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eoinej
Reviews
Life of Crime 1984-2020 (2021)
Who really are the criminals?
This heart-breaking movie tells the real story of the impact of the heartless society in which we live on those who start somewhere on the back line.
And from there, those who fall at the first fence have almost no chance of getting on their feet again, as long as they are thrown back into the maelstrom of life with only the flimsiest lines of support.
I felt ashamed by this film, perhaps mostly because we KNOW we can do better than this. Sadly, like the addicts whose real challenges were so graphically displayed here, do we really WANT to do better?
Zone 414 (2021)
Bladerunner ...ish
If you liked Bladerunner this will work. They should have got Mickey Rourke in there to play Marlon....or did they?
Ending was a bit short and weak.
Great atmosphere though, and background. Guy Pierce well cast if everywhere at the moment. Can see this getting a remake with more scope.
The Clovehitch Killer (2018)
Weirdness Supreme
This is a truly weird movie.. It reminds me of that Randy Quaid movie Parents.
The strange hold over the son, the bizarre sequences, the understated sickness of this dad, all make make for repugnant compulsiveness.
Conan the Barbarian (2011)
Conan, Lord of the Rings,Hercules Unchained, you name it....
Much will be written and argued abut this film by way of comparison with every possible sword and sandal fantasy even 13th Warrior and The Mumm(ies), so let's stay with this one alone and keep it short.
Fantastic scenery and shooting, beautiful landscapes, both real and CGI. Riveting action in places, story line predictable with clear goodies and baddies definition. Some loose ends like the thief but so what?.
Time wasting, visually exciting, hocus-pocus gobbledygook maybe, but please don't deteriorate into a TV series type franchise. Give it some welly, develop the story, loose some of the tongue-in-cheek, keep up the visual standard, and I'll happliy watch Son of Conan or Conan III, IV, or whatever else comes out.
Page Eight (2011)
Watch this movie
Think Spooks-no gimmicks and you have Bill Nighy perfectly cast and foiled beautifully by Keira Knightly.
Memories of The Girl in the Café and you have it. This is, for me, English cinema at it's best. Bill Nighy plays the stiff upper lip perfectly, and his boss played by Michael Gambon is artful to the end intentional or not. Clever mix of old school and modern techno-savvy, I was definitely on his side to the end. I really was left gagging for the kind of resolution found in The Next Three Days, but that would just have spoiled the story. The anti-establishment stuff is just a bonus.
One of the few British films I would watch again anytime.
London Boulevard (2010)
New Michael Caine?
Interesting but not great movie. Probably would get shelved in a Guy Ritchie section, but could have deserved better. Nasty Ray Winstone, more convincing than at other times of late, and seriously scary. Various other familiar faces, but although less comic than the characters in the shelf sharers, most fail to rise completely from the realm of criminal fantasy. Apart from Colin Farrell that is.
Colin Farrell actually lifts the movie by sheer charisma and screen presence most of the time, and, in at least the first half of the film, replaces the space left by Michael Caine in his Carter or Palmer type roles. However, warning bells rang with the introduction of David Thewlis's character who's development parallels the plot's departure from credibility
Sadly, it all goes rather loopy towards the end, and what was promised was unfulfilled which is why this film will be shelved with other British tongue-in-cheek gangster flicks.
Kurtlar Vadisi: Filistin (2011)
Political, Action, Revenge, Movie
First time I have (knowingly) watched a Turkish movie. Regardless of bias claims, inaccuracy bleating, and all the rest from various reviews, I found this to be a gripping, fast moving spectacle as good as anything out of Hollywood, and approaching in style anything from the French action/thriller genre.
The heroes were just that, despite the violence, and it is about time that some one other than Americans, British, and possibly the French, were portrayed as super-skilled warriors. Anti-Semitic? No way, the heroine is Jewish. Pro Palestinian? Why not? These people are treated like dirt by occupying invaders with apparent impunity on the world stage.
For me, this was as riveting as Black Hawk Down or The Kingdom, with a setting and backdrop as good as the actual movie itself. Inconsistencies only serve to highlight issues and prompt further investigation for a more balanced view.
I have given 7/10 because the ending is a bit abrupt, otherwise it would have got 8 or even.....
True Grit (2010)
Great movie - Not the same as the original - but as good
A great deal has been written about this movie so I will not try to analyse, it has probably all been done.
The inimitable John Wayne played this movie as expected, if you have watched other John Wayne movies. This version, although the same story, has a flavour definitely different.
Jeff Bridges as Rooster Cogburn in this movie is somehow grubbier, less likable, but more credible than the original.
Mattie Ross is unbelievably bright and savvy (she cannot be 14 yrs old!) but still feels the same character as the old version.
Matthew Damon disappears entirely into LaBoeuf.
I would have preferred Barry Pepper as Tom Chaney because I could have hated him. For me, Josh Brolin seemed misplaced.
The frequent full use of not instead if 'nt I found irritating.
The film for me is as good as the original, although poles apart. In this case, the remake is not a rehash but a viable, alternative take.
Salt (2010)
Bourne meets Sleepers and Boys from Brazil
I found this disappointing. True, it is fast paced, has exciting camera work and adrenaline rousing music. Also, Angelina Jolie is excellent in the action side of her role, although her acting was (for me) at best wooden despite the disguising of emotion being an integral part of the character.
However, the thoroughly implausible story, ridiculous characters, unnecessary female bashing, and similarity to plots in earlier films cited above rob this film of any classic attributes and will make it date quickly. For me this was not better than a Contractor type flick overall.
Maybe the big screen will provide escapist entertainment value, but unless someone else pays or you have a two for one ticket, wait for the DVD.
Beyond a Reasonable Doubt (2009)
Thankyou Michael Douglas
Fantastic story and plot, pathetic acting. What could have been was not and for me this just about achieves a TV afternoon thriller rating. Saved only by a sterling performance by Michael Douglas in portraying someone who could have counted Gordon Gecko as a friend.
Sadly, Michael's efforts only serve to highlight lame attempts at action, drama and humor from the rest of the cast as they blunder through a great story, sorely wasted, even trivialized in places. And somehow, even the settings seem low budget and artificial although they obviously are not. Much blame must lie with the director, but the unconvincing portrayals of the other main characters must be due to the cast as well. Watch out for a tired late night policeman and an older, female bank official for some great lesser cameos however.
The story is so good that I would gladly watch another remake although this version is in itself a "spoiler". Let the French do it next time!! Watch this movie, but don't pay.