Philippine Asian News Today Vol 18 No 20 | Page 32

B8 MOVIE REVIEWS PHILIPPINE ASIAN NEWS TODAY October 16 - 31,, 2016 By Alan Samuel Jack Reacher: Never Go Back (PG) *** Backfire! It’s one man taking on the military establishment in Jack Reacher:: Never Go Back . Reach for your wallet and go to any Cineplex complex on your own or with a friend to take in this action feast anywhere in B.C, With a local connection this Paramount Pictures is the second in The Jack Reacher Arsenal based in the million dollar book selling sensations. Back for more mayhem is Tom Cruise in the title role. Somewhat if a loner this ex-military Dynamo has a habit of meting out justice in his own - as he seems fit. This time Reacher has plenty of opportunity to do his thing as a friend in the military gets jailed on espionage charges. Reacher’s once upon a time commanding officer is played with equal relish and conviction by Vancouver born Cobie Smulders. This woman can go toe to toe with Cru ise and is equally effective in the macho area. Together they make quite the pair. Besides dodging what looks like the whole weight of the American military aligned against them there is also a family issue which adds a further twist On This engaging drama which has rot at the top in abundance. Deprecated pacing and meaningful performances throughout is action drama has some very clever dialogue and enough surprises to engage audiences. If you like action and enjoyed the first Reacher outing you will enjoy the second. Being a global superstar is not easy. To. cruise fits the bill here and does not disappoint! Mean Dreams (PG) *** Wild Oats! Beware new things. Out in the country a young boy comes of age in a hurry in Mean Dreams. Fresh from a rousing debut at The Vancouver International film Festival this heavyweight drama from Elevation Pictures is now making waves at select Cineplex Odeon theatres around B.C. Farm hand Jonas Ford leads a rather sheltered life on a remote farm run by an aloof dad and dysfunctional mother. Showing star qualities in the making as a young Matt Damon/Leonardo DiCaprio lookalike is Josh Wiggins. Good rural qualities come in handy as Josh befriends new neighbour Casey Caraway, much to her authoritarian father’s chagrin. That more worldly presence and outlook on life exhibited by Sophie Celisse provides the perfect counter to Jonas. Heroes come in all shapes and sizes. But when Jonas decides to go against Casey’s hard living dad officer Wayne it sets off a chain of events few could predict. Get prepared for a barn burner of a movie as Bill Paxton sets back good parenting for centuries thanks to his brutal portrayal of a know-it-all guardian(?). Disturbing beyond belief Mean Dreams is a troubling tale of young love, parental interference WWW.PHILIPPINEASIANNEWSTODAY.COM and a fight to survive. Full of surprises the atmosphere here is well preserved with buoyant performances reeling you in. And Colm Feore also plays a hand in Giving the law a bad name.