Movie Review - Payroll

Payroll

1961

The Cast

This is a many-layered story and it's this which keeps it riveting for the audience.  Johnny Mellors (Craig) is a career criminal.  He likes to have all the facts before hitting his mark.  The biggest mark of his career is the payroll of a large factory, over one-hundred-thousand pounds.  Unfortunately, on the day of the hit a couple of motorcycle police ride up just as they are about to put their plan into action.  Then to make matters worse, their inside man, Dennis Pearson (Lucas), informs them of the companies decision to employ an armoured car for the wage run.  Unable to turn down such a big score Mellors and his men start to stake out the armoured car...

This is only the beginning, some writers and directors would make a movie just about the heist.  Though, what Baxt and Hayers give the viewers is the aftermath of the heist itself.  So we have the police, chasing after the criminals, though evidence and clues are running thin.  A wife, hellbent on revenge.  Another wife, cunningly trying to get the better of every man in her life, who she pities, hates, and doesn't trust,.. just to get the money.  A man who cannot handle guilt and mentally breaks down.  All of these characters are well rounded and written.

The good thing is that the actors are brilliant in their roles and bring them to life.  Craig is believable as the leader of the gang.  This guy is methodical and cool.  Though if you get on the wrong side of him he will break you in two... without blinking.  Whitelaw is one of the strongest in the cast.  When she sets out on her mission of revenge the look on her face says it all.  This woman is a juggernaut with a one-track mind and will not stop until she has her revenge.  Francoise Prevost has an air of a clever and cunning woman.  Always thinking, always planning, who will do anything to better her life... but can she be more wily or slick as Mellors?  And, William Lucas does scared, anxious, and frightened magnificently.

But there's still more.  Director, Hayers, is great in his field.  There are plenty of interesting camera shots, angles, and iconic photography.  All of which add power to the film.  To be honest, this is a masterpiece in modern film noir, though it's old now as it was filmed in 1961 - it is still a great watch.

Now, I'm not a great jazz fan but the soundtrack to the movie is outstanding and used to it's fullest potential.  It has the power to pull the viewer in and make them feel the excitement and tension of a scene.  I was surprised by how much I liked this element of the movie.

I would recommend this to everyone.

I give this a Rip-Roaring Action-Packed Heist of 8.5 out of 10.

The Film Clip

Movie Review - Killer Assistant

Killer Assistant

2016

The Cast

Love is eternal.

Suzanna Austin (Zucker) is a successful magazine editor.  Used to working by herself, her boss, Janet McAlper (Baron) assigns her an assistant, David (Eaton), after noticing how stressed she's been getting.  David appears too good to be true and as time progresses Suzanne begins to believe he's got an ulterior motive...

I really liked this story for its characterisations.  Tilson and Wakefield have created a well structured and ingenious tome.  Suzanne is a strong career-minded woman, who can be relied upon to get the magazine out... but not to be a great mother or wife, as she spends most of her time at work.  Then when David's character enters the story we get to see how the stress of her work and family life help her to become suspicious and paranoid.  This starts off small but builds up fast, to the point she's worrying about her own sanity.  Add the element of her family getting to know David and actually trusting him, into the mix, and this keeps the story interesting... at times, actually engrossing.

The good thing is, both the lead actor and actress are great in their performances and bring their characters to life; giving the film and story strength.

Though Boyle does add a couple of nice shots the filming is pretty standard, which is okay when you have a good cast and an even better storyline.  However, it would have only strengthened the movie to make it more engaging for the audience.  Thank God, he's better at manipulating the pace.  Boyle is good at building the tension and atmosphere from a simmer to a full boil.  This starts right at the beginning with the "Years Earlier" scene up to the climax.  He also throws in a couple of peaks along the way, giving the audience a rollercoaster ride.

I'd recommend this to all Mystery Lovers and Armchair Detectives worldwide.

I give this mysterious soul-mate a 6 out of 10.

The Trailer

Movie Review - Time Lock

Time Lock

1957

The Cast

This is a simple story of a boy who finds himself trapped in the vault at the bank where his father works and the race to get him out alive.  It's Friday and the Bank is getting ready to close for the weekend.  Stephen Walker (Winter) has just turned six and as a treat, his mom, Lucille (McDowall), takes him to meet his father, Colin (Patterson), out of work.  His dad just has to close up the vault and then they can go and celebrate.  However, while Colin and his boss, George Foster (Gifford), lock up the vault there's an automobile accident just outside the window, which takes their attention away for a couple of seconds.  When they finally close the door and the time lock kicks in it's the teller, Evelyn (Francis), who alerts them to the child's predicament... now the race is on...

What I really liked about this was the simplicity of both the story and the location.  You get a few outside shots, which only take up a couple of minutes, at most, and then the rest of the movie is set in two rooms.  Though you never really notice as the Director, Thomas, keeps you involved in the unfolding story.  As time passes, the question, "Will they be quick enough?" becomes more and more imperative... while the outlook grows bleaker and bleaker.  Thomas uses the limited space well, moving the camera around to its best advantage.

Then there's the acting, which is above par.  Every person involved in rescuing the boy has an urgency in their voice and in their movements.  Robert Beatty really sells the self-assured and strong-minded Pete Dawson, the mind who is responsible for the banks' security.  He is quick with a plan and quicker to rally the troops.  Whereas, Gifford as the Bank Manager Foster hits all the right notes in portraying a man who feels accountable for the accident and the possible death of a child. One thing which got under my skin was how little the parents appeared in the film.  It would have been better if these two characters had been stronger, then you would have had a near-perfect cast.

I'd recommend this film to all.  It's a nice way to spend an afternoon on these cold winter days, while the central heating keeps you nice and cosy.

I give this a time-critical 6.25 out of 10.

The Trailer

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.

The Trailer

Movie Review - Switchback

Switchback

1998

Pacific Western / Paramount Pictures / Rysher Entertainment : Paramount Pictures

9.25 / 10

This is a highly entertaining thriller packed with twists and turns in a good story and brilliantly directed and acted.

When a child is kidnapped and his babysitter is murdered in cold blood this starts a series events that will lead FBI Agent Frank LaCrosse (Dennis Quaid) back to the trail of a serial killer who has resumed his killing spree across America.  The writer and director Jeb Stuart weaves a nice story filled with powerful, strong, and believable characters and it's the characters which help to make this such a substantial movie.  Another plus is the twists which keep the viewer unsure of who the killer is.  Unfortunately, I knew who it was because the add blurb on the TV Guide gave it away - bad guide!

Not only does Stuart write a good story he can also direct a good movie.  Stuart has a good eye and gives the audience quite a few well-composed shots.  I really liked the scene where Lane Dixon (Jared Leto) wakes up in the car alone and feels a rumbling through the dashboard.  When he cleans the windscreen he sees a railway engine speeding towards him.  It's not until he jumps from the car that he learns they're just parked on a curve in the track.  Nicely thought out.  Stuart is also good at keeping the pace of the story and the film at the right speed.  The film does slow down at points, such as in the meetings, though it never gets boring as Stuart keeps these entertaining by adding humour to the characters conversations, especially Sheriff Buck Olmstead (R Lee Ermey) and his first in command Deputy Nate Booker (Ted Levine).  When the climax arrives he does a great job of building up tension nearly to the "on the edge of your seat" type.

As for the acting, this is a very strong cast as you can tell from the roll-call above and also includes William Fichtner and Danny Glover.  Not one of the cast fails to deliver a good performance; though, I would have to say that R Lee Ermey's character is one of the most likeable as the logical and full-of-heart Sheriff.  He also has some of the best lines.

I would recommend this film to everyone who hasn't watched it.  In an age of shaky cameras which can make you feel dizzy and quite sick at times, it's nice to watch a static cam film - I don't miss feeling sick at all.  If you like mystery thrillers with a detective spin then this should be right up your alley.