Don Cheadle – Cut To The Chase

Directed By: William Golddenberg

Written By: Eric Champnella, Alex Harris And John Hindman

Based On The Book: Anthony Robles and Austin Murphy

Cinematography: Salvatore Tontino

Editor: Brett M. Reed

Cast: Jharrel Jerome, Jennifer Lopez, Don Cheadle, Michael Pena, Bobby Cannavale, Mykelti Williamson, Neon Perez, Johnni Di Julius, Peter Sack

This film seems to be mostly painted by numbers of a biofilm of a disabled athlete who overcame his affliction or didn’t let it define him to go after what he really wanted, which was to be a wrestler, not only achieve it but excel at it as it helps to give him discipline and definition not only physically and spiritually but emotionally

Jharrel Jerome is excellent as lead, proving himself not only a great actor but deserving a better though he can play what is required in most leading man roles he’s got the luxe. He’s got the charisma. He’s got the talent. He just needs more chances.

what might draw more attention to this film is that Jennifer Lopez plays a major role in the film as his mother always believes in him and supports him as much as he supports her. This is her more taking a supporting role and she’s good in her role as a woman who is in an abusive relationship with most of her kid’s fathers who have a checkered past, but also undoubtedly loves her kids

Don’t know if Jennifer Lopez chose this role to be seen as a serious actress or is or these are the roles that she is being offered more as she gets older and her brand isn’t as strong as it was this is one of her better roles since being in HUSTLERS. Though anytime she is not glammed up it seems to be she is in serious actress mode and made more noteworthy.

Also, Bobby Cannavale is among the recognizable cast in this film, portraying his usual whole type character or villain, really a bully really the only one that the main character truly faces other than the third opponent, who is more arrival than an actual bully

Don Cheadle has a supporting role as the boy’s college coach and while a thankless role he makes the best of it

If you are into sports dramas or bio-films or just goodhearted movies, I think you will enjoy this film for me, is formulaic, but keeps the attention

Grade: C+

Written & Directed By: John Michael Mcdonagh
Cinematography: Larry Smith
Editor: Chris Gill

Cast: Brendan Gleeson, Don Cheadle, Mark Strong, Rory Keenan, Liam Cunningham, Fionnula Flanagan

Sergeant Gerry Boyle is a small-town Irish cop with a confrontational personality, a subversive sense of humor, a dying mother, a fondness for prostitutes, and absolutely no interest whatsoever in the international cocaine-smuggling ring that has brought straight-laced FBI agent Wendell Everett to his door.

This is a film that frankly the audience might be starved for a dialogue-driven character-driven dark comedic buddy cop film. Mismatched partners where one is by the book the other is dirty but with a set of rules all his own. Even as most of the cops he works with are dirty just as he is guilty of it himself.

Don Cheadle is perfect as the midwestern FBI agent brought into this foreign small town. Essentially playing the straight man. A fish out of water. He has a quiet dignity as a gentleman and straight arrow. Who can still kick ass if he has to.

Brendan Gleeson epitomizes the word star in this movie after years as a great character actor in such gems as GANGS OF NEW YORK he occasionally gets the lead role like in the magnificent THE GENERAL (he seems to star in movies with rank and job titles) which is the first film I noticed him in where he was phenomenal. Here he makes his acting look effortless; he fully inhabits the character. Luckily he has someone skilled to play off of.

The film is filled with quirky characters and situations like the villains who frankly are smarter than everyone around them and more dangerous.

The film treats violence like a normal everyday occurrence yet the film is not brutal.

Everyone in the cast is an essential part of the story. Praise should be given to all of them from Actress Finola Flannigan who should definitely be getting more work. She puts so much heart into all of her roles.

The film has a laid-back pace but pulls you in with excitement. As you can’t wait for the next scene or next line of dialogue. As you never know what’s going to happen.

You have philosophical drug smugglers, country-western IRA agents, dirty cops that make out morally questionable heroes look clean. As he only really starts to participate in trying to bust and break up this drug ring because he’s tried and true deputy is killed. Besides that, he pretty much makes no waves and has a standing appointment with his escorts weekly. With his bulldog glare yet puppy dog eyes he’s a Brute but a gentle one.

If you like the film IN BRUGES you will like this. It was fast-paced and action-oriented (which seems more a second thought here) but with a similar mood and style, with good reason. As the writer/director of this film is the brother of writer/director/playwright of IN BRUGES

There are very sympathetic characters in this film yet they find a way into the audience’s heart even if it is for you only a scene or two.

Grade: B+

Tag: Don Cheadle

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