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Last I Heard (2013)
possibly worst movie ever made
I cannot describe how awful this movie was. It amazes me that they were able to get good (note I say good, not great) actors like Michael Rappaport & Sorvino with a script that a first grader could have written after having watched Goodfella's once.
There is absolutely no arc to the story. Sorvino must have been trying to reclaim his goodfella's glory in order to agree to be in this turd.
Nothing more can be said except to avoid watching at all costs. Even if your a huge gangster movie fan (such as I) avoid this film. You and your PCP smoking neighbor could have written a better script in between digging through your mother's sofa cushions for spare change.
Smokin' Aces (2006)
"Smokin Aces= "Smelly Feces"
Obviously from what I titled this review you can tell I hated the film. Just to let you know where I'm coming from crime/action/noir type movies are what I live for and are the only movies I enjoy watching. Whenever a new one hits theaters I greatly anticipate seeing it.
Such was the case with Smokin Aces. I loved Joe Carnahan's last movie Narc. It was an amazing movie with a great script, great cast and great direction on Carnahan's part. Sadly Aces was absent of all those things.
The script and plot seemed to come second to the action sequences, speaking of which didn't impress me either. What little plot there was reminded me of a cross between the Usual Suspects and True Romance. It especially seemed like Carnahan must have watched Usual Suspects one too many times and I saw several things he stole directly from other movies such as Mission Impossible III.
As far as the characters go none of them were interesting. There was absolutely no character development of any kind or anyone to root for.
The dialogue was absolutely forgettable and not one memorable line was mumbled throughout the whole film. This was a major disappointment considering some of the great dialogue in Narc.
Don't even get me started on the cast. Ryan Reynolds was wrong for the role he played and Ray Liotta was underused. The two musicians he cast (Common and Alicia Keys) should have never been given a chance to act in the first place.
I can't even believe the studio let him go ahead with this movie after reading the script. This is one of those films where a few years down the line Carnahan and the actors in it are going to admit it stunk.
Let's hope Joe C. does something at least a little better next time.
The Departed (2006)
Fresh & Exhilarating Crime Thriller
With "The Departed" Martin Scorsese remakes a Hong Kong film called internal affairs.
Taking Place in Boston, young Undercover Cop Billy Costigan is assigned the job of infiltrating the Irish mob ran by a violent crime boss named Costello. Simultaneously, Costello has a criminal mole of his own working in the Police Department. Eventually both the mob and Police realize there is a mole in their operations causing the ensuing action and excitement, when they try and smoke each other out.
Scorsese knows how to do crime movies with such greats as Casino, Goodfellas and Taxi Driver under his belt. He matches and maybe even surpasses those films with the Departed.
I'm neither a Matt Damon or Leonardo DiCaprio fan. In Fact I always saw them as pretty boy actors who are mainly used to attract a female audience. In Departed both attempt to step up to the plate and try erase those past impressions. DiCaprio does a decent job even though his accent was questionable, and Damon is fully believable in his role. They were backed by a great cast including Martin Sheen, Alec Baldwin, Ray Winstone, Mark Wahlburg, Vera Fermiga & Anthony Anderson.
The one actor who I think did poorly was Jack Nicholson. He overacted and really hammed it up by acting plain retarded at some points. Some of his gestures and and facial expressions were ridiculous and silly.
Writer William Monahan rewrote the script without viewing the original, allowing him more freedom. He does a great job translating this oft told story into something fresh that unfolds in an exhilarating way.
Scorsese's directing was also quite impressive. He obviously didn't feel the need to rush things and allows the film to move along at an even pace without getting boring. Many directors would have made the mistake of shortening the script, thinking they would get a tighter movie.
As I said the plot itself is pretty straightforward, but the ensuing results are anything but expected. This isn't a conventional crime thriller so things happen that you would never expect. The story and characters are exciting, and this movie packs a lot in what seems like a short amount of time.
Nothing is excessive and everything is intense, leaving you with a true crime masterpiece.
I give it a nine & not a ten only because of Nicholson. His hamming it up was ridiculous at points . Besides that this was a great movie, probably the best I've seen in years.
The Way of the Gun (2000)
Only the Best Crime- Action Film Ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Academy Award-winning screenwriter Christopher McQuarrie makes his directorial debut with The Way of the Gun, a twisted balls-out crime thriller about two cold-blooded criminals who proceed to get themselves in a situation WAY over their heads, where nothing is as it seems.
Benicio Del Toro and Ryan Phillipe team up as the criminal associates and cross paths with a cesspool of other characters play by James Caan, Juliette Lewis, Taye Diggs and Nicky Katt.
The action scenes are amazing and incredibly realistic. Stylish gun play and shoot-outs along with an unconventional car chase make it unlike any crime- action film you've ever seen. McQuarrie hired a navy seal to train the actors and it shows. They way they move when in combat is exciting and realistic.
McQuarrie obviously spent a lot of time choreographing the gun battles because the final shoot-out is jaw dropping.
The look of the film is also great. Cinematographer Dick Pope used suede filters to shoot through, giving the film a russet, western quality. It takes place out west and in Mexico, and McQuarrie captures this with the colors he uses in everything from the background buildings to the actors wardrobes.
As a writer McQuarrie shines by creating dialogue that is smart, cool, and inventive without sounding contrived and clichéd. James Caan for instance doesn't have to show you that he is dangerous, you can tell by his phrases and the way he speaks. The voice-over that was written for Phillipe is icing on the cake.
Beneath the amazing dialogue, realistic shootouts and intense action scenes Way of the Gun goes in areas that most films in the genre don't even touch upon. By exploring the themes of loyalty, redemption, and justice in an imperfect world, it sets itself far ahead of similar movies.
Phillipe goes against type after being seen primarily as a pretty boy, by playing a bearded thug and pulling it off incredibly. Del Toro is wonderful as usual, and James Caan is at his best.
From start to finish this movie is as the DVD cover describes it, "One hell of a sick twisted thrill ride". It's also the best crime movie ever made.
Inside Man (2006)
Limp Thriller
With Inside Man, Spike Lee manages to make a film about a bank robbery seem fresh and new.
A gang of thieves led by English actor Clive Owen sneak into a NYC bank and procede to hold everyone hostage, for reasons that are unclear and intriguing, leaving you trying to figure out what in the blazes is really going on. Denzel Washington plays a Detective brought in to negotiate with Owen. Willem Dafoe plays a small role, and is great as always, and Jodie Foster also has a role.
Even though Lee did manage to breathe life into this dead genre, the film comes off as seeming like it was too clever for its own good.
The end twist is the biggest one I've seen in years. Nevertheless, when it's finally revealed you are left feeling that you got duped by a director trying to outsmart you.
As far as the acting goes Denzel, walked through his role & the secondary story lines about Denzels character were unnecessary. There wasn't much for any of the actors to work with since the whole movie is a buildup to an end.
While fresh and clever it just isn't good.
Smith (2006)
boring, clichéd & redundant
This new prime time show stars Ray Liotta of Goodfellas fame playing Bobby Stevens, a master thief who is trying to balance out his illegal career with his domestic family life. Virginia Madsen and Amy Smart also star in supporting roles.
Sounds pretty interesting and promising, right? Well unfortunately it's one big disappointment. The producers seemed to have thought the show could rest on Ray Liotta's skills alone, neglecting other important aspects such as the dialogue which was boring and unnatural.
There are some good scenes placed between clichéd sequences and boring banter. The supporting cast also needs to kick it up a notch. None of the actors besides Liotta have anything interesting to offer up.
Smith also has the negative distinction of being the latest "heist genre" show to come along in the past two years, following FX's Thief, AMC's Hu$tle & NBC's Heist, all of which have been cancelled.
Obviously the network put a lot of $ behind this show. What it needs is more creativity to differentiate itself from all the aforementioned shows and movies (Oceans 11, The Italian Job, The Score etc) with the same concept.
The idea, even if it is old and been done before has potential, and they have the right actor, they just need to get the rest.
Miami Vice (2006)
Decent Action Flick
I was very excited to see this movie and while it didn't blow me away it didn't let me down either.
As other people have pointed out hasn't Miami Vice been made into a movie before? Wasn't it was called Bad Boys, starring Will Smith.
Story Wise the plots are almost identical. Both take place in Miami with two rogue cops going up against a drug cartel. Mann doesn't do much to differentiate it either. Like Bad Boys the plot and story line seem like an afterthought.
Colin Farrell and Jamie Foxx play their roles mediocre at best. Farrell seems to have a hard time losing his accent and says lines like "If they didn't do time with us, they ain't doing crime with us", as if he is reading them off a cue-card. The thick jowled Barry Shakaba Henley was almost comical trying to play Detective Castillo.
The action sequences made up for it though. There are some moments of gun-play where you are on the edge of your seat, and the shoot-outs are some of the best action scenes I have seen in years.
While not nearly as good as Mann's other crime films especially Heat or Collatoral, it is enjoyable if you are a Michael Mann or action movie fan.