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Posts Tagged ‘Boston’

$366,400 American Dollars Cash

Posted in General Comments, Movie Review, Movies, Reviews, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on June 7, 2026| Leave a Comment »

“The Equalizer 3” (2023) — movie review
Today’s second film review is for the action / vigilante thriller “The Equalizer 3”, directed by Antoine Fuqua and starring Denzel Washington as Robert McCall, an ex‑CIA operative recovering in a small Italian town;  Dakota Fanning as Emma Collins,  a young CIA analyst who McCall directs to a suspicious financial trail;  David Denman as Frank Conroy, her steady, boots‑on‑the‑ground supervisor;  Remo Girone as Dr. Enzo Arisio,  the town doctor who patches McCall up;  Eugenio Mastrandrea as Giorgio Bonucci, the local police officer trying to keep order;  Andrea Scarduzio as Vincent Quaranta, the ambitious Camorra boss;  and Andrea Dodero as Marco Quaranta,  his hot‑headed younger brother.
Background:  I’ve seen the first two “Equalizer” films and thought they were decent so I wanted to continue the series / franchise.  This third entry didn’t get any Academy Award nominations (no surprise — this genre is not generally awards bait), and it’s not historically important in the Oscar sense.  Its main “hook” is the reunion of Washington and Fanning for the first time since “Man on Fire” (2004), plus the fact that this is probably Washington’s last outing as McCall.  Two points:  The move to an Italian coastal setting also gives it a different feel from the Boston‑based earlier films.  And, second…  Prior to “Equalizer 2“, Washington was known for NEVER doing sequels.  But here we are…  LoL.
Plot:  After a violent encounter in Sicily, McCall is badly wounded and ends up in a small seaside town, where Dr. Enzo Arisio takes him in and helps him recover.  As McCall heals, he starts to enjoy the slower pace of life and the friendliness of the locals:  the café owner, Gio the cop, the older residents on the square.  He clearly likes the idea that this might finally be a place to stop moving.  The film theme ends up being:  “We all end up where we are supposed to be…”  The problem is the Camorra (Mafia), in the persons of Vincent Quaranta and his brother Marco are leaning on the town — threatening shop owners, burning property, and pushing a bigger plan involving drugs and development money.  McCall sees the fear in the people around him and recognizes exactly what kind of men these are.  Meanwhile, Emma Collins is tracking the money trail tied to drugs and terrorism funding (from he opening action scene), which leads her to Italy and the same network the Quaranta brothers are part of.  She and her supervisor Frank Conroy work the case from the CIA side while McCall quietly starts taking pieces off the board in his usual methodical way.  It all comes together in a stormy final showdown where McCall goes straight at the brothers and their crew which ends their hold on the town.
So, is this movie any good?  How’s the acting?  The filming / FX?  Any problems?  And, did I enjoy the film?  Short answers:  Yes;  very good;  clean and atmospheric;  a few;  yes.
Any good?  Yes.  IMHO this is the best of the three and at the very least tied with the original film.  The story is simple but solid:  a man who’s done a lot of damage in his life finds a place he actually cares about and decides he’s not going to let bullies wreck it.  The slower pace works here because the town and its people are actually likable, so when the McCall finally goes into action, it feels earned.
Acting:  Denzel Washington is, again, the whole reason to watch this franchise.  His McCall is polite, quiet, and observant, with that “switch” you can see flip when he decides someone has crossed a line.  Dakota Fanning is good as Collins (smart, a little green, but not clueless) and her scenes with Washington have an easy, low‑key rapport.  Remo Girone gives the doctor a nice mix of warmth and backbone, and Eugenio Mastrandrea makes Gio feel like a real local cop stuck between fear and duty.  Andrea Scarduzio and Andrea Dodero are convincing as the Quaranta brothers — entitled, cruel, and just dumb enough to underestimate McCall.
Filming / FX:  The filming is straightforward and mostly clean (visible).  The Italian locations do a lot of work — narrow streets, old stone buildings, the harbor, the hills above town.  It all looks like a real place people actually live in, not just a backdrop.  The action scenes are shot clearly, with no shaky‑cam or hyper‑cutting.  When McCall moves, it’s quick and brutal, and you can follow what’s happening.  There’s not much in the way of big FX;  it’s (mostly) practical fights, gunplay, and some explosions, with a nicely staged stormy finale.
Problems:  A few.  The first half is slower, and if you’re expecting constant action, you may get impatient watching McCall drink tea, walk the town (he’s recovering from a serious gunshot wound), and quietly observe people.  I liked that, but it does mean the movie takes its time getting to the big hits.  The villains are pretty standard crime‑movie types — nasty and greedy, but not especially deep.  The terrorism‑funding angle that brings in the CIA feels like a bolt‑on plot device more than something you really feel.  And, as usual, McCall’s ability to anticipate everything and survive anything is a bit much if you think about it too hard.
Did I enjoy the film?  Yes.  I liked the town, I liked the locals, and I liked watching McCall decide they’re “his” people now.  The mix of quiet scenes and sharp bursts of violence works for this character.  It’s not a movie I need to rewatch over and over, but this was my second viewing as I just never got around to drafting a review.  (Better late than never…)
Final Recommendation:  Strong recommendation.  “The Equalizer 3” is a solid, well‑acted vigilante thriller with a good sense of place and a cleaner, more focused story than the earlier entries.  No awards, no big historical footprint, but as a closing chapter for Denzel Washington’s McCall — and a small Italian town standing up to the Camorra / organized crime with a little help from a very dangerous neighbor — it does the job.
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Click here (7 June) to see the posts of prior years.  I started this blog in late 2009.  Daily posting began in late January 2011.  Not all of the days in the early years (2009-2010) will have posts.

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Moments Of Crisis Are Also Moments Of Faith (AKA: Too Big To Fail)

Posted in General Comments, Movie Review, Movies, Reviews, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on January 6, 2026| Leave a Comment »

“Godzilla:  King of the Monsters” (2019) — movie review
Today’s review is for the kaiju epic “Godzilla:  King of the Monsters” (2019), directed by Michael Dougherty and stars Kyle Chandler as Dr. Mark Russell, a scientist torn between grief and duty as he confronts the resurgence of colossal creatures;  Vera Farmiga plays Dr. Emma Russell, whose radical plan to restore ecological balance through the Titans sets the stage for global upheaval;  Millie Bobby Brown portrays Madison Russell, their daughter, caught between loyalty and survival;  Bradley Whitford adds levity as Dr. Rick Stanton;  Ken Watanabe returns as Dr. Ishiro Serizawa, embodying reverence and sacrifice;   Charles Dance looms as Colonel Alan Jonah, a human antagonist exploiting chaos;  and Zhang Ziyi appears as Dr. Ilene Chen, bridging myth and science.  Together, this ensemble navigates a world where Mothra, Rodan, and the three-headed King Ghidorah rise to challenge Godzilla’s reign.
Background:  My brother and I both enjoyed watching these monster movies together as children – and over the last 25+ years that they’ve been getting re-booted / re-made.  With each release in the MonsterVerse, I would drive over to his house for another walk down memory lane.  LoL.  Released in May 2019, “Godzilla:  King of the Monsters” is the third entry in Legendary’s “MonsterVerse,” following “Godzilla” (2014) (review here) and “Kong:  Skull Island” (2017) (review here).  With a budget estimated between $170–200 million, the film grossed over $386 million worldwide.  While it did not win Academy Awards, it is historically significant as a modern continuation of Toho’s kaiju legacy, reintroducing iconic monsters to Western audiences with cutting-edge visual effects.
Plot:  The crypto-zoological agency Monarch faces escalating crises as dormant Titans awaken across the globe.  Dr. Emma Russell’s “ORCA” device, designed to communicate with the creatures, becomes a weapon of manipulation.  Ghidorah, an alien apex predator, emerges as Godzilla’s ultimate nemesis, threatening planetary annihilation.  Amid battles spanning Mexico, Antarctica, and Boston, alliances shift between humans and monsters.  The climax sees Godzilla, empowered by Mothra’s sacrifice and Serizawa’s ultimate act of devotion, reclaiming his throne as “King of the Monsters.”
So, is this movie any good?  Short answers:  Yes;  spectacular monster action;  visually stunning;  uneven human drama;  yes — for kaiju fans.
Any Good?  Yes.  “Godzilla:  King of the Monsters” delivers on its promise of titanic spectacle.  It is less about human nuance and more about mythic scale, positioning Godzilla as both destroyer and savior.
Acting:  Kyle Chandler grounds the film with earnest intensity, while Vera Farmiga’s conflicted Emma adds moral ambiguity.  Millie Bobby Brown provides youthful resilience, though her role is often reactive.  Ken Watanabe shines in a poignant farewell, elevating the film’s emotional core.  Charles Dance is suitably menacing, though underutilized.  The ensemble is competent, but the monsters themselves dominate the screen.
Filming / FX:  Lawrence Sher’s cinematography captures apocalyptic grandeur:  lightning storms herald Ghidorah, volcanic fury births Rodan, and bioluminescence sanctifies Mothra.  Bear McCreary’s score, weaving Akira Ifukube’s classic Godzilla theme, amplifies the mythic resonance.  The visual effects are state-of-the-art, rendering kaiju battles with operatic scale.
Problems:  Minor (human)The human subplot often feels thin, with character motivations unevenly sketched.  Dialogue occasionally lapses into exposition.  The sheer spectacle overshadows narrative coherence, leaving some viewers disengaged from the human drama.  Much like comic-book super-hero movie adaptations, these “monster” movies have nothing to do with reality.  This is visual fantasy and whether or not the monsters and battles look “cool”.  They mostly do…
Did I Enjoy the Film?  Yes.  As a kaiju enthusiast, the film is exhilarating.  Watching Godzilla rise, Ghidorah menace, and Mothra sacrifice is both thrilling and emotionally stirring (for the little kid in me).  It is not subtle, but it is grand.
Final Recommendation:  Strong Recommendation.  “Godzilla:  King of the Monsters” is essential viewing for fans of kaiju cinema and visual spectacle.  While it lacks the narrative depth of classic courtroom dramas or human-centered epics, its historic significance lies in revitalizing Toho’s pantheon for modern audiences.  Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of monster action and destruction, it is a film best experienced on the largest screen possible.  Watch it for Godzilla’s fiery ascension, Mothra’s luminous grace, and the reminder that sometimes myth and monster are inseparable.
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Click here (6 January) to see the posts of prior years.  I started this blog in late 2009.  Daily posting began in late January 2011.  Not all of the days in the early years (2009-2010) will have posts.

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I Have To Go See About A Girl

Posted in General Comments, Movie Review, Movies, Reviews, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on October 9, 2025| 2 Comments »

“Good Will Hunting” (1997) – movie review
Today’s review is for the emotionally resonant drama: “Good Will Hunting” (1997), starring Matt Damon as Will Hunting (a janitor at MIT with a genius-level intellect and a self-destructive streak), Robin Williams as Sean Maguire (a grieving therapist who challenges Will’s defenses and helps him confront his trauma), Ben Affleck as Chuckie Sullivan (Will’s loyal best friend, blunt and fiercely protective), Minnie Driver as Skylar (Will’s romantic interest, emotionally open and intellectually matched), and Stellan Skarsgård as Professor Gerald Lambeau (a Fields Medal-winning mathematician who sees Will’s potential but struggles with his volatility).
Background:  I got this film sometime after watching “The Bourne Identity” and becoming a Matt Damon fan.  I have a “strange” interest in the portrayal of genius in movies, so this became more or less a “must see” for me.  Because I saw it so long ago, I have this film on DVD as well as streaming rights.  (LoL)  And, yes, I have watched this film multiple times.  I want to say five(5+) plus times.  I will add that I am also a big fan of Robin Williams in his serious roles.
Plot:  Will Hunting is a 20-year-old janitor at MIT who anonymously solves complex mathematical problems left on hallway chalkboards.  When his talent is discovered, Professor Lambeau intervenes to save him from jail—on the condition that Will undergo therapy.  Enter Sean Maguire, a therapist with his own wounds.  What follows is not a redemption arc in the traditional sense, but a slow, stubborn excavation of identity, grief, and choice.  Will resists help, mocks authority, and sabotages relationships.  But through Sean’s persistence — and Chuckie’s unflinching loyalty — Will begins to confront the trauma that shaped him.  The film culminates not in triumph, but in a quiet decision:  to leave behind the safety of Boston and pursue something uncertain, something real.
So, how’s the movie?  The acting?  The filming / FX?  Any problems?  And, did I like / enjoy the film?  Short answers:  Very good;  excellent performances;  intimate and effective;  a few;  yes — deeply.
How’s the movie?  Very good to excellent.  The film was nominated for nine(9) Oscars and won two – Williams for Best Supporting Actor and Affleck / Damon for Best Original Screenplay.  Additionally Damon was nominated for Best Actor and Driver for Best Supporting Actress.  I don’t know much of Driver’s other work, but I felt she was very good to exceptional in this role.  Driver and Damon have tremendous chemistry.  On researching for this review, I regret to admit I have not seen a single other movie or TV show she (Driver) has appeared in.
Acting:  Robin Williams is extraordinary.  His performance is subdued, wounded, and deeply human.  The “It’s not your fault” scene is a masterclass in emotional pacing — he doesn’t push, he waits.  Damon, who co-wrote the screenplay, delivers a layered portrayal of a young man who’s brilliant but broken.  His anger is believable, his vulnerability obvious.  Affleck’s Chuckie is the kind of friend who tells you the truth even when it hurts.  I found his “best part of my day” monologue is one of the film’s most relatable moments.  Minnie Driver brings warmth and wit to Skylar, and Skarsgård’s Lambeau is a study in ambition tempered by frustration.  Watching Lambeau brought me back to Soliari in “Amadeus” where he laments to God why he was given the ability to appreciate Mozart’s music but not the ability to create it.
Filming / FX:  The filming is very “Boston” – damp streets, dim bars, hitting cages, train rides, ivy covered campus, therapy offices.  There’s very little flashy here, it’s working class urban.  The film moves you emotionally through both dialogue and silence.  I don’t recall any FX to speak of.
Problems:  A few.  The film leans heavily on archetypes:  the wounded genius, the wise mentor, the loyal friend.  Some of the therapy scenes feel abbreviated, and the resolution — Will driving off to “see about a girl” — is romantic but arguably simplistic.  I also didn’t care for the scene where Affleck’s character “represents” Will at a job interview.  I think it was meant to be humorous or satirical, but it wasn’t funny (to me).  Still, the emotional value of the film outweighs these minor comments.
Did I Enjoy the Film?  Yes.  And more than that — I felt I understood it.  “Good Will Hunting” isn’t just about solving equations;  it’s also about solving internal / personal issues yourself (and with help).  It’s about giving yourself the opportunity to remember to smell the Sistine Chappel as you gaze up at the ceiling in wonder.
Final Recommendation:  Strong to Highly Recommended.  If you’ve ever wrestled with your own worth, questioned your path, or needed someone to say “It’s not your fault” — this film will resonate. I found it remarkably honest.
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Click here (9 October) to see the posts of prior years.  I started this blog in late 2009.  Daily posting began in late January 2011.  Not all of the days in the early years (2009-2010) will have posts.

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A Familiar Song

Posted in Included Video, Music and Concerts, Quotes, Song Lyrics And Videos By Others, Videos, tagged , , , , , , on July 20, 2021| Leave a Comment »

More Than A Feeling
Favorite Line(s):
So many people have come and gone
Their faces fade as the years go by
Yet I still recall as I wander on
As clear as the sun in the summer sky
It’s more than a feeling
(More than a feeling)
When I hear that old song they used to play
(More than a feeling)
And I begin dreaming
(More than a feeling)
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Click here (20 July) to see the posts of prior years.  I started this blog in late 2009.  Daily posting began in late January 2011.  Not all of the days in the early years (2009-2010) will have posts.

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Trial By Jury

Posted in Humor, Quotes, tagged , , , , , on June 5, 2012| Leave a Comment »

A Boston man who last year shot and killed all twelve members of a jury that convicted him of murder goes on trial again today.  Courtroom insiders say jury selection is expected to take quite some time.
    —    George Carlin
From his book:  “Napalm & Silly Putty“
[If nominated, I will feign illness;  if selected, I will not serve…    —   kmab]
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Click here (5 June) to see the posts of prior years.  I started this blog in late 2009.  Daily posting began in late January 2011.  Not all of the days in the early years (2009-2010) will have posts.

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