![]() (The duo reunited briefly in the zany 2010 comedy Due Date, though their chemistry demands a feature-length buddy-comedy reunion.)įoxx is wonderful here as Ayers and avoids many of the pitfalls actors can fall into when playing mentally ill characters. He and Foxx make terrific scene partners, bringing out the best in each other whenever they share the screen. It's worthwhile alone for Downey's lived-in performance, one of the few times the actor has appeared as someone other than an Avenger or Sherlock Holmes since his franchise wheels started turning. ![]() Somewhat forgotten after its muted 2009 release, Wright's film is a low-key but impactful drama in the style of a character piece that Hal Ashby might have made in the '70s. Joe Wright's drama is based upon the true story of Nathaniel Ayers (Foxx), a musician suffering from mental illness, and Los Angeles Times columnist Steve Lopez ( Robert Downey Jr.), who helped Ayers in his rehabilitation process. Where to watch The Players Club: Amazon Prime Video (to rent) And when the third act inexplicably makes Blue the protagonist, Foxx rises to the occasion and closes the film on a high note. He's easily the most natural actor in the entire cast, (which ranges from those treating it as a serious melodrama to those behaving as if they're in a MADtv sketch). Without a doubt, the most assured performance in the film comes from Foxx, who plays Blue, a naive DJ who falls for Diana. Its story is also big-hearted and ultimately redemptive, with a sympathetic view of the women at its core. Yet it's also wonderfully shot, with a dextrous use of Steadicam, clever compositions, and a fantastic use of music throughout. An ensemble dramedy-thriller about a young student, Diana (LisaRaye McCoy), who takes a job at a strip club, The Players Club is unruly and chaotic, with a reckless tone and a rocket-powered climax that feels like an outtake from Death Wish 3. The Players Club is the only feature film written and directed by Ice Cube, and based on his supremely confident work, it's surprising (and a bit tragic) that the streak ended here.
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