FREELANCE – “Thank God for John Cena”
RATING
DIRECTOR
Directed by: Pierre Morel (Taken – 2008)
MAIN CAST
• John Cena as Mason Pettits
• Alison Brie as Claire Wellington
• Juan Pablo Raba as President Juan Venegas
• Alice Eve as Mason's wife
• Christian Slater as Mason's boss
SYNOPSIS
Years after retiring from the Army, former Special Forces operator Mason Pettits takes a job providing security for journalist Claire Wellington as she interviews Juan Venegas, president of Paldonia. When a military coup breaks out in the middle of the interview, the three are forced to escape into the jungle together.
REVIEW SUMMARY
At three and half hours, Killers of the Flower Moon is a colossally grim and sobering achievement by Scorsese and Co. Yep, it’s another expertly crafted piece of cinema by one of the last remaining true masters of the craft itself. The film is brimming with “cinematic epicness” throughout, from the vast cast of A-grade actors (more on them in a bit) to the exhaustively detailed production design. Everyone in front and behind the camera hits their mark - and then some. Plus, the often jaw dropping cinematography makes it so the movie deserves to be seen on the big screen (the bigger the better). And yes, while it is a (very) long film, just remember that Scorsese knows exactly how to pace these types of epics. Just when you feel a “drag” coming on, a riveting set piece brings you right back in. The themes at play are also timely and gut wrenching. The story told may be set in the past but serves as a modern lesson to be learned. The historical truths are gut punching and the performances only enhance the emotional effectiveness. For one, it’s a delight to see Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro play off each other on screen for the first time ever. Both are at the top of their game, with DiCaprio especially shining in a role full of confliction and turmoil. As great as theses gents (and others) are, it's actually Lily Gladstone who functions as the movie’s MVP. Gladstone’s turn is equal parts tender and stoic, sure to bring audiences to their knees on more than one occasion. In five words: The Oscar goes to… And, should this in fact be Scorsese’s final film, it marks a fitting and poetic send-off – one that definitely warrants your eyeballs!
BOX OFFICE TOP 5
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