Ed's Review Dot Com

EuropaCorp, Ithaca, The Javelina Film Company,

Tommy Lee Jones, Hilary Swank, Meryl Streep, Miranda Otto, John Lithgow, James Spader

Mary Bee Cuddy (Hilary Swank) is a tough old single broad living out west in a small farming community. She’s definitely a lady, longing for a husband and children, but destined to a long lonely single life due to the fact that men say she’s too bossy and way to damn plain looking. Times are very hard in the little town, and three of the wives have suffered very horrible tragedies and have lost their minds. A danger to their husbands and families, the minister in the little church has made arrangements for them to be taken back across the plains and across the river where they will be cared for by a church there where they have some relatives. But who can make the 5 week or so journey across the dried up plains to accompany these women. Mary Bee talks the reverend into letting her take the journey as she has no family to support and can cook and take care of the women and she is just as tough of any of the men. She rounds up an goofy old outlaw, George Briggs (Tommy Lee Jones) whom she rescues from being hanged and coerces him into accompanying the 4 women on the journey. Needless to say it is a long hard journey filled with danger and hardships, and only their will to go on keeps them going.

This was a very surprising film to me. I was really blown away by it. I have not seen a western in a long time, and this was a really great story. The script is excellent, and it’s filled with top notch performers like James Spader, Meryl Streep, John Lithgow and others. The setting is dreary and dark and very realistic and you really feel the pain of the times they are going through. The performances of Hillary and Tommy Lee are simply outstanding, but it’s the humor set against that harsh reality of frontier life that is so impressive. This is an excellent film, and certainly a hidden gem. I don’t know how I never heard about this film and just stumbled across it by accident, but it was a serendipitous moment when I put this one on. There are some problems, mostly in the timing of the story as there are conflicting statements about what time of year this story is set, but it’s easy to overlook that, as it’s not that important. It’s sometimes hard to watch, as it’s so realistic, and it’s definitely stark, but I couldn’t turn away, and I was disappointed when it was over, as I wanted to know more. This is one film well worth tracking down, especially if you’re fond of really great Westerns.

EdG – EdsReview Dot Com – A Movie Review Blog

Canal+, Ciné+, EuropaCorp,

Liam Neeson, Maggie Grace, Famke Janssen, Forest Whitaker, Leland Orser, Jon Gries

Bryan Mills (Liam Neeson) is back, as usual trying to mind his own business. He’s trying to be a good father to his daughter Kim (Maggie Grace) who lives with her Mom Lenore (Famke Jannsen) and her Step Dad. But when Bryan gets a call to meet his ex-wife, he steps out for bagels, and comes home to find her in his bed with her throat cut, and all the evidence points to him. He has only a day or so to figure out who really killed his wife while he goes off the grid hiding from the police force and Detective Frank Dotzler (Forest Whitaker) who are out to bring him in. This is the third and final segment of the series, which has been a rip roaring action trilogy of the best kind.

Liam Neeson is an amazing action star. Truly I think he’s one of the best, which is surprising in a way, but he can surely keep up with others much younger than he is. He’s basically in one scrape after another throughout the whole movie, and every time it looks like there’s no way out, he finds a way. This has been an awesome trilogy, from the very first when his daughter was kidnapped while on an overseas trip, and through the second where his wife was kidnapped to draw him out again and an adventure all over the world. This one pretty much stays close to home, no one gets kidnapped, really, but the setup and payoff is really awesome. I suppose it will be pretty easy to tell who the real culprit is right off, but the plot is rather sticky anyway, and the action is non-stop throughout. But the addition of Forest Whittaker was brilliant. His character’s wit and wisdom up against the sly dog Bryan Mills is something to behold. It’s obvious that both men have a high regard for the abilities of the other, and each one is just a man of character trying to do the right thing. The violence and gore is pretty high for a PG-13 movie, but it is one excellent action piece. There is one moment where Frank and Bryan are talking to each other on the phone where Frank asks Bryan to step aside and let the police force do their job, and Bryan asks, “What is your primary objective?” Frank replies, “To capture him and bring him to justice”. Bryan’s response “Mine is to protect the only one I have left” is the clue that there’s going to be an extremely exciting finish to the story! However, they threw in a really nasty hint of a sequel, so we’ll see if they’re going to really continue the story or not. I’d say it’s a coin flip which way it’s going to go.

EdG – EdsReview Dot Com – A Movie Review Blog

Canal+, Ciné+, EuropaCorp,

Scarlett Johansson, Morgan Freeman, Analeigh Tipton, Amr Waked

Lucy (Scarlett Johansson) is kind of a loose cannon. As the film starts she’s forced to deliver a briefcase with unknown contacts to a high power drug syndicate boss. But things go awry quickly as Lucy soon discovers it’s a substance that will enable you to grow in brain power and develop some amazing abilities. Professor Norman (Morgan Freeman) is a professor/scientist who has been studying brain power for years, so Lucy calls on him to explain what is happening to her and to find a way to save her.

I feel really bad calling this a science-fiction film. It’s not. It’s more like a fairy tale. The science in this film is flawed. It’s based on the fallacy that we only use 10% of our brain, and what might happen if we suddenly could use 100%. From there on, it’s pretty silly. The recent film that it sort of reminds me of is Johnny Depp’s “Trancendence”. But this has some things that the other doesn’t have. There is some real action sequences in this film. It was FUN to watch. There’s the obligatory Asian henchman bad guy with his gang of Kung Fu baddies. Lucy knows how to take care of herself though. Basically, this is simply fun. It’s like watching the X-Men or Spiderman or some other superhero movie, but Lucy is such an unlikely superhero. From the very beginning on, though, she takes on a roller-coaster ride. If you try to follow the scientific explanations, you’re going to hate this, so watch it as fantasy and enjoy the action packed, rip roaring action film. I have to admit, I find myself ashamed that I enjoyed this as much as I did. I know that most poeple may find it a little over the top, but I thought it was lots of fun. I’d say to just enjoy it for what it is, flaws and all.

EdG – EdsReview Dot Com – A Movie Review Blog