“The Survivor,” directed by Barry Levinson and starring the incomparable Ben Foster, depicts the true life story of Polish-born Auschwitz survivor Harry Haft as he fights his biggest opponent, his memories, while he searches for his lost love. It’s a haunting tale of humanity and survival and the price of both.

The opening scene is a gut punch as we watch a young couple, happy and in love, living life on the brink of war just prior to the Nazi invasion of Poland. As the two are separated, we follow Harry’s life both in his present post-World War II days and flashbacks to his past. Recollecting how he survived 6 months at this death camp to a reporter, Emory Anderson (Peter Sarsgaard), and being privy to Harry’s memories that infiltrate his day, we better understand the atrocities he endured, and the choices he made forcing him to chose between death and survival. And while he survived, he paid and continues to pay a price particularly as “his story” is published in the newspaper.

Harry is a successful fighter, driven by rage and his longing to find Leah (Dar Zuzovsky) in the hopes that somehow she too survived the horrors of the War. His ineffective daily requests from Miriam (Vicky Krieps) at a government agency on Leah’s status push him to find an alternative way to locate Leah; fight the heavy weight legend Rocky Marciano. As Pepe (John Leguizmo) and Charlie Goldman (Danny DeVito) train Harry, his eye remains on the prize— not winning, but finding Leah.

Foster’s transformative performance brings Haft’s story to life. Ratcheting between the current times and the past, there is an unmistakable pain behind his gaze, filled with tragic power that eats away at his psyche and our hearts. While in the concentration camp and forced to fight or die, Foster’s character is emaciated but unwilling to leave this world. His endurance and will to live is unparalleled. And Foster brings that same drive and tenacity to the current day character allowing us to understand the trauma and its effects on not only his life but future generations.

Taking a piece of global history to depict the inhumane treatment of a people while at the same time remembering that there is hope in healing, is a difficult balance to maintain. Too much in either direction and the story fails. “The Survivor” solidly and steadily walks this fine line as we connect with the character and sit on the edge of our seats wanting to know if he ever finds his love. And more importantly, can he ever forgive himself for the “choices” he made so many years ago?

This non-linear style of story-telling is key to giving us just a perfectly measured amount of information to engage us in the most empathic of ways. And with this empathy, the sights and sounds are sometimes too much, but are vital to telling this man’s story. These horrific images are burned into our minds to remind us of what people are capable of, but again, the story offers life, love, and hope.

Writer Justine Juel Gillmer known more for television series writing, creates a powerful tale brought to life by not only a talented ensemble cast, but also the keen and seasoned vision of Levinson…and we’d expect nothing less.

4 Stars

Nicolas Cage: icon and movie hero, a legend who “is back” with the hilarious new film “The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent.” He stars as himself, but an exaggerated (maybe?) version who has money issues, family troubles, and a consuming desire to work, work, work. Dejected from a role rejection and now, in an effort to pay off a $600k hotel bill — his home after divorcing his wife Olivia (Sharon Horgan)—his agent, Richard (Neil Patrick Harris) gets him a birthday party gig which pays $1M. Reluctantly accepting, Nick flies to Mallorca, Spain, meeting his birthday boy, Javi (Pedro Pascal) whose ties with the mob land him in a role he’s never played before…CIA agent who must fight for his life and his family’s.

Let me start by saying you have to be a Nicolas Cage and film fan to truly appreciate every hilariously nuanced line and situation in “Massive Talent.” But if you are, you’re in for a cinematically thrilling roller coaster ride filled with shock, laughter, and intrigue! There are so many layers — and themes to appeal to every movie goer — that it is impossible to dissect them all, but I’ll give it a try so you’re compelled to head to the ticket box and see this on the big screen.

Cage (the character) needs to work and is always looking for the next role of a lifetime even at the expense of his marriage and his relationship with his daughter, Addy (Lily Mo Sheen). As opportunities dwindle and his life seems to parallel his current career, Cage accepts a “role” in going to a millionaire’s birthday party in Spain. Javi, a screenwriter wannabe, corners Cage but not before the CIA plants a tracker on him and convinces him that Javi is one of the really bad guys responsible for a high profile kidnapping of a dictator’s daughter. Taking on this new “role” as CIA operative, he gets to know Javi as the two become screenwriting partners. Their “process” to augment their “craft” creates a hilarious journey which ultimately becomes a bromance…that is until they both come to a crossroads that will bury them or make them heroes.

“Massive Talent” is brilliantly creative in finding ways to showcase Cage’s cinematic career as well as highlight his perceived real life pitfalls. And Cage (the actor) rolls with every punch, pouring earnestly into this role to make us not only laugh, but connect with this man whose talents until recently with “Pig,” have been sorely overlooked. The role is a self-deprecating one in many ways, but Cage leans into it with ease to give us one of the funniest and highly energetic films I’ve seen since “Knives Out.”

Cage isn’t the only one who is having fun (at his own expense?). Tiffany Haddish and Ike Barinholtz pair up once again, this time as the CIA operatives who set up several of the comedic situations that both Cage and Pascal handedly utilize. And Horgan, known for her comedy, shows us that she can do an action flick as the stereotypical ex-wife of an actor whose fed up with her ex’s antics. The entire cast has fun and delivers a stellar performance and when the cast is having fun, we are, too.

Tom Gormican, the co-writer and director and relative newcomer to the writing and directing arena, is skilled beyond his years. Every line, every movement, and every interaction is impeccably delivered to give us total entertainment. And with the massive talent within this film, we ultimately have a dramatic, comedic, thrilling, bromance like no other before it.

See “The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent” on the big screen…put down your phones, block out life’s distractions, and be immersed in the world of Nicolas Cage for a couple of hours. It’s worth it!

3 1/2 Stars

Tom Huang’s feature film debut “Find Me” remains a favorite indie film of mine and now with his sophomore film “Dealing with Dad,” Huang polishes his edges, refines his themes and brings us yet another universal story—dealing with an aging parent who is depressed.

Margaret Chang (Ally Maki) is a smart, savvy, assertive working mom who is estranged from her parents. Learning that her father isn’t doing well, Margaret coordinates efforts to help with her brother Roy (Peter Kim) and younger brother Larry (Hayden Szeto) who still lives at home. This good-hearted deed will not go unpunished as we see this Asian-American family’s dysfunction get in the way.

“Dealing with Dad” is one of those films that has characters we can all relate to—the penny pinching mom who brushes everything rug, the brutally honest aunt, a brother who just can’t grow up, and another who wallows in self pity (and donuts). And then, of course, there’s the daughter, Margaret, who is the epitome of a woman who is still struggling with unresolved issues with her father as well as herself. With humor and love, we see Margaret find her way in life but not without several bumps in the road, many of which make us laugh, and all of which endear us to her.

Huang has a signature style of filmmaking as he finds a way to bring personal issues into a story with humorous and poignancy. Creating a family whose children are first generation Americans brings its own dynamic to the group. Huang then embeds in this tale how difficult it is to not only grow up and see our parents and our siblings for who they have become, but to also see our parents for who they used to be…the people who had lives and adventures long before you knew them as Mom and Dad; the people who sacrificed their hopes and dreams when they did earn that title and name that would stay with them forever; the people that aren’t perfect. But when you can see them from a new perspective, you also see yourself differently and that is what Huang shows us with “Dealing with Dad.”

To create what feels like a simple story but what is actually a rather complicated one complete with layers of humor takes just the right cast and Huang has found them. Maki shines in her role. We love her from the first scene as she takes charge in her son’s classroom parent meeting. She creates a fractured character who eventually binds all the pieces together as she juggles financial issues, a husband her family doesn’t respect, and the inherent racism of her parents toward their own grandson. There are heartbreaking moments, resentment, and yearnings for a different relationship with her family members and Maki finds the empathic ability to create a realistic Margaret.

Both Peter Kim (Roy) and Hayden Szeto (Larry) add the elements of humor in this family dynamic. Kim’s forlorn reactions to his wife’s divorce papers and how he reacts to his mother’s blind date for him is priceless. And Szeto fills the screen with his personality to give us more than comedy; he gives us someone we know. Page Leong takes on the role of the Mom with incredible ease as she utters dialogue in not-so-perfect English that will make your jaw drop. While you’re picking it up, she’s already on to her next line, completely unaffected by what she just said. She brings a level of credibility to her role that connects all of “the kids” to create that family.

Of course, “Dealing with Dad” has to have the perfect Dad and it does with Dana Lee as the depressed and difficult father. Huang adds a level of depth to this character as we see Dad in flashbacks as he interacts with his daughter. We also discover cultural differences and expectations when it comes to girls and to being the oldest.

Huang’s “Dealing with Dad” just may allow you to see yourself or your family just a little differently while it entertains and makes you laugh. Relationships are difficult and families can be crazy, but seeing the Chang family work through their issues may help open the doors of communication for yours.

“Dealing with Dad” will be the closing night film for the Asian American Showcase with Huang in attendance. To purchase your tickets, go to Siskel Film Center

3 1/2 stars

“Ambulance,” the new Michael Bay film (that should be a clue right there as to whether or not you want to waste your money on this one) stars Jake Gyllenhaal (Danny Sharp) and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II (Will Sharp) as two estranged brothers, reunited to complete a bank heist. It’s a dizzying (think carsick) foray filled with never-ending car chase scenes, incompetent police officers, medical inaccuracies that even a child would notice, and, of course, Bay’s signature style of constant explosions. By the end, with your head between your knees to hold back the natural reaction, it’s a race to the exit as you try to recapture your lost 2 hours and 11 minutes … to no avail.

“Ambulance” starts off strong with two paramedics, fledgling Scott (Colin Woodell) and seasoned and hardened Cam (Eiza Gonzalez), saving a young girl in a car accident. This scene, using quick edits and unique camera angles, takes you into the action. It’s a critical situation and we feel the importance of every moment as the jaws of life come out to pull the innocent and brave victim from the clutches of death, then raced to the hospital in the hopes that she will live. We learn early on that Cam is the best in her profession but she’s got more armor than a medieval knight during a joust, protecting her from any and all emotion. These facts, of course, will come into play as she is taken hostage after Will and Danny, the only two survivors after their bank heist goes sour, and she attempts to save a shot police officer in critical condition on the gurney.

We also get a glimpse into Will’s life which targets a common theme in films right now; how our discharged military men are discarded with no support as he and his wife fight for basic healthcare to save her life. It’s a touching part of the film, that is drown out by all the ineptness of each and every situation to follow.

As strong as the film starts, it quickly plummets into the abyss of nothingness creating a repetitive action film showcasing how Bay can put on an explosion show with car chases and accidents all with a nauseating hand-held camera. If only there was one iota of common sense woven into the film. If only the studio could have hired a real police officer and doctor to offer some suggestions…I’m sure the budget was too tight after spending money on explosive devices.

This is Gyllenhaal’s second recent foreign flick remake. The first most recently was “Guilty” and while the American version of this film was good, it couldn’t touch the Danish version. My guess is that “Ambulancen,” also a Danish film, was heads and shoulders above Bay’s remake of it as well.

Gyllenhaal and Abdul-Mateen II (“The Trial of the Chicago 7” “Candyman”) somehow find a way to create intense characters amidst the chaos and mess of a threadbare story. However, thanks to the writing, Danny’s background feels disingenuous, but the cool anger Gyllenhaal gives him is real. Abdul-Mateen’s sensitivity, natural pauses, and gaze connects us to this man barely holding it together. Unfortunately, Bay discards Abdul-Mateen’s skill as he’s lost in his own world that has nothing to do with storytelling. Gonzalez, throughout this rough ride remains beautiful and determined as the heroine who won’t leave her patient behind, although she does try a couple of times.

Bay has taken a bank heist story with relevant underlying issues about healthcare and our government’s treatment of our service men and blows it out of the water as we all drown in a sea of ridiculousness. What could have been a thrilling and entertaining story became just another, well, Michael Bay film.

1 Star