90s Movie Review - Miller's Crossing

Director: Joel Coen, Ethan Coen
Genre: Drama/ Crime
Runtime: 115 minutes
Year: 1990
Starring: Gabriel Byrne, Marcia Gay Harden, Albert Finney, John Turturro, Steve Buscemi

Description: Tom Reagan (Gabriel Byrne), an advisor to a Prohibition-era crime boss (Albert Finney), tries to keep the peace between warring mobs but gets caught in divided loyalties.

I WATCHED THIS MOVIE FOR MY 2025 MOVIE CHALLENGE.
WEEK 34: A FILM FROM 1990
 
Review: This is the third film by the Coen brother, Joel and Ethan. In “Miller’s Crossing” they firmly established their signature visual flair, which they would continue in films such as “Fargo” and “The Big Lebowski”.

In this film noir, gangster Leo is asked to eliminate Bernie, but he is the brother of the woman he is in love with. Meanwhile, she is already involved with Leo’s right-hand man Tom.

The theme is good and evil: even the gangsters want to do good, act “ethically”, and be friends with everyone. But their selfishness, distrust, and corruption inevitably gets them killed.

The film feels somewhere between “The Godfather” and “Sin City”, with the gangster and film noir elements, and it’s an intelligent and witty film. Really good, overlooked filmd b the Coen Brothers.

Rating: 3,5 / 5

00s Movie Review - Before the Devil Knows You're Dead

Director: Sidney Lumet
Genre: Crime/ Drama/ Thriller
Runtime: 117 minutes
Year: 2007
Starring: Philip Seymour Hoffman, Ethan Hawke, Albert Finney, Marisa Tomei, Rosemary Harris, Michael Shannon, Amy Ryan

I WATCHED THIS MOVIE FOR MY 2022 MOVIE CHALLENGE
WEEK 35: A CRIME THRILLER
 
Description: When two brothers (Philip Seymour Hofman, Ethan Hawke) organize the robbery of their parents’ jewelry store the job goes horribly wrong, triggering a series of events that sends them, their father (Albert Finney) and one brother’s wife (Marisa Tomei) barreling towards a shattering climax.

Review: Philip Seymour Hoffman and Ethan Hawke play two brothers in need of money. Hoffman’s Andy seems successful, but is struggling financially due to his drug addiction, among other things, while Hawke’s Hank can’t afford the alimony for his ex-wife and daughter. They decided to rob a small jewelry store. Not to mention that this store is owned by their own parents. Andy is the brains behind the operations and Hanks has to carry out the plan. Of course, this plan goes horribly wrong and only gets worse later.

It's a simple story and the details aren’t complicated either. But director Sidney Lumet decided to change the structure of the story. We are only following one character at a time, and go back in time to see the perspective of the other brother. I think this is what makes this movie better. There is no reason for using this structure, but I think it really adds to the story of the film. Otherwise, it would be pretty standard.

The performances are very good. Philip Seymour Hoffman and Ethan Hawke both do a great job in their respective roles. The same goes for Albert Finney, who has a smaller role as their father. Marisa Tomei is a fantastic actress, but is demoted to a side character that seems to only be there as the beautiful wife that shows her boobs a bit too often. Tomei is underused and misused in this film, that was a big problem for me. Because she is so much more than this.

“Before the Devils Knows You’re Dead” is a strong crime thriller, with a cool storytelling structure.

Rating: 3,5/ 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

00s Movie Review - Ocean's Twelve

Director: Steven Sodenbergh
Genre: Action/ Crime/ Comedy/ Thriller
Runtime: 120 minutes
Year: 2004
Starring: George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Andy Garcia, Bernie Mac, Scott Caan, Casey Affleck, Julia Roberts, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Carl Reiner, Shaobo Qin, Elliot Giuld, Vincent Cassel, Bruce Willis, Don Cheadle, Albert Finney

Description: Danny Ocean (George Clooney) once again teams up with experts so he can pull off three major European heists.

Review: Steven Sodenbergh’s “Ocean Twelve” demonstrates the difference between actors and movie stars: the film clearly lacks content, but is filled with beautiful images and gorgeous people. Loads of star power in this film, but rarely do they show their acting skills.
Where “Ocean’s Eleven” has a clear vision and plot, “Ocean’s Twelve” doesn’t really seem to care about the plot. Because it’s really of no importance at all. Danny Ocean and his companions are yet again trying to pull off three major heists. This time in three European countries: The Netherlands, Italy and France.
The other story that we follow is that of an elusive thief called Night Fox. He is in everything the cliché of the flamboyant jewel thief: a rich French baron who was trained by the best thief of all time, he steals purely for fun and leaves a small stone fox statue at the places he robs.
I really enjoyed the first film, but “Ocean’s Twelve” really dragged and was even boring at times. I did like the added humor, especially when Tess Ocean (played by Julia Roberts) had to pretend to be Julia Roberts. And with all those amazing stars in the film, it’s sad that actos like Don Cheadle and Elliot Gould don’t get the screen time they deserve. Because they are true scene stealers.
Overall, “Ocean’s Twelve” was just another cash grab.

Rating: 2,5/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2015 - # 3: Skyfall

Director: Sam Mendes

Genre: Action/ Crime/ Thriller

Runtime: 142 minutes

Year: 2012

Starring: Daniel Craig, Ralph Fiennes, Bérénice Marlohe, Helen McCroy, Javier Bardem, Naomie Harris, Judi Dench, Ben Wishaw, Albert Finney, Ola Rapace

Description: Bond's (Daniel Craig) loyalty to M (Judi Dench) is tested when her past comes back to haunt her. Whilst MI6 comes under attack, 007 must track down and destroy the threat, no matter how personal the cost.

Review: Fifty years before “Skyfall”, the first James Bond movie came out: “Dr. No”. That this franchise would become the longest running movie series ever, no one expected that in the sixties. With “Skyfall” we have 23 movies and six different men who played James Bond. And the end is very far away.

“Skyfall” is a treat. The previous two movies, “Casino Royale” and “Quantum of Solace” had connections, but “Skyfall” is a completely new story. The movie opens with a spectacular chase, that ends in James Bond getting shot. The MI6 organization thinks he is dead. When he returns after six months, MI6 is under attack of cyberterrorists and M’s position is in danger as well.

After the opening scene, you know “Skyfall” will not disappoint. The action is spectacular and it’s all filmed beautifully. However, “Skyfall” isn’t just an action movie. The focus is on the relationship between Bond and M. Especially the middle part, in Shanghai and Macau, does the spy thriller justice. But how gorgeous those scenes look, they make you wait for action a tad to long.

  Where Daniel Craig proofs again that he’s a great James Bond, it’s Javier Bardem that steals the show as villain Silva. The eccentric character is a pleasant addition to the film, in combination with the somewhat cold Bond. And also Judi Dench does a great job, as usual.

If “Skyfall” is the best Bond movie, I don’t know. But it is definitely recommended for both Bond fans and the ordinary movie fan. And even if the runtime of the film is a bit too long, it’s an entertaining movie. “Skyfall” makes you forget about the mediocre “Quantum of Solace” and shows you James Bond is not going to retire any time soon.

Rating: 4/ 5