GRITZ Movie Reviews: The Kingdom, Elah and Game Plan
Posted: Oct 01, 2007
THE KINGDOM
Jamie Foxx, Chris Cooper, Jennifer Garner and Jason Bateman star as four FBI agents who take it upon themselves to visit the scene of a terrorist bombing inside a Western housing compound in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia to help solve the crime. Given just five days, and meeting with obstacles thrown at them by the Saudi government and military at every turn, the FBI team has their work cut out for them. The crew finds a like-minded partner in Saudi Colonel Al-Ghazi, who helps them navigate royal politics and unlock the secrets of the crime scene. United by a singular mission and fighting for their very lives, Fox and company seem unwilling to stop pushing until justice is served.
It’s an excellent film, and well acted. Be warned that there are some upsetting violent scenes in the movie, especially during the initial terrorist attack. Not for the squeamish, but an incredible movie.
FIVE STARS
IN THE VALLEY OF ELAH
Tommy Lee Jones and Susan Sarandon play Hank and Joan Deerfield, a retired military couple whose son Mike takes missing on his first night back from fighting in Iraq. Jones goes looking for answers, but there are a lot of empty spaces in the story. With the help of Detective Emily Sanders (Charlize Theron), he begins to unravel the whole mystery surrounding his son’s murder, and what he finds is nothing like what he expected. Oscar caliber performances from Jones, Theron and Sarandon.
FOUR STARS
THE GAME PLAN
Pro football Quarterback Joe Kingman (Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson ') is the most popular and fearless player in the game, and his Boston club is headed for the championship when his life is turned upside-down by the arrival of an 8-year-old girl claiming to be his daughter, Peyton James ( Madison Pettis). In a whirlwind of activity that includes playoff games, ballet classes, lots of Elvis memorabilia and an ultra-cool bulldog named Spike, Kingman soon learns that there are more important things in life than, well, him.
It’s not all about the Benjamins after all, it’s all about the really tough stuff: patience, teamwork, selflessness and winning the heart of one sweet little girl.
FOUR STARS
All Reviews by Michael Buffalo Smith
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