Movie review: The Irishman

 

 Now in retirement, mob hit man Frank Sheeran muses on his past exploits as a member of the Bufalino crime family and his possible involvement in the murder of Jimmy Hoffa.

Robert De Niro (Frank), Al Pacino (Jimmy), Joe Pesci (Russell), Harvey Keitel (Angelo), Ray Romano (Bill), Bobby Cannavale (Skinny), Anna Paquin (older Peggy), Stephen Graham (Tony Pro), Paul Herman (Whispers).

Martin Scorsese can't seem to stay away from directing mob films and The Irishman shows us why. Quite simply, retired mob hit man Frank takes a trip down memory lane discussing his time with the Bufalino crime family and possible involvement in Jimmy Hoffa's murder. The result is an enjoyable 3 1/2 hours of organized crime stories that are bundled together resulting in the disappearance of Hoffa and retirement of Frank.

Acting was wonderful with a cast from which we would expect no less. De Niro delivered as usual and fit his role well. Pacino was solid with a lot of energy. Pesci was impressively ominous while Keitel, Romano, and the remainder of the supporting cast were enjoyable throughout.

Camera work, sets, and backgrounds are very well done with a big screen big budget feel. Physical effects were fitting and well done. Dialogue had nice depth and moved the story along at a good pace. Sound and soundtrack are solid.

Overall if you enjoy mob films, you should enjoy The Irishman. Scorsese, with the help of a top-notch cast, once again do a great job of bringing syndicated crime to the screen.

With a fair amount of violence, gore, and foul language, this should be fine for older teens and above.

Released: 2019
Reviewed: 12.16.19
Star rating: 3 out of 5
Genre: Crime, Drama, Biography, Mobsters, Dramas Based on the Book

copyright ©2019 Dave Riedel

Movie review: Mike Birbiglia: The New One

 

 He may have seven reasons why he never wanted to be a dad, but parenthood is not going to wait.

Once again, though I enjoy Mike's storytelling approach, I really don't find his humor that funny. That said, in this special Mike has 7 reasons why he doesn't want to become a father which he rolls into a long story starting with his couch. Along the way we learn a lot about his health, wife, and views on children.

Visually Mike is a decent storyteller using physical motion and expressions fairly well.

Camera work, lighting, and sound are good.

Those who enjoy comedy presented in storytelling mode should enjoy Mike Birbiglia and his style of comedy. This one feels like it will offend less than some of his other specials.

I don't recall much foul language but definitely some adult concepts not appropriate for younger viewers. Teens and above should be fine.

Released: 2019
Reviewed: 12.16.19
Star rating: 3 out of 5
Genre: Stand-up Comedy, Comedy, Dark Comedy

copyright ©2019 Dave Riedel

Movie review: Star Leaf

 

 A couple of Afghanistan war veterans following rumors heard in service set out to find a mysterious strain of marijuana in the Olympic forests known as Star Leaf.

Julian Gavilanes (James), Tyler Trerise (Tim), Shelby Truax (Martha), Richard Cranor (Ranger Dave), Russell Hodgkinson (Seth), Kevin Jolly (Taliban Leader), Robert Leeshock (Gas Mask Man), Aleena Ober (Woman).

The mystical Star Leaf, rumored to be a gift from aliens growing somewhere in the Olympic forests, is said to deliver the ultimate high. Running on a battle rumor about a hippie with a map, two Afghan war vets and a friend set out into the woods and amazingly, find hippie Seth who does indeed have a map. With advice from Ranger Dave and hallucinogenic visions, the trio is in for one smoking adventure.

Acting was rough with Favilanes feeling as convincing as a $3 bill. Truax was mildly more interesting and worked well with Trerise. Cranor and Hodgkinson however were hysterical and well, but not enough to save this one.

Camera work was obviously natural scenery though it was used pretty well and there were some really good shots. Effects were reasonable given the theme and decent. Dialogue was a bit campy and even awkward at times. Sound and soundtrack are mediocre at best.

When the herb has finally turned to ash we find most of Star Leaf right there in the bowl as well. The attempts at tying humor, sci-fi, and pot together are obvious but their success is very limited and billing this one as a horror flick makes no sense at all. Instead humor misses the mark  leaving us with a thin plot and disappointing acting.

With some nudity, sexuality, foul language, drug use, and general mayhem, save this one for older teens and above.

Released: 2015
Reviewed: 12.16.19
Star rating: 3 out of 5
Genre: Sci-Fi, Sci-Fi Horror, Sci-Fi Comedy, Sci-Fi Thriller, B-movies

copyright ©2019 Dave Riedel

Movie review: Mortal Engines

 

 In a post-apocalyptic futuristic world, enormous cities on wheels roam the landscape fighting for dwindling resources. In London, Tom encounters the fugitive Hester Shaw and their lives are changed forever as they try and stop a conspiracy to use the same weapon that resulted in the apocalypse.

Hera Hilmar (Hester), Robert Sheehan (Tom), Hugo Weaving (Thaddeus), Jihae (Anna), Ronan Raftery (Bevis), Leila George (Katherine), Patrick Malahide (Crome), Stephen Lang (Shrike), Colin Salmon (Chudleigh).

Mortal Engines takes place in post-apocalyptic futuristic world in with enormous cities on wheels fight for resources. Valentine, in control of London, will do anything to ensure his city survives including once again using the weapon that caused the apocalypse. Hester, with her own axe to grind with Valentine, ends up joining forces with young Londoner Tom and the two set out to stop Valentine and his evil plot. Toss in a strange robotic guardian also chasing Hester, and things get even more interesting.

Acting was decent with Hilmar and Sheehan both doing reasonably well and working well together. Weaving was perfectly cast and managed his role well. Jihae was somewhat flat and mediocre, whereas Lang, Malahide, and the remainder of the supporting cast were enjoyable.

This film is all about the CGI which is very well done. The size and detail of the film is impressive with an amazing audience impact. Attention to detail adds a lot to the film as well. Dialogue is decent and moves things along at a reasonable pace. Sound and soundtrack are well done.

Overall Mortal Engines may feel like a new teen franchise, but adults who enjoy immense CGI should enjoy this as well. The plot feels like it tries to move in too many directions at once, but things are brought back together toward the end. This one is a nice choice for family movie night.

With some mild violence, mild foul language, and mildly disturbing images, this should be mild enough for teens and above.

Released: 2018
Reviewed: 12.16.19
Star rating: 4 out of 5
Genre: Sci-Fi Action & Adventure, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Action & Adventure

copyright ©2019 Dave Riedel

Movie review: Iron Sky: The Coming Race

 

 Iron Sky was only the beginning with Nazis on the Moon bent on taking over the world. Twenty years later what remains of humanity and the moon Nazis are living together on the dark side of the Moon.

Lara Rossi (Obi), Vladimir Burlakov (Sasha), Kit Dale (Malcom), Julia Dietze (Renate), Stephanie Paul (Vril President), Tom Green (Donald), Udo Kier (Vril Hitler), John Flanders (Gary), James Quinn (Johan).

With the last of humanity living on the dark side of the Moon and what is left of civilization on Earth buried under nuclear waste, things are looking grim. Unless you have cell service. A group of humans finds themselves headed from the Moon back to Earth which holds the keep to saving humanity deep inside its core. Of course the Nazis are coming along for the ride and the Vril just want, well, everything. Together Iron Sky: The Coming Race is quite a ride!

Acting had a bit more depth and comedy this time around. Rossi was meh in my opinion, but fortunate enough to have a solid supporting cast. Burlakov brings the cute and helps her with the comedy. Paul delivered the laughs throughout. Dietz had a brief, but solid, appearance. Kier fit his role nicely and was fun as always.

Camera work, sets, and backgrounds were decent given the theme. Effects, physical and CGI, were surprisingly good and definitely added to the film. Dialogue was fun with a nice mix of laughs and setup for laughs along with an actual plot. Sound and soundtrack are par for the campy theme.

Iron Sky: The Coming Race is a bit different from the original, which felt darker. This one also feels like it takes aim at a younger audience. At the same time, it brings more laughs while retaining a plot and providing a more polished, big screen feel. Maybe that is good, maybe not, you decide.

This one should be fine for preens and above. Maybe some mildly disturbing sci-fi scenes.

Released: 2019
Reviewed: 12.11.19
Star rating: 3 out of 5
Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi, Comedy, Sci-Fi Comedy

copyright ©2019 Dave Riedel

National Lampoon's Loaded Weapon 1

 

When a police detective is murdered for her cocaine cookie recipe microfilm evidence, crazy cop Jack Colt and his by-the-book partner, Wes Luger, are assigned to the case in this Lethal Weapon spoof.

Emilio Estevez (Jack), Samuel L. Jackson (Wes), Jon Lovitz (Becker), Tim Curry (Mr. Jigsaw), Kathy Ireland (Destiny), Frank McRae (Doyle), William Shatner (Gen. Mortars), Lance Kinsey (Irv), Bill Nunn (Photographer).

In the history of crime films, this one probably doesn't exist which is to say; there is nothing serious about this film. A spoof on Lethal Weapon, that is only the beginning. Toss in a smoking beaver, some special effects, a great cast, and you have a film that is a lot of fun. There is a plot that is almost as funny as the slapstick, including a good antagonist, but spans so many other films continuity is lost in the laughs.

Acting made this one. Estevez with, incredibly, Jackson as the strait-man did well as did Jackson. Shatner was a fun surprise in a fun role he obviously enjoyed. Curry and Lovitz both delivered while Ireland provided some scenery. The remainder of the supporting cast includes other familiar names and all did well.

Camera work is decent whereas sets, and backgrounds are almost as ridiculous as the plot and perfectly fitting for the theme. Physical effects were solid and added some depth to the laughs. Dialogue was corny, campy and full of chuckles. Sound and soundtrack are nicely done.

Overall National Lampoon's Loaded Weapon 1 is just plain silly fun. If you want a film resembling serious in any way, move along. Fortunately the comedy sticks in this one, for most, but it really is half a step from a B-movie anymore.

Released: 1993
Reviewed: 11.4.19
Star rating: 3 out of 5
Genre: Satire, Spoofs, Action Comedy, Crime Comedy, Comedy

copyright ©2019 Dave Riedel