Tag Archives: Ezra Miller

The Flash

We need to talk about Ezra. Is Ezra Miller a big enough star to open and carry a big budget movie? Obviously, the answer is no. Because the makers of The Flash have brought along Michael Keaton as Batman to do a significant amount of the film’s heavy lifting.

Regarding Miller: Despite the creepiness of some of his prior movie roles and despite his real life misbehaviors, his talent is undeniable and his charm and humor shine through in his portrayal of Barry Allen AKA The Flash.

(I will, in this review of the new movie The Flash, refer to Ezra Miller as “he/him” because using a plural pronoun for one single person is confusing to me and to others. If you have a problem with that, just hit delete and move along.)

The film itself has, despite its flaws, enough story and special effects to attract fans who may be suffering from the widely-reported superhero fatigue among the movie-going public. It’s a fun ride! A bit too long—another movie with a climactic battle scene that goes on and on. And then on some more.

Time travel is a key element of The Flash. But what happens when The Flash goes back in time and encounters his younger self? They exist together in that time/space. It makes for some complications, of course. And some funny business. And some useful teamwork.

The opening episode of The Flash may generate a sickening 9/11 flashback for some folks with the image of newborn babies and a nurse falling from a collapsing building. (Spoiler: they don’t die, thanks to The Flash.) Yes, it’s a fantasy movie and, yes, that horrible day was nearly twenty-two years ago, but still…

There’s a decent amount of fan service with references to other DC superheroes. And a Shawshank reference, intentional or not, when a character walks through a wall decorated with a poster of a female movie star. 

The initial encounter by the two Barrys of the gone-to-seed version of Bruce Wayne is among the film’s highlights. Some of Keaton’s finest acting in a well-written scene.

Along with Miller and Keaton, The Flash features Michael Shannon as General Zod who comes to earth from Krypton with evil intents. Sasha Calle is Kara Zor-El AKA Supergirl. And Kiersey Clemons charms as Iris West, Barry’s sort-of girlfriend. 

The big question this movie asks—and the box office will answer—is this: Are The Flash and the film’s star Ezra Miller strong enough to anchor a franchise within the DC Extended Universe? Or will The Flash be relegated to occasional appearances in Justice League ensemble movies? To be determined. 

The Flash is rated PG-13. Directed by Andy Muschietti.

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Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them

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A pleasant mix of whimsy and peril, Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them takes elements from the Harry Potter saga and places them in a new setting with new characters. This latest movie from the mind of J.K. Rowling—she wrote and co-produced the film—has a mostly adult cast and is set on our side of the Atlantic in the mid 1920s.

You don’t have to be familiar with the Potter universe to enjoy FBAWTFT, although it has numerous references to Potter people and things. The film introduces a new character, briefly glimpsed in a Johnny Depp cameo, who will surely provide darkness and evil in Beasts’ sequels. (Four more movies are planned.)

Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) is a British wizard who arrives by ship in New York. In a classic switcheroo, his magical suitcase full of beasts gets mixed up with that of aspiring baker Jacob Kowalski (Dan Fogler). Newt also meets fellow wizards Tina (Katherine Waterston) and her roommate Queenie (Alison Sudol). A hat tip to Dan Fogler as Jacob—It’s a role that could’ve seen him go full Oliver Hardy but he keeps it in check.

Tina is not highly regarded by the U.S. wizards organization, led by Seraphina (Carmen Ejogo) and enforcer Graves (Colin Ferrell). The wizarding group keeps a close eye on Mary Lou (Samantha Morton) who has a group of adopted children and preaches against witches and wizards. One of her flock is Credence (Ezra Miller), a troubled young man with dark secret and an awful haircut.

FBAWTFT has a bit of sexual tension bubbling under between Newt and Tina and especially between Jacob and Queenie, given Queenie’s mindreading ability. But everything is squeaky PG-13 clean.

The beasts? Yes, they are fantastic. Many are derivative, possessing the look of certain prehistoric bird/reptile creatures, as well as other beings witnessed previously in sci-fi movies. My favorite wizard world freaks are those seen in the speakeasy scene where a diminuitive bartender serves Jacob a drink called giggle water. He drinks it and he giggles.

Will Fantastic Beasts satisfy Potter fans now that that tale has concluded? Most likely yes, but it’s a different flavor of wizardry and magic. Like the Potter films, Beasts’ pace is breakneck, heavy with plot and characters. But Newt and crew lack the pure charm Harry and his gang possessed. A different flavor, to be sure, but tasty enough to succeed.

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Trainwreck

Amy Schumer homers in her first major league at-bat. Trainwreck is funny and she is the movie’s title star. Just as importantly, she also gets the lone credit on the “written by” card.

Amy Townsend (Schumer) is not a loser. It’s her love life that’s a trainwreck. She’s a woman who men pursue. But most of her hookups are just one-night stands, a few of which are hilariously depicted in the film.

She’s a writer for a Maxim-like men’s magazine called S’Nuff. Her editor Dianna (Tilda Swinton) assigns her to write a profile of a sports medicine doctor, Aaron Conners (Bill Hader), whose patients include several big name pro jocks. Among them is LeBron James (played by, in a casting coup, LeBron James, who turns out to be an excellent performer).

Following her first visit with Aaron, he takes her to dinner. They spend the night together and begin a normal relationship, which is not Amy’s normal M.O. The inevitable bumps in the road occur leading to a happy resolution and solid laughter along the way. Along with the raunch, there’s some real sweetness.

The cast also includes Brie Larson as Amy’s sister Kim and Mike Birbiglia as Kim’s husband Tom. Colin Quinn is wonderful as Amy and Kim’s cantankerous, ailing father. Daniel Radcliffe and Marisa Tomei appear in an art house film that Amy attends with one of her less refined boyfriends (WWE wrestler John Cena). Ezra Miller and SNL vet Vanessa Bayer appear as Amy’s co-workers.

Director Judd Apatow has delivered raunchy romantic comedies with a heart before. He has nurtured talented actor/writers before. (See Seth Rogen.) Apatow’s a pro who knows where the good/bad taste line lies and dances all around both sides of it. Schumer’s script (which he acknowledges he tweaked) has some holes, but is fresh and funny.

Amy Schumer is riding high on a positive wave generated by a successful Comedy Central TV series and tons of good media publicity for Trainwreck. The horrible comments made earlier this year by internet trolls regarding her physical appearance—she’s not the traditionally glamorous babe seen in most rom-coms—have led to backlash in her favor.

Trainwreck would be a respectable effort if it came from a veteran. Coming from a rookie writer/actor, it’s damned impressive.

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