Forrest Gump | Geekscape

Geekscape Movie Reviews: Fences

by MCDaveDecember 8, 2016

Originally a Tony Award winning play from the late August Wilson, Fences receives the big screen treatment courtesy of director and star, Denzel Washington. The film debuted in early November to the highest of praises from countless members of the Screen Actors Guild, which instantly solidified Fences as a legitimate Oscar contender. Despite its inability to entertain quite as effectively as other awards season hopefuls, you should still expect to hear the film’s name called on Oscar night.

Set in 1950s Pittsburgh, Troy (Washington) is a former baseball star who finds himself unsatisfied as a 53 year-old garbage man. But as Troy’s resentment trickles down to his star-athlete son, Cory (Jovan Adepo), they two battle over Cory’s desire to play college football. Meanwhile, the family’s adoring matriarch, Rose (Viola Davis), works tirelessly to keep the peace within their household.

It’s impossible to ignore the playhouse aura that suffocates Denzel Washington’s adapted work. Fences looks and feels like a stage-play in every aspect, so much so that it hampers the film’s ability to stand out as more than just a superbly acted accomplishment. Both of its leading stars will most likely end up as finalists in tightly contended Oscar races. Washington’s performance dances wistfully along a wide spectrum of emotions. There are powerful moments where Washington reminds the audience of his singular talents that have earned him a decades-long career in the industry. Then, on the other hand, the lead star delivers overtly embellished scenes where he sadly begs to be noticed as his character transitions from a hopeless romantic, to a stern father and a villainous foe. Washington’s onscreen counterpart, Viola Davis, provides a more balanced and nuanced performance filled with heart, soulfulness and subtle intricacies. Her work in Fences is an absolute marvel and the stars are aligning for Davis to finally win an Oscar, after being unforgivably robbed by Meryl Streep (for The Iron Lady???) a few years back. Supporting star, Mykelti Williamson – best known as Benjamin Buford Blue, aka Bubba, in Robert Zemeckis’ Forrest Gump – has also earned some early rumblings as an Oscar hopeful, further solidifying Fences as a clear showcase for its many actors and actresses.

Despite the film’s unquestionably promising performances, Fences struggles to resonate in many other areas. A popular saying among filmmakers is “show, don’t tell”. Unfortunately, verbose dialogue and a long-winded screenplay form a recipe for boredom. Even through the stories twists and turns Fences fails to adequately entertain. Many have lauded Denzel Washington’s direction, yet he never overcomes limited settings and the hindrances of a stage-play backdrop. Fences tells an expansive story spanning many characters but, even after piling up nearly a 140-minute running time, these various subplots feel under-developed. It’s because of all these shortcomings that Fences doesn’t quite stack up as the Best Picture contender that insiders are claiming.

Denzel Washington offers a brilliantly acted adaptation that’s geared towards an award season audience. Yet, if you’re searching for more than just an actor’s showcase drowned in dialogue and lacking amusement, then you’ll have to look further than Fences.

GRADE: 2.5/5

Check out other reviews, movie lists and write-up at MCDave’s host site

Geekscape Movie Reviews: The Walk

by MCDaveOctober 5, 2015

Although his name isn’t stained in the fabric of our society like Steven Spielberg or James Cameron, director Robert Zemeckis is a legend of Hollywood in his own right. As an Academy Award winning filmmaker who graced us with one of the most notable cinematic achievements of all-time, Forrest Gump, Zemeckis knows what it takes to captivate an audience. He returns this weekend to movie theaters all across the country with a soaring spectacle unlike anything we’ve ever seen. Alongside his show-stealing lead actor, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, The Walk unfolds as yet another winning effort from the iconic filmmaker.

As a young child growing up in France, Philippe Petit’s (Gordon-Levitt) interest in magic and juggling culminates into something much more daring, a passion for tightrope walking. And in 1974 after Philippe hones his skill-set under the tutelage of a circus professional named Papa Rudy (Ben Kinglsey), he sets his sights on a higher and more death-defying target, an unharnessed walk between the world’s new tallest buildings in New York City. Petit ventures to the Big Apple and, with his team of accomplices, pulls off the greatest artistic crime the world has ever witnessed.

One of my favorite revelations surrounding Robert Zemeckis’ historical retelling, The Walk, is the surprising tone of the film. Sporting a more playful vibe rather than intense melodrama, the movie peels back layers of famed wire-walker Philippe Petit. And by taking the audience back to his childhood where the central figure’s passion and appreciation for performing began, we’re given a clear understanding of the fearless (and arguably insane) psyche of Petit. Joseph Gordon-Levitt continues to deliver fine performances adding his portrayal of Petit to an already long list of quality work. While Gordon-Levitt is given almost the entirety of the screen time, he makes the most of his opportunity and shines in the role. Sprinkling in a pleasant collection of well-timed humor and an outstanding score from Alan Silvestri (who also composed the music for Forrest Gump), The Walk equates to far more than just a visual masterpiece.

Despite all of the film’s impressive attributes, there are a few facets in which the movie is mishandled. Throughout Petit’s criminal plot to set up a wire between New York City’s Twin Towers prior to his dangerous tightrope walk (which he always refers to as “le coup”), we’re introduced to the members of his team who help make the event possible. However, such little devotion is given to these side characters that the dramatic moments surrounding them all as the big day approaches end up falling flat. Even the relationship between Petit and his girlfriend throughout the film, Annie (played by Charlotte Le Bon), is widely underdeveloped. Furthermore, the visual returns to Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s narration is oddly placed. It comes and goes throughout the film, but it never feels necessary or even warranted. Although The Walk fails to utilize its side characters appropriately and it relies on a poorly executed narration tactic, Zemeckis and company succeed in countless other areas that help dwarf these miscues by comparison.

I typically avoid any 3D showing of a film when possible. I tend to find the technique distracting and less enjoyable. However, The Walk does such a superb job of incorporating the I-MAX 3D into the film that I believe it actually enhances the experience. All of its breathtaking visuals are absolutely stunning and give the film a truly unique feel. Yet, while I wouldn’t declare The Walk as a “must-see” feature, it certainly doesn’t disappoint.

Grade: 3.5/5

Check out more from MCDAVE at his host site

Geekscape Movie Reviews: Captain Phillips

by MCDaveOctober 8, 2013

It’s been more than a decade since Tom Hanks has landed a swoon-worthy kind of role for the Academy to recognize. With back-to-back Oscar wins in the Best Actor category for marvelous performances in Philadelphia and Forrest Gump, Hanks spent much of the 90s and early 2000s nestled comfortably at the peak of the awards season mountain. The brilliant artist returns in 2013 with a pair of highly anticipated true-story roles as Walt Disney in Saving Mr. Banks and Paul Greengrass’ self-titled Captain Phillips. As it appears, the stars have aligned once again and Tom Hanks is finally back atop the proverbial mountain.

Richard Phillips (played by Hanks) is a hard-nosed and dedicated Captain of the cargo vessel Maersk Alabama. On a typical voyage to deliver food and supplies around eastern Africa and the middle east, a band of Somali pirates hijack Phillips’ ship and unarmed crew. Desperate to keep himself and his team out of harm’s way, Captain Phillips demonstrates remarkable heroics throughout this trying ordeal.

Relentlessly tense and nerve-racking beyond belief, action guru Paul Greengrass summons one the most suspenseful movies of the year. Captain Phillips is a lengthy journey filled with highs, lows and just about everything in between. But rather than catering to an all-too-easy “good vs evil” approach implemented by many run-of-the-mill directors floating around Hollywood these days, Greengrass and writer Billy Ray mold together an honest and multi-layered film. Not only does Captain Phillips venture through the minute-after-minute terror experienced by the hijacked crew, the feature also dives deep into the desperate mindset of the vessel’s captors. The ambitious attempt to witness the entire story surrounding this historic event allows Captain Phillips to develop into a more authentic and believable thrill ride.

Despite crafting a captivating and gut-wrenching encounter, Greengrass misses the mark on a few key areas. For starters, the well-rounded director over-extends every single aspect of the film. He could have easily attained his goal by cutting many of the feature’s scenes in half. Whether it’s the intense bickering and power struggle between the pirates or the Red Light/Green Light back-and-forth by the Navy Seals team near the film’s conclusion, Captain Phillips is filled with anxiety-overkill and its clearly a deterrent. Furthermore, the movie’s third act rings all too familiar to last year’s Best Picture Nominee, Zero Dark Thirty. Therefore, being so fresh in our minds and far superior to this rehashed effort, Captain Phillips becomes a poor man’s version of Kathryn Bigelow’s hit … but still worth the price of admission.

Tom Hanks has always been a magnificent performer, and his role in the action/drama Captain Phillips reiterates that notion. It doesn’t matter if he’s winning Golden Statues or not, Hanks is one of the greatest actors of all-time. And once again, you won’t be disappointed with this one. If you can handle the anxiety and withstand the suspense, then you can’t go wrong with Captain Phillips.

GRADE: 4/5

Take some time to check out more work from MCDAVE by clicking HERE

Geekscape Movie Reviews: Flight

by MCDaveOctober 30, 2012

Legendary director Robert Zemeckis lets his credentials speak for themselves. With a loaded filmography boasting undoubted hits such as Forrest Gump, Back to the Future and Castaway, Zemeckis’ long awaited return to live action is – as Ron Burgundy would say – “kind of a big deal”. His triumphant return comes in the form of Flight, a dark drama about a troubled airline pilot suffering from a severe substance abuse problem. If that wasn’t enough to get you excited, teaming up with Zemeckis in the leading role is Academy Award winner Denzel Washington. Now, with all of the proper ingredients securely in place, Zemeckis and company manage to elevate Flight to successful heights.

Denzel Washington stars as divorced airline pilot Whip Whitaker, a full blown alcoholic with an occasional taste for all different kinds of harder drug concoctions. But when a routine flight from Florida to Georgia experiences a disastrous plane malfunction, an under-the-influence Whitaker pulls off some nose-diving heroics that help to soften the crash. Having miraculously saved 96 of 102 lives on board the plane, Whitaker ironically finds himself at the center of a crash investigation. In the midst of a massive downward spiral, Whitaker embattles the possibility of criminal manslaughter charges and, even worse, his destructive substance abuse addiction.

Director Robert Zemeckis’ Flight is a well-rounded and emotionally effective character study of one man’s personal battle with addiction At the center of the film is Denzel Washington, a gifted actor who needs no introduction. Screenwriter John Gatins serves up a script that allows Washington to take his character’s portrayal to some very dark and disturbing places. Almost effortlessly, Washington molds Whitaker’s psychologically flawed character into such an alluring and spellbinding anti-hero. Although Whitaker rarely gives the audience any legitimate reason to sympathize with his condition, you’ll want so badly for him to put down the bottle when the moments of truth happen to arrive. Even when Whitaker clearly deserves no remorse, Washington demonstrates an uncanny ability to elicit sympathy from the viewer. It’s acting at its finest, and I would be downright shocked if Washington wasn’t recognized with an Oscar nomination for yet another brilliant on screen display. In addition to the greatness of the film’s leading star, actor John Goodman commands every second of screen time given to him. Everything from his perfectly cued grand entrance to his outrageously hilarious final scene, Goodman offers the feature’s most likable character. And for as memorable as Goodman’s drug-dealing character is, Zemeckis and Gatins never overuse him or rely too heavily on his efforts. As a result, Flight is a crowd-pleasing drama that satisfies at the hands of smart directing and superb acting.

Even though Flight works well as a character-driven drama, Zemeckis’ return to live action is far from unscathed. For starters, Flight hits a noticeable lull during its second act which consequently disrupts the flow of the film. The movie begins in impressive fashion with its eye-opening hotel scene followed by a tension filled airplane free fall. However, the film’s post-crash middle portion spends a prolonged amount of time focusing on a rather unnecessary character (the drug addict Nicole) and the depths of Whitaker’s problems with alcohol. But just as the film begins to recycle itself to the point of exhaustion, Zemeckis returns to the investigation and closes out the film in an emotionally satisfying style. Another significant detraction from Flight is the inconsistencies of screenwriter John Gatins. While carefully-timed comedy has always been a major staple of Zemeckis’ more dramatic work, Gatins fails to successfully land a couple of intended “funny scenes”. The hospital scene with Whitaker’s co-pilot Ken Evans (played by Brian Geraghty) is the perfect example of poorly timed humor. At what should have been a memorable Oscar-type of dramatic scene, Gatins swings and misses at mocking religious fanatics. Although Flight clearly suffers from infrequent interruptions in both mood and plot progression, a worthwhile conclusion makes it easy to overlook and ignore these tiny imperfections.

Once again, Robert Zemeckis gets the most out of his leading star and the payoff is another solid addition to his resume. Denzel Washington deserves all the praise he’ll receive on route to a sure-fire Best Actor Nomination by the Academy. Despite his portrayal as a mightily flawed anti-hero, Flight‘s greatest conquest is how it forces the audience to be forgiving and slightly irrational toward Washington’s rather unlikable character. Both highly entertaining and emotionally charged, Flight is far from perfect but still worth the price of admission. Take a shot on Flight and you won’t regret it.

Grade: 4/5

You can check out more from MCDave at Movie Reviews By Dave

The 5 Greatest Movie Moms

by MCDaveMay 13, 2012

In honor of Mother’s Day, I wanted to show my appreciation by compiling a list of the greatest movie moms that we’ve grown to love. As is the case with any list, there must always be winners and losers. Let me preface the top 5 countdown by acknowledging the honorable mention moms (but don’t worry, we still love you). Honorable Mention: Linda Hamilton as Sarah Connor (Terminator 2), Patricia Clarkson as Rosemary Penderghast (Easy A), Frances McDormand as Elaine Miller (Almost Famous), Faye Dunaway as Joan Crawford (Mommie Dearest), and Renee Zellweger as Dorothy Boyd (Jerry Maguire). And the top 5 movie moms are …

#5 Angelina Jolie as Christine Collins (Changeling)

Uh oh ... if I remember correctly, my son's circumcised

Move over octo-mom, the constantly adopting Angelina Jolie is quite the mother in real life. Perhaps, that’s why the gifted actress was so memorable in her Changeling role as Christine Collins, a distraught mom whose 9 year old son disappears. But months later when the LAPD claims that they’ve found the boy, Jolie discovers that the kid isn’t hers. Going against the strange pressure put on by the 1920’s LAPD, Jolie fights tirelessly until her true son is found.

#4 Sandra Bullock as Leigh Anne Tuohy (The Blind Side)

Winning an Academy Award for her matriarch role in The Blind Side, Sandra Bullock plays a wealthy woman who convinces her family to take in a homeless African American youth named Michael Oher. With the love of his new-found mother figure, Oher accomplishes great things in the world of football and finds himself a first round draft pick in the NFL. The Blind Side is a remarkable true story that succeeds because of Bullock’s excellent work on screen.

#3 Sally Field as Mrs Gump (Forrest Gump)

In the 1994 classic hit Forrest Gump, Sally Field instantly became cinema’s most quotable mom. Through the lovable woman’s guidance and fantastic quotes about chocolates, her mentally deficient (but overly capable) son Forrest captures all of our hearts. Sally Field was phenomenal in the role and flawlessly demonstrates what unconditional love really means.

#2) Betsy Palmer as Mrs Pamela Voorhees (Friday the 13th)

You see, Jason was my son, and today is his birthday...

Cue the boos. I decided to go against the grain with this one and think outside the box. But, in all honesty, who can refute the motherly love of Mrs Voorhees in the original horror masterpiece Friday the 13th? Through the fabulous work of actress Betsy Palmer, the audience gets a firsthand glimpse into the loyalty and protective instincts of a mother. Willing to go the distance and kill for her son, who can argue against Mrs Voorhees as a loving and caring mother? Not I.

#1 Susan Sarandon and Julia Roberts as Jackie Harrison and Isabel Kelly (Stepmom)

Attempting to stay as true as possible to the list, our winners come in the form of the duo played by Susan Sarandon and Julia Roberts in the 1998 tearjerker Stepmom. The film follows a terminally ill mother who has to come to terms with the new woman in her ex-husband’s life. Sarandon illustrates an admirable amount of compassion and trust on screen. And most importantly, the tandem leaves you feeling that the children involved are going to be just fine.

That concludes my list, and a HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY TO ALL YOU MOMS OUT THERE!

Writer MCDave can also be found at Movie Reviews By Dave