black mass

unusually a bit of a personal connection with a hollywood film
2 degrees of separation with the father-son executive producers
apart from that some positive reviews puts this one on the c list
evening viewing on a stunning day explaining the empty theatre?
a face fills the screen and questions flow from an unseen interviewer
sub-titles explaining this is whitey bulgers main man dobbing on him
so right at the start we know how this is going to end as we go back in time
kevin is a bouncer at a club who shows willingness to take and inflict violence
this catches the eye of bulger (johnny depp) who inducts kevin appropriately
first bulger then kevin brutally beating up an ally who has let down the boss
it's confronting stuff but bulger the psychopath and depp the actor impressing
bulger has a soft side - seen playing cards with his mother and letting her win
brother billy (benedict cumberbatch) is visiting also - the state senate president
though the brothers are poles apart professionally there is a degree of respect
the other main man then introduced - fbi agent john connelly (joel edgerton)
he grew up in the same boston neighbourhood so the 3 lads are quite close
so far so good - though the english and australian actors seem to overplay
cumberbatch and edgerton laying on thick boston accents is a distraction
but this well compensated for by mr depp who is in command in his role
so just going with the story - bulger is relatively small time in south boston
it's the mafia who are the serious gangsters and the main problem for the fbi
so connelly suggests to his boss (kevin bacon) that the fbi make a covert deal
they will leave bulger to his criminal ways in return for information on the mafia
at first bulger is scornful of assisting the fbi but he soon sees the advantages
and so it goes - he becomes more powerful as the mafia get regularly busted
it all seems quite plausible - and is based on fact - greed and ego at work
there's no pulling of punches when it comes to bulgers psychopathic side
scenes of full on violence on those that cross his path including women
i usually hate that in a film but here it unfortunately seems relevant
a turning point for several of his colleagues to ultimately turn on him
this as a new fbi director comes to town and starts asking questions
why is the man clearly responsible for so much serious crime clean
clever scripting, clever acting and directing all working well here
some jumping back and forward in time providing a good balance
my want to find fault and criticise is on the wane as i fully engage
a sense of relief to see johnny depp in a decent role also at work
full circle we go as the closing scenes show the police interviews
bulger seen taking on a disguise and high-tailing it out of boston
the prologue mostly the usual text on screen to wrap up the story
each major character's later life briefly but interestingly explained
the corrupt cops busted and jailed - bulger a long time fugitive
but eventually caught, tried, locked up and then died in prison
the facts of the matter in this true story adding to the appeal
very much liked this film and happy for the exec producers
it should do well - mr depp may well be an oscar contender
a huge turnaround for him - so all involved should be happy...

the martian

hollywood have got a new fave cash-call genre - space flicks
gravity, interstellar and now this one also with a big name star
everyone loves matt damon so a safe bet to get bums on seats
this film also offered in 3d format so it's a shot at a blockbuster
i last saw matt damon in his cameo in the crock of interstellar
i'm a bit suspicious of a repeat showing but my bum is placed
impressive opening scenes with mark watney (damon) on mars
teasing banter with his fellow astronauts setting the tone already
as are the actors including 2 attractive ladies and a cheeky latino
word comes that an approaching storm means a mission abort                    
it hits hard and fast with watney taken out by a dislodged dish
he is left for dead as the others scramble on board and blast off
back on earth the head of nasa (jeff daniels) announces his death
his own team also includes good looking women and a black chap
yep - this is going to be hollywood formulaic stuff - no surprises
on the red planet watney is aroused by a low-oxygen warning
his space suit pierced by an aerial and a stumble to home base
inside he strips to the waist - so buff - and performs self-surgery
excruciating with matt damon also showing off his acting skills
he then firing up a computer to make a log entry of his situation
which is really about telling us he has a 4 year wait for a rescue
his initial despair dispelled with a resolute - 'i'm not going to die'
and then into survival mode he goes with he the botanist at work
firstly using his own excrement and potatoes to make more potatoes
setting up a greenhouse and using basic chemistry for condensation
and all the while the only music he has found is playing - 70s disco
yea lol - but thinking - the audience will love it - a cutesy soundtrack
nasa discovers he is alive and with that sentimentalism cranks up also
communication is established with the whole world watching our man
a rushed rescue mission explodes on liftoff  - no mention of casualties
the nasa of china offer to help and some patronising dialogue included
but at least they come across as allies and not otherwise as expected
an alternative plan is hatched to send the escaping craft back to mars
the nerd with the idea has his laptop plugged into nasa's supercomputer
'calculations correct' pops up and then he convinces nasa of his plan
this done in a kindergarten-ish demonstration of his slingshot idea
on board the earthbound ship is an opportunity to crank up the 3d
scenes of weightlessness inside the huge craft seem very realistic
not so much the scenes on the red planet as watney goes cruising
the plan is for him to drive 3200km in the rover to a waiting rocket
apparently for a future mission but he will use it for a rendezvous
the feelgood factor cranked to the max now with the use of music
bowie - starman and abba - waterloo and me - slumping in my seat
too too much and we're past the 2 hour point now so hanging on
blast-off on a weight-reduced rocket - a tarp covers it's nose - what?
the rendezvous happens - watney and the lady commander hook up
she on a long tether - he in a space suit with improvised jet propulsion
his greeting - 'you've got terrible taste in music' - a director cops out
more warm and fuzzies on board as he reunites with his buddies
scenes of elation all over the world with crowds in city squares
but wait there's more - the epilogue sees our man in a lecture
talking about the power of tenacity, the will to live, etc, etc
take a bow matt damon - you have entirely saved this film
everyone else a bit player, every scenario compromised
universally positive reviews though - me - just a grouch
i think i must prefer my science-fiction more s than f...