00s Movie Review - The Pledge

Director: Sean Penn
Genre: Drama/ Crime/ Mystery
Runtime: 124 minutes
Year: 2001
Starring: Jack Nicholson, Robin Wright, Aaron Eckhart, Sam Shepard, Benicio del Toro, Patricia Clarkson, Helen Mirren, Tom Noonan, Vanessa Redgrave, Mickey Rourke, Harry Dean Stanton

Description: A retired police detective (Jack Nicholson) pledges to catch the killer of a young child.

I WATCHED THIS MOVIE FOR MY 2023 MOVIE CHALLENGE.
WEEK 8: A MOVIE DIRECTED BY AN ACTOR
 
Review: On a cold winter day, a boy stumbles upon the lifeless body of an eight-year-old girl. Soon they find a suspect for the murder, but for recently retired homicide detective Jerry Black the case isn’t settles. As far as he is concerned, the real killer is still out there. He promises the victim’s family to find the killer of their little girl and to fulfull this promise, Jerry is willing to use any means necessary.  

Sean Penn is not just an amazing actor, he is also an excellent director. He proves that with “The Pledge” a lesser known film starring Jack Nicholson.

At first sight, “The Pledge” seems like a standard thriller. But it has much more to offer than the clichéd whodunit. In fact, finding the killer is not so much the main focus; the film clearly addresses more important, more profound themes. Therefore, do not expect spectacular action scenes, as the somewhat slow film has to rely mainly on its dialogues, well-developed characters and tension.   

This all makes the intelligent “The Pledge” highly recommended for those who want to see a less conventional thriller for a change.

Rating: 4/ 5

00s Movie Review - Erin Brockovich

Director: Steven Sodenbergh
Genre: Drama
Runtime: 131 minutes
Year: 2000
Starring: Julia Roberts, Albert Finney, Aaron Eckhart, Marg Helgenberger,  Cherry Jones, Conchata Ferrell

Description: An unemployed single mother (Erin Brockovich) becomes a legal assistant and almost single-handedly brings down a California power company accused of polluting a city’s water supply.

Review: Good fact-based drama without many special moments, which nevertheless managed to surpass the level of the average TV movie of the week. This mainly thanks to the clear direction of Steven Sodenbergh the acting of Julia Roberts and Albert Finney, the fine camera work and the music by Thomas Newman. This largely compensates for the straightforward screenplay, which deviates from the beaten path only once in a while. The film has undeniably become Roberts’ film. At first glance, her character appears to be a stereotypical “white trash” woman, with three children from two different fathers, showing cleavage and wearing ultra-short skirts. But it’s Robert’s  credit that she manages to make it a believable woman. After she gets into an accident and she loses the lawsuit, Erin persuades her lawyer Ed Masrey to give her a job at his office.    
There, she finds herself on the trail of a major scandal when she dives deeper into a real estate issue and talks to Donna Jensen. She has been diagnosed with cancer and her husband and children have also fallen ill. A nearby concern Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) wants to buy their house, but has also paid the doctor’s fees. Erin finds this strange and begins to investigate the matter. Soon many more people turn out to be sick, and their stories are shocking and moving without becoming sentimental. Roberts manages to portray Erin’s drive and charm beautifully, so that the viewer even understands when her children begin to miss her presence, as well as het new lover George.
Despite PG&E’s outrageous practices and the tactics they employ to delay or sabotage the case there are also funny moments, particularly in the altercations between Roberts and Finney. For balance, it would have been even more enjoyable of Finney had gotten more one-liners instead of exclusively with Roberts.
I always love watching this movie, because it’s such an inspiring story. Erin made such a difference in so many people’s lives.

Rating: 4/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2016 - # 138: Sully

Director: Clint Eastwood
Genre: Drama
Runtime: 96 minutes
Year: 2016
Starring: Tom Hanks, Aaron Eckhart, Laure Linney, Jerry Ferrara, Ann Cusack

Description: The story of Chesley Sullenberger (Tom Hanks), an American pilot who became a hero after landing his damaged plane on the Hudson River in order to save the flight's passengers and crew.

Review: On January 15th 2009, pilot Chesley ‘Sully’ Sullenberger landed an Airbus A320 on the Hudson River, in order to save his passengers and crew. Because of this act, he saved 155 people and Sully became famous instantly. The fact that the airplane was only in the air for three and a half minutes before the engines stopped working, you ask yourself how a ninety minute movie will captivate you. But the movie does it.
After “J. Edgar” and “American Sniper”, that weren’t that inpressive, director Clint Eastwood decided to turn the autobiographical book “Highest Duty” into a movie. With Tom Hanks as the leading man, who portrayed excisting characters before, it just had to work. And it did, because Hanks carries this movie like no other actor could.
The biggest moment in this movie is the landing itself and Eastwood knows that. It’s and exciting moment and we actually get to see it a couple of times. You really feel with Sully and care for him. But not so much for the passengers on the crew. Eastwood tried to, but the focus is on Sully and not the passengers. That way you don’t really care about any of the other passengers on the airplane, except for Sully and his co-pilot.
The entire film screams hero, how heroic Sully is. Normally it bothers me in movies, but in “Sully” it didn’t. Tom Hanks is probably the main reason for that, because as always his performance is fantastic.

Rating: 4/ 5