Reel Reviews

A Walk Among The Tombstones -- Perhaps it’s a product of the fact that I’m generally not into the mystery genre, but I found this film’s story/plot to be--mostly--genuinely surprising and opaque. One can argue that that’s not a good thing, but for me the lack of predictability (in details; the big picture remained fairly obvious) created a more enjoyable viewing experience. Certainly, Liam Neeson has this “world-weary cop” routine down pat by now; he’s played one variation or another on this character in most of his recent movies. But the role fits him like a glove, so instead of banality and too much comfort the repetition leads to expertise, and subtle shadings from one iteration to the next that the audience can appreciate. I think this is a good pic to watch, but others more familiar with the genre may find this outing somewhat pedestrian. It all depends on whether you’re a fan of Neeson, mysteries, or both.

Reel Reviews

Strangers On A Train -- At first blush this film seems dated, and a little obvious, and perhaps even a little clumsy. Then things get rolling, and the clever plot, artful direction, and healthy doses of wit begin to show as the the stakes grow more imperative, until finally you're left guessing about how it's going to end (not to mention whether or not the protagonist deserves to get out of his mess). In fact, this movie may be the epitome of why today's audience should show plenty of patience when it indulges a taste for yesteryear. There's a lot of good stuff out there, and once you get past the hurdle of outdated references and sensibilities, you can immerse yourself in the clever goings on that paved the way for today's finest works. Give it a shot sometime.

Reel Reviews

Gone Girl -- Hard to tell what to say about this one. A couple of things spring out: for one, this story relies on the same conceit as almost all mystery genre works, namely that there can be such a thing as the perfect crime. Certainly, this is a story that believes wholeheartedly in its own smartness; perhaps it's better to say the author believes in how smart she is. But this scenario would almost certainly not play out this way in real life; the presumed mastermind would be caught and exposed much easier than is seen here. The movie does make its case (so to speak) that one could get away with it because media are so guilty of fashioning "the truth" that it hazes everything, including detective work. It also implies something I've known since at least the old days of watching Xena: Warrior Princess: men can be bad, but when a woman goes wrong you get a real monster. That may be a minor spoiler; sorry, but even if the ending is given away you can still get something from watching this flick. It's worth your time.