Ed's Review Dot Com

Good Universe, Vertigo Entertainment, 40 Acres & A Mule Filmworks,

Josh Brolin, Elizabeth Olsen, Sharlto Copley, Samuel L. Jackson, Richard Portnow, Lance Reddick, Rami Malek, Michael Imperioli, James Ransone, Max Casella

Joe Doucett (Josh Brolin) was locked up for 20 years with no explanation. The suddenly he was released with only the thought of finding out who was responsible for locking him up and exact revenge on whoever it was. But the more he finds out, the more he realizes that he was just a pawn in a very elaborate game.

This Hollywood remake of an original Korean movie is a really suspenseful thriller. There are a few twists and turns, and the ending may or may not be obvious depending on how you think. I must admit, I didn’t see that coming. Josh Brolin is pretty decent in this role, and he does pull it off. There’s a lot of mystery and suspense and you have no choice to go along with him for the ride. I didn’t see the original, and of course, the haters feel the Hollywood version pales compared to the original. Since I didn’t see it, I can’t comment on that, but as a stand alone film, it’s not that bad. It is a twisted story, and rather difficult to watch, but it’s supposedly lots tamer than the original. It’s not for everybody, but it is a different kind of mystery and suspense story where a lot of bad things do happen.

EdG – EdsReview Dot Com – A Movie Review Blog

Universal Pictures, Blackmaled Productions, Sean Daniel Company,

Taye Diggs, Nia Long, Morris Chestnut, Terrence Howard, Sanaa Lathan, Regina Hall, Harold Perrineau, Monica Calhoun, Melissa De Sousa

“The Best Man” of 1999 introduced us to a gang of college friends in a bit of a crisis. Well now it’s 15 years later (really) and they are getting together to celebrate the holidays. Everyone is here with the same jealousies, hangups, grudges, and problems. This is a reunion of sorts, and a time to catch up on all the changes in their lives. A funny, and tragic Christmas story.

This is a fairly decent sequel to the original film, bringing us back to the characters we originally knew. This is one of those films that make you laugh one minute and cry a minute later. There’s a lot of drama and conflict going on here, but a lot of love and caring too. Basically this is not an extremely original story, as there have been lots of these college friends all grown up and seeing each other again after a long absence movies. But it’s got the added plus of being a really decent holiday film. Released around the holidays, this is one that won’t be nearly as enjoyable in the middle of the summer as it would be in December, that is unless you are in the mood for a little Christmas in July fun. All in all, the characters are familiar, and there is some really good humor here, and a lot of heart, and some really good performances. This is not a great movie, but it’s a good one.

EdG – EdsReview Dot Com – A Movie Review Blog