Breaking Away does nothing for me

Obviously, life was much different in 1979 when Breaking Away was filmed because I was shocked to learn it won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay and was nominated for Best Picture.  Even more shocking was that it beat out, Manhattan and All that Jazz. I remember watching it as a kid and not being impressed. Today, it still doesn’t do much for me. The lack of self-worth by the teens is over the top, the Italians cheating was ridiculous, the ambiguous relationship between Dennis Christopher and Robyn Douglass was frustrating, and the prejudice against non-American life is so heavy-handed that you want to change the channel every time Paul Dooley opens his mouth.  However, this film does pave the way for the onslaught of 1980s teen films about social and class differences, but the formula sport story and the performances do not hold up over the test of time.

WORD COUNT: 150

Chuck’s Grade: C

Adam’s Grade: N/A

Rush is exhilarating from start to finish

Director Ron Howard is back in the driver seat with both hands on the steering will his adrenaline fueled film, Rush. Based on the true story of the Formula 1 racing rivalry between English playboy James Hunt (Chris Hemsworth) and Austrian professional Niki Lauda (Daniel Bruhl). The film reveals their contrasting personalities and styles, as well as their obsession for becoming world champions.

Howard teams up with writer Peter Morgan (Frost/Nixon) who is becoming a master at creating dynamic relationships between opposing character rivals. It truly is the driving force that gets everything going.

Howard put together the perfect vehicle this time. A thrilling score by Hans Zimmers and expert camerawork by Anthony Dod Mantle. Equally important is Hemsworth’s acting. He is maturing into something much more than eye candy and muscles. However, Bruhl’s steals the checker flag and finishes off with a signature performance. Rush is full of life, color, risk and it is exhilarating from start to finish.

WORD COUNT: 159

Adam’s Grade: A-

Chuck’s Grade: N/A

Chasing Mavericks rides a positive wave

Rarely does a Hollywood “Based on a True Story” movie get it right, but the film about surf legends Jay Moriarity (Jonny Weston) and Frosty Hesson (Gerard Butler) rides the perfect wave into people’s hearts. It does not matter if you have never surfed or have never heard of them. Chasing Mavericks is more than your average surfer movie. It is a story filled with meaningful relationships that support a young man’s quest to achieve the improbable. Moriarity looks to Hesson as a father figure and dedicates himself to a strict regimen that most kids his age would give up after the first day. His passion for surfing and his love for his mother (Elisabeth Shue), his best friend (Devin Crittenden) and the girl of his dreams (Leven Rambin) make the perfect script for audiences to get behind. The surfing is amazing, but Butler’s performance serves as the pillar holding this film up as one the best of 2012.

WORD COUNT: 159

Chuck’s Grade: A

Adam’s Grade: N/A

Tooth Fairy short changes the kids

WWE superstar, The Rock aka Dwayne Johnson is used to putting on a pair tights and jumping around, but in the Tooth Fairy his purple outfit includes a pair of wings and a magic wand. This children’s film is about a minor league hockey player known for knocking out opposing players teeth out with crushing cross checks. He is punished by the fairy world for being mean to a young fan. Derek (Johnson) is like a bull in a china shop as he realizes he is the worst fairy all time, but his competitive nature and his conscience will not allow him to fail. The moment the puck was dropped I wanted to bench him for poor play. He never finds his footing and falls flat on the ice with jokes and sight gags. Ashley Judd and Julie Andrews also collect a paycheck, but in the end, the Tooth Fairy short changes the kids.

WORD COUNT: 154

Chuck’s Grade: F

Adam’s Grade: N/A

He Got Game

Spike Lee’s affinity for basketball is well documented, but his film about Jesus Shuttlesworth (Ray Allen), a young man having to make one of  “the most important decision of his life” is not his best effort.   Everyone close to Jesus sees a pay check on the horizon. His father, Jake (Denzel Washington) is serving 15 years for the murder of his wife and the prison warden asks Jake to convince his son to choose the governor’s alma mater for a reduced sentence. Lee explores the darker side of people’s human nature as his “Jesus” character must resist the temptations thrown in front of him. Unfortunately, Jesus has to share too much playing time with his father. I never thought I would say that about a Denzel Washington character. Lee’s story has all the pieces for a championship caliber film, but his players tire and cannot score the winning shot at the end because he puts the ball into too many hands.

WORD COUNT: 159

Chuck’s Grade: B-

Adam’s Grade: C

Any Given Sunday is a winner

In 1999, American Football was transitioning from the run the ball up the middle offenses to a more wide open passing game that featured speed on the outside and brutal hits across the middle, which made for great entertainment for popular audiences. Oliver Stone’s film, Any Given Sunday opens the locker room door to reveal a cast of football players and coaches that will go to any lengths to win the game of football. Like most of his films, Stone wants to communicate the social, cultural, and political underpinnings governing his characters’ choices. For the most part, he is successful because of the film’s cast and production value are top-notch, but at times it can be heavy handed. The camera work captures the speed and impact of the game while football fans are able to see some of the game’s legends (Lawrence Taylor) act alongside some veteran talent (Al Pacino, James Woods, and Dennis Quaid). Any Given Sunday is a winner.

WORD COUNT: 160

Chuck’s Grade: B

Adam’s Grade: B-

The Fighter is worthy of a title shot

The Fighter is based on the true story about boxer, Mickey Ward (Mark Wahlberg) and his brother/trainer Dickey Eklund (Christian Bale). Ward spent years fighting, but his efforts were overshadowed by his brother, who’s known as the Pride of Lowell for going toe to toe with Sugar Ray Leonard in 1978.

The film begins with Ward stuck in a rut because of his mother’s micro-managing his career and his brother’s destructive crack addiction. This film is more about family than it is about boxing, but director, David O. Russell finds a balance between these two worlds. He successfully captures the time period and location, as well as the Ward family’s strengths and weaknesses.

Mark Wahlberg holds his own in the ring, but the Academy Award winning performances by Bale and Melissa Leo (Ward’s mother) are championship caliber. The Fighter was worthy of a title shot (Best Picture Oscar), but the film falls just short of greatness.

WORD COUNT: 155

Adam’s Grade: B+

Chuck’s Grade: B+

Warrior: What Do You Fight For?

I received an advanced screening  to ‘Warrior’ last August not knowing what to expect from the film. This is a powerful and moving domestic drama about an alcoholic father, Paddy (Nick Nolte) who just passed one thousand days of sobriety and his two estranged sons Tommy (Tom Hardy) and Brendan (Joel Edgerton) The three of them haven’t spoken to each other in years. Tom Hardy follows up his Bronson role with this troubled Iraq vet searching for redemption. His brother, Brendan is fighting to keep his home and family. And Paddy is fighting for a second chance.

The film has some forgivable flaws because the acting and story are so strong.  Audiences will connect with these broken relationships and root for someone to be champion in the end. Everyone that takes the time to see this film will feel like a winner when it is over.

WORD COUNT: 144

Adam’s Grade: B

Chuck’s Grade: A-