One of my favorite actors, Kevin Spacey is known for playing quiet, down-trodden characters that seem sociopathic or creepy. I decided to choose two movies where he plays a team player, or where the main focus is not entirely on him, because of how he relates to others. The great thing about his performances is that he never makes it about him; it's always about the other person in the scene (which is what an actor is supposed to do). So, without further ado...
(image from loud.com)
“Mr. Soze rarely works with the same people for very long, and they never know who they're working for. One cannot be betrayed if one has no people.”
This is, in my opinion, one of the greatest movies ever made. It’s smart, fast-paced, and humorous, while still keeping you on the edge of your seat. It doesn’t just keep you guessing- no, it explains everything down to the very last detail, and then when you think you understand the entire movie, you get hit in the gut with a wrecking ball that has a big “FUCK YOU.” Anyone who says that saw the ending coming from a mile away either
1) is a dirty liar or
2) has seen similar movies trying to emanate and channel this one
It set the precedence for the modern “Doppelganger” film, and when you finish watching, you’re just filled with absolute awe for the creators. This is the type of movie where you finish and say, “Wow. I am so fucking stupid.” And suddenly, you’re filled with this brilliant insight on the world, and everything you saw up until that moment makes perfect sense.
I am trying very hard to do a review where I don’t give anything away, which is hard with this movie because you just have to see it for yourself to understand any tiny bit of plot that I include. It’s been almost fourteen years since this movie came out (not that I saw when it came out- I was a bit young), and it still blows my mind every time I watch it.
If you haven’t seen it, rent it NOW. It’s probably in the $.50 section, although it deserves to be a new release.
(Image from www.murphsplace.com)
I miss nostalgia films with the style of this one. Now, it seems as if everything is about realism and portraying a period accurately. Take Married Life and Revolutionary Road, for example. While they’re very good movies that present accurate portrayals of the 1950s, they are clearly films made today, in the “i-heart-indie-films” age. They lack the quality of feeling as if they were made in the 1950s, which is where this film shines.
What I love about this movie is the film noir quality that keeps you wanting more. Each body in this film is not just a person, they’re a character. They each have something to gain, whether noble or not, and that is what makes this film interesting. The shootouts are fun, but the plot and characters are what drives this movie.
My one criticism is the length. There were parts where the movie just seemed to drag a bit. In my opinion, the “Bloody Christmas” bit could have been cut altogether, or, if they needed a way for Guy Pearce’s character to get his Detective badge, it could have started with him as detective and then been mentioned in passing. It wasn’t really necessary to the rest of the plot.
Other than that, however, this movie is excellent.
Peace!
The Movie Mistress
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