JOE BELL (2021)

 

Directed By: Reinaldo Marcus Green Written By: Larry McMurtry & Diana Ossana Cinematography: Jacques Jouffret  Editor: Mark Sanger 

Cast: Mark Wahlberg, Reid Miller, Connie Britton, Gary Sinise, Charles Halford, Maxwell Jenkins, Morgan Lily 

The true story of a small town, working-class father who embarks on a walk across the U.S. to crusade against bullying after his son is tormented in high school for being gay. Meanwhile he realizes he is instead missing out on his sons life back at home.

REINDEER GAMES (2000)

Directed By: John Frankenheimer 
Written By: Ehren Kruger 
Cinematography By: Alan Caso 
Editor: Antony Gibbs & Michael Kahn 
Music By: Alan Silvestri 


Cast: Ben Affleck, Charlize Theron, Gary Sinise, Clearance Williams III, Dennis Farina, Donal Logue, Danny Trejo, Issac Hayes, James Frain, Ashton Kutcher 


After assuming his dead cellmate's identity to get with the other man's girlfriend, an ex-con finds himself a reluctant participant in a casino heist.

THE FORGOTTEN (2004)

Directed By: Joseph Rueben Wriiten By: Greg DiPego Cinematography By: Anastas N. Michos Editor: Richard Francis-Bruce Cast: Julianne Moore, Anthony Edwards, Gary Sinise, Alfre Woodard, Linus Roache, Dominic West, Jessica Hecht, Robert Wisdom

MISSION TO MARS (2000)

RANSOM (1996)

Directed By: Ron Howard
Written By: Richard Price & Alexander Ignon;
Story: Cyril Hume & Richard Maibaum
Cinematography By: Piotr Sobocinski
Editor: Dan Haley & Mike Hill

Cast: Mel Gibson, Gary Sinise, Delroy Lindo, Rene Russo, Dan Hedaya, Donnie Wahlberg, Lili Taylor, Liev Schrieber, Brawley Nolte, Jose Zuniga, John Ortiz

This film is the type of event film they would have made in the 1950’s Starring a huge matinee idol where they give him a paint by numbers plot but really the film is for the audience to watch the actor play to his strengths in a series of scenes and make him look like a icon. That is this film.

It’s not a mystery who kidnapped Mel Gibson’s son. It’s how long it will take him to realize it’s someone who is in his midst. This film presents you with Mel Gibson surrounded by a well known cast as you wait for the inevitable fight he is going to have with the main kidnapper and hoping it’s as goon and violent as the one he had with Gary Busey In LETHAL WEAPON

The plot is a rich man’ son is kidnapped and pretty much breaks all the rules his kidnappers set to try and get him back going against what the cops and FBI tell him to do. Showing he is a rebel and loves his son. While endangering his son’s life with every stunt just to be stubborn.

The only two interesting things about this film are the scenes where Mel Gibson confronts a old incarcerated business partner who he feels may be behind the kidnapping as revenge. The other scene is when the villain dispatches his gang including his lover to cut all ties to himself to show just how evil he is. While we are discussing it, Why this person would pick this group as kidnappers is beyond me they are like the gang who couldn’t shoot straight. It’s a miracle they even pulled the kidnapping off. So that goes beyond all reason. Why he would associate and plan to share money with these people but other then that there is nothing noteworthy other then to watch how athletic and heroic Mel Gibson is in the movie, for a man who is only supposed to be a industrialist.

This film is fine to watch on TV, When nothing else is on but no need to seek it out.

This is another Ron Howard film where he tries to have more style due to the genre. He tries his luck here with a little more dark material then he is used to but somehow still manages to make it bland. At least here the direction is a little stronger then usual for him but it is still not quite a home run.

When it comes to Ron Howard films I loved most of them as a kid growing up he somehow makes you feel a nostalgic mood when watching his films. But after this one there was a feeling something wasn’t right so I began watching them with a more critical eye. He is a talented director but he really has no style. He was born too late because his films are more idealistic when it comes to content and character. The films fit right in for the 1950’s type melodrama. He seems a perfect director for the middle aged male demographic with material that is not too harsh and more family oriented more over sentimentalized.

GRADE: C-