Эшби (2015) Online

Ashby is a departure for Mickey Rourke, as he's been kind of slumming it in B movie junk for a few years. That changes here. Rourke's cowboy machismo and brooding vibe of danger is genius and takes on a whole new light when contrasted with the bright, idiosyncratic realm of the low key indie dramedy. It's a perfect concoction of ingredients, a melding of today's millennial teen angst with the battle scarred remnants of 1990's gritty pulp fare. Here Mickey plays Ashby Holt, an ex CIA assassin quietly residing in present day suburbia. He becomes aimlessly lost when he finds out he has terminal cancer, and is given three months to live. Next door, a high school kid (Nat Wolff) who's new in town tries to fit in with his peers, and make new friends while his incredibly insecure mother (Sarah Silverman♡) also tries to.. make new friends, I guess you could say. When he gets a class project to interview an 'old person', he spots Ashby, and reaches out. Ashby needs a driver, and the two strike an amiable enough relationship that's both tragically funny and a sly statement on the addled nature of youths today. Gradually Ashby becomes sort of a father figure to him, and the bond deepens. Nat also strikes up a romance with a peculiar girl played by Emma Roberts. She's one who usually plays the bitchy bimbo, but here wonderfully surprised me by giving the quirky outsider girl just the right amount of depth and empathy. You might just not recognize her, taking on the kind of oddball role her father Eric is famous for. There's scene stealing work from Kevin Dunn as well, playing a cantankerous football coach. The film briefly falls victim to 'quirky for the sake of quirky' indie tropes, and initially I was detached and wished it would bring it in more and smarten up. No one likes too much of that hipster bullshit lol. But it does, pulling back the curtains of glib comic inaccessibility to slow itself down and distill emotional, realistic work from its actors, the wonderful script a playground for them to explore. Rourke brings the best work he's done since The Wrestler, and is nothing short of sensational. When he's given the right material, he soars higher than most actors ever dream of reaching, and he finds the regret, sympathy, coldness and wounded spirit mentality of Ashby. He NEEDS more roles like this. Nat Wolff is a bit of a 'natterer' at first and got on my nerves a touch, but he grows on you, his naive sweetness a fascinating opposite to Rourke's weary burnout sadness. Fans of Rourke (he's my second favourite actor of all time) will find a gold mine in this one, and casual viewers should enjoy it's unassuming first half, and be moved by the down to earth second act that gives the characters the full circle arc they deserve. Well done.

I started watching this movie not expecting much, and got something unique for my efforts. While the story seems a little dated, the acting is actually quite good. Emma Roberts and Sara Silverman do excellent jobs in their supporting roles, while Mickey Rourke steals pretty much every scene he is in. It all makes for a pretty good watch.

What this is not is a movie about a spy. This is a movie about a kid (Nat Wolff) who needs a little old-school guidance to grow up, and gets it in spades when he makes himself a part of Ashby's (Rourke) life. This will not be one of those movies that people talk about in 20 years, but it does its job for today, so if you can't figure out what to watch tonight, giver it a shot. You might be surprised.

8/10 - Because the movie has heart, with a hint of attitude, yet doesn't trip over itself with the spy angle like most of these kinds of films would.

Going into Ashby, I was hoping for a well directed,smaller, coming-of-age film. What I got was more like a bowl of trail mix. This film contains a hand full of positives; decent performances, heartfelt moments, and what I enjoyed most of all was the humor.

It was really light hearted and I really connected with Nat Wolff's character Ed. However, he is the only one I really connected with. Ashby (Mickey Rourke) was a fun character, that was not fully developed, and had more to offer. Then we had Eloise (Emma Roberts) the love interest, and June Wallis (Sarah Silverman), Ed's mom. These two characters for me felt bland and except for a couple of funny moments with Sarah Silverman, didn't do much for me.

Then we get into the main plot of the story, and although I was never lost, there was way too many sub plots and holes that were never really addressed. The pace of the film also felt stop and go, where in some instances it flowed well, then all of a sudden it braked to a stop and slowed down, then sped back up. The tone also changed from scene to scene and I couldn't figure out what the director was going for exactly.

Although I did not love this film, I didn't hate it either. I especially loved Nat Wolff's performance in the first and second acts, but then he lost me towards the end, when the movie shifted completely. Overall, I look at this film as a light-hearted, comedy, coming-of-age movie, that tries to be a lot of other things as well. I would recommend checking it out if you have spare time or if you want to hear Mickey Rourke's amazing voice.

This one was interesting. It felt like a movie about a shy kid. But he isn't shy. He has no problems talking to people, just seem to not feel a need to, or something. Story wise he's gets an assignment in class to write about some old guy. Which is practically placed next door. Since the trailer shows a fair bit, I allow myself to reveal that the old guy, is a former assassin for CIA.

Back to the kid. He loves football. Has a rig in the backyard. Watches matches at school. Where he meets a girl that has a big part in the game.

I really like the relationship between the kid, and the assassin. Old guy tells what he thinks, and doesn't sugarcoat it. The movie is to a big degree about not lying to yourself, even if you don't like the truth.

His relationship with the girl Emma Roberts is playing is slightly weird, but works well.

The movie doesn't really leave you thinking for the next week, but it's a good movie. Not great, but good.

Geetings from Lithuania.

"Ashby" (2015) is a bit predictable yet enjoyable little flick. The story is not fresh, but there are some welcome surprises, although there aren't much of them (and don't want spoil them), they still are welcome.

Mickey Rourke III (i started to call him III because this movie features the 3rd Mickey Rourke's face (and hopefully the last) in his life). Although face is new, acting doesn't changed (just don't compare anything he is ever done with "The Wrestler", because there is a performance in "The Wrestler" and in "everything else"). I did like his acting in "Ashby", but he is more of a screen presence in here, although there are some good dramatic moments near the end. Other were pretty OK. Isn't Emma Roberts a bit to old to play school student?

Overall, "Ashby" is enjoyable coming of age story with some predictable and sweet romance and with some unlikely hero figure. Pacing is good in here, movie doesn't drag and while it adds nothing new to the table, i kinda was waiting for a bit straightforward criminal comedy, but what i saw was bit more serious and mature - and i liked that.

For those out there who seek out to destroy every piece of art. This is a movie about friendship, respect and love. This is a story about facing yourself in the mirror. A movie which will leave you thinking. Watch it, and enjoy it. The older Mikey gets the better his performances become. Although the depth of the characters is left shallow, the storyline is well done. If you are going to watch a movie anyway, then watch this one. Because this movie will teach you a thing or two; about life and everything that comes with it.

We liked it personally because of the message is tries to convey while courage, love, friendship and family are at the front of this epic movie.

I liked it, I consider it a good movie. It's different than other movies and at the end of the movie I felt I had received a good message. I think the story is good without clichés and everybody performance was focused. It was good to see beautiful Emma Roberts and also Mickey Rourke.

I like since the beginning it made me laugh with a the bj scene, and also I think it was really good it didn't take the way of typical movies, there were like 5 different scenarios in which the movies could take direction but it didn't, that helped to make this movie a good and different movie without the typical options, I consider that it has more realism than other movies.

Thanks

I emphatically believe, no!, I sincerely believe THIS is ironically the best movie "Mickey" has ever been in. It was well acted, well written, well done. I am so, SO, connected with the characters. ALL of them, believe it or not, and I can only hope that you, yes, you, reading this review, view the movie alone. Why? Because then you will get to keep the secret, the feelings, the emotions, that this movie will draw right out of you; but only if you're truly true,,,,,, true to yourself. I wish more movies were written this way. This one, well, it does everything worth living for, the Justice it deserves.

5 OUT OF 5! 10 OUT OF 10!

This movie is not for the faint hearted, it touches on issues that many people refuse to accept.

An old school movie directed & made for people who are intellectually minded. If you are a dullard don't waste your time or money, this Movie is not for you. This applies to all Reality TV imbeciles.

This movie deserves more recognition, acknowledgements & awards...!

Mickey Rourke is down to earth and delivers a message that Packs a Punch...!

Plenty of American Gridiron Balls in this Movie...!

I can't wait for the DVD...!

Evil prevails when good men do Nothing...!

Ashby is another coming of age story about a kid and a mentor. Ashby Holt (Mickey Rourke) is a retired CIA assassin who has only 3 months left to live. Ed Wallis (Nat Wolff) is a high school student who meets Ashby while working on an assignment. As they get to know each other more Ed discovers Ashby's CIA service record and Ashby sets out for redemption. Ashby also mentors Ed through his relationship with Eloise (Emma Roberts), getting on the football team, and coming to grips with the fact that Ed's dad is not coming home. Although serious it's also a comedy and a good one at that. Acting is great all around and Rourke stands out especially. Ashby is highly recommended.

High school misfit (Nat Wolff) befriends next-door neighbor who just happens to be terminally ill former CIA assassin (Mickey Rourke).

This movie features some solid performances by most of the actors, although the script can't tie all of the overlapping story-lines together in a way director intended. Also, film has occasional heartwarming moments but isn't well-rounded enough. It's not a great film, but for me film was as filled with light humorous tone that did make flick a pleasant experience.

7-/10

Well, I start saying Ashby is a cute movie. Short and sweet, well integrated and handsomely created. This is somewhat highlighted the so prevailing government terrorism, covering to the shadow of national security and putting bullets in heads in the people you may don't like.

Me watching this movie is all about being busy with enjoying the movie, other than chasing after a hidden theme . But I somewhat felt the character of Ed is the devil's advocate for questioning the bureaucratic system of society, what it further need to be optimized. The coach takes the example of pilot who drop the ' little boy' to Hiroshima as an inspirational character to the team motivation build, but later in the scene Ed came up with some new balls and question the ever replicating motivation orders and make the game their own. Small message it is. isn't it?

Along with this all I seriously fall in love with 'June' - the outspoken, bit of desperate but really charming lady and the cute little A-cup brain scanner Emma Roberts :). To me these simply beautiful pair gave a nice stick to behold to the movie. Finally the movie adorable, good to go Sunday movie with little sunshine.

One of those second-string Hollywood efforts of the "artiste' vein where the writer and director are one and the same.

Sometime these things take wings and fly (look at THE BIG SHORT where McKay also does double duty) and sometimes they end up in the dustbin of history as merely an interesting effort Not for want of trying. The supporting cast practically picks this film up and carries it on their backs. Rourke is as far from THE WRESTLER as the earth is from the moon, he looks and acts like his own grandfather. Roberts is given very little dialog but presents her character well. Silverman steals every scene she is in, with perfect timing and a twinkle.

But you have to choose, get a copy of St. Vincent.

Went into it expecting a light feel good evening movie with a pretty predictable plot. This kind of old guy mentoring a younger kid/coming of age flick that builds on a quite established formula and for it to be somewhat good you just need to get the basics right. They didn't.

Cast. On their own, you have a nice group of quite quality actors. Yet they somehow made them seem forced in the movie,just popping up here and there or sometimes you could kind of see them mouthing words written for them. Perhaps let them ad-lib here and there.

Chemistry. The biggest blunder in my opinion by faaar. I wont even touch the other relationships. Looking just at the main one between Ash and Ed, there was nothing there. The dialogue was so horribly contrived, one could see Ed talking about something and Ash reacting either completely different to what he went on to say or forcing himself. There was no natural back and forth. And that insane momentary outburst of I will come and visit every weekend (no spoiler) before establishing for the viewer any real strong connection was abysmally awkward. And in general Ed came off as unlikeable for the most part.

Plot. I am not even sure I know what happened. There was way too little on his background for us to really feel for him or understand him better. And the flow of the movie was horrendous. It was jumping but the worst thing was, how long or little they felt they needed to spend on certain parts. We could be looking at Ed in the locker room for 5 mins but one of the focal points with the priest came and went like a bird sh+tting itself. And I still I am not sure if that was not a joke. The conversation between the priest and Ash was pathetic. That was supposed to be a huge dramatic moment or could be, Ash looking for a "ticket" to visit his loved ones. A horrible horrible waste of Mickey's acting talents(I was expecting more like something in the lines of Ray Donovan confessing for the first time- its a TV show). What it ended up being was onthe level of a conversation one has with the cashier. That dialogue pretty much is a perfect example of the whole movie. a)lack of chemistry b)talking past each other c)no real resolution d)just a cheap unprofessional effort.

All in all, for a feel good movie with some sincerity and actual atmosphere look elsewhere. Basically I watched it for Mickey because I like him and its why I gave it as much stars as I did, and well, because people did put effort into it. But it just feels packed together in a haste, there is no chemistry between the main actors and the whole ebb and flow of the movie is almost a straight line.

Mickey Rourke is the type of actor that brings his all when he comes to perform. He don't phone it in, which is why it's always a good choice to see a movie he's starting in.

Nat Wolff, Emma Roberts, and Sarah Silverman also gave fantastic performances in the film as well, adding to a humorous heart filing story, but Ashby was a lot for a filmmaker to chew on, as Rourke plays a retired CIA agent with one foot in the grave who seeks redemption after meeting and befriending the boy next store.

It's not the action packed thrill ride I make it seem like. Not even the action comedy I thought it would be when I brought the ticket. The story focus more on the Nat Wolff's character coming-of-age.

I'm not saying this is a bad thing for the movie to turn out to be, but the movie just had too many stories within stories and I don't think it was handled right.

It's not as good as the excellent performance Mickey Rourke and his ensemble gives to it.

This movie is bad. Really bad. The story is such a nonsense and absurdous at times. Cliché after cliché. The high school football drama and "love" story are nauseating. The acting is really bad, except Mickey Rourke.

I mean, every single actor in this movie put out a dismal performance including Nat Wolff. Ed's character is so unlikable and annoying that I wanted to stop watching several times. I have not seen Nat Wolff before, but in this movie he was unbelievably bad.

Absolutely no chemistry between Ed and Ashby. The priest' and mother' characters are either a joke or insults to one's intelligence. The funeral scene in the end of the movie completed its awfulness. Mickey Rourke was the only reason I finished watching this movie. His acting was great. But he did not save this peace of crap.

The first thing I noticed by comparison that the characters Ed Wallis & Eloise (played perfectly by Nat Wolff & Emma Thompson) seemed displaced in time. Hipsters browsing a late 1950's high-school-football-town with standard bullying, simplistic male ideologies, inattentive dads and a woman desperate for love.

I felt a nostalgia with the Hal Ashby experience of mixing the old with the new. I couldn't see any of this a subtle nod to the famous Director as there was a throw away line about Harold & Maude that convinced me this film was paying tribute to one of the greats.

It's safe to assume Nat Wolff's Ed is the "Harold" to Mickey Rourke's Ashby Holt being "Maude". It's a quiet balance of the past & the present operating smoothly throughout the remainder of the film.

The focus of the movie follows an above average high school student Ed as he self-obsesses his way through life doing what's expected of him as a man. Only to realize that being a man isn't the complexity Ed's made of it. Ed does things such as join the football team for the approval of his Dad who (A) isn't there and (B) won't ever be there. It takes the father-figure we find in Ashby Holt to show Ed that the common standards of masculinity isn't about winning other people's approval.

Ed meets Ashby through a school assignment to interview an "elderly person". Being new to the neighborhood, Ed walks next door to Ashby; the only "elderly person" he knows.

Ashby Holt (played by the talented Mickey Rourke) is a retired CIA assassin with a brain tumor that's limited his last days down to 3 months. Ashby is dismissive of the deaths he's involved with, because it was for "the good of the country". He's at peace with himself until the nosy-neighbor kid (Ed) discovers this news purely by accident and questions that ideology of "killing bad people" until Ashby reviews the people he's executed. Evidently one person Ashby & 3 other men assassinated was strictly for profit, as his ex-partners now lavish in wealth, while Ashby himself lives a modest lifestyle.

There's a touch of religious aspects here where Ashby confesses to a Catholic Priest as he seeks absolution in his dying days. His desire to make himself right with God, go to Heaven, and see his daughter again - is written for the justification for Ashby to murder his old CIA buddies. I found it a little lazy, but it really didn't distract from the flow of the story.

Ed unknowingly chauffeurs Ashby through these final acts because his illness has impaired his driving ability because of fainting spells. It's during these moments where we see that balancing act between the then & the now as Ashby puts to rest old errors with a gun battle & Ed apologizes to Eloise for letting her down during his self-obsessed play at "being manly" around his new football friends.

There's that same balance with the locker room scenes as Coach Bruton & Coach Wally (wonderful tongue in cheek humor & performances by Kevin Dunn & John Enos III) enforce revered traditions and living up to the standards and accomplishments of past players. In contrast to that old school motto in winning approval to be a man is Ashby's old school simplicity in taking a punch; Ashby shows Ed that a person needs to learn how to take punches because it's a part of life. Life will hit you. It's a lesson Ed applies to a football game when he rallies the other players by ignoring tradition & approval by simply getting out there and getting the job done.

REWIND: I've done something here in this review that's very noticeable in the movie. I've unknowingly disregarded the women in the plot device.

Sarah Silverman plays the mother June Wallis who has moved herself and her son to a new town as a fresh beginning after divorce. It's Sarah's comedy in the film which keeps it from becoming a harsher drama that this plot could have easily become.

The only necessity I could find in Ed catching his mother giving some guy a blow job or being free with her vagina & sexuality is when it alludes to Ed asking a guy that's stayed the night what his intentions towards his mom are. It does two things for the story; It allows Ed to finally understand that his dad is no different than the a holes his mom is currently dating. A fact he vehemently denies to Ashby's face when confronted by that notion. It also connects Ed as the more mature person in the family as he reassures his mom that she deserves better than what she so desperately chases after.

Frankly, June Wallis is a background parent much like Ed's father except while it's made obvious that his dad isn't around - it isn't so obvious that his mother should have a larger impact for this story. For whatever reason, Silverman is under-used.

Emma Roberts who plays the intellectual Eloise is also not utilized completely, but kept as a companion piece for Ed himself. Note to Director Tony McNamara, when you have two incredible young talents like Nat Wolff and Emma Roberts; Give them the screen time they deserve! Roberts is an incredibly gifted woman a perfect balance for Wolff and his character, but you made her the girlfriend watching from the sidelines. I would have posted this movie above the 7 out of 10 which I've reviewed it as if only there were a woman's touch to the varying examples of masculinity. Because a man is only as masculine in comparison to a woman's femininity - How masculine should I expect Ed to become when his two examples of feminism are background decorations & puns?

One word for this film - awesome. Don't miss this film. It rocks. Performances by all are solid. Just the scenes which take place while the character played by Nat Wolff (Ed) is at school and in his literary class are worth the watch but then there are so many more excellent scenes. Jason Davis portrays Mr. Mark, who is the teacher of the literary class, and he has some of the best lines in the movie. I imagine, as an actor, he had great fun portraying this character and did so perfectly. Watching this movie is like eating a box of chocolates; with each piece you feel ecstasy and upon emptying the box you feel a total sugar high. Ashby, is played by Rourke. It is my opinion that his performance is worthy of an Academy Award nomination. The screenwriter, Tony McNamara, has been nominated for the Austrailian Writers Guild Award for Best Screenplay for the script. McNamara is an award winning screenwriter for previous works. Excellent performances by Sarah Silverman and Emma Roberts. I loved the characters they played and feel they did so with winning performances.

It's a wonderful cast and not a bad production either, so I enjoyed the watch, but did not like the film much. The reason is I had seen a few similar flicks which are much better than this in every way. A school kid and his single parents' struggling relationship and their strange neighbour, so it is the concept I'm familiar with, but the story was a bit different. There are a few good scenes in it, but the most of the parts were dominated by the only the nice events like happily ever after kind of stuffs right from the beginning.

The title role was played by Mickey Rourke, but it was Nat Wolff's film. The narration should have been much better, I mean it should have had more complicated segments. I even don't know how it got the R rating. The writing and the direction, both should have been a bit bolder. There are some people who liked it a lot and defending it, but I'm neutral. To me it was 50-50, I neither liked nor disliked. But all I wanted was a bit better than this, so I can't judge it for other. I hope you make a right decision on this if you plan to watch it.

5/10

I consider this film something of a hidden gem; It has an endearing charm, one which i find slightly criminal given its poor reception and box office success. The real draw to 'Ashby' for me personally is Mickey Rourke's performance, and its place within his filmography. To me, it proves his ability to act has endured, past 'The Wrestler' - a film in which many naysayers would believe to be his last good role. This in itself gives the film an added value that cannot be tarnished (not even by Rourke's behaviour in his personal life). Furthermore, Emma Roberts and Nat Wolff are not without their charm; solidifying the strength of the cast. However, the film is not without their flaws. Stylistically, the film is slightly underwhelming - a majority of the shots being bland and straightforward. The humour is also somewhat strange and executed in a peculiar manner, but this is perhaps to be expected, given the generally quirky nature of Wolff's characters. In the end, these are all flaws to be tolerated, and the value that lies within this film is a greater in comparison. Again, If nothing else it is truly a sight to behold for all devoted fans of Rourke's.

A coming of age story where a high school kid has to talk to an old guy for an assignment and ends up forming a sort of a friendship with his next door neighbor who has been an assassin and is about too die.

It is not a very original idea, but it is a very enjoyable movie. Actually it is a bit of a more original young guy being friends with old guy story because of the whole last assassination mission. Besides all the characters are great. I also like the guy's mother played by Sarah Silverman. When she is worried Ashby is touching her son it is a very funny moment.

Mickey Rourke is absolutely perfect in his role. It is a great character and he also manages to make us love him all the way. We can also see him being influenced by his younger friend. This makes the story so much sweeter when we see people in all stages of life learning from each other.

Ashby borrows a lot. There's almost nothing original here; except the performances, which were good.

Additionally, much of the plot seemed underdeveloped or only partially sketched out. Ed, the main character, is new in school and this plot point is presented to us in the second scene. Yet this fact has no bearing on the rest of the movie in any way. It seemed tacked on, probably because "new kid in school" is a high school movie trope.

Ed's character too seemed like a standard high school movie hero. Bits and pieces taken from classic high school films. Nothing made him stand out in particular.

The performances are good, minus Sarah Silverman who seemed totally out of place. Nat Wolff appears to have been chosen as the newest lead actor for high school movies. He starred in the absolutely unwatchable "Behaving Badly" (seriously, try to watch it), as well as in two John Green adaptations. He seems like a talented young actor, but this material isn't the best.

The film isn't unpleasant, merely perfunctory. If you're looking for a more challenging (and better) recent coming of age movie I recommend "The Goob" http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3009070/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1

As coming of age stories go, Ashby is a nice change from what we're used to because it parallels - or at least try - Ed's journey into adulthood and Ashby's coming to terms with his impending death. The film has nice moments. The story has heart, humor, and decent performances, but it lacks characters development. I mean the title character, Ashby, was not fully develop. It really felt like there was more to be said about him. The female characters were cruelly undeserved, they had their moments but it mostly felt like they were optional or added in at the last minute.

To sum it up Ashby was a bit stop and go, probably showcasing McNamara's shortcomings as a director, but the cast sort of makes up for it, which makes a pleasant movie to watch. It's fun, light hearted, quirky, and brutally honest at times.

By wornoutspines

Ashby - a predictable yet nice movie. The Old and young duo looked very nice while watching. Story line was ordinary but perfectly executed by the actors.

Mickey Rourke is finally in a good film again! Good acting, Entertaining, touching. This is a great film for teens & parents of divorce. It keeps your attention. Best of all, it's not like the corney or predictable Hollywood films. It will even make you laugh at times. Worth watching for sure!