Tag: Bernhard Jasper

LIFT (2024)

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Directed By: F Gary Gray 

Written By: Daniel Kunka 

Cinematography: Bernhard Jasper

Editor: William Yeh 

Cast: Kevin Hart, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Sam Worthington, Jean Reno, Vincent D’Onofrio, Billy Magnussen, Ursula Corbero, Yun Jee Kim, Vivek Kalra, Jacob Batalon, Burn Gorman, David Proud 

Follows a master thief and his Interpol Agent ex-girlriend who team up to steal $500 million in gold bullion being transported on an A380 passenger flight.

This film has everything going for it. A lot of great talent so it’s disappointing that it plays so basic. Already going into it you probably know how it’s going to end. Part of the fun is seeing how it gets there. But how it gets there is so predictable that it seems to lack pizzazz.

The film is ok it’s entertaining, but it never has any character or comes alive. As it plays like the typical Netflix action film with a big star at the center.

While it’s nice and fun to see Kevin Hart play the more Noble leader. As he tries to show range and be less comedic in this film. Which is admirable, He comes across as flavorless, and unexciting charisma isn’t there. Nor the laughs even though he’s not trying to get any this time. Though I will give him points for putting in an effort and trying to be an all-around movie star, unfortunately here he’s not that engaging. Where it feels like anyone could have played this role.

Even his romantic scenes with Gugu Mbatha Raw come across his bland. Not to mention she should be getting better roles than this.

It’s a sharing, especially as you have such wonderful actors throughout, who are never really given enough room to breathe other than their characters, expertise, and little hints of life.

Not to mention, you have F Gary Gray, a talented Director in his own right. Who seems with this barely lifeless action B-Movie. That while high concept still comes across as uninventive.

If you’re looking for something, entertaining that you’ll soon forget afterward, or just to have on in the background while you do other things this might be the movie for you. as this feels like a less stylistic and more calm Six Underground-type action film from Netflix again.

I can at least say this film isn’t too embarrassing for him. 

Grade: C

ARMY OF THIEVES (2021)

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Directed By: Matthias Schweighofer
Written By: Shay Hatten 
Story By: Zack Snyder & Shay Hatten
Based On Characters created by: Zack Snyder 
Cinematography: Bernhard Jasper 
Editor: Alexander Berner 

Cast: Matthias Schweighofer, Nathalie Emmanuel, Ruby O. Fee, Stuart Martin, Guz Khan, Jonathan Cohen, Noemie Nakai, Christian Steyer 

A prequel, set before the events of Army of the Dead, focuses on German safecracker Ludwig Dieter leading a group of aspiring thieves on a top-secret heist during the early stages of the zombie apocalypse.

A prequel that could have easily worked without being tied to ARMY OF THE DEAD the original movie or even including zombies in the background.

If anything, the ties of being in this franchise leave us knowing the main character’s fate. So we all know the ending, but this gives us an ending on a happier note. The film offers us some history of him. As well as letting us see more of a fan-favorite character. That also allows for world-building purposes in the franchise and the zombies give a kind of ticking time clock and a chance to see how the world deals with what seems like the American zombie outbreak. 

This film comes off as more highbrow and sophisticated. Definitely less violent and feels more creative and fun.

This film is more of a caper comedy and feels like an adventure with Less objectionable material. That feels more energetic and fun.

It definitely has a lot more fluff than anything of substance. Though it is overlong for no particular reason. you generally don’t Feel it

The film has minor stakes so you never can quite take it seriously. Nor does it ever become melodramatic. As the focus here is more sleight of hand and less testosterone-fueled action.

The film offers an interesting look at the typical action hero. Here the protagonist is more nerdish, awkward, and seen as feminine. Whereas though he might not be physically strong he at least is brave. Whereas the more common action hero proves to be emotionally weak and easily jealous which might lead to his downfall.

Nathalie Emmanuel prices to be the perfect femme fatale and general badass. Where you wish she was more of the lead here. Or at least wish there was more to her character than her outfits and vague history of her character. 

The caper sequences are sharp and exciting with the requisite tension. 

The film feels like it would be quite at home in an earlier decade. As it has the exuberance down, but never quite feels authentic or that it has any roots. It feels like an extension made for money and the life of the franchise rather than Actually being needed. It easily could have existed outside of the ARMY OF THE DEAD universe 

In The end One only wishes the film packed a tighter punch. As it more feels like practice jabs or at least felt more meaningful. Thought of looking for something more fluffy and entertaining this is the film for you. 

Grade: C+