Ruben Fleischer directs Tom Holland as he swings into his latest franchise with Uncharted from Sony Pictures. An adaptation of the same-titled best-selling video game franchise, Uncharted introduces us to street-smart thief Nathan Drake (Tom Holland) as seasoned treasure hunter Victor “Sully” Sullivan (Mark Wahlberg) to recover a fortune lost by Ferdinand Magellan 500 years ago recruits him.
What starts as a heist job for the duo, becomes a globetrotting, white-knuckle race to reach the prize before the ruthless Moncada (Antonio Banderas), who believes he and his family are the rightful heirs. Moncada also has a team of relentless muscle led by Braddock (Tati Gabrielle) on his mission as well. On the other side, assisting Nate and Sully in their journey is Chloe (Sophia Ali), who is just as adventurous as the boys are.
If Nate and Sully can decipher the clues and solve one of the world’s oldest mysteries, they stand to find $5 billion in treasure and perhaps even Nate’s long-lost brother…but only if they can learn to work together.
In 1993, Super Mario Bros. was the first feature-length live-action film based on a video game. The film received a lukewarm reception from both fans and critics. Since then, most video game to film adaptations have been hit or miss. Read on to find out my thoughts regarding the latest.
While I have never played any of the games in the franchise, one of the first things I want to commend scriptwriters Rafe Lee Judkins, Art Marcum, and Matt Holloway on is the angle they take with the film. We get an excellent introduction to Nathan’s backstory with a concrete setup for his motivation. The domino effect that allows Sully and Drake to cross paths was believable as well.
Holland and Wahlberg tap into their standard character type of charm and everyman persona that the audience has come to know and love through the film’s duration. With a believable chemistry, Holland and Wahlberg are the heart of the film. Fleischer gives both men a chance to shine, whether it is throwing a punch or delivering a classic one-liner.
Regarding the supporting cast, Tati Gabrielle and Sophia Ali, both bring a ton to the table, and I look forward to seeing them in more projects. To my surprise, the weakest performance in the supporting cast is Antonio Banderas, who hams it up in a performance that screams comic book caricature.
Featuring a fast pace, plenty of action, and enjoyable acting from its cast, Uncharted is an effortlessly delightful video game adaptation.
Final Grade: B
Uncharted is in theaters now
Iraq War Veteran Ray Mendoza reunites with director Alex Garland for another war film, Warfare, from A24. Mendoza and Garland also co-wrote the movie based on Mendoza’s experiences during the Iraq War as a former U.S. Navy SEAL. Set in 2006 and shot in real-time, Warfare follows a platoon of Navy SEALs on a mission through the insurgent territory.
Director Tracie Laymon examines the significance of friendship in her latest film, Bob Trevino Likes It, produced by Roadside Attractions. Laymon also authored the screenplay, which draws inspiration from a genuine friendship she cultivated with a stranger while conducting an online search for her father.
Director Alex Scharfman delivers a unique film for his debut in Death of a Unicorn from A24. Elliot (Paul Ridd) is a lawyer headed to a weekend retreat looking to close a big deal for his billionaire bosses Odell (Richard E. Grant) and Belinda (Téa Leoni). Along for the ride is his college-aged daughter Ridley (Jenna Ortega), with whom he’s looking to reconnect following the death of their matriarch and before she leaves for college.