Thursday, March 31, 2016

Be Kind, Please Rewind

He’s a Thrill Seeking Missile. He’s the…

Vidiot

Week of April 1, 2016

Drone skiing is the next extreme sport. First up…

 

Point Break

The key distinction between regular and extreme thieves is that the latter is actually sponsored by Red Bull.

However, the risk-taking robbers in this action movie are against big business.

Tasked with infiltrating a band of altruistic bandits who perform daring heists to fund their extreme sports bucket list, FBI agent Johnny Utah (Luke Bracey) passes their intense initiation with ease.

Assimilated, he then helps them execute the remaining ordeals on their list, all the while reporting back to his boss (Ray Winstone).

But when his cover is blow, Utah must choose between his new bros and his federal duty.

Despite its pulse-pounding aerobatics, this pointless Point Break remake may be amped up in its handful of action sequences, but its spiritual laden script is made even worse when articulated by its incompetent cast.

Besides, they’re gonna call the cops as soon as you enter the bank wearing a neon wingsuit.  Red Light

Concussion

Concussions are only a problem in sports when the players start scoring on themselves.

Fortunately, the athletes in this drama are somewhat able to find their opponent’s end zone.

Aghast at the drastic brain injuries a former Pittsburgh Steeler sustained throughout his football career, forensic pathologist Dr. Bennet Omalu (Will Smith) sets out on a self-funded crusade to expose this NFL-wide epidemic.

With help from the Steel’s physician (Alec Baldwin), Bennet is able to publish his findings, which are rejected and buried by the organization until years later when more players start committing suicide.

This shocking true story of the NFL’s calculated cover-up of its countless concussion cases in the early-2000s finds Will Smith at his acting finest, delivering a powerful performance. But however timely the subject matter may be, the overall story lacks artistic impact.

This preexisting brain trauma, however, is exactly why ex-football players should be boxing professionally.  Yellow Light

 
The Hateful Eight

The worst part about being trapped in a cabin with a bunch of cowboys is listening to them drone on about Tom Landry.

Mind you, the cowboys in this western don’t have cheerleaders.

After the Civil War, ex-solider turned bounty hunter Major Warren (Samuel L. Jackson) hitches a ride aboard a stagecoach alongside a fellow hunter (Kurt Russell) transporting a prisoner (Jennifer Jason Leigh) to Red Rock for hanging.

A blizzard, however, strands them inside an isolated outpost occupied by a cast of ne'er-do-wells (Walton Goggins, Tim Roth, Michael Madsen, Bruce Dern) who may, in fact, be there to intercede on the outlaw transfer.

Taking a typical western narrative and turning it into a gruesome, foulmouthed whodunit with a stirring score, writer/director Quentin Tarantino returns to close quarters’ storytelling with a vengeance and aplomb.  

Thankfully, when cowboys are confined indoors today, instead shooting each other, they like to line dance.  Green Light

***Extreme Athlete’s Foot***

 
Paper Lion

Sports Illustrated has provided athletic news to the plus-size female community for years now.

But as this comedy confirms, back in the 1960s the magazine actually catered to sports fans.

In need of an idea for his Sports Illustrated column that finds him participating in a new sporting event each month, George Plimpton (Alan Alda) jumps at the chance to train with the Detroit Lions.
                                               
His enthusiasm, however, isn’t shared by his teammates (Mike Lucci, John Gordy, Pat Studstill). Fortunately, the defensive tackle (Alex Karras) and coach (Joe Schmidt) see to it that George gets his article – and then some.

Based on Plimpton’s own novel that was inspired by his SI article on the aforementioned experience, Paper Lion is an uplifting and inspiring underdog sports story with Alda embodying the wit and tenacity of the author.

In fact, journalists are still involved with the NFL…selling bags of peanuts during games.

He’s the Half-Time Show-Off. He’s the…

 Vidiot





  












  

















 









No comments:

Post a Comment