Plot: Liam Neeson plays Liam Neeson in the kind of film Mel Gibson used to play Mel Gibson in, before he went all mental and racist. Here be furtive glances, fighting and action.
A simple consiracy thriller. Not clichéd, exactly, but it certainly twists and turns in all the places you expect it to. As a result, nothing that happens really surprises you. Luckily, that doesn't matter as the cast are on top form, and the film is beautifully executed. Despite the feeling that you've seen it all before, it's still superbly tense from the moment the film starts. There's just the right level of unease, even before Liam's Martin Harris has his accident which leaves him in a coma for four days. When the film reaches the scene with Harris in the MRI scanner, the tension escalates and doesn't let up until the finalé.
Some gorgeous camerawork, notably when Harris is escaping his pursuer at the hospital, with confusion, concussion, and an unknown-substance creeping into his bloodstream. The main car-chase sequence is pretty spectacular, too; and that's coming from someone who isn't normally bothered with those.
For all that Liam Neeson is becoming pretty typecast in this sort of role, he does an excellent job (well, alright, his accent is typical Neeson-ese) as do the rest of the cast, especially the supporting players. The only fly in the ointment is probably Frank Langella, who overplays his role a little. The guy oozes sinisterness to start with, so he's almost cartoon-like in his role here where everyone else is playing very realistically.
In short: it works very well. You won't lose too much by watching it on DVD, and repeated viewings won't reveal much more, but the first ride is a one worth taking.
A very solid 5/7.
Geek points: Neeson's lines of "...I promise" and "you are free now" flashed me back to his role as Qui-Gon Jinn in Star Wars. This made me smile.
DISCLAIMERS: • ^^^ That's dry, British humour, and most likely sarcasm or facetiousness.
• This is a personal blog. The views and opinions expressed here represent my own thoughts (at the time of writing) and not those of the people, institutions or organizations that I may or may not be related with unless stated explicitly.
Jeez. This film owes so much to Twilight, that it's had to take out a loan from The Lost Boys just to keep up the repayments.
Plot: John is a super-magic-alien, who lives with his protector Henri (also an alien, but not a super-magic one). They're trying to keep a low profile as fugitives, but they have to keep moving around because John is very pretty and can't stop showing off every time people are around. Look, he's very misunderstood and brooding, okay? Look, he's got his shirt off.
+ + +
Have you ever sat in a cinema and felt that you shouldn't be there? I didn't get it when I watched The Great Escape on Cineworld's Classic Tuesdays, even though the average-age-bracket was well above mine. I didn't get it when I watched Despicable Me last year, even though it was largely families with very young kids. But there's something about sitting in an auditorium with 15yr old girls that just unsettles me. Yeah, you know what I mean. Even 15yr old boys aren't comfortable with the prospect.
The first trailer I saw for this made it look like a 25-36 bracket, sci-fi murder thriller. The second trailer I saw made it look like part of a marketing exercise to get stuff into Claire's Accessories. As it turned out, the second trailer was far more indicative of the tone of the work. Not that it's a bad film, it's just been made for people who haven't seen that many movies yet.
Every time Alex Pettyfer's John (or just plain old Number Four) walks on-screen with his top off, you can almost hear the ticks going into the target-demographic boxes. 'We need another abs-shot here, your average adolescent female will be starting to lose interest because someone's just said an entire sentence…' I know I sound like an old cynic, but this is about as generic as it gets. I'd normally call The Hero's Journey as Exhibit A, but seeing as John is aware of his powers as the movie begins, it doesn't quite slot into that hole. Although it tries to, pretty hard. There are a few plot-holes/leaps-of-logic; nothing major, but things that anyone paying attention will be questioning. Oh, and a nice continuity error with his necklace-thing in the opening jet-ski sequence.
At the start of the film, it's revealed that the other 'numbers' in the 1-9 series are being murdered sequentially*, along with their (apparently) same-sex protectors as part of the evil-alien's plot to colonise Earth. A part of my brain actually wondered if there's a subtext of a serial killer targeting gay couples? After all, John mopes around like all teenagers (even if he's clearly 20), and finds it difficult to form relationships with girls because he's got 'all issues' and that. It's alright, girls, don't worry: His protector dies and he kisses a girl, so he's definitely straight.
Actually, I'm not serious about the subtext-thing. That would be giving the film far too much credit. Again, it's not that bad, it's just clearly not for me (which, co-incidentally, could be John's attitude to the ladies, eh?**). As well as being a massive homage to Twilight and The Lost Boys, the climactic battle in the film takes place in a night-darkened high-school. So, shades of Alien vs Predator: Requiem, Let Me In, and just about every slasher movie from the 1980's.
Oh, Teresa Palmer as Number Six is pretty good, even if her accent's all over the shop. Also, if they have to be killed sequentially*, she should be happy as Larry as long as Number Four's still alive. Especially as Number Five is nowhere to be seen. Sheesh.
Sequels? Yeah, probably. But that's just how movie-planning and contracts go these days.
I'd have enjoyed it more if I'd been 20 years younger and another gender.
* The sequential killing thing: This was stated outright in the trailer, but only kind of hinted at in the movie. Not sure what gives there. Getting a bit annoyed with movies not paying off what the trailers set up, like with Predators...
** No, I'm not suggesting that Alex Pettyfer might be gay. Although I am suggesting his character in this film might be. In the same way that people have suggested the same thing of Holmes/Watson. It's just a thought, not a big deal.
DISCLAIMERS:
• ^^^ That's dry, British humour, and most likely sarcasm or facetiousness.
• This is a personal blog. The views and opinions expressed here represent my own thoughts (at the time of writing) and not those of the people, institutions or organizations that I may or may not be related with unless stated explicitly.
Right. Only seen this the once so far. Will definitely need another viewing for formulate full thoughts, but I definitely liked it.
Plot: David Norris (now there's a hero-name), played by Matt Damon, is a U.S. politician with a nicely human-touch running for senator. His chance meetings with Elise (Emily Blunt) bode well for romance, but it appears that a group of mysterious men have other plans. Norris decides he won't be told what to do, and the rabbit-hole goes deeper...
NB: Terence Stamp stars as Terence Stamp. Not a bad thing, just saying.
I didn't realise until the end credits that this was based (apparently loosely) on a Philip K. Dick story (he of Blade Runner, Total Recall, Minority Report). I've never been one for his literary works, finding them dense and hard work, but I do like the stories themselves, and this is no exception. All I knew of this was the trailer, which I'd seen twice, and looked promising. One of the nicer twists, I thought, was that the hat-wearing authority figures in the film have the same propensity for fucking things up while trying to stick to a plan as the rest of us do. Which is kind of the point. If anything, the trailer makes this look a lot more Matrix-y than it actually is. Considering the plot developments and implications, it remains fairly light-hearted throughout.
Any religious references to the origins of The Bureau are kept deliberately ambiguous, which works nicely, giving you enough to think about off your own bat, and not smacking you in the face with it like The Matrix (and I love The Matrix movies). The scripting works well enough, with the possible exception of Norris (Damon) asking agent Harry Mitchell (Anthony Mackie) "why are you different from the others?" Well, given that out of all the Bureau agents we see, Harry is the only black guy, I must admit that my heart froze for a moment, thinking that they were going to give Harry more nefarious reasons for going behind his master's back and helping the heroes. As it turns out, he was just being a decent bloke about it all, but I really did wonder for a moment there. Watch the movie, you'll understand.
On a technical note: For the most part, the cast do a great job, but Matt Damon's turning into the blandest potato in the bag, isn't he? It's not that I dislike him, but if I were to judge his career between this and Hereafter, I'd be forcasting a future of character-roles. He seems capable of more, and since the rest of the movie works well, it feels like he's not trying hard enough.
So, a few rather nice philosophical questions raised regarding free-will and causality, but I won't bother you with my opinions on those (wait until you're in my company and I've got a pint in my hand). As I said above, they're raised in a fairly subtle manner, not beating you over the head with concepts of right and wrong. Well, not until the final shot with Harry's voiceover which is just on the inspirational side of preachy.
Final thoughts: I need to see it again. But it'll only get better.
(This rating may rise with subsequent viewings)
See if you liked: The Matrix, Inception, Dark City, Hancock.
DISCLAIMERS: • ^^^ That's dry, British humour, and most likely sarcasm or facetiousness.
• This is a personal blog. The views and opinions expressed here represent my own thoughts (at the time of writing) and not those of the people, institutions or organizations that I may or may not be related with unless stated explicitly.
Now. I know, as well as you probably do, that I shouldn't have enjoyed this. I know that this should be a clichéd attempt at a cult movie, dripping with fistfights, gunfights, swearing and tits, which sadly falls on its arse due to it's mainstream connections.
Bottom line is, though, I fucking loved this. It's not a guilty pleasure, I honestly think it's the most rock'n'roll fun I've had since Zombieland.
When the BBFC card came up before the film, I thought 'Hmm, it's an 18 Cert. You've got to work pretty hard to get an 18 these days. Even most 'horror' films manage to slip through with a 15. I wonder what they've done to earn that?' Then, before the title card comes onto the screen, we've had two 'motherfucker's, a head-shot (off-screen), a chest-shot (on-screen), a knee-shot (on-screen), and a car exploded by gasoline and gunfire. Yep, that just about sums the movie up. It's so over the top, you'll either chuckle through it, or despise it entirely.
Plot: Milton (Nic Cage) has broken out of Hell (yes) to rescue his baby grand-daughter, after his daughter and son-in-law were killed by a group of Southern Satanists, lead by Jonah King (Billy Burke, Bella's dad in Twilight). He's being pursued by 'the Accountant' (William Fichtner) who's followed him from Hell and wants to take him back. En route, he pairs up with Piper (Amber Heard) (pairs up platonically - he's a grandad for crying out loud) who, probably wisely, decides to hang around with Milton after killing two police officers. What the hell could go wrong?
Thoughts on:
• Nic Cage: He seems to be channeling Nickeback's Chad Kroeger visually, while trying to play it mean and low key. Much like Tony Stark in Iron Man, now matter how much the audience is told he's an arsehole, he comes across as a fairly likeable anti-hero. Fun to be had, but I doubt the role taxed him too much.
• Amber Heard: Dare I say... eye-candy? I mean, she pulls the roll off okay (bearing in mind she's not given that much to do), but it's nothing that many other actresses could have pulled off. Also, given that Amber is from Texas, and Piper's character is also from the Southern states, her drawl comes and goes like Vanessa Feltz's waistline. Look, she's doing the job, but I get the impression 'the job' is largely just looking pretty. I will concede that she's given the best line in the film, but even then, it's just about her only great one. Everyone else has loads.
• William Fichtner: An excellent performance, with what appears to be the only character development in the whole film. Practical, sardonic and funny, 'The Accountant' grows to be genuinely likeable (that's not a spoiler, he just does).
• The screenplay/script: Between the gunfights, wound-shots and swearing, I was beginning to think that I'd written this. I even liked the car chases, and I'm normally not one for them.
• The 3D: For the most part, unneccessary (even if it was "shot in 3D" as the posters proclaim), but when it's used, it's used well. There's just not really enough to justify it. You'll lose nothing by watching this in 2D on a big screen.
• The soundtrack: Nicely rock/metal, I shall be looking this out I think. Fits the movie perfectly.
All in all, it's a bit like From Dusk 'Til Dawn, but without an hour of character-building-road-movie at the start. It's just two hours of balls-out, beer-chillin', whiskey-drinkin', cartridge-spendin', car-destroyin' action. But it pretends to be nothing else, so top marks there. There are some great one-liners, delivered well enough to not feel corny. I enjoyed it greatly, but I'm aware that many won't.
BEST LINE : "Fuckin' devil worshippers, messin' with powers they ought not to. It turns mah shit white..." ~ Piper.
See if you liked: From Dusk 'Til Dawn, Zombieland, Inglorious Basterds.
DISCLAIMERS: • ^^^ That's dry, British humour, and most likely sarcasm or facetiousness.
• This is a personal blog. The views and opinions expressed here represent my own thoughts (at the time of writing) and not those of the people, institutions or organizations that I may or may not be related with unless stated explicitly.
