Movie Review - A Deadly Obsession

A Deadly Obsession

2012

Production Companies:  Moody Independent

My main motivation for watching this movie was Katee Sackhoff.  I find that she's a strong actress who brings a power and intensity to her roles and she does that here.

Suzanne is a psychologist and tutor who is trying to help Conner resolve his issues; unfortunately, Conner is in love... with Suzanne.  When she drops him as a client and recommends him to another psychologist he decides to prove his love for her in a rather violent fashion.  However, Suzanne is also under psychiatric observation as her troubled past has her worried that she too might possess violent tendencies similar to her mothers.

This being a TV movie, Weissman writes it as such.  This would make a great thriller if it were as dark as the premise suggests, though as a TV movie it's a fair shade lighter, though it still comes off well, though this is down to both the leads, Sackhoff and Harvey.  

The direction is pretty standard fare for television, there's nothing new in either the camera work or scene settings.  However, Stimpson does a good job with the pace of the film.  It's slightly faster and punchier than average which keeps the audience interested and the story flowing.  There are some drawbacks though as the students are your stereotypical kind and they are pretty annoying at times, especially when in the boiler room.  This is the time you're hoping the killer finds them.  Also, John Shea is very two dimensional as the other psychologist, though I've never rated him as a great actor ever since I saw him as Lex Luthor in Lois and Clark.  Luckily, Lively's character and her flirtatious interactions with campus security guard Olsen, played by Bates Wilder add a nice warm hearted feeling and a more relatable point of view for the audience.

This is a watchable and an enjoyable thriller which could have been better.  Though it is worth at least one viewing and I'd recommend it to anybody who likes psychological thrillers.  It's perfect for evening or Sunday afternoon viewings when you just want to relax and chill out.

Movie Review - The Debt

The Debt

2010

Production Companies:  Miramax, Marv Films, Pioneer Pictures

This cold war spy story takes place in two time periods - 1965 and 1997.  Three Mossad agents are sent into East Berlin to retrieve the Nazi war criminal.  However, things do not go according to plan.  The details of which have been repressed but are now threatening to break into the light and bring the agents and their mission into a very public eye.

If you like spy thrillers you may like this one, it is beautifully filmed though a tad on the slow side with a story which isn't as strong as the acting.

The writers do a great job with interweaving past with the present, especially where the secrets are concerned.  Having Rachel's daughter publishing a book about her and the mission at the time when things are starting to unravel is a brilliant idea, though I don't think it's fully utilised and expanded upon, because when the truth is revealed it will make her daughter look inexperienced as an investigative reporter.  This would have added greater depth and better characterisation of Helen Mirren's Rachel; which it needed.  There was enough space within the story to accomplish this as there are scenes which are too drawn out.  The ending is predictable and feels like it's been tagged on to give the story a happier ending.  To me, it felt like a cop out and once again showed the differences between the Rachel characters.

Another drawback is the secret itself.  I for one cannot understand why they didn't tell the truth, to begin with.  That way they could have just got on with rectifying the situation.  It was this thought that through the rest of the film out of balance by making it feel weak and pointless.

It was the acting, especially from the 1965 cast, which carried the story and the film.  Chastain's Rachel is an intelligent and strong individual; this, however, is not the case with Mirren's Rachel who doesn't appear to have these characteristics.  To be honest, only Wilkinson's and Csokas' Stephen Gold could be the same person.  These differences in the main characters slightly detracted me from the movie.

As for the direction, this could have been tighter at times to create an exciting atmosphere when needed and slower at other times to build suspense.  Unfortunately, the director opts for a steady pace, which at times, is too slow and verges on boring.  The locations are great and give the feel of the period, as does the lighting,  Along with some nicely thought out camera shots, it adds strength and atmosphere to the film.

I'd recommend this to all lovers of spy thrillers, though if you're new to the genre I wouldn't start with this film; it's not the best of its kind and may put you off watching other better spy thrillers.  That said, it is worth at least one watch.

Movie Review - The Mystery Cruise

The Mystery Cruise

2013

Production Company:  The Hallmark Movie Channel

This made for TV movie had the potential to much better than it turned out as it was based on Santa Cruise By Carol & Mary Higgins Clark.  Unfortunately, the film suffers from everything.

The acting is mediocre at best, irksome at the worst.  Since there are some credible and experienced actors in the cast I have to deduce it comes down to the director's decision and vision of the movie.  Even the leading ladies aren't excluded from this, there are some times when Gail O'Grady actually looks lost and confused.   A lot of the actors were wasted on this production; and I would have loved to have seen Larry Miller, who always brings joy to every one of his characters, actually have a different role than that of a stumbling, bumbling, loveable husband, father, or uncle - he has this style of role down pat, it'd be nice to see him in a darker and meatier character.

Not having read the novel I cannot fairly criticise the adaptation though, for the most part, the story works.  I think part of the trouble is in the title because it deceives the viewer into believing this is a whodunnit.  Though what the audience gets is no mystery at all.  Though the two "lady sleuths" - one a real detective, the other a mystery whodunnit genius - are guests aboard a murder mystery cruise when it becomes evident that a real murder might be committed and the duo set out to stop the killer before she can kill.  That's right I said she but this isn't a spoiler as we are shown this right from the start.  This is a story which shows the viewer how the killer is caught.  Unfortunately, with this type of story, you need good direction and acting to keep the audience involved, which as I stated previously isn't here.

As for the direction itself, I would put this at below standard even for TV movie.  A lot of the shots are lazy and unimaginative, though there are quite a few scenes where these could have been improved.  There were also times when lighting and music could have helped with building atmosphere, for example, the cruise is set in old west times and the guests are in costumes, it would've been nice to have a piano player on board and they could have gone the whole hog and used lanterns - this could just be me going to far, but if you watch the film you'll see it needs something.  Then you have the pace of the film, which is just a little too slow and feels as though the story is crawling.

This isn't the worst movie ever made it is pretty average though, but if you're off sick and it's wet outside and this is the only thing on TV that you've not seen then you can give it a go.  It'll pass an hour and a half.

Movie Review - Bound To Vengeance

Bound To Vengeance

2015

Production Companies:  Dark Factory Entertainment & Itaca Films

This is a strange film because even though it's good and it takes a different look at the kidnapping genre, it just doesn't quite work.  What the writers give the audience is a journey through the dark side of human trafficking.  When Eve's captor comes back to the basement room she's being held in a few days has passed.  As he apologises for his late arrival Eve grabs a brick she's worked free and beats the man bloody.  While he fights consciousness, she undoes the lock to her chain and chains her captor.  She quickly runs through the house and out the front door...  She finds she's stranded in the middle of a desert, with no other house in sight.  There are no keys in the van parked outside.  The phone isn't working.  And as she searches the house for food and clothes she finds Polaroids of other girls.  When she confronts her captor and threatens to kill him he tells her that she will be killing them too.  This then sets the pair on a road trip to free the Polaroid girls.

This opening sequence has some interesting camera shots, for instance, there's the scene where she's pulling the telephone cord trying to find the receiver.  It's not until the phone falls onto the floor that you realise the camera is on the phone.  There are also a few interesting camera angles which help to create a disturbing and disjointed atmosphere.  However, not all of the shots work, but it is nice to see a director trying to do something different.   There's also a lot of shaky camera work when it isn't even needed.  Most directors use quick cuts along with the shaky camera to build excitement.  However, in the scene where Eve has beaten Phil to a bloody mess and he hasn't got the strength to move, Cravioto incorporates this technique... and it doesn't work.  It would have been better to slow it down.  Have Eve search for the key.  Show Phil coming too.  Eve still searching.  Phil groggy with blood running down his face.  Eve pulls the keys from his pocket as he reaches out to grab her hand.  Eve shakes his grasp of easily and locks his leg into the chains.  But hey, that's just me.

However, not everything goes to plan as the pair go from one girl to another.  The inventive thing the writers have done here is to have the story unfold along the way.  I will say this, there are some twisted and people along the way.  It's also here that some of the elements and characters don't appear or feel realistic.

I think the reason this film doesn't work is that the director and writers were trying too hard to do something new and original and you can tell.  A lot of these little things distract the audience from the movie and the story.  This isn't good as you want to keep the audience involved and entertained.

As for the acting, both of the major actors are excellent in their portrayal of their characters.  Though I do prefer Tyson's coolness in the face of adversity bad guy.  He plays Eve just right to stop her from killing him.  There maybe a chance to escape and rectify this problem.  It's this matter-of-factness which gives the character a chilling feel.  The rest of the cast also do a great job though the first girl Eve tries to rescue does appear to be your standard stupid screaming slasher chic... though thinking about it this could have been satire... especially in the way she's dispatched.

If you like films like I Spit On Your Grave then you may enjoy this film.  It is worth at least one viewing if you're a revenge fan and the story is different enough to carry you through all the niggling little flaws and issues.

Movie Review - Carolina Moon

Carolina Moon

2007

Production Companies:  Mandalay Television, Stephanie Germain Productions, ARD Degeto Film, Tandem Communications, & Alberta Film Entertainment.

This film is based on the Nora Roberts novel of the same name.  I have to confess that I do have a soft spot for her TV movie adaptations, I particularly liked Midnight Bayou, Tribute, and Northern Lights.  If you've seen any of these then you roughly know what to expect.

In Carolina Moon Stephen Tolkin tells the story of Victoria Bodeen and her psychic ability of second sight.  When Victoria "Tory" Bodeen was young her life was a mixture of good and bad.  The good was her best friend Hope and the adventures they had in the local woods.  The bad was her religious zealot of a father, who saw Tory's psychic gift as a curse.  One that needed beating out of her.  One nighttime, Tory was meant to meet Hope in the woods, hough her father had whipped her so bad that she failed to make their rendezvous.  Suddenly her gift kicks in and she has to watch helplessly as her best friend is killed.  Worse yet, it's through the eyes of the killer.  Her father moves the family away a few weeks later and Tory leaves them as soon as she can.  Eighteen years later and she's returned to her hometown to try and find peace from the ghosts and memories that have plagued her.  It's not long before Tory is having visions of other murdered girls... do these have something to do with Hope's murder?  Is her killer still out there?  Are they still active?

Tolkin does a splendid job of casting suspicion onto just about everybody in this film and that is where its strength lies.  I had a good idea of who did it, and I was correct, though I was thrown off the trail more than once by other possibilities.  As for the direction, Tolin doesn't do pretty or interesting, though there were plenty of opportunities to enthral us.  However, he stays to the standard point-and-shoot style of most TV movies.  Sometimes it's nice to have a sweeping shot or an interesting angle.  The pace of the film is in keeping with the style; generally, the film has a steady and even pace.  Tolkin does speed it up a little to create a little tension near the climax of the film when the killer is revealed.  More suspension and tension wouldn't have gone amiss with the psychic visions and the daughter and father scenes - this would have shown her distrust and terror of the man.

For the most part, the acting is above average and though I do like Claire Forlani her fake southern accent does start to irritate, though her acting is on par.  It's Oliver Hudson who could win the Redwood prize in this film as there are more than a few scenes where his acting is wooden.  It's Jacqueline Bisset, Shaun Johnston, and Josie Davis who are the strongest and most believable in their characters which make this movie stronger.  In fact, Johnston as the Bible Bashing and Daughter whipping father is so realistic and believable I wanted to hit him myself.

I would recommend this to everyone as it's a good film about youth, friendship, overcoming loss, and rebuilding relationships.  All of that tied up in a whodunnit murder mystery with a paranormal twist.  I did enjoy the film though I'm not sure I would purposefully watch it again... but who can say, it does have Claire Forlani in it...

Movie Review - Inside Man

Inside Man

A Spike Lee Joint

2006

Production Companies:  Universal Pictures, Imagine Entertainment, 40 Acres & A Mule Filmworks, & GH Two

This movie is one hell of a classy way to tell the story of a bank robbery. Spike Lee brings Gerwitz's story of an unusual bank robbery to life with a stylish noiristic flair.  Though this isn't  noir film there are definite overtones of the style throughout the film, which adds a greater depth and strength to the movie.  Lee made a great choice here because I believe that without this element this could have easily been a boring film.  There's not much action as most of the story is about trying to figure out what happened in the bank and just what were the robbers after.  Luckily enough there's a plethora of acting talent to make this a very interesting movie,  Even Clive Owen works well.  I've always thought him to be very flat as an actor - verging on zero dimensional - though his woodenness works here as that persona is perfect for his character.

The main letdown of the film is the story, which is also one of its greatest strengths.  It's a letdown because it needed a tad more action and tension, there are a few cat and mouse scenes where these could have been expanded upon but were ignored.  However, the strength comes from the whole concept, the twists, and the eventual climax of the story, which is brilliantly crafted and woven.

The camera work is exemplary and on a couple of occasions beautiful.  I particularly liked the pan shot from the rear of the police van as Frazier exits.  The camera sweeps up and around, showing the crowd gathered at the cordon, then moves down in a slow arc to the person leaving the bank, surrounded police officers.  The movement is so smooth.   Then there's a great panning shot of the police officers as they search the bank after the hostages are released.  This is, once again so steady and smooth.  It was a pleasure to see as there's not a lot of this style of camera work around today.

However, not all the camera shots work.  The one where Frazier loses his temper and rushes out of the control vehicle is pretty risible and made me wince.  Lee puts Washington on a wheeled stage and pulls him forward. at speed giving him a floating come flying movement.  This was meant to represent his anger and haste at the situation.  Unfortunately, the movement is juddering and the whole shot looks silly and feels wrong for the film; how it didn't end up on the cutting room floor.  It would have been better to have Washington just run.  Lee should check out the Nun scene from The Blues Brothers as this utilises the effect perfectly and makes the scene just perfect.

Though this did detract from the film and breaks the link between the movie and its audience it doesn't do it to the point of hitting the off button.

In fact, I would recommend this film to everybody who likes police procedures and stories with a mystery with plenty of twists.  Back when this was made this would have been pretty original, though today, a lot of the issues in this film have been used quite a few times.  A bank robbery that isn't a bank robbery.  How do you get out of the building without being captured?  Though, with Lee's involvement and the great cast, this is still worth a watch.

Movie Review - Evasive Action

Evasive Action

AKA:  Steel Train

1998

Production Company:  Royal Oak Entertainment Inc.

My, my, my, what a little treat this turned out to be.  I've been a fan of Scheider's since I saw him the Jaws movies and that appreciation of his skills grew when I watched Blue Thunder and Still Of The Night.  I'd also been impressed by Dorian Harewood who I'd only seen in countless TV series, except for his role in Kubrick's Full Metal Jacket.  So when I saw this film on the Sony Movie Channel I had to give it a try.

It took me right back to the '90's action thrillers and I have to say, this is one of the better ones.  Not only does it have a strong cast, which consists of a lot of B'Movie and TV actors, plus it has a decent story.

Luke Sinclair arrives home too late to save his family from being murdered and the only satisfaction is their killer is caught.  However, due to some botched up police procedures, he is released.  Sinclair spots the murderer on the court steps where the killer taunts him.  Sinclair reaches out and grabs a passing police officers gun and shoots the man to death.  Needless to say, Sinclair is incarcerated for fifteen years for the murder and at every parole hearing when asked if he is aware of his actions and is he sorry he always replies no and that the man needed to be held accountable, his parole is subsequently turned down.  One day while out in the yard one con decides to attack the prison King-Pin, Enzo Marcelli.  Sinclair comes to Enzo's help and Enzo ends up killing the man.  Since Sinclair helped Enzo, Enzo gets Sinclair transferred to a high tech prison.  However, the prison isn't these convicts destination, for Enzo has devised a plan to escape, giving Sinclair his freedom.  Though, when the plan goes awry, which side will Sinclair choose to fight for?

What the writers then add to this scenario are quite a few twists to the story as you find out not everything is quite as it seems.  Another good idea was you can never be sure just who will survive this incident as even main characters are killed off.  This, for its time, was quite a new way of telling a story and instilling realism.  The director also does a good job of keeping the pace riding the rails at a breakneck speed, just as the trail itself careers to its final destination.

There was only one drawback for me and that was the underused character of Hector Miller as he was a psychopath who killed people according to horror movies and spoke only in movie quotes.  Miller is kept behind bars even when the convicts get loose as even the bad guys don't trust him.  So when he finally escapes you think, right then here we go things are going to get good.  Except you'd be wrong as Miller mostly hides away for the rest of the film.  It would have been even better if the end of the movie had been Miller walking away from the train wreck and into Las Vegas.  But, even that didn't happen - so many missed opportunities with this character,

There are a few inconsistencies which detract from the film a little, the main one is when Sinclair does a "Blue Streak" and gets off the train.  He makes it to a local town and steals a dirt bike and sets off to get back on board so he can help the passengers.  The trouble being, in the time he was off the train its route is changed... there is no way that Sinclair would know this and he never should have been able to catch back up to the train.  However, if you overlook this niggling fact the movie becomes enjoyable once more.

Another surprisingly good thing about the movie is its effects.  If they used stock footage, which lots of movies did at that time then they chose the film stock perfectly to tie in with theirs as all the shots look to be the same calibre.  There's plenty of train walking and hanging off the cars to satisfy everyone.  Even when the train crashes into the station the effects are more than possible.

If you like action thrillers then you might enjoy this one.  It is at least worth a look see.  I would be only too happy to watch this film again, though it might have to be in a couple of years time.

Movie Review - 31

31

2016

Bow And Arrow Entertainment / PalmStar Media / Protagonist Pictures / Spectacle Entertainment Group / Spookshow International / Windy Hill Pictures

Fathom Events / Saban Films / Vertigo Releasing / Lionsgate Home Entertainment

5 / 10

If it hadn't been for The House Of A 1000 Corpses, The Devil's Rejects, and The Haunted World Of El Superbeasto then I would not have watched this movie, especially after what Rob Zombie did to the Halloween movies.  Unfortunately, this is not as good as his earlier works.

This is just another load of people who are captured, tortured, and killed for pleasure.  What Zombie adds to the story is a triumvirate of puppet masters - Father Murder (Malcolm McDowell), Sister Serpent (Jane Carr), and Sister Dragon (Judy Geeson) - who run The Murderworld where they run a torturous gauntlet of games.  The triumvirate gives their prisoners twelve hours to survive the trials they have arranged for them.  Each trial is to survive the psychopaths they send in dressed as clowns.

However, most of this doesn't work.  My heart started to sink when the group of carnies are talking about the rides and attractions that they run, though their RV isn't towing anything and there's no lorry travelling with them.  Then you learn they're travelling with a fair, yet again there are no other vehicles.  It's these little things which annoy, and there are quite a few throughout the film.  For such an unoriginal story ironing out ALL the kinks would have made it stronger.

As for the direction, it's pretty standard stuff though Zombie does try to add a little art to the affair by working in vivid colours.  This isn't fully utilised due to the average camera work.  There's also an alarming lack of suspense and tension, which a film of this type really requires.  That said there are a couple of nice scenes with Richard Brake, who plays Doom-Head, where the close ups are so sharp and crisp.  This brilliantly captures his Brake's magnificent rendition of his psychopath character.  To be honest, it's Brake that steals this film.  This actor should be used more often, he has some serious skills. 

As for the rest of the cast, they are okay, none of them particularly stands out.  I would've liked more details in both the story and characterisations of the triumvirate as this was a missed opportunity to add a spooky and eerie element.  Also the other clowns - heads - aren't anywhere nearly as disturbing or sinister as Brake's Doom-Head.  The brothers Schizo and Psych-Head, played by David Ury and Lew Temple, are your routine slashers, complete with chainsaws.  Though it's Sick-Head which lets the film down.  This is not due to Pancho Moler playing the part, on the contrary, his acting is pretty solid. It's down to Zombie dressing him as a Hitleresque character - complete with swastikas and moustache.  I'm sorry but I think if anybody was confronted by him they would probably die laughing.

Then there's the name of the movie... 31.  This actually references Halloween and is another missed chance to tie the games into Samhain or another "Dark" holiday, which would have made the story stronger.

This is an average film which has a few small drawbacks and a couple of benefits that levels the film to average, once again.  If you're a Rob Zombie fan then you may like this.  If it's cold and wet outside you could turn off the lights and settle back with this slasher flick, it's worth at least one viewing.

Video Nasty - Delirium

Delirium

AKA: Psycho Puppet

1979

Delirium Associates / Odyssey / Worldwide

Odyssey Pictures / Viz Movies / Viz Video

4 / 10

There's not much to recommend about this Video Nasty except for the storyline, the premise of which should have resulted in a much better movie, and the acting, though they are wasted in this travesty.

This is the story of a secret society sick with the depravity on the streets of their neighbourhood so they hire a Vietnam Veteran to help clean up their streets... the trouble is he's suffering from shell-shock and starts to any and everyone.

This in itself could have given the audience a bloodfest to remember.  However, the director, Peter Maris, opts for a slow pace.  Which might have worked well to build tension if there had been a torture scene, which there isn't (another missed opportunity), but hinders the film since it's used throughout its runtime.  The slowness of the film is made up of boring and pointless scenes that, though, well acted (compared to everything else), are badly directed.  There needed to be more action sequences especially concerning the Vet's breakdown.

There're too many flashbacks to Vietnam.  The director is so lazy he just cut in loads of stock footage; this adds to the lackadaisical feel of the direction and hinders the film and frustrates the viewer.

I would only recommend this to anyone who is watching the video nasty list to see why some of the listed films were banned (this one was banned because they thought some people may be prone to copy the actions of the Vet).  However, be prepared to keep hitting the rewind button every time you wake up because this film has the power to induce sleep.

Nergling - The Video Nasties Scare - Delirium

Movie Review - Premium Rush

Premium Rush

2012

Pariah / Columbia Pictures

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

9.25 / 10

This is a beautifully shot movie which has stole its way into my heart.  I saw the trailer back in 2012 and wanted to watch the movie.  However, it didn't get released in my town's cinemas and it never appeared in the DVD shops.  After a year or so I'd forgotten about it.  Then the Sony Movie Channel started airing it... and am I glad(?)

The story runs second to the action, being there to weave together the adrenalin powered sequences.  However, the story is quite ambitious - you have a woman who is trying to bring her son to America; a dirty cop with a  gambling addiction; a Chinese gang who are managing the cop to clear his debt; and a bike messenger who loves the job more than his girlfriend does.  Wilee, played perfectly by Joseph Gordon-Levitt, is a bike courier in New York, who is requested to deliver an envelope to Chinatown before 7 pm.  Unfortunately for him, there's something of interest in the envelope which has him being pursued by a corrupt cop, Bobby Monday (this is probably Michael Shannon's strongest role), for its contents.  Within the envelope is one woman's hopes and dreams of reuniting with her estranged son.

This film would have been a perfect ten had these elements been expanded and tightened a little more, especially the relationship of the Mom, Nima (Jamie Chung) and her roommate, who is coincidentally Wilee's girlfriend Vanessa.  This relationship and the scenes shot around it just feel like filler.  Which is a shame since Nima actually requests Wilee to carry the envelope to its destination, though it appears Vanessa and Nima are more like strangers, than roommates.

Though the acting is tight and the actors are strong in their portrayals it's the action and the direction which adds the cherry to the cake in this film.  David Koepp has a great eye for this style of movie.  From the extreme zoom-outs, from street level to satellite view to show the biker's route and back into street view adds a new dimension to the film.  This is well crafted and thought out as you pass through clouds and the satellite views are never the same, which keeps these sections fresh and interesting.  But the innovative sequences don't stop there as Koepp slows down time to show Wilee figuring out which routes to take when he hits heavy traffic, since the wrong direction may harm him, a driver, or a pedestrian.  This is an awesome concept and works well.  Then you have the speed as the bikes race and dance through speeding traffic on the streets - these scenes are deftly choreographed and filmed in every camera angle possible to keep the audience on the edge of their seats and marvelling at how nobody is getting killed.

I would recommend anybody to watch this film, but please take an hour afterwards to calm down, before taking to the streets on your bikes.  If you're an up and coming director or film student then this is a must watch movie as it shows originality, ingenuity, and artistic talent.

Movie Trailer

Training For Premium Rush

Behind The Scenes