Film Review: The Magnificent Seven

Antoine Fuqua’s remake of The Magnificent Seven is an entertaining enough western. Whilst  the film offers some initial spark, this is not enough to justify its existence.

When a small village are terrorised by an unflinching industrialist, they look for help in an unlikely source. The townsfolk employee a motley band of outlaws, bounty hunters and hired guns to defend their land and their lives…

A remake of the 1960 film (which in turn was a remake of Seven Samurai), director Antoine Fuqua updates The Magnificent Seven for a contemporary audience. The western period setting remains, yet there are some ideas which feel more modern. Action sequences in the film are a lot of fun, and overall the film is better paced than its predecessor.

The western tropes are clear as day in The Magnificent Seven. The basic themes of revenge, justice and integrity are present throughout. Fuqua infuses a modern tinge to the film. There is something contemporary about the land grab attempted by antagonist Bartholomew Bogue. Nevertheless, this link to recent news events could be coincidental. The diverse backgrounds of the defenders is commented upon, but it is not made into a big deal. Attitudes depicted in The Magnificent Seven are progressive, more often than not. However, this is not jarring.

Humour in the film works most of the time. The camaraderie between the seven hits and misses. There are some relationships that seem a lot more natural than others. In updating the film to give it more momentum, the screenwriters have forgotten to give the feel any real glimmer of originality. The antagonist is a one-dimensional villain, and there is little to most of the seven. Moreover, the narrative offers little of note. Denzel Washington is as strong as ever, and his chemistry with Ethan Hawke is reunited here. Chris Pratt is in danger of being typecast. Peter Sarsgaaard hams it up as Bogue.

On paper and initially, this remake has promise. However, The Magnificent Seven does not do enough to distinguish itself and is not memorable as a result.

Previews: Deepwater Horizon Featurette, Blair Witch, More!

Plenty to gaze upon in this week’s preview of coming attractions, including a Deepwater Horizon Featurette, the latest Blair Witch trailer and more…

Deepwater Horizon Featurette

Here is a Deepwater Horizon featurette. The film is about the events leading up to the  largest man-made disaster, in the Gulf of Mexico. Director Peter Berg follows up Battleship and Lone Survivor by reuniting with the latter’s star, Mark Wahlberg. Also starring Kurt Russell and Kate Hudson, Deepwater Horizon will hit UK screens on 29th September 2016.

Blair Witch Trailer

Here is the latest trailer for the upcoming Blair Witch. This sequel is set twenty years after the events of the original film. Blair Witch has good pedigree; it is produced by the original film’s writer-directors, and directed by Adam Wingard. After You’re Next and The Guest, it will be interesting to see how Winged tackles a modern horror classic. Blair Witch is out in UK cinemas on 15th September 2016.

Ouija: Origin of Evil Poster

This Ouija: Origin of Evil poster has a very retro look. A follow-up to 2014’s Ouija, this film tells the story of a mother and her daughters who unwittingly invite a spirit into their home. Ouija: Origin of Evil is helmed by Mike Flanagan, the director behind Oculus and Hush. The film is set for release on 21st October 2016.

La La Land Trailer

Here is the full trailer for La La Land. The film is an original musical directed by Whiplash‘s Damien Chazelle. Dream team Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling reunite for the film, which also stars John Legend and Rosemarie DeWitt. La La Land is scheduled for UK release in January 2017.

Rings Trailer

Rings is a sequel to successful horror The Ring, and the third film in the franchise. From the above trailer, it is not clear if the characters have any connection to the original, or whether it is a whole other story. Rings will hit UK screens on Halloween – 31st October 2016.

The Magnificent Seven Trailer

This trailer for The Magnificent Seven introduces viewers to each of the gang. Antoine Fuqua’s remake of the classic western sees Denzel Washington lead the gang of outlaws and bounty hunters. Chris Pratt, Ethan Hawke and Vincent D’Onofrio also star. The Magnificent Seven rides onto UK screens on 23rd September 2016.

Film Review: Maggie’s Plan

Rebecca Miller’s Maggie’s Plan owes a debt to the New York romantic comedy. The twee infusions may be off-putting to some, but those who get onboard will find the film entertaining.

Maggie has a plan. She has worked out all the details of her plan to have a baby solo. A chance meeting with a colleague disrupts her careful planning. Whilst John is entrancing to Maggie, he is also married…

Writer-director Rebecca Miller delivers a brand of escapist cinema which has allusions of Woody Allen. Maggie’s Plan is heavy on the dialogue, some of which exudes the level of self-involvement of the characters. The film is removed in a sense. The world of academia that is comfortable to the point of affluent will be alien to many. Yet Maggie’s Plan offers characters which are interesting. Their dilemmas may be inconsequential, but the film is divertingly entertaining.

Miller’s film launches straight into the motivation of protagonist Maggie. Viewers are at once advised on the motivation of the title character and the minutiae of her plan. The character is well written; she knows what she wants and her flaws are convincing. The world inhabited by the characters is one of middle-class comfort. The academic angle is interesting; references to this, and to cultural anthropology are ripe for laughs. The lifestyles of the characters are enviable and New York is depicted in a romantic fashion.

Greta Gerwig delivers a convincing performance as Maggie. She is ably helped by Ethan Hawke, who also gives a believable performance. Julianne Moore has fun with her delivery, whilst Maya Rudolph and Bill Hader are relegated to supporting roles.

The coy twist at the end of the film can be spotted a mile away. Nevertheless, Maggie’s Plan works in a modern screwball fashion. Rebecca Miller creates enjoyment from what could have been a grating set up.

Previews: The Accountant trailer, The Woods and more!

Plenty in this week’s preview of coming attractions, including The Accountant trailer, The Woods, and more…

The Accountant Trailer

Here is the new The Accountant trailer. The film stars Ben Affleck as a maths savant who works as a freelance accountant for dangerous criminal organisation. With his latest client, accounting clerk (Anna Kendrick) notices a major discrepancy. The Accountant is set for release on 4th November 2016.

The Woods Trailer

The first-look trailer for The Woods smartly eschews revealing too much. The film has been receiving critical acclaim thus far. It will be interesting to see what You’re Next and The Guest director Adam Wingard has in store for horror fans. The Woods will be released in UK cinemas on 16th September 2016.

Jason Bourne Featurette

Jason Bourne is back in this new featurette for the upcoming action thriller. Jason Bourne reunites Matt Damon with original director Paul Greengrass. Alicia Vikander also joins the cast, which includes Julia Stiles and Tommy Lee Jones. Jason Bourne bounces back onto the big screen on 27th July 2016.

Alice Through The Looking Glass Clip

Here is a new clip from the upcoming Alice Through The Looking Glass. Mia Wasikowska’s Alice returns to Wonderland after an absence to find things have taken a turn for the worse. The film reunites the cast from the 2010 film including Johnny Depp and Anne Hathaway. Alice Through The Looking Glass hits UK screens on 27th May 2016.

The Magnificent Seven Trailer

The Magnificent Seven is a remake of 1960’s The Magnificent Seven (which was, in turn, a remake of Seven Samurai). Antoine Fuqua, which features an all-star cast including Denzel Washington, Chris Pratt, and Ethan Hawke. The Magnificent Seven will be released in IMAX and regular cinemas 23rd September 2016.

Film Review: Brooklyn’s Finest

In one of the opening scenes of the film, Richard Gere practices committing suicide with an unloaded gun.  No, all those gerbil rumours haven’t gotten too much for him. Rather, this scene is emblematic of the themes and tone of Brooklyn’s Finest.

Antoine Fuqua’s film follows the stories of three cops, all in different stages of their career. Although, for the most part, their stories are unconnected, they work on the same dangerous and jaded streets…

Brooklyn’s Finest works well as an absorbing crime drama, although the outlook is decidedly bleak. The streets of the precinct are devoid of hope, and each cop appears jaded in their own particular way.

In one respect, the film highlights the dangerous realities of being a cop in a place such as Brooklyn. Sal and his friends lament that they are worth more to their families dead rather than alive, due to the $100,000 payout their relatives would receive. On the other hand, however, the film is satiated with graphic violence. Thus the realities of the situation are off-set with the sometimes gratuitous violence. It does not seem a coincidence that characters are frequently shown playing video games, as the action of the film appears to resemble one, at times.

Richard Gere, Don Cheadle and Ethan Hawke all give solid performances. It is perhaps Hawke who excels most, as his frustration at not being able to provide for his family garners the most sympathy. Elsewhere, Wesley Snipes delivers a star turn as Caz, a recently released convict; a role that seems to have been written for Snipes. In this testosterone-filled film, women with significant roles are hard to come by; most cast are either prostitutes or dancers. Ellen Barkin is convincingly unlikable in the only powerful female role.

Overall, Brooklyn’s Finest is a film that delivers, but is also one that offers no real surprises from the director of Training Day. This is not necessarily a bad thing, as Brooklyn’s Finest is a well-crafted drama. But for all its hints of early Scorsese (the themes of crime, the city and Catholicism), the film lacks the magic that would elevate it to ‘classic’ status.