Yes, No, Maybe So In a Man's Man's Man's Man's World
Saturday, May 12, 2012 at 1:00AM
NATHANIEL R in Argo, Ben Affleck, Expendables, Gangster Squad, Jean Claude Van Damme, Lawless, Oscars (12), Sean Penn, Yes No Maybe So

Trying to catch up here so herewith, a quartet of big groups of male actors committing daring crimes/heroics in two minutes flat so that you can see the best parts* of the movies for free. 

*that's how it works, right?


We'll break Argo, Expendables 2, Lawless and Ganster Squad down into quick threes via our infallible Yes No Maybe So™ system after the jump.

ARGO

YES -because Ben Affleck is building quite a Future Best Director Nominee rep and film number three might be the golden breakthrough. It can't hurt that the film will combine his talents with large pedigreed casts (Bryan Cranston and John Goodman both look as good as you can always count on them to be), escalating suspense, and even celebrity what with its "making a fake movie" overlay.

NO - on account of what if it's as well made but ultimately whatever as Frost/Nixon? Perhaps it's just the period clothing  plot and all male cast taking my mind there. I need more actresses. I just do. He basically gives us one and a half per movie aka Not Enough.

MAYBE SO -is mostly just the description of its Oscar chances.  But I do wonder / worry how the lighter comedy of the fake movie business can sit comfortably alongside a true story with the threat of very real violence?

 

EXPENDABLES 2

YES - The Muscles from Brussels! Dolph! Jet Li! Ahnuld! Bruce Willis! etcetera but without exclamation points. Because it's a fun idea to combine all those actors weighed down by former nostalgia glory into one supersize package... 

NO - see, the last movie had the same draw but I didn't bother once the reviews were more meh than wheeeee and honestly this looks so unimaginative visually. Shouldn't they be having more crazy fun with it? And while they're having fun shouldn't they throw in female stars with rich action backgrounds like Sigourney Weaver, Angelina Jolie (not that she'd say yes) or Michelle Yeoh?

MAYBE SO - but then two things delighted me: the faker than fake way the door flies away when Ahnuld rips it off the car and the fratty "whoo!" over the title card. I could maybe be convinced to see it if someone will promise me that Jean Claude Van Damme does the splits in his undies again. Don't judge.

GANGSTER SQUAD

YES -the cast is a treat across the board and the trailer knows how to sell them name by name in a way that the Expendables, oddly, does not. Sean Penn looks like a standout and we get round two of Emma Stone & Ryan Gosling's Crazy Stupid Great chemistry. Plus that tommy gun through the movie screen scene pops in this condensed format. It's so "introducing a crazy period gangster movie!" as if it was shot as the trailer.

NO - I've talked to someone who has seen this and they weren't enthused apart from Sean Penn's villain. This is not a real quibble about the movie but I feel terrible for Anthony Mackie. He's the only actor on the main promotional image who isn't listed in either the big cast type on the poster or the little cast type in the abbreviated credits. Anthony Mackie needs a better agent or a bigger career or a smarter Hollywood to work in. 

MAYBE SO - If you've seen The Untouchables (1987) and Public Enemies (2009) what will set this one apart?

LAWLESS (previously known as "Wettest County" and "Wettest County in the World"

YES - Tom Hardy is intensely watchable and I ♥ Jessica Chastain's big trailer moment. Weirdly it'll be so nice to see her again on screen despite seeing her so constantly for all of 2011. John Hillcoat seems, perpetually, like a director on the verge.

NO - Hate hate hate those freeze frame flashes where one person is highlighted and the camera moves in towards (only) them. It is undoubtedly a trailer affectation but it doesn't bode well for the confidence to sell the movie as is. Speaking of affectations: Guy Pearce! Also this is yet another organized crime movie. Yawn. The cinema drowns in them.

MAYBE SO - this project seems like it was shot long ago and delayed and delayed. That could just be impatience talking but what gives? Is it a mess? Is it an interesting mess? Or just a tough sell? Also how weird will it be to see Gary Oldman and Tom Hardy together again immediately after Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy?

That's all I got. Whew. Also "Whoo!" [End credits] Now, whaddayou got?

Article originally appeared on The Film Experience (http://thefilmexperience.net/).
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