccarin, Julian Dennison, Zazie Beetz, Brianna Hildebrand, Stefan Kapicic, T.J. Miller, Jack Kesy, and Josh Brolin as Cable. Deadpool 2 is a wild and adventurously insane film from David Leitch.

Following a tragic event that would shape the life of Deadpool, the titular character reluctantly teams with the X-Men to protect a young mutant only for the mutant and Deadpool to be put in prison where the young mutant is being pursued by a soldier with time-travel capabilities. It’s a film that plays into the rogue assassin dealing with his role as a man who gets paid to kill bad guys yet is coping with loss as well as uncertainty of what to do next until he tries to help this young mutant who learns he had been abused at the orphanage he was in where he takes his own brand vigilante justice in his own hands causing him to be arrested and without access to his powers. The film’s screenplay by Ryan Reynolds, Rhett Reese, and Paul Wernick doesn’t just explore Wilson’s own grief and his own need for meaning in his life while trying to protect this young boy but also create a void for his loss in a family while continuously surrounding himself with friends such as the bartender Weasel (T.J. Miller), the elderly roommate Blind Al (Leslie Uggams), and the taxi driver Dopinder (Karan Soni).

The script would have moments where Deadpool does break down the fourth wall as well as make claims that the film the audience is watching is a family film. Yet, it is a film about family as Deadpool has to protect Russell Collins/Firefist (Julian Dennison) who is troubled and is being pursued by this time-traveling soldier in Cable whose motivations is revenge. Yet, there is a lot more in what Cable is doing as it relates to his own personal mission as Collins is seeking a friend where he would turn to Deadpool but Deadpool is still dealing with his own personal issues to help out Collins until he becomes the mission to save him.

David Leitch’s direction is definitely playful as it add to the film’s offbeat and smarmy tone. Shot on location in British Columbia, Canada with the city of Vancouver being its main setting, the film does play into a world that has Deadpool struggling with loss where the film begins with him doing a suicide attempt while spoiling things that is to happen in the film. While there’s some wide shots in some of the film’s locations as well as scenes inside a mutants-only prison, much of Leitch’s direction is simple in its approach to close-ups and medium shots to play into the interaction with characters. Even in scenes involving Deadpool and his girlfriend Vanessa (Morena Baccarin) early in the film to the interactions with X-Men members Colossus (Stefan Kapicic), Negasonic Teenage Warhead (Brianna Hildebrand), and NTW’s new girlfriend Yukio (Shioli Kutsuna) where there are these elements of humor and film references including the franchise Deadpool is a part of. Even in some of the film’s moments of violence as it has this element of dark humor that include Deadpool’s first encounter with Cable.

Leitch’s direction also play into the stakes as it relates to the unveiling of a major character in the film’s third act who would become a major threat to both Deadpool and Cable. Most notably as the latter’s motivation for revenge and his pursuit of Collins showcase what is to come as it’s not just Collins’ life that is at stake but also the future. There is also this element where Leitch does play with the elements of breaking down the fourth wall where it is obvious where many film sequels go as Deadpool also point out plot devices and such where it adds to the film’s offbeat and irreverent tone. Even in the film’s climax where Deadpool would get help from a few allies including a mutant with the power of luck named Domino (Zazie Baetz). Overall, Leitch crafts an exhilarating and comical film about a rogue mercenary who fights off against evil forces to protect a young mutant and his own future.

Cinematographer Jonathan Sela does excellent work with the film’s cinematography with its usage of bluish lights for some of the scenes set at night as well as in some of the daytime exteriors to help set a grim yet offbeat tone for the film. Editors Craig Alpert, Elisabet Ronaldsdottir, and Dirk Westfeldt do amazing work with the film’s stylized editing with its usage of jump-cuts, slow-motion cuts, and other rhythmic cuts that play into the film’s action and humor. Production designer David Scheunemann, with set decorator Sandy Walker and supervising art director Dan Hermansen, does brilliant work with the look of the mutants prison as well as the apartment Deadpool lives in as well as the home he shares with Blind Al and the orphanage that Collins lives in. Costume designers Kurt Swanson and Bart Mueller do fantastic work with some of the casual clothes that Wilson wears as well as the Deadpool costume and some of the clothes the people from his team wears.

Makeup designer Bill Corso does incredible work with the look of Deadpool/Wilson as well as the look of Cable and some of the mutants they meet. Special effects supervisor Mike Vezina, with visual effects supervisors Michael Brazelton, Dan Glass, Rohit Prakash Gujar, and Sean Konrad, does terrific work with the look of Cable with his mechanical arm and gadgets as well as the powers and looks of some of the mutants. Sound editor Mark P. Stoeckinger and sound designer Martyn Zub does superb work with the sound in the way gunfire and gadgets sound as well as the atmosphere of some of the locations. The film’s music by Tyler Bates is wonderful for its mixture of rock and orchestral music that play into the action, drama, and suspense while music supervisor John Houlihan creates an extremely fun soundtrack that feature music from Pat Benatar, a-ha, Peter Gabriel, DJ Shadow w/ Run the Jewels, Skrillex w/ Sirah, Cher, Dolly Parton, Air Supply, Alicia Morton, the Steve Miller Band, and Celine Dion.

The casting by Marisol Roncali and Mary Vernieu is great as it feature some notable small roles and appearances from Hayley Sales and Islie Hirvonen as Cable’s wife and daughter respectively from flashbacks, Luke Roessler as a young kid eating a cereal that Deadpool likes, Terry Crews as a mutant named Bedlam, Bill Skarsgard as an acid-vomit mutant named Zeitgeist, Lewis Tan as a cocky mutant named Shatterstar, Rob Delaney as a guy named Peter, Jack Kesy as a mutant inmate named Black Tom Cassidy who tries to intimidate Deadpool and Collins, Shioli Kutsuna as the mutant Yukio who is also NTW’s girlfriend, and Eddie Marsan as an orphanage headmaster who abuses Collins as well as being an anti-mutant extremist. Morena Baccarin is wonderful in her small role as Wilson’s girlfriend Vanessa as even though she is used as a plot device for the film, she does provide some touching moments that play into Wilson’s motivation to find meaning. Leslie Uggams and Karan Soni are amazing in their respective roles as Blind Al and Dopinder as a couple of Wilson's allies who both want to take part in helping Deadpool.

T.J. Miller is terrific as the bartender Weasel who tries to help Deadpool out as well as have his own weird encounter with Cable while Stefan Kapicic is superb in his voice-capture role as the X-Men mutant Colossus who is trying to get Deadpool to join the team and do some good. Brianna Hildebrand is fantastic as Negasonic Teenage Warhead as an X-Men mutant who can create sonic powers as her weapon as she is reluctant to have Deadpool be part of the X-Men. Zazie Baetz is excellent as Domino as a mutant whose power is luck as she is someone that can do things and always have good things happen to her as she is full of personality and charm that makes her a joy to watch. Julian Dennison is brilliant as Russell Collins/Firefist as a teenage boy who can throw fiery punches as he is someone that’s been abused and mistreated and is in need of a friend yet he’s unaware of what he is about to do due to the anger he’s attained through the abuse he’s suffered.

Josh Brolin is incredible as Cable as this time-traveling soldier who is more of an anti-hero than a typical antagonist as he is someone that is trying to go after Collins in this act of revenge yet is also someone that is carrying his own sense of loss and knows what Deadpool is going through. Finally, there’s Ryan Reynolds in a phenomenal performance as Deadpool/Wade Wilson as the rogue mercenary with a potty mouth as he is struggling with his own loss and existential crisis where he finds himself trying to protect a young mutant only to get lost further in his own issues where it’s a mixture of humor, anger, and drama that is one of Reynolds’ finest performances.

Deadpool 2 is a sensational film from David Leitch that features great performances from Ryan Reynolds and Josh Brolin. Along with its ensemble cast, witty dark humor, its ability to reference various plot points and get away with it, and a fun music soundtrack. It’s a film that never takes itself seriously where it does spoof sequels in some respects but also manages to showcase some substance as far as what is often expected from superhero films though it’s really more of an anti-superhero film. In the end, Deadpool 2 is a remarkable film from David Leitch.

David Leitch Films: John Wick - Atomic Blonde - (Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw)

X-Men Films: X-Men - X2: X-Men United - X-Men 3: The Last Stand - X-Men Origins: Wolverine - X-Men: First Class - The Wolverine - X-Men: Days of Future Past - Deadpool - Logan - X-Men: Apocalypse - (Dark Phoenix) – (New Mutants)

© thevoid99 2019

The Voices

Directed by Marjane Satrapi and written by Michael R. Perry, The Voices is the story of a mentally-ill factory worker who lives with a cat and a dog as the former wants him to kill while the latter is trying to make him feel normal. The film is an offbeat horror-comedy that plays into a man coping with his illness just as he is trying to maintain a normal life. Starring Ryan Reynolds, Gemma Arterton, Anna Kendrick, Ella Smith, and Jacki Weaver. The Voices is a chilling yet offbeat film from Marjane Satrapi.

The film revolves around a young man who lives in an apartment above a bowling alley as he falls for a British co-worker at a factory where he asks her out on a date only for things to go wrong due to conversations he has with his dog and cat. It’s a film that is really the exploration of a man who is mentally ill as he’s haunted by childhood memories where he tries to live a normal life in working at a factory in creating bathtubs while he would have frequent visits to a shrink who is making sure he’s taking his medication. Michael R. Perry’s screenplay is straightforward in its narrative as it play into the world that Jerry Hickfang (Ryan Reynolds) lives in as he shares an apartment with his dog Bosco and cat Mr. Whiskers as the former supports Jerry’s desire to fit in and be normal but the latter wants Jerry to kill.

When Jerry befriends the British co-worker Fiona (Gemma Arterton) and sets up a date, he thinks things are going to go well but Fiona unfortunately stood him up to go drinking and do karaoke with other co-workers though she didn’t mean to cancel the date as they later meet as she asks for a ride home where things go wrong. Due to the medication he’s given by his psychiatrist in Dr. Warren (Jacki Weaver), it’s meant to draw out the voices in his head but it would unfortunately have him face reality as well as the memories he had about his childhood. When he doesn’t take his medication, he would have conversations with Bosco and Mr. Whiskers while he sees things that don’t play into the grim ideas of reality even though it would re-emerge every once in a while just as he would befriend another co-worker in Lisa (Anna Kendrick).

Marjane Satrapi’s direction is filled with a lot of quirks but also some striking visuals in the way she portrays small-town American life. Shot largely on location near Berlin, Germany, Satrapi uses the small town locations and woods to play into a world that is sort of isolated from everything else where there is a lot happening but there are also places that have been abandoned such as the bowling alley that Jerry lives above. While Satrapi would use wide shots of the locations including parts of Jerry’s apartment, she does create some unique compositions that play into this element of surrealism with the usage of close-ups and medium shots. Notably in these scenes where Bosco and Mr. Whiskers would talk to Jerry and converse with him as well as a few individuals he would meet and would have these strange conversations with. There is an element of black comedy into what is happening as Satrapi’s scenes showed what Jerry sees in his apartment when he’s not his medications while everyone else would see something very different and disturbing.

Satrapi also play into the film’s flashback scenes to get an understanding of Jerry’s troubled past during its second act where Jerry takes Lisa to his old family home where he plans to do something but bad memories would prevent it. It’s a key moment in the film that would play into Jerry’s mental illness as it is clear he’s getting worse as the ideas of reality and fantasy become blurry as he couldn’t handle the former and what he will face. Even as suspicion would occur over what he does when he’s not at work though it is clear that he’s a man in need of help where Satrapi does emphasize on Jerry’s mental illness as he is someone who unfortunately does bad things even though he doesn’t mean to. Overall, Satrapi crafts a weird yet exhilarating film about a mentally-ill young man who is urged by his cat to kill people.

Cinematographer Maxime Alexandre does brilliant work with the film’s cinematography in creating a usage of heightened colors and lighting for some of the interiors in Jerry’s home to express his idea of fantasy while using more dreary colors to play into the reality that he doesn’t want to face as it would include in some of the film’s exterior shots. Editor Stephanie Roche does excellent work with the editing as it is straightforward with some rhythmic cuts towards some of the film’s suspense and humor. Production designer Udo Kramer, with set decorator Karin Betzler and art director Stefan Hauck, does amazing work with the look of the factory that Jerry works as well as his home in how it looks from his view and how it looks from the view of everyone else. Costume designer Bettina Helmi does fantastic work with the costumes with the look of the factory jumpsuits as well as the clothes that the women wear.

Prosthetic makeup designers Tamar Aviv and Jorn Seifert do superb work with the look of some of the makeup effects that is needed for some of the film’s dark violent moments. Special effects supervisor Uli Nefzer, along with visual effects supervisors Manfred Buttner, Antoine Marbach, and Damien Stumpf, does terrific work with the movements of the animals talking as well as some fantasy scenes from the view of Jerry. Sound designer Christian Conrad does incredible work with the sound as it help play into the atmosphere of the locations as well as some of the sound collages into the things that Jerry hears. The film’s music by Olivier Bernet is wonderful for its music score that feature a few ambient pieces for the playful moments along with orchestral pieces for the suspenseful moments while music supervisor Robin Urdang provide a playful soundtrack of music from Olivier Bernet with Jean Francois Gregoire and the O-Jays.

The casting by Venus Kanani and Mary Vernieu is marvelous as it include some notable small roles from Stephanie Vogt as a news reporter, Valerie Koch as Jerry’s mother in the flashbacks, Paul Brightwell as Jerry’s cruel stepfather in the flashbacks, Gulliver McGrath as the young Jerry, Stanley Townshend as the local sheriff, Paul Chahidi as Jerry’s supervisor, Sam Spruell and Adi Shankar as a couple of co-workers who helped organize a company party, and Ella Smith in a terrific role as Alison as a factory numbers worker who becomes suspicious about Jerry’s behavior and the disappearances in the town. Jacki Weaver is excellent as Dr. Warren as Jerry’s psychiatrist who is trying to understand what he’s feeling while knowing that he’s not been taking his medication prompting her to be concerned about his well-being and his treatment for his illness.

Gemma Arterton is brilliant as Fiona as a British office worker at the factory who befriends Jerry though she didn’t mean to stand him up on their date where she is someone that is flawed although is still a decent person. Anna Kendrick is amazing as Lisa as an office worker in the factory who later goes out with Jerry as she would discover aspects of Jerry’s past but also a disturbing discovery. Finally, there’s Ryan Reynolds in a phenomenal performance as Jerry Hickfang as a well-meaning but troubled factory worker who is mentally-ill as he hears voices where he tries to fit in but finds himself in places that makes him unhinged as Reynolds sells that air of innocence and anguish while he also does the voices of Bosco in an old-man accent and Mr. Whiskers in Scottish accent as they are hilarious in what they say.

The Voices is a sensational film from Marjane Satrapi that features an incredible performance from Ryan Reynolds. Along with its offbeat premise, study of mental illness and childhood trauma, gorgeous visuals, and a top-notch ensemble cast. It’s a film that explores a man dealing with his illness as well as the need to connect where he ends up doing some bad things and try to cope with it. In the end, The Voices is a remarkable film from Marjane Satrapi.

Marjane Satrapi Films: Persepolis - Chicken with Plums - (Gang of the Jotas) – (Radioactive (2019 film))

© thevoid99 2018

Buried

Directed and edited by Rodrigo Cortes and written by Chris Sparling, Buried is the story of a truck driver who is attacked in Iraq during the Iraq War in the 2000s where he is put into a coffin and buried alive as he struggles to survive. The film is an unusual suspense-horror film where a man does whatever he can to survive and get out of a coffin. Starring Ryan Reynolds. Buried is a gripping and intense film from Rodrigo Cortes.

Set somewhere in the middle of an Iraqi desert, a man named Paul Conroy (Ryan Reynolds) is inside a casket buried alive underneath several feet of dirt with only his lighter, a cell phone, a couple of glow sticks, a flashlight, and a few other personal belongings with him. Throughout the course of the film, he struggles to stay alive and wondered why he is buried alive as his only source of contact is through a cellphone where he tries to call for help while getting calls from the individuals who buried him. Chris Spraling’s screenplay is very minimalist in terms of the setting as it features a lot of lines where Paul is dealing with his situation as well as the people who either called or whom Paul would call. He deals with losing his breath, the low batteries in the cell phone and flashlight, and dirt slowly coming into the casket including a snake coming in at one point. All of which forcing Paul to see if he can survive and see if help is on the way.

Rodrigo Cortes’ direction is definitely claustrophobic as it rarely feature any wide shots in favor of extreme close-ups and a few medium shots. Shot mainly in a soundstage, the film has these very intricate movements and shots to get a feel of how small the casket is as well as the lack of space that Paul is dealing with while having dirt coming down on him little by little. Also serving as the film’s editor, Cortes knows when to cut to play into the suspense as well as creating that sense of the unknown whenever Paul might be getting some help or dealing with frustration that he is dying inside this coffin. Especially to those he is calling to or the message he’s getting from this unknown figure as it all play into the high stakes of the drama. Even as there is this uncertainty of whether he would stay alive or not throughout the course of the entire film. Overall, Cortes crafts a very unsettling yet captivating film about a man being buried alive inside a coffin in the middle of an Iraqi desert.

Cinematographer Eduard Grau does brilliant work with the film’s cinematography with its usage of grainy film stock to play with the different lighting sources from the lighter, glow sticks, cell phone, and flashlights to help create a mood for the film. Art directors Maria de la Camara and Gabriel Pare do amazing work with the look of the casket and how small it is to play into that air of claustrophobia. Visual effects supervisor Alex Villagrasa does nice work with the look of a snake that Paul would encounter later in the film inside the coffin. Sound designer James Munoz does fantastic work with the sound to play into that intimacy and natural sounds inside the coffin to some of the things happening outside which are presented by sound. The film’s music by Victor Reyes is superb for its orchestral-driven score from the sweeping yet suspenseful opening number to the cues that help play into the suspense and drama.

The film’s excellent cast mainly consists of actors doing voices such as Samantha Mathis as Paul’s wife, Jose Luis Garcia Perez as the man who abducted and buried Paul, Stephen Tobolowsky as an executive for the company that Paul is working for, Erik Palladino as a FBI agent, Warner Loughlin in a trio of voice roles as Paul’s mother, a friend of Paul’s wife, and a number lady, Ivana Mino as a co-worker who is seen briefly on video as a bargaining tool, and Robert Paterson as a government agent trying to help and save Paul through the phone. Finally, there’s Ryan Reynolds in an incredible performance as Paul Conroy as this civilian truck driver working for a private contracting company in Iraq who is buried alive inside a casket trying to survive as Reynolds provides that anguish and determination to survive as well as some humility into the possibility that he might die as it’s definitely one of his best performances of his career.

Buried is a sensational film from Rodrigo Cortes that features a tremendous performance from Ryan Reynolds. It’s a film that takes a simple premise of a man being buried alive in a coffin and keep it engaging as well as provide that uncertainty into the suspense. In the end, Buried is a phenomenal film from Rodrigo Cortes.

© thevoid99 2017

Deadpool

Based on the Marvel Comics series by Fabian Nicieza and Rob Liefeld, Deadpool is the story of an assassin who reinvents himself as an anti-hero who goes after the man that ruined his life and has captured his old girlfriend. Directed by Tim Miller and screenplay by Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick, the film is spoof of sorts as it play into the many tropes of superhero films but with a character that often makes very satirical comments as the titular character is played by Ryan Reynolds. Also starring Morena Baccarin, T.J. Miller, Ed Skrein, Gina Carano, Leslie Uggams, Briana Hildebrand, and Stefan Kapicic. Deadpool is a wild yet witty film from Tim Miller.

The film follows its titular character who was once a top assassin until he is stricken with cancer where he goes to a mysterious man who would cure him but leave him deformed. In turn, he goes after him hoping for a cure and get his life back on track while providing some commentary of everything that is around him as well as breaking the fourth wall. It’s a film about a guy who claims to be a bad guy but does worse thing to those who are really bad as he has no interest in being a hero. Yet, once the assassin Wade Wilson would find love in a prostitute named Vanessa (Morena Baccarin). He starts to embrace some form of normalcy until he is stricken with terminal cancer as desperation to find a cure would lead him into a trouble where he meets this mutant named Ajax (Ed Skrein) who is immune to pain as he would put Wade into a dark experiment that would force him to become the anti-superhero Deadpool.

The film’s script doesn’t play by traditional narrative as part of it has Deadpool reflecting on his life with Vanessa and what he was doing while chasing Ajax and his goons at a highway only to be interrupted by Colossus (the voice of Stefan Kapicic) and Negasonic Teenage Warhead (Briana Hildebrand) of the X-Men who want him to join. Deadpool refuses as he also comments about what he’s doing as well as criticize his character’s previous appearance in a film as well as other things that breaks the fourth wall. Especially as Deadpool would often talk to the audience as he tries to go after Ajax who would later kidnap Vanessa. There is also that sense of conflict in Wade as he embraces being Deadpool but also is filled with fear about what will Vanessa think of what he did to get rid of the cancer.

Tim Miller’s direction is definitely stylish as it play into the many tropes that is expected in action and superhero films but it also has fun with it. Shot largely on location in Vancouver, British Columbia in Canada, the film plays into a world that is quite chaotic but also exciting which is something that Wade is comfortable at since it play into his twisted personality. Miller does use some wide shots for some big moments as well as establishing some of the locations yet he would go into more intimate approaches to compositions with the usage of close-ups and medium shots. Some of which are playful as well as maintain that air of dark comedy into the film in the way Wade comments on the torture he would endure as well as comments from everything including bad movies and the guy who is playing him. Miller’s direction also has these moments such as the opening sequence where it plays into the many clichés of what is expected as the opening credits list everything that is often seen in these films. Still, Miller understands that the film isn’t taking itself seriously while not being afraid of being graphically violent at times or just taking a piss on itself at many of the clichés and have fun with it. Overall, Miller creates a thrilling and hilarious film about a bad guy who goes ape-shit on even worse guys by trying to get his girlfriend back and kill a bunch of fuck-heads.

Cinematographer Ken Seng does excellent work with the film‘s cinematography as it play into the somewhat de-colored look of the exterior locations with the exception of the scenes at the home of the X-Men while some of the nighttime scenes have some nice lighting to play into its eerie look. Editor Julian Clarke does superb work with the editing as it has some stylish fast-cuts for some of the action while actually not overwhelm anything as well as be straightforward in some parts. Production designer Sean Haworth, with set decorators Shannon Gottlieb and Shane Vieau as well as art directors Greg Berry, Nigel Evans, and Craig Humphries, does fantastic work with the set design from the bar Wade often hangs out as well as the home he would share with a blind woman. Costume designer Angus Straithe does terrific work with the costumes from the clothes that Vanessa wear as well as the design of the Deadpool suit.

Makeup designer Bill Corso does brilliant work with the look of Wade in his decayed and post-cure state as it play into the decision he‘s made. Visual effects supervisor Jonathan Rothbart does wonderful work with the visual effects from the way some of Deadpool‘s wounds are healed and the look of Colossus. Sound editors Jim Brookshire and Wayne Lemmer, along with sound designer Craig Henighan, do amazing work with the sound as it play into the sound effects and the way some of the gore sounds as it isn‘t afraid to be squeamish. The film’s music by Tom Holkenborg is marvelous for its mixture of bombast electronic music with some orchestral flourishes to play into the action while music supervisor John Houlihan create a fun soundtrack featuring music from DMX, Wham!, Juice Newton, Salt-N-Pepa, Chicago, Neil Sedaka, the Chordettes, and TeamHeadKick.

The casting by Ronna Kress is remarkable as it feature some notable small roles from Karan Soni as a cab driver named Dopinder that Deadpool befriends, Jed Rees as a mysterious man in a suit that gives Wade a secret contact, and Leslie Uggams in a very funny performance as Blind Al as a blind old lady that Deadpool lives with as she has a love for cocaine and IKEA. Stefan Kapicic is terrific as the voice of the steel-like mutant Colossus as a X-Men who tries to recruit Deadpool as he thinks there is good in him. Brianna Hildebrand is fantastic as Negasonic Teenage Warhead as a X-Men trainee who has the power to detonate atomic bursts in her body as she doesn’t seem to be impressed by Deadpool. T.J. Miller is superb as Weasel as a bartender friend of Wade who would help him with a few things as well as be a comic foil for Wade.

Gina Carano is excellent as Angel Dust as Ajax’s powerful henchwoman who likes to have a match in her mouth as well as be very strong where she is able to match up against Colossus. Ed Skrein is brilliant as Ajax as a mutant who is immune to pain as he would manipulate and ruin Wade’s life in the hopes he can use him as part of a secret army only to fuck with the wrong guy. Morena Baccarin is amazing as Vanessa as a prostitute who is Wade’s girlfriend as she has a strange yet enjoyable relationship until she wonders where he is as she isn’t some typical damsel-in-distress but rather someone that doesn’t take a lot of shit. Finally, there’s Ryan Reynolds in a phenomenal performance as the titular character as a smart-aleck assassin who is diagnosed with cancer only for things to go wrong when he gets cured as he becomes an even more fucked-up killer as it’s Reynolds being funny as well as provide some charm as it’s one of his best performances to date.

Deadpool is a sensational film from Tim Miller that features an incredible performance from Ryan Reynolds. Along with a strong supporting cast, a fun music soundtrack, and a premise that isn’t afraid to not take itself seriously. It’s an anti-superhero film that doesn’t care about taking a piss on itself as well as have a good time playing with the many clichés of the genre. In the end, Deadpool is a dazzling and hilarious film from Tim Miller.

X-Men Films: X-Men - X2: X-Men United - X-Men 3: The Last Stand - X-Men Origins: Wolverine - X-Men: First Class - The Wolverine - X-Men: Days of Future Past - X-Men: Apocalypse - Logan - Deadpool 2 - (Dark Phoenix) – (New Mutants)

© thevoid99 2016

Dick (1999 film)

Directed by Andrew Fleming and written by Fleming and Sheryl Longin, Dick is the story of two teenage girls who meet Richard Nixon as they become secret youth advisors only to reveal his secrets to Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein as the mysterious Deep Throat. A fictional take on the Watergate scandal that led to Nixon’s resignation, the film is a comedic story about the ideas of who Deep Throat in the form of two sweet-natured but dim-witted girls. Starring Kirsten Dunst, Michelle Williams, Ana Gasteyer, Will Ferrell, Bruce McCullough, Jim Breuer, Saul Rubinek, Teri Garr, Dave Foley, Harry Shearer, and Dan Hedaya as Richard Nixon. Dick is a truly hilarious and entertaining film from Andrew Fleming.

The film is a fictional take on the Watergate scandal that destroyed the political career of President Richard Nixon who would resign in disgrace in August of 1974 after some revelations over what happened at the Watergate Hotel two years earlier by people in his administration. All of it revolves around two teenage girls where one of them was living in the Watergate hotel as they were mailing a letter to win a contest to meet Bobby Sherman where they run into G. Gordon Liddy (Harry Shearer) and led to the arrest of several men connected to the Nixon administration. Upon meeting Nixon during a school field trip by befriending his dog Checkers, they become secret youth advisors where they would influence Nixon to connect with the American public until they learn who he really is where they would reveal their information to Bob Woodward (Will Ferrell) and Carl Bernstein (Bruce McCullough).

The film’s screenplay definitely focuses on the antics of Betsy Jobs (Kirsten Dunst) and Arlene Lorenzo (Michelle Williams) as they’re just a couple of American teenage girls who love everything that was around in the 1970s. Yet, their encounter with Nixon is one of many accidents that occur as they would be involved in some of Nixon’s great achievements during his second term while be responsible for things such as the 18 ½ minute gap that was missing from one of the tapes Nixon recorded. Many of the people that are involved with the Watergate story are portrayed for laughs such as Nixon’s attorney John Dean (Jim Breuer) as a very innocent man who feels guilty while G. Gordon Liddy is seen as a buffoon. Woodward and Bernstein are also portrayed for laughs with Bernstein as this smallish ladies man while Woodward is seen as the desperate straight man. Even some of the dialogue maintains the sense of humor such as a scene where Arlene asks Betsy about the meaning of Deep Throat which Betsy whispers into Arlene’s ear as it shows how innocent they are.

Andrew Fleming’s direction is quite straightforward in terms of the world that is the 1970s in Washington D.C. as it plays into the lives of these two young girls. Some of which involves antics that are quite funny as it plays to how dim-witted the girls are at times yet they mean well. Even as it includes a very hilarious subplot where Arlene falls for Nixon as she would be the cause that would have Nixon erase 18 ½ minutes from tapes he had recorded. There’s also some dramatic liberties that Fleming takes advantage in order to keep things funny such as the Nixon-Leonid Brezhnev peace accord. Much of the compositions are simple in order to create something that feels naturalistic as well as in scenes to re-create important moments in history. Especially in the idea that a couple of young girls would be the one that would be the one to take Nixon down. Overall, Fleming creates a very witty and fun film about two girls taking down Richard Nixon.

Cinematographer Alex Gruszynski does excellent work with the film‘s cinematography as it‘s very colorful to play into much of the sunny look of Washington D.C. as well as some of the interiors and lighting such as the Watergate break-in. Editor Mia Goldman does terrific work with the editing as it‘s straightforward with some stylish jump-cuts and montages to play into the film‘s humor. Production designer Barbara Dunphy, with set decorator Donald Elmblad and art director Lucinda Zak, does brilliant work with the look of the Oval Office and some parts of the White House as well as Arlene‘s room and her wall that featured Bobby Sherman at one point only to be replaced by Nixon. Costume designer Deborah Everton does fantastic work with the costumes from the youthful clothes that the girls wear that expresses their love of fashion.

Visual effects supervisors Michael Lennick and Ray McMillan do nice work with some of the few visual effects such as backdrops for some scenes set in the White House exteriors. Sound editor Steve D. Williams does superb work with the sound from the way some of the police sirens sound to some of the things that occur inside the White House including the sound of the tape recordings. The film’s music by John Debney is pretty as it‘s mostly low-key which is just orchestral music to play into the suspense and humor while music supervisor Ralph Sall creates an absolutely delightful soundtrack that features music from the Jackson 5, Yes, Grand Funk Railroad, Elton John, ABBA, LaBelle, George McCrae, Harry Nilsson, Bread, Love Unlimited Orchestra, Redbone, David Essex, Carly Simon, and a couple of covers by Michelle Williams and Sixpence None the Richer.

The casting by Pam Dixon is incredible as it features one hell of an ensemble that includes small roles from Ryan Reynolds as a boy Betsy flirts with at Bob Haldeman’s house, Devon Gummersall as Betsy’s stoner brother Larry, French Stewart as a TV interviewer at the beginning of the film, G.D. Spradlin in one of his final performances as Washington Post editor Ben Bradlee, Ana Gasteyer as the President’s secretary Rose Mary Woods, Ted McGinley as Arlene’s mother’s new boyfriend, Karl Pruner and Shannon Lawson as Betsy’s parents, Len Doncheff as Leonid Brezhnev, and Teri Garr as Arlene’s lonely mother. Harry Shearer is terrific as the very threatening but buffoonish G. Gordon Liddy while Dave Foley is excellent as the White House Chief of Staff Bob Haldeman who is depicted as a total asshole. Jim Breuer is fantastic as Nixon’s lawyer John Dean who would feel guilty for working with Nixon while Saul Rubinek is wonderful as Henry Kissinger who often feels left out by Nixon while having a great duet of Hello Dolly with Brezhnev.

Will Ferrell and Bruce McCullough are hilarious in their respective roles as Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein with Ferrell as the straight man who is trying to maintain his serious reputation while McCullough brings a more comical approach to the role of Bernstein in his attempt to be very good-looking. Dan Hedaya is phenomenal as the titular character as he brings a lot of humor to the role of Nixon while being a mean man who kicks his dog and is very prejudice as Hedaya puts a lot of gravitas as Richard Nixon. Finally, there’s Kirsten Dunst and Michelle Williams in sensational performances in their respective roles as Betsy and Arlene. Dunst is the more ditzy of the two as she has this charm that makes her so delightful to watch while Williams is the more introverted as she falls for Nixon. The two together have great chemistry together in the way they play out each other as well as admit the fact that they are dumb girls.

Dick is a remarkable film from Andrew Fleming that features amazing performances from Kirsten Dunst, Michelle Williams, and Dan Hedaya as Richard Nixon. It’s a film that manages to take a unique premise and make it very enjoyable while it is also oddly compelling for the fact that it does play with American history. Even to the point of subverting some facts and things that really happened and get away with it. In the end, Dick is an incredible film from Andrew Fleming.

© thevoid99 2014

Green Lantern

Based on the DC comics by John Broome and Gil Kane, Green Lantern is the story of a young fighter pilot who meets a wounded alien that gives a powerful ring as he would become part of an elite group of intergalactic fighters protecting the world against evil. Directed by Martin Campbell with a script by Greg Berlanti, Michael Green, Marc Guggenheim, and Michael Goldenberg from a story concept by Berlanti, Green, and Guggenheim. The film is an origin story of how Hal Jordan became part of the Green Lantern Corps as he would battle the dark force of fear known as Parallax. Starring Ryan Reynolds, Blake Lively, Peter Sarsgaard, Mark Strong, Tim Robbins, Angela Bassett, Jay O. Sanders, Taika Waititi, Temuera Morrison, and the voices of Michael Clarke Duncan, Clancy Brown, and Geoffrey Rush. Green Lantern is a very typical and uninspiring superhero origin story.

When the evil force known as Parallax (Clancy Brown) has broken out of his prison in a lost planet, he goes after the Green Lantern fighter Abin Sur (Temuera Morrison) of Sector 2814. Sur escapes Parallax’s wrath but is wounded as he makes his nearest destination towards Earth. Meanwhile, a test fighter pilot named Hal Jordan (Ryan Reynolds) has caused more trouble for his longtime friend Carol Ferris (Blake Lively) during a test where he would cost several jobs. Later that night, Hal is summoned by a mysterious green light where he would meet the ailing Sur who gives him a green ring and a small lantern as he chooses Jordan to be the new Green Lantern. Sur’s body is later retrieved by the government as they call upon Hector Hammond (Peter Sarsgaard) to examine the body as he becomes exposed by a mysterious yellow substance.

After learning about the Green Lantern’s powers, Hal is transported to the planet of Oa where he would meet several Green Lanterns as he learns about the role of the Green Lanterns. Befriending Tomar-Re (Geoffrey Rush) and Kilowag (Michael Clarke Duncan), the latter of which trains him, while Hal also deals with one of the Green Lanterns’ leaders in Sinestro (Mark Strong) who feels that Hal is too weak to become part of the Green Lantern Corps. Hal returns home to Earth unsure about his role until a party celebrating Carol’s success in nabbing a contract where Hector is at the party with his father Senator Hammond (Tim Robbins) who is happy about the contract. Yet, Hector’s exposure to the yellow substance has him reading minds as he decides to take his anger out on his father by trying to crash the helicopter until Hal as a Green Lantern saves the day.

After a battle to fight Parallax fails, Sinestro goes to the Guardians to help create something that will fight Parallax while Hal learns about what is happening to Hector who has become more powerful where the two learn that Parallax is coming. With Hector already realizing what he needs to do to fight Hal, Hal goes back Oa to reveal the Guardians where Parallax is going as he asks for help. Though the Guardians and Sinestro become impressed by Hal’s will to fight, they let him return to Earth to fight alone as Hal would face Hector and the dark force that is Parallax.

The film is essentially an origin story of how a guy becomes a superhero and saves the day. It’s a story that is often told again and again in a lot of origin stories about superheroes. The big question is that does the story of the Green Lantern standout from all of the others? Not exactly. The stories about the Green Lanterns, the origin of Parallax, and how Hal Jordan became a Green Lantern are the most interesting parts of the story. It’s just that everything else including Jordan’s own issues about the death of his father (Jon Tenney), his relationship with Carol Ferris, and theme of fear vs. will isn’t that interesting. Notably the latter which is told in a very heavy-handed manner that requires a lot of exposition that overdoes itself.

The film’s screenplay is definitely the weakest aspect of the film not just in terms of following a formula but not doing enough to make the film’s central characters to be very interesting. While the Hector Hammond character doesn’t start out as a villain because he’s just a small-time college professor who feels slighted by his dad. He becomes a very cartoonish character that ends up being a patsy for Parallax who is just nothing more than a big head surrounded by dark clouds that just sucks the life of scared people and creatures. Since the film is also meant to try and appeal more than just a comic book audience, the screenwriters try to inject some humor that will appeal to much younger audience that doesn’t really work either as it tries too hard to be a lot of things for a superhero action-blockbuster.

Martin Campbell’s direction has moments that does keep the audience be engaged and into the story. There’s some interesting scenes that is well shot such as the tension between Hector and his father, Hal dealing with his own family, and some of moments in Oa where Hal is introduced to this strange world. Everything else however feels quite pedestrian of what is expected in the genre. There’s wide shots of a city that’s about to be attacked as well as very big visual effects pieces that includes the climatic battle between Hal and Parallax. None of it is boring but it doesn’t bring anything new to the superhero genre. A lot of the compositions and directing actors to do this doesn’t have anything exciting while Campbell’s approach to the humor feels very forced. The overall work is pretty mediocre as Martin Campbell ends up creating another superhero film that doesn’t do much to stand out on its own.

Cinematographer Dion Bebe does a pretty good job with the cinematography such as some of the nighttime exteriors and interiors to help set a mood though there isn’t a lot of it is very interesting. Editor Stuart Baird does decent work with the editing to play up the intensity of the action though it‘s mostly typical of what is expected in a film like this. Production designer Grant Major, along with set decorator Anne Kuljian and art director Francois Audouy, does some fine work with the set pieces created such as the contract party and offices along with the look for the sets of Oa. Costume designer Ngila Dickson does some OK work with the costumes which is notable for the look of the Green Lantern uniforms as well as the fashionable dresses of Carol.

Visual effects supervisor Karen E. Goulekas, Kent Houston, and Gregory L. McMurry do some effects work that isn‘t very good at all. A lot of it doesn’t really do any effort to make it feel more realistic while the overall presentation of the look of outer space and the planet Oa isn’t impressive as the whole look of it feels too artificial. Sound editors Karen M. Baker and Per Hallberg do some nice work with the sound effects whether it‘s the sound of jet engines and gunfire along with some of the things Hal does to fight Hector and Parallax. The film’s score by James Newton Howard is all right as it‘s just a typical score filled with bombastic orchestral arrangements with bits of guitars to add more heaviness to the music. Additional music by Joints Jumpin’ is played in the background in the film’s party scene to add a bit of jazzy entertainment to the music.

The casting by Pam Dixon is stellar for the ensemble that is created though none of them really get a chance to stand out or do anything that is memorable. Among those making appearances include Jon Tenney as Hal’s father, Gattlin Griffith as the young Hal, Jay O. Sanders as Carol’s father, and Taika Waititi as Hal’s comic relief friend Thomas Kalmaku. The voice performances by Michael Clarke Duncan and Geoffrey Rush in their respective roles as the tough trainer Kilowag and the kinder Tomar-Re are really good with Duncan providing humor and Rush being the wise one. Clancy Brown’s voice work as Parallax isn’t good as all he does is talk in a gruff voice and act all threatening. Angela Bassett in the role of Senator Hammond’s scientist aide Dr. Amanda Waller is an unremarkable one as she just plays a lackey of his where Bassett looks like she’s sleepwalking throughout the film.

Tim Robbins is OK as the ambitious Senator Hammond who feels disappointed by Hector until he is threatened by Hector’s new powers while Temuera Morrison is really good as the fearless warrior Abin Sur who gives Hal the ring. Mark Strong is excellent in the role of Green Lanterns leader Sinestro who tries to deal with Hal’s presence as well as the dark force of Parallax. Peter Sarsgaard is decent as Hector Hammond who starts off as this curious scientist only to devolve into a crazed antagonist that doesn’t really work due to the bad makeup job and Sarsgaard screaming like a girl throughout the film. Blake Lively gives a serviceable but uninspired performance as Carol Ferris where all she does is look good, act frustrated at Hal, and all sorts of things were she’s hampered by the script’s weakness but also her own performance where she doesn’t really show much range in a very typical part.

Finally, there’s Ryan Reynolds as the film’s protagonist Hal Jordan. While it’s a role that allows Reynolds to carry a film where he would display his witty charm. It’s a very disappointing performance as Reynolds doesn’t really get a chance to stretch out as he is also hampered by the film’s weak script and lackluster direction. While the Jordan character is a guy who is unsure about himself and Reynolds does allow the character to be engaging. The stuff where he has to try and emote in a very serious manner or to be a badass doesn’t really work.

Green Lantern is a very bloated film that emphasizes more on creating a visually-exciting superhero blockbuster rather than something that will allow itself to standout. Despite the efforts of Ryan Reynolds and Mark Strong, it’s a film that wants to be a lot of things to its audience. It may be watchable and at times, fun but the overall work is just unimpressive as Martin Campbell just creates something that doesn’t really do more than what the genre wants. In the end, Green Lantern is a truly terrible and uninspiring film that doesn’t do enough to entertain its audience.

Martin Campbell Films: (The Sex Thief) - (Eskimo Nell) - (Three for All) - (Criminal Law) - (Defenseless) - (Cast a Deadly Spell) - (No Escape) - (GoldenEye) - (The Mask of Zorro) - (Vertical Limit) - (Beyond Borders) - (The Legend of Zorro) - (Casino Royale (2006 film)) - (Edge of Darkness)

© thevoid99 2012

X-Men Origins: Wolverine

When the X-Men comics finally became a feature film in 2000.  The film was a hit as it introduced the film world to Hugh Jackman as one of the group’s popular heroes in Wolverine.  X2:  X-Men United followed in 2003 to great success as did X-Men 3:  The Last Stand in 2006.  Though the last film was under the helm of a different director in Brett Ratner and received mixed reviews.  The film was still a commercial hit as plans for spin-offs in relation to the characters were in the works.  With Jackman’s popularity as Wolverine still viable, 20th Century Fox decided to tackle an origin story for the first of a series X-Men spin-off films entitled X-Men Origins:  Wolverine.

Directed by Gavin Hood with a screenplay by David Benioff and Skip Woods, X-Men Origins:  Wolverine tells the story of Wolverine and his background that spans from the 19th Century to the present where he’s accompanied by his older half-brother Victor Creed aka Sabretooth.  When Wolverine leaves a special unit group that was headed by William Stryker that also included Victor, he settles for a quiet life until tragedy occurs where he would become the monster with metallic blades that was also invulnerable.  With Jackman playing the role of Logan/Wolverine, the film also stars Liev Schrieber, Danny Huston, will.i.am, Lynn Collins, Taylor Kitsch, Dominic Monaghan, and Ryan Reynolds.  X-Men Origins:  Wolverine is a film that ends up being a lazy, overblown film that adds nothing to the X-Men film franchise.

In the near-mid 1800s, a young boy named James Hewlett (Troye Sivan) is sick as he has a mutation where he can grow claws from his fists.  After an incident that involved the death of his real father, James and his older half-brother Victor Creed (Michael James Olsen) runs away where they would spend nearly an entire century as adults fighting numerous wars.  By the time they reach the Vietnam War, Victor Creed (Liev Schrieber) has become more volatile while James, renames himself as Logan is more compassionate.  After some troubles with the military, they meet Colonel William Stryker (Danny Huston) who invites them to join an elite team of mutants.

Years go by as Logan becomes tired of the team he’s a part of that also consist of Creed, talkative swordsman Wade Wilson (Ryan Reynolds), teleported John Wraith (will.i.am), marksman Agent Zero (Daniel Henney), the invincible Fred J. Dukes/the Blob (Kevin Durand), and the techno path Chris Bradley (Dominic Monaghan).  After a mission in Africa, Logan leaves the team where he would reshape his life years later in Canada as a lumberjack.  At the same time, he has a girlfriend named Kayla (Lynn Collins) where he seemed to have peace until Stryker makes a visit.  Stryker reveals a plot to kill members of their old team as he makes a warning to Logan.  Some time later, Creed appears to battle Logan as the conflict leaves some tragic consequences for Logan as he turns to Stryker for help.

Stryker decides to inject adamantium, a new form of metal into Logan’s body as Logan asked to be renamed as Wolverine.  The experiment becomes successful but after overhearing Stryker’s plans to wipe Logan’s memory, Logan escapes and hides.  Logan then had to battle adversaries including Agent Zero as he turns to Wraith and Dukes for help about what Creed and Stryker are up to.  After meeting Remy LeBeau/Gambit (Taylor Kitsch) in New Orleans to find the whereabouts of Stryker’s new laboratory, Creed comes into attack where Gambit decides to help Logan.  Upon his arrival into the island, Logan finds a shocking surprise as well as the new weapon Stryker created known as Weapon XI/Deadpool.

When the idea for an origin story about one of X-Men’s most popular characters would be made into a film.  The idea seems something fans would enjoy.  All there was needed to be told about Logan/Wolverine is his background, his relationship with half-brother Victor Creed, and how he had adamantium into his body.  They got all of that but the problem is that the execution was awful. While co-screenwriter David Benioff added a lot of dramatic elements to the story, he and co-scribe Skip Woods didn’t dwell enough into Logan’s background as well as the complexity of his character.  Instead, Wolverine is made into a one-dimensional character who only has two main emotions.  Sad and angry with a bit of sensitivity and warmth.  While audiences know that Wolverine is also a character with a sense of humor.  None of the humor works with the approach the writers have for the character.

It’s not just Wolverine that is badly written.  It’s the people involved with Wolverine that don’t get much meat into their roles.  Notably Kayla, who only appears for about 20 minutes of the film early on and then, disappears for nearly the rest of the film.  The audience have no idea of how they met or when did this meeting occur.  At the same time, she ends up being just a run-of-the-mill love interest that audiences don’t really care about.  Then there’s Victor Creed and William Stryker.  The complex relationship between Creed and Wolverine is told exactly what is to be needed but the problem is that its approach is messy while their last moment together doesn’t work.  Even as it would set up the events of the first film where Creed would be known as Sabretooth.

Stryker meanwhile, isn’t as engaging in comparison to the other incarnation in X2.  Audiences know who he is and what he would do to Wolverine.  Even as there’s tidbits to his own son, whose character would have a bigger role for X2.  Yet, that isn’t explored enough in the writing as Benioff and Woods are more concerned with wanting to get the action going.  Notably for the setup and anticipation for the big villain known as Deadpool.  Unfortunately, that setup and the moment he arrives ends up being one of the film’s major disappointments.

The action-drama approach of the screenplay is very awful.  When it comes to some dramatic moments or character-related plot points, it drags the entire film in some places while there’s scenes where it moves too quickly so it can go to an action sequence.  The set-up for the action ends up being cartoonish and over-the-top in the writing where there’s moments where no one really knows what is going on at times.  Another problem of the story is when did all of this happen?  Audiences do get introduced to the future Scott Summers/Cyclops as well as Emma Frost, both of whom would become students in Charles Xavier’s school for mutants.  There’s no sense of time frame that goes on where there’s modern technology that is available in present time yet how would it relate to the other films when that was set in the early 2000s?  That’s a major reason why the screenplay is a failure in its presentation.

Yet, none of that could be compared to Gavin Hood’s direction.  While there’s nothing wrong with a by-the-books approach to directing an action film.  What Hood failed to do was make it interesting, engaging, and entertaining.  Instead, he goes for a bigger is better mentality and a move into the action in such a fast way that he could rival hacks like Michael Bay and McG in that department of overblown filmmaking.  Unlike Bay and McG, Hood does have more experience in directing drama.  Unfortunately, the screenplay doesn’t allow him to work with strong material.  Even the action sequences, filled with CGI and settings that don’t look real.  Hood was really unable to create a film that could get people excited.

Even in the way the scenes are directed where a shot of Logan screaming at the sky is presented in such a clumsy, cheesy fashion.  For many of the film’s exterior scenes, the look of the film feels very unrealistic.  Whether it’s due to Donald McAlpine’s cinematography or whatever post-production work was done to the locations.  It feels and looks like it was made by a computer.  It’s not just McAlpine’s photography nor the editing isn’t just uninspiring.  A lot of the film’s technical work doesn’t seem to wow or serve anything.  The score by Harry Gregson-Williams is very mediocre and reminiscent of every action film score out there with bombastic orchestral arrangements and such.

The casting isn’t great either as many of the actors weren’t given any substantial material to work with.  While there’s cameos from Patrick Stewart as Professor Charles Xavier along with future X-Men characters in Tim Pocock as Scott Summers/Cyclops and Tahyna Tozzi as Emma Frost.  None of them really give any kind of performance that is worth noting.  Neither do Troye Sivan and Michael James Olsen in their younger versions of Logan and Victor, respectively as audiences don’t get enough time to get to know them.  Other smaller performances such as Kevin Durand as the Blob and Daniel Henney as Agent Zero weren’t interesting enough to be invested in as they’re just one-dimensional characters.

More well-known actors like Dominic Monaghan and Ryan Reynolds are practically wasted in their respective performances as Chris Bradley and Wade Wilson.  Notably Reynolds, who is a funny actor as he’s only in the film for about a few minutes and then, reappears towards the end as close-ups of Deadpool that kills whatever momentum the film has.  Taylor Kitsch is truly awful as Gambit, a character that is very obnoxious as Kitsch sports a bad New Orleans accent.  will.i.am is really the worst performance of the film as he’s just there to appear and be Wolverine’s sidekick.  He doesn’t even act as he tries to look cool with a cowboy hat.  His role is really more of a distraction as he’s really known as the talent-less hack who is in the Black Eyed Peas.  Lynn Collins doesn’t do anything in terms of performance by rather just look sexy, comfort Logan, and get scared.  There’s really no depth to her character while she and Hugh Jackman have no chemistry for the audience to be invested in.

Danny Huston is actually the film’s best performance but that isn’t saying much since he spends half of the film sleepwalking throughout the majority of the film.  In the role of William Stryker, Huston doesn’t really give anything to make Stryker charismatic nor engaging in the way Brian Cox was with the character in X2:  X-Men United.  Instead, Huston’s performance is such a waste that the audience will end up missing Brian Cox.  Liev Schreiber tries to put some life into his performance as Victor Creed/Sabretooth but ends up being cartoonish.  Even when he tries to be the mean monster as Schreiber really was given a character that is really just one-dimensional.

Finally, there’s Hugh Jackman in the title role.  Jackman is always fun to watch as Wolverine and does have the chops to do drama and be funny.  The problem is that his character becomes less complex and more cartoonish with two emotions.  Angry and weepy.  The funny one-liners he gets aren’t funny, the action sequences has him looking quite awkward and he fails in the dramatic department.  It’s as if he’s acting with no one throughout the film while being inside a CGI studio.  It’s a terrible performance for Jackman who has done better with this character, a character that audiences loved in previous films.

X-Men Origins:  Wolverine is, truly without a doubt, one of the worst films ever made.  While fingers can be pointed at star and producer Hugh Jackman, director Gavin Hood, and screenwriters David Benioff and Skip Woods.  The real culprits are the executives at 20th Century Fox for their interference with the film.  Even with the additional endings they added when a leaked work print version of the film was released a month prior to the film’s actual release.  For doing that, this is a film that should be seen as an example where a studio can go way too far into trying to make a money-grabbing film only to anger the core audience it tried to appeal to.  In the end, X-Men Origins:  Wolverine is an abomination from Fox as they have destroyed one of the most beloved characters in the world of comic books.

X-Men Films: X-Men - X2: X-Men United - X-Men 3: The Last Stand - X-Men: First Class - The Wolverine - X-Men: Days of Future Past - X-Men: Apocalypse - Logan (2017 film) - Deadpool 2 – (X-Men: Dark Phoenix) - (New Mutants)

© thevoid99 2010