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Movie review: Street Kings |
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Written by Lisa Miller/special to the World
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Tuesday, 15 April 2008 |
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Do-it-yourself justice
STREET KINGS
(2008)
* *1/2
Directed by David Ayer
Starring Keanu Reeves, Forest Whitaker, Hugh Laurie, Chris Evans, Martha Higareda, Naomie Harris, Jay Mohr, John Corbett, Terry Crews, Cedric the Entertainer
Fox Searchlight/Rated R/Thriller/109 min
Los Angeles Police Detective, Tom Ludlow (Keanu Reeves), personally executes the worst criminal offenders. In the film’s opening scenes, he dispatches a band of gun dealers supplementing their income by peddling child sex slaves. With Ludlow’s boss, Capt. Jack Wander (Forest Whitaker) taking the lead, the mop-up crew arrives and arranges the crime scene to make Ludlow’s killings appear justified.
Even as some part us cheers ridding the streets of such scum by any means, we know a price will be exacted. Either to fortify his courage or to ease his conscience, the detective is never far from a half dozen single-serve vodka bottles. Capt. Wander praises Ludlow’s work but counsels his officer to sober up. We sense a continuous loop playing in Ludlow’s mind as he attempts to deal with a betrayal he can never redress — the discovery that his recently deceased wife was sleeping with another man.
 His angst gains relevance when the detective is told that his ex-partner, detective Washington (Terry Crews), is reporting Ludlow to Internal Affairs. Ludlow wastes no time deciding to beat the crap out of this stool pigeon, but he’s prevented from getting satisfaction when two masked men burst into a convenience store and pump the rat full of lead.
Because he’s vulnerable, naive, and perhaps just plain dumb, Ludlow is easily manipulated by those using him to their own ends. Despite his flaws, the story makes a persuasive case for the differences between two breeds of bad cops. Ludlow, apparently the rarer of the two, conforms to a “Dirty Harry” morality code, one that can be perceived as serving the greater good.
When he is approached by Internal Affairs investigator, Capt. James Biggs (Hugh Laurie), Reeves projects the deliberate, straight forward thinking of someone a little slow on the uptake. Laurie’s clipped witticisms and buggy eyes serve a purpose as TV’s antisocial Dr. House, but as Biggs, his informal approach to Ludlow smacks of a set up.
It’s tempting to compare “Street Kings” to the superior “Training Day,” but that would be missing the point. While the latter delivers its cop-gone-sour as a clear enemy, Ludlow’s enemies remain unidentified.
Though some aspects of this story are less smart than they could be, the assertion that every police force in a crime-ridden community needs a Ludlow, holds a certain appeal. Finding myself nodding in agreement scared me more than any surprise the movie might hold.
MOVIE PREVIEWS
CR = Critics’ Consensus Rating (where available), PR = Lisa’s Predicted Rating
FORGETTING SARAH MARSHALL
(2008)
CR: * * *1/2
Directed by Nicholas Stoller
Starring Kristen Bell, Jason Segel, Paul Rudd, Russell Brand. Bill Hader
Universal/Rated R/Comedy/112 min
The Joke of “Sarah Marshall,” is that Peter (Segel) can’t get away from his ex girlfriend, TV star Sarah (Bell). She has ended their 5-year relationship in order to be with Aldous, a Fabio knock-off. Hoping to make a fresh start, Peter heads for a Hawaiian resort where he runs smack into Sarah and Aldous (Brand) and discovers he’s booked in the suite next door to theirs -- the only room to be had. Sarah isn’t about to let Peter’s proximity dampen enthusiastic sexcapades or romantic dinners with her new beau, though Aldous hopes that he and Peter can be good friends. Segal, who co-wrote the screenplay, gathers laughs aplenty with his dough boy physique. Yet another Judd Apatow (he produces) acolyte, Segal’s male-centric comedy contributes to a brand that’s beginning to feel like “the movie of the week.”
88 MINUTES
(2007)
CR: * 1/2
Directed by Jon Avnet
Starring Al Pacino, Alicia Witt, Benjamin McKenzie, Leelee Sobieski, Amy Brenneman, William Forsythe, Deborah Kara Unger, Benjamin McKenzie, Neal McDonough
Columbia Tristar/Rated R/108 min
Al Pacino tries to hide from the inferior execution of a cliche plot beneath his 80’s mop. He plays FBI forensic psychiatrist, Jack Gramm, responsible for convicting serial killer, Jon Forster (McDonough). On the eve of Forster’s scheduled execution, Gramm receives a call stating the psychiatrist 88 minutes to live. As Gramm races around Seattle trying to prevent his own death, it becomes clear he is being set up for a string of killings replicating Forster’s M.O.. Not only is it impossible to buy Pacino as a victim, the only mystery is how the actor keeps his hairdo looking so Covergirl in all that Seattle rain.
THE FORBIDDEN KINGDOM
(2008)
CR: * *1/2
Directed by Rob Minkoff
Starring Jackie Chan, Jet Li, Michael Angarano, Collin Chou, Liu Yifei
Lionsgate/Rated PG-13/Comedy, Fantasy/113 min
The long awaited teaming of martial arts stars, Jackie Chan and Jet Li, occurs in a family comedy. Young, present day American, Jason (Angarano) is transported back in time to ancient China where he must learn Kung Fu in order to perform a vital mission. Jason is taught by longtime rivals, the Silent Monk (Li) and Lu Yan (Chan). The pair agrees to temporarily set aside their differences in the interest of freeing the Monkey King (Li, again) from imprisonment. Chan and Li, both officially retired from martial arts films, apply their talents with gusto. While fun, the film confuses Westerners by throwing several Chinese legends into a chop-suey mix.
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SMART PEOPLE
(2008)
CR: * * 1/2
Directed by Noam Murro
Starring Dennis Quaid, Sarah Jessica Parker, Thomas Haden Church, Ellen Page, Ashton Holmes
Miramax/Rated R/Comedy/95 min
An academic burnout and arrogant S.O.B., college professor Lawrence Wetherhold (Quaid) suffers a head injury that forces him to confront his past. Wetherhold’s loser brother, Chuck (Church), shows up to freeload off his brother and provides colorful commentary, in exchange for acting as the brother’s chauffeur. Janet, Wetherhold’s ER doc, turns out to be his onetime Victorian Lit student, one of the many coeds with a crush on him “back in the day.” Ellen Page, fresh off her “Juno” boat, appears as Wetherhold’s conservative, sarcastic daughter -- a chip off the old block. While Janet romances Wetherhold, Chuck makes it his goal to put Vanessa in touch with her inner rebel. Though the story holds few surprises, its smarmy, off-kilter humor is expertly manipulated by the eccentrics, Church and Page.
PROM NIGHT
(2008)
CR: *
Directed by Nelson McCormick
Starring Brittany Snow, Scott Porter, Jessica Stroup, Dana Davis
Screen Gems/Rated PG-13/Horror/90 min
The fourth film of this title, Screen Gems Studio green-lit an unwarranted remake of 1980’s schlock. The studio’s motivation is surely the PG-13 rating allowing teens to buy tickets to the horror genre they favor. Having survived a stalker attack several years ago, Donna (Snow) excitedly prepares to attend her senior prom with her boyfriend and friends. The night unfolds like a dream come true until one of the students is murdered. Donna, her date, and two other couples make a run for their hotel suite only to discover that Donna’s stalker is back. There’s plenty of chasing and screaming, capped off by mild PG-13 gore. Once word gets out about the film’s unintentionally funny effort to create suspense, few teenagers will dance on over to see it.
THE RUINS
(2008)
* *1/2
Directed by Carter Smith
Starring Shawn Ashmore, Jena Malone, Jonathan Tucker
DreamWorks/Rated R/Horror
Two young American couples take a self-guided tour of picturesque, vine-covered, Mayan ruins. When the visitors attempt to leave, an attack by spear wielding natives forces the tourists to take refuge atop a tumbledown temple. While the couples regroup, wormlike invaders find their way beneath one visitor’s skin, freaking out the others who can see the critters freely wriggling about. From the book by Scott B. Smith (of “A Simple Plan”), the assault, occurring miles from civilization, forces the unprepared visitors to rely on their wits. In other words, they are rare intelligent protagonists appearing on the horror genre’s endangered species list.
LEATHERHEADS
(2008)
* *1/2
Directed by George Clooney
Starring George Clooney, Renee Zellweger, John Krasinski
Universal/Rated PG-13/Comedy/112 min
George Clooney seeks to capture the early, anything goes era of football in a screwball comedy. The actor directs and stars as Dodge Connolly, an aging football player on a team competing in a league where flexible game rules invite playing field brawls. Hoping to put his team on the map, in 1925, Connolly recruits young Princeton star and WWI hero, Carter Rutherford (Krasinski). Suspecting there’s more to Rutherford’s heroics than he’s telling, sassy journalist, Lexie Littleton (Zellweger) saunters onto the field decked out in high heels and a sexy red dress. Instantly infatuated, Connolly is torn between managing his newfound star’s PR and trusting his heart to the lady in red.
NIM’S ISLAND
(2008)
* *1/2
Directed by Jennifer Flackett, Mark Levin
Starring Jodie Foster, Gerard Butler, Abigail Breslin
Fox-Walden/Rated PG/Fantasy, Comedy/91 min
A violence free adventure from the children’s book by Wendy Orr, Nim’s island takes viewers to a fantasy destination -- the idyllic home of young Nim (Breslin), her marine biologist father (Butler) and her many animal friends. Nim adores author Alex Rover’s (Foster) stories centered around a macho wilderness adventurer. When Nim’s father goes missing on the very day thoughtless tourists invade her island sanctuary, Nim pleads for help from the author who she believes is the rough-and-ready hero of Indiana Jonesy adventures. In reality, Alexandra is an agoraphobic -- never venturing beyond her own front door. Egged on by her courageous alter ego Alex (also played by Butler), the author braves a dangerous world -- and a wild heliocopter ride -- to come to Nim’s aid. It’s no surprise when Nim must repeatedly rescue her scardey-cat savior.
SHINE A LIGHT
(2008)
CR: * * *1/2
Directed by Martin Scorsese
Starring Mick Jagger, Keith Richards
Paramount Vantage/Rated PG-13/Documentary/120 min
Senior citizen director, Martin Scorsese, captures senior rockers, Keith Richards and Mick Jagger, preparing for and performing in concert at New York City’s Beacon Theater during the Rolling Stones’ 2006 “Big Bang Tour.” The director intercuts the band’s archived, youthful interviews with their present day performance, but seems happiest when filming, and worshipping, the band in concert. Visitors include the Clintons, Christina Aguilera, and throngs of rocking New Yorkers.
21
(2008)
* *1/2
Directed by Robert Luketic
Starring Kate Bosworth, Laurence Fishburne, Kevin Spacey
Columbia Pictures/Rated PG-13/Drama/123 min
Based on a true story, the screenplay follows a band of MIT mathletes in their journey to become card counters and win millions from casinos by playing blackjack. Kevin Spacey appears as Mickey Rosa, the professor hatching the idea and recruiting the brightest students to join. Jim Sturgess portrays Ben Campbell, a member of the group and card counting genius who refuses to take orders. Bosworth plays Campbell’s girl and fellow team member. The heady experience of taking down the house is countered by an old school security man (Fishburne) who is serious about his work. While the film’s appeal to college kids is a given, casting Fishburne and Spacey in the same movie is a high roller play that should pay off.
RUN, FAT BOY, RUN
(2007)
CR: * *1/2
Directed by David Schwimmer
Starring Simon Pegg, Thandie Newton, Hank Azaria, Dylan Moran
Picturehouse/Rated PG-13/Comedy/99 min
Dennis, a British slacker with commitment phobia, is finally ready to commit to Libby (Newton). Five years earlier, Dennis left pregnant Libby at the altar, so to make him to prove his sincerity, she sets him up to compete against Whit (Azaria), a charming American who seems steady and kind. When Libby boasts that Whit is running a marathon, Dennis (Pegg) replies, “So could I,” and the game is on. Having bet his savings on Dennis to win, best friend, Gordon (Moran), signs on as trainer, but he’s even lazier than Dennis. Directed by “Friends’” David Schwimmer and well-received across the pond, the film’s springtime US debut feels just right.
STOP-LOSS
(2008)
CR: * * *
Directed by Kimberly Peirce
Starring Ryan Phillippe, Abbie Cornish, Channing Tatum, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Timothy Olyphant
Paramount/Rated R/Drama/112 min
Brandon King, having returned home from Iraq to a Texas style hero’s welcome, soon learns he’s being ordered back to Iraq under the stop-loss policy. King (Phillippe) gets no sympathy from his war buddies, thuggish Shriver (Tatum), and screw-up Burgess (Gordon-Levitt). With his buddy’s girl (Cornish) in tow, King heads for Washington to complain to his senator. A VA hospital stopover feels manipulative, but otherwise, the film makes an honest effort to examine all sides of the stop-loss policy.
SUPERHERO MOVIE
(2008)
CR: *1/2
Directed by Craig Mazin
Starring Drake Bell, Leslie Nielsen, Sara Paxton, Christopher McDonald
Weinstein Co./Rated PG-13/Comedy/85 min
In a spoof of the “Spider-Man” films, Drake Bell plays high school loser Rick Riker. After being bitten by a genetically altered dragon fly, Rick crawls up buildings, hangs from the ceiling and grows guard hairs in the most unlikely places. Wearing an ultra tight, prone to tearing, green latex suit, heroic Rick falls for lovely Jill (Paxton). Meanwhile, an experiment transforms Lou Landers (McDonald) into the evil “Hourglass,” devourer of life forces. With the popular Spidey currently on hiatus, fans may jump at a chance to revisit familiar stomping grounds through comedy -- or more likely, will avoid not this lackluster satire. Competition to win the film’s teen audience is tighter than a superhero’s costume.
DRILLBIT TAYLOR
(2008)
* *
Directed by Steven Brill
Starring Owen Wilson, Josh Peck, Alex Frost, Leslie Mann
Paramount/Rated PG-13/Comedy/102 min
Listed as the film’s producer, Judd Apatow has his fingerprints all over the screen treatment cowritten by his Knocked Up star, Seth Rogen. Three freshman tormented by bullies at school, advertise for protection. After interviewing a handful of weirdos, they choose Drillbit Taylor (Wilson), unaware he’s a homeless bum posing as a solider-of-fortune. One of the lads loans Drillbit his father’s suit, causing the imposter to be mistaken for a substitute teacher. While instructing class, Drillbit catches the eye of a pretty teacher (Leslie Mann, Judd Apatow’s wife). Meanwhile, the boys discover that Drillbit lacks fighting skills, but has taken the job hoping to find something he can steal. Same goes for Wilson who steals the film as its chief BS’er.
MEET THE BROWNS
CR: * *1/2
Directed by Tyler Perry
Starring Angela Bassett, Tamela J. Mann, Tyler Perry, Rick Fox
Lionsgate/Rated PG-13/Drama
Written by Tyler Perry as a play (available on DVD), the film stars Angela Bassett as a recently unemployed single mother. When Brenda’s (Bassett) estranged father dies, the city girl packs up her brood and heads for Georgia to meet his branch of the family. Outwardly, the Brown clan is uncouth, but they warmly envelop Brenda. Romance arrives in the form of a handsome family friend (Fox), but after years of being alone love frightens Brenda almost as much as the camera loves Bassett. Kudos to Lionsgate for betting twice on Perry’s appeal, even if this time, the author plays his problematic alter ego, loudmouthed Madea.
SHUTTER
(2008)
CR:* *
Directed by Masayuki Ochiai
Starring Joshua Jackson, Rachael Taylor, James Kyson Lee
Fox/Rated PG-13/Horror
Spirit photography, popular in Asia, is the subject of this remake of a Thai horror. Young American newlyweds, Ben (Jackson) and Jane (Taylor), travel to Tokyo for Ben’s job as photographer of a trendy fashion event. En route, Jane believes she runs over a woman appearing out of nowhere, but the couple find no evidence of a body. Subsequently, Ben’s fashion photos are blemished by ghostly images. The couple seeks advice from the editor of a Japanese spirit photography magazine (Lee). He shows the newlyweds snapshots of ghosts haunting the living, many who mysteriously died shortly thereafter. Ho-hum. Given the Eastern appetite for Western action fare, perhaps the plethora of hokey J-horror remakes be part of some secret trade agreement.
DOOMSDAY
(2008)
* *
Directed by Neil Marshall
Starring Rhona Mitra, Bob Hoskins, Adrian Lester, Alexander Siddig and Malcolm McDowell
Rogue Pictures/Rated R/Action/105 min
Thirty years ago a killer virus swept through Britain. Unable to find a cure, authorities contained the sick behind high walls and left them to die. In the present day, another outbreak prompts officials to send an elite squad into the quarantined zone to retrieve clues to a cure. However, the abandoned have no desire to help their keepers. Rhona Mitra stars as captain of a mission leading a special ops unit into a closed city ruled by violence and hatred. Often compared to “Mad Max” and “28 Days,” the film’s apocalyptic action formula has earned it the nickname, “28 Days Beyond The Thunderdome.”
HORTON HEARS A WHO!
(2008)
* * *
Directed by Jimmy Hayward, Steve Martino
Voiced by Jim Carrey, Steve Carell, Seth Rogen, Dan Fogler, Jonah Hill, Will Arnett, Amy Poehler
Fox/Rated G/Animated/88 min
Brilliantly animated in muted colors, “Horton” is dark and moody one minute, sunny the next. Jim Carrey and Steve Carell lead a voice talent dream team that would have made Dr. Seuss proud. While lounging beside a pool, Horton the elephant (Carrey) discovers microscopic Whos living in a speck lodged on a flower. Horton signs on as their protector, a job made more difficult by his disbelieving friends and by Vlad (Arnett), a nasty vulture. While Horton searches for somewhere the Whos will be safe, The mayor of Whoville (Carell), his wife (Poehler) and their 94 children go about their normal routines unaware of Vlad’s plot to destroy them. A humorous object lesson for the kiddies, these lively characters from two very different, yet similar worlds will energize the whole clan.
NEVER BACK DOWN
(2009)
CR: *
Directed by Jeff Wadlow
Starring Sean Faris, Amber Heard, Djimon Hounsou, Cam Gigandet, Evan Peters, Leslie Hope
Summit Entertainment/Rated PG-13/Drama/106 min
Two buffed high schoolers duke it out for the title and the girl (Heard). Football jock, Jake (Faris), is lured into an underground fight club after taking a beating from Mixed-Martial Arts Champ, Ryan McCarthy (Gigandet). Having recently lost his father, Jake asks a well-known master, Jean Roqua (Hounsou), to train him, but the physical challenges are only half of a battle that requires Jake to control his anger. Every generation craves its own version of the “Karate Kid,” in this case, beefcake for teens. We can only hope that one of these films will raise “Kid’s” shopworn philosophy to the next level.
10,000 B.C.
(2008)
*1/2
Directed by Roland Emmerich
Starring Camilla Belle, Steven Strait, Marco Khan
Warner/Rated PG-13/Action, Fantasy/109 mins
The story is set during early civilization, a time when relatively primitive man and prehistoric beasts coexisted. Young tribesman, D’Leh (Steven Strait), has pledged his love to Evolet (Camilla Belle) when she is stolen, along with other tribe members, by mysterious men on horseback. D’Leh and friends begin a rescue mission that takes them over snowy mountains, through the jungle, and across a vast desert. When they reach Africa, D’Leh meets other raided tribes. Impressed by D’Leh’s saber-tooth tiger protector, more warriors join his quest. Big budget CGI effects fail to conjure realistic beasts, and the climactic battle is a big snooze.
THE BANK JOB
(2008)
CR: * * *1/2
Directed by Roger Donaldson
Starring Jason Statham, Saffron Burrows, Stephen Campbell Moore, Daniel Mays
Lionsgate/Rated R/Action/110 min
Based on an actual high profile bank robbery from the anything goes 70s, this story theorizes there was a good reason no arrests were made. Society dame, Martine (Burrows), recruits Terry Leather (Statham) and his cohorts to execute a Lloyds bank heist based on her plan. Because Martine knows which Lloyds safety deposit box contains compromising photos of a young royal and politicians, she plans to use it as a bargaining chip to keep everything else they have stolen. The film is three-quarters crime-caper, one-quarter party movie, with some scenes set in unseemly locations. Lest it all sounds too “Ocean’s Eleven,” jackhammers take the place of gadgets.
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 15 April 2008 )
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