Tag Archives: Thriller

No Country for Old Men

His introductory scenes show him to possess a code of sorts, unfamiliar to any rational audience member, that allows him to kill without remorse and even occasionally to let luck decide who lives or dies. He is chilling and evil, and entirely believable thanks to Bardem’s wonderful turn.
Rating: 4.5 starsHoopla Factor: 4.0 stars


Like most of the Coens’ work, there are brilliant moments of black humour, though, like Chigurh, these could become harrowingly violent at any moment. It’s hard to get too relaxed watching No Country for Old Men.
Rating: 4.0 starsHoopla Factor: 4.0 stars Continue reading No Country for Old Men→

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Eastern Promises

The treatment of the earlier sequences allows the nature of these men and their world to be realistically brought to life. As the tension quietly builds leading to the crucial developments that are hinted at throughout, the final release is a scene of ferocious barbarity that may live with the viewer for some time.
Rating: 4.5 starsHoopla Factor: 4.0 stars


Hollywood has a penchant for revelling in violence without consequences, but here it almost feels as if the director was actually being responsible by not shying away from the gore. Rather than gratuitous, it felt justified, and far from glorification.
Rating: 4.0 starsHoopla Factor: 4.0 stars Continue reading Eastern Promises→

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Michael Clayton

Swinton’s Karen Crowder on the other hand is so ambitious as to be almost irredeemable, but the interesting choice made in writing is to give her moments of self doubt and crushing anxiety, such that she is not reduced to a simple caricature. This strength shows throughout the film, with most characters possessing good and bad sides.
Rating: 4.0 starsHoopla Factor: 3.5 stars


George Clooney produces arguably the performance of his career. He’s detached and almost expressionless, but somehow manages to evoke more sympathy than any of his previous characters.
Rating: 4.0 starsHoopla Factor: 2.5 stars Continue reading Michael Clayton→

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The Bourne Ultimatum

It’s not that I don’t think you’ve got it in you, Mr Greengrass, it’s just that I’d love to see what you work so hard (and spend so much money) to create. As things stand, I spend most of my time suppressing my gag reflex and trying to stop the vertigo. Enough is enough.
Rating: 1 starsHoopla Factor: 1 stars


Aside from one very clever narrative device and one unexpected sub plot, the film is a little less believable and a lot more lightweight. The plot is okay, but feels like a small idea stretched too thin over two hours.
Rating: 3 starsHoopla Factor: 3.5 stars Continue reading The Bourne Ultimatum→

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