Category Archives: Detective

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.

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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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.

2003, British Mystery Series, Conspiracy, Detective, DO NOT MISS, Drama, Gritty, Suspense, TV Series

State of Play (2003)

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From NetFlix:

Powerful politico Stephen Collins (David Morrissey) is embroiled in a scandal when his
research assistant dies in a freak accident and his former campaign manager Cal McAffrey
(John Simm), now a reporter, realizes the incident may be linked to the death of a drug
dealer. As McAffrey digs deeper, he uncovers a dangerous connection between government
and big business in this exciting conspiracy thriller from the BBC.

This version is a 2-disc, 6-episode British TV series that predates the Hollywood film. Reviews for the film have been lukewarm, but they recommended this TV series that I got from NetFlix. Kathy and I could not wait to see each exciting installment. Acting is excellent. Details are well worked out. But pay attention in this conspiracy thriller. From time to time we would pause the DVD player and confer on whether we really understood what was happening. Even toward the end when things seem to be settling down you should hang on for more surprise.

I cannot recommend this British TV series highly enough.

2005, Comedy, Detective, Occasional gore, TV Series

Bones (2005)

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From NetFlix:

Inspired by the work of a real-life forensic anthropologist and novelist,
this darkly comic series follows Dr. Temperence Brennan (Emily Deschanel),
an employee of a Smithsonian-like institution who has a knack for finding
clues in the bones of murder victims. Called in to assist law enforcement
in their investigations, she’s often teamed with a government agent
Seeley Booth (David Boreanaz) who mistrusts the connection between
science and solving crime.

Season 1 of Bones was in 2005. The series has continued up to this year (2009). NetFlix offers many seasons of Bones.

The name “Bones” comes from the nickname that Seeley Booth gives to Dr. Temperence Brennan, the forensic anthopologist, because her specialty is investigating murders by looking at the victims’ bones. The very nature of her work introduces a lot of gore into the show, which is very fashionable today (think “CSI” without the lowcut bras).

But this is really a light-hearted show with a lot of wonderful banter. Seeley and Dr. Bones are constantly at war: She is the intellectual scientist, he trusts his FBI gut instincts. He is a people person, she is a people disaster. She has one woman assistant who referee’s the contest between two male assistants usually vying for the attention of some attractive female. Yes, there is crime solving, but it often seems secondary.

Does it say anything to mention that wife Kathy loves this show ? Of course she closes her eyes at some gore. Anyone care to examine human bones pulled from black bear scat ?

Have fun!

2005, Acceptable Trash, Chick Flick, Comedy, Detective

Miss Congeniality II (2005)

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From NetFlix:

After her triumph at the Miss United States pageant, FBI agent Gracie Hart
(Sandra Bullock) becomes an overnight sensation — and the new ‘face of the
FBI.’ But when the pageant’s winner, Cheryl (Heather Burns), and emcee Stan
(William Shatner) are abducted, Gracie springs into action with the help of
skeptical, businesslike agent Sam Fuller (Regina King). John Pasquin directs
this girl-powered buddy flick.

Every now and then it is important to watch “acceptable trash”. At the very least I got a few good laughs from the movie. Enough said.

But I get a kick out of seeing TV actors appear in movies, to wit:

  • Regina King was ‘Sandra Palmer’ in 9 episodes of ’24’
  • Enrique Murciano is ‘Danny Taylor’ in ‘Without a Trace’
  • Ernie Hudson was in ‘Bones’
  • Diedrich Bader was in ‘CSI’
  • Elisabeth Rohm is ‘Serena Southerlyn’ on ‘Law and Order’
2002, Could Be Hard To Watch, Detective, Redemption, Revenge, Suspense, Violent

The Salton Sea (2002)

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From NetFlix:

Punk-rocking speed freak Danny Parker (Val Kilmer) freelances as an informant for brutal narcotics cops Al Garcetti (Anthony LaPaglia) and Gus Morgan (Doug Hutchison). But when he’s not assisting the cops on drug busts, Danny gets high and leads a double life as a talented, mild-mannered trumpeter named Tom Van Allen. One personality is in search of his wife’s killer, but reality is evasive in director D.J. Caruso’s neo-noir crime thriller.

Welcome to the first of a two-film festival featuring Vincent D’Onofrio who has been called an “actor’s actor”. In this violentissimo!!!!! film, D’Onofrio steals the show as the incredibly psychotic Pooh-Bear. Tell me, did this character lose his nose due to sniffing entertaining substances ?

In theory this is Val Kilmer’s film and he broods well throughout. But low and behold there are small parts for the young Anthony LaPaglia and even younger B.D. Wong. For me, however, the best and most moving supporting actor was Peter Saarsgard as a slow-witted but faithful friend.

We cannot fail to note that “Law and Order” counts D’Onofrio, B.D. Wong, and Saarsgard among its cast. LaPaglia instead appears in “CSI” and of course “Without a Trace”.

Warning: This is an especially brutal film with some disturbing sequences.

1997, British Mystery Series, Detective, Explicit sex, Gritty, Revenge, Suspense

Painted Lady (1997)

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From NetFlix:

Just when everyone thought she was down for the count, lost to drugs and unable to afford anything, Irish folk singer Maggie Sheridan (Helen Mirren) avenges the death of her landlord, who was killed for her vast art collection. Unable to let the criminals literally get away with murder, Sheridan pretends she’s an art dealer and hunts them down. Along the way, she pulls her wrecked life together and even falls in love with a dashing count.

Masterpiece Theater offered this Helen Mirren drama in two parts. Kathy and I needed at least 3 sittings to get through the more than three hours. But it was worth the effort. All the actors, including Helen Mirren, do a wonderful job. At one critical point you think the story is over, but it continues on in a significant way. There are a few murders but the gore (including blood) is minimal. As usual Kathy hid her eyes in the really suspensful parts. See if you can recognize which actor plays the dashing count.