zacneeds Reviews

Surveillance (I) (2008)

Superfluous tacked-on ending ruins otherwise decent movie

[5/10 · 1 January 2010]

I stumbled across this movie and for the most part thought it was pretty compelling.

The characters seemed quite well-developed, the story moved along at a decent pace, the plot seemed to thicken at an appropriate pace. That is until the major twist occurred.

Once it is apparent that Sam (Bill Pullman) and Elizabeth (Julia Ormond) are the real killers, the rest of the film is utterly pointless. The sex/strangulation scene is completely gratuitous and unnecessary. It would have been a far more effective ending to witness the realisation of the cops in the car with Elizabeth that she and Sam were the murderers and then see the credits roll. To sate the obvious blood lust of the writer, Jack and Bobbi could even have been shot prior to this, along with the police chief.

Mind you, I am personally of the opinion that the concept of the evil protagonists in this genre triumphing has become as tired as the happy-endings that these type of films were borne to replace.

Why do modern movie makers consider it so corny for movies of this ilk to leave the viewer feeling any sense of justice? Leaving aside any moral objections to that scenario (which I freely admit to having) hasn't the bad guy driving off into the sunset been done to death now?

Anti-climactic. Especially as we stayed up until 3am for the climax.

Green Street Hooligans (2005)

Astonished by Mark Pizzey's review

[1/10 · 4 August 2008]

I am bewildered by Mark Pizzey's glowing review of this drivel. Every aspect of it is abysmal. Charlie Hunnam's accent is shocking. Dick van Dyke shocking. Tom Cruise in 'Far and Away' shocking. In fact every time he opened his mouth I literally laughed out loud. Makes you despair at the state of casting directors actually because there are thousands of young guys out there, actual Londoners who could have played the role far more authentically. And a little it more research into football vernacular, rather than some kind of Wikipedia discovered hooligan facts, would have made it a lot better. The little conversations between Hunnam and Elijah Wood where he's educating him on British football hooligan firms are some of the most pathetic scenes I've ever seen in any movie. "Tottenham, we call them the yids." Tragic. Total rubbish from start to finish.

Avalanche (1994 TV Movie)

Brian was a complete retard in this film

[2 February 2008]

How many times did he jeopardise his family by aggravating Duncan? If he had just gone along with him from the start they'd all have dug their way out relatively easily. Instead their persistent Hassling of the Hoff only served to rile him more. He might have been a nutcase but he would have had no reason to harm the family if they had gotten out and would probably have felt fondness for them if they'd both saved his life and helped him regain his fortune. Instead the father begins to get suspicious before suspicion was justified. And why would the daughter say she didn't trust him after he'd submitted his gun to Brian? if she were to be suspicious of everyone who had a gun, she'd be suspicious of a pretty high percentage of Americans.

And the scene at the very end with the bloody jeep was the most irresponsible thing I've seen a supposedly heroic parent do in a movie. The chances of them getting out of there after he'd collapsed the whole bleeding cabin on top of their heads were negligible. It was a complete fluke that the son found them as he did.

My Son Is Innocent (1996 TV Movie)

Great film about a very persistent woman who fights for justice to clear her son's name

[10/10 · 25 October 2006]

This is a powerful drama based on real life events. Maggie Stutter is shocked when her teenage son Eric is incriminated for the brutal assault of a neighbour. Even more so when he is actually convicted of the crime. She sets out to clear her son's name with the help of top lawyer Dan Pendleton. Her job as a pediatrician's assistant becomes jeopardised in the ensuing turmoil. It also affects both Maggie's relationship with her long-suffering boyfriend and that of her son with his girlfriend Donna, played by Michelle Williams of Dawson's Creek fame. As the film develops the 'good cop, bad cop' method of investigating the case takes on more sinister proportions. With the District Attourney under pressure to provide a conviction, the victim is persuaded by the police to give eye-witness testimony in an effort to convict Eric. This provides the basis for the prosecution's case and is a shocking example of how power can be abused.