Change Your Image
JeffT84
Reviews
Killing Them Softly (2012)
The most misunderstood film of 2012
I really loved Killing Them Softly. It has great commentary, I love the acting and the scenes of long dialogue and banter. The scene of the card game. They way it was shot the timing of it the camera angles made it so intense. It was brilliantly done. I also thought Brad Pitt did a perfect job with this role. it was really great casting all around.
It's really sad that everyone just wanted to see a shoot 'em up gangster flick and when they didn't get that decided to trash it and not even give it 1 ounce of thought. I understand everyone's entitled to their opinion but at least review the film you saw and not the one you wanted to see.
I won't give anything away but need to say that the last few bits of dialogue in this film are one of my all time favorites. Great film!
A Life Not to Follow (2015)
An amazing dark, gritty Neo-noir film.
I had a chance to see A Life Not To Follow at the Gwinnett Center International Film Festival yesterday. I'm a big fan of noir films so I thought I would check it out.
This ended up being a great call on my end. I'm still thinking about this little gem. It's dark, gritty and highly entertaining. The film is told in three different chapters which I thought gave it a very original feel. The story is so engrossing it just flew by for me. It moves really well.
The main actors just did an unbelievable job in this film especially the characters of Luca, Eric and Tobias. I also really love the boss Jimmy and Eric's girlfriend Finola. It was really a solid cast.
I thought the direction was great and so was the writing. As I mentioned above the way this story was told and executed was just great. Also I found the dialogue to be well written. It's kind of hard for me to talk about the film because things keep revealing themselves as they go on. I don't want to give any spoilers.
A Life Not To Follow has really captured the spirit of noir. If you're into crime films, noir films or just want to see something done a little bit different and executed really well I highly recommend you see this film. Hopefully It will be out on Netflix and Blu-ray soon.
A Most Violent Year (2014)
Beautiful slow burner.
I've been on a kick of crime films lately especially after seeing a great one at a local festival.
I really dug this film it definitely is a slow burner but it had this wonderful melodic pace that just keeps building.
I thought Jessica Chastain was unbelievable of course I usually think that way about her but I just love her in this role. The scene with her outside the house at their kid's birthday party was just amazing.
Oscar Isaac does a solid job too! He is an actor who is quickly becoming a favorite of mine.
They nailed early 1980's New York, the music, the tone, the look was all phenomenal. Great job for the art direction and for the director he really crafted a well made crime drama.
The struggle Oscar Isaac has to go through to not turn into a thug and the mystery behind who is stealing these oil trucks was just fascinating. They really captured the immigrant seeking the American dream. In one scene Albert Brooks who plays the Andrew (who is also perfectly cast by the way) is walking with Abel behind one of the tanks and says I never knew about this view? As they look at the New York skyline in the distance. Abel says I did.
It's subtlety but again a hint at that rise to the top almost reminiscent of Scarface when he sees the world is yours.
I love this film and I'm going to enjoy watching this over again.