Philippe Horak
The film Dolan's Cadillac" addresses the sad issue of the traffic of illegal immigrants in the United States, in this case women destined for prostitution rings. Jimmy Dolan is one such trafficker. The part is played in a masterful way by Christian Slater who manages to appear as a particularly vicious and spiteful character. He is especially brilliant in the last scene. The film uses the old time narrative favorite of taking a Mr Everybody, in this case Wes Bentley in the part of a school teacher, placed in a situation he is not cut for, thus ensuring viewer identification with the main protagonist. A short thriller – unlike some other material by Stephen King – with good montage and music.
RickHarvey
Having read the short story by Stephen King before viewing this film, i can clearly confirm that for anyone who is hoping for a faithful adaption, you may find yourself in two half's.The film itself is average. The pacing at the start is spot on and the story should be intriguing enough for you wanting more. This said, I watched this film with a companion and unlike me, he hasn't read the story. I'm not going to moan about how the film isn't better than the book cause it's never is but what i will say is that my friend must of got confused during the final parts.The main character, Robinson, takes up a job on the highways to get a grip of the machinery which he'll be using to execute his plan. This also involves him creating a illusionary canvas and setting up a false detour. I know all this because i've read the book, however, the film does such a awful job showing the characters emotions and there purposes that i'll warn you not to get upset when you find yourself lost.Long story short, film is a mess. Bently at times was laughable, Slater had no swagger and Robinson's Partner was idiotic. I dunno, i loved the story but even if had never read it before setting eyes on the film, it wouldn't of made much difference.
FlashCallahan
Elizabeth witnesses the execution of two coyotes and an illegal immigrant by the human trafficker Jimmy Dolan and decides to report the incident to the police.However, she loses her cellular and Dolan finds it, tracks her address down and threatens her.Elizabeth goes to the FBI with Robinson and they move to a safe house under the protection of two agents.When Elizabeth sneaks from the house to buy pregnancy tests, her car explodes and she dies.Robinson decides to avenge Elizabeth's death....Another year and another King adaptation. This one borderlines the good and the average. Slater who hasn't aged since Kuffs, is the main draw here, whilst he doesn't really fit the bad guy role, there is some anarchy to be enjoyed in his rantings.But Bentley, proves that American Beauty was a one ff, as he is as wooden as ever before, spending the majority fthe film looking perplexed and imitating his life in the 2000's. He brings the film down and and causes scenes that should be intense, to be lethargic and overdrawn.The script is unintentionally funny with some great one liners, and the set up of revenge is executed greatly, but we have to endure Bentley for an hour to get to it.As I have pointed out, if you are a Slater fan, it's a great showboat for him, but all in all, it's a pretty, but pointless affair.
David Traversa
I don't get it. Why Hollywood makes so many movies where they make us feel sympathy for the villain? Why so many movies about drug pushers, drug users, the scum of society with no redeeming values in film after film, almost all of them alike scene after scene? If we saw one, we saw them all. The detective (police, whatever) whose wife is killed and he has to avenge her death by himself, etc. How many times have we seen that??? I know while I write this, I must sound like a sort of a preacher, but maybe it's because I don't have the ease of language to express myself in a deeper way about what I feel. I'm not shocked by this sort of films, I'm just BORED. How many improbabilities we see throughout the length of this film? Too many to name them. Just a few: Robinson's girlfriend finished that product she was using so much and leaves the apartment building in a rush at midnight to get more of it, when she knew very well her life was in danger.She would never have done that in real life. Dolan speaks CONSTANTLY on his cell phone, why then, instead of screaming his head off when he's trapped in his Cadillac, he doesn't call members of his gang and ask them to rescue him?How could ONE PERSON (Robinson) excavate such an enormous crater BY HIMSELF!! and then cover it again BY HIMSELF!!! (Superman in disguise?)What about road traffic?Road traffic DISAPPEARED completely from that area during the whole time of this incident!!! Really..., they are asking us to withhold judgment in such large a degree for any thinking viewer...But obviously some people enjoy this type of films very much (otherwise they would never be done). The end is perfectly ridiculous.
AD
