Review of X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014) by David B — 10 Jan 2015

"Days of Future Past" is the best X-Men film yet, with uncharacteristically fluid direction from Singer and a surprisingly thoughtful script.

Even after 14 years and seven films, Jackman continues to surprise as Wolverine, here delivering his best turn as the character in a story that trades the angry yelling and slashing for a humbled sage-like wisdom (as Logan and Xavier essentially switch the mentor-student role). Jackman is smartly kept on the sidelines though, as the emotional center of the film lies in the heartfelt performances of McAvoy, Fassbender, and Lawrence. Hoult is better than ever here as well, and this is the first film of the series that doesn't feel bogged down with needless, empty supporting characters (although Peter Dinklage feels wasted in an underwritten role).

It's hard not to notice some weirdness that the film--rooted so blatantly in metaphors of civil rights and racial/gender inclusiveness-- is essentially about 4 white guys arguing over the actions of one woman, but the film ultimately has a solid moral core (even if some of the execution feels a bit misguided). It's rather refreshing to have a comic-book blockbuster featuring a climax with world-ending stakes that is entirely dependent upon a character choosing NOT to fight/punch/shoot/kill someone.

In fact, the movie as a whole is surprisingly light on action; Evan Peters (who gives a wonderful performance, despite a visual design that is somehow simultaneously blandly forgettable and horrifyingly garish) gets the most memorable moment in the film, but even that sequence is less about the action than it is about pitch-perfect comic timing and one of the best needle-drops in years.

The film is not without its faults, but it makes for an excellent close to the previous cycle of "X-Men" films, and continues an exciting trajectory that began with "First Class.".