Category Archives: Suspense

2013, Bloody scenes, Corruption, Detective, Drugs, Erotic Thriller, Father-daughter relations, Irish, Mental Illness, Mostly About Sex, Murder, Netflix Streaming, Nudity, Police Corruption, Police Story, Psychological Thriller, Redemption, Revenge, Serial Killer, Sex Scenes, Stalker, Strange Ending, Suicide, Suspense, TV Series, Use of Irish Brogue, Violent

The Trial (2013)

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From Netflix:

When the Belfast police are stalled in their investigation of a spate of murders, Detective Superintendent Stella Gibson is drafted to investigate. Under her lead, the team uncovers an intricate web of lives entangled by the killings.

These days serial-killer dramas are standard fare and often very similar. Nonetheless some of these presentations are different enough to be of interest. So what makes this one season, 5 episode TV series which I streamed from Netflix worthwhile?

  • Both the police investigation and the ordinary home life of the married-with-kids serial killer develop at the same time. You constantly switch back and forth.
  • Instead of black and white, good and bad, the killer and the cops are humans with their own mixtures of good and bad.
  • Relations between different parties are intricately interwoven.
  • In the psychological makeup of the killer is an element of remorse and a desire for normalcy.
  • Gillian Anderson (of “X-Files” fame) is as good a stone-faced actor as she is beautiful
  • Jamei Dornan, the killer, deserves to be better known.
  • Be on the lookout for Archie Panjabi (Reed Smith in “The Fall”) who is the clever and mysterious woman Kalinda Sharma in “The Good Wife”.
  • Just as interesting as the main thread, are some secondary themes.

Tell me what you think of the ending. Since I was glued to the screen, I can only heartily recommend this TV series.

2013, Action Film, Afghanistan, Based on true facts, Bloody scenes, Could Be Hard To Watch, Crude Talk, Ethical struggles, Grim, Gritty, Human spirit, Military, Navy, Navy SEALs, Suspense, Thought provoking, True Story, Violent, War

Lone Survivor (2013)

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From NetFlix:

Mark Wahlberg stars as Navy SEAL Marcus Luttrell in this action-drama based on an ill-fated real-life mission to bring down a Taliban boss. The stakes get even higher when Luttrell and his unit are ambushed in the Hindu Kush region of Afghanistan.

Photography in this film is very explicitly bloody and violent. Plot is simple: SEALs train hard; SEAL mission ambushed and all killed but Marcus Luttrell; Luttrell reaches Pashtun village which protects him; Helicopters arrive to rescue Luttrell.

As usual the devil is in the details. Whatever your feelings about the war in Afghanistan, you have to admire the courage and dedication of these SEALs.

For me the most notable scene was the moral debate about what to do with villagers tending their goats. Sadly their moral decision sealed their fate.

Be sure to watch till the very end so that you can see the slide show of the actual men and their families. Also there Is some explanation about why the villagers helped Luttrell.

Not easy to watch!

2014, Action Film, Conspiracy, Digital Effects, Human spirit, Love Story, Mixed Martial Arts, Psychological Drama, Sci-Fi, Suicide, Suspense, Thought provoking, Violent, Young Adult

Divergent (2014)

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From Netflix:

Born into a civilization in the distant future, Beatrice is a teenager who learns that her unique cognitive skills make her useful to the authorities. Over time she discovers that she’s a Divergent, and thus slated for elimination by the government.

Another action packed “good guys” versus “bad guys” film populated by zillions of teenagers (or am I just getting older?). Some of the few recognizable older actors are:

  • Ashley Judd (Tris’ mother)
  • Tony Goldwyn (Tris’ father)
  • Kate Winslet (the scheming Erudite)

More than likely Theo James (who plays Four) will do well in films.

Don’t get me wrong: the plot is well constructed, the theme is somewhat thought-provoking (Do we conform, or do we think for ourselves?), the love story is sensitively done, and there is plenty of action to keep you excited. It always amazes me what good shooters the good guys seem to be. Kick boxing anyone?

Have fun.

2014, Based on a Book, Ethical struggles, Historical Fiction, Mediocre, Muddled biblical references, Ridiculous plot, Suspense, Violent

Noah (2014)

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From Netflix:

This ambitious adaptation of the story of Noah depicts the visions that led him to voice dire prophesies of apocalypse and to build an ark to survive. As he labors to save his family, Noah asks for help from a band of angels called the Watchers.

Half of this film is somewhat ridiculous. Following a fanciful and jumbled interpretation of the Bible book of Genesis, we meet Noah and his family somehow surviving in a barren middle of nowhere, doing their best to avoid the sinful descendants of Cain (who slew his brother Abel) who have managed to ruin the earth. Due to a series of visions Noah is convinced that humanity will be punished and should be eliminated.

After a forest miraculously sprouts up around him (don’t ask!) , Noah gets help building an arc from a band of outlandishly conceived Watchers who most closely resemble moving rock piles.

We watch in wonder as zillions of birds, snakes, reptiles, and mammals somehow fit into this wooden monstrosity.

So why did I continue watching this Bible-rama?

  • Russell Crowe does a pretty good job as an anguished man determined to do what he thinks is God’s will.
  • As unsubtle as it is, the idea of humanity producing its own demise is all too realistic. (Advice: take swimming lessons)
  • Just how two sons and one daughter-in-law will go forth and multiply is tricky.

Once again, the film was worth watching at least on a seven hour plane ride.

2013, Arab Culture, Arabic, Basically Sad, Hebrew, Israeli Palestinian Conflict, Prison, Revenge, Suspense, Torture, Violent, Wonderful acting

Omar (2013)

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From Netflix:

With his girlfriend, Nadia, living on the other side of an Israeli-built boundary wall, young Palestinian Omar regularly scales it to visit her. But he faces even greater obstacles after a lethal confrontation with an Israeli soldier.

From a filmmaking viewpoint, “Omar” is well done. Emotionally, as is true for most films about the Israeli Palestinian conflict, it offers a sad, hopeless view of the lives of those unfortunately born into the situation.

If you are a history fan, you will realize that such an atmosphere of paranoia in which you can trust no-one: friends, lovers, or otherwise is nothing new. In the court of Henry VIII of England there were spies everywhere.

For a good review see what Roger Ebert has to say.

As yet I do not understand why there is a wall between Palestinians and Palestinians. Omar regularly jumps this wall to see Nadia. But Nadia is Palestinian.

Stay alert for the final few seconds of the story.

If you can stand the heartache, “Omar” is worth watching.

2014, Action Film, Cancer theme, Car Chase, CIA, Father-daughter relations, Nothing special, Suspense, Thriller, Violent

3 Days to Kill (2014)

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From Netflix:

After a terminally ill secret agent retires to spend his remaining time with his family, he’s asked to complete a dangerous last mission in exchange for an experimental drug that might save him — if he can survive its hallucinatory side effects.

At his current age of 59, Kevin Costner in this film does indeed look like a tired and sick aging man. But here he is as much Kevin Costner, neither better nor worse, than in any of his other films. It is amazing how he never misses a shot with his many weapons.

So what makes this story different from any other “secret agent lethal assignment” story?

  • He is dying of a brain cancer.
  • He has ignored his wife, from whom he is separated, and daughter throughout his career. Now is his chance to reconcile.
  • Not too terrific actress Amber Heard, playing supposedly sexy Vivi Delay, trades one last killing assignment for a series of experimental shots that may cure Harrison.
  • One side effect of the drug is that whenever Harrison’s heart beats too fast (think “Shootout at the OK Coral”) he gets dizzy and nearly faints. This effect is annoying when he is confronting each of the really mean bad guys.

Details were clever enough to keep me interested.

2013, Abduction, Addiction, Based on true facts, Child abuse, Could Be Hard To Watch, Crude Talk, Detective, Drugs, Grim, Nudity, Prostitutes, Serial Killer, Suspense, Thriller, True Story, Violent

Frozen Ground (2013)

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From Netflix:

In this fact-based thriller starring Nicolas Cage, an Alaska state trooper looking to bring a notorious serial killer to justice teams with a 17-year-old prostitute who escaped the predator’s clutches.

Oh no! Not another serial killer film! Nevertheless the film is well-done, exciting and engaging. Of course it doesn’t hurt that John Cusack portrays to perfection a very disturbed serial killer Robert Hansen. It always helps to have a really clever and devious bad guy. Nicolas Cage is excellent in his relentless drive to convict Robert Hansen.

Dean Norris plays Sgt. Lyle Haugsven. Every time I see Dean Norris I identify him with the DEA brother-in-law in the not-to-be-missed TV series “Breaking Bad”.

When you realize that this is a true story, the film takes on more urgency. At the end of the film the screen text tells us what happens to Robert Hansen after his conviction.

More than likely, I will never move to Alaska. But I was really caught up in this suspenseful film.

2014, Abduction, Action Film, Action Hero, Alcoholism, CIA, Clever Plot, Computer geeks, Conspiracy, DO NOT MISS, Father-son relations, FBI, Flirting, Love Story, Medical Theme, Motorcycles, Revenge, Spy Theme, Suspense, Torture, 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.

Although films consisting of spies + CIA + terrorists + international plots + action heroes + car chases + FBI + “you name it” may seem to be all more or less the same, still some writers manage to make a particular film exciting and somehow a little different. Undoubtedly the star cast which includes Chris Pine, Keira Knightley, Kevin Costner, and Kenneth Branagh helps make this film worth seeing.

Romance between Chris Pine (as Jack Ryan) and Keira Knightley (as Doctor Cathy Muller) is clever and well done.

Needless to say, if our side of the effort does not win, then our world will end in some horrible disaster and major financial depression.

And of course Jack Ryan is a super hero endowed with amazing physical powers of survival. After all, do YOU have a doctorate in complex finance? Can YOU run and catch a moving delivery van? Are you able to physically fight commando style? Are YOU a computer wiz? If not, what is the matter with YOU?

In my case all I can do is watch the fun. All it takes is a really evil bad guy and I am hooked into the plot till the end. Kenneth Branagh excels at being that really nasty villain. He does it with such a straight face. Are Russians really that mean?

Despite the fact that there are an awful lot of clever CIA-like devices and surprises that get our hero out of many jams, if you like this action genre, then DO NOT MISS!

2014, Acceptable for children, Art Treasures, Based on true facts, Corny at times, Docudrama, Military, Nazis, Suspense, War

The Monuments Men (2014)

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From Netflix:

In a race against time, a crew of art historians and museum curators unite to recover renowned works of art stolen by Nazis before Hitler destroys them. Written, directed and starring George Clooney.

As you can read in the Wikipedia article, the critics can boo and the historians can tsk-tsk, but that did not stop Kathy and me from enjoying this film.

At the very least the film made me appreciate that all those art works were worth the danger, the lost lives, and the effort. You and I may be forgotten but for a while at least our civilization is recorded in part in those pieces of art. According to another Wikipedia article, we have art works dating from the Paleolithic period (25 000-8000 BCE). Do you think the world should forget Hitler?

Hats off to George Clooney for telling a good story. There were even moments of suspense, for example, racing to retrieve the Ghent altar piece and Michelangelo’s Madonna before the Russians could steal them.

For awhile I did not recognize Cate Blanchette cleverly disguised as an art librarian and French Resistance fighter. But you will probably recognize Matt Damon, Bill Murray, and John Goodman.

If you are up for a not very violent and just a bit corny story about art works, you might enjoy this film based on true events (but DO check that Wikipedia article for fact fanatics.)

2014, Classical musicians, Imperfect, Not Recommended, Nothing special, Suspense, Violent

Grand Piano (2014)

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From Netflix:

A pianist returning to the stage five years after a public meltdown learns that a sniper will shoot him and his wife if he plays just one wrong note. But the gunman’s twisted motives go far deeper than anyone suspects.

Although the idea behind the story is novel (some say ridiculous), the film itself was nothing special. Critics panned the film.

After the film was over I still did not know the motives of the killer. Even Wikipedia offered no clues.

Try some other film.