Reviews

First thing is first, and if you've seen this movie already you'll know it's pretty obvious: this is not a film to be taken seriously. At all. It's sick, yes. But if you view it as it's intended, a blacker-than-the-blackest-coffee-ever-made black comedy, it's absolutely hilarious. The outrageous events that occur within minutes quickly let you know that this is one movie aimed squarely at those with a sick sense of humor and who can see that Peter Berg (the writer/director) has his tongue firmly in his cheek the whole time. Sit back, forget absolutely all your morals and ethics, and you'll laugh like a baby.

With a less talented cast, the group of friends at the movie's center might have ended up being really unlikeable, but the brilliant acting of Slater, Favreau and the other guys really gets you rooting for them. Well, that's before it all gets so ridiculous that you're left gaping in astonishment. And, like I said, laughing like a baby. Terrific fun.

An atmospheric thriller that manages to add a little oriental flavour to the action, this is one of those movies that has a better second half than first. Alright, so the first half is competent enough, following New York cops Douglas and Garcia from America to Japan, straight into the middle of a counterfeiting ring, but it's in the second half that the movie really hits its stride, as Douglas is forced to work with a Japanese cop, and the two find themselves out for revenge on the crime boss behind the counterfeiting operation. In the acting department, Douglas' performance is patchy, and it's left to Garcia (in terrific form) to inject some real life into the story. Hans Zimmer's pounding score rockets the film to a mildly surprising conclusion and the final scene ends the movie on a perfect note. If you've never seen this movie before, its well worth your attention.

I wasn't really looking forward to seeing this film, and only ended up watching it because it stars Donald Sutherland and Jeff Goldblum, two of Hollywood's most talented and inimitable actors.

In the end, though, I glad I did watch it - THRESHOLD turned out to be an engaging and absorbing drama. It's a fictional account of the first ever artificial heart transplant, and feels so realistic that you'd never guess it was made two years before the artificial heart became a reality.

Donald Sutherland's first-rate performance is probably the highlight of the movie - when he's this good, you wonder if there's anyone he couldn't act off the screen. A then unknown Jeff Goldblum holds his own admirably as the idealistic young doctor who invented the artificial heart, and the film features some impressive camerawork, most notably the opening tracking shot.

All in all, it helps if you're a Sutherland fan, but it's not essential; this is one of those movies whose relaxed pace, absorbing atmosphere and strong performances will have you hooked right from the start.