(film review) [STREAMING] - Spencer Confidential

First of all, from the trailer, I was already sold on this movie, but having watched the movie, finally over 3 days because I  got distracted or fell asleep, I'm glad to say, I enjoyed it, BUT it could have been better.

Having started to watch this movie, I was definitely getting vibes of 'The Other Guys'.  Because The Other Guys is a comedy starring Mark Wahlberg and THIS is a comedy starring Mark Wahlberg and both characters are Police Officers, I think my mind may have wanted MORE The Other Guys kind of humour, so with the movie NOT having that, it deflated the movie a little for me.  But obviously, that is a personal thought as well as a personal choice.

Disgraced Spencer (Mark Wahlberg) is a former cop who beats up a fellow Police Officer and ends up doing time in prison.  Upon release, he is met with Henry (Alan Arkin) who takes him home only to find Spencer is now room-mates with Hawk (Winston Duke).  But, when Police Officers start to die not even 48hrs of his release, Spencer makes it his job to find out who is killing these cops and why.

It's not a complex storyline at all and you could probably figure out the plot, blow for blow and who the villain is just by how telegraphed the movie is with it's basic plot, but for the most part, the movie does what it says on the tin.  It's an action comedy film and it does that.  I actually found the comedy to hit.  It's also done on a low budget as I think about it,  as I'm sure there is literally, 1 explosion and hardly any special effects, but in a strange way, I still very much enjoyed the movie and had fun with it, mostly because of the humour and also due to the performances of Mark, Winston and Iliza.  Granted the last two wasn't given a lot to work with, Winston being somewhat subdue and Iliza being a feisty motormouth with attitude, so some more character development would have been nice.  But this is clearly Mark's movie, Spencer and everyone else is supporting.  I do enjoy seeing Bokeem especially as I saw him recently in 'Queen and Slim' and before that, 'Spider-man: Homecoming'.

As I think about potential sequels as the film ends alluding to Spencer getting into people's business, it would be nice to see some more movies with these characters.  Kind of like what John Wick did.  A simple premise but excellent execution.  Not to say Peter Berg known for The Kingdom, Hancock, The Losers, Lone Survivor, Deep Water Horizon and Patriots Day, I feel his directing wasn't excellently executed unlike other films he has made in the past, although, leagues better than Battleship.  I mean, as we won't really know how much this movie makes... Netflix, if you enjoy it, spread the word as it's on Netflix and if anything, let's say it makes between 35-50 million, they must be able to do a sequel as this movie is at least half that to make.  Maybe in the sequel, we could have more character dynamics and witty banter.  Oh and especially more Iliza.

(trailer review) - Jungle Cruise

(Official Trailer)

(First Look Trailer)

It's funny, when I wrote my review of the first trailer, I said a number of things which were my first initial thoughts.  Watching this trailer, I found it interesting that although I didn't think "How many movies will Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson be apart of with the word 'Jungle' in it?" Or "How many movies a year? 28? Whilst working on 35?" This guy stays working and I don't think I've see a bad Dwayne Johnson performance!  The ratio probably balances our more IN his favour and considering he oozes charm, Dwayne is essentially a superstar and there is not many of them about. These days people go for the Director than the actor so with Jaume Collet-Serra, someone I am not that familiar with although I did watch The Orphan back in the day, it would be interesting to see how he pulls off this theme park ride.

For the most part this is looking decent but I think I for the most part I'm more shocked at how many movies Dwayne can find himself in with the word Jungle in it.  Two talented actors though, maybe another trailer will sell me more.

Directed by Jaume Collet-Serra and starring Dwayne Johnson, Emily Blunt, Édgar Ramírez, Jack Whitehall, Jesse Plemons & Paul Giamatti,

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(film review) - The Invisible Man

The Invisible Man I remember from back in the day was starring Chevy Chase and from what I remember, I loved it. Plus I did like Chevy back in the day so that may have helped.  The other Invisible Man film starring Kevin Bacon called 'Hollow Man', which was meant to be a lot more scarier, I never got to watch it for whatever reasons.  Maybe it just looked rubbish to me or I was just disinterested, but I will watch it at some point as I heard it is good.  This Invisible Man though, I really liked the look of it, so I had to see it...and you know what, it was really good.

From the outside, Cecilia (Elizabeth Moss) is in a great relationship with a very successful optics engineer in whom she claims to be in a violent, abusive and controlling relationship.  When she devises a plan to escape and finally does, she feels Adrian Griffin still has a hold on her and she doesn't feel safe.  She claims that he had stated, she could never get away from him and he would always find her.  While staying with her friend James () and having been told, Adrian is dead, Cecelia feels that Adrian, is
still near her, stalking her and watching her every move to a point where she paranoid and fearful.

First of all, the way they build suspense in this movie is great.  To a point where I felt the movie seemed as though it was dragging, but those quiet moments helped to build the suspense and for the most part, it was concerning, chilling and it also allowed the audience to over-think as to where this Invisible Man was in the frame and if he was even there.  Secondly, having watched the entire movie, I believe there could be a debate upon the ending and how everything pans out at the end.  Without going into spoilers, of course.

The movie is directed GREAT and I'll tell you this for free, there was a moment where a punch was involved and after I realised what happened, I. Couldn't. Stop. Laughing.  Another funny moment was part of a scene in the trailer involving a man getting shot in the leg.

Elizabeth Moss, well done! She was great and I loved her character as her character wasn't the typical woman in these scenarios.  She was strong though she was frightened.  She did was needed to be done.  Her co-stars had small moments and to be honest, although good, was just great for support.  The cinematography and the score AND soundtrack was superb.  I wanted to Shazam, a song at one moment or maybe 2.

It would be really interesting to see where they go with this as Jason Blum seems to be doing what he does best, making horror/scary movies for the price of a bus fare and reaping loads of money for it, and more power to him.
That "DARK UNIVERSE" they were trying to push on us with Tom Cruise, Russell Crow and Luke Evans, etc, where it was going to be the Marvel Cinematic Universe but with Monsters, face-planted badly.  And can you imagine the money they were going to spend on these actors and these stories along with the special effects!  I'm rooting for Jason Blum and his production team to get these films right and I do believe he can.

If you like these kind of films, I'd definitely recommend it.  I had no issues other than the thoughts on "movement".  But that is small and minor in comparison to other issues some films have.

Go watch it!!!