REVIEW: GEMINI MAN

3.5/5

Mr. & Mr. Smith.

117 Mins. Starring: Will Smith, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Clive Owen, Benedict Wong & Will Smith. Director: Ang Lee.

When there's a Will, there is also his way in Ang Lee's 'Gemini Man'. A visionary film from the 'Crouching Tiger', 'Life Of Pi' director that pits Will Smith vs...well what in creative, cinematic, classic CGI takes Will back to the high top fade, 'Fresh Prince' days like the show you grew up with didn't just celebrate its 30 year anniversary. Feel old yet? Well now Big Willie's younger self is trying to throw Smith senior (I mean really? He's from the Reeves lab of anti-ageing at 50 plus) out like Uncle Phil was Jazzy Jeff when he was wearing that same shirt. All in, in this Neo 'Matrix' age (Will almost played the Keanu one to Hugo Weaving's Mr. Smith back in the day and today on his Instagram you can see what that would have looked like) like movie from 'Brokeback's' Ang. Lee brought the seventies show soul back to his comic-book, cell structure creative 'Hulk' Marvel movie like only a "KAPOW" sixties, Adam West 'Batman' and he finds the heart and will of both young and old Smith's here. "You made a choice to do this to me", Fresh Smith tells great Brit villain Clive Owen who counters equally with an epic quote made for movies, "You have all of his gifts...without his pain!" Cutting deep. Cue the two Spider-Man's pointing at each other meme in the same Gemini month Paul Rudd is 'Living With Yourself' in the Netflix cloned series. For a trend like the govermently modified super soldier one with Vin Diesel's 'Bloodshot' comic hero coming soon on the live, die, repeat edge of tomorrow. And with Will Smith now duplicated too like "WOOH...HA, HA," just call this the attack of the clones like it was 1995 for Dollywood season...the sheep, not Parton...I beg your pardon. It's all in the ears.

Connery, Gibson, Harrison Ford. James Bond, a 'Lethal Weapon' and 'The Fugitive' that shoots first these were all hitman targets for the original 'Gemini Man' (you'd need a lot more CGI for them) that has been in developmental hell since 1997. That was only two years after they had any wool to clone that black sheep over our eyes. Now two decades plus later they have found a way with Will sniping at bullet trains in bullet time like he was taking aim at Daniel Craig's 007. But with there maybe not being enough CGI to de-age the aforementioned legends with all due respect, Smith is the right choice for this digital age, white dot face/off that will still WOW you the first time you see it in this de-ageing time for cinema that still needs these massive movie moments. Now just imagine if in this social media reveal, spoiler alert time you saw this twist of dark fate for the first time in theatres, no trailers like when Arnie's 'Terminator' with shotguns and roses told Jon Connor to "GET DOWN"! Because in this movie about being your own worst enemy, the only one in promotion here is not itself but modern movie cynicism and the over-sharing age of needing to know every detail, every second. But here's one for you, an older, wearier Will has a way with his killer with a conscience character. All whilst still having that (only slightly bruised and the better as an actor for it) charismatic screen presence that not only makes him a superstar still in season, but a Hall of Fame all-time great still stepping up to the plate, even if sometimes he doesn't knock it right out the park. A home run is still a home run and the 'Concussion' (his last groundbreaking classic) star switching sports is doing more than fielding grounders. Commanding a class cast featuring '10 Cloverfield Lane' and 'Bird Of Prey', Mary Elizabeth Winstead, wonderful as ever and Wong himself Benedict Wong appearing like he came out of one of 'Doctor Strange's' Catherine wheels in the middle of nowhere on a sea plane. Is that everyone? No! We need to give it up for Clive Owen in the 'Knick' of time a Thanos delusional villain trying to prove a point to his art of war. And then of course there is Will Smith too. Playing his younger self so perfectly beyond all those Paul Rudd cloning and Gyllenhaal and Eisenberg double features, so much so that there is much more than this man being beside himself. Capturing the youthful exuberance and essence of self and his character on the sharpest line point that it's not just the clever computer generated imagery that makes you forget your watching a young clone instead of say the 'Six Degrees Of Separation' of a movie twenty years ago, post-fresh before his 'Independence Day' or the coming of the 'Men In Black'. And to those who disagree...hey at least he didn't make it a double on those hit franchise sequels...although he would have made it all a lot better if he did. WOO...HA, HA!

Even if 'Gemini Man' has lost more money than Will Smith in the 80's, it doesn't mean it's a bad film. Remember most who join the trolling party have never got off social media long enough to go out and actually watch. Clone wars have never hit this hard with a dirt bike-fu roundhouse kick to the face. Leaving a nice tyre tread mark, charred and scabbed skin beard for the rest of the movie...SLAP! 'Gemini' may have attracted some opposition, but you should go see it on the double. Take your partner, or the Jekyll to your Hyde side. Because like Jake Gyllenhaal's 'Enemy' or Jesse Eisenberg's 'Double', this is another reflection on the split screen canon that holds up the mirror to more than just ourselves. But the cracking under pressure societal breaking point of searching for our more filtered black mirror side for better or hearse as even Will gets the Marvel anti-ageing treatment like Michael Douglas. A theme also taken to the woods task in Paul Rudd's 'Living With Yourself' spa retreat treatment. Don't listen to the critics or the tomato's that have gone rotten. They're probably the same sort of people who would tell you there's something wrong with you when things sometimes are fine just as they are. And this Will Smith sci-fi vehicle in the mould of his 'I Am Legend' or 'I. Robot' future, apocalyptical, cult paranoid pieces would like those have been one of the biggest blockbusters of the year a decade ago with lines out the door like literally this writers small seaside towns local cinema on Boxing Day of all 24 hours for his 'Legend'. But with B movie brilliance you'll look back on in years with surprise it was made now, from the McConaughey 'Serenity' (another cruelly, critically underrated gem) of a small port town 'Out Of Time' like a Denzel Washington by the sea calm, crime classic at a Floridan pace called Buttermilk this looks as satisfying as that tastes. As the action moves postcard to postcard to the picturesque and what on the surface looks like the stars latest Instagram post for his Harlem like Globetrotting, West Philadelphia born and raised. For Ang ever the auteur for the aesthetic, from the comic feeling 'Hulk' to the Coldplay 'Mylo Xyloto' pastel 'Paradise' of 'Pi', captures the creative colours of Colombia on the back of two 'Knight and Day' gas horses galloping and kicking each other following the most tense, look around, stairway shootout, the bone yard fighting catacombs of Hungary with the hunger of a young director starting out in this legend veterans signature style. All for three acts of action that bring this all back home, bookended by meaning of life dialogue that keeps it simple and away from the pretension of existentialism. All whilst taking more depth from the hallow waters of a Liam Neeson franchise, even taking it to the 'Parabellum' chapters of John Wick, clip to clip. One vibrant scene cycled in the canvas of Colombia's vibrancy featuring two mopeds giving each other what for truly mops the floor with everything else out there right now in this hot Summer. Sure, Smith from 'Men In Black 3' meaning he couldn't do 'Django' for Tarantino and the return of 'Bad Boys For Life' next season in this 'After Earth' age that sees him as a cult comic 'Bright' and 'Suicide Squad' or even bigger YouTube star needs that big blockbuster or even the 'Seven Pounds' of an 'Ali' knockout Oscar bait to give him the title back of the man of movies like when he used to rule rap. But between this and being the Robin Williams next rubbed the right way Genie for 'Aladdin' it's been quite the year of twin ambitions for the 'Gemini Man'. And for this prince still fresh like it used to be, one day it will look the same again like the fade. That's if you believe in star signs. TIM. DAVID HARVEY.

Further Filming: 'I. Robot', 'Hulk', 'Living With Yourself'.

REVIEW: JOKER

4/5

Joaquin's On You.

122 Mins. Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Zazie Beetz, Frances Conroy, Brett Cullen, Glenn Fleshler, Bill Camp, Shea Whigham, Brian Tyree Henry & Robert De Niro. Director: Todd Phillips.

Send in the definitive Clown Prince of Crime DC. Gotham ain't ever seen anything like this. The Sixties swing of Caesar Romero. What we then thought was the best ever in Jack Nicholson. The force of a voice by Mark Hamill. The one and only, late, great Heath Ledger. The modern day, blinged up 'Suicide Squad' twist of Jared Leto. And of course 'Gotham's' own Cameron Monaghan. And now the method of method actors Joaquin Phoenix gets the last psychotic laugh. Mixing hands of his 'You Were Never Really Here' anti-hero and the De Niro (he's here too and 'The Irishman' is his best in show years) 'Taxi Driver' movie it was inspired by. To playing deck go along with some 'King Of Comedy' role reversal (what else would you expect from the original production and forever inspiration of Scorsese?) like the converging, light blinking parallel line train tracks for this dark night before the Knight. Spine straining skin, tension tightening the laces of his clown boots that sound halfway across the wrong side of the tracks like that, or the twisting of a balloon animal as he pulls his back taught. This clown isn't the type you want making faces at your kid like the drunk, squished nose one courtesy of John Candy in 'Uncle Buck'. You're really going to be scared of clowns now if you aren't already with this one with the scars. Want to know how he got 'em? Because it's Candyland in this city for any villain with a water spraying flower gimmick. Smell this! Gotham's Sinatra, Scorsese and De Niro Big Apple is rotten to the Travis Bickle core for someone who sounds like he'd ask the mirror, "you talkin' to me(?)" and act like the mirror is answering back on reflection. Because I don't see anyone else around here like this...or do I? All hiding behind playing card clown masks by the Ledger pack. Meat packed into a Subway midnight, boiler room pressure cooker train that has Wall Street Gekko lizards getting their licks in at night with a 'Collateral' carnage like peek-a-boo after some 'Brave One' vigilante harassment and a whole following crowd mobbing two Gordon and Bullock like detectives by the next train day. Both roles copped by character actor vet greats Shea Whigham and Bill Camp on badge and gun, hand it to them form. You can see just how scared they are with the absolute force through fear look on Whigham's incredibly expressive face as he gun in the sky barrels and descends down the carriages. Showing you this Halloween season movie really is terrifying like orange clockwork. This is Nicholson 80's, Ledger punk rock anarchy in Caesar masks ready to knock your teeth out like Leto's 'Suicide'. This is an agent of chaos, so, so serious!

Why? Look at this clown! If Ledger is King, then Phoenix really is the Prince like The Artist formerly known, reigning in his purple make-up for a classic 'Batdance'. Even if once Riddler rumoured Leonardo DiCaprio was considered once upon a time in Hollywood when this was constant collaborator Scorsese's (seeing him alongside Marty's fellow frequent filmaking companion De Niro would have really been something...but this is something more). But there's no R Patz or even a Batfleck on hand right now. No Christian Bale or even a George Clooney here this time. No Kilmer, Keaton, or even late, great Adam West. Because holy script flipping, comic-book reversals Batman, this is a villain movie! 'Machinist' mad weight lost from 'The Master', as he dejected walks home like his body was draped over the back of a chair, whilst his clothes were still starch hung up by a rail. A thumbs up from this acting 'Gladiator' in something far more evil with this iconic look right between the gold reaf eyes. All 'Signs' point to a baseball bat to the face as the Johnny Cash 'Walk The Line' rebel walks the one of a real Joker. Becoming the man in purple as you wake up to a 'Hangover' from former comedy director Todd Phillips and reborn star producer Bradley Cooper, painting this social commentary tragedy falling down like Michael Douglas not making it in time for a Whammyburger breakfast. An expert in playing wounded souls, Phoenix has always know how to get down to the ashes of a character and rise to the Oscar occasion. Whether it be Cash, 'Master', emperor, or the king of cards here. And you could even expect Academy Award acclaim for the 'Her' and 'Inherent Vice' actor who owns the night with brutal bursts of vile violence like when he was 'Never Really Here' (and he may not even believe he exists here too. Despite some tender ballroom dancing humanity similar to that movie with the moving mother story of a fantastic Frances Conroy of 'Six Feet Under') before the real vigilante is born on the same night. Because 'Joker' just outside the Summer blockbuster pack is not only the greatest comic-book (not superhero) movie of the year, but also one of the all round best and all time classics. As Phillips gets his fill and even his own Easter Egg to his personal comedy career as this standalone (no sequel, no post credits) movie has more than some nicely nuanced nods to the caped crusader (even pole swinging all the way back down to the sixties show). Despite forging it's own perfected path of seventies battered soul (all the way down to the Warner Bros logo like a Sony Classic) in the holy clusterf### that is DC's timelines (have you ever seen their 'Crisis On Earth' crossovers that even bring back 'Smallville' Superman's and Brandon Routh?), that somehow still works. After the amazing 'Aquaman' wave, from the light hearted lighting bolt of 'Shazam' to this. This is quite possibly DC's best year until the '1984' sequel to their 'Wonder Woman' superhero game changer comes next. And in dark design of classic cinematography, scored by some stirring strings still holds it own next to the Marvel that is the Avengers and now bests it in individual inspired films of influence, like when 'The Dark Knight' came out in the same Summer as some movie that called itself 'Iron Man'. And with Joaquin's Joker being the closest thing to Heath's hallmark playing card classic, this film doesn't need a cape for its own crusade. Rebelling against the system and raging against the machine this is no incel in the membrane call to white terrorist shooters (although the decision for the Aurora cinema that was victim to the 2012 mass shooting at a 'Dark Knight Rises' showing deciding to not show this movie was the right and decent one) like some social media trends tweet, but instead a cracked mirror to just how horrible things have got from society to individual over the last seven or so years. They haven't got it wrong like when 'Suicide Squad' glamorized the toxicity of Mr. J's relationship with Harley Quinn, instead of presenting it as what it is, an abusive warning...but just wait for 'The Emancipation'. This is no celebration, but a cause and caution to the effects of violence, both physical and of the mind. Violence begets violence. This psychological warfare is America. A Frankenstein monster for the modern day. This is ugly. This is blood, sweat and tears running down your anarchy war paint as this mob rule mass leader scratches acidic green hair dye into his scalp. And no mask can cover that. What hides behinds the shadows of Batman's world and a finale scene straight out of 'The Dark Knight Returns' Joker television show guest spot animation is just how well comic cells can tell the story of real life in their metaphors, translating to big movie screens. Put on a happy face if you can, but the writings on the wall...in blood red lipstick on that mirrors reflection.

Kiss the past goodbye. There's a new way to turn a graphic novel into a comic classic. Even if there's little laughs and a hell load of graphic violence. All these hits keep coming until the final Paramedic blow to a cop car pays homage to a whole other classic vehicle, overturned like that 'Dark Knight' 18 wheeler. Your youngest may dress up as Bats this Halloween, but when it comes to this horror show you better not bring your kids. And you thought Pennywise was the scariest clown this time of year. Well if 'IT' follows this again then the balloon will be well and truly burst like that hilarious and genius Harley Quinn 'Birds Of Prey' cinema trailer (Margot Robbie really is aces...BOP!). As Joaquin in Joker make-up in this stages lightbulb popping mirror tries to put a smile on that happy face, he Tourette laughs at the conditions of his pain to dramatic effect. All the way to a whole new classic cackle to go along with that iconic purple suit that is anything but cheap...you should know you bought it! Whether jester dancing to opera in the bathroom beautifully after something so ugly were we see the two halves of his criminal crossover literally on his no way back face. To this sent to elastic snapping point clown really going in. Now that's quite the return ticket were you're never the same again like the brown paper bag 'A Most Violent Year' actor Glenn Fleshler hands him as Joaquin lends his Tourette's to sympathetic effect. But can there be any for this devil here as he tries to have a heart, falling for a standout 'Deadpool 2' Domino, Zazie Beetz (her 'Atlanta' co-star Brian Tyree Henry also shows up for a scene stealing cameo), but ends up showing us just how delusional stalkers are? All before offering up a divisive speech in the most controversial film of the year that pulls no punchlines in his battle of wits climax with 'Goodfella' Robert De Niro to really see who is Gotham's Godfather of comedy, pride and joy. For a mask on, difficult guest talk show moment that almost riffs on his 'I'm Still Here' Letterman gaff for the bearded 'You Were Never Really Here' actor. As this becomes the new movie moment Joaquin is known for. Right after battling another legend in Brett Cullen's Thomas Wayne running for mayor, asking us what sort of coward hides behind a mask (get it?). Recognize him? Yep like Alfre Woodard in two separate MCU roles he was in 'The Dark Knight Rises' as a completely different character, but ended up stepping in for Alec Baldwin...what did we tell you about these timelines? Movies like this are meant to divide like any villainous origin story that sees a descent into madness via an ordinary person being lured over to the dark side after it only taking one bad day. As a matter of fact my only qualm here in a movie whose ultraviolence makes for the ultimate cautionary tale, not rush (and what Phillips said about 'John Wick' was right too), is during an iconic jamming in the puddles scene down some steps in full clown regalia, Phoenix's Arthur Fleck's Joker is strumming in the rain along to some Gary Glitter, a known child sex offender...very poor choice of song in an otherwise stellar soundtrack and soaring score, razor harsh, cutting and sharp. Still one bad pun aside, this is still a stand up, stand alone round of applause. Even if it isn't a crowd pleaser. Nothing is killing this joke. Even if this is no laughing matter. Psychotic but hypnotic. Unsettling but undeniable. I don't know whether to laugh or cry at the two 'Joker' faces of this comedy/tragedy...but that's life. TIM DAVID HARVEY.

Further Filming: 'The King Of Comedy', 'Taxi Driver', 'You Were Never Really Here'.