Tag Archives: Alec Baldwin

Action, No Spoiler Reviews, Thriller

MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE 5 – ROGUE NATION (2015): Thrilling, Well-Paced, Fun…

4 Comments
Mission: Impossible 5 - Rogue Nation (2015), Tom Cruise
Mission: Impossible 5 – Rogue Nation (2015), Tom Cruise

The trailer for Mission: Impossible 5 – Rogue Nation is one of my favourites of 2015. The editing and promise of endless thrills are two of the reasons. Another is the rather reliable cast headed by Tom Cruise, and including Ving Rhames, Rebecca Ferguson, Jeremy Renner, Alec Baldwin and Simon Pegg.

Directed by Christopher McQuarrie; Rogue Nation opens the way many action movies ought to; precisely as it plans to go on – thrilling and fast-paced. The film succeeds on delivering engaging dialogue, good humour and fun along with the thrills.

There are several great scenes that Impossible Missions Force (IMF) Agent Ethan Hunt (Cruise) gets involved in. One of the best is the tense and well-executed ’impossible’ section of the mission.

Hunt’s relationship with Benji (Simon Pegg) and the dialogue between his team members are additional highlights.

I say, make time for Mission: Impossible 5 – Rogue Nation, because it’s good and fun.

Happy Film Loving, 

G

Comedy, Drama, No Spoiler Reviews, Romance

ALOHA (2015): The Good & Bad Things

Leave a comment
Aloha (2015), Bradley Cooper
Aloha (2015), Bradley Cooper

Just before I saw the trailer for Aloha, starring Bradley Cooper, I was very much on a high after watching his deservedly Best Actor, Oscar nominated performance in American Sniper (2014).

The Aloha trailer didn’t look terrible. However, some of the dialogue didn’t sit as well as one would have liked. either As I watched the movie a few months later, the unfortunate truth of the dialogue did come to be, because there I was cringing in parts.

I found the romance between Emma Stone’s character and Brian Gilcrest (Cooper) quite forced and unconvincing. It didn’t help that Stone’s character was also rather annoying.

In director, Cameron Crowe’s efforts to capture the seemingly laid back pace of Hawaii, the pace of the movie suffered.

Aloha (2015), Danny McBride, Bradley Cooper
Aloha (2015), Danny McBride, Bradley Cooper

The few beautiful shots of Hawaii’s landscape in the beginning and all the scenes that feature Danny McBride are my favourite things. There were a few other good moments but not significant enough to make Aloha good or worth watching.

It’s all a big shame considering a very talented cast list that also  includes Rachel McAdams, John Krasinski, Bill Murray and Alec Baldwin.

You can give Aloha a chance if you’re curious, but you’re likely better off watching Silver Linings Playbook (2012) and/or Jerry Maguire (1996) instead. 

Happy Film Loving, 

G

Drama, Sport

CONCUSSION (2015): Intense New Trailer With Will Smith As Dr. Bennet Omalu

Leave a comment
Concussion (2015), Will Smith
Concussion (2015), Will Smith

I knew this public holiday had to gift me with a great new trailer. And it has, for Will Smith has a brand new movie.

I can’t wait to see this, first because it looks good, and second, Smith sounds absolutely nothing like himself, therefore making for an even more satisfying transformation for the spectator.

Concussion is written and directed by Peter Landesman, the man responsible for 2014’s Kill The messenger starring Jeremy Renner.

Alec Baldwin and British actress Gugu Mbatha-Raw also star, along with Stephen Moyer, Luke Wilson and Albert Brooks.

Due for release stateside on December 25th (2015) and January 29th (2016) for the U.K.

Happy Film Loving,

G

Comedy, Drama, No Spoiler Reviews

IT’S COMPLICATED (2009): Good Lighthearted Fun Starring Meryl Streep & Alec Baldwin

5 Comments
It's Complicated (2009), Alec Baldwin, Meryl Streep
It’s Complicated (2009), Alec Baldwin, Meryl Streep

It’s Complicated is a well cast comedy/romance starring Alec Baldwin and Meryl Streep.

Written/directed by Nancy Meyers, the film follows a divorced couple who reignite their relationship even though one of them has remarried.

The couple’s complicated situation which also includes three grown up children presents a great opportunity for both comedy and drama; something Meyers took great advantage of, evident in the way the subject matter is handled.

It's Complicated (2009), Alec Baldwin, Meryl Streep
It’s Complicated (2009), Alec Baldwin, Meryl Streep

For me, what makes It’s complicated work is Streep and Baldwin’s great chemistry. The supporting cast which includes Steve Martin, John Krasinski, Zoe Kazan, Lake Bell, Hunter Parrish and Caitlin FitzGerald certainly don’t hurt either.

I’m a big fan of Baldwin, thanks in large part to his great work as Jack Donaghy in 30 Rock. As for Streep, I almost feel like, to love film is to love her, so there really was no way I would not have watched the film.

Tune in for the subject matter and some good light-hearted fun, should you be wanting that sort of thing.

Happy Film Loving,

G

Drama, No Spoiler Reviews

STILL ALICE (2014): Julianne Moore Is Super, If You Didn’t Already Know

3 Comments
Still Alice (2014), Julianne Moore
Still Alice (2014), Julianne Moore

I was always going to watch the 2015 Best Actress Oscar winning film, Still Alice. The Academy Award certainly made that more likely. But really, it’s the film’s talented star, Julianne Moore – an actor I’ve appreciated immensely since Magnolia (1999).

Moore’s portrayal of the heartbreaking stages of her character’s degenerative condition will remind audiences of why she is so celebrated.

Directed by Richard Glatzer and Wash Westmoreland, Still Alice also delivers memorable supporting performances from Kate Bosworth, Alec Baldwin and Kristen Stewart.

It’s a film for anyone curious about how the diagnosis of early onset Alzheimers might affect a patient’s life and that of their family.

Still Alice (2014), Alec Baldwin
Still Alice (2014), Alec Baldwin

Watch it for all the reasons mentioned, plus the pleasant surprise of seeing Alec Baldwin playing a more likeable character, Kristen Stewart continuing to make good project choices, post The Twilight Saga and the highlight that is the great speech at the Alzheimers Association.

Well-paced and acted, in Still Alice, you’ll also find an uplifting reminder to do as much living as possible.

Happy Film Loving, 

G