Trailer: Chavez (2013)
A biography of the civil-rights activist and labor organizer Cesar Chavez. From: IMDb.com
Directed by: Diego Luna
Starring: Michael Peña, Rosario Dawson, Gabriel Mann and others
Current release date: 2013
A biography of the civil-rights activist and labor organizer Cesar Chavez. From: IMDb.com
Directed by: Diego Luna
Snake Eyes (1998) Directed by Brian De Palma
(Review originally written at 23 September 2007)
Just like with "Femme Fatale" was the case, the opening sequences of this movie is more legendary than the actual movie itself. The opening sequences of this movie lasts for about 13 minutes. It seems like its one big long take but there are some hidden cuts in it. Most people that are really into movies will notice some of the cuts. De Palma uses some good editing tricks and crafty cinematography. It also makes the opening the highlight of the movie. Of course you can wonder if its really wise and good for a movie to have its best moment in the beginning. Everything that comes after it just doesn't match up to it and it might very well be the reason why this movie disappointed many people.
I really like it how the same events are told throughout the movie from different viewpoints. It sheds now light on the truth and helps to unveil the story and plot. That's some great film-making! It also makes the movie a very original one in its sort.
Yes, the movie gets at points hard to follow, mainly because it isn't always credible what's happening on the screen. Nevertheless, I remember the first time I saw the movie that the twists in it surprised me and the story was a great mysterious one.
Nicolas Cage and Gary Sinise are really strong actors in this movie. It takes some skill to handle all those long scene's without messing up and staying consistent. Especially Gary Sinise is great but I think that Nicolas Cage is also under-appreciated in his role. You are supposed to sort of dislike him, I mean he really isn't a clean cop, and that's what I like about the character and Cage's his performance.
I also enjoyed the musical score by Ryuichi Sakamoto. It's totally overblown and out of proportion but it suits the movie and its style really well. Same of course goes for the cinematography.
It's basically a very stylish and originally made movie, like you would expect from Brian De Palma. It's obviously not his most expensive movie because most of the movie is set at one location and it also isn't the longest movie around. It makes this an enjoyable 'small' De Palma movie that's also perfectly watchable for the general public. The movie is made in the sort of style they also used to make '40's movies in. I especially like the use of shadows in this movie. De Palma is, as far is I know of, the only director who can successfully implement '40's movie-making style into modern film-making. It's a good looking movie with a style that captures you and sort of makes you forgive the inconsistencies and flaws in the story. However if you also look beyond this style you'll notice that the story and its thriller elements are all quite standards and nothing really really. Just the way it all is dressed is new! So yes, it's a case of style over substance, like often is the case with De Palma movies. But as a fan I really aren't complaining about this!
Most recommendable to the De Palma fans but other people should also be able to appreciate the style and craftsmanship of this movie.
7/10
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Stir of Echoes (1999) Directed by David Koepp
(Review originally written at 19 July 2007)
Before 1999 this type of supernatural thrillers/horror didn't really existed. This all changed after the release of "The Sixth Sense". It was an huge hit and the movie was the talk of the year. It launched a totally new genre of movies. Every movie of the same 'type' released after "The Sixth Sense" was considered by everyone lame, unoriginal and a rip-off and a movie to quickly cash in after the success of "The Sixth Sense". "Stir of Echoes" was released only a month after "The Sixth Sense" and people wanted to know nothing of it. Completely unfair, also since I thought that the script was even being written before "The Sixth Sense" was and I also thought that filming completed earlier but yet it was released later in cinemas. Who knows what would have happened to this movie if it was released before "The Sixth Sense...It surely would had been appreciate more than it was now.
I'm glad that the movie by now is finally starting to receive the credit it deserves.
You also have to remember that in 1999 these type of movies were still fresh and new, so everything about it was original. However by todays standards the movie perhaps doesn't really seem that original anymore, since dozens like this sort of movie are being made every year now.
The story is greatly written by David Koepp, who really is one of the best writers in the business. Everything is build up perfectly slowly and mysteriously. You never know what is going to happen next and the movie offers more than enough surprise. In the beginning you really don't know what the movie is going to be about or were its trying to head to. You don't know if its real what is happening or is it just the main character imagining things. It provides the movie with mystery and an uneasy atmosphere.
The movie above all is a supernatural thriller (that also definitely has some similarities by the way with "The Sixth Sense", which also might be a reason why it was received so coolly) but the movie also features some real horror elements. And remember again, this was all quite new and refreshing for 1999 standards. I was actually quite blown away by the movie when I first saw it, which must have been in 2000 or something.
Kevin Bacon is really know for being the biggest Hollywood lead and he normally plays supporting roles, especially before this movie. This movie is perhaps the first one that truly allows Bacon to shine and show his skill as an actor and proof to the world that he can really carry a movie. It was nice and refreshing to see Kathryn Erbe in something different than "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" for a change. She plays such a different character. It shows how good as an actress she actually is.
The movie is well directed by David Koepp himself and he knows how to bring his own story to the screen. The movie further more features some nice special effects, that are used only in the right places. The movie is still definitely much better and more refreshing than most genre movies being released today.
Deserves to become a real genre-classic!
9/10
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Before 1999 this type of supernatural thrillers/horror didn't really existed. This all changed after the release of "The Sixth Sense". It was an huge hit and the movie was the talk of the year. It launched a totally new genre of movies. Every movie of the same 'type' released after "The Sixth Sense" was considered by everyone lame, unoriginal and a rip-off and a movie to quickly cash in after the success of "The Sixth Sense". "Stir of Echoes" was released only a month after "The Sixth Sense" and people wanted to know nothing of it. Completely unfair, also since I thought that the script was even being written before "The Sixth Sense" was and I also thought that filming completed earlier but yet it was released later in cinemas. Who knows what would have happened to this movie if it was released before "The Sixth Sense...It surely would had been appreciate more than it was now.
I'm glad that the movie by now is finally starting to receive the credit it deserves.
You also have to remember that in 1999 these type of movies were still fresh and new, so everything about it was original. However by todays standards the movie perhaps doesn't really seem that original anymore, since dozens like this sort of movie are being made every year now.
The story is greatly written by David Koepp, who really is one of the best writers in the business. Everything is build up perfectly slowly and mysteriously. You never know what is going to happen next and the movie offers more than enough surprise. In the beginning you really don't know what the movie is going to be about or were its trying to head to. You don't know if its real what is happening or is it just the main character imagining things. It provides the movie with mystery and an uneasy atmosphere.
The movie above all is a supernatural thriller (that also definitely has some similarities by the way with "The Sixth Sense", which also might be a reason why it was received so coolly) but the movie also features some real horror elements. And remember again, this was all quite new and refreshing for 1999 standards. I was actually quite blown away by the movie when I first saw it, which must have been in 2000 or something.
Kevin Bacon is really know for being the biggest Hollywood lead and he normally plays supporting roles, especially before this movie. This movie is perhaps the first one that truly allows Bacon to shine and show his skill as an actor and proof to the world that he can really carry a movie. It was nice and refreshing to see Kathryn Erbe in something different than "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" for a change. She plays such a different character. It shows how good as an actress she actually is.
The movie is well directed by David Koepp himself and he knows how to bring his own story to the screen. The movie further more features some nice special effects, that are used only in the right places. The movie is still definitely much better and more refreshing than most genre movies being released today.
Deserves to become a real genre-classic!
9/10
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Blue Steel (1989) Directed by Kathryn Bigelow
(Review originally written at 2 September 2006)
The beginning of this movie already gives away how the rest of the movie is. In the beginning the movie tries to be style-full and surprising but it instead is simple and predictable, as is the rest of the movie. The movie is filled with countless predictable and foremost improbable moments. The movie tries to distinct itself from other genre movies but in the end this movie is nothing more than a below average thriller that is watchable but most certainly no must-see.
The movie mainly tries to be different mostly through its characters. It's nice to see that this time the lead is a strong independent female, played by Jamie Lee Curtis. They try to give her a strong and emotional involving personality but most sequences in which they try to achieve this don't really work out, with also as a result that the movie is filled with some too long and unnecessary sequences. It also tries to be different with its villain and it takes a more emotional and realistic approach, rather than a 'simple psychopathic non-explaining' approach of the villain. Also problem here is that this mostly doesn't work out. Not really the actor or character's fault but more of the story and directing-style, that provides the movie with some completely ridicules and unlikely moments. Because of this the most emotional and realistic things don't work out in the movie, which causes this movie to be a rather failed one, as a thriller.
I still sort of appreciate and like it that this movie takes a different approach and tries to be original. It still distinct this movie from most other genre movies. However something went terribly wrong during the process of making this movie. Instead of original and surprising the movie is predictable and simple, despite its original approach of the story. The movie is too simply put together by Kathryn Bigelow and the movie too often takes the simple and easy road, which is the main reason why the movie mostly is predictable as well as unlikely.
Really the worst thing about this movie is that its filled with some amazingly bad and unlikely sequences. It makes the story even more ridicules and improbable. Once again the movie makes the police look like narrow-minded persons who can't seem to arrest a chimp and only thrust on their own instincts, rather than facts. It all adds up to the fact that this movie its story is unlikely as well as perhaps a bit ridicules. Especially the way Eugene Hunt (Ron Silver) and Megan Turner (Jamie Lee Curtis) keep finding each other gets highly unlikely and ridicules after a while. Especially the ending is disappointingly ridicules and far from satisfying.
The acting all around is quite solid. Jamie Lee Curtis plays a fine strong character and Ron Silver is a good enough actor. Not really convincing enough as a psychopath but a fine performance nevertheless. Clancy Brown is also good, although he always has been a better voice-actor. It was also fun to see Tom Sizemore in an early and small role, already acting crazy as always. Also small roles are there for Matt Craven, Richard Jenkins and Kevin Dunn, among others.
The style of the movie is quite disappointing. It tries desperately at moments to be almost artistic like. This doesn't always work out and instead are mostly too distracting and in contrast with the rest of the movie and story, that is quite simple. The weird and simple Brad Fiedel musical score also doesn't add much good to the movie its style and atmosphere. Also this movie isn't the best example of character treatment. It doesn't always lay the right emphasis.
Only still sort of watchable for the most hardened thriller-fan, that wants to see something different. Just don't expect too much of it all.
5/10
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