'Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales,' a Rickety Vessel That Stays Afloat on Its Abundant Charms

Carina (Kaya Scodelario) and Capt. Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) are compelled to execute an escape to pursue a treasure in “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales.” Photo courtesy of Walt Disney Pictures.

BY VW

IF you had in your hands the means to rid the world of all evil, would you use it to do so?

Most would. And so it is in “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales.” The film, which opens in U.S. theaters today, is the fifth in the “Pirates of the Caribbean” franchise. Of course, Johnny Depp is back as the ever flighty, ever feckless, often self-serving, but ultimately harmless Capt. Jack Sparrow.

At the center of the fantastical "POTC: Dead Men Tell No Tales" is the Trident of Poseidon. Henry Turner (Brenton Thwaites), the son of Will - Orlando Bloom back in a cameo role after his absence from "POC: On Stranger Tides" - unleashes the talisman, ridding the seas of all curses.

That includes freeing his father from his confinement on the Flying Dutchman, plus sending some disembodied, revenge-seeking pirate hunters led by Capt. Armando Salazar (Javier Bardem) back from whence they came.

The aforesaid is not a spoiler, for the real revelations and the real story - the most coherent one since the original "POC: Curse of The Black Pearl" -  are in the chase for the Trident. Along the way new characters are introduced into "POC: Dead Men Tell No Tales." JB's dementedly determined Capt. Salazar and Henry are two.

Another is a luminous (Kaya Scodelario) as orphan Carina Smyth. She faces the hangman's noose for witchcraft, owing to her unnatural and unseemly knowledge of astronomy and horology. And Carina has a surprising connection to the Trident.

The ghost of Davy Jones (Bill Nighty) haunts “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales.”

Carina and Will are no doubt the new generation of young lovers, primed to replace OB's Will and (Keira Knightley), who also returns in a cameo, as Elizabeth Swann Turner. The former will make an interesting pair.

BT resembles OB and has some swagger in his swashbuckle. No mere eye candy, KS is as smart as a whip. She is also capable. Where KK's Elizabeth was more the damsel, KS as Carina is a dame. A critical-thinking force to be reckoned with.

Meanwhile, once it becomes apparent to all and sundry the power that the Trident possesses - to rule the seas and by extension, the world - the pursuit and swashbuckling, aided by some dazzling digital effects (parted seas, for instance) albeit, occasionally excessive in the extreme, begin.

The contestants in the great race for this booty: Capt. Jack, Will, Carina, Capt. Salazar&Co., the British navy and Geoffrey Rush's Capt. Hector Barbossa. Except for the navy, allegiances sometime change as quickly as the winds shift.

Capt. Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush) accepts an offer he can't refuse from Capt. Salazar (Javier Bardem).

"POTC: The Curse of the Black Pearl" was released in 2003. By now, the recurring players, particularly JD and GR, are as familiar as family. We accept them, their peccadiloes notwithstanding. Still, directors' Joachim Rønning and Espen Sandberg's "POTC: Dead Men Tell No Tales" suffers from slow pacing, among other plagues.

It seems closer to 2 1/2 hours but is actually 129 minutes. There is a heavy hand with the aforesaid digital effects as well as some of the action sequences. The bank robbery scene has promise, until it does not. It could have been pared significantly.

Also, an opportunity in Jeff Nathanson's script is lost in not giving Carina - the most engaging addition to the series since its inception - a backstory told in flashback. It would have been a tender break from the noise.

Elsewhere, JD's Capt. Jack shtick is beginning to show wear and tear, though it still has some appeal. At moments however, JD seems to be simply going through the motions. His eyes, and perhaps his heart, appear not to be in it.

On the otherhand, the technology used to de-age him - in support of Capt. Salazar's backstory - presents a young Jack Sparrow deftly exhibiting the physical and facial ticks that are now classic Jack Sparrow.

As Capt. Salazar, JB is engagingly ferocious and will likely show up in a future "POTC." Similarly, GR is in fine form as Capt. Barbossa and may be back, though "POTC: Dead Men Tell No Tales" would have viewers believe that he is the occupant of a watery grave.

Speaking of dead men, the specter of Davy Jones haunts this film. To that end, fans can expect that resurrection in a future "POTC."

Henry Turner (Brenton Thwaites) makes cutting remarks to Capt. Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp).

For now, there is "POTC: Dead Men Tell No Tales." Its shortcomings threaten to sink it but it manages to stay afloat on the force of familiarity and winsome charm.

“Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales” is rated PG-13 for sequences of adventure violence, and some suggestive content; visit http://www.pirates.disney.com/
to learn more about the film.

On Docket: 'Blue Is the Warmest Color,' and 'The Counselor'

ONE regret of Yours Truly dating to The 51st New York Film Festival is that I did not see tender, lovely and controversial “Blue is the Warmest Color” in its New York premiere.

Of course, one had opportunities, but was being a bit of a brat, whining about not wishing to see a nearly three-hour film. And not any long film, but one that made history at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival in winning the Palme d’Or for both director Abdellatif Kechiche and its two lead actresses, Adèle Exarchopoulos and Léa Seydoux.

It also contains explicit sex scenes, hinted at in its rating. And it has been banned from some theaters. (See trailer at top).

Regarding the ecstasy and agony of young lesbian love over the course of several years, “Blue” garnered universal raves. It doesn’t have any marquee names, which is in part why it is opening in only four U.S. theaters today.

“Blue” will eventually open wider but certainly nothing on the scale of the 3,000-plus theaters in which the “The Counselor” is enjoying its opening today. (“Blue” is also opening in India, Japan and Spain today, while “The Counselor” also opens in the United Kingdom).

Few moviegoers will see “Blue,” a very deserving, if disturbing, film. On the otherhand, massive numbers (at least have the opportunity to do so) will see “The Counselor.” What a pedigree, has this latter film! The director is Ridley Scott. Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist and octogenarian Cormac McCarthy (“No Country for Old Men.”) makes his screenwriting debut.

“The Counselor” boasts a dreamlike cast: Michael Fassbender (who seems lately to do no wrong, cinematically speaking), Brad Pitt, Cameron Diaz, as well as spouses Javier Bardem and Penelope Cruz. (See trailer below).

Set on the Texas-Mexican border, “The Counselor” commences a bit awkwardly with some sexy bedroom banter between Counselor, MF’s only moniker in the movie, with his betrothed, Laura (PC). He loves Laura to death, a good, godly and naive woman for whom he is prepared to do anything.

Indeed, Counselor’s love knows no legal bounds, leading him down a slippery slope into the underworld of cocaine – not a place for a decent man such as he. Too late, especially by the time his paths cross two lowlifes, Westray (BP) and Reiner (“No Country for Old Men alum JB.)

The film is beautifully shot. The performances are universally good; vixenish CD, for instance, further hones her facility for playing sexy with a bit of humor. What a pity then, that the film fails to make a good case for itself.

Place the blame squarely on the high-falutin’ palaver CM insists on that doesn’t amount to a hill of beans. Muddled, muddled is this puzzle. Too many minced words; too many soliloquies about greed not being good. A surfeit of this type of verbiage wrapped awkwardly around killings, beatings, decapitations, big cats and drug deals gone bad. And to what end?

In the final analysis, “The Counselor” – with every advantage – fails the client. That is, the moviegoing public.

"Blue is the Warmest Color" is rated NC-17 for explicit sexual content. Visit http://www.ifcfilms.com/films/blue-is-the-warmest-color to learn more about the film. "The Counselor" is Rated R for graphic violence, some grisly images, strong sexual content and language. Visit http://www.thecounselormovie.com/us/ to learn more about the film.

‘Skyfall’: Out With Old, in With New in Best of Bond

WHETHER they are good, bad or otherwise is quite beside the point. There are films that one sees because they are an event.

That is the case with the James Bond series, filmdom’s continually longest-running franchise. It is on the wave of this sentiment that Yours Truly took herself to see “Skyfall.” I expected a good ride, no matter how much credulity had to be dispensed with in the process.

James Bond (Daniel Craig) and Raoul Silva (Javier Bardem) have a touching reunion in "Skyfall." Photo courtesy of Danjaq, LLC, United Artists Corporation, Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc.

Of course, fans of the film always look forward to the prologue – the on-the-edge of-your-seat, by-the-seat-of-your-pants, pee-in-your-pants opening action sequence. The opener does not disappoint. “Skyfall” is a good ride and, surprisingly, rather quite a bit more. (See trailer above.)

Continuing its rollout across the world with its North American premiere today, “Skyfall” is simply the best film in the franchise. If there is one better, that distinction goes to “On Her Majesty's Secret Service” with George Lazenby as Bond after Sean Connery’s first retirement from the role … More shortly.