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Internal Affairs (1990)
good cast in a mediocre story
Pictures are not the real life, but a thriller should at least have a plausible story. Unfortunately, Internal Affairs provides too many logical gaps, e.g.
- The supervisors turn down Ray and Amy's investigation concerning Dennis Peck, because there is no probable cause for an accusal. But there still remain several questions (e.g. how Van Stretch and Peck could afford their lifestyles) leading to sufficient reason to carry on the investigation until there either is probable cause or the suspicion is clearly incapable of proof. Reasonably, the supervisors would be interested in finding the truth before deciding if there is probable cause for an accusal.
- When Ray, Amy and Dorian try to get the Latino guy a SWAT-team shows up and shoots Dorian. Firstly, I wonder that it takes no more than a call from P2-Cop Dennis Peck to start such an operation. Secondly, police forces are legally required to at least try to arrest people alive and not just shoot around with machine guns. Thirdly, why do they shoot Dorian and Amy? Even if the SWAT guys did not hear them shouting that they were police officers, these two would not have been objects of the operation anyway.
- Every woman in his personal environment falling for Dennis Peck (wife, ex-wife, his partner's wife, Arroca's wife, the black hooker) is just over the top. Okay, Richard Gere is a cutie, but sorry, I cannot believe that they don't even care about being part of a harem and in part still remain sort of friends. Quite a tacky view of women, I have to say.
- The end was disappointing. It would have been so much more satisfying if Peck had been convicted instead of being shot by Ray (like Peck apparently preferred himself - why else would he show up at his apartment?). Again, Ray would have been obligated to try to arrest him and thus aiming at Peck's feet or something before shooting his chest (twice!).
An unintentional funny moment is the "dirty talk" between Kathleen and Ray in the museum (using the words "brush" and "to paint" for ... well, you figure out yourself). I am aware of the late 80's/ early 90's style and can go for it - but, come on!
In spite of everything, it remains an ordinarily entertaining police thriller, as Gere's and Garcia's performance apparently cannot be ruined by a bad script.
Killing Me Softly (2002)
Trash
Firstly, a look on the bright side: You might like this movie if you are in the mood for some trash thriller with outstanding awful performances of otherwise capable actors in a nice setting with a pretty and well-dressed Heather Graham. It could also deliver some funny embarrassing moments if watching this movie on a first date. Thus it scores 2 points.
Watching this movie in a theater at a sneak preview and thus knowing nothing about it, the ridiculous mixture of plot, dialogues and attitude of the main characters lead us to the misinterpretation that we were seeing a satire. Only after about 20 minutes we realized that it was just a stunningly bad thriller. We still had some fun and good laughs. I wonder what it takes to make an actor like Joseph Fiennes to play so poorly. Maybe he, too, thought this was meant to be a satire.
American Gangster (2007)
French Connection
American Gangster immediately reminded me of French Connection - which I coincidentally had watched only a few days before I saw American Gangster. The main theme of both movies is a cat-and-mouse game between the gentleman head of a criminal organization and a rather gruff cop, based on a true story. In either case the Manhattan atmosphere is caught brilliantly, as is the era of the late 60s/early 70s. Thus I would conclude that if you liked the one, you will also enjoy the other.
However, American Gangster is less dark and more glamorous, as it emphasizes on Frank Lucas' rise to wealth (and stylish lodgings) and is accompanied with an entertaining soundtrack.
The main cast is great - especially Russel Crowe acts brilliantly again.
Yet I have something to criticize. In my opinion, the character of Frank Lucas is too plain. He is described as a (only) two-dimensional person - the loving son and generous family guy on the one side and the hard criminal business man an the other side. Sadly, you hardly get to see any facets in-between, so that Lucas is bit of a cliché, q.v. any mafia movie. Plus, in the sake of putting across the nostalgic atmosphere, the setting and outfits are a bit too glamorous, idealizing the circumstances.
Thumbsucker (2005)
just too boring
This movie was too boring to finish. I gave up hope for something to happen after about an hour, switching to something more fascinating (doing the laundry). Though I liked the figures and the setting I could not help wonder why I should be bothered with Valium on screen. Besides, the soundtrack fits in perfectly (not a compliment in this context). The only highlights: Vince Vaughn as a teacher and the adorable Tilda Swinton as a frustrated but at the same time optimistic mother and housewife. With only a few alterations this could have been an acceptable coming-of-age-story. But it ends up in neither being funny nor exciting nor challenging in any way. Finally, the thumb sucking wannabe-leitmotif just sucks.