A Simple Plan is one of those movies that is destined to be forgotten.
This is nothing out of the ordinary. There are lots of films that disappear from the public consciousness, but few of them are as enjoyable as this one, and even fewer can boast such an exceptional cast or a director as consistent as horror icon Sam Raimi, who makes something of a departure from his usual comic book style with this taut and suspenseful thriller . . .
In 1995 actors and directors were queuing up to work with a young prodigy by the name of Quentin Tarantino.
In 1992 he gave us the star-studded heist flick Reservoir Dogs, a near scene-for-scene remake of the 1985 Hong Kong action film City on Fire, which although veiled with western pop culture references inspired cries of plagiarism from educated critics across the globe.
Nevertheless, there was no doubting QT’s talent and potential…
Almost thirty years have passed since the release of John Singleton’s controversial drama, and the movie has lost none of its power. In fact, it is hard to imagine a film of its nature existing in today’s censored climate.
Back in 1991, the infamous L.A. riots were just around the corner, and rap was more than just a vehicle for cynical, white-collar marketing. Thanks to certain creative freedoms, the racially oppressed still had something of a mainstream voice, and movies were allowed to champion unpopular opinions…
The opening scene of Sexy Beast is one of great comical foreboding.
Retired safe-cracker Gal, played with subtle potency by the wonderful Ray Winstone, is your typical Brit abroad, a red lobster baking in the Spanish heat and loving every minute of it. His dysfunctional family consists of his beloved partner Dee Dee, an ex porn star with just as much reason to escape her homeland, another gangland couple with a similarly unfortunate past, and a young Spanish boy who performs chores around Gal’s villa with the adoring smile of an adulating son…
It’s rare to see Al Pacino upstaged in any movie, and his performance as a Puerto Rican ex-con attempting to turn over a new leaf is typically inspired, a controlled blend of both the fiery and understated sides of one of Hollywood’s most consistently brilliant performers…
It is no secret that world history is documented by the victors.
Not only do they tell us how they won and for what reasons, they are able to bend and embellish those facts as their intentions dictate. Systems of power create heroes and villains. They tell us what lessons we should learn, and how best to live our lives if we are to avoid the mistakes of the past…
