Thanks to the diligence of Egon Spengler, the Ghostbusters are now finally aware of who and what they’ve been up against… but that information has come at a cost! The boys and girls in grey will need help to deal with this new threat, and they’ll go to the ends of the earth (and beyond) to find it!
SPOILER ALERT
Writing
When characters are in trouble, it’s always good to have individuals you can call upon at a moment’s notice for reinforcements. In this case, the team decides to use interdimensional travel and get the help of the Real Ghostbusters. Yes, the comic team once again meets up with the cartoon team and they work to find a way to solve the recent threat. Sure, it’s a bit out of nowhere but it is the kind of incredible storytelling which can only come from a comic book. Also, the Real Ghostbusters appear and they are always a welcomed site of old fashioned nostalgia. Writer Erik Burnham really has the entire story line plotted out effectively, and is telling a story which started slow but is starting to pick up steam here in the later issues.
Artwork
The artwork by Dan Schoening really shines this issue. There is a distinct contrast between the two different dimensional worlds. The ghosts and blasts effects are as stunning as they are with every single issue. Also, the appearance of one of the classic ghosts from Real Ghostbusters as the villain for this issue was definitely an entertaining sight.
Conclusion
This issue gave the fans exactly what they want, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Sometimes the fans need to be pandered to be reminded of just how they are appreciated and thought about. As the story makes its way towards the face off against the big threat, issues such as this are really a welcomed sight.
When you sit down with Dave Gull to talk about New Helvetia Brewing Company be prepared because you’re about to get a history lesson. Gull is the founder of New Helvetia and he’s also a self-proclaimed beer history geek. So it is no wonder that before you can truly understand the history of New Helvetia, you first have to understand the history of another long-lost Sacramento beer maker, Buffalo Brewing Company.
“The story we’re telling is how an industrious Sacramento at the turn of the century built this major brewery on the back of agriculture, infrastructure and a population that knew how to make beer,” Gull says sitting near a Buffalo Brewing sign that hangs in the taproom.
An advertisement for one-time Sacramento brewing giant Buffalo Brewing Company
History of Buffalo Brewing
Buffalo Brewing Company was founded in 1890 by a man named Herman Grau and quickly became a leader in the industry. “We were home to the largest brewery west of the Mississippi in Buffalo Brewing Company. We were the region that grew the hops, we grew the malt, we had the water coming from the Sierra snow melt and we had the transportation infrastructure to get that beer to market.”
Gull says that market not only included parts of the United States, but the Pacific Rim and into Europe, “In 1900, that’s about as close to world-wide distribution as you can get.”
Ultimately, Buffalo Brewing Company was just another victim of prohibition. Though it survived initially, the company was never able to reclaim its dominance on the West Coast closing its doors in the 1940s. Gone, but clearly not forgotten.
“I thought wouldn’t it be cool if somebody could bring back Buffalo Beer. Remind people of the time when Sacramento wasn’t just a government town, when Sacramento did accomplish big things. Then the lightbulb goes off and I think ‘wouldn’t it be cool if I brought back Buffalo Beer?’ ”
The year was 2008 and Gull decided to open his own brewery. The rest, as they say, was history… well not quite.
A CALCULATED RISK
“My wife told me ‘don’t open a brewery, go get a real job,’ ”says Gull with a smirk. “It took 3 years to get my biggest partner to come along on this idea.”
You can’t really blame her. Up until now, Gull had been mostly home brewing and he admits it wasn’t even great beer. Also at the time Sacramento, like the rest of the country, was in the grip of recession. Several area craft breweries had just closed their doors. Gull says he even had trouble finding a bank willing to take a risk on his brewery idea.
“It wasn’t pie in the sky. It was small, it was difficult, it was hard work and we were going to carry most of that risk ourselves.” Risk he was willing to take for one simple reason: supply and demand. “The city of Sacramento is 400,000+ and we also only had four breweries at that time. Quick math, we were grossly under-breweried in Sacramento.”
Gull found his funding, and signed his lease to occupy the historic Boyle Bros. Factory just outside of downtown Sacramento in 2011. With the name Buffalo Brewing Company already trademarked, Gull decided to go with New Helvetia.
The Boyle Bros. first occupied this building in 1926.
MAKING HIS OWN HISTORY
“New Helvetia was the name of the land grant that John Sutter got to establish what became Sacramento. Sacramento was not the name of his colony. His colony was going to be New Helvetia. His idea was to create a Swiss utopia in the wild interior of California,” Gull says giving another history lesson.
While the brewery is certainly no Swiss utopia, it is an homage to the history of the Sacramento region. From the Buffalo Brewery signs and old regional maps that adorn the walls to the names of some of their most popular beers, there’s a history lesson everywhere you look.
One of the many Buffalo references you’ll find in New Helvetia
“We have a beer called ‘Homeland Stout’. It’s about the neighborhood this brewery is located in. The original subdivision map that created this neighborhood was called ‘Homeland’. We had that map and we thought it was a cool tie-in.” Another beer is named “Rough and Ready” after the foothills town east of Sacramento that succeed from the Union during the Civil War, “That’s a pretty cool story and it’s also a pretty great name for a beer.”
History served as the inspiration for New Helvetia but Gull says the company will not get stuck in the past. “The history side was the spark. But where we go from here is not historic. Where we go from here is now our story.”
BEER ON THE RUN
“This young guy comes in and says “Hey, I just moved down here from Spokane and I was part of a running club there and I think I want to start a running club here.’ ”
Beer and running might not be the first combination you think of, but it was actually one Gull was already considering. He was thinking of starting a running team to take part in area events. Because of that, Gull wasn’t initially sold on the idea of a running club.
“He goes ‘I’m going to start something called Sloppy Moose Running Club. The running club I was a part of The Flying Irish in Spokane they started out really small and they’re up to like 2,000 members.’ And I go ‘why don’t you go ahead and start that then.’ ”
The Sloppy Moose Running Club meets every Thursday at New Helvetia from February to early December for an evening run. It’s nothing too long or too serious; just a way for people who enjoy running and beer to connect.
The orange shirts belong to members of the Sloppy Moose running club
The group has grown from six to seven members initially to a roster of about 2,000. New Helvetia has even begun hosting a 5K during Sacramento’s beer week. This year it sold out all 500 spots. Gull still marvels at how popular the running club has become.
“It’s built a community around New Helvetia that I never could have anticipated. My running team concept could have never accomplished what Sloppy Moose has accomplished.”
ONE LAST HISTORY LESSON
Part of Gull’s appreciation for the area’s history may come from his own family history. His great-grandfather immigrated to the U.S. from what is now Croatia. He eventually settled in Sacramento taking a job with Southern Pacific Railroad.
His great-grandfather may have also passed down interest in area beer. Gull had one more history lesson to share, although he admits this one might be more of a family legend.
“My great-grandfather had a friend who worked at the Buffalo Brewery who worked the overnight shift. He could go on a Friday night with an empty bucket, his buddy would fill it with beer, and he’d walk home with a bucket of beer for the weekend.”
Fact or fiction that’s a story that would put a smile on the face of any beer history geek.
This weekend, Roadside Attractions invites everyone to relive Barack and Michelle Obama’s first date in Southside With You. This is a sweet and often times poignant film, a look at the struggles of inner-city families during late 1980’s, and many of their issues mirror the ones we face today. Director Richard Tanne uses this famous first date as a vehicle to shed light on these issues, but does so in a way that’s organic and doesn’t derail the film.
Michelle Robinson (The First Lady’s maiden name) was an advisor at a law firm in Chicago struggling to work her way up the corporate ladder. She lived at home to help tend to her father, who was struggling with Multiple Sclerosis. Barack Obama was an associate at the same firm and had spent the better part of a month trying to woo Michelle. Finally, she reluctantly agreed to go with him to a community organizers meeting, but didn’t realize that she was in for a day that she wouldn’t soon forget.
One of the biggest things that stands out is the casting of both the male and female leads. Parker Sawyers embodies a younger President Obama. It’s evident he studied up on a few of his mannerisms, but his portrayal was far from a Jay Pharoah impression. Often times when actors are cast in these roles as famous figures, their portrayal is much more of an impression than actual acting (see: Josh Brolin in W). Sawyers shows a great deal of warmth and compassion on screen. He’s charismatic and appropriately commands each of his scenes.
Tika Sumpter is fabulous as a younger Michelle. She exudes that same spunk and decisiveness that we’ve grown accustomed to from our First Lady these past eight years. I already miss her. Sumpter also exhibits a layer of pain stemming from the daily trials of dealing with her father. To be honest, the news about the First Lady’s dad having MS surprised me. But Sumpter shows strength (much like I Imagine the first lady had to) throughout the film earning the empathy.
Richard Tanne does a commendable job both writing and directing Southside With You. While he makes sure to keep a two-shot anytime Barack and Michelle are on screen to emphasize the intimacy of their first date, he also manages to include shots of the inner city that permeate these two budding lovers’ romance. One shot that stood out to me was a children’s playground right next to an old school house. The shot starts with a focus on what looked to be a barren playground, seemingly falling to bits. But it quickly transitions, pulling away to show an operating school, murky and well past its prime.
The most powerful shot is the inside of the church where Barack is set to speak during the afternoon. This church is old, has broken seating, has plumbing issues – which isn’t typical of most churches but certainly is in the inner city. Tanne certainly shows the need for investing in the infastructure of our cities, which is true in 1989 and sadly remains true today.
Tanne also deftly crafts a narrative that’s both sweet and topical, discussing issues of race and national anxiety. The film also perfectly approaches the African-American perspective when Michelle’s boss from the law firm runs into her and Barack after seeing Spike Lee’s Do The Right Thing. Her very caucasian boss doesn’t seem to get why the film ended the way it did (“Why did the African Americans riot in the end?”). Michelle and Barack both know too well why, but Barack proceeds to give a very safe answer to Michelle’s boss as to why they rioted, which he of course accepts as the reason and moves on. Why did Barack appease the head of Michelle’s firm? Why was this happening in 1989? Are things any different today?
‘Hands Of Stone‘ Basically Lost The Match In The First Round
How could a film miss the mark this bad? ‘Hands Of Stone‘ attempted to do so much but failed at nearly all of it. Boxing movies usually range from amazing like ‘Raging Bull‘ to horrible like ‘Rocky V‘; this one sadly leans more towards the ‘Rocky V‘ side of things. Even if the boxing scenes had great choreography with wonderful cinematography, it was drowned out by unlikeable characters and a weak script.
I’m not to educated on pre-90’s boxing. Given the rise of Holyfield, Tyson, and De Le Hoya, I never had the chance to get into the era of stars featured in the film. Sugar Ray Leonard and Roberto Duran may have been big names in their day but their impact never reached me. While it was interesting to learn bout the boxers in the film, the men shown here are total asses. Not a single male character in the film is really given any likable qualities. The females are either petty plot devices or used to make babies. Sadly, there was nothing to grasp onto between the punching.
I will say the casting of Edgar Ramirez as Roberto Duran was great. He had the look, the swagger, and the attitude down to perfection. Ramirez shined even brighter when paired with Usher’sSugar Ray Leonard. He’s lucky that Robert De Niro put in such a lazy performance as Ray Arcel cause he worked hard to become Roberto Duran. He was allowed room to shine since De Niro seemed to be phoning it in.
“No Mas (No More) ” or “No Peleo (I Won’t Fight)”
–Roberto Duran
One thing I enjoyed as a fan of this sport is the fact ‘Hands Of Stone‘ focused on psychological side of boxing. In a sport where most think it’s all about just going out and punching, the fights start far before you even get into the ring. Roberto used his arrogant attitude to shake Sugar Ray before their first fight. He insults his wife brutally before the match and mocks Leonard’s infamous style. It works to his advantage. Then the roles reverse later and we see Roberto Duran get psyched out of a fight. Just awesome to see the sport get spotlight like that.
With the Panamanian Film Commission pitching in for the film, the latin influence is strong. As someone who is hispanic, it’s awesome to see representation on screen. Seemingly, most of the film is spent in Panama. That normally wouldn’t be an issue if the director Jonathan Jakubowicz didn’t spend so much time making the country seem poor and angry. I know that times were rough for the country with their fight against America but juxtaposing that anger with some of the beauty in the country would have made a big difference. This being an obvious move to sell tourism in Panama, I believe they failed there.
But that problem matches the issues with the rest of the film. They have so much ugliness and nothing to combat it. Even the time for redemption of Duran was rushed over. Seeing him work harder to comeback and redeem himself would have made their attempted heroes journey better. This false happy ending is rushed and all of a sudden, we are supposed to just forgot the first hour of him being horrible. I didn’t buy it and left me feeling cheated out of any real character arc.
Final Thoughts:
With ‘Creed‘ so fresh in people’s minds, it was hard to be the next big boxing movie to be released. Hell, ‘Hands Of Stone‘ might even get overshadowed by the fall release of ‘Bleed for This‘ starring Miles Teller. This will be a good Red Box rental or something to watch on HBO but I don’t think this is anything to write home about.
‘Hands Of Stone’ will be released August 26th in the USA. The film stars Edgar Ramirez, Robert De Niro, Usher Raymond, and Ruben Blades.
Doug Liman has abandoned the long-gestating, always delayed Gambit film over at Gambit, and has hopped on with DC to direct Justice League Dark. It’s actually called Dark Universe, but hey, the bigger news here is that Doug Liman is finally getting his shot at superhero cinema!
Justice League Dark is an awesome premise, but how will it fare in a world that’s had to endure Suicide Squad? This team is another set of antiheroes, albeit different ones, and it also means Swamp Thing is headed back to the big screen. Swamp Thing, Constantine, Deadman, Zatanna, and Etrigan the Demon are the key characters of Justice League Dark/Dark Universe.
Guillermo del Toro was originally circling the project, but schedules conflicted and del Toro moved on while DC cooked up other projects. Now, Doug Liman is on board, and it will be interesting to see what he can do with a team of supernatural superheroes. The guy can handle action, that’s for sure. Of all the Bourne films, his Identity has aged the best, and Edge of Tomorrow was brilliant work.
No casting or release date was attached to the report, but it will be interesting to see how DC recasts Constantine, previously played by Keanu Reeves on the big screen and Matt Ryan on the short-lived TV show.
With Spider-Man now existing in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, there are plenty of opportunities for him to interact with other superheroes. Tony Stark will appear in the upcoming ‘Spider-Man: Homecoming’ but could we see Captain America?
Chris Evans and Tom Holland have displayed interest in the crossover, and at the end of the day, this is Marvel. Take a look below as we compare the positives and negatives of Cap appearing in Spider-Man: Homecoming.
Why Captain America Should Appear in Spider-Man: Homecoming
Spider-Man was a key highlight in Captain America: Civil War. The interplay Spidey has with each character is a unique experience. With thedialogue between him and Cap being a personal favourite. It looks like the cinematic Spider-Man will look to Tony Stark for advice, but it would be great to see Peter look elsewhere when questioning his morality.
The MCU introduced Spider-Man as an enemy to Cap. The communication between them was fun, but at the end of the day, they were still fighting. For the MCU to move forward, it is important for these characters to get on the same page. We want our heroes to fight alongside one another, not against each other.
The Civil War still needs a resolution. Spider-Man: Homecoming could bring Tony Stark and Cap onto the same team. With Infinity War coming up it’s important for these characters to stick together, and fight side by side. It can’t be easy to win a war when you’re butting heads.
Why Captain America Shouldn’t Appear in Spider-Man: Homecoming>
If Age of Ultron taught us anything it’s that there truly can be too many heroes. Marvel tried to balance all of their characters, resulting in what can only be described as a messy and distracting experience. It is important for Marvel to focus on what is important in Spider-Man: Homecoming, which is Spider-Man. Tony Stark is OK, but if Cap joins the film, it could take away from what the film should be about.
If the movie can find a way to naturally have Cap appear it could work well. If Chris Evans feels crammed in and unnecessary it could ruin the first experience of this new Spider-Man, and waste a movie on Evans’ contract.
What do you think? Should Captain America appear in Spider-Man: Homecoming? Be sure to let us know in the comments section below.
Spider-Man: Homecoming will swing into theatres on July 7, 2017.
Casey Affleck goes for Oscar gold with his performance in ‘Manchester by the Sea.’ Amazon Studios and Roadside Attractions released the first trailer Wednesday afternoon.
In ‘Manchester by the Sea,’ the latest film from award-winning writer and director Kenneth Lonergan, the life of a solitary Boston janitor is transformed when he returns to his hometown to take care of his teenage nephew. The story of the Chandlers, a working-class family living in a Massachusetts fishing village for generations, Manchester by the Sea is a deeply poignant, unexpectedly funny exploration of the power of familial love, community, sacrifice and hope.
After the death of his older brother Joe (Kyle Chandler), Lee Chandler (Casey Affleck) is shocked to learn that Joe has made him sole guardian of his nephew Patrick (Lucas Hedges). Taking leave of his job, Lee reluctantly returns to Manchester-by-the-Sea to care for Patrick, a spirited 15-year-old, and is forced to deal with a past that separated him from his wife Randi (Michelle Williams) and the community where he was born and raised. Bonded by the man who held their family together, Lee and Patrick struggle to adjust to a world without him.
In his first film since 2011’s acclaimed Margaret, Lonergan once again proves himself a powerful and visionary storyteller as he seamlessly weaves past and present together, crafting a tension-filled tale that deftly eschews sentimentality in favor of penetrating emotional insight and deeply affecting human relationships.
‘Manchester by the Sea’ can be seen in select theaters November 18.
John Constantine, the chain smoking occult detective is back to fight against evil whether he likes it or not. His new series has begun, and one of the first problems which won’t leave him alone is his old buddy Swamp Thing. These are the top five moments to come out of the first issue.
5. History Lesson
The issue opens up by showing two siblings at a pinnacle moment in history. One is trying to stop the other from causing the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria. Unfortunately, it succeeds anyway and leads to the start of World War I. The panel used to highlight the death and destruction which took place really works to show just how devastating the consequences were.
4. Sibling Rivalry
Those same siblings from the beginning of the issue show up again and this time in modern times. How did they manage to survive for over a hundred years and not look a day over 50? This question is not answered but one thing is sure, Constantine is going to have to deal with at least one of them in the near future.
3. Friend In The Greenhouse
When Swamp Thing comes calling, it’s best to just answer. As the DC Comics protector of the plants works desperately to get a side down with Constantine, he eventually gets through by appearing in a Greenhouse close to the Hellblazer. Watching him pull himself together is definitely an interesting sight.
2. Double Standards
In an effort to help his buddy Swamp Thing out, Constantine decides to pay an old associate a visit. Unfortunately, the first thing she does once she sees him coming is point a shotgun in his face. Soon after, he finds she gives Swamp Thing a much more friendly welcome. This amusing scene really helped to lighten the mood, if just for a moment.
1. Stroll In The Park
Sometimes just a good interaction between characters is all you need for an issue to be memorable. Here as Constantine and Swamp Thing take a walk through a park, the two of them talk about old times and Swamp Thing takes the time to explain the trouble he is having in his life. This great exchange between two characters who have shared a lot over the years easily stole the number one spot on this list.
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What were your favorite moments from The Hellblazer #1? Leave a comment below and let us know.
The Flash Season 3 is ever closer, and new information is coming out in smaller drips, as the majority of the general information has dropped during San Diego Comic Con 2016. The Flash Season 3 is going to bring a whole slew of new DC Comics characters into the fold, in part because of The Flash meddling with the timeline, and Kid Flash, Savitar, Magenta, and others are said to be a part the Fall 2016 season.
Comicbook reports that future Magenta actress Joey King took to Twitter to tease fans with her Season 3 look for The Flash.
Magenta is a DC Comics character that operates much like a female DC Comics version of Marvel’s Magneto. Magenta is a Wally West/The Flash villain when Wally wasn’t Kid Flash, so it seems to fit partially into this Flashpoint Paradox/CW universe that Barry Allen messed with and formed.
The Flash Season 2 finale saw the end, and almost disembodiment and actual decay of, Zoom at the hands of the “Time Wraiths.” However, there was a slight hint that he could return as a DC Comics character known as “Black Flash.” The running dead look that Zoom donned as the Time Wraiths were decaying and taking him away is the DC Comics look for the said character.
So, should fansexpect Black Flash in Season 3? Producer Andrew Kreisberg was cryptic but suggests that Black Flash might be rearing his decayed head in the future.
“Obviously we did that on purpose. We love working with Teddy [Sears]. He’s such an amazing actor and amazing person and was so much a part of the success of this show last season. There aren’t any immediate plans for that, but you can’t keep a good Black Flash down, so I’m sure we’ll be seeing him in the future.”
Another DC Comics character that menaces The Flash is also on his…or rather “her” way to Season 3. The Top was a male character, now a female on the CW, who often tagged along with the much-anticipated villain Mirror Master. Though, there does not seem to be any sign of Mirror Master heading to the show anytime soon.
However, executive producer Aaron and Todd Helbing say The Top’s entrance into the fourth episode will be part of an origin story for Mirror Master.
“It’s kind of the origin of Mirror Master…We’re really excited. It’s the origin story of him, but it’s this struggle between Mirror Master and Captain Cold, and you get to see who comes out on top.”
So, it sounds like Mirror Master is confirmed after all, but no further details seem to exist at this time. How will The Top, Mirror Master, and the other aforementioned villains play into the Season 3 Flashpoint Paradox? It is likely you’ll have to wait until October.
However, you may leave your speculations, opinions, and theories below.
Don’t Breathe is a bare-bones, straight-to-the-point, plot-driven thriller. There’s no excess exposition, no attempts at fleshing out characters beyond what’s necessary to make the terror work.
That’s not to say it’s not good. Taken for what it is, Don’t Breathe is an engrossing, cleverly conceived piece of suspense, high on concept and low on gore and overused tropes.
What’s it about?
Jane Levy (2013 Evil Dead remake) stars as Rocky, who’s feels stuck along with her kid sister living with their deadbeat lush of a mom. Rocky wants to get them both out of that life, and she’s turned to breaking into houses to do it.
She’s not committing the crimes alone. Helping her is Alex (Dylan Minnette), an otherwise smart kid with a crush on Rocky. Alex plans their break-ins and steals keys and alarm codes for houses from his security guard dad to get the jobs done.
Alex also tries to enforce a set of rules for their break-ins. He keeps the group to stealing smaller stuff that’s insurable in order to keep them clear of grand theft charges if they get caught.
Rounding out the trio is “Money” (Daniel Zovatto), Rocky’s boyfriend, who’s in it for his namesake and the thrill. Money fences what the group steals, and its his connection that provides the tip on potentially their biggest score ever.
The set-up
Their new target is an old Gulf War veteran, living alone in a house in an all-but-deserted, dilapidated Detroit neighborhood. Word is the old codger is sitting on a mountain of cash, a settlement from the tragic car accident that killed his daughter.
And, as the would-be thieves discover upon surveying their victim, the man is blind. No neighbors, a seemingly helpless victim, and enough cash to stop stealing for good. For Rocky, it’s too good an opportunity to pass up.
But once the group is inside and committed, they discover they’re way in over their heads. Their target is blind, yes, and he is sitting on all that money.
But he’s anything but helpless. Once he’s aware his home has been invaded, he draws on his old training and his knowledge of his home to defend himself. Soon, the trio finds themselves trapped with a man trained to kill and with his own dark secrets to hide.
Not exactly a horror film
Though billed as a “horror thriller”, Don’t Breathe is a lot more of one than the other. The film relies on the set-up and payoff of suspense, rather than visual frights and gore, to achieve its ends.
In this respect, it’s quite a departure from the last film from this writer/director/producer team. Writer-director Fede Alvarez, working with producers Sam Raimi and Rob Tapert, brought to the big screen a remake of Raimi and Tapert’s cult classic Evil Dead back in 2013, an effort distinguished by lots and lots of SFX gore and visual nightmares.
With this film, Alvarez works a lot more with creating an effective sense of claustrophobia in a setting made realistically almost impossible to escape. The house itself, with its long, eerily lit corridors, steep staircases, and basement full of twists and turns, becomes as bewildering and unpredictable an adversary as the man living in it. Though it has no ghosts, it winds up being as fright-inducing as any haunted house seen in recent film.
That said, hardcore classic horror buffs may come away from Don’t Breathe feeling cheated. Though the film’s primary antagonists turn out to be quite the terrors, the movie itself isn’t “scary.” Suspenseful, yes, but scary? Not unless you’re really afraid of the dark.
Stephen Lang a terrific terror
Speaking of that antagonist, veteran character actor Stephen Lang (Avatar, TV’s “Into the Badlands“) is as formidable and intimidating as ever in Don’t Breathe. Lang delivers a raw and muscular (literally) performance, easily the most memorable in the film. To a point, audiences may even find themselves rooting for him — after all, the thieves did invade his home, thinking he was a helpless mark.
The young actors who fill out the film’s tiny ensemble do their best to keep up with Lang, with mixed results. The minimal script really does them no favors — it provides them with motivation and gets them into the situation, and that’s it. The film clearly wants you to like them, or at least empathize with them, but it’s a tough sell. At least, until the twist comes along.
Worth seeing?
If you’re in the mood for a good thriller at the movies this weekend, you could do a lot worse than Don’t Breathe. However, there’s nothing in the film that would preclude it being just as enjoyable on the couch as a digital download or Netflix rental. See it now, or see it later — either way, it’s perfectly serviceable entertainment.
Don’t Breathe
Starring Jane Levy, Dylan Minnette, Daniel Zovatto, and Stephen Lang. Directed by Fede Alvarez.
Running Time: 88 minutes
Rated R for terror, violence, disturbing content, and language including sexual references.
One of the biggest things that stands out is the casting of both the male and female leads. Parker Sawyers embodies a younger President Obama. It’s evident he studied up on a few of his mannerisms, but his portrayal was far from a Jay Pharoah impression. Often times when actors are cast in these roles as famous figures, their portrayal is much more of an impression than actual acting (see: Josh Brolin in W). Sawyers shows a great deal of warmth and compassion on screen. He’s charismatic and appropriately commands each of his scenes.
