Mark Wahlberg, a notable devout and practicing Catholic, considers Father Stu a bona fide “passion project.” The soon-to-be 51-year-old actor learned about the life of Father Stuart Long from two priests over lunch in 2016 and co-financed the film to existence. Sometimes when actors put their money where their mouth is and stake their reputation on a story they truly believe in, good things happen. This is one of those good things.
Read MoreIt should come as no surprise to anyone who has followed the career path of Mel Gibson, either in front or behind the camera, that "Hacksaw Ridge" rings up the descriptor of "excessive" more than any film to date this year. "Hacksaw Ridge" is a war film of excessive violence operatically woven into a biopic screen story of excessive hero worship based on a true story of World War II Congressional Medal of Honor winner Desmond Doss. Both excesses are laid on very thick. Only half of one of them are worth it.
Read More”Blood Father” resurrects the cagey and fierce Mel Gibson. Languishing on an invisible black list, the “Braveheart” Oscar winner is living in a new age demographic and hoping to crack back into the larger spotlight. Mel might not be able to leap through dozens of stunt sequences anymore, but the man has lost none of his psychological vigor or resolve. His brand of crazy still works in this throwback actioner.
Read MoreSince Hollywood has become a hit-generating factory more than a garden of artistry and truth, a historical drama film like “Free State of Jones” only has to raise its barometer to a midpoint of “good enough.” That is because there is nearly unwinnable tug-of-war of disservice between history lessons and entertainment value, especially when your poster reads “based on a true story.” Veer away from the facts too far with dramatic license and the film becomes disingenuous. Veer too close to history without cinematic flashiness and no one will pay to see it. “Free State of Jones” falls somewhere in the middle of that mud pit.
Read MoreI can’t get away with the same review re-write gag for “The Expendables 3” that I did for “The Expendables 2.” I know it’s a stretch to say this, but Stallone went back to the drawing board, even if it’s an Etch-A-Sketch, to actually formulate *GASP* the semblance of an actual plot. It’s not a pretty one, but the third film, for the most part, departs from the hearty rerun missions of the first two films.
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