Category Archives: FilmReview

1996, Crime, Gangs, Revenge, Sex Scenes, Stalker, Suspense, Violent

The Juror (1996)

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From NetFlix:

Annie Laird (Demi Moore), a juror in an anti-Mafia trial, is forced to play along with The Teacher (Alec Baldwin), a gangster who threatens to kidnap and harm Annie’s son if she doesn’t convince her fellow jurors to return a “not guilty” verdict. But it seems The Teacher has become obsessed with her and won’t let her be — even after the end of the trial. Annie’s only way to protect herself and her son may be to take on the mob.

What a blast from the past! As soon as you see Demi Moore, Alec Baldwin, and James Gandolfini, you realize how much they (and we) have aged. That’s even more scary than this really gripping jury-stalker-mob film. Just hold onto your seats and enjoy the descent.

Can there be a better sociopathic monster than Alec Baldwin ? Talk about a super stalker! Fourteen years after this film, we see him doing comedy in “30 Rock” as a much heavier man.

Eleven years after this film, James Gandofini starred in “The Sopranos”.

Lindsay Crouse may not be as familiar as the above three stars, but we have seen her live many times locally as a stage actress. She (and just about every other actor under the sun) has appeared several times in “Law and Order”. For what it is worth, she graduated from Radcliffe in 1970 with the first class to receive Harvard diplomas.

Technology in the form of eavesdropping plays an important part in the plot. Notice that the cellphone is not used. It might be a lot easier to foil a stalker if you have a cellphone.

This one glued me to my chair!

1999, British Mystery Series, Crime, Detective, Gritty, Nudity, TV Series

Second Sight (1999)

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From NetFlix:

In this absorbing BBC crime drama, Clive Owen stars as Det. Chief Inspector Ross Tanner, a no-nonsense cop who disdains anything but cold, hard evidence — until a rare eye disease forces him to reassess his sleuthing methods. As he tracks down a ruthless killer, Tanner makes a deal with his ambitious partner, Catherine Tully (Claire Skinner), to advance her career in exchange for helping him hide his deteriorating vision

Acorn TV streams two seasons of this tense and well-done TV series. Season two has to be the last because Det. Chief Inspector Ross Tanner can no longer function because of his failing eyesight.

Clive Owen is his usual aggressively driven self. His acting is riveting as he expresses his helpless anger at going blind (including the fact that he may soon not be able to see his young son who lives with the divorced mother).

Claire Skinner has been in a huge number of TV series. In fact, if you are looking for some TV series to watch, just look her up in IMDB.  She appears only in season one. She abruptly quits in season two and Tanner must rely on his best friend in the police force.

 

2010, Chick Flick, Could Be Sad, Drama, Feel Good Not For Children, Love Story, Military, Sex Scenes, War

Dear John (2010)

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From NetFlix:

While on leave, U.S. soldier John Tyree (Channing Tatum) falls for Southern college student Savannah (Amanda Seyfried), whose ideals and heartfelt principles are at once attractive and unfamiliar. But their love is put on hold when terrorist attacks prompt John to reenlist. Now, handwritten letters hold the lovers together. Lasse Hallstrom directs this modern romance based on the novel by Nicholas Sparks.

As the film started I thought “Why on earth am I watching a PG-13 ?” (the one sex scene is so discreet as to be non-existent). Indeed the beginning of the film seemed like an ordinary chick flick. But there are enough worthwhile themes here to make the story interesting.

Richard Jenkins plays John Tyree’s autistic father. Just yesterday I reviewed The Confession (1999) in which Richard Jenkins plays a crooked politician. He plays the part of a father who loves his son but whose autism prevents him from expressing that love openly. There is one very touching scene between the two.

Channing Tatum has appeared in Stop-Loss (2008) which is another war film.

Amanda Seyfried is Chloe (2009) in the film of the same name.

This could be a tear-jerker.

Forgive my scepticism. I do not know enough about autism. But is it at all believable that an autistic man marries, has a normal son, and when the wife abandons the family while that boy is pre-school the father raises the boy to maturity ? And could that son do such selfless deeds ?

1999, Conspiracy, Crime, Drama, Lawyers, Made For TV, Redemption, Religious Theme

The Confession (1999)

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From NetFlix:

Two 2004 Oscar nominees, Ben Kingsley and Alec Baldwin, are featured in this made-for-TV legal drama. A New York lawyer (Baldwin) with his eyes on the D.A.’s office has a crisis of conscience when he must defend a man (Kingsley) who killed three hospital workers who ignored his dying son. Problem is, the defendant actually wants to be convicted. Based on the novel Fertig by Sol Yurick.

Most often Ben Kingsley plays a sinister role. What a surprise, then, to see him as a devout Jew saying his prayers, observing the Sabbath. In much of the film Kingsley talks about his relationship with God. In this respect you might see the film as a bit preachy. There is even more of this sentiment throughout the film, for example, at trial and in private conversations.

Amy Irving (Emily Sloan in 9 episodes of “Alias”) does a wonderful job as the unhappy wife of Ben Kingsley. I just could not accept the affair between her character and that of Alex Baldwin. Let me know if you think otherwise.

Richard Jenkins (the dead father in “Six Feet Under”) get to play a crook as does Jay O. Sanders (“Revolutionary Road”).

Good over evil after a bit of soul searching.

2004, Could be boring, Drama, Horror, Unusual

The Village (2004)

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From NetFlix:

M. Night Shyamalan assembles an all-star cast — including Bryce Dallas Howard, Joaquin Phoenix, Sigourney Weaver and William Hurt — in this chilling tale about an isolated village whose residents face the constant threat of evil creatures. The villagers’ lives are changed forever when one of them decides to venture beyond the town borders to see what’s lurking in the surrounding woods and makes an unexpected discovery.

Not for everyone, this unusual film features a 19th century village in which the characters speak very slowly and deliberately, almost as if they were on stage rather than in a film. Leave it to Joaquin Phoenix to appear in a strange production.

Almost from the beginning I guessed what was going on and you probably will also. Adrian Brody plays a retarded man who needs a haircut badly. There are some surprises. I stuck around to see just how everything resolved, but it takes a bit of fortitude.

Could this happen ? You are warned.

2008, Gay theme, Talking Heads

Ciao (2008)

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From NetFlix:

After the death of his close friend, Mark, Jeff (Adam Neal Smith) begins corresponding via e-mail with Andrea (Alessandro Calza), an Italian with whom Mark had an online relationship. Upon Jeff’s suggestion, Andrea comes to visit, and the two men explore Mark’s life and grow closer. A quiet and tender look at relationships and desire, this drama also stars Ethel Lung, Chuck Blaum and John Boles.

Essentially a very quiet talking heads film, there is not a cliché in the entire film, unlike so many gay-themed films. Nor is there any sex. Jeff lived loved Mark but Mark did not reciprocate. Andrea and Mark were a possible pair but Mark dies. Andrea comes to visit Jeff despite Mark’s death and eventually helps Jeff to mourn and accept the situation. It may sound dull (as in, where’s the sex and violence) but I found the film interesting.

Question: Could this story have worked if the relationships were straight instead of gay ?

2000, Crime, Detective, Direct to Video, Imperfect, Mediocre, Mystery Film, Plot Twist, Psychic Phenomena, Serial Killer, Suspense

Eye of the Killer (2000)

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From NetFlix:

After a blow to the head, haggard Det. Mickey Hayden (Kiefer Sutherland) acquires an extraordinary new ability: He can visualize the owner of anything he touches. This homicide-solving talent comes in handy when Hayden gets assigned to the hardest case of his life. A serial killer named Jabberwocky has resurfaced, pinning a note to his most recent victim challenging Hayden to stalk the murderer again in this direct-to-video thriller.

Despite being a mediocre film about psychic phenomena, the plot has some good surprises (including the very end). Alcoholic, depressed detectives are now such a cliche. And why do they often hang out in gay bars when they are really straight ? The fact that this film is a direct-to-video should be enough of a warning.

Is this damning with faint praise ?

2009, Drama, Explicit sexual discussion, Not Feel Good, Sex Scenes

Solitary Man (2009)

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From NetFlix:

Michael Douglas stars as a former car dealership owner who sees his personal and professional lives take a nosedive when the repercussions of years of shady business dealings and chronic womanizing finally catch up with him. Susan Sarandon, Mary-Louise Parker, Danny DeVito and Jenna Fischer co-star in this comedic drama written and co-directed by Brian Koppelman.

Michael Douglas playing Michael Douglas is pitch perfect for this role as a man whose behavior makes me cringe with sadness. Despite the NetFlix description, this film is NOT a comedy.

Towards the end of the film his first wife, Susan Sarandon, asks him about his behavior. His explanation, if I understood correctly, attributes his attitude to a single event in the past. Even if I understood correctly his intended answer, I just don’t buy it. Any comments ?

All the acting is good, especially the really young Harvard students who eventually see through the protagonist.

For me the ending was perfect. Any wild disagreements ?

2005, Political Suspense, Redemption, Revenge, Suspense, Terrorist Attack, Violent

The Interpreter (2005)

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From NetFlix:

Silvia Broome (Nicole Kidman) is a linguist whose job is to translate for her assigned delegate the complex issues facing the United Nations. But her daily challenge turns perilous when she overhears a plot to assassinate a high-ranking government official. Suddenly in the crosshairs of the conspirators, Silvia — with help from a Secret Service agent (Sean Penn) — must unravel an intricate web of intrigue to save herself.

Sean Penn and Nicole Kidman parry well (and thank goodness they don’t fall into the cliche of becoming lovers. Oops! did I give something away? But romance is not the point of this film at all!). Each has his or her own sorrow which eventually comes forth. Actually the theme is whether to forgive or avenge a wrong.

Details might be hard to follow at times. There is, of course, violence. In a way this is a mystery story: what’s really happening?

I was amused to see quite a few “Law and Order” participants. But then who hasn’t been on “Law and Order”?

Although the film is nothing special, I stayed glued to see the conclusion.

2006, Fantasy, Occasional gore, Suspense, TV Series

The Lost Room (2006)

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From NetFlix:

After Detective Joe Miller (Peter Krause) finds a key that opens a mysterious motel room, he discovers it’s a portal to an alternate universe when his young daughter Anna (Elle Fanning) disappears inside. Desperate to retrieve the key and save her, Miller comes up against a host of bizarre characters who also want access to the room. Julianna Margulies, Kevin Pollak, Dennis Christopher and Margaret Cho co-star in this eerie fantasy

My son Mike recommended that I watch a wonderful TV fantasy miniseries called The Room. As it turns out, Mike made a small mistake. “The Room” is now a cult film that plays often at the Coolidge Corner cinema. “The Room” is billed as the worst film ever made. Unfortunately “The Room” arrived from NetFlix and I started to watch it. Believe me, “The Room” might possibly be the worst film ever made. Whatever you do, do NOT watch “The Room”.

What Mike should have recommended was a two-disk TV miniseries called “The Lost Room”. If you liked “Lost” and other such fantasy series, you will love “The Lost Room”. Peter Krause is perfect. And lately I keep finding films in which Julianna Margulies (“Canterbury’s Law”, “The Good Wife”, The Man From Elysian Fields (2001)) plays.

Just sit back, suspend all disbelief, and enjoy the ride!