Tulsa Kings S1
stallone is a mob cappo that gets out after 20yrs in prison. for reasons he is sent to tulsa to build a presence.
the quasi theme is fish out of water or man out of his time. it has the post modern slow progression(less spoonfed) narrative directorial style. there isnt a rush to the next plot point and they will dwell in a scene a little longer than normal for either comedy or drama. the primary failing is that when it comes to the crimes they consulted to get some of the details right but failed to get the law enforcement aspect right. people who should know better use easily traceable phones in the open. it detracts from the premise that stallone's character is a disciplined mafia boss familiar with all the ways law enforcement can jam you.
the plot moves along at subtle pace and builds nicely but rushes it in the last 1.5 episodes and doesnt stick the landing.
they had some nice character arcs building and then they cut off abruptly into tidy ends. i guess getting the 2nd season greenlight shifted the goals.
it is watchable but you wont really rewatch it. there are maybe 3 scenes that have the humor or the feels to make you come back.
i may wait for reviews to decide if i bother watching S2.
7.5/10
Argylle
matthew vaughn side story possibly set in the Kingsman universe.
spy novel author bryce dallas howard find herself caught up in a spy battle due to her books predicting actual world events and outcomes. sam rockwell as the spy trying to keep her alive.
if you watch the trailer it captures the best of premise but the gun ballet should clue you in that this is a bit on the whacky and whimsy side with a touch of absurdism.
the acting is good, the action has a bit of cheesy excess when it comes to the visualfx, the practical stunts are great. it all looks very polished for a lower end big budget movie. beware, it goes into bollywood levels of climaxes.
rockwell is great, dua lipa and john cena are fun additions, the cameos are worth it. my primary problem is brycedallas. her acting is correct for the role but she is sporting mom bod which detracts from some of the later premises, though oddly makes the stunt double substitutions easier.
it is a thoroughly structured movie with a theme, but if you arent onboard for the style or if you come in with different expectations it is easy to never buy in and tune out. which explains the bad reviews. the trailer with rockwell bullet timing out of the floor should have been a hint for those wanting a truer spy movie.
i would watch it again mostly because it a multi-twist movie so seeing the beginning with the knowledge from the end means you can get more out of it. (technically there are parts of the plot that dont add up, but it isnt a full on turn off your brain situation)
8/10
the movie is an original work meta on an actual book series, with the novels being a straighter spy fare supposedly. there is an end credit scene that hints at a proper adaptation possibly with henry cavil and the male lead from enola holmes.