Posts Tagged ‘movie reviews’
“Your Nightmare’s Only Getting Worse” | Rental Review of I Saw the Devil
Director Jee-Woon Kim creates something of a multiple genre masterpiece with his 2010 film, I Saw the Devil. It is a film that shifts tone so much, it takes a certain amount of true craftsmanship to maintain a cohesiveness. Up front, this is not a film for the masses. Within this film is both manic blood curdling violence and the emotional exploration of the nature of loss and vengeance. It’s also a brutal roller coaster of the senses (I should be quoted on the DVD cover with that line), and I recommend it. Read the rest of this entry »
Dear Sir or Madam, Will You Read My Book? | Rental Review of “The Ghost Writer”
Roman Polanski is a master of thematic suspense. He knows exactly what to show you, and how to utilize tension that is barely there. Take for instance a scene where a character (who is in over his head) goes for a drive. The audience keeps looking around, waiting for the release that will never come. The Ghost Writer is the perfect example of the overused saying; it is not what we see that scares us, it is what we don’t. Read the rest of this entry »
The Stream | Neo-noir Edition
The Stream is a new column that acts a venue for Filmdogs writers to post shorter reviews of movies they have watched on streaming video services such as Netflix, Hulu, or even YouTube. Let’s get started.
This time around I will be reviewing three excellent modern noir films. All are available on Netflix watch instantly. First up the is the best of the bunch, John Dahl’s Red Rock West.
Red Rock West (1993)
Michael (Nicolas Cage) is a down and out drifter who arrives in Red Rock, Wyoming looking for work. What transpires is an amazingly (and at times hilarious) complicated turn of events, where everyone is playing each other and nothing is what it seems. This movie is fantastic. John Dahl uses his locations to absolute perfection, making the setting yet another great character. The scenery is amazing to look at, and the prefect place for Cage to get stranded. It is a treat to watch him struggle to leave Red Rock. I, on the other hand, didn’t want to leave. I could watch this film everyday.
Also, the late Dennis Hopper gives a crazy as hell performance like only he could. Read the rest of this entry »
Under the Radar | Dead Man
This is a column that will focus on little known films, directors, writers, and actors. The column does not exist to tell you what to watch, but to simply help raise interest in the great art and talent that goes unseen year by year. So let’s begin. The film I will be spotlighting is Jim Jarmusch’s unique western, Dead Man starring Johnny Depp. Read the rest of this entry »
Double Feature | A.I. Artificial Intelligence and Minority Report
Steven Spielberg is and always will be one of my favorite filmmakers. As a child he guided me through the treacheries that is every day life with film such as: Jaws, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Raiders of the Lost Ark, E.T., Jurassic Park, and (dare I say) Hook. From 1997 to 2005, Spielberg hit a creative peak and began to dive into darker and more adult themed material starting with Amistad and ending beautifully with Munich. The double feature I will be recommending is two of his best works in his dark run, the extremely underrated sci fi duo, A.I. Artificial Intelligence and Minority Report. Read the rest of this entry »
