Tag Archives: Joseph Gordon-Levitt

Action, Comedy, Crime, No Spoiler Reviews

BEVERLY HILLS COP – AXEL F (2024): The Things I Liked…

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‘It’s going to be fantastic. Trust me.’ – Axel Foley

I should have because Eddie Murphy, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Taylour Paige and Kevin Bacon’s latest movie, Beverly Hills Cop – Axel F is good.

I was worried that some of the energy and magic of the original movies would be absent. How misguided! The chemistry between Murphy and everyone he shares the screen with is still great. Couple that with a satisfying story, engaging new characters, a good dose of nostalgia, plus expert use of the Beverly Hills Cop movie theme music, and we have a recipe to put a massive smile on our faces.

If you enjoyed at least one of the earlier Beverly Hills Cop movies, you won’t want to miss this one. In addition to Murphy’s undeniable charm, Kevin Bacon Bacon is a well-cast bad guy; Gordon-Levitt is perfect in his role, and there’s that well-choreographed ambush scene. I haven’t even said anything about the perfect ending.

Beverly Hills Cop - Axel F (2024), Kevin Bacon, Netflix
Beverly Hills Cop – Axel F (2024), Kevin Bacon, Netflix

As for the things I didn’t love about director Mark Molloy’s movie, I tried hard to think and I only have two things, barely. First, there was a point at the beginning where I thought: Really? they didn’t modernise the theme music, even a little bit?’ I ended up swallowing my words with that one. Second, ‘Is Axel still realistically getting away with his antics? I mean, he’s not a rookie who doesn’t know better any more.’ I completely forgot about that soon enough because I was too busy having a good time. 

Some have said that Netflix should have granted Beverly Hills Cop – Axel F a big screen release, and I can’t say I disagree.  But I’m also not mad that I can immediately go back to re-watch my favourite scenes.

It’s not even been a month since the success of Bad Boys – Ride Or Die. It looks to me like 2024 is the year of good cop action/comedy/crime sequels. I say, bring on the next one! The next Axel F, the next Bad Boys and the next… 

…did somebody say Rush Hour?

Happy Film Loving, 

G

Source: JustWatch
Drama, History, No Spoiler Reviews, Thriller

THE TRIAL OF THE CHICAGO 7 (2020): The Things I Liked…

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The Trial of the Chicago 7 (2020), Eddie Redmayne, Netflix
The Trial of the Chicago 7 (2020), Eddie Redmayne, Netflix

Master of great dialogue Aaron Sorkin is the writer and director of new historical drama/thriller The Trial of the Chicago 7. 

Set around the 1968 uprising at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Illinois and focused on the seven people on trial for various charges at the time, I found Sorkin’s story adequately engaging. 

Starring Eddie Redmayne, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, to name just a few, I enjoyed the dialogue – as expected. I mean, Sorkin did, after all, write the words in one of my favourite screenplays, The Social Network (2010). Even though I didn’t find the dialogue quite as scintillating as in his Mark Zuckerberg movie, I certainly wouldn’t call it bad, because there are moments that delighted, several of which take place in the courtroom. 

The Trial of the Chicago 7 (2020), Jeremy Strong, John Carroll Lynch. Sacha Baron Cohen
The Trial of the Chicago 7 (2020), Jeremy Strong, John Carroll Lynch. Sacha Baron Cohen

The movie starts with an editing style that felt disruptive because it wasn’t as easy to keep track of timelines as I’d have liked. Luckily, things do eventually settle into a better rhythm, after which I enjoyed The Trial of the Chicago 7 as a brilliantly performed tale, especially by Redmayne, Abdul-Mateen II and Mark Rylance.

In addition to the engaging and dramatic courtroom scenes, you’ll enjoy watching the evolution of the relationship between the seven-plus men on trial. Sorkin’s is going to break your heart as his film puts up a mirror to some of America’s ills, especially when you realise how very little seems to have changed where racial injustice and abuse of power are concerned. Yet, I wouldn’t say that The Trial of the Chicago 7 will leave you hopeless. 

In addition to the earlier editing and the dialogue being good but not as scintillating as the words in The Social Network, the only other thing that didn’t stand out in the best way is Sacha Baron Cohen’s American accent. It’s also not the worst I’ve ever heard, so give Sorkin’s film a chance if you’re curious. You’ll likely become an even bigger fan of Redmayne while also finding that Abdul-Mateen II is now on your radar, in case he wasn’t already. 

Happy Film Loving,

G

Drama, History, Thriller

THE TRIAL OF THE CHICAGO 7 (2020): New Aaron Sorking Movie Starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Eddie Redmayne, Alex Sharp, Sacha Baron Cohen…

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The Trial of the Chicago 7 (2020), Eddie Redmayne, Netflix
The Trial of the Chicago 7 (2020), Eddie Redmayne, Netflix

Read my spoiler-free movie review of The Trial of the Chicago 7 (2020).

Written/directed by Aaron Sorkin, The Trial of the Chicago 7 is a new historical thriller about 7 people on trial for various charges surrounding the uprising at the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Illinois.

Eddie Redmayne, Sacha Baron Cohen, Alex Sharp and Joseph Gordon-Levitt are among the key cast.

I can’t deny how happy I was to see Redmayne’s face on screen again. He’s one of my favourites, along with Baron Cohen

It’s going to be emotional but I’m quite sure it’ll be worth it because of the fantastic cast and that magic that Sorkin does so well with words.

Jeremy Strong, John Carroll Lynch, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Mark Rylance, Ben Shenkman, J.C. MacKenzie, Frank Langella and Noah Robbins also star.

The Trial of the Chicago 7 Release Date: October 16th, 2020 (US)/ Netflix…

Happy Film Loving,

G

Action, Crime, No Spoiler Reviews, Sci-Fi

PROJECT POWER (2020): The Things I Liked…

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Project Power (2020), Jamie Foxx, Netflix

I had fun watching the down-to-earth take on the human-with-superpowers story that is Project Power. Particular highlights being the fun special effects and good performances, especially by Jamie Foxx and Dominique Fishback.

Centred around a pill that gives its users unpredictable superpowers for five minutes, the first thirty or so minutes of Project Power are watchable. But it’s once Foxx and Fishback’s characters meet that I sat up and started to pay extra attention. From that point on, the fun continued until the not entirely expected conclusion.

As someone who has long tired of the traditional superhero movie stories, I welcomed the difference this one offered. So much so that the use of some familiar storytelling tropes barely bothered me. I was too busy having fun watching everything unfold.

Watch Project Power for a different take on the humans with superpowers story. I’m convinced that there are elements that will likely surprise you, in a good way.

Happy Film Loving,

G

Biography, Drama, Thriller

SNOWDEN (2016): New Trailer From Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Shailene Woodley…

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When I first saw the teaser trailer for writer/director Oliver Stone’s new film about Edward Snowden, I was disappointed that it didn’t reveal a little more than the films title – Snowden and a few facts about the protagonist.

Teaser trailer

However, I watched the teaser again some weeks later and was reminded that just because I wanted more footage there and then, doesn’t necessarily mean that I should have had it.

Instead of being mad at the tease, my imagination did overtime as I began to picture all sorts of dramatic scenes. Scenes with dialogue as engaging as the brilliant screenwriter Aaron Sorkin’s words in The Social Network  Would’t that be fantastic?

Even if Snowden turns out to be nothing like The Social Network, all that really matters is it’s good. Just as well then that the below trailer looks mighty promising.

Trailer 1

Trailer 2

Snowden Release Dates: September 16th, 2016 (US)…

Happy Film Loving,

G