Category Archives: Revenge

1996, Crime, Gangs, Revenge, Sex Scenes, Stalker, Suspense, Violent

The Juror (1996)

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From NetFlix:

Annie Laird (Demi Moore), a juror in an anti-Mafia trial, is forced to play along with The Teacher (Alec Baldwin), a gangster who threatens to kidnap and harm Annie’s son if she doesn’t convince her fellow jurors to return a “not guilty” verdict. But it seems The Teacher has become obsessed with her and won’t let her be — even after the end of the trial. Annie’s only way to protect herself and her son may be to take on the mob.

What a blast from the past! As soon as you see Demi Moore, Alec Baldwin, and James Gandolfini, you realize how much they (and we) have aged. That’s even more scary than this really gripping jury-stalker-mob film. Just hold onto your seats and enjoy the descent.

Can there be a better sociopathic monster than Alec Baldwin ? Talk about a super stalker! Fourteen years after this film, we see him doing comedy in “30 Rock” as a much heavier man.

Eleven years after this film, James Gandofini starred in “The Sopranos”.

Lindsay Crouse may not be as familiar as the above three stars, but we have seen her live many times locally as a stage actress. She (and just about every other actor under the sun) has appeared several times in “Law and Order”. For what it is worth, she graduated from Radcliffe in 1970 with the first class to receive Harvard diplomas.

Technology in the form of eavesdropping plays an important part in the plot. Notice that the cellphone is not used. It might be a lot easier to foil a stalker if you have a cellphone.

This one glued me to my chair!

2005, Political Suspense, Redemption, Revenge, Suspense, Terrorist Attack, Violent

The Interpreter (2005)

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From NetFlix:

Silvia Broome (Nicole Kidman) is a linguist whose job is to translate for her assigned delegate the complex issues facing the United Nations. But her daily challenge turns perilous when she overhears a plot to assassinate a high-ranking government official. Suddenly in the crosshairs of the conspirators, Silvia — with help from a Secret Service agent (Sean Penn) — must unravel an intricate web of intrigue to save herself.

Sean Penn and Nicole Kidman parry well (and thank goodness they don’t fall into the cliche of becoming lovers. Oops! did I give something away? But romance is not the point of this film at all!). Each has his or her own sorrow which eventually comes forth. Actually the theme is whether to forgive or avenge a wrong.

Details might be hard to follow at times. There is, of course, violence. In a way this is a mystery story: what’s really happening?

I was amused to see quite a few “Law and Order” participants. But then who hasn’t been on “Law and Order”?

Although the film is nothing special, I stayed glued to see the conclusion.

2009, Could Be Hard To Watch, Drama, Military, Plot Twist, Quentin Tarantino, Revenge, Suspense, Violent, War

Inglourious Basterds (2009)

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From NetFlix:

A Jewish cinema owner (Mélanie Laurent) in occupied Paris is forced to host a Nazi movie premiere, where a radical group of American Jewish soldiers called the Basterds, led by Lt. Aldo Raine (Brad Pitt), plans to roll out a score-settling scheme. The face-off is about to go down — that’s if Col. Hans Landa aka “The Jew Hunter” (Christoph Waltz, in an Oscar-winning role) doesn’t get in the way. Quentin Tarantino directs this World War II-set spaghetti Western.

“Quentin Tarantino” tells you immediately that this will be a violent film. In fact,
the first two acts (Nazi atrocity, Jewish retribution) suggest that this film could just be a litany of vindictive anti-Nazi butchery. But each act brings something fresh, suspenseful, clever, and of course violent. There are many plot twists, almost all in the form of something that goes wrong with an assassination plan. In that sense the fun never stops.

However, I was at first offended by the fact that the entire climax is a hoax perpetrated on the viewers. Such a thing never happened. So is this film someone’s rage fantasy against the horrors of the Nazi regime ? Sad to say I got a lot of pleasure watching the good guys bash the bad guys. I should be ashamed. Violence begets violence and it has to stop somewhere. In this regard please read the section of the Wikipedia article entitled “Critical Reception” which reinforces my objections.

If you understand French, German, and Italian you will have another source of pleasure from this romp.

2000, Crime, Drama, Mystery Film, Nudity, Plot Twist, Revenge, Supernatural, Suspense, Violent

The Gift (2000)

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From NetFlix:

When the authorities find a drowned woman’s body, a small-town psychic (Cate Blanchett) starts having visions of who committed the murder, which means she’s the only one who can testify to what truly happened … and that she could be the killer’s next target. Giovanni Ribisi, Keanu Reeves, Hilary Swank, Katie Holmes and Greg Kinnear co-star in this moody Sam Raimi thriller co-written by Billy Bob Thornton

For most of the film I was sure I knew who the killer was. I was wrong. Sam Raimi and Billy Bob Thornton tell a good story that pulls you into the troubled lives of just about every character. And what a set of characters it is:

  • Cate Blanchett carries the show.
  • Giovanni Ribisi most recently played “Parker Selfridge” in “Avatar”.
  • Keanu Reeves does a great job as a mean red-neck villain.
  • Greg Kinnear was the father in “Little Miss Sunshine”
  • Hilary Swank gets beaten up a lot by her vicious husband Keanu Reeves
  • Gary Cole appeared many times in “The Good Wife” as the ballistics expert
  • J.K. Simmons appears everywhere. He is the long-suffering boss of Kyra Sedgwick in “The Closer”.
  • Katie Holmes is Rachel from “The Dark Knight”

It’s hard to lose with a cast like that.

1991, Crime, Drama, Imperfect, Love Story, Melodrama, Mystery Film, Plot Twist, Revenge, Suspense, Violent

Dead Again (1991)

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From NetFlix:

Los Angeles gumshoe Mike Church (Kenneth Branagh) takes the case of a woman (Emma Thompson) beset with amnesia and soon makes the startling discovery that he and his client are connected — via reincarnation — to a lurid, 40-year-old murder. Branagh is convincing as an American private investigator, and he gets fine support from Thompson (his real-life wife at the time) in this inventive modern noir thriller.

Give a ‘B’ to this somewhat dated film. However, it is just plain fun to see a lot of actors at a young part of their lives. After all, the film is almost 20 years old and a lot can happen in 20 years (such as Branagh and Thompson getting a divorce). Some of the actors are:

  • Kenneth Branagh who speaks a credible American sprinkled here and there with a few choice curse words. He plays two roles.
  • Emma Thompson speaks British. She plays two roles.
  • Who would have thought that Derek Jacobi was ever young. Recall him as the stuttering “I Claudius” ? He even manages to stutter in this film.
  • A year after this film Wayne Knight was the unforgettable “Newman” from “Seinfeld”
  • Andy Garcia you know well. Don’t miss the scene in which he is an old man dying of throat cancer from a lifetime of smoking. He speaks through a hole in his Adam’s apple. He begs Branagh for a cigarette and smokes it through the same hole.
  • I did a double-take. “That can’t be Robin Williams, can it?”. Sure enough!

The acting sometimes breaks down. Amazing to see how technology (cellphones, etc) would have completely changed the scenery in just 20 years. Still it was fun seeing handsome and beautiful people in their prime.

1984, Coen Brothers, Could Be Hard To Watch, Crime, Drama, Revenge, Suspense, Violent

Blood Simple (1984)

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From NetFlix:

In a jealous rage, Texas tavern owner Julian Marty (Dan Hedaya) hires unscrupulous private detective Loren Visser (M. Emmet Walsh) to not only tail Marty’s two-timing spouse (Frances McDormand, in her big-screen debut) but also murder her and her paramour (John Getz). But events take a surprising turn when the gumshoe double-crosses his client. Joel Coen directs this stylish shocker co-written with brother Ethan Coen.

This is the first film that the Coen Brothers did together. For a recap of their career see the Wikipedia article which makes a table of 17 of their films including Barton Fink (1991), No Country For Old Men (2007), and Romance & Cigarettes (2005).

Violence seems to be their trademark. However, for me the attraction of the film was its firm foundation in gritty, believable reality. Special effects need not apply! The slow acting is pace-perfect. Part of that slow pace owes to an awful lot of actors just staring without saying anything. But in this film that style seems to work. When was the last time you saw a film in which the possible failure of a car to start was especially nerve-wracking ?

25 years ago, a very young Fances McDormand got by with a minimum of acting. John Getz seems to have spent most of his career in TV. Ditto for Dan Hedaya. M. Emmet Walsh is a face you have seen everywhere probably without knowing his name. For me Walsh had the most memorable part: evil with an ironic sense of humor. His part at the end is unforgettable.

If you want to watch Coen brother films, this is the place to start.

2007, Crime, Kidnapping, Revenge, Suspense, Violent

Shattered (2007)

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From NetFlix:

Neil (Gerard Butler) and Abby’s (Maria Bello) perfect life in Chicago is instantly turned upside down when their little girl (Emma Karwandy) is abducted by a kidnapper (Pierce Brosnan) with an elaborate scheme. With the clock ticking on their daughter’s life, the couple is totally forced to comply with the wishes of a true madman. Mike Barker directs this thriller; Desiree Zurowski and Claudette Mink co-star.

In this film Gerard Butler is passable. What this film is good for is plain old suspense and clever plot twists. It held my interest throughout.

2009, Could Be Hard To Watch, Drama, Imperfect, Mediocre, Occasional gore, Revenge, Suspense, Violent

Law Abiding Citizen (2009)

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From NetFlix:

Traumatized by the atrocious murders of his wife and daughter — and the flawed justice system that set the killers free — Clyde Shelton (Gerard Butler) gives in to his rage and sets out on a course of vengeance. He soon takes on not only the prosecutor involved in the case, Nick Rice (Jamie Foxx), but also the city of Philadelphia. Director F. Gary Gray’s bold crime thriller co-stars Viola Davis and Michael Gambon.

Ever since Dear Frankie (2004) I have been waiting for Gerard Butler to become a good actor. Alas! In the current potboiler he is somewhat adequate. His character, Clyde Shelton, is unbelievably omnipotent. As I see it, the only reason to watch this mediocre film is to see all the tricks Clyde plays on Jamie Foxx and the rest of Philadelphia. Vengence sets the entire tone of this film.

Warning: There are almost gratuitous gory and violent scenes. Don’t say I didn’t stress the mediocrity of this film.

2008, English Dubbing, Love Story, Occasional gore, Revenge, Swedish, Vampire, Violent

Let the Right One In (2008)

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From NetFlix:

Twelve-year-old Oskar (Kåre Hedebrant), the constant target of bullies, spends his time plotting revenge and collecting news items about the grisly murders plaguing his town. But things change when he meets a new girl named Eli (Lina Leandersson), a misfit vampire who steals his heart. As a serial killer continues to prey on teen boys in their small Swedish village, Eli helps Oskar find the courage to stand up to his tormenters.

Quiet, almost sweet, this is not your mother’s vampire film. Although made in Sweden, it is dubbed in English. The dubbed English script does not quite match the English subtitles available on the DVD.

If you want spooky special effects, you will be disappointed. This is what I have to call a “natural” vampire film. Every now and then there is some minor special effect, but that is not the point. There is not a single fang showing. Our sad forever-12-year-old girl vampire befriends a quiet and shy schoolboy who is being bullied. Yes, the poor girl does indeed drink blood and from time to time kills to obtain that blood. But she loves the schoolboy and clearly intends never to harm him. There might be one small bit of gore, but it hardly matters. To be sure I really understood the ending I had to read the Wikipedia article.

2002, Could Be Hard To Watch, Drama, Gangs, Melodrama, Not Feel Good, Occasional gore, Revenge, Suspense, Violent

Gangs of New York (2002)

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From NetFlix:

Amid the savage Irish and Italian rivalry that dominated New York City in the mid-1800s, Amsterdam Vallon (Leonardo DiCaprio) hunts down his father’s hateful murderer, Bill “the Butcher” Cutting (Daniel Day-Lewis). Along the way, Vallon falls for the charms of a streetwise pickpocket (Cameron Diaz). Director Martin Scorsese’s riveting epic — nominated for 10 Oscars — also stars Jim Broadbent, Liam Neeson, John C. Reilly and Henry Thomas.

Before seeing this film, at least read the Wikipedia article which at the very end gives historical references. According to this Wikipedia article, the New York scenes were very accurate. But the history itself is a different matter. Many liberties were taken with the facts. Still the underlying theme of the persecution of the Irish is quite valid. Moreover there were historical figures such as Bill Cutting (who was a butcher), but the film is at odds with their real history.

Violence is the chief characteristic of this film, and gory violence at that. Daniel Day-Lewis plays his usual blood-thirsty villain. For my money this was a black and white melodrama whose main attraction was indeed the many slaughters. And for some reason I have never been able to convince myself that Cameron Diaz can act.

Netfilx sends the film as two discs.