MEGAN LEAVEY (Theatrical Release USA 2017)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 4.0|5.0 Starsìììì

Megan Leavey moves itself out of B-grade status partly due to its choice of subject matter—military canine detection and their handler units, establishment of a female in a male-dominated soldier unit, and the interweaving of a second underlying story that graphically shows a specific type of home-life with which some enlisted personnel must rationalize and come to terms. While the film does not establish itself in the academy award winning class, it does have a certain aura, created by actress Kate Mara, that pushes it into a good, solid watch category. The film firmly broadens education about deployed army canines, their retirement, and usefulness to war efforts.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

Soldier Megan Leavey (Kate Mara) requests canine duty and deploys with a highly aggressive male dog.

Additional Thanks

Thank You to Director Gabriela Cowperthwaite for directing efforts. Thank you to Executive Producers Jose Luis Escolar, Scott Holroyd, Robert Huberman, and Nicole Stojkovich for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Jackie (Edie Falco), Barbie (Alisa Harris), Receiving Marine #1 (Nick Madrick), Receiving Marine #2 (Jason Turner), Female Drill Instructor #1 (Sasha Morfaw), Female Drill Instructor #2 (Jennifer Duke), Female Drill Instructor #3 (Megan Leavey), Jim (Will Patton), Master Sergeant (Corey Johnson), Jones (Andrew Moon), Timmins (Alicia Lobo), Lopez (Melina Matthews), and Drunk Guy in Bar (Luka Peros).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. This flick has a universal appeal that supersedes its war movie classification.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

ENEMY LINES (Released to DVD USA 2020)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.6|5.0 Starsììì  Enemy Lines—not high quality—lacks good character development, high par acting, and runs within the okay range rather than the outstanding range.   Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images Storyline A team of Allied soldiers attempt to take a scientist out of Germany during WWII.  Additional Thanks  Thank you to Director Anders Banke for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Tom George, Nadzeya Huselnikava, Aleksandr Kushaev, and Andy Thompson for making the film possible. Cast includes Ed Westwick, John Hannah, Tom Wisdom, Corey Johnson, Gary Grant, Daniel Jillings, Scott Haining, and Pawet Delag. Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Maybe. The story is interesting to some extent. But the movie lacks quality and memorability.  Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

OUT FOR A KILL (Released to DVD/VHS USA 2003)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.4|5.0 Starsììì  Out for a Kill—the usual action film—suffers from atrocious transitions. The script is cliched to a fault. Fight scenes are either under-choreographed or over-choreographed with no easy rhythm for their reason for being and not realistic enough to matter either way. Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images Storyline An archeology professor is hunted down by an Asian drug ring.  Additional Thanks Thank you to Director Michael Oblowitz for directing effort. Thank you to Executive Producers Boaz Davidson, Danny Dimbort, Avi Lerner, Trevor Short, and Co-Executive Producer Phillip B. Goldfine for making the film possible. Cast includes Michelle Goh, Steven Seagal, Corey Johnson, Tom Wu, Ozzie Yu, Bruce Wang, Chike Chan, Hong Ping Tang, Dave Wong, Chooye Bay, Elaine Tan, Michael J. Reynold, and Kata Dubό.  Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  No. The film does not earn its time or money to watch. The transitions from scene to scene are poorly done and the movie adds nothing new to the action film genre. Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers