Category Archives: Suspense

2007, Car Chase, Horror, Occasional gore, Sci-Fi, Suspense, Violent

The Invasion (2007)

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From NetFlix:

In the process of researching a mysterious alien epidemic that’s changing the nature of human behavior, a Washington, D.C., psychiatrist (Nicole Kidman) learns that her son (Jackson Bond) might be the planet’s only hope for survival. Daniel Craig, Jeremy Northam and Veronica Cartwright round out the supporting cast in director Oliver Hirschbiegel’s supernatural thriller that’s tinged with political undercurrents.

If you look for this film in IMDB, you will see that its USA working title was “Invasion of the Body Snatchers”. Indeed it is a modernized remake with lots of scientific mumbo-jumbo. Car chases supply much of the palpable suspense, and I was indeed on the edge of my seat. The plot details are so different that you can enjoy this film no matter how much you remember of the several earlier (dare I say, better) versions. In some way Nicole Kidman, Daniel Craig, and Jeremy Northam seem to have settled for a B-film and indulged in a bit of B-acting.

Enough with the snide comments. It was a fun roller-coaster ride.

1000NYTimes, 1974, Comedy, Detective, Drama, Old-Fashioned, Suspense, Violent, Vulgar

The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1974)

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From NetFlix:

Mr. Blue (Robert Shaw) and his crew take hostages on a subway car. If Blue and Co. don’t get a million dollars in an hour, Blue will start carving graffiti on the passengers’ foreheads. Quentin Tarantino borrowed a lot from this unsung classic of crime cinema — including criminals using colors for code names — for his film Reservoir Dogs.

This version is the original “Taking”. Note that the numbers in the title are spelled out. I decided to see the first version before seeing the second version. It is recommended in the “NY Times Best 1000”.

For sure, this version does not take itself too seriously and has a grand time making fun of just about everything. For example, the mayor is played as a bumbling idiot with the flu who is booed every time he appears in public. There is a ton of swearing. Walter Matthau runs the show. If anyone out there is too young to remember Walter Matthau, he was the slob half of the “Odd Couple”. Near the beginning of the film, Matthau is showing a Japanese contingent the wonders of the New York subway system but all the visitors can do is bow because it seems they don’t understand English. When notice of the hostage taking arrives Matthau says (about the visitors ) “Get these monkeys outta here”. At that point one of the Japanese answers in perfect English, “We understand. Thank you for everything. This is very exciting”. And so it goes for most of the film. There is music only at beginning and end and it sounds exactly like the music used in the very early James Bond movies. It ends with 10 really clever seconds.

2006, Could Be Hard To Watch, Detective, Docudrama, Explicit sex, Nudity, Occasional gore, Suspense, Todd Robinson, Violent, Vulgar

Lonely Hearts (2006)

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From NetFlix:

In this unnerving docudrama, John Travolta and James Gandolfini play homicide detectives assigned to pursue lovers Martha Beck (Salma Hayek) and Raymond Fernandez (Jared Leto) — dubbed the “Lonely Hearts Killers.” Luring unwary war widows and spinsters through personal ads in the late 1940s, the couple stripped respondents of their savings before slaying them in a sexually charged frenzy. The supporting cast includes Laura Dern and Scott Caan.

Well worth seeing, this film is violent and could be hard to watch if only because there is a very explicit execution by electric chair (which you know immediately at the start of the film). Children not invited to watch because of the grisly shootings, the explicit sex, and the coarse sexual banter of the police officers.

Over the years I have seen John Travolta become a fat actor playing himself. In this case his face has changed so much (no, it is not makeup) that I almost did not recognize the face, although the body type has not changed. In all fairness, he does an excellent and sullen job as a man wounded by and unable to recover from his wife’s suicide. James Gandolfini is not just Tony Soprano and can, in fact, act well in certain kinds of roles including this role as Travolta’s sidekick.

Salma Hayek throughout the film is drop-dead gorgeous, especially when she is dolled-up in a smart black outfit plus big hat plus decolletage. She plays a wonderful sociopath right down to her never-give-in demise.

Not bad at all!

1990, Detective, Drama, Imperfect, Kathryn Bigelow, Nudity, Suspense, Violent

Blue Steel (1990)

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From NetFlix:

When psychotic Wall Street broker Eugene (Ron Silver) witnesses rookie cop Megan (Jamie Lee Curtis) gunning down an armed robber in a store, he becomes instantly obsessed with her. After lifting the robber’s gun from the crime scene, Eugene carves Turner’s name into the bullets and uses them in a series of murders. Soon, Turner is drawn into a deadly game of wits with a psychopath who’s always a step ahead … and much closer than she thinks!

Since I am on a Kathryn Bigelow (director) kick, I tried this film. Although Ron Silver plays an acceptable psychotic, Jamie Lee Curtis is a bit stiff. Give this film a B. The plot could have made things a lot harder for the cop Megan. I could have framed her and sent her away for life. For a better Kathryn Bigelow film see The Weight of Water.

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!

2007, Could Be Sad, Drama, Explicit sex, Not Feel Good, Nudity, Redemption, Revenge, Suspense, Violent

Crossing Over (2007)

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From NetFlix:

Boasting an all-star cast that includes Harrison Ford, director Wayne Kramer’s thoughtful drama weaves several stories together to create an emotionally charged examination of immigration in Los Angeles. Ashley Judd and Ray Liotta co-star in the powerful ensemble film, which provides a harrowing look at border crossing, document fraud, asylum seekers, naturalization, counterterrorism and the clash of cultures in America.

“Crossing Over” is one powerful, compelling tapestry of immigrant stories. Very few of the subplots end happily. Therein lies my only complaint: the film is very heavily slanted toward the viewpoint that the INS is unfair, uncaring, and in one case corrupt. Having said that, my heart was with the sad lives of the illegals. Most of the immigrants in the film are, in fact, illegals seeking desperately to become legal. I have met illegals in my neighborhood doing things like painting, mowing, etc. Their stories can be heart-rending as are the stories in this film.

As far as the craft of filmmaking is concerned, this is a very well made film. There are too many fine actors doing an excellent job to be able to credit any one in particular.

2006, Conspiracy, Detective, Drama, Revenge, Suspense, Violent

Inside Man (2006)

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From NetFlix:

Dispatched to a crime scene where a bank robbery is in progress, police detective Keith Frazier (Denzel Washington) hopes to apprehend the cunning thief (Clive Owen) so he can make his case for a promotion. But when a savvy negotiator (Jodie Foster) with questionable motives arrives on the scene, an already unstable situation threatens to implode. Spike Lee directs this tense action-drama co-starring Willem Dafoe and Christopher Plummer.

“Inside Man” is probably for me the most unusual and original bank robbery movie I have ever seen. Clive Owen does not disappoint. Pay close attention the the very final scene that involves a subtle slight of hand.

2009, Conspiracy, Detective, Drama, Suspense, Violent

The International (2009)

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From NetFlix:

Interpol agent Louis Salinger (Clive Owen) and New York Assistant District Attorney Eleanor Whitman (Naomi Watts) team up to expose a global financial institution’s money laundering, arms dealing and other illegal rackets. But as the pair race from New York to Milan and beyond to pursue their case, they soon discover that the ruthless bank will stop at nothing to continue its profitable activities. Tom Tykwer directs this tense thriller.

Clive Owen plays Clive Owen in this ordinary but entertaining conspiracy suspense film. Of course, considering our current financial bank crisis, it makes sense to cast the banks are the bad guys. Just go with the flow, enjoy some of the easy outs the plot takes (magic realism, anyone ?), sit back and chew your fingernails. The shoot-out in the OK Corral (i.e. the Guggenheim Museum) is not bad.

When the screen finally goes black, stay with the film for the final credits because there are screen flashes of aftermaths.

For my money, if you really want a Clive Owen film that is a lot of fun, do not miss Shoot ‘Em Up. If you want a serious Clive Owen film that is better than “The International” try Inside Man.

2008, Drama, Feel Good Not For Children, Suspense, War

Australia (2008)

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From NetFlix:

In the days leading up to World War II, Lady Sarah Ashley (Nicole Kidman) inherits a sprawling cattle ranch in northern Australia. Threatened by land barons, she reluctantly joins her farmhand (Hugh Jackman) as he drives 2,000 head of cattle across the outback. While on the grueling trek, they witness the Japanese bombing of Darwin, which heralds Australia’s entry into the war. Director Baz Luhrmann co-wrote this captivating historical epic Oscar nominated for Best Costume Design.

Just enjoy this corny B-film for the satire it really is. Hopefully Nicole Kidman is ham acting on purpose. Otherwise she is just plain clueless. Bawdy, frank comedy is the film’s strong point.
Interspersed are “tense” episodes that are, under the circumstances, hard to take seriously unless
you are under the age of 15. And admit it, there is just nothing like a good old black-versus-white cowboy movie.

Don’t misunderstand me. I enjoyed the film. It tells a story and if you can do nothing more than tell a good story, you are a step ahead (think Spielberg, the king of corny).

I keep trying to spot the great actors and actresses of the early 21st century. I still have hopes for Hugh Jackman. As far as his role goes, he doesn’t miss a beat. I am just a bit disappointed when good actors go bad (for example, “X-Men Origins: Wolverine”). Remember when Anthony Hopkins played in good films ?

Wikipedia has an article about the film.

2008, Biographical, DO NOT MISS, Drama, Not Feel Good, Revenge, Suspense, Violent, War

Defiance (2008)

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From NetFlix:

Daniel Craig stars as Tuvia Bielski, one of four Jewish brothers who escape from Poland into the forests of Belarus during World War II to lead a band of resistance fighters and create a safe haven for Jewish refugees. The real-life sanctuary established by the Bielski brothers saved more than 1,000 Jews from persecution and death. Edward Zwick directs this moving historical drama that also stars Liev Schreiber, Jamie Bell and George MacKay.

Go the Wikipedia article for the history of the Bielski Partisans.

“Defiance” tells a story, an exciting, suspenseful and meaningful story to be sure. Yes, there is some nuance of personalities, but the story is first and foremost (as it was in “Shindler’s List”). However there is also quite a bit of philosophical questioning: what happens to moral principles under the pressure of persecution ? Also there is the ever present anti-semitism, for example among the Russian partisans.

Sometimes the staging seems a bit suspect (a beautiful snowy wedding under a silk canopy in the forest ?). But hopefully for the most part the forest encampments looked as filmed.

Daniel Craig (Tuvia Bielski) is well-known as the current James Bond. Liev Schreiber (Zus Bielski) is the bad guy in the current “X-Men Origins: Wolverine” and has played in 4 CSI TV episodes. It is a pleasure watching these two actors escape their unfortunate Hollywood pigeon holes and do an excellent job. Even their voices take on that low rumble associated with rough Slavic speakers.

Finally if you want to see a wonderful historical dramatization, DON’T MISS THIS FILM !