34/50x2: True Romance

Well, this is one of those movies that some random event happens that really causes a ripple effect throughout the entire film.

In True Romance Clarence (Christian Slater) is a comic book store worker who, on his birthday, goes to see a triple feature at a movie theater. While there, he meets Alabama (Patricia Arquette) and the two hit it off and head home together.

Throughout the night, the two begin to fall for each other - and then Alabama confesses that she didn't meet Clarence by chance, that she was sent to the theater by Clarence's boss, and she is a call girl.

Clarence goes to Alabama's pimp, Drexl (Gary Oldman), to try and smooth things over and let him know she is out of the game - and to pickup Alabama's belongings. Things, of course, go a bit wrong and Clarence winds up grabbing a suitcase he believes is Alabama's but it actually is a suitcase full of cocaine.

Thinking he could make a quick buck, Clarence gets in touch with Dick (Michael Rappaport), who talks to Elliot (Bronson Pinchot) an actor who is tight with a producer Lee Donowitz (Saul Rubinek) about purchasing the drugs. Meanwhile, gangster Vincenzo Coccotti (Christopher Walken) finds Clarence's wallet at Drexl's place and tries to track him down to find the drugs.

The cops get wind of the deal after a police officer pulls Elliot over and discovers the cocaine. So, they put a wire on him in hopes of bringing down the higher ups in the drug deal.

So, everyone is coming together at the same time - Clarence and Alabama; Lee the producer; the cops and the gangsters. What could possibly go wrong?

Pretty fun movie and a ton of great actors. By the way as much as we need more Christian Slater in the world - we definitely need more Bronson Pinchot.

It's a bit weird at times, I mean Clarence has an imaginary Elvis friend (Val Kilmer), who is never really seen in full body, but is heard talking back to Clarence. Plus, a pretty early in his career Brad Pitt as Dick's stoner roommate, Floyd.

Grade:

32/50: Heat

This was the longest film that was on my 50 list and I couldn't really figure out why a heist film would be so long.

I knew a little about Heat before going into the film, but apparently I didn't know much. I went in thinking that Val Kilmer was the main villain and Robert De Niro and Al Pacino were the cops that were tasked in stopping him. But, I was a bit wrong.

Anyway, Pacino is Lt. Vincent Hanna, a man who is married to his job, which has sort of ruined his slew of marriages - and is currently interrupting his new marriage.

De Niro plays Neil McCauley, the leader of the crime wave that has hit Los Angeles. McCauley leads a crew of Chris Shiherlis (Kilmer), Michael Cheritto (Tom Sizemore) and Trejo (Danny Trejo).

McCauley is planning one last major heist - a bank job - so he can leave town and retire in New Zealand with his new girlfriend, Eady (Amy Brenneman). Hanna is right on the gangs tail the entire way and soon figures out where the heist is taking place - and heads off to stop it.

I have to admit, this film was amazing - though it could have been a bit better. The heist and gun fire was amazing, but it was not in the film as much as it should be. There was so much depth to this film and so much is going on. De Niro was great as the bad guy, and man Kilmer is amazing again.

I believe this film may have also been one of the last films where Pacino didn't play Pacino. He was actually acting and was great.

Also, nice of the writer or director to step out on a limb and give Trejo an amazing name in the film.

Anyway, despite the film needing a bit more action it was a great watch and I couldn't even tell that it was almost three hours long - which to me makes the film worth the watch.

Grade:

8/50: Tombstone

As I said before when reviewing 3:10 To Yuma I have never really been into Western films. I have, however, had my interest piqued with some of the well known crusaders of the west.

Because of that, I was very interested in viewing Tombstone during my 50 films of 2011. One of the things that stood out to me was just how small the Battle at OK Corral was. Hearing about it so many times I assumed it was a huge shoot out - when in fact it was four men taking out a gang of cowboys.

Anyway, the film depicts a retiring Wyatt Earp (Kurt Russell) joining his brothers Morgan (Bill Paxton) and Virgil (Sam Elliott) in Tombstone. Earp is well known for being a successful lawman, but is now looking to retire and make money panning for gold or owning a business.

The Cowboys, as they have been called (and also carry a red sash), have sort of taken over the town. When Earp arrives he is asked repeatedly to take over as sheriff of the town, and repeatedly turns them down.

One night, acting sheriff is gunned down my a drunk cowboy named Curly Bill Brocius (Powers Boothe) and Morgan and Virgil decide to take over as the town's sheriffs. It isn't until the Cowboys begin to mess with the Earps and their families that Wyatt decides to join the crew. With the three Earps and Wyatt's life long friend Doc Holliday (Val Kilmer) - the four take on a bunch of the Cowboys in the Battle of OK Corral.

Things start to become worse as both Morgan and Virgil are shot by the Cowboys, and Wyatt and Doc round up a few other men to go on a Cowboy killing spree.

The movie was rather brilliant, not as great as I was hoping, but still very entertaining. The fight scenes were a little lacking for me, but for a 1993 movie I guess I can accept them. The absolute gem of the entire film was Kilmer's performance as Holliday. One of the best characters on film that I have had the pleasure of seeing. His performance alone bumped up my grade for the film, though I did enjoy it anyway.

Grade:

3/50: MacGruber

I must say, I am glad that I tossed at least a few comedies in my list. I found myself longing to laugh a few times - so I decided to toss in a comedy.

I really had no expectations heading in to watching MacGruber, but I was not expecting much at all. However, it was a lot better than I thought it was going to be.

Will Forte stars as the titular character, MacGruber, from the Saturday Night Live skit. MacGruber has been living in hiding since faking his own death, but is called back into duty when a nuclear war head is stolen.

He is teamed up with new agent, Dixon Piper (Ryan Phillippe) and his widow's best friend, Vicki St. Elmo (Kristen Wiig) to track down who stole the war head - which MacGruber believes is his archenemy and the person who killed his wife, Dieter Von Conth (Val Kilmer).

Like I said, I wasn't expecting much at all, but the film actually had a decent story, some nice action and quite a few laugh out loud moments. I was very surprised.

What is even more surprising is that Forte was able to carry a film as a lead. He has been very good in bit parts or secondary characters, but I never expected him to be able to do a film as a lead, and he did it well.

Grade: