Peace Time Conversion: Review of War Machine

War Machine

Director: David Michod

By Alex Watson

Scoring Brad Pitt's new movie was a major indicator that Netflix is now a main player in the feature film market. While War Machine works well in some areas, Australian director David Michod is seemingly confused whether this is a comedy-drama or a hard hitting satire piece? Despite some great comedic touches, this picture is unable to rise itself about Pitt's excellent performance.

General Glen McMahon (Brad Pitt) has recently been appointed as the command of the US Army in Afghanistan. Keen to make a big impression and admired greatly by those who serve under him, McMahon is disappointed to learn that President Obama plans to withdraw. The General has big confidence in the US coming out on the winning side, but his actions soon find him fighting his own personal war.

After the success of his nail-biting Oscar-nominated crime flick 'Animal Kingdom', Michod feels out of his depth in War Machine. An amusing opening sequence highlights just why McMahon (based on real US General Stanley McChrystal) is the man for the job. Having loyal subordinates including the hot-headed Glen Pulver (Anthony Michael Hall) and slimy civvy PR man Matt Little (Topher Grace). McMahon is an all business leader but early on the communication problems between him and Obama are highlighted. When is unable to get the face time he desires with his own commander, McMahon rashly criticises him on TV. As a result, 40,000 more troops included jaded Sergeant Ricky Ortega (Will Poulter) arrive in Helmand province. McMahon has total faith in his nation's victory, the administration he serves simply wants to end it. While the movie's first half promises a sharp and witty piece- Michod seems confused where to take it from here.

While there are moments of pretty blunt commentary on the US efforts to drag the war out. In one scene McMahon is called out for his actions by a German politician (Tilda Swinton). Michod does well in bringing to light the problems being created instead of a solution, such as the ineffectiveness of counterinsurgency. Problem is that McMahon and his men just come off as total idiots rather than lovable ones. There is also numerous side plots that feel poorly written such as Ben Kingsley impersonation of Afghan leader Hamid Karzai. Unfortunately, this adds little to proceeding other than Kingsley lying around sneezing. There is also a lack of explanation as to just why McMahon has spent so much time away from wife Jean (Meg Tilly)? Michod feels like he is trying to add more material to cover the lack of substance throughout.

Perhaps the most frustrating aspect of War Machine is that we are constantly reminded throughout how impossible the task is yet they proceed anyway. Throughout the picture seems occupied trying to find a reason to explain why this is even worth viewing? The inclusion of Rolling Stone journalist Sean Cullen (Scoot McNairy) who is cynical of McMahon's intentions is where the trouble really begins. Unaware of the consequences the crew starts running their mouths and getting drunk in public. You sense a storm brewing and the already strained relations between the White House and McMahon look ready to collapse. The General comes across as a warrior who doesn't know how to step off the battlefield and in life is always fighting fires.

Brad Pitt does well as the increasingly frustrated McMahon and manages to find the movies funny side. This role is not the deepest or even strongest performance of his career, but it is one that reminds us what presence he can bring. His character sadly doesn't live up his efforts and due to a lack of depth we never really get a full insight into the reasons behind his intentions?

While War Machine offers up some good laughs at the personnel involved and the ludicrousness of the situation, unfortunately, this isn't Netflix's strongest offering.

Game Over Man: Review of Alien: Covenant

Alien: Covenant

Director: Ridley Scott

By Alex Watson

Ridley Scott's third outing in the Alien universe gets the franchise back on the right lines. Alien: Covenant isn't a perfect blockbuster by any means, but has a far stronger story and greater thrills than the ill-fated Prometheus. While the script by John Ridley does have the odd fault in logic, it's great to see Sir Ridley finally returning this franchise towards its roots again.

Travelling to start a new colony on planet Origae-6, the crew of the USCSS Covenant receives what looks to be a distress signal from another planet. Officer Daniels Branson (Katherine Waterston) is against investigating and insists the mission go on. However, Captain Oram (Billy Crudup) is overly curious about what lies there and the crew isn't keen on going back into hypersleep. When the crew reach the earth-like planet, they meet David (Michael Fassbender), the survivor of Prometheus and immediately his intentions come into question.

Alien: Covenant is given a big opening shake up. Hit by a freak neutrino blast from deep space, android Walter (also Fassbender) is forced to wake the crew early. Demoralised by a death of a beloved crew member, Oram is forced into the Lt. Gorman role and his unpopular decision making is quickly what dooms everyone. What it means to be human is another major subplot touched upon. Opening before the events of Prometheus, David is shown being given a lecture by a young Peter Weyland (Guy Pearce) about gods and creation. While playing an 'anaemic' piano rendition of Wagner's 'Entry of the Gods into Valhalla' the creation points out to tell his wannabe god maker "You will die, I will not!" David is the lynchpin throughout Scott's movie, so memorable before and the real lurking threat here. His appearance at first feels like divine intervention, but after we start viewing his 'amateur zoology' our views becomes very skewed.

When the crew the land on the mysterious planet, it seems almost too good to be true. Although it seems habitable, Daniels is quick to notice there are no birds or animals. Soon things get dark and intense and Scott thankfully gives us the return of some many of our beloved creatures such a face huggers and of course, the Xenomorphs! The creatures in this picture play second fiddle to the jump scares and when crew members start having weird objects bursting out their chests- the body count starts to rack up. Although the frequent kills do offer some genuinely creepy moments, there is a lot of other mumbo jumbo that gets in the way. The side plot of David weeding his influence over fellow droid Walter does make for some fine acting moment's- especially his recital of the poem 'Ozymandias' and their flute playing lessons together. The unnecessary diversion into how their kind was not meant to serve and the dreams that affect them only pushes the film away from where it needs to be.

Another issue is the crew themselves, Daniels while affected and suffering from her loss is not a strong enough character for the film to rely on. Likewise with the blundering Oram who seems to continuously worry that is faith will affect his ability to lead this crew. This issue was also present in Prometheus and this crew just feels like a group that is a buffet meal for the aliens. When Scott plays the hits, the plays them well. One claustrophobic sequence sees crew member Karine (Carmen Ejogo) quarantined while a mysterious creature begins to splatter out of her deceased crewmate! While there some good individual moments, it can't beat feeling formulaic. Scott feels like he is desperately trying to recapture the magic of his 1979 classic. Alien: Covenant is a solid entry into this franchise, but not one its fans will fully embrace- despite Mother finally being back!

Katherine Waterston gives it her all as Daniels but she just isn't the strong female character this movie desires. Taking up the torch from Sigourney Weaver is a tough ask- Noomi Rapace also gave unstuck previously. The problem is her character just feels like a blank page and John Ridley didn't seem too bothered about filling it. Out of the all supporting character only Danny McBride's pilot, Tennessee has any kind of likeability. After playing so many memorable jerks in shows like Eastbound and Down and Vice Principals, McBride seems at ease in the role of supporting hero. Once more Michael Fassbender steals the show, only this time he steals it twice. Both Walter and David are Ying and Yang on the persona front. David comes across as the gift that went spectacularly wrong. Through Fassbender, the movie's true villain is born.

Alien: Covenant does give us some joy seeing some of the touches we know and love. Ridley Scott just cannot fully seal the deal.

Island in the Sun: Review of Snatched

Snatched

Director: Jonathan Levine

By Alex Watson

Despite a promising pairing in Goldie Hawn and Amy Schumer, Snatched is decidedly low on humour. Never quite managing to find a steady rhythm, director Jonathan Levine goes too hard for belly laughs. The result is a rather dry and tasteless comedy that seems to milk its 'idiot abroad' scenario. While Schumer and Hawn together elevate this comedy slightly, this alone cannot make the film memorable.

Emily Middleton (Amy Schumer) is a directionless New Yorker who has just been dumped by her boyfriend on the eve of their holiday to Ecuador. Facing a non-refundable trip and no takers, Emily turns to her mother Linda (Goldie Hawn) to accompany her. At first, their holiday feels like a perfect paradise, until one day when the pair are kidnapped by notorious criminal Morgado (Oscar Jaenada).

Jonathan Levine never seems sure where to channel the laughs in Snatched. The plot sets up the big differences between irresponsible, fun-loving Emily and the button-down, overly cautious Linda. The early scenes of them together have a nice silliness to them- mother put comments on social media she doesn't know are public. When they arrive in Ecuador the film blows hot and cold. Though Linda mistaking 'welcome' as 'whale cum' is worthy of a giggle. Ignoring the warnings of chatterbox Ruth (Wanda Sykes) and mute ex-special forces lady Barb (Joan Cusack), Emily engages in an obvious honey trap with handsome James (Tom Bateman).  When the pair is kidnapped, this is where the rot begins to set in.

Escaping their captors and running through the jungle, soon the picture jumps from one ridiculous scenario to another. The subplot of their man-child brother/son Jeffrey (Ike Barinholtz) repeatedly calling the US State Department feels far too drawn out. Likewise, the pair meeting Indiana Jones wannabe explorer Roger (Christopher Meloni) feels like an unnecessary addition they threw in at the last minute. With the number of captures that occur in this region of the world, Levine could have made much more of the potential threat. Instead what we are given are a pair that seems to successful bluff their way through one implausible situation after another. Throw in some cookie cutter South American baddies and you have yourself a formulaic comedy.

Snatched is a picture that should be all about mother-daughter bonding, strangely that element feels absent. Throughout the pair squawk at each other and lament how wrong this adventure has gone. This quickly grows thin and as they repeatedly dodge bullets, the film becomes more concerned with the next outrageous scenario than bringing them closer. Emily is a character who is like an overgrown child, she is drastically underwritten and by the end of the movie we don't feel like she has gone through any big change. What could have been an excellent and quirky fish-out-of-water adventure instead decides to fall back on a series of lifeless gags.

Together Amy Schumer and Goldie Hawn look the part of mother and daughter, but together the chemistry just doesn't sparkle. Hawn does well as the uber-neurotic Linda and the bulk of the film's early laughs come from her comedic timing. After a 12 year hiatus, it's good to see her back. Although Schumer does make the most of her likeable goofy appeal, Emily just feels like a less successful version of her character in Trainwreck. While Wanda Sykes and Joan Cusack do provide some side jokes, their inclusion doesn't feel entirely necessary.

Snatched is a movie that could have been far funnier and despite a strong pairing, it's just another by the numbers comedy.

The Man Who Would Be King: Review of King Arthur: Legend of the Sword

King Arthur: Legend of the Sword

Director: Guy Ritchie

By Alex Watson

The fast paced, action packed feel was well suited to Guy Ritchie's adaptations of Sherlock Holmes and The Man From UNCLE. Experimenting with this approach again is what hinders King Arthur: Legend of the Sword. While Ritchie's film gives short bursts of exhilaration, its style feels ill-suited to the story. A planned six-movie saga feels unlikely to go ahead after this first dull and confused piece. In this century, this mythical tale cannot seem to catch a break.

Arthur (Charlie Hunnam) is an orphaned boy raised in a brothel in Londinium. Unaware of his past as the son of the fabled King Uther (Eric Bana), Arthur miraculously pulls the sword Excalibur from a stone. His uncle Vortigern (Jude Law) has claimed the throne and rules the land with an iron fist, so is none too pleased to learn of his nephew's return. Arthur is forced to go on the run with a band of rebels including a Mage (Astrid Berges- Frisbey) all the while questioning his destiny.

The reason for the failure of King Arthur: Legend of The Sword (now projected to lose $150 million) is that Ritchie tries to mash too much together. His opening visuals are absolutely stunning and seeing massive 300-foot elephants descend upon Camelot is a real eye-opener. Witnessing first hand the power that Excalibur wields, naturally, we assume Ritchie is setting us up nicely. After Vortigern steals the throne by brutally usurping his elder brother, Arthur is forced into a tough urchin life in Londinium. Watching him grow from a scared young pup to a fist-fighting protector of the weak feels massively out of the place for this film. Ritchie quickly gets the film bogged down as we become accustomed to hearing actors shouting at each other. Part of the issue is how the picture is shot, cinematographer John Mathieson's murky and dark photography makes the visual effects and action feel underwhelming.

It is never quite certainly what the prime focus of this film really is? There is a lot of hocus-pocus sorcery going on and some ill-advised narrative mix-up. You get the sense Ritchie is perhaps trying to be too clever with this picture when a more straightforward approach is needed. A solid middle act does redeem the movie in some ways as Arthur toils to become the great king he is destined to be. The moment Arthur finally lifts Excalibur should be one of great triumph, sadly it is ruined by an embarrassing David Beckham cameo as a Cockney soldier. Although there some nice thrills as this group of misfits plot and scheme against Vortigern, it's just not enough. Ritchie still proves to be adept at set pieces but this movie cannot live off short term thrills.

Vortigern has the potential to be a real menacing villain, unfortunately, the material just isn't there for him to make an impact. He is cold blooded for sure, just look at how he obtains the crown. Aside from some marvellous magic, he just feels a little forgettable. Arthur himself doesn't come off wonderfully either. Although heroic and brave, his smarmy and cocksure arrogance makes him difficult to warm too. For an origin's story we never really get a grasp at his backstory aside from a rushed montage. His difficulty dealing with the power of Excalibur is well documented, but he never fully grows into the kind of king we expect. Then again, Ritchie and co had ideas of slowing his development over a six-pack of films. With a proven A-list director and a good supporting cast, you get the feeling this is a big missed opportunity.

Charlie Hunnam once again comes off as the movie's weak link. Although he handles the physical side of this character well, his smartass portrayal of this King is tough to swallow. There is little doubt Hunnam has great presence, he is just not castable in everything. Jude Law clearly has a ball hamming it up as Vortigern. But even his best thespian efforts cannot rescue this character from obscurity.

King Arthur: Legend of The Sword will be one of the more confusing blockbuster efforts 2017 has to offer. Guy Ritchie is undoubtedly a great action director, but his lack of focus makes this one reign we hope doesn't continue.

My Family: Review of Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol.2

Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 2

Director: James Gunn

By Alex Watson

James Gunn proves that blending quirky humour with sci-fi is still a winner. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.2 is another joyful ride with our favourite amigos. Rather than just sticking to the tried and tested formula, there is also an emotional undercurrent. Family and belonging is the key message of this picture. While our band of misfits might slowly becoming one- there is also the notion of how they will stick together.

After being forced to run for their lives from the golden Sovereign race aliens led by Ayesha (Elizabeth Debicki). Peter Quill (Chris Pratt), Gamora (Zoe Saldana), Drax (Dave Bautista), Rocket (Bradley Cooper) and Baby Groot (Vin Diesel) are soon rescued by an unlikely ally. Revealing himself to be Quill's father, Ego (Kurt Russell), Peter feels a big sense of conflict about bonding with a man he never knew. The others have deep suspicions over what daddy's real intentions are.

While Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.2 doesn't feel as original as its predecessor, it is still fun nonetheless. Starting with a great and offbeat opening sequence that sees Baby Groot dancing away in the midst of the others battling a huge beast. Gunn's faith in his material is evident and once again he does well to keep the focus on these great characters. In this picture, we see our heroes slowly being driven apart from another. Their individual streaks are causing rifts, especially Rocket's unadvised stealing that has pissed off the Sovereigns. Ego's appearance is literally earth-shattering and we feel every inch of Quill's conflict. Although together father and son are an easy going dream, this whole introduction feels very rushed through. Caught between two fathers, blue pirate Yondu (Michael Rooker) emerges as the real father figure in this movie. Underneath that surly facade is a man with a heart of gold. Ego's real ambitions are what divides this group, is he just wanting to make up for lost time or is there something in Peter's genes he is more interested in?

Undeniably this picture feels itself when the group is in conflict. The unspoken romantic tension between Quill and Gomora is still affecting. Rocket is still a riot as a character and his snarky and impulsive thievery never fails to make us smile. Yondu is quick to recognise this guy is little more than an animal version of himself, whose psychological troubles run deep. Several supporting characters each set their own mark including vengeful sister Nebula (Karen Gillan) who finally gets a weighty story under her belt. We also finally get to see a human side underneath her robotic parts and an understanding of her hostility. Drax also shares a sweet and funny side story with simple minded alien Mantis (Pom Klementieff). The one area these movies always fall down, however, is in the villain department. Although Kurt Russell is able to inject every ounce of charm and grit as Ego- he just doesn't come off as memorable. Gunn sadly fails to make the most this reunion and unfortunately, we can see the big twist looming like Drax.

The second half of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.2 sadly is nowhere near as entertaining as the first. While there is an emotional poignancy that was severely lacking in the first, an overly long final battle make us restless. There are also some ill-advised inclusions early on, Sylvester Stallone's Ravager Stakar Ogord is barely given any screen time. You also get the sense that Gunn is trying to cram too much in to set us up for Vol.3. Despite these flaws, Gunn has still crafted a sequel that stays very true to itself. The Marvel Universe has found a set of unique character who each are coming into their own. This is one family you will love to be a part of.

Chris Pratt still shows that his Peter Quill is the funniest guy in the galaxy. Showcasing his trademark wit and sarcasm, Pratt has found his onscreen soulmate. Andy from Parks and Recreation has come a long way! Bradley Cooper nearly steals the show again as Rocket, losing none of his comic touches. In this episode, Cooper is allowed to explore a more complex side of his nature and we see that below there is a racoon longing for more. Michael Rooker comes off as the pictures main hero as we begin to realise the hard time he gave Quill as a child was for a much bigger purpose. One of Hollywood's most underrated supporting men, Rooker steals the hearts of Marvel's fans everywhere.

Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol.2 is once again an offbeat and winning experience. Bring on Vol.3 soon Mr Gunn, if only for another Awesome Mix soundtrack!