South of the Border DVD

DVD Review by Kam Williams

Headline: Oliver Stone DVD Examines Rise of Socialism in Latin America

If you’ve read “Confessions of an Economic Hitman” by John Perkins, then you are well aware of the lengths to which CIA and other agents operating on behalf of the U.S. government and Fortune 500 corporations have gone to install puppets as heads of state in countries all across Latin America. But those still in the dark about America’s role in countless coups around the region, might feel enlightened by South of the Border, as informative a history lesson as anybody could hope for.
This damning documentary was directed by three-time Oscar-winner Oliver Stone (for Platoon, Midnight Express and Born on the Fourth of July), a man who has never been afraid to tackle controversial aspects of presidential politics in thought-provoking fashion, whether JFK, Nixon or W. What makes this piece unique is its documentary format, as the aforementioned entries were docudramas, criticized by some for indulging in speculation and paranoid conspiracy theories.
Here, Stone sticks to the facts, and makes it quite clear where his loyalties lie, namely, with Chavez in Venezuela, with Castro in Cuba, with Morales in Bolivia and with other South American leaders of populist movements. Why? Because he ostensibly admires how these freedom fighters have managed to break the cycle of exploitation of their countries’ people and natural resources for the benefit of Western nations.
Over the course of the film, Stone not only narrates, but interviews seven democratically-elected presidents in order to highlight how they ascended to power as a consequence of a mandate from the majority. Ad infinitum, he drives home the point that we aren’t dealing with dictators or strongmen as is often suggested by the mainstream media so fond of vilifying these working-class heroes.
An optimistic, cinematic outing of the United states’ predatory exportation of capitalism in a manner which has ravaged the Rainforest while leaving the indigenous peoples of South American burdened by bleak prospects for survival.

Excellent (3.5 stars)
Unrated
In English, Spanish and Portuguese with subtitles.
Running time: 78 Minutes
Studio: Cinema Libre Studio
DVD Extras: Oliver Stone’s additional questions for Hugo Chávez,behind the scenes at the South American Promotional Tour, deleted scenes, “Changes in Venezuela” (a look at Chávez’s reforms and the impact on the country’s poor), plus two South American TV interviews with Oliver Stone.

Sex and the City 2 DVD

DVD Review by Kam Williams

Headline: Shallow HBO Series Sequel Arrives on DVD

Perhaps not being female or not being privy to the original HBO series seriously limits one’s ability to appreciate the adaptations of Sex and the City. Regardless, this critic came away feeling the same about the sequel as I did about the original screen version. This installment is set a couple of years after the end of their first adventure, and again revolves around the camaraderie, carnality and conspicuous consumption of the shallowest quartet of spoiled-rotten New York socialites you ever could hope to meet.
The story is narrated by Carrie (Sarah Jessica Parker) whose marriage to John James Preston (Chris Noth), aka Mr. Big, brought down the curtain on the prior episode. But despite being kept in the lap of luxury by her wealthy hubby, she’s already jaded about the state of their no longer exciting relationship.
Meanwhile, high-powered attorney Miranda (Cynthia Nixon) is miserable at the law firm due to her chauvinist boss, and stay-at-home mom Charlotte (Kristin Davis) is being driven crazy by her two young daughters, despite having plenty of help from a live-in nanny (Alice Eve). And slutty Samantha has found the Fountain of Youth thanks to a daily regimen of vitamins and hormone therapies which enable the shameless cougar to continue to seduce a steady stream of younger men.
The scatterplot finally coalesces when Samantha’s PR work calls for her to fly to Abu Dhabi, an assignment she accepts only on the condition that her client (Art Malik) extends the “all expenses paid” invite to her girlfriends, too. By the time the filthy-rich oil sheik agrees, Miranda has quit her job, Charlotte has caught her husband flirting with the babysitter, and Carrie has temporarily moved back into her bachelorette pad, developments which conveniently serve to grease the skids for a girls-only overseas getaway.
Upon their arrival in the decadent, jet-set playground, the four find themselves limo’d to the penthouse in the exclusive Sahara Hotel where they are pampered by a bevy of deferential butlers. At this juncture, the movie morphs into a tasteless celebration of Western hedonism during which our heroines defiantly indulging themselves in activities almost deliberately intended to shock and offend the sensibilities of their Middle Eastern hosts.
Let’s see, Samantha gets arrested for having sex on the beach, Carrie shares a kiss with an ex-boyfriend (John Corbett), and they all shop ‘til they drop in skimpy outfits while cattily belittling the modesty of the local females hidden under headscarves, veils and heat-seeking burkas. A 2½ hour test of patience featuring four embarrassingly-entitled Ugly Americans agonizing over trivia and assorted soap opera drama that is, quite frankly, so patently superficial, you almost wish they’d be cursed with some real problems.

Fair (1 star)
Rated R for profanity, partial nudity and graphic sexuality.
Running time: 146 Minutes
Distributor: New Line Home Video
Blu-Ray Combo Pack Extras: Director’s audio commentary, DVD and digital copy versions of the movie, “Sex and the City 2 Soundtrack: Behind the Scenes with Alicia Keys,” a conversation between Sarah Jessica Parker and the director, plus featurettes entitled: “Styling Sex and the City 2,” “Revisiting the 80s,” “The Men of Sex and the City,” and “Marry Me Liza!”

Kam's Kapsules: Weekly Previews That Make Choosing a Film Fun

OPENING THIS WEEK
Kam's Kapsules:
Weekly Previews That Make Choosing a Film Fun
by Kam Williams
For movies opening October 29, 2010

BIG BUDGET FILMS

Saw 3D (R for profanity, torture and gruesome violence) This installment in the grisly franchise finds the survivors of the brutal killer’s (Tobin Bell) reign of terror seeking help from a self-help guru (Sean Patrick Flannery) only to discover that he’s hiding a dark secret of his own. Featuring Betsy Russell, Costas Mandylor, Dean Armstrong and Gina Holden.


INDEPENDENT & FOREIGN FILMS

Aftershock (Unrated) Historical drama recreating the events surrounding the Tangshan Earthquake which took a quarter-million lives in 1976. Cast includes Yi Lu, Chen Li, Fan Xu, Jingchu Zhang and Daoming Chen.(In Mandarin with subtitles)

Amer (Unrated) Daring primal fantasy, featuring three taut tales, each set in the same gothic mansion and revolving around the carnal temptations felt by a vulnerable female at critical stages in her life. Cast includes Marie Bos, Delphine Brual, Bianca Maria D’Amato and Harry Cleven. (In French with subtitles)

Eichmann (Unrated) Bio-pic based on the confession made to a young Israeli prison guard (Troy Garrity) by architect of the Holocaust Adolf Eichmann (Thomas Kretschmann) prior to his execution for crimes against humanity. With Franka Potente, Stephen Fry and Tilly O’Neil.

The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest (R for sexuality, brief profanity and graphic violence) Final installment in the thriller trilogy, based on the posthumously-published novels by the late Stieg Larsson, finds the plucky protagonist (Noomi Rapace) recovering from her bullet wounds while awaiting trial for triple murder and plotting to take revenge on those responsible for her predicament. Cast includes Michael Nyqvist, Lena Endre and Annika Hallin. (In Swedish with subtitles)

Inspector Bellamy (Unrated) Crime caper, directed by the recently-deceased Claude Chabrol, revolving around Paris’ Police Commissioner (Gerard Depardieu) whose quiet vacation with his wife (Marie Bunel) at their country home is disturbed by the arrival of his ne’er-do-well stepbrother (Clovis Cornillac) and a mysterious stranger (Jacques Gamblin) in need of protection. (In French with subtitles)

Jolene (R for nudity, profanity, violence, drug use and graphic sexuality) Jessica Chastain stars in the title role of this screen version of E.L. Doctorow’s short story about the ordeals of an orphaned teen who spends a decade crisscrossing the country in a desperate search for love, sanity and some semblance of normalcy. Cast includes Chazz Palminteri, Dermot Mulroney and Denise Richards.

The Kids Grow Up (Unrated) Father-daughter documentary in which film director Doug Block (51 Birch Street) takes a fond look back at his well-documented relationship with his only child as she’s about to head off to college.

Monsters (Unrated) Apocalyptic sci-fi flick shot on a micro-budget of just $15,000 and set in Mexico six years after the arrival of giant alien octopuses on the planet. Plot involves the attempt of an intrepid photographer (Scoot McNairy) to escort his boss’ daughter (Whitney Able) across the infected zone to the U.S. Border. (In English and Spanish with subtitles)

Night of the Demons (R for nudity, sexuality, drug use, pervasive profanity and gratuitous gore) High-body count remake of the 1988 horror flick about a group of friends whose Halloween party thrown at a notorious New Orleans mansion ends up crashed by a bunch of bloodthirsty creatures. Ensemble includes Edward Furlong, Shannon Elizabeth, Bobbi Sue Luther, John Beach, Tiffany Shepis, Michael Copon, Tiffany Billiot and Monica Keena.

Shake Hands with the Devil (R for disturbing violence and brief profanity) Rwanda revisited in this bio-pic recounting the efforts of General Romeo Dallaire (Roy Dupuis) to stop the genocide in 1994 after the outbreak of his country’s bloody civil war between the Hutu and Tutsi tribes. With Owen Sejake, James Gallanders and Michel Mongeau.

Strange Powers (Unrated) Musical bio-pic chronicling the 20-year career of songwriter Stephen Merritt, the self-professed Cole Porter of his generation and composer of such memorable melodies as “Scream and Run Away” and the gender-bending, gay anthem “When My Boy Walks down the Street.”

Walkaway (Unrated) Cross-cultural comedy, set in New York City, examining the 21st Century dating habits of four yuppies of East Indian extraction questioning the continued relevance of such longstanding traditions as dowries and arranged marriages. Ensemble cast includes Manu Narayan, Samrat Chakrabarti, Manish Dayal, Sanjiv Jhaveri, Deepti Gupta, Carrie Anne James, Pallavi Sharda, and Ami Sheth.

Welcome to the Rileys (R for graphic sexuality, brief drug use and pervasive profanity on the part of a teenager) Redemption drama about a grieving family man (James Gandolfini) mourning the death of his teenage daughter who decides to rescue the troubled runaway (Kristen Stewart) he finds working as a stripper while he’s in New Orleans on business. With Melissa Leo, Eisa Davis, David Jensen and Kathy Lamkin.

Wild Target (PG-13 for violence, sexuality and brief profanity) Mob comedy about a hit man (Bill Nighy) who finds himself falling for the beautiful con artist (Emily Blunt) he was hired to assassinate. With Rupert Grint, Rupert Everett and Eileen Atkins.

Almighty Debt (TV SPECIAL REPORT)

TV-Review by Kam Williams

Headline: CNN Special Deals with Black America’s Money Woes

Soledad O’Brien’s latest CNN special report in her Black in America series is certainly her most practical yet in that it addresses the timely question of how to manage your money during these trying financial times. The show is apt to be of salient interest to African-American communities all across the country, given how they’re beset by skyrocketing rates of unemployment and home foreclosures.
At the center of this installment is Reverend Buster Soaries who sets the tone at the outset by making the incendiary comment that “Debt is a bigger problem than racism” for black folks today. The New Jersey-based minister is no stranger to controversy, having run interference for President Bush in the wake of the heavily-disputed 2000 Presidential Election by serving as the first Chairman of the Administration’s newly-established Election Assistance Commission.
Here, Reverend Soaries positions himself as a “revolutionary pastor” by finding scriptural passages to make an analogy between debt and slavery as he preaches in the pulpit at his church in New Jersey. Given how many ministers tend to worry more about Heaven than material concerns, it is rather refreshing to see a member of his profession offering answers aimed at to alleviating the pain his congregation is suffering in a Hell on Earth.
To break out of economic bondage, it is suggested that black folks need to free themselves from a “culture of debt” by transforming themselves from conspicuous consumers to sage investors. As far as the familiar mindset of relying just on faith in Jesus alone for financial salvation, it is duly noted that such “optimism needs to be rooted in reality.”
Soaries’ thesis is supported by Dr. Julianne Malveaux who states that “African-Americans have a spending problem.” Thought-provoking ideas from a Republican cleric as dedicated to leading his flock to the black as to the Promised Land.

Excellent (4 stars)
Unrated
Running time: 120 minutes
Studio: CNN

Almighty Debt premieres on CNN on Thursday, October 21st at 9 PM ET/PT

Additional Airings:

Friday, October 22, 2010
12:00am – 2:00am
3:00am – 5:00am
Saturday, October 23, 2010
8:00pm – 10:00pm
11:00pm – 1:00am
Sunday, October 24, 2010
2:00am – 4:00am
8:00pm – 10:00pm
11:00pm – 1:00am
Monday, October 25, 2010
2:00am – 3:00am

Why Do I Have to Think Like a Man? (BOOK REVIEW)

 

 

Why Do I Have to Think Like a Man?

by Shanae Hall

with Rhonda Frost

Farrah Gray Publishing

Paperback, $30.00

264 pages

ISBN: 978-0-9827-0270-3

 

Book Review by Kam Williams

 

“This book is dedicated to all women who are ready to ask themselves, ‘What could I have done differently to get what I wanted out of the relationship?’ or ‘How do I heal now that I’m out of it?’

If you are a reader of self-help or relationship books, you have undoubtedly heard of… Steve Harvey who gave us Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man… He has promised us that if we play our cards right, we can learn how to find a man, get a man, and keep a man by following just a few crucial steps, straight from the handbook of the original player himself.

Ladies, to keep it all the way real… it is time for some real girlfriend talk about the BS and about the state of our situation… The reason this book is relevant is because it is straight talk, no chaser, complete with dating revelations from women who look, think and act like you; who have been through what you have been through and have decided enough is enough and that we can do better.

No, we are not a man, so we don’t think like one. We are emotional, strong, loving creatures… without whom nothing comes to life.” 

-- Excerpted from the Preface (pgs. x-xii)

 

Faithful readers are well aware of how exasperated this critic has become about the recent flood of relationship advice books aimed at the African-American demographic. The latest contribution to the burgeoning genre is this how-to tome written from the female perspective by a couple of cutie pies who have a bone or two to pick with comedian Steve Harvey’s best seller on the subject.

 The authors claim to be your average females, but that’s just not the case, judging from their photos (Va-va-va-voom!) and the fact that one of them, Shanae Hall, was once married to an NFL star. Furthermore, these divorcees don’t claim to have any professional credentials, rather merely a lifetime of experience in the battle-of-the-sexes.

 Consequently, their primer is peppered with personal anecdotes, such as Shanae’s account how she made a millionaire she was dating wait three years before sleeping with him, only to have the player dump her anyway. The moral of the story is implied by the Chapter’s title: “You Can’t Change Him.”

Another chapter, “Setting Standards with a Capital ‘S’,” contains Shanae’s common sense list of questions you should ask early in a relationship, like: “Are you married?” “Do you have children?” and “Are you still friends with your baby-mama?” Duh!

 Excuse me for sensing a slight condescension, if not a disconnect, when a jet-setter who managed to marry a pro-athlete and who ostensibly hobnobs with the rich and famous suggests she’s dealt with the same sort of drama as the unfortunate sisters we see settling their differences daily on Jerry Springer.

 That being said, Rhonda and Shanae do have some sensible ideas to share with those members of the love guru book-of-the-month club who are yet to land the man of their dreams.

Essence Atkins: The "Are We There Yet?" Interview

 

 

with Kam Williams

 

Headline: The Quintessence of Essence

 

                Essence Atkins was born in New York City on February 7, 1972. Between her innate sense of comedy and girl-next-door charm, it makes sense that she has become one of Hollywood's most sought-after talents. Last year, she played a lead role in Dance Flick, a spoof of the dance genre produced by the Wayans Brothers.

                On the UPN comedy series Half & Half, she starred as Dee Dee Thorne, a privileged, honor-roll law school graduate searching for her identity. Still, Essence is probably best known for her role as Yvette Henderson in the syndicated Disney series The Smart Guy and for her recurring role as Marnie on Sabrina, The Teenage Witch.

                She was also a series regular on several other television shows, including Aaron Spelling's Malibu Shores and the critically acclaimed CBS drama Under One Roof. Her many guest-starring credits include House, The Class, Love Inc., Moesha, For Your Love, The John Larroquette Show, The Wayans Brothers, The Parent 'Hood, Family Matters and The Cosby Show.
                Atkins’ film career includes the title role in the independent film Nikita's Blues. And she delivered memorable performances in Love Song, How High and Deliver Us From Eva. Furthermore, she’s enjoyed co-starring roles in Looking through Lillian, Love & Other Four Letter Words, Preacher's Kid and N-Secure which is currently in theaters.

                As a familiar face on four TV series and with numerous screen roles under her belt, Essence is a versatile talent whose star continues to rise. Here, she talks about co-starring opposite Terry Crews in Are We There Yet, the hit sitcom airing on the TBS Network.

 

Kam Williams: Hi Essence, thanks for the time.

Essence Atkins: No problem, whatsoever.

 

KW: What interested you in playing Suzanne on Are We There Yet?

EA: Just the desire to play a mom, wanting to play someone actually closer to who I am and where I am in my life. People are used to seeing me play the single, hot girl, which has been fun, but at the same time, this role is more akin to my natural proclivities. [Laughs]

 

KW: I know you got married a year ago. Congratulations! You sound like you might be planning to have children soon.

EA: We’re in the practicing phase. I keep asking the coach to put me in the game. So, we’ll see. [LOL]

 

KW: Did your friends think you were crazy for marrying a man you met on the internet?

EA: Yeah, they did think I was nuts. Everyone was like, “Why do you need to meet someone on Match.com?” My response was, “I certainly don’t need to meet more of the same broke, acting class guys that I’d been dating my whole life.” I needed to change that whole paradigm. So, I decided to meet some corporate guys and see how that worked. So, I went on Match, but I didn’t put a picture up, because I’m on television, and I didn’t want anybody contacting me for the wrong reasons. So, I had to do the hunting, as it were. I didn’t anticipate meeting my husband online, but there he was. And it all worked out!

 

KW: Were you at all intimidated by the fact that Are We There Yet had first been a hit on the big screen and that your character had been played by Nia Long?

EA: Of course. It was an established franchise with fans, and any time you step into that it’s a bit overwhelming. But [Ice] Cube has been great, and so encouraging and supportive not only playing my big brother but as an executive producer, at least when he’s not completely intimidating as the godfather of gangsta’ rap. [Laughs] But, no, he gives us the freedom to do what we need to do, and his sanctioning has definitely helped.

 

KW: And what new are you bringing to the character, Suzanne?

EA: It just gets deeper, because the storyline is really about the new family and the new journey. Six months into the marriage you get to see her cope with all these different agendas. Besides the fact that that she’s been a single-mom and raising these two kids by herself, all of a sudden it dawns on her that she has to incorporate someone else’s way of doing things. And that’s the source of a lot of the comedy.

 

KW: I know you’re from New York. Where did you grow up?

EA: St. Albans

 

KW: So did I, small world. Where did you go to high school?

EA: I attended Professional Children’s School in Manhattan because my ballet and modern dance schedules were intensive and had started to interfere with regular school hours. I used to take the bus to the subway, and then three trains to the school. But it was from there that I got my very first opportunity to audition, and the next thing I knew I was on The Cosby Show.

 

KW: Did you leave dance behind at that point?

EA: I did. I saw the check, and that was it. Besides, most dancers’ bodies are kind of broken down by 30, and they have to retire.

 

KW: Is there any question no one ever asks you, that you wish someone would?

EA: Sure, where do I want the seven-figure wire transfer sent? That’s a good one that nobody’s ever asked me. [LOL] Seriously, I do want to clear up that my husband [Jaime Mendez] is not a dirty old man. He’s only a year older than me, despite the grey hair. Let’s clarify that, and that I’m not related to Tia or Tamera [Mowry]. I did play their real brother’s [Tahj Mowry] sister on Smart Guy, but there’s no relation. What else? Yes, my middle name is Uhura after Lieutenant Uhura on Star Trek. And I was probably conceived in a roller skating rink, but I don’t really want to talk about that.

 

KW: And where did the name Essence come from?

EA: My mother was convinced she was having a boy, so she only came up with boys’ names. Thankfully, my father came up with an alternative, otherwise you’d be interviewing a Jeff Atkins with a very high voice.

 

KW: Why Essence?

EA: He explained to mother that, if it’s a girl, she’ll be the essence of everything that’s good and beautiful in you.

 

KW: Aww, how sweet.

EA: Yeah, that was very nice, but it was also probably the last nice moment between them, because they split up shortly thereafter. [LOL]

 

KW: The Tasha Smith question: Are you ever afraid?

EA: Am I ever afraid? Yes. And when I am, that means I should do it.

 

KW: The Columbus Short question: Are you happy?

EA: Very, extremely, blissfully so. Even in my pain, I’m happy. I like crying. It makes me feel alive. Challenges, when you’re in a tumultuous situation, are an opportunity to grow, an opportunity to get closer to God, an opportunity to find and kind of reform yourself, and to figure out what really matters and what your priorities are. Not that I’m welcoming tribulation, but I find that it is beneficial.

 

KW: The Teri Emerson question: When was the last time you had a good laugh?

EA: A couple of hours ago when Terry [Crews] was telling a story. I laughed really hard even though it was the second time I’d heard it. It didn’t matter because it’s such a good story it makes me laugh just thinking about it actually. [Chuckles]

 

KW: The bookworm Troy Johnson question: What was the last book you read?

EA: I’m reading a novel by Chris Cleave right now called “Little Bee.” It’s fantastic!

 

 

KW: The music maven Heather Covington question: What are you listening to on your iPod?

EA: I’m a kid of the Eighties, so I listen to everything from Journey to Sade to Madonna. I’m kinda stuck in the era that I grew up in.

 

KW: When you look in the mirror, what do you see?

EA: Wow! When I look in the mirror, what do I see? [Pauses] I see a strong, independent, working woman who is very much in love and very happy with the reflection in that mirror.

 

KW: The Ling-Ju Yen question: What is your earliest childhood memory?

EA: Ooh, that’s not so happy…[Pauses] You know what? I’ll give you a happy one: my mother reading me to sleep every night as a child, which is the source of my lifelong love of storytelling.

 

KW: What is your favorite dish to cook?

EA: I like to make Arroz con Gandules, rice with pigeon peas. My husband loves it. It’s a Puerto Rican dish my mother taught me.

 

KW: Thanks again, Essence, and best of luck both with the show and the movie.

EA: Alright, thanks so much!

 

TBS has recently ordered an additional 90 episodes of Essence’s hit sitcom Are We There Yet? following this year’s highly-successful first season. The series, which co-stars Terry Crews is produced by Revolution Studios and Cube Vision and distributed by Debmar-Mercury.The show premiered June 2 as part of TBS’s enormously popular Wednesday lineup of original sitcoms. The series ranked among cable’s Top 10 new series for the quarter, averaging 2.8 million viewers and 1.5 million adults 18-49.It also scored as the #1 show on television in prime time delivery of African-American adults 18-34 and 18-49 for the second quarter.

 

Red

Film Review by Kam Williams

Headline: Bruce Willis Heads A-List Cast in Adaptation of DC Comic

Just about the only excitement retiree Frank Moses (Bruce Willis) enjoys nowadays is speaking to Sarah Ross (Mary-Louis Parker), a customer service operator he has a crush. He manufactures excuses to call her daily to clear up fabricated problems about his pension checks. But the two have never even met because she’s located in Missouri while he’s in Ohio, so their relationship has been limited to a harmless flirtation.
As for Sarah’s side of the equation, she hates being stuck in a cubicle in a 9-5 job she finds unsatisfying, so she lives vicariously through the characters of the romantic adventure novels she loves to read. She likes Frank, but has never seriously entertained the idea of rendezvousing with her elderly suitor.
Everything changes for both the day a hit squad attempts to ambush the ex-CIA Agent in the middle of the night. After barely escaping, he makes his way to Kansas City to rescue Sarah who had no idea of his previous career as a spy or that she’s now in peril because of their frequent phone chats.
Frank arrives in town with no time to convince the startled and very reluctant object of his affection that she needs to flee with him immediately. So, he resorts to kidnapping her, and duct taping her mouth to prevent her from screaming. Then, while they’re crisscrossing the country on the run from bloodthirsty assassins, he pays a visit to each of his former partners, Joe (Morgan Freeman), Victoria (Helen Mirren) and Marvin (John Malkovich), to coax them out of retirement.
Once reassembled, the crack team soon determines that they’ve all been framed by a rogue agent (Karl Urban) still operating inside the Agency who wants them dead because of knowledge they share which might expose him as a traitorous mole. This is the intriguing premise of Red, an action-oriented, espionage thriller based on the series of DC comic books of the same name by Warren Ellis and Cully Hamner.
The movie was directed by Robert Schwentke who managed to assemble an A-List cast which includes Bruce Willis, Morgan Freeman, Helen Mirren and John Malkovich. The plotline plus the badinage back-and-forth among this accomplished quartet is a treat to behold, it’s just unfortunate that the production failed to invest as much in special effects as in the talent and the script.
Luckily, the acting is so superb you’re willing to forgive the inadvertently funny pyrotechnics which look like they cost about a five bucks to shoot. Instead the audience is inclined to focus on the inspired dialogue, such as the hilarious line “Wanna get pancakes?” delivered oh so matter-of-factly by Malkovich right after he’s blown away a bad guy.
Geezer G-Men gone wild!
Very Good (3 stars)
Rated PG-13 for intense action sequences and brief profanity.
Running time: 111 Minutes
Distributor: Summit Entertainment