Movie Review - Rebel Ridge

Director: Jeremy Saulnier
Genre: Crime/ Action/ Drama/ Thriller
Runtime: 131 minutes
Year: 2024
Starring: Aaron Pierre, Don Johnson, AnnaSophia Robb, David Denman, Emory Cohen
 
Description: A former Marine (Aaron Pierre) grapples his way through a web of small-town corruption when an attempt to post bail for his cousin escalates into a violent standoff with the local police chief (Don Johnson).

Review: When Terry Richmond is on his way with a bag full of money to bail out his cousin, his money is confiscated by the local police. Completely dishonest but completely according to the law. That’s the beginning of a blood-curdling cat and mouse game in “Rebel Ridge”, where perfectly executed details add emotions and urgency to a compelling story.

“Rebel Ridge” starts strong, right in the middle of the action, and is immediately compelling. The only moments of calm are when Terry stares intensely but silently at his attackers, which lead actor Aaron Pierre is very good at. The subdued Pierre needs little to no convey palpable yet restrained anger and is thus excellently cast for the role. In addition to Aaron Pierre, AnnaSophia Robb in a supporting role and Don Johnson as the villain are also very impressive.

The film is exciting, it’s a high-level action thriller. It has a somewhat abrupt ending, which I personally didn’t love, but that’s the only critique I have.

Rating: 4,5/ 5

10s Movie Review - Brawl in Cell Block 99

Director: S. Craig Zahler
Genre: Crime/ Thriller/ Drama
Runtime: 132 minutes
Year: 2017
Starring: Vince Vaughn, Jennifer Carpenter, Don Johnson, Udo Kier, Marc Blucas

Description: A former boxer-turned-drug runner (Vince Vaughn) lands in a prison battleground after a deal gets deadly.

Review: Bradley Thomas gets fired from his job and finds out his wife is cheating on him. He still wants to give his wife a good life, so he starts working as a drug runner. They buy a beautiful house and his wife gets pregnant. When he ends up in jail, he thinks it’s going to be an easy 7 years. Until his wife gets kidnapped and some dangerous men in the business want something in return.
Over the years, Vince Vaughn has been in a lot of different roles. In the past years he has been in several silly comedies, where he is usually very loud. But I think I prefer Vaughn in more serious roles. And the role of Bradley Thomas is perfect for him. A loving husband, choosing the wrong path, but staying within the lines of his moral compass. He knows how to play it rough, but has a good heart. One of Vaughn’s best work to date.
The film has a pretty long runtime, over two hours. But despite this and the fact it builds up slow, the film never bores you. And there is also a good balance between drama and action.
To watch this film, you do have to be able to endure some graphic fight scenes. “Brawl in Cell Block 99” is very violent. Although that final shot is clearly a dummy.
“Brawl in Cell Block 99” is a surprisingly strong and entertaining prison/ revenge movie.

Rating: 4/ 5

Movie Reviews - Knives Out

Director: Rian Johnson
Genre: Crime/ Comedy
Runtime: 130 minutes
Year: 2019
Starring: Daniel Craig, Chris Evans, Ana de Armas, Jamie Lee Curtis, Michael Shannon, Don Johnson, Toni Collette, Christopher Plummer, Katherine Langford, Jaeden Martell, Frank Oz

Description: A detective investigates the death of a patriarch of an eccentric, combative family.

Review: An old-fashioned murder mystery of Agatha Christie-like allure. That's what filmmaker Rian Johnson advocated when he took care of the story and direction for “Knives Out”. The director of “Brick” and “The Last Jedi” has stuffed all the standard elements of the genre into this classic whodunit: an immense mansion, a rich family full of intrigues, only striking characters and of course the murder of an authoritative man. As one of the characters makes clear, it looks like a lifelike game of Clue. So: who killed Harlan Thrombey with the knife in the study?
Successful thriller author and multimillionaire Thrombey had just called the family together before his death in order to tighten the ties again. Because it's hatred and envy within the family ranks. And with all those fights and conspiracies, the motives immediately come to the surface. His daughter-in-law made money back because of the study costs of granddaughter Megan, whom she cashed twice. Son-in-law Richard cheated with Thrombey's knowledge. A grandson (who by the way has the first name Ransom) was in turn disinherited and Thrombey's youngest son worked for the company. And then there is the South American nurse who may have tampered with medication.
One by one, Johnson will take care of the suspects. He does this with a series of interviews with a very special spectator. Private detective Benoit Blanc, a fantastically smooth role for Daniel Craig, who sounds like Francis Underwood's brother because of his southern American accent, has more than earned his spurs in a number of high-profile cases. Initially he is only used as an observer, but he always makes his presence known to potential suspects in an irritating way by pressing a piano key. It doesn't take long before Blanc completely takes over the murder investigation, although he leaves the detective under the illusion that it isn't so.
Knives Out is indebted to the genre that made Christie great and is therefore a tribute to the work of the highly productive British thriller author. There are studies that have shown that Christie suddenly built up her sentences in such a way that it is impossible to stop reading. Johnson's thriller may not have this hypnotic effect, but it is full of intriguing characters who all have their reasons to get rid of the pater familias. As it should be. It also helps a lot that next to Craig, famous faces like those of Jamie Lee Curtis, Don Johnson, Chris Evans, Michael Shannon, Christopher Plummer and Toni Collette make their appearance. But Craig is the one who owns this movie. It’s a very tongue-in-cheek performance, over-exaggerated, but therefor delightful to watch.
Knives Out is, with its beautiful scenery and camera work, above all a tribute to the classic murder genre, in which nothing and nobody is what it seems. It's a wonderful puzzle and therefore an escape from the daily grind. The ensemble cast is a pleasure to watch, because it must be wonderful to get absorbed in the dysfunctional family dynamics at a crime scene full of secret corners, spaces and doors.

Rating: 5/ 5

10s Movie Review - The Other Woman

Director: Nick Cassavetes
Genre: Comedy/ Romance
Runtime: 110 minutes
Year: 2014
Starring: Cameron Diaz, Leslile Mann, Kate Upton, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Don Johnson, Taylor Kinney, Nicki Minaj

Description: After discovering her boyfriend is married, Carly (Cameron Diaz) meets the wife (Leslie Mann) he’s been betraying. And when yet another love affair is discovered, the three women team up to plot revenge on the three-timing S.O.B.

Review: “With a lawyer, a wife and boobs we form a killing machine”. This is the revenge plan lawyer Carly and her fellow ‘victims have set up. Carly, Kate and Amber are all being fooled by the same man. Neurotic Kate is married to him, Carly thought she was exclusively dating him and Amber is seemingly only there for the sex. They accidentally find out about each other and what their man, Mark, has been up to. Their revenge has to be so sweet, but in director Nick Cassavete’s “The Other Woman” is sadly leaves with a bitter taste of frustration.
Further then giving him some laxatives, hormone treatment and some ‘special shampoo’ they really never go. And the shady business he is running in the Bahamas, which never really gets clear, enters the story in warp speed. Cassavetes invests most of his time into introducing us to the characters and the blooming friendship between Carly and Kate.
Later we are introduced to bombshell Amber, played by Kate Upton. A gorgeous woman, but that’s seemingly the only purpose she has. Because after her introduction, she’s like the third wheel and never gets to do anything of any significance. Leslie Mann, whom I usually adore, starts to work on your nerves pretty quickly here. Here overall charm that we are used to, is totally gone. And Cameron Diaz has also had her best days.
“The Other Woman” is entertaining, but mostly cringe worthy. And the slapstick humor os totally off.

Rating: 2/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2017 - # 65: Cold in July

Director: Jim Mickle
Genre: Thriller/ Crime
Runtime: 109 minutes
Year: 2014
Starring: Michael C. Hall, Sam Shepard, Don Johnson, Vinessa Shaw

Description: When a protective father (Michael C. Hall) meets a murderous ex-con (Sam Shepard), both need to deviate from the path they are on as they soon find themselves entangled in a downwards spiral of lies and violence while having to confront their own inner psyche.

Review: It’s still a bit strange to see Michael C. Hall, aka Dexter, shake when an intruder enters his house and he sneaks up on him with a gun that he can barely load.
East Texas, 1989. Richard Dane is an ordinary man, who shoots an intruder out of self-defense. But a man called Ben Russell, an ex-con and the victim’s father, is keepin an eye on Richard. Russell is determined to avenge his son’s death, but things take a different turn.
The film seems to have a storyline that is straight forward and predictable. But it’s a lot more surprising and original than I expected it to be.
Richard doesn’t feel like a hero and even feels regret for his actions. He admits to feeling terrible after giving his statement. Richard is a very realistic man, he doesn’t feel like a character. The first half of the film is exciting and thrilling. The second half, the story flips around and it loses its strength a bit. That’s sad, because it could have been so much better.
“Cold in July” is still a good movie, with especially the first half being amazing. But it eventually becomes a more standard crime thriller.

Rating: 3,5/ 5

Top 5 Thursday: TV Detectives

I always like a good detective story. I like the mystery, the unknown and how it all unravels eventually. TV has brought us many great detectives and here are my favourites (and I’m not counting “CSI” because they are technically not detectives).

5. Fox Mulder (“The X-File”)

Cases of the paranormal. I always liked how Mulder did his job. He was the believer and his partner Dana Scully was a skeptic.

 

4. Sonny Crockett (“Miami Vice”)

In a sun-dappled '80s fantasy Miami where even the walls of the police station were painted neon, Sonny Crockett in impeccable clothes drove fast cars and sleek boats, going deep undercover each week in drug gangs, terrorist cells, and prostitution rings.

 

3. Olivia Benson (“Law and Order: SVU”)

This world is basically ruled by men, by Olivia Benson easily keeps with them. She channels her inner demons into an ongoing struggle to avenge the innocent.

 

2. Rust Cohle (“True Detective”)

You might as well call him Rust Cool. Far out the coolest detective ever. Although he’s a bit unconventional, it’s really hard not to like this guy.

 

1. Sherlock Holmes (“Sherlock”)

No one solves a murder mystery like Sherlock Holmes. If we could only see how this man thinks and how his brain works. I think no one will ever understand Sherlock Holmes fully.

 

They Almost Made the Top 5: Magnum (“Magnum P.I.”), Jesscia Tandy (“Murder She Wrote”), Vic Mackey (“The Shield”)