The Jungle Book

Score:  ****1/2 out of ***** (A)

Directed by Jon Favreau
Starring Bill Murray, Ben Kingsley, Idris Elba, et. al.
Running time:  105 minutes
Rated PG

Long Story Short:  Jon Favreau (Iron Man, Elf) directed this new adaptation of a favorite children's story.  This is no gimmick release: the visual effects are amazing and put to excellent use with all the animal characters involved.  Bill Murray, Idris Elba, and others prove great voice actors, but so does young Sethi as Mowgli.  Add in a strong, straightforward script, and you have a must-see family film.  Highly recommended.


Deep in the jungles of India, there is a strange wolf pack.  One of the "pups" being raised is a human boy named Mowgli (Sethi).  The orphan boy learns the ways of the pack, frolicking about with the wolf pups under the watchful eyes of mother wolf Raksha (Nyong'o) and the elusive black panther Bagheera (Kingsley).  The boy's place does not seem to hinder anything or anyone in the natural cycle of life in the jungle, until a long and brutal drought comes.  As all the animals are drawn in to the last remaining water source, a fearsome, man-hating Bengal tiger, Shere Khan (Elba), finds Mowgli and promises to kill the boy once the drought ends.  Although Mowgli's friends hope to protect him, the boy decides he can't put anyone else at risk and leaves for the nearest human village, with Bagheera as his guide.

Furious at being denied his victim, Shere Khan hunts down Mowgli.  Soon, the boy is lost and alone, facing dangers he's never encountered before.  Yet new friends arrive, too, and Mowgli begins to discover the usefulness of his human abilities or "tricks", as the wolves called them.  The boy would be happy to live in peace in the jungle - but a final reckoning with Shere Khan the tiger is inevitable.

The cast of The Jungle Book is exceptional, though, with the exception of Mowgli, entirely computer animated.  Leading the way is Neel Sethi as the "man cub".  Child actors are hit or miss, but fortunately Sethi is very impressive in the role.  His character, Mowgli, has been raised by animals, and Sethi does a very good job of giving that impression.  He clearly comes across as a strong, brave, compassionate boy, making Mowgli a vivid, interesting character, but also doesn't go overboard (a common weakness for child actors).  While not the most spectacular part of the film, Sethi's rock solid,  compelling performance lays the foundation for all the rest.

The voice acting is also very good, with a few particularly good fits.  Serving as Mowgli's animated co-star is Baloo the bear, voiced by Bill Murray.  Murray does a great job, though the part certainly fit him well, anyway: a rather lazy, self-serving and sarcastic bear, he is nevertheless loyal and, when it comes down to it, compassionate.  He is largely responsible for making the film's middle section, often the least interesting, meandering part of a film, great fun.  Idris Elba is also a bit typecast here as Shere Khan the tiger, but he is plenty menacing, in a unique way that shifts from blunt to unsettlingly subtle.  The main members of Mowgli's jungle family are Bagheera the panther, voiced by Ben Kingsley, and Raksha, by Lupita Nyong'o.  They aren't standouts like Murray and Elba, but they still do very good work in portraying their weary wisdom and motherly love and fierceness, respectively.

While The Jungle Book is not a fancy new tale in the world of cinema, this latest film version both makes it fresh again and is as strong, traditional filmmaking as I've seen in some time.  This is due to good writing, the performances just described, and the absolutely incredible visual effects work.  Many films rely on at least a few good effects shots, but The Jungle Book relies on them almost entirely - not only are the animal characters (obviously) CGI, but so is all of the scenery.  Fortunately, the technicians for this film created exquisitely detailed, incredibly realistic work throughout.  More credit again goes to Sethi for working in such an environment, and the effects blend seamlessly with him.  To be honest, one of the most impressive specific examples of the visual work is the sunlight - strikingly bright and real (more so than many live action films').  The visual effects provide a considerable "wow" factor, but they also don't distract from the original (though modified) story.  And thank goodness, the writers did not attempt to dumb things down or convert the dialogue to modern vernacular.  Yes, this is a story for children with some basic, important life lessons - but adults are well served, too, by the earnest, non-pandering writing.

***

The Jungle Book is almost certainly destined to become a family film classic, taking its place among other outstanding adaptations.  Frankly, I didn't have much interest in seeing this at first, and saw it mostly due to its phenomenal Rotten Tomatoes score.  I thought it would use a few fancy visuals and a modernized tone to "update" the classic and grab some cash.  Well, the visuals are more than fancy, they're groundbreaking and breathtaking, and the storytelling atmosphere is old fashioned at its best.  I will warn prospective family viewers that this isn't for the very youngest as there are some scenes that could be pretty frightening (heck, I jumped once or twice).  I don't pretend to know what the threshold is, but this is not exactly Bambi we're talking about.  At any rate, above that threshold this is a film for all ages, whether you are taking in the astounding visual effects, enjoying a familiar and well-retold tale, or laughing and singing along with Bill Murray and co.  Highly recommended (and see it in the theater!).




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The Boss

Score:  ***1/2 out of ***** (B-)

Directed by Ben Falcone
Starring Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Bell, Peter Dinklage
Running time:  99 minutes
Rated R

Long Story Short:  The Boss is the newest comedy feature from superstar Melissa McCarthy.  She slips into the new role (a self-serving "0.1 percenter") with great skill and her usual massive dose of hilarity.  Unfortunately, the plotting and writing that attempt to form a semblance of a story around her great performance fail miserably.  Still, if you're a fan of the star, it's worth seeing.


Michelle Darnell (McCarthy) has never been a very nice person.  Raised in an orphanage, she made few friends but also quickly learned how to get ahead - by any means necessary.  She even betrayed her one true connection, Renault (Dinklage), as she made her way to the top.  Once she got there, Darnell became revered by millions - those who didn't know her, but who craved her fame, power, and wealth.  However, Darnell becomes a bit too comfortable in her status and sees it all come crashing down in an insider trading conviction.  Having to support her child, Darnell's loyal but put-upon assistant Claire (Bell) leaves her behind, as does everyone else.

When she emerges from prison, Darnell is determined to become bigger than ever, now further motivated by those who abandoned or hurt her.  Still, she is starting back at square one, and so she pleads with her former assistant for help.  The way forward seems impossible, but Darnell's nose for opportunity leads her to the unlikeliest of "markets" as she attempts to rebuild.

The Boss has a decent cast, but of course, all are subordinate here to the queen of comedy, Melissa McCarthy.  She dives into her new character, and matching wig, with her typical gusto and is the driving force behind everything good in the film.  McCarthy is deceptively good, in fact: her character is truly a rotten egg, an expert at controlling and manipulating others without any regard for them, not to mention an enormous ego.  Yet while McCarthy presents all that with great skill and makes you feel it, she somehow also makes the character sympathetic and real; the character is not exaggerated (well, in these terms, anyway) and almost feels... normal.  This is all in addition to being hilarious as always, and so McCarthy deserves great credit for her performance.  Dinklage is also fun in a pretty small role.  His character is certainly over the top, but entertainingly so (particularly in the final act).  Bell is fairly bland as McCarthy's straight co-star and is essentially a plot device (albeit one with a lot of screen time).  Among the other supporting roles, my favorites are Cecily Strong (current SNL cast member as Claire's weird post-Darnell boss) and Kristen Schaal (as a timid Girl Scouts troop leader).

The Boss has some very good things going for it... and a lot going against it, too, unfortunately.  As previously mentioned, McCarthy is as hilarious as ever, and her character work is among her best ever.  The movie has plenty of laughs, which is a comedy's first priority, naturally.  There are several standout sets, especially a knock-down, drag-out street fight between rival Girl Scout troops (yes, I'm serious); and Darnell's attempts to "adjust" Claire's wardrobe for a date.  McCarthy also has a great ability to dig out extra humor and interest from otherwise normal scenes, an underrated skill.  However, there's also quite a bit going against The Boss as well.  Aside from a few inspired scenes, the plotting and pacing are awful; not just frequently cliche, but bizarre much of the time to the point that I thought the director and/or writer must be amateurs.  Most elements of the film dealing with Claire are dull, uneven or poorly executed, particularly those dealing with her single-mother status.  To end on a more positive note, the soundtrack was at least quite well selected - so at least you could tell they were trying for the right ideas in most scenes.

***

Overall, The Boss ranks as one of Melissa McCarthy's lesser starring vehicles.  It's certainly not as bad as the 19% it has on Rotten Tomatoes, though.  I would guess this score is driven primarily by the strange, often poor plotting and pacing, which are what most drag the film down for me, anyway.  McCarthy does not have a primary partner-in-crime in terms of humor; if Bell was supposed to serve this role, she failed miserably (at least there are other supporting actors who provide intermittent help here).  However, McCarthy is just so good, and there are enough genuinely funny moments and scenes - and this is a comedy after all, not a serious drama - that however bad some of the other elements might be, they aren't enough to sink the film.  If you're a McCarthy fan, you should check this out; and even if you're just looking for something funny, this is a perfectly fine choice for a Netflix night some time.




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Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice

Score:  **** out of ***** (A-)

Directed by Zach Snyder
Starring Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill, Jesse Eisenberg, Amy Adams, et. al.
Running time:  151 minutes
Rated PG-13

Long Story Short:  Following on the success of Marvel's Avengers, DC has finally put the two biggest heroes in all of comics into one film: Batman and Superman.  Ben Affleck debuts as Batman, joining Henry Cavill who reprises his role as Superman, and both have their fair share of glowering to do in a decidedly darker (but still PG-13) vision of these heroes.  If you're looking for something lighter or you want a standalone film, you might listen to the critics and stay away.  But it offers a lot, from the action to the story, for those willing to go along and stay for the ride.


Eighteen months after Superman's (Cavill) arrival on Earth, tension around this seemingly noble yet supremely powerful being is reaching a boiling point, both in public and in private.  Many laud Superman as Metropolis' savior, but others - including Senator Finch (Hunter) - view him as a potential threat who must be held accountable.  Across the bay in Gotham, Bruce Wayne (Affleck) also grapples with how to handle him; Wayne is personally driven by the collateral destruction of the Wayne Enterprises building during Superman's battle with another Kryptonian when he arrived.  Still others have interest in the man of steel:  wild-haired (and -brained) Lex Luthor (Eisenberg) obsessively seeks out remnants of the Kryptonians and their ship which had menaced the world.

Batman's anger and frustration with Superman's presence intensifies the brutality of his already less-sanitized crime fighting work.  Clark Kent the reporter gets wind of some of these messy altercations, and before long he becomes determined to end the terror caused by the dark knight.  It seems there isn't room for two superheroes in the world as Superman and Batman set their sights on each other, but they are far from the only interested parties.

Batman v Superman is stuffed with a cast of stars, most of them well-suited to their characters.  Ben Affleck makes his debut as Batman/Bruce Wayne; despite my prior skepticism, he does a very good job in the role.  This version of the dark knight is grumpier and grittier due to years of fighting; gray hair streaks and weary gazes emphasize his long experience.  Affleck fits this brooding demeanor well, though he also gets to show his charisma occasionally through Wayne.  Henry Cavill returns as Superman, having debuted this version of the character in Man of Steel.  As in that film, Cavill is mostly asked to put a conflicted grimace on his face, although he gets one light-hearted scene here.  I'll have more on the character itself later; as for Cavill, he's fine but unspectacular.  The third major part is that of Lex Luthor, the villain played by Jesse Eisenberg.  This Luthor reminds me of a brainier version of the Joker here; it's not very original, but at least interesting to watch.  From what I've seen there is a wide variety of opinion on Eisenberg's performance, and I would say overall it's solidly positive.  He definitely comes off effectively as both smart and mean.

There is a significant supporting cast as well, led by Amy Adams' Lois Lane.  She's another returning player but while the part gets a good bit of screen time, it's underwritten; Adams' talent isn't utilized.  If Superman gets Lois Lane, then Batman gets his support through butler Alfred, played here by Jeremy Irons.  While Batman's a bit older than usual, Alfred seems significantly younger than other versions.  Irons' Alfred is faithful and dry-humored as most are, but he is still a welcome addition.  Other smaller roles include Gal Gadot as Diana Prince (Wonder Woman), shown just enough to give promise for future films; and Laurence Fishbourne, returning as Daily Planet editor Perry White (still a great choice).

Batman v Superman is a flawed film, but still a very entertaining and interesting one.  The director, Zach Snyder, has built a reputation as a visual maestro who can't carry a quality story.  In this film, he retains the former strength while improving significantly on the latter weakness.  Snyder and his writers made the very smart move (IMO) of making Batman the main character and Superman - while crucial - largely symbolic.  It makes sense: Batman is a human and thus more relatable - and frankly, more interesting -  than Superman as a character.  We mostly get Bruce Wayne/Batman's past through brief but effective moments, which is where Snyder's style and visuals really shine.  The shooting of his parents is here yet again - but it actually comes back to play a direct role in the film, which is nice. The main theme is built around Superman: what responsibilities and accountability do heroes have to the people; does the collateral damage and their lack of oversight outweigh the good they do?  While Marvel started this theme earlier (in film), there's really no better representative for it than Superman.

As an interlude, I want to say that the action is quite well done; well-choreographed, and purposeful within the story rather than just for its own sake.  Although there are others, the three scenes that stand out to me the most are two featuring Batman, and then of course the titular hero duel.  The first, chronologically, is nearly as cool a Batmobile chase as the one in The Dark Knight; this one doesn't have the incredible tension, but it's visually spectacular and has a great ending.  The second Batman scene is a pretty ordinary setup but features great choreography as Batman beats the hell out of some bad guys by hand.  And while I had serious doubts about how an actual fight between Batman and Superman could be plausible, this manages it pretty darn well.  The final fight is in some ways another monster mash, but once again, fits well with the story (and introduces Wonder Woman!).

The last element is that which DC is somewhat shamelessly - but effectively - ripping off from Marvel, in building a multi-character world from which to spin off many million (or billion) dollar films.  Is this financially motivated?  Sure.  But it still has very compelling storytelling potential.  Man of Steel, a "solo" film (i.e. Superman's the only hero), kicked off this world, and its final battle - particularly the consequences of it - set the entire stage for Batman v Superman.  There are only a few minutes of flashbacks from the earlier film (from different perspectives this time), but BvS takes what was a weak movie and turns its resolution into a fascinating take off point.  BvS itself carries hints of next chapters but not over much.  The ending - which I won't spoil here - leaves the door wide open, but the exact direction uncertain.  DC may have stolen some of Marvel's ideas, but it has already done even better with several of them.

***

Batman v Superman is very much a popcorn blockbuster, but both the film itself and the reactions to it lead to a lot of interesting thought and discussion; this itself is a victory, I would argue.  Now to address the drubbing BvS has received.  In pure film terms, it's not hard to find flaws; the ones that stand out most to me being continued overuse of moral(e) speeches told to Superman (though they are fewer and not nearly as bad as those in Man of Steel); awkward and/or poor use of Lois Lane; and some deus ex machina.  Still, to me the good elements of the film were more than enough to minimize the impact of the bad.  Others complain that it's another big, loud, overlong slog.  I would counter that it's quite well paced and for crying out loud, it's Batman vs. Superman - of course it's going to be big!  But I think the most underrated element of the film is how well it uses previous material (Man of Steel) to create more compelling ideas and story, and concludes its own chapter while allowing a bigger adventure to grow from it.  Clearly, most critics don't have the patience to discern that or the interest to try; and no one is forced to.  However, if you are looking for a big, fun action movie that asks you to see it in the context of an extended franchise (read: see Man of Steel first), this film has great rewards.




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