STRANGE DAYS (1995)

Directed By: Kathryn Bigelow 
Written by James Cameron & Jay Cocks 
Cinematography: Matthew F. Leonetti 
Editor: Howard E. Smith & James Cameron 


Cast: Ralph Finnes, Angela Bassett, Juliette Lewis, Tom Sizemore, Michael Wincott, Vincent D’Onofrio, Glenn Plummer, Brigitte Bako, Richard Edson, William Finchter, Josef Sommer, Nicky Katt, Michael Jace, Todd Graff 


A former cop turned street-hustler accidentally uncovers a conspiracy in Los Angeles in 1999.

AMERICAN SON (2008)

Directed By: Neil Abramson 
Written By: Eric Schmid 
Story By: Neil Abramson & Eric Schmid 
Cinematography By: Kristian Kachikis 
Editor: Karen Schmeer 

Cast: Nick Cannon, Melonie Diaz, Tom Sizemore, April Grace, Matt O’Leary, Sean Marquette, Jay Hernandez, Chi McBride, Percy Daggs III

HEART & SOULS (1993)

Directed By: Ron Underwood
Written & Story By: Brent Maddock, S.S. Wilson, Gregory Hansen & Erik Hansen
Based on the short film by: Gregory Hansen
Cinematography By: Michael W. Watkins
Editor: O. Nicholas Brown

Cast: Robert Downey Jr., Alfre Woodard, Elisabeth Shue, Charles Grodin, Kyra Sedgwick, Tom Sizemore, David Paymer

JEFF'S MOVIE HALL OF FAME: CASE: 004 - HEAT (1995)

Written & Directed By: Michael Mann
Cinematography By: Dante Spinotti
Editor: Pasquale Buba, William Goldenberg, Dov Hoenig & Tom Rolff

CAST: Al Pacino, Robert DeNiro, Jon Voight, Tom Noonan, Kevin Gage, Ted Levine, Wes Studi, Mykelti Williamson, Ricky Harris, Tone Loc, Henry Rollins, William Fichtner, Amy Brenneman, Danny Trejo, Dennis Haysbert, Tom Sizemore, Ashley Judd, Mel Gorham, Diane Venora, Natalie Portman, Jeremy Piven, Xander Berkley, Hank Azaria, Bud Cort, Hazelle Goodman

PAPARAZZI (2004)

Directed By: Paul Abascal
Written By: Forrest Smith
Cinematography By: Daryn Okada
Editor: Robin Russell

CAST: Cole Hauser, Robin Tunney, Tom Sizemore, Daniel Baldwin, Dennis Farina, Tom Hollander, Kevin Gage, Kelly Carlson, Andi Eystad, Clyde Kusatsu, Sal Lopez, Fay Masterson, Tim Thomerson

Not so much a film as a revenge movie fantasy. It seems this film was either dreamed up by Mel Gibson or he had the idea and gave it to a screenwriter. It could have been just some enterprising screenwriter who saw how celebrities feel about the paparazzi and used it to try and get into the right hands.

The film makes the paparazzi way over the top sure they can be scummy but they literally make them that way in this film unshaved dirty looking one is a biker one is over the tp and acts like he is a drug dealer.

There isn’t too much for me to say about this film because there isn’t too much material here to talk about.

Plenty of celebrities cameo in the film. Which still doesn’t make the film all that interesting.

It has plenty of action sequences that are nothing special and plot-holes that are still gaping and need to be shut.

One of the main problems with the film is that the audience can watch but they can't sympathisize with this film they are not stalked or in the limelight like the stars are so this is more of a movie for the hollywood community to stand up and cheer for the only element we in the audiecne can root for or enjoy is the man pushed way too far and taking justice into his own arms. Even though it is a more upscale less tragic or thought provoking version of DEATH WISH

SPOILERS
The subplot of all the pressure getting to his wife who slowly goes insane, but who miracoulsly gets better soon as the men are dead. And the fact that he commits the murders even though he is a nice guy yet not only has ne reservations about doing it but also feels no guilt about it afterwards at all not even after the first one shows you the type of vapid piece of cinema we are watching I realize I shouldn’t be looking for it in this type of film but I was hoping.
END SPOILERS

It’s a shame too Cole Hauser finally gets a leading man role and it’s in this. Just note that the people associated with this film haven’t really worked since. It should have been obvious this film wasn’t worth it when the leading role was turned down by George Clooney, Tom Cruise. Even Kurt Russell and Vince Vaughn Though Vaughn does cameo. Maybe the film hit to close to home or too much like there dream come true since the first two are notorious for there hatred of the paparazzi.

In the end it feels like a total waste of time. Skip It

GRADE: F

RED (2008)

Directed By: Lucky McKee & Trygve Allister Diesen
Written By: Stephen Susco
Based On The Book By: Jack Ketchum
Cinematography By: Harald Gunnar Paalgard
Editor: Jon Endre Mok

CAST: Brain Cox, Tom Sizemore, Noel Fisher, Shiloh Fernandez, Robert Englund, Amanda Plummer, Kim Dickens, Richard Riehle, Kyle Gallner


First and foremost the main reason to see this film is the performance of brain cox even though the film is good he really elevates the material and brings it to a level that could have been reached without him but not in the same way.

Now I read the book the movie is based on before watching the film I literally watched the movie the same day I finished the book now they have changed some things around from the book a bit of the ending and some details that were served in the book to flesh out the story but in the film are skipped to keep the plot going with no distractions. The films ending makes you think surprisingly more then the book which in turn makes the lead character a little more deep.

The only problem I really had with the film is that it is filmed on digital video which makes this production look cheap. I don’t know what the budget of the film was but it takes away or distracts a little from the movie which deserves more richness in the background and I understand the story takes place in a small town but wherever they filmed it it looks like a ghost town more of a tourist attraction. Buildings don’t look lived in preserved but not lived in. I know it’s a nit-pick, but it bothered me.

The story is one of revenge where a tragedy happens for no real good reason and all the man wants is a apology and for the perpetrator to take responsibility but wherever he turns he can’t get any justice and just when he is ready to settle he keeps getting pushed and picked on to his breaking point when all hell breaks loose.

The reason this tale works is that like It’s main character it’s rough but sticks to a certain moral code that seems lacking in the modern world or seems to be dying and considered outdated. I really liked the main character in the book. The way brain cox plays him in the movie fleshed him out and made me like all the more.

This film has a curious production most of the film was completed by director Lucky McKee until filming was halted and then started up six months later with director
Trygve Allister Diesen. taking over no explination was ever given but luckily the film uses both men’s footage seamlessly there are no scenes where I would guess one of them directed this and the other directed that there is no bad overlapping of styles or performances. Which is surprising. It’s really a shame because with this film it really seemed like lucky McKee was back on the right track with a worthy follow up to his Excellent First Film MAY. He almost directed the film version of Jack Ketchum’s Novel the lost but ended up just producing it.

Tom Sizemore’s performance could have been better he usually plays these types of roles in his sleep and here he seems like he is doing exactly that he doesn’t seem to have the energy that he usually puts into his performances. He just seems wishy washy and not even a good nemesis for brain Cox’s character you could see the hero washing the floor with this guy. Also it’s a shame a talented actress like Amanda plummer has to take bit roles like these she deserves better not that this is not a worthy movie for her. She just deserves bigger and better roles.

This is a worthy rental that will make you think afterwards. Thanks to a poignant ending.

GRADE: B-

PASSENGER 57 (1992)

Starring: Wesley Snipes, Bruce Payne, Tom Sizemore, Bruce Greenwood, Elizabeth Hurley



Directed by: Kevin Hooks
Story By: Dan Gordon & Stewart Raffill
Written By: Dan Gordon & David Loughery
Director Of Photography: Mark Irwin
Edited By: Richard Nord

Remember the gold old days when Wesley snipes could still get a movie released in theaters? I do

I remember seeing this in theaters it was one of those days I didn't expect to go on a movie and just decided to go with a friend on a whim with short notice so we ran to see this film and I at least was pleasently surprised because I thought it would be corny. I will be the first to admit I am not the biggest action film fan I don't hate them hey are just not my favorite genre of movie.

This film is sort of like die hard with not so original villians and more hand to hand combat instead of guns and explosives. You still have the terrorists in one location trying to find the one hero who is taking them out one by one. This film is quite enjoyable in it's popcorn way. You have the security consultant hero who is haunted by his wife's death that he couldn't stop. It even has a young Elizabeth hurley in one of her first acting roles before all of a sudden becoming a international supermodel. There truly is not that much to say about this film it moves fast is entertaining. There are no real surprises there are moments of inspired comedy. One person you might suspect is a villain turns out not to be and then after we are off the center of all the action a plane we get more ground action sequences and stunts in a amusement park and on a airport runway there is a little racial humor since our hero is one of the lone minorities against an all white terrorist movement.

It's interesting that this movie was once offered to sylester stallone he was the first choice but by giving the movie to wesley snipes the filmmakers were genius as he adds more flavor and charisma to the film then i feel stallone would hae brung. With him this film would have been a standard forgettable action film, but with snipes it's entertaining and fun. it was also a calling card to show he could do action films which eventually lead to his own franchise character "BLADE"

Hey it was the mid 90's but I recommend it if you haven't seen it by now. it's a great time waster and one of the few somewhat recent films that has an African American action hero who wasn't battling drug dealers or gangs. A perfect companion piece togowith the long kiss goodnight though not as big budget as that film but it is a great example of 90's action films. Little known fact: sylvester stallone was first offered the movie but turned it down this was one of wesley snipes first hit movies. just becasue he turned it down they named one of the characters. one who sees no action inthe whole film after him.

GRADE: C+