It’s the weekend again, and that means Film Focus. Here’s Mike Laidman with what’s new in local theaters.




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This weekend is all about action, action, and more action! And then some drama, and then back to action. Mixed with some drama, of course!

But in all seriousness, both of this week’s new openers - American Made and Baby Driver - are full of quick, quality action, laughs, drama, interesting characters, and are, above all, very watchable. And that remains a big driver, pun intended, in going to see a movie. It doesn't matter how good the reviews are if it’s not fun to sit through.

So follow us as we take a spin through the streets of Baby Driver and the skies of American Made.

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Mike Laidman

Welcome to another edition of Film Focus. I’m Mike Laidman.

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American Made (2017, Doug Liman)
A pilot works for the CIA and as a drug runner in the south.

Barry Seal, a TWA pilot, is recruited by the CIA to provide reconnaissance on the burgeoning communist threat in Central America. However, he soon finds himself in charge of one of the biggest covert CIA operations in the history of the United States that spawned the birth of the Medellin cartel and eventually almost brought down the Reagan White House with the Iran Contra scandal.

Tom Cruise is in fine form here, bringing a loose, cavalier energy to the lead role. American Made is thrilling and unconventional. Cruise sheds his complete alpha-male style that he often has, and lets loose as the larger-than-life, reptilian Barry Seal.

This is one of Cruise’s most fun movies, and that’s coming after two very good Mission: Impossible films. If you’re looking for a quality action romp, here it is.

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Baby Driver (2017, Edgar Wright)
A young getaway driver takes part in a heist doomed to fail.

A talented, young getaway driver relies on the beat of his personal soundtrack to be the best in the game. But after being coerced into working for a crime boss, he must face the music when a doomed heist threatens his life, love and freedom.

Wow. This is one that not many people saw coming. A cinematic highlight help together with top-notch performances, razor-sharp editing, luscious noir filming, and convincing, concrete action.

It’s fresh and original, a complete blast of fun, all driven by a pulse-pounding, speed-inducing, playlist-worthy soundtrack. Director Edgar Wright has successfully lampooned the horror and action genres, and now with this latest work of his, he’s firmly cemented himself as a legitimate action director.

Both this week’s movies come highly recommended, and it’s well worth getting out of the house to check one, or both, of them out.