Showing posts with label Don Cheadle. Show all posts

Thursday, October 10, 2013

Flight

Flight (2012)

R - 138 min - Drama, Thriller - 2 November 2012
Big Blue Sky Rating : 7.3/10

Director : Robert Zemeckis
Writers : John Gatins
Stars : Denzel Washington, Nadine Velazquez, Don Cheadle, John Goodman

Whip Whitaker is a commuter airline pilot. While on a flight from Orlando to Atlanta something goes wrong and the plane starts to fly erratically. With little choice Whip crashes the plane and saves almost all on board. When he wakes up in the hospital, his friend from the airline union introduces him to a lawyer who tells him there's a chance he could face criminal charges because his blood test reveals that he is intoxicated with alcohol and cocaine. He denies being impaired, so while an investigation is underway, he is told to keep his act together. However, letting go of his addiction is not as easy as it seems...

Chix Chat on Film Review: Prepare for take off!

Flight is the story of a commercial pilot Whip Whitaker (Denzel Washington) who is able to land a defective plane with extraordinary skill, maneuvering it into an inverted position in order to slow the decent. We see this inverted flight captured in the trailer, but believe it or not this is not the most provocative element of this film. The story is so thought provoking that it will have you walking out of the theater questioning whether or not you could or would choose nobility over self-preservation. Most of what takes place behind the scenes looming like a predator waiting to strike is the blame game, with Whip continuously asserting that no one could have landed that plane except him. That point is supported but it's the collateral damage of his arrogance that is at the forefront of determining liability. The trailer also lets the audience in on the fact that Whip is found to have alcohol in his system as is discussed with Hugh Lang (Don Cheadle) who is the attorney brought in to defend Whip on behalf of the Pilot's association. Hugh was very straight and very narrow, which was the case with most of the characters aside from Whip. It was the dichotomy of Whip's persona so brilliantly conveyed in his mannerisms, responses, and facial expressions that makes the performance Oscar, Golden Globe, BET, Trumpet, Image, MTV and any other awards worthy. If Mr. Washington had uttered eight bars I would say he deserves a Hip Hop award or a Grammy, he was that convincing. I recognized this person that Mr. Washington portrayed so true to life, which is not just a testament to good writing, but mostly to the phenomenal acting talent that is Denzel. All the characteristics that made this individual a hero were the same characteristics that could potentially make him infamous. I will say that I as well as many fans am always open to greater insight into who Denzel is, however the rear view was totally unnecessary. The film does a great job of telling a story about the human condition, nobody is one dimensional and sometimes extreme circumstances make you write yourself a reality check. The question is when you cash that check will you be happy with the results. If you have any fear of flying this is not the movie for you. It will reinforce that fear and possibly cause you to swear off flying altogether. I give this film a green light.

Watch Flight Trailer :

OR

Wednesday, October 9, 2013

Iron Man 2

Iron Man 2 (2010)

PG-13 - 124 min - Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi - 7 May 2010
Big Blue Sky Rating : 7.0/10

Director : Jon Favreau
Writers : Justin Theroux, Stan Lee
Stars : Robert Downey Jr., Mickey Rourke, Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle

With the world now aware of his dual life as the armored superhero Iron Man, billionaire inventor Tony Stark faces pressure from the government, the press, and the public to share his technology with the military. Unwilling to let go of his invention, Stark, along with Pepper Potts, and James "Rhodey" Rhodes at his side, must forge new alliances - and confront powerful enemies.

Solid action-packed funny sequel

I liked it a lot better than the mixed reviews I was reading would have led me to believe. It's not as fresh as the original, but the charisma and humor were there, and so were some great surprises. RDJ was amazing as always - it's hilarious that Iron Man is a funnier superhero than Spiderman, but the improv makes it work. Thumbs up! I think that anyone who enjoyed the first movie will like this as well, and enjoy a great thrill ride! And don't forget to stay after the credits for yet another Marvel movie tie-in that leads towards the inevitable Avengers movie in 2012! Don Cheadle did a good job - ScarJo was good, but not what I imagined the Black Widow to be like, but she *was* hot... And Gwyneth did her usual impeccable job. Mickey Rourke added weight to what could have been a cardboard cutout stereotype, and Sam Rockwell's character, though annoying, was well played.

Watch Iron Man 2 Trailer :

OR

Monday, October 7, 2013

Talk to Me

Talk to Me (2007)

R - 118 min - Biography, Drama, History, Music, War - 3 August 2007
Big Blue Sky Rating : 7.2/10

Director : Kasi Lemmons
Writers : Michael Genet, Rick Famuyiwa
Stars : Don Cheadle, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Bruce McFee, Mike Epps. The story of Washington D.C. radio personality Ralph "Petey" Greene, an ex-con who became a popular talk show host and community activist in the 1960s." />

The true life story of Ralph Waldo "Petey" Greene Jr. In the mid-to-late 1960s, in Washington, D.C., vibrant soul music and exploding social consciousness were combining to unique and powerful effect. It was the place and time for Petey to fully express himself - sometimes to outrageous effect - and "tell it like it is." With the support of his irrepressible and tempestuous girlfriend Vernell, the newly minted ex-con talks his way into an on-air radio gig. He forges a friendship and a partnership with fellow prison inmate Milo's brother Dewey Hughes. From the first wild morning on the air, Petey relies on the more straight-laced Dewey to run interference at WOL-AM, where Dewey is the program director. At the station, Petey becomes an iconic radio personality, surpassing even the established popularity of his fellow disc jockeys, Nighthawk and Sunny Jim. Combining biting humor with social commentary, Petey openly courts controversy for station owner E.G. Sonderling. Petey was ...

Soft Talk

Times are hard. It's the spring of 1967 and the tension culminated alongside the civil rights movement has not only reached its boiling point but is about to boil right over. When the movement's most prominent leader, Martin Luther King Jr. is assassinated, his messages of brotherly love and non-violent approaches to change are forgotten. Riots erupted nationwide in over 60 cities as an immense collection of anger was expressed through unrest and displaced ferocity. In Washington D.C., the city was calmed in part by the voice of one man, a radio DJ by the name of Petey Greene. His morning call-in show was the kind of success that unified its listeners and polarized both their spirits and convictions. Petey prided himself on staying true to himself and speaking that truth no matter what the consequence. The people responded to his frank honesty with devotion and respect. So when he went back on the air to talk the people of Washington down off their ledges on the night of Dr. King's death, it was the trust that had already been established that soothed the fire in the souls; they healed together. After that night, Petey's career was never the same. TALK TO ME, the new film by Kasi Lemmons, tells Petey's inspiring story. Only it doesn't so much tell it as manipulate it into a conventional narrative about shared friendship and separate dreams designed for maximum emotional impact.

Petey Greene (Don Cheadle) is first discovered by Dewey Hughes (Chiwetel Ejiofor) as he broadcasts in prison. The two men are instantly placed in juxtaposition to each other in the context of the film. Petey may be in a literal prison but Dewey is in a prison of his own design. The two will need each other to break out and reach the heights of their potential but they must first get past their instinctual dislike for each other. From where Dewey stands, Petey is the kind of black man what gives everyone else a bad name by playing to type and giving into violent, illegal impulses. Meanwhile, from where Petey stands, Dewey has sold his soul to the white man, walking and talking like his white colleagues in an effort to hide his black skin as best he can. The irony is that they both feel that the other is doing a great disservice to the community and that they themselves are role models for the new black identity. Both actors give strong, commanding performances. Cheadle pushes his versatility further as the raucous button-pusher with a turn that is both volatile and reckless. On the other side of the glass, Ejiofor exhibits restraint and an internalized fire that gives his intentions away no matter how hard he tries to mask them. Both could be contenders come awards season if the words coming out of their mouths weren't so formulaic and plain.

While Lemmons may not have made TALK TO ME into the socially telling film it could have been, she does manage moments of insight, tension and brotherhood. Most of these moments are found in the broadcast booths and offices of real life R&B music station, WOL. Prior to getting a job at the station, Petey had grown comfortable speaking his mind to whoever would listen. Whoever would, would always be limited in number. When finally faced with his first time at the mic, expectations are high. After all, Petey has the pressure of being a natural and he's never had to perform for anyone but himself before. He's also never had to watch his tongue before, but he, along with the station owners, soon learns that in order for Petey to be Petey, he's got to just let the words flow. That said, he also learns that a powerful voice comes with responsibility so in order to continue having that voice in such a public and corporate forum, he can only push the line so far. After all, no matter real the station tries to keep it, the white suits who run the show and sign Petey' checks have sponsors to answer to.

It's a shame that a movie with such a funky soundtrack would be lacking in so much soul but TALK TO ME still manages to keep a solid enough groove to keep it alive. I just wish Lemmons had spent more time heeding Petey Greene's message, to keep it real because the truth is what people respond to above all else. Instead, the watered down reality of Petey's path to fame and examination of the relationships that got him there has been mangled and crammed into a pretty picture that the masses can enjoy. The story of a man who told it like it was is told here as politely as Hollywood will allow.

Watch Talk to Me Trailer :

OR

Sunday, October 6, 2013

Flight

Flight (2012)

R - 138 min - Drama, Thriller - 2 November 2012
Big Blue Sky Rating : 7.3/10

Director : Robert Zemeckis
Writers : John Gatins
Stars : Denzel Washington, Nadine Velazquez, Don Cheadle, John Goodman

'Flight' reaches new heights

Flight is one of the best films of 2012. Simple as that.

Telling the story of a commerical airline pilot who lands a crashing plane and saving over 90 lives, the film is always in control of our attention. Director Robert Zemeckis shows us what we've been missing while he's been directing nothing but animated films for 12 years. He has this great vibe in the film that is hard to explain, but it's great to look at. The writing is spot on, with some great moments that are only helped by the amazing acting from the cast. Washington gives one of the best performances of 2012, the century and from himself. His portrayal of this drug addicted pilot is nothing short of legendary and it really gets under your skin. Incredible.

Also, John Goodman is always fantastic and here is no different. He really adds that touch of quirkiness to the film that is more than welcome. He's also incredible (as always). Geraghty proves to be a great talent that shows us how a 'normal' person would react if they were co- piloting a plane that's plummeting towards the ground. Kelly Reilly is a big surprise here. I wasn't expecting her role to be that important but she makes it imperitve to the story moving forward. Greenwood is excellent and definitely overlooked in this film (and he's such an underrated actor in general). Finally, Cheadle gives a performance that is definitely pitch perfect (like the rest of the cast).

I think without this acting, the film would definitely fail as a lot of the time, the film does become a character study and thank goodness the actors really make their characters come alive.

So to conclude, Flight has a compelling story that should stay with you for quite a while. The acting is nothing short of exemplary, especially Washington who should hit home with many viewers. The direction and cinematography is excellent and will always give you the best angles. And the soundtrack is very, very good. Giving the film that ominous feeling, loss and just downright sadness that the film portrays. If you enjoy a great story that gets into your head, I recommend this film as strongly as I can.

10/10