Film Review: CONTAGION (2011) – Re-visited

Director: Steven Soderbergh
Writer: Scott Z. Burns
Running time: 106 mins (approx)
Certification (UK): 12

Genre: Drama/Sci-Fi/Thriller
UK Release date: 21^st October 2011

Watched on Sky+ Friday 7^th December 2012.

PLEASE NOTE: THERE MAY BE SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.

I saw this film in the cinema when it came out in October 2011; I remember it was pretty good and so decided to give it a second look. I like to sometimes give a film a second look because there is so much you can miss on a first viewing plus you get an opportunity to maybe follow more closely certain aspects of the plot that may have been lost. Surprisingly, without looking, I gave it exactly the same score as first time around so the filmmakers must have done something right! Here’s a brief plot summary before I give you my thoughts.

It all starts on Day 2. A woman, Beth Emhoff, is at an airport, returning home from a trip to Hong Kong… and she’s not feeling well. From here we see outbreaks in various parts of the world and we begin to pick up other threads. In Atlanta, Georgia the head of the CDC, Dr. Ellis Cheever, begins to see a potential problem and sends one of his agents, Dr. Erin Mears, to Minnesota where help is needed. A blogger, Alan Krumwiede, picks up on the story and uses it to enhance his reputation online and also make some financial gain. We pick up the story on the sick woman’s husband, Mitch Emhoff, and his daughter, Jory, (from a previous marriage) and how events affect them. At the World Health Organisation in Geneva, Switzerland an official, Dr. Leonora Orantes, is sent out to Hong Kong to try and discover the source of the outbreak but she runs into a spot of local trouble (to put it mildly). There are more, minor, threads to this story but these are the main ones. As to the plot, well I really don’t want to say too much about that or the Spoiler Police will be measuring me up for a rhesus monkey suit.

I have to say that Steven Soderbergh assembled a really great cast for this one! Almost everyone who’s anyone has a role (it seems); Gwyneth Paltrow as Beth Emhoff and Matt Damon as Mitch Emhoff were both excellent, as was Laurence Fishburne as Dr. Ellis Cheever and Kate Winslet as Dr. Erin Mears. I thought Jude Law did a great job as Alan Krumwiede (despite a very strange accent). Also worthy of praise was Marion Cotillard as Dr. Leonora Orantes; she was her most excellent best (as ever), but woefully underused. Honourable mentions go to Elliott Gould as Dr. Ian Sussman and Bryan Cranston as Lyle Haggerty.

It’s a slow burner but it does eventually pick up. It won’t be to everyone’s taste, but I quite liked it, mostly, it must be said, for the acting talent on display and their abilities. I’m sure lesser known actors would have done a competent enough job but this cast does take it to another level. I did feel that there was maybe one too many threads to follow, but it’s all done quite well as we see the effect this global virus has on society. There is a bit at the end which explains how the contagion started and I really wish that scene had been missed out; by then it wasn’t relevant. Over all though, an interesting film that has some attention-grabbing imagery; you will be washing your hands afterwards (I guarantee it). A stellar cast gives it a boost but it’s really a very well made ‘B Movie’ with aspirations (IMO)… Still, well worth a look.

SteelMonster’s verdict: RECOMMENDED

My score: 7.2/10

IMDb Score: 6.7/10 (based on 107,321 votes at the time of going to press).
http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt1598778/

MetaScore: 70/100: (Based on 38 critic reviews provided by Metacritic.com at the time of going to press).

Rotten Tomatoes ‘Tomatometer’ Score: 84/100 (based on 235 reviews counted at the time of going to press).

Rotten Tomatoes ‘Audience’ Score: 61/100 ‘Liked It’ (based on 70,389 user ratings counted at the time of going to press).
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/contagion_2011/

If you’re crazy enough… You can find me on Facebook at:
http://facebook.com/andy.steel3

FAVOURITE QUOTES:
Dr. Ian Sussman: Blogging is not writing. It's just graffiti with punctuation.

Alan Krumwiede: It's a bad day to be a rhesus monkey.

LINKS:
Official Site: http://contagionmovie.warnerbros.com/dvd/
Trailer:

Film Review: EVENT HORIZON (1997)

Director: Paul W.S. Anderson
Running time: 93 mins (approx)
Certification (UK): 18

Genre: Sci-Fi/Horror/Mystery
UK Release date: 22^nd August 1997

Watched on DVD Friday 18^th November 2011.

PLEASE NOTE: THERE MAY BE SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.

I remember being impressed with this film when I first saw it way back in the late 1990’s. It’s one of those that, once you’ve seen it, it keeps coming back to you. I have been meaning to watch it again for some time now and so I though now being as good time as any I popped it in the DVD player, turned the sound up and let her rip! I wasn’t disappointed; it’s every bit as good as I remember, right down to the pumping ‘Prodigy’ track that runs over the closing credits. I will give you my take on it after this very brief summary.

The experimental spaceship, The Event Horizon, has been missing for seven years after it left the solar system bound for Proxima Centuri. After its beacon is detected in the vicinity of Neptune, a rescue mission is launched. A specialist crew is sent out along with Dr. William Weir, the man who designed the ship. The crew consists of; Captain Miller, Peters, the Med Tech, Lt. Starck, Cooper, Justin, D.J. and Smith. Dr. Weir is haunted with memories of his dead wife, who had recently committed suicide. None of them are prepared for what they find when they reach the, now deserted, Event Horizon. The experimental drive had taken it to places beyond understanding… and it hadn’t come back alone. I will leave it there or the Spoiler Police will be signing me up for another trip.

A very well made film with some really excellent effects. Great performances all round; everyone did a very professional job and made the story believable. So, special praise goes to; Laurence Fishburne as Captain Miller, Sam Neill as Dr. William Weir, Kathleen Quinlan as Peters and Joely Richardson as Lt. Starck. Honourable mentions go to; Richard T. Jones as Cooper, Jack Noseworthy as Justin, Jason Isaacs (hello to him) as D.J. and Sean Pertwee as Smith.

I must admit I really like this film, how it’s got such a low rating on Rotten Tomatoes I will never know! Yes, the plot is a little complicated but I did find it truly scary and there a very few films I can say that about these days. To me I think it’s probably the best space horror since the Alien films… and it’s certainly better than Alien 4! I haven’t read what the professional critics have to say on it, but I will stick to my guns and say it’s a very underrated Sci-Fi Horror that deserves better recognition… Recommended.

My Score: 7.7/10

IMDb Score: 6.4/10 (based on 54,832 votes at the time of going to press).
http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt0083658/

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 23/100 (based on 35 reviews [No Consensus] counted at the time of going to press).
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/event_horizon/

FAVOURITE QUOTES:
Miller: Mr. Cooper!
Cooper: Skipper!
Miller: Ion Drive in 10 minutes.
Cooper: Ooh! It's time to play Spam in a Can!

Dr. Weir: What was made public about the Event Horizon - that she was a deep space research vessel, that her reactor went critical, and that the ship blew up - none of that is true. The Event Horizon is the culmination of a secret government project to create a spacecraft capable of faster-than-light flight.
Smith: Uhm, excuse me. See, you can't actually do that.

Miller: Vacate! I want off this ship!
Dr. Weir: You can't leave. She won't let you.
Miller: You just get your gear and get back on the Lewis and Clark, Doctor, or you'll find yourself walkin' home.
Dr. Weir: I am home.

LINKS:
Official Site (German): http://movies.uip.de/event_horizon/
Trailer:

Film Review: CONTAGION (2011)

Director: Steven Soderbergh
Running time: 106 mins (approx)
Certification (UK): 12A

Genre: Drama/Sci-Fi/Thriller
UK Release date: 21^st October 2011

Watched at the cinema Saturday 21^st October 2011.

PLEASE NOTE: THERE MAY BE SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.

I only decided to go and see this one after hearing a review on the radio. Prior to that I was undecided because I hadn’t really heard much feedback on it. But having made the decision I settled into my seat at my local cinema and hoped that those guys on the radio knew what they were talking about. Well, it started and went along quite calmly… I wasn’t too bothered; the various threads of the story were being introduced at this stage. It’s still fizzing along quietly for quite a while before things start to get a bit exciting. From then on it does pick up the pace a bit and I could finally see what the guys on the radio were talking about. Here’s a new (and improved) summary before I give you more of my thoughts.

It all starts on Day 2. A woman, Beth Emhoff, is at an airport, returning home from a trip to Hong Kong… and she’s not feeling well. From here we see outbreaks in various parts of the world and we begin to pick up other threads. In Atlanta, Georgia the head of the CDC, Dr. Ellis Cheever, begins to see a potential problem and sends one of his agents to Minnesota where help is needed. A blogger, Alan Krumwiede, picks up on the story and uses it to enhance his reputation online. We pick up the story on the sick woman’s husband, Mitch Emhoff, and his daughter, Jory, (from a previous marriage) and how events affect them. At the World Health Organisation in Geneva, Switzerland an official, Dr. Leonora Orantes, is sent out to Hong Kong to try and discover the source of the outbreak. There are more, minor, threads to this story but these are the main ones. As to the plot, well I really don’t want to say too much about that or the Spoiler Police will be measuring me up for a rhesus monkey suit.

I have to say that Steven Soderbergh assembled a really great cast for this one! Almost everyone who’s anyone has a role (it seems); Gwyneth Paltrow as Beth Emhoff and Matt Damon as Mitch Emhoff were both excellent, as was Laurence Fishburne as Dr. Ellis Cheever and Kate Winslet as Dr. Erin Mears. I thought Jude Law did a great job as Alan Krumwiede (despite a very strange accent). Also worthy of praise was Marion Cotillard as Dr. Leonora Orantes; she was her most excellent best (as ever). Honourable mentions go to Elliott Gould as Dr. Ian Sussman and Bryan Cranston as Lyle Haggerty.

It’s a slow burner but it does eventually pick up. It won’t be to everyone’s taste, but I quite liked it, mostly, it must be said, for the acting talent on display and their abilities. I’m sure lesser known actors would have done a competent enough job but this cast takes it to another level. I did feel that there was maybe one too many threads to follow, but it’s all done quite well as we see the effect this global virus has on society. There is a bit at the end which explains how the contagion started and I really wish that scene had been missed out; it wasn’t relevant (to me anyway). Over all though, an interesting film that’s quite slow to start with, but picks up pace eventually. A stellar cast gives it a boost but it’s really a very well made ‘B Movie’ with aspirations (IMO)… Even so… Recommended (although it won’t be to everyone’s taste).

My score: 7.2/10

IMDb Score: 7.2/10 (based on 12,586 votes when this review was written).
http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt1598778/

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 84/100 (based on 209 reviews counted when this review was written).
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/contagion_2011/

FAVOURITE QUOTES:
Dr. Ian Sussman: Blogging is not writing. It's just graffiti with punctuation.

Alan Krumwiede: It's a bad day to be a rhesus monkey.

LINKS:
Official Site: http://contagionmovie.warnerbros.com/index.html
Trailer:

Film Review: PREDATORS (2010) [REWATCH]

Director: Nimród Antal
Running time: 103 mins (approx)
Certification (UK): 15

Genre: Action/Adventure/Sci-Fi
UK Release date: 8^th July 2010

Watched on Sky+ Sunday 12^th June 2011.

PLEASE NOTE: THERE MAY BE SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.

Having seen this at the cinema almost a year ago it finally arrived on in the TV schedules. Since I quite enjoyed it first time around I thought I’d give it a second look. Below is pretty much my original review with just a couple of adjustments and a slightly revised score. On second viewing it didn’t quite have the impact it did first time around, but it was still entertaining where it needed to be and I finally figured out just what Noland added to the plot.

The film opens with a man dressed in battle fatigues falling, he is unconscious, but comes round. Shortly before impact with the jungle covered ground below a parachute opens, but he still lands with a bone-crunching thud. Others land around him and are, at first, aggressive towards each other until the first one persuades them it would be better to band together. They are all from the less desirable side of the tracks, there’s a mercenary, a convict, a sniper from Guatemala, a yakuza, a freedom fighter from Chechnya, a kidnapper, a religious fighter and a doctor. It soon becomes apparent that they are not on Earth and that they are being hunted by an unseen enemy. One by one they are eliminated by this foe. Eventually a plan is formed to defeat them and get off this planet.

Very reminiscent of the original film, Predator (1987) starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, but maybe without the same impact. All very well done with some excellent special effects and CGI. Decent performances from all involved. Honourable mentions go to, Adrien Brody as Royce, Topher Grace as Edwin, Alice Braga as Isabelle, Walton Goggins as Stans, Oleg Taktarov as Nikolai, a nice cameo from Laurence Fishburne as Noland, Danny Trejo as Cuchillo, Louis Ozawa Changchien as Hanzo and Mahershalalhashbaz Ali as Mombasa.

Although not as good as the 1987 original, I quite enjoyed this reboot. Having seen several films featuring the Predators since then, they don’t have the fright factor they used to. But it was an entertaining film with some great action sequences and a nice twist at the end. It’s not the best film in the world, but over all recommended for those who like this sort of thing (I did). Oh, and it ends wide open for a sequel.

My score: 7.1/10

LINKS:
(RT=Rotten Tomatoes)
IMDb Page: http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt1424381/
RT Page: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/10012256-predators/
Official Site: http://www.predators-movie.com/
Trailer:

Film Review: ARMORED (ARMOURED in English) (2009)

Director: Nimród Antal
Running time: 85 mins (approx)
Certification (UK): 12

Genre: Thriller/Heist/Drama
UK release date 22nd January 2010

Watched on Sky+ Saturday 12th February 2011.

PLEASE NOTE: THERE MAY BE SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.

I remember this one being mentioned in dispatches when it came out, but that’s about all I remember about it. Now, having seen it I find there’s not a lot to add to that. It’s a pretty forgettable run of the mill heist thriller with a surprisingly good cast considering how average it is. But more of my thoughts later, here’s a brief summary first (summary haters please look after that big pile of cash while I write the next paragraph).

Ty Hackett has recently graduated to be a security guard working for Eagle Security. They transport money in armoured trucks around the city. He is a decorated soldier having served in Iraq and has to look after his teenage brother, Jimmy, after both of their parents died. A group of his colleagues, led by Mike Cochrane, are planning to fake a heist and steal $42 million from two of their trucks. At first Ty is against the idea, but after a visit from Social Services about his brother, he changes his mind, on the condition that nobody is hurt. As they are hiding the money a homeless man is spotted spying on them and he is shot. This leaves Ty in a dilemma, should he just turn a blind eye, or should he stand by his principals? Well I guess that’s enough to whet your appetite for now.

I’ll start with what I did like… well the music wasn’t too bad and the cinematography was pretty good, and that’s just about it. As I said, there is a pretty good cast which includes; Matt Dillon as Mike Cochrane, Jean Reno as Quinn, Laurence Fishburne as the trigger-happy Baines, Amaury Nolasco as Palmer, Fred Ward as the boss, Duncan Ashcroft, Milo Ventimiglia as Eckhart, Skeet Ulrich as the cop, Dodds and Columbus Short as Ty Hackett. None of which were really stretched in this pretty average caper.

So in conclusion, it’s a rather dull and slightly predictable heist movie with the twist being it’s the guards committing the crime. There’s very little here we haven’t seen many times before. And so a very average film gets a very average score from me… Not recommended.

My score: 4.9/10

LINKS:
(RT = Rotten Tomatoes)
IMDb Page: http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt0913354/
RT Page: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/10010705-armored/
Official Site: http://www.armoredmovie.com/
Trailer: http://uk.imdb.com/rg/VIDEO_PLAY/LINK/video/imdb/vi3894936089/

Film Review: PREDATORS (2010)

Director: Nimród Antal
Running time: 106 mins (approx)
Certification (UK): 15

UK Release date: 8th July 2010

Watched at the cinema Saturday 10th July 2010.

PLEASE NOTE: THERE MAY BE SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.

Since my local cinema only has two screens and, as a provincial picture house, has to make a profit, at times they have a limited choice of films. This week was a case in point. Just the two very popular films showing this week meaning I have to travel in order to see my personal choice. A bus, some legs, a train and some more legs later I find myself standing in the queue at the multiplex. Having purchased my ticket and waited for the screening room to be cleaned up form the previous showing we are let into Screen 2.

The film opens with a man dressed in battle fatigues falling, he is unconscious, but comes round. Shortly before impact with the jungle covered ground below a parachute opens, but he still lands with a bone-crunching thud. Others land around him and are, at first aggressive towards each other until the first one persuades them it would be better to band together. They are all from the less desirable side of the tracks, there’s a mercenary, a convict, a sniper from Guatemala, a yakuza, a freedom fighter from Chechnya, a kidnapper, a religious fighter and a doctor. It soon becomes apparent that they are not on Earth and that they are being hunted by an unseen enemy. One by one they are eliminated by this foe. Eventually a plan is formed to defeat them and get off this planet.

Very reminiscent of the original film, Predator (1987) starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, but maybe without the same impact. All very well done with some excellent special effects and CGI. Decent performances from all involved. Honourable mentions go to, Adrien Brody as Royce, Topher Grace as Edwin, Alice Braga as Isabelle, Walton Goggins as Stans, Oleg Taktarov as Nikolai, a nice cameo from Laurence Fishburne as Noland, Danny Trejo as Cuchillo, Louis Ozawa Changchien as Hanzo and Mahershalalhashbaz Ali as Mombasa.

Although not as good as the 1987 original, I quite enjoyed this sequel. Having seen several films featuring the Predators since then, they don’t have the fright factor they used to. But it was an entertaining film with some great action sequences and a nice twist at the end. It’s not the best film in the world, but over all recommended for those who like this sort of thing (I did). Oh, and it ends wide open for another sequel.

My score: 7.3/10

LINKS:
IMDb Site: http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt1424381/
Official Site: http://www.predators-movie.com/
Trailer: http://uk.imdb.com/rg/VIDEO_PLAY/LINK/video/imdb/vi2220360729/