BORAT SUBSEQUENT MOVIEFILM
Rated: R
Release Date: October 23, 2020
Director: Jason Woliner
Stars: Sacha Baron Cohen, Maria Bakalova
Plot: A Kazakh reporter returns to the US to try to repair the damage he did 14 years earlier
Clint Says: Watch this only if you are okay with being offended
Sacha Baron Cohen is a man of many talents. He is incredibly funny, he seems to always be topical, and he's an equal opportunity offender. This film is filled with all of those elements.
While this sequel isn't as good as the original, it has several moments that are laugh-out-loud funny. It also has many cringeworthy moments as well. And then there are all of the completely offensive moments.
Here's the deal: If you are a Trump supporter that doesn't like people making fun of him or his administration, you should just skip this one. If you are someone that thrives on seeing Trump and his administration treated like fools, you may consider this to be one of the best films of the year. However, if you are easily offended by jokes about the pandemic, the oppression of women, or making fun of other cultures you should probably watch something else this weekend. If you are someone that is fine with people in real life being pranked for a farcical story, and you can separate comedy from real life, then you'll enjoy this movie.
The good news for everyone is that this film actually has a decent story and character development. Rather than just throwing together a bunch of prank interviews and calling it a day, there is an underlying story behind the madness that is, believe it or not, endearing and heartwarming. That doesn't mean that this is some incredible tale that must be heard by all. It just means you have something to keep you interested between the laughs and the groans.
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THE EMPTY MAN
Rated: R
Release Date: October 23, 2020
Director: David Prior
Stars: James Badge Dale, Stephen Root, Joel Courtney, Marin Ireland
Plot: A group finds out how to summon an evil entity and things take a bad turn
Clint Says: Wait for the digital release
It must be near the end of October. Why? Because even in the middle of a pandemic Hollywood still manages to push out bad horror flicks. (That, and I looked at the calendar just before I wrote this).
While this is not your typical, do-something-stupid, make-all-the-wrong-choices, the-person-acting-like-a-jerk-is-about-to-die horror flick, it tries to be smart and moody, but it just falls flat.
What makes this one worse than most is that it is nearly a full hour longer than the average horror flick. Most of them clock in at 80 or 90 minutes. Sometimes they push an hour and 45 minutes. But this one drags on for a full 2 hours and 17 minutes! That's like 3 years in horror flick time. Trust me, nobody's got time for that.
If you are desperate to get out of the house and see a new horror flick for the Halloween season, this is pretty much your only option. I wish it was better, but we don't always get what we wish for…even if we blow into an empty bottle and chant for it.
If you are desperate to get out of the house and see a new horror flick for the Halloween season, this is pretty much your only option. I wish it was better, but we don't always get what we wish for…even if we blow into an empty bottle and chant for it.
I have a feeling that The Empty Man is going to be playing to a lot of empty theaters.
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HONEST THIEF
Rated: PG-13
Release Date: October 16, 2020
Director: Mark Williams
Stars: Liam Neeson, Kate Walsh, Jai Courtney
Plot: A retired Marine has spent his retirement years robbing banks, and now he wants to make things right, but he has to prove he is innocent of a wild crime spree first
Clint Says: Wait for the digital release
Not to make this too simple, but, for the most part, if you've seen one Liam Neeson one-man-against-the-world movie, you've seen them all. It is true, he has a special set of skills, and he uses them all in every film he does. It would be nice to see him use another set of skills by playing a character of another type, but he knows these flicks are his wheelhouse, and so do we.
I would rank this film somewhere in the middle of his similar films. It's not great, but it isn't terrible either. It's pretty much exactly what you think it is.
The one thing that brings this movie down is that nothing really exciting happens for the first 30 minutes. Yes, the story gets established, but let's be honest, we don't go to movies like this for a long, drawn-out story. We go to see Liam use his special skills.
After the 30 minute mark the movie picks up the pace and gets into the good stuff, but even then, it's still pretty tame.
After the 30 minute mark the movie picks up the pace and gets into the good stuff, but even then, it's still pretty tame.
After all the guy is an honest thief. By definition that makes him pretty bland. Now, if Liam starred in a flick called Back-stabbing, Explosive Thief, I'm paying extra to see that.
But, since it is called Honest Thief there aren't a whole lot of reasons to see this in theaters. Unless you just want to be an awesome person and support the theaters and their employees, which I always highly recommend. Otherwise, just wait for the digital release. You won't miss anything…honest.
But, since it is called Honest Thief there aren't a whole lot of reasons to see this in theaters. Unless you just want to be an awesome person and support the theaters and their employees, which I always highly recommend. Otherwise, just wait for the digital release. You won't miss anything…honest.
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