Atomic Bond.
119 Mins. Starring: Channing Tatum, Adam Driver, Riley Keough, Katie Holmes, Seth MacFarlane, Katherine Waterston, Sebastian Stan, Hilary Swank & Daniel Craig. Director: Steven Soderbergh.
Unlucky for some like 13, these Logan boys would release their movie this year of all wouldn't they?! In the same calender Hugh Jackman's clawed X-Men mutant Wolverine would have the lasting moment of his adamantium conception in 'Logan' no less. Well that old man may have started the Summer blockbuster season early in March, but these old hillbilly brothers take it past the finish line in an August rush, before one of them crosses over to the dark side once again for the fall. Now there may be more chance of the wolf of X-Men's resurrection than another origin movie about the famous mutant card trickster once dealt by Taylor Kitsch right now, but Channing Tatum is a real Gambit here in a heist flick that even this film itself is dubbing a "redneck 'Oceans Eleven'". That's because 'Magic Mike' Tatum himself has managed to pull off the impossible in XXL proportions. Bringing "retired" superstar director Steven Soderbergh out of production purgatory for the fourth year, first time since their 2013 'Side Effects' from the sobering HBO movie treatment of Soderbergh's beautiful 'Behind The Candelabra' Liberace film starring Michael Douglas and frequent collaborator Matt Damon being deemed and I quote, "too gay" for the American mainstream movie market (so this is how you treat icons?! And we're talking about Steven, Michael, Matt...and Liberace). 'Logan Lucky' for all in is an incredible, inspired comeback round like the tracks of these cereal box NASCAR's. Neither 'Talladega Nights' or 'Fast and Furious', but with playful nods to both this 'Logan' is a scream like X23. As leading wheelman, knockout talent Tatum is shotgun joined by the hand of a bionic, one-armed Adam Driver for the best film to burn rubber since 'Baby Driver' got into your car and radios. And on the same release day that THE Hollywood icon Tom Cruise takes a crooked approach with 'American Made' this born in the U.S.A. dream ensemble featuring everyone, even Katie Holmes really is the top gunning days of thunder.
Booming like clouds about to explode unexpectedly before September, Boone County, West Virginia is the setting for a tumble dryer, race circuit circus of a town that's all about John Denver like country roads that take you home to the place you belong (and can you believe their luck, the second film to use this song this year after believe it or not 'Alien-Covenant'). And like the Coca Cola 600 it's all about the ring pulling tin cans of the Motor Speedway and good God Charlotte this one is heaven sent like number 23 from North Carolina. As Steven Soderbergh's stunning directorial track record extends to the 'Traffic' of this one-minded track in a small town/big heist that puts the hick in chicken and beer entertainment. Trashing any notion that trailer parks are all about grubby vests and married sisters. The 'Out Of Sight', 'Haywire', 'Erin Brokovich' genius director showing again he can pull off complex plots offset by light hearts, like he can produce versatile movies for the mainstream in this outstanding offbeat classic. And make it all look oh so good too. For every fast paced chase, or great escape like soil under the shoe is a comedy foil disguised as a prison riot negotiated by everyones love for 'Game Of Thrones'...even those doing 25 to life like time. And all of Soderbergh's crazy mad-caps are made all the more believable by his new Damon co-collaborator Channing Tatum. The ever compellingly charming Channing capturing the shy/sensitive charisma of his divorce stunted father, carrying on his shoulders so much more than child support character. Tatum in country Clooney form is so subtely but always there perfect at bringing everything and everyone together and leading from the heart. Only limping physically, this bearded construction worker nails it like his hard hat in the crate basket first time to the box closing of his bricks and mortar career. This big lug is more than a Hollywood hench hunk however, but an industry heavyweight. The 'Jump Street' star still so underrated like his scene stealing classic cameos that hip shoot in 'The Hateful Eight' and amazingly tap in 'Hail Caesar' and his funny bone right blood and guts here. Extending to the right hand man of brother Adam Driver performing passenger. Who would know this driven 'Girls' actor could end up spinning his career into the out of this world and universe direction of the dark side of an iconic new world 'Star Wars' villain? But the 'Silence' standout and awakening force of the muffled voice of Kylo Ren speaks up, showing much more behind that cloaked mask and electric red throbbing dagger. No cauliflower! Even if this time its someone from the first order whose losing an arm like someone in every film of Marvel's phase two.
Speaking of missing limbs around the bicep gun area, there's so much bang for your casting buck here in this epic ensemble of assembling actors (with even a national anthem cameo from country megastar Leann Rimes, because how could you live without it?), that even Bucky himself, Sebastian Stan has his hand on the ten and two of an all American hero NASCAR racer that may aswell serve as his captaining Steve Rogers shield audition. And you just know this is all so crazy when he's racing what sounds like Peter Griffin, Brian or 'Ted' in the multi-talented 'A Million Ways To Die In The West' lead Seth MacFarlane. Here with a cocky, cock-eyed Cockney accent, douched up to the percentage of battery left on his social media documenting smart phone. Taking selfies of his 80's rolled up plastic leather get up that makes him look like a white Rick James/'Thriller' tribute act hybrid. Scary! Even Michael Jackson's step daughter when he was married to Lisa Marie Presley, Riley Keough gets her moment to shine out the 'Magic Mike' stage spotlight. As Elvis' granddaughter shows she can rock with all these high rollers. Including straw in the mouth duos like the Scott Caan and Casey Affleck 'Oceans' esque squabbling siblings. 'Miss Meadows', and 'Dawsons Creek' graduate Katie Holmes on the acting form of her life. The 'Inherent Vice' of 'Fantastic Beast' and Ripley like 'Alien-Covenant' star Katherine Waterston on the best year of her career. Not to mention 'Million Dollar Baby' Hilary Swank with detective swag, trying to K.O. the Logan bros in a final round third act where she pulls no proverbials. But forget cops it's spies we love here. And this heist film and all its slick scenes are stole away by someone who really steps it up to another way out there level. "Introducing" Daniel Craig. Or as you may already know him, the finally returing 007. James Bond here shaking things up and stirring us with the peroxide of his Eminem crop and incarcerated onesie. The faux a little bit country charm of the Great Brit going full 'Atomic Blonde' like American actress Charlize Theron in reverse. Bringing plenty of jellybean bomb boom to his Joe Bang character. Now cowboy, hows that for your last fistful of dollars being taken this Friday? This film and all its All-Star character is what bravado billboard cinema capers are all about. Not just filling but taking the house. The veteran Soderbergh returning to the big picture, big-time like beginners luck. Taking Tatum and the man with a license to kill, all to thrill us for the podium and the pot. And like tyres going round the circles of the same NASCAR speedway track it's just as if he never left. Like Ricky Bobby this summer blockbuster is last and first. Now Logan that really is a good year and one hell of a run. TIM DAVID HARVEY.
Further Filming: 'Oceans Eleven', 'Magic Mike', 'Talladega Nights: The Ballad Of Ricky Bobby'.
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