Category Archives: Revenge

1969, Acceptable for children, Cowboy, Gangs, Old-Fashioned, Revenge, Violent, Western

True Grit (1969)

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From NetFlix:

John Wayne landed one of his last great screen roles as crusty lawman Reuben J. “Rooster” Cogburn, who reluctantly helps teenager Mattie Ross (Kim Darby) pursue her father’s killer. True Grit is more a character study than many of Wayne’s formulaic Westerns. The rousing final showdown between Wayne and the villains adds to the Duke’s long list of outstanding movie moments.

After seeing the 2010 version with Jeff Bridges I wanted to compare the two versions. By and large the two stories are the same with some differences:

  • Instead of the formal, flowery, exaggerated speech patterns of 2010, the language in 1969 is more down to earth.
  • In 1969 Mattie Ross is immediately attracted to La Boeuf played by Glen Cambell. Sad to think that now Glen Cambell suffers from Alzheimer’s disease.
  • There are boarding house scenes in 1969 missing from 2010
  • The endings are very different in 2010 Mattie Ross is a dried up old maid come to claim Rooster’s body. In 1969 the film ends with Rooster and Mattie looking at the family burial site that Mattie has prepared for her family, including herself. She then invites Rooster to be buried there as well, seeing as how he has no one else. Our hero then jumps on his horse “strong enough to jump a four rail fence” and rides off after jumping a four rail fence. This was truly an “aw shucks” moment in history.

Given the energy I will try to get a copy of the book by Charles Portis to at least learn just how the characters did speak. Still, writing is not speaking and I wonder if we can ever know how Americans spoke in our early history.

2010, Could be boring, Cowboy, Revenge, Western

True Grit (2010)

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From NetFlix:

After drifter Tom Chaney (Josh Brolin) murders her father, 14-year-old Mattie Ross (Hailee Steinfeld) hires alcoholic U.S. Marshal Reuben “Rooster” Cogburn (Jeff Bridges) to help her exact revenge. The disreputable lawman still has grit, though, and mounts an epic search. Joining the duo on their quest is a Texas Ranger (Matt Damon) who’s also hunting for Chaney in this updated Western that received multiple Oscar nods, including Best Picture.

This “True Grit” is the third that I can find where the two other versions were made in 1969 and 1978. Probably I should revisit one of those older versions because this 2010 version is almost boring.

Quaint language might be fun to listen to. But I wonder if anyone ever in the history of the United States ever really spoke like that.

Jeff Bridges offers an eccentric character whereas Matt Damon just plods. Probably there are many 14 year old girls who could read the lines just as well as Hailee Steinfeld. Josh Brolin is a credible Tom Chaney. Sorry, but there is just nothing special about the acting.

Moreover, the sequence of events is just that, without offering any tangible suspense. Even the violence seemed pro forma. And the ending seemed pointless.

Have I missed something ? Try an older version.

2006, Drama, Mystery Film, Plot Twist, Psychological Drama, Revenge, Suspense

Irresistible (2006)

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From NetFlix:

Sophie Hartley (Susan Sarandon) is convinced that her husband’s beautiful co-worker Mara (Emily Blunt) is stalking her. In Sophie’s mind, Mara covets her children, her husband and her life. But are her fears just the imaginings of a borderline paranoiac? In an attempt to prove her sanity, Sophie turns stalker herself — and makes a discovery that underscores her worst fears. Sam Neill co-stars in this tense psychological drama.

NetFlix’s summary is almost a spoiler. Still the suspense builds because more and more strange things happen to Sophie. When will the scales tip in her favor ? Or is she really mentally ill ?

Mara is so beautiful that we are just waiting for the husband Sam Neill to fall for her. Is Mara really involved in Sophie’s problems ?

Actually I figured out what was happening well before the “ta da !” revelation. Let me know how you fare.

Sam Neill first came to my attention when he was a mere 32 playing in “My Brilliant Career”. Twenty-seven years later, at age 59, he has held up well.

You might find the ending a bit too goody good good. But don’t let me dissuade you from watching a good yarn.

2009, British Mystery Series, Child Molestation, Conspiracy, Detective, DO NOT MISS, Drama, Gritty, Mystery Film, Plot Twist, Revenge, Suspense

Place of Execution (2009)

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From NetFlix:

Journalist Catherine Heathcote (Juliet Stevenson) solicits the help of investigator George Bennett (Lee Ingleby) for her documentary about the 1963 disappearance of a 13-year-old girl. But when Bennett abruptly stops cooperating, Heathcote begins to unravel some surprising truths. Now Heathcote may have to reevaluate her deep-rooted beliefs about justice. Based on the book by Val McDermid, this “Masterpiece” special co-stars Greg Wise.

2016 ADDENDUM: You can now stream this two-part film from Amazon Prime. You may be shocked when part one abruptly ends and shows screen credits. Just sit tight, because part two begins immediately after that.

Given the combination of BBC Masterpiece Contemporary and Juliet Stevenson you cannot go wrong with this intriguing, well-written, well-acted mystery. All the episodes are on the disk you get from NetFlix, comprising about 2.5 hours.

Never once did I suspect the truth of what really happened. Indeed the surprise ending really caught me off guard. You will have to decide about the moral ambiguity of the ending.

But I guarantee you, you will not be bored.

2011, Acceptable Trash, Crime, Mayhem, Revenge, Sex Scenes, Violent

The Mechanic (2011)

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From NetFlix:

When his mentor is murdered, lone hit man Arthur Bishop (Jason Statham) trains the man’s son, Steve McKenna (Ben Foster), in the ways of the professional kill. Together Arthur and his eager apprentice hunt down those responsible for executing Steve’s father. But the partnership gives rise to new dangers and deceptions. Simon West directs and Donald Sutherland co-stars in this action-packed remake of the 1972 Charles Bronson thriller.

Whoever really performs in the action sequences is a real stuntman athlete. Needless to say, Statham’s firearm aim is always perfect. No matter how many or how big or how well-armed his opponents are, he always wins. So suspend all that disbelief, sit back, and enjoy the well choreographed mayhem.

Expect some completely unnecessary sex scenes. After all, you can’t just have “violence”, you have to have “sex AND violence”.

Actually the story line has a gimmick that works. But who cares ?

2009, Could be boring, Could Be Hard To Watch, Dark, Fantasy, Gloomy, Grim, Quiet, Religious Theme, Revenge, Slavery, Slow, Unusual, Violent

Valhalla Rising (2009)

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From NetFlix;

After years of slavery, Viking warrior One-Eye (Mads Mikkelsen) escapes from his captors and seeks refuge on a Norse ship bound for his homeland. When a storm throws them off course, the crew lands at a mysterious realm inhabited by invisible demons. As the bloodthirsty creatures claim one sailor after another, One-Eye rediscovers his fighting spirit but begins to wonder if they have arrived in Jerusalem or someplace much more sinister.

Slow to the point of glacial, you might want to skip this one. After reading the Wikipedia article you get the impression that this is one of those film critic’s specials, although one critic called the film “unbearably self-important”.

After waiting 93 minutes for the lead character “One-Eye” to speak, he never utters a word. Instead he telepathizes to a young boy (yes, that really is an English word).

For some reason or other there are six parts none of which make a lot of sense:

Part I Wrath
Part II Silent Warrior
Part III Men of God
Part IV The Holy Land
Part V Hell
Part VI The Sacrifice

So did I waste 93 minutes ? If nothing else the film is a quiet, mysterious, SLOW “happening”. In a “happening” you just wait to see what will “happen” next. I am still waiting.

2006, Based on true facts, Nudity, Revenge, Suspense, True Story, Violent

End of the Spear (2006)

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From NetFlix:

Many years after his missionary father was speared to death at the hands of Waodani tribesmen, a young man (Chad Allen) returns to the Ecuadorian jungle to meet the native (Louie Leonardo) who murdered his father and learn the truth about his family’s legacy. The result, in this film based on a true story, is a life-altering experience that brings him closer to the kin of his father’s killer and impacts both of their lives forever.

When I was in Catholic parochial school (grades 1-8) we used to donate money to the Society for the Propagation of the Faith in order to convert pagan babies. Although I now have mixed feelings about missionaries in general, I have to admit that this film shows that the efforts of this particular set of missionaries led to a practical result: the tribe of Waodani still exists. Because the Waodani culture was so violent and based on a code of lethal revenge, the tribe was headed for extinction.

There is a book “Through Gates of Splendor” that tells the true story.

Towards the end of the film there is a bit of supernatural flim-flam that turned me off. However, just watching the film and taking the story as it comes was for me a pleasurable experience. You can just ignore the religious bias, the story in itself is interesting. For whatever motivation, those missionaries were brave and devoted people that did their best to help the Waodani. But you must be prepared for much violence (lots of spearing to death).

Stick around after the film seems to have ended. There is an epilogue in which you get to see two of the real living characters, including a tribesman.

1964, Cowboy, Old-Fashioned, Revenge, Violent, Western

A Fistful of Dollars (1964)

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From NetFlix:

The first film in director Sergio Leone and star Clint Eastwood’s “Man with No Name” trilogy finds a world-weary gunman in a town torn apart by warring gangs. He agrees to work for both sides, ultimately pitting the two factions against each other. Marianne Koch and Gian Maria Volontè co-star in this groundbreaking Western, inspired by filmmaker Akira Kurosawa’s classic Yojimbo and featuring a famous score by Ennio Morricone.

47 years ago, when Clint Eastwood was 34 years old, this historical spaghetti western made quite a splash. And to think that today Clint Eastwood is still going strong as an actor and director.

When the film begins, the lines delivered by the Mexican bell-ringer are very stilted and I was tempted to stop watching. But there is still something very watchable in this film. Could it be the violence ? At one point Clint gets beaten to a pulp by those nasty villains who laugh menacingly while they do it. Probably the fun of the film is watching both the American and Mexican gangs being wiped out slowly but surely. That Clint sure knows a lot of neat tricks!

Sex is not an issue and is, in fact, very chaste and traditional. Our Clint will surely help a beautiful damsel in distress and at the mercy of that villainous Ramón.

Call it a film history lesson or whatever, but I had fun watching!

2003, Complicated, Drama, Drugs, Grim, Medical Theme, Non-physical Violence, Not Feel Good, Nudity, Plot Twist, Prison, Redemption, Religious Theme, Revenge, Sex Scenes, Suspense, Violent, Wonderful acting

21 Grams (2003)

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From NetFlix:

A tragic car accident brings together three strangers — a teacher (Sean Penn) with a weak heart, a former drug addict (Naomi Watts) turned housewife and an ex-con (Benicio Del Toro) who’s found Christ — forcing them to face their darkest fears, reevaluate their lives and seek redemption. Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu directed this complex drama that earned Oscar nominations for lead actress Watts and supporting actor Del Toro.

Mexican directory Alejandro González Iñárritu is known for possibly disturbing films such as “Babel”, “Amores Perros”, “21 Grams”, and “Biutiful”. His “Nine Lives” did not please me very much.

“21 Grams” is a jigsaw puzzle. Scene sequences are scrambled and you eventually have to figure out what the complete story really is. Some scenes are repeated such that on a succeeding viewing you finally understand what that scene means. Not that the scrambling is random, rather the non-linear sequencing is done very well. What really keeps the film moving is the sudden changes in scene without any warning. Expect some sudden surprising plot twists.

Violence, infidelity, ill health, forgiveness, and possibly redemption are the major themes.

“Redemption” is debatable because Del Toro’s character possibly never forgives himself for what he has done (we are talking ambiguity here). He certainly was a horrible father in addition to his other shortcomings. His little son does a great job showing that he had to keep himself distant from his capricious and often violent father. His daughter accepts him unconditionally.

Sean Penn seemed to me a basically selfish man, mostly concerned with his identity (“who am I with this newly transplanted heart ?”). He finds it easy to abandon the woman who loves him.

Naomi Watts’ character asks the question: “How possible is it to forgive someone who killed your loved ones ?” Watching her life go down the drain is no fun.

Interest never flags in this intense, worthwhile, demanding film.

2010, Conspiracy, Could Be Hard To Watch, Cowboy, Dark, DO NOT MISS, Grim, Plot Twist, Revenge, Suspense, Violent, Western, Wonderful acting

Red Hill (2010)

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From NetFlix:

After being shot on duty, police officer Shane Cooper (Ryan Kwanten) moves with his pregnant wife to the quiet Outback town of Red Hill, where surly sheriff Old Bill (Steve Bisley) is downright unfriendly and Shane’s first day on the job turns into the worst day of his life. When killer Jimmy Conway (Tommy Lewis) escapes from jail and heads for Red Hill, the police try to track the skilled hunter, and Shane soon realizes something is very wrong.

Not a detail is out of place in this suspenseful and violent Australian cowboy sheriff film about an aborigine escaped from prison and intent on killing every single lawman in the dying town of Red Hill.

Ryan Kwanten is the only actor I will remember from this film and he was terrific. Those of you with vampire tastes will recall that Ryan Kwanten was the irrepressible Jason Stockhouse in the TV series True Blood (2008). His tender scenes with his very pregnant wife are touching. My only objection is that he is physically a bit too much of a superman, overcoming all obstacles while severely wounded. But don’t let that stop you from watching.

How dull: aborigine escapes and shoots a lot of people. Not at all ! First this killer’s hunting (he can smell his intended victims) and shooting skills and his amazingly clever instincts make him a formidable enemy. HOWEVER, the plot has an amazing and very emotional twist that holds you to the end.

In my book, this violent film is an Australian masterpiece. Don’t miss it!