Black Panther

Blu-ray Review by Kam Williams

Chadwick Boseman Rises to the Occasion as African King/Marvel Superhero

Chad Boseman has already made quite a career out of portraying a variety of prominent African-Americans, from football star Floyd Little (The Express), to baseball great Jackie Robinson (42), to Godfather of Soul James Brown (Get on Up) to U.S. Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall (Marshall). The versatile actor's efforts have been appreciated by the NAACP which has seen fit to nominate him for five Image Awards. 

 

Although Black Panther is a fictional character, the role is ostensibly of no less significance than the historical figures Chadwick has played in the past. That's because black kids have rarely had a superhero that looks like them to root for, even in Africa, where the Lord of the Jungle, Tarzan, was white, too.

Consequently, sales for this Afrocentric origins tale have been through the roof, and it's still in theaters! For, the film not only features a dignified protagonist and a socially-relevant plotline, but it's also a worthy addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe franchise. 

 

The picture was directed by Ryan Coogler (Creed) who made the most of his $200 million budget, between visually-captivating special effects and an A-list cast which includes Academy Award-winners Forest Whitaker (for The Last King of Scotland) and Lupita Nyong'o (for 12 Years a Slave), Oscar-nominee Angela Bassett (for What's Love Got to Do with It), as well as Michael B. Jordan, Daniel Kaluuya and Sterling K. Brown. 

 

At the point of departure, we learn that in ancient times the five tribes of Africa went to war over vibranium, a meteorite which imbues its holder with superhuman powers. Fast-forward to the present and we find T'Challa (Boseman) being summoned home to the fictional nation of Wakanda to assume the reins of power in the wake of the passing of his father, King T'Chaka (John Kani). 

 

Complicating matters is the fact that a number of other warriors covet the throne and that a South African arms smuggler (Andy Serkis) is trying to get his hands on some vibranium. Not to worry. T'Challa has a capable CIA agent (Martin Freeman) and a trio of loyal females on his side in his 16 year-old sister (Letitia Wright), his ex-girlfriend (Nyong'o) and a two-fisted bodyguard (Danai Gurira). 

 

What ensues is an edge of the seat roller coaster ride every bit as entertaining as any Spider-Man, Wonder Woman or other superhero adventure. Simply 'Marvel'-ous!

Excellent (4 stars)
Rated PG-13 for pervasive violent action sequences and a rude gesture
Running time: 134 minutes
Production Studios: Marvel Studios / Walt Disney Pictures
Distributor: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Blu-ray Extras: Director's Intro; Director's Commentary; From Page to Screen: A Roundtable Discussion – Delve into the film’s making; Crowning of a New King – Explore the world of Black Panther in all its color and complexity; The Warriors Within – Get to know Wakanda’s women and the actors who portray them; The Hidden Kingdom Revealed – Wakanda’s diverse people; Wakanda Revealed: Exploring the Technology; 4 Deleted Scenes: N. Meet and Greet, Okoye And W’Kabi Discuss the Future of Wakanda, T’Challa Remembers His Father and Voices from the Past; Gag Reel; Exclusive Sneak Peek at Ant-Man and The Wasp; and Marvel Studios the First Ten Years: Connecting the Universe. 
 
To see a trailer for Black Panther, visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dxWvtMOGAhw

To order a copy of Black Panther on Blu-ray, visit:

https://www.amazon.com/BLACK-PANTHER-Blu-ray-Chadwick-Boseman/dp/B079F9D91N/ref=sr_1_2_twi_blu_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1526411782&sr=8-2&keywords=Black+panther+blu-ray

Three Billboards outside Ebbing, Missouri

DVD Review by Kam Williams

7-Time Oscar Nominee Released on DVD

Twenty years ago, Frances McDormand won an Academy Award for Fargo, a delightful whodunit set in a tiny Minnesota town inhabited by a cornucopia of colorful local yokels. In that Coen Brothers' black comedy, she played a dedicated police chief who was tireless in her efforts to crack a murder case, despite being pregnant. 

 

Three Billboards outside Ebbing, Missouri is a similarly-dark mystery set in the Midwest that's also full of folksy characters. But this go-round, McDormand plays Mildred Hayes, the mother of a teenager (Kathryn Newton) whose beaten and raped corpse was found lying in a ditch along a lonely stretch of road. 

 

It's been seven months since the slaying, and the Ebbing police seem to have lost interest in apprehending the perpetrator. So, in order to light a fire under the department, Mildred rents a trio of billboards near the murder scene on which she asks Chief Bill Willoughby (Woody Harrelson) in 20-ft.high, block letters why he hasn't yet made an arrest.

Unfortunately, the ploy backfires. Yes, it embarrasses the chief. However, it also generates public sympathy for him, given how everybody in the tight-knit community knows he's been battling pancreatic cancer. 

 

Undeterred in her quest for justice, Mildred subsequently prevails upon Willoughby's dimwitted deputy (Sam Rockwell) to pick up the ball. But Dixon's a revenge-minded racist who'd rather hassle than help the mom in mourning while arresting African-American citizens for minor infractions of the law. 

 

Written and directed by Oscar-winner Martin McDonagh (for Six Shooter), Three Billboards outside Ebbing, Missouri is a thought-provoking social satire which paints a chilling, yet plausible, portrait of just what it might be like to fight an entrenched patriarchy comfortable with a status quo favoring white males. 

 

Look for Frances McDormand to land another Oscar next Sunday for a superb performance where she convincingly conveys the profound distress of a grief-stricken mother desperate for answers.

Excellent (4 stars)
Rated R for violence, sexual references, ethnic slurs and pervasive profanity
Running time: 116 minutes
Studio: Blueprint Pictures
Distributor: Distributor: 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack Extras: Crucify ‘Em: The Making of Three Billboards; and Six Shooter (Short Film).






To see a trailer for Three Billboards outside Ebbing, Missouri, visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jit3YhGx5pU

To order a copy of the Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack, visit: 

 

Darkest Hour

Blu-ray Review by Kam Williams




Oldman Delivers Oscar-Quality Performance as Churchill in WWII Saga


Curiously, Darkest Hour and Dunkirk basically cover the same ground, namely, Winston Churchill's (Gary Oldman) first month as Prime Minister of Great Britain. When he was sworn in on May 10, 1940, the country was at war with Germany which had already conquered most of Europe and was just starting to invade Belgium, France and the Netherlands. 
 
Churchill's predecessor, Neville Chamberlain (Ronald Pickup) had unsuccessfully employed a diplomatic policy of appeasement which had only served to embolden Hitler. And soon after entering office, Winston found himself facing a daunting task once the Nazis' blitzkrieg had broken through the Maginot Line. 
 
Suddenly, the Allied forces were in full retreat, including hundreds of thousands of British soldiers. They were being driven to the sea, where they would be sitting ducks for the Luftwaffe.
 
Now, where Dunkirk focused on the evacuation of the troops by an impromptu flotilla of private citizens, Darkest Hour narrowly focuses on Churchill's leadership and oratory skills. After all, it was no mean feat to convince a woefully-equipped nation that it could successfully ramp up its defenses to take on the ravenous war machine practically on its doorstep. 
 
Directed by Joe Wright (Atonement), Darkest Hour does a magnificent job of plumbing the depths of Churchill's psyche as well as recreating a number of his inspirational speeches, concluding with his historic "We shall never surrender!" address delivered to Parliament on June 4th. 
 
Unfortunately, Darkest Hour pales in comparison to the visually-captivating Dunkirk. Too bad the introspective and action-oriented productions weren't spliced together. Nevertheless, Gary Oldman is likely to land the Oscar that has long eluded him for his sterling portrayal of the British Bulldog.

Excellent (4 stars)
Rated PG-13 for mature themes
Running time: 125 minutes
Production Studios: Working Title Films / Perfect World Pictures
Distributor: Universal Studios Home Entertainment

Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack Extras: Into Darkest Hour; Gary Oldman Becoming Churchill; and Movies Anywhere (digital app).

To see a trailer for Darkest Hour, visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4pNOCzV5jG0

To order a copy of in Blu-ray/DVD format, visit: 

 

Murder on the Orient Express
Blu-ray Review by Kam Williams

Remake of Agatha Christie's Classic Whodunit Comes to Home Video

First published in 1936, Murder on the Orient Express revolved around the most famous case handled by Inspector Hercule Poirot. Created by Agatha Christie, the Belgian detective appeared in 33 of her novels, as well as a play and over 50 short stories.

This complex crime caper was first brought to the big screen by Sidney Lumet in a fairly faithful adaptation co-starring Lauren Bacall, Sean Connery, Ingrid Bergman, Anthony Perkins, Vanessa Redgrave, Sir John Gielgud, Albert Finney and Jacqueline Bisset. Bergman won the last of her three Oscars for her sterling performance as Greta Ohlsson, a Swedish nurse.

Murder on the Orient Express 2.0 was directed by five-time, Oscar-nominee Kenneth Branagh who assembled a top-flight cast with an equally-impressive pedigree. His A-List ensemble features Academy Award-winners Judi Dench and Penelope Cruz, along with nominees Michelle Pfeiffer, Willem Dafoe and Johnny Depp.

Branagh also stars as Poirot, sporting a world-class mustache while playing the super sleuth with perfect aplomb. The visually-captivating costume drama is perhaps more memorable for its breathtaking panoramas than the deliberately-paced mystery which takes its sweet time to be unraveled.

The picture's point of departure is Jerusalem, which is where we find Poirot paying homage at the Wailing Wall before boarding a slow boat to Istanbul. There, he starts soaking in the sights until the vacation is cut short by a telegram summoning him back to London immediately.

With the help of a fellow Belgian who happens to be a train company executive (Tom Bateman), he secures a berth aboard the lavishly-outfitted Orient Express for what he reasonably expected to be an unremarkable three-day trip. However, he shifts into detective mode when an American art dealer (Johnny Depp) dies soon after expressing a fear of being killed.

As Poirot digs deeper and deeper for clues, we gradually see that each of the 13 passengers had a good reason to want the unsavory character dead. Sure, everybody's a suspect, but which one's a murderer?

An Agatha Christie classic whodunit solved the old-fashioned way... by the extraordinary deductive reasoning of the legendary Hercule Poirot!

Excellent (3.5 stars)
Rated PG-13 for violence, ethnic slurs and mature themes
In English and French with subtitles
Running time: 114 minutes
Production Studio: Kinberg Genre / The Mark Gordon Company
Distributor: 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack Extras: Agatha Christie: An Intimate Portrait; Let’s Talk About Hercule Poirot; Unusual Suspects (Part One, Two and Three); The Art of Murder; All Aboard: filming Murder on the Orient Express; Music of Murder; deleted scenes (with and without commentary by Kenneth Branagh and Michael Green; director commentary by Kenneth Branagh and Michael Green; theatrical trailers; and a stills gallery.



To see a trailer for Murder on the Orient Express, visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mq4m3yAoW8E
 

To order a copy of Murder on the Orient Express in Blu-ray/DVD format visit: 

Roman J. Israel, Esq.

DVD Review by Kam Williams

DVD Features Denzel Washington's Latest Oscar-Nominated Performance

Roman J. Israel (Denzel Washington) is a high-functioning savant on the autism spectrum who has been practicing law in L.A. for the past 36 years. The brilliant attorney has spent most of his career under the radar, writing legal briefs in a rear office for indigent criminal defendants, while his partner, William Henry Jackson, served as the face of the firm, whether cultivating clients or arguing their cases in the courtroom.

This unorthodox arrangement worked well for Roman who, besides his disorder, is a longtime political activist dedicated to a progressive agenda, namely, to assist downtrodden individuals unfairly ensnared in the net of the prison-industrial complex. And because of that commitment, he's been willing to work for far less pay than colleagues of his caliber. Consequently, the highly-principled lawyer has had to scrape by on a modest salary, living in the same dive for decades, where he subsisted on a steady diet of peanut butter sandwiches and jazz classics played on an old-fashioned turntable. 

 

Everything changes the day William Jackson suffers a heart attack and the two-person firm is forced to dissolve. Roman first applies for a position with a public interest non-profit that shares his values. But when the empathetic director (Carmen Ejogo) explains that she doesn't have the money to hire an attorney, he resigns himself to joining a corporate firm where he's soon teamed with a young associate (Colin Farrell) interested only in maximizing profits.

This leaves Roman sitting on the horns of an ethical dilemma. Should he abandon his morals to keep a roof over his head? That is the question at the center of Roman J. Israel, Esq., a compelling character portrait written and directed by Oscar-nominee Dan Gilroy (for Nightcrawler). 

 

The legendary Denzel Washington is quite convincing as well as moving, here, as a beleaguered soul afflicted with Asperberger's syndrome. And the Academy does have a history of rewarding thespians playing impaired characters, including Eddie Redmayne (2014) for wheelchair-bound Stephen Hawking (ALS); Colin Firth (2010) for stuttering King George VI; Geoffrey Rush (1996) for mentally-ill David Helfgott; Tom Hanks (1994) for dimwitted Forest Gump; Tom Hanks (1993) for AIDS patient Andrew Beckett; Daniel Day-Lewis (1989) for cerebral palsy victim Christy Brown; and Dustin Hoffman (1988) for mathematics savant Rain Man.

Win, lose or draw, Denzel deserves accolades aplenty for his powerful, Oscar-nominated performance.

Excellent (4 stars)
Rated PG-13 for violence and profanity
Running time: 129 minutes
Production Studio: Bron Creative / Cross Creek Pictures / Escape Artists / FZ /Macro
Distributor: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
DVD Extras: 8 deleted scenes; Denzel Washington: Becoming Roman; The Making of Roman J. Israel, Esq.; and Colin Farrell: Discovering George.



To see a trailer for Roman J. Israel, Esq., visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CItEtnp3nPY

 

To order a copy of Roman J. Israel, Esq. on DVD, visit:

Professor Marston & the Wonder Women

Blu-ray Review by Kam Williams


Ever Wonder How Wonder Woman was Created?


William Moulton Marston (Luke Evans) was a Renaissance man with an impressive array of talents. After earning his B.A., Ph.D. and law degrees, the Harvard grad was hired to teach psychology at Radcliffe, his alma mater's sister school.Despite a demanding academic career, this jack-of-all-trades, inter alia, found time to write self-help books and to invent the precursor of the lie detector. 
 
To this day, however, he remains best remembered as the creator of Wonder Woman. Selling the idea to a comic book publisher in 1941 was no mean feat, since until then, Superman, Batman, The Flash, Captain Marvel, The Green Lantern and all the other superheroes had been male. 
 
The character Dr. Marston envisioned was not just a powerful crime-fighter, but an attractive, scantily-clad Amazon displaying an eroticism and a dominance her detractors would deem to be sexual and sado-masochistic in nature. Yes, Wonder Woman wore a skimpy outfit a la Superman, and she did use a rope to subdue and restrain adversaries, but the comic was far from pornographic. 
 
Truth be told, Marston had ostensibly been motivated by the success of the Suffrage Movement to further advance the feminist cause. In fact, he once stated "The only hope for civilization is the greater freedom, development and equality of women." 
 
Another source of inspiration were the two women sharing Dr. Marston's bed, his wife, Elizabeth.(Rebecca Hall), and their longtime lover, Olive (Bella Heathcote). He would father a couple of kids with each, and they all lived under the same roof, although the scandalous arrangement would lead to the family's being shunned by polite society. 
 
Written and directed by Alexandra Robinson, Professor Marston & the Wonder Women is an intriguing and informative biopic belatedly giving a brilliant visionary previously marginalized by history his due. Thanks to these more enlightened, LBGTQ-embracing times, William Moulton Marston can finally be fully appreciated, polygynous relationship and all.



Excellent (4 stars)
Rated R for profanity, graphic sexuality and lewd images
Running time: 108 minutes
Production Studio: Stage 6 Films / Boxspring Entertainment / Topple Productions
Distributor: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Blu-ray Extras: The Secret Identity of Charles Moulton Motion Comic; A Dynamic Trio: Birth of a Feminist Icon; A Crucial Point of View: Directing – Professor Marston and the Wonder Women; and 3 deleted scenes: Love Leaders, Coughing Blood and Who is Sappho?

To see a trailer for Professor Marston & the Wonder Women, visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mts8NIcLZUQ

 

To order a copy of Professor Marston & the Wonder Women visit:

https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B077ZH9D7V/ref%3dnosim/thslfofire-20

Thank You for Your Service

Blu-ray Review by Kam Williams


Vets Readjust to Civilian Life in Docudrama Based on Wounded Warrior Memoir

In the spring of 2007, the Washington Post's David Finkel accompanied a combat team of American infantrymen deployed to Baghdad at the start of the controversial surge ordered by President Bush. After being embedded for a year, the Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter chronicled the intrepid GIs' heroic efforts to bring stability to the region in a riveting best seller entitled "The Good Soldiers."

In 2013, Finkel published "Thank You for Your Service," an update about the same troops' struggle to readjust to civilian life upon returning to the States. Now, that opus has been adapted to the big screen as a psychological drama telescoping tightly on the mental state of a few members of the battalion.

The movie marks the impressive directorial debut of Jason Hall, who's previously best known for writing and appearing in American Sniper (2014). The picture stars Miles Teller as Adam Schumann, a former sergeant ostensibly suffering from PTSD. 

 

As the film unfolds, we learn that he has remained close with surviving members of the tight-knit unit once under his command. Unfortunately, all of them have been left damaged, mentally and/or physically. Consequently, all of their relationships are in crisis, and none has managed to hold down a steady job. 

 

Adam's worried wife (Haley Bennett) starts pressuring him to get help because he not only dropped their newborn baby inexplicably, but he's constantly looking for IEDs whenever they drive down the street, as if he's still in Iraq. Trouble is, there's a nine-month waiting list to see a shrink at the VA hospital, and he's being discouraged from seeking treatment by a callous colonel (Jake Weber) suggesting that all he needs to do is toughen up a little. 

 

Then, there's Solo (Beulah Koale), a Samoan with amnesia whose fed up wife (Keisha Castle-Hughes) is thinking of leaving him, despite being pregnant. Another buddy, Will (Joe Cole), was dumped by his fiancee (Erin Darke) before he even arrived home. And so forth.

The plot soon thickens, with things getting worse before they get better. But at least this loyal band of brothers can count on each other, if not the VA or their loved ones for support. A heartbreaking tale that's difficult to swallow since its based purely on the hard, cold truth. 

 

A sobering account of our wounded warriors' tragic misfortunes.

Excellent (3.5 stars)
Rated R for sexuality, drug use, graphic violence, brief nudity and pervasive profanity

In English and Samoan with subtitles

Running time: 109 minutes

Distributor: Universal Pictures Home Entertainment

Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack Extras: Staging a War; and The Battle at Home.

To see a trailer for Thank You for Your Service, visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50LQGcb5knE

To order Thank You for Your Service in Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack format , visit:

It

Blu-ray Review by Kam Williams

Stephen King Clown Classic Comes to Home Video

Written by master of suspense Stephen King, It was the best-selling book in the U.S. during 1986. The riveting page-turner was set in deceptively-serene Derry, Maine, where a sadistic clown living underground in the sewers disrupted the peace of the picturesque city by preying primarily on children. 
 
In 1990, King's 1,184-page opus was turned into an Emmy-winning miniseries starring Tim Curry in the title role of It, better known as Pennywise. Now, the novel has been fairly-faithfully adapted to the big screen with Bill Skarsgard playing the demonic harlequin.

As the film unfolds in the fall of 1988, we find 11 year-old Bill Denbrough (Jaeden Lieberher) busy building a small sailboat for his little brother, George (Jackson Robert Scott). One can't help but notice a pair of observing eyes glowing ominously from a darkened corner of the spacious basement. 
 
Then, during a heavy downpour, a grateful George launches his new toy in the freshet flowing along the gutter in front of his house. The "S.S. George" floats to the corner of the block where it is promptly swallowed by the sewer. 
 
And when the unsuspecting kid peers down the storm drain to retrieve it, he is greeted by an ingratiating stranger who playfully introduces himself as Pennywise, the Dancing Clown. After being promised a balloon, popcorn and the return of his boat, George lets his guard down long enough to be dragged into the sewer, leaving behind only a blood-stained street.

Fast-forward to the last day of the school year. Still-grieving Bill is now the leader of the Losers Club, a motley crew of social outcasts who decide to spend their summer vacation solving George's mysterious disappearance. Of course, they have no idea they're up against a formidable foe in the elusive, shape-shifting Pennywise. 
 
Instead of apprehending the perpetrator, the body count merely continues to rise as other names are added to the Missing Persons list. Eerie atmospherics, a talented ensemble of adolescent actors and the creepiest clown since Heath Ledger's Joker combine to create a macabre masterpiece that will continue to haunt you long after you leave the theater. 
 
I can't pass a sewer anymore without half-expecting Pennywise's frightening face to appear!




Excellent (4 stars)
Rated R for violence, profanity and bloody images
Running time: 135 minutes
Production Studio: New Line Cinema
Distributor: Warner Home Entertainment Group
Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack Extras: Deleted Scenes; The Losers' Club; Author of Fear; and Pennywise Lives!


To see a trailer for It, visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKJmEC5ieOk
 

To order a copy of It in Blu-ray/DVD format visit: 

Marshall

Blu-ray Review by Kam Williams

Underwhelming Docudrama Revolves around Early Thurgood Marshall Case

Prior to becoming America's first African-American Supreme Court Justice, Thurgood Marshall (Chadwick Boseman) enjoyed a legendary legal career as a civil rights lawyer. While serving as chief counsel for the NAACP, he argued before the U.S. Supreme Court 32 times, most notably, the landmark Brown v. Board of Education case ending segregation in public schools. 

 

This makes one question director Reggie Hudlin's (House Party) thinking in having his biopic about the beloved icon revolve around a criminal trial from 1941, when he was still establishing himself. What's even more curious is that Marshall wasn't allowed to interrogate witnesses or even speak in the courtroom by the racist judge (James Cromwell) presiding over the proceedings, because he wasn't a member of the bar in the State of Connecticut. 

 

So, instead of seeing Marshall work his magic, we have to settle for watching him quietly orchestrate his strategy with help of a Caucasian colleague (Josh Gad) who's rather reluctant to get involved. That would be Sam Friedman, a local yokel afraid of jeopardizing his flourishing insurance practice by defending a black man accused of raping a white woman. 

 

After all, the case was splashed across the tabloids, and the accused had already been convicted in the court of public opinion. The basic facts were as follows. On December 11, 1940, a Greenwich socialite named Eleanor Strubing (Kate Hudson) was either raped or had consensual sex four times with her chauffeur, Joseph Spell (Sterling K. Brown), while her husband (Jeremy Bobb) was out of town. 

 

Because she was wealthy, white and well-connected, the police and the prosecutors believed her story, and promptly arrested the employee. But because her account of what transpired had some Swiss cheese-size holes in it, the NAACP decided to assign the case to its only attorney, the peripatetic Thurgood Marshall.

Granted, Chadwick Boseman, who played Jackie Robinson in 42 and James Brown in Get on Up, delivers another impressive impersonation as Marshall, at least when he's not muzzled. But it's hard to get very enthusiastic when the passionate protagonist is rendered mute at critical moments while a wimpy proxy whose heart isn't into it does all the talking.

Thurgood at 32, but once removed, as channeled by a nerdy mercenary.

Good (2 stars)
Rated PG-13 for sexuality, profanity, ethnic slurs, violence and mature themes
Running time: 119 minutes
Production Studio: Starlight Media / Chestnut Ridge Productions
Distributor: Universal Studios Home Entertainment



To see a trailer for Marshall, visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_bfOWof0Sg

To order a copy of Marshall in Blu-ray/DVD format, visit:

 

Brad's Status

Blu-ray Review by Kam Williams

Father-Son Bonding Opportunity Adventure Released to Home Video

Brad Sloan (Ben Stiller) feels inadequate despite his happy marriage and a thriving business that enables his family to live comfortably in suburban Sacramento. He gets depressed, nevertheless, because he compares himself to his relatively-successful college buddies instead of the Average Joe.

For instance, one pal, Craig (Michael Sheen), is a best-selling author who worked in the White House and now teaches at Harvard. Then there's Billy (Jemaine Clement) who's already retired and shacked up on Maui with a couple of girlfriends after selling his hi-tech company for a fortune. 
 
Another, Jason (Luke Wilson), is a filthy-rich, hedge fund manager with his own airplane. And Nick (writer/director Mike White) is a famous Hollywood director whose home was just featured on the cover of Architectural Digest.

Consequently, rather than count his blessings, Brad considers himself a failure. Furthermore, he has the nerve to not only blame his supportive wife (Jenna Fischer) for his lack of ambition, but to ask her how much they stand to inherit from her parents' estate. Disappointed with her response, he shrugs,."We've plateaued," ostensibly resigning himself to a mundane existence. " This is it."

Brad's existential angst is further amplified when he takes their college-bound son (Austin Abrams) on a tour of schools in the Boston area. For being back in Beantown serves as reminder that he was forced to settle for Tufts after being rejected by the Ivies. 
 
Troy's prospects are much better, since he's a musical prodigy with a good chance of being accepted by both Harvard and Yale. However, that fact doesn't shake his father out of the doldrums, especially after they cross paths with Craig. During the brief encounter, Brad learns that he was the only member of the old gang not invited to Nick's recent wedding. 
 
Thus unfolds Brad's Status, a midlife crisis dramedy, if I ever saw one. Ben Stiller is quite convincing as the jealous title character. The only problem is that it's impossible to empathize with the suffering of a whiny ingrate obviously benefiting from many of the privileges associated with being a white male. 
 
A morality play warning about the folly of trying to keep up with Joneses, especially where the Joneses are all members of America's wealthiest 1%.



Very Good (3 stars)
Rated R for profanity
Running time: 101 minutes
Production Studio: Sidney Kimmel Entertainment / Plan B Entertainment
Distributor: Annapurna Pictures / Amazon Studios
Blu-ray extras: A Look at Ben Stiller as Brad; A Culture of Comparing Ourselves; Mike White on Directing His Own Script; and The Story of Brad's Status.



To see a trailer for Brad's Status, visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HWx0PdOI98s

To order a copy of Brad's Status on Blu-ray, visit:

American Made

 
Blu-ray Review by Kam Williams


Tom Cruise Fact-Based Action Flick Arrives on Home Video

Barry Seal (Tom Cruise) was gainfully employed as a commercial airline pilot when he was surreptitiously recruited by a CIA agent (Domnhall Gleeson). The Agency wanted him to fly covert reconnaissance missions over Nicaragua to assist U.S.-backed rebels trying to overthrow the government.

Barry leaped at the opportunity to spice up his humdrum existence, despite having to hide his new line of work from his wife (Sarah Wright) and young daughter (Morgan Hinkleman). However, he probably had no idea at the time that this would be the start of a reckless career spiral he'd never be able to pull out of.

For, after first having his thirst for excitement whetted by conducting espionage missions, he opted to venture to the dark side when Pablo Escobar (Mauricio Mejia) made him an offer he couldn't refuse. The Colombian drug lord seduced Barry into smuggling cocaine into the States by plane with a promise of $2,000 per kilo delivered.

Thus unfolds American Made, a real-life tale of derring-do directed by Doug Liman. The production reunites Liman with Tom Cruise with whom he previously collaborated on Edge of Tomorrow (2014).

The picture's premise situates Cruise in a familiar scenario, given how, at the point of departure, his character is informed that the CIA will disavow any knowledge of his existence, should he be captured or killed, a la Mission: Impossible. The difference is that, here, Barry goes rogue by going into business with the ruthless Medellin cartel.

Who knows whether this biopic is loosely or strictly based on the truth? But if even half of what's served up onscreen is accurate, Barry Seal had quite a hair-raising tale to tell.

American Tale takes you on a wild flyboy ride, literally and figuratively, between the breathtaking aerial shots and the audacious exploits of an avaricious mercenary available to the highest bidder. Kudos to Cruise, a proven master at consistently cranking out satisfying cinematic fare certain to keep you glued to the edge of your seat.




Very Good (3 stars)
Rated R for violence, sexuality, nudity and pervasive profanity

In English and Spanish with subtitles

Running time: 115 minutes
Distributor: Universal Studios Home Entertainment

Blu-ray/DVD combo pack extras: Deleted scenes; American Storytellers; Cruise & Liman: A Conversation; In the Wings; Shooting American Made; Flying High; and The Real Barry Seal.

To see a trailer for American Made, visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AEBIJRAkujM

To order a copy of American Made in Blu-ray/DVD format, visit:  

 

A Question of Faith

Blu-ray Review by Kam Williams

Moving Morality Play Finds Three Families in Crisis

Faith-based films ordinarily have limited appeal beyond the Christian community because most tend to be heavy-handed morality plays just preaching to the choir. A Question of Faith represents a refreshing change of pace, since it downplays the proselytizing in favor of character development and a compelling plot. 

 

This carefully-crafted, modern parable explores a timely mix of worldly and spiritual themes in a way apt to entertain Bible thumpers and sinners alike. The picture was directed by Kevan Otto who recruited quite an impressive ensemble to execute Ty Manns' multi-layered script.

Credit the capable cast for disappearing so thoroughly into their parts that it's easy to forget you're watching actors after just a few minutes. One of the stars is Kim Fields who's probably still best known for the iconic role of Tootie she originated on the TV sitcom, Different Strokes, and continued to play for close to a decade on the hit spinoff, The Facts of Life. 

 

The film unfolds in the City of Atlanta where we're introduced to three families dealing with serious life issues. Theresa Newman (Fields) is worried that her workaholic husband (Richard T. Jones) remains so obsessed with taking over as senior pastor of the church from his father (Gregory Alan Williams) that he might break yet another promise to attend their younger son's (Caleb T. Thomas) basketball game. 

 

Elsewhere, we find aspiring gospel singer Michelle Danielsen (Amber Thompson) being pressured to perform at a record company audition by her cash-strapped father (C. Thomas Howell). Overbearing John's ostensibly more concerned with avoiding an impending collapse of his own business than with diagnosing the cause of his daughter's debilitating, recurring headaches. 

 

Lastly, we have restaurant owner Katie Hernandez (Jaci Velasquez) reminding her reckless daughter Maria (Karen Valero) to stop texting behind the wheel while making deliveries. She doesn't want the high school senior to do anything that might jeopardize her chances of becoming the first in the family to attend college. 

 

These parallel storylines eventually converge by chance and in very dramatic fashion. Since it would be unfair to spoil any of the ensuing developments, suffice to say that the protagonists are challenged to rise to the occasion in different ways as their fates further intertwine. 

 

A very moving tale of redemption which not only reveals God's grace but makes a case for cross-cultural tolerance that's sorely-needed in these divided times.

Excellent (4 stars)
Rated PG for mature themes
Running time: 104 minutes
Production Studio: Silver Lining Entertainment
Distributor: Universal Studios Home Entertainment



To see a trailer for A Question of Faith, visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=StNvFjirQks


To order a copy of A Question of Faith in Blu-ray/DVD format, visit:  

The Mountain between Us

Blu-ray Review by Kam Williams


Plane Crash Survivors Bond While Battling the Elements in Romance Drama Reminiscent of "The Revenant"

Bride-to-be Alex Martin is in a rush to return home where she and her fiance' (Dermot Mulroney) are getting married in the morning. The only reason the dedicated photojournalist was even in Idaho so close to her wedding was out of a sense of duty to cover a potentially-incendiary demonstration by skinheads and neo-Nazis. Elsewhere in the same airline terminal, Dr. Ben Bass (Idris Elba) is just as eager to get to Denver where he's urgently needed to perform potentially life-saving surgery on a critically-ill child. 

 

So, it's easy to imagine both passengers' frustration upon learning that their commercial flight has been canceled due to a forecast of inclement weather. The two strangers soon commiserate over their plight before deciding to charter a private plane.

Unfortunately, their pilot (Beau Bridges) has a fatal heart attack en route, and the plane crash lands atop a snow-capped mountain. Their cellphones useless, Ben, with broken ribs, and Alex, with a fractured leg, suddenly find themselves stranded far from civilization in the middle of nowhere.

That is the scary setup of The Mountains between Us, a harrowing tale of survival based on the Charles Martin best seller of the same name. The visually-captivating production is superficially reminiscent of The Revenant, which won a trio of Oscars, including Best Cinematography. 

 

The Mountain between Us revolves mostly around the protagonists' battle against the elements while lost in the frigid wilderness hundreds of miles from civilization. During their perilous trek they must negotiate their way through a dangerous gauntlet marked by ravenous cougars, slippery cliffs, lakes with thin ice and more.

However, the film also features a romantic angle, as Ben and Alex gradually grow increasingly fond of each other over the course of their ordeal. But the burning question eventually becomes: whether these feelings will continue once they're saved. After all, he's married and she's engaged.

A riveting disaster flick and a steamy bodice ripper rolled into one! 

 

Very Good (3 stars)
Rated PG-13 for sexuality, peril, injury images and brief profanity
Running time: 112 minutes
Production Studio: Chernin Entertainment
Distributor: 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment

Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack Extras: Love and Survival: Creating Chemistry;
Mountain Between Them: Shooting in Isolation; The Wilds: Survival Stunts;
deleted scenes; and a stills gallery.

To see a trailer for The Mountain between Us, visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3jyzGKXBOxA

To order a copy of The Mountain between Us Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack, visit: