Category Archives: Cancer theme

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

3 Days to Kill (2014)

Leave a comment

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.

2012, Acceptable Science, Book Review, Cancer theme, Child abduction and murder, Detective, Medical Theme, Mental Illness, Murder Investigation, Psychiatrists, Serial Killer

Kill Switch (2012) [Book Review]

Leave a comment

From Amazon:

Haunted by a disturbing childhood incident, Dr. Claire Waters is drawn to those “untreatable” patients who seem to have no conscience or fear. In a holding cell at Rikers Island, where the young forensic psychiatrist meets with a dangerous inmate whose boyish looks mask a sordid history of violence, her daring methods reveal a key to her own dark past. And when the case propels her into the mind of a homicidal maniac watching her every move, the only way to stop a killer from killing again is to go beyond the edge of reason…

Authors: Neal Baer and Jonathan Greene

Several threads make this mystery a page-turner:

  • Claire Waters’ own shattering childhood experience is interfering with her career and current case which is
  • treating and or catching a very sick serial killer
  • aided by a detective who is losing his eyesight.
  • One murder victim has a seemingly impossible cancer which needs an explanation.

Definitely worth a read!

2013, Abduction, Bullying, Cancer theme, Child Molestation, Clever Plot, Crime, Crude Talk, Dark, DNA, DO NOT MISS, Drama, Drugs, Dysfunctional Lives, Explicit sex, FilmReview, Gritty, Love Story, Made For TV, Murder Investigation, Nudity, Rape, Revenge, Sad small town, Suspense, Trailer Life, TV Series, Violent, Vulgar, Wonderful acting

Top of the Lake (2013)

Leave a comment

From Netflix:

When pregnant, 12-year-old Tui tries to kill herself in a freezing New Zealand lake, Detective Robin Griffin has plenty of questions for the girl. But when Tui suddenly disappears, Griffin finds herself knee-deep in small-town secrets.

Just about everything happens in this gritty, tough TV series taking place in a remote location in New Zealand. To name just of the few features:

  • An amoral, cruel hillbilly family that kills, rapes, manufactures illegal drugs, etc.
  • A cult-like compound for women who have had bad experiences and are sometimes completely naked.
  • Child molestation
  • Gang rape
  • A mother dying of cancer
  • Self-flagellation
  • Dishonest police officers
  • A very capable woman detective (played by Elizabeth Moss) trying to get on with her life while dealing with her troubled past
  • Quite a few nude sex scenes
  • A not quite civilized society
  • Several murders

Yes, this is one crazy TV series. Elizabeth Moss, who played Peggy in “Mad Men”, does a terrific job. But all the actors do wonderful jobs.

You might not want to eat a full meal before watching. Nonetheless, for me at least, in the category of gritty this series is a DO NOT MISS!

2011, Cancer theme, Drugs, Love Story, Mediocre, Sex Scenes, Vulgar

50/50 (2011)

1 Comment

From NetFlix:

An otherwise healthy twentysomething has a comically early midlife crisis when he gets slapped with a cancer diagnosis — and a 50-50 chance of survival. But what’s the meaning of life when you’re not sure how long yours will last?

B grade is all I can give this sometimes entertaining “comedy”. Whereas the cancer patient Adam is a quiet, repressed, almost fearful young man, his faithful but self-serving friend Kyle is coarse and sometimes overly bold (especially with women). Did Kyle’s language need to be so gross (when was the last time you heard the word “fellate” spoken in a film )?

One facet of the film rings true for me: it can be disconcerting to be treated by a health professional who is not even old enough to be my child. And would the hospital really assign to Adam a therapist for whom Adam was only her third patient ?

Adam is played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt who played Arthur in Inception (2010).

Kyle is played by Seth Rogen who played the male lead in “Knocked Up”.

You may recognize Adam’s difficult mom as Angelica Huston whom you may remember from “The Adams Family”.

In its favor, the film probably captures faithfully the experiences of many cancer patients.

Based on true facts, Cancer theme, Drama, Gay theme, Love Story, Quiet, Sex Scenes, Slow, Unusual

Beginners (2010)

Leave a comment

From NetFlix:

Based on indie director Mike Mills’s relationship with his father, this intriguing drama tells the story of Oliver (Ewan McGregor), a graphic artist coming to grips with the imminent death of his father (Christopher Plummer), who, at 75, has one last secret: He’s gay. Both inspired and confused by his father’s determination to find true love at last, Oliver tentatively pursues a romance with commitment-shy French actress Anna (Mélanie Laurent).

Ewan McGregor (now 40 years old) is not afraid to appear in movies outside the mainstream such as “Moulin Rouge” or “I Love You Philip Morris”. In fact, if you are looking for a good time, search for Ewan McGregor in IMDB for a long list of films. His biography in IMDB points out his determination to NOT conform.

And who could forget Christopher Plummer (now 82 years old) in the romantic role of Captain Von Trapp in “The Sound of Music” from way back in 1965.

Mélanie Laurent (age 28) is a French actress who appears in both French (“Jusqu’à Toi”) and American (“Inglourious Basterds”) films.

Possibly this film is not for everyone for reasons such as:

  • One half of the film centers on the 75 year old father coming out as gay.
  • Another important theme is the son’s difficulty in maintaining a relationship.
  • You could hear a pin drop because this is such a quiet film.
  • “Move Slowly” is the film’s motto. Often the young couple just stare at each other.
  • There is humor but it is very quiet and subtle.
  • Should I believe that a 75 year old gay man can find a young lover ?
  • You watch the father slowly succumb to lung cancer.

Despite these possible objections, I loved this unusual film.