Marvel Melodrama not for the Uninitiated

Captain America: Civil War (2016).

D: Anthony Russo & Joe Russo. DP: Trent Opaloch. W: Christopher Markus & Stephen McFeely. Starring: Chris Evans/Robert Downey Jr./Anthony Mackie/Scarlett Johansson/Sebastian Stan/Don Cheadle/Paul Bettany/Elizabeth Olsen/Chadwick Boseman/Emily VanCamp/Tom Holland/Daniel Bruhl/William Hurt/Martin Freeman/Marisa Tomei.

I know you probably feel like you just sat down to watch a Marvel movie only a month ago because, well, you did. Deadpool can still be heard laughing at the X-Men who incidentally have another theatrical installment of their tale in theaters this weekend. Yet this month we return to the world of Captain America in Chris Evan’s third stand alone film as the flashiest boy scout there ever was.

2011’s Captain America: The First Avenger laid most of the groundwork of who Steve Rogers was before and after the creation of his war-time costumed hero. Moving the timeline forward 2014’s Captain America: The Winter Soldier sees the return of Steve’s friend Bucky (Sebastian Stan) whose ampted assassin status has him become a fugitive from justice. Now in Captain America: Civil War we find Steve and his Avengers friends grappling with consequences of their well meaning interventions in world catastrophes. Given the chance to sign over their duties to the government, Steve’s stance on this becomes more complicated when Bucky resurfaces. Will vigilante behavior ensue?

Is that a lot to follow? Maybe. At this point if you have not seen an Avengers or Captain America film I would not start with this one. However, if you are not into Marvel then you probably will not bother, right? In essence though Civil War is more like Avengers 2.5 and less like a Captain America stand alone film, which actually makes it stronger. Steve’s goody-two-shoe quality is best when balanced with other characters, especially the complexity of Bucky. Addressing the same issues Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice attempted to discuss, as a group Steve and more Avengers cope with the personal and public fallout of violence. Who can make the call to step in and whose agenda does this powerful group adhere to. Rather than be clunky about it the film splits the group keeping the internal threat to friendship and loyalty the focus of the drama and action.

Bucky’s reappearance luckily means more Stan onscreen. His Winter Soldier is greasy and sullen, the thankful opposite of clean-cut Evans. The distaste he has for Falcon (Anthony Mackie) injects humor into their not so bromance friendship triangle. Mackie takes on a larger role as does Scarlett Johannson as Black Widow. Clearly the Marvel heads heard the shouts about her needing her own film as one of the few female Avengers. Here she has some great fight sequences–twisting the necks of most of the men she fights. Other Avengers do appear, but I have left them out to not spoil the make up of the competing parties. Civil War does its diligence in introducing not one, but two additions to the Avengers world. Tom Holland is a rightfully youthful Peter Parker aka Spider-Man. He brings new energy and has a nice dynamic with Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.). But don’t forget that Columbia Pictures owns the rights to Spider-Man, hence why there will be another set of films so they can retain those rights. Chadwick Boseman also appears for the first time as Black Panther. Boseman’s own Black Panther film will not hit theaters until 2018 and has Creed director Ryan Coogler on board.

Civil War is directed and shot by the same team behind Winter Soldier and it clearly shows. Lightness and humor are not lost amidst a plot that grapples with serious ideas. The Avengers team essentially works as an extended family for its characters whose abilities isolate them from the general population. It is the perfect recipe for melodrama and the familial showdown and closer hand-to-hand fights are woven well into the personal conflicts. There are surely weaknesses like Emily VanCamp’s silly appearance or Elizabeth Olsen’s inconsistent accent as Wanda aka Scarlett Witch. Yet, ultimately the film is a solid addition to the Marvel world for those already indoctrinated.

A Heavy Load

Flight (2012).

D: Robert Zemeckis. W: John Gatins. DP: Don Burgess. Starring: Denzel Washington/Bruce Greenwood/Don Cheadle/Brian Geraghty/Kelly Reilly/John Goodman/Nadine Velasquez/Melissa Leo/James Badge Dale.

Amidst James Bond, vampires and hobbits a few films this season will claw their way into the box office and people’s memories. It is difficult to say if Flight will be among them, but it’s never too late for a surprise.

Having toyed with the script for over a decade, screenwriter John Gatins is clearly at his most interesting mark yet. Gatins other work, 2001’s Summer Catch, 2005’s Coach Carter & Dreamer, and 2011’s Real Steel, seem to have a clear inspiration message. And although he has also doctored other scripts along the way, Gatins’ Flight is a testament to his research and personal connection to his story. The age old saying is to always write what you know and Flight succeeds because of this well rooted honesty.

Gatins work also succeeds as it was put in experienced hands with Robert Zemeckis directing and Denzel Washington taking on the lead. Washington’s age and trademark gravitas gives added weight to his characters internal and external struggles. His performance pulsates with varying degrees of intoxication and his likability forces you to be conflicted about his character throughout the film. Washington is supported from all ends by stellar actors, with Kelly Reilly leading the charge as Nicole, an addict he chance meets in the hospital. Their relationship however, never pulls focus, but rather their meeting is one of the best scenes in the film.

The first thirty minutes of the film are tense, yet spectacular as the plane crash is simultaneously brilliant and terrifying. Yet thankfully it is not the whole film. At its core, Flight explores the power of addiction to shape our lives and make choices while deluding us into believing that these choices are of our own making. And just as dynamic as the crash, the conflict within Washington’s Whip makes the film memorable and ultimately enjoyable.

Lastly, as was similar with Lawless earlier in the year, its previews do the film a disservice. Coming off as conventional and too glossy, Flight will probably surprise many purely because it is not the film advertised. All I can hope is that it will work in the films favor and get a wider audience to see something less candy coated.