The Wolf of Wall Street

[This is another of my reviews posted on Netflix that I have to re-post again and again.  Evidently, they object to my opinion and use that to justify clicking the ‘objectionable content’ box that will get my review automatically pulled from the site.  At least here, on my very own blog, I won’t have that problem.  It does get disheartening when someone disagrees with my thoughts so much they would not just vote it as ‘unhelpful’ but go so far as to get it removed from the site entirely.  If you see the issue differently than I do, I invite you to leave a comment so we can discuss it like civilized human beings.]

“There’s no nobility in poverty” according to Jordan Belfort (Leonardo DiCaprio), a morally reprehensible stockbroker who evidently has no conscience whatsoever. That’s as may be, but there’s also no inherent nobility in being filthy rich, especially when you’ve committed egregious acts of greed and corruption to attain it. The Wolf of Wall Street exemplifies the words of Obi-wan Kenobi describing the Mos Eisley spaceport, “a wretched hive of scum and villainy.” These denizens of Wall Street worship at the altar of Money and venerate those who best practice the seven deadly sins. It is worth noting that there are plenty of hard-working stockbrokers who carefully and responsibly tend other people’s money. This lot, however, care absolutely not one whit about good stewardship but instead take pride in being venal predators who actively laugh at their clients’ gullibility as they gleefully line only their own pockets, bilking hard-earned money from people who can ill-afford to lose it. This movie certainly succeeds in portraying the malignant debauched lifestyle of Belfort, whose company resembles more of a lunatic asylum where the inmates run wild and everyone indulges in the most lewd excesses instead of being a professional financial institution.

Tawdry, obscene and unconscionably wanton, this film is full of the most appallingly foul language to such an extent that if the script left out all the expletives it would cut the run time in half (the same thing has been said about Good Will Hunting, but in the case of that film the rest of the content is so wonderful I forgave the language.  Needless to say, this film did not achieve the same level of grace with me). I found very little of redeeming value in the narrative although I can appreciate the caliber of acting performances. Bits here and there were funny but on the whole it was an illustration of terrible choices, of how not to live your life. Rampant sexual orgies, constant drug use and a lack of anything remotely resembling ethics made this horrifying to watch. I guess I just don’t particularly care for movies that seem obsessed with the seedier side of life and show the most graphic and repulsive things for the sake of being edgy and controversial. So slimy and perverted, I feel I need a shower in order wash away the stench of this raunchy sleaze-fest. – BETHANY

For more on who was involved in The Wolf of Wall Street, visit the Internet Movie Database

Leonardo DiCaprio‘s Jordan Belfort and his sole reason for living.

Matthew McConaughey as Mark Hanna.

Belfort and wife #2, played by Margot Robbie.

Here’s a fun activity – cover a hooker in money!

Or have hookers give you a “money massage”.

Jonah Hill in the famous scene where he swallows a live goldfish (he didn’t really, in case you were wondering).

Ah, the life of a greedy amoral sociopath …

Just another day at the office of Stratton Oakmont.

Jordan explains to FBI agent Denham (Kyle Chandler) that he’s doing nothing illegal.

Sir, I have an amazing opportunity for you to invest in a bridge somewhere …  (Jonah Hill)

 

 

Photos courtesy of Paramount Pictures, Red Granite Pictures, Appian Way, Sikelia Productions and EMJAG Productions (unless otherwise credited in clickable form)

Helix

I only watched a few episodes of Helix before deciding it was not for me. I liked the premise and it was certainly suspenseful, but I just couldn’t take the relentless gore and unnecessarily gross visuals. Too creepy and way too violent, I quit watching even though I really was interested in the plot. There are plenty of other things to watch that don’t feel the need to horrify and shock the viewer. I enjoy shows like True Blood, Bones, Sleepy Hollow, Grimm, Fargo, and Z Nation as well as scary movies like Pitch Black, the Alien series and The Ghost in the Darkness, so it’s not like I object to graphic bloody stuff in general. But Helix took it to a whole new level of nastiness and there are some things you can’t un-see. It’s a real shame because I liked the idea behind the show.  Evidently others felt the same way I did because after two seasons of lackluster ratings, the Syfy channel pulled the plug.  – BETHANY

For more on this creepy short-lived show, visit the Internet Movie Database

Well this isn’t good …

Someone was experimenting with monkeys and when they were done, simply tossed them outside.

I know this is fictional but the horrific animal cruelty portrayed was just too much, and was never really even addressed.

Look out!  He’s got a syringe gun and he’s going to try and use it but will probably fail.

You really don’t want to see what’s in that body bag.  I wish I hadn’t …

How to make a creepy sick person:  Put veins all over the place, use red contacts and distribute random patches of blood and black ooze.  Perfect!

The ‘inexplicably dead scientist whose cause of death is unknown’ cliché.

Is it just me or does this guy look like one of the Wraith on Stargate: Atlantis?

Now here’s a makeup department cop-out.

My word, what a thoroughly disgusting and rather pointless show!

And this poster for season 2 is supposed to make you want to see the show?

 

 

Photos courtesy of Kaji Productions, Muse Entertainment Enterprises, Lynda Obst Productions, Sony Pictures Television and Syfy

The Giver

“When people have the freedom to choose, they choose wrong. Every single time.” The idea that the government knows best is not a new one, a.k.a. The Nanny State. This one’s bright idea of “fixing” humanity was to create a super-regimented, highly regulated, advanced technological and micro-managed community, devoid of diversity, color (a nifty trick!), emotion and things like adventure and genuine pleasure. Sameness becomes the goal but equality, taken to such extremes, becomes a great evil rather than a virtue. This might be the ultimate example of throwing out the baby with the bathwater in that by ridding people of the bad, they also strip them of the things that make life worth living. You know it’s bad when someone says something like “The Elders are never wrong.” Dum-duh-dum-dum!  Brenton Thwaites stars as Jonas, who is chosen (in a ceremony a LOT like the ones in Harry Potter, Divergent and The Hunger Games) to become apprentice to The Receiver of Memory (Jeff Bridges).  It is his lot to retain memories of the world as it was before.  They can never be shared with anyone else except an apprentice, but he does offer advice based on his broader knowledge to the leaders of The Community.  Since Jonas is to be the Receiver of Memory, the two of them decide to call the previous one “the Giver”.  Taylor Swift plays the part of a previous apprentice, Rosemary, who mysteriously didn’t work out and subsequently disappeared.  The trouble really begins when Jonas starts illicitly sharing what he’s learned with his friend Fiona (Odeya Rush), and generally starting to behave contrary to the rules of The Community.

While I appreciate a lot about this movie, I’ve got to wonder if there’s an assembly line somewhere churning out scripts about future dystopian societies where one or two characters just don’t quite fit in, i.e. the Hunger Games, Divergent, The Maze Runner, The Island, etc., although this one puts a creepy Pleasantville spin on the theme. There are some great sequences illustrating the joys as well as the horrors of life, and it’s always a pleasure to see Alexander Skarsgård (Eric Northman!! from True Blood). But while I have a feeling the book is probably more interesting and quite profound, the movie left much to be desired. The prologue says there are no losers or winners, but one of the first lines is “I win,” regarding the competitive sport of baby weighing. “Some people have it, some people don’t.” Right from the beginning, the script violates its own basic tenet, with a character crying “That’s just not fair!”. I liked the subtle use of color shading throughout, but unfortunately an emotionless society makes for a boring movie. With no real resolution other than a nice montage encapsulating the full human experience, it was too oversimplified for my taste.  I hear there are several other books by the same author set in this world, but if any of them get made into movies I can’t say I’m looking forward to it.  – BETHANY

For more on this movie, visit the Internet Movie Database

This apple turns red just like the one in Pleasantville – poor Eve, she’ll never live it down …

The Community – anywhere else is known somewhat vapidly as “Elsewhere”.

A ceremony in The Community.  Such straight lines!

Jonas’ family, Father (Alexander Skarsgård), his sister and Mother (Katie Holmes).

Learning about music from the Giver.

Receiving memory from the Giver, who lives on the edge of The Community.

Jonas and friends Fiona (Odeya Rush) and Asher (Cameron Monaghan).

      Taylor Swift as Rosemary.

Meryl Streep as The Chief Elder and Jeff Bridges as the Giver.

Photos courtesy of Asis Productions, Tonik Productions, Walden Media and The Weinstein Company (unless otherwise credited in clickable form)

Crusade: A March Through Time

While this might not be truly great cinema, it is at least a creative spin on Mark Twain’s Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court story. Also called Crusade in Jeans, Dolf Vega (Johnny Flynn) uses his mother’s time machine (who hasn’t done that at one point or another …) with the, er, truly laudable and altruistic purpose of going back to give himself another chance to correct a mistake after a disastrous soccer game. As far as plausibility goes, well, it doesn’t, but the movie is still interesting. Dolf accidentally sends himself back not to his soccer game, but to 13th century Europe. Doh! Upon arrival, he joins the infamous ‘Children’s Crusade’, an event which is largely apocryphal according to historians, but definitely makes for a good story. The script does have fun with culture clash, such as Dolf inadvertently teaching 13th century children 21st century slang. Traveling with a hoard of flower children 800 years before Woodstock, Dolf uses modern know-how to improve conditions for the pint-sized crusaders. I particularly liked the bit where Queen came to the rescue, singing ‘We Are The Champions’. Personally, I liked the movie Timeline better, which also featured a group of modern scientists transported back to medieval Europe. I can’t give this a rave review, but I really did enjoy it and it was a pleasure to see Stephanie Leonidas as she really looks, not made up as Irathient Irissa on Defiance. I appreciated the performance from underrated actor Benno Fürmann, playing itinerant monk Thaddeus. The exchange between Thaddeus and Dolf about faith is excellent. Also, my compliments on the period appropriate artwork depicting Dolf, as well as the evocative soundtrack. – BETHANY

For more on this movie, visit the Internet Movie Database

That’s right, Mom, show your kid exactly how to use the time machine because he won’t be tempted to use it or anything.  (Emily Watson and Johnny Flynn)

And here he goes in an appropriately tech-y contraption.

The ‘making friends with the natives by giving them candy bars’ cliché.

Stephanie Leonidas as Jenne with Johnny Flynn as Dolf.

The top brass of the crusade, a medieval version of a publicity stunt.

All the little flower children – note the piously folded hands.

Transportation to the Holy Land or something else?

Monk Thaddeus (Benno Fürmann).

 

 

Photos courtesy of Kasander Film Company, Intuit Pictures, Marmont Film Production, Delux Productions, Village Roadshow, RacPac-Dune, 3 Arts Entertainment, Viz Productions, Warner Bros. Pictures  and Focusfilm Kft (unless otherwise credited in clickable form)

Rango

Although Rango is an animated film, the plot seems to come straight out of a Clint Eastwood movie. A fish out of water tale (literally in the case of the goldfish from Rango’s terrarium) where a city slicker winds up way out of his element in the West. He meets many interesting characters, but it’s the prickly damsel in distress who beautifully voices her disgust. “Get your slimy, webbed phalanges off ma boots!” After his ignominious introduction to the town of Dirt, (yes, they really named the town Dirt. Enough said.), he claims to be a deadly gunslinger to garner some respect. But when there’s a crisis of water shortage, everyone looks to Rango to solve their problems before the town goes bust. He learns a great deal about himself and slowly becomes the hero they all believe him to be. So what if all the characters are desert animals, and Rango himself is a chameleon, this is a great comedic western any way you slice it. I especially liked the gloomy mariachi band of owls serving as a sort of Greek Chorus, commenting on the proceedings and frequently making dire predictions.

Rango, voiced by the nonpareil Johnny Depp, provides much of the comedy through his actions and also by the juxtaposition of his cluelessness against the hard bitten residents of Dirt. The plot moves along at a rapid pace, the dialogue is snappy and crisp, and there are some truly hilarious bits as Rango stumbles about causing chaos (after a robbery, he calls on the townsfolk to form a “possum”). I particularly liked the chase scene set to Wagner’s ‘Ride of the Valkyries’, but played on banjos. Priceless! Definitely a movie to be enjoyed by persons of all ages with something good to say about finding your courage and doing the right thing. “No man can walk out of his own story.”

There was some controversy over the rather pervasive smoking throughout the movie (an anti-smoking organization said there were at least 60).  For this reason, there was a petition to change the rating to R, but nothing came of it and it remained rated PG. There’s also some rather distressing visuals of an armadillo being run over on a highway (see below), but since it doesn’t appear to do him irreparable harm, I’ll let it pass.  Highly entertaining, cute but not trite, this movie has depth to it and richly deserved its 2012 Oscar. – BETHANY

For more on this quirky and unique animated film, visit the Internet Movie Database

Rango and Roadkill (Alfred Molina) – don’t worry, he’ll be just fine.

Beans (Isla Fisher) doesn’t take too kindly to being accosted.

The doleful Mariachi band

Priscilla (Abigail Breslin), one of the most cynical inhabitants of Dirt.

Yeah, I don’t think the hawk is going to think you’re a cactus, Rango.

Rattlesnake Jake (Bill Nighy).

Rango leading the possum, er, posse.

Like any respectable Western, you have to have a shot framed by the sunset.

Hillbilly chase scene

Angelique the Fox (Claudia Black), the Mayor of Dirt’s receptionist.

                           A bunch of no-good varmints, headed by Bad Bill (Ray Winstone).

Rango and the Mayor, voiced by Ned Beatty, who plies him with water.

The Spirit of the West (Timothy Olyphant).  Let’s see, what famous Hollywood gunslinger does he most resemble?

 

 

Photos courtesy of Paramount Pictures, Nickelodeon Movies, Blind Wink Productions, Industrial Light & Magic and GK Films (unless otherwise credited in clickable form)

Fargo

Warning: If the Minnesota accent annoys you, do not watch this movie. Also, if you object to lots of particularly colorful language and blood splattering everywhere, you might want to look elsewhere for entertainment. The story itself is unfortunately believable, as it explores the dreadful things people will do for the sake of money or when they are pushed beyond the limits of their endurance. It’s a sad, but accurate commentary on humanity and the scene with the wood chipper will no doubt make frequent appearances in my nightmares. I’ve often wondered if being a cop necessarily gives a person a certain cynicism, but the character of the sheriff was quite refreshing. She just kept at it, unraveling things bit by bit and following the evidence wherever it led.

I must admit, I was hooked with the dramatic opener, which read ‘This is a true story. The events depicted in this film took place in Minnesota in 1987. At the request of the survivors, the names have been changed. Out of respect for the dead, the rest has been told exactly as it occurred.’ However, I have since found out this is a flat out lie and felt annoyed at the filmmakers for being so deliberately dishonest and frankly disrespectful to other films that really are based on real events. Was it a good story? Yes, it was full of dark humor, lots of unexpected twists and turns and the characterizations were fascinating. I really never knew what was going to happen next, but in the end I felt vaguely unsatisfied, as though something was missing. Perhaps the reason for that is that reality doesn’t usually tie up every loose end in a neat bow with explanations for everything. The movie instead winds up being thought provoking and stays with you longer than if the ending had been more pat. I’m glad I watched it, as it allowed me to better appreciate the new TV show of the same name (which is excellent!), although I’m still grateful I do not live in Minnesota. – BETHANY

For more on this classic movie, visit the Internet Movie Database

Well, doesn’t this look inviting.

 Carl Showalter (Steve Buscemi) and Gaear Grimsrud (Peter Stormare), some very shady characters, and not just because you can hardly see them in this bar.

Police Chief Marge Gunderson (Frances McDormand).  Is that hair something else?  You Betcha!

This is not a happy man!  Jerry Lundegaard (William H. Macy).

Mrs. Lundegaard (Kristin Rudrüd), contributor to why Jerry is not happy.

Marge and Norm Gunderson (John Carroll Lynch) having breakfast.

Who knew hookers wore fuzzy cat sweaters?  Maybe only in Minnesota.  The one in pink, Hooker #2, is played by Melissa Peterman, more recently known as Bonnie Wheeler on Baby Daddy.

“Say, Lou, didya hear the one about the guy who couldn’t afford personalized plates, so he went and changed his name to J3L2404?”  “Yah, that’s a good one.”

Minnesotans seem oddly proud of their connection to this movie, going so far as to memorialize the actual wood chipper used in the film in a museum.  And yes, that is a leg sticking out of the hopper.  Am I sorry I saw this particular scene in the movie?  You’re darn tootin’!  (Image found at mnprairieroots.com)

 

Photos courtesy of PolyGram Filmed Entertainment, Working Title Films and MGM (unless otherwise noted)

Orange is the New Black

At the request of a friend, I decided to watch a few episodes in order to write a review, but once you start it’s like falling down a rabbit hole, and let me tell you, that hole is deep (I watched the entire first season in 2 days!). I can see why the show garnered such critical acclaim, but it is not for the faint of heart. It’s an unvarnished look into the realities of prison life, some of it sordid, sometimes surprisingly moving, emotionally wrenching, but always absolutely riveting. Appallingly foul language, explicit sexual material and human nature stripped raw, but with just enough moments of genuine laughter and heart to prevent it from being unbearably depressing. Believe it or not, there’s a sweetly romantic scene involving chewing tobacco. Full of carefully curated windows into the lives of the inmates, guards, and loved ones on the outside, it forces you to see them not as just fictional paper dolls, but as real people whose stories resonate with the viewer, whether you want them to or not. And Captain Janeway, how you’ve changed! Kate Mulgrew plays Red, the iron Russian chatelaine of the prison kitchen in a magnificent, charged performance.

The writing showcases an infinite spectrum of humanity and like the terracotta soldiers guarding the emperor’s tomb, every one drawn in precise detail but each totally unique. You might not like them all, but you’ve got to admire the craftsmanship. Enlightening and surprisingly profound, a real slice-of-life exposé that will leave you changed in some indefinable way. Acts of basic kindness and compassion abut petty cruelty and malicious tyranny, with the narrative pulling no punches. Orange is the New Black is a human petri dish dumped into a crucible but in spite of all the gritty darkness, there’s some deliciously twisted humor. “Between the Baptists and the addicts, I can’t find a peaceful place to meditate on love and acceptance, which my Buddhist faith requires.”  I couldn’t have put it better myself. – BETHANY

For more on this bizarre cocktail of humanity, visit: The Internet Movie Database

           Galina ‘Red’ Reznikov, played by Kate Mulgrew.

Tiffany ‘Pennsatucky’ Doggett (Taryn Manning), a pathological religious zealot.

It’s tough to be the new girl on the prison block.  Piper Chapman (Taylor Schilling) got locked up for a crime committed ten years prior, running drugs for her then-girlfriend Alex.

                                      Laura Prepon plays Alex Vause, who has the nerve to be locked up in the same prison as ex-girlfriend Piper.

Natasha Lyonne plays Nikki, a perpetually suspicious and stridently lesbian character.  She also played confused Megan in the lesbian coming-of-age movie But I’m a Cheerleader, which I have also reviewed.

Poussey Washington as played by Samira Wiley

                                   Uzo Aduba as Suzanne Warren, better known by the uncommonly accurate appellation ‘Crazy Eyes’.

                                 Big Boo (Lea DeLaria)

                                  Warden Sam Healy (Michael Harney), a man of deep conviction and a bit of an obsession with what he considers ‘deviant’ sexual behavior.

                                   “I have been here for less than two weeks. I’ve been starved out, felt up, teased, stalked, threatened and called Taylor Swift!”  Larry Bloom, Piper’s fiancé, listening with varying degrees of success. (Jason Biggs)

 

 

Warning:  This Gag reel is full of profanity, blatant sexual content and other rated R stuff.  Just so you know.

 

Photos courtesy of Lionsgate Television, Tilted Productions and Netflix (other image credits can be found by clicking on them)

 

Hercules

My first thought was “oooh, a Greek mythology version of The Avengers,” and the comparison was more apropos than I realized. Both this film and The Avengers are based on comic books, but it can certainly be argued that Greek heroes like Hercules and Theseus were the world’s first superheroes. This is perhaps a more realistic portrait of Hercules, unlike the squeaky clean Disney version or the overtly cheesy heroics of the hunk with the heart of gold, as played by Kevin Sorbo. Not that this movie is entirely free of cheese, but like in Troy, the writers decided to leave the gods out of it and tell the story of what the truth behind the legend might have been. Dwayne Johnson is spot on as a gritty Hercules, a man not above building his own mythology or getting paid for his work. Of course it’s still a thrilling adventure filled with great battles, heroes and dastardly villains, who may not be quite what they seem.

There’s some beautifully pithy lines (“Do you mind? I was having a moment.”) and I particularly liked the heartbreaking portrayal of Tydeus, a man severely scarred by horrific events in his past and Norwegian actor Aksel Hennie lets you see the poor man’s nightmares reflected in his eyes. Ian McShane, the irreverent seer, and Rufus Sewell, the cynic, are perfection and Ingrid Bolsø Berdal‘s Atalanta’s skilled warrior thankfully goes nowhere near Xena territory. OK, so they might have recycled some armor and costumes from Troy and Gladiator, but they do rather brilliantly portray the military formation of the hoplite phalanx, something the Romans greatly admired and later adapted as their own. Not as dark as the previews made it look and surprisingly clean (only one f-bomb), this definitely gives the viewer what they want and if that means it’s gratuitous, I for one don’t mind a bit. – BETHANY

To find this particular film version of Hercules among the hundreds listed on IMDB, click this link which has done all the work for you:  the Internet Movie Database

Hercules bids farewell to Megara (Irina Shayk) and his children.

So the lion hat is a little ridiculous, but it is consistent with the Greek myths.

         Ian McShane as Amphiaraus the seer – the picture isn’t the best quality, but I love that dude’s expression on the left!

Rufus Sewell as Autolycus the rogue.

Impressive temple, no?

Left to right:  Autolycus, Tydeus, Hercules, Atalanta and Iolaus the storyteller

John Hurt as Cotys, King of Thrace

Rebeccah Ferguson as Ergenia

Barbara Palvin as Antimache.

Irina Shayk as Megara

Aksel Hennie as Tydeus.  The poor boy!

                                      Joseph Fiennes as King Eurystheus.  Is it just me, or does he look a bit effeminate?

 

 

Photos courtesy of Flynn Picture Company, Radical Studios, Paramount Pictures and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures

The 100

This is what you get when the CW tackles the science fiction sub-genre of a post apocalyptic future. The premise is Earth has been destroyed by a nuclear event, rendering it largely uninhabitable.  A group of survivors took refuge on  a bunch of orbiting space stations, which then banded together to form The Ark.  Three generations later, with supplies growing low, Chancellor Jaha (Isaiah Washington) decides to send 100 young adults currently imprisoned for various infractions to the ground.  Quite good thus far, this show is very much in the same vein as Battlestar Galactica, complete with the 12 colonies in space, but in a way the Earth itself is the enemy instead of the Cylons. The comparison is apropos, as there are two Battlestar alums on the show – Alessandro Juliani (Lt. Felix Gaeta) and Kate Vernon (Ellen Tigh). We’ve also got Henri Ian Cusick (Desmond from Lost) as a complicated and somewhat nefarious character and one of my personal favorite underrated actresses, Paige Turco, whom I absolutely love in Person of Interest. But so far, the driving force of the story is with the 100 young adults who were sent down to Earth to see if it was survivable. Their story is a bit like Lord of the Flies, as heroes and villains emerge, the inevitable power struggles ensue and the 100 learn there is more to existence than just surviving. The narrative explores the structure of civilization, the ethics of people put under pressure and the human will to live, along with the CW’s patented young adult drama/romance. The 100 discover they are not alone on Earth’s surface, there are “Grounders”, or those who have survived the apocalypse somehow and now live in a primitive tribal-type society. Their fearsome leader is played by Dichen Lachman (Sierra from Dollhouse), and her exotic looks (plus a wicked cool makeup job) actually make her more than a little scary. I’m greatly enjoying the character development of Clarke, Bellamy, Finn, Octavia, Jasper and Monty, as well as some other well-drawn personalities. Dark, creative, dramatic and compelling, I will be very interested to see where this show goes, but it will be tough to fail, stacked as it is with so much talent. [Addendum: Season 1 was only an appetizer to Season 2’s main course – this has developed into a rich and highly complex show and has been renewed for a third season.] – BETHANY

For any and all information on this outrageously complicated and densely populated show, visit IMDB.com

The Ark, made up of 12 separate space station that joined together.  Convenient, that is.  Oh, sorry, wrong Sci-Fi reference.

The 100 have a pow-wow, or possibly a riot.  Hard to tell with this group.

The famous shot of the two-headed deer, courtesy of lots of radiation.

Finn (Thomas McDonell) and Clarke (Eliza Taylor).

Wells Jaha (Eli Goree), son of the Chancellor.

Octavia (Marie Avgeropoulos) and Bellamy (Bob Morley) having a sibling disagreement.

Finn, Clarke, Monty (Christopher Larkin) and Jasper (Devon Bostick).  The Earth is full of surprises.

                                                                     Highly unpleasant character Murphy (Richard Harmon).

                                                                 Hot native, Lincoln (Ricky Whittle).

Anya, leader of the Grounders (Dichen Lachman).

         Key players on the Ark: Marcus Kane (Henry Ian Cusick) Dr. Abby Griffin (Paige Turco) and Chancellor Jaha (Isaiah Washington).

Battlestar Galactica alum Alessandro Juliani playing Sinclair.

                                                                                  Another Battlestar alum Kate Vernon playing Diana Sydney).

                             Raven (Lindsey Morgan).

 

 

Photos courtesy of Alloy Entertainment, CBS Television Studios, Warner Bros. Television and The CW (unless otherwise credited in clickable form)

Lucy

I think this movie was incorrectly marketed and has been mistakenly perceived by the public as a kind of super hero movie. Yes, Scarlett Johansson‘s Lucy does get superpowers, but this is definitely not a comic book type of adventure. This is a cerebral and scientific thought experiment that asks the question what might a human being be if they could access 100% of their brain’s potential? The director is Luc Besson, perhaps best known for The Fifth Element, and Lucy has a similar warped feel to it.  Besson tries to tip you off to this not being your typical action flick from the very beginning, by sprinkling little visual cues such as the mouse approaching the trap when Lucy is about to get Shanghaied and the action with her is intercut by scenes of Morgan Freeman‘s professor giving a lecture on the mysteries of the brain to the scientific community. Personally, I found the idea that a scuzzy drug dealer could inadvertently hold the key to unlocking the infinite mysteries of human existence abhorrent, but as a plot device, it was certainly effective.

Definitely deserving of an R rating, this has a great deal of blood, gore, brutality and other assorted bits of nastiness. Lucy is one person’s vision of what an artificially advanced human might be like and the entire movie is surreal and a bit bizarre. The special effects are quite stellar, literally in one sequence, and the whole thing is visually stunning. Lucy herself is much more interested in passing on her knowledge than wreaking vengeance and Morgan Freeman was perfect as the bemused scientist staring the future in the face. I felt as though the movie was cut short too soon and there was more exploring the director could have done. I was left feeling unsatisfied with a million questions swirling around in my head, but as the whole movie is meant to be deeply thought-provoking, this may have been done on purpose. Very good for what it is, this is utterly unique and fascinating. But if you’re expecting Marvel’s Black Widow meets Kill Bill, you’ll be severely disappointed. – BETHANY

For more information on Lucy, visit the Internet Movie Database

               Oh no, she’s being forcibly turned into a drug mule!

Super drug CPH4, or at least some cool blue crystalline stuff from the local craft store.

I’ll bet she didn’t sign a surgical consent form.

Uh-oh, her eyes are turning the same color as the drugs …

Imagine what she could do performing for Cirque du Soleil!

Then again, this might not be everyone’s favorite act …

Lucy hitches a ride with French cop Pierre Del Rio (Amr Waked).

Here’s where it starts to get weird (OK, it got weird in the first few scenes).

Lucy and Professor Norman (the great Morgan Freeman)

    Lucy meets ‘Lucy’.  This scene was groan inducing for me.  I can’t believe they went there.

 

Photos courtesy of EuropaCorp, TF1 Films Production, Canal+, Ciné+, TF1 and Universal Pictures