Film Reviews by GI

This is what a great action thriller should be like, audacious, gritty, adult themed, occasionally shocking but compelling and thought provoking. Director Denis Villeneuve seems to turn everything he touches into gold and Sicario is simply flawless. Emily Blunt, in an absolutely mesmerising performance, is Kate Macer an experienced FBI agent. After the FBI raid a Mexican cartel owned house in Arizona they find decomposing bodies hidden in false walls. The discovery is so shocking that an operation to find who is responsible is quickly commenced led by Graver (Josh Brolin) and Kate volunteers to be a part of it. But who Graver works for is unclear and soon Kate becomes suspicious about what exactly the mission's objectives are especially the role to be played the mysterious Alejandro (Benicio Del Toro), one of the team. At times this is realistically violent and bloody and at others it's carefully restrained but the story keeps you hooked throughout and there's an ominous, threatening soundtrack to keep the level of suspense turned full on at all times. A fantastic film with real energy and it's often edge of your seat stuff especially the use of night vision scenes. I highly recommend this it's a film you should make sure you check out (there was a sequel in 2018 which some like but I found it disappointing in comparison to this wonderful film).

A dark, atmospheric conspiracy thriller with an intricate plot and plenty of clues if you watch carefully as the story twists and turns. It's only real flaw is the main twist is predictable from an early point but that aside it's a very involved film that draws you in even when you've seen it before. Leonardo DiCaprio, on top form, plays a US Marshall, Teddy, who arrives with his partner (Mark Ruffalo) at Shutter Island, the site of a maximum security hospital for the criminally insane run by Dr Cawley (Ben Kingsley). He's investigating the escape of a female patient who has mysteriously escaped from her locked cell. Teddy soon suspects something is being kept secret at the hospital and when a storm traps him there he tries to unravel what is going on. DiCaprio excels here as the man with PTSD from his service in the war and his experience in the liberation of a Nazi death camp and also suffering grief from the death of his wife (Michelle Williams) in a fire. He's haunted by dreams that fill the narrative making it part of the overall mystery of what is occurring at the hospital. The setting of the East Coast in 1954 gives the film a visual style and period feel similar to prison dramas such as The Green Mile (1999) and The Shawshank Redemption (1994) as well as a haunting score that delivers a horror film vibe. Director Martin Scorsese builds the tension gradually and skilfully utilising various visual clues and symbolism that builds the plot to it's arguably controversial final scene which is open to different interpretations. A clever, entertaining and tense film with a great support cast including Emily Mortimer, Patricia Clarkson and Max Von Sydow. Definitely worth watching again if you have only had one viewing.

John Wayne's last film and a fitting epilogue to his screen career. In a way it's tragedy and a poignant tale of the end of a misunderstood life. Wayne plays J.B. Books, an ailing man, who has lived a full life as a former lawman and gunfighter, but now has a reputation as a killer due to exaggerated stories about his past. He arrives in Carson City, Nebraska in the winter of 1901 to see an old doctor friend (James Stewart) and to seek his medical advice. Diagnosed with terminal cancer Books decides to have his final days in the city at the lodging house of Mrs Rogers (Lauren Bacall) where he befriends her impressionable son, Gillom (Ron Howard). But his presence in the city and news of his impending death attracts a host of people intent on benefiting from his last days including some who want the glory of killing him. But Books decides his death will be how he wants it to be. The film opens with scenes from some of Wayne's past westerns and although this was never intended to be his last film it has become almost a tribute to him. The centre of the story is his relationship with Mrs Rogers where he finds solace in his past. There is violence, indeed the climax is a gunfight but mostly this a melancholy story of a misjudged man who has lived on the borders of civilisation which has now caught up with him. It's a fine performance from Wayne, a moving and interesting film and has some great support actors such as Richard Boone, Bill McKinney and Hugh O'Brien and Harry Morgan. An impressive film from director Don Siegal and one where Wayne deserved more recognition as he is quite magnificent here.

A violent action film and star vehicle for Mark Wahlberg. It has a totally implausible plot that does stretch credibility throughout but that aside it's an entertaining conspiracy thriller with plenty of action. Wahlberg plays Bob Lee Swagger, a former expert sniper, now living in quiet seclusion but recruited by dodgy Colonel Johnson (Danny Glover) to advise on a possible assassination attempt on the President. Swagger finds himself set up and hunted as a killer but soon shows he's no pushover as he goes all Ethan Hunt with a remarkable skill set allowing him to avoid his pursuers and kill a lot of them. Kate Mara plays a love interest who helps the hero along with a disaffected FBI agent played by Michael Peña. Ned Beatty also cameos as a corrupt politician. It's all good fun, thoroughly daft but watchable.

Now hailed as one of the greatest horror films ever made it's not too surprising that back in 1980 audiences just didn't get this film. It's almost incomparable to any other film either before or since and was misunderstood and perhaps a little too deep for general audiences of the time. In essence it's a ghost/haunted house story with a study of madness thrown in for good measure and as a film it is highly impactive and very clever. The suspense of the film is almost tangible and it's quite frightening in parts. Jack Nicholson, in one of his most famous roles, plays Jack Torrance, a former teacher and budding writer. He takes the job of caretaker of the massive, remote and luxurious Overlook Hotel when it closes for the winter. Jack, his wife Wendy (Shelley Duvall) and their young son Danny (Danny Lloyd) are effectively isolated for the duration of the winter while Jack attempts to use the solitude to write. But influenced by the Hotel's dark past Jack slowly becomes homicidal and insane putting his family in danger. Danny, unbeknown to his parents, has a unique gift of being able to sense bad things and he sees the Hotel for what it is and begins to see the strange presence that haunts it. This film has been pawed over by so many fans with ever more bizarre theories about it but it should be seen for the unique experience that it provides, a very dark story about deep emotions being forced to the surface of an unstable man affected by forces unseen by normal people. The actors are fantastic and Nicholson's extreme performance often overshadows Duvall's, which is some of the finest acting you'll ever get to see. There are really two versions of the film, the longer and original one that was released in the US and then a shorter one released for the European and UK markets. Director Stanley Kubrick put together both and acknowledged both but I would recommend the longer version as it has scenes that enhance the backstory especially with the central and important character of Danny. This is a post modern horror film and a masterpiece of cinema. Definitely a film to make sure you see.

A rather cluttered and confusingly structured police procedural allegedly inspired by a true case. The prominence of Mel Gibson on the film's poster etc is clearly to influence audiences into thinking he's a lead player here but he's actually in a minor role although is given a backstory that seems like filler. The actual story is fairly routine. A number of bodies are discovered buried in to the New Mexico desert all of which turn out to be missing young women many of whom were sex workers. The local police investigation leads to the uncovering of police corruption but fails to nail the killer of the women. Gibson is an FBI profiler brought in to assist. Most of the characters are standard American cop ones drawn from the usual character traits you find in films of this type. Curtis '50 Cent' Jackson is the local police chief who basically has little to do here with the main focus of the narrative being on the lead detective (Brian Van Holt) who has a personal reason for pursuing the case albeit he has tunnel vision over who he suspects. Sadly the story behind this film no doubt is an interesting one but this film doesn't service that story very well and I guarantee you'll be disappointed by the end result if you manage to keep up with the confusion of the editing.

A well constructed historical drama with some bloody battle scenes and a story that has been told in multiple ways, multiple times before although here there's a majesty to it and a considered lead performance from Guy Pearce. He plays Munro, a former British soldier and now lay preacher, who travels to New Zealand in 1830 to be the priest for a white settlement. With an early introduction to the violent rivalries between the local Maori tribes he also soon sees the bigotry and colonial hatreds of the whites towards their hosts but who are willing to commit murder over the slightest offence. Setting off to try and bring some peace to local warring chiefs he soon finds himself questioning his past, his loyalties and getting involved in the fight. It's a watchable film and is probably a bit of a passion piece for director Lee Tamahori who has concentrated on authenticity and thematically attacking the colonial history of the British who bought disease, guns and worse still Christianity with all it's bloody morality!! It's worth checking out.

This is the second film in what has become known as John Ford's cavalry trilogy along with Fort Apache (1948) and Rio Grande (1950). This is the best of these three films and the only one shot in technicolour and it's one of Ford's finest motion pictures. John Wayne, playing a much older man, is Captain Nathan Brittles. He commands a troop of cavalry in a remote fort and he's less than a week before retirement. When renegade Indians rise up he is ordered on his last patrol to take his commanding officer's womenfolk to a nearby stagecoach station for safety. But he fails to achieve his mission due to being attacked. On his final day as a soldier he disobeys orders and personally takes command of some of his men and foils the Indians plans. It might surprise those familiar with Ford's films just how little actual action there is in this film, despite this it is a film filled with danger and adventure but has that lyrical and poetical quality that Ford so easily brought to his films. Wayne is exceptional and this is one of his finest roles and he's supported by many familiar actors from other Ford westerns including Victor McLaglen, John Agar, Joanne Dru and Harry Carey Jr. There's the usual mix of Irish humour, including a hilarious bar fight and quite a bit of flag waving but the propaganda aspects can be forgiven because this is a major work and a classic Hollywood film. A wonderful film, you'll be just stunned by the magnificent scene shot in the thunderstorm, it's the work of a real artist. A masterpiece.

Guy Ritchie's take on the famous sleuth is great fun, a sort of a cross between a 70s Hammer film and a modern action adventure. Robert Downey Jr in the title role carries it all off with aplomb in an amusing take on the character and with Jude Law as Dr Watson they make for a great double act. Holmes and Watson have captured the evil Lord Blackwood (Mark Strong) for a series of murders (the film hints that Blackwood is Jack the Ripper) and he is executed. But then mysteriously he rises from the grave and is intent on taking over the country. Holmes must stop him with the help of his old flame Irene (Rachel McAdams) who is secretly in the employ of Professor Moriarty (a voiceover cameo from Jared Harris). It's a great, fun filled story involving devil worship and political intrigue, with plenty of comic book fighting and Ritchie's typical use of slow motion. Great support cast including Eddie Marsan as the inept Inspector Lestrade and the delectable Kelly Reilly as Watson's fiancée. For Sherlock Holmes fans there's lots of references to the original stories and novels to spot but overall this is an action packed family film that you can enjoy time and time again. Definitely one to check out if you've yet to see it.

A worthy sequel and another fun filled action adventure film with the great duo of Robert Downey Jr as Holmes and Jude Law as Dr Watson. It was inevitable there would be a sequel because the first film was such a success. Here Holmes is pitted against his most famous adversary Professor Moriarty (Jared Harris) who is attempting to push Europe into war so he can benefit from the armaments industry, a theme that has resonance in the present day. Director Guy Ritchie fills the film with some exciting and stunning action set pieces such as the slow motion chase through a forest with artillery fire exploding through the trees. The plot is clever and intricate with a consistent chess theme running throughout. There's a great cast to including Noomi Rapace, Paul Anderson and Stephen Fry as Mycroft Holmes and Rachel McAdams pops up reprising her role from the first film. An action packed, fun filled slice of entertainment and if you loved the first one you'll love this one too. What we need now is number 3.

Considering it's seven Oscar nominations and that it appears on many peoples favourite films lists it's still a surprise that this was a box office failure. A film that only gained a huge fanbase once it was released for video and it continues to be enjoyed today and has been heralded as one of the greatest of modern movies. A prison drama that has a fantastic authenticity in every small detail and a tale of friendship and regrets. Tim Robbins plays Andy, an intelligent banker convicted in 1947 of the murder of his wife and her lover, he steadfastly denies his guilt but receives two life sentences and is sent to Shawshank Prison in Maine. Despite the harsh regime and routinely being raped Andy soon finds a routine and becomes friendly with 'Red' (Morgan Freeman), who has already served 20 years of a life sentence. Through Andy's quiet demeanour and intelligence he begins to have an affect on prison life not least by helping the guards with their financial and tax issues. Eventually Warden Norton (Bob Gunton), a bible thumping disciplinarian, has Andy become bookkeeper for his corrupt dealings with local businessmen. But all the time Andy has been making his own plans. The great thing about this film is that it has the usual plot developments you'd expect but always goes further with them in some surprising ways. It leaves lots of interesting questions including is Andy innocent of his crimes or not? Ultimately it's a film about two friends and a condemnation of a system that was brutal and inhuman. The memorable scenes are not always the major ones either; for instance the scene when Andy locks himself in the warden's office and plays opera through the prison PA is a very moving one. Bob Gunton as Norton is one of the great screen villains, a subtle sadistic character and often forgotten when discussing this film. This is definitely a fantastic film and it's probably time you watched it again and if by some remote chance you've never seen it then it is one I guarantee you will love.

Director Sam Peckinpah's penultimate film fits somewhat into the genre of southern road movie action comedies that Burt Reynolds did so well. As this film stands it's a mishmash that never really comes together in that there's an attempt at comedy but the main thrust of the film seems to be a contemporary western pitting rebel truckers against corrupt lawmen. The difficulty here, as with other Peckinpah films, is unravelling what were his intentions and what ended up on screen after studio interference. History tells us that Peckinpah was not at his best by this time, an alcoholic and addicted to drugs, making him unpredictable and inconsistent. There is reputedly a Peckinpah cut of this film that may still exist and has been cited as far better than the film we have today. Perhaps one day it may emerge in similar ways to some of his other films that suffered under studio editing. As Convoy stands Burt Reynolds (who was offered this apparently) would have been a better casting than Kris Kristofferson as he had the comedic charisma to carry it off. Equally if Peckinpah intended a more dramatic action film than Steve McQueen (also rumoured to have been offered it) would have been a better fit. What is now available is a film that struggles to fit enough in to a feature length movie making it, at times, a bit of a chore to watch. There are snippets of Peckinpah's style and genius if you look close enough but overall this is a weak entry in his canon. Based on a 1976 novelty song by C.W. McCall made during the height of the CB radio craze, although the song has little story to it, this is a tale of a trucker who falls foul of a corrupt sheriff (Ernest Borgnine) and has to flee. He finds that truckers from all over join him on the road as the police try to stop them. Peckinpah employs his trademark slow motion for many of the crash set pieces and a big bar fight. There's a weak romance thrown in with Ali McGraw as the love interest although her role is so minimal as to be pointless. Fans of Peckinpah will spot a variety of his usual actors and James Coburn is one of the assistant directors. The film has recently been restored to 4K UHD and it's worth checking out but fans of Peckinpah will note this is way below his best work.

This is still hilarious even after many viewings and the little, subtle homages to a host of other films and links in the script pop up more and more whenever you watch this cult classic. A pastiche of all those classic George A. Romero zombie films this is a British satire on the mediocrity of modern living, on love and relationships and most of all an ode to friendship. It is genuinely a laugh out loud comedy and still the best of the Simon Pegg/Edgar Wright/Nick Frost 'cornetto' films. Shaun (Pegg) lives a mundane life in London, works in a boring electrical shop, has a lazy loser of a best friend, Ed (Nick Frost) and has just been dumped by his girlfriend, Liz (Kate Ashfield). Then a plague strikes and everyone turns into a shuffling, groaning zombie. Shaun, his mum, Ed, Liz and two friends hole up in the local pub, The Winchester but the zombie horde outside grows ever larger. A wonderful support cast that includes Penelope Wilton, Bill Nighy, Peter Serafinowicz and Liz Davis. You can also spot cameos from Martin Freeman, Matt Lucas, Rafe Spall, Jessica Hynes and Reece Shearsmith. Very original, wonderfully scripted this is a comedy cult classic and definitely a film everyone must see.

Dark, gothic avenger narrative based on a comic strip and set in a dystopian cityscape. It's all very atmospheric and fun to watch although the film is infamous in that it's star Brandon Lee died as a result of an on set incident making the film rather poignant in some ways. He plays Eric, a guitarist, who is murdered along with his fiancée, the night before their wedding by a violent gang. A year later Eric is resurrected and guided by a mysterious crow to avenge their deaths. He hunts down the gang killing each in turn eventually leading to the big baddie played by Michael Wincott. There's plenty of violence, the addition of the supernatural element gives the film an edge and I suspect the influence of Highlander (1986) may at play here and I'm convinced the character of Eric and the style of the violence in turn influenced John Wick (2014). In any event this is an adult comic book film that entertains and has that wet, moody visual style that makes it like a goth metal rock video.

One of the greatest westerns ever made and an important American film in its own right. Beautifully filmed mostly on location with the back drop of snowy mountains and constant storm tossed clouds. This is essentially a range war narrative with a big cattle baron attempting to chase away humble homesteaders who resist him. But thematically this is a film about the forging of community and in that sense it has a political and moral slant to it. Ultimately the need for violence to resolve matters is the climax of the story. The plot follows a relatively standard and classical story line of a land disrupted by powerful forces the people cannot resist until the arrival of the stranger who, by violence, restores the peace but cannot himself share in it. Joe Starrett (Van Heflin) is a small farmer living with his wife (Jean Arthur) and son (Brandon De Wilde). Along with other farmers they are harassed by Ryker (Emile Meyer) a rich cattle man who wants the farmers off the range. He uses intimidation and threats but Joe keeps the community together but it's beginning to crack. Then a stranger, Shane (Alan Ladd) rides out of the wilderness and finds some solace with Joe and his family. Ryker hires a ruthless gunfighter (Jack Palance) to start murdering the homesteaders but Shane is also a gunman and decides to stake all to protect the community. Ladd was a strange choice for the central role and this is probably his best film, he's not an actor that you'd think has the depth to play a western anti hero but it's difficult to think of anyone else playing it now and its interesting how the character maintains a mystery even at the end. Director George Stevens also amplified the gunfire to make it more realistic and the shootings are very realistic for the time and showed death by gunshot far more grittily than previously seen in films. Hugely influential on film makers such as Sergio Leone, Sam Peckinpah and Martin Scorsese this is a significant film and certainly one you should check out if it's somehow passed you by.