current film reviews, of a sort...
The Ruins
OK, so not a crime film but I enjoyed this much more than I thought I would and it is worth the effort of reviewing.
It been a long time since I saw a horror movie that was even mildly compelling. Unlike some critics, I found films like the well regarded 28 Days Later fairly uninteresting but I suspect I have a bad attitude where zombie films are concerned. The Ruins, on the other hand, works very well and has considerable impact. We're not talking a classic here - that would be too much for our empty culture to bare - but were are talking about a surprising film that breaks a few rules and put moral decisions and a desparate thoughtfulness as a major part of the action. As well, some perfectly unforgettable scenes that will make you close your eyes and flinch. In a good way.
Full review here.
Street Kings
From the mind of James Ellroy, one of the absolute masters of the modern crime novel comes Street Kings, a film I tried very hard to like.
Its got quite a bit to recommend it and it's not exactly dull, but it isn't much of a film. Diluted Ellroy, somewhat confused and fairly obvious in most places. Keanu holds his own and is really quite good. Forest Whitaker chews scenery and is not as good as you might expect. The House guy Hugh Laurie is in it and he is introduced in a hospital setting which got a few people in the audience laughing. There is a lot of driving around in big fast American cars, as seems to be the norm in a David Ayers film. People get shot and swear a lot. Some good blood...
But it is gritty and holds your attention, mostly. More here.
links:
news:
My review of Street Kings
is up; as is a review of the decidedly non-criminal but quite good The Ruins.
film reviews:
I will be posting links as I find them. If you have a particular crime/mystery site you like, please email me and I will list and link the best ones!
Upcoming Reviews
I am in the process of reading Jack O'Connell's excellent (so far) Box Nine. Next up is Martyn Waites' Bone Machine and local author Kay Stewart and Chris Bullock's A Deadly Little List. When I get around to it, I may write an essay on the
work of Don Winslow.
