Re-Booking The Feud

I should precede this by saying I’ve always been more of a Marvel Comics guy. Emphasis on ‘Comics.’ The stories of Marvel comics are usually more connected to their superhero origins. There’s a bit more Fun n’ Fancy Free which suits my style a bit more. However, there’s always been a soft spot present for DC because of the characters they have crafted and the worlds they inhabit. I think they all have so much depth. There doesn’t seem to be any end to the stories you could tell. So putting the two greatest heroes of all time on the same screen seems like a no-brainer.

Dawn of Justice was…not a good movie. It was an entertaining movie in spots. It was a LOUD movie throughout. But it was not a good movie.

Many factors contributed to this unfortunate turn of events. For one, Zack Snyder isn’t the best storyteller. That doesn’t mean he’s not good. He just isn’t good at directing. His true talent to me has always been in the producer’s chair and never in the director’s chair. As a producer, the way he frames shots, especially in terms of action is incredible. So, it’s no surprise that this was an incredible movie to see, visually.

Like most of you (or some of you, I can’t assume) I have been following these stories for much of my life and as silly as it may seem to an outsider – or movie producer – there are very real emotions associated with and summoned by these otherwise fictional characters. It’s an investment. As such, I can’t let the screenwriters off the hook, here. David S. Goyer and Chris Terrio wrote a decent story, but when it came time to fill in the blanks with a good screenplay, the struggles were apparent. Writing isn’t easy, and it’s easy to tell when someone hasn’t connected with the source material.

So, what brings us here?

Of the many things my mom taught me - and there were many – the one I found the most valuable was the art of being proactive. “If you don’t like something, think about what you can do to improve the situation. It doesn’t make sense to do nothing.” I paraphrase but just know for the record my mother didn’t suffer complainers lightly in her household.

That’s why, just a month removed from seeing the movie in theaters, news of the Ultimate Edition on the horizon, my proclamation of rewriting the movie to my friend and co-worker was met with the predictable delayed wutface.

What do you mean you’re going to rewrite the whole movie?

I mean I’m going to rewrite the whole goddamn movie. More accurately write the movie I’d thought I might see. Because you see when I pay for my ticket stub and it says…

DAWN OF JUSTICE

I expect to have an action-packed, drama-filled, SOOPER LOUD thrill ride of a movie that possibly has Supes and Bats fighting but ends with them as bros AND with the rest of the Justice League standing tall atop a sun-crested hill.

The DAWN of Justice

Instead…  Superman is dead, Batman runs off to find Barry and Wonder Woman runs off…somewhere?

The DUSK of Justice.

The name of that file before I downloaded it was actually – no bullshit: Batman and Wonder Woman Stand Over Lois Cradling Superman’s Corpse. Dead bodies are full of hope, right? Death is a good allegory for Dawn, yes? It’s like playing through a Castlevania and you finally beat it but you took too long so you get the Bad Ending.

Damn, he's not gonna be in JL Pt. 1

Where the hell is everyone going? We’ve gotta do some shit! Oh, what’s that? Clark is alive actually? Well, good thing we didn’t just sit through two-and-a-half hours of movie or this might have been a complete waste of time!

Anyway!

Back to near present day: I explain to my friend that my vision for this story is to have it focus mostly on Bruce and Diana as they meet during their separate spying of LexCorp and work together to find the other members of the not-yet-named JL before Lex Luthor does. This is for a few reasons. Well more than a few but, in order first.

~One of the good points of the movie for me was the (far too) brief cat-and-mouse game Bruce and Diana found themselves in during the first act. Bruce was caught between being equally attracted to and unnerved by this woman who seemed to always be a step ahead. She gave an air of knowing something he didn’t which got under his skin since he is so used to being the smartest person in any given room. Diana on the other hand was intrigued by this wolf in sheep’s clothing who obviously didn’t belong with this group of people and looked so ready to rip the head off the first person to give him reason. I wanted to explore their back and forth while also giving more of a Leading Lady type role to Diana as opposed to Snyder’s Hot Lady Stares At Dagger role.

~If Batman is in the movie, I feel like it should always be more about him. A lot of DCEU stories – animated or otherwise – already do this. Batman is practically the only human hero in this whole Universe. It’s far easier for us to relate to his perspective in any one arc because none of us have x-ray vision or super speed and neither does he. We feel a sort of emotion and anxiety for him that we don’t for others because, unless someone zaps Kal with that funky green rock, he’ll probably be okay. Bruce, on the other hand, could get squashed at any point. Which reminds me…

~Writing Superman is HARD. Writing him well is harder because of every reason I’ve stated above. Now, I’ve read GREAT Superman stories. I’ve read great Batman stories that had Superman in them. Superman is a great character and has so much rich history behind him. But the nature of his character is tough to navigate if you don’t have it mapped. He’s simply too powerful. It’s not his fault. He’s Born Like This.

Wonder why Hulk and Thor weren’t involved in Captain America: Civil War? Because suspension of disbelief, even in a comic book movie, can only get you so far before you stand in your chair and ask, “Why doesn’t Hulk Smash EVERYTHING?” Why indeed. If you’ve read the comic version of Civil War, you know: it was a race to find the Hulk. Like picking the tall kid for basketball, or the fast one for kickball. If Hulk is on your team you win the Superhero Contest! Simple as that. He’s The Strongest There Is. Just like Kal-El. We know Clark is really a good guy. Probably a God-fearing guy, given his childhood on a Kansas farm. But it’s hard at times to feel bad for the guy who could probably delete your planet. Or resolve the plot in 2 minutes or less. Again, storytelling.

~I am a longtime fan of professional wrestling. It’s an interesting niche to be involved with because as a form of entertainment, it’s like everything else, but there is nothing else like it. On top of the amazing displays of literal death-defying athleticism that I no doubt respect and enjoy, the true enjoyment for me comes from the storylines and characters that are crafted in this pseudo-athletic world of pantomime competition. A very pretty way of saying: wrestling is fake. Just like Dawn of Justice is fake. This is no secret but watching wrestling for so long has me looking at other forms of prose and fiction to see how I would “book” similar conflicts that run parallel in the other story. In the story of Batman v Superman, this match would not be happening on my watch. Not yet.

Can you fucking imagine if Hulk Hogan and Andre the Giant instead of having their Sport-Defining Most Important Match of All Time at WrestleMania III in front of 100,000 people had it on Main Event in front of 15,000? Vinny Mac wouldn’t be the magnate he is now. This is practically the first film of DC’s next phase. It’s like a basketball team that gets down by ten points and then tries to make it all back on one play instead of getting a stop then a score then a stop then a score… Guys. Patience! I want Bruce to beat the shit out this guy, too. But let’s maybe get the gang together first before we blow our wad through 50 years of combined history here. Who gives a shit what Marvel is doing [making another Ant-Man movie!] you have a great catalogue and unlimited resources! Take the time to make it right.

Easier said than done, I know. The idea is to pull the most profit right now and given that they started behind the blocks WB isn’t exactly in a waiting mood. This isn’t an easy job. BUT! When I am in the theater watching DoJ and the Big Blue Boy Scout is on the screen my preceding thought shouldn’t be, Oh, just die already! I should cheer for him! I should want him to win! I should want all of them to win! Hence, the DAWN of- Nope. I’ve made that point already. I’ll tell you what I’ll do.

As the summary suggested, this will be a canon divergence of sorts but it will be canon compliant. To a point. I’ve always believed in doing the best with what you’ve got, so as much as I would love to dig around for countless hours in the endless meta and rogues’ gallery of both Batman and Superman I’ll be sticking to the canon presented or influenced by the movie itself. Which means, sadly, my favorite and yours Dick Grayson will not be making an appearance. There will be other winks and nods peppered throughout and maybe even some cameos as I see fit. This is a work of fiction. I am not pulling profit from it and even if I was, Zack Snyder doesn’t sign my checks.

The story will involve a different version of a still angry Bruce Wayne who makes a different decision after the Capitol Hill Bombing. Instead of vowing revenge on Superman, he works to discover who is responsible for the attack while Wonder Woman helps him track down the Metahumans on LexCorp’s watchlist. It will still be an action movie but with much more emphasis on Bruce as the World’s Greatest Detective which is an important part of the character. Because isn’t he a bit too smart to be jerked around by a low rent Heath Ledger costume?

This will also be a Mature fic. You would think that after the smashing success of Deadpool that studios would have ditched the myth that PG-13 ratings equaled the most ticket sales. If there ever was a DC movie to get the R that wasn’t Suicide Squad, it had to be this one. Obviously they had no problem killing scores of people, but the thematic elements weren’t there. That, and Bruce should be cussing waaaay more in this (I will happily acquiesce). Because realistically, Kal-El has already saved the entire world from certain doom whereas Batman has been beating up gang members and thugs in the gutter of Gotham for two decades. An endless slog with no end in sight. How bitter and jaded would you be of such an existence? So if your Bats isn’t the kind that doesn’t care what happens to Thug No. 2 as he flies out the 3^rd story window hop off now.

Arthur, Vic and Barry will all be in this, obviously. My plans for Flash are what you’d expect, but the other two are examples of where some divergence might take place from a characterization standpoint.

I’m a big fan of Jason Mamoa as Aquaman. I think he’s got a great look and it’s a good way to legitimize a character that, unfairly or otherwise, has been the butt of so many jokes. Not only that, but Aquaman has always been a hero – like Wonder Woman – who I’ve always felt (forgive me here) was a bit too Caucasian. Remember the animated movie Atlantis: The Lost Empire? It isn’t by accident that the only Caucasian people in that movie are from the surface world. With that being said, I know DC’s Cinematic style and I can see from the first Justice League trailer that this Arthur is going to be big and growly. That’s fine, because Mamoa is big and growly, too, but the Aquaman I know best does stuff like this.

Yes, that is Aquaman riding a silverfish. And if your first thought was, “Hi-yo Silverfish!” get yourself a cookie because that was the exact line from the show. I may have stopped laughing in time to see the end of the episode. I won’t make him do something as ridiculous but I’ll do my best to make him an affable fish man with a fiery temper.

Cyborg is another case altogether. The original Teen Titans animated series was never underrated at any juncture from what I remember, but I do very much remember – even as a teen myself watching – that the show was much darker than was given credit for. Nevermind the Slade/Robin “I own you” storyline: there were serval episodes dealing with identity issues and finding purpose. It makes sense because they’re teenagers but especially in Vic’s case because other than Beast Boy (it’s not easy being green) he can’t hide who he is.

It’s implied that he’s come to terms with the fact that he will never be fully human, but it’s never really that easy. In the episode where he goes undercover as the villain STONE, he looks at the projected image of himself in his old body and wonders what life would be like if he had only ever been Victor. Would he still be in school? Would he still be playing football? Would his mother still be alive? Victor Stone’s story is a tragic one, really. Even his origin is one that has subversive themes of dehumanization and overt body horror that a Mad Max dream sequence just couldn’t do justice. I believe the best way to go about writing Vic is with a simmering aggression. He’s accepting of his situation and doesn’t like it, but he’s learning to appreciate being alive with every experience he has.

While on the topic, Gal Gadot is perfect for this role. I had her in mind as I wrote for Wonder Woman which is incredibly fun, for the record. I feel the same way about Ben Affleck. His portrayal of Batman was the best I’ve seen on screen. The same goes for Jeremy Irons as Alfred. Exceptional casting in both cases. Without their performances, I would have likely walked out of the theater that night.

Something else that bugged me about the movie: how little dialogue was spent pondering the murky grays of Batman, Superman and vigilantism in general. It’s clear no one really cares for Batman but Superman flies into a conflict zone, kills the shit out of some insurgents and flies back home with his girlfriend like nothing happened. People freak out for a bit, but then everything’s cool again until the Senate Hearing is bombed. I plan to explore this theme early and often because like Assassin’s Creed I feel like sometimes these stories tend to portray the protagonists too much like The Good Guys - in particular Bruce Wayne. And he is a Good Guy, technically, but he is also famous for using very aggressive and ethically challenged manors of achieving his goals. That, and I don’t plan to shy away from Bruce’s almost-certainly-untreated PTSD, nor the fact that underneath his charm he is at times a very unstable man capable of extreme acts of violence. Per the movie.

I’ve gone back and forth on whether to do it all as an actual screenplay or write it as prose and I chose the latter option just because it’s what I know best. I’m comfortable with it and it will help me paint the picture better. Show don’t tell, etc. etc.

Another order of business: DC – unlike Marvel – bases most of their story arcs in fictional places, separate from or alongside real cities. Although it isn’t always made clear which city is where geographically, the consensus is that most of them are on the East Coast or in the Midwest. As such, I’ve taken some creative liberties so that our story won’t only take place in cold and/or grey places. Ah, the power of fiction.

GOTHAM/METROPOLIS – As presented in the movie, Gotham City is in New Jersey and Metropolis is its New York counterpart across the water.

CENTRAL CITY – Ordinarily is depicted as part of Kansas City, Missouri’s Metro area. For the purposes of this story, it will be at or around the real-life location of Flagstaff, Arizona; due West of the Hopi Reservation.

JUMP CITY – Hometown of the Teen Titans in the animated series. Titans Tower is perched on a seaside cliff where it never rains, so in honor of one of my best friends who relocated and beta’d my early drafts, Jump City is our Orange County/SoCal stand-in. (Right up the road from Los Santos.)

STAR CITY – Again, depicted as sorta East Coast and vaguely Midwest. For Barry’s sake, we’re sticking to the Left Coast. Pacific Northwest to be exact.

THEMYSCIRA – Legend puts the Home of the Amazons on the banks of the Thermodon River. Themyscira was an ancient Greek town near the mouth of this river which is now known as the Terme in modern-day Turkey. In DC Land, Themyscira is an island so that island will be somewhere due North in the Black Sea.

This is part of a process for me. Things are going okay for me right now, but I know I’m not as happy as I should be. My personal life has stagnated while my professional life has plateaued. I’ve got many friends I’d like to spend time with but simply can’t because of time, distance, obligations, etc and I’m afraid they think I’ve forgotten them. In truth, all I forgot was how important writing was to me.

It always helped center me, when my thoughts and emotions began to spiral but I didn’t write anything for the longest time because of the feeling of futility that overcame me. Like I let everyone down. Hopefully, by writing this story and following through on my plan to challenge myself creatively I can find a bit of energy by writing of the exploits of these madmen while sprinkling in some of my own madness.

Thank you for your time. Thank you for reading. I hope you enjoy your stay. And if you ever decide to leave, I thank you for coming in the first place. Ladies and Gentlemen this is…

DAWN OF JUSTICE

What Are We? Some Kinda [Working Movie Title] | Review - Suicide Squad

Warner Bros.

It's petty, I know. But nonetheless it's an instant mark down for a movie with me and it's quite indicative of the very problems I had with this one. But, as usual, I'm well ahead of myself. Firstly, we should introduce the SQUAD in question. As it did in the film, it will take no less than 30 minutes.

From left to right in the above banner:

The Enchantress (Cara Delevingne)
Ghostbusters villain and part-time evil Sky Witch. She inhabits the body of Dr. June Moone, an archaeologist and possibly Lara Croft in disguise.

El Diablo (Jay Hernandez)
Former LA gang banger and current Human Flamethrower. Has given up his fiery ways for a life of solitude and contemplation after torching his home and his young family. He is the moral center of this movie and is also the Desmond Miles of this movie.

Captain Boomerang (Jai Courtney)
Typically The Flash's punching bag now the Squad's resident dirty Aussie. He loves beer, money and pretty pink horses.

Killer Croc (Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje)
Scaly, green monster man who resides in the sewers of Gotham. Not to be confused with the one who breathes fire or the one who jumps high.

Deadshot (Will Smith)
The world's deadliest hitman. He can hit any target for the right price: will negotiate on site. Is trying to make a better life for his daughter but is captured before he can complete his Christmas shopping. If we could all be so fortunate.

Colonel Rick Flag (Joel Kinnaman)
A special forces commander who has been assigned to watch over this group of villains. He is in a relationship with Dr. Moone that will in no way compromise the mission at hand. Clearly.

Slipknot (Adam Beach)
Native American tracker and expert wall climber who got invited just to have his head blown off. Inclusion!

Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie)
Former Arkham Asylum psychologist and current right hand to The Clown Prince of Crime. Has an affinity for pistols, bubble gum and baseball bats. Would also like you to tell her she's pretty. Would also like you to tell her she's crazy.

Katana (Karen Fukuhara)
Colonel Flag's primary body guard. Not exactly a villain but still extremely skilled with a samurai sword. Her slain husband's soul is trapped in the sword but past that, we're not exactly sure what her motivations are for joining this aforementioned suicide mission. (Something of a regular thing for women in DC's movies. More on that a bit later.)

Amanda Waller (Viola Davis) *not pictured
The mastermind and director of Taskforce X. At no point does she give a decent, logical reason as to why these crazy asshats should be allowed to roam free and at no point do any of her colleagues offer any more than one rebuttal to this insane slo-mo heavy plan. It worked, sorta! So I guess it's cool!

Oh, and there's these guys, but, we don't care about them right now. *wink

A lot of feelings coming out of this one for me. A lot of it confusion. Not anger like after Dawn of Justice but a lot of wondering about choices made. For one, I had to remember why Will Smith was even in the movie and then I realized that I had made a mistake. You see, Deadshot is just one of many assassin roaming the DCEU. There is another marksman of similar wares known as Deathstroke aka Slade Wilson. Not to be confused, of course, with Wade Wilson.

"LOL Auto-correct can be so tricky sometimes!"

But no, Deadshot is his own character. A bit younger than Slade with much less blades. As it were, this movie might have been received better if it had been called The Deadshot Brigade. Starring Will Smith, playing Deadshot...playing Will Smith. A good performance. Surprisingly so. Not because he isn't good, but because of who he was playing. A killer with a heart of gold is a good archetype but not necessarily if they are being driven by pick-a-catch phrase dialogue. Given the odd tonal shifts throughout, his steadiness was welcome.

Mountaintop!

That's about as far as the steadiness goes, however, as he and Flag are really the only two members of the team that get any extended internal view by the audience. The only two besides Diablo, of course, who spends much of the movie in silence and the rest of it on fire. He's one of two here with any sort of moral compass which makes sense as he turned himself in and the others are mostly just bad guys. What doesn't make much sense is why he decided to help in the end. In one scene he is literally standing in a hail of bullets, frowning as he watches his "friends" fend for their lives. One pep talk from Deadshot and suddenly he's ready to go.

He's not nearly the only one. It tough to figure out why anyone does what they do. Sure, Rick wants to save the woman he loves from the Enchantress and Deadshot needs to save the world for his young daughter. What reason do the rest of these evil folks have to go to the center of the Trash Hurricane after the Colonel sets them free? Only one way to find out. And that's through the power of...

Nickelodeon

Zach Synder helped produce this. It is clear that this man loves dream sequences and anything resembling such. Sucker Punch, DoJ and now this are chock full. Acceptable momentarily because we finally get to see Jared Leto's interpretation of perhaps the greatest villain in modern fiction. There wasn't a big enough serving size to decide how good it was. It was interesting and different; both good things. He's less of a sociopath and more of a sleek drug dealer looking for his next score. In this story, that score is his girlfriend, Harley Quinn.

That's fine for a movie about The Joker. We'll be getting one soon enough with this good friend, Bruce. But what does Dr. Harleen Quinzel want? Sure, with 10 minutes left in the movie we find out what she wants but what does she want? As I noted earlier, similar to how Wonder Woman in DoJ was left to play "Hot Lady Staring at Dagger" before her big reveal, there's too much showing and not enough telling. There was plenty of time in this 2-hour epic to tell Harley's story. If only that time wasn't eaten up by cheeky camera angles.

Having had time to reflect on this - bad reviews, good reviews, all in between - I don't like The Enchantress. I don't like her inclusion in this story. Every scene with her and her war god brother are like stepping into a different movie. One much worse than The Deadshot Brigade. Everytime the audience finds themselves bonding more with the titular group of killers they are abruptly cut off to look at more spinning magic bullshit. Who are they? Where do they come from? When did they get here? We are never told! But at least we get Bullet Time!

Fox/Marvel

 I watched this movie with a non-comics reader. Someone who wasn't familiar with the characters or their stories. They had so many more questions than answers as the movie ended. Most of these questions could be deleted if they had chosen a different climax. I know it's a standby - certainly in these movies - but we've seen the Swirling Sky of Doom ending just a bit too much already.

This is not a great example, but you see my point.

What if they had been hired to take down another more powerful supervillain? (Clayface) What if they were tasked with saving Waller from a rogue, disgruntled metahuman? (Deathstroke) What if they had been forced to work with Batman? (To track down Harley's boyfriend: an operation she would clearly sabotage.) We will never know, because instead, they were hired to save Midway City from a giant purple and green tornado. Excitement!

The string of negative review that has ensued has spawned a troubling argument. A maddening one. "Why bother criticizing these comic movies so heavily? Why over-analyze it? We're not looking for high theater here!" I hear you folks. Now hear me.

Maybe these movies at their best will never win any sort of literary award. Maybe they will never be considered high art. But guess what is?

These stories matter. Sure, creative liberties can and must be taken. But that doesn't mean the quality has to suffer as well. You have with these stories a free pass to the gravy train of success. It shouldn't be this hard to get it right. And as fans, we can and should demand their best effort.

All of that being said...I liked this movie. More accurately: I liked parts of this movie.

Yes, it has problems. Glaring ones, in fact. DC and Warner Bros. continue their streak of odd, odd storytelling choices, including letting Zack Snyder tell those stories. Perhaps even the PG-13 rating held it back. But this movie had humor, which is something. It also had Batman, which is a big something. And it had three seconds of Joker, which is better than nothing.

It also had crazy mood swings, cheap deaths and even cheaper baddies. (The faceless smudge monsters work well for Samurai Jack. Not so much for your big budget action movie.) I can't blame anyone who doesn't like Suicide Squad. You could tell me everything that bothers you and I couldn't say you're wrong. I could only say it didn't bother me as much.

I just can't in good conscience give this movie the same rating I gave BvS. So take these 3 stars and don't call me until Diana is back on my screen.

3 Stars out of 5

Hey. Shout-outs to Amanda Waller for erasing the last 15 years of Batman's crime fighting career with this little stunt. Bruce is gonna need some help in his next movie. Maybe he should give this guy a call.

This one's for free Affleck.

Just Gettin' Warmed Up | Review - Captain Amercia: Civil War

The story of Captain America is one that should conceivably speak to many types of people. A scrawny kid from Brooklyn named Steve Rogers with pennies to his name - not even enough for an actual pair of shoes - enlists in the Army in hopes of protecting his country but, more importantly to him, make the world a better place.

Fast-forward about 7 decades or so. There's been an Awakening. (lel) The First Avenger finds himself in a strange and vast and DENSE new world armed only with his shield and sensibilities. But with power comes responsibility: including the responsibility of the dozens (possibly thousands) of innocent deaths at the hands of The Avengers' brand of super-powered justice.

Before the Opening Sequence is even complete one must ask themselves, "When was the last time collateral damage was mentioned in a super hero movie? If ever?" Far too often you see one end of the spectrum or another in regards to this. Transformers' all-too-convenient lack of humanity; Man of Steel's problematic disregard of humanity. Both ends are lazy and unimaginative, but with Civil War we have the complex middle ground. Characters who want to stay true to their duty, but also struggling to reconcile the brutal realities of their work.

One such reality is the ever-expanding reach of Governing Bodies. Not just Uncle Sam. Well over 100 countries around the world have lined up at the UN to help put a leash on The World's Most Powerful Heroes. Understandably, the people are spooked by the prospect of a Super Soldier, a Demigod, a man with a Billion-dollar Battle Suit and a Big Green Monster Man under one roof.

The question then:
Does one sacrifice a bit of their professional pride and privacy to win the hearts and minds of the people, OR does one stay true to the only feelings and convictions they've ever known despite how ugly it looks on paper? This question becomes the engine behind the main conflict between our two main characters: Capt. Steve Rogers and Mr. Tony Stank Stark.


Dawn of Justice was a masterclass...of what happens when you aren't allowed to have fun in a comic book movie. Take for example the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. (Yes. A comic book adaptation.) People have different thoughts about the different versions. Live-action or animated; 90's or 00's. Everyone has their favorite version. You enjoyed yourself. You had fun watching them on that level. I had never been in a comic movie before where there was no fun to be had. Not even an unintentional laugh. No matter where you rank in knowledge or experience you are a fan at the end of the day. It's the reason you are in the theater. Certain movies forget this at times, but thankfully Civil War didn't.

Civil War knows it's own endgame. We've been building up to this showdown between Cap and Iron Man since Iron Man 2.

The disrespect

Even before he was thawed out, there was shade. Tony had to listen to his magnate father go on and on about how he knew Captain America. Speaking about him more as a son than he would to his own son. Imagine having to live up to a legend? A war hero, even. Respect and disdain are not mutually exclusive.

Tony and Steve are associates, but Steve and Bucky are best friends. Yet another hurdle to climb when it comes time to reason with the WWII veteran. It would be one thing if one side or another had the clear idealogical advantage. Unfortunately, the way it works out, both sides make a legitimate and compelling case. "You know what guy, you're totally right! Oh, but you kinda have a really good point, as well. Hmm. This is difficult. Glad I don't have to make a decision."

And how glad I was that the movie didn't cut corners in that regard. We see characters make those tough decisions and, for the most part, stick by them. (Double agents not withstanding.) And indeed there are consequences. Those that were heralded as heroes in the previous adventure are instead arrested as criminals. Which reminds me: there are a lot of heroes in this film.

All the returning Avengers. The Winter Soldier. War Machine. Semi-Retired Hawkeye. Even Ant-Man joins the fun. Conspicuous by their absence are Thor and Hulk, clearly doing something more important than playing footsies with the United Nations. But perhaps the most important attendees are the newest arrivals.

Prince T'Chala - Heir to the Throne of Wakanda - is the man who would be The Black Panther. As the King of his People, Black Panther is responsible for their protection and survival. When it is made to believe that The Winter Soldier has bombed an embassy, resulting in the death of T'Chala's father, the new King sets out on his own mission for justice. It easily could have been hackneyed and retread as most revenge arcs go. However, as the story resolves itself, T'Chala is perhaps one of the few characters to truly glean anything from his adventure. Perhaps the first of many leading roles for Chadwick Boseman.

Oh, and there's this guy.

I know you're not dumb and Marvel Studios knows this as well. So, instead of meeting a punk kid from Queens with little to no remarkable abilities, Tony Stark meets a punk kid from Queens who is six months into his super hero career. He's a good hero and a good person, but he's also 15-years-old and a total greenback. He has potential but he needs time.

He needs a teacher!

Sorry. Wrong cataclysm. What he needs is training. And what better way to train than with other heroes against other heroes that won't actually try to kill him - probably. Due to licensing issues we've never seen Spider-Man interact with even one of these characters before. Making it so very cool when the kid from Queens meets the kid from Brooklyn.

Shout-outs to young Tom Holland for playing a believably young, lovably earnest Peter Parker. I fully support him as my Spidey for the next 5-7 years. And Marisa Tomei is his more reasonably aged Aunt May. So...perhaps there is someone looking out up there. Good work.

Now that the Captain America Trilogy has been completed it seems fair to start thinking about where it ranks with other great movies all-time. I've heard talk already about these movies versus The Dark Knight Trio of films. Civil Wars' theater life has only just begun and it is still a bit early to see how history will look back on The Dark Knight Rises. To speak personally, I really liked this movie. In fact, I liked all of Captain America's movies. There wasn't one that I disliked, which is saying something seeing as the first three Spidey movies weren't even as lucky. Completion. Consistency. Constant improvement. Not unlike Captain Rogers himself. See this film. Then see the first two. Then see this one again. Enjoy the ride while it lasts.

4.5 Stars out of 5

KD Wolf: Spitting Out the Demons

Recently I read a book.

This book to be precise.

[Oh, by the by, some of you might not find this subject matter terribly pleasant. However, in the ever decreasing interest of my ever decreasing sanity I need to get this done, There are other things pulling at my attention that aren't nearly as self-involved.]

It's a book that came along at a peculiar time if only because a previous version of myself might not have understood exactly what this old and foreign book was trying to say. This current version of myself, however, is taken aback as he sees a novel, seemingly, written of his own thoughts and exploits.

This current version realizes - as the protagonist Harry Haller did - that there is little to be found at any advanced age, especially one of independence, that isn't indicative of some form of loss. To think of even just the superficial things that have been lost. Birthdays are a bore. Christmas is a pointless exercise of needless tension and consumption. The very idea of any kind of jewelry or accessory, even a simple watch, seems laughable. For the longest I've pondered and lamented as to how and what could lead to such a temperament. I didn't even know what it was exactly: confusion or general discontent. But in my research I came across this. A passage of explanation from a Mr. Allen Hackworth:

Haller also becomes a symbol of all people who suffer a particular neurosis, a neurosis which "by no means attacks the weak and worthless only but, rather, precisely those who are strongest in spirit and richest in gifts."(24)

This neurosis includes: a sense of despair and chaos, an inability to find meaning in one's life, and inability to solve the riddle of human destiny, an inability to reconcile various opposition including sensuality versus spirituality, time versus eternity, the human versus the divine, self-acceptance versus guilt.

It's not to say that I'm in any way strong or blessed with any gift to speak of. All I can say is this. I believe the people who can describe themselves as truly sane are merely ignoring the very basis and realities of our mortal and human existence.

There's nothing wrong with that, of course. We all have our vices and distractions to get us through the day. Why worry your pretty little head about the possibility of the atmosphere disintegrating and frying under the exposure of a bright and yellow star when you can instead read about the stars of Tinseltown you will likely never meet. Running errands and drinking coffee and picking up their kids just like you!

Another One

What if I told you that the only difference between The Batman and The Joker was a simple chemical imbalance. Both men were unfortunate victims of circumstance. Both men who lost everything they ever held dear. Both men who had the worst day of their life for no apparent or discernible reason. One man dedicated his life to making sure no one else would feel the way he had that day. The other, in turn, dedicated his life to making sure that no one else would live without feeling the way he had that day.

Mental Breaks

If I haven't before, let me explain. Sometimes - when things become too much and I can find no solace in existing in such a brutal and senseless world - I retreat into myself and indulge in what I call brooding days. Brooding days are an odd mix of meditation and loathing. I haven't been clinically depressed in some time but every now and then I require some time to gather myself. It's never more than a day; the one rule I've given myself. I sit quietly either in my room or in nature. Always alone and out of view. I sit and wait silently for some form of understanding or even comfort to come. Sometimes it does. Other times my brooding is simply ended finitely.

And then I see outrage over bombings in Brussels. While seeing no mention of the two car bombings in Turkey. I think of the Syrian woman I spoke with some time ago whose family must live with the anxieties of feeling unwelcome in their own hometown, the pain of seeing their childhood memories reduced to rubble and ruins, and the fear of never again returning to their homeland.

I recoil yet again.

I've been alone for a time now. Sometimes searching, often simply wandering. In my search for understanding I came across the various teachings of fearsome samurai warriors of centuries past. Stories of war and discovery and love and destruction. Similar in ways to our own follies. The more I knew, the less I understood. Until I found something.

According to the Hagakure, inevitable death must be meditated on daily. Death being the only certainty - certainly for the true warrior - one must be prepared to lay down his life for the fief. One must prepare. So I did. One day, as I meditated, I stopped. It wasn't my death that struck me. I looked up and saw the Sun. Bright and everlasting. Except not. The Sun is a star. A star that will one day expend its energy. Considering that the human race doesn't destroy the Earth first or simply destroy themselves, the Sun will implode in on itself, the resulting shockwave ripping through the Solar System and vaporizing the known worlds. Everything that is, was, or will be will have no purpose. So what has brought us to this point? From the molten sludge of creation to the world we know now why has this species - every species - fought so hard for prolonged survival? I stood from my seat and left. Finding the answer to this question was the next step of my journey.

I could never quite understand people who thought of themselves as the center of the picture. Granted, it's 2016 and we've apparently picked up the Round/Flat Earth debate for a redux but is honestly no one else willing to imagine any other possibility than the one in their face? I'll present this. An idea not of my own volition yet no less potent.

The are but two possibilities in our known Universe. Either we are alone, or we aren't. Each outcome is equally terrifying.

Freaky, right?

I know people like to talk all the time about their so-called faith in humans or, perhaps their lack thereof. Me, I never lacked in faith of humans. Not completely. In fact, it's the tenacious drive of humans that partly inspired this piece of introspection. Rather it is life itself I take issue with.

With each passing day and each tragic occurrence and each presidential stump speech a picture becomes clearer in my mind of the Universe pointing and laughing. "Look at the silly creatures!" it exclaims. "Look at them struggle with even the most basic of operations! Look at how much energy they must expend to make through a single day! Why must they bother so?" Why indeed.

Some people worry about how well their lawn is kept. Others like my younger sister simply want the strength to hold her head up to look at her friends when they speak to her. It upsets me because the one thing I've wanted out of life is comfort and knowing I can never truly give that to her pains me more than these puny words can say. There's no sour grapes here, but I'm allowing myself to be upset this once because if I don't these thoughts and feelings will fester into something all too tangible. Did it once already. Not ever again.

What made this so hard to write was the ultimate necessity. Having been in a stupor for several days, I could seldom hope to get anything of consequence done until these specters had been purged. In my darker moments, I wish I didn't have these thoughts at all. How sweet life would be as another mindless drone! To sift through the days and months and years and years with no regard to any purpose. To be seated on the couch like a potted plant, flipping the proverbial Krabby Patty for 40 years until I die.

And yet the moment never comes because of my one rule. Always spit out the demons. My roommate in college was at least vaguely aware of my depression. Unable to give much advice he told me, "Never let yourself get too low." Had I listened, perhaps I could have salvaged some sort of normal millennial experience. But all of that is done. It doesn't matter now.

The Way of the Warrior is to disregard the Past as nonexistent and the Future as irrelevant. The only thing of substance is the here and now. I might not have the answers to why right now, but I do have purpose right now. My co-workers need me. My siblings need me.  My goddaughter needs me. That's enough for right now.

I struggle with that, too. Understanding why people like me or if they like me at all. It's where some of the difficulty with publishing this comes from. Most of you reading these words will never know the person behind the screen that crafted them. All well and good, but even more people will read this that I know personally and even went to school with. Will those that tolerate me find even these thoughts to be too dark and nihilist to sit through? Will those who didn't like me to begin with confirm their suspicions of me being a freak? Will everyone stop reading as soon as they see me piss on Christmas?

Take what you will from this information. It is not my place as an author to say what you should and shouldn't feel. I worked into the morning light with the hope that some of this weight would be lifted. My mind will likely still be racing with ideas and possibilities but if someone else's shadows have been sated I feel I've done my part.

Don't be ashamed of your shadows. Remember that you aren't alone. I have fought your fight. Am fighting your fight. The path to true enlightenment is a journey, not a destination. I may never find mine, but it is my sincere wish that my words can make your Path less tumultuous.

Such is the way of this Steppenwolf.

~KDG

[If you're seeing this, thank you for your time. Feel free to view the sequel here. A journey, not a destination.]

KD's Option Select | The Starting Lineup: Weighing in on Super Smash Bros. & Street Fighter V

 It's been a long while. Nevermind how long since I've played competitively – I have been playing Super Smash Bros. since I was a child. The love of the game has never waned and I learn new things everytime I play. Never once though did I stop to think of how high I could go. How much could I elevate my play? It's a question I find both exciting and scary at once. Add to that the prospect of possibly learning a whole new game entirely. It's been a thrilling year for the video game community and the season is only halfway done. And I'm willing to open up about the different strategies and characters I'm looking to use; if for no other reason than to expose people to new things. Also, chances are good that someone could use the knowledge better than myself.

~~~

I've always been a Melee kind of guy. Fox dittos aside...

20XX confirmed

And anyone who knows me was already aware of this. I love the pace; love the feel. I love the way it plays for lack of any better term. Those who don't know would have to play it to understand. It's always fun to see the teens who grew up on the Brawl version pick up Melee and experience it. “Wait, you can L-cancel?” “Tech chases, you say?” “Edge guards, really?”

You see, Melee has combo videos. Many of which are incredibly difficult given Smash Bros. has some crazy inputs. You have a jump button, a jab button, a special button and a block button. Realistically, it shouldn't be much more than a mindless button-mashing party game - and in many occasions it is – but the dexterity and imagination of players like Mango, Armada and Leffen have elevated it to a much higher level. Super Smash Bros now has global tournaments with hundreds of entrants big cash payouts. Apex 2015 had an online audience of 50,000 on the final day of events. That's a bigger live audience than some professional football teams.

It's also one of the only games where your play is affected by how far you tilt the joystick. It's what makes the game so special, but also quite difficult playing on a more serious level. To give you an idea: I've been playing Melee for about ten years now. My consistency and intensity has been up and down throughout that time but the passion has not waned. And still after all this time I'm still learning new things about this game. I'll stop just short of saying I suck because I'm solid enough but compared to other top players – not even in the world but just my region – the gap is still pretty noticeable. I'm certainly not discouraged. If anything I'm more intrigued now with just how far I could take this.

With the other versions of the game, it mostly comes down to exposure. I didn't own a 64 as a boy, so OG Smash is not exactly my forte. I never got the chance to own a Wii, either, as I hadn't yet moved out and had no real source of income for myself. The most practice I got in Brawl was a 30-minute Iron Man match with my good friend on a neutral stage: my Sonic versus his Mario. After that match, my playing time dwindled ever so gradually until the game became unrecognizable. So...no more Brawl in comp. But if you want to bop me in casuals, feel free. I'll humor a game or two.

The latest title for Wii U is a new story altogether. The gameplay is more mentally intensive than any of the titles I've played previously. Unlike Melee where any movement in the general direction gets you in for free. In Smash Bros 4, you need the right read, a good reaction and a follow-up in mind, and maybe you'll get some damage. It makes decision-making all the more important and that's why I like it so much.

And Sonic is Top 5? The struggle is almost not real!

I mostly use Lucina. My goal is to get her to the point to which I can be more secure in that choice. I had a match some time ago in Western Missouri with a great Donkey Kong player. The set went the full three games; me winning the first with Lucina and losing the next. For all intents and purposes I should have switched right to Captain Falcon. It's the better match-up and given my experience with him there's no doubt I know it better. But I stuck with Lucina because I wanted to be for sure, and even though I lost it didn't feel like a failure. I learned a lot from the fight. Whether I got too aggressive with a react-and-counter type character I can't currently say, but regardless of that the most important thing I learned was that I have a future with this character. Maybe I'm not making it easy on myself by choosing her, it does seem that Lucina is my best shot to make some noise in Smash 4 and I'm more than eager to see how far I could take it. With the proper amount of practice I don't think being the best Lucina in the business is too preposterous.

Such is the plan, anyway.

Speaking of practice, I referenced my time with Sonic in Brawl. Having played around with him in the years since I've picked him up as a solid secondary character as he's received some good improvements from the third game. The hardest part for me thus far playing this game has been knowing when to use what characters when. Do I start with Lucina then ride it out? Do I switch in the second game? Do I use Sonic or Cap from the start? How many characters should I learn? I guess that's the thing about any fighter: there are so many ways you could take your game. Street Fighter 4 players like Momochi from Japan and Infiltration from Korea have no less than 6 characters they have mastered. You run the risk of spreading yourself thin; you also have the chance to counter every possible situation:

As far as Street Fighter goes: I think this is the year. This is the year I finally learn how to play. The fifth game is released next Spring. I've lost count of how many hours of Street Fighter 4 I've watched since it's release about 7 years ago. I don't have enough time to do anything crazy with the latest version, but I really feel like I need to extend myself now. With what I've gained just by observing others play at the highest level I feel like my I.Q. Is above average. Can that be translated to actual execution? Maybe. Maybe not. But I really want to find out.

This isn't to say Smash Bros. No longer challenges me, or that I've lost my passion for it. If anything, Smash 4 has given me more hunger than before. I just want to create more opportunities for myself. I learn so much with every game I play. Even just meeting other players and seeing their process teaches me so much, but I can only learn so much by staying in one scene. It's past time to branch out, and I look forward to the challenges that face me.

Included, but not limited to, the awesome psycho power.

Some people tend to shy away from the tournament fighters like Street Fighter or Mortal Kombat. The reasoning is different depending on who you ask. Most just don't care for the multiple buttons and combinations that you have to master. Just looking at the command list for one character can be intimidating. For me, though, it's really not the combos. Combos in most fighters are simply a string of normals. It's really all about the special moves. Not so much remembering how to do them, but remembering when to use them. There's a certain psychology in any game about when and where to use certain abilities. Using them at the wrong time can lead to unfortunate consequences. Learning the spacing and selection of when to use them will be the most challenging task.

There are about six buttons at any time you could press in one string, (more like four actually) and after so many times it becomes less about knowing the link than about the muscle memory behind the execution. The hardest part, by far, is the timing. In a fighter, even if you memorize every button it's not enough to simply mash out the input. Every combination of buttons has a unique timing that makes it work. Hit them too slow, your opponent drops out completely; do it too fast and the attack doesn't even come out. The price to pay for mashing in high level play is steep. Even if you're playing someone who's only halfway decent, you won't be able to get away with too many mistakes. This is called a punish, and learning how to do so and avoiding punishes yourself is key to elevating your game.

In Conclusion

I love video games of all sorts. But there's something about these fighting games. I couldn't say what precisely. I know I've been playing Smash Bros. For no less than a decade now. I know I've been studying Street Fighter for nearly as long. If nothing else they keep me sharp. Long after I've left school I still find myself in situations where I have to quickly decide what solution works best for a certain problem. It's only just now that the application of such as it relates to video games is becoming more tangible by the day.

It's honestly likely to come down to one thing in particular, specifically, in Street Fighter. I've watched so much tape. I've watched so many live matches. My knowledge of the games in question has never been higher than it is right now. The big question: can I execute? Right now?  I don't know. I've never lacked for confidence, and even in picking up previous titles that I had no experience in, the fundamentals seemed to have bled over. The hunger has, too.

This won't be the only one of these you see, because there are other games I'm interested in actually breaking down. I just wanted to get these initial thoughts recorded. I believe that fighting games are the future of eSports. It's the difference between "Good spell" and "Good roundhouse," which one really sounds relatable? I don't know if I'll ever be the guy, but I'm looking forward to where the journey takes me. If it takes me.

[Barz]

Crossing the Finish Line | A Look Back at the Basketball Career of Steve Nash

And What a Career it Was

Who would've thought it. Coming from one of the more un-basketball backgrounds – coming to us from the Canadian province of British Columbia by way of Johannesburg – a young Steve Nash was drafted No. 15 overall by the Phoenix Suns in the 1996 NBA Draft. The rest, of course, was to become NBA history and would span almost two decades. Players and colleagues alike have already offered their own memories and reflections; now, I humbly offer my own as fan of both the League and the player.

I haven't played serious competitive basketball in some time, but when I did I was a point guard. I knew from the start that's what I was. They taught us about posting up in camp and they saw fit to give us a refresher the following week at practice. I had completely forgotten this lesson because even subconsciously before I knew exactly what point guards were supposed to do, I knew that posting up power forwards was not something they would have much success in doing. It should also be said that Allen Iverson is my basketball hero. Before I saw him play, I figured that a guy my size wouldn't really stand much of a chance in a game dominated by bigger, faster players. He was the first to show me that it was even possible. But after I learned it was possible, credit Steve Nash for showing me just how far I could take it.

At a time in the National Basketball Association when highlight reels were dominated by men who played above the rim – a young King James had hardly begun his reign – Steve came into his own with his own play style. At a time when scoring was never more “in”, a man who made it cool to pass the ball. Imagine, if you will. A guard winning the MVP award. Being named the best in basketball. Twice? In a row? And not just a guard, a point guard. Whose job it is not only to find offense for themselves but, more importantly, create opportunities for their teammates.

It was as if my entire sporting existence had been validated. Because no matter how many dozens of people were in the stands yelling at me to take whatever shot may or may not have been open, my first instinct on the court was to find the teammate closest to the basket. “If you are open, I will find you,” I said and I meant every word. And I'm not the only one.

S/o to @SteveNash hanging it up for good! Inspired me to play the way I do and paved the way. Congrats on all your success and enjoy life!
— Stephen Curry (@StephenCurry30) March 21, 2015

That's a tweet from current best PG in the world, Stephen Curry. He's the leader of the new school of the current crop of 1-men who have elevated the game to levels that have never before been seen. He's one of many players that have been similarly influenced by Nash. And it's not just the little guys, either. This article from Pro Basketball Talk collects tweets and tributes from players of all positions, nationalities, levels and backgrounds.

Every professional in every field inspires at least one person who plans to pursue that path. Here is a man who inspired a whole generation of players to approach the game as he did. For the next 10-15 years the guards of the League will be playing at this high level, mostly because they grew up watching one guy. It's the ultimate compliment to have peers and colleagues regard you in the same way that fans do. So where does that leave him among the greats?

If not one of the Top 5 Point Guards in the history of the game he is without question one of the best foreign-born players at any position. To succeed in the NBA is to be at the top of the mountain. Steve Nash was a 2-time, back-to-back MVP so one could argue – if only for a time – that he was the king of that mountain.

The Best Player in the World

And at this point, maybe the best player without a World Title. I'm not sad really, just a bit disappointed on how it all ended for him.

Thinking about what was, 

what could've been, 

and what came to be.

I tried to keep this relatively short, not because any less appreciate or thankful of all the time that was put in to make it all work. I just feel like, at this point there isn't much more to say. The laurels speak for themselves and at the risk of heaping too much praise on one guy I'll stop short to say thank you. Thank you to Steve Nash. Thank you NBA for giving him and players like him a chance to thrive on the big stage. It was a supreme honor and privilege to watch you play all these years and watching the many players who learned under you carry on the movement will be just as rewarding. And with whatever venture you approach next, may it be equally as successful and rewarding. Be well.

~KDG

KD's Double Feature: The Thriller Episode | John Wick & Nightcrawler

So, full disclosure: this wasn't intended to be a 2-in-1 type post. I saw John Wick when it came out a couple of weeks ago. I stalled on posting because my queue already had at least two other pieces ahead of it that needed my attention. Next thing I knew, Nightcrawler - the next movie on my list - came out and I went and saw that. I had a pretty good time in both and now I have both reviews ready to go. So I figured why not kill two henchmen with one bullet and give you kind readers a look into the world of the Action/Thriller? A genre I still love that has seen slim pickings the past few years. Hopefully this begins the runback.

Her Name Was Daisy 
Review: John Wick

 Grieving is a process. And if you're familiar with my work, you know I've quoted Travis Touchdown on this numerous times so I'll spare you.

For everyone else: please note that the process is unique to each individual, and that it is not the best idea to interrupt that process. Certainly not if the bereaved happens to be a legendary hitman-for-hire whose emotional stability is at most a suggestion. But so the story goes as we find the titular character in mourning of his recently departed wife who fell to an illness of unknown origin. As a parting gift to her husband, she sent to his doorstep a dog – a Beagle named Daisy.

Who totally called shotgun.

A pet for him to look after and care for in her absence. Things are good until his home is invaded by Russian thugs looking to lift his prized '69 Mustang. Add the death of his dog – the last piece of his wife he had left – and the pot has been successfully stirred and your piping hot Revenge Stew is ready to serve.

But John Wick is much more than just a revenge story. Much in part of the efforts of Keanu Reeves who for the longest had shied away from from these action-centric roles so he could spend more time in the art house. Whether to polish himself up or air himself out I couldn't say, but he is indeed in rare form. The jumps he takes from cool and calculated hitman to fast-paced man of action are what keeps this from being yet another mindless shoot 'em up. And shoot 'em ups have their place (Clive Owen's Shoot 'Em Up for example) but when a movie looks like this, there needs to be another layer.

This is why you should never overlook the importance of the character actor. You know the ones. Those actors you see in every other movie; many of this week's TV shows. People who never got their chance to carry the ball but still have the chops to keep things grounded. Willem Dafoe was excellent in the minimal screen time he was given and I was pleasantly surprised to see John Leguizamo who I hadn't seen since he got wrecked in Kick-Ass 2. Also, let's talk about this guy here.

This guy is Michael Nyqvist and he plays the father of the man who attacked John in the first act. He's also responsible for a hefty bounty put on John's head. Now, I'm not outright saying or even suggesting we should get this guy in Star Wars: Episode VIII but, c'mon JJ, look at this guy. Even when he's smiling, there's an air of menace around him. This guy would make Dooku think twice.

Corporal Punishment

After I see a movie, I usually don't start writing about it until after I've slept on it. It especially helps when I'm on the fence about something but in this case the time simply increased my favor. The film isn't without it's faults, however. As good as some of the characters are, there are others that simply revert to type. The third act in some ways feels like a bit of a deflation but at just over 90 minutes it never lets you think about it for too long. Also, this movie simply just looks cool.

At the end, your enjoyment will depend mostly on just how much you are behind the main character and his mission. Do you buy his reasoning for waging war on a crime boss and family that he once had close ties with? As several characters say, “It's just a fuckin' dog!” While that's true, I like to get myself into the head of characters such as these. One look at this man and you understand. It's not just the fact that they killed an innocent dog. The man's name is John Wick. As in the wick of a fuse; he's literally a time bomb. These poor bastards just happened to be the match that lit the fuse. Sometimes you can't win for losing.

3.5 Stars out of 5

Other times, though, you find a way to win just enough.

If It Bleeds, It Leads (Brah)
Review: Nightcrawler

So it's no secret where the state of the media is. The last legitimate newsmen where Walter Cronkite and Robert Frost. That was decades ago. So framing a film arond freelance news in post-Recession LA is hardly, well, news but where Nightcrawler succeeds is where its main character succeeds. The key word is ambition.

Jake Gyllenhaal takes the lead in a very innovative role as Louis Bloom. He is an unemployed man with an unknown history, questionable morals and unmistakable motives. He describes himself as persistent and man, from a guy who knows how to get what he wants he really undersells himself here.

As the movie opens, we see he is scraping by on a meager living provided by stolen scrap iron. It's not desirable and it's not sustainable and Lou knows it. Which is why he's always looking to get his foot in the door - any door, really. So when he comes across a crew filming what's left of a fiery accident on a night lit freeway, his eyes glimmer with opportunity. For the first time he has hope. It just so happens that his hope lies in the hopelessness of others.

Nightcrawlers - or stringers as they're called – are camera jockeys for hire who primarily sell their footage to local news stations as part of their top-of-the-hour crime report. Controversy creates cash and fear is the greatest motivator; stringers in this film are hired to remind you how safe you aren't. They have a police scanner to locate, a GPS system to navigate and a camera to document. As Lou notes, if you see one of them, you probably aren't having a great day. This theme becomes very important as we sink deeper into the seedier side of broadcast journalism.

Again, none of this is exactly groundbreaking. Every other think piece on countless other blogs you've read about that had anything to do with the pitfalls of media at large or “by any means” capitalism has already said what this movies aims to say. But none of those pieces had a voice like Lou Bloom to propel it. Jake Gyllenhaal said in an interview that he memorized every line of this script and it shows in a good way. Every word spoken by Lou is done so in a trance-like robotic wonder. Never quite monotone, but still outside of being human. One must think that the same sensation a person might get from a basket of newborn puppies is the same he gets from a 3-car pileup.

Double homicide! All across the 109!

Even better are the almost Shakespearean soliloquies that he goes into. There are only about 2 or 3 in the whole movie but for the handful of minutes that they last you have no choice but to be sucked into a world that in no way could exist in your own. Lou knows this, too. That his greatest strength is his intelligence and quick wit. As long as he has just one chip to bargain with, he still has a chance. It plays with ones emotions well. You want to see this kid succeed where many others haven't, but the whole time you're thinking, “Not like this.”

Nightcrawler is a thriller at the end of the day and it succeeds in being that. However, there are certain other elements that stood out to me even before I saw the movie in full. Specifically in the vein of black comedy. I had my first thoughts as I watched the redband trailer and saw clips of squad cars getting smashed up to the righteous tunes of Kendrick Lamar. These suspicions were confirmed as the movie progressed. At times the score would appropriately be dark and sinister. Other times, when Lou happened upon a crime scene or even beat the police to a crime scene it would becoming sweeping and orchestral despite the fact that we were looking at possibly multiple fatalities. With the slick little one-liners and the classic Los Angeles greeting [Who the fuck are you?] there are many moments of laughter: unintentional or otherwise depends on how you view it.

In some ways, your enjoyment of Nightcrawler may depend on your opinion of Lou and the means to his end. Are you looking for any comeuppance or do you appreciate a mixed bag? I lean towards the latter in this instance. I don't know if Mr. Gyllenhaal will be nominated for this performance. I don't know if this is his best work. Whatever the case I wish more leading actors had the guts to take a role like this. He more or less transformed entirely to get into this role.

It's not nearly as drastic as others have been, but it fits the character and that's the goal here. Will Smith had his chance to be the loveable anti-hero in Hancock and threw it away after the first act. Now the hero is on a shortlist of franchises no one wants to see continued. Louis Bloom is frankly a bit of a sleaze.

There's not much redeeming about him other than his enthusiasm but that's what gives you the rush when you find yourself rooting for and against him in the space of one scene. Too many leading men are afraid to be unliked and I believe we should celebrate the ones who aren't. Say what you want about Lou. You don't have to like him. Just remember:

"I'm just doin' my job!"

4 Stars out of 5