The Killing (1956) review

(8/10)

Even for this film being one of Kubrick's early works, it still screams his essence in each scene, with a clever plot and iconic scenes together.

PLOT:Mastermind Johnny Clay (Sterling Hayden) has done some time in the past and is now home with his wife (Coleen Gray). However, he once again plans to commit a crime and knock off a horse track with the help of some fellow companions. The companions include the likes of the $5 bookie, George Peatty (Elisha Cook, Jr.), the track bartender, Mike O'Reilly (Joe Sawyer), gun salesman, Nikki Arane (Timothy Carey) and many others. It seems like the perfect crime, but George's wife, Sherry (Mary Windsor), and her lover (Vince Edwards) get involved and things get mixed up. It's a good plot idea executed brilliantly.



ACTING:The acting can get kind of basic in some parts, but overall it was pretty great. Sterling Hayden played a very sufficient lead as the mastermind; however, his part didn't get real good until the crime is committed. The other shiners would have to be Elisha Cook, Jr. as George Peatty, Timothy Carey as Nikki, Mary Windsor as Sherry, and Jay C. Flippen as Marvin Unger.

SCORE:The score was pretty basic as well, but it fit the mood very well and actually wasn't a generic burden as some other basic scores can be.

CAMERAWORK:Even though this is one of Kubrick's first films, his type of camerawork is present in here. He caught some very nice shots with a lot of his usual style present. For an early start, he did very well.



OTHER CONTENT:This is one of Kubrick's first films, but that doesn't mean it's one of his weaker films by far. The plot is very well thought-out, as every aspect of the crime is tied up cleverly. The script has some very nice dialogue in it, but it is Kubrick, so what can you expect? This film is also pretty iconic from the robbery scene, in which the lead puts on a clown mask to protect his identity, and from the finale in the airport with the suitcase. This is truly one of the best classic gangster films. However, it does have its faults. One thing I found kind of flawed with the film is the character development; there is little. What we find out is presented to us in a weak manner as we are just plunged into the whole robbery story. If there had been a bit more character development, the characters would have seemed more real to us. Also flawed with this film is that some of the way its filmed comes off as cheesy. It does include some typical gangster personalities and situations, including the narration, that cause it to come off as a bit cheesy: just a bit, not too much to be considered bad.

OVERALL,a great Kubrick film with a brilliantly-executed plot, basic and great acting, well-fitting score, Kubrick's usual camerawork, thought-out plot twists, a well-written script, and a few choice iconic scenes, but there is poor character development and a few cheesy aspects to the film.

Scarface (1983) review

(10/10)

This is the tale of how fame, drugs, and violence drove one of the richest drug dealers into the ground.

PLOT:After being shipped as a prisoner with some Cuban refugees to Florida, Tony Montana (Al Pacino) has to make a life and a name for himself in America. He gets asked to do a high-paying drug retrieval (which he nearly dies in), and that spins him off into his million-dollar career of drug-trafficking for a Frank Lopez (Robert Loggia) and his wife, Elvira (Michelle Pfieffer), who he has interest in. He also reconnects with his family, including his now-adult sister, Gina (Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio), whom he has over-protective fears for. However, his career starts to fade after he starts to get a big head and "gets high on his own supply." It's a good plot executed brilliantly.



ACTING:The acting in here was pretty great. No performance was a bad one. Al Pacino took over the screen as Scarface, being both the tough-as-nails gangster and humorous comic relief. Any other actor wouldn't have done the character as much justice. The other shiners were Robert Loggia as Frank Lopez, Michelle Pfieffer as Elvira, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio as Gina, Miriam Colon as Mama Montana, and Steven Bauer as Manny Ray.

SCORE:The score didn't fit the film as well as it should have, but it was still pretty great. It was basically cheesy '80s score, but it was still pretty good considering it was done by the great Giorgio Mororder. I think it would have worked better with some more suspenseful stuff, but this was still pretty great.



OTHER CONTENT:This film is one of the greats; it's iconic, meaningly violent, and serves as an example for younger people to stay away from drugs and to not get too cocky, or have a "big head". This film was also under the direction of the great Brian DePalma; his direction remained solid throughout. This is another one of those films that has one scene that everyone knows because it's become such an icon nowadays. Everybody can quote this film and the iconic scene: "Say hello to my little friend!" DePalma has truly created a brilliant film here.

OVERALL,an epic film with a brilliantly-executed plot, great acting, great-yet-unfitting Mororder score, iconic scenes, violence with meaning, example-setting ideas, and solid direction by the great DePalma.

The Godfather (1972) review

(9/10)

It's the second most beautiful film I've ever seen, but it's not the entertaining one out there.

PLOT:In 1940s New York, the Italian mafia families rule. One of these families in particular is the Corleone family, in which a Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando) leads. People in need, such as close friends and celebrities, come to him for help, and he supplies it in whatever ways necessary. When he denies working with a drug dealer, he's ambushed and shot on the spot. He lives, but now it's up to his family to protect him and bring him justice. His son, Michael Corleone (Al Pacino), takes on the role of serving him justice by planning a kill with the family. This spins off into a whole series of events which I choose not to spoil. It's a good idea for a plot and executed beautifully.



ACTING:All performances in this film were great. Brando flawlessly performed the role of Vito Corleone, the godfather. Pacino did a brilliant job as well. Just about everyone shined in here, but the honorable mentions go to James Caan as Sonny, Lenny Montana as Luca Brasi, and Simonetta Stefanelli as Apollonia.

SCORE:This film has some of the most beautiful themes I've heard in a film, especially the main theme by itself.



OTHER CONTENT:This is definitely one of the most beautiful movies I've ever seen next to "2001". Every scene from meetings, to love, to death is filmed with such delicacy and tenderness that it comes off as near perfect. The only flaw I was able to find in the film was that it didn't come off as the most exciting or entertaining film out there. I found it lengthy and found myself wondering, "When will this end?" "2001" intrigued me, but this was a bit monotonous. Nevertheless, Coppola's direction is still rock solid and brilliant. I have definitely earned some respect for him.

OVERALL,an awesome film with a beautifully executed plot, great acting, beatiful score, and near perfect filming with rock-solid direction, but it was a little monotonous and lengthy at times.