Jay C. Schulzs Blog

Archive for June, 2010

Edge of Darkness (R, 117 min)

Director:  Martin Campbell (Casino Royale, Goldeneye)

Cast:  Mel Gibson, Ray Winston (Beowolf), Danny Huston (X-Men Origins:  Wolverine)

Summary:  Boston homicide detective Thomas Craven (Gibson) investigates the death of his activist daughter and uncovers not only her secret life, but a corporate cover-up and government collusion that attracts an agent (Winston) tasked with cleaning up the evidence.  This is Gibson’s first movie since 2001 ‘Signs’ and is based on the British series from the 60s of the same name with the same director.

Review:  No one does pure rage and revenge better than Mel Gibson (see ‘Mad Max’ or ‘Lethal Weapon 1 or 2’).  It has been a long time since we have seen him consumed with vengeance and I think with any other actor this movie would have been a huge disappointment.   Campbell is a veteran director who is obviously very familiar with this material.   The pacing is fine but it seems as if some pieces of the movie may have been cut out to reduce overall length.  Specifically, there is a story line that explains Ray Winston’s motivation as the fixer that is never fully developed.   Danny Huston is extra slimy as the CEO of the corporation that is the object of Gibson’s ire. Winston and Huston are fine in supporting roles but have no doubt – this movie is carried by Gibson.   Without him, you are looking at a movie of the week on NBC.

Rating:  3 stars

Toy Story 3 (G, 103 min)

Director:  Lee Unkrich (Toy Story 2)

Cast:  Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Don Rickles,  Joan Cusack, Ned Beatty, Michael Keaton, Wallace Shawn, John Ratzenburger; Timothy Dalton, Laurie Metcalf, Whoopi Goldberg

Summary:  Andy has grown up and is headed off to college.  Woody, Buzz, and the rest of their toy-box friends are accidentally dumped in a day-care center that is more like a prison.   They struggle to find a way home and to escape the grip of Lotso Hugs Bear who is enforcing his will upon the toys at the center.

Review:  15 years ago, Pixar changed the industry with ‘Toy Story’.  We had never seen anything like it before and it captivated us.  Once again, they have hit one out of the park.  They have continually set the bar in the industry and have done so again.  Not only do they make the best animated films, one could argue they make the best movies period.  The first half of the movie was standard fair.  We all know and love these characters and we see them in their normal environment.  The film really takes off in the last half hour and the ending is quite simply perfect.   There is no need for another sequel as this was the only way this series should end.  I am sad to see this end but I am extremely pleased with how they finished the arc.

Rating:  3.5 stars (not Pixar’s best but still very, very good)

The Road (R, 112 min)

Director:  John Hillcoat (The Proposition)

Actors:  Viggo Mortenson, Charlize Theron, Guy Pierce, Robert Duval, Kodi Smit-McPhee

Summary:  A post-apocalyptic tale of a man played by Mortenson and his son trying to survive by any means possible.  The earth has been rendered lifeless by some unknown disaster and Mortenson is desperately trying to get his son (Smit-McPhee) to the coast where he feels they will find hope.  The characters have no names. 

Reviews:  ‘The Road’ is based on the book of the same name by Cormac McCarthy who also wrote ‘No Country for Old Men’.  As with most movie adaptations, this is not as good as the book.   Given all that, it is still enjoyable.   However, I would stay away from it if you do not like dark films – this one is fairly depressing.  The director does a good job of setting the tone.  Even though it was filmed in color, everything appears colorless.  Mortenson is terrific as the father who knows his time is short and must do whatever he can to protect his son.  Kodi Smith-McPhee is fine in his first film appearance.  Charlize Theron appears in flashbacks as his wife and is not on the screen enough to really make an impression.  Ditto for Robert Duvall who plays an old man the characters meet on the road.   

Rating:  3 stars (not as good as the book but good enough)