Displaying items by tag: Denis Hayesbert

SUMMER CAMP

US, 2024, 95 minutes, Colour.

Diane Keaton, Kathy Bates, Alfre Woodard, Eugene Levy, Dennis Hayesbert, Beverly D'Angelo, Josh Peck, Betsy Sodaro, Tom Wright.

Directed by Castille Landon.

Usually this kind of title indicates an American summer, teenagers gathering and spending weeks away. And, this is how it begins.

So, alert to teenage audiences and their expectations, identifying with the first 10 minutes, especially teenage girls and the characters, issues, conflicts, friendships. But, the action then moves 50 years forward, offering them, perhaps, some images for their future. The vision of senior ladies.

And, so, an alert to the target audience, older women, perhaps memories of their past, watching this for 10 minutes and moving into a more familiar present. We have been introduced to the three central characters, Ginny with her voice-over and commentary, Mary, Nora.

And, 50 years later, Mary is accomplished in her work in the hospital. She is played by Alfre Woodard. Nora is a scientist with technology, addicted to her work. She is played by Diane Keaton repeating her performances in so many films recently, all the mannerisms and tics (and sometimes she wears Annie Hall type clothes!). Jenny is played by Kathy Bates with an extraordinary red Wing! He is the leader of the group, organise this reunion at the summer camp, but hard to persuade Nora to leave her work – and meeting up with the three rivals from 50 years earlier.

This is definitely a film for the target audience, older women. Younger audiences will not be particularly interested. And there are the token men, this time played by Eugene Levy (seriously rather than comic) and Dennis Hayesbert.

The women bond, Nora has to give up her work despite strong efforts to the contrary, Mary is visited by her dominating husband and they have a very serious confrontation (an effective scene), and Ginny is challenged in her controlling of people, which is her profession in helping people to well-being. So, on the rapids, Nora having to be rescued from the water, cheery sessions, touches of romance, a final confrontation and truth telling.

So, best reviewed by its target audience to see whether they identify, enjoy the comedy, the touches of romance, the confrontation.

[There are some good lines throughout, Ginny accused of being a psychopath but s noting that he was on a path! Some action with bows and arrows and a reference to the older men and the patriarchery. An introvert preferring to explore “the great doors”.]

1. The title, the youth camp, the senior women’s camp?
2. The atmosphere of the camp, dining, meeting rooms…? The countryside, the river rapids…? The musical score?
3. The opening, familiar from youth camp films, the bonding of the three, the other three in-girls? Events, period, the three in the future?
4. 50 years later, Mary and her work in the hospital and her expertise, 45 years married, the demanding husband, her children and pride? Friendship with the other two? Ginny Moon, single, effusive, voice-over, her work with people, her reputation? Cheery personality? Nora, academic, marriage and her husband dying, addicted to her work, science and technology? Not wanting to go on the reunion? The other two persuading her?
5. The camp, the manager and her pleasant attitude, Vick in control, like a Sergeant Major, comic episodes, comic turns? Jimmy, awkward, the disasters in the dining room, redeeming himself on the rapids, his jobs, befriending the three women?
6. The gang of the past, their confidence, meeting again, interactions, on the river, Jane and her leadership, the session with Ginny, her admitting of the truth, feeling liberated?
7. Stevie and Tommy, the male presence, knowing the women in the past, their stories, Tommy and overseas work, Stevie and a heart attack and retirement? Mary attracted to Tommy, the pottery, being together? Nora attracted to Stevie, to retrieve the phone, being caught, the conversations, the time together?
8. The conversations, the meals, on the rapids, Nora being rescued? Ultimately the courage for the jumping? The friendship, Nora and her continued work, their wanting her presence? Mary, the phone call to her husband, his arrival, the serious discussion with him about their 45 years? Ginny, the criticisms of the group, her being hurt, rehearsing her speech, the presentation, the absence, but late arrival, her breaking down, talking frantically?
9. Serious talk, the discussions with Jimmy, Ginny hurting his feelings, employing him?

• A film for the target audience, some precarious experience for them, listening to senior ladies talking…?

SNIPER: ROGUE MISSION

US, 2022, 96 minutes, Colour.

Chad Michael Collins, Ryan Robbins, Sayaka Akimoto, Dennis Hayesbert, Brendan Sexton III, Josh Brenner, Jocelyn Hudon, Paul Essiembre, Erik Athavale.

Directed by Oliver Thompson.

The Sniper franchise began in the early 1990s, the lead being Tom Berenger. The film was popular but, in the 2000s, quite a number of sequels were made, Tom Berenger appearing in some of them, but the establishing of a character, his son, played by Chad Michael Collins, eventually reuniting and working with his father. This film is the 10^th in the series – and there was another to follow.

Chad Michael Collins is not exactly in the pattern of Tom Berenger, rather tall and thin, not quite the military type, but a top Sniper. His friend, Zero, played by Ryan Robbins, appeared in some previous films and continues into the next. And, throughout a number of the films, the CIA chief is played by veteran Dennis Hayesbert. The expert assassin from the previous Sniper film, Sayaka Akimoto is on side with the heroics in this film.

Reactions to this film have been mixed, some praising it as an effective action show, others comparing it quite unfavourably with the previous films. For the record, this reviewer found this episode entertaining in its action drama way.

The focus of the film is on an international human trafficking ring, recruiting in Europe, gathering the women in London, with the support of an American CIA official, transporting them to the United States in containers, setting up outlets for trafficking in the US.

On the one hand, Zero is suspicious of the American official and asks the hero, Beckett, for surveillance on him as he is supposed to arrest the woman who coordinates the trafficking in London. Allegedly, the woman commits suicide, but the official arranges for a false passport and have been transported back to the US in a container with the women.

On the other hand, there is a sequence where a gang, taking orders from the trafficking bosses, invade a caravan where the women are available for online sexual performances – a massacre, though one of the workers advises one woman to escape.

It all comes together when Beckett arrests the corrupt official who demands Beckett’s immediate standing down, challenging the authority of the CIA. Which means, of course, Zero and Beckett will take matters into their own hands, and the assistance of the girl who escapes, are pursued by members of the gang, especially a sniper.

The action keeps moving right throughout – and, there is something of a twist at the end. And audiences should look at the credits, especially at the end, preview of coming attractions and sequels.

1. The popularity of the Sniper franchise? Tom Berenger’s presence? The sequels, the revelation about his son? The son, his talent, Sniper?
2. This title, the mission, human trafficking, Europe, London, containers to the United States, exploitation? The CIA, corrupt officials, Beckett and Zero and the Rogue Mission? Success?
3. The London settings, the Embassy, surveillance, the apartments, the luxury home in the country? The contrast with the United States, the Port, the containers, the setting up of the women, online sexual displays? The raid and the massacre? The city, hotels and refuge, snipers, the shootouts in the street? The musical score?
4. The situation, Beckett and the surveillance, the corrupt official, the woman and her not being arrested, the pictures of her suicide in the bath, his arresting the official, reprimanded by the authorities, the challenge of the corrupt official, Beckett and handing in his badge? His friendship with Zero, Zero suspecting the corrupt official, Beckett returning to the US?
5. Beckett, his challenge to the corrupt official, the boss of the CIA, the challenge to the official, to pursue him, following him to his country house, the setup, the confrontation, his arrest?
6. The scene of the massacre, the squad coming in, the shooting of all the women, Mary Jane being warned by Simon, her escape? Dax as the boss, his rages, Rosie as the tough man, his brother, the sniper? The pursuit of Mary Jane? The sniper, failing to shoot her? The interrogation and the police and shot?
7. Mary Jane, the background story, the phone number for Simon? Beckett and Zero, shielding her, her suspicions, relying on Zero’s ex-wife, her reaction, her enthusiastic husband?
8. The finale in the town, Sniper on the roof, Beckett in the hotel room, the phone messages, Simon giving them the information, his death?
9. Memories of Yuki from the previous film, tracking her down, the diner, her escape, and intelligence Pete helping her, persuading her to collaborate, Pete and his breaking all the codes, Mary Jane with him?
10. Yuki, participation, protecting Mary Jane, the thug, the fight? The sniper, the shootings? Zero and his confrontation with the Dax, the fight in the elevator, Dax and his death? The sniper and his fears – taking the car, returning and embraced by his brother?
11. The information about the Port, the surveillance, the container, Yuki and the fights at the port, the coordinator and her false passport, escaping, on the road, being picked up, the irony of Mary Jane, killing her? Mary Jane then quietly returning to Intelligence Pete and his podcast puzzles?
12. The achievement, the CIA boss, everybody gathering – and getting ready for the next sequel?