Road Kill, also known as Joy Ride or Never Play with Strangers is a 2001 thriller directed by John Dahl and written by JJ Abrams. It follows student Lewis Thomas (Paul Walker) who agrees to drive his childhood friend Venna (Leelee Sobieski) home from University. On his way to pick her up, he is asked by his mother to bail out his brother Fuller (Steve Zahn). … [Read more...]
Runaway Jury (2003) review by That Film Gal
The jury system was introduced to ensure that bias is left out of court decisions and that a democratic verdict is found, rather than leaving it to the whims and prejudices of a single judge. Runaway Jury does its level best to topple this idealistic notion, and insists that even under the current system, a verdict can be ˜bought' as easily as buying a cup of coffee. … [Read more...]
Stoker (2013) review by That Film Guy
Following the success of his Vengeance Trilogy, director Park Chan-Wook has been busy establishing himself on the global stage. First his vampire-lead thriller Thirst and now his English language debut comes in the form of psychological thriller Stoker. … [Read more...]
Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai (1999) review by That Art House Guy
The hit man movie is a well-worn genre with well-worn archetypes “ especially the ruthless yet strangely principled assassin who lives by his own code, which usually leads to trouble sooner or later. Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai offers an intriguing spin on this. Ghost Dog (Forest Whitaker) is the loner assassin, but the code he lives by, as you may have guessed by now, is … [Read more...]
Review: Zero Dark Thirty (2012)
Zero Dark Thirty is "the story of history's greatest manhunt for the world's most dangerous man," chronicling as it does the search by the United States of America for their 'Most Wanted' Osama Bin Laden. Following on from director Kathryn Bigelow's 2009 Oscar-winning film The Hurt Locker, about bomb disposal experts in Iraq, Zero Dark Thirty shows a growing interest in US … [Read more...]
Broken City (2013) review by That Film Doctor
New York is the quintessential film city. It's iconic skyline, famous architecture and yellow taxicabs make for sometimes stunning, but always-functional backdrops for film narratives. Also, its film-friendly economic policies make it relatively easy (and cheap) for filmmakers to close streets, hire vehicles, to commandeer subway stations. As such, many films have used the city … [Read more...]
Gangster Squad (2013) review by That Film Guy
In the ever-growing history of the genre of LA noir films comes Gangster Squad. It's the 1948 and righteous police officer Sgt. John O'Mara (Josh Brolin) is on the trail of Mickey Cohen (Sean Penn), the most powerful mobster in Los Angeles. Constantly frustrated by the lack of backbone shown by his superiors and the courts, O'Mara accepts a covert position at the behest of … [Read more...]
Jack Reacher (2012) review by That Film Brat
Jack Reacher didn't start off well. Controversy erupted when it was announced that the actor who was cast for the titular big, hulking 6'5 military policeman was none other than Tom Cruise. Many fans cried out against this, saying he didn't match the psychical attributes described in the books, and didn't have the power for the role. Author Lee Child supported the decision, … [Read more...]
Premium Rush (2012) review by That Film Guy
Premium Rush, as the title suggests is a high-octane chase film. Following protagonist Wilee (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), a bike courier by trade as he negotiates New York City's dangerous roads on a bike with no gears and no breaks. He likes to live on the edge you see. Clearly bright, he is a former law student who opted for the adrenaline rush of cycling around the city at … [Read more...]
Down Terrace (2009) review by That Film Punk
Ben Wheatley's third feature film, Sightseers, hit UK cinemas November 2012 on the back of a wave of critical acclaim, including hugely positive reactions at that year's Cannes Film Festival. Trading on an effortless blend of brutal violence and razor-sharp wit, Sightseers demonstrates Wheatley's expert skill at juggling genres. His debut feature, Down Terrace, was crucial in … [Read more...]