Category Archives: Could Be Hard To Watch

2008, Could Be Hard To Watch, Crime, Drama, Drugs, Gangs, Nudity, Occasional gore, TV Series, Violent

Breaking Bad (2008)

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From NetFlix:

Diagnosed with cancer and given only two years left to live, high school chemistry teacher Walter (Emmy winner Bryan Cranston) attempts to secure his family’s financial future by teaming up with his former student, Jesse (Aaron Paul), to produce and distribute the illegal drug meth. As Walter slowly builds his empire, his wife, Skyler (Anna Gunn), grows suspicious of his erratic behavior, and the DEA starts searching for the area’s new drug kingpin.

NetFlix offers 3 TV seasons of “Breaking Bad” which started in 2008. Put this TV series in the “outrageous situations” category, which at times makes the happenings hilarious and wildly unexpected.

You might not like the theme and the events. Just to warn you, I give examples from season 1:

  • A high school chemistry teacher manufactures an especially high grade of crystal meth. In reality that drug destroys many lives. So you have to accept this premise.
  • At one point two drug dealers threaten the lives of Walter and Jesse in their camper trailer/meth lab. Immediately Walter figures out an escape which seems to kill both drug dealers.
  • Actually one dies immediately. But Walter and Jesse capture the other wounded dealer and imprison him in a cellar.
  • They flip a coin. Heads must dissolve the dead dealer in hydroflouric acid. Tails must kill the remaining dealer.
  • The acid dissolve is actually funny.
  • The killing is a serious bit of drama

So you can see why you might not enjoy this series. For what it’s worth Walter and Jesse play their parts to perfection.

1984, Coen Brothers, Could Be Hard To Watch, Crime, Drama, Revenge, Suspense, Violent

Blood Simple (1984)

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From NetFlix:

In a jealous rage, Texas tavern owner Julian Marty (Dan Hedaya) hires unscrupulous private detective Loren Visser (M. Emmet Walsh) to not only tail Marty’s two-timing spouse (Frances McDormand, in her big-screen debut) but also murder her and her paramour (John Getz). But events take a surprising turn when the gumshoe double-crosses his client. Joel Coen directs this stylish shocker co-written with brother Ethan Coen.

This is the first film that the Coen Brothers did together. For a recap of their career see the Wikipedia article which makes a table of 17 of their films including Barton Fink (1991), No Country For Old Men (2007), and Romance & Cigarettes (2005).

Violence seems to be their trademark. However, for me the attraction of the film was its firm foundation in gritty, believable reality. Special effects need not apply! The slow acting is pace-perfect. Part of that slow pace owes to an awful lot of actors just staring without saying anything. But in this film that style seems to work. When was the last time you saw a film in which the possible failure of a car to start was especially nerve-wracking ?

25 years ago, a very young Fances McDormand got by with a minimum of acting. John Getz seems to have spent most of his career in TV. Ditto for Dan Hedaya. M. Emmet Walsh is a face you have seen everywhere probably without knowing his name. For me Walsh had the most memorable part: evil with an ironic sense of humor. His part at the end is unforgettable.

If you want to watch Coen brother films, this is the place to start.

1996, Could Be Hard To Watch, Could Be Sad, Drama, Not Feel Good, Violent, War

The War At Home (1996)

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From NetFlix:

Starring Emilio Estevez (who also directed), Kathy Bates and Martin Sheen, this gripping war drama follows the battles encountered at home as a result of those on fought the battlefield. Vietnam impacted the everyday life of average American families in unimaginable ways: soldiers didn’t always return home alive, and when they did, they were often met with anger, not gratitude – even from their own families

There are several excellent films that deal with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Besides this film see also two versions of the same story: Brothers (2005) and Brothers (2009).

This particular film is in some sense the most difficult of the three because of the lack of support the returning veteran gets in this case. Martin Sheen is exasperating as the father. Brace yourself.

2009, Could Be Hard To Watch, Could Be Sad, Drama, Not Feel Good, Redemption, Violent, War

Brothers (2009)

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From NetFlix:

When severely traumatized Capt. Sam Cahill (Golden Globe nominee Tobey Maguire) returns home alive from a military mission in Afghanistan after he was presumed dead, he learns that his brother, Tommy (Jake Gyllenhaal), has gotten dangerously close to his grieving wife, Grace (Natalie Portman), and his kids. Mare Winningham and Sam Shepard also star in this wartime drama about human frailty and battles fought on the home front. Jim Sheridan directs.

“Brothers” from 2009 is an almost exact but Americanized version of the equally well-done Danish film Brothers (2005).

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is never easy to see (let alone experience). The two version of “Brothers” deal with Afghanistan. Don’t miss as well the sad film directed and acted by Emilio Estevez The War At Home (1996) which left me stunned. I would like to know if any of our soldiers actually had to endure what happens to Capt. Sam Cahill while a prisoner in Afghanistan.

All three of these films are well-written, well-acted, and difficult to watch.

2001, Could Be Hard To Watch, Crime, Detective, Drama, Religious Theme, Suspense, Violent

Frailty (2001)

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From NetFlix:

Director Bill Paxton’s gripping thriller has evil at its core — and a family in the crossfire. FBI agent Wesley Doyle (Powers Boothe) is trying to track down “God’s Hand,” a notorious murderer who’s resurfaced years after terrorizing a Texas town. The Meeks family — Fenton, Adam and their dad — gets involved when past and present converge and a long-tormented conscience is assuaged. Levi Kreis and Matthew McConaughey co-star.

Because I couldn’t stop watching, I knew I had stumbled on an excellent, suspenseful, psychological thriller and mystery with wonderful plot turns. More I will not say. But if you get confused, you can always read the Wikipedia article. The marvel in the film is that most of the film action takes place at a natural easily explained level of understanding. That, in part, is what makes watching this film so difficult. Indeed there is violence and killing. But the film is too intelligent to engage in explicit gore.

Matthew McConaughey, for once, is not a glamour boy. He, and all the actors, play their parts to perfection.

Toward the end of the film the film offers a new perspective. If anyone watches this film, please let me know how you reacted to this change.

2001, Could Be Hard To Watch, Crime, Detective, Drama, Drugs, Horror, Imperfect, Medical Theme, Mystery Film, Occasional gore, Suspense, Violent

From Hell (2001)

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From NetFlix:

Johnny Depp stars as an opium-huffing inspector from Scotland Yard who falls for one of Jack the Ripper’s prostitute targets (Heather Graham) in this Hughes brothers adaption of a graphic novel that posits the Ripper’s true identity. Ian Holm and Robbie Coltrane co-star in this genre-bending drama that marked Albert and Allen Hughes’s laudable attempt to break out of their pigeonhole as “black directors.”

Dark, gory, not Depp’s best. In a sense this is a mystery story: who is Jack the Ripper ? It’s almost as this film goes out of its way to discredit the Victorian power structure and especially the royal family. Give this film a shaky B and find something else.

2003, Could Be Hard To Watch, Detective, Drama, Explicit sex, Explicit sexual discussion, Mostly About Sex, Suspense, Vulgar

In the Cut (2003)

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From NetFlix:

Frannie (Meg Ryan) is a New York writing professor entwined in an erotic affair with a police detective (Mark Ruffalo) who’s investigating the murder of a young woman in Frannie’s neighborhood. But soon Frannie begins to suspect her lover’s involvement in the crime. Kevin Bacon and Jennifer Jason Leigh also star in this highly charged film directed by Jane Campion (The Piano) and based on Susanna Moore’s best-selling novel.

Sex – that’s mostly what this film is about. That and a lot of gory murders by a serial killer. You need a strong stomach for this film. Visually there is explicit sex. Verbally there is a lot of very frank sex talk and cursing.

So why would anyone in their right mind watch this gore-sex fest ? Well – Meg Ryan, Mark Ruffalo, Kevin Bacon and Jennifer Jason Leigh (as Pauline, Frannie’s sister) do a fair job of putting together a tense “who done it”. The core of the problem is that Meg Ryan is surrounded by a lot of characters, any one of whom could be the serial killer. This list of suspects includes Mark Ruffalo with whom she is having an affair. As much as you might guess the ending it is still scary.

But you have been warned that this film might offend you.

2009, Could Be Hard To Watch, Drama, Imperfect, Mediocre, Occasional gore, Revenge, Suspense, Violent

Law Abiding Citizen (2009)

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From NetFlix:

Traumatized by the atrocious murders of his wife and daughter — and the flawed justice system that set the killers free — Clyde Shelton (Gerard Butler) gives in to his rage and sets out on a course of vengeance. He soon takes on not only the prosecutor involved in the case, Nick Rice (Jamie Foxx), but also the city of Philadelphia. Director F. Gary Gray’s bold crime thriller co-stars Viola Davis and Michael Gambon.

Ever since Dear Frankie (2004) I have been waiting for Gerard Butler to become a good actor. Alas! In the current potboiler he is somewhat adequate. His character, Clyde Shelton, is unbelievably omnipotent. As I see it, the only reason to watch this mediocre film is to see all the tricks Clyde plays on Jamie Foxx and the rest of Philadelphia. Vengence sets the entire tone of this film.

Warning: There are almost gratuitous gory and violent scenes. Don’t say I didn’t stress the mediocrity of this film.

2002, Could Be Hard To Watch, Drama, Gangs, Melodrama, Not Feel Good, Occasional gore, Revenge, Suspense, Violent

Gangs of New York (2002)

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From NetFlix:

Amid the savage Irish and Italian rivalry that dominated New York City in the mid-1800s, Amsterdam Vallon (Leonardo DiCaprio) hunts down his father’s hateful murderer, Bill “the Butcher” Cutting (Daniel Day-Lewis). Along the way, Vallon falls for the charms of a streetwise pickpocket (Cameron Diaz). Director Martin Scorsese’s riveting epic — nominated for 10 Oscars — also stars Jim Broadbent, Liam Neeson, John C. Reilly and Henry Thomas.

Before seeing this film, at least read the Wikipedia article which at the very end gives historical references. According to this Wikipedia article, the New York scenes were very accurate. But the history itself is a different matter. Many liberties were taken with the facts. Still the underlying theme of the persecution of the Irish is quite valid. Moreover there were historical figures such as Bill Cutting (who was a butcher), but the film is at odds with their real history.

Violence is the chief characteristic of this film, and gory violence at that. Daniel Day-Lewis plays his usual blood-thirsty villain. For my money this was a black and white melodrama whose main attraction was indeed the many slaughters. And for some reason I have never been able to convince myself that Cameron Diaz can act.

Netfilx sends the film as two discs.

2006, Could Be Hard To Watch, Drama, Explicit sex, Love Story, Nudity

Little Children (2006)

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From NetFlix:

The lives of several adults who have yet to surpass adolescence intersect in unexpected ways in this twisted relationship drama from director Todd Field that’s set on the suburban streets of a small town. While on-the-go wife and mother Kathy (Jennifer Connelly) is focused on her career, Sarah (Kate Winslet, in an Oscar-nominated role) copes with her domestic plight by having an affair with Kathy’s husband, a stay-at-home dad (Patrick Wilson).

“Little Children” is NOT for little children. On the plus side there are lots of fun nude scenes of love-making between Winslet and Wilson. Also there is some fun footage of rough adult football. On the minus side there are two scenes of masturbation and one scene of self-mutilation.

The book was written by Tom Perrotta who lives in Belmont, MA. There is a voiced-in narrator that reads some of Perrotta’s text.

Don’t let the above warnings scare you off. This film captures the early 21st century with lots of current references. It especially captures surburban stay-at-home moms.

Kate Winslet is no stranger to this blog. See Revolutionary Road (2008), and Romance & Cigarettes (2005), as well as The Reader (2008) .

Patrick Wilson is young, handsome, and likeable in this film. For a completely different Patrick Wilson see Hard Candy (2005)

Hats off to Noah Emmerich as the sad former policeman Larry Hedges.

However, for my money, the most amazing piece of acting was presented by Jackie Earle Haley as the pervert. His reaction to his mother’s death was devastating.

I loved this possibly hard to watch film.