“Hostiles” (Period Drama/Western: 2 hours, 14 minutes)

Starring: Christian Bale, Rosamund Pike and Wes Studi

Director: Scott Cooper

Rated: R (Violence, profanity, gore and thematic elements)

 

Movie Review: “Hostiles” is a violent trek across the Wild West. Good performances and sweeping visuals of countryside settings help this narrative. Uneven characterizations detract.

In 1892, Capt. Joseph J. Blocker (Bale) and four United States soldiers receive orders to transport Chief Yellow Hawk (Studi) and four of his family members across hostile territory to their ancestral land in Montana. 

Capt. Blocker tried to refuse the order on grounds he despises Chief Yellow Hawk and his people. Blocker and Chief Yellow Hawk have both killed as soldiers. 

Despite antagonistic views of Chief Yellow Hawk and Native Americans, Blocker’s orders remains. Blocker’s entourage faces grave danger, but the group is determined to complete their mission.

Christian Bale and Scott Cooper (“Crazy Heart,” 2009) last paired in 2013’s “Out of the Furnace.” Their outing here is strong, but they want this movie to be a fine drama when its strengths lie in its Western roots.

Bale is at his best. As the lead character, he is impressive, but his character and others suffer from inconsistent behaviors. Hate is a powerful emotion. These characters appear to lose that too quickly considering their past prejudices and the events that happen as they travel across rugged dangerous lands.

Otherwise, these characters offer an engaging, gritty narrative. Energetic action sequences are entertaining. The performances, despite irregular characterizations within Cooper’s screenplay, are adequate, emotive elements. 

Grade: B- (Engaging character relations make the hostilities a welcomed diversion.)

“Maze Runner: The Death Cure” (Action, Science-Fiction: 2 hours, 22 minutes)

Starring: Dylan O’Brien, Ki Hong Lee and Kaya Scodelario

Director: Wes Ball

Rated: PG-13 (Violence, strong language, gore and thematic elements)

 

Movie Review: This third addition of the “Maze Runner” series based on James Dashner’s novels gives fans closure and an overabundance of action scenes. The characters live up to the movie’s title. They run constantly. For audiences, no cure exists.

Thomas (O’Brien) and his friends embark on a mission to recover other friends from the clutches of WCKD. The malevolent corporation exists in a fortress protected by a giant wall. With new friends in tow, Thomas and fellow Gladers embark to topple WCKD.

“The Maze Runner” (2014) was an intelligent movie. It had mystery, thought-provoking characters and plenty of action. The latest version, “The Death Cure,” is lackluster. It is mainly action, and its characters appear different here than from the beings in similar movies.

The characters constantly commit actions and watch while danger is present. The moments ruin the action sequences, making them unconvincing. Often, the cast appears like soap opera characters pausing until the commercial plays. The problem is the commercials never arrive to save their undramatic stares.

Grade: C- (Unlike the characters, run away without pausing.)