‘Terminator’, ‘Tour’ and ‘Trainwreck’ all worth a watch

“Terminator Genisys”

Here’s the deal about the five films in the “Terminator” franchise. The first one is a sci-fi classic. The second is groundbreaking and iconic. The third tries really hard but is horrendous. The fourth reboot devolves into schmaltzy fireworks and is remembered more for Christian Bale’s meltdown than for its own merit. And now, we have five. Alan Taylor (“Thor: The Dark World”) directs yet another reboot that transforms Arnold Schwarzenegger from the Terminator into the Guardian. Diverse actors are brought in to reinvigorate the characters. We see the fifth incarnation of John Connor with Jason Clarke (“Everest”). Emilia Clarke (“Game of Thrones”) is brought in to play Sarah Connor. J.K. Simmons (“Whiplash”) bolsters a lesser role from the first film. The weak link is Jai Courtney (“Divergent”), who never fails to disappoint. Timelines shift and plot points are re-imagined. The film is a moving homage to the first two. As an action movie, it works because the intensity remains high, and no one is terminating this franchise anytime soon, so I guess it’s worth a watch.

“The End of the Tour”

Since David Foster Wallace published the novel “Infinite Jest” in 1996, he’s been considered a literary voice of his generation. Nothing cemented this more than his untimely death in 2008. This film is based on Rolling Stone reporter David Lipsky’s five-day interview with Wallace in 1996. Jason Segel takes on the role of the eccentric Wallace with verve. Jesse Eisenberg plays Lipsky with meticulous precision. Their chemistry moves like an accordion being played by a moody gorilla. Sometimes, it’s light and playful. Other times, it’s tight and tense. Either way, it’s always authentic. Directed by James Ponsoldt (“Smashed” and “The Spectacular Now”), his films push and pull with a human elasticity, and it’s especially true here. Segel and Eisenberg capture the despair and questions of the mid-nineties, and Ponsoldt present them with efficiency. Some have criticized Lipsky’s book and this film for trying to encapsulate a man’s life into a five-day conversation. But I’m not reviewing a life, I’m watching a movie, and sometimes a good conversation is all you need – worth a watch.

“Trainwreck”

Director Judd Apatow has done it again. He’s made a super long comedy that gets really clunky. Why does Apatow only make dramedies without editors? Sometimes, we just want to laugh. Well, there are plenty of laughs here, mostly supplied by Amy Schumer who stakes her claim as movie star and screenwriter. Unfortunately, her script is part of the problem. Some of the scenes feel like a screen translation of her standup routine. Most of this material Schumer fans have seen before and could’ve been cut for a more efficient comedy. But what works, works really well. Bill Hader is lovable as a goofball. Brie Larson is charming. Small roles and little cameos and lay a nice foundation, and John Cena and LeBron James tie for best surprises in comedy roles. No, this is far from watching a trainwreck – worth a watch.

This story was originally published November 11, 2015 at 5:56 AM with the headline "‘Terminator’, ‘Tour’ and ‘Trainwreck’ all worth a watch."