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Last night I watched the recent police melodrama about two brothers played by Mark Wahlberg and Joaquin Phoenix, their father played by Robert Duvall. The setting is NYC in 1988 which is depicted as an illicit drug-soaked wild west that can only be tamed by THE POLICE. Wahlberg is the good son who became a cop and made his deputy police chief dad proud. Phoenix, who didn't follow his brother into the force is managing a night club (that is connected with drugs). I've seen plenty of movies with similar plots--the most recent THE DEPARTED, remake of the Hong Kong movie INFERNAL AFFAIRS and usually enjoyed them. It also reminded me of EASTERN PROMISES, which although it was about human trafficking more than drugs had some very similar plot points (old man seemingly nice paternal guy who is the BIG BAD GUY, violent "enforcers" galore). So why did I loathe this one, even while I was watching it? I like the actors but feel they were given nothing to do. The script sucked. The direction sucked.
I could have watched the re-sent OLDBOY but decided I needed a lighter touch so watched the remake of the lovely Japanese movie SHALL WE DANCE? The remake is just as lovely, with a charming cast: Susan Sarandon, Richard Gere, Jennifer Lopez (who is in her best role since OUT OF SIGHT, the Elmore Leonard adaptation in which she co-starred with George Clooney).
Middle class, happily married guy feels some niggling dissatisfaction with his life and feels he's missing ...something. Sees a woman looking out the window of a dance studio during his evening commute home and decides to secretly take dance classes. It's very close in feel to the Japanese version although I'm pretty sure (from what I remember) there are some variations on secondary characters and plot points. Loved it.
I could have watched the re-sent OLDBOY but decided I needed a lighter touch so watched the remake of the lovely Japanese movie SHALL WE DANCE? The remake is just as lovely, with a charming cast: Susan Sarandon, Richard Gere, Jennifer Lopez (who is in her best role since OUT OF SIGHT, the Elmore Leonard adaptation in which she co-starred with George Clooney).
Middle class, happily married guy feels some niggling dissatisfaction with his life and feels he's missing ...something. Sees a woman looking out the window of a dance studio during his evening commute home and decides to secretly take dance classes. It's very close in feel to the Japanese version although I'm pretty sure (from what I remember) there are some variations on secondary characters and plot points. Loved it.
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Shall We Dance? is one of those movies I can watch again and again and never get tired of. So did not know it was a remake of a Japanese film. And yes, Jennifer Lopez needs to do more films along this line.
I want to see We Own the Night because I like all three main male actors and Eva Mendes isn't bad either.
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Check out the original. Yes indeed.
That's why I rented WE OWN THE NIGHT. I very much their work. I'm not sure I've seen Mendes before (although I'm familiar with her name) but she was good in this.
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We liked Ghost Rider, me because of Nic Cage.}:P
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We're watching Nic Cage in 'Next' right now as a matter of fact. Interesting.
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Let me know if it's worth renting (NEXT, I mean ;-) )
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