Stand Up Guys 2012 * * * Stars

Director: Fisher Stevens

Year: 2012

Rated: R

Rating: * * * Stars     Cole's Rating: * * * Stars

Cast: Al Pacino, Christopher Walken, Alan Arkin

Earlier this year and in limited release, Stand Up Guys made its way to theaters with a cast boasting a trio of the best actors ever to grace the silver screen. I have to say that when I saw a preview for this film, I salivated. I thought, who wouldn't want to see Al Pacino, Christopher Walken, and Alan Arkin in the same movie. Stand Up Guys opened on a gloomy February Friday and I was first in line, eager to see if these three cool cats could deliver a winner. However, my expectations weren't high seeing that the film was released in the early part of 2013, and it was saddled with mostly negative reviews from critics across the country. But I have to say I was pleasantly surprised. Stand Up Guys is entertaining, amusing and to some degree, touching.

It tells the story of three aging stick-up guys who reunite for one more night on the town (as a audience, you don't know what town or city these guys are in, but I'm thinking it's somewhere in L.A.) One of them (Al Pacino as "Val") just got out of prison after serving 28 years for murder. Then we have Christopher Walken's character ("Doc") who is Val's best friend and old partner. He picks up "Val" from prison and then has orders from his crime boss to kill him by 10am the next day. If Doc doesn't go through with these orders, he'll be dead too. In a small twist early in the film, Pacino's character figures out what's going on and accepts this fate. But not without having a heck of a lot of fun with his best friend and partner for life. They even go to a retirement home to pick up their other buddy, Richard Hirsch (the likable Alan Arkin). Actually, they break him out, but you get the drift. Mischief and mayhem are abundant as these guys party like it's their last day on earth (actually it might be for Val).

The fact that we know as an audience, that Val already knows he's going to die, gives us a reason to tag along with these guys to see how the film ends. Stand Up Guys has a somewhat dark undertone but in reality I think it's actually more of a comedy. The actors, with the exception of Walken, are pretty much playing themselves. Pacino's character even goes back to parlay his Scent of A Woman shtick one more time. Arkin doesn't rant as much as he does in other films but you can still tell it's him. That leaves Walken, giving a surprisingly restrained performance. It's still solid because you can see raw fear in his weary eyes. His character has a big decision to make. Just like the movie. You, as the viewer, can decide whether Stand Up Guys is a drama, a comedy, or a typical Hollywood mob shoot-em up (there are a couple of well done gunfight scenes as well as fist fight scenes).

The plot that accompanies Stand Up Guys is relatively thin skinned. But it doesn't matter when you got three great actors having such a good time. Let me put it this way, the whole concept this vehicle permeates, is a great idea for a film. It's something studio execs would green light in a heartbeat. If you want my honest opinion, this thing isn't going to win an Academy Award, and it's definitely not going to be a cult classic in 20 years. But if you want to turn your brain off for two hours and be royally entertained, Stand Up Guys "stands up" to anything in the local multiplex.

Written by Jesse Burleson

Poolhall Junkies 2002 * * * Stars

Director: Mars Callahan

Year: 2002

Rated R

Rating: * * * Stars

Cast: Mars Callahan, Christopher Walken, Rod Steiger

To begin this review, I would just like to say that the only false note in this movie is its name. Poolhall Junkies sounds like a flat out "direct-to-video" title to me. So I did some research and found out that it actually played in about 180 theaters in the spring of 2003. It is in fact a decent film and therefore above the whole "rental" stamp that so many moviegoers label a lukewarm experience at the local multiplex. "Junkies" doesn't take itself too seriously and that's part of its charm. But it does try to get the audience's attention in a big way. Characters deliver their lines at a "look at me" persona. To a fault it works. Therefore, I bought the performances and the story knowing that I wasn't ultimately viewing a cinematic masterpiece. And heck, when you're watching a film that registers as screen legend Rod Steiger's last role, you might as well pay your respects.

With that in mind, I decided to view Poolhall Junkies after leaving it unattended for a few years. If I had to pick the brain of director Mars Callahan (he also plays the lead role of master pool hustler Johnny Doyle), I'd say he's not shooting (ha ha) a film about a bunch of guys who hang out in pool halls. "Junkies" is more of a character study of his Doyle not wanting to be a hustler but yearning to play on the pro tour. He gets sidetracked in the beginning of the movie when his "trainer" Joe (played with snarling intensity by Chazz Palminteri) holds him back from his dream by forbidding him to compete. "Junkies" then fast forwards to 15 years later with Johnny breaking away from the clutches of Joe and finding his own way. That's the blueprint. From there on it's a fast talking, no holds barred tour of the bleakness that inhabits the world of pool-sharking. As the movie walks the tightrope between intense drama and dry humor, we find Callahan's character eventually trying to break out his brother from jail (Smallville's Michael Rosenbaum) by competing in a big steaks money match against Joe's protege Brad (Rick Schroeder channeling his inner Steve McQueen or trying to look like him). I don't want to give away too much of the story but be on the lookout for master thespian Christopher Walken (Doyle's financial backer) delivering a speech about lions on the nature channel. It's one of the hidden pleasures that screenwriter Chris Corso throws in to garner this quote machine of a movie a serious cult following (especially with people in the pool community).

To be frank (that's the attitude "Junkies" permeates), it helps if you embrace this film for what it is. Granted, it's not a viewing experience that will change your life. It's more like a beer and pizza flick on movie hypertension. It's not healthy but it satisfies.

Written by Jesse Burleson