Archive for October, 2011


Gone In 60 Seconds (2000)

Filed under: The Video Vault by thefriedgold — Leave a comment
October 10, 2011

Gone In 60 Seconds (2000)

Directed by Dominic Sena

Starring Nicolas Cage, Angelina Jolie and Giovanni Ribisi

 

 

A retired car thief has to return to what he does best to help out his little brother who has got into some trouble.

What’s not to enjoy about this film, apart from Jolie’s choice of hair style. You have lots of action, fast cars and Vinnie Jones not talking (until the end) mixed in with some humour.

Based on the original from 1974 this film just brings a bit of fun to the screen for people to enjoy. It was never made to win awards; you just watch it for what it is. Now i agree that sometimes Mr Cage isn’t always the best actor however i do enjoy the action films he stars in like The Rock, Con Air and Face/Off and Gone In 60 Seconds follows in the same mould.

I am also a big fan of Timothy Olyphant in anything he stars in.

If you haven’t seen this then you should. If you have I’m sure you are the same as me and can easily have this film on in the background while doing other bits and pieces.

 

Film Fact

After some disagreements with the director about the re-writing process, Scott Rosenberg left the project. The writers Jonathan Hensleigh and J.J. Abrams came in and did un-credited re-writes on the script.

 

 

 

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Red State (2011)

Filed under: Cinema by thefriedgold — Leave a comment

Red State (2011) 

Directed by Kevin Smith

Starring John Goodman, Mellissa Leo and Michael Parks

 

 

 

Straight away with this film you can tell that it is directed, written and edited by Kevin Smith himself. The opening scene is very much in the mould of Clerks is the style of acting and camera shot. The film does seem quite confusing and relies heavily on the script.

The film is about 3 young college friends who find a lady on the internet to go and have sex with. Things take a turn for the worse and they end up drugged and waking up in a church with some religious nuts wanting to rid the world of people like them. From there it goes a bit here and there.

Michael Parks and John Goodman have some very long solo speeches/conversations in the film that seem to go on that bit too long. It’s not that i didn’t enjoy the film but i did find myself being slightly bored in places and it’s as if Mr Smith was trying a bit too hard. He should stick with comedy films and bring us another Clerks or Mallrats that combine real life and relationships with humour.

If you’re a fan of Kevin Smith this film is different to anything else he has done so just prepare yourself for less laughs however i would say it is worth a watch, although maybe not at the cinema.

 

Film Fact

The film was shot in sequence and Kevin Smith edited each days shooting on the same day. He was able to show the crew a rough cut just two days after they had wrapped up all the filming.

 

 

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Attack the Block

Filed under: DVD/Bluray by thefriedgold — Leave a comment
October 3, 2011

Attack the Block (2011)

Directed by Joe Cornish

Starring John Boyega, Jodie Whittaker and Nick Frost

 

 

That’s an alien bruv, believe it.

Aliens have come to town; more precisely they have landed in an area of London that is protected by a local gang of youths. Only one thing is going to happen, inner city vs. outer space.

The film follows 5 gang members who mug a lady in the street only to be interrupted by something falling from the sky. It turns out to be an alien which the gang members chase down and kill. Feeling good about themselves and thinking that can make some money from this they show off around their block. The only problem is a lot more aliens then land and the fight is on.

The film mixes gang stereotyping with fantastic humour along with action and some jumps along the way. The edition of Nick Frost as a chilled out drug dealer is great as he adds that bit of humanity and humour as well as being a well-known actor from other British made films. The aliens are cleverly made for the film being totally black with some glow in the dark teeth. There is no need to see so much detail on the aliens making these better than most aliens you see on screen.

Directed by Joe Cornish, of the Adam and Joe show fame, Attack the Block is his directorial debut and if this is anything to go by it will be his first of many. He recently worked with Steven Spielberg and Edgar Wright, who also worked on Attack the Block, on the screenplay for The Adventures of Tintin so he already has friends in high places.

Humour, excitement and a couple of jumps makes this a great film to watch. If you’re a fan of these elements then i would recommend watching this film.

 

 

Film Fact

At one stage there were reports that the film would be released with subtitles for the American audience because otherwise they wouldn’t understand what was being said.

 

 

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