Vertical Entertainment

Eden (2024): Ron Howard Presents: Survivor

Posted on by Jack Drees

“Eden” is directed by Ron Howard (A Beautiful Mind, Apollo 13) and stars Jude Law (Sherlock Holmes, Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald), Ana de Armas (Blade Runner 2049, Knives Out), Vanessa Kirby (Mission: Impossible – Fallout, The Fantastic Four: First Steps), Sydney Sweeney (Euphoria, Anyone But You), Daniel Brühl (The Zookeeper’s Wife, The King’s Man), Felix Kammerer (All Quiet on the Western Front, All the Light We Cannot See), Toby Wallace (The Society, Pistol), and Richard Roxborough (Prosper, Moulin Rouge!). This survival film is inspired by true events and is about a group of people who hope to start a new life on an island, only to find that their greatest threat is each other.

Photo by Jasin Boland/Jasin Boland – © Courtesy of Vertical

Ron Howard is one of the most storied figures in Hollywood, from his humble beginnings as an actor on projects like “The Andy Griffith Show, “Happy Days,” and “American Graffiti,” to directing cinematic staples like “Apollo 13” and “A Beautiful Mind.” My question is, where is the hype for “Eden?” That is a serious question. After all, Ron Howard has a prolific resume, the stars of the film are well known, and it is based on a true story.

Instead of there being one answer as to why the hype for “Eden” feels relatively low, I would speculate that it comes down to multiple factors. Part of it could be due to Ron Howard’s more prominent projects being behind him. Also, this is from a lesser known studio, so it could not quite get as big of a push as it could have. And like the commercials or not, one of this film’s stars, Sydney Sweeney, has entered some recent controversy through her ad campaign for American Eagle.

Photo by Jasin Boland/Jasin Boland – © Courtesy of Vertical

We live in crazy times. Who knew we’d live in an era where a Ron Howard film did not sound like a big deal? Granted, I have heard about the making of this film through the internet. But I still wonder how many people have done the same. You also have Jude Law playing a lead role. He is just a small part of this movie’s talented ensemble, because you have three of the most prolific and picturesque actresses all in the same movie. One includes Sydney Sweeney as Margaret Wittner. While she may not have much to offer on the surface, Sweeney plays a surprisingly layered character. I ended up feeling bad for her in ways I did not expect. Ana de Armas is also a standout as Baroness Eloise Bosquet de Wagner Wehrhorn, an over the top actor who lives like every day is a cinematic adventure. Vanessa Kirby is also in the film as Dore Strauch. While she is not my favorite character in the film, she has a commanding presence and owns every line she is given. Every time she is on screen I cannot help but be immersed into each scene with her.

The film has a respectable cast. If I told you Jude Law and Vanessa Kirby were in this film, I would barely scratch the surface for how star-studded this movie is. For the most part, the cast is used wisely, but I will not lie, there are parts of this film that feel surprisingly staged. Granted, like most movies, just about everything here is written on a page. Of course it is staged. But when I watch certain films, there is sometimes an authenticity to a character’s performance that makes the experience riveting. While I find “Manchester by the Sea” to be a smidge overrated, I will not deny that the characters in that film came off as raw due to each actor playing their part to the best of their ability. On top of that, the film’s director did their job by unleashing the best vision they can. I am not an actor, although I have done acting in various short films, and sometimes the performances in “Eden” feel like they are made for a stageplay rather than a movie.

Photo by Jasin Boland/Jasin Boland – © Courtesy of Vertical

The performances could have been toned down a little. This is especially true for Ana de Armas. Yes, I did say she is a standout, but there are select lines where I thought I was watching someone who was trying too hard. Her performance is definitely not an easy one to capture. But at times I watched Ana de Armas and saw her as more of a villain figure on a modern reality competition like “Survivor” rather than a movie based on true events set sometime in the 20th century. Granted, the movie is set with a group of people alone on an island, so of course it is like a reality competition. At times, the cast does a good job with their material, but there is that occasional moment where it feels like the actor thinks they are in a completely different movie than their co-star.

“Eden” is not the year’s most memorable film, but it is one that kept me consistently engaged. It is a film where I liked getting to know the characters, their personalities, and their quirks. At one moment I would be watching a zany business opportunist. Then in another, I am watching a hermit writer trying to figure out what it means to be human. The film weaves in several stories at once, and for the most part, it flows naturally. Some portions of the plot are better than others, but it is hard to find a dull moment throughout the film. In fact, the story flies at a smooth pace. Prior to buying my ticket for this film, I was not aware of the tales it bases itself upon, but it makes for a fascinating narrative. There is only one scene that comes to mind that I found rather disturbing, but the final product does not quite go too over the top when it comes to gore and violence. This is not an easy watch, but it could definitely be more terrifying.

If I have anything else to say, this movie makes me wonder if Sydney Sweeney is going to be typecast sometime in the future. Between this film and “Immaculate,” Sweeney seems to be the current favorite for playing characters who deal with unique pregnancies. She is not horrible in either film, but nevertheless…

Photo by Jasin Boland/Jasin Boland – © Courtesy of Vertical

In the end, “Eden” is not a bad little movie, but it is one that does not have a lot of standout elements. On paper, to call this film intriguing would be an understatement between its cast, crew, and plot. But it is far from the best movie of the year. I cannot speak for every actor in this film, but a couple of the film’s big stars were also in a couple films that came out earlier this year, and I would prefer to watch those a second time over this one. Ana de Armas is much more convincing as an action star in “Ballerina,” and Vanessa Kirby plays a large role in Marvel’s exceptional “The Fantastic Four: First Steps.” I may be biased because I dig my action movies, but I think those films did a much better job at accomplishing their respective goals compared to “Eden.” I cannot wait to watch those films again. They have replay value. I cannot say the same is true with “Eden.” Maybe if I find it on cable I will put it on, but I do not see myself buying the Blu-ray. That is if it is even coming out on Blu-ray at this point. I am going to give “Eden” a 6/10.

“Eden” is now playing in theaters and is available to rent or buy on VOD.

Thanks for reading this review! My next review is going to be for “Splitsville!” Stay tuned! Also coming soon, I will be sharing my thoughts on “The Long Walk,” “A Big Bold Beautiful Journey,” “Him,” “Eleanor the Great,” and “The Lost Bus.” If you want to see these reviews and more from Scene Before, follow the blog either with an email or WordPress account! Also, check out the official Facebook page! I want to know, did you see “Eden?” What did you think about it? Or, what is your favorite Ron Howard movie? Let me know down below! Scene Before is your click to the flicks!

Guns Up (2025): Kevin James Punches and Kicks His Way Through This Fun but Tonally Uneven Action Flick

Posted on by Jack Drees

“Guns Up” is written and directed by Edward Drake and stars Kevin James (King of Queens, Here Comes the Boom), Christina Ricci (Speed Racer, Casper), Maximilian Osinski (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Ted Lasso), Luis Guzmán (The Limey, Oz), and Melissa Leo (The Fighter, All My Children). This film is about a mob henchmen whose final job goes wrong and now it is up to him to keep his family safe.

I watch less television than movies. But sitcoms have played a heavy role in my TV habits through the years. One show that has long been a mainstay of mine is “King of Queens.” It is a fantastic show, but it is also one that comes with a side effect due to seeing Kevin James’ character from one episode to the next for a long time. Kevin James is super funny on “King of Queens” as Doug Heffernan, but ever since his noticeable jump to film following the series finale, I sometimes have trouble seeing James as anyone else. Sure, Paul Blart has a mustache. Whatever. Films like “Zookeeper,” “Grown Ups,” and “Pixels” see Kevin James playing variants of Doug Heffernan, despite some noticeable differences. But “Guns Up,” kind of like another recent Kevin James film, “Becky,” feels like an unexpected move coming from the comedic actor. Also like “Becky,” I thought “Guns Up” was a solid, albeit imperfect flick.

Going off of what I just said about Kevin James, if someone were to pitch “Guns Up” to me and said they wrote the screenplay with Kevin James in mind for the lead role of Ray Hayes, I would gladly tell that person to belly flop into a kiddie pool naked to think about what they have done. But I was pleasantly surprised. James does a good job carrying the film and just about every scene featuring him is fun to watch. I was also surprised to see how well he handled some of the action choreography. I am not sure how much of it was done with a double, but James did a good job with the action scenes and I bought into his character. There are elements of James’ previous, more comedy-based performances that sneak themselves into his latest one, but this is definitely one of the more unique outings James has had as an actor. I thought “Becky” was an unexpected turn for James when that film came out. But having now seen that film along with “Guns Up,” I am open to seeing James in many types of projects that I probably would have never imagined he’d take on about a decade ago. I have no idea if he would take on an Oscar bait role in the next five years. That said, Dwayne Johnson seems to be doing so right now with “The Smashing Machine” based on how that film is being marketed, so anything is possible. Heck, for all I know he could have a turn similar to his occasional co-star, Adam Sandler, like he did in “Uncut Gems.”

The screenplay is one of the more grounded ones James has taken on, though there is plenty of comedy sprinkled throughout. I am not going to say all of it was funny. There is one gag involving the f-word that was so overdone that it almost made me want to utter some swears myself. But there are gags that work, including one that shows the children learning how to shoot a gun. I thought that scene was cleverly executed and had a couple unpredictable lines. When it comes to comedy, the real star of the show for me is Leo Easton Kelly as Henry. To me, his character would sometimes remind me of myself when I was younger. I got the impression he would sometimes just jump into a conversation almost randomly just to get some attention. While I do not remember the exact lines, I recall Henry giving me perhaps the two biggest laughs in the movie. I do not know if “Guns Up” is going to be Kelly’s big break because the movie is from a lesser known studio and had a day and date release. As a matter of fact, on opening weekend, there were no showtimes for this film in my home state of Massachusetts, including Boston. I was lucky enough to be in Illinois, where this film happened to be playing when it came out.

“Guns Up” is an action-comedy, and there are plenty of films where those two genres can blend together seamlessly. Films like “Ride Along,” “Free Guy,” and “Zombieland” are a few that come to mind. As mentioned, “Guns Up” is not a bad movie, but it does not mean it is tonally consistent. Going back to “Free Guy,” it is a film where the action and the comedy tend to work together. You have Ryan Reynolds trying to take down a bigger, badder, nuder version of himself by the end of the movie. It is hilarious and also easy on the eyes. “Guns Up” is a movie where it is a little bit of action and a little bit of comedy. The genres at times feel like they distract from each other rather than do what “Free Guy” does which is make them work together. This is not to say the action is bad. This is not to say the comedy is bad. But it feels like it comes from two different visions. Only one person wrote the film, so this is not a result of too many cooks in the kitchen. That said, if this film were being prepared in the kitchen, it is perhaps possible that it is being made by a cook that is dealing with a Franken-recipe at times.

Speaking of the action, “Guns Up” is by no means the next “John Wick,” even though there is a line towards the climax that tries to make the audience think otherwise. In fact, the climax is a lot of fun. All of the characters play off each other well. The action, while not the best I have ever seen, is decently handled. There is a good mix of people working with their hands as well as using more advanced weaponry.

Much of the film is fluidly shot and decently cut. I cannot confirm the exact budget of “Guns Up,” but having seen the film, its budget definitely comes off as somewhat limited. I say this film is not the next “John Wick,” but I say that knowing that the “John Wick” franchise does not always come with a tiny budget. The film perhaps does not pop like a “John Wick” movie does sometimes, but it most certainly gets the job done and kept me on the edge of my seat.

One of my favorite moments of action in “Guns Up” involves a group of people going through a doorway, at which point the camera does not move. The shot shows tons of combat without having to pan, tilt, or cut to the next angle. It is such a minimalist idea, but it is executed beautifully. Take notes, “Taken 3!”

In the end, “Guns Up” gets a thumbs up. For the record, it is not a big thumbs up. The film’s budgetary limitations sometimes make themselves clear. The tone of the movie is sometimes inconsistent. Again, this film is an action comedy, and while neither of those two aspects are done horribly, the film’s action and humor are not the best I have ever seen. Other than the main family, the film’s supporting cast did not entirely stand out. That said, the film is most definitely entertaining and if you were to check it out, you would not be wasting your time. Is it a fantastic watch? No. Is it a decent watch? Yes, that seems to be a fair assessment. I am going to give “Guns Up” a 6/10.

“Guns Up” is now available to rent or buy on VOD.

Photo by Marvel Studios/MARVEL STUDIOS – © 2025 20th Century Studios / © and ™ 2025 MARVEL.

Thanks for reading this review! If you enjoyed this review, be sure to look forward to some of my other ones! I have a long list of reviews coming including for “The Fantastic Four: First Steps,” “The Bad Guys 2,” “Smurfs,” “Together,” and “Oh, Hi!” If you want to see these reviews and more from Scene Before, follow the blog either with an email or WordPress account! Also, check out the official Facebook page! I want to know, did you see “Guns Up?” What did you think about it? Or, what is your favorite project featuring Kevin James? Let me know down below! Scene Before is your click to the flicks!

The Damned (2024): A Barely Engaging, Tiring, Walk Through the Cold

Posted on by Jack Drees

“The Damned” is directed by Thordur Palsson (The Valhalla Murders, Brothers) and stars Odessa Young (The Staircase, The Stand), Joe Cole (Green Room, Secret in Their Eyes), Siobhan Finneran (Downton Abbey, The Stranger), Rory McCann (Game of Thrones, Transformers: EarthSpark), Turlough Convery (Killing Eve, Sandition), Lewis Gribben (Somewhere Boy, Generation Z), Francis Magee (EastEnders, White Lines), and Mícheál Óg Lane (Ros na Rún, Calvary). This film is set in the 19th century and centers around a widow who must make a difficult choice when a foreign ship sinks near her Icelandic fishing village.

The first weekend of January always seems like a prime time for releasing a title that fits somewhere in the horror genre. “The Damned” is no exception. January, and also February for that matter, are also likely the months of the year where movies go to die. Sure, there are a ton of awards contenders in theaters, but many of them came out either in December, or sometime even before that. In terms of new releases, January and February are chock full of movies that are either hard to market or lack the quality of the titles they are competing against.

Last year, the big horror film that kicked things off was “Night Swim,” which I did see, and honestly wish I could unsee. But I will admit that the film at least had a clever concept, albeit one that becomes more absurd the more I think about it. For those who did not see the movie, it is about a family living in a house with a killer swimming pool in the backyard. “The Damned” seems to be more grounded on the other hand. Coincidentally, its main story also revolves around a body of water. After all, there is a shipwreck in the film that kicks things into gear. “The Damned” deals with faith, choice, and it is told at a bit of a slower pace, so if you are a bit drowsy while seeing this movie, I highly recommend drinking a caffeinated beverage. Trust me, I needed one. Because honestly, I almost tuned out of this film.

I do not mind a slow burn every once in a while. Just read my “Blade Runner” review to allow me to prove my point. But “The Damned” is one of those times where the word “slow” treads into a territory where it could definitely equate to being boring. The film noticeably takes its time to introduce a bunch of characters, and the actors may occasionally nail the personalities of these individuals, but I had trouble latching onto them as people in their current situation. Many of the supporting characters in this film kind of reminded me of the dwarves in “The Hobbit” at times. I do not hate them by any means, it is just that if you were to ask me to name all of them, chances are I would have a little trouble.

This film does an okay job at capturing atmosphere. Overall, “The Damned” reminds me of John Carpenter’s “The Thing.” Yes, that is the version of “The Thing” I am using in this case. I will admit, I have not seen any of the other ones. But I say this because both horror films are set in cold areas, have a decent sized ensemble, but at the same time, there is this enormous sense of tension looming over the cast.

I also want to comment on the film’s cinematography. There are parts of the film that look not just good, but great. “The Damned” is shot on location. The crew actually ended up shooting in Iceland, and all of the film’s scenery and backgrounds definitely dazzled on screen. There are also some interior scenes that are well lit, especially with fire in the background. Although there is one scene that I thought could have been handled better, and it pains me to say it because it is one that is kind of crucial to the overall story. It is a moment where we see most of the cast in the water searching for supplies, when all of sudden, things go wrong. There were times during this scene where I almost could not tell what was happening. I understand this scene takes place at night, but I do not think the camera flawlessly captured the actions the filmmakers were trying to show on screen.

The film also fulfills the most important task of any horror title, which is providing some decent scares. If you remember my review for “Nosferatu” I posted a few weeks ago, I noted that as unique as the film is in some ways, it nevertheless failed to scare me. I will admit, what “The Damned” sometimes lacks in flair, especially compared to “Nosferatu,” it makes up for in scares. The film is not the most terrifying I have seen in years, but there is plenty of disturbing imagery that I continue to think about. That kind of says something because the movie itself is rather forgettable, but for whatever reason, I remember finding it scary.

If you are like me and live in the United States, chances are you do not recognize most of the people in the cast. A lot of them have experience making content primarily seen by international audiences. But I will compliment the cast because even though I probably will not remember all their characters, I will praise them for their solid performances. There is not one portrayal I can think of I outright disliked. The standout of course is Odessa Young, who does a great job as the center of the movie. I bought her in every scene. Going back to what I said about the scares, seeing the film through her eyes enhanced said scares just a bit.

And as much as certain parts of the film continue to wither away from my brain, I do remember the ending being a standout. I will not spoil it, but it takes things into a bit of a different direction than I originally anticipated. It is a fitting conclusion to the film, and despite me sometimes tuning out, this part of the film is one of the closest instances I got to being on the edge of my seat.

In the end, “The Damned” is not a horrible movie, but I am in no way going to recommend that each and every one of you should see it. It is not offensive, but it also lacks an individual flavor. It definitely does not feel like something crapped out by a corporation. You can definitely see the artistry in this piece of work. But I do not know if it stuck the landing with me. There is good acting. There is good production value. But the pacing of this film, despite only being an hour and a half, made it feel longer than advertised. I wish I were more interested in the characters, and despite a lot of this film looking nice, I will note that one scene towards the beginning that really turned me off. Is the movie scary? At times, it is. But it is not quite nightmare. This movie is not going to have a ton of replay value for me. So despite the positives, I am going to give “The Damned” a 5/10.

“The Damned” is supposedly playing in no theaters at this point. The movie is not even a month old, so it is probably not the best sign for the movie’s staying power. But if you do want to watch “The Damned,” it is available to rent or buy on VOD.

Thanks for reading this review! My next reviews are going to be for a couple of animated films! From Japan, we have “The Colors Within,” which I just saw yesterday and cannot wait to talk about. And after that, you can expect my review for the Hollywood-produced DreamWorks film, “Dog Man.” The film is not out yet, I actually got to see it early. Therefore, I will leave my lips sealed on my thoughts related to it. If you want to see these reviews and more from Scene Before, follow the blog either with an email or WordPress account! Also, check out the official Facebook page! I want to know, did you see “The Damned?” What did you think about it? Or, with this being the first official 2025 release I am reviewing, even though it was also shown in 2024, what movies are you looking forward to seeing in 2025? My most anticipated film at this point is probably “Superman.” I have a feeling James Gunn is going to knock this film out of the park. Let me know your most anticipated film of the year down below! Scene Before is your click to the flicks!

Four Good Days (2020): Glenn Close and Mila Kunis Deliver Dramatic Excellence and Spot on Chemistry

Posted on by Jack Drees

“Four Good Days” is directed by Rodrigo Garcia (The Affair, In Treatment) and stars Glenn Close (The Wife, The Hillbilly Elegy), Mila Kunis (Family Guy, Bad Moms), and Stephen Root (The Man in the High Castle, Get Out) in a film where a mother and daughter reunite after an extended falling out. Molly (Kunis) commits to sobriety and hopes to do so with the help of an “opioid antagonist.” Throughout that time, she lives with her parents and receives assistance from her mother in trying to become clean.

I consider myself to be in a position that makes me feel rather blessed. I come from a family that does not have much of a history when it comes to drug abuse. Sure, I know people who smoke. I know people who drink. I’ll admit I maybe drink a little more soda than I should. But currently, I do not know of any scenario in my family where someone has a serious drug problem that has affected everyone around them, at least none that come to mind. Speaking of keeping things to keep in mind, I want you to keep this in mind because this sort of will have to do with my opinion regarding this film.

I saw this film over a week ago because I was intrigued by a clip I saw on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” during an interview with Mila Kunis, I will not go into everything just yet, but I walked out of the theater feeling floored. Between the performances of the two leads, the directions in which they took the story from point A to point B and so on, and even the notion that this was based on reality, I was amazed by “Four Good Days.”

Then I went to IMDb, and I noticed a bunch of low scores. I then wondered, “Why?”

Now, I am not trying to say that everyone should simply be swayed by what other people say on the Internet, but again, I have little experience when it comes to life involving drugs, which may be a good thing. But I noticed that there are some negative reviews suggesting that this movie would generalize people on drugs. In a way, I can kind of understand that. There is a movie that I refuse to watch to this day, even if it is the greatest film ever made, because of its supposed message regarding the autistic community, specifically Sia’s “Music.” And this involves not just content of the movie itself, but also some behind the scenes work.

Even so, having seen the negative reviews, I wondered if this movie was really as good as I said it was. The answer, yes, it is still great. As a story, this film is a goldmine from start to finish. Yes, it has cliches, and it is slightly predictable depending on what moment we are talking about, but the film succeeds in having me as a viewer root for Molly in order to follow a path to cleanliness. Like, REALLY root for her.

I also want to address Molly’s looks. Now, Mila Kunis is often described as one of the most attractive actresses on the planet. It is honestly ridiculous to consider how great she looks. But in this movie, you can see she’s had slight alterations to her appearance from oddly dyed hair to fake teeth. The movie did do a great job at making me think Mila Kunis was somebody else, because even in her best (non-Family Guy related) performances, I can still see a shade of her every now and then.

This film is based on a true story, which was captured in a newspaper article you can find through the Washington Post. The article, written by Eli Saslow and titled “‘How’s Amanda?’ A story of truth, lies and an American addiction,” is almost the same thing as the movie from start to finish. It shares a lot of the same quotes, events, some of the names almost interlink, but I also noticed that Amanda, at least in the pictures the article provides looks more like a person that really has not deteriorated much over the years. That is compared to Molly, played by Mila Kunis. This is where all the previously mentioned negative reviews come in, and I understand those. This may be the one glaring negative I have about the film, because other than this, “Four Good Days” sucks your soul out in perhaps the greatest way possible. The last time I think I’ve said this about a film was probably “Parasite” because that film is so well done and incomparable because of how dark it can get and how much it can satisfy you despite occasionally having a terrifying turn every step of the way.

One of the other shining positives of “Four Good Days” is the perspective of the parental side of things. I very much enjoyed seeing Glenn Close, who is excellent in this film, question herself on whether she is doing the right thing. Parenting is a difficult task on its own, and this movie takes it up to another level. We see at the beginning that the mother daughter duo are not quite connected at that point. The relationship evolves through the film as you may guess, but seeing the disconnect and somewhat forced attempt at making a connection at times between these two felt rather authentic. I can tell it is really hard for the mother, otherwise known as Deb, to reestablish a bond with a daughter who has obviously changed over the years.

In a way, this reminds me of films in recent years like “Green Book” or “Summerland” or “The Last Shift” because it has that tendency to highlight unlikely bonds and put two people together that would not go well together on paper. Except that in this case, it literally involves a family that was once close but eventually separated by an object.

There is a reason why I love “Four Good Days” so much, and potentially more than a lot of people, and that is because of the bond between the mother and daughter character. Again, I say this as someone who does not have much experience with the dangers of drugs or people whose lives are taken over by drugs along with the person taking drugs. This is a story that I am glad went from text media to visual media because it is honestly bombastic as a visual story. I felt immersed, I cared for everyone involved from the main to the supporting characters, and the drama that builds up towards the end gets into your head and starts to destroy it second by second.

In the end, “Four Good Days” is a movie that I loved the moment I saw it, questioned my love for it afterwards, then validated said love moments later. Time will have to tell as for whether this will make my top 10 movies of the year. Given how little I have seen so far, it is definitely one of the better ones. I would love to sit with someone who has experienced a situation like this, watch this movie with them, and see what they think of it, because I think their perspective could help me formulate a full on opinion of this film. Until then, as a story, this film is magnificent. As art, it is moving. It also delivers Mila Kunis’s best performance of her career. As a piece of entertainment, I could definitely watch this again. So for those reasons, I am going to give “Four Good Days” a 9/10.

“Four Good Days” is now playing in select theaters and will be available through VOD services such as Fios On Demand, VUDU, and Prime Video starting May 21st.

Thanks for reading this review! My next review, which I do not know when it will be posted, will be for “Wrath of Man” starring Jason Statham. But, I also wanted to announce that this June I plan to do another update on my Blu-ray collection. I enjoy doing these posts and I’ve glad to talk about this concept at least once over the past couple years.

Speaking of big announcements…

7 DAYS OF STAR WARS!

IT’S HAPPENING! IT’S REAL! THE REVIEWS ARE BEING WRITTEN! The circle will be complete this month! I’ve reviewed every mainstream “Star Wars” film since “Rogue One,” including Episodes VIII and IX, but I have yet to talk about the episodes that came before, I through VII. THIS SUNDAY, MAY 23rd, I will be releasing my review for “Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace.” And of course, every other film will follow. Episode II will be released on May 24th! Episode III will be released on May 25th! Episode IV on May 26th! Episode V on May 27th! Episode VI on May 28th! Episode VII on May 29th! I have legitimately been planning for a time to talk about these movies, and with Scene Before existing for over half a decade and next week being the 44th anniversary of the franchise, I’d say this is perfect timing. Stay tuned, follow Scene Before with an email or WordPress account, like the Facebook page, be updated, be in the know, and until then, may the force be with you. Emphasis on the may. I want to know, did you see “Four Good Days?” What did you think about it? Or, did you read the “How’s Amanda?” article, tell me your thoughts on that! Let me know down below! Scene Before is your click to the flicks!

Capone (2020): Josh Trank Chronicles the Gangster

Posted on by Jack Drees

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“Capone” is directed by Josh Trank (Fantastic Four, Chronicle) and stars Tom Hardy (The Dark Knight Rises, Dunkirk) as the title character alongside Linda Cardellini (Daddy’s Home, Gravity Falls), Jack Lowden (Dunkirk, Fighting with My Family), Noel Fisher (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Shameless), Kyle MacLachlan (Inside Out, Carol’s Second Act), Matt Dillon (There’s Something About Mary, Crash), and Al Sapienza (The Sopranos, Person of Interest). This film is about the famous American gangster, Al Capone, and is set during the last year of his life as he suffers from dementia.

This movie originally released on VOD this past May, and I have waited a little bit to talk about it for several reasons. For one, I took a break for the most part when it comes to movie reviewing during the spring. Also, “Scoob!” was a priority for me. It is an animated film, and I usually tend to review at least five a year now, so I wanted to get one under my belt. I should note that both movies released around the same time.

However, I was shopping inside Best Buy the other day and I came across “Capone,” which had a copy available on Blu-ray. I snatched it when I had the chance, and I popped it in a couple weeks later. For a price of $12.99, I felt that I was getting my money’s worth. After all, when this thing came out, I believe it was $19.99 to rent on VOD, which is still ridiculous to me. By the way, Disney, you’re crazy, and I say that as someone who may want to work with 20th Century in the future. “Mulan” deserves better and so do your customers!

Before I go any further, I should note that “Capone” has a 4.7/10 on IMDb. Given how a lot of the stuff on IMDb happens to be somewhere in the 6 to 8 range, that’s a pretty low score. I will say though, what kind of shocks me here is that this rating does not come from mostly 1s and 2s. Not even 3s. The most common rating for “Capone” is a 5 on IMDb. I’m not gonna give my score just yet. Per usual, we save that for the end. But I can see why 5 would be a common verdict here. This movie really isn’t anything special.

Now, this movie is directed by Josh Trank, who as far as my opinions are concerned has a fairly mixed resume. His movie “Chronicle” released back in 2012, was a fun found footage flick with a neat concept. I think it was pretty well done overall. But in 2015 he directed “Fantastic 4,” which ironically wasn’t even close to fantastic. When I was seeing it at the theater. I missed part of the climax as I was more concerned about getting more popcorn than I was about catching the rest of this movie. When it comes to “Fantastic 4” in particular, I don’t put all the blame on Josh Trank, given how that film was basically made as a quick money grab so Fox could keep the rights from reverting back to Marvel. So even though “Fantastic 4” was not entirely great, it wasn’t exactly earth-shatteringly devastating to watch. As for “Capone,” the same can be said for that movie. It’s by no means the best movie in the world, it’s not a masterpiece, not worth massive attention. It just… exists.

I will say though, and this should not be completely surprising as this movie does come from a smaller studio, this project feels just a tad more personalized coming from a guy like Josh Trank. Maybe there’s some hints of a story formula that become obvious here and there, but if this movie were say, the next “Parasite,” I would be all over Josh Trank right now and completely excited to see whatever he does next. Although I should point out, unlike “Fantastic Four,” Josh Trank actually wrote the screenplay for “Capone” by himself. During the writing process for “Fantastic Four,” he was involved with the screenplay enough to receive a credit. But so were Jeremy Slater and Simon Kinberg.

I do like Tom Hardy’s performance here as Al Capone. One thing for me to consider, based on the other projects where I’ve seen Tom Hardy, such as “Mad Max: Fury Road” or “Venom,” it doesn’t really feel like my typical vision for Tom Hardy himself. It actually feels like he’s playing a character. Although ironically, this movie comes out during the COVID-19 pandemic and this is the one time Tom Hardy plays a character that doesn’t wear a mask. Given his resume, such as the recently mentioned “Mad Max: Fury Road” and “Venom,” along with other films including “The Dark Knight Rises” and “Dunkirk,” it feels a little out of the ordinary. I’m not complaining, it’s just something I noticed.

I should note that I watched this movie on Monday, August 3rd. This gave me plenty of time to gather my thoughts for a review. Unfortunately, the little that I do fully remember about this movie does not say enough for this movie to have a lasting impact. Yes, I did feel bad for Al Capone given how he was going through some health issues. There’s definitely a reason to get attached to such a character. Although, I’m gonna use this phrase once again, this movie doesn’t really have the oomph factor to push it over the edge. Do I care for Al Capone here? Sure. But will I care for him in a week when I move on to the next movie? That’s hard to say. This movie has some great dialogue exchanges between characters that make you somewhat emotionally attached, but I don’t feel like I’m going to remember anybody’s name in this film except maybe Al Capone because he’s on the flipping title of the movie for crying out loud!

For the most part, I do think Josh Trank’s “Capone,” kind of like the last movie I reviewed, “Gretel & Hansel,” is a competent production. I think the location choices were suitable, I like the casting, and getting Tom Hardy to play the lead role is a fine mix of name recognition and talent. I will say one thing though as a compliment compared to “Gretel & Hansel.” “Capone” was more entertaining in its span of a hundred and three minutes, compared to “Gretel & Hansel” in its span of eighty seven minutes. Sometimes, it goes to show… A movie is as long as the viewer makes it. “Gretel & Hansel” in this case, maybe took a million more years to get through. I was entertained by “Capone,” but I don’t think I’ll watch it again in the near future.

In the end, “Capone” is not… Terrible, but to call it next level material or even “good” would be a lie. It’s just some extended series of scenes that may or may not be a waste of time depending on your mood. I think there was some effort put into it, but again, there’s no lasting impact for me to remember this film forever. Maybe if I watched the film in a theater, who knows? It could be experiential, but I didn’t. I saw it at home… Where we are stuck for the rest of our lives… End this pandemic… I’m going to give “Capone” a 5/10. I will say, the rating could jump to a 6/10 as there were some entertaining parts. But when seeing a brief moment of “The Wizard of Oz” was the most fascinating part of “Capone,” that’s kind of a problem. It was a good scene, but still.

Thanks for reading this review! This weekend I’m planning on seeing “The Burnt Orange Heresy,” a new movie that is only playing in theaters. Can’t believe I’m saying that! This film is about an art dealer trying to steal a painting and the mission suddenly goes out of control. Sounds like a work of art.

*Cricket noises*

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