There are rules for a Jason Statham film, at least the ones that inhabit that subgenre of action film that he has carved out for himself. A WORKING MAN follows all of them all, because a formula that (usually) works is worth respecting. They include Mr. Statham playing a decent man longing for a quiet… Read More »
THE BEEKEEPER
Yes, I’m going to say it again. Jason Statham makes everything better. Even in a dog of a flick, he’s worth watching (talking to you MEG 2: THE TRENCH). But when he’s in a well-crafted action flick that’s as fun as it is unpredictable, well, that’s darn near nirvana. And so it is with THE… Read More »
SUICIDE SQUAD
One is put in mind of Shakespeare. Sort of. Watching SUICIDE SQUAD, that is, and thinking that here we have a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury signifying much worse than nothing, signifying a major financial loss for its studio. Not to mention the time lost by the viewer. This irredeemable… Read More »
SABOTAGE
I can’t fathom why when END OF WATCH was so dynamic, David Ayers directorial follow-up, SABOTAGE, is so inert. Where END OF WATCH had depth and energy, SABOTAGE is is rambling, and at times incongruous, as it unspools a set of stock characters dithering about in a cesspool of rubbery ethics and dogged determination. Perhaps… Read More »
HARSH TIMES
In HARSH TIMES Christian Bale and Freddy Rodriguez troll the seamiest streets of Los Angeles looking for trouble and usually finding it. If this sounds very much like writer David Ayer’s earlier screenplay, TRAINING DAY, that’s because it is. In fact, it plays like the bits and pieces that didn’t make the final edit of… Read More »