Fast & Furious 6 – 4/5 stars

When the fifth instalment of a struggling film franchise was about to go into production in 2010, there was skepticism as to whether it can keep the series alive, not to mention improve its efforts with film fans and the demanding box office. However, a bigger budget and the introduction of The Rock helped Fast 5 revive the film franchise, while breaking box office records and establishing itself the most successful entry in the Fast & Furious series. It also served an additional purpose: developing a new story arc for its characters. And now, two years later, the story continues.

Fast & Furious 6 follows on from the escapades in Rio, which left criminal/racer Dom Torreto (Vin Diesel), Brian O’Conner (Paul Walker) and the team incredibly wealthy but constantly looking over their shoulder for the feds, namely DSS agent Hobbs (now fan favourite Dwayne Johnson). When a team led by former special forces agent Owen Shaw (Luke Evans) target military convoys with the aim of vehicular warfare, Hobbs recruits Torreto and the team to get Shaw and his cohorts – including Torreto’s ex Letty (Michelle Rodriguez), who was thought to have died in the fourth film.

Following on from the unexpected success of Fast 5, director Justin Lin and screenwriter Chris Morgan had a tall order to produce a fitting film to continue the franchise, as well as accommodate its position in the series’s now disjointed chronology. The conundrum is almost apparent as the film progresses. After almost a lifetime of running and hiding, the characters are propelled into the spotlight: the film is essentially criminals chasing terrorists. It probably sounds great on paper, but it feels like unfamiliar ground; not a sentiment to feel when you are in an established film series. There is also an increased dependency regarding the credibility of its key cast members, and as a result, certain elements ofFast & Furious 6 are not up to scratch.
The storyline is not very imaginative, especially the background behind Letty’s absence and Shaw’s ambitious mercenary, and there are numerous plot twists, which come off as unnecessary. In addition to this, the objectively emotive dialogue ends up being weak and the female cast members are somewhat drowning in the massive testosterone levels throughout the film. Any key contributions from them tend to be during the action sequences, when they are firing a gun or throwing punches with each other.

Having said that, Fast 6 is a film that is designed for pure unadulterated entertainment. Seeing the team back together (albeit a couple of members), as well as working with The Rock brings out the lighter moments in the film and the action sequences are enjoyable. The car chases have an element of The Italian Job and it makes the most of the London cityscapes at night, while the breathtaking stunts are daft yet exhilarating. Diesel and Johnson are on top form – the best moments are easily when the two of them are on-screen together – and additional cast members such as Evans, The Raid’s Joe Taslim and Haywire‘s Gina Carano make the most of their on-screen presence so considering the extensive ensemble, most of the characters have their fun.

Its continuation from Fast 5 has made it a ‘stepping stone’ in terms of story and character development and with the recent news of a seventh instalment on the cards, it is a matter of anticipation to see how the events in Fast & Furious 6 will steer the franchise.

Action-packed and ridiculously fun, it is hard not to cheer during Fast & Furious 6. Just don’t expect as much sweat in this one.

I’m So Excited – 3/5 stars

It has been two years since renowned Spanish filmmaker Pedro Almodóvar released his physiological horror The Skin I Live In, which established a dramatic change of direction in his extensive filmography. However, the same can be said for his latest film, I’m So Excited (original language: Los Amantes Pasajeros), which is a straight-up no-holds-barred comedy.

Set in the business class section of an airplane, the crew and passengers, formed by an ensemble cast of Almodóvar alumni, including Cecilia Roth (All About My Mother), Javier Cámera (Talk to Her) and Lola Dueñas (Volver), face possible death due to a malfunction mid-flight. Secrets, sexual abandon and lip-synching ensues.

I’m So Excited is a strange combination; it has certain serious plot elements such as the malfunction, a passing mention on Spain’s economic troubles and the delicate mental status of a scorned lover. Yet, it also encompasses Almodóvar’s trademark themes, such as crazy lovers, death and sexual undertones – all these factors unfortunately clash in a way that the underlying garishness of the crazy takes all the would-be emotional drama out of the film. The result is 90 minutes of almost over-exaggerated melodrama, lessening the impact of the seriousness of the situation.

In the past, Almodóvar’s features have a certain degree of class when flaunting the outrageous, but in I’m So Excited, he is not watering it down for the sake of the viewer. Upon seeing the colourful credit sequence, it is obvious that the film screams camp and this peaks during an impressive, memorably choreographed performance by the three male flight attendants, who perform The Pointer Sister’s eponymous hit for their passengers’ (presumed) entertainment.

Having said that, this is undeniably Almodóvar’s wittiest film; his rarely seen comedic talents come through in the sharp banter between the unscrupulous characters, who talk so freely about their sex lives. It’s all so scandalous that it is easy to feel entertained by the escapism of the on-flight gossip.

It may not be artistically stylish to accommodate fans of Almodóvar’s more acclaimed films, but the amoral characters and the quick-witted dialogue are enough to shock and entertain.

Thanks for reading.

The Place Beyond The Pines – 4/5 stars

There have been lots of films that deal with the idea of a cataclysmic event that changes the direction and narrative of the story. For instance, Sliding Doors uses the ‘what-if’ situation to basically tell to different stories of the same character, taking place in parallel to each other.  It is this idea of ’cause and effect’ behind the third film by Blue Valentine director Derek Cianfrance; his second feature with man of the moment, Ryan Gosling.

The Place Beyond The Pines tells the story of circus stunt motorcyclist Luke Glanton (Gosling), who learns that he has a son, Jason, from a past fling with waitress Romina (Eva Mendes). Deciding that he wants to be in his son’s life, he decides to start robbing banks to provide for Jason and Romina. This soon culminates in a showdown with young cop Avery Cross (Bradley Cooper), leading to a new chapter in the film, as the repercussions of their encounter affects his life and those around him.

The Place… flows from one chapter into another and focuses on how one event can drastically change the lives of various people, regardless of their involvement.  Normally, a film with two different viewpoints tend to be attached to one life or person, like Hilary & Jackie - yet it feels like two films, practically feature-length, are cut together.  As a result, the characters’ respective screen times during both halves are noticeable; the first half is all Gosling whereas the second should have seen more of Cooper but instead is more of a cast ensemble piece.

To be honest, there is the same uncertain feeling that I had with Blue Valentine; as pretty as the film is – not to mention its beautiful landscapes and tracking shots, you feel that you should be reaffirmed that life is difficult and focuses on the flaws of people, regardless of their intentions.  This essentially makes this a hard film to pin down – should we feel empathy and if so, for whom?  It’s all quite confusing.

On the other hand, the performances are electric.  Gosling incorporates the quiet yet dangerous vibe from Drive and therefore, puts in a great performance by saying very little.  His portrayal of a reckless character whose hidden heart is in the right place essentially sets the standard for Cooper, whose ambitious yet clean-cut Avery is mostly dwarfed by the events in his own narrative, as well as the presence of other supporting characters, namely the now-teenage Jason (Dane DeHaan).

Great performances, interesting narrative although unevenly structured, The Place Beyond the Pines is very much a character drama.