00s Movie Review - Gangs of New York

Director: Martin Scorsese
Genre: Drama/ Crime
Runtime: 147 minutes
Year: 2002
Starring: Daniel Day-Lewis, Leonardo DiCaprio, Cameron Diaz, John C. Reilly, Stephen Graham, Henry Thomas, Brendan Gleeson, Liam Neeson, Jim Broadbent, Eddie Marsan

I WATCHED THIS MOVIE FOR MY 2023 MOVIE CHALLENGE.
WEEK 49: A MOVIE WITH AND ACTOR/ ACTRESS YOU DISLIKE
 
Description: In 1962, Amsterdam Vallon (Leonardo DiCaprio) returns to the Five Points area of New York City seeking revenge against Bill the Butcher (Daniel Day-Lewis), his father’s killer.

Review: In “Gangs of New York”, director Martin Scorsese resents his cynical vision of the extremely bloody gang wars that plagued Manhattan in the mid-nineteenth century.

The film opens with a bloody battle in the Five Points area, where Irish immigrants clash with the American-born Nativists, led by the ruthless William cutting, knows as Bill the Butcher.
Sixteen years later, the son of the murdered Irish gang leader, returns to the neighborhood. Unfortunately, this characters, Amsterdam Vallon, doesn’t quite come into his own, but there is no doubt about his revenge against Bill the Butcher. This is one of those stories where you kind of side with the villain, because his character is way more interesting and fleshed out, not because he’s more likeable. And that is largely thanks to Daniel Day-Lewis, who portrays this ruthless gang leader as a charismatic psychopath. He created an instant classic movie villain. He steals the entire movie and makes Leonardo DiCaprio completely fade into the background. Not to speak of Cameron Diaz, who in my eyes was miscast. And I believe that they could have left her character out completely, she adds nothing to the story and you don’t care about her.

But “Gangs of New York” has more to offer than Day-Lewis’ monumental acting. Above all, the film fascinates with the almost maniacal detail with which the Manhattan of 1862 was reconstructed. The film looks stunning. We are plunged into an anarchic society. Scorsese has already showed us at length that Manhattan was nothing less than hell on earth in previous movies, but he has just mentioned that existence there in the nineteenth century was many times more miserable.

In Taxi Driver and Bringing out the dead, Scorsese had already shown us at length that Manhattan was nothing less than hell on earth. He had just never mentioned that existence there in the nineteenth century was many times more miserable.

Rating: 4,5/ 5

TV Show Review - The Fall of the House of Usher

Season: Mini Series
Genre: Horror/ Drama/ Mystery
Number of episodes: 8
Year: 2023
Starring: Bruce Greenwood, Mary McDonnell, Carla Cugino, Henry Thomas, Kate Siegel, Zach Gilford, Samantha Sloyan, Michael Trucco, Mark Hamill    

Description: To secure their fortune (and future) two ruthless siblings (Bruce Greenwood, Mary McDonnell) build a family dynasty that begins to crumble when their heirs mysteriously die, one by one.

Review: Many filmmakers have a bond with the actors they work with. Martin Scorsese and Robert De Niro, or Tim Burton and Johnny Depp. Director Mike Flanagan does this with his series and films as well. In his newest show, “The Fall of the House of Usher”, we see a lot of familiar faces, like Bruce Greenwood, Carla Cugino, Zach Gilford, Henry Thomas, Samantha Sloyan and his wife Kate Siegel. I was very excited for this show, I’m a huge fan of Mike Flanagan’s work.

“The House of the Fall of Usher” is (very loosely) based on the Edgar Allan Poe short story of the same name. The story is about 40 pages long, so creating an 8-part TV-series around it is quite the challenge. Flanagan also took it to modern time. And I believe he did an excellent job.

The Usher family has amassed enormous wealth, but is mostly known for theur major crimes they get away with time and time again. Until one day, Roderick Usher’s six children are killed one by one in bloody accidents in a short period of time. Roderick invites hi judicial adversary to confess it all, because he knows full well who is targeting him.

“The Fall of the House of Usher” is marketed as horror, it is not a show just for the horror fans. I see it mostly as a dark, gothic mystery thriller with horror elements in it. The show has some really strong and effective scares, that would be stated horror.

The characters are diverse, but I can say that you will hate them all. They are all so unlikeable, but extremely interesting. The series only downside is that it has some predictability, because you know when which sibling will die. Because it’s set I a way that one person will die per episode. The way they all kick the bucket is not predictable, because some of them are very original, and all gruesome.

The cast is fantastic, but Carla Cugino and Bruce Greenwood (who previously both starred in Flanagan’s “Gerald’s Game”) are the ones that impress the most. Cugino is a literal chameleon in “The Fall of the House of Usher”.

I don’t think this is a show for everyone, whether you like horror or not. I highly enjoyed it and jumped a few times because of the scares Flanagan so well added. And the conclusion of the whole story was very strong.

80s Movie Review - E.T. The Extra Terrestrial

Director: Steven Spielberg
Genre: Drama/ Family/ Fantasy/ Science Fiction
Runtime: 115 minutes
Year: 1982
Starring: Henry Thomas, Drew Barrymore, Dee Wallace-Stone, Robert McNaughton, Peter Coyote, KC Martel, Sean Frye, C. Thomas Howell, David M. O’Dell, Richard Swingler, Frank Toth, Erika Eleniak, Michael Darrell, Robert Barton

Description: A troubled child summons the courage to help a friendly alien escape Earth and return to his home-world.

Review: Aliens were ‘hot’ at the end of the 70s and beginning of the 80s. Steven Spielberg already made “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” and Ridley Scott gave us the chills with “Alien”. Then comes Spielberg again with what appears to be a cute, sweet and adorable alien: “E.T. the Extra Terrestrial”. As endearing as E.T. is, we haven’t seen many aliens like that.
The adventure is for the entire family. The story is simple: Elliott is a lonely eight year old boy and befriends an alien who he names E.T. At first he wants to keep their friendship a secret, but soon his brother and sister find out.
With “E.T. the Extra Terrestrial” Spielberg made an ode to youth. Kids are boss in this movie. Adults aren’t portrayed in the nicest way, except for Elliott’s mother, and the story is told from the point of view of Elliott.
The show stealer is without a doubt E.T. itself. He doesn’t only steal the show, but also our hearts. This is one of those movies that always makes me cry. And Henry Thomas also did a fantastic job, just like his movie sister Drew Barrymore who was only seven while filming.
“E.T. the Extra Terrestrial” is a delightful adventure, for young and old. It’s timeless and heartwarming. It’s a classic and one of my favorite films from my childhood. And kids today should keep seeing it!

Rating: 5/ 5

TV-Show Review - Midnight Mass (Mini-Series)

Season: Mini Series
Genre: Horror/ Drama/ Thriller
Number of episodes: 7
Year: 2021
Starring: Kate Siegel, Zach Gilford, Kristin Lehman, Samantha Sloyan, Annabeth Gish, Hamish Linklater, Michael Trucco, Rahul Kohli, Annarah Cymone, Igby Rigney, Alex Essoe, Rahul Abburi, Matt Biedel, Henry Thomas

Description: An isolated island community experiences miraculous events, and frightening omens, after the arrival of a charismatic, mysterious young priest (Hamish Linklater).

Review: Mike Flanagan’s latest creation, “Midnight Mass”, can be seen on Netflix since September 24^th. And it’s safe to say that this renowned horror director can add yet another top-notch project to his performance list.
In “Midnight Pass”, we follow an isolated religious island community on the cost of Northeast America. The center of this community is the Catholic St. Patrick’s church, and the priest of this church has been Monsignor John Pruitt for decades. However, after a trip to the Holy Land, he has fallen ill and is staying in a hospital on the mainland. His replacement is Father Paul, a young priest who by God makes miracles happen at St. Patrick’s. Another important islander is Riley Flynn. Some twenty years ago, as a young twenty-something, he left the island to pursue his dreams. But now, due to circumstances, he has returned. At first glance, time seems to have stood still on the island for centuries, but little do the inhabitants know that their home is on the brink of great ominous changes.
What “Midnight Mass” does well is that it slowly builds to a climax. Each episode dissects yet another part of the story and mystery. It takes its time to introduce the isolated religious island and its inhabitants. In addition, it becomes clear almost immediately that something is off. The isolation also gives you the sense of suspense, because if something happens one if dependent on the mainland. Furthermore, Flanagan is known for fleshing out his characters and certain themes well, in this case their relationship with religion and death. Flanagan also dislikes jumpscares, gore and a climax centered on a monster. In doing so, he joins a ranks of directors and writers who in recent years have walked away from mediocre but well-selling horror films that do focus on these things.
In takes guts to give a lot of attention in a horror production to people sitting around talking to each other about human themes like justice, guilt, depression, life meaning, the meaning of religion and what happens after death. Sure there are scary scenes in it, and even jumpscares, but this is done in a way that it adds something and they are effective. The atmosphere is often dark and creepy, which in the long run offers more suspense than a quick and loud sound. Thus, the series requires a certain amount of patience and interest in the above themes.
In conclusion, it can be said that “Midnight Mass” is one of the better horror production of the moment. Certainly it was the best TV-series I’ve seen in 2021. With an exciting dark atmosphere and well-crafted characters and themes, you will be on the edge of your seat.

10s Movie Review - Gerald's Game

Director: Mike Flanagan
Genre: Horror/ Thriller
Runtime: 103 minutes
Year: 2017
Starring: Carla Cugino, Bruce Greenwood, Henry Thomas, Carel Struyken, Kate Siegel

Description: A couple (Carle Cugino, Bruce Greenwood) tries to spice up their marriage in a remote lake house. After the husband dies unexpectedly, the wife is left handcuffed to their bed frame and must fight to survive and break free.

Review: Gerald handcuffs his wife Jessie to the bed of a remote lake house they are vacation in. for Jessie, this adventure turns into torture when Gerald suddenly dies of a heart attack, while her still being cuffed to the bed.  
2017 was a year that Stephen King had many of his films being adapted to the big screen. His book series “The Dark Tower” finally turned into a movie and the remake of “It” was a huge success. In addition, Netflix presented us with “1922” and “Gerald’s Game”.
One thing is for sure, “Gerald’s Game” is not the easiest book to film. The story largely takes place in the mind of Jessie who is chained to a bed while her late husband is being eaten by a stray dog. Yet director Mike Flanagan manages to squeeze enough suspense out of this plot.
This success is largely due to the intense acting of Carla Cugino as Jessie. As the fear, hunger and thirst begin to take their toll, she turns more an more into herself. We too escape from Jessie’s plight for a brief moment, only to be confronted with the nightmares of her past.
These interludes deepen the complexity of Cugino’s character and ensure that the film never becomes boring. Flanagan’s dedication to character development makes “Gerald’s Game” both a robust King film adaptation and an effective psychological horror film.

Rating: 3,5/ 5

00s Movie Review - I Capture the Castle

Director: Tim Fywell
Genre: Drama/ Romance
Runtime: 108 minutes
Year: 2003
Starring: Romola Garai, Rose Byrne, Marc Blucas, Henry Thomas, Henry Cavill, Bill Nighy, Tara Fitzgerald

Description: A love story set in 1930s England that follows 17-year-old Cassandra Mortmain (Romola Garai), and the fortunes of her eccentric family, struggling to survive in a decaying English castle.

I WATCHED THIS MOVIE FOR MY 2020 MOVIE CHALLENGE.
WEEK 46: A COSTUME DRAMA

Review: “Better all that hurt than to have known no pain”. That’s the lesson we earn from the film “I Capture the Castle”. The film is based on the 1948 book of the same name by Dodie Smith, who would later become known mainly for her book “The Hundred and One Dalmatians”.
The story of the film is told with the help of a voice-over by Cassandra Mortmain who records all the events surrounding her family in her journal. The film is set in 1930s England. Seventeen-year-old Cassandra lives with her eccentric family in a remote dilapidated castle. Depressed father James once wrote a successful book, but hasn’t had a word on paper for twelve years. Stepmother Topaz is an artist and nudist. Sister Rose is a beautiful girl with a penchant of luxury; her life goal is to marry a rich man. And then there is little brother Thomas, a very smart kid. In addition, the handsome handyman Stephan often visits the Mortmains; he is secretly in love with Cassandra, but she is not in love with him. One day the family meets two wealthy young American men: Simon and Neil Cotton. Rose sees her chance and does everything he can to make Simon fall in love with her. She succeeds and soon the two get engaged. Ut then Cassandra falls in love with Simon herself. And is Rose actually happy with Simon.
Although “I Capture the Castle” is a beautiful film, the story doesn’t seem to work all the time. I think it’s mostly the motivations of some characters that bother me. I simply never understand what Cassandra sees in Simon. Simon is clearly in love with Rose and at first Cassandra even helps Rose to get Simon. But still she falls in love with him. When there is Stephen, a caring, sweet, kind and handsome man (come on, it’s Henry Cavill) who would do everything for Cassandra. But she doesn’t love him back and treats him rather unfairly. He is the winning lottery ticket girl!
I really did love Romolo Garai in her role, even though I didn’t always understand her choices. And despite some negatives, I really did enjoy “I Capture the Castle”.

Rating: 3/ 5

10s Movie Review - Doctor Sleep

Director: Mike Flanagan
Genre: Thriller/ Horror/ Drama
Runtime: 151 minutes
Year: 2019
Starring: Ewan McGregor, Rebecca Ferguson, Kyliegh Curran, Cliff Curtis, Carel Struyken, Bruce Greenwood, Henry Thomas, Jacob Tremblay

Description: Years following the events of “The Shining”, a now-adult Danny Torrance (Ewan McGregor) must protect a young girl with similar powers from a cult known as The True Knot, who prey on children with powers to remain immortal.

Review: It’s not a secret that author Stephen King wasn’t happy with Stanley Kubrick’s adaptation of “The Shining”. In 2013 King released the sequel to his novel, called “Doctor Sleep”, where the story focuses on son Danny. What happened to Danny after the traumatic events in the Overlook Hotel and how is he dealing with his gift?
After everything that happened in the Overlook Hotel, Danny and his mother have picked up their lives. When Danny is twenty, his mother passes away and he starts wandering through the US. Like his father, Danny can’t stay away from alcohol. He eventually ends up in a small town in New Hampshire, where he starts working as a hospice. His visions and his gift he tries to put away as far as possible.
As appears, Danny is not the only one with ‘the shining’, as this gift is called. There is a group, led by the mysterious and charismatic Rose the Hat, that live off the powers of those with the gift. When a young boy disappears by the hands of this group, young girl Abra seeks contact with Danny. She also has the gift and together they will try to stop Rose and her macabre group.
The title, “Doctor Sleep”, refers to Danny’s ability to console dying patients. And the film is not a series of repeats from the first film. Stephen King presented a bigger universe, where Danny’s gift is still unique but he is obviously not the only one anymore. “The Shining” had an oppressive feel because of the setting. And even though this film has a bigger setting, it still gives you this feeling at times.
Ewan McGregor is really strong in this film, but it’s Rebecca Ferguson as a very convincing villain and the young Kyliegh Curran that steal the show.
If you saw the trailer, you would think that “Doctor Sleep” is pure fan-service, since you can see young Danny on his tricycle, the scary maze, the twins, the door that Jack broke with the axe and the sea of blood in the hallway, they are all present. As fans of “The Shining” it’s one big feast. But in the film it’s only short and dosed, purely for visual reference and all very functional.
Flanagan definitely learned from Kubrick, but he didn’t copy his predecessor. And this is fantastic, because “Doctor Sleep” is its own film without leaning on the success of “The Shining”. Especially the camera work is spectacular and daring and shows how techniques have been perfected over the years.
Also a tiny detail that made me happy is the fact that they kept the book title and didn’t call it The Shining 2 or whatever, to lure more people to the cinema. Since the title doesn’t shout out it is a sequel.
Directing a film that’s a sequel to one of cinema’s most iconic horror film is a big task and it could have gone wrong. But “Doctor Sleep” is a fantastic film, has psychological complexity and gets under your skin. I loved it!

Rating: 4 / 5