Straw Dogs

Directed by Rod Lurie, Screen Gems, 2011. Starring James Marsden, Kate Bosworth, Alexander Skarsgard and James Woods

Genre: Thriller

Question: What's your breaking point? I ask that question because that is the tag line for Straw Dogs and I just came back from seeing it. Well, I now know my breaking point - it was Straw Dogs. I did not see the point to this story; and for the first time ever I almost walked out of a movie.

I should talk about this film. However, since I reached my breaking point today that is all I am going to say on this subject.

Next movie, please...

The Ghost Writer

Directed by Roman Polanski, RP Productions, 2010. Starring Ewan McGregor, Pierce Brosnan, Olivia Williams and Kim Cattral.

Genre: Mystery, Thriller.

Question: Which movie do you watch after the Oscars? Well, I landed on The Ghost Writer because it showed up in the mail this weekend. I suggest you choose another.

Most of you know why I even had this movie in my queue - Ewan McGregor, but this might be one of the worst thrillers I have seen in a while. There is a line in the movie about reading the book the ghost writer has to edit: "It is the cure for insomnia". Well, so was this movie. It took two attempts to watch this and it was a struggle to get through.

The pace was slow - not normal for a thriller. The dialogue seemed amateur, which is odd since this movie wasn't made by amateurs, and the plot didn't grab me and say "Oh, what is going to happen next". No tension at all - a main ingredient for a thriller/mystery.

If you have read some of my past reviews where I didn't like a movie, you will notice that I don't go into too much detail as to what I think was wrong with it. That is mainly because I want to forget the movie as soon as I can and not dwell on it. So, skip this one.

My favorite thing: As always - Ewan McGregor - but I will say there were 2 sets with some beautiful interior design that kept my interest more than what was going on in the film.

My least favorite: Where should I start....

Sequel possibility? Fortunately, no.

Did the previews ruin it by too much? I wish they had.

Rating: PG-13
Length: 128 minutes

Review: 2 out of 10

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Public Enemies

Directed and written by Michael Mann, Universal Pictures, 2009. Starring Johnny Depp, Christian Bale and Marion Cotillard.

Genre: Biography, Crime, Mystery, Drama, Thriller.

WOW! I am speechless. This might be the one of the worst movies I have seen in a long time. I usually adore Johnny Depp, and Christian Bale has made some pretty fantastic movies as well, but Public Enemies was not rescued by their talent or good looks.

I don’t even want to go into what I didn’t like about this movie because I am still upset that I sat through the whole thing. However, I will tell you the 100 million dollar budget must have gone into paying for the all the side characters who performed in this movie but who normally have larger roles (but it certainly didn’t go in to the script): Giovanni Ribisi, Leelee Sobieski, Emile Di Ravine, Channing Tatum, Carey Mulligan, Stephen Dorff, Lili Taylor, and Billy Crudup. Some of them had one word lines to perhaps a paragraph or two. Not sure why they wasted the talent.

Favorite thing about the movie: The credits.

Least favorite thing about the movie: the dialogue when Johnny Depp (John Dillinger) spoke to Marion Cotillard’s character. It sounded like it came from bad Hallmark motivational cards.

Possibility of a sequel?: I hope not.

Did the preview ruin it?: No, in fact, I remember seeing the preview and thinking “that looks good!”

Rating: R

Length: 140 minutes

Review: 2 out of 10