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downyokp
Reviews
No Good Deed (2002)
Not as hokey as you might think.
I genuinely enjoyed this movie. A previous comment said something to the effect of an observation that cliches riddle certain parts, but I think it's important to note that this was written in the 1920s, when perhaps those cliches were not quite so pervasive. And the ending isn't nearly as cliche as I would expect from that era.
Samuel L Jackson delivers a worthy performance as Jack, adding his signature personality to the role while still maintaining the spirit of the character.
Milla is good looking as usual, and like all her other movies, gets naked for a minute. Her performance is decent.
I'd give this movie a 7 out of 10
WARNING, SPOILER FOLLOWS.
what REALLY sells me on this movie is the direction it takes. I think you sort of have to put yourself into the 1920s mindset that women are women, and the real character to watch is the hero. IF you do that, then Erin is what a woman was classically considered to be; dependant, in search of a man, hedging her bets to be with the man most apt to provide for her.
Then the story is really about Jack and the decisions he has to make; conflict between his desire for Erin and his honorable, uncompromising personality. Whereas most western movies have the hero triumph over evil, giving him the kingdom and the girl in the process as a reward, here there is a twist; the hero defeats the villain, but chooses not to take the kingdom OR the girl, choosing instead to maintain his honor.
In this regard, the story mimics many classic works of samurai fiction, for example, where the hero denies his own desires in the name of a personal moral code. Also, what is not cliche is the movie's acknowledgement that the real world rarely rewards good character, and the path of virtue and honor is usually a lonely one. The ending is surprising, sad, and lonely, yet somehow gratifying and assuring.
Safe House (1998)
Some movies are epics, this one's a short story
I will start by admitting that I'm a Star Trek fan, and in particular a Next Gen fan. So yes, I have a bias towards liking Stewart, although I think most can agree he is a skilled actor.
That concession aside, and as my summary suggests, this is not an epic movie, just a short story. I loved the set design, which was quite clever; where most movies tend to create the impression of big houses and locales, this one manages to create the impression of close spaces, as appropriate for a fortress in suburbia.
You will continue to guess at whether or not Stewart's paranoia is justified or just symptoms of Alzheimer's until the very end. Stewart is well fitted for the part, or at the very least he was convincing to me. I think this particular says something since I'm used to seeing him as Captain Picard.
I wouldn't try to sell this off as an accurate portrayal of how DIA operatives act when they retire. I wouldn't know anything about that. I don't even know if there is such a thing as the DIA.
What I will say is that the movie is best taken as a diversion, a fun romp that keeps you interested, but it doesn't grip you like an epic. Perhaps rightly so, since the subject matter doesn't fit an epic movie anyway.
As a final note, I still don't see anything wrong with genre mixing. Why can't you have a drama that's funny, or a comedy with serious action, or whatever it is you want to blend? If it works it works, if it doesn't it doesn't, and it works for me here. (See as an example "The Big Hit," which the writer called a "hip-hop comic Hong Kong action movie") This movie is a small little tidbit, to be taken and enjoyed as such. 8/10