For as much as the computer technology to make the actors look like younger versions of themselves has been heralded, in practice it turns out rather odd looking. When viewing the younger version of Henry Brogan (Will Smith), it almost looks like he’s overdone the botox. There is little emotion seen. The extremely high resolution of the film does not help this anomaly either.

Director Ang Lee holds nothing back with the action sequences and many of them are amazing to look at. One action scene set in a convenience store is particularly impressive with lines of tracer fire criss crossing the air and explosions filling the scene with visual information. The sound design also helps to sell the impact.

What little story there is, a retiring assassin has to fight a cloned version of himself is perfectly adequate to stitch together all the action scenes. At times spectacular to look at and with some rather gripping action sequences, Gemini Man tries to set a new standard for the level of immersion that the 3D format is capable of and should help to raise the bar on the popcorn movie.
Rob Hudson
www.facebook.com/ParamountPicturesAU

Anna Kendrick (Pitch Perfect, Up In The Air) plays Martha McKay, someone who is definitely unlucky in love. She crosses paths with Francis (Sam Rockwell) a Zen like hitman who soon becomes Mr. Right. She is neurotic and over the top, he is cool and in control, together they make an admirable team.

The film’s script is not particularly believable in its execution of story but its use as a vehicle to promote the growing relationship between its two main players is quite engaging. Sometimes having a less than lofty goal plays right into the human development.

Mr. Right is the kind of film that entertains and amuses and leaves you with a warm fuzzy glow. It’s escapism at its finest and is a great way to get lost in the dark for a few hours with the one you love.

Rob Hudson
www.focusfeatures.com/mr_right

The film starts with a very European feel and then transcends into a fairly typical format of chase scene, hand to hand combat (with only one winner) and bad guys who never hit their target while the good bad guy never misses. The pace is frantic with only the cityscape and country change to provide a temporary respite of the onslaught.

Friend is effective as the experiment in killing machines with the trace of a conscious but it’s hard not to miss Olyphant and his Manson lamps. The structure of the films feels like the game with very little to link the scenes together but with a relentless level of action.

The film might take itself a little too serious but this is humorously contrasted by CGI effects that wouldn’t even be acceptable in today’s video game market. It’s not that it doesn’t entertain on some levels, it does, it’s just disappointing that not more is made of the concept of lost humanity regained.

Rob Hudson
www.foxmovies.com

The 2008 film Taken  recast Neeson as one of the big screen’s true bad asses and reenergized his career. This change was helped by the actor buffing up and having the innate physicality to play those roles with enough authenticity to be featured close up in fight and action scenes. No soft filter or distant set up shots were needed to hide the fact that almost all of the fight scene featured stunt doubles (i.e. Roger Moore in all the Bond films).

This time out, instead of being a shadowy ex-government agent, he’s a conflicted shadowy ex-mob hit man with still strong ties with his former employer. Through circumstance in aid of his own estranged son, he ends up killing the offspring of his former boss and from that moment forward, all hell breaks loose.

The ultimate success of films like this depend on a decent script and efficient acting and in these regards, Run All Night is a winner. The acting is top notch and the thespians chosen for their perspective roles are a great match. Of special note is Ed Harris, whose now craggy face fits the world weary Mob Boss perfectly. Neeson also get the performance nuances just right. This film is violent populist entertainment and is victorious in its mission to thrill and entertain.
Rob Hudson
 www.runallnightmovie.com