Category Archives: Suspense

2014, Acceptable for children, Action Film, Action Hero, Anti-terrorism, Based on a Book, Car Chase, Conspiracy, Flirting, KGB, Love Story, Mayhem, Military, Motorcycles, Russian Anti-USA Scheme, Spy Theme, Suspense, Terrorist Attack, Thriller, Violent

Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit (2014)

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From NetFlix:

CIA analyst Jack Ryan tries to thwart a terrorist plot to bring down the U.S. economy in this action-thriller helmed by Kenneth Branagh. Chris Pine plays the title character alongside an all-star cast that includes Kevin Costner and Keira Knightley.

Seen one, seen them all. But some action films offer at least something that is unique to the film. For me, seeing Kenneth Branagh (who also directed the film) as the Russian villain was a welcome novelty. Nor did it hurt having Kevin Costner and Keira Knightley in the film. Chris Pine as Jack Ryan presents a personality that is a new and more honest approach, namely: he does not pretend to be the perfect, invulnerable hero. Rather the whole espionage game is new and unwelcome to him. When the first attempt is made on his life, he is scared to death with trembling to match. Still, in the several unrealistic action sequences (but then, aren’t they all unbelievable ?) Jack Ryan would never have survived.

Who cares? Just sit back and enjoy the pandemonium.

2015, Action Film, Action Hero, Amusing banter, Car Chase, Chase film, CIA, Flirting, KGB, Mild Torture, Motorcycles, Spy Versu Spy, Suspense

The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (2015)

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From NetFlix:

With both their countries threatened by a powerful global crime cartel, the CIA’s Napoleon Solo and KGB operative Illya Kuryakin must work together in this Cold War thriller inspired by the classic 1960s TV series.

Take two young studs (Henry Cavill as Solo and Armie Hammer as Illya) , throw in two beautiful young women (Alicia Vikander as Gaby and Elizabeth Debicki as Victoria) and some good action scenes and SHAZAMM! we can have a lot of fun. Especially well-crafted was the opening action sequence. Constant competition between Solo and Illya maintains the humor. Of course, you have seen all this before (nuclear warheads, double-crosses, “who is an agent for whom”) but some mixes work better than others and this mix worked for me.

And wasn’t it a surprise to see Hugh Grant cleverly disguised as an Englishman?

Not all the acting is great.

Best of all, this film is intended to be the first of a series. Let’s hope the writers can keep the momentum moving.

Action Film, Action Hero, Chase film, Frenetic, Invincible Hero, Mayhem, Murder Investigation, Police Corruption, Some exaggerated violence, Suspense, Unrealistic, Violent

Schutzengel (2012)

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From IMDB:

A troubled veteran from the war in Afghanistan works to protect an orphaned teenager who witnessed a murder from the killer’s henchmen.

My German son-in-law Thomas played his European version DVD
of this German film (with English or German subtitles) for me when we visited Thomas and daughter Kate in London. Amazon sells both a Blu-ray and DVD version, BUT I am not sure these versions can be played in the USA.

Til Schweiger is a famous German movie star whom you may recognize as Sgt. Hugo Stiglitz in “Inglourious Basterds” from 2009. In Schutzengel (which means “guardian angel”) he is a brooding action figure that is seemingly invincible. Against a dozen armed assassins he never seems to miss a shot. In this film his daughter Luna Schweiger plays a young orphan.

Good guy versus a bunch of bad guys makes for some fun action.

2014, Based on a Book, Clever Plot, Detective, Ethical struggles, Explicit sexual discussion, Plot Twist, Psychological Thriller, Revenge, Serial Killer, Sex Scenes, Stalker, Stephen King, Suspense, Violent

Stephen King’s A Good Marriage (2014)

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From NetFlix:

With a serial killer on the loose and a disheveled stranger stalking her, devoted wife Darcy Anderson has further cause for alarm after she unwittingly uncovers an ominous secret about her husband that threatens their happy marriage — and her life.

There’s no mistaking a Stephen King plot with its sinister twists and turns and always a touch of revenge. “A Good Marriage” is no exception.

Acting is good on all counts. Since seeing him in 2001 in the film “Lantana”, I have always rooted for Anthony LaPaglia.

Stephen King paints a surprising interaction between husband and wife. Their marriage seems so happy and normal as the story starts. And then the fun begins, proving that not all serial killer stories need be alike.

Although the film is not that special, neither is it a waste of time.

2015, Ambiguous Conclusion, Drama, Love Story, Nuclear Survivors, Psychological Drama, Religious Theme, Sex Scenes, Sexual Tension, Suspense

Z for Zachariah (2015)

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From NetFlix:

Believing she’s the lone survivor of a global catastrophe, Ann Burden soon learns she’s not the only human alive when a research scientist shows up. But as the two slowly get acquainted, their relationship is strained by the arrival of another man.

Chiwetel Ejiofor, Margot Robbie, and Chris Pine make up the entire cast of this survivor story. As you might expect the tension in the plot is the competition between the two men for possibly the only woman left in civilization. Slow conversation, slow moving events, and no action make for a calm atmosphere that is suspiciously too polite.

Without spoiling your watching, I have to at least say that to enjoy this film your must not be bothered by ambiguity.

2014, Amnesia, Bloody scenes, British, Clever Plot, Marital Infidelity, Psychiatrists, Psychological Thriller, Suspense, Violent

Before I Go To Sleep (2014)

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From Netflix:

After surviving a brutal assault, Christine Lucas awakens each morning incapable of remembering anything about her past, including the previous day. Little by little, however, she begins to suspect that her husband played a role in her misfortune.

Remember the 2000 film “Momento” with Guy Pearce? “Before I Go To Sleep” reminds me of that film because it is basically a film about memory and amnesia. In addition the film is basically a mystery story that initially does not seem to be a mystery. Details are not that hard to follow (“Momento” was notoriously difficult, causing much discussion) if somewhat implausible. If Christine had to begin all over each day, I am not sure she would have the time through the accumulation of days to really accomplish what she did.

While not a great film, nonetheless Nicole Kidman, Colin Firth, and Mark Strong give good performances. Mark Strong played Stewart Menzies in “The Imitation Game”.

Not at all a waste of time.

2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, Adultery, Amusing banter, Art History, Bicycles, British Mystery Series, Clever Plot, Complicated, Crime, Detective, Dysfunctional Lives, Ethical struggles, Family Conflict, Forensics, Love Story, Marital Infidelity, Murder Investigation, Oxford University, Religious Theme, Revenge, Suspense

Inspector Lewis (2008)

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As a follow-up to the many seasons of “Inspector Morse” (the Morse actor died), you can stream 7 seasons of “Inspector Lewis” from Amazon Prime. All the episodes are worthwhile, and usually complicated. Each episode lasts approximately 90 minutes.

Although the Robert Lewis actor (Kevin Whately) is adequate, the real joy is the James Hathaway character (Laurence Fox). James Hathaway is a former Anglican seminarian, Oxford graduate, literary savant, moody and conflicted character, and somewhat of a delightful know-it-all. As an essential third actor we have the charming Dr. Laura Hobson (played by Clare Holman), the forensic pathologist who eventually is a love interest for Inspector Lewis.

All episodes take place in Oxford whose academic and idiosyncratic atmosphere permeates the entire series.

Indeed the plots can be intricate, but sometimes by searching the Internet you can find plot explanations.

Not a miss in the bunch!

2012, Abduction, Addiction, Based on true facts, Creepy, Detective, Docudrama, Forensics, Military, Murder Investigation, Netflix Streaming, Nothing special, Profiler, Royal Canadian Air Force, Serial Killer, Sociopath, Stalker, Suspense, True Story

An Officer and a Murderer (2012)

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From NetFlix Streaming:

The true story of Royal Canadian Air Force officer Russell Williams’ progress from respected military commander to deranged murderer.

This film can be streamed from NetFlix, but there is no DVD available.

Were it not for the fact that this chilling story is true, nothing makes this film special. Consider the film an enacted documentary. All the acting is good, but Gary Cole as the serial killer is particularly creepy because of his lack of affect, especially on occasions when extreme affect would be appropriate. Moreover, I don’t consider this bad acting because, in fact, some sociopaths don’t share our normal empathetic feelings.

Possibly a dry police procedural, nonetheless I was drawn to watching the hard detailed detective work finally pay off. Imagine accusing a commander of a base of 3000 Royal Canadian Air Force personnel of being a serial killer who starts off just stealing (and wearing) ladies underwear and little by little escalates into murder.

Give this story a B+.

2014, Adultery, Bloody scenes, Complicated, Conspiracy, Crude Talk, Detective, Divorce, Drama, Drugs, Erotic Thriller, Explicit sex, Grisly, Marital Infidelity, Mostly About Sex, Murder, Murder Investigation, Nudity, Prostitutes, Psychological Thriller, Revenge, Sex Scenes, Suicide, Suspense, Violent

The Loft (2014)

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From NetFlix:

Five married co-owners of an upscale loft enjoy their investment as a discreet hideaway for their adulterous pursuits. But when a murdered woman is discovered in the apartment, each suspects the others of committing the grisly killing.

At least titillating, with the addition of a clever plot, a set of new actors present an involving who-done-it with at least one good plot twist.

As far as actors are concerned, I personally recognized only Rhona Mitra whom I first saw in the TV series “Boston Legal” in 2004 playing Tara Wilson.

None of the five friends are especially honorable (they have, after all, pledged themselves to an adulterous pact in their lofty hideout). Nor, possibly, is there honor among thieves. But when the film ended, I found myself wondering how many of the five men got their just desserts.

But I had a lot of fun watching.

2015, Art restitution, Art Treasures, Based on true facts, Lawyers, Nazis, Suspense

Woman in Gold (2015)

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From NetFlix:

Six decades after World War II, Jewish octogenarian Maria Altmann begins a quest to reclaim the artwork confiscated from her family by the Nazis — including a famed Gustav Klimt masterpiece.

One of my son’s favorite paintings is indeed Gustav Klimt’s “Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I”. Personally most films involving good guys versus bad guys tend to get me “riled up” and adds a lot of suspense to my watching. Much of the film is true BUT! you must read the Wikipedia article which exposes some historical inaccuracies in the film. There you will note that Hubertus Czernin did most of the essential research and that he began that research before he discovered that his father had been a Nazi (who was executed by the Nazis as a traitor). Be sure to stay watching at the end of the film in order to read the follow-up pieces of historical information.

If you like thrillers, you might try “The English Assassin” by Daniel Silva. His books have an anti-Nazi mission. This particular novel is the second in the series featuring the character Gabriel Allon. Here the theme is an exposé of Switzerland as one of the major hiding places for art confiscated by the Nazi regime. In fact, at least the first three novels in the series center on some aspect of government duplicity in Nazi crimes. Austrian ugliness features heavily in one of these novels.

In this case story is almost everything. Of course, Helen Mirren is a marvelous actor. Ryan Reynolds, in my humble opinion, trades on his good looks but in reality is not much of an actor.

For you stargazers out there, look for a lot of cameo appearances: Elizabeth McGovern (Cora Crawley in “Downton Abbey”) is a judge; Charles Dance (Tywin Lannister in “Game of Thrones”) is Ryan Reynold’s boss in a law firm; Jonathan Pryce (High Sparrow in “Game of Thrones”) plays Chief Justice Rehnquist.

Not so much for the acting, and despite a few maudlin sequences, the story for me was so compelling that I will call this film a DO NOT MISS!