2020-2029, Film Review

Captain America: Brave New World (2025)

Posted on February 20, 2025May 3, 2025 by Martin: Through the Silver Screen

Captain America: Brave New World – Film Review

Cast: Anthony Mackie, Danny Ramirez, Shira Haas, Carl Lumbly, Xosha Roquemore, Giancarlo Esposito, Tim Blake Nelson, Harrison Ford, Liv Tyler

Director: Julius Onah

Synopsis: After an attempt is made on the life of the President of the United States Thaddeus Ross (Ford), Captain America must investigate a conspiracy which threatens to have major international ramifications…

Review: It has been quite the journey for Sam Wilson in the Marvel Cinematic Universe since we were first introduced to him as Steve Rogers’ jogging buddy in Captain America: The Winter Soldier. Since then, he helped to confront and Steve the nefarious HYRDA, took his friend’s side as the Avengers went to war with themselves, fought in the war against a mad Titan with the fate of the entire universe at stake. It all culminated in the passing of the torch shield to becoming his friend’s successor as Captain America. A mantle he momentarily relinquished before reclaiming what was rightfully his. Now in the wake of the events of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Sam Wilson is ready to take flight for his first mission, in a film which sadly fails to soar and reach the lofty heights of its predecessors.

It has been a few years since Sam fought with Bucky Barnes to take down the Flag Smashers, and in that time, Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross has been elected as President of the United States. Despite having had their differences in the past, the new man in the Oval Office tasks Cap and the new Falcon Joaquin Torres (Ramirez) to foil an illegal arms deal in the first step of a more collaborative relationship. Ross later informs Sam he wants his help to rebuild the Avengers. During a summit at the White House concerning the emergence of Celestial Island and a rare new material, an attempt is made on the President’s life by veteran super soldier Isiah Bradley (Lumbly). With the US on the brink of a major global conflict, Sam must find out who was behind the attempted assassination of the President and uncover the truth behind this global conspiracy and clear Bradley’s name.

It is no exaggeration to say that in 2025, the world is a fraught and sometimes scary place, with entrenched and bitter political divides showing no signs of easing. In such times, making a tense spy-political thriller is a brave and dangerous move as the film has to navigate such a fraught political metaphorical minefield. However, it is not entirely without precedent, as the Russo brothers and screenwriters Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely successfully tackled similar themes with spectacular success The Winter Soldier and its sequel Civil War. Whether or not you feel the MCU has lost its way since the high of Avengers: Endgame is beside the point, as it was always going to be a tall order for Brave New World to follow in the footsteps of its predecessors.

“You may be Captain America, but you’re not Steve Rogers”, the President scornfully tells Sam after the foiled assassination attempt. “You’re right, I’m not”, Sam sharply retorts. It is a highlight in a film which doesn’t offer many, but also a statement of intent for the new star-spangled man with the shield that he will forge his own legacy as the iconic superhero. In his seventh big screen appearance in this role. Mackie is once again superb. He is fully aware that the legacy of the title he now has comes with an enormous responsibility, at one point grappling with the dilemma as to whether he should have taken the super soldier serum, but this is what makes him more than worthy of that shield. When you have gone up against what he has armed with just a wingsuit, what does he have to fear, especially since now he has the welcome addition of a vibranium shield, and the new Falcon by his side. Although, despite being one of the more interesting parts of the miniseries, Isiah Bradley is once again frustratingly forced to sit in a jail cell, when he really deserves a chance to show what he can do.

The irony is that this script, written by Onah and four other credited writers, could have benefited from some script serum to enhance it and give it some additional polish. One can only speculate, but given certain events that occurred in 2024, it seems that the political themes of the film may have been diluted due to the current state of world politics. In addition to continuing the story established in the preceding miniseries, the film serves as a sequel to both Eternals (good to see this underappreciated film get acknowledged) and The Incredible Hulk, as the villain is a character that audiences may have nearly forgotten. Portraying a role that was successfully played by someone for many years is never an easy task, but Ford does an excellent job as Ross, succeeding the late William Hurt. Along with his signature gruffness, Ross is grappling with the daunting challenge of leading a country on the brink of major conflict while also battling his own internal struggles and trying to reconnect with his daughter, Betty (Tyler). Given the current state of US presidents, especially now, you’d take Ross’s leadership any day of the week.

Despite Ford’s impressive portrayal of Ross and his complex (and possibly red) inner demons, the film’s action, while undeniably slick and well-crafted, fails to bring anything new or memorable to the MCU. It frustratingly adheres to a formulaic structure, which feels like a significant missed opportunity for what could have been a gripping political thriller, similar to its predecessors. The 35th entry into the MCU could have marked a bold new direction for both the star-spangled hero and the wider universe. Instead, it feels tired and stale, as if our titular hero’s wings have been clipped, leaving him unable to rise above this uninspiring and frankly bland story.

Despite stellar performances from Mackie and Ford, with the former more than proving himself worthy of the shield, Brave New World is a political thriller that seems too afraid to go for the jugular in these politically fraught times, while also lacking in thrills.

2010-2019, Film Review, London Film Festival 2019

Just Mercy (2019)

Posted on December 29, 2019December 29, 2019 by Martin: Through the Silver Screen

Just Mercy – Film Review

Cast: Michael B Jordan, Jamie Foxx, Brie Larson, Tim Blake Nelson, Rob Morgan, O’Shea Jackson Jr, Rafe Spall

Director: Destin Daniel Cretton

Synopsis: After a man is convicted of murder of a young woman and sent to death row, a defence attorney begins to uncover some startling facts about the case….

Review: It’s not exactly news that in the USA right now, the country has had, and continues to have a major issue with racism. Such an issue, extends to many facets of life in the country, and one particular example being the the justice system and the rule of law. A system that has some very fundamental flaws and biases, that can see people arrested for the most trivial of things. Likewise one that can see potentially innocent people, be sent to prison in spite of some very iffy/suspicious witness statements or evidence.

Walter McMillian, known to his friends and family as Johnny D, is on death row after he was found guilty of murdering a young woman. When attorney Bryan Stevenson takes on his case, he starts to investigate the case in substantial detail. Through some extensive and thorough examination of all the evidence, with the support of Eva Ansley (Larson), all is not what it seems with this case. Stevenson, believing that McMillan may have been wrongfully convicted through some spurious evidence and witness statements, makes it his mission to leave no stone unturned in his investigation, and to do all he can to clear McMillan of this crime.

Courtroom dramas such as these have definitely been adapted for the big screen before. However, while it doesn’t strive away from your typical courtroom drama, the sheer strength and emotional weight of the story are what bring the emotional levity to the situation. This film’s power and urgency lies in Andrew Lanham’s and director Destin Daniel Cretton’s script, which is not trying to be anything new in terms of courtroom dramas, and it doesn’t have to be in order to be extremely effective. Simply because it is trying to shine a light on an issue that is still prevalent in the US to this day. With people are being sent down for crimes they definitely didn’t commit, whilst simultaneously highlighting and the appalling institutional biases that still occur to this day in the US justice system, particularly for people of colour, it shows a fundamental problem that urgently needs addressing.

Michael B Jordan is nothing short of sensational as Bryan Stevenson, the attorney who bravely takes on McMillan’s case. Given the emotional magnitude surrounding the case, he would be forgiven for cracking under the intense pressure that comes along with taking what is to many people, an already closed case. While Larson’s screen time is limited, she is also excellent as the assistant to Jordan’s Stevenson. However, it’s Jamie Foxx’s heartbreaking performance that is by far and away, the most awards worthy. Giving his best performance since Django Unchained, you can see from his body language that the years on death row understandably have taken their toll on him. Yet through Stevenson’s relentless desire to uncover the truth, it brings him the faintest glimmer of hope in the darkest of situations for him and his family.

One of the many great aspects of film is its ability to shed light on such stories that people around the world may not know about. However, these hard-hitting stories need to be mandatory viewing for everyone. The whole point of a justice system, in any country the world over, is to hold a fair and unbiased trial that examines all the evidence without prejudice. Yet time after time in the US, the system is shown to be completely rigged to the extent that people, especially people of colour, are seemingly condemned before any trial has even begun. Changes will not happen but overnight, but with powerful pieces of storytelling like Just Mercy, one would hope that the tide eventually start to turn to prevent situations like this from happening again.

With a trio of fantastic performances at its centre, and an emotionally charged story packed with an urgent, powerful message that must be heard the world over. This is so much more than just your typical courtroom drama.

2010-2019, Film Review, London Film Festival 2019

The Report (2019)

Posted on November 22, 2019November 22, 2019 by Martin: Through the Silver Screen

The Report – Film Review

Cast: Adam Driver, Annette Bening, Ted Levine, Michael C. Hall, Tim Blake Nelson, Corey Stoll, Maura Tierney, Jon Hamm

Director: Scott Z. Burns

Synopsis: In the aftermath of the September 11 attacks, a United States Senate staffer is tasked with leading an enquiry into the use of torture by the CIA with some shocking discoveries…

Review: September 11, 2001 is one of those days that if you were alive, everyone remembers where they were and what they were doing on that terrible day. In the wake of such unimaginable devastation and loss of life, any government would be under pressure to bring the perpetrators of such a callous attack to justice. But as we know, the war that was waged in response to 9/11 had long lasting consequences, and not all of it has been widely available public knowledge.

Daniel Jones (Driver) is a Senate Staffer who’s recruited to work for Senator Dianne Feinstein (Benning). Tasked with investigating the “enhanced interrogation techniques” that were used by the CIA to try and extract information from Al-Qaeda terrorists to give them intelligence. Spending many years of his life, trawling through thousands upon thousands of pages of rather chilling evidence, the details that are uncovered are startling. To further complicate matters, politicians clamour to prevent the full details of his report from being made public.

In this inescapable partisan nature of politics in this day and age, to craft a compelling balanced narrative out of such heavy and hard-hitting material is a tall order, but writer/director Scott Z. Burns does exactly that. In a drama that relies on people spending most of their time on screen either sitting at their desks researching on computers, or having conversations with politicians. It’s imperative that the script be well-written and on point to carry the film’s narrative throughout. Furthermore, to avoid getting bogged down in partisan politics, the film clearly illustrates that no side of the political spectrum is absolved of blame when it came to the attempts to block the report from being made public.

Given his status as one of the most prolific actors currently in the business, it should come as no surprise that Adam Driver once again gives an excellent performance. In the same vein that Official Secrets was resting on Keira Knightley’s shoulders, the onus is on Driver’s Daniel Jones to navigate the audience through this important period in modern US history and leave no stone unturned in what went on, and who was responsible for allowing this to happen. By his side through all of this is Annette Bening’s excellent turn as Dianne Feinstein. A politician who is resolute in her belief to do the right thing, whilst ensuring she is not too overtly biased towards her side of the political spectrum.

The torture scenes in the film make for, as you might expect, uncomfortable viewing. However, they are necessary to put the events, and the work that is carried out by Jones and his team, into context. The editing is a little uneven in the first act as the film between the investigative work being carried out, and the torture scenes. While these do serve their purpose, they can get a bit tiresome very quickly. Thankfully these are not focused on for too long. The report itself and the efforts to bring it to the attention of the public become the sole attention. There’s nothing remarkable about Burns’s direction, but the gripping subject matter and some excellent performances maintain the investment in the story.

The world, in particular the world of politics is a scary place right now. In a time when politics, and by consequence politicians are becoming increasingly fraught, bitterly divided on allegiances to an individual and or a particular party. Rather than be beholden to blind allegiances, it pays to be open-minded and to not let party politics cloud your judgement, especially when it comes to examples of blatant wrongdoing that should not be buried behind mountains of legal paperwork.

Hard-hitting and timely, The Report speaks volumes about this extremely divisive political era, reminding us value of integrity, and the importance of holding those in power to account.

2010-2019, Film Review

The Ballad of Buster Scruggs (2018)

Posted on November 25, 2018November 25, 2018 by Martin: Through the Silver Screen

The Ballad of Buster Scruggs – Film Review

Cast: Tim Blake Nelson, James Franco, Liam Neeson, Zoe Kazan, Brendan Gleeson, Tom Waits

Directors: Joel and Ethan Coen

Synopsis: A collection of six unique short stories, telling the plights of various people in very different situations in the West after the Civil War.

Review: Beginning, middle and end, a structure that films tend to adhere to. However, every once in a while, a film will come along that deviates from this structure. It may choose to tell the story in reverse order or to jump back and forth. Hence this latest venture from Joel and Ethan Coen is unique in this respect, as instead of telling one story across two hours and ten minutes to be precise, they fill this by choosing to tell six unique stories charting the lives of a handful of different folk, each of whom are in a variety of different situations in the wake of the Civil War.

To tell six miniaturised stories as opposed to your more traditional three-structured film is an unconventional choice to say the least, but under the assured direction of the Coen brothers, it for the most part works a treat. Though some are much stronger than others, there is enjoyment to be hand in each of the stories that the Coens bring to life. Telling each story through the perspective of a storybook, we jump in with funnily enough Mr Buster Scruggs himself (Blake Nelson) a tootin’ cowboy who likes to play his guitar and sing a song for y’all. But, he is also a dab hand with a pistol, which inevitably leads to some trouble down the line.

Next we move onto ‘Near Algodones’ a nameless-up-to-no-good cowboy (Franco) who finds himself in a tricky predicament when he tries to rob a bank, with some hilarious results. “Meal Ticket’ features Liam Neeson and Harry Melling as a theatre double act, the latter of whom has no arms or legs. Despite putting on a good show, they find their numbers and income decreasing, which puts Neeson’s character in a tricky situation as to what to do with his companion. While there is some intriguing moments with both of these two segments, they do end somewhat abruptly, which is frustrating, particularly in the case of the latter, it really would have benefited with a bit more closure to the story.

The next two stories are where the film really starts to shine. ‘All Gold Canyon’ features Tom Waits as a prospector seeking the fortune of a rather large collection of gold located in an absolutely beautiful valley. Now would be a good time to mention Bruno Delbonnel’s superb cinematography which is on point across every story, but it is here especially is where it shines brightest. Waits is great as this wacky prospector seeking this fortune that, perhaps unsurprisingly has attracted the attention of some other folk looking for this fortune for themselves. ‘The Gal Who Got Rattled features Zoe Kazan as a young woman who after a family tragedy is seeking a new opportunity. It’s more dialogue heavy than the preceding stories, but Kazan’s excellent performance makes it extremely compelling to watch.

Finally, the last segment ‘The Mortal Remains’ retains the intrigue but being the most dialogue heavy of all the stories, it is considerably not as interesting as the preceding stories. Though the dialogue is well written once again, it is really quite underwhelming as a final chapter to a rather fascinating collection of short stories. All six stories do explore similar themes about the human struggle as we all navigate this small little thing called life that we as human beings all negotiate, and the rather significant matter of death. However, to ensure that it is not all doom and gloom, The Coens, much like we all do with our own lives, fill each of these segments with their signature style of comedy that, for the most part, serves each story really rather well.

The short nature of each story will undoubtedly leave some viewers unfulfilled. Nevertheless, the thought provoking themes that beat at the heart of all six of the stories, plus some exquisite work in the cinematography, production design and costume department give this anthology film some mighty visual splendour. Though this is not on the level of say a No Country for Old Men or True Grit, given the rambling mess that was Hail! Caesar, a return to the Wild West, and indeed a much more coherent film from the duo is a darn good thing y’all.