rixrex
Once Kimberly Williams, now going by mod name Kimberly Williams-Paisley, picks up a set of chopsticks, you know you've gotten yourself into a 90s hipster film, this one being of the intrigue sub-genre of action films. Accordingly it leans more on dramatic effect and less on action.The downside is that the typical 90s hipster political attitudes and mores tend to get in the way of enjoying the film, with all the government conspiracy around every corner and conservatives as fascists in disguise who would choose donuts before salads, the typically immature and mono-dimensional views of society by 20-something 90s era hipsters.Fortunately, Patrick Stewart puts in his usual commanding and forceful performance and makes us concentrate on the important issue, that of him being aware that he is losing his memory and trying to deal with it the best he can.The surprise ending is not a gigantic surprise, but it's fine. The whole thing about Williams' character being a macro-biotic chef ends up seeming just stupid once it's seen in the light of how it all ends. Watch and you will understand.Since when did using chopsticks become the symbol of liberal enlightenment? What's wrong with the fork, a better utensil anyway? Attention hipsters: The fascist Ghenghis Khan used chopsticks too, when he wasn't using his hands.
J_schinderlin56
This is without a doubt my favorite movie of ALL TIME! Patrick Stewart's performance is nothing less than captivating. One minute you're laughing you're head off, the next you're sympathizing with him. I won't give it away but the ending is awesome. It's so perfect! A movie that you both can and can't take seriously all at the same time! You can laugh one moment, and think in the next. Hilarious and convincing characters that could only exist in a movie, but keep you on the edge of your seat. And it has a plot that's easy to understand but keeps you guessing. Mr. Stewart is a true actor in every since of the word, and this little known nugget is one of his finest works. IT'S A MUST SEE!
TBJCSKCNRRQTreviews
This is a film about paranoia. When you think you're being watched, your every move being documented, your every action recorded and analyzed. Mace Sowell, an ex-military officer from a covert operations team no one knows about, is confined to his home, because he fears for his life. His daughter doesn't think that he is in danger, instead, she just thinks he's getting senile, or maybe he's just paranoid. He regularly runs 'drills' in order to keep himself prepared for any direct strike on his house. Meanwhile, he also discovers that he's slowly developing Alzheimer's Disease, which only makes things worse. The plot is great, the idea is quite original, and the movie moves along at a great pace; every scene has some development in the plot, and often it also has some great humor. The film delivers a great sense of paranoia all the way through. The acting is great, both by Patrick Stewart and Kimberly Williams. The consistent paranoia, the various intense scenes that are easily explained once they're over, the overall mood of the film, it all leads up to an exciting climax that only few will be able to figure out until it happens. All in all, a great thriller about paranoia. I recommend this to fans of thrillers, especially fans that are fond of conspiracy theories and paranoia in thrillers. 8/10
downyokp
I will start by admitting that I'm a Star Trek fan, and in particular a Next Gen fan. So yes, I have a bias towards liking Stewart, although I think most can agree he is a skilled actor.That concession aside, and as my summary suggests, this is not an epic movie, just a short story. I loved the set design, which was quite clever; where most movies tend to create the impression of big houses and locales, this one manages to create the impression of close spaces, as appropriate for a fortress in suburbia.You will continue to guess at whether or not Stewart's paranoia is justified or just symptoms of Alzheimer's until the very end. Stewart is well fitted for the part, or at the very least he was convincing to me. I think this particular says something since I'm used to seeing him as Captain Picard.I wouldn't try to sell this off as an accurate portrayal of how DIA operatives act when they retire. I wouldn't know anything about that. I don't even know if there is such a thing as the DIA.What I will say is that the movie is best taken as a diversion, a fun romp that keeps you interested, but it doesn't grip you like an epic. Perhaps rightly so, since the subject matter doesn't fit an epic movie anyway.As a final note, I still don't see anything wrong with genre mixing. Why can't you have a drama that's funny, or a comedy with serious action, or whatever it is you want to blend? If it works it works, if it doesn't it doesn't, and it works for me here. (See as an example "The Big Hit," which the writer called a "hip-hop comic Hong Kong action movie") This movie is a small little tidbit, to be taken and enjoyed as such. 8/10
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