Reel Take Reviewers:
∑∑∑∑∑ - Fantastic ∑∑∑∑ - Pretty darn good ∑∑∑ - Has some good points ∑∑ - The previews lied ∑ - Only if you must M- Forget entirely
CHIP KAUFMANN is a film historian who also shares his love of classical music as a program host on WCQSFM radio. MICHELLE KEENAN is a long time student of film, a believer in the magic of movies and a fundraiser for public radio.
For the latest REVIEWS, THEATER INFO and MOVIE SHOW TIMES, visit www.rapidrivermagazine.com
Illustration of Michelle & Chip by Brent Brown.
Questions/Comments?
BRENT BROWN is a graphic designer and illustrator. View more of his work at www.brentbrown.com.
You can email Chip or Michelle at reeltakes@hotmail.com
A Good Day to Die Hard ∑∑∑
Beautiful Creatures ∑∑∑∑
Short Take: This 5th installment in the Die Hard series lacks bite due to an underdeveloped storyline and villains who lack charisma.
Short Take: A surprisingly intelligent, well made supernatural love story that is loaded with choice dialogue and solid performances from its young leads and cast of veterans.
Soviet Union now has all of the Western vices especially crime and corruption on an international scale. A powerful Russian official plans to eliminate a whistleblower (Sebastian Koch) who is being protected by McClane’s estranged son (Jai Courtney) who works for the CIA. After an assassination attempt fails, McClane, his son, and the Russian are now on the run. When the whistleblower’s daughter is kidnapped, the trio must decide what their next move is. From Moscow the next stop is the ruined nuclear plant at Chernobyl. Like father (Bruce Willis), like son (Jai Courtney) in this fifth It is here that installment in the Die Hard series. the film’s big “surprise” is unveiled. REEL TAKE: I have seen every one of As surprises go this one is not bad but once the Die Hard movies since the first one it has been revealed there is nowhere else appeared back in 1988. That one was an for the movie to go. What to do? Why not instant classic. Die Hard 2 (1990) was the throw in some spectacular action sequences usual lackluster sequel while Die Hard With involving the world’s largest helicopter. a Vengeance (1995) and Live Free or Die Bruce Willis is now simply a presence Hard (2007) were a return to form especially in the series much like John Wayne was at the latter which showed that it was possible the end of his career. Jai Courtney, memoto make a good PG-13 action film out of rable as a bad guy in the recent Jack Reacher, previously R rated material. is perfectly adequate as the son which is What made the original Die Hard all he needs to be. German actor Sebastian and numbers 3 & 4 so enjoyable were the Koch (The ( Lives of Others) does the best he villains (Alan Rickman in the first, Jeremy can in the role of the whistleblower but the Irons and Timothy Oliphant in the others) part is seriously underwritten. that Bruce Willis’ character had to deal AGDTDH is easily the weakest of the with. Since John McClane is basically an series although there are far worse ways to American version of James Bond, he needs currently waste your cinematic time. A theto have a baddie worthy of him and that’s ater director I worked with many years ago not the case here. In fact there are actually 3 once told me, “If you can’t be good, then be villains but it doesn’t help. fast”. At 97 minutes (credits included) this Having exhausted all the domestic film does its best to fulfill that maxim. possibilities in the first four films, John Rated R for violence and language (including the McClane now has to go overseas to find famous catch phrase). the action and where better to go than our REVIEW BY CHIP KAUFMANN old Cold War nemesis, Russia. The former
REEL TAKE: Clearly I am not the target
showdown will determine the outcome. While there’s nothing new about this supernatural coming of age storyline, writer-director Richard LaGravanese has filled it with clever, intelligent dialogue and infused it with a remarkable visual sense that extends from the small town drabness to the Gothic South mansion and its unexpected ultramodern interior. The special effects, until the very end, are refreshingly CGI free which lends a sense of gravity to the whole affair and that adds to the enjoyment. However the real pleasure comes from the wonderful performances by all concerned. In addition to Irons, Rossum, Thompson and the two young leads, Viola Davis gives a sincere, intense portrayal of the family “help” who has a much larger role in the proceedings than her humble status would suggest. It’s hard to beat good writing and a cast that knows how to bring it to life.
audience for this movie. Not only had I not read the book, but I was unaware that a series of Beautiful Creatures novels existed. Now that I have discovered that fact, I won’t be going out of my way to read them but I found this movie adaptation to be a class act loaded with quality performances and lots of rich dialogue. The setting is the fictional town of Gatlin, South Carolina, a classic Southern backwater which teenage Ethan Wate (Alden Ehrenreich) can’t wait to escape from. For months he has been dreaming of a mystery girl whose face he can’t see. When newcomer Lena Duchannes (Alice Englert) starts attending Ethan’s school, he immediately knows that she’s the girl in his dreams and he wants to know more about her. It turns out that Lena and her family come from a long line of witches and warlocks or “casters” as they call themselves. In addition to Lena’s Viola Davis, Alice Englert, and Alden Ehrenreich seek out warlock uncle a magic spell in Beautiful Creatures. (Jeremy Irons) there’s her siren cousin (Emmy Rossum) Unfortunately, Beautiful Creatures is who can make men do anything and her not faring that well at the box office. Cerdiabolical mother (Emma Thompson) who tain changes made by the filmmakers have can inhabit other people’s bodies. Lena is not gone down well with the fans of the about to turn 16 which means that she will series and some critics are being incredibly become either a dark witch or a light one. shortsighted by dismissing it out of hand. Her mother and cousin want her to become Warner Brothers had hopes of making this the former while her uncle and Ethan try to get her to use her powers for good. A final ‘Movies’ continued on page 24
Vol. 16, No. 7 — RAPID RIVER ARTS & CULTURE MAGAZINE — March 2013 23