See this movie if you love Miles Davis. See this movie is you're a Don Cheadle fan. See this movie if you want to find out how JIMI: ALL IS BY MY SIDE should have been done. See this movie if you are a jazz fan. See this movie if you a movie fan. Right now, the Oscars are a two man race between Don Cheadle and Michael Keaton (for THE FOUNDER) Don Cheadle wisely used a screenplay and editing structure that was both like jazz and Mile Davis' life. I watched the movie Friday night. NOBODY left when the credits rolled. You'll have to see the film to find out why. Stayed in my seat talking with people about the film. Stayed so long the audience for the next showing came in... and we were still talking. That never happened before. Great movie. I predict Oscar noms for Cheadle,(acting, writing, directing) Emayatzy Corinealdi, editing, film score and possibly best picture nom. Cheadle has got some career decisions to make: To act or to direct.
Reviews
5 Reviews
8-Ball
(2013)
One of the best modern crime dramas!
30 August 2013
A fantastic film! It's a terrific story... with a suspenseful...meaningful... well-acted and well-directed ending.
8-BALL is one of the best modern crime dramas I've seen. The realism and naturalism is there. In everything.
I admire the setting and noir-influenced camera work.
I really appreciate filmmakers who understand that ONE GUN SHOT is more moving... and more exciting to an audience... than a hundred gun shots.
Excellent cast... the actors are perfect fits for the parts they play.
Eero Aho played his narcissistic sociopath brilliantly.
This is first time I've seen Jessica Grabowsky. Very impressive performance. She nailed the sensitivity and strength of her character. So much so... all due respect to the very talented Amy Adams... Jessica Grabowsky would have also made a great Margret Keane in BIG EYES.
This is also my first time seeing Pirkka-Pekka Petelius in a film. He's perfectly cast... with that slightly evil arch in his eye brow... as the cop who is up to something. But what? And why?
Mikko Kouki gives another solid performance that smoothly transitions from the slightly comic to densely tragic.
Mikko Leppilampi gave an intense and edgy performance.
Rather than spoil it for you with spoilers, I'll just say this: If you like modern crime dramas... you'll appreciate 8-BALL.
8-BALL is one of the best modern crime dramas I've seen. The realism and naturalism is there. In everything.
I admire the setting and noir-influenced camera work.
I really appreciate filmmakers who understand that ONE GUN SHOT is more moving... and more exciting to an audience... than a hundred gun shots.
Excellent cast... the actors are perfect fits for the parts they play.
Eero Aho played his narcissistic sociopath brilliantly.
This is first time I've seen Jessica Grabowsky. Very impressive performance. She nailed the sensitivity and strength of her character. So much so... all due respect to the very talented Amy Adams... Jessica Grabowsky would have also made a great Margret Keane in BIG EYES.
This is also my first time seeing Pirkka-Pekka Petelius in a film. He's perfectly cast... with that slightly evil arch in his eye brow... as the cop who is up to something. But what? And why?
Mikko Kouki gives another solid performance that smoothly transitions from the slightly comic to densely tragic.
Mikko Leppilampi gave an intense and edgy performance.
Rather than spoil it for you with spoilers, I'll just say this: If you like modern crime dramas... you'll appreciate 8-BALL.
Naked Harbour
(2012)
A powerful, passionate film from a brilliant director.
12 July 2013
Warning: Spoilers
Aku Louhimies follows up his masterful Frozen Land with another successful and intense exploration of humanity.
Several of the stories in Naked Habour could have worked very well as full-feature stand alone movies.
The directing, writing, camera-work and sound track are exceptional.
Amazing performances in a film that pulls you in with interesting characters... then reveals the deepness of their relationships in a realistic and natural way.
There is a realistic, natural craftsmanship in the way the stories in this film are presented. And an emotional quality that will having people watching and commenting on this film for years to come.
**** POSSIBLE SPOILERS**** Laura Birn plays a wounded character who lashes out at her boyfriend whenever he attempts to protect her... emotionally, physically and materially. Her unspoken back story is that she has been so hurt in the past, she cannot fully commit to trusting or caring.
Deogracias Masomi convincingly plays her boyfriend who - seemingly - gets in over his head.
The characters that Laura Birn and Deogracias Masomi portray and their complicated relationship was so riveting... it defines the words "on-screen chemistry." Hopefully, they'll do more movies together.
Matleena Kuusniemi presents us with a character too busy with her career to take care of her husband's needs or even think about divorce. What happens to her character is a modern cautionary tale.
Eemeli Louhimies is among the best young actors working today. He was very impressive and his story... while very timely... avoided a clichéd ending.
Alma Pöysti'a story is surprising, moving and hopeful. Centered around good writing, good acting and good directing. And a touching performance by the little girl who plays her daughter.
Jasper Pääkkönen, Amanda Pilke, and Mikko Kouki are all very solid in their performances. Really, there is very good acting all-around.
Everyone is convincing.
I highly recommend Naked Harbour as it is very well done in all aspects of film making.
Several of the stories in Naked Habour could have worked very well as full-feature stand alone movies.
The directing, writing, camera-work and sound track are exceptional.
Amazing performances in a film that pulls you in with interesting characters... then reveals the deepness of their relationships in a realistic and natural way.
There is a realistic, natural craftsmanship in the way the stories in this film are presented. And an emotional quality that will having people watching and commenting on this film for years to come.
**** POSSIBLE SPOILERS**** Laura Birn plays a wounded character who lashes out at her boyfriend whenever he attempts to protect her... emotionally, physically and materially. Her unspoken back story is that she has been so hurt in the past, she cannot fully commit to trusting or caring.
Deogracias Masomi convincingly plays her boyfriend who - seemingly - gets in over his head.
The characters that Laura Birn and Deogracias Masomi portray and their complicated relationship was so riveting... it defines the words "on-screen chemistry." Hopefully, they'll do more movies together.
Matleena Kuusniemi presents us with a character too busy with her career to take care of her husband's needs or even think about divorce. What happens to her character is a modern cautionary tale.
Eemeli Louhimies is among the best young actors working today. He was very impressive and his story... while very timely... avoided a clichéd ending.
Alma Pöysti'a story is surprising, moving and hopeful. Centered around good writing, good acting and good directing. And a touching performance by the little girl who plays her daughter.
Jasper Pääkkönen, Amanda Pilke, and Mikko Kouki are all very solid in their performances. Really, there is very good acting all-around.
Everyone is convincing.
I highly recommend Naked Harbour as it is very well done in all aspects of film making.
Great concept for an animated short - well executed.
28 November 2010
One of the reasons Ken Mora's award winning Magnum Farce rates is because it pulls off what few shorts can accomplish... it makes you want to see a full length feature version. Fans of Dirty Harry/70s cops and robbers will get the send up of tough guy cop talk and crime investigation scenes that Magnum Farce provides. The animation is very good, the voices are dead on for matching voice with character and there is a story that Clint Eastwood fans will get... really any fan of the cops and robbers genre who wishes to laugh at the conventions of the genre. You don't have to be a Clint Eastwood / Dirty Harry fan to like it... it just makes it more fun.Magnum Farce does stand on its own and I look forward to seeing Ken Mora's future films.I don't know what Ken Mora is working on next... I hope its a feature version of Magnum Farce or, maybe, a new short featuring his take on the Eddie Murphy/Nick Nolte - Mel Gibson/Danny Glover serious/straight man cop saddled with a very dysfunctional partner sub-genre.
Tokio Baby
(2010)
Would make a good feature
1 August 2010
Warning: Spoilers
Tokio Baby is a cute little short that would make a pretty good feature as a full feature movie it would be allowed to flesh out the characters more fully. The basic story is very interesting... a sort of modern day HARVEY told from a farm girl's POV. As is, the acting is good for this kind of film short. The camera work, sound track and animation in Tokio Baby all work together very well. The version I watched was under thirty minutes and I felt it was a good little short but that it was deserving of a full feature in English. The casting is pretty good with the farm girl at odds with her father and mother over what the farm girl believes to be a boring life because of her parents over protectiveness. And that's where the film could especially benefit from a full feature treatment... it would allow the conflict between the parents and daughter to play out even further which would increase audience interest. The girl playing the title character projects just the right amount of optimistic escapism to make her character and the story work. As I said... it was cast very well. An enjoyable movie... just wish there was more of it to watch.
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