This week, because I couldn't make it to the theater to see either "Terminator" or "Angels and Demons" (and now I'm not sure I want to spend the money to see either film), I decided instead to recommend my top three "sleeper" movies to rent.
Anytime I meet a fellow movie lover, I ask them if they've seen any of these films and if the answer is "no", I quickly dig them out from my vast DVD collection and place them in their hands. I enjoy sharing a good movie with someone just as much as a book I love. And, as with books, I'm curious to see if the recipients of these found treasures of mine will appreciate the stories and characters, as I did, or if they'll return them, somewhat dissatisfied. Either way, it always leads to an interesting conversation. I'm a little disheartened, of course, if they didn't like a film I recommended but I do get to know the person a little bit better when I find out why. And on occasion, the answer is they simply don't know their movies. If for example, I recommend a great classic like "All the president's men" and the person returns it with a shrug stating they'd rather see a film that has a monkey playing hockey in it, I know not to take their critique to heart. And since I don't own any movies starring monkeys, I stop lending films to them.
My three picks for this week are all crime genre films. I know this doesn't appeal to everyone but for some reason (perhaps I was a detective in a past life) I'm really drawn to them. I love to see how the good guy catches the bad guy, what makes a bad person "bad" and all the tangled webs that are weaved in the process. If you too are a fan of this genre, you should definitely check these film out...
Citizen X (1995)
This HBO film is based on a true story and stars Stephen Rea as police detective, Viktor Burakov who, while living in communist Soviet Union, spends ten years tracking down a serial killer. Donald Sutherland plays his superior and while you have to get use to both of them doing their best Russian accents, their on screen chemistry and acting (especially Rea's, as the tormented sleuth) make up for that. The story takes places mainly throughout the 1980s and not only does it depict the painstaking efforts it takes to collect viable evidence, it also shows how frustrating it must have been then to acquire the resources needed from a communist government, when they firmly believed serial killers were a "western phenomenon".
Because the killer, Chikatilo, took the lives of over 50 people (most of whom were children) in a very savage way, this film is not for the more sensitive viewers. The movie does depict some of these killings and I would highly recommend that you prepare yourself: A little desensitization could come in handy.
Max von Sydow plays the psychiatrist who constructs the first "psychological profile" ever offered to the field of detective work in The Soviet Union. His on screen time is short but profound.
This movie is tense, well -acted and gives the audience a glimpse into the "psychology of a killer"
If you like detective stories (and can handle some disturbing images); you'll like this one.
Auto Focus (2002)
In this film, (also based on a true story) Greg Kinnear plays Bob Crane the star of "Hogan's Heroes" a popular TV show which ran through the 1960's and 70's. Kinnear does an excellent job portraying Crane as the "all american guy" whose affliction as a sex addict, lead to his eventual unemployment, divorce and possibly his murder. ( I don't believe I'm giving away a spoiler here, as it is a true story).
Willem Dafoe co-stars as Crane's friend "John Carpenter" and (surprise, surprise) convincingly depicts a creepy guy who likes to capture naked girls on video. Kinnear and Dafoe, in their 60's garb, inhabit these characters and show the audience how an interest can turn into an obsession which can cause a downward spiral. (One that the characters are unaware of and yet are incapacitated by).
The sets are great in this film and the re-enactments of the "Hogan's Heroes" show are light and entertaining. A juxtaposition as you watch the deconstruction of Crane's life. Here's the story of a guy who "had it all" but just couldn't stop taking pictures of women's breasts.
Although the film doesn't delve into the investigation of Crane's murder, I include this one as a crime film because it shows the progression of "bad thoughts" turning someone into a "bad person".
Would this "bad person" from the 60's be deemed "bad" now? Watch it and decide for yourself.
Zero Effect (1998)
Here's my comedy/crime pick. A light hearted, with twists and turns, private detective story. Why this movie didn't do better at the box office is beyond me.
Bill Pullman plays " Daryl Zero" an eccentric private detective who doesn't know how to function in the real world. He never meets his clients face to face and instead has his assistant, played by Ben Stiller, fill in for him.
For this particular case, Zero is hired to help a man, played by Ryan O'Neal, find his keys. The search for such keys leads Zero to the discovery of a blackmailer who is up to the task of not getting caught.
Pullman's wacky portrayal of "Zero" is hilarious. Even his hair gets funnier with each scene. Stiller plays the Stiller you'd expect, but the two of them have got some great scenes together. I can't tell you a lot about the plot, without ruining it for you but I can tell you, what a joy it was to find this movie, many years ago. It's original, it's funny and it's well written.
And if you start the night with the first two heavy-duty films I recommended, you'll be due for some comedic relief.
This movie will gladly give that to you.
No comments:
Post a Comment