Written By: Andrew Scheinman & Adam Scheinman and Tony Gilroy
Cinematography: Tobias Schliessler
Editor: Alan Edward Ball
Cast: Jamie Foxx, Doug Hutchinson, David Morse, Kimberly Elise, David Paymer, Jamie Kennedy, Mike Epps, Nestor Serrano, Tia Texada, Robert Pastorelli, Kirk Acevedo, Jeffrey Donovan, Jason Jones, Megan Dodd
An ex-con is used by police to lure a criminal out of hiding.
Though most of the film is a comedy it is filmed slick like an action movie with tons of style, but at turns seems to be more a comedy at heart with dramatic moments.
Hard to believe such veterans of the FBI would so easily get caught up In A drama they are watching, personally. Which offers up an interesting dynamic of how involved you get in watching reality unfold in front of you. So it was even a precursor to how Audiences would react once reality television seemed to take over the airwaves. At least it humanizes the agents involved.
The film definitely looks state-of-the-art and big-budgeted. That truly showed off what director Antoine Fuqua could do. This is practically a calling card for him and Star Jamie Foxx. As the film is a visual delight, and definitely feels like a big-budgeted action extravaganza.
As it not only showed Foxx’s star quality. Even though not written to his strengths. It seems like the type of film he should be getting chances to star in. That eventually happened and worked out for him. Wish he got offered more films like this (only better written)
The film also excels thanks to a good cast of veteran actors. Who goes well with the material and Foxx’s acting.
Even though it seemed to be released with little fanfare. It’s not the best but it is interesting and entertaining.
Doug Hutchinson as the villain comes off as if he is impersonating John Malkovich.
The film has enough thrilling and laugh-out-loud moments of equal measure. That allows for some good action sequences. To live up to the promise of the presentation.
It’s the little movie that could. As it stays small scale due to its budget but feels like a bigger film that it is and where it deserves.
Directed By: Marc Forester Written By: Damon Lindelof, Drew Goddard & Matthew Michael Carnahan Screen Story By: J. Michael Stracynski & Matthew Michael Carnahan Based On The Book By: Max Brooks Cinematography By: Ben Seresin Editor: Matt Cheese & Roger Barton
Cast: Brad Pitt, James Badge Dale, David Morse, Ruth Negga, Daniella Kertesz, Mireille Enos, Ludi Boekin,
Life for former United Nations investigator Gerry Lane and his family seems content. Suddenly, the world is plagued by a mysterious infection turning whole human populations into rampaging mindless zombies. After barely escaping the chaos, Lane is persuaded to go on a mission to investigate this disease. What follows is a perilous trek around the world where Lane must brave horrific dangers and long odds to find answers before human civilization falls.
Now let me start off by mentioning I avoided this film like the plague when it first came out. As A fan of the book watching what they had done seemed like a travesty. Especially once you see the what are supposed to be impressive zombies and they looked more like cartoons.
It would be easy to write this film off as just another zombie film and only zombies as it is in and can take the place of whatever villain and plague you need and can easily be faceless and not insulting. This film already had a hard road ahead of it has to deliver a PG-13 rating which isn’t easy especially when dealing with zombies, which usually require gore and graphic violence.
The film I have to say isn’t the book, but it’s not as bad or embarassing as I thought it would be. In the book, we examine from different perspectives the oncoming zombie plague and is more dramatic as we get into personal history and the history of this particular apocalypse. Here we have Brad Pitt trying to find the cause but also a way to stop the plague. While having a bunch of axiom scenes. Luckily it’s not the action epic it could have been with him as line warrior. Though throughout the film he is the smartest and toughest guy in the room. The film tries to stay true somewhat to the book as he travels he questions and finds out more information about the plague.
While the film is thrilling with a bunch of good action set pieces. it’s hard to get really involved or scared when half of the scenes feel like you are watching a video game. Zombies by the hundreds disposable, but threatening when one on one. Yet obviously digital like half of the blood spilled. So it never has that level of reality needed. In fact, the only moment that felt real was the pharmacy scene and when brad Pitt thinks he might have been infected and is ready to commit suicide if he begins to change within the next 60 seconds.
I even liked the obligatory scenes of him checking in and protecting his family, giving him added incentive to come back home safe.
The film feels a bit epic and brings more of a thriller element into many of the Action sequences, Rather than just tons of shooting and bullets. They feel dramatic and important rather than just throw away material that is there just to look cool. It is truly what saves the film from just feeling like a video game adaptation almost. The film has an urgency, but not an unrealistic one
Director Marc Forester impresses as he seems to grow as a director with each film. Here he shows adeptness at big scenes of action with an element of thrills and chills. Showing he has come a long way from QUANTUM OF SOLACE.
Originally, the film had a different ending: the plane lands in Moscow rather than crashing in Wales. The passengers are rounded up, and the elderly and sick are executed. Gerry is drafted into the Russian army. An unknown period of time passes, and we see Gerry fighting the zombies. He realizes the zombies are weak in the cold. The film ended with him getting back to the USA and leading a D-Day like invasion against the undead on the Oregon coast. The ending that was used instead made the movie less brutal and ended it with a glimpse of hope
Why Brad Pitt would see this as a franchise? I have no idea though maybe with the bulk of the book and its stories he envisioned epic films exploring the landscape which would seem to fit more as a miniseries.
Damon Lindelof and Drew Goddard rewrote the screenplay in the middle of the production to create a whole new different third act.
This seems to be a studios idea of a zombie film, destroying them without more decapitations instead of more shooting in the head. Just like instead of the zombies feasting on humans they just want to bite and infect. The film feels more like a modern apocalypse film that happens to involve zombies and works on a grand global scale to involve all cultures. Instead of a small story in a limited location. It’s nice to see a bigger zombie tale.
It would be too easy to label this as a trend and cash in, this film actually seems thought out and smarter than it should be. I mean, I can honestly say I wasn’t bored and rarely rolled my eyes. A good popcorn film
Directed By: Joseph Ruben Written By: Ian McEwan Cinematography: John Lindley Editor: George Bowers
Cast: Macaulay Culkin, Elijah Wood, Wendy Crewson, David Morse, Daniel Hugh Kelly, Jacqueline Brookes, Quinn Culkin, Ashley Crow
A young boy stays with his aunt and uncle and be friends with his cousin, a boy of the same age who shows increasing signs of violent and psychopathic behavior.
I remember being excited about this film when it came out. As it held the promise of Macaulay Culkin to be playing against type as an evil child. Though for some this might have been more of the same who might have seen his character in home alone as a sadistic bully himself.
I even went to see this movie in theaters twice. Sure it’s a modern update on the and seed only with boys and more of a budget and an openness that the movie didn’t offer at the time.
He does excellent In This film. As he pretty much sets his cousin played by Elijah wood up to be his patsy. Getting him to trust him and bringing him into his little schemes and then when his cousin decides to be honest and do the good thing. Culkin’s Character beats him to it only making wood look guilty as he has more evidence to put him away.
At first, we believed that Culkin’s character might just be going through growing pain until we found out even before he got there he was up to no good. It seems that Eve. As he might try to do so later. What he craves is attention and anytime someone is a rival for his mother’s affection then Off they go
At first, the film is played more off of thriller as including a great action sequence of a car crash on a highway and an ice skating incident gone wrong, but once it really settles in and watches, you can really see more the psychological aspects of the film being panted out
Director Joseph Rueben offers crisp and sharp direction. That matches the chilly atmosphere the town is set in. This actually is one of his better films. Definitely one of his most popular. So you can say the films offer thrills and chills
Something interesting that Macaulay Culkin was a child star and was killed in two movies that he starred in. Think of that anytime you swear times have changed or movies are darker and more mean-spirited than the ones in the past as far as treatment of children.
Though His performance does put him in a different lane and offers him a chance to show range, but also gives plenty of opportunity to those more annoyed by him to see Him get a comeuppance. It was just nice to see him in something different, not cookie cutter and cute
What works for the film is that despite its high concept simpleness and stunt casting. It’s actually deeper than what you expect. As it does kind of harm back to that Spielberg era. Where kids could star in Movies and kind of create their own world and social relationships. Where adults were around but they weren’t the main focus they were more supportive.
This was the first movie I even remember seeing Elijah wood in and he is impressive in one of his first films as a full-fledged lead.
As even though this film is rated R. It also seems more made for children to enjoy or at least relate to more.
Directed By: D.J. Caruso Written By: Christopher Landon & Carl Ellsworth Story By: Christopher Landon Cinematography By: Rogier Stoffers Editor: Jim Page
Cast: Shai LeBouf, Sarah Roemer, Aaron Yoo, David Morse, Carrie-Anne Moss, Viola Davis, Matt Craven, Jose Pablo Cantillo
After his father is killed in a car accident, things unravel for Kale Brecht and he is placed under house-arrest for punching his Spanish teacher. Having nothing better to do, Kale occupies himself by spying on his neighbors. But one night, he witnesses what appears to be a murder going on in Mr. Turner’s house. Kale becomes obsessed with uncovering the truth behind these murders but, after a few unsettling run-ins with Mr. Turner, it becomes a matter of life and death. And the ominous question: Who is watching whom?
Cut To The Chase 