King Kirk.
121 Mins. Starring: Chris Pine, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Florence Pugh, Billy Howle, Tony Curran, Callan Mulvey & Stephen Dillane. Director: David Mackenzie.
"By these swans", Chris Pine nails an accented performance as 'Outlaw King' and it's opening one shot is outstanding. Through the forlorn fog of Winter, reuniting with the fire and brimstone of 2016's best 'Hell Or High Water' director David Mackenzie, Pine takes it to the forest for a guerilla fight that thick like thieves is all mud and mead. Mackenzie confirms himself as a maverick, dynamite director with an outlandish, opening one-shot camera trend technique that traverses canopy's and a catapult that really gets up close and throws everything at you as hot as magma. All punctuated by a powerful sword fight of grit and gravitas and dynamics of duelling drama straight out of Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, far flung from those wooden sword fights you had as kids. As Pine's King bobs and weaves like the bee with butterfly wings Ali, switches feet like LeBron James in his Kings court and then batters some young pretenders sword twice like Kong swatting a bi-plane uptop the Empire State you feel sorry for the blade...not to mention the man who forged it from iron and stone. And that's just the preface. Just wait until the final chapter of this historical text chain mails you to a bloody battle (pardon me for swearing) of 'Gladiator' arena in the killing fields of 'Robin Hood' proportions. Thumbs up! Sure we're late to battle on this one. But right before young royals Saorise Ronan and Margot Robbie are about to duke it out on the Oscar worthy 'Mary Queen Of Scots' it's time you stream this Netflix sleeper too. Its time to watch this game of thrones and crown it.
Bravehearts may even see this as a spiritual sequel to the 90's Mel Gibson classic that took our lives but gave us freedom. But save an apocalypse cancelling, stirring speech that won't go quietly into the night and even a "never take our" Easter reference for us storybook eggheads, this 'Outlaw' is a different animal. As a matter of fact the only glimpse we see of the great Scot William Wallace is in the remains of his dismembered, hung, draw and quartered arm in a truly harrowing and haunting moment that is the caustic, cautionary catalyst that this means war turns this movies moment into a classic. The sinister score scales up as does the acting. As this is Robert The Bruce's story. And a 100 percent perfect Pine personified makes this and himself worthy as Robert. All the way down to the grown out hair and beard, in no ways muffling a grown up accent, never growled but ingrained. Anyone about to claim Americana washing will have no need to take their hands to water as Chris is as boss a Bruce as Springsteen. Ditching the Kirk blonde and blue of his epic, new civilisation 'Star Trek' trilogy (they really dropping this?) as this underrated like his storied 'Jack Ryan' leading light of Leo star signs (the true rescue of 'The Finest Hours' is amongst Pine's finest work) goes from the Captains chair to the throne of a King. Unstoppable even when you're pining for him, truly baring it all and making a naked stand in an ignorant industry that had exposed young women in Hollywood for far too long. Just like when he politely and poignantly rejects his marriage high ritual until his betrothed is ready. A moving moment that will resonate well with people as they sleep. Set phasers and swords to stun as horses run. Ten years ago (can you believe that), Chris Pine redefined William Shatner's James T. Kirk in a swagger, showstopping and stealing, enthused energy personified leather on motorcycle of tomorrow entrance to J.J. Abrams awakening force, 2009 bold blockbusting, new life classic. Now a greying decade later this knight in shining armour is battle worn and like his wisdom Pine grows like the tallest tree. Forget the funny red robe Burger King memes in one tenderly touching moment of the crown if they gave Oscars out for how humanity acts without words Chris would be knighted.
By royal decree Pine isn't the only one who kicks ass however as Kirk's warp speed (or in this 'Verse' Spider-Man's Peter Parker) runs with Quicksilver. As looking every bearded inch the Ono older John Lennon he played an age ago as a young kid in Liverpool for 'Nowhere Boy' would one day become (sequel?), Aaron Taylor-Johnson rocks. And is rolling as he slams his sword down like Arthur in reverse in a moment of defiance and definition as the man all mud and bloodshot mad eyes threatens to run away with the show like he did in an avenging 'Age Of Ultron'. You didn't see that coming? And how about a fabulous Florence Pugh? 'The Little Drummer Girl' show stealer is rolling after already making her royal name in the must-see new 'Lady Macbeth'? Here adding her power to this gritty glory of brutual beauty and the crest of family. And there really is a coat of arms going to war here. Like 'Gladiator', '13th Warrior' and 'Roots' actor Tony Curran, who was so good at punishing Frank Castle in Season 2 of 'Daredevil' (sniff...come on Netflix I know you're watching. Save it!). Or '300' strong Callan Mulvey rising, who character acted amazingly in both 'Batman V Superman: Dawn Of Justice' (don't get me started and how underrated and actually amazing this really is) and the best Marvel movie 'The Winter Soldier' before the civil war. And who better to play King Edward than the 'Hamlet' and 'Macbeth' bawdy, 'Game Of Thrones' classically trained experience of Stephen Dillane? All surrounding the sniveling of Queen Of Scots Saorise 'Chesil Beach' co-star Billy Howle who would be king if his character wasn't such a freak and geeks creep. He plays it perfectly however for the weirdest gif-able moment up the swanny as he holds the necks of two crowned, fake as f### signets with crazy eyes and swears by them. Or as my friend from work rightfully puts it looks like our town crier butcher across the road ("buy these two swans for a fiver"!). But before the soldier of fortune Steve Trevor reunites with 'Wonder Woman' Patty Jenkins before '1984' for her Black Dahlia era directed detective miniseries of L.A. confidential, 'True Detective' proportions, 'I Am The Night', Pine goes to war for Mackenzie come hell or high mud. As this now finally found and told true tale of the fight of God like kings teaches us something about out own undying conflicts, inner and outer. And in educating everyone so hammer to horse, this captain and king and all Robert The Bruce's men hurl a fireball at us. Down by outlaw. TIM DAVID HARVEY.
Further Filming: 'Braveheart', 'Mary Queen Of Scots', 'King Arthur (2016)'.
No comments:
Post a Comment