Money Monster (2016)

Directed by Jodie Foster
Written by Jamie Linden, Alan DiFiore and Jim Kouf
Starring George Clooney, Julia Roberts, Jack O'Connell and Caitriona Balfe

The host of a financial TV show host finds himself as a hostage to a man who lost everything following advice he was given by the host himself. With nothing to lose, the man holds the entire station up with a bomb until he finds some answers.

In today's world, I would think that it would be hard to make a movie audience feel a connection with an armed terrorist. In fact, without Wall Street and their shady business proceedings as the antagonist, I would believe it to be impossible. But there is one thing Americans hate more than armed criminals. And that is fraudulent businesses.

In this economical thriller, director Jodie Foster makes a film in which it is easy to feel for the man with the bomb. In her fourth film as director, she humanizes everyone from the down-on-his-luck criminal to the douchebag TV personality. But what she doesn't do is try to justify the shady business tactics used by Billion dollar corporations. As she shouldn't.

Although, the majority of the characters are extremely two-dimensional and have little to no arc, the role of Kyle, played by Jack O'Connell is one of the most heart-wrenching characters I have ever seen. Even though, in the eyes of the law he is in the wrong, you can't help but root for him in the corrupt system that is public trading.

"Money Monster" may not ever crack a top 10 list of mine, or even anyone else's. It's not mind-blowing. It's not revolutionary. It's not even amazing. It's a slightly above average film at best. But in this terrible year of movies thus far, I'll take what I can get.

My Rating: 7/10

Grand Piano (2013)

Directed by Eugenio Mira
Written by Damien Chazelle
Starring Elijah Wood, John Cusack, Kerry Bishé and Alex Winter

When a disgraced pianist attempts to make a comeback at the memorial concert for his teacher and mentor, he receives a note in his sheet music-- "Play one wrong note and you die!".

Elijah Wood's career after "The Lord of the Rings" has been a strange one. Having been blackballed by Hollywood because of his famous character, he unfortunately hasn't had many options. But I feel he does alright, all things considered. He's become the go-to guy for psychological thrillers too different to get backed by a major studio. With films like "Maniac", "Open Windows", this and the TV series "Wilfred", it's as if he's had to start his career over completely. But it could be worse.

This movie has a familiar concept. Much like "Photo Booth", it's just another man-becomes-hostage-in-public story. It is interesting enough, but nothing really sticks out as a selling point. Some scenes are intense while others make you wonder you are supposed to feel. And there are many plot holes that in my mind are so hard to miss that I find it hard to believe the writer (Academy Award Nominee, Damien Chazelle) didn't notice.

I also find it hard to believe that Elijah Wood is his generations

greatest pianist, yet walked away from his career for one slip up.

Is this a bad movie? No. But it definitely is not good. As the countless majority of movies are, it's just extremely mediocre. Just another movie to watch to pass the time. If one thing does stand out from this movie, it is the beautifully unique cinematography. But it takes more than pretty pictures to make a great movie.

My Rating: 5.6/10

JCVD (2008)

Directed by Mabrouk El Mechri
Written by Mabrouk El Mechri, Frédéric Benudis, Frédéric Taddï, Vincent Ravalec and Christophe Turpin
Starring Jean-Claude Van Damme, François Damiens, Zinedine Soualem and Karim Belkhadra

While visiting his family at home in Belgium, Van Damme is caught in the middle of a robbery, and the cops think the aging star has snapped and pulled the job himself. Now, on top of dealing with financial problems, a nasty custody battle and a waning career, he has to make like a real-life action hero and find his way out of a very tense situation.

The muscles from Brussels finds himself in trouble as the hero becomes the victim in this movie. A more in depth than expected look at the consequences of fame and fortune, this movie is much more than an action movie. It has a lot to say about societies perception of celebrities.

You can really tell that this is a passion project of Van Damme's. This is by far his best and most relatable performance of his career. Topped with the single best soliloquy in the past ten years and an impressive delivery in said scene, I honestly would not have counted him out of any awards race in 2008. I couldn't believe what my eyes were seeing when he started rolling out that monologue.

You guys have no idea how freaking good it was.

This movie is fun, intense and brings an element of humanity you rarely see with action heroes. It was definitely a refreshing change from the formula's that other action movies follow. I highly recommend this film to anyone who want's to be blown away by how good Jean-Claude Van Damme actually is.

My Rating: 9/10

Alex Harmon is the biggest TF in the world.

Alan Partridge (2013)

Directed by Declan Lowney
Written by Peter Baynham, Steve Coogan, Neil Gibbons, Rob Gibbons, Armando Iannucci and Patrick Marber
Starring Steve Coogan, Colm Meaney, Felicity Montagu and Nigel Lindsay

When famous yet aging radio DJ Alan Partridge's station is taken over by a new media conglomerate, they begin to make cuts and bring in new, younger DJs. But when a fellow senior DJ gets sacked (British speak for "gets fired"), he holds the station hostage in an attempt to regain his job.

That trailer does not do it justice. Filled with clever one-liners and filled with superb comedic timing that only the British seem to be able to get a hang of. Steven Coogan is fantastic as a man who cares about fame above all things, including his life in a dangerous situation.

Much like a less obnoxious, British Ron Burgundy (although Partridge came first), Alan Partridge is a down played character that is each to believe actually exists in the real world. His narcissistic personality somehow makes him likable. And his fear of everything remotely dangerous becomes a recurring joke, regardless of him ignoring danger for the sake of fame. Narcissism trumps fear every time.

I find it hard to write about comedic movies. The plot is often just a cause for more jokes to be told in them and this is no different. Regardless it is a great movie that reminds me of the high brow "Airheads".

My Rating: 7/10