Mission: Impossible Rogue Nation - Everywhere
These days, attempting to separate the image of Tom Cruise, loony Scientologist elder, from the image of Tom Cruise, Big Movie Star is a nearly impossible mission. But movies like last year's Edge of Tomorrow and this fifth entry in the Mission: Impossible are making it a little easier.
All five M:I movies have had different directors, which is a tradition I hope continues with the inevitable sequels — it lends the series a nice level of unpredictability. And while current director Christopher McQuarrie doesn't bring anything revolutionary or insane to the series, (for that, you'll have to reach back to John Woo's Mission: Impossible 2, which was the nuttiest — and thus my favorite — M:I movie), he has crafted a solid bit of action-filled entertainment, complete with the requisite villain hoping to destroy the world (Sean Harris); an upper level management type who wants to keep the IMF team apart; (Alec Baldwin); and a femme who may be a fatale, or may be a friend (Rebecca Ferguson).
Ferguson steals the show on more than one occasion — which could be a testament to Cruise, who isn't afraid to be upstaged. In fact, he's probably at his best when he's fighting against someone who's clearly a little smarter and/or a little stronger; it gives his Ethan Hunt a nice does of humility, and humor.
Besides, he'd never be able to come close to the moves Ferguson masters in her fight scenes, particularly the classic "lady crushes man's head between her thighs" maneuver, which she tends to combine with an initial flying leap over the guy, resulting in her landing on top, head between legs, neck in perfect position for snapping.
The IMF gang is also back: Ving Rhames as Luther, who does NOT do much leaping in the movie; I think he spends most of it lying down; Jeremy Renner as William Brandt, who has to fight off Alec Baldwin's CIA chief; and; Simon Pegg as Benji, who gets more feet-on-the ground action this go-around.
Sure, the movie's probably about 20 minutes too long, and the ending is the furthest from surprising that you can probably get. But the Mission: Impossible series has always been a nice alternative to the more serious Daniel Craig 007 and Bourne movies, and Rogue Nation is so much fun it almost manages to make you forget about Crazy Cruise. And that's an accomplishment.
Sequel? Remake? Reboot? It's all of those and less! Ed Helms stars as Rusty Griswold, son of Clark Griswold, and he wants to recreate that memorable trip to Wally World that he experienced as a kid; Christina Applegate is his wife, who is along for the ride with their two kids. And Chevy Chase and Beverly D'Angelo do indeed turn up in cameos, now grandparents...
Uh-oh. Does that mean one of them ends up tied to the roof of the car?
A LEGO Brickumentary - Presidio
Documentary? Or very long toy ad? You be the judge! The film traces the history of the toy company, from its beginnings in Denmark, to the toy's uses in education and even therapy, to the adult fans who collect the sets and gather for Lego-centered conventions. Narrated by Jason Bateman.
The Look of Silence - Opera Plaza
Companion piece to the Oscar winning documentary The Act of Killing. This follow-up centers on a family related to victims of the 1965 massacre in Indonesia, and their coming face-to-face with two of the men involved--two men who still hold tremendous power in their village.
The directors and star of the French hit The Intouchables reunite for this comedic-drama about a Senegalese migrant to France (Samba Cissé ) who is forced into detention and potential deportation. But help from — and possible romance with — an immigration advocate (Charlotte Gainsbourg) just may change the course of his life.
Legendary Hong Kong action director Ringo Lam is back with his first movie since 2007's Triangle, and it's a return to form, centered on a former cop who tries to protect a woman from her evil lawyer ex-boyfriend and his gang of criminals, while also dealing with his no-good brother, and a suitcase full of stolen cash.
Sure, you could prepare for the Netflix series that premiered today by watching the original movie in the comfort of your own home, but what's the fun in that? Why not get your ass off the couch and head on over to the Clay for a midnight showing instead?
And then you can spend the rest of the weekend back on that couch binge watching that series; you're only human!
