Tag Archives: Josh Brolin

Action, Adventure, Crime, No Spoiler Reviews

SICARIO – DAY OF THE SOLDADO (2018): The Thing I Liked…

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Sicario - Day of the Soldado (2018), Isabela Merced, Benicio Del Toro
Sicario – Day of the Soldado (2018), Isabela Merced, Benicio Del Toro

Sicario – Day of the Soldado, has Josh Brolin and Benicio Del Toro back as US Federal agent Matt Graver and hitman Alejandro. This time the drug war on the US-Mexico border has escalated and the cartels have started trafficking terrorists to the states.

Now that the talented Emily Blunt, Oscar-winning cinematographer Roger Deakins and Oscar-nominated director Denis Villeneuve are all nowhere in sight for this sequel, I wouldn’t say I was initially concerned, but rather hopeful. I mean, the trailer did look very promising indeed.

Having now watched director Stefano Sollima’s sequel, I find myself feeling relatively neutral about it. I neither hate nor love Day of the Soldado. Yet, Alejandro remains my favourite thing about both movies. For he’s at the centre of the much loved and and notable action sequences.

Sollima’s film certainly has tension. Though, for me, it’s not quite the expertly captured, bristling tension of the first movie. The musical score and cinematography weren’t bad either. I just liked both, the story and the way it was captured better in the first movie. Additionally, I wouldn’t say that I missed Blunt’s Kate Mercer, but I missed what she added to the story. She was a person I could identify with as someone very new to the very specific, highly violent world of the film.

Is Day of the Soldado still worth watching if you liked the first movie? Yes. However, I may be shocked if anyone prefers it to the first instalment. And I’d be intrigued to find out why.

Happy Film Loving 

G

Action, Adventure, Comedy, No Spoiler Reviews

DEADPOOL 2 (2018): The Things I Liked…

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Deadpool 2 (2018), Ryan Reynolds
Deadpool 2 (2018), Ryan Reynolds

Having been introduced to Deadpool’s story in the 2016 movie, in this David Leitch directed sequel, our favourite wisecracking, foul-mouthed mutant is battling new personal demons, whilst also trying to protect a young boy with untamed super natural abilities.

Starring Ryan Reynolds, Josh Brolin, Zazie Beetz, Morena Baccarin and Julian Dennison, Deadpool 2 is very much a fun action movie worth seeing.

All the elements that made the first film great, including the humorous dialogue and cool action sequences are present in this sequel. Except that this time we have the addition of some fun new characters, my favourite of them being Domino (Beetz).

What I liked immediately about Deadpool 2 is the James Bond-style opening theme song and accompanying visuals. The second thing I fell in love with was Domino’s general cool factor which had me dreaming about a stand-alone film.

Then came the crazy ‘baby legs’ scene followed by the moving moment towards the end. Overall, I’ll probably remember Deadpool 2 most for just being a good action movie and sequel. I’ll also hold it dearly in my heart for reminding me of how beautiful language is, particularly when in this movie I was introduced to the phrase ‘prison wallet’ and what it means. And yes, I definitely laughed afresh as I typed the words.

As for the question of whether Deadpool 2 is better than Deadpool? I think they’re both good movies. Though I would add that the original likely has the edge since the style and foul-mouth wisecracking was refreshingly new for the superhero movie genre when it was released.

So… watch it because you loved the first movie and this one is unlikely to disappoint.

Happy Film Loving

G

Action, Crime, Drama

SICARIO 2 – SOLDADO (2018): New Trailer From Benicio Del Toro, Josh Brolin, Katherine Keener…

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Sicario 2 - Soldado (2018), Josh Brolin
Sicario 2 – Soldado (2018), Josh Brolin

Read my spoiler-free movie review of Sicario – Day of the Soldado (2018).

In Sicario 2 – Soldado, instead of Denis Villneuve, the director of the sequel for one of my favourite films of 2015 – Sicario is Stefano Sollima. 

Benicio Del Toro and Josh Brolin are back to a reality where the drug war on the US-Mexico border has escalated as the cartels have begun trafficking terrorists across the US border. Federal agent Matt Graver (Brolin) re-teams with Alejandro (Del Toro) to fight the war…

This isn’t a bad trailer and I’m happy to have caught a glimpse of Catherine Keener but something tells me that I’m going to miss Emily Blunt’s character. I could just be thinking this because I’m used to seeing her there as my own eyes among all the unsavoury happenings…

Perhaps Keener’s character will represent the spectator this time. Either way, I hope it’s a worthy sequel.

Sicario 2 – Soldado Release Dates: June 29th, 2018 (US & UK)…

Happy Film Loving

G

Action, Adventure, Comedy

DEADPOOL 2 (2018) New Trailer From Ryan Reynolds, Josh Brolin…

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Deadpool 2 (2018), Ryan Reynolds
Deadpool 2 (2018), Ryan Reynolds

In Deadpool 2, Ryan Reynolds is back as what I’m sure is his most widely loved character; Deadpool, a.k.a Wade Wilson.

There’s more action, more comedy, more of that good and lovable titular wisecracking to be expected, starting with this fun tease of a trailer…

The intro to this trailer is good, of course but that action… that 10 seconds of beautiful action is just superb. I can’t wait to see it all fit into place .

Deadpool 2 Release Dates: June 1st, 2018 (US & UK)…

Happy Film Loving

G

Biography, Drama

ONLY THE BRAVE (2017): New Trailer From Josh Brolin, Jennifer Connelly, Miles Teller, Taylor Kitsch…

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Only The Brave (2017), Miles Teller
Only The Brave (2017), Miles Teller

Only The Brave is based on the true story of the elite crew of firemen known as the Granite Mountain Hotshots from Prescott, Arizona. In June 2013 the men battled a wildfire in Yarnell, AZ that claimed the lives of 19 of their members. Directed by Joseph Kosinski; Josh Brolin, Jennifer Connelly, Miles Teller and Taylor Kitsch star…

The cast is reliable, the story interesting and that footage of a bear running whilst on fire is spectacular. My fingers are crossed that there’ll be more very impressive fire special effects in the finished movie.

Only The Brave Release Dates: September 22nd, 2017 (UK); October 20th, 2017 (US)…

Happy Film Loving

G

Comedy, Drama, Music, No Spoiler Reviews

HAIL, CAESAR! (2015): The Thing I Liked…

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Hail Caesar (2015), Tilda Swinton
Hail Caesar (2015), Tilda Swinton

I’m sad to say that Hail, Caesar! has proven to be quite the bore. Regrettably, I found the trailer far more entertaining than the movie.

The trailer is funny, filled with the glamour, colours and seemingly odd characters of 1950s Hollywood; all good things. I liked the fact that it didn’t give much away in terms of where the story was going or even who the key protagonist might be, and it moved at a more than reasonable pace.

Unfortunately, however,  a slow pace and an inadequately intriguing story that never goes anywhere are my biggest issues with Hail, Caesar! Part of the problem might be that there were too many stories trying to happen at the same time.

On the positive side, in addition to the humorous moments (the best of which you see in the trailer) what I do like about Hail, Caesar!  is the glamour and colourful attire worn by the film’s main female characters. The characters played far too briefly by Scarlett Johansson, Tilda Swinton and Veronica Osorio. Had it not been for these highlights, I’m not sure I’d have made it through to the end.

Hail, Caesar! (2015), Veronica Osorio
Hail, Caesar! (2015), Veronica Osorio

Overall, I think I’d have much preferred to see only the funny moments in this movie; something like a Saturday Night Live comedy sketch format. An outrageous suggestion I’m sure, but I really was hoping for more from a Coen brothers written/directed film. I guess I’ll always shave the costumes and glamour.

Needless to say, Hail, Caesar! is not my favourite film by the Coens. That title will probably always belong to the excellent, No Country For Old Men (2007), a  movie I continue to recommend.

Happy Film Loving

G

Action, Crime, Drama, No Spoiler Reviews

SICARIO (2015): For The Performances, Music, Cinematography & Tension

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Sicario (2015), Benicio Del Toro
Sicario (2015), Benicio Del Toro

Set in the US / Mexico border area in the middle of the escalating war on drugs; Emily Blunt plays a ‘fish out of water’ FBI agent recruited by Josh Brolin’s Matt Graver. Benicio Del Toro’s character is the mysterious consultant, Alejandro who Graver brings along for the ride.

‘Bristling with expertly captured tension’ is one way to describe Sicario; whether it’s the tensions between law enforcement and the criminals or the tensions between the film’s main characters. Sicario is excellently scored, filled with stunning visuals and really notable performances, especially from Blunt and Del Toro.

Sicario (2015), Benicio Del Toro, Emily Blunt
Sicario (2015), Benicio Del Toro, Emily Blunt

In terms of things that I wish were different about the movie, director Denis Villeneuve’s film has a few stretches of time that had me wishing for more things to happen. I’m sure that when little seemed to be taking place in terms of action and drama, those moments were true representations of what days can be like for the main characters involved. Unfortunately for me, those moments just made my mind wander elsewhere.

Overall, Sicario is a very good movie. Just don’t expect continuous action/ drama, for this is neither Training Day (2001) nor End Of Watch (2012); both great films.

Other key characters are played by Daniel Kaluuya, Victor Garber, Jon Bernthal and Jeffrey Donovan.

A reminder of the film’s excellent trailer…

Happy Film Loving 🙂

G

Comedy, Drama, Music

HAIL, CAESAR! (2016): New Trailer From Josh Brolin, Channing Tatum & Scarlett Johansson

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Hail, Caesar (2016), Tilda Swinton, Josh Brolin
Hail, Caesar (2016), Tilda Swinton, Josh Brolin

Read my spoiler-free movie review of  Hail! Caesar! (2016).

It’s a comedy/drama/musical and it’s from the Coen brothers.

Trailer 1

Trailer 2

I’m really hoping that Hail Caesar! is great. Especially since musicals aren’t my thing.

Set during the 1950s, the very promising cast includes Jonah Hill, George Clooney, Ralph Fiennes and Tilda Swinton.

Hail Caesar! Release Date (s): February 5th 2016 (US), February 26th 2016 (UK), February 17th (France), February 18th (Germany)

Happy Film Loving 🙂

G