THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN

Plot:

When Emma Cullen (Bennett) watches her husband get gunned downed by a ruthless and greedy land baron named Bartholomew Bogue (Sarsgaar) while his men ravish the town leaving the residents scared and helpless, her heart becomes consumed with revenge. One day while she is in a neighboring town gathering supplies she happens to come across the fast gun drawing Sam Chisolm (Washington) who is a bounty hunter who was there to take claim on a reward. She pleads with him to help her take revenge on the man who murdered her husband and who has taken over her town. When he realizes that it is Bogue, someone he has had a previous unpleasant encounter with, he accepts her proposal but needs to round up some men to help him go up against Bogue's army of killers. He enlists the help of the gambling grifter Josh Faraday (Pratt), his old buddy Goodnight Robicheaux (Hawke), Goodnight's sidekick Billy Rocks (Hun Lee), trapper Jack Horne (D'Onofrio), wanted killer Vasquez (Garcia-Rulfo) and a rogue indian named Red Harvest (Sensmeier), who together along with the remaining townsmen plan to take back the community and kill Bogue in the process. But they must come to terms that this is a suicide mission because it is only a few of them against hundreds of hired gunslingers for the land grubber.



Reel Talk:

It has been years and I mean I was a young boy when I had seen the original 1960 version of The Magnificent Seven, so honestly I vaguely remember the details about it. I just remember that it was a classic western film that my parents liked and Yul Brynner was the star. So now here it is 2016 and the remake was hatched with Denzel Washington as the star and I really didn't know what to expect from this movie. I really thought that it would no way compare to the original nor any other current western movies that I have seen and liked (because I really like a good cowboy movie). But was I so far from being wrong! This was a great western movie, with a great cast that reunited Denzel Washington, Ethan Hawke and director Antoine Fuqua who worked together on Training Day. I was completely engaged into this movie and despite the outcome was wishing that this could have been the beginning of a franchise series like The Fast and The Furious films, we would see The Magnificent Seven 7: The Rocky Roads...LOL! But seriously this was a well done film that will keep you interested and entertained. I don't think they could have done a better job than they did casting for the seven western heroes. This is a must see!!!

Starring: Denzel Washington, Chris Pratt, Ethan Hawke, Vincent D'Onofrio, Byung-Hun Lee, Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, Martin

Sensmeier, Haley Bennett and Peter Sarsgaar
Directed by: Antoine Fuqua
Rated: PG-13

I give it 5 corn dogs.

SNOWDEN

Plot:

Edward Snowden (Gordon-Levitt) an enthusiastic and patriotic young man who after being physically unable to serve his country via the army he enrolls for an IT position with the CIA. When he is given the opportunity by Director Corbin O'Brian he excels above his fellow trainees to the point that O'Brian begins to send him out on various assignments for the NSA. While out on the various missions he sees the ugliness behind how the United States operates, able to illegally surveillance anyone they choose to which he disagrees. It gets to the point he can no longer stand by without doing something with regards to protesting what is happening so he downloads the top secret files and turns them over to the press and then flees the country to prevent being convicted of treason of his country and espionage.



Reel Talk:

This film is based on the true events surrounding Edward Snowden who in 2013 turned whistle blower against the United States alleging unfair and illegal surveillance practises. He was allowed access to all the files that provided evidence of what the NSA was doing and when he leaked it he left the country, now residing in Moscow to date to prevent being tried as a spy or traitor.This was a very good informative movie that will have you in awe at what the government is capable of doing. Joseph Gordon-Levitt does a good job portraying the tormented conscience Edward Snowden and Rhys Ifans puts in a riveting performance as the stern Corbin O'Brian as they head an all star cast. But honestly It seemed like Nicholas Cage really didn't fit in, kinda like he was a miscast. Overall a good movie worth checking out.

Starring: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Shailene Woodley, Rhys Ifans, Melissa Leo, Zachary Quinto, Nicolas Cage and Tom Wilkinson
Directed by: Oliver Stone
Rated: R

I give it 4 corn dogs.

By: THE REEL HUSTLER

KICKS

Plot:

Growing up on the gritty streets in Oakland, California can be rough and especially if you are a small underprivileged teen like Brandon (Guillory) who just wants to be noticed like his two best friends Albert (Wallace) and Rico (Meyer). One of the things that can give him some of the attention he seeks would be a fresh pair of kicks to replace the battered and worn pair that adorns his feet. So after finding his mom's hidden stash he finds a local street vendor who sells fresh kicks from out of his car and so he purchases a pair of the Nike Air Jordan Ones and he immediately starts to get noticed, but his fresh kicks also gets the attention of the neighborhood street thug Flaco (Siriboe) who robs him of the sneakers. Unable to accept going back to being an unnoticed nobody again he sets out on a dangerous adventure to reengage Flaco to take back his kicks, even if it risk his life or the lives of his friends.


Reel Talk:

"KICKS" is a raw and gritty depiction about the urban streets of Oakland where crimes, either by robbing or drug dealing is a common practice. The violence is brutal which merits the R rating so this is not a kid friendly movie. Don't let the fairly newcomer Jahking Guillory's baby face fool you because he becomes a gangster quick and Kofi Siriboe as the ruthless street hood Flaco is menacing. This low budgeted movie although not a great film and somewhat predictable was entertaining and will keep you interested but the major highlight of the film is the awesome soundtrack that bumps some serious throwback hip hop classics. This will make for a good matinee movie to save you a few bucks.

Starring: Jahking Guillory, Christopher Jordan Wallace, Christopher Meyer, Kofi Siriboe, Mahershala Ali and Molly Shaiken
Directed by: Justin Tipping
Rated: R

I give it 2 and a half corn dogs.

By: THE REEL HUSTLER

A NIGHT WITH DICK GREGORY

"WAKE UP NIGGAS, HONKYS AND CRACKERS"

On a beautiful Sunday evening in Detroit, the city would get a visit by a living legend Mr. Dick Gregory an American civil rights activist, social critic, writer, entrepreneur, conspiracy theorist and comedian who took to the stage at the Redford Theatre located at 17360 Lahser Rd. Detroit, MI 48219. The sold out show that was powered by Al Maddin Events and the Cease Fire Youth Initiative started out with performances from host comedian Darryl Earl, comedian Mike Bonner, gospel recording artist Toni Booker and then the main attraction Mr. Dick Gregory who came out and gave it to the crowded theater raw, straight no chaser as he covered most of the social events happening to date. Nothing and no one was off limits as he told it as they say "it is". He went on and on about how people need to wake up and sharpen their awareness and he did not want to leave the stage and so for those who wanted more they were treated to even more intellectual conversation from the well seasoned man at a private meet and greet after the show. Mr.Gregory was a very modest and gracious man who made sure that he took pictures and greet every guest there. I mean what more can you say about a man of his stature who jumps into a cab with no security to come to your own concert. That is what you call a real OG...LOL!!! As always THE REEL HUSTLER was there to hold it down!

This is my life, the life of THE REEL HUSTLER!!!

SULLY

Plot:

It is a cold and snowy day January 15, 2009 when Pilot Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger (Hanks) and his Co-pilot Jeff Skiles (Eckhart) settle into the cockpit of their passenger plane set to leave LaGuardia Airport. They eventually take to sky from the runway but not even four minutes into the flight they are hit with a massive bird strike that disables both engines. With no power Sully and his co-pilot with just seconds to spare and unable to return to the airport prepare for a crash landing in the icy cold Hudson River. But with quick thinking and precise maneuvers he was able to land the plane on the water of the river managing to safely secure the lives of the 155 people aboard the flight. But soon the two pilots are brought before the National Transportation Safety Board with concerns that there was pilot error and not any plane malfunctions that caused the flight crash. So Sully is forced to fight to and prove their decisions wrong so that he can salvage his long tenure as a successful flight pilot.


Reel Talk:

This film is based on the true accounts of the flight by Pilot Sully deemed "The Miracle On the Hudson" which is, there is no other way to put it but a miracle. For this man and his co-pilot to land that plane and safe the lives of every person on the plane is just unbelievable. He can be my pilot any day! But I have to keep it real but after seeing this I have reservations about flying ever again...LOL! Director Clint Eastwood did an exceptional job depicting the events of that cold and watery day the plane landed on The Hudson River and Tom Hanks puts in another stellar performance. Great movie which is an intense thriller even though you already know the outcome. This is definitely a must see!

Starring: Tom Hanks, Aaron Eckhart, Mike O'Malley, Jamey Sheridan, Anna Gunn and Laura Linney
Directed by: Clint Eastwood
Rated: PG-13

I give it 5 corn dogs.

By: THE REEL HUSTLER