Movie Reviews - Next, Man On A Ledge, Road to Perdition

Next (2007) - Consider the case of Nicholas Cage.  In the early to mid '80s he looked like he could be the "next big thing".  That special actor that takes us to that special place that only they can go.  "Rumble Fish", "Peggy Sue Got Married", "Raising Arizona", "Moonstruck".  With "Leaving Las Vegas" (an an Oscar win for Best Actor) it looked like he might be prepared to move into the next phase of a brilliant career.   The problem is that what followed was less rather than more.  A lot of strange choices, poor choices and action films that are easy box office wins.  "National Treasure" is fun but it's not what we thought we saw for Cage's future.

Sadly what we get mostly are turkeys like this one.  Chris Johnson (Cage) is a small time Vegas magician (is Cage on the payroll of the Vegas Tourism Board?) with the ability to see two minutes into his own future.  Normally this just helps him win at the blackjack table.  Somehow a FBI agent (Julianne Moore) has discovered this ability (Johnson hides it) and wants to use it to fight against terrorists who have smuggled a nuclear weapon into the U.S.  Somehow the terrorists have also figured his talent out and are trying to eliminate him.  Meanwhile it turns out there's only one event that he's ever seen beyond the two minute limit, a woman named Liz Cooper (Jessica Biel, lucky fella).  The rest of the movie plays out pretty much as expected.  There's a little bit of a twist ending but it's hardly earth shattering.

Beyond the lame plot (and when someone points out that this movie is "Based on a Philip K. Dick story" you have my permission to slap them.  The Dick estate should sue because they use the author's name but virtually none of the story "The Golden Man") the movie is filled with dumb mistakes.  Cage's character enters a Fremont Street casino but exits onto the Strip.  He manages to totally screw up a simple joke.  Worst of all is the scene of  the future that the character sees that lasts, wait for it, THREE minutes.  Um, oops.

Got a Saturday afternoon with nothing better to do?  That's pretty much what Cage's career is good for these days.  I'll be nice.

Rating - *** Worth A Look

Man On A Ledge (2012) - I really wanted to like this movie.  And in the end I guess I kind of do.  It's the story of Nick Cassidy (Sam Worthington) who was convicted of stealing one of the world's largest diamonds.  He escapes from prison, makes his way to downtown Manhattan hotel and climbs out on the ledge.  Meanwhile a team consisting of his brother and the brother's girlfriend are trying to prove that the evil corporate owner actually faked the the theft.  Pretty much everything  that happens after that is what you'd expect.

The cast is pretty good, and the concept is quite good.  The problem is that there's just not enough there.  The suspense is supposed rise from moving from the tension between the ledge and the team inside looking for evidence.  But since we know that Cassidy isn't going to jump that never quite works.  The bad guys are standard issue cardboard cutouts (Ed Harris plays corporate creeps as well as anyone).

On a side note I love reading reviews of action flicks where people complain about plot holes.  Here's a challenge watch the original "Die Hard".  It's as good as any in the genre and a heckuva lot better than most.  Drink a shot every time you hit a plot hole (a plot hole is anything that goes against the logic of the story line, is blatantly impossible or is just missing information).  You will be unconscious before the first 45 minutes are gone.  This kind of action movie can't survive with a few juicy plot holes.  So if plot holes bother you stop watching action movies.  You have to be willing to give the story a little room for fantasy (because action movies are fantasy flicks.  First, last, always) and have some fun.

In the end there are too many holes, not enough plot to really make this a good one.  Call it another rainy Saturday afternoon movie and be happy.

Rating - *** Worth A Look

Road to Perdition (2002) - As a general rule I am less than thrilled with movies made from graphic novels.  Before fans of the art form jump down my throat I don't have anything against graphic novels.  But translating that distinctive style, a style that has its roots in the classic comic book, to the screen is hard.  It tends to come off awkward and contrived.  I think "Sin City" (2005) probably did it as well as any I've seen.  On the other hand this movie is based on a graphic novel but translates the story to a much more classic movie style of telling the story.  At the same time it retains the the feel of the original.

1930s mob hit man Michael Sullivan (Tom Hanks)  is betrayed by his boss (Paul Newman) when they murder Sullivan's wife (Jennifer Jason Leigh) and youngest son.  With his surviving son Sullivan goes on the road in search of vengeance.  Along the way he discovers a relationship with that son he never knew he could have. The cast is stellar including Stanley Tucci (who is just amazing.  But then he's Stanley Tucci so why am I amazed?), Daniel Craig (who does a fabulous job playing against his usual tough guy role by playing the unstable,weakling son of the mob boss) and Jude Law in a small but wonderful turn as the killer sent after Sullivan. Then add a string of talented character actors in smaller roles and you get a cast of depth and talent.  Director Sam Mendes does an excellent job weaving all the pieces together.  In the end you get a stylish, visually gorgeous movie with compelling characters and story.

What more could you want?

Rating - **** Recommended