"GHOSTBUSTERS" (2016) Review
I cannot say that the summer of 2016 movie season produced a great number of first-rate films. There were a few that really impressed me. But I cannot deny that it has seen its share of controversy. One of the two controversies that ignited this summer proved to be over the casting for "GHOSTBUSTERS", Paul Fieg's reboot of Ivan Reitman's pair of supernatural comedies from the 1980s.
The movie begins with physics researcher Dr. Erin Gilbert beginning her employment at Columbia University as a professor. However, her employment and bid for tenure is threatened when she learns that her former associate, Dr. Abigail "Abby" Yates had republished a book they had written together about the existence of paranormal phenomena such as ghosts. Erin decides to assist Abby and the latter's new partner, engineer Dr. Jillian Holtzmann, on a paranormal investigation. The trio witnesses and documents a ghost, renewing Erin's belief in ghosts. Unfortunately, Abby has posted a video clip of their investigation and Erin's reaction, causing the latter to lose her job and tenure bid at Columbia. She joins Abby and Jillian's project, but they are fired from their position at a technical college, when the director learns the nature of their research. The trio eventually open an office to capture and study ghosts above a Chinese restaurant and name themselves, "Conductors of the Metaphysical Examination". They also hire a dim-witted, yet handsome receptionist named Kevin Beckman.
Meanwhile, a MTA worker named Patty Tolan witnesses a ghost inside one of the city's subway tunnels. She contacts the "Conductors" and the group investigates. They witness, document and capture the ghost, using Jillian's proton containment laser, but their proof is dismissed. Despite this, the group continues its ghost investigations. Patty, who is also history buff, joins the team and provides a historic knowledge of New York City and a redesigned hearse dubbed "Ecto-1". The newly formed quartet slowly becomes aware of the fact that ghosts are being summoned by an occultist/mad scientist named Rowan North, who hopes to bring about the Apocalypse.
When I first heard that a reboot of the old "GHOSTBUSTERS" movies was being made, I simply groaned with dismay. I would not have minded a second sequel to the 1984 movie. But since one of the stars, Harold Ramis, had recently passed away, I realized it would never happened. But I was not that thrilled by the news of a reboot. And when I heard that the leads would all be women, I privately accused the film's producers (in which Dan Ackroyd is one of them) of resorting to gimmick casting. A lot of people did and the movie became shrouded by controversy. But I went to see the movie anyway, due to my own curiosity and the public hullabaloo over the four leads. And you know what? I enjoyed it. I enjoyed "GHOSTBUSTERS" so much that it has become one of my favorite movies of the summer.
Mind you, "GHOSTBUSTERS" was not perfect. I found a few aspects of it to complain about. One, I have slightly mixed feelings about the movie's antagonist, Rowan North. Rowan was an interesting character on his own. But I found it hard to imagine any living person going out of his or her way to commit suicide in order to transform into a supernatural being and bring about an apocalypse. That seemed a bit too much. I have to give kudos to Paul Feig for providing more details into the creation of the four "Conductors of the Metaphysical Examination" . . . or Ghostbusters. But it seemed at times that the movie's set up of the four characters sped by a bit too fast, despite the addition of more details. There were other moments in the film in which the pacing seemed a bit too fast. And I found the character of Dr. Jillian Holtzmann a little superficial. Thanks to Katie Dippold and Feig's screenplay, she seemed to have less depth than the other three leads. In fact, she seemed to mainly serve as the team's comic relief. I wish Feig and Dippold had done more with her character.
Otherwise, I had no problems with "GHOSTBUSTERS". One, the movie benefited from a first-class screen team. All of them - Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig, Leslie Jones and Kate McKinnon - had a great chemistry together. There were complaints that Jones' character, Patty Tolan, was not a scientist - especially since the actress is an African-American. I was thrilled that Patty was a history buff and avid reader, which is what I am. I was also a little teed off that many did not regard historical knowledge as "intelligent" as scientific knowledge. I can only assume that many believe we actually live in the world of "STAR TREK".
And although I thought the idea of a human committing suicide in order to become a destructive supernatural force was a bit too much, I must admit that I also found this plot line very original. And to be honest, this world needs some kind of originality in movies, which seemed to be really lacking in today's world. Even more original, the "Ghostbusters" in this film are not immediately acknowledged for their pursuit of the supernatural. The quartet keep encountering nay-sayers (including one portrayed by former Ghostbuster Bill Murray) and government officials in the form of New York's dippy mayor and two Department of Homeland Security agents, who want them to remain silent on their findings. Again . . . original, for this was never done before in the two previous movies.
What was the best thing about this movie? Well, I thought it was a bit scary - especially in the sequence featuring the Ghostbusters' final encounter with the supernatural Rowan North. More importantly, this was a damn funny movie. Hell, it was hilarious. Some of the movie's funniest moments featured the four Ghostbusters' interactions with their personal "dumb blonde" receptionist, Kevin Beckman, portrayed by Chris Hemsworth. Watching Melissa McCarthy's Abby Yates react to Kristen Wiig's infatuation with the idiotic and shallow Kevin was a joy to behold. Another hilarious scene featured the Ghostbusters' encounter with a poltergeist at a live music venue. This led to a very close encounter for Leslie Jones' Patty Tolan, who uttered one of my favorite lines:
"Okay, I don't know if it was a race thing or a lady thing, but I'm mad as hell."
But it is not surprising that "GHOSTBUSTERS" proved to be so funny to me. Paul Feig and the movie's casting director really did this movie proud with a first-rate cast. I have already commented on the chemistry between the four leads. Melissa McCarthy was in top form as the sardonic Dr. Abby Yates. I really enjoyed how she mixed her character's enthusiasm for her profession and her cynical sense of humor. Kristen Wiig provided a fine contrast as the more reserved Dr. Erin Gilbert, who not only renew her friendship with Abby, but also develops a hilarious infatuation toward the group's receptionist. Leslie Jones gave a sharp, funny and intelligent performance as the group's historian Patty Tolan. She was especially in fine form in the sequence featuring the live music venue. Although I had complaints about Feig and Dippold's handling of the Dr. Jillian Holtzmann character, I must admit that Kate McKinnon more than made up for their shortcomings with a very funny and entertaining portrayal of the character.
The movie also featured some very funny performances from the likes of Andy Garcia (who portrayed the dippy New York mayor), Charles Dance, Steve Higgins, and Cecily Strong. The movie also provided solid performances from the likes of Michael K. Williams, Matt Walsh, Zach Woods and Ed Begley Jr. Neil Casey gave a very interesting performance as Rowan North, who proved to be one of the most eccentric and odd villains I have ever come across. And then there was Chris Hemsworth. Many have expressed surprise at his hilarious portrayal of the Ghostbusters' dim-witted receptionist, Kevin Beckman. I was not surprised . . . just vastly entertained by his performance. After all, I have been aware of Hemsworth's talent for comedy for the past five years. Last, but not least, the movie featured some surprising cameos. The most enjoyable ones proved to be those cameos from the original cast from the 1980s - namely producer Dan Ackroyd, Bill Murray, Ernie Hudson, Sigourney Weaver and Annie Potts.
Yes, "GHOSTBUSTERS" had a few shortcomings. I will not deny it. But for me, it had a lot more virtues. More importantly, it proved to be one of the most entertaining surprises I have encountered during the 2016 summer movie season. I feel that Paul Feig did an excellent job in rebooting Ivan Reitman's two movies. He had ample help from the likes of screenwriter Katie Dippold and an excellent cast led by Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig, Leslie Jones and Kate McKinnon.
Below is an article about the dish known as Lobster Thermidor: LOBSTER THERMIDORHas anyone ever heard of the dish known as Lobster Thermidor? What am I saying? Of course people have. I have, yet I have never seen or tasted the dish in my life. Before I explain why I had asked that question, I might as well talk about the background and history of Lobster Thermidor. The recipe for Lobster Thermidor was created around 1880 by the famous French chef Auguste Escoffier at a French restaurant called Maison Maire. The seafood dish consisted of a creamy mixture of cooked lobster meat, egg yolks, and brandy - usually cognac - that is stuffed into a lobster shell. Lobster Thermidor can also be served with an oven-browned cheese crust, usually Gruyère. Once all of this has been prepared, the dish is topped with a sauce made from mustard (usually powdered). The Maison Maire restaurant, where Escoffier created the dish, was located near a theater called the Comédie-Française. In January 1891, a play written by Victorien Sardou called "Thermidor" opened at the Comédie-Française. It took its name from a summer month in the French Republican Calendar, during which the Thermidorian Reaction occurred, overthrowing Robespierre and ending the Reign of Terror. The owner of the Maison Maire, Monsieur Paillard, renamed Escoffer's dish "Lobster Thermidor" after Sardou's play became a hit. However, due to the expensive and extensive preparation involved in Lobster Thermidor, its appearance on restaurant menus have declined over the years and is now usually prepared for special occasions. Below is a recipe for Lobster Thermidor from the Epicurious website:Lobster ThermidorIngredients2 (1 1/2-lb) live lobsters1/2 stick (1/4 cup) unsalted butter1/4 lb mushrooms, trimmed and thinly sliced1/2 teaspoon paprika1/8 teaspoon salt1/4 teaspoon black pepper2 tablespoons medium-dry Sherry1 cup heavy cream, scalded2 large egg yolksPreparationPlunge lobsters headfirst into an 8-quart pot of boiling salted water*. Loosely cover pot and cook lobsters over moderately high heat 9 minutes from time they enter water, then transfer with tongs to sink to cool.When lobsters are cool enough to handle, twist off claws and crack them, then remove meat. Halve lobsters lengthwise with kitchen shears, beginning from tail end, then remove tail meat, reserving shells. Cut all lobster meat into 1/4-inch pieces. Discard any remaining lobster innards, then rinse and dry shells.Heat butter in a 2-quart heavy saucepan over moderate heat until foam subsides, then cook mushrooms, stirring, until liquid that mushrooms give off is evaporated and they begin to brown, about 5 minutes. Add lobster meat, paprika, salt, and pepper and reduce heat to low. Cook, shaking pan gently, 1 minute. Add 1 tablespoon Sherry and 1/2 cup hot cream and simmer 5 minutes.Whisk together yolks and remaining tablespoon Sherry in a small bowl. Slowly pour remaining 1/2 cup hot cream into yolks, whisking constantly, and transfer to a small heavy saucepan. Cook custard over very low heat, whisking constantly, until it is slightly thickened and registers 160°F on an instant-read thermometer. Add custard to lobster mixture, stirring gently.Preheat broiler.Arrange lobster shells, cut sides up, in a shallow baking pan and spoon lobster with some of sauce into shells. Broil lobsters 6 inches from heat until golden brown, 4 to 5 minutes. Serve remaining sauce on the side.When salting water for cooking, use 1 tablespoon salt for every 4 quarts water.
"THE NICE GUYS" (2016) Review
The 2016 summer movie season is proving to be somewhat dismal. I cannot recall a remake of television or previous movie with an original twist. Worst, most of the movies seemed to be nothing more than sequels. And if I must be brutally frank, not very good ones. But I have only come across two movies that struck me as completely original. One of them is the period action comedy, "THE NICE GUYS".
Co-written and directed by Shane Black, "THE NICE GUYS" told the story of a down-on-his-luck private investigator and an enforcer investigating two cases that might have a connection with each other - the death of a fading porn star and a missing young woman, who happens to be the daughter of a U.S. Justice Department official. Set in Los Angeles circa 1977, "THE NICE GUYS"began with a young boy witnessing the death of fading porn star Misty Mountains in a car crash in the Hollywood Hills. Later, Misty's aunt, Mrs. Glen, hires private eye Holland March to find her, claiming that she is still alive. Despite feeling skeptical of Mrs. Glen's claim, Holland takes the case and discovers that a young woman named Amelia Kutner is connected to Misty. Unbeknownst to him, an enforcer named Jackson Healy has been hired by Amanda, who does not want to be found, to intimidate March into staying away from her. But when two thugs try to coerce Jackson into revealing Amelia's whereabouts, he teams up with Holland and the latter's young daughter Holly to find Amelia before the thugs do. The duo's investigation lead them into the world of Los Angeles' pornography industry and a scandal surrounding the automobile industry.
"THE NICE GUYS" was not a major box office hit. It barely made a profit, if I must be brutally honest. This is a pity, because I believe Shane Black not only directed, but co-wrote - with Anthony Bagarozzi - a first-rate action comedy. There were a few aspects of "THE NICE GUYS" that I found unappealing. One, I was a little taken aback that the main villains behind the murders committed in the movie and involved in the automobile scandal did not face any justice. Perhaps I should not have been surprised, considering that the main villains were a cabal of businessmen in the Detroit automobile industry. I mean, honestly, Black and Bagarozzi could have provided the movie with a more distinct main villain and saved an ending like this for a drama like 1974's "CHINATOWN", instead of an action comedy. And two, for a movie set in the late 1970s, one aspect struck me as anachronistic - namely the Judith Kutner character portrayed by Kim Basinger. What else can I say? Basinger looked like an early 21st century woman who had time traveled back to 1977, thanks to her anachronistic hairstyle. Visually, the actress stuck out like a sore thumb.
Thankfully, there was a lot more to admire about "THE NICE GUYS". Shane Black and Anthony Bagorozzi really did themselves proud. Who else could write a comedic story about a group of people in the porn industry, using the power of film - a "porn" flick called "How Do You Like My Car, Big Boy?" to expose the shady dealings of a cabal of Detroit automobile makers; toss in an alcoholic private investigator, a burly and somewhat violent enforcer, the former's 12 year-old daughter; and set all of this in 1977 Los Angeles? By all of the laws of nature (and writing), this should not have worked. But it did . . . beautifully. This movie featured some interesting and off-the-wall scenes that included Jackson and Holland's first violent meeting, their search for the missing Amelia at a wild party held by a pornography producer in the Hollywood Hills, and that crazy finale at the L.A. Auto Show.
"THE NICE GUYS" also featured some first-rate action sequences. Among my favorites are the screen fights that featured Russell Crowe, Keith David and in the first one, Beau Knapp. I would include Ryan Gosling, but his character did not strike me as an effective brawler, just a person who falls from high places, while in a state of intoxication. The movie also featured a first-rate scene in which the Jackson Healey and Holland March characters have a deadly shoot-out in front of the March home with a psychotic hit man named John Boy (a name that requires a photograph of actor Matt Bomer and an article on its own). But once again, the auto show sequence tops it all with some first-rate action that include a major brawl and an intense shoot out.
Being a period piece, "THE NICE GUYS" is a colorful movie to look at, thanks to contributions from the crew. I love sharp color in my films, especially if they are period pieces. And I am happy to say that Philippe Rousselot's photography not only satisfied me color wise, but also gave the movie a late 1970s sheen that I have not seen in a long time. I noticed that some of his exterior shots were filmed in close-ups. And I cannot help but wonder if he had done this, because the movie was partially shot in Atlanta, Georgia. Also contributing to the movie's late 1970s look was Richard Bridgland's production designs. Speaking as a person who remembered that era (and location) very well, I have to give Bridgland kudos for doing an excellent job in re-creating that era. I also have to say the same about David Utley's art direction. I was also impressed by Kym Barrett's costume designs. As shown in the images below, I found them very colorful and spot-on:
I cannot help but wonder if Russell Crowe's character had become attached to that faux leather jacket. The actor wore it throughout the film. Although David Buckley and John Ottman provided a solid score for the movie, I really enjoyed the variety of songs from the mid-to-late 1970s that were included. This especially seemed to be the case during the porn producer's party that featured a band playing Earth, Wind and Fire tunes. Be still my heart!
"THE NICE GUYS" also featured some solid and outstanding performances. Murielle Telio, Beau Knapp, Ty Simpkins (who had worked with Black in "IRON MAN 3"), Lois Smith, Margaret Qualley, Jack Kilmer, and Gil Gerard ("BUCK ROGERS IN THE 25TH CENTURY" anyone?) all gave some pretty solid performances. I can also say the same about Kim Basinger, who portrayed a very pragmatic, yet emotionally intense Federal prosecutor named Judith Kuttner.
But I was really impressed by the likes of Matt Bomer, who gave a really intense performance as the rather scary hit man, John Boy. It was nice to see Bomer portray a character so completely different from what he usually does. Yaya DaCosta was equally intense, yet very seductive as Tally, secretary to Kim Basinger's Judith Kuttner. I thought she did a great job in conveying all of the interesting traits of Tally - friendly, sexy, intense and dangerous. Keith David had the unenviable task of being one of the few sane characters in this crazy film, while portraying a Detroit-born hit man nicknamed "Older Guy". However, I nearly fell off my seat, while laughing at one scene in which he expressed dismay to Holland for allowing young Holly's presence in the case. Speaking of Holly, the filmmakers cast young Australian actress Angourie Rice to portray Holland's pragmatic and brainy daughter, who also served as the leads' conscience. Not only did she give a first-rate performance, Rice managed to keep up with the likes of Russell Crowe and Ryan Gosling with ease.
Russell Crowe's Jackson Healey more or less played straight man to Ryan Gosling's zany Holland March; and I have to give him kudos for being up to the task. It is not an easy job playing straight man to the clown, considering that people are more inclined to pay attention to the latter. But Crowe not only did his job, he also beautifully brought alive a very interesting character in his own right, enforcer Jackson Healey, a dependable guy who has this little penchant for unnecessarily using excessive violence to solve certain situations. And he really clicked with Ryan Gosling, who had the good luck to portray the hapless and alcoholic private investigator Holland March. The interesting thing about Holland is that he is not dumb at all. In fact, he is actually a perceptive investigator who is good at his job, when he is not inebriated, not trying to cheat his clients, wallowing in his infatuation of the mysterious Tally or too intent on saving his own skin. I have to say that Holland March has become one of my favorite Ryan Gosling roles of all time. And one of the funniest I have ever viewed on the silver screen. What else is there to say?
What a shame that the public did not embrace "THE NICE GUYS". But it does not matter in the end. At least for me. I can think of numerous films that I loved, but were not exactly box office hits. Right now, "THE NICE GUYS" has become one of those films. It is sooooo fun to watch, thanks to a great, but not perfect script; sharp direction by Shane Black; and a marvelous cast led by a very talented duo, Russell Crowe and Ryan Gosling. This movie will go down as one of my favorites from 2016.
Below is a list of my top five favorite episodes from the ABC series, "LAST RESORT", which starred Andre Braugher and Scott Speedman:
TOP FIVE FAVORITE "LAST RESORT" (2012-2013) Episodes
1. (1.05) "Skeleton Crew" - In this tense episode, the U.S. Secretary of Defense arrives on the island of Sainte Marine to negotiate with Captain Marcus Chaplin and Lieutenant Commander Sam Kendal, the U.S.S. Colorado's commander and Executive Officer. Meanwhile, part of the sonar array protecting the island fails, allowing vessels to approach undetected; and Lieutenant Grace Shepard is forced to pilot the submarine to repair the array with the help of U.S. Navy SEAL James King and NATO Communications Facility leader Sophie Girard.
2. (1.01) "Captain" - This episode starts the series off with a bang when Captain Marcus defies protocol and demands confirmation of an order to fire four nuclear missiles at Pakistan. When the U.S. Navy retaliate with violence, Marcus is forced to seek sanctuary for the submarine's crew by taking control of the island of Sainte Marina, location of a NATO Communications facility.
3. (1.10) "Blue Water" - Kendal and King leave Sainte Marina to search for and rescue Kendal's wife, Christine, after she had been kidnapped following the events regarding an incident dealing with the failed attempt of Pakistani commandos to take control of a freighter sending the crew's family members to the island. Meanwhile, a Chinese envoy named Zheng Min arrives on Sainte Marine to offer aid and supplies to the Colorado's crew and the island's inhabitants.
4. (1.03) "Eight Bells" - In another of one of the series' tense episodes, Sainte Marine's local criminal despot Julian Serat has kidnapped three members of Chaplin's crew and offers their release in exchange for their services - namely the retrieval of a special cargo from a ship outside the island's perimeter.
5. (1.06) "Another Fine Navy Day" - Serat works with unknown attackers to dose the island's water supply with a hallucinogen called BZ, which shortly renders most of the island's population and the sub's crew unconscious. Kendal and King learn that the attackers are after the Navy SEAL team that arrived with the Colorado's crew.
