Films That Matter
Hammer Horror?
Leaning heavily into advertising their latest picture as a horror film, Hammer promptly used its trailers and advertising posters to highlight those spooky aspects, going so far as to name it Night Creatures (1962) for the United States market, while in England, they went with the more accurate title of Captain Clegg – focusing on the swashbuckling action adventure elements that revolve around pirates, smugglers, and the Royal Navy. Set in the eighteenth century, the story follows the supposed death of the infamous titular pirate Captain Clegg in 1776, who has been hanged to death by the Royal Navy for his long list of crimes... but not before Clegg maroons one of his men (Milton Reid) and cuts out his tongue for assaulting his beloved wife.
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Mais Oui, Crime Spree!
Mesrine Part 1: Killer InstinctMesrine Part 2: Public Enemy #1December 4, 2016A two part feature, Jean-François Richet’s action crime films Mesrine Part 1: Killer Instinct and Mesrine Part 2: Enemy #1 are best watched when paired together. That is why I am utilizing my dual review feature to discuss both here today. Together, running a little over four hours, the story looks at the life of real life figure Jacques Mesrine (Vincent Cassel) – brought to vivid life by the talented French actor, who is able to capture the man’s charm and Robin Hood (thief) appeal, as well as the scary side that bubbles just below the surface. From its very onset, we are drawn into the suspense-filled tale, as Richet utilizes a split screen effect (and sometimes more) to ratchet up the ominous foreboding. Resembling something from a Brian De Palma flick, it is an effective way to have us looking over our shoulder for some unknown threat. By the end of the sequence, we know the fate of our elusive figure and are transported back to learn the entire sordid tale. Part 1 spans the years 1959-1972.
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Ties that Bind
Blood FatherNovember 1, 2016Following in the footsteps of movies like the Taken franchise, Mel Gibson’s most recent film (I am sure some of you are surprised to hear that he has a new flick) is a formulaic, yet entertaining action thriller that hits the right spot. Titled Blood Father, the motion picture is directed by Jean-François Richet (who made the underrated remake of Assault on Precinct 13 and the sadly overlooked Mesrine movies) and starts with a young woman buying an abundance of ammunition at a superstore – enough that we know that she is up to no good. Her name is Lydia (Erin Moriarty) and she soon joins a gang of thuggish looking men in the car, with her being attached to their slimy leader Jonah (Diego Luna). A player in the cartel, he has a number of stash houses being run by ordinary looking people – one of which has stolen from him. In too deep, Lydia is forced to tag along, as she has also gypped them, though she denies it. After an egregious mistake, the girl flees, luckily escaping the group’s long, hard grasp.
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McQuarrie Cruises to New Heights in Jack Reacher
Jack ReacherOctober 21, 2016With Jack Reacher: Never Go Back opening today, I thought this would be the perfect time to reflect on the original 2012 film. I am sure that most of you have heard the controversy revolving around it, with ardent fans of Lee Child’s ‘Jack Reacher’ novels being discouraged by the casting of Tom Cruise in the leading role. Much like an overzealous carny following the stringent rules and regulations of height restrictions on rides, book lovers were uninspired by the selection of the action superstar, as his five foot seven inch frame did not fit with the character’s description – at a gargantuan six foot five inches tall.
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Movin’ On Up
The Raid: RedemptionJune 24, 2016I must admit that martial arts action flicks have never been my favourite. That is not to say that I will not watch them, it is just that I generally lean towards other styles before I would choose this type of movie. I recently saw the 2011 action film The Raid: Redemption, a motion picture that falls within this genre and was impressed by its extensive fight scenes.
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This Tarnished Gringo Shines
Get the GringoJune 5, 2016Mel Gibson may not be the most popular actor out there now, but there is no denying that he has had one of Hollywood’s more impressive careers over the last three or so decades. He puts everything he has into his work and one of his most recent films that once again impresses, yet has sadly gone unnoticed, is the 2012 crime flick Get the Gringo. Mel Gibson plays the unnamed criminal with the heart of . . .
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Nice Guys Finish First
The Nice GuysMay 29, 2016Putting Ryan Gosling and Russell Crowe together as an action comedy duo seems like a rather unorthodox and risky venture. Both have been able to add touches of humour to certain roles in their impressive resumes, yet they have generally been considered dramatic actors – with neither having truly had the chance to test their jocular delivery. So, it is perhaps slightly surprising that the duo have excellent comedic chemistry and timing in their new film The Nice Guys.
