First off, this must be said. I love Denzel Washington and I am sure I could happily watch him whitewashing a fence or simply sitting on a bench. So there was no way I was going to not like the Equalizer 2 just as much as I loved the first one. Despite what a lot of other critics are saying – this sequel, the first ever for Denzel, meets and exceeds my expectations. Denzel once again plays retired (and presumed dead) CIA agent Robert McCall, who uses his considerable skills to help every day people like you and me get justice. If you harm, or even try to harm someone that McCall knows, you will be very sorry! There is plenty of action, car chases, fights, double dealing agents, and a wild finale in the midst of a storm. There are a few twists, and of course, Mr. McCall is always on top of his game. Supporting roles are expertly filled by Pedro Pascal, Melissa Leo and Orson Bean. Yep, you heard me, I said Orson Bean – all 90 years of him!! If you like the first Equalizer, I guarantee that you will like this one too!
Sicario: Day of the Soldado
You know a movie can’t miss with these two! Benicio Del Toro, as mysterious operative Alejandro Gillick, and Josh Brolin, as federal agent Matt Graver, are back for another go around with the Mexican drug cartels. The first ‘Sicario’ movie concentrated on the cartels, their influence over the U.S. drug trade and the gritty anti-drug task force’s missions. This newest entry deals with those too, but the main focus is the exploitation of illegal immigrants who try to cross the border to seek a better life. It also touches on how children are drawn into and affected by gang activity. The movie starts with a horrific scene of three Muslim extremists who blow up a super market, including a mom who unsuccessfully tries to protect her daughter. I am not fond of movies that harm kids; although I understand that the point is to depict the horror terrorism inflicts. Still, it was not easy to watch this scene and I found myself closing my eyes. The main plot driver is the U.S. government officials’, including the Secretary of Defense (Matthew Modine), belief that the terrorists must have entered our country from Mexico; and that starting a war between the cartels will help stop this from happening, as well as getting the cartels taking each other out. Graver’s character is given carte blanche to do what ever he sees as necessary. He recruits Gillick with the promise that he will be able to have his revenge on the head of the cartel who actually ordered the murder of his family (In the first movie. he got revenge on the man directly responsible for the murders). To start the cartel war, the daughter of this cartel head is kidnapped. Things do not go according to plan, of course, and when the government learns that the terrorists were actually homegrown, they decide to abort the mission. The civilian official controlling the mission (Catherine Keener) decides that the girl and Gillick know too much, and must be eliminated along with anyone else involved. She coldly tells Graver, sorry, but they are to become collateral damage. As you probably suspect, Gillick is not so easy to get rid of. How that all plays out is complex, violent and bloody; but: no spoilers! The move is bloody and violent throughout, this is not a movie for the squeamish! I do feel that it gives an honest and heartbreaking look at how terribly these poor immigrants are taken advange of and abused. Elijah Rodriguez gives an intriguing performance as an innocent school boy who is lured by the easy money to be made as a coyote and whose fate is unknown (but suspected) by the end of the movie. Beneath all the harsh action, this film asks us to take a hard look at the immigration problem while offering no solutions. Of course, that’s not the movie’s goal,, and there aren’t any easy answers anyway. I do like the way that both main characters are shown to ultimitely have a heart, and the end definitely screams sequel! Even though this is not my kind of movie, I found myself drawn in by Del Toro’s character. I would probably watch the next inevitable installment.
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
You may not have heard of this movie, but when the academy award season hits, I think you will find some nominations going to this little gem. Frances McDormand gives a first rate performance in this dark drama, with hints of comedy, which is quirky in a Coen Brothers way. In fact, I actually laughed out loud during this movie more than I have during some of the so-called comedies I’ve seen lately. McDormand plays Mildred Hayes, a hard edged, uncompromising woman who is still reeling from the brutal unsolved murder of her teen aged daughter. The easy going, somewhat bucolic, police department seems to her to have forgotten all about her daughter, which causes her to do some drastic things, which build and lead to unintended consequences. Mildred pays for three billboards that she hopes will motivate the local cops to take notice and do something to solve the crime. These billboards spark various acts of violence and even civil disobedience that end in a lesson in what happens when people let rage and anger dictate their actions. Woody Harrelson is fine as the sheriff, but the surprise gem in this movie is Sam Rockwell, as a seemingly dimwitted, rather crass police officer who lives with his mother, lets anger get the better of him; but who finds redemption in the end. I would not be surprised if he gets an Oscar nod for his performance. If you want to get away from super hero movies and big budget special effects, I highly recommend seeing this movie.
Murder on the Orient Express
I started reading Agatha Christie murder mysteries in fifth grade and have been enamored ever since. I saw the 1974 movie version and have read the novel several times. In fact, knowing that the movie was coming out, I decided to reread the novel once more. Kenneth Branaugh has made a worthy vehicle for Christie’s great who-done-it. He also stars as Hercules Poirot, the little Belgian detective with the fastidious mustache who uses his grey cells to outwit and catch killers. In order to appreciate a movie like this, you need to know going in that there will be no explosions, car chases, romance or sex (or innuendo for that matter). You will get, however, an entertaining movie as you try to figure out who killed the despicable Mr. Ratchett, played by a remarkably restrained Johnny Depp. The cast is chock full of acting talent, You have relative newbie Daisy Ridley all the way up to the venerable Dame Judy Dench as suspects in the crime. Other notables include Michelle Pfeiffer, Josh Gad, Leslie Odom, Jr. and two of my favorite British actors, Derek Jacobi and Olivia Coleman. I heard Mr. Branaugh say in an interview that they built a replica train for this movie and it is quite something to behold. In fact, they have done a superlative job of recreating the mystique, glamour and elegance of an era now fading from memory. The set (the train, really) and the scenery from Egypt to the snowy Balkan mountains, are breathtakingly realistic. If you enjoy movies like Gosford Park or television shows like Downton Abbey, I think you will enjoy Murder on the Orient Express.
Suburbicon
What’s not to love? A script written by the Coen Brothers, directed by George Clooney, and a stellar cast that includes Matt Damon, Julianne Moore (playing twins no less!) and Oscar Issac. So, why did I not love this movie? Well……the first half of Suburbicon is extremely boring. It starts out in a perfect, stereotypical middle class, white 60’s neighborhood where everything looks perfect. Matt Damon’s character is married to a disabled woman who has a twin sister. He seems the typical, button down good father and husband. During a home invasion, his wife ‘accidentally’ dies. Is it an accident? In a plot twist reminiscent of the far, far better Fargo, we find out that Matt Damon’s character may not be the perfect Mr. Cleaver father after all. Mayhem ensues. Interspersed within this plot is an almost completely different movie that involves the first Black family to move into all white suburbia. By the time you get to the end of the movie, you feel like you have been hit on the head with a not very subtle point. As always, the Coen Brothers include some dark humor and a few surprises, but it is just not enough. Instead of going to see Suburbicon, I would recommend looking for Fargo on Netflix and watching William H. Macy “fleeing the interview.”