Gone Baby Gone (US, 2007)

When will Casey Affleck stop mumbling? He mumbled his way through Jesse James and he mumbles his way through this convoluted thriller. The plot’s noirish enough without having to hang on his every mangled word. This delivery worked in The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (2007) because it suited the character; [...]

State of Play (US-UK, 2009)

The remake of the excellent BBC political thriller from 2003 deftly transfers the narrative to Washington DC and updates the ’state of the nation’ message. The original six-parter had nearly six hours to play with, however the necessary compression is skilfully wrought though the motivation of the politicians is less clear in the film.
Kevin MacDonald’s [...]

The International (US-Germany-UK, 2009)

In the 1930s the Warners gangster cycle was sold as movies made off newspaper headlines. The International is, the end credits suggest, made off today’s headlines. I think that’s true except the newspapers don’t explain what’s behind the events; this film does. Based on the premise that international finance is corrupt (who’s going to argue [...]

The Lives of Others (Das Leben der Anderen, Germany, 2006)

It was no surprise that The Lives of Others should win an Oscar: technically proficient, superbly acted and humanist whilst bashing the ‘commies’. It is a gripping thriller but, as Anna Funder points out in Sight & Sound (May ‘07) utterly ridiculous. The Stasi member who is humanised by music and a poem by Brecht! [...]

Tell No One (Ne le dis à personne, France, 2006)

‘The death of love’

Marvellously labyrinthine thriller (still haven’t worked out the significance of the bouquet) that manages to inject excitement into the ‘coming back from the dead’ trope; based on convincing performances, a terrific chase sequence, and humanising humour (the good cop).
At the heart of the narrative labyrinth is fatherly and sexual love. The stakes [...]

Cloverfield (US, 2008)

American liberty has lost its head.

It’s taken 10 years for Blair Witch (1999) to get a proper sequel. Whilst Cloverfield is not as effective as its predecessor, it is a fascinating take on a (western) world at war on terror. It’s not just the camcorder aesthetic that is so effective, much of what is happening [...]

Yella (Germany, 2007)

Yella being stalked by her husband as she leaves for the west.

I watched this based on a recommendation by Roy Stafford and knew nothing about it. I enjoy watching films without preconceptions (as far as that is possible) but that method of viewing can result in missing large parts of the subtext (er, if it [...]

Antitrust (US, 2001)

Great premise: Bill Gates is force for evil and open source should rule OK. And wrap up the message in a thriller format then you’ve a winner except this isn’t very thrilling. Phillipe’s lightweight (better in Crash) and the direction’s lacklustre. Robbins is suitably charming-evil but he does get his comeuppance to tad easily (handcuffs!?). [...]

The Silence of the Lambs (US, 1991)

An effective thriller but 27th best movie ever (imdb)?! Never. Interesting at the time for Hollywood’s embrace of the commercial possibilities of ‘bad taste’ welded to Oscar-winning performance. Now seems a bit plodding. (DVD, 3
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Flightplan (US, 2005)

Quite clever thriller that only holds the attention because of Jodie Foster. (OAR) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0408790/