A Gripping Featurette?

These are usually pure fluff. I almost fall asleep in the middle of most. Not this one. Gotta say, it's involving to say the least. 'Gripping', maybe not. How could it be? That might be going too far. But, it's close.

Glimpses of footage, with its deep blue cast that turns any time of day into gloomiest twilight, are chilling. Very nice camera work from cinematographer Eduard Grau and director David M. Rosenthal.

Sam Rockwell is transcendental. Who else could make a drawling hillbilly (his word, not mine) so compelling?

The kind of flick I love to curl up with on a rainy night with the windows open just a bit.

Sam Rockwell Says 'Trust Me'

Plays sorta made-for-TV but...Sam Rockwell.
























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'The Way, Way Back'

Yes.

Don't know what part I like better. Everybody delivers. It's all good -- story, character, direction, blahblahblah.

What a charmer. Total score -- Must-buy-on-Blu-ray






















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Etc, Et Al

It's amazing what's on the web if you look.

Maya Rudolph and Sam Rockwell at Sundance 2013. Apparently, they were napping a bit. It was a busy festival. They were tired. Give them a break.

Here's Mia Wasikowska and Nicole Kidman, also from Sundance

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Click Click Red Band Trailer for 'Seven Psychopaths'

Just goes to show what a good director (that would Martin McDonagh, 'In Bruges') can do. Everything here just works. You expect it to be self-conscious, cliche, phoned-in, but it's good.

And, hard to believe, every moment is your favorite. Woody Harrelson's manic hood is cute and plays, well, real -- you hang on every word. Christopher Walken is always solid but here he rises above (don't ask how). Sam Rockwell is pure money. Gabourey Sidibe delivers, like don't even think about it. And Colin Farrell is just so, even with lines that would make other actors look silly he just shines. Tom Waits turns what seems like a toss away scene into something fun and worth watching.

These performances, these line readings, could be lifted from an awards contender. Every gesture, each tick, is informed by the actor's soul. You almost never get that even from high profile dramas.

Yeah, good direction. This script might have yielded a trite wooden snoozer but McDonagh got some great performances and brought it all to life.

Good stuff. Can't wait.




















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Poster for Brad Pitt's 'Killing Them Softly'

With James Gandolfini, Richard Jenkins, Sam Rockwell, Ray Liotta, and Sam Shepard. Directed by Andrew Dominik (The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, Chopper).

Based on the novel by George Higgins. Originally titled 'Cogan's Trade' which made me wince. When I first heard that title I figured I would never get around to seeing this. 'Killing Them Softly' is so much better.

Very confident poster.

The (new) title and this poster alone practically make this must-see no matter what it's about or who's in it. That is, you could make a movie with just about anybody and just about any plot and, as long as you called it 'Killing Them Softly' and used this poster, I'd want to see it.

Yes. Thank you. I will.

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'Conviction' Featurette