4 of 10 stars. This Movie is considered to be an extremely good Movie by many Film Historians, but it is not, it's a bad Movie. Look, sometimes a Movie is made where everyone involved put on good and/or competent Performances, and the Director does his job well, but we are still somehow left with a bad Movie. That is what I have here; everyone did their job fine, but the Movie is still bad.
The special effects are fantastic, they still hold up 15 years later and were certainly tremendous for 2007, but it doesn't save the Film from being bad. Michael Bay does fine, he's a competent Director, and he Direct's this Film with competence. Tyrese Gibson and Josh Duhamel star alongside Shia LaBeouf and Gibson and Duhamel deliver their Performances with competence, no problems there either. This was a huge budget Film, so there are a lot of heavy hitter's in smaller roles in this Film like John Turturro and Jon Voight; they do fine. Look, Turturro knew this wasn't a Coen Brothers Film, Voight knew this wasn't 'The Tragedy Of Macbeth', they knew what they were getting into, they knew what this Film was going to be. Having said that, they deliver the parts well, and they could've over-acted, but neither did, they deliver the part well. Kevin Dunn, Bernie Mac, Anthony Anderson, Megan Fox; they all do good and/or competent in this Film in their roles also.
LaBeouf delivers in the starring role for sure, good Performance, bringing enough dynamics to the role without going over the top. Again, everyone does fine, the Directing is Fine, the sound effects are great, the special effects are wonderful...but the Movie is Bad. It happens.
LaBeouf has often been a mess off the screen as we all know, but he's a very complex Actor; and many suggest that part of the reason he is able to peel the onion of the craft of Acting so deep on screen is because he's a mess off the screen, and there very well and likely may be some truth to that.
What would Film Historians consider to be the 10 best Films that LaBeouf has starred in to this point of his career? I believe if I asked 100 of the most respected Film Historians around the World, there would naturally be different orders, but this would be their consensus; and they would consider the top 4 to be Masterpieces:
1. The Peanut Butter Falcon (2019) 2. Honey Boy (2019) 3. Tru Confessions (2002) 4. Fury (2014) 5. Pieces Of A Woman (2020) 6. American Honey (2016) 7. Borg Vs. McEnroe (2017) 8. A Guide To Recognizing Your Saints (2006) 9. Disturbia (2007) 10. Transformers (2007)
I disagree with that order, strongly; Tru Confessions and Transformers in Film Historians Top 10?!? Really?!? Not me, I don't think so. Who am I to disagree with Film Historians? But...here is my Top 10 Films starring Shia LaBeouf, and I consider the top 6 to be Masterpieces:
1. Honey Boy (2019) 2. The Peanut Butter Falcon (2019) 3. Fury (2014) 4. Borg Vs. McEnroe (2017) 5. American Honey (2016) 6. A Guide To Recognizing Your Saints (2006) 7. The Greatest Game Ever Played (2005) 8. Pieces Of A Woman (2020) 9. Lawless (2012) 10. Constantine (2005)
The special effects are fantastic, they still hold up 15 years later and were certainly tremendous for 2007, but it doesn't save the Film from being bad. Michael Bay does fine, he's a competent Director, and he Direct's this Film with competence. Tyrese Gibson and Josh Duhamel star alongside Shia LaBeouf and Gibson and Duhamel deliver their Performances with competence, no problems there either. This was a huge budget Film, so there are a lot of heavy hitter's in smaller roles in this Film like John Turturro and Jon Voight; they do fine. Look, Turturro knew this wasn't a Coen Brothers Film, Voight knew this wasn't 'The Tragedy Of Macbeth', they knew what they were getting into, they knew what this Film was going to be. Having said that, they deliver the parts well, and they could've over-acted, but neither did, they deliver the part well. Kevin Dunn, Bernie Mac, Anthony Anderson, Megan Fox; they all do good and/or competent in this Film in their roles also.
LaBeouf delivers in the starring role for sure, good Performance, bringing enough dynamics to the role without going over the top. Again, everyone does fine, the Directing is Fine, the sound effects are great, the special effects are wonderful...but the Movie is Bad. It happens.
LaBeouf has often been a mess off the screen as we all know, but he's a very complex Actor; and many suggest that part of the reason he is able to peel the onion of the craft of Acting so deep on screen is because he's a mess off the screen, and there very well and likely may be some truth to that.
What would Film Historians consider to be the 10 best Films that LaBeouf has starred in to this point of his career? I believe if I asked 100 of the most respected Film Historians around the World, there would naturally be different orders, but this would be their consensus; and they would consider the top 4 to be Masterpieces:
1. The Peanut Butter Falcon (2019) 2. Honey Boy (2019) 3. Tru Confessions (2002) 4. Fury (2014) 5. Pieces Of A Woman (2020) 6. American Honey (2016) 7. Borg Vs. McEnroe (2017) 8. A Guide To Recognizing Your Saints (2006) 9. Disturbia (2007) 10. Transformers (2007)
I disagree with that order, strongly; Tru Confessions and Transformers in Film Historians Top 10?!? Really?!? Not me, I don't think so. Who am I to disagree with Film Historians? But...here is my Top 10 Films starring Shia LaBeouf, and I consider the top 6 to be Masterpieces:
1. Honey Boy (2019) 2. The Peanut Butter Falcon (2019) 3. Fury (2014) 4. Borg Vs. McEnroe (2017) 5. American Honey (2016) 6. A Guide To Recognizing Your Saints (2006) 7. The Greatest Game Ever Played (2005) 8. Pieces Of A Woman (2020) 9. Lawless (2012) 10. Constantine (2005)
