Jeffrey Meyers
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Jeffrey reviewed...
Iron Man 3 (2013)
Fresh off the enormous success of Avengers, Iron Man 3 had a lot to… More
Fresh off the enormous success of Avengers, Iron Man 3 had a lot to live up to. The result is a film that is more a direct sequel to Avengers than Iron Man 2, done with good charm, strong action scenes, and a continual humor undertone. It never really defies the conventions of blockbusters, but delivers on all the elements one would want to make a truly enjoyable summer action movie.
One of the strongest elements of Iron Man 3 are the interesting set pieces we see, with the action being done in a very effective manner. The dynamics of the suit themselves are done very well, with truly spectacular action scenes befitting of any good summer blockbuster, with solid integration into the story itself.
The performances are also predominately strong, with Robert Downy Jr. bringing his characteristic sarcastic charm, bringing weight to every scene. This is met well with Ben Kingsley, who brings a lot of comic relief to the role. The problem, however, is that we don't see the sort of character-arc and development that we've seen in other Marvel movies, with Downey never seeming to evolve to quite the extent we would expect. Many of the supporting characters, notably Don Cheadle and Gwneth Paltrow, don't have much new to bring to the table, often feeling very secondary to the story.
The script and plot of the film are a mixed bag. The twist of the film is done well, and is especially refreshing. I also loved how the opening scenes were executed, hinting at later developments, but being well integrated with the entire film. The plot as its unveiled, however, is familiar. The struggle never feels as big as one would think necessary for a film like this, with the exact details of the scheme never making a lot of sense, never being fully explained. There's interesting elements, but a lack of complete cohesion. That said, the film never loses its sense of humor, and has a number of dramatic and humorous recalls to the previous films (namely Avengers), and thus works well within the overall series, if it doesn't necessarily distinguish itself.
Overall the film is consistently fun, which is what the franchise has always been good at delivering. Plot deficiencies aside, there's plenty of humor, action, and good acting to keep you engaged.
4/5 Stars
1 day ago via Flixster
Jeffrey reviewed...
The Paperboy (2012)
Decadent, incoherent, slowly paced, and simply bizarre, Paperboy is a… More
Decadent, incoherent, slowly paced, and simply bizarre, Paperboy is a disaster of a film. Part pulp, neo noir, melodrama, and camp, the film is a weird mix. Throw in a narration and a supporting role by Macy Gray, and you have a recipe for a really bad film.
The Paperboy does have a few things going for it. For one, the performances seem to be tonally consistent, and are 'good' from the standpoint that they are all appropriately melodramatic, and work well within the context of the film. Everyone is crazy, compulsive, intense, and illogical. Matthew McConaughehey, Zac Efron, Nicole Kidman, none of them phoned it in. The cinematography also looks good, and the film generally does a good job of having an atmospheric tone.
The trouble comes from the script and direction of the film. While set-up initially well, the film becomes a meandering mess close to the halfway mark. The supposed 'plot', the murder of a sheriff, is seemingly tossed aside for interchangeable scene after interchangeable scene of weirdness and sexual perversion, and for no apparent purpose or reason. None of it makes any sense. It's as if the entire film is just an excuse for bizarreness for the sake of camp. Yet, the film never seems to want to completely veer in to camp, taking itself very seriously. The problem is, of course, there's really nothing of substance to make one take it seriously.
Because of the disjointed nature of the film, and the weak direction, Paperboy feels relentlessly endless, even at its standard running time. There's no sense of purpose to anything being put on screen, everyone's talents feel wasted in what ends up feeling like an X rated made-for-tv movie, with the target audience of perverts and people of no discerning taste.
A mess.
1.5/5 Stars
2 days ago via Flixster
Jeffrey reviewed...
Hombre (1967)
The western genre embodies many different sorts of films, from typical… More
The western genre embodies many different sorts of films, from typical shoot 'em up adventures, to more nuanced films that seek to convey commentary within the western framework. Hombre is a fantastic example of the later, representing a late 60s western that features Paul Newman as a Native American. The film is an intelligent western, concerned with characters, dialogue, themes, and thus is uniquely situated within the genre, having an amount of ambiguity that is very uncommon for that time, and puts most modern movies to shame.
Hombre features excellent performances from all around. The notable one is of course Newman. Though the blue-eyed Newman lacks the physical characteristics for an Indian, his performance more than makes up for that. The way he embodies his character harkens back to early Eastwood westerns, with a strong presence, conveying a lot even in silence. There is really not a weak link to be had in the supporting cast, with Diane Cilento having some terrific work as an outspoken and headstrong frontier woman.
What I appreciated most about the film was the script. The dialogue was simply tremendous, with exchanges that were intelligent and felt real. The characterizations were strong and multi-dimensional, far surpassing many of the clichéd characters we are often treated to.
Though the film's methodical pace and concern with characters, as opposed to action, may turn some off it's really a grade A western, and a must see for any fan of the genre.
4.5/5 Stars
2 days ago via Flixster
Jeffrey reviewed...
Holy Rollers (2010)
In what essentially amounts to a film version of a good Locked Up… More
In what essentially amounts to a film version of a good Locked Up Abroad episode, Holly Rollers tells the story of young Hasidic Jews who were recruited to smuggle ecstasy from Europe to the United States. Specifically, the film looks at the inculcation of Jesse Eisenberg's character to this new lifestyle.
The story that Holy Rollers seeks to tell is a familiar one, but one that should translate well to film. The film does a good job at the start, establishing the rigid belief system and antiquated social structure of Eisenberg's background. His introduction to the world is believable, but the film soon seems to lose its sense of build up and pace. Whereas it set up the Jewish community so well, Essenberg's rise in the drug world seems rushed, with the character arcs of those surrounding him never being fully fleshed out. It's as if the film stopped trying to distinguish itself about 1/3 of the way through, and instead opted for auto pilot.
The performances in the film are all good, with Eisenberg having an especially interesting depiction of his character, conservative, awkward, shy, but yet curious and strangely competent. The problem, however, is that many of the supporting roles never fully developed, being especially pronounced with Justin Bartha's character. The relationship between Eisenberg and Ari Gaynor is also not handled especially well.
Despite the weaknesses, Holy Rollers remains entertaining. It has most of the hallmarks of an effective drama, though it never stops to catch itself and reignite its originality.
3/5 Stars
2 days ago via Flixster
