TRANSFORMERS: Rise of the Beasts

 

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to theatres this Friday from director Steven Caple, Jr. and Paramount Pictures is the return of icons with TRANSFORMERS: Rise of the Beast.

It is the New York of 1994 and Noah (Anthony Ramos) is struggling to find a job to make life easier for mother Breanna (Luna Velez) and brother Kris (Dean Scott Vazquez) who has a medical condition. When things aren’t going well, he decides to do whatever it takes to get money.

Across town is Elena (Dominique Fishback), a researcher at the museum who wants to be part of a unique discover. When an unusual artifact shows up, she is drawn to it wanting to discover where it came from. These two are about to meet and collide literally in the most universal way.

Noah comes face to face with a fast car that has a mind of its own and introduces itself as Mirage (Pete Davison), the wisecracking Porsche who just wants to be friends. Optimus Prime (Peter Cullen) is not at all happy that a human knows about them. Arcee (Liza Koshy) and Bumblebee have joined in.

Why are they out of hiding? Because Unicron (Colman Domingo) is going from planet to planet swallowing them whole wanting to find the Transwarp Key that would open the portal. That portal would be to swallow Earth and destroy the Autobots and the Maximals. Leading that is Scourge (Peter Dinklage) who reports only to Unicron.

The problem is that artifact that Elena found is a key to the very portal that would bring Unicron in but also allow the Autobots to go home. That means finding the key which takes the group to Peru meeting the Maximals with leader Optimus Primal (Ron Perlman), Airazor (Michelle Yeoh), Rhinox (David Sobolov) and Cheetor (Tongayi Chirisa).

There is nothing left to do but fight it out to keep Unicron. Noah and Elena are ready to do what it takes to stop the world from ending and at first it is to save loved ones – but now it also includes the Autobots and Maximals.

Ramos as Noah is an ex-military man just trying to find his place in 1994 while helping with the responsibility of a younger brother. Meeting Mirage, he has no idea that his world is about to get bigger and his chance to help his new friends is dangerous. Ramos gives us a tough and intense young man who realizes that the only way to help his sick brother is to help save the world.

Fishback as Elena is a young woman who is dealing with a boss who takes credit for her work. Once the interesting artifact comes in, she is going to make sure to examine it for herself which is what sets everything off. Fishback gives us an intelligent and adventurous young woman who is taken aback by everything but when the chance arises, she is all in.

Taken control of being the bots are Cullen with his iconic Optimus Prime voice, Dinklage gets to be the deadly back guy in Scourge, Domingo is the insane Unicron, Yeoh is lovely and stunning in character of Airazor and Perlman makes his mark as Maximal Optimus Primal.

Shout out to Vasquez as the young Kris, he supports Mirage and Noah for taking on the danger and finds a way to be there for support.

Other cast include Tobe Nwigwe as Reek, Cristo Fernandez as Wheeljack, John DiMaggio as Stratosphere and Transit, David Soblov as Battletrap, Michaela Jae Rodriguez as Nightbird,

Paramount Pictures is the longest operating and remaining major studio in Hollywood that has been on the ground floor of every major development in film. From the advent of motion pictures to the emergence of television, through the digital revolution, Paramount Pictures has been there. During our 100-year history, we have served as the production site for thousands of notable movies and television shows. For more please visit www.paramountstudios.com.

TRANSFORMERS: Rise of the Beast gives the 90’s vibe with the addition of the music to bring us all back in the day. That seems to be the thing with films in the last few years, using fantastic music from the 70’s-90’s that adds the right amount of draw.

The storyline is basically what we have come to expect regarding the Transformers franchise, good guys are all around laying low until the bad guys show up. Once that happens, the Autobots have to decide if helping humans and saving their adopted planet is worth it. Of course, while trying to do good, they sure manage to tear the planet they are trying to save apart.

This time they are tearing up New York landmarks and then off to Peru tearing up roads, messing up historical sites and trusting the humans to become Indian Jones like (per the reference from Noah) and find something that should have been really easy for them to find.

Putting that aside, families should enjoy all the action and adventure of the film and might even find themselves cheering, shouting a bit and maybe having a ‘no way!’ moment or two. Optimus Prime does what he does best, question whether humans can be trusted and be the iconic leader we have all come to know since 1984. 

From a television cartoon series, to toys and then to the big screen in 2007, Transformers has become generational. I remember vividly my now late 30-year-old sons sitting in front of the 25” television glued to every episode. I remember sitting with them at the dinner table as they explained who Optimus Prime was and where they came from etc. Then sitting in the theatre watching TRANSFORMERS and now seeing it with my grandchildren. If that isn’t generational, I don’t know what is.

So, gather up your generational clan and jump into the action and adventure of our favorite Autobots and ROLL OUT!

In the end – unite or fall!

 

 

 

He is an HONEST THIEF

 

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to Bluray/DVD and Digital from director Mark Williams and Universal Pictures Home Entertainment is the story of an HONEST THIEF.

Tom Dolan (Liam Neeson) is looking for a storage unit when he is taken with Annie Wilkins (Kate Walsh). A year later they are still going strong, but something is bothering Tom. He has a past that he’s trying to steer clear of, but Tom knows it is time to face it.

Calling Sam Baker (Robert Patrick) at the FBI, he confesses to a crime and makes certain requests when they come and get him. Waiting and waiting, he calls again and speaks to Baker’s partner Sean Meyers (Jeffrey Donovan) who passes the file down to John Nivens (Jai Courtney) and partner Ramon Hall (Anthony Ramos) to follow up on.

When they get to Tom’s hotel room, they hear his story and go to check it out. Finding that the story is true, Meyers and Hall hatch a plan of their own and their boss is caught in the crossfire. Tom realizes that instead of clearing his life, things just got more complicated and Annie could be in danger.

That is when Tom decides that no one is going to hurt the woman he loves or get away with taking his chance of a life.

He is determined.

Neeson as Dolan is a man who has done something illegal and knows that the time is coming to face it. When he does, it is because a woman has come into his life and he does not want to go one step further without clearing everything up. As an action star, Neeson has proven himself time and time again and with good films being hard to come by, HONEST THIEF is 99 minutes of a straight story with solid action and Neeson carries it well.

Walsh as Annie is a woman who embraces her relationship with Tom. Not knowing about his past is what is going to cause her to be in danger. Once she knows what is happening, she does not hesitate to stand by her man. Patrick as Baker is not thrilled with Tom’s continual phone calls wanting to confess and his first mistake is passing off the file. It is nice to see Patrick in the film.

Courtney as Nivens is a cop who is as bad as he wants to be. Not seeing an issue with the problems, he and partner Hall keep creating, he continues to take it one step further than it needs to go. Courtney has the ability to give bad all the badness it needs. Ramos as Hall is Nivens partner that has every opportunity to stop what is coming but instead falls is swayed by fear.

Donovan as Meyers is a cop who is furious about Baker and wants Dolan found, and found immediately. When he finally has a chance to meet Dolan, he realizes something is not right with everything that is happening. Donovan can do both a good and bad character and I like his ability to do both extremely well.

Other cast include and Beth Hall as Jasmine, Lewis Wheeler as ER Doc, Jose Alves as Jose, Patty O’Neil as Sharon and Tazzie as Tazzie.

Universal Pictures Home Entertainment has just added an amazing film to their library and making it available for us to all experience and re-experience in our own home theaters. There are films of every genre available from scary to drama to family films. For more of what they have to offer please visit www.uphe.com.

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HONEST THIEF is a wild ride of a story that does not let up from start to finish. The plot is not complicated, but it is fun to watch unravel. Neeson continues his roles as a man looking for redemption but there is always someone in his way. That means he is going to make it clear that no one is going to get away without paying a price.

As I said, this is a 99-minute thrill ride that is a nice break from the world around us and a fun way to bring in the New Year. So, buckle up and remember Dolan isn’t about to sit around and let someone else dictate his past sins!

In the end – never steal a man’s second chance!

 

A STAR IS BORN Sings onto the Screen

Jeri Jacquin

In theatres this Friday from director Bradley Cooper and Warner Bros. is two people filled with the need for music when A STAR IS BORN.

Jackson Maine (Bradley Cooper) is a musician-singer who can fill a concert arena singing his songs. On stage or off he also has a problem with staying away from alcohol. Even with Bobby (Sam Elliott) keeping an eye on him and cleaning up the messes, Jack is one hot mess.

After a concert, Jack doesn’t have his liquid courage in the car and asks his driver to pull over to the local bar. Recognizing him at the door is Ramon (Anthony Ramos) who insists on bringing him to the bar and buying Jack a drink. That’s when he realizes that he is in a drag bar and watches the show.

Ramon insists that Jack prepare himself to see his friend Ally (Lady Gaga) perform and almost immediately he is taken in. Going backstage to meet her, they go out for a drink after to discuss her want of music. Seeing she is a straight shooter makes Jack go even weaker in the knees and he wants her to come to a concert the next night.

After kissing their jobs goodbye, Ally and Ramon make it to the concert and Jack decides to get her onstage for a song. The next day on YouTube, dad Lorenzo (Andrew Dice Clay) can not believe what he is seeing. Excited beyond belief Ally begins a relationship with Jack that puts them on the stage together over and over again.

Ally is noticed by manager Rez (Rafi Gavron) who wants to blow her up everywhere. Believing in her talent is one thing and changing her is another and although she sees what is happening, Ally also knows she has to go to get. Jack begins to feel as if he is losing her in some way and responds accordingly. 

His path of self destruction begins to have an effect on their relationship. In one instant Ally sees how destructive Jack’s life has become because of the past, his ability to have relationships and where they are both going musically. Yet she will not give up or give in when it comes to the man who brought her love and music.

Love has amazing powers as long as you believe.

Cooper as Jack is pretty much front and center of the film and although that may be fine, the character is not new. The only thing ‘different’ in this story is a brother and an alcoholic father but it is muddled which just drove me crazy. There was nothing unexpected here which again supports my theory that remakes need to have a 75 year stamp on them. What might surprise viewers is that he sings the heartfelt songs with ease and together with Gaga they are sweet performances. 

Lady Gaga as Ally is sweet in this role but again, there is nothing new for me to see here. Vocally she is outstanding but then again would anyone expect anything less? The songs are lovely and touching. I think what drove me nuts is that she goes from being Ally in the beginning to actually becoming ‘Lady Gaga’ by the middle to end. That means I don’t see Ally anymore and there goes the film!

Elliott as Bobby has a few scenes and makes the most of them. The problem is that the scenes seem so disjointed and I suppose that could be because their storyline has such an age gap. I love Sam Elliott so I’m happy to see him in anything but if you are going to use this iconic actor in a role, do it well and do it memorably.

Clay as Dad Lorenzo is a proud papa and I’ll admit I didn’t know for at least five minutes that it was him. There are appearances by Dave Chappelle and Eddie Griffin but I’m not sure how that storyline fit into it all, again disjointed. It was good to see both of them so there’s that.

Other cast include Bonnie Somerville as Sally Cummings, Michael Harney as Wolfe, Willam Belli as Emerald, Rebecca Field as Gail, Eddie Griffin as Pastor and Dave Chappelle as Noodles.

Okay, here’s the rough part. I am an avid and devoted fan to the 1937 Janet Gaynor/Frederick March A STAR IS BORN. There is something amazing about that era so that the ’37 version is stunning, emotional and heartbreaking for me. The first time I saw it I knew I had to see it again and again (which I have). Gaynor and March cemented my love of black and white films.

In 1954, Judy Garland and James Mason brought their colorful film to the screen and man, oh man, did the voice of Judy Garland dig deeper into my heart. There is no one like her and there will never be again so to watch her in this version of A STAR IS BORN reminds me of how wonderful both of these actors were. I saw both of these films on television as a kid.

In 1976, Barbra Streisand and Kris Kristofferson brought A STAR IS BORN to the big screen and I can not stress enough how blow away I was at 16 years old. The presence of Streisand and Kristofferson could have been enough but when they both sang their respective songs I absolutely couldn’t breathe. When they sang together I had a tear and a smile on my face. Yes, I remember every emotion the first time I saw the film because I spent several weekends after at the matinee to experience it all again and again. That is what this version of the film did for me and it is a memory as clear as if it were yesterday.

So, here we are in 2018 and although the music is amazing and the two performers put it down emotionally, there is nothing in the story that is going to keep me going back again. I don’t want that to sound as if I’m saying the film isn’t good, it’s alright to my way of thinking but because I hold the other films so dear – there just isn’t room for another version. It just didn’t need to be re-told, re-imagined, re-thunk or any other re…the studio should have just released the original in theatres like they are doing with SUPERMAN.

I know, I know, I’m going to get chided for my opinion but we all know it’s the truth. Understand there is so many original scripts out there waiting to be discovered and made into films that I just do not understand why Cooper thought this was in any way necessary. Why Hollywood, why?

Okay, I’m done. I know there are many people who are excited about the film so go and be excited. Cooper and Gaga can sing so enjoy that and pick up the soundtrack which I think has the potential to be so successful (just please don’t do a sequel Gaga!)

In the end – the music brought them love!