Ford, Hemsworth and Oldman Take Paranoia

[Eddie Dean]

Bald Harrison is cracking me up.

 

[scifiwolf]

Watched this last night. Probably give it about a 6.5 out of 10. Oldman and Ford were just background players. Ford's character was developing quite nicely and had potential until the twist to close the second act and the whole movie lost whatever hope it had of not being predictable and generic. Liam was alright. I hadn't noticed until last night, but he's so much a young Alec Baldwin that it's not funny. If he can start getting the right roles and really step out of his brother's shadow, he'll be a genuine star. I'll be eager to see how Catching Fire turns out for him this fall.

The movie had flashes of becoming something better, mainly some dialogue that felt like it was pulled from the novel, but not very well integrated into the screenplay. Things that read better than they sound. One example was an exchange between Goddard (Ford) and Cassidy (Hemsworth) in Goddard's Hamptons home. I can't remember the line, but there was a double meaning that sounded like it read so incredibly well on the page, but was barely noticeable in the movie. And, as I said, the third act comes on the heels of a wasted twist, and just becomes predictable and generic.

I'm glad I didn't pay for this, as it was a good distraction for a few hours, but I'll probably never watch it again unless my wife is in the mood to swoon at Little Hemsworth. Hopefully he'll have much better projects out in the future that we won't have to resort to this movie to fill that need.

 

[Poni_Boy]

Will be posting a full review later, but in a nutshell:

Loved Ford, Oldman and Dreyfuss' performances. Felt like the first time I'd seen Ford firing on all cylinders in ages. His scenes with Oldman are fantastic. Amber Heard was also pretty good.

Liam.. I want to like this kid but I guess I just don't. He doesn't have the charisma or screen presence of his brother. He's really boring to watch.

Worst part: it's quite possibly the least thrilling thriller of the year. The story is rushed and the pacing is so off the audience isn't given a chance to feel any level of tension. The claustrophobic feeling of the book is nowhere to be found.

 

[scifiwolf]

Will be posting a full review later, but in a nutshell:

Loved Ford, Oldman and Dreyfuss' performances. Felt like the first time I'd seen Ford firing on all cylinders in ages. His scenes with Oldman are fantastic. Amber Heard was also pretty good.

Liam.. I want to like this kid but I guess I just don't. He doesn't have the charisma or screen presence of his brother. He's really boring to watch.

Worst part: it's quite possibly the least thrilling thriller of the year. The story is rushed and the pacing is so off the audience isn't given a chance to feel any level of tension. The claustrophobic feeling of the book is nowhere to be found.

Couldn't agree more about the pacing. It seemed like the 'paranoia' was way to sudden. I haven't read the book, but I could sense its DNA in the movie. It was just so watered down, and an amateurish attempt at creating that claustrophobia you mention. It seemed a lot of the techniques chosen by the director were so done before, right down to the shots in the alley the first time Cassidy is being chased by Meechum. I've finally gotten the motivation to read The Hunger Games trilogy, so when I finish that I may pick this one up to read over the weekend. I'm hoping I enjoy it much more than the film.

I think Hemsworth is early enough in his career to not count him out, but he really needs the right projects.

 

[Poni_Boy]

Couldn't agree more about the pacing. It seemed like the 'paranoia' was way to sudden. I haven't read the book, but I could sense its DNA in the movie. It was just so watered down, and an amateurish attempt at creating that claustrophobia you mention. It seemed a lot of the techniques chosen by the director were so done before, right down to the shots in the alley the first time Cassidy is being chased by Meechum. I've finally gotten the motivation to read The Hunger Games trilogy, so when I finish that I may pick this one up to read over the weekend. I'm hoping I enjoy it much more than the film.

I think Hemsworth is early enough in his career to not count him out, but he really needs the right projects.

It's a book book. The story structure is similar to the movie but Adam is driven by much better motivations. And the tension is very well executed. Worth a read.

 

[Poni_Boy]

And here's my full review BTW

http://www.gotham-news.com/news/201...arely-save-this-suspense-less-thriller-review

 

[MrMaooz]

This is getting crapped on by critics!

 

[Poni_Boy]

Of course. It's a thriller lacking all manner of thrills. Personally I really loved the hammy Oldman/Ford dynamic, the score and Amber Heard. Everything else was garbage. It's one of those "I'm board and it's on Netflix" movies. Not worth paying to see in theaters. If I were on RT I'd have given it a 6/10 rating but still rotten.

 

[I SEE SPIDEY]

This is getting crapped on by critics!

It has 2% on Rotten Tomatoes as I type this. All the reviews aren't horrible but they are decidedly negative. Liam Hemsworth's performance is getting hammered. I don't dislike him but I suspected that he wasn't ready to lead a film but was hoping I was wrong of course.

All of the reviews seem to be confirming what I thought when I saw the trailer. Generic, not thrilling and Ford and Oldman would be the only interesting things about it.

 

[Poni_Boy]

It's just sad when an author's good book gets translated to film by people who miss the entire premise. This property will likely never get remade. It's a one off. And it stands as a bad one.

 

[Sawyer]

The only reason people paid attention to Liam to begin with was because he was Chris' brother and Miley's boyfriend. He was good enough in a supporting role in Hunger Games, but he has no business in a lead role next to guys like Oldman and Ford. I knew he was out of his depth when I first saw the trailer for this.

 

[Poni_Boy]

Bingo. He fell down the same gorgeous tree as his brother but missed the charisma branch on the way down.

They put four gratuitous shirtless scenes in here along with a forced sex scene, and I wonder if all that was added after they started filming when they realized his limitations.

Personally I would have cast Robert Pattinson in the role.

 

[I SEE SPIDEY]

The only reason people paid attention to Liam to begin with was because he was Chris' brother and Miley's boyfriend. He was good enough in a supporting role in Hunger Games, but he has no business in a lead role next to guys like Oldman and Ford. I knew he was out of his depth when I first saw the trailer for this.

Right, I think that he is servicable in a side role but unfortunately he doesn't have "it." There is reason that he didn't win the lead male role in The Hunger Games.

Bingo. He fell down the same gorgeous tree as his brother but missed the charisma branch on the way down.

They put four gratuitous shirtless scenes in here along with a forced sex scene, and I wonder if all that was added after they started filming when they realized his limitations.

Personally I would have cast Robert Pattinson in the role.

Yep, he is very handsome but he flat out doesn't have Chris's screen presence or acting chops.

 

[Project862006]

^i don't think hutcherson is leading man either so lol

 

[Poni_Boy]

Heck no he's not. All these guys like Hutcherson, Hemsworth Jr, Logan Lerman, etc are being forced into leading roles they outright don't belong in. Not sure why they keep doing that.

 

[I SEE SPIDEY]

^i don't think hutcherson is leading man either so lol

Who said he was? He is obviously a better actor than Hemsworth though. I think he's fine in The Hunger Games but I don't think he is going to be some great leading man in the future.

 

[StarLord]

Hemsworth also stars in a straight to DVD movie 'Empire State' coming out, starring Dwayne Johnson and Emma Roberts.

The studio claims that it was always planned as a straight to DVD, some say it's down to lack of confidence in Hemsworth.

 

[slumcat]

I think Hutcherson is very good, I have always liked him in the roles I have seen him. The one thing that has killed his leading man chances are his height. He's literally hobbit short.

I really do feel that had he been taller, he could have been a good leading man, specially in indie films if not big budget studio films.

He has a disarming earnestness about him.

 

[slumcat]

Hemsworth also stars in a straight to DVD movie 'Empire State' coming out, starring Dwayne Johnson and Emma Roberts.

The studio claims that it was always planned as a straight to DVD, some say it's down to lack of confidence in Hemsworth.

Wow! I can't believe a film staring Johnson would be designed to be Direct to DVD. They made it but obviously it turned out awful and they are just dumping it without the expense of a theatrical distribution.

 

[I SEE SPIDEY]

Hemsworth also stars in a straight to DVD movie 'Empire State' coming out, starring Dwayne Johnson and Emma Roberts.

The studio claims that it was always planned as a straight to DVD, some say it's down to lack of confidence in Hemsworth.

What is Hollywood's obsession with trying force every good looking white male actor on the public? He obviously isn't naturally gifted at acting, give him time to learn how to be a better actor. Luckily these aren't 200mil budget movies he's tasked with carrying, they seem to be fairly low budget.

 

[slumcat]

Bingo. He fell down the same gorgeous tree as his brother but missed the charisma branch on the way down.

They put four gratuitous shirtless scenes in here along with a forced sex scene, and I wonder if all that was added after they started filming when they realized his limitations.

Personally I would have cast Robert Pattinson in the role.

Pattionson was brilliant in David Cronenberg's Cosmopolis. I always hated him and thought him a horrible actor and still do to some extent.

The thing with these bad actors is you have to cast them well. Cosmopolis called for a dead eyed zombie like lead who has no humanity in him. And Pattinson was thus brilliantly cast and was actually the character.

 

[I SEE SPIDEY]

I think Hutcherson is very good, I have always liked him in the roles I have seen him. The one thing that has killed his leading man chances are his height. He's literally hobbit short.

I really do feel that had he been taller, he could have been a good leading man, specially in indie films if not big budget studio films.

He has a disarming earnestness about him.

Thankyou for not being another Hutcherson hater as I like him as well. The height issue is what I was referring to, that is what will hurt his career.

Hutcherson was actually one of the better child actors and he is one of the better young adult actors. I like him and he can act circles around Liam Hemsworth. That is why Gary Ross and the studio have him as the male lead role in The Hunger Games.

 

[StarLord]

Wow! I can't believe a film staring Johnson would be designed to be Direct to DVD. They made it but obviously it turned out awful and they are just dumping it without the expense of a theatrical distribution.

I guess so. It was directed by the guy who directed 'Fighting' with Channing Tatum.

I haven't seen that so I can't really comment, but I take it that it wasn't good.

 

[Poni_Boy]

Lots of action oriented movies starring big name/well known talent are released direct to video. DeNiro, Gooding Jr., Hawke, Bridges, Willis. They all do them. They're like international advertising gigs, helps pay the bills.

 

[slumcat]

That evens out the field then. The big and small all do Direct To Video titles. Nobody is a better or worse actor because of it.

And even eitherways, actors are actors, the best acting I see could be on a beggar in a street play. I think there is no snobbery in art and there shouldn't be. Specially the medium where the art is being practiced. And specially acting.