Parker
Parker is a 2013 American crime thriller film directed by Taylor Hackford. Starring Jason Statham and Jennifer Lopez, the film is adapted from Flashfire, the 19th Parker novel, written by Donald Westlake under the name Richard Stark.
Initial release: January 23, 2013 (Philippines)
Director: Taylor Hackford
Running time: 118 minutes
Story by: Donald E. Westlake
Initial DVD release: May 21, 2013 (USA)
Parker is a 2013 American crime thriller film directed by Taylor Hackford. Starring Jason Statham and Jennifer Lopez, the film is adapted from Flashfire, the 19th Parker novel, written by Donald Westlake under the name Richard Stark.
Primarily set in Palm Beach, Florida, the film revolves around professional thief Parker (Statham), who is double-crossed by his crew. He sets out for revenge on them, travelling to Palm Beach, where he enlists the help of Leslie (Lopez), who assists him in a quest to steal what his former crew, headed by a man named Melander (Michael Chiklis), rob in their jewelry auction heist. As the story develops, Leslie falls for Parker, who remains faithful to his girlfriend Claire (Emma Booth).
Parker marked a departure in Hackford's career, as he had hoped to make it his first film noir. The film, produced on a "mid-30s" budget, was conceived following Westlake's 2008 death, when producer Les Alexander secured the rights to it.
It premiered in Las Vegas, Nevada on January 24, 2013, and was released in the United States on January 25. Reviews were generally mixed, leaning towards the negative, with many film critics feeling that it was a poor adaptation of the book, and typical of Statham's sub-par action films of the past few years. Others found Statham well-fitted for the role of Parker and praised Lopez for providing comedic relief. It grossed $46.2 million worldwide at the box office.
Directed by Taylor Hackford
Produced by
Les Alexander
Steven Chasman
Taylor Hackford
Sidney Kimmel
Jonathan Mitchell
Screenplay by John J. McLaughlin
Based on Flashfire
by Donald E. Westlake
Starring Jason Statham
Jennifer Lopez
Music by
David Buckley
Cinematography J. Michael Muro
Editing by Andrew Weisblum
Studio
Incentive Filmed Entertainment
Sierra Pictures
Sidney Kimmel Entertainment
Distributed by FilmDistrict
Release dates
January 25, 2013
Running time 118 minutes
Country United States
Language English
Budget $35 million
Box office $46.2 million
A thief with a unique code of professional ethics is double-crossed by his crew and left for dead. Assuming a new disguise and forming an unlikely alliance with a woman on the inside, he looks to hijack the score of the crew's latest heist.
Parker is a thief who has an unusual code. He doesn't steal from the poor and hurt innocent people. He is asked to join 4 other guys on a job. They pull it off flawlessly. They tell Parker that what they got can help them set up another job which will net them much more. But Parker doesn't want to join them and asks for his share. But they need it all so they try to kill him. They dispose of his body but someone finds him and he is still alive and takes him to the hospital. After recovering he sets out to get back at the ones who tried to kill him, another one of his codes. Despite being told that they are working for a known mobster which he was not aware of, he still wants to go after them. He learns where they are and poses as a wealthy Texan looking to buy a house. So he hires a real estate agent, Leslie Rogers to show him around. He is actually trying to find out where they're holed up. And when he finds it, he sets out on his plan to get them. But when they learn he is alive, ...
Well, SURE, there are places where you must suspend disbelief (it's not THAT easy to steal a car, is it?), and SURE there are plot holes, and SURE there are times when you say to yourself "How did he know to go there?" BUT...this is one enjoyable movie!
The acting, the action scenes, and the eye candy (Statham for you XXs, and J-Lo for us XYs) are all great. Oh...and a word about J-Lo. While I've never been a great fan, the poor reviews she received made me curious. Well, she was excellent...and hot as a pistol. That woman has more sex appeal than 5 centerfolds. Patti Lupone plays her mom...very well, I might add.
Statham plays Parker and Parker-like characters in an intrinsically believable manner; that is, marginal characters who live on the edge of the law or beyond it (think "The Transporter" series) with an honorable streak. He slips into this part easily, and like his "Transporter" character, Parker seems little interested in sex. No...he has a singular purpose here as he has had in previous movies: get the job done, and no time for recreation. And once again, his singularity of purpose rings true.
There is, of course, violence, but we all have seen worse; my wife only had to look away twice, and she does not enjoy these types of movies, but goes to humor me (I agreed to see that dreadful "Moonrise Kingdom" after all). But she liked "Parker"--her direct quote was "It kept my interest"--and that was high praise for this kind of flick.
And as Tosh might say: "And for that, we thank you."
Movie 43
Movie 43 is a 2013 American sketch comedy anthology film co-directed and produced by Peter Farrelly, and written by Rocky Russo and Jeremy Sosenko among others.
Initial release: January 1, 2013 (Russia)
Directors: Jonathan van Tulleken, James Gunn, Bob Odenkirk, more
Running time: 98 minutes Cine21
Screenplay: Jonathan van Tulleken, James Gunn, Greg Pritikin, more
Awards: Razzie Award for Worst Picture, Razzie Award for Worst Director, Razzie Award for Worst Screenplay
Movie 43 is a 2013 American sketch comedy anthology film co-directed and produced by Peter Farrelly, and written by Rocky Russo and Jeremy Sosenko among others. The film features sixteen different storylines, each one done by a different director, including Elizabeth Banks, Steven Brill, Steve Carr, Rusty Cundieff, James Duffy, Griffin Dunne, Patrik Forsberg, James Gunn, Bob Odenkirk, Brett Ratner, Will Graham, and Jonathan van Tulleken. It stars an ensemble cast that includes Kristen Bell, Halle Berry, Gerard Butler, Anna Faris, Hugh Jackman, Johnny Knoxville, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Chloë Grace Moretz, Seann William Scott, Emma Stone, and Kate Winslet among others.
The film took almost a decade to get into production as most studios outright rejected the script, which was eventually picked up by Relativity Media for $6 million. The film was shot over a period of several years, as casting also proved to be a challenge for the producers. Some actors, including George Clooney, immediately declined to take part, while others, such as Richard Gere, attempted to get out of the project.[citation needed]
Released on January 25, 2013, Movie 43 has been widely panned by critics, with Richard Roeper calling it "the Citizen Kane of awful", joining others who labeled it as one of the worst films of all time. The film won three awards at the 34th Golden Raspberry Awards, including Worst Picture.
Directed by Steven Brill
Peter Farrelly
Will Graham
Steve Carr
Griffin Dunne
James Duffy
Jonathan van Tulleken
Elizabeth Banks
Patrik Forsberg
Brett Ratner
Rusty Cundieff
James Gunn
Produced by Charles B. Wessler
John Penotti
Peter Farrelly
Ryan Kavanaugh
Written by Steve Baker
Ricky Blitt
Will Carlough
Tobias Carlson
Jacob Fleisher
Patrik Forsberg
Will Graham
James Gunn
Claes Kjellstrom
Jack Kukoda
Bob Odenkirk
Bill O'Malley
Matthew Alec Portenoy
Greg Pritikin
Rocky Russo
Olle Sarri
Elizabeth Wright Shapiro
Jeremy Sosenko
Jonathan van Tulleken
Jonas Wittenmark
Narrated by Eric Stuart
Phil Crowley
Starring Elizabeth Banks
Kristen Bell
Halle Berry
Leslie Bibb
Kate Bosworth
Gerard Butler
Josh Duhamel
Anna Faris
Richard Gere
Terrence Howard
Hugh Jackman
Johnny Knoxville
Justin Long
Christopher Mintz-Plasse
Liev Schreiber
Seann William Scott
Emma Stone
Jason Sudeikis
Uma Thurman
Naomi Watts
Kate Winslet
Music by Christophe Beck
David J. Hodge
Leo Birenberg
Tyler Bates
William Goodrum
Cinematography Frank G. DeMarco
Steve Gainer
Matthew F. Leonetti
Daryn Okada
William Rexer
Mattias Rudh
Eric Scherbarth
Newton Thomas Sigel
Tim Suhrstedt
Editing by Debra Chiate
Patrick J. Don Vito
Suzy Elmiger
Mark Helfrich
Craig Herring
Myron Kerstein
Jonathan van Tulleken
Joe Randall-Cutler
Sam Seig
Cara Silverman
Sandy Solowitz
Håkan Wärn
Paul Zucker
Studio Relativity Media
Virgin Produced
GreeneStreet Films
Charles B. Wessler Entertainment
Distributed by Relativity Media
Release dates
January 25, 2013
Running time 94 minutes
Country United States
Language English
Budget $6 million
Box office $29,926,388
A series of interconnected short films follows a washed-up producer as he pitches insane story lines featuring some of the biggest stars in Hollywood.Ineffectual, 'has-been' film-maker (Dennis Quaid) swindles his way into an interview with a film executive (Greg Kinnear) in order to pitch an outrageous and controversial comedy manuscript. After pitching the first of his thirteen offbeat fables, the dejected artist forces the rest of his disjointed allegory on the executive at gunpoint. He tells stories of a woman on a blind date with a man who has testicles growing from his neck, in another a smitten woman offers her neck to her boyfriend to 'poop' on -as a sign of commitment and love. In yet another two parents take home-schooling to a whole new level of indecency, striving to give their isolated teenage son all the 'regular' torment and humiliation of puberty by bullying, peer-pressuring and even seducing him themselves. An off-beat, elephant-in-the-room type film.
I have never written a review before, but I feel that writing one is the best way to clean my mind of the crappy film I have witnessed. This movie was extremely awful. The humor attempts to be "offending", but it instead sounds like something an 8th grader finds humorous. In fact, even an 8th grader would tire of the pathetic nonsense that is Movie 43.
The plot centers around two teenagers that make up an outrageous picture. However, I've heard it's different for other parts of the world. I'm currently in the UK, so the kids wraparound is what I saw. Their little brother looks for it on the world wide web and ends up finding lots of clips that we get the displeasure of seeing. There's one called "The Catch" where Kate Winslet goes on a blind date with Hugh Jackman. However, get this: Hugh Jackman has penises where penises aren't supposed to be! Just hear the crickets sing. I can hear the screenwriter just laughing and laughing as he adds more unfunny jokes about poop and semen.
Also, the hilarious basketball sketch where they comment on the fact that basketball players are mostly black! Wow! It's so funny! Naked women and iPads! It's funny too!
In short, Movie 43 is a disjointed mess, full of lousy jokes, terrible writing, and actors that no doubt deserve to be in something else. Now, I'm going to rally up Best Actor/Actresses winners to be in my new screenplay, "Boners of Fire". Just kidding, of course. I'm not THAT evil.
Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters
Catching up with Hansel and Gretel 15 years after their incident involving a gingerbread house, the siblings have evolved into bounty hunters who hunt witches.
Initial release: January 17, 2013 (Russia)
Director: Tommy Wirkola
Running time: 98 minutes
Budget: 50 million USD
Screenplay: Tommy Wirkola, D.W. Harper
Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters is a 2013 American-German action-horror film written and directed by Tommy Wirkola. It is a continuation to the German folk fairy tale "Hansel and Gretel", which was recorded by the Brothers Grimm and published in 1812. The film stars Jeremy Renner and Gemma Arterton in the title roles of a brother-and-sister duo of professional witch hunters. Famke Janssen stars as the deadly leader of a coven of evil witches that they seek out to destroy.
Originally scheduled for release in March 2012, Hansel & Gretel was delayed for ten months to accommodate Renner's appearances in The Avengers and The Bourne Legacy and to give Wirkola time to shoot a post-credits scene. It premiered in North America on January 25, 2013, in 2D, 3D, and IMAX 3D, as well in D-Box motion theaters and select international 4DX theaters, and was rated R in the United States. The film had its home media release on June 11, including a longer, unrated version on Blu-ray Disc.
Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters was generally panned by mainstream critics, particularly for what they saw as its weak script and gratuitous violence. However, many horror genre critics were more positive, viewing the film as unpretentiously entertaining. The film topped the domestic box office on its opening weekend and was a major hit in Brazil, Russia, Germany, and Mexico. Its worldwide theatrical run gross exceeded $225 million for the production cost of $50 million. Due to the commercial success of the film, which was planned as the first part of a series, its sequel is currently in development.
Directed by Tommy Wirkola
Produced by Will Ferrell
Adam McKay
Kevin Messick
Beau Flynn
Starring Jeremy Renner
Gemma Arterton
Famke Janssen
Thomas Mann
Peter Stormare
Pihla Viitala
Derek Mears
Music by Atli Örvarsson
Cinematography Michael Bonvillain
Editing by Jim Page
Studio MTV Films
Gary Sanchez Productions
Siebzehnte Babelsberg Film
Distributed by Paramount Pictures
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Release dates
January 17, 2013 (Russia)
January 25, 2013 (United States)
February 28, 2013 (Germany)
Running time 88 minutes
98 minutes ("extreme version")
Country United States
Germany[3][4]
Language English
Budget $50 million
Box office $225,703,475
Hansel & Gretel are bounty hunters who track and kill witches all over the world. As the fabled Blood Moon approaches, the siblings encounter a new form of evil that might hold a secret to their past.The siblings Hansel and Gretel are left alone in the woods by their father and captured by a dark witch in a candy house. However they kill the witch and escape from the spot. Years later, the orphans have become famous witch hunters. When eleven children go missing in a small village, the Mayor summons Hansel and Gretel to rescue them, and they save the red haired Mina from the local sheriff that wants to burn her accusing Mina of witchcraft. Soon they discover that the Blood Moon will approach in three days and the powerful dark witch Muriel is the responsible for the abduction of children. She intends to use the children together with a secret ingredient in a Sabbath to make the coven of witches protected against the fire. Meanwhile Hansel and Gretel disclose secrets about their parents. Written by Claudio Carvalho, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
I seriously enjoyed this film-- it had more gore than Mel Gibson could shake a fist at, some very cute actors, and didn't waste time with excessive back-story and details, and gave me many good laughs.
Its not an intellectually stimulating movie... duh. Its made to a hilariously entertaining popcorn flick with over-the-top action and unrealistic weapons that wouldn't have existed given the 'time period' this movie seems to be set in. So you folks out there giving it bad rap for not meeting your standards, calm down. Its clearly not trying to. :).
This movie's violence reminded me of the Expendables-- but this film never takes itself too seriously like the other film does... I found this much more fun to watch.
Hors Satan
Hors Satan is a 2011 French drama film written and directed by Bruno Dumont. It was filmed under the production title L'Empire, which means "The Empire". It premiered in the Un Certain Regard section at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival.
Initial release: October 19, 2011 (France)
Director: Bruno Dumont
Running time: 110 minutes Cine21
Screenplay: Bruno Dumont
Cast: David Dewaele, Alexandra Lematre, Aurore Broutin, more
Producers: Muriel Merlin, Rachid Bouchareb, Jean Bréhat
Hors Satan (Outside Satan) is a 2011 French drama film written and directed by Bruno Dumont.[1] It was filmed under the production title L'Empire, which means "The Empire".It premiered in the Un Certain Regard section at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival.
Directed by Bruno Dumont
Produced by Jean Brehat
Rachid Bouchareb
Muriel Merlin
Written by Bruno Dumont
Starring David Dewaele
Alexandra Lematre
Cinematography Yves Cape
Editing by Buno Dumont
Basile Belkhiri
Studio 3B Productions
Distributed by Pyramide Distribution
Release dates
16 May 2011 (Cannes)
19 October 2011 (France)
Running time 110 minutes
Country France
Language French
In a village on the French Opal Coast, a drifter engages in a perplexing relationship with a young woman who has suffered abuse.In a village on the French Opal Coast, a drifter engages in a perplexing relationship with a young woman who has suffered abuse.
I am not going to write a summary about this film or explain what it is about.
This is a film where you have to let go the concept of 'story'. Don't search for a narrative structure. This film is all about 'feeling' and 'experiencing'. In my opinion something that is harder and harder to find in modern cinema, that is mainly there to 'entertain' audiences.
This is a film that redefines the concept of 'interpretation'
I would like to give a short explanation why...
The moment I started the movie and watched the first images I was immediately absorbed by the sheer beauty of the landscape and how this landscape is framed (done by the fine French cinematographer Ives Cape). I learned in these first few minutes that the framing is key in this picture. In 'Hors Satan' it is not merely the framing (observing) of a composited shot. It is much more...
What happens in 'Hors Satan' is the constant shift between the objective view and the subjective view of an image. We (as an audience) see two figures, traveling trough a desolate landscape. Through forests, plains of sand, a small quiet village (the center point in this landscape). They don't talk much. They just walk along. Their facial expressions tells enough.
This is the objective side of 'Hors Satan'. The camera and the spectators 'observe' But in 'Horse Satan' one will also find a high amount of subjectivity. In this film the two protagonists are constantly 'watching', and we see them doing just that! We see what they see. A meadow, branches of a tree poking into the air. This brings us closer to the projected image. It seems as if Bruno Dumont literally places the camera on the exact spot of the eyes of the watching actors. By doing just that, we observe the characters watching and then we too are able to observe what they see. In fact that doesn't seem to be a lot for the observing audience, but at the same time there is a lot of information within these frames. Part of the message of the film, of the subtext, is hidden. This 'watching' of the landscape trough the eyes of the protagonists makes the film much more of a subjective experience.
It seems that this alternative form of film making, of a different film language is very rare these days. There are few authors who do it. And if you liked 'Hors Satan', you should definitely have a look at the rest of Dumont's oeuvre (the films: La vie de Jesus, L'Humanité, Twentynine Palms, Flanders, Hadewijch) and also check out film makers like Bela Tarr, Leos Carax, Terrence Malick, Aleksandr Sokurov and Matthew Barney.
You, as a spectator (I include myself as well) has to create a different way of 'reading' films like this. Let the story structure go, except questions that will not be answered, and again, don't search for a narrative safety line. Just let it roll over you.
Mama
Mama is a 2013 Spanish-Canadian horror film co-written and directed by Andrés Muschietti and based on his 2008 Argentine short film Mamá.
Initial release: January 17, 2013 (Singapore, Ukraine)
Director: Andres Muschietti
Running time: 100 minutes Cine21
Executive producer: Guillermo del Toro
Screenplay: Barbara Muschietti, Andres Muschietti, Neil Cross
Mama is a 2013 Spanish-Canadian horror film co-written and directed by Andrés Muschietti and based on his 2008 Argentine short film Mamá. The film stars Jessica Chastain and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau and is produced by Zandy Federico and co-writer Bárbara Muschietti, with Guillermo del Toro serving as executive producer.
The film deals with the story of two young girls abandoned in a forest cabin, fostered by an unknown entity that they fondly call "Mama", which eventually follows them to their new suburban home after their uncle retrieves them. Originally set for an October 2012 release, it was released in theaters on 18 January 2013.
Directed by Andrés Muschietti (es)
Produced by J. Miles Dale
Bárbara Muschietti
Screenplay by Neil Cross
Andrés Muschietti
Bárbara Muschietti
Story by Andrés Muschietti
Bárbara Muschietti
Based on Mamá
by Andrés Muschietti
Starring Jessica Chastain
Nikolaj Coster-Waldau
Megan Charpentier
Isabelle Nélisse
Daniel Kash
Javier Botet
Jane Moffat
Music by Fernando Velázquez
Cinematography Antonio Riestra
Editing by Michelle Conroi
Studio Toma 78
De Milo Productions
Distributed by Universal Pictures
Release dates
18 January 2013
Running time 100 min.
Country Spain
Canada
Language English
Budget $15,000,000
Box office $146,428,180
$10,262,459[4] (DVD and Blu-ray Sales)
Annabel and Lucas are faced with the challenge of raising his young nieces that were left alone in the forest for 5 years.... but how alone were they?
The senior partner of an investment brokerage, Jeffrey Desange, has a breakdown due to a financial collapse and kills several co-workers and his estranged wife. He then kidnaps his two young daughters, Victoria 3 and Lilly just 1. He drives his car recklessly through a winding snow covered road. He loses control of his car and drives off an embankment. He finds an abandoned and isolated cabin where he plans to kill his daughters, but the children are saved by a dark ghostly image. After five years of searching and depleting his savings, Jeffrey's twin brother, Lucas, finds the children that were raised without social interaction and claim that they have been raised by 'Mama'. Lucas disputes the custody with the children's Great Aunt but Dr. Dreyfuss, who is working with the girls, helps Lucas get custody of the girls so that he can still have access to them. Lucas, his girlfriend Annabel, Victoria and Lilly move into a house provided be the institute that Dr. Dreyfuss works for. Lucas... Written by Stephanie Carter
"MAMA", a film executively produced by Del Toro follows the story of two little girls that are found in the wilderness for five years. They are then adopted by their Uncle Luke (Nikolaj Coaster-Waldau) and his girlfriend Annabel (Jessica Chastain)and right off the bat, strange things start happening. While trapped in the woods, Victoria (Megan Charpentier)and Lily (Isabelle Nelisse) formed a guardian to protect and care for them, who they call Mama.
This is an excellent movie. Be warned that it does remain dependant on jump scares to scare you, but they are what I like to call "true jump scares". Not a cat bursting out of a corner, or a shoe falling from the sky. "Mama" utilizes CGI by creating dark, disturbing images along with a tense orchestral sound track to scare your pants off. The acting was also superb, particularly Jessica Chastain and Megan Charpentier. Isabelle was solid also, but I had a feeling that before every take, she was told what to do, but Megan was old enough to understand the script and story. Something that really impressed me was how the story unfolded, and how beautifully the mother daughter relationship was portrayed. The cinematography was also one of the most beautiful jobs I've ever seen on a horror film. Camera work was steady and the dolly shots were smooth and suspenseful. Overall, Mama was a terrifying horror movie with a beautiful story and wonderful camera work. I hope this movie is recognized as a classic for years to come. This movie also proves that PG-13 horror movies can be scary after all. 9/10.
Broken City
Broken City is a 2013 American crime thriller film directed by Allen Hughes and written by Brian Tucker.
Initial release: January 18, 2013
Director: Allen Hughes
Running time: 109 minutes
Initial DVD release: April 23, 2013 (USA)
Screenplay: Brian Tucker
Broken City is a 2013 American crime thriller film directed by Allen Hughes and written by Brian Tucker. Mark Wahlberg stars as a police officer turned private investigator and Russell Crowe as the mayor of New York City who hires the private detective to investigate his wife.
This is Hughes' first solo feature film directing effort; he has collaborated with his twin brother Albert previously. Allen in 2010 learned about Tucker's spec script, which had languished in development hell since Mandate Pictures attempted to produce a film in 2008. Under a partnership between Emmett/Furla Films and Regency Enterprises, Hughes began production in 2011 in New York City and Louisiana. The film was released in theaters on January 18, 2013.
Directed by Allen Hughes
Produced by Randall Emmett
Mark Wahlberg
Stephen Levinson
Arnon Milchan
Teddy Schwarzman
Allen Hughes
Remington Chase
Written by Brian Tucker
Starring Mark Wahlberg
Russell Crowe
Catherine Zeta-Jones
Jeffrey Wright
Barry Pepper
Music by Atticus Ross
Claudia Sarne
Leo Ross
Cinematography Ben Seresin
Editing by Cindy Mollo
Studio Regency Enterprises
Emmett/Furla Films
Inferno Distribution
1984 Private Defense Contractors
Black Bear Pictures
Distributed by 20th Century Fox
Release dates
January 18, 2013
Running time 108 minutes
Country United States
Language English
Budget $35 million
Box office $25,547,416
In a city rife with injustice, ex-cop Billy Taggart seeks redemption and revenge after being double-crossed and then framed by its most powerful figure: Mayor Nicholas Hostetler.In New York City, detective Billy Taggart goes to court for the murder of the rapist Mikey Tavarez, but the Mayor Nicholas Hostetler and the Chief of Police Carl Fairbanks vanish with important evidence and Billy is declared not guilty by the judge; however, he leaves the police department. Seven years later, Billy is a private detective and lives with his girlfriend Natalie Barrow, who is an aspiring actress and the sister of Mikey's victim. His secretary Katy Bradshaw (Alona Tal) is trying to collect part of the debts to save their business. In the week of the elections, Hostetler summons Billy and offers $50,000 to investigate his wife, Cathleen Hostetler, whom he believes is having a love affair. Billy discovers that Cathleen is meeting Paul Andrews, who is the coordinator of the campaign of Jack Valliant, the opponent of Hostetler and favorite in the election. When Paul is found dead on the street, Billy finds that he had been double-crossed by Hostetler and he decides to ... Written by Claudio Carvalho, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Billy Taggart (Mark Wahlberg) is a New York city cop who got off on a technicality following his execution of a supposed rapist/murder. Discharged from the force by his Captain (Jeffrey Wright), Taggart is viewed highly by Mayor Hostetler (Russell Crowe) for taking out the trash with a common thug. Seven years later, Hostetler, amidst a re- election battle against golden boy city councilman Jack Valliant (Barry Pepper), hires Taggart to find out who is sleeping with his gorgeous wife (Catherine Zeta-Jones). As Taggart follows, he uncovers a much larger conspiracy.
In his first solo outing, Allen Hughes (one half of the Hughes brothers that brought us "The Book of Eli") now offers a stylish, dark vision of corruption in New York. The ladies are beautiful and all have something to hide, the men are violent and vicious and the story is ripped out of countless true-to-life headlines. "Broken City" lives up to its name and fires a slug packed with intrigue and intelligence. That doesn't necessarily translate to mean "clever".
The story sold in the trailer is a bit misleading, but perhaps that's the point. Mayor Hostetler's hiring of the true-blue cop Taggart is only a minor segment of a much larger puzzle. It involves cops, businessmen, and politicians in bribery and exploitation with a prize that all but Billy seem to seek: power. Overall that is the film's theme and it more than adequately conveys it. If you understand that and aren't looking for much else, "Broken City" is your ticket.
As I was watching the film I kept thinking that there must have been some significant cutting and re-editing. Perhaps the original cut was too dry so they added in some scenes and cut some to make the film seem more edgy. But it doesn't seem as edgy as it could have been. A number of subplots (for instance Billy's actress girlfriend, or the undeveloped father-son relationship between two of the villains) go nowhere and remain unresolved when the screen goes black. I felt much the same way.
Mark Wahlberg does an excellent job playing Mark Wahlberg, a role he was born to play. Catherine Zeta-Jones is as beautiful and commanding as ever in a role that is too short for the movie. But it is Russell Crowe who devours his scenes with the political intensity I would suppose is necessary for any real Mayor of New York. Even as the script built around Billy lags, Crowe tears apart his role. He shows why he is truly one of the best actors in the business.
The supporting cast of this film are as much a draw as the leads. Jeffrey Wright, the usual supporting character with more power than he lets on, plays the secretive Police Commissioner. His character is introduced as a stock role but ends up being much more. Kyle Chandler has a small role that deserved to be expanded. Barry Pepper, who wasn't even featured in the trailer, is the only actor in the film with the same bravado as Crowe. His scenes, particularly one with Wright and Wahlberg, are indicative of why he should be the one on the poster, now buried in the bottom credits.
Overall "Broken City" kept my attention but left me hungry for more. I suppose that is all you can ask for at the movies. I would take this ride again.
The Last Stand
The Last Stand is a 2013 American action film directed by South Korean film director Kim Ji-woon, making his American directorial debut, and starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Forest Whitaker, Johnny Knoxville and Rodrigo Santoro.
Initial release: January 12, 2013
Director: Kim Jee-woon
Running time: 107 minutes Cine21
Initial DVD release: May 21, 2013 (USA)
Screenplay: Jeffrey Nachmanoff, Andrew Knauer, George Nolfi
The Last Stand is a 2013 American action film directed by South Korean film director Kim Ji-woon, making his American directorial debut, and starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Forest Whitaker, Johnny Knoxville and Rodrigo Santoro. This was Arnold Schwarzenegger's first lead acting role since 2003's Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines. The film was released in the United States on January 18, 2013. The film focuses on a tough small town sheriff and his deputies who must stop a dangerous drug lord from escaping to Mexico in a modified sports car.
Directed by Kim Ji-woon
Produced by Lorenzo di Bonaventura
Written by Andrew Knauer
Jeffrey Nachmanoff (uncredited)
Starring Arnold Schwarzenegger
Forest Whitaker
Johnny Knoxville
Rodrigo Santoro
Jaimie Alexander
Luis Guzmán
Eduardo Noriega
Peter Stormare
Zach Gilford
Génesis Rodríguez
Music by Mowg
Cinematography Kim Ji-yong
Editing by Steven Kemper
Studio di Bonaventura Pictures
Distributed by Lionsgate
Release dates
January 18, 2013
Running time 107 minutes
Country United States
Language English
Budget $30 million
Box office $48,050,299
The leader of a drug cartel busts out of a courthouse and speeds to the Mexican border, where the only thing in his path is a sheriff and his inexperienced staff.
Sheriff Owens is a man who has resigned himself to a life of fighting what little crime takes place in sleepy border town Sommerton Junction after leaving his LAPD post following a bungled operation that left him wracked with failure and defeat after his partner was crippled. After a spectacular escape from an FBI prisoner convoy, the most notorious, wanted drug kingpin in the hemisphere is hurtling toward the border at 200 mph in a specially outfitted car with a hostage and a fierce army of gang members. He is headed, it turns out, straight for Summerton Junction, where the whole of U.S. law enforcement will have their last opportunity to make a stand and intercept him before he slips across the border forever. At first reluctant to become involved, and then counted out because of the perceived ineptitude of his small town force, Owens ultimately accepts responsibility for the face off. Written by Production
I grew up watching Arnold, I own every film of his, I am what you would call a serious Schwarzenegger fan. I have waited a decade for his return to the cinema, and I wasn't disappointed. The Last Stand isn't perfect, but Arnold fans can rejoice, for he truly is back!!
The premise (for those that haven't watched the trailer a dozen times like me) is a Mexican cartel boss (Eduardo Noriega) has escaped custody during transport and is heading to the Mexican border, and he is going to get there by going through the sleepy town of Sommerton, Arizona. Arnold is the Sheriff in this sleepy little town, and he is the FBI's last hope at stopping the ruthless gangster.
This movie is full of intense, bloody action, exciting car chases (thanks to a supped up Corvette ZR1 with over one thousand horsepower!) and funny one liner's. The film never takes itself too serious (which is good thing) and is surprisingly funny throughout. Arnold's acting is a little rusty, but he more than made up for it in the action scenes. And the (many) action sequences were exciting and bloody, the theater kept cheering out loud. The pacing was perfect, the film flew by.
The cast was great...Luis Guzman is hilarious as Arnold's Deputy, Forest Whitaker as the lead FBI agent, Peter Stormare as the maniacal "right hand man" villain, Johnny Knoxville as the town clown, Harry Dean Stanton as the crotchety old farmer, the list goes on...
The film was everything I wanted from an Arnold movie, it's fun(!), full of fast paced action and lots of (funny) one liner's. The non-Arnold fan probably won't get much from this, but this movie was made for Arnold fans, and it delivers.
