Crisp Criticism - "The Equalizer", "Dracula Untold", "Wish I Was Here"

by

Julien Faddoul

The Equalizer

A former black ops commando who has faked his death comes out to rescue a young girl from Russian gangsters.

Flaccid and stiff action-thriller that seems to be a throwback to the kind given to us in the 90s. It showboats its star as someone who has now become an exasperating parody of himself.

d – Antoine Fuqua

w – Richard Wenk   (Based on the Television Series by Michael Sloan, Richard Lindheim)

ph – Mauro Fiore

pd – Naomi Shohan

m – Harry Gregson-Williams

ed – John Refoua

cos – David C. Richardson

p – Todd Black, Jason Blumenthal, Tony Eldridge, Mace Neufeld, Alex Siskin, Michael Sloan, Steve Tisch, Denzel Washington, Richard Wenk

Cast: Denzel Washington, Marton Csokas, Chloë Grace Moretz, David Harbour, Haley Bennett, Bill Pullman, Melissa Leo, David Meunier, Johnny Skourtis

Dracula Untold

Facing threats to his kingdom and his family, Vlad Tepes looks to make a deal with dangerous supernatural forces - without succumbing to the darkness himself.

Yet another effects-heavy fantasy film that attempts to intertwine the historical with the supernatural. Instantly forgettable.

d – Gary Shore

w – Matt Sazama, Burk Sharpless   (Based on the Characters by Bram Stoker)

ph – Jason Schwartzman

pd – Francois Audouy

m – Ramin Djawadi

ed – Richard Pearson

cos – Ngila Dickson

p – Michael De Luca

Cast: Luke Evans, Sarah Gadon, Dominic Cooper, Art Parkinson, Charles Dance, Diarmaid Murtagh, Paul Kaye, William Houston, Noah Huntley

Wish I Was Here

A 35-year-old man finds himself at major crossroads and decides to re-examine his life, his career, and his family.

Forced and bogus from start to finish with its director operating as if every observation he has had on human behavior is automatically brilliant.

d – Zach Braff

w – Zach Braff, Adam J. Braff

ph – Lawrence Sher

pd – Tony Fanning

m – Rob Simonsen

ed – Myron I. Kerstein

cos – Betsy Heimann

p – Adam J. Braff, Zach Braff, Michael Shamberg, Stacey Sher

Cast: Zach Braff, Kate Hudson, Joey King, Pierce Gagnon, Mandy Patinkin, Josh Gad, Ashley Greene, Jim Parsons, Donald Faison, Phill Lewis