Crisp Criticism - "American Made", "The Hitman's Bodyguard", "Girls Trip"

by

Julien Faddoul

American Made *

The true story of pilot Barry Seal, who transported contraband for the CIA and the Medellin cartel in the 1980s.

A film with a lot of interesting stuff going on that unfortunately is presented in a manner so commonplace as to prove destitute. The Scorsesesque erratic conation of all things “American Dream” that has become ever so fashionable obligates toward lengthy exposition and awkward moralizing, and it remains a mystery why so many modern crime dramas based on true stories don this approach. At least this one’s funny.

d – Doug Liman

w – Gary Spinelli

ph – Cesar Charlone

pd – Dan Weil

m – Christophe Beck

ed – Dylan Tichenor

cos – Jenny Gering

p – Brian Grazer, Ron Howard, Brian Oliver, Tyler Thompson, Doug Davison, Kim Roth

Cast: Tom Cruise, Domhnall Gleeson, Sarah Wright, Jayma Mays, Lola Kirke, Jesse Plemons, Caleb Landry Jones

The Hitman’s Bodyguard

The world's top bodyguard gets a new client, a hit man who must testify at the International Court of Justice. They must put their differences aside and work together to make it to the trial on time.

Loud, limp buddy comedy/thriller with no wit or style and a grating performance from Jackson.

d – Patrick Hughes

w – Tom O’Connor

ph – Jules O’Loughlin

pd – Russel De Rozario

m – Atli Orvarsson

ed – Jake Roberts

cos – Stephanie Collie

p – Les Weldon, Jason Bloom, Christa Campbell, Tom de Mol, David Ellison

Cast: Ryan Reynolds, Samuel L. Jackson, Elodie Yung, Salma Hayek, Gary Oldman, Richard E. Grant

Girls Trip *

Four girlfriends take a trip to New Orleans for an annual festival and, along the way, rediscover their wild sides and strengthen the bonds of sisterhood.

Lowbrow vacation comedy with only a moderate amount of good jokes, all on race.

d – Malcolm D. Lee

w – Erica Rivinoja, Kenya Barris, Tracy Oliver

ph – Greg Gardiner

pd – Keith Brian Burns

m – David Newman

ed – Paul Millspaugh

cos – Danielle Hollowell

p – William Packer, Malcolm D. Lee

Cast: Regina Hall, Queen Latifah, Jada Pinkett Smith, Tiffany Haddish, Larenz Tate, Mike Colter, Kate Walsh