Movie Reviews
Sunday, March 16th, 2008La Femme Nikita (7 out of 10 assassins)
Originally titled Nikita, this Luc Besson movie is really cool. It is the story of a girl who is sentenced to life in prison for killing three police officers. She is given the opportunity to become a trained assassin for the government. After years of training she is let free into the world. She receives various assignments and missions. The only caveat I have about the film is the English dub. It’s absolutely abysmal. The subtitles don’t come close to matching up so I’d probably recommend watching it in the original French.
Leon: The Professional (8 out of 9 cleaners)
Originally titled Leon, this Luc Besson movie is even better. The story revolves around a young girl named Mathilda and Leon, a professional hitman. Mathilda, Natalie Portman age 12, is taken in by Leon, Jean Reno, after her family is killed by a corrupt DEA agent played by Gary Oldman. Mathilda, upon learning of Leon’s occupation, decides she also wants to become a “cleaner” and even falls in love with Leon. The amazing performances by all three actors and a beautiful score by Eric Serra, Goldeneye’s music composer, make the movie really stand out in my collection.
The Jacket (3 out of 4 straightjackets)
Great actors fill this film, Adrien Brody, Keira Knightly, Kris Kristofferson, Jennifer Jason Leigh, and Daniel Craig. The story involves a Desert Storm vet (Brody) that is placed in an insane asylum after being convicted of murder. At the asylum he is submitted to a strange form of treatment from his doctor (Kristofferson). While undergoing these treatments he is transported to the future where he learns of his own death. He is aided by a girl (Knightly) and another doctor at the asylum (Leigh) to understand how he died and why. Craig brings an amazing performance as one of Brody’s fellow inmates. Worth a watch if you like any of the actors in it or if you are into the craziness that is the premise of the film.
The Quiet (5 out of 7 deaf/mutes)
This thriller features Elisha Cuthbert, Camilla Belle, Martin Donovan, and Shawn Ashmore. A deaf/mute (Belle) comes to live with her godparents after her father passes away. The family is the definition of a dysfunctional suburban trio of mother/father (Donovan)/daughter (Cuthbert). The daughter is far from pleased with the situation. She also is struggling with her mother, who pops more pills than Judy Garland and Marilyn Monroe did combined, and her father with whom she shares an incestuous relationship. The story gets pretty crazy but it was a really fun watch.
American Psycho (7 out of 8 serial killers)
Two words: Christian Bale. What a fine performance from this actor who is quickly becoming one of my all time favorites. American Psycho is the story of Patrick Bateman, a big wig on Wall Street who has an insatiable bloodlust. He slowly becomes more and more uncontrollable. Great renditions from Reese Witherspoon, Josh Lucas, Bill Sage, Jared Leto, Justin Theroux, Chloe Sevigny, Samantha Mathis, Matt Ross, and Willem Dafoe accompany Bale in my new favorite horror film.
