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Film
Review
by Kam Williams
Jackie Chan
Teams with Johnny Knoxville for Familiar Unlikely-Buddies Flick
Jackie
Chan made dozens of martial arts movies in his native Hong Kong prior
to finding phenomenal success stateside in 1998 co-starring with
Chris Tucker in the buddy-comedy Rush Hour. Their pairing as
unlikely-partners proved so popular that they returned to the well to
shoot a couple of sequels in Rush Hour 2 and Rush Hour 3. And Jackie
further milked the familiar formula in outings opposite Owen Wilson
in Shanghai Noon and Shanghai Knights.
Despite
being perhaps a little long-in-the-tooth to still be doing such
stunt-driven adventures, the sixty-something matinee idol is back
with Skiptrace, a slight variation on the theme co-starring Johnny
Knoxville. Knoxville is known for Jackass, the TV and film franchise
in which he and a coterie of deranged confederates perform an array
of death-defying feats.
Here,
he reprises some of his greatest hits, like rolling down the street
in a barrel. The same can be said of Chan, as so many of the
picture's chase and fight sequences have a feeling of deja vu about
them. Nevertheless, a treat is in store for the unintiated,
especially youngsters who've never seen either of these leads ply his
trade before.
In
Skiptrace, Jackie plays Hong Kong detective Benny Chan, and Johnny
co-stars as Connor Watts, an American gambler on the run from a
Russian casino owner (Charlie Rawes) he fleeced to the tune of a
million dollars. At the point of departure, Benny's partner Yung
(Eric Tsang) is murdered by a mysterious mobster known as The
Matador, and he makes it his mission to bring the creep to justice.
Meanwhile,
half a world away, Johnny just happens to witness the kidnapping of
Yung's daughter Samantha (Bingbing Fan). So, that makes him
invaluable to Benny when the two subsequently cross paths, as much as
the detective dislikes the idea of cooperating with a slippery con
man.
Directed
by Renny Harlin (Die Hard 2), Skiptrace overall is a globe-trotting
affair which unfolds at a dizzying pace in the course of visiting a
variety of ports-of-call all across the planet. The multi-layered
whodunit eventually builds to a big showdown at Kai Tak Cruise
Terminal back in Hong Kong, where the case is very satisfactorily
resolved.
Though
he's certainly no Chris Tucker, Johnny Knoxville does prove a decent
enough accomplice for Jackie Chan's endearing combination of antics
and acrobatics.
Good (2
stars)
Rated PG-13 for
violence, suggestive content, profanity, drug use and brief nudity
Running time: 107 minutes
Distributor: Saban Films
To see a trailer for Skiptrace,
visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWUjtb0i7dg
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Film
Review
by Kam Williams
Career of
Boxing Legend Roberto
Duran Revisited in Revisionist Tale of Redemption
Roberto
Duran (Edgar Ramirez) is considered by most fight experts to be,
pound-for-pound, one of the greatest boxers of all time. The
intimidating icon earned his nickname "Hands of Stone" by
virtue of his prodigious displays of punching power.
Born
in Panama in 1951, Roberto exhibited promise from the moment he first
entered the ring at the age of 8. He turned pro at 16 and assumed the
World Lightweight title at Madison Square Garden in 1972 after Ken
Buchanan (John Duddy) failed to answer the bell for the 14th round.
Roberto went on to knock out over 50 foes en route to compiling an
impressive 62-1 record as a lightweight before moving up in weight
class.
By
the time he retired in 2002, Roberto would also hold the world
welterweight, light middleweight and middleweight titles. But despite
that incredible feat, he appears fated to be best remembered for
crying "No mas!" before quitting midway through his
Welterweight World Championship rematch with Sugar Ray Leonard
(Usher Raymond). And although he would eventually return to the ring,
that one display of cowardice effectively overshadowed his sizable
subsequent achievements.
Written
and directed by Jonathan Jakubowicz (Secuestro Express), Hands
of Stone is a reverential biopic which humanizes Roberto while
putting a positive spin on his indelible stain. This version of his
story blames Duran's failing on his parasitic manager, Carlos Eleta
(Ruben Blades), as well as on pressure from the big fight's promoter,
Don King (Reg E. Cathey).
Here,
we're treated to the backstage specter of a burnt-out Roberto
bemoaning his being exploited. "I worked all my life. I didn't
have any fun, when I was a kid." Truth be told, not only did he
begin boxing young, but he married at an early age, too, 17. And his
wife Felicidad (Ana de Armas) was only 14 when they tied the knot.
FYI, the couple went on to have 8 children and are still together 47
years later.
If
the movie has a flaw, it's in the fight scenes which leave a lot to
be desired. Anyone expecting cinema verite on the order of Rocky or
Raging Bull, for which Robert De Niro won an Academy Award in 1981,
is destined to be disappointed.
Speaking
of De Niro, he plays the legendary Ray Arcel who came out of
retirement over death threats from the Mafia to train a teenaged
Duran. Before you can say "Burgess Meredith," he whips the
promising protege into fighting shape, and it's just a matter of time
before his diamond in the rough's rags-to-riches dream becomes a
reality.
A
touching, revisionist tale of redemption presenting the sensitive
side of a pulverizing pugilist.
Very Good (3
stars)
Rated R
for sexuality, nudity and pervasive profanity
In
English and Spanish with subtitles
Running time: 105 minutes
Distributor: The Weinstein Company
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Film
Review
by Kam Williams
Inspirational
Biopic Revisits Barack and Michelle Very First Date
Who would
ever think of making a movie just about Barack (Parker
Sawyers) and Michelle Obama's (Tika
Sumpter) first date? Richard Tanne would, that's who, and he makes an
impressive directorial debut with this inspirational biopic
chronicling a very eventful day in the lives of the future President
and First Lady.
The
story unfolds in Chicago during the summer of 1989 when Michelle was
already employed as an attorney and living back home with her parents
(Vanessa Bell Calloway and Phillip Edwad Van Lear). Barack had just
finished his first year at Harvard law school and had landed an
internship as her assistant at her prestigious, white-shoe firm.
Apparently,
he was so instantly smitten with Michelle that he could barely
contain himself. So, she had to politely remind him of the the
office's strict rule against fraternizing among associates.
Nevertheless, when she refused to consider a romantic rendezvous, he
pitched her on the idea of attending a business meeting with him.
Once
Michelle grudgingly agrees, Barack arrives late, yet is too cocky to
be embarrassed about either his tardiness or the gaping hole in the
floor of his rusty jalopy. What the skeptical object of his affection
doesn't know is that he has added a picnic, a museum and a movie to
their planned itinerary.
Again,
Michelle balks, but consents only after reminding her self-assured
suitor that "This is not a date." Nevertheless, the
smooth-talking chain smoker presses on with his own agenda, with the
Art Institute of Chicago being their first port-of-call. And while
perusing paintings by the legendary Ernie Barnes, Barack began
broaching personal subjects.
The
two continued to get to know each other over sandwiches in the park,
with the discussion touching on everything from family to faith to
blackness to the meaning of life. So, Michelle had a decent measure
of the man by the time they headed to the South Side rec center where
Barack had once worked as a community organizer.
The
icing on the cake proves to be an inspirational speech that's nothing
short of presidential which he delivers there to the discouraged
denizens of the crumbling 'hood. Michelle's floodgates finally open,
undoubtedly helped along by one woman's (Deanna Reed Foster) approval
of her as the first sister she's ever seen Barack with. Next thing
you know, the two lovebirds head to the theater to see Spike Lee's Do
the Right Thing, before capping off the evening with a little
canoodling while sharing an ice cream cone.
Southside
with You is a syrupy soap opera readily recommended for ardent Obama
admirers. The predictable love story has a tendency to telegraph its
punches, since its familiar plotline sticks to what's already public
knowledge. Overall, this plausible account of the blossoming of love
between Barack and Michelle serves up a pleasant, if sanitized
version of their romantic launch en route to an historic rendezvous
with destiny!
Very Good (3
stars)
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