Bulletmovies Reviews

Strength and Honour (2007)

Simply awful

[1/10 · 9 October 2010]

See Vinnie Jones using the worst and most unlikely Irish accent ever committed to screen. Also see a highly predictable plot and stereotyped list of totally unbelievable characters - dumbed-down for Americans? - romp through a film you'll pray ends quickly. And what's with the American cars parked at the Gypsy site? Is it supposed to be Ireland or the USA?

Vinnie Jones as a bare-knuckle boxer? Gimmie a break. It's as if he's trying to reprise Brad Pitt's role in Snatch, but giving it the Vinnie treatment IE. "I can't act but I'm famous enough to can get your film made."

Sexy Beast (2000)

You're gonna have to say yes.

[31 March 2003]

I saw this when I was living in Florida and it was a refreshing change from the usual British gangster movies. I found the dialogue perfectly understandable but maybe that's 'cos I am a Londoner, but even so, it was pretty straight forward and very entertaining.

The plot was very simple too: a safe cracker gets asked to do one more job, and finds he can't say "no" to it according to the brutal and domineering Ben Kingsley character (Don Logan), an incredibly well observed part by Kingsley. I've met people just like that and he had it off to a T, right down to the speech patterns and never-back-down swagger.

The story uses flash backs and flash forwards which, admittedly, may confuse some of the dumber viewers but it is a superbly crafted film with nice little performances sneaked in by the likes of James Fox and Ian McShane.

It's a little gem.

Wild Target (1993)

A Gem

[13 March 2002]

Rochefort plays professional killer Victor Meynard in this beautifully shot French black comedy.

I rented this movie not knowing anything about it and barely reading the cover.

I was immediately drawn into the movie by Victor's deadpan expression and uptight manner and watched his composure melt away into plain irritability at his foiled assassination attempt on the art thief Renee as she is seen shop lifting. It then crumbles to exasperation as more things do not run according to plan as he is so obviously used to.

The Corsican gangsters are threatening enough, and the introduction of Guillaume Depardieu as the "all thumbs" Antoine tops off the chemistry and cast adding to the total chaos inflicted upon Victor's usually well ordered life.

There is a lovely scene too where Victor has afternoon tea with his aged but elegant Mother and it hilariously transpires here that she is an authority on poisons and pistols. A side-effect of this scene is a mysteriously dead Parrot.

It is all underplayed beautifully and the dark humor, characterization and pace contribute to a refreshing alternative to Hollywood.