Fallen

I have started to write this review three times and just don’t know where to begin. This movie is strange, but I like strange so that isn’t the problem. The problem is that it’s almost impossible to explain Fallen in a brief and coherent manner; I’ll try.

Fallen is full of top tier actors, Denzel Washington, Donald Sutherland, John Goodman, Aida Turturro, Elias Koteas and James Gandofini to name a few. The story begins simply enough with a death row inmate (Koteas) asking to see a cop, Hobbes (Washington), before his execution. The inmate clasps Hobbes’ hand and begins speaking in an unknown language. While this scene is unsettling, it has yet to become complicated.

Koteas oozes creepiness as he sings and dances his way to the execution chamber. You wonder if something may save his life, but the execution goes off without a hitch. Soon after the execution strange things begin to happen to Hobbes. He starts getting strange phone calls leading him to murder victims. Oddly, the murder victims seem to be linked to the executed prisoner. Of course he couldn’t have killed them, so the cops assume there must be a copycat. However, the pieces of that theory never quite fall together.

Hobbes begins looking at alternate explanations and finds information about a dead cop who seemed to have been framed for murder. This revelation brings Hobbes to the idea that a supernatural element may be involved. He learns that fallen angels can inhabit the bodies of humans and discovers a demon named Azazel has been stalking him. He sets out to eliminate the demon.

I won’t give you the ending, it would definitely spoil the experience for you, but realize that nothing in this movie is as simple as it seems. The movie makes you think about religion and what you believe. If you believe in the goodness of a loving God, you must also accept the evils illustrated in the Bible.

Fallen gets three and a half stars (it lost a half star because of meanness to cats). The acting is certainly solid and the twists and turns are exhilarating. I also really enjoyed the use of music throughout the movie. However, I would like to have seen a faster pace, and certainly felt certain scenes could have been eliminated entirely. If you are easily creeped -out, I would pass on Fallen, but if you are an adventurous soul, this movie is quite entertaining.

Michelle D. Kieffaber

Fallen

Fallen

Director, Gary Hoblit, crafted an exciting, riveting, and spooky tale of ghostly proportions. Hoblit casts Denzel Washington, John Goodman, and Donald Sutherland to bring his freak-of-nature film to life. The only question that remains, “Will they live or will they die?” Only time will tell!

The picture begins with John Hobbes (Washington) narrating the film and indicating that he was going to tell us about the night he “almost” died. After the narration, we are transported back to witness the execution of Edgar Reese (Elias Koteas), which is a known killer that Hobbes apprehended. John visits with Reese just minutes before his execution and witnesses what can only be described as bizarre behavior. Reese is escorted to the gas chamber where he is ushered into the hereafter.

Following the execution of Reese, John investigates several homicides that eerily resemble the work of our dearly departed psychopath. Initially, Hobbes and his partner, Jonesy (Goodman), suspect a copy-cat killer is on the loose. As time passes, a more supernatural influence begins to take shape and Hobbes recognizes the need to seek help, which comes in the form of Gretta Milano (Embeth Davidtz). Milano has devoted her life to studying the paranormal and is somewhat hesitant to help Hobbes solve his spiritual quandary. As the two begin their “witch” hunt, John becomes a suspect in the murders he is investigating. His boss, Lt. Stanton (Donald Sutherland), places him on leave after a standoff where John shoots and kills an individual, which clearly seems to be a case of self-defense. After his suspension, Hobbes has to flee for his freedom as he hunts down the murderer to try and prove his innocence.

If he can stay one step ahead of the assassin, Hobbes will find that Time Is On His Side; however, one miscalculation may lead to an untimely demise. This film is one twist after another, which kept me captivated and on the edge of my seat the entire time. Credit goes to the director for bringing in an amazing cadre of actors, which certainly elevated this flick’s potential.

I give Fallen four stars and may have to re-watch it to see what I missed the first time. I thought the acting was wonderful, the special effects were ok (not amazing), but the eeriness of the film just totally creeped me out! If you are looking for a supernatural thriller that won’t let you down, then I would suggest you pick up Fallen.

That’s How Matt Sees It!

Tempest

This movie was very interesting. It’s not exactly what I was expecting, but that can be a good thing.

Tempest is based on the breakup of a high-powered couple, Phillip (John Cassavetes) and Antonia (Gena Rowlands). Phillip is a famous and powerful architect who longs to drop out of the rat race; Antonia is a former actress yearning to get back on the stage. These two goals are obviously at odds with each other and tensions erupt.

When Phillip discovers Antonia’s affair he decides to quit his job and move to Greece to find his bliss. His daughter, Miranda, begs to go with him to Greece and her parents reluctantly allow her to stay with Phillip during her summer vacation.

Once in Greece, Phillip meets a gorgeous free spirit, Aretha (Susan Sarandon), and they hook up. Life in Greece is not exactly as he had imagined, but he falls into a routine he enjoys. Inevitably, at the end of the summer Antonia comes to bring Miranda home. Phillip doesn’t want her to leave and Miranda doesn’t want to go, so the trio moves to a remote island with a strange inhabitant.

Toward the end, a giant storm blows up and Antonia finds herself on Phillip’s island. The title, Tempest, is literally manifested in the storm, but the entire movie is filled with small tempests between each of the characters. It’s with wit and humor that Phillip weathers these storms and finds the life he had been craving.

Tempest earns four stars. The acting is superb and scenery is phenomenal. I liked the movie, but wasn’t captivated by it; I found myself drifting away at times. Overall, I think Tempest is a movie well worth watching and I certainly recommend it.

Michelle D. Kieffaber

Tempest

Tempest

This early 80’s flick is a relaxing way to spend a couple of hours. Paul Mazursky’s loose adaptation of Shakespeare’s Tempest shows how something classic can be given a more timely flavor. Mazursky’s Tempest showcases the talents of some of Hollywood’s superstars including: John Cassavetes, Gena Rowlands, Susan Surandon, Raul Julia and a youthful Molly Ringwald.

This film focuses on the familial interaction of Phillip (John), Antonia (Gena), and Miranda (Ringwald). The start of this picture is a little slow as character development is set up; however, it only takes a moment to realize that there is trouble in paradise. Phillip and Antonia are having marital problems brought about by his partial mental collapse and mid-life crisis. Adding fuel to this fire, Antonia starts dating Phillip’s boss, which creates a gale-force wind that blows him directly over the preverbal cliff. Caught in the turbulent storm of this dysfunctional relationship is their 15-year old daughter Miranda. In order to clear his head, Phillip decides to retreat to his native Greece. His daughter, Miranda, refuses to stay with her mother and accompanies him on this troubling journey promising that she will return when school resumes.

During their stay in Greece, Phillip and Miranda meet up with Aretha (Surandon) who quickly develops a relationship with father and daughter. The three flee Greece to an almost uninhabited island when Antonia comes looking for Miranda. Upon arrival, our gang meets up with Kalibanos (Julia) the only island resident. He develops an unhealthy crush on Miranda, which is quickly addressed by her father. The four live on the island for about a year until Antonia tracks them down yet again. However, this time an enormous storm capsizes her boat and everyone is thrown overboard. What ensues is a bout of heroism as our four castaways attempt to save those who have been pitched into the sea.

Overall, I liked this movie. I do have to admit it did seem to drag in places. However, I liked the acting (didn’t love it), the cinematography was pretty good (for the early 80s), and the scenery and idea for the movie was a breath of fresh air. Who would have thought that running away from your problems would be an effective coping mechanism. I won’t give away the ending of the film, but will say that you probably wouldn’t have seen it coming. I give the film three stars for a unique spin on an old tale. If you want to get tossed around a bit, give Tempest a whirl.

That’s How Matt Sees It!

Secret Window

I was eager to watch this movie when it first came out on DVD in 2004, and was quite happy to re-watch it this evening. The movie involves two of my favorite people: Johnny Depp and Stephen King. Secret Window is based on a short story by King and like most “King Movies” the book is better, but the movie has its charms.

Secret Window stars Johnny Depp as a famous author, Mort Rainey. In flashbacks, we discover Rainey and his wife are in the midst of a contentious divorce. He caught her cheating and left her. He is now living alone at their vacation home. Riddled with depression, Rainey spends his days sleeping until he is visited by a stranger making outrageous claims about plagiarism.

As the movie progresses, the stranger, played to perfection by John Turturro, threatens Mort, kills his dog and burns down the main house (where his estranged wife still lives). The stranger is just getting started and things get increasingly tense with each passing day. It is clear to everyone that Mort is cracking from the strain.

I’ll refrain from giving you the ending, but the movie illustrates the thin line between love and hate. It also shows us that sanity can be a very fleeting and fluid concept, even in the most ordinary of citizens.

Secret Window gets four stars. The novella entitled, Secret Window, Secret Garden published in the collection Four Past Midnight, provides a richer experience, but the movie is quite good. Depp and Turturro are very well cast, the pacing is quick and the shocks keep you reeling.

Michelle D. Kieffaber

The Secret Window

The Secret Window

This mind-bending thriller, written and directed by David Koepp, features two top-notched actors in Johnny Depp and John Turturro. Depp and Turturro bring to life Mort Rainey and John Shooter with the ease and beauty of an artist painting a masterpiece. Koepp certainly selected the appropriate cast members for this adaptation of Stephen King’s “Secret Window, Secret Garden.”

The movie begins with Mort discovering his wife having an affair. After a few brief moments, the film fast-forwards to six months later and Rainey sleeping on his tattered couch. Apparently, from the look of Depp, he has been spending many tortured days on the sofa trying to get over his wife’s infidelity and his apparent writer’s block.

No sooner than we realize that Mort is a world famous author, John Shooter (Turturro) shows up at the front door to accuse him of stealing his story. As would be assumed, Rainey denies that he has plagiarized the man’s work. The tall, imposing, creepy, hat-wearing stranger leaves his manuscript behind for Rainey to review with the promise that he would return to set things straight.

Throughout the movie Rainey flashes back to moments in his relationship with his wife. He also develops an understandable hatred for her boyfriend who seems to be around at the most inopportune times. Although proceeding somewhat amicably with their divorce, Mort develops an inability to sign the separation agreement, much to the dismay of his soon-to-be ex-wife and her new found soul mate.

As the film progresses, Shooter makes several more appearances threatening Rainey and those he loves. John conveys, in not so subtle terms, that he wants Rainey to re-write the ending to the story (the way it had originally been written) and name him the story’s author. As Mort attempts to prove he wrote the story before Shooter, gruesome and inexplicable events begin to transpire. Rainey’s world quickly spirals out of control and John Shooter begins to infiltrate every aspect of his life.

The ending is not all too shocking; however, it fits exactly with how this movie portrayed itself, which is to say a little slow and banal. If not for the beautiful setting and superb acting, this movie would have been a colossal failure. I was deeply disappointed in this film and may even go as far as saying that I will never get that one hour and thirty minutes of my life back. The film moved at a snails pace and really didn’t get to the point of actually being a thriller. If I had to make a suggestion, only watch this movie if you absolutely have nothing better to do! This motion picture gets 2 stars because, Depp and Turturro gave some very convincing performances even with a shallow and unimagined script. If you ever have a chance to see Secret Window, you may want to sneak out of it!

That’s How Matt Sees It!

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof

To celebrate the life and career of Elizabeth Taylor, I re-watched the classic Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. This movie is based on a play by Tennessee Williams and brilliantly showcases Ms. Taylor in her prime. Also in his prime, is Paul Newman as her husband. In their heyday, I can’t imagine two more gorgeous people than Paul Newman and Elizabeth Taylor, and the bonus is they can act.

In the movie, Paul Newman plays a good time party boy (Brick) who has fallen out of love with his wife (Maggie) and into the bottle. They return to Brick’s boyhood home to celebrate the birthday of his father, Big Daddy. Also in attendance are Brick’s mother, brother, sister-in-law and his annoying nieces and nephews.

All is not well in this household. There is tension between every member of the family. Much of the tension stems from the pending disposition of Big Daddy’s estate. Big Daddy has cancer but doesn’t realize he is terminal. The tension mounts as a storm builds outside. As the storm breaks, so do the emotional dams in the house. Buried secrets (including Big Daddy’s diagnosis) come to the surface and the tension inside abates as the storm eases.

In the end, airing the secrets allow the family dynamics to strengthen and heal. The marriage between Brick and Maggie is salvaged and Big Daddy’s desires for his legacy will be heeded.

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof gets five solid stars. The acting is superb, the direction flawless and the cinematography captivating. This movie really makes me miss the early stars of Hollywood. I don’t think there will ever be another Paul Newman or Elizabeth Taylor. The movie shouldn’t be missed.

Michelle D. Kieffaber