November 26, 2007

Before The Devil Knows You're Dead


"May you spend half an hour in heaven...Before the Devil knows you're dead"

This quote is shown near the beginning of the movie, and besides just being cool, it actually does ring true later in the final act. At first glance, this is the story of a heist gone wrong. Phillip Seymour Hoffman (Andy) and Ethan Hawke (Hank) play brothers, both desperate for money, who decide to rip off their parent's jewellery store. Not too far into the film we discover that it's more about how an act of betrayal tears a family apart. In fact each of the main characters belonging to this family are slowly destroyed from the inside. Their morals begin to slide. And we get to watch as Andy simply becomes unravelled. Hawke is outstanding and proves once again he is better suited for a supporting role alongside a great actor, it seems to raise his game (think Training Day with Denzel's Oscar winning role). The great actor in this case is of course Hoffman, who actually has one of his very best performances here. The character of Andy at one point explains how he isn't "the sum of his parts" and that he doesn't "add up". We actually get to see this in action in various scenes where something is certainly wrong beneath the surface. Albert Finney is great as the father, who's role becomes very important in the film's second half. From the opening moments to the end credits, "Before the Devil..." sets an indescribable tone. It leaves you feeling hollow and disappointed (not in the movie itself but with the character's actions). In fact, although not in a traditional or enjoyable way, this may be the most emotionally affecting movie this year. It's very hard to explain unless you see it yourself. Which you should. Immediately. Directed by 83 year old Sidney Lumet (Dog Day Afternoon), "Before the Devil Knows You're Dead" is an expertly shot, superbly acted powerhouse of a film.


image © ThinkFilm

November 14, 2007

All Apologies

I just posted a bunch of reviews in like 10 minutes. They suck. I'm sorry. I felt like I was getting behind.

check out my flickster profile at www.flickster.com, my username is adamcook82

By the way, I don't think I have ever been as excited for a movie as I am for the upcoming There Will Be Blood.

No Country For Old Men

No Country For Old Men is a brilliant film from the famous Coen bros. From start to finish, No Country's excellent writing stands out and sets the tone for this dark thriller. The plot starts off fairly simple, but further on, the movie reveals unexpected themes. Featuring a great cast led by a never better Tommy Lee Jones, the film is deservedly creating some early Academy Award buzz. The movie has some good twists, and is cinemtically perfect. Definitely one of the best this year.

Lars & the Real Girl

Lars & the Real Girl is a sweet, heartwarming story about a man who develops a relationship with a life size doll. Ryan Gosling plays Lars, an anti-social towns-person who actually does believe his new lover is real. Instead of all the people in town freaking out, they are advised to go along with his delusion. The hope is that Lars will eventually get over it on his own. The film's strange but excellent premise unfortunately succumbs to typical light comedy for the most part but does stand out occasionally. This is mostly due to the brilliance of Gosling, who again shows evidence of Oscar calibre acting. The film does what it sets out to do by being an entertaining and moving little film. This is fine, however, I can't help but wonder if under someone else's direction, this could have been a spectacular character study. A good, but uneven comedy/drama.

American Gangster

Already being hailed as a great film, American Gangster is a muddled, over long, over hyped disappointment. Russel Crowe and Denzel Washington excel with their roles, but that is one of very few highlights. Ridley Scott tries to give a 2 page story the same scope as Gladiator, thus creating a slow, boring mess. At times, Gangster is pleasing stylistically and plot-wise but ultimately fails in every area. I suppose I may have enjoyed it more had I not heard so many good things about it. Perhaps a good rental, but no reason to see this in theatres.

The Darjeeling Limited

After the excellent film Rushmore, writer/director Wes Anderson followed up his debut with weaker movies The Royal Tenenbaums and The Life Aquatic. Both movies had their moments, but compared to Rushmore they were very dissapointing. The Darjeeling Limited finally sees Anderson back on track. The film is both hilarious, heart breaking and stunningly beautiful. Although not quite as good as Rushmore, at least now it can be said that Anderson can make more than one great movie. One of the best this year.

30 Days of Night

30 Days of Night is a horror film that tries to reinvent the vampire. To try and change the standing romantic symbol to one of terror. In this regard, the movie is somewhat of a success. But despite this, and impressive visuals, the film is very weak. Bad story, bad characters and strange pacing drag it down to the level of forgettable.