Category Archives: Mystery

SHERLOCK HOLMES: A GAME OF SHADOWS – The Review

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Mystery fans rejoice, the world’s greatest detective returns in SHERLOCK HOLMES: A GAME OF SHADOWS, to be referred to as AGOS from here out. Guy Ritchie returns to direct the sequel to his 2009 reimagining of the eccentric, yet brilliant master sleuth. Robert Downey, Jr. (RDJ) returns as Holmes, along with Jude Law as Doctor James Watson. This film also offers the arrival of Swedish actress Noomi Rapace (from the original THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO) in a major Hollywood film, as the gypsy Madame Simza Heron.

Holmes is up to his normal shenanigans, but this time he’s obsessed with what he calls the greatest case of his career, or even of all time, in his words. The problem, however, is that Holmes is working alone. Watson is about to get married, but Holmes isn’t about to let that stand in his way, managing to unintentionally involve Doc Watson in his deadly pursuit of a genius evil mastermind by way of biting off more than he may be able to chew. Also assisting Holmes this time around, but in a smaller role and with comedic flair, is Stephen Fry (V FOR VENDETTA) as Holmes’ brother Mycroft.

AGOS sees the emergence of Professor Moriarty, played rivetingly by Jared Harris, an incredibly smart and dangerous foe to rival the wits of Holmes himself. The two engage in a battle of the minds, a sort of game to determine who is superior, but a game that has the lives of many, even world peace at stake. Moriarty’s plans are merely a business venture to him, but to Holmes this is a test of his own ability, proving to be his most challenging and deadly investigation.

For fans of the first SHERLOCK HOLMES (2009), expect more of the same from RDJ, cunning and clever, witty and ill-mannered, obnoxious and reckless. With Ritchie once again behind the helm, AGOS also maintains the use of the slow-motion, or “bullet time” effects photography that allows incredible detail during epic action sequences. As before, this technique works wonderfully for the hand to hand fights, illustrating how Holmes preconceives his every move before the fight even begins. However, as spectacular as one massive scene involving Holmes, Watson and Heron fleeing an arsenal of massive guns may be, the technique is used to a point of being stretched too thin. The result is a dampening of the initially induced awe.

Aside from the slight overuse of the slow-motion tactics, AGOS involves some truly exhilarating action sequences. Hans Zimmer’s score is nothing short of a damn good time, energetic and highly appropriate, but the pacing of the film as a whole is not quite as finely tuned as in Ritchie’s 2009 film. There’s plenty of fun to be had with this second adventure, but the 129-minute sequel feels significantly longer than the 128-minute SHERLOCK HOLMES that rebooted the franchise.

Guy Ritchie continues to prove his knack from combining comedy and action, a talent Brett Ratner could only dream to accomplish on this level. Holmes and Moriarty are something like a superhero and his arch-nemesis super villain, whose quarrel with determine the fate of the world. AGOS is as much a battle of intellects as it is a physical battle, as the two characters try and gain the tactical edge throughout the film, much like the symbolic chess match they undertake in the final act of the film.

I found myself thoroughly entertained by SHERLOCK HOLMES: A GAME OF SHADOWS, despite the slower pacing. Unfortunately, the only real complaint I have about the film is the ending, which feels a bit too much like a Hail Mary, last resort effort to wrap up the final battle while setting up a twist to follow. The ending is absurd as it plays out, requiring more than it’s fair share of demand on the viewer’s suspension of disbelief, even for a popcorn movie such as this. Regardless of the faltering finale, SHERLOCK HOLMES: A GAME OF SHADOWS is well worth seeing for the fun factor on a Friday night.

Overall Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

THE RESIDENT – The Review

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In the thriller genre one subset popular with film makers ( and often audiences ) has been the psychological thriller. A theme seen in these films has been an infatuation that turns to  ( usually deadly ) obsession. It’s been explored in older films like Hitchcock’s REBECCA and VERTIGO through the sixties with THE COLLECTOR and had a big resurgence with FATAL ATTRACTION and SINGLE WHITE FEMALE. Many times the plot will involve a young woman striking out on her own in a new city. This is at the heart of the new film THE RESIDENT which bypassed American theatres and is premiering on home video.

Juliet ( Hilary Swank ) is an emergency room surgeon living at a hotel after a nasty break up with her boyfriend Jack ( Lee Pace ). She finally decides to get a place of her own. After several dissapointing  tours with real estate agents, she posts an apartment wanted notice on the bulletin board at the hospital. She responds to a call and arrives at the building managed by Max ( Jeffrey Dean Morgan ). He’s in the middle of rehabbing the place and informs her that cell phone reception is lousy and the subway trains rattle the foundation. But Juliet is smitten with the view ( you can see the bridge right outside the window ), the opulent space, and the very affordable price. Max rents her the place without a reference check and soon she’s hauling her stuff up the elevator. Max introduces her to his ailing eccentric grandfather August ( Christopher Lee ) who lives down the hall from her. It takes a bit for Juliet to grow accustomed to the creaks and groans of the building, but soon she’s settled in. Later Juliet is invited to a local gallery party by a hospital co-worker and there runs into Max. As they walk and talk she wonders if Max will help her get over Jack. At her door she leans in to kiss Max who backs away. Perhaps she’s crossed a line. The next day she finally takes a call from Jack after he’s left countless messages and texts. She also gets a call from Max. He wishes to make up for the awkward previous evening with dinner. At the end of the meal she invites him into her bedroom. Just as things are heating up, Juliet rebuffs Max by stating that her feelings for Jack are still too strong. He understands and then reluctantly leaves. A few days later Juliet re-connects with Jack. It looks as if they will repair their relationship. All seems to be going well except that she’s constantly sleeping through her alarm and is always exhausted. And it seems that Max is not so sweet and understanding  anymore. Is there something sinister going on here?

Well, of course there is. Director Antii Jokinen telegraphs the creeps during her first night alone at the new place. He also lingers on a very graphic emergency room heart repair, perhaps to show us Juliet’s proficiency with tools. The gore there seems more than a bit gratuitous. Swank doesn’t have much to do here besides looking tired, worried, and confused. Morgan has the more complex role. He shows some of what charmed the many fans of his work on the TV show ” Grey’s Anatomy “. He also goes to a much darker place like his role in WATCHMEN. Pace, also from TV ( “Pushing Daisies” ) has little to do as Swanks’s rekindled romance. The real wasted opportunity here is the small , inconsequential role given to the great Christopher Lee. He’s there as a plot red herring who leers at Juliet through his front door. I was intrigued when I’d heard of his casting in this film. THE RESIDENT is a co-production with th newly re-formed Hammer studios. From the late 50’s through the early 70’s  they were famous for there Gothic horror films especially the Frankenstein film series with Peter Cushing and the Dracula  film series starring Mr. Lee. This film was to be their first big new theatrical release along with the English language remake of LET THE RIGHT ONE IN, LET ME IN. That film was critically lauded,but sank like a stone at the box office. Perhaps that had a factor in THE RESIDENT going right to video. More likely that despite the presence of the two time Oscar winning Swank ( who executive produced this along with Renny Harlin ) the film plays like a slightly sexed-up, gored-up, version of a story you’d see as a Lifetime-type TV movie. Certain character behaviors seem very implausible, and the cat and mouse chase through the building’s walls and crawlspaces at the film’s finale  ends flatly. I’m rooting for Hammer’s comeback. I hope they’ll bring us something more exciting and original next time. THE RESIDENT ( with only a trailer as an extra ) is available on DVD and Blu-ray from Image Entertainment.

Overall Rating: Two and a Half Out of Five Stars

UNKNOWN – The Review

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A popular theme of the mystery thriller film genre is the big conspiracy against one man. Sometimes the protagonist has amnesia and battles shadowy forces to find out his identity. Many times those forces are out to convince the authorities that the hero has lost his sanity. The makers of UNKNOWN twist those themes in order to add some variety to this type of action film. What if you woke up and all your loved ones did not recognize you?

As UNKNOWN begins Dr. Martin Harris ( Liam Neeson ) and his wife Elizabeth ( January Jones ) are flying into the Berlin airport. Martin is a prominent American botanist and is scheduled to present an address at an international agricultural summit. After landing, they load their bags into a taxi and head to the hotel. As Elizabeth checks in, Martin realizes that his briefcase was not in the cab. Without telling her, he hops in another taxi driven by Gina ( Diane Kruger ) and races back to the airport. Along the way they are involved in a horrific traffic accident and the taxi plunges off a bridge into an icy river. After pulling Martin out of the sinking car, Gina leaves him to the paramedics. A few days later, Martin wakes up in a hospital. He’s told that Elizabeth has not been in to see him. Against his doctor’s wishes, Martin races back to the hotel and spots her at a reception. With hotel security surrounding him, Martin confronts her. But she does not know him and is joined by her husband Dr. Martin Harris ( Aidan Quinn ) ! Martin #1 has no ID on him ( it was in that darn briefcase ) and is escorted out by security. Has he lost his mind? Maybe if he can find the cab driver and retrieve that case he’ll be able to prove his identity and get his life back. But those shadowy forces are not going to make it that easy for him.

UNKNOWN has a lot of things going for it that elevates it from the usual man on the run thriller. First off is the cast headed by the always interesting Liam Neeson. Here he’s somewhere in-between the tough guy from TAKEN and the cerebral scholar from KINSEY. He really has to use his brain and brawn fending off those conspirators all the while frustrated and sorrowful at the turn his life has taken. He’s got to return things back to normal. January Jones plays another variation of the icy blond that was a staple of Hitchcock film and injects a bit of her Betty Draper Mad Men TV persona. Aidan Quinn plays the second Martin with equal parts bewilderment and cold-bloodiness. Frank Langella sweeps in during the last act as a colleague that may be the real Martin’s salvation. Or is he? Diane Kruger brings great energy to her role as the somewhat, shady, feisty fraulein Gina, who wants nothing to do with Martin at first. The best support is given by veteran German film star Bruno Ganz as private detective Ernst Jurgen who’s an ex-officer of an elite East German secret police force. You might recognize Ganz from his performance as Hitler in DOWNFALL-footage of him ranting has been re-subtitled and purloined by many You Tube posters. He gives the world-weary old detective a quiet dignity and commands the screen in every scene he appears. Another thing going for this film is the Berlin locations. This is a locale we don’t get to see much in current films unlike LA or Toronto. Director Jaume Collet-Serra keeps things movingly along. There’s a couple of well executed car chases through crowded Berlin streets and some brutal hand-to-hand combat sequences. He wrings a lot of suspense from a drugged-up Martin trying to reach for a pair of scissors in one sequence. I wish the script would’ve offered up a few more surprises. I was able to figure out the big plan about a third of the way through. However the film’s strong cast, locations, and pacing set it above the typical crash-crash-explosion actioners that fill up the multiplex. Not anything groundbreaking , but a diverting couple of hours at the movies.

Overall Rating : Three and a Half Out of Five Stars

ALL GOOD THINGS Trailer

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From Magnolia Pictures comes the trailer for ALL GOOD THINGS starring Ryan Gosling, Kirsten Dunst and Frank Langella.

Synopsis:

Inspired by the most notorious missing person’s case in New York history, ALL GOOD THINGS is a love story and murder mystery set against the backdrop of a New York real estate dynasty in the 1980s. Produced and directed by Andrew Jarecki (director of the Academy Award-nominated doc Capturing the Friedmans and producer of Catfish), the film was inspired by the story of Robert Durst, scion of the wealthy Durst family. Mr. Durst was suspected but never tried for killing his wife Kathie who disappeared in 1982 and was never found. The film stars Ryan Gosling, Kirsten Dunst and Frank Langella as the powerful patriarch, and captures the emotion and complexion of this real-life unsolved mystery.

ALL GOOD THINGS will be in theatres Friday, December 3, 2010. The film is rated ‘R’ for drug use, violence, language and some sexuality.

Visit the film’s official site here, like it on Facebook here, and on Twitter here.

Trailer Is Here For THE ROOMMATE

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aka SINGLE WHITE FEMALE (1992), Screen Gems has released a trailer for THE ROOMMATE.  

Sheeze, is this the best they could do? Is there nothing original left in La-la land anymore? Meh.

Synopsis:

College student Sara finds her safety jeopardized after she’s assigned to a dorm room with a new roommate, Rebecca.

THE ROOMMATE opens on February 4, 2011. Visit the film’s official site here and on Facebook here.

Warner Bros. Fall/Holiday Preview Includes A First Look At Clint Eastwood’s HEREAFTER

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Warner Bros Pictures has released their film schedule for the upcoming fall/holiday season. The one that I found the most curious was this first photo of Matt Damon and Bryce-Dallas Howard in Clint Eastwood’s HEREAFTER. Variety’s article from 2008 said, “it is described as in the vein of THE SIXTH SENSE.” I’m very interested to see what Eastwood does with this genre.

The other films in the WB press kit are THE TOWN, LEGEND OF THE GUARDIANS: THE OWLS OF GAHOOLE, LIFE AS WE KNOW IT, HEREAFTER, DUE DATE, HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS – PART 1, and YOGI BEAR.

THE TOWN (Crime Drama) September 17:

There are over 300 bank robberies in Boston every year. And most of the professionals live in a one-square-mile neighborhood called Charlestown. One of them is Doug MacRay, but he is not cut from the same cloth as his fellow thieves. Unlike them, Doug had a chance at success, a chance to escape following in his father’s criminal footsteps. Instead, he became the leader of a crew of ruthless bank robbers, who pride themselves on taking what they want and getting out clean. The only family Doug has are his partners in crime, especially Jem, who, despite his dangerous, hair-trigger temper, is the closest thing Doug ever had to a brother. However, everything changed on the gang’s last job when Jem briefly took a hostage: bank manager Claire Keesey. When they discover Claire lives in Charlestown, Jem gets nervous and wants to check out what she might have seen. Knowing what Jem is capable of, Doug takes charge. He seeks out Claire, who has no idea that their encounter is not by chance or that this charming stranger is one of the men who terrorized her only days before. As his relationship with Claire deepens into a passionate romance, Doug wants out of this life and the town. But with the Feds closing in and Jem questioning his loyalty, Doug realizes that getting out will not be easy and, worse, may put Claire in the line of fire. Any choices he once had have boiled down to one: betray his friends or lose the woman he loves. “The Town” is a dramatic thriller about robbers and cops, friendship and betrayal, love and hope, and escaping a past that has no future.

Cast: Ben Affleck, Rebecca Hall, Jon Hamm, Jeremy Renner, Blake Lively, Titus Welliver, Pete Postlethwaite, and Chris Cooper. 

This film has been rated R for strong violence, pervasive language, some sexuality and drug use.

LEGEND OF THE GUARDIANS: THE OWLS OF GAHOOLE (Fantasy Adventure) In 3D and 2D in select theatres and IMAX on September 24:

Acclaimed filmmaker Zack Snyder makes his animation debut with the fantasy family adventure. The film follows Soren, a young owl enthralled by his father’s epic stories of the Guardians of Ga’Hoole, a mythic band of winged warriors who had fought a great battle to save all of owlkind from the evil Pure Ones. While Soren dreams of someday joining his heroes, his older brother, Kludd, scoffs at the notion, and yearns to hunt, fly and steal his father’s favor from his younger sibling. But Kludd’s jealousy has terrible consequences—causing both owlets to fall from their treetop home and right into the talons of the Pure Ones. Now it is up to Soren to make a daring escape with the help of other brave young owls. Together they soar across the sea and through the mist to find the Great Tree, home of the legendary Guardians of Ga’Hoole—Soren’s only hope of defeating the Pure Ones and saving the owl kingdoms.

Cast: Emily Barclay, Abbie Cornish, Ryan Kwanten, Anthony LaPaglia, Miriam Margolyes, Helen Mirren, Sam Neill, Richard Roxburgh, Geoffrey Rush, Jim Sturgess, Hugo Weaving, David Wenham.

This film has been rated PG for some sequences of scary action.

LIFE AS WE KNOW IT (Romantic Comedy) October 8:

Holly Berenson (Katherine Heigl) is an up-and-coming caterer and Eric Messer (Josh Duhamel) is a promising network sports director. After a disastrous first date, the only thing they have in common is their dislike for each other and their love for their goddaughter, Sophie. But when they suddenly become all Sophie has in the world, Holly and Messer are forced to put their differences aside. Juggling career ambitions and competing social calendars, they’ll have to find some common ground while living under one roof.

Cast: Katherine Heigl, Josh Duhamel, Josh Lucas, Christina Hendricks, Hayes MacArthur

This film has been rated PG-13 for sexual material, language and some drug content.

HEREAFTER (Drama) October 22:

HEREAFTER tells the story of three people who are haunted by mortality in different ways. Matt Damon stars as George, a blue-collar American who has a special connection to the afterlife. On the other side of the world, Marie (Cecile de France), a French journalist, has a near-death experience that shakes her reality. And when Marcus (Frankie/George McLaren), a London schoolboy, loses the person closest to him, he desperately needs answers. Each on a path in search of the truth, their lives will intersect, forever changed by what they believe might—or must—exist in the hereafter.

Cast: Matt Damon, Cécile de France, Jay Mohr, Bryce Dallas Howard, Marthe Keller, Frankie McLaren, George McLaren, Thierry Neuvic, Derek Jacobi.

The movie is not yet rated.

DUE DATE (Comedy) November 5:

Peter Highman (Robert Downey Jr.) is an expectant first-time father whose wife’s due date is a mere five days away. As Peter hurries to catch a flight home from Atlanta to be at her side for the birth, his best intentions go completely awry when a chance encounter with aspiring actor Ethan Tremblay (Zach Galifianakis) forces Peter to hitch a ride with Ethan—on what turns out to be a cross-country road trip that will ultimately destroy several cars, numerous friendships and Peter’s last nerve.

Cast: Robert Downey Jr., Zach Galifianakis, Michelle Monaghan, Juliette Lewis, Jamie Foxx

This film has been rated R for language, drug use and sexual content.

HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS – PART 1 (Fantasy Adventure) In 3D and 2D in select theatres and IMAX on November 19:

HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS – PART 1, the seventh and final adventure in the Harry Potter film series, is a much-anticipated motion picture event to be told in two full-length parts. Part 1 begins as Harry, Ron and Hermione set out on their perilous mission to track down and destroy the secret to Voldemort’s immortality and destruction—the Horcruxes. On their own, without the guidance of their professors or the protection of Professor Dumbledore, the three friends must now rely on one another more than ever. But there are Dark Forces in their midst that threaten to tear them apart. Meanwhile, the wizarding world has become a dangerous place for all enemies of the Dark Lord. The long-feared war has begun and Voldemort’s Death Eaters seize control of the Ministry of Magic and even Hogwarts, terrorizing and arresting anyone who might oppose them. But the one prize they still seek is the one most valuable to Voldemort: Harry Potter. The Chosen One has become the hunted one as the Death Eaters search for Harry with orders to bring him to Voldemort…alive. Harry’s only hope is to find the Horcruxes before Voldemort finds him. But as he searches for clues, he uncovers an old and almost forgotten tale—the legend of the Deathly Hallows. And if the legend turns out to be true, it could give Voldemort the ultimate power he seeks. Little does Harry know that his future has already been decided by his past when, on that fateful day, he became “the Boy Who Lived.” No longer just a boy, Harry Potter is drawing ever closer to the task for which he has been preparing since the day he first stepped into Hogwarts: the ultimate battle with Voldemort.

Cast: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Helena Bonham Carter, Robbie Coltrane, Tom Felton, Ralph Fiennes, Michael Gambon, John Hurt, Miranda Richardson, Alan Rickman, Timothy Spall, Imelda Staunton, Bonnie Wright.

This movie is not yet rated.

YOGI BEAR (Live-Action/Computer Animated Adventure in 3D.) In 3D and 2D in select theatres on December 17:

Everyone’s favorite pic-a-nic basket-stealing bear comes to the big screen in “Yogi Bear.” Jellystone Park has been losing business, so greedy Mayor Brown decides to shut it down and sell the land. That means families will no longer be able to experience the natural beauty of the outdoors — and, even worse, Yogi and Boo Boo will be tossed out of the only home they’ve ever known. Faced with his biggest challenge ever, Yogi must prove that he really is “smarter than the average bear” as he and Boo Boo join forces with their old nemesis Ranger Smith to find a way to save Jellystone Park from closing forever.

Cast: Dan Aykroyd, Justin Timberlake, Anna Faris, Tom Cavanagh, TJ Miller, Andrew Daly.

This film is not yet rated.

Source: Warner Bros.

MYSTERIA Shooting Wraps

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The new movie MYSTERIA, starring Robert Miano (Giallo), Danny Glover (Saw, 2012), Billy Zane (Titanic), Martin Landau (Ed Wood), Meadow Williams (Apollo 13) and Michael Rooker (Jumper) has just finished shooting. This mystery movie should be interesting given that Landau and Glover are in it. MYSTERIA will be released in 2011.

Synopsis:

As a screenwriter, ALEISTER’S best days are behind him. But as a drunk, he appears to have a glorious future. He’s behind on his rent, he’s spent up an entire studio advance, mostly on booze, and he can’t come up with the inspiration for his latest assignment.

Then one day LAVINIA calls him. She’s a film student at UCLA, and she would be so honored to meet him. Sure, he says, and they set something up. Aleister finds himself embarrassed, unable to pay the bill, so Lavinia covers. They hit it off…mildly, and decide to meet the next day. If nothing else, Lavinia helps Aleister’s ego, with her steady stream of compliments. He returns home to find that the landlord’s changed the locks. Nothing else to do, he trudges to his favorite bar, where he’s built up quite a tab.

The bar is empty, the liquor put away for the night – except for a bottle of scotch, which seems to be waiting for him at a corner table. He has a seat, takes a drink, and gets good and drunk. That’s when she appears, the Fairy Woman. She’s beautiful, Aleister stares in awe. She promises him everything’s going to be okay. She’ll pay his rent. She’ll inspire him to finish his script.

He wakes up, the Fairy Woman’s gone. The bartender chases him out, and Aleister returns home. His landlord informs him that rent’s been paid. Lavinia shows up for their meeting just as the cops arrive. The daughter of a prominent senator has been murdered, and Aleister was the last person to talk to her.

Aleister finds himself pulled into the investigation, and soon he’s the number one suspect. On the bright side, it cures his writers block. He pounds away at the script, includes everything that’s happened to him in the last few days, and other new details. Details that, strangely, begin to come true, like a scene where Senator Mitchell offers Aleister money in exchange for the script. Aleister can’t give up the script, it’s the only leverage he has in the case against him. And as the cops put the heat on him, Aleister must come up with an ending to the script, or risk being locked away forever.

MYSTERIA is an original take on classic noir, with a hero thrust into a situation full of murder and political intrigue, who must use the only skills he has to find his way out.

You can follow the film here on Twitter and Facebook.