Project Power Film Review

Directed by Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman

Starring: Jamie Foxx, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Dominique Fishback

Rated R for violence, bloody images, drug content and some language

Project Power is an action sci fi film starring Jamie Foxx as a man trying to find the source of a powerful new drug. A new unknown drug that gives the user a unique superpower for five minutes hits the streets of New Orleans. Art (played by Jamie Foxx) teams up with Robin ( played by Dominique Fishback) in finding the supplier of this new drug. Frank (played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt) is also on a mission of finding the source of the drug, but is also seeking Art, as Frank believes he is the supplier of the drug.

The film’s main star, Jamie Foxx, absolutely sells this film as he is the best part of it. As always, Foxx delivers in a role that, quite honestly, doesn’t require too much range. But Foxx gives it his all in a role that could have been done without an emotional depth. Dominique Fishback is also a main player in the film and does an excellent job. While she has not done too much work and is considered a newcomer, she certainly holds her own against veteran actors Foxx and Gordon-Levitt. She leaves a mark on the film mostly due to the type of character she plays. The film doesn’t treat her character as a sidekick and never stoops down the be the damsel in distress. Fishback is perfect in the role of Robin, we can only hope we see more of her in future roles.

As alluded before, this a film that has a plot of a new drug giving its users a unique superpower. This concept has originality and is worth exploring in a film. Unfortunately, this concept is not fully explored in the film until the final act. Having a drug giving users superpowers is an excellent concept and the film could have gone all out with it. Throughout the film, we only hear of stories on the radio of drug users creating chaos throughout the city. While we get a few glimpses of people taking the drug and using the power, we can only imagine how others react to the drug. A filmmaker’s main goal is “show, don’t tell”, meaning show us the action, don’t tell us it happened. The film’s main flaw is its telling us what happened to drug users, not showing us. I am not sure if the film decided not to show us how powerful the drug is due to budget constraints or not wanting to go full superhero film, but it fails in leaving a mark in its respective genre.

Since the film doesn’t utilize its original concept until the final act of the film, it mostly falls flat. Having Art and Robin search for the source of the drug in its first two acts of the film feels like your run of the mill mystery film. Yes, there are some instances in the first two acts where someone takes a pill and we see their power, but its only a few characters. Just imagine if two characters took the pill and we see two powerful beings engage in a brawl. Once again, there could have been more done with this concept. But the film not exploring its ideas to the fullest does not take away enjoyment from the film. With all the flaws of the film, it does have its moment and it is a simple watch. I would be lying if I did say I did not enjoy some moments or some of the action. When the action hits the screen, it does grab the viewer’s attention. While some of the action does feature of subpar CGI, the CGI necessary doesn’t take away from the film. It is noticeable and it is worth pointing out.

Project Power is a film that works due to its stars who give excellent performances and its straightforward action. While an original idea such as the one presented in the film should have been a home run, unfortunately, it fails to delivers. Since the film decides to play it safe and not go all out, Project Power is an forgettable film that only succeeds due to the cast and action sequences. Project Power is worth a watch if there is nothing new to watch on Netflix, but don’t expect to get much out of this project.

2.5/4

Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw Film Review

Directed by David Letich

Starring: Dwayne Johnson, Jason Statham, Idris Elba

Rated PG-13 for prolonged sequences of action and violence, suggestive material and some strong language

It’s funny to think how much the Fast and Furious series has evolved from its original format. The original Fast and Furious film that premiered in 2001 was a crime action film that centered around street racing. Slowly as time went on, the films went on to be more ridiculous than its predecessors. We eventually reach the point that the film series has produced a spin off film, which has nothing to do with street racing but feels more like a parody of a spy film. Despite this, the spin off, “Hobbs & Shaw” is an enjoyable film with two hours of pure entertainment.

“Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw” is the 9th film in the Fast & Furious series and the first spin off of the series. The film has series regulars Luke Hobbs( played by Dwayne Johnson) and Deckard Shaw (played by Jason Statham) team up in order to prevent a virus being released to the public by a superhuman former MI6 agent (played by Idris Elba) .

Off the bat, “Hobbs and Shaw” is a ridiculously fun film. In that I mean that 50% of the film is ridiculous and 50% of the film is fun. There are multiple moments where you question the physics of the film such as how in the world can Dwayne Johnson fall on top of a car and walk up and fight as if nothing happened. This entire review could be criticism of the ridiculous moments of the film but the film knows that it’s ridiculous. This is a film series that went street racing to saving the world, James Bond style, so it’s has already been building up to this. The film works best when the audience turns off their mind and view the film as a action blockbuster.

But because the audience can turn off their mind and accept the film as a fun action film, some of the writing is cringe worthy. It’s embarrassing that a great actor such as Idris Elba is reduced to a generic villain who is reading off lines that feels like it was written by a 7 year old. Also in regards to the script, some of the scenes feel too long, more specifically the two cameos in the film. I understand that director David Leitch has gotten two great cameos that will certainly surprise the audiences but there was a sense that the cameos kept lingering. As much as I enjoyed the cameos, the cameos were getting unfunny a minute into the scene. In addition, this may be a minor nitpick, but the film abruptly ends while more exposition is given in the credits. The ending just felt so rushed and as if the director had to quickly cut the ending before a deadline. This aspect felt so lazy and left a bad taste in my mouth when I walked out of the theater.

In regards to the villain, played by Idris Elba, I certainly wished more was given to Elba as supposed your run of the mill villain. His role as the villain is forgettable as truth be told, I didn’t even know the name of the character until researching the film. The same goes to the sister of Shaw. Although Vanessa Kirby plays a tough bad ass, it feels like something we have seen before in multiple films. But as much I have multiple complaints of the film, the action is still enjoyable. The visual effects are still eye pleasing. In particular, the stand out action sequence is the chase in London.

As much I have multiple complaints of the film, there is still much enjoyment in the film. This is an action film that features a villain who can flip over a car with no issue. It knows that what exactly what it is, which is a fun action flick with mindless action. Audiences can certainly appreciate “Hobbs & Shaw” if they don’t overthink the film. So in other words, “Hobbs and Shaw” fits perfectly with the rest of the “Fast & Furious” films.

2/4

Hellboy (2019) Film Review

Directed by Neil Marshall

Starring: David Harbour, Milla Jovovich, Ian McShane

Rated R for strong bloody violence and gore throughout, and language

While I was watching Hellboy, I felt nostalgic for the 2004 version with Ron Perlman and Guillermo del Toro as director. When the film was over, I asked myself two questions. Why was not at home watching that version and why was another Hellboy film made without del Toro as director and Perlman as the title character?

Hellboy is a remake or re-imagining of the character based off the comic book. In this third film in the Hellboy series, Hellboy (played by David Harbour) must stop the Nimue, the Blood Queen, (played by Milla Jovovich) who is seeking to destroy mankind. The thing that works best in this film is Harbour as Hellboy. Harbour does have funny one-liners here and there and does well with what he has to work with. Also, Alice (played by Sasha Lane), who is a character who can speak to the dead, is also very well with what she has to work with. But this is as far as the compliments go.

The issue with Hellboy is that it’s just so forgettable and long. The film is a two hours long but it about ten to fifteen minutes could have been cut. In the first act of the film, there is a story arc of Hellboy having to kill three giants with men from a club having to help. This story arc adds nothing to the rest of the story nor is it interesting. The fight sequence with the three giants is filled with bad CGI. Very bad CGI. This is an issue that plagues the entire film as the CGI looks like something that would be found in a PlayStation 2 game cut-scene.

In the film, Hellboy is helped by his father (played by Ian McShane) in the quest to stop the Blood Queen. But McShane’s character plays more of a M, from James Bond, character rather than a father figure. He is just there to tell exposition or give Hellboy details of his next quest. The only way you know Hellboy and McShane’s character are related by the characters actually telling the audience that they are related. For example, one would say “thanks pops” or “hello son” . This is the only way you can tell these two are father and son due to lack chemistry between the characters.

The villain’s motivations are cliche and forgettable. The Blood Queen has been dead for hundreds of years and awakens to destroy the world. It has been done before and its not interesting nor exciting. The last act consisted of the Blood Queen unleashing demons to the streets of London in a gory fashion. When a film presents violence, I usually have no problem with it, unless its done right. This film has violence and gore just to have it, the gimmick of having people ripped apart throughout the film gets boring towards the end.

Hellboy is a bland film that is filled with embarrassing CGI. Harbour is very likable as Hellboy but the rest of the film is just sloppy and messy. The very end of the film presents an idea for a sequel, but I highly doubt that will happen if this is what we got. If there were to be another Hellboy film, then we are better off having Guillermo del Toro back in the director’s chair and Ron Perlman back as Hellboy himself.

1.5/4