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peter_hk
Reviews
Running Scared (2006)
Fantastic
This was one title I picked up while travel-ling a couple of months ago. Out of all the titles I had yet to watch, this was a film that was not a first choice. I would pick up the 'to do' pile, flip through them and every time I came across Running Scared I would tell myself, 'Hmmmm, next time'. I guess I was not expecting much and was putting off what I thought would be a disappointment and a waste of a good evening. I would relegate it to the pile until I had nothing else worth watching.
I watched it last night and now I cannot believe I chose to the watch 'The Last Shot' before this. I am mad at myself for not watching this sooner.
From the first scene onwards, Running Scared managed to continuously surprise me and push my expectations. I was grinning ear-to-ear at the situations Director Wayne Kramer took the story to and, yes, it is a cliché to say this but sadly they really do not make films like this anymore. Running Scared feels like it was made at least ten years ago.
There is gore but it's not gratuitous. There are many bizarre, shady and evil characters that the protagonists meet along the way (much like a Grimm's Fairy Tale for adults), which are not sugarcoated for mainstream sensibilities.
Paul Walker is a surprise; he gives an outstanding performance as a low-ranking member of the mob whose job is to get rid of a gun that killed a dirty cop during an unsuccessful drug exchange (said dirty cop was killed by a second bullet, but the first bullet...ouch!). With Walker appearing under the direction of Clint Eastwood in the upcoming 'Flags of our Fathers', this film looks like it will be remembered as the start of a new phase in his career. Good for him.
The film is also quite difficult to watch at some points (the seemingly happy couple with the excessively kid-friendly playroom as one example), which I appreciated, it makes you think and squirm in your seat from time to time. You will not forget Running Scared quickly after the credits roll.
I wished I had watched this sooner and will definitely have a second viewing in the near future. One of my Top Ten for 2006 (so far, as of Aug).
Invisible Waves (2006)
Bloated and pretentious
Invisible Waves is the first film I watched at the recently re-opened Picture House cinema on Hardy Street in Singapore. It is a good thing that there is a venue that focuses on independent films, it will also hopefully interest those that have not had much exposure to productions created outside the Hollywood system.
However, if you make 'Invisible Waves' your first foray into this brave new world, I am afraid you will slam the door shut, lock it, weld it and throw away the key.
There are some fantastic films out there, I have heard excellent feedback for 'Paradise Now' for example, but this is not on the same level.
Dick, the previous submitter's assessment is sadly spot-on. What is most frustrating is that this secondary-school, English-literature level script has no compelling story arc whatsoever and could have been told in less than half the time. Yet the film makers expect us to swallow this and find insight? I don't think so.
Production values are awful. Yes, it is small budgeted production but that is no excuse for not making a film look fantastic. Take 'Primer', made with a budget of only US$7,000 appears to have much higher production values AND has a story that requires multiple viewings to full appreciate it (watch it please).
In comparison, let's take the cruise ship in Invisible Waves as an example. It looked awful. Not just the lead character's accommodation as he was staying in a budget room at sea level, but the entire ship. Why would any mafia/triad boss send his mistress on a ship like that for a holiday? Plus, the ship did not appear to be moving at all. Go production values!
As I mentioned previously, there is no story. I don't care how much symbolism there supposedly is but watching the protagonist get lost on a ship followed by his hotel room in Phuket for over an hour is completely and utterly dull.
The acting is uniformly appalling. The cinema audience I watched this with began snickering and giggling at all the wrong spots in the second half. Clearly, they were trying to keep themselves amused and occupied by finding humour while this slow, painful torture unfolded before them.
I can sympathise with them.
Save two hours of your life and please watch something else.