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Having watched 'Octopussy' this afternoon, here's another movie featuring trains and train stunts! I haven't seen this since it's release in the cinema! Director Peter Hyams ( 'Capricorn One', 'Outland') is always an interesting film maker to me! Here he's doing a remake of a 1952 Richard Fleischer thriller! The legend that is Gene Hackman plays a Deputy District Attorney trying to get Anne Archers witness back to testify before the bad guys kill her, as they travel on board a train! Hyams regular James B Sikking plays one of the hit men aboard the train playing cat and mouse with Hackmans wily good guy. Hyams keeps the tension up, and the train stunt finale is nicely staged! Enjoyable thriller, mainly for Hackman, who makes it all look so effortless!
Best dialogue from the original:
What kind of a dish? (referring to the Hood's wife)
Sixty-cent special. Cheap, flashy. Strictly poison under the gravy. :))
Hard to beat Charles McGraw and Marie ("Queen of the B's") Windsor, but I should try to see the remake.
I didn't realize an actor had played the Gran Torino, I thought they'd bought an actual car.
But yeah, terrific film. Looking forward to Juror #2.
The film's opening scene was incredibly effective-it gave me all the information I needed without explicitly saying much. It begins with a shot of the Hollywood Walk of Fame, zoomed in on the protagonist's star. We see the star when it's freshly placed, with crowds flocking around, taking pictures, and celebrating the protagonist's success. As the years pass, the star begins to crack, and people walk over it, dropping trash without noticing whose name it bears. This simple, visual storytelling brilliantly set up the backstory of Elisabeth, the protagonist.
Visually, this is easily the most striking film I've seen this year. Each shot feels meticulously crafted to serve the narrative, and honestly, it's so beautiful that every frame could stand on its own as a painting. The frequent close-ups were especially effective, adding a layer of intensity and creepiness to certain scenes. The color grading was perfect, enhancing the film's atmosphere. It's truly a visual masterpiece.
The story and writing are incredibly clever. I don't think I've ever seen a film with such a creative narrative. In an age where original ideas feel scarce, this movie felt like a breath of fresh air-gripping from start to finish. The way it tackles ageism in Hollywood, particularly how it affects women, through a blend of camp, horror, and dark comedy, was both smart and unique. Even though many of the characters didn't have much dialogue, they were all memorable and stuck with me long after the film ended.
The cast is fantastic, starting with Demi Moore, who likely drew on her own experiences with Hollywood's obsession with looks and aging. This is one of her best performances, and she deserves all the praise for it. There's a particular moment-without giving too much away-where her character ages further, and it was mesmerizing to watch. Margaret Qualley also shines in her role as Sue, a fame-hungry, egotistical character willing to do anything to get ahead. The contrast between the two characters, who are ultimately reflections of the same person, highlights how we can be our own harshest critics and how societal views on aging and appearance can deeply affect us. The rest of the cast delivers solid performances as well.
Overall, this is my favorite film of the year so far!
1. There Will Be Blood (2007)
2. The Master (2012)
3. Punch-Drunk Love (2002)
4. Boogie Nights (1997)
5. Phantom Thread (2017)
6. Hard Eight (1996)
7. Magnolia (1999)
8. Licorice Pizza (2021)
9. Inherent Vice (2014)
Great ranking. Similar to mine. I personally think my favorite of his is Punch-Drunk Love. It feels so different, in many ways. A lot of top names in the cinematic world call it one of their favorites. Namely, Pixar people.
Thank you! It’s super entertaining and unique indeed. I love all the unconventional love stories in his movies, including the one in PDL. The scene when Barry handles the guys after hitting his car and hurting Lena is one of my favorite scenes ever.
FAF$M.......5/6