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The Killing Room starring Timothy Hutton

Posted on August 20, 2010 Written by ripitup

The Killing Room starring Timothy Hutton, Clea DuVall, Chloe Sevigny, Peter Stormare, Nick Cannon and Shea Whigham

The Killing Room is a wonderfully chilling and solid claustrophobic thriller. Yes, it is rated on 5.7 on IMDB, voted by over 2000 people, but even the discussions on whether this is believable or even possible don’t underestimate the movie’s decent effort. Here’s what happens:

4 subjects volunteer for a psychological experiment: 1 woman, 3 guys: Kerry (Clea DuVall), Crawford (Timothy Hutton), Paul (Nick Cannon) and Tony (Shea Whigham). These 4 strangers are in the experiment to make extra cash. Crawford is a veteran at being a lab rat and is the most comfortable of the 4.

They are in a white room with steel furniture nailed down to the floor. They are being watched and listened to by the leader of the project, a Dr. Philips (Peter Stormare), a group of other scientists who are following orders and a young psychologist called Emily (Chloe Sevigny).

At first it seems innocent and normal enough. Scientists are observing and this is a part of Emily’s recruitment, whether or not she will be a part of this project. Subjects do surveys, chat a little bit. After that Philips comes on, answers their questions and at about 17 minutes into the movie, we know for sure that this is one deadly experiment and whether any of the subjects will survive is highly questionable. But who the hell are these people? Why are they conducting a deadly experiment with 4 Americans with no criminal record? And how much can Emily take?

As I said, chilling, claustrophobic and not very predictable. The acting is just fine. I don’t want to give away spoilers but I will just hint that Timothy Hutton does have more screen time than 17 minutes. So if you don’t like psychological thrillers, it will be worth watching for him.

However, regardless of who and/or what you are watching this movie for, it is worth the time It makes you ask questions. You question how far people can go under extreme circumstances. You certainly keep writing your own explanation and script until the very end. I think the ending was just brilliant. Not the one I was guessing or hoping for, and this is a good thing. And yes, I knew almost all the actors from other films but even if you know none, it doesn’t matter. The acting is good but it is about the room, and the story rather than their faces.

It is hard to make a good thriller without much effects and constantly relying on other people’s minds working. This one pulls it off. But whether you will believe it -any part or entire movie- is possible will depend on what you think about the American government. Written by Gus Krieger and Ann Peacock. Directed by Jonathan Liebesman.

8 or 9/10 from me. You may not like it, but you won’t be bored either.

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French Kiss starring Meg Ryan and Kevin Kline

Posted on August 17, 2010 Written by ripitup

French Kiss starring Meg Ryan, Kevin Kline, Timothy Hutton, Jean Reno and Susan Anbeh. Image:farm4.static.flickr.com

American Kate (Meg Ryan) is living in Canada with her fiancé Charlie (Timothy Hutton). And as far as she is concerned, life is bliss: she is closer to Charlie’s parents than Charlie is, is about to be a Canadian citizen and she is finally able to afford the house of their dreams. Even though Charlie is a bit freaked, he seems happy and content enough…until he goes to Paris for a work event. Kate needs to stay in the country because of the immigration process and she is afraid to death of flying anyway…

However, one day she gets a phone call from Charlie that changes her life forever. He tells her that he has fallen in love with a French woman and is not coming back. Kate gets on the next plane. She just has to go to France and take Charlie back. She ends up sitting next to a French guy named Luc (Kevin Kline), who just provides a distraction for her to survive the flight. However, Luc really needs to get an item through the customs and uses Kate for it, without her knowing of course.

But it is not long before Luc loses Kate, Kate’s bags are stolen, the French police are after Luc- who is after Kate who tries to survive in Paris until she can persuade Charlie to come back…Of course many funny scenes, confusion and romantic feelings follow. Can Kate take Charlie back with Luc’s help? Or will she even want Charlie after spending all that time with Luc?

French Kiss is a really entertaining, funny and romantic film, mostly set in France. It co-stars Jean Reno as the friendly cop who owes Luc a favor and Charlie’s French goddess Juliette is played by Suzan Anbeh, an actress half-French and half-Iranian.

Admittedly, I hadn’t loved this film so much when I saw it years ago. But back then, I hadn’t been to France, met French guys, listened to many French accents, wasn’t a fan of the cast except Meg Ryan. But years later, after having done all that, and having followed the work of Timothy Hutton, Kevin Kline and Jean Reno, and well, having experience the French culture many times, I just had a blast with. I believe French Kiss to be a guy-friendly romcom. Yeah sure, you can make all the usual complaints: “I knew the ending from the get-go” (yeah, so did everybody else),” it was predictable”,” would have been more original if Luc ended up with Juliette….” . So? This might be a typical romantic comedy with some fun criminal aspects involved, but it doesn’t change the fact that it is spot on with so many jokes and it is just an overall charming and entertaining movie. Oh yes, Kate is pretty much the same gal Meg Ryan always plays but some actors do have a trademark: Sylvester has been cashing on all these years: Meg Ryan is the romcom princess and he uses the muscles. They don’t really make movies to shatter the earth, they make money and entertain by using money-making clichés.

Now, it is also fun to note that this is not the only movie where Timothy Hutton’s character wants to leave Meg Ryan’s for another woman- in 2009’s Serious Moonlight, he wants to leave their long-term marriage but suffers a totally unexpected faith. This is also not the only romcom where Meg Ryan goes by the name of Kate. She played Kate in Kate and Leopold, opposite Hugh Jackman.

You have got the clichés and the stereotypes but you also have a hilarious performance from Kevin Kline, Timothy Hutton as your scumbag, Jean Reno for an inspector and a lovely, natural Meg Ryan. And this is pretty much all I wanted from this 1995 “chick flick”, which happens to be written by a guy (Adam Brooks) and directed by another guy (Lawrence Kasdan). Just enjoy yourself. 6.1 on IMDB, 7/10 from me.

Fun note: In 2007,Meg Ryan starred in In The Land of Women, a romantic drama written and directed by Jon Kasdan, son of director Lawrence Kasdan.

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Ordinary People starring Timothy Hutton, Donald Sutherland, Mary Tyler Moore and Judd Hirsch

Posted on August 14, 2010 Written by ripitup

Ordinary People starring Timothy Hutton, Donald Sutherland, Mary Tyler Moore and Judd Hirsch. Made in 1980, directed by Robert Redford. Image: cinemoviehistory.com

The life of an ordinary family has gotten turned upside down by 2 tragic and shocking events: First, the older son Bucky (Scott Doebler) died in a boating accident during a trip he went with his younger brother Conrad (Timothy Hutton). Then, some time after the accident Conrad attempted suicide by cutting his wrists and very nearly succeeded.

When C onrad comes home from a4-month stay at a psychiatric hospital, he tries to adjust his settings. While his father Calvin (Donald Sutherland) does his best to make him feel better, his mother Beth (Mary Tyler Moore) for some reason seems uncomfortable by his son’s presence.

Conrad goes back to his high school and the swim team but he can’t help but feel disconnected. He loved his brother a lot and his mother’s coldness isn’t helping matters. So he unwillingly starts seeing a psychiatrist named Berger (Judd Hirsch). Disconnected from his mother and friends, Conrad is missing the hospital.

Will Conrad eventually be able to let go of his anger, guilt and depression? Will Calvin manage to reconnect with his son and try to figure out his wife, who seems to be more interested in romantic getaways and social gatherings than her own son’s well-being?

***

Ordinary People, unlike its title, is an extraordinary movie. The plot summary might not have intrigued you all that much but trust me, this movie is an amazing emotional experience. The tagline “some films you watch…others you feel” couldn’t have been more appropriate. This very humane story is directed by Robert Redford. And even though a very young Timothy Hutton’s name is written 4th on the opening credits, the heavy-lifting is mostly on his shoulders as he brilliantly portrays Conrad, a character you like, understand and feel the pain of. And the academy agrees as Timothy won the Best Actor in a Supporting Role Oscar with this role. The movie has 3 more Oscars: Best Director, Best Picture and Best Screenplay. Judd Hirsch, Donald Sutherland and Mary Tyler Moore are expectedly good (note that Judd Hirsch was also nominated for Best Supporting Actor and Moore for Best Actress) but if you do cry, it is probably gonna be Hutton who makes you.

Based on the novel Judith Guest. Written by Alvin Sargent and Nancy Dowd. Directed by Robert Redford.

Rated 7.8 on IMDB and a solid 8 from me, Ordinary People is a must see. The coldness and the weird way Conrad’s mother’s mind works will give you the chills and you won’t be able to help but feel for the father who is trying his best to hold his family together despite what’s happened and what’s still happening.

Fun notes:

The first time we see Conrad’s friends is when they pick him up for school. The guy in the front seat is a very young Adam Baldwin, who you might remember from Chuck- he plays John Casey.
Do you remember the classic Tom Cruise comedy Risky Business? You may not remember the fil exactly but it is the film where his parents go away for a while and our high school kid ends up having a relationship with the prostitute. The classic scene is Tom Cruise wearing a white shirt over his underpants and white socks, wearing sunglasses and dancing in the house. Well, that role could have been Timothy Hutton’s. But after Ordinary People and Taps, Timothy wasn’t really impressed with the storyline so he turned it town. You might see it as a strategic mistake but I have to say, I can see how Timothy would haven’t seen it as a challenge after these two.

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Serious Moonlight starring Timothy Hutton and Meg Ryan

Posted on August 12, 2010 Written by ripitup

Serious Moonlight starring Timothy Hutton, Meg Ryan, Justin Long and Kristen Bell. Image via arti24.com

Ian (Timothy Hutton) is cheating on Louise (Meg Ryan) – his wife of 13 years with the younger Sara (Kristen Bell).He has planned to spend some romantic time at his and Louise’s summer house with Sara before they go to Paris together.

Louise is a busy and accomplished lawyer but unaware of Ian’s affair, she comes to the summer house early to surprise him. When he unwillingly confronts her, she gets upset and demands to talk things through. Ian, however, can’t wait to leave her for good. When he doesn’t want to talk it over, Louise gets mad and knocks him out. Ian wakes up, duct-taped to a chair. Louise wants Ian to think things over and she seems to think that this might actually help them save their marriage. This pisses Ian off and he tries anything to set free.

Louise does her best trying to remind him of the good times and how much they loved each other. She even manages to send Sarah away quickly after she arrives – telling her that Ian has agreed to spend one last night with her, going through the details of break-up.

Just when Ian thinks things couldn’t get any worse, he is proven wrong when Louise goes to town for shopping. The lawnmower guy (Justin Long) arrives and realizes that he has the perfect opportunity to rob the house. The only guy resident is duct-taped to a chair!

So of course by the time Louise arrives and shares the same faith with her husband, Ian has already realized that spending a couple more minutes with Louise may not be the worst thing that can happen to him. In fact, afraid for both their lives, it is beginning to seem like the only thing that matters. But will the guy let them go? Will he rape Louise? And he doesn’t seem to be in a rush to leave the house.. And what the hell will Sara do when Ian doesn’t meet her at the airport?

This is one crazy and sweet little romantic comedy, with the comedy and crazy parts being more dominant. The crime comedy parts with Justin Long are also fun. It is not exactly hilarious but it is really entertaining. I can say that guys can enjoy this one too, although I suspect women will have a little more fun with what Louise does to her cheating husband. Maybe it is not the most likely of scenarios but there is no reason it couldn’t happen either.

I read one user review that said the characters aren’t likable. I beg to differ. While Ian doesn’t exactly come off as a sweetheart, he is representing a big group of men who feel stuck in their marriages and decide they can be happier with a much younger girlfriend. And while what Louise does is a little wacky, I can’t promise I would be nice to my cheating husband either. While I may not go overboard with duct tapes and everything, I am likely to punch him in the face and kick him in the groins as hard as I can. So it is not that hard to like or at least feel a little sympathy for Louise- Ian has been her best friend and husband for 13 years, and there is a history behind it.

But boys and romcom haters, worry not! This is not typical. It has pretty funny situations and the story is more concerned about entertaining you than focusing on who Ian will end up with.

Funnily enough, this is the second time Kristen Bell plays a bitchy character with a name that sounds like Sara. Remember Forgetting Sarah Marshall?

It is fun. And it is a must see for any Timothy Hutton fan as you get to see a lot of him. As always, his performance is good and he sis at his best when his character gets emotional. And it is always fun watching Meg Ryan, Kristen Bell and Justin Long in comedies.

Warning: Cheating husbands may not enjoy this film.

Unfortunate trivia: Writer Adrienne Shelly was murdered in 2006. Directed by Cheryl Hines.

5.4/10 on IMDB

7/10 from me. They would have been better of, had they not given too many clues about the ending. Still, it is so much fun.

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