Archive for the ‘Mystery’ Category
Monday, December 15, 2008
“There is a pattern to predicting the future… there is an order to our deepest fears.”
Knowing is about teacher Ted Myles [Nicolas Cage], his son and a time capsule his son’s school digs up from a fellow elementary class of 50 years ago, that contains what those students thought the future might hold… one being just a page full of numbers. Ted realizes these numbers aren’t random, but are a sequence of dates and deathtolls of catastrophic events of the last 50 years and beyond. Can these remaining predicted events be prevented? How is Ted and his family involved? Are we all going to die? Will it be Ted’s fault? lol…
Knowing actually looks pretty good… An interesting thriller. You can check out the trailer here: Knowing Official Site.
Nicolas Cage is still sporting that strange hairdo, but it seems to work better in this role… and his face doesn’t look as weird [his face was puffy to the point of distraction in the last National Treasure movie... most likely due to swelling after having some work done]. Depending on what else is out around that time, this one might be worth checking out… Directed by Alex Proyas, who directed I, Robot, which was fantastic, so hopefully this one will be on par.
Add’l Info: Release Date: Mar 20, 2009 • Runtime: TBD • Rating: TBD • Photo Credit: Still from the official trailer, TM & © 2008 Summit Entertainment, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Posted in Drama, Mystery, Preview Only, Thriller | Tagged Alex Proyas, Nicolas Cage | Leave a Comment »
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
We haven’t been to the movies as much as we’d like lately, but we did really want to see this flick. I’m a fan of Marky Mark’s [Mark Wahlberg will always be Marky Mark to me...], and I liked the look and feel of this movie from what I saw in the preview. I didn’t go in with huge expectations for the storyline, but I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised.
Max Payne is about a cop who’s wife and baby were murdered in cold blood just minutes before he came home – the reason unknown. Max transfers to the cold case division of his precinct so he can pursue one dead lead after another, trying to bring those responsible to justice. It isn’t until he gets a new lead from an old snitch – and gets tangled up with the beautiful Natasha [Olga Kurylenko from Hitman and the soon to be released Quantum of Solace...], and her grisly death before things are set in motion and the trail opens up again. The hunter becomes the hunted as Max investigates his wife’s former employer, evading arrest by his own department, the FBI and the corporation’s security team. In an unlikely partnership, Natasha’s assassin sister has the same goal as Max, as she tries to avenge her sister’s death. Is Max chasing after the devil himself or is there an earthy explanation for the hell he finds himself in?
You’ll have to see it to find out. ;) But, there are some great visuals, and a great supporting cast. Beau Bridges is perfect for his role as Max’s cop father’s former partner and father figure, Amaury Nolasco [you may recognize him from Transformers - I can't look at him without thinking "étouffée... lol], Donal Logue as Max’s former partner and Chris O’Donnell as Max’s wife’s former coworker. Mila Kunis did a good job, but I felt like she looked too small and young to pull off a convincing assassin, but it wasn’t a deal breaker. Don’t expect reality with this flick, there are a lot of holes. It’s based off a video game, not a true story. lol…
We didn’t know it, but there is a bonus scene after the credits to set up the sequel – so sit tight for that if you liked the movie and want a taste of what’s to come. For the action, visuals and a decent story that kept me interested the entire time, I’d give Max Payne a solid 3 1/2 out of 5.
Add’l Info: Released: Oct 17, 2008 • Runtime: 100 minutes • Rated PG-13 for violence including intense shooting sequences, drug content, some sexuality and brief strong language • Photo Credit: ©20th Century Fox all rights reserved, via allmoviephoto.com
Posted in Action, Crime, Drama, Mystery, Thriller | Tagged Amaury Nolasco, Beau Bridges, Chris 'Ludacris' Bridges, Chris O'Donnell, Donal Logue, Mark Wahlberg, Mila Kunis, Olga Kurylenko, rylenk | Leave a Comment »
Saturday, September 27, 2008
“If you want to live you will obey.”
It’s been a little while since I’ve written about anything new… vacation is over and it’s back to business! We saw Eagle Eye yesterday. Seeing a movie in digital at 3:00 in the afternoon on a Friday is the BEST. No interruptions from psychos, the theater is still clean and you get out at a decent hour and can get on with the rest of your day! Oh, to be independently wealthy… but I digress…
Eagle Eye is about two strangers – ‘Copy Cabana’ worker and all around loser Jerry Shaw [Shia La Beouf] and single mom scraping by as best she can Rachael Holloman [Michelle Monaghan] – who are thrown together after receiving anonymous phonecalls from some woman who appears to have them under constant surveillance using every day technology, and threatens their lives and familes’ lives if they don’t do exactly as they’re told. The mysterious woman knows everything about them and knows exactly where they are at any given moment – and ‘desertion is not an option.’
Rachael and Jerry work together to complete the tasks the mystery woman gives them, each one more dangerous than the last, until they realize they’re a part of a much bigger conspiracy and finding out why is crucial as they race against time. The supporting cast also did a great job with Michael Chiklis as the Defense Secretary, Billy Bob Thorton as Agent Morgan, and Rosario Dawson as Air Force Investigator Perez.
This movie was a fun thrill ride from start to finish. The characters were well played, making them relatable. If you’re looking for a comparison, we walked out feeling this was a good hybrid of Enemy of the State – but slightly more realistic, and War Games, but updated. It also have a touch of Die Hard 4 in there, too. Definitely worth seeing if you like action flicks. There were some pretty amazing car chases that had me holding my breath a few times as well, and in the end Eagle Eye was a reminder of how scary it is that everything in our daily lives is ‘plugged in’ and readily accessible by anyone with the power to do so…
3 1/2 out of 5.
Add’l Info: Release Date: Sep 26, 2008 • Runtime: 118 minutes • Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of action and violence, and for language • Photo credit: Ralph Nelson. ©2008 DreamWorks LLC. All Rights Reserved via allmoviephoto.com
Posted in Action, Mystery, Thriller | Tagged Billy Bob Thorton, D.J. Caruso, Michael Chiklis, Michelle Monaghan, Rosario Dawson, Shia LaBeouf | Leave a Comment »
Monday, July 28, 2008
Robert Downey, Jr. & Val Kilmer in Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang
“SeX. MurdEr. MyStery. Welcome to the party.”
This is one of those movies that I knew as I was leaving the theater, I’d buy as soon as it came out on DVD because it was so clever and so hilarious. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang is a dark comedy about a small time thief named Harry Lockhart [Robert Downey, Jr.] who practically falls into a movie audition while trying to get away from the cops after a job gone bad, and due to the raw emotions of said botched job, he astounds the panel and is offered the role on the spot. Thinking it was as good a way out as any, Harry plays along and is sent to Hollywood where he’s paired up with a private detective to research his new role. He accompanies private eye Perry Van Shrike, a.k.a ‘Gay Perry’ [Val Kilmer] on a case that takes them to a party, hosted by an aging actor [Corbin Bersen] known for playing detective roles in movies, who has a vested interest in the movie Harry auditioned for. It’s at this party where Harry discovers his childhood love, struggling beer commercial actress, Harmony Lane [Michelle Monaghan] in and amongst all the potential murder suspects pertaining to the case. When they go to stakeout a client’s house so Perry can get incriminating pictures for his client, they find a body and from there the madness ensues.
The dialog alone is worth seeing this flick – it just doesn’t get any better. Val Kilmer as ‘Gay Perry’ is hysterical and Robert Downey is in top form. This movie is fun, crazy, weird, gross and… did I mention it’s funny?
4 out of 5.
Interesting tidbit, Director Shane Black wrote all the Lethal Weapon movies and to date, this is the only movie he’s directed… he did a great job, so I hope he’ll do more…
Add’l Info: Released: Sep 14, 2005 • Runtime: 102 minutes • Rated R for language, violence and sexuality/nudity • Photo credit: John Bramley, ©Warner Bros. Pictures, Inc. via allmoviephoto.com
Posted in Action, Comedy, Mystery, Thriller | Tagged Angela Lindvall, Corbin Bernsen, Dash Mihok, Larry Miller, Michelle Monaghan, Robert Downey Jr, Rockmond Dunbar, Shane Black, Shannyn Sossamon, Val Kilmer | Leave a Comment »
Saturday, July 26, 2008
David Duckovny & Gillian Anderson reprise their roles ad Mulder and Scully in 'The X-Files: I Want To Believe"
So, after reading a few reviews online by regular people [I don't trust 'critics'... ironic, huh?], I decided I did want to see The X-Files: I Want To Believe movie that came out yesterday. And it was just like those folks said… it was like a 2 hour episode of X-Files the TV show, 6 years after the show ended. Where I was at a loss was, I didn’t watch the last two seasons, so there were some blanks for me, but I won’t say what they are, so I don’t give anything away. This really wasn’t all that thrilling. It was mainly a drama with a little suspense thrown in, but in classic X-Files style, they also give you plenty of creepy weirdness and a hint of humor…
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Posted in Drama, Mystery, Science Fiction | Tagged Amanda Peet, Billy Connolly, Callum Keith Rennie, Chris Carter, Gillian Anderson, Mitch Pileggi, Xzibit | Leave a Comment »
Sunday, July 20, 2008
When we saw The Dark Knight on Friday there were three new trailers that caught my attention: Watchmen, The Day The Earth Stood Still, and Terminator Salvation. Here’s the scoop on these three flicks…
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Watchmen
Based on what the trailer says is the ‘most celebrated graphic novel of all time’ by Alan Moore, Watchmen is the story of an alternate 1985 in America where the cold war with the Russians is at it’s height and the age of costumed superheroes is over. It’s now against the law to play dressup and save the world… until one day when one of them is murdered. It’s up to former vigilante, Rorschach, and the retired superheroes to figure out why. Directed by Zach Snyder, the man behind the movie 300, Watchmen looks gritty and surreal and just as visually stunning. I can’t wait to see it. Cynical superheroes rock. ;) Check out the trailer here: Watchmen Trailers and visit the official site here: Watchmen Official Site
Update 7-30-08: I am so obsessed with the Smashing Pumpkins song they used for the Watchmen trailer [The Beginning is the End is the Beginning], to the point where I’ve been listening to it looped for DAYS [I'm weird like that]. Turns out, it was originally written for Batman and Robin back in ‘97. We happen to own that soundtrack, but at the time it didn’t do anything for me. I think with the visuals and pacing of the Watchmen trailer it hooked me this time around, and because of it, I can’t wait for this movie to come out.
Add’l Info: Release Date: Mar 6, 2009 • Runtime & Rating TBD • Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. [still from HD movie trailer]
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The Day The Earth Stood Still
This one is obviously a remake of the 1951 sci-fi classic – which I don’t remember seeing. Which is to say I may have very well seen it when I was much younger but if I only saw it once and it was more than 5 years ago, I probably don’t remember it. lol… anyway… the updated version starts Keanu Reeves as Klaatu, an alien visitor who brings along his giant robot to our beloved planet. But are they friends or foes? Also stars Jennifer Connelly, John Cleese, Kathy Bates, and Jaden Smith. From the preview I’m excited to see it. Check out the trailer here: The Day The Earth Stood Still Official Site
Add’l Info: Release Date: Dec 12, 2008 • Runtime and Rating: TBD • Photo courtesy of 20th Century Fox [still taken from movie trailer]
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Terminator Salvation
I’m a huge Terminator fan – I love the concept, love the creepy, evil robots, the drama and horror of it, etc., so I’m very excited to see what they’ve come up with for this latest Terminator installment. If Batman Begins is any indication, this movie is going to be incredible as Christian Bale is quickly turning into the ‘resurrector of tired franchises.’ From the trailer it looks like he and director McG have injected some much-needed edgy realism and credibility back into Terminator. We’ve been watching the TV show and it, too, has gone in that direction – more serious, great plot lines, cool effects and very dark in look and feel. This one takes place in the future, after ‘judgement day’ when John Connor is all grown up and is struggling to keep Skynet and the robots from wiping out humanity completely. Is he really the hero his mother’s been bragging about for the last 20 years? Or just a regular guy in a crappy situation trying to stay alive? We’ll have to watch it to find out. Check out the trailer here: Terminator Salvation Offical Site
Add’l Info: Release Date: May 22, 2009 • Runtime & Rating: TBD • Photo courtesty of Warner Bros. [Still taken from HD trailer - it's an image that is flashed so quickly you almost can't see it. When I found it and enhanced it, I got giddy... I love evil robots...]
Posted in Action, Adventure, Comic Book, Crime, Drama, Fantasy, Mystery, Preview Only, Science Fiction, Thriller | Tagged Billy Crudup, Cathy Bates, Christian Bale, John Cleese, Keanu Reeves, McG, Sam Worthington, Scott Derrickson, Zach Snyder | Leave a Comment »
Saturday, July 19, 2008
“Why So Serious?”
For anyone living in a box lately, The Dark Knight takes place about a year after Batman Begins. This time around, Batman [Christian Bale] teams up with Lieutenant Gordon [Gary Oldman] and Gotham’s new District Attorney, Harvey Dent [Aaron Eckhart] – the guy many people believe – including Bruce Wayne – to be Gotham’s white knight in his fearless attack on crime, rounding up mob bosses and cleaning up the streets. Things are going smoothly until a psychotic bank robber, soon known to a terrified Gotham as ‘The Joker’ [Heath Ledger] gets the upper hand and unleashes a new kind of chaos and terrorism on the city. The question is – why? According to Dent, “you either die a hero or live long enough to become the villain.”
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Posted in Action, Comic Book, Crime, Drama, Mystery, Thriller | Tagged Aaron Eckhart, Christian Bale, Christopher Nolan, Cillian Murphy, Gary Oldman, Heath Ledger, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman, Nester Carbonell | Leave a Comment »
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
I thought I’d try something new and pit two similar movies against each other in a sort of double-review. It happens every now and then, different studios get the same bright idea and then duke it out for who can get their version out first – it’s happened a few times. For the first battle, I’m going for the Espionage/Drama genre with The Good Shepherd and Breach. Let’s meet the contenders…
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Posted in Crime, Drama, Mystery, Thriller | Tagged Alec Baldwin, Angelina Jolie, Billy Crudup, Gary Cole, Laura Linney, Matt Damon, Robert De Niro, Timothy Hutton, William Hurt | Leave a Comment »
Monday, July 7, 2008
I thought I’d try something new and talk about some of the interesting-looking trailers we see when we go to the movies. One of them this weekend was for Blindness starring Julianne Moore and Mark Ruffalo. Based on the book by Nobel Prize winner Jose Saramago, Blindness is about a city that’s afflicted by a mysterious case of sudden blindness, where everyone is quarantined, including the only person who wasn’t affected by the illness [played by Julianne Moore]. She feigns blindness to go with her husband [Mark Ruffalo], and turns out to be the only eye witness of how society breaks down and how the strong prey on the weak, even in extreme circumstances. Directed by Fernando Meirelles, who also did The Constant Gardener, Blindness looks like a roller coaster ride and I think it might be worth checking out… definitely not a feelgood movie, but it does look like a test of the human spirit…
Here’s a link to the trailer if you want to check it out: Blindness Movie Trailer
Add’l Info: Release Date: Limited: Sep 19, 2008, Wide Release: Sep 26, 2008 • Runtime: 120 minutes • Rated R for violence including sexual assaults, language and sexuality/nudity
Posted in Drama, Mystery, Romance, Thriller | Tagged Danny Glover, Fernando Meirelles, Julianne Moore, Mark Ruffalo | Leave a Comment »
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
I’m not going to list the tagline to this movie because it gives the main plot twist away… so don’t look it up if you like to be confused and enjoy trying to figure things out when you’re watching a movie that makes you feel a little nuts… like I do… ;)
Stay is about a psychiatrist, Dr. Sam Foster [Ewan McGregor], who takes over a patient’s therapy sessions for a fellow doctor, named ‘Henry Letham’ [played brilliantly by Ryan Gosling]. After a few reluctant visits, Henry admits that on Saturday night at midnight, he’s going to shoot himself in the head and there’s nothing anyone can do to stop it… And then the madness ensues as Sam tries to prevent him from committing suicide while also trying to figure out what’s causing Henry’s psychosis… the question is, can he keep his own sanity in the process?
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Posted in Drama, Mystery, Thriller | Tagged B.D Wong, Bob Hoskins, Elizabeth Reaser, Ewan McGregor, Janeane Garafolo, Kate Burton, Marc Forster, Naomi Watts, Ryan Gosling | Leave a Comment »
