This is no time for tepid, “we'll
see”-style contemplation. This weekend offers up two films many
people are praising, if not outright losing their minds over. The fun
thing is they couldn't be more different. Prepare yourselves for a
musical comedy and a bonkers action epic, both sequels to
well-remembered films, if not stone-cold classics. We'll see if their
pre-release reputations bear fruit. Let's take a look-see.
Pitch Perfect 2
Director: Elizabeth
Banks
Writer: Kay Cannon
Starring: Anna
Kendrick, Rebel Wilson, Hailee Steinfeld, Brittany Snow
Elizabeth Banks,
who had a hilarious side role in the first Pitch Perfect,
makes her directorial debut with the terrific cast and screenwriter
returning. These are immensely funny people, and their musical talent
is just cherry-on-top goodness.
The first movie
gave me an idea for an essay, yet unwritten, about whether musical
comedies are better than musical dramas because the sense of timing
translates so perfectly between music and comedy. The precision
needed for both is daunting, and actresses like Kendrick and Wilson
pull it off with spades. Under normal circumstances, this would be my
most anticipated movie in a while, and it's up there, but, well, look
below.
Mad Max: Fury Road
Director: George
Miller
Writers: George
Miller, Brendan McCarthy, Nico Lathouris
Starring: Tom
Hardy, Charlize Theron, Nicholas Hoult
I can tell you even
without seeing anything more than the trailer, this movie is a game
changer. Whether it's a hit isn't up to me, but its near religious
adherence to the use of practical effects and still going bigger than
most CGI-reliant blockbusters could be the type of filmmaking that
keeps movie theaters relevant against the rise of direct-to-video and
streaming services that make seeing things at home even easier. It is
an event that demands to be seen projected on a giant screen, if only
to try to suss out how they accomplished things like a giant, high
speed pendulum and flipping gladiator cars over live actors.
Even beyond the
boldness of the stunts, there's something special going on in this
fourth installment of the Mad Max series. Tom Hardy replaces
Mel Gibson in the title role, one of the best upgrades in film
history. Make no mistake, Gibson is a good actor who has done fine
work in a number of things over the years. But, as is often the case,
big stars aren't exactly chameleonic in their roles. Rare is the star
like Hardy, who can disappear into a character, completely
transforming in the process. Stuff like Bronson, Locke,
and giant blockbuster roles like Bane in The Dark Knight Rises are
examples of Hardy's greatness, and fingers crossed he continues that
as Mad Max.
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