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Sword of Doom, Point Break, Coffy
Reviews
Narc (2002)
Most intense COP movie since the French Connection
NARC manages to take what appears to be a conventional idea and produce extraordinary results. Through magnificent performances, beautifully anarchic camerawork, and a brilliant writer/director, NARC manages to be the most ferociously intense film of 2002. The story line of NARC is nothing new; a young undercover Narcotics officer, played by Jason Patric, was thrown off of the police force and is presented with an opportunity for redemption. This opportunity requires him to team up with a brutal by-any-means-necessary cop, played by Ray Liotta, in order to catch the killer of another undercover narcotics officer.
Jason Patric somewhat revisits his role in `Rush' as the undercover narcotics officer battling his own addictions. Though similar, Patric manages to give his character in NARC a Serpico-esque fervor that makes his performance seem anything but redundant. Though Patric is impressive Ray Liotta gives a performance that makes Russell Crowe's role in L.A. Confidential look about as brutal and raw as Roscoe in the Dukes of Hazzard. Liotta is completely relentless to the point of almost scaring the viewer. He is capable of absolutely anything, which helps add to the element of uncertainty that propels the chaotic mood of the film. An Oscar nomination is definitely in order for Mr. Liotta.
Joe Carnahan's NARC can be described as nothing short of incendiary. In 102 minutes Carnahan weaves themes such as violence, police tactics, drugs, and politics, with pop culture clichés and a Rashomon ending which coalesces to become one of the best COP films since the French Connection (1971).
Fight Club (1999)
Over Rated
Fight Club, by David Fincher, is the story of a man who comes to grip with the daily monotony that is his everyday life, by starting a club in which friends beat each other senselessly in hopes of having a good time. This movie had all the right ingredients to be a great film. With the help of superlative performances and brilliant photography, Fight Club is quite a picture. However, the dark aspects of the film and preposterous climax make it hard for one to watch without cringing or laughing in the wrong spots. Fight Club takes many turns that are completely nonsensical in hopes of making a political statement about United States economic culture. Nevertheless it is hard for one to listen to statements such as these without questioning where the money came from to make such a film. Fight Club is defiantly an inventive film but in the end like the Portland Trailblazers, it just doesn't `click.'
Star Trek: Nemesis (2002)
Nemesis, Shmemisis
The science fiction genre has lost a lot of steam over the years creating more and more merely average films. In the midst of this frontier of mediocrity dwells a black hole called Star Trek. Star Trek: Nemesis is the latest installment of a seemingly infinite progression of Star Trek films. Nemesis shows Captain Jean-Luc Picard, Data, and the rest of the gang back, yet again, trying to save Earth from the forces of evil. Although Picard's genetically identical clone, Schinzon, and a group of distraught Romulans present the viewer with a new combination of antagonists, the films plot seems trite and rather corny. Due to his exceptional acting abilities, Patrick Stewart presents the audience with a glimmer of hope that is all but lost after one looks at his or her watch to realizes that Steward is stuck within the confines of the Star Trek universe. Humor is something this film strives for but falls far from. The lack of comedy is sadly illustrated by a ten-minute wedding sequence that gives laughs to those privy to the jokes, who are known as `Trekkies', while leaving the rest of the audience in the dark. The sub-plot of Star Trek's resident cyborg, Data's internal strife is a sentimental twist that falls short of striking a chord with all but the fervent audience members who have been waiting for this film since 1998's Star Trek: Insurrection. With all these faults aside, Nemesis does have its moments of fun. A dune buggy chase on Romulus and the elimination of the Romulan Senate were defiantly moments that could hold the attention of one whose cup of tea isn't normally filled by Star Trek.
If one is a male who is 30+ years old and has yet to experience a sexual encounter with one of the opposite sex... This movie is probably for you.
Insomnia (1997)
Each frame is an oil painting.
Insomnia is a great film. So great in fact, that the thought of Christopher Nolan making his own version of it kind of frightens me. Nolan has the potential to be one of the most innovative directors of our time, so why does he want to touch such a beautiful film.
Insomnia is brilliantly photographed film. One shot in particular of Stellan Skarsgård might has well have been an oil painting. The entire film is shot with a never ending color scheme that sets a mood without any words having to be spoken (or subtitles written for that matter). Skaesgård (who will be known his whole life as "that guy from Good Will Hunting") shows his superb acting skills in the role of a sexually confused insomniac detective who accidentally kills his partner while chasing after a rapist/murderer.
Insomnia is a great "suspense" film that makes such forgetable films as "Se7en" or "Ransom" question their own, not-so humble existence.
Panic Room (2002)
Home Alone IV
Where do I start? WANTING IT TO END! This film is definitely David Fincher's worst movie yet. Worse than Alien 3 (Fincher's least favorite, of his works)? Definitely. Some of you, including the person who wrote the plot summary (What are you his mother?) may disagree with me here. So...I give you this rant.
His shot's might as well have been hand drawn because the CGI is just plain ridiculous. Jodi Foster does ok but her acting is overshadowed by her Cleavage. Dwight Yoakum's character might as well have been named Larry (everyones favorite "Home Alone" cap-burglar). With his stamina nothing short of kryptonite should be able to hurt him. The pop-culture references in this movie are worse than those written in this humble review. This rant could go on... but why waste the time. Everyone is still going to love this movie, and I can't wait to hear from all the kids at school and as to how "Panic Room" blew their minds.
Bandwagon (1996)
Why does this have a 6.3 rating!
Bandwagon is a movie that every young man who is a fan of Rock'n'Roll must watch. This is a great feel good film that will make anyone who watches it start a garage band. The music is superb and it is a testament to how bad radio is right now that some of the circus monkey songs received no airplay. Although this movie has several dubing mistakes and a few instances of poor acting, in the end you turn of the T.V. with a smile on your face.
River's Edge (1986)
Keanu? Doing a good job?
River's Edge is a nice piece of work. I really enjoyed this movie. The plot was simple and formulaic but it contained a few nice twists and some superb characters. Crispin Glover delivers a sometimes hilarious performance as the obsessive friend Layne, and Dennis Hopper does great as the creepy pot dealer who's girlfriend is a blow up doll (makes you wonder if this is where Hopper is at now?). But perhaps the most shocking of all; Keanu Reeves actually delivers. This is one of his three great roles in my opinion (The others being neo in The Matrix, and the redneck wife-beater in Sam Ramii's The Gift). Keanu is actually convincing, and his face is animated at times in this film. It is a shame that he doesn't do more indie-films, because movies like this show proof that he could have something to offer.
Wild at Heart (1990)
Just one question. Why?
It was a Sunday night and since I have been on such an IFC kick lately I decided to record the Lynch movie that was going to be on later called "Wild at Heart." When I saw that it won the highest honor at Cannes I really started to prep myself for some great cinema. Once the movie started I felt wrong, disturbed, and sinful. The violence isn't just violence, it is gore, and the sex isn't just sex it is, well, ferocious? This movie pushes boundaries that I didn't even know we had. But I must say, like a gruesome car wreck, I could not turn away. For the next day all I could think about was morbidly overweight naked women, abortions, and heads being blown off. It is now that I ask David Lynch... WHY? I know that he is a great film maker but I didn't need to see this movie. I feel as though I am a worse person for viewing it. But I encourage you all to watch it so you can talk to your friends about it at the office. It definitely has shock value.