The Taking of Pelham 123 (2009) Review
Click here to read my original The Taking of Pelham 123 review from 2009. RATING: (2 STARS) Three years went by between Tony Scott’s previous film, Deja Vu, and this. Before that and culminating with Deja Vu, he directed films in three consecutive years. Was he burnt out? Or creatively stuck? I’m merely speculating, but […]
Savages Review
RATING: (2.5 STARS) With Savages, Oliver Stone has veered off the path of politically-motivated dramas and moved in the direction of a simpler, and sexier, crime thriller. This adaptation of Don Winslow’s novel isn’t as narratively dense as something like JFK, but it ends up getting bogged down in unnecessary exposition, which ultimately takes away […]
Blow Out Review
RATING: (3.5 STARS) While Blow Out feels like a typical thriller, it earns big points for doing some truly unexpected things. I’m not talking about reinventing a genre or anything, but compared to most paranoia, “me-against-the-world” thrillers, this one is full of genuine suspense, right down to its darkly ironic final moments. It’s easy enough […]
From Paris with Love Review
RATING: (2.5 STARS) Pierre Morel’s “From Paris with Love†is the kind of generic action film that would’ve been right at home in the summer of 2010. It tried to capitalize on the early-year success of last year’s “Taken,†which is also directed by Morel, but it flamed out. It’s not as bad as its […]
The Taking of Pelham 123 (2009) Review
RATING: (2 STARS) Tony Scott is no Scorsese. It’s not like I expected “The Taking of Pelham 123†to be a masterpiece. However, I don’t think it was unreasonable to expect this film to be an entertaining and somewhat thrilling diversion. Scott’s “Déjà Vu,†which also starred Denzel Washington, was just that. But “Pelham†isn’t […]
