Adnerb the Movie Nerd

Movie reviews from a middle school teacher's perspective

Angel Has Fallen

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Here’s a simplistic assessment of a very simplistic movie. It’s awful! Gerard Butler plays a not very convincing Secret Service agent named Mike Banning.  His latest assignment is to protect the President while he is fishing. Morgan Freeman plays President Trumbull. He is way more believable in that role.  Some very bad people try to assassinate the president with hundreds of tiny drones, but although they wipe out virtually the entire protection force, luckily he is saved by Banning.  But, the President is in a coma and Banning is seriously injured.  Instead of congratulations, the FBI accuses him of attempted murder on ludicrous, planted evidence that even the most incompetent police, much less the FBI, Secret Service and DC Metro Police, would not fall for.  But as in many of these stories, cinematic or televised, the bad guys have all the best tech, weapons, tactics and performance, while the good guys are easily fooled, arrogant, presumpuous dupes. Banning must now escape the hospital and figure out who set him up (this is no mystery, you will know who it is in the first 15 minutes).  The rest of the movie is just plain silly and full of cliche after cliche.  You could drive a truck through the plot holes. The action is inconsistent, contrived and pays little inclination towards sensibility-even allowing for the suspension of disbelief movies like this require. It’s just shoot ’em up, nothing more.  It’s tired movie making, and has little inspiration or creativity. Nick Nolte shows up as Banning’s estranged  dad, a grizzled old Vietnam tunnel rat who is living off the grid with more explosive weaponry than a good sized National Guard armory.  He puts a little life into his role, but there really isn’t much to go on.  I  expected a movie in the vein of “The Fugitive”, “Minority Report”, “Shooter” or even the Jason Bourne movies.  The hero accused of a crime he/she didn’t commit has been a staple of Hollywood since “The 39 Steps”came out in 1935!  This movie, however, may kill the entire genre.  I really can’t recommend this one, but if you do go, wait until a few of the credits have passed for a little post-credit scene – it is the only part of the movie that I hope you get a chance to see.

Going in Style

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The stars of ‘Going in Style,’ Morgan Freeman, Michael Caine and Alan Arkin are all Oscar winners.  They play elderly gentlemen who decide to rob a bank in retribution for being screwed over by shifty pension managers and dodgy banks (kind of like “Hell or High Water” which was a better although more somber movie).  There are some genuinely funny and heartwarming moments.  All three actors are masters at their craft.  But there are some negatives too.   I feel the casting of Ann-Margret as the love interest of Alan Arkin was terrible!  Why is it okay for these older men to be cast wrinkles and all, but the actresses of the same age have to have so much plastic surgery that they look fake and just a little creepy?  It would be so refreshing to see a great actress like say Katherine Ross, Rachel Ward or Diane Keaton playing these parts with their natural beauty.  Her mask-like features really distracted from the whole love story.  Also, the first half hour of the movie dragged; it wasn’t until they started cleverly and humorously planning their heist that the movie really took off.  This is a pleasant enough movie, but I think you can wait until it is on Netflix to watch it.

Now You See Me 2

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I am a big fan of magic.  I love to be amazed by card tricks, illusions,  and magicians such as Penn and Teller.  My favorite unit to teach my sixth graders is a unit on Harry Houdini.  I liked the first “Now You See Me” and looked forward to seeing this sequel.  Unfortunately I was disappointed.   The plot was okay, if confusing, and the actors are all very likeable.  Daniel Radcliffe even gets to play a bad guy!  The special effects are great – but that is the problem for me.  The special effects magic looked contrived and unconvincing.  I would love to see more  realistic looking illusions like we saw in the first movie.   There is a silly subplot involving Woody Harrelson  playing his original character and his goofy twin brother.  With the talents of Mark Ruffalo, Dave Franco,Jesse Eisenberg, Morgan Freeman, Lizzie Caplan  and  Michael Caine, I expected a great movie, not just an adequate one.