I love crime caper flicks and this one is pretty good and made better by the all-star cast. I haven't seen the original Oceans 11 starring the Rat Pack, so a comparison can't be made, and probably isn't fair, really. As with any good caper movie, you have a man fresh out of the clink (Clooney) who plans the one big job that will set him for life and allow him to take the straight and narrow when its done. We follow the recruitment of the old gang, the planning, and assorted hi-jinx along the way. The characters are interesting enough, with a mixed bag of old-time Vega$ types as well as some young nerdlings and assorted hipsters thrown in the mix, makes for an entertaining bunch. The plot is to rob three casinos at once and actually is quite elaborate. One thing I dug about it was that they slowly revealed how the robbery would take place, so your are kept in the dark for much of the movie. To complicate matters, Clooney targets one of the casinos because his ex is seeing the owner. Normally, this would seem like a contrivance to bring in the 'chick flick' audience (Doesn't having Clooney in a movie already bring in the chicks??), but it tosses a kink into their plans, so I'll let is slide. The movie is entertaining enough to recommend, but doesn't quite stand up against the best caper flicks.
Reviews
17 Reviews
Hangmen Also Die!
(1943)
Top notch WWII drama
1 November 2002
This is loosely based on the true story of a member of the Czech underground assasinating the nazi regional governer, a ruthless fellow they call 'the Hangman'. The story revolves around the assasin and the family that unknowingly hid him from the gestapo. When questioned by the gestapo, the family says the guy was there to see their daughter, who happens to be engaged to another fine gentleman. So this little situation complicates the story, as the gestapo detective,a very ruthless chap, tries to catch them in the lie. From there the story moves along in chilling fashion when 400 townfolks are rounded up to be executed in groups of 10 each day until the assasin is turned in. This causes people to question their inner strength and makes them wonder if it is worth it to sacrifice themselves to keep him hidden. The story gets resolves in a very clever way which I will not reveal. The movie has that film noir/Hitchkockian feel to it with the protagonist being chased down and making clever escapes by the skin of his teeth. Although the movie drags a bit here and there, it ends up being a worthwhile suspenseful drama and also makes you think a bit about what would you do if you were put in that situation.
The Mexican
(2001)
Folklore and adventure mixed with some interesting characters
16 August 2002
Interesting movie that mixes Mexican folklore with a fringe element of organized crime. What we have is a story where Pitt is a gopher for a crime figure and rare gun collector and wants out. He's given one last assignment to make up for the last job that he messed up. His assignment sounds rather simple.... go to Mexico and pick up a rare pistola for his boss. He heads south and things go mucho awry. Rather than go into details on all this, I'll just say it makes for a fun ride. I liked the little adventures that followed Pitt around as he just wants to get the job done but nothing seems to go right. Roberts is his girlfriend who gets kidnapped and held as collateral by Galdafono until Pitt returns with the pistola. Galdonofo plays an off-kilter character... a sensitive hitman who engages Roberts to talk about her love troubles a la an Oprah interview.... all while holding her hostage. And with the locales, I really dug the little towns in and the seedy atmosphere the movie captured. It gave me that 'hmmmm, I want to travel' vibe. The one problem I had with the movie was the comic tone sprinkled in here and there. Without it, I would have dug this one a lot more.
Snatch
(2000)
Amusing romp with some seedy criminals
16 August 2002
I wasn't expecting too much from this movie. Based on the previews it looked like a goofy movie about an English bloke who goes about fighting in a seedy underground circuit. I should start paying attention to the previews I guess because this is a very fun crime caper flick. I don't want to confuse anyone by trying to explain the sometimes complicated plot but it starts out with a couple of boxing promoters who somehow get mixed up with some fellas who pulled off a diamond heist. From there it goes in several directions, all of which are alternately action packed and amusing. Once again we have a movie in a similar vein as Pulp Fiction, but a little less violent and a wee bit more light hearted. I really got into the characters. They were very unique and comical. Without the well-written characters this movie would have been blasé. So what we have is a crazy plot and some neat chaps to bring you along with them and we get a very good movie. Almost forgot..... ehts fu'en bloo'ee 'ard to fu'en u'unstan' wha' the bloo'eh 'ell 'ehr sayin'. So I would suggest after watching it that you watch it again using the closed captioning feature on your tele so that you can understand what the bloody 'ell they are saying. Especially Brad Pitt's character.
15 Minutes
(2001)
De Niro's talent is wasted on this shoddy script
16 August 2002
I'll be quick here. What could have been a neat, suspenseful movie is ruined by villians that are way too comical. I'm not sure if it is bad acting or they were supposed to be extremely psychotic, but they were way too extreme for me. The story involves some Croatian mafia types who kidnap DeNiro to get their fifteen minutes of fame. DeNiro is a detective who is somewhat of a celebrity because of of tabloid tv show which he is frequently seen on (hosted by Kelsey Grammer, who really impressed me in this role). The kidnappers video tape everything they do and we all know how much people love criminals on videotape, eh. I'm guessing this movie is a jab at the FOX network and it's 'caught on tape' shows. The plus side of the movie is that DeNiro does his usual great work and has a cool fight scene. And I almost forgot..... there is a groovy eastern European gal to gawk at. But overall this movie is not a well thought out idea.
Strange trip to Vega$ through the mind of Hunter S. Thompson
16 August 2002
If you don't know it already, this is a weird movie. There is not so much of a plot as there is a crazy adventure to follow. Adapted from Hunter S. Thompson's book, we follow Hunter and his buddy, Dr. Gonzo as they cruise into Vega$ to cover a dirt bike race only to disregard the race and end up doing as many drugs as they can sink their hooks into. If you just sit back and watch this without worrying about conventions of plot, acting, common sense, etc, you should have some fun. Highlights are the various tripped out scenes that alledgedly capture an acid trip. Now you folks will have to figure that out if that's the case for yourself as the strongest thing I've put into my body has been a cold Pabst Blue Ribbon at the Port Beverage House in Kenosha. The lowlights are the very disgusting scenes of what doing too many drugs will do to you. And I must tip my hat to Del Torro for his beer gut. It's the best beer belly since DeNiro porked up in Raging Bull. This movie is not a classic work of art, just a goofy flick that you'll get some chuckles out of.
Manhunter
(1986)
Uneven serial killer adventure
16 August 2002
An FBI profiler is called out of retirement to find a serial killer. And like agent Starling in Silence of the Lambs, he enlists the help of one Hannibal the Cannibal Lechter (Cox). One would immediately expect the movie to revolve around their uneasy arrangement. However, the focus of this movie is on his efforts to find the killer. We see Lechter only a few times and the inevitable comparisons to the Hopkins' Lechter are really unnecessary. But here we go anyway...... He's not quite as creepy and in this movie he is stored in a clinical atmosphere rather than in the grimy dungeon featured in the Silence of the Lambs. The serial killer is your typical predator type but is not nearly as weird as the guy in "Lambs"..... no bizarro-naked dancing this time. The plot is a notch above your standard detective fare and we get some interesting lighting and camera work. However, this gives the movie a dated TV movie look (as does the 80s clothes and hairstyle). Although,I must admit, the 80s styles look better than the 70s if you're keeping score. Manhunter is worth looking for if you are interested in the Hannibal serial. Otherwise you are not missing much.
Memento
(2000)
complex, sometimes confusing, and worth repeat viewings
15 August 2002
This movie has received rave reviews and falls into the same category as your Usual Suspects and to a lesser degree, Pulp Fiction. The story is told in reverse fashion, like the Seinfeld episode a few years back when they went to India to see Elaine's friend get married and George didn't want to take his boots off and Kramer was hexed. Anyway, the story involves a dude who has some sort of long term memory loss and can only remember things with Polaroid photos and notes that he's tatooed onto himself. Like the Usual Suspects, we get swallowed up in the mystery, but here we are not so much wondering 'whodunit' as 'what is going on here.' This works for 75% of the movie, but there are bits in the middle and the ending especially drag it down a notch. I loved watching it, but at the end felt cheated. Maybe it merits another look-see as I certainly got confused while watching it. This is a good movie, but it's not one that you'll be raving about for years on end like Pulp Fiction. It lacks the style and snappy dialogue of that movie. Memento as a whole is very entertaining and one of the better movies you will find, but not quite 'great'.
Shadow of the Vampire
(2000)
Strange vampire movie that gives you the creeps
14 August 2002
Strange but true(?) movie about the making of the classic Nosturfura vampire movie. Malkovich, the director, has his movie set to go but nobody seems to know anything about the mysterious actor that will be playing the vampire. When Max Schreck (DeFoe) is introduced, he sends a shock through the set. Is he REALLY a vampire? You'll have to rent it to find out. This movie works on two levels. First, you get to see how they made silent films back in the day. Second, you get to watch a creepy movie. If you dig your teeth into this one (ha ha), it is scarier than most gore fest movies out there today. It works because it has suspense, sly humour, and is thick with atmosphere. Being set in an old European castle helps here. This movie is for fans who like classic suspense genre rather than 'scary' slasher flicks.
The Longest Day
(1962)
Good docu-drama on the D-Day invasion
14 August 2002
The story of D-Day presented in a quasi documentary style. This is a meat and potatoes serving that lays out the battle plans and shows them being executed, but without intense drama of a top rate war movie. It works for me as a docu-drama more than anything else. But as far as action and really capturing the atmosphere of the invasion, I think it falls short. It had the feel of a civil war re-enactment rather than an intense battle. I'm not saying we need gratuitous gore, but to really show the battle, we need to see guys wrenching in agony and more bodies on the beach. We are given the impression that the invasion was not a messy affair. I think this does a disservice to the people who were there. Now the good things. The movie pays quite a bit of attention to historical detail, from the German commanders who were at odds with the furher to the French resistance and even the 'crickets' the airborne troops carried. One more thing I didn't like is there is a slight bit of comic tone thrown in here and there. I think this detracts from the serious theme of the movie. This is a very good movie, but like a supermodel who has a few blemishes, is not perfect.
West Side Story
(1961)
I can't buy into dancing street toughs
14 August 2002
This is the classic musical about street gangs, modeled after Romeo and Juliet. The first ten minutes we see the gangs converging, snapping fingers and breaking out into some bizarre, prancy type of dance. As far as street toughs go, these guys couldn't even frighten my old aunt Ethel. I just couldn't buy into everything. Maybe this movie was ahead of it's time (see Micheal Jackson's Beat It video), but I don't like my street toughs dancing around like Barishnakov. Based on this, I give it the boot. (Keep in mind that I'm not a big fan of musicals, but am I not close-minded [I thought Cabaret was great])
The Score
(2001)
Great acting round out a great story
13 August 2002
Chalk up another one for DeNiro and company. Great cast here, folks, and we get a great story which they have immersed themselves into. DeNiro is a Jazz club owner/safecracker who is ready to get out of the latter profession. He is being pressured by his beau, Bassett, and is all set hang up his tools when Brando makes him an offer that he might refuse. It turns out there is a gold staff that was used back in the days of King Arthur that is being stored at a customs warehouse. DeNiro has problems with this because the job is in his own city, which is taboo in his book. Also, Brando brings in Norton, who is the inside man at the customs storage. DeNiro has several problems with Norton but comes around and agrees to the job. I love heist movies and this has everything you want. You're in on the plan, you get some roadblocks thrown in, and of course their is underlying distrust among the players. It might sound like I"m describing a cookie-cutter story here. But it doesn't cheat the viewer with any cheap plot twists and if you're paying attention early on, you might get a hint of what happens later. I must tip my hat to Norton, who once again is proving himself to be one of the best actors around. For his job at the warehouse, he fools everyone into thinking he is mentally challenged and they buy it hook line and sinker. This movie has everything you could want. A suspense-filled story, great acting, and it is set in Montreal, which gives it a cool European flavour not seen in many movies. I could rave on about this for a while but won't. Get off your can and go see it.
Titanic Town
(1998)
Can you empathize with a lady trying to do the right thing in Belfast?
13 August 2002
True story of one Bernie McPhillimy, a determined lady who tries to negotiate an agreement between the IRA and the Brits in 1972, during the height of the fighting. She is tired of innocent children being killed and comes up with an idea of a 'daytime truce' so the children can safely get to school and back. From he modest petition drive she is thrust quickly into the limelight as a leader of the 'peace movement.' Although she is not pro-British, she is given the tag of 'anti-IRA' by the nieghbours and we see the wrath that label brings upon her and her family. Despite all the setbacks and threats, her dogged determination is inspiring and at times even fun to watch. This movie does a great job of putting you right in the thick of things in Belfast. Unlike other movies based on the troubles in Ireland which usually looks at it from an IRA standpoint, this one focuses on how the regular blokes are affected and what their daily lives are like. Not entirely uplifting nor a complete bummer, it treads keenly between an over the top drama and made for tv drama. Still, I like it.
Soldier of Orange
(1977)
Great story of courage and determination
13 August 2002
True story of Erik Hazelhof, a young university lad who becomes involved in the Dutch resistance movement during WWII. We follow him and some of his close friends as they take different paths during the early occupation of Nederland by the Nazis. One of them becomes a nazi collaborator, another is Jewish and does his best to defy the occupational troops, the others join the resistance in varying degrees. The story gets complex in its telling and you get an in depth look at how some civilians did their best to stay alive and help the war effort. The story focuses mostly on a Hauer's character. I thought it was great that he was not a 'John Wayne-Rambo' type of character. Instead we find a chap who is a bit reluctant to do his part and is more concerned with surviving the war years. This movie works on several levels. I love espionage and this has plenty of it. You also can look at it as a human drama to see how the war affects the comradery of the lads. And for you gals out there, there are some love scenes. There are some great scenes that capture the spirit of the time. This movie can be added to the likes of Schindler's List, Das Boot, and Saving Private Ryan as great WWII movies.
Ed Gein
(2000)
Didn't live up to its potential because of low-budget look
12 August 2002
For those who are unfamiliar with Mr. Gein, he was the serial killer who inspired such movies as Psycho, Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and Silence of the Lambs. Not to make light of people being murdered, we must give the guy credit for his legacy, eh. Gein lived up in da northwoods of Wisconsin, and had a thing about taxidermy except that he was expert at preserving people rather than animals. So what we have here is one sick individual. The movie treads very close to descending into B movie tripe but is kept from falling over the edge by some decent writing and an adequate acting job by the cast. It also avoids exploiting the subject matter by not showing gratuitous gore. Much of the real sick stuff is implied rather than shown in graffic detail. This being a low budget movie, that's ok in my book. Had they taken the low road in this area, it would have been just another gorefest aimed at the thrill kill cult. That said, you will see some blood and such, but nothing you haven't seen in any recent shoot-out/murder flicks. I thought the movie played well as a character study as we are shown in flashbacks Gein's upbringing (his dad gutted pigs while taunting the lad) and relationship as a grown man with his mother (unrequited love and/or lust???). Given a bigger budget and put into the right hands, this could have been a classic horror film. As it is, you'll find it quite interesting and entertaining but still missing something.
The Family Man
(2000)
Edgy performance by Cage is wasted by a too-sweet script
12 August 2002
One will want to draw immediate comparison to It's a Wonderful Life while watching this one. Although not entirely a fair comparison, this movie thematically treads the same waters but is not as dark nor richly layered. With Wonderful Life, you feel a deep connection to the characters as they are regular blokes from a small town and you grow up with them. You see George as he grows from a young whipper-snapper, through his days as a young mand and see him finally settle in with wife and kids. With this one, we are thrust into Cage's career as a Wall Street man who owns a company and unless you are a millionaire yoruself, you can't really relate to the guy. The two movies are similar in plot where both characters are given a chance to see what would happen if their lives turned out differently. But that is where any comparisons end. I liked that the movie tried to convey that the family is what is really important and that people spend too much of their lives on career goals and put everything else to the wayside. But while trying to tell us that, there are some people and things in his 'modest' life that appear to be put-downs rather than being given a fair shake. Shoot, many of our favorite characters go bowling... Ralph Cramden, Bill Murray, the Butthole Surfers, Fred Flintstone, and Dan Conner (Mr. Rosanne). Shoot, bowling is punk rock chique these days. On the other hand, it portrays the 'rich' side of his life as being empty, without friends or family. I think the movie delivers a good message but only on the surface. And the corn-O-meter was edging precariously close to the husk a couple of times, especially when the young daughter's speaking lines got a bit cutesy. Cage's performance saves the movie from becoming too shmaltzy and sweet. He has just enough of an edge to deliver the message.
Aldrich Ames: Traitor Within
(1998 TV Movie)
Meat and potatoes spy movie, could use a bit more suspense
12 August 2002
I love spy flicks and this time we have Hutton revisiting a similar role to his character in Falcon and the Snowman although he's in a vehicle that doens't treat us to the action and intrigue that Falcon had. This one is more of a meat and potatoes offering. This movie is based on the real Aldrich Ames, who was the CIA operative who sold secrets to the Russians as the Cold War was winding down in the late 80s. Hutton does well as Ames as we see the character become disillusioned not with the idea of democracy, but with how the system operates. Ames does not quite fit in with the ex-frat boys he is working with but takes his lumps as he is passed over in being promoted. Obviously more intelligent than most of his cohorts, he becomes dismayed at how his ideas are put aside to make room for decisions based on policy rather than policy based on information gathered from intelligence operations. The movie glosses over parts of the story and details that might have made it more suspenseful. Hutton might be a bit young to for the role of a burnt-out career government worker, but it doesn't detract that much from the story. Pena also does well as his Columbian wife but her role is somewhat diminished by lack of screen time. And there is a little old lady who plays a consultant to the CIA that is given the task of figuring out who the spy is. She and her crack team of old hens suprised me with their no-nonsense, dogged determination to get to the bottom of the thing. As far as spy movies go, this one is ok. I liked it, but it lacked depth of classic spy flicks. Others that I recommend would be Spy Who Came in from the Cold, Falcon/Snowman as mentioned above, and No Way Out.
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