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Reviews
Funny Games (2007)
Weird scary thriller that runs out of ideas
I was so looking forward to this movie. The first 30 minutes are truly brilliant maybe 40minutes. Then it becomes spoiled brat vibe.
But I have to hand it to the film makers and actors the tension for first 40 minutes really works. Some really stunning long scenes that root one and scares you as a viewer.
After that there is way too much crying. Hard to understand why it was longer than 80 minutes. We as an audience had enough already. Come on!! The ending was pure frustration. Beautiful camera work. Its a short story really.
And one point in the film the camera stays on the TV while a Nascar race (boring) goes on and on and on.Enough said. Sorry.
Days of Thunder (1990)
A kick ass, noisy racing stock- car movie
I saw this when as a teenager and was blown away. Lately I picked up a DVD copy from a store and man was I happy. It still works. The script is wonderful from a legend - Towne. Cruise at his very best in those kinda roles. The car noise and thumping music add such a wonderful atmosphere to this genre. And to see Duval( sheer talent) talk about the dog and what a dog can do and can't do. Still rocks.To see kidman in her early years opposite cruise as the love interest is still a hoot. Also Michael Rooker is seriously good as Rowdy. Then Randy Quaid turning in as he does a greedy race team owner who will do all he can to up his game. Just reminds me of a used car salesman in a cheap, grimy suit. Yep I could watch this movie many time for its pace and entertainment value over so many Oscar movies that just loose their color once the voting is done.
Anton (2008)
A well acted, slick and powerful film set in rural Ireland 1970's
I saw this at The Boston Irish Film Festival 2008. It has merit on all fronts. Gee, How many American movies started with 5,000 euro pack this punch?! The acting is exemplary and the direction while safe delivers when its called for. Mc Sorely is incredible and Fox in his first Lead ( I think) in a movie holds his own very well against him. The character he plays is very hard to get to grips with in the early scenes but once the movie gathered pace one could understand his mindset. The supporting cast (again unknown) deliver truthful performances often missing from films of this caliber and budget. There are places where it's budget is telling but the ambition and the sheer scale for little money has to be commended. The audience in Harvard were well impressed. African American, Irish American, Hispanic American. Seriously it was amazing coming as I do from an English heritage to see this cross section engage with an Irish Film on so many levels. At first I was terrified this is yet another Brit bashing movie but was pleasantly surprised by how focused it was on the family and how the conflict in Northern Ireland was purely a background to what is a gritty truthful movie.