FallonTimberlake2016

The long awaited Netflix/Marvel series The Punisher is finally here, and boy does it pack a punch. The last time we saw Frank Castle was at the end of Daredevil Season 2, when he was sniping ninjas from the top of the roof and coming to terms with his family's loss. The latter has stayed the same, but the former has been thrown out the window for a more gritty and realistic vibe.

The series follows Castle, played excellently yet again by Jon Bernthal, as his past grabs hold of him in the form of a tape of the murder of an innocent man that he was involved in. This affects many different characters, and more than fills the thirteen episodes that the show needs to fill.

Not all the story lines are completely relevant or interesting however, and this can sometimes drag the show down. In particular, the storyline following the Homeland Security agent got on my nerves, mostly because it wasn't very well acted by Amber Rose Revah. It's not that she's a terrible actress, it's just that the role seemed miscast, and there were multiple scenes where the character did not seem to live up to its full potential.

However, Revah's character was the only one that seemed annoying or out of place. The majority of the acting was great, especially that of Bernthal as The Punisher, Ben Barnes as Billy Russo, and Daniel Webber as Lewis, who stole every scene that he was a part of.

The reason Webber was so good was because he really embodied what Post Traumatic Stress Disorder puts someone through. The entire time I was cheering for his character, even through all of the terrible things he did. In fact, the same thing could be said about nearly every villainous character, with the obvious exception of Rawlins.

Another great aspect of this show is that it decides not to have a whole bunch of blatant tie-ins to all of the other Marvel shows and movies that are in the same universe. Yes, Karen Page makes a few appearances, but other than that the references are virtually non- existent.

The message that the show sends off is also a big positive. At times it does feel as if it's leaning towards a certain political stance, but for the most part it tells it like it is and without any bias.

I also feel like the show addresses the gun violence in the show and in the world pretty well. It neither justifies it nor completely condemns it, but presents both sides to the audience and leaves it open for the audience to figure out.

The fact that we've finally gotten a great Punisher TV show/movie after all of the mediocre to truly terrible remakes is truly refreshing. Bernthal embodies the character like nobody has before, and gives us the Frank Castle that fans have needed for years. The Punisher Season 1 is right up there with Daredevil Season 2 and Jessica Jones Season 1 for me, and, despite some out-of place story lines, is one of the better Marvel Cinematic Universe works we've seen this year.

I give The Punisher Season 1 a B+.

Wind River is the debut film from the writer of Hell or High Water and Sicario, and stars Jeremy Renner as a hunter in snowy Wyoming who comes across the body of a girl miles from the nearest civilization. He is joined by an inexperienced FBI agent, played by Elizabeth Olsen, and the film explores the personal relationships of Renner's character and the injustices of being on an American Indian reservation.

This film is an emotional masterpiece that has a surprising amount of depth, and never goes quite in the direction you expect it to go. Renner shines in the best performance that he has given since The Hurt Locker, and should even be considered for an Oscar nomination (even though we all know he won't be.) He controls the movie, and shows a lot of emotion with just small gestures and actions.

Wind River is also a beautifully shot film. It captures the landscape of the Wind River Indian Reservation with ease, and makes you feel as if you are there.The cold comes through the screen and transports you to a different location.

Without giving anything away, I will also say that the ending is also very satisfying. It manages to wrap up the main storyline while giving some closure to some side characters. The solution to the murder mystery feels real, and doesn't play as though it is in a Hollywood movie.

Wind River is dramatic movie-making at its finest, and showcases Jeremy Renner's range that is not seen in his roles in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It also delivers a truly suspenseful adventure that, near the end, gives you a twisted feeling deep down in your stomach, but in a good way.

I give Wind River an A.

Wheelman is a contained heist thriller that stars Frank Grillo as a getaway driver who is set up by his employers during a bank robbery. The film, similar to Locke in 2013, takes place entirely (excluding one scene) in a car, and follows the protagonist's night as events get increasingly more dangerous as time goes on.

Wheelman is a perfectly enjoyable film that has a refreshingly small budget. About ninety percent of it is Frank Grillo in a car and it still manage to be relatively compelling. Grillo gives a serviceable performance here that is nothing special, but does what it needs to do to keep the suspense rolling.

However, Grillo often uses the f-word way too much. This is never usually a problem for me and I have enjoyed films like The Wolf of Wall Street, but for some reason it ticked me off here. Literally every time anything happened, Grillo would just repeat the f-word over and over again, and it honestly just got annoying after a while. Couldn't the writer and/or Grillo himself have found some other exclamation to fill the gaps?

The writing is also pretty cliché. Once the characters and the situation are introduced, you know basically exactly what's going to happen for the rest of the film. It still manages to make itself suspenseful, but otherwise it is pretty predictable.

However, this is a very unique film in concept, and sets an example that many other films should follow. This low-budget technique of making movies is not used enough, and reminds us of older thrillers that had a minimal budget.

Wheelman is a fun watch on a day where you are looking for something mindless and fun, but other than that it is pretty forgettable. This is a concept that could have been great, but it ends up being just okay.