Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation Review

Starring: Tom Cruise, Jeremy Renner, Simon Pegg, Rebecca Ferguson, Ving Rhames, Alec Baldwin

Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation is the fifth film in a long series. I haven't seen all of the films in the series, but this is the best from what I've seen. Rogue Nation is just such an excellent action movie, presented with absolute perfection. There was a lot of media attention over the plane scene (pictured above). Guess what? That is the opening, before the credits even roll! Most of what was shown in the theater was completely new material not shown in the trailers. The exhilaration begins in minute one and it never goes away.  If you've lost faith in Tom Cruise, he definitely brings his A-game, and proves he can hold his own as a movie star. Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation is just such a fun movie, but it's also very well made. I just can't say enough positive things about this movie.

From the opening with the plane, to the final frame, this movie never slows down. Tom Cruise and his team are known for doing their own stunts, and I think it makes the movie seem more believable. And it's hard to make people hanging off of planes and engaging in motorcycle chases in busy cities seem like a believable occurrence. But the strength isn't just in the action sequences. The acting is also very good. Tom Cruise brings a lot to this franchise, and he doesn't disappoint here. He's 53 years old, and somehow I still buy him as an action movie star, so he must be doing something right. While Cruise is the headliner, he is supported by an incredible cast. This might be one of the best supporting casts in an action movie that I can recall. Jeremy Renner and Simon Pegg reprise their roles as part of Ethan Hunt's team, and Ving Rhames returns for a fifth time in his iconic role. Newcomer Rebecca Ferguson holds her own as the double (or triple?) agent playing both sides. I completely bought into her performance, and I never truly knew what side she was on or what she would do next. Alec Baldwin also brings a lot to the movie as the stereotypical government official trying to shut down the spies, except he actually breaks the stereotype! His scenes arguing with Jeremy Renner are some of my favorites. And finally, the villain. Every spy movie needs a great villain. Solomon Lane, played brilliantly by Sean Harris is the perfect villain. His voice is eerie, and his demeanor frightening.

The real success of Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation is its ability to capitalize on one of the most popular themes right now: the idea of an evil corporation within the "good guys". Yes, Rogue Nation is about "The Syndicate", a chapter of Britain's MI6 who went rogue and became terrorists. We've seen this kind of story numerous times before, most recently with Captain America: The Winter Soldier with S.H.I.E.L.D. being compromised by Hydra. And later this year, we'll see S.P.E.C.T.R.E take over MI6 in the newest James Bond film Spectre. These all are good (or expected to be good) examples, but believe me, it's been done in bad movies too. Rogue Nation makes the idea seem new. And for a franchise that basically repeats the same scenes over and over, like the "This message will self destruct", the movie is remarkably able to feel like a breath of fresh air in a summer filled with by-the-numbers action movies. This is one of my favorite movies of the year, I hope you check it out!

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Trainwreck Review

Starring: Amy Schumer, Bill Hader, Brie Larson, Tilda Swinton, John Cena, LeBron James

Amy Schumer's had a pretty solid year so far. Last year, she was known only by the diehard fans of her little-known comedy sketch series Inside Amy Schumer on Comedy Central. Early this year, she got the MTV Movie Awards hosting gig, and then the third series of her show became one of the most talked about shows on television. The sketches went viral, she got celebrity guest stars, and she got an Emmy nomination for Best Actress in a Comedy this summer. Her rise to fame is one of the most interesting ones I've seen. Her drive to market herself and her brand of comedy is one that deserves recognition. But can she pull off a movie? Trainwreck stars Schumer as Amy Townshend, a writer for a men's magazine in NYC who drinks, smokes, and has many one night stands even though she has a boyfriend. She begins to have a relationship with a surgeon she's writing about, and starts to fall apart as she realizes she's changing and leaving behind her carefree nature. Trainwreck is directed by Judd Apatow (The 40 Year-Old Virgin, Knocked Up, Bridesmaids) and is written by Schumer herself. Trainwreck is a great spin on the classic comedy/romance, and is expertly crafted.

Yes, that's right. Trainwreck is anything but an actual trainwreck. I've seen a lot of comedies, and after a little while they all start blending together (I'm talking about you, Adam Sandler), and Schumer and Apatow have created a comedy that switches everything upside down. The woman, Amy, acts like the stereotypical man. She drinks heavily, only cares about casual sex, and doesn't want to be tied down. What ends up being hilarious is that every male acts like a stereotypical woman in a rom-com. LeBron James waits eagerly by the phone as his friend talks to a girl, demanding a play by play. John Cena, an otherwise scary looking guy, is instead a sensitive, loving man who just wants to be romantic. Both of them were my favorite parts of the movie besides Schumer. Amy meets Dr. Aaron Conners, and falls in love. Except she can't handle monogamy. She begins a course of self-destruction that is sometimes sad and hard to laugh at, but is very endearing in the end. Trainwreck is surprisingly serious. For about 30 minutes it is actually very, very sad. In the end, Amy Schumer is able to prove she stands out as a talented writer whose expert timing shows in this film.

Viewers beware: Trainwreck is incredibly awkward. While it's hilarious and I laughed alot, it is very raunchy and sometimes it doesn't always work. Very often she goes into territory that is meant to shock, and it detracts from the movie. If you've ever seen Schumer's TV show, this is an uncensored version where she can dish out whatever she wants. It's also good to keep in mind that this is a movie written by, produced, and starring Amy Schumer. So if you're not a fan of her or her brand of comedy, you're probably not going to enjoy Trainwreck. I'm a fan and I really liked it. I hope you'll check it out before it leaves!

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Southpaw Review

Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Forest Whitaker, Rachel McAdams, Naomie Harris, 50 Cent

Southpaw is a sports drama that tells the story of Billy Hope. Hope is defending his title of World Light Heavyweight champion. He has everything: the glory, a supportive wife and daughter, a giant mansion, and a multitude of things to fill it with. He just has a bit of a temper. One night, his whole life changes when he gets involved in a brawl that ends with his wife Maureen being accidentally shot and killed. From that moment on, his life and all of his glory begins to unravel as Child Services determines whether he keeps his daughter, and he gets suspended from boxing from erratic behavior. Southpaw is at first glance, your average sports movie. I will say that nothing new really is brought to the table and everything in Southpaw I have seen before. But I was compelled by the performances, and I left the theater having really enjoyed the film.

First off, Jake Gyllenhaal is amazing. I have yet to see a movie when he doesn't give an incredible performance, and Southpaw is no exception. A method actor, Gyllenhaal goes to great lengths for his roles. Just last year in Nightcrawler he got scarily thin for that character, and this year he's gained a bunch of muscle. As Hope, he brings the crazy misunderstanding from his character in Nightcrawler, in which he doesn't really understand people. But he also brings a sense of longing. He wants things to be right after all of this tragedy, but he's having trouble getting there. Rachel McAdams turns in a fine performance as his wife, but she's an often used character that really only serves as motivation for the protagonist. And she's not around long enough to make a huge impact in her acting. The movie really kicks into gear when Forest Whitaker steps in as his trainer. Whitaker is another actor who just brings an extra gravitas whenever he's onscreen, no matter what movie. He also has some struggles of his own, and in a role that's been done over and over in literally every boxing movie ever, he brings something extra that makes his feel brand new.

Here's my big problem with Southpaw. It is incredibly formulaic. The plot, the characters, and the script. I could have told you going into the movie how it would end. I was hoping I'd be proven wrong, but it happened exactly as I thought it would. In a story about a man with his wife dead, and fighting for custody of his child (and a championship title) the same tropes happen that you would expect in a Lifetime movie. But that doesn't mean the quality of the movie doesn't outweigh the couple of eyerolls it gave me. The actors are able to make the movie feel genuine, even if truly it is the same melodramatic formula we've seen before. This spin on the story proved very effective, and I actually loved Southpaw. I recommend it to anyone who likes the genre.

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