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To Live and Die in L.A. (1985)
Friedkin delivers the goods yet again.
Police thrillers and action flicks are two of the most common and used genres in the movie industry. There have been many a good ones produced over the years and some great ones. Director William Friedkin has a close bond to the genre, having made the legendary 'The French Connection" back in 1971. In 1985 he returned to the genre with a bang!
This is a great film and a very entertaining ride into to the more shady places of L. A. and its criminal underworld. I actually find this masterpiece a tad more entertaining and intriguing than 'TFC' (which I love). Partially due to the fact that I know more of the dark side of mankind that is drug dealing and its effect on people and communities than I know of the world of counterfit money.
I remember seeing this upon the initial release back in 1985, and I was blown away with it. Just watching the title sequence with its beautiful use of color, innovative camera technique, the powerful soundtrack and the way the credits hit the screen made me think; wow! I knew from the start that I was in for a treat...
Friedkin co-wrote this with Gerald Petievich. It´s a tight and solid script where there is no black or white. The good guys cross the line between right and wrong and behaves very shady and the bad guys shows the occasional glimpse of moral standpoint, albeit somewhat skewed.
Friedkin´s direction is spot on and the cinematography is stunning. L. A. Has never looked more bright and sunny than in this film. The use of orange as THE city color, is an interesting one. Action sequences are exceptional - especially the car chase - and there is a stunning twist at the end.
The music and score by ´80's band Wang Chung is an interesting take on a film score and fits very well in the film and narrative. And no, it hasn't aged. The acting is great/good/solid and every character seems perfectly cast. Look out for Willem Dafoe and John Turturro in early big parts. William Peterson I have always liked as an actor and here he truly shines. John Pankow is great as is Stockwell, Fluegel, Feuer and each and everybody else. Great casting!
I cannot praise this one enough. A must see and a must own (look for the ARROW or MGM release on Blu-Ray). Great film and highly recommended (8/10)!
Sorry, almost forgot... The film has got THAT ending...
Outland (1981)
Western set in 'ALIEN'-like universe. A classic!
I´ll be clear right from the start: I love 'Outland'!
Always have and always will.
I think it´s a great sci-fi thriller. It has got suspense, thrills, some action, drama, relationsships between interesting characters and it has got Sean Connery in the lead. I mean..come on!
The setting and location is on one of Jupiter´s moons; named Io (Eye-O). I place 'Outland' in the same timeline and space as 'ALIEN'. Thanks to the set, art and production design, the great score by the maestro that is Jerry Goldsmith and the overall feeling of the film. For all I know the mineral ore that The Company produces on Io, could very well be the mineral ore that towing vehicle Nostromo (and other spaceships like it) ships back to earth. Weyland-Yutani?
The visual effects are stunning and still holds up to this day. The clever use of optical effects, back- and foreground miniatures, matte paintings and some very cool make-up effects always surpass (bad CGI).
Based on his own script; director Peter Hyams (multitalented man who also edits some of his own films) holds the story together and delivers a film that never gets boring, uninteresting or loses momentum. The editing by the great Stuart Baird is excellent. Jerry Goldsmith delivers one of his finest scores. It´s a score that easily lends itself to stand alone listening.
Superb acting by everyone involved. Sean Connery is - of course - great as always. I know as a fact that Connery was very fond of the film and his character Marshal O'Neil.
Sternhagen is top notch and her character Dr. Lazarus actually makes a difference in the story. Great actress.
Peter Boyle´s character could though had been more fleshed out in the story. A tad underwritten perhaps but Boyle is a fantastic actor who makes the most of his material. The main villain should always be on par with the main protagonist.
James B. Sikking´s deputy makes an interesting character as such. Not your usual corrupt police officer. Great actor also.
The least interesting parts of the story is that of O'Neil´s wife and son. Thankfully we don´t see or hear from them that much. Only two scenes of which one is via tv-link.
It´s a shame that it didn´t get the audience it deserved at the time. It wasn´t a flop but it wasn´t a blockbuster success either. The same box-office fate that fell upon 'The First Great Train Robbery' and 'The Thing". Two great films that the audience failed (at the time) to recognition (shame on the audience).
I often go back and revisit this film; this gem. I always get a kick out of it. It´s a fun and entertaining watch. You´d be surprised. Tonight; you will not watch yet another dreadful WOKE- and PC-film. You will watch 'Outland' instead!
Highly recommended+++++
P. S. I gave it 10/10 to spice the overall rating up. The real rating (by me) is 8/10. D. S.
Dunkirk (2017)
Visually stunning. Has flaws but overall a very good and solid movie.
The year 2017 saw the release of the much anticipated "Dunkirk", directed by Christopher Nolan and based on his on script. It had a budget around somewhere between 100 to 150 million US dollars. The budget definitely shows on screen. I won´t go into detail about the historical events of and at Dunkirk per se, although some comparisons of the real thing will be mentioned.
As a narrative it is non-linear; meaning that what we see on screen doesn´t necessarily happens in sequence. The scenes in and around the beaches happens over a week, the dogfights in one hour and the scenes on the boat (the civilian vessel that we as an audience follows) in one day.
This sort of narrative can become somewhat confusing. I can understand it (that is not the same thing as I like it) but I don´t think each and everyone can. Maybe less so if you grown up with "smart"phones...
On the Dunkirk beaches we follow the character of Tommy (and some fellow soldiers) as he tries to get off the beach by any means possible. Even disguising as a stretcher carrier (refreshing to see that allied soldiers could be douches as well as honourable fighting men).
In the air we follow Tom Hardy´s Spitfire pilot, as the RAF desperately tries to hold off the mighty Luftwaffe.
Last but not least we follow the captain of the civilian vessel 'Moonstone', played by Mark Rylance. This is the character I have most complaints about. The decisions that he takes - some of them - ranges from just a lttle odd to downright stupid.
Dialogue in general is sparse and minimal. The actors in this movie mostly express themselves with other means. Although there are of course scenes with enough dialogue (when called for).
Forget backstories for the characters; here we meet them on the fly, as the movie progresses. Personally that didn´t bother me. This is not about the fate of certain characters, as for instance, "Saving Private Ryan". This film is about events and not per se certain people. Even though we follow the film mainly through three beforementioned individuals.
Stunning visuals, fantastic cinematography, realistic effects and a strange and eerie score. It´s not a traditional orchestral score, that one maybe would expect from a war movie, but rather different. See the film and you´ll understand.
I do though have some issues with "Dunkirk". The first gripe concerns Mark Rylance´s captain and the choices he makes.
One: He takes with him a local boy (that I the first time around thought was his youngest son) instead of just throwing him off the boat. Hey; let´s take onboard each and everyone, without first talking their parents!
Two: When the boy later on is seriously injured, he does not turn the boat around!? No! Instead, he marches on - towards gallantry and for King and Country! The boy dies as a result (maybe he had died anyway but that is not the point here). Good job...captain!
Another issue with me is the fact that the beaches are not that crowded, despite the fact that there were hundreds of thousands soldiers there. Were is everybody? A couple of thousand soldiers, is what we see.
Same goes for the civilian vessels en route for the Dunkirk beaches. To few and far between. I know that the evacuation took place for more than a week and consequently all vessels, boats and ships did not arrive at the same time. But anyhow; too few and too far between...
Last issue is with the aerial combat (dogfights) and air attacks by the Luftwaffe. I know my history - I am well read and educated when it comes to WWII - so I know that a lot of it took place further inland. But despite this, it still seems to little.
A very solid war movie overall and I do recommend it, despite the issues that I have with it.
One last thing: Don´t mention the germans (you´ll understand)...
Who Dares Wins (1982)
Solid entertainment; great action and thrills; good acting.
Very entertaining movie, this one. Saw it upon it´s initial release here in Sweden (1982). It has a 007-feeling and Bond-ish quality about it, which I love. Lots of crew members from 007-productions behind the camera.
It is also very suspenseful and it´s got solid action scenes combined with good acting and snappy directing. What´s not to like?!:/
I can very well imagine that the S. A. S. Operates with a similar modus operandi. Since they (of course) doesn´t reveal anything one can only speculate and read books on the subject matter (S. A. S.) It looks and seems real enough (yes, I know it´s a movie).
It´s a pity and very strange that some films doesn´t get the attention and respect they deserve?! Instead loads of crap (WOKE, PC, man-hating - etc.) finds an audience.
Highly recommended film!++++
Alien (1979)
Cinematic masterpiece!
What can be written/said about a masterpiece that hasn´t been written or said before? Not much, I suppose, but I just have to get it out of my system.
"ALIEN" is a masterpiece in the art of movie making - period! It is as classic as it is legendary. Those who think otherwise, I´m sorry but you are a lost cause.
I cannot praise this film enough. You could say that I am obsessed with it - it is that great.
This is what you can achive when you have top notch talent in every department: Writing, directing, editing, scenery, art department, special effects, music, acting, et cetera..et cetera. As opposed of today, when totalitarian and political correctness handcuffs creativity. It´s not a coincidence that I personally detest most films coming out The System (Hollywood) today.
It´s no meaning going through the storyline once again, since I´m pretty confident that those here on IMDB that read this thread knows the story over and over. Instead I want to give credit where credit is due.
First of all we must go down on our knees and thank God for Dan O'Bannon, Ridley Scott and H.R. Giger, for being the three principal people responsible for bringing "ALIEN" to life. Especially O'Bannon, whom without there would be no movie in the first place. It´s a pity that he (outside the hardcore fan-base) hasn´t been given more attention than he has. Think; if "Dark Star" had been a (moderate) success, maybe "ALIEN" would never had seen the light of day.....
Ridley Scott, what can I say? The man is (was?) the best visual director in the business, bar none. Only Kubrick can compete with him, in that department.
It may be O'Bannon's idea, but Ridley Scott brought that idea to life. Just imagine any other director making "ALIEN"? Impossible! Every single shot and every single frame is a work of beauty and art. The composition of every scene is so beautiful and shines with a touch of class that - with a few exceptions (Tarantino?) - isn´t often seen today. True genius!
Last but not least, the utmost praise most go to Hans Rudi Giger. He brought something horrifying and yet beautiful to the screen that audiences hadn't seen up til then and hasn't seen since. LV-426 and it´s inhabitants is all thanks to him (minus the chestburster and - in part - the facehugger). A masterstroke by Scott and O'Bannon to insist on getting him onboard. His biomechanial art is out of this world!
Kudos to each and everyone; all of the actors who are perfectly cast; the art department; sound editing; special effects (that are astounding); Brandywine (for agreeing to produce it) and to Alan Ladd jr. who greenlighted it (being the head of 20th Century Fox, at the time). Jerry Goldsmith put the icing on the cake with his eerie, evocative, haunting and yet beautiful score (even though Scott and Terry Rawlings (the sound editor) played copy and paste with it, plus incorporating the music from "Freud" in places).
This is a great, great film. A cinematic achievement that I can watch over, over and over again. If nothing else for the framing of the picture and the visuals. I love this film.
By the way, did how mention how utterly scary and horrifying it is?...
Monster Hunter (2020)
Drivel!
...and here we have/go again:
A. Female action heroes on steroids. Of course we do. Because we all know that women are superior to men in every aspect. They are physically stronger, faster, more agile, have better endurance and more muscles, etc.
Men are whimps, losers, cowards and they (we) can as such accomplish NOTHING! We all need help to survive lethal situations from little girls and young women.
I HATE THIS 'NEW' WORLD ORDER!!!
B. Turdish and crappy "manuscripts". Who writes nonsense like this? 7-year olds? Who greenlights rubbish like this? Kathleen Kennedy-types, I imagine!
C. Lousy and low-grade special "effects" and "action" sequences!
D. Do boys and young men actually watch drivel like this? Don´t you have any pride? Do you really take this abuse against your gender???
AVOID AT ALL COST!!!
Black Christmas (1974)
Very good horror/who-goes-there film. Eerie and creepy...
As good as they come in this genre. Shall we call it the 'slasher', genre, for lack of a better word?! Four years before Carpenter's classic "Halloween" made its way into moviegoers hearts and minds, this Canadian gem came out in 1974. Bob Clark (the director) was truly a genius in the art of movie making. Innovative in so many ways that I won´t try to cover them all.
Filmed in Toronto but supposed to be an American quiet town up north (why not Toronto?), the homicidal maniac "Billy" is very(!) naughty come Christmas. Breaking and entering into a girls sorority house during the Christmas holiday, "Billy" starts acting bad Santa. He´s not giving gifts but taking the poor girls lives instead.
Built on tension, mood and suspense, this classic is truly utterly scary and creepy. Watch how Clark uses the panning of the camera to create depth in the house. Eerie as hell! And those chilling and utterly mad phone calls...truly insane. See it on your own risk...
Joker (2019)
A pleasant surprise with an interesting take on the subject matter.
I watched this for about a week ago on blu-ray. In hindsight I must say that I thought the film to be really good. I didn´t wanna rate it directly afterwards but rather let the experience sink in.
I´m not an expert on the world of DC comics, although I read a lot of the comics growing up (in Sweden). In Sweden the Batman character was (in the seventies) named "Läderlappen" (The Leather Coat) but the Joker was Joker(n). The most interesting stories for me was when Batman encountered the Joker. A complete madman, nutcase and homicidal maniac!
I give two thumbs up to Todd Phillips, Scott Silver and Bradley Cooper for taking this daring step. Credits due when and where credits due. Kudos also to Warner for giving the film the green light.
I know it doesn´t follow DC: s origin of the character but this is not that film. This is a parallel universe to that universe. This is more rooted in reality. With a twist, this could actually happen in real life. Come to think of it; just look at all the nutcases that has been and are very much alive now. Serial killers, sadists and paedophiles.
This film also have one of cinemas most fascinating character developments ever. Joaquin Phoenix is absolutely fantastic! What a marvelous performance. In my opinion, it´s up to par with that of the late Heath Ledger. Before becoming the Joker; he is Arthur Fleck (gotta love that surname) who is a very(!) troubled soul already. From the first scene it is obvious that he is going down the abyss. Very sad and heart breaking. The supporting cast is very good. Especially Robert De Niro.
I also thought they handled the Wayne family arc and the tragic event that awaits them very good. Just looking at young Bruce Wayne in the alley after you-know-what brought tears to my eyes...
The music is very fitting. Eerie, dreadful with glimpses of beauty. Production design is top notch. The colours are vibrant and stunning.
The direction by Todd Phillips is excellent. None of that spasmic teenie weenie mobile cell phone swiping cutcutcut. The camera takes its time, moving slowly..panning, following the character rather than directing it. Of course there are scenes with faster editing when the scene deems it fitting but not all the time.
This film comes highly recommended by yours truly. A must see.
Halloween (2018)
Avoid at all costs!
I turned it off after about 40 minutes. I couldn´t stand more of this garbage. John Carpenter must have been paid truck loads of money for agreeing to do the score. The writer and director should be driven out of Hollywood forever! This is just another WOKE-movie. I don´t know why they keep on making them? One thing I do know though; it is not(!) about making great (or even) good films.
Info: Michael Myers has become a random killing machine. Killing people here and there whenever he feels like it. Killing spree deluxe. He was never like that in the original. Everything he did, served a "purpose". In the original he even hinted some sort of 'humanity', when Tommy Doyle bumps into him at the school yard (after Tommy´s been bullied seconds earlier). He never touched young children. In this piece of garbage..he does! That just sickens me. And of course all males are; wimps, useless, lame and weak. The character of Laurie Strode should be locked up at the same asylum as Michael, as far as I am concerned! Completely deranged, she appears.
For me the "Halloween" franchise consists of the original, "HII" and the much scarier "H20". My rating of three stars is for..well, I don´t know? Nostalgia? The music?
By the way: "Halloween III" is a great little horror movie (to the "HIII" haters out there)!
The Wild Geese (1978)
I love this film. A bonafide classic in the war/action/drama genre!
Oh boy, the good old days. Remember those? The days when such obscure and strange things as good manuscripts and creativity mattered. A time for free thinking and the primary focus for filmmakers was an intriguing story and interesting characters. Those times are now long gone (with a few exceptions here and there) and has been replaced by political correctness, inclusion and fear of excluding somebody or something. In other words; creative dictatorship. Thank god then for blu-ray and DVD.
I saw this film for the first time on a bad vhs-copy back in the day and it still remains one of my favorite films and one that I often revisit. It is so good on so many levels. I mean, just look at the star studded billing: Roger Moore, Richard Burton, Richard Harris, Hardy Krüger, Stewart Granger. All big movie stars and great actors. The supporting cast is equally fantastic. The directing by Andrew V. McLaglen is top notch and is in my book the crowning jewel of his career. The Reginald Rose penned script from a novel by Daniel Carney is intriguing, compelling and very exciting. The ending is nail biting.
Great action set pieces, gripping drama and suspense, realistic dialogue and a very non-Hollywood ending. How can you not like this film? Sure; if one is looking for editing by the very very nervous people and/or bulky hulky (non-realistic) girl "actors" or bad CGI, I can understand one not enjoying this film. That´s your loss then. Highly recommended!
The Pledge (2001)
Intriguing drama and superb acting with a somewhat abrupt ending
"The Pledge" is the kind of film that begins with one premise and after a while takes on another route. It starts out as a who-dunnit-retired-police-detective-chases-serial-killer-movie and ends up being somewhat (but not completely) different.
Jack Nicholson plays the pd, who on the very same day (evening) of his retirement, tags along fellow police officers to a newly discovered and very disturbing murder scene.
A suspect (Del Toro) is soon caught and after interrogation said suspect blows his brains out (how he can get a gun to do so you will have to see for yourself).
Case closed - the police thinks. Not so good old Jack. After his somewhat interrupted retirement party, he is off to life as an ex-cop.
He can´t though let go of the fact that he had made a somewhat hasty (but with good intentions) promise to the murder victims parents, that the real culprit will be caught and that justice will be served. So; Jack continues to privately investigate the murder(s)...
Directed by Sean Penn and with superb acting, this is indeed a very solid ex-cop searches for the truth drama. Slow moving with a lot of dialogue, this film is not for the action-thriller slam bam fan. Some folks may not like it because of the narrative, that goes from more linear thriller to dream like drama. Is Jack really right in that the real killer is still at large or is it just in his mind?
The ending did disappoint me to some extent. Judge for yourself.
The Black Dahlia (2006)
A decent and quite enjoyable DePalma noir movie.
This film has gotten its fair share of flak. Some of it I can understand and agree with. Some of it not. It has flaws in the script and (in parts) the acting. On the other hand I personally think that some of the acting is more than ok. Hartnett is quite believable in his role and so are actresses Hillary Swank and Scarlett Johansson. Aaron Eckhart is perhaps a tad over the top but that could as well be due to the script and/or the directing. The supporting cast is also within the acceptable range. I can live with it (performance-wise).
I haven´t read the book, so I have no sense of the source material and I cannot therefore compare the script with the book. The script has flaws but holds up just about enough for me to buy into the story and the events that takes place. I found it hard not to be engaged. I really wanted the murder to be solved. My biggest issue with the script is that I think there are way to many sub plots going on. There are like three, four stories evolving at the same time. If the film had focused more on the actual murder investigation and the police work, maybe it would have been better received. And why does Hartnetts character have to go on a shagging spree in many a scenes?
Brian DePalma has all through his career been criticized for not having his "own" style and for imitating others (primarily Hitchcock). I don´t agree and I don´t care for the criticism. Be that as it may or may not; Personally I am very fond of his sense of style. And there is plenty of that style here. So for those DePalma aficionados out there, there is plenty to enjoy.
This film has suspense, drama, shoot-outs, gruesome murders, romance/misogyny, crane shots and what have you. I have it in my collection and I will now and again go back and rewatch it.
A solid film noir thriller that will entertain (some of) you a rainy night.
Burnt Offerings (1976)
Old school haunted house thriller/horror film!
I saw this film very late in my life. It somehow went under my radar.
Now when I´ve seen it, I almost regret it. Regret it not because I think it was bad, no; quite the opposite. It was too damn scary! I couldn´t sleep calmly for weeks. It scared the living daylights out of me...
I wouldn´t say it is scary for having jump scares every now and then - no. Instead it´s the atmosphere, settings and the mood that got to me. That friggin house is the most terrifying house in motion picture history! Dreary, ominous, foreboding is words I use to describe the house.
Trivia: The same house was used in another horror classic: "Phantasm"!
Had it been for real; the caretakers would of course have called in the Air Force to nuke the site to hell. But...this is a movie:)
There are especially three scenes that made me reach for my pillow. One involves a chauffeur (no more taxi rides for me).
Mind you, this is a film that needs one hour or so to sink in. So if you are of the cut-cut-cut generation, maybe this isn´t for you?!
Good acting, solid directing and a script that twists and turns makes this film come very(!) highly recommended by me.
The Exorcist (1973)
A true accomplishment
What can I contribute with, that hasn´t already been contributed, regarding this masterpiece? This is one of those films that one has to see in one´s lifetime. It is as simple as that!
The "scariest movie of all time" is subjective. That will ultimately depends on one´s taste, opinion and what one considers 'scary'. One thing is clear though; it grabs you by your b*lls and never let go!
This masterpiece asks a lot of questions. Mainly about faith vs. Science. Some questions are flat out on the surface and some hidden within the layers of the film.
Production value is top notch, as is the directing, writing and acting - etc.
I mean; Max von Sydow! The man was a true genius come acting! That voice and that face are truly unique characteristics. To land such an iconic character actor in a genre film was a master stroke. I can only compare it to "The Omen" and Gregory Peck.
Special effects-wise the film still stands up. Everything done in camera is - more often than not - more convincing than CGI.
This is a film I personally can watch again and again. Every time I find something new to ponder upon. I´m not a religious person but when seeing this film I always begin to think; "what if Satan really exists"?
Watch it today (if you already have not)!
Schindler's List (1993)
The greatest movie of all time - period!
Direction: Superb!
The script: Excellent!
The acting: Top notch!
Cinematography: Masterful!
The music score: Heart breaking and wonderful at the same time.
Etc..etc..etc!
This is a true masterpiece and the greatest achivement in the history of motion pictures!