Drama/Thriller Movies

[Jamison]

A thread made specifically for movies in the drama genre. Please limit your discussion to films of the appropriate genre.

Examples: The Social Network, Black Swan, 127 Hours

[Jamison]

I'm quite excited about "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo." The original was fantastic, and this is the first time in a LONG time where I'm pretty confident that a US remake will be as good, or perhaps even better, than an original -- doesn't happen very often.

[Jamison]

Watching "Flightplan." The scene where Jodie Foster's character gets taken back to her seat, and all the passengers start clapping. Ugh. Pisses me off. I bet they feel like little shits when they discovered that her daughter really was on the plane. Sorry... if you have no idea what I'm talking about, and haven't seen this film before. haha!

[Amin]

^Dear lord, I found that movie so frustrating... I mean, it was good, but the whole "WHERE IS MY DAUGHTER?! Why u pretend she no exist?!" thing really pulled at my threads throughout.

[Kat Q]

I thought it was a good film, but really annoying :/, like Amin said -- I thought it dragged on too, and pointlessly went on about the daughter, and then finds her unconscious. Fun! Good film, but a little draggy/annoying xD.

[Jason T. Davis]

So, thanks to Jack, I just saw this amazing trailer for a film starring the stunning Allison Mack. Just thought it should be here, in case it gets lost in the chat box.



I'll always look forward to anything Allison decides to do.

[Jack Malone]

I've watched that Marilyn trailer about 7 times now - ugh, it looks great! Damn, Allison can do everything! She deserves ALL. THE. AWARDS. XD

[Jason T. Davis]

Did you hear that accent!? WOOW! Leave it to Allison Mack to make a southern accent sound THAT sexy. haha Not that southern accents are "un-sexy?" lol

[Ms. Kerry]

Ya better not be saying that! XD

[Jack Malone]

Did I hear that accent?! Hell yes, I heard it. I didn't think it was possible for Allison Mack to become even hotter than she already was. My god. *dead*

[Jason T. Davis]

I tried to watch "Drive" today. It's not that it wasn't good, but it took what seemed like forever for the character to have a conversation. Seriously, it was like...

CHARACTER 1
Hi. How are you?

Awkward staring between Character 1 and Character 2. Fifteen Seconds Later...

CHARACTER 2
I'm fine.

I just couldn't take it anymore and shut it off. Attempt number 2 to come.

[Jamison]

The Departed can definitely be said to be one of the best films within its genre. I, for one, am happy to call this one of, if not my favorite film.

Aside from superb writing, tight storytelling and direction, as well as outstanding performances from pretty much every actor in the picture, the film just kicks ass on so many levels.

I don't think I truly have a "favorite" actor, but DiCaprio has been in 3 of my top films, so if anyone could possibly take up that role, I think it would definitely be him. Damon, Nicholson, Baldwin, Wahlberg, and even Martin Sheen, were amazing in their roles, and I believed every single line they delivered throughout the movie.

A true piece of gold, in my book! ★★★★★

[Jamison]

THE DIVIDE

A film with loads of potential, but never quite met it. The concept is simple; post-apocalyptic thriller following a diverse group of people, trapped in a basement after a nuclear explosion hits New York. If the panic wasn't enough to drive these people insane, the radiation seeping into the basement sure did the trick.

Don't get me wrong. I liked this movie. It was cool to watch, but they missed the mark in a few ways. For example, the introduction of the dudes in bio-hazard suits was cool... but where did they come from? Where did they go? It seemed like they were setting up an actual storyline when they introduced them, but it turned out more like a plot device so one or two of the survivors would be able to peek outside/escape.

That's a mystery that's just left open, and I really hate when movies start a plot, and don't finish, or simply forget about it. That being said, the rest of the film was pretty decent.

I'm a fan of Milo Ventimiglia, and thought he was great in this movie. I loved the character development in the film. The before-and-after the radiation exposure was a nice treat, and these characters really made me cringe by the end of the movie. Lots of situations were flipped on its head, like forcing us to eventually start rooting for the initial antagonist/douchebag, Mickey.

Best thing about the movie was the characters, and I think they did a good job overall. I'd recommend it to friends, but wouldn't be disappointed if they did not enjoy as much as I did.

★★★

[Carey]

American Psycho

A film about a handsome educated, Wall Street success doesn't sound that interesting. A film about a handsome educated, Wall Street success who is also a man who kills, rapes and tortures strangers and friends alike. Now that is interesting.

American Psycho is dark, bloody and humorous film about Patrick Bateman, a lifeless suit, "I have all the characteristics of a human being, but not a single identifiable human emotion, except for greed and disgust", except when killing.

There is no doubt that this is a bloody film, many of the murders uncomfortable, like the stabbing of a homeless man and the stomping of h is dog. As the film goes on, however, the kills become more and more insane, like dropping a chainsaw on a girl or two police cars being blown up by a single handgun, and by the end we (and Bateman) are left wondering if it was real.

This, in my opinion, is Christian Bale's greatest role, that I've seen at least. He is confident, arrogant, forceful and at times, sadistic. The rest of the cast is also great, with Reese Witherspoon as Batemans fiance, Samantha Mathis as his mistress, Matt Ross as a closet homosexual, Willem Dafoe as the detective investigating the disappearance of one of Batemans victims, and Chloe Sevigny as Bateman's secretary who is almost unendurably vulnerable.

The only real issue I have with it is it becomes a bit repetitive as we come up on the end.

This fil is completely fascinating and strangely funny, I recommend this as a must-see for everyone.

4/5

[Carey]

The Assassination Of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford

Not many films give away it biggest plot point in its title, but this film does and it works perfectly. This film isn't an action film, it isn't a romance, a comedy, it's not even a classic Western, it's a character study of Jesse James and Robert Ford and everything that leads up to Jesse's untimely death.

The fact that the film title itself gives away a certain death gives every scene featuring Jesse James and Robert Ford a much larger importance and is much more tense. It also makes Robert Fords transformation from a young man who looks up to Jesse James as a hero to the man who ultimately kills Jesse all the more fascinating to watch, us asking how a man who idolizes another could come to kill him.

The performances here were amazing, particularly the two leads. Brad Pitt as Jesse James give a tortured, frightening and confident portrayal of his almost bi-polar character, while Casey Afleck gives off an annoying, clingy, at times whiny to a despicable yet tortured performance and it is perfect.

The cinematography is absolutely stunning. The blurry landscapes, the wheat fields that Pitt gracefully moves through, and the greatest train robbery scene ever. It perfectly shows the landscapes of the 1800's.

Much like Unforgiven and Deadwood it doesn't show the romanticized version most Westerns show of the time period. It shows a more gritty, more realistic version that is more true to the time.

The film also works as an allegory for the obsession people have of celebrities and the effects this plays on the individuals, shown with Robert Ford being the admirer and Jesse being the celebrity

I must say this is my favourite Western I have ever seen. The writing, cinematography and music all comes together to create one of the most emotional experiences I have seen in a long time.

Now excuse me, I have to go cry.

5/5

[Jamison]

THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER

I don't know what made me say, "Hey, why don't I watch The Perks of Being a Wallflower," but I am so glad I did. What I thought was going to be a total waste of time turned out to be a very well executed and touching coming-of-age story. Not being familiar with the novel, I went into the film with little to no knowledge of what it was going to be about.

There were moments throughout the film that were just so emotionally gripping and dramatic, even though it took a little while for me to fully understand what was going on. Probably not the movie's fault; I was pretty exhausted as I watched.

The performances by Logan Lerman, Emma Watson and Ezra Miller were exceptional. I found myself really invested in their characters; especially Charlie. Overall, this was an all around good film. Really glad I decided to give it a chance.

★★★★½

[Jamison]

"Trance," directed by Oscar®-winning filmmaker Danny Boyle ("Slumdog Millionaire," "127 Hours") and co-written by Oscar®-nominated long term collaborator John Hodge ("Shallow Grave," "Trainspotting") is a seductive and enigmatic thriller starring James McAvoy, Vincent Cassel and Rosario Dawson.

Fine art auctioneer Simon (McAvoy), in league with a gang led by underworld boss Franck (Cassel), plots the audacious theft of a masterpiece by Goya from a major public auction. When Simon double-crosses the gang during the robbery, Franck retaliates violently and knocks him unconscious.

In the aftermath of the heist, Simon sticks stubbornly - and perhaps shrewdly - to his claim that the violent trauma has left him with no memory of where he stashed the artwork.

Unable to coerce the painting's location from Simon, Franck and his associates reluctantly join forces with a charismatic hypnotherapist (Dawson) in a bid to get him to talk. But as they journey deeper into Simon's jumbled psyche the boundaries between reality and hypnotic suggestion begin to blur and the stakes rise faster and far more dangerously than any of the players could have anticipated.
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Well, this looks interesting...