Calvary (2014) Movie Review

If someone told you that they were going to kill you in one week because of the sins of someone else? Now what if you might know who that person is? This is the driving force behind Calvary, the latest from John Michael McDonough, the story of Father James Lavelle, a priest told in confession that he will be murdered in a week because of the pedophilia abuse given by another, now dead, priest. The problem is, it's told to him in confession, and he's not entirely sure if he can break that secrecy, or that he knows exactly who it is. And so we begin our journey in this incredibly dark humoured film.

Father James is a good man with darkness in his past, trying to do right by the people of his small Irish town. All around him, there is adultery, greed, and hatred, amongst many other vices. So when he is told that he will be killed in one week, off we go to figure out who it is, even though we're pretty sure he already knows. Add into that his daughter visiting from London, and we've got what should be a hilarious comedy from the makers of The Guard. Instead, we get a dark, introspective look at the evil inside all of us, and what it takes to control it. 

Brendan Gleeson is fantastic has become a commonplace expression, but it, nevertheless, rings wholeheartedly true here. The Irish actor has the look of a man at his wits end, desperately trying to understand his place among sin. His ability to make you believe in his own beliefs, yet harbour a deep sadness in his eyes is the work of a truly extraordinary actor, and one that I hope gets some more love at some point down the road.

The supporting cast is all excellent too. Chris O'Dowd, as a butcher whose wife is openly cheating on him, is great, as he's given some of the funnier dialogue, but also balances it out with a strong dramatic turn that will definitely get him some work down the road. Kelly Reilly is great as Father James' daughter, Fiona, Dylan Moran is great as a wealthy business man and Aiden Gillan is hilarious as a drug addicted local doctor. Domhall Gleeson, son of Brendan, is also great in a couple scenes as an inmate who ate the people he murdered.

What I was most surprised with in this movie was how dark and serious it got as The Guard, McDonaugh's previous film, was full of hilarity. And with his brother, Martin McDonaugh, who has done In Bruges and Seven Psychopaths, there's always been an overtly comedic nature. However, the writing and feel of Calvary is somber, reflective and powerful. Ultimately, the film relies on the pairing of John Michael McDonaugh and Brendan Gleeson, who one again prove that they both deserve way more attention than they seem to get, and that their next film is something to definitely look forward to.

Grade: B+

Scoot McNairy Joins the Cast of 'Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice'

Barry Allen?

So colour me excited about this news. One of my favourite actors that damn near no one has heard of has joined a movie everyone has heard of. He's an incredibly talented actor, who is fantastic in pretty much everything he does. In fact, he's racked up some nice roles over the past few years. After breaking out in Gareth Edwards 'Monsters' (a fantastic character driven monster movie), he's gone on to appear in 'Killing Them Softly', 'Argo', 'Promised Land', '12 Years A Slave', 'Non-Stop' and 'The Rover' leading to a starring role in the AMC drama 'Halt and Catch Fire' (which is fucking excellent and everyone should check it out).

Anyways, this report comes courtesy of Deadline, who seem to have quite the source within DC and Warner Brothers, and they report that the role has not been disclosed. But based on the fact shooting has been going on for over a month, McNairy's rising star and his connection with Ben Affleck (who cast him in Argo), over at The Playlist, they are speculating that he might end up being The Flash. And I am really okay with that. I'm sure details will come out shortly, and if not, look no further than San Diego Comic Con for the big Justice League announcement.  

Casting the Remaining Characters in the DC Universe

So with the presumably leaked Comic Con announcement list coming out, we now have a fairly clear picture of what to expect from Warner Brothers and DC in the coming couple of years. While much of the casting seems set, with shooting already taking place, I thought I'd take a look at who should be cast in the remaining major roles. Now, what we currently know is that Ben Affleck will play Batman, Henry Cavill will play Superman, Gal Gadot will play Wonder Woman, Ray Fisher will play Cyborg and Joseph Gordon Levitt will play Sandman. I know that rumours are abound that Jason Mamoa is set to play Aquaman, but I thought I'd cast it anyways, since that isn't totally confirmed. So what we'll look at is casting Shazam, Flash, Aquaman and Green Lantern. Note: For Shazam, I'm not going to cast Billy Batson, because I can't think of a kid to play his current New 52 iteration. Can we just age him up and hire Logan Lerman, already?

The thing to remember with this list, is that I'm not going for the big names if they don't fit. Chris Evans wasn't really all that well known before Captain America (I know he played Johnny Storm, fuck you), and Chris Hemsworth was a complete no-name from Australian TV. So just look at this list with an open mind, and agree with everything I say. Just do it.

SHAZAM

"Captain Marvel, also known as Shazam, is a fictional superhero created in 1939 by artist C. C. Beck and writer Bill Parker. Originally published by Fawcett Comics and later by DC Comics, he first appeared in Whiz Comics #2 (February 1940). Shazam is the alter ego of Billy Batson, who works as a radio news reporter and was chosen to be a champion of good by an ancient wizard (also named Shazam). Whenever Billy speaks the word "Shazam!", he is struck by a magic lightning bolt that transforms him into an adult superhero empowered with the abilities of six archetypal, historical figures."

JOE MANGANIELLO

With rumours going around that the Rock could be involved with the Shazam movie, it makes me think that Rock will take the role of villain Black Adam (a favourite character of his), which means that you need a Shazam that looks like he can beat The Rock. So it should really not come as any surprise that my top pick for Shazam is True Blood werewolf and Magic Mike big dick swinger Joe Manganiello. Manganiello combines a strong charisma with a tough exterior and one arm pull ups. Dude is literally built like a superhero. He also comes across as someone who might actually be able to take The Rock in a fight. Here's another thing. He was the runner up to Henry Cavill to play Superman, which means he already has a pre-existing relationship with Zack Snyder and DC. 

JON HAMM

My runner up is a guy many thought could play Superman, given his perfect jawline and all-American presence, and my personal pick to play Batman (don't worry Affleck, I'm okay with you). Hamm is a supremely talented actor, who is among the best around yet to make a big splash on the big screen. It's fine though, because Hamm has been crushing it for the past seven years as Don Draper on the critically-acclaimed Mad Men, as well as showing up in memorable supporting in the likes of Bridesmaids, The Town, 30 Rock and A Young Doctor's Notebook. He's an actor who is clearly adept at both drama and comedy, which would suit Shazam perfectly. The only thing would be his age, but we can get around that. Also, googling a picture of him alerted me to the fact that people take pictures of his crotch and post online. Cool?

FLASH

"The Flash is a name of a fictional comic book superhero from the DC Comics universe. Created by writer Gardner Fox and artist Harry Lampert, the original Flash first appeared in Flash Comics #1 (January 1940). Nicknamed the Scarlet Speedster and the "Crimson Comet" all incarnations of the Flash possess "super-speed", which includes the ability to run and move extremely fast, use superhuman reflexes and seemingly violate certain laws of physics. Thus far, four different characters—each of whom somehow gained the power of "super-speed"—have assumed the identity of the Flash: Jay Garrick (1940–present), Barry Allen (1956–1985, 2008–present), Wally West (1986–2006, 2007–2012), and Bart Allen (2006–2007, 2009–present). Before Wally and Bart's ascension to the mantle of the Flash, they were both Flash protégés under the same name Kid Flash."

AARON PAUL

Like Chris Pine (above), Aaron Paul is an actor on the cusp of A-list leading man status. While many people will always remember Breaking Bad for Bryan Cranston's iconic performance as Walter White, it was Paul's Jesse Pinkman who was the heart and soul of that show. With Breaking Bad now over, and Paul set to break out into feature films, DC would be wise to lock him up. He's an amazingly talented actor who is constantly captivating and not afraid to be let other actors shine in his presence. He's also so god damn good at crying. I know that has nothing to do with The Flash, but damn, he can get a good man tear going. With his first foray into a leading franchise not going well, with the critically panned Need For Speed, Paul could make a nice recovery joining a large ensemble, then getting his own movie. Bitch.

JOEL EDGERTON

Joel Edgerton is most likely the least well known actor on this list, which is a fucking shame, cause this guy can act. For those of you going "Where do I know this guy from?" he played Brendan Conlon in the movie Warrior, opposite Tom Hardy, so you know he can handle the physical preparation needed for a role like this. Edgerton is one of those character actors who constantly gives fantastic performances, getting major notice for his performance in the Australian film Animal Kingdom which had many people talking Oscar for him. It didn't happen because the Academy doesn't know how to recognize talent, but he got the Aussie equivalent to the Oscar, so it worked out.The only thing that would work against him is the fact that, at 39, he might be too old for the part. Regardless of that, he's still my pick as runner up. Heh, runner. Nice.

AQUAMAN

"As part of The New 52, DC's 2011 relaunch of their entire superhero line, Geoff Johns, Ivan Reis and Joe Prado served as the initial creative team of the company's new Aquaman series, the first issue of which was released September 28, 2011. The three creators remained on the title for the both first 16 issues. That subsequently lead into the first New 52 continual, Aquaman related 'Mega-Event' (cross-over) in years "Throne of Atlantis". The relaunched series cements Aquaman's status as the half-human son of Tom Curry and Atlanna, and sees him return to Amnesty Bay along with Mera. Greatly distressed by the harsh treatment given to the oceans during his time as ruler of Atlantis, Aquaman decides to abdicate the Atlantean throne and return to full-time heroics. However, he now struggles with his lack of reputation with the greater public, which views him as a lesser metahuman with less impressive powers than those of his peers. Also, in The New 52, Aquaman is once again a founding member of the Justice League and is a main member of the team."

ALEXANDER SKARSGARD

Yes, I realize that Skarsgard is the second True Blood alum I've put in this post. But let's look the fact that both men were fan favourite characters, and Skarsgard's performance as Eric Northman is the best on the show, and through movies such as The East, and Disconnect, he's shown that he has a ton of range. I realize that Jason Mamoa may indeed have this part, and if that's the case, that's fine. But it's insane to me how much Skarsgard resembles Aquaman. Couple that with the fact that he has an inherently tough feeling about him, and the gravitas to not let Aquaman fall to the side, and it's obvious that he's the guy to do it. There's also something kind of off with him, which would help greatly with Aquaman having problems with the Justice League, and especially Superman.

ARMIE HAMMER

Honestly, I think this may be the only character where I don't have a runner up. I think Skarsgard is great, and I think the same of Armie Hammer. While he may have failed to become a big star in Lone Ranger, his performances from The Social Network are ones that I still remember. He's an actor who resembles the part, has the physique, as well as the certain frustrated nature that Aquaman possesses. Anyone that has talked to me about Aquaman knows how I'd love for Hammer to play him, as he's one of the few actors around that I could believe delivering his dialogue. Also, his Social Network connection with Jesse Eisenberg, as well as the fact that he recently shot a movie with Henry Cavill, could clearly aid in his casting.

GREEN LANTERN

"Green Lantern is the name of several superheroes from the fictional DC Universe, all of whom are characterized by a power ring and the ability to create solid constructs with the ring. Each Green Lantern possesses a power ring and green lantern that gives the user great control over the physical world as long as the wielder has sufficient willpower and strength to wield it. The ring is one of the most powerful weapons in the universe and can be very dangerous. While the ring of the Golden Age Green Lantern (Alan Scott) is magically powered, the rings worn by all subsequent Lanterns are technological creations of the Guardians of the Universe, who granted such rings to worthy candidates. These individuals made up the intergalactic police force known as the Green Lantern Corps. Most prominent of these are Hal Jordan, John Stewart, Guy Gardner and Kyle Rayner." 

ZACHARY LEVI

I've been a big fan of Zachary Levi for a long time, ever since I first watched Chuck. He's clearly quite good at being funny, which is something Hal Jordan will need. His performance in Tangled, though purely voice work, showed he can play the cocky-jerky-cool guy who is actually pretty alright. Sound like a certain Lantern? Levi has the right look for the part, and the right chops, with the only problem being that he recently played Fandral in Thor: The Dark World. The thing with that is that Fandral is such a small part, that won't grow, so let the Nerd HQ founder be a part of a comic property that can showcase him better. And that doesn't require a fake British accent.

JAKE GYLLEHAAL

It's no secret that I'm a huge fan of Jake Gyllenhaal. He's a supremely talented actor who is incredibly likable and has charisma constantly at the ready. He's the most well known actor on this list, because he's earned it. He has a habit of taking serious, weighty, emotionally taxing roles, but being cast as Hal could help him to showcase some more of that quick wit and humour he possesses. Personally, I think he's itching to get into a big mainstream movie and prove himself as a box-office draw, especially after Prince of Persia didn't do as well as they all hoped. The man has range that would make most actors jealous, and he's still young enough to be involved in these films for a while.

Well that's that. With the shooting already started on Batman v Superman, and cameos for these characters expected to show up in that film, we should know casting fairly soon. They probably won't go with any of my picks, but that's because they are dumb. Till next time.

Can We Have Too Many Superhero Movies?

The Justice League

So, as anyone that reads my ramblings at all, or listens to the podcast, or simply knows me at all, the fact that I'm a gigantic DC Comics fanboy shouldn't come as a shock. Honestly, I just spent my Saturday reading the entire New 52 run of Nightwing. Now onto Green Arrow. Anyways, the latest news regarding DC's movie universe plans has me quite giddy. According to Nikki Finke, formerly of Deadline, DC plans on releasing seven movies in a two year span. According to Finke, who tends to be good at getting scoops, this is what the schedule, that will most likely have it's big reveal at Comic-Con, looks like:

May 2016 – Batman v Superman

July 2016 – Shazam

Christmas 2016 – Sandman

May 2017 – Justice League

July 2017 – Wonder Woman

Christmas 2017 – Flash and Green Lantern team-up

May 2018 – Man Of Steel 2

The biggest surprise on that list for me is the solo Shazam movie. While he's definitely one of the cooler characters in the DCU, I'd have much rather seen a solo Aquaman movie. Regardless, this is exciting and also a bit worrisome. The worrying part is that DC may over-saturate the market with their product by releasing a new movie every few months. With the rumour that Jason Mamoa will indeed play Aquaman, courtesy of Hitflix's Drew McWeeny, it is starting to make sense why Batman v. Superman v. The Board of Justice was delayed. 

According to the rest of Finke's article, it wasn't because of Affleck bulking up or Eisenberg or Gadot, but rather a fair few JLA regulars will be making appearances, and it's all about getting the actors and contracts signed. But apparently Zack Snyder, director of the upcoming BvS and Justice League, has clear costume designs ready for the characters he wants to use. Also, in regards to Sandman, I'm assuming this has to be the same version that Neil Gaiman and Joseph Gordon Levitt are working on together. Also, with the Rock suggesting he will be in a DC property coming soon, signs seem to point to Black Adam, Shazam's main villain and a character the Rock likes a lot.

Black Adam, The Rock and Lobo, just for kicks

So with DC finally announcing their plans, and Sony, Fox and Marvel's upcoming schedules also being public knowledge, it raises the concern that superhero movies could end up overstaying their welcome. According to Brad Brevet of RopeofSilicon, who I am also stealing this list from, there's going to be 22 superhero movies over the next four years. The schedule looks something like this:

1. Guardians of the Galaxy (8/1/14) - Marvel
2. The Avengers: Age of Ultron (5/1/15) - Marvel
3. The Fantastic Four (6/9/15) - Marvel
4. Ant-Man (7/17/15) - Marvel
5. Captain America 3 (5/6/16) - Marvel
6. Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice (5/6/16) - DC
7. X-Men: Apocalypse (5/27/16) - Marvel
8. The Amazing Spider-Man 3 (6/10/16) - Marvel
9. Shazam (Jul 2016) - DC
10. Untitled 2016 Marvel Movie (Dr. Strange?) (7/8/16) - Marvel
11. Sandman (Dec 2016) - DC
12. Venom (TBA 2016) - Marvel
13. The Wolverine 2 (3/3/17) - Marvel
14. Justice League (May 2017) - DC
15. Untitled 2017 Marvel Movie (Thor 3?) (5/5/17) - Marvel
16. Wonder Woman (Jul 2017) - DC
17. The Fantastic Four 2 (7/14/17) - Marvel
18. Flash and Green Lantern team-up (Dec 2017) - DC
19. The Sinister Six (TBA 2017) - Marvel
20. Man of Steel 2 (May 2018) - DC
21. The Amazing Spider-Man 4 (5/4/18) - Marvel
22. The Avengers 3 (TBA 2018) - Marvel

Along with all these movies, there's also the number of comicbook TV shows, with Arrow and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., as well as the upcoming Flash, Daredevil, Gotham and Agent Carter shows as well. It's a good time to be a comicbook fan. Bad time to be David Goyer, because he's a dick that shits on comicbook fans and hates Martian Manhunter. 

The Avengers

The Normal Heart (2014) Movie Review

How would you react to seeing your friends, the people you loved, and anyone you really identified with, dying without any end in sight? That is the focus at the center of The Normal Heart, the new HBO film by Ryan Murphy. Set in the early 1980's at a time when gay men finally felt comfortable with their sexuality, and love. However it is not long before they start to get sick, unable to do anything to stop the AIDS virus from spreading. At the heart of this problem is Ned Weeks, an openly gay screenwriter who is fighting anyone and everyone who stands in his way to find a cure. Except the government seems to be absent when it comes to funding, despite overwhelming research conducted by Dr. Emma Brookner (Julia Roberts). So the war wages on while an epidemic threatens to wipe out an entire generation.

Originally performed as a stage play written by Larry Kramer, The Normal Heart definitely feels like a play. It's full of monologues, features a tight ensemble and is over two hours long. But, like a play, the performances shine through in it. Mark Ruffalo has never been better as Ned, pouring his heart and soul into every fit of rage, powerful monologue and emotional breakdown. Julia Roberts is equally good, bringing the sense of frustration and loss over not being able to do anything to treat these dying men, but never losing hope. Alfred Molina does strong work in a handful of scenes as Ben, Ned's brother, who wants to help but still isn't sure about this whole gay community yet. Jonathan Groff is also strong in a few scenes as Craig, Ned's close friend.

However, the performances from Taylor Kitsch, Jim Parsons and, particularly, Matt Bomer are what surprised me. Kitsch, known for Friday Night Lights and John Carter, is fantastic as Bruce Niles. He brings an honesty to the character, one who is still in the closet because he is in the army, yet doesn't know how to take in everything happening around him. His scenes with Ruffalo were always good. Parsons was a massive surprise for me. As someone who doesn't care much for The Big Bang Theory, he shows a lot of range as Tommy. While his natural cadence mirrors Sheldon Cooper a tad much, the underlying sadness and loneliness his character felt, along with a particularly moving funeral scene, won me over. 

But it was Matt Bomer who I think deserves some serious looks for Emmy voters. Known primarily for the show White Collar, as well as Magic Mike, Bomer gives a gut-wrenching performance as Felix Turner, Ned's lover. He plays into the fact that he's very handsome, but throws you off with a vulnerability, and later, a sense of looming fear and death that gave me a lump in my throat. That, along with the grueling transformation he went through, showed me an actor looking to get his hands on more substantial work.

Make no mistake though, this film isn't for everyone. If homosexuality makes you uncomfortable in the least, you will not like this movie. There are sex scenes, plenty of kissing, and nudity to go along, and the movie does a good job of normalizing it for the viewer, instead of making a big deal of it. Also, a dude with a giant dong walks by in the first five minutes, so if you can't hang through that, you'll be okay.

While the film mainly suffers from pacing problems, and a needlessly long running time (the first half of the film feels long), it is still something that should be watched. Showing the destruction the AIDS virus caused, even at the beginning, and the lives it tore apart put a lot of things into perspective. It is a reminder that the war against it is not over, and needs to keep being fought.

Grade: B

Enemy (2014) Movie Review

Double dose of Jake Gyllenhaal aka Handsome McBeardy-Face

How can we really know who we are? Are we everything we perceive ourselves to be, or simply different figments of an unrealized whole? That is the driving force behind Denis Villeneuve's film Enemy, a slow-paced, mind bending, character study into a man who has found his doppelganger. Adam Bell (Jake Gyllenhaal) is a disgruntled, lonely professor in Toronto, who goes about the same routine daily. Teach, grade papers, get drunk, and have sex with his girlfriend Mary (Melanie Laurent). One day, at the recommendation of a colleague, Adam rents a movie, and seemingly spots himself in the movie. Confused, he searches and finds out there is an actor named Anthony St. Claire, who looks and sounds identical to him. From there, Adam begins to obsess over Anthony, taking himself down a path of self destruction. Or is he?

While the movie makes you think and try to solve the mystery behind the characters, it is squarely placed on the handsome shoulders of Jake Gyllenhaal to carry the film. And carry it he does. Playing the double roles of Anthony and Adam, Gyllenhaal brings a subtly and nuance to both performances that is undeniable. As Adam, he is refrained, quiet and constantly hinting at a deep underlying rage. And as Anthony, he is confident, arrogant and seemingly ready to blow given the opportunity. The fact that I actually forgot that it was the same actor, and simply viewed them as two characters is a testament to his performance and also helps to  give both characters a certain air of ambiguity.

Laurent is also good as Adam's girlfriend, sick of his borderline disinterest in all things except sex. Acting more as a tool to take out Adam's sexual aggression, Laurent still brings her usual level of performance, garnering the right amount of sympathy for a part most seen, and not often heard. Sarah Gadon is also very good as Anthony's pregnant wife, who seems to love Anthony to a fault, but is also tired and frustrated of his arrogance, both members of the marriage ready to start yelling at the drop of a hat. I read people complain about how their characters feel underwritten, but in the grand context of the film, it makes sense why we know what we know about the characters, and how they behave.

Being his second film of 2013, after the critically acclaimed Prisoners (also starring Jake Gyllenhaal), Denis Villeneuve is a filmmaker who is more interested in making a good, interesting film, than something accessible to everyone. Where Prisoners was hard to watch because of it's brutality and dark subject matter, Enemy is a very confusing slow burn. While he creates a sense of despair and paranoia among the characters, he excels at driving a film forward. The driving force being that, as a viewer, I genuinely had no idea what was going to happen next. So many intricate details are lightly sprinkled throughout the film, that it was on a second viewing that I began to put together more of the puzzle.

And make no mistake, the movie is a puzzle, ultimately, with no right answer. A lot of viewers enjoyment of the movie will hinder on their interpretation of the ending, and the subsequent mystery. And despite some flaws, the main one being the God-awful pacing of the film, it a film for those of use who like our films to live in a constant grey area.

Grade: B+

Godzilla (2014) Movie Review

Andy Serkis with ping-pong balls

The first time I saw Monsters starring Scoot McNairy, what really caught my eye was the attention to character that director Gareth Edwards put into making the viewer care about humans in that monster movie. Even while working on a very small budget, he was able to evoke a sense of dread and constant unnerving that many big budget summer films fail to do. So when I heard he would be directing the new Godzilla, my expectations were somewhat lifted. The last time Hollywood tackled Gojira, we got Mama Godzilla protecting her babies in Madison Square Garden. Fuck you Roland Emmerich. But then I started seeing trailers and promotion for this film and got excited. While it may not live up to the hype, it is still an engaging film.

Starting in the 90's in Janjira, Japan, the Brody family, consisting of Sam, Joe (Bryan Cranston) and Sandra (Juliette Binoche) begin their days like anybody else. When what seems like an earthquake hits the nuclear plant that Joe and Sandra work at, Joe must leave the plant and go to his son. Fast forward 15 years, with Joe being a broken shell of a man, convinced what happened at the plant wasn't an earthquake, and Sam (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) in the army, tired of his father spouting conspiracy. When Joe is arrested in Japan, soon after Sam returns to his wife (Elizabeth Olson)  and son after a tour of duty, Sam must go and retrieve Joe. Little do they know, scientists Ishiro Serizawa (Ken Watanabe) and Vivienne Graham (Sally Hawkins) have been doing some of their own exploration, and when the same pattern of earthquakes, from 15 years before, shows up again, Joe's conspiracies no longer seem so far fetched.

I feel like that is the least spoilery plot synopsis I could give, seeing as we all know Godzilla is in the movie. What director Gareth Edwards does so well is not ruin the reveal of the titular monster. He ratchets up the suspense and tension, so that when we do finally get to see it in all it's glory, it feels well earned. He also has a keen eye on how to shoot action, with the HALO drop sequence looking outstanding. What he accomplishes is shooting the action and monster from the human perspective, making everything that happens feel larger and more epic. I feels like you are a human immersed in the experience, rather than someone simply watching from far away.

Another staple of Edwards work is his focus on character. While Monsters simply had two characters to follow, Godzilla offers much more of an ensemble piece. While Ken Watanabe and Aaron Taylor-Johnson take up a bulk of the screen time, and are fine within their roles, it's Bryan Cranston who gives a performance full of heart and agony. The character arcs suffer when he isn't on screen, as he gives the type of performance you expect from a character drama and not a summer blockbuster. 

I do wish they would have given Watanabe and Elizabeth Olsen more to do, as Watanabe is relegated to looking mistified by Godzilla, and Olsen plays the damsel in distress. I can't stay mad at Olsen though, as I love her and all. Oscar nominees Sally Hawkins and David Strathairn are fairly wasted, as Strathairn plays an army general used to update the viewer on the army's plan for Godzilla and it's progression, though he is given some nice scenes before the climax of the film. Hawkins plays a throw away role that could have been played by anyone, bringing little to the plot, and working as a device to inform the viewer about the science aspects of the film.

But obviously, what we come to a big budget summer movie about monsters for is the Fuck-Shit-Up aspect of the film. And boy, do things get wrecked. Cities are destroyed, people are killed, and it gives an authentic feeling to how people would react to a giant monster in their city. First, a sense of awe, instantly followed up fear and panic. Edwards knows how to make Godzilla cool again, and there were several moments where I turned into a child and just went "That was so freaking cool!". 

While not a perfect film by any stretch, Godzilla is a lot of what we can expect from a good monster movie. It makes the monsters cool, scary, and awesome, and makes the people feel real and adds stakes to the film. Yes, it suffers from being about 15-20 minutes too long, and the occasional illogical coincidence, but those can be forgiven in favour of an entertaining film. This feels like Pacific Rim for the more passionate film watcher, as opposed to a general audience.

Grade: B-