Category: Movie Reviews
-
The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford – A Movie Review
Quiet, subtle, and nuanced, this movie is a work of art for those interested in cinematography, story, and acting. Anyone hoping for a “popcorn” movie will be sorely bored and disappointed. The title says it all, for it focuses more on the motivations of Casey Affleck as Robert Ford than it does on the exploits…
-
Blade Runner: The Final Cut – A Movie Review
Believe it or not, this is the first and only version of Blade Runner that I’ve seen. I understand that there have been many different versions over the years, but this one, The Final Cut, is supposed to be the end-all-be-all. Supposedly, the director, Ridley Scott, never intended the studio-mandated Harrison Ford narration in the…
-
Fracture – A Movie Review
There’s so much I want to say about this film that I simply can’t for fear of spoiling some pretty captivating moments and revelations.I will say this: Watching Anthony Hopkins as the manipulative, arrogant, charming aeronautical engineer and Ryan Gosling as the manipulative, arrogant, charming lawyer was riveting. Both men ooze charisma in this film,…
-
Grindhouse: Planet Terror/Death Proof – A Movie Review
I want to point out that I did not see Grindhouse in the theater; I watched Planet Terror and Death Proof as two separate movies on DVD. Therefore, I did not get the full “grindhouse” experience as the directors and producers sought to offer in the theater. That being said, I watched Planet Terror first…
-
Ed Wood – A Movie Review
I’m a big Tim Burton fan, and when Burton and Johnny Depp get together, it’s always magic. That’s why I always felt bad about not seeing the movie Ed Wood. Released in 1994, I simply never got around to watching it, but after hearing about how good it was, I finally decided to sit down…
-
Eastern Promises – A Movie Review
I really enjoyed Viggo Mortensen in David Cronenberg’s A History of Violence, so when I heard they were teaming up again for Eastern Promises, I had very high expectations. Eastern Promises offers a powerfully subdued yet intense performance by Viggo Mortensen as a Russian driver/enforcer working his way up London’s most notorious Russian crime…
-
The Heartbreak Kid – A Movie Review
A remake directed by the incorrigible Farrelly brothers, I really expected to like The Heartbreak Kid. After all, it stars Ben Stiller, so we essentially have the same team who brought us There’s Something About Mary. Unfortunately, while this movie had a few really funny visual gags, the movie as a whole disappointed and I…
-
3:10 to Yuma – A Movie Review
While the premise of this western is fairly straightforward, it is anything but simple thanks to two actors who give us their absolute best. Russell Crowe, playing a role he was born for, is Ben Wade, a charming, debonair, magnetic thief and murderer. Christian Bale plays Dan Evans, a dismembered Civil War veteran and small-time…
-
2001: A Space Odyssey – A Movie Review
Recently I’ve been on an old-school science fiction kick. Unbelievably, I’d never seen what some critics have called one of the greatest movies of all time—2001: A Space Odyssey. I can honestly tell you it was with great enthusiasm I put it into the DVD player. To say I was unimpressed would be a…
-
1408 – A Movie Review
Based on a Stephen King short story, 1408 started very strong. We were quickly introduced to the complexities of John Cusack’s character through deft editing, efficient dialogue, and Cusack’s effortless acting. Unfortunately, the movie became a tribute to inconstancy for the remainder of the film and went nowhere fast. Cusack plays a once talented…
scottwilliamfoley.com 