HELIOS (2015)

Genre: Action/Thriller

Running Length: 1:58

Cast: Jacky Cheung, Nick Cheung, Shawn Yue, Wang Xueqi, Janice Man, Ji Jin-hee, Choi Siwon, Yoon Jin-yi, Josephine Koo, Feng Wenjuan, Chang Chen

Director: Longman Leung, Sunny Luk
Screenplay:  Longman Leung, Sunny Luk

Too many cooks spoil the broth. You know you're going to expect mediocrity when in the opening credits of HELIOS, we have rows and rows of production companies backing this Hong Kong crime action thriller movie. The film makers would definitely need to compromise their story telling to please the different parties. Or maybe the shoes were just too big for the film makers to wear. With a much heftier budget than their earlier directorial debut Cold War, they just decided to blow more things up, hire more regional cast (Korean, China, Caucasian, Middle eastern and Indian, besides the HK cast) and have more countries as the backdrop. It just doesn't work. Although it's a technically well executed film, the plot is just over complicated and some scenes are plain logic defying. And the acting is wooden. The writing is predictable and boring eg. To demonstrate the villain is really bad to the core, he executes civilians in cold blood and walks away with the evil look. Plus, the views of the political power dynamics is so ill-informed and shallow, most viewers will be scratching their head throughout the movie. Nevertheless, if you need a fix on some Asian cinema action, you'll have a good time. I seriously think that Hong Kong action/thriller movies should just stick to what they do best (small budget, raw and gritty and built around the themes of loyalty, brotherhood and sacrifice, with tight closed up action scenes) and stop venturing into huge international themes such as nuclear-mass destruction-arms trading. And to confirm my "too many cooks" argument, the closing song (sung by Jacky Cheung - they could have at least gotten another singer, as Cheung plays a prominent character in the movie, but I digress) has Cantonese, Mandarin, Korean and English lyrics. -___-  C'mon!

Rating: 5/10

GOOD KILL (2015)

Genre: Drama/Thriller
Running Length: 1:45
Cast: Ethan Hawke, January Jones, Bruce Greenwood, Zoe Kravitz, Jack Abel, Dylan Kenin
Director: Andrew Niccol
Screenplay: Andrew Niccol

GOOD KILL, the title of this movie, is also a term/jargon used when an efficient air strike carried out by drones dispenses off potential threats cleanly at minimal risk to the dispensers. In fact, at one point, a character in the films calls out “Splash!” when a target is hit. Think first person shooter games. And that's what makes this movie provocative and troubling because this is not a game. People (sometimes kids and women) actually die. But what's even more interesting is an attempt to study Ethan Hawke's character, a drone pilot (and former F-16 pilot), where his daily job is to blow off the enemies 7,500 miles away on a game console like device while sitting in the comfort of an air-conditioned small container office in Vegas. Afterwards, he would drive home to his pretty wife and adoring kids and throw some meat on the BBQ for dinner. Of course, overtime, the stress of his dehumanizing routine kicks in and just like any effects of war, it takes a toll on him. However, the drama and ethics surrounding his meltdown is unable to keep pace with the cold and chilling air strike scenes; when Hawke's character squeezes the button on his joystick, you'll find yourself holding your breath and counting down to impact. The disturbing and powerful images of people being blown into pieces still lingers in my mind.

Rating: 7/10

AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON (2015)

Genre: Action/Adventure
Running Length: 2:21
Cast:  Scarlett Johansson, Samuel L. Jackson, James Spader, Don Cheadle, Paul Bettany, Mark Ruffalo, Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Jeremy Renner, Chris Hemsworth, Elizabeth Olsen, Aaron Taylor-Johnson
Director: Joss Whedon
Screenplay: Joss Whedon

AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON plays it safe. Most summer tent pole sequels tend to up their offering ie. more of the same but bigger explosions, more body counts or more over-the-top action sequences (think the Transformers franchise) but Age of Ultron is just...more of the same. Granted that there are some interesting camera work but the action scenes are more frantic than exciting. Although the big battle CGI laden final scene is loud and energetic (which echoes Zack Snyder's Man of Steel wanton city carnage), it's just way too long and boring. I was actually fidgeting in my seat waiting for the movie to be over. Thankfully, the quieter moments paid off especially scenes involving the characters who don't have their own franchise. And they are given more screen time and back story. Although the love affair between Black Widow and Bruce Banner/Hulk feels forced, it's still pretty sweet. And Hawkeye's "secret" do lead to an emotional payoff at the end of the film. However, the "A-list" superheroes do not fare as well; Robert Downey Jr's Ironman seems to have lost his panache, Chris Evan's Cap Am is wooden and Chris Hemsworth's Thor just stands around looking handsome and spewing out funny one-liners. Although Ultron is somewhat an interesting villain because of his "daddy issues", his big bad evil plan is lame and overly convoluted. Overall, if the film makers could have just taken some risk to challenge its predecessor, this movie could have turned out to be less lazy.

Rating: 6/10

WHIPLASH (2015)

 

Genre: Drama
Running Length: 1:46
Cast: Miles Teller, J.K. Simmons, Paul Reiser
Director: Damien Chazelle
Screenplay: Damien Chazelle

"There are no two words in the English language more harmful than 'good job'."
 
This is not Dead Poets Society. Although the end goal is to unleash one's potential, WHIPLASH ups the mentor/student relationship; not in an encouraging and nurturing way but in an uncompromising and at times, brutal way. This movie plays out like a sports drama complete with all the ups and downs and triumphs and disappointments. Both Teller and Simmons deserve full recognition here with the latter deserving his best supporting actor nod. The dynamics between them are electrifying albeit in an unhealthy way. Simmons plays the Machiavellian (manipulative, bullying, drill sergeant, goal obsessed) music teacher while Teller's the ambitious but naïve drummer. I was on the edge of my seat almost the entire movie (and there's not even a single car chase or shootout scene!). Usually for such a genre, it's pretty predictable ie. the underdog feel good story, so I was expecting to just sit back enjoy. But boy was I wrong. Whiplash doesn't play out like how I anticipated it for it demands 100% active participation and by the time the 3rd act finishes, I was literally left breathless. This is an extraordinary high energy film and it demands to be watched. 

Rating: 9/10

22 JUMP STREET (2014)

Genre: Action/Comedy
Running Length: 1:52
Cast: Jonah Hill, Channing Tatum, Ice Cube, Peter Stormare, Wyatt Russell, Amber Stevens, Jillian Bell
Director: Phil Lord, Christopher Miller
Screenplay: Michael Bacall and Oren Uziel and Rodney Rothman, based on a story by Michael Bacall & Jonah Hill

As I've not watched 21 Jump Street and very little of the TV series, I had no expectations at all going into 22 JUMP STREET and it turned out to be an entertaining ride. The narrative isn't much but a series of humourous situations strung together. Some of the sequences are outright laugh-aloud funny (and borderline brilliant and bizarre) but there were also a few hits-and-misses. The movie could have benefited more if they had more action sequences. But beneath all its craziness, 22 Jump Street is first and foremost a buddy film. And Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum on-screen chemistry is ridiculously great; especially poking fun of the modern day bromance bordering on homo-eroticism. It is impossible to imagine both Hill and Tatum not having fun during the filming process. A special shout out to Ice Cube who deliciously plays (or more of overplays) the "angry black captain" role - he steals every scene in which he appears. The end credits sequence is worth staying for as it pokes fun at just about everything.

Rating: 6/10

HECTOR AND THE SEARCH FOR HAPPINESS (2014)

Genre: Adventure/Drama
Running Length: 1:54
Cast: Simon Pegg, Rosamund Pike, Stellan Skarsgard, Ming Zhao, Barry Atsma, Jean Reno, Toni Collette, Christopher Plummer
Director: Peter Chelsom
Screenplay: Maria von Heland and Peter Chelsom & Tinker Lindsay, based on the novel by Fracois Lelord

"We should concern ourselves not so much with the pursuit of happiness but rather with the happiness of pursuit." a quote from this movie. 

Although HECTOR AND THE SEARCH FOR HAPPINESS shares a similar theme as Walter Mitty; a middle-aged man who lives a routine life reaches a mid-life crisis and thus, spurring him to go on an international journey to understand the meaning of life/happiness, this movie goes into darker territory than Mitty ever would have dared venture. Those who are familiar with Simon Pegg's movies may not be totally surprised that he can be taken seriously on screen, but as Hector, his work here is a revelation. There are some funny moments here and there but he generally plays it down - especially the very believable emotional last scene which was truly affecting. Although his search leads him to a mixed bag of adventure, the deliverables to viewers are a little uneven. This is no Indiana Jones or even Tintin. Some encounters worked but most of them felt somewhat cliché. Nevertheless, this film works nicely as a character piece.  

Rating: 6.5/10

WHAT IF (2014)

Genre: Romance/Comedy
Running Length: 1:35
Cast: Daniel Radcliffe, Zoe Kazan, Megan Park, Adam Driver, Mackenzie Davis, Rafe Spall
Director: Michael Dowse
Screenplay: Elan Mastai, based on the play by T.J. Dawe & Michael Rinaldi

WHAT IF explores the age-old question of  "can men and women ever just be good friends". Well, the plot is predictable; Radcliffe's character decides to put his love life on hold after being burnt by a bad relationship and he meets Zoe Kazan's character in a party. They form an instant connection but they can only remain as good friends because the girl has a long term boyfriend (thankfully, he's not stereotyped as a jerk). But as their feelings grow, they struggle to keep things platonic. Yup, it's the guilty pleasure kind of movie. I think I was expecting the would-be couple to engage in clever and meaningful conversations rather than accidentally ending up in tight situations (twice) to generate sexual tension. Well there were a few sweet and tender moments during their dialogue but it was few and far between. Thankfully, the lead actors have chemistry and they do make a cute couple, to be fair. And the cast playing their "best friend" support is serviceable throughout especially Adam Driver. For those wanting a break from serious thought provoking and emotional wrenching films, I guess it OK to munch on cinematic junk food once in a while.

Rating: 6/10