The Expendables 2

I was going to say something like, "This film would be okay if they'd just stick to the action scenes and stay away from the sappy dialog and contrived cameos."

But then I watched the closing fight, between Sylvester Stallone and Jean-Claude Van Damme.  It may be the worst choreographed man-on-man fight to the death I've ever watched.  Wow.  Even the awful denouement with more Chuck Norris, Bruce Willis, and Arnold Schwarzenegger didn't match the terribadness of that fight.

The Expendables 2
2012, 103 minutes, directed by Simon West

We Gotta Get Out of This Place

I really don't like films where the action is driven by stupid people making stupid decisions.  In this installment, a small-town Texas boy sees his girl and best friend leaving for college, and steals money from his boss to fund a last weekend together.  What he doesn't realize is that his boss is a pretty awful criminal who doesn't take too kindly to being stolen from, and the consequences and subsequent choices made by the lead trio continue to stir up trouble.  As the trouble compounds, they are all drawn into an escalating situation of violence and threat.

In the end, they're smarter than I feared, but in exactly the way I predicted for an hour, making the story sadly wrote and predictable.

We Gotta Get Out of This Place
2013, 91 minutes, directed by Zeke and Simon Hawkins

O'Apostolo

Based on Spanish Catholic mythology, O'Apostolo delves into the story of a cursed village, where the dead walk the streets at night, claiming the souls of traveling pilgrims.  Ramón, an escaped prisoner, just needs to slip in, grab some stashed loot, and make his escape toward a simpler life.  It won't be that simple.  Steeped in Catholic mysticism, corruption, and occult, and wonderfully animated in clay and ink, the film hits all the right notes for an excellent story.

O'Apostolo
2012, 80 minutes, directed by Fernando Cortizo

Grand Piano

If you've ever wanted to see a suspense thriller starring Elijah Wood, set in real time during and amidst a classical orchestra concert where Elijah actually performs the works while facing off against a threatening sniper, you have oddly specific desires and prepare to be satisfied.

Grand Piano
2013, 90 minutes, directed by Eugenio Mira

I finally lucked into the correct theater.  Hooray for no simulcast!

2 Coelhos (Two Rabbits)

Two Rabbits is an ably-told crime story, with misdirection and subterfuge to keep the audience in the dark until the very end.  It's a story plenty well told, sure; I just didn't like it.

2 Coelhos (Two Rabbits)
2012, 108 minutes, directed by Afonso Poyart

It's too late in the festival to watch things that turn out like this.

Plan C

Ronald, a Dutch cop, is down on his luck.  In debt to the local Chinese mafia and constantly frittering his illegal side-cash away on gambling, just waiting for luck to turn to his side.  When the mafia threatens his son, he has to take action.  Plan A: win enough to pay back his debt gambling.  Fail.  Plan B: borrow enough money to pay the mafia in time.  Fail.  Plan C: steal the money by enlisting help and robbing his gambling house....

Plan C is a thoroughly enjoyable story from start to finish.

Plan C
2012, 95 minutes, directed by Max Porcelijn

Black Out

In this Netherlands crime comedy-drama, Jos:

• wakes to find a unknown corpse in his bed.
• discovers he stole and lost 20 kilos of cocaine, and both "owners" want it back.
• has a hole where the last two days of memories should be.

Oh, and he's getting married tomorrow.

He thought he'd left this life behind a decade ago, but somehow he's been pulled back in.  An ensemble cast of criminals interact to weave the story of one important day in Jos' life.  It's not remotely new or anything - it's been more than a decade since Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels after all, but I still enjoy the hell out of the genre.

Black Out
2012, 89 minutes, directed by Arne Toonen

Ocean's Twelve

I didn't care for this Netflix offering nearly as much as its predecessor.  I was looking for the Big Congruence of events to be amazed at how it all fit together.  Instead, it seemed like a Series of Discordant Events as they jumped from heist to heist and attempt to attempt.  It lacked a polish I expect from this sort of film; editing let me down.

The sequel is next in queue.  We'll see if that one fares any better.

Ocean's Twelve
2004,   125 minutes, directed by Steven Soderbergh

Ocean's Eleven

My wife recommended this series to me, having seen part of the third in a hotel months ago. We both sat down to see her Netflix copy of the first movie tonight.

I like this sort of large-cast adventure, with all the bits and pieces falling into place. I'm not sure why I skipped this one on release, as it kept me from seeing the rest. I'll fix that shortly.

As to be expected, some of the plot points are made for film. Big machine with green goo that knocks out power to the city? Heh. I appreciated it for the fun the props department must have had thinking it up. There's nothing wrong with a little fun, and this move was full of it.

Ocean's Eleven
2001, 116 minutes, directed by Steven Soderbergh