Brian Cox hasn't really had much of a chance to show how good he really is. I hope this film showcases him. Most people know him from goofball roles in movies like Troy, The Ringer, The Ring, X2 and his career defining effort as Captain O'Hagan in Supertroopers. When he crossed over to American film in 1986 playing the original Hannibal Lecktor it seemed like an important actor had arrived. Instead he has built a long resume populated with forgettable movies.

The downside of this production is the presence of Paul Dano. Dano threatened to derail There Will Be Blood with his plain, whiny delivery. That same performance appears to be the base of his work here.









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Labels: Brian Cox, film, movie review, Paul Dano

Short Review: Tigerbeat has rewritten history.



When I found out that pot-head Brad Pitt was cast as legendary warrior Achilles in Troy I thought it was a mistake. In most cases he has been recycling his role as Jeffrey Goines from 12 Monkeys since 1995. To be honest, pot-head Brad Pitt pulled it off and carries this silly movie.

Pot-head Brad Pitt’s Achilles shows us the inherent torment living in a world where one can have whatever he wants. He knows his of his abilities and his stature above the normal man, but its not enough. Pot-head Brad Pitt’s scenes where Achilles is forced into action because of issues thrust upon him by the arrogant and ruthless Agamemnon (Brian Cox reprising his landmark role from Super Troopers) are perhaps his best in the film. This is primarily because this is the only time Pitt is asked to act. Otherwise he's pretty much a greased up prop.

Brian Cox (Super Troopers) over-acting aside, the acting is actually good (for a bloated, loud McMovie) and the script offers interesting moments. The script also offers some silliness, but this is the Hollywoodization of Troy, what do you expect?

Wolfgang Peterson's direction is strong as usual for his work. This is particularly true in how he shoots his individual fight scenes. I believe he’s one of only a handful of major Hollywood director who is capable of presenting a fight sequence properly. His editing is not too quick and his shots are open enough for us to see the movement. In many cases today, fight scenes are a whirling vortex of close shots lit very darkly. I like it when I can see not only the faces of who is fighting, but how they are going about it. I’m silly that way.

Is this movie worth seeing? Depends, are you literate? Seriously, this is a big, fat Hollywood piece of cinematic chum. It is not a history lesson. If you can accept that, you will probably enjoy seeing this movie.



Cautions: There is plenty of bloody violence and some sexual moments. Neither are over the top however.


Related Reviews:
Brad Pitt movies
The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (2007)
Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2005)



Other Critic's Reviews:
USAToday
PopMatters





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Labels: Brad Pitt, Brendan Gleeson, Brian Cox, Diane Kruger, Eric Bana, film, movie review, Orlando Bloom

Wes Anderson is one of the most over-rated directors of the last twenty years.

Now his quirky, self-aware style has been meshed with cheap looking animation.

Geez, pinch me. I must be dreaming.



Screenwriters: Noah Baumbach (The Squid and the Whale) and Wes Anderson (Rushmore)
Director: Wes Anderson (Bottle Rocket)
Actors: George Clooney (Michael Clayton), Meryl Streep (The Devil Wears Prada), Jason Schwartzman (I Heart Huckabees), Bill Murray (Caddyshack), Michael Gambon (The Good Shepherd), Willem Dafoe (To Live and Die in L.A.), Owen Wilson (Wedding Crashers), Brian Cox (Supertroopers), Adrien Brody (Cadillac Records) and Karen Duffy (Dumb & Dumber)

Labels: Adrien Brody, Bill Murray, Brian Cox, film, George Clooney, Jason Schwartzman, Karen Duffy, Meryl Streep, Michael Gambon, movie trailer, Owen Wilson, Willem Dafoe

Screenwriters: Evan Spiliotopoulos (The Jungle Book 2)
Director: Aristomenis Tsirbas
Actors: Brian Cox (Supertroopers), Evan Rachel Wood (The Wrestler), Luke Wilson (Henry Poole is Here), David Cross (The Grand), Amanda Peet (The Whole Nine Yards) and Dennis Quaid (The Day After Tomorrow)

Labels: Amanda Peet, Brian Cox, David Cross, Dennis Quaid, Evan Rachel Wood, film, Luke Wilson, movie trailer

Screenwriter: Randall Wallace (We Were Soldiers)
Director: Mel Gibson (Apocalyto)
Actors: Mel Gibson (Lethal Weapon), Brian Cox (Manhunter), Sophie Marceau (The World is Not Enough) Brendan Gleeson (28 Days Later) and Patrick McGoohan (Scanners)

Labels: Brian Cox, film, Mel Gibson, movie trailer, Sophie Marceau

This is a pleasant film. Inspiring and upbeat, this picture about a high school baseball coach who breaks into the major league is a breath of fresh air. Dennis Quaid is perfectly cast in the lead and is helped by a solid script and strong supporting cast. Good comfort cinema is exceedingly rare these days. Rent it and enjoy.


Related Reviews:
Sports movies
Mystery, Alaska (1999)
Glory Road (2006)


Other Critic's Reviews:
ScreenIt!
Roger Ebert

Labels: Brian Cox, Dennis Quaid, film, movie review, Rachel Griffiths, sports movie

A meandering script and an irrational fear of editing makes this film a dry bore. The performances are good but since they go on so long they lose their potency and eventually become tedious.

It's a remarkable thing to make a movie about a famous serial killer boring.






Screenwriter: James Vanderbilt (Basic)
Director: David Fincher (Fight Club)
Actors: Jake Gyllenhaal (Brokeback Mountain), Anthony Edwards (Gotcha), Robert Downey Jr. (Iron Man), and Brian Cox (The Ring)

Labels: Brian Cox, David Fincher, film, Jake Glyyenhaal, movie trailer, Robert Downey Jr

Screenwriter: Stephen Susco (The Grudge)
Director: Trygve Allister Diesen and LuckyMcKee (The Woods)
Actors: Brian Cox (The Ring), Noel Fisher (Freddie Got Fingered), Tom Sizemore (Saving Private Ryan), Kyle Gallner, and Shiloh Fernandez

Labels: Brian Cox, film, movie trailer, Tom Sizemore