Category Archives: Revenge

2005, Could Be Hard To Watch, Drama, Explicit sexual discussion, Not Feel Good, Revenge, Suspense, Unusual, Violent

Hard Candy (2005)

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From NetFlix:

Ellen Page (Juno) stars in this suspenseful drama from director David Slade as Hayley, an intelligent teen who’s got her own reasons for spending so much time with Geoff (Patrick Wilson), a much older man she met online. Even though Geoff is a charming, good-looking photographer, Hayley should know better than to go home with a guy in his early thirties — especially since he might have ulterior motives.

WARNING:

  • You may hate this movie. Although there is no explicit gore, there are many instances of violence, and the gore is left to your imagination (which can make it even worse).
  • You must suspend disbelief because the “teenager” Ellen Page looks too old and is far to mature to be a mere 14 years of age. In fact in this film Ellen Page was 18.
  • You must suspend disbelief because the photographer Patrick Wilson claims he is 10 years older than the girl. 32 year old men don’t look like 24 year old men.
  • You must suspend disbelief because the girl has just too many weapons at her disposal. Moreover, to use these tools she has to be very, very strong.

Having blasted the film, I was compelled to watch it from beginning to end. It is quite a trip. I will not spoil the film for you by giving details. If you insist, you can read wikipedia. At least be aware, that the film has the feel of revenge that you might experience in a Stephen King film and for this reason could be hard to watch. Don’t say I didn’t warn you!

In 2005 Ellen Page was 18 when she made this film. In 2007 at age 20 she made the film Juno (2007) which was very popular.

In 2005 Patrick Wilson was 32 when he made this film. In 2006 he was 33 when he made the film Little Children (2006), which is a book written by Tom Perrotta from my town of Belmont. He was also Claire Danes young lover in Evening (2007)

2004, DO NOT MISS, Drama, Explicit sexual discussion, Gay theme, Nudity, Redemption, Revenge, Suspense

Walk on Water (2004)

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From NetFlix:

American-born Israeli director Eytan Fox lenses this contemporary road movie that takes its Israeli characters to Berlin as they attempt to understand the role that the past still plays in the lives of young Israeli and German people. Stars Lior Ashkenzai, Carola Ranier, Hans Tischler, Israeli Gideon Shemer and Yousuf Swaid. The soundtrack includes tunes by Esther Ofarim, Bruce Springsteen, Telepopmusic and Gigliola Cinquetti.

Thanks to my Spanish teacher Joaquín for lending me this film. If any theme is strongest, it is that of personal change and overcoming prejudices. The plot itself offers many surprising turns all the way to the end of the film. In fact for me this was one of those films in which the suspense of the plot line is so strong that I could not even pause the film for a second.

No film is perfect. The main actor, the Mossad assassin, was best when he was purposely emotionless. In one scene he is not terribly successful in portraying remorse. Was the ending a bit too good to be true ? And of course the Mossad agent is an expert martial artist.

This film is not for children not so much because of its gay subtheme but because there is very explicit discussion of gay sexual practices.

If I had not seen this movie, I would have missed a really worthwhile film.

2009, Feel Good For All, Revenge, Sci-Fi

Star Trek (2009)

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From NetFlix:

Capt. Kirk (Chris Pine) and his trusted team on the starship USS Enterprise boldly go where no man has gone before in this installment of Gene Roddenberry’s sci-fi franchise that follows the early days of the intergalactic adventurers. The crew includes Spock (Zachary Quinto), Chekov (Anton Yelchin), Uhura (Zoe Saldana), Scotty (Simon Pegg) and Sulu (John Cho). Eric Bana co-stars, and Leonard Nimoy appears as an older version of Spock.

As an old “Star Trek” fan and still adolescent at heart, I enjoyed much of the film. Sometimes the pseudo-scientific explanations of what was happening left me cold. And seen one battle in space is pretty much to have seen all of them. These days it seems fashionable to create “Origin of …” films. Granted I am getting older, but I do wish the young Captain James Kirk did not have a case of acne.

The best line of all was (say this loud and fast) “Are you out of your Vulcan mind ?”

Live well and prosper!

2008, Detective, Drama, Explicit sex, Love Story, Nudity, Revenge, Suspense, Violent

Deception (2008)

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From NetFlix:

Unassuming accountant Jonathan McQuarry (Ewan McGregor) thinks he’s hit the big time when a lawyer friend (Hugh Jackman) introduces him to an exclusive sex club. But McQuarry’s life begins to unravel when he falls for a woman at the club and is later linked to her disappearance. Michelle Williams, Natasha Henstridge and Charlotte Rampling also star in this atmospheric thriller from director Marcel Langenegger (in his big-screen debut).

Hugh Jackman redeems himself despite his appearance in the adolescent film “X-Men Origins: Wolverine”. In this film Jackman makes a great villain. You might also want to see him in “Australia”. He and Ewan McGregor make perfect foils for each other’s character. I will not say a word about the really clever plot because plot is everything. Of course there is the sex club and lots of sex scenes, but do not avoid the film because you think the film is just about sex. The nice thing about the plot is that while tricky it is not too complicated.

2002, DO NOT MISS, Drama, Kidnapping, Revenge, Suspense, Violent

Trapped (2002)

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From NetFlix:

In this tense thriller, a young girl with asthma (Dakota Fanning) is kidnapped and held for ransom. Her captors (Courtney Love and Kevin Bacon) tell her parents (Stuart Townsend and Charlize Theron) that they’ll deprive the child of her medication unless they comply with their terms, one of which is not to contact the police. Pressed for time and clinging to their sanity, the tortured parents must work through this horrifying ordeal alone.

“Trapped” is the best kidnapping film I have seen to date. As one of the villains Keven Bacon is the usual perfect actor. In fact all the actors, including the child Dakota Fanning, are excellent. The plot details are very creative allowing for many surprises. Quite frankly I was glued to my seat.

I have one objection: could there really be a family of three, each of whom is so clever, inventive and brave?

If the ending were not so satisfying, you might mistake it for just another highway crash scene. But even that scene is one I can’t remember seeing in another film.

If you want a really good suspense film, DO NOT MISS THIS FILM!

2003, Drama, Drugs, Rape, Redemption, Revenge, Suspense, Violent

I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead (2003)

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From NetFlix:

In this arresting film, retirement isn’t in the cards for mobster Will Graham (Clive Owen), who’s just settling into a quiet life in the country when he hears that his brother (Jonathan Rhys-Meyers) has met a brutal end. There’s nothing left for him to do but seek vengeance, even if it destroys his chances at peace and freedom. Charlotte Rampling and Malcolm McDowell co-star; Mike Hodges directs.

Revenge versus redemption is indeed the theme of this film. At one point a talk with a psychiatrist provides some interesting insight into male with male rape. But it is just this rape that inspires the revenge. Clive Owen fills the part of the avenger with his usual intensity. This film held my interest because it was never clear how it was going to end.

1971, Drama, Explicit sex, Horror, Love Story, Nudity, Occasional gore, Old-Fashioned, Revenge, Suspense, Violent

Play Misty for Me (1971)

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From NetFlix:

Silver-tongued radio disc jockey Dave (Clint Eastwood) can’t help but notice the persistent calls from a female to “play ‘Misty’ for me.” But when a chance meeting with infatuated fan Evelyn leads to a brief and steamy love affair, Dave quickly learns he’s in for more than a little night music. Evelyn will stop at nothing — even the return of one of Dave’s old flames — to have him all to herself. The film marks Eastwood’s directorial debut.

1971 was a long time ago (38 years ago to be exact). Recently I reviewed “Gran Torino”, another Clint Eastwood film. His voice today is really rough but back in the day he had a silver whisper voice. And of course, his looks have changed a bit. This stalker film predates the stalker film of all times, “Fatal Attraction”. Techniques have evolved. Whereas this film has a “happy ?” ending, today the stalker would cleverly frame the stalkee for some crime and destroy the life of the stalkee, or something equally dreary. An awful lot of film footage was wasted by today’s standards. You spend too much time walking through a dark room waiting for someone to pounce. You have to sit through some on-stage musicians that have nothing to do with the plot. For 1971 the really beautiful naked love scene in the forest pond was probably quite daring. Finally, the stalker (Jessica Walter) was the best actor in the film, although not quite Glenn Close.

2008, Drama, Feel Good Not For Children, Imperfect, Redemption, Religious Theme, Revenge, Suspense, Violent

Gran Torino (2008)

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From NetFlix:

Curmudgeonly Korean War veteran Walt Kowalski (Clint Eastwood, who also directs) must confront his Hmong immigrant neighbors — and his own long-held prejudices — when the family’s teenage son, Thao (Bee Vang), tries to steal Walt’s beloved 1972 Gran Torino. Walt soon assumes the unlikely role of guardian angel to young Thao and his sister Sue (Ahney Her), both of whom are vulnerable to local gang influences.

“Gran Torino” tells a good story with bad guys and good guys as black and white as a cowboy movie (after all, it’s Clint Eastwood). But Walt’s personality isn’t so clear cut and to his credit is able to grow and change. Enjoy the story even if you have to sometimes suspend disbelief. What’s wrong with the Lone Ranger arriving just in time to save the day ?

As for the acting, I sadly give it a B. Thao sometimes just reads his lines. His sister is a much better actor (N.B. it is no longer politically correct to use the word “actress”).

And the more I think about it, Walt’s final solution was just about perfect. Have fun!

2008, Could Be Hard To Watch, Drama, Not Feel Good, Nudity, Redemption, Revenge, Suspense, Unusual, Violent

Blindness (2008)

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From NetFlix:

After a plague of blindness overtakes the residents of a city, all sense of order breaks loose in the hospital where the victims are being quarantined. It’s up to a woman (Julianne Moore) who’s keeping her sight a secret to lead a group safely to the streets. Gael García Bernal, Mark Ruffalo, Sandra Oh and Danny Glover also star in this psychological thriller, an adaptation of José Saramago’s gripping masterpiece.

“Blindness” is one of the most unusual films I have ever seen. Read carefully because it will not be everyone’s taste. Julianne Moore is excellent as the only secretly sighted person in a population where eventually everyone becomes blind. Ask yourself what would happen if in fact everyone went blind. To give you a taste of the unpleasantness you can expect: In the beginning the government sequesters all the afflicted persons into a kind of stone penitentiary. Moore is married to a doctor Mark Ruffalo. She can see, he goes blind. Saramago is careful with the details of just how people would even be able to move about, get food, etc. The prisoners are divided into groups. The guards shoot upon sight any blind person attempting to leave. Food arrives and must be distributed to the various groups. That is where the trouble begins. One group, led by Gael García Bernal decides to bully the other groups by capturing the food and demanding to be paid first with jewelry and eventually women’s sexual services. It gets ugly. If you can survive this descent into non-civilization, this movie is for you.

Another unusual aspect is the manner of vocal delivery. There is no actor voice projection. People speak as is there is no camera.

If you are still reading this review, then I should be a bit more positive and say that there is an underlying philosophy that once people stop seeing the superficial in others, then they begin to appreciate the real internal personalities. Despite the horror, the film ends as much as is possible on a happy note.

I dare you!

2008, Could Be Hard To Watch, Drama, Not Feel Good, Revenge, Violent

Slumdog Millionaire (2008)

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From NetFlix:

After coming within one question of winning 20 million rupees on the Indian version of “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?” 18-year-old Mumbai “slumdog” Jamal Malik (Dev Patel) is arrested on suspicion of cheating. While in custody, Jamal regales a jaded police inspector (Irfan Khan) with remarkable tales of his life on the streets, as well as the story of Latika (Freida Pinto), the woman he loved and lost. Danny Boyle’s film won a Golden Globe and Oscar for Best Picture.

Hollywood has produced a technically excellent film that successfully exploits the misery of Indian slum dwellers by coating the film with a thin veneer of Spielberg-like good feelings. I just couldn’t buy it. During this film, which in my opinion is NOT FOR CHILDREN, you will be treated to the following spectacles:

  • The police inspector beats Jamal and subjects him to electric torture. This is perfectly acceptable because Jamal, after all, is merely a slum dweller.
  • Hindus set muslims on fire as living torches.
  • Of course Jamal will jump into the cesspool so he can get a Bollywood actor’s autograph.
  • During the day poor Indians search the garbage dump for edible food.
  • At night orphans sleep at this garbage dump
  • Predators entice these orphans from the dump with cold Coca-Cola. The orphans are taken to a camp and fed. These orphans then experience the following:
    • At the very best they are turned into beggar slaves for the predators
    • Those male orphans who can sing are then blinded by pouring hot liquid into their eyes and sent out as singing beggars.
    • Female orphans are trained as prostitutes.
  • In one scene Jamal’s beautiful sweetheart Latika has both sides of her face scarred in revenge for her disobience to her owner.

Why did not India sue the filmmakers for exposing the savage underbelly of India ? Of course every country has it shame. Do not forget that in the American South, after a negro was lynched, the spectators cut the body into parts and saved the pieces as souvenirs.

There is a large article on this film in wikipedia. Hopefully none of the children actors from slums were sent back to the slums. There is also this link to one of the many organizations that try to help.