Posts Tagged ‘Thriller’
Monday, August 16th, 2010
Review:
After being moved to a higher office in the Police Department because their charity fight brokered everyone a pay increase, rivals Aaron Eckhart and Josh Hartnett team up. They are having a good time of it until a girl is murdered and Eckhart’s desire to find the killer and once more claim the spotlight starts to create trouble. But this is only half of the overly convoluted, stupid, erroneous and downright insulting thing this film calls it’s storyline. Director Brian De Palma set out to make a modern day film noir and his recreation of 1940s Los Angeles is certainly very beautiful, with great production design and cinematography, but in all that glory he forgot to create a compelling and coherent story or to hire actors that can act or at least direct them decently. The film is overly ambitious and fails spectacularly, which is still better than all the middling fare out there, but not enough to make it worth spending any time with.
Random Observations:
The Black Dahlia at the IMDb
The film is based on James Ellroy’s novel, which in turn is based on a true story. Which in this case means: the murder actually happened, but it was never solved and none of the people apart from the victim in the novel ever existed, and even the real Elizabeth Short aka The Black Dahlia bore little resemblance to the book or film version. So basically they just used a true murder as a hook to get people interested in the crappy story. (For full disclosure, I should add that I have never read the novel, but if the story is anything like in the film, it’s bound to be bad.)
Whatever happened to Josh Hartnett? There was a time when he seemed like the next big thing, but now he seems all but forgotten. Could it be that this film exposed his limited acting ability?
The only actor in this film who is any good is Aaron Eckhart. Everyone else, even otherwise talented people like Fiona Shaw, Hilary Swank or Scarlett Johansson turn in absolutely lacklustre performances that are distracting from the film more than anything else. On the other hand, maybe that was intentional.
Tags: 2006, Aaron Eckhart, American Film, Anthony Russell, based on true story, book adaptation, Brian De Palma, crime movie, Drama, english, Fiona Shaw, Hilary Swank, James Ellroy, James Otis, Jemima Rooper, John Kavanagh, Josh Friedman, Josh Hartnett, Mia Kirshner, Mike Starr, minute movie review, movie review, Movies, Patrick Fischler, Rachel Miner, Rose McGowan, Scarlett Johansson, The Black Dahlia, Thriller, Troy Evans, William Finley
Posted in Minute Movie Reviews, Movie Reviews, Movies | No Comments »
Friday, August 13th, 2010
Review:
After his daughter is kidnapped by Japanese Yakuza, an American businessman with ties to Japan asks his old friend Robert Mitchum to get her back. Mitchum knows Japan and uses the chance to return to the woman he loves, while also caching in an old favour to help his friend. But things don’t go as smoothly as planned and before long he and his partner in crime Takakura Ken must face their opponents time and time again. The film is an excellent portrayal of Japanese culture, especially their idea of honour, a great action movie and also a touching drama that is perfectly acted by both the American and the Japanese cast. Brutal, honest and above all thrilling and touching, this is an underrated gem that deserves to be rediscovered.
Random Observations:
The Yakuza at the IMDb
This concludes our celebration of the great Robert Mitchum. If you are still not convinced that you should see as many of his films as possible, all I can say is that you are missing one of the best actors of all time.
There is currently talk of a remake, which naturally, would be a complete travesty. The only good thing about it could be that it would draw a little attention to the all but forgotten original.
Directed by Sydney Pollack, the film has more than Mitchum’s name to attract casual viewers. And of course there is the screen-writing dream team of Robert Towne and Paul Schrader.
I’m used to shots of starting and landing planes to establish the location as an airport, but this is the first film I’ve ever seen where a Lufthansa plane was used.
Tags: 1974, action movie, Akiyama, Amercian Film, Brian Keith, Christina Kokubo, crime movie, Drama, Eiji Go, Eiji Okada, english, Go Eiji, Harada, Herb Edelman, James Shigeta, Keiko Kishi, Ken Takakura, Kishi Keiko, Kyosuke Mashida, Lee Chirillo, Leonard Schrader, M. Hisaka, minute movie review, movie review, Movies, Okada Eiji, Paul Schrader, Richard Jordan, Robert Mitchum, Robert Towne, Sydney Pollack, Takakura Ken, The Yakuza, Thriller, William Ross
Posted in Minute Movie Reviews, Movie Reviews, Movies | No Comments »
Monday, August 9th, 2010
Review:
The daughter of a chemistry professor falls madly in love with the rich business-man and moves to high society after they are married, but her husband displays some rather startling aggressiveness and especially hatred for his brother and anything connected with him that make her doubt her love and instead be drawn to the mysterious missing brother, who many believe to be dead. The film by Vincente Minnelli is beautifully photographed and has some great actors, including Katharine Hepburn and Robert Mitchum, but it just doesn’t work. None of the relationships in the film are believable and the slow pacing is unsettled by the frantic ending, although it injects some much needed life into the proceedings. It’s a good story and could have been a great film, but sadly falls short.
Random Observations:
Undercurrent at the IMDb
To celebrate Robert Mitchum’s birthday (which actually was last Friday, he would have turned 93), we are going to deviate from the regular Mon-Wed-Fri schedule and bring you a review of one of his films every day this week! (Actually, only through Friday, the internet has the weekend off.) Mitchum is one of the most underrated leading actors Hollywood ever had, a tough guy who could play anything from comedy to sensitive melodrama. His best roles include such film noir classics as Crossfire and Out of the Past, but otherwise it is high time to showcase his incredible talent and range, which we’ll do this week. Although I admit that in this film his chemistry with Katharine Hepburn is non-existent and she reportedly told him that he couldn’t act, I still hold that he was a great actor and deservedly shortly after this film moved on to lead roles.
In a delightful bit of irony, Brahms’ 3rd Symphony soars on the sound track just as the title card for Herbert Stothart’s original music appears on screen.
This was lead actor Robert Taylor’s first film after returning from the war, an episode in his life that is not visible in his acting.
It’s very odd to see Katharine Hepburn play such a boring and weak female lead - and not entirely convincing.
Tags: 1946, American Film, Billy McClain, Charles Trowbridge, Clinton Sundberg, Crossfire, Dan Tobin, Edmund Gwenn, Edward Chodorov, english, film noir, Herbert Stothart, James Westerfield, Jayne Meadows, Johannes Brahms, Katharine Hepburn, Kathryn Card, Leigh Whipper, Marjorie Main, minute movie review, movie review, Movies, Out of the Past, Robert Mitchum, Robert Taylor, Thelma Strabel, Thriller, Undercurrent, Vincente Minnelli
Posted in Minute Movie Reviews, Movie Reviews, Movies | No Comments »
Friday, August 6th, 2010
Review:
New York advertising men Cary Grant is mistaken for somebody else and set up to be killed. He barely escapes, but nobody believes his story. As things move along, he gets more and more drawn into the plot, desperately trying to both find out what is going on and simply staying alive. The script was written especially for Alfred Hitchcock to make “the Hitchcock film to end all Hitchcock films” and it largely succeeds. It perfectly showcases Hitchcock’s humorous and fantastic side, while also being an excellent thriller.
Random Observations:
North by Northwest at the IMDb
This is the 21st Alfred Hitchcock film I’ve reviewed for this here publication. It’s also the first Hitchcock film I ever saw, many years before I ever decided to write my opinions on films down.
Saul Bass is probably the most underrated “signature” artist of the 20th century. The moment I saw the opening titles, I knew he had designed them. And this despite the fact that his titles for different films never look the same, he just has a very unique style.
This concludes our four week marathon of American Cinema of the 1950s. And what a high note to go out on!
Tags: 1959, action movie, Adam Williams, adventure movie, Alfred Hitchcock, American Film, Cary Grant, Drama, Edward Binns, Edward Platt, english, Ernest Lehman, Eva Marie Saint, James Mason, Jessie Royce Landis, Josephine Hutchinson, Ken Lynch, Leo G. Carroll, Les Tremayne, Martin Landau, minute movie review, movie review, Movies, North by Northwest, Patrick McVey, Philip Coolidge, Philip Ober, Robert Ellenstein, romance, Saul Bass, Thriller
Posted in Minute Movie Reviews, Movie Reviews, Movies | No Comments »
Wednesday, July 28th, 2010
Review:
When Ray Milland plans to have his wife Grace Kelly murdered after he learned of her love for another man, the plan seems perfect. But naturally, it doesn’t work out and so he has to improvise - which also seems to work out in his favour. But as crime writer and true love of Grace Kelly, Robert Cummings, remarks: perfect crimes are committed easier on paper than in reality. Alfred Hitchcock’s film is a good, but not perfect thriller, that is suspenseful despite the obvious story. It’s not his best film, but good actors all around make it worth watching.
Random Observations:
Dial M for Murder at the IMDb
Incidentally, just like Gene Kelly wanted to film Brigadoon on location in Scotland, but the studio objected, the studio forced Hitchcock to make the film in 3D. So at this point, we should have relearned the power of the studios in American Cinema of the 1950s.
I’m not a big fan of 3D movies, but this is one film I would have been curious to see in that format. I’m sure Hitchcock managed to make the most, i.e. very little but significantly more than James Cameron, of it.
Normally, it’s very clear who you as the viewer are supposed to be rooting for, usually the good guys. Of course, there are some films, where you are supposed to be on the criminals’ side, because they are oh so charming, just lovable rogues who don’t really harm anyone. In this film, it is also clear who you should be rooting for, but I was very much in the corner of the bad guy, which is why the foreseeable ending disappointed me so.
The Inspector is played by John Williams, the actor, not to be confused with the infinitely better known John Williams, the composer.
It’s a real shame that Grace Kelly married Prince Rainier of Monaco in 1956 (two years after this film was made) and thus ended her career. She was quite a good actress. And yes, also rather easy on the eyes.
Tags: 1954, Alfred Hitchcock, American Film, Anthony Dawson, based on play, Brigadoon, crime movie, Dial M for Murder, Drama, english, Frederick Knott, Gene Kelly, George Alderson, George Leigh, Grace Kelly, James Cameron, John Williams, Leo Britt, minute movie review, movie review, Movies, Patrick Allen, Ray Milland, Robert Cummings, Robin Hughes, Thriller
Posted in Minute Movie Reviews, Movie Reviews, Movies | No Comments »
Friday, July 23rd, 2010
Review:
A German refugee in Canada commits murder and confesses to his priest Montgomery Clift. When it comes to light that Clift benefited from the death and he becomes a suspect, he must decide whether to follow his church’s rules and keep quiet. Alfred Hitchcock later disowned the film and said he should never have made it, but there is actually a lot to like in this psychological drama. The issue is engaging and it is pure joy to see Clift act his way through it, relying solely on facial expressions to convey his emotional turmoil. The ending had to be changed from the stage play in order to pacify the censors and thus naturally is rubbish, but apart from that, this is a very good film.
Random Observations:
I Confess at the IMDb
I’ve liked Karl Malden ever since I first saw him in Patton, but I was unimpressed by his performance here.
The film was made in more innocent times, when Catholic priests were actually still considered morally decent…
The film was shot (partly) on location in Quebec, so maybe that is why Hitchcock, who was notoriously displeased with shooting outside a studio, later dismissed it.
Since the villain is German, it follows naturally that he must have been evil and wicked and crazy. Maybe times weren’t more innocent.
This concludes week two of American Cinema of the 1950s Appreciation Month (or whatever it was called). What we have learned so far is that Hitchcock is at his best, when he trades in his thriller chops for some actual drama, and that Gene Kelly is best when he is making more jokes and dancing less.
Tags: 1953, Alfred Hitchcock, American Film, Anne Baxter, based on play, Brian Aherne, Charles Andre, crime movie, Dolly Haas, Drama, english, film noir, Gene Kelly, George Tabori, I Confess, minute movie review, Montgomery Clift, movie review, Movies, O.E. Hasse, Patton, Paul Anthelme, Roger Dann, Thriller, William Archibald
Posted in Minute Movie Reviews, Movie Reviews, Movies | No Comments »
Monday, July 19th, 2010
Review:
When tennis player Guy meets strange guy Bruno on the train, he is presented with the idea for a perfect murder: each would commit the other’s murder, thereby erasing all motive from the equation. But when Bruno actually goes through with the plan and kills Guy’s cheating wife, so that he can marry the woman he loves, things start to unravel, since Guy has no intention to commit murder. The film, based on a novel by acclaimed American crime writer Patricia Highsmith, is a prime example of why Alfred Hitchcock is called “the master of suspense”. It’s an engaging thrill ride with many twists and turns and by the time the climatic finish comes along, you’ve become heavily involved in the story. Plus, it’s a really neat idea for the perfect murder.
Random Observations:
Strangers on a Train at the IMDb
Now here is proof that 1951 produced better films than the Best Picture Oscar winner An American in Paris. After two films each, Hitchcock has taken a clear lead.
Raymond Chandler worked on the screenplay. Chandler is of course best known for creating Philip Marlowe, the greatest hard-boiled detective of all time. While the books are much better, I can also recommend the film version of The Big Sleep.
Once you have seen a few (in my case, that’s 17) of Hitchcock’s films, it becomes real fun to spot his cameos.
Can someone explain to me why actress Laura Elliott (whose birth name, incidentally, was Imogene Rogers), changed her stage name to Kasey Rogers in 1956? She played the murdered wife here in a truly memorable turn. Neither of her two husbands was called Elliott either.
Tags: 1951, Alfred Hitchcock, American Film, An American in Paris, book adaptation, crime movie, Czenzi Ormonde, Drama, english, Farley Granger, film noir, Howard St. John, John Brown, Jonathan Hale, Kasey Rogers, Laura Elliott, Leo G. Carroll, Marion Lorne, minute movie review, movie review, Movies, Norma Varden, Patricia Highsmith, Patricia Hitchcock, Raymond Chandler, Robert Gist, Robert Walker, romance, Ruth Roman, Strangers on a Train, The Big Sleep, Thriller, Whitfield Cook
Posted in Minute Movie Reviews, Movie Reviews, Movies | No Comments »
Wednesday, July 14th, 2010
Review:
Acclaimed stage actress Marlene Dietrich runs to her lover Richard Todd to help after her husband’s death. When he becomes a suspect, he turns to his amour Jane Wyman to help him. Sure that Dietrich has set him up, she decides to pose as her dresser in order to clear her friend’s name. This Alfred Hitchcock thriller is incredibly slow and boring for the first hour, but really picks up the pace after that. Dietrich as the stage diva is simply superb and a great supporting turn by Alastair Sim make the film worth watching, even if it is one of the director’s lesser efforts.
Random Observations:
Stage Fright at the IMDb
We continue our celebration of American Cinema of the 1950s with this British Film. That’s what I get for just assuming that Hitchcock worked exclusively in Hollywood in the 50s…
The film was dismissed at the time because it “cheated” the audience. I don’t want to go to far into the matter here so as not to spoil the film, but let’s just say that Hitchcock did something nobody had ever done before.
I really liked it when Hitchcock was showing off, having the camera follow an actor inside a house through the door, then have the door close and follow the actor further without any cuts.
Tags: 1950, Alastair Sim, Alfred Hitchcock, Alma Reville, André Morell, Ballard Berkeley, book adaptation, British Film, crime movie, Drama, english, Hector MacGregor, Jane Wyman, Joyce Grenfell, Kay Walsh, Marlene Dietrich, Michael Wilding, Miles Malleson, minute movie review, movie review, Movies, Patricia Hitchcock, Richard Todd, Selwyn Jepson, Stage Fright, Sybil Thorndike, Thriller, Whitfield Cook
Posted in Minute Movie Reviews, Movie Reviews, Movies | No Comments »
Friday, July 9th, 2010
Review:
In the early 1930s, Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow decide to become bank robbers. And so that is what they do, escaping the police time and time again in bloody shoot outs, accompanied by their gang, always on the run from the law. Naturally, such a thing must lead to disaster, creating the set-up for one of the most memorable final scenes in film history. Otherwise, the film is a slightly above average gangster drama that, apart from emphasizing that the two were just kids out there having fun, has little to do with the true story. This was, however, the film that in 1967 marked the end of the Production Code and the beginning of the new Hollywood, paving the way for some of the greatest films America ever produced.
Random Observations:
Bonnie and Clyde at the IMDb
The extreme violence and realistic depiction of it throughout the film was one of the reasons the studio initially wanted to bury the film. It went on to become the second most successful film Warner Bros. ever produced.
Film debut of Gene Wilder, whose supporting turn as a kidnapped man bares little resemblance to his later, largely comedic, work.
Producer Warren Beatty initially considered Shirley MacLaine as Bonnie, but opted for Faye Dunaway when he decided to play Clyde.
In the first draft of the script, Clyde was bisexual, not impotent. In real life, he probably was neither.
Tags: 1967, American Film, Arthur Penn, based on true story, biography, Bonnie and Clyde, crime movie, David Newman, Denver Pyle, Drama, Dub Taylor, english, Estelle Parsons, Evans Evans, Faye Dunaway, Gene Hackman, Gene Wilder, Michael J. Pollard, minute movie review, movie review, Movies, Robert Benton, romance, Shirley MacLaine, Thriller, Warner Brothers, Warren Beatty
Posted in Minute Movie Reviews, Movie Reviews, Movies | No Comments »
Monday, July 5th, 2010
Review:
A tyrannical school principal mistreats both his heart sick wife and his mistress, so the two conspire to kill him. But what should be the perfect murder doesn’t come off as same, especially when the body is not found as planned and the dead man seems to have come back to life. Henri-Georges Clouzot’s film is an absolute classic horror thriller and was for a while considered the scariest film of all time, at least until Psycho came along. The film is dark and horrifying and towards the end you start to question all of your assumptions - even about the final scene.
Random Observations:
Les diaboliques at the IMDb
The film is based on the novel Celle qui n’était plus (The Woman Who Was) by French authors Pierre Boileau and Thomas Narcejac, which Alfred Hitchcock also wanted to buy. So they went and wrote D’entre les morts, the book that Vertigo is based on, especially for him.
The wife is played by Véra Clouzot, wife of director H.G. Clouzot, who only acted in his films, which is a real shame. The history of her and her family is also quite interesting, if anyone cares to read up on that.
Tags: 1955, Aminda Montserrat, book adaptation, Camille Guérini, Celle qui n'était plus, Charles Vanel, crime movie, D'Entre Les Morts, Drama, english, Frédéric Grendel, French film, Georges Chamarat, Georges Poujouly, Henri-Georges Clouzot, horror movie, Jacques Hilling, Jacques Varennes, Jean Brochard, Jean Lefebvre, Jean Témerson, Jérôme Géronimi, Les diaboliques, Michel Serrault, minute movie review, movie review, Movies, Noël Roquevert, Paul Meurisse, Pierre Boileau, Pierre Larquey, Psycho, René Masson, Robert Dalban, Simone Signoret, The Devils, Thérèse Dorny, Thomas Narcejac, Thriller, Véra Clouzot, Vertigo, Yves-Marie Maurin
Posted in Minute Movie Reviews, Movie Reviews, Movies | No Comments »
Loading ...