footstone
Needs to be watched intently and more than once. Very chilling and very apropo for the tense atmosphere that surrounds us all. Also very touching. I'm intentionally being vague because it's such a great movie and I don't want to take away anyone's enjoyment who have not seen it.
The Movie Diorama
I can't really describe the feeling when I watch this film, I neither love it or hate it...I just feel really mixed. Like it just exists. Coming hot off of Casino Royale, Martin Campbell revisits the BBC series and turns it into a feature film that incorporates shadowy organisations, conspiracies and vengeance. A good conspiracy leaves you on the edge of your seat, this does not...but it's actually rather mature and intelligent. Sure, remove the improbable ending and slow beginning, and what we are left with is a very mysterious plot that I'm certain probably does happen in reality with big governmental organisations (less extreme of course, I'm looking at you Apple!). Whilst our lead character is playing the detective role and following the bread crumbs so to speak, he is also a father mourning the tragic death of his daughter which definitely brings in some much needed emotion and motive. Crazy Mel Gibson, who hadn't had a lead role since Signs, plays the Boston detective who...can hear the voice of his deceased daughter and engage in conversations with her...maybe he is crazy after all. To be fair, he was pretty decent and was able to hold my attention. Ray Winstone was strange casting and didn't really work for me, who plays a shady agent with his own motives. Danny Huston though, always a good choice although slightly underused. Martin Campbell's directing style felt like it was made for TV, nothing snazzy or spectacular...just functional. Perhaps a well intentioned choice to keep it in the roots of the TV series. Two scenes though, absolutely magnificent or what I like to call "Oh My God" moments. One involves the detective's daughter and the other a collision with a car. Literally happened out of nowhere and caught me off guard, excellent editing! But still...I feel "meh" even thinking about the film. It's finely crafted, and utterly watchable if you had nothing to do on a Sunday afternoon. I just don't think I'll ever fully appreciate it. Worth a watch.
Tweekums
Thomas Craven is a Boston detective who's only child, his daughter Emma, is gunned down and dies in his arms in the opening minutes. He, along with everybody else, naturally assumes that he was the real target but the more he learns about his daughter's life the more obvious it becomes that she was involved with some very dangerous people. She worked at Northmoor, an independent defence research and development company which she discovered was involved in some very illegal activities. Three people she helped access the facility turned up dead and irradiated and it turns out she too is radioactive. As Craven looks into her life he learns that those who knew her are very scared, and rightly so
whatever Emma discovered Northmoor will go to any length to keep secret.This film is a solid enough thriller with plenty of action and a decent story
the problem is that anybody who watched the original BBC miniseries is sure to find this weak by comparison; not surprising given that six hours of material have been cut down to two. On the plus side all of the significant characters have changed significantly so I didn't find myself comparing them too much. The main cast are pretty good; Mel Gibson is believable as Craven and Ray Winstone impresses as Jedbugh, a somewhat menacing fixer whose loyalties are far from obvious. As the story approaches its conclusion there aren't too many surprises; the ending is effective without being anything too special. Overall I'd say this is worth watching if you are a fan of Mel Gibson or fancy watching a decent thriller that will pass a couple of hours
however if you want a superior version with more interesting characters and a deeper story then watched the original mini-series.
SnoopyStyle
Police detective Thomas Craven (Mel Gibson) loses his daughter when masked man shoot her on his front steps right next to him. He can't be part of the police investigation but that doesn't stop him. Before the shooting, she was sick and had tried to tell him something. As he digs deeper, he discovers a vast corrupt conspiracy.Mel Gibson tries to return to movies after his personal problems. The movie starts with a lot of promise. He's quite compelling as the angry resolute father. He gives a great tone to his performance. We've seen this Mel Gibson character before. However the convoluted story gets way too complicated. The rambling story loses the tension and excitement. At least, Mel shows that he still has the screen presence.
AD
