The CriticFour Thrillers For Cold Nights
September 13th 2007 23:40
In Churchill County, Nevada the days can still hit 90 degrees, but the nights, brrrrr.
We're talking 50's, which seems pretty chilly after wearing a hat during the afternoon to avoid looking like a tomato.
So now that I'm buying hot chocolate and marshmellows for the evenings again, I thought I'd look at some recent thrillers, all the better to enjoy while tucked under a comforter sipping my cocoa.
Any one of these four movies would provide you with a few hours of good entertainment, though, as you'll see, some critics very much disagree....
Firewall, starring Harrison Ford, Paul Bettany and Virgina Madsen was released in 2006. I think it's a good thriller, not perfect, but with the requisite tension, good performances and energy.
Metacritic, which brings together a number of movie critics and users to get averages for movies, gave it only a 45 out of 100 for critics, and 5.4 out of 10 for users.
Internet Movie Database users gave it 5.8 out of 10 stars.
But, I thought it was a solid movie, well done, and true to the genre.
Freedomland, starring Samuel L. Jackson, Julianne Moore and Edie Falco is not at all a familiar plot, as Firewall is (however well executed). I had some suspicions of what might be happening, but I didn't actually know until the end.
This is a well done crime drama/thriller, but I'm not surprised by the low numbers it received at Metacritic (43 out of 100 for critics, 4.6 from users) or the Internet Database (5.0 out of 10)
There is a lot of goodness in most of the characters, but every single one knows some authentic pain, and the actors are so good, that their hurt is believable. And that can make it hard to watch. A little girl is missing and many bad things might happen to a lot of people, besides the child, if she isn't found quickly.
But, if you want something different, or challenging, this could be your movie.
I saw The Sentinel for the second time a few days ago. Obviously, I knew the ending. Still, it had me all tensed up watching Michael Douglas, Kiefer Sutherland, Eva Langoria and Kim Basinger performing well, as they try to stop an attempt to kill the President of the United States.
Mtacritic put this at 48 out of 100, users at 5.9 out of 10. IMDB gave it 6.1 out of 10. Again, I think it deserves better. Well written, well performed, well directed.
Finally, there is the Inside Man starring Denzel Washington, Clive Owen, Jodie Foster, and Christpher Plummer.
Metacritic reviews rated this 76, users 7.1. IMDB voters gave it 7.7 out of 10.
This is smart, well-acted and, for me, not at all predictable. I liked it better the second time I saw it, when I could enjoy the performances more. At the second viewing I wasn't trying to figure out where it was going.
Orble blog Music Times Music Times has an interesting review of this movie that I think covers it well.
I'll just tell you it's about a bank heist. Maybe.....
Anyway, enjoy
We're talking 50's, which seems pretty chilly after wearing a hat during the afternoon to avoid looking like a tomato.
So now that I'm buying hot chocolate and marshmellows for the evenings again, I thought I'd look at some recent thrillers, all the better to enjoy while tucked under a comforter sipping my cocoa.
Any one of these four movies would provide you with a few hours of good entertainment, though, as you'll see, some critics very much disagree....
Firewall starring Harrison Ford
Metacritic, which brings together a number of movie critics and users to get averages for movies, gave it only a 45 out of 100 for critics, and 5.4 out of 10 for users.
Internet Movie Database users gave it 5.8 out of 10 stars.
But, I thought it was a solid movie, well done, and true to the genre.
Freedomland Starring Samuel L. Jackson
Freedomland, starring Samuel L. Jackson, Julianne Moore and Edie Falco is not at all a familiar plot, as Firewall is (however well executed). I had some suspicions of what might be happening, but I didn't actually know until the end.
This is a well done crime drama/thriller, but I'm not surprised by the low numbers it received at Metacritic (43 out of 100 for critics, 4.6 from users) or the Internet Database (5.0 out of 10)
There is a lot of goodness in most of the characters, but every single one knows some authentic pain, and the actors are so good, that their hurt is believable. And that can make it hard to watch. A little girl is missing and many bad things might happen to a lot of people, besides the child, if she isn't found quickly.
But, if you want something different, or challenging, this could be your movie.
The Sentinel starring Michael Douglas
I saw The Sentinel for the second time a few days ago. Obviously, I knew the ending. Still, it had me all tensed up watching Michael Douglas, Kiefer Sutherland, Eva Langoria and Kim Basinger performing well, as they try to stop an attempt to kill the President of the United States.
Mtacritic put this at 48 out of 100, users at 5.9 out of 10. IMDB gave it 6.1 out of 10. Again, I think it deserves better. Well written, well performed, well directed.
Inside Man starring Denzel Washington
Finally, there is the Inside Man starring Denzel Washington, Clive Owen, Jodie Foster, and Christpher Plummer.
Metacritic reviews rated this 76, users 7.1. IMDB voters gave it 7.7 out of 10.
This is smart, well-acted and, for me, not at all predictable. I liked it better the second time I saw it, when I could enjoy the performances more. At the second viewing I wasn't trying to figure out where it was going.
Denzel and Jodie
Orble blog Music Times Music Times has an interesting review of this movie that I think covers it well.
I'll just tell you it's about a bank heist. Maybe.....
Anyway, enjoy
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Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
The Assignment
Syriana
Narc
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang
All four are satsifying thrillers with intelligent plots
Comment by Theresa
Technology Bloggers
Today's World
Borderless World
Penny Smart
I've seen Syriana, thought it intense. I wanted a different ending, but, then I wanted a different ending to King Kong when Peter Jackson did the remake (sigh).
o.k., once again, more movies to see
Theresa