Overall, a pretty good movie weekend for us.
Saw
Welcome to the Punch, a British cops vs bad guys movie with James McAvoy & David Morrissey (smaller role for the latter, sadly), two of my favorite actors. I must say, there were a few details to the plot which I didn't understand... I read in a synopsis afterwards that others felt the same, but I can't elaborate as it would reveal too much of the story. In any event, acting was grand, cinematography was excellent, high paced, fast action, clean crisp environmental shots & filmed in that artsy, blue hue I just like. Different story, which is always nice to see.
4* out of 5
Also, saw
Dark Skies, with Keri Russell & Josh Hamilton (no idea who they are, but they were quite good in their roles), which was surprisingly excellent... surprising, mainly as it gave little hope with the dodgy, uninteresting trailer. It began as what I thought would be a supernatural, ghost-type flick, then evolved into something else entirely. I can't say how it evolved, or it reveals the twist. It was edited well so it didn't drag... maybe edited a little to well as it did skip across a few points or characters rather quickly, but there's only so much to be squeezed into 90-min. Overall, a very solid, scary story. (Keep in mind I'm afraid of my own shadow
so the fear factor might not come into play as much with others).
4.5* out of 5
The last was a clunker for me, but the SO said it was good.
The Company You Keep with Robert Redford & Shia LaBeouf. Shia's acting was very good. He sinks his teeth into a role & tears it up. Redford has that understated quality I've noticed a number of older actors develop, I guess a sense of entitlement to do as they please or sleepwalk through a role due to the many contributions they feel they've gifted Tinseltown over their careers. I'd love to have a job in which I'm overpaid just to show up. To me, he's always been a little too good-boy bland (not the edgy Steve McQueen or Pacino type), so maybe I don't appreciate the subtlety of his quiet performances, particularly in recent decades.
The plot was implausible. I didn't buy the story for a second & as it went on, I bought it even less. The actions of the other characters weren't believable. At least four times I said out loud in a darkened theatre to the SO, 'Oh, my gosh I hate this movie!'. Yep, I'm that girl... the one who talks to the screen.
He gives it 4* out of 5, which I told him proves he should not be allowed to ever critique film again. I think, because he looks similar to a younger Redford, he can't pan him.
I give it
0* out of 5, then -1* for ancient Susan Sarandon & Julie Christie's awful characters. Absolutely hated this film.
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