Capote

"More tears are shed over answered prayers than unanswered ones" -- Truman Capote.

Plot: American author Truman Capote, while researching for his infamous non-fiction work "In Cold Blood", befriends one of the murderers, managing to postpone the execution long enough to finish his work, which will ultimately become his best and last.

I'll make this one short -- I think Bennet Miller's Capote is a very well made film, I think it adequately captures the ambience of the 1960's Kansas as well as the high society of New York City. Unfortunately, due to my lack of knowledge of the subject matter -- Truman Capote, perhaps one of the most famous American authors of the 20th century, I did not find the film as fascinating as I would have hoped. However, I must say that Philip Seymour Hoffman's was nothing but phenomenal. And since I was not interested in the plot itself, I will not be able to provide a fair opinion on the film. Sorry...


* * * (three out of five) -- outstanding acting on behalf of Philip Seymour Hoffman, but the story itself did not do it for me.


V.


Enjoyed Capote? Viira recommends: In Cold Blood, Dead Man Walking, Magnolia.


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Dark Blue

1992, L.A. is at boiling point. One cop's turning up the heat.

I've always enjoyed crime dramas, especially the ones that depict police corruption -- L.A. Confidential, Training Day, Gone Baby Gone, even FX network's The Shield.

Ron Shelton's (Hollywood Homicide) 2003 cop thriller Dark Blue is nothing spectacular, but definitely enjoyable and worth watching if interested in the genre. Plot: only days before the acquittal of the 4 LAPD officers charged with the Rodney King beating, and the subsequent 1992 L.A. riots, 2 LAPD SIS detectives make an attempt to solve a quadruple homicide case which triggers a series of events that cause them to question their own tactics, methods, and morals...

Kurt Russell (as the antagonist crooked cop Eldon Perry) gives one of his strongest performances since Backdraft, but the rest of the cast is merely moderate. Scott Speedman's (Det. Bobby Keough) performance is far from convincing, and Rhames' character seems promising in the beginning, but barely gets any screen time in the second half of the film. I guess I expected a bit more from him. Especially since his character reminded me of Forest Whitaker's IAD Lieutenant Jon Kavanaugh from season 5 of The Shield.


* * * (three out of five) -- decent crime drama with an accurate snapshot of the 1992 L.A. riots. Enjoyable, but nothing spectacular.


V.

Enjoyed Dark Blue? Viira recommends: Training Day, L.A. Confidental, The Shield (FX orginal series).


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Before the Devil Knows You're Dead

No one was supposed to get hurt.

Less than 60 seconds into the film, I already knew I was going to love it. And it did not disappoint. Sidney Lumet’s (Dog Day Afternoon) latest (and probably last) work starts out with a bang and it only gets better.

Plot? Well...Before the Devil Knows You're Dead is one of those films where the plot is fairly simple (a robbery gone wrong) yet very thick and layered at the same time, something that (in my opinion) is best enjoyed with having little if any prior knowledge of what events are about to unfold. And without giving any spoilers I should only mention that the story revolves around a dysfunctional family, their problems, and how their actions and reactions lead them to a path of moral, spiritual, and physical destruction...

Having not heard much about this film I went into it with no expectations, and once again I was not only pleasantly surprised, but astounded how an ensemble of great actors (Philip Seymour Hoffman, Ethan Hawke, Albert Finney, Marisa Tomei) and Sidney Lumet’s “attention-to-detail” directing can turn even a simple plot into a great and truly enjoyable movie experience.

As far as the title goes...well the complete title of the film is "May you be in heaven a half hour before the devil knows you're dead". Quite complicated and rather vague, but I think I finally got it figured out:) Did you?

* * * * * (five out of five) -- probably one of the better character driven dramas I have seen in years. I definitely recommend!!


V.


Enjoyed Before the Devil Knows You're Dead? Viira recommends: In the Bedroom, Gone Baby Gone



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The Shield

The Final Act

The last season has finally started...and (so far) it is better than ever...


Episode #1 "Coefficient of Drag" started out with a bang...there was plenty of bloodshed, drama, action, and humor. All I have to say is that Vic is back and this time (since he will be out of a job in 30 days anyway) he just doesn't give a shit. Whatever happens, happens and as long as he's got a badge he will (ab)use it.

Great season opener -- more feet get chopped off, bodies are dragged down the streets of Farmington, and Vic totals his LAPD issued Dodge Charger while serving a high risk warrant. Let's hope the rest of the season is as intense...

V.


Image courtesy of http://www.fxnetworks.com

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