Category Archives: 2008

2008, Complicated, Dark, Detective, Mystery Film, Quiet, Redemption, Slow

The Missing Person (2008)

Leave a comment

From NetFlix:

Hired to shadow a mysterious man leaving on a train from Chicago going to Los Angeles, heavy drinking private investigator John Rosow (Michael Shannon) discovers that the stranger is most definitely not who everyone thinks he is. With a large cash reward offered by the man’s wife dangling before his eyes, Rosow tangles with his own demons as he decides whether to turn the guy in for the money. Noah Buschel directs this moody film noir.

At first I thought this was a film in black and white. But the coloration seems to change as the film progresses and was pleasant in itself. As the film advances you learn more and more details, although often things are not always as they appear. Best not to read other reviews or plot explanations because they would spoil the surprises. All in all I enjoyed this unexpected find from NetFlix.

Michael Shannon was Dex in “Before the Devil Knows You are Dead” but to tell you the truth I never noticed him in any other film. Amy Ryan as Miss Charley was familiar to me as the wife in “Win Win” (a wonderful feel-good film). In 1999-2000 there was a TV series “Now and Again” that introduced Eric Close. In that series Margaret Colin played the caring mother Lisa Wiseman. However, in this film she poses as a prostitute who is really tracking Michael Shannon.

For me not all of the plot was crystal clear. If you would care to share, tell me:

  • What was the favor that Miss Charley did for John Rosow (Michael Shannon) ?
  • If the crooked lawyer wanted to keep Harold Fullmer dead, why did he not kill him ?
  • Why did John Rosow return all that cash to Harold’s wife ?
  • Did Harold understand Don Edgar ?

Slow moving, consistent, good acting, worth the time spent.

2008, Acceptable for children, Mediocre, Plot Twist, Psychic Phenomena, Sci-Fi, Suspense

Knowing (2008)

Leave a comment

From NetFlix:

Fifty years after a time capsule was buried at a local school, teacher John Koestler (Nicolas Cage) examines its contents and discovers that it holds many shockingly true predictions. Soon, John is convinced that his family will play a role in an impending apocalypse. Rose Byrne co-stars as Diane Wayland, the daughter of the woman who first buried the capsule, in this tense blockbuster thriller from ace sci-fi auteur Alex Proyas.

Give this film a B. Nonetheless, this sci-fi film tells a well-detailed story that held my attention. While not violent, you witness several fatal accidents such as subway and plan crashes, including burning live victims.

Without spoiling the story for you, you should expect the final fifth of the film to take what was for me a very unexpected turn that seemed to place the film in possibly a less worthy category. From a certain standpoint the ending was very daring and perhaps not pleasing to the general audience. More than that, the very ending was a bit too Steven Spielberg-like for my tastes. In my humble opinion we could have done without that last scene.

Comments ?

2008, Drama, Explicit sexual discussion, Feel Good Not For Children, Military, Quiet

The Lucky Ones (2008)

Leave a comment

From NetFlix:

Three soldiers injured in the Iraq War return to native soil, only to find that their tour of duty has taken its toll on the home front. Hoping to repair their tattered lives, Colee (Rachel McAdams), Cheaver (Tim Robbins) and T.K (Michael Peña) set off on an impromptu cross-country road trip. While Colee seeks to repay her dead boyfriend’s family, Cheaver dreams of a big win in LasVegas, and T.K. tries to regain his confidence.

Low key and feeling like an independent film, this story rings true. Three sympathetic characters gradually relate more and more with one another. Each has his or her story to tell and their stories do take on some unexpected twists.

Almost nothing that happens seems contrived with one exception. T.K. was wounded with shrapnel in his genitals and is on leave and currently impotent. On this topic many matter of fact discussions are centered. His “cure” was a bit hard to accept.

Without spoiling I will only say that the ending was perfectly believable, very probable, and for me a disappointing solution to their problems.

Tim Robbins (Mystic River (2003), The Secret Life of Words (2005), “The Shawshank Redemption”), Michael Peña (“The Shield”, “Million Dollar Baby”), and (Rachel McAdams (State of Play (2009), “The Time Traveler’s Wife”) all do a fine job.

2008, Acceptable Trash, Car Chase, Gangs, Kidnapping, Revenge, Super Hero, Suspense, Torture, Violent

Taken (2008)

Leave a comment

From NetFlix:

While vacationing with a friend in Paris, an American girl (Maggie Grace) is kidnapped by a gang of human traffickers intent on selling her into forced prostitution. Working against the clock, her ex-spy father (Liam Neeson) must pull out all the stops to save her. But with his best years possibly behind him, the job may be more than he can handle. Famke Janssen also stars in this relentless action-thriller from director Pierre Morel.

Perhaps we should rate these kidnap-revenge films by body count. Either Man on Fire (2004) or this film might be clear winners. In fact both films share a common laughable trait: Denzel Washington in the former and Liam Neeson in this film are presented as outrageous superheros who never fail in each encounter with villainous bad guys. Liam Neeson never met a neck he couldn’t break. Only once is our hero trapped (in a Parisian underground auction house for kidnapped virgins to be purchased by shieks) and even then his chains pull miraculously from the ceiling.

Perhaps we should rate these films by stereotypes encountered. In “Man on Fire” Mexico was the cliché target. In this film consider:

  • Albanians are genetically inclined to kidnap well-off young female tourists in order to make them drug addicts and prostitutes.
  • French bureaucrats are mostly corrupt.
  • Wealthy sheiks purchase kidnapped virgins for their evil purposes
  • You really don’t love your daughter unless you give her a horse on one of her birthdays.
  • American spy operatives are in such incredible physical shape that they can outrun automobiles (and speeding bullets).
  • And the list goes on.

My big disappointment was that in the end our hero did not taunt his ex-wife with a really nasty “I told you so!”. And, by the way, the lead up to his agreeing to let his 17 year old daughter travel with a (really dizzy) girl friend to Paris is well done.

Despite all these objections, I was glued to the screen. But then I LOVE TRASH

2008, Comedy, Drama, Feel Good Not For Children, Gay theme, Love Story, Sex Scenes, Swedish

Patrik Age 1.5 (2008)

Leave a comment

From NetFlix:

After moving from the city to a small town, gay couple Sven (Torkel Petersson) and Goran (Gustaf Skarsgård) adopt a child. But when Patrik (Thomas Ljungman) arrives in their lives, it turns out he’s not 1.5 years old as they were told by the adoption agency — he’s a rebellious, homophobic 15-year-old. While the couple houses the angry boy until the mix-up is resolved, his presence causes them to reassess their lives.

Gay-themed films have come a long way from being centered on the AIDS epidemic to a more realistic involvement with society in general. After watching this film, I would like to know if you thought the story portrayed was realistic, that is to say, could happen.

So what do you expect from a “straight” film: sex, violence, comedy, mystery, romance, sports, war ? Ignoring the gay theme, this film offers romance, non-explicit sex, some rough stuff that could hardly be called violence, comedy, social issues, an orphan needing a home, etc. Sound familiar ?

Although I did not expect much at first, I was pleased to find that this sane and warm film tells a story which is finally a feel-good. Each character is well-cast and well-acted, including their well-honed facial expressions. Look for a variety of neighbors, for better or worse.

Swedish with optional English sub-titles.

Is Sweden any different from the US&A ?

2008, Crime, Detective, Drama, Serial Killer, Suspense, Violent

In the Electric Mist (2008)

Leave a comment

From NetFlix:

Detective Dave Robicheaux (Tommy Lee Jones) finds himself swimming in a murky sea of corruption, deception and lies when he probes the connection between a rash of murders and a notorious New Orleans mobster (John Goodman) — and discovers secrets that were better left untold. With Robicheaux’s family, and his life, in serious danger, can he stem the rising tide of blood and bring justice back to the bayou?

If it were not for some notable actors such as Tommy Lee Jones, John Goodman, Peter Sarsgaard, and Mary Steenburgen, this ordinary B-film would not be worth watching. The only unusual theme is that Robicheaux is a reformed alcoholic who wants to get Sarsgaard into Alcoholics Anonymous. Better to watch a Law and Order episode.

2008, Could be boring, Drama, Love Story, Mediocre, Melodrama, Play Adaptation, Sex Scenes

The Loss of a Teardrop Diamond (2008)

Leave a comment

From NetFlix:

Based on an unproduced original screenplay by Tennessee Williams, this drama follows Fisher Willow (Bryce Dallas Howard), the headstrong daughter of a Southern plantation owner. Forced to fulfill her role as a debutante, she chooses farmhand Jimmy Dobyne (Chris Evans) as her escort. As if this weren’t scandalous enough, her announcement that she’s fallen in love with Jimmy threatens to destroy the family. Ann-Margret and Ellen Burstyn co-star.

Sitting through this dullard is almost agony, which proves that not every Tennessee Williams play is worthwhile. Possibly it was the acting, or the slow pace, but I kept waiting for something important. Probably I am used to difficult situations and films that don’t compromise on the difficulties. Things were just too easy, too goody good good. Jimmy’s character was so unbelievably upright that I almost gagged. Could it be that I have become too jaded by the current harshness of entertainment ? However, I did suffer through the entire film and it ended very sweetly.

2008, Conspiracy, Could Be Hard To Watch, Detective, Occasional gore, Plot Twist, Revenge, Sex Scenes, Suspense, Violent

Tell Tale (2008)

Leave a comment

From NetFlix:

In this thriller inspired by Edgar Allen Poe’s “The Tell-Tale Heart,” Josh Lucas stars as Terry, a single dad who’s kept alive by another man’s heart — a scenario that suits him fine until he discovers that the ticker’s original owner was murdered. Worried that he might come to a similar end, Terry embarks on a desperate search for the donor’s killer in this Michael Cuesta-helmed film produced by Ridley and Tony Scott.

At first I thought this would be a B-grade forgettable film and perhaps it is. However, it was compelling enough that I stayed glued to the screen. Your opinion would be appreciated if you ever watch this film. There are just too many other better films to watch.

While not offering any spoiler to this mystery plus vengeance film, it does seem that lately I have watched many films with a theme of organ transplant (“Repo Men”, “Never Let Me Go”, “Dirty Pretty Things”). I was a bit put off by the vigilante aspects of the film, but it is just a story.

There is one very gory scene toward the end which I cannot discuss without spoiling.

With my poor hearing and because there were no subtitles available, I had trouble understanding how the detective was complicit in the plot. Help would be appreciated.

2008, Acceptable Trash, Explicit sex, Gay theme, Love Story, Made For TV, Nudity, Occasional gore, Psychic Phenomena, Serial Killer, Suspense, Vampire, Violent

True Blood (2008)

2 Comments

From NetFlix:

Mind-reading waitress Sookie Stackhouse (Anna Paquin, in a Golden Globe-winning role) dives into a complicated relationship when she falls for vampire Bill Compton (Stephen Moyer) in a world where the undead live openly and drink synthetic blood. Trying to improve their image and legitimize their finances, the out-of-the-coffin bloodsuckers hire PR firms and contribute to influential Republican politicians, among other tactics.

Get ready for two seasons of sex, violence, vampires in a well-made TV series of pure unadulterated fun and trash. From episode to episode the writers just get it right. A very young cast does a superb acting job. After watching for awhile I find myself thinking in a southern drawl. This is not gorn (gory porn). For a series on vampires, the writing is thoughtful and metaphorical. By metaphorical I mean that the premise of the series is that the United States is now in an epoch in which vampires are asserting their constitutional rights as is also the gay population. People now get addicted to the new drug of choice: vampire blood (known as “V”). Eventually characters get unwittingly involved with far-right groups out to attack vampires (and gays). Other oddities appear such as shape shifters. The sex is quite explicit and plentiful.

I LOVE TRASH !

2008, Conspiracy, Drama, Mystery Film, Plot Twist, Sex Scenes, Suspense

Passengers (2008)

Leave a comment

From NetFlix:

When therapist Claire Summers (Anne Hathaway) starts working with the surviving passengers of a plane crash, she discovers that their individual accounts of the tragedy differ significantly from the airline’s official version. As Claire digs deeper for the truth, beyond the airline’s sanitized statements, the survivors suddenly begin to vanish, leaving her swimming in a dark abyss of intrigue and conspiracy.

Give this somewhat mediocre mystery suspense film a “B”. Patrick Wilson (best seen in Little Children (2006)) has fun flirting with Anne Hathaway while she expends a fair amount of energy resisting.

Basically the entire film drives to an ending that had a big enough surprise to catch me unawares (although I had some suspicions).