Welcome to another episode Lights....Camera....Popcorn!
Today's review is Drive.
Directed by Nicolas Winding Refn.
Written by Hossein Amini.
Based on the book "Drive" written by James Sallis.
Review #139
MPAA Rating: R for strong brutal bloody violence, language and some nudity.
Runtime: 140 min
Cast
Ryan Gosling ...Driver
Carey Mulligan ...Irene
Bryan Cranston ...Shannon
Albert Brooks ...Bernie Rose
Oscar Isaac ...Standard
Christina Hendricks ...Blanche
Ron Perlman ...Nino
It's very rare in the movie world, especially in an action/thriller film that the main character who's playing a villain is viewed more like the hero. It's a seldom used tactic but if executed properly it can become a very satisfying experience.
Drive does that and then some.
Plot
A Hollywood stunt performer who moonlights as a wheelman discovers that a contract has been put on him after a heist gone wrong.
How does the film pull off the bait and switch I just described? The answer lies with two words. Ryan Gosling. His performance as the driver was so steely and mysterious that you instantly forget that he's a bona fide 100% criminal. It's also because of this that many complaints have been voiced about the film's ending. I'll get to that later. Gosling was not plagued with a lot of dialogue so he was forced to express more facially and through his icy glares.
Normally a character performing like that signals a severe lack of writing. In this case, Gosling's driver was perfectly balanced between his world of comfortable silence and the everyday world. It also magnified the mind numbing mystery behind his character. You have little to no idea who he is, where he comes from or why he's alone.
This too was a fantastic aspect to his character and the film. You as the audience are forced to draw your own conclusions about the driver. It brings a different perspective to the thinking man's movie. Your assumptions of the driver will alter your view on the film. Who you think he is or what his endgame can provide an insight that historically never exists in films of this genre. There is of course a flip side to this coin. All the things I just mentioned that made the film so enjoyable for me and very easily backfire and piss a lot of people off. Some people don't want to be shrouded in mystery when they feel it doesn't properly navigate through the story. That's why it's a risky venture.
To each his own I guess.
Moving on to the rest of the cast which was exceptional. Carey Mulligan was so sweet yet carried just the right amount of sexuality to remind you why the driver falls for her. Bryan Cranston does a great job as the driver's right hand man so to speak. He's getting more film gigs and that's a good thing. He needs to have more meaty roles though. His talent is too good to waste on secondary characters. If you've seen him in Breaking Bad then you know exactly what I'm talking about.
All Hail Walter White!
Finishing up the main players is Albert Brooks as Bernie. I initially thought he wouldn't make a convincing bad guy but he pulls it off nicely. There was a quiet psychosis about him. Very similar to the driver only with a little more volume since he didn't talk much. Bottom line the cast all did their part to make this film as strong as it was.
Now on to the film's ending. I've read other reviews and heard people's comments about the film and for the most part they all felt the same way I do with the end being the one exception. So to those who didn't like how Drive ended allow me to toss this question at you.
What else did you expect?
I promise I will not give away the ending but remember what I said earlier. Despite the heroic things he does in the film the driver is a BAD GUY! He's the film's main villain. Now some of you may debate this but I'm sorry.
It's a fact.
The driver was by no means a saint and none of us should be absolving him of his sins just because he does something heroic. This goes back to what I was talking about the rarity of films that have a villain become somebody you root for. Also you have to remember the mystery surrounding his character. It only makes perfect sense to end the film the way it did. It coincides with the make up of his character. Refn rolled the dice with how he was going to present the driver and for me it was stellar.
On a quick ratings note. The film's violence is very very intense and blood heavy so be forewarned.
On the 5 star scale. Drive gets 3.5 stars with a "Go See It!" recommendation.
That's a wrap for today. Up next is Moneyball.
Until Next Episode...."I'll Save You A Seat!"
"D"
Warrior
Welcome to another episode Lights....Camera....Popcorn!
Today's review is Warrior.
Directed by Gavin O'Connor.
Written by Gavin O'Connor, Anthony Tambakis & Cliff Dorfman.
Screen Story by Gavin O'Connor & Cliff Dorfman.
Review #138
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for sequences of intense mixed martial arts fighting, some language and thematic material.
Runtime: 140 min
Cast
Joel Edgerton ... Brendan Conlon
Tom Hardy ... Tommy Conlon
Nick Nolte ... Paddy Conlon
Jennifer Morrison ... Tess Conlon
Frank Grillo ... Frank Campana
Kevin Dunn ... Principal Zito
Maximiliano Hernández ... Colt Boyd
Bryan Callen ... Himself
Josh Rosenthal ... Referee Josh Rosenthal
Kurt Angle ... Koba
Erik Apple ... Pete 'Mad Dog' Grimes
Anthony Johnson ... Orlando 'Midnight' Le
Nathan Marquardt ... Karl Kruller
Roan Carneiro ... Marco Santos
Daniel Stevens ... Francisco Barbosa
Warrior has been a heavily promoted film. It had to be due to it's small stature. The trailers and TV spots have painted this film as The Fighter in the MMA world instead of boxing. It's easy to feel that way but Warrior is different in several ways.
Some better and some not.
Plot
The youngest son of an alcoholic former boxer returns home, where he's trained by his father for competition in a mixed martial arts tournament -- a path that puts the fighter on a collision corner with his older brother.
The parts that don't work for this movie is the plot. It's too generic and overdone. The strife between the brothers and father is nothing new to the genre. To make matters worse it's just glossed over as opposed to being fleshed out and properly explained. This drags the film down in several aspects. In pacing, structure and more importantly entertainment. There are only 2 things that make this film watchable. Here's the good.
Joel Edgerton and Tom Hardy.
These 2 are the life and soul of Warrior. Hardy in particular turns in a terrific performance. It's not going to get any award buzz but it was still strong. His back story was interesting enough and the film does a pretty good job shrouding the reasons behind his gruff and deliberate demeanor. He was seriously jacked for this role. I can't wait to see how he tackles Bane in The Dark Knight Rises.
Then the film takes that momentum and kills it by not following through on the mystery. The explanation though believable was weak and poorly presented. I keep coming back to this because the story flaws hinder Warrior from being superior to The Fighter and trust me when I say the potential was there. Having said that the performances of the Edgerton and Hardy drive this film forward to a very satisfying conclusion.
The final fight between the brothers left me wondering how in the world are they going to end this movie. Who was going to win the tournament. Both men had equally important and honorable reasons to win the money but only 1 man could walk away from the cage victorious. Then out of nowhere the fight turns into a family therapy session and it was BRILLIANT! I won't say any more about it except that it was the only way this film and fight could have ended.
It also saved this movie from getting a lower score.
Warrior probably should get your $$$. I just wish it hadn't sacrificed so much depth within the story. A little more punch (no pun intended) and we would have been talking about something special.
On the 5 star scale. Warrior gets 3 stars with a split. "Go See It/Netflix It" recommendation.
That's a wrap for today. Up next is Drive.
Until Next Episode...."I'll Save You A Seat!"
"D"
Today's review is Warrior.
Directed by Gavin O'Connor.
Written by Gavin O'Connor, Anthony Tambakis & Cliff Dorfman.
Screen Story by Gavin O'Connor & Cliff Dorfman.
Review #138
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for sequences of intense mixed martial arts fighting, some language and thematic material.
Runtime: 140 min
Cast
Joel Edgerton ... Brendan Conlon
Tom Hardy ... Tommy Conlon
Nick Nolte ... Paddy Conlon
Jennifer Morrison ... Tess Conlon
Frank Grillo ... Frank Campana
Kevin Dunn ... Principal Zito
Maximiliano Hernández ... Colt Boyd
Bryan Callen ... Himself
Josh Rosenthal ... Referee Josh Rosenthal
Kurt Angle ... Koba
Erik Apple ... Pete 'Mad Dog' Grimes
Anthony Johnson ... Orlando 'Midnight' Le
Nathan Marquardt ... Karl Kruller
Roan Carneiro ... Marco Santos
Daniel Stevens ... Francisco Barbosa
Warrior has been a heavily promoted film. It had to be due to it's small stature. The trailers and TV spots have painted this film as The Fighter in the MMA world instead of boxing. It's easy to feel that way but Warrior is different in several ways.
Some better and some not.
Plot
The youngest son of an alcoholic former boxer returns home, where he's trained by his father for competition in a mixed martial arts tournament -- a path that puts the fighter on a collision corner with his older brother.
The parts that don't work for this movie is the plot. It's too generic and overdone. The strife between the brothers and father is nothing new to the genre. To make matters worse it's just glossed over as opposed to being fleshed out and properly explained. This drags the film down in several aspects. In pacing, structure and more importantly entertainment. There are only 2 things that make this film watchable. Here's the good.
Joel Edgerton and Tom Hardy.
These 2 are the life and soul of Warrior. Hardy in particular turns in a terrific performance. It's not going to get any award buzz but it was still strong. His back story was interesting enough and the film does a pretty good job shrouding the reasons behind his gruff and deliberate demeanor. He was seriously jacked for this role. I can't wait to see how he tackles Bane in The Dark Knight Rises.
Then the film takes that momentum and kills it by not following through on the mystery. The explanation though believable was weak and poorly presented. I keep coming back to this because the story flaws hinder Warrior from being superior to The Fighter and trust me when I say the potential was there. Having said that the performances of the Edgerton and Hardy drive this film forward to a very satisfying conclusion.
The final fight between the brothers left me wondering how in the world are they going to end this movie. Who was going to win the tournament. Both men had equally important and honorable reasons to win the money but only 1 man could walk away from the cage victorious. Then out of nowhere the fight turns into a family therapy session and it was BRILLIANT! I won't say any more about it except that it was the only way this film and fight could have ended.
It also saved this movie from getting a lower score.
Warrior probably should get your $$$. I just wish it hadn't sacrificed so much depth within the story. A little more punch (no pun intended) and we would have been talking about something special.
On the 5 star scale. Warrior gets 3 stars with a split. "Go See It/Netflix It" recommendation.
That's a wrap for today. Up next is Drive.
Until Next Episode...."I'll Save You A Seat!"
"D"
Contagion
Welcome to another episode Lights....Camera....Popcorn!
Today's review is Contagion.
Directed by Steven Soderbergh.
Written by Scott Z. Burns.
Review #137
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for disturbing content and some language.
Runtime: 105 min
Cast
Gwyneth Paltrow ... Beth Emhoff
Matt Damon ... Mitch Emhoff
Laurence Fishburne ... Dr. Ellis Cheever
Marion Cotillard ... Dr. Leonora Orantes
Kate Winslet ... Dr. Erin Mears
Jennifer Ehle ... Dr. Ally Hextall
Elliott Gould ... Dr. Ian Sussman
Enrico Colantoni ... Dennis French
Bryan Cranston ... Lyle Haggerty
If you can, try and think about the scariest movie you ever saw. I know for most of you it will probably be what you would deem a traditional horror film like Friday the 13th or A Nightmare on Elm Street. Of course one of the scariest films of all time is The Exorcist. That film scarred me for life. Want proof. I'm 35 years old and I still can't see that film. When they re-released it in theaters with an extended cut I ran out of the theater when the trailer played. Hand to bible truth.
My point is that Contagion is now on my list as one of the scariest films I have ever seen.
Plot
An action-thriller centered on the threat posed by a deadly disease and an international team of doctors contracted by the CDC to deal with the outbreak.
Before any of you start freaking out. I'll explain what I mean. What makes Contagion more horrifying than any so called horror film that's out now is the plain and simple fact that it's based in REALITY. No matter how scary it can be there's no such thing as a dude infiltrating your dreams and killing you in your sleep. Or some hockey mask wearing zombie walking around with a machete in the woods. There is however such a thing as a virus that can attack your body so rapidly that you're done before you even realize you're sick. Even scarier is that virus has no cure or vaccine and is spreading faster than you can breathe. This is the scenario that Contagion presents to you and it's a very INTENSE experience.
Now some of you may be asking....How is this movie any different than Outbreak or any other film that has tackled this topic of an unstoppable epidemic. The answer is both simple and complex at the same time. You have to forgive me since I don't remember Outbreak that much but if I recall correctly that film was more of the action thriller variety. This one was much darker and serious in tone, delivery and presentation. That in itself makes the film work much better. The virus in the film though fictitious is highly plausible and as a result creates a false sense of safety. This was something I wasn't expecting to feel watching this movie.
It's thought provoking in ways I didn't imagine. I dare you not to buy a case of Purell after you see this.
Contagion breaks up into 4 separate quadrants. The film spends an equal amount of time to each one and this is where the film succeeds and fails. After building a tremendous amount of pressure and tension the film gives you a break as you follow the different events unfolding. Keeping in mind that as this is happening people are dropping like flies at alarming rates. The momentum gained at the beginning gets muddled in one particular story arc that though important to the big picture just doesn't seem as valuable as the rest of the plot seemed to be. That being said, Contagion does a great job showcasing the breakdown of society and civilization once the virus reaches epidemic proportions. The riots and looting were staged with just the right amount of chaos without being too stylized.
Bottom line, the plot description has this film all wrong. Contagion is in no way, shape or form an action thriller. This is a horror film plain and simple. It may not be a "traditional" horror film but I can't think of anything scarier than catching an incurable virus from someone breathing on me or touching something they touched.
Can you?
On the 5 star scale. Contagion gets 4 stars with a "Go See It!" Recommendation.
That's a wrap for today. Up next is Warrior.
Until Next Episode...."I'll Save You A Seat!"
"D"
Today's review is Contagion.
Directed by Steven Soderbergh.
Written by Scott Z. Burns.
Review #137
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for disturbing content and some language.
Runtime: 105 min
Cast
Gwyneth Paltrow ... Beth Emhoff
Matt Damon ... Mitch Emhoff
Laurence Fishburne ... Dr. Ellis Cheever
Marion Cotillard ... Dr. Leonora Orantes
Kate Winslet ... Dr. Erin Mears
Jennifer Ehle ... Dr. Ally Hextall
Elliott Gould ... Dr. Ian Sussman
Enrico Colantoni ... Dennis French
Bryan Cranston ... Lyle Haggerty
If you can, try and think about the scariest movie you ever saw. I know for most of you it will probably be what you would deem a traditional horror film like Friday the 13th or A Nightmare on Elm Street. Of course one of the scariest films of all time is The Exorcist. That film scarred me for life. Want proof. I'm 35 years old and I still can't see that film. When they re-released it in theaters with an extended cut I ran out of the theater when the trailer played. Hand to bible truth.
My point is that Contagion is now on my list as one of the scariest films I have ever seen.
Plot
An action-thriller centered on the threat posed by a deadly disease and an international team of doctors contracted by the CDC to deal with the outbreak.
Before any of you start freaking out. I'll explain what I mean. What makes Contagion more horrifying than any so called horror film that's out now is the plain and simple fact that it's based in REALITY. No matter how scary it can be there's no such thing as a dude infiltrating your dreams and killing you in your sleep. Or some hockey mask wearing zombie walking around with a machete in the woods. There is however such a thing as a virus that can attack your body so rapidly that you're done before you even realize you're sick. Even scarier is that virus has no cure or vaccine and is spreading faster than you can breathe. This is the scenario that Contagion presents to you and it's a very INTENSE experience.
Now some of you may be asking....How is this movie any different than Outbreak or any other film that has tackled this topic of an unstoppable epidemic. The answer is both simple and complex at the same time. You have to forgive me since I don't remember Outbreak that much but if I recall correctly that film was more of the action thriller variety. This one was much darker and serious in tone, delivery and presentation. That in itself makes the film work much better. The virus in the film though fictitious is highly plausible and as a result creates a false sense of safety. This was something I wasn't expecting to feel watching this movie.
It's thought provoking in ways I didn't imagine. I dare you not to buy a case of Purell after you see this.
Contagion breaks up into 4 separate quadrants. The film spends an equal amount of time to each one and this is where the film succeeds and fails. After building a tremendous amount of pressure and tension the film gives you a break as you follow the different events unfolding. Keeping in mind that as this is happening people are dropping like flies at alarming rates. The momentum gained at the beginning gets muddled in one particular story arc that though important to the big picture just doesn't seem as valuable as the rest of the plot seemed to be. That being said, Contagion does a great job showcasing the breakdown of society and civilization once the virus reaches epidemic proportions. The riots and looting were staged with just the right amount of chaos without being too stylized.
Bottom line, the plot description has this film all wrong. Contagion is in no way, shape or form an action thriller. This is a horror film plain and simple. It may not be a "traditional" horror film but I can't think of anything scarier than catching an incurable virus from someone breathing on me or touching something they touched.
Can you?
On the 5 star scale. Contagion gets 4 stars with a "Go See It!" Recommendation.
That's a wrap for today. Up next is Warrior.
Until Next Episode...."I'll Save You A Seat!"
"D"
Shark Night 3D
Welcome to another episode Lights....Camera....Popcorn!
Today's review is Shark Night 3D.
Directed by David R. Ellis.
Written by Will Hayes & Jesse Studenberg.
Review #136
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for violence and terror, disturbing images, sexual references, partial nudity, language and thematic material.
Runtime: 91 min
Cast
Sara Paxton ...Sara
Dustin Milligan ...Nick
Chris Carmack ...Dennis
Katharine McPhee ...Beth
Chris Zylka ...Blake
Alyssa Diaz ...Maya
Joel David Moore ...Gordon
Sinqua Walls ...Malik
Donal Logue ...Sabin
Joshua Leonard ...Red
Steven Spielberg and a little mechanical shark named Bruce had to ruin it for everyone. Thanks to Jaws, people have developed a misguided and uneducated fear of sharks. And rightfully so in my opinion. That was one scary bastard. The film also had another negative side effect. In this case it was the film industry that was affected. The monumental success of Jaws spawned multiple and very inferior sequels and worse.....
Copycats.
I can go down the list but we all know for the most part which films I'm talking about. Thinking mostly of Orca, Piranha and Piranha II. Here's a show biz trivia nugget for you. Do you know who directed Piranha II? None other than Mr. Avatar himself James Cameron. Living proof that you literally have to "swim" your way to the top as a film maker.
Sorry. I couldn't resist the pun.
My point is that none of those films were able to capture the fanfare, finances and more importantly entertainment value that Jaws created. This trend continues today with the genre's latest attempt to scare you out of the water.
Does it work....HELL NO! Was it that bad....Not really....Sort of.
Plot
A weekend at a lake house in the Louisiana Gulf turns into a nightmare for seven vacationers as they are subjected to fresh-water shark attacks.
If there's one thing that films like these all have in common is a very underdeveloped plot. Shark Night is no different. The film wastes no time not letting you get to know the characters. Identifying with them. Bond with them. Care for them. Why? DUH! Cause they're all shark bait. That's why REAL actors don't come anywhere near films like this. Now let me clarify what I mean by real actors. I am no way suggesting that the players in this movie can't act. I'm just stating the obvious. Which is aside from Deep Blue Sea which had a pretty solid name cast headlined by Samuel L. Jackson (who by the way had probably the greatest death in any shark film. Including Robert Shaw being eaten alive in Jaws), Thomas Jane, LL Cool J and even Stellan Skarsgard. When was the last time you saw household names in a film if this ilk.
The defense rests.
This is a MAJOR flaw for films like this. If they want to be taken seriously and most of the time they don't. The casting NEEDS to improve. For this film it wasn't that necessary. Getting back to the story or lack there of. The reason for the kids party or need to travel to a deserted lake with no cell phone reception is obviously immaterial. The reason for the shark attacks however is VERY material and I have to say I bought it.
To an extent.
I'll put it this way. There are 2 major motives for the shark attacks. Which of course get explained in traditional villain monologue fashion. The only problem with 1 of the explanations is that there was no visual evidence of said villain's reason for unleashing the sharks on the people. This was a simple script flaw that could have and should have been dealt with. It would have taken 15-30 seconds in flashback and bingo you have more depth behind a very shallow plot. I know I sound WAY too critical about a film called Shark Night but the one thing that got me to see this movie in the first place was the fresh premise for the attacks. It was pretty original to a degree and curiosity got the better of me. Am I disappointed in the end result. Nope cause I wasn't surprised that the film goes the route it does cause it just follows the horror film playbook.
Step by predictable step.
I am however, disappointed in 2 things. The first being the look of the CG sharks. They looked rather lame with the exception of the one close up of the Tiger Shark. The rest of them looked like unrendered versions that were approved by the director. For a film with a budget of $28,000,000, a few extra bucks could have gone to make the sharks more life like. Second is the shark kills. Now I realize that you can't get too creative with a shark attack but the film cheats a lot with the victim being dragged under water and never resurfacing. What makes this even more disappointing is the fact there was a pretty original shark kill. I find it very hard to believe that the writers couldn't find other ways to dispatch our lovely victims.
Bottom line is this. Does Shark Night revolutionize the killer shark film? Absolutely not.
Is it the worst killer shark film ever made? Absolutely not.
Could it have revolutionized the killer shark film? Yes. Possibly. And that's what bugs me about this one. The potential was there and instead of really trying to break the mold they just adjusted it.
Thanks a lot Steve.
On the 5 star scale. Shark Night 3D gets. 1 star with a "Netflix It!" recommendation.
That's a wrap for today. Up next is Contagion.
Until Next Episode...."I'll Save You A Seat!"
"D"
Today's review is Shark Night 3D.
Directed by David R. Ellis.
Written by Will Hayes & Jesse Studenberg.
Review #136
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for violence and terror, disturbing images, sexual references, partial nudity, language and thematic material.
Runtime: 91 min
Cast
Sara Paxton ...Sara
Dustin Milligan ...Nick
Chris Carmack ...Dennis
Katharine McPhee ...Beth
Chris Zylka ...Blake
Alyssa Diaz ...Maya
Joel David Moore ...Gordon
Sinqua Walls ...Malik
Donal Logue ...Sabin
Joshua Leonard ...Red
Steven Spielberg and a little mechanical shark named Bruce had to ruin it for everyone. Thanks to Jaws, people have developed a misguided and uneducated fear of sharks. And rightfully so in my opinion. That was one scary bastard. The film also had another negative side effect. In this case it was the film industry that was affected. The monumental success of Jaws spawned multiple and very inferior sequels and worse.....
Copycats.
I can go down the list but we all know for the most part which films I'm talking about. Thinking mostly of Orca, Piranha and Piranha II. Here's a show biz trivia nugget for you. Do you know who directed Piranha II? None other than Mr. Avatar himself James Cameron. Living proof that you literally have to "swim" your way to the top as a film maker.
Sorry. I couldn't resist the pun.
My point is that none of those films were able to capture the fanfare, finances and more importantly entertainment value that Jaws created. This trend continues today with the genre's latest attempt to scare you out of the water.
Does it work....HELL NO! Was it that bad....Not really....Sort of.
Plot
A weekend at a lake house in the Louisiana Gulf turns into a nightmare for seven vacationers as they are subjected to fresh-water shark attacks.
If there's one thing that films like these all have in common is a very underdeveloped plot. Shark Night is no different. The film wastes no time not letting you get to know the characters. Identifying with them. Bond with them. Care for them. Why? DUH! Cause they're all shark bait. That's why REAL actors don't come anywhere near films like this. Now let me clarify what I mean by real actors. I am no way suggesting that the players in this movie can't act. I'm just stating the obvious. Which is aside from Deep Blue Sea which had a pretty solid name cast headlined by Samuel L. Jackson (who by the way had probably the greatest death in any shark film. Including Robert Shaw being eaten alive in Jaws), Thomas Jane, LL Cool J and even Stellan Skarsgard. When was the last time you saw household names in a film if this ilk.
The defense rests.
This is a MAJOR flaw for films like this. If they want to be taken seriously and most of the time they don't. The casting NEEDS to improve. For this film it wasn't that necessary. Getting back to the story or lack there of. The reason for the kids party or need to travel to a deserted lake with no cell phone reception is obviously immaterial. The reason for the shark attacks however is VERY material and I have to say I bought it.
To an extent.
I'll put it this way. There are 2 major motives for the shark attacks. Which of course get explained in traditional villain monologue fashion. The only problem with 1 of the explanations is that there was no visual evidence of said villain's reason for unleashing the sharks on the people. This was a simple script flaw that could have and should have been dealt with. It would have taken 15-30 seconds in flashback and bingo you have more depth behind a very shallow plot. I know I sound WAY too critical about a film called Shark Night but the one thing that got me to see this movie in the first place was the fresh premise for the attacks. It was pretty original to a degree and curiosity got the better of me. Am I disappointed in the end result. Nope cause I wasn't surprised that the film goes the route it does cause it just follows the horror film playbook.
Step by predictable step.
I am however, disappointed in 2 things. The first being the look of the CG sharks. They looked rather lame with the exception of the one close up of the Tiger Shark. The rest of them looked like unrendered versions that were approved by the director. For a film with a budget of $28,000,000, a few extra bucks could have gone to make the sharks more life like. Second is the shark kills. Now I realize that you can't get too creative with a shark attack but the film cheats a lot with the victim being dragged under water and never resurfacing. What makes this even more disappointing is the fact there was a pretty original shark kill. I find it very hard to believe that the writers couldn't find other ways to dispatch our lovely victims.
Bottom line is this. Does Shark Night revolutionize the killer shark film? Absolutely not.
Is it the worst killer shark film ever made? Absolutely not.
Could it have revolutionized the killer shark film? Yes. Possibly. And that's what bugs me about this one. The potential was there and instead of really trying to break the mold they just adjusted it.
Thanks a lot Steve.
On the 5 star scale. Shark Night 3D gets. 1 star with a "Netflix It!" recommendation.
That's a wrap for today. Up next is Contagion.
Until Next Episode...."I'll Save You A Seat!"
"D"
The Debt
Welcome to another episode Lights....Camera....Popcorn!
Today's review is The Debt.
Directed by John Madden.
Written by Matthew Vaughn, Jane Goldman & Peter Straughan.
Based on the film "Ha-Hov" written by Assaf Bernstein & Ido Rosenblum.
Review #135
MPAA Rating: R for some violence and language.
Runtime: 114 min
Cast
Helen Mirren ...Rachel Singer
Tom Wilkinson ...Stephan Gold
Ciarán Hinds ...David Peretz
Jessica Chastain ...Young Rachel
Marton Csokas ...Young Stephan
Sam Worthington ...Young David
Jesper Christensen ...Doktor Bernhardt / Dieter Vogel
Romi Aboulafia ...Sarah Gold
Everyone loves a good spy movie. The really good ones have a little something for everyone. Action, mystery, suspense and even romance. Now if some of you think I'm referring to the James Bond series you would be dead WRONG! I'm leaning more towards the Jason Bourne franchise in this case because those films were smarter and much darker in nature. Then is until Daniel Craig came along and buffed up 007. I truly feel that the infusion of realism to the Bond universe has forced film makers to be more mindful and aggressive when it comes to spy films. That philosophy is clearly employed here and it works triumphantly.
Plot
The espionage thriller begins in 1997, as shocking news reaches retired Mossad secret agents Rachel and Stefan about their former colleague David. All three have been venerated for decades by their country because of the mission that they undertook back in 1966, when the trio tracked down Nazi war criminal Vogel in East Berlin. At great risk, and at considerable personal cost, the team's mission was accomplished - or was it?
There's so much to love with this film I don't know where to start. So I'll begin at the most logical place. If you're not into this film at the very start then you're not ever going to be into it. The tension grabs you from the first frame. This is also magnified by the wonderful editing of the film. The Debt several times takes you back from their present time to their youth in very clever ways. The balance is pretty even between era's. Then when a critical story point comes up you come back to their younger selves while on the mission. The bulk of the story takes place in this time and it's well paced and crafted. especially when they carry out their mission. It reminded me of the precision used in the film Munich. One of Spielberg's underrated films in my opinion and one of my favorites of his.
Now Munich is based on actual events and The Debt isn't but it carries a strong amount of plausibility that makes you believe that the story could have actually happened. Plus it goes to great lengths to show us how legit and tactical The Mossad can be. Then the story goes a little Hollywood after Vogel is captured. Held prisoner, the old Nazi indulges in some rather intense anti-Semitic mind games, which Christensen enacts with creepy conviction. Confronted in the flesh with this monster, the three agents end up making a fateful decision that haunts them every waking minute of their lives. But the way that it wears and tears on them, as the years go on, isn't nearly as compelling as the more present-tense, procedural parts of the movie.
It's here that The Debt regains it's mojo. Not that it ever really lost it but when the film reaches it's conclusion the tension returns and keeps it's hold on you until the very end. This is mostly achieved by the wonderful performances by the 2 female leads. Chastain who by the way has built an impressive resume in 2011 with Terrence Malik's Tree of Life, The Help and now The Debt. Her range is stepping out into the fore front putting her into potential elite class. Her turn as Rachel sets up what we see later on. And speaking of elite class who better to play your older self than the Queen. Helen Mirren is one of the GREATEST performers of our time and she turns in a magnificent performance here. She balances civilian life with the ultimate reminder that no matter how long it's been your Mossad training never gets old.
You'll see what I mean about that.
All told The Debt is a very smart, entertaining spy thriller that in its booby-trapped way, poses an arresting question. In a place that's as haunted by history as Israel is, can a lie ever really serve to prop up a larger truth?
The movie demonstrates, compellingly, why the answer is no.
On the 5 star scale. The Debt gets the full house 5 stars with a "Worth Every Penny" recommendation.
That's a wrap for today. Up next is Shark Night 3D. Yeah you read that right.
Until Next Episode...."I'll Save You A Seat!"
"D"
Today's review is The Debt.
Directed by John Madden.
Written by Matthew Vaughn, Jane Goldman & Peter Straughan.
Based on the film "Ha-Hov" written by Assaf Bernstein & Ido Rosenblum.
Review #135
MPAA Rating: R for some violence and language.
Runtime: 114 min
Cast
Helen Mirren ...Rachel Singer
Tom Wilkinson ...Stephan Gold
Ciarán Hinds ...David Peretz
Jessica Chastain ...Young Rachel
Marton Csokas ...Young Stephan
Sam Worthington ...Young David
Jesper Christensen ...Doktor Bernhardt / Dieter Vogel
Romi Aboulafia ...Sarah Gold
Everyone loves a good spy movie. The really good ones have a little something for everyone. Action, mystery, suspense and even romance. Now if some of you think I'm referring to the James Bond series you would be dead WRONG! I'm leaning more towards the Jason Bourne franchise in this case because those films were smarter and much darker in nature. Then is until Daniel Craig came along and buffed up 007. I truly feel that the infusion of realism to the Bond universe has forced film makers to be more mindful and aggressive when it comes to spy films. That philosophy is clearly employed here and it works triumphantly.
Plot
The espionage thriller begins in 1997, as shocking news reaches retired Mossad secret agents Rachel and Stefan about their former colleague David. All three have been venerated for decades by their country because of the mission that they undertook back in 1966, when the trio tracked down Nazi war criminal Vogel in East Berlin. At great risk, and at considerable personal cost, the team's mission was accomplished - or was it?
There's so much to love with this film I don't know where to start. So I'll begin at the most logical place. If you're not into this film at the very start then you're not ever going to be into it. The tension grabs you from the first frame. This is also magnified by the wonderful editing of the film. The Debt several times takes you back from their present time to their youth in very clever ways. The balance is pretty even between era's. Then when a critical story point comes up you come back to their younger selves while on the mission. The bulk of the story takes place in this time and it's well paced and crafted. especially when they carry out their mission. It reminded me of the precision used in the film Munich. One of Spielberg's underrated films in my opinion and one of my favorites of his.
Now Munich is based on actual events and The Debt isn't but it carries a strong amount of plausibility that makes you believe that the story could have actually happened. Plus it goes to great lengths to show us how legit and tactical The Mossad can be. Then the story goes a little Hollywood after Vogel is captured. Held prisoner, the old Nazi indulges in some rather intense anti-Semitic mind games, which Christensen enacts with creepy conviction. Confronted in the flesh with this monster, the three agents end up making a fateful decision that haunts them every waking minute of their lives. But the way that it wears and tears on them, as the years go on, isn't nearly as compelling as the more present-tense, procedural parts of the movie.
It's here that The Debt regains it's mojo. Not that it ever really lost it but when the film reaches it's conclusion the tension returns and keeps it's hold on you until the very end. This is mostly achieved by the wonderful performances by the 2 female leads. Chastain who by the way has built an impressive resume in 2011 with Terrence Malik's Tree of Life, The Help and now The Debt. Her range is stepping out into the fore front putting her into potential elite class. Her turn as Rachel sets up what we see later on. And speaking of elite class who better to play your older self than the Queen. Helen Mirren is one of the GREATEST performers of our time and she turns in a magnificent performance here. She balances civilian life with the ultimate reminder that no matter how long it's been your Mossad training never gets old.
You'll see what I mean about that.
All told The Debt is a very smart, entertaining spy thriller that in its booby-trapped way, poses an arresting question. In a place that's as haunted by history as Israel is, can a lie ever really serve to prop up a larger truth?
The movie demonstrates, compellingly, why the answer is no.
On the 5 star scale. The Debt gets the full house 5 stars with a "Worth Every Penny" recommendation.
That's a wrap for today. Up next is Shark Night 3D. Yeah you read that right.
Until Next Episode...."I'll Save You A Seat!"
"D"
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