Movie Review: Never Back Down 2

Four college age kids from different walks of life enter an underground mixed martial arts tournament known as “The Beatdown.”  In order to prepare themselves, they train under a mysterious loner known as Case.  The wisdom he imparts on his pupils proves useful both inside and outside the octagon.  On the eve of the event, an altercation with some crooked cops puts his freedom in jeopardy.   His students rush to his aid, and prepare to root out the traitor that hides within their ranks.  

Movie Review: Drive

A mysterious young man (Bryan Gosling) spends his days acting as a full time auto mechanic and a part time stunt driver.  By night, he’s a wheel man for armed robbers.  No matter the job, he remains the consummate professional and has resigned himself to a strict routine.  Shannon (Bryan Cranston), his friend and mentor, hopes to one day put the young man’s uncanny driving abilities to more lucrative use.   To accomplish this, he turns to small time mobsters Bernie (Albert Brooks) and Nino (Ron Perlman) for financial assistance.  Meanwhile, Shannon’s star driver befriends Irene (Carey Mulligan), a waitress who struggles to raise her young son Benecio (Kaden Leos) alone.  When Irene’s husband Standard (Oscar Issac) returns home from jail, he is immediately recruited to participate in an armed robbery.   Shannon’s protégé step s in to help, only to find himself embroiled in a violent double cross.