kathypig1 Reviews

Black Mass (2015)

Stellar cast and flawless directing-spoilers

[9/10 · 10 March 2016]

I wasn't sure at first about the choice of Johnny Depp to play the infamous Boston mob kingpin "Whitey" Bulger, as it seems of late his cinematic output has been at best , uneven, and at worst, abysmal. Under Scott Cooper's direction, though, Depp turns in a performance that is truly astonishing. Depp manages to convey both unbridled mob violence with scenes of domestic tenderness, often within mere seconds of one another. He is ably supported by the fantastically cast Joel Edgerton as the not-so-upright FBI agent who nails a perfect Bostonian accent in addition to the nuances of his conflicted relationship with Bulger. In fact, all the supporting roles are faultlessly cast. Benedict Cumberbatch-who seems destined to become the all-time winner of the Cinematic Workaholic Award at the rate he's racking up roles-is exquisite as Bulger's social climbing yet loyal brother, and Kevin Bacon and Peter Sarsgaard both give their brief appearances wonderful texture and depth. My one negative is the failure to really flesh out the female characters, with the exception being that of a young hooker who has one of 2015's great dramatic scenes. I love love love that particular scene both for the heartbreaking emotion and self-assured camera work. Hopefully this is the start of more good work to come from both Depp and Scott Cooper.

Captive (II) (2015)

David Oyewolo, Your Future Oscar is Calling!

[6/10 · 19 February 2016]

I generally loathe so-called "inspirational" true stories, and at first was ready to give up on this generic two-lives-in-collision movie. I'm glad I stuck with it because David Oyewolo really delivers the goods , as opposed to the rest of the cast, who seems to be phoning it in prior to cashing their paychecks. I never got a sense of Kate Mara as a character, even though she is one of the main protagonists. Oyewolo, however, is a revelation, bringing to life a range of emotions from desperation and despair, tenderness, remorse, and ultimately realization of the impact of his actions. There is a particularly nuanced scene as he is speaking to his baby son which is extremely powerful without being over-the-top. Oyewolo is definitely one actor to watch!

Last Knights (2015)

I.Can't.Even.

[1/10 · 25 December 2015]

Enduring this misconceived, poorly edited, and badly written mishmash of "47 Ronin", "Game of Thrones" and "300", proves my undying love for Clive Owen. About the only saving virtue of this horrific film is the interaction between Owen and Morgan Freeman, so once Freeman's character is removed, the film collapses into incomprehensibility. By the time the quasi-deranged fingernails-on-blackboard-irritating villain is dispatched with a swift beheading by Owen, I myself was wishing for a similar merciful end to my misery. Thank God for "the Knick" which allows Owen to display his considerable talents-this flick should be removed from his resume.

Spectre (I) (2015)

The probable valediction of Craig as Bond but going out on top

[9/10 · 10 December 2015]

After the Bond lite fluffy era of Pierce Brosnan, I welcomed the death- metal incarnation of Daniel Craig's interpretation of 007 with open arms. There's a sense of doomed majesty and grace about his portrayal of the British mega-spy that has been very gratifying to watch over the course of the last three films. "Spectre" is a fitting farewell, IF indeed this is Craig's last outing. I think the casting of Christoph Walz as archnemesis Blofeld was genius, and the supporting roles of M and Q are improving with each episode. I do, however, detest the theme song as performed by Sam Smith. Otherwise, a great send-off for Craig, and I eagerly await the next installment.

The Knick (2014–2015)

Finally Clive Owen gets a role worthy of his talents!

[10/10 · 10 December 2015]

I have to confess, I love Clive Owen shamelessly and without reservation. From his early roles in "Gosford Park" and "Croupier", I sensed his was a major powerful presence. After a string of mostly forgettable films (although he himself is usually in good form), I had feared he would be relegated to the "hey, there's that guy" roles without ever being allowed a real vehicle for his gifts. My worries were assuaged when "The Knick" came along. Owen is nothing short of marvelous as the dedicated yet damaged pioneering physician in turn-of- the-20th-century New York. This whole series is unjustifiably overlooked, not just for its scriptwriting and its incredibly nuanced and assured direction by Steven Soderbergh, but also for the perfectly cast supporting roles and the characterizations thereof. I especially like the relationship between Owen and his nurse Lucy, which has some elements of exploitation but also some real tenderness. There is a brief instant between the two of them in the "Crutchfield" episode which is incredibly heartfelt, to give just one example. Hopefully this series will be allowed to be a sustained piece just like "Mad Men," "Breaking Bad" ,and "The Sopranos."

Ripper Street (2012–2016)

High quality production with majorly underrated actors

[10/10 · 11 September 2015]

This series has absolutely gripped me from the beginning. Set in the grimy Whitechapel area of Victorian London in the immediate aftermath of the Jack the Ripper murders, this show is just flat-out sublime in casting, sets, costumes, period atmosphere, writing, and soundtrack.The hugely underrated Matthew McFadyen is glorious as Detective Inspector Edmund Reid, who is haunted (in more ways than obvious ones) by the unsolved Ripper killings. His colleague , Inspector Bennet Drake, is played to weary perfection by Jerome Flynn, who is thankfully by no means relegated to a secondary "sidekick" role. Drake and Reid are joined in their crime-fighting efforts by the American Civil War veteran/physician/medical detective Homer Jackson, who as portrayed by Adam Rothenberg, is a combination of chain-smoking Byronic hero and lab geek. If you're tired of shallow characterizations and inept screen writing masquerading as substantive TV dramas, then this is the show for you!

The Water Diviner (2014)

Gorgeous cinematography and compelling storyline

[9/10 · 25 July 2015]

Russell Crowe's directorial debut proves he is as capable and gifted behind the camera as he is in front of it. Crowe wisely allows this story to tell itself in visually striking imagery, without allowing it to become overly sentimental, and, though he stars as well as directs this, he avoids the temptation of overweening actor vanity to spoil the narrative. Playing a grieving father of three sons lost in the battle of Gallipoli in 1915, Crowe suffers another tragedy that sets him on a quest to find out the truth about his sons' deaths. There is a big revelation toward the end of the film that could have easily seemed forced and contrived but is beautifully realized by both Crowe and Ryan Corr. Probably an overlooked cinema gem of the year but well worth the watch.

Anna Karenina (I) (2012)

Gorgeous-looking but nothing of substance going on

[3/10 · 30 October 2013]

My rating of 3 is actually generous and given solely on the performances of Jude Law and Matthew MacFadyen as Karenin and Stiva, respectively. Law perfectly captures the paradox of both Karenin's moral absolutism and his love for Anna, and MacFadyen has the total essence of Stiva's happy-go- lucky nature down pat. Keira K looks ravishing as usual (but I always think if she'd gain 20 pounds she'd be the most stunning actress alive) but the costumes and scenery cannot save this mess. The actor playing Vronsky here is utterly abysmal. Nothing of Anna's doomed demented passion is on display here and Vronsky looks like a schoolboy fresh off the soccer pitch waiting to be picked up by his Mummy. Shame that Tolstoy's masterpiece has such an uneven cinematic record of adaptations-Masterpiece Theater back in the 70s gave it a pretty decent treatment and Sean Bean was a rough-hewn but hot Vronsky back in the day as well. Skip this and read the book instead.

The Hollow Crown: Henry V (2012) Season 1, Episode 4

I love, adore, and worship Tom Hiddleston

[8/10 · 26 September 2013]

Now that that's out of the way, I have to say that while Hiddleston delivers a strong performance as Henry V, the rest of the cast falls somewhat flat. The cinematography is great and the legendary Geraldine Chaplin is superb as the Nurse but the rest of the cast is somewhat meh. If you're expecting a retread of Kenneth Branagh's glorious (and still to my mind definitive) movie version, you'll be disappointed. Certain scenes from the Shakespeare play have been bafflingly omitted as well but that's just the former English major in me talking. Hiddleston and Whishaw are two of Britain's new crop of talented actors and they're both the primary reasons to watch this.

Texas Killing Fields (2011)

Jeffrey Dean Morgan Rises to the Occasion, The Others Not So Much

[3/10 · 19 July 2012]

I had seen a TV documentary on the real-life "Killing Fields" murders- some of which are still unsolved after many decades-and hearing that this film was based on those events piqued my interest. The disclaimer at the beginning that this movie was "inspired by true events" should have instead read "This movie did not even bother to tell anything about the tragic unsolved murders and furthermore did not pay even the vaguest respect to the memories of the victims." That being said, despite the many many flaws ( I will not enumerate the instances of poor line deliveries, stilted dialog, glaring omissions, and awkward camera angles)Jeffrey Dean Morgan gives a heck of a performance as a transplanted New York detective working the case. Had the film focused fully on him and his relationship to the endangered young runaway girl Anne, this would have been a wonderful subtle film. Hopefully, some well-written, character- driven work will come Morgan's way now and give him a chance to further enhance his resume.

Senna (2010)

A great portrait

[9/10 · 19 December 2011]

I know absolutely nothing about Formula One motor racing but still found myself being completely

enthralled by Senna's life story and his total dedication to his sport. This film not only depicts Senna's victories (and losses) on the track but also gives insight into his stature as a Brazilian national hero, and his battles and tribulations with the sport's bigwigs. A particularly nice touch is the soundtrack which is not overwhelming and bombastic in the way a lot of athletic movies tend to be. There are a couple of graphic crash and aftermath scenes that some viewers may find upsetting so be warned. Altogether an excellent portrayal of a man in total pursuit of his obsession and how it affected his family, colleagues, and country.