As great as Robin Williams' comedies are, I have always been a huge fan of his dramatic work as well. One Hour Photo is a film that I had heard great things about, but never actually seen until now. This movie is terrifying and flat-out creepy, and further cements my love of the great Robin Williams.
One Hour Photo is the story of an employee of a photo lab who becomes obsessed with one particular family. This movie will creep you out in ways that you never thought were possible, and that is one of the countless reasons I loved it. Everything from the framing of the shots, to the acting, to the pacing is so perfect that you can feel the tension build until the very end. Watching Seymour Parrish (Robin Williams) become increasingly friendly towards his favorite family is extremely uncomfortable to watch. I must say that this film will make you feel very uneasy, and I highly suggest watching something fun and exciting afterwards to put your mind at ease.
Robin Williams disappears into character as Seymour Parrish. Now that I have have seen this film, this is one of my favorite dramatic performances of his. The brilliance of Williams' performance is that he plays the character as if there is this deep anger and hatred buried within him, which we ultimately see come out of him at the climax of the film. The scene in the hotel room is particularly jarring to watch. What is scary about Parrish is that he rationalizes his hobby as "just taking pictures". You will never watch Robin Williams the same way again after seeing this film. I guarantee it.
Mark Romanek is the director of One Hour Photo. I love the way he uses the camera in the film because you feel extremely uncomfortable watching what is taking place. There is also a brief sequence where we see how the photos are developed through the machines which is extraordinary. The sequences in Seymour Parrish's home, in particular, are very well done and are a direct reflection of what his life is like. I also love the cinematography in the film. Color is used to accentuate what Parrish is feeling, and it is actually quite beautiful to watch.
One Hour Photo is not a film you watch with your family on "movie night". This is a horrifying film that true film buffs will love, especially independent film lovers. As for my personal recommendation, I would say that if you are a fan of Robin Williams' dramatic work then you will definitely love this movie. Just be prepared to be a tad creeped out.
Sunday, July 24, 2016
Sunday, July 10, 2016
Laying Down The Law
It is hard to believe that Beverly Hills Cop is literally as old as I am, and yet I just watched it for the first time. To say that I was excited to finally watch this film would be a glorious understatement. I thoroughly enjoyed the movie from the beginning right up to the last shot.
Beverly Hills Cop is the story of a Detroit cop who pursues a murder investigation. This movie is not just good. It is great. Even though Beverly Hills Cop is an action/comedy, there are really only two major action sequences in the movie. This movie is paced very well, and leaves you on the edge of your seat as Axel Foley (Eddie Murphy) edges closer and closer to solving the case. There are a few minor issues that I have with the film. As a first time viewer, I was a little confused when it was revealed that Axel Foley was undercover at the beginning of the film. I would have liked to see more explanation behind that. Also, during the truck chase at the beginning of the film, we see a bus randomly spin around out of nowhere and we also see more cops join the chase even though we never see a police officer call for backup. At the end of the day, though, I have to say that I was thoroughly entertained by this movie.
Martin Brest is the director of Beverly Hills Cop. As I mentioned before, there are two major action sequences in the film. Both are filmed well, and are fast-paced. The truck chase at the beginning of the film is the standout for me, personally. The cities of Detroit and Beverly Hills serve as characters in their own right, and the entire film utilizes authentic locations from both cities. I have always said that, in my opinion, the first job of a director is to get good performances out of the actors, and that is exactly what Brest did with this movie. Eddie Murphy's performance in the film is one that will stand the test of time, and that is partly due to Brest's direction.
It is always great to back and watch a movie that solidified an actor's career. This movie is incredibly fun to watch, and is another one of those films that will last quite a while.. If you have the chance to watch this film, for the love of Odin, do not wait 32 years like I did. I highly recommend watching it.
Beverly Hills Cop is the story of a Detroit cop who pursues a murder investigation. This movie is not just good. It is great. Even though Beverly Hills Cop is an action/comedy, there are really only two major action sequences in the movie. This movie is paced very well, and leaves you on the edge of your seat as Axel Foley (Eddie Murphy) edges closer and closer to solving the case. There are a few minor issues that I have with the film. As a first time viewer, I was a little confused when it was revealed that Axel Foley was undercover at the beginning of the film. I would have liked to see more explanation behind that. Also, during the truck chase at the beginning of the film, we see a bus randomly spin around out of nowhere and we also see more cops join the chase even though we never see a police officer call for backup. At the end of the day, though, I have to say that I was thoroughly entertained by this movie.
Martin Brest is the director of Beverly Hills Cop. As I mentioned before, there are two major action sequences in the film. Both are filmed well, and are fast-paced. The truck chase at the beginning of the film is the standout for me, personally. The cities of Detroit and Beverly Hills serve as characters in their own right, and the entire film utilizes authentic locations from both cities. I have always said that, in my opinion, the first job of a director is to get good performances out of the actors, and that is exactly what Brest did with this movie. Eddie Murphy's performance in the film is one that will stand the test of time, and that is partly due to Brest's direction.
It is always great to back and watch a movie that solidified an actor's career. This movie is incredibly fun to watch, and is another one of those films that will last quite a while.. If you have the chance to watch this film, for the love of Odin, do not wait 32 years like I did. I highly recommend watching it.
Friday, July 8, 2016
Consequences Of A Corrupt Conscience
A Few Good Men is a film that will last long after we are all dead and gone. It has a great story, and a superior cast to help tell that story. I have always enjoyed films that take place inside a courtroom. There is something about watching the dramatic elements of a movie unfold in a confined space that make these films quite compelling to watch.
A Few Good Men is the story of a military lawyer who defends Marines who are accused of murder. This film does a couple of things very well that are excellent examples of great film-making. A Few Good Men takes the time to set up the characters and the story so that we actually care what happens. The pace of the film is also incredibly well done. You can feel the tension slowly and methodically build towards the climax and, even though the movie does not necessarily have a storybook ending, you are literally on the edge of your seat taking a deep breath. There are a couple of plot holes in the movie that I would like to address. Towards the beginning of the film, it is mentioned that the characters have to travel on a boat to get where they need to go. Lt. Daniel Kaffee (Tom Cruise) then mentions that he does not like traveling on boats. It would have been nice to actually see a scene with them on the boat. I think a scene like that would have added some comic relief as the majority of the film is wrought with dramatic tension. Also, about three-quarters of the way into the movie, Lt. Col. Matthew Andrew Markinson (J.T. Walsh) commits suicide. We then see a scene where Lt. Daniel Kaffee tells Lt. Cdr. JoAnne Galloway (Demi Moore) and Lt. Sam Weinberg (Kevin Pollack) what happened. It would have been nice to actually see a scene where Kaffee finds out this information. All in all, though, this is a great film that will keep you glued to your television the entire way through.
Tom Cruise is electric as Lt. Daniel Kaffee. Kaffee is smart-mouthed, cocky and a bit of a procrastinator. Of course, if you were the best litigator in the military you would probably exhibit these characteristics as well. Cruise displays these characteristics with perfection. Also, even though there is no character in the movie that is the "comic relief", Cruise does display quite a few humorous moments simply because of the nature of his character. There is also a great character arc for Cruise in this movie. In the climax of the film, Daniel Kaffee confronts his fears of being an actual courtroom lawyer that is quite dramatic and makes you cheer for the character. Overall, this is a very fine performance from Tom Cruise.
The legendary Jack Nicholson brings a pure icy demeanor to his role as Col. Nathan R. Jessup. Jessup is a man with a corrupt conscience. He believes what he does saves lives, even if it means the death of an officer. This legitimization of why he does this is what is truly scary about the character. Nicholson commands the screen like never before, and makes you downright afraid of his character. Watching Nicholson and Cruise go at each in the courtroom almost makes you tremble because of the tension. This is one of Nicholson's best performances, and his deliverance of "You can't handle the truth!" is one of the most coldly-uttered lines in cinema history.
Demi Moore shines as Lt. Cdr. JoAnne Galloway. Even though Galloway outranks Kaffee, Kaffee is very much her equal and the chemistry between Cruise and Moore is one of the highlights of the film. I love female characters in films that are not just eye candy and Demi Moore, while she is obviously stunningly beautiful, is a crucial part in the telling of this story. Moore also has a couple of beautiful moments where she encourages Kaffee to really be the lawyer that he is afraid of being. Moore gives an exceptionally good performance in this movie.
Rob Reiner is the director of A Few Good Men. This movie thrives on the relationships and interactions between the characters, and every single frame of this film is filled with dramatic tension. The scenes in the courtroom are particularly well done. This is film that, in the wrong hands, could have been quite boring. However, Reiner paces the film in such a masterful way that you cannot wait to see what the next scene will bring. Personally, I believe that Rob Reiner is one of the industry's most under-rated directors. If you get the chance, look up his filmography and check out his films. They are all wonderful.
A Few Good Men is one of those rare films that you can watch over and over again. Not a single frame is wasted in the telling of this story. If you just love good movies, A Few Good Men is definitely for you.
A Few Good Men is the story of a military lawyer who defends Marines who are accused of murder. This film does a couple of things very well that are excellent examples of great film-making. A Few Good Men takes the time to set up the characters and the story so that we actually care what happens. The pace of the film is also incredibly well done. You can feel the tension slowly and methodically build towards the climax and, even though the movie does not necessarily have a storybook ending, you are literally on the edge of your seat taking a deep breath. There are a couple of plot holes in the movie that I would like to address. Towards the beginning of the film, it is mentioned that the characters have to travel on a boat to get where they need to go. Lt. Daniel Kaffee (Tom Cruise) then mentions that he does not like traveling on boats. It would have been nice to actually see a scene with them on the boat. I think a scene like that would have added some comic relief as the majority of the film is wrought with dramatic tension. Also, about three-quarters of the way into the movie, Lt. Col. Matthew Andrew Markinson (J.T. Walsh) commits suicide. We then see a scene where Lt. Daniel Kaffee tells Lt. Cdr. JoAnne Galloway (Demi Moore) and Lt. Sam Weinberg (Kevin Pollack) what happened. It would have been nice to actually see a scene where Kaffee finds out this information. All in all, though, this is a great film that will keep you glued to your television the entire way through.
Tom Cruise is electric as Lt. Daniel Kaffee. Kaffee is smart-mouthed, cocky and a bit of a procrastinator. Of course, if you were the best litigator in the military you would probably exhibit these characteristics as well. Cruise displays these characteristics with perfection. Also, even though there is no character in the movie that is the "comic relief", Cruise does display quite a few humorous moments simply because of the nature of his character. There is also a great character arc for Cruise in this movie. In the climax of the film, Daniel Kaffee confronts his fears of being an actual courtroom lawyer that is quite dramatic and makes you cheer for the character. Overall, this is a very fine performance from Tom Cruise.
The legendary Jack Nicholson brings a pure icy demeanor to his role as Col. Nathan R. Jessup. Jessup is a man with a corrupt conscience. He believes what he does saves lives, even if it means the death of an officer. This legitimization of why he does this is what is truly scary about the character. Nicholson commands the screen like never before, and makes you downright afraid of his character. Watching Nicholson and Cruise go at each in the courtroom almost makes you tremble because of the tension. This is one of Nicholson's best performances, and his deliverance of "You can't handle the truth!" is one of the most coldly-uttered lines in cinema history.
Demi Moore shines as Lt. Cdr. JoAnne Galloway. Even though Galloway outranks Kaffee, Kaffee is very much her equal and the chemistry between Cruise and Moore is one of the highlights of the film. I love female characters in films that are not just eye candy and Demi Moore, while she is obviously stunningly beautiful, is a crucial part in the telling of this story. Moore also has a couple of beautiful moments where she encourages Kaffee to really be the lawyer that he is afraid of being. Moore gives an exceptionally good performance in this movie.
Rob Reiner is the director of A Few Good Men. This movie thrives on the relationships and interactions between the characters, and every single frame of this film is filled with dramatic tension. The scenes in the courtroom are particularly well done. This is film that, in the wrong hands, could have been quite boring. However, Reiner paces the film in such a masterful way that you cannot wait to see what the next scene will bring. Personally, I believe that Rob Reiner is one of the industry's most under-rated directors. If you get the chance, look up his filmography and check out his films. They are all wonderful.
A Few Good Men is one of those rare films that you can watch over and over again. Not a single frame is wasted in the telling of this story. If you just love good movies, A Few Good Men is definitely for you.
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