New crime / thriller A Violent Separation stars Brenton Thwaites, Claire Holt, Alycia Debnam-Carey and Francesca Eastwood.
From directors Kevin and Michael Goetz, it’s the story of two brothers struggling with the terrible truth behind a tragedy…
Besides wanting to know what actually happened, I’m quite interested in the emotional journey of the young police officer and how that will end, considering his involvement.
Michael Malarkey, Gerald McRaney, Ben Robson, Izzy G., Peter Michael Goetz, Lynne Ashe and Silas Cooper also star.
Joker (2019), Joaquin Phoenix, Warner Bros. Pictures
Starring Joaquin Phoenix, Zazie Beetz and Robert De Niro, Joker is an exploration of Aurthur Fleck, a man disregarded by society and eventually driven insane until he become’s Gotham City’s best known psychopathic murderer.
Directed by Todd Phillips (The Hangover (2009), other key cast includes Bryan Callen, Shea Whigham, Frances Conroy…
I’m going to start by addressing the rather humongous and certainly beautiful elephant in the room. ‘Heath Ledger, Heath Ledger, Heath Ledger, Heath Ledger. The Dark Knight , The Dark Knight , The Dark Knight, The Dark Knight.’ OK. I’m done.
To clarify, my intention is certainly not to take anything away from Phoenix who I also appreciate, especially since his great work in Gladiator (2000). However, I just had to do the above because Ledger’s performance was pure magic and permanently fixed in my memory as one of the best performances I’ve ever seen.
I’m still definitely looking forward to watching this deep-dive into Joker’s journey, from failed comic to psychopathic murderer. Additionally, I actually can’t wait to compare both Phoenix and Ledger’s performances – just to see which I prefer.
Glenn Fleshler, Brett Cullen, Marc Maron, Douglas Hodge and Josh Pais also star.
The Highwaymen (2019), Woody Harrelson, Kevin Costner
The Highwaymen, the story of the two police officers who came out of retirement to catch infamous bank robbing outlaws Bonnie & Clyde is a movie I don’t regret watching.
The reason I watched the film at all was my curiosity about the retelling of the famous Bonnie and Clyde story from the perspective of the officers who ended their bank robbing and killing spree. That along with my general appreciation of both Kevin Costner and Woody Harrelson’s talents. In fact the dynamic between Costner and Harrelson is my favourite thing about director John Lee Hancock’s movie. I also enjoyed the exchanges between the highwaymen and other law enforcement officers.
In terms of the thing or two that I enjoyed less about The Highwaymen, I wish it had moved a little faster and/ or contained a tad more excitement. At the same time though, considering the fact that the two highwaymen had just come out of retirement, I may have been asking for a little too much.
Watch it if you’re really curious. Just don’t be surprised if you find yourself getting distracted quite easily.
Triple Frontier, the action / adventure about five former Special Forces operatives who’s planned heist in South America becomes an epic battle for survival is a movie I found to be just okay.
Starring Oscar Isaac, Ben Affleck, Charlie Hunnam, Pedro Pascal and Garrett Hedlund, the performances were generally good. In terms of the themes featured, I like what director J.C. Chandor’s film had to say about the high price of greed. I’m also happy that Triple Frontier shed some light on the plight of US veterans. Particularly the general discontent in reference to how they really could be better taken care of.
As for the reasons why I didn’t find the finished product quite as thrilling as hoped, it firstly has something to do with how easily I was able to predict an outcome or two early on. Secondly, considering how each character’s backstory was presented so very briefly, it didn’t allow for me to properly connect with a fair amount of them, if any in a meaningful way. This too relates to the villain who barely had any screen time. I needed to see more evidence of why he was really deserving of the attack. Intellectually it’s clear, yet more visual evidence would certainly have been great.
Lastly, I know that Affleck’s character is in essence quite depressed and therefore not fully himself. However, I somehow still find it hard to completely believe that he behaved the way he did during the actual heist. Or that no one else stood up and stopped his ‘madness.’ To put it another way, I really thought that they’d have planned better generally and in regards to how to deal with anyone who tried to go beyond the agreed plan of action.
I certainly don’t regret giving just over two hours for this movie but I do wish it had me half as hooked and was as well written as Sicario (2015). Now that’s a tension filled thriller and a half.
Once Upon A Time In Hollywood (2019), Brad Pitt, Leonardo DiCaprio, Sony Pictures Entertainment
The trailer for Once Upon A Time In Hollywood, Quentin Tarantino’s 9th movie is here and stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt and Margot Robbie.
Set during the Charles Manson murders in 1969 in Los Angeles, a TV actor and his stunt double embark on an odyssey to make a name for themselves in the film industry….
Tarantino’s style and the cast are all the reason I need. Am I correct on thinking that this is Pitt and DiCaprio’s first movie together?
Dakota Fanning, Al Pacino, Timothy Olyphant, Kurt Russell, James Marsden, Emile Hirsch, Damian Lewis and Burt Reynolds also star.
Finding Steve McQueen (2019), Travis Fimmel, Rachael Taylor, Momentum Pictures
Finding Steve Mqueen is a new crime / thriller based on a true story set in 1972 Youngstown, Ohio.
Starring Travis Fimmel, William Fichtner, Forrest Whitaker and Rachael Taylor, director Mark Steven Johnson’s story is about a gang of thieves as they attempt to steal $30 million in illegal contributions and blackmail money from President Richard Nixon‘s secret fund…
Stockholm is the the strange but true story of the infamous 1973 hostage crisis in Stockholm, Sweden. The very one that gave rise to the psychological phenomenon known as ‘Stockholm syndrome’.
Written / directed by Robert Budreau; key cast includes Ethan Hawke, Noomi Rapace, Mark Strong…
I’m interested in the humour in Hawke’s performance and Rapace’s character’s emotional journey.
Christopher Heyerdahl, Bea Santos, Thorbjørn Harr, John Ralston, Mark Rendall, Gustaf Hammarsten and Hanneke Talbot also star.
Joe Pesci, Robert De Niro, Al Pacino and Harvey Keitel are the stars of new biography / crime / drama The Irishman.
Directed by Martin Scorsese, the story centres around a mod hitman’s recollection of his possible involvement with the slaying of Jimmy Hoffa.
The names of everyone in this movie is enough to get any serious movie fan very excited – and excited I certainly am. I also have to congratulate the creative mind behind the decision to have the shell float in the place of the letter I. I admit to yelping with delight at the beauty of the execution, especially when De Niro’s name came up. Then I had rewind to watch it again in case I imagined the whole thing; and a third time so I could actually listen to the dialogue.
No actual footage has even been released bur I’m convinced that Autumn has never seemed so very far away.
Anna Paquin, Jack Huston, Bobby Cannavale, Ray Romano, Jesse Plemons and Stephen Graham also star.
