SPIDERHEAD
Hot off the heels of Top Gun: Maverick, director Joseph Kosinski returns with a sharp, satirical thriller that can’t quite handle its big ideas on the imminences and complexities of trauma, grief, regret and love. Miles Teller and Jurnee Smollett are great, providing the emotional depth that’s required for their characters. They also keep the movie from tipping all the way into absurdity. Still, Chris Hemsworth is the standout in his portrayal of a devilishly eccentric visionary whose only love is engineering human feelings that will flip free will on its head. Adapted from a 2010 short story by George Saunders, Kosinski crafts a rather clever and lean plot that undoubtedly fascinates as it unfolds. But at a certain point…it becomes confusing on what the message is it wants to send. While being atmospheric and darkly comedic (with an awesome soundtrack to boot) gives this oddity a boost, it ultimately pretends to be far more enlightening than what it really is.
HUSTLE
Adam Sandler and the Utah Jazz’s Juancho Hernangomez make a hell of a team in this inspirational basketball drama about two guys risking it all for the love of the game. Stanley Sugarman (Sandler) is a NBA scout for the 76ers, but he’s past his prime and his new boss (Ben Foster) doesn’t see him quite as indispensable like he says he does. But after a trip to Spain and catching Bo Cruz (Hernangomez) in action – Stanley gambles big on him in hopes of getting that NBA coaching gig he’s always dreamed of.
Director Jeremiah Zagar doesn’t score any points with his cliched and unsurprising narrative. In spite of that, he manages to hit nothing but net in the emotion and heart that’s on full display. As a big basketball fan, Sandler looks right at home here, his passion and complete commitment is sensational. Moreover, the chemistry between him and Hernangomez is off the charts. You don’t have to love or even understand basketball to enjoy this compelling, crowd-pleasing game of resolve and resilience.
HALFTIME
Serving mostly to fans of Jennifer Lopez, this straightforward, sparkling documentary is also quite genuine and moving when it wants to be. Director Amanda Micheli follows JLo as she’s preparing for the Super Bowl LIV Halftime Show as well as riding the success of her biggest hit of her career with Hustlers and the grueling process of awards season. Did I mention she just turned 50 as well?! Obviously, Lopez has complete control over her narrative here, though that doesn’t mean she’s unwilling to be vulnerable or intimate in her reflection of who she is, where she’s come from, and what she’s wanting to say now.
This is an opportunity to see another side of Lopez that’s less about what’s been written in the tabloids and much more about her amazing dedication and hard work that’s put in to everything she does. And this time around, she’s conquering it w/ a deeper understanding of herself that she’s never had before. If the goal is to prove that Lopez deserves to be taken seriously then Micheli has done her job. You can’t help but at the very least respect her for what she’s done and continues to do in a business that keeps counting her out. Whatever comes next…she makes it clear she’s just getting started.
Brandon Vick is a member of The Music City Film Critics’ Association and the Southeastern 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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