At first glance, the sport of parkour might seem like a frivolous urban activity. Moving from point A to point B while demonstrating finesse and creativity can appear silly and somewhat dangerous. But with the passage of time and more and more people becoming involved with parkour, this highly physical mode of travel has become not only popular but commonplace in the culture of society. The new action film Tracers uses parkour as one of its main plot motivators and though it may seem ridiculous at first, the sport takes a bit of a backseat to allow the energetic young cast to strut their stuff while engaging in parkour as a secondary feature. This film is a fast paced example of modern day action films that pack an occasional punch while remaining fun and imaginative, no matter how dizzying some of the scenes are.
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Danny Collins
The plight of the aging rock star is something we’ve all seen on film before. It’s a premise that is not only entertaining but can be identified with by many. Anyone whose glory days are behind him or her and yearn for another shot is a universal theme and in the latest Al Pacino-starred dramedy Danny Collins, we see the highs and lows of someone who used to be great but has sadly fallen from grace. It’s a relatively big budget production full of notable stars and while it feels familiar, it’s actually a really strong film that will not only tug at your heartstrings but leave you laughing as well.
At the Top of the Pyramid
The teen dramedy reigned supreme in the late 1990s/early 2000s. Films like Bring it On, American Pie and pretty much anything on the WB television channel were perfect representations of what young audiences craved. However, in recent years the teen dramedy has matured and undergone a bit of a transformation. Now, independent filmmakers are tackling the genre and adding significant amounts of grit to stories about young people. Perhaps the internet boom is partly responsible for this but this once thriving genre is now pretty much nonexistent. The new film At the Top of the Pyramid, while flawed and clichéd, does offer a few nostalgic nods to the time in which bubblegum pop films were all the rage.
Cymbeline
There have been many attempts to modernize the works of William Shakespeare. The Bard’s classic language is something many writers and filmmakers have tried to bring to the screen. This doesn’t always work unfortunately and while the motion picture is a more than appropriate medium to do this, it can sometimes be an utter disaster. One of Shakespeare’s later plays, Cymbeline, has caught the attention of director Michael Almereyda. No stranger to Shakespeare, he actually helmed the Ethan Hawke-starred Hamlet back in 2000. With an all-star cast and an intriguing premise, Cymbeline has loads of potential. Sadly, the actual resulting film falls painfully short. With the actors reciting Shakespeare’s dialogue word for word, this film will detract many but others might find it rather interesting.
Kidnapping Mr. Heineken
In 1983, Dutch businessman, chairman and CEO of the Heineken beer company, Freddy Heineken, was kidnapped by a group of men all bent on making a quick buck. Their scheme was almost a complete success as they were paid the largest ransom for a single person (35 million Dutch guilders or a little more than $17 million American dollars) but were caught later on. The new film Kidnapping Mr. Heineken presents this odd caper in a manner that is light, well-acted and peppered with the occasional comedic moment. It’s a movie that doesn’t really take itself seriously and makes the actual kidnapping seem like a mere punch line. Having said that, however, the film is average at best and should be seen for the solid acting contained within if not for anything else.
Cinderella
The story of Cinderella is one of mankind’s most enduring fairy tales. It is a tale of romance, dreams and accepting one for who they truly are. Over time, the story has been adapted many times, the most notable one being the animated feature film in 1950. Thanks to Walt Disney and his crack team of animators, Cinderella was brought to “life”. This movie was the start of something very special and now in 2015, Disney has taken it one step further and made Cinderella live-action. Renowned Shakespearan film director Kenneth Branagh has provided his reliable services in capturing the magic of the girl with the glass slipper and the results aren’t only good but downright magical.
My Life Directed by Nicolas Winding Refn
The path an artist takes can be a long, hard and sometimes painful journey. To perfect and to constantly rework something can be a source of immense stress. Like all artists, filmmakers are especially prone to self-criticism and extreme doubt. Danish “auteur” Nicolas Winding Refn is a prime example of this and while his films aren’t always great works of art, he is a man who cares about his craft. The new documentary My Life Directed by Nicolas Winding Refn attempts to present the man’s life and work process in a casual and honest way. It isn’t the most illuminating of documentaries but it does shine a rather bright light on ambition and self-gratification.
Walter
It’s tough being the son of God. There are lots of decisions to be made like who goes to Heaven and who goes to Hell. Walter is this person and the responsibility can be quite stressful. The offbeat independent dramedy Walter follows the titular character as he not only judges those on Earth but tries to survive the trappings of young adulthood. It is a funny film with some rather serious themes but the tone, for the most part, is pretty light. Not all audiences will appreciate the humor and certain scenes might detract but this is a really sweet movie that will hopefully garner a cult following in the near future.
Road Hard
Stand up comedy is a tough profession to find success in. Many brave souls have tried and many have failed. For many, it’s just a job but for some, it’s a career and those who can find success in it, well all the more power to them. Adam Carolla is one such individual and he has been in the game for over two decades now. In addition to his stand up, he has had numerous television shows including The Man Show and Loveline. He has made it big on radio and in podcasting. He’s even authored a few books. But for purposes of this review, we will be focusing on his new film Road Hard, which isn’t a straight up autobiopic but a bittersweet look at the lifestyle of many stand up comedians. It is a film that doesn’t just present comics in a goofy light but strips away the fame and money to reveal a more personal and humanistic story.
Interview: Director Peter Cousens talks ‘Freedom’
Slavery is obviously a very tough issue to tackle on film. It’s a truly unfortunate thing that exists and whenever it’s brought up, people tend to be repelled. The new film Freedom, however, doesn’t repel. In fact, it is powerful story that shines a light on slavey but is more a story about people and the overcoming of certain obstacles. Director Peter Cousens was kind enough to speak with me and give an inside look at the Cuba Gooding Jr. drama. Here’s how it went:
Continue reading Interview: Director Peter Cousens talks ‘Freedom’
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