Category Archives: Suspense

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.

1999, Complicated, Detective, Drama, Made For TV, Not Feel Good, Suspense

Split Second (1999)

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From NetFlix:

A split-second decision made in a fit of rage eventually drives attorney and family man Michael Anderson (Clive Owen) to desperate measures in this gripping psychological drama. The stressed-out corporate lawyer hits his melting point one fateful day, and things only get worse for Anderson when he runs away from the horrible consequences of his rage-induced actions. Helen McCrory, John Bowe and James Cosmo co-star.

In this made-for-TV film, Clive Owen is leading a very stressful life of a corporate lawyer. At one point while driving home he hits a kills a bicyclist and then runs. The rest of the somewhat complicated story involves his inner torment, external reactions, and eventual decision.

Helen McCrory does a good job as his wife. You may recognize her as Marcissa Malfoy in the Harry Potter films. All in all the plot easily could occur. I hope I never hit-and-run but I was rooting for Clive Owen to find some solution.

Not relaxing.

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.

2004, Drama, Not Feel Good, Suspense, Unusual, Violent

Enduring Love (2004)

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From NetFlix:

One man’s placid, circumspect life is thrown wildly off kilter when he becomes the target of another man’s obsession after witnessing a horrific hot-air balloon accident and attempting to rescue its passengers. This harrowing drama stars Daniel Craig, Samantha Morton, Rhys Ifans, Bill Nighy and Alexandra Aitken. Roger Michell directs from his own script, an adaptation of the novel by Ian McEwan.

Reading a novel by Ian McEwan is almost always harrowing, and the plot of this film is no exception. Basically the film is about one man’s stalking another for reasons that you eventually discover. Some of the stalking scenes are downright embarrassing, others violent and you cannot imagine where all of this will end. Sometimes the film seems slow, especially when a dinner party sits around and discusses the main theme: what is true love and can it endure ?

Currently Daniel Craig is pigeon-holed as “Bond, James Bond”. That is a pity because Daniel Craig can actually act. (Don’t miss him in “Defiance”.) Hats off to the Welsh actor Rhys Ifans for a stunning performance as the stalker. He has been in too many films to list. Samantha Morton was Mary Stuart in “Elizabeth: The Golden Age”.

If you can stand the sadness, the stalking, the anger, the violence, and some failed relations, then be my guest.

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!

2009, Complicated, Conspiracy, Drama, Suspense

State of Play (2009)

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From NetFlix:

Play Preview When his mistress is found dead, Congressman Stephen Collins (Ben Affleck) tries desperately to protect his name and career. As journalists Cal (Russell Crowe) and Della (Rachel McAdams) investigate further, they uncover an intricate web of lies that stretches to the highest levels of power. Based on the critically acclaimed BBC miniseries, this intriguing political thriller co-stars Helen Mirren, Robin Wright Penn and Jason Bateman.

There are two version of “State of Play”. In 2003 British TV produced a multi-part TV series version that was amazing. It is available thru NetFlix. The 2009 Hollywood version is a two-hour version re-written in large part to take place in the U.S.A. and involve congressmen instead of members of parliament. Both are worth seeing but each is a very different experience. Congratulations to Hollywood for producing a conspiracy plot that is easy to follow. Needless to say the much longer British version offers a lot more detail. Kathy and I enjoyed the British version awhile back and I am glad that sufficient time separated the two viewings. Quite frankly, don’t miss either version.

2009, Complicated, Conspiracy, Suspense

Duplicity (2009)

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From NetFlix:

Play Preview Julia Roberts and Clive Owen co-star in this curveball-throwing thriller as a pair of romantically involved corporate operatives who are entangled in a bitter rivalry between two mammoth pharmaceutical companies. Paul Giamatti and Tom Wilkinson convincingly round out the heavyweight cast as warring big pharma CEOs in this intriguing espionage effort from writer-director Tony Gilroy (Michael Clayton).

From the viewpoint of plot, I found this film very complicated. Nonetheless, even if you miss some details, you can still enjoy all the twists, especially the very end of the film. Pay attention to the fight occuring in the very start of the film. Then at the end of the film try and recall that fight because at that point the fight makes sense.

Paul Giamatti has found (fallen into ?) a niche as a demoniacal plotter (see Shoot Em’ Up, my favorite Clive Owen flm).

For me the major attraction was hopefully the interaction between Julia Roberts and Clive Owen. Whereas Clive Owen was his usual forceful bad-boy self, Julia Roberts’ delivery seemed a bit flat. Give this film at most a B.

2008, Drama, Nudity, Suspense, True Story, Violent, Vulgar

The Bank Job (2008)

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From NetFlix:

Play Preview Based on actual events in 1971, this thriller tells the story of a car dealer (Jason Statham) who becomes involved in a London bank heist, only to find that the contents of the bank vault will draw him deeply and irrevocably into the city’s criminal underbelly. Murder and scandal abound in this tale of corruption populated with a surprising mix of offenders, from low-level thugs to government officials — all the way up to the royal family.

Just a fun B-film but probably the best Jason Statham film I have seen. There are no car chases. There is only one fight scene. Instead there are several groups of bad guys (those are the ones that all go to the same tailor) who do not know the existence of one another but each of whom has their own dirt-filled safety deposit box.

There is one torture scene. But the tension is worse than the actual torture which you hardly see.

Jason Statham should definitely NOT do love scenes. He actually smiles at his wife and kids in this film.

I am surprised that they actually name Princess Margaret as the subject of the porn photos.

Be sure to watch the explanatory text screens at the end because this is a true story and you get to see what happened to all the bad guys (of which there are many).

2006, Drama, Sci-Fi, Suspense, Violent

Children of Men (2006)

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From NetFlix:

Play Preview Alfonso Cuaron directs this film version of P.D. James’s classic dystopian novel (and Oscar nominee for Best Adapted Screenplay), a futuristic drama set in a world in which humans have lost the ability to reproduce and subsequently face certain extinction. Things change when a single woman mysteriously becomes pregnant, prompting a conflicted government bureaucrat (Clive Owen) and his ex-wife (Julianne Moore) to join forces to protect her. Michael Caine co-stars.

I am a Clive Owen fan. However, his films really run the gamut from serious or derpressing to just plan stupid fun as in Shoot Em’ Up. (If you love trash, don’t miss this impossible shoot fest!)

“Children of Men” offers suspense, quasi sci-fi, and a depressing vision of the future. I can’t give away the ending, but it’s not a typical Hollywood ending. This film is worth seeing.