I expected this film to feel a little hackneyed. After reading about the story, I thought "just a remake of D.O.A. with a few twists." Well it is, and then it isn't. The pacing is fast and tight, and the plot will surprise you. No surprise in that Tim Roth and Gabriel Byrne deliver superbly, but who knew that Khandi Alexander (from TV's News Radio) and Scott Wolf (Bailey from Party of Five) could more than hold their own in such expert company. Scott Wolf is clearly the lynch pin in this production, and his understated performance never rings false. I've seen him on stage and knew him to be a very talented actor, but I don't think anything else he's done on TV or screen prepares you for the sure-handedness of this performance. In the end, some aspects of the story just don't add up, but four stars for great suspense, a stylish look, more than a few surprises, above average visuals, and some wonderful acting from a great ensemble.
Worth watching for strong acting
Emmett Young (Scott Wolf), a homicide detective, has only a short time left to live. He meets a government agent (Gabriel Bryne) who convinces him that the best way to die is to put out a hit on himself. Emmett agrees and hires a hit man (Tim Roth) to kill him sometime in the near future, but he's determined to solve his case before his time is up. This movie is worth watching for Scott Wolf, Gabriel Bryne, and Tim Roth. Wolf is charming and believable (watch how much of his acting is what's behind his eyes) He's instantly sympathetic and likeable. Tim Roth always has a restrained intensity ... even when he does little I believe his character is capable of anything. The payoff is always the twist, many times, and in this case, its in his unexpected and shocking vulnerability. I wish the movie would have given more to the abilities of the actors. The plot is predictable, ends abruptly, and although adequate, not intriguing in itself. The acting is what makes this film worth watching. If you are a fan of any of the leads it is worth seeing what they do with their characters.
A little seen gritty gem set in Philadelphia
This was originally called "Emmett's Mark" and I saw it at the world premiere at the Philadelphia World Film Festival where it played to sell out crowds. It's a gritty cop drama about a police officer who belives he is dying (a mature and interesting Scott Wolf) and hires someone to kill him before his painful disease takes over his life. Twists abound at every corner and this film, shot in Philadelphia, makes excellent use of the city and has a gritty, realistic feel. The ending is a bit abrupt but the film is well acted (especially by Scott Wolf and by Tim Roth in a tricky role) and well made. Kudos to director Keith Snyder, he should be proud of his debut film. I only wish it got the theatrical release that it deserved. Highly recommended !!!!! 4.5 stars
Bathed in self-conscious cool, Confidence is a heist caper in which the heist is unimportant. As you might expect from Glengarry Glen Ross director James Foley, this pulpy concoction is more interested in giving good actors a lot of hip, salty dialogue as they scheme their way to the royal scam. It's a poor man's Ocean's Eleven, just as enjoyable in its own way, beginning when con artist Jake (Edward Burns) discovers he's accidentally stolen from an eccentric crime boss (Dustin Hoffman, oozing threat in a fine character turn). Promising to make amends by pulling the biggest con of his career, Jake adds a feisty pickpocket (Rachel Weisz) to his crew, which includes scene-stealer Paul Giammatti and Andy Garcia as a disheveled FBI agent (or is he?). With a cast like this... More Info about this DVD Actor(s): Edward Burns - Rachel Weisz - Dustin Hoffman Director(s): James Foley DVD Release Date: Released the 16 September 2003 Usually ships in 24 hours
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Based on the bestseller by John Grisham, Runaway Jury is a slick thriller that's exciting enough to overcome the gaps in its plot. The ultimate target has been changed: Grisham's legal assault on the tobacco industry was switched to the hot-button issue of gun control (no doubt to avoid comparison to The Insider) in a riveting exposé of jury-tampering. Gene Hackman plays the ultra-cynical, utterly unscrupulous pawn of the gun-makers, using an expert staff and advanced electronics to hand-pick a New Orleans jury that will return a favorable verdict; Dustin Hoffman (making his first screen appearance with real-life former roommate Hackman) defends the grieving widow of a gun-shooting victim with idealistic zeal, while maverick juror John Cusack and accomplice Rachel Weisz... More Info about this DVD Actor(s): John Cusack - Gene Hackman - Rachel Weisz Director(s): Gary Fleder DVD Release Date: Released the 17 February 2004 Usually ships in 24 hours
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Cate Blanchett blazes through The Missing, a new Western directed by Ron Howard (A Beautiful Mind, Apollo 13). The camera truly loves the planes of her face; even dusty and bedraggled, she radiates star power--which is good, because The Missing needs it. When her daughter is kidnapped by renegade Indians, Maggie Gilkeson (Blanchett) is forced to turn to her estranged father (Tommy Lee Jones, Men in Black, The Fugitive), a man who abandoned her as a child to join an Indian tribe. Together, they pursue a malignant brujo (or witch), who sells young girls in Mexico. The Missing features solid supporting performances from Evan Rachel Wood, Eric Schweig, Aaron Eckhart, Val Kilmer, and feisty young Jenna Boyd as Maggie's youngest daughter... More Info about this DVD Actor(s): Tommy Lee Jones - Cate Blanchett - Evan Rachel Wood Director(s): Ron Howard DVD Release Date: Released the 24 February 2004 Usually ships in 24 hours
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Blade meets The Crow and The Matrix in Underworld, a hybrid thriller that rewrites the rulebook on werewolves and vampires. It's a "cuisinart" movie (blend a lot of familiar ideas and hope something interesting happens) in which immortal vampire "death dealers" wage an ancient war against "Lycans" (werewolves), who've got centuries of revenge--and some rather ambitious genetic experiments--on their lycanthropic agenda. Given his preoccupation with gloomy architecture (mostly filmed in Budapest, Hungary), frenetic mayhem and gothic costuming, it's no surprise that first-time director Len Wiseman gained experience in TV commercials and the art departments of Godzilla, Men in Black, and Independence Day. His work is all surface, no substance,... More Info about this DVD Director(s): Len Wiseman DVD Release Date: Released the 06 January 2004 Usually ships in 24 hours
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Jennifer Connelly followed up her Academy Award for A Beautiful Mind with this dark but moving story of small mistakes that escalate, with tragic necessity, to disaster. In House of Sand and Fog, Kathy (Connelly) gets evicted from her house for failing to pay a tax she never should have been charged in the first place. The house is swiftly put up for auction and bought by a former military officer from Iran named Behrani (Ben Kingsley, Sexy Beast). When legal efforts fail her, Kathy turns to a sympathetic cop (Ron Eldard, Bastard Out of Carolina), who wants out of a loveless marriage and who's willing to step over legal boundaries if it might give him a fresh start. Topnotch performances by the entire cast make House of Sand and Fog a compelling... More Info about this DVD Actor(s): Jennifer Connelly - Ben Kingsley - Ron Eldard Director(s): Vadim Perelman DVD Release Date: Released the 30 March 2004 Usually ships in 24 hours
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