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Review by John Delia

Gritty and horrifying the film Body Cam takes you into the lives of police officers that find themselves tracking a mystical killer. Haunting at times, the film features excellent production values that add to the thrilling storyline. Nicely directed, acted and choreographed it’s available for home viewing on Digital, VOD and the many platforms listed below. If you like your terror with a lot of violence and mystery, this crafty script will treat you to plenty of it. Read more…

Review by John Delia

A high energy movie, 21 Bridges opens with a bang and never stops until the final curtain. Leading the reasons for its appeal for crime action films is the acting by Chadwick Boseman and the direction by Brian Kirk. The film has a lot of potential to take the box office by storm and probably will this weekend. It may be a little predictable, but if you need something to distract you from the daily routine, then take this wild ride. Read more…

Review by John Delia

It may be a little long, get pretty dicey and turn your head in disgust, but Gone Girl will win you over in the end.  The brilliantly written crime drama has this year’s top performances, creative direction and enough twists to curl a whole head of hair.  From its cunning elementary opening the audience slowly gets sucked into this heinous story that’s fed from the realization that you want to dislike it, but can’t take your eyes off the screen. Read more…

Review by John Delia

Returning to the screen with a very pervasive performance, Denzel Washington stars as a vigilante marauder in The Equalizer.  Providing a character with high intensity the movie conjures up memories of the violence in Safe House, Man on Fire and Training Day, three of Washington’s most fierce portrayals. There’s not much comedy to lighten the load in this thriller, but those who like it fast and brutal are sure to get an adrenaline rush. Read more…

Review by John Delia

Steeped in mystery the crime thriller The Body leads viewers into a sordid crime that baffles to its twisted ending. All the clues are there, but your detection abilities are needed to figure this story out even if you have guessed right from the start.  If you are into crime stories that intrigue and compel, then you’ll want to see The Body. Read more…

Review by John Delia

Tough cop, cagy police chief, bad mayor the film Broken City comes to theaters this weekend telling a wicked tale of graft and corruption in New York City.  The well acted and interesting story gives a good show, but gets quite predictable and familiar. If you like raw crime thrillers with a political backdrop, Broken City has both.

The movie involves Billy Taggart (Mark Wahlberg) a tough cop who gets accused of murder.  Taggart faces a judge with the city attorney arguing the case.  Meanwhile, Mayor Hostetler (Russell Crowe) gets approached by police chief Fairbanks (Jeffery Wright) in his chambers during the hearing with possible evidence that Taggart may be guilty. Hostetler wants the case closed so he asks Fairbanks to discredit the evidence.  Taggart beats the rap because there’s little evidence to put him on trial, but Hostetler fires him anyway letting him know that they have found suspicious evidence they will not pursue at this time. Read more…

TYLER

PERRY

TRIES

ACTION ACTING

ALEX CROSS

Review by John Delia

Even with fine acting on the part of the central cast, Alex Cross rises to no more than average due to uneven directing and a weak screenplay. That said the film’s main star Tyler Perry should draw a huge audience of curiosity seekers who want to see his first film starring role as an action actor.   Read more…

Cast: Bradley Cooper. Robert De Niro, Abbie Cornish, and Andrew Howard

Directed by: Neil Burger

MPAA Rating: PG 13 for for thematic material involving a drug, violence including disturbing images, sexuality and language

Genre: : Drama, Thriller and Adaptation

Running Time: 1hr 45min

Release Date: March 18th, 2011

Distributed by: Relativity Media

By John Delia

The premise of Limitless involves the use of a mythical drug that magically makes a person a total Einstein, the pure fantasy and consequences of the outcome makes it intriguing.  The cast perfectly drawn and the direction top notch, Limitless thrills and chills.

De Niro as Van Loon and Cooper as Eddie

Eddie Morra (Bradley Cooper) has drawn a blank causing a case of writers block.  The company who has given him a monetary advance to write his book is asking for results.  Totally depressed and thinking of ending his career he by chance runs into Vernon (Johnny Whitworth) an old buddy who introduces him to a pill called NZT.  It allows one to use his entire brain including the incidental memory that has picked up information not purposely stored.  With this newfound drug, Eddie is on top of the world and writes his book in four days.  When finds Vernon dead, Eddie realizes the reason and searches his apartment coming up with a bag of the brain stretchers.  When word gets around that Eddie has NZT his world turns upside down.

The fantasy here shows the premise that if it were true that one could take a pill and use his or her whole brain to it’s fullest potential then an Eddie would probably outshine most everyone with the use of his stored knowledge.  It would be like the memory enhancing supplement Focus Factor on steroids.

Director Neil Burger on the set with Bradley Cooper

The film under the direction by Neil Burger (The Illusionist) gets nicely played out.  He keeps his audience guessing and on the edge as Eddie copes with his situation and the dangerous new ones being created. Cooper makes his character real going from indigent writer to top of the world consultant.  His interaction with superstar Robert DeNiro as investor Carl Van Loon works well. As the two plays off each other they turn a dull possibility into an intriguing interaction showing Eddie’s brilliance.

Limitless is rated PG 13 for thematic material involving a drug, violence including disturbing images, sexuality and language.

FINAL ANALYSIS: A bright chilling fantasy that entertains. (B-)

Cast: Matthew McConaughey, Marisa Tomei, Josh Lucas, John Leguizamo, Ryan Phillippe, with Bryan Cranston and William H. Macy

Directed by: Brad Furman

MPAA Rating: R for some violence, sexual content and language

Genre: Drama, Crime thriller

Running Time: 1hr 59min

Release Date: March 18th, 2011

Distributed by: Lionsgate

By John Delia

Suspenseful, intriguing and exciting The Lincoln Lawyer makes the legal system entertaining.  With all the TV attorney shows pushing for top ratings, this film comes at the right time.  A strong cast, excellent direction and a riveting storyline make The Lincoln Lawyer a must see.

Michael Pena and Mathew McConaughey in a heated scene

Mick Haller (Matthew McConaughey) keeps his legal business close to him, in his car.  Defending the lowlifes or whomever desperately needs legal assistance; Mick turns down very few clients.  While working on a questionable case his confidant Val Valenzuela (John Leguizamo) gives him the name of Beverly Hills playboy Louis Roulet (Ryan Phillippe).  This client will pay big money to get him off for battery and rape. It’s the case of a lifetime and Mick knows it.  Suspicious of the client however, he brings on his friend Frank Levin (William H. Macy) a private detective. When they start getting conflicting evidence, Mick starts to get distrustful of Roulet.

Mick (McConaughey) gets a tip from Val (John Leguizamo)

McConaughey, Leguizamo and Macy work nicely together easily bringing out the sleazy ways Mick does business.  But the strong performance of Phillippe in his role as the guiltless client makes the script work.  I was totally engrossed in the film watching every twist and turn right to the nearly unpredictable turn of events at the end.

Excellent direction by Brad Furman helps in crafting The Lincoln Lawyer into good show.  His ability to maneuver the characters into realistic situations that create suspense with creative conflict makes this film work.  The only thing that comes in question is “Did he write McConaughey taking off his shirt into the film or was it his star’s way of leaving his usual mark?”

The Lincoln Lawyer is rated R for some violence, sexual content and language.

FINAL ANALYSIS: A killer of a thriller. (B)

“HOT IN THE HOOD”

Starring: Dwayne “DL” Clarke, Piarry Oriol, Lauren Hooper, Jason Rivera, J. Steven Williams, Joseph Somma, Dennis L.A. White and Al Thompson

Directed by: La Monte Edwards

MPAA Rating: R for pervasive language violence and sexuality

Genre: Urban Crime Thriller, Drama

Running Time: 2hrs 4 min

By John Delia

Here’s a film that takes you into the hip-hop world of crime and suspense. It’s called King of Paper Chasin’ and recording artist, producer and actor Dwayne “DL” Clarke tells it like it was in his hood.  Loosely based on true events, the movie rolls out down and dirty in all aspects of the life of this callous drug dealer and rapper.

The story involves the rise to power of one man – Carter Blanche (DL), a ruthless, inner city drug dealer – and his efforts to give it all up and go legit.  Inspired by actual events, this urban crime drama is set in New York City, home to the everyday rat race where the habitual chase for the almighty dollar never ends.  Trying to go straight as a credible underground artist in the mixed tape circuit, Carter is faced with deception, betrayal, violence and the self serving agendas of those closest to him, mainly his live-in girlfriend Thaila (Piarry Oriol).

The direction here by La Monte Edwards is quite good putting his unheralded actors through some rigorous scenes with class.  Some of his work in this film reminds me of a young John Singleton (Boyz in the Hood) taking chances with the realization that urban neighborhoods are riddled with crime.  The only downside here is that Edwards sometimes shows no remorse for the crimes committed and therefore left me empty with the incomplete resolve.

I enjoyed the Making Of Featurette that interviews all the actors and director.  Each gives his reasons for taking on the project, their character analysis and other comments that cleared up some questions I had about the film.  If you like the film, then go back and turn on the audio commentary by director La Monte Edwards and Cinematographer Brett Albright.

King of Paper Chasin’ is rated R for pervasive language violence and sexuality.  It also contains some brutality and nudity.

FINAL ANALYSIS: A good presentation of a tough situation.  (B-)