Blow (2001)

Blow (2001)

Blow is the true story of George Jung. Jung started the cocaine market in America in the 1970s.

Since the film is about the rise and fall of a cocaine dealer it does have some similarities to Scarface, but it still is a completely different movie. Though I like Scarface more than Blow one thing I liked is that they actually show the work that he does. In Scarface they show the business side of the cocaine market but don’t really show the sales and shipping, which works for Scarface because its more of a just a character study. Blow, however, at least in the early half, shows sales and shipping and things that I find very interesting. We still get to see what goes on in Jung’s head, but a different side of the business he’s in.

Johnny Depp really held this film together, he did great and I feel its one of his better performances. The Supporting cast, Penelope Cruz, Paul Reubens, Ethan Suplee, Ray Liotta, all did good but not really strong enough to give this film a ten. Jordi Molla had the best performance in the film.

The story, dialog, directing, cinematography, were all good and for the most part an original style. It really was the average acting on the part of most of the cast that held this film down I think. Still a great film, I feel it just missed the mark it should have been at.

Great film to watch for anyone especially Johnny Depp fans. Its one of those films that are based on a true story that are more interesting because of that fact.

9/10

Chinese Coffee (2000)

Chinese Coffee (2000)

5 word summary

friends argue about their life

Chinese Coffee is an interesting movie. If you read what its about or even watch it it seems like it should be boring but for some reason its not.

Al Pacino and Jerry Orbach play two old friends who sit and talk for an hour and a half. They talk about their past, money and Harry’s (Pacino) new book. That’s pretty much it. 2 guys in a room talking, and somehow it’s really entertaining. The movie is based on a play, which makes sense, it just doesn’t seem like one that would become a good movie, but it does.

The style of Chinese Coffee reminded me of Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolfe, it’s not as good but both are very play like and are mainly set in one room and completely dialogue driven.

Al Pacino and Jerry Orbach both had great performances. I would actually consider this Pacino’s last great performance, but hopefully that will change soon.

So if you like Al Pacino or Jerry Orbach try to find this film. Especially since it’s one of the only movies Pacino directed. Hopefully this film is carried more places soon because it really is worth watching. I had to order it off ebay just to see it.

8/10

1408 (2007)

1408 (2007)

5 word summary

Writer stays in killer room

1408 is a classic style horror movie. It doesn’t just depend on a serial killer like many horror movies of the last few decades. It has more of a gothic old school feel to it which makes it stand out from others.

This is one of my favorite Stephen King horror adaptations, second to Kubrick’s The Shinning. With a story that barely depends on actual dialog, except for the set up, Director Mikael Hafstrom and the rest of the crew did a great job building suspense. Using music and camera work they get every little thing that happens to be tense.

John Cusack deserves a lot of credit for the thrills as well. Though not his best work, he did a great job at making the film creepy and did have an overall good performance, which doesn’t happen much in horror films. Samuel Jackson’s role was also really good and was a lot of fun to watch.

As I mentioned earlier, one of my favorite parts of this film is that it isn’t an average horror movie. The bad guy isn’t a killer or anything, it’s the mind. Though room 1408 is a “haunted room” its not a regular ghost story, it doesn’t attack him, it makes him attack himself. Its similar to The Shinning but a different version. Instead of having a hotel room make you go insane and try killing people, the room makes you go insane and kill yourself.

****Spoilers****

My favorite thing about this film is when he wakes up at the beach… its all been a dream after he got knocked out while surfing. And really you hate them for it. What a cop out. I actually kind of wanted to walk out.

As his life goes on and thing start showing up from the hotel, faces and people he saw there. You start to wonder what is gonna happen, how can this film save itself. Then the mail room falls apart and he’s been in the room the whole time and is still stuck. As a viewer I couldn’t help but smile, but for him it makes it worse. What a great save.

As the rest of the film goes on and the end comes you still kind of feel it wasn’t real. To him it was real but really he was just crazy. That’s why the ending is so great. He plays the recorder and you here his daughter, his wife looks terrified and shocked, he doesn’t look surprised at all, he knew it was real, he looks at her with a blank expression. Credits role.

****End Spoilers****

This is one of my favorite horror films. Even if you don’t really like horror films you should still like this one. I don’t usually enjoy that many horror films but this is an exception. Any horror, King, Cusack or Jackson fans should watch this one and sit back for a fun, creepy, and original horror thriller.

8/10