2 Guns

Mini Review

http://www.2guns.net/

Allow me to preface this review by saying that 2 Guns is not really the type of movie I would normally rush to see, but following a dry spell of more than 10 days without seeing a film at the cinema, I decided to give it the benefit of the doubt. 

The story centers on Robert 'Bobby' Trench (Denzel Washington) and his partner in crime Michael 'Stig' Stigman (Mark Wahlberg). We open on their discussion of how best to rob a bank, and the sound advice that you should never rob a bank opposite a diner that sells the best donuts in town. After they set fire to the diner, making the bank they have their eye on an easy target, they set about relieving the bank of it's $3 million, only to discover it actually holds $43 million. There's also a double cross or two but probably not in the way you're expecting. 

My cinema buddy and I were both pleasantly surprised by 2 Guns. It does exactly what it sets out to do, it's entertaining, funny in places and has more action than you can shake a stick at. It doesn't pretend to be anything it's not. 

The acting might not blow you away but the explosions sure will, and you'll no doubt enjoy the interaction between Washington and Wahlberg, a twosome I wasn't sure would work from the outset but which I enjoyed immensely. And for those inclined, I will say that Paula Patton is a beautiful lady. And just leave it at that. The nice thing about the movie is that there's enough plot so that even those who are unfazed by the action and the pretty people will still be entertained. 

If you like action movies, buddy cop type comedies and big names with big guns, you're sure to like this movie. A not too shabby 7 out of 10.

Viewing Date - 18th August 2013 

UK Release Date - 16th August 2013

Cast Overview:

Robert 'Bobby' Trench ~ Denzel Washington

Michael 'Stig' Stigman ~ Mark Wahlberg

Deb ~ Paula Patton

Earl ~ Bill Paxton

Admiral Tuwey ~ Fred Ward

Quince ~ James Marsden

Papi Greco ~ Edward James Olmos

Director ~ Baltasar Kormákur

Writer(s) ~ Blake Masters (Screenplay) and Steven Grant (based on his Boom! Studios graphic novels)

Safe House

Mini Review 

http://www.nooneissafe.com/

A frustrated CIA Agent, Matt Weston (Ryan Reynolds) receives a new charge into his safe house in Cape Town - former CIA Agent gone rogue, Tobin Frost (Denzel Washington). It soon transpires that the reason Frost is there is because he handed himself in to the US consulate in South Africa to escape some rather unsavory people who were after him. They soon find him though which forces Weston and Frost to team up and go on the run together. 

It's been a while since I saw Safe House (slowly catching up on reviews - apologies to my regular readers) and to be honest I think there was a subconscious reason I didn't get round to this review. Not because of the film, just some unresolved issues I have that this film reminds me of. I digress as usual. What I was trying to say is that I don't really remember it all that well. 

All I can really recall is that there were a LOT of twists and turns in this movie. Probably more than were necessary. By the end I wasn't sure if up was down or if left was right. It seems that the producers wanted to keep their audience on the edge of their seats, but instead they just lost their audience about half way through.

The performances were okay. I personally don't subscribe to the notion that Denzel Washington is a great actor. I think he can be. But I think the majority of his performances are just a little OTT. And this is one of them. Reynolds is good but overshadowed by Washington's hammy performance, a script that is somewhat lacking and a confusing plot. Farmiga, Gleeson and Patrick all provide decent support but then they pretty much always do. 

I wasn't intending to bad-mouth Safe House when I started out so let me finish by saying that this is a perfectly acceptable Saturday night popcorn movie. It just won't leave a lasting impression. 6 out of 10.

Viewing Date - 25th February 2012

UK Release Date - 24th February 2012

Cast Overview: 

Denzel Washington ~ Tobin Frost

Ryan Reynolds ~ Matt Weston

Vera Farmiga ~ Catherine Linklater

Brendan Gleeson ~ David Barlow

Sam Shepard ~ Harlan Whitford

Robert Patrick ~ Daniel Kiefer

Liam Cunningham ~ Alec Wade

Director ~ Daniel Espinosa

Writer ~ David Guggenheim