Cast: Kurt Russell, Mariel Hemingway, Joe Pantoliano, Andy Garcia, Richard Masur, Richard Jordan, Richard Bradford, William Smith
When a teenager is shot at the beach, a journalist from The Miami Journal is sent to cover the story. He’s called by the murderer and told there’ll be four more.
This movie took me by surprise mainly because it was a Kurt Russell-starring thriller made in the 1980s that I had never heard of before. So it was fascinating to watch.
For its time this film seems to pass the mister and it’s not bad, but it doesn’t feel like anything that special either. Especially watching it in modern times. We have seen many movies and even television episodes of shows that tackle the same subject matter of journalistic ethics.
The film is filled with character actors some early in their careers others late. So it keeps it exciting watching them at work.
The film offers a few red herrings before generally just giving us the identity of the serial killer in the third act.
Whereas it becomes a cat-and-mouse game after the killer kidnaps the reporter’s girlfriend after he feels betrayed by the reporter.
The film chooses to examine the serial killer and his killings over the morality of what the reporter is doing and more becoming part of the story than reporting on it. Which would have been a stronger film. Exploring the newspaper industry and its culture at the time.
The film even includes the old cinematic trick of having the newspaper swirl and spin before revealing the headline superimposed over characters. It also has the going to retire after one last job cliche.
Screenwriter Christopher Crowe sued an alias for his credit on this film. Where you wonder if it’s because it differed from his original screenplay or was more of a side project job he did and didn’t want this to injure his career.
I wish I could say this was one tries to make a dent in the weekly box office and was soon forgotten. if this film was made quickly and shoddily. There was real care and work put in throughout.
The film is a good potboiler and time waster but never quite strong enough to be that memorable. Never quite making its mark. Despite its cast.
Editor: Coralie Fargeat, Jerome Eltabet and Valentin Feron
Cast: Demi Moore, Margaret Qualley, Dennis Quaid
A fading celebrity decides to use a black-market drug, a cell-replicating substance that temporarily creates a younger, better version of herself.
Whatever you might have heard about this film you are not entirely ready for where it takes you.
Again this is one of those films that is best to go. Into blind. Which allows for surprises and plenty of discovery.
It has equal parts David Lynch, David Cronenberg, and even a bit of Stanley Kubrick in style, but director Coralie Fargeat manages to make it her own.
As there are symmetrical shots and angles. Colorful production design, and plenty of gore that at first seems artistic until it truly gore for the gusto in the third act. At certain points it feels like science fiction, but more a cruel satire that truly becomes a horror movie. It also feels French and European while taking place on American soil.
it’s amazing, disturbing, uncomfortable, and beautiful. That truly seeks to disturb, disrupt, and challenge. Which for some will make it all the more stronger.
The film offers a full-blown assault on sensibilities and your senses. It manages to build a world while revealing so little and having limited spaces and locations.
It haunts you afterward. Each time you think about the film, you want to go back to see if there is anything you missed. as you want to study the film. It’s that intricate, and pristine
It’s not only the effects that are scary or disgusting but the characters. Dennis Quaid as The lead character’s manager is always his over-the-top stylish suits and seems like he cares. He twists lives in his client’s backs and eats sloppily and disgustingly.
The film is a tale of feminism and the perils of aging for women and how they are treated in the world but especially in Hollywood and the spotlight. This film explores what some are willing to do or forced to do who choose to want to stay in the spotlight. How cruel they are treated for even trying.
It’s also a tale of greed, how there is never enough time, and how quickly it can be stolen or used. When you are younger you always think you have enough time and still want more and are more prone to be jealous that you will even betray your own best interests. How at times a person can lavishly sacrifice just to have the spotlight to themselves even as it does damage to themselves. Not playing by the rules and regretting. Losing sense of oneself.
Self-hatred giving up on yourself for others to prosper. As you feel your life isn’t worth living anymore. Too much work not enough benefits. Needing the adoration to feel worthy.
Demi Moore gives one of them. the best performances of her career. While getting one of the best roles of her recent career. This is the perfect movie for her to make a comeback. Even as critically as most of the characters treat her. She still looks extraordinarily beautiful. The horror is that for so many years Ms. Moore has been the model for what was seen as perfect and beautiful that many women aspired to be like or look like and now here she is not considered good enough.
It also offered her the most range in a role. Yet it also, feels familiar or like a reality she might be facing only magnified. As the film shows how aging especially for women is seen as a horror in society and how many of them have resorted to some kind of substance be it surgery, fillers, creams or ointments to try to keep their youth or look youthful. Even as it becomes a violence against themselves. Taking themselves down the. Face the reality they find themselves in. Trying to reach or keep an idealized version of themselves and literally buying into it
At certain points, it feels like a TALES FROM THE CRYPT movie. Which only reminds the audience of Demi Moore’s appearance on that show in an episode. By the end, it also reminds the audience of another production that she was part of the animated Disney film THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME.
You could also throw in some RE-ANIMATOR. As well as the story THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY. As well as THE GAME, DEATH BECOMES HER, THE TOXIC AVENGER, FIGHT CLUB, and SECONDS. With those ingredients, she used them to make something piercingly original
It even tackles eating disorders. As when she can’t really punish or fight her double. She strikes back the only way she knows how overeating bad food. as she robs her of her youth.
Vanity destroying yourself to give yourself more time. Almost like an addiction the same as a vampire uses blood to survive and stay young or at least keep up appearances. Usually preying on the young here it is reversed.
As the younger self has all the promises or is given promises of course she becomes more selfish hoping to live just a bit longer.
This film by the end becomes a fable of addiction to the limelight of fame and attention and how lonely it can become once it begins to fade. Even though you have a following how quickly they can abandon you and if you are never prepared for your eventual downfall. You have truly nothing left. How these rules seem to apply mostly unfortunately to women. Hollywood is a fickle mistress.
Cast: Kirsten Dunst, Jay Hernandez, Taryn Manning, Bruce Davison, Herman Osorio, Lucinda Jenney, Miguel Castro, Richard Steinmetz, Tommy De La Cruz, Cory Hardict, Keram Malicki-Sanchez
Carlos Nunez, is a poor but athletically gifted Latino teenager who endures a two-hour bus ride every day from East L.A. to attend the posh, wealthy Pacific Palisades High School in Los Angeles on a football scholarship. A straight-A student, Carlos is focused and driven, but his future is cast in doubt when he becomes the flirtation target of a spoiled, self-destructive bad girl Nicole Oakley, who’s the daughter of a prominent congressman. When his friends, family, and even Nicole’s own father oppose the romance for Carlos’ sake, he chooses to ignore their advice and stubbornly pursues his relationship with Nicole, whose feelings grow from simple physical attraction to something much deeper.
This is the movie in my teen years I was hoping the Drew Barrymore film MAD LOVE was going to be.
At the time this film was a rare interracial romance, where it seems to be downplayed, but then becomes a kind of class difference with a switch whereas the Hispanic character is the more responsible and stable with a rich family life, and is well respected
Whereas Kirsten Dunst’s character is a mess who might be good-hearted and is an addict with mental problems and a family that isn’t close but has money
With this film, Kirsten Dunst is trying to be more professional and take on a dangerous and challenging role. The kind that she was usually offered at the time was more cookie-cutter. This role is the one that Disney stars try to do to be seen as more adult and be seen in a different way allowing them to show range.
The film isn’t original but keeps your interest as not only a teen romance but a romantic story that has dramatic deaths and comes across better than you probably would expect.
It helps that you like, and admire both lead actors and their characters, and they do have solid chemistry, and they get you to care about both of them.
Happily found trays the minority character as more of a positive and Caucasian character trouble, and the one might end the future of the other. Everyone agrees that he is too good for her.
One appreciates the film, even though Kirsten as a star who was the bigger star. The film and script explore Jay Hernandez’s character and family ties. just as much as it does hers. Showing atmosphere family, culture, and surroundings can affect a person.
One admires that he tries to be deeper than just a stereotypical teen romance. it offers some depth. As it shows a shocking amount of heart throughout.
The film takes you back to when these movies would actually make it to theaters and not be some offshoot of a streaming channel.
Cast: Talia Ryder, Simon Rex, Jacob Elordi, Ayo Edibiri, Jeremy O. Harris, Andy Milonakis, Keith Poulson, Rish Shah, Mazin Akar, Gibby Haynes, Mimi Ryder, Jack Irv, Ella Rubin, Betsey Brown, Earl Cave
A picaresque journey through the cities and woods of the Eastern seaboard of the U.S. undertaken by Lillian, a high school senior from South Carolina. She gets her first glimpse of the wider world on a class trip to Washington, D.C.
The film has an Alice in Wonderland quality. they coming of age tale. where we follow this girl who right after losing her virginity goes on a school field trip to Washington DC gets mad wanders off and kind of gets involved in all these kinds of extreme groups and gets involved with these characters who have such great passion for their beliefs that she seems to put up with as long as she can, and they take care of her, but then soon grows of them and moves on, especially leaving them and ruin when she does
as it seems like all of those, she gets involved with seem to put their ideals dreams, and wishes upon her as some kind of fantasy is going to help them or save them or make them successful and she’s quite the opposite as she is just a schoolgirl trying to survive and trying to have fun
I think this film might’ve been a little stronger been directed and written by a female because as it plays, which might actually work and its favor seems more to go throughout this film as a kind of young female seen through the male gaze so she’s constantly made into a fantasy. it is directed by noted cinematographer Sean Price Williams.
The film doesn’t make her a victim, though it shows that she’s not that innocent and that she kind of enjoys the power that she gets from all these experiences as these types of scenarios and with the female being victimized, it’s kind of refreshing to see a film, where the female is the one who realized that she has the power and takes control, even though she doesn’t know how deep or dangerous the waters she’s stepping into truly
The film is very experimental as it even has a musical sequence early in the film and seems to be mostly handheld gorilla style though has some beautiful shots the film does keep a sense of humor, but also has a kind of shock value that it produces every now and then just to make sure you’re paying attention
as in one section of the film, she ends up staying with a white supremacist who is more of an intellectual than an actual member of the KKK who he spoils like she’s a pet, but never touches, though she keeps offering peaks and glances. He never makes a move, though he wants to and generally respects her, which makes her quite fast
she goes from there to African-American filmmakers who keep talking about being revolutionaries and even dress the part in 1970s wardrobe, but then when we actually see that the film they are making it some kind of merchant ivory-type production that is more about Caucasian characters in the pet in the past which proves to be one of the most, but also shocking sequences in the film
those throughout there are no real consequences for her character and the film tries to throw the audience off just as when she ends up secretly staying with what seems to be a Muslim paramilitary group. They are more of a music group dance and very secretive. so this film keeps to survive.
no, by the end, it doesn’t really seem to have all that much to say and still feels like the musings of a middle-aged Caucasian man declaring his thoughts on modern-day subcultures but putting it through a young female point of view, making it seem more open and not so fitting closed off.
In the end, it’s not quite an adventure. I’m sure most audiences will want to make but if they do, they might find something that captures their interest throughout. As the character travels through the eastern seaboard.
That is a great showcase for young actress Talia Ryder. as she constantly plays the main character, but also that character has to play the role that she is given by all these different people she comes across and even using other stories as her own to get more sympathy
in the end, it kind of amounts to a movie that seems like it was a hip hang-out for most of the cast that was made up as it went along to touch on certain subjects and meanings
Cast: Russell Crowe, Jaqueline McKenzie, Daniel Pollock, Alex Scott, Leigh Russell, Dan Wyllie, Josephine Keen, James McKenna, Eric Mueck, Frank Magree
Violent tale of white supremacist skinheads who spend their time beating up anyone who isn’t white or who doesn’t comply with their version of acceptability. In the end, Hando and Davey will clash violently of a disagreement of principles.
It has taken me 30 years to finally watch this film that came out as a young teen. I remember it had a lot of buzz around it and controversy. This was the first time I heard of Russell Crowe as an actor. This was before the Hollywood starring films This was not the beginning, but when I was getting a bit more intense into my love and study of movies, especially independent Cinema. I remember reading about this film, and this was when I was starting to read the film magazine film when it was still at newsstands. that was just one of the movie magazines I was reading at the time there were like Movie Line Premiere, The Hollywood Reporter, entertainment, weekly, and any other magazine I could really get my hands on. FILM THREAT was your key into the underground, the village voice. Those of us in New York were getting advanced on these upcoming films and this was definitely one of them.
I have to say it now I can see where it had all the hype at the time and watching it now it’s a punch. It’s not quite the knockout that it might’ve been back in its day.
Certainly grimy and dirty, dealing with racism, skinhead, and Australia, and this in particular their day-to-day life of harassment and violence. they are certainly the main characters we follow. They end up themselves more side characters who happen to get tangled up, which is. Gabe played by Jacqueline McKenzie
She is a character who seems to go from one bad situation to the next. It’s more of her survivors as she seems to go to men who seem like they can protect her and give her a place to stay as long as she is willing to do what they need for the time being before their own vices take over, and she just seems to be secondary. She seeks to get away from her abusive father. though, you can’t tell exactly if she’s the epitome of their downfall or came along when they were on a downward trajectory and only helped to accelerate it.
We see her and the gang’s own stories before they eventually collide, and she finds her way into the gang as the current lover of their leader played by Russell Crowe. what eventually ends up misplaced emotions, dooming the romance as it soon becomes a love triangle. when the leader’s right-hand man falls for her, she realizes it and doesn’t turn him away. though later in the film once the two of them pair off and crows character finds out about it he feels betrayed, but you’re not quite sure by which one, or it might be both even though there seems to be a little homoerotic going on between him and his right-hand man. towards the end, They are trying to out-strengthen one another to see who has more power and influence.
this all happens very fast before any of them can really think about it as the film only examines a few days in the life of these characters in which everything seems reckless and those supposedly trying to be a community and protect it like all they really do is destroy.
The film doesn’t paint their victims as entirely passive victims they fight back as it seems like the minorities they are rebelling against or truly jealous of the Asian community. who all seem to be prospering and more successful than that which is more of the problem this jealousy leads them to believe that they are being looked down upon by people of color.
The film is ultimately a tragedy for most involved. It doesn’t pass judgment on the characters. It doesn’t celebrate the characters though mainly the skinheads are who we follow. while the film brought to Russell Crowe who is certainly violent and charismatic in the lead role, the performances are Jacqueline McKenzie and Daniel Pollock the latter of whom sadly died before this film’s premiere. It’s a shame as he would’ve gone on bigger and better.
While here Russell Crowe just had more of the star-making magnetism. I give Jacqueline McKenzie a lot of credit as she has what at first seems like a typical role but in the end, has the harder role as she’s a survivor what comes off as emotions at times might just be manipulation so it’s hard to tell what she truly believes and feels and what she’s just showcasing to get her way and stay protected.
The film has a few graphic sex scenes that supposedly are real as they definitely come across as realistic, but they are also very well edited to not seem as pornographic.
while the film deals with racist skinheads, it doesn’t reveal any of their beliefs in radiology as it’s not the main focus. The main focus seems to be the dynamics of this gang and their behavior so there is plenty of violence. It never feels exploited, but it can be shocking at times. ask for skinheads who seem to shun those different than them or outsiders who seem to be growing to be outsiders in their own town and Goths and punks into the revelry with them, though that might be more of a sexual thing as the punks and Goths are female.
Director Geoffrey Wright truly came through with a dazzling debut. While he has made other films that are memorable for their own reasons, they never reached the strength of this film.
Written By: Andrea Dunbar (Based on her stage plays)
Cinematography: Ivan Strasburg
Editor: Steve Singleton
Cast: Siobhan Finnerman, Michelle Holmes, George Costigan, Lesley Sharp, Kuruinder Ghir, Willie Ross, Danny O’Dea
Realistic story of working-class Yorkshire life, alternately serious and light-hearted, as two schoolgirls have a sexual fling with a married man.
This is a movie of its time and moment. A domestic drama and comedy of the working class that becomes a kind of sexual drama. We see each cohabitant’s personal lives and how their actions and situations shape their futures.
It offers a gritty and sometimes sad look with some laughs. No one is perfect or seems to make the so-called right decisions. This is an early film of an example of polygamy. The film is definitely an uncomfortable experience to sit through.
While this film on the other hand could be a fantasy come true or a T&A sex comedy or even the basis of a porno. This film shows the pain this causes not only the people in their lives but how it affects each other and even the enjoyable moments of the Union are short-lived to non-existent.
It’s a character study at heart given just enough info that makes us angry at the characters but not hate them. As they seem to show humanity just when ready to write them off. As the younger female characters seem to know no better and go along for fun and something new. There are no ideals just dealing with each and the results of the situation.
Not glamorous, Warts and, all realness to it. It keeps you interested as none of the characters has it all figured out or any grand plan all have weaknesses, yet try to portray themselves as invincible.
It offers a view of the future. Dealing with the best ways they can. A slice of life. Sticking mainly only to those in the love triangle.
It doesn’t help that most of the characters come off as despicable, the young ladies get a bit more sympathy. It’s a little more obvious why and they have a chance to grow out of it. Bob comes across as miserable in a midlife crisis and not-capable of getting better.
Throughout the film, it feels like a downtrodden and depressing experience not only for the situations at hand but even looking at any possible future for the characters.
A film that wouldn’t be made today for many reasons.
Cast: Ben Mendelsohn, Aden Young, Tara Morice, Nadine Garner, Chantel Contouri, Petru Gheorghiu, Arthur Angel, Richard Surherland, Tommy Dysart
Psycho Joe, a petrol-head from Altona, Melbourne, secures employment at a local Supermarket. Here, he meets the over-sexed Dazey. Joe and Dazey form a friendship based on a mutual interest in old hot cars. Joe also forms a relationship with a Satanic fellow employee. The nihilism of these young characters, coupled with parental disputes, leads to various tragedies.
I remember reading about this film and film threat in 1994 and always meant to look for the film to watch it. Sadly, it has taken me 30 years since it was released to finally watch it.
This is a grungy punk rock coming-of-age movie of aimless youth making their way through life, some with troubling parents, all having illicit behavior, looking for kicks, fun, and some kind of meaning
The film mainly revolves around four characters making a kind of romantic Square to find their thrills and car racing alcohol, sex, and the occult as they attract and betray one another and themselves it seems out of boredom and as a means to an end while supposedly trying to help one another
All the characters in this film have problems. One has a pure tical mother, so she repels the account and uses a friendship with a guy who she knows has a crush on her to get closer to his friend and seduce him. The friend intern was trying to get the man with the crush on a date with her. Desires her as well when his girlfriend proves to be difficult. The young man with the crush also likes his friend’s girlfriend. They know to keep it at friendship. Well, also dealing with his mentally unbalanced father.
The film editing, and camera work at times show how fast they’re interest and attention spans can go or be taken away not only that but things can escalate literally in the blink of an eye
So to one person so much to another same when it comes to emotions and relationships
The film tried similar ground as the film Romper Stomper as far as aimless youth this one tries to be a bit more stylistic with the Camera and directions the material feels lighter and not as strong
The film shows how fast they live their lives as the camera tries to emulate by jumping around at times to and from different angles
This is the second film of Director Geoffrey Wright who wants again places us in a nihilistic atmosphere and film. The film gets kind of gross at times.
There isn’t too much of that you haven’t seen before obsession and mental illness manipulation learning that their actions can have serious consequences. This ends up being more of a character study.
The film is an early leading role for Ben Mendelssohn, who won his career and now plays more character roles here with a full Maine is more the heartthrob and kind of the star or the character who all the others follow depend on
Tara Morice gives a strong performance with the most clearly defined role and the most attractive as well as challenging
The film also showcases how quickly we can form emotional attachments in youth, and they can become our whole world
As always, when a gun is introduced, it must be used and becomes important in the long run as it evolves into fatal friendships how when you were already only hanging on by a thread all it takes is one cut or domino fall for it all to come crashing down
The film does have a car chase ending that helps it seem a little more action fact and spices it up adding some excitement that isn’t purely emotional It’s only an inevitable tragedy.
As in end, the film still proves that nice guys finish last.
Based on The Book “Spaceman Of Bohemia” By Jaroslav Kalfar
Cinematography: Jakob Ihre
Editor: John Axelrod, Scott Cummings, and Simon Smith
Cast: Adam Sandler, Paul Dano, Carey Mulligan, Kunal Nayyar, Isabella Rosellini, Lena Olin, Marian Roden, Zuzona Stivinova, Petr Papanek, John Flanders
As an astronaut sent to the edge of the solar system to collect mysterious ancient dust finds his earthly life falling to pieces, he turns to the only voice that can help him try to put it back together. It just so happens to belong to a creature from the beginning of time lurking in the shadows of his ship.
This is an existential journey, a type of film that deals with loneliness and depression, and even though it takes place in outer space, it’s more about an inner journey than anything else.
So if you’re gonna do a movie that is practically mostly almost a one-man show where you spend time with the lead you’re going to want to cast an entertainer who here is trying to be more of a dramatic actor, but is definitely someone you know the audience is a fan of and identifies with Who they won’t mind spending time with throughout, even if he is not offering his usual type of performance.
Most are coming to this film for its star to see him in a different type of role, more dramatic than he takes from time to time, and not as rarely as before.
The film like the character sounds downtrodden throughout
Technically an art film is not bad and is actually impressive. It has plenty of artistic flourishes among the mundane story as the effects are, but this feels more like a Spotlight more focused on the character and his story.
The film is about heart, but it feels like it lacks it, though Carey Mulligan seems to be the heart of the film and of the character’s existence, they are mainly kept apart most of the film.
As her character stays somewhat unsupported by him. The main problem with the film is that his character seems to be the same from beginning to end, even in the flashback so since she seems to be more lively, we never quite are sure why she fell for him, even though she explains it, but we never quite see it. so that this love story or romance kind of makes no sense as even when we see old pictures of them, it looks awkward and uncomfortable
The film might have been more noteworthy before streaming as it definitely would have probably made it to theaters with high hopes here it just seems like a regular expensive experiment or his yearly release through Netflix, focusing less on his usual type of comedies, yet still rocking his production companies, side project comedies. Shaking it up a bit with films like this.
The film is not as effective as it should be or tries to be it has good, technical filmmaking. It’s very meditative and slow as we live through his trauma
Love the cast, Carey Mulligan, Lena Olin, and Isabella Rossellini, who finally gets a role that is more than a minor one scene, the appearance of Kunal Nayyer. One just wishes they had more to do and a project that utilizes their talents more.
Nothing in particular makes this film noteworthy for all its peculiarities. It still feels oddly familiar as it is never quite warm, even when it wants you to feel something.
The one that makes the film and the characters come alive is a memory of a date at a public swimming pool.
Maybe if the film was more independent production, it would mean more as a project of passion to put all of a vision into, and it would feel like maybe a story that needed to be told. Here it comes across as entertainment that wants to have depth.
The second half of the film offers more heart. The film strives to be philosophical and romantic at heart. And after spending so much time, watching the film. You kind of surrender yourself to its charms, like Stockholm syndrome to make it feel like it was all worth it.
By the end In the film you can identify with him, but never quite feel anything. You wonder Is that the point?
Cast: Joel Edgerton, Sigourney Weaver, Quintessa Swindell, Esai Morales, Eduardo Losan, Victoria Hill, Amy Le, Matt Mercurio, Erika Ashley, Jared Bankens
A meticulous horticulturist is devoted to tending the grounds of a beautiful estate and pandering to his employer, the wealthy dowager.
This is a strange film not in a bad way. It just feels strangely paste like everything feels slow but it also feels stately like it’s taking its time for everything to take effect maybe because it’s about gardening in the first place. It’s trying to set its seed and let it grow throughout the film. So that you finally will see what it grows into.
It definitely feels like a Paul Schrader film especially his more recent work or later career work because it feels like each film takes a bit of the one before it and then either adds something to it and then the next film has things from the previous two films, and adds to it in its own way as I mean throughout pulse trader’s career. Most of his main characters have been journal enthusiasts. It gives us a way to have narration that is more of an inner monologue for the character.
As most of his films are character studies either way also, you know, they seem sad and their ways, because usually their older characters who have lived life and are now seeming to come towards the end of it, but they live by a strict set of rules codes until someone makes them break it for whatever reason Sometimes it’s usually revenge or if not revenge some kind of defense of someone they care about this film is no different
The only thing that is really different from his previous films is how there are a lot of unspoken matters at hand, and there is kind of a thriller element, the violence threat of the film. It seems comes from characters are just so minor that you’re never truly scared of them and you know that the League character can handle them very easily, but then again, that might be where it tries to be reality whereas most of the figures that were scared of in life are not the ones you would ever think of being big bags are villains and not to mention just because their small scale doesn’t mean that they can’t cause big problems or troubles Especially for the main character who is in hiding for the most part
Another strength of this film that ends up developing is his romance with his assistant, who happens to be African-American, which kind of messes up the ongoing relationship. He has with Sigourney Weaver, who already has a problem with his assistant and the way she talks to her, and now seemingly believes that she has taken his heart, and taken him from her bedroom Though, at times, it feels like Weaver’s character even though upper crust an upper class also might have a little change of racism herself when it comes to her granddaughter, as well as age jealousy
The reveal of the lead actor being a white supremacist gang member lets us know that he has a dangerous past and how he ended up where he is but it also lets us know as in the words of Liam Neeson. He is a man of certain skills even though it seems like when he was back with the gang he was drinking and drugging and reckless, and now he’s clearheaded And not reckless but can be dangerous and it feels sort of like he’s paying for his sins, especially as he works around a diverse crew and takes a shine, especially to an African-American young lady
Joel Egerton is excellent in the role of the master gardener. I just wish that the movie had more for him to do or more to challenge his character with because, by the time the third act comes around happily, this isn’t a film that is a thriller or has any real kind of action it’s more about consequences and decisions that are made, which is different for a modern film and dealing with the complexities of that but it also feels like a film that you’re waiting around to get started and it never quite does instead, you just flow with it.
And it’s own way. It feels more literary than visual, even though it is a film, and the dialogue isn’t always sparkling.
It might also throw a little off that the granddaughter character comes across as so young and not that Egerton’s character is old, but noticeably older that it feels a little odd and cringe-inducing you’re glad that their characters have made this connection but also in the back of your mind, you’re wondering since he was separated from his family is this in its own way him taking her as a surrogate daughter, but then things turning sexual and romantic
I can see why Paul Schrader originally wanted Zendaya to play. The role is also another big name in the film and a less extreme version of her character on the show EUPHORIA, but she gets to stretch her dramatic muscles on the big screen that didn’t happen but she might’ve had more of a present as a character in the film, whereas Quintessa Swindell in the film, because you’re not quite sure where she’s really supposed to fit in other than being a new element into the ecosystem, that is this garden and household. Though it gives the actress the chance to show she can hold her own.
He might seek to put some seeds in her so that they can grow and have a new family. as the ending of this film is pretty cut and dry simplistic, and not as violent haphazard, or convoluted when it comes to the characters as some of his previous films and their characters by the end.
The film is perfectly fine and seems to survive in its own space though it’s not the most exciting movie it deserves to watch, but don’t expect that much
Cast: Philippe Noiret, Isabelle Huppert, Jean-Pierre Marielle, Stephane Andean, Eddy Mitchell, Guy Marchand, Irene Skobline, Michael Beaune, Jean Champion, Victor Garrivier
1938, in a French-African colony. Lucien Cordier is the cop of this village, populated with blacks and a few whites (usually racialist and lustful). He is a washout, everyone (including his wife Huguette) humiliates him. He never arrests anyone and looks at elsewhere when a dirty trick occurs. But one day, he turns into a Machiavellian exterminating angel.
This film can be looked at as a bit experimental, as it is based on a pulp thriller set in the United States but this version of the story is played out internationally in Africa, amongst the French colonists who are in the country.
While in the African’s land and home, these French characters who are more invaders in their territory, still think of themselves as superior and treat the natives like savages even though more or less, the so-called civilized characters, truly act more savage and heinous than any of them.
There are very few likable characters throughout this film it’s just that it takes time to learn the despicable of each, and somehow they seem to outshine each other as the tail goes along.
The Protagonist is a police chief in the area, though he is very Azih, and not very effective. He is in a loveless marriage, and having a secret affair that it seems most snow about but certain people acknowledge, but others are shocked.
The young married woman that he is having an affair with is played by a very young Isabelle Huppert. Their early scenes are certainly sexual, but not erotic, and certainly feel dirty.
Until the police officer truly shows his sociopathic and psychopathic sides. And he ends up murdering two local pimps and covering up their murders implicating a colleague for it, and it seems like after that he seems to start a domino effect of anyone in his life who bothers him or stands in his way him getting rid of for whatever reason, and with each murder, he seems to lose another piece of his soul which already seemed kind of worthless.
On one end, you could see this as a kind of revenge tail of a meat character finally standing up for himself and getting revenge on those who either don’t think much of him or sell him short, but you also must wonder at times was he planning this the whole time And was waiting for the time to strike or was he just finally pushed too far and decided to act when the opportunity presented itself.
By the end, he has his own kind of superiority over other characters as he began, he seems to have a plan, and along the way, his plans seem to be changing as does his mindset.
whereas the reason he was doing it, and he was doing it, for he seems to see their true side And see them for what they are and wants to test them to see if they are worthy, and commonly they fail. He is the most testable it becomes a crabs in a bucket situation.
At first, it seems that lust is what drives his character and money seems to others as the film goes along. He seems to lose faith in anything, and everything that he believes in.
His married lover, who his wife seems to know about yet sometimes seems shocked, and his wife’s so-called brother, a truly her lover, are all over each other, and his house tries to even threaten to blackmail him with this affair.
The only character throughout this film, who seems innocent or just doesn’t know any better is the schoolteacher who the detective is on and sometimes has conversations with.
Don’t get me wrong. This film is hard to sit through. Almost every character is racist and uses that kind of language as well as assaults plenty of black characters that just seem to go with the territory and how evil the characters are in the first place.
Moving the setting of the tale from a small town in Texas to a small town in Africa. It seems to match the territory and gives the tale a wider point of view of which to not only look at it but study it also. As it is similarly, dusty, dirty, remote, yet tranquil.
The film can feel detestable at once, but not keep your interest. Never quite knowing what is going to happen next. It almost feels like a mystery only It’s not a who done it and we are watching from the killer’s point of view.
All the characters are racist. Which fits the noir tale. Most of the characters are unlikeable and a nest of vipers waiting to strike first. It’s Very inventive taking the Jim Thompson tale and making it a more international tale. The film is fascinating.
Based on the novel POP. 1280 by Jim Thompson. which I haven’t read, but this feels a bit similar as far as main characters go to the main character from another Jim Harrison tale THE KILLER INSIDE ME. As both are sheriff’s and psychopathic sociopaths
Cut To The Chase 