Norwegian action thriller based on the book by Jo Nesbo. I like Nesbo’s crime books so I gave this movie a go, which was a huge hit in its home country. It works well as action thriller, I was especially pleasantly surprised with the action part in the middle, which was tense and looked really impressive for European production. Story is however a bit superficial and it will require a lot of suspension of disbelief, which is something I find more easily done while reading a book, than while watching a movie.[/quote]
The story does get a bit outrageous, but I saw this during its UK cinema run and enjoyed it enormously. Probably best taken as a black comedy rather than a thriller.
Yes, there’s definitely black comedy/satire element to it, but movie is playing like action thriller. In fact, there is a recent Croatian movie, Suma summarum, that has very similar premise: that the CEOs will employ any means necessary to achieve their one and only goal, to make profit, but it’s intention to be grotesque satire is obvious all along.
I never meant to say his awful performances in recent times diminished the power of his glory years. Taxi Driver & Raging Bull remain of course fantastic performances. But I’ve given up on him as far as his later work is concerned, and I can’t stand him anymore for it. That young actor in the above-mentioned masterpieces almost seems a different person to me.
Right, Emir (meaning prince in Arabic), Emil, (maybe similar to Portuguese Emilio), not that is all Greek to me, but I remember Emil being a common name in Bosnia, perhaps some where Emir, like Emir Kusturica, who, by the way, has already changed name.
Point Blank - Classic, not seen it for ages, I could never make my mind up whether this or Deliverance was my favourite Boorman, I think this edges it.
Snowpiercer - Mankind is dead apart from those on the Snowpiercer train. Seems to be a fair bit of negativity about this but I really enjoyed it. It’s like the top Korean directors are doing what the Hong Kong directors did 20 years ago and making Hollywood/English language films, only they seem to be faring better.
Streetwalkin’ - Familiar kind of tale about a young girl from out of town who runs into an apparent caring man who turns out to be a vicious killer pimp. A lot better than I thought it was going to be.
[size=12pt]THE LONG KISS GOODNIGHT [/size](1996, Renny Harlin)
Housewife Geena Davis suffers from amnesia and there are signs that her past wasn’t as peaceful as her present: her body is covered with scars and from time to time she shows some remarkable proficiency with knives and other sharp objects. When the house is attacked by (what looks like) an armed burglar, she kills him singlehandedly …
Along with a private detective (Samuel L. Jackson) she starts reconstructing her own past - using some memory snippets and a suitcase containing a Remington 700 found by the detective - and discovers that she used to work as a professional hit woman, doing dirty jobs for the CIA. What ensues is a tale of two pursuits, with Davis chasing those who turned her into a killer (in order to get her life back), and those who turned her into a killer chasing her (in order to eliminate her because she ‘knows too much’).
A paranoia thriller in the line of Robert Ludlum or Fredrick Forsythe, the movie offers a collection of spectacular but highly implausible set pieces (rather than a coherent storyline), leading up to a (literally) blown-up finale that will no doubt satisfy viewers’ expectations, since all the baddies are sent sky high. A more intriguing outcome (in which Jackson was killed) was skipped after negative reactions during test screenings. Luckily director Harlin doesn’t take his movie too seriously. Jackson, who has become a particular pain in the a** in the meantime, is still in great form here as the talkative, not so smart detective (yes, once he was a funny guy!); Davis plays her part in the style of an iceberg (luckily large parts are set in the snow).
The nice title refers to Samantha’s amnesia and past life: long time ago, she had kissed it goodnight.
Set in depression times in New Orleans about a drifter streetfighter played by Charles Bronson. You really feel the atmosphere for the times in this one which is offset by the energetic hustler played by James Coburn. And yes the way Bronson fights is pretty entertaining.
IIRC (without checking IMDB) this was the last really top class A-movie Bronson starred in. He starred in lots of movies, but quality-wise the rot tarted to set in.
Just been reading James Garner’s autobiography, and he really didn’t like Bronson. Sadly, Garner also didn’t like the Spaghetti Western he starred in, A Man Called Sledge, either.
[quote=“autephex, post:11835, topic:1923”]Haven’t seen Hard Times, sounds good[/quote]Great film, two of my screen idols and Walter Hill is one of my favourite modern American filmmakers.
Finally, 20 years late, I watched Luc Besson’s Leon (AKA The Professional) last night. Made the mistake of watching the director’s cut, which seemed a little slow and rambling. Gary Oldman’s performance made his name in Hollywood, but comes across now as overblown and grandstanding. He’s grown as an actor since then and is capable of great subtlety.
Natalie Portman is just marvellous, but some of the more sexualised elements of her 12-year-old character would be flat-out unacceptable in today’s climate. Am going to try Besson’s Nikita next, as I’m a big fan of the 90s TV version, but have never seen the original film.
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