Read + Write + Report
Home | Start a blog | About Orble | FAQ | Blogs | Writers | My Orble | Login

Film & TV on DVD - John Doe News & Reviews

 
Greetings Film Fiends and welcome to John Doe's Film Blog. 30 years of dedicated celluloid obsession has meant that I have seen a few films. Drawing attention to some of the lesser discussed gems that I love. Cult classics, obscure curios and quality genre pictures. This blogs purpose is to translate some of my passion for these films and with luck, inspire you the reader to go check em out.

Action Thriller - Film & TV on DVD

Sundance 2010 Buzz: The Killer Inside Me

February 1st 2010 00:00
First Promo Reel for "The Killer Inside Me"


killer inside me, casey affleck, kate hudson, jessica alba
The Killer Inside Me loves a good Noir fix.



killer inside me, casey affleck, michael winterbotton
Casey Afflecks stars as The Killer Inside Me


It’s Sundance Film Festival time again and this year’s roster is certainly not starved for quality of feature films or documentaries. As happens annually John Doe is cursing the celluloid deities for not being able to attend the event in person….maybe next year.


killer inside me, casey affleck, kate hudson, jessica alba
is that the scent of doom?
At the top of JD’s most anticipated of Sundance 2010 list is a film that has already caused a festival stir with its unflinching examination of the violent frenzy hidden by sociopathic charm. Directed by Michael Winterbottom and staring Casey Affleck, The Killer Inside Me promises to be a descent into gritty, morose noir hell.

killer inside me, jim thompson, pulp novel, crime film
The original Killer Inside Me Novel
Adapted from pulp author icon Jim Thompson’s (The Getaway, The Grifters) inside-the-mind-of-a-psychopa th novel, here is a synopsis courtesy of the Official Sundance website.

“The Killer Inside Me tells the story of handsome, charming, unassuming small-town deputy sheriff Lou Ford, who has a bunch of problems. Women problems. Law-enforcement problems. And an ever-growing pile of murder victims in his west Texas jurisdiction. All the while Lou manages to remain his stoic self. However, as evidence is discovered over the course of the investigation, suspicion begins to fall on Lou. But in this savage and bleak universe, nothing is ever what it seems… This violent, stylish psychosexual thriller is imbued with all the amoral energy of its genre and is sure to shock some and dazzle all.”

Never restricting his artistic expression to a single genre, over the course of his career Michael Winterbottom has quietly sculpted a diverse and insightful filmography that includes JDM favourites like 24 Hour Party People, Road to Guantanamo and 9 Songs. Consistently rewarding, his unfiltered realism is sure to be part of the raw emotional reaction audiences had to this week’s premiere screening . (Specifically a scene involving the Jessica Alba's damaged goods character being repeatedly smashed by Casey Affleck provoked a minor audience evacuation.)

killer inside me, casey affleck,villian, serial killer
Casey Afflecks on a road to villiany.
The unencumbered by DNA brilliance of Casey Affleck continues to prove that lineage need not restrict talent. The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford and Gone, Baby Gone put a spotlight on Casey’s ability to communicate the complex subtleties of human frailty and The Killer Inside Me potentially offers the same sort of immersion in his role.

The versatile Bill Pullman (Lost Highway, Zero Effect) and Elias Koteas (Zodiac, The Thin Red line) add extra attraction. The inclusion of Ned Beatty (Deliverance, Superman: The Movie) doesn’t go unnoticed either.

killer inside me, casey affleck, jessica alba, noir film
Jessica Alba lets it loose.
There is room for trepidation though when the names Jessica Alba (Sin City) and Kate Huston (Almost Famous) appear in the credits, but early reviews say that they both deliver brave performances uncompromised by what has preceded it.

killer inside me, casey affleck, sundance film, crime film
Destined to arouse discussion and provoke reaction when it is finally released, Thompson’s novel was previously realized on screen in the under seen 1976 film Directed by Burt Kennedy (The War Wagon, The Train Robbers) and starring Stacy Keach (Up In Smoke, The Squeeze). This latest version is said to be much more loyal to the original source and promises to challenge on screen with savage seductions and pleasurable beatings amongst other crimes of a crumbling mind slamming a damaged psyche.

Set in the 50's and driven by a cool rockabilly beat, if your not already as excited about this as Johnny D then take a close look at composition and content of the images above. Still not convinced then cruise over to joblo.com and read their review for a more indepth taster..

The Killer Inside Me - 5 minute Sundance Promo Reel courtesy of RopesofSilicone.com
Warning:This clip contains spoilers and is certainly Not Work Safe. It includes the controversial, brutal beating of Jessica Alba's tantalizing character and more.


48
Vote
Comments (5)Comments (5) Add CommentsAdd Comments
[ Link ]
Posted By: JohnDoe - Category: Action, Crime, Thriller
   


John Doe’s Top 20 Favourite films of the Decade – Part 3 of 3.

January 12th 2010 00:05
JD’s Favourite Films of the Decade - From #20 to 1


Click HERE to see John Doe’s picks for numbers 40 - 21
Click HERE to see John Doe’s picks for numbers 41-60

Donnie Darko, Richard Kelly, science fiction, film, time travel
Frank, Gretchen and Donnie doing what JD loves most.


Thank you readers for your Ghost Dog like patience.

1. Donnie Darko (2001)
“Why are you wearing that stupid man suit?” - Frank
Donnie Darko, Richard Kelly, science fiction, jake gylenhaull
Donnie darko the film that engaged JD emotionally and intellectually with a deft balance that no film has ever achieved.



2. Requiem For A Dream (2000)
“Purple in the morning, blue in the afternoon, orange in the evening. There's my three meals, Mr. Smartypants.” - Sara Goldfarb
requiem for a dream, jennifer connelly, darren aronofsky
Jennifer Connelly lives through the dissection of all addiction.



3. The Man Who Wasn’t There (2001)
“Me, I don't talk much... I just cut the hair” – Ed Crane
man who wasn't there, coen brothers, billy bob thornton
The Coen Brothers manage homage that is unfaltered in originality, atmosphere and character.


4. Apocalypto (2006)
“I am Jaguar Paw, son of Flint Sky. My Father hunted this forest before me. My name is Jaguar Paw. I am a hunter. This is my forest. And my sons will hunt it with their sons after I am gone.” – Jaguar Paw
apocalypto, mel gibson, chase film, human nature, mayan



5.Wall-E (2008)
“Wall E” - Eve
wall e, pixar, science fiction, animated films



6. Children of Men (2006)
“I can't really remember when I last had any hope, and I certainly can't remember when anyone else did either. Because really, since women stopped being able to have babies, what's left to hope for?” – Theodore Faron
children of men, clive owen, science fiction films,



7. Let The Right One In (2008)
“What happens if you walk in anyway?” – Oskar
let the right one in, vampires, horror film, foreign film



8. Mysterious Skin (2004)
“I was bleeding, I kept passing out, I wet my bed, and you never asked why!” - Brian
mysterious skin, joseph gordon levitt, drama



9. Wonderboys (2000)
“So there it was. Somewhere in the night, a Manhattan book editor was prowling the streets of Pittsburgh; best-selling author at his side, dead dog in his trunk.” – Grady Tripp
wonderboys, michael douglas, robert downey jnr,



10. No Country For Old Men (2007)
“What's the most you ever lost on a coin toss.” – Anton Chiguhr
no country for old men, josh brolin, coen brothers, javier bardem



11. The Wrestler (2008)
“The only place I get hurt is out there…The world don't give a shit about me.” – The Ram
the wrestler, mickey rourke, evan rachel wood, sports films, darren aronofsky, marisa tomeii



12. Memento (2000)
“Memory can change the shape of a room; it can change the color of a car. And memories can be distorted. They're just an interpretation, they're not a record, and they're irrelevant if you have the facts.” - Lenny
memento, chistopher nolan, guy pearce, thriller film



13. Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (2008)
“Well, I'm sorry to hear you feel that way, as I put such stock in your opinion. As for me being a gunslinger, I've just got this one granddaddy Paterson Colt and a borrowed belt to stick it in. But I also got an appetite for greater things. I hoped by joining up with you, it'd put me that much closer to getting them.”– Robert Ford
assassination of jesse james, brad pitt, casey affleck, western films



14. There Will Be Blood (2007)
“You're a bastard from a basket.” – Daniel Plainview
there will be blood, paul thomas anderson, daniel day lewis



15. Old Boy (2003)
“If you stand aimlessly at a phone booth on a rainy day, and meet a man whose face is covered by a violet umbrella, I'd suggest that you get close to the TV.” - Dae-su Oh
This hammer battle alone would have placed Old Boy in the Top 60.



16. Zodiac (2007)
"I Need to know who he is. I need to stand there, I need to look him in the eye and I need to know that it's him." - Robert Graysmith
zodiac, david fincher, serial killer, robert downey jnr



17. A History of Violence (2005)
“Yeah? Well, why don't you ask "Tom" about his older brother Ritchie in Philadelphia? Ask "Tom" how he once tried to rip my eye out with barbed wire. And ask him, Edie... ask him how come he's so good at killing people.” – Carl Fogaty
a history of violence, viggo mortensen, david cronenberg



18. Love’s a Bitch (Amores Perros) (2000)
“You know what my grandmother used to say? If you want to make God laugh... tell Him your plans.” -Susana
amores perros, loves a bitch, foreign film


19. Sin City (2005)
“I love hitmen. No matter what you do to them, you don't feel bad.”- Marv
sin city, mickey rourke, robert rodriguez



20. The Incredibles (2004)
“No matter how many times you save the world, it always manages to get back in jeopardy again. Sometimes I just want it to stay saved! You know, for a little bit? I feel like the maid; I just cleaned up this mess! Can we keep it clean for... for ten minutes!” – Mr Incredible
the incredibles, pixar, animated film, super heroes


Click HERE to see John Doe’s picks for numbers 40 - 21
Click HERE to see John Doe’s picks for numbers 41-60
68
Vote
Comments (21)Comments (21) Add CommentsAdd Comments
[ Link ]
   


The Seven-Ups (1973) - Trailer Included

November 18th 2009 00:00
The Gritty NYC Streets go Boom and Broom with Prestigious Connections


seven ups, roy scheider, cop films, french connection, DVD
The Seven Ups DVD

Director: Phillip D’Antonio
Writers: Alex Ruben & Alexander Jacobs
Starring: Roy Scheider, Tony Lo Bianco, Larry Haines, Victor Arnold, Jerry Leon, Ken Kercheval

“Look at my hands. I've been here before, so do what you gotta do. I didn't talk then, and I won't talk now.” - Toredano

When the lists for best cop films come around this neglected scrap of bottled intensity is often wrongfully absent. Perhaps the distinction between The French Connection and this blur in the memory due to the presence of most of the same production team. Maybe it’s the similar cinematic style or because the Director channels the same procedural tone and complex plotting. It is after all based on a story by Sonny Grosso who was the inspiration for Roy Scheider’s character in the earlier film. Regardless, JD does not know for certain but is here to tell you this film warrants attention.

seven ups, roy scheider, mob films, cop films, french connection, DVD
Roy uses some gentle persuasion.
The Seven-Up's are a specialized branch of the New York police department that only investigate crimes worthy of seven years or more in lock up. They aren’t after the low end street hustlers, they are after the suppliers, runners, cop killers and traffickers.
Headed by the field hardened Buddy (Roy Scheider) this crew of ruthless blood hound detectives is made up of Baralli (Victor Arnold), Mingo (Jerry Leon) and Ansel. (Ken Kercheval)

As the film opens we witness them at work, staking out an antique store that could serve as a way station for treasured stolen merchandise. We see that they work with confidence, precision and an innate knowledge of the anatomy of the criminal mind.

The job is always risky for these underpaid tough guy enforcers and when one of their own is killed their violent nature means brutal vengeance will follow even if it means throwing down against the Mob.

“There's something going on the boys downtown never told us about. Have you heard rumors of Mob kidnappings?” – Inspector Gilson

seven ups, roy scheider, crime thriller, cop films, french connection, DVD
What do you mean you have seen me somewhere before?


John Doe says:

As mentioned earlier The Seven-Ups is very similar to The French Connection in style and substance. It’s a gritty, disenchanting portrait of police life with all its painful ambiguities and long stretches of anticipation included. When the sporadic action comes it’s startling, swift and ugly.

One time Director Phillip D’Antonio obviously paid attention to the artists around him when he produced for others. He utilizes over lapping dialogue and ambient sounds from the urban background to illicit a feeling of realism.

The pace is always in the moment and the cinematography by Urs Furrer (Shaft) brings its own sense of impending urgency. Completing the immersion is another striking score from Don Ellis. (The French Connection)

seven ups, car chase, roy scheider, cop films, french connection, DVD
Roy gets ready to film THAT chase
The highlight of the film is arguably as with The French Connection and Bullitt, the epic car chase that comes in the middle of the film. Employing Bill Hickman, the same stunt driver/actor that was used in the previous two movies, this is a visceral actual high speed pursuit with steel bent out of shape and edge of the wire velocity and choreography. The buffs like John Doe may notice an anomaly in the fact that the sound of Roy Scheider’s Pontiac Ventura is over dubbed with the FX from the Steve McQueen GTO Mustang in Bullitt.

There is a feeling of improvisation with both the chase and the actor’s performances, which is testament to Alex Ruben (Kojak) and Alexander Jacobs (Hell in the Pacific, Point Plank) palpable script and the focused filmmaking.

All the cast resemble on location extras and benefit from the films dramatic pathos. Roy Scheider (Sorcerer, The French Connection, All That Jazz) is in fine form here, looking as at-home on the New York streets as John Doe is in a cinema. His chiseled physicality and mangled appearance belong in the violent, high tension environment which the film occupies.
Real Life tough guy and Golden Gloves boxing winner Tony Lo Bianco (Nixon, Serpico, The French Connection) is in his element too and brings a duplicity to the part of informant Vito Lucia.

Rather than single out one standout it is safe to say all the actors in the cast, even those with dialogue free moments inhabit their characters.

Rereading what JD wrote in the first paragraph it seems the answer to the question of this films being ignored is the inherit comparison’s to William Friedkin’s masterpiece. (How many times did he mention The French Connection in this review anyway?) When put side by side this may lack that indefinable something that makes it monumental cinema, but still contains so much brilliance that the pissing contest is unwarranted. The Seven-Ups is quality that should sit on the shelf right beside the best in the genre.

Watch the original trailer for The Seven-Ups


Here it is, the classic chase that can cross the finsih line with the best of the best
64
Vote
Comments (4)Comments (4) Add CommentsAdd Comments
[ Link ]
Posted By: JohnDoe - Category: Action, Crime, Thriller
   


Blast of Silence (1961) - Trailer Included

November 12th 2009 23:20
The Icy Machinations of a Hunters Psyche


blast of silence, criterion dvd, allen barron, hitman
Blast of Silence - Criterion Collection DVD

[ Click here to read more ]
43
Vote
Read MoreRead More Comments (2)Comments (2) Add CommentsAdd Comments
[ Link ]
Posted By: JohnDoe - Category: Action, Crime, Thriller
   


The Naked Prey (1966) - First 10 minutes Included

October 6th 2009 00:00
The Rise or Fall of a Civilized Man?


naked prey, criterion DVD, cornel wilde, adventure films, action movies, cinema classics, africa, jungle
The Naked Prey - Criterion DVD available in the U.S.

[ Click here to read more ]
33
Vote
Read MoreRead More Comments (3)Comments (3) Add CommentsAdd Comments
[ Link ]
Posted By: JohnDoe - Category: Action, Fantasy/Adventure, Thriller
   


The Friends of Eddie Coyle (1973) - Opening 10 Minutes Included

August 31st 2009 00:01
Mitchum boils as his Fiends Coil


friends of Eddie Coyle, criterion DVD, crime drama, 70s film, robert mitchum
The Friends of Eddie Coyle - Criterion DVD Just Released

[ Click here to read more ]
71
Vote
Read MoreRead More Comments (6)Comments (6) Add CommentsAdd Comments
[ Link ]
Posted By: JohnDoe - Category: Action, Crime, Thriller
   


John Doe's Favourite Self-Surgery Scenes in Cinema

July 16th 2009 00:01
Self repair, physician heal thy self

terminator eye surgery arnold schwarznegger
The Terminator's eye amputation.

[ Click here to read more ]
83
Vote
Read MoreRead More Comments (9)Comments (9) Add CommentsAdd Comments
[ Link ]
Posted By: JohnDoe - Category: Action, Film News and Views, Thriller
   


The Taking of Pelham One, Two, Three (1974) - Trailer Included

May 2nd 2008 00:01
The People Mover that Did

Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 DVD
DVD Available in Australia
Director: Joseph Sargent
[ Click here to read more ]
121
Vote
Read MoreRead More Comments (8)Comments (8) Add CommentsAdd Comments
[ Link ]
Posted By: JohnDoe - Category: Action, Crime, Thriller
   


The Killers (1946) and (1964)

April 13th 2008 00:01
The Companions of Death


The Killers DVD
A rebadged edition of this U.S release is now available in Australia

[ Click here to read more ]
113
Vote
Read MoreRead More Comments (6)Comments (6) Add CommentsAdd Comments
[ Link ]
Posted By: JohnDoe - Category: Action, Crime, Thriller
   


Cloverfield (2007) - Trailer Included

January 17th 2008 01:14
BeastlyReality

Cloverfield Poster
Cloverfield Released Today in Australia
Director: Matt Reeves
[ Click here to read more ]
106
Vote
Read MoreRead More Comments (11)Comments (11) Add CommentsAdd Comments
[ Link ]
Posted By: JohnDoe - Category: Action, Science Fiction, Thriller
   


Heat (1995) - Footage Included

January 2nd 2008 00:01
Explosive motivations in the mirror

heat DVD
Heat DVD Cover- Available in Australia
Writer/Director: Michael Mann
[ Click here to read more ]
94
Vote
Read MoreRead More Comments (9)Comments (9) Add CommentsAdd Comments
[ Link ]
Posted By: JohnDoe - Category: Action, Crime, Drama, Thriller
   


First Blood (1982) - Trailer Included

December 24th 2007 00:01
The mechanisms of a killer.

First Blood Poster
Original lobby Poster

[ Click here to read more ]
109
Vote
Read MoreRead More Comments (9)Comments (9) Add CommentsAdd Comments
[ Link ]
Posted By: JohnDoe - Category: Action, War, Thriller
   


Fight Club (1999) - Trailer Included

November 22nd 2007 00:01
Bare Knuckle Head Job


Fight Club DVD Cover
Special Edition DVD cover available in Australia
Director: David Fincher
[ Click here to read more ]
123
Vote
Read MoreRead More Comments (10)Comments (10) Add CommentsAdd Comments
[ Link ]
Posted By: JohnDoe - Category: Action, Comedy, Thriller
   


Miami Blues (1990) - Trailer Included

August 30th 2007 05:08
Hot times in Miami's vice.

Miami Blues DVD
DVD Cover
Writer/Director: George Armitage
[ Click here to read more ]
109
Vote
Read MoreRead More Comments (9)Comments (9) Add CommentsAdd Comments
[ Link ]
Posted By: JohnDoe - Category: Action, Crime, Comedy, Thriller
   


Next Page (15-28)



[ Film & TV on DVD Home ] [ Create A New Post ]

JohnDoe's Blogs

0 Vote(s)
0 Comment(s)
0 Post(s)
97 Vote(s)
0 Comment(s)
1 Post(s)
Moderated by JohnDoe
Copyright © 2006 2007 2008 On Topic Media PTY LTD. All Rights Reserved. Design by Vimu.com.
On Topic Media ZPages: Sydney |  Melbourne |  Brisbane |  London |  Birmingham |  Leeds     [ Advertise ] [ Contact Us ] [ Privacy Policy ]