Sleight of Film

Today’s quick review: The Foreigner. After his daughter dies in a bombing by an IRA splinter group, Quan Ngoc Minh (Jackie Chan), a Chinese immigrant to London, goes looking for the ones responsible. When the police fail to identify the bombers, Quan turns to Liam Hennessy (Pierce Brosnan), an Irish politician with ties to the IRA, for answers. But Hennessy refuses to help, forcing Quan to use violence to get the information he needs.

The Foreigner is a crime drama about a grieving father’s quest for revenge. Jackie Chan stars as Quan, a determined man whose combat skills make him more than a match for Hennessy and his organization. Pierce Brosnan plays opposite him as Hennessy, a semi-reformed IRA member who has his hands full dealing with the aftermath of the bombing. Interesting conflicts, strong acting, and some well-placed action make The Foreigner an engrossing watch.

The Foreigner draws much of its strength from the conflicts it sets up. The backbone of the story is a power struggle within the IRA, with Hennessy trying to track down the rogue bombers while convincing the British government he has the situation under control. Quan is a wildcard who causes even more chaos as he searches for the bombers. The result is a nicely complicated plot where no single faction is in control of the outcome.

The Foreigner builds on this plot with strong character work and satisfying action. Jackie Chan makes for a compelling protagonist: not quite a hero, but a man coping with his grief through a methodical campaign of violence. Pierce Brosnan holds up his end of the story, a politician caught between a rock and a hard place. Meanwhile, the action punctuates teh film nicely, with grounded stunts that have just enough flair to them to be exciting.

The Foreigner is a solid choice for fans of the grittier side of the action genre. The movie strikes a nice balance between plot, character, and action. It is not as single-minded or as redemptive as some revenge stories, but it manages to hold its own thanks to its well-crafted story. Those looking for Jackie Chan’s usual flashy stunts and upbeat sense of humor should steer clear.

For a crime thriller about a parent using violence to avenge a child, try Taken, Death Wish, The Brave One, or Edge of Darkness. For an action movie about a soldier pushed too far, check out First Blood. For another dramatic movie from Jackie Chan, try Little Big Soldier.

7.0 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.0 to 7.5 for solid craftsmanship.

“It’s not soccer! It’s football!” —Steed

Today’s quick review: Final Score. American soldier Mike Knox (Dave Bautista) and his niece Danni (Lara Peake) are at a London soccer game when a group of Eastern European terrorists, led by General Arkady Belav (Ray Stevenson), take over the stadium. To keep Danni safe, Mike must fight his way through Arkday’s men before they get what they came for: Arkaday’s brother Dimitri (Pierce Brosnan), a former revolutionary now living in hiding.

Final Score is an action thriller that pits a protective uncle against a group of terrorists holding a soccer stadium hostage. The movie sticks to the basics of the action genre but executes them well, taking advantage of its unusual setting to shape the plot and stage the action. Visceral fights, a race against the clock, and a couple of creative stunts are all that it needs to be an entertaining watch, albeit a simple one.

Still, Final Score has many of the usual limitations of budget action flicks. The plot is self-contained and works as a vehicle for the action, but it isn’t especially deep. The characters fall into a similar middle ground: adequate for the story they’re in, but not especially compelling. Final Score also misuses its star power, giving very little time for Ray Stevenson or Pierce Brosnan to make a personal mark on the film.

Give Final Score a shot if you’re an action fan with accommodating taste. Its solid execution and expansive setting make it a step up from the usual budget fare, even if it still falls short of the more polished entries into the genre. Anyone looking for some easy thrills may want to take a look. Skip it if you’re looking for something deep, unexpected, or truly impressive.

For a more memorable action thriller with a similar premise, try Die Hard or Under Siege. For a crime thriller set in a stadium, check out Snake Eyes. For a more thrilling movie about a dangerous man protecting a loved one, try Taken.

5.7 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.0 to 6.5 for basic but enjoyable action.

Today’s quick review: The Ghost Writer. A writer (Ewan McGregor) accepts a job finishing the memoirs of Adam Lang (Pierce Brosnan), a former British prime minister who has just become embroiled in a political scandal. On a remote island, the writer gets to know Adam, his wife Ruth (Olivia Williams), and his assistant Amelia (Kim Cattrall). But the writer continues his work, he stumbles upon a secret tied to the untimely death of his predecessor.

The Ghost Writer is a political thriller about a writer’s search for the truth about a controversial politician. The Ghost Writer aims to be a haunting mystery that touches on British and American politics, as well as the War on Terror. However, in spite of a capable cast and an ominous atmosphere, the movie does not have a very strong bite. The combination of a slow start and a questionable payoff make it a miss for viewers looking for serious thrills.

The Ghost Writer’s main issue is that it doesn’t set its hook well. The movie is packed with hints that something is wrong with Lang and his entourage, but it offers precious few clues as to what. The audience is left to speculate on their own until the writer finally pulls together enough information to begin making guesses. By that point, the air of mystery has worn thin, and the answers, when they come, are disappointingly mundane.

The end result is a thriller that’s more bark than bite. The Ghost Writer has a decent premise for a mystery, but it does a poor job of escalating from its early setup to the meat of the investigation. Fans of political drama may get more out of it, since much of the movie is spent examining Lang’s unusual political career from within. But those looking for a tense mystery will find The Ghost Writer to be outclassed by other thrillers.

For a political thriller with more bite to it, try The Manchurian Candidate. For a psychological drama about a writer struggling with an assignment, check out Barton Fink. For a budget drama about a beleaguered politician, try The Runner. For a mystery about a political scandal in the making, try State of Play. For a spy story with a similar mystery, try The Good Shepherd.

7.2 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.0 to 6.5 for fine craftsmanship and a weak hook.

Today’s quick review: After the Sunset. After stealing a multi-million dollar diamond from FBI agent Stan Lloyd (Woody Harrelson), Max Burdett (Pierce Brosnan) and Lola Cirillo (Salma Hayek) retire to the Bahamas to live out the rest of their lives in luxury. But their happy ending is threatened when Stan tracks them down, convinced that they have come to the Bahamas to steal yet another diamond that’s being displayed there.

After the Sunset is a crime comedy and romance about a retired thief tempted by one last score. Pierce Brosnan stars as Max Burdett, who’s forced to choose between his professional pride and the woman of his dreams, all while staying ahead of the FBI agent who has been hunting him for seven years. After the Sunset’s light tone and likable cast make it a pleasant watch, but it lacks the intricate plot of other heist movies.

After the Sunset is more about the relationships between its characters than the mechanics of the heist itself. Pierce Brosnan and Woody Harrelson make a natural pair as Max and Stan, whose years of enmity have almost made them friends. Brosnan also matches well with Salma Hayek, with Max drawn by the allure of the diamond in spite of Lola’s wish to stay retired. These character dynamics are simple, but they’re enough to carry the movie.

Where After the Sunset falls a little short is with its plot. The movie has a couple of clever tricks up its sleeve, but its twists aren’t nearly as effective as those seen in other heist films. After the Sunset seems content to move its pieces around the board without trying to set up an elaborate endgame. As a result, supporting characters like Sophie (Naomie Harris), a local cop, and Henri (Don Cheadle), a local crime lord, get short shrift.

After the Sunset is a fine pick for anyone in the mood for a light, low-effort heist movie. It is not as thrilling or cerebral as the best films in its genre, and it depends heavily on its characters for its comedic and emotional payoff. But even with these caveats in mind, After the Sunset’s strong cast and charming premise make it an easy movie to enjoy.

For a more elaborate heist with similar charm, try Focus, Duplicity, Out of Sight, or Ocean’s Eleven. For a tropical adventure with a dash of romance, try Fool’s Gold. For a crime movie about a white-collar criminal and an FBI agent, try Catch Me If You Can. For a darker crime drama about the relationship between a cop and a thief, try Heat.

6.3 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.5 for likable characters and a decent story.

Today’s quick reivew: Urge. Wealthy executive Neil (Danny Masterson) takes his brother Jason (Justin Chatwin), his assitant Theresa (Ashley Greene), and the rest of his friends (Chris Geere, Bar Paly, Alexis Knapp, and Nick Thune) for a weekend getaway on a secluded island. There, The Man (Pierce Brosnan), the owner of a bizarre nightclub, sells them Urge, a powerful drug that lets them act out their deepest desires.

Urge is a thriller with horror elements about a drug that makes people run wild. What starts out as a relaxing weekend turns into an orgy of violence as Neil and his friends let the drug carry them away. Urge aims to be a dark and steamy commentary on the animal side of human nature. However, Urge never puts in the legwork to set up interesting character arcs, meaning that twisted sex and senseless violence are all it has to offer.

Urge makes only a token effort to tie its story to any deeper themes. Under the influence of the drug, Neil and his friends tear themselves apart, but the vices they succumb to are picked more for shock value than any insight into the human condition. The escalation is also handled awkwardly; madness simply erupts around the island without any sensible cause. Finally, the mystery surrounding The Man is a weak payoff for what is already a thin story.

As a result, Urge is a movie with limited appeal. Its lurid content is more off-putting than it is enticing, its attempts at meaning fall flat, and it lacks the suspense or sharp twists of a proper thriller. Viewers who are into dark movies for their own sake may get something out of it, but ordinary viewers will find it to be an unpleasant watch without any real compensation.

For a psychological crime drama that deals with similar themes, try Revolver. For a similarly bizarre thriller about a descent into violence, try High-Rise. For a darker and more realistic look at the consequences of drug abuse, try Requiem for a Dream. For a crime movie about a miracle drug, try Limitless. For a budget crime thriller about a group of friends torn apart by their darker impulses, try Money.

4.5 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 5.0 for an unconvincing story and misplaced sex appeal.

Today’s quick review: Shattered. Neil (Gerard Butler) and Abby (Maria Bello) Randall lead an idyllic life. Neil is an ad executive on the verge of a promotion, while Abby raises their daughter Sophie (Emma Karwandy) in a luxurious home. But all of that changes when a stranger (Pierce Brosnan) kidnaps Sophie and holds the Randalls at gunpoint. Now Neil and Abby must obey his twisted demands to have any hope of seeing their daughter again.

Shattered is a crime thriller about a couple whose lives are turned upside-down by a sadistic kidnapper. Piece by piece, the kidnapper dismantles everything the Randalls have, beginning with their savings and Neil’s career before moving on to their marriage itself. Shattered gets some good mileage out of this premise, unearthing Neil and Abby’s hidden secrets and exploring just how far they are willing to go to protect their daughter.

Still, in spite of an interesting setup and some nice tension, Shattered is not as polished as it could be. The movie has to walk a difficult line between raw shock value and making sure the kidnapper’s actions actually make sense. Shattered generally handles this balance well, but there are times when it feels like it is going in circles. Likewise, the ending is satisfying enough, but it’s missing the sting that more masterful thrillers have.

Shattered is a solid movie that will appeal to fans of suspense and dark secrets. It’s outclassed by other thrillers that play out similar setups with more skill, but those willing to follow Neil and Abby through the worst day of their lives will find it to be an interesting experience. Steer clear if you prefer thrillers with more options for the main characters.

For a more chilling thriller about a strained marriage, try Gone Girl. For a hostage thriller with a similar setup, try Collateral or The Commuter. For a more action-packed thriller starring Gerard Butler, try Law Abiding Citizen.

6.7 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.5 for a tense, well-constructed story that makes a few minor misplays.

Today’s quick review: The Tailor of Panama. Andy Osnard (Pierce Brosnan), a disgraced MI-6 agent, is exiled to Panama, where he recruits Harry Pendel (Geoffrey Rush), a well-connected tailor with a mountain of debt, as his source of local information. Under pressure from Andy, Harry begins to feed him false information about a brewing revolution. But when Harry’s tall tales take on a life of their own, he discovers principles he didn’t know he had.

The Tailor of Panama is a spy drama with elements of political satire based on the novel by John le Carre. The movie weaves a convoluted web around Harry, a British expat with a knack for lying, and Andy, a self-interested spy willing to do anything for money. The Tailor of Panama also takes shots at British and American foreign policy, showing the misguided policies and attitudes that let Harry’s blatant lies gain traction.

The Tailor of Panama suffers from a few issues that keep it from reaching its full potential. The movie does not set its hook well; its plot starts out slow and aimless until Harry’s false intel gives it direction. Its stylistic quirks—abrupt flashbacks and peeks into Harry’s mind—feel jarring and out of place. And while the movie toys with interesting ideas, its script isn’t sharp enough to make all of them work.

For all of that, The Tailor of Panama does try something unusual and worthwhile. Harry Pendel is a complex figure, a fundamentally decent man wrapped up in a catastrophe of his own making. His character arc starts slowly, but it is rewarding for those who stick it out. Andy Osnard is less compelling but plays an important role. The movie also benefits from a veteran cast that includes Pierce Brosnan, Geoffrey Rush, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Brendan Gleeson.

The Tailor of Panama holds a very specific kind of appeal that won’t work for everyone. Viewers like character-rich stories, low-key comedy, and moral struggles will find the movie to be an interesting experiment, if not an entirely successful one. Those looking for a sharper spy thriller or a more overt comedy will find it a little too weak to be satisfying.

For Pierce Brosnan in a similarly character-driven, morally ambiguous crime move, try The Matador. For an even more satirical story about a chronic liar, try The Informant!. For a more serious spy thriller from John le Carre, try The Deadly Affair or The Spy Who Came in from the Cold.

6.1 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.5 for a clever premise and mixed execution.

“How’s that for a punchline?” —Zao

Today’s quick review: Die Another Day. Betrayed and captured while on a mission in North Korea, British agent James Bond (Pierce Brosnan) is set free in exchange for Zao (Rick Yune), a North Korean terrorist. To catch Zao again, Bond travels to Cuba, where he teams up with Jinx (Halle Berry), a talented American agent. Their search for Zao’s backer eventually leads them to Gustav Graves (Toby Stephens), an ostentatious diamond billionaire.

Die Another Day is a spy action adventure and the twentieth film in the James Bond franchise. Pierce Brosnan’s last excursion as Bond follows in the footsteps of his first: flashy action, high-tech gadgets, and a satellite superweapon for Bond to stop. Die Another Day cuts loose in a way that’s rare even among Bond films. The result is over-the-top action and spectacle that comes at the expense of the film’s story and sense of grounding.

Die Another Day’s willingness to be bold is its greatest strength and its greatest weakness. Everything is larger-than-life, from the villains to the stunts to the scenery. The upshot of this is that the action is larger-scale than most Bond movies, and it never lets up for long. The downside is that the movie goes a little too far. The exaggerated nature of the conflict makes it harder to invest in, and the plot logic is thin in places.

Give Die Another Day a shot when you’re in the mood for a fun popcorn watch. The movie misses out on some of the subtler virtues the James Bond series has to offer, but its action and sense of adventure make it an entertaining pick nonetheless. Viewers who enjoy all-out action will have a good time. Those who prefer more grounded spy drama may want to skip it. For a more polished Bond movie in the same vein, try GoldenEye.

6.1 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.5 to 7.0 for over-the-top action with a few rough edges.

“Always have an escape plan.” —Q

Today’s quick review: The World Is Not Enough. When Renard (Robert Carlyle), an international terrorist, murders a British oil billionaire, Agent James Bond (Pierce Brosnan) travels to Azerbaijan to protect Elektra King (Sophie Marceau), the deceased man’s daughter, as she works to complete her father’s oil pipeline. Bond searches for Renard’s mole in her operation, only to discover that the terrorist is planning more than just a simple murder.

The World Is Not Enough is a spy action thriller and the nineteenth film in the James Bond franchise. The World Is Not Enough features a more elaborate plot than most entries into the series, following Bond as he investigates the elaborate chain of events leading to a billionaire’s murder. The movie also places a greater emphasis on character than other Bond films, yielding interesting conflicts and a robust story that doesn’t skimp on the action.

Still, The World Is Not Enough suffers from the same deficiency as many other Bond films: Renard and his plan do not compare to the greatest villains the series has to offer. The movie works well enough on a moment-to-moment basis, balancing action and intrigue in equal measure, but it’s not as audacious or memorable as the best Bond adventures. As such, in spite of strong fundamentals, it is easy to overlook in favor of flashier fare.

The World Is Not Enough is a strong pick for fans of the series, especially those looking for an adventure that has a little more substance to it. The movie is not quite as sharp as it could have been, especially when it comes to its climax, but it still makes for an entertaining popcorn watch that caters to Bond’s strengths. Skip it if you dislike Pierce Brosnan or are looking for a more realistic thriller.

For a more serious Bond movie with a winding plot and an expanded role for M, try Skyfall. For a classic Bond movie with an elaborate plot, check out From Russia With Love. For an action thriller that uses similar plot elements, check out Inferno.

6.4 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.0 for a strong plot backed by plenty action.

“They’ll print anything these days.” —James Bond

Today’s quick review: Tomorrow Never Dies. British secret agent James Bond (Pierce Brosnan) travels to Hamburg, Germany, to investigate Elliot Carver (Jonathan Pryce), a media mogul with a plan to ignite a war between China and Britain. To stop Carver’s operation, Bond must rekindle his relationship with Paris (Teri Hatcher), an old flame now married to Carver, and join forces with his Chinese counterpart Wai Lin (Michelle Yeoh).

Tomorrow Never Dies is a spy action adventure and the eighteenth film in the James Bond franchise. Pierce Brosnan’s second outing as Bond has the same emphasis on action as the first, matching GoldenEye in terms of extravagant stunts and destrction. This—along with a globe-trotting plot, a couple of neat gadgets, and a capable co-star in Michelle Yeoh—is enough to make Tomorrow Never Dies a worthwhile entry into the series.

In spite of its solid core, Tomorrow Never Dies faces stiff competition from other Bond films. Elliot Carver and his henchman Stamper (Gotz Otto) make for lukewarm villains, although the media angle is a welcome change of pace for the series. The plot is workmanlike, delivering plenty of action but few surprises. And while Wai Lin makes a good partner for Bond in the field, their relationship is missing the dynamism it needs to stand out.

Give Tomorrow Never Dies if you’re looking for a bit of popcorn action. Although it lacks the tact of the best Bond films, its raw spectacle is enough to make it an enertertaining watch, while its plot hits all the beats it needs to. Fans who prefer the more realistic, plot-focused Bond movies will want to steer clear. For a Bond film with a similar premise, try Thunderball or The Spy Who Loved Me.

6.5 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.0 for solid action and a decent plot.