Tag (2018)

Something I like to do is go on IMDb and look for movie suggestions --as if having 1,000+ movies on my list wasn't enough. That's how I stumbled across Tag and, convinced it either had Amy Adams or Charlize Theron, I decided to check it out.

The film tells the story of a group of friends, Hogan "Hoagie" Malloy (Ed Helms), Bob Callahan (Jon Hamm), Randy "Chilli" Cilliano (Jake Johnson), Kevin Sable (Hannibal Buress) and Jerry Pierce (Jeremy Renner), who has been playing the same game of tag for 30 years. When Jerry who has never been tagged plans to retire from the game after his upcoming wedding, the four remaining friends team together to finally tag him.

It's probably one of the most idiotic premises ever which is why I'm still trying to process the fact that the film is based on a true story and grown men actually did something this stupid. That said, although pretty thin and predictable, the story is quite engaging and never boring, and delivers a heartwarming message about friendship.

Unfortunately, that message isn't properly developed and the blame is on the characters. They barely have a characterization and development is nowhere to be found. In other words, they are bland, boring and uninteresting. Also, some of the characters are completely useless, specifically Rashida Jones's Cheryl Deakins, a girl Bob and Chilli have a crush on since always, as she is nothing but a (beautiful) distraction, and Annabelle Willis's Rebecca Crosby, the Wall Street Journal journalist who wrote the article about these guys as it feels like the character slows down the film. At least each character gets a decent amount of screen time, even Jerry's soon-to-be wife (Leslie Bob).

Warner Bros. Pictures

The cast is quite strong throughout the film. I'm not sure comedy is Jon Hamm and Jeremy Renner's thing, but the chemistry between all the actors is impressive, and the ladies are pretty enjoyable too. Also, they are clearly having which makes us have fun.

Unfortunately, that's pretty much it with the fun. To make its audience laugh, Tag heavily relies on the absurd situations the characters find themselves into, slapstick and violence. It's dumb humour, in other words, the kind of stuff one would expect from an Ed Helms movie, only it doesn't work that well this time around and the result is an occasionally funny film.

The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (2007)

I've been meaning to watch The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford for years but I kept putting it off because of the length. Two hours and forty minutes is a long time and you really have to have your head in the game to watch such a long movie. But people over Twitter kept talking about it --mainly posting beautiful gifs of Sam Rockwell-- and then Margaret posted "Sam Rockwell's performance in "Jesse James" is some kind of a miracle" which I wanted to read. And what's the best way to avoid spoilers? Watch the film. 

Just in case you didn't get it by the title, the film is about the assassination of Jesse James (Brad Pitt) by Robert Ford (Casey Affleck). Actually, it's more about the events that led up to the killing. The film is indeed a dramatization of the last seven months in the life of James. 

Yeah, I do realize I'm basically saying the same thing over and over but the fact is that there isn't much of a plot here. The little there is is also quite disjointed and jumps around a little and it's not always easy to understand what the heck is going on. To that, add the snail's pace that could make you fall asleep at eight in the morning. 

Unless it doesn't. That's the peculiar thing about The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford. It's supposed to be boring and unengaging, instead, it's very interesting and engaging from start to finish. Not much happens in the film but I just couldn't take my eyes off of it. 

How does the film manage to do that? It's very simple, with great characters. Their characterization and development are outstanding. The film's main focus is the psychology of the characters. We don't get to know their backgrounds, why they do what they do, how they became who they are. Instead, we learn who they are.

Jesse James is, in a few words, a psychotic family man. He is a cold-blooded murderer considered a hero by many and a loving father and husband, but most of all he is an enigma, even to himself. And this is probably Brad Pitt's greatest performance ever, one very charismatic and interesting. Robert Ford, on the other hand, is a nobody. He is obsessed with Jesse James so much that leads him to an inferiority complex. He doesn't want to be like Jesse James, he wants to be Jesse James. That being impossible, he decides to kill him so to become a hero --he will be the only one to think so as people will keep reminded James after his death and forget about Ford. The performance from Casey Affleck is also great, easily the best in the film. I don't know what it is but there's something about him that makes him perfect for this character. Also, the chemistry between Pitt and Affleck and the relationship between James and Ford are very intriguing.

Warner Bros

Although the supporting characters aren't as complex and developed, the supporting cast does a wonderful job as well. Sam Rockwell is amazing as Ford's not-so-bright but good-hearted brother Charley, giving the magnetic and charming performance required by the role. Also great in the role of other outlaws are Jeremy Renner, Paul Schneider and Garrett Dillahunt. And at last but not least, there's Mary-Louise Parker. She doesn't have a lot of screen time --her character, James's wife is definitely underused-- but she really stands out. 

Another weird thing about The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford is that the film is very detached and distant from the characters, hell, the characters are detached and distant from themselves, and yet I somehow felt close to them, and I cared about them --and of course I picked a side.

That's not all. The film doesn't only deliver great characters and performances but an outstanding, Oscar-worthy cinematography by Roger Deakins. The blurry and dreamy landscapes, the wheat fields, the snow, the mud, it's all gorgeous. And the camera movements, the way it lingers on the characters for the perfect amount of time. At last, there's a beautiful and haunting musical score by Nick Cave and Warren Ellis.

There's one thing left to say, go watch this film if you haven't already. 

Watch: New Red Band Trailer For HANSEL AND GRETEL: WITCH HUNTERS

You know what? This movie is growing on me. I was a bit worried after the first trailer - it didn't seem like the suspension of disbelief would be there. Now it's looking more and more like humans vs. zombies (a very GOOD thing), only replace the zombies with witches. Very bloody. Amazing visual effects. And throw in 3D, Jeremy Renner and Famke Janssen and voila!

I haven't heard much about the 3D as of yet, but my eyes are on it and I'll have more soon. 

HANSEL AND GRETEL: WITCH HUNTERS opens on January 11, 2013. In the meanwhile feast your bloody eyes on this:

Hit the jump to watch the trailer...

 

Watch: First Trailer For HANSEL AND GRETEL: WITCH HUNTERS

We all know Jeremy Renner's career has exploded lately. He's everywhere and justifiably so - he's a great actor. But can he successfully headline HANSEL AND GRETEL: WITCH HUNTERS to box office glory? Time will tell and in the meantime, here is the first indication of how the movie will look and feel.

Yes, this is part of the poster for the movie. The rest of it is just black with these words in the center.

I'm really not sure what to make of the trailer. At times it looks amazing and other times I am kinda put off. I am hoping Renner can pull it all together though as he brings a lot of believability to any production.

Here's the movie's storyline:
Catching up with Hansel (Renner) and Gretel (Arterton) 15 years after the traumatic incident involving a gingerbread house, the siblings have evolved into vengeful bounty hunters dedicated to exterminating witches. Over the years, the siblings became expert hunters, famous for their proficiency at tracking and taking down their prey. Although still recovering from their ordeal, their work is relatively easy as for an unknown reason harmful spells and curses do not work well against them.

The Mayor of Augsburg recruits them to rid the town and nearby forests of an evil sorceress (Janssen) who is planning to sacrifice many local children at the witches’ gathering during the upcoming ‘Blood Moon’ night in two days time. To make things worse, the duo also has to deal with the brutal Sheriff Berringer (Stormare) who has taken power in Augsburg and conducts a very indiscriminate witch-hunt of his own.

HANSEL AND GRETEL: WITCH HUNTERS opens on January 11, 2013 in 3D.