Jake Gyllenhaal

Ambulance:

Storyline:
Two robbers steal an ambulance after their heist goes awry.

Ambulance was simply better than expected and incredibly entertaining. Though ending on a note that tried to go deeper than what the story had in it, that’s what you get when you sign up to watch a Michael Bay film with a goofy concept. Nevertheless, despite its faulty supporting character inclinations and random use of familiar sequences, this is a thrilling ride.

That said, even with an overabundance of artsy, drawing camera angles and filler drone shots, the heart of what was shown was a gritty adventure. Always delivering on the action, although over-the-top per usual, Bay is moving closer to a balance between intense action and the presence of a decent plot.

While the characters that fill the story are nothing shy of flat and one-dimensional, they surprisingly captivate with the questionably funny writing. And even with the dialogue testing the patience of the audience by including out-of-place practical conversations admits a high-speed chase, the effort to make this well-rounded results in both exhilaration and a light-hearted laugh.

Regardless of the majority of situations and lines overarching, they still create a tone that is right for the moment, as not everything has to be watched through a critical eye. Driving through the city of LA in an ambulance for hours ISN'T practical, but with a grain of salt, the suspension of disbelief, and a film that keeps your heart racing with no traces of a boring moment, you can find yourself enjoying what Bay does best - entertain.

6.5/10

The BAM! rating is a newly integrated rating scale in addition to the critic rating each film gets. BAM! is simply the entertainment value that is solely based on whether or not a film is worth watching. A film can have a high BAM! rating and a low critic rating or vice versa.

7/10

The Guilty:

Storyline:
A demoted police officer assigned to a call dispatch desk is conflicted when he receives an emergency phone call from a kidnapped woman.

The Guilty may have the idea that is a change of pace in today's film world, but it can't change a blah presentation of minimal details. Even with a visible max effort performance from Jake Gyllenhaal, likewise, he can't change the game from a monotone assembled screenplay.

While this was quickly produced, it shows in its lack of ingredients. Truthfully thinking it is cinematic, the concept is not connected with the product. Not even coming close to being as dramatic as it thinks it is, this is an oversimplification of something that needed to be intricate. From uncertain subplots to off-putting conflicts, there is not THE thing to make this stressful, antsy, or resonating -- which was crucial.

While Antoine Fuqua did what he could with depicting directing and creating an image to live in, as always, and Gyllenhaal doing what he does best, perform, the two are quite subpar in comparison to their other work. While there’s just not enough happening to make this memorable, this tries to make a statement, but it's powerless when it's not filled with anything significant.

6/10

Love & Other Drugs:

Storyline:
A pharmaceutical sales rep sparks an unlikely relationship with a free-spirited Parkinson’s patient; as the two become closer, they have to ask whether or not it is serious.

What can I say... Love & Other Drugs is generic, mainstreamed, and never quite catches the offbeat and quirky notion it was going for; instead, it took a forced approach on a seasoned topic and doesn't do anything out of the box to make it prominent.

Running on no sparks between the two leads, although each performance individually saved this film on a whole from a disaster, that can't force chemistry that was artificial from the beginning. By no means was this a film you couldn't get through watching, but it's not worth the time initially.

On top of this, consisting of the most unsatisfying ending, this dull and conventional storyline can't even showcase a pleasing predictable finale.

This film, all in all, doesn't take control of your emotions. Containing no aspects of originality makes for a nonabsorbent story that lets the audience get bored throughout its course.

5/10

Donnie Darko:

Storyline:
High school teen, Donnie Darko is haunted by his sleepwalking when he starts seeing a demonic bunny named Frank.

While I am always one to love a good plot twist and not all questions asked kind of film - which this is - that can't hide the fact that the plot itself was too slow and nonmeaningful to make it worth the watch.

The amount of pointless characters included within this is something I will never wrap my head around. The use of plenty of A-List stars feels as though it was an incentive of star power rather than significance. Honestly, the only characters that proved any relevance were the protagonist and antagonist. While Jake Gyllenhaal truly showcased an offbeat, unsettling character from the start, even with that passionate performance (which only heightens as the film moves forward), the story itself failed to hold my attention.

As mentioned, the plot twist genuinely still has me asking questions now and considering the possibilities of what could have happened. Yet, the leisurely and witless course of getting to this objective went through too many drawn out scenes to be anything I would say has to be seen. Just because something has a clever ending doesn't make the rest of the poorly produced film any better.

6.5/10

Southpaw:

Storyline:
Billy Hope is the reigning middleweight boxing champion living a lavish life and having it all. Losing everything and hitting rock bottom, he has to climb his way back to the top to succeed.

Though this is quite a familiar storyline, that doesn’t faze this extremely dedicated plot from pleasing. While it has its moments that were not treated with care, such as filler scenes and becoming slightly predictable, this still deserves more love from critics and fans alike.

If I've said it once (which I have numerous times), I'll say it again - Jake Gyllenhaal never fails to amaze me or be utterly devoted to his character. Being remarkably candid in this raw adaptation of pride and redemption, his emotion is what turned this film into something captivating.

This thrilling tale of the ups and downs that anyone can suffer from may be like everything else on the surface but dives into something deeper throughout its plot. This antsy, edge of your seat tearjerker isn’t as praised as it should be and needs to be noted as such. On top of gripping performances that were matched across the board, this was the practical voice that changes this stereotyped, cliche story.

8.5/10

Nocturnal Animals:

Storyline:
An art gallery owner is haunted by the manuscript written by her ex-husband, whom she has not seen in years, and is faced with harsh truths of her life.

Because of how particularly original this is, it's pretty hard not to be captivated or drawn in. Yet my issue with this film is that even with its numerous, appreciable aspects, it lacks in the ratio of powerful, meaningful scenes, and the ones that get too carried away by being too artsy and pointless.

That being said, this really is a tasteful film. While it can be interpreted in multiple different ways, that's the beauty of it. Looking at it from multiple perspectives, it provides a thought that hangs on well after it's over. Genuinely, this isn't like anything else and provides a creative take on a fresh idea.

The harsh and dramatic editing makes for a powerful and speechless ending. While this film wasn't afraid of getting into graphic topics or unsettling scenes, it stays grounded by having a fine line of reality and fiction. Plus, paired with emotional performances, there was never a question of whether it felt real. While the parallels are gracefully intertwined, its one that gets picked up the more times you see it. With the compelling feeling this provides, this sophisticated storyline is incredibly unique and slept on.

8/10

Prisoners:

Storyline:
A father takes matters into his own hands when his 6-year-old daughter goes missing and the lead detective has to release their main suspect due to a lack of evidence.

Though a quite unsettling subject manner, this by no means should be ruled out of watching from that. Between the thrilling performances and a chilling storyline, Prisoners is not only unpredictable but a truly solid film all around.

Incorporating one plot twist after another, in the simplest of terms, it's unprecedented. Taking a ride that features a roller coaster of emotions, the depth that went into planning this is substantial. The afterthought, possibilities, and the questions that come with this make for an interpretation that lingers well after the film.

The absolute raw adaptations that were depicted is hard to describe just how accurate they were. Developing and carrying the film, the performances from frankly every character, big or small, were exceedingly powerful.

Although consisting of a slow go and a quite unsettling feeling, this is worth the time. Achieving the necessary elements for a thriller without losing any entertainment value, this is a distraught and compelling watch.

8.5/10

Nightcrawler:

Storyline:
Louis Bloom finds himself in a new line of work when he becomes obsessed with being a freelance videographer of crime for the local news.

From the first moments on screen, this is truly mesmerizing. Consisting of an original idea and an unconventional route, this thriller takes you for a ride from start to finish.

Creating a genuine portrayal of an offbeat protagonist comes not only by the creative screenwriting and fresh character but from the brilliant performance from Jake Gyllenhaal. Sincerely one of the best performances I have seen within a film, the raw adaptation makes for a chilling and jaw-dropping center of attention that keep you invested within the story.

Simply stated, this film thrives off an unfamiliar storyline that is completely individualized. While I can admit the select few, but noticeable, pointless filler scenes throughout, that doesn't stop this compelling storyline from taking over. This is unpredictable, and the last act, although quite abrupt, dives into the unthinkable, and cinematically never stops thrilling.

8/10

The Sisters Brothers:

Storyline:
This follows a story of two brothers, Eli and Charlie Sister, who are assassins in the 1850s. Their travels eventually take them to a gold rush in Oregon and California.

Judging from the trailers, this looked like a great mix between a western and comedy, but instead, was unorganized and didn’t know what it wanted to be; including no aspects of comedy and the only thing that was western was their location.

There were times when the development was rushed and there was no information coming to the viewers, while at the same time, many scenes that were slow and dragged on at the wrong times. This uneven distribution of the two makes for an imbalanced progression and uneasy feel.

The storyline failed to provide something intriguing as well. While the story as a whole has no purpose, many elements did not need to be included, as they were as pointless as they were non-compelling.

In addition to everything else, I have a major issue with the performances. No character fits their role. Every line felt staged, which killed any flow the film might have gotten. From there on, each scene didn't correlate to the next and created a choppy go of it all.

This is something I am extremely disappointed with, had much higher hopes for, and had so much potential.

5.5/10

Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time

Storyline:
After being accused of killing his father, Prince Dastan goes on the run to prove his innocence and protect the magical dagger of his city.

Being a mix of an Aladdin wannabe and the basic elements from any heist film, this was cheesy, predictable, and filled with dialogue that is guessable at any time. Lacking in originality and substance, this was an unbelievable story that never brushed anything memorable.

Honestly, Jake Gyllenhaal was the best part of this production and he didn’t even do well. Compared to everything else he has done, this is nothing special standing alone or set side by side. That being said, he worked with what he had (which wasn’t much) and provided the best individual from it to at least hold my interest.

The anti-companionship turn romance was incredibly stiff and did not feel real whatsoever. Having a substantial build-up to something incredibly anti-climatic plus no one feeling their lines, resulted in an ineffective purpose of the film.

The visuals, costumes, time frame, and mannerisms did not fit the vibe of the story. None of these aspects united as they should, creating a blocky sequence with plenty of holes. Filling these gaps with parkour, it was excessive to the point where it wasn’t even cool in a corny way. On top of that, utilizing slow motion within these scenes became clear that it was placed to try and save what couldn't be saved.

4/10

Jarhead:

Storyline:
Following the life of Marine, Anthony Swofford, a sniper, among other soldiers during their time overseas in the Gulf War.

Personally, war films are compelling enough in terms of holding my attention and/or keeping it. Most war films either go for something extremely intense or are the opposite and bring a light-hearted feeling; however, this film goes for an odd mix of the two and doesn't choose a side, creating a blocky feel for both the authenticity and anticipation.

Although the narration came at weird times, it was relevant and offered a breath of fresh air since the content was pretty hectic. As for the script, it falls into the same choppy category. It's suitable for what was provided on screen but acts as yet another element that is not done well.

The location/setting/costumes were very realistic. They provided a tangible element to set the story and play into the war aspects. While the details within this setting are what I had a few issues with, that doesn't knock down the gritty and rough characteristics provided.

Because this film doesn't have a clear tone, it knocks the rest of the film off of its vibe throughout the story. Halting well-done aspects and heightening the poor ones, this film isn't substantial standing alone or in the genre.

5/10

Velvet Buzzsaw:

Storyline:
After mysterious paintings are discovered from an unknown artist, supernatural things have been happening to the people involved with them.

It's hard to critique the plot when there really wasn't one. From the start of the film, it failed to grasp my attention and keep my interest. Basically every scene didn't correlate together, just a hodgepodge of random moments with a slow and uneventful flow.

This had no aspects of horror or suspense. There were about five scenes that could be classified as that but was nothing near it. I was never on the edge of my seat in anticipation or fear, rather I just predicted they'd come at the time they did.

Being a huge Jake Gyllenhaal fan, I was extremely disappointed in his performance. Even though some of his films are not the best, he tends to play his role well, but he failed to do so in this. He put off the vibe as though he was above everyone else, but you never understood why. Leading to a character that became extremely flat and non-engaging, he was not the only one who struggled with this issue; all characters were the same - having no development or anything to distinguish them as to who they are.

In addition to random scenes piled together, this was filled with weird camera angles, choppy cut scenes, and numerous shots of things that were useless to the plot. The directing failed to provide anything of substance to the story, rather just encouraged the messy organization.

2/10

Enemy:

Storyline:
A seemingly boring college professor finds a look-alike actor and pursues to find and meet him.

Although I will admit my bias toward the one and only Jake Gyllenhaal, this film truly shows his immense range as an actor. Playing two completely opposite characters, both represent an equally compelling performance and create a stable element within this confusing story.

Genuinely, this plot messes with you. The first and second act is evidently more important than what they seem upon first glance. But, the third act is not necessarily when things come together, rather when things start to happen. This achieves to do many things by having not a whole lot happening on screen in the grand scheme of things.

Though I have my theories as to what this actually means, one of the reasons I enjoyed this so much is because it really doesn't make sense. Take it for what you will, no matter how you interpret the ending, there is always an element to throw a wrench into that thought and provide a hole in the plot. The pull this story has among viewers is the number of ways one can interpret it.

Overall, this is something that is unlike anything else that's out. At times it can get a little trippy and throw you for a minute, but between the powerful performances and the execution of the story, this is an entertaining and thought-provoking storyline.

8/10

Source Code:

Storyline:
Captain Stevens was a helicopter pilot who died in action, but with new technology, scientists are able to use what's left of him to try and prevent tragic events from happening.

Being a huge Jake Gyllenhaal fan, I'll admit my bias for any of his films. That being said, this was incredibly realistic and entertaining.

While it was trippy and messed with your head, it made you feel apart of the story as the protagonist felt the same thing as the audience and knew the same little bits of information throughout.

The momentum of the film was paced great. Being just over an hour and a half, it never felt as short as it was. There was enough action to be entertaining, the proper amount of development in order to understand and high anticipation to keep the audience engaged and on their toes.

In my opinion, one of the hardest things in this genre is making the film feel like it could actually happen, and this film didn't struggle with it. While I know that it isn't real, it sure felt like it was by the professionalism and sophistication it offered.

There were times where it was slightly repetitive or the acting wasn't the strongest, but they were only minor inconveniences and didn't stop this film from producing an entertaining story.

7/10

8/10

Life:

Storyline:
Astronauts aboard an international space station are finding a new life discovery on Mars.

The directing and cinematography were pretty bland and ultimately hindered the flow of the film. Nothing was out of the box creative, rather just standard and tactical shots. That being said, with the setting of their spacecraft in mind, there isn't really much to work with. Yet, while I was tuned in throughout its entirety, from a critical standpoint, more could have been done.

On the other hand, the storyline was incredibly interesting. Never was it predictable or foreseeable in the slightest, to which it keeps you on your toes for the duration of the plot.

While the performances were across the board believable and I felt/sympathized with their emotions, a good majority of their lines felt scripted. Though this is merely me nitpicking, it becomes quite substantial as more time passes.

Considering that this isn't anything spectacular on the creative side of things, it's captivating nature is enough to make it worth the watch. Thinking about unanswered questions after the film is over makes this the perfect BAM! film that's an easy-going watch with a powerful ending.

7/10

7.5/10

The Day After Tomorrow:

Storyline:
After a climatologist’s theory plays true, a disastrous superstorm hits the world, leaving his son in the heart of it.

Honestly, this is not a good movie, yet it was very intriguing the entire time. While this is like literally every other world disastrous film, it was overly catastrophic and did not feel real whatsoever.

Sadly, the editing did not get treated with care either. Jumping back and forth between the two characters never once felt seamless or created a picture that was united. It came and went between scenes and didn't feel connected.

The CGI was not in the least realistic and could have used some help. While this is a major part of the film, as manufactured as it felt, it fit the vibe of the story.

Multiple subplots raised and made you question what really was the goal. The script wasn't dealt with enough consideration to truly focus on what was important or not. Another example to prove this true is the random filler of over-the-top scenes that didn't fit within the story.

Though it was very entertaining and slightly anticipating, you just know that everyone’s going to be okay, which was slightly annoying. Especially with this type of film, you hope for there to be a bit of suspense and/or creativity.

4/10

5.5/10

YOUR CART

Ambulance:

The Guilty:

Love & Other Drugs:

Donnie Darko:

Southpaw:

Nocturnal Animals:

Prisoners:

Nightcrawler:

The Sisters Brothers:

Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time

Jarhead:

Velvet Buzzsaw:

Enemy:

Source Code:

Life:

The Day After Tomorrow:

FOLLOW FOR POST REMINDERS!

INSTAGRAM @FILMSCRITIQUED