10s Movie Review - Roman J. Israel, Esq.

Director: Dan Gilroy
Genre: Crime/ Drama/ Thriller
Runtime: 122 minutes
Year: 2017
Starring: Denzel Washington, Colin Farrell, Carmen Ejogo, Amanda Warren, Tony Plana, Sam Gilroy

I WATCHED THIS MOVIE FOR MY 2025 MOVIE CHALLENGE.
WEEK 30: A FILM WITH DENZEL WASHINGTON
 
Description: Roman J. Israel Esq. (Denzel Washington), a driven idealistic defense attorney, finds himself in a tumultuous series of events that lead to a crisis and the necessity for extreme action.

Review: Sometimes you watch these movies that, if the lead actor wasn’t apart of it, people wouldn’t care about it. “Roman J. Israel, Esq.” is one of these movies.

What a great character Roman J. Israel is, a brilliant, idealistic but socially awkward criminal defense lawyer. Played with restraint by Denzel Washington. You just wish he has a slightly better film than this unfocused mix of character study and courtroom thriller.

We follow three weeks in Israel’s life, during which he throws his integrity in the wind after a series of setbacks. Director and screenwriter Dan Gilroy (known for “Nightcrawler”, one of my personal favorites) manages to hold the viewer’s attention for a long time with intelligent dialogue and pleasant languid atmosphere, but seems unsure of where he wants to go with he story.

This movie is still worth watching, for Washington, who received an Oscar nomination. The performance is better then the movie.  

Rating: 3/ 5

00s Movie Review - Crazy Heart

Director: Scott Cooper
Genre: Drama/ Romance/ Music
Runtime: 112 minutes
Year: 2009
Starring: Jeff Bridges, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Colin Farrell, Robert DuVall, Paul Herman

Description: A faled country music artist (Jeff Bridges) is forced to reassess his dysfunctional life during a doomed romance that also inspires him.

I WATCHED THIS MOVIE FOR MY 2024 MOVIE CHALLENGE.
WEEK 40: A FILM ABOUT MUSIC
 
Review: Jeff Bridges plays Bad Blake, a middle-aged country singer reveling in his past success. Years ago he was one of the most successful singers of his generation with an impressive repertoire, but now he is but a shadow of himself. He lives in cheap motels, playing in pubs and bowling alleys, drinking a lot of alcohol. At one of his gigs he meets Jean Braddock, a single mother trying to make it as a journalist. A romance develops between Blake and Jean, but it remains to be seen whether Blake can leave his unhealthy lifestyle behind for good.  

It's a pretty straightforward film, with not too surprising plot developments. A once successful music artists, trying to make a comeback but failing drastically, until someone enters his life and changes it for the better. Director Scott Cooper didn’t take any risks here. “Crazy Heart” is one of those films where the performance of the lead actor is better and more memorable as the film itself. Jeff Bridges, who won an Academy Awards for his performance, is excellent. He shines in every scene he is in. This is what you will remember about “Crazy Heart”, the story is quite forgettable.

Which doesn’t mean it’s not good. Bridges is the one who makes it better, if not for him, this would be a straight-to-DVD type of film. Because they story is predictable and very cliché. But Bridges lifts it to a whole other level and makes it worth watching. And somehow, Bridges and Maggie Gyllenhaal work really well together too.

Rating: 3,5 / 5

Movie Review - The Banshees of Inisherin

Director: Martin McDonagh
Genre: Drama/ Comedy
Runtime: 114 minutes
Year: 2022
Starring: Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson, Kerry Condon, Barry Keoghan
 
Description: Two lifelong friends (Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson) find themselves at an impasse when one abruptly ends their relationship, with alarming consequences for both of them.

Review: If there is one movie you need to put on you viewing list this year, let it be “The Banshees of Inisherin”. For me, the pairing of director Martin McDonagh and his two leads Colin Farrel and Brendan Gleeson, was enough reason for me to check it out. This trio teams up a second time after “In Bruges”, which is one of my all-time favorite movies. Although they once again provide a top shelf film, “The Banshees of Inisherin” has become a very different movie.

The story is set in 1923 during the Irish Civil War. most Irish people wonder with great anxiety what the future will rbing them, except for Pádriac who lives on the fictional island Inisherin. Like his sister Siobhan who is known in the village as an old spinster, he is content with what he has. Pádriac spends almost all his time with his animals and his best friend Colm, with whom he spends numerous hours in the local pub. It is a friendship that the Irishman suspects will never end, until one day Colm announces that from now on he want to devote his life to more meaningful conversations and composing music. In that new life, there is no place for Pádriac.

A parable about friendship that shows above all its fragility. It’s a very special kind of film you rarely see. McDonagh returns to his British-Irish roots after the downright fantastic “Thee Billboards Outside of Ebbing, Missouri” (also a favorite of mine), and tells an intriguing, deeply human story about mortals for whom the world is no bigger than their village.

“The Banshees of Inisherin” is a cinematic gem not to be missed. The wonderfully beautiful film is touchingly funny, the cast is outstanding. Colin Farrell gets better with age and the role of Colm is right up Brendan Gleeson’s alley. Although the year has only just begun, it seems that with this title, I already have a candidate for my favorite film of 2023.

Rating: 5/ 5

10s Movie Review - The Way Back

Director: Peter Weir
Genre: Drama/ Adventure
Runtime: 133 minutes
Year: 2010
Starring: Jim Sturgess, Ed Harris, Saoirse Ronan, Colin Farrell, Mark Strong
Description: Siberian gulag escapees travel four thousand miles by foot to freedom in India.

I WATCHED THIS MOVIE FOR MY 2022 MOVIE CHALLGEN
WEEK 40: A WAR MOVIE
 
Review: Australian director Peter Weir doesn’t make that many films anymore. The man behind such modern classics as “Dead Poets Society” and “The Truman Show” delivers “The Way Back”. At the point of release, it’s only the second film in 12 years. And while this film about an epic, inhuman hike once demonstrates Weir’s craftmanship, “The Way Back” lacks just that little bit extra to turn a good film into an unforgettable one.

“The Way Back” is based on a true story recorded by Polish lieutenant Slavomir Rawicz in “The Long Walk”. In this book, Rawicz describes how, as a prisoner, he escaped from a Siberian gulag and embarked on a harsh journey, from Siberia through Mongolia and finally ending up in India after crossing the Himalayas. A journey of more than six thousand kilometers.

Ever since the publication of this book, in 1956, there have been doubts about the veracity of Rawicz’s story. Indeed, no evidence of it has been found, and it remains to be seen whether he could ever have managed to escape from the gulag where he was imprisoned. In the end, Peter Weir decided to dedicate the film to three unknown survivors who would have made such a journey, and to build the rest of the film around the book and present it as a fictional story in order to avoid controversy.

It was expected beforehand that “The Way Back” would become a major Oscar favotie because of the epic nature of the film and because six-time Oscar nominee Weir has never won the award before. It soon becomes clear, however, that the film cannot quite live up to those expectations. This has nothing to do with the good direction or excellent actors, but more to do with the screenplay that pays too little attention to the mutual group dynamics of the prisoners who undertake the journey together.

It's hard to keep a film without some form of conflict interesting, and while “The Way Back” does a nice job, it’s a shame that 133 minutes of little happens other than a long hike. Even when, in time, a young girl (well played by Saoirse Ronan), joins the group and forms a bond with the oldest member of the group (Ed Harris).

This all makes for a pretty straightforward film. A group of people with just one goal and the entire film is devoted to that goal. Good, but not great.

Rating: 3, 5/ 5

Movie Review - The Batman

Director: Matt Reeves
Genre: Action/ Crime/ Drama
Runtime: 176 minutes
Year: 2022
Starring: Robert Pattinson, Zoë Kravitz, Colin Farrell, Paul Dano, Jeffrey Wright, Andy Serkis, John Turturro, Peter Sarsgaard,
 
Description: When the Riddler (Paul Dano), a sadistic serial killer, begins murdering key political figures in Gotham, Batman (Robert Pattinson) is forced to investigate the city’s hidden corruption and question his family’s involvement.

Review: Did we really need yet another Batman movie? It looks like we do, because “The Batman” is fantastic. Director and screenwriter Matt Reeves made a dead serious, stylish and intriguing drama.
What is he still fighting for? Fighting evil is a hopeless task in Gotham City. Crime rates are only increasing. Corruption seems to be inextinguishable. Bruce Wayne, aka Batman, sees no more bright spots.

“The Batman” is yet another film adaptation of DC Comics’ graphic novels about the dark knight. Dozens of Batman films and series have been made. With Tim Burton’s “Batman”(1989), Christpher Nolan’s impressive trilogy and even the animated “The Lego Batman Movie’ as major successes, failures like “Batman & Robin” (1997) and less popular films like “Batman V. Superman” (2016).
“The Batman” is an entirely new reboot and it does separate itself from the rest. Because it’s a complete new take on Batman and Bruce Wayne. Reeves vision is closest to that op Christopher Nolan, who around 2005 stripped the superhero film of its innocent image, without self-mockery of later Marvel films. “The Batman” is even darker and never cartoonish. In the process, Reeves exploits the specifics of the character well. Batman is one of the few superheroes without super strength, relying on gadgets, money and his own two fists. A lonely, elitist hero he is, with his butler Alfred as his only trustee.

Reeves emphasizes Batman’s humanity. Heroics are less important, though of course the action scenes are not lacking, culminating in a fine car chase. In addition the film spends a lot of time sleuthing. Grim detective films from the 1970s, but also modern versions like David Fincher’s “Zodiac” and “Seven”, served as inspiration.

Batman’s antagonist is The Riddler (Paul Dano), who sets out on a grim quest through various political assassinations. Very far from the portrayal of Jim Carrey’s Riddler in “Batman Forever” (1995). Dano’s depiction of The Riddler is psychotic and he is a truly scary and disturbing villain. Catwoman (Zoë Kravitz) also makes an appearance, as does the Penguin (an unrecognizable Colin Farrell) and mob boss Falcone (John Turturro). As far as casting goes, they did a fantastic job and the actors are all solid. Robert Pattinson foremost. I had doubts, but over the years Pattinson had his fair share of great roles and he made you forget about his awful “Twilight” period. As Batman, Pattinson doesn’t have a lot of dialogue. It’s the look, his walk, the way he is intimidating without saying a word. No cheesy one-liners or cliché dialogue. And I loved how they portrayed Bruce Wayne this time: not the playboy he is mostly known for in the other films. Here he is a broken man, lonely and struggling with his family’s legacy.

There is only one thing I didn’t like. It’s at the end of the film. Without giving any spoilers, it involves a certain character that is introduced, but barely seen. That was unnecessary and added nothing to he plot.

“The Batman” is low-key but incisive, without leaden symbolism or showy digital effects. I loved the dark and grim atmosphere and the casting was nearly perfect. For true Batman fans, “The Batman” is a definite must-see. It’s going on my 2022 favorites list, that’s for sure.

Rating: 4,5/ 5

00s Movie Review - In Bruges

Director: Martin McDonagh
Genre: Comedy/ Crime/ Action
Runtime: 107 minutes
Year: 2008
Starring: Colin Farrell, Ralph Fiennes, Brendan Gleeson, Clémence Poésy, Thekla Reuten

Description: Guilt-stricken after a job gone wrong, hitman Ray (Colin Farrell) and his partner (Brendan Gleeson) await orders from their ruthless boss (Ralph Fiennes) in Bruges, Belgium, the last place in the world Ray wants to be.

Review: The movie starts confusing. A hit gone wrong, we overhear a phone conversation, the person in question has to hide in Bruges. We hear an Irish accents, IRA maybe? What kind of movies is it going to be? And medieval Bruges doesn’t look like the setting for a gangster movie. Then the dialogue between leading characters Ray and Ken starts. Like Vincent and Jules from “Pulp Fiction” they talk a lot and nothing seems to happen. Until Ray meets a girl and Ken gets a phone call from their boss Harry.
In the story that follows, the pieces of the puzzle fall in its place. Why they are in Bruges, what happened and what is going to happen. That build-up at the start seems perfect now, because we understand the characters and their motives. The way to the climax is long and the characters are important for the decisions they will make.
That’s how you build the tension and this is how a movie’s credibility stays up. Martin McDonagh, who directs but also wrote the script, takes us on a winding road. The power of the film is the well written script. But also the cast. Especially Colin Farrell is challenged, for doing something he isn’t used to doing. Farrell’s character is developed and has depth. His best role so far. And Ralph Fiennes is great as boss Harry. With his cockney accent he portrays one of the most hilarious villains, without ever getting ridiculous or forgetting that he is a serious villain.
It’s a special gangster film, on a wonderful location, great cast and a very well written script. It’s not a happy film, but there is enough humor to it. It’s a surprising, lively movie.

Rating: 5/ 5
 

10s Movie Review - Solace

Director: Afonso Poyart
Genre: Crime/ Drama/ Thriller
Runtime: 101 minutes
Year: 2015
Starring: Anthony Hopkins, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Abbie Cornish, Colin Farrell, Marley Shelton, Kenny Johnson

Description: Psychic John Clancy (Anthony Hopkins) works with the F.B.I. in order to hunt down a serial killer.

Review: John Clancy is a retired psychic crime analyst. When FBI agent Joe Merriweather and his partner Katherine Cowles are confronted with a series of bizarre murders, Clancy is called in to help solve the case and find a serial killer.
Director Afonso Poyart choose not ta make his thriller a lingering whodunnit and pocuses on the psychological side of events. The tension lies in slowly revealing the killer’s exact motivations. For why is he killing seemingly random people, including a child? And, more importantly for the tension, how do you catch someone who already sees everything coming?
Unfortunately, the director delivers the not-very-original story like a double episode od a mediocre crime series. Clancy’s prophetic vision looks like they were ripped together from music videos and 90s thrillers. Full of shots of angelic girls with hair blowing in the wins and snarling wolves. Not only does the film look dated aesthetically; the biggest annoyance is the very mediocre and old-fashioned action, with the low point being a messy and dully portrayed car chase. With that, the camera work is really bad and it really bugs you at times.
Anthony Hopkins is not to blame, he is strong and his chemistry with Colin Farrell is very nice. Unfortunately their acting skills are embedded in a collection of dull conventions and contrived situations. For example, Joe is called away for a phone call as many as three times in the film, so Clancy and the skeptical Cowles are scooped up with each other. In doing so, the makes probably hoped to recall the masterful scenes between Hopkins and Jody Foster in “The Silence of the Lambs”. Without success.

Rating: 2/ 5

Movie Review - Ava

Director: Tate Taylor
Genre: Action/ Crime/ Drama
Runtime: 103 minutes
Year: 2020
Starring: Jessica Chastain, John Malkovich, Colin Farrell, Common, Ioan Gruffudd, Geena Davis, Jess Weixler, Joan Chen

Description: Ava (Jessica Chastain) is a deadly assassin who works for a black ops organization, traveling the globe specializing in high profile hits. When a job goes dangerously wrong she is forced to fight for her own survival.

Review: Ava is a mysterious woman, former junkie and alcoholic, ex-military and extremely adept at unscrupulously killing her high-ranking targets. A charming and deadly enigma for family, friends and enemies. And they all seldom realize what the assassin is doing until it’s too late. “Ava”, on the other hand, is an ostentatiously transparent film whose greatest mystery is ultimately what the film wants to be. An action thriller, a drama or perhaps something else?
The split personality of the film is probably best sketched on the basis of the cast. The title role is played by Kessica Chastain, an excellent drama actress. The leaders of her chaotic assassin organization are played by an almost caricatural Colin Farrell and an inexplicably smooth fighting John Malkovich, who is a acting a bit wooden here. Common has the thankless job to play Ava’s gambling addict ex-boyfriend.
All four, popular names and great performers. And they can all do better than they are showing here. Director Tate Taylor doesn’t manage to create a successful film, just a mediocre one that will easily be forgotten. Also the story itself isn’t very surprising. I don’t mind clichés when they are done well, but the predictability of this movie make it hard for the viewer to be fascinated.
“Ava” doesn’t really offer anything new. If you miss this film, you don’t really miss anything special.

Rating: 2 / 5

Movie Review - The Gentlemen

Director: Guy Ritchie
Genre: Crime/ Action/ Comedy
Runtime: 113 minutes
Year: 2020
Starring: Matthew McConaughey, Charlie Hunnam, Hugh Grant, Michelle Dockery, Colin Farrell, Henry Golding, Jeremy Strong, Eddie Marsan

Description: An American expat (Matthew McConaughey) tries to sell his highly profitable marijuana empire in London, triggering plots, schemes, bribery and blackmail in an attempt to steal his domain out from under him.

Review: After directing some more conventional films like “Sherlock Holmes” and “Aladdin”, Guy Ritchie returns with a movie that is more his style. More than 20 years after “Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels” Ritchie is back with a type of film that he’s best at. It’s a clever, quick and self-written British gangster film that is fast-paced and never has a dull moment.
A lot of the plot elements in this film a recognizable from movies like “Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels” and “Snatch”, where it’s about big deals. In “The Gentlemen” this deal is the sale of a British marijuana empire, lead by the American Mickey Pearson. Many people show interest and have their own reasons for it. And that sometimes a machine gun needs to be fired or a fist fight has to happen, only adds to the spectacle.
Like the other aforementioned movies by Ritchie, there are several plots going on. Essential is the one of tabloid journalist and movie director wannabe Fletcher, played by Hugh Grant, who I am thankful for leaving his romcom image aside. He isn’t a gentleman at all and doesn’t mind bribing or blackmailing a drug lord. Fletcher know exactly what is going on in this world and even writes a script for a film. This script is presented to Pearson’s right hand Ray, a gangster played by Charlie Hunnam (these two were definitely my favorite element of the film, they are so good in it). This is the main plot line in the film and is connected with several others. And soon you realize that almost everyone has a double agenda and isn’t as loyal as you might think. A lot of intrigue and betrayal. With that, the film has dry and dark humor, which Ritchie is known for.
The movie might not have the most original story, but if you are a fan of Ritchie’s previous work it won’t bother you. Because it has all the elements that his other crime films had and what make him such a great filmmaker. If you likes “Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels” and “Snatch”, you will enjoy “The Gentlemen” as well.

Rating: 4 / 5

Movie Reviews - Dumbo

Director: Tim Burton
Genre: Family/ Adventure/ Fantasy
Runtime: 112 minutes
Year: 2019
Starring: Colin Farrell, Michael Keaton, Danny DeVito, Eva Green, Alan Arkin, Finley Hobbins, Nico Parker

Description: A young elephant, whose oversized ears enable him to fly, helps save a struggling circus. But when the circus plans a new venture, Dumbo and his friends discover dark secrets beneath its shiny veneer.

Review: Disney is trying go through their animations quickly, into creating live-action versions of them. In 2019 alone, we will get 4 of them. The first this year is “Dumbo”, about the little flying elephant. And it’s not a remake, because Tim Burton used his creative mind well.
What the original animation and this version have in common, is that they are both based off of the same children’s book. Director Burton is known for his visual stories with a dark edge and gave this story his signature touch. “Dumbo” has a darker and more cynical look at the circus world.
Circus director Max Medici is trying to keep his head above water in these crisis times, to keep his circus going. His main attraction was his horse act, but he had to sell the horses. When war veteran Holt returns, missing one arm, he is reunited with his children Milly and Joe. They find comfort now he’s back, because in the meantime their mother had died and their horse act has been removed from the program.
Max wants the elephants to be the major act now and he managed to buy a pregnant female. When the baby is born, Max thinks it’s an ugly creates. Baby Dumbo, what they call him later, is born with huge ears and many people mock him for it. But Milly and Joe see something special and find out that Dumbo can actually fly.
Visually this film is beautiful, as we are used to from burton. Dumbo looks adorable. His level of cuteness is very high! What also looked great was Dreamland, the giant circus by Max’ competition V.A. Vandevere. It looks like a typical steampunk fantasy world by Burton and I loved the look of it.
Not only the visuals are amazing. Burton managed to combine it with a heart warming story which had a sincere moral about confidence and the power of money. And there are many moments where you feel warm insight or need tissues for tears. Because even though it has a lot of happy moments, it is a pretty sad story as well.
Dumbo has to share his stage with some human characters and their side stories. They don’t all work, like the story of Eva Green’s character. It’s neglected a bit, which makes it flat.
I was surprised by the many negative reviews, because I think it was a beautiful film. It looks amazing and has a good story. Burton used his dreamy style to turn it into a live-action film and I think he did a wonderful job.

Rating: 4/ 5

10s Movie Review - Fright Night

Director: Craig Gillespie
Genre: Horror/ Comedy
Runtime: 120 minutes
Year: 2011
Starring: Colin Farrell, Anton Yelchin, Imogen Poots, Toni Collette, David Tennant, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Dave Franco

Description: Teenager Charlie Brewster (Anton Yelchin( suspects that his new neighbor Jerry (Colin Farrell) is a vampire.

Review: The horror movie “Fright Night” from 1985 isn’t one of the most well known movies from the 80’s. On the contrary, it’s a typical, very underrated genre film that got a cult status from a limited group of fans. Building of the tension, the atmosphere and the traditional vampire mythology make the original “Fright Night” an enjoyable film.
So there was a lot of skepticism when they decided to remake this horror classic and give it a modern twist. Thankfully the makers of “Fright Night” don’t make the same mistakes as predecessors that decided to make a modern version of a classic horror flick. The original source material has been handled well. Off course the setting and characters are spiced up a bit and are translated to the 21st century. The neighborhood this movie is set on, is well chosen. A place where many people work nights, a perfect place for a modern vampire. Director Craig Gillespie also succeeds in combining horror and humor together.
The star of the film is Colin Farrell. The flamboyant Irishman easily creates a memorable movie vampire, that can’t be compared to any other vampire. Jerry is a seemingly charming guy, but also a very self-assured killing machine. Fun fact is that Chris Sarandon, who played the role in the original, has a cameo. The British David Tenant also has a remarkable role, as horror magician Peter Vincent. Sometimes mocking, but has enough charm to not overdo it. Only the transformation from cynic to vampire slayer is a bit unbelievable. The movie also loses its tension towards the end.
Aside from some small negatives, “Fright Night” is an above average horror film. It’s not a movie you’re constantly comparing its predecessor, it has enough power to stand on its own. Finally a remake that manages to succeed and has the perfect balance between horror and comedy.

Rating: 4/ 5

10s Movie Review - Widows

Director: Steve McQueen
Genre: Thriller/ Crime/ Drama
Runtime: 130 minutes
Year: 2018
Starring: Viola Davis, Liam Neeson, Jon Bernthal, Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, Coburn Ross, Michelle Rodriguez, Alejandro Verdin, Baily Rhyse Walters, Elizabeth Debicki, Carrie Coon, Robert Duvall, Colin Farrell, Jacki Weaver, Molly Kunz, James Vincent Meredith, Brian Tyree Henry, Daniel Kaluuya, Cynthia Erivo

Description: Set in contemporary Chicago, amid a time of turmoil, four women with nothing in common except a debt left behind by their dead husbands' criminal activities, take fate into their own hands, and conspire to forge a future on their own terms.

Review: The plot sounds a bit like “Ocean’s Eleven” or “Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels”. But it’s a heist movie, with a twist. After a group of robbers were killed, their wives team up to steal millions of dollars.
With director Steve McQueen being involved, you already know it’s not going to be a light film. He also directed heavy themed films like “Hunger”, “Shame” and “12 Years a Slave”.
Where in most heist film the testosterone is fed by greed, “Widows” changes it up a bit. Here the women have a necessity, they need to do it for their own safety. The three women don’t want to step in their husband’s footsteps, they simply have no other choice. One of the men left a ‘script’ which they women use to plan the job.
Steve McQueen is known for his fantastic camerawork and he uses it here too. But it doesn’t always work. In the opening scene, the traditional getaway is shot completely from the getaway van. This is original, minimalistic and works great. But a scene where we see the outside of a driving car, while the frustrated politician inside is arguing with his assistant, doesn’t work as well. I fit was a disposable scene, it didn’t bother me. But it’s an important scene with great acting, which you don’t see. It doesn’t make as much of an impact this way.
Viola Davis is the star of the film. Her icy focus is amazing to watch. Sadly, her character is the most developed and the other women don’t get as much attention.
The interaction between the women is strong, but there is also a lot of attention for the political games played in the city of Chicago.
“Widows” is a good crime thriller, but it has more potential.

Rating: 3 / 5

100 Movie Challenge 2017 - # 130: The Killing of a Sacred Deer

Director: Yorgos Lanthimos
Genre: Drama/ Thriller/ Mystery
Runtime: 121 minutes
Year: 2017
Starring: Colin Farrell, Nicole Kidman, Barry Keoghan, Alicia Silverstone, Bill Camp

Description: Steven (Colin Farrell), a charismatic surgeon, is forced to make an unthinkable sacrifice after his life starts to fall apart, when the behavior of a teenage boy (Barry Keoghan) he has taken under his wing turns sinister.

Review: Yorgos Lanthimos has an interesting mind. Just look at “The Lobster”. “The Killing of a Sacred Deer” is not any different. It’s a complete mystery what the film really means, but it gives you enough material to think about.
The film also marks the second collaboration between Lanthimos and actor Colin Farrell, who seems right in his place in this absurd world. Farrell plays Steve, a successful heart surgeon with an apparent perfect life: he has a good job where he gets praised for, a huge house, a beautiful and successful wife and two talented kids. Outside work, Steven often talks to teenager Martin. What the connection between the two is, stays a secret for a while, but you know something’s going on. The two meet each other in a café, are very polite to one another and exchange gifts.
When Martin is invited to Steven’s home, the rest of the family really like to have him around. But not for long. Things are going terribly wrong with the family and it feels like somehow Martin’s presence causes this all. From that moment on, the movie becomes darker, more psychological and it leans towards horror. The absurd tone of Lanthmos’ style is still present, but “The Killing of a Sacred Deer” has a lot more scary elements then his previous films. Mostly because of Barry Keoghan’s performance. He manages to portray Martin very well. He is always polite, but there is also a constant threat that is hard to put your finger on.
Not only the cast is doing really well, also Lanthimos as a director. His camera work, the dialogues, the shots, every detail. He knows how to make the audience feel uncomfortable.
I think it’s safe to say, that Yorgos Lanthimos is not a director for the mainstream audience. But once you get used to his style a but, you can clearly see that “The Killing of a Sacred Deer” is one of the best movies of 2017.

Rating: 5/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2017 - # 118: The Beguiled

Director: Sofia Coppola
Genre: Drama/ Thriller
Runtime: 94 minutes
Year: 2016
Starring: Colin Farrell, Nicole Kidman, Kirsten Dunst, Elle Fanning, Oona Laurence, Angourie Rice

Description: The unexpected arrival of a wounded Union soldier (Colin Farrell) at a girls school in Virginia during the American Civil War leads to jealousy and betrayal.

Review: They are no longer helpless and innocent, the women in corsets. Several costume dramas proved that this year. And “The Beguiled” by Sofia Coppola is also one of them, a dramatic thriller with heaps of estrogen.
“The Beguiled” is based on the novel by Thomas Cullinan. In 1971 it was adapted to a movie for the first time, with Clint Eastwood starring as the wounded soldier. Sofia Coppola follows the story of the original film, but it didn’t become a boring repetition of it. Coppola managed to add themes like abalienation and group dynamic to it they way only she can. It’s clear this film was written from a female perspective.
It’s great to see how Coppola managed to let lust and envy be defining for the atmosphere. Especially the scene where the women try to trump each other over apple pie, trying to impress the male guest. The camera work is static and music is minimal, this is typical Sofia Coppola. I always loved her timid way of directing.
Nicole Kidman is very strong as Miss Martha, but Kirsten Dunst and Elle Fanning are also solid. Colin Farrell, the only male performer in “The Beguiled” is also the right choice. He can easily be a charming gentleman and a foulmouthed brute. “The Beguiled” is a really good film, a good film to show off the talents of the women in Hollywood.

Rating: 4,5/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2016 - # 156: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

Director: David Yates
Genre: Adventure/ Fantasy/ Family
Runtime: 132 minutes
Year: 2016
Starring: Eddie Redmayne, Alison Sudol, Katherine Waterston, Ezra Miller, Colin Farrell, Zoë Kravitz, Johnny Depp, Ron Perlman, Samantha Marton, Jon Voight, Dan Fogler

Description: The adventures of writer Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) in New York's secret community of witches and wizards seventy years before Harry Potter reads his book in school.

Review: When “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2” was released, it was the end of an era for Harry Potter fans. The last film about the adventures of wizard Harry Potter. But writer J.K. Rowling wasn’t done with the wizarding world either. “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” is a spin-off and she wrote the script for the movie herself. And thank goodness the magic is still alive.
It’s supposed to be a complete new franchise, with five movies in total. And I couldn’t be more excited! We meet Newt Scamander, a zoologist who studies mysterious fable creatures and keeps them in a magical suitcase. He travels to New York, but his animals manage to escape. The story is set seventy years before Harry Potter is even born.
Eddie Redmayne is really good as Newt Scamander. It’s like Redmayne always belonged in this universe, he fits perfectly. He is charming yet very unworldly. I also really liked Dan Fogler as Kowalski, a Muggle. He is the comic relief and he is sort of represents the audience. The one Newt explains everything to. Colin Farrell is the villain, sort of, and he is strong in his role as well.
With traveling outside the UK, the story has created room for many new characters, decors and situations. Wizarding is different in America. Muggles, called No-Maj, aren’t allowed to interact with wizards. But Rowling also connects the parallel tot he real world, to discuss themes as apartheid, oppression and intolerance. This gives the spin-off an extra layer.
But the amazement is what I love about the film. All the great fairytale like creatures we get to meet, like the Niffler, Pickett the walking stick animal and Frank, an eagle like bird.
Also the décor and costumes are fantastic, combined with an amazing musical score by James Newton Howard. Director David Yates, who directed the Harry Potter films since “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoeniex”, knows his material and again did a great job bringing this magical world to life.

Rating: 4,5/ 5

Top 5 Thursday: Hottest Male Characters in Horror Movies

Since it is October and it’s the month of Halloween, I decided to share with you a top 5 featuring horror movies. Well, I do it my way. I focused on the hottest male movie characters in horror movies. Here they are.

5. Seth Gecko (George Clooney in “From Dusk Till Dawn”)
Seth Gecko manages to charm you and you almost forget that he is a criminal. And although I’m not much a tattoo kind of girl, his is pretty awesome. And sexy.

4. Patrick Bateman (Christian Bale in “American Psycho”)
Patrick Bateman is exactly the kind of man I would never date: a yuppie, narcissistic and vain man. But he is attractive.

3. Curt (Chris Hemsworth in “Cabin in the Woods”)
Curt is kind of a douche, the jock of the group. But come on, it’s Chris Hemsworth who plays him. I just had to put him on the list.

2. George Lutz (Ryan Reynolds in “The Amityville Horror”)
I don’t know why George Lutz is in this film shirtless so often, but I’m not complaining. George eventually turns into a psychopath, but he still got the looks.

1. Jerry (Colin Farrell in “Fight Night”)
I’ve never liked the swoony vampires, that don’t want to kill people. I liked the bad boys. Having Jerry as your neighbor is not that bad, weren’t it for the fact that he is an evil vampire. A hot evil vampire.

They Almost Made the Top 5: Jerry (Colin Farrell in “Fright Night”), Nick Jones (Chad Michael Murray in “House of Wax”)

100 Movie Challenge 2015 - # 167: The Lobster

Director: Yorgos Lanthimos

Genre: Comedy/ Drama/ Romance/ Science Fiction

Runtime: 118 minutes

Year: 2015

Starring: Colin Farrell, Rachel Weisz, Ben Wishaw, Léa Seydoux, John C. Reilly, Olivia Colman, Ashley Jensen

Description: In a dystopian near future, single people, according to the laws of The City, are taken to The Hotel, where they are obliged to find a romantic partner in forty-five days or are transformed into beasts and sent off into The Woods.

Review: “The Lobster” tells the story of a near future, where singles are taken to a hotel. Here they have to find a life partner within 45 days. If they fail, the guests are transformed into an animal of their choice. The choice of newly divorced David is a lobster.

The hotel has lots of rules, one even stranger than the other. With “The Lobster” you can count on a big dose of absurdism, dark comedy and pessimism. Is a strange film, but so good.

The acting is phenomenal. Colin Farrell is an actor I either love or hate in a movie. In “The Lobster” he is brilliant. This also goes for Rachel Weisz, John C. Reilly, Léa Seydoux, Ben Wishaw and Olivia Colman.

“The Lobster” is an unique movie, not only because of the bizarre theme but also how director and writer Lanthimos mixes so many different genres. From light sci-fi to dark comedy, satire and a little bit of romance. And the cinematography is amazing. Lathimos also makes you think, because even if it might sound absurd, is our society really that different from the people in the hotel? There are many people desperately seeking for a partner, what makes it that two people spend the rest of their lives together? Are we looking for a relationship because others expect us to or because of love?

“The Lobster” is a movie that exceeded my expectations and us one of the best movies of 2015.

Rating: 4,5/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2015 - # 122: Saving Mr. Banks

Director: John Lee Hancock
Genre: Comedy/ Drama
Runtime: 125 minutes
Year: 2013
Starring: Emma Thompson, Tom Hanks, Colin Farrell, B.J. Novak, Paul Giamatti, Jason Schwartzman, Rachel Griffiths, Bradley Whitford, Ruth Wilson, Kathy Baker

Description: Author P.L. Travers (Emma Thompson) reflects on her childhood after reluctantly meeting with Walt Disney (Tom Hanks), who seeks to adapt her Mary Poppins books for the big screen.

Review: Walt Disney tried to get the movie rights for the book “Mary Poppins” for twenty years. Author P.L. Travers was afraid that Disney would turn her beloved book into a musical. When she has money trouble and might lose her house, she decides to meet with Walt Disney in Los Angeles. But the happy Walt and the unfriendly Pamela are like water and fire.
To make a film based on a story which outcome we all know, is always a risk. The question in “Saving Mr. Banks” is if the movie “Mary Poppins” will ever be made. We all know that it was a huge success, but not a lot of people know how this movie actually happened. Travers didn’t want to give her character to anyone. Why she has such a special bond with the nanny is something we learn along the way. We see how a young Travers grow up in rough Australia. Her father, a beautiful role by Colin Farrell, is a loving man but he has a drinking problem. Their relationship is very strong, but a tragedy makes sure Travers will always be traumatized.
A movie about Disney, made by Disney. It surprisingly has a lot of self-mockery. For instance the scene where P.L. Travers arrives at her hotel in L.A. which is filled with enormous stuffed Disney animals. Emma Thompson has perfect comedic timing.
We all know that Thompson is a great actress, but in “Saving Mr. Banks” she really excels. She turns a rather unpleasant women into a women you love. Tom Hanks doesn’t look like Disney, but he brings a certain nuance to his role. Disney isn’t only a big kid that makes dreams come true, but also a businessman. Hanks does this very well. Colin Farrell plays a role like never before. I never saw Farell like this and I loved him in “Saving Mr. Banks”. Also Paul Giamatti and Jason Schwartzman were great in their roles.
“Saving Mr. Banks” is a lovely film carried by a fantastic cast. Although we all know how it ends, how “Mary Poppins” was made is such a wonderful story. Humor and emotion are very close and Emma Thompson played one of her best roles of her career.

Rating: 4/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2014 - # 146: Total Recall

Director: Len Wiseman

Genre: Actie/ Science Fiction/ Thriller

Runtime: 118 minutes

Year: 2012

Starring: Colin Farrell, Kate Beckinsale, Jessica Biel, Bryan Cranston, Bill Nighy, John Cho

Description: A factory worker, Douglas Quaid (Colin Farrell), begins to suspect that he is a spy after visiting Rekall - a company that provides its clients with implanted fake memories of a life they would like to have led - goes wrong and he finds himself on the run.

Review: Remakes of big movies are really popular these days. You take a big film from the last twenty to twenty five years, modernize it a bit, throw in some famous actors and a success is guaranteed. Right? There are movies that where ready for a remake, like “Cape Fear” by Martin Scorsese or “Ocean’s 11” by Steven Soderbergh. And the Hitchcock classic “Psycho” was a film that didn’t really need that at all. Len Wiseman’s “Total Recall” falls right in the middle.

It’s 2084 and due to a chemical war the biggest part of the world is uninhabitable. Two big areas fight for the power on earth. Factory worker Douglas Quaid lives in The Colony with his wife Lori. He has a recurring dream where he and a woman are being chased. Quaid wants more from his life and he decides to visit the company Rekall. They implant memories. Quaid chooses a memory as a secret agent, but before they can implant it something goes wrong and he turns out to be a wanted man. When Quaid is chased by the police he finds out that nothing is what it seems.

With a remake it’s hard not to compare. “Total Recall” from 1990 was Paul Verhoeven’s break. The biggest difference between the two movies is that in the original the planet Mars is a big part of the film. In the new one, the movie is set on planet earth. Verhoeven’s version had some self-mockery, but Wiseman is going for a more serious approach and gives it a political touch. And the look of the film reminds you a bit of “Blade Runner” as well. Originality is hard to find here. It does look very good, the visuals and action sequences are amazing. But it’s hard to take in the environment because it all goes in warp speed.

Colin Farrell is off course a better actor then Arnold Schwarzengger and he’s a believable action hero. My biggest problem with the film is that you never really know if the events really happened or were all in Quaid’s head.

“Total Recall” is an entertaining action/ sci-fi film that takes itself a bit too seriously. Visually it’s stunning and Colin Farrell is doing a solid job as Quaid. But the movie never convinces you the way the original did.

Rating: 3/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2014 - # 118: Seven Psychopaths

Director: Martin McDonagh

Genre: Crime/ Comedy

Runtime: 110 minutes

Year: 2012

Starring: Colin Farrell, Sam Rockwell, Christopher Walken, Woody Harrelson, Tom Waits, Abbie Cornish, Olga Kurylenko, Gabourey Sidibe, Michael Pitt, Harry Dean Stanton

Description: Struggling screenwriter Marty (Colin Farrell) inadvertently becomes entangled in the Los Angeles criminal underworld after his oddball friends (Sam Rockwell, Christopher Walken) kidnap a gangster's (Woody Harrelson) beloved Shih Tzu.

Review: Marty is an Irish scriptwriter who works in Hollywood. For his next script he only has a title: “Seven Psychopaths”. Trying to fight his writer’s block, he’s constantly drinking alcohol. His friends Billy and Hans have another occupation: they kidnap dogs and then return them to their owners in order to collect the reward. Everything goes wrong when Billy kidnaps the Shi’Tzu of criminal Charlie and Marty gets involved.

“Seven Psychopaths” is best described as a dark crime comedy. Filled with good actors who get away with all the horrible violence because of their funny dialogues and the bizarre scenario. Director Martin McDonagh broke through with “In Bruges”, which is a favorite of mine. Colin Farrell also had the lead role in that movie. Here, as Marty, he is more neutral and the people around him steal the show. Sam Rockwell does what he does best. He’s totally crazy, but wins over your sympathy somehow. Christopher Walken has the most emotional role, but his humor is great.

McDonagh filled “Seven Psychopaths” with fun moments. It’s sometimes on the edge of overdoing it, but thanks to the humor of the actors it’s a highly enjoyable movie. Definitely worth your time.

Rating: 4/ 5