TRIPLE FRONTIER
The robbery of a drug lord deep in the jungle was never going to go as planned in this conscience thriller where complex motivations clash with good ole fashion greed. With standout performances from Oscar Isaac and Ben Affleck, director J.C. Chandor smartly avoids the obvious in a genre where killing is always the easy answer. That’s not the case here as the repercussions of bloodshed can be costly. You’ll want and expect more out of this, but what it attempts to say about the ethics of war and those who fight in it is commendable.
LOSERS: SEASON 1
Sensational stories in the sports world about not the awe-inspiring victories but the heart-breaking defeats. The obsession with winning is alive and well here, yet the lessons learned from losing leaves a noticeably lasting impact that in no way could be forgotten. Every episode is riveting, informative, and incredibly immersive into these hard-fought situations where opportunities are there for the taking – though what is of most importance is what these individuals choose to do with them. That’s what makes this show fascinating, fun, and even funny at times. Losers shows love to those whose shortcomings only keep them coming back for more. Being a loser has never looked nor felt so good.
PADDLETON
A tender movie such as this about cancer has to be harrowing, but to be as equally amusing is a godsend. Director Alexandre Lehmann slowly turns her story of an offbeat friendship into a powerfully emotional experience that’s inviting and entirely unexpected. As bittersweet as this all may be – there’s no getting over the beautiful bromance between Mark Duplass and Ray Romano. It’s extraordinary as their performances work on so many levels. Romano alone is stunning.
FORMULA 1: DRIVE TO SURVIVE: SEASON 1
There’s more than enough high-speed drama in this fantastic fast and furious show that’s an all access pass – putting you in the driver’s seat of what it takes to be successful in cutthroat F1 racing. In each of the ten well-paced episodes, we see gorgeous locations, dirty politics, new tracks, bitter rivalries, and sweet victories. A soap opera with a ton of velocity.
As someone who didn’t know a thing about the subject matter, it’s absolutely mind-blowing how these death-defying drivers in their magnificent machine-on-wheels sacrifice it all with every turn they take. The danger is worth it for these guys as competition consumes them as they put the pedal to the metal for as many points as possible. Fans and non-fans of F1 will be enthralled by this wild ride of living life in the fast lane.
THE BOY WHO HARNESSED THE WIND
In his writing/directing debut, Chiwetel Ejiofor tells a touching true story in familiar form of a clever teenage boy who uses any and all resources available to bring water to his village and keep his family from facing famine. Ejiofor and Maxwell Simba are splendid as father and son respectfully – both desperate for change, but the boy’s hunger for knowledge is what gets this labor of love spinning in the right direction.
THE HIGHWAYMEN
Kevin Costner and Woody Harrelson play former Texas Rangers who are hot on the trail to take down the infamous Bonnie and Clyde. Costner and Harrelson make a fine pairing, and their grizzled, cranky attitudes on the surface goes deeper when their past comes to light. Director John Lee Hancock (The Blind Side) uses the lawmen to strip away the mystique of the outlaws and question why their violence was idolized by the public.
There’s substance in this cogent untold true story, and not nearly as glamorous as the Bonnie and Clyde one that we have seen in the movies and on TV. Viewed from the eyes of the law, this version doesn’t come close to being as exciting, tending to play catch up for most of the film. From the opening scene to the iconic car destroyed by bullets – you’re left wondering was it worth re-hashing this decades old tale again? There’s not enough here to make me think so.
THE DIRT
A Mötley Crüe biopic that plays like a cheap karaoke version of sex, drugs and rock n’ roll. Their hell-raising and head-banging is nothing new when it comes to a band of misfits telling the frequent tale of 80’s music mayhem. Luckily, they’re all still alive to tell it. But, director Jeff Tremaine doesn’t do these notorious bad boys nor their music any favors. He may have wanted to show their survival, yet their stupidity is what we have to suffer through.
“Nature Boy” Brandon Vick is a member of The Music City Film Critics’ Association, the resident film critic of the SoBros Network, and the star of Brandon’s Box Office In Your Mouth. Follow him on Twitter @SirBrandonV and be sure to search #VicksFlicks for all of his latest movie reviews.
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