"12 Strong" Delivers the Feels, Neeson Kicks Butt in "The Commuter," and Chastain Shines in "Molly's Game"

 
   This weekend marks the opening of the epic true story behind the brave men of the first Special Forces team deployed to Afghanistan after 9/11. Under the leadership of a new captain, the team must work with an Afghan warlord to take down the Taliban. The story of 12 Strong is one of courage and bravery in the face of rising hate and evil, something that is ever relevant in society today. The events that took place on 9/11 are forever cemented in the memories of those who experienced it, lost loved ones to it, and witnessed it play out on television. So, any time there are stories that arise that illuminate the heroic nature behind the response to these events, it's hard to criticize. Personally, I thought 12 Strong was a completely serviceable, entertaining, inspiring film and I enjoyed every minute of it.

   Chris Hemsworth portrays Captain Mitch Nelson, a inexperienced captain when it comes to combat, but the chosen leader of the group sent in to respond to the attack on American soil. He and his squad are sent in to Afghanistan to allign with a resistance general in order to team up against the Taliban. The plan: General Dostum (Navid Negahban) and his army will escort Captain Nelson's team into heavy Taliban areas, where Captain Nelson would then use air strike capability to wipe them out. Easier said than done. Between balancing hostile Taliban forces fighting against them, a competitive spirit on the brink of being dangerous between competing resistance groups, and never having lead a team into combat, Captain Nelson has his hands full. Chris Hemsworth has proven he can play the leading man, and he portrays the confident and brazen captain with honesty and a southern accent that comes and goes as it pleases...really the only thing that was off-putting about the movie. A minor issue at best, because the rest of the movie is great.

   Across the board the acting is really well done in this film. Michael Shannon and Michael Peña give some great supporting performances that are powerful and funny, respectively. Director Nicolai Fuglsig was able to craft a really intense film with some awesome action pieces, some of which we have not seen on film before, or at least not recently. The story behind the 12 men that went on this mission is particularly unique, especially when considering the logistics of their mission. Because of the harsh terrain, these men saddled up on horseback next to their Afghan comrades. I found this movie to be completely serviceable. I was entertained from start to finish, it's not perfect--some of the writing and dialogue seem somewhat basic and clunky, but not all bad--but overall this movie left me with tremendous respect for the men who participated in this event. 12 Strong is one worth seeing.

   I also had a chance this week to catch the new Liam Neeson film The Commuter. Hmmm, what to say about this film...listen, I love Liam Neeson. I think the fact that he can hold down an action lead at his age is awesome, and even though he keeps getting placed into these movies that keep making him the ultimate action hero, I still find it entertaining. The Commuter tells the story of a businessman (Neeson) who is caught up in a criminal conspiracy during his daily commute home. If you've seen Liam Neeson's film Non-Stop, well...The Commuter is essentially Non-Stop but on a train instead of a plane. The story is straightforward, the acting is decent, but the action is what you'll enjoy most. Neeson kicks some serious butt in this movie, and the way it's shot is really intense. There are moments where certain fight scenes on the train take up a long period of screen time without cutting away to a new angle. There's a sense of containment about them, and that has everything to do with the environment of the train. At the end of the day, if you're looking for a fun action movie and you're a fan of Liam Neeson's other action work, this movie will be right up your alley.

   

   If you're looking for something a little more low key, Molly's Game is a great bet. Another film I saw this week based on a true story, Molly's Game is the true story of Molly Bloom (played by Jessica Chastain), an Olympic-class skier who ran the world's most exclusive high-stakes poker game and eventually became an FBI target. A lot of buzz has come out of this film, and most of it is due to Chastain's performance. She's really great in this movie, capturing the confident, spunky nature of Molly Bloom. There's a lot of emotional baggage that Molly packs around with her, and Chastain is able to balance the insanity of Molly's surroundings with a smart and witty tact. One of the most touching and emotional scenes come when Molly and her father (played by the fantastic Kevin Costner) confront one another about the baggage of their past. It's really quite something. The story behind Molly is one that is almost too insane to believe, but as the events of the film unfold you begin to believe in Molly's abilities as she takes the underground poker world by storm. It's a story about loss, about finding yourself, about high stakes and risky business, and ultimately it's about how far you're willing to push the value you place on yourself. It's a crazy, fun story that moves at a decent pace and keeps you on your toes. I wouldn't be surprised if it gets some award buzz in the near future.