Tag: Saul Rubenik

DEATH SHIP (1980)

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Directed By: Alvin Rakoff 
Written By: John Robins
Story By: Jack Hill and David P. Lewis
Cinematography: Rene Verzier 
Editor: Mike Campbell

Cast: George Kennedy, Richard Ctrenna, Nick Mancuso, Saul Rubinek, Victoria Burgoyne, Jennifer McKinney, Danny Higham, Sally Ann Howles, Kate Reid, 

Survivors of a tragic shipping collision are rescued by a mysterious black ship that appears out of the fog. Little do they realize that the ship is a Nazi torture ship that has sailed the seas for years, luring unsuspecting sailors aboard and killing them off one by one.

Considering the cast this should have been much better.

This film would be much more entertaining and fun. If it was strongly directed. As here while being a horror. The direction comes across as broad. It plays like a haunted house film only on a ship. As it is almost like an obstacle course for survival.

It makes you wonder though there are plenty of them. Are ghosts trapped and lonely? As they seem to want to kill so many. Is it a property thing? Do they want company? Are they jealous? Since usually at least in movies they are seen as evil (talks about stereotypes) are they in hell and want a companion? 

Jealous and wanting to take others who they feel are not worth it or appreciate what they have done are just reaching out in the ways they know how or can and people are just afraid and overreact. Are they stuck? Are they stuck on earth because of unfinished business?

The filmmakers used a lot of zooms and transitions. Not to mention senseless death scenes. 

The material is there for a better film. It would be a good candidate to remake better.

The thinking in the story seems to be when in doubt, put in some Nazis or blame them for the horrors. Which feels like a Scooby Doo-type ending or reaching for a villain and explanation.

The ship should be scary on its own or atmospheric. Instead, it looks strangely dressed. It’s also rarely actually dangerous or that intriguing

While the film Is presented as an all-star extravaganza. In modern times it comes off as a Tv-Movie event movie. They would get stars of movies who were willing to do television for a quick Buck or find a way to get stars of all network shows to appear in the same film usually airing in the summer. While most shows were on hiatus.

Grade: C

BLACKBERRY (2023)

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Directed By: Matt Johnson 

Written By: Matt Johnson And Matthew Miller 

Based on the Book: LOSING THE SIGNAL By: Jacquie McNish & Sean Silcoff

Cinematography: Jared Raab

Editor: Curt Lobb

Cast: Jay Baruchel, Glenn Hoverton, Matt Johnson, Martin Donovan, Saul Rubenik, Cary Elwes, Rich Sommer, Michael Ironside, SungWon Cho 

A company that toppled global giants before succumbing to the ruthlessly competitive forces of Silicon Valley. This is not a conventional tale of modern business failure by fraud and greed. The rise and fall of BlackBerry reveal the dangerous speed at which innovators race along the information superhighway.

This film isn’t as experimental as writer, Director costar Matt Johnson’s previous films. Though this one is more established it is still brimming with creative energy. 

Maybe, as this is based more on a true story rather than him making it up, so this demands to have a stronger narrative. Though he still finds a way to make it a little unconventional, more personal, and smaller scale taking place mostly in Canada.

No, he does get to keep a certain experimental style and more handheld camera work that gives Scenes More Intimacy and feels like a fly on the wall. It is an amazing true story. That goes into the whole corruption of the souls and values. To make the best product around. 

Though what most will be talking about when it comes to this film is actor Glenn Howerton’s performance mainly known for his performance in the Shell. It’s always Sunny in Philadelphia. Where he plays more of a narcissistic buffoon. Here he is a cold-blooded executive, who eventually becomes co-CEO of Blackberry and constantly seems angry and ruthless.

No, it is understandable, as he seems to be building this company as revenge for his recent termination, and believes in it so much that he is willing to risk his own future his mortgage to keep building this company so that even as Co-CEO he feels he is old, which is why he’s willing to even have to go through a legal means to keep this company growing.

What works is that he and Jay Baruchel’s characters are the Yin and Yang of each other who work side-by-side and off of each other, which helps the company work, but he has more influence over Baruchel character. 

As Baruchel’s character seems to slowly lose his morals and sense of character. Luckily, Baruchel holds his own in a more quiet, subdued way.

Matt Johnson plays more of a supporting character in the background that represents his past and moral center, which is why, when his character kind of accents the film, everything takes it down.

Grade: B+