So this is a Christian version of House on Haunted Hill?

I have a knee-jerk reaction to slam Christian films because I'm a student of their historical pathetic displays. Robbie Henson did well with The Visitation. It wasn't Oscar-level stuff but for a Christian film it certainly held its own.

This is based on the work by Frank Peretti and Ted Dekker. While the marketing for this film makes sure to display this, I couldn't care less. Novels are novels and movies are movies, there's plenty of lousy adaptations of good books (see most Dickens adapatations).

I don't know, this trailer doesn't do much to make me want to see it. The set up is stock stuff and the conflicts shown don't excite.

Make up your own mind, the trailer is below.

Labels: Christian film, film, Michael Madsen, movie trailer

A straight-up undercover cop movie. There's really not too much new here, Johnny Depp offers a passable performance as an undercover FBI agent who infiltrates the mob by playing low level doofus "Lefty" Ruggiero (Al Pacino). Brasco gets emotionally involved in his work and delves too deep into his role which all leads to a predictable final act. The performances by Depp and Pacino help move this otherwise pedestrian production forward and make this a watchable film. It's not masterful filmmaking but it good enough to see if you can find it for free.


Related Reviews:
Al Pacino movies
Dog Day Afternoon (1975)
Heat (1995)


Other Critic's Reviews:
ScreenIt!
Urban Cinefile

Labels: Al Pacino, Anne Heche, Bruno Kirby, film, Johnny Depp, Michael Madsen, movie review

More retro nonsense coming from the Rodriguez/Tarantino camp. Its bad enough our culture has become so stagnant and corporate controlled that we're rehashing every marginally successful film and television series. Now we have more and more people making dimwitted pastiches to kitsch flicks. Somebody stop the culture, I want to get off.





Screenwriter: Larry Bishop (Underworld)
Director: Larry Bishop (Mad Dog Time)
Actors: Dennis Hopper (Easy Rider), Michael Madsen (Reservoir Dogs), Vinnie Jones (Snatch), Eric Balfour (Texas Chainsaw Massacre), and Larry Bishop (Underworld)

Labels: Dennis Hopper, Eric Balfour, film, Michael Madsen, movie trailer, Vinnie Jones