What was the last movie you saw...? Part IV

[Typhon]

The Long Riders (1980)

This is an excellent portrayal of the origins, exploits and the ultimate fate of the James gang. 

Every detail of this film is realistic.  The western towns, the country settings, the people from all walks of life all done perfectly.  The film intentionally used a cast of real life brothers to play this famous gang. 

Frank and Jesse James are played by Stacy and James Keach.
Cole, Jim and Bob Younger are played by David, Kieth and Robert Carradine.
Ed and Clell Miller are played by Dennis and Randy Quaid.

There have been a lot of films made about the James gang, but this one is by far the best.  10/10

[Zzzptm]

That's one of the classics, there.

[Charger]

^^^
I have not seen that one! 




INVASION U.S.A


A mad russian terrorist Rostov begins an attack on American soil with a useage of a private army. First he goes after his old CIA foe Matt Hunter but sadly for him he fails and Hunter begins a one man fight against his army of brutal invaders.

One of the all time 80s classics! I had not seen this in about 30 years and was pondering had it lost any of it's touch over the years...the answer is not really. Sure some of the action sequences might look bit dated for today's standards but that means absolutely nothing.

Chuck Norris shines in the role of Hunter, a man with few words but many bullets. But the show is almost stolen from him by Richard Lynch whose preformance of Rostov is just mad enough.

This is somewhat of an underrated 80s classic, that stands its own against the likes of Commando, Rambo II and Above The Law.


*  *  *  * ½

[Typhon]

Criminal (2016)

A CIA Agent (Ryan Reynolds) is on a mission to track down a hacker named 'The Dutchman'.  When he gets mysteriously killed, his boss (Gary Oldman) is persuaded to try an experimental procedure which transfers the memories of the Agent into the mind a dangerous ex-convict (Kevin Costner).  When he wakes up the Agent's memories, his mission is to eliminate The Dutchman before the hacker launches ICBMs and starts World War III.

Good bit of action with a fine supporting cast.  8/10

[Charger]

^^^
Have not seen that! Need to add it to the ever growing list of films I need to watch!



THE GREAT TRAIN ROBBERY

A gentleman thief partners with a safe cracking expert in mid 19th century England to rob a large ammount of gold from a moving train.

Sean Connery and Donald Sutherland star in this slow paced but very well acted and written historical heist thriller and their charisma carries the movie with ease.

Director/Writer Michael Crichton based the movie on his own book which he based on actual events. And there is a certain grounded realism present through out. The plot carries on well and there are few rather comical moments as well which add another layer to the film.

This isn't the most flashy heist movie you'll ever see but what it loses in the action department it makes up in the charisma department.

Another lost gem that I had not seen before!

*  *  *  *

[Charger]

DEN OF THIEVES (courtesy of Typhon)

A tough Los Angeles Sheriff's Department team goes face to face with a bank robberer crew of ex soldiers. The crew tries to do the impossible and rob the Federal Reserve.

Gerald Butler and Pablo Schreiber do their best Al Pacino and Robert DeNiro impressions in this heist movie that borrows quite a bit from the Michael Mann classic Heat.

The cast is pretty good but the movie kind of drags on a bit in the middle, but once the heist begins speed begins to pick up. The final shoot out is almost directly stolen from Heat which is bit on the annoying side...the ending reveal again takes a bit from Usual Suspects.

It's clear that Writer/Director Christian Gudegast wanted to pay tribute to those two classics in his debut but I think a bit more orginal approach would have been a better option.
 
Still decent enough action thriller even with its flaws.


*  *  *