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Geekscape Movie Reviews: ‘Kin’

by AnalogJonesTOFDecember 21, 2018

This Friday night I rented Kin – get ready for a dark, serious, science fiction film that misfires!

Directors: Jonathan and Josh Baker
Starring: Myles Truitt, Jack Reynor, Zoë Kravitz, and James Franco
Appearances by: Dennis Quaid, Carrie Coon, and Michael B. Jordan
Theater Release Date: August 31, 2018
Runtime: 1 hour 42 minutes
Rated: PG-13

Character Rundown
Myles Truitt plays Elijah Solinski, a young, adopted kid living in Detroit, and is our main protagonist.
Jack Reynor plays Jimmy Solinski, Eli’s brother who gets out of jail and plays our ever popular antihero.
Dennis Quaid plays Hal Solinski, a tough love blue-collar father and is a widower.
Zoë Kravitz plays Milly, a stripper that runs off with Elijah and Jimmy on their adventure.
James Franco plays Taylor Balik and is our main antagonist, a crime lord that supplies protection in prison.
Carrie Coon plays Morgan Hunter, an FBI agent that gets involved in a firefight at a police station.
Michael B. Jordan plays a “Cleaner.”

Quick Story Breakdown
While scrapping copper one day to sell, Eli finds a pair of futurist soldiers dead from a battle. Eli takes one of the soldier’s guns and brings it home. Jimmy, Eli’s brother, gets out of jail and needs a place to crash while he gets on his feet. Hal, Jimmy and Eli’s father, doesn’t get along with Jimmy. Hal warns Eli to watch himself around Jimmy after Eli gets kicked out of school for fighting.

While Jimmy was in prison, he needed protection and asked Taylor Balik, a local crime lord, to keep him alive while behind bars. Now, Jimmy owes $60,000 to the Balik brothers. Hal catches Jimmy and the Balik brothers trying to steal the cash out of Hal’s work safe. The robbery goes wrong, Jimmy grabs the money and runs off with Eli in Hal’s truck which leads to Taylor Balik chasing him the rest of the movie until the finale, a firefight in a police station.

Pros
The poster is badass! I’m an old video store kid, which means most of my movies are picked from the marketing. This film nailed the eye candy.

The gun that Eli finds is a dope weapon and does some severe damage. A fresh story point is that only Eli can use the gun, and its three destructive settings. Truthfully, the soldiers or cleaners look altogether is fun.

Speaking of Eli, Myles Truitt does an excellent job of secondary action. He delivers his lines well but always goes further to deepen his character with these thoughts behind his eyes and facial gestures. I hope to see Myles Truitt more in the future.

James Franco’s portrayal of the nasty and strange Taylor Balik is lovely to watch. I was more a fan of Taylor than Jimmy, which leads me into my cons.

Cons
Jimmy is a very unlikeable character. I’m not knocking Jack Reynor’s acting, he’s doing a solid job. Jimmy, on the other hand, keeps putting his brother Eli in terrible situations. The story tries to force you to like Eli and Jimmy with some brotherly mischief on this crazy road trip/chase. It’s not working, and you will find yourself cheering for Jimmy to leave Eli out of his stupid plan.

Zoë Kravitz and Carrie Coon are wasted in their roles. Kravitz plays a stripper that takes a liking to Jimmy and Eli, but I can’t tell why. Coon’s FBI agent does next to nothing. I’m wondering if her role was cut down for time.

Final Thoughts
I had a lot of hope Kin (2018) would be a quiet gem ever since I saw the trailer and the short film “Bag Man” from 2014 that Jonathan and Josh Baker did, which lead to this movie. Sadly, Kin is an action sci-fi that misses the mark and seems to be a prequel to a much better film. I know this is the Baker brothers debut film and I think there is enough here to build on. Hopefully, they get another shot and Hollywood doesn’t bury them for one failure.

Final Grade: C-

Thanks for reading, and check out our podcast Analog Jones and the Temple of Film. We are a VHS Podcast that breaks down the box art, trailers and behind the scenes.

– Stephen M. Bay

Geekscape Movie Reviews: Black Panther

by MCDaveFebruary 18, 2018

Ryan Coogler’s career has been off to an enviable start ever since his 2013 debut feature Fruitvale Station, where he told the true story of a 22 year-old unarmed African American named Oscar Grant who was wrongly killed by a police officer on New Year’s Eve 2008. Coogler teamed with a young, budding talent named Michael B.Jordan, and the two have never parted ways ever since. Coogler went on to direct the well-received Creed, also starring Michael B. Jordan, and now they both cross paths again in the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s 18th installment, Black Panther.

Many centuries ago a meteor containing Vibranium, one of the universe’s strongest metals, crashed into the continent of Africa. Since then the metal has been used by the people of Wakanda to develop weapons far beyond the capabilities of any first-world countries on Earth, forcing Wakanda to hide itself from the rest of the world. The civilization’s new ruler, T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman), also known as Black Panther, is challenged for his throne by a ruthless entity (Michael B. Jordan) who threatens the harmonious and secretive lifestyle of the Wakandi people.

In what has become a regular occurrence among the critics, Ryan Coogler’s Black Panther was been immediately labeled as another whopping success for the MCU. And while this latest entry into the expansive universe is far different from any of its predecessors, both in style and structure, this refreshing and unfamiliar journey breeds its own host of shortcomings. Boasting a central theme of carving out your own legacy, T’Challa becomes tasked with valiantly claiming the throne of Wakanda immediately following his father’s death. But as doubt creeps into his own mind as to whether or not he’s capable of leading with the same effectiveness as the previous king, T’Challa’s once undisputed rise to power quickly becomes challenged by a powerful outsider. This Lion King-esque tale aptly develops its central character well, transforming him from a skeptical “prince” into a confident king, however the film’s many other complementary elements aren’t nearly as effective. T’Challa’s tip-toeing romance with Nakia (Lupita Nyong’o) and his instantaneous falling out of favor with W’Kabi (Get Out‘s Daniel Kaluuya) are riddled with hokiness and discontent. Moreover, CIA Agent Ross (Martin Freeman) proves a rather meaningless inclusion while the film’s running-time continues to pile on in this thrill-less excursion. And where the MCU has unmistakably built a cinematic powerhouse through mind-numbing action sequences and rapid-fire humor, Black Panther remains short on laughs and bogged down by distractingly-bad CGI. Finally, to director Ryan Coogler’s credit, he conjures up a memorable villain alongside his collaborative staple Michael B. Jordan, one who succeeds on the shoulders of a deep-rooted complexity that the story crafts extremely well. Yet, despite an admirable ability at building meaningful lead characters, Black Panther stands as a mawkish marathon of a journey that fails to entertain as well as it ultimately needs to.

Grade: 3 /5

For other reviews, trailers and movie lists visit MCDAVE’s host site

Dig Into ‘Creed’ With A New Featurette!

by Derek KraneveldtOctober 20, 2015

Briefly: Creed looks awesome. That was pretty clear from the very first trailer.

Today, Warner Bros. debuted a brand new featurette that takes us inside the film, and also highlights just how freaking emotional it is.

Michael B. Jordan looks looks to have a pretty unbelievable performance as Adonis Johnson, and (based on the marketing) it looks like this one may be quality enough to make us forget that he was in Fantastic Four (eh, maybe not).

Not sure what Creed’s about? here’s the heavy synopsis.

Adonis Johnson (Jordan) never knew his famous father, world heavyweight champion Apollo Creed, who died before he was born. Still, there’s no denying that boxing is in his blood, so Adonis heads to Philadelphia, the site of Apollo Creed’s legendary match with a tough upstart named Rocky Balboa.

Once in the City of Brotherly Love, Adonis tracks Rocky (Stallone) down and asks him to be his trainer. Despite his insistence that he is out of the fight game for good, Rocky sees in Adonis the strength and determination he had known in Apollo—the fierce rival who became his closest friend. Agreeing to take him on, Rocky trains the young fighter, even as the former champ is battling an opponent more deadly than any he faced in the ring.

With Rocky in his corner, it isn’t long before Adonis gets his own shot at the title…but can he develop not only the drive but also the heart of a true fighter, in time to get into the ring?

Take a look at the featurette below, and let us know if you’re looking forward to Creed! Creed his theatres on November 25th!

The New Trailer For ‘Creed’ Is Here!

by Derek KraneveldtSeptember 14, 2015

I’m so freaking excited for Creed.

I’m a big Rocky fan, and loved Rocky Balboa back in 2007, so putting the fantastic Michael B. Jordan in the role of Apollo Creed’s son, and having Rocky himself train the kid? Perfect.

It sounds pretty heavy, but here’s the synopsis:

Drama. Adonis Johnson (Michael B. Jordan) never knew his famous father, world heavyweight champion Apollo Creed, who died before he was born. Still, there’s no denying that boxing is in his blood, so Adonis heads to Philadelphia, the site of Apollo Creed’s legendary match with a tough upstart named Rocky Balboa. Once in the City of Brotherly Love, Adonis tracks Rocky (Sylvester Stallone) down and asks him to be his trainer. Despite his insistence that he is out of the fight game for good, Rocky sees in Adonis the strength and determination he had known in Apollo—the fierce rival who became his closest friend. Agreeing to take him on, Rocky trains the young fighter, even as the former champ is battling an opponent more deadly than any he faced in the ring. With Rocky in his corner, it isn’t long before Adonis gets his own shot at the title…but can he develop not only the drive but also the heart of a true fighter, in time to get into the ring?

Take a look at the trailer below, and let us know what you think! Creed hits theatres on November 25th!

Watch Conan Try To Figure Out Why ‘Fantastic Four’ Flopped

by Derek KraneveldtAugust 12, 2015

Briefly: Everyone on planet Earth already knows that Fox’s newly released Fantastic Four reboot is dismal (both in quality, and its box office performance).

Conan found it fairly surprising that the movie didn’t do better. To make viewers understand where he was coming from, he showed off a couple of new clips from the film, showcasing the movie’s incredible special effects, as well as the actors fantastic emotional range.

It’s a great watch, and might just help change your tune on Fantastic Four.

Take a look at the video below, and let us know what you thought of the film! If you’re looking for more Fantastic Four discussion, you should probably check out this week’s episode of Geekscape.

For Some Reason, Fox Is Still ‘Committed’ To ‘Fantastic Four’s Characters

by Derek KraneveldtAugust 10, 2015

Briefly: Well this is interesting.

Fox’s new Fantastic Four film has received nothing but hate since it was announced. Now that the film has finally released, it appears as though all of the negativity (or at least most of it) was warranted (listen to our thoughts on the film via the newest episode of Geekscape), and fans, moviegoers, and keyboard cowboys everywhere have already decided that this new films abhorrent reception and box office performance means that the rights are definitely headed back to Marvel.

Well, apparently not.

The studios chief of domestic distribution, Chris Aronson said the following to THR earlier today regarding the film’s performance, as well as the franchise’ future:

While we’re disappointed, we remain committed to these characters and we have a lot to look forward to in our Marvel universe.

Our Marvel universe. Sure sounds like they’re not ready to give up the ghost just yet, doesn’t it? Constantin Film also has until 2023 to release another Fantastic Four film before rights would revert back to Marvel, so I’m sure we’ll be seeing something from the IP in the coming years.

Have you seen Fantastic Four yet? What did you think? What do you hope happens to the franchise next? Sound out below!

New ‘Fantastic Four’ Clips Introduce, Well, The Fantastic Four!

by Derek KraneveldtJuly 22, 2015

Briefly: It’s almost time for Fantastic Four! Sure, we still don’t know if it’ll be better or worse than the abysmal film from 2005 (my guess, much better), but I’m more interested in whether or not director Josh Trank can follow up 2012’s Chronicle with, well, something equally fantastic.

Today, Fox debuted four new clips for the film that introduce us to our heroes. Take a look below!

https://youtu.be/DCGrBiWJa8o?list=PLYNW0PN4_jrqPqQYEUUPsIdtUvORLCVll

https://youtu.be/un8p9GiEYCM?list=PLYNW0PN4_jrqPqQYEUUPsIdtUvORLCVll

https://youtu.be/Zrjehh2Za2k

The clips each look to have a few seconds of new footage, and though the film has been getting a ton of internet hate (since long before we saw any footage), I think it looks pretty cool.

Are you looking forward to the film? Share your thoughts below! Fantastic Four opens on August 7th!

FANTASTIC FOUR, a contemporary re-imagining of Marvel’s original and longest-running superhero team, centers on four young outsiders who teleport to an alternate and dangerous universe, which alters their physical form in shocking ways. Their lives irrevocably upended, the team must learn to harness their daunting new abilities and work together to save Earth from a former friend turned enemy.

Watch The Final Trailer For ‘Fantastic Four’!

by BigyanksJuly 14, 2015

20th Century Fox has released the last trailer for their upcoming film, Fantastic Four, due out on August 7, 2015.

The last trailer gives us a couple of new scenes including a clip of just how smart Reed Richards was as a kid when his experiment blacks out his whole neighborhood. What a rascal.

The films stars Miles Teller as Reed Richards, Michael B. Jordan as Johnny Storm, Kate Mara as Sue Storm, Jamie Bell as ol’ blue eyes The Thing , and Toby Kebbell as Doctor Doom.

Are you looking forward to the film? What did you think of this final trailer? Sound out below!

Watch The First Trailer For ‘Creed’!

by BigyanksJune 30, 2015

The official trailer for ‘Creed’ is finally here released! The film stars Michael B. Jordan as Adonis Johnson, the son of Apollo Creed (who died before he was born). With the help of his father’s old rival, Rocky Balboa, he will try to make his way to a title shot.

I’m really digging this trailer a lot. It really showcases Michael B. Jordan and leaves Sly as an ancillary role as his trainer. Also lets hope history doesn’t repeat itself, last time Rocky trained a boxer it ended in a street fight with Tommy Morri err… I mean Tommy Gunn!

Take a look at the trailer below, and let us know what you think!

Check Out Four New Stills From Josh Trank’s ‘Fantastic Four’!

by Derek KraneveldtMarch 12, 2015

Briefly: Following the film’s first teaser trailer from all the way back in January, TotalFilm has just debuted four new stills from Josh Trank’s Fantastic Four.

It’s been a long road for the controversial film, but I have to say that I’m looking forward to seeing Trank’s vision for the team. I was a big fan of Chronicle, so it’ll be great to see if he has another gem in him. In any case, this looks nothing like the previous Fantastic Four films, which can only be a good thing (and it really couldn’t be worse, could it?)

Take a look at the stills below, and let us know if you’re looking forward to the film. Fantastic Four hits theatres on August 7th.

FANTASTIC FOUR, a contemporary re-imagining of Marvel’s original and longest-running superhero team, centers on four young outsiders who teleport to an alternate and dangerous universe, which alters their physical form in shocking ways. Their lives irrevocably upended, the team must learn to harness their daunting new abilities and work together to save Earth from a former friend turned enemy.

Source: TotalFilm

The Teaser Trailer For ‘Fantastic Four’ Is Finally Here!

by Derek KraneveldtJanuary 27, 2015

Briefly: The long awaited teaser trailer for the controversial and heavily bashed Fantastic Four reboot is finally here… and we (or I , at least) actually kind of dig it (more than that Ant-Man trailer anyways).

The trailer shows our heroes in various facets of life before they become, well, fantastic, and then science happens, things go wrong, and superpowers are gained. It all looks very dark and ominous (which didn’t work for The Amazing Spider-Man, but definitely looks as though it could work here), and I really can’t wait to see more.

I also absolutely loved Josh Trank’s previous film, Chronicle, so this one gets points for having him involved. In any case, this looks nothing like the previous Fantastic Four films, which can only be a good thing (and it really couldn’t be worse, could it?)

Take a look at the trailer below, and let us know what you think! Fantastic Four hits theatres on August 7th!

They’ve also released some interesting commentary along with the trailer:

FANTASTIC FOUR, a contemporary re-imagining of Marvel’s original and longest-running superhero team, centers on four young outsiders who teleport to an alternate and dangerous universe, which alters their physical form in shocking ways. Their lives irrevocably upended, the team must learn to harness their daunting new abilities and work together to save Earth from a former friend turned enemy.

Toby Kebbell In Talks For ‘Fantastic Four’s Doctor Doom

by Derek KraneveldtApril 2, 2014

Briefly: The upcoming Fantastic Four reboot’s controversial cast was revealed back in February, announcing our new heroes, but leaving out our new villain (both in character and actor).

According to Variety, The East and Dawn of the Planet of the Apes star Toby Kebbell is in negotiations to play Doctor Doom in the upcoming film. I’m sure that most of us had guessed that Doctor Doom would be the film’s antagonist, and… it looks like we were right and that Fox isn’t taking any more chances with the film.

We’ll be sure to let you know when it’s official, and to fill you in on any more Fantastic Four news as it surfaces.

Are you looking forward to the film? Why or why not? Sound out below!

The ‘Fantastic Four’ Reboot Cast Has Been Revealed!

by Derek KraneveldtFebruary 19, 2014

Briefly: With less that a year and a half until the film is scheduled to hit theatres, the cast of Josh Trank’s Fantastic Four reboot has reportedly been revealed.

According to Variety, final deals are still being completed (and one actor hasn’t received one yet), but if everything goes according to plan, the new Fantastic Four will consist of:

Michael B. Jordan as the Human Torch.

Kate Mara as the Invisible Woman.

Jamie Bell as Ben Grimm.

Miles Teller as Mr. Fantastic.

Variety also states that the reboot will be based on the Ultimate Fantastic Four series. Next up, who do you want to play the villain, and who do you want that villain to be? Sound out below!

Fantastic Four hits theatres on June 19th, 2015!

Geekscape Movie Reviews: Fruitvale Station

by MCDaveJuly 26, 2013

Opportunity is something you have to embrace in life, just ask the young up-and-coming writer/director Ryan Coogler. The 27 year old bay area born filmmaker found a story he was passionate about and helped turn Fruitvale Station into the 2013 Sundance Film Festival Grand Jury Prize Winner for a Dramatic. Having grown up around the same time and on the same streets as his movie’s protagonist, the saddening tale surrounding Oscar Grant felt like the right story for Coogler to tell. He used a huge backing by producer and Academy Award Winner Forest Whitaker in order to assemble an unfathomable collection of actors and actresses including The Wire‘s Michael B. Jordan and The Help‘s Best Supporting Actress Winner, Octavia Spencer. And as they say, “the rest is history”.

Fruitvale Station follows a troubled young man named Oscar Grant (played by Jordan) as he spends his New Year’s Eve determined to correct his path. Desperate to provide stability for his 4 year old daughter and his girlfriend Sophina, Oscar makes a heartfelt resolution to walk the straight and narrow. But as the day winds down and Oscar travels to San Francisco with Sophina and other friends to watch the fireworks, his past ultimately catches up with him on this fateful evening at the Fruitvale Station terminal.

While writer and director Ryan Coogler’s Fruitvale Station is a glowing example of dramatic filmmaking, he leaves himself completely vulnerable by addressing such a widely controversial story. However, disregarding the often-debated facts surrounding the tragic events of New Year’s Eve at the terminal, Coogler opens our eyes to a different, more personal, story. With the aid of an unquestionable standout performance from Michael B. Jordan, Coogler brings his own version of Oscar Grant’s story to life. Showing us a previously incarcerated young man who falls victim to the streets, where it’s always easier to say yes to things like selling drugs than it is to walk away from the game. But not on this day, not for Oscar. Although the loving father knows how difficult of a struggle it can be to change, it has to start somewhere. Michael B. Jordan’s convincing turn helps create a gentle and warm main character, one that is clearly flawed but easy to connect with. Therefore, Fruitvale Station becomes a well-made and effective dramatic effort.

Despite the film’s knack for dramatic flair, it becomes impossible to ignore the contextual discrepancies and highly controversial facts surrounding the real-life story of Oscar Grant. While Coogler hopes to appear somewhat neutral regarding the facts of the evening and clearly portrays Oscar as an imperfect man, by approaching the film through the clean-slate perspective in which he does, Fruitvale Station can’t help but become an agenda-driven piece. I don’t wish to harp on that notion or even debate the black & white labeling that comes hand in hand with a controversial topic such as this. Instead, let me also point out that Fruitvale Station is a drawn-out and slow burning film. Although the director admittedly uses this tactic in juxtaposition to the fast-paced third act that flies by without a chance to really process the moment, the slow progressing opening and mid-section of the movie make for an overall dragging experience.

The major motion picture debut from Ryan Coogler, Fruitvale Station, is an undoubtedly flawed film that pushes through its faults and wins the audience over with a talented cast, a heartwarming story and superb direction. It’s clearly an imposing piece that’s meant to make you feel a certain way, but at the end of the day, Coogler was able to pull me into the story. If you enjoy a well-made character-driven film, then you should take a chance on this year’s Sundance Film Festival Winner, Fruitvale Station.

GRADE: 3.5/5

You can find plenty of other work from MCDAVE at Movie Reviews By Dave

Michael B. Jordan Could Be Up For The Human Torch Role In Josh Trank’s ‘Fantastic Four’

by Shawn MaddenMay 2, 2013

Director Josh Trank may be looking re-unite with Chronicle star Michael B. Jordan for his upcoming Fantastic Four reboot. Website The Wrap reports that the actor may be in talks to play the role of Johnny Storm aka The Human Torch in the film. While 20th Century Fox has declined to comment on this news, “numerous individuals” close to the production have reportedly told the site that the actor has had multiple meetings with the studio and has a good relationship with the director from their work on Chronicle.

Of course there’s going to be an issue with fans regarding the actors skin color, but wouldn’t you rather have talent in a role rather than worry about the character being “white in the comics”? This isn’t official casting news and is most likely just an option that Fox are considering at the moment but Jordan is actually an excellent actor that could bring an fresh and interesting new spin on the character. Production is set to begin on the film in a few months, so we should expect some official casting news to get revealed very soon.

Fantastic Four is set to hit theaters March 5th, 2015

Source: The Wrap