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Thief, a review by KinkyCyborg

Thief



Title:Thief
Year: 1981
Director: Michael Mann
Rating: R
Length: 124 Min.
Video: Widescreen 1.85:1
Audio: English: Dolby Digital: 5.1, Commentary: Dolby Digital: 2-Channel Stereo
Subtitles: English, French, Spanish

Stars:
James Caan
Tuesday Weld
Willie Nelson
James Belushi
Robert Prosky

Plot:
James Caan is at his very best as a tough, wisecracking professional thief trapped between Chicago organized crime families and corrupt police in this "gripping drum-tight tale" (Los Angeles Magazine). Michael Mann, who directed Last of the Mohicans and 'Manhunter' and produced "Miami Vice" and "Crime Story," wrote and directed this taut, visually dazzling "heist"-drama called "the best of that breed since The Asphalt Jungle" by New West Magazine.

Filmed on rain-slicked Chicago streets, Thief captures the chilling suspense and human drama of professional crime with incredible "realistic details...heist technology straight out of Star Wars" and dialog with "the gutter pungency of a wood-alcohol cocktail" (Rolling Stone). Co-starring country superstar Willie Nelson and James Belushi ("Saturday Night Live")," Thief envelopes you in its tough, doom-laden grip and never lets go" (Newsweek).

Extras:
Scene Access
Audio Commentary
Feature Trailers
Closed Captioned
8-Page Booklet


Brilliant movie! 

James Caan was great as a master thief who wants to pull off one more major score then give it up to live a normal life. Not an original premise for a movie but never more compelling than this one.

What I love about his character Frank, is that at no point did he ever waver in his convictions, even when it looked as though he was backed into a corner. Even if it meant giving up all that was important to him, all of his assets and worldly possessions, he would not give in to those who would oppress him. I love his bit in the coffee shop where he talks of his time in prison, saying how in order to survive he had to mean nothing to himself.

Great performances by James Belushi as his right hand and by Robert Prosky as the mafioso who thinks he has Frank under thumb. Willie Nelson was given high billing in this one but he had two scenes and maybe 20 words of dialogue. He was there for little more than to establish Frank's mentor.

If I had any pet peeve with this movie it was the musical score, done exclusively by electric band Tangerine Dream. Too much, too piercing and at inappropriate times... I just felt that kind of ambient music didn't fit this picture.

A classic movie nonetheless! 

KC

Rating:

(From KinkyCyborg's Random Reviews 2010 on January 22nd, 2011)

End of the Spear, a review by Rich

Through the jungle in Ecuador...



"End of the Spear" is the remarkable journey of a savage Amazon tribesman who becomes family to the son of a North American man he kills. Mincayani (Louie Leonardo) is a Waodani warrior who leads the raid that kills Steve Saint's father and four other missionaries. Through a suspenseful series of events Steve Saint (Chase Ellison) is able to visit Mincayani's tribe. Steve tries to learn which warriors killed his father, but has to leave with his question unanswered. Steve returns to the Waodani as an adult (Chad Allen). Together Mincayani and Steve confront the true meaning of the life and death of Steve's father, and the other men who were killed.

Wow, a wonderful surprise, a thoroughly enjoyable film that kept me riveted to the end, and will entice all. The film is shot from the natives perspective which provides an understanding of why they speared the missionaries, and distances itself enough from religion to keep the film entertaining. Keep watching through the credits to see clips from the actual survivors. 7/10


(From Around the World in 80 DVD's on March 17th, 2008)

Pilot Season 2014-15, a review by DJ Doena

About A Boy



About A Boy @ Wikipedia
About A Boy @ IMDb

Synopsis: Will wrote a Christmas song that made him decently rich a few years ago. He is an adult but he never grew up.
His life changes when a single mother and her young son move in next door.
Marcus doesn't have any friends and is a bit "odd" but for some reason the connects with Will and vice versa.
From there on the three of them have a kind of relationship that is very hard to explain to outsiders but it works for them.

My Opinion: The show started during the Olympics back in February and will soon start its second season.
It's based on the same book and has (in the beginning) the same basic story as the movie of the same name starring Hugh Grant.

The only truly recognizable names are Minnie Driver (Good Will Hunting) and Al Madrigal (The Daily Show with Jon Stewart).

I liked the show right from the start and I am glad that it got a second season. Like most comedies I like it's not of the Ha-Ha-LOL variety but bases his humour more on the general setting and the likeability of the characters.



(From Pilot Season 2014-15 on September 6th, 2014)