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Shut In (2015)
Only if the movie was as good as the trailer
Last year I was tempted to buy a good home invasion movie on DVD to treat myself. I came upon the trailer for 'Intruders 2015' online. I found it to be very intriguing as well as it gave away some of the highlights of the movie itself. Not to forget that it was from the executive producer of 'Insidious', I immediately ordered it being well aware that it had a low rating. But was I in for a surprise once I felt unsatisfied with the outcome. 'Intruders' at first glance just seems like any other average home invasion movie. But here the protagonist has a mental illness of agoraphobia. This actually sets up the premise for the remainder of the film.
Directed by Adam Schindler who as yet has nothing notable to his bio, makes a decent film. In the directing department he has shown potential. But with a week script, he had not much to work with. The usual 'woman in peril as thieves want to rob her' has been done countless times. At the time of it's release other similar movies such as ' Don't Breathe' and 'Hush' were more superior in terms of script and execution. Perhaps that is the reason for this film's poor performance.
The main character turns against the thieves and gets the upper advantage by using hidden passage ways and rooms to keep them captive. Eventually she kills them. The second half moves at a much slower pace before the twist in the climax is revealed. If I ever met the writer I would certainly like to ask him how a woman with such a mental illness was able to fight. And how exactly were molesters were lured to the house? All said and done this is an average movie with good performances from all the actors. That is the saving grace but generic explanations for the twist ending is difficult to swallow.
The Gift (2015)
Terrific psychological horror
Since their first horror movie 'Insidious', Blumhouse productions have made way for different and ingenious movies that were not only specialised on low budget but high on quality. They ended the trend of horror remakes that started mainly in 2002. The film wasn't exactly groundbreaking but it created a larger market for PG 13 movies. Their recent movie 'The Gift' is not really a horror film but falls more in to the category of psychological genre.
Directed by Joel Edgerton who also happens to write and direct, the movie is about a couple who's lives are changed by the entry of a high school acquaintance from 25 years ago. Initially he offers gifts as a way of being accepted and desires to become a friend. His socially awkward behaviour is noticed by the husband and the stranger responds in a hostile manner by creating more tension and leading the wife in to the situation. Skeletons fall out of the closet and later background history regarding Gordon is exposed as well as what happened between him and the husband. Things escalate in to bad things and the stranger then unleashes his evil plans.
The unique element of the film is clearly the script. Debutante director Edgerton maintains the suspense and intrigue elements throughout the movie. There.is rarely a dull moment. The first hour is straightforward but the the second hour is more unique. However what makes 'The Gift' different is that the audience doesn't know who Stranger is and what his intentions are. This keeps the viewer in suspense and mystery. The cinematography and direction should be given it's due recognition. Many scenes are shot close frame and the interiors of the home filmed in wide view give a haunting atmosphere. Edgerton has had done a commendable job in the directing department and many scenes are to a technical standard. This is not the first time a movie has been made with this theme. Many people will still remember Films like 'Cape Fear' and 'Fatal Attraction' and 'Old Boy' instantly as they fall under the same genre.
I'm certain many would disagree but I was quiet annoyed with Robyn's role. As far as Rebecca Hall's acting is concerned, she gave a good performance and was very convincing as the wife. However I couldn't help feeling there was some adjusting required to her involvement to the story. She helped progress the story forward. But I felt she was crossing the limit with digging in to her husband's past. I'm sure she wouldn't like it if he did the same. Whatever Simon did 25 years ago had no connection to their relationship or marriage. He was there to comfort and emotionally support her when she had a miscarriage. This is clearly the reason why perhaps a flashback would have been necessary in the middle of the film to show to what extent Simon had damaged Gordon's life. This is sub standard sub plot procedure that would have benefited the film. I do not endorse what Simon did but I would have hated him more if we were shown in a little more detail the extent of harm he had done to Gordon's life.
All actors gave a fantastic performance. Due to the nature of the film one would expect the mysterious character to have the better performance. But in this case I felt Jason Batemen out shined the others. He proves that as well as being comedy material he too can pull off serious roles. Rebecca Hall did her part well as the wife, who I actually ended up hating more than the husband. Joel Edgerton plays his character was ease. There was limited involvement from him in the second half. But I personally feel that his positive contribution stands out more in the directing and scripting. The highlight of the film has to be the confrontation scenes between Bateman and Edgerton. And the surprise ending just added the cherry to the cake. For those who enjoy this genre or if the theme is relatable, I can guarantee will enjoy this treat.
Max Payne (2008)
Gothic style suspense movie
'Max Payne' is the movie adaptation of the infamous computer game. Many critics say it is something which that the movie makers have not ever played or even seen still frames of. I would also honestly admit I have never played it. So I can only give my individual judgement of the movie itself. The movie is about a cop played by Wahlberg who is intent capturing the killers of wife and young child. This is shown in flashback sequence in the middle portion of the movie. From his undercover snitch his is given leads and before he can question them they are killed off. However his partner discovers some information which leads Payne to a pharmaceutical company that his wife was employed for. The reason behind his family's murder forms the latter part of the movie. There is also the role played by Mila Kunis who is after the killer of her sister.
The movie is directed by John Moore who is behind the upcoming 'Stephen King' Movie IT and made the 2006 'The Omen' The cinematography is very appropriate with the film. There are many moments that are reminiscent of Frank Miller's 'Sin City'. As a matter of the fact the entire film is shot in that same dark bleached style. The film has good pacing and does not waste time with the plot. Many fans of the game have criticised the film for not being faithful to the game. But I guess it's each to their own. Mark Wahlberg once again hammers loudly at the screen. Unfortunately his emotions are underdeveloped, but plays the role to his best ability. Frankly I feel that this role was too restraining for him. Beau Bridges also gives good support.
Mojave (2015)
I wanted to give it a chance
William Monahan is the man who wrote the screenplay for the Oscar nominated 'The Departed' back in 2006. The film was more of an extended version of the original 'Infernal affairs' He also wrote 'Body of lies 2008' which starred Leonardo Di Caprio. It appears this time round Mr Monahan decided to not put much effort in his script and delivered a very half baked product. The movie happens to also be directed and produced by him too. In spite of being well aware of it's bad reviews and low rating I decided to give it a chance , hoping in vain it would be worth the time. Unfortunately to my surprise this turned out to be one of the worst movies I had ever seen. It's no surprise why it had to be screened at film festivals before it got it's theatrical release.
Towards the second I felt like I was watching a homage to Hitchcock's 'Strangers on a train'. But to even compare would be an insult. The only redeeming element of the movie was Oscar Isaac. Whenever he appears your attention will be grabbed again. Both characters were lacking any development so I was unable to emotional connect with either. The pace of the movie is very slow and the conversations are boring. Even Mark Wahlberg's cameo is not enough to save this bore fest. And the climax was just played out pathetically. I don't think Mr Monahan cares whether the film was a success or not. I guess he can be happy from the basic foot fall in to the theatre. Save your precious time and see something else.
Bound to Vengeance (2015)
Tina Ivlev's angry performance in a strictly one time watch
'Bound to vengeance' is one of those movies that begins to loose steam while you approach half way in to the middle. Which is the reason I had fallen asleep for a couple of minutes when I first saw it last year. However I had another opportunity and decided to give it my full attention. I will be honest and say that I actually enjoyed it. Although I wished that there was more meat to the bone. This is a small independent movie that had a limited theatrical release.
The film is about a woman who frees herself from her captor after being held hostage in a basement for almost 6 months. Instead of going to the police she decides to take matters in to her own hands and use the captor to lead her to set free other women who are in similar circumstances. This forms the basis for three quarters of the film's running time. On the script level it falls short on story development. I often wondered why there could not be more to the plot. The film reminded me of a 2012 movie I saw named 'Eden' starring Jamie Chung, which had a similar theme and also focused on the sex trafficking theme in greater detail. But I would assume the script writer chose to take an alternate approach.
Tina Ivlev is the soul of the movie. Her acting, emotions and expressions are on the mark and gets under the skin of the character realistically. She carries the entire movie on her shoulders and breathes air in to a weak script. No pun intended but I'm not sure why she was held hostage for 6 months. Was she waiting her turn? And how did she learn to fire a gun so fast?. Possibly she had practised before? Personally I wouldn't see the film more than once, in spite the fact I enjoyed it. But the surprise ending makes it worthwhile to get through to the end.
The Thing (2011)
Old wine in a new bottle
'The Thing 2011' is the intended prequel to John Carpenter's 1982 movie of the same name. Despite many chances to see it, I have to admit I had never taken advantage of the opportunity. However It had come to my attention that this movie explains what happened before the arctic team had arrived to the snow station in the 82 version. Many fans of the original have stated that this movie doesn't live up to it's expectations. I may agree, but it doesn't mean to say that it isn't an enjoyable film. I would agree that it pales in comparison to it's predecessor. Though I still enjoyed it. Despite not seeing the original
The film goes through the same motions. And there is an excessive use of cgi in the special effects department which was impressive. Very gory and bloody I might state. Not to say I have an issue with that. But it would have been fun to see some special effects that were not cgi. The film has some good pacing and performances were decent. Mary Elizabeth Winstead is quiet convincing. It was unfortunate that the characters were not developed enough so that we could empathise with them before they were killed off.
The film doesn't have the same soul or atmosphere as the original. I couldn't feel the impending threat that was looming over them. Plus it wasn't explained at what moment any character was taken over by the alien. In general it is recommended to see if one has not seen the original. However I personally feel that this was only an excuse to update an old film for today's generation, because it had nothing new to offer.
Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)
Good sequel
I seen the Avengers 2012 two years back on Christmas. The running time couldn't hold my attention and I was having short cat naps in the second half. I think I missed many of the crucial parts in the story. But Anyway somebody told me yesterday that in order to really enjoy these marvel movies, one has to watch every film in the order and sequence that they release. So if you haven't seen the 'captain America' movies, then you're out of luck.
The Avengers return in this sequel that eventually lives up to expectations. That is if you manage to sit through it till the end. I couldn't help but feel that perhaps this was on a shorter budget compared to the first film. The picture colour filtering also looked different. This is not really an issue but it gives the impression that there was some cost cutting involved. The plot seemed more straightforward and less complex to it's predecessor. The team are back fighting the evil. This time its some robot named 'Ultron' He wants to destroy mankind and have his own world.
The final extended battle is the highlight and Olsen and Johnson are the new added characters in addition. The relationship between Hulk and Johanasen provides an emotional core to the story. I anticipate the 'Avengers Infinity' when it releases.
I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997)
Great atmospheric horror
I recall the first time I seen this movie was almost 15 years back. That was at a time when I never really appreciated the small detail in movies. When I seen it I couldn't really understand who the killer was. I thought it was somebody who witnessed the hit and run. This movie released at a time when slasher films became very popular in the late nighties. This was also the time when teenagers could actually act and not come across too fake.
This film brings back a lot of nostalgia. The film has some great cinematography and background music that suits the theme of the movie. Despite it being loosely based on the 1973 novel of the same name, it still manages to come across as a decent movie with a genuine feel. Many have criticised how the movie had altered elements of the book for the movie. But I feel that it was required because certain elements have to be changed to suit the horror genre. The movie has a good pace. All performances from the 3 lead actors was good.
Cop Car (2015)
Interesting concept leaves many unanswered questions
When I first stumbled upon the trailer of this movie I was very intrigued to see how two 10 year old boys could sneak away a vehicle from a police sheriff. Could it be possible to do in such a short duration of time? I guess so because if you want to believe many things in this movie, you will have to adopt the suspension of disbelief attitude. An interesting idea transcends well on to the screen in 'Coen Brothers' style. At many intervals I was reminded of 'No country for old men' but comparisons end there. The movie takes a while to start as there is a lot of screen time with the boys. But when Kevin Bacon is introduced the movie picks up pace. He effortlessly makes an impact in the story as he is associate producer.
The film scores high in the direction and cinematography department. The scenery of Colorado is breathtaking and the empty landscape adds a certain atmosphere to the film. The director has done a commendable job in capturing the environment. Towards the middle segment there is a good build up tension and suspense as Bacon and Whigam are about to confront. Unfortunately one could have hoped for a better stand off. Many questions are left unanswered as to who exactly were the two men in the trunk of the car and how could Bacon survive after that many bullet shots. But it was interesting to see the psychology behind his character. He was a quick thinker and intelligent. The final scene was beyond believability as well. Over all a good concept and worth at least a one time watch.
Me, Myself & Irene (2000)
Jim Carrey's finest movie
'Me myself and Irene' is directed by the Farrely Brothers, who previously were behind films like the hilarious 'Kingpin', Dumb and dumber and the recent 'Hall Pass' They require no introduction and many people are aware of the tone of their films. They have the ability to provoke laughter by using sex themes, disabilities and crude behaviour. Many people could mistake them for the 'scary movie' directors. This film is no exception. This is Jim Carrey's second film with the director duo. And he has pushed the boundaries of uncanny studiedness to the furtherest limits.
The plot revolves around cop who has to escort a hit and run witness, played by Renee Zellweger to New York as the authorities are after her. Her ex boyfriend gangster is also chasing her as he was who she witnessed behind the incident. The story is nothing special and unique, but this scenario gives the lead actors the opportunity to interact with each other to their fullest potential. Zellweger and Carrey share good screen space and their chemistry works wonders on the screen. I would rate this as one of the Farrelly brother's best movies. However I would state that this is not exactly intelligent comedy but more in the slapstick vain.
The Girl Next Door (2004)
Very inspired
Please do not confuse this movie for the life of porn star Stacy Valentine feature from the same year. This is mainstream comedy movie that stars Emilie Hirsh and Elisha Cuthbert. The film is about a high school student who discovers that a porn star has moved in next door to him. They become friends which leads to a serious relationship. However it is only a matter of time until her porn film producer friend bumps in to her again and attempts to come between the two. The film follows the same route as many previous love stories. Unfortunately the film doesn't shed much light on the porn industry and is neither a biography of any sort. There are many comic moments that display the humour side of the business. Towards the the second half the film ventures in to 'risky Business 1983' terrority. As a matter of fact the film almost seems like a duplicate of the 80s movie. The only difference seems that Rebecca De Mornay was a prostitute.
Good light hearted fun and Timothy Olyphant is the heart of the movie. He manages to be funny in a serious way. And Cuthbert is attractive.
Badlapur (2015)
Thought provoking take on the revenge genre
'Badlapur' is Sriram Raghvan's fourth movie. However he is not new to the revenge genre. Back in 2004 he entertained us with the breakthrough debut 'Ek hasina thi'. As a debutant director he managed to prove he had the competence in being a good director and a story teller. 'Badlapur' is a movie in the same league. It follows in the tradition of the one man's quest for revenge. The movie has no connection to the cities metropolitan region. Originally based on Italian author Massiomo Carlotto's 2007 novel 'Death's Dark Abyss. Badlapur tries to depict the elements that surround the theme of revenge, guilt and redemption. The plot revolves around a father who seeks revenge after the accidental death of his wife and son after a bank robbery. What seems like a typical plot turns in to something clever in the second half portion. The protagonist adopts an alternate route to to seek revenge and leads the viewer to question what his strategy and objective really could be.
The director has done good justice to the novel. He has written the screenplay in accordance to the story. All elements of the novel have been adapted to the screen in a constructive manner. Unfortunately fans of Mr Raghavan will be slightly disappointed that he has not included much of his comedy and movie homage influences, which were evident in his earlier films. Direction is top standard and camera angles are perfect to specific scenes. However the movie could have been shorter by a couple of minutes as the role of the prostitute and song breaks. These only lengthened the time of the movie.
After viewing one will obviously see that there are plot holes in the movie. Questions that arise such as "why would a bank robbery accomplice choose to stay in the same town and why would he have kept the stolen money without spending it after 15 years"? The actor Varun Dhavan has given an outstanding performance. He has managed to get under the skin of the complex character convincingly. His portrayal of the brutal vengeance seeking individual was very realistic. It was surprising given that this was his fourth movie role. In general in the end the viewer will query his/her motives behind the issue of revenge. And it will make us question our inner morals regarding the subject itself. Those looking for a good Indian revenge flick, look no further.
Silent Hill (2006)
Faithful adaptation of the famous game
These days it is very rare that a decent movie is made on a popular video game. In the past many have succeeded and many have failed. Films such as 'street fighter' and 'mortal kombat didn't manage to make cash roll at the box office. The technique behind making a good film is knowing how to present it on screen. A good budget, story and acting are all essential. And appropriate gci if required. This is why 'Silent Hill' was a success. It had all the ingredients that fans of the Knonami game demanded. The theme of the movie is what mainly Asian horror is renowned for. Psychological horror aspects combined with themes of guilt, revenge and salvation is what the movie is about. I was immediately reminded of films like 'Oldboy'.
The director Christopher Gans has done a good job in the making of the film. He has managed to display visuals in a realistic manner and integrating computer graphics to give a haunting atmosphere in the film. All aspects of the game are involved in the story. As stated earlier this is more of a mystery psychological horror. And the viewer is led on a journey to discovering why the main protagonist's daughter has disappeared to. At certain moments I could not help but feel that there were pacing issues. With a running time of 20 hours, the film sure does tend to progress slowly. The second half also feels like a separate film as it turns towards venturing in to the occult. If you have a lot of time on your hands and as well managing to stay concentrated on the screen without being disturbed, then this is certainly worth seeing.
Drishyam (2015)
Overrated
Drisyham is a remake of the 2013 south Indian movie of the same name. It starred Mohan Lal and at the time of release gained a lot of popularity and was declared a hit at the box office. I have not seen it so I can not be in a position to make comparisons between the two movies. Unfortunately not many people are aware that the original movie is inspired by a Japanese novel titled "The devotion of suspect X'. I'm sure that information like this can be disheartening to many when they automatically assume that what they are seeing is breakthrough cinema. The problem here lies with the the lack of knowledge of the movie watcher. Not every person is going to research a movie before seeing. They will take whatever they are spoon fed.
The film made with a mature approach. It is well structured. Direction and performances are to good standard. The basic theme itself is very reminiscent of what was seen in RGV's "My wife's murder 2004". Only that in this movie the victim is the police inspector's son, not wife. In terms of realism I found it pretty hard to believe how a family man can orchestrate such a evidence cover up in short time. And to control his family members in a perfect way to support each other was beyond belief. Especially the young girl who would not even admit anything despite seeing her family being brutality attacked by the law authority. A lot of suspension of disbelief is required here.
The running time of 20 hrs 40 mins is the let down factor. There was no need for the film to be that long. Tabu gives a fantastic performance as usual. Very convincing in her role. Ajay Devgun sleeps through his role and doesn't seem to be engaged with the story as one would expect him to be.
Diabolique (1996)
Good remake but leaves a lot to be desired
Diabolique is the the third remake of the infamous 1955 classic French film 'Diabolique'. That itself was an adaptation by author Pierre Boileau. The previous 1993 TV movie is better off forgotten, due to it's shallow atmosphere. Comparisons with the original is not something somebody would want to dwell too much on. But the question that does arise is 'Does it remain faithful to the original?. To a large extent yes this movie is much closer to the original source, but there are slight differences. Them being the ending and little detail to a few minor sub plots. The ending in the 1955 film was quiet ambiguous. And it was not certain as to whether the protagonist survived or not. So the makers decided to change it a little and make it seem like a grand finale. I feel viewers and critics were unhappy with this because it defied logic.
The film has decent pacing and there is never a dull moment. However I would not deny that there is a lot that could have been changed and improved on. The editing is poor and I wonder if the screen play writer had even revised the scenes after production for errors. I could not recall when Mia had even discovered that her husband was cheating on her. And it was not revealed who had taken those photos. Sharon Stone gets under the skin of the role as usual is very convincing as the femme fatale. Kathy Bates is funny in the serious manner. Unfortunately Isabelle Adjani doesn't manage to seem much interested in her role. Perhaps this could be because she is not used to acting in English. Her anxiety moments do provoke some laughter.
The films scores well as a genuine remake. Despite the flaws, it is worth a watch. But there are far worse ones out there. Need I mention 'Psycho'?
Van Wilder: Freshman Year (2009)
Adult comedy
In 2012 I was searching for a good comedy movie to purchase that starred a hot woman, and I have to admit this was slightly below my standards. However I was happy with the female lead 'Kristin Cavelleri' But in comparison to Ryan Reynold's original, it was better. I could not understand what was was so novel about the 2002 movie that people made a big deal out of it. There was hardly any adult humour and it just focused on a love story. 'Freshman year' the third in the series ventures more in slapstick and sex comedy. his I have no issues with but throughout the movie I couldn't help but notice there was a 'police academy' feeling present. Even the first scene was very reminiscent of Mahoney's classic bj scene.
If you're expecting a plot, you will be disappointed. There is a love story and it enters half the way in to the movie. Prior to that we are entertained by Jonathan 'big eyebrows' Bennett who entertains us with his crude and dirty gimmicks. There isn't much to explain this movie's relevance as a prequel because I don't think anybody would care. Kristin Cavelleri is nice eye candy. She gives good support and I fail to understand why she couldn't bag more film roles, because she has clearly displays acting ability apart from good looks. Ken Fuller is again as his usual best. Supporting cast are okay. In general worth seeing if you enjoy mindless comedy gags.
Big Driver (2014)
Could have been better
'Big driver' was one of the four short stories featured in Stephen King's novel 'full dark no stars' Reflecting on the experience of reading it, I would say that it was fantastic. This doesn't contain any supernatural elements. But out the four stories, this one I liked the best. There was great suspense plus I wasn't disappointed by the ending. As reading material I was hooked on to it. It was enjoyable as well as intriguing.
I had high expectations from the movie, but why should that be? It was a made for TV flick. Without a doubt it was well made and had a good performance from Maria Bello. She never disappoints. But something felt missing. The first half was haunting and one feels empathy for the main character but the second half didn't sustain the same level of enjoyment. It felt rushed and it seemed that she got over the ordeal too quickly in order to think about revenge. Plus the confrontation could have been more convincing. Perhaps it is just another case of where the read spoils the fun of watching the movie. Overall it is good but there are much better revenge movies out there.