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 The
Core
Starring: Aaron Eckhart, Stanley Tucci, Hilary Swank, Tchéky
Karyo, Delroy Lindo, Bruce Greenwood and DJ Qualls
Directed by: Jon Amiel
Rated: PG-13
The Core is a smart visually inspiring extraordinary piece of
Sci-fi. It's a jazzed up Journey to the Center of the Earth sprinkled
with some of the hottest "Indie" stars we've got.
The
cast is wildly unstereotypical. There's not a Shwartzeneggerstallonevandamewillis
type to be seen. It's full of thespian folks that can not only
pronunciate properly but truly seem intelligent. Who you ask?
How about Stanley Tucci and Hilary Swank for decidedly non-bimbo
realistic and bold casting? The closest they get to blockbuster
eye candy is that glorious studmuffin of small films, the top
shelf yummitini of the budget conscience, Mr. Aaron Eckhart, who
quite frankly just gets more edible with each viewing.
The
Core's story goes...
Our
loving planet is very sick. Odd and terrible phenomenons are popping
up all over the globe in the forms of swarming psychotic birds
(in a scene that will have Hitchcock pounding Heaven's lounge
table in frustration he didn't have CGI technology in his day),
electrical showers that throw 1000 lightening bolts on the defenseless
cities below and horrific holes in the atmosphere that allow super
potent microwaves to leak in to the land below turning San Francisco
into nothing more than a largely populated marshmallow over a
campfire.
Very
very scary and jaw dropping scientific cause and reaction scenarios
theories are properly explained.
So
brainiac professor, Dr. Josh Keyes (Aaron Eckhart), is commandeered
by secret service agents in mid lecture. See Josh is the leading
expert on Earth's core and an Einstein when it comes to geological
studies. Then they snag his atomic weapons expert buddy from France
Serge (Tchéky Karyo). Then a snooty scientific socialite
brain named Dr. Zimsky (Stanley Tucci). This elite team decides
that indeed the pieces they've organized have created a timeline
of the world's end and the scurrying begins.
Apparently
for some strange reason (which we get an instant inkling Dr. Zimsky
knows all too well) the Earth's core has halted and triggered
a reverb effect that will turn our cozy planet into a flaming
space trash in about eight months!
Luckily
Dr. Zimsky has an ex colleague in the dessert, Dr. Brazzleton
(Delroy Lindo). Dr. B is a genius who has created an element he's
named Unobtainableium. This substance, though humorously named,
may just be the savior of the world. The substance gets stronger
as it comes into contact with more heat. And that's a good thing
because these folks are about to head into the molten core of
the world and needs to be, well, jump-started.
How
do they plan on doing it? Simple tunnel 20,000 miles into the
center and explode a few atomic warheads. Their Unobtainableium
shelled craft will allow the crew to safely burrow in heats of
over 9000 degrees. (<- insert dramatic world saving music here)
To
complete the motley crew the powers that be call in two elite
space shuttle commanders (Hilary Swank and Bruce "JFK"
Greenwood) and a wirey computer hacker named appropriately Rat
(DJ Quall). Rat will mislead the web and monitor information leaks
about the end of days, keeping hysteria in check.
Yeah,
I know- it's a tad far fetched and when you start to break it
down the eyebrow raises…but it's good old spooky Sci-fi bubbling
in its petri dish before you! Let that childlike part of the brain
take over and strap in for the visual ride these filmmakers have
prepared.
 This
Aaron Eckhart is of the highest caloric caliber of mansicle! Sure
the Earth is about to combust and life as we know it dissipate
in a half a year. But when Aaron as "Josh" takes off
his little tee-shirt to reveal one of the handsomest chests to
blazon across a 60 foot screen in over a year, I for one swooned
like a schoolgirl at a bonfire and forgot all about that pesky
Armageddon he was facing…On top of Mr. Eckhart being the
type of fella a gal wants to go rabid Rhesus money sex on, he's
super talented in anything he presents; an evil sexy combo. Purr.
Gorgeous
Hilary Swank again serves up the unexpected. Here's a gal so feminine
she's listened in the dictionary under girl. And yet she continually
plays tough and rough gals. She's one helluva talent. Bravo.
Stanley
Tucci is a treasure. Always trust his name in the credits…he
picks 'em well. Here he nails the Carl Sagan meets Nathan Lane
meets Truman Capote character Dr. Zimsky. In lesser theatrical
hands his Commander McBragg -like ass would have been a brash,
brassy bastard. Stan molded him into an often hilarious Dr. Zachary
Smith of the new millennium.
Wonderful
Delroy Lindo plays his "Biggest Brain in the World"
aka Dr. Brazzleton role with heart and, as always, delivers an
impeccable performance.
DJ
Qualls is pristine as " Rat." Rat's that stereo typical
introverted multi monitored end of the world computer genius hack
geek complete with a Xena fixation.
Bluntly
speaking, this is one exciting smart film folks! If you're a Sci-fi
buff be there opening day. Not only is the script riddled with
genuinely funny (and surprisingly real) quips, lots of scientific
mumbo jumbo that sounds legit, some nifty kaleidoscopic visions
of our inner planet but this ensemble group of stellar actors
bring a new bit of thespian infusion to the tried and true genre
of "End of the Earth" saga - class.
Snack
recommendation: Deep Dish Chicago Pizza with green peppers, onions,
extra mushrooms…and Hotpockets.
Official
site
BLUNTLY
SPEAKING:
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