Killing Them Softly (2012)

Killing Them Softly (2012)

Directed by: Andrew Dominik
Screenplay by: Andrew Dominik

Genre: Crime | Thriller
Running Time: 97 Minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Viewed: Theater

In America you're on your own.

[IMDb]

Comments: Halfway through Killing Them Softly, I really wasn't sure what I was watching. I thought many of the scenes were amazing, but as a collective the entire film was disjointed. As the credits rolled, I still felt the movie was a bit uneven, but I'll be damned if I didn't enjoy the hell out of it.

I'm really surprised Killing Them Softly was even shown in my theater, as I can't see the general film-going public (that's going only because Brad Pitt's name is on the poster) will really enjoy this movie. (My theater laughs at the idea of getting anything remotely independent.) I was reminded a lot of the George Clooney's The American, a film that I'm sure many went to see for Clooney alone only to find one of the most anti-mainstream films to get such a wide distribution. The American and Killing Them Softly are certainly different, but I felt the overall vibe was similar between them. And for what it's worth, I thought The American was fantastic.

Anyway, back to the task at hand. Killing Them Softly is surely going to divide critics and the public in general. The political commentary feels a bit forced at times, and there's a certain character that ends up being mostly irrelevant to the rest of the film. But the performances are great (James Gandolfini and Scoot McNairy being my favorite), the look is awesome, and despite my issues with the script and its unevenness I felt that Andrew Dominik's direction was pretty good. If you're interested, I'd definitely recommend Killing Them Softly. Just be aware what you're getting yourself into.

Aim High - Season One (2011)

Aim High (2011-????)

Created by: Heath Corson and Richie Keen

Season: One (2011)
Genre: Thriller
Number of Episodes: 6
Episode Running Time: 10 Minutes
Viewed: Owned DVD

After school jobs are a killer.

[IMDb]

Comments: For a web series that consists of only six episodes and runs for less than one hour total, Aim High was a pretty decent little idea. It's certainly something I'd watch if it was an actual television series (especially given my predisposition to storylines of this type), and I think it would work on a grander scale. I hadn't even heard of this series until earlier in the week when I saw the DVD released online. I did a little research, made a mental note that I might have to check it out later, and then immediately bought it when I saw it for sale at Walmart this afternoon. I don't know if it was worth the $10, especially when you take into account the short runtime, but I enjoyed enough that it won't bother me. I'm sure you can find this online somewhere, so give Aim High a look if it interests you.

Red Lights (2012)

Red Lights (2012)

Directed by: Rodrigo Cortés
Screenplay by: Rodrigo Cortés

Genre: Drama | Mystery | Thriller
Running Time: 113 Minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Viewed: Owned Blu-ray

How much do you want to believe?

[IMDb]

Comments: Red Lights is certainly a flawed film, but I can't deny that I was captivated by the story. I hadn't even heard of the movie until I saw it for sale at Best Buy (which should tell you overall how a film starring Robert De Niro and Cillian Murphy was received), so I went home and did a little digging and figured out that yes, Red Lights probably wasn't very good. But then I saw it for sale again at Target... and it had a pretty slipcover... and I was doomed.

Listen, Red Lights isn't great. But if you dig the premise, as I did, and you like some of the awesome talent Rodrigo Cortés recruited (Sigourney Weaver, Elizabeth Olsen, and Toby Jones, in addition to the two above), then I advise you to at least check it out. You may see that it has tremendous room for improvement, as I did, but you may also find that it was a pretty damn decent film... as I also did.

From Hell (2001)

From Hell (2001)

Directed by: Albert Hughes and Allen Hughes
Screenplay by: Terry Hayes and Rafael Yglesias

Genre: Horror | Mystery | Thriller
Running Time: 122 Minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Viewed: Owned Blu-ray

Only the legend will survive.

[IMDb]

Comments: From Hell is one of those films that certainly has issues, yet my overall fondness for the material makes me like it more than I probably should. I first developed a fondness for the film when I was in high school; I'm not sure what stood out most, but the dark seedy world combined with the incredible set pieces really immersed me in late 19th century London. The style and look of the film (and the surprisingly abrasive violence) really make up for an occasionally meandering plot, and I always find myself drawn to the horror-esque aspects that really enhance the film. From Hell may not be everyone's cup of tea, but I really dig it. I'm happy with my $6 purchase from Walmart.

The Bourne Legacy (2012)

The Bourne Legacy (2012)

Directed by: Tony Gilroy
Screenplay by: Tony Gilroy and Dan Gilroy

Genre: Action | Adventure | Thriller
Running Time: 135 Minutes
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Viewed: Theater

There was never just one.

[IMDb]

Comments: I took a couple vacation days from work this week, as I've gone pretty much the whole year without using any. One of the main things I wanted to do was to go see The Bourne Legacy, even though some of the early reviews I read were a bit so-so on the whole thing. I went into the film with tempered expectations, but I was happy to realize that I really enjoyed myself over the two hour period. There's two negative things that stuck out to me: it's a little too long, and parts of the film felt like they were copies of the earlier Bourne films (and I had hoped Matt Damon would've at least made a cameo). Beyond that, however, I fucking enjoyed myself. I've been a Jeremy Renner fan since The Hurt Locker, and after seeing him in the latest Mission Impossible film I had no doubts he could hold his own in a frenetic action thriller like The Bourne Legacy. The interactions between Renner and Rachel Weisz felt eerily similar to Damon and Franka Potente, but I enjoyed the film enough that I was able to overlook it.

If you've enjoyed the Bourne film franchise so far, I highly doubt that you'd leave The Bourne Legacy disappointed. It's pretty fun, and if it leads to a fifth film with both Damon and Renner, I'm all for it.

Forbidden Photos of a Lady Above Suspicion (1970)

Forbidden Photos of a Lady Above Suspicion (1970)

Directed by: Luciano Ercoli
Screenplay by: Ernesto Gastaldi and Mahnahén Velasco

Genre: Mystery | Thriller
Running Time: 96 Minutes
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Viewed: Netflix Watch Instantly

[IMDb]

Comments: Despite having almost no sleaze (considering the title has the phrase "forbidden photos" in it), I found myself both intrigued and entertained by Forbidden Photos of a Lady Above Suspicion. I think the reason I was most surprised about my enjoyment of the film was that I absolutely hated the main character of Minou. The story revolved around a man blackmailing Minou for sexual favors based on a story he's feeding her about Minou's husband killing a man. Minou is completely dependent on her husband and succumbs to the blackmailer easily every time to "protect him." The woman had no fight and is an embarrassment to female leads everywhere. I couldn't believe that she was supposed to be the protagonist of the film. Let's just say Minou is not exactly the best role model for women.

But I was interested in the story of Forbidden Photos of a Lady Above Suspicion, and despite the lackluster ending, I enjoyed the time I spent with the film. The overall lack of nudity and violence was disappointing, but if you allow yourself to get into the film, it's not so bad.

Both Forbidden Photos of a Lady Above Suspicion and Maniac are expiring Thursday on Netflix.

Man on a Ledge (2012)

Man on a Ledge (2012)

Directed by: Asger Leth
Screenplay by: Pablo F. Fenjves

Genre: Crime | Thriller
Running Time: 102 Minutes
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Viewed: Rental DVD - Family Video

You can only push an innocent man so far.

[IMDb]

Comments: This might have been one of the most ludicrous, over-the-top, and ridiculous movies I've ever seen. The plot (in particular the final thirty minutes or so) is so unrealistic that it's impossible to stay invested in the film. Up until that point, Man on a Ledge was rather engaging. And we'll not even talk about Sam Worthington's inability to speak without an Australian accent or Elizabeth Banks' terrible hostage negotiator (I like her as an actress, she was just horribly unconvincing here). Anyway, I'm glad this was a rental.

I'm off from work today and in my hometown (where we still have rental stores!), so I've rented a bunch of movies for my long weekend. The next day or two should be filled with a variety of movies, as that's how I generally roll. Stay tuned.

Ocean's Thirteen (2007)

Ocean's Thirteen (2007)

Directed by: Steven Soderbergh
Screenplay by: Brian Koppelman and David Levien

Genre: Crime | Thriller
Running Time: 122 Minutes
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Viewed: Owned Blu-ray

Revenge is a funny thing.

[IMDb]

Comments: Ocean's Thirteen is the only film from the trilogy I hadn't seen multiple times. In fact, I haven't watched this since my initial theater viewing back in 2007, where I felt that it was an improvement on Ocean's Twelve. After watching all three today, I feel like this installment is pretty much on par with the prior film. While the con and heist aspect is greatly improved upon, the film loses a lot of the wit and style the first two had. And while the con is pretty decent, it's so dense that there's little for anything else, as it starts pretty much the instant the movie begins. After plowing through the trilogy today, I certainly still enjoy all three films - but the last two are not quite as good as I remember. However, if George and crew ever decide to suit up again, I'll be the first in line.

Ocean's Twelve (2004)

Ocean's Twelve (2004)

Directed by: Steven Soderbergh
Screenplay by: George Nolfi

Genre: Crime | Thriller
Running Time: 125 Minutes
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Viewed: Owned Blu-ray

Twelve is the new eleven.

[IMDb]

Comments: I think my initial reaction to Ocean's Twelve back in 2004 aligned with many: what the hell? It's a bizarre and extremely self-indulgent follow-up to the great 2001 heist film. In fact, in took me multiple viewings just to get many in-jokes that run consistently throughout the course of the film. But in those viewings, I came to appreciate Ocean's Twelve. It's not great by any means, but it's a strong and stylish comedy, but never quite a real heist film. Twelve has two huge problems that almost completely derail the film: the scenes where Julia Roberts as Tess pretends to be Julia Roberts (not self-indulgent at all, right?), and the ludicrous scene where Vincent Cassel dances through the lasers. Beyond those, however, I quite like Ocean's Twelve. Sure, it fails as a real thriller, but as a comedy it works out rather nice.

Ocean's Eleven (2001)

Ocean's Eleven (2001)

Directed by: Steven Soderbergh
Screenplay by: Ted Griffin

Genre: Crime | Thriller
Running Time: 116 Minutes
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Viewed: Owned Blu-ray

Are you in or out?

[IMDb]

Comments: Ocean's Eleven might have been my favorite film during the end of my high school years going into my first year of college (that would be roughly 2002-2004). I loved the comedy, the con, and pretty much everything else about the movie. It was fantastic (and generally still is). I started to get into movies more seriously after that, and began to treat them as more than a rainy day diversion. It was then that I really started to pick out the flaws in Ocean's Eleven (and there's a lot), and soon I no longer held the film as one of my favorites (which really saddened me, because I goddamn loved it). There's so many plot holes in the movie that it's hard to believe chunks of the set didn't start falling through them. Every time I watch it, I tend to notice more. But all of this can't take away the two main things for the film: (a.) the nostalgia I get from watching Ocean's Eleven and thinking back to a great time in my life (the beginning of college), and (b.) that no matter how many issues there are with the film, it's still outstandingly fun and entertaining, and it will draw my attention any time it's onscreen. I can't help it. I fucking love it.

Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (2011)

Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (2011)

Directed by: Guy Ritchie
Screenplay by: Michele Mulroney and Kieran Mulroney

Genre: Action | Adventure | Crime | Mystery | Thriller
Running Time: 129 Minutes
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Viewed: Owned Blu-ray

[IMDb]

Comments: Original review from when I saw the film in theaters, because I'm lazy:

"Admittedly, if you asked me what to see tonight at the theater, I'd certainly say The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. That would be followed by Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol, mainly because I loved Mission: Impossible III. I really had no interest in seeing Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows, because two years ago I wasn't all that impressed with the first installment. It was an alright film, but it never quite clicked for me. However, my friends were all about seeing A Game of Shadows tonight, so I tagged along.

And I'm so fucking glad I did. I loved Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows. It's a funny, interesting, and most certainly entertaining piece of popcorn. The work between Robert Downey Jr. and Jared Harris (Professor James Moriarty) was enthralling and totally made the film. Guy Ritchie's direction is very stylistic, but it works. To be honest, I don't remember a whole lot from 2009's outing, so I can't really compare the two. I do own the Blu-ray however, so I plan on revisiting it soon.

I'm on vacation this week, so I have a sneaking suspicion both The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol will get their due. But Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows was so damn entertaining that even if I don't get to see the other two films, I'm still satisfied. If you like having a good time at the movies, I strongly recommend checking this shit out."

Sherlock Holmes (2009)

Sherlock Holmes (2009)

Directed by: Guy Ritchie
Screenplay by: Michael Robert Johnson, Anthony Peckham, and
  Simon Kinberg

Genre: Action | Adventure | Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller
Running Time: 128 Minutes
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Viewed: Owned Blu-ray

Nothing escapes him.

[IMDb]

Comments: I liked Sherlock Holmes considerably more this time around compared to when I first saw it in theaters in 2009. I'm not sure if it has to do with the fact that I love the sequel, A Game of Shadows, or that I was more "in the mood" for it this time around. Whatever the case, Sherlock Holmes is solid film that really entertains. On to the next one...

Safe House (2012)

Safe House (2012)

Directed by: Daniel Espinosa
Screenplay by: David Guggenheim

Genre: Action | Crime | Mystery | Thriller
Running Time: 115 Minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Viewed: Owned Blu-ray

No one is safe.

[IMDb]

Comments: I really enjoyed Safe House. However, it's a goddamn shame that the storyline is about as generic as they come. Anyone that enjoys thrillers like this as much as I do knows EXACTLY where this film is headed after the first ten minutes. Hell, it's even insanely easy to spot the twist about five minutes into Safe House. However, the movie is competently crafted and enjoyable, with well-shot action sequences and solid performances from Reynolds and Washington. It's probably better suited as a rental, but fans of the genre should find something entertaining during the two hour runtime. For you jaded film critics: steer clear.

Hanna (2011)

Hanna (2011)

Directed by: Joe Wright
Screenplay by: Seth Lochhead and David Farr

Genre: Action | Crime | Mystery | Thriller
Running Time: 111 Minutes
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Viewed: Owned Blu-ray

Adapt or die.

[IMDb]

Comments: Hanna is an solid thriller with characters and a story that border on lunacy, yet everything works in a satisfying manner. Saoirse Ronan steals the show has Hanna, a girl with an advanced skill set that actually makes the audience believe she's kicking three dudes' asses at once. I found it odd that Joe Wright helmed the film, considering he's done mostly dramatic period pieces in the past (Atonement, Pride and Prejudice). Perhaps the aspect I liked the most was the score by The Chemical Brothers. It's a little different that your typical action/thriller score, and it really fits in well with the offbeat film. While Hanna wasn't exactly what I expected, I really enjoyed it. Recommended.

Oh, and this film should most certainly have been rated R. It looks like it was censored and chopped to bits to achieve the PG-13 rating.

The Horseman (2008)

The Horseman (2008)

Directed by: Steven Kastrissios
Screenplay by: Steven Kastrissios

Genre: Crime | Thriller
Running Time: 96 Minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Viewed: Owned Blu-ray

He has some questions.

[IMDb]

Comments: Six word review: Taken meets torture porn, Aussie style.

The Horseman is a pretty solid revenge film about a man whose daughter dies under mysterious circumstances. He soon gets an anonymous package which contains a porn film; naturally, the film stars his drug addled daughter. This sets our hero off, and soon he begins a savage quest to find the truth. Some of the "interrogation" scenes are rather brutal. Most of it's implied, but a large portion has to do with the penis region. and that doesn't really need to be shown to make people squirm. This was available on Netflix Watch Instantly the last time I had that service (which was a year or so ago, I believe), so if you have that, it's certainly worth a watch. Just make sure to cover your balls.

The Bank Job (2008)

The Bank Job (2008)

Directed by: Roger Donaldson
Screenplay by: Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais

Genre: Crime | Drama | Thriller
Running Time: 111 Minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Viewed: Owned Blu-ray

The true story of a heist gone wrong... in all the right ways.

[IMDb]

Comments: Ocean's Eleven this ain't, what with all the torture and killing and such, but that doesn't stop The Bank Job from being a damn entertaining movie. I've wanted to watch this for the longest time - I've owned the DVD for years and never watched it - and it finally struck my fancy today when glancing through my collection (I picked up the Blu-ray for $5 a few months ago). The film's certainly not perfect, and there's a few aspects that I felt didn't fit quite right (Jason Statham's infidelity, for one), but overall The Bank Job was a good time. And on that note, good night.

Out of Sight (1998)

Out of Sight (1998)

Directed by: Steven Soderbergh
Screenplay by: Scott Frank

Genre: Action | Comedy | Crime | Romance | Thriller
Running Time: 123 Minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Viewed: Owned Blu-ray

Opposites attract.

[IMDb]

Comments: Man, this movie takes me back. I hadn't though of Jennifer Lopez circa 1998 in awhile, but I used to love her back in the day. Not in a musical or film manner, mind you, but a strictly physical manner ('dat ass...). It's funny, because I can't fucking stand the woman now, and I hate when she (and her terrible acting) ruins movies that I'd otherwise enjoyed (An Unfinished Life might be the only film I'm referencing here, but you get the picture).

Anyway, I watched Out of Sight when it first came out on VHS back in the day, and I really wasn't a fan. Granted, I was 13 or 14 at the time, so my opinions in no way were valid back then. I'd heard various outlets praise the film in recent years, so I had hoped to pick up the Blu-ray when it was first released in March of last year. That never happened, but last night I found it at Best Buy and decided to give 'er a spin.

...And I still am not a huge fan of the film. I find myself to be rather hit-or-miss with Soderbergh's offerings, though I generally find something I like about each film. There are parts of Out of Sight I really enjoy, but as a whole, the movie didn't work for me. If the script was tweaked a bit, and maybe 20 minutes or so were cut out, I think we'd have had a better film overall. Still, there's plenty to enjoy here, so it's not all complaints from me.

Drive (2011)

Drive (2011)

Directed by: Nicolas Winding Refn
Screenplay by: Hossein Amini

Genre: Action | Crime | Drama | Thriller
Running Time: 100 Minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Viewed: Owned Blu-ray

Some heroes are real.

[IMDb]

Comments: The first time I watched Drive in theaters, I think I was overwhelmed by all of the awesomeness onscreen and I was unable to process it all. Don't mistake me, I loved the film originally. However, now that I knew what I was getting into (with all the gratuitous '80s stylings and Nicolas Winding Refn's penchant for graphic violence), my love for Drive expanded exponentially. This is my favorite film of 2011.

But just for the sake of completeness, here's my original review:

Drive was a very fuckin' cool movie. I'll be honest by saying that it didn't completely live up to my ungodly enormous expectations, but it came pretty damn close. The first half was amazingly well done, as I was giddy with anticipation of what was about to unfold over final half of the film. I can't remember having that feeling during a movie in a long, long time (The Dark Knight comes to mind, and similarly I felt that film didn't quite finish as strongly as it started). Drive is also very brutal, as the violence is turned up to 11 when it's killing time (no complaints from me there; the messier, the better). There's also this odd '80s vibe throughout (as evidenced by the stylized text during the opening credits and the odd music selections throughout the film - that were really great, don't get me wrong). I really enjoyed Drive and highly recommend it. It may not have finished as strong as it started, but it's still a fucking fine piece of cinema.

Haywire (2011)

Haywire (2011)

Directed by: Steven Soderbergh
Screenplay by: Lem Dobbs

Genre: Action | Thriller
Running Time: 93 Minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Viewed: Theater

They left her no choice.

[IMDb]

Comments: Haywire is a pretty solid flick. It's most definitely a Soderbergh film through-and-through: the score, the editing, the colors - it all harkens back to his earlier films (not that it's a bad thing). Haywire certainly isn't in the upper echelon of the man's catalog, but that shouldn't dissuade you from seeing a solid thriller.

I can't say I was completely sold on Gina Carano. The MMA fighter-turned actress is totally capable during the film's entertaining fight scenes, but her acting left me a little cold. It didn't help that I knew beforehand that her voice was altered (or dubbed) in post-production. Though I'd definitely let her kick my ass whenever she wanted...

Haywire is a fun little excursion. I'm sure I won't remember much about it by the end of the year, but it served its for purpose today. There's a lot of recognizable actors spread throughout (Fassbender FTW!), and the story is recognizable enough that you won't need to process much of what's going on. It's fun.

Contraband (2012)

Contraband (2012)

Directed by: Baltasar Kormákur
Screenplay by: Aaron Guzikowski

Genre: Action | Crime | Drama | Thriller
Running Time: 110 Minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Viewed: Theater

What would you hide to protect your family?

[IMDb]

Comments: Luckily, I was feeling better today so I headed out to see Contraband. The film looked like a surefire rental for the most part; the so-so reviews this week only added to that. However, I've seen pretty much everything else I've wanted to see in theaters, so Contraband it was.

And I'll tell you what - despite the messy plot, inconceivable trickery during the heists, and silly plot twists, I enjoyed the hell out of this movie. It's not going to win much praise with the critic crowd, but I always seem to enjoy those "you hurt my family, now I'm going to destroy everything" type of movies, which Contraband certainly is. The movie is a bit different than the trailers lead on; it's much more of a heist movie than a revenge flick (Marky Mark must make money to save his brother-in-law's ass; this means doing a "run" to sell fake money brought in from Panama). And then there's a heist within the heist that somewhat derails the proceedings (which also has this ridiculous impact on the very end of the film which everyone should've seen coming from 100 miles away). But through all of this, I found an enjoyable film.

Contraband won't be for everyone, but it's a rather entertaining excursion. It's something I'll probably pick up on Blu-ray when the price is right.