90s Movie Review - Eye for An Eye

Director: John Schlesinger
Genre: Thriller/ Drama/ Crime
Runtime: 101 minutes
Year: 1996

Starring: Sally Field, Ed Harris, Kiefer Sutherland, Beverly D’Angelo, Olivia Burnette, Alexandra Kyle, Joe Mategna, Keith David, Philip Baker Hall, Geoffrey Rivas, Charlayne Woodard

Description: When the courts fail to keep behind bars the man (Kiefer Sutherland) who raped and murdered her daughter, a woman (Sally Field) seeks her own form of justice.  

Review: When Karen McCann is stranded in a traffic jam on her way home one afternoon, she calls her eldest daughter Julie who is busy preparing for youngest daughter Megan’s birthday party. While on the phone, she hers Julie opening the door to a man and then being attacked. Panicked, Karen tries to get home and call the police. Once home, her world collapses when it appears that Julie has been murdered after being raped. A short time later, the killer Robert Doob is caught. But unfortunately, he is released after an error. Karen’s shock and grief slowly turn to disbelief and anger. Karen and her husband Mack join a support group for parents who have lost someone due to violence. There Karen meets a man who teaches her how to take justice in her own hands. But though she desperately wants to kill Doob, she can’t follow through. Until Doob strikes again. Karen is determined Doob has to pay for his actions.

A film about the search for justice in an unjust world. Sally Field pays her role as Karen McCann very well. The intense sadness that slowly turns into anger is portrayed well, I almost felt It myself. Kiefer Sutherland plays the bad guy and he does this well too.

“Eye for an Eye” has an excellent start, the first few scenes are very intense, and the way they portray the grief of losing a child, is very well done. The feeling of revenge quickly takes over. And the grief that the family feels is lost. Karen’s search for justice is understandable, yet it takes over way too fast. It is in fact very original that it’s the mother in this case, and not the father. In most movies with a revenge arc, after a child was murdered, it’s the father that seeks justice.

“Eye for an Eye” is a solid thriller, because it starts out so strong and has great performances. But overall an it’s very average.

Rating: 3/ 5

10s Movie Review - 50/ 50

Director: Jonathan Levine
Genre: Drama/ Comedy
Runtime: 100 minutes
Year: 2011
Starring: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Seth Rogen, Anna Kendrick, Bryce Dallas Howard, Anjelica Huston, Philip Baker Hall

Description: 27-year-old Adam (Joseph-Gordon Levitt) learns of his cancer diagnosis, and his subsequent struggle to beat the disease.

Review: Jonathan Levine directs the film, based on the script by Will Reiser. The story is about a young man who finds out he has cancer. Even though it’s about this heavy theme, the movie is very light and positive. There are clichés, but the good kind. The awkward relationship between Adam and his therapist Katherine, the infectious humor from his best friend Kyle and Adam’s overprotective mother. “50/ 50” show that clichés aren’t always a bad thing.
The way the story is told, very light, is extremely pleasant and there is a great soundtrack. And the cast convinces. Joseph Gordon-Levitt shows us that he is able to carry a movie and it’s an award worthy performance. Seth Rogen and Anna Kendrick are also very solid and fit their characters well.
Although “50/ 50” is about a terrible decease, it’s wonderful how they managed to make it into such a positive and likeable movie. It’s one of my all-time favorites.

Rating: 5/ 5

90s Movie Review - The Truman Show

Director: Peter Weir
Genre: Drama/ Comedy
Runtime: 103 minutes
Year: 1998
Starring: Jim Carrey, Laura Linney, Noah Emmerich, Natascha McElhone, Ed Harris, Holland Taylor, Paul Giamatti, Philip Baker Hall

Description: Insurance salesman Truman Burbank (Jim Carrey) discovers his whole life is actually a reality TV show.

Review: Jim Carrey has always been a comedic actor, especially in the early 90s. with movies like “Ave Venture: Pet Detective”, “The Mask” and “Dumb & Dumber” he dominated 90s comedies. Even in “Batman Forever” he was the comedic relief. And then there was “The Truman Show”, a tragicomedy director by Peter Weir, where Carrey wasn’t supposed to be the funny guy. At the time, people were really wondering if he could be comfortable in a role like that. Well he did and it’s one of Carrey’s best performances to date.
In the story, written by Andrew Niccol, there is enough room for humor, but the focus is on Truman’s search for a world outside his hometown Seahaven. But his fear of the open water keeps him on the island all his life, when his biggest dream is to leave it and travel to Fiji.
What Truman doesn’t know is that his life has been followed by cameras since he was born and millions of people around the world watch him every day. The unsuspecting insurance agent is living in a reality TV show created by Christof. He lives on the largest TV set ever created and everyone in the town is an actor. The only thing that is real is Truman.
Jim Carrey plays the role of the ignorant and somewhat melancholic Truman excellently and as a viewer you easily sympathize with him. You just hope he finds out the truth and that he can leave the ‘prison’ he has been living in all his life. His search for a life outside Seahaven and the discovery of him being in a TV show is just as gripping as comedic, while the sneaky Christof does everything to keep his star captured. Ed Harris, who plays Christof, is only seen in a few scenes, but he does a lot in the little screen time he has.
Peter Weir succeeded in creating a film that both grabs you and humors you. It’s a tragic comedy and Jim Carrey fits this genre perfectly. Refreshing to see him do this.

Rating: 4,5/ 5