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Firewall starring Harrison Ford, Virginia Madsen and Paul Bettany

Posted on May 21, 2010 Written by ripitup

Firewall starring Harrison Ford, Virginia Madsen and Paul Bettany. Image from: http://imagecache2.allposters.com/images/HPO/firewall.jpg

Consider yourselves warned. This movie will not surprise you. You will get the ending you always do. That being said, it is just not a bad movie.

After a movie, I usually cruise through IMDB boards and check out what the other folks are saying. It’s quite amusing. No matter what the movie, you will find people that had a good time, that hated it and that just don’t really care. Some people think Harrison Ford should stop acting (in action films). Because he is too old. Yeah, I know. People would love to manage actors’ careers…

OK. Enough with the gossip and the sarcasm. I did warn you that this is a predictable movie. But it doesn’t change the fact that it’s entertaining:

Jack Stanfield (Harrison Ford) is a happily married man with 2 kids, aged 8 and 14. His wife (Virginia Madsen) is a beautiful architect and the marriage is great. His only problem is the merger his bank is going through but it is nothing he can’t handle. His life gets very difficult and complicated, however, when his best friend Harry (Robert Forster) introduces him to a businessman (Paul Bettany). Jack is a security specialist working at the large bank. The “businessman” makes him an offer and as Jack leaves to get home, he finds the businessman in his car. His name is Cox, he wants $100,000,000 from the bank. He also has taken his family hostage. From then on, it is a matter of life and death. Jack tries to outsmart Cox, and every time he fails, Cox proves that he is not kidding. So Jack needs to rob the bank he is protecting – and this robbery is a lot more technological and a lot less physical than the robberies we are used to…

It is not a masterpiece. It doesn’t have surprises. Still, I liked watching Jack finding a way to pull the stunts off. I had fun. The fun isn’t in trying to figure out whether Harrison will save his family. It’s in more how psycho the villain can get and how Jack can steal that much money, cover Cox’s track. And let’s face it, Bettany makes a fine villain. You might recgonize Jack’s secretary Janet (Mary Lynn Rajskub) as she has helped out Jack Bauer more than once in the series 24.

And why would people think Harrison is too old for this role is beyond me. It is not like he is playing Clive Owen’s part in Shoot Them Up or Gerard Butler’s in 300! He is trapped, he needs to save three members of his family. Anyone’s adrenaline would be pumped up. Watch it if you enjoy a typical thriller/action and like Bettany and Ford. By the way, remind me, did Harrison Ford ever play a villain?

5.8 on IMDB. I’ll give it a 6.Let me know what you think.

P.S. I read that Harrison Ford declined to play in Schindler’s List, claiming his stardom would get in the way of the message of the movie. I am glad Liam Neeson has the title role but what do you think about Harrsion’s remark? Do you think he is right? Or just cocky?

The Butterfly Effect starring Ashton Kutcher and Amy Smart

Posted on May 14, 2010 Written by ripitup

The Butterfly Effect starring Ashton Kutcher and Amy Smart. Image from:http://img291.imageshack.us/i/butterflyeffectze6.jpg/

Evan is having a troubled childhood. His father is in a mental institution, his friends Kayleigh and Tommy have an abusive father (Eric Stoltz) at home. Tommy is growing increasingly dangerous and aggressive. Moreover, Evan is having serious blackouts where he can’t remember what happened, what he was doing and why. A psychiatrist suggests he keeps a diary as it might help him remember.

As they grow up and Kayleigh and Evan develop feelings for each other and this gets Tommy even more out of control. One day, along with their other friend Lenny, they take a dynamite they find in Kayleigh & Tommy’s father’s house and decide to pull a prank. The prank results in a tragedy that Evan can’t remember. Evan’s mother (Melora Walters) eventually decides to take Evan and move away. Evan promises to come back for Kayleigh.

Years later, Evan (Ashton Kutcher) is a successful psychology major and getting along marvelously with his gothic roommate (Ethan Suplee). Moreover he hasn’t had a blackout in years. But one coincidence gets him to think about what happened all those years ago and he tracks Kayleigh (Amy Smart) down. This ends in another disaster, which Evan will do anything to prevent. After all, he has found a way to go back in time and change things. But every time he changes one thing to help matters, things end up horribly for at least one of them…

This is one complicated, weird and interesting movie. Even though it has some funny moments, it is mostly depressing and dark. But it is also very exciting and thought- provoking. I saw it for the second time last night (the first time was years ago when it hit the theaters) and I realized I wasn’t as hooked as I was before. But it’s because this time I knew each twist and turn. Still, it was interesting to go through the story again.

You can argue a lot of plot holes but I suggest you don’t look for them. Because this movie has sci- fi elements, looking for extreme logic and reality will be pointless. Stay away from this movie at all costs if you want something light and uplifting. But if you want something different, this is what you have been looking for.

Rated 7.8 on IMDB, voted by nearly 100.000 people. I’ll give it a solid 8. It will probably remain as the darkest and most original thing Ashton Kutcher will ever be a part of. I wish he finds more projects like these and less romantic comedies. As much I enjoy good romcoms, they are dime a dozen. The Butterfly Effect? Not so much. Written and directed by Eric Bress and J. Mackye Gruber. Grown-up Lenny is played by Elden Henson and Tommy by William Lee Scott.

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Not Forgotten starring Simon Baker

Posted on May 13, 2010 Written by ripitup

Not Forgotten starring Simon Baker and Paz Vega. Well, the name of the movie makes sense but that's pretty much the only thing that does. Image from: http://www.traileraddict.com/

OK. This movie was bad. I mean really bad. I usually start with the plot and then mention what I think but I just couldn’t help myself. On the surface, the premise is quite OK.
Jack Bishop (Simon Baker) is a loving husband and a father who coaches girls’ soccer team where his 11-year-old daughter Toby (Chloe Moretz) also plays. His first wife -Toby’s mom- is dead but Toby seems to be getting alone fine with her stepmother Amaya (Paz Vega). A good marriage, a simple life. There are implications of black magic in the movie but hey, you don’t mind. Maybe there are essential to the plot line and maybe it will all make perfect sense at some point. The simple and happy family life is ruined when Toby is kidnapped. Jack is devastated and so is Amaya. They try anything and everything to find Toby. But as the story unfolds, it will become apparent that no one and nothing is quite what it seems, except Jack’s love for Toby.

I might get into spoilers so read on at your peril:

The pace is slow. But sometimes slow pays off. Not this time. We are thrown weird twists here and there, like Jack actually speaks Spanish when his wife thinks he can’t. Whores in Mexico seem to know who is and they know him by another name. The black magic thing is something…that the writer wants you to suspect that it will relate to the story…It does but it never makes any sense. Jack’s identity as a loving father doesn’t add up. Amaya’s 10 year-old acting is ridiculous. The daughter’s reaction is absolutely ridiculous. The picture in the beginning- the picture of Toby’s mother- does belong to Claire Forlani. And she also has a ridiculous role in the film, just like the rest of the cast.
You wan t more specifics? Please ask me in the comments. I can go into as much detail as you like. I like Simon Baker, I really do. But this movie is off. Whatever genre or pace it was aiming, it is off. I don’t even get what attracted Simon to the script in the first place. There is nothing that’s attractive about the movie. Well, except the one part where Simon tortures and wastes the long-haired bad guy. That was cool. But if you want Simon to go all affectionate, watch Something New. If you want him all smart, watch The Mentalist. This is rated 4.5 on IMDB, voted by over 600 people. And frankly, even 4.5 is way overrated.

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My Own Worst Enemy, starring Christian Slater

Posted on April 20, 2010 Written by ripitup

Christian Slater in My Own Worst Enemy. Image from: http://www.impawards.com

It is no secret that I love my spy gear, secret agents and a good mystery.For instance it might be about a secret agent who has been tricked and hanging in to take revenge while leading a dual life (Alias). By the way, Christian Slater does appear in 2 episodes of Alias.

However, the “mystery” and the conflict in My Own Worst Enemy is even more complicated. No, fellow fans of Alias, I haven’t lost it. I know all about Sydney Bristow and her family background. But despite all the tricks and lies, she wanted to be an agent. She just didn’t know she was recruited by the wrong men.

Henry Spivey (Christian Slater) is a family man. He loves his wife (Mädchen Amick) and his two kids (Taylor Lautner and Bella Thorne). He doesn’t mind working hard to keep the comfortable domestic bliss that they’ve got going.

Edward Albright (also Christian Slater) is a highly-skilled and deadly operative working for a secret government agency. He doesn’t mind having sex with his target and then killing her on the spot. He is good at everything, including sex.

The deal? There is a chip in our Henry/Edward (yep-same body)’s brain- implemented by the agency and used at their convenience. When an operation needs Edward, Henry is supposedly sent on a business trip and our gentle husband/dad is put the sleep. Edward is awakened and he gets the job done. Then the memories are erased for Henry and he wakes up. Henry isn’t supposed to know about Edward…However this dual life-one guy system hits a bump. Edward starts to wake up in the middle of Henry’s life and Henry starts waking up in the middle of Edward’s operations. The agency threatens Henry that they will kill him if he tries to talk about this to anyone, so he tries to co-exist. Edward doesn’t mind sleeping with the hot wife Angela. He has a hard time with the mundane family life, though. And Henry is more than freaked out having to participate in the spy game. Especially, every time he uncovers a truth, it is more disturbing than the last. He also hates the fact that his wife is unknowingly having sex with Edward and enjoying it a lot!

It might have lasted only a season (9 episodes) but it is definitely not because the show is not interesting. It has a great storyline and a solid leading actor. The rest of the cast are also doing a good job. Edward’s superior is played by Alfre Woodard. That woman really gives me the creeps. It is not really just about her talent but the shady characters she plays as well. You might remember her from Desperate Housewives, where she played the mysterious new neighbor who had one son locked in the basement. Edward’s partner/ Henry’s colleague Raymond/Tom (also dual identity-played by Tom (Mike O’Malley). Saffran Burrows plays the firm therapist. Mädchen Amick has appeared in many tv shows such as Joey, Freddie and Gossip Girl but she is most memorable in her role in Dream Lover, starring with James Spader. And of course Taylor Lautner who made quite a name for himself, playing Jacob Black in the Twilight Saga movies, Twilight and New Moon. He will continue his role in the two remaining movies of the series. But mind you, he doesn’t have that many lines. It is Christian’s show.

Watch it if you like your spy stuff. Christian Slater is also a plus.