Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow - 2004

 Paramount Pictures, Brooklyn Films II, Riff Raff Film Productions 

Directed by Kerry Conran

Cast:

Polly Perkins – Gwyneth Paltrow

Sky Captain – Jude Law

Dex – Giovanni Ribisi

Editor Paley – Michael Gambon

Mysterious Woman – Bai Ling

Kaji – Omid Djalili

Franky – Angelina Jolie

Story: In 1939, a top secret force commanded by Sky Captain is activated when Polly Perkins, a reporter, uncovers the systematic murders of top scientists from World War One. As she is tracking down leads, trying to find the killers, she is almost killed along with another scientist when a group of advanced robots descends on the city to locate two missing components in an evil plot that will destroy the world. Only Sky Captain and his elite forces, along with the aide of an elite British force led by Franky, can save the world from certain and complete destruction. But can they do it?

Review: Unfortunately, this film did not do well in the theaters. Which is a shame, because being an excellent film with superb graphics, it is also the forerunner of everything that has followed in Compter Generated Images (CGI).

Sky Captain was filmed entirely in blue screen. None of the sets existed except it the mind of the people doing the graphics. Which meant the actors had no frame of reference when they were performing. Oh, of course there were tape marks on the floor, but nothing to react to, nothing to walk around, nothing but a blank room with platforms where necessary to go up and down. Which means the actors had to envision the room as it might be and then respond without the aid of visual cues. Now, I don't know about you, but I would call that acting above and beyond the normal requirements. And the best part is, they all do it extremely well.

As to plot, considering the setting of the film, the plot is exactly as it should be. If this had been made in the 1950's, this film would have been a “Cliffhanger”, like Commando Cody or Flash Gordon used to be, a tool to get parents to drop their kids off at the local theater for Saturday morning matinees while they did their grocery shopping or other chores. I remember doing that while my mom was off grocery shopping, and my brother and I would sit for two or three hours watching cartoons and a couple of those films.

Still, there isn't a lot of action by comparison to what we expect from films these days, and the technology in the film is 'old school', so perhaps the current generation of film goers just didn't get it. I recommend the film as a great way to spend ninety six minutes when the kiddies are looking to see what the old world used to be like. Rated PG, collectible for us Sci Fi types. Enjoy.

Columbus Circle - 2012

Oxymoron Entertainment, Blue Star Entertainment, G4 Pictures

Directed by George Gallo

Cast:

• Abigail Clayton – Selma Blair
• Lillian Hart – Amy Smart
• Charles Stratford – Jason Lee
• Detective Frank Giardello – Giovanni Ribisi
• Klandermann – Kevin Pollack
• Dr. Raymond Fontaine – Beau Bridges
• Detective Jerry Evans – Jason Antoon
• Howard Miles – Robert Guillaume

Story: Abigail Clayton has not come out of her condo in nearly twenty years. Her self imposed agoraphobic existence is about to be disturbed when the neighbor across the way from her condo is found dead from a fall, an accident? Detective Giardello isn't convinced, and questions the neighbors, including Abigail. He is even more intrigued to find no trace of this mysterious woman before she moved into the condo. Abigail, in an attempt to protect her privacy, attempts to purchase the victim's condo, only to find out it has been sold to Lillian and Charles, a dysfunctional couple who soon intrude upon her privacy even more. Abigail hears them arguing loudly outside her door, and peeks through the peep hole to witness Lillian being hit across the face by Charles, who is obviously drunk. Abigail tries to help, but this only leads to further intrusions as she attempts to be supportive of the apparently abused woman. Meanwhile Detective Giardello and his partner, Jerry Evans, locate Dr. Fontaine, who they soon discover is also Abigail's doctor. As the plot unfolds, we learn this is a carefully orchestrated attempt to steal a fortune from Abigail. Will it work?

Review: Bravo to Kevin Pollack, who also co-wrote this refreshing mystery in the style of the Raymond Chandler stories of old. Selma Blair and Giovanni Ribisi (in my opinion one of the most underexposed and capable actors of recent years, re: The Other Sister, Boiler Room, Avatar, etc.) give plausible and perfectly tuned performances in this film. The supporting cast is exceptional. Jason Lee provides the audience with a new perspective on his already estimable talents, not falling back upon his comedic style. Pollack and Bridges, two actors whose abilities are well known, provide us with exceptional supporting characters, as do Jason Antoon and Amy Smart. Although the initial twenty minutes of the film are a bit slow, the action quickly picks up and the conclusion contains a refreshing twist. Cinematography and photography are excellent, and the film has a cohesive feel that provides the illusion of the first time, which is after all the point of acting. Rated PG-13 for language and violence, hats off to the director and writers for not falling into the “gratuitous sex scenes that so often accompany films of this nature. Collectible? Depends on your particular bent, but wouldn't rule it out. Watch it and decide for yourself.

Faces in the Crowd - 2011

Forecast Pictures, Frantic Films Live Action Productions, Minds Eye Entertainment

Written and Directed by Julian Magnat

Cast:

• Anna Marchant – Milla Jovovich
• Sam Kerrest – Julian McMahon
• Lanyon – David Atrakchi
• Bryce – Michael Shanks
• Dr. Langenkamp – Marianne Faithfull
• Francine – Sally Wayne Callies
• Nina – Valentina Vargas

Story: Anna Marchant is on her way home from a night out with her girlfriends when she witnesses the murder of a young woman. The killer, a serial killer nicknamed the “Tear Jerker” because his tears have been found on all his victims, comes after her, and in the ensuing struggle she is knocked off the bridge into the water, violently striking her head on the way down. The impact has left her with a rare condition, she is unable to remember anyone's face, including the face of the man who attacked her. Sam Kerrest, the police detective who is assigned to the case, must try to protect her from the unknown assailant, and in the process, is falling in love with her. Anna must cope with the condition, which causes her to be suspended from her job, since she cannot remember the faces of the children, and loses her relationship with Bryce. When one of her closest friends is murdered, almost in front of her, Sam realizes the killer is near, and takes her away to the island where he grew up as a boy. When they return to the city, Sam realizes who the killer is, and in the end, the cost to save Anna is high.

Review: Milla Jovovich as the victim? Wow, after all the films where she kicks butts and takes names, this is an interesting change, and one that seems to work well. While there is the mandatory nudity of a Milla Jovovich movie (let's face it, the lady is beautiful), I found most of the scenes to be unnecessary to the plot. Milla does a good job of portraying Anna, and her emotions are direct and correct for the scene she is in. Julian McMahon is equally good, so the two combine to make a credible match up in this low key story about the hunt for a serial killer. The photography is excellent and the script is average, so the overall feel of the show is more suited for the small screen than the big screen, which is why this started out in Turkey and went to DVD release in the US. While I doubt there will be a big following for this film, fans of Milla will enjoy it, as will fans of Julian McMahon, who enjoys a modicum of interest from his fans from NIP TUCK and CHARMED. (Wouldn't count on a lot of fans of DR. DOOM, Julian, that movie missed the mark among us comic book, er, graphic novel, fans. Rated R for violence and sexuality, this is a film you can pass on or not, depending on your taste for melodrama. Nothing to write home about, but certainly nothing to dismiss out of hand. Rent it and put it back on the shelf.

The Ninth Gate - 1999

Artisan Entertainment, R.P. Productions, Orly Films

Directed by Roman Polanski

Cast:

• Dean Corso – Johnny Depp
• Boris Balkan – Frank Langella
• Bernie – James Russo
• Liana Telfer – Lena Olin
• The Girl – Emmanuelle Seigner
• Victor Fargas – Jack Taylor
• Baroness Keffler – Barbara Jefford

Story: A book broker specializing in rare books finds himself embattled in a struggle for power between the owner of one of three copies of a book supposedly coauthored by Satan himself. Dean Corso is a well known and unscrupulous man whose only interest is the money he will earn by finding rare books for his clients. He is engaged by Boris Balkan to verify the authenticity of a book he has recently obtained, one of only three copies known to exist. He soon learns there is more at stake than just a book. People are following him and searching his apartment. He hides the book with a friend in a rare book store, only to find the friend dead when he returns to retrieve it on his way to the airport. He tries to back out, but Balkan persuades him to continue. Soon Corso is pursuing the book for his own reasons. Is this book really the path to the Ninth Gate?

Review: If you needed an actor to play a somewhat strange and peculiar role, who would you choose? Roman Polanski, the controversial former husband of actress Sharon Tate and still wanted for his dalliance with a 13 year old girl, was certainly the right man to direct this dark film, filled with the realities of human frailty. Depp was the ideal actor, his ability to interact with others, yet stand apart from them is a crucial element of the film. As with all Polanski films, this one is filled with villians with nuances of evil, from the jaded, wealthy Lena Olin to the pontificating and self-righteous Barbara Jefford. Emmanuelle Siegner, Polanski's wife, provides our supernatural character, but on whose side is she? The plot weaves intricately from step to step and the reality of the book is only revealed in the end. Rated R for nudity, language and violence, this film is definitely a late night indulgence for the grown ups.

Manhunter - 1986

De Laurentiis Entertainment Group (DEG), Red Dragon Productions S.A.

Screenplay and Directed by Michael Mann

Cast:

• Will Graham – William Petersen
• Molly Graham - Kim Griest
• Reba McClane – Joan Allen
• Dr. Hannibal Lecter – Brian Cox
• Jack Crawford – Dennis Farina
• Francis Dollarhyde – Tom Noonan
• Dr. Frederick Chilton – Benjamin Hendrickson
• Lt. Fisk – Frankie Faison
• Freddy Lounds – Stephen Lang

Story: Will Graham is a former FBI agent who recently retired to Florida with his wife and son. Graham is a 'profiler' of criminal behavior, and tries to think like the killers he profiles in order to capture them. He is called out of his retirement by his former boss, Jack Crawford, to help the FBI catch an elusive serial killer, known to the press as the 'Tooth Fairy', who randomly kills whole families in their houses during the full moon and leaves bite marks on his victims. While searching for clues to the Tooth Fairy's identity, Will meets with Dr. Hannibal Lector, an incarcerated serial killer who Will captured years earlier. His early dealings with Lector nearly drove him insane, and almost cost him his life. He discovers secret communciations are being routed in newspaper personal ads between Lector and the Tooth Fairy, and Lector may be behind a plot to kill his family for revenge.

Review: This is the first of four reviews I will do on the movies involving the character Hannibal Lector, the horrifying creation of Thomas Harris who even now ranks among the most terrifying villains imagined. A physician and psychiatrist who not only manipulates and murders his patients, but eats them as well. In this first screen appearance of Dr. Lector, he is little more than a footnote. Most of the film concentrates on the toll taken on Will Graham in his return to the FBI and his pursuit of the Tooth Fairy. The film contains the classic Michael Mann “darkness”, and the action is brisk and to the point. Petersen, Cox, Farina, and Noonan give splendid performances, and the overall feel is better (in my opinion) than “Red Dragon”, the remake of this film. Rated R for violence and language as well as disturbing content and images, this is definitely not a family film.

The Thomas Crown Affair - 1999

United Artists, Irish DreamTime, MGM

Directed by John McTiernan

Cast:

• Thomas Crown – Pierce Brosnan
• Cathrine Banning – Rene Russo
• Detective Michael McCann – Denis Leary
• Andrew Wallace – Ben Gazzara
• Detective Paretti – Frankie Faison
• Paul Cheng – James Saito
• Anna Knudson – Esther Caňadas

Story: Thomas Crown is a very smart and very successful man. He has his own building in Manhattan, a townhouse filled with Marble, granite, art and sculpture, a personal assistant who tends to his every need, a psychiatrist who gives him marvelous advice, apparently everything a man would want. But he is bored. Mergers and Acquisitions are not enough to challenge him, so he decides to branch out into art theft. And not just any art. He steals, through an elaborate plan of diversion, a $100 million dollar Monet from the wall of the museum where it is housed. Not only does this now involve the police, but also an insurance investigator [“I represent a couple of Swiss gentlemen who would rather not have to write a check for $100 million.”]. A beautiful and unusually bright insurance investigator who soon comes to suspect Crown. The remainder of the movie is a game of cat and mouse, as the two maneuver to see who will come out on top.

Review: John McTiernan is famous for the hard hitting, action adventure films, so the remake of a Steve McQueen classic must have been a challenge. This is a different kinds of drama and suspense, based in the world of the very wealthy. Brosnan is up to the task, and perfectly portrays the well mannered, savvy businessman who is bored to death with the society crowd and craves something more from life. Rene Russo is the perfect foil for Crown, the driven, intelligent, and self confident woman who competes and excels in a man's world. Leary has his work cut out for him, bur rises to the occasion as the street detective who has to keep up with Russo, and is always one step behind. The flow of the film is more even than the original, and the photography and scenery is amazing, from the New York City shots to the island that serves as Crown's hideaway in the Caribbean. The homage of having Dunaway as the psychiatrist (She played Catherine Banning in the original), and retaining the original theme (Windmills of Your Mind – written for the original film and performed by Sting) bring an overall polish to the movie that make it one of the best. Nudity and some language make this a poor choice for the under 14 set, but most teens should be able to enjoy the film with a minimum of giggling and pointing. Definitely a collectible, and one to watch with the wife when the lights are low and the kids are in bed.