Category Archives: FBI

2013, Acceptable for children, Action Film, B-movie, Bullying, Corny, Could be boring, Fantasy, FBI, Good digital effects, Mayhem, Sci-Fi, Violent

Man of Steel (2013)

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From Netflix:

In another revival of the Superman legend, reporter Clark Kent must keep his alien origins and fantastic powers hidden from the world at large. But when the Kryptonian General Zod plans to destroy Earth, the Man of Steel springs into heroic action.

No amount of digital eye-candy can turn a B-movie into an A-movie. Kids (some of whom are in their 70’s) will enjoy the visuals. However, if you are looking for anything but corny dialog and bathos, look elsewhere.

How does it happen so often that such an extravaganza features as actors a long list of well-known personalities? Look for Michael Shannon, Diane Lane, Russell Crowe, Richard Schiff, Christopher Meloni, Kevin Costner, Lawrence Fishburne. And the list goes on. Assumedly they were each paid a great deal of money.

To be sure, the bullies never win. But it might be almost boring fun watching them try. For awhile my money was on the evil General Zod and his evolutionarily advanced buddies.

2007, Chase film, Computer geeks, Conspiracy, Crude Talk, FBI, Frenetic, Mayhem, Suspense, Thriller, Violent, Vulgar

Live Free or Die Hard(2007)

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From NetFlix:

John McClane (Bruce Willis) is back and badder than ever, and this time he’s working for Homeland Security. He calls on the services of a young hacker (Justin Long) in his bid to stop a ring of Internet terrorists intent on taking control of America’s computer infrastructure. Fear not, the information-age plot still boasts plenty of good old-fashioned gunfights, smash-ups and explosions.

Just a short review:

  • Die Hard (1988)
  • Die Harder (1990)
  • Die Hard with a Vengeance (1995)
  • Live Free or Die Hard (2007)
  • A Good Day to Die Hard (2013)

So why bother since they are all more or less the same ? Well, the car wrecks and car chases and exploding buildings and gun fights sometimes are all my aging immature mind can handle.

Let’s just hope that the movie is just fiction and it is not all that easy to take the country down using computer hacking. Maybe I’ll just keep my money in my mattress.

2011, Clever Plot, Conspiracy, DO NOT MISS, Explicit sex, FBI, Made For TV, Mental Illness, Military, Nudity, Plot Twist, PTSD, Sex Scenes, Spy Theme, Suspense, Torture, Wonderful acting

Homeland (2011)

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From NetFlix:

When Sgt. Nicholas Brody, an American prisoner of war, returns home after eight years of captivity, frantic CIA agent Carrie Anderson suspects the Marine of having been turned into an Al Qaeda terrorist in this espionage drama from Showtime.

At the urging of a neighbor, I have started watching season 1 of “Homeland”. For months the title sat at the top of my NetFlix queue before it finally arrived. This TV series deserves to be so popular.

Part terrorist film, part treatment of family problems of a Marine returning from Afghanistan, this film is hard to stop watching. Acting is excellent. Expect a lot of surprise twists.

If Claire Danes (who plays Carrie Mathison) was not well known before this TV series, she will certainly make her mark with this work. She plays an FBI agent looking for a terrorist while taking medicine to combat her manic depression.

Damian Lewis (who plays Nicholas Brody) is actually British. His American accent is flawless. You might remember him as Soames Forsyte in the British TV series “The Forsyte Saga”.

Morena Baccarin (who plays the wife Jessica Brody) first came to my attention as the alien queen of the remake of the TV series “V”.

Currently only season 1 is available on DVD because season 2 is now playing. Because the story is so intriguing you won’t forget season 1 while you wait for season 2.

DON’T MISS THIS TV SERIES!

2008, Based on true facts, Crude Talk, Drama, FBI, Lawyers, Political Suspense, Prison, Wonderful acting

Nothing But the Truth (2008)

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From NetFlix:

Journalist Rachel Armstrong (Kate Beckinsale) turns Washington on its ear when she outs a casual acquaintance (Vera Farmiga) as a CIA agent. The government’s formidable prosecutor (Matt Dillon) sends Rachel to jail for contempt, where she discovers the true impact of her decision. David Schwimmer and Alan Alda co-star in this drama from Rod Lurie, the politically savvy filmmaker behind The Contender and “Commander in Chief.”

Watching this film might make you angry or fearful or both. But in any case you could not possibly be bored.

Acting is superb on everyone’s part. The story line is coherent and easy to follow.

As the film progressed I started to wonder why the heroine (can you guess where my sympathy lay?) held on. When I finally understood who her source was, then I really had to question the validity of her endurance. Any comments on this point?

Remember that this film is fiction. Try to watch it without reference to past events. After that you might enjoy reading about the outing of Valerie Plame as a CIA agent during the Cheney administration. An easy source for this is the Wikipedia article. To save time you could begin reading at the section called “Plamegate”. This article mentions that a film more directly related to Plamegate was entitled “Fair Game” named after the book written by Valerie Plame and starring Sean Penn and Naomi Watts. Always it struck me as odd that no one was prosecuted as a traitor for outing a CIA agent.

Not an easy watch but certainly an engrossing 107 minutes.

2012, Based on a Book, Bootlegging, Crude Talk, Disturbing Image, DO NOT MISS, Drama, FBI, Gangs, Gay theme, Grim, Love Story, Nudity, Rape, Revenge, Sadism, Suspense, Violent, Vulgar, Wonderful acting

Lawless (2012)

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From NetFlix:

This true-to-life action saga profiles Virginia’s bootlegging Bondurant gang, whose exploits during the Prohibition era made them outlaw heroes. The three Bondurant brothers tussle with the law and each other as they try to survive changing times.

Despite the unrelenting violence from start to finish, every other aspect is so well done that this film about bootlegging is strongly compelling. Much attention was paid to reproducing rural Virginia during the Prohibition era.

As far as acting is concerned Tom Hardy (age 35), Jason Clarke (age 43), and Shia LaBeouf (age 26) create a fascinating trio of Bondurant brothers, each with his own unique personality. “Chameleon” is a word I like to apply to an actor who loses himself in a part to such an extent that you almost do not recognize him. Here we have at least two “chameleons”: Tom Hardy took an light and fun part playing against Chris Pine in the film “This Means War” whereas in “Lawless” he has transformed himself into an almost silent, soft-spoken but menacing Forest Bondurant. Make no mistake: you WILL take Forest seriously or else. Guy Pearce (age 45) is the other “chameleon”. Because of his scary portray of Charlie Rakes as a violent psychopath, I am willing to finally give Guy Pearce his due. Many of his earlier films were often mediocre fluff. However, who could forget (or stop conjecturing about the plot of) “Momento”. Both Tom Hardy and Guy Pearce are British so we have to add accent skills to their credits.

For more background on the Bondurant family see the Wikipedia article about Matt Bondurant and his book “The Wettest County in the World”. Matt was the grandson of one of the three brothers.

Despite the violence, I would have to say DO NOT MISS THIS FILM!

2011, Clever Plot, Crime, Detective, DO NOT MISS, Drama, Dysfunctional Lives, FBI, Grim, Murder Investigation, Mystery Film, Politicians, TV Series, Violent, Wonderful acting

The Killing (2011)

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From Net Flix:

The disappearance of a young Seattle girl sets in motion this moody crime series centering on a detective — Sarah Linden — who’s trying to start a new life in California but is unable to walk away from the mysteries posed by the complex case.

Three years after I first wrote this review (2014), Kathy and I have just finished streaming all 26 episodes of season one plus season two (no, not in one sitting). You must see both seasons to see the entire Rosie Larsen story. Amazon Prime offers four seasons for free. You can also use your Roku to search for all streaming sources for any given film, series, or whatever. There is more than one streaming source for “The Killing”.

This TV series from 2011 is well-written, well-acted, and immensely engaging. How, you might ask, can you spend two TV years investigating just one murder? As soon as you start the series you will understand how the plot intertwines many connected and well-constructed threads.

Rosie Larsen is found drowned in a sunken car. Finding her killer involves her family, her teachers, her friends, two starring detectives, and, possibly most interesting of all, an politician running for the office of Seattle’s mayor against a corrupt incumbent. Searching for that murder brings sorrow, family dysfunction, violence, false leads, FBI involvement, unjustified persecution, and the list goes on.

At times the series seemed to drag. An awful lot of time was spent watching the Larsen family suffer the effects of the murder. Just as much time was spent watching the detective Sarah get so involved with the case that she as a single mother does NOT do a good job raising her son. Thank goodness she has the support of her partner detective Holder.

Many surprises are in store, especially in the last episode. It is perhaps realistic and to the writer’s credit that some of the bad guys get away with their skullduggery.

Watching this series from week to week would have been sheer torture. Thank goodness the NetFlix discs let us watch episode after episode without foolish interruptions such as food, sleep, etc.

DO NOT MISS!

2011, Based on true facts, Biographical, Bullying, Clint Eastwood, Crime, Detective, DO NOT MISS, Drama, FBI, Gangs, Gay theme, Kidnapping, Lawyers, Love Story, Psychological Drama, Violent, Wonderful acting

J. Edgar (2011)

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From NetFlix:

Leonardo DiCaprio stars in this riveting biopic as J. Edgar Hoover, the longtime FBI director as notorious for his overzealous methods of law enforcement as for the rumors regarding his cross-dressing and close relationship with protégé Clyde Tolson.

Looking for an “Actor’s actor” ? Go no farther. Current movie reviews lament the fact that we are seeing a series of young male wannabes with tight abs who don’t last because they lack the acting skills. But Leonardo DiCaprio is the quintessential chameleon. His portrayal of J. Edgar is nothing less than astonishing. Even if it were complete fiction, the film would be riveting (as the NetFlix caption says).

For a discussion of historical accuracy you can read the Wikipedia article. This article also discusses Hoover’s sexuality. Clint Eastwood, the director, wisely stayed away from any depiction of cross-dressing (except for one brief suggestion) or explicit sexual behavior (except for some kisses). Just enjoy the marvelous production and stop wondering how much is true. If even a little bit were true, Hoover was a dangerous paranoid.

This is NOT a film for titillation. Instead it focuses on Hoover’s bulldog no-holds-barred approach to getting his way, even if it meant blackmailing every politician in Washington. It focuses also on: Hoover’s insecurity, his emotional dependence on his mother (with whom he lived all his life) and Clyde Tolson (who had his own house), his lying, and his barely legal methods.

In all fairness you should read the Wikepedia biography of Clyde Tolson. He was NOT the seemingly weak character portrayed in the film.

Nixon is portrayed as a profane thug.

Additionally I marvel at the long list of known supporting actors, among whom we find:

  • Armie Hammer (who?) played Clyde Tolson very well. Believe it or not, Armie Hammer’s father is the CEO of the Armand Hammer Foundation. Armie was 25 years old during the filming.
  • Josh Lucas played Charles Lindberg, who was very important to the story.
  • Damon Herriman (who?) played Bruno Hauptman, the supposed kidnapper of the Lindberg child. Today the debate still rages over the guilt of Haputman. Once again see the Wikipedia article.
  • Naomi Watts played Helen Gandy, the famous personal secretary for Hoover for 54 years. She is most remembered for spending weeks after Hoover’s death destroying Hoover’s blackmail materials, his “Personal File” (much to Nixon’s chagrin). Once again see Wikepedia.
  • Big surprise: I kept staring at Hoover’s mother and couldn’t believe my eyes. Indeed it was Judi Dench. She spoke a perfect American accent. More to the point she was a professional support actor who received no special credit.
  • Remember Dermot Mulroney (My Best Friend’s Wedding)? He played Colonel Schwarkopf.
  • My own award for “Appearing everywhere but not famous” goes to Zach Grenier (who?) whom I once met in person in the San Franciscon Museum of Modern Art. His is the only name I can drop because I never meet anyone famous. Look him up in IMDB and I am willing to bet you have seen him somewhere. He is currently playing a pain in the neck in “The Good Wife” on TV.

Officially I go out on a limb: DO NOT MISS THIS FILM!