Category Archives: FilmReview

1999, Complicated, Detective, Drama, Made For TV, Not Feel Good, Suspense

Split Second (1999)

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From NetFlix:

A split-second decision made in a fit of rage eventually drives attorney and family man Michael Anderson (Clive Owen) to desperate measures in this gripping psychological drama. The stressed-out corporate lawyer hits his melting point one fateful day, and things only get worse for Anderson when he runs away from the horrible consequences of his rage-induced actions. Helen McCrory, John Bowe and James Cosmo co-star.

In this made-for-TV film, Clive Owen is leading a very stressful life of a corporate lawyer. At one point while driving home he hits a kills a bicyclist and then runs. The rest of the somewhat complicated story involves his inner torment, external reactions, and eventual decision.

Helen McCrory does a good job as his wife. You may recognize her as Marcissa Malfoy in the Harry Potter films. All in all the plot easily could occur. I hope I never hit-and-run but I was rooting for Clive Owen to find some solution.

Not relaxing.

1971, Drama, Explicit sex, Horror, Love Story, Nudity, Occasional gore, Old-Fashioned, Revenge, Suspense, Violent

Play Misty for Me (1971)

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From NetFlix:

Silver-tongued radio disc jockey Dave (Clint Eastwood) can’t help but notice the persistent calls from a female to “play ‘Misty’ for me.” But when a chance meeting with infatuated fan Evelyn leads to a brief and steamy love affair, Dave quickly learns he’s in for more than a little night music. Evelyn will stop at nothing — even the return of one of Dave’s old flames — to have him all to herself. The film marks Eastwood’s directorial debut.

1971 was a long time ago (38 years ago to be exact). Recently I reviewed “Gran Torino”, another Clint Eastwood film. His voice today is really rough but back in the day he had a silver whisper voice. And of course, his looks have changed a bit. This stalker film predates the stalker film of all times, “Fatal Attraction”. Techniques have evolved. Whereas this film has a “happy ?” ending, today the stalker would cleverly frame the stalkee for some crime and destroy the life of the stalkee, or something equally dreary. An awful lot of film footage was wasted by today’s standards. You spend too much time walking through a dark room waiting for someone to pounce. You have to sit through some on-stage musicians that have nothing to do with the plot. For 1971 the really beautiful naked love scene in the forest pond was probably quite daring. Finally, the stalker (Jessica Walter) was the best actor in the film, although not quite Glenn Close.

1990, British Mystery Series, Detective, Mystery Film, Old-Fashioned

Inspector Alleyn Mysteries: Set 1 (1990)

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From NetFlix:

Chief Inspector Roderick Alleyn (Patrick Malahide) is a sophisticated detective who’s comfortable among society types in 1940s Britain but equally able to navigate the trenches when duty calls. His skills come in handy when he’s handed cases that mystify his colleagues — such as the murder of an artist’s model, the mysterious death of high-powered politicians and barristers and the blackmailing of an upper-crust debutante.

We were a bit disappointed in set 1 of Inspector Alleyn. Kathy and I found discs 1 and 3 boring. Discs 2 and 4 were better but not great. These period pieces are a bit slow and antiquated. However, subtitles are available which is a plus for many viewers.

2008, Drama, Independent, Not Feel Good, Sci-Fi, Spanish, Violent

Sleep Dealer (2008)

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From NetFlix:

In a futuristic yet not unfamiliar world, the lives of three strangers connect in surprising ways amid a backdrop of militarization, closed borders and an all-encompassing global technological network. At the center of this potent sci-fi tale (nominated for a Best First Feature Independent Spirit Award) are Memo (Luis Fernando Peña), a peasant displaced after his village is attacked; Luz, a writer (Leonor Varela) who plugs her brain into the net; and Rudy (Jacob Vargas), an American security company worker.

NetFlix suggested this rare find: a science fiction film that is Latino, quiet, sadly possible, and promotes human values especially the love of family. Subtitles accompany the easy and slow Spanish speech. There is some violence which because it is not gore hits close to home. It took me a while to understand the purpose of the “nodes”, but once I understood I was jolted because I now saw science fiction that could easily solve the “Mexican problem”. Could this impersonal form of voluntary slavery really happen ? Is the situation of today’s Latino immigrants any better ?

2004, Drama, Not Feel Good, Suspense, Unusual, Violent

Enduring Love (2004)

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From NetFlix:

One man’s placid, circumspect life is thrown wildly off kilter when he becomes the target of another man’s obsession after witnessing a horrific hot-air balloon accident and attempting to rescue its passengers. This harrowing drama stars Daniel Craig, Samantha Morton, Rhys Ifans, Bill Nighy and Alexandra Aitken. Roger Michell directs from his own script, an adaptation of the novel by Ian McEwan.

Reading a novel by Ian McEwan is almost always harrowing, and the plot of this film is no exception. Basically the film is about one man’s stalking another for reasons that you eventually discover. Some of the stalking scenes are downright embarrassing, others violent and you cannot imagine where all of this will end. Sometimes the film seems slow, especially when a dinner party sits around and discusses the main theme: what is true love and can it endure ?

Currently Daniel Craig is pigeon-holed as “Bond, James Bond”. That is a pity because Daniel Craig can actually act. (Don’t miss him in “Defiance”.) Hats off to the Welsh actor Rhys Ifans for a stunning performance as the stalker. He has been in too many films to list. Samantha Morton was Mary Stuart in “Elizabeth: The Golden Age”.

If you can stand the sadness, the stalking, the anger, the violence, and some failed relations, then be my guest.

2008, Drama, Feel Good Not For Children, Imperfect, Redemption, Religious Theme, Revenge, Suspense, Violent

Gran Torino (2008)

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From NetFlix:

Curmudgeonly Korean War veteran Walt Kowalski (Clint Eastwood, who also directs) must confront his Hmong immigrant neighbors — and his own long-held prejudices — when the family’s teenage son, Thao (Bee Vang), tries to steal Walt’s beloved 1972 Gran Torino. Walt soon assumes the unlikely role of guardian angel to young Thao and his sister Sue (Ahney Her), both of whom are vulnerable to local gang influences.

“Gran Torino” tells a good story with bad guys and good guys as black and white as a cowboy movie (after all, it’s Clint Eastwood). But Walt’s personality isn’t so clear cut and to his credit is able to grow and change. Enjoy the story even if you have to sometimes suspend disbelief. What’s wrong with the Lone Ranger arriving just in time to save the day ?

As for the acting, I sadly give it a B. Thao sometimes just reads his lines. His sister is a much better actor (N.B. it is no longer politically correct to use the word “actress”).

And the more I think about it, Walt’s final solution was just about perfect. Have fun!

2009, Complicated, Conspiracy, Drama, Suspense

State of Play (2009)

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From NetFlix:

Play Preview When his mistress is found dead, Congressman Stephen Collins (Ben Affleck) tries desperately to protect his name and career. As journalists Cal (Russell Crowe) and Della (Rachel McAdams) investigate further, they uncover an intricate web of lies that stretches to the highest levels of power. Based on the critically acclaimed BBC miniseries, this intriguing political thriller co-stars Helen Mirren, Robin Wright Penn and Jason Bateman.

There are two version of “State of Play”. In 2003 British TV produced a multi-part TV series version that was amazing. It is available thru NetFlix. The 2009 Hollywood version is a two-hour version re-written in large part to take place in the U.S.A. and involve congressmen instead of members of parliament. Both are worth seeing but each is a very different experience. Congratulations to Hollywood for producing a conspiracy plot that is easy to follow. Needless to say the much longer British version offers a lot more detail. Kathy and I enjoyed the British version awhile back and I am glad that sufficient time separated the two viewings. Quite frankly, don’t miss either version.

2009, Complicated, Conspiracy, Suspense

Duplicity (2009)

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From NetFlix:

Play Preview Julia Roberts and Clive Owen co-star in this curveball-throwing thriller as a pair of romantically involved corporate operatives who are entangled in a bitter rivalry between two mammoth pharmaceutical companies. Paul Giamatti and Tom Wilkinson convincingly round out the heavyweight cast as warring big pharma CEOs in this intriguing espionage effort from writer-director Tony Gilroy (Michael Clayton).

From the viewpoint of plot, I found this film very complicated. Nonetheless, even if you miss some details, you can still enjoy all the twists, especially the very end of the film. Pay attention to the fight occuring in the very start of the film. Then at the end of the film try and recall that fight because at that point the fight makes sense.

Paul Giamatti has found (fallen into ?) a niche as a demoniacal plotter (see Shoot Em’ Up, my favorite Clive Owen flm).

For me the major attraction was hopefully the interaction between Julia Roberts and Clive Owen. Whereas Clive Owen was his usual forceful bad-boy self, Julia Roberts’ delivery seemed a bit flat. Give this film at most a B.

2009, Acceptable Trash, Comedy, Vulgar

I Love You, Man (2009)

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From NetFlix:

In this bromance, the cinematic equivalent of a rom-com buddy flick, Paul Rudd plays a recently engaged guy who’s got the bride-to-be of his dreams but lacks an all-important significant other when it comes to their pending nuptials: a best man. On a determined hunt for a stranger who will stand up for him, he eventually meets a candidate (Jason Segel) with wedding-party potential. Jaime Pressly, Rashida Jones and Jon Favreau co-star.

According to Wikipedia a bromance or “man-crush” is a close but non-sexual relationship between two men, a form of homosocial intimacy.

Give this film a strong C. I got some good laughs mostly at the embarrassed expense of the characters. Perhaps I am out of touch or just plain old, but I was truly shocked at some of the discussions (e.g. a bachelor’s intimate masturbation den, yikes!).

Despite its rampant vulgarity the film actually makes some valid points: How many close friends do you really have ? How hard is it for a single man to make new friends ? What topics should appropriately be shared between friends or between a couple ?

2008, Drama, Drugs, Explicit sex, Nudity, Sports, Violent, Vulgar

Rudo y Cursi (2008)

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From NetFlix:

Stuck working on a banana ranch, two super competitive soccer-playing brothers dream of getting off the farm and finding stardom: Beto (Diego Luna) as a pro goalie and Toto (Gael García Bernal) as a singer — but it might break them. When a professional soccer team ignores Beto’s goalie skills in favor of Toto’s fancy footwork, Beto signs on to a rival team, and the battle between brothers is on. Carlos Cuarón directs this comedy.

In Spanish “rudo” means rough or rude whereas “cursi” means precious or fussy or affected. The soccer culture in Mexico City nicknames Beto as “rudo” and Toto as “cursi”. If there were not such large numbers of people, especially crowds, involved, you might think of this as an independent film. You watch two hicks (apparently anyone who is not from Mexico City is a “hick”) get taken by a talent scout to the city to play soccer. Toto fancies himself a singer (he is not that good). The story is the usual rise and fall of two country boys in the big city. At first I thought “I’m never going to last this whole film”. But the details are somewhat captivating: just sit back and watch the happening (think “Rake’s Progress”).

It is not just the language that is Spanish. Notable are the extreme emotional reactions, especially anger, in most cases. If the movie fairly represents the culture of soccer and Mexico City, then corruption touches every aspect of life: team manager decisions are motivated by bribes, gamblers try to get players to lose on purpose, players are lured into gambling and losing big time, camp followers only sleep with the winning players, players are introduced to drugs, and the list goes on.

WARNING: The script is very, very vulgar. Crowds yell amazing and unprintable streams of taunts and invitations to the players. There is nudity such as female breasts and initiation scenes in the mens’ shower rooms. There is only once fairly modest sex scene.

Constant excitement kept me interested. In fact there is never a calm moment. This is NOT a soccer mom’s film. Have fun!