Beast review – down-and-out MMA fighter film is predictable but still lands punches

Directed by Tyler Atkins and co-written by Russell Crowe, this Australian feature follows a familiar playbook – but you’ll find yourself surprisingly invested Ah, yes: the promising fighter who could’ve been a contender, could’ve been a champion. But then life intervened: bad decisions were made, promises broken, the wrong paths taken. But what if the past came knocking on his door? What if our long-in-the-tooth hero could have another crack, set things right, get in the ring one more time? To say that Tyler Atkins’ Australian martial arts drama Beast plucks moves from a well-worn playbook is putting it lightly. This is one of those genre films in which nothing surprises in broad terms; it’s the small pivots and deviations that matter. Given the ring of familiarity surrounding everything, I was surprised to find myself as invested in the film as I was, particularly because so many chest-thumping sports movies are already out there, many of which I find about as intellectually engaging ...

Ryan Gosling tipped to sing I’m Just Ken at the Oscars

Variety reports that the Barbie star will perform the film’s keynote anthem at the Academy Awards on 10 March

Barbie’s chances of sweeping the Academy Awards may be looking slimmer, but the odds of the movie nonetheless dominating this year’s ceremony have increased with reports that Ryan Gosling will perform I’m Just Ken.

Variety reports that Gosling will perform the keynote anthem from Greta Gerwig’s smash hit comedy at the event on 10 March. Speaking to the magazine earlier this month, Gosling said that he hadn’t then been invited to sing.

Continue reading...

from Film | The Guardian https://ift.tt/RNWkuGz
via IFTTT

Comments