Post by Fickle81 on Jul 31, 2006 7:17:23 GMT -5
MINOR SPOILEGE:
Haven't done one of these in depth reviews in awhile,so I figured I'd pick my favorite of the newest sig review list:
As any trailers/TV spots may have indicated,it's about a heist (planned and executed by Clive Owen) that turns into a hostage situation,a detective (played by the great Denzel Washington) having to act as a negotiator,and all the crazy stuff that happens in between...like the fact that the heist isn't everything it seems.
This movie is more twisty and turny than your average bank robbery movie. On that end,the movie puts you in the shoes of Washington,who knows theres more going on than whats on the surface but really doesn't know what...even certain things you see later turn out to not really be what it was. You just have to let the movie take you on the ride until things are made crystal clear. Theres even a blatent reference to Dog Day Afternoon thats used in a cool way to really drive the point home that this ain't no normal bank robbery.
I highly enjoyed the acting and dialogue. Washington obviously hammed it up and had fun with the role,which is something I wish he'd do more of...did I see some Alonzo from Training Day in that performance? You bet,nukka! Washington is one of those few performers that can do almost nothing but hamming it up and basically repeating certain performances without it getting old...not saying he actually does that,but if he did,he's one of the few that can get away with it.
The movie even has quite a bit of comedy in it as well. The early bit of the first phone conversation between Owen and Washington had me in stitches. Then there was the moment Owen shared with a black child hostage where he played the kid's PSP,then told the kid that he was gonna have a chat with the kid's dad about "this violent game". Some of the "interrogation" scenes that would occationally take a break from the situation even had some humorous moments as well.
Which leads me to the movie's flaws. I understand the purpose of breaking up the hostage situation by showing interrogations that happened after the fact...to make the viewer ask "why are they questioning THESE people?" while the situation unfolds. However,in hindsight,it really does ruin one of the movie's more interesting plot turns. It would have been better had they waited till that turn happened to show said questioning scenes. Also,there was a shot of what looked like Washington being wheeled forward on a dolly to make it look like he was walking/running in a fucked up way which litterally made me ask "why the fuck did Lee do that?" It looked absolutly ridiculous and out of place and took me out of the movie for a slight moment.
Also,the movie was too long. I really did NOT need to see EVERY single after the fact loose end tied up. It could have ended around the hour and 56 minute mark,hour and 58 minute mark,or maybe even the 2 hour mark depending...but were the extra 8 minutes after the 2 hour mark REALLY nessasary? I definatly think not. I think you'll see what I mean when you watch it.
Overall though,it was a damn fine and entertaining movie...however it had the potential to be amazing had they nixed a certain silly shot and tightened up the editing,but the ball was dropped on those ends. Still,I'll take a good movie that could have been awsome but wasn't over a complete cowpie pile ANY day.
4/5
Haven't done one of these in depth reviews in awhile,so I figured I'd pick my favorite of the newest sig review list:
As any trailers/TV spots may have indicated,it's about a heist (planned and executed by Clive Owen) that turns into a hostage situation,a detective (played by the great Denzel Washington) having to act as a negotiator,and all the crazy stuff that happens in between...like the fact that the heist isn't everything it seems.
This movie is more twisty and turny than your average bank robbery movie. On that end,the movie puts you in the shoes of Washington,who knows theres more going on than whats on the surface but really doesn't know what...even certain things you see later turn out to not really be what it was. You just have to let the movie take you on the ride until things are made crystal clear. Theres even a blatent reference to Dog Day Afternoon thats used in a cool way to really drive the point home that this ain't no normal bank robbery.
I highly enjoyed the acting and dialogue. Washington obviously hammed it up and had fun with the role,which is something I wish he'd do more of...did I see some Alonzo from Training Day in that performance? You bet,nukka! Washington is one of those few performers that can do almost nothing but hamming it up and basically repeating certain performances without it getting old...not saying he actually does that,but if he did,he's one of the few that can get away with it.
The movie even has quite a bit of comedy in it as well. The early bit of the first phone conversation between Owen and Washington had me in stitches. Then there was the moment Owen shared with a black child hostage where he played the kid's PSP,then told the kid that he was gonna have a chat with the kid's dad about "this violent game". Some of the "interrogation" scenes that would occationally take a break from the situation even had some humorous moments as well.
Which leads me to the movie's flaws. I understand the purpose of breaking up the hostage situation by showing interrogations that happened after the fact...to make the viewer ask "why are they questioning THESE people?" while the situation unfolds. However,in hindsight,it really does ruin one of the movie's more interesting plot turns. It would have been better had they waited till that turn happened to show said questioning scenes. Also,there was a shot of what looked like Washington being wheeled forward on a dolly to make it look like he was walking/running in a fucked up way which litterally made me ask "why the fuck did Lee do that?" It looked absolutly ridiculous and out of place and took me out of the movie for a slight moment.
Also,the movie was too long. I really did NOT need to see EVERY single after the fact loose end tied up. It could have ended around the hour and 56 minute mark,hour and 58 minute mark,or maybe even the 2 hour mark depending...but were the extra 8 minutes after the 2 hour mark REALLY nessasary? I definatly think not. I think you'll see what I mean when you watch it.
Overall though,it was a damn fine and entertaining movie...however it had the potential to be amazing had they nixed a certain silly shot and tightened up the editing,but the ball was dropped on those ends. Still,I'll take a good movie that could have been awsome but wasn't over a complete cowpie pile ANY day.
4/5