In the last month of so, I’ve seen every movie Lucas Hedges did in 2018 (though it was just a minor part as the older brother in mid90s). This one takes the cake. Boy Erased is another movie about a teen sent to gay conversion therapy, the second such film I’ve seen recently too. In the other, Chloe Grace Moretz thought there was nothing wrong with her but she played along (at first). In Boy Erased, Hedge’s character, Jared Eamons, is the son of a pastor and thinks there is something wrong with him, and he can be “fixed.” He prays, he does his therapy, and he wishes he could not be attracted to other boys. The counselors at the camp blame family members, blame lack of faith, blame anything they can to say that it is a sin, and a choice, and that he can free himself from these thoughts. Really great film, with Hedges and also a strong performance by Nicole Kidman as his mom, who goes along with her husband’s wishes while hating seeing what it does to their son. Written and directed by Joel Edgerton, who is a good enough actor, but has a supreme talent for writing, and I’ve enjoyed most that I’ve seen (especially The Rover and The Gift).
The Old Man and the Gun is loosely based on the true story of Forrest Tucker, an old robber who couldn’t seem to stop robbing banks, no matter how many times he was captured (and subsequently escaped). Played by Robert Redford, he and his cohorts, two fellow old-timers (Danny Glover and Tom Waits), have been hitting banks throughout the midwest and south. Tucker doesn’t do it for the money, but simply for the thrill of it. He is being chased by the cops and in particular a smart young detective named John Hunt (Casey Affleck). Tucker seems to want to settle down, especially when he meets a woman he likes (portrayed by Sissy Spacek), but he can’t help himself. The film is fun and funny, and since Redford has since announced his retirement from acting at age 82, it may be his last. If that’s true, it is a fitting swan song: someone who, despite his age, kept on doing what he loves.
Bad Times at the El Royale is one of the most wild, fun films I’ve seen in awhile. It takes place at said hotel, a hotel with a checkered past. Four strangers check in to the desolate place in the late 60’s, each with a secret unknown to the viewer. We learn these secrets in the first half, in Clue-like fashion, and it all explodes in the second half. The film sets itself up with sinister, suspenseful intrigue from the opening moments, and doesn’t take its foot off the gas throughout the movie. It features an all-star cast with Jeff Bridges, Jon Hamm, Dakota Johnson (may be the first time I’ve enjoyed her acting, making me re-think my thoughts of her as an actress), and Chris Hemsworth, in a rare turn as a diabolical bad guy. A fantastic neo-noir thriller, and come prepared to be surprised.
The newest Harry Potter franchise film, The Crimes of Grindelwald, has a little bit of the Peter Jackson Hobbit trilogy in it, meaning, it is beautifully shot, has glimpses of greatness, but unfortunately never really materializes. Picking up where the first Fantastic Beasts film left off, the devious Grindelwald didn’t stay locked up for long, escaping in the opening scene. His goal is to recruit Credence, who also survived the first film, to some terrible, as-yet unknown deed. The Ministry of Magic wants the powerful Credence dead, but Albus Dumbledore does not. Since he himself is under the careful watch of the Ministry, he gets Newt Scamander to do what he can to help. The film plays out as a race between the various factions, as we slowly learn everyone’s intents and what skin they have in the game. Unfortunately now two movies in, the main characters have failed to develop to fleshed out, living, breathing heroes and villains. What made the initial run of Harry Potter films so great is the realism of its characters, and too many in this new series are one-dimensional. These films can still be fun initial viewings, but they ultimately become forgettable afterwards.
Triple Frontier is a decent thriller for lovers of the military-action genre. It is about a group of friends, former special forces, who come together to kill and rob a drug lord in Colombia. One of them has been working in the private sector down there for a few years, struggling to make a difference, and when he finally sees an opportunity to take down the head honcho, and in doing so make some money in the process, he calls up his old war buddies for the help. Fairly straight forward, paint-by-numbers film, and shoddy narrative at time, but an all-star cast elevates this one above generic “B” movie status. Oscar Isaac runs the group, along with Ben Affleck, Charlie Hunnam (Sons of Anarchy), Garrett Hedlund, and Pedro Pascal (Oberyn from GoT). Good action scenes, and the dramatic effects are just enough to keep the forward momentum going.
Jons Movie Takes 