Blu-ray thumbs

[Chris Knipp]

THE BROTHERS BLOOM (2008)


This movie is saved by Rachel Weisz, who’s wonderful.
Adrien Brody and Mark Ruffalo are the brothers, whose reputation precedes them. They are well-known con-men, and this movie takes us around the world for their schemes. Love for Penelope (Weisz) threatens their cons.
Directed by Rian Johnson with beautiful cinematography/ locales, this film requires a little suspension of disbelief to buy it totally.
It’s a comedy, but I found the laughs few and far between.
It also stars the late Robbie Coltrane as a museum curator.

I wrote a review - though you may not want to read beyond the first paragraph.
http://www.filmleaf.net/showthread.p...2233#post22233

[Johann]

Good review Chris- you fill in the details.
You’re right that there’s not enough danger to the cons or the brothers themselves.

[Johann]

GET ON UP (2014)

Directed by Tate Taylor, this biopic does the Hardest Working Man in Show Business Justice.
I loved this movie. It doesn’t shy away from the unsavoury aspects of James Brown’s life.
No no no- it’s all here, his rough childhood, his mothers’ prostitution, his jail time, his abusiveness towards his wife- it’s warts and all.
But we also get incredible concert moments and performances. Chadwick Boseman deserved an Oscar.
He is James Brown. I had no trouble giving it up for him here.
Makes you want to buy some albums!
Two big thumbs up.

[Chris Knipp]

I remember how frustrating that movie was. But I felt it deserved a thorough going over. Rian Johnson - despite what Oscar said originally - that he didn't like BRICK, the debut that was almost a cult hit - led one to expect a lot more. And he did - he gave us LOOPER, he gave us 84 Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi (not my thing, but good reviews) and he gave us KNIVES OUT. So BROTHERS BLOOM was sort of a sophomore slump. Now KNIVES OUT ii is on the way next month.

[Johann]

The main problem with it is how artificial it feels.
Rian Johnson has a solid film career, but he drew a lot of ire from Star Wars fans. I still don’t know how he landed that job.
Like you, I won’t watch The Brothers Bloom again. It has no lasting power.

[Johann]

WARRIOR (2011)


Gavin O’Connor’s Warrior is long but great.
It’s sports drama at its finest, a la Rocky.
Tom Hardy and Joel Edgerton turn in great performances as MMA fighters and brothers who ultimately fight each other in “Sparta”, a tournament of champions.
Tom Hardy is actually trained in ju-Jitsu, and Joel passes for an MMA fighter no problem— he’s certainly got the physique.
There is a fair amount of pre-fight family drama, with their father Paddy (a great Nick Nolte).
This is a more polished and heady version of The Fighter.
And like that film, there’s a really happy outcome.
Recommended.

[Chris Knipp]

WARRIOR (2011)


Gavin O’Connor’s Warrior is long but great.
It’s sports drama at its finest, a la Rocky.
Tom Hardy and Joel Edgerton turn in great performances as MMA fighters and brothers who ultimately fight each other in “Sparta”, a tournament of champions.
Tom Hardy is actually trained in ju-Jitsu, and Joel passes for an MMA fighter no problem— he’s certainly got the physique.
There is a fair amount of pre-fight family drama, with their father Paddy (a great Nick Nolte).
This is a more polished and heady version of The Fighter.
And like that film, there’s a really happy outcome.
Recommended.

I listed it in my Best Movies of 2011 list, but I didn't write a review of it - did not engage with it as much as THE FIGHTER and consequently don't remember it as well. THE FIGHTER got better reviews than WARRIOR, in fact - despite WARRIOR's physically impressive leads.

[Johann]

THE FIGHTER got better reviews than WARRIOR

The Fighter was prime Oscar bait; I feel Warrior could’ve won Oscars uif it came first.
The editing should be singled out too. The fights were more exciting than real MMA fights!
With a couple being VERY satisfying to watch.

[Chris Knipp]

The main problem with it is how artificial it feels.
Rian Johnson has a solid film career, but he drew a lot of ire from Star Wars fans. I still don’t know how he landed that job.
Like you, I won’t watch The Brothers Bloom again. It has no lasting power.

I don't know how he landed it either - or why he'd want to. He has talent though and KNIVES OUT is one of the most ingenious and witty puzzle murder pictures ever.