Tag: Police Drama

“Ain’t Them Bodies Saints” (2013) starring Casey Affleck, Rooney Mara, & Ben Foster

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The tale of an outlaw who escapes from prison and sets out across the Texas hills to reunite with his wife and the daughter he has never met. –Synopsis

This is the (ambitious) debut of a young American director/writer, David Lowery; it was shot in less than one month on location (Texas; Louisiana). Yes, he cast Ruth Guthrie (Rooney Mara) just before she shot to fame! I think the true “star” of the film is Bradford Young; he’s a Black American (which is a rarity in the field of cinematography). Much of this movie was shot during “Golden Hour” (the hour before sunset). I was reminded of Days of Heaven (1978) from another indie director, Terrence Malick. Lowery knows how to set a tone and create a mood; however, this movie is NOT just about “vibes” (as the Youngbloods say). There is simple (or sometimes no) dialogue; we hear voiceover from the emotional letters sent by Bob Muldoon (Casey Affleck) while he is in jail. Music is an important element here; the songs seem like they are lifted directly from the late 1960s/early 1970s in the South.

I had a gut instinct of who would be perfect for these roles. It was those actors. Luckily for me, they said yes. -David Lowery (director) on casting

I watched this free on streaming (Tubi TV) recently; you should check it out IF looking for something original. I was interested b/c Ben Foster has a supporting role; Patrick Wheeler (Foster- sporting a mustache) is a deputy who draws Ruth out of her shell. They grew up in the same little town and attend church together. It’s obvious that the soft-spoken cop has a crush on Ruth, BUT Patrick approaches her in a gentle/respectful manner. In one touching scene, Patrick plays guitar and sings to Ruth’s young daughter (Sylvie). Foster (now 43 y.o.) may be more known for his unhinged/villain roles in recent yrs, such as 3:10 to Yuma and Hell or High Water. He has done a LOT of theater and indies over the yrs. I’ve been a fan of his since Liberty Heights (1999), a coming-of-age drama centered on a working-class/Jewish family in 1960s Baltimore (dir. by Barry Levinson). Foster (who has Jewish heritage on his father’s side) has an older brother in that movie, Adrien Brody (before he became famous).

David Lowery has constructed a beautiful, atmospheric, little indie film with this 1970s Texas crime melodrama. At every point where Lowery could have added Hollywood flourishes and gimmicks to make the film more commercial, he refuses to do so. […]

…Bradford Young deserves all the praise he has earned for his cinematography.

-Excerpt from IMDb review

“Tequila Sunrise” (1988) starring Mel Gibson, Michelle Pfeiffer, & Kurt Russell

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A dangerous mix. -Tagline

A former L.A. drug dealer tries to go straight but his past and his underworld connections bring him into the focus of the DEA, the Mexican feds and the Mexican drug cartels. -Synopsis

This is a neo noir (written/directed by Robert Towne) set in LA; it’s streaming on Max (formerly HBO Max). It was also shown on TCM’s Noir Alley. I must’ve seen it MANY yrs ago (maybe as a teen) b/c I recalled V little about it (aside from the hot/famous cast). It’s trying to be edgy, as the good guy is an ex-drug dealer and the cops/feds are baddies. There is a love triangle of 2 men (friends since HS) and one woman; this is unusual for mainstream Hollywood. Critics are mixed re: this movie; some enjoyed it, while others noticed the (many) flaws.

Jo Ann: I’m sorry. I was just joking. I didn’t mean to hurt you.

Mac: Aw, come on. It didn’t hurt that bad. Just looking at you hurts more.

What’s up w/ the odd title? When the DEA agent, Maguire (J.T. Walsh), is listening to surveillance tapes of restaurant owner, Jo Ann Vallenari (Michelle Pfeiffer), she’s heard offering Dale “Mac” McKussic (Mel Gibson) a cocktail (Tequila Sunrise). FYI: The drink consists of tequila, orange juice, and grenadine syrup. The producers wanted Harrison Ford and Jeff Bridges for the male co-leads; that could’ve been a better movie. Gibson was V popular then; he’d recently been in Lethal Weapon; Mac is more nuanced than Det. Riggs (trying to be a good father). Russell (acting since childhood) was known for his likeability and work in the action genre; Lt. Nick Frescia is NOT so nice though. Pat Riley (coach of the LA Lakers) provided the inspo for Nick’s look (suits and slicked-back hair).

Jo Ann: Mr. McKussic, it seems, has been engaged in his business for purely romantic reasons, whilst you have been engaged in romance for purely business reasons.
Nick: I’m not sure I understand.
Jo Ann: A little vague for you?
Nick: A little.
Jo Ann: Well, then, let me spell it out for you: you want to f**k your friend, then f**k him, not me!

Did these (mostly male) writers and producers have any (female) friends!? Mac’s ex-wife is depicted as vain/money-obsessed; she gets V little screen time. As some viewers noted, neither Nick not Mac is good enough for Jo Ann! Pfeiffer (in mostly cream-colored outfits) is doing her best w/ Jo Ann’s (shallow/contradictory) characterization. She didn’t get along w/ Towne; he called her “the most difficult actress I have ever worked with.” The actress was going through a divorce at this time. There is a (infamous) love scene; the hot tub was NOT built properly/chlorinated. Pfeiffer, her body double, and Gibson got skin rashes and splinters from the wood- ouch! Production shut down for a few days while they recovered.

Carlos [to Mac]: You son of a bitch! How could you do this? Friendship is the only choice in life you can make that’s yours! You can’t choose your family, God damn it – I’ve had to face that! And no man should be judged for whatever direction his d**k goes – that’s like blaming a compass for pointing north, for Christ’s sake! Friendship is all we have! We chose each other. How could you f**k it up? How could you make us look so bad?

The dialogue can be good (at times), BUT also quite cheesy/predictable. The plot and editing are often confusing; Roget Ebert commented: “It feels like there are chunks of the movie cut out.” The filmmakers could’ve made better (more nuanced) choices. I expected Mac to die at the end of the film; that would’ve made more sense! Towne wanted that ending also, BUT producers said Gibson had to be alive. Is there anything fun re: this movie? Well, Gibson is shirtless in several scenes (in FAB shape). The kid playing Mac’s son (Cody) does a good job in his small role. When the main villain, Carlos (Raul Julia), appears- he steals the movie! Julia (a trained singer) sings some; he does the best he can w/ what he has been given. A young Matt LeBlanc (Friends) appears on the TV; this was a real commercial for Heinz ketchup.

“The Fugitive” (1993) starring Harrison Ford & Tommy Lee Jones

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Dr. Richard Kimble, unjustly accused of murdering his wife, must find the real killer while being the target of a nationwide manhunt led by a seasoned U.S. Marshal. -Synopsis

The studio was not happy with the beard. They figured they paid for the face they wanted to see, so they were concerned about that. -Harrison Ford on his look (in the 1st act of the movie)

I re-watched this movie (released 30 yrs ago this week) recently- it still holds up! It was the 3rd highest-grossing movie in the US in 1993; it was (surprisingly) nominated for MANY awards. There is NOT a lot of dialogue and the story is quite simple, BUT the pacing, build-up of tension, and exciting (and memorable) action scenes keep viewers interested. The focus is mainly on two good guys- Dr. Richard Kimble (Harrison Ford) and the US Marshals lead by Deputy Samuel Gerard (Tommy Lee Jones)- so we want to root for both sides. Ford (who was looking for a challenge) gives an understated performance; however, you see the determination in the hard-set of his jaw and various emotions in his eyes. Remember that in reality, MOST people are trying to hold in their emotions (NOT expressing them openly). Jones has the flashier role (earning him an Oscar as Best Supporting Actor); his character got a spin-off movie- U.S. Marshals. Gerard (a veteran lawman) shows confidence bordering on arrogance, BUT he can also be funny. As we are taken on a cat-and-mouse chase, these two adversaries gain respect for each other.

Dr. Richard Kimble: [Holding Gerard at gunpoint] I didn’t kill my wife!
Deputy Marshal Samuel Gerard: I don’t care!

Andrew Davis (director) convinced the producers to let him shoot (on location) in Chicago; the weather was V cold during the 73-day shoot (which posed challenges). I learned that some of the dialogue was improvised by Ford and Jones. The St. Patrick’s Day parade scene was also improvised; it took several mins. for Ford to be recognized among the crowd. Ford damaged some ligaments in his leg during the scenes in the woods; he refused surgery until the end of filming (so that his character would keep the limp)- ouch! At age 50, Ford is in great shape (as we see in the shirtless scenes where he bandages his wound, then changes into civilian clothes). The supporting players do a good job in this movie: Sela Ward, Joe Pantoliano, Julianne Moore, Jane Lynch, Andreas Katsulas, Jeroen Krabbe, and others. Moore (the young ER doc) had a bigger role; these scenes were filmed/deleted from the final cut. (FYI: If you want to hear more re: Ford’s movies, check out The Fordcast podcast.)

“Mulholland Falls” (1996) starring Nick Nolte, Melanie Griffith, & Jennifer Connelly

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The power of love vs. the love of power. -A tagline for the film

This neo noir is set in the 1950s; the LAPD cops we meet are part of the anti-organized crime squad (“the Hat Squad”). These men are big/tough and do NOT hesitate to break the law, IF it suits their purposes; the drive around in a black convertible (1949 Buick Roadmaster). The leader of this unit is Det. Max Hoover (Nick Nolte); he and his wife, Katherine (Melanie Griffith), seem to have a V happy marriage. A local young woman, Allison Pond (Jennifer Connelly), is brutally murdered and dumped at building site; the investigation reveals she’d been romantically linked to several prominent men. One of her lovers was Gen. Thomas Timms (John Malkovich), the head of the Atomic Energy Commission; he is shown w/ her on a film. Hoover gets a shock when he sees Allison’s body; he knew her as well!

It kind of shocked everyone who knows me that I wound up doing this movie, because I had always been so careful about nudity; it was very much a part of this character and I couldn’t be coy or guarded or self-conscious, otherwise it wouldn’t work. It was sort of a challenge I wanted to take on, I guess. -Jennifer Connelly on her nude scenes

There are SO many familiar (some who became famous) faces here in cameos or supporting roles: Rob Lowe, Louise Fletcher, William Petersen (before his CSI days), Andrew McCarthy (as Allison’s gay bestie), Treat Williams (who passed away last wk.), Kyle Chandler, Michael Madsen, Daniel Baldwin (older bro of Alec), and Chazz Palminteri (as a somewhat sensitive cop). All of Connelly’s scenes are shown in flashbacks. This was the 1st American film directed by a New Zealander (Lee Tamahori); his mother is British and his father is Maori. He gained the attn. of Hollywood after getting critical acclaim for the indie drama Once Were Warriors (1994); I need to check that out soon. The DP is Haskell Wexler; he is considered one of the best in the field of cinematography.

Gen. Timms: These tiny particles of matter, which are so small that no one’s ever seen them – never – they contain enough energy to blow up this house, an entire city, every person on Earth. Now that is inconceivable.

Hoover: General, I really don’t think much about those things. I’d probably see too much.

Gen. Timms: What do you see?

Hoover: People dead before their time.

Gen. Timms: That’s the history of the world, Lieutenant. Some people die before their time so that others can live. It’s the cornerstone of civilization. War, religion, democracy. A hundred die so that a thousand may live.

This was a time of great change is the U.S. We see the suburbs being built; some cops are skeptical about these planned developments (long drive from the city). Max’s partner, Elleroy (Palminteri), has been seeing a (female) therapist. Unlike Max (who keeps things bottled up), Elleroy is able to talk about his (conflicting) feelings on the job. Malkovich gets some of the best lines; he plays a cold/smart/privileged man who thinks he’s above the law. The costumes, sets, and atmosphere reminded me V strongly of the older noirs. As one astute viewer wrote: “It isn’t your traditional cop drama/political thriller because of the nature of the main characters. They don’t always play by the rules, but in the end, they are the good guys. And, it’s got a good finale.”

Three Controversial Films Directed by Paul Verhoeven

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Basic Instinct (1991) starring Michael Douglas & Sharon Stone

A violent police detective investigates a brutal murder that might involve a manipulative and seductive novelist. -Synopsis

We ALL know the story here, BUT is it a good movie (IF we put aside the explicit scenes)? I’d say it kept my interest and is (mostly) watch-able. It could’ve been shorter; the run time is 2 hrs. 8 mins. On a recent rewatch, I really noticed (and liked) the music; it was composed by Jerry Goldsmith) and V effective in creating tension/setting moods. I enjoyed the natural scenery: the winding roads around San Fran, the ocean, and Catherine’s beach house (recently priced at $52M). Catherine (Stone- 34 y.o.) wears some great (timeless) outfits; the actress sinks her teeth into the role (and becomes a star). She wasn’t well known; Douglas (48 y.o.) was the bigger name then. You will find homages to Hitchcock’s Vertigo. The 1st 45 mins of the story is much stronger than the rest. I can’t believe that the screenplay (by Joe Eszterhas) sold for $3M – wow!

The acting is NOT natural, as many viewers noted; it’s often V melodramatic. There are V problematic elements, which viewers may NOT have noticed back in the early ’90s. Beth, the police psychologist (played by Jeanne Tripplehorn- her 1st role), is treated V roughly/badly by Nick (Douglas) and just a plot device. I learned that members of the LGBTQ community protested screenings in ’91; it turns out that the 3 main women (bisexual) are characterized as potentially homicidal! In her recent autobiography, Stone wrote that Verhoeven (who hails from the Netherands and doesn’t shy away from controversy) “tricked” her into baring herself (in the infamous interrogation scene); he said that “the white underwear was causing a glare on camera.” I can see why many people now avoid this movie. As Siskel and Ebert said: “it’s NOT really about anything, if you take away the sex and nudity.”

Showgirls (1995) starring Elizabeth Berkley, Kyle MacLachlan, & Gina Gershon

Carefree young drifter Nomi arrives in Las Vegas, Nevada to become a dancer and sets about clawing her way to the top of the Vegas showgirls. -Synopsis

Whoever called this movie “All About Eve, the trashy version” summed up the plot perfectly- LOL! This is a (notorious) movie which some call “so bad that it’s good.” Nope, this is a hot mess akin to a trainwreck (or under-baked cake). I saw it for the 1st time last week; I was surprised by how bad it was! To modern eyes, the nudity, steamy scenes, and baddie (unlikeable) characters won’t be anything TOO shocking. Eszterhas also wrote this screenplay; it’s NOT only bad writing, BUT often the story doesn’t make sense!

Nomi (Berkley- a former teen star from Saved by the Bell) is woman in her early 20s who’s hitchhiking to Vegas; she has dreams of becoming a showgirl. She is robbed by the young man who gave her a ride; in a parking lot, she (luckily) meets a young Black woman, Molly (Gina Rivera), who gets her food and offers her a place to live. Then we shift forward 6 wks; Molly is doing a fashion degree while working on costumes (BTS of a big show). Nomi is working at a popular strip club, yet NOT happy about it. Molly takes Nomi along one night to her job; Nomi is SO taken w/ the performance (and can’t wait for her chance). Soon, she gets an audition, and the story gets going.

Verhoeven makes some (weird) directorial choices and they don’t pay off. The tone is some scenes doesn’t fit the story; it’s quite jarring. Berkley’s overacting (“continuous thrashing”- as one of the hosts of The Bechdel Cast pod said) is V annoying! There is V little that can be called “hot” or “steamy” in this movie (esp. to modern eyes), though there is a LOT of nudity! If you’re bothered by the skin-baring on shows like HBO’s GoT, then this will be TOO much for you. I think the only actor who is effective is Gershon, who plays Cristal (the est. star of the show). Zach (Kyle MacLachhlan w/ a V sleazy hairstyle) is involved w/ Cristal and promotes the show; he also becomes interested in Nomi. Perhaps the worst thing here is how terribly Molly is treated (in the last act); it’s V violent and unnecessary! Just don’t watch it- you can thank me now.

Elle (2016) starring Isabelle Huppert

A successful businesswoman gets caught up in a game of cat and mouse as she tracks down the unknown man who raped her. -Synopsis

Michèle (Huppert) is a mature/Parisian woman who co-owns a video game company, specializing in games filled w/ sex/violence. After being raped in her home, she (calmly) cleans up the mess and orders sushi. Now, this is NOT how we expect a victim to behave (in the movies)! We soon see that she is NOT easy to like, BUT compelling to watch! Michele (tough/independent/says what she wants) has been greatly affected by her father; she doesn’t trust the police. The film explores NOT only Michèle’s relationship w/ her rapist (whose identity is est. about 2/3 of the way), BUT also her circle of family/friends. There’s her best friend, ex-husband, a jobless son w/ a pregnant gf, and a troubled employee, etc.

I almost couldn’t believe that the same director who made Showgirls also made this movie! It is based on a book. Though it is well-made w/ subtle (and dark) humor, it could be V disturbing to many viewers. Why does Michele react in the ways she does!? It’s almost like she’s inviting danger into her life. Huppert is known (internationally) as a fine actress; she doesn’t express many emotions here, BUT makes a big impression. What works in one country/culture will NOT always be embraced (or even tolerated) in another one. I learned that Verhoeven wanted to make this in the US, BUT he couldn’t get any American actress to tackle the lead role.