Quick takes on 5 films

Miles Ahead is an entertaining film, if not a very historically accurate one. Don Cheadle tells parts of the life of Miles Davis. Much of the film is made up, but some parts, especially those told in flashbacks, are fairly true if I recall, having read his autobiography years ago. The movie takes place in 1979 near the end of Miles’ “reclusive period.” Much of this seems to be fictional, but his flashbacks, which deal mostly with his first wife, seem more accurate. Miles was an entertainer and a forward-thinker in life and music, and really didn’t take shit from anyone. The film, even the fictional parts, do a great job of getting the essence of who Miles was, and Cheadle (who also wrote and directed, a first for him in both I believe) handles the story artfully.

Batman vs Superman is much better than the dismal reviews it got. But then, while I’m not a comic book fan (never read a single one), I’m a glutton for superhero films. I do think they tried to cram 2, or maybe even 3 movies worth of material into this one. Since Marvel films have taken off, it seems DC is trying to hurry and catch up. Still enjoyable, if sometimes a bit disjointed and rushed. Batman is aging but still doing his thing, and he sees Superman as a threat, since no one can stop him if they needed to. Jesse Eisenberg is fantastic as the diabolical Lex Luthor, and Ben Affleck is superb as a somewhat more cynical older Batman. Very emotional ending that you don’t see coming either.

Demolition is a about a man, Davis, whose wife was just killed in a car accident. Even before the accident, Davis was just going through the motions of life, and has become emotionally detached to the point that he can now not even cry at his wife’s funeral. He becomes obsessed with tearing things apart, and while his life is in turmoil, he begins an emotional affair with a new woman, Karen. Karen is also in a life crisis with her growing teenage boy. As Davis starts to remember things about his wife, and also learn new parts of her life of which he is unaware, the whole strange spiral careems around. Jake Gyllenhaal is very good as Davis, the but movie unfortunately suffers from trying to do too much, and just comes off as dull in the end.

The Lobster is a dry, funny movie, but not for everyone. It takes place in a dystopian England, where law states people must stay together as couples. Anyone without a mate has 45 days to find a new one, or else they are transformed into an animal. Colin Farrell plays David, recently single after his wife has left him. David enters a resort to find a new mate. The inhabitants are all a little nutty, and couples really only pair up if they share a trait (good singers, like the same music, have a limp, etc.). Outside society, “loners” hide in the woods, and their rules are just as strict, if opposite (no coupling allowed). The quirky characters, yet sinister backstory, make for an interesting movie, and the film is a deep look at what love means, and people are willing to do for it.

A Hologram for the King is about a businessman, Tom Hanks’ Alan, who goes to Saudi Arabia to close a big deal for his company. His career is a bit on the ropes and he needs this deal to get back on track professionally and financially. However, from the moment he arrives in SD, he is beset with problems and delays. The movie has a couple weird turns and some plot elements that don’t really go anywhere, but Hanks is still his riveting self. Unfortunately his acting is about the best thing to say about the film as a whole. Not a bad movie, but the ending, while ok, comes out of left field and most times you are wondering where the film is going.