The following is part of a weekly compilation of movie reviews from The Buzz Track staff. These movies were watched in the previous week, and the reviews were originally posted on Letterboxd.
SAS: Red Notice (2021)
DIRECTOR: Magnus Martens.
WRITERS: Laurence Malkin (script), Andy McNab (book).
MPAA RATING: R – Viewer discretion is advised.
GENRES: Action.
LENGTH: 2h 3min.
LANGUAGE: English.
WHERE TO RENT: JustWatch or Prime Video.
★★★☆☆ | WATCHED: March 28, 2021.
For an action flick that went straight to a home video release, it is surprising how much I like this movie. It features a few notable actors that I like seeing, such as Andy Serkis, Hanna John-Kamen, and Tom Wilkinson. It also features Ruby Rose in a supporting role, and I see she continues to star in action-centric stories. This movie is a definite improvement in comparison to a couple of Rose’s other recent action movies. It felt like a British variation of The Taking of Pelham 123 with a bit of international espionage mixed in with its story. It is good enough for a second and possibly even a third viewing.
Jungleland (2019)
DIRECTOR: Max Winkler.
WRITERS: Theodore Bressman, David Branson Smith, Max Winkler.
MPAA RATING: R – Viewer discretion is advised.
GENRES: Drama.
LENGTH: 1h 30min.
LANGUAGE: English.
WHERE TO RENT: JustWatch or Prime Video.
★★☆☆☆ | WATCHED: April 2, 2021.
The story is okay. And the personality of each character feels a bit familiar like I have seen them in other movies before. Stanley is the brother who acts like a sports manager and part-time bookie but is void of the possibility of seeing too far beyond fulfilling his own selfishness. He comes across as a hypocritical butthole who loves laying down the law for his brother but always comes across as a strike away from self-implosion. Walter has the potential for being a decent athlete but shows no real direction and motivation to stand on his own two feet without any interference or control from his brother. They are forced to serve as a surrogate chauffeur for a young wayward woman named Sky. She arrives as part of a deal with Stanley’s misstepped decision in not repaying his debt in full to a crooked loan shark. Getting fully invested in the lives of the characters is a bit of a struggle for me. Walter is the only one I have empathy for in the story. But the feeling is drowned away by the chaotic actions of the other two main characters.
True History of the Kelly Gang (2019)
DIRECTOR: Justin Kurzel.
WRITERS: Shaun Grant, Peter Carey.
MPAA RATING: R – Viewer discretion is advised.
GENRES: Biography, Crime, Drama.
LENGTH: 2h 4min.
LANGUAGE: English.
WHERE TO RENT: JustWatch or Prime Video.
★★★☆☆ | WATCHED: April 3, 2021.
The movie’s title should be The Restless Soul of Ned Kelly. The current title sounds like a brief and boring textbook written for young readers. Watching the story unfold is a whole different level of experience than the name would suggest. The entire plot centers around the life of Australia’s notorious outlaw; the viewer, such as myself, wonders about its insinuation of Kelly’s personal identity, sexuality, and ever-growing desire for controlling power. It is like he does not feel comfortable or at ease with himself. Overall, the movie is decent, although not perfect. And it hits upon some of the usual beats for the “inspired by true events” adaptation genre.
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