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a14 people & arts
Thursday 17 February 2022
Tom Holland in the video game adaptation 'Uncharted'

By JAKE COYLE of "Uncharted" never clicks.
Goonies never say die, and Wahlberg, who was once
neither do some of their attached to play Holland's
storylines. part, plays Sully like Na-
"Uncharted," a new movie than's roguish, less tech-
based on the PlayStation savvy elder. But they lack
video game, cribs heavily the needed chemistry and
from adventures like "The the script, by Rafe Lee Jud-
Goonies" and its holy grail, kins, Matt Holloway and Art
"Indiana Jones." It's the kind Marcum, doesn't give them
of movie that wears its influ- enough comic material to
ences proudly on its sleeve do much with. "Uncharted"
to perhaps enlarge itself by is propelled instead by Hol-
those associations. Nathan land's boyish enthusiasm.
Drake (Tom Holland), who He's an awfully earnest pro-
was raised in an orphan- tagonist for a swashbuckler
age, has no reptile phobia like "Uncharted." There isn't
to speak of but when his a hint of danger in him, nor
travels brings him to a ca- Tom Holland appears in a scene from "Unchartered." is there any romance found
thedral, he utters in a very Associated Press along the way. Instead,
Jonesian fashion: "Nuns. Fleischer's film has retrofit-
Why's it always got to be "Uncharted" will likely de- hind a cargo plane, "Un- ing as a bartender and ted a kind of coming-of-
nuns." pend on your standard of charted" jumps back to petty thief, encounters age story to suit Holland's
"Uncharted" is the latest "a good enough time," but Nathan's childhood in New Victor "Sully" Sullivan (Mark generic but sweet do-
in a proliferation of video you can't fault it for skimp- York. He's there with his Wahlberg), an old treasure- gooder charm. It's hard not
game adaptations, and ing on scale, or failing to older brother, Sam (Rudy hunting companion of Na- to nod in agreement when
it's not hard to see why this stuff itself to the gills with Pankow), who describes than's brother, who comes Chloe tells him: "You're a
PlayStation game, which ancient texts and symbols them as descendants of to him with a mission to good guy, Nate. Too good."
launched with "Uncharted: and old maps. If it's treasure the English explorer Sir find Magellan's lost trea- There are other things a lit-
Drake's Fortune" in 2007, hunting you seek, regard- Francis Drake and exhibits sure. Once they've tracked tle out of sync in the wanly
was quickly picked up by less of reward, you have some of the same spirit of down a pair of MacGuffins watchable "Uncharted."
Hollywood. The game, found it. exploration. He's particu- — er, ancient keys — they Every artifact uncovered
which came a few years on Director Ruben Fleischer, larly fixated on the path of set off for more clues in Bar- in pursuit of the lost gold
the heels of "National Trea- who eventually took over Ferdinand Magellan and celona. They have some would, in their own right, be
sure," with Nicolas Cage, after "Uncharted" was in treasure said to have been competition, including a worth a fortune. And the
was very much based on development for years with hidden by his expedition maybe-trustworthy adven- bad guys here are so well
movies. So it's probably in- a long list of filmmakers, in the 16th century. When turer named Chloe (Sophie financed that they could
evitable that "Uncharted" brings visual clarity and a they're caught trying to Ali). But their main foe is a probably just sell their gear
feels like a copy of a copy. touch of inventiveness to a steal Magellan's map, Sam wealthy Spanish descen- and be equally wealthy.
But, you might thinking, so handful of glossy set piec- is kicked out of the orphan- dant of the Moncada fam- But preposterousness, not
what? Globe-trotting ad- es. The movie opens with age and the two never see ily that financed Magellan's realism, is the mission of "Un-
ventures with puzzles and Nathan spinning through each other again. Nathan trip, still looking to recoup. charted." And by that mea-
tunnels and booby trap the air, a fitting place to occasionally receives post- He's played by Antonio sure, the movie achieves
are, by their nature, fun. start given that "Unchart- cards from far away. Banderas, in his most growl- what it set out to do in the
Even a bland imitation — ed" trails Holland's last flight It is, for sure, a postcard-thin ing villain mode, who's Philippines finale that leads,
which is what "Uncharted" is in "Spider-Man: No Way backstory. But "Uncharted" joined by a lethal martial like "The Goonies" did, to
— can be a good enough Home," by just two months. gets properly underway artist (Tati Gabrielle). gold-filled underground
time. What you get out of But after a few swings be- when Nathan, now work- The buddy movie balance ships. q

'Pose' star Rodriguez to receive GLAAD Media Awards honor

for her efforts to advance GLAAD President and CEO ness in the entertainment
acceptance for LGBTQ Sarah Kate Ellis said in a industry about discrimina-
people of color. statement. tion against LGBTQ people
Rodriguez, the first trans- Rodriguez, who earned and people living with HIV.
gender woman to receive a Golden Globe Award The 200-plus previously
a lead actress Emmy nomi- for her role of Blanca on announced nominees in
nation, will receive the "Pose," stars in Netflix's Lin- 30 categories include Lil
Stephen F. Kolzak Award Manuel Miranda-directed Nas X, Demi Lovato, Elton
given to LGBTQ media film "tick…tick…BOOM!" John, "West Side Story,"
professionals who counter and is to appear with "Pose" and "Dancing with
anti-LGBTQ bias. Maya Rudolph in the an- the Stars."
"Michaela Jaé Rodriguez is nounced Apple TV+ series A May 6 ceremony in New
an undeniable talent who "Loot.'' She also has an up- York also will be held by
is changing the way audi- coming album release. GLAAD, a media advoca-
Actor Mj Rodriguez attends FX's "Pose" third and finale season ences understand trans Rodriguez will be honored cy organization.
premiere in New York on April 29, 2021. people while breaking at the April 2 awards cer- The awards honor media
Associated Press down barriers for the trans emony in Los Angeles. The for fair, accurate, and in-
community and LGBTQ late Kolzak was a promi- clusive representations
LOS ANGELES (AP) — "Pose" driguez will be honored at people of color within the nent casting director who of LGBTQ people and
star Michaela Jaé "Mj" Ro- the GLAAD Media Awards entertainment industry," worked to raise aware- issues.q