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Showing posts with label tony scott. Show all posts
Showing posts with label tony scott. Show all posts

Wednesday, December 01, 2010

Darkmatters Review: Unstoppable

unstoppable sex bomb
Unstoppable (12a)

Dir. Tony Scott

Reviewed by Matt Adcock

Attention travellers we are sorry to announce that the train on platform 3 is unmanned, out of control and carrying a dangerous payload of highly explosive chemicals. We apologise for any inconvenience this might cause but hey, let’s look on the bright side, it makes for awesome cinema!!
Nobody does macho action films quite like Tony ‘Top Gun’ Scott and Unstoppable sees the high velocity loving director let loose with a massive train set, backed up with helicopters, cop cars and explosions – lots of explosions… Denzel Washington brings his class to the lead role of Frank – a world weary engineer tasked with training newbie conductor Will (Chris ‘Kirk from Star Trek’ Pine) who is having women trouble.

These two decent chaps get caught up in this "inspired by true events" tale where an unmanned runaway train is out of control in southern Pennsylvania and threatening to derail in a highly populated area – killing thousands.

The simple ‘men versus machine’ plot serves the film well and allows for lots of macho posturing as the train bosses fret over how much their stocks will be hit if the train crashes while the heroic dynamic duo frantically try and bring the beast of the train under control.

It couldn’t be more formulaic but Scott knows how to build up the suspense and uses his whizz bang filming style to frame the speeding unmanned locomotive 777 as some kind of evil entity hungry for destruction.


"The chance would be a fine thing - given the delays facing UK commuters at the moment"

Train control room operator Connie (Rosario Dawson) is on hand to fret as the runaway train finds itself on a head to head course with various hazards including a trainload of innocent schoolchildren… You couldn’t make this stuff up… The supporting cast include Frank’s two unfeasibly attractive daughters who happen to work in ‘Hooters’ which gives them an excuse to spend the whole film in hot pants and tight t-shirts whilst looking concerned at the news coverage of their brave dad. Not to be outdone though Will has a smokin’ hot blonde wife who’s unhappy with him do to his suspecting her of infidelity – although maybe his ‘day-saving’ actions might win her round?

Unstoppable sure is stupid and shallow but it is also, unbelievably, the most fun you’re likely to have in the cinema this autumn. With dialogue like: “This is Will Coalson your conductor speaking, we are gonna run this bitch down.”

All aboard for a pleasingly edge of your seat white knuckle ride - book your tickets ASAP and hold on tight!

UNSEEN DELETED SCENE:

The Road Train from 'Road Train' turns up and goes head to head with the 777 from Unstoppable in the ultimate game of 'chicken' not realising that there's no way the 777 can turn off the tracks!? It gets very messy!

Darkmatters rating: öööööööö (8 unstoppable sex machines out of 10)

Darkmatters quick reference guide: Action 8 / Style 7 / Babes 7 / Comedy 6 / Horror / Spiritual Enlightenment 2

Monday, August 03, 2009

Darkmatters Review: The Taking of Pelham 123



The Taking of Pelham 123 (15)

Dir. Tony Scott- who previously brought you True Romance, Man On Fire etc

Reviewed by Matt Adcock (viewed in Luton with a bunch of pals)

ONE WORD SUMMATION: Motherfrekinhostigisation


Movie credits running over a classic Jay-Z track?
Check.

Zip zoom / flash cut cinematography using the highest possible techsatellite high definition images?
Check.

Denzel Washington looks good, being mean, moody and unfeasibly cool?
Yep…

Oh yes, we’re deep in Tony ‘Top Gun’ Scott territory here and it’s all aboard the New York subway for a thrill ride remake of Joseph Sargent's classic 1974 hostage drama.

It’s certainly a bad day to take the train as a ticked off and heavily armed Mr Ryder (uber baddie John Travolta sporting this year’s best moustache) takes over the Pelham 123 with the help of a couple of ‘rent an Eastern European retard’ henchmen. Seems that he’s looking to make a swift tax free $10million – or he’ll start executing the passengers, I guess it’s one way to try and beat the credit crunch?


It falls to decent train co-ordinating Walter (Denzel ‘I always put in a good performance for Tony Scott’ Washington) to negotiate with Ryder over the radio… Walter has his own issues as he’s being investigated for possible bribe taking but deep down he’s a good guy, the only question is ‘can he pull through and save the day?’

As the one hour deadline for the cash ticks down, the tension, the number of needless but very exciting car chase scenes and general body count all keep ramping up. You certainly don’t need to be a genius to realise who is going to win this battle of wits but The Taking of Pelham 123 isn’t trying to do anything new, it just wants to entertain you and for the most part it succeeds.

Where the original was slow-burning cat and mouse game, the 2009 version is a hyperactive, foul mouthed and violent car crash. It shouldn’t really be as fun to watch as it is. Sure the clichés come thick and fast from Brian ‘LA Confidential’ Helgeland’s script – he must have been taking ‘dumb-down’ pills since then - but everyone in the packed screening I saw this at was having a very good time.


The two lead actors eat up the screen and make the film worth watching and they are backed up by quality support from Luis Guzmán as a traitorous subway worker and James Gandolfini as the mayor of NYC.


"Basically, if you’re looking for a slick, fun action thriller, the Pelham 123 is a ride worth taking…"


Darkmatters final rating of: öööööööö (8 – wham blam snazzy visual overload, don't think about it too much!)


Darkmatters quick reference guide:

Action 8 (bullet to the head)

Style 8 (smooth and high tech, that's how Scott rolls)

Babes 6 (cute girlfriend webcams herself)

Comedy 6 (Travolta chews up some great one liners)

Horror 6 (innocent people get dead)

Spiritual Enlightenment 5 (nice guys always win)