Suspect Zero

Aaron Eckhart
Ben Kingsley
Carrie-Anne Moss
Harry J. Lennix
Kevin Chamberlin
William Mapother

R           99min           2004

“Suspect Zero” is about an FBI agent tracking is tracking a serial killer, who’s victims are more than meets the eyes and that this secret will lead them to finding the serial killer.

This film wasn’t what I suspected. I saw in a preview and picked it up. I was greatly surprised by this movie. Although it’s a slow moving is it a mentally chaotic intense film. The story was there but it felt incomplete and rushed. Ben Kinsley is stellar as a mentally trouble serial killer.

This is a extremely slow moving film. Although the film the agents are dragging their heels or one step behind. Its didn’t leave the FBI in high regards even though they got there man. It is somewhat satisfying, but is a stain on your mental senses.

Suspect Zero throws a lot of information at you through flashbacks, and newspaper clipping. The clues to solving each murder are there. Some clues are there but don’t make sense until the end. Some of the cut scene should have been left in to make some plot points clear and more apparent to the viewer.

For most viewer this may be above their head. Your like an outside observer with both sides and wonder how the FBI would miss so of the blatant clues by, the spot on acting of, Ben Kinsley. When glimpsing his side you see just how tortured he is, the mental restraint and collapse of his character; this one of the high points of ‘Suspect Zero’.

I give it 2/5 Gs.

The Skeleton Key

Kate Hudson
Gena Rowlands
John Hurt
Peter Sarsgaard
Joy Bryant

PG13           104min           2005

“The Skeleton Key” is a film about a hospice nurse (Hudson) taking care of a older gentlemen in a creepy house with his wife (Rowlands) in Louisiana and the strange occurrences that she stumps upon, where nothing is what it seems.

This film is a creepy suspense tale with a ending that made me laugh, which it wasn’t intended to due. It’s because of the reason given at the end that made me laugh. Then it made me wonder if this could really happen. Our world is definite with having concrete prove, not on believing. To anyone belief is a powerful force and should be discounted.

This movie takes the viewer on the same journey as Hudson’s character searches for clues to solving the mystery of the Skeleton Key. Especially in the bayou, known to be a hot spot for the occult, some mystery should be left unturned. Even if you don’t believe there are forces out there at work.

People discount these forces everyday because there is no proof, it doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist. That fear of the unknown is what this movie relies on and does a great job of conveying it. Miss direction and the slight of hands are use from the very beginning. This is a true suspense thriller.

‘The Skeleton Key’ builds the suspense and tension in you as well as the movie. In the end your relieved for the release of tension, overjoyed for the ending and disappointed that the ride is over. Whether you feel the ending is tragic or comical. It will be satisfying.

I give it 3/5 Gs.

'Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift'

Lucas Black
Nathalie Kelley
Bow Wow
Sung Kang
Brian Tee
Leonardo Nam
Sonny Chiba

PG13           104min           2006

‘The Fast and the Furious 3: Tokyo Drift’ has Lucas Black, a street racer sent to Tokyo by his mother to get away from the trouble he has in America. Living with his father he discovers the underground racing world of Drifting.

It’s on par with the rest of the films. The first that doesn’t star someone from the original and takes the series back to its roots. Black, with his Alabama accent seems like a fish out of water in Tokyo. This time around the story goes back to what started this series.

Tokyo Drift’s story was more about the racing than the story itself. The movie’s story moved to showcase the cars and feature some of the best driving of the series. Drifting is a lot more complicated than you get from ‘Need for Speed’ and the stunt drivers made it look easy from the commentary.

Lucas Black (Sling Blade and Friday Night Lights) plays Sean to a tee. But how much acting really could go into playing a ‘Southern Boy in Tokyo’ went you’re a ‘Southern boy in Tokyo’. ‘Tokyo Drift’ also feature Nathalie Kelley in her feature film debut. She is stunning and not that bad as Neely. Bow Wow is Sean guide into the underworld of drifting and performance adding to his resume.

The story this time around takes a more interesting turn. Black enters the world of drifting and loses a car. Then taken in and mentor, then loses his mentor. Now he must use racing as a way to get out of the trouble his gotten into. This is more race driven, the characters develop around the racing instead of the racing developing round the characters.

I give it 3/5 Gs.

"Tristan + Isode"

James Franco
Sophia Myles
Rufus Sewell
David O’Hara
Mark Strong
Henry Cavill

PG13           125min           2006

“Tristan + Isode” is about second in line to the British crown who falls in love with the Irish princess who would be the future queen of Britain and their love affair that destroys the monarch and starts a war between Ireland and Britain.

“Tritan + Isode” is supposedly the real inspiration for “Romeo and Juliet”. It was neither compelling nor interesting. I disappointed in the story and acting. It was just painful to watch.

This film was a marketed on the basis of “James Franco”. The story was told even before you watched but nothing in it compelled you to watch. You didn’t feel that they passionately love each other. It was more that they were in lust with each other. Young children doing something that there parent told them not too.

I picked it up because it starred Sophia Myles, having seen her in “Underworld” and thought she was under used; I wanted to see what see could do. I wasn’t disappointed in anyone’s acting I was disappointed in the material that they were given. It gives Tristan and Isode no redeeming quality and uses youth as an excuse for stupidity. Not one character questioned their motives or stopped each other.

It gave you nothing interesting to hold on to. Tristan and Isode is a tricky film to pull off and on this they failed miserably at it. Several time during the movie I just stopped watch because it was just too painful to watch. How could two people be this stupid when everything and country depended on them.

“Lust” is a deadly sin and that’s just what they were in. If they truly loved one another they would have put the country ahead of their needs or even come clean. This film did accomplish on thing: Display affairs in a truly light. Affairs affect every around them and can destroy lives needlessly.

This tale has been told far better in “Romeo + Juliet” and “Titanic”. This film is to be seen only if you’re truly a fan of one of the actors.

I give 2/5 Gs

"Dreamer (2005)"

Kurt Russell
Dakota Fanning
Kris Kristofferson
Elisabeth Shue
David Morse
Freddy Rodriguez
Luis Guzman
Oded Fehr

PG           106min           2005


“Dreamer: Inspired by a True Story (2005)” is a young girl’s ambition turns into a family dream to see a race horse that had a career ending leg break race again.

Dreamer is a nice gleaming beautiful film in a time wear Hollywood it about gritty, raw and too real drama. It’s a heart-warming tale about overcoming adversity and finding your dreaming. It’s a family drama that is beautifully acted. It’s a story for the entire family.

The root for this family too succeed, it’s something you want as much as they do. No one character is more important than any other and it truly tugs at your heart. Its not cynical or contrite as some of these family dramas can be. It portrays a real family struggling between success and family, living in reality or chasing after a dream.

Some of the best work from a child that is wise beyond her year, Dakota Fanning. It’s her star that shines in this film and she is the drawing attraction. She outshine her other costar. I think this movie was made with her in mind and it shows. As the movie is about the horse but its only compelling when is she on the screen.

Dreamer is film for the whole family. You cheer in the happy moments and cry in the sad. For some it gives them a good cry. As a family you can enjoy for the acting or for the majestic animals horses are. It made me appreciate how hard it is to raise horses. I found a new appreciation for the Triple Crown and just how hard is to win.

I give it a 3/5 Gs.