Inside Man

I had been wanting to see this film since it came out, but couldn't bring myself to go to the movie theater. All of the actors in the film are favs of mine. Denzel Washington, Jodie Foster, Willem Dafoe and Clive Owen. Denzel has made some incredible films and has touched on everything from comedy to heavy drama. Jodie Foster is a terrific actress who crossed the line from child start to adult star. She opened doors for women in film. Willem Dafoe is always interesting to see on screen and has appeared in a range of roles from the good guy to the sleaze ball. Clive Owen is the new comer, but he is making his mark on Hollywood. The first time I saw Clive was in the film Bent. This film is directed by controversial director Spike Lee. His signature still shows up in the films writing even though he did not write the script. Spike doesn't let the race key fall very far. The film has several twists and the telling of the story is different. I don't recall a film telling a story in this manner. There were images of New Yorks Wall Street district that I had never seen used in film, particular the bull. I used it in a couple of photos back in the 90's. Spike usually keeps his characters in Harlem or Brooklyn, but this time he goes to Manhattan inside of a bank. The characters are diverse and there is action. Spike doesn't make an appearance in this film. This is the fourth time that Spike has teamed up with Denzel to make a film. If you haven't seen any of Spike Lee's films you must be an Amish. LOL. Perhaps you don't like Spike Lee. Check out the actors he's used and watch the film on that level and then you will come to appreciate Spike as I have. She's Gotta Have It, School Daze, Jungle Fever, Do the Right Thing, Mo' Better Blues, Malcolm X, Summer of Sam and Inside Man to name a few. I will be looking at Crooklyn and Clockers soon. I was not impressed with He Got Game and the 25th Hour.

Tags: Movies, Inside Man, Spike Lee, Denzel Washington

Movie update

I watched Poseidon tonight. This was not a remake and I'm glad it wasn't. The original is a classic which held Hollywood's great in the first of an all star cast disaster film. In the new version, the ship is much more elegant. The film was filmed on a sound stage as was most of the original. In this version we see modern technology. Of course if one character hadn't thrown their cell overboard they might have gotten rescued sooner.

The film stars Kurt Russell, Josh Lucas, Andre Braugher and Richard Dreyfuss who plays a gay character. That's a big switch from his earlier film roles. There is lots of action, no time for boring moments. I was surprised that I really enjoyed it so much. Of course Wolfgang Peterson was the director, but when you have a film that's been done before you have to wonder if even a geat like Wolfgang can give it new life. Check out Das Boot and The Perfect Storm if you're not familiar with the work of Wolfgang Peterson. Das Boot is an incredible piece of work. There is a longer version of the film if you have the time see it instead of the original theatrical release of Das Boot.

Tags: Film, Movies, Wolfgang Peterson, Josh Lucas, Kurt Russell, Poseidon

Pam Grier, Johnny Depp and Mark Wahlberg

I've been trying to catch up on my movie watching. At least two films a day. I watched Women in Cages and Friday Foster, two of Pam Grier's interesting performances. In Women in Cages, Pam plays a sadistic prison guard in the Phillipines who had been rape as a kid. In Friday Foster she plays an investigative reporter/photographer who was once a model. This could have been a TV series. Sort of like Get Christie Love, which was a 70's TV series.

I watched a film called Piano II, A Man who Cried. The film stars Johnny Depp, John Tuturo, Cate Blanchet, and Christina Ricci. It was a Japanese Copy, but had little subtitles. Johnny Depp didn't have much dialogue in this film. Its the story of a young Russian Jewish girl who dreams of coming to America to find her father who left her many years ago to make a better life. Christina Ricci has very unsual features and almost appears to be born in the wrong time. She looks dazzling when she appears in films that are period pieces such as Sleepy Hollow, and this film. Its a story about being different and yet being the same. Everyone wants a better life for themselves, but not everyone seems lucky to get it. The other film I watched with Johnny Depp was Nick of Time. A try at action, but this was no Die Hard or Ransom even. Depp plays a father who's daughter is kidnapped and he is forced to kill a governor in order to get her back. The film stars, Christopher Walken, Charles S. Dutton and Peter Fonda. If you're a fan of Johnny's then you'll like this film.

Last night I watched Four Brothers. It's a John Singleton film about the murder of a woman that was mother to four boys of very different backgrounds. All of them were dealing with behavioral issues and as adults it transcends. They all come together and decide to avenge their mother's death. It's filled with fighting, car chases, explosions and a little bit of good acting. The film stars Mark Wahlberg, Tyrese who has become John Singleton's alter ego. Andre Benjamin the other half of OutKast, and Terrence Howard.

Other films I've watched recently include, S.W.A.T., Island in the Sun, Young Adam, Titanic, Harlem Nights, and Up the Creek without a Paddle.

Tags: Movies, Johnny Depp, Pam Grier, Mark Wahlberg, Film, Cinema