10s Movie Review - Alex Cross

Director: Rob Cohen
Genre: Action/ Crime/ Mystery
Runtime: 101 minutes
Year: 2012
Starring: Tyler Perry, Matthew Fox, Edward Burns, Rachel Nichols, Jean Reno, Carmen Ejogo, Cicely Tyson, John C. McGinley

Description: Homicide detective Alex Cross (Tyler Perry) is pushed to the brink of his moral and physical limits as he tangles with a ferociously skilled hired killer (Matthew Fox) who specializes in torture and pain.

I WATCHED THIS MOVIE FOR MY 2023 MOVIE CHALLENGE.
WEEK 27: A THIRD MOVIE IN A SERIES

Review: Alex Cross is a psychologist and homicide detective, created by author James Patterson, who wrote a books series about this interesting character that has over 20 books and counting in it. Alex Cross has turned up in movies before, in the form of Morgan Freeman who portrayed him in “Kiss the Girls” and “Along Came a Spider”. In this film, based on the twelfth book in the series, has Tyler Perry as the titular character. Cross is dealing wit a violently deranged killer, who leaves cubist drawings as clues.

James Patterson is one of the best crime writers in the business, so the source material is solid. “Kiss the Girls” is one of my go-to thrillers. “Along Came a Spider” was okay, but not noteworthy. “Alex Cross” is just bad. It’s filled with bad dialogues, clearly not written by Patterson. And it’s in this story that Cross is offered the job to work for the FBI as a psychoanalyst. Which is very implausible, since all of his analysis are based on a few mere clues.

What is even more implausible is the fight between Alex and the perpetrator, called Picasso. Whereas Picasso is first portrayed as a dangerous maniac who causes death and destruction as if a whole arsenal of criminals had done these deeds, the creators just as easily step away from that and Picasso suddenly has trouble with Dr. Alex Cross. And Tyler Perry is really not good as Cross and he’s absolutely not believable as a psychoanalytic observer. Of course you’re going to compare him to Morgan Freeman, who portrayed Cross as a calm, rational and intelligent professional. Perry just never convinces.

The same goes for the story. The Alex Cross stories have serious topics, but this film has a comedic undertone due to some of the characters. John C. McGinley’s character gives it that undertone and it’s just out of place. Matthew Fox, as the villain Picasso, is pretty good though.

Although the film is meant to be a serious action thriller, it feels more like a satirical version of it. The film is predictable, cheesy, implausible and both the dialogue and most of the acting are just awful. I don’t think James Patterson is happy with this film.

Rating: 1,5/ 5

90s Movie Review - Saving Private Ryan

Director: Steven Spielberg
Genre: Drama/ Action
Runtime: 170 minutes
Year: 1998
Starring: Tom Hanks, Matt Damon, Tom Sizemore, Edward Burns, Barry Pepper, Adam Goldberg, Vin Diesel, Giovanni Ribisi, Jeremy Davies, Paul Giamatti, Ted Danson, Dennis Farina

Description: Following the Normandy Landings, a group of U.S. soldiers go behind enemy lines to retrieve a paratrooper (Matt Damon) whose brothers have been killed in action.

Review: Director Steven Spielberg proofs again why he is one of the best directors in Hollywood, with this strong war movie. When three brothers of the Ryan family have died in battle, it’s decided that the fourth brother can go home. Problem is that this soldier is somewhere in France. To find Ryan, Captain John Miller is the person to find him, together with a team of eight men.
The movie is divided in three parts: the first part is the landing of the American troops on Omaha Beach on june 6th 1944, D-Day. The second part is the search for private Ryan. The third part is what the soldiers do when they have actually found Ryan.
Especially that opening scene is very violent and shocking and it’s definitely one of the best opening scenes in movie history. Not only that first scene makes this movie good. The screenplay is intelligent and the camera work is fantastic. And also the acting. Tom Hanks does exactly what we expect from him: an excellent job! The interaction between him and his team and later also with Damon’s characters is impressive and believable. Smaller roles by Dennis Farina, Vin Diesel, Ted Danson and Paul Giamatti are also worth mentioning.
The movie won several Academy Awards, one being best director. Totally deserved. It’s a fact that “Saving Private Ryan” is one of Spielberg’s best, and he already made so many great ones.

Rating: 4,5/ 5