55 | FFFF8 ‘THE FATE OF THE FURIOUS’ (2017) THE FATE OF THE FOOLS

Frames and Fools: Film, Filmmakers, and Foolishness

We’ve made it (basically) to the end. ‘The Fate of the Furious’ (2017) is just as big and brash as the rest of the series, but a new director, a bit more cgi, and no Brian means that it feels a little different. It’s by no means a bad movie nor is it the worst of the franchise, but a couple cracks are showing. The Rock, once a welcome and cheesy addition to the team (not the family, mind you), is beginning to chew the scenery and pull focus. A movie that could have placed Lettie at the center for a much more emotionally resonant story instead bounces around. The villain, played effectively by Charlize Theron, is given no motivation other than a vague throwaway line that really doesn’t justify hijacking a nuclear-armed submarine. Elena is literally in a box for the entire movie. There are still fun moments, but this film is exemplified by its barbecue scene: overcrowded, weirdly computer generated, and just generally a little lost. Friend, costume designer, and unpublished novelist Chad (@chadhatter) joins us to discuss the fate of this fast and furious franchise.

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