I LOVED this movie, I don't care what anyone has to say about it. Much like last year's Domino- which I also really liked despite its horrible reviews - Running Scared is a hectic and harrowing tale, spilling out on the screen like a stream of consciousness. With frenetic pacing and an erratic storyline, I hated to leave for the bathroom for fear I would miss something critical. Blasted apple martinis.
Paul Walker stars as Joey Gazelle, a low-level mob guy who has the task of disposing of dirty guns. When one such piece gets away from him before he has the chance to dump it, Joey has to track it down before his bosses and/or the cops find it. Who has the gun? It was last in the hands of Oleg (Cameron Bright of Birth), the next door neighbor and best friend of his young son Nicky. Running Scared lives up to its title as Walker frantically combs the city for the burner. It passes hands from one low-life to another, and Joey always seems to be one step behind. The story takes an interesting turn when his wife goes on a chase of her own to retrieve Oleg, who is on the run for reasons I won't reveal so I don't spoil it for you. What makes this flick interesting is the atmosphere, cinematography, and the performances. The director makes use of slow-mo shots, reverse techniques and interesting camera angles. The film is visually appealing, starkly colored with lots of washed-out imagery. Now, for the performances: Paul Walker might be my new obsession. His Jersey accent was great and I was surprised he was able to ditch his natural surfer-boy intonation. He showed some grit, which I believe is a departure from his more recent roles. Plus I aint gonna lie…he is hella sexy. He's hot! I tried to save that for the end so it won't seem like that's the real reason why I liked this movie, but I have to put it out there. Paul, I aint mad at 'cha. Now as for this kid actor Cameron Bright, he is kinda deep. I've only seen him in one other movie, 2004's Birth, and he was good in that one also, although it was a bit disturbing. This kid takes on some heavy roles and I give him credit for it. He's no Haley Joel Osment or Dakota Fanning but hey, he's good. If you liked Domino or you dig Tarantino, I think you'll like Running Scared. One thing's for certain: you won't be bored.
Saturday, February 25, 2006
Friday, February 24, 2006
Freedomland
You can always count on Samuel L. Jackson for some hilarious profanity-laden quotes. He doesn't disappoint in Freedomland, but the movie is otherwise unmemorable. Guess what profane gem Sam Jack drops on us this time? He actually calls a guy "brotherfucker!" Get it? Instead of mother...ok, enough.
Freedomland begins on a night in the summer of 1999 in inner-city New Jersey. Brenda Martin, played by Julianne Moore (Hannibal, The Forgotten) has been carjacked by the omnipresent criminally-inclined young black male, with her 4 year old son still in the backseat. The largely white police department of the neighboring suburb of Gannon begin their shakedown of the neighborhood project where Brenda works as a teacher. Sam Jack plays Lorenzo Council, a badass (big surprise) cop who knows the projects and its residents intimately. The first half hour of the movie is great: the pacing is taut and the racial tension is palpable. Jackson is commanding in the role and his character is tough but tender. However, the project atmosphere is quickly exhausted and goes from tense to tiring.
Moore is a talented actress, but I personally found her character to become more annoying and less sympathetic as the story unfolded. She is essentially a bird-brained basketcase for the entire movie. When she goes to the hospital after the jacking she doesn't even say immediately that her son was still in the backseat of the car. I guess she's supposed to be in shock, but that just doesn't fly with me. Also, she has this gross lip-licking thing that she does. Ugh.
This movie had the potential to be really good, but ends up being tiring and unremarkable. There are solid performances from Jackson and Edie Falco (The Sopranos) as a missing children's crusader -- but Freedomland ultimately fizzles.
Freedomland begins on a night in the summer of 1999 in inner-city New Jersey. Brenda Martin, played by Julianne Moore (Hannibal, The Forgotten) has been carjacked by the omnipresent criminally-inclined young black male, with her 4 year old son still in the backseat. The largely white police department of the neighboring suburb of Gannon begin their shakedown of the neighborhood project where Brenda works as a teacher. Sam Jack plays Lorenzo Council, a badass (big surprise) cop who knows the projects and its residents intimately. The first half hour of the movie is great: the pacing is taut and the racial tension is palpable. Jackson is commanding in the role and his character is tough but tender. However, the project atmosphere is quickly exhausted and goes from tense to tiring.
Moore is a talented actress, but I personally found her character to become more annoying and less sympathetic as the story unfolded. She is essentially a bird-brained basketcase for the entire movie. When she goes to the hospital after the jacking she doesn't even say immediately that her son was still in the backseat of the car. I guess she's supposed to be in shock, but that just doesn't fly with me. Also, she has this gross lip-licking thing that she does. Ugh.
This movie had the potential to be really good, but ends up being tiring and unremarkable. There are solid performances from Jackson and Edie Falco (The Sopranos) as a missing children's crusader -- but Freedomland ultimately fizzles.
Monday, February 06, 2006
When A Stranger Calls
I can't believe this is the #1 movie in America right now. Wow. I can save you a trip to the theater. Have you seen the commercial? Ok, good. You've seen the movie. That's it, there's nothing more. I'm not exaggerating. I will admit that the director did a good job of building and sustaining tension in a confined space, but after a while it just became boring. I can't find one other remotely redeeming thing to say about this movie. There were no twists. There was no big payoff. You have the obligatory, "what the hell are you doing you stupid ass??" moment, followed by your "don't go in there!" scene. Complete teeny-bopper drivel.
Annapolis
Well, I had low expectations for this movie, and I wasn't disappointed. Or I guess you could say I WAS disappointed, because this one was USA Movie of the Week quality. I went for the eye candy (James Franco and Tyrese Gibson), but they weren't quite worth the price of admission.
Franco (Spiderman) stars as Jake Huard, a young man who dreamt of joining the U.S. Naval Academy as a boy. He aspires to surpass the blue collar lifestyle of his father and friends, who build naval ships for the Academy. The only things standing in his way are self-doubt and the character of Lt. Cole, played by Tyrese (Four Brothers). Cole is supposed to be the antagonist, but as a viewer I found myself disliking him because I knew I was supposed to, rather than because he was the bad guy everyone made him out to be. Writer David Collard (Out of Time) simply did a poor job of constructing a compelling story. Everything about the script was corny and underdeveloped, from Huard's silly interactions with love interest Jordana Brewster (The Fast and the Furious) to his relationships with boyhood friends. The only mildly endearing character was "Twins," an overweight but sweet cadet whom Huard befriends at the Academy. Riddled with clichés, Annapolis is one to skip. Skip it at the theater. Skip it at Blockbuster. Skip it on cable. I think my work here is done.
Franco (Spiderman) stars as Jake Huard, a young man who dreamt of joining the U.S. Naval Academy as a boy. He aspires to surpass the blue collar lifestyle of his father and friends, who build naval ships for the Academy. The only things standing in his way are self-doubt and the character of Lt. Cole, played by Tyrese (Four Brothers). Cole is supposed to be the antagonist, but as a viewer I found myself disliking him because I knew I was supposed to, rather than because he was the bad guy everyone made him out to be. Writer David Collard (Out of Time) simply did a poor job of constructing a compelling story. Everything about the script was corny and underdeveloped, from Huard's silly interactions with love interest Jordana Brewster (The Fast and the Furious) to his relationships with boyhood friends. The only mildly endearing character was "Twins," an overweight but sweet cadet whom Huard befriends at the Academy. Riddled with clichés, Annapolis is one to skip. Skip it at the theater. Skip it at Blockbuster. Skip it on cable. I think my work here is done.
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