Month: April 2022

“You are just a terrible, terrible person.” —Miller

Today’s quick review: Blood Money. Childhood friends Victor (Ellar Coltrane), Lynn (Willa Fitzgerald), and Jeff (Jacob Artist) get back together for a river rafting trip. But the trip takes a dire turn when Lynn discovers $8 million in cash that belongs to Miller (John Cusack), a criminal who lost it while making his getaway. Now Lynn and her friends must get the money back to civilization before Miller can catch them and reclaim his ill-gotten gains.

Blood Money is a crime thriller about three young friends who stumble across a fortune in stolen cash. Victor, Lynn, and Jeff are faced with a decision: leave the money and go back home, or risk everything for the opportunity of a lifetime. Blood Money gets some good mileage out of this premise thanks to the tensions within the group and their frantic flight through the wilderness. However, the movie’s reliance on its characters makes it hit-or-miss.

Blood Money wrestles with the problem of how to portray its characters. Victor, Lynn, and Jeff start the movie as good friends but soon start fighting, first over romantic scars and later over the money. The farther the story goes, the more the audience learns about them and the less sympathetic they become. This leads to an odd tradeoff where Blood Money’s best story developments come at the cost of the audience’s investment in its characters.

Even with this factored out, Blood Money is a mixed bag. The plot takes a long time to get started, with the early part of the movie dedicated to the group and their personal drama. The chase has some clever twists to it, but ultimately it’s shorter and less tense than in other thrillers. Miller also makes for an unusual antagonist, a reasonable man who’s willing to kill to get his money back, rather than a mastermind or a sadist.

How much you get out of Blood Money will depend on how open you are to following characters who aren’t meant to be liked. Those who are used to slasher movies or similarly cynical thrillers will be able to appreciate where the movie takes its characters. Those who prefer stories with clear-cut heroes will find Blood Money to be draining watch. In either case, the movie’s conflict gives it some appeal, but not enough to stand out from the crowd.

For a more haunting drama about a river trip that turns violent, try Deliverance. For another crime drama about ordinary people who stumble across a windfall, try Good People. For a minimalistic thriller about stolen cash with a similarly flawed cast of characters, try Money. For a much darker and more compelling thriller, try No Country For Old Men. For a more restrained story about the corruption of riches, try The Treasure of the Sierra Madre.

4.4 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 5.5 for decent ideas held back by overly unlikable characters and a limited scope.

Today’s quick review: Kiss the Girls. When his niece goes missing at college, forensic psychologist Dr. Alex Cross (Morgan Freeman) travels to Durham, North Carolina, to help with the investigation. There he works with the local police in the hunt for Casanova, a serial killer who kidnaps young women in an attempt to make them love him. To find the killer in time, Cross will need the help of Dr. Kate Mctiernan (Ashley Judd), Casanova’s latest target.

Kiss the Girls is a crime thriller based on the novel by James Patterson. Morgan Freeman stars as Dr. Alex Cross, a level-headed psychologist with only a few days to catch a kidnapper before Cross’ niece becomes his next victim. The movie benefits from a tight plot, well-developed characters, and clean fundamentals. There are other thrillers that leave a deeper impression, but Kiss the Girls has everything it needs to be a satisfying watch.

Kiss the Girls has a few factors that set it apart from other movies about serial killers. The plot hangs together well, with capable characters, some good leads, and several distinct stages to the investigation. The performances of the actors are another strong point. Morgan Freeman makes for a steady, focused protagonist in Alex, Ashley Judd delivers a credible performance as Kate, and the largely vocal role of Casanova is suitably chilling.

Even so, Kiss the Girls sticks mainly to the basics. The plot twists are not as sharp as some other thrillers, nor are the details of the crimes quite as shocking. Kiss the Girls is a solid pick for anyone looking for something dark and well-constructed, but it won’t have the same impact as the greats of the genre. For a more twisted crime thriller starring Morgan Freeman, trey Se7en. For a similar tale of kidnapping and survival, try Split.

6.6 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.0 for solid fundamentals and good performances, only missing some of the flair needed to make its mark.

Today’s quick review: Awake. A man (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) wakes up after a car crash with no memory of who he is. When a body is found in his trunk, FBI agent Frank Ward (Malik Yoba) becomes convinced that he is the serial killer who has been operating in the area. But before Frank can question him, the man escapes from the hospital with his nurse Diana (Francesca Eastwood) as hostage and sets out to recover his identity and prove his innocence.

Awake is a budget crime movie about an amnesiac accused of being a serial killer. John Doe must convince Diana, the police, and himself that, in spite of the evidence, things are not as they seem. Awake has a promising setup, but its execution leaves something to be desired. Even though it avoids the worst mistakes of the budget crime genre, the combination of flimsy plot logic, mediocre characters, and weak clues makes it a lackluster watch.

Awake’s chief problems come from its plot logic. The broad strokes of the plot work well enough, but the details are questionable. Every time the plot moves in a new direction, it’s a gamble whether Awake will handle the transition smoothly or trip over itself. Weak character motivations, a couple of minor plot holes, and a handful of awkwardly written conversations take the viewer out of the story just when it should be getting interesting.

Otherwise, Awake is a reasonably competent crime movie that just sticks to the basics. Nearly every aspect of the movie is adequate to tell the story Awake is trying to tell, but not imaginative enough to truly excel. That goes for the truth behind the murders, the relationship between John and Diana, and how John copes with his amnesia. The movie hangs together enough to be watchable, but it misses many opportunities to do more with its premise.

Awake is a fine pick by budget movie standards, but it has little to separate it from the crowd. Missed opportunities and a flawed script keep it from realizing its potential. As such, most viewers would be better off with a true thriller, a full-blown action movie, or a mystery with a better plot. For a budget crime movie about a criminal with amnesia, try 4Got10. For an action movie about a criminal on the run with his nurse, try Point Blank.

5.0 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 5.5 for a basic plot and shaky execution.

Today’s quick review: Unforgettable. Haunted by the unsolved murder of his wife, Dr. David Krane (Ray Liotta), a medical examiner for the Seattle Police Department, turns to an experimental drug invented by Dr. Martha Briggs (Linda Fiorentino) that allows him to relive his wife’s dying memories. The drug gives David a glimpse of the killer but takes a toll on his body and mind. Now David must decide how far he is willing to go to get his revenge.

Unforgettable is a crime drama with science fiction elements. Unforgettable follows David Krane as he obsessively investigates his wife’s murder, jeopardizing his health, his psyche, and his career to get the answers he needs. The catalyst for the plot is a drug that lets the user experience the memories of the dead. Unforgettable does a good job of working this concept in with the standard mystery template but still has a hard time standing out.

Unforgettable fares best with its story. It begins with the usual ingredients for a murder mystery: an unsolved crime, a determined protagonist, and a couple of twists to send the investigation down a different path. The introduction of Briggs’ drug complements these basic ingredients both by giving David access to a new source of information and exacting a price for doing so. The result is a solidly constructed story from start to finish.

Even so, Unforgettable does not have the brilliant ideas or sharp writing needed to stand out from the pack. The mystery does not have any more depth to it than other thrillers, apart from David’s willingness to take chances to get what he wants. The movie is cautious with Briggs’ drug, using it only for the main mystery and not exploring the full implications of its existence. This caution keeps the movie from doing anything that would have a real impact.

Unforgettable is a solid pick for those in the mood for a mystery with a somewhat dark tone and its own unique hook. Unforgettable plays it safe when it comes to its premise, opting for a grounded mystery rather than full-blown sci-fi. Those willing to accept this compromise will find the movie to be a competent, if unexceptional, crime movie. Those hoping for a more inventive story will want to look elsewhere.

For a dark science fiction movie that explores a similar premise in more depth, try The Final Cut. For a sci-fi heist movie that offers a bolder take on getting inside another person’s mind, try Inception. For an action thriller about a man using experimental technology to solve a crime, try Deja Vu. For a more conventional thriller about a man trying to solve his wife’s murder, try The Fugitive.

6.0 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.5 for a solid plot that plays things a little too safe.

Today’s quick review: The Watcher. After a traumatic run-in with a serial killer, FBI agent Joel Campbell (James Spader) quits his job, moves across the country, and tries to work through his problems with the help of psychiatrist Polly Beilman (Marisa Tomei). But Campbell’s worst fears are realized when the killer, David Allen Griffin (Keanu Reeves), follows him to Chicago and begins killing young women to get his attention.

The Watcher is an action thriller about a burnt-out FBI agent and the serial killer obsessed with him. When Griffin starts sending Campbell photos of his next victims, Campbell must overcome his trauma to beat Griffin at his own game. This setup gives The Watcher a decent plot as Campbell and Chicago police work to identify each victim before it’s too late. However, it misses the chance to make more of its premise, instead focusing too much on action.

As a thriller, The Watcher doesn’t bring anything special to the table. Griffin makes for a mediocre villain who’s at his most threatening when he’s stalking women and at his least threatening when he’s trying to get inside Campbell’s head. Campbell is a fine protagonist but has poor chemistry with Griffin. To top it off, the movie’s gratuitous action and overblown directorial style get in the way of what would otherwise be a dark, menacing story.

The Watcher is outclassed both as an action movie and as a crime thriller. Its action sequences are merely passable, its plot isn’t brilliant, and its characters are not as compelling as they could have been. But for all of that, The Watcher delivers some decent thrills without asking too much from its audience. Give it a shot when you’re in the mood for a race against time that’s not too bleak. Skip it if you’re looking for something more memorable.

For a more action-oriented thriller with Keanu Reeves as the hero, try Speed. For a more twisted thriller about a serial killer with a personal attachment to an investigator, try Se7en, The Bone Collector, or Hangman. For a smarter cat-and-mouse thriller, try Law Abiding Citizen.

5.3 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.0 for decent plot without the vision to take its premise farther.

Today’s quick review: Secret Window. Mort Rainey (Johnny Depp) is a successful writer whose personal life is falling apart. In the middle of a messy divorce with Amy (Maria Bello), Mort takes a trip to his lakeside cabin to get some writing done. But his peace of mind is shattered when a stranger named John Shooter (John Turturro) shows up, claiming that Mort stole his story. As John’s threats escalate, Mort finds himself running out of options.

Secret Window is a psychological thriller based on a story by Stephen King. Johnny Depp stars as Mort Rainey, a writer pushed to the brink by a violent stalker. Secret Window aims to be a taut thriller that ties together Mort’s unraveling mental state and the mystery of John Shooter. The movie does succeed in weaving an inescapable web around Mort using John’s malicious behavior. However, the rest of the story leaves something to be desired.

Secret Window’s main issue is that it doesn’t set its hook very deep. The mystery of who John Shooter only takes the movie so far. The rest of the time is spent dealing with the detritus of Mort’s personal life, from his idle procrastination at writing to his sullen refusal to cooperate with the divorce proceedings. These aspects rob the story of some of its menace: For all that Mort rages against John, he never seems to take the threat too seriously.

All of this culminates in an ambitious ending that works better in theory than in practice. Secret Window has the elements of a good thriller, but the way it’s executed makes it a loose and unsatisfying watch. The movie has enough going on to intrigue the right viewer, but the movie gambles heavily on a passive main character and a hit-or-miss finale. Those looking for surefire thrills will want to look elsewhere.

For a much more effective psychological thriller in a similar vein, try Shutter Island. For another movie about a struggling writer with John Turturro, try Barton Fink. For a suspense thriller that portrays a more menacing situation in an everyday setting, try Rear Window or North by Northwest.

6.6 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 5.5 for a decent premise with flaky execution.

Today’s quick review: Secret in Their Eyes. Thirteen years after Jessica Cobb’s (Julia Roberts) daughter was raped and murdered, former FBI agent Ray Kasten (Chiwetel Ejiofor) returns to Los Angeles with a potential lead on Anzor Marzin (Joe Cole), the killer who escaped justice. But as Ray becomes obsessed with proving that the man he found is actually Marzin, District Attorney Claire Sloane (Nicole Kidman) tries to get him to let go of the past.

Secret in Their Eyes is a crime drama about an unresolved murder investigation. Ray, Jessica, and Claire are three friends who were working together on a counter-terrorism task force when a brutal crime tore them apart. Denied justice then, Ray is determined to see it done now, no matter what the cost. Secret in Their Eyes is a dark mystery whose story score some solid hits. However, its messy, morally ambiguous story won’t be for everyone.

Secret in Their Eyes makes for an uncomfortable watch. There are no easy answers for the characters, only guesswork and pain. Ray’s crusade has noble intentions but he becomes increasingly obsessed as Marzin eludes him. The combination of scant evidence and mounting pressure to drop the case makes each setback more painful than the last. The movie uses its story to good effect, exploring the nature of grief and the line between justice and revenge.

Still, this leads to a diffuse type of story that will not appeal to everyone. Apart from a couple of carefully chosen moments near the end, Secret in Their Eyes does not go for clean arcs. It is the sum of countless little clues and character moments rather than a clear progression from start to finish. The result is a slow-moving movie that chips away at a mystery without seeming to make progress, but does ultimately lead to a strong payout.

Secret in Their Eyes will appeal to fans of the dark, messy side of the crime genre. The movie has solid acting and a couple of strong tricks up its sleeve for anyone willing to follow the case all the way to the end. But Secret in Their Eyes is neither as thrilling, as shocking, or as tightly constructed as other movies in the genre. It is a decent pick for those interested but remains outclassed by the likes of Mystic River or Gone Baby Gone.

6.3 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.5 for a slow build-up to a decent payoff.

Today’s quick review: Hangman. Detective Ray Archer (Al Pacino) comes out of retirement when his partner Will Ruiney (Karl Urban) discovers their badge numbers carved into the scene of a grisly murder. With the help of investigative journalist Christi Davies (Brittany Snow), the detectives try to figure out the clues left by the killer. But when another body with the same M.O. shows up a day later, the hunt for the killer becomes a race against time.

Hangman is a crime thriller about a hangman-themed serial killer. Al Pacino and Karl Urban star as a pair of detectives with a personal connection to the case—if only they can figure out what it is. Hangman is a by-the-book mystery thriller with tight pacing, an interesting motif, and a good cast. The perplexing murders and tight deadline make for an engaging plot, while the background details about the lead characters flesh out the story nicely.

However, Hangman struggles with its ending. The exotic murders work fine in the moment, but they leave the movie with an intractable tangle of clues to make sense of at the end. Hangman tries its best to sort everything out, but it ends up relying on some heavy-handed exposition to make it work. The result is an underwhelming ending and a villain who’s revealed too late in the game to really matter.

Hangman is a competent thriller that misses the forest for the trees. How much you get out of it will depend on what you are looking for. Those who are just looking for something dark and gripping will find that it fits the bill nicely, even if it falls apart towards the end. Those looking for a mystery with an intelligent plot and a rewarding payoff will find it to be a letdown. For a better thriller in the same vein, try Se7en or The Bone Collector.

5.2 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.0 to 6.5 for a tightly paced story hurt by a weak ending.

Today’s quick review: Frank & Lola. Frank (Michael Shannon), a Las Vegas chef, is madly in love with Lola (Imogen Poots), a fashion designer who just graduated from college. But the trust between them is shattered when Lola cheats on him with another man. Frank eventually takes her back, and together they try to patch up their broken relationship. But their love faces an even greater test when Frank learns about Lola’s past with Alan (Michael Nyqvist).

Frank & Lola is a romantic drama about love, infidelity, and the emotional baggage that can poison a relationship. Frank & Lola follows Frank as he learns more than he wants to know about the woman he loves. The movie does a good job of peeling back the layers of Frank and Lola’s relationship and showing how it changes in response to each new development. The movie achieves an uncomfortable degree of realism, but its story has only limited appeal.

Frank & Lola’s core strength is the relationship between its title characters. Frank is a supportive boyfriend who is hurt badly by Lola’s infidelity. For her part, Lola loves Frank, but she is haunted by her past and is willing to lie to keep him from learning the truth. The back-and-forth between them is driven by an interplay of attraction, fear, and hurt feelings. The result is a plausible case study of a relationship in peril.

The catch is that Frank and Lola’s relationship doesn’t necessarily make for a compelling story. The chemistry between them is taken for granted rather than directly shown. The trials they go through are emotionally draining but not cathartic, while Lola’s past is not lurid enough to push the movie into thriller territory. As such, the plot feels like an exercise in low-grade sadism: the audience watches while the characters emotionally suffer.

Frank & Lola will appeal to drama fans who appreciate realism for its own sake. The characters, their emotions, and the tensions between them are all handled well. But the actual plot is a mixed bag, taking Frank and Lola on a journey without giving the audience a reason to go with them. Those drawn to the messy side of romance will get something out of the trip. Those looking for either idealized romance or bigger thrills may be disappointed.

For a more introspective romantic drama about a relationship on the rocks, try London. For a steamy psychological thriller about infidelity, try Chloe. For a surreal psychological thriller that picks apart its main character in similar ways, try Enemy.

5.9 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.0 for a realistic relationship and an unrewarding plot.

Today’s quick review: Vincent N Roxxy. After her brother is murdered for owing money to the wrong people, Roxxy (Zoe Kravitz) goes to live with Vincent (Emile Hirsch), a helpful stranger, and his brother JC (Emory Cohen) on their farm in the country. There she lays low for a while, picks up a job, and gradually falls in love with Vincent. But although the farm is a peaceful place to stay, it can’t protect her from the danger she’s running from.

Vincent N Roxxy is a violent crime drama about a young woman on the run from her brother’s killers and the young man who takes her in. Vincent N Roxxy follows the titular couple as they learn to trust one another, get back on their feet, and deal with the repercussions of their past decisions. The movie features decent character work and a slow-boil mystery. However, its plodding pace and inconsistent tone keep it from being a satisfying pick.

Vincent N Roxxy never quite makes up its mind about what kind of movie it wants to be. The setup would fit right in with a crime thriller: two strangers fleeing from danger with only each other as company. Instead, the movie opts for a slower-paced story that drifts into romance as Roxxy settles into the quiet life on Vincent’s farm. But after a lengthy interlude, the movie shifts directions yet again, abruptly returning to its promised violence.

The result is an oddly paced movie that has a hard time keeping the audience engaged. The initial setup, the romance between Vincent and Roxxy, and the burst of violence near the end all have their place in a well-told crime story. But Vincent N Roxxy does a poor job of balancing between them, resulting in an introduction that doesn’t have enough detail to hook the audience, a slow and directionless middle, and a finale that comes out of nowhere.

Vincent N Roxxy has enough basic craftsmanship that fans of the crime genre may get something out of it. The relationship between Vincent and Roxxy and some suitably shocking violence could be appealing to the right viewer. But Vincent N Roxxy gets the proportions wrong, making it a movie that’s slow to get going and not very rewarding to follow to the end. Most viewers would be better off with another crime drama.

For a tighter execution of a similar premise, try Blood Father. For a taut crime thriller with some of the same elements, try Blood Simple. For a crime comedy with a similar plot and a lighter tone, try Hit and Run.

5.5 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 5.5 for a decent setup with lackluster execution.