90s Movie Review - Se7en

Director: David Fincher
Genre: Thriller/ Drama/ Crime
Runtime: 127 minutes
Year: 1995
Starring: Morgan Freeman, Brad Pitt, Gwyneth Paltrow, Kevin Spacey

Description: Two detectives, a rookie (Brad Pitt) and a veteran (Morgan Freeman), hunt a serial killer who uses the seven deadly sins as his modus operandi.

Review: “Se7en” is a dark, smart thriller by director David Fincher. A serial killer murders people according to the seven deadly sins. We are all guilty of it sometimes, of one of those sins.
We follow detectives William Somerset and David mills. Somerset is about to retire and gets the task, in his last week, to get rookie Mills ready for the job. Their view on the job, and on life in general, is very different. Mills is energetic and aggressive, while Somerset is thoughtful, experienced and well-read. The serial killer they are tracking down chooses his victims based on the seven deadly sins: sloth, greed, gluttony, pride, lust, envy and wrath. All of the victims are guilty of committing one of those sins.
Because the characters are so different from each other, they complement each other perfectly. Both Brad Pitt and Morgan Freeman are great in their roles and form a good combination. Kevin Spacey steals the show in the final act of the movie.
Not only the script is brilliant and the acting is great. The dark, sad atmosphere is crucial for the film and gives it the effect it needs. The constant rain and dark shadows enhance the dark tones of the movie.
“Se7en” is an unforgettable thriller, that you will never get tired of. It stays intense, no matter how many times you watch it.

Rating: 5/ 5

Movie Reviews - Film Stars Don't Die in Liverpool

Director: Paul McGuigan
Genre: Drama
Runtime: 105 minutes
Year: 2017
Starring: Jamie Bell, Annette Bening, Julie Walter, Stephen Graham

Description: A romance sparks between a young actor (Jamie Bell) and a Hollywood leading lady (Annette Bening).

Review: For a second, Gloria Grahame was one of the familiar faces in Hollywood. Especially in film noirs her talented really showed. She starred opposite of Humphrey Bogart in “In a Lonely Place” and she shined in “The Big Heat”. She even won an Acadmey Award for “The Bad and the Beautiful”. And still Grahame was forgotten. I think, many people won’t even remember her by hearing her name. “Film Stars Don’t Die in Liverpool” is about Gloria’s life, years after she turned her back to Hollywood.
This part of her life, we see through the eyes of Peter Turner. He was a young actor, who happened to rent a room in the same building as Gloria, when she took on a role in a theater in England. She is many years older then Peter, but the two hit it off right away. The start a passionate relationship, Peter’s family love her and he even moves in with her in America.
The two break it off, which we see in flashbacks. But it’s Peter she calls, when Gloria is back in Liverpool again. She is sick and Peter and his family take her in.
Annette Being didn’t try to look like Gloria, but she does have some characteristics in common with her. Especially the voice. Jamie Bell was also perfectly cast for his role. And Julie Walters’ role is beautiful.
The film feels like a play. It’s only set in a few locations and the way they show us flashbacks is for example like walking through a door right into the flashback situation. Really clever. I can understand that this might get a bit dull for people. But the film is so interesting because Gloria is such a mystery. If you know the real Gloria Grahame, you would know that she was ‘banished’ from Hollywood because of some scandals in her private life. They hardly bring this up in the movie. I think that was a good choice. This way you can completely focus on Gloria and Peter’s story.
It’s mostly an acting movie with good cinematography. But I really liked “Film Stars Don’t Die in Liverpool”.

Rating: 4 / 5

10s Movie Review - Brigsby Bear

Director: Dave McCary
Genre: Drama/ Comedy
Runtime: 97 minutes
Year: 2017
Starring: Kyle Mooney, Mark Hamill, Jane Adams, Greg Kinnear, Michaela Watkins, Claire Danes, Beck Bennett, Andy Samberg, Matt Walsh

Description: After being freed from his life in an underground bunker, a man (Kyle Mooney) sets out to make a movie of the only TV show he has ever known.

Review: Twenty-something James’ life is all about the fictional bear Brigsby. Every week a new adventure awaits him, in the form of a VCR tape on his doormat. Brigsby Bear teaches its viewers life lessons, math and morals. James’ bedroom is filled with Brigsby Bear stuff and you would think a toddler lives there. But James doesn’t know anything outside the bunker he lives in: his parents and the Brigsby Bear TV-show.
“Brigsby Bear” is the type of film I love to watch the most: light drama with a subtle hint of comedy. James’ life inside the bunker is interrupted and he has to try and survive in the real world. But is it necessarily better for him?
The film has a high level of feel-good and you want everything for James that he is fighting for. Two world come together, instead of exchanging one for the other. Because why shouldn’t James introduce the people in his new life to Brigsby Bear. His transition to this reality can go much smoother this way.
In director Dave McCary’s film, there is no room for misunderstanding and intolerance. It never gets mean or hostile. And I loved that about “Brigsby Bear”. There is so much hatred already, it’s great to see a film without any of that nasty behavior.
“Brigsby Bear” is movie that probably not a lot of people saw and that’s such a shame. It’s a movie that shouldn’t be left unseen, I loved this film. Never lose the child within yourself.

Rating: 5/ 5

10s Movie Review - Kingsman: The Golden Circle

Director: Matthew Vaughn
Genre: Action/ Adventure/ Comedy
Runtime: 141 minutes
Year: 2017
Starring: Taron Edgerton, Mark Strong, Colin Firth, Julianne Moore, Halle Berry, Channing Tatum, Jeff Bridges, Pedro Pascal, Michael gambon, Elton John

Description: When their headquarters are destroyed and the world is held hostage, the Kingsman's journey leads them to the discovery of an allied spy organization in the United States. These two elite secret organizations must band together to defeat a common enemy.

Review: No lack of crazy characters in “Kingsman: The Golden Circle”. Like “Kingsman: The Secret Service” there are some ‘larger then life’ villains that threaten the planet with a idiotic and far fetched plan. Not Samuel L. Jackson this time, but Julianne Moore, who is hiding in the jungle of Cambodia and is a major drug lord.
If you didn’t like the first film, you won’t like “Kingsman: The Golden Circle”. The characters and situation shouldn’t be taken too seriously. Matthew Vaughns film is a spy parody with a more serious tone.
Eggsy and Merlin join hands with their American ‘brothers in arms’, who call themselves The Statesman. They hide in a distillery and all the agents have codenames of an acoholic beverage.
With the Kingsman being on new territory, doesn’t mean a completely different film. Vaughns keeps the ingredients and feel. And again has some amazing choreographed fight scenes, which are accompanied with a cool soundtrack.
The characters don’t develop the way they did in the first film. And although the chemistry between Eggsy and Harry isn’t completely gone, it’s a lot less interesting this time around. But both Colin Firth and Taron Edgerton deliver a strong performance.
Jeff Bridges and Channing Tatum don’t have a lot to do in this film, which is a shame. Because they scene that they do have, are so fun.
The film has a fresh, energetic style that doesn’t easily bore you. And the entertainment level is endless. But where “Kingsman: The Secret Service” was a surprise to everyone, this second installment just doesn’t do that. It’s fun and it is good, but not as good as the first film.

Rating: 3,5/ 5

10s Movie Review - The Snowman

Director: Tomas Alfredson
Genre: Crime/ Drama/ Thriller
Runtime: 119 minutes
Year: 2017
Starring: Michael Fassbender, Rebecca Ferguson, Charlotte Gainsbourg, J.K. Simmons, Val Kilmer, Toby Jones, James D’Arcy, Chloë Sevigny

Description: Detective Harry Hole (Michael Fassbender) investigates the disappearance of a woman whose scarf is found wrapped around an ominous-looking snowman

Review: Every once in a while, a film is planned that can’t fail, at least on paper. “The Snowman” is based on a popular best-selling novel. It has a director who delivered succesful movies and a cast that understands its craft. So what can go wrong? Well, I don’t know what went wrong, but “The Snowman” is a terrible movie.
“The Snowman” is the first film based on a populat book series starring detective Harry Hole. Good ad his job, but bad in getting his personal life together. He has a struggling relationship with his ex-girlfriend and her son and deals with a drinking problem. In the first half hour we see Harry wake up in three different places I the morning, after drinking all night.
To restrain his inner demons, Harry needs a case that he can hold on to. When a killer is on the loose in Norway, killing and beheading young women, he can finally shows off his skills again. On every crime scene, the killer leaves a snowman, which will become the signature.
You would think this is the perfect plot for an intense cat and mouse game between a cop and a serial killer. But this never happen. Where did it go wrong? It’s not director Alfredson, who previously gave us “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy” and “Let the Right One In’”. He blamed the hasty production process.
This does show, especially in the subplots of the film. Sometimes they feel out of context and it never really feels like a whole. Especially the scenes with Val Kilmer, which are sometimes even comical and plain weird.
Morbid things happen in this movie, but the movie never shocks, scares are gets exciting. Movies like “Zodiac” or “Sev7en” are perfect examples of how it should have been. “The Snowman” lacks everything that those two movies have.
Michael Fassbender isn’t bad, but he isn’t as strong as usual. And I seriously think that, if it weren’t for him, this movie would’ve even been worse.
“The Snowman” is better of left unwatched. It’s a waste of time.

Rating: 1,5/ 5

Movies to Look Forward to - August 2018

July was surprising unspectacular movie wise. But a lot to look forward to in August!

August 2nd – Mission: Impossible - Fallout
Director: Christopher McQuarrie
Starring: Tom Cruise, Simon Pegg, Ving Rhames, Rebecca Ferguson, Henry Cavill, Angela Bassett, Alec Baldwin, Wes Bentley
Description: Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) and his IMF team, along with some familiar allies, race against time after a mission gone wrong.

August 2nd – The Darkest Minds
Director: Jennifer Yuh Nelson
Starring: Bradley Whitford, Mandy Moore, Gwendoline Christie, Amandla Stenberg, Wallace Langham, Harris Dickinson, Golden Brooks, Wade Williams
Description: Imprisoned by an adult world that now fears everyone under 18, a group of teens form a resistance group to fight back and reclaim control of their future.

August 9th – The Meg
Director: John Turteltaub
Starring: Jason Statham, Ruby Rose, Cliff Curtis, Rainn Wilson
Description: After escaping an attack by what he claims was a 70-foot shark, Jonas Taylor (Jason Statham) must confront his fears to save those trapped in a sunken submersible.

August 9th – Under the Silver Lake
Director: David Robert Mitchell
Starring: Andrew Garfield, Riley Keough, Topher Grace, Sydney Sweeney, Jimmi Simpson
Description: A man (Andrew Garfield) becomes obsessed with the strange circumstances of a billionaire mogul's murder and the kidnapping of a girl.

August 9th – Whitney
Director: Kevin MacDonald
Starring: Whitney Houston, Bobby Kristina Brown, Bobbi Brown, Cissy Houston, Clive Davis
Description: An in-depth look at the life and music of Whitney Houston

August 23rd – Book Club
Director: Bill Holderman
Starring: Diane Keaton, Jane Fonda, Candice Bergen, Mary Steenburgen, Andy Garcia, Craig T. Nelson, Don Johnson, Alicia Silverstone, Richard Dreyfuss, Ed Begley Jr., Wallace Shawn
Description: Four lifelong friends have their lives forever changed after reading 50 Shades of Grey in their monthly book club.

August 23rd – The Happytime Murders
Director: Brian Henson
Starring: Melissa McCarthy, Elizabeth Banks, Maya Rudolph, Joel McHale
Description: When the puppet cast of an '80s children's TV show begins to get murdered one by one, a disgraced LAPD detective-turned-private eye puppet takes on the case.

August 30th – BlackKklansman
Director: Spike Lee
Starring: Adam Driver, Topher Grace, Alec Baldwin, John David Washington
Description: Ron Stallworth (John David Washington), an African-American police officer from Colorado, successfully managed to infiltrate the local Ku Klux Klan and became the head of the local chapter.

Movie Reviews - The Commuter

Director: Jaume Collet-Serra
Genre: Action/ Crime/ Thriller
Runtime: 105 minutes
Year: 2018
Starring: Liam Neeson, Patrick Wilson, Vera Farmiga, Sam Neill, Elizabeth McGovern, Jonathan Banks

Description: An Insurance Salesman/Ex-Cop (Liam Neeson) is caught up in a criminal conspiracy during his daily commute home.

Review: Liam Neeson and a family in danger, it’s almost a new subgenre in Hollywood. In the action thriller “The Commuter”, which is set almost entirely on a train, it’s not any different. Neeson’s character Michael MacCauley has to fulfill a task on board. At first it seems to only be about a bunch of cash, but eventually lives are at stake.
Michael can use the money, because he just lost his job. He gave his job as a cop up to become a business man. All for his family, because his son is about to go to college.
Michael takes the train every day. He know the people on the train. A pretty lady asks him a hypothetical question: would he do a task for cash, if it affected many? The only thing he has to do is track a passenger who carries a stolen item with him/ her.
Although a lot of details matter, you don’t have to pay perfect attention. Everything is very clear. Really easy to follow, not complexities.
It’s not exactly a masterpiece, but it’s a film that keeps your attention and it’s entertaining. And I really like Neeson as an action hero.

Rating: 3/ 5

00s Movie Review - Pan's Labyrinth

Director: Guillermo Del Toro
Genre: Drama/ Horror/ Thriller/ Fantasy
Runtime: 119 minutes
Year: 2006
Starring: Ivana Baquero, Doug Jones, Sergi López, Ariadna Gil, Maribel Verdú, Álex Angulo, Roger Casamajor, César Vea, Íñigo Garcés, Sebastián Haro, Eusebio Lárazo, Mina Lira, Federico Luppi, Ivan Masagué, Chema Ruiz, Ana Sáez, Manolo Solo, Milo Taboada, Fernando Tielve, Francisco Vidal

Description: In the falangist Spain of 1944, the bookish young stepdaughter (Ivana Baquero) of a sadistic army officer (Sergi López) escapes into an eerie but captivating fantasy world.

Review: “Pan’s Labyrinth” opens with the heavy breath of a young girl, Ofelia. When we see her lying down on the grown she is dying. Her eyes are watery and blood comes from her nose. While the camera shows us Ofelia, the blood goes back into her mouth and life comes back in her eyes. A new introduction. A voice tells us a fairytale about a princess from an underground kingdom who ran away and went into the human world. When she got there, she was blinded by the lights and lost her memory. Eventually she dies, but the king always believed her soul would return. The two different introductions are the heart of “Pan’s Labyrinth”.
Reality is tough for young Ofelia. Her mother’s health is bad, because she is pregnant. We meet them on the day they move in with mother’s new husband: a terrible army captain with an obsession for punctuality and discipline. Ofelia flees into her own fairytale, which isn’t that safe either. An intrusive Faun is waiting for her, giving her dangerous tasks. The tasks reflect the problems Ofelia is dealing with in real life. It’s a revelation to see the main characters not fleeing from reality to a dream world, but learning from that dream world about reality. Ofelia learns to make the right decisions in a mad world, the world of her stepfather, a world of fascism.
This takes us to a strong point in the film. The fascism also exists in the fairytale world. Take the scene where Ofelia is confronted with the ‘pale man’. He’s pictured as faceless, abstract, punctual, subordinating the individual. The message of the movie could be: dare to be disobedient. Dare to fantasize. Dare to live in your own world.
The montage is phenomenal, it’s fluent. And the art direction, cinematography, make-up, acting, music and script are all perfect. Together it makes one of the most beautiful films in movie history.

Rating: 5/ 5

10s Movie Review - Prooi

Director: Dick Maas
Genre: Comedy/ Horror/ Thriller
Runtime: 108 minutes
Year: 2016
Starring: Sophie van Winden, Julian Looman, Mark Frost, Victor Löw, Rienus Krul, Jessica Zeylmaker, Jaap ten Holt, Mattijn Hartemink, Caitlin Rose Williams, Bart Klever, Daan Aufenacker, Mamoun Elyounoussi, Pieter Derks, Wesley Mutsaars, Wigger Verschoor, Robin Hagens, Theo Pont, Reyer Krikke, Rutger de Bekker, Ab Zagt, Robbert Blokland, Patrick Marcelino, Orlando Manuel do Brito, Tim Oortman, Robert Stolp, Mees Slokkers

Description: A zoo veterinarian (Sophie van Winden) gets caught up in a grisly adventure as she finds herself leading the city-wide hunt for a monstrous lion terrorizing the Dutch capital of Amsterdam.

Review: Dick Maas mostly has movies with one word titles, filled with murderous types: elevators, canal divers, a child’s hero. His movie “Prooi” (which means prey) fits perfectly in this line-up, because this time it’s a killer lion roaming the city of Amsterdam. Where it comes from and why it choose Amsterdam, that’s a question.
This situation gives us some cool scenes, like when the lion enters a streetcar or when he attacks a gold court. Great executed scenes like this make this film so much fun.
Like all of his movies, Maas adds a big dose of humor to his film. The plot is absurd, but it’s a super entertaining film. And the effects are pretty good, especially for a Dutch film.

Rating: 3/ 5

10s Movie Review - Predators

Director: Nimród Antal
Genre: Action/ Thriller/ Adventure/ Science Fictions
Runtime: 107 minutes
Year: 2010
Starring: Adrien Brody, Danny Trejo, Topher Grace, Laurence Fishburne, Alice Braga, Walton Goggins, Mahershala Ali

Description: A group of elite warriors parachute into an unfamiliar jungle and are hunted by members of a merciless alien race

Review: In 1987 director John McTiernan made the manly action thriller “Predator”. Here a team of American military men, led by Arnold Schwarzenegger, were dropped in a jungle for a mission and ended up being hunted by a killing machine from outer space. There was a less successful sequel, starring Danny Glover. “Predators” is the second sequel, forgetting all the “Alien Vs. Predator” movies. “Predators” never reaches the level of its original, but much better than the second film.
In 1994 Robert Rodriguez was asked to write a sequel, but that script was set aside for fifteen years. In 2009 two new writers turned it into the script for “Predators and Rodriguez became a producer. Nimrod Antal directs, but if Rodriguez had done it himself, it would probably be even better.
Like the first film, it takes a while before we see the hunting creature. Which is a good choice, it holds the tension. They also choose a non-typical action star lead in Adrien Brody. It’s hard to follow Schwarzenegger. So by picking a star that’s not your typical action hero, makes it fresh and original. And Brody does a fine job.
The action is okay, but never special or original. And some characters are plain annoying or unnecessary. But overall, “Predators” is a good sequel and an entertaining action thriller.

Rating: 3/ 5

90s Movie Review - Bird on a Wire

Director: John Badham
Genre: Action/ Comedy/ Adventure
Runtime: 105 minutes
Year: 1990
Starring: Mel Gibson, Goldie Hawn, David Carradine, Bill Duke, Stephen Tobolowsky

Description: An old flame (Goldie Hawn) discovers her ex-boyfriend (Mel Gibson) from the past is a relocated FBI informant out to stop the bad guys.

Review: Mel Gibson plays Rick Jarmin, part of a witness protection program. He has been living a nomad life, to stay away from the bad guys he ones testified against. He bumps into Marianne Graves, who he was ones engaged to. Rick staged a plane accident and faked his death, so that Marianne wouldn’t be in danger. But those same crooks are after Rick ones again and Marianne is here to see it all.
The film is enjoyable, at least the first part is. But “Bird on a Wire” gets repetitive and becomes less credible towards the end. Goldie Hawn and Mel Gibson are not the problem, they have chemistry and a very interesting dynamic. Their constant bickering leads to sheer amusement. Let’s be honest, this is the Gibson we loved most.
Fun, yes. High quality, no.

Rating: 2, 5/ 5

10s Movie Review - Trainspotting 2

Director: Danny Boyle
Genre: Drama
Runtime: 117 minutes
Year: 2017
Starring: Ewan McGregor, Robert Carlyle, Ewen Bremner, Jonny Lee Miller, Kelly Macdonald

Description: After 20 years abroad, Mark Renton (Ewam McGregor) returns to Scotland and reunites with his old friends Sick Boy (Jonny Lee Miller), Spud (Ewen Bremner), and Begbie (Robert Carlyle).

Review: A life, a job, a career, a family and luxury. At the beginning of the first “Trainspotting”, lead character Mark Renton didn’t want to think about all this. He was hanging out with his friends, hoping for a heroine kick. ‘Rent Boy’ wanted a clean sleight and got clean. But his friends had a bad influence on him.
Doyles work of art from 1996 pictured the relentless subculture. What made “Trainspotting” so good, were the quick montages, rough edges and a pulsating soundtrack.
Boyle waited so long for a sequel, because he wanted his actor to physically look older. Twenty years later it looks like Mark is finally leading a normal life. He lives in Amsterdam, has a solid job and is even married. He returns to Scotland to settle some issues. He visits Spud, who is still an addict and has a struggling relationship with his ex and son. Simon is leading a life a crime, but has big plans for his pub. And then there is Begbie, who has been in jail for twenty years. He wants his son to follow in his footsteps and is out for revenge on Mark.
“Trainspotting” was a unique film. “Trainspotting 2” is a really good sequel. The evolved dynamic between the characters is the best part of the film. The film isn’t as intense and visually rough as the first. But still has a lot of depth.
Real friendships last a lifetime, that’s one thing that’s sure. Even with the unstable factors present.
History repeats itself, but also manages to adapt and change. “Trainspotting 2” is a solid sequel, totally worth waiting those 20 years for.

Rating: 4/ 5

Movie Reviews - The Post

Director: Steven Spielberg
Genre: Drama
Runtime: 116 minutes
Year: 2017
Starring: Meryl Streep, Tom Hanks, Sarah Paulson, Bob Odenkirk, Bradley Whitford, Tracy Letts, Bruce Greenwood, Matthew Rhys, Alison Brie, Jesse Plemons, David Cross, Zach Woods, Pat Healy

Description: A cover-up that spanned four U.S. Presidents pushed the country's first female newspaper publisher (Meryl Streep) and a hard-driving editor (Tom Hanks) to join an unprecedented battle between the press and the government.

Review: It’s a sin to spoil the ending of a movie, unless it’s a film based on historic events. Because you already know the outcome (hopefully). In the last shot of “The Post”, there are hints to the Watergate affair. Due to two journalist of the Washington Post, this scandal came to light which eventually lead to Richard Nixon stepping away from his role as president of the US.
The paper already had a name and fame at that time. And how that happened, director Steven Spielberg shows us in “The Post”, where the journalists get their hand on the so-called Pentagon Papers. These classified documents are proof that the Vietnam war was always doomed to fail. And four presidents knew about it.
“The Post” is still relevant and a nod to Trump. But it also feels like a prequel to “All the President’s Men”, which was about the Watergate affair. But in “The Post” this isn’t as much focus on the case as there was in “All the President’s Men”.
We follow Kay Graham, the first female editor and trying to stay alive in a man’s world. And the fight that the Washington Post is constant battling agains the bigger paper, The New York Times.
When we see Hanks’ and Streep’s character together for the first time, we think that Hanks’ Ben Bradlee is superior to Streep’s Kay Graham. But in fact she is his boss. That was the role of a woman in business back then. People believe she is only boss because her husband died. Even during dinner, the women have to leave the table when the men talk business. Spielberg manages to picture this perfectly.
I wished there was a little bit more focus on the actual story they are trying to cover. Then this movie would have been even better. And I believe that if it wasn’t for Tom Hanks and Meryl Streep, “The Post” would have been average.

Rating: 3,5 / 5

90s Review - The Green Mile

Director: Frank Darabont
Genre: Drama
Runtime: 181 minutes
Year: 1999
Starring: Tom Hanks, David Morse, Bonnie Hunt, Michael Clarke Duncan, James Cromwel, Michael Jeter, Graham greene, Doug Hutchison, Sam Rockwell, Barry Pepper, Jeffrey DeMunn, Patricia Clarkson, Harry Dean Stanton

Description: The lives of guards on Death Row are affected by one of their charges: a black man accused of child murder and rape, yet who has a mysterious gift.

Review: Director Frank Darabont is at his best when filming adaptations of Stephen King novels. His directorial debut, “The Shawshank Redemption”, hit every mark. With “The Green Mile” he’s on trusted territory, because it’s also set in a prison. It does introduce a new element: the paranormal. “The Green Mile” is set in a death row cell block, led by Paul Edgecomb, in 1935. They call it the green mile. He runs it with his best friend Brutus Howell, the young Dean Stanton, veteran Harry Terwilliger and newcomer and sadistic Percy Wetmore.
All prison guards, except for Percy, want the prisoners the end their life in the most humane way possible. The silent Native American Arlen Bitterbuck and the joyful Eduard ‘Del’ Delacroix are both waiting for their judgment day. One day, the gigantic John Coffey is brought in. He is sentenced for the rape and murder of two young girls. But he looks more dangerous then he actually is. Coffey is afraid of the dark and has a gentle character. Soon Paul discovers that something special is going on and that John Coffey has a gift.
Like “The Shawshank Redemption”, “The Green Mile” is a film that’s carried by the actors. Tom Hanks is perfect for his role as sympathetic protagonist and through his eyes we see the story. Doug Hutchison is very convincing as the exasperating Percy. Sam Rockwell goes nuts as crazy inmate Wild Bill, David Morse is likeable as the goodhearted Brutus and James Cromwell portrays his role as prison boss very well. But it’s Michael Clarke Duncan that impresses the most. He grabs viewers and it’s really hard not to like him.
“The Green Mile” is a powerful film with a good message, that will leave many people in tears. The characters get all the room to exploit. Darabont puts the focus on the characters and not on the plot.

Rating: 5/ 5

90s Movie Review - The Shawshank Redemption

Director: Frank Darabont
Genre: Drama
Runtime: 142 minutes
Year: 1994
Starring: Tim Robbins, Morgan Freeman, Bob Gunton, Clancy Brown, James Whitmore, William Sadler, Gil Bellows

Description: Two imprisoned men, Andy (Tim Robbins) and Red (Morgan Freeman) bond over a number of years, finding solace and eventual redemption through acts of common decency.

Review: In Shawshank prison, the inmates are doing serious time. Through the eyes of prisoner Red, we follow the story of Andy Dufresne who comes to Shawshank in 1947 for murdering his wife and her lover. Red and Andy become friends. Based on a story by Stephen King, the life in prison is a metaphor to real society. The prisoners settle for a life at Shawshank, they stop dreaming so nothing can get worse than it already is. The big guys get their way no matter what. Off course there is always one guy that doesn’t care, in this case Andy Dufresne. He teaches his fellow inmates to read and makes them feel normal again.
Director Frank Darabont made the short Stephen King story into a fully length movie, with some differences and more detail. He captured it so well, it easily reaches the audience and it’s a film with real people instead of characters.
The acting is sublime. Never over-the-top, very timide yet convincing. The chemistry between Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman is amazing, you can feel it in every bone in your body. Their friendship is honest and heartfelt. Also Clancy Brown, as the relentless prison guard Hadley, and Bob Gunton, as warden Norton, are very strong in their roles.
This movie really took my breath away when I first saw it, and still after watching it so many times it does that exact same thing. Only a perfect movie can do that. A great story, fantastic acting, beautiful music and off course that great scene (we all know it). For me still the best movie in the books.

Rating: 5/ 5

90s Movie Review - Deep Rising

Director: Stephen Sommers
Genre: Action/ Horror/ Science Fiction
Runtime: 106 minutes
Year: 1998
Starring: Treat Williams, Famke Janssen, Jason Flemyng, Cliff Curtis, Djimon Hounsou, Anthony Heald, Cliff Curtis

Description: A group of heavily armed hijackers board a luxury ocean liner in the South Pacific Ocean to loot it, only to do battle with a series of large-sized, tentacled, man-eating sea creatures who have taken over the ship first.

Review: “Deep Rising” is one of those film: don’t think, just watch. And then it’s super fun!
A group of hijackers aboard a luxury yacht. When they arrive, almost all the passengers and its crew is gone. Not knowing why, they investigate the ship. But something is luring from the deep. A large man-eating sea creature is after them.
“Deep Rising” is action packed, entertaining and creepy. But it didn’t stand the test of time. The special effects are outdated and the acting is mostly terrible. I saw this film a lot around the time it was released, but rewatching it now makes me realize it’s a pretty bad film. So many clichés, bad dialogue, even worse characters. But I still really enjoy it. I liked the fact that practically all the main characters are criminals or have a criminal history. And it’s super fast paced.
“Deep Rising” is definitely not a good movie, but it’s entertaining as hell!

Rating: 2,5/ 5

Movie Reviews - I, Tonya

Director: Craig Gillespie
Genre: Drama/ Comedy
Runtime: 119 minutes
Year: 2017
Starring: Margot Robbie, Allison Janney, Sebastian Stan, Bobby Cannavale, Mckenna Grace

Description: Competitive ice skater Tonya Harding (Margot Robbie) rises amongst the ranks at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, but her future in the activity is thrown into doubt when her ex-husband (Sebastian Stan) intervenes.

Review: Driven by her rivalry with Nancy Kerrigan, Tonya Harding stepped onto the ice in Lillehammer in 1994. Her second time at the Olympics, but also her last. Her performance was dominated by a broken lace. She didn’t win a prize, while Kerrigan got a silver medal.
“I, Tonya” is not your everyday biopic. It’s a light satire, filled with irony and based on contradicting interviews. The real truth will probably never be revealed.
Leading lady Margot Robbie, who is fantastic by the way, even breaks the fourth wall a couple of times. Telling us how it really happened.
Nancy Kerrigan was Harding’s biggest rival and the all American girl. The complete opposite. When both girls were amazing figure skaters, Tonya was maybe better. She took more risks. But Harding’s image and background didn’t fit in that world. When Kerrigan was attacked after a training and someone shattered her knee, rumor had it that Harding had something to do with it. It was all over the news and at the time, she and Bill Clinton were the most famous people.
What is true and what isn’t, will always be the question. What we do know, is that Harding had a rough life. Her father left her when she was young and she stayed with her demanding and cold mother. LaVona was the one dragging her on the ice when she was four, constantly pushing her. She was loveless, tough and convinced that Tonya only did well when pushed.
And then there is Tonya’s stormy and violent relationship with Jeff Gillooly. He beat her and treated her bad.
Tonya didn’t blend in with the rest of the girls. She didn’t dance to classical music, but choose ZZ Top and she made her own outfits. But she was also the first American woman to perform a triple Axel, with success. She was good at what she did, but somehow always ruined it for herself. But Tonya kept fighting. When she fell, she got up, no matter how hard it was. And she deserves a certain respect for that.
Like I stated before, Margot Robbie is fantastic in her role. But it’s Allison Janney that steals the show as Tonya’s mother LaVona. Her character is comical and almost cartoonish, but she is also a terrible woman and treats her daughter like trash.
“I, Tonya” manages to combine extreme characters and the real humans they are deep inside. This movie really surprised me with its tone, not at all what I expected. Such a great film!

Rating: 4,5 / 5