Movie Review - Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation

Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation

2015

The Cast

  

This is an all-out actionfest.  Right from the opening you've got Cruise (Ethan Hunt) holding onto the side of an aeroplane as it takes off - Bloody Nutter!  This in most films would be the top stunt; this, of course, is MI so it's just your opening salvo of insaneness.

It's the story which kinda lets it down.  These have now become secondary to the stunts, which I have to say are superb - and not too much CGI (except for the tech stuff, that is).  Here you have a secret organisation called The Syndicate (nope they don't rig the lottery).  But as "syndicate" describes a group working towards an aim, then the name is wrong as it turns out to be one man controlling his own mercenary army.  I think there would have been great scope had it actually been a syndicate with many heads like the hydra.

There are a couple of holes in the story though they are minor... except for the ending... just how did the bad guy NOT think the scenario would turn out this way.  Bit of a let down as he'd been ahead of Hunt and his team all through the film.  In fact, the way Lane (Sean Harris) manipulates people is pretty awesome and is a good plot builder and twist creator.  It's this element that keeps the story interesting.  But in the end, Hunt has to overcome... it's just a shame that the ending wasn't as twist orientated as the rest of the story.

I cannot fault the direction or the pace of the film, as McQuarrie, gives the audience an atmospheric and excitement filled rollercoaster ride of a movie.  He is great at filming the fight scenes and chases as well as the drama set-up acting scenes.  For example the car and bike chase between Hunt and Ilsa Faust (Ferguson).  When Hunt's car crashes he slows down the action to build tension... and then to build to a comical end to that scene, before revving up the torque to near maximum for the rest of the chase.

In fact, it's Rebecca Ferguson (Faust) that adds Kudos to the cast.  She gives a fantastic performance as a strong-minded and deadly woman who happens to be beautiful and sexy to boot.  She even has an air of secrecy and mystery to her.  You are never too sure about her or her motives.  This in some way is told by the story but a lot of it comes from Ferguson's portrayal of Faust.  This is one actress to watch.  She and her character really made this film for me.  It's nice to have a new strong character as we've gotten used to the others.  And to be honest when I see Cruise, Penn, Rhames, Renner and Baldwin I actually see them and not their characters as throughout the years they've become partially stereotyped.  Which is a shame as it's this that lets the film down slightly.  At least in MI III, the writers tried to give Ethan Hunt a deeper character, one with issues and problems - shame they didn't progress down that line.

I would happily recommend this to all lovers of Mission Impossible and action films alike.  There's not much you have to do as a viewer except sit back and enjoy... hopefully you'll make it to the edge of your seat a couple of times.

I give this an impossibly rip-roaring 7.75 out of 10.

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Movie Review - An Eye For An Eye

An Eye For An Eye

1981

The Cast

Now, this film really takes me back to my youth, where you were a member of a video shop... or fifteen (I counted the cards I used to have)... and you would troll around them all to find a movie worth watching - at least it kept us fit.

This is pretty much your basic '80's action flick.  Where the good guy is out for revenge for the death of a lover, a family member, friend, or in this case a partner on the force.  The plot, like this one, would usually revolve around drugs trafficking.  Throw in a love interest and loads of exciting fights and you have the perfect mix.  This was the start of the "Leave your brain at the door" movies.  To be fair, it's nice to let enjoyment and excitement take you out of your daily routine.  I know I need it at the moment.

So in this story, you have Kane (Norris) and his partner, Dave (Kiser), heading to an undercover meet.  However, it's a trap and Dave is killed, in quite a nasty way.  From here on in Kane is out to solve the murder and get revenge for his dead partner.  This leads him and Dave's girlfriend reporter, Linda (Chao) into a world of drug trafficking...

So what makes this a film worth watching?

Well there is Chuck Norris, who to be honest, isn't too bad in this film.  He was just coming into being an actor in his own right at this time.  These types of characters, like the films, were ten-a-penny and you were lucky if they made it to two-dimensional, let alone three.  I have to believe that it's the likes of Christopher Lee (Canfield), Richard Roundtree (Captain Stevens), Matt Clark (McCoy), and even Mako (Chan) that elevated his acting up a notch or two for this movie.  The rest of the cast are solid actors and carry the film and the much-used scenario easily.

Next, there's the direction.  Steve Carver does a really good job with the camera work.  There are some really well-framed sections.  I loved the part where Kane goes to visit his sensei and master, Chan.  He parks his beautiful red Mustang and gets out.  This is all superbly framed in a long shot by an ornamental oriental fence.  Even on the drive up to his masters home, he is followed by a helicopter.  This is filmed smoothly; you have a side portrait of Norris driving and outside the passenger window you see the copter flying at his side.  There's also a nice sequence where Kane runs from his house, down his pier to his private jetty, opens his speedboats enclosure, jumps in and speeds away.  There is a lot in this film that Carver should be proud about.  Even the slow motion sections of the fight scene's work.  When a lot of martial arts opted to speed up the action, slowing it down works really well - especially when you have a master of the arts like Norris.

Carver also sets a nice rollercoaster pace for the movie.  He knows when to slow down to drive the plot and quicken it up to boost excitement and tension.  A Lot of filmmakers could take a few notes from this film.

The only thing in the film that irked me was the love interest, Maggie Cooper.  This was mainly for Sullivan's wooden performance.  In some scenes, she appears so laid back that she may have been sampling the product the bad guys were moving.

If you like your martial arts flicks and are not too worried about plot, then I would recommend this one to you.  It may not be intellectually brilliant but it is kick ass entertaining.

I give this a Chuck Norris Kick-Ass 5.75 out of 10.

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Movie Review - Mr Holmes

Mr Holmes

2015

The Cast

Sherlock Holmes has been retired for thirty years.  Upon finally reading Dr John Watson's stories for the first time along with watching a "Talking Picture" depicting his last adventure, Sherlock decides to write the truth about his last case.  Dr Watson had always been liberal with the facts, for entertainment's sake.  Though, the last case is niggling at Sherlock's deteriorating mind...  It must have been very important as it made him turn his back on the profession he loved.  Will there be enough time to get it all down on paper before his memory fails completely?

This is a nice "What If?" story.  Writer, Mitch Cullen (who wrote the novel) and screenplay writer Jeffrey Hatcher do no disservice to the character Arthur Conan Doyle created.  This is still the same Sherlock Holmes of the stories, though older, but maybe not wiser.  

Ian McKellen was a perfect choice for this aged character and he gives a brilliant portrayal.  Though it's Laura Linney who surprised me the most.  For me, she's never been a draw.  However, I am pleased to say that as Mrs Munro, Sherlock's housekeeper, she is great.  There was a slight moment when we first meet her and her accent slips into across between American and North Country.  However, this is only for a few seconds.  From there on in her accent is pretty good.  Not perfect, though, not bad.  One of my favourite scenes in the film is when Mrs Munro is discussing her late husband with her son, Roger (Parker).  When Roger asks her if she's good at making up stories, her reply and the look on her face, along with the pregnant pause, really does show a whole range of emotions in just a few scant seconds - very well done.  Milo Parker is a very strong actor who had to contend with working with a great cast, which he did seamlessly.  The director, Condon, did a great job of not letting the character of Roger steal the show, which could have easily happened.

Condon also does a fantastic job of filming.  Using camera shots to add atmosphere and show locations to their best advantage.  The part where Sherlock follows Anne Kelmot (Morahan) through London is a perfect example.  The scene at the train station where she makes a pay-off is one of my favourites in the film.  What with the steam filling the platforms and the shots looking between the moving carriages.  It really does set the scene well.

To be honest, I really couldn't find anything wrong with either the story or the film.  As I've said before, I am not a fan of flashbacks.  Though here they are used to tell Sherlock's last case as he tries to remember it and write it down.  Then you have the remembrances of Japan where Sherlock has recently been looking for a remedy to his failing memory.  These are expertly told and done in such a way that adds power and depth to the story... not confusion, which is the case with a lot of films.  In a lot of movies, flashbacks add a disjointed feeling to the pace and structure.  Luckily for the viewer, Condon is a master at weaving them into the story with seemingly effortless ease.

This film is a must-see for all Sherlock fans, Mystery Lovers, Thriller Fans, and Armchair Detectives everywhere.  This hasn't made it into my top ten movies, though I have to admit I'll watch it again... I may even consider buying a copy.

I give this retired detective a criminal rating of 8.25 out of 10.

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Movie Review - A Murderer Upstairs

A Murderer Upstairs

AKA:  My Stepdaughter's Secret

2017

The Cast

Family secrets and turmoil are always good plot points for a thriller as is the case with this story and film.  After being left on her own by her mother, Rachel Kent (Skovbye), is taken in by her father, Greg (Bancroft), and his wife,  Cindy (Davis).  She quickly ingratiates herself into the family and everything is good.  However, when the store she is working is broken into and her friend is murdered, while she is left tied to a table, the police don't believe that the crime is as black and white as it appears.

It's the titles of the movie which are the drawback as they reveal a major plot twist.  This is a shame as the writer does try to keep a mystery, at least for a little while, as to who the criminal is.  Though there should be a spoiler alert on the titles it only deters from the integrity of the film a tad.  Where it's strength comes from is the story and the characterisations.  There are some really dark moments, though because of it being a TV movie these are depicted in a lighter shade.  I really liked the moment that Cindy Kent tracks down Rachel's mother.  This is when she learns of her past and along with the portrayal of Rachel's mom this scene left me chilly.

The director, Garrard, does a good job of keeping the pace of the story trotting along while building tension and atmosphere at all the right places.  Though the rest of the directing techniques are basic, some differing camera angles and such wouldn't have gone amiss. While the actors and actresses, for the most part, do more than an agreeable job with their portrayals.  However, sometimes, Tiera Skovbye, slips in and out of the maple, oak and sycamore style of acting.  Unfortunately, most of these moments come in key scenes so they're more noticeable.

These are only minor issues so I would gladly recommend this to all armchair detectives, mystery lovers, and thriller fans, as I found this to be an enjoyable and entertaining film.  Not a bad way to pass a snowy afternoon.

I give this stepdaughter a secret 6 out of 10.

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Movie Review - The Wrong Mother

The Wrong Mother

AKA:  Deadly Devotion

2017

The Cast

Parents, Kaylene (Marcil) and Drew (Snedden) were having problems conceiving so they went down the in-vitro fertilization path and were lucky enough to have twins, Zoey (Richardson) and Toby (Dodson).  Years later, Kaylene is out biking when she's hit by a car.  While in Hospital she meets Vanessa who has been assigned as her nurse.    When it comes time to return home, Vanessa informs Kaylene and Drew that it may be hard for them to find a career.  But if they want then she can come and care for Kaylene at home as her contract at the hospital is nearly over.  Since the two women get along well Vanessa is employed to look after her.  However, it soon becomes evident that Vanessa may have a different agenda.

This is a pretty standard thriller that is let down by a few niggling things, which should have been ironed out before filming.

Firstly, there's Kaylene's sister, Samantha (Bond).  There are times when this character feels as though she's only there to drive the plot.  For example, right from the start, she's very confrontational with Vanessa.  This, in itself, isn't a bad idea, and needed to be handled better for it to work.  Though Samantha actually challenges the nurse on what her sister is being medicated with, with no expertise on the subject.  Samantha reckons washing Kaylene's hair is the best thing you can do to aid her recovery... which really isn't the case if the patient is dealing with a concussion.  Then she just happens to have a friend who agrees with her, that she is being overmedicated and that he wouldn't prescribe these drugs.  The trouble is, we're not even told if he's a doctor or just a knowledgeable nurse:  For all we know, he may have gotten his doctorate as IWannaBADoctor.com (This is TV Movieland anyway!).  Besides, what one Doctor prescribes another wouldn't as there are so many drugs to choose from now.  Another thing, did Samantha give this person Kaylene's medical history so he could make a professional diagnosis?  DAMN! - I really thought about this too much.

Secondly, there's the jump of believability that Kaylene has.  She goes from accepting Vanessa is doing right by her and her care to suddenly distrusting her totally.  But the trouble with this is that they don't fire Vanessa.  Surely, if there was a shadow of a doubt that something wasn't quite right about her you'd fire her arse.

Then there are the kids.  I'm sorry, but if you're a close and loving family then the kids will want to see their mother at the earliest opportunity.  However, Toby and Zoey, are only all too happy to not bother her.  If it had been me, I would have been sneaking in to see her.  You don't even see them at the hospital with her.  If the writer and director had added a couple of extra scenes with the kids it would have made the story a little more believable and relatable.

What this story really needed was time.  Somebody should have taken the time to take a breath and address the errors or inconsistencies of this story being filmed.  Both the story and the directing of this movie needed to be tightened up.  The acting, on the other hand, is above average, except for Elizabeth Bond who is a little wooden at times, and not totally credible.  

I'd recommend this to the thriller fans, though people who like mystery and whodunnit's need not watch as there's no mystery in who the bad guy... or gal... is.  This is one of those afternoon movies to watch while you're off work sick.

I give this an in-vitro-average of 5.25 out of 10.

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Movie Review - Death Goes To School

Death Goes To School

1953

The Cast

Apart from the '50's sexism, which for the most part is now comical, this isn't too bad a murder mystery.

When the body of one of the teachers is discovered dead on the Girlschool's grounds the police are called in.  Enter DI Campbell (Jackson) and Sergeant Harvey (Kydd) to solve the crime.  However, they are initially worried about solving the case as, "who can figure out the reasons in a woman's mind?"... problems we still suffer from today.  They needn't have worried though as Miss Shepherd (Murray) is on the case too.  Being a teacher at the school and a lover of mystery novels she takes it upon herself to investigate.

One of the good things about this story is that unlike many sleuths, Miss Marple and Father Brown as examples, the police actually utilise Miss Shepherd.  It's nice that the "outside" investigator isn't a thorn in the polices side but a help.

Gordon Jackson is in his element as a hard-nosed don't hold back copper.  You can see elements of his character in The Professionals, George Cowley, coming through in his portrayal of DI Campbell.  So this remembrance, for me, helped to submerge me into the film, right from his appearance.

This is a well scripted and written story.  There are plenty of suspects to be the murderer... in fact, most of the staff at the school could be guilty of the crime.  The way the story unfolds is nicely done, though the narration from Miss Shepherd is a little irksome.  However, I've never been a fan of the narration - unless it's "The Twilight Zone" style.  I think narration should be shown by the camera and not heard.  If somebody says, "They were shocked to..." then show them shocked.  They're actors, the director should use their skills.

That said though, I would recommend this to all whodunnit buffs and murder mystery lovers.  It's a short film, at just over an hour in runtime, so would be good for a quick fix.  A good afternoon flick for the armchair detectives out there.

I give a '50's sexist 5.75 out of 10.

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Movie Review - Gone Missing

Gone Missing

2013

The Cast

I have to say that this has to be one of the better TV movies on offer.  Not only does it have a good storyline, which is both plot and character driven, but it has a really good cast and is very well directed.

The story is set around the disappearance of Kaitlin (Davidovici) and her friend Matty (Golightly) while on a family supervised Spring Break.  The story is set in real time but we get flashbacks which tell the tale of the vanishing girls, through the eyes of the witnesses who met them that night.  I'm not a fan of "the flashback", however, the director Miele handles them brilliantly and interweaves them into the story effortlessly.  

Though what makes this such a good story and film is the characterisations of the mothers.  Rene (Zuniga) is Kaitlin's mum and is constantly looking over her daughter's shoulder to make sure that she is safe and well.  This can result in her being overcontrolling at times.  As a result, she's the one who worries the most and at the earliest opportunity.  Whereas Lisa (Bowles) is a little bit freer with her daughter, she's the one that buys her condoms - her thought system is that you cannot look out for your kids all the time, but you can try and keep them safe.  So when the girls go missing she's not too overly worried as she believes they've just been out partying all night.  She remembers what it was like to be eighteen and on spring break.  These two different characters work well off of each other.  The two women have been friends since high school, though this night is going to test their friendship to its limit.

The next good thing is the story.  This is well written and is filled with believable characters and authentic situations and narrative.  There are a couple of scene's which are a little hard to swallow as you can't fully believe them - but it is a couple, so they are easily overlooked.  What really helps this film is the fact that as the story progresses and unfolds you never really find out the complete tale until the climax of the movie.  This is a great thing as it keeps the viewers glued to the screens with anticipation.

As for the actors and actresses, I cannot fault them at all.  They each give a realistic portrayal of their characters.

I would gladly recommend this film to everybody who likes thrillers and mysteries as it's packed with both.

I give this a vanishing 7.5 out of 10.

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