Through a very busy weekend I did manage to get two films in, on top of attending a showing at CIFF, so bear with this brief review.
Road House – Having never seen the original film, I had absolutely nothing to compare this to. But I will tell you this: I think Jake Gyllenhaal is in his unhinged era, and I’m not mad about it. This was nowhere as near as bonkers as Ambulance, in my opinion, but he’s definitely playing it loose and sassy despite getting himself incredibly fit. Sure, there were emotional beats to this film, but it’s really just him, as Dalton, seeking retribution for his new friends. Who knew accepting a bodyguard position at a beachside bar would lead to so much trouble. Billy Magnussen is always delightfully a little off, and that played well with his villainous character. The rest of the cast seemed a little bit random to me, but all in all this was an entertaining watch. Not sure how fans of the original would feel.
Monkey Man – I know this is going to dumb this film down a lot, but think John Wick in India. Really, that’s what it is at a high level. Way back in the day some seriously bad guys killed a kid’s mom, so now, however many years later, he’s seeking deadly revenge. And of course there are going to be a ton of brutal obstacles in his way. But the kid is clever, and he makes friends with a trans group that’s remained hidden from the police. Also, I think his desire for revenge outweighs any pain he endures. It’s tough to tell whether or not he actually makes it out alive in the end, so there could be room for more if audiences and studios want it. After reading all of the hoops Dev Patel had to go through to get this made, I do hope it finds success. And if he doesn’t get a sequel, well then, maybe he’ll start landing some more leading roles. The man can do it!