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The acting is mainly either of the furrowed-brow or wild-eyed variety. Van Peebles just about holds the film together with a wry sense of humour and matter-of-fact gruffness. When he hides around a corner and pulls a hip flask from a pocket, he knows the audience will chuckle at the cliche. The role is blatantly heroic, but Van Peebles grounds Gomez nicely. And while the perpetrators and tough-guy cops are over-the-top, the hostages are more believably underplayed, which helps offer the hint of emotional connection.

The way everyone behaves in this movie comes from hostage situation movies rather than real-life. At least the final stand-off has an authentic messiness to it that adds a layer of bleak tragedy to the event, which is the largest hostage rescue operation in US history. Credit to Leisure that he hasn't rewritten it as another rah-rah action thriller. And perhaps with a bit more skill behind the camera, it could have been a more thoughtful, even provocative look at how Americans seem to always turn to violence to solve their problems.

themes, violence

26.May.20

Lerman has terrific presence as a cynical but charming guy who has no respect for anyone, especially his timid father. Hawkes plays Frank with a nerdy, matter-of-fact self-righteousness, clearly ruffled by his rude son. Their chemistry is strong as they butt heads, resisting what they have in common. And the gifted Bolger creates a vivid character on her own journey. She shines in a several sequences, and offers a telling comment on why women run off with rebels but settle down with men who are safe.

Sean's bitterness stems from feelings that his father never cared enough to protect him. "I had Clark Kent as a father," he sighs. "I wanted Superman." Director Adalsteins and writer Armbruster offer insight as they touch a variety of nerves. This father and son badly need to overcome their stubbornness and properly listen to each other. So their journey, becomes a steady stream of startlingly honest revelations, right to a lovely final scene.

themes, language, violence

22.May.20

Performances remains grounded as the situation quietly escalates into the fantastical. Horowitz and McCormick make a terrific duo, curious and intrepid, even as they begin to worry that what they've discovered has world-changing implications. Both wear wonderfully nerdy specs, emphasising their bookish naivete, but they're also fearless. And their relationship has some intriguing wrinkles to it as well. Meanwhile, Cronauer gets the show-stopping role as a mysterious woman who has waited a long time to reveal her secrets.

An exploration of the imagination, this movie is assembled in a way that knowingly sparks creative flights of fancy for the viewer, often by deploying the power of storytelling itself. It's also of course about a period in history when the possibilities seemed limitless, as did paranoia about both the unexplained and the Soviets. In addition, the script touches on issues of race and gender, plus government secrecy and conspiracy theories. And ultimately, this is a brilliant, timely parable about how insidious technology can erode free will, an outside influence with the power to change the course of humanity.

themes, violence

29.May.20