Lock Down and Out

Lock Down: Down for The Count

By Shane Olesen

               A movie set during a pandemic. In London? With big name actors in minor roles for brief appearances? No this is not 28 Days Later, its HBOMax’s newest film Lock Down.

            Directed by Doug Liman, with such works as Mr. and Ms. Smith (2005), Jumper (2008), Edge of Tomorrow (2014) as well as a few episodes of The O.C. which we all know him from, the film is set in our world. 2020, Covid-19 panic as spread across the globe and everything is shut down, or you could say…...Locked Down. Get it? Cause that is the title of the movie.

The story centers on Linda (Anne Hathaway) and Paxton (Chiwetel Ejiofor), longtime romantic partners who suffer the trials, no, the tortures of a life in lockdown. Zoom calls, pajama pants, smoking indoors. Linda whines about feeling inactive and that her life is purposeless; Paxton, in a marathon of poor taste, calls neighbors “fellow inmates” and jokes about suicide. Despite cohabitating, the couple has recently split up, and they avoid each other by working and sleeping in separate, lavish bedrooms in their multistory brownstone.

But going into the 2nd act the pair find themselves with an opportunity, rob from their respective employers and try and find some joy from this miserable predicament. This is where the fun SHOULD start, but sadly Lock Down never really gets going.

Maybe it was the marketing for the film that should be blamed. It came across as more of a comedy when in fact, its more of a melodrama focusing on a relationship crumbling under the pressure of a global pandemic. As well, sadly most of the jokes in the film feel outdated by the time they arrive. Frozen Zoom calls, out of toilet paper, virus deniers. We have seen it all before at this point and sadly Lock Down does not add anything new to these jokes to make them land.

This film will not go down as a fantastic heist film like such greats as Ocean’s Eleven (2001), The Italian Job (1969/2003), Heat (1995) or my personal favorite The Town (2010) but rather will feel like a time capsule. Forever marking the moment in time when we were all alone, stuck inside and wondering what tomorrow holds for us all. I had hoped for more from this film, but maybe it comes down to the fact that it was shot during the pandemic, during lockdown protocols, in a bout two weeks. Had the crew had more time to work on this, develop the story and tighten the ending up a bit more, maybe we would be discussing the film in a few years. For now, it will be that quant quarantine film you show to friend years from now to say “Hey, remember when….”

2.5/5

Ted Lasso: Wrangling in our Hearts

By Shane Olesen

Minor Spoilers Ahead

               Finishing up from a long day of work, after being stuck in traffic you arrive home to see your wife cooking dinner, your daughter in the living room watching some tv, your son in his room playing with some toys, you let out a sigh of relief. “This is it” this is what you’ve always wanted, it isn’t much but it’s all you truly need or ever wanted. That feeling is what Ted Lasso brings to all its viewers.

               Starting as a commercial to promote NBC Sports having Premier League Soccer, Ted Lasso has evolved into a show that we could all really use currently. Bill Lawrence, creator of Scrubs another favorite of mine, with the help of character creator Jason Sudeikis, give us a show with heart oozing from every pore. Following the titular character, Theodore “Ted” Lasso, as he, a former Division Two Football coach, take leadership over Richmond AFC, a struggling franchise with an owner who only wants to see it crumble. Even without knowing the true reasons for why he has been brought over to coach, nothing can slow Ted down as he tries to better this team in more ways than one.

               It’s fitting that the series opens not with Ted being offered the job, or with Rebecca discovering her discouraging motives, but instead with our team, practicing(or training depending on which side of the pond you are on). That is one of the messages this show tries to convey to us the viewers. Its not about the individual, but the entire team. It’s not about the one, but the elven, something Ted tries to convey, and successfully by the series end, to Jamie Tart. The young brash phenom the team has, who’s ego gets the better of him time and time again, but by the end of the season we find ourselves proud of his growth and excited to see more of him, on either side of the pitch.

               That is another main driving force behind this series, growth. Many of our characters go through a substantial growth. From our aging legend, Roy Kent, as he learns that his prime is past him, but he can still lead and inspire the men around him to attempt something that no one believes they can do. Nate, a lonely kit-man we meet in the first episode who gains confidence throughout the series from the help of Ted and Coach Beard (brilliantly played by co-creator Brendan Hunt) to becoming a coach himself. We see Rebecca’s icy exterior melt away throughout the shows run as she see the person she has become. A ruthless owner who wants nothing more than to hurt her ex, but at the cost of losing herself. Its not till finding new friends herself, in that of Keely Jones, does she begin to see how much she has changed and inevitably must try and mend the bridges she has burned.

               Even Ted himself grows. A character who could easily have come off as a one-note, Jason Sudeikis gives a layered performance of a man who, simply put, is trying his best. He is trying to be the best coach he can be, the best friend he can be, and the best husband and father. But as many of us know, you can do everything right and still fail. It is what we do after our failure that define us. And Ted does what we would all hope we could do. He keeps moving forward, and eventually grows to be a stronger coach. Ted early on believes winning doesn’t matter, that it’s his obligation to better the players as men first, and help them win second, by the end though he has accepted that sometimes winning is what matters, and pushing your players and yourself into uncomfortable positions is sometimes to only way to move forwards and succeed.

               I haven’t even touched on the wonderful comedy, the nuanced drama, lovable side characters, the young Nigerian witchcraft believing Sam, the overly enthusiastic Danny Rojas, or my personal favorite Trent Crimm: The Independent. Ted Lasso has plenty to offer and more. A show I am currently on my third playthrough as of writing this review, doesn’t seem to be losing any of its magic as I relive is best moments. With a second season already greenlit, for the first time in my life I can’t wait for more football. Do not miss out on this show, or it would be like missing out on fresh baked cookies from mom, a sin.

               A perfect show if you ask me, I give Season 1 of Ted Lasso 10 out of 10

A Familiar Face: The Way Back

               It’s fitting that The Way Back opens on Ben Affleck’s character working construction. Like the skyscrapers towering over city blocks that have scaffolding around them for ages, Jack Cunningham (Ben Affleck) requires more than a quick fix in hopes of assimilating back into society.

               Director Gavin O’Connor is no stranger to the sports-drama film. With his takes on Miracle (2004) and Warrior (2011) he has shown his understanding of what makes a great sport-drama. Seeing the downtrodden rise to the occasion. An outcast finding his or her place in the world. An eclectic group of players from the “super-star”, to the funny one, to the token white kid, all learning to stop thinking of themselves, but to start thinking of each other. That is in spades in this film and arguably its weakest point. But where does The Way Back shine?

               Ben Affleck give a performance to be reckoned with in The Way Back. Drawing from real life experiences you see Ben put his heart and soul into this film. Jack Cunningham is a character who could have had it all but threw it away for the wrong reasons. A man who has continuously been knocked down in his life, and who has gotten tired of getting back up. Being their second time working together (previously on the 2016 action-thriller The Accountant) Ben and Gavin have a rapport with one another that allows them to truly dive into this character study. Director Gavin O’Connor and Cinematographer Eduard Grau frequently shoot Jack through doorways, windshield, and on handheld to show our protagonist’s ever faltering world. Like when trying to focus after a few drinks with friends, the camera sways from side to side, overshoots its target and frequently must readjust, trying to zero in on Ben Affleck’s performance. Its clear that Ben was working from within in this picture, this is a nuanced performance, he isn’t saying “Look at me! Look at how amazing I am as a drunk” but instead is shedding light to a side of him that has frequently pushed aside, which is what I think this film’s message truly is about.

               Grief, pain, sadness. All these things can define a person. Its how we take these hardships and move on with our lives that truly shape the people we are to become. The Way Back shows us what can happen when we don’t unload our pain, when we always try and carry it with us. We struggle, we make mistakes, and we find ourselves right back where we started. This film is a message to all of those still holding on to their pain that letting go, isn’t saying goodbye. Its moving forward.

               With a third act “twist” (which I use lightly) The Way Back is able to separate itself from all other sport-dramas, but at the end of the day this is a character study of how we handle our greatest lows and attempt to rise to greatness.

Fast, Furious, F#$&ing bonkers. Birds of Prey(And the Fantabulous Emancipation of one Harley Quinn)

              If a vodka Redbull married Deadpool(2016) and had a baby, this film is what they’d have, and I mean that with all sincerity. Birds Of Prey(and the Fantabulous Emancipation of one Harley Quinn) is a movie that leans heavily into absurdity, debauchery and vulgar material all the while never crossing over into unbearable, repetitive, and idiotic behavior.

Directed by Kathy Yan, Birds of Prey follows Harley Quinn as she learns to adapt and live on her own after The Joker breaks up with her once and for all. Wanting to earn some respect for herself, as well as stay alive in a city that wants her dead, she attempts to find a diamond, a girl, and herself all in under two hours.

The positives, this movie moves from start to end. With constant updates either from the narrator, Harley, frequent texts on screen with motives, names and backstories on new characters, who are always entering and exiting the picture; this movie is a zany, off the wall and entirely its own things.

Incredible action scenes, from a police evidence room brawl or to the climactic Amusement Mile showdown, you never find yourself too far from your next adrenaline rush during this movie. Honestly a fun, dynamic comedy that showcases Margot Robbie’s comedic timing, as well as one of the greater aspects of the “Harley Quinn” character, her upfront, analytic observations of those she encounters and the world she encompasses. As well, a notable performance by Mary Elizabeth Winstead as The Huntress, who steals scenes left and right. A character who comes and goes, yet keeps your attention with both her intimidating action scenes and deadpan comedy.

Ewan McGregor as the “big bad” Roman Sionis aka Black Mask, chews the scenery as a narcissistic, outburst prone, gangster, who like any other gangster, want the city for themselves. What keeps the character fresh is his frequent habit to let his quasi henchman-boyfriend Victor Zsasz, played by Chris Messina, off his “leash” and enact the punishment he wishes to deliver. Otherwise, neither Ewan or Chris’s characters are able to enter into the echelon of top tier villains, as they never really give anything to make them stand out among the crowd in terms of noteworthy moments that would go down next to the greats like Ledger, Brolin, or Hiddleston.

Some negatives about this film though, Birds of Prey is not what this film is about. Through and through this is a Harley Quinn film, for fans of the BoP characters get ready to sit back and wait as you won’t get as much character building as you’d probably like. As well, some creative liberties are taken with some characters. Cassandra Cain, known in the comics as Orphan, is a stoic, driven, assassin raised weapon who struggles to find humanity in her actions while striving to be a better person, emphasis on person. In this film she is a pickpocket who steals the wrong thing, who idolizes Harley and isn’t afraid to speak her mind or rack a joke. Now I don’t hate the character, in fact I found myself frequently enjoying myself during her scenes, but I wish the production had used a different character instead of changing Cassandra so drastically from her source material.

A nitty gritty, street level story of gangsters, psychos and cops, where people get hurt, and where things don’t always work out for the heroes, is what you get with Birds of Prey. Add in a splash comic book charm and fun, a dash of Hot Topic for clothing choice and you have yourself a movie.

A Test Review

This is a test review. Its honestly just here so you dont have to read the fake reviews from the formatted page I ripped this all from. I do hope soon in the future to have an actual movie review, maybe even a game review one day. Jee Golly that would be swell. Ok, well thats plenty I think.