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The Abyss (1989) -- 10/10
Seen it before a dozen times. What a great, great movie. In my view, Michael Biehn's finest performance -- his complex villain is sharply drawn, and the way Biehn portrays his character succumbing to "High Pressure Nervous Syndrome" (sounded fake to me, but it's legit) and slowly losing his marbles is fascinating. He's never truly evil -- he's just obsessed by his dedication to the SEALs and possesses a thoroughly unhealthy paranoia about an imagined impending Russian attack. Biehn's subtle increase in displaying symptoms of his worsening condition is masterful. For Biehn to go from 100% full-on heroic mode in Cameron's Aliens to 100% full-on psychotic mode in The Abyss is thrilling to this viewer. His death scene in The Abyss is so fucking awesome. When I was a kid, Biehn was a veritable hero of mine, and he still is today even though he's criminally underused in cinema.
I also enjoyed Ed Harris vs. Michael Biehn Part I (Part II being their standoff in The Rock).
Finally, and I cannot emphasize this enough, I would develop a rictus grin of joy if Alan Silvestri were chosen to score a future Cameron project...I do think Horner was the correct choice for Titanic and Avatar but Silvestri's compositional flourishes matched Cameron's visuals in The Abyss perfectly. It's not a particularly original entry in Silvestri's career, nor is it particularly beloved by film score fans ("Bud on the Ledge" aside!) but it is one of the best examples of his thrillingly tense action music, orchestral and choral grandeur, and mysterious and ethereal synth writing. Cameron may never again make a film that would be best served by Silvestri's music, but I cannot imagine another composer succeeding so winningly as he did in The Abyss.
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The American
A disappointing film to end the unofficial last days of summers. The American is a slow and ponderous espionage thriller with Clooney as an American(of course) doing the usual "last job and I'm out" deal, somewhere in an idyllica Italian countryside. The movie tries its best too look and even sound European but instead it comes across as a lifeless retread of better done films in the past. Clooneys character is virtually mute for much of the film and we barely get to know this character. It takes for what seems an eternity to figure out what he actually does, which in and of itself too is boring. He puts together...guns.
I gave the movie an hour to get me hooked, even after the plot finally got going but it just never gels nor really gets one involved with our protagonist.
5/10.
Thanks. I'll have to avoid this one.
Yeah I've had no desire to see this one either, Clooney is hit-or-miss with me (although it's probably just jealousy  )
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A Perfect Getaway (2009) -- 10/10
An immensely satisfying and engaging thriller. I can watch Steve Zahn and Timothy Olyphant in literally anything they do. Twohy's writing and direction has never been better. Absolutely gorgeous cinematography and an exciting score by newcomer Boris Elkis. Third act twists have become somewhat of a cliche in modern cinema, but the twist(s) in A Perfect Getaway are simply fantastic. I love movies that keep me guessing and are intelligent in the structuring of a thriller tale. Olyphant is a natural born leading man -- I'm extremely excited to see him grow as an artist and continue to entertain.
This is my second time seeing this film, and it's one of the rare occasions where seeing it the second time is just as rewarding and interesting as seeing it the first time. Anyone that's seen it a second time will understand the skill and detail that Twohy put into the scattered and various clues and hints in dialogue and facial expressions. I can't give away the gigantic twist(s), but suffice it to say that upon viewing the film for a second time, much like The Usual Suspects, there is tremendous joy in identifying the myriad sly hints at the outcome peppered throughout the script. For example...
Steve Zahn and Milla Jovovich turn out to be the killers. They pose as a married couple, but really the married couple they are posing as are Zahn's and Jovovich's victims, and they stole their identities. Towards the beginning of the film, before the viewer knows that Zahn and Jovovich are the killers, they encounter another recently married couple. The woman of the other couple is showing Zahn and Jovovich pictures of their impromptu Hawaiian wedding, and Jovovich comments to Zahn, "that's a great picture of them, isn't it honey?" To which Zahn replies, "Yeah -- suitable for framing." For a first-time viewer, this comment is merely Zahn remarking that the picture of the newly married couple would look good in a picture frame, but for the returning viewer, this comment doubles as Zahn's idea that since the other couple is recently married also, that Zahn and Jovovich could "frame" them for the murders for which they are wanted. The facial expression on Jovovich's face following Zahn's comment, for the returning viewer, reveals a sinister indication that she thinks framing the innocent couple would be a good idea. These types of clever details are sprinkled throughout the film, making a second (or third) viewing very rewarding and showcasing the intelligence of the script and filmmakers.
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Posted: |
Sep 7, 2010 - 7:11 PM
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By: |
BobJ
(Member)
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A Perfect Getaway (2009) -- 10/10
An immensely satisfying and engaging thriller. I can watch Steve Zahn and Timothy Olyphant in literally anything they do. Twohy's writing and direction has never been better. Absolutely gorgeous cinematography and an exciting score by newcomer Boris Elkis. Third act twists have become somewhat of a cliche in modern cinema, but the twist(s) in A Perfect Getaway are simply fantastic. I love movies that keep me guessing and are intelligent in the structuring of a thriller tale. Olyphant is a natural born leading man -- I'm extremely excited to see him grow as an artist and continue to entertain.
This is my second time seeing this film, and it's one of the rare occasions where seeing it the second time is just as rewarding and interesting as seeing it the first time. Anyone that's seen it a second time will understand the skill and detail that Twohy put into the scattered and various clues and hints in dialogue and facial expressions. I can't give away the gigantic twist(s), but suffice it to say that upon viewing the film for a second time, much like The Usual Suspects, there is tremendous joy in identifying the myriad sly hints at the outcome peppered throughout the script. For example...
Steve Zahn and Milla Jovovich turn out to be the killers. They pose as a married couple, but really the married couple they are posing as are Zahn's and Jovovich's victims, and they stole their identities. Towards the beginning of the film, before the viewer knows that Zahn and Jovovich are the killers, they encounter another recently married couple. The woman of the other couple is showing Zahn and Jovovich pictures of their impromptu Hawaiian wedding, and Jovovich comments to Zahn, "that's a great picture of them, isn't it honey?" To which Zahn replies, "Yeah -- suitable for framing." For a first-time viewer, this comment is merely Zahn remarking that the picture of the newly married couple would look good in a picture frame, but for the returning viewer, this comment doubles as Zahn's idea that since the other couple is recently married also, that Zahn and Jovovich could "frame" them for the murders for which they are wanted. The facial expression on Jovovich's face following Zahn's comment, for the returning viewer, reveals a sinister indication that she thinks framing the innocent couple would be a good idea. These types of clever details are sprinkled throughout the film, making a second (or third) viewing very rewarding and showcasing the intelligence of the script and filmmakers.
Being a fan of Twohy and milla I'm happy to hear that this is good. I will be checking it out for sure.
Thanks Dep.
We should chat on the phone sometime and exchange favorite action cues. 
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Ill check this one out for sure now Deputy. I skipped it because it didn't seem like it could really be that smart a movie but if you say it is I will at least check it out and see if I agree with you.
The pressure!
I didn't realize how smart it was until the second time I saw it. To me that's what's so cool about it. Plus I'm a huge Zahn and Olyphant fan so I'm a lil' biased.
My advice, because this is usually how I approach a film, don't become consumed with trying to figure it out. Just go along with it and let it unfold in front of you and you'll enjoy it a lot more, perhaps. I don't want to build up the hype too much, though, because sometimes too much hype negatively colors my appreciation for a film and it's hard for it to live up. Well now there I've just said too much and I'll shut up.
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Being a fan of Twohy and milla I'm happy to hear that this is good. I will be checking it out for sure.
Thanks Dep.
We should chat on the phone sometime and exchange favorite action cues.
That'd be easy...I can think of 3 million off the top of my head.
Example: "Hijacking" -- Air Force One
Have you seen my favorite Milla Movie, The Fourth Kind???
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The Way of the Gun (2000) -- 4/10
Four points for casting, directing, and gun battles.
But that's it.
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My advice, because this is usually how I approach a film, don't become consumed with trying to figure it out. Just go along with it and let it unfold in front of you and you'll enjoy it a lot more, perhaps. I don't want to build up the hype too much, though, because sometimes too much hype negatively colors my appreciation for a film and it's hard for it to live up. Well now there I've just said too much and I'll shut up.
Oh I rarely try to figure out who is the killer and just let the movie take me for a ride.
Cool, doesn't seem like many people are like us in that way. A lot of people want to feel smarter than the filmmakers and feel superior and clever so they try to figure it all out and often end up missing the point...but everyone watches/appreciates films differently so I'm not judging. I think you'll dig it then! And if you do, watch it a second time, for me it was just as fun the second time but for different reasons.
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Have you seen my favorite Milla Movie, The Fourth Kind???
No, not yet. But I will. I just got Love And A 45 based on your recommendation (will watch tonight). And I will be going to Resident Evil 4 Friday.
I'm not sure if most people did, but I fell in love with The Fourth Kind. It really involved me emotionally. Milla's never been better.
Let me know what you think of all these films, and Love and a .45. I liked that one because I'm a Rory Cochrane fan and even though I loathed Gil Bellows after seeing him on Ally McBeal (a show I loathed anyway) I was surprised to find I really dug him in this movie. I think you'll love Peter Fonda and Jeffrey Combs in the movie!!! It's nowhere near as good as True Romance but thematically very similar. Some great shocking violence too, the kind that comes out of nowhere and knocks you over the side of the head. I'll shut up, enjoy the film!
Oh yes my friend I'm going to see one of the first Resident Evil Afterlife showings on Friday, I saw the trailer before Piranha 3D and it looks to kick ass and take names!!!
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