Tag Archives: Thriller

Thriller and suspense films.

Silence, The (2013) [Review]

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Director: Baran bo Odar
Writer(s): Baran bo Odar (screenplay), Jan Costin Wagner (novel)
Cast: Ulrich Thomsen, Wotan Wilke Möhring, Katrin Saß, Sebastian Blomberg, and Burghart Klaußner
Rated: Not rated (violence/sexuality)
Sites: IMDb/trailer Official movie site
Notes: Film is distributed by Music Box Films. Original release date: 2010.

aka Das letzte Schweigen

The Silence opens with two men driving in a car on a country road somewhere in Germany. They pass a young girl on her bike who turns down a road partially hidden in a wooded area. The car backs up and proceeds to follow the girl. The driver gets out, approaches the girl, and then viciously attacks her while his passenger waits in the car as it happens. The mood this scene puts you in is the same one that will stay with you throughout the entire duration of the film.

The majority of the film takes place 23 years after the girl vanishes in the opening scene when yet another girl goes missing. What’s interesting about this case is that it happens to be on the anniversary of the old case, and the bike belonging to the most recent missing girl, 13-year-old Sinikka, was found in the very same spot as that of Pia, the original victim. This new string of events cause several characters that have some relation or passion for the case to become invested in finding out who is responsible and finding answers.

The Silence movie review

There’s a widowed cop determined to fill the void in his life, a recently retired cop similarly doing the same, a successful family man with secrets, and the parents of both missing girls to name a few. All intertwine to form the groundwork of the mystery surrounding the missing girls. As the police follow leads and connections between the original and present cases, Sinikka’s parents struggle to pick up the pieces of what remains of their relationship and our family man Timo (Wotan Wilke Möhring) faces his past and present in the midst of the latest news headlines. Family, workplace, and crime drama all circulate the dark and bleak atmosphere with seamless consistency, which kept me equally interested in each character and his/her conflicts and developments.

Though this is certainly not a feel-good movie, should a story with this sort of subject matter really be anyway? I felt the film really embodied the feeling of loss, small-town tragedy and personal and familial conflicts at different levels quite realistically. This was not a film that set out to be a revenge film, or to find justice of the crime. It’s goal seemed to be to simply explore the effects caused by the tragic events that took place. Most of those effects are bad, and leave us with ill feelings. The film does this eerily well with the perfect musical score, clean yet stark camera shots, and bone-chillingly good acting performances all around. Many will be put off by the less than pleasant-feeling ending, and the overall feeling the film emits but those looking for a more emotive and gripping crime thriller will find much to delve into with The Silence.

 

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Taken 2 (2012)

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Director: Olivier Megaton
Writer(s): Luc Besson, Robert Mark Kamen
Cast: Liam Neeson, Maggie Grace, Famke Janssen, and Rade Serbedzija
Rated: PG-13 (violence)
Sites: IMDb/trailer Official movie site

Taken 2 movie review

Did you ever watch a movie, especially an action movie, that ends with a satisfying ending when the good guy beats the bad guys? Of course you have. But did you ever stop to think about the lives of the nameless goons that the movie’s hero slays with ease and without hesitation? Do they have family, anyone who would avenge them? Taken 2 tries to give us an answer to those questions by showing the friends and family of the first film’s goons and their promise of vengeance.

I’ll admit it, when I first heard about the sequel to 2008′s Taken, I thought it was yet another unnecessary sequel created to capitalize off a successful action film. Turns out, like it so often does, my initial assumptions were wrong. It’s after I see a film like this, I really resent reading other reviews and hearing criticism, especially before I have seen the film myself.

Taken 2 takes place when we can assume is in the near future after the events of the first film. Bryan (Liam Neeson) is still the over-proctective father, now more than ever. His daughter Kim (Maggie Grace) is struggling to be a normal girl after what happened to her, mainly by having a boyfriend and trying to get a driver’s license. Mom Lenore (Famke Janssen) is dealing with the disintegration of her marriage. Bryan attempts to lift the family’s spirits by taking them all on a trip to Istanbul, where he will be doing a security job.

Meanwhile we’re given glimpses of the thugs plotting their revenge and making their way towards Bryan and his family when they arrive in Istanbul. We know exactly what’s going to happen, and even have a good idea of how it’s going to go down. That really doesn’t matter though as the excitement and anticipation starts to build. Once Bryan and Lenore are captured, it’s daughter Kim who must now save her parents this time. But of course, Bryan Mills still undoubtedly must kick some serious butt.

Let’s make this clear: this is an action film. It’s full of wild stunts, stereotypes, and unlikely and exaggerated scenarios. These aspects are things that make action films fun. While it certainly isn’t impossible to make a good action film with very realistic qualities, having those features have always made up the fantasy element that makes the movies an escape and exciting. My point is that when you’re watching a work of fiction, you’re really missing out by nitpicking a film for it’s realistic “flaws”.

I loved Taken 2 because it did a great job of tackling a premise that isn’t often seen in films. When a film has a satisfying ending, it’s easy to move on. But this film doesn’t let you get off that easy. It follows the ramifications caused by a man who’s killed multiple unidentified men. That to me is the “real” aspect of the film that most action films ignore for audience satisfaction. Mills may be able to outshoot and outfight 20 men, and his daughter may be a natural driving stick in narrow alleyways at high speeds even though she doesn’t have a license, but those to me don’t take away from the real effect of the film.

To me this is a top class action film. Unnecessary sequel? I think not. This is a more than necessary sequel that will sadly more than likely be unappreciated for years to come. It’s a puzzling time when cape-wearing superhero movies dominate the box office and exciting and original films are blasted for minuscule details that don’t satisfy the audience’s expectations. Taken 2 really made me excited about action films again (while also reminding me you just don’t mess with Liam Neeson). Had I seen this movie during 2012, it likely would have made my top 10 favorite movies list.

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Top 10 Favorite Movies of 2012

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Top 10 films of 2012

2012 has came and gone, and the world didn’t end! To celebrate our spared existence, I present my top 10 favorite films from last year. As usual, we start things out with some noteworthy titles. As always, this is a tough list to put together, but it should certainly not be taken as any kind “best” list, for who am I to say what classifies something as the best? These are just those that stood out and made the biggest impact for me personal this past year.

Honorable mentions

Arbitrage starring Richard Gere was a solid and stylish drama surrounding a business man dealing with the ramifications of some bad decisions; while the trailer may have given away most of the movie, People Like Uswas a heartfelt and emotional family-driven drama with some excellent performances; indie coming-of-parenthood dramedy Small, Beautifully Moving Parts was quite charming, mostly due by a extraordinary performance by Anna Margaret Hollyman; Indie it-girl (I question my own use of that term, in any case…) Greta Gerwig steals the show in Lola Versus which has some really well done scenes, but resides in an overdone genre; Beasts of the Southern Wild displayed a magical method of storytelling in an emotion-filled tale of a father and daughter surviving in the wake of a disastrous storm in the bayou; Liam Neeson showed he’s still a badass even in the face of man-hungry wolves in the icy cold thriller The Grey; Joseph Gordon-Levitt killed it in Premium Rush as a New York City bike messenger who performs adrenaline-filled stunts to get away from a corrupt cop played by a villainous Michael Shannon; it came as a surprise, but Jessica Biel delivered what I’d personally consider an Oscar-deserving performance in The Tall Man, her monologue is the icing on the cake of this dark and moody mystery; and finally there was Man on a Ledge, the clever crime flick about a man (Sam Worthington) standing on the ledge of a skyscraper while a heist is taking place, but it isn’t without some twists and surprises.

10. The Hobbit

This perhaps could have appeared higher on my list, but as I mentioned in the intro this was incredibly tough. The epic adventure from the world of The Lord of the Rings follows the story of the book The Hobbit, which precedes the Rings series. The film is just as epic as Peter Jackson’s Rings triology, filled with florious visuals, an exciting storyline and tons that overall magic that was felt with the Rings films. I’m definitely looking forward to the second two films in this new trilogy.

9. Moonrise Kingdom

Wes Anderson and Roman Coppola tell the tale of young love in true Wes Anderson fashion. The quirky characters, fantastic costumes, and overall beautifully strange style makes this love story a treat for the eyes and ears. The film does a great job of capturing the spirit of youth, young love, and rebellion but in a most unique fashion.

8. Beyond the Black Rainbow

And the award for Most Bizarre Film of the Year goes to…Beyond the Black Rainbow! This movie had to be on my list as it is one of the most bizarre and unique films I’ve seen for a while. What stands out the most is its 80s-inspired style. The film look, the colors, the music, everything screams retro but without feeling gimmicky. Filmmaker Panos Cosmatos was apparently channeling his youth days of watching late night TV when coming up with this film, but the final product is a psychological trip and an aesthetic feast.

7. Prometheus

The film takes place in the Alien universe, but not being well-versed in that particular universe I went into this film with an open mind and no expectations (other than I would be seeing my fave, Noomi Rapace, and would likely be seeing some cool visuals). I was truly blown away by the visuals and the mythology behind the story, so much that I desperately wanted more. My only negative is that the film really lacked a lot with the characters and their stories.

6. The Hunger Games

The book got me excited, but I was very surprised when the film ended up being one of the best book-to-movie adaptations I’ve seen. The attention to detail was great, the acting was superb, and the futuristic visuals were incredibly pulled off. Though it was a longer film, they managed to cram most of the film’s details in (though what I would consider some key parts were left out). Perhaps that was also a downside for the film; many parts seemed rushed and those that seemed significant in the book didn’t seem so much so in the film.

5. Ruby Sparks

Paul Dano and Zoe Kazan (who also wrote the film) have great chemistry in this hilarious yet emotional gem about a writer who invents the love of his life through his writing, only to realize she suddenly appears in his life as his real girlfriend. The clever and playfully silly concept is a breath of fresh air, and the acting and writing really bring it to life. While it may seem more like a fantasy, the relationship aspects of the film are realistic and emotional.

4. Hitchcock

Anthony Hopkins revives a real-life character in Hitchcock, the biopic about arguably one of the best filmmakers in history, Alfred Hitchcock, and his making of the film Psycho. The film was extremely interesting to me for two reasons: the dramatic look at the making of a great film like Psycho during the time it came out (1960) in the midst of extreme controversy, knowing the success it would have (and continue to have); and the portrayal of Hitchcock himself, which Hopkins does with all the right mannerisms. The film feels much like a comedy at times, but when thinking about the real story it’s even more effective.

3. The Hunter

The Hunter is a truly gripping thriller that is driven by a demanding performance by WIllem Dafoe. Dafoe plays a mercenary hired to hunt down what is believed to be the last of the Tasmanian Tigers. The cold and snowy scenery is breathtaking, but also adds to the dark and mysterious tone of the film. At times I felt that the film seemed a little slow, mostly because there are several long shots with very little to no talking, but it knew how to pick things up when it needed to.

2. Perks of Being a Wallflower

I have always been drawn to films about loners, misfits, losers, outcasts, etc. Perhaps I can identify with some aspects of those characters, but in any case, I always appreciate a film not following cliche heroes and supermodels. This film is based on the book by the same name about such a loner (Logan Lerman) who befriends an eccentric brother and sister. Authentic acting performances bring the realism to the story, which is filled with true emotion from both the funny and the sad parts of growing up, finding love, and dealing with personal demons.

1. Headhunters

Ever since 2009′s The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (the Swedish film), I have always been on the lookout for Scandinavian thrillers. Like the Dragon Tattoo films, Headhunters is also based on a book by a hugely popular author, Jo Nesbø. This Norwegian crime thriller follows a man who’d otherwise seem quite average, if it were not for his success as a corporate headhunter and secret art thief. When the main character, Roger Brown (Aksel Hennie) steals his latest piece, he winds up in a mess he didn’t expect. The film is full of twists and turns, laughs and cringes, and it doesn’t let up. I also have to mention that it’s hard to believe that this was the first role for the actress who played Roger’s wife DIana, Synnøve Macody Lund. This film has everything I look for in the genre, and it left me craving more!

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Headhunters (2012)

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Director: Morten Tyldum
Writer(s): Lars Gudmestad, Ulf Ryberg, and Jo Nesbø (novel)
Cast: Aksel Hennie, Synnøve Macody Lund, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, and Eivind Sander
Rated: R (gory violence, nudity)
Sites: IMDb/trailer Official movie site
Notes: Official Facebook

aka Hodejegerne

Headhunters movie review

I have always had a big interest in Scandinavian films. I don’t often come across them in my neck of the woods, but almost always I end up loving their films. Once I saw the trailer for the Norwegian film Headhunters, based on the novel by the increasingly popular author Jo Nesbø, I just had a feeling I would love it.

The film is introduced by its main character, Roger Brown (Askel Hennie), who gives us the insight into his life. One the outside, the relatively short man has a glamorous life complete with a fancy house, nice car, expensive suits, and a gorgeous wife (a breakout performance by newbie Synnøve Macody Lund). As they usually are, things are different behind the scenes for Roger. Aside from some issues with his marriage, Roger happens to also have the secret of being an art thief when he’s not doing his day job as a corporate headhunter.

Roger’s wife, Diana, happens to own an art gallery. As fate would have it, an acquaintance of Diana’s, Clas Greve (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) tells her about a very rare painting he is in the possession of. Upon hearing of this, Roger decides this is his next mark. Roger, along with his accomplice Ove (Eivind Sander) coordinate the heist. The situation turns out to be more than what Roger bargained for when its discovered Clas is a former mercenary and a big wig of a tech company that makes GPS tracking devices.

Headhunters movie review

The film’s sly sense of humor and charismatic lead immediately drew me into the picture, but I have to say once the action of the plot kicked in, I couldn’t turn away. I honestly didn’t expect the action the film had, and the several twists and turns it took. The movie just doesn’t let up, but it’s far more than just being about the action. The storyline is clever and exciting and the film does a great job of building on the characters and making us feel something for them.

Headhunters is yet another example of how the Scandinavians are doing something so right that Hollywood can’t seem to grasp. The movie was an exciting thriller while also having a well thought out plot and well written characters. What I really appreciated was the amount of dark humor the film had, which wasn’t arbitrarily added in, it naturally added some comic relief without being turning the film into a farce. There’s also the drama between the characters, especially Roger and Diana, that felt genuine and again built on our feelings towards the characters.

This film is likely my favorite of the year. It had it all: crime, action, plot twists, and the pacing was perfect. The film looks great and has a cool style to it, but it manages to pull of being a stylish flick without showboating or coming off as being full of itself. Headhunters is certainly a serious film, but it’s intelligent way of combining the many aforementioned traits keep it quite entertaining.

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Top 5 Favorite Horror Films of 2012 – Halloween Special

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Halloween came and went this year, but here are my top 5 favorite horror films of the year. In typical CriticNic fashion, I wasn’t able to see as much as I would like, but nonetheless there were a few good ones so far. There also have been a bunch that are hard to place definitively into the genre, so I ended up leaving off a few films I really loved.

Top 5 Best Horror Films of 2012

Honorable mentions: Cabin in the Woods, The Monitor, Six Degrees of Hell, Gut, and The Tall Man

Let’s start with Cabin in the Woods. I had a lot of fun with this film and thought it was a creative spin on the horror genre that also paid tribute to many of the greats. I just didn’t love it. The Monitor was an excellent psychological thriller, starring the incredible Noomi Rapace, but I left it off because I had a hard time calling it horror. Six Degrees of Hell is a film I thought was worth mentioning because it was a solid effort from Joe Raffa, a young film maker who’s work I’ve become very interested in. It was a fun film with a nice concept, but the over-advertising of Corey Feldman in a lackluster role held it back. Gut was another low-budget flick with a cool concept and nice dark mood to it that I enjoyed. Then there’s The Tall Man. This was an amazing film for me, but while the cover and advertising may lead you to believe it’s horror, it’s a much stronger crime thriller with some great psychological twists.

5. The Woman in Black

This film was very well put together. Daniel Radcliff successfully breaks away from Harry Potter and plays a convincing widower. The film is packed with eerie jump scares, which I don’t mind here because they are effective and work with the film rather than thrown in conveniently for cheap thrills.

4. [Rec] 3: Genesis

Comparing it to its predecessors, [Rec] and [Rec 2], the film is a pretty much a letdown. However, looking at it as its own entity and more of a straight zombie film, it’s a really fun time. It’s a little silly at times (I loved the previous two films due to the realistic and serious feel), but still has some really cool things going for it.

3. Silent House

I haven’t seen the original The Silent House, but the concept for both films is similar. It’s shot in real time, which may seem gimmicky, but it works. The suspense is incredible, and there are some chilling moments as well. The psychologically-driven plot twists were unexpected and appreciated, and of course you have to acknowledge Elizabeth Olsen’s incredible performance.

2. V/H/S

This anthology film combines several “found footage” segments showing creepy and often bizarre situations for a very unique horror experience. Many of the situations, as well as their special effects, are things I haven’t seen in movies before. The movie is incredibly creative and a fun watch, which gained it high points in my book. I thought the wraparound story was a little lacking though, but either way it took the otherwise played out camcorder genre to a new level.

1. in their skin

This is on that borders on the crime thriller area, but I had to make this my top pick. I felt the film was near perfect for me. The situation in the film starts out as awkward, then turns just plain scary and unsettling. A home invasion is very effective as a scary situation, and even more so when the assailants are a bunch of whack jobs. The performances all around are outstanding and the film kept me on the edge of my seat from start to finish.

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