EXTRACTION 2 (2023)

June 15, 2023

Greetings again from the darkness. Our favorite fearless, black-market mercenary is back … and this time it’s personal! (read that line with your best “In a world” voice). Well, initially, Tyler Rake is only back while comatose after his last job nearly got him killed. When he awakens, his finely-tuned body is broken and in need of repair and recovery. Of course, it’s only a matter of time before his particular set of skills are back in demand. A visit from a mysterious man (Idris Elba) provides a personal offer that spurs Rake into ‘Rocky Balboa’ training mode, replete with chickens and wood-chopping.

Director Sam Hargrave and writer Joe Russo stick to the formula that worked in their popular EXTRACTION from 2020, only this time they go even bigger. Mr. Hargrave is a long-time stunt coordinator and Mr. Russo often works with his own brother Anthony on Marvel movies, so you can expect an overdose of action sequences, fight scenes, and shootouts. And regardless of how many of each you expect, the film will very likely deliver more. It is relentless in its commitment to action … never more so than the elaborately staged prison break. It’s a remarkable action sequence that lasts about 20 minutes and includes guns, knives, explosives, car chases, helicopters, and most anything else ever seen in a battle. One key difference is that the first film’s cinematographer, Newton Thomas Sigel, has been replaced by Greg Baldi, creating a different look and style to the film.

Chris Hemsworth returns as Tyler Rake, and the actor has publicly stated that he’s tired of playing Thor. It’s difficult to imagine this role is more fulfilling, but perhaps he simply enjoys being the main attraction. Also returning in this sequel are Tyler’s handler, Nik Khan (Golshifteh Farahani) and her brother Yaz (Adam Bessa). Their mission is to extract the sister of Tyler’s ex-wife, along with two kids, from the prison where her evil gangster husband is serving time. As one might expect, the extraction goes sideways, and soon the gangster’s equally evil brother (as proven earlier by his pitchfork handywork) is pursuing them in revenge. Bullets fly and bodies fall. Both sides are curiously well-equipped and better funded than many governments. Weapons and military equipment and soldiers seem to pop up instantaneously when trouble starts, and sometimes just before that. For those who enjoy over-the-top action and violence, get your popcorn ready.

In addition to worldclass bone-crunching, the participants enjoy worldclass globetrotting … bouncing to and fro: Dubai, Georgia (the country, not the state), the Amalfi Coast, Austria, and Sydney. The two gangster brothers are played by Tornike Bziava and Tornike Gogrichiani, while the sister being rescued is Tinatin Dalakishvili, and her troubled son is played by Andro Japaridze. Appearing in only two scenes each are Olga Kurylenko and Idris Elba, although Mr. Elba’s final scene seems to set the stage for his return in another sequel … which if it occurs, we can assume will somehow have an even bigger bullet budget.

Streaming on Netflix beginning June 16, 2023

WATCH THE TRAILER

6 Comments | Action, Thriller | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by David Ferguson

EXTRACTION (2020)

April 23, 2020

 Greetings again from the darkness. The description for this movie labels lead character Tyler Rake “a fearless black market mercenary.” Now I’ve personally never shopped for a mercenary, but my assumption is that every one of them is ‘black market’, and none would likely self-identify as anything other than ‘fearless.’ My Facebook account is inundated with unwanted advertisements, and I’ve yet to see one for any mercenary, much less one that lacks courage. Now you likely find this to be worthless meanderings, but that’s where the first feature length film from director Sam Hargrave took me. Mr. Hargrave is a veteran stunt coordinator and stunt performer (he’s been the stunt double for Chris Evans’ Captain America), and he’s working from a script by Joe Russo (director and producer of the last two Avengers movies and the last two Captain America movies).

Chris Hemsworth (THOR) stars as the aforementioned Tyler Rake. It’s a role that would have just as easily worked for Jason Statham or, in past years, Bruce Willis, Sylvester Stallone, or Arnold Schwarzenegger. Rake is a live action hero, haunted by visions and dreams of better times. His fighting prowess, shooting skills, and willingness to play roulette with his own life, make him the perfect hire for imprisoned drug lords when their son is kidnapped by a rival drug lord. And that’s exactly what happens.

The film opens with Tyler in a bad spot. He’s injured and trying to shoot his way out of a mess where he’s badly outnumbered. The film then flashes back a couple of days where we witness the kidnapping of Ovi Jr (Rudrhaksh Jaiswal) by Amir Asif (Priyanshu Painyuli), the drug lord rival to Ovi Jr’s imprisoned father. We also see Tyler, after a few too many drinks, take a running leap off a 30 meter cliff into an Australian lake. Soon he’s visited by Nik (Golshifteh Farahani, Adam Driver’s wife in PATERSON). She acts as his handler for the dangerous jobs, and few are more risky than extracting Ovi Jr.

What follows are fast-paced car chases through the dusty streets of Dhaka, bone-crunching hand-to-hand combats, and more shootouts than we’ve seen in a while. Tyler’s job is to extract Ovi Jr and deliver him safely home. When things go sideways, the two end up on the run from an entire army, and take cover in a local sewer … with all the sights and smells you might imagine. Supporting roles are covered by David Harbor as Tyler’s old friend, and Randeep Hooda as Ovi Sr’s right-hand man.

As you might expect, there are double-crosses and plenty of opportunities for Tyler to show off his ‘fearless’ Samercenary skills. Ovi Jr is a bit of a nerd, but does offer up some life philosophy for his troubled protector: “You drown not by falling in the water, but by staying submerged in it.” The kill count here is extraordinarily high and literally thousands of rounds get fired. What’s most surprising, however, is that Tyler’s cell phone somehow survives his many falls, gunshots, sewage, and car collisions. It’s much more impressive than the old Timex commercials. Gifted cinematographer Newton Thomas Sigel (X-MEN movies, DRIVE, THREE KINGS, THE USUAL SUSPECTS) does an admirable job capturing the action sequences; it’s just that this is too similar to many movies we’ve seen before, though it serves as a chance for Hemsworth to be something other than Thor. For those in need of an action flick fix after all this social distancing, EXTRACTION should scratch the itch.

opens Netflix April 24, 2020

watch the trailer:

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Posted by David Ferguson

PATERSON (2016)

January 8, 2017

paterson-b Greetings again from the darkness. Do you find poetry in everyday life? What about poets … do you envision loners whose lives are filled with angst and suffering? Our lead character here is a pretty normal guy who drives a city bus, has a happy marriage, and walks his dog each evening. He’s also a poet – and a pretty interesting one.

Writer/director Jim Jarmusch (Broken Flowers, 2005) often seems like he is making films for his circle of friends … all whom must be much cooler than you and me. This time, however, he takes an opposite approach and brilliantly focuses on a dude that any of us could know. Paterson (Adam Driver) is a New Jersey Transit bus driver who writes poetry based on his observations of life’s seemingly minor details (his first poem notes “We have plenty of matches in our house”).

You should be forewarned: there are no murders, kidnappings, bank robberies or shootouts. Things move rather deliberately. Also missing are any special effects – heck, Adam Driver even got licensed to drive a bus for the role. Instead, we are forced to slow down and see each of the seven days of a week through the eyes and words of Paterson. He observes. He listens. He people watches. He then commits his thoughts to the page and recites them for our benefit. Sometimes he is eavesdropping on bus passengers, while other times he curiously tries to figure out the newest “dream” for his beloved wife Laura (Golshifteh Farahani). Having the soul of an artist, Laura cloaks her world in a geometric black and white color scheme while energetically bounding from cupcakes to country and western music to cooking as she pursues her place in life.

There are many Jarmusch touches throughout. Paterson the poet actually lives and works in Paterson, New Jersey … yep, Paterson from Paterson. The interactions at the neighborhood bar (run by Barry Shabaka Henley) are simultaneously real and surreal – right down to the wall of local fame (including Hurricane Carter and Lou Costello, but no mention of Larry Doby). Coincidences abound. A young girl recites her poem to Paterson … her writing style, personal book, and delivery make her seem like his poetic doppelganger – all while the recurring appearance of numerous sets of twins make us believe in the law of attraction. Lastly, the closest thing to a villain in the film is Paterson’s bulldog Marvin, in what plays like a love-hate relationship with the mailbox being center-ring.

Another local Paterson (the city) aspect is Paterson’s (the poet) admiration of the works of William Carlos Williams, a poet whose style he emulates. One of the terrific scenes near the end involves a spontaneous interaction between Paterson and town visitor (Masatoshi Nagase) that takes place next to The Great Falls, and serves as a reminder that we should accept who we are, no matter the challenges or lack of glory. This is truly director Jarmusch’s ode to the artist/poet in each of us and in ordinary life. Creating art as best we can is a very personal thing, and for some it’s a need – while for others it’s one of life’s simple pleasures. Regardless, a “normal” life with daily routines is not to be scorned, but rather embraced, should you be so fortunate. If you doubt this, Paterson asks, “Would you rather be a fish?”

**NOTE: sharp moviegoer eyes will recognize Kara Hayward and Jared Gilman, who both had their debut in Wes Anderson’s Moonrise Kingdom (2012).

watch the trailer:

 

6 Comments | Drama | Tagged: , , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by David Ferguson