Risen Review: A New Spin On Christ's Resurrection

The story of a Roman soldier who's charged with finding the body of Jesus after His body mysteriously vanishes from the tomb. Filled with stellar acting, beautiful cinematography, and a compelling musical score, Risen is a fresh, intriguing spin on Christ's resurrection and what such an event would mean for the Roman Empire. The whole story is told through the eyes of Clavius ( Joseph Fiennes ) the Roman who must investigate the empty tomb and systematically track down and interrogate key witnesses in order to find the truth, which makes the film kind of a mystery/who done it. Director Kevin Reynolds is in top form, giving us superb camera shots that set the tone and convey the emotion of the scene. Joseph Fiennes was a perfect casting choice as the worn, rough around the edges Clavius; his character was one of few words, but you could always see the intense, conflicting emotions just beneath the surface.

After my disappointment in 2016's remake of Ben-Hur, it was refreshing to see a well made Biblical film that was reminiscent of The Robe and some of the better Bible classics, only with a more gritty and realistic edge. Overall, extremely underrated and the most powerful film I've seen in a long time! Highly recommend, especially if you like historical crime dramas! From the director of Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, Waterworld, and The Count of Monte Cristo.

4 stars out of 5

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Patriots Day: DVD Review

Patriots Day is based on the true events of the bombings at the 2013 Boston marathon. It stars Mark Wahlberg, John Goodman, Kevin Bacon, J.K. Simmons, and Michelle Monaghan.
    What really blew me away about this film was how authentic and realistic it felt! You feel as if you're witnessing the events of the bombings first hand; you feel as if you're there with Dun Meng as he's taken hostage by the terrorists and his car hijacked; and you feel as if you're right there with the police as they conduct their manhunt, step by painstaking step. But most importantly, you feel as if you're watching real people - not actors - react to the situations around them. Mark Wahlberg gives an outstandingingly believable performance, as does the rest of the cast. Again, I didn't see A list actors on the screen, but real people with convincing dialogue and genuine emotions. A special call out to J.K. Simmons, who effortlessly plays Sergeant Jeffrey Pugliese, the real life cop who, when driving home from a 16 hour shift, responded to a call to help apprehend the terrorists.

Some have complained about Peter Berg's use of shaky cam, but I found no issue with it. I thought the technique was utilized effectively and created a greater sense of tension and suspense. In no way did I think it was overdone. Also, Director Peter Berg adeptly interweaves real life surveillance and video footage throughout the film, often to the point where it blends in seamlessly. And I didnt think the film was being exploitive in any way; the whole thing felt like a respectful tribute to the men and women - both in and out of uniform - who endured this aweful tragedy. It took its subject matter seriously, while simultaneously creating one of the best police thrillers in recent memory.

   

Patriots Day is the most gripping and emotional film I've seen all year. Witnesses of the Boston bombings and subsequent manhunt say that Peter Berg went above and beyond in making the film as accurate as possible. Yes, it's not 100 percent accurate, but it hits the mark way more than most historical dramas do. The interview with actual survivers before the end credits was especially moving and had me in tears. So if you can handle grisly images and near constant strong language, Patriots Day will take you on a journey of human perseverance through one of Boston's darkest trials. I highly recommend you give it a chance.

4 stars out of 5 

Have you seen Patriots Day? What did you think of it? Feel free to comment below!