#20 & 24: GOOD LUCK, HAVE FUN, DON'T DIE

STARRING: Sam Rockwell, Haley Lu Richardson, Michael Pena, Zazie Beetz, Asim Chaudhry and Juno Temple. Screenplay by Matthew Robinson. Directed by Gore Verbinski. Music by Geoff Zanelli. Budget $20 million. Running time 134 minutes.

What's about, David? Well it's about 2 hrs and 14 minutes. But if it's story you're interested in then have you heard the one about a time traveller from a future post apocalyptic world who travels back to our present to recruit someone to help take down a soon to be activated super intelligent AI computer?

But that's the only similarity it has to Terminator, this is an altogether different kettle of fish. For a start it's far funnier. However, if you're someone who likes films to be described using pre-existing movies, then think of this as Terminator meets Miracle Mile via 12 Monkeys, Groundhog Day and The Matrix.

This is a bat-shit crazy, manic, breath-taking relentless mad-dash comedy action adventure that grips the moment Sam Rockwell's character known only as 'Man From the Future' stomps into a late-night diner called Norms and tells everyone he's there to save the world. He proceeds to pressgang six of the patrons into helping him and together they set off across town to the kill a nine-year old boy – the genius mastermind behind a super AI program that's going to enslave the world. Each of the six reluctant helpers are told they're expendable, although each is given a flash back which helps to flesh out this maddening world and give the film some much needed context, indeed enough for the keen eyed amongst you to just about work out what the heck is going on. I don't think you'll be disappointed, I certainly wasn't. This is at turns thrilling, gripping and bloody enjoyable. I loved the energy and the pace of this film, because those 2 hours and 14 minutes flew by. These sorts of films only work if the ending is nailed and this nails like perfectly. I don't want to go into specifics or story beats because this is a film best seen knowing as little as possible about the story. Just know it unravels perfectly and never feels leaden, plus it's lacking those annoying plot holes that often undermine these sorts of films.  

Gore Verbinski directs with kinetic energy galore, but never at expense of visual or story, his framing and pacing match the material perfectly. This has a lovely grungy feel about it, the most obvious reference being 12 Monkeys. But it's the relentless forward momentum that keeps this film firing on all cylinders. 

The cast, especially Rockwell is excellent, this is the sort of role he excels in. But then the rest of the cast do a damn fine job too. Similarly, the soundtrack by Geoff Zanelli fits in perfectly with the visuals and provides excellent audio beats. Finally, Gore Verbinski directs the whole thing with great skill and a keen eye for the visual and fills the screen with detail and action. 

Overall, this was a funny, moving and satisfying science-fiction comedy action film that manages to deliver a solid punch ending while avoiding a flabby middle (lucky bastard) and I'm looking forward to seeing again, and again!

10/10

TAKE TWO

Before I embark on this weekend's new releases I felt the urge to rewatch this before it leaves our silver screens for good, destined for the its second life on the smaller screen. But, this time, with wife and son in tow. How would it fare, what would THEY think, is it time to get a new family, or is this old one still okay? Only time would tell, well 2 hours and 14 minutes anyway... 

That was just as entertaining as the first time, in fact I think I enjoyed it even more second time round as I waited for remembered scenes to come along. I was more aware of the dialogue this time round too, the script is witty and fresh, giving each of the main band of characters their moment to shine. The film keeps changing from one thing to the next as the story unravels and the build up to the payoff is terrific. Stylistically it owes a great debt to the action films of the 80s, not only in the visual style but also the musical clues, twangy synch cords to highten tenstion. There's so much here to enjoy that the film genuinely deserves a second look. Gore Verbinski really deserves huge credit for steering the huge, Hydra-like, film with its multiple story strands and slew of characters. This really is a deeply satisfying and exciting film and you really should give it a go. It truly is one of the most original films you're likely to see. Sadly, it bombed at the boxoffice, probably because the marketing dept didn't know how to sell it. It's a true one-off and the sort of thing that Hollywood weren't supposed to be making anymore. That said, considering it did bomb, the chances of more like this getting greenlit diminishes each time one fails. Here's hoping Project Hail Mary has more success at the movies. 

Well worth two and a quarter hours of your life. And as to my wife and second born, they both loved it, and it generated an entertaning conversation on the way home. They both scored it a solid 8/10, although I'm sticking with my original. 

10/10