I am starting this review with a shout out to the Cinemark Theatre in Hanover, Maryland. I asked if they would be willing to donate an item to my school as a student reward and they countered with a donation of 30! I appreciate the generosity and support of education. Now on to the review. If you are a fan of the original Seven Samurai or the previous Magnificent Seven starring Yul Brenner and Steve McQueen, you will not be disappointed in this new remake. Denzel Washington plays the bounty hunter who agrees to help a young widow whose town is being taken over by a sleaze bucket played by Peter Sarsgaard. I was charmed by Haley Bennett and hope to see her in more movies in the future. Denzel never disappoints and he doesn’t here. Chris Pratt provides some laugh out loud comedy relief. Do not go to this movie if you are squeamish about violence. This movie has a higher body count than I have seen in recent years. That being said, it was a diverting and well-done movie. I doubt if you will be sorry you went and you will definitely be entertained.
Hell or High Water
For those of you who have been following this blog, you have probably noticed that I love to follow the smaller movies. “Hell or High Water” is one of the best of these movies I have seen this year. The great Jeff Bridges plays a crafty Texas Ranger close to retirement in this modern western. I enjoyed the back and forth banter he has with his partner, played by Gil Birmingham. Chris Pine has some acting chops as one of two brothers (the other is played by Ben Foster) who resort to robbing banks for what they believe to be a noble reason. These is some unexpected humor, great dialogue and superb acting. This is a gritty movie, that should be depressing, but there is satisfying redemption at the end.