Captain America: Civil War (2016) ****1/2

As the comic book juggernaut (pun not intended) continues to grow, there are going to be numerous comparisons between movies as they come out and how much better this film was over that one. A film should be allowed to stand on its own (even though I am going to be writing a special comparison between this film and the clash film from the “other” publisher). After the mediocrity that was Age of Ultron, Captain America: Civil War has the ability to continue the greatness of The Winter Solider. It doesn’t have to stand on the remains of the film before it, even though Civil War plays more like an Avengers sequel, this is Captain America’s story.

As the film begins the world is angry after the massive collateral damage that’s occurred in the battles of the Avengers. Tony Stark (Robert Downey, Jr.), faced with the real life cost of their wars, spearheads the idea of the Avengers to be monitored and controlled by the government. Of course this splits the Avengers into two camps, which is going to happen when such a revolutionary idea is placed upon a group of people. This is coupled to the fact that Captain America (Chris Evans) has the added stress of finding and helping his friend Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan) a.k.a. The Winter Soldier. As the story progresses we learn that there is a puppet master pulling the strings on the situation, continuously driving a wedge between the already fractured Avengers. 

Civil War is what a great movie should be. The film takes the audience for a ride, literally and emotionally. We travel the world as this characters, many of whom we grew up with since we were children, build for their cause. It's these same characters that cause us as an audience to finally choose a side in the ultimate confrontation that builds throughout the film. It's an experience that sucks you in and involves you in the action that's happening up on the screen. A hallmark of any good film. In a world flooded with comic book films this film will be one that stands out.

This film has everything in place and gels in every way and is currently the one stand out in a summer movie season that seems to be more about malaise than masterpieces. Obviously there will be more films and Civil War makes me want to see them. The film made me want to go back and check out what I missed (Ant-Man- review coming soon). A stunning film in a bloated market.

Author! Author (1982) **

Sandwiched between the controversial Cruising and the controversial Scarface lies this Al Pacino vehicle that finds him as a dysfunctional play write, juggling a dead marriage, a house full of kids, and a fully backed play perpetually looking for its 3^rd act. AP stars as Ivan Travalian, the atypical New York writer who comes home one day to find that his wife (TW) has left, leaving kids from various marriages throughout the house.  Hilarity ensues as Ivan struggles to maintain a household, a career, and figure out whether or not he still loves his wife or the star of his play (DC).

Author! Author! feels like a sitcom. I mean it really feels like a sitcom to the point that you’ll be in hysterics at the title theme song. Pure Friday night on ABC drivel that doesn’t really go anywhere, just spinning around in circles. The only thing that progresses in this film is the play. Everyone is in the same place as they were in the film, with Pacino epiphany being unheralded and lacking everything. Tuesday Weld plays her role as sympathetic to start, then you just don’t care about the selfish…. Dyan Cannon is the rebound and pretty much disappears when her part of the story is over, which is sadly the best part of the film. If they could have dove into their relationship and how another adult deals with the offspring of another it would have made this film much more interesting. But it abandons that idea half way into it.

Did AP lose his way after the greatness of his 70’s films? It’s hard to say, but AA is an unexcited, dull adventure into divorce

Key Largo (1948) *****

Key Largo is a film noir piece set in the Florida Keys where Frank McCloud (Humphrey Bogart) arrives to visit the family of a fellow soldier that died during the war (Lionel Berrymore and Lauren Bacall). Problems arise when the gangster Johnny Rocco (Edward G. Robinson) has holed up the hotel run by the family, waiting to sneak back into the country after being deported. Add into this the hurricane that will be making a direct hit on the south Florida island.

Whenever you get John Huston and Humphrey Bogart together you’re going to get something special and Key Largo isn’t any different. The film has a deep noir feel, yet it transplants itself from the typical locale of seedy neighborhoods of the inner cities to what was a more quiet area that becomes isolated even further by the hurricane hitting. Bogart is the reluctant hero, beaten down by the war and the post war world that wanders into this situation by accident. He’s not looking for trouble, but is prepared to deal with it if necessary. There is an attraction between McCloud and Nora (Bacall, the groomless fiancé), but nothing really comes to fruition due to the situation they’re in, giving us believably that wasn’t seen in films of this era. There’s too much going on for this people to become romantic. Other circumstances may allow it, but not this set. Of course, Edward G. Robinson playing an egocentric gangster is his calling card. He’s great in the role and plays it over the top when needed, but still has the ability to tone it down when the situation requires.

Key Largo is a movie that builds onto itself, with a kind of snowball effect that compounds itself as the film goes on. There is a sense of claustrophobia when the film begins, that opens up as the film rolls on right along as Johnny Rocco loses control of the situation. And yes, the hurricane represents a huge character in the film is the boss over all that it surveys. Huston plays this card, but doesn’t over play it, a great move by a master. Key largo is one for the ages, a great noir piece that paces great with wonderful acting. A testament to all of those involved in the film.