Movie & Book: Jack Reacher - One Shot

James Barr was obviously guilty of the crime. Textbook case. Jack Reacher was so mad at him he came out of nowhere to bury him - not knowing Barr had asked for him. The ex-military "man with no name" will do whatever it takes to see justice is done, finding the truth by eliminating the impossible and accepting the improbable. 

Both the book and movie depict this popcorn thriller in textbook fashion. Not deep, but enough so to be engaging. Of course they differ, but only as a matter of allotted time, settings, and actors (imagined vs, well, Tom Cruise).

Movie: The Hunter

There is a category of movies seldom noted: well done quality dramas which few would ever choose to watch if not for the deceptive previews. Not action, not comedy, not compelling, yet must be advertised as such for any market penetration. Good movies nobody would complain of watching, but which would not be chosen for what they are. The Hunter, of course, is one. Superb acting depicting a moving drama, telling of a hired gun's emotional bonding with an unwitting host family and the betrayals of all involved. One action scene aside, it is anything but. Worth watching, but hard to imagine someone knowingly choosing to.

Movie: From Paris With Love

John Travolta likes playing over the top sociopaths.
Waaaaaay too much.

Movie: Assassination Games

Jean Claude Van Damme returns for his most cerebral role yet: an assassin teaming up with another to take down a drug cartel. The reasons are deep and moving, insofar as a hard hearted loner can have deep and moving reasons. JCVD has abandoned his drug-fueled violent dance extravaganzas and moved on to gritty dramas - and by gritty I mean akin to a breakfast of asphalt. If you liked Se7en or Girl with the Dragon Tattoo you'll want to see this; if not, don't.

Movie: Blitz

Plot. Yes, there is one. A serial killer is murdering cops, and Jason Statham ends up in the middle of stopping him.

The aforementioned key: Jason Statham. Playing his standard big-bucks role of a chaotic good character kicking any ass getting in his way toward doling out street justice via a job that conveniently places him there.

Movie: Sliding Doors

One tiny event, something as simple as who moves out of whose way while going down stairs, can make all the difference. With Sliding Doors we get to see both timelines. This romantic comedy gives us twice the lack of romance and twice the lack of comedy for the same set of mundane characters dealing with the same basic set of uninteresting mistakes.

One of Pixar's rules of story writing amounts to: it's ok to set up the plot with a coincidence, but not to resolve it with one. This movie elaborates on that: especially to wedge in a happy ending where there isn't one.

Gwenneth Paltrow does a fine job with what role she's given. It paid her bills.

Movie: M:I-3

It's an action movie. Big budget. No complaints.

Oh, and it has a passing resemblance to a 1960's hit TV show.