Jun 24 2022

Elvis

Growing up in Tupelo, Mississippi Elvis Presley (Austin Butler) would take influences from the largely African American culture he grew up in and infuse them into his own special style of rock and roll. With his dashing good looks and natural instincts as a showman the world couldn’t seem to get enough of Elvis, and, combined with the marketing genius of manager/hustler Colonel Tom Parker (Tom Hanks), Elvis would of course become The King of Rock and Roll. Detailing his rise and fall through the eyes of a near death Parker, this is Elvis.Written by Craig Pearce, Sam Bromell, and Baz Luhrmann, and Directed by Luhrmann, this fictionalized recounting of history surrounding one of the most iconic showmen to take the stage in the 20th century sets out with great ambition but falls far short of the fevered dreamlike quality and imagination that’s come to be expected from a Baz Luhrmann film. Attempts at combining the contemporary rap and hip hop with classic Elvis lack the pizzaz or storytelling quality we’ve seen in previous Luhrmann films, and to be frank the final third of the film, the Vegas years, droll on for what feels like an eternity, essentially dragging the viewer into a less than entertaining drug induced bender of gluttony and abuse. A tragic film to a tragic character in the world of Pop/Rock history, The King deserves better. Running a brutal two hours and thirty nine minutes and rated PG-13, perhaps steer clear this weekend.


Jun 17 2022

Brian and Charles

A recluse inventor of generally useless items named Brian (David Earl) strikes gold when his robot named “Charles” (Chris Hayward) actually takes to life and becomes sentient. But questions about makers and masters begin to spur as Charles’ knowledge and understanding of the world grows. It’s only a matter of time before britches are outgrown, but then what? Written by David Earl and Chris Hayward and Directed by Jim Archer, this light hearted mocumentary style romp through the countryside with a robot runs at an even pace delivering a host of good chuckles and genuine smiles from start to finish. Simple in premise and delivery, the writers aren’t challenging major theories about life and humanity as one might think, but instead focus on solid archetypal character development and provide the basis of the classic quest for knowledge and growth, points for staying on target. And, running only a brisk 90 minutes, welcomes are not overstayed. Bottom line, rated PG, Brian and Charles provides the feel good warmth in our Seattle summer of grey.


Jun 10 2022

Jurassic World Dominion

Four years since the fall of Isla Nublar, dinosaurs now live amongst us all around the world, a controversial matter to say the least; but, with the work and help of a major biotech firm there could be an upshot in medical technology and gene therapies from the disaster. Now with the possibility of a food shortage at hand, humanity’s ability to stay as an apex predator on earth may be coming to an end, Re-uniting the best minds in jurassic lore might be the only way to save our existence. Written by Emily Carmichael, Colin Trevorrow, and Derek Connolly and Directed by Trevorrow, this derivative work checks the boxes as a summertime box office smasher, but lacks in the plot and concept development department. Riddled with stale and moronic dialogue, but ripe with chase scenes, this potentially final chapter in the dino franchise is based on one chase set piece after another with little substance in between, serving up retreads on all the now standard Jurassic tropes. Sure the cast contains the whole family from Sam Neill, Laura Dern, and Jeff Goldblum to Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, and Isabella Sermon and that’s fine and fun, but moments together on screen are few and far between, and frankly not that memorable. Regardless, dinosaurs show up, do their thing, yay, and there’s even a message about acceptance and understanding to tidy things up with a bow. So, I guess show up for the dinos but check your brain at the door. This two hour and twenty six minute sweaty beast is rated PG-13.