All the Money in the World (2017)

It will forever be known as the film Christopher Plummer reshot in Kevin Spacey's stead. And the film that Mark Wahlberg got paid to reshoot while Michelle Williams only got a per diem. But all this aside, the movie is actually really tense and engaging. Especially considering these complications, the movie is still cohesive. And Christopher Plummer is quite good, but I think Michelle Williams actually steals the show.

Patriots Day (2016)

Mark Wahlberg continues his collaboration with Peter Berg, following Lone Survivor and Deepwater Horizon. Does that make a trilogy? They obviously feature a different cast of characters, but Wahlberg consistently plays the American hero. The film perhaps focuses on our fictional hero a little too much. I understand that he is the protagonist but you get the sense that the film wants to be about people. The beginning and end feature a cast of characters that are largely missing from the middle of the film, absent from the action. But they should be the focus, a portrait of a strong and resilient city. The great drama of the film is of course the manhunt that captivates the city. But there is a lot of buildup to get to that point. The omniscient point of view perhaps reduces the thrill because we always know what is happening on the other side.  The film stirs up emotion because it's about a close-knit community. It's Boston. The accents won't let you forget it. 

Lone Survivor (2013)

Mark Wahlberg's war drama shows a mission gone wrong in Afghanistan.   This is a profile of modern warfare,  which is strikingly different from traditional war.   To be totally honest,  the setup seemed a little slow,  but such is modern war in which you must be patient.  Once the action starts,  it is unrelenting--fitting for such a brutal war.

The character development is a bit weak.   Why do we care about what happens to these characters?  Because they are servicemen who sacrifice their lives.  Their bravery and courage is inherent.   The opening sequence gives us a general sense of comradery and brotherhood.   We can characterize them stereotypically by what we know about the military,  but we don't really get to know any of these characters as individuals,  not even Mark Wahlberg's protagonist.