Film Review: THE DOUBLE (2011)

Director: Michael Brandt
Writers: Michael Brandt, Derek Haas
Running time: 94 mins (approx)
Certification (UK): 12

Genre: Action/Crime/Drama
Turkey Release date: 28^th October 2011

Watched on Sky+ Sunday 12^th May 2013.

PLEASE NOTE: THERE MAY BE UNINTENTIONAL SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.

A decent espionage thriller is something to behold; the majority of the Bond films are a case in point. This, however, falls into the category of ‘Nice idea that didn’t quite work’. I will keep it briefer than normal because this one is quite easy to sum up, but you don’t escape my very brief summary first.

We begin with a Russian agent, Bozlovski (Tamer Hassan) being smuggled into the US via Mexico. There’s then a plot about a series of seven Russian agents, headed by a character known as Cassius. Six of them were killed by CIA Agent Paul Shepherdson (Richard Gere), then Cassuis had mysteriously disappeared. When a US Senator is killed employing methods used by Cassius, alarm bells begin to ring. A young FBI Agent, Ben Geary (Topher Grace) is brought in and paired with Shepherdson, after much protest. They set off to track down Cassius, but he is much closer to home than they think. And just what does Bozlovski have to do with all this?

First off, all the performances were very good; I only wish the same could be said for the script. The plot wanders about; giving away very key information far too early (IMO) and taking all the mystery out of it for me. Yes, there is a twist at the end, but by that time I’m just pissed off with it. It’s well shot with most of the action taking place in and around Washington DC. It was nice to see Martin Sheen as CIA director Tom Highland; although it was kinda odd seeing him in Washington & not being the President. Over all, a film that failed to live up to expectations; I know which direction I would have taken it in and that would have been a much better story.

SteelMonster’s verdict: NOT RECOMMENDED

My score: 5.7/10.

IMDb Score: 5.9/10 (based on 14,282 votes when this review was written).
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1646980/

MetaScore: 37/100: (Based on 20 critic reviews provided by Metacritic.com at the time of going to press).

Rotten Tomatoes ‘Tomatometer’ Score: 20/100 (based on 45 reviews counted at the time of going to press).

Rotten Tomatoes ‘Audience’ Score: 38/100 (based on 4,104 user ratings counted at the time of going to press).
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_double_2011/

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

FAVOURITE QUOTES:
[first lines]
Bozlovski: [whispering in Spanish] Better you forget them. You didn't see anything.

Paul Shepherdson: If the Russians used their women instead of missiles, we'd be wearing furry hats right now.

Ben Geary: You’re gonna “shoot her in the head”?
Paul Shepherdson: Just making a connection.

Martin Miller: [about Bozlovski] This guy has used every single weapon you can think of. From an M-24 from 800 meters, to a rusty nail.

[last lines]
Tom Highland: Ben, would you consider working for us?
Ben Geary: [stunned]
Tom Highland: Think about it...

LINKS:
(Note: All were working at the time of going to press)
Official Site: http://www.thedoublemovie.com/
Trailer: (Sorry if it gives too much away)

Film Review: THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN (2012)

Director: Marc Webb
Writers: James Vanderbilt (screenplay/story), Alvin Sargent (screenplay), Steve Kloves (screenplay), Stan Lee (Marvel comic book), Steve Ditko (Marvel comic book)
Running time: 136 mins (approx)
Certification (UK): 12A

Genre: Action/Adventure/Fantasy
UK Release date: 3^rd July 2012

Watched at the Picture House (K-town) Sunday 7^th July 2012.

PLEASE NOTE: THERE MAY BE SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.

It’s Saturday afternoon and the new Spider-Man film is out; what’s a man to do? Well, why not pop down to the Picture House in K-Town and catch said movie; which is what I did. It was showing on the small screen upstairs and, with it being a Saturday, there were plenty of dads with their youngsters in tow. I’ll admit I was slightly in fear of tantrums and flying popcorn, but I managed to behave myself all the way through… the kids weren’t too bad either. But I digress; here’s a brief summary before I give you my thoughts.

Peter Parker, whose parents disappeared when he was young, has been brought up by his Uncle Ben and Aunt May. A quiet lad who always had a bent for science, he one day stumbles on an old brief case that once belonged to his father. This leads him to a company called Oscorp and his father’s former colleague, Dr Curt Connors. Whilst there he is bitten by a spider, a very special spider developed by his father who had been working on cross-species genetics. Dr Connors has also been working on a similar project but with little success. A girl that Peter knows from school, Gwen Stacy, also works as an intern for Dr. Connors and they find themselves drawn together as the effects of the spider bite become apparent. He finds he has great strength and agility and he designs and makes some web-slingers. But then tragedy strikes and he feels he must go out and clean up the city. Meanwhile Dr Connors experiments on himself and the results are quite horrific; a monster is now stalking the city and it’s up to Spider-Man to stop him! I’ve probably said too much already but I’ll leave it there or the Spoiler Police (Spidy Division) will have me hosing used webs off all the buildings in Manhattan (again).

I found it quite hard to look at this film without drawing parallels with Sam Raimi’s 2002 film Spider-Man. The two are very similar in many ways although this one did try to stay a little more grounded. As far as performances go, well everyone did a decent job; Andrew Garfield coped well with the dual role of Spider-Man and Peter Parker and Emma Stone did a decent job as Gwen Stacey. I thought Rhys Ifans did a very decent job as The Lizard/Dr. Curt Connors and Denis Leary was fine as the cop Captain Stacey (Gwen’s dad). But I must give a special mention for Martin Sheen as Uncle Ben and Sally Field as Aunt May; a masterful piece of casting; both were perfect (IMO).

Comparing the two films (it’s hard not to), I felt that this one didn’t really add anything that the original did. Yes, it’s a slightly different take on it, but essentially the same. There are long periods spent setting up dramatic plot points that don’t always pay off and I also felt it was far too long. The CGI is all very well done and the fight sequences are also well executed but I did have the nagging feeling I had seen it all before. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a good film, but (IMO) not different enough from Sam Raimi’s effort to be a great film. Even so… Recommended, especially if you haven’t seen the original 2002 movie.

My score: 6.8/10

IMDb Score: 7.8/10 (based on 29,271 votes at the time of going to press).
http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt0948470/

MetaScore: 66/100: (Based on 42 critic reviews provided by Metacritic.com at the time of going to press).

Rotten Tomatoes ‘Tomatometer’ Score: 72/100 (based on 228 reviews counted at the time of going to press).

Rotten Tomatoes ‘Audience’ Score: 84/100 ‘Liked it’ (based on 291,053 user ratings counted at the time of going to press).
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_amazing_spider_man/

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

FAVOURITE QUOTES:
[Peter finds an old satchel in a closet]
Ben Parker: I forgot all about that thing. It was your dad's...

[at Oscorp]
Gwen Stacy: [to Peter] Don't get me into trouble. Do NOT touch anything!

Peter Parker: We all have secrets: the ones we keep... and the ones that are kept from us.

Peter Parker: Ahem, you know, if you're going to steal cars, don't dress like a car thief.
Car Thief: You a cop?
Peter Parker: You seriously think I'm a cop in a skin-tight red and blue suit?

Gwen Stacy: How did you get up here?
Peter Parker: The fire escape.
Gwen Stacy: That's twenty stories.
Peter Parker: Your doorman's intimidating.

LINKS:
(Note: All were working at the time of going to press)
Official Site: http://www.theamazingspiderman.com/
Official Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theamazingspiderman
Trailer:

Film Review: BADLANDS (1973)

Writer/Director: Terrence Malick
Running time: 94 mins (approx)
Certification (UK): 15

Genre: Crime/Drama/Romance
USA Release date: 13^th October 1073 (New York Film Festival)

Watched on Sky+ Saturday 12^th May 2012.

PLEASE NOTE: THERE MAY BE SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.

I have always struggled in the past to get a grip on the films of Terrence Malick. I guess they just don’t make a connection with me the same way the works of other directors do. To this end I decided to go back to what many have told me is his best work, Badlands, and I must say I was not disappointed. I will give you a more detailed opinion after this very brief summary.

In 1959, Port Dupree, South Dakota a young man named Kit sees fifteen year old Holly and decides to speak to her. She is ten years his junior but that doesn’t seem to matter to Kit and eventually they fall in love. After an incident that involves Holly’s father the pair finds themselves on the run. They live in a tree house for a while, but they are discovered and Kit ends up killing three men. What follows is a race across the country and a killing spree that becomes legendary. It all ends in the Badlands of Montana, but, of course, I’m not going to say just how it ends here or the Spoiler Police will have an APB out on me! (again).

There are some moments of sheer cinematic brilliance in this film that I found quite beautifully done. The way Malick uses imagery is quite stunning sometimes. The film hinges on the performances of the two central characters and both Martin Sheen as Kit and Sissy Spacek as Holly stepped up to the mark and put in stellar performances (IMO). In fact Sissy Spacek was nominated for the Most Promising Newcomer to Leading Film Roles BAFTA in 1975 on the strength of this performance.

A very slow deliberate pace is one of the hallmarks of a Terrence Malick film and this is no exception. If anything, I did find it a little too pedestrian for my taste, however, the strength of the characters was enough to keep me interested. I must admit I was pleasantly surprised at how good this film was, especially the cinematography. A stunning piece of work and one I have no problem in deeming: Highly Recommended.

My score: 8.9/10

IMDb Score: 7.9/10 (based on 23,833 votes at the time of going to press).
http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt0069762/

MetaScore: NO DATA: (Based on 0 critic reviews provided by Metacritic.com at the time of going to press).

Rotten Tomatoes ‘Tomatometer’ Score: 98/100 (based on 43 reviews counted at the time of going to press).

Rotten Tomatoes ‘Audience’ Score: 89/100 (based on 21,580 user ratings counted at the time of going to press).
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1001577-badlands/

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

FAVOURITE QUOTES:
[first lines]
Holly Sargis: [voice over narration] My Mother dies of pneumonia when I was just a kid. My Father kept their wedding cake in the freezer for ten whole years. After the funeral he gave it to the yard man. He tried to act cheerful but he could never be consoled by the little stranger he found in his house. Then one day hoping to begin a new life away from the scene of all these memories he moved us from Texas to Port Dupree, South Dakota.

Holly Sargis: [voice over narration] Little did I realise that what began in the alleys and back ways of this quiet town would end in the Badlands of Montana.

Kit Carruthers: You Tired?
Holly Sargis: Yeah.
Kit Carruthers: Yeah, you look tired... Listen, honey. when all this is over, I'm going to sit down and buy you a big, thick steak.
Holly Sargis: I don't want a steak.
Kit Carruthers: Well, we'll see about that... Hey, lookie.

Holly Sargis: One day, while taking a look at some vistas in Dad's stereopticon, it hit me that I was just this little girl, born in Texas, whose father was a sign painter, who only had just so many years to live. It sent a chill down my spine and I thought where would I be this very moment, if Kit had never met me? Or killed anybody... this very moment... if my mom had never met my dad... if she had never died. And what's the man I'll marry gonna look like? What's he doing right this minute? Is he thinking about me now, by some coincidence, even though he doesn't know me? Does it show on his face? For days afterwards I lived in dread. Sometimes I wished I could fall asleep and be taken off to some magical land, and this never happened.

LINKS:
(Note: All were working at the time of going to press)
Trailer:

Film Review: CATCH-22 (1970)

Director: Mike Nichols
Writers: Joseph Heller (Novel), Buck Henry (Screenplay)
Running time: 122 mins (approx)
Certification (UK): 15

Genre: Comedy/War
USA Release date: 24^th June 1970

Watched on Sky+ Saturday 21^st January 2012.

PLEASE NOTE: THERE MAY BE SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.

This is a film I saw many years ago… I didn’t really understand it then and so I thought I’d give it another look (having matured a bit in the meantime). I must say it’s very weird, anarchic at times and has a lot to say politically… it’s also quite compelling. Based on Joseph Heller’s famous novel which, I have to confess, I’ve never read so you’ll be getting my opinion of the film as a stand-alone piece. But enough of my prattling; let’s have a crack at a synopsis before I give you my thoughts.

Whilst flying missions in Italy during World War II, Capt. John Yossarian decides he wants out and tries to get himself certified insane… But there’s a catch… Catch-22 to be precise. I won’t tell you exactly how it works here; but needless to say, it’s a pretty cunning way of keeping the boys flying. We also meet all of his crew and the locals they associate with when not on duty. There are also those who are out for themselves; Col. Cathcart, Maj. Danby and 1st Lt. Milo Minderbinder to name but a few. All this is interspersed with flashbacks to Yossarian’s efforts to help a young airman who is injured on a mission. I really don’t want to say too much, it’s one of those you have to see for yourself to get a grasp of. Also, the Spoiler Police will be selling off all my stuff.

This is an interesting film that has a lot to say about many things; not least war and capitalism. I won’t go into the political questions it raises, but needless to say the point is put across quite forcibly. Decent performances all round, particularly from Alan Arkin as Capt. John Yossarian; he did a first rate job here! Honourable mentions go to; Martin Balsam as Col. Cathcart, Richard Benjamin as Maj. Danby, Art Garfunkel as Capt. Nately, Jack Gilford as Dr. 'Doc' Daneeka, Buck Henry as Lt. Col. Korn, Bob Newhart as Maj. Major Major, Anthony Perkins as Chaplain Capt. A.T. Tappman, Paula Prentiss as Nurse Duckett, Martin Sheen as 1st Lt. Dobbs and Jon Voight as 1st Lt. Milo Minderbinder. Finally a special mention for Orson Welles who played a brilliant cameo as Brig. Gen. Dreedle.

Although I found this film entertaining, I did find it did drag on a bit towards the end. About 20 minutes shorter and it would have been ideal (for me). It’s all very well shot, but I’m afraid it suffers from having the feel of some ‘Frat-house’ comedy which didn’t really endear it to me too much. That aside, I did find parts of it were quite compelling although I did struggle to have much empathy with any of the characters… even the lead. For its day though I thought it was quite groundbreaking and quite an eye-opener (in more ways than one). At the end of the day an interesting adaptation… I’ll have to read the book sometime.

My score: 6.9/10.

IMDb Score: 7.1/10 (based on 10,995 votes at the time of going to press).
http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt0065528/

Rotten Tomatoes ‘Tomatometer’ Score: 87/100 (based on 23 reviews counted at the time of going to press).

Rotten Tomatoes ‘Audience’ Score: 62/100 (based on 9,365 user ratings counted at the time of going to press).
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/catch22/

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

FAVOURITE QUOTES:
Yossarian: Let me see if I've got this straight: in order to be grounded, I've got to be crazy and I must be crazy to keep flying. But if I ask to be grounded, that means I'm not crazy any more and I have to keep flying.

Yossarian: Is Orr crazy?
Dr. 'Doc' Daneeka: Of course he is. He has to be crazy to keep flying after all his close calls he's had.
Yossarian: Why can't you ground him?
Dr. 'Doc' Daneeka: I can, but first he has to ask me.
Yossarian: That's all he's gotta do to be grounded?
Dr. 'Doc' Daneeka: That's all.
Yossarian: Then you can ground him?
Dr. 'Doc' Daneeka: No. Then I cannot ground him.
Yossarian: Aah!
Dr. 'Doc' Daneeka: There's a CATCH?
Yossarian: A catch?
Dr. 'Doc' Daneeka: Sure. Catch-22. Anyone who wants to get out of combat isn't really crazy, so I can't ground him.
Yossarian: Ok, let me see if I've got this straight. In order to be grounded, I've got to be crazy. And I must be crazy to keep flying. But if I ask to be grounded, that means I'm not crazy anymore, and I have to keep flying.
Dr. 'Doc' Daneeka: You got it, that's Catch-22.
Yossarian: Whoo... That's some catch, that Catch-22.
Dr. 'Doc' Daneeka: It's the best there is.

Capt. Nately: Don't you have any principles?
Old man in whorehouse: Of course not!
Capt. Nately: No morality?
Old man in whorehouse: I'm a very moral man, and Italy is a very moral country. That's why we will certainly come out on top again if we succeed in being defeated.
Capt. Nately: You talk like a madman.
Old man in whorehouse: But I live like a sane one. I was a fascist when Mussolini was on top. Now that he has been deposed, I am anti-fascist. When the Germans were here, I was fanatically pro-German. Now I'm fanatically pro-American. You'll find no more loyal partisan in all of Italy than myself.
Capt. Nately: You're a shameful opportunist! What you don't understand is that it's better to die on your feet than to live on your knees.
Old man in whorehouse: You have it backwards. It's better to live on your feet than to die on your knees. I know.
Capt. Nately: How do you know?
Old man in whorehouse: Because I am 107-years-old. How old are you?
Capt. Nately: I'll be 20 in January.
Old man in whorehouse: If you live.

LINKS:
(Note: All were working at the time of going to press)
Trailer (Not the official one):