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I may go see Gone Girl tomorrow. I have very high expectations for myself loving it.
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By the way, good review Jack, although I enjoyed it a lot more than you. I can definitely understand where your criticisms come from as from the way the film is structured, the second half, and especially the final third lack suspense with a huge tonal shift, moving it from a suspenseful thriller to a weirdly tragic dark comedy. Agreed that Rosamund Pike was great, but I enjoyed Affleck more than you, I'm normally 50/50 on him, but I thought he pulled off a great laid back a*shole here
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By the way, good review Jack, although I enjoyed it a lot more than you. I can definitely understand where your criticisms come from as from the way the film is structured, the second half, and especially the final third lack suspense with a huge tonal shift, moving it from a suspenseful thriller to a weirdly tragic dark comedy. Agreed that Rosamund Pike was great, but I enjoyed Affleck more than you, I'm normally 50/50 on him, but I thought he pulled off a great laid back a*shole here
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I love Pike. Stunning. But not my favourite Fincher film. Still decent.
- Seven
- Gone Girl
- Zodiac
- Fight Club
- The Social Network
- The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
- Panic Room
- The Game
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How would you rank Fincher? I've seen Gone Girl, Panic Room and The Game all in the last week or two. Mine would probably look like:
- Seven
- Gone Girl
- Zodiac
- Fight Club
- The Social Network
- The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
- Panic Room
- The Game
I'd rank them:
Zodiac
Panic Room
Gone Girl
I seem to be the only person who liked Panic Room.
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Blue Ruin (2013)
Director: Jeremy Saulnier
Cast overview: Macon Blair, Devin Ratray
Running time: 90 minutes
This is a film which manages to pack plenty into a modest running time. It's gritty, grim, and down-to-earth, yet those don't stop it from being one of the best films of 2013. The fairly unknown Macon Blair gives a powerful performance as Dwight, the mysterious outsider and loner who serves as the film's protagonist. He returns to his childhood home to perform an act of revenge, though - as with most thrillers - things don't go according to plan and he is soon swept up in a world of violence and despair.
This is only Jeremy Saulnier's second film, yet he proves himself adept behind the camera and delivers an accomplished film that, despite its subject matter suggesting otherwise, feels polished and well-made. There is attention to detail, whether in the long moments of silence or the often brief but nonetheless heart-pounding action scenes. Likewise, the cinematography is excellent, and lighting was used to terrific effect. I felt the lack of big names in this also helped it to feel down-to-earth and true-to-life.
I don't have much more to say about this, other than you should check it out if you haven't already. It's cinema at its most basic, yet manages to be engaging, thrilling, and suspenseful, which is far more than many films manage these days. It's also dark - don't go into this expecting a light-hearted action flick, but do go into it expecting a film that will be rewarding in terms of viewing enjoyment. If only all independent film-making was this good...
Quotes
[last lines]
Dwight: The keys are in the car... the keys are in the car... the keys are in the car.
Dwight: You know what's awful? Just 'cause my dad loved your mom... we all end up dead.
Sam: I'd forgive you if you were crazy, but you're not. You're weak.
Trivia
At one time Benny mentions a "Duce" who got hit by a train. This is a reference to "El Duce", lead-singer of punk-Hardcore band "the Mentors" and friend of Kurt Cobain, who was indeed hit and killed by a train.
Jeremy Saulnier has a follow up to this movie - Green Room which is due to be released in 2015.
Trailer
Director: Jeremy Saulnier
Cast overview: Macon Blair, Devin Ratray
Running time: 90 minutes
This is a film which manages to pack plenty into a modest running time. It's gritty, grim, and down-to-earth, yet those don't stop it from being one of the best films of 2013. The fairly unknown Macon Blair gives a powerful performance as Dwight, the mysterious outsider and loner who serves as the film's protagonist. He returns to his childhood home to perform an act of revenge, though - as with most thrillers - things don't go according to plan and he is soon swept up in a world of violence and despair.
This is only Jeremy Saulnier's second film, yet he proves himself adept behind the camera and delivers an accomplished film that, despite its subject matter suggesting otherwise, feels polished and well-made. There is attention to detail, whether in the long moments of silence or the often brief but nonetheless heart-pounding action scenes. Likewise, the cinematography is excellent, and lighting was used to terrific effect. I felt the lack of big names in this also helped it to feel down-to-earth and true-to-life.
I don't have much more to say about this, other than you should check it out if you haven't already. It's cinema at its most basic, yet manages to be engaging, thrilling, and suspenseful, which is far more than many films manage these days. It's also dark - don't go into this expecting a light-hearted action flick, but do go into it expecting a film that will be rewarding in terms of viewing enjoyment. If only all independent film-making was this good...
Quotes
[last lines]
Dwight: The keys are in the car... the keys are in the car... the keys are in the car.
Dwight: You know what's awful? Just 'cause my dad loved your mom... we all end up dead.
Sam: I'd forgive you if you were crazy, but you're not. You're weak.
Trivia
At one time Benny mentions a "Duce" who got hit by a train. This is a reference to "El Duce", lead-singer of punk-Hardcore band "the Mentors" and friend of Kurt Cobain, who was indeed hit and killed by a train.
Jeremy Saulnier has a follow up to this movie - Green Room which is due to be released in 2015.
Trailer
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Nice review, Jack
I've had Blue Ruin on my to see list; I think it's one I could really get in to.
I've had Blue Ruin on my to see list; I think it's one I could really get in to.
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Nice review, Jack
I've had Blue Ruin on my to see list; I think it's one I could really get in to.
I've had Blue Ruin on my to see list; I think it's one I could really get in to.
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Good to see you back with a review, Jack. Blue Ruin is a movie I'm very interested in watching.
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Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987)
Director: John Hughes
Cast overview: Steve Martin, John Candy
Running time: 93 minutes
John Hughes' 1987 film sees Steve Martin as Neal Page, a fussy marketing executive who is trying to get home to Chicago from New York City in time for Thanksgiving. As per any comedy, the trip is far from smooth. Upon meeting shower-ring salesman Del Griffith at the airport - who had originally taken his cab accidentally - we soon find that the pair will have an interesting journey to say the least. Diversions and cancellations force them onto planes, trains and automobiles - see what I did there? - and the film becomes one of the best comedies ever, in my view.
John Hughes is known for his comedy films, such as Ferris Bueller's Day Off, The Breakfast Club, and Uncle Buck, and this includes a script that is perhaps his best. The film is first and foremost a comedy, but also features very real and very effective drama. The motel scene is touching and heart-warming (I won't go into too much detail in case there are some that haven't seen it) and the ending had me in tears - proving how engrossed I had become and how likeable the characters were (even Neal Page becomes likeable after the start). It also shows Hughes' immense talent for writing real and believable situations interspersed with fantastic comedy.
I also think John Candy deserves praise for his wonderful performance. Sadly taken from us at too young an age, I feel he's an extremely underrated comedy actor - he played his roles so well and you can't imagine anyone else portraying Del Griffith with as much passion and drama. Martin and Candy also had a great on-screen chemistry.
The material here is just right, the acting is terrific, and it's just a great feel-good film (even if there are sad moments) that has a moral at its heart: treat others how you want to be treated. At least, that's how I see it. I can't recommend it highly enough, and it's one of my favourite films.
Trivia
Steve Martin's favorite film of his own.
Director: John Hughes
Cast overview: Steve Martin, John Candy
Running time: 93 minutes
John Hughes' 1987 film sees Steve Martin as Neal Page, a fussy marketing executive who is trying to get home to Chicago from New York City in time for Thanksgiving. As per any comedy, the trip is far from smooth. Upon meeting shower-ring salesman Del Griffith at the airport - who had originally taken his cab accidentally - we soon find that the pair will have an interesting journey to say the least. Diversions and cancellations force them onto planes, trains and automobiles - see what I did there? - and the film becomes one of the best comedies ever, in my view.
John Hughes is known for his comedy films, such as Ferris Bueller's Day Off, The Breakfast Club, and Uncle Buck, and this includes a script that is perhaps his best. The film is first and foremost a comedy, but also features very real and very effective drama. The motel scene is touching and heart-warming (I won't go into too much detail in case there are some that haven't seen it) and the ending had me in tears - proving how engrossed I had become and how likeable the characters were (even Neal Page becomes likeable after the start). It also shows Hughes' immense talent for writing real and believable situations interspersed with fantastic comedy.
I also think John Candy deserves praise for his wonderful performance. Sadly taken from us at too young an age, I feel he's an extremely underrated comedy actor - he played his roles so well and you can't imagine anyone else portraying Del Griffith with as much passion and drama. Martin and Candy also had a great on-screen chemistry.
The material here is just right, the acting is terrific, and it's just a great feel-good film (even if there are sad moments) that has a moral at its heart: treat others how you want to be treated. At least, that's how I see it. I can't recommend it highly enough, and it's one of my favourite films.
Trivia
Steve Martin's favorite film of his own.
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