If it weren't for the fact that John Boorman's Point Blank was already a definitive take on Richard Stark's novel The Hunter (reissued under the title Payback), Payback would be a well-above-average 90s action movie. The original toughness is diluted: Mel Gibson's Porter, replacing Lee Marvin's Walker and Stark's Parker, comes on like a hardnut but turns into a softie when he hooks up with call-girl Maria Bello (and he even likes dogs). Double-crossed and wounded after shifty Gregg Henry dupes Porter's wife (Deborah Kara Unger) into betraying him, Porter sets out to get back the $70,000 share of a heist that he feels he is owed. Because Henry has used the money to buy his way into "the Outfit", he has to deal not only with the squirming scumbag but a hierarchy of corporate mobsters (William Devane, James Coburn, Kris Kristofferson) for whom it would be bad business practice to hand over even the trivial sum. Director-writer Brian Helgeland gives it a steely-blue look and gets good performances all round (with room for Lucy Liu as an amusing dominatrix) while constructing a story in which everything fits. But it's just a good thriller, since the masterpiece potential has already been staked out. --Kim Newman
A crime mystery set in the quiet family town of Suburbicon during the 1950s, where the best and worst of humanity is hilariously reflected through the deeds of seemingly ordinary people.
Both warmly funny and surprisingly touching, the one-off 90-minute BBC comedy Cruise of the Gods (2002) unites the twin comic talents of Rob Brydon and Steve Coogan for the first time. Brydon, whose Marion & Geoff brought him instant cult status and critical acclaim, plays Andy Van Allen, a washed-up actor who once enjoyed celebrity as the star of a TV science-fiction series but who is now down on his luck as a hotel porter. Desperate to rescue his self-esteem, but equally desperate to conceal his failure, he reluctantly embarks on a Mediterranean cruise for die-hard fans of the old show organised by uber-nerd Jeff Monks (David Walliams). To compound his humiliation, Van Allan's one-time costar, Nick Lee (Coogan), now a Hollywood big shot thanks to his starring role in Sherlock Holmes in Miami, gatecrashes the trip. Elements of both Marion & Geoff's agonising pathos and the squirm-inducing embarrassment of I'm Alan Partridge feature prominently here as the merciless portrayal of geeky fandom slowly gives way to a more gentle, affectionate portrait of people whose lives were inexplicably touched by the fantastically awful Children of Castor (imagine a camp cross between Blake's 7 and The Tomorrow People). Unlike the sympathetically pathetic ex-husband of Marion, here Brydon plays a cruelly cynical and embittered character, whose self-loathing contrasts painfully with the annoying ebullience of Coogan's superstar. The supporting cast are all a delight, too: witness lugubrious Philip Jackson, as alcoholic writer Hugh Bispham, clashing hilariously with Walliams' deadly earnest super-fan over the interpretation of names in the show, which turn out to be nothing more cryptic than anagrams of Bispham's favourite curries. James Corden and Helen Coker are emotionally fragile followers whose lives intertwine unexpectedly with their heroes, while Brian Conley and Jack Jones gamely provide cameos. --Mark Walker
"Harold and Kumar Escape From Guantanamo" marks the triumphant return of two hilarious, slacker anti-heroes.
Cops are supposed to be the protectors of society men of the law. But living in a world of moral absolutes it has become less and less unusual to see a cop go off at the deep end. Detective Stevie Grimes (Jack Conley) kept his faith in the brotherhood of the badge and always managed to stay on the right side of the law. But for the past year he has been suspended on trail for the accidental shooting of a young boy. The trail ends in a 'hung jury' and finally after twelve months Stevie is reinstated but the possibility that the state may retry the case still remains forcing him to relive the nightmare.
Conspiracy Theory: New York cab driver and conspiracy buff Jerry Fletcher (Mel Gibson) knows about the secret movers shakers and assassins who really control things. Trying to put Justice Department attorney Alice Sutton (Julia Roberts) in the know he's run out of her of office. Soon both will run for their lives. The two stars conspire for suspense romance and twists that click like a rush-hour taximeter. (Dir. Richard Donner 1997 Cert. 15) Payback: Mel Gibson po
"Harold and Kumar Escape From Guantanamo" marks the triumphant return of two hilarious, slacker anti-heroes.
The Grey Man
'A Better Way To Die' is an action-packed manhunt movie that launches from the seedy streets of Chicago across the highways of America's heartland. Weary from the violent chaos of South Chicago Boomer (Scott Wiper) quits his job in the police force and heads off to the picturesque village of Ceder Falls where he plans to rekindle a romance with his one-time girlfriend (Natasha Henstridge) An encounter with an eccentric one-armed private detective (Joe Pantoliano) sets off a bizarre series of events causing Boomer to be mistaken for a mysterious government operative turning him into a prime target for the Chicago Mafia. What starts as a peaceful road trip in search of a better future erupts into a fierce quest for 'A Better Way To Die...'
Sonny (Koteas) who has worked in the same job at the Stillwell Hotel for eight years tries to re-evaluate his increasingly complex life... Based on the acclaimed novel 'A Swell Looking Babe' by Jim Thompson.
**** Product Details TBC ****
The Confidence Man: Cops are supposed to be the protectors of society men of the law. But living in a world of moral absolutes it has become less and less unusual to see a cop go off at the deep end. Detective Stevie Grimes (Jack Conley) kept his faith in the brotherhood of the badge and always managed to stay on the right side of the law. But for the past year he has been suspended on trail for the accidental shooting of a young boy. The trail ends in a 'hung jury' and finally after twelve months Stevie is reinstated but the possibility that the state may retry the case still remains forcing him to relive the nightmare. Under Surveilance: Two insurance investigators are attempting to uncover truth behind the death of a colleague but their routine inquiry turns deadly when they are led to some dark truths about the company for which they work and the very people they consider as their friends... The Hit: In a drunken rage of jealousy and anger over the breakdown of his marriage to Sonia (Joanna Pacula) and the loss of custody of his son Jesse Kieth (Maxwell Caulfield) a crime reporter for a big city daily decides to take out a contract to have his wife killed courtesy of his business school buddy Levine (Robert Pine). When he comes to his senses the next morning and tries to cancel the arrangement Kieth cannot reach Levine whom we discover has been shot for ripping off the mob. As he cannot involve the police Kieth finds himself protecting his estranged wife from the contract killer he has hired but won't be able to recognise.
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