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Reviews
Felon (2008)
When your life is defined by a single action, you change the concept of time.
Felon is an outstanding film and externally well written. It's defiantly one of those films that you can watch again and again.
Wade Porter (Stephen Dorff) is an average guy, successful business, and living with his fiancé and son. All is going well for him until one day a swift moment of judgement ends him up in prison. From here on in, his idea of normality and normal society rules get turned on their heads as he gets to grips with another world of prison rules and prison society ...but this film is much more than about one man serving his time. The line that John Smith (Val Kilmer) puts over a couple of times in the film, "When your life is defined by a single action, you change the concept of time", is interwoven into all the individual characters plots so brilliantly, this film hits you on some many different levels.
Marisol Nichols, who I have only seen in 24 before, gives a great performance as Wade Porter's fiancé, struggling to make ends meat while he is in prison. Can't forget Val Kilmer who gives a Strong performance as well. In fact I can't knock anybody in it, it's not often that the actors, characters and script all seem like they where made for each other.
The Sweeney: Victims (1978)
Everything alright Jack? yeah great...just great.
Victims is probably one of the best episodes of season 4 and is reminiscent of the hard hitting story lines that you got in the previous seasons of 1 and 2. On both sides of the law people are pushed or fall into doing things that they feel bad about and can't see an easy way out of.
I won't spoil it with a full run on the plot, you just have to watch it.
'Lynda La Plante' plays a good part in this as Jimmy Park's girlfriend and Sheila Reid, who plays Doreen Haskins, does very well in her role as well.
Miami Vice: No Exit (1984)
Top Notch Episode
No Exit, like many of Miami Vice episodes is superb. This one one stars a fresh face Bruce Willis and again uses a Phil Coillins track to great effect.
The story line is quite straight forward but is executed so well by all the actors and combined with the soundtrack and cinematography, makes it a real classic, not just for Miami Vice but for all short story episodes ever done on film.
I had to keep replaying one of the end sequences when Crockett fires his gun again and again; as the directing (David Soul, Hutch of Starsky and Hutch fame) and editing of the scene was so good. It was perfection done on a frame by frame level that deserves an award on it's own (you will know what I mean when you have seen it)
28 Weeks Later (2007)
Disappointing.
I was looking forward to seeing 28 weeks later as the first one 28 days later was such a class film. Overall 28 weeks has a lot going for it, the acting, special effects and directing is good and it has it's fair share of scary moments, but it was let down in so many places. In the interest of adding more gore and trying to make it appeal more too an American market, they didn't leave enough time for character development and made certain parts of the film either boarding on, or completely unbelievable. It just made what could have been a good sequel, into just another gore flick.
Really I think you have to look at 28 weeks and 28 days as two completely different films, rather than the first and the sequel as they are so far apart in many ways.
The Good Shepherd (2006)
Shocking, sometimes brutal, but beautifully put together.
Just watched this on DVD and it's an outstanding film. The time line changes throw you off a bit at the beginning, but after about 20 minutes you get completely drawn in and suddenly everything fits like a glove. Quite often in films switching from one time line to another is badly done with weird visual effects and bad editing, jumping from one bit to another, with The Good Shepard this was done with finesse and complexity that match the films intricate story line so well.
It captured a perfect balance for me in the film, the story of the CIA how it all began, along side that was Edward Wilsons character and how he became what he was and the moral and intelligence based decisions he had to make through out the film; not just for his county but also for his family. Mixed into that was suspense, mystery and good measure of hard truths about what has to be done to protect the freedom that most of us take for granted in out countries.
The acting was very good through out, De Niro only played small parts in the film but directed it too the same standard as he is an actor. Matt Damon as usual just dropped right into his character as if it was made for him and I was really pleased to see Angelina Jolie doing a serious role which I think she portrayed very well.
10 out of 10 for this film. If you find it hard to follow... just watch it again and let the film carry you.
The Celestine Prophecy (2006)
Good film, makes you want to read the book
I liked this film, I haven't read the book yet but it's made me want too. The only let down for me in the film was the editing, it cut away to new scenes too quickly without developing them further.... don't know if this was a budget issue or the producers just didn't want a long film? The acting was good, but again due the editing, the characters could have been developed further in some of the scenes.
Overall it's enjoyable movie, could have been done a bit better, but worthy of having in your movie collection. I'm giving this an 8, regardless of your philosophical out look to life try and watch it with an open mind like the film encourages you to on the journey it takes you through. It's interesting to see that a lot of other reviews have given the film low scores not based on the 'film' it's self but on the idea's that it portrays, which is ironic as that is exactly the message The Celestine Prophecy is giving out, about giving , sharing and those that want to control.