B Crime Thriller Written by Anders Thomas Jensen from an idea by Nikolaj Arcel and Anders Thomas Jensen Directed by Anders Thomas Jensen You know those "dad thrillers" that usually star Liam Neeson? Well, here's the Danish version, and silly as it is, it's fun - if you can stand the violence. A passenger train … Continue reading Riders of Justice out for revenge
Category: Thriller
Activists vs gangs in Days of the Whale
B- Urban youth drama Written and directed by Catalina Arroyave Doing the right thing can be dangerous in Medellín, Colombia's second-largest city, even if the war is initially battled with paint. Days of the Whale (original title: Los días de la ballena) isn't quite exciting enough to be called a thriller - even though it … Continue reading Activists vs gangs in Days of the Whale
Crime and comedy in Lucky Grandma
B+ Comedy thriller Written by Angela Cheng and Sasie Sealy Directed by Sasie Sealy It's rare for a comedy to turn into a thriller - especially a thriller that forces you to feel the losses that result from violence. And yet, writer/director Sasie Sealy manages that task with surprising flare. But she couldn't have done … Continue reading Crime and comedy in Lucky Grandma
Another Hole in the Head Film Festival
As December approaches, the autumn glut of Bay Area film festivals falls to few and finally none. But the last film festival of the year is one of the strangest. The Another Hole in the Head Film Festival isn't like any other. The movies it screens are rarely about poverty, divorce, or existential angst. Characters … Continue reading Another Hole in the Head Film Festival
The American Empire falls with a dull thud
C+ Crime thriller Written & directed by Denys Arcand The movie gets off to a great start. Pierre-Paul (Alexandre Landry) explains to his soon-be-ex why, with a PhD in Philosophy, he's driving a delivery truck. He argues that dumb people do better in capitalism than smart people. His points and his examples (yes, Trump is one … Continue reading The American Empire falls with a dull thud
Styx: How many can you save?
A Drama/Thriller Written by Wolfgang Fischer and Ika Künzel Directed by Wolfgang Fischer You can find a lot of movies about a vacation gone wrong, where the protagonist (or protagonists) must fight for their lives and the lives of those they love. But Wolfgang Fischer does something much more interesting in Styx. Aside from one … Continue reading Styx: How many can you save?
Destroyer: Nicole Kidman as one tough dame
B+ Crime thriller Written by Fred Berger, Phil Hay, & Matt Manfredi Directed by Karyn Kusama Crime and grime penetrate Los Angeles in this very dark noir. The deeply dense plot works mostly as a structure for presenting atmosphere and character. But then, in the last few minutes, that plot suddenly becomes clear and everything … Continue reading Destroyer: Nicole Kidman as one tough dame
Foreign Films & Crime-Soaked Movies: The first film festivals of 2019
The last weeks of the year become a film festival desert in the Bay Area. 2018's last fest, Another Hole in the Head, closed December 12. But with the new year come new festivals. At least two will open in January. For Your Consideration Rafael, January 4 - 10 All sorts of rules control what … Continue reading Foreign Films & Crime-Soaked Movies: The first film festivals of 2019
Destroyer: Nicole Kidman as one tough dame
Note: I updated this article on January 9. Sorry, but I have been asked to take down this review. When I viewed Destroyer in a press screening months ago, I was told that the film would open on Christmas day. So I set up my review to go live on December 20. I've just discovered Weeks later, … Continue reading Destroyer: Nicole Kidman as one tough dame
Museo: Another heist gone wrong – but in a good way
B+ Heist thriller Written by Manuel Alcalá, Alonso Ruizpalacios (as Alonso Ruiz Palacios) Directed by Alonso Ruizpalacios You know how this kind of movie works. The protagonist, never working alone, plans and executes a brilliant crime and, at least initially, gets away with it. Then everything falls apart because crime doesn't pay. That's pretty much … Continue reading Museo: Another heist gone wrong – but in a good way
Bayflicks 