Movie Reviews

The Irishman

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  • Title: The Irishman
  • IMDb: link

The Irishman movie reviewDirector Martin Scorsese assembles several familiar faces in examining the life of Frank “The Irishman” Sheeran (Robert De Niro). While the structure of the film is a tad odd, flashbacks within flashbacks, the story (adapted from Charles Brandt’s book) slowly peels the onion of Sheeran’s life and his close connection to both Russell Bufalino (Joe Pesci) and Jimmy Hoffa (Al Pacino).

Despite it’s 209-minute running time, there’s little I would cut from Steven Zaillian‘s screenplay, although an argument could be made for trimming the outer layer of the film focused on Sheeran’s elderly years. However, even that plays into the film’s larger narrative about what kind a man the Irishman was and the toll of living the life he did took both on himself and his family.

While there some minor issues (such as De Niro not exactly moving like a young man in the earliest flashbacks), the story Scorsese weaves is a fascinating one that includes some pleasant surprises along the way (such as casting Pesci against type as the level-headed negotiator of the group).

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Scandalous

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  • Title: Scandalous: The True Story of the National Enquirer
  • IMDb: link

Scandalous movie reviewScandalous: The True Story of the National Enquirer examines the creation of and the highs and lows of the National Enquirer over the years starting with the paper’s purchase and relaunch under owner Generoso Pope Jr. in 1952. It’s a fascinating look at the paper’s turn from gore to celebrity-based stories to its more recent entry to politics and how it played a role in public perception of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s run for Governor of California to Donald Trump’s presidential bid in 2016 (the later being something many are still quite conflicted about).

The documentary contains interviews with several former editors and reporters for the paper who all seem to have a mix of pride and shame for their association with the magazine. Neither they nor the documentary shies away from the stories of the paper pushing limits of good taste and legality in exploring news stories. The film also includes anecdotes of the magazine extorting subjects of their exposées and making deals shelf stories for a profitable ongoing relationship (such as ignoring several reports of Bill Cosby and Bob Hope’s behavior towards women in favor of puff pieces with the celebrities).

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Ford v Ferrari

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  • Title: Ford v Ferrari
  • IMDb: link

Ford v Ferrari movie review

While I’m not much of a fan of racing, I do love a good racing movie. Based on true events, Ford v Ferrari centers around the friendship of a pair of outcasts who went to work for Henry Ford II (Tracy Letts). Looking to liven-up his brand, and after being embarrassed by failing to buy Ferrari, Ford greenlit plans to develop a Ford racing car capable of beating the dominant Ferrari racing team at the 24 Hours of Le Mans (an event which Ferrari had won four out of the previous five years).

Built on the backs of performances by Matt Damon as former racer turned car designer Carroll Shelby and Christian Bale as race car driver and mechanic Ken Miles, Ford v Ferrari is a little different than many racing films as the main characters aren’t rivals but friends (who, admittedly, occasionally attack each other in public). Despite their disagreements and spats, the screenplay works by selling the audience fairly early on how similar the two men were in their love of cars and racing. Although it relies on a familiar formula, Ford v Ferrari does offer some unpredictable moments, including an ending those unfamiliar with the story may be surprised by.

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Midway

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  • Title: Midway
  • IMDb: link

Midway movie reviewRoland Emmerich turns his attention from disaster flicks in favor of one of the worst war films in recent memory. Midway makes Pearl Harbor look good. Theoretically, Midway is about decisive WWII naval battle that turned the tide in the Pacific. In reality, only about half the film deals with the battle as it struggles in fits and starts while failing at offering a broader context leading into the Battle of Midway.

Wes Tooke‘s script is over-brimming with forgettable characters, bad dialogue, and dramatic interludes where history seems to all but stop. The result is a bland film filled with unremarkable actors giving unremarkable performances during what we’re told, but not shown, is an important historical event (that is never really properly put in context).

Rather than offer a central character, the story moves around showcasing various people involved in war effort including analyst Edwin Layton (Patrick Wilson) and maverick fighter pilot Dick Best (Ed Skrein) along with a dozen others who come and go over the course of the film so frequently you forget they were a part of the story (poor Aaron Eckhart).

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Motherless Brooklyn

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  • Title: Motherless Brooklyn
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Motherless Brooklyn movie reviewWith Motherless Brooklyn, Edward Norton stars, directs, and adapted the novel of the same name. It’s in his choices, and likely his performance, where you will decide what you think of the film. Moving the events back in time allows the story to be reframed as a noir fitting our detective’s narration and the style of a gumshoe tale.

Motherless Brooklyn is shown from the perspective of private detective Lionel Essrog (Norton). Despite being burdened with tics he cannot control, Lionel is the star of Frank Minna’s (Bruce Willis) P.I. business (and car service). But when something goes wrong on a case it falls to Lionel to step-up and unravel a web of criminal conspiracy and murder.

If you can accept Norton’s showcasing Lionel’s tics the film will likely work for you, as it did for me. The character is fascinating and we do see how his nature helps him in other aspects of his job, while admittedly leading to some problems dealing with people. Norton builds on his performance and the strengths of a novel to create a smart and entertaining film (even if it isn’t quite as clever as it thinks it is).

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