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First time I see this in a couple of years. A film that really stunned me the first time I saw it. Gorgeous cinematography, a killer soundtrack, great special effects and some thrilling action scenes. Tom Cruise delivers a highly charismatic performance, he is almost in every shot for 2 hours. Very good supporting cast - Andrea Riseborough, Morgan Freeman and Olga Kurylenko. I really enjoy these Tom Cruise-led sci fi films, like 'Edge of Tomorrow' and 'Minority Report'. I can't wait to see what he does in next year's 'The Mummy'. In my Cruise ranking, 'Oblivion' would be right outside my top 5.
Hadn't seen this in a couple of years, so it's the first time I see it since 'Train to Busan'. As I remembered, this film kicks some major ass. Brad Pitt is fantastic as the world-weary UN investigator sent on a world wide mission to figure out the cause of the zombie outbreak. Along the way we get to see hugely charismatic and intense performances from Peter Capaldi, James Badger Dale and David Morse. The action scenes are absolutely thrilling, and you recognize the 'bullet pace style' that Marc Forster had showcased in QOS. The escape of the apartment in Newark, the escape of Jerusalem are nail-bitting sequences. But the cherry on the cake is the sudden zombie outbreak on the Brad Pitt's plane. As much as I found 'Train to Busan' superior to this film, the plane outbreak sequence simply beats everything I've seen in the horror genre. 5 minutes of pure adrenaline rush.
This is the 3rd biopic I've seen in the last few weeks (the others being Snowden & Sully). This one tells the story of the fateful night in 2010 when an explosion occured on the rig Deepwater Horizon, resulting in an estimated 206m gallons of oil being spewed into the Gulf of Mexico. It is the worst environmental disaster in US history.
The film lived up to my high expectations, with especially good performances from the entire cast, including 'Marky' Mark Wahlberg, Kate Hudson, & John Malkovich. Kurt Russell is a standout as 'Mr.' Jimmy Harrell, the offshore installation manager and top ranking official on board. The film is directed by Peter Berg, who is more well known for his tv work, but who does a fine job here. It gives the viewer a good idea of the pace and energy aboard these large rigs.
The film reminds me of The Towering Inferno (one of my favourite disaster pics) in many ways. It has a similar structure, and also suggests greed was at fault. While nowhere near as good as that John Guillermin helmed 70's classic, it shares excellent special effects and individual acts of heroism with the earlier film, most notably by Wahlberg's Mike Williams, the Chief Electronics Technician on board.
Recommended
One of John Huston's many collaborations with Bogart, Across The Pacific provides a simple yet charming boat ride adventure that neatly balances between romantic comedy and spy thriller. The former requires some assistance from Mary Astor, who is feisty and overall full of vigour; the latter is carried by the charismatic Sidney Greenstreet, a talented actor who entered film business rather late in life but left quite an impression nevertheless. Both Bogart, Astor and Greenstreet were previously seen in Huston's directorial debut The Maltese Falcon. Much like that classic 'film noir', Across The Pacific has its tense moments but allows a subtle dose of comedy to seep in too, thus rendering the entire experience pleasant and cosy without damaging the thriller aspects of the story too much.
Bogart is still full of youthful spunk and energy in this one. The fact that his character is called Rick, while another albeit minor character is called Sam, can be a little off putting at times, as one tends to immediately transfer the mind to the great Casablanca. And while references to masterpieces are always welcome, Across The Pacific is sadly no Casablanca. Though not a bad film in any way, I consider this one of the less interesting Bogart / Huston productions. There's good material in here for sure but parts of the film tend to drag as well. The point of Bogart's character being in a nasty position as a dishonourably discharged army captain feels belaboured; and while taste cannot be debated, I find myself heavily disagreeing with Mary Astor being singled out as a drop-dead gorgeous. I'll choose Lauren Bacall over Astor any day.
The thing about Bogart movies is that nostalgia catches up with possible weaknesses; overtime, one tends to pay a lot more attention to the irresistible charms of an "old movie" than to its flaws. Wearing 21st Century glasses, I must concede that despite some latent dullness I have a good time with Across The Pacific.
Oh I did like the soundtrack though.
GONE WITH THE WIND (1939)
How can anyone not love Gone With The Wind? Despite its four hour playing time, this epic remains a delight, even in this day and age of fast cuts and CGI everything. In a way, its age allows modern viewers to experience the story of Gone With The Wind in a time capsule. From the first moments on, we are transported to the eighteen sixties thanks to Max Steiner's brilliant score and the title that says "Margaret Mitchell's Story Of The Old South". Subsequently announcing the impressive list of key players - Clark Gable, Vivien Leigh, Leslie Howard, Olivia de Havilland -, Gone With The Wind squanders no time but instead catches our attention right from the start. This film doesn't need a big explosion or fight scene in its prologue to get us going; it proves captivating early on.
When I was a young boy, not even in my teens, I was coerced by my father into watching Gone With The Wind as "the greatest spectacle ever". The irony is that my father is absolutely no film person - I got that from my mother's side - yet to him of all people I owe my love for this movie. For even at the age I was when I first saw the film, I found the romance, the drama and the historically relevant background story fascinating and addictive. Gone With The Wind furthermore surprised me in the sense that its sets, some of its more spectacular and tense moments, and its photography felt grandiose and not at all "old". It proved an important lessen for the film fan I was about to become: no point in judging a film by its age.
Sadly many others refuse to give this film an honest chance, conceding that they can't stand the prospect of watching "one of those old, boring, slow, ... films". Too bad for them. I have watched Gone With The Wind a good two dozen times already, and plan to watch it even more. And if anyone considers my taste poor because I can truly appreciate a monumental but "old" film like this, well, frankly I don't give a damn.
My students in school for example, @Birdleson. :) But I forgive them. My colleagues, however, is a whole other story. Educated people, yet one after the other they prefer 50 Shades Of Grey or Ice Age 5 to a truly remarkable and significant film like this one. I don't mind that people "enjoy" those films more but I they really think they shouldn't call them BETTER.
I too haven't seen it.... :-S
I should watch GWTW again sometime. It's been ages since I've seen it.
Should have come around to the exit door- I could have sneaked you in.
The film that turned Liam Neeson into an unlikely action hero. It's lost a little of the wow factor now, but there is still plenty of entertainment value in seeing Neeson cut down any unfortunate s.o.b in his path.
John Wick
I had seen this film mentioned here a few times. When I saw that the poor dog had dragged itself across the floor just to be near John when it died, I could not wait for John to serve up a 3 course meal of revenge, revenge and revenge. While it didn't happen immediately, when it did, the body count (and the stone cold badassery) did not disappoint. If the same doesn't happen with John Wick 2, consider me interested.
For the first time in many years - since the 90s one might say - Luc Besson made a film that I can completely enjoy again. Yes, yes, I know that many people dislike Lucy tremendously. But I like it. And I like Scarjo in it. The visuals are fascinating, as is the film's concept. For a science fiction fan like myself who's always in for a little Scarlett, this is a simply but highly enjoyable film.
Lord Edgeways Dies decent TV movie enjoyed the Poirot double bill Suchet is always excellent. My Christie revisit continues later with Campbell Playhouse Orson Welles The Murder of Roger Ackroyd from 1939, looking forward to that.
Have you watched the original 1954 version of Sabrina?
How does the Ford / Ormond version compare to that?