21 Bridges is an action thriller directed by Brian Kirk. Brothers Joe and Anthony Russo act as producers. 21 Bridges is an exciting film that has quite a few surprises. I don’t think it received all the publicity it should have, I was told about it by a relative. Initially, I didn’t really know what 21 Bridges was about however, I’m glad I went to see it.
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21 Bridges opens with a young Andre Davis (Christian Isaiah) attending his father’s funeral after he was murdered on the job. Many years later, Andre (Chadwick Boseman) becomes a successful law enforcer, working for the NYPD and has taken down more than 8 criminals during his time as a police officer. One night, two small-time criminals and former war veterans Michael Trujillo (Stephan James) and Ray Jackson (Taylor Kitsch) took on a job to ransack a winery and steal several kilograms of cocaine it was illegally harvesting. The heist takes a left turn when they realize the amount of cocaine was 10 times as much as they were expecting plus several police officers unexpectedly arrive on the scene. They were forced into a shootout that landed 6 officers gunned down. Ray is chastised by Michael for killing cops, which puts them in jeopardy.
Andre Davis is assigned to the case. Struggling with the legacy of his deceased father, Davis has earned a reputation for hunting down and killing “cop killers,” although he claims they were all in self-defense and is uncomfortable with the label. Narcotics detective Frankie Burns (Sienna Miller) is assigned as Davis’ partner. The two come into conflict with FBI agents Butchco (Obi Abili) and Dugan (Andy Truschinski), who attempt to take the case over. Captain Matt McKenna (J. K. Simmons) of the 85th precinct is assigned to oversee the case.
With this being a good place to stop, 21 Bridges is loaded with excitement plus it drives home a profound message. I can’t imagine the scope of crime and blatant disrespect for the law as shown in this film. A death that occurs during the surrendering of a criminal made 21 Bridges more relatable. Although the director tried to invent a very real climate that represents more of today’s issues, the aura around 21 Bridges just didn’t feel real, especially shutting down 21 bridges at any given time. Despite this, I found the movie to be just exciting enough to pass as a holiday filler. I also thought Stephen James’ performance was outstanding. You just might enjoy 21 Bridges, it’s a real thrill ride at best. The film received mixed reviews from critics and has grossed $34 million worldwide on a $33 million budget. Check It Out!
While I love musicals, I didn’t think La La Land was the fabulous movie I had heard it was going to be. It’s a love story with a clever title and a clever twist. It’s mostly uplifting and gives you “warm fuzzies” throughout the film. Mia (Emma Stone) meets Sebastian (Ryan Gosling) for the first time on a crowded highway, each going to their respective destinations. She flips the bird at him for his reckless driving and he keeps it moving. After continuously running into each other, they decide it’s time to strike up a real conversation. They become friends, then lovers — and so the romance begins. Mia is an aspiring actress that can’t seem to land a role and Sebastian is a jazz keyboardist who can’t seem to get his career on the right track. She continues to get turned down at every audition she tries out for and he gets fired as a piano player at a popular night club and lounge on Christmas Eve by the manager, Bill (J. K. Simmons). Desperate for work, Sebastian takes on a position with a rock band that doesn’t play any jazz. He hates it but it’s a job. Eventually, Sebastian runs into a friend, Keith (John Legend) who has a jazz band featuring a new sound, Keith defines as modern jazz. Reluctant to join, Sebastian finally gives in and begins to throw himself into this very successful band. He abandons his dream of owning his own jazz night club where he plays endless jazz into the wee hours of the night. Sebastian’s objective is to save jazz music, as it is beginning to die out. Mia, on the other hand decides to write and perform in a one woman play. She feels it will be her only chance at becoming a star actress. Their hopes and dreams, which are all embodied around their professions, are light years away from each other.
Whiplash gives a whole new flavor to riveting entertainment. Without telling all, Whiplash is brilliant. A 19 year old, first year drummer enrolls in a famous, prestigious Conservatory music school, (Shaffer) with an over the top abusive instructor teaching the class of musicians. Andrew Neyman played by Miles Teller is a promising drummer who is willing to forsake everything to get the training, recognition and respect for his talent that he so rightly deserves. The abusive teacher, Fletcher, played by J. K. Simmons, will do whatever it takes to squeeze every drop of talent out of his students. His agenda may be honorable but his methodology is brutal and so mentally obstructive, if found out by the powers that be, could cost him everything, including his job. In the end, fed up Andrew shows everyone who he is and turns Fletcher’s thinking up side down. A small cast and a big story with lots of emotions flying high will take you on a thrill ride worth every minute of this movie. I haven’t heard a drummer like Andrew since Buddy Rich who was deemed the world’s best drummer. Miles Teller is an actor but should seriously think about making his drumming skills his calling. See Whiplash, it will bring something out in you!
There has been a lot of hype about this movie. I’ve seen Tom Hanks on a few talk shows promoting the heck out of `The Ladykillers’. While the movie was funny, Tom Hanks’ character was quite annoying. He talked way too much and the words, while somewhat funny, were not funny enough to overlook or overcome the constant chatter. I actually found most of the dialog down right boring.
CAROL's WORLDS 