Tag: Mystery

“In the Cut” (2003) starring Meg Ryan, Mark Ruffalo, & Jennifer Jason Leigh

EmmaLeave a comment

Everything you know about desire is dead wrong. -Tagline

On the LES of NYC, Frannie Avery (Meg Ryan- age 41 and de-glamorized)- a college English teacher/writer- begins an affair w/ Det. Giovanni Malloy (Mark Ruffalo- age 35 w/ a mustache)- one of the cops investigating the murder of a young woman. Malloy’s partner, Det. Ritchie Rodriguez, is played by Nick Damici (who I haven’t seen in any other movies/shows). Malloy believes the murder is the work of a serial killer. Frannie continues her relationship w/ Malloy, even after catching him in a lie (which could be dangerous). This is the (controversial) film that tanked Ryan’s acting career and derailed that of director Jane Campion. Originally, Nicole Kidman (who served as a producer) wanted to play Frannie. She decided to drop out, as she was going through a (much publicized) divorce from Tom Cruise. Mickey Rourke was considered for a supporting role; however, he was allegedly vetoed by Kidman b/c of his hard-partying reputation. The film is based on a 1996 novel by Susanna Moore.

Frannie: I was at the Red Turtle with one of my students.

Det. Rodriguez: One of your students?

Frannie: Cornelius Webb, but it was early, three-thirty. I was there for a short time, then I went home.

Det. Malloy: Cornelius Webb. Is that with two B’s or not two B’s?

It’s rare to see an erotic thriller (or neo noir) from the POV of a (complicated/independent) woman, as many critics/podcasters/viewers have commented. Usually, the male cop is the central figure, as in Laura (1944) or Basic Instinct (1992). Ruffalo went undercover w/ NYPD officers to prepare for his role. Malloy is macho, rough-hewn, and uses the language of the streets. However, he can also be soft-spoken, compassionate, and witty. Pauline (Jennifer Jason Leigh- age 40) is Frannie’s slightly younger/half-sister; the women have a close/warm relationship. Pauline is a stylist who lives above a go-go (strip) bar; she’s self-aware, yet looking for love (in ALL the wrong places). The costumes were bought from the The Job (2001), a cancelled TV show, for only $400.

I think the scenes are really good though, I think they’re very honest. Jane didn’t want them to be coy, so I don’t think they are at all. And I love how much dialogue is in those scenes. That’s what makes them really intimate. -Meg Ryan re: the love scenes (at TIFF during film’s debut)

Warning: This film NOT for sensitive viewers (incl. those expecting the rom com version of Ryan); it’s gritty, bloody, w/ dark themes and nudity. I saw this movie (which has an R-rated and Unrated versions) many yrs ago; it’s now available to rent (Amazon Prime video). Last week, I came across a (new) pod review of it, so decided to take a (2nd) look. One common complaint from viewers was that characters don’t develop or change. They’re also unapologetic re: their desires. This may remind some of you of European films. One of the main notes Campion gave to Ruffalo was “never apologize.” The filmmakers create an undercurrent of foreboding, showing us how it’s like to be a (big city) woman who is being perceived by (potentially dangerous/deadly) men.

[1] Ryan has never been better than she is here. She plays Frannie almost as if she were one of the urban walking dead, just right for a modern woman who feels no real emotional connection with the world and the people around her.

Mark Ruffalo is excellent as the cop who may be more of a threat to Frannie than the killer who’s terrorizing the area.

[2] This is certainly one of the most unique films I have come across, but I don’t say that in an overly positive manner. It is a very good-looking film, and ignoring camera angles and editing techniques, it still looks very solid on a visual scope.

-Excerpts from IMDb reviews

Spoiler-Free Review: “Highest 2 Lowest” (2025) starring Denzel Washington, Jeffrey Wright, & A$AP Rocky

EmmaLeave a comment

When a titan music mogul (Denzel Washington), widely known as having the “best ears in the business”, is targeted with a ransom plot, he is jammed up in a life-or-death moral dilemma. Brothers Denzel Washington and Spike Lee reunite for the 5th in their long working relationship for a reinterpretation of the great filmmaker Akira Kurosawa’s crime thriller “High and Low,” now played out on the mean streets of modern day New York City. -Synopsis (A24)

Y’all, what can I say!? It’s NOT a good day when you realize that even Lee (director) can be disappointing! We just expect a LOT more from talents like him. Though there are segments of the film that are well-done, it does NOT creative a cohesive whole. Aside from Washington and Jeffrey Wright, most of the other actors were lackluster (or distracting- in the case of Law & Order: SVU alum Dean Winters). Also, they didn’t have much to work w/ when it came to characterization or dialogue. There was a LOT of set-up (w/ random transition shots), the mood was stagnant (aside from the 3rd act), and the soundtrack was loud/unsuited to the story. The “Boomer tone” (as one critic commented) will NOT appeal to younger gens. I still need to see the (original) film directed by Kurosawa; it’s streaming on HBO MAX.

There is little tension, which left the (small) audience I saw it w/ last month looking bored or mildly annoyed. I don’t have Apple TV+, so went to see it on the big screen (which is my preference- I’m old school). Movie theaters are closing ALL over the US; Hollywood (most likely) can’t woo back its (pre-pandemic) audience. In a struggling economy, even hardcore cinephiles are going to theaters less… and less. On a positive note, I think A$AP Rocky has potential; maybe he will work to strengthen his acting. As Roger Ebert said, rappers (being performers already), can project confidence onscreen. If you haven’t done so before, go check out earlier Spike Lee joints. You will NOT be disappointed!

[1] It’s difficult to take this movie in, or take it seriously. Ironically about a music mogul, Spike uses a continuous, distracting, misaligned, wildly inappropriate, cheesy score by Lawrence Manchester.

[2] I’ll rate this movie a 5 out of 10 due to the simple fact that the script is horrible despite Denzel Washington and Jeffery Wright carrying the movie, everyone else seemed like rookie actors who made the movie feel like a made for BET or Lifetime movie. I also have no idea why this movie went over 2 hours…

[3] Visually, the movie has its moments – colorful, energetic shots and a strong New York vibe – but that doesn’t make up for the weak emotional core. The pacing was uneven, and instead of being drawn into the drama, I often felt detached, watching a performance rather than being immersed in the story.

-Excerpts from IMDb reviews

“Sibyl” (2019) starring Virginie Efira, Adele Exarchopoulos, Gaspard Ulliel, & Sandra Huller

EmmaLeave a comment

This French film (made for ONLY 5M euros) from Justine Triet (director/co-writer) and partner, Arthur Harari (co-writer/supporting actor), follows a 30-something psychotherapist, Sibyl (Virginie Efira). She is also wife to Etienne (Paul Hamy) and mom to 2 young kids. Sibyl decides to return to writing (her 1st career), yet still keeps a few patients. Harari plays Dr. Katz (Sibyl’s therapist), as is required in the mental health profession. One night, while dealing w/ writer’s block, Sibyl gets a (frantic) call from 20-ish/up-and-coming actress, Margot (Adèle Exarchopoulos). As Sibyl becomes more… and more wrapped up in Margot’s (turbulent) life, she starts to blur her past from the present… and reality from fiction!

I became curious re: this (genre-defying) film b/c it involved Triet, Harari, and Huller; it was made before they achieved international fame/critical acclaim w/ Anatomy of a Fall (2023). This is the last film released during his lifetime for Gaspard Ulliel (who plays Igor); he died in a ski accident in 2022 at just age 38. I hadn’t seen Efira’s acting before; she hails from Belgian. Efira and Niels Schneider (who plays Gabriel) are a couple IRL w/ one child. Exarchopoulos (then only 26 y.o.) has a French mother and Greek father; she co-starred in several well-known indies. The movie w/in the movie (starring Margot and Igor) was shot on the island of Stromboli (a part of Sicily, Italy).

From the trailer, I was expecting the tone of a dark/thriller; however, there are funny moments! This is free on streaming, so check it out (if in the mood for something unusual). Some viewers wondered: “Who is the patient and who is the therapist?” Gathering from reviews (IMDb; Letterboxd)- ppl are conflicted re: on this movie. Some called it a “hot mess” w/ “hot people”- LOL! Some expected more, yet did enjoy Huller’s performance as a perfectionist/Type A director. As in Anatomy of a Fall, Huller speaks more in English than in French. How cool is it that she can act in 3 languages!?

[1] You have to suspend your disbelief quite a lot and go with the flow. Having a love for making movies and understanding what can go on behind the scenes (it almost feels like someone is doing their own curing by doing the movie – the writer, the director, producers … all of the above and more?)

[2] I can’t recall seeing a film with so many good and great elements: cinematography, acting, a good deal of great dialogue, that was assembled into such a let down of total experience.

[3] The most enjoyable scenes for me were those with Sandra Huller, playing a film director, especially her reactions to the difficulties the actors are creating on her set. Her sensible response to the psychotherapist’s behaviour is long awaited and ultimately very satisfying.

-Excerpts from IMDb reviews

“To Live and Die in LA” (1985) starring William Petersen, Willem Dafoe, & John Pankow

EmmaLeave a comment

A federal agent is dead. A killer is loose. And the City of Angels is about to explode. -Tagline

A fearless Secret Service agent will stop at nothing to bring down the counterfeiter who killed his partner. -Synopsis

LA-based Secret Service agent, Richard Chance (William Petersen), becomes obsessed w/ finding counterfeiter, Eric Masters (Willem Dafoe), responsible for the killing of his former partner/friend, Jimmy Hart (Michael Greene). Chance loves the thrill of base jumping (similar to bunjee jumping); he is in a (complicated) relationship w/ a beautiful/blonde parolee, Ruth Lanier (Darlanne Fluegel). Chance gets a new partner, John Vukovich (John Pankow- best known for comedy)- who comes from a family of cops. Masters, a painter-turned-criminal, knows that the Secret Service is after him. Chance takes more… and more risks while conducting the investigation. Masters is NOT hesitant to use violence- even kill!

[1] I consider myself just another member of the crew, the highest paid member of the crew.

[2] If you’re going to make a film or an album of music or a painting, you cannot afford to stop and think what other people will think of it. You’ve got to take into consideration what your editor thinks, if, say, you’re a writer. But I don’t have anyone to answer to. I make a film because I want to. Sometimes they’re successful, sometimes they’re not, but the way I think about my films is always very personal. [2018]

-William Friedkin, filmmaker

The screenplay was written by Gerald Petievich (who worked mainly on police TV shows/movies) and William Friedkin (who also directed). Known as a filmmaker who stays on-budget and on-time, yet goes his own way, Friedkin (who passed away in 2024) grew up in a working-poor family in Chicago. His mother was a nurse; his father worked many different jobs (yet never made enough to support the family). After watching Citizen Kane (1941), he fell in love w/ movies. Friedkin went to work for local (WGN) TV after graduating HS; he started making docs (one of which won the Golden Gate Award at the 1962 San Francisco Film Festival). In 1965, he moved to Hollywood and started directing TV, incl. an ep of the The Alfred Hitchcock Hour (1962). Hitchcock (famously) chastised him for NOT wearing a tie- LOL!

Richard Chance [to Ruth]: Guess what? Uncle Sam don’t give a shit about your expenses. You want bread, f***k a baker.

This neo noir is called “very 80s”; it was influenced by TV’s Miami Vice. The clothes, music, and production design reflect that time period well. There are several tense stunts/action scenes; one fan commented watching Ronin (where you’ll see how this movie influenced a car chase). The dark tone of To Live and Die in LA is NOT a big surprise when I recall an interview where Friedkin commented policemen in his neighborhood were never friendly. The baddies are just as interesting as the (NOT so heroic) cops!

Here we see (hot/young) Petersen in his 1st film role; he is locked-in to the role (incl. w/ physicality of running, jumping, fighting, and… more). Some viewers/critics wondered: “Was he an athlete?” Yes, Petersen played football growing up, then became interested in acting in college. As Chance interacts w/ Ruth, you see just how much of a cold bastard he can be! Masters seems to have a much better relationship w/ his love interest/avant garde performer, Bianca Torres (Debra Feuer). Fans of (veteran character actor) Dafoe, will get a kick out of seeing how young he looks here. Though he stands at just 5’7″- he dominates (larger) scene partners w/ his intensity/screen presence. You see John Turturro (young) and Dean Stockwell (who passed away in 2021) in small/memorable roles.

[1] “To Live and Die in L.A” is an excellent non-stop action movie, having an excellent pacing and being a politically incorrect police story.

[2] The film works on many levels. Yes, it is about counterfeiting and superficial (re: counterfeit) relationships. It is about greed, survival, justice and morality. It is also about human beings using and laying to waste other human beings.

[3] The good guys are flawed. This isn’t really new, since the mid 1960s there were plenty of flawed heroes in Westerns or police thrillers. The difference is that not only their characters are flawed, they are vulnerable, destructible, they make mistakes. And they pay for their mistakes. Similarly the villains: yes, they are formidable and glamorous… They make mistakes too. And they pay too.

-Excerpts from IMDb reviews

“Juror #2” (2024) starring Nicholas Hoult, Toni Collette, J.K. Simmons, Kiefer Sutherland, & Zoey Deutch

EmmaLeave a comment

SPOILER ALERT: Don’t read this post if you haven’t seen, or don’t want to know, details from the movie Juror #2 (streaming on HBO MAX).

While serving as a juror in a high-profile murder trial, a family man finds himself struggling with a serious moral dilemma, one he could use to sway the jury verdict and potentially convict or free the wrong killer. -Synopsis

In Savannah, GA, Justin Kemp (British up-and-coming actor Nicholas Hoult) is a writer at a lifestyle mag who is called in for jury duty. He tries to get out of it, explaining to the judge (Amy Aquino) that his wife- Allison (Zoey Deutch)- is in the 3rd trimester of her pregnancy. The judge isn’t moved, noting that this won’t take more time than his (9-5) job. The case is the murder of a young woman, Kendall Carter (Francesca Eastwood); the defendant is her on-again/off again bf- James Sythe (Gabriel Basso). The prosecutor, Faith Killebrew (Toni Colette), is running to be DA; she’s V confident that this will be an open and shut case. She has a (friendly) rivalry w/ the defense attorney, Eric Resnick (Chris Messina). In flashbacks, we see that Justin- on the (stormy) night that Kendall died- hit something w/ his car!

Are y’all feeling nostalgic for those 1990s (EX: John Grisham) legal dramas? Then, this is (new-ish) movie (from Clint Eastwood- still working) is for you. I have to admit, the premise looked interesting, so I checked it out over the recent holiday break (on HBO MAX). Also, many critics/viewers have commented that (mid-budget) dramas like this for a grown-up audience are lacking from theaters in recent yrs. Don’t look for any big thrills or even much tension. This is a case of missed opportunities (directing choices) and lackluster dialogue (basic screenwriting). Even the musical score is nothing memorable.

This movie is also a reunion btwn. Hoult and his (onscreen) About a Boy (2002) mom- Collette. The actors are doing the best they can w/ the material; however, Collette’s Southern accent is a BIT uneven. The jury is V diverse (reflecting a mid-sized city in the modern era), BUT there is V little character development. Small roles are played by Kiefer Sutherland and J. K. Simmons; I guess LOT of actors want to work w/ Eastwood. You may’ve heard that there is an unexpected ending, BUT that can’t save the film.

[1] For one, the case itself seemed pretty weak to begin with. It was mostly circumstantial and no direct evidence linking the defendant to the crime.

[2] This cast is doing their best, but the material is so incredibly dumb. The elevator pitch of the plot is intriguing, but it’s got the silly execution of a CBS crime procedural.

I watched it for the cast, and for the moral dilemma and mystery of the premise, but the trailer had more actual plot clarity than the movie itself.

[3] I was surprised how 2D some of the characters on the jury were, and pretty simplistic and dated stereotypes.

-Excerpts from IMDb reviews