TRANCE

 Crime thriller

PRINCIPAL CAST MEMBERS

James McAvoy: Simon, an auction house employee

Vincent Cassel: Franck, an associate

Rosario Dawson: hypnotherapist Elizabeth Lamb

REVIEW

It’s never much fun when you realize you’re being jerked around when you make an honest effort to sort things out for yourself. When filmmakers resort to that kind of manipulation, it’s time to walk out which I did.

This is an example of the twists and turns, the flashbacks and reversals one has to cope with: in one scene Simon takes the time to shoot and kill three bad guys but then it turns out he just imaged that and they are still alive wanting to kill him. But we the audience have no way of knowing it was all in his head so you take it at face value only to be yanked back with the reveal. You soon begin to feel like a puppet on a string.

Not surprising Ralph’s Rule of Redundancy applies:

“Any film where one person takes on more than 2 key positions (Danny Boyle is Writer, Director and Producer) has a major shortcoming: the absence of independent critical judgement that results in something less than it might have been.”

CLASSIFICATION

 for sexual content, graphic nudity, violence, some grisly images and language.

FOR NITPICKERS ONLY

• The revolver Simon uses has just 6 cartridges yet fires off a dozen rounds in the garage.
• Gasoline ignites between 500°F and 540°F so firing a bullet at a trail of gasoline will not set it ablaze.

SIDE EFFECTS

Crime thriller

PRINCIPAL CAST MEMBERS

Rooney Mara: 28-year-old Emily “Em” Taylor

Channing Tatum: her husband Martin

Ann Dowd: Martin’s mother

Jude Law: psychiatrist Dr. Jonathan “John” Banks

Catherine Zeta-Jones: psychiatrist Dr. Victoria Siebert

Vinessa Shaw: Jonathan’s wife Dierdre

REVIEW

Too often new drugs for old problems have unfortunate side effects that can result in some very serious consequences. Given that premise, the first half of the movie unfolds pretty much in a straightforward manner. The acting by Mara and Law is particularly noteworthy although the musical score too often intrudes and makes it difficult to catch all of the dialogue.

Like any good thriller there are twists and turns but at one point (about three-quarters of the way through) there is too much rapid-fire exposition to easily grasp what has transpired.

At the risk of giving anything just let me say you should really pay attention when Emily and Jonathan are alone in the institution and she tells “her side of the story”. Miss that and you’ll exit the theatre like many people did when I saw the film asking their companion “What was that all about?” or saying things like “I don’t know what happened, do you?”

CLASSIFICATION

 for violence, profanity, sexual content and brief nudity.

DRIVE

Crime drama

PRINCIPAL CAST MEMBERS
Ryan Gosling: the Kid, a mechanic who moonlights
Bryan Cranston: his boss Shannon, owner of an auto-repair shop
Albert Brooks: Shannon’s mob contact Bernie Rose
Carey Mulligan: Irene, a Denny's waitress
Kaden Leos: her 7-year-old son Benicio
Ron Perlman: Bernie's nasty partner and pizzeria owner Nino
Oscar Isaac: Irene’s husband Standard
Christina Hendricks: his accomplice Blanche

REVIEW
I love it when movies make use of the visual aspect to tell the story rather than having a bunch of words to accomplish the same task. In this case because the principal is a man of few words (about two dozen in total) his body language and facial expressions are all we have to go on. But that’s enough.

The supporting cast are excellent, the car chases really well done and the tension almost palpable. And it’s almost guaranteed to take your mind off your troubles.

The squeamish like me will have to avert their eyes a couple times as the degree of violence gets quite brutal at times.

CLASSIFICATION

for strong brutal bloody violence, language and some nudity.

FOR NITPICKERS ONLY
• Regardless of the actual speed he drives, the car’s speedometer never moves off 30 miles per hour.
• This is one of my classic nitpicks: when the driver abruptly hangs up, the person on the end of the line, Bernie, hears a dial tone. In reality the dial tone is only heard when first picking up the phone before dialling. That’s why it’s called a dial tone.

THE TOWN

Crime thriller

PRINCIPAL CAST MEMBERS
Ben Affleck: gang leader Doug MacRay
Jeremy Renner: his childhood friend James "Jem" Coughlin
Rebecca Hall: Bank Manager Claire Keesey
John Hamm: FBI Special Agent Adam Frawley
Blake Lively: Jem’s sister Krista
Pete Postlethwaite: mob kingman Fergus Colm aka “Fergie the Florist”
Chris Cooper: Doug’s father Stephen

REVIEW
It has been my experience that there is a relationship between the number of key positions any one person has and the quality of the movie. As one goes up the other goes down. But this film goes against the grain in that Ben Affleck not only co-wrote the story, he directed it and stars in it yet the result is a first class effort. Not only is the film well acted throughout, it is beautifully shot and downright entertaining.

Despite running just over two hours it is not overly long with sufficient time given to the development of personal relationships and the actual bank and armoured car heists themselves. Unlike most films of this sort, the car chase scenes are not overdone. How refreshing.

CLASSIFICATION
for strong violence, pervasive language, some sexuality and drug use.

FOR NITPICKERS ONLY
• A title card states that “There are over 300 bank robberies in Boston every year.” According to the FBI there were not that many statewide when these events took place in 2008.
• Although she doesn’t touch her glass the level of Claire’s drink when she’s at the outdoor restaurant changes from one shot to the next.
• The diamond necklace given Claire, supposedly from Tiffany’s Jewellery, is in a black box instead of their signature Blue Box®.
• Despite unloading an arsenal of ammunition in several scenes by experienced qualified police officers and SWAT teams no one is killed much less injured. A reminder that films do not always reflect reality.
• S.A. Frawley removes a note from under the antenna on the back window of his car. In the next shot the antenna is in a different location.

ANIMAL KINGDOM

Crime thriller

PRINCIPAL CAST MEMBERS
James Frecheville: 17-year-old Joshua “J” Cody
Jacki Weaver: J’s maternal grandmother Janine aka “Smurf”
Ben Mendelsohn: her eldest son Andrew aka “Pope”
Joel Edgerton: his partner Barry “Baz” Brown
Sullivan Stapleton: Pope’s younger brother Craig, a drug pusher
Luke Ford: Darren, the youngest of the Cody brothers
Laura Wheelwright: J's girlfriend Nicky
Guy Pearce: Melbourne Police Detective Nathan Leckie

REVIEW
This is not your typical gangster film: there are no shootouts, no car chases, no lingering scenes of blood and gore. Instead this is one terrific film that comes across as real. That is due in large part because the acting is so good you tend to forget it is a film. Couple that with a well written script providing time for character development and excellent pacing which allows the action to unfold in an unhurried manner.

Because of the strong Australian accent I could not understand all of the dialogue but that was of little consequence. This is one of the best films of this sort I’ve seen in years.

CLASSIFICATION
for violence, drug content and pervasive language.

HARRY BROWN

Crime thriller

PRINCIPAL CAST MEMBERS
Michael Caine: 70-something-year-old Harry Brown
David Bradley: his best friend and chess partner Leonard Attwell
Liam Cunningham: pub owner Sid
Emily Mortimer: Police Detective Inspector Alice Frampton
Charlie Creed-Miles: Police Detective Sergeant Terry Hicock
Ben Drew: gang member Noel Winters
Iain Glen: Police Superintendent Childs

REVIEW
The brutal violence associated with crime pervades the film and the gritty setting in a London housing project serves as a focal point. A couple of times there is a palpable feeling of menace as Harry sets about to take matters in his own hands. It is not always pretty but definitely riveting.

CLASSIFICATION
for strong violence and language throughout, drug use and sexual content.

FOR NITPICKERS ONLY
When in Harry’s apartment D.I. Frampton asks D.S. Hicock “to get Mr. Atwell a glass of water”. That was a mistake; she should have said a glass of water for Mr. Brown.

ARMORED

Crime thriller

PRINCIPAL CAST MEMBERS
Matt Dillon: Chief Officer Michael Cochrane with Eagle Shield Security
Columbus Short: newly hired armored truck guard Ty Hackett
Laurence Fishburne: Baines, one of his hotheaded coworkers
Skeet Ulrich: level-headed Dobbs
Fred Ward: their boss Duncan Ashcroft
Andre Jamal Kinney: Ty’s 14-year-old brother Jimmy
Milo Ventimiglia: Deputy Sheriff Jake Eckehart

REVIEW
As escapist entertainment it certainly works. But it’s best not to have your expectations too high because this caper offers little in the way of originality. The requisite car chases are well executed, the good guy-bad guy setup is there, the explosions loud and flashy.

The whole thing moves along at a good clip because of crisp editing and the thin story line.

CLASSIFICATION
for sequences of intense violence, some disturbing images and brief strong language.

FOR NITPICKERS ONLY
• Patrolman Eckehart responds with the police code 10-48 (agent unavailable for assignment…out for coffee or whatever) yet he immediately leaves the hot dog stand and drives off. He should have used 10-4 indicating his intention to respond to the request from dispatch.
• Mike comes out of the factory with his shirttail hanging out on the right hand side and says something to the person in front of him. There is a quick reaction shot while that person responds then immediately back to Mike who in that instant tucked his shirt in and no longer looks unkempt.
• Holding the walkie-talkie as seen from in front of him Ty’s hand encircles it in the usual manner, about the midpoint point. But viewed from behind over his shoulder he’s seen holding it much nearer the top.

P.S.
The correct term for these type of vehicles is a Cash In Transit armored truck or simply a CIT truck.

LAW ABIDING CITIZEN

Crime drama

PRINCIPAL CAST MEMBERS
Gerard Butler: Inventor Clyde Shelton
Bruce McGill: Philadelphia District Attorney Jonas Cantrell
Jamie Foxx: Assistant D.A. Nick Rice
Leslie Bibb: Nick's prosecutorial partner Sarah Lowell
Colm Meaney: Police Detective Dunnigan
Annie Corley: Judge Laura Burch
Viola Davis: City of Philidelphia Mayor

REVIEW
A crime thriller that does not “telegraph” what is coming next makes for riveting viewing. Not that one needs to watch everything: the squeamish like me will have to avert their eyes part way through for one fairly brief scene (an essential part of the story but that doesn’t mean I have to watch it).

The acting is fine, the technical aspects of the first order although the CGI needs a little work. Crisp editing keeps things moving to its ultimate grand finale.

CLASSIFICATION
for violence and torture.

FOR NITPICKERS ONLY
• Although Judge Burch keeps her hands below the dais and does not touch them her eyeglasses change position from one shot to another.
• Clyde has some difficulty getting past the table to lie down on the bed but when he gets there the table has conveniently moved to the other side of the room.
• Clyde gets punched and blood oozes from his mouth. When he looks up, the blood has pretty much disappeared.

ANYTHING FOR HER

Crime thriller
In French with English subtitles
Original title: Pour Elle

PRINCIPAL CAST MEMBERS
Vincent Lindon: High school teacher Julien
Diane Kruger: his wife Lisa
Lancelot Roch: their 5-year-old son Oscar
Liliane Rovère: Julien’s mother
Olivier Pemier: Julien’s father

REVIEW
Unlike so many films of this type, Julian’s plan is so well laid out that there is no confusion about what is going on. That does not mean to say everything is foreshadowed, just enough to keep us in the loop.

Another thing that differentiates this movie from so many others is the fact the twists and turns are plausible, even believable.

The last half hour is well done; the tension is almost palpable.

CLASSIFICATION
for brief violence.

FOR NITPICKERS ONLY
Julien breaks the rear light not the car’s headlight when backing out of the alley.

THE TAKING THE PELHAM 123

Crime thriller

PRINCIPAL CAST MEMBERS
Denzel Washington: MTA New York Transit subway dispatcher Walter Garber
John Travolta: Ryder, the leader of the gang
John Turturro: NYPD Lt. Camonetti
Luis Guzman: subway motorman Phil Ramos
James Gandolfini: mayor of New York

REVIEW
At the risk of giving away the plot let me just say this is a exciting crime thriller with great acting, superb camerawork and crisp editing to keep things moving along. And that they do, with gusto. Along the way, the tension mounts and the outcome is never a sure thing. Riveting stuff.

CLASSIFICATION
for violence and pervasive language. They got that right: seemingly bad guys must have a potty mouth with every third utterance being the f-word.

FOR NITPICKERS ONLY
1. There is no Line 6 Southbound train that leaves the Pelham Bay station at 1:23 PM; the closest would be the weekday departure at 1:24. But then the movie title wouldn’t have the same ring to it would it?
2. The time of the video of the subway car viewed from the front is 2:03 whereas from the rear it is 18:02.
3. The line symbol of the 6 train is a white six on a green background not a red 6 on a red background.
4. While talking to one of the passengers, Ryder’s watch is clearly visible and the time changes from 20 after the hour to 10 minutes to the hour.
5. The flight on Icelandair from JFK to Reykjavik takes 5 hours and 35 minutes, not 6 hours.

P.S.
In a bold and visionary move the New York Central Railroad spent an enormous sum to build the Grand Central Terminal and tracks below street grade. When the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel was constructed some 20 years later it was directly over the northerly tracks and so a private railway siding was built beneath the hotel. Guests with private rail cars could then have them routed directly to the hotel platform instead of to Pennsylvania Station or Grand Central Station (as it is more commonly referred to). From there they could take a special elevator directly to their suites or to the lobby. President Franklin D Roosevelt among other notables frequently made use of this facility.

TAKEN

Crime drama

PRINCIPAL CAST MEMBERS
Liam Neeson: Bryan Mills, former CIA agent
Famke Janssen: his ex-wife Lenore
Maggie Grace: their 17-year-old daughter Kim
Katie Cassidy: Kim’s best friend Amanda
Olivier Rabourdin: Jean-Claude, a French intelligence operative

REVIEW
It’s got all the makings of an action packed shoot ‘em up thriller with great chases (car and on foot) coupled with excellent editing to keep things moving at a good clip. The only requisite of the viewing audience is a complete suspension of disbelief otherwise you will be too busy trying to figure out so many imponderables.

My advice: just sit back and enjoy the mayhem as a one-man-army sets out to seek justice.

CLASSIFICATION
for violence, sexuality, language and drug content.

THE INTERNATIONAL

Thriller

PRINCIPAL CAST MEMBERS
Ian Burfield: Tom, Louis’ associate
Clive Owen: Interpol Agent Louis Salinger
Naomi Watts: Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Eleanor Whitman
Ulrich Thomsen: Jonas Skarssen, CEO of the International Bank of Business and Commerce
Brian F. O'Byrne: The Consultant, an assassin
Armin Mueller-Stahl: Wilhelm Wexler, an advisor to the I.B.B.C.

REVIEW
Recent revelations of just what big banks have been up to makes the premise of this story much more credible. Typical of thrillers, the writers have gone to some length to make it too convoluted with too many people involved and too much dialogue. Why they do that is beyond me. But I digress.

By dint of being attentive to what transpires the story line becomes clear enough to follow the action. And a lot there is. Too much in fact: the big shootout lasts about 10 minutes with at least 500 rounds. Two minutes and 50 rounds would have been enough.

One thing they got right: the camerawork is top-notch.

CLASSIFICATION
for some sequences of violence and language.

FOR NITPICKERS ONLY
• Tom is sitting in the backseat of the car and looks out the windshield at three cars parked directly in front: a black one on the left, a grey one on the right and a white one beside it. He then gets out of the car but the white car is no where to be seen. It has disappeared.
• Louis gets a scratch on his right temple area. It changes position and shape from one scene to the next.
• The french newspaper shows the date to be mecredi, le 21 novembre, 2008. That was a Friday not a Wednesday.
• From her New York city office Eleanor dials 011-135 to call Luxembourg; the correct international telephone country code is 352 not 135.

TELL NO ONE

Crime thriller
In French with English subtitles
Original title: Ne le dis à personne

PRINCIPAL CAST MEMBERS
François Cluzet: Dr. Alexandre Beck
Marie-Josée Croze: his wife Margot
André Dussollier: her father Jacques
Kristin Scott Thomas: Alex’s friend Hélène
François Berléand: Police Inspector Levkowitch
Nathalie Baye: Elysabeth Feldman, a lawyer
Jean Rochefort: Gilbert Neuville, wealthy owner of race horses
Marina Hands: Alex’s sister Anne, an equestrian
Gilles Lellouche: Bruno, a nasty bad guy
Guillaume Canet: Gilbert’s son Philippe

REVIEW
A good murder mystery should provide enough clues amidst all the red herrings so that the average reasonably intelligent person should be able to figure out “who dunnit”. In this instance you haven’t got a hope in Hades.

There are far too many twists and turns in this convoluted tale of mayhem. Compound that with having too many people to keep track of plus having three or four of the actresses barely distinguishable from one another and you will soon give up trying to figure it out. And if that’s not all, it’s way too long. And if you’re not alert and paying attention during the last ten minutes or so you will never find out “who duunit”. And you will have wasted over two hours of your time.

CLASSIFICATION


FOR NITPICKERS ONLY
 When Alex types in the password to his email account it shows up on the screen but that is not what really happens. Instead to maintain the confidentially of the password a * appears for each letter typed in and not the word itself.
 During an equestrian competition the television announcer says the rider is participating in the European championship whereas clearly it is an Olympic event because the logo of five coloured rings is on the last jump he goes over.
 The license plate of Alex’s car ends in 78 when we first see it but the next time around it’s been downgraded to 75.
 While Alex is talking to the police “poof” out of nowhere behind them a delivery person with flowers appears. His approach to the house no doubt remains on the cutting room floor.

P.S.
Overheard while exiting the theatre:
First gentleman asking his friend: “So what do you think of it?”
His friend: “I fell asleep part way through so when I woke up I was totally confused”
First gentleman: “I stayed awake the entire time and like you I was totally confused too”
Enough said.

THE AMERICAN TRAP

Crime thriller
In French with English subtitles
Original title: Le Piège américain

PRINCIPAL CAST MEMBERS
Rémy Girard: Night club owner and businessman Lucien Rivard
Gérard Darmon: Paul Mondolini, an associate in the French Connection
Colm Feore: Maurice Bishop, hoodlum

REVIEW
Understanding the complexity of the underworld is never an easy chore. But it is made more difficult when the film purposely tries to hide the connections between these individuals. We are shown snippets of various criminal activities scattered though out the world (in Havana, New Orleans, Dallas, Marseilles and even the jungles of Indonesia) and get to see who is involved.

Then we are left to figure out “who dunnit”. But I wasn’t up to it and left after an hour.

CLASSIFICATION
for sexual content, brief nudity, language and drug use.

THE BANK JOB

Crime thriller
Based on a true story

BACKGROUND
During the First World War British secret services were divided into numbered sections referred to as Military Intelligence, number X. For example section MI-1 was devoted to code breaking. Section MI-5 was made responsible for internal UK and overseas British territories intelligence. Section MI-6 was responsible for external intelligence. Both MI5 and MI6 operate abroad and at home, but in different ways: MI5 concentrates on protecting British citizens and British interests wherever they might be in the world, whereas MI6 concentrates on gathering intelligence which might be of use to the government.

In 1912 before the outbreak of the First World War, the British Admiralty and the War Office decided that they needed some means of preventing the press from publishing information that might be of value to a future enemy. Consequently the Defence Advisory Notice system was implemented. Each D-Notice was an official request to news editors not to publish or broadcast items on specified subjects, for reasons of national security.

PRINCIPAL CAST MEMBERS
Saphron Burrows: former model Martine Love
Richard Lintern: her lover Tim Everett, a MI-5 agent
Jason Statham: Terry Leather, garage owner
Stephen Campbell Moore: his drinking buddy Kevin
Daniel Mays: their friend Dave
David Suchet: Lew Vogel, owner of a sex club
Peter De Jersey: Michael X, a Black Power revolutionary

REVIEW
Perhaps some liberties have been taken in the telling of this story but for the most part it rings true. Unlike most movies of this type, it evolves in a straightforward chronological manner without the usual flashbacks. Just as well because it is complicated enough with several sub-plots as the principals get involved in other people who have their own problems. And it is always a good idea to remember that government agencies sometimes resort to criminal methods, often having others do the dirty work. Watergate comes to mind.

CLASSIFICATION
for violence, profanity, nudity and sexual situations (they got that right!)

FOR NITPICKERS ONLY
 The leather goods shop named Le Sac has the Barclaycard/VISA decal stuck on the window. Although it was the first credit card introduced in the UK back in 1966, Barclaycard did not become part of the VISA network until 1977, some six years after these events took place.
 The date on the tombstone written in Roman numerals ends with XV not IX which means the year 15 not 9 as stated by one of the guys when he sees it.

IN BRUGES

Crime thriller

PRINCIPAL CAST MEMBERS
Colin Farrell: Ray, a hit-man from Dublin
Brendan Gleeson: his older partner-in-crime Ken
Thekla Reuten: innkeeper Marie
Clémence Poésy: Chloë, working with a movie company
Jordan Prentice: the dwarf Jimmy
Ralph Fiennes: the big boss Harry

REVIEW
Generally there is not a lot of humour associated with crime thrillers, which makes this movie so unusual. Interspersed with some rather smart dialog are a number of good one-liners and a few rather comical situations.

Another thing that sets this one apart is the pace: pretty nearly everything evolves slowly without undue haste, quite unlike most films of this sort that are generally frantic non-stop action.

As an added bonus, the acting throughout is top notch and the charming city of Bruges makes for a lovely backdrop to the entire affair.

CLASSIFICATION
for strong bloody violence, pervasive language, and some drug use.

FOR NITPICKERS ONLY
Ken takes several swigs from his beer and the level is below some writing that encircles the glass. Ray enters and sits down on the stool beside him but now Ken’s beer is back to the level it was after the first gulp.

Ken and Ray arrive together on the train platform. The digital clock behind them shows the time to be 11:45. Ray gets on the train and they chat for a couple of minutes at most then the train pulls out of the station. The round clock at the end of the platform reads 12:00, about 10 minutes earlier than it should be.

LONDON TO BRIGHTON

Crime thriller

PRINCIPAL CAST MEMBERS
Lorraine Stanley: street prostitute Kelly
Georgia Groome: 12-year-old Joanne
Johnny Harris: Kelly's pimp Derek
Sam Spruell: mobster Stuart Allen
Alexander Morton: his wealthy father Duncan

REVIEW
Too often the technique of flashback is overused and serves only to confuse the issue. Such is not the case with this gritty movie about some very unsavoury characters. Shot in washed-out, grainy, muted colours that perfectly match the dark, dirty seamy side of life. We are spared the actual event but the after effects of whatever brutal action took place are very evident. And it ain’t pretty.

With tight editing, excellent performances and fast paced action it sure holds your attention. Not a feel-good movie but one you’re not soon to forget.

CLASSIFICATION
for scenes of sex, nudity, graphic violence, profanity, drug use and underage smoking.