Before Midnight Review

Rated R (Sexual Content/Nudity and Language)

Running Time: 1 Hour & 48 Minutes

Cast-

Ethan Hawke-Jesse Wallace

Julie Delpy-Céline

Seamus Davey-Fitzpatrick-Hank Wallace

Jennifer Prior-Ella

Charlotte Prior-Nina

Walter Lassally-Patrick

Xenia Kalogeropoulou-Natalia

Athina Rachel Tsangari-Ariadni

Panos Koronis-Stefanos

Ariane Labed-Anna

Yiannis Papadopoulos-Achilleas

Directed by Richard Linklater

Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy reunite for Richard Linklater's "Before Midnight," nine years since the last installment.

Note: Screened on Thursday, May 23, 2013 at AMC Loews 34th Street 14.

A train travels through the Austrian countryside while Henry Purcell's Dido and Aeneas: Overture plays in the background. In the coach car, a middle-aged couple starts arguing in German, prompting the young woman sitting across from them to move toward the back. As she settles into her new seat, she briefly makes eye contact with the young man now sitting across from her. They share a brief smile as the arguing couple from before rushes pass them on their way to the lounge car. Thus begins Richard Linklater's "Before Sunrise," by far one of the best romance films of the last twenty years. I remember feeling tears well up in my eyes as I watched Jesse and Céline (played by Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy) hastily agree to meet each other in six months on the same train because I knew in the back of my mind that there was no way either of them would keep that promise. It was a foolish attempt but that's what young people do and what made Linklater's film so memorable was that it captured the spontaneity of romance, even if it only lasted for one night. Although Hollywood loves to make sequels, "Before Sunrise" was the last film anyone would expect to see a follow-up. Yet that's exactly what happened as Hawke and Delpy reprised their roles nine years later for 2004's "Before Sunset," with Linklater back in the director's chair. It was just as good (if not better than) "Sunrise," with the two characters regretfully lamenting on what might have been. The film closed with a perfect non-ending, an ellipses if you will, leaving fans to wonder if they'll ever see Jesse and Céline again. Well, it appears that Linklater has heard your prayers. Funny, heartfelt, brutally honest, and just plain well-acted, "Before Midnight" arrives into select theaters with another nine year gap and cements its status as the best film of 2013 so far.

It has been eighteen years since Jesse (Ethan Hawke) and Céline (Julie Delpy) first met on a train bound for Vienna. The two reunited nine years prior and now live together in Paris as an unmarried couple with their beautiful seven-year-old twin daughters. Jesse continues to find success as a writer but environmental activist Céline is beginning to suffer from burnout as she contemplates taking a government job. On the last day of their summer vacation, spent at the villa of an aging novelist (Walter Lassally) off the Peloponnesian coast of Greece, Jesse says good-bye to Hank (Seamus Davey-Fitzpatrick), his fourteen-year-old son from his previous marriage. During the drive back to the villa, he voices his regret to Céline for not being able to spend more time with his son and wants to move to Chicago, where he can be closer to him. However, Céline is resistant to the idea of uprooting her whole life for Jesse. As the day progresses, the two look back on their past, discussing love, life, and parenthood while wondering what the future holds for them.

In his own review for "Before Midnight," James Berardinelli mentions French director Jean-Luc Godard, who famously stated that 'photography is truth. The cinema is truth twenty-four times per second.' Richard Linklater's "Before" series has always prided themselves on their realness and that tradition is proudly upheld in the third film. Like the previous two entries, the focus is not on what happens but on what is being said. One thing I really love about these films is in observing the subtle details in Jesse and Céline's interactions. In "Before Sunrise," our lovebirds visit a second-hand record store and listen to Kath Bloom's Come Here in a listening-booth, all the while making brief eye contact and looking away. It's such a charming little scene (one of many) and you can't help but smile at their awkwardness. After all, we were once like them. This sort of naiveté is replaced with regret in "Before Sunset" and there's a heartbreaking moment where Céline reaches out to comfort Jesse as he confesses his loveless marriage but she pulls back just as he turns to her. In the nine years that have passed since their reunion, Jesse and Céline have built a new life for themselves and their twin daughters in Paris. However, it's far from 'happily ever after' for them. During a ten-minute drive from the airport, their conversation is heavy with the obligations of real life as Céline furiously debates with Jesse on whether to take a government job. Her idealism in "Sunset" has slowly turned to weariness. At the same time, Jesse is grappling with his own dilemma of not seeing his son enough. They joke about their disagreements but it's immediately clear that this is not the first time these topics have come up.

Although the previous films were limited to Jesse and Céline, "Before Midnight" appropriately expands the scope by having them interact with other characters. The twenty-minute dinner sequence represents one of the funniest parts of the film as everyone around the table engages in a lively philosophical debate on the nature of romance and love, with Céline at one point pretending to be a 'dumb blond'! Linklater also acknowledges how technology has changed the way people connect (or not connect) with each other. Imagine how different it would be if Jesse and Céline had met in an era of Facebook, Twitter, and Skype. The last hour focuses exclusively on our central characters, and this is when the cracks in their relationship begin to show. Their tone becomes tinged with bitterness and this all culminates in a big fight set in a hotel room. It starts innocuously enough, with Jesse wondering why Céline won't let him speak to Hank whenever he calls. Things quickly take a turn for the worse as what was supposed to be a night of passionate love-making turns into frightening and painful argument where Céline lets loose with all her frustrations that carry the weight of thousands of years of female oppression. Some of what they say cuts deep and it's a harsh reminder of how all those years of love and trust can be torn apart in a matter of minutes. The question of whether they'll stay together changes with the flow of their conversation.

"Before Midnight" may not be especially 'cinematic' but there's a rhythm to the dialogue that holds your rapt attention. This is helped by the brilliant performances from Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy. Having collaborated with Linklater on the scripts for all three films, these two know Jesse and Céline like the back of their hand. In fact, it's hard to believe these two are acting at all given the way they just melt into their characters. The rest of the cast includes Walter Lassally, Xenia Kalogeropoulou, Athina Rachel Tsangari, Panos Koronis, Ariane Labed, and Yiannis Papadopoulos and although their roles are small, each of them radiate life. You feel like you know these people. Also deserving a mention is the film's use of its Greek location. Similar to Vienna and Paris, they exist on the periphery as Linklater never indulges in wide shots. He instead uses these locations to add a sense of time and place to the proceedings.

In limited release since May 24, 2013, "Before Midnight" has received glowing reviews with 97% on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics hailed it for offering 'intelligent, powerfully acted perspectives on love, marriage, and long-term commitment.' Although the advance screening last Thursday didn't exactly draw a huge crowd, it was clear that the film struck an emotional cord to those who showed up. In a summer full of the usual blockbusters that overload on explosions and CG, "Before Midnight" stands in stark contrast to those films by telling a story that's not only real but painfully honest. This is a rare series that continues to get better with each new follow-up, a mature work of art that serves as a reminder that love will never be perfect yet that doesn't make it any less worth pursuing.

Final Rating: 5 out of 5

"Women explore for eternity in the vast garden of sacrifice."

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The Hangover Part III Review

Rated R (Pervasive Language including Sexual References, Some Violence and Drug Content, and Brief Graphic Nudity)

Running Time: 1 Hour & 40 Minutes

Cast-

Bradley Cooper-Phil Wenneck

Ed Helms-Stu Price

Zach Galifianakis-Alan Garner

Justin Bartha-Doug Billings

John Goodman-Marshall

Ken Jeong-Leslie Chow

Melissa McCarthy-Cassie

Heather Graham-Jade

Sasha Barrese-Tracy Garner

Jamie Chung-Lauren Price

Gillian Vigman-Stephanie Wenneck

Jeffrey Tambor-Sid Garner

Mike Epps-Black Doug

Directed by Todd Phillips

The Wolf Pack are forced to work with gangster Leslie Chow if they are to save Doug in "The Hangover Part III."

Note: Screened on Tuesday, May 21, 2013 at Regal Union Square Stadium 14.

Hollywood has always been about chasing the almighty dollar. When director Todd Phillips' R-rated comedy "The Hangover" arrived in theaters back in summer 2009, Warner Brothers was so confident that the film would be a hit at the box office that they green-lit a sequel two months before its release. Although the studio's prediction proved to be correct, the film's final worldwide tally of $467.5 million (that's thirteen times its production budget) still came as a total surprise. Audiences as well as critics fell in love with Phillips' film (79% on Rotten Tomatoes) so naturally, a sequel was made in the hopes that lightening would strike twice. Due to the goodwill generated by its predecessor, 2011's "The Hangover Part II" debuted to a massive $135 million over Memorial Day weekend…but there was one problem: the film was terrible. Of course, it still made giant piles of money ($586.8 million worldwide) yet all Phillips did was just copy-and-paste the story from the original while only changing the setting from Las Vegas to Bangkok. Making matters worse, he replaced the comedy with shock value antics that were often mean-spirited, vile, and offensive. Despite its negative reception (34% on Rotten Tomatoes), Warner Brothers moved ahead with a second follow-up. Given how bad "Part II" was, there's nowhere to go but up for "The Hangover Part III" and while it is an improvement thanks to its bittersweet tone, there's far too little laughs here for this third (and supposedly final) installment to qualify as a comedy.

Now off his meds and left to wallow in his own stupidity, forty-two-year-old man-child Alan Garner (Zach Galifianakis) causes a colossal traffic accident on the freeway after he accidentally decapitates a giraffe. This incident proves to be too much for his exasperated father Sid (Jeffrey Tambor) and he soon passes away from a heart attack. After the funeral, Alan's brother-in-law Doug Billings (Justin Bartha) decides to set up an intervention and invites the rest of the 'Wolf Pack,' schoolteacher Phil Wenneck (Bradley Cooper) and dentist Stu Price (Ed Helms), to lend moral support. Although Alan is initially resistant to the idea of going to rehab, the three friends manage to convince him that he needs help. Riding with the Wolf Pack one final time, Phil and his pals drive Alan to the rehab center in Arizona but they are ambushed along the way by ruthless drug kingpin Marshall (John Goodman) and his enforcer, Black Doug (Mike Epps). Marshall informs them that four years ago, gangster Leslie Chow (Ken Jeong) stole $21 million in gold bars from him. Now he wants it all back and since Alan has been in constant contact with Chow, Marshall demands the Wolf Pack  to locate him and the gold or Doug will be killed. Finding themselves caught in an outrageous situation once again, Phil, Stu, and Alan set out to capture Chow and return to the city where it all began…Las Vegas.

Aware of the complaints that "Part II" was nothing more than a lazy carbon-copy of the original, Todd Phillips makes a radical departure from the formula established in the first two entries with "The Hangover Part III." There may not be a wedding or missing night but the characters are still forced to deal with the consequences of their actions, only now they're all sober. Once again written by Phillips and Craig Mazin (whose credits include "Superhero Movie" and February's horrid "Identity Thief"), the film starts off on a promising note, opening with a chaotic prison riot set in Bangkok where flamboyant gangster Leslie Chow makes his escape, Shawshank-style! The scene then segues to an excited Alan Garner driving along the freeway with a giraffe in tow but his happiness is short-lived when the animal is decapitated under a low bridge, resulting in a major traffic incident that leaves his father furious. It's as shocking as it is hilarious (made funnier due to how oblivious Alan looks), with Phillips straddling the line between bleak and humorous when he subsequently kills off Alan's dad while his son sits in smug silence, listening to Billy Joel's My Life on his headphones. A number of off-putting comic moments follow such as Alan beautifully singing Ave Maria but the laughs unfortunately begin to peter out once the Wolf Pack hits the road. With "Part II" and now "Part III," Phillips continues to completely misunderstand why the first film worked so well. It was never the formula, or Alan, or even Chow; it was the easy camaraderie between the three central characters. By focusing so much on Alan and Chow, Phil and Stu are reduced to being tagalongs with little to do.

Given his over-the-top nature, Chow is a character that's best utilized in small doses. His expanded role here quickly gets on your nerves. In fact, the whole Tijuana segment where he tries to retrieve his gold with the help of the Wolf Pack grinds the film to a halt due to how dull and unfunny it is. A return to Las Vegas restores some of the manic energy and luster from the original, complete with a nail-biting scene where Phil and Alan try to infiltrate Chow's penthouse suite in Caesars Palace. The story makes every effort to provide a sense of closure and packs in a number of nostalgic callbacks to the previous entries (including an appearance from a four-year-old 'Carlos') but it is surprisingly the character moments that save "Part III" from being a total disaster. Phillips manages to create a sense of genuine poignancy with Alan's maturation and even throws in a romantic interest in the form of Cassie, played by Melissa McCarthy. The last twenty minutes certainly goes big as a coked-up, parachuting Chow leads Stu on a merry chase through Vegas, which has never looked so colorful thanks to Lawrence Sher's excellent cinematography. Although "The Hangover Part III" never quite recaptures the magic of the original, its final scenes prove to be a fitting conclusion to a series that sadly became a victim of its own success.

The entire primary cast return to reprise their roles for one last time but a sense of weariness pervades some of their performances. Bradley Cooper and Ed Helms appear stranded in the film, with the former looking completely disinterested as he goes through the motions. Zach Galifianakis' Alan continues to be the series' highlight with his simpleton behavior and random non-sequiturs yet there's a noticeable lack of quotable dialogue from the character, a sign of how dried up the creative well has become. Ken Jeong plays the same outlandish Chinese/homosexual stereotype from the previous entries but the actor ratchets up the crazy to eleven. Justin Bartha is once again pushed to the sidelines while John Goodman's Marshall is simply wasted. Mike Epps and Heather Graham pop up briefly, with Graham reduced to serving up exposition. Melissa McCarthy is the only cast member to leave an impression despite having no more than ten minutes of screen-time.

"The Hangover Part III" was released on May 23, 2013 to overwhelmingly negative reviews with 21% on Rotten Tomatoes. Although critics admired it for diverging 'from the series' rote formula, [it] offers nothing compelling in its place.' Despite opening a day ahead of "Fast and Furious 6," the film has failed to drum up much excitement and will finish with $54 million over Memorial Day weekend, a far cry from the $135 million tally of "Part II." The tepid response from audiences was in stark contrast to the enthusiasm shown from Tuesday's advance screening. "The Hangover Part III" offers a few scattered laughs but is ultimately not a return to form for the series. The problem with this franchise is that it was borne out of studio mandate and that proved to be its undoing. It just goes to show that no matter how hard you try, you can't make lightening strike multiple times.

Final Rating: 2.5 out of 5

"Did you know your name used to be Carlos? I think it suits you better."

Make sure to stay during the end credits for a hilarious scene, by far the funniest moment in the entire film!

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Iron Man 3 Review

Rated PG-13 (Sequences of Intense Sci-Fi Action and Violence Throughout, and Brief Suggestive Content)

Running Time: 2 Hours & 10 Minutes

Cast-

Robert Downey Jr.-Tony Stark/Iron Man

Gwyneth Paltrow-Virginia 'Pepper' Potts

Don Cheadle-Colonel James 'Rhodey' Rhodes/Iron Patriot

Ben Kingsley-The Mandarin

Guy Pearce-Aldrich Killian

Rebecca Hall-Dr. Maya Hansen

Jon Favreau-Harold 'Happy' Hogan

James Badge Dale-Eric Savin

Stephanie Szostak-Ellen Brandt

Ty Simpkins-Harley Keener

William Sadler-President Ellis

Miguel Ferrer-Vice President Rodriguez

Paul Bettany (voice)-Jarvis

Shaun Toub-Ho Yinsen

Xueqi Wang-Doctor Wu

Directed by Shane Black

Tony Stark finds himself beaten when facing off against the mysterious Mandarin.

Note: At AMC Loews Lincoln Square 13.

Fifty years…that's how long Marvel Comics' Iron Man has been around. Created by Stan Lee, Larry Lieber, Don Heck, and Jack Kirby and first appearing in 1963's Tales of Suspense #39, Iron Man has always been viewed as a 'second-tier' character from people who weren't overly familiar with the comics but that all changed in 2008 with the release of Jon Favreau's "Iron Man." Mired in development hell for the better part of sixteen years, "Iron Man" was a major turning point for Marvel; not only was it the first film to be completely self-financed by them but it also marked the beginning of the so-called 'Marvel Cinematic Universe.' Having a bunch of super heroes (who each had their own individual series) team-up was a regular occurrence in the world of comics but for a film? It was a major gamble, one that paid off in a huge way last summer with Joss Whedon's "The Avengers," the culmination of five years of hard work and dedication. Reception to the film was incredibly enthusiastic from both critics (93% on Rotten Tomatoes) and fans, and the worldwide box office gross stood at a gargantuan $1.5 billion at the end of its run. Now we're entering 'Phase 2' and it's only appropriate to have Iron Man once again kick-start the next slate of Marvel films with "Iron Man 3." Despite a change in directors with Shane Black replacing Favreau, "Iron Man 3" retains the humor, and more importantly, the heart of the previous entries. While it suffers from uneven pacing and a somewhat bloated story, the film is frequently engaging and even includes a number of twists that you wouldn't expect from a summer blockbuster.

After his near-death experience in New York City with his fellow Avengers, a restless Tony Stark (Robert Downey, Jr.) has been suffering from frequent anxiety/panic attacks and fearing for the life of his live-in girlfriend Virginia 'Pepper' Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow), he retreats to his Malibu home to tinker with his Iron Man suits. His obsession with protecting her results in friction in their relationship but that's the least of his troubles when the Ten Rings, the terrorist organization that previously kidnapped Stark, begins to wreck havoc around the world under the leadership of the mysterious Mandarin (Ben Kingsley). Working with his corporate rival Aldrich Killian (Guy Pearce) and using an experimental regenerative treatment known as 'Extremis' created by scientist Dr. Maya Hansen (Rebecca Hall), the Mandarin puts Stark's former bodyguard Harold 'Happy' Hogan (Jon Favreau) in a coma during one of his bombings. An angry Stark vows revenge but the Mandarin presses the attack, launching an all-out assault on his home. With all his suits (except one) destroyed and presumed dead by the rest of the world, Stark is forced to hide out in a small rural town in Tennessee as he recuperates and rebuilds while trying to ascertain just who the Mandarin really is. At the same time, Stark's friend James 'Rhodey' Rhodes (Don Cheadle) independently pursues the Mandarin at the behest of the United States government under the moniker 'Iron Patriot.'

"Iron Man 3" is by far the darkest film in the series and similar to last year's "The Dark Knight Rises," the story (inspired by Warren Ellis and Adi Granov's Extremis storyline) finds Tony Stark stripped of all his gadgets, forcing him to rely solely on his wits and his intelligence. Many view "Iron Man 2" as a step down from its predecessor but I thought the film was actually an improvement because it was more introspective, with Stark struggling to live up to his father's legacy when faced with his own mortality. Director Shane Black (who previously worked with Downey on 2005's "Kiss Kiss Bang Bang") takes the same approach but from a different angle, asking the question: What does it mean to be Iron Man? What separates the 'man' from the 'suit'? When the film begins, Stark is a mess, a chronically paranoid and obsessed insomniac suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. Any reminder of the incident in New York City sends him into a hyperventilating panic attack and he either retreats into his Iron Man suit or lab. Just when things couldn't get worse, the Mandarin soon strikes at his very home and leaves Stark with virtually nothing. This leads to one of my favorite parts of the film as Stark is forced to play detective and in a very fun nod to "Last Action Hero," he teams-up with a precocious child named Harley played by Ty Simpkins. Black wisely avoids the sappy route in their interactions and even pokes fun at it. What I love about the second act is the way it emphasizes Stark's ingenuity despite being totally out-matched and there's even a 'fugitive' aspect that I greatly enjoyed. The most interesting (and risky) aspect of the script is the way it handles the central villain. Even twelve years later, 9/11 continues to have an impact and using the real-world as inspiration, Black re-imagines the Mandarin as this Bin Laden-like figure who frequently issues taunts toward the United States via public broadcasts. However, there is a major twist with the character that has already proven to be quite controversial among comic book fans. I myself didn't have a huge problem with it because I never expected the films to be 1:1 copies of the comics. What "Iron Man 3" really suffers from is far more mundane and is typical of today's Hollywood blockbusters. The pacing tends to be problematic and there's an inescapable feeling of franchise bloat, with too many characters running around. Nevertheless, there's never a dull moment thanks to the witty and often hilarious dialogue, and if this is the final "Iron Man" film as its ending suggests, then it certainly goes out in style.

Although a newcomer to the world of big-budget filmmaking, Black manages to craft some pretty impressive action sequences. By far the most memorable is the Mandarin's sudden attack on Stark's Malibu home. This scene finds our armored hero on the defensive but he soon recovers, later leading a daring rescue from a plummeting Air Force One and an army of remote-controlled Iron Man suits during the film's explosive climax, set on an oil rig. It's not all about the CG effects however and equally as fun to watch is Stark and Rhodes taking down the bad guys with good 'ol fashioned fisticuffs. Their 'buddy-cop' relationship reminded me of Richard Donner's "Lethal Weapon," which Black wrote. As for the 3D, I opted for the 2D version instead. Reception to the 3D (which was post-converted) has been mixed so it would appear that I made the right choice in avoiding it. Brian Tyler's score is appropriately loud and bombastic, even if it is somewhat derivative.

The acting is once again top-notch and not since Christopher Reeve (or Hugh Jackman) has an actor so embodied a comic book character.  Robert Downey, Jr. once again brings a snarky charm to Stark but there's also a layer of doubt that wasn't there before. His near-death experience has shaken his confidence and Downey delivers an excellent performance as a superhero struggling to do right not only by his friends but also himself. Gwyneth Paltrow unfortunately disappears for much of the second act yet still leaves an indelible mark, donning the armor at one point in a nod to her stint as Rescue in the comics and even delivering the killing blow in the finale! Don Cheadle comfortably settles into his role as Rhodes, his back-and-forth banter with Downey providing plenty of funny moments. Ben Kingsley steals quite a number of scenes as the Mandarin and I love the voice he uses. It suggests someone who's educated and invokes present-day fears of homegrown terrorism. Guy Pearce is suitably smarmy and sadistic in his secondary villain role, with James Badge Dale standing in for Mallen from the Extremis storyline. Finally, there's Rebecca Hall as Dr. Maya Hansen and while she's integral to the plot, the actress is criminally underutilized.

Released on May 3, 2013, "Iron Man 3" has received largely positive reviews with 78% on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics hailed it as a 'witty, entertaining adventure and a strong addition to the Marvel canon.' General audiences enjoyed the film as well despite the mixed reception among comic book fans regarding some of its twists. Box office wise, "Iron Man 3" is already an unqualified success with a massive $1.1 billion in the bank. Less certain is the franchise's future, as Downey has begun voicing his concern that it's perhaps time to move on from the character. With charismatic performances and stunning action scenes, "Iron Man 3" provides the right amount of balance between narrative and spectacle. This is popcorn entertainment done right.

Final Rating: 4 out of 5

"Some people call me a terrorist…I consider myself a teacher. Lesson number one: Heroes, there is no such thing."

As always, don't leave during the end credits or you'll miss a fun cameo!

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