WORTH
Calculating how much a life is worth is essentially the task at hand for lawyer Ken Feinberg (Michael Keaton) as he is appointed special master of the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund. Based on a real case, director Sara Colangelo’s legal drama is not always compelling and at times a bit repetitive; though, it remains full of compassion and thoughtfulness, and that’s especially crucial when dealing with this sort of sensitive subject matter.
Feinberg’s change of heart is one of the main focal points of the film as he slowly stops seeing people as numbers and starts listening to their personal stories. Keaton delivers a stellar, subtle performance as Feinberg, and Stanley Tucci, Amy Ryan, and Laura Benanti comprise a terrific supporting cast. Colangelo and writer Max Borenstein present complicated questions with no simple answers. But they do so while making sure to show the beauty of humanity and that not one life is more valuable than another.
KATE
Director Cedric Nicolas-Troyan’s shoot’em up has some intricate, violent action sequences and a killer Mary Elizabeth Winstead as a poisoned assassin with 24 hours to get her vengeance. Though none of the above mentioned is enough to recommend sitting through as audiences aren’t missing much here. The premise is dull with hardly anything that hasn’t been done before in better actioners that this one so achingly aspires to be. Winstead kicking ass is fun to watch, but she deserves a much better vehicle than this forgettable one to show it off in.
BLOOD BROTHERS: Malcolm X & Muhammad Ali
The Nation of Islam brought together two of the most influential men of all-time and also tore them a part in three short yet life-changing years for Muhammad Ali and Malcolm X. Directed by Marcus A. Clarke, this engaging, thoughtful, and ultimately tragic documentary presents a historic time when Ali and X risked it all for faith and freedom; unfortunately, when it came to who would lead them – their paths would split in different directions, leaving a friendship to fall by the wayside.
From their synchronic rise to loss and regret, Clarke uses never-before-seen footage and interviews of family, friends, religious leaders, journalists, and professors to provide an unprecedented understanding of what these iconic figures meant to each other and the world. You can’t help but wonder what they could’ve done if their brotherhood remained intact and if the legacy they leave behind would have been different. Sadly, we’ll never know.
Brandon Vick is a member of The Music City Film Critics’ Association, the resident film critic of the SoBros Network, and the star of The Vick’s Flicks Podcast. Follow him on Twitter @SirBrandonV and be sure to search #VicksFlicks for all of his latest movie reviews.
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