Logan Lucky, director Steven Soderbergh first film after stepping away from the big screen for several years, is an odd duck. Tonally strange, it falls somewhere between a mainstream blockbuster and avant garde restraint. The story is a classic sort of heist caper that could be played up for maximum broad effectiveness (a la Soderbergh’s Ocean’s films), but instead it’s played straight with nary a wink or nod to the audience. It vacillates wildly between outlandish silliness, dry humour, and high drama, speeding up or slowing down whenever it feels like it. As a result of such shifting, Logan Lucky is an uneven movie, but also a thoroughly fascinating and consistently enjoyable one.
Channing Tatum
Director Roland Emmerich seems to be taking a break from blowing up the world and focusing on more intimate targets, like the centre of the American government, but whatever scale you’re talking about, White House Down is exactly what we have come to expect from the bombastic filmmaker.
Lazy Friday News is a weekly round-up of stories from across the spectrum of entertainment, or whatever happens to tickle my funny bone. This week: the force is strong in the new James Bond film, Skyfall; Star Wars is being shaken and stirred back into a viable franchise; Star Trek fans can get a glimpse of nine minutes of spacey bliss; Channing Tatum is attractive, or something; we bid goodbye to the voice of Smurfette; plus Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez are never ever getting back together?
Former mixed martial arts star Gina Carano is Mallory Kane, a freelance hired gun who works for governments to deal with tough situations, like hostage situations where normal covert tactics are not possible. As we first see her, waiting for someone at a small diner in the middle of nowhere, Mallory ends up getting the crap beaten out of her as an ex-coworker shows up to drag her back to her boss.
New arrivals this week on Blu-ray and DVD include: The Adjustment Bureau starring Matt Damon and Emily Blunt as a pair of would-be lovers on the run from Fate’s minions; Liam Neeson’s latest action-thriller, Unknown; and The Eagle, starring Channing Tatum in a swords-and-sandals modern epic.
Continuing last week’s void of new arrivals, this is yet another slow week for DVD and Blu-ray releases. Only two new arrivals land on home video today: Seth Rogen and Jay Chou star in the action-comedy, The Green Hornet; plus Vince Vaughn and Kevin James try to laugh it up in the weak Ron Howard comedy, The Dilemma.
Opening this weekend in theatres across the country: Channing Tatum and Jamie Bell star in the epic adventure, The Eagle; Adam Sandler tries to woo a younger woman in the comedy, Just Go With It; William Shakespeare’s classic tragedy gets a comic take in the animated Gnomeo And Juliet; plus a look at the music documentary, Justin Bieber: Never Say Never.
This is another dismal winter weekend for movie buffs as only two new films open up in theatres. Opening this week, Seth Rogen and Jay Chou star in the action-comedy, The Green Hornet; plus Vince Vaughn and Kevin James try to laugh it up in the weak Ron Howard comedy, The Dilemma.
Debuting this week on DVD and Blu-ray: Viggo Mortensen and Kodi McPhee star in the post-apocalyptic drama, The Road; Channing Tatum and Amanda Seyfried get romantic in Dear John; Neil Patrick Harris leads the geeky musical, Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog; and a look at the second season of True Blood.
New this week in theatres, Channing Tatum play Amanda Seyfried long-distance lovers in the romantic drama, Dear John; John Travolta and Jonathan Rhys Meyers team up as CIA operatives in the action film, From Paris With Love; and Steve Buscemi stars in the comedy Saint John of Las Vegas.