Category Archives: Violent

2008, Animated, Could Be Hard To Watch, Docudrama, Explicit sex, Graphic Novel, Not Feel Good, Violent, War

Waltz with Bashir (2008)

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From NetFlix:

Utilizing vivid black-and-white animation in this Golden Globe winner for Best Foreign Language Film, director Ari Folman documents his quest to explore the memory gaps in his life during his service for the Israeli army in the Lebanese war of the early 1980s. Recounting several story vignettes based on recorded interviews with colleagues and friends, Folman explores the horrors of war and the curious coping mechanisms that mankind uses to survive and function under brutal circumstances.

Not everyone enjoys animantion. However, from the limited viewpoint of watching a Graphic Novel, “Waltz with Bahir” was for me captivating. Just watching the faces was enjoyable.

But these comments are superficial. For the historical background of the 1980 war in Lebanon and of this film and the various reactions to the film you could read the ample article in Wikipedia.

Just be prepared for the final portion in which the animation is replaced by actual film footage of the horror.

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!

2003, Drama, Not Feel Good, Nudity, Redemption, Sports, Violent

Undefeated (2003)

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From NetFlix:

Lex Vargas (John Leguizamo), a Latino boxer from the mean streets of Jackson Heights, Queens, discovers that his success with his fists (and the big financial payoffs) alienates his friends. Question is, can he balance victories in the ring with life outside the squared circle? Robert Forster co-stars in this film, which marks Leguizamo’s directorial debut (he also co-scripted).

“Undefeated” is an unimportant, unexceptional, acceptable film. For this reason I might say it is a “B” film. However, there are no inconsistencies, all the actors do well, the story makes sense and offers a tale of partial redemption. For this reason I might say it is an “A” film.

There are many, many boxing scenes which prompted the “violent” category.

I don’t regret seeing the film, but then as a retired person I have a lot of time to do so.

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.

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, 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 !

2003, Could Be Hard To Watch, Not Feel Good, Suspense, Violent, War

Beyond Borders (2003)

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From NetFlix:

Nick (Clive Owen), a medical student turned international disaster relief worker, and Sarah (Angelina Jolie), a philanthropist socialite, gradually fall in love after meeting time and again against the backdrops of disasters and wars throughout the world. Teri Polo plays Sarah’s sister Charlotte, a globetrotting journalist.

It’s a Hollywood movie!

It’s also violent. Clive Owen is his usual f_____g forceful self (he certainly like to curse). Angelina Jolie is her usual beautiful self (but sometimes it seems to me that every now and then she delivers her lines like a high school sophomore).

One by one the story visits various disaster spots: Ethiopia, Cambodia, Chechnya in which our heroes for the most part overcome adversity. For this reason the film could be hard to watch: vultures wait for starving Ethiopian children to die, The Khmer Rouge arbitrarily shoot people and place a hand grenade in the hands of an infant, the Chechens shoot just about everybody.
But through it all our Angelina manages to be the well-manicured and well-dressed Hollywood startlet she deserves to be.

It’s a Hollywood movie!

2003, Drama, Not Feel Good, Suspense, Unusual, Violent

It’s All About Love (2003)

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From NetFlix:

In this futuristic thriller about love and fate, professional ice skater Elena (Claire Danes) and her estranged husband, John (Joaquin Phoenix), live in different cities. When John heads to New York seeking a divorce from Elena, he finds her life has gone askew: Her friends and family appear to have their own plans regarding her future as a skater, and those plans depend on John’s cooperation. Can he and Elena escape their clutches … alive?

Joaquin Phoenix has never played in a bad film in my experience, and this is no exception. However, he is willing to take chances in unusual films. Consider this film an art film of sorts. It claims to take place in the future but for a while those aspects seem to have nothing to do with the suspenseful plot. Ignore the slow start and stay with the story for awhile. Eventually the extreme weather changes (it seems like just the opposite of global warming) enter into the plot. There is some violence. Since I watch many films, I have the time to spend on such unusual films, but perhaps you might choose another film to watch.