Seraphim Falls with Pierce Brosnan and Liam Neeson

Posted on February 17, 2010 Written by ripitup

Seraphim Falls with Pierce Brosnan and Liam Neeson. Yes, two brilliant Irish actors are playing Americans. Seriously, I am more than happy with the cast!

Made in 2006. Western. Smart, interesting and well, really good.

1868. Carver (Liam Neeson) has 4 men with him to accompany him on his hunt for Gideon (Pierce Brosnan). We don’t really know why. We don’t know who the good guy is, or if even there is one. It is Gideon against 5 men and the wild nature.

But as the movie progresses, we realize Gideon is quick, smart and very strong. It is as dangerous for the men after him as it is for Gideon. I could impress you with a couple of examples, but hey- I don’t want to give even the tiniest of spoilers;)

The movie has great unexpected moments, lovely subtle acting (both Liam and Pierce are perfect), and a solid plot. I am not normally a western fan, but I never overlook a good one.

Plus, the leading of Carver’s men is played by Michael Wincott. And he just makes a fine baddie.

You didn’t recognize him with the short hair? Oh well. Imagine shoulder-length and think The Crow. He is also in Robin Hood: The Prince of Thieves opposite Ralph Fiennes and in Strange Days, making his life hell.

Reasons to see it?

*You mean other than Liam Neeson, Pierce Prosnan and Michael Wincott?

* The script

* The Direction

Don’t miss out on it.

Related Stuff:

With Pierce Brosnan:

Laws of Attraction and Pierce Brosnan

Butterfly on a Wheel

With Liam Neeson:

The Other Man (2008)

Vinyan: Starring Rufus Sewell and Emmanuelle Béart

Posted on February 13, 2010 Written by ripitup

Vinyan with Rufus Sewell and Emmanuelle Béart

What a weird and pointless movie. There were moments I liked, so I can’t say the entire movie was crappy. But if made a collage of scenes I liked, it would probably be about 15-20 minutes.

Now, I was hoping to watch an intense psychological thriller. The premise is interesting, the name is right, the location is perfect. Hell, you have Rufus Sewell in one of the lead roles. So had the storytelling been alright, the movie would be fine – even with Emmanuelle Béart.

And Emma-please, Emma- have the extra from your lip sucked and eat a little. Pirates of the Caribbean ghosts looked more in shape. And no, she is not playing a ghost.

Jeanne (Emmanulle Béart) and Paul (Rufus Sewell) are a married couple who lost their child Joshua to Tsunami. One night, Jeanne sees a video footage shot in Burma and believes she saw Joshua in there. Despite all logic, Paul has to support her decision eventually, because she is barely holding to her sanity. And as slim as the chances are, what if it really was him? It is not a thought a loving father can shake off, so he travels to Burma with her. Of course, their journey costs them a lot, with all the crooks around and with Jeanne becoming more and more irrational. It is not a journey Paul would have taken; had he known the circumstances…

If you are seriously into artistic and somewhat experimental film-making, with longer and more repetitive scenes than necessary, with promising gloom that slowly leaves itself to boring long silences…Yeah, this is your movie. I am a Rufus Sewell fan but I can’t bear to recommend it. Not if your reward would be to date him, that is.

Seriously, though. The movie tries to be a genre-bender: a heavily dramatic, spooky psychological thriller with characters slowly bordering on insanity… Had it worked, it would have been a masterpiece. But it fails miserably.

3/10. (IMDB is far more generous with 5.6)

Apartment Zero starring Colin Firth and Hart Bochner

Posted on February 2, 2010 Written by ripitup

apartment zero, colin firth — Colin should play in better thrillers. He deserves it.

What a weird little movie. Seriously. It is a thriller, with unintended parody (you should see the neighbors). It is supposed to be a thriller, because well- there is a serial killer we keep hearing about. But then Colin Firth plays a character so socially awkward, you think you might be getting into a drama. Then there is this sexual tension with the other male lead. The movie takes place in Buenos Aires. Oh, don’t get me started on the accents. Why is everyone supposed to speak English fluently? I have an idea- instead of making everyone else speak English, make Colin Firth speak Spanish with his neighbors. OK, maybe Jack isn’t fluent but him speaking Spanish awkwardly would be much less painful than this.

Plot:

The premise is interesting enough. Adrian (Colin Firth) has enough problems. He has financial problems, his mother is at a mental institute and he is an antisocial who hates his nosy neighbors.

But he needs money so he rents a room of his flat. His roommate is an American named Jack (Hart Bochner). He is handsome, charming and a total sweetheart with the neighbors. He also quickly becomes great friends with Jack. They seem so…close, in fact I was expecting them to make out any minute.

I can’t quite explain Adrian’s character. “He has issues” is the best way to put it. Jack seems too nice in public and he is too mysterious the rest of the time. Colin’s acting is top notch, Hart Bochner (Jack) is alright. The rest is well…Casting director should have done a better job.

It is one of those movies: You have the right lead. The idea is great. But the movie is…incomplete.

Verdict:

I’d suggest to see it only if you are a Colin Firth fan. But I am a Firth fan and didn’t enjoy it. Yet it was fun to see him so young. Your call.

Other Posts on Colin Firth

The Last Legion starring Colin Firth

Trauma starring Colin Firth and Mena Suvari

The British Actors We Love feat. Colin Firth, Daniel Day Lewis, Rufus Sewell and Ralph Fiennes

St. Trinian’s starring Colin Firth

Apartment Zero starring Colin Firth

The Accidental Husband starring Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Uma Thurman &Colin Firth

The English Patient feat. Ralph Fiennes, Juliette Binoche, Kristin Scott Thomas & Colin Firth

Hollywood’s Tall Actors feat. Colin Firth, Keanu Reeves, Gerard Butler & More