jackieunderwood Reviews

Triple 9 (2016)

Heist and Ham

[7/10 · 20 February 2016]

The film started with full on action and almost confusion, but got better as the plot progressed. With nods to Reservoir Dogs and TV's The Shield, the pace and plot made this film worth the effort. Kate Winslet hams it as the Russian Mafia boss, and Woody Harrelson is morphing into a mumbling Marlon. Russian Mafia v street gangs v bad cops v good cops. Lots of violence and collateral damage, not for the squeamish, and shoot outs galore. A very strong cast are given free rein, and even the bit characters are allowed depth of personalities. This is far from the American Dream, and the squalid underbelly of downtown city life is frighteningly real. In the hands of Quentin Tarantino this would have been a very different film but the lack of humour adds to wind up the tension. There is no release valve until the bloody climax.

The Hateful Eight (2015)

Laughs where there shouldn't be laughs

[10/10 · 18 January 2016]

Hateful Eight....bloody marvellous.. It could only be QT; complicated plot, interacting strangers and blood splatter. There are laughs where there shouldn't be laughs and actors acting their socks off. Loved every minute from the opening titles to the gory climax. SLJ plays a gritty , grisly , stranded stranger who joins others on an ill fated stagecoach ride. Kurt Russell reminds us just how good he still is, and JJL is a revelation . Every character brings intrigue to the table, each with their own agenda. This is an adult film and shocking at times. More than once, I thought how did he get away with that but the violence, although jarring, is always integral to the story. One of Quentin's best films....high praise in deed.

The Revenant (I) (2015)

In serious need of editing

[5/10 · 18 January 2016]

The Revenant. Way too long to the point of tedium. The indestructible Leo deserves an Oscar for eating all that raw meat, but Tom Hardy blows him off screen for acting ability. Savage, gory and beautiful scenery. The opening sequences are fantastic and should be seen on as big a screen as possible. The bear also stars in this 'based on true life' story, with one memorable attack. Despite the CGI this is filmed in such a way to make it believable and Leo grunts and groans throughout. Well done to the make up artists, the special effects are stunning. There is very little back story, but the characters interact well but there are too many long, lingering shots.