Ving Rhames Returning for 'Mission: Impossible 5'

The team of special agents surrounding Tom Cruise's Ethan Hunt in the Mission: Impossible movies tends to revolve, but there are a couple who have been around awhile. One is Simon Pegg as Benji, who we know will be back for Mission: Impossible 5, and now director Christopher McQuarrie has confirmed that Ving Rhames will be returning to lend his considerable presence as Luther Stickell.

Welcome back, Mr. Rhames. cc: @TomCruise @simonpegg @Renner4Real #MI5Diary
— ChristopherMcQuarrie (@chrismcquarrie) August 16, 2014

Rhames only had a small role in Mission: Impossible-Ghost Protocol, and it was at the end of the film after the action had wound down. He did mention something about seeing Ethan in Kandahar, but it's probably too much to assume that was a hint towards a future film. Rhames joins the returning Jeremy Renner, new addition Rebecca Ferguson, and there have been rumors of Alec Baldwin coming aboard.

Mission: Impossible 5 opens Christmas Day 2015.

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Review: 'Jamesy Boy' Starring Spencer Lofranco, Ving Rhames, and Mary-Louise Parker

Stop me if you've heard this one: street tough youth gets involved with drugs and gangs, but turns his life around in prison by writing poetry and becoming friends with a veteran inmate. Jamesy Boy, the debut feature by director Trevor White, is based on the true story of James Burns; a former thug-turned-filmmaker who somebody thinks has a story worthy of being told. And while the film is generally well-made and features a strong central performance by newcomer Spencer Lofranco, it's too riddled with cliché to feel genuine.

When we first meet James (Lofranco) he's faced down in the dirt on his first day in maximum security, a place he'll be spending the next few years of his young life. Flashing back a few years we learn that he's always been a trouble-maker and prone to violence. His mother (Mary-Louise Parker) vouches for him and believes he'll change, just as she did, but it isn't long before he's seduced by the streets and falls in with a local hood; selling drugs and pulling off petty robberies. He's more brazen than the other kids who've fallen into the criminal underworld, and soon he's the boss's favorite, while also too smart for his own good.

Burns didn't write the script himself, merely serving as a co-producer, but one can't help but wonder what kind of influence he had on how he was depicted. We're expected to believe that underneath the violent tendencies and willingness to exploit others is a heart of gold. That would be easier to take if we saw the circumstances that drove James towards the life he chose, or were given a reason for his sudden change of heart other than a flirtation with an innocent shop girl played by Taissa Farmiga.

Despite telling the story in a needlessly convoluted non-linear fashion, the film does hit on something raw when we flash forward to James' time in prison. It's there that he realizes his love of poetry, and Ving Rhames' powerful presence takes hold as a "lifer" who teaches James what real courage looks like. Lofranco measures up well opposite Rhames, and he's got a certain tough-guy charisma similar to a young Mark Wahlberg. He's especially good opposite Farmiga, perhaps building off the chemistry they forged in the recent comedy, At Middleton. It's unfortunate that Parker's character seems to vanish about halfway through the movie because she brings a real hopefulness as James' mother, who only seeks to make sure her son doesn't repeat the mistakes of her past. A number of actors from The Wire turn up in brief cameos that don't add much other than giving its fans something to smile about.

Burns has overcome a lot of hardship in his life, and his story is truly inspiring, but not everybody's story needs to be a movie.

Jamesy Boy is available now On Demand.

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Ving Rhames, Mary-Louise Parker, and James Woods sign on for 'Jamesy Boy'

Mary-Louise Parker appears to be filling up her schedule as her hit Showtime series, Weeds, enters into what will likely be it's final season. After co-starring with Bruce Willis in 2010's hit action comedy, Red, she'll be returning for the upcoming sequel. Later this year she'll a part of R.I.P.D, the supernatural crime comedy starring Jeff Bridges and Ryan Reynolds. Now you can add one more to her growing slate.

Parker, along with Ving Rhames and James Woods, have joined the cast of Jamesy Boy, inspired by the real life story of James Burns. As a teenager, Burns found himself a part of a suburban street gang, winding up in a maximum security prison surrounded by hardened criminals. Inside, he becomes close friends with a convicted murderer, who becomes a mentor figure to James and helps change the course of his life.  The lead role will be played by newcomer Spencer Lofranco.

Marking the directorial debut of co-writer Trevor White, filming begins on March 4th in Baltimore, Maryland.

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Review: The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard

Well step right up! Have we got a deal for you! One broke down old clunker of a comedy featuring a set of used parts and constructed out of the finest B-grade materials money can buy! Check out the worn out leather interior covered with the jaggy edges of inattention and denial. We've spared no expense to make sure that all of this vehicles "working parts" have been misplaced and utilized in an inappropriate fashion to ensure maximum dissatisfaction with the end product. This vehicle's real star however, it's driving force is the high end engine shipped straight over from Hollywood, CA. This horse is starting to wear a little thin on the front end, promising you many hours of sitting in your local mechanic's waiting room.

Ok, enough of the bad used car saleman schtick. If The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard was one of it's own vehicles it was trying to peddle, it'd be a raggedy old lemon with one side mirror, a faded pine tree air freshener hanging off the rear view, and tail pipe billowing clouds of murky black smoke. The Goods is a lazy comedy that feels like an excuse for Jeremy Piven to bring his Ari Gold character to the big screen. Piven plays smooth talkin' hot shot car salesman Don "The Goods" Ready, one notch below the greasy haired mustache twirling scheisters that most signify with used cars salesmen. Don and his crew of able bodied mercs have been hired to save a dying family car franchise by amping up sales for their big 4th of July weekend.

Don's crew consists of a wealth of wasted comedic talent: Ving Rhames is the burly but sensitive Jibby; Kathryn Hahn as the vulgar and oversexed Babs; and David Koechner as Brent. Realizing that the situation is bleak, they pull out all the stops, hiring a militant deejay played by Craig Robinson in one of the few bright spots.

Described producer Adam McKay as a "funny Glengarry Glen Ross", The Goods lacks two components necessary to make that allusion:

1. Consistent comedy. I assume by funny he meant that people are supposed to laugh. Not just the occasional chuckle. Hell, I can find a chuckle during Passion of the Christ, making me laugh isn't the issue. Making me laugh constantly is the goal for a comedy or so I thought.

2. Quality acting. Jeremy Piven's acting in this is horrendous. I get it, he's supposed to be cocky and cool, but does he have to try so hard to make that point? You don't have to cock your neck in the middle of every sentence like the Fonz. And don't even get me started on Jordana Spiro who plays the token love interest, Ivy. She's relatively attractive, but I find it hard to be turned on by any chick who's voice is reminiscent of the guy who narrates NFL Films. She portrays all the emotions of an ironing board and is twice as stiff. The film's brightest moments are when Will Ferrell pops in as Don's dead, disgruntled best friend Craig McDermott. Now in Heaven, Craig's holding a grudge over the way he died, a death that evokes memories of old Bugs Bunny cartoons it's so ridiculous and downright hilarious. I'm not Ferrell fan but I found myself sorely missing his presence once he left.

Perhaps my biggest problem with it is that it feels like a rushed, hatchet job of a movie full of random ideas thrown against the wall to see what sticks. Few actually do. I loved Kathryn Hahn's Babs character...when she wasn't hitting on a 10 year old boy. Funny? Not exactly. Creepy. Yes exactly. It seems like they took the idea for Used Cars, slapped together a cast of recognizable faces and said " to hell with it". Ed Helms, fresh from his turn in the far superior The Hangover, shows up as Ivy's douche fiance(aren't they always?) and competition in the used car game. He might as well not have shown up. Everybody's got a mortgage I guess.

The Goods is a prime example of what happens when phenomenal talent meets forgettable writing. Piven can now take his Ari act down a few notches and saunter on back to Entourage, and the rest of the cast can hopefully overcome this momentary blip on their record. With the cast The Goods sports some will find a few things to giggle at, but that's not enough reason for anyone to pay cash for this clunker.

5/10

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