Cinephile No. 683 "Blade Runner 2049"

"The Future of Cinema"

A Review of "Blade Runner 2049" by Nathan H. Box

Directors: Denis Villeneuve, Writers: Hampton Fancher, Michael Green, Starring: Harrison Ford, Ryan Gosling, Ana de Armas

Rating: 4 Stars, SHOWTIME

The Plot

A young Blade Runner, played by Ryan Gosling, discovers a secret about the relationship between Replicants and humans that leads him to track down a former Blade Runner, Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford), who has been missing for thirty years. 

My Critique

It is profoundly easy for films like "Blade Runner 2049" to collapse under the weight of their lofty ideals. Think back to the first time you saw "The Matrix." The concepts in that movie are heavy. They focus on a world unfamiliar to us, alternative realities, amazing attention to detail, and scenes that cannot be missed. For "Blade Runner 2049," the relationships are complicated, plots twist then turn, and every scene possesses something you need to know as the story progresses. When stories get this complicated, people can lose attention and grow frustrated. Something else can happen though, you can be swept away by their meticulous attention to detail. 

Up front, you will notice some very unique things about this movie. It's setting is bleak, grand in its scope, and breathtaking to savor. Secondly, you will notice the soundtrack. In many ways, it is a character in this movie. It is pulsing, loud, hypnotic, and underscores every major discovery. Third, you will notice the cinematography. It is operatic in nature and so well devised that not since "The Matrix" have I seen anything that could compare. Finally, you will notice a storyline that builds off of the original movie while creating its own path. Together, all of these elements create a near perfect movie. 

In Harrison Ford and Ryan Gosling, we find actors cut from the same cloth. For both actors, their faces have a way of mirroring what is happening on the screen. With Mr. Ford, we find an actor playing a role where he is in complete control. He knows this role and this world. Still, his best scenes arise when he is confronted with the truth of the relationship between the Replicants and humans. With Mr. Gosling, we find an actor discovering a new world and trying to come to terms with it. His best scenes in this film are when he is confronted with what we assume is the big reveal. His reaction much later to this idea seals his performance in the film. 

"Blade Runner 2049" is the future of cinema. It's scale and depth is beyond comparison. What it demands of the audience is brave. Its ability to harness the latest technologies to create a world and a setting is inspiring and should stand the test of time. For these reasons and so much more, I cannot recommend this film enough. But do yourself a favor, see the original film first. There are so many important details you will need on your journey. 

Be good to each other, 

-Nathan

Musical Thesis: Nada Surf "Lucky"

At the center of every album is a musical thesis. As a listener, you bring your own baggage to every album you hear. With the weight of the past pressed upon you, an album reveals itself in slow order. More often than not, your reaction to a collection of songs is unique. I strongly believe no two people hear the same song the same way. For me, this is what makes music so exciting and such a joy to consume. In Nada Surf's "Lucky," I hear a list of wants and needs. These are songs about triumph and what you desire to be whole. No, the songs don't present themselves in bullet point form, rather they present themselves through stories; stories I related to deeply. 

One of those desires is to make someone else happy and by doing so find some joy in your own life. This is a foundational concept for a healthy relationship, but not something that is easily learned. Rather, this lesson reveals itself slowly through trial and error. It is a product of time, place, and those you choose to surround yourself. it is also a product of dating, failing, and learning. Like any good lesson, it takes time and patience but once you figure out your joy can be found in making others happy and they choose to do the same, life becomes a wonderful gift. 

Another theme that emerged for me while listening to this album was a fear of growing up. That fear focused not on looming responsibilities but rather a loss of youth. With its vibrancy and possibility, the idea of staying young forever is a tempting one. We all know people well into their twenties and thirties who float through life like Peter Pan. As I age, I too long for the boundless opportunities that seemed to be around every corner. I often have to remind myself that sense of wonder still exists. If it went away, it is because I forced it to do so. For it to return, I must fill myself with the same sense of optimism and wonder that I once knew. Those decisions are mine and I have this album to thank for helping me realize that. 

Be good to each other, 

-Nathan

Cinephile No. 682 "Battle of the Sexes"

"A Defining Moment"

A Review of "Battle of Sexes" by Nathan H. Box

Directors: Jonathan Dayton, Valerie Faris, Writers: Simon Beaufoy, Starring: Emma Stone, Steve Carell, Andrea Riseborough

Rating: 4 Stars, SHOWTIME

The Plot

In 1973, one of the most famous and important cultural events in American history played out on a tennis court between World #1, Billie Jean King and ex-champ, Bobby Riggs. Naturally, there was more to the story than what was witnessed on television. "Battle of the Sexes" attempts to raise the curtain on the major moments that delivered our two main characters to that most memorable day. In doing so, it reminds us the fight for equality is far from over. 

My Critique

Let it first be said that Emma Stone is becoming a force to be reckoned with in every single movie she appears. Her portrayal of Billie Jean King is raw, focused, and a different sandbox than she has been in before. In King, we see a woman who is a born advocate. Using tennis as her stage in the fight for equality, she rightly preaches a compassionate message that women can do anything men can do and should be treated as such. In the face of sexism, misogyny, and growing angst, she stood firm. Stone's embodiment of King takes you to the front lines of those battles and asks you to walk a mile in her tennis shoes. 

Despite Stone's magical performance, my favorite character in this entire movie might be Gladys Heldman played by one of my favorite comedians, Sarah Silverman. She is irreverent, sharp as a tack, and determined to make King's dream come true. She stands as a testament to the simple truth that even the best among us need someone standing in our corner who believes as we do. Silverman embodies that person in every sense of the word. 

What makes this movie truly great is the addition of King's own struggles with her sexual orientation. It gives the whole movie an intoxicating layer as she moves back and forth between the husband who has stood in her corner since the beginning and a woman who lets her be free and who she was always meant to be. Ultimately, the struggle and hiding become too much. King loses focus and her spot as the world's number one player. This leads Bobby Riggs to challenge the new number one first; a bit of information I didn't realize. 

Bobby Riggs played by Steve Carell is not without his own challenges. He is a serial gambler and hustler. He finds himself at a job he can't stand, doing boring work, watching his glory days become smaller in the rearview mirror and to make matters worse his marriage is falling apart, His challenge to King may not be what he really believes but it is a role he chooses to play in an attempt to make money. His character is complex, flawed, and relatable to many American men. 

As we arrive at the culminating point of the movie, King walks out onto a tennis court to face Riggs under the lights of the Astro Dome and with millions of people watching at home. With each step she takes, she walks alone but with the hopes, dreams, and aspirations of thousands of women on her back. As the match begins, it quickly becomes obvious this is a defining moment. Sure, it is sport and sport is a spectacle but this means more. Her victory was a giant leap forward for women, girls, and every woman not yet born. For that, we owe her a debt of gratitude for everything she did on and off the court. 

Be good to each other, 

-Nathan

Cinephile No. 681: "Kingsman: The Golden Circle"

"Manners Maketh Man"

A Review of "Kingsman: The Golden Circle" by Nathan H. Box

Director: Matthew Vaugh, Writers: Jane Goldman, Matthew Vaughn, Starring: Taron Egerton, Colin Firth, Mark Strong

Rating: 4 Stars, SHOWTIME

The Plot

With one well-planned attack, the headquarters of the Kingsman is no more. As the remaining Kingsman agents begin to try and piece life back together, the world finds itself held hostage by a ruthless drug lord named Poppy played brilliantly by Julianne Moore. In order to defeat her, the remaining Kingsman agents must cross the pond and get some Yankee help from the Statesman. Together, these elite organizations must pull resources and talent in an effort to save millions of people. 

My Critique

As someone who critiques movies, my job is pretty simple. I watch films as they present themselves to be. Some are comedic, others dramatic, suspenseful, horror-inducing, and/or action-packed. Once I figure out the aim of each film I see, I judge it on some simple grounds: Is it entertaining? Does the plot keep my attention and is it void of recognizable flaws? Do I connect with at least one of the characters? Does it make me question the outside world? Does it accomplish its aim? When the credits roll, how these questions are answered determine whether I would recommend other's spending their time and money to see it. 

For "Kingsman: The Golden Circle," the goals are simple. It wants to entertain you with jaw-dropping action scenes and pepper in some comedy when possible. It achieves these goals better than almost any movie trying attempting to do the same thing that I saw this summer. In fact, it wastes almost no time doing so with one hell of an opening sequence. The first 10 minutes are break-neck, fast-paced, awe-inducing, and beautiful to watch. It didn't take long for this film to fill me with a warm, fuzzy love for why I go to the movies. On top of the opening scene, is the amazing style of everyone in the movie. These were reason enough to stick around. 

Colin Firth's character, Harry Hart, set the tone for the first film. The way he carried himself, spoke and acted dripped with British power. When he is shot and killed in the first film, it hurt. Knowing he has a moment of rebirth in this film and each member of the team is trying to desperately bring back their leader adds another layer of complexity. You will wait for a good chunk of the film to hear the words, "Manners Maketh Man" to be uttered but when they come they are glorious! 

Julianne Moore's character, Poppy, steals the show, as far as I am concerned. She is a drug lord, hidden away in the jungle, addicted to 50's retro and selling drugs all over the world. The way in which she holds the world hostage is ingenious and a new approach for a villain. As her drugs begin to render people useless, she begins a push "legalize and save lives," as a way of making all the pain go away. I found it to be a refreshing approach that she wasn't after just bringing doom on the world. Instead, she just wanted to continue expanding her empire like any good capitalist. 

A film like this lives and dies based on its action scenes and the scenes in this movie are nothing short of amazing. The film has three major scenes and when coupled with the story itself, they create a near flawless action-comedy. Really! I don't have a lot of bad things to say about this movie. Sure, you have to swallow your sense of disbelief. Things almost always bounce in the direction of the good guys and there will for sure be another sequel. But, at the end of the day, sometimes you just want to be entertained, amazed, and laugh a bit. For me, this movie acheived all that and more. 

Be good to each other, 

-Nathan

Cinephile No. 680 "Home Again"

"Odd Twist of Trust"

A Review of "Home Again" by Nathan H. Box

Director: Hallie Meyers-Shyer, Writer: Hallie Meyers-Shyer, Starring: Reese Witherspoon, Michael Sheen, Nat Wolff

Rating: 2 Stars, SKIP

The Plot

The plot for "Home Again" can be summed up in the following manner: A single mom (Reese Witherspoon) in Los Angeles finds herself in unfamiliar territory. She is separated from her husband who lives back in New York, has two beautiful daughters who are worried about making L.A. home, is working hard to get a new career venture off the ground and, to complicate matters, she allows three young filmmakers to live with her family after a night of celebrating her birthday. The plot for this film isn't a difficult one to grasp. What I did find very complicated were the interpersonal relationships all of which are centered around Reese Witherspoon's character. There is the relationship with her daughters, mother, friends, estranged husband, the three young men (one in particular played by Pico Alexander), and of course the intrapersonal relationship with herself. These complications gave this movie potential; a potential that really never delivered. 

My Critique

A mid-life crisis can come in many forms. Hollywood likes to pretend men go and buy themselves lots of new toys to make themselves feel younger and women begin questioning their status and place in the world. Both of these cliches are well-traveled and worn. Still, "Home Again" chooses to take us down a familiar path. It allows our main character to come to some sense of truth but not a point that would be well tolerated by anyone in the real world.

My biggest complaint with this film is the missed opportunities in almost every character interaction. Without exception, almost every exchange seems fake and forced. 20 minutes into the film, I couldn't help but think that no one really talks like this. Real and honest dialogue would have added another layer of complexity to this movie and made the characters more relatable. Instead, we are left with 2-D versions of well-rounded characters who more often than not fall flat. 

While we are on the subject of honesty, we must address the elephant in the room for this film. It is extremely white. Taking place in L.A., one of the most diverse cities in America, I was flabbergasted to only see a handful of people of color, none of which played major characters in the film. This didn't seem real or authentic to me but of course, I may be living in a multi-cultural fishbowl. Again, I think this was a missed opportunity for the writer to add another layer of complexity to the plot. 

Most of this film is a competition with Reese Witherspoon in the middle of a four-man sandwich. On one side is a husband who triumphantly returns home to save his family. On the other side, is a younger version of Reese's husband and his two friends. The film wants us to focus on the tug of war with the central question to be answered focused on who she will choose. Ultimately, it is an odd twist of fate that influences her decision. Her choice is both satisfying and predictable; which happens to be my reasoning behind not liking lots of romantic comedies. 

Predictably, before the credits roll, everything is solved and tied up in a nice, neat, little bow. All is figured out without much complexity or nuance. For some, this may be fine but for the discerning movie-goer, it will leave you disappointed. Which is why I recommend you skip this film. 

Be good to each other, 

-Nathan

Musical Thesis: The National "Boxer"

At the center of every album is a musical thesis. For The National's album, "Boxer," there is a focused sadness. I think it is worth pausing here for a moment. This band often gets incorrectly labeled as "sad dad rock" music. There are a number of reasons for this assessment: their age, their gender, convenience, and those who listen to them. When I listen to this music. I don't picture a balding man holding on to his youth, wearing a layered argyle sweater, wishing he could be a better father and partner. Instead, I see myself. I see a man who is constantly questioning his place in the world because I know I only get one shot at this thing and I better make the most of it. That feeling is a complex emotion and it often makes me feel sad. I relate to this music because they are speaking my language and those words are hard for me to say. 

They speak of love as if it is war. When they talk about relationships, I picture two combatants in separate corners of the bedroom coming together every once in a while to battle, lay down their arms, and/or let peace prevail. Now, of course, a loving relationship is not always like this. There are extreme moments of euphoria when all seems right in the world. Then there are moments like the examples provided on this record. These moments are authentic and they remind me that I am not alone. When my partner and I go to war, we should do so with the hope of both exiting victors on the other side. To do so with any other intention is a clear sign you shouldn't be in a relationship. 

These relationship battles define us. They either make us better people or far worse. They either make us a better couple or far worse. Here is the secret though and this album reveals it; we get to choose. We can start a war, lay down our arms, or work to come to some sense of mutual understanding. The choice is ours. We shouldn't let emotions or poor choices cloud our judgment. We should be able to look the person we love in the eyes and know why we are fighting. "Boxer" makes that crystal clear to me. For that, it will forever be anchored in my mind in the event any battle should arise. 

Be good to each other, 

-Nathan 

Cinephile No. 679 "American Assassin"

"Wounds with Scar Tissue"

A Review of "American Assassin" by Nathan H. Box

Director: Michael Cuesta, Writers: Stephen Schiff, Michael Finch Starring: Dylan O'Brien, Michael Keaton, Sanaa Lathan

Rating: 3 Stars, STREAM

"American Assassin" opens on a beautiful beach in Spain. A lovely young couple is swimming. Today is a big day in their relationship. Mitch Rapp played by Dylan O'Brien is about to propose to his longtime girlfriend. As an audience member, we get to be there for the celebration. As she says yes, we feel Mitch's love and joy. To remember the occasion, the whole event is captured on a cell phone; forever documented. Mitch then decides to swim away for a couple of drinks to mark the moment. As he orders, the sound of gunfire erupts on the tranquil beach. As Mitch ducks for cover in a pool, he rises to see his now fiance shot and killed in cold blood. This loss of love and innocence sends him on a path of revenge and vigilantism.  

Naturally, Mitch has wounds with scar tissue. His physical wounds heal over the next 18 months but the emotional trauma is still there. As time elapses, we find a young man training his body and mind for something bigger. He is digging deep into terrorist organizations and pretending to be a member in an effort to get closer to the man who took everything from him. Of course, in a predictable sort of way, every move he makes is being monitored by the CIA. When Mitch finds himself in Turkey, face-to-face, with the man he has been chasing for almost two years, it is quickly realized he will get no satisfaction in killing the mastermind of the Spain beachfront killing. Instead, the CIA sweeps in to claim victory. 

With this chapter in Mitch's life closed, a new door opens. The CIA sees within him a real ability to be a civilian asset on the ground and in the global fight against terrorism. Now, I am not sure how much time the CIA spends tracking lone wolves destined to stop terrorist cells but this whole process is one of the most unbelievable aspects of the entire movie. Still, I decided to swallow my disbelief and allow things to play themselves out. 

Here is where we meet Stan Hurley played by Michael Keaton. Hurley is a no-nonsense trainer of special CIA agents. As we learn later in the film, he has a tangled past which will bring him face-to-face with a former student and agent in the field. At first, he doesn't see much promise in Mitch. He sees someone who is volatile, doesn't take orders, and has joined his team for all the wrong reasons. Of course, in the most Hollywood way imaginable, Mitch proves him wrong, except the whole going rogue thing. Mitch still does that. In fact, that's all he does. 

In the field, we encounter a Mitch who uses revenge as a strength. Where normal men and women would fall, he draws on his pain to accomplish the task before him. This is also where he derives his patriotism. To face the new enemy before him, he will need all that strength. See, Taylor Kitsch plays Ghost. He is a former trainee of Hurleys. After being left for dead in the field, he feels abandoned by his country. After enduring torture, he too finds himself seeking revenge. Thankfully, the Iranians are looking to acquire plutonium for a nuclear missile. Ghost uses this exchange to steal the weapon and sets in motion a plan to destroy a fleet of Navy ships off the coast of Italy. This is where Ghost and Mitch come together in a race against time. From here on out, this movie plays out in spectacular fashion. Most of which I can't speak about without giving away the ending. 

Despite it taking me five paragraphs to explain the plot of this movie, I found it to be too simplistic. As an audience member, you are asked to believe a lot of unbelievable events. Also, events, their cause, and the next steps of the bad guys are figured out much too easily; which is the biggest complaint I have with movies such as this. The acting in the film is subpar with no one giving much of a stellar performance. Even Keaton, who I adore, seems to just be there barking orders and commands. Ghost's reasoning for seeking revenge against his homeland is weak at best. Much of the dialogue leaves something to be desired. Still, this is a movie worth seeing. I would just wait until you can watch it in the comfort of your home. 

Be good to each other, 

-Nathan

Cinephile No. 678 "Patti Cake$"

"Rhymes to Riches"

A Review of "Patti Cake$" by Nathan H. Box

Director: Geremy Jasper, Writer: Geremy Jasper, Starring: Danielle Macdonald, Bridget Everett. Siddharth Dhananjay

Rating: 4 Stars, SHOWTIME

Patricia Dombrowski goes by many names. Patti Cake$, Killa P, just to name a couple. She is beyond average and finds herself in a dying town in New Jersey. Patti possesses a gift; a gift which may help deliver her from her withering home. Patti is part poet, all rapper, and is solely focused on making it as a white, overweight, woman in the world of hip-hop. Her journey is anything but expected and delivers one of the most memorable movies of the year. 

Patti's home state of New Jersey is an important character in this film. In my mind, there is only one other place in the US this film could have taken place and that's Detroit. We've already seen "8 Mile," so New Jersey it is. All around our main character is a town crumbling to pieces. Jobs are hard to come by, addiction is rampant, and opportunity only seems to knock for a few. Patti wants to be one of those people knocking on the door. She has dreams of rising from rhymes to riches. What began as clever lines in notebooks and rapping with friends, slowly begins to blossom into something more. As an audience member, it doesn't take you long to realize you are experiencing a real talent. The great struggle of the film is her mission to have the rest of the world realize it. 

To rise, she must battle stereotypes. Her race, weight, and gender are all weapons others use to try and keep her in a place she is no longer destined. This requires hustling, grinding, and battling. It requires two jobs, practice, and just a little bit of luck. There are valuable lessons to be learned here: We should always seek to positively defy other's expectations of us and rarely do we arrive anywhere substantial without hard work. There are many moments in this film when life gets in the way like an alcoholic mother or a dying grandmother and it would have been easy for our hero to quit. Luckily for us, quitting is never really an option for Patti. 

The film's climax is a rap showcase in Newark. Patti and her crew find themselves competing with other talented acts. All are battling for a chance to take the next step in their career. Without giving too much away, this original piece of work could have chosen a typical Hollywood ending. instead, they chose a different route and by doing so delivered a perfect ending for a perfect role model of what it means to chase your dreams. 

Be good to each other, 

-Nathan 

Cinephile No. 677 "Ingrid Goes West"

"Social Feedback Loop"

A Review of "Ingrid Goes West" by Nathan H. Box

Director: Matt Spicer, Writers: David Branson Smith, Matt Spicer, Starring: Aubrey Plaza, Elizabeth Olsen, O'Shea Jackson Jr. 

Rating: 4 Stars, SHOWTIME

This review will start with a request. I want you to open your phone or the phone of one of your kids. Look at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and/or Snapchat. Take a long hard look at who you are following and who is influencing your children. Before you, do you see Insta-famous celebrities with massive amounts of followers hawking pills, shakes, home decor, and a certain lifestyle? If this new realization bothers you, then "Ingrid Goes West" is the movie for you. I, for one, have been patiently waiting for a movie to address our new world in such a compelling movie and was pleasantly surprised to run across this film. 

The movie stars Aubry Plaza from "Parks and Recreation" fame as Ingrid. In a lot of ways, Ingrid is a social media stalker. In other ways, she suffers from a deep psychosis which finds her compulsively obsessed with social media. Ingrid's first bout with the mental illness finds her in the grips of a mental institution. After lots of pills, therapy, and meditation she finds herself ready to be released back into the wild. Unfortunately for her, it doesn't take long before she succumbs to her old ways. 

As she begins stalking Taylor played by Elizabeth Olsen, Ingrid receives money from her mother's estate. Taking her obsession to the next level, she uses that money to move to Los Angeles to be closer to Taylor. From here on out, things get really weird. Taylor, for her part, is the woman I mentioned in the opening paragraph. She is "Insta-famous" and can be found selling a certain lifestyle. What I found intriguing about the intersection of the two characters is how much they share in common. Both are victims of the social feedback loop which means they derive their worth from the likes and comments they get. They are focused like lasers on amassing huge amounts of followers. For Taylor, this means more money and influence. For Ingrid, this means someone out there likes here; a feeling she is seriously lacking. When the dust settles between the two characters, you can't help but wonder who is faker? Neither woman is being their authentic self. Instead, they are being who they think the world wants them to be. 

"Ingrid Goes West" is a vision of our world few of us realized is real. It shows the ability of social media to connect us but also reveals its dark power. One of the scary moments comes when you realize the web is filled with people who root for death but make you more famous after you're gone. In the end, this movie reminded me to unplug from social media every once in a while if for no reason other than my own mental health. 

Be good to each other, 

-Nathan

Cinephile No. 676 "Good Time"

"Why Care?"

A Review of "Good Time" by Nathan H. Box

Director: Benny Safdie, Josh Safdie, Writers: Ronald Bronstein, Josh Safdie, Starring: Robert Pattinson, Benny Safdie, Taliah Webster

Rating: 1 Star, SKIP! 

When I walk into a theater, I do so with a single thought on my mind; this is going to be a good film but I am open to being wrong. In other words, I sit down with the best of expectations. As the screen fades from black and we get our first glimpses of the characters and the setting, I begin to ponder new thoughts: Where is this plot going? Why should we care about these characters? In my mind, for a film to be truly great, the plot must be accessible. It can be smarter than us (Interstellar) or it can be stupid, yet entertaining (Dumb & Dumber). Whatever it is, it must be something the audience can put their faith in or easily suspend their disbelief. To the second question, you must be able to invest in the characters. They can be superheroes, the girl next door, or someone who is evil incarnate. Whoever they are, you must be able to feel what they are experiencing. 

For me, "Good Time" never answers either one of these questions particularly well. The film features Robert Pattison and his mentally handicapped brother (Nick) played by Benny Safdie. Pattison plays Connie, a down on his luck and overly protective brother, who in his desperation to make it in New York City turns to a life of crime. Connie either uses or includes Nick during a bank robbery. They successfully leave the bank with the money only to find out a dye pack has been placed in their bag. In the confusion, Connie and Nick run the streets of New York covered in dye. After cleaning themselves up in a Domino's bathroom, they calmly stroll down a sidewalk before being confronted by an officer. In the moment, Nick makes a run for it and is arrested by the police. Connie escapes and devises a series of failed plans to get his brother out of jail. These plans range from using the stolen money as bail to a love interest's credit card to breaking him out of a hospital after Nick is admitted from getting beaten badly in prison. 

Plan after plan, things continue to fall apart. Then, you as an audience member, are asked to stomach a ridiculous turn in the plot. I won't give it away here, but it literally made me gasp in the theater. Not from being surprised. Rather, I gasped because the plot point and the accompanying dialogue were so bad. After these scenes, I couldn't have cared less about what happened to the characters on screen. 

Ultimately, as the movie draws near a conclusion, you are left to wonder if Pattison's character will do the right thing and take the fall for his brother. Again, I won't spoil the plot, but his options become less and less as the movie moves forward. After the film was over, I left with nothing more than regret. This was my first Robert Pattison movie. I skipped the "Twilight" craze. Sincerely, he has the range and the chops to be a great actor. He just needs a decent movie. 

Be good to each other, 

-Nathan