When you hear the name Tom Cruise, one of the films that automatically comes to mind is Top Gun. This movie is the definition of an 80's summer blockbuster, and has gone on to become an instant classic. I firmly believe that Top Gun should be in every film connoisseurs' collection.
Top Gun is the story of a young pilot in the United States Navy who gets chosen to attend an elite fighter weapons school. What this film does beautifully right from the opening montage is introduce you to the world that you will experience in this film. Top Gun does a wonderful job of getting you excited to watch it just by its' credits sequence alone. I do have to say that I do not consider this movie to be just an ordinary action film for many reasons. Ironically enough, one of those things is the action sequences because of the subtext behind them. You truly get the sense of the kind of danger that fighter pilots bravely, and voluntarily, put themselves into every time they go up in the air. There are also great performances by the actors, and the main character, Maverick (Tom Cruise) has a troubled past that he is attempting to put behind him. As exciting as this film is, there are several plot holes that I need to address. At one point during flight school, Goose (Anthony Edwards) tells Maverick to execute the "Turn and Burn" maneuver to confuse their opponent, Jester (Michael Ironside). However, we then see Jester execute the maneuver first. How did Jester know they were going to execute that maneuver?? Also, how does Maverick know where Charlie (Kelly McGillis) lives even though he has never been to Miramar?? Another thing that bothers me about this film is that at one point in the film, Charlie is instructing the class, and giving performance reviews of the pilots' techniques based on the previous days' competition, except there is one problem: we never actually see that particular competition. Considering how incredible the aerial footage is in this film, I would have loved to see that. Also, why is there no altercation between Iceman (Val Kilmer) and Maverick after Goose dies? Isn't it Iceman's fault that Goose is dead? If Maverick and Goose were as close as the film claims they are, why isn't Maverick more upset about this??? Also, there is a shot in the film of Wolfman (Barry Tubb) calling someone to let them know that Maverick quit Top Gun, but we never actually see this happen. Considering how crucial of a story point this is for the movie, and for Maverick as a character, the film would have had more substance had we actually seen this happen. Also, during the climax of the film, Maverick is at Vipers' (Tom Skerritt) home for advice. Maverick says, "Sorry to bother you on a Sunday", which implies that he called, wrote a letter or something to that effect beforehand to make plans to see Viper. Again, we never actually see this happen. I feel that the story would have flowed more smoothly had a scene like this been included. Am I picking apart this film? Absolutely. Am I being too hard on such a beloved classic? Possibly. The bottom line is that this movie could have been better, but as it stands it is a decent film.
Tom Cruise, in the role that made him a star, plays Maverick. One of the other things this film does very nicely is introduce you to the characters. From the beginning we see that Maverick is cocky and arrogant, and because of this, not many people like him. However, at the same time we see that he is an excellent pilot. Also, the death of Goose is a crucial moment for Maverick as a character because it brings him down to Earth, so to speak. Maverick is hot-headed guy who lives in this fantasy world where nothing can hurt him when he is flying, and Gooses' death brings him back to reality. Cruise is fantastic in the role, playing all of these dimensions in such a well-rounded way. There is also an emotional side to Maverick that Cruise actually plays quite beautifully because he plays it in such a way that we see that Maverick has a vulnerability to him, but at the same time he does not show weakness. This is the role of a lifetime for Cruise that will go down in the annals of film history.
Kelly McGillis plays Charlie. Charlie is very much Mavericks' equal in terms of attitude, and she also offers consolation and encouragement when Maverick hits his low points. She is an intelligent woman who helps Maverick realize the kind of man he wants to be. McGillis shines in a role that, in the hands of a less capable actress, could have come across as just another pretty face.
Tony Scott is the director of Top Gun. First and foremost, the aerial footage in this film is absolutely spectacular. The scene in which Maverick is chasing Viper is particularly exhilarating to watch, and is filled with tension on many levels because you know Maverick has made a mistake in leaving his wingman and is being set up to be taken out, and yet watching him go toe to toe with Viper, the man who flew with Mavericks' father, is extremely exciting. For me personally, it is the mark of a good director to get good performances out of the actors. Scott not only does that, but the chemistry between the actors is great as well which speaks volumes about Scott as a director and the talent of the actors involved.
There are certain movies that come around once in a generation. I would put Top Gun on that list. While I am not in the camp of film fans who love and adore this movie, I do enjoy it. If you enjoy action "blockbuster" kinds of films, I would recommend it.
Showing posts with label Tony Scott. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tony Scott. Show all posts
Saturday, January 7, 2017
Thursday, November 3, 2016
Superb Swan Song
The movie Unstoppable will always be a bittersweet film for me personally. Tony Scott was one of my favorite directors, and I am still so deeply heartbroken that he is gone. It is extremely rare when a film-makers' career ends on a high note, but the career of Tony Scott did just that.
Unstoppable is the story of a veteran train engineer and a rookie conductor who must stop a runaway, unmanned freight train that is carrying hazardous chemicals. On paper, one would think that a film like this would be incredibly boring. However, in the legendary hands of Tony Scott, this theoretical snooze-fest becomes an exciting, thrilling adrenaline rush that will leave you gripping the edge of your seat until your knuckles are white. There is also a thematic element at play in this film that comes as a pleasant surprise given Tony Scotts' resume. This film touches on the fact that occasionally the older, more experienced employee gets fired in favor of a young hotshot kid who takes risks and who basically gets the job because of his lineage. This makes for great character moments within this action film. Unstoppable is one of Tony Scotts' better films, if not the best, and it is because every element in the film works perfectly.
Denzel Washington plays Frank. Frank is a seasoned train engineer who is one of the best at what he does. He knows the ins and outs of what his job entails, and what a train is able to do. There is a bitterness to his character as well because he has to break someone in who is eventually going to take his job. The relationship that he has with Will (Chris Pine) is a classic case of age and experience being replaced by youth and ability. However, once the drama in the story starts to unfold, we see that it is necessary for Frank to work with Will in order to succeed. This is a character unlike anybody we have seen Washington play. Frank is very much a reflection of who Denzel Washington is, and this is an authentic performance from one of the best in the business.
Chris Pine plays Will. Will is a flawed character in a classical sense. In his mind, he is ready for the responsibility of being the new rookie conductor. Sometimes he makes the right decisions, and other times he is completely wrong. What I love about this character the most is that we see that he works well under pressure. Once he knows what is at stake and what the risks are, we see that he truly is the man for the job. This also helps develop the relationship between Will and Frank. This is a well-crafted, layered performance by Pine.
Unstoppable is the final film directed by Tony Scott. What drives this film, probably better than any other of Scotts' movies, is the pace. Like any great movie, Unstoppable takes the time to set up the characters first so that you care about what happens to them when the action starts to pick up. In the case of this movie, the character relationships actually work to the actions' benefit. These characters have never experienced anything like this, so as an audience member you feel exactly like they do. It goes without saying that Tony Scott films action sequences like nobody else. The sequence in which a locomotive attempts to pull in front of the train in order to stop it is quite harrowing to watch. It is this combination of character relationships and action sequences that make Unstoppable such a uniquely perfect movie.
Tony Scott was a vastly under-appreciated and under-rated director. His legacy will live on forever simply because of his signature style that he brought to his films. Unstoppable is a fantastic piece of cinema that I highly recommend you see as soon as possible.
Unstoppable is the story of a veteran train engineer and a rookie conductor who must stop a runaway, unmanned freight train that is carrying hazardous chemicals. On paper, one would think that a film like this would be incredibly boring. However, in the legendary hands of Tony Scott, this theoretical snooze-fest becomes an exciting, thrilling adrenaline rush that will leave you gripping the edge of your seat until your knuckles are white. There is also a thematic element at play in this film that comes as a pleasant surprise given Tony Scotts' resume. This film touches on the fact that occasionally the older, more experienced employee gets fired in favor of a young hotshot kid who takes risks and who basically gets the job because of his lineage. This makes for great character moments within this action film. Unstoppable is one of Tony Scotts' better films, if not the best, and it is because every element in the film works perfectly.
Denzel Washington plays Frank. Frank is a seasoned train engineer who is one of the best at what he does. He knows the ins and outs of what his job entails, and what a train is able to do. There is a bitterness to his character as well because he has to break someone in who is eventually going to take his job. The relationship that he has with Will (Chris Pine) is a classic case of age and experience being replaced by youth and ability. However, once the drama in the story starts to unfold, we see that it is necessary for Frank to work with Will in order to succeed. This is a character unlike anybody we have seen Washington play. Frank is very much a reflection of who Denzel Washington is, and this is an authentic performance from one of the best in the business.
Chris Pine plays Will. Will is a flawed character in a classical sense. In his mind, he is ready for the responsibility of being the new rookie conductor. Sometimes he makes the right decisions, and other times he is completely wrong. What I love about this character the most is that we see that he works well under pressure. Once he knows what is at stake and what the risks are, we see that he truly is the man for the job. This also helps develop the relationship between Will and Frank. This is a well-crafted, layered performance by Pine.
Unstoppable is the final film directed by Tony Scott. What drives this film, probably better than any other of Scotts' movies, is the pace. Like any great movie, Unstoppable takes the time to set up the characters first so that you care about what happens to them when the action starts to pick up. In the case of this movie, the character relationships actually work to the actions' benefit. These characters have never experienced anything like this, so as an audience member you feel exactly like they do. It goes without saying that Tony Scott films action sequences like nobody else. The sequence in which a locomotive attempts to pull in front of the train in order to stop it is quite harrowing to watch. It is this combination of character relationships and action sequences that make Unstoppable such a uniquely perfect movie.
Tony Scott was a vastly under-appreciated and under-rated director. His legacy will live on forever simply because of his signature style that he brought to his films. Unstoppable is a fantastic piece of cinema that I highly recommend you see as soon as possible.
Saturday, August 20, 2016
Romantic Action
True Romance is another one of those movies that I had heard of, but never actually seen until now. Of course, the fact that this movie is written by Quentin Tarantino and directed by Tony Scott made me look forward to watching this movie even more. I have to say that I loved this film from beginning to end.
True Romance is the story of Clarence (Christian Slater) who steals cocaine from his girlfriends' former pimp. The rightful owners of the cocaine then attempt to track it down. Even though this movie clocks in at 121 minutes, it feels like a 3 hour epic and I mean that in the best way possible. The action is brutal, but more importantly the story is told in such a way that you care about the characters, and the ending of the movie brings closure to the film perfectly. Well, almost perfectly. I would have liked to have seen even a small sequence where Clarence finds out that his father, Clifford (Dennis Hopper), has been killed. I think this would have added to Clarence's motivations. Other than that, this is an epic and entertaining movie.
Christian Slater plays Clarence Worley. I love this character because he is a film and comic book geek at heart, but deep down he loves his lady, and is someone that you do not want to mess with at all. Slater plays this role perfectly, right down to his terrifying dark side. I must say that what makes the darkness so terrifying is the fact that it seems to come out of nowhere, as if all of Clarence's rage has been at a boiling point for years. Again, this adds to the character, and Slater shines in the role.
Patricia Arquette plays Clarence's wife, Alabama Whitman. Whitman is a woman who loves her man dearly and, like Clarence, has a dark side to her although it is in a different style. She will do anything to protect her man, even if it means her getting savagely beaten (honestly, that scene is incredibly brutal). Arquette completely disappears into character, giving one of the best female performances I have ever seen on film.
Tony Scott is the director of True Romance. As with any Tony Scott film, the action is incredibly fast-paced and filmed very well. However, there are two scenes in the film that stick out for me and they both involve on character confronting another character. These scenes are slow and drawn out, and you feel the tension build because of the way they are shot. These scenes are also uncharacteristic of Tony Scott pictures, and I personally think he did them incredibly well.
What can you say about Tony Scott films that has not been said before? The man was a genius, and True Romance is an unmitigated classic. You get invested with the characters, which makes you care about them during the action sequences. If you have not seen True Romance, treat yourself to it. You will not regret it.
True Romance is the story of Clarence (Christian Slater) who steals cocaine from his girlfriends' former pimp. The rightful owners of the cocaine then attempt to track it down. Even though this movie clocks in at 121 minutes, it feels like a 3 hour epic and I mean that in the best way possible. The action is brutal, but more importantly the story is told in such a way that you care about the characters, and the ending of the movie brings closure to the film perfectly. Well, almost perfectly. I would have liked to have seen even a small sequence where Clarence finds out that his father, Clifford (Dennis Hopper), has been killed. I think this would have added to Clarence's motivations. Other than that, this is an epic and entertaining movie.
Christian Slater plays Clarence Worley. I love this character because he is a film and comic book geek at heart, but deep down he loves his lady, and is someone that you do not want to mess with at all. Slater plays this role perfectly, right down to his terrifying dark side. I must say that what makes the darkness so terrifying is the fact that it seems to come out of nowhere, as if all of Clarence's rage has been at a boiling point for years. Again, this adds to the character, and Slater shines in the role.
Patricia Arquette plays Clarence's wife, Alabama Whitman. Whitman is a woman who loves her man dearly and, like Clarence, has a dark side to her although it is in a different style. She will do anything to protect her man, even if it means her getting savagely beaten (honestly, that scene is incredibly brutal). Arquette completely disappears into character, giving one of the best female performances I have ever seen on film.
Tony Scott is the director of True Romance. As with any Tony Scott film, the action is incredibly fast-paced and filmed very well. However, there are two scenes in the film that stick out for me and they both involve on character confronting another character. These scenes are slow and drawn out, and you feel the tension build because of the way they are shot. These scenes are also uncharacteristic of Tony Scott pictures, and I personally think he did them incredibly well.
What can you say about Tony Scott films that has not been said before? The man was a genius, and True Romance is an unmitigated classic. You get invested with the characters, which makes you care about them during the action sequences. If you have not seen True Romance, treat yourself to it. You will not regret it.
Friday, April 1, 2016
Peril On The Sea
I have always been a fan of movies that involve naval submarines. It is thrilling to watch so many things happen within a pressurized metal container that is hundreds of feet below sea level. Crimson Tide is a movie that is no exception.
Crimson Tide takes place on a United States nuclear missile submarine. The submarine's first officer must prevent his captain from launching missiles without confirmation. This movie takes the time to set up the situation and develop the characters so that, when things get sour, you care what happens to them. There are also a couple of comedic pop culture references in the movie that help bring well-timed comic relief into an unstable and tense situation. The authentic technical jargon is in the movie as well. However, there are a couple of plot holes which I will address. Firstly, it is not exactly clear how the USS Alabama obtained the classification of the enemy submarine. It is also unclear how they found out the enemy rebels were fueling the missiles. Despite these minor details, Crimson Tide is an entertaining movie that will leave you on the edge of your seat.
Denzel Washington plays Lt. Commander Ron Hunter. Hunter is a young officer who has zero combat experience and when the time comes for him to assume authority he is hesitant at first, but then we see him gradually ease into his role aboard the submarine. Denzel Washington brings a genuine reluctance and confidence to the role that makes you care about what he is going through. It is not easy to go up against a cinema giant like Gene Hackman, but Washington does it perfectly.
I have always been a fan of Gene Hackman. I have never seen him give a bad performance in anything he has done. In Crimson Tide, he plays Capt. Frank Ramsey. Ramsey is a man who just may be letting his experience work against him on his mission. While he is a hard-ass, he does have a sense of humor that Hackman displays beautifully. Also, the dialogue between Hackman and Denzel Washington is quite memorable which, again, makes you care even more about their characters.
Tony Scott is the director of Crimson Tide. As with any Tony Scott film, the action sequences are impeccable. However, what is key to the movie is the dramatic dialogue scenes. While these scenes are slow and drawn out at times, they also help balance the pace of the movie. Crimson Tide is a taut thriller at its finest.
Crimson Tide is a great film about youth and ability overcoming age and experience. This movie reminds you why we go to the movies. The acting is great, the action is great, and I would highly recommend Crimson Tide to anybody
Crimson Tide takes place on a United States nuclear missile submarine. The submarine's first officer must prevent his captain from launching missiles without confirmation. This movie takes the time to set up the situation and develop the characters so that, when things get sour, you care what happens to them. There are also a couple of comedic pop culture references in the movie that help bring well-timed comic relief into an unstable and tense situation. The authentic technical jargon is in the movie as well. However, there are a couple of plot holes which I will address. Firstly, it is not exactly clear how the USS Alabama obtained the classification of the enemy submarine. It is also unclear how they found out the enemy rebels were fueling the missiles. Despite these minor details, Crimson Tide is an entertaining movie that will leave you on the edge of your seat.
Denzel Washington plays Lt. Commander Ron Hunter. Hunter is a young officer who has zero combat experience and when the time comes for him to assume authority he is hesitant at first, but then we see him gradually ease into his role aboard the submarine. Denzel Washington brings a genuine reluctance and confidence to the role that makes you care about what he is going through. It is not easy to go up against a cinema giant like Gene Hackman, but Washington does it perfectly.
I have always been a fan of Gene Hackman. I have never seen him give a bad performance in anything he has done. In Crimson Tide, he plays Capt. Frank Ramsey. Ramsey is a man who just may be letting his experience work against him on his mission. While he is a hard-ass, he does have a sense of humor that Hackman displays beautifully. Also, the dialogue between Hackman and Denzel Washington is quite memorable which, again, makes you care even more about their characters.
Tony Scott is the director of Crimson Tide. As with any Tony Scott film, the action sequences are impeccable. However, what is key to the movie is the dramatic dialogue scenes. While these scenes are slow and drawn out at times, they also help balance the pace of the movie. Crimson Tide is a taut thriller at its finest.
Crimson Tide is a great film about youth and ability overcoming age and experience. This movie reminds you why we go to the movies. The acting is great, the action is great, and I would highly recommend Crimson Tide to anybody
Saturday, February 20, 2016
The Need For Speed
Days of Thunder is one of my favorite movies. It is a movie that I know by heart, and one that I could watch over and over again. Even though I do not know anything about racing, the movie does an excellent job educating even the most casual of NASCAR fans.
Days of Thunder is the story of a young stock car driver who works his way up to compete at the Daytona 500. The movie works on a number of levels. It is exciting to watch, and at the same time you care about the characters. The roar of the engines is enough to get your adrenaline pumping, and all of the authentic technical jargon is in there as well. At the beginning of the movie, we also see some real NASCAR drivers including Rusty Wallace and Richard Petty. As great as this movie is, there are some problems with it. At one point in the movie, Cole Trickle (Tom Cruise) and his team get fired. Therefore, since Cole actually does race in the Daytona 500 at the end of the film, it is only natural that there is a scene where they get hired back, right? Wrong. There is not even an acknowledgement of this happening. Also, since Cole races Rowdy Burns' (Michael Rooker) car at the Daytona 500 and wins, I feel like there should have been a scene with Rowdy at the end of the movie instead of just Cole and Harry Hogge (Robert Duvall) celebrating. While these problems do not prevent me from enjoying the movie, there is one glaring problem that does: the audio dubbing. There are several moments in the movie where we hear Cole speak, but his lips are not moving properly. No matter how many times I watch Days of Thunder, I always roll my eyes at these moments.
Tom Cruise plays Cole Trickle. Trickle is cocky and arrogant, but there is also a vulnerability about the character that Cruise plays beautifully. There are elements of the classic "Zero to Hero" character arc here as well which I love. Trickle comes from a successful career racing sprint cars to knowing nothing about stock cars. Essentially, he has to learn how to drive all over again. There is also great natural chemistry between Cruise, Robert Duvall and Nicole Kidman. Also, we see that after his crash with Rowdy, Cole struggles to put this event behind him. There are demons that he has to deal with, and this is yet another aspect of the character that I like.
I have gone on length about my admiration and respect for director Tony Scott. Due to the fact that some racing footage was filmed at the 1990 Daytona 500, the racing sequences look superb. The dramatic scenes, particularly between Cole and Rowdy, are very well done and actually quite emotional to watch. Days of Thunder is one of Tony Scott's best movies.
For me personally, Days of Thunder never gets old. It is filled with great acting (including an inspired performance by Robert Duvall) and non-stop action. If you are looking for a movie that has it all, Days of Thunder is a must-see!
Days of Thunder is the story of a young stock car driver who works his way up to compete at the Daytona 500. The movie works on a number of levels. It is exciting to watch, and at the same time you care about the characters. The roar of the engines is enough to get your adrenaline pumping, and all of the authentic technical jargon is in there as well. At the beginning of the movie, we also see some real NASCAR drivers including Rusty Wallace and Richard Petty. As great as this movie is, there are some problems with it. At one point in the movie, Cole Trickle (Tom Cruise) and his team get fired. Therefore, since Cole actually does race in the Daytona 500 at the end of the film, it is only natural that there is a scene where they get hired back, right? Wrong. There is not even an acknowledgement of this happening. Also, since Cole races Rowdy Burns' (Michael Rooker) car at the Daytona 500 and wins, I feel like there should have been a scene with Rowdy at the end of the movie instead of just Cole and Harry Hogge (Robert Duvall) celebrating. While these problems do not prevent me from enjoying the movie, there is one glaring problem that does: the audio dubbing. There are several moments in the movie where we hear Cole speak, but his lips are not moving properly. No matter how many times I watch Days of Thunder, I always roll my eyes at these moments.
Tom Cruise plays Cole Trickle. Trickle is cocky and arrogant, but there is also a vulnerability about the character that Cruise plays beautifully. There are elements of the classic "Zero to Hero" character arc here as well which I love. Trickle comes from a successful career racing sprint cars to knowing nothing about stock cars. Essentially, he has to learn how to drive all over again. There is also great natural chemistry between Cruise, Robert Duvall and Nicole Kidman. Also, we see that after his crash with Rowdy, Cole struggles to put this event behind him. There are demons that he has to deal with, and this is yet another aspect of the character that I like.
I have gone on length about my admiration and respect for director Tony Scott. Due to the fact that some racing footage was filmed at the 1990 Daytona 500, the racing sequences look superb. The dramatic scenes, particularly between Cole and Rowdy, are very well done and actually quite emotional to watch. Days of Thunder is one of Tony Scott's best movies.
For me personally, Days of Thunder never gets old. It is filled with great acting (including an inspired performance by Robert Duvall) and non-stop action. If you are looking for a movie that has it all, Days of Thunder is a must-see!
Monday, February 1, 2016
Rooting For The Common Man
I had never seen the remake of The Taking of Pelham 123 mostly because, as people are well aware, I do not care for remakes. However, because of the cast and the director involved I was actually looking forward to watching it. I enjoyed the movie very much, and I have very little complaints about it.
The Taking of Pelham 123 is the story of a New York City subway that gets hijacked, and the dispatcher who gets thrust into the middle of the chaos. Personally, I think this is a very good movie. It is probably the most violent film of Tony Scott's career, even though there is not much action in it. There is slow-motion used in some places that really does not call for it, but other than that I think this film is very good.
What can you say about Denzel Washington that has not been said already? The man is a titan of the silver screen, and is one of the greatest actors to ever live. He plays Walter Garber in the movie. I love his character in the movie because, like John McClane in the original Die Hard, Walter Garber is an ordinary man who gets thrust into an extraordinary situation. He has no idea the kind of situation he has gotten into which makes you cheer for him even more. This is probably the most wholesome performance of Denzel's career.
I have always been a fan of John Travolta. I think it is a shame he has had such a up-and-down career because I believe he is a truly great actor. In this movie Travolta plays Ryder, thus continuing his successful string of playing villains. There is a lethalness to Ryder, probably more so than any other villain Travolta has played. His performance in the movie is so completely over the top that you really believe he has gone completely bonkers. I was very much looking forward to watching him in the movie, and I was not let down at all.
I have always said that Tony Scott was one of my favorite directors. He was one of the best at filming action, and I was incredibly sad when he passed away. It is ironic that he was so good at making action movies because this movie does not have much at all. This movie shows what people are like in very tense situations and Scott does that very effectively, particularly in the scenes where Garber and Ryder are communicating to each other. This movie has more drama in it than action, which was a pleasant surprise coming from such an established action movie director.
The Taking of Pelham 123 is a movie that knows exactly what it is, and does not try to be anything else. This movie is driven by great performances that make you care about the characters. If you are a fan of thrillers, you will definitely enjoy this movie.
The Taking of Pelham 123 is the story of a New York City subway that gets hijacked, and the dispatcher who gets thrust into the middle of the chaos. Personally, I think this is a very good movie. It is probably the most violent film of Tony Scott's career, even though there is not much action in it. There is slow-motion used in some places that really does not call for it, but other than that I think this film is very good.
What can you say about Denzel Washington that has not been said already? The man is a titan of the silver screen, and is one of the greatest actors to ever live. He plays Walter Garber in the movie. I love his character in the movie because, like John McClane in the original Die Hard, Walter Garber is an ordinary man who gets thrust into an extraordinary situation. He has no idea the kind of situation he has gotten into which makes you cheer for him even more. This is probably the most wholesome performance of Denzel's career.
I have always been a fan of John Travolta. I think it is a shame he has had such a up-and-down career because I believe he is a truly great actor. In this movie Travolta plays Ryder, thus continuing his successful string of playing villains. There is a lethalness to Ryder, probably more so than any other villain Travolta has played. His performance in the movie is so completely over the top that you really believe he has gone completely bonkers. I was very much looking forward to watching him in the movie, and I was not let down at all.
I have always said that Tony Scott was one of my favorite directors. He was one of the best at filming action, and I was incredibly sad when he passed away. It is ironic that he was so good at making action movies because this movie does not have much at all. This movie shows what people are like in very tense situations and Scott does that very effectively, particularly in the scenes where Garber and Ryder are communicating to each other. This movie has more drama in it than action, which was a pleasant surprise coming from such an established action movie director.
The Taking of Pelham 123 is a movie that knows exactly what it is, and does not try to be anything else. This movie is driven by great performances that make you care about the characters. If you are a fan of thrillers, you will definitely enjoy this movie.
Monday, January 4, 2016
The Art Of Death
I have generally never cared for remakes. I never have, and I never will. For every remake that gets made, there is one less original story that gets told. However, there are a handful of remakes that I have seen that I personally think are quite good. The 2004 film Man on Fire is one of them.
Man on Fire is the story of an assassin who seeks revenge upon those kidnapped a girl he was hired to protect. Man on Fire is one of my favorite films from one of my favorite directors in Tony Scott. Personally, I think this film is extraordinary. This is an expertly crafted film, from the acting, to the action, to the details in the writing. There are a couple issues I would like to address. First: why are there occasional English subtitles? I am American, therefore I understand what the people are saying. Also, at the end of the movie John Creasy (Denzel Washington) gives himself up to rescue Lupita (Dakota Fanning). Why does this happen? The deal Creasy makes with "The Voice" is a life for a life. It is not a life for two lives. Plus, Creasy is just about dead at the end of the movie anyway. It is not as if the bad guys can kill him again. That decision makes no sense to me. However, these couple of details do not at all detract from this epic, emotional, action-packed story.
Denzel Washington is one of my favorite actors, and is one of the reasons I got into movies in the first place. In Man on Fire, he plays John Creasy. Creasy is a drunk who has a very dark past, but it is his relationship that he forms with Lupita that rescues him from being depressed and wanting to die. When Lupita gets kidnapped, Creasy unleashes his violent fury upon the city to get to the ones responsible. I love characters like John Creasy who have a dark side that they are not necessarily proud of, but then are forced to show and use it through a series of circumstances. This is one of my favorite Denzel Washington roles. His relationship with Luptia grows over time, and she helps him see the better parts of himself. This, I truly believe, is why Creasy stops at nothing to exact revenge (even after being shot three times). Finding her kidnapper is literally killing him, but he does not care. He is good at what he does, and he knows it. He is cold, confident, and the ways in which he punishes his victims are so beautifully gruesome. This is very much an emotional journey for Creasy, and Denzel Washington gives one of his finest performances as this character.
Tony Scott was one of my favorite directors, and he was truly under-rated and under-appreciated in his time. He is the director of Man on Fire, and it is one of his best films. His trademark flashy cuts are used to perfection to signify the passage of time. The action is beautifully shot, and Scott, as I mentioned before, also makes this a very emotional movie. The dialogue scenes, particularly between Washington and Fanning, are so well done that by the end of the movie you might be in tears because of the journey this movie takes you on.
I absolutely love Man on Fire. It is such a shame that Tony Scott is no longer with us because there are many film fans out there who loved his movies. If you love action movies and if you are a fan of Denzel Washington, I highly recommend watching it.
Thursday, November 19, 2015
Born To Be Wild
It is funny sometimes when a movie you thought was awesome in your youth actually turns out to be a movie that is just decent at best. Ten years ago, I would have told you that Domino is one of the greatest action movies ever made. Ten years later, I will tell you that the action in the movie is good, the performances are great, but overall Domino is not very good. This is a shame because I have such a love and appreciation for Tony Scott's work as a director.
Domino is the story of Domino Harvey and her life as a bounty hunter. To be honest, I found this movie to be quite slow and boring. The performances and the action scenes, particularly the shootout at the top of the Space Needle, are what kept me invested. In the end, I was glad for it to be over. There are some flaws in the movie. For some reason, every time Domino (Keira Knightley) tells us about a new character we see a flashback of that person's life. That is not necessary at all. Also, there are many parts of the film that are shown in slow motion. Slow motion works when you put it in the right places, but not when it is used throughout the movie. Also, there is part in the movie when they crash their R.V., and after they escape Domino and Choco (Edgar Ramirez) immediately start having sex right in the middle of the desert. WHAT?! That makes absolutely no sense at all. Another thing is that, in the aforementioned shootout, why is it so dark at the top of the Space Needle? How are they able to see each other, much less shoot each other? When you add all these things to an already boring movie, the result is not very good. However, most of the performances are stellar.
Keira Knightley electrifies the screen as Domino Harvey. She kicks ass, has a smart mouth, and is completely fearless. I always enjoy it when an actor/actress goes against type, and Knightley does so with such ferocity. She disappears into this role just as she always does.
Mickey Rourke plays Ed Moseby. He is the leader of the pack, and Rourke does not have to do much convincing to make us believe that. He remains cool and focused even in the face of death. This is honestly one of the best pieces of acting I have ever seen from Rourke.
Edgar Ramirez plays Choco. Choco has a soft exterior, but that is just a cover for this wild beast of a man that will shoot your arm off without any hesitation. Unfortunately, there is no motivation behind the character. He is just there as Ed Moseby's sidekick, and he really has little to do throughout the movie.
The late Tony Scott is the director of Domino. Long before J.J. Abrams started using lens flares, Tony Scott was bringing us his own signature flashy style of directing. The camerawork, again particularly in the action scenes, is amazing. Unfortunately, Scott gets too caught up in his own style and does too much with it which diminishes the quality of the movie. That being said, Domino is an incredible rare misstep for the highly under-appreciated and under-rated Tony Scott.
As I said before, Domino is an average movie at best. If you are one of those movie fans like me who collect entire collections of an actor's/director's work, then I would recommend Domino to complete your Tony Scott collection. However, if you are a fan of Tony Scott's other films you probably will not enjoy it.
Domino is the story of Domino Harvey and her life as a bounty hunter. To be honest, I found this movie to be quite slow and boring. The performances and the action scenes, particularly the shootout at the top of the Space Needle, are what kept me invested. In the end, I was glad for it to be over. There are some flaws in the movie. For some reason, every time Domino (Keira Knightley) tells us about a new character we see a flashback of that person's life. That is not necessary at all. Also, there are many parts of the film that are shown in slow motion. Slow motion works when you put it in the right places, but not when it is used throughout the movie. Also, there is part in the movie when they crash their R.V., and after they escape Domino and Choco (Edgar Ramirez) immediately start having sex right in the middle of the desert. WHAT?! That makes absolutely no sense at all. Another thing is that, in the aforementioned shootout, why is it so dark at the top of the Space Needle? How are they able to see each other, much less shoot each other? When you add all these things to an already boring movie, the result is not very good. However, most of the performances are stellar.
Keira Knightley electrifies the screen as Domino Harvey. She kicks ass, has a smart mouth, and is completely fearless. I always enjoy it when an actor/actress goes against type, and Knightley does so with such ferocity. She disappears into this role just as she always does.
Mickey Rourke plays Ed Moseby. He is the leader of the pack, and Rourke does not have to do much convincing to make us believe that. He remains cool and focused even in the face of death. This is honestly one of the best pieces of acting I have ever seen from Rourke.
Edgar Ramirez plays Choco. Choco has a soft exterior, but that is just a cover for this wild beast of a man that will shoot your arm off without any hesitation. Unfortunately, there is no motivation behind the character. He is just there as Ed Moseby's sidekick, and he really has little to do throughout the movie.
The late Tony Scott is the director of Domino. Long before J.J. Abrams started using lens flares, Tony Scott was bringing us his own signature flashy style of directing. The camerawork, again particularly in the action scenes, is amazing. Unfortunately, Scott gets too caught up in his own style and does too much with it which diminishes the quality of the movie. That being said, Domino is an incredible rare misstep for the highly under-appreciated and under-rated Tony Scott.
As I said before, Domino is an average movie at best. If you are one of those movie fans like me who collect entire collections of an actor's/director's work, then I would recommend Domino to complete your Tony Scott collection. However, if you are a fan of Tony Scott's other films you probably will not enjoy it.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)